An independent panel has approved resource consent, subject to conditions, for the Wellsford North residential subdivision in Wellsford, Auckland.
Wellsford Welding Club Limited applied for resource consent under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020.
The project involves constructing a residential subdivision on Rodney and Monowai Streets in Wellsford, Auckland.
The resource consent conditions are in the decision report on the page linked below.
The decision comes 214 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.
The Environmental Protection Authority is not involved in the decision-making. We provide procedural advice and administrative support to the panel convenor, Judge Laurie Newhook, and the expert consenting panel he appoints.
Note that this application was made under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 and not the more recent Fast-track legislation.
The remainder of the Wellington District will move into a restricted fire season at 8am on Tuesday, 25 February, until further notice.
Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast entered a restricted season on 28 January. Now, Wellington’s city suburbs, Hutt Valley and all of the Wairarapa will join those areas in moving to a restricted season.
A restricted fire season means anyone who wants to light an outdoor fire must go towww.checkitsalright.nzand apply for a fire permit authorised by Fire and Emergency.
Wellington District Community Risk Manager Phil Soal says a lack of recent rainfall and windy conditions across the District has led to an increase in fire danger.
“The vegetation has dried out and the fire danger is now high, meaning any escaping fires will be fast moving and difficult to control and extinguish,” he says.
“People will need a permit to light a fire, and they will need to comply with any conditions set out.
“This is a very risky time of year for wildfires, so we’re asking everyone to help us keep Wellington District’s people, property and environment safe from fires this summer.”
It’s not every day commuters between Napier and Hastings get to see a drilling rig in Tutaekuri River.
But that’s exactly what they’ll see from early March as work progresses on the State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance project.
The drilling rig will be here and in other locations on the expressway for approximately 4 weeks while geotechnical investigations are carried out, subject to consent approval.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Principal Project Manager Jacob Laird says the outcome of the investigations will be providing information to help finalise the detailed design of new structures, which form part of the stage 1 construction.
“Before creating new roads and structures (bridges, underpasses and culverts), it’s important that we first get a complete picture of the ground around them. Ground conditions also change over time and the geotechnical investigations will confirm the exact conditions for our designers to work from.
“We are working with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and mana whenua to ensure conditions of our consents will be met. We appreciate the importance of working carefully and respectfully in and around water.
“In March, we’ll also start the clearance of some vegetation between Pākōwhai Road and Taradale Road to allow for the investigations and future project work.
“This project is a really exciting one for the region and for regular users of the expressway. We’re really grateful for the support we’ve received so far from the public – we don’t take that support for granted, and we’re looking forward to being able to provide people with a safer, more efficient inter-city link,” says Mr Laird.
For more details on the vegetation plan and the project in general:
Tutaekuri River Bridge looking towards Hastings. The drilling rig, once on site and subject to consent approval, will begin geotechnical investigations to the right of the picture.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 February 2025 – British Council Singapore celebrated the achievements of exceptional UK alumni at the Study UK Alumni Awards 2025, held at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, on 20 February. This flagship event honours individuals who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their professions, communities and societies.
British Council Singapore Honours Outstanding UK Alumni at the Study UK Alumni Awards 2025
The Study UK Alumni Awards are a testament to the power of education and collaboration in tackling common challenges and finding lasting solutions to these.
The 2025 Awards celebrated winners across four categories, each recognising the transformative impact of UK-educated Singaporean professionals:
Business and Innovation Award – Wen Si Chow, for promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for women in the STEM industry.
Culture and Creativity Award – Chong Soon Khong, for significant contributions to Singapore’s creative music landscape.
Science and Sustainability Award – Stephanie Choon Xia Liaw, for impactful work in energy transition and sustainability.
Social Action Award – Shalom Lim Ern Rong, for exceptional efforts in driving inclusion and positive change in society.
UK universities consistently excel in world rankings, with four featured in the 2025 QS World University Rankings top ten. The strength, depth and diversity of the UK higher education sector – from small conservatoires to large metropolitan universities – has always attracted students from all parts of the world, including close to 7000 students from Singapore who choose to pursue higher education in the UK every year.
The Study UK Alumni Award winners exemplify the value of their world-class UK education, using their expertise to drive innovation, address pressing challenges, and contribute to Singapore’s progress.
