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Recycling Sector – Widespread support to start a Container Return Scheme in NZ

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Source: Zero Waste Network

A coalition of 84 companies, councils and not for profit organisations have written to the NZ Government asking them to modernise how we handle waste and litter in New Zealand by starting a Container Return Scheme.

Organisations as diverse and significant as Woolworths, Foodstuffs NZ, Coca Cola, BP, The Warehouse, The University of Auckland, the NZ Beverage Council, the Zero Waste Network and 24 councils, spanning from the Far North to Dunedin, have signed the request and offered to help the Government set up a successful scheme.

“It is great to see retailers, drink producers, councils, recyclers and community organisations coming together to ask the government to start a Container Return Scheme in New Zealand.” said Zero Waste Network Spokesperson Sue Coutts. “We have a common interest in increasing recycling rates and reducing litter and pollution.”

The 84 signatories are asking the Government to prioritise a Container Return Scheme because they are proven to increase recycling rates, create new jobs, and provide fundraising mechanisms for community groups, and the charity sector. A Container Return Scheme lines up with the government’s waste objectives and climate goals, as well as being supported by more than 80% of New Zealanders. (Reloop 2022; Kantar, 2023)

“A 2023 survey showed that 89% New Zealanders like the idea of a Container Return Scheme. Paying a deposit when you buy a drink and getting it back when you drop off the empty bottle or can makes sense to people.” said Sue Coutts. “Communities, clubs and charities could use the scheme to raise funds for sports gear, local projects, school trips and other activities. I know a lot of organisations who would love to be able to do that.”

2.6 billion drink bottles, cans and cartons get sold in New Zealand each year. Less than half of these are collected for recycling, but overseas Container Return Schemes achieve 90% recycling rates.

“We know from the international evidence that Container Return Schemes work. A well-designed scheme would double the return rate for drink bottles and cans from 45% to 90%. These schemes are working well in 57 countries and states around the world from Canada to Europe. It’s time for New Zealand to start a Container Return Scheme so we can create good jobs in the recycling industry and in our regions, and feel proud of our clean green reputation.”

A copy of the full letter to the Minister can be found here: https://44104809.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/44104809/Documents/Advocacy%20documents/2422025%20CRS%20-%20Broad%20Advocacy%20Letter_FINAL.pdf?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=350289176&utm_content=350289176&utm_source=hs_email

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Construction to begin on final stage of Wellington SH58 Road of Regional Significance project

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Source: New Zealand Government

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has given the go-ahead for construction to begin on the final stage of the State Highway 58 (SH58) safety improvements project in Wellington, between Moonshine Road and the SH1 Pāuatahanui Interchange of Transmission Gully, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.   

“As a Road of Regional Significance, SH58 provides critical east-west access between the Hutt Valley and Porirua. Completing the final stage of this project will create a safer, more reliable connection for approximately 19,000 vehicles that use the corridor every day, and support expected urban growth in the region,” Mr Bishop says.

“Judgeford and Pāuatahanui are growing areas, and we expect to see more people living here in the future. As the population grows, so too will the demands and traffic flows on SH58. Delivering safe roading infrastructure that supports economic growth and productivity is a priority for the Government and reflected in the National Land Transport Programme 2024-27.

“The work on SH58 has been extensive and has required construction to be underway while ensuring the highway remains open for drivers, residents, and local businesses. Safety improvements between State Highway 2 and east of Moonshine Road began in 2019 and were completed in December 2024. 

“The final stage of improvements on SH58 include two new roundabouts – one at the intersection of Flightys Road and Murphys Road, and the second at the Moonshine Road intersection, among other safety improvements to the corridor. Preparation for this work is underway already, with construction expected to begin in the next few months and completed by 2027.

“I want to acknowledge the patience of those who live, travel, or commute along SH58 while NZTA has worked to improve safety along this key route. Delivering crucial project works like this is complex whilst trying to keep the road open to thousands of vehicles a day. I’m pleased we’re getting on with the final stage of work and I look forward to it being completed as soon as possible.”

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TRACR and Sarine Technologies Sign Agreement for Pioneering Diamond Traceability Solution

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Source: Media Outreach

The collaboration enables a scalable and cost-effective diamond traceability solution in support of transparency and trust across the supply chain

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2025 – Tracr™ Limited (“Tracr”), the world’s first fully distributed diamond blockchain platform enabling the registration of rough diamonds at source, and Sarine Technologies Limited (“Sarine”), a global leader in precision technologies across the diamond pipeline, have announced the signing of a collaboration agreement that enables each party to offer scalable, cost-effective and enhanced verification services for tracing diamonds from their source.

