First Responders – Whangārei vegetation fire update #2

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency was alerted to the fire in Whangārei at approximately 12.30pm this afternoon. Crews from both Whangārei and Onerahi responded, but the fire escalated quickly Incident Controller, Graeme Quensell, says, “We currently have five helicopters on site, four with buckets and one acting as observation and they will … Read more

Anti-poverty groups say amendments to Social Security Act will remove job seekers’ human rights

Source: Child Poverty Action Group Anti-poverty groups say amendments to Social Security Act will remove job seekers’ human rights. 9 January 2025 – Anti-poverty groups say that changes proposed in the Social Security Act Amendment Bill currently before Parliament would result in more jobseekers and their dependents unable to buy food, pay rent and other basic bills … Read more

Experience The Ultimate Adrenaline Rush With Thrill Coaster Singapore VR Pods At Madame Tussauds Singapore

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – Madame Tussauds Singapore is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest and most exhilarating experience, the Thrill Coaster Singapore. Photo by Madame Tussauds Singapore Madame Tussauds Singapore is taking excitement to the next level with the launch of Thrill Coaster Singapore, … Read more

SH29 summer maintenance programme to resume

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Later this week crews will resume work on a significant programme of summer maintenance on State Highway 29. Work to rebuild and resurface the road across 9 sites began in October 2024, with 2 sites near Hanga Lane and Gargan Road now complete. Starting this Sunday 12 January*, work will … Read more

First Responders – Whangārei vegetation fire update

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Evacuations are underway for a number of homes near a large vegetation fire south of Whangārei. Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were called to the fire on Whangārei Heads Rd between Onerahi and Tamaterau around 2.15pm on Thursday. Ten trucks and five helicopters are currently on the scene. A … Read more

Gold’s Stellar Growth May Have Reached its Finale, Says VT Markets Latest 2025 Q1 Economic Outlook

Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – Award-winning brokerage VT Markets, a global leader in financial services, has released its 2025 Q1 Economic Outlook. In the report, the broker spotlights the remarkable trajectory of gold in 2024 and its potential market performance in the coming year. The … Read more

Name release, fatal crash, Mokoia

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police can now release the name of the person who died in a crash on South Road, Mokoia on Sunday 5 January. He was 20-year-old Rohaan Thomas, from Palmerston North. Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing. ENDS Issued by Police Media Centre MIL OSI

Information sought on missing fisherman at Piha Beach

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police are making enquiries into the whereabouts of a fisherman who is reportedly unaccounted for at Piha Beach. Police were contacted at around 1.50pm. It has been reported the man was fishing off rocks on the southern end of Piha, when he fell into the water. The Police Eagle … Read more

GJEPC And De Beers Group Forge Strategic Collaboration to Promote Natural Diamonds

Source: Media Outreach As India becomes the world’s fastest growing major diamond jewellery market, industry leaders De Beers Group and GJEPC will collaborate to support the gem and jewellery trade with education and promotional assets to support the natural diamond narrative MUMBAI, INDIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – De Beers Group, … Read more

Are you using your scissor lift safely?

Source: Worksafe New Zealand 9 January 2025 Businesses that use scissor lifts should take a fresh look at safety, after a worker fell from height and died over the holiday period. Jun Jiang suffered a fall from a scissor lift in Auckland on 28 December 2024, and died days later in hospital. We’re now investigating … Read more

O-Level Computing Graduates to Receive Credit Exemption at NYP’s School of Information Technology

Source: Media Outreach A first for the polytechnic, this exemption allows learners to free up and reallocate curriculum time. They can choose to use the freed-up periods to attain additional industry professional certifications. SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – Commencing April 2025, learners who pass O-level Computing and enrol into NYP’s … Read more

Watercare gets to work on first permanent non-potable water tanker filling station in Māngere

Source: Auckland Council Watercare is laying the groundwork for its first permanent non-potable tanker filling station in Māngere. The $1.2 million filling station will be available to commercial customers for non-drinking purposes such as dust suppression, house cleaning, irrigation, and process water. It is being built a block away from the Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant, … Read more

SUNRATE Expands Beyond Global Payments in 2025 by Introducing New Treasury Solutions

Source: Media Outreach Newly Launched “Trading and Hedging” Solutions to Empower Businesses with FX Trading, Hedging Strategies and Products SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – SUNRATE, the global payment and treasury management platform, kickstarts the new year by introducing new treasury solutions – “trading and hedging” for businesses worldwide. These solutions … Read more

