Aotearoa’s biodiversity boost: $9.2 m awarded to protect threatened nature

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  17 April 2025 The DOC Community Fund (DOCCF) is a contestable Crown fund, open to community groups and private landowners to support community-led conservation projects on public and private land. This 2025 funding round criteria focused on protecting and restoring threatened species and ecosystems. Projects are funded for up to three … Read more

Loft Logistics Ventures into Malaysia with New Warehouse

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 April 2025 – Loft Logistics, a 3PL logistics service provider in Singapore, is proud to announce its business expansion into Malaysia with a new warehouse in Shah Alam, Selangor. Loft Logistics Shah Alam Warehouse Driving Growth in Southeast Asia This strategic move enhances Loft’s capabilities, … Read more

Delays following truck crash, East Tāmaki

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Motorists are being advised to expect delays following a crash between two trucks in East Tāmaki. Emergency services are responding to reports of the two vehicles colliding at the intersection of Highbrook Drive and El Kobar Drive, reported to Police at midday. Early indications suggest one person has been … Read more

Economy – Inflation data confirms real terms minimum wage cut – CTU

Source: NZCTU The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year. “The prices of things that people can’t avoid are rising – meaning inflation is rising faster for those … Read more

Weather News – Stay weather-aware ahead of long weekend – MetService

Source: MetService Covering period of Thursday 17th – Sunday 20th April – Significant winds from Cyclone Tam continue to affect the upper North Island today (Thursday), while waves of wet weather spread across the North Island and extend to the South Island this evening. Combined impacts from winds and rain are still possible today for the … Read more

Stay safe on our roads this Easter

Source: New Zealand Government Transport Minister Chris Bishop is encouraging all road users to make safe choices and be patient with other drivers while on the roads this Easter.“Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with more people travelling around the country over the long weekend, we need everyone to make safe choices … Read more

Matariki 2025 – Puanga to be star of Matariki 2025

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage Puanga to be star of Matariki 2025 This year’s theme of Matariki mā Puanga highlights communities who observe Puanga astronomical traditions and is all about celebrating and learning about the Māori new year together. “Matariki and Puanga are stars that sit in the night sky together to signal the start … Read more

Tupu Ola Moui: Pacific Health Chart Book 2025 series

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health These reports are part of the Tupu Ola Moui Pacific Health Chart Book series, which provides comprehensive and up-to-date data on the health of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is the third edition for Tupu Ola Moui with earlier publications in 2004 and 2012. Designed as a … Read more

Over 200,000 New Zealanders to benefit from medicines funding boost

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown are pleased that hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are set to benefit from access to more than 60 medicines, following the Government’s funding boost to Pharmac.The funding boost of $604 million over four years has allowed Pharmac to fund or … Read more

Annual inflation at 2.5 percent in March 2025 – Stats NZ media and information release: Consumers price index: March 2025 quarter

Source: Statistics New Zealand Annual inflation at 2.5 percent in March 2025 – 17 April 2025 – Aotearoa New Zealand’s consumers price index (CPI) increased 2.5 percent in the 12 months to the March 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. The 2.5 percent increase follows a 2.2 percent annual increase to … Read more

Meal kits, cruises, and smart watches added to CPI basket in latest update – Stats NZ media and information release: Consumers price index review: 2024

Source: Statistics New Zealand Meal kits, cruises, and smart watches added to CPI basket in latest update – 17 April 2025 – People are spending more on delivered meal kits and smart watches, but less on older technology such as DVDs, home telephone line rentals, and national toll calls, Stats NZ said today. Following changes … Read more

Health – Government’s public consultation to address healthcare crisis “badly flawed” – Genaro

Source: General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) The General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) has criticised a Ministry of Health public consultation process on workforce regulation as poorly designed and biased towards outcomes likely to compromise patient safety and lead to patients not being able to see a GP when they need to. The Ministry describes its … Read more

Health – Crucial harm reduction service continues to increase reach

Source: New Zealand Drug Foundation Strong growth in the number of people getting their drugs checked is reassuring against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile drug supply and a surge in consumption, the NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri says. The Foundation’s drug checking service tested 3,213 samples at 141 clinics in … Read more