Speaking at the event, H.E. Nik Mehta OBE, British High Commissioner to Singapore, commended the awardees: “All four Singapore winners inspire me because they are making a difference to our world in fields ranging from science and sustainability to culture, social engagement, and business innovation. Their stories illustrate how higher education can be a life-changing experience – shaping minds, values, ambitions, and futures”.
On 9 August 1965, the UK was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the newly independent Singapore. As Singapore celebrates its 60th birthday this year, the 2025 Awards hold special significance, underscoring the profound and enduring
educational and cultural ties between the UK and Singapore, cemented over these 60 years.
As Lissy Vadakel, Country Director for British Council Singapore, commented: “Through these Awards, we celebrate the achievements of outstanding UK alumni in Singapore. This is also an occasion for us to come together as a community, with at least one commonality: in one way or another, be that through our educational experiences, our professional lives, or our personal and social connections, we are part of the Singapore-UK fabric”.
The High Commissioner also reflected on the lasting impact of UK-educated Singaporeans in growing and strengthening bilateral relations: “At the heart of our countries’ partnership are our people, who have forged lifelong professional and personal connections in our communities. These ties contribute to the mutual trust and understanding between our countries today and will do so for years to come”.
The British Council remains committed to supporting and celebrating the aspirations of UK alumni worldwide, ensuring their achievements continue to inspire future generations.
For the editor
Recipients of Study UK Alumni Awards Singapore 2025
BUSINESS AND INNOVATION AWARDS
Wen Si Chow
University of Bristol
Wen Si Chow is a currently a Senior Legal Counsel at Mott MacDonald. She strongly believes in promoting inclusivity and equality within society. In this regard, her previous stint as a lawyer in private practice has seen her working on a pro bono basis and helping the less privileged in society access legal advice and representation. At Mott MacDonald, Wen Si also serves as the Asia Lead for Inclusive Networks for Women, a regional initiative which seeks to encourage the support of women within the organisation, in the hope that this advances the further promotion of women within the STEM industry as a whole. Wen Si credits her time at the University of Bristol with broadening her perspective on equality in society, as well as increasing her exposure to, and appreciation of, the unique cultural diversity that is found in Southeast Asia.
CULTURE AND CREATIVITY AWARD
Chong Soon Khong (Ken)
Bath Spa University
Dr Ken Chong is an award-winning composer, chart-topping songwriter, and an educator at tertiary institutions, including Nanyang Technological University. Ken’s accolades include Apple Music Best Song of 2016 (China) for his song “Rainbow Bot”, sung by Mandopop queen Stefanie Sun, as well as recognition for his music in full feature films, TV programmes, and advertisements. Bath Spa University was pivotal in Ken’s songwriting career, where almost half of his songs submitted for his Master of Music final year project were sold to popular Chinese music artists upon graduation. Ken attributes his success to the university’s ability to help him identify his strengths and passions, and then develop knowledge and skills towards achieving excellence. Ken recognises the benefits of music composition, often perceived as exclusive to a gifted few, and hopes to show how technology has democratised composing, such that anyone can create. He credits his UK educational journey with the impact he now has as a music teacher on his students at various institutes of higher learning in Singapore.
SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Stephanie Choon Xia Liaw
University of Strathclyde
University of Birmingham
Stephanie Liaw is the Energy Lead for Singapore and Malaysia at Mott MacDonald, where she drives energy transition and sustainability initiatives across Asia. She is currently leading the cross-border interconnector projects at various phases to integrate green energy, connecting Singapore and the ASEAN Power Grid. Under her leadership, Mott MacDonald developed a model to assess interconnector impacts, funded by the UK FCDO under the UK-SG Green Economy Framework. Stephanie’s Engineering and MBA studies in the UK provided a transformative, multicultural experience, equipping her with valuable technical insights and business opportunities to advance energy transition in the region. Her enduring passion lies in ensuring equitable energy access in underdeveloped countries, advancing renewable energy by reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing community livelihoods through Just Transition principles. This passion continues to fuel her mission as an Energy Lead, committed to bringing clean energy to shape a more sustainable future for all.
