Work will begin next week to remove the old Plunket building from Wairaka Park in Porirua’s Pukerua Bay and restore the land to grassed open space for community use.
The building is located on reserve land between the Wairaka Road Playground and the Pukerua Bay Library. It is in poor condition and would need extensive work to make it safe and usable. After community consultation and considering various options, Porirua City Council made the decision that the building should be removed.
Council also agreed to seek proposals in the future from community groups that may wish to lease the bare land.
Work to remove the building is scheduled for 22 to 26 September. During this time there will be no access to the library or the reserve.
Parks Manager Julian Emeny says removing the building will really open up the space and make it an even nicer spot for community use.
“Wairaka Park is surrounded by bush, the library is right there, and the upgraded playground is super popular. Restoring the building site to grass will extend the green space and connect everything really nicely. We think this is a great outcome.”
As part of the demolition, as much material as possible will be recycled. All glass from the windows and doors will be made into new glass bottles and glass wall insulation, the concrete slab will be turned into aggregates, metals will be recycled where possible, non-treated, non-native timbers will be converted into biochar (much like charcoal), and any treated timber will be repurposed as much as possible.
The leaders of over 20 major aid agencies working in Gaza are calling on world leaders to urgently intervene after a UN commission concluded, for the first time, that genocide is being committed.
The statement is below:
“As world leaders convene next week at the United Nations, we are calling on all member states to act in accordance with the mandate the UN was charged with 80 years ago.
What we are witnessing in Gaza is not only an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, but what the UN Commission of Inquiry has now concluded is a genocide.
With this finding, the Commission joins a growing number of human rights organisations and leaders globally, and within Israel.
The inhumanity of the situation in Gaza is unconscionable. As humanitarian leaders, we have borne direct witness to the horrifying deaths and suffering of the people of Gaza. Our warnings have gone unheeded and thousands more lives are still at stake.
Now, as the Israeli government has ordered the mass displacement of Gaza City – home to nearly one million people – we are on the precipice of an even deadlier period in Gaza’s story if action is not taken. Gaza has been deliberately made uninhabitable.
About 65,000 Palestinians have now been killed, including more than 20,000 children. Thousands more are missing, buried under the rubble that has replaced Gaza’s once lively streets.
Nine out of 10 people in Gaza’s 2.1 million population have been forcibly displaced – most of them multiple times – into increasingly shrinking pockets of land that cannot sustain human life.
More than half a million people are starving. Famine has been declared and is spreading. The cumulative impact of hunger and physical deprivation means people are dying every day.
Throughout Gaza, entire cities have been razed to the ground, along with their life-sustaining public infrastructure, such as hospitals and water treatment plants. Agricultural land has been systemically destroyed.
If the facts and numbers aren’t enough, we have harrowing story upon harrowing story.
Since the Israeli military tightened its siege six months ago, blocking food, fuel, and medicine, we witnessed children and families waste away from starvation as famine took hold. Our colleagues too have been impacted.
Many of us have been into Gaza. We have met countless Palestinians who have lost limbs as a result of Israel’s bombardment. We have personally met children so traumatized by daily airstrikes that they cannot sleep. Some cannot speak. Others have told us they want to die to join their parents in heaven.
We have met families who eat animal food to survive and boil leaves as a meal for their children.
Yet world leaders fail to act. Facts are ignored. Testimony is cast aside. And more people are killed as a direct consequence.
Our organisations, together with Palestinian civil society groups, the UN, and Israeli human rights organisations, can only do so much. We have tirelessly tried to defend the rights of the people of Gaza and sustain humanitarian assistance, but we are being obstructed every step of the way.
We have been denied access, and the militarization of the aid system has proved deadly. Thousands of people have been shot at while trying to reach the handful of sites where food is distributed under armed guard.
Governments must act to prevent the evisceration of life in the Gaza Strip, and to end the violence and occupation. All parties must disavow violence against civilians, adhere to international humanitarian law and pursue peace.
