Heritage and History – Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Island waka excavation uncovers clues to our voyaging past

March 4, 2025

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

The limited excavation of the partial remains of a waka found on Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Island has finished.

“The site has now been covered and secured by the archaeological team and neighbouring landowner,” said Glenis Philip-Barbara, Pou Mataaho o Te Hononga Deputy Secretary Māori Crown Partnerships, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

“Over the past month, the team has worked tirelessly to recover the visible pieces of the waka that remained in situ. More than 450 waka pieces and other items of interest have been retrieved. These items are now being stored securely under interim conservation measures (temporarily wrapped or submerged in tanks in secure storage) while more detailed conservation plans are developed.

“We understand from the archaeologist and conservator that braided fibre lashed to timber and other textile fibres have been uncovered and that such finds are incredibly rare. They will be particularly valuable in helping experts to understand when this waka was built – or at least when the fibres were added.” Glenis Philip-Barbara said.

“The Ministry will continue to be guided by imi and iwi to ensure that the waka is protected for the benefit of future generations. Their input and consensus is crucial and we look forward to building upon these relationships.”

“The local community were instrumental in leading the on-island support during the excavation. Community interns and volunteers travelled across the island to the site, providing precious cultural advice, supplying meals and taking up the opportunity to add new skills to their impressive resumes,” Glenis Philip-Barbara.

“The neighbouring landowner provided the team with uninterrupted site access and invaluable logistical support, as well as readily hosting Te One and Kaingaroa schools and an open day for locals.

“The Ministry’s role has been to follow statutory processes under the Protected Objects Act. We are grateful for the support from Hokotehi Moriori Trust, Ngāti Mutunga ki Wharekauri, Moriori Imi Settlement Trust, Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand, the Department of Conservation and other stakeholders. By working together, the story of this important miheke/taonga has the best chance of being uncovered.

“An interim report will now be prepared by the archaeologist and conservator. It is still too early to speculate about the provenance of the waka, however, those 450 waka pieces will provide important clues.

“The public notice on the Ministry’s website gives any interested parties 60 working days to register their claim for ownership of the waka as taonga tūturu under the Protected Objects Act 1975. This notice expires on 7 April 2025,” Glenis Philip-Barbara said.

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ChildFund – Urgent Support for Ukrainian Children in 2025

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: ChildFund New Zealand

Uncertainty about the next stage in the war in Ukraine is putting increased pressure on Ukrainian children who have already put up with three years of war.

“Our ChildFund partners based all through Ukraine and in Moldova are continuing the roll out of our 2025 programme of support. No matter what the outcome of negotiations, it is clear this war will not end any time soon. The support must continue,” says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund New Zealand.

12.7 million people, including 2 million children, are in need of urgent humanitarian support now.

Children are the most affected. The impact of the war on children’s emotional and psychological well-being and their motivation to learn has contributed to a decline in learning, while psychological distress has contributed to non-attendance.

In 2025 we plan to do the following:

Provide more child and adolescent friendly spaces to help children cope with war-related losses and trauma
Provide mental health and psychological support to displaced people and local communities, with a particular focus on women and children
Run awareness campaigns on the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war, as well as strategies and techniques to avoid accidents
Build bomb shelters to ensure the safety of students and school staff in education facilities
Distribute winter emergency aid, including solid fuel, and clean water
Provide cash-for-shelter repairs, to fix damaged homes
Provide hygiene kits to young people and their families
Rehabilitate heating systems, water supply and waste-water systems in healthcare facilities.

“In the last three years our ChildFund partners have reached 502,264 beneficiaries, including 204,396 women and girls, and 97,340 children.

The plan in 2025 is to reach about 80,000 additional beneficiaries, including 32,000 children. It is clear the war will not end tomorrow. The bombs are still dropping, and Ukrainian children need our support.

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Caravan caper leads pair to court

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Two men have been arrested following a fleeing driver event involving a vehicle towing a caravan in Wellington.

Shortly after 5am, Police were notified that a caravan had been stolen from outside a Khandallah address.

Police were able to locate the vehicle and lay road spikes, however, the driver avoided the spikes and allegedly drove at the officer who laid them – fortunately the officer was not harmed.

