Backing farmers to innovate and make more money

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February 27, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is ramping up a programme to boost sustainably and farm productivity.

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced the ‘Science for Farmers’ initiative will be rolled out at agricultural events around the country starting with the Dargaville, Wānaka, Feilding, and Kirwee Agricultural Shows over the next two months.

“Science for Farmers brings leading scientists to the regions to talk directly with farmers about research and innovation that’s already paying dividends on farms around the country,” Mr McClay says.

The programme is a collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries’ On Farm Support service and key research partners, including AgResearch, AgriZeroNZ, LIC, Massey University, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.

It provides detailed information and access to experts in many areas including on:

Alternative pasture types that can help farmers future-proof their pasture-based systems in a warming climate.
Advanced genetics to increase production whilst helping to meet environmental and emissions obligations.
On-farm management systems that increase profit and enhance business resilience.

“The Government is committed to lifting rural productivity, increasing jobs and unlocking New Zealand’s potential by going for growth.

“Small steps can make a big difference. Every extra kilo of milksolids, kg of meat or wool, and extra tray of fruit we produce through innovation and science, puts more money into the pockets of rural New Zealand and helps achieve our goal of doubling the value of exports within 10 years”.

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Education – Whitireia and WelTec connect with community at local events Te Rā o te Raukura and Waitangi Day in Porirua

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February 27, 2025

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Source: Whitireia and WelTec

Whitireia and WelTec have joined two Wellington events which focus on the wellbeing of local communities, celebrate culture and local talent, and commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The events, Te Rā o te Raukura in Waiwhetū, Lower Hutt (a Te Āti Awa and Āti Awa Toa FM event) and Waitangi Day in Porirua (a collaboration between Porirua City Council and Ngāti Toa Rangatira) both held annually, are important occasions in the calendar for local communities, with excellent turnouts, including record attendance this year at Waitangi Day in Porirua. The festivities include musical performances, food stands and artisanal stalls, with Whitireia and WelTec hosting an education stall at both.

Te Rā o te Raukura, a whānau-oriented community cultural festival that focuses on social wellbeing, education, and health, provided a great opportunity for those enjoying the festivities to see firsthand some of the learning and support options at Whitireia and WelTec. Waitangi Day in Porirua is one of the largest celebrations of our nation’s day with an estimated 35,000 attendees this year, making it a fantastic event to connect with the local community and those who travelled from across the wider Wellington region to commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Whitireia and WelTec stalls included interactive displays and showcased the learning journey, mahi (work) and projects completed by current ākonga (students) and graduates. These stories provided valuable insight into the impact of study, with highlights including a carpentry house model, samples of engineering projects, and a student-developed computer game, all demonstrating potential career paths for ākonga. Māori and Pasifika Trades Training and enrolments kaimahi (staff) alongside tutors from information technology, trades training, nursing, social work, construction, and engineering were able to talk through the pathway to gaining hands-on skills or study towards a qualification.

Hinemoa Priest, Kaiwhakahaere Ngā Ara Me te Tautoko, Director Learner Pathways and Support at Whitireia and WelTec, explains that community connection is important. Positive education outcomes are an enormous contributor to economic and social wellbeing and the study options and support offered by Whitireia and WelTec can make a huge difference in the lives of learners, their families, and wider communities. “The exceptional support throughout a student’s study journey at Whitireia and WelTec and being able to study local and be close to home with whānau support, is an incredible advantage.”

Plus, there is dedicated support for ākonga Māori at Whitireia and WelTec, with the Tamaiti Whāngai and Te Awarua teams on hand to support the success and participation of ākonga Māori. “Ākonga can walk in, have a hui, ask questions, and get wrap-around mentoring, pastoral, cultural and academic support. The teams also provide external advocacy to help learners navigate things like fees and accommodation”, says Hinemoa.

Mark Oldershaw, Executive Director for Whitireia and WelTec says Te Rā o Te Raukura and Waitangi Day in Porirua are two wonderful events, both fostering community connection. “It is a privilege to reinforce Whitireia and WelTec’s commitment to providing vocational education, showcase our study options and be on hand to have conversations with those considering study and future work.”

