First Responders – Waipoua River fire update #2

February 27, 2025

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Eight helicopters, five heavy machinery and around 50 firefighters are back fighting the Waipoua River fire today.

Incident Controller Corey Matchitt says the aim today is to keep on top of the fire from the air while establishing containment lines on the ground.

“We did not lose any structures overnight, and we will continue to protect structures today,” he says.

“As we work with heavy machinery to establish the containment lines, we will have iwi alongside us to identify sites of significance and ensure they are not disturbed.”

Around 20 homes were evacuated on Wednesday night as the fire took hold. A community meeting was held with evacuees this morning.

Corey Matchitt says crews were working as quickly as possible to get people back into their homes, but this would only be done when it was safe to do so.

“The safety of residents and our people is at the forefront of everything we do.

“I would like to thank those who have been evacuated for their patience and understanding.

“It can be a very hard thing to do to leave your home when a fire is near, but doing so has meant everyone is safe. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect their homes.

“I would also like to thank the public for staying away from the area. We need to keep these roads clear so our ground crews can get to where they need to go.”

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Corey Matchitt says the incident is a reminder of how quickly a fire can move in these dry conditions.

“I would like to remind everyone across Northland that we are in a restricted fire season, so you need a permit to light an open-air fire.

“It is important if you do have a permit to adhere to the conditions of the permit and to check it’s alright before you light at www.checkitsalright.nz.

“This fire is an example of how things can turn really quickly if a fire does get out of control.”

There’ll be another update later today.

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Universities – Team behind University’s first Pacific Strategy spans the Moana

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Finance Opposition spokesperson, the Hon Pesetatamalelagi Barbara Edmonds visited her alma mater, the University of Auckland to talk with Business academics and learn more about the Pacific Strategy and Pacific Academy initiatives launching this year.

Edmonds (Fale’ula, Faleatiu, Safotu, Fasito’o/Sāmoa) is the MP for Mana and visited the University on 24 February. She met with leaders from the School of Business, Schools and Community Engagement, and the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific.

“It’s nice to be back home, it does feel like home, this is my alma mater where I did my Law and Arts degree that set me up for my career.”

Edmonds says it was good to be amongst Pacific students and to have in-depth discussions focused on economic policies.

“We had good discussions with the School of Business, around macro and micro economic policies that we will be testing as part of our policies that we will be forming,” she says.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Professor Jemaima Sipaea Tiatia-Siau says drafting the University’s first Pacific Strategy in 142 years has been a huge task over the last year; having someone with the expertise and calibre of the Finance Opposition Spokesperson view the work undertaken highlights the strategy’s significance.

“We’re grateful to have had the Hon Barbara Edmonds come onto campus, to be able to share with her the work we have undertaken.

“She’s a great example of why drawing up a road map for Pacific success here at the University is important, so that our young people can flourish at the University and leave ready to take on the world.”

Professor Tiatia-Siau says the Mana MP relished learning about initiatives to prepare school leavers for the university environment such as Auckland Maths Challenge and the Pacific Academy, ensuring Pacific youth were able to thrive.

Edmonds says it was also important to encourage the Pacific community into the Business space. She pivoted during her career path starting out in Health Sciences before graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 2008, going on to become a specialist tax lawyer.

A mother of eight, her path to becoming a Cabinet Minister began eight years ago while working as a private secretary for the National Party’s Ministers of Revenue, Michael Woodhouse and Judith Collins. The following year in 2017 she was appointed as a political adviser for the Labour Government’s Revenue and Police Minister Stuart Nash. She entered Parliament in 2020 as the MP for Mana and became a Cabinet Minister in 2023, holding the Internal Affairs and Pacific Peoples portfolios.

“I came into the business space through the Arts and through Law, it was a very different pathway, says the 44-year-old.

“I got into the area of tax through law, it’s a good indicator of broadening [your scope]. The Humanities and the Arts are important, it means you have a good grounding for a diverse career.

“I’ve been really fortunate that I had a good grounding here, with the Law School and with the Faculty of Arts, and that means decades later you become a Finance Opposition spokesperson for a major political party – don’t knock the Arts!”

Professor Tiatia-Siau says Edmonds’ visit to give guidance and moral support to developing the Pacific Strategy was timely.