The collaboration will enable algorithmic matching of diamonds at scale, starting from the source. Both parties will use their respective capabilities to increase process efficiency and reduce the need for duplicate processes by existing participants. Utilising Tracr’s blockchain technology, Sarine’s diamond scanning solutions, and both companies’ sophisticated diamond identification and matching algorithms, the collaboration will create an interface between Tracr’s platform and Sarine’s cloud, which will facilitate, if enabled by participants, the seamless matching of diamond data across different stages of a registered diamond’s journey.

A key benefit of the arrangement will be the ability to offer objective verification of a diamond’s journey from a producer’s rough supply to a manufacturer’s polished production using verifiable diamond scanning information. Introducing a new objective verification capabilitythrough a robust algorithmic matchingprocess will help Tracr and Sarine participants benefit from enhanced provenance assurance, in turn enabling them to offer customers, diamond brands and consumers enhanced confidence in the provenance of a diamond.

By enabling the option of registering their diamonds’ data, including diamond scans, to the Tracr platform using Sarine software, participating diamond businesses will be able to have their diamonds benefit from objective verification as the data is algorithmically checked against the corresponding existing diamond data. This includes diamonds from De Beers Group supply uploaded to Tracr, which currently number more than three million. With De Beers now registering single country of origin for all rough diamonds larger than one carat, the solution also has the potential to function as a customs service to facilitate the traceability of a diamond’s origins as it crosses international borders, in line with the requirements of the G7 Diamond Protocol.

With the new traceability solution being based on Tracr’s and Sarine’s existing infrastructure, which is widely used in the industry, the solution is expected to have minimal impact on participants’ supply chains, supporting its ability to be scaled quickly and effectively. Furthermore, Tracr’s and Sarine’s matching processes will be conducted using data from a variety of existing diamond scanning technologies and enabling businesses to benefit from enhanced provenance assurance. This will help to reduce operational complexity and make the matching process more efficient and scalable.

Wesley Tucker, CEO of Tracr, said: “We believe this collaboration will deliver a step change in traceability and provenance assurance in the diamond industry. By enabling the connection between our blockchain technology and Sarine’s advanced precision technology, we are creating a new, cost-effective and highly scalable solution that can be implemented at pace. It has been great to work with Sarine on developing a solution that is both innovative and practical, and we see huge potential for it – both for meeting rapidly evolving consumer expectations and in support of the fast-changing regulatory landscape.”

David Block, CEO of Sarine Technologies, said: “We believe that this cooperation will greatly enhance the much-needed ability to trace diamonds to their source, providing the industry with greater transparency and the consumers with heightened confidence. It has been a pleasure working with the Tracr team on this initiative, and we look forward to supporting our customers in implementing these capabilities to enhance their operations.”

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Hashtag: #Tracr #DeBeersGroup #NaturalDiamonds

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

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

Government backs Mangawhai tornado clean-up

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Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has confirmed a $435,000 contribution from the Ministry for the Environment to support emergency waste clean-up after a recent tornado, say Environment Minister, Penny Simmonds and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister, Mark Mitchell.
“The Government recognises the significant challenge councils face in managing emergency waste from severe weather events and is committed to providing the necessary support,” says Ms Simmonds.
“This funding will assist the Kaipara District Council in managing the clean-up of emergency waste in Mangawhai and provide some relief to the community as they recover.” 
On Sunday 26 January 2025, a tornado struck the coastal township of Mangawhai in Northland resulting in serious injuries to several people, extensive damage to properties, power outages, and roads blocked by storm debris.
Following the event, Ministry for the Environment officials met with officials from both Kaipara District Council and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to identify, quantify and assess the costs associated with the tornado event.
“Recovery is an ongoing process, and we recognise the Kaipara District Council is working hard to strengthen resilience and support recovery in their community,” says Mr Mitchell. 
Ms Simmonds says Kaipara District Council acted quickly after the event to manage emergency waste responsibly.
“This funding will substantially cover the council’s costs from the tornado’s immediate aftermath, as well as helping with the ongoing clean up. The council will provide a final report within three months of project completion to outline how the funding was used.”
For further information visit: Recovering from recent severe weather events | Ministry for the Environment

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Moth plants beware

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Source: Auckland Council

South Auckland schools and community groups are being encouraged to join the fight against moth plants.

