Source: New Zealand Police
Police are on the scene of a two-vehicle crash on the intersection of Thames and Ouse Streets in Oamaru.
Emergency services received reports of the crash around 12.52pm.
Two people are reported to have serious and moderate injuries and are being treated by ambulance staff.
The road is closed with diversions and traffic management in place.
Motorists are advised to take Trent Street if they are travelling northbound.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Maritime New Zealand
Planning to build a vessel overseas for use in New Zealand under our Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS)? Understanding local design, construction and equipment (DCE) rules and their application early on can help ensure a smooth process.
New Zealand’s 40-Series maritime rules – the DCE rules – set mandatory standards for domestic commercial vessels. While international standards and classification society (‘class’) rules are widely respected, they don’t always match New Zealand’s 40-Series rule requirements. A vessel built only to class standards may still need changes (some can be substantial) to meet our local DCE rules.
To avoid unnecessary hassle in getting your overseas-built MOSS ships running, it’s important to:
We’re here to help
Contact Maritime NZ early in your process. We can help clarify which rules apply and point you toward resources to support compliance.
Source: Media Outreach
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2025 – From now until 2 November 2025, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Hong Kong, part of Merlin Entertainments Group, invites LEGO® fans of all ages to dive into the spooktacular “Monster Party”! Get ready for the “LEGO® Brick-or-Treat” challenges, bursting with interactive games, creative builds, and endless fun. Complete tasks to snag exclusive limited-edition gifts[1] and purchase our new “Season Pass” for a frightfully good time.
Following last year’s spooktacular success, the “Monster Party” is back with a rocking’ twist! The lively LEGO® minifigure band mates, the Monster Rockers, are having too much fun jamming in MINILAND® and have forgotten their big Halloween performance. Kids are called to join the mission to round them up and bring them back to the stage for the ultimate Halloween show!
Brick-or-Treat Missions
| Mission 1: MINILAND® Band Mate Round-Up
The Monster Rockers are rocking out in MINILAND®! Join the team to find and photograph them to call them back to the stage. |
| Mission 2: Build A Rocking Little Monster
Unleash your creativity to craft a spooky-cute magical monster with LEGO® bricks to join the Monster Rockers’ Halloween show. Top creations may be featured on LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Hong Kong’s social media. |
| Mission 3: Pumpkin Patch Creation
Build spooky-cute pumpkins with LEGO® bricks to decorate the Monster Rockers’ stage. Share your LEGO® experience with the hashtag #MonsterPartyHK to light up the party atmosphere. |
| Limited-Time Activity 1: 4D Experience “The Great Monster Chase”
Join a thrilling 4D adventure to chase the Monster Rockers back to their vibrant Halloween stage. |
| Limited-Time Activity 2: Creative Workshop[2]
Learn spooky-cute building tricks with our Master Model Builder crew to create Halloween themed models. All skill levels are welcome to rock the stage. |
Limited-Time Offer: 【New】Season Pass[3]
From now until 30 September 2025, guests can purchase the new Season Pass for just HK$299. With standard admission tickets starting at HK$240, pay only an additional HK$59 for unlimited entry in 2025, plus enjoy shopping discounts, and birthday party offers. Experience all the exciting activities throughout 2025! Book now to continue the magical adventure!
[1] Available while stocks last.
[2] Limited spaces are available; please arrive 15 minutes early to collect reserved bricks, and refer to the attraction notice for specific workshop times.
[3] Subject to terms and conditions.
Hashtag: #LEGOLANDDiscoveryCentreHK #LEGOHK #K11MUSEA #LEGO #MonsterPartyHK #Halloween
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is moving with urgency to suspend recognition of unsafe international adoptions to protect children and young people from harm, Associate Justice Minister, Nicole McKee says.
The Adoption Amendment Bill has been introduced to the House today to immediately and temporarily suspend New Zealand’s recognition of unsafe overseas adoptions for citizenship and immigration purposes.
“There is evidence that our international adoption laws do not provide sufficient safeguards for children and young people. Adoptions that take place in overseas courts do not always access or require an adoptive parent’s criminal or child protection record,” Mrs McKee says.
“We know, for example, about instances in which people with known care and protection histories, or previous convictions for violence or sexual abuse, have been able to adopt overseas. They have then been able to bring those children and young people back to New Zealand where they have been neglected, abused, or exploited.”
“For example, Joseph Auga Matamata, who was sentenced to 11 years in 2020, had previous convictions for violence when he adopted three boys from overseas. He withdrew one boy, aged 12, from school, covering his tracks by saying that he had returned to his home country.
