Action Plan funding helps children grow vegetables

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council The aim is for tamariki (children) to be able to grow vegetables and plants all year round and make food in classes, demonstrating ‘garden to plate’ learning. The native plants grown will be used for the school’s riparian planting projects.  The school would like to eventually provide produce to food … Read more

Lower Waihao community water supply – update

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council Date: 12 Feb 2025 Our compliance staff are active on the ground in Lower Waihao following elevated nitrate concentrations in a rural water scheme last year. The ‘do not drink’ notice for the Morven, Glenavy, and Ikawai water scheme, including Waikakahi East, was lifted on December 18 after nitrate levels … Read more

Love Our Lakes – How to be a happy camper around our lakes

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council “In some more remote places we’ve seen a few bits and pieces, but otherwise we haven’t seen much rubbish at all,” said Jack and Sarah, campervan tourists from Australia who’d parked up at Lake Takapō as part of a three-week South Island road trip. Caroline and David, from Germany, had … Read more

Health2Sync Deepens Reach and Partnerships in South Korea with Growing Adoption of its Digital Disease Management Platform

Source: Media Outreach Health2Sync’s SugarGenie app is experiencing rapid growth and positive reception in South Korea. The platform is being utilized in both hospital settings and through government programs. Health2Sync has partnered with Sanofi for hospital rollouts and integrated its solution with South Korea’s Primary Health Care Chronic Disease Management Program, reaching over 100 healthcare … Read more

HWOO Energy Storage Successfully Launches in Pakistan, Ushering in a New Era of Global Expansion

Source: Media Outreach ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 February 2025 – On February 12, 2025, HWOO Energy Storage hosted a grand brand launch event in Islamabad, Pakistan. The event attracted numerous distinguished guests, including Pakistani government officials, representatives from the PSA Solar Association, and industry experts. This milestone event signifies HWOO’s official … Read more

Man charged after pedestrians injured in car park

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) A man has been charged after several people were injured when a vehicle fled the scene of a shoplifting in Henderson. Waitematā West CIB have been investigating the offending which unfolded in the car park at Woolworths on Lincoln Road after 11am on 27 January. Detective Senior Sergeant Megan … Read more

Two reports show privacy must be at the heart of trust in government

Source: Privacy Commissioner 18 Feb 2025, 15:15 Today’s release of two reports into the protection of personal information show agencies must be better at privacy, says Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster. The Inquiry into how government agencies protected personal information for the 2023 Census and COVID-19 vaccination programme (the PSC Inquiry) and the Independent investigation and … Read more

Regulation of Cryptocurrency Market in 2025 and Beyond by Global Broker Octa

Source: Media Outreach KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 February 2025 – The global cryptocurrency market has seen unprecedented growth in the previous year, spearheaded by Bitcoin and Ethereum. Institutional participation was very important in driving prices higher, with Bitcoin reaching an all-time high above $100,000 in December 2024. With the spreading … Read more

Aon appoints Jennifer Richards as CEO of Asia Pacific

Source: Media Outreach DUBLIN, IRELAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 February 2025 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced that Jennifer Richards has been selected as CEO of Asia Pacific, effective 1 March. Richards assumes the role from Anne Corona who has recently been named CEO of enterprise … Read more

Chicken nuggets recalled due to possible presence of blue rubber

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Foodstuffs Own Brands in its recall of Pams brand Tempura Coated Chicken Nuggets as they may contain small pieces of blue rubber. “If you have a 1kg bag of Pams Tempura Coated Chicken Nuggets with a best-before date of 16 October 2025, don’t eat … Read more

Rotorua Police appeal for sightings of missing man

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Rotorua Police are appealing for sightings of Mark Taute, also known as Mark Edwards. Mark, aged 51, has been reported missing and there are concerns for his welfare. He was last seen on 9 February, in the Hamurana area of Rotorua. If you have seen Mark since then, or … Read more

Government Cuts – Telehealth staff cuts would reduce access to virtual healthcare – PSA

Source: PSA While Health Minister Simeon Brown pushes for more Telehealth services, Health New Zealand (HNZ) is proposing to cut key Telehealth support roles to meet the Government’s drive to reduce health spending. These proposed cuts would reduce access to virtual healthcare, increasing wait times and delaying vital diagnosis and treatment, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga … Read more

Information sought after possible sighting of Tom Phillips

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police are asking for the public’s help after a possible sighting of Tom Phillips and his children over the weekend. About 8.30am on Sunday 16 February, a member of the public called Police and stated they had seen four people dressed in camouflage sitting in a layby on State … Read more

Gaza – Less than seven percent of pre-conflict water levels available to Rafah and North Gaza, worsening a health catastrophe – Oxfam