“We are this week welcoming our first-year students and we are also on the eve of a great milestone. The presence of Pesetatamalelagi the Hon. Barbara Edmonds is a show of support for the work we are doing, and she is a wonderful role model of what can be accomplished once you have secured a university education.”

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Environment – Agricultural and horticultural review presents opportunities for EPA

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) welcomes the recommendations in the Ministry for Regulation’s Agricultural and Horticultural Products Regulatory Review, which was released today.

Working with the Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for the Environment, and the EPA, the review aimed to identify system-wide opportunities to improve timely access to agricultural and horticultural products.

“The EPA recognises the importance that timely assessments and decisions on agrichemicals have for industry.

“We welcome the opportunity for further improvements to the legislation, and how we operate,” says EPA Chief Executive Dr Allan Freeth.

“We already have work underway that relates to some of the recommendations in the review.”

We are making a raft of changes to improve our timeframes for hazardous substance applications, including:

– bolstering our frontline by recruiting up to 11 new staff to assess applications

– developing new group standards for low-risk hazardous substances

– working with other agencies on amendments to the HSNO Act

– improving communication and transparency with applicants and stakeholders.

“We will continue to work closely with the other relevant agencies, and our stakeholders, to implement the report’s recommendations. This includes providing advice on technical and operational matters – including resourcing implications – so we are best placed to progress these improvements,” Dr Freeth says.

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Employment – NZDF and PSA dispute settled

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: PSA

PSA members at the New Zealand Defence Force have settled their dispute after nearly 8 months of bargaining and strike action. NZDF had previously refused to budge from an offer that included no pay rises.

This week PSA members, who are civilian workers, voted to ratify a new collective agreement which includes pay increases for every union member covered by the Collective Agreement.

“Collective action gets results, even in the face of Government austerity and hostility towards public service workers,” said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons. “Our members refused to be disrespected and took action. They forced NZDF and the Government to take notice and table a new offer.”

PSA members escalated industrial action last year after NZDF offered no pay rises during negotiations for a new collective agreement.

This triggered a rare use of powers by the Minister of Defence, approving the military undertaking the work of striking civilian workers. A settlement was agreed after two days of facilitation by the Employment Relations Authority in January and has now been ratified by union members.

“Such a drawn-out dispute is tough for members, but the alternative was accepting no pay increase while the cost of living is still high,” said Fitzsimons. “Through their determination and resolve they’ve won recognition and respect they deserve.”

“There is still the outstanding issue of increased funding to restore the cuts made to NZDF and to stop further civilian job losses. We call on Government to reverse cuts already made and urgently invest in our Defence Force.”

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Climate – Paris Agreement requires urgent action to cut pollution, not just vibes – Greenpeace

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February 27, 2025

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is slamming climate minister Simon Watts for claims that New Zealand does not have to meet our climate targets under the Paris climate agreement.

Farmers Weekly reported yesterday that Watts had told a group of Federated Farmers members that there was no requirement for New Zealand to meet its climate targets, saying “It’s not a liability on our books, it’s intent and there is no legal obligation in the context around that.”

Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says “Watts is fundamentally wrong. Our climate targets are not vague ‘intentions’ built on vibes. We are facing an escalating climate crisis – a fire that is burning up our only home while our children are inside. The only appropriate action is to stop pouring fuel on the fire.

“Regardless of what Watts may believe, New Zealand also has a legal obligation to take action to prevent the climate crisis.”

In early February, the Government announced its updated climate target under the Paris Agreement, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution or NDC. Greenpeace and many others criticised this target for being deeply unambitious when it was announced, as the target aims for an additional 1-5% reduction in emissions between 2030 and 2035.

“Luxon’s Government is waging a war on nature, while the climate crisis escalates,” says Larsson.

“We already have the solutions to the climate crisis at our fingertips, and there is no reason why New Zealand couldn’t meet, and actually exceed, our climate targets with appropriate ambition from the Government.

“What Watts has failed to realise is that the actions we take to protect our kids’ future have added benefits for our health and livelihoods. Cleaner air, safer streets, clean drinking water, swimmable rivers and more abundant wildlife.

“We know that the biggest climate polluter in Aotearoa is the intensive dairy industry, led by Fonterra, and the tools exist to reduce emissions from intensive dairy right now. The sector’s relentless refrain that we need to wait for magic bullet technology is frankly untrue.

