Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth barrier works next week

March 7, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Overnight wire rope barrier maintenance will take place on the Pūhoi on- and off-ramps at the southern end of the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway next week.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says contractors will be checking and modifying the concrete post footings of the barriers to ensure the ongoing safety of road users.

Work will take place between 8pm and 5am and will require a full ramp closure. Only one ramp will be closed on each night and each ramp is expected to take 2 nights.

Temporary traffic management will be in place at the bottom and top of each ramp on their respective work nights.

Road users traveling north from Auckland on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 March and wanting to exit at Pūhoi will have the option of detouring at Grand Drive, Ōrewa and travelling to Pūhoi via Hibiscus Coast Highway, or continuing on the motorway to Warkworth and then driving south on old SH1.

On Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 March people traveling south and wanting to use the Puhoi onramp will detour to Grand Drive, Ōrewa via Hibiscus Coast Highway and Old SH1. Alternatively, they could drive north to Warkworth via old SH1 and then head south on the motorway.

Monday 17 March will be a contingency night in case work is unable to proceed on any of thew scheduled work nights.

Please visit the NZTA Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on these works, including any changes due to weather.

Journey Planner(external link)

NZTA thanks everyone for their patience as we undertake these important works to ensure the continued safety of road users on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway.

MIL OSI

Speech to the BusinessNZ Health Forum

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Check against delivery.

Kia ora koutou. Thank you, Phil, for the opportunity to speak to you today to the Business NZ Health Forum. Since my appointment as Health Minister, I’ve spent time where it matters most – on the frontline, listening to the people our health system is here to serve. Let me tell you about just a few stories I have heard.There are many positive stories of people receiving exceptional healthcare:

A Tauranga woman who recently shared her gratitude with me that her chemotherapy drug is now funded because of the Government’s record investment in new cancer drugs.
A young person in distress, whose family isn’t sure what to do, being helped by compassionate youth mental health services to work through how to cope.
A security guard I met who said he went to an Emergency Department and was seen and discharged in 2.5 hours.

Review hospital systems from admission to discharge, ensuring patients flow smoothly.

But some are more grim:

An elderly man who requires hip and knee surgery and has been living in pain while they wait for their operations.
A cancer survivor who is overdue for their colonoscopy.
A person who is worried about a friend that has been waiting for surgery for over for 15 months, only to find out it has been cancelled.

The failure of our health system doesn’t stop at waiting lists.

I’ve heard of a grandmother sent home after waiting for hours in ED, only to return shortly after having had a stroke.

A grandfather lying in a hospital ward for days, sick and in pain, not knowing when—or if—a doctor would come to see him and tell him what is wrong.

And I’ve heard far too many stories over the past five weeks of people who are alive today, not because the system looked after them, but because their wives, husbands, daughters, and sons had to make lots of noise until someone paid attention.

That’s not a health system that works. And if you ask the doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health professionals who keep the system running, they’ll tell you the same thing. They are just as frustrated—because they got into this job to care for people and provide world-class healthcare to New Zealanders. But the system is failing their patients and them too. Somewhere along the way, our health system became desensitised to patients. There’s often too much focus on what the unions, the colleges, or professional lobby groups say, and not enough focus on what the patient says. Because in healthcare, the customer is the patient—the mum with the newborn, the tradie, the farmer, the kaumātua, the grandmother. They should be at the heart of every decision we make. People working in health have been conditioned to substandard management and conditioned to giving into groups which exert pressure on them.This is not the standard we should accept in New Zealand. That’s why we must fix the system—so that every patient gets the care they deserve, and every healthcare professional is empowered to do the job they trained so long and hard for. New Zealanders expect better. And under this Government, we will deliver it.

A long-term problem made worse by Labour

Let’s be clear—this is not a new problem. Our health system has been overloaded and under pressure for years. But the decisions of the previous government made it significantly worse. We inherited a health system in a state of turmoil.In the middle of a pandemic—when New Zealand needed stability—they ripped the entire structure apart. They forced through one of the biggest bureaucratic restructures in our history, abolishing 20 District Health Boards overnight and replacing them with a single, centralised bureaucracy. The reforms stripped decision-making away from regions and districts.They had no plan for how it would actually help patients. Key health targets – used to ensure the system was delivering for patients – were dumped.Instead of supporting frontline workers, they created another layer of bureaucratic management and confusion at the top. Instead of focusing on patient care and ensuring people didn’t get sicker languishing on ballooning waiting lists, they produced internal reports and shuffled job titles in the head office. Instead of keeping control of spending, they lost complete oversight of the system’s finances. To put it frankly, the previous government’s 2022 health reforms were rushed and poorly implemented, with disastrous results. Most importantly, those reforms eroded the trust and confidence of New Zealanders in getting access to the health services they need.It’s not just our view. It’s not just what frontline workers and patients say. It’s now documented fact.

