Environment – KASM appalled at government plans to change Fast-Track Act

November 4, 2025

Source: Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM)

Reaction from Cindy Baxter, chair, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, reaction to the government’s announced plans to change the Fast Track Approvals Act.

“This is a fundamental undermining of democracy.

“On behalf of tens of thousands of Kiwis, we have opposed destructive seabed mining for 20 years. The idea that we are ‘stalling progress’ simply because we may appeal is absurd. The Government wants to lock the public out entirely, but the EPA panels are doing their job thoroughly, despite the constraints already placed on them.”

“Wannabe seabed miners Trans Tasman Resources knows its application is full of holes: it hasn’t done its homework. It needs Shane Jones to intervene in order to get this destructive project over the line.”

MIL OSI

Education and Politics – Minister’s Teaching Council move undermines profession

LiveNews Publisher

November 4, 2025

Source: NZ Principals Federation

The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand is the independent professional body for schoolteachers, and like all other professional bodies such as the Medical Association or Law Society, is responsible for setting teachers’ standards, registration criteria, code of conduct, advocating for the profession and dealing with complaints and disciplinary matters.

“Education Minister Stanford now wants to remove the Teaching Council’s independence and undermine teachers’ professionalism by shifting the roles of setting standards, registration criteria and the code of conduct, to the Ministry of Education and shifting the balance of power within the Council’s membership, to ministerial appointees,” said Leanne Otene, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF).

“This action completely undermines our teaching profession and is unprecedented political interference,” said Otene.

“We are fast losing all confidence in Minister Stanford who has not consulted with us on any of her significant recent moves on curriculum, Board responsibilities for enacting Te Tiriti o Waitangi, or this latest move on the Teaching Council,” she said.

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Property Values – New rating valuations on the way for Dunedin City – QV

LiveNews Publisher

November 4, 2025

Source: Quality Valuation (QV)

Dunedin City property owners will soon receive new three-yearly rating valuations by post.

Updated valuations have been prepared for all 57,395 properties in the district by independent valuers Quotable Value (QV) on behalf of Dunedin City Council. They reflect the likely price a property would have sold for on 1 June 2025, excluding chattels.

The total rateable value for the district is now $48,862 billion, down 0.1%, with the land value of those properties now $24,472 billion, a decrease of 4.8%.This reflects a downturn in the market since the district’s last revaluation on 1 July 2022.

Residential properties
Following the nationwide peak of late 2021, Dunedin’s residential home values began to decrease during 2022, bottoming out in mid-2023, with values declining by approximately 6% during that period.

Since then, there’s been a slight recovery, with the market remaining relatively flat, decreasing by less than 1% in the 12 months to the end of June. Some downward pressure remained at the new rating revaluation effective date of 1 June 2025, with August QV House Price Index data showing an average further -0.7% change in the three months after 1 June.

The most active part of the market is first-home buyers, driven by the sub-$600,000 segment. Investors have slowly returned on the back of increasing rents.

Listings rose in late 2024 but began to decline from March 2025. Sales volumes are up 15.6% on the same period in 2024. Overall, we consider the market to be entering a stable period of supply and demand.

Overall, residential values decreased by an average of -2.63% from July 1 2022 to June 1 2025. The average home value is now $664,651, while the corresponding average land value has decreased by 6.37% to $340,650.

“Property values have remained relatively stable within Dunedin City over the past three years and values have generally had minimal changes since the 2022 rating revaluation,” said QV Urban Valuations Manager, Tim Gibson.

“Properties that are in good condition, and modern dwellings, are seeing more demand and growth than the average property in Dunedin. While poorly maintained or more dated properties are likely to have seen larger decreases,” he said.

“Land value changes were also varied, with increases in areas where townhouse development is still occurring and in prime locations such as Māori Hill, Roslyn, and St Clair. Conversely, areas like South Dunedin and some particularly steep-contour locations saw greater-than-average reductions,” Mr Gibson said.
Lifestyle Properties
The lifestyle market has largely mirrored the residential market, with capital value (CV) decreases of 5 to 10% relative to 2022 levels, and values over the past 18 months have remained steady. Quality modern properties remain sought after, although with longer marketing periods. Older properties requiring maintenance and modernisation are being discounted by purchasers in line with building costs.