“What Fonterra and lobbyists from Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ are pushing for is to be exempt from doing their part in the fight for our children’s future. This is a sector that already gets tax-free capital gains, deductible expenses and publicly-funded research. Continuing to refuse to take any climate action simply means the rest of New Zealand has to shoulder that burden, effectively subsidising the already-privileged dairy sector.

“Quite simply, we have too many cows producing large quantities of superheating methane gas. We need to reduce herd sizes, and phase out inputs like synthetic nitrogen fertiliser which enable these oversized herds,” says Larsson.

“Ultimately, the future of farming lies in ecological, organic, plant-based agriculture practices. The Government – and Fonterra – must support farmers to transition away from climate polluting practices towards ways of farming that work with, instead of against, nature.

“Lobby groups like Federated Farmers are doing their members a huge disservice by delaying action. They should be supporting their farmers to shift to practices that will be more resilient to climate change impacts like droughts and floods, while also meeting the standards of our biggest customers.”

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Health – Healthline Diverts 83 Patients Daily from Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) Region Emergency Departments

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: Whakarongorau Aotearoa

A new study by Te Pūnaha Matatini and Auckland University reveals that Healthline, operated by Whakarongorau Aotearoa, prevents approximately 83 unnecessary Emergency Department (ED) visits per day across the Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) region, with potential to reduce ED pressure further.

Analysis of data from July 2019 to June 2024 demonstrates that Healthline advice has successfully diverted 14.6% of potential ED presentations, while identifying an additional 6% of current ED visits that could be managed through the telehealth service.

“These findings confirm what we’ve always believed — that Healthline plays a crucial role in connecting New Zealanders with the right care at the right time,” says Glynis Sandland, CEO of Whakarongorau Aotearoa. “By providing 24/7 clinical advice, we’re not only making healthcare more accessible but also reducing unnecessary pressure on our emergency departments.

“The study showed particularly strong impact in the Bay of Plenty, where Healthline prevented 29.6% of potential ED visits, followed by Lakes (23.5%) and Waikato (14.1%).

“Every unnecessary ED presentation we prevent allows hospital clinicians to work at the top of their scope, focusing on patients who truly need emergency care,” Sandland adds. “This is about creating a more efficient healthcare system that works better for everyone — patients, whānau, and healthcare providers alike.

“The research identified that Healthline is particularly effective at supporting younger and older individuals, Māori communities, and people from higher deprivation areas who might otherwise default to ED services due to uncertainty about care options or access barriers.

About Whakarongorau Aotearoa: Whakarongorau Aotearoa is New Zealand’s national telehealth service provider, operating Healthline and other essential health and wellbeing support services. We connect the people of New Zealand with healthcare professionals 24/7, providing clinical advice, support, and information when and where it’s needed most.

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Animal Welfare Laws – Study reveals flaws in animal protection laws – Auckland University

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

New Zealand’s animal welfare system is failing – and in urgent need of a dedicated police unit, researcher warns.

The animal protection system in Aotearoa is ineffective, underfunded, and at risk of collapse, according to new research.

University of Auckland law scholar associate professor Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere warns that without major reform, animals will continue to suffer harm without adequate legal consequences.

His doctoral thesis with the University of Alberta, which compares New Zealand’s system with Alberta, Canada, identifies deep structural flaws. These include overlapping responsibilities, jurisdictional confusion, and a reliance on the SPCA – an under-resourced charity – to carry out much of the enforcement.

“The effect of this enforcement gap is clear: breaches of animal welfare laws go consistently undetected and under-prosecuted,” says Rodriguez Ferrere.

“Not only does this directly harm animals, but it weakens the deterrent effect of the law, allowing a cycle of neglect and cruelty to continue. In this way, animal welfare underenforcement frustrates the rule of law.”

A lack of financial support for the sector has resulted in inadequate training for animal protection officers, reactive and delayed enforcement, and areas where no enforcement occurs at all.
Our reliance on private enforcement is outdated and the biggest flaw in the system. We need a specialised animal welfare unit within the police.

In New Zealand, three agencies – police, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) – theoretically share responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. But in reality, that enforcement falls to the MPI and the SPCA and neither of them, Rodriguez Ferrere argues, have the resources to do the job effectively.

