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Northland Regional Council media briefs 24/02/25

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Source: Northland Regional Council

Mōtatau Students learn to use stream testing kits
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. 

MIL OSI

Early licence renewal a convenient option for senior drivers

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reminding senior drivers that they have the option of renewing their driver licence up to six months before it expires, in order to allow plenty of time to complete the renewal process.

“We understand how important it is for senior drivers to have enough time to get a medical certificate and, if required by their health practitioner, book a practical driving test. To ensure this process runs as smoothly as possible, we want to make senior drivers are aware that they can start the renewal process early. And remember that renewing early won’t affect the new driver licence expiry date,” says Karina Morrow, NZTA Senior Manager Safer Drivers. 

Senior drivers are required to renew their driver’s licence at age 75, 80 and every two years after that, and need to present a medical certificate when renewing. These can be issued by doctors, registered nurses and nurse practitioners operating within their scope of practice.  

What senior drivers need to do  

  • a medical certificate issued within the last 60 days 
  • EFTPOS, credit card or cash to pay the $21.50 renewal fee.  
  • They may also need to complete a practical driving test if recommended by their doctor. There are two types of practical tests a doctor may require: 
  • On-road safety test, which assesses a driver’s ability to meet the minimum safe driving standard.   
  • Occupational therapist driving assessment, which assesses competency in a range of situations and where a medical condition may be a factor in driving (such as post stroke, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc). 

More information about renewing from age 75 and over is available on the NZTA website: 

Renewing for seniors 

Resources  

NZTA offers a range of resources for senior drivers renewing their licence and Staying Safe courses run through Age Concern.  

Senior driving resources 

Staying Safe courses available in your area  

MIL OSI

Hornswoggling porch pirate nabbed in Waikato

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Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police have arrested a 35-year-old Hamilton woman in relation to a number of parcel thefts around the region.

She is facing five charges of burglary and is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on Thursday 27 February.

In recent weeks, Police have received a number of reports about parcels going missing from doorsteps of houses.

Police are reminding the public to take extra caution to ensure their parcels don’t fall into the hands of thieves.

Use the carriers’ parcel tracking services to keep an eye on when your parcel is due to arrive.

If you are not home, make sure your parcel is left somewhere safe and out of sight, or ask a neighbour or friend to collect it from your doorstep.

If you see anything suspicious, take note of any activity and/or vehicle number plates and make a report to Police.

You can contact us via 105 by calling or making an online report, or call 111 if it is happening now.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Release: Overhaul of Overseas Investment Act a Fire Sale of Kiwi Assets

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Source: New Zealand Labour Party

The Government’s reckless overhaul of the Overseas Investment Act is a fast track for foreign investment at the expense of Kiwi interests.

“The Government’s reforms to the Overseas Investment Act are a significant shift away from the current overseas investment rules, and not in the best interests of New Zealanders,” Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

“It seems the Government’s new slogan ‘Everyone Must Go’ has been interpreted by David Seymour as ‘Everything Must Go,’ including New Zealand’s essential assets.

“Under their plan, foreign investors will find it even easier to snap up key assets without clear protections for Kiwi jobs or incomes. Investing in New Zealand is a privilege, not an open invitation for profit-chasing investors to exploit our resources and siphon off the returns overseas. Yet, this Government is throwing the doors wide open, without ensuring our assets serve the interests of Kiwi workers, businesses, and communities.

“The Government claims they have a ‘balanced’ approach, but that raises the question: balanced for whom? I don’t see any clear protections for New Zealand’s environment, public utilities, or any effort to consider Māori or the broader community.

“There has been no consultation on these changes and the Government wants to rush the legislation through before the end of the year. The Treasury themselves, in David’s Seymour’s Cabinet Paper, say that because they were restricted by the Coalition Agreement, they have had no opportunity to test whether their policies can actually be delivered and whether the benefits will materialise.

“Rushed reforms like these put our economic future at risk. This Government is making it easier for foreign companies to buy up key assets while shifting profits offshore. That doesn’t strengthen our economy, it weakens it. This is just another example of this Government taking New Zealand backwards,” Barbara Edmonds said.

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Putting things right – Waimakariri Road SH5

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Work starts shortly to create a right-turn bay southbound into Waimakariri Road on State Highway 5 (SH5) in South Waikato.

The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says the work, which includes some road widening at the T-intersection, will be done during resealing in the area.

It will provide a safe position for vehicles to wait to cross the state highway into Waimakariri Road.

The work and new sealing will be carried out from Monday 3 March to Tuesday 18 March with line marking scheduled in late April. Dates are weather dependent.

Access to properties will be maintained at all times but both SH5 and Waimakariri Road traffic can expect short delays due to some stop/go and speed restrictions in place.

The right-turn bay is one of several safety improvements planned for the stretch of SH5 between Tīrau and Tārukenga Marae Road.