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa – Nearly 1,700 kilometres of water and sanitation networks have been destroyed – Big-ticket repairs of networks urgently needed but Israeli government balks in approving supplies The resumption of aid into Gaza, including fuel to operate undamaged water and sanitation facilities along with water trucking, has improved the amount of water available to people in … Read more

PM confirms ACT’s Defence spend target still on the table

Source: ACT Party “A two-percent-of-GDP Defence target is turning into an emerging ACT triumph,” says ACT Defence spokesperson Mark Cameron. “I’m very pleased to hear the Prime Minister flag a target for Defence investment of two percent of GDP. ACT has long argued for this target, in line with the NATO benchmark, to secure our position in … Read more

Road workers aid in drunk driver arrest on SH 29

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Members of a road working crew spotted a woman driving her vehicle the wrong way through a set of road works on SH29. She came to a stop and the roading crew noticed she was disoriented and managed to keep her stationary while Police were called. At about 2pm … Read more

Training exercise in Mission Bay

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police are advising the public that a controlled training exercise will be conducted on the water off Mission Bay this afternoon. The exercise is being led by Police and will simulate a water rescue, including the use of the Police Eagle helicopter. Police will be in the Mission Bay … Read more

Fonterra announces new incentives for farmers to reduce emissions

Source: Fonterra Fonterra has today announced new funding designed to build a stronger Co-operative and continue to grow value for its shareholders through helping farmers reduce on-farm emissions.   For the 2025/26 season beginning on 1 June, Fonterra will introduce a payment for farms that achieve certain emissions-related criteria as part of updates to its … Read more

Local News – Signing of Te Wai Ora o Parirua – Porirua Harbour Accord

Source: Porirua City Council A significant milestone in the journey to restore and protect the health of Te Awarua-o-Porirua (Porirua Harbour) was marked on 6 February with the official signing of Te Wai Ora o Parirua – Porirua Harbour Accord (the Accord). This historic agreement unites key partners in a shared commitment to restoring the ecological, … Read more

Local News – Children’s Day in Porirua celebrating all things heroic

Source: Porirua City Council Heroes can be found in the most unlikely places, and on Sunday 2 March you’ll be able to find loads of them at Porirua City Council’s free Te Rā o Ngā Tamariki/Children’s Day event. Celebrations of the annual day recognising our tamariki will run from 11am-3pm at Ngāti Toa Domain. The theme … Read more

Women giving birth are older than ever recorded – Stats NZ media and information release: Births and deaths: Year ended December 2024 (including abridged period life table)

Source: Statistics New Zealand Women giving birth are older than ever recorded – 18 February 2025 – The median age of women giving birth in Aotearoa New Zealand has reached 31.5 years in 2024, according to data released by Stats NZ today. The median age of 31.5 years is the highest since records began in … Read more

Stats NZ information release: National population estimates: At 31 December 2024 (2018-base)

Source: Statistics New Zealand National population estimates: At 31 December 2024 (2018-base) – 18 February 2025 –National population estimates give the best available measure of the population, by age and sex, usually living in Aotearoa New Zealand. Key factsAt 31 December 2024: the estimated resident population of New Zealand was 5,356,700 (provisionally) there were 2,693,400 … Read more

Consumer NZ survey reveals New Zealanders face rising healthcare concerns amid ongoing financial uncertainty

Source: Consumer NZ The latest Consumer NZ Sentiment Tracker results reveal that New Zealanders continue to grapple with financial uncertainty and growing concerns about healthcare services.   39% of respondents identified healthcare as a key issue, up from 27% in October 2024 and 23% a year ago. Healthcare is now the second-biggest concern, growing rapidly, … Read more

Health – Access to specialist mental health and addiction services continues to decrease

Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Data released today by Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission shows that fewer people accessed specialist mental health and addiction services in the year from July 2023 to June 2024 than in previous years. Recently available data shows a decrease of over 3,000 … Read more

Police appeal for sightings of missing man Travis Langford

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police are continuing to search for Travis Langford, who has been missing since 17 January. Travis travelled from Wellington to the Waikato region, where his vehicle was located burnt out on a Tolley Road farm in Ngaroma on 18 January. Police coordinated a search of that area where his … Read more

Popular Great Walks bookings to open

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  18 February 2025 Opening dates are staggered between 13 to 28 May to give people making multiple bookings a better chance of securing their preferred slot.  DOC has upgraded the booking system, so it is easier for people to use. This includes implementing a queue system on opening days, to smooth … Read more

Man charged with murder in Hastings homicide investigation

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) A man has been arrested following the death of another man in Hawke’s Bay Sunday night, 16 February. Detective Inspector Martin James said a homicide investigation was launched after a 33-year-old man was pronounced deceased in Hawke’s Bay Hospital around 11pm, after he was brought into the hospital following … Read more