Back on the water: Jet ski found five years after theft

August 21, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

A family jet ski lost to the hands of thieves five years ago has been returned to its rightful owners after a search on social media proved fruitful.

The jet ski was originally reported stolen from a property in Waitākere in October 2020.

Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Kelly Farrant, says the victim happened to be on Facebook Marketplace earlier this week.

Instead of finding a replacement, he spotted the long-lost jet ski that used to belong to his family.

“It was all in the timing really, the victim just happened to surfing marketplace when the jet ski came up on his feed.

“He then made contact with the seller and arranged a meeting to view the jet ski, while also contacting Police.”

Inspector Farrant says officers attended the meet up, and located the jet ski at the Henderson property.

“The victim was able to clearly identify the vehicle from the colours and other various markings.

“The seller was cooperative and handed over the jet ski without incident upon finding out the item had been previously stolen.”

She says enquiries remain ongoing to identifying those responsible for the 2020 theft.

“We’re thrilled to have been able to assist in returning this jet ski back to its owners, to hopefully be used in making more fun summer memories.”

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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Weather News – Sunshine in the south, showers in the north – MetService

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 21st – Monday 25th August – With the weekend in sight, the clouds will part, and the skies will brighten up for many regions. A line of showers, however, will be arriving in the upper North Island. This will be something to keep a close eye on for those attending weekend sports or hoping to head into the outdoors.

MetService have indicated a risk of heavy rainfall for the Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty over the weekend. Showers are also expected to spill into neighbouring regions including Auckland, Northland and Waikato.

Further south, the story is brighter. The cloud over Canterbury is set to clear on Friday and the showers about Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa will begin to ease on Saturday. This will lead to fine and frosty conditions.

MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley details “The freezing southerly that we’re experiencing lightens up a bit, which will take the bite out of those daytime temperatures. In places with clear skies overhead, the temperature will still plunge overnight, allowing frost to settle.”

“I’d say the place to be is on a ski field in the South Island. They’ve had a bit of a dusting of snow recently and there are some bluebird skies instore” recomm

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The lure of luxury catches out alleged scammer

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

An alleged text scammer attempting to splash out on luxury goods is instead awaiting her next court date in custody.

Auckland City CIB have laid seven fraud charges and are continuing to investigate the visitor’s actions after she aroused suspicion at high-end retailers.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton says Police were called to Newmarket on 10 August.

“A woman had tried unsuccessfully using multiple phones to make a pay wave purchase in excess of $6,000.

“Police were called after the woman then left the shop and attempted to enter another high-end retailer.

“Police were contacted by security at the time and the woman was arrested by our staff on arrival.”

Police enquiries have established this woman is allegedly involved in a text scam ring which has made another resurgence recently.

“It will be alleged that unsuspecting Kiwi’s credit card details were used by ghost tapping with several smart phones,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says.

“We’d like to acknowledge the vigilance of the retail staff, who have prevented any further spending on a victim’s dime.”

A 25-year-old Chinese national has appeared in the Auckland District Court and was remanded in custody until her next appearance on 25 August.

Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says Police have laid seven charges of obtains by deception, and further charges are likely.

Be wary of ‘text reminders’:

Text scams have been the subject of Kiwis’ ire in recent months.

Many report receiving reminders from ‘NZ Police’ or ‘NZTA’ reminding them to pay their unpaid fines or tolls.

Police urge extreme caution with these sorts of messages, especially when they ask you to click strange links or reply to messages.

“I know these texts can catch some people off guard and leaving you feeling flustered,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says.

“Pause, and think, ‘do I know where this message is coming from?’

“It’s almost certainly scammers trying to steal your credit card or banking details.”

There will likely be several red flags: an unknown international number, an unusual weblink and often poor grammar and spelling mistakes.

Never click these links.

Police remind the public that we do not send these sorts of text messages.

You can find some further information on what to look out for on the Police and NZTA websites.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Universities – Exploring AI’s environmental costs and benefits – UoA

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

How can we use artificial intelligence to help the planet – and what impacts might it have along the way?

A panel of experts will explore the opportunities and trade-offs of artificial intelligence (AI) for the environment at an event on Tuesday, 26 August, organised by University of Auckland research centre Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism.

The panel brings together leaders in business, technology, AI, sustainability, planetary accounting, and Indigenous futures. Dr Guy Bate, the Business School’s thematic lead in AI, will facilitate the discussion.

“How could we or should we be using AI and what are its impacts? What are its trade-offs? Is writing a big prompt the same as boiling a kettle? We’re looking to give some perspective on the actual impact of AI and put it into the context of other trade-offs as well,” says Bate.

Artificial intelligence has environmental consequences but can also be a powerful tool for analysing environmental data to help human decision-making, and one of the topics up for discussion is ‘planetary accounting’.

