Minimum wage announcement “a pay cut for the most vulnerable” – E tū

Source: Etu Union E tū is appalled with the Government’s decision to increase the minimum wage by less than inflation for a second year in a row. Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, announced today that from April next year the minimum wage will be $23.50, an increase of just 35c, or … Read more

Carers’ pay equity highlighted on Human Rights Day – E tū

Source: Etu Union On International Human Rights Day, E tū is calling on the Government to help fix gender-based pay discrimination by delivering pay equity for care and support workers. E tū is the union for care and support workers, including those working in residential aged care, home support, disability support, and mental health and … Read more

Passion for leadership led teacher to leave profession and study Graduate Diploma in Business at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti December 9, 2024 Tori Cowan-Smith has recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Business at EIT. A teacher who earned her qualifications at EIT before embarking on a successful early childhood education career, has successfully pivoted to complete a Graduate Diploma in Business and found a job in management. … Read more

Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom

Source: Green Party The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs.  “This has nothing to do with free speech, this is about polluting our public discourse for political gain,” … Read more

ECE no place to cut corners

Source: Green Party The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. “The Government is trying to cut corners on the education of our tamariki, setting them up to fail while … Read more

Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects

Source: Green Party The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today.  “The industry is on notice: consents granted under this regime that shortcut our democracy, sidestep environmental protections and degrade te taiao will be revoked by … Read more

Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity

Source: Green Party The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. “Christopher Luxon is choosing to prolong the recession and kneecap productivity through merciless cuts,” says the Green Party Co-Leader and Finance spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. … Read more

Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

Source: Green Party The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. “This adds insult to injury for our workers who have been under constant attack under this Government,” says … Read more

Community Lunch, Chatham Islands

Source: New Zealand Governor General Kioranga Nau mai haere mai Welcome everyone to today’s lunch. Thank you for coming. We are so pleased to return some of the wonderful hospitality we have received here.  I specifically acknowledge: Her Worship Monique CroonRicki HapiWard KamoPaul Eagle and Toni Gregory-Hunt I understand your police officers, Lucie and Will … Read more

The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi 2024 Icon Awards Whakamana Hiranga

Source: New Zealand Governor General Kei aku nui kei, aku rahi ngā Māreikura, ngā Whatukura. Nau mai, piki mai, kake mai, i runga i te kaupapa o te ra. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: Tā Pita Sharples, 2024 Icon Award Whakamana Hiranga recipient, and Te Rangimarie … Read more

Drive-in movies bring summer fun to Rangiora

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council Date: 01 Jan 2025 Drive, walk or cycle into the south bank of the Ashley Rakahuri River in Rangiora for your choice of two movie screenings: Saturday 18 January, 2pm — Minions: The Rise of Gru The origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, … Read more

Capturing bugs helps students understand water quality

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council The bug bags provide a short-term habitat for macroinvertebrates, bugs, worms, and snails that may have otherwise drifted past. Dr Issie Barrett from the Waterways Centre and Matt Stanford, Enviroschools Selwyn facilitator, worked with Glentunnel, Hororata, Greendale, Springston, and Leeston Enviroschools to take a baseline water quality assessment at each … Read more

From our Chair: A year of partnerships, plans and pivoting

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council In recent months, staff have completed a major programme of work to help restore the region’s resilience to flooding after the 2021 flood event. The project focused on more than 400 repair jobs across Central and South Canterbury. This included: rebuilding more than 5km of stopbanks undertaking erosion and scour … Read more

Help stop the spread of freshwater pests

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council Date: 19 Dec 2024 Check Check boats, trailers and anything else that was in the water, including your dog’s fur and paws if your dog is in the water with you, for any plant material and remove it. Even if the plant appears dry and dead, it may still survive … Read more

Lunar New Year infuses city centre with Auckland’s unique Asian flavour

Source: Auckland Council Pique your senses in our city centre this Lunar New Year. Midtown’s lanes and squares will be alive with a creative and cultural buzz inspired by Asian traditions and infused with a unique Auckland flavour. From 26 January to 22 February, feel uplifted by the colours, sounds, tastes and beats of Asia, … Read more

