Both huts have mattresses, water supply, toilets, heating, and cooking facilities, and Waihohonu Hut will have full-time wardens through the summer.
DOC Tongariro Senior Ranger Heritage and Visitors Jenny Hayward says it’s a great opportunity for families to have overnight adventures in one of New Zealand’s most famous natural environments.
“These are both quite accessible locations to get outside and connect with nature,” she says.
“A young family might tackle the easy 20-minute walk to Mangatepopo for their first hut stay.
“Alternatively, it’s little more than 15 kilometres from Whakapapa Village to Waihohonu Hut, a nice manageable challenge on a well-formed track.”
Both Waihohonu and Mangatepopo huts feature stunning views across the unique volcanic landscape of dual World Heritage listed Tongariro National Park.
Jenny says the huts will also be cheaper to book this season.
“Usually $44 a night for an adult, they’re down to $25 per adult for this season only. So, it’s a perfect time for people to dip their toes in and have a great walk without going on the full Great Walk!”
The Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk is closed for safety reasons while DOC works with Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro to replace the more than 50-year-old Oturere Hut.
Bookings are now open for Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts for the period 24 October 2025 to 30 April 2026. Fees for adults are $25 per night, children/youth $12.50 per night, infants are free.
Background information
Tongariro Northern Circuit will not operate as a Great Walk without Oturere Hut. The walk between Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts is 20 km through steep, rough alpine terrain. It takes 8-10 hours in an environment with fast-changing, extreme weather.
While the tracks are open, we don’t recommend that people hike between Mangatepopo and Waihohonu unless they are very fit and experienced backcountry trampers, carrying the gear to be self-sufficient.
North Canterbury may have grabbed most of the headlines so far for speaking up about proposed police cuts – but farmers further south are just as concerned.
Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says farmers and others in his community of Waimate are deeply disappointed by the proposals.
“We’ve had a good working relationship between Federated Farmers and NZ Police historically, but they’ve really dropped the ball on this one.
“I’m flabbergasted by what Canterbury Police wants to do to their rural police down here, as it’ll gut our ability to respond to rural crime and protect our people.”
A respected arable farmer based in Makikihi since the 1980s, Hurst says the proposal for Aoraki Policing District – which could see up to 11 roles lost at rural stations from Rakaia to Waimate – is short-sighted and dangerous.
“You can’t tell me reducing numbers is a good thing. It seems to me that they’re taking away from rural Canterbury to shore up the urban centres,” he says.
Under the proposed restructure, public safety teams in Temuka and Waimate would be disestablished and replaced by new rural liaison officer positions, while larger 24/7 teams would be based in Ashburton and Timaru.
But Hurst says the geography just doesn’t work.
“It’s about a 40-minute drive from Timaru to Waimate, but up to another 40 minutes into some of the more remote areas.
“So, does that mean people in those communities would need to wait one-and-a-half hours for police to show up if they make an emergency call?
“I doubt they’ll even bother most of the time.”
A packed public meeting was held at the Waimate Event Centre last Friday to discuss the restructure, with more than 240 people attending.
Hurst, who spoke at the meeting, says he was disappointed by the police response.
“I got up and spoke and they basically dismissed me. That’s not good enough.
“We want to work with them on this – not be brushed off.”
He says farmers already perceive police as being stretched, with the 2023 Federated Farmers Rural Crime Survey showing nearly half of victims didn’t bother reporting crime because they didn’t believe police were resourced well enough to respond.
“So how many more crimes won’t get reported if the police service is whittled back even further?”
Hurst says reducing police presence will only embolden offenders.
“When you take frontline police out of rural communities, crime goes up. It’s that simple,” he says.
“We’ve fought for years to build good relationships with our local officers. They know who we are, where we live, what’s normal and what’s not.
“That local knowledge disappears the moment you centralise everything.”
While he acknowledges resourcing is a real issue for police, Hurst believes the current approach is the wrong one.
“We’re not saying police shouldn’t review how they work – we absolutely get that money’s tight.
“But don’t fix it by making rural communities take the hit.”
Hurst isn’t the only one speaking up, with Waimate District Council chief executive Stuart Duncan and Mayor Craig Rowley expressing “profound concern” in a submission to Canterbury Police.
“Council argues that these changes will severely impact community safety, increase emergency response times, and erode public trust,” they say.
“Local officers provide essential services, possess critical local knowledge, and have built vital relationships within their communities, all of which would be lost under the new model.”