Bridge on SH 29 remains closed, caution urged in high winds

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) A bridge on State Highway 29 east of Te Poi remains closed, after a tree fell this morning. The road is expected to remain closed for at least the next four hours, while a structural assessment of the bridge is carried out. We’re also starting to experience high winds … Read more

State Highway 29 east of Te Poi blocked by falling tree

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) A bridge on State Highway 29 east of Te Poi is blocked, after a tree fell across the bridge this morning. The tree struck a car when it fell – fortunately the driver was uninjured. Motorists travelling between Tauranga and Hamilton are asked to take alternative routes where possible, … Read more

State Highway 5 north of Rotorua blocked

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) State Highway 5 north of Rotorua is blocked after a tree fell across the road this morning. Police were notified just after 6am today.  The tree is also reported to have struck a car when it fell, however there are currently no reports of any injuries to the car’s … Read more

Worker’s six-metre fall prompts industry call-out

Source: Worksafe New Zealand 17 April 2025 As winter creeps closer, WorkSafe New Zealand is reminding businesses to take heed of the risks when workers are operating at height. The consequences have been laid bare at the sentencing of a Wellington business, whose worker was critically injured in April 2023 when he fell six metres … Read more

Health – Fresh Minds continues to support workforce pathways with Psychology interns

Source: ProCare ProCare Fresh Minds, New Zealand’s largest provider of primary mental health and wellbeing services, is delighted to announce the continuation of Health New Zealand’s Psychologist Intern Hub Services for 2025, alongside Tāmaki Health. The Intern Hub is based at Fresh Minds’ busy central Auckland clinics, and at one of Tāmaki Health’s sites, and … Read more

Hossack Wetland restoration for treasured Kakī

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council Just 169 of these wild adult birds remained and they could only be found in New Zealand. Kakī are regarded by Māori as a taonga species – a living treasure. However, invasive weeds and pest willow spreading through the wetland has been threatening the environment. Farm owners, Diane and Martin … Read more

Wheel Creek Hut gets a do-up  |

Source: Department of Conservation The hut reno team at the beginning of the renovation | Ben Pigott A six-person hut in near Maruia on the South Island’s West Coast has received a major makeover, with a refurbished roof, new piles and a smart paint job.  The work was planned and led by ranger Matt Ainge, … Read more

Photo competition a licence to enjoy Taupō fishery

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  17 April 2025 That’s according to last year’s winner Patrick Clement, whose photo featured three generations of family enjoying Taupō Fishery. He says his family all ended up with a licence featuring the photo to keep as mementos. “They love it. The photo was taken in 2017, and the boys are … Read more

Latest figures confirm inflation back under control

Source: New Zealand Government The latest inflation figures confirm inflation is back under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today that inflation increased slightly to 2.5 per cent in the year to March but remained within the Reserve Bank’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent.“This is the third consecutive quarter that … Read more

Enduring Pacific bonds reinforced

Source: New Zealand Government A high-level delegation from across Parliament has reinforced New Zealand’s enduring bonds to the Pacific over the past week, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says.“Our New Zealand Parliamentarians drawn from five political parties, across government and opposition, have spent time in Tonga, Hawaii, Fiji and Vanuatu connecting with our Pacific family,” … Read more

More Jobseekers finding work

Source: New Zealand Government More than 2,000 additional Jobseekers found work in the first three months of 2025 than in the same period last year, statistics Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston describes as “cautiously encouraging.”Quarterly benefit numbers released by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) today show more than 23,000 clients receiving a … Read more

Police aknowledge IPCA findings on use of force

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police acknowledge the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) over the use of force on a male prisoner. In November 2023, Police staff received a 19-year-old man into custody at the Manukau District Custody Unit. Mr X began banging his head against a wall after being placed … Read more

Plea to rural Canterbury drivers after two fatal crashes in two hours

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) In the 18 months to Monday, first responders had seen the result of crashes that killed 26 people around rural Canterbury. By Tuesday, it was 28. Inspector Peter Cooper, the Canterbury Rural Area Commander, is a 40-year veteran but says experience doesn’t make fatal crashes easier to deal with. … Read more

Takanini Community Patrol on the beat

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Another set of eyes and ears are on patrol, with the launch of the much anticipated Takanini Community Patrol this week. The patrol launches after an 18-month joint effort between Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) and NZ Police, with support from the Supreme Sikh Society. The new service … Read more