Oriental fruit fly restrictions lifted – Papatoetoe/Māngere area

February 13, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Auckland’s Papatoetoe and Māngere have been lifted after no further evidence of the Oriental fruit fly was found in the area.

Biosecurity New Zealand, part of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced the update today.

“It’s great to see that restrictions are now lifted. Thank you to our communities, residents and businesses in these areas for their support – from following the movement controls, keeping an eye out for fruit flies to safely disposing of fruit in the provided bins,” says Phil Brown Auckland Council Acting General Manager, Environmental Services.

Six-week intensive operation

The decision to end the operation follows six weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and inspections of hundreds of kilograms of fruit.

With restrictions now lifted, the Biosecurity New Zealand signs and wheelie bins will be removed from the affected area in Papatoetoe over the next few days.

This also means that all kerbside collections, including food scraps, are back to normal.

We encourage you to take full advantage of the food scraps collection service and join thousands of Aucklanders who have already helped turn over 30,000 tonnes of food scraps into clean energy.

Here’s some summer tips to beat the heat and you can also request an additional food scraps bin by contacting us.

A quick response

Biosecurity New Zealand quickly placed legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Papatoetoe and Māngere on 4 January 2025 after a single male Oriental fruit fly was identified from a national surveillance trap.

Since then, no further adult fruit flies, eggs, larvae or pupae have been found. MPI are satisfied that the Controlled Area Notice restrictions can be lifted, and response operations can be closed.

Restrictions are lifted but stay vigilant. If you think you’ve spotted an Oriental fruit fly, eggs, or larvae/maggots in your fruit, call Biosecurity New Zealand (MPI) right away at 0800 80 99 66.

MPI will continue as normal to check Biosecurity New Zealand’s 7800 fruit fly traps around the country, including some 200 traps in Papatoetoe and Māngere.

MIL OSI

SIBUR Expands Range of Polymer Products for Automotive Industry

MIL OSI

February 13, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 February 2025 – SIBUR, the largest Russian manufacturer of synthetic materials, plans to increase the use of polymers in the production of components for the automotive industry.

In February 2025, SIBUR signed an agreement with the auto parts manufacturer DIPO for the joint development of polymer-based body parts, exterior and interior components, structural frames, and lighting components. Earlier, SIBUR developed a polyethylene grade for fuel tanks and two new grades of polycarbonate for automotive headlight diffusers that are used in Lada vehicles.

According to industry experts, up to 160,000 tonnes of polymer materials are used annually in Russian automotive production, with potential for increased demand. The polymers produced by SIBUR are already used in the production of trunk doors and soundproofing materials, and, in the future, they could be used to manufacture seals, brackets, and fasteners.

Polymer materials are approximately 30% lighter than metal, which helps reduce vehicle weight and, in turn, lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Thanks to their deformability, polymer components can absorb impact energy, enhancing safety. Furthermore, unlike metals, polymers are not susceptible to corrosion.

According to SIBUR, the use of Russian synthetic materials in the country’s automotive industry increased by 24% over the past year. The outlook for further growth is strong, driven by the company’s robust scientific and production capabilities for polymer development and manufacturing.

Hashtag: #SIBUR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Two-Thirds of Employees in The Philippines are Considering Changing Employers in 2025, Aon Study Finds

MIL OSI

February 13, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 February 2025 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today released results from its 2025 Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study. The global study of more than 9,000 employees across 23 geographies, including the U.S., China, India and Japan, found that a majority of workers in the Philippines are looking at their next move and seek better employee benefits to respond to rising costs and mental wellbeing issues.

Aon’s study reveals that 64 percent of employees in the Philippines are either in the process of moving employers or might seek new employment in the next 12 months. Tight competition for talent highlights the need for employers to place a strong focus on total rewards to meet the evolving expectations of their workforce.

Josef Ayson – growth lead for Talent Solutions for the Philippines at Aon said, “Competition for skilled talent is increasing across the Philippines. This affects not just Manila where the right talent is more readily available but also in cities like Cebu, Davao, and other islands within the archipelago. In such an environment, managing and retaining employees is important for firms to remain competitive. Compensation strategies based on the latest data and analytics from their own organisations as well as the market, can help companies make more informed decisions on attracting and retaining employees in this evolving workforce landscape.”