Greens welcome deadline extension but reiterate call for Bill to be binned

Source: Green Party The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill.  “We welcome the bare minimum decision to extend the deadline but know this Bill must be put in the bin altogether. Our founding agreement should never be … Read more

Weather News – Southerlies continue, but summer lives on in the west – MetService

Source: MetService Covering period of Thursday 9th – Monday 13th January – Southerlies look to persist into next week as a low pressure system to the east and ridge of high pressure to the west remain largely static. This status quo means the weather for the country is largely stratified between the east and west. MetService … Read more

Children make up nearly half of Rohingya refugees taking perilous boat journeys in 2024 as numbers continue to rise – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children Children made up just under half – 44% – of predominantly Rohingya refugees leaving Bangladesh and Myanmar by boat in 2024 as the number of people taking to sea continues to rise with about 460 so far in 2025, Save the Children said.  Last year, more than 7,800 Rohingya refugees embarked on … Read more

Fire Safety – Fires restricted in Waikato district from Friday

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency New Zealand has declared that all of the Waikato district will be in a restricted fire season from 9am on Friday 10 January until further notice. This will include Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Waikato, Hamilton City, Waipa, Otorohanga and Waitomo areas. The Central North Island is already in a … Read more

Burst water main, Mt Wellington

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Motorists are being asked to avoid a section of Carbine Road following a burst water main. Police were notified of the incident at about 11.13am. At this stage Carbine Road, between Clemow Drive and Te Ahoterangi Rise, has been affected. Police are onsite and directing traffic, however motorists are … Read more

SH2 HB Expressway 4 laning project enters second phase of enabling works

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency A reminder that work begins next week alongside Tutaekuri River Bridge on State Highway 2 (SH2) Hawke’s Bay Expressway as the 4 laning Roads of National Significance project continues. From Monday 13 January, crews will begin work alongside Tutaekuri River Bridge, starting with vegetation clearance, before laying repurposed silt to … Read more

SH51 Clive resealing work overnight next week

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency A reminder there will be overnight closures next week on State Highway 51 at Clive for resealing work. Crews will be onsite between 8pm and 5am each night, with work starting on Monday 13 January and finishing at 5am Saturday 18 January. Outside the closure times, the road will be … Read more

Resurfacing of Mohaka slow vehicle bay, south of Wairoa, starts next week

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Work to resurface the State Highway 2 (SH2) Mohaka slow vehicle bay will begin from next Tuesday (14 January.) The work is expected to take a fortnight to complete and stop/go traffic management will be in place along a stretch of the southbound lane which runs alongside the slow vehicle … Read more

Desert Road closed for 2 months from Monday 13 January

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency After the Christmas hiatus, road maintenance is back with a major closure of State Highway 1. The Desert Road, between Tūrangi and Waiouru, will close from 5am on Monday 13 January for approximately 2 months. As well as reconstructing 16 lane km (3 sites) of road, improving drainage, and clearing … Read more

Road rebuild to improve section of SH54, east of Feilding

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Crews have kicked back into gear following the holiday season with road renewal works underway in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. From Wednesday 15 January, road rebuild works will begin on a section of State Highway 54 (SH54) Kimbolton Road, near the intersection with Ridds Road. This daytime road maintenance and drainage … Read more

SH57/Tararua Road roundabout works scheduled to begin next week

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency A reminder that work begins on Monday at the site of the new State Highway 57/Tararua Road roundabout as the first stage of construction gets underway. During the first stage of work, there will be no access from SH57 to the western section of Tararua Road and a detour will … Read more

Fruit fly in Auckland – situation update 9 January 2025

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries Significant work continues in the Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe, with no signs of any further Oriental fruit flies to date, says Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north. “We have placed more than 100 extra traps in the area, and checking of all of them has not found any signs … Read more

Stats NZ information release: Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: December 2024 quarter

Source: Statistics New Zealand Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: December 2024 quarter – information release – 9 January 2025 – The household labour force survey estimated working-age population table shows the population benchmarks used to produce household labour force survey estimates for the upcoming labour market statistics release.  MIL OSI

Fire Safety – Outdoor fires restricted in Te Tai Tokerau Northland

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau Northland will move into a restricted fire season from 8am on Friday 10 January 2025 until further notice. A restricted fire season means anyone who wants to light an outdoor fire will need a fire permit authorised by Fire and Emergency, which can be applied for at checkitsalright.nz. … Read more