Whakapapa Holdings Limited public hearings to begin

The Risk of Adverse Events Associated with Mesh and Non-Mesh Repair of Groin Hernias: A literature review

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February 13, 2025

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Summary

In light of the pause on use of mesh in urogynaecology procedures in New Zealand in 2023, and the hernia mesh report in Australia (Health Issues Centre 2019), the Ministry of Health began a review of the literature on the use of mesh in inguinal (also known as groin) hernia repair.

This showed that use of mesh in groin hernia repair was associated with reduced rates of hernia recurrence, neurovascular injury and urinary retention (with no gender difference) and reduced or similar rates of post-operative pain, operative time, hospital stay length and time to return to usual activities compared to non-mesh groin hernia repair. Non-mesh repair was associated with a lower risk of seroma formation (fluid collection). Ongoing pain affecting activities of daily living was self-reported in a proportion of patients in whom mesh was used in groin hernia repair.

First test train journeys through City Rail Link

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February 13, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

A test train has now completed its first trip through the full length of the City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel in Auckland, representing a critical step forward in this game-changing public transport project for our largest city, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown say.

“Started under the previous National Government, CRL will double Auckland’s rail capacity and reduce congestion when it opens in 2026, enabling Aucklanders to get to where they want to go quickly and safely meaning a more productive Auckland. There is still a lot more work to do, but it’s great to see measurable progress being made on site as we countdown to the CRL opening next year,” Mr Bishop says.

“The CRL tunnel’s overhead lines were energised last week, enabling power to be provided to trains in the tunnel. The first test train ran a 3.45km-long journey last night, from Britomart Station to Mt Eden on the new underground section of railway, the first train to travel on a brand-new rail line since 2012.

“This important test train allowed technical experts to complete their first round of testing relating to tunnel clearance, power supply and signalling. Further testing will ramp up in coming weeks, including brake testing, recovery procedures, tunnel ventilation systems, supervision and security systems, lighting, communications, and the start of hands-on training for Auckland’s metro drivers and station staff, among many others.”

“CRL will be a gamechanger for Auckland’s public transport network, turning Britomart from a dead-end station into a through station, enhancing connections between the central city and the wider rail network,” Simeon Brown says.

“The first train through CRL is an important milestone for the project. Once complete, CRL will result in significant time savings, and make public transport a much more viable option for Aucklanders.”

“This is momentous for the City Rail Link programme and Auckland ratepayers who have made a significant contribution, alongside government, to get this project completed,” says Mayor Wayne Brown.

“Our city deserves a public transport system that will deliver for Aucklanders and visitors alike. I’ve always said I was determined to get the project finished and over the line, and while the project has had its fair share of challenges and there are lessons we’ll take from it, I’m pleased to see that progress has been made and that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the CRL project to get us to this point. There is a lot more work to do, but today represents an important milestone in moving from a construction site into a railway,” Mr Bishop says.

“Tens of thousands of Auckland commuters are right behind you, and they’re looking forward to experiencing the benefits your hard work will deliver when CRL opens next year.”

Note to editors:

Once operational, City Rail Link (CRL) benefits for Auckland passengers at peak times include:

On the Southern Line – trains every 5 minutes (compared to 10 minutes currently) north of Puhinui, every 8 minutes between Papakura and Homai, and every 10 minutes between Pukekohe and Drury
On the Eastern Line – trains every 5 minutes between Sylvia Park and Ōrākei
On the Western Line – trains every 8 minutes between Swanson and Maungawhau

Subject to Auckland Transport confirming train timetables, the combination of using the CRL tunnel and reduced temporary speed restrictions are expected to see:

Maungawhau (Mt Eden) to Waitematā (Britomart): under 10 minutes (half the current time)
Kingsland to Waitematā (Britomart): 13 minutes (8 minutes faster than currently)

Henderson to Waitematā (Britomart): 38 minutes (8 minutes faster than currently)

Update – Search for missing man, Mt Aspiring National Park

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February 13, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

The search for a man reported missing in a river in Mt Aspiring National Park on 6 February remains ongoing.

Police have located a number of personal items along the river, believed to belong to the missing man.

Search efforts in the last two days have been hampered by extreme hazards and limited visibility, resulting in a brief suspension of the search on Tuesday afternoon.

Today the Police National Dive Squad and Wanaka LandSAR Swift Water Rescue Team will search an area of the canyon with an underwater camera and light equipment.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Police make arrest over Birkenhead aggravated robbery

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February 13, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

An arrest has been made following the aggravated robbery of a Cash in Transit van in Birkenhead on Tuesday afternoon.

Overnight, Police executed a search warrant at a Northcote address as part of the investigation.

Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, of Waitematā CIB, says a man was taken into custody.

“We have charged the 43-year-old man with serious offences,” he says.

The man will appear in the North Shore District Court today.

He is facing charges including aggravated robbery and commission of a crime with a firearm.

Acting Detective Inspector Harrison says the investigation team have been working hard to investigate the case since Tuesday.

“It’s pleasing we have made an arrest so soon into the investigation, given the brazen nature of this alleged offending.

“We will not tolerate this offending, especially when a firearm is allegedly presented.

“I know news of this arrest will bring some reassurance to the Birkenhead community.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Fatal crash, Cromwell-Clyde Road

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February 13, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police can confirm two people have died following a crash on State Highway 8/Cromwell-Clyde Road yesterday evening.

The two-vehicle crash, involving a vehicle and a motorbike, was reported to emergency services at 5pm.

Sadly, both the motorbike rider and the sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

PSA takes urgent legal action to stop damaging cuts to jobs & services at Health NZ

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February 13, 2025

Source: PSA

– Files three legal actions with Employment Relations Authority

– Seeks orders to stop Govt sacking thousands of health workers

The PSA has filed legal proceedings to stop the gutting of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora on the grounds that it has breached employment law and other agreements.

Health NZ is cutting thousands of roles across the health system. The proceedings, filed with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), are focused on planned cuts to roles at Health NZ’s Data and Digital Directorate, the National Public Health Service and the Pacific Health Directorate.

“This litigation is aimed at stopping these rushed and damaging cuts, which will endanger the lives of patients, and see thousands of dedicated health workers lose their jobs,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, Acting National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“The PSA will leave no stone unturned in trying to stop dangerous health cuts and job losses.

“This has all been about saving dollars, not saving lives. It’s disgraceful. That’s why we are asking the Employment Relations Authority to urgently hear our case.

“The legal proceedings are on the basis that the proposed changes are grossly substandard, contain basic inaccuracies and pay little regard to the health and safety implications of the proposals on workers and patients.”

The proceedings ask the ERA to issue a compliance order stopping the dismissals based on breaches of:

– obligations under collective agreements,

– the Employment Relations Act,

– the Healthy Workplaces Agreement and

– Te Mauri o Rongo The Health Charter which all set out how heath the health system must be run including how health workers are treated.

“Health NZ Te Whatu Ora is obliged to ensure health workers are valued, respected and supported and that patient safety is paramount. These have been breached through a succession of poorly planned and executed restructures.

“For example, the Health Charter states a priority for Health NZ of ‘caring for the people who care for the people’, and that ‘every worker is treated with respect and dignity’.

“The proposed slashing of 47% of the workforce at the Data and Digital Directorate exposes how poor the process has been. Health NZ failed to provide workers with adequate reasons for the cuts and to properly listen to them in the rush to deliver the savings the Government demanded.”

For example, the legal action over Data and Digital states that Health NZ;

– ‘had no adequate knowledge and had paid insufficient regard to the health and safety consequences of the proposals for both employees and patients.

– overlooked or ignored the considerable increase in clinical risk which would follow the introduction of their proposals’.

“Ultimately the Government must take the blame for forcing Health NZ Te Whatu Ora to make these reckless changes to fund tax cuts. Lives will be lost unless these cuts are stopped.”

The ERA action follows the PSA last week asking the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate Health NZ’s plan to gut the Data and Digital Directorate, which threatens the security of sensitive patient data.

“The PSA urges the Government to reverse the cuts before long term damage is done to the quality of patient care. The stakes are too high.”

Melco leads with the most Five-Star awards in Macau and Asia in the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide

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February 13, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

Melco Resorts & Entertainment, with its American depositary shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ: MLCO), is a developer, owner and operator of integrated resort facilities in Asia and Europe. The Company currently operates Altira Macau ( www.altiramacau.com), an integrated resort located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. Its business also includes the Mocha Clubs ( www.mochaclubs.com), which comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. The Company also majority owns and operates Studio City ( www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, a Philippine subsidiary of the Company currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila ( www.cityofdreamsmanila.com), an integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. In Europe, the Company operates City of Dreams Mediterranean in Limassol in the Republic of Cyprus ( www.cityofdreamsmed.com.cy). The Company also continues to operate three satellite casinos in other cities in Cyprus (the “Cyprus Casinos”). For more information about the Company, please visit www.melco-resorts.com.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment is majority owned by Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, which is in turn majority owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

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

Galaxy Macau Receives Record-breaking Five-Star Awards Recognition from Forbes Travel Guide on 2025 List

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February 13, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

The Luxury Integrated Resort Company Scales New Heights for the Third Consecutive Year, Celebrating the Accolade of Having the Most Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotels Under One Roof

MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 February 2025 – The prestigious Forbes Travel Guide today unveiled its highly anticipated 2025 Star Awards, which saw Galaxy Macau™ achieving a remarkable milestone with an incredible nine Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) Five-Star accolades. Galaxy Macau is proud to announce its unrivalled position as the integrated resort with the most Five-Star hotels under one roof of any luxury resort company worldwide for the third consecutive year. Galaxy Macau has earned the exclusive accolade as the only luxury resort with five FTG Five-Star hotel ratings in the world, cementing Galaxy Macau’s status as the leading luxury FTG Five-Star resort destination.