The Deloitte Report – Labour’s health system failure in black and white

Today, a report by Deloitte titled the ‘Financial Review of Health New Zealand’—an independent report, not written by politicians, but by financial and operational experts – is being released on Health New Zealand’s website.It delivers a damning verdict on the state of our health system when we took office 16 months ago. The report shows, in black and white, that under the previous government, Health New Zealand lost control of the critical levers that drive financial and delivery outcomes.In simple terms:

The agency that was supposed to run our health system had no idea how it was spending its money or the results it was achieving.

Costs spiralled out of control, with deficits mounting each month.

Basic financial oversight collapsed, meaning no accountability, no performance tracking, and no ability to measure success or failure.

No systems in place to manage funds appropriately.

Meanwhile, Labour’s plan was to support unions over patients. As I mentioned earlier, they scrapped health targets, so they didn’t even know what success looked like.

The result?

Elective surgeries plummeted. In 2017, 1,037 people were waiting over four months for elective treatment. By the time Labour left office, that number had grown to 27,497. That’s an increase of over 2,551 percent.

Emergency department wait times blew out. When National left office, almost 90 percent of patients were seen within six hours. By 2023, that dropped below 70 percent.

Childhood immunisation rates collapsed. In 2017, 92.4 percent of children were fully immunised at 24 months. By 2023, that number hit 83 percent.

Primary healthcare was ignored. More people than ever couldn’t see a healthcare professional when they needed one.

This is a system under significant pressure and a system which was recklessly mismanaged under the past government, thrown into turmoil at the worst possible time, and left to drift without accountability. But that changes today.

Funding for Health

There is always a need for more investment in health, but more money isn’t the only solution.This Government has invested a record funding boost of $16.68 billion (over three years) in health to help the sector plan for the future, and that includes funding expected growth. The funding boost provided by this Government is enabling Health New Zealand to retain capacity at the frontline and deliver more services to New Zealanders.There are more frontline staff, including more nurses than ever before and more medical staff, allied and scientific staff, and care and support staff.Since it was set up, Health New Zealand’s frontline staff grew by almost 6,500 people, alongside achieving back-office efficiencies. Remuneration for health workforces has also increased.Since 2014, average salaries for nurses and midwives have increased by almost 70 percent, while average salaries for teachers and police have only risen by approximately 35-40 percent over the same period. The average salary of a registered nurse (including senior nurses) is currently around $125,660, including overtime and allowances. This aligns with nurses in New South Wales.Yet we are not seeing the results we have invested in.Productivity is declining and has not kept pace with historic levels of funding and workforce growth.For example, in the decade between 2014 and 2024, core Health operating funding almost doubled, but the number of first specialist assessments undertaken only increased by 17 percent. The waiting list more than doubled during this period to almost 195,000 people. And as at August last year, over 40 percent of adults needing to see a GP couldn’t get a consultation within a week of when they needed to see one. Every single dollar must deliver better outcomes for patients. More money going in must mean more results coming out. But under Labour, we saw more money with worse outcomes, longer waitlists, and declining service levels. That is simply unacceptable.

What we have done – A back-to-basics approach

Since being in office, this Government has been taking action and we are getting results:

We reinstated health targets—because what gets measured, gets done.
We’re doing more operations. Last year, the health system carried out over 144,000 elective procedures – 10,000 more than the previous 12 months.
We are moving resources back to the frontline, cutting wasteful bureaucracy.
The health workforce is being paid more.
We’re investing in health infrastructure—building new hospitals, upgrading existing ones, and modernising equipment. There are currently 66 Ministerially approved health infrastructure projects, worth a cumulative $6.3 billion in the pipeline.
We have begun stabilising the system, although there’s still a long way to go.

But let me be clear—this is just the beginning.

My five key priorities as Minister
Healthcare is a top priority for everyone in New Zealand. I see it every day as an electorate MP, a father of three young children, and as Health Minister travelling the country. Yes, there will always be a need for more money in healthcare, and as Minister, I will fight every single day to invest more and deliver more for you.I am proud of the investment this Government is putting into health. However, I will also be holding the system to account to deliver more for the funding that is being invested.Investing in primary care and funding additional operations are at the heart of my five clear priorities as Health Minister. They are:

Stabilising Health New Zealand’s governance and accountability allowing it to focus on delivering the basics
Reducing emergency department wait times
Delivering a boost in elective surgery volumes to get on top of the backlog and reduce waiting lists
Fixing primary care to ensure easier access
Providing clarity on the health infrastructure investment pipeline.