The popular Pest-free South Auckland Moth Plant Competition 2025 is open for registrations. Pods can be collected from 3 March 2025 to 9 May 2025.

So – if you live, work, play, or learn in Ōtara-Papatoetoe or Māngere-Ōtāhuhu be sure to sign up.

There are awesome cash prizes to win at the celebration at the June prizegiving, plus plenty of fun prizes just for participating.

The chairs of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Boards enjoy this competition because for those who join in, they show great teamwork, stay dedicated, and are actively learning about and taking care of te taiao (environment). They’re excited to see tamariki (children), rangatahi (youth), and kaiako (teacher) come up with fun, creative ways to compete and connect.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of this competition that the boards heard at last year’s prizegiving was that tamariki and youth are noticing fewer moth plants around – it’s because they’ve been busy collecting moth pods around the area for the past few years. This proves that their efforts are making a difference in our community and initiatives like Pest-free are having a real impact.

“This year is shaping up to be even more competitive, we’d love to see more schools and groups join in, and we can’t wait to see the progress they make over the next three months,” says Ōtara-Papatoetoe chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia.

Hi-fives all round. Overall, 2024 winners Nga Taonga Aroha ECE from Bairds Road, Ōtara.

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich adds, “Community-led conservation initiatives like Pest Free Ihumātao and Pest Free South Auckland are central to our climate action in our Local Board Plan.

“It is important for maintaining healthy, biodiverse streams, estuaries, and harbours.  Special thanks to our Pest Free South Auckland team. Alongside kaiako and community leaders, they’re creating a pest-free environment in our own backyard. It’s fun, engaging, and inspires our tamariki to care for and protect our natural environment. We’re eager to see more Māngere-Ōtāhuhu schools and groups join in this year.”

Waterlea Primary School, top pod collectors for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu area in 2024.

Many people have encountered the moth plant without realising it is an infamous weed that poses a significant threat to our native plants.

Pest Free South Auckland supports Auckland Council’s regional Pest-free Auckland initiative to protect biodiversity and restore council-managed land.

The Pest-free South Auckland team.

Categories include:

To register: contact PFSA@otarawaterways.org.nz. Competition closes 9 May 2025.

The competition is also supported by Manurewa and Papakura local boards.

What is a moth plant?

Moth plant is a vigorous evergreen climbing vine with arrow-head shaped leaves, dark green on top and grey-green below. The flowers grow in creamy white to pink clusters, present from December to May.

Why is it a problem?

Moth plant can become dominant in many situations and out-competes and replace native plants. It smothers and strangles whatever it climbs on. The seeds are poisonous, and the milky-white sap is very sticky, and insects can become trapped.

When removing this weed from your backyard, remember to wear protective gloves and remove it from the roots along with any pods and vines. Put them in a secure plastic bag and send them to the landfill via your regular council rubbish bins or through a community weed bin in your area.

Stay up to date 

Want to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area? Sign up here for Ōtara-Papatoetoe or for Māngere-Ōtāhuhu.

MIL OSI

Weather News – Cold mornings, showers, and sunshine – MetService

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Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 6th – Monday 10th March – Autumn is in full swing, and it is starting to feel like it. MetService is forecasting a chilly night for the North Island tonight (Thursday), followed by a weekend that brings a mix of sunshine and cloudier periods, with a lingering crispness in the air. While showers are expected late Friday into Saturday across many parts of the country, there will still be plenty of opportunities to take advantage of clearer weather.

Parts of the South Island woke up to their coldest temperatures of the year so far this morning, with inland Canterbury dipping below zero and the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch recording lows around 3°C . The cooling trend continues overnight into Friday morning for the North Island, where single-digit temperatures are expected, and even frosts possible for parts of Waikato and the Central Plateau.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane says, “Friday morning is shaping up to be one of the chilliest starts the North Island has seen in a while, so an extra layer may come in handy!”

Despite the cool mornings, Friday and the weekend will feature periods of sunshine, with temperatures in Auckland rebounding to the mid-20s after a chilly spell. However, a southwesterly to southeasterly wind will keep a slight nip in the air for many across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Showers are also in the mix for parts of the South Island on Friday and Saturday, with the North Island seeing some wet weather on Saturday, particularly in the lower and eastern regions. Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti/Gisborne could even see a few thunderstorms on Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, settled weather returns to most of the South Island under a ridge of high pressure, while the eastern and lower North Island continues to see a few showers. Elsewhere in the North Island, conditions are expected to remain dry.

