De Beers Group And Endiama Discover New Kimberlite Field In Angola

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August 26, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Work is due to get underway this week on providing longer term protection from slips on State Highway 7 near Lewis Pass.

A high tensile steel mesh will be anchored to the headscarp/crest of the slope at the slip site near Riordons Creek, between Hanmer Springs and Springs Junction. A slip at the site in June reduced the highway down to one lane with traffic signals and a 30km/h speed restriction and required a series of overnight closures while clearance work was carried out.

The latest measures are aimed at preventing future slips and risks to motorists, as well as further disruption to travel through the area.

“The mesh will be pinned over the crest of the slope to help prevent it from failing or regressing,” says NZTA system manager Mark Pinner.

“We are also including an erosion matting behind the mesh to help hold the weak soil layer at the top of the slope in place and enable vegetation cover to re-establish.”

The work is due to begin tomorrow (Wednesday 27 August), when crews will mobilise on site and do some anchor testing through until Friday 29 August. This will mean that the site is reduced to one lane with temporary traffic signals from 7am to 7pm. Two lanes will be open overnight.

After a period offsite, to analyse the test results and refine the design, crews will then return on Tuesday 9 September for installation and supporting work that is due to be complete by Monday 6 October. Further traffic management will be in place at this time.

We thank road users for their patience while this work is carried out. People can stay up to date on the status of this and other highways at our Journey Planner site(external link).

An example of anchored steel mesh to prevent rockfall/slips, in Kaikōura.

An image from the Riordons Creek slip site in July.

Advocacy – Run for Hope: One Man. 617km. One Powerful Mission

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August 26, 2025

Source: I Am Hope

Christchurch endurance athlete to run 617km in honour of every life lost to suicide last year

I Am Hope is proud to stand behind 26-year-old endurance athlete and landscaper Morgan Bartram, who this September will take on an extraordinary challenge to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health in Aotearoa.

Starting 1 September 2025, Morgan will run 617km around Hagley Park South in Christchurch — one kilometre for every New Zealander lost to suicide last year. Over the course of seven days, he’ll cover 100km a day for six days, with the final 17km to be completed on 7 September, coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day.

It’s more than a run. It’s a call to action.

Morgan is urging Kiwis across the country to take part in the “What’s Your Six Seventeen?” challenge — a seven-day movement inviting individuals, teams, and communities to do something bold, meaningful, and just beyond their comfort zone in honour of those we’ve lost, and for the ones still fighting.

All funds raised will go directly to I Am Hope , delivering free counselling for young people through its Gumboot Friday programme and advocating for real, grassroots change in the mental health space.

“What Morgan’s doing is unreal,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King. “Most people can’t imagine running 6km, let alone 617. But he’s out there, in the cold, the rain, pushing through day after day — all to remind young people they matter. He’s truly special, and we’re so grateful to have him in our corner. If you can support him, do it. Every step he takes is for someone else.”

For Morgan, this mission is deeply personal. And he’s putting in the hard mahi to make it happen.

“I’ve always been fascinated by what we’re capable of — but this is about more than the distance,” says Morgan. “It’s about pushing through pain, showing up every day, and doing something that matters. I want to challenge others to do the same. You don’t have to run 617km — just take one step. Ask for help. Check in on someone. Be part of this.”

Morgan has been training relentlessly — clocking long runs in cold, wet, unforgiving conditions to prepare his body and mind for what lies ahead.

Morgan video: https://bit.ly/4fSCZdN

You can follow his journey on Instagram at @morgybartrum
Morgan’s Givealittle page: https://bit.ly/465NrLN

Event Details:

Hagley Park South, Christchurch
1–7 September 2025
Goal: 617km in 7 days | 1km for each life lost

Join the movement:

Run alongside Morgan
Start your own “617” challenge
Text HOPE to 469 for $3 donation

Let’s turn pain into purpose — together.

Police arrest man approaching students in Christchurch

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August 26, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Detective Constable Andrea McDowell:

Christchurch Police have arrested a person following reports of students being approached by a suspicious person.

Police began investigating after reports of concern in the Merivale and St Albans areas of Christchurch on 4 August, making enquiries and checking CCTV to identify the man involved.

To open up further lines of enquiry, a letter was sent to 11 schools in the area alerting them to the offending, which resulted in more reports of students being approached.

A 53-year-old man is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court today on charges of breaching release conditions.

We want to thank the community for their caring response and for providing the information that helped us to identify the man.

Reports like this are concerning and we hope the arrest brings some comfort to the community.

It is also a good reminder for parents to:

Educate children on how to keep themselves safe when they’re walking to and from school – to be mindful of their surroundings and not get distracted.
Have open discussions around behaviours and actions that are inappropriate or that make a child feel uncomfortable.
Reinforce that if they feel concerned for themselves or someone else’s safety, call 111 immediately.