1. Focusing Health New Zealand on delivering the basics
My first priority is getting the basics right. It follows years of worsening results being the only thing being delivered.We are going to turn this around by focusing on delivery and achieving targets. Our health targets matter because they demonstrate performance. But it’s not enough to have them on paper—we must deliver real results. Over the last few years, the previous Government’s decision to restructure in the middle of a pandemic—and to remove those targets—led us to where we are now. Too many people are waiting too long for critical assessments and treatments.Health New Zealand should run a health system, not a bureaucracy. Instead of focusing on patients, it got lost in process. That changes now.No more excuses. We measure success in one way: better outcomes for patients.Health New Zealand has struggled to come together as a cohesive team that supports the organisation to deliver for patients. Senior Leadership Team members have only just begun weekly in-person meetings, and have continued to operate from different offices, despite the majority living in Auckland and the organisation being two and a half years old.This has meant the organisation has failed to create a cohesive team to lead the organisation forward.Today, I’m outlining my expectations for Health NZ to deliver a nationally planned and consistent, but locally delivered, health system. I expect core services (infrastructure, data, digital, HR, comms) will sit at head office, with national executive leadership focused on national programmes, shared services, overall governance and planning and empowering districts. I have directed the Commissioner to accelerate the shift to local decision-making and service delivery, and set a requirement for local delivery plans to be developed. I expect this to be done by July.This will enable local leaders to plan effectively, be clear about their budgets, allocate resource to where it’s most needed, and deliver better outcomes for their communities.Because all healthcare is local.I expect there to be strong regional coordination to support local delivery, with singular lines of accountability flowing from the national executive level through to the frontline.Under Labour, financial controls vanished, clinical input was lost, and local districts were disempowered. We are restoring that.Today, I have issued a new letter of expectation and Health New Zealand has released its delivery plan to reflect this.I will also bring back a board for Health New Zealand. Now that the plan is set, it is time to begin the process of transitioning to traditional governance.In the coming weeks, nominations open for the new board. If you have passion for healthcare and a demonstrated track record of delivery, we need you.I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Commissioners for their work to date and I look forward to working with them as they deliver on their plan and as we transition to a board.

2. Fixing Primary Healthcare – easier access for everyone
My second priority is ensuring timely GP access. New Zealand has a shortage of family doctors, who play an important role in helping Kiwis to stay well and out of emergency departments.But last year a third of GP practices had their books closed, forcing people to emergency departments. And if you can’t book in to see your GP or nurse when you need one, you end up in ED when you shouldn’t have to. No one should wait weeks to see a GP and we are set on fixing that.Historically, more funding has been invested in more costly hospital and specialist services at the expense of primary and community care. Over the past five years, hospital funding has increased at a higher rate than primary and community funding. Hospital funding went up by almost 53 percent, while primary and community funding increased by 41 percent.This means we’re missing opportunities for earlier and less costly interventions.We must shift the dial towards primary care, both to improve access for New Zealanders and because it is the fiscally responsible thing to do.We have already made a number of important announcements this week about how we will improve access to primary care including:

Making it easier for New Zealanders to see a doctor. We’re providing up to 100 clinical placements for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care. This will support their transition into GP practices that need them most.

We are also ramping up the number of trainee GPs to give Kiwis better access to healthcare in their communities. We’re introducing a funded primary care pathway to registration for up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors each year from 2026.

We’re training more new doctors. During the term of this Government, medical school placement have increased by 100 places each year.

We’re investing to increase the number of nurses in primary care. This includes supporting GP practices and other providers outside hospitals to hire up to 400 graduate registered nurses a year from this year.

Improving access to 24/7 digital care. This will provide all New Zealanders with better and faster access to video consultations with New Zealand-registered clinicians, such as GPs and nurse practitioners, for urgent problems, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People will be able to be diagnosed, get prescriptions, be referred for lab tests or radiology, and have urgent referrals organised.

These measures focus on giving our primary care workforce the numbers and support they need, so that when you or your whānau need to see a GP, you can—without facing weeks-long wait times or closed books.Strengthening urgent and after-hours care will also be a focus of mine as part of our plan to enable faster access to primary care, and work on this is underway.This week I also announced that Health New Zealand has agreed to deliver a $285 million uplift to funding over three years for general practice from 1 July, in addition to the capitation uplift general practice receives annually.This will be incentivise GPs to improve access and patient outcomes – especially around improved vaccination rates and supporting family doctors to undertake minor planned services. This is just the start – there is more to do. Health New Zealand has work underway to rethink how we fund primary care to make it faster, more accessible, and more sustainable.

3. Reducing ED wait times
My third priority is emergency departments, which have seen lengthy wait times continue to increase since targets were scrapped. The ED target is not just about making sure patients are seen quickly but it pushes every part of the hospital to work smoothly.Emergency departments are the beating hearts of hospitals – if they are operating efficiently and effectively, that reflects the effectiveness and efficiency of every part of the hospital. If wait times are too slow in the ED department it indicates problems throughout the hospital. I expect Health New Zealand to:

Empower clinicians at local levels to fix bottlenecks in real time.
Integrate the primary care reforms, so fewer preventable cases end up in ED. This will be done by hiring and training more doctors and nurses and ensuring New Zealanders have access to round-the-clock care.

The relationship between our hospitals and primary care is critically important, but has broken down in recent years and needs to be fixed. Empowering the primary care sector can help keep people out of hospital and manage patients much more cost effectively in our communities.We need our hospitals working with our primary health care providers to achieve this, and we need many more hospital services delivered locally in communities rather than centrally in our hospitals. We are restoring a focus on ED shorter stay targets, forcing real improvements across the entire hospital. We want to see 95 percent of people admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.

