Bridge inspections planned this month for the Top of the South

March 6, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Ensuring state highway bridges are safe and fit for purpose will see bridge inspections completed on state highways across the top of the South this month.

The Auckland based Bridge Inspection Unit will be in the region from mid to late March to assess bridges on State Highways 1, 6, 60 and 63.

Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South says the technical inspections are essential and have to be carried out every six years.

“In the same way people get a Warrant of Fitness inspection for their cars, we do the same with our state highway bridges.”

“They are an essential part of our state highway infrastructure, and with hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of vehicles using them daily, it is critical we make sure they’re in good order and safe to use. These inspections also tell us what maintenance the bridges may need,” Mr Owen says.

To complete the work, a truck-mounted inspection unit parks on the bridge. This allows structural engineers access to hard-to-reach components underneath the structure to determine their condition.

Mr Owen says this means traffic will be affected while the inspections are underway.

“There are two bridges that must be closed while inspections take place – the single-lane, State Highway 63 Wairau River (Wash) Bridge, and the narrow State Highway 60 Motueka River Bridge.”

There is simply not enough space on these bridges to let traffic past safely while this work is completed,” Mr Owen says.

He says during the bridge closures traffic will be stopped, with openings on the hour to let queued vehicles through.

“The good news is all other bridges to be inspected are wide enough to allow a single lane of traffic through while the bridge inspection unit does its work.”

“Because there will be Stop/Go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place, drivers can expect some short delays, but it should not be too onerous,” Mr Owen says.

He recommends people travelling in the top of the South Island during March to keep an eye on the work schedule and the NZTA/Waka Kotahi journey planner to make sure they are not caught out by the work.

Mr Owen says the work has been planned alongside all other maintenance work to minimise the overall traveller disruption.

“We’ve also planned this work so that all the assessments of the region’s state highway bridges is completed in March and early April rather than spacing the assessments out during the year.

“It is a more effective and efficient approach and reduces overall disruption to road users,” Mr Owen says.

Bridge inspection schedule

Date	Bridge location	Details
Monday 17 March	SH63 Wairau River (Wash) Bridge	Nighttime – closure 6pm to 6am – Openings at the top of each hour to let traffic through.
Wednesday 19 March	SH6 Buller River (Longford) Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 5:30pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Thursday 20 March	SH6 O’Sullivans Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 5:30pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Friday 21 March	SH6 Motueka River (Kohatu) Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 5:30pm Delays of up to 15 mins
Monday 24 March	SH60 Tākaka River (Paines Ford) Bridge	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 6pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Tuesday 25 March	SH60 Waitapu Bridge – Tākaka River	Daytime – Stop/Go 8am to 6pm Delays of up to 10 mins
Wednesday 26 March	SH60 Motueka River Bridge	Nighttime – closure 8pm to 6am – Openings at the top of each hour to let traffic through
Thursday 27 March	SH60 Appleby Bridge	Nighttime – Stop/Go 8pm to 6am Delays of up to 10 mins
Monday 31 March	SH1 Awatere River Bridge	Nighttime – Stop/Go 7pm to midnight Delays of up to 15 mins
Tuesday 1 April	SH6 Wairau River Bridge	Nighttime – Stop/Go Midnight to 6am Delays of up to 10 mins

MIL OSI

Breathing New Life into Takarunga/ Mt Victoria: Revitalising the Summit

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority is pleased to share a major transformation at the tihi (summit)of Takarunga / Mt Victoria in Devonport. This is a significant milestone for the Authority in fulfilling its role of protecting the Maunga and providing for their ongoing manaaki and hauora.

A key focus of the project has been restoring the tihi as a predominantly pedestrian space. The removal of the carpark has made way for new pathways, native planting, and accessible seating—creating a more welcoming environment that encourages visitors to slow down, take in the views, and connect with the rich history and cultural significance of the Maunga.

Takarunga tihi restoration showing new upgrades. Photo credit: Cactus Photography

Tūpuna Maunga Authority Chairperson, Paul Majurey, says, “we are guided by a vision to better acknowledge the wairuatanga, mana aotūroa, takotoranga whenua, mauri pūnaha hauropi, mana hononga tangata, wahi rawa whakauka and mana whai a Rēhia for each individual Maunga.”

Majurey further states this project is significant in appreciating the vision set out in the Integrated Management Plan. “The Maunga are taonga tuku iho. This project allows people to experience Takarunga in a way that respects cultural significance, and the vision set out by Mana Whenua and the Authority.”