States must use every available political, economic, and legal tool at their disposal to intervene. Rhetoric and half measures are not enough. This moment demands decisive action.
The UN enshrined international law as the cornerstone of global peace and security. If Member States continue to treat these legal obligations as optional, they are not only complicit but are setting a dangerous precedent for the future. History will undoubtedly judge this moment as a test of humanity. And we are failing. Failing the people of Gaza, failing the hostages, and failing our own collective moral imperative.
CEO SIGN OFF (alphabetical)
Arthur Larok, Secretary General of ActionAid International
Othman Moqbel, Chief Executive Officer, Action For Humanity
Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary of American Friends Service Committee
Sean Carroll, President and CEO of Anera
Reintje Van Haeringen, Executive Director CARE International
Jonas Nøddekær, Secretary General of DanChurchAid
Charlotte Slente, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council
Manuel Patrouillard, Managing Director, Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
Waseem Ahmad, CEO, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Joseph Belliveau, Executive Director of MedGlobal
Joel Weiler, Executive Director of Médecins du Monde France
Nicolás Dotta, Executive Director of Médecins du Monde Spain
Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières International
Kenneth Kim, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee Canada
Ann Graber Hershberger, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee US
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council
Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International Executive Director
Simon Panek, CEO, People in Need
Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International
Donatella Vergara, President of Terre des Hommes Italy
New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 movement is stronger than ever with 9000+ community trapping initiatives and 20 large landscape projects. In this blog, we look at five stories from communities across the country that show the growing momentum behind Predator Free 2050.
Possums are being eradicated from Tekimoka/Mt Te Kinga on the West Coast. It’s surrounded by farmland, so collaboration with farmers has been vital to success so far. Photo supplied by Predator Free Te Kinga.
DOC is the lead agency for PF2050 working in collaboration with iwi and hapū, NGOs, businesses, central and local government, scientists and communities. Tens of thousands of people are taking action for nature by trapping in backyards, joining predator-free groups and donating resources.
Our collective effort to eradicate rats, stoats and possums is making a huge difference. Together, we are providing greater protection for native species across millions of hectares of land, researching and innovating new tools and technologies, empowering more people and communities to get involved, and unlock ways to eradicate predators in new areas.
Predator Free Waiheke – guarding the mouth of the Waitematā
Since stoat eradication began on Waiheke Island five years ago, native bird numbers have increased by 76%. The work has proved particularly beneficial for stoat sensitive birds, such as kākā, which are up 388%, and kiwi, which were safely returned to the island earlier this year.
This success is a testament to the group’s perseverance and innovation. With a network of 1,700 traps checked every fortnight, volunteers have managed to catch 258 stoats on Waiheke.
Along the way, the locals have come up with some ingenious ideas. Their inventions include a portable ‘interceptor’ mesh fence designed to funnel stoats (or other mustelids) into a trap by blocking or limiting their preferred escape or travel pathways. There’s also a new trap in the mix, the ‘Salisbury saucer, which is a multi-entry trap system designed to blend into the environment. It’s Kiwi ingenuity at its finest!
There are already 17 predator free islands in the Hauraki Gulf, and they are bustling with wildlife. Waiheke is exceptional because it’s visited by nearly a million people every year. This presents a biosecurity challenge to stop predators from returning to the island on boats. If this can be managed, the island could eventually support large populations of rare native species, and the wider Auckland region would see more birds in backyards and reserves.
The portable ‘interceptor’ fence designed by a Waiheke local to funnel evasive stoats towards traps. Photo supplied by Predator Free Waiheke.
Predator Free Dunedin – people power
There are more than 1000 people trapping across Dunedin’s urban and rural areas. These volunteers are united through a collective of 22 organisations working together to protect native species, strengthen communities and share predator free expertise across the country.
On the ground, this coordinated effort is transforming the region. The Otago Peninsula is nearly free of possums which is enabling the forest to quickly regenerate. Native bird populations are increasing, and it’s becoming more common to see tūī, kererū, bellbird/korimako, kākā and rifleman/titipounamu in the region.
