Greenpeace obtains coordinates of coral destruction NZ Government refused to reveal

Source: Greenpeace The New Zealand government is refusing to release details of the location a New Zealand bottom trawler hauled up deep sea coral late last year, despite Greenpeace offering to go and survey the damage at the site with deep sea cameras. But following requests from the scientist in charge of designing the impending deep … Read more

1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled – Stats NZ media and information release: Disability statistics: 2023

Source: Statistics New Zealand 1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled – 27 February 2025 – An estimated 17 percent of people living in New Zealand households were disabled in 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. New data from the 2023 Household Disability Survey (HDS) found 10 percent of children (98,000) and … Read more

Disabled people need more care and support – Stats NZ media and information release: Disability statistics: 2023

Source: Statistics New Zealand Disabled people need more care and support – 27 February 2025 – Half a million disabled people living in New Zealand households need more care or support in at least one important area of daily life, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. The 2023 Household Disability Survey (HDS) found … Read more

BusinessNZ – Business backs a four year term

Source: BusinessNZ BusinessNZ says there is support from the private sector for a longer political term in New Zealand, as the Government looks to introduce legislation extending it to four years. Chief Executive Katherine Rich says extending the term is an important step towards improving the New Zealand’s governance and encouraging longer-term plans to fix major … Read more

Farmers welcome Taranaki adverse event declaration

Source: Federated Farmers Federated Farmers is pleased the Government has recognised the desperate situation of some Taranaki farmers with the declaration of a medium-scale adverse event across the province. “The lack of any decent rain for several months, compounding a year and a half of much lower than usual rainfall, is causing huge stress for farmers,” … Read more

First Responders – Waipoua River fire update #2

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Eight helicopters, five heavy machinery and around 50 firefighters are back fighting the Waipoua River fire today. Incident Controller Corey Matchitt says the aim today is to keep on top of the fire from the air while establishing containment lines on the ground. “We did not lose any structures overnight, … Read more

Universities – Team behind University’s first Pacific Strategy spans the Moana

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Finance Opposition spokesperson, the Hon Pesetatamalelagi Barbara Edmonds visited her alma mater, the University of Auckland to talk with Business academics and learn more about the Pacific Strategy and Pacific Academy initiatives launching this year. Edmonds (Fale’ula, Faleatiu, Safotu, Fasito’o/Sāmoa) is the MP for Mana and visited the University on … Read more

Environment – Agricultural and horticultural review presents opportunities for EPA

Source: Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) welcomes the recommendations in the Ministry for Regulation’s Agricultural and Horticultural Products Regulatory Review, which was released today. Working with the Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for the Environment, and the EPA, the review aimed to identify system-wide opportunities to improve timely access to agricultural and horticultural products. … Read more

Employment – NZDF and PSA dispute settled

Source: PSA PSA members at the New Zealand Defence Force have settled their dispute after nearly 8 months of bargaining and strike action. NZDF had previously refused to budge from an offer that included no pay rises. This week PSA members, who are civilian workers, voted to ratify a new collective agreement which includes pay increases … Read more

Climate – Paris Agreement requires urgent action to cut pollution, not just vibes – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace Greenpeace is slamming climate minister Simon Watts for claims that New Zealand does not have to meet our climate targets under the Paris climate agreement. Farmers Weekly reported yesterday that Watts had told a group of Federated Farmers members that there was no requirement for New Zealand to meet its climate targets, saying “It’s not … Read more

Health – Healthline Diverts 83 Patients Daily from Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) Region Emergency Departments

Source: Whakarongorau Aotearoa A new study by Te Pūnaha Matatini and Auckland University reveals that Healthline, operated by Whakarongorau Aotearoa, prevents approximately 83 unnecessary Emergency Department (ED) visits per day across the Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) region, with potential to reduce ED pressure further. Analysis of data from July 2019 to June 2024 demonstrates that Healthline … Read more

Animal Welfare Laws – Study reveals flaws in animal protection laws – Auckland University

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) New Zealand’s animal welfare system is failing – and in urgent need of a dedicated police unit, researcher warns. The animal protection system in Aotearoa is ineffective, underfunded, and at risk of collapse, according to new research. University of Auckland law scholar associate professor Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere warns that without … Read more

Culture and Heritage – Funding of creative spaces leaves legacy

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage welcomes a new report Te kaha o ā tātou mahi | The Power of our work which details the impact of multi-year funding of creative spaces across New Zealand. As part of the COVID recovery programme, the Ministry invested $18 million into a … Read more