They also raised concerns about the danger posed to vulnerable populations and the increased risk to council staff working after-hours, dealing with issues like noise control and aggressive individuals.
They say the restructure appears to have been driven by an insufficient budget allocation rather than an assessment of actual community need.
“Relocating officers instead of increasing overall police presence simply shifts the gap in service from one area to another, creating new vulnerabilities.
“In rural districts like Waimate, where resources are already stretched, reducing locally based officers will have a direct and negative effect on the very types of crime the restructure is seeking to address in larger cities.”
Hurst agrees with the council’s submission, saying it reflects the real concerns of the community.
He also praised the council for pushing back publicly.
“It’s good to see our local leaders taking a stand. We need more of that – this proposal needs to be rethought from the ground up.”
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2025 – Malaysians use approximately 9 billion plastic bags every year, including trash bags that are difficult to fully decompose. Over time, these break down into microplastics, increasing the risk of microplastic ingestion among locals and making Malaysia the country with the highest intake in the world.
Earthya Compostable Bag – product of Zaneco Sdn Bhd. Ivan Chan – CEO of Zantat Holdings Berhad & Zaneco Sdn Bhd
To address this issue, local innovative eco brand Earthya has launched the Earthya Compostable Bag, a product developed over three years of dedicated research. Made entirely free of any plastic components, it can fully break down into plant fertiliser in natural conditions or home compost environment, helping to ease Malaysia’s struggle with microplastic pollution.
Malaysians Rank First Globally in Microplastic Consumption
According to The Straits Times, among 109 countries surveyed for microplastic pollution, Malaysians consume an average of 502.3 milligrams of microplastics per person daily, equivalent to about 494,000 particles. Over 50% of this microplastic intake comes from consuming fish. This is closely linked to Malaysians’ heavy reliance on single-use plastics in daily life, including plastic bags for takeaways, disposable food containers, plastic beverage cups, straws, shopping bags, garbage bags and more. Without a robust recycling and waste management system, these plastics eventually break down into microplastics, which enter the air and waterways, widely infiltrate the human food chain, and ultimately end up in the human body.
Earthya Hopes to Reduce Microplastic Pollution with Compostable Bags
Founder of Earthya, Ivan Chan Bin luan, expressed his hope that these compostable bags will help ease Malaysia’s microplastic pollution challenge.
Therefore, together with the Earthya team, he conducted in-depth research into various biodegradable materials suitable for making plastic alternatives, and discovered that many trash bags are wrongly marketed as eco-friendly, such as those made from Photo-Degradable, Oxo-Degradable, or Bio-Degradable plastics which still release microplastic particles during composition, posing potential risks to the environment.
Ultimately, they selected premium calcium carbonate and an internationally certified compostable polyester as the core materials, successfully developing the Earthya Compostable Bag—a truly eco-friendly trash bag that contains no plastic, naturally decomposes into plant fertiliser, and leaves no microplastic residue.
5 Unique Advantages of the Earthya Compostable Bag
Compared to conventional trash bags on the market, the Earthya Compostable Bag offers 5 unique advantages:
100% Plastic-Free
Contains no traditional plastic components such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). Generates no microplastics during use—safer and more eco-friendly.
Naturally Decomposable—No Special Equipment Required
Suitable not only for industrial composting but also able to break down in home compost systems or natural soil.
Shelf Life of up to Two Years
When compared to most cornstarch-based compostable bags with a shelf life of only 6 months, the Earthya Compostable Bag is better suited for long-term storage and everyday use.
Strong and Durable, Feels Just Like a Plastic Bag
Combines strength and familiar feel, so going green doesn’t mean giving up convenience or changing your habits.
Comes in an XS Size, Specially Designed to Fit Most Household Kitchen Waste Bins
Offers a hassle-free composting solution for households, while preventing methane emissions caused by sealing food waste in plastic bags.
Most importantly, the calcium carbonate added to Earthya bags can be absorbed by the soil, helping to balance pH levels and further improve soil quality, achieving multiple environmental benefits.
Certified by Multiple Local and International Authorities
Earthya Compostable Bags have obtained the following certifications to date:
TÜV Austria OK Compost (Home Compost Certification)
The OK Compost is a certification program specifically for compostable products, managed and issued by TÜV Austria.
MyHijau (Malaysia’s Official Green Product Certification)
The MyHijau certification is one of Malaysia’s most authoritative eco-labelling systems, designed to promote sustainable practices among businesses.