Predator Free Dunedin has played an important role in trialling new technology to target predators, such as scat detection dogs, drone technology with thermal imaging to survey harder-to-reach areas, and traps using AI to target specific predators.
Since 2018, hardworking people across Dunedin have removed more than 60,000 possums, 20,000 rats and 2,000 mustelids. The Predator Free 2050 movement is strong down south!
Conor is a Predator Free Project Coordinator. Here he is expanding the mustelid trapping network on Flagstaff/Te Whanaupaki. Photo supplied by Predator Free Dunedin.
Predator Free Te Kinga – strengthening the lungs of NZ
On Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast), a collective of local farmers, businesses, mana whenua, and wildlife experts have banded together to remove invasive pests from Tekimoka/Mt Te Kinga, near Lake Brunner.
Under the banner of Predator Free Te Kinga, the team have removed possums from 4000 hectares of the 18,000ha project area. They’re close to declaring another 6,500 hectares around this core area possum-free as well, and feral cats, rats, stoats, and goats will be next.
Innovation is at the heart of their approach. They are using AI supported traps that target specific predators, and heavy-lift drones to bring tunnel traps into hard-to-reach areas.
Their vision includes the reintroduction and regeneration of taonga species such as roroa/great spotted kiwi, whio/blue duck, and pāteke/brown teal.
This is part of a growing alliance of groups taking action to protect the region’s rich biodiversity and vast forests which are described as the lungs of New Zealand. Together, we are working towards a Predator Free Tai Poutini, ensuring these ecosystems are healthy and resilient for generations to come.
To detect possums and stop them from reinvading, the team have the help of dogs trained to detect the smell of possum scat. Photo supplied by Predator Free Te Kinga.
Pest Free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū – a community united for nature
Saying there are no possums in town is a bold statement to make, but for Pest Free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū, it’s not a yarn.
The locals have united to make the Akaroa township possum free, with a network of traps and bait stations across more than 130 properties. The focus is now on defending the boundaries from any stealthy possums. A dedicated team of 20 rangers also roam the surrounding hills, valleys, coastlines, paddocks and parks every single day to monitor pests.
This community-led project is supported by DOC along with local government Ngāi Tahu rūnanga, and other conservation organisations. The long-term ambition is to remove pests from 110,000 hectares of the Banks Peninsula and then gradually expand the programme onto the Canterbury Plains.
Akaroa has the can-do attitude and team culture that will be needed in all our towns and cities to make New Zealand predator-free.
It takes a community to make a town possum-free! It’s heartening to see young people in Akaroa trapping and upskilling alongside experienced conservationists. Photo supplied by Pest Free Banks Peninsula.
Predator Free Rakiura – the largest predator eradication attempt ever
Rakiura/Stewart Island has a mix of urban and conservation land covering about 175,000 hectares. This makes it the largest, most complex environment anyone has ever attempted to eradicate predators from.
Predator Free Rakiura is being led by DOC, Zero Invasive Predators, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in partnership with the local community. The aim is to remove feral cats, three species of rats, possums and hedgehogs to enable kākāpō and many other threatened native species to return and flourish on the island.
A trial was completed across 6,500 hectares in August alongside a predator control operation to save pukunui/Southern New Zealand dotterel from extinction. While the results are pending, the trial could pave the way for a larger eradication operation on the island in 2026.
What is learnt on Stewart Island/Rakiura will inform other predator free island projects across the country, including Predator Free Waiheke and Predator Free Aotea. It will also help to unlock new tools and methods for predator-free efforts on the mainland.
Rakiura is the missing link in a collection of existing predator free islands south of Bluff, including Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, Te Wharawhara/Ulva Island, Waitaua/Bench Island and most of the Tītī/Muttonbird Island chain. Further south, DOC is working to clear predators from Maukahuka/Auckland Island as well.
