Canterbury Police thank public and staff for feedback on proposal

Whitebaiter tales urge respect for the river

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August 20, 2025

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date: 20 August 2025

Two blokes with a tale to tell are urging whitebaiters to stay safe on the river this whitebaiting season (1 September to 30 October).

Stephen Leggett has been whitebaiting for about 35 years. “I love it. One of my favourite parts is the camaraderie,” he says.

Early one morning in October last year, Stephen was at the Styx River, Canterbury, manoeuvring his whitebaiting gear, when he slipped, went down on his knees and couldn’t get up. The water was rapidly filling his waders.

Fortunately for Stephen, there were people on the shore who rushed to help him.

“Three pairs of hands lifted me. If they hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here today. I would have drowned.

Stephen says he didn’t go back on the river until he had a life jacket. “Respect the river, wear a life jacket and respect the underfoot conditions.”

Brent Hogg has a similar story.

“At Tukituki River (Hawke’s Bay), apart from eating whitebait, it’s about the camaraderie. We all help each other.”

Last year, Brent witnessed a near miss at the river.

“I was helping another fisherman put his whitebaiting stand in. When he got into the water, he slipped backwards. The water came up and into his waders.”

Luckily, Brent and two other whitebaiters were on the bank to help, otherwise, he says, it could have been tragic.

“Before you go whitebaiting, pack your commonsense in your bag first. Always take it with you,” Brent says.

Water Safety NZ’s Communications Lead Elizabeth Collins says safety around water is a shared responsibility.

“Every community, whānau, and individual enjoying the beauty of whitebaiting can be helped by strengthening safety culture.

“Unfortunately, New Zealand’s drowning data reveals some stubborn patterns in land-based fishing drownings. Neglect of safety gear is a big one – lifejackets are the single preventative measure that could drastically reduce fatalities.”

DOC Freshwater Species Manager Emily Funnell says whitebaiting is a great way to catch a good feed and enjoy being in nature.

“Make sure your memories of this whitebaiting season are happy ones. No matter where you’re whitebaiting this season – whether it’s on the shore, in the surf or on a stand – be water safe.”

Whitebaiting safety tips:

Don’t fish from wet rocks – waves are likely to wash over them.
Wear a life jacket and wader belt.
Carry two waterproof communication devices at all times, such as a mobile phone in a waterproof bag, a VHF radio, or a distress beacon.
Fish with a mate who knows the area, and share any plans and expected time of return with a trusted person. Ask them to look for you at your expected location and to call 111 if you don’t return.

Whitebaiting rules, safety information and check, clean, dry guidance are available at www.doc.govt.nz/whitebaiting.

Email whitebait@doc.govt.nz for a brochure on the rules.

You can also visit Water Safety NZ’s websites for practical information about keeping safe near, in or on the water: www.watersafetynz.org.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

Concoction of drugs found in stolen vehicle

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August 20, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Driving in a stolen vehicle is the least of one Auckland man’s problems, as he faces serious drugs charges in court today.

On Tuesday afternoon, Police received information about a stolen vehicle travelling in the Ellerslie area.

Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says the vehicle was located on Robert Street by the Police Air Support Unit.

“Ground units were directed to where the vehicle was stopped, and the sole male occupant was spoken to,” she says.

“Police established the vehicle had allegedly been stolen during a burglary in Onehunga earlier this month.”

The predicament quickly changed for the 28-year-old man.

Inspector Dolheguy says a belt bag the man was allegedly carrying was found to contain a crystal-like substance.

“It was suspected to be methamphetamine, and a further search of the vehicle was invoked.

“There, Police found a large quantity of methamphetamine, cocaine and cash.”

The 28-year-old man will face the Auckland District Court today.

He has been charged with possession for supply of both methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as possession of cannabis and methamphetamine utensils.

“Possession for supply of class A controlled drugs is a serious offence, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,” Inspector Dolheguy says.

Police enquiries remain ongoing into the earlier burglary in Onehunga.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

New Zealand welcomes first-ever visit from IMO Secretary-General

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August 20, 2025

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Earlier this month, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) visited New Zealand for the first time.

The IMO is the United Nations’ specialised agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping, as well as the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.

As part of his ongoing engagement across the global maritime system Mr Dominguez undertook a Pacific regional mission in August 2025. He arrived in New Zealand on Friday, 8 August, spending two days in Auckland before heading to Wellington.

While in Auckland, Mr Dominguez participated in a stakeholder workshop led by Maritime NZ Chair, Dame Jo Brosnahan. The workshop was attended by representatives from a number of key sector bodies, including Shipping New Zealand, the NZ Shipping Federation, the NZ Cargo Owners Council, and the NZ Marine Transport Association.

