Chris Hipkins’s deck chair speech

Source: ACT Party Responding to Chris Hipkins’s State of the Nation speech, ACT Leader David Seymour says: “It was a deck chair speech. All the changes he’s proposing involve politicians and bureaucrats being reorganised, and will have no effect on actual people. “A new ‘economic team’ of Labour MPs, a new ‘jobs and incomes’ portfolio … Read more

Deep concerns about undue influence at NZME – E tū

Source: Etu Union E tū is deeply concerned by comments made by NZME investor and billionaire James Grenon, that he wants to replace the board of directors with four new people – including himself. Grenon owns a 9.3% stake in NZME, and has been a controversial figure in the media landscape. NZME delegate Isaac Davison … Read more

Government releases new strategy and work plan to deal with New Zealand’s waste

Source: New Zealand Government Environment Minister Penny Simmonds today launched the Government’s strategy to reduce waste and improve how it’s managed in New Zealand.  The strategy sets out the Government’s approach to reducing the environmental and economic harm caused by waste, Ms Simmonds says. “The Government is committed to working with the sector, business, iwi/Māori, local … Read more

Operation Fielder: Name release

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Please attribute to Superintendent Shanan Gray, Counties Manukau District Commander: Police are formally releasing the name of the man who died at Ōrere Point on 2 March. Today, he can be named as Faasala Samu Matue, aged 45. A blessing was conducted at the scene with family and iwi … Read more

Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address

Source: New Zealand Labour Party I want to start by acknowledging Simon Bridges and all the members of the Auckland Chamber – thank you for hosting us here today. Mayor Wayne Brown, union and business leaders, my deputy Carmel Sepuloni and all my Labour colleagues – thank you for taking the time to be here. … Read more

Release: Labour outlines priorities of next Govt

Source: New Zealand Labour Party The next Labour Government will prioritise jobs, health and homes so Kiwis and Kiwi businesses have the opportunity to thrive. Jobs – a fair economy with secure jobs that pay a decent wage Health – a quality public health system supporting healthy communities. Homes – a place to live and … Read more

NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow

Source: Green Party This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. “Our health system is falling victim to a slow death by a thousand cuts,” says Green Party Health spokesperson Hūhana Lyndon. “All New Zealanders deserve a strong, … Read more

Takapuna Golf course

Source: Auckland Council As part of ongoing efforts to protect the Auckland region from future floods, Auckland Council will be seeking community feedback on a proposed flood resilient blue-green network in the Wairau Valley. Before and after of Greenslade. The proposed network is part of Auckland Council’s Making Space for Water programme and co-funded by … Read more

Health – Nurses call to revive Pay Equity claims

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation This International Women’s Day, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) calls on the Government to honour its pre-election promise to pay all nurses equally by providing pay equity across the funded sector including primary and community health. NZNO President Anne Daniels says there are many hurdles to … Read more

Health and Politics – No place for privatisation in health – alarm bells should be ringing – PSA

Source: PSA The unveiling of the Health Minister’s new priorities is a clear signal that the Government wants to rely on the private sector to deliver health services rather than properly funding a public health system. “The Government’s privatisation agenda has been well and truly exposed in Minister Brown’s priorities,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for … Read more

Drought declaration extended across three North Island and top of the South regions

Source: New Zealand Government Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today classified drought conditions in the Northland, Waikato, Horizons, and Marlborough-Tasman regions as a medium-scale adverse event, recognising the worsening conditions faced by many farmers across the country.  Mr McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Paterson said that the Government was acting quickly to give farmers certainty … Read more

Release: Refreshed team to drive Labour’s 2026 priorities

Source: New Zealand Labour Party Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled a new economic team as part of a caucus reshuffle. “Barbara Edmonds will lead our refreshed economic team. She will add the new Savings and Investment portfolio to her expanded Finance and Economy portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Economic growth for the sake of it … Read more

Health Minister outlines 5 key health priorities

Source: New Zealand Government Health Minister Simeon Brown has today released his five key priorities for Health New Zealand in a speech to the BusinessNZ Health Forum in Auckland. “The Government is investing a record $16.68 billion of additional funding in health, but we need to ensure Kiwis are seeing improved outcomes from this significant … Read more

Delays expected after three car crash, Silverdale

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Emergency services are responding to a multi-vehicle crash on the Northern Motorway, Silverdale. The crash, near the Silverdale off-ramp, was reported to Police at 11.55am. Three vehicles have collided and one person has been transported to hospital. One southbound lane is blocked and motorists are advised to expect delays … Read more

Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth barrier works next week

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Overnight wire rope barrier maintenance will take place on the Pūhoi on- and off-ramps at the southern end of the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway next week. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says contractors will be checking and modifying the concrete post footings of the barriers to … Read more

Speech to the BusinessNZ Health Forum

Source: New Zealand Government Check against delivery. Kia ora koutou. Thank you, Phil, for the opportunity to speak to you today to the Business NZ Health Forum. Since my appointment as Health Minister, I’ve spent time where it matters most – on the frontline, listening to the people our health system is here to serve. Let me tell you … Read more

Road Closed, SH1, Kaihiku

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) State Highway One/Moa Hill Road, near Kaihiku is closed following an earlier crash. Police were alerted to the two-vehicle crash at around 11am. One person has received serious injuries and is being assessed by Ambulance. The road is closed while emergency services are at the scene. Motorists are advised … Read more

RIF support for West Coast projects

Source: New Zealand Government A total of $15.3 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will go towards upgrading Hokitika Airport and key port facilities at Greymouth and Westport, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “Ensuring the West Coast continues to be well-connected, productive and resilient is important to the economic health of the region and … Read more

Greenpeace seamounts expedition sets off to uncover secrets of the deep

Source: Greenpeace A Greenpeace expedition to survey seamounts and other deep sea habitats has set off this week. With two specialist marine scientists on board, Greenpeace is aiming to use remotely operated deep sea cameras to survey seamounts and other features in both New Zealand waters and the high seas of the South Pacific. Speaking from … Read more

Environment – Have your say on biological controls to combat noxious weed – EPA

Source: Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) wants people’s views on an application to release two biological control agents to combat Darwin’s barberry, an invasive weed. Environment Canterbury has applied to introduce Darwin’s barberry flower weevil ( Anthonomus kuscheli) and Darwin’s barberry rust fungus ( Puccinia berberidis-darwinii) to target this unwanted shrub. If approved, … Read more

Stunning botanical gift for Aucklanders, forever

Source: Auckland Council In an extraordinary act of generosity, Auckland philanthropist Rosemary Platt has gifted 5.63 hectares (approximately 14 acres) of ecologically significant land to the people of Tāmaki Makaurau. In exchange for this gift, Auckland Council has committed to protect the botanical site as a regional park in perpetuity so that future generations can … Read more

Strategic Approach to Immunisation in New Zealand 2025–2030

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health Immunisation is a highly successful public health intervention. It safeguards individuals, whānau and communities against a range of potentially devastating diseases, and is a critical way of preventing and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. An accessible and effective immunisation system maximises immunisation uptake and coverage, improving the health of the … Read more

Things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau this Autumn

Source: Auckland Council Autumn is here, but there’s still a few more days before the golden weather is set to end, and the good news is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a memorable time in Tāmaki Makaurau. As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisp, there’s no … Read more

Free kidney disease checks at Auckland’s Pasifika Festival this Weekend

Source: Kidney Health New Zealand Kidney Health New Zealand will be providing free testing for kidney disease at the Pasifika Festival this Saturday and Sunday at Auckland’s Western Springs. National Clinical Manager Merryn Jones says Pasifika people are among high-risk groups being targeted for free testing this month. “As a former dialysis nurse and transplant … Read more

Animal Welfare – SAFE: Animal cruelty has no place in national sports awards

Source: SAFE For Animals SAFE is calling for rodeo riders to be excluded as contenders from all future rounds of the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, saying the inclusion of rodeo legitimises animal cruelty. SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall says the organisation was shocked to learn 20-year-old bull rider Rylee Ward has been named as a … Read more

Health and Politics – Hey Minister, how about saving 700 lives?

Source: Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand The Health Minister has allocated many millions of dollars in recent days for primary healthcare and bowel cancer, which is very welcome, but so far can’t find anything in the cupboard for the 700 men who die each year of prostate cancer. “Everyone agrees that the earlier a … Read more

Two are no match for Delta as they land in court

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributed to Inspector Phil Weaver, Whanganui-Ruapehu Area Prevention Manager Two men are before the courts after Delta sniffed them out in two separate incidents. At around 3.40pm yesterday, Police were alerted to a person making threats with a weapon at a property on Mataroa Road in Taihape. Police arrived … Read more