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Health and Politics – Yet more Government health plans and priorities: NZNO

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Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

It’s no surprise there’s confusion in the health sector after the Government today released yet another plan to fix the dire state of Aotearoa New Zealand’s public health system, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
Health Minister Simeon Brown today outlined his plan to “fix the system” and his five key priorities.
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the Minister’s acknowledgement of the issues facing the health system is good for patients and health care workers.
“However, it isn’t clear how this latest plan fits with the plethora of other current health plans, strategies and legislative frameworks including the Government Policy Statement, the Pae Ora Act and the six accompanying Pae Ora Strategies, the health targets and the Health Workforce Plan.
“And this is not to mention Te Whatu Ora Commissioner Dr Lester Levy’s long awaited ‘reset’. It’s no wonder everyone in the health system is confused.”
There was also no mention in the Minister’s plan or priorities of improving the health outcomes of Māori or that of our vulnerable communities, Kerri Nuku says.
“Lifting the health outcomes of Māori, Pacific people and disabled people ultimately benefits all of Aotearoa New Zealand by creating a more equitable health system and improving access to quality health care for all.
“The Minister was also strangely silent on the role of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) despite his Government having committed to them previously and his rush to have a locally delivered health system by July. IMPBs are enshrined in the Pae Ora Act and Simeon Brown needs to explain the role he sees them playing in his plan,” Kerri Nuku says.

MIL OSI

Fruit fly controls on Auckland’s North Shore to remain in place until 10 April 2025

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Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables on Auckland’s North Shore will remain in place for the next few weeks as part of the response to the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly last month, says Biosecurity New Zealand’s commissioner north, Mike Inglis. 

“We’ve had fantastic support from the Birkdale community and sector groups to date, and we’re asking for that to continue a little longer out of an abundance of caution. It is vital to our success in keeping fruit fly from establishing in New Zealand,” Mr Inglis says. 

“To date, no other Oriental fruit flies have been found in surveillance traps since the original find on 20 February 2025, which is encouraging. 

“We’ll continue to regularly check fruit fly traps, and specialist staff in our mobile field laboratory will cut up and inspect fruit and vegetables collected in the area for any signs of larvae.”

Mr Inglis says it’s anticipated the restrictions will remain in place until 10 April 2025. 

“This is so we can be confident that we are not dealing with a breeding population. This timeframe is based on scientific advice about the life cycle of the Oriental fruit fly.”

There is no change to the current movement rules that are in place. The A and B Zone areas in Birkdale will remain the same and the instructions on the disposal of produce waste remain unchanged. More detail on these zones is on our website:

Oriental fruit fly, Birkdale

“Those legal controls prohibit the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the specified controlled area around where the fruit fly was found. The restrictions are a critical precaution to protect our horticultural sector and exports,” Mr Inglis says. 

“There have been 13 previous fruit fly incursions in New Zealand which we have successfully eradicated, so we have very strong and detailed operational plans to guide our work. 

“The fruit fly poses no risk to human health, but there would be an economic cost to the horticulture industry if it were allowed to establish here.”

To report suspected finds of fruit fly, call MPI’s pest and diseases hotline on 0800 809 966.

For further information and general enquiries, email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

MIL OSI

Serious crash: Bush Road, Pipiroa

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Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash involving a car and motorcycle, at Pipiroa in the Hauraki district.

Police were alerted to the crash about 2.20pm, at the intersection of Shellbank and Bush roads. One person is in a critical condition.

The road is likely to be closed for some time and diversions are being put in place at the intersections of Bush Road and State Highway 25, and Bush Road and Orchard East Road.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Auckland overnight motorway closures 8 – 14 March 2025

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 14 March 2025.

Please note this Traffic Bulletin is updated every Friday.

Daily updated closure information(external link) 

Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am. Traffic management may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline.

NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

  • Onewa Road southbound on-ramp, 9-13 March
  • Stafford Road northbound off-ramp, 9 & 11-13 March
  • Shelly Beach Road southbound off-ramp, 10 March
  • Curran Street northbound on-ramp, 9 & 11-13 March

CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)

  • None planned

SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

  • Tecoma Street southbound off-ramp, (approx. 8:00am 8 March to 5:00am 10 March 24/7)
  • Southbound lanes between East Tamaki Road off-ramp and Redoubt Road on-ramp, 13 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • East Tamaki Road southbound on-ramp, 13 March
    • SH1 southbound to SH20 northbound link, 13 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Southbound lanes between Redoubt Road off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 11-12 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • SH1 southbound to SH20 northbound link, 11-12 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Redoubt Road southbound on-ramp, 11-12 March
    • Takanini southbound on-ramp, 11-12 March
  • Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 9-13 March
    • Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 9-13 March
  • Drury/SH22 southbound off-ramp, 9 & 13 March
  • Drury/SH22 southbound on-ramp, 10-13 March
  • Southbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Bombay on-ramp, 10 March
    • Drury/SH22 southbound on-ramp, 10 March
  • Southbound lanes between Nikau Road off-ramp and Nikau Road on-ramp, 9 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Northbound lanes between Ridge Road off-ramp and Nikau Road on-ramp, 9 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Razorback Road southbound off-ramp, 9 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • SH1 southbound to SH2 eastbound link, 9 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Northbound lanes between Pokeno off-ramp and Pokeno on-ramp, 9 March
  • Southbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 10-13 March
  • Northbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 10-13 March
  • Dragway Road northbound off-ramp, 10-13 March

NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)

  • Southbound lanes between Waimauku roundabout and Trigg Road, 9-13 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Northbound lanes between Trigg Road and Waimauku roundabout, 9-13 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)

UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)

  • Eastbound lanes between Tauhinu Road off-ramp and Albany Highway on-ramp, 9-10 & 12-13 March
    • Greenhithe Road eastbound on-ramp, 9-10 & 12-13 March

SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)

  • Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 links (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 10 March
    • SH20 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 10 March
    • SH20 northbound to SH16 eastbound link, 10 March
    • Maioro Street northbound on-ramp, 10 March
  • Southbound lanes between Lambie Drive off-ramp and SH1 links, 11-12 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Lambie Drive southbound on-ramp, 11-12 March
    • SH20 southbound to SH1 northbound link, 11-12 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • SH20 southbound to SH1 southbound link, 11-12 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)

GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)

  • Kirkbride Road southbound off-ramp, 9-13 March

PUHINUI ROAD (SH20B)

  • None planned

STATE HIGHWAY 22 (SH22)

  • None planned

STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)

  • SH2 westbound to SH1 southbound, 9 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)

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MIL OSI

City and Regional Deals – opportunity for growth

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Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s City and Regional Deals initiative has received a great response from regions across New Zealand, and is now into the assessment stage to determine which regions will be the first to progress towards a deal, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say.
Councils were asked to work together to form regions and to outline, via a light-touch proposal, how a deal of up to five priority projects would unlock economic growth in their area. Regions had until 28 February 2025 to submit their light-touch proposals to the Department of Internal Affairs.
“The Government has been clear that driving economic growth is a core focus for our Government with our regions playing a key role in delivering that plan. City and Regional Deals will be relentlessly focused on driving our growth agenda,” Mr Bishop says.
“New Zealand has a massive infrastructure deficit. Water pipes are bursting, roads have been falling apart, and there simply aren’t enough houses. Our Government is relentlessly focussed on reducing the infrastructure deficit within this country.” 
“With a growing population, it is critically important we are delivering the long-term infrastructure we need for growth. City and Regional Deals is designed to help reduce New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit through unlocking productivity, attracting investment, and improving connectivity across the country.
“Delivering a joint long-term vision for regions will ensure they remain focused on delivering what matters most to ratepayers, including critical infrastructure like housing and transport.”
“The positive response from regions across the country demonstrates the value councils see in the programme and that central and local government agree that through collaboration we can accelerate long-term vision realisation in our regions and cities. This is critical to accelerate economic growth and productivity,” Mr Watts says.
“I have made it clear to councils that I expect them to demonstrate how each initiative would connect to other projects and other government priorities, such as Local Water Done Well. I look forward to seeing the details of each proposal.”
City and Regional Deals light-touch proposals will now be assessed against the criteria outlined in the strategic framework. The results of the assessment will be provided to Ministers for consideration. The Government will decide which regions progress towards a deal with the intention to have the first deal concluded by the end of 2025. It is expected that three deals will be in place by October 2026.     
More information about City and Regional Deals can be found at www.dia.govt.nz/Regional-Deals. 

MIL OSI

Pacific community-led solutions to address alcohol harm

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Source: New Zealand Government

A new $330,000 funding initiative to help prevent and address alcohol-related harm in New Zealand’s Pacific communities was officially launched today by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey.