4. Clearing the elective surgery backlog
My fourth priority is elective surgeries, where 27,497 people were waiting more than four months for surgeries they desperately needed in September 2023—a number that was 1,037 under National in 2017. This backlog is unacceptable and has unfortunately grown since we came to Government.But we have arrested the decline in the number of operations. As I mentioned earlier, last financial year, the health system carried out 10,000 more elective procedures than in the previous 12 months. However, we must still urgently increase the volume of surgeries.The elective surgery wait list target isn’t just about measuring performance of the system, it is about people. Behind every number is an individual, a family, many waiting in pain and families anxious for their loved ones to have the surgery they need. We can’t keep doing things the way we currently do it. At the moment Health NZ undertakes both elective surgery, and also responds to acute need, with planned elective surgery often being disrupted by acute need, leaving patients waiting for treatment and waitlists continuing to grow. At the same time, the small amount of planned care that is outsourced to the private sector is often done on an ad hoc basis, meaning Health New Zealand is paying premium prices.This practice must stop. Kiwis waiting in pain for an operation aren’t worried about who is delivering the operation, they just want it done as quickly as possible. I want to see Health NZ both lifting its own performance on elective surgeries, but also partnering closely with the private sector to ensure we can get on top of the waitlists and get kiwis the operations they need as quickly as possible. By partnering with the private sector, we can ensure people get the care they need, and Health New Zealand can achieve value for money through long-term contracts with the private sector. I expect Health New Zealand to work closely with ACC – which already has many of these arrangements in place – to ensure value for money for taxpayers and faster treatment for patients.Today I am pleased to announce the first part of this plan with Health New Zealand investing $50 million between now and the end of June this year to reduce the backlog of people waiting for elective surgeries. That will see an extra 10,579 procedures carried out between now and the middle of this year, with work also underway now to negotiate longer term agreements. This will improve the quality of life of thousands of New Zealanders. It will mean people can return to work, take up hobbies again, and continue to build precious memories with loved ones. I can also announce that I have asked Health New Zealand to work with the private sector to agree a set of principles that will underpin future outsourcing contracts. This will include:

Ending the use of expensive ad hoc, shorter-term contracts for elective surgeries.
Negotiating longer-term, multi-year agreements to deliver better value for money and better outcomes for patients.
Agreeing on plans to recruit, share, and train staff which already bridge both the public and private hospitals.

Long term, I want as much planned care as possible to be delivered in partnership with the private sector, freeing public hospitals for acute needs. However, this needs to be done in a way which is mutually beneficial for our public health system and our workforce. To be clear, the system remains publicly funded, so everyone has access, but this will allow Health New Zealand to leverage private capacity to reduce wait times for patients.

5. Investing in health infrastructure – building for the future
My fifth priority is infrastructure—physical and digital. Our hospitals and data systems are in dire need of upgrade. Health New Zealand is grappling with an outdated infrastructure that is inhibiting changes to models of care that improve patient outcomes and drive efficiencies.Currently:

Health New Zealand has about 1,200 buildings – some have significant seismic risks, other older buildings are not clinically fit for purpose.
Digital infrastructure is also fragmented. There are an estimated 6,000 applications and 100 digital networks. That equates to roughly one application for every 16 Health New Zealand staff members, which is unsustainable.

We need solutions. That includes:

Investigating creating a separate Health Infrastructure Entity under Health New Zealand, to manage and deliver physical and digital assets.
Publishing a long-term plan for health infrastructure so Kiwis know what’s being upgraded across New Zealand and can see a 10-year pipeline of capital projects
Putting all funding and financing options on the table—this will require bold, sustainable investment.

Health infrastructure has been neglected for decades.We’re turning that around. There are currently health infrastructure projects, worth a cumulative $6.3 billion in the pipeline.That includes:

A new hospital in Dunedin.
Modern cancer treatment facilities in Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki
The extensive facilities infrastructure remediation programme at Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre, and
Manukau Health Park and Hillmorton specialist mental health services in Christchurch.

Hospitals don’t run on press releases; they run on real investment. We are delivering that.

Stripping out bureaucracy, demanding delivery
At the end of the day, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. It comes down to results, accountabilities, and every single person in the health system playing their part. My message to Health New Zealand is simple: I expect delivery. I expect a back-to-basics approach, with less talk and more action.I expect a relentless focus on improving health outcomes for New Zealanders and for Health New Zealand to reallocate baseline funding to implement immediate action.We’ve had enough talk. It’s time to fix this system.

A health system that delivers for every New Zealander
New Zealanders don’t want more reports or more excuses—they want action:

Health targets are back.
We’re taking action to stabilise surgery waitlists.
More doctors and nurses are being trained and recruited.
Hospitals are being upgraded.
Primary care is being strengthened.