ENDS

Northland News – Public help sought to find ‘Mickey Mouse’ plant in gardens

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August 26, 2025

Source: Northland Regional Council

Biosecurity experts are asking for the public’s help to identify the locations of an invasive plant hiding in gardens around Kerikeri, Opua and Mangonui and in other Far North areas.

Mickey Mouse plant (Ochna serrulata) is an issue because it can form dense monocultures that prevent regeneration of native species, and it grows and reproduces prolifically in Northland’s mild climate.

Joanna Barr, Northland Regional Council’s Biosecurity Manager – Pest Plants, says Mickey Mouse plant was originally introduced and shared as a garden plant in New Zealand.

It is currently primarily found in urban gardens and unmanaged/disturbed areas, but it is spreading. “Its berries are inedible to humans but are very attractive to birds which spread the plants a considerable distance.”

She says now is a good time for people to be on the lookout for it as it comes into flower in spring and then starts to set its unusual looking fruit in November/December.

It has yellow buttercup-like flowers that are followed by distinctive red and black fruiting bodies.

These fruiting bodies are what give the plant its name because they resemble the face of Mickey Mouse, with black berry-like fruits perched on a red base. These are surrounded by what look like red petals.

Ms Barr says council’s Biosecurity team would like assistance from Far North residents in identifying possible locations of the plant, especially in the Kerikeri, Opua and Mangonui areas.

“These observations will help us determine the distribution of Mickey Mouse plant and help us in our battle to control this plant’s spread.”

Mickey Mouse plant is a shade tolerant shrub that is usually 1-2m tall. It has elongated oval leaves that are 13-50mm long and have finely-toothed margins. It has pimply-textured bark.

Ms Barr says anyone who thinks they have seen a Mickey Mouse plant should contact the Northland Regional Council’s biosecurity team on (0800) 002 004.

“We will have a Biosecurity Officer come out and check the site and if Mickey Mouse plants are found, will undertake control at no cost to the landowner.”

Mickey Mouse plant has a deep tap root which makes it almost impossible to remove manually, and it will often re-sprout if not controlled correctly.

“Please do not try and pull them out yourself or mulch them because this could spread the seeds.”

Ms Barr says one good feature about the plant is that it does not have long lived seed, which is a big advantage in eradicating it from a site.

Wheeling and dealing lands trio in Police hands

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August 26, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Two-wheelers were the target for thieves in West Auckland last night with arrests made in two separate incidents.

Just after 5pm, Police observed a pair on a moped weaving through traffic in Titirangi.

Upon closer inspection officers realised the moped was wanted in relation to a previous incident and Eagle was called in to assist in tracking it until it was abandoned in an underground carpark.

“One person was taken into custody without incident and we are following positive lines of enquiry to locate the second person,” Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Kelly Farrant says.

Less than an hour later, Police were called by a member of the public who could see people inside their Glen Eden property.

Inspector Farrant, says the alleged offenders stole two electric bikes from the Panzic Place address before fleeing in a vehicle.

“The Police Dog Unit was quickly on the scent and located the vehicle travelling through Glen Eden where it was stopped.

“Two people, both with warrants to arrest, were quickly taken into custody and the bikes were found at a nearby property and returned to their owner.

“We take burglary and theft incidents seriously, if you see something suspicious please call 111 immediately.”

To report a crime after it has happened, contact Police on 105, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

A 34-year-old man will appear in Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary and possession of an offensive weapon.

A woman, 34, was also charged with burglary and will appear in Waitākere District Court today.

Another person has been referred to Youth Aid Services.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

EIT at the heart of international graduates’ love story

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August 26, 2025

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

4 minutes ago

When Yimeng Cao (Yee) and Han Hao (Hans) first met at EIT in 2019, neither imagined it would one day lead to a wedding.

The two international students had both been living in Qingdao, a major coastal city in China’s Shandong Province, before moving individually to Hawke’s Bay through articulation agreements between EIT and their universities. Hans studied at Binzhou Medical University in Yantai and arrived at EIT in 2017, while Yee moved a year later after studying at Qilu University of Technology in Jinan.

The pair first crossed paths in 2019 when Hans, already enrolled in the Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science, was asked to share his experience with new students, including Yee, who had just begun her English language preparation programme.

The two stayed in touch casually, adding each other on WeChat but continuing on separate paths. That changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EIT Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science graduates Yimeng Cao (Yee) and Han Hao (Hans) with School of Viticulture and Wine Science Programme Coordinator Cryn Russell (left) and Head of School Sue Blackmore (right).

“I returned to China at the end of 2019 for the holidays, but because of COVID-19 I couldn’t return to New Zealand for a year and a half,” said Hans

While he was stuck in China, Hans was able to continue studying his theoretical courses via distance but needed to complete the practical courses in-person when he returned to New Zealand.

This delay in Hans’ studies brought the two into the same class, and eventually into each other’s lives in a more meaningful way.

“We became classmates, we studied together, we laughed together,” Hans said.

By mid-2021, just as they started dating, Yee moved to Auckland to study a master’s degree in food engineering. Within two weeks, Hans made the decision to join her and worked at Babich Wines.