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Four-year term legislation to be introduced

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February 27, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has agreed to introduce legislation that will enable a four-year term of Parliament subject to a referendum, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“As stipulated in the National-Act coalition agreement, the Bill is modelled on the ACT Party’s draft Constitution (Enabling a 4-Year Term) Amendment Bill.
“This means a standard term of Parliament will remain at three years, but with the ability to extend the maximum term of Parliament to four years.
“The main condition is that membership of certain select committees is calculated in a way that is proportionate to the non-Executive parliamentary party membership of the House.
“Given the constitutional significance of the term of Parliament, this change would be subject to the outcome of a binding referendum.
“Both the National-Act and National-New Zealand First coalition agreements include supporting a bill to select committee. At this stage, no decisions have been made on whether this Bill will proceed beyond this.
“It is possible a referendum could be held alongside the next General Election in 2026. However, any final decisions on timing for a referendum will depend on what comes out of the select committee process.
“Future decisions will also need to be made by the Government as to whether the bill proceeds as introduced, or whether it should be amended.
“We want to hear what New Zealanders think during the select committee process.”

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Update: Onerahi incident

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February 27, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

One person has died and a homicide investigation has been launched following a firearms incident in Onerahi this morning.

Police received a report of a person injured at Beach Road Reserve at about 11.10am.

Upon arrival, one person was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A second person was located with serious injuries and has been transported to hospital.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, Whangārei CIB, says Police do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the wider community.

“The key focus for us is determining the series of events that led up to this tragic incident.”

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, in particular we would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident.

Cordons will remain in place and the community can expect to see an increased Police presence in the area while a scene examination is completed and enquires are carried out.

Members of the public are asked to avoid the area until this has been completed and motorists are advised Beach Road remains closed from Church Road.

“We understand this incident would have been unsettling for the wider community and we appreciate the assistance from the public during this time.”

Police will provide a further update when we are in a position to do so.

If you can assist with our investigation, please call Police on 105 or go online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 quoting job number P061751387.

Information can also be provided anonymously on 0800 555 111 via Crime Stoppers.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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Name release: Fatal crash, Courtenay Place

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February 27, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police can now name the woman who died following a crash on Courtenay Place, Te Aro, on 24 February.

She was Ursula Machtel, 66, formerly of Freiburg, Germany.

Police extend our condolences to her loved ones at this time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Witnesses sought after serious assault, Taradale

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February 27, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Glenn Restieaux of Hastings Police:

Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after an assault that left a young person critically injured.

About 12.40pm yesterday, in the vicinity of Bellevue Dairy Gloucester Street, Taradale, a group of young people was approached by a male who had just exited a car with others.

The male then allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old in the group, and a fight broke out between the two groups.

The 14-year-old was transported to hospital with critical injuries. He remains there in a serious but stable condition.

The second group fled in the vehicle, which was later located and seized.

Police are now working to establish the full circumstances of what occurred, and identify those responsible for the assault.

We know there were several other members of the public who were in the area at the time, and we are hoping they have valuable information to share.

If you can help, please use our 105 service and quote reference number 250227/9346.

You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Greenpeace obtains coordinates of coral destruction NZ Government refused to reveal

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February 27, 2025

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Source: Greenpeace

The New Zealand government is refusing to release details of the location a New Zealand bottom trawler hauled up deep sea coral late last year, despite Greenpeace offering to go and survey the damage at the site with deep sea cameras.

But following requests from the scientist in charge of designing the impending deep sea survey, Australia has released these coordinates so that documentation of the impact can go ahead.

Under SPRFMO, the best available information is meant to be provided on the nature of an encounter such as this, and Greenpeace has offered to go and document the site as part of their Seamounts Expedition, due to commence in March 2025.

But requests from Greenpeace for the coordinates of the area were declined by the New Zealand Government due to ‘commercial sensitivity’. The Australian SPRFMO Commissioner has now released these coordinates in response to requests from the expedition’s Lead Researcher.

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

Hooper says: “In collaboration with scientists, we’re heading out to the deep ocean to survey vital habitats so we can see what lives there and how that life is being impacted by bottom trawling, including hopefully surveying this impacted site.

“We want to add to our collective understanding of these deep sea ecosystems, about which so little is known, and to shine a light in the dark.”These coordinates have already been shared with all fishing companies and SPRFMO countries, so why is the information being hidden?

“Australia clearly has a more progressive and transparent approach when it comes to deep-sea management, and has provided us with the opportunity to go to this area and attempt to survey it.”

Seamounts and other underwater hills and knolls are ocean lifelines, often home to diverse coral and sponges, and are key breeding grounds for fish and feeding spots for migrating whales.

“The main threat to these ecosystems is bottom trawling,” says Hooper.

It’s estimated that coral brought to the surface by trawlers is only a small fraction of what’s destroyed on the seafloor.1

Next week, Greenpeace Aotearoa will embark on its Seamounts Expedition, where deep sea cameras will be used to collect images and data of these ecosystems, and identify the species living on them.