The survey further revealed that medical coverage, paid time off and work-life balance programs have increased in value for the Philippines’ workforce. Eighty-three percent of those surveyed said that they would be willing to sacrifice existing benefits for a better choice of benefits, illustrating the need for flexibility and personalisation.

The top five valued benefits for the Philippines workforce are:

Medical coverage
Paid time off
Work-life balance programs
Career development
Retirement savings

“Amid continued economic volatility and the rising cost of living, there is a growing expectation for employers to provide medical coverage and support for mental and financial wellbeing, said Cris Rosenthal, strategic advisory lead for Health Solutions for the Philippines at Aon. “Employers must rethink their approach to employee benefits balancing wages with flexible benefits to attract and retain the talent they need.”

The impact of the rising cost of living has also led worker to prioritize financial wellbeing. Sixty-five percent of employees said that employers should help employees save for retirement/long-term needs and 58 percent believe employers must provide financial education. This highlights the importance for organisations to make informed decisions using insights and robust market data to create a holistic employee value proposition aligned with employee needs and expectations.

Read Aon’s Employee Sentiment Study here.

Hashtag: #Aon

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Speech for the opening of Wakefield Hospital

LiveNews Publisher

February 13, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

AcknowledgementsGood afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here.It’s a pleasure to join you here today to officially open this beautiful facility at Wakefield Hospital.I’d like to acknowledge the Evolution Healthcare leadership team, and their esteemed guests here today including investors, and mana whenua.I’d also like to acknowledge:

Evolution Board Chair, Scott Pickering
Group CEO, Simon Keating
Chief Executive of Hospitals & Day Surgeries, Michael Quirke
General Manager, Carole Kaffes
Health New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive, Robyn Shearer
Deputy Commissioner of Health New Zealand, Ken Whelan
And the Kapa Haka group from South Wellington Intermediate School

And finally, I would like to thank and acknowledge the staff and clinicians providing exceptional care to patients here at Wakefield and other providers across the Wellington region.
Health TargetsAs you’re all aware, improving our health system is one of this Government’s top priorities.Last year we announced an ambitious new direction for health, reinvigorating five health targets to ensure that all New Zealanders can access timely, quality healthcare.We all know that you cannot manage what you do not measure.It is only with clear, measurable targets that we can understand and improve the performance of the health system. Targets focus resources, attention, and accountability.Targets save lives.The five health targets are tightly focused on things that really matter: faster cancer treatment, increased childhood immunisation, shorter stays in EDs and shorter wait times for assessments and treatment.Achieving these targets will require a back-to-basics approach in our public system to make sure our hospitals and community health services work smoothly and efficiently as a system, enabling our greatest asset – our frontline health workers – to provide the best possible care.The health system continues to be under significant pressure, and there is always a demand for more money. I am proud of the record investment this Government has made in health, but we need to also ensure we get value for money. Role of Private Hospital SectorMeeting those targets will require working in a more collaborative way, especially when it comes to reducing waitlists for elective treatment.When we left office in 2017, 97.3 percent of New Zealanders were getting elective surgeries within four months. When Labour left office, it had dropped to 62.1 percent. It will take time to turn this around, but it is a top priority of mine.Partnering with the private health sector is a key part of our plans to deliver for Kiwis. Aside from ensuring our public systems are working as efficiently as possible, we also need to consider how we can make best use of the capacity and expertise the private health sector can offer.Wakefield Hospital is a strong provider for the people in the Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley districts, as well as supporting referrals from out of the region with people travelling from as far afield as Waikato and the South Island.In the 23/24 financial year, Wakefield Hospital treated 450 patients on behalf of Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, and along with Bowen and Royston hospitals, meant Evolution Healthcare was the largest private provider for outsourcing in the Central Region.It is great to be here to celebrated the redevelopment of this hospital today and to congratulate everyone who has worked to deliver this project. The new Wakefield development includes seven new operating theatres, specialist cardiology and surgical treatment capacity, a 37-bed inpatient ward with capacity to expand an additional 32 inpatient beds. All this will increase the opportunities to deliver more for the Wellington Region and to grow opportunities to work closely with Wellington Hospital to provide more services and improve patient outcomes.Looking forward, the goal must be to create a mutually beneficial partnership that supports the health system and provides greater certainty for the private health sector.A key part of the strategy is a nationally supported approach to planning and outsourcing, and longer-term contracts and agreements which will help ensure patients get the treatment they need in a timely manner. By standardising referral arrangements and focusing on jointly managing waitlists by using all available capacity more effectively, Health New Zealand can prevent unnecessary delays and ensure that patients are referred to the right provider at the right time.As Minister of Health, my focus is and always will be on improving patient outcomes. Patients will be my number one priority, ensuring they get the timely and quality care they need and deserve. ConclusionI want to again thank you for the opportunity to join you here this afternoon, and for your ongoing dedication and investment into caring for New Zealanders. Congratulations to everyone who has been part of delivering this project, and to those who will be ensuring it delivers timely and quality care for patients in the Wellington Region.