  • A roundabout will be built at SH5/State Highway 28/Harwoods Road starting in September and taking about 8 months to build.
  • Funding has been allocated to complete design for a roundabout at SH28/Whites Road.
  • Funding has also been approved for designing general widening between Whites and Harwoods Roads to allow for wide centrelines.

Between 2014 and 2024, 18 people died and 64 were seriously injured on this section of road between the State Highway1 roundabout at Tīrau and Tārukenga Marae Road on the Rotorua side of the Mamaku Range.

More information is available on the project website:

SH5 Tīrau to Tārukenga safety improvements

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Improvements for users of busy Waikato intersection 

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The journey through Karāpiro is set to get a little bit easier, with the completion of works on the intersection of State Highway 1 and Karāpiro Road.  

New line marking and signage have been installed near this busy intersection, including new electronic signs that will display safety messages. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says these safety messages will help to remind drivers of the importance of being vigilant around this intersection.  

“The intersection at SH1/Karāpiro Road can be very busy, with local traffic heading towards Karāpiro School, the Mobil service station, and residences, interregional traffic connecting to State Highway 29 and heavy vehicles heading towards the quarry.  

“The improvements we’ve made to the intersection, along with the electronic signage, will help to improve safety for all road users”, says Darryl Coalter, Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery for Waikato/Bay of Plenty (Acting).    

Since 2020 NZTA has been installing a range of safety improvements between Cambridge and Piarere aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on this stretch of road. This has included widening the road, having wider centre lines, installing turnaround bays and median barriers, and other safety treatments. 

Improving road safety remains a top priority for NZTA but how we invest in road safety is changing. 

Our focus is on delivering safe roading infrastructure via the Roads of National Significance and Roads of Regional Significance, providing enhanced maintenance and highway resilience as well as increased support for NZ Police enforcement. 

“We investigated the possibility of installing a roundabout to replace the T-intersection, which would have been an interim step until the new interchange, as a part Cambridge to Piarere expressway project, began. With construction on the interchange expected to begin in late-2026, the roundabout wasn’t prioritised for funding via the current 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme,” says Mr Coalter. 

“We are pleased that we have been able to progress these intersection improvements in the meantime.” 

The Cambridge to Piarere expressway Road of National Significance project is 16-km long expressway with 4-lanes from the southern end of the Waikato Expressway near Cambridge to the new SH1/SH29 roundabout at Piarere. It will give road users more reliable travel times and improve safety further.  

Here’s a concept animation showing how the new Cambridge to Piarere expressway may look:

Video: SH1 Cambridge to Piarere concept design – October 2024

Learn more about it here:

SH1 Cambridge to Piarere

MIL OSI

ChildFund – Keep Ukrainian Children Learning. One Day They Will Rebuild Their Country

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Source: ChildFund New Zealand

We are grateful to the New Zealanders who continue to support children in Ukraine. They need us more than ever, as we enter the fourth year of the war.
“This war has gone on so long, some children have never been inside a school,” says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund.
“This is the generation who will have to rebuild Ukraine. They will be the builders, engineers, teachers, and leaders of the future. It’s not just that they deserve to be safe, to learn, to have a future like any other child. It’s also that they are literally the future of Ukraine.”
ChildFund will keep supporting Ukrainian children, with the help of donations from the New Zealand public, and support from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Since 2022, ChildFund’s partners implementing the Ukraine Regional Refugee Response have:
  • Reached over 3,700 caregivers and children with psychosocial support and counselling services
  • Provided access to child friendly spaces, supporting access for 2,383 children to play activities and facilities
  • Provided child dedicated food bags to 8,237 children and caregivers
  • Provided access to additional education and training services for 204 children and young people
  • Provided referrals, assistive devices and systems strengthening for 88 children with disabilities and service providers.
Since Russia invaded, more than 4,000 schools and educational institutions in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed.
“We are asking New Zealanders to keep supporting these efforts. Ukrainian children need decent food, safe places to learn. They need to be able to play like other children, and get the counselling they so desperately need.”
“We don’t know how this war will end. But we do know these children will be tasked with rebuilding their country and their communities. They need our support more than ever.”