“To make the most informed decisions on the ocean, we need more observation and science, something that appears to be being blocked by NZ,” says Hooper. “Less than 1% of the world’s seamounts have been surveyed, and most of what we do know about these places is from what’s dragged up dead in bottom trawl nets. That’s a pretty sad reality. “We’re setting out to try and uncover some of the secrets of the deep, it’s challenging work and we don’t know exactly what we ‘ll find – but we’re committed to trying.”

In November 2024 last year it was reported that an NZ bottom trawler, Westfleet’s Tasman Viking pulled up 37kg of deep sea coral from the Lord Howe Rise area, in the international waters of the South Pacific.
This triggered a suspension of all fishing in the area.
Greenpeace is offering to survey the impact site using deep sea cameras as part of a seamounts survey we’re carrying out in March 2025
But the NZ government has turned down Greenpeace’s request for the information quoting commercial sensitivities, despite all fishing operators, and SPRFMO states already being notified of the location.
The Australian SPRFMO Commissioner [ lead of their delegation to the RFMO] responded to requests from the Lead Researcher on the seamounts expedition, providing the coordinates of the closed area..
Greenpeace says NZ failing to release the data is clearly the government protecting the commercial fishing industry above gathering scientific information about the impact of the encounter.
After a VME encounter such as this in the SPRFMO zone [high seas], states are meant to use the best available scientific information to assess the impact. Documenting the site would inarguably be the best available information, and Greenpeace is offering to provide this with the survey.
The Greenpeace seamounts expedition will commence in March 2025 and is designed to gather deep sea imagery of deep sea habitats both in the waters of Aotearoa and the international waters of the South Pacific.
Greenpeace plans to make the findings available so they can be used to improve our collective knowledge of the deep sea.

Notes: Coral in nets to destroyed on seafloor ratios:1. Geange, S. et al 2017, SC7-DW14, and Stephenson, F. et al 2022, SC10-DW04

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1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled – Stats NZ media and information release: Disability statistics: 2023

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February 27, 2025

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled – 27 February 2025 – An estimated 17 percent of people living in New Zealand households were disabled in 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

New data from the 2023 Household Disability Survey (HDS) found 10 percent of children (98,000) and 18 percent of adults (753,000) were disabled. In total, 851,000 people (17 percent) were disabled.

The 2023 HDS used questions based on those developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG). The WG’s work is supported by the United Nations Statistical Commission to improve statistics about disabled people. Shorter versions of the WG question sets are used in other social surveys in New Zealand. This is the first time the HDS has used questions based on those developed by the WG to identify disabled people, which means that results can’t be compared with those from previous disability surveys. For more information, see Household Disability Survey 2023 – findings, definitions, and design summary.

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Disabled people need more care and support – Stats NZ media and information release: Disability statistics: 2023

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February 27, 2025

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

Disabled people need more care and support – 27 February 2025 – Half a million disabled people living in New Zealand households need more care or support in at least one important area of daily life, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

The 2023 Household Disability Survey (HDS) found that 62 percent of disabled people (506,000) had at least one unmet need.

“Unmet need refers to situations where a person doesn’t have something they need in the way of support, reasonable accommodations, medical care, home modifications, or equipment,” social and community spokesperson Nicolette Edgar said.

‘Reasonable accommodations’ are changes needed for disabled people to participate on an equal basis and to exercise their human rights.

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BusinessNZ – Business backs a four year term

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February 27, 2025

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Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ says there is support from the private sector for a longer political term in New Zealand, as the Government looks to introduce legislation extending it to four years.

Chief Executive Katherine Rich says extending the term is an important step towards improving the New Zealand’s governance and encouraging longer-term plans to fix major economic problems.

“A four-year term is not a new idea, it’s been discussed each decade by both National and Labour since at least the 1960s and put to the public twice by referendum.

“Most countries operate with four or five-year electoral terms. New Zealand’s three-year electoral term is one reason for the policy pendulum swings which contribute to a failure by successive governments to execute long term solutions.

“The reality is three years is too short to govern successfully – particularly when we are facing complex economic problems or long-term trends like the costs and impacts of our aging population, which may require tough political decisions to solve.

“BusinessNZ has long been a supporter of a longer term because business leaders value policy stability and a predictable environment where they can pursue productivity, innovation and growth, and feel confident about investing. Our current campaign Future Vision has been gauging support from businesses, who are largely in favour of a longer term.

“Business investment horizons surpass political terms, and successive flip-flops do nothing to enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest and do business.

“Political leaders hoping for change this time around will have to present a compelling narrative to explain the benefits in a way that rebuts fear, cynicism and tendency towards the status quo.”

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

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