The vehicle, still towing the caravan, travelled south through Northland and down into Aro Valley.

A brief pursuit was initiated before being abandoned.

Due to the manner of driving, the caravan tipped on its side at one point, but the vehicle continued.

The caravan hit a number of objects, including parked vehicles, throughout the incident, and broke into pieces, with parts and items from within being scattered across the road.

The driver then entered the motorway at the Terrace Tunnel, before exiting at Tinakori Road and crashing the vehicle near Grant Road.

Two occupants fled Police on foot, but were taken into custody by with the assistance of a Police dog handler around 5:30am.

A 25-year-old and a 31-year-old man have been arrested and charged with various offences relating to the theft and driving matters. They are due in Wellington District Court today.

Anyone who has this morning discovered they are the victim of damage to either cars or property in these areas this morning, who has not yet reported it to Police, is asked to please do so.

You can report matters via 105, either by phone or online at Update Report | New Zealand Police quoting job number 250304/8364.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

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Laws to keep firearms out of the wrong hands come into force

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Changes to the Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) regime take effect today (Sunday 2 March).
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says the Firearms Prohibition Order regime has been expanded to help Police to keep firearms out of the hands of gangs and other high-risk offenders.
“This is part of our commitment to reduce violent crime, restore law and order, and keep communities safe.
“Our changes target gangs and organised crime groups. We have expanded the qualifying criteria for the court to make an FPO, given police a new search power to monitor compliance with an FPO, and established a process which allows an FPO to be modified or removed,” Mrs McKee says.
Minister for Police Mark Mitchell says changes to the Act strengthen the existing FPO regime by sending a strong message that the Government is committed to addressing violent crime and enforcing consequences for gangs.
“This Government takes law and order seriously and we have shown we will not back down. These changes complement other tools we’ve already given Police to disrupt gangs and organised crime,” Mr Mitchell says.
“The changes in the Act mean courts will be able to issue FPOs to any gang member or associate convicted of a significant offence, and Police will have practical tools to ensure people with FPOs are complying with them.”
Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPOs) are made by the court when offenders have committed serious violent offences. They are in force for 10 years – prohibiting offenders from holding a firearms licence, and from being around or accessing firearms. Breaching the conditions of an FPO is a criminal offence, and offenders that do breach conditions can be liable for up to seven years in prison.
“This is not an extra punishment. It is about monitoring compliance with the order that has already been placed upon them, and of course, the ultimate outcome is about making our communities safer,” Mrs McKee says.

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Reminder: Rock scaling works planned for State Highway 65, Higgins Bluff

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Drivers travelling on the inland route, State Highway 65, between Murchison and Springs Junction will need to detour from next week with resilience works planned on the highway at Higgins Bluff.

Contractors will be onsite on the Shenandoah Highway near Ariki, from Monday, 10 March, when they will begin rock scaling work on a five-kilometre section of the state highway.

They will remove overhanging rock and debris from the cliff face above the highway. The project is about reducing rockfall risk and improving the highway’s safety, long-term resilience, and its reliability – particularly during severe weather events.

Because rock scaling can only be done safely during the day the work will require daytime road closures.

Full highway closures will be in place on State Highway 65, between 7am and 7pm, from Monday 10 March to Friday 14 March. It means drivers heading south to Springs Junction will have to detour via

State Highway 6 O’Sullivan’s Bridge to Inangahua Junction, then via State Highway 69 to Reefton and State Highway 7 to Springs Junction.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi is working with the freight industry, the local community, and the local school to ensure those affected by this work can plan in advance.

This is a significant detour and will require around 45-minutes extra travel time. Drivers should plan their journeys accordingly.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi acknowledges the closure will create delays and disruption for drivers. However, it is necessary as it is not safe to have traffic driving through the project site when rocks are being removed from the cliff face.

Following the road closures, work will continue under stop/go and 30 km/hr temporary speed limits from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, until March 28. During this time anchors and mesh rock-protection will be installed on the bluff face.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi is working with the freight industry, the local community, and the local school to ensure those affected by this work can make arrangements in advance.