Mana Whenua artist Arapeta Hākura played a key role in shaping the cultural design elements of the upgrade. Hakura was the first recipient of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority’s research scholarship and was later invited to contribute to this project, bringing Māori histories and stories of Takarunga to life. His work reflects the migration of the Toroa bird, symbolising shared purpose and collective effort, while Hononga a Takarunga represents unity, interconnectedness, and the deep bonds between the land and its people.

“Being part of this project has been an incredible experience,” says Hakura. “It’s a journey of storytelling through design, weaving our histories into something tangible. The elements we’ve created reflect the deep connection between Mana Whenua and the Maunga, and it’s exciting to see these stories become part of the landscape.”

The newly restored tihi ready for visitors. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority looks forward to welcoming the public to experience the revitalised space and connect with the rich cultural heritage of Takarunga / Mt Victoria.

MIL OSI

Singapore Residents’ Year End and Lunar New Year Travel Spending Hit New Highs: Visa

MIL OSI

March 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2025 – Leading payments technology company, Visa, shared that Singapore residents continue to prioritise travel, with outbound spending surging in December last year, as well as the recent Lunar New Year holiday week. In fact, travel spend by Singapore consumers for December and January hit record levels. Supported by a strong Singapore dollar, cross-border spending remains robust across key travel corridors, with notable shifts in consumer travel and spending patterns.

Shopping and Dining Remain Top Spend Categories during December Year-End Travel

Visa’s data highlights that shopping and dining remain top priorities for Singapore travellers, accounting for 61 per cent of their travel spend, while lodging and airline bookings saw strong year-on-year growth as consumers plan ahead for travel. Retail spend recorded a 14 per cent year-on-year increase, while spending on restaurants and fast food surged by 27 and 30 per cent, respectively. These figures underscore the enduring appeal of overseas shopping and dining experiences for Singapore travellers.^[1]

Malaysia, Japan, and Thailand have emerged as the leading travel corridors for cross-border outbound spending, closely followed by South Korea and Australia during the year-end holidays last year. The implementation of visa-free travel to China has significantly boosted travel demand, resulting in an 86 per cent year-on-year increase in travel spend in China. This reflects a broader trend of increased regional travel, facilitated by relaxed entry requirements and strong economic ties.

Malaysia has always been the top travel destination for Singapore residents all-year round. Based on Visa’s International Travel platform, the top cities that Singaporeans visited include Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Cameron Highlands, Bangkok, Bali and Kota Tinggi (Johor). Last year, Singapore travellers’ card spending in Japan also grew 138 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.^[2]

Visa’s data also highlighted the evolving destination preferences for Singapore residents. Compared to December 2023, Japan and Thailand have secured their place as key travel destinations, while long-haul markets such as the UK, US, and France continue to attract high-spending travellers. South Korea and Thailand are also emerging as healthcare-driven travel destinations, with increasing numbers of Singapore residents seeking medical services abroad. In fact, South Korea saw a 58 per cent rise in healthcare-related travel spending.

Japan and Thailand experienced the highest travel spend growth, recording 42 and 29 per cent year-on-year increase respectively. Meanwhile, Malaysia saw the strongest growth in food and groceries spending at 75 per cent year-on-year, reinforcing its position as a key travel and consumption hub.

“Travel continues to be a key category of spend for Visa cardholders in Singapore. Based on a Visa study^[3], travel is a top priority for Singapore travellers, surpassing other big-ticket spending items such as vehicles, property, healthcare and luxury goods in terms of importance. This finding is aligned with what we’re seeing from our data, where there is strong cross-border spend growth during year-end and festive periods. We continue to see interest in consumers using cards that can earn airline miles for their spend, and other propositions such as zero FX and multi-currency offerings. With the vast data that we see, we can work with our partners to share these key insights and create relevant benefits for our cardholders, making the payment experience seamless and secure when they travel and pay with Visa”, said Adeline Kim, Visa Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei.

As travel planning becomes more strategic, Singapore travellers are making early bookings to manage costs and secure better deals. Spending on alternative airline carriers, including European and Middle Eastern airlines, rose by 15 per cent year-on-year, indicating a growing preference for diverse flight options. In addition, online lodging bookings increased by 16 per cent year-on-year in December last year.