Galaxy Macau achieves a remarkable industry-leading milestone with nine Five-Star accolades in Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards 2025.

Raffles at Galaxy Macau makes its unprecedented debut in the Forbes Five-Star Award in its outstanding first year of operation.

Forbes Travel Guide is widely recognized as the leading authority in evaluating and rating top-tier hotels, restaurants, and spas around the world, employing a professional review team that adheres to hundreds of stringent standards, and Galaxy Macau’s nine Five-Star honors this year were awarded across its glittering collection of hotels, restaurants, and spas.

Galaxy Hotel™ remains one of the world’s largest Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels, celebrating its award-winning recognition for the third consecutive year.

The Ritz-Carlton, Macau maintains its impeccable reputation for luxury service with its ninth consecutive Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award winning recognition.

Galaxy Macau received the following 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards:

Raffles at Galaxy Macau (Five-Star Award winner for its first year in operation)
Galaxy Hotel™ (Five-Star Award winner for the third consecutive year)
Banyan Tree Macau (Five-Star Award winner for the 12^th consecutive year)
The Ritz-Carlton, Macau (Five-Star Award winner for the 9th consecutive year)
Hotel Okura Macau (Five-Star Award winner for the fourth consecutive year)
Banyan Tree Spa (Five-Star Award winner for the 12^th consecutive year)
The Ritz-Carlton Spa (Five-Star Award winner for the 9th consecutive year)
Yamazato (Inaugural Five-Star Award winner)
8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA (Five-Star Award winner for the third consecutive year)

The Forbes Travel Guide team extended its warmest congratulations to the management and staff of Galaxy Macau for this standout achievement as a worldwide exemplar of luxury hospitality at its finest. “Forbes Travel Guide congratulates the leadership and staff of Galaxy Macau for once again earning their Five-Star hotel awards for 2025. The team have demonstrated a unique and unwavering commitment to elevating the guest experience with staff as passionate as they are exacting in the delivery of their service, year after year. We are proud to feature Galaxy Macau’s House of Brand hotels on our Five-Star list.” said Amanda Frasier, President, Standards & Ratings, Forbes Travel Guide.

8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA is proud to announce its Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award win for the third consecutive year for standout Italian gastronomy.

“Galaxy Macau’s record-breaking performance in the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards is a testament to our continuous commitment to delivering an exceptional luxury service experience to our sophisticated guests, made possible by the tireless dedication and unwavering passion of our team,” said Kevin Kelley, Chief Operating Officer – Macau of Galaxy Entertainment Group. “We embrace our dedicated service philosophy of ‘World-Class Asian Heart,’ taking the expression of luxury to new heights as we create unique and unforgettable memories for our discerning guests. We are honored to be recognized by Forbes Travel Guide and look forward to continuing to raise the bar for luxury hospitality worldwide, while further reinforcing Macau’s status as a ‘World Center for Tourism and Leisure’.”

Yamazato is proud to announce its inaugural Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award recognition for exquisite Japanese gastronomy.

In Macau and across Greater China, Galaxy Macau is not only synonymous with luxury and comfort, but also serves as the perfect starting point for visitors seeking to explore the dazzling allure of Macau. The dedicated team infuses passion and expertise into every detail, striving to create memorable experiences for each guest. Key to its accolades in the Forbes Travel Guide, Galaxy Macau continues to evolve and expand its distinctive luxury service offering, driven by a vision to establish a world-class luxury integrated resort that resonates with visitors, and holds a special place in the heart of its discerning guests.

Banyan Tree Spa Macau is proud to have earned its outstanding Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award win for the 12th consecutive year.

Hashtag: #GalaxyMacau

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

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

Update on December 2024 and January 2025 rental data

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February 13, 2025

Update on December 2024 and January 2025 rental data

The national-level stock measure for actual rentals for housing for December 2024 and January 2025 will be included in Selected price indexes: January 2025, which is due out on Friday 14 February.

The administrative data used for this measure is provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which recently upgraded their