The lifestyle vacant-land market has been subdued in recent years, with very low building activity. By extension, there is minimal appetite for new lifestyle developments and subdivisions. The cost of earthworks and service connections is also a key factor. The average capital value of an improved lifestyle property has decreased by 4.5% to $1,102,378, while the corresponding land value for a lifestyle property decreased by 5.7% to $658,385.
Commercial and Industrial Properties
There are 2,676 commercial and industrial assessments within Dunedin City, with commercial and industrial property capital values showing average increases of 1.20% and 4.30% respectively since QV’s last revaluation in 2022. During the same period, land values increased by an average of 1.70% for commercial and 2.0% for industrial, compared to their 2022 land values. The Central Business District retail and office sector has experienced higher vacancy levels, along with a higher Official Cash Rate than in 2022. This has led to higher-than-expected yields for investors and minimal rental growth. Overall, this has resulted in a slight decrease in commercial capital values of -1.50% and land values of -2.0%.

Suburban commercial properties are faring better, with minimal vacancies and stronger rental growth observed from a lower base level. The greatest increases in capital values were noted in Mosgiel (+12.3%) and Green Island (+14.0%).

Industrial property remains investors’ preferred choice, with some strong sales for development sites noted along Hillside Road and good sales in Dukes Road North showing yields of 6.25%–6.50%. Sales volumes overall have been at lower levels than during the 2022 revaluation period.
Pastoral and Dairy Properties
Pastoral and dairy property values remain close to 2022 levels with minimal change. Low sales volumes, high-cost structures, and fluctuating commodity prices have been key factors over the past three years. Combined with ongoing legislative uncertainty, the market has not seen value growth.
Throughout 2025, rural confidence improved with higher commodity prices; however, this has not yet translated into increases in property sale prices. A key reason is the elevated cost of livestock in going-concern purchases, and farmers are acutely aware that commodity prices can drop as rapidly as they have risen.
What are rating valuations?
Rating valuations are usually carried out on all New Zealand properties every three years to help local councils assess rates for the following three-year period. They are not intended for other purposes, such as raising finance with banks or as insurance valuations.

They reflect the likely selling price of a property at the effective revaluation date, which was 1 June 2025, excluding the value of chattels. Any market changes since that time will not be included in the new rating valuations, which often means a sale price achieved today will be different from the new rating valuation.

Rating valuations are calculated using a detailed process that uses all relevant property sales in the area. A large number of properties will also be physically assessed, particularly those that have been issued building consents in the last three years.

The updated rating valuations are then independently audited by the Office of the Valuer General to ensure they meet rigorous quality standards, before the new rating valuations are confirmed and posted to property owners.
New rating values will be posted to property owners after 29 October 2025. If owners do not agree with their rating valuation, they may object by 5 December 2025.

If you’d like more information on rating valuations, head to www.qv.co.nz/about/about-rating-valuations/#, or for details on how to object to your new rating valuation, go to www.qv.co.nz/services/rating-valuations/object-rating/

MIL OSI

First Responders – Fire at Darfield contained

LiveNews Publisher

November 4, 2025

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

The large vegetation fire at Darfield is now contained.

The fire started just before 10am and destroyed three structures.

It was contained around 12.45pm, with the one helicopter now released and downscaling of ground crews taking place.

It will take some time for the fire to be fully extinguished, with a 20-tonne digger being brought in to help with that process.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand would like to thank the public for their patience while crews have been fighting the fire.

This will be the final written update on this fire today unless there are significant developments.

MIL OSI

Universities – Paracetamol common source of accidental overdoses – UoA

LiveNews Publisher

November 4, 2025

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Many New Zealanders take paracetamol outside the recommended dose and aren’t aware of its high potential for toxicity.

Many New Zealanders take more paracetamol than recommended, because they perceive it is safe, when in fact it is a leading cause of acute liver failure, new research shows.

Despite its wide availability, little has been known about the New Zealand public’s understanding of paracetamol’s safe use, so researchers from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland studied New Zealanders’ attitudes to paracetamol and practices. See New Zealand Journal of Primary Health Care. (ref. https://connectsci.au/hc/article/doi/10.1071/HC25060/230062/Paracetamol-associated-knowledge-attitudes-and?searchresult=1 )

“People think it’s safe, which it is, if you take it at the right dose; but, because of the way it’s broken down by the body, when you take more than the recommended dose, the liver gets overwhelmed and can be damaged,” says Dr Samantha Marsh, a senior research fellow in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at the University of Auckland.