Works schedule:

Full road closure. Monday, 10 March to Friday 14 March, 7am – 7pm.
The road will reopen to two lanes outside of work hours, except at Higgins Bluff which will remain under stop/go and a 30km/h reduced temporary speed limit.
During work hours the detour route will be via State Highway 6 O’Sullivan’s Bridge to Inangahua Junction, then via State Highway 69 to Reefton and State Highway 7 to Springs Junction.
Allow an extra 45 minutes travel time when travelling on the detour route.
Emergency services will be accommodated through the closure.
Following the closures, work continues under stop/go and temporary speed limits, Monday to Friday, 7am – 7pm, between Monday 17 and Friday 28 March 2025.

More information

This work is funded by the Crown Resilience Programme – a $419 million investment package of resilience improvement activities that will reduce the impact of severe weather events on our national roading networks. The total crown resilience programme comprises $279 million for activities on State Highways, and $140 million for activities on Local Roads – Crown Resilience Programme (CRP)

Crown Resilience Programme (CRP)

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Saddle Road reopens after earlier serious crash

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Saddle Road has reopened following a serious crash this morning.

The road, between Woodville and Ashhurst, closed around 11am and a detour was put in place through Pahiatua Track.

The Serious Crash Unit has now finished its scene investigation.

While the road is now open, please drive to the conditions and expect delays while congestion eases.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi appreciated everyone’s patience taking the detour and their understanding during the closure.

Meanwhile, a reminder a stretch of SH3 at the Vogel Street / Woodlands Road bend remains closed as the new Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway roundabout is completed.

The road is closed 24/7 and is expected to reopen by Sunday 30 March.

Two detours are in place – through Pinfold and Oxford Roads for light vehicles and through Pahiatua Track via Tay and Station streets in Woodville for heavy vehicles exceeding 30 tonnes in weight.

The detours are expected to add less than 5 minutes to the journey times for light vehicles and up to 20 minutes for heavy vehicles.

Additional option for freight

Heavy vehicles, up to 30 tonnes in weight, are also able to take the Saddle Road detour. If the weight of the vehicle exceeds 30 tonnes, the Pahiatua Track should be used. The reason for this restriction is the Oxford Road bridge and corresponding weight limit.

For heavy vehicles using the Pahiatua Track, a temporary addendum has been issued allowing HPMV permit holders to use the section of SH57 between Aokautere and Ashhurst during the Woodville closure.

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Drug Detection – TDDA Adds Tramadol and Fentanyl Testing Amid Rising Workplace Detections

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: Botica Butler Raudon Partners

AUCKLAND – 3 March 2025 – The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), New Zealand’s largest workplace drug testing provider, is announcing new drug testing capabilities for New Zealand workplaces.

Beginning in March, TDDA will make it easier for New Zealand workplaces to screen for tramadol and fentanyl, two high-risk opioids that pose significant safety concerns in workplaces worldwide. This is the first time in New Zealand that these tests will be incorporated into enhanced oral fluid and urine screening devices instead of needing independent testing strips or other costly devices.

This industry-leading innovation expands TDDA’s screening panel from seven to nine drug types without any additional cost. The updated devices, independently verified by an AS/NZS 4760:2019 & AS/NZS 4308:2008 accredited laboratory, will help businesses proactively mitigate risks associated with these potent, and widely abused, substances.

A rise in opioid detections

Globally, the use of opioids like tramadol and fentanyl poses a serious safety risk and New Zealand is now seeing an uptick in workplace detections. The 2024 New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey found that 27 percent of respondents reported non-medical use of pharmaceuticals in the previous six months.

While the opioid issue was shown affects all regions, the survey found that non-medical use of prescription opioids was highest in Southland and West Coast, signaling that employers may need to take action.

Additionally, TDDA’s latest Imperans Report highlighted that during October – December 2024, opioid use in workplaces in New Zealand accounted for 12.1 percent of positive workplace drug tests, up from 11.9 percent in the same quarter of 2023.