“The SPCA has been given the responsibility to enforce animal welfare legislation with regards to companion animals, even though police and MPI also have jurisdiction,” he says. “It’s a strange quirk of our system that we rely on a charity with limited funding to do this work. They do their best, but it’s not working.”

He believes New Zealand should consider removing enforcement responsibilities from the SPCA, which remains one of the few charities in the world still conducting private animal welfare prosecutions. Instead, he argues that their expertise could be shifted to state-funded enforcement bodies dedicated to animal welfare.

“The SPCA has done an amazing job, despite limited resources, but our reliance on private enforcement is outdated and the biggest flaw in the system,” he says. “We need a specialised animal welfare unit within the police.”

Rodriguez Ferrere also sees broader issues at play, linking New Zealand’s weak enforcement to institutional speciesism. He says people prioritise the interests of their own species, while treating other animals as ‘property’.

“The legal classification of animals as property is speciesism in action,” he says. “As long as animals are treated as commodities, their well-being is directly linked to the value they represent to their owners and society.”

While removing the property status of animals would be too radical a shift, Rodriguez Ferrere says a more immediate and achievable step is to strengthen regulatory enforcement. A properly funded police unit focused on animal welfare, he argues, would go a long way toward ensuring the law is upheld. Such a unit operates within the city of Edmonton, Alberta, with significant success.

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Culture and Heritage – Funding of creative spaces leaves legacy

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage welcomes a new report Te kaha o ā tātou mahi | The Power of our work which details the impact of multi-year funding of creative spaces across New Zealand.

As part of the COVID recovery programme, the Ministry invested $18 million into a network of creative spaces, in partnership with Arts Access Aotearoa, to support the growth and sustainability of creative spaces over three years.

“It’s fantastic to read about the positive impacts in the report,” says Manatū Taonga Secretary for Culture and Heritage Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae.

“Funding allowed the spaces to increase services to meet the high demand, and had so many benefits for staff and participants – particularly on their mental health and wellbeing.

“Funding of creative spaces not only created more jobs, but provided career development opportunities and supported career pathways, including for artists who had previously been participants or volunteers. Many of the creative spaces have used those three years of investment to find new ways to support their long-term sustainability.

“The funding gave creative spaces greater capacity to build relationships to help expand the reach of their programmes, and support different groups in the community to access creative opportunities. Some spaces supported artists to sell their artworks, and even helped to develop their own small business enterprises.

“A big thank you to Arts Access Aotearoa for partnering with Manatū Taonga to monitor the investment and support creative spaces throughout this initiative,” says Leauanae.

A total of 54 creative spaces received funding across the country.

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Aged Care issues – Consumer NZ backs calls for court action against retirement village operators’ unfair contract terms

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ and the Retirement Village Residents Association are concerned retirement villages are ignoring warnings from the Commerce Commission about unfair terms in their contracts with residents. Both organisations are calling for the Commission to take further action.

Following complaints from Consumer NZ and the Retirement Village Residents Association (RVResidents), the Commerce Commission warned village operators some of their care claims and contract terms risked breaching the Fair Trading Act.

One term the Commission identified as potentially unfair allowed operators to charge residents for maintenance and repairs of chattels or fixtures within their units.

The Commission considered these terms likely to be unfair because the residents don’t have any ownership rights over their units, or the operator’s chattels, yet are expected to pay for maintenance and repairs.

Despite the Commission’s warning, most of Metlifecare occupation right agreements (ORAs) still allow the operator to charge its residents for maintenance and repairs.

After this was brought to RVResidents attention, it recently lodged a further complaint with the Commission, asking it to take court action. Consumer backs this call.

Jon Duffy, Consumer NZ chief executive, says living in a village under an ORA isn’t the same as owning a home because residents have no ownership rights, and in most cases, aren’t entitled to any capital gains when their units are sold.

“Even though residents don’t own the units, chattels or fixtures, they’re often responsible for the cost of maintenance, repairs and replacement of everything from heat pumps and blinds to light switches and power sockets.

“We think that’s completely unfair. Responsibility for repairing, replacing and maintaining operator-owned fixtures and chattels should fall on the retirement village.”

Residents don’t want to make a fuss

Di Sinclair, RVResidents national vice president and complaints coordinator, says the organisation receives ongoing complaints from Metlifecare residents about having to foot the bill for maintenance and repairs.

“In one case, an elderly woman was charged $562 for a draft strip to close up a gap between her garage door and some uneven concrete outside.”