“For a year, the boy was locked up and treated as a domestic servant. He was made to work in the field and often didn’t receive necessary medical care. The other two boys escaped by scaling a tall perimeter fence in the middle of the night.”
“This case is the tip of the iceberg. It is completely unacceptable for our international adoption laws to be used in this way. This abuse is preventable, and this Government is acting decisively to prevent future harm to children adopted overseas into unsafe situations,” Mrs McKee says.
The law change will immediately and temporarily suspend the recognition of international adoptions under section 17 of the Adoption Act 1955 (the Act) by New Zealand citizens and residents for citizenship and immigration purposes. It will also restrict the ability of the Family Court to grant adoptions where the adoptive parent or child are overseas under section 3 of the Act.
“The Government is progressing this change under urgency as any delay is unacceptably prolonging the risk to children and young people. The temporary suspension will provide the time to develop and pass law that ensures international adoptions are safe for the children and young people involved,” Mrs McKee says.
The temporary suspension will expire on a date set by the Governor-General through Order in Council, or on 1 July 2027, whichever is earlier.
“I intend, however, to introduce a bill for a long-term solution next year. That bill will include an opportunity for members of the public to make submissions to select committee,” Mrs McKee says.
“Both the temporary suspension and the long-term solution are significant cross-agency workstreams, involving the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Department of Internal Affairs, Oranga Tamariki, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”
“I recognise that the suspension will be disappointing for some families planning to adopt from overseas, most of whom are caring people who adopt with the best of intentions.
“Recognising this, the Government is taking steps to preserve adoption pathways where it has been able to establish that the arrangements for international adoptions are safe.”
“We are exempting countries where I am satisfied that adoption practices sufficiently safeguard children and young people.
“International surrogacy arrangements will continue to be recognised by the New Zealand Family Court and Ministerial discretion will be able to be exercised in individual cases for citizenship and immigration,” Mrs McKee says.
“More information about the temporary suspension and the exceptions to it can be found on the websites of the Ministry of Justice, Immigration New Zealand, and the Department of Internal Affairs. In all cases I advise families to seek expert legal advice to understand how this will affect their particular circumstances.”
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is set to roll out the first roadside mobile safety camera operated in a trailer later this week, joining the fleet of camera-equipped SUVs which have been operating across the country since May this year.
The first trailer will be begin operating in Auckland from this Wednesday (17 September). Nine more trailers will join the fleet in the coming months, and together with the 34 mobile cameras operating in SUVs, mobile cameras will be operating on average for over 6,500 hours every month across the country.
“This, coupled with our risk-based approach and 24/7 operation will make our roads safer for everyone by deterring speeding nationwide, and drivers who continue to choose to speed are much more likely to be detected and fined,” says Tara Macmillan, NZTA Head of Regulatory Strategic Programmes.
“The camera technology in trailers is the same as we’re using in our SUVs, but having both vehicle types gives us more flexibility to move cameras between high-risk locations quickly and easily, ensuring that we are targeting stretches of road where speeding drivers are putting themselves and others at risk.
“Using mobile trailers also allows us to have our cameras out for longer stretches of time, and to set up in places that might be difficult for SUVs to operate. Both our trailers and SUVs will be working day and night, detecting speeding wherever and whenever it occurs.
Speeding drivers can cause serious and irreparable harm on the roads, including deaths and serious injuries. Evidence shows that we can reduce the chances of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes if drivers travel within speed limits, and that is why we have safety cameras,” Ms Macmillan says.
Like cameras in SUVs, the camera-equipped trailers can detect speeding vehicles traveling both towards and away from them, from either side of the road. They also won’t be sign posted.
Both cars and trailers have extensive security and tracking systems and are equipped with CCTV cameras and alarm systems to protect the equipment and ensure the safety of operators. They are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Following engagement with the Picton community, businesses and stakeholders, designs are being progressed for the Picton road network improvements project.
Richard Osborne, Regional Manager System Design, says NZTA/Waka Kotahi has engaged with multiple stakeholders including well-attended community sessions in June.
“Overall, the feedback shows people are interested in the project and the improvements being proposed for State Highway 1 and key intersections in Picton.”
“While there is support for the project, there are concerns about how it will affect the community. This includes parking, traffic noise, and intersection layouts,” Mr Osborne says.
He says these concerns are being considered, with the project team reviewing key feedback as they work towards finalising designs.
“Changes are being made to the plans, subject to design considerations, safety requirements, and available funding.”
He says the project team also received some feedback that was outside the direct scope of the project.
“It covered issues such as additional walking and cycling improvements, and enforcement opportunities.”