SOCIAL ACTION AWARD
Shalom Lim Ern Rong
University of Liverpool
Shalom Lim is an artist and a writer, as well as an advocate dedicated to disability inclusion in Singapore. As a committee member on the Management Board of the Disabled People’s Association, he strives to improve social policies relating to disability and to shift public perspectives. He has also collaborated with K9Assistance to expand access to assistance dogs for individuals and families with non-vision disabilities in Singapore. Shalom’s storytelling, through books and performances, challenges perceptions and touches hearts, showing others that people with disabilities can thrive academically and contribute meaningfully. Pursuing Criminology and Security at the University of Liverpool shaped Shalom’s confidence in advocacy and his passion for justice and inclusion. The university’s open discussions helped him recognise the power of his voice in pushing for change. Shalom continues to use his art and writing to build a more inclusive society in Singapore, and to inspire others to see inclusion as a necessity, not a choice.
Hashtag: #BritishCouncilSingapore
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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 February 2025 – BAFS has announced its 2024 financial results, reporting total revenue of THB 3.507 billion and a net profit of THB 102.9 million, marking a 175% increase from the previous year and the company’s first profitable year since the COVID-19 pandemic. This turnaround to profitability was driven by a high volume of aviation fuel refueling and pipeline oil transportation. BAFS plans to distribute a yearly dividend of THB 0.30 per share for 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, the company has allocated an investment budget exceeding THB 1 billion to strengthen its business and expand into Asian markets, targeting an 8% revenue growth.
M.L. Nathasit Diskul, President of BAFS demonstrated robust and consistent business growth in 2024
M.L. Nathasit Diskul, President of Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Public Company Limited (BAFS), stated that BAFS and its subsidiaries (BAFS Group) demonstrated robust and consistent business growth in 2024, leading to the company’s first profitable year since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, with a net profit of THB 102.9 million—a 175% increase from the previous year. This growth was primarily attributed to a surge in aviation fuel refueling volume, which reached 5.047 billion liters, exceeding expectations, along with a significant increase in northern pipeline oil transportation to 1.226 billion liters. These factors drove total revenue to THB 3.507 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase, in line with the recovery of the tourism sector. EBITDA also grew by 21% year over year, reaching THB 1.594 billion.
In Q4 2024, BAFS Group recorded total revenue of THB 955.4 million, a 19% year-over-year increase, with EBITDA of THB 343.9 million, supported by higher gross profits resulting from increased aviation fuel sales. Operating expenses rose by 1% while net finance costs decreased by 9% due to scheduled debt repayments to financial institutions and lower interest rates on commercial bank loans. The company recognized a Q4 loss due to a fair value adjustment of its investment in a Japanese power plant and an impairment of goodwill from a domestic power plant. Additionally, it wrote off deferred tax assets (DTA) that were deemed unlikely to be utilized in the future. These accounting adjustments had no cash flow impact and resulted in a Q4 net loss attributable to shareholders of THB 49.8 million.
Following its strong performance in 2024, the Board of Directors approved a dividend payout of THB 0.30 per share for 2024. This includes an interim dividend of THB 0.10 per share, paid on September 3, 2024, and a final dividend of THB 0.20 per share, scheduled for payment on May 22, 2025. The final dividend is subject to approval at the company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting.
BAFS Group will continue its commitment to sustainable growth in 2025, targeting an 8% revenue increase. With over THB 1 billion allocated for strategic investments, the company will collaborate with partners to explore new business opportunities while enhancing Thailand’s energy transportation infrastructure. A key project is the extension of the northern oil pipeline connecting Ang Thong and Saraburi led by BAFS Pipeline Transportation Co., Ltd. Construction is set to begin in Q1 2025, with commercial operations expected to commence in 2026. Once completed, the total length of the pipeline system will exceed 726 kilometers, making it the longest and most advanced oil transportation pipeline in Thailand and the longest in Southeast Asia.
Amid the ongoing energy transition and its challenges, BAFS Group remains committed to sustainable value creation and energy security. The company’s five-year strategic plan (2025-2029) focuses on three key pillars. The first pillar, Solid Financials for Uplifting Asia, involves expanding investments across Asia, leveraging BAFS Group’s capabilities to seek investment and growth opportunities in the Asian market. Two key contributors are BAFS INTECH Co., Ltd., which is driving the expansion of the aviation refueling truck market in Southeast Asia, and BAFS Clean Energy Corporation Co., Ltd., which is currently advancing investments in Mongolia.