MIL OSI

Government Cuts – Stop Defence civilian job cuts if the Govt is serious about increasing spending – PSA

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Source: PSA

The PSA is urging the Government to stop planned job cuts to the Defence Force civilian workforce in the wake of promises to increase defence spending.
“We welcome the u-turn on Defence spending by the Government and urge it to start by stopping any further cuts to the civilian workforce,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The civilian workforce plays a vital role in ensuring NZDF can operate – such as maintaining IT systems, providing security at bases, and engineering support for military equipment. Defence can’t operate without a well-resourced civilian workforce.
“It’s ironic that the backdown on Defence spending comes just a year after it ordered the agency to slash spending by 6.5%.”
And last December NZDF told staff across its military and civilian workforce that it wants to cut $50m through its Workforce Savings Programme in the 2025/26 financial year as part of plans to tackle a $360m blowout in spending.
“The civilian workforce is already cut to the bone, and more cuts are planned to be announced next month we understand. Some 200 roles in the civilian workforce of around 3000 have been disestablished last year. This includes 144 voluntary redundancies and other vacant roles not being filled.
“It’s great that the Government belatedly realising that the unstable geopolitical environment, underlined by the activities of the Chinese navy off the coast of Australia currently, means we need to invest more in defence.
“We urge the Government to stop with the reckless cuts and spending decisions like stopping flu vaccines to date. It must do the right thing by its critical civilian workforce if it is really serious about the capability of the Defence Force.”

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Environment – EPA approves new crop protection tool

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Source: Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved a new insecticide to control pests on key crops such as beets for livestock, and brassicas.
Bayer New Zealand applied to import or manufacture Sivanto Prime, an insecticide containing 200 g/L of flupyradifurone, a chemical new to New Zealand.
Bayer says Sivanto Prime has a new way of working that targets sucking pests such as aphids, nysius fly and springtails, providing growers with an alternative to older, broad-spectrum insecticides.
“This decision will help farmers protect crops that are essential to New Zealand’s primary sector,” says Dr Lauren Fleury, EPA Hazardous Substances Applications Manager.
Insect pests can cause significant damage to feed crops, making them less palatable to stock and reducing yields.
Bayer says Sivanto Prime may be considered compatible with newer, lighter-touch farming practices because it works in a more targeted way.
The decision to approve Sivanto Prime was made following a rigorous assessment and consultation process, says Dr Fleury.
“As this product contains an active ingredient that is new to New Zealand, we assessed the scientific data and evidence, as well as economic and local information, to help enable new chemistry while continuing to protect people’s health and our unique environment.”
Flupyradifurone is approved for use in other countries, including Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States of America.
The substance can only be used by professionals in commercial settings, and users must comply with specific controls.
As an agricultural compound, Sivanto Prime must also receive approval from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) before it can be used in New Zealand.

MIL OSI

UNICEF – Three years on: One in five children in Ukraine has lost a relative or friend since the escalation of war

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Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

One in five children in Ukraine has reported losing a close relative or friend since the escalation of war three years ago, according to survey data released by UNICEF.
“For far too long, death and destruction have remained a constant in the lives of children in Ukraine,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. 
“This level of violence causes immense fear and suffering and disrupts every aspect of a child’s life.” 
Ukraine’s third year of full-scale war was even deadlier for children than the preceding year. The number of child casualties in 2024 rose by more than 50 per cent compared to 2023. More than 2,520 children have been killed or injured since February 2022. The true number is likely far higher, as these figures account only for child casualties verified by the UN. 
More than 1,600 education facilities and nearly 790 health facilities have been verified as damaged or destroyed over the past three years. The war has left children and teenagers facing profound loss and deprivation, affecting their development and well-being, at critical stages in their lives. 
Experiences during the first three years of life influence children’s lifelong health and learning. Yet three-year-olds in Ukraine have only known war. Parents report feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, impacting family life. The essential services that young children and their parents rely on have also been disrupted by the war. 
Adolescence is also a particularly challenging time for children in Ukraine. Almost one-third of teenagers reported feeling so sad or hopeless that they stopped doing their usual activities. These sentiments are more common among girls. Mental health challenges for children and young people in Ukraine are worsening due to isolation. Many children consistently spend hours sheltering in basements, missing opportunities to socialize and learn. Nearly 40 per cent of children study only online or through a mixture of in-person and remote classes. The impact on learning has been profound with an average educational loss of two years in reading and one year in maths. 
UNICEF works with partners across Ukraine to provide critical lifesaving support including access to health care, safe water, cash assistance, education and child protection services to children across frontline areas. Together, we repair and rehabilitate water and sanitation networks and ensure families with children have access to fuel and clothing to keep them warm during the harsh winters. At the same time, UNICEF works with the Government and partners to support recovery and long-term development, and foster social cohesion, through strengthening systems that serve children and their families. This includes ensuring that child and social protection, health and education systems can provide timely and quality essential support, care and opportunities to children. 
There are currently 6.86 million Ukrainian refugees registered globally, almost one million of whom are living in Poland. For refugee children, access to school remains a challenge with half of school-age children in refugee-hosting countries not enrolled in national education systems, impacting their opportunity to learn and interact with their peers, as well as to develop essential skills that will be critical to the recovery of Ukraine. 
UNICEF continues to work with governments, municipalities and local partners to strengthen systems that provide refugee children with quality education, health care and protection services. 
“Children must always be protected from the impacts of war in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law,” said Russell. 
“More than anything, children in Ukraine need sustained peace, and the chance to realize their full potential.”

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