“We will pass this on to relevant teams at NZTA/Waka Kotahi and also to our transport and local authority partners,” Mr Osborne says
Once design for the project is complete, updates will be shared with the community and stakeholders before construction begins in mid-2026.
An engagement report, including questions that were raised by the community and stakeholders as well as NZTA’s response, is available on our website:
Source: University of Auckland (UoA)
Almost all parents (86%) tell their donor-conceived children about their origins, with single parent (89%) and same-sex parents (96%) the most likely to do so.
Four out of five parents tell their donor-conceived children about their biological origins, according to new research out of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.
The researchers surveyed 374 parents of children aged from seven to 18 years, and conceived through donor eggs, embryos or sperm, asking whether they had told their children they were donor-conceived. See Fertility and Sterility. (ref. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028225017984?dgcid=coauthor )
“We were pleased to find that 86 percent of parents had shared this information with their children, although think there could be a responder bias, where people who hadn’t shared this information with their children may have been less likely to respond to the survey,” says Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Cindy Farquhar CNZM, who is also clinical director of Fertility Plus at National Women’s Hospital.
The survey was sent out to 1,300 parents who had used clinics for conception and captured the first cohort of donor-conceived children who could legally find out the identity of their donor, under the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (HART) Act 2004, at the age of 18. For background, see Value of disclosing donor conception explored (June 2024).
When people use fertility clinics, they are advised to share with their children from an early age that they were born with the assistance of a sperm, egg or embryo donor. The survey aimed to find out how many did so and why or why not.
International research associates early disclosure with the child being better able to integrate donor conception into their sense of identity. They are also less likely to feel stigmatised and distressed.
Lead author Dr Karyn Anderson, a doctoral candidate, says that heterosexual couples were less likely to share this information with their children, with 82 percent disclosing, whereas for same sex couples or single women disclosure rates were higher.
“Even so, not all single and same-sex parents disclosed, it wasn’t 100 percent,” says Anderson.
Of 94 single-parent respondents, 84 (89 percent) had shared their children’s donor conception origins with them and of 54 same-sex couples, 52 (96 percent) had told their child or children.
Most parents shared the information with their children when they were under ten years old, which accords with international recommendations, according to the paper published in Fertility & Sterility.
The survey found parents shared information with their children at all ages, although more than half did so before their children were ten and the average was just under seven years old. Children with whom information was shared later didn’t necessarily react more negatively than those told earlier.
Around half of respondents said they were in contact with the donors.
The researchers held a hui to share the results and discuss the issues of donor conception in New Zealand with people who were donor-conceived, as well as researchers and fertility clinics.
“Some people told beautiful stories about meeting their donors. Other people were angry they hadn’t been told of their donor conception origins as children,” Farquhar says.
The team is now conducting a series of interviews with parents who took part in the survey to get a deeper understanding of how they are building families.
The researchers are recommending that clinics follow up with parents after they have had their children, offering support with how to disclose and with linking with donors or same-donor siblings and their families.
For people who would like to find out the identity of a donor, they should contact the clinic where they received the donor sperm, egg or embryo.
Read the study: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028225017984?dgcid=coauthor
Source: New Zealand Police
A team tackling retail crime across some south Auckland town centres have clocked up, and locked up, some promising numbers in the past year.
In July 2024, the Counties Manukau South Community Engagement Team noticed that high rates of retail offending were contributing to a general sense of unease among shoppers and business owners alike.
This was particularly the case in the busy town centres across Takanini, Papakura and Pukekohe.
In the past financial year, the team has arrested 67 people, resulting in 741 retail crime charges and $363,232.20 worth of stolen property recovered.
Sergeant Phill Moody says a series of coordinated efforts and multiple investigations targeting individuals and small groups of offenders has been in motion.
“Our team has also spent a considerable amount of time engaging with business associations, big retail stores and stand-alone local retailers to understand the issues and provide reassurance.
“I’m extremely proud of the team and the great results they have achieved.”
Sergeant Moody says technology like CCTV has also played a key role, as well as the increase in businesses reporting thefts.
“Our team remain actively engaged with retailers, business associations, and the National Retail Investigation Support Unit and we are committed to holding these offenders to account.”
“It takes all of us to keep our communities safe, and we acknowledge retailers who continue to report matters to us.”
If you see any unlawful or suspicious activity, please contact Police.
If it is happening now, or you have immediate concerns for you or someone else’s safety, call 111.
Information after the fact or in non-emergencies can be reported online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Make a Report” or by calling 105.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Holly McKay/NZ Police