MIL OSI

Wānaka McDonald’s saga exposes bureaucratic barriers

LiveNews Publisher

February 13, 2025

Source: ACT Party

Responding to news that the resource consent for a McDonald’s in Wānaka has been declined, ACT Environment spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

“A legitimate business has been blocked from investing, hiring locals, and selling products to willing buyers. This is an economic own-goal for Wānaka, and it shows how our planning regime stifles development.

“McDonald’s spent a year of time and resource fighting bureaucracy and bureaucratic NIMBYism while offering to make major compromises. We’re meant to be going for growth, but you have to wonder why anyone wanting to build or expand a business would even bother when this is the potential outcome.

“Clearly there was demand for a McDonald’s, but would-be customers now miss out because noisy opponents were able to weaponise a planning regime that is hostile to development.

“We’ve all got opinions on McDonald’s, but no-one is forced to buy a Big Mac. As far as the law is concerned, what ought to matter is that the building is sturdy, the food is safe, and the property rights of neighbours aren’t impacted. The opinions of lobby groups, busybodies, and would-be competitors shouldn’t come into it.

“My colleague Simon Court is working to replace the Resource Management Act with a system that respects property rights. That means letting people build, and letting people enjoy the products and services of their choice. This can’t come soon enough.

“This saga also highlights a failure in the culture of our health authorities. The National Public Health Service spent precious resources opposing this restaurant. That’s not democracy, it’s wasteful bureaucratic interference.”

MIL OSI

NZ banks should follow Macquarie’s lead, ditch the climate cabal

LiveNews Publisher

February 13, 2025

Source: ACT Party

ACT Rural Communities spokesperson Mark Cameron is renewing calls for Kiwi banks to leave the Net Zero Banking Alliance in the wake of the withdrawal of Australia’s Macquarie Group.

“First it was the big American banks, then Canada’s banks, and now Macquarie Group is the first of the big Australian banks to pull out of the alliance, with pressure mounting on other Aussie banks to do the same.

“The Net Zero Banking Alliance was set up to change lending practices for the sake of climate goals. But there’s been a political sea change and the appetite for woke banking has disappeared. If the banks think punishing farmers and miners is necessary to satisfy a political agenda, they’re mistaken, and it’s time that message got through.

“If there was previously a commercial advantage for banks to join the alliance, that advantage is fading fast as one bank after another gets out. The longer New Zealand’s banks and their parent companies remain in the UN’s cabal of banking wokery, the more out of touch they look.

“As part of the inquiry into banking practices I’m leading alongside Cameron Brewer, we’ve called the four biggest banks back to answer more questions. The inquiry has unearthed deep concerns, especially from rural communities, over the debanking of legitimate sectors and a perceived unequal playing field between town and country.