The study revealed significant gaps in understanding, particularly in identifying paracetamol-containing products and adhering to dosing guidelines.

The recommended dosage is two tablets every four hours up to a limit of eight tablets per day.

However, misuse is common with a third of New Zealanders commonly taking more than two tablets at once and 11 percent exceeding the daily limit, the study finds.

“People say, ‘I take more than two tablets, because I am a big person,’ but it doesn’t work like that,” Marsh says.

The study was based on an online survey of almost two-thousand people who broadly represented the makeup of the New Zealand population.

Two-thirds of respondents (70 percent) agreed that paracetamol was a very safe drug and almost as many (65 percent) thought that you can buy paracetamol from the supermarket because it is safe.

Many people (32 percent) will ask their doctor for a paracetamol prescription, even when they went for something else.

A similar proportion (27 percent) have asked for a paracetamol prescription then shared it with friends and family.

Another finding was that around half of respondents struggle to identify paracetamol in common cold and flu products, like Lemsip or Coldral, which could mean many more people are taking more paracetamol than they should, but they aren’t even aware of it

Marsh would like to see stickers on the front of such products with a warning – “Do not take with paracetamol” or “contains paracetamol”.

There was strong support for greater regulation.

While most considered it safe, more than half (55 percent) thought there should be restrictions on how much you can buy at once. A third thought there should be restriction on where you can buy it.

Regulation has had mixed success overseas, Marsh says. “There needs to be more research to ascertain what the best way to regulate is,” she says.

A particularly at-risk group is children, according to data from the National Poisons Centre.

About 60 percent to 65 percent of calls to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre relate to children under five. Paracetamol is the most common substance involved in poisoning in this age group.
The New Zealand National Poisons Centre receives about 1000 calls a year about paracetamol poisonings. About half of these calls involve children helping themselves to medication.

Marsh says parents need to keep track of how much paracetamol, often as Pamol, they have given their children, for example by writing it down where the other parent can see.

With measles cases on the rise in New Zealand, many parents may reach for paracetamol to ease fever and discomfort.

“It’s important to remember that paracetamol is safe only when used at the correct dose – even a small error can cause harm,” Marsh says.

“When a child is very unwell, it’s easy for tired or stressed parents to lose track of doses, particularly in the middle of the night, so keeping a written record can help prevent harm.”

Two-thirds of people said their doctors and pharmacists had never spoken to them about the dangers of taking too much paracetamol.

There needs to be an education campaign on when and how to take paracetamol, Marsh says.

“When you get paracetamol from either the doctor or a pharmacist, they should always remind you that you must take it according to the package.”

Paracetamol fact sheet: https://healthify.nz/assets/Brochures/paracetamol-english-factsheet.pdf

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Politics and Education – School boards question removal of Te Tiriti clause

LiveNews Publisher

November 4, 2025

Source: Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (NZSTA)

Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) President Meredith Kennett, speaking on the behalf of the Association’s membership arm, says removing the Te Tiriti o Waitangi clause from the s127 of the Education and Training Act 2020 undermines the legal and practical standing of school boards as Crown entities and risks damaging wider social cohesion, to no clear benefit.

Ms Kennett says boards have a clear legal and moral duty to understand and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“As Crown entities, school boards absolutely have a responsibility to understand and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Ms Kennett said.

“The suggestion that this clause makes no difference simply isn’t true. It has been the reason many board members came to fully understand their responsibilities as Crown representatives and, in turn, why many schools adjusted policies and procedures to better reflect the needs of whānau Māori and all New Zealanders.”

Ms Kennett also challenges Minister Stanford’s characterisation of school board members as “volunteers” this morning in an interview.

“Board members are elected directors there to do a job,” she said.

“They are entrusted with significant legal responsibilities, representing both their local community and the Crown in the governance of their schools.”

She said the Treaty clause had been a practical and unifying influence in schools, not a divisive one.

“It causes no harm to have it there, but causes plenty of harm, including to social cohesion, by removing it,” Ms Kennett said.

Ms Kennett said boards striving to meet their paramount objectives, particularly around student achievement and wellbeing, must understand the whole child, and that inherently includes an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“To understand attendance and achievement statistics for rangatahi Māori, you have to understand our history – and that includes Te Tiriti,” she said.

“That understanding leads to more practical, effective, and inclusive school policies.”

Ms Kennett also expressed concern about the legislative process surrounding the proposed removal.

“There was no official notification that the Government intended to remove this clause,” she said.