“Any increase in detection rates represents a significant workplace threat, regardless of opioids being used while legally prescribed or in a non-medical setting. The emerging trend of abusing pharmaceuticals like tramadol and fentanyl is what keeps me up at night,” says Glenn Dobson, CEO, TDDA.

“Until now, New Zealand largely avoided the opioid epidemic seen overseas, but there are indicators now saying otherwise. Any rise in detection rates is worth examination. As a workplace risk, opioids are at the top. Legally prescribed or illegally procured, they can cause workplace accidents, long-term addiction and lead to the loss of life in more way than one.”

TDDA’s 9-panel testing device rollout

TDDA is reinforcing its commitment to workplace safety with the addition of tramadol and fentanyl to its screening capabilities. These newly introduced screening strips are part of TDDA’s ongoing innovation, ensuring businesses have access to the most advanced substance detection tools available. TDDA is helping workplaces mitigate health and safety risks by incorporating these substances into standard testing, and in doing so, helping businesses achieve workplace health and safety compliance.

“TDDA follows and acts on global drug trends to provide cutting-edge solutions for workplace safety. As New Zealand faces evolving drug trends, including the rising threat of opioids, no industry or region is immune. We have been carefully tracking the issues that both tramadol and fentanyl have created globally and have developed these new screening devices to help our clients manage business risks,” says Dobson.

“By integrating tramadol and fentanyl into our screening devices, we’re helping businesses stay ahead of the curve and protect their people. These will now become our standard devices, ensuring companies can take decisive action to protect their workforce.”

To provide flexibility, TDDA has implemented an opt-in/opt-out process, allowing businesses to determine whether these new drug tests align with their workplace policies and risk assessments.

TDDA recommends that businesses take a proactive approach to workplace safety by implementing comprehensive drug testing programmes, including pre-employment, reasonable cause, and random drug and alcohol testing. Every worker has a right to a safe environment, and business owners, managers, and supervisors have a legal duty to ensure they’ve created a drug and alcohol-free culture of safety.

Failing to act not only risks legal consequences but can also erode workplace culture. As a leader in workplace drug detection, TDDA is committed to helping businesses stay ahead of these challenges, fostering safer and more productive workplaces.

About The Drug Detection Agency
The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is a leader in workplace substance testing with more than 300 staff, 90 mobile health clinics, 65 locations throughout Australasia, and processing more than 250,000 tests annually. TDDA was established in 2005 to provide New Zealand and Australian businesses with end-to-end workplace substance testing, education and policy services. TDDA holds ISO17025 accreditation for workplace substance testing in both AU and NZ. Refer to the IANZ and NATA websites for TDDA’s full accreditation details. Learn more about TDDA at https://tdda.com/.

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Health – ProCare welcomes Health Minister’s announcement around funding uplift for primary care

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: ProCare

Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, has today welcomed the Health Minister’s announcement around the funding uplift for primary care, as the sector has been underfunded for a number of years now.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “There is a significant need to invest in primary care, in order to keep people well, out of hospital, and at the same time, help improve the financial sustainability of general practices.

The costs of doing business have outstripped any increases in capitation, and a significant number of practices are struggling to meet the rising costs of supporting their patients, meeting population health needs and providing a service to their local communities.

“An additional $95 million per year, over the next three years, is an excellent start to helping practices who have been struggling. However, we will be very keen to understand what the ‘pre conditions’ and ‘key targets’ are the Minister alludes to in his announcement,” Norwell continues.

In terms of the workforce development announcement, the initiatives will help to ease some of the workforce pressures the sector has been facing.

“We’re around 600 GPs short in New Zealand at the moment, so an additional 100 GPs will certainly help ease wait times and pressure on burnt out GPs. Having experienced GPs driving taxis or Ubers while they wait to be qualified in Aotearoa is as frustrating for those individuals as it is for those desperate to welcome them into their practices.

“Having more nurses will certainly help practices, but we need to ensure that they are receiving the same remuneration as their hospital counterparts, otherwise, we will continue to have the same problems we have today,” points out Norwell.

Commenting on the digital consultation service, ProCare warmly welcomes the announcement, but is keen to see further details.

“On the face of it, a 24/7 service to support New Zealanders see a GP in a timely manner sounds amazing, and it will certainly help ease the pressure on hospitals,” says Norwell.