Panellist Mike Merry, Chief Technology Officer at Planetary Insights, utilises planetary accounting, which he likens to carbon accounting but applied across all of nature. This includes not only greenhouse gases, but also waste, water, pollution, biodiversity loss, and deforestation – capturing an overarching picture of human activity on the environment.

Planetary accounting provides sustainability insights into products, services, or organisations within Earth’s environmental limits, and according to Merry, AI can lower the technical barrier for companies to use this approach and support scaling up.

“Organisations have a lot of information about what they do, but they struggle to use this information to understand their environmental impacts.

“AI lowers the technical barrier for businesses to do planetary accounting themselves. For example, there’s some technical knowledge required to be able to say ‘this business activity translates to this sustainability background data’. AI helps to do that at scale, and for businesses to do that themselves.”

However, the environmental impact of AI raises important questions.

Panellist Dr Sasha Maher, a sustainability lecturer at the University of Auckland, has a specialist interest in both market and non-market solutions to climate change mitigation. Maher questions the environmental benefit of using artificial intelligence, saying information is only as good as its uptake.

“We’ve only got so much energy – should we expend all our energy on getting more and more accurate data? And when we know the planet’s burning, do we really need more accuracy?

“And then you could go the other way in that businesses and governments need to make business cases more than ever before; to their citizens and to critics. And so, planetary accounting enables us to get that accuracy … But, of course, it still comes down to human action.”

Bowen Pan and Dr Tania Wolfgramm are also on the panel. Bowen Pan is a product and technology leader best known for creating Facebook Marketplace and leading major product initiatives at Trade Me, Facebook Gaming, Stripe, and Common Room. Dr Wolfgramm is a psychological and social scientist, creative producer, Indigenous futurist and co-founder of Hakamana AI.

The event is taking place at the University of Auckland Business School from 5.30pm-8pm on 26 August. It’s the second in a new dialogue series offering diverse perspectives on some of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand and the world.

Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism is a Business School research centre exploring how capitalism can better serve people and planet. Through research, education and collaboration, the centre seeks to create opportunities for meaningful dialogues on challenging issues to enable long-term transformation.

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First Fast-track project approved

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones have welcomed news that the first Fast-track project has received consent, less than seven months since the one-stop approvals shop opened for business.

The Port of Auckland wharf expansion project has today received its approval from an expert panel set up under the Fast-track Approvals Act. The approved works include a new reinforced concrete-piled wharf at the Bledisloe Terminal, an extension to the Fergusson North Berth, a cruise passenger terminal, and other upgrades.

The project is expected to begin construction next month, creating jobs and boosting New Zealand’s economy

“The Fast-track Approvals Act, part of the coalition agreement between National and NZ First, was signed into law just before Christmas and opened for project applications on 7 February this year. The Act helps cut through the tangle of red and green tape and the jumble of approvals processes that has, until now, held New Zealand back from much-needed economic growth,” Mr Bishop says

“The Fast-track Approvals Act contains a list of 149 projects which, since 7 February, have been able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for consideration by an expert panel. The expert panels consider each application, decide whether or not each project receives approval, and attach any necessary conditions to those approvals.

“The Bledisloe North Wharf extensions will enable larger cruise ships to berth, and increase New Zealand’s importing and exporting capacity,” Mr Bishop says.

“The project will deliver lasting economic benefits by boosting the efficiency of a critical part of Auckland’s economy and supporting long-term growth,” Mr Bishop says.

The application was assessed and approved with conditions by an independent expert panel. This decision comes 66 working days after the expert panel was convened to consider the substantive application.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said he was looking forward to more projects reaching the approval stage, with many more in the pipeline.

“I am working closely with Minister Bishop to consider what tweaks to the legislation can be made to make this process even more efficient and get these projects approved and under way.”

For more information about the project: Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension | Fast-track website

Note to Editor: Current Fast-track project statuses

Expert panels are currently considering:

Delmore (residential)
Maitahi Village (residential)
Milldale (residential development)
Tekapo Power Scheme (power scheme consent renewal)
Waihi North (mining extension)
Drury Metropolitan centre
Sunfield (residential development)
Rangitoopuni (residential and retirement units)
Ryans Road (industrial subdivision).
Drury Quarry

Expert panels have been appointed for, and will shortly begin considering:

Stella Passage (wharf extension and related work)
Taranaki VTM (seabed mining)
King’s Quarry extension

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Confirmation of fatality, name release, Mahana

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm that a man died in Nelson Hospital yesterday [20 August] following a crash last week.

The crash on 13 August was on the Coastal Highway, Mahana.

The man was 71-year-old Richard Marris from Nelson.

Police extend our condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time.

Enquiries into the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Northland Regional Council news briefs – 21 August 2025

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: Northland Regional Council

RELEASE OF THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT (COASTAL) 2024 REPORT

Our coast is woven into Northlanders’ identity, wellbeing, and history. The health of the moana reflects the health of its people.