“Introducing such a significant change at the Committee of the Whole House stage, without consultation, is deeply questionable.”

Ms Kennett says according to media reporting, the Ministry of Education did not issue any advice recommending removal of the clause and urges the Government to reconsider.

“Boards are doing the hard work of understanding their communities and improving outcomes for all students,” Ms Kennett said.

“This clause has supported that work, not hindered it.”

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Announcement of EPA Chief Executive’s resignation

LiveNews Publisher

November 4, 2025

Source: Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Board Chair, Barry O’Neil, has today announced the resignation of Dr Allan Freeth.

Dr Freeth has informed the Board of his intention to step down from his role as Chief Executive on 30 June 2026.

Barry O’Neil says this timing coincides with the end of the financial year, with Dr Freeth serving the EPA as its Chief Executive for over 10 years.

“Allan has led the EPA with vision and energy and has been instrumental in growing the EPA from its early phase as a developing regulator to one now respected by the environmental sector.

“Allan led the EPA through the COVID period and has overseen the expansion of the EPA’s remit, including the recent establishment of the Fast-track function.

“The Board would like to thank Allan for his significant contribution to the EPA to date and wishes him all the very best for his future endeavours.”

The Board will begin the process for identifying a new Chief Executive shortly, with a view to confirming a replacement prior to Allan’s departure.

MIL OSI

The Chelsea Clinic Expands into New Flagship at Ngee Ann City

MIL OSI

November 4, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

Part of SBC Medical Group, the clinic enhances patient experience and reinforces Singapore’s role as an aesthetic medicine hub

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 November 2025 – The Chelsea Clinic, a flagship brand of Aesthetic Healthcare Holdings (“AHH”) and part of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (Nasdaq: SBC) (“SBC Medical”), has relocated to a significantly larger, purpose-built flagship facility at Ngee Ann City, one of Singapore’s most prestigious landmarks. The expansion underscores SBC Medical’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Asia while delivering a more seamless and elevated patient journey. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Mr. Toru Hotta, Deputy Chief of Mission, the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, who shared congratulatory remarks and joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony, adding a warm and memorable touch to the event.

Founded in 1999 by Dr. Ewen Chee, The Chelsea Clinic has been a pioneer of aesthetic medicine in Singapore, introducing medically supervised aesthetic procedures for skin health and rejuvenation. Over the past two decades, the clinic has built a reputation as a trusted destination for both Singapore’s local community and the sizeable Japanese expatriate population, as well as international patients seeking evidence-based care.

The new flagship brings together the medical clinic, spa, and corporate headquarters under one roof, offering a much larger and more integrated environment. With 16 rooms in total, including 12 clinic rooms and 4 spa rooms, it stands among Singapore’s more expansive medical aesthetic clinics, thoughtfully designed to support privacy, comfort, and efficient patient care. Treatment rooms are named after Japanese cities, symbolizing the clinic’s parentage under SBC Medical and its cross-cultural connection with Japan. In addition to increased space, the relocation enhances operational integration and patient services. Dedicated consultation rooms for each doctor and expanded waiting lounges create a more personalized and welcoming environment. Japanese-language support has also been strengthened, with multiple reservation channels including LINE (for Japanese speakers), WhatsApp, phone, and the clinic’s bilingual website. A Japanese-speaking staff member is available to assist patients directly, ensuring clear communication and a seamless booking process.

From left: Yuya Yoshida, Director, CFO & COO of SBC Medical; Yoshiyuki Aikawa, CEO of SBC Medical; Mr. Toru Hotta, Deputy Chief of Mission, the Embassy of Japan in Singapore; and Dr. Ewen Chee, Founder and Medical Director of The Chelsea Clinic, and Lead Doctor for Asia Strategy at SBC Medical, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Commenting on the relocation, Dr. Ewen Chee, Founder and Medical Director of The Chelsea Clinic and Lead Doctor for Asia Strategy at SBC Medical, said.
“Our relocation to Ngee Ann City reflects our commitment to providing a more elevated and seamless patient journey. By bringing our clinic, spa, and headquarters together in a larger, contemporary space, we can serve our long-standing patients and Singapore’s Japanese community with even greater comfort, privacy and efficiency.”