BPI Compostable (United States BPI Compostable Certification)
The BPI certification mark on a product indicates that it has passed rigorous testing and meets compostability standards such as ASTM D6400 or D6868. These standards assess the product’s ability to break down in industrial composting facilities, a process that typically takes up to 90 days, while ensuring no harmful residues remain.
Australia Standard for Industrial Compostability AS4736 (Australia’s Industrial Composting Standard)
Australia’s Industrial Composting Standard AS4736 sets clear requirements for compostable packaging materials. It mandates visible decomposition within 12 weeks and complete biodegradation within 6 months.
Spreading Awareness on Microplastic Hazards to Inspire Greater Eco Participation
Founder Ivan Chan Bin Iuan shared that the inspiration behind developing the Earthya Compostable Bag was to normalise eco-friendly living—proving that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the cost of convenience, and that everyone can easily take part.
“We hope that when you pick up an Earthya Compostable Bag, you feel a sense of assurance and trust—knowing that every bag you use will never break down into microplastics, will never become a burden to the planet after disposal, and will never end up as microplastics consumed by you or your children.”
He emphasised that no one should underestimate the power of individual action. If just one person chooses a trash bag that doesn’t break down into microplastics, that’s already a reduction in the generation of microplastics. And when 10, 100 people, or even thousands make the same choice, it will help ease Malaysia’s microplastic pollution.
Besides that, to further drive environmental awareness, Earthya actively organises environmental talks, participates in exhibitions, and shares educational content on social media to strengthen the public’s understanding of eco-friendly products.
If you would like to make a purchase, you can visit:
Shopee and search for “Earthya”
Find us at all Health Lane Family Pharmacies outlets across Malaysia
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has for the first time deployed its MC-12K King Air aircraft to Fiji to conduct maritime surveillance patrols, working with Fiji Government officials targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and transnational organised crime.
New Zealand and Fiji engage frequently on challenges facing the region, and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deploys aircraft and ships to work with Southwest Pacific partners such as Fiji on maritime patrols.
The RNZAF’s No. 42 Squadron regularly conducts maritime patrols with the MC-12K King Air in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), working with other government agencies to detect and deter IUU fishing.
Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott said Fiji was an important security partner.
“By working closely together, combining assets and expertise, we hope to counter IUU activities and help protect Fiji’s fishing stocks. IUU fishing is of concern to all our Pacific neighbours as this impacts regional security, and people’s livelihoods,” he said.
“The MC-12K King Air is an extremely versatile aircraft in both training and for operational missions. Demonstrating our ability to deploy this aircraft to the Pacific and conduct patrols with Fiji’s officials in Fiji’s EEZ is another string to its bow.
“It has been a busy period in Fiji, as the Royal New Zealand Navy also has two uncrewed surface vessels deployed to Fiji conducting border protection tasks on behalf of the Fijian Government.
“Recently we also had a P-8A Poseidon aircraft deployed there patrolling Fijian waters and other areas of the Pacific. Our P-8A crews regularly deploy to the Pacific, conducting maritime patrols with Forum Fisheries Agency nations and conducting patrols of high seas pockets to detect and deter IUU fishing activities.”
RNZAF Squadron Leader Craig Clark said the deployment of the MC-12K to Fiji was a major step forward in the squadron’s ability to project capability into the Southwest Pacific in support of wider NZDF efforts in the region.
“We expected our focus during the deployment to be mainly on fisheries, but the Fijian authorities are also very interested in pleasure craft activity in their waters as they strive to combat transnational organised crime in their region,” he said.
“The MC-12K is ideally suited to investigating vessels in the vicinity of remote islands around Fiji, often tucked into small bays or inside reefs. The crew were quickly able to pivot to any task requested of them by Fijian authorities, who were impressed by the agility and effectiveness of the MC-12K.”
Over two weeks of maritime surveillance, the crew conducted six patrols, investigating and taking imagery of almost 100 vessels. They also took key Fijian leaders up in the MC-12K to demonstrate the capability on two further flights.
“What was also incredibly valuable was having our geospatial intelligence analysts embedded alongside their Fijian counterparts during the deployment,” Squadron Leader Clark said.
“Our analysts learned a great deal from the Fijian analysts, and vice versa. This kind of interoperability and cooperation is at the heart of our partnership with Fiji.”
Squadron Leader Clark said it was important New Zealand could support the security and resilience of Pacific countries and of the Pacific region as a whole.
“What happens in the Pacific is important to us, and being familiar with the Southwest Pacific and our Pacific neighbours is essential, especially in the context of greater geostrategic competition and with the threat of climate change and trans-national organised crime being of great concern in the region.’’
