Living on orchard and enjoying outdoors fostered love for environment in EIT student | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti 37 seconds ago Growing up on a Twyford orchard and living an outdoor life fostered a love for the environment which led Jordyn Campbell to study Environmental Management at EIT. This has proved to be a good move with Jordyn, who finished the NZ Diploma in Environmental Management … Read more

A triumph over anti-car ideology

Source: ACT Party Welcoming the delivery from tonight of increased speed limits – an ACT coalition commitment – ACT Leader David Seymour says: “Sensible speed limits are a triumph for common sense and democracy. Instead of being dictated to by a faceless bureaucratic minority, the people are in charge again. “People often asked me where … Read more

Release: Seymour’s school lunch cuts already failing kids

Source: New Zealand Labour Party It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. “This Government slashed school lunch funding and handed the job to a global corporation instead of supporting local suppliers—now kids are stuck with worse … Read more

Open season on renters begins with no-cause evictions

Source: Green Party The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. “Open season on renters has begun, as this Government for landlords creates more insecurity and pain for renters,” says the … Read more

Art making out west

Source: Auckland Council We seek applications now, from experienced and adventurous artists for our 2025 park based artist’s residency. The selected artist will live by the sea, in Barr Cottage, Little Huia – an ideal base for exploring the surrounding Waitākere parkland. The artist in residence will create site-specific art about a habitat, creature, character … Read more

SH15 expected to reopen shortly

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency 30 January 2025 1:28 pm | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises State Highway 15 is expected to reopen between Maungatapere and Otaika around 2pm this afternoon. The road has been closed since yesterday morning (Wednesday 29 January) to allow NZ Police to investigate … Read more

Native species compromised by trap vandals

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  30 January 2025 In early January, high trapping lines between Dart Valley and the west Matukituki Valley were checked by Matukituki Charitable Trust volunteers and Southern Lakes Sanctuary staff, who found the entrances to all 45 traps blocked off by strategically placed rocks. Staff have since found all the traps from … Read more

Ministers welcome Kāinga Ora’s revised approach to wool carpets

Source: New Zealand Government Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part of … Read more

More extreme weather predicted for subants

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  30 January 2025 “Up until now, we’ve lacked information on the climate change impact on subantarctic islands,” Drew Bingham, DOC Principal Science Advisor says. “We knew we had to take a deeper look and identify actions needed to ensure the survival of the taonga species that depend on the islands for … Read more

100s of NZ species highly vulnerable to climate change

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  30 January 2025 The assessment looked at 1145 species of birds, bats, lizards, and frogs, as well as land-based invertebrates and plants, to identify the most vulnerable which can then be prioritised for conservation action to help protect them from climate change impacts. Of the species assessed, 351 or 31% were … Read more

Cops catch up with speeding drivers

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police in Avondale caught up with two speeding vehicles within minutes of each other during the early hours of this morning. Just after 2am, officers observed a Toyota Aqua driving at speed along Blockhouse Bay Road. Auckland City West’s Area Commander, Inspector Alisse Robertson, says Police signalled for the … Read more

Relentless focus on literacy & numeracy at school

Source: New Zealand Government As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key driver … Read more

Homicide investigation in Otaika

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police are treating the death of a motorcyclist in Otaika as suspicious, and a homicide investigation is now underway. A man’s body was discovered in a creek adjacent to Otaika Valley Road, State Highway 15, after 5am on 29 January. Whangārei CIB is launching an appeal for any witnesses … Read more

Weather News – A mix of weather for Aotearoa but eyes are on the tropics – MetService

Source: MetService Covering period of Thu 30 Jan – Mon 3 Feb – Parts of New Zealand are in for a smattering of rain this weekend, this isn’t to be expected everywhere but cloud will be more widespread. However, MetService will be keeping a close eye on tropical developments around the Coral Sea. MetService meteorologist Lewis … Read more

Hawke’s Bay patients to benefit from new and improved radiology and cancer treatment services

Source: New Zealand Government Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the Hawke’s Bay … Read more

Call to End Prescribing Puberty Blockers In NZ

Source: Family First MEDIA RELEASE 30 January 2025 Family First is calling for an immediate end to new prescribing of puberty blockers due to the clear lack of quality probative evidence of efficacy and safety. It comes at the same time as more than 100 doctors, academics, lawyers, politicians and “detransitioners” are calling for the … Read more

Health Protest – Protest calls for answers on company chosen to supply vape kits

Source: Health Coalition Aotearoa Public Health experts are questioning a decision by the Government to purchase $575,000 worth of vaping products from a company accused of allegedly bribing the New Zealand Government. They will be meeting today at 12.30pm today on Parliament’s forecourt to raise their concerns and call for a public inquiry into the influence … Read more

Lifestyle – Kickstart 2025 with Exercise New Zealand: We Are Here For You!

Source: Exercise NZ As January unfolds and the new year gains momentum, it’s the perfect opportunity to set intentions, embrace change, and prioritise what truly matters. ExerciseNZ is encouraging all Kiwis to kickstart 2025 by making movement an essential part of their daily lives.  With summer in full swing, Aotearoa provides the perfect backdrop to … Read more

Greenpeace – NZ climate target under international scrutiny as trading partners raise concerns

Source: Greenpeace Ahead of the Government’s NDC climate target announcement today, Greenpeace Aotearoa has revealed that New Zealand’s trading partners are asking yet more questions about our climate credibility. It follows similar questions raised in the UK Parliament and during the EU Trade Commissioner hearings last year about whether breaches of environmental clauses in trade agreements with New Zealand would … Read more

Insurance Sector – ICNZ welcomes Govt’s Climate Adaptation response

Source: Insurance Council of NZ The Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) has welcomed the Government’s commitment to introduce legislation to Parliament this year on a Climate Adaptation framework and prepare New Zealanders for the impact of climate change on lives, property and communities. “New Zealanders need certainty about the way … Read more

Final step underway to decide council election boundaries

Source: Auckland Council Auckland Council’s final proposal for representation arrangements will soon be considered by the Local Government Commission, taking Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland one step closer to confirmed electoral boundaries and the total number of elected members for the October 2025 elections. A public hearing on 4 February at Auckland Town Hall is where the … Read more

Barnardos decision reversed

Source: New Zealand Government Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline.“When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information I have … Read more

Customs’ levies bill passes first reading

Source: New Zealand Government A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today.“The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed to efficiently … Read more

US now New Zealand’s second largest export partner – Stats NZ media and information release – Overseas merchandise trade: December 2024

Source: Statistics New Zealand US now New Zealand’s second largest export partner – 30 January 2025 – The United States (US) was the second largest export destination for New Zealand goods in 2024, with a total value of $9.0 billion, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. The US overtook Australia but remains behind … Read more

New school lunch programme serves up first healthy lunches

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On today’s … Read more

EPA – Rangitane maritime development declined COVID fast-track consent

Source: Environmental Protection Authority An independent panel has declined resource consent to construct a public boat ramp facility at Rangitane, Kerikeri. Far North District Council and Far North Holdings Limited applied for resource consent under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020. The decision comes 209 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental … Read more

Two to front court after plans spiked 

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) A man who drove a stolen car recklessly from Bombay to Hamilton has had his plans spiked. At about 8.15pm, officers observed the stolen Honda as it entered the South-Western Motorway at speed. Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, Waitematā CIB, says a short time later the Police Eagle helicopter … Read more