“This is an important milestone for alcohol harm prevention among our Pacific communities. This is the first significant alcohol prevention specific investment in the health system to address alcohol harm in Pacific populations,” Mr Doocey says.

“The new Pacific Strengthening and Innovation Fund aims to provide resources to Pacific communities, to help empower locally-led approaches to prevent alcohol-related harm, joining wider work being done in areas like health and education.

“Hazardous alcohol consumption can cause a lot of harm in our communities. That is why this Government is taking alcohol harm seriously, which is evident by it raising the alcohol levy for the first time in 15 years.

“The Government is committed to addressing alcohol harm and that includes enabling and providing support for locally driven solutions.

The New Zealand Health Survey tells us that despite lower overall alcohol consumption rates, Pacific communities face higher rates of hazardous alcohol consumption and heavy episodic drinking.

“As Minister, I set a goal of increasing investment into prevention and early intervention, focusing on population needs for groups and communities which the new Pacific Strengthening and Innovation Fund will help achieve.

“I am very pleased that dedicated funding is now available for Pacific communities. It joins the many other initiatives that are intended to help people overcome challenges and improve their quality of life, and to support healthier, safer, happier communities.”

MIL OSI

Fire Safety – Total fire ban for North Waikato and Coromandel

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Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has declared a prohibited fire season for the Waikato Northern and Coromandel Zones as of 2pm on Friday 7 March, until further notice.
A prohibited fire season means no outdoor fires are allowed and all fire permits are revoked.
Waikato District Manager Daryl Trim says the areas are experiencing less rainfall than usual for this time of year.
“Despite some rain this week, vegetation is very dry across Waikato, especially through the west of the District,” Daryl Trim says.
“With no rain forecast for the next few weeks, these dry conditions are set to continue.
“There were 115 vegetation fires in Waikato in January and February, including the large fire on Black Jack Road in the Coromandel.
“It’s much harder for Fire and Emergency to protect people, property and the environment when the fire danger is so high.”
Daryl Trim asks people to be mindful of the dry conditions and to avoid activities that can generate heat and/or sparks and cause fires.
“Don’t mow the lawns, use power tools, or drive or park vehicles in long dry grass, particularly during the hottest parts of the day,” he says.
“These all have the potential to start a devastating wildfire.”

MIL OSI

BusinessNZ – Health system serious approach needed

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Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ has welcomed the Government’s commitment to better management of the health system.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said a high-functioning health system was critical for enabling New Zealanders to lead healthy, productive lives.
“Getting clear targets for things like GP access and elective surgery wait times, getting better value from health expenditure by working with private sector health providers, and ensuring adequate investment in health infrastructure indicates a serious approach is being taken to this critical sector.
“Successful outcomes for patients is a key consideration where New Zealanders want to see responsible, competent use made of public funding,” Mrs Rich said.
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

MIL OSI

Serious Crash, SH3, Egmont Village

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Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

State Highway 3 is blocked following a two-vehicle crash involving a car towing a trailer, near Egmont Road, Egmont Village.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash around 1:50pm.

Initial indications suggest two people are in a critical condition.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

SH3 is blocked at it’s intersections with Upland Road and Egmont Road and motorists are advised to take an alternate route.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre 

MIL OSI

Chris Hipkins’s deck chair speech

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Source: ACT Party

Responding to Chris Hipkins’s State of the Nation speech, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

“It was a deck chair speech. All the changes he’s proposing involve politicians and bureaucrats being reorganised, and will have no effect on actual people.

“A new ‘economic team’ of Labour MPs, a new ‘jobs and incomes’ portfolio for Ginny Anderson, talking to ‘experts’ and ‘unions’ – none of this is real change.

“We’ve seen this before. Hipkins spent resources reorganising the health system, and what we got was a new org chart while patients were ignored.

“We won’t reshuffle our way to prosperity. But to give Hipkins credit, giving a speech in Auckland was probably a bold step for someone who struggles to think outside the Wellington bubble.

“By contrast, we’ve got a Government that is making real change to red tape and regulation, focusing public services on patients and students, reducing government waste so inflation and interest rates are lower for the people.

“The amazing thing is Chris Hipkins’s changes could all be made without any real person in New Zealand noticing. It may not be long before some of Hipkins’s caucus decide to reorganise him.”

MIL OSI

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