“I will be asking what is driving banks to act in this way. It would be concerning if the actions of the government through international agreements or through the way we regulate at home is encouraging banks to move beyond commercial incentives and punish rural communities.

“ACT continues to question the role of regulation in anti-farmer, anti-miner banking practices. The Financial Markets Authority imposes emissions reporting requirements on banks. We warned in 2021 that these rules would impact loans on farmers, and we still have that concern.”

MIL OSI

Wanted: Young tradie to take ACT MP’s seat in Youth Parliament

LiveNews Publisher

February 13, 2025

Source: ACT Party

ACT MP Cameron Luxton – Parliament’s only LBP builder – is on a mission to find a young tradie to take his seat in this year’s Youth Parliament.

“Tradies and practical people are underrepresented in politics, and that includes Youth Parliament,” says Mr Luxton.

“If you’re on the path to university, good luck, but you’re not what I’m looking for. We’ve got enough academics and lawyers in politics already.

“I’m looking for a young person who’s already in work, paying tax and offering practical skills to the world in exchange for an honest wage.

“Whether you’ve left school early to take up an apprenticeship, or you’re working at a building site on the weekend, I hope you’ll send me a letter of introduction at [email protected].”

Youth Parliament is held every three years and is an opportunity for young New Zealanders to learn about democracy and have their voices heard.

Young people aged 16 to 18 years (as at Friday 28 February 2025) are eligible to apply.

The programme will run from 28 April to 29 August, with the two-day event taking place on 1 and 2 July at Parliament in Wellington.

MIL OSI

Growing the economy means shrinking the Government

LiveNews Publisher

February 13, 2025

Source: ACT Party

“The Government’s Going for Growth agenda shows New Zealand has turned the corner. Governments ignored economic growth, taking wealth for granted and wasting billions until we started feeling poor,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“This Government’s focus on growth is team effort. ACT’s impact can be seen in a number of priority areas.

“To develop talent, we’ve implemented the attendance action plan, opened the first charter schools, and changed the Accredited Employer Work Visa. We’re removing red tape in Early Childhood Education and continuing reforms to get job seekers into work.

“For competitive business settings, we’ve repealed so-called ‘Fair Pay Agreements’, extended 90-Day Trials to all businesses, and revoked difficult requirements for accessing credit. We’re leading an inquiry into rural banking practices, reforming health and safety laws, reforming the Holidays Act and Employment Relations Act, conducting sector reviews for regulation of Agricultural and Horticultural Products, and Hairdressing and Barbering, improving Government Procurement Rules, and progressing the Regulatory Standards Bill.

“To promote global trade and investment, we’re reforming the Overseas Investment Act and have launched a new Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List.

“For innovation, technology and science, we’re liberalising genetic engineering laws.

“To deliver infrastructure for growth, we’re reforming and replacing the Resource Management Act and have established National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited. We’re developing the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan, and finalising the first Regional Deal between central and local government.

The big challenge

“The big challenge for growth is shrinking the Government part of the economy. There are only two halves to any economy, the public and the private sector, and it’s the private sector that provides the growth.

“Every dollar taxed to fund the public sector is a dollar a consumer can’t spend, or a business can’t reinvest in new jobs. Business is about taking risk, every percentage point taken in tax makes it less rewarding when the risks work out. Rational people invest less when taxes are higher.

“In that sense, the Government still has a big hill to climb, and it’s the mountain of waste left by the last Government. Pre-COVID, government spending amounted to 28 per cent of the economy, now it is 34. The Government must be relentless in reducing its spending.

“It is not only taxing and spending that holds people back, but regulating. Every compliance fee, every delay waiting for Government permission is a cost put on business. Like taxes, regulations drain the energy from business.

“That’s why it’s essential that the Government cuts red tape at every opportunity. We must run the ruler over rules that don’t make sense, then delete them. The commitment to passing the Regulatory Standards Bill is a landmark shift in the battle against red tape in favour of wealth and innovation.

“I’m proud of ACT’s contributions to this Government, especially the many contributions in this plan. For the first time in decades, we have a Government where it’s understood that Government activity and private activity compete for time and money. To grow the economy, we must shrink the Government.”