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is planning more protests on what it calls Winston Peters’ failed policy on Gaza.
PSNA has announced it is joining an International Day of Action for Palestine on 6th September.
PSNA Co-Chair, John Minto says there was “an incredible show of marches and rallies throughout Aotearoa New Zealand for sanctions against Israel during the past weekend.”
“But with Winston Peters obstinately running the Foreign Ministry, the government will ignore all expressions of public support for Palestinian rights.”
“So, we’ll be back with even more people on the streets on the 6th.”
“That number would have risen significantly in the past few weeks as people here are seeing the shocking images of Israel’s widespread use of starvation as a weapon of war especially against the children of Gaza.”
“Around the world, governments are starting to respond to their people demanding sanctions on Israel to end the genocide. Yet, Winston Peters is most reluctant to even criticise Israel, let alone take any action.”
“Sanctions are vital. Israel takes no notice otherwise,” Minto says.
“We’ve seen Israel’s arrogant impunity in increasingly violent action and showing off its military capacity and intentions.”
“Not a peep from our ministers over anything. Just on the Occupied West Bank, there are settlers freely shooting and lynching Palestinians. Israel’s parliament has just voted to annex the West Bank, as plans are also announced for a new settlement strategically designed to sever it irreparably into two parts.”
“In Gaza, Israeli troops are reinvading Gaza City to ethnically cleanse a million people to the south and Israeli aircraft are still terror bombing a famine devastated community,”
“Netanyahu has just started talking about a Greater Israel again. That would mean an invasion of all of its neighbours and the extinction of at least Lebanon and Jordan, which in Israeli government eyes have no right to exist.”
“Our pathetic government thinks it’s responding appropriately by going through a process of considering recognition of a Palestinian state,” Minto says.
“That can only be seen as a deliberate distraction from a focus on sanctions.”
“Back in 1947, New Zealand voted in the UN for a Palestinian state in part of Palestine. Recognition is token now, and it was token then, because the world stood aside and let Israel conquer all of Palestine, expel most of its people and impose an apartheid regime on those who managed to stay.”
“The global movement in support of Palestinian rights won’t be distracted. Comprehensive sanctions are the only way to force the end to Israel’s genocide.”
The Government is delivering a Writing Action Plan to supercharge writing achievement and better set Kiwi kids up for success.
New baseline data collected in 2024, prior to this year’s introduction of the new English curriculum and structured literacy supports, shows writing achievement declines as a child progresses through school.
41 per cent of Year 3 students are at the expected curriculum benchmark, 33 per cent are in Year 6 and just 24 per cent of Year 8 students are where they should be. 61 per cent of Year 8’s are more than a year behind.
“This data confirms what many parents, teachers and the Government already know: we’re not where we need to be. We are highly ambitious for Kiwi kids, which is why we have taken a whole system approach to lifting achievement,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
“Writing is a critical skill for learning, thinking, and communicating. We’ve already mandated the teaching of at least an hour a day of the basics, we’ve mandated structured literacy and introduced a world-leading English curriculum. Today the Government is launching ‘Make It Write’, a targeted action planto further strengthen the teaching of writing.
“From Term 1 next year, a new Writing Acceleration Tool will be available to support 120,000 Years 6–8 students who are below expected writing levels and won’t have the benefit of structured literacy from Year 1. Teachers will be supported to deliver explicit teaching and will be able to monitor student progress in real time, adjusting how their teaching based on individual needs and responses to intervention.
“Every Intermediate and Secondary School will be funded to train their own structured literacy intervention teacher. This training will be tailored for older students and extends what is already available for those teaching in Years 0-6. As requested by the sector, teachers will gain the skills needed to work with small groups of students who need targeted support, using structured, evidence-based approaches.
“New Handwriting Teacher Guidance will support explicit teaching from Years 0–8, aligned with the refreshed English curriculum. This guidance will support cognitive development and memory retention at an early age, so students are fluent and confident when they write.
“Every student deserves the chance to succeed at school and beyond. Our education reforms are helping make sure that every student has that chance” Ms Stanford says.
Annual performance statistics released today show Medsafe following my direction and approving new medicines faster than last year, which was faster than the year before, and there is more to come with the Rule of Two and AI, Associate Health Minister David Seymour says.
“New Zealanders need a smarter, more efficient government which gets things done, enabling them to live better lives,” Mr Seymour says.
“Faster access to medicines matters to patients. For many New Zealanders, pharmaceuticals are life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely.”
