Detours available for 5 nights of resealing on SH2, Central HB

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency A stretch of State Highway 2 through Central Hawke’s Bay will be closing for 5 nights next month for resealing. The road, between the intersection with SH50 and Waipawa, will close overnight from Sunday 16 March. Signposted detours will be in place. Crews will be onsite between 8pm and 5am … Read more

Wildberries increased network of pickup points by 75% to over 58,000 since 2024

Source: Media Outreach MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 February 2025 – Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Eurasia, increased the number of its pickup points by 75% since the beginning of 2024 to support the dynamic growth of its marketplace. The total number of Wildberries pickup points has surpassed 58,000 across seven … Read more

Proofpoint: 88% of Top Organisations in Asia Pacific Still Put Their Customers and Stakeholders at Risk of Email Fraud as Businesses Face Record-High Email Attacks

Source: Media Outreach Protective measures against email fraud remain widely insufficient among leading Asia Pacific companies. Australia’s high adoption rate of proper email authentication (71%) among its top companies sets the standard for the Asia Pacific region Around 50% of leading Singapore and India’s businesses have implemented the recommended level of email authentication Concerningly, less … Read more

Appeal for information following fatal vehicle fire, Puketaha

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police hope the public can help the investigation into a fatal vehicle fire in Puketaha early on Wednesday 19 February. We would like to speak to any witnesses to a vehicle collision on Holland Road, between 3am and 4am that day. In particular, we would like to speak to … Read more

Police urge motorists to drive safe following concerning number of fatal crashes

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Attributable to Inspector Craig Brown, Southern District Road Policing Manager: Southern District Police are urging members of the public to pay close attention to road safety following four fatal crashes in less than two weeks. Five people have died in the four crashes: Three in the Otago Lakes area, … Read more

Release: Call for Destiny Church to lose charity status

Source: New Zealand Labour Party Labour Te Atatū MP Phil Twyford has written to the charities regulator asking that Destiny Church charities be struck off in the wake of last weekend’s violence by Destiny followers in his electorate. Phil Twyford’s formal complaint to Charities Services says Destiny Church has engaged in serious wrongdoing which is … Read more

Lussocitta Becomes iShopChangi’s Sole Multibrand Seller for Brand-Name Bags

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 February 2025 – Lussocitta, a luxury bag retailer based in Singapore, announces its partnership with iShopChangi, Changi Airport’s online shopping platform. This collaboration makes Lussocitta the sole multi-brand seller on the platform, offering a selection of brand-name bags at competitive prices, with added customer benefits. … Read more

Have fun, but stay safe at Electric Avenue this weekend

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons Police want everybody attending Electric Avenue to have a good time, but ensure they are safe too. There will be a Police and Security Team presence at the event to keep you safe. Please talk to us if you have any concerns … Read more

Dargaville offenders located

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Dargaville Police have identified offenders involved in a string of burglaries earlier this week. Enquiries have been underway since three businesses were targeted in the early hours of 18 February. Whangārei – Kaipara Area Commander, Inspector Maria Nordstrom, says local staff have been investigating. Burglaries had occurred at a … Read more

Auckland overnight motorway closures 21 to 28 February 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 28 February 2025. Please note this traffic bulletin is updated every Friday. Daily updated closure information(external link) Unless otherwise stated, closures … Read more

Closure of the Ava Bridge Walkway postponed

Source: New Zealand Government The closure of the Ava Bridge walkway will be delayed so Hutt City Council have more time to develop options for a new footbridge, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Mayor of Lower Hutt, Campbell Barry. “The Hutt River paths are one of the Hutt’s most beloved features. Hutt locals and … Read more

Information sought following Kaikohe aggravated robbery

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police are appealing for information following an aggravated robbery at a commercial premises in Kaikohe earlier this week. At about 11.20pm on Tuesday 18 February, Police received reports of four males entering a store on Broadway armed with a hammer and tyre iron. The group has allegedly jumped the … Read more

Tech and Security – New Zealand’s digital wellbeing ranking declines with the biggest setback in internet affordability

Source: SurfShark The Digital Quality of Life Index is an annual study that ranks 121 countries by their digital wellbeing based on 5 core pillars: internet quality, internet affordability, e-security, e-infrastructure, and e-government                                 Surfshark’s Digital Quality of Life Index … Read more

Energy – CCUS announcements move New Zealand toward a lower emission future

Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa Energy Resources Aotearoa welcomes the Government’s announcement on a Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) framework that will enable businesses to benefit from storing carbon underground. CCUS projects are an essential technology for meeting our emissions goals. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has previously stated that CCUS is “unavoidable” for countries … Read more

