Rural and Legal News – Court decision a pragmatic win for Southland farmers – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers Federated Farmers are welcoming a court decision granting a ‘stay’ on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until legislative changes can be made by central government. The plan, following earlier court decisions, would have required more than 3000 Southland farmers to apply for an expensive resource consent just to continue farming. … Read more

Is police abolition official Green Party policy?

Source: ACT Party ACT Justice spokesperson Todd Stephenson is calling on the Green Party to confirm it does not support police abolition. “Tonight, Green MP Tamatha Paul will give a talk in Christchurch about ‘the police, and what alternatives we could have to the police, and what radical police abolition could look like in real … Read more

International Anti-Money Laundering rule changes support government reforms

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed changes to international anti-money laundering standards which closely align with the Government’s reforms. “The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) last month adopted revised standards for tackling money laundering and the financing of terrorism to allow for simplified regulatory measures for businesses, organisations and sectors that … Read more

MSD fraud investigations “intrusive, excessive and inconsistent with legal requirements” – Privacy Commissioner

Source: Privacy Commissioner 16 May 2019, 06:00 An Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) inquiry has found the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) systematically misused its investigatory powers while pursuing benefit fraud, unjustifiably intruding on the privacy of many beneficiaries. The inquiry found MSD’s exercise of its information gathering powers to be inconsistent with legal … Read more

Missing Belmont boy located

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police are pleased to advise that a teenage boy, reported missing from Belmont, has been located. He is safe and is being taken home. Police thank the wider North Shore community for their response to our appeal today. ENDS Jarred Williamson/NZ Police MIL OSI

Arrests made following early morning burglaries in Rangiora

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributable to Senior Sergeant Stephen McDaniel: The quick work of Police staff has led to the apprehension of three young people following a string of offences in Rangiora this morning. Alarm activations, the proactive work of officers on the ground in Rangiora, and proactive reporting led to the arrests … Read more

Teaser: Introducing Collab

Source: Plant and Food New Zealand – Press Release/Statement: Headline: Teaser: Introducing Collab It’s here! Collab presenter Phil Johnstone briefly describes this new podcast series about global trends in international development and humanitarian crisis response. Hear brief descriptions of the first three episodes and a heads-up about episode four in April 2025 which will be … Read more

Arrests made in Operation Sove – Stokes Valley murder and arson

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Attributable to Detective Inspector Haley Ryan: Hutt Valley Police have arrested three men in connection to the murder of a man in his 80s and the arson of his residential property last year. A homicide investigation was launched in November 2024, after one of three arsons at the Hanson … Read more

Police on the scent in Flat Bush

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) A vehicle of interest to Police in the Flat Bush area has been located with drugs, cash, and offensive weapons. Police approached the vehicle parked up on Murphys Road on Tuesday afternoon. Inspector Rakana Cook, Counties Manukau East Area Prevention Manager says officers approached the vehicle to speak with … Read more

Name release: Fatal crash, Omakau

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash on Glassford Road, Omakau on 21 February. He was 25-year-old Callum Sean Russell Pattison, from Lauder, Central Otago. Our thoughts are with those close to him at this difficult time. Work is ongoing to determine … Read more

Reception for Community Networks Wellington

Source: New Zealand Governor General E nga rau rangatira mā, e huihui mai i tēnei ra, tēnei aku mihi mahana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Whare o Te Kawana Tianara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Kia ora mai tātou katoa. I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: Her Worship Tory Whanau, Mayor of … Read more

Opening of the new Canterbury Coastguard building

Source: New Zealand Governor General E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa. I specifically acknowledge: His Worship Phil Mauger; Commander Rob Hall and Sub Lieutenant Amos Kamo; Mishele Phillips Radford, Chair of Te Hapu o Ngati … Read more

Exercise NZ – Midway Results: MPs Step Up in Fit 4 Office Challenge

Source: Exercise NZ At the halfway mark of the Fit 4 Office (F4O) Challenge, New Zealand MPs from across the political spectrum are proving that even the busiest schedules can include time for movement.  With 11 MPs actively engaging in the challenge using Myzone heart rate monitors, the competition is heating up as they strive … Read more

Northland News – WHAKAMĀNAWA Ā TAIAO – ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS CLOSE SOON