“It will be a mixed bag at times, so it’s worth making the most of the clear spells when they come,” Makgabutlane advises.

Meanwhile, many of us will be thinking about our friends and whānau across the ditch as Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues its westward track, bringing severe weather to Brisbane and the Queensland coast. MetService is closely monitoring the system, but at this stage, it is not expected to have a direct impact on Aotearoa New Zealand’s weather. Updates on Alfred’s progress can be found on the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s website.

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Urgent repairs near Te Hana River Bridge tonight

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises contractors will undertake urgent repairs near Te Hana River Bridge on State Highway 1 overnight tonight (Thursday 6 March).

Due to the narrow road environment, a lane closure with stop/go traffic management is required to ensure our crew has the required space to work safely.

Site set-up will get underway from 6pm, with construction starting at 7pm.

Motorists are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and expect some delays.

NZTA appreciates people’s patience and cooperation as we work to maintain the safety and integrity of the bridge.

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Expect delays on SH49 Tangiwai for urgent rail maintenance

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Road users on State Highway 49 (SH49), northwest of Waiouru, should prepare for delays over 2 weekends this month, while KiwiRail undertakes urgent maintenance on the Tangiwai Rail Crossing.

To enable KiwiRail to undertake this work safely, SH49 will be down to 1 lane under stop/go traffic management at the Tangiwai Crossing this weekend, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March, and again on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March (weather dependent). 

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) appreciates there is increased traffic using SH49 currently as it is the main detour while State Highway 1 (SH1) is closed between Rangipō and Waiouru, as part of the Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance programme. 

SH1 between Rangipō and Waiouru (including the Desert Road) is on track to reopen mid-March (weather dependent). 

NZTA thanks road users for their patience while KiwiRail completes this important work at Tangiwai and our team completes the vital road rebuilding and bridge repairs on SH1. 

Use our Journey Planner before you leave to plan your travel. 

Journey Planner(external link)

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First Financial Statements including 2025 released

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Source: New Zealand Government

The latest interim Financial Statements of the Government show results were more positive than expected at the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update for most indicators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
Treasury published the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the Seven Months ended 31 January 2025 today.
“The results show the OBEGALx deficit was $1.4 billion smaller than forecast.
“Core Crown tax revenue was $600 million higher than forecast, while core Crown expenses were lower than forecast by $600 million – the latter mainly due to timing.
“Net core Crown debt was $66 million lower than forecast – so is tracking as expected.
“Core Crown expenses rose by 2 per cent in the seven months to January 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier. In the same period to January 2024, they rose by 9.7 per cent.
“The fiscal fix-up job is underway, but it won’t happen overnight. Rectifying the state of the books underpins the Government’s push to get the country back on track. 
“Healthier books will help support economic growth, which will mean more and better paid jobs, and money to support the public services New Zealanders expect.”

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Expanded specialist youth services coming for regions in need

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Source: New Zealand Government

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced details for a $3.5 million annual funding boost to increase access and expand specialist infants, children and adolescents mental health services (ICAMHS) in Tairāwhiti, Counties Manukau, and Waitematā.  

“Through data we know these three regions have lower investment in Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services compared to other regions, this funding will help address that disparity,” Mr Doocey says.

“One of the biggest barriers to timely mental health support in New Zealand is workforce and this additional funding will enable the expansion of ICAMHS teams and services to some of their most vulnerable members of their communities.

The three regions all have individual plans for the additional funding: 
•    Counties Manukau will receive the largest uplift of more than $2 million a year and will establish a dedicated clinical team for children up to intermediate schooling age who have moderate to severe mental health needs. 
•    Waitematā plans to use the additional funding on specialist clinical roles to meet the needs of children with neurodevelopmental issues. 
•    Tairāwhiti is still developing their approach, it expects to expand Hospital and Specialist Services to support the mental health needs of young people in their region.

“This is an example of the Government’s commitment to improving access and support for New Zealanders across the mental health continuum,” Mr Doocey says.

“This funding will also help enable these regions to deliver on the Government’s mental health and addiction targets and better support their mental health and addiction workforces.”

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