“However, as with anything, the devil is in the detail. We do have a number of questions that we would like answered in due course – what will the cost to patients be, who will be providing the service, and what does ‘subsidised’ consults look like?” she continues.

“We are meeting with the Minister in a few weeks’ time, so will look forward to whatever updated information we are able to provide our members with,” concludes Norwell.

About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

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Science – Seafloor of New Zealand’s most important fishing grounds shows resilience – NIWA

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: NIWA

Sea life in the seafloor of New Zealand’s most productive and important commercial fishing ground shows resilience to disturbance, according to a new study published in the New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research.

The research found that some aspects of seafloor ecosystems on the Chatham Rise showed an ability to recover relatively quickly from physical disturbances, such as those caused by seafloor mining and trawling.

The research suggests that the seafloor ecosystem of the Chatham Rise may be more resilient to disturbances than previously thought, says NIWA marine ecologist Dr Rachel Hale, lead author for the study. “This resilience may be due to the region’s history of natural and human disturbances, which has led to the dominance of opportunistic species. While our results are encouraging, it’s important to note that there were some post-disturbance changes in the environmental characteristics that were measured. These changes, particularly in the composition of seafloor communities, may have longer-term repercussions for ecosystem processes.”

Researchers disturbed an area of seafloor on the Chatham Rise and monitored the impacts on sediment, seafloor-dwelling aquatic animals, and took measurements of oxygen and nutrient fluxes, and bacterial abundance. They found disturbance changed the sediment composition, reducing food quality, and initially reducing the diversity of seafloor-dwelling aquatic life, though after a year some of the aquatic life had bounced back. Contrary to expectation, the disturbance didn’t result in significant changes to the nutrient levels, and the rapid recolonization of the seabed saw bacteria levels recover.

The study revealed the resilience of the sea floor to disturbance, but also highlights potential long-term changes that need more investigation, says Dr Hale. “Expansion of extractive industries to deep-sea environments will lead to increased stresses on seafloor ecosystems. Further long-term studies are required to fully understand the potential impacts of disturbance on sediment processes, nutrient cycling, and the overall health of the Chatham Rise ecosystem.”

The Chatham Rise is a large area of ocean floor around 1,400km east of New Zealand which stretches some 1,000 km long. The underwater plateau, accessible to trawling, provides about 60% of New Zealand’s fish catch, including hoki, hake, ling, warehou, squid, orange roughy and deep-sea dory. Data from research has enriched models and enabled long-term monitoring, with NIWA undertaking surveys since 1992 on fisheries and ecosystems.

The research was a NIWA collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington and Waikato University.

This research was undertaken as part of the Resilience of benthic communities to the effects of sedimentation (ROBES) programme funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (contract CO1X1614).

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Buy NZ Made – Financial hardship at its highest level since 2020

LiveNews Publisher

March 4, 2025

Source: Buy NZ Made

New Zealand businesses and consumers continue to face significant economic challenges in 2025, with data from Centrix revealing a 38% year-on-year increase in company liquidations.

The services sector including advertising, accounting, and management consulting have all seen a rapid increase in company insolvencies in recent months.

Meanwhile, insights collected from Buy NZ Made’s 1400 small businesses reveals a third say their main focus for 2025 will be staying afloat.

Executive Director Dane Ambler says the news underscores the urgent need for a collective effort to support local industries and strengthen the nation’s economic resilience.

“The escalating liquidation figures paint a clear picture of the pressures facing New Zealand businesses.

“Rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and shifting consumer spending habits are contributing to a challenging environment, impacting businesses across various sectors.”

Ambler says the pain continues to hit consumers too.

“Mortgage arrears are at an eight-year high, with personal loans, buy now pay later, retail energy and telco arrears all up across the board. Financial hardship cases have also reached the highest level since 2020.

“In times of economic uncertainty, supporting local businesses becomes more crucial than ever.

“By choosing New Zealand-made products and services, we are directly contributing to the survival and growth of our communities, safeguarding jobs, and fostering a more robust and sustainable economy.”

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