The second pillar, Sustainability and Governance for a Thriving Future, focuses on supporting the transition of society and the aviation industry to a sustainable energy era, primarily by preparing for the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Last year, BAFS began SAF refueling services at Samui and Suvarnabhumi International Airports and recently obtained ISCC-CORSIA certification in the logistic center scope for its aviation fuel storage and refueling stations at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airports.
The third pillar, Re-imagining the Future of Work for Human Empowerment, emphasizes building a future-ready workforce by enhancing employees’ skills in generative AI and digital literacy to ensure adaptability to changes. BAFS is also assessing and preparing its IT infrastructure to provide employees with secure and convenient access to generative AI tools to boost efficiency.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 February 2025 – In a strategic move to reshape the dessert service landscape through the comprehension of local consumer needs, Cakebar Katong introduces Singapore’s first 24/7 self-pickup cake kiosk, marking a significant shift towards innovative unmanned store concepts. Setting a new standard in customer convenience, this pioneering initiative at its Katong outlet offers customers the freedom to order and collect artisan cakes and desserts around the clock from a dedicated, chilled pickup station. By integrating advanced IT and engineering solutions, Cakebar prioritises accessibility, holding its own in a competitive market increasingly dominated by online options.
Pioneering Singapore’s first 24/7 self-pickup cake kiosk, Cakebar Katong revolutionises dessert accessibility for all occasions. This unmanned, fully integrated online ordering system eliminates the constraints of store hours and home refrigeration, catering to both spontaneous celebrations and planned events with unparalleled convenience and innovation.
Redefining Cake Shopping with Advanced Technology
As retail trends shift towards technology-driven solutions, Cakebar emerges as a fresh contender with its automated cake kiosk, aiming to make a dent in the confectionery market. At its core, this transformative kiosk integrates advanced IT and engineering solutions with robust security measures, including long-distance remote monitoring, real-time alerts, and CCTV surveillance, along with continuous online tracking of refrigeration temperatures to ensure optimal food safety and quality.
Extending beyond the boundaries of typical cake shopping experiences, Cakebar’s technology-driven service is fully integrated with online ordering. Eliminating traditional shopping constraints, this self-pickup service offers unmatched convenience, allowing customers to skip the queues, order and pick up their cakes and desserts anytime—day or night. With a simple online ordering process, customers can choose the 24/7 pickup option at Cakebar Katong and retrieve their orders on-site in a few taps. Whether it’s a same-day pickup for orders placed before 2PM, or a next-day pickup, Cakebar ensures that every celebration or spontaneous craving is met with ease.
Enhancing Convenience with Future Service Innovations
Celebrated for its pioneering technology and creative solutions, Cakebar is set to further enhance its proprietary 24-hour service model by introducing a self-service vending machine. This future addition aims to provide not only cake pickups but also a selection of celebration essentials, such as party plates, flowers, and greeting cards—all available around the clock.
Anticipating future expansions, this Singaporean-run company is exploring ways to extend this innovative service model across its entire network of outlets, potentially offering the full customer experience 24/7 at all its locations—unmanned. This move highlights Cakebar’s ongoing efforts to marry baking with cutting-edge service innovation, anticipating new convenient ways to satisfy local customer needs in the confectionery space.
Police invites media to the re-opening of the Waitematā East Custody Unit on Tuesday 25 February.
The Custody Unit will be based at the North Shore Policing Centre.
Minister of Police Mark Mitchell, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, and District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan will open the facility.
Media are invited to cover the opening, which includes speeches, ribbon cutting and a tour of the facility.
Media are required to RSVP to the event by emailing media@police.govt.nz. On the day you will be escorted by a representative from the Police Media Team to the location.
KEY DETAILS:
Where:
North Shore Policing Centre, 52 Parkway Drive, Rosedale
When:
Tuesday 25 February 2025.
9am (arrive before 8.45am)
Important Notes:
Parking is limited – please allow additional time for arrival.
The District Custody Unit will begin accepting detainees after this event has concluded.
Source:Herenga ā Nuku – the Outdoor Access Commission
A new field guide will help community groups and trailmakers tell the stories of their trails.
Many walking tracks, mountain bike paths and outdoor community spaces have important stories behind them that record our history, our connection to nature and the people who cared for the land.
The guide helps the country’s many great trail groups and trusts to build signs that share stories along their local trails.