Coastal environments are under increasing pressure from land use, marine activities, climate change, and biosecurity threats.

Northland Regional Council’s newly released State of the Environment (Coastal) 2024 report draws on extensive NRC work, including regulatory, scientific, biodiversity, and biosecurity monitoring, to assess these impacts. It also challenges us to rethink what “normal” means in an environment being impacted by climate change.

Our communities are taking action alongside NRC by fencing waterways, monitoring fauna and flora, planting natives on our dunes and protecting marine reserves. Working together is essential, to ensure the actions we take today leave a healthier coastal legacy for future generations.

Read the full NRC report to understand the health status of our coast, what’s happening, what’s being done, and how we can all help protect it.

ELECTRIFY TE TAITOKERAU LAUNCHES IN NORTHLAND

Electrification advocacy group Electrify Te Taitokerau launched on Wednesday 13 August to a full house at McKay Stadium in Whangārei. Affiliated with charity Rewiring Aotearoa, Electrify Te Taitokerau aims to help accelerate the transition to cheaper, cleaner, locally-made, reliable and renewable energy through advocacy and education.

The free launch event featured speakers Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey, and Glenn Sutherland of energy retailer Nau Ma Rā.

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Performing Arts – Rare chance to hear chamber music gem

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: Aroha String Quartet

Audiences in Wellington, the Kapiti Coast and the Manawatū will get the opportunity to hear a live performance of a rarely performed gem of the chamber music repertoire in concerts in September.

The members of the Wellington-based Aroha String Quartet will be joined by fri

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Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grants opens for applications

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

“I am proud to announce that Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grants is open for applications,” says Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae.

The grants support historians, researchers and writers who are working on non-fiction projects that will significantly enhance our understanding of New Zealand’s past.

“Like past years, we expect to award 8 to 12 projects funding up to $12,000 each for research and writing costs. Applications are open until the 15th of October 2025.

This year is the last year for the Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grants. The grants were set up in 1989-90 and were established using Lotteries funding of $1 million as seed funding held in trust. “Since the start of the grants, interest rates have declined, and from the early 2000s the Ministry has accessed the funding principal to meet higher and growing demand.

“Investment interest rates have been historically low since 2008, and the interest earned has not been sufficient to meet the demand on the grants.

“Over the last 15 years, the original funding model has become unsustainable. Because alternative methods of funding the grants have not been identified, we have unfortunately now arrived at the end point for Whiria Te Mahara.

“It is fantastic to see the impact these grants have made over their lifetime. Since 1990 the fund has supported over 380 projects, distributing almost $3.7 million. The grants have supported some of New Zealand’s best-known historians and some of our most influential historical works on diverse topics.

“The grants have advanced research, resulted in publications, and had a place in career development of history talent throughout Aotearoa.”

Manatū Taonga will explore options to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s historical community following the conclusion of this fund.

“While it is sad that the grants are coming to an end, I am also excited to see the final projects awarded funding through Whiria Te Mahara.

“Start working on your application and send it in. This is your last opportunity to be part of Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grants’ journey” says Leauanae.

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Farm News – Strong wool – where to next? – Federated Farmers

LiveNews Publisher

August 21, 2025

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers meat & wool chair Richard Dawkins joins other farming and wool industry leaders at strong wool workshops in Otago and Southland next week. Richard writes there’s reason for hope the strong wool industry has turned a corner – but farmers need to get in behind the change-makers.

My earliest memories of wool are of hot summer days after weaning, shearing our mixed-aged and two-tooth mid-micron Corriedale ewes.

The hum of the handpieces, my father and grandfather skirting fleeces at the table, and Marty – our long-time worker – stuffing them into the press.

In the early 1980s, wool contributed 65% of our farm’s sheep income. Wool was king, and sheep were a true dual-purpose animal.

Today, strong wool makes up just 1-2% of gross farm income. It’s become little more than an animal health treatment, rather than a value-adding enterprise.

The national sheep flock is now about one third of what it was at its peak in the 1980s – and our influence in global markets has similarly dwindled.

I don’t want to rehash old grievances, but to comprehend what’s next for us farmers and the wool industry, we must understand how we got here, and what we can improve on.

Synthetic fibres rose in the 1970s, capturing market share with low cost and convenience.

The collapse of the Reserve Price Scheme in 1991 removed the price floor, exposing growers to full competition with synthetics.

Prices fell – and kept falling – as industry failed to adapt. The traditional supply chain couldn’t deliver value to farmers, and relying on bulk commodity demand became folly.

Fragmentation remains one of our biggest weaknesses. From farm to consumer, wool is handled, blended, and traded repeatedly – margins are clipped at every stage, but little is reinvested in building demand or brand.

Most farmers have no idea where their wool

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