MIL OSI

ACT welcomes reforms to respect fishers

LiveNews Publisher

February 13, 2025

Source: ACT Party

Welcoming the Oceans and Fisheries Minister’s announcement of reforms to the Fisheries Act, ACT Oceans and Fisheries spokesperson Mark Cameron says:

“Access to healthy fisheries is practically a Kiwi birthright. Our fishers understand this, and they know their livelihoods depend on sustainable practices.

“Sadly, the fishing sector has been overregulated and stigmatised by landlubbing activists with no idea of practical realities at sea. The anti-fisher agenda was exemplified by Labour’s Fisheries Amendment Bill, which only ACT opposed.

“Now, fishers have real hope of relief from unnecessary red tape. The new Government has a chance to secure the future of our fisheries while respecting the men and women who work at sea.

“The focus on improving privacy protections for our fishers is particularly commendable. The use of onboard cameras has helped our understanding of fish stocks and bycatch, but the use of footage must respect privacy and be sensitive to the realities of work at sea.

“The approach to dealing with discards under the Quota Management System is welcome. The previous penalty regimes were impractical for many in the coastal and commercial fishing fleets, especially considering technological advancements and efforts made to minimise bycatch. We need a more practical application of the law that encourages investment and innovation within the industry.

“I encourage all fishers to engage with this consultation process. It’s about securing provincial livelihoods and our nation’s economic future. Let’s ensure these reforms truly support the backbone of our seafood industry, providing the certainty and support needed for future growth.”

MIL OSI

SH2 Waioweka Gorge daily closures extended

LiveNews Publisher

February 13, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The closure of State Highway 2 (SH2) through the Waioweka Gorge will be extended as additional days are required next week to complete the maintenance work.

Work is well underway repairing SH2 and laying a new asphalt, providing a good quality surface, improving resilience and safety through the area.

The work is taking longer than anticipated and to achieve the quality finish required, the contractor will be using the contingency days next week to complete the work.

This means, SH2 Waioweka Gorge will be closed Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 February, between 10am and 6pm (with soft closure times being 9.40am and 5.40pm). If works cannot be carried out due to weather, the road will be open.

Please note, with the predicted weather looking unfavourable, Wednesday 19 February may also be needed.

People are encouraged to check the NZTA Journey Planner(external link) on the day of travel for up-to-date information about the closures. 

Date	Road status
Thursday 13 February	Closed between 10am – 6pm
Friday 14 February	Closed between 10am – 6pm
Saturday 15 February	OPEN
Sunday 16 February	OPEN
Monday 17 February	Closed between 10am – 6pm
Tuesday 18 February	Closed between 10am – 6pm
Wednesday 19 February	Contingency day. If needed, closed between 10am – 6pm

Closure points and details

Soft Closures: The soft closure points are Kerei Street, Matawai and Warrington Road, Ōpōtiki.
Access for businesses and residents will be maintained at both ends of the affected area, up to the hard closure points.

The soft closure times are 9.40am and 5.40pm – enabling people to get through the site before the hard closure starts at 10am and reach the site before it reopens at 6pm.

Hard Closures: 2 hard closure points will be in the Gorge, closer to the actual road works. There will be no access through the site between 10am and 6pm each workday.

Otoko Hill tree removal, drainage and culvert work deferred

Late-Feb to mid-April: Drainage upgrades and tree felling work planned to take place on Otoko Hill this week, (between Hihiroroa Road and Fitzgerald Road) has been deferred to late-Feb. Once work is underway, crews will be on-site 8am to 5pm. Stop/go will be in place to safely do this work and delays of up to 15 minutes are expected however this wait time could be longer if a tree is being felled. We encourage you to plan your journey and travel outside of these work hours if possible. Tree removal and trimming is required to further the Otoko Hill works, clear fallen debris and remove the risk they present in weather events. This work will continue through until mid-April.

The SH2 Waioweka Gorge work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund. 

NZTA thanks everyone for their patience and understanding as we undertake these important works.

MIL OSI

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