Speech to Committee for Auckland

Source: New Zealand Government Good afternoon. Can I acknowledge Ngāti Whātua for their warm welcome, Simpson Grierson for hosting us here today, and of course the Committee for Auckland for putting on today’s event.I suspect some of you are sitting there wondering what a boy from the Hutt would know about Auckland, our largest city.Well, … Read more

Removal of level crossings a win for Aucklanders

Source: New Zealand Government The Government will invest funding to remove the level crossings in Takanini and Glen Innes and replace them with grade-separated crossings, to maximise the City Rail Link’s ability to speed up journey times by rail and road and boost Auckland’s productivity, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. … Read more

Media advisory: Police Media Centre closing at 3pm, Saturday 22 February

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) The Police Media Centre will close at 3pm on Saturday 22 February due to staffing constraints. After 3pm, information on any significant public safety issues will be released proactively. The centre will reopen at the usual time of 7am on Sunday 23 February. We appreciate our media colleagues’ patience … Read more

Auckland fruit fly – controls on produce movements now in place

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries Biosecurity New Zealand has now placed legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Birkdale and nearby areas on the North Shore following the detection of a single male Oriental fruit fly, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis. The horticulture pest was … Read more

Carbon capture one step closer

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has made key decisions on a Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) framework to enable businesses to benefit from storing carbon underground will support New Zealand’s businesses to continue operating while reducing net carbon emissions, Energy and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.“Economic growth is a key focus for … Read more

Agriculture export growth narrows goods trade deficit – Stats NZ media and information release: Overseas merchandise trade: January 2025

Source: Statistics New Zealand Agriculture export growth narrows goods trade deficit – 21 February 2025 – The trade balance for the January 2025 month was a deficit of $486 million, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. In the January 2024 month, the deficit was $1.1 billion. Total exports were valued at $6.2 billion … Read more

Greenpeace – NZ position at fisheries forum “reckless”

Source: Greenpeace Greenpeace is calling the stance taken by New Zealand at an international fisheries forum “short-sighted and reckless”, saying more ocean protection is needed, not further erosion of existing measures in the name of profit. The annual meeting of the inter-governmental body that governs fishing in the South Pacific high seas (SPRFMO) is meeting in … Read more

Storm recovery planning underway in Āwhitu

Source: Auckland Council The Pollok Community Hall and Emergency Hub is working with the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office, helping drive recovery planning in the Āwhitu community. This is part of a series of partnerships in heavily-impacted communities across Auckland. Communities are being supported to develop practical plans, which will include activities and priorities that can … Read more

Fatal Crash, Glassford Road, Otago

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) One person has died following a serious crash on Glassford Road, Otago overnight. Police were alerted to the single-vehicle crash at around 11pm. Sadly, one person was located deceased at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit examined the scene overnight. ENDS Issued by Police Media Centre MIL OSI

ChildFund – Don’t Abandon Ukrainian Children Now

Source: ChildFund New Zealand “While the politicians talk, Ukrainian children enter their fourth year of no school and no normal childhood – longer if you include the interruptions of Covid,” says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund. Thousands of children have relied on the help of New Zealanders and others around the world to make sure … Read more

Arts – NZSA Kupu Kaitiaki & Kaituhi Mentor Programmes for Kaituhi Māori Now Open For Application

Source: New Zealand Society of Authors These two programmes aim to support the amplification of Māori voices, Māori stories, and ultimately see greater publication and performance of these works.  They are modelled on NZSA’s 30-year successful and impactful mentorship and assessment support programmes for writers. NZSA now offers dedicated programmes for Māori writers through its … Read more

Property Market – All eyes on lower mortgage rates as investors return – CoreLogic

Source: CoreLogic Easing mortgage rates and further cuts on the horizon could drive further growth in borrower activity, potentially starting to lift NZ’s property market out of its recent soft patch. CoreLogic NZ’s February Housing Chart Pack shows increased market activity among ‘movers’ and mortgaged multiple property owners (MPOs) in January, rising to 28% and … Read more

Dairy Sector – Fonterra provides FY25 earnings and milk collections update

Source: Fonterra Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd today provided an update on its forecast earnings for FY25, which it anticipates will be in the upper half of the previously announced forecast earnings range of 40-60 cents per share.   Preliminary results show the Co-op has had a strong first half and, alongside the strength in earnings, … Read more