This isn’t just talk; it’s real change. And I promise every New Zealander: we will not stop until our health system delivers timely, quality care to all.We are embarking on this shift with urgency.Patients come first. And this Government will not rest until that’s a reality.Thank you very much.

MIL OSI

Road Closed, SH1, Kaihiku

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

State Highway One/Moa Hill Road, near Kaihiku is closed following an earlier crash.

Police were alerted to the two-vehicle crash at around 11am.

One person has received serious injuries and is being assessed by Ambulance.

The road is closed while emergency services are at the scene.

Motorists are advised to follow diversions and expect delays.

ENDS

MIL OSI

RIF support for West Coast projects

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

A total of $15.3 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will go towards upgrading Hokitika Airport and key port facilities at Greymouth and Westport, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.

“Ensuring the West Coast continues to be well-connected, productive and resilient is important to the economic health of the region and the entire country,” Mr Jones says.

Hokitika Airport, the largest airport on the West Coast and critically important to the region, will receive a $9.8m loan towards its $16.4m upgrade to help to reduce flight delays and cancellations, reduce aircraft maintenance costs and increase airport operational safety. Around 38 jobs will be created during construction.

The West Coast Ports Infrastructure upgrade programme will receive a $5.5m loan to upgrade Westport Port and Greymouth Port.

“These are the only port facilities of their kind on the West Coast between Nelson and Bluff, making them vitally important for the local fishing industry and minerals sector. The upgrades will make these ports more resilient and support the expansion of mineral extraction and fisheries operations, helping to drive the West Coast’s economic development,” Mr Jones says.

“This work will help boost the New Zealand economy. Good regional infrastructure supports the efficient and sustainable movement of people and goods and facilitates trade and investment. We are committed to prioritising spending to areas where it matters most.

“Resilient and enabling infrastructure is clearly needed on the West Coast and these investments from the Regional Infrastructure Fund are a strong statement that the Coalition Government is delivering to drive economic growth in the region.”

Mr Jones also today welcomed the completion of a significant flood resilience project on the West Coast.

“It’s fantastic to see the completion of the Hokitika Floodwall. This is a key flood resilience project on the West Coast and was part of the Shovel-Ready Programme funded through the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund – Infrastructure Reference Group.

“It will provide West Coast communities with greater protection during severe weather events,” Mr Jones says.

Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft spoke at the opening of the floodwall today.

In Budget 2024, the Coalition Government announced a $101m investment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support 42 flood resilience projects across the country. Good progress is being made on these projects including 30 with shovels in the ground, all contracts signed with funding recipients, two projects complete, and six projects on track to be completed by June 2025.

Since 2018, through Kānoa – Regional Development & Commercial Services, the New Zealand Government has approved more than $244.6m in funding toward projects on the West Coast.

MIL OSI

Greenpeace seamounts expedition sets off to uncover secrets of the deep

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: Greenpeace

A Greenpeace expedition to survey seamounts and other deep sea habitats has set off this week.

With two specialist marine scientists on board, Greenpeace is aiming to use remotely operated deep sea cameras to survey seamounts and other features in both New Zealand waters and the high seas of the South Pacific.

Speaking from on board the vessel, the Greenpeace expedition leader Ellie Hooper said many of these deep sea areas have not been studied before.

“We know that seamounts and other underwater hills, knolls and ridges are critical habitats for coral and sponges, as well as feeding and spawning grounds for other creatures further up the food chain. But we have big gaps in our knowledge,” says Hooper.

“We’re heading out to the deep ocean to try and survey these vital habitats, some of which are threatened by bottom trawl fishing.”

Requests from Greenpeace for the coordinates of the coral encounter area were declined by the New Zealand Government due to ‘commercial sensitivity,’ with the location eventually released to the Expedition’s Lead Researcher by Australian officials.

Hooper has called the New Zealand government’s refusal to share the coordinates “ludicrous” and “a blatant example of the Luxon led government running interference for the fishing industry.”

“We need more ocean research, not less. So often we have to rely on the bycatch that comes up in trawl nets to understand what lives in the deep sea, that’s why we’ve decided to conduct this work so we can better understand what’s out there.

“We want to add to our collective understanding of these deep sea ecosystems, about which so little is known, and to shine a light in the dark.

“This is a challenging mission, and like all deep sea work we’re at the mercy of the weather and the waves, but we’re committed to giving it a shot as part of our mission to protect the oceans better for the future.”

MIL OSI

Environment – Have your say on biological controls to combat noxious weed – EPA

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) wants people’s views on an application to release two biological control agents to combat Darwin’s barberry, an invasive weed.

Environment Canterbury has applied to introduce Darwin’s barberry flower weevil ( Anthonomus kuscheli) and Darwin’s barberry rust fungus ( Puccinia berberidis-darwinii) to target this unwanted shrub. If approved, these agents could also be used to target Darwin’s barberry elsewhere in Aotearoa New Zealand.

All organisms new to New Zealand must receive approval from the EPA as the national environmental regulator.