We are one step closer to making Rakiura predator free with the completion of an eradication trial across a small portion of the forest. Helicopters were used to distribute bait pellets to target predators. Photo supplied by Predator Free Rakiura.
Just to name a few
For more information about some of the many other predator-free projects across the country, go to: Projects: Predator Free 2050
Learn more about how you can get involved in protecting nature: Get trapping
To find initiatives in towns, cities and remote areas across the country, see this map developed by the Predator Free New Zealand Trust: National map – Predator Free NZ Trust
Greenpeace is welcoming Environment Canterbury’s decision to declare a nitrate emergency, calling it a long-overdue acknowledgement of a worsening health crisis. But the organisation warns that real action must follow, and is urging election candidates to commit to stronger freshwater protections.
Greenpeace’s Canterbury-based spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “Canterbury is facing a nitrate emergency and today, Environment Canterbury has listened to the voices of their constituents and finally acknowledged the seriousness of this issue.”
This morning, frustrated Cantabrians rallied outside ECan to demand urgent action to defend fresh water from nitrate contamination. Residents with high levels of nitrate ‘returned to sender’ jars of their drinking water, while speakers called on incoming councillors to reduce nitrate pollution at the source.
Appelbe says, “Up until now, Environment Canterbury has completely failed in their duty to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water from pollution from the intensive dairy industry. Their actions have meant that many families in Canterbury cannot safely drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap.”
“It’s great to see ECan finally acknowledging the scale of this escalating health crisis, but the work doesn’t stop here. It’s one thing to sign onto a pledge but another thing entirely to meet it.”
Today ECan councillors will leave their headquarters for the last time before jumping on the campaign trail to try to win Cantabrians’ votes.
“Candidates in the Environment Canterbury election must defend Canterbury’s freshwater by ending dairy expansion and phasing out the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. The question is, who will step up to the task?”
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury’s decision to declare a ‘nitrate emergency’ is a shameless political stunt that won’t help anyone.
“It’s incredibly disappointing to see Environment Canterbury (ECan) playing these kinds of petty political games,” says Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst.
“Declaring a nitrate emergency isn’t helpful or constructive. All it will do is create unnecessary panic and drive a wedge between our urban and rural communities.
“I think most reasonable Cantabrians will see the declaration for what it is: a cynical and alarmist stunt from a group of councillors trying to score points during the local body elections.”
Hurst says ECan’s decision is divisive and risks undermining the good work done by farmers, councils, iwi and the wider community over the last few decades.
“What I want to know is why this is suddenly an “emergency” for ECan? The data shows the trends have been consistent for decades. That just goes to show it’s all politically motivated.
“Nobody is disputing we have an issue with nitrates in Canterbury. It’s a longstanding challenge that our community have been aware of, and working on, for some time now.
“To suddenly come out and call it an emergency is political theatre.”
He says the situation hasn’t been helped by extreme anti-farming activist groups like Greenpeace spreading harmful misinformation about nitrates.
“Greenpeace have made a lot of false claims trying to link nitrates in drinking water to colon cancer – but that’s just politically motivated misinformation.
“It’s outright scaremongering and simply doesn’t line up with what the credible experts are saying on this issue.”
Federated Farmers say New Zealanders should take their health advice from medical professionals, not environmental activists with an anti-farming agenda.
“The nitrate situation in Canterbury is incredibly complex and hasn’t arisen overnight – and unfortunately it won’t be solved overnight either,” Hurst says.
“Despite a huge amount of work already done to improve the situation, it takes a long time for nitrate-rich water to work its way through the groundwater system.
“Farmers are stepping up and showing real leadership on this issue. It’s just a shame we aren’t seeing the same kind of leadership from our elected councillors.
“Instead of showing real leadership on this issue, ECan councillors are grandstanding, scaremongering and acting like political activists.
“That kind of behaviour is divisive, dishonest, and does absolutely nothing to actually address the issue. Canterbury deserves much better leadership than what we’ve seen today.”