Medsafe completed its evaluation for innovative medicines 59 working days faster than last year. This is on top of the 55 days reduction in 2023/24.
Generic medicines decisions were 64 days faster than last year, on top of the 45 days reduction in 2023/24.
Medsafe has again met 100% timeframes for over-the-counter medicines, providing certainty for pharmaceutical companies.
“Assessment timeframes for most categories of medicine are now similar to the timeframes required in Australia. We often use compare ourselves to Australia, and in this area we have caught up,” says Mr Seymour.
“The abbreviated pathway is also reducing timeframes. It requires Medsafe to work smarter by leveraging work already done by other overseas regulators. About 50 percent of medicines are assessed like this, and in half the time of the full pathway.
“Medsafe will speed up approval processes further. The Medicines Amendment Bill includes the Rule of Two, which will be in operation by early 2026. The Rule of Two requires Medsafe to approve new pharmaceuticals within 30 days of them being approved by at least two overseas regulatory agencies recognised by New Zealand.
“Last year I wanted Medsafe to find more innovative ways to expedite their approval pathways. One way they have done this is by prioritising new innovative medicines and assessing them under urgency because people need them now.
“Some of these included the Bleriplex medicine for people with blood clotting disorders, the blood cancer medicine Omjjaro, Tyruko for multiple sclerosis, and the Wyost injection for weakened bones due to cancer. For Omjjaro, this meant it was able to be approved 131 days faster than the average time last year for new innovative medicines.
“Earlier this year I wrote to Medsafe asking them to find ways that AI could help the process new medicines faster. This is something that they have welcomed and recognise could reduce assessment times. I look forward to working with Medsafe as they explore this.
“We’re committed to ensuring that the regulatory system for pharmaceuticals is not unreasonably holding back access. We want it to lead to more Kiwis being able to access the medicines they need to live a fulfilling life, not less.”
The puppies, estimated to be about six weeks old at the time, were discovered by a member of the public on Monday 10 August.
Aside from the disregard for the puppies’ welfare, releasing pets or other animals on to conservation land is an offence under the Conservation Act and the National Parks Act. DOC can issue an infringement notice or prosecute anyone found responsible for bringing a domestic pet into national park or conservation land.
DOC Ranger Cameron Hunt says the man who found the puppies was heading up Manaia Rd to the maunga to enjoy a recent snowfall when he spotted something black and white moving in the roadside vegetation.
“At first glance, he thought it was a puppy but carried on driving. He then turned around and headed back to confirm his suspicions – and discovered the litter of seven puppies,” Cameron says.
The puppies – thought to be a collie-working dog cross breed – were handed over to the SPCA, where they were vet checked, vaccinated and treated for worms. SPCA staff say the puppies were in extremely good body condition and had been well fed prior to being found. Thankfully they were found as they would not have survived the night in the freezing snowy conditions of the national park. The puppies will eventually be made available for rehoming.
“Someone made a deliberate decision and effort to abandon these puppies in the national park, and to do so would’ve required some sort of vehicle making a brief stop on the roadside”, Cameron says.
“We’re hopeful anyone who saw what happened will contact us and share any information such as the make, model and colour of a vehicle – and better still a registration plate – or possibly descriptions of people they saw.”
Cameron is urging anyone who knows about the dumping of the puppies to contact 0800 DOC HOT and quote CLE-Works number CLE-9642. Any information passed on will be treated confidentially.
Earlier this month, DOC publicised the case of a Northland woman who flagrantly breached the “no pets” rules and photographed herself with her six dogs in Tongariro National Park. One of the photographs showed the woman and one of her dogs in front of a “no dogs” sign.
In August 2022, DOC visitor centre staff encountered visitors carrying jacket-wearing cats in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, and in December 2023 a man was pictured with a domestic pet cat in the national park.
Keeping pets like cats, rabbits, ferrets, and others out of protected spaces, is essential to protect our endangered species and our pets are safe. Domestic pets can spread diseases our wildlife has not been exposed to and cannot be protected from. These can devastate our taonga and the ecosystems they depend on. Dogs, in particular, pose a serious threat to kiwi and whio, both of which are found in Te Papakura-o-Taranaki.
New Zealand’s native species are unique and special. On average, 70% of our nature is unique to the rest of the world (72% of our birds, 84% of our plants, 88% of our fishes and 100% of our reptiles are only found here).
More than 4,000 native species are threatened or at risk of extinction – that is more than any other country.