“Sharing the stories of your community and place is a wonderful way of inviting new audiences to appreciate and care for our special places,” says Mick Abbott, WildLab’s founder.
“For this to be effective, it is important that the stories we tell and the way they are presented are inspiring, inclusive and appealing.”
Herenga ā Nuku and WildLab worked with two local community groups, Ride Coromandel and Tiaki Maniototo to develop the panels that are the Field Guide’s case studies. The two groups have agreed to be the champions, supporters and mentors for other community trail groups that want to develop their own storytelling panels. In the Field Guide they share their new knowledge and expertise, so other groups can apply it and can pass what they learn forward.
The Field Guide outlines the key steps for trailmaker groups to undertake a storytelling panel sign project.
Covering period of Monday 24 – Friday 28 February 2025 – Settled weather characterised by light winds, clear skies, warm days, and low amounts of rainfall continues over Aotearoa New Zealand this week due to a persistent area of high pressure lying over the country. The only disturbance in the flow comes in the form of a rainband moving up the western South Island on Tuesday, and MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Watch for northern Fiordland and the ranges of the Westland District.
The incoming rain band moves onto southern Fiordland Monday evening, with the Heavy Rain Watch covering the 13-hour period from 7am Tuesday. It has been an abnormally dry start to the year for the western South Island, with Milford Sound recording only ~20% of its usual rainfall for this time of the year. The rain weakens notably before it reaches the lower North Island early Wednesday morning, and ahead of the rain, warm northwesterly winds will give daytime temperatures a small bump up on Tuesday, but a closely following southerly wind will drop them back down on Wednesday.
MetService Meteorologist Clare O’Connor advises, “The uneventful weather is good news for anyone attending or performing at Te Matatini Festival in New Plymouth this week. Other than the chance of brief rain on Wednesday evening, dry and mostly sunny conditions are forecast so don’t forget to slip, slop, slap, and wrap while enjoying the day”.
Similar conditions are expected over the whole country for the remainder of the week, before the next rainband approaches the south closer to the weekend.
While settled weather is the story of the week here in Aotearoa, the tropics have had a burst of activity. Two tropical cyclones were named on Sunday evening: Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the Coral Sea, monitored by Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, and Tropical Cyclone Rae which lies north of Fiji and is monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service. A third area of interest between Vanuatu and Fiji may also develop into a tropical cyclone over the coming days.
While none of these are expected to impact New Zealand, MetService’s tropical cyclone forecasters are always keeping a close eye on the tropics at this time of the year.
Northland Regional Council’s Land Management team has supported tamariki of Mōtatau School in their freshwater kaitiaki mahi through an event involving NRC, Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, and local landowner Waipapa Ahuwhenua Trust.
The team taught 35 children to use the council’s Stream Health Monitoring Assessment Kits to test water quality in waterways on the Ahuwhenua Trust’s property in Opahi.
The kits can be used to check nitrogen and phosphorous levels, water clarity, and the types and quantity of fish and insects present.
The initiative was the brainchild of Waipapa Ahuwhenua Trust farm manager Riki Ngakoti, who wanted to equip the youngsters to be the freshwater kaitiaki of tomorrow as part of the trust’s commitment to environmental kaitiakitanga.
Climate Change Commission to come to Northland
The Climate Change Commission is planning a visit to Northland in March as it gathers evidence to inform the government on shaping a National Adaptation Plan due out this year.
The commission is keen to understand climate risks, as well as enablers and barriers to effective adaptation in a Northland context.
The Northland Regional Council’s climate team is looking forward to hosting the commission and to be able to put forward the unique challenges and opportunities we face here in Northland.
Predator Free Whangārei; new artificial intelligence-equipped traps
The field team had a busy month reinstating the leghold trap network that was shut down over the Christmas break.
Fifty traps installed along a Parua Bay barrier zone have regularly caught possums over the 100 nights they have been set and 120 possums have been caught to date.
The Nook project area (686 ha) moved from an initial knockdown stage to mop-up, where the frequency of checking is extended on the back of reduced possum numbers.
An additional 500ha of coastal farmland has moved into the knockdown phase utilizing new artificial intelligence (AI) equipped traps. We will have a keen eye on the results of these devices as they automatically transmit their data, with 42 possums removed since early January.