More information about what the experts are saying:
– Bowel Cancer NZ: “The weight of evidence strongly suggests that nitrates in drinking water do not cause bowel cancer, and it is not currently understood how dietary nitrates could cause bowel cancer”.Read more here.
– Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor: “In recent years, an association between nitrate levels in drinking-water supplies and bowel cancer risk in adults has been identified in some overseas studies, but the evidence base is not conclusive with respect to whether the relationship is causal or coincidental”.Read more here.
– ECAN Director of Science Dr Tim Davie: “For drinking water, the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards set a Maximum Acceptable Value (MAV) of 50 milligrams per litre (mg/l) for nitrate, which is equivalent to 11.3 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen. This is based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard. A 2018 review of the science behind the WHO standard, which included the Danish study, concluded there was not enough evidence to change those limits.Read more here.
– The World Health Organisation: “There is no clear evidence of carcinogenicity from nitrate per se in humans.”Read more here.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 September 2025 – Hengan International Group Company Limited (“Hengan International” or the “Company”, SEHK stock code: 1044, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) is pleased to announce that in the recently released 2025 Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) ratings by the leading global index provider MSCI, Hengan International’s rating has elevated from “BBB” to “A”, ranking first in China’s household and personal products industry. This highlights the Group’s impressive performance in sustainable development and the strong international recognition it has garnered.
The MSCI ESG rating is a global authoritative assessment system widely adopted by institutional investors. It annually conducts a comprehensive evaluation of listed companies included in its indices from the three dimensions of environment, social, and governance, aiming to measure enterprises’ ability to manage long-term ESG risks. The rating is regarded not only as an authoritative reference indicator in the international capital markets, but also as an important tool for companies to enhance international recognition and optimize financing capabilities.
Hengan International’s MSCI ESG rating has steadily improved in recent years, showing continuous positive performance. The 2025 rating results demonstrate that the Group significantly increased its scores on issues such as product carbon footprint, raw material sourcing, and chemical safety, all exceeding the industry average levels, fully reflecting the Company’s excellence across multiple ESG dimensions.
As one of the Group’s three core strategies, Hengan International practices responsibility with the pursuit of “long-termism”, disclosing ESG Report for nine consecutive years and Climate-related Disclosure Report for three consecutive years, demonstrating its commitment and achievements in sustainable development through transparent public disclosures. In 2024, the Group launched the “GROWTH” ESG strategic framework, focusing on six core areas: Governance & Ethical Practices, Resource Conservation & Efficiency, Outstanding Customer Care, Workforce Wellbeing & Empowerment, Trusted Partnerships, and Health & Community Engagement, laying a solid foundation for its long-term vision of “achieving 100 billion in 100 years”.
In 2025, Hengan International has boasted impressive performance across various prestigious international ESG indicators. At the end of August, S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) announced the Group’s latest 2025 evaluation results, with its score climbing from 56 in 2024 to 62. By September 2025, the Group’s score far exceeded the industry average of 32, outperforming 91% of its peers and ranking 9th globally.
Additionally, the Group has maintained an “A” rating in the Hang Seng ESG Rating released in September and has been included in the “Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index” for two consecutive years as the only selected candidate in China’s household paper and maternal and child hygiene products industry in 2025. Furthermore, the Group has been listed for three consecutive years in the S&P Global “Sustainability Yearbook (China Edition)” and recognized as the “Industry Mover”, becoming a benchmark enterprise for ESG development in the household products industry.
In 2025, Hengan International’s MSCI ESG rating elevated to “A,” coupled with continuous breakthroughs across multiple ESG indicators, reflecting strong recognition from multiple international authoritative institutions. Looking forward, underpinned by the “GROWTH” strategy, the Group will deepen the integration and innovation of ESG and business development, achieving breakthroughs in key areas of environment, social, and governance, and striving to become a leading benchmark for sustainability in the industry.
Hashtag: #HenganInternational
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
A ‘tough but fair’ approach, and greater unity across both our communities and government, is keeping people and property safer.