Source: Northland Regional Council Time is running out to apply for the sixth Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards, which recognise individuals, groups and organisations helping to protect and improve Northland’s environment. The Environmental Awards helps tell the story of the environmental work happening in Northland and shows that collectively we are making … Read more

Environment – EPA tightens rules to keep weedkiller out of compost

Source: Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is standardising the controls for products containing clopyralid, so that plants sprayed with the persistent weedkiller are less likely to contaminate compost. Clopyralid is used to control weeds in sports turf, lawns, and on farms and in forestry. If plants sprayed with the substance get into compost, … Read more

Animal Welfare – NZVA supports work to speed up availability of new veterinary medicines

Source: NZ Veterinary Association The New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe will be working alongside The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Animal and Plant Health NZ (APHANZ) as they try to improve access to veterinary medicines, according to the Association’s Chief Executive Kevin Bryant. “The Government’s push to improve access to these medicines is … Read more

Education and Culture – Unitec and MIT celebrate more than 20 years with ASB Polyfest

Source: Unitec Tāmaki Makaurau vocational education providers are partnering to mark the 50 th anniversary of the Auckland schools’ Pacific cultural festival. Unitec and Manukau Institute of Technology have been long-time supporters of the event which showcases the talents and promotes pride among the young people of our region. This year, for the first time, the … Read more

SH45 safety work continues in New Plymouth

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency A small stretch of State Highway 45 Devon Street West in New Plymouth will be closing next month for safety improvement work. The work is part of a wider project that the New Plymouth Infrastructure Partnership, on behalf of NPDC and NZ Transport Agency, is completing to improve road user … Read more

DOC urges dog owners to act after nine kiwi killed

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  19 March 2025 “This situation needs urgent action. Kiwi are a taonga species found only in Aotearoa, and if they disappear from here, they’re gone forever. Dog owners and all organisations involved must take their responsibilities seriously.” “These recent kiwi deaths are devastating, and we need everyone to play their part … Read more

Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe

Source: Green Party The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. “We are calling on the Minister of Corrections to urgently intervene when it comes to the safety and survival of Dean Wickliffe … Read more

Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility

Source: Green Party The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action.   “Yesterday, the acting Prime Minister admitted that the Government’s climate commitments were the bare minimum. Worse still, today’s ETS auction failure shows that even the market the Government is relying on doesn’t … Read more

Injured man dies in hospital after incident, Melville

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Neilson, A man located in a critical condition after an incident in Hamilton over the weekend has died in hospital. Emergency services were called to Beatty Street, Melville at around 4.30am on Saturday 15 March. Upon arrival, a 26-year-old man was located deceased … Read more

Police switch onto offenders after burglary

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Two burglars face charges after failing to flee from Police with their lights off in Ōrewa. The pair had been travelling north after earlier allegedly committing a burglary at a Birkenhead store on the North Shore. Just after 4am, a Police unit observed a suspicious vehicle on Hibiscus Coast … Read more

Road blocked, SH2, Whakamārama

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police are responding to a crash involving four vehicles on State Highway 2 near Francis Road, Whakamārama. Emergency services were alerted around 12:20pm. It appears six people were involved, with one person in a moderate to serious condition, and the others with minor to moderate injuries. The road is … Read more

New electronic system to support pharmacy efficiency

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he welcomes Medsafe’s decision to approve an electronic controlled drug register for use in New Zealand pharmacies, allowing pharmacies to replace their physical paper-based register.“The register, developed by Kiwi brand Toniq Limited, is the first of its kind to be approved in New Zealand for … Read more

6 creative community galleries to check out

Source: Auckland Council If Auckland was an artwork, it would be a vast tapestry woven with the colourful threads of the many cultures that make up its diverse population. There are heaps of ways for art lovers to explore the creative fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau, including public artworks and art trails, galleries and community centres. … Read more

World’s Most Beautiful Restaurant: Austria’s VINA wins Property Award 2025

Source: Media Outreach Austria’s restaurant VINA, designed by the architecture firm INNOCAD, has been awarded the title of the world’s most beautiful “Leisure Interior” at the “International Property Awards 2025” in London. Currently, it is fully booked for months. GRAZ, AUSTRIA – Newsaktuell – 19 March 2025 – With this accolade, the Vietnamese restaurant VINA … Read more