The couple married in China at the end of last year and now live there. They returned to Hawke’s Bay this year as part of their honeymoon, taking the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, visit the campus, and reflect on where their journey together began.

“EIT is the most important part of our love story. It means a lot to us, so we had to return,” Hans said. “We even went to see the vineyard and the winery again. It brought back a lot of memories.”

They now work together in Yee’s family business in the flame-retardant chemical industry, although Hans says he is still passionate about returning to the wine world in the future.

Both have fond memories of their time at EIT, not just for how it brought them together but for the learning itself.

“I wanted to study wine, and EIT gave me a great opportunity to learn and grow,” Yee said.

“The courses were very practical,” Hans said. “We worked in the winery and made real wine. We also really liked the lecturers. They supported us and made the learning feel personal. That experience helped me a lot when I later worked at a winery in China.”

Dr Cryn Russell, School of Viticulture and Wine Science Programme Coordinator, said: “I first met Yee and Hans at their respective universities in China, both were excited and nervous about travelling to New Zealand to begin studies at EIT”.

“As educators, we often speak of learning journeys and sometimes those journeys lead to something even more life changing. Watching Yee and Hans grow academically and personally, and seeing their paths intertwine at EIT, reminds us that education doesn’t just shape a career, it can shape lives.”

Energy Minister to attend APEC Energy Meeting

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August 26, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Energy Minister Simon Watts will travel to Busan, the Republic of Korea, to join leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region at the 15^th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministers Meeting.

“Energy security and affordability are my bottom lines as Minister for Energy. International collaboration is crucial for achieving these goals, and I look forward to contributing to discussions on how we can build more resilient, secure, and sustainable energy systems in the region and harness energy innovation,” Mr Watts says.

“Korea’s theme for APEC 2025 – Building a Sustainable Tomorrow – is incredibly relevant for New Zealand as we deal with our own energy security and affordability challenges on our path to doubling renewable energy by 2050.

“The meeting is an important chance to connect with many of my counterparts and build momentum behind the region’s shared energy goals. In particular I intend to engage with colleagues from the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and Korea while offshore.”

Key topics of discussion include electricity expansion for a secure supply, strengthening grid security and reliability, and AI-driven energy innovation.

Mr Watts is attending the conference from Tuesday through Thursday.

Social Investment Fund open to change lives

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August 26, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Social service providers now have a new opportunity to change lives, with the opening of the Social Investment Fund this week, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.

The agency has also identified priority groups for the first round of the fund as children with highly challenging parental or schooling situations, specifically:

Children with parents who are, or have recently been, in jail
Children of parents who experienced the care system, and
Children who have been stood down or suspended from
school before age 13

“Data and evidence – which underpins the social investment approach – shows children who fall into those groups are most likely to experience poor outcomes and require costly government support throughout their lives.

“It also shows us that intervening earlier in their lives helps not just them, but also the country as they make better contributions as citizens, saving the taxpayer in the process.

“The Social Investment Fund is designed to improve outcomes for families, individuals and communities by investing in what actually works, and to give organisations that know those communities best the freedom to get on and do what they do best.

“The Fund enables the Government to invest earlier, smarter, and with a much more transparent measurement of the impact those interventions have for the people they’re designed to help.”

The Fund has $190 million over four years in Budget 2025 for those carefully targeted investments.

Notes to editors:

More information on criteria, specifics of applying and reporting requirements can be found here.
Social Investment Fund FAQs can be found here.
Three projects were identified at Budget 2025 to demonstrate social investment in practice. They are: Autism NZ, Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa and He Piringa Whare’s Te Tihi o Ruahine.

Pacific Healthy Homes initiative delivers for families

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August 26, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

The Pacific Healthy Homes Initiative has already helped over 300 Pacific households with warmer, drier homes, and the Government is extending it, Pacific Peoples Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.

Since July 2024, the initiative has built on the Healthy Homes and Warmer Kiwi Homes programmes, with additional eligibility for older Pacific peoples with chronic health conditions.

Nearly $4 million has been invested so far, with an additional $1 million committed through to 30 June 2026.

Dr Reti says the programme is delivering real results:

Over 300 Pacific households supported in the past year
More than 5,200 interventions such as insulation, heating, and minor repairs
200 more households expected to benefit over the next year

“The Government is focused on improving the lives of Pacific families,” Dr Reti says.

“The Healthy Homes Initiative provides simple additions, like curtains, heat pumps, better ventilation, that keep a home warm and dry.

“By investing in healthy homes, we are reducing preventable illnesses, helping keep Pacific children and older people out of hospital and able to keep going to school, to work and be a part of their community.”

The initiative is delivered by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples in partnership with local providers in South Auckland and Porirua.

“All new funding goes directly into homes, ensuring families receive the support they need to live healthier lives,” Dr Reti says.

The University of Otago is independently evaluating the programme to guide future investment in Pacific housing solutions.