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

Fatal crash, Bannockburn Road, Nevis

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) One person has died following a single-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle on Bannockburn Road, Nevis, Central Otago. Emergency services were alerted to the crash around 10pm. The rider was located in a critical condition and later died at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit completed a scene examination, and … Read more

EIT celebrates 50 years of providing quality tertiary education and skills training to Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti 29 seconds ago EIT has educated generations of locals and this year will celebrate 50 years of providing quality tertiary education and skills training to Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti. Originally planned to be a university, what arose from a gifted piece of land in Taradale was the Hawke’s … Read more

Frogs impacted by predators, climate change

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  18 February 2025 An independent panel of experts has assessed all 20 frog species and sub-species found in New Zealand, and one newt. Four species have declined in status, and none have improved. Dr Rhys Burns, DOC’s lead on the assessment panel, says Hamilton’s frogs and one subspecies of Hochstetter’s frog … Read more

Preparing more PhD students to lift productivity

Source: New Zealand Government A new university programme will help prepare PhD students for world-class careers in science by building stronger connections between research and industry, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “Our Government is laser focused on growing New Zealand’s economy and to do that, we must realise the potential of … Read more

Police respond to IPCA review of policing public protests

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Please attribute to Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura: Police acknowledges the release of a comprehensive report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) which looks at the policing of public protests in New Zealand and makes several significant recommendations. Police has worked closely with the IPCA on this review, which … Read more

REMINDER: Keeping State Highway 6 in tip top shape – night closures begin next week

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Regular users of State Highway 6 between Rai Valley and Hira need to be ready for three weeks of night closures starting next week. Resurfacing and maintenance work is scheduled for the Whangamoa Saddle from 23 February until 13 March. During this time State Highway 6 between Hira and Rai … Read more