Top travel destinations during Lunar New Year holiday similar to year-end of 2024

The top travel destinations during this year’s Lunar New Year holiday are similar to the year-end break, with the exception of Indonesia taking the fourth spot, replacing South Korea. During the Lunar New Year holiday week, Singapore travellers took the opportunity to spend the week travelling, with a strong spike in cross-border spend at 22 per cent growth compared to the week of Lunar New Year in 2024. eCommerce spend also grew by close to 30 per cent compared to the previous year during the festive period, showing that people were spending more to purchase online, given this year’s Lunar New Year coincides with February 2.

Malaysia continues to be the top travel corridor, with payments volume growing at 57 per cent compared to the previous Lunar New Year week. The top growing category in Malaysia was jewellery stores, showing over 220 per cent growth compared to the previous year. Japan comes in second as a preferred destination for Singaporeans. During this ski season, Visa saw a 36 per cent growth on cross-border spend compared to the same festive period the year before. Thailand’s healthcare spend also grew at over 59 per cent.^[4]

[1] VisaNet data as of December 2024 and December 2023
[2] Visa International Travel Platform- data as of Q2 – 2024
[3] Visa Green Shoots Radar Survey 2024 (June)
[4] VisaNet data as of CNY week in 2025 (27 January – 2 February) compared to CNY week in 2024 (10-16 February).

Hashtag: #Visa

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

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

Octa broker receives the ‘Best CFD Broker Asia 2025’ award

MIL OSI

March 6, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2025 – Octa, a global broker since 2011, was recently recognised as the ‘Best CFD Broker Asia 2025’ by the Global Brands Magazine.

The Global Brands’ ‘Best CFD Broker Asia 2025’ award became another milestone in Octa’s long and successful track record in the financial markets. According to the organisers, Octa was selected from a highly competitive group of entrants by an external research team, which was appointed to evaluate the nominees.

Global Brands Magazine is a leading branding publication providing up-to-date news, reviews, opinions, and polls on leading brands and industries worldwide.

Focusing on contract-for-difference (CFD) instruments, Octa fosters a dynamic trading environment that has gained considerable popularity among ambitious and goal-driven traders worldwide. Octa broker aims to establish transparent and efficient trading practices according to the best industry benchmarks.

Octa’s portfolio encompasses a wide variety of CFDs, including currency pairs, gold, and crypto. In addition to a diverse portfolio, the broker boasts a modern proprietary platform and some of the best trading conditions on the market.

Since its foundation, Octa has won more than 90 awards, including the ‘Most Reliable Broker Global 2024’ award from Global Forex Awards and the ‘Best Mobile Trading Platform 2024’ award from Global Brand Magazine.

According to Octa’s press office, the broker’s proprietary trading platform, OctaTrader, covers the entire traders’ journey across four fundamental areas: payments, education, trading, and decision-making. With its all-in-one architecture, OctaTrader functions as a holistic trading ecosystem designed for clients of various experience levels, trading styles, and asset preferences.

OctaTrader’s key features include:

Leverage adjustment

With OctaTrader, you can open new orders with any leverage you choose without affecting the leverage of existing orders. This unique feature allows for greater flexibility and offers additional scope to those using various instruments and timeframes during a single session.

AI-powered pattern recognition

Released in December 2024, this tool automatically searches for technical analysis patterns, using a large dataset of expert-curated content and AI-powered models that pick relevant figures from historical data. The AI Pattern Recognition tool is especially useful for those trading on faster timeframes since it empowers fast-paced, efficient decision-making and reduces cognitive load.An expert-curated feed within the platform that allows you to connect and collaborate with like-minded traders while staying up-to-date with the most relevant market trends and developments. By adjusting the feed according to your trading style and preferences, Space provides personalised guidance to keep you in touch with highly volatile markets.

Saving/loading charts

This feature allows you to save your chart layouts, chart templates, and drawing templates, and restore them when you get back. On top of that, all your chart actions are automatically synchronised between all your devices so that you can pick up your trading or analysis on your mobile exactly where you left it on your computer and visa-versa.

Disclaimer: Trading involves risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Use your expertise wisely and evaluate all associated risks before making an investment decision.

Hashtag: #Octa

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

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

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

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

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

MIL OSI

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

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

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.”

MIL OSI

TRACR and Sarine Technologies Sign Agreement for Pioneering Diamond Traceability Solution

MIL OSI

March 6, 2025

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.”

http://www.debeersgroup.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/company/de-beers
http://www.twitter.com/DeBeersGroup
http://www.facebook.com/DeBeersGroupOfCompanies/
http://www.instagram.com/debeersgroup

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

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

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

MIL OSI

Moth plants beware

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

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

LiveNews Publisher

March 6, 2025

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.

MIL OSI

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