Rain drain: Northcote’s new stormwater infrastructure tested to the max

Source: Auckland Council Northcote has always suffered from terrible stormwater flooding. It’s located in the historic trajectory of the Awataha Stream and the middle of an overland flow path. As such, after heavy rain, the town centre and surrounding homes have historically been prone to flooding. To address these flooding problems, as well as reconnect … Read more

‘Seconds to Midnight’ leads New Year’s Eve countdown

Source: Auckland Council Emerging Kiwi songstress Cassie Henderson has just found her name in the same sentence as Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Six60. Cassie’s song Seconds to Midnight was too good to miss. For the young star, hearing her hit song alongside the biggest songs of the year – and opening and closing the soundtrack … Read more

Summer in the city centre

Source: Auckland Council We invite you to reset your summer with a stroll through our city centre. With ever-changing streetscapes, award-winning spaces, re-imagined laneways and new shared paths, you’ll find it has a fresh outlook on life.   Make a day of it and discover what’s new since you were here last. Feel the sea … Read more

Georgia Lines brings her mellow sound to famous venue

Source: Auckland Council The enchanting vocals of Georgia Lines will headline the third of 18 free concerts in this summer’s Music in Parks series. Georgia will be supported by popular artists Fin Rah Zel, Fan Club, and Rumpus Machine in a concert in Auckland’s city centre on Saturday 18 January. Time and place details on … Read more

Gannet Track reopens at Muriwai Regional Park

Source: Auckland Council A popular Muriwai tourist attraction has reopened in time for the summer bird nesting season, allowing visitors once again to view a majestic seabird colony of gannets as they gather at Auckland’s west coast.   Following an extended closure due to significant storm damage in early 2023, the Maukatia Gannet Track and … Read more

A beginner’s guide to responsible pet ownership in Auckland

Source: Auckland Council There’s no doubt that pets bring many Aucklanders a lot of joy. But if you and your family received a new pet recently, there are all kinds of new responsibilities. Whether a cat, a dog or something more exotic, follow this handy how-to guide on responsible pet ownership to help your furry, … Read more

Social and wellbeing support

Source: Auckland Council Various community and wellbeing support is available to storm-affected residents, including free help with processing home insurance claims, rates relief, temporary accommodation assistance, and wider financial and mental health support. Storm Recovery Navigation Service We know how much you want to get back on your feet and how overwhelming things can be … Read more

Oriental fruit Fly – Papatoetoe/Māngere area

Source: Auckland Council A single male Oriental fruit fly was found on 3 January in a surveillance trap in a suburban back yard in the Papatoetoe/Māngere area. An operation, led by Biosecurity New Zealand which is part of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), is now underway in response to the discovery of the fruit … Read more

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Tāmaki Makaurau

Source: Auckland Council Auckland Council, SkyCity and Vector are proud to bring together this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in Auckland’s city centre as Aotearoa New Zealand leads the global welcoming in of 2025.  Highlights will include a five-minute fireworks display at midnight from the Sky Tower, and those at the Viaduct and multiple other … Read more

Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road eastbound lanes closed Saturday 18 Jan 

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency The Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (SH2) eastbound lanes between Pāpāmoa and Paengaroa (towards Whakatāne / Rotorua) will be closed between 5.30am and 1pm on Saturday 18 January 2025 for the cycle-leg of the Tauranga Half Triathlon, which is part of the Mount Festival of Multisport.   This is the fifth … Read more

SH5 road rebuild between Oturoa Road, Rotorua and South Waikato

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency To kick start the New Year, State Highway 5 (SH5) from Oturoa Road west to the South Waikato boundary will be getting a refresh. The 8-week road rebuild will take place 5- 6 days a week from 7am to 6pm beginning Tuesday 14 January. Enabling works are underway this week … Read more