Darwin’s barberry is a resilient noxious weed found in disturbed forests, pastures, shrubland and short tussock-land. It is a threat to indigenous ecosystems throughout the country, as well as to pastures where livestock graze.

It is native to Chile and Argentina and was introduced to Aotearoa New Zealand as a garden plant in the 1940s. Fruit-eating birds deposit seeds far from the parent bush, increasing its spread.

The plant can be found throughout New Zealand – particularly in the Canterbury, Otago, and Wellington regions.

Both the flower weevil and the rust fungus proposed for introduction are native to South America.

Dr Chris Hill, the EPA’s General Manager of Hazardous Substances and New Organisms, says the applicant’s risk assessment demonstrates these organisms are highly unlikely to harm native plants or animals.

“The weevil doesn’t bite or sting, so there is no health risk to people. The rust fungus is similarly benign.

“New Zealand has a track record of using biological control agents to reduce the environmental impact of invasive plants, with little to no adverse impact on the native ecology,” says Dr Hill.

The consultation enables people in relevant industries, iwi and the public to provide additional information on the risks and benefits of introducing organisms to control the spread of Darwin’s barberry.

“We really want to encourage anyone with an interest in combatting this weed, and the methods proposed to do so, to make a submission. Good decision-making on this proposal will be underpinned, in part, by diverse and considered feedback,” says Dr Hill.

Submitters can provide information, make comments, and raise issues to contribute to the EPA decision-making process.

Submissions close at 5.00pm on 22 April 2025.

Read more about this application and how to submit here:

MIL OSI

Stunning botanical gift for Aucklanders, forever

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

In an extraordinary act of generosity, Auckland philanthropist Rosemary Platt has gifted 5.63 hectares (approximately 14 acres) of ecologically significant land to the people of Tāmaki Makaurau.

In exchange for this gift, Auckland Council has committed to protect the botanical site as a regional park in perpetuity so that future generations can access and enjoy its remarkable collection of trees and open space.

Mayor Wayne Brown says the newly acquired land will become an important destination in the Auckland regional parks network, once it can be opened to the public.

“This is an overwhelmingly remarkable gift to the city. I’m delighted to be able to accept this impressive Greenhithe property on behalf of Aucklanders.

“We will honour accordingly the vision and meticulous work Mrs Platt and her late husband Graeme Platt have put into it since they bought it back in 1983,” Mayor Brown says.

“Thanks to Graeme’s pioneering expertise in horticulture, this property has become an impressive sanctuary of open space and rare tree specimens that are not found anywhere else.

“It has one of the greatest collections of kauri trees in the country, including a forest grown from seed of the great Tāne Mahuta, as well as a genetic replica of the giant ‘God of the Forest’ kauri tree itself,” says Mayor Brown.

“We are very lucky to be gifted these treasures and to receive the honour of looking after them into the future. It is a privilege to become part of such an inspirational story,” he adds.

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Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau will continue to work in partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei on this project, given the significance of the property acquisition, the taonga species (flora and fauna) preserved within it, and its location.

The whenua in this area holds deep historical connections to both iwi, with Tauhinu Pā once standing as a key stronghold nearby, overlooking Oruamo (Hellyers Creek) and the Upper Waitematā Harbour. Named Tauhinu after the native shrub that grew abundantly here, it was an important strategic defence and settlement site over hundreds of years.

The Platt family connection to the site stems backs to 1974, when Graeme and Rosemary opened Platts native plant nursery in Albany. The nursery quickly became the most popular supplier of quality native plants, and the couple became recognised as leading experts on growing native trees.

Over the next 20 years, they introduced many of the well-known native plants still popular in gardens throughout New Zealand and supplied the Auckland Botanic Gardens with many native shrubs and trees on site that visitors enjoy today.

Mrs Platt says her late husband went to great lengths to source superior genetic stock by travelling the country. He believed in harvesting seed from the very best parent stock, personally sourcing kauri cones himself and nurturing seedlings descended directly from Tāne Mahuta, which are now flourishing in Greenhithe.

“He would be thrilled that his passion for ancient trees such as kauri and its relatives from other countries will be enjoyed by our community as they stroll amongst these magnificent trees and appreciate their rich history,” says Mrs Platt.

“As properties become smaller and lives busier, I think that public access to nature and open space is becoming even more important. I am thrilled to know that this property will be cared for by the council so that people can find peace and respite amongst the trees,” she adds.

Rosemary Platt at the Greenhithe property she has gifted to Aucklanders.

After the couple had purchased the block of land in Greenhithe to set up their family home in 1983, Mr Platt set about planting an arboretum (tree collection) there, sourcing a selection of speciality trees that occur in countries that once formed the great ancient continent of Gondwana. It now features more than 1000 mature trees from counties including New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and South America.

Auckland Botanic Gardens Manager Jack Hobbs says many rare and special trees are showcased in this “absolutely remarkable collection”, including several that are threatened with extinction in their natural habitats. It is hoped to establish a volunteer programme to help care for these threatened species.