Aged Care issues – Consumer NZ backs calls for court action against retirement village operators’ unfair contract terms

Source: Consumer NZ Consumer NZ and the Retirement Village Residents Association are concerned retirement villages are ignoring warnings from the Commerce Commission about unfair terms in their contracts with residents. Both organisations are calling for the Commission to take further action.   Following complaints from Consumer NZ and the Retirement Village Residents Association (RVResidents), the … Read more

Captive kākā, Charlie, to stay in Dunedin

Source: Department of Conservation Date:  27 February 2025 Professor of Animal Welfare Science Ngaio Beausoleil, from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science, who carried out the assessment, recommended Charlie remain where she is to provide stability and allow her to adapt to her new environment over time. Department of Conservation … Read more

Speech to LGNZ All-of-Local-Government Forum

Source: New Zealand Government Good morning, everybody.It’s great to see such a good cross-section of people from local government here today.Against a backdrop of skyrocketing rates and massive cost of living pressures, a lot has been made recently of the need to go ‘back to basics’ and to ‘go for growth.’These two things are critically … Read more

Whangārei Hospital transit lounge open to patients

Source: New Zealand Government Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Whangārei Hospital’s new transit lounge, where patients can prepare to leave hospital after treatment.  “The Government’s $3.75 million investment into this lounge provides an important space for patients who are medically fit to leave the ward. It helps with their timely discharge while … Read more

Incident in Onerahi

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Emergency services are responding to a serious incident in Onerahi. Police received a report of a person injured at Beach Road Reserve at about 11.10am. There are cordons in the area and locals are asked to respect these until the incident is resolved. Motorists are being advised Beach Road … Read more

State of the Planet speeches, 2025

Source: Green Party At this year’s State of the Planet address, Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick announced the party’s plans to deliver a Green Budget this year to offer an alternative vision to the Government’s trickle-down economics and austerity politics.    Chlöe’s speech: Mihi atu ki a koutou e pupuri tonu ana ki te mana o te … Read more

Interim Report: increased capital investment in Auckland

Source: Auckland Council Auckland Council’s Interim Report shows the group invested significantly to strengthen the physical resilience of Auckland and manage growth, while meeting its financial targets. The council delivered $1.9 billon of capital investment in the six months to December 2024 – a record for a six-month period and an increase of $474 million … Read more

New disability data provides crucial insights

Source: New Zealand Government Data from Stats NZ’s Household Disability Survey released today provides crucial insights into the New Zealand disability community and its people, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says. Today’s survey data, collected following the 2023 Census, identifies 1 in 6 New Zealanders as disabled – that’s around 10 per cent of children … Read more

Changes to SafePlus online self-assessment tool coming soon

Source: Worksafe New Zealand 27 February 2025 From April there will be a new way of doing a SafePlus self-assessment. The current SafePlus online tool is at the end of its life and would require significant resource to rebuild. It is being replaced with downloadable questions – in multiple languages – that can be used … Read more

Going for Growth: Multi-million dollar benefits possible for farmers and growers

Source: New Zealand Government Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have today released the Ministry for Regulation’s recommendations to cut red tape on products used by the agriculture and horticulture sectors.“HSNO and ACVM products used to manage animals and plants like veterinary medicines and agrichemicals are absolutely … Read more

Have your say on proposed changes to inspection requirements for vintage vehicles and private motorhomes

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is seeking feedback on a proposal to reduce the frequency of warrant of fitness (WoF) checks on vintage and veteran vehicles and certificate of fitness checks (CoF) on privately owned heavy motorhomes. The changes, proposed by the Minister of Transport, would be progressed through … Read more

Freedom camping certification extended

Source: New Zealand Government There will be more time to get self-contained vehicles green-certified, with an extension of the transition period, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has announced.“This extension will be reassuring for people who enjoy freedom camping as a way to get off the beaten track and explore everything our beautiful country has … Read more

Further appeal for information about missing person, Geoffrey Kelly

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police working to locate missing person Geoffrey Kelly are urging members of the public to get in touch if they saw any unusual activity in the area of Hikimutu, since 20 February. Geoffrey’s car – pictured – was located at 7am on Friday 21 February in a ditch on … Read more

Homicide investigation launched, Kawerau

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man in Kawerau yesterday. Emergency services were called to the Onslow Street property around 8:45am yesterday, after a man was located deceased on the front doorstep of the address. A scene guard remains in place at the property … Read more