Yet, according to Sinclair, under the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008, which sets out the obligations operators must meet, Metlifecare would be responsible for fixing the problem with the garage door, particularly as it was initially caused by the concrete beyond the woman’s villa.

“The operator must keep the building and equipment in good working order. A garage door, particularly one attached to a unit, is part of that obligation,” Sinclair says.

The resident fought the charge, and the operator backed down. It said it would pay half the repair cost and credited her account with $281. The resident reluctantly agreed to pay the reduced sum.

“Residents are afraid of repercussions if they ‘make a fuss’, and they often feel they don’t have the emotional or physical strength to get into conflict with village management.

“It’s not fair that they have to rely on advocates to enforce their rights,” says Sinclair.

Consumer urges the Commission to hold retirement village operators to account

RVResidents is asking the Commission to seek a court declaration that these terms are unfair.

Consumer’s Jon Duffy agrees with Sinclair – residents shouldn’t have to get advocates involved to get a fair deal. ORA terms should be fair from the get-go, but often, they don’t meet the mark.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t much residents can do if they think their village is relying on an unfair contract term – only the Commerce Commission can take action.

“This needs to change to ensure residents, and others facing unfair terms, are protected. In the meantime, we want to see the Commission give teeth to its warnings and take action to protect residents,” says Duffy.

“We support RVResidents’ call to action and urge the Commission to hold operators to account.”

Note

Read the full article on Consumer’s website: How Metlifecare is ignoring the Commerce Commission’s warnings: https://consumernz.cmail19.com/t/i-l-fdrjtdk-ijjdkdttjk-t/

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Captive kākā, Charlie, to stay in Dunedin

LiveNews Publisher

February 27, 2025

Source: Department of Conservation

Date: 27 February 2025

Professor of Animal Welfare Science Ngaio Beausoleil, from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science, who carried out the assessment, recommended Charlie remain where she is to provide stability and allow her to adapt to her new environment over time.

Department of Conservation Fauna Science Manager Ash Murphy says DOC is working with wildlife husbandry experts at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary (DBGA) and an avian specialist veterinarian at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital on a plan to address recommendations in Professor Beausoleil’s report.

“The plan includes keeping Charlie with her enclosure mate in their current aviary and maintaining her high standard of care.

“Her keepers will gradually introduce more opportunities for Charlie to choose to have positive human interactions through training for rewards to increase her wellbeing, as recommended.

“Any changes made to Charlie’s care including training activities will be recorded and her behaviour closely monitored to gauge whether she’s responding positively. Her diet, eating habits and weight will also continue to be monitored.

“We encourage the public to give Charlie the time she needs to settle in, bond with her mate and enjoy her life at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary,” Ash Murphy says.

Professor Beausoleil’s assessment concluded that Charlie is in good physical health and is well cared for at DBGA, including appropriate management of her chronic arthritis from old injuries.

It found Charlie exhibited abnormal repetitive behaviours such as swaying and toe nibbling which had increased since her move to DBGA, as she struggled to adapt to changes in her environment.

Charlie does not behave like a normal captive kākā because of ingrained behaviours she developed in her first year of captivity as a young bird in severely impoverished conditions prior to her transfer to Te Anau Bird Sanctuary. When Charlie is stressed, these behaviours are amplified.

Charlie was moved from Te Anau Bird Sanctuary to Dunedin in June 2024 to join other South Island kākā at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary as part of the captive breed-for-release programme. She has been an excellent Mum and foster parent and raised multiple clutches of chicks previously.

In Dunedin she is currently paired up with male kākā, Bling, who she successfully bred with when they were both in Te Anau. Despite positive early signs with mating recorded several times, the pair did not produce any offspring this season.

Following concerns raised by people about Charlie’s behaviour in Dunedin, the Ministry for Primary Industries recommended DOC commission an independent welfare assessment.

Professor Beausoleil also made some recommendations for the kākā breed-for-release programme more generally, including developing an ‘ethogram’ or catalogue of behaviour in captive kākā and guidelines to be incorporated in an updated Kākā Husbandry Manual to enable better monitoring of kākā welfare in captive facilities.

DOC is considering these recommendations as they relate to the South Island kākā breed-for-release programme.

Background information

Charlie Girl kākā welfare assessment report (PDF, 511K)

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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