“The property also has a series of connected open spaces that are beautifully laid out around a central pond, providing a range of exciting opportunities for future use,” says Mr Hobbs.

“All of these unique qualities mean it could be developed as an excellent satellite botanic garden in the north, in keeping with the Auckland Botanic Gardens Management Plan.

“I met Graeme about 45 years ago and it is fair to say his intellect and charismatic ability to inspire others with his passion for native plants made a huge impression on me,” says Mr Hobbs.

“I regard him as one of the greatest influences on horticulture in this country, particularly through his promotion of the virtues of our native flora, and I am delighted his legacy continues with the gifting of this remarkable property.

“Rosemary is also a remarkable person, and her kindness and generosity in gifting this property is the most significant gesture I have encountered during my 50-year horticultural career,” he adds.

Rosemary Platt welcomes Councillor Christine Fletcher, Mayor Wayne Brown and Auckland Botanic Gardens Manager Jack Hobbs to the site.

Policy and Planning Committee Chair Councillor Richard Hills agrees that the land and its features provide a rare opportunity to establish a regional attraction that visitors from all over the world will eventually be able to enjoy.

“It will take time for the property to be ready for public use, but it certainly offers exciting possibilities to provide a range of education and recreation opportunities in a fast-growing area,” says Cr Hills.

In addition to its natural attractions, the Greenhithe property contains a three-bedroom house and large workshop shed. Both were built using carefully selected exotic timbers, as a high-quality sustainable alternative to native timber. The buildings also feature heritage bricks salvaged from the demolition of Auckland’s His Majesty’s Theatre in 1988.

Albany Ward Councillor John Watson says the property’s location provides those living centrally a stunning escape from the pressures of daily life, being less than 30-minutes by car from the city centre and close to the motorway.

“Having a unique open green space such as this bordering high-density housing will be a real attraction, allowing people to connect with nature in a magnificent environment,” Cr Watson says. “It is a quiet and tranquil oasis that is easily accessible to locals and other Aucklanders alike.”

Upper Harbour Local Board chair Anna Atkinson agrees that opportunities to treasure our parks and open spaces will become increasingly important as the city grows over the next 30 years.

“I can see this site bringing people of all ages together in the future, to learn more about conservation and the importance of protecting its unique features. It represents an exceptional gift towards future wellbeing,” Ms Atkinson says.

The next step will be to develop a plan for the new parkland to support its future use and enjoyment by the public.

Essential infrastructure like additional carparking, signage and toilets will be needed before the site can open to the public.

As well as gifting this magnificent property to Aucklanders, Mrs Platt recently purchased an artwork from the Auckland Botanic Gardens’ Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition, to go on display at the Greenhithe site.

Moo by Jamie Pickernell is, as the name suggests, a cow that reflects the arboretum’s farming past and was one of the most popular works in this year’s Sculpture in the Gardens.

In addition, Rosemary Platt has gifted a larger-than-life sized corten steel, wood and stainless steel cow artwork, named Moo, by Jamie Pickernell to permanently go on display at the Greenhithe property.

Property information

The Platt’s gifted property has a council valuation of $10,190,000.
Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens have committed $20,000 towards future planning, recognising its ecological significance.
The property is bordered by a Significant Ecological Area, with housing on three sides.
Two buildings on the site have beautiful exotic wood interiors and provide future opportunity for a café and education facility.
An initial council assessment recommends the site becomes a future satellite botanic garden.
Public access is not yet available to the site.

A workshop in the shed showcases a range of exotic timber.

MIL OSI

Strategic Approach to Immunisation in New Zealand 2025–2030

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Immunisation is a highly successful public health intervention. It safeguards individuals, whānau and communities against a range of potentially devastating diseases, and is a critical way of preventing and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. An accessible and effective immunisation system maximises immunisation uptake and coverage, improving the health of the population and enabling pae ora – healthy futures.

The Strategic Approach to Immunisation in New Zealand 2025–2030 (the strategic approach) provides a renewed vision and strategic direction for the immunisation system for the next five years. It incorporates key lessons learned from our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and sets out high-level objectives and goals for the immunisation system to better protect individuals, whānau and communities against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The strategic approach acknowledges that people have different needs and so individuals require different approaches to improve immunisation outcomes. It recognises the impact of social, economic, environmental and other factors on immunisation coverage, and focuses on working in partnership with stakeholders to address inequities in vaccination coverage and to achieve a highly effective immunisation system.

MIL OSI

Things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau this Autumn

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

Autumn is here, but there’s still a few more days before the golden weather is set to end, and the good news is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a memorable time in Tāmaki Makaurau. As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisp, there’s no better time to embrace the beauty of the season.

From breathtaking walking trails and cosy indoor experiences for the odd rainy day, to playgrounds that offer more than just swings and slides, Auckland Council has your ultimate autumn bucket list sorted for you and your whānau.