Hashtag: #SBCMedicalGroup #TheChelseaClinic #AestheticHealthcareHoldings #MedicalClinic #AestheticMedicine

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

XTransfer and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co. Ltd., Hong Kong Branch Sign the Strategic Agreement at Hong Kong FinTech Week

MIL OSI

November 4, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

XTransfer, world-leading B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, is dedicated to providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with secure, compliant, fast, convenient and low-cost foreign trade payment and fund collection solutions, significantly reducing the cost of global expansion and enhancing global competitiveness. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Shanghai and has branches in Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UAE, and Nigeria. XTransfer has obtained local payment licences in the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Australia. To date, XTransfer serves over 700,000 enterprise clients worldwide.

Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Shanghai and has branches in Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UAE, and Nigeria. XTransfer has obtained local payment licences in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

By cooperating with well-known multinational banks and financial institutions, XTransfer has built a unified global multi-currency clearing network and a data-based, automated, internet-based and intelligent anti-money laundering risk control infrastructure centred on SMEs. XTransfer uses technology as a bridge to link large financial institutions and SMEs around the world, allowing SMEs to enjoy the same level of cross-border financial services as large multinational corporations.

XTransfer completed its Series D financing in September 2021 and achieved unicorn status. The company has a diverse composition of international investors, including D1 Capital Partners LP, Telstra Ventures, China Merchants Venture, eWTP Capital, Yunqi Capital, Gaorong Capital, 01VC, MindWorks and Lavender Hill Capital Partners.

For more information, please visit: https://www.xtransfer.com/

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Improved compliance and efficiencies the focus of new Napier Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre

LiveNews Publisher

November 4, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Napier’s new Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC) will focus on the safety of heavy vehicle operators and ultimately improve travel efficiencies, once it’s built.

Motorists travelling along Hawke’s Bay Expressway towards Prebensen Drive will now start to see work happening at the site of the new Napier CVSC building. The main construction is set to begin in a fortnight.

The Napier CVSC is situated at the corner of Prebensen Drive and Hawke’s Bay Expressway. It will be built by contractor Fulton Hogan.

The site was formally blessed by iwi yesterday morning, marking the start of site establishment. This was followed by a cultural induction for contractors to deepen understanding of mana whenua aspirations for the area.

CVSCs monitor heavy vehicles across the country alongside in-road technology that operates 24/7 which provides data on operator and vehicle behaviour such as vehicle weight, permit compliance, and indicators of driver fatigue. CVSCs are operated by NZ Police and they play a pivotal role in promoting road safety and ensuring regulatory compliance across the transport network.

The expressway is a high-volume freight route, carrying trucks and other heavy vehicles between Napier and Hastings.

As part of the project, sets of in-road scales (weigh-in-motion plates), in combination with an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera, will be installed at various locations on the approach to the CVSC – including on the expressway at Westshore; SH50 on the Ahuriri truck bypass; SH51 Georges Drive at Marewa and the expressway at Greenmeadows.

If a heavy vehicle is flagged during screening, digital signage near the scales will instruct the driver to pull into the centre by showing the vehicle’s licence plate number.

Once at the CVSC, the vehicle will drive over a weigh bridge and undergo compliance checks, such as checking road user charges or logbooks, or completing a vehicle safety inspection.

The Napier CVSC is one of 12, including a recently opened centre at Ōhakea in Manawatū.

Using data from the in-road technology and centre, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will be able to focus education and compliance work toward operators who aren’t compliant on our roads, making sure they’re paying their fair share of road maintenance costs, while keeping compliant operators moving and our roads safer for all users.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Head of Commercial Transport Regulation, Tara McMillan says this technology will help streamline travel for operators, because compliant drivers who are not flagged during screening, will be able to keep driving and delivering freight across the country.

“The data we collect will give us really good insight into the behaviour of heavy vehicles on the network. Using this data, we’ll be able to target our education and compliance work toward where safety issues are in the industry, protect our roads from damage, and bring down road maintenance costs.”

NZTA Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery Rob Partridge says having this facility will help NZTA and Police ensure drivers and vehicles passing through the region are safe and compliant.

“This is an exciting development for Napier and the freight industry because it means more efficient travel for those who are compliant while improving safety for all road users.”

Traffic impact

In the next fortnight, people travelling past will see a lot of activity on site, including the establishment of offices. However, because the work on the centre is off to the side of the expressway, disruption will be minimal. A shoulder closure and traffic management will be in place.

During the construction process, from time to time, traffic impacts may change, for the likes of the in-road scale installation. NZTA will let people know as early as possible.

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