Maritime NZ Director Kirstie Hewlett described the session as energetic and engaging, providing the sector with an opportunity to discuss future challenges and priorities, and to hear directly from the IMO.

“The theme for the session was: Collaborative pathways to global regulation: Keeping Aotearoa New Zealand resilient and prepared for global challenges and technology change.

“This was a strong opportunity to show how there are linkages between the work that is undertaken by the IMO, down through to local operators here in New Zealand.

“Mr Dominguez was genuinely interested in what our sector had to say and this was appreciated by those in attendance,” Ms Hewlett says.

For Mr Dominguez, he viewed this as a great opportunity to listen and understand what is top of mind for key players in the New Zealand maritime sector.

“This workshop was a thoroughly enjoyable way not only to engage with the sector in New Zealand but also to learn and get a better understanding of the main priorities for the country and the region,” Mr Dominguez says.

During his time in Auckland, Mr Dominguez attended several engagements, including a ride on the new Fullers’ 360 electric hydrofoil ferry, meetings with key response sector stakeholders, and a visit to the Auckland International Seafarer Centre.

“Everyone I interacted with in New Zealand was very welcoming and ready to engage and share their knowledge and experience, and I had a fantastic time meeting and getting to know those who help keep New Zealand’s waters safe, secure, and clean.

“Getting out on the water on the police launch, and the Fullers’ 360 hydrofoil was a particular highlight, as it provided me with a practical example of the actions taken to implement the IMO regulations,” Mr Dominguez says.

Mr Dominguez also attended official engagements in Wellington, including meetings with key government stakeholders and the Associate Minister of Transport, Hon James Meager.

“These fruitful meetings allow me to dive deeper into common areas of interest, such as maritime security, shipping decarbonisation, seafarers’ welfare and the effects of the current geopolitical climate to international shipping, and how IMO and New Zealand can further cooperate to address such issues,” he says.

For Maritime NZ, this has been a great opportunity to promote the work in our country to the IMO.

“With this being the first time an IMO Secretary-General has visited New Zealand, the feedback from our people and the sector was that the visit was hugely valuable,” Ms Hewlett says.

Boundary Creek Bridge deck replacement to restore 2 lane access on SH25 ahead of summer

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August 20, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Drivers of the scenic Thames Coast highway are all too familiar with stop/go interruptions due to damage to State Highway 25 (SH25) in recent years, but one disruption will soon become a distant memory with the replacement of the Boundary Creek Bridge deck.

The bridge itself, wedged tight between the cliffs and the sea, has been reduced to a single lane since 2023 while it patiently waits for a new bridge deck and repairs to its abutments.

“Drivers will be pleased to know a new bridge deck and strengthening work is planned to be completed ahead of summer, meaning SH25 will once again revert to 2 lanes here,” says Darryl Coalter, Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

This work will also see the restoration of the slow traffic bay on the southern bridge approach, which has been temporarily closed.

“It’s great news for everyone. The new, safer 2 lane bridge and passing bay will be in place ahead of the holidays and peak summer period, making this section of state highway safer, more resilient, and one less pinch point during busy times.”

With the contract for the works now awarded, NZTA expects repair work will begin in October. A full road closure of up to 7 days will be required to allow for the demolition of the old bridge deck and installation of the new one. The closure is currently anticipated for the week immediately after Labour weekend.

“In this location it isn’t possible to build the new bridge deck in a way that allows continued access for road users. Without suitable local detours, we appreciate this will mean a lengthy detour around the peninsula for a short duration” Mr Coalter says.

NZTA has considered a range of construction options after talking with emergency services, stakeholders, businesses and the community, to understand how the closure will impact them and has incorporated their preferences into the planning.

“We will use a prefabricated bridge deck and other key components, as well as work extended hours to speed up construction, meaning the road will be closed for the least amount of time as possible,” Mr Coalter says.

NZTA will provide regular updates to the community and stakeholders as more details are confirmed.

Elsewhere across the peninsula, our Coromandel Recovery project to repair storm damage caused by cyclones Gabrielle and Hale in 2023, is now nearing completion.

A summer maintenance programme is scheduled to begin across the Coromandel, with up to 10 worksites planned between Wharehako (north of Whitianga) and Waihī as well as on State Highway 25A.

These works are part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and resilience and will be communicated widely once work schedules are confirmed.

Teachers strike important to ensure quality education

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August 20, 2025

Source: NZCTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is today supporting PPTA members across the country who are striking for fair pay increases, more subject specialist advisors, and greater teacher-led professional development funding.

“The union movement stands in solidarity with secondary teachers who are fighting for a quality education system,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Workers never make the decision to strike lightly. PPTA members are rightly taking action to ensure that schools can attract graduates and retain experienced teachers.