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has confirmed a strong reduction in children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour dropping month-on-month since June 2024, a remarkable turnaround for what was once a national crisis.
“As I tour the country, I am consistently hearing that communities are feeling safer.
We promised to fix what matters to New Zealanders. We had been told that people felt unsafe, and that young people were going down the wrong path and harming their communities and their futures.
This significant reduction in serious and persistent youth offending is just one example of how we’re fixing what matters.
Community leaders are confirming to me that they are seeing the results on the ground, with young offenders no longer feeling above the law.
Ram raids are down significantly. Kiwis are no longer being expected to live in fear that our cars have been stolen used by young offenders in a ram raid of our local small businesses.
Repeat offending has also decreased, with innovative initiatives like the Military-Style Academies and greater collaboration between Oranga Tamariki and Police getting results.”
The number of serious and persistent child and youth offenders is 14.6 percent lower than in June 2023, with current trends pointing to this continuing towards achieving Government Target Three several years before the target date.
“I have also been informed that repeat young offenders are avoiding re-offending because they know Courts, Oranga Tamariki, and Police are working together more closely. They no longer believe they can avoid accountability and that their actions won’t have consequences.
We are investing in a number of safety and quality improvements to the facilities at youth justice residences, as well as greater investment in transitional support for young serious offenders.
These investments from Budget 2025 will reduce both re-offending and the number of young people being held in police custody for an extended period of time.
The reality is that there are times when that is the most appropriate place for them to be. I do not apologise for that.
I hope these young offenders turn their lives around, and they are provided with opportunities to do so, but the safety of the community and victims is our highest priority,” Mrs Chhour says.
A new nurse-led cystoscopy service at Dunedin Hospital is helping bladder cancer patients receive their essential follow-up care on time, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“Bladder cancer requires lifelong, regular monitoring. Timely access to surveillance cystoscopies makes a real difference for patients and their families,” Mr Brown says.
“Two highly skilled nurses are now running a weekly flexible cystoscopy clinic, carrying out surveillance procedures that keep patients on track with their care while easing pressure on specialists.
“Since the service began in November 2024, 290 patients have been seen, with all 150 patients on the planned surveillance programme receiving their cystoscopy on time. The nurses are now completing 10 to 15 follow-ups every week.”
Around 65 per cent of Dunedin’s current follow-up cystoscopy patients are suitable for the nurse-led service. Without this change, many patients would have been overdue, and additional specialist sessions would have been needed at locum rates.
Mr Brown says the model is not only improving access for patients but also making smarter use of the workforce.
“This is a fantastic example of innovation in our health system. It ensures patients are seen when they need to be, while also freeing up specialist doctors to focus on first specialist assessments and more complex procedures. That’s a win for patients and for the wider hospital system.
“It will also play an important role in achieving our faster cancer treatment target, by helping patients get the right tests sooner and enabling treatment to begin without unnecessary delay.”
Similar nurse-led models are already in place at Counties Manukau and Waitematā, where nurse practitioners provide both diagnostic and surveillance cystoscopies.
“This initiative shows the value of empowering our skilled nursing workforce. By making better use of their expertise, we are improving access to care, supporting our specialists, and making sure patients receive timely, quality treatment,” Mr Brown says.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson travels to London this week to strengthen New Zealand’s international partnerships in insurance, emergency preparedness, and business competition.
“Resilience and disaster recovery are central priorities for this Government. My visit to London is an opportunity to promote New Zealand’s leadership in these areas, and to build stronger ties with global partners who share our challenges and ambitions,” Mr Simpson says.
The Minister will attend meetings involving the Insurance Council of New Zealand, including with Aon, Lloyd’s of London, and the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Mr Simpson will also receive a detailed briefing from officials at the New Zealand High Commission, and take part in a series of events reflecting the breadth of New Zealand’s relationship with the United Kingdom.
This includes attending the 85th Anniversary Battle of Britain Service and Reception and supporting the Black Ferns in their Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against Canada.
Minister Simpson will be in London from 17–21 September.