Explore our stunning regional parks and pathways

Autumn is the perfect season to venture into Auckland’s 28 regional parks, where you can witness nature’s changing colours and soak up some of the best views in the region. A few of the top activities to enjoy include:

Have your pick of scenic trails at Atiu Creek Regional Park.

Our regional park picks for autumn:

Ātiu Creek Regional Park Bike tracks and a stunning view of the Kaipara Harbour make this a must visit.

Shakespear Regional Park Perfect for scenic hikes and birdwatching, this open sanctuary is accessible via Whangaparāoa Road in Army Bay.

Waharau Regional Park Enjoy farmland, river banks and forest for camping, picnics, walking and mountain biking.

Some tracks in regional parks might be closed to help stop Kauri Dieback. Be sure to check the Auckland Council website before you go to see if your destination is affected.

Take in the breath-taking landscapes of Waharau Regional Park.

Playgrounds closer to home

Before the days get too short, make the most of letting the kids run wild at some of Auckland’s best playgrounds. Whether they love climbing, sliding, or biking, these spots have something for all ages:

Waterview Reserve – Waterview Reserve is a fantastic park to visit with a range of activities for kids of all ages. Nestled in between West and Central Auckland, it features a basketball court, playground and water play area.

Birkenhead War Memorial Park – For all your extreme sports enthusiasts, this awesome park features a skate park and BMX pump track. Additionally, there are picnic tables for a family get together, and walking tracks inside the park as well.

Aorere Park – Located in the heart of Māngere East, Aorere Park playground is divided into separate areas for children of different age groups. There is also a basketball court and fitness equipment to enjoy while the kids are playing.

Read about our upgraded South Auckland playgrounds, or some hidden parks in the Central Auckland area.

Kids will love playing in the revamped Aorere Park playground.

See Tāmaki Makaurau from our gorgeous cycle paths

Autumn’s cooler weather is the perfect time to get on a bike and enjoy the scenic views from our many cycle paths. From the Te Ara Tahuna path to Narrow Neck’s costal scenery, there is plenty to enjoy on your travels.

Discover more of the best family-friendly bike rides in Auckland.

Te Ara Tahuna Ōrewa Estuary Path.

Try a new hobby

Autumn represents the change from old to new, and so can you by starting a new hobby or learning a new skill.

From participating in one of the many music workshops run at our community centres across Auckland, or learning to repurpose your used items into new treasures via the Re-Creators workshops, there is plenty to learn in the Autumn season.

Find workshops, courses, and other ways to upskill on OurAuckland.

Join in to learn Ukulele at one of our community centres across Auckland.

Embrace the new season and learn new skills with services provided by Auckland Council.

Indoor escapes for chilly days

In the (hopefully unlikely!) event the weather turns cool and rainy as we move into Autumn, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep the whānau entertained:

Life drawing at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

New Lynn Library.

Check out free & affordable events

Auckland is packed with free and budget-friendly events throughout autumn. Keep an eye out for food markets, cultural festivals, and live performances that make the most of the cooler season via OurAuckland.

Embrace the colours of autumn!

With so many activities to choose from, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy autumn in Tāmaki Makaurau. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or family fun, get out there and make the most of this beautiful season!

MIL OSI

Free kidney disease checks at Auckland’s Pasifika Festival this Weekend

LiveNews Publisher

March 7, 2025

Source: Kidney Health New Zealand

Kidney Health New Zealand will be providing free testing for kidney disease at the Pasifika Festival this Saturday and Sunday at Auckland’s Western Springs.

National Clinical Manager Merryn Jones says Pasifika people are among high-risk groups being targeted for free testing this month.

“As a former dialysis nurse and transplant coordinator, I’ve met a lot of people living with kidney failure, and the stories are heartbreaking,” Ms Jones says.

“Testing can identify some of the common risk factors for kidney disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as kidney disease itself.

“Early detection means people can better manage their kidney health by doing such things as making lifestyle changes or taking medications for high blood pressure or diabetes that may prevent or slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease”.

Other high-risk groups include Māori, people of South East Asian and Indian descent, and those aged over 60 years.

Kidney Health New Zealand will be in the Hub area near the Cook Island village at the Pasifika Festival from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. The check takes about 5 minutes and includes a blood pressure check and a finger prick blood test.

“If you’re going to the Pasifika Festival this weekend, please come and get a free test, otherwise ask your GP or healthcare provider for a test,” Jones says.

“Early detection through testing and preventative measures are the key to tackling chronic kidney disease.”

In New Zealand, kidney disease affects at least 1 in 10 people, although prevalence is believed to be higher in Māori and Pasifika populations.

Kidney Health New Zealand, a charity dedicated to better kidney health for Kiwis, is doing free tests at events all around the country this month – including at New Zealand Parliament on 12 March. World Kidney Day is on 13 March.

Anyone in New Zealand affected by kidney disease, including relatives, can contact Kidney Health New Zealand’s free helpline from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, on 0800 543 649.

Visit www.kidney.health.nz for more information.

MIL OSI

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