“It is unacceptable that teachers are being offered the lowest pay increase in a generation at the same time as they are facing an overhaul of NCEA.

“A quality education system affects all of us. Students, parents and communities all benefit from teachers having what they need to support our young people.

“The Government is prioritising tax cuts for the rich over essential public services. Everyone should be grateful to the teachers who are taking strike action this week,” said Wagstaff.

Lane blocked, SH10, Waipapa

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August 20, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

A section of State Highway 10, north of Waipapa, is currently blocked following an earlier crash.

At around 8am, a truck and trailer has rolled north of the township.

The driver is thankfully uninjured, however one lane is currently blocked.

A road closure is being put in place while the truck and trailer are uprighted and the scene is cleared.

Diversions around Waipapa will be put in place for light vehicles.

Heavy vehicles should expect delays in the area, however Police don’t anticipate that the closure will be extensive this morning.

Police appreciate motorists’ understanding.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Fatal crash Allanton-Waihola Road/ SH1, Allanton

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August 20, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Location:

Southern

One person has died following a crash southwest of Allanton this morning.

The two-vehicle crash happened on Allanton-Waihola Road/ State Highway 1 about 1am.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance and the road remains closed.

ENDS

BlinkPay develops NZ’s first real-time payments capability using open banking, seeks industry partners with BNZ as inaugural participant

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August 20, 2025

Source: BNZ Statements

New Zealand could soon have instant money transfers, with BlinkPay today announcing it has developed the country’s first open banking-enabled real-time payments capability and is seeking banking industry partners to implement the technology at scale.

The technology enables transactions to have settlement confirmed within seconds rather than half hourly or overnight, and could transform how workers get paid, urgent funds are distributed, and businesses manage cash flow across New Zealand once broadly adopted by the banking industry. BNZ is the first major bank to commit to implementing the capability.

BlinkPay has developed the technology using secure open banking connections that can be deployed quickly across existing banking infrastructure and is designed to work with all banks and open banking providers meeting Payments NZ open banking standards.

“This capability is ready to go and represents a potential game-changer for New Zealand’s payments landscape,” says BlinkPay CEO Adrian Smith.

“With broad industry participation, workers and tradespeople could get paid the moment they finish a job, emergency government support could reach people instantly when they need it most, and businesses could improve their cash flow with immediate invoice payments.

“We are inviting New Zealand banks and open banking providers that meet Payments NZ standards to work with us to implement this solution at scale for the benefit of all New Zealanders. The technology is ready to go and can be rolled out quickly once more banks and providers come on board.”

Addressing settlement delays

The country’s current payment systems rely on half-hourly or overnight batch processing, which while reliable and cost-effective for most needs, can cause delays in fund availability and settlement risks in some cases.

Real-time payments settle transactions within seconds, enabling instant use cases like urgent insurance claims, instant property settlements and rental bond transfers, and immediate online marketplace payments.

BNZ CEO Dan Huggins says the capability offers the potential to give people and businesses more choice in how they send and receive money, offering added flexibility when speed and certainty of settlement matter most.

“This technology works alongside the existing payment system, expanding the range of options rather than replacing what already works well. We’re excited to work with BlinkPay and support industry-wide adoption to bring this capability to all New Zealanders.

“This initiative supports data sharing rights and the government’s broader open banking goals, working toward a secure, future-ready payments ecosystem for New Zealand,” Huggins says.

How it works

Payments are initiated through open banking connections, with settlement through existing banking protocols. The system supports real-time notifications and reconciliation and aligns with anti-money laundering controls and Consumer Data Right regulations. The system’s full potential is realised when multiple banks and open banking providers participate, creating a comprehensive real-time payments network.

Customers wouldn’t need to download a separate app or learn new payment methods. With broad industry adoption, the system would enable instant person-to-person transfers and business payments directly through familiar banking interfaces.

Industry collaboration

BlinkPay is actively seeking collaboration across the industry to achieve the broadest possible participation and accelerate access to this technology.

“We invite and welcome engagement from Payments NZ, regulators, and industry stakeholders to ensure this capability delivers maximum benefit to New Zealand’s financial infrastructure,” says Smith.

The post BlinkPay develops NZ’s first real-time payments capability using open banking, seeks industry partners with BNZ as inaugural participant appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

Road closed, Allanton-Waihola Road/ SH1, Allanton

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August 20, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police

Allanton-Waihola Road/ State Highway 1 is closed following a serious crash this morning.

The road is closed west of the Allanton township.

The two-vehicle crash occurred about 1am.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance.

Diversions are in place and will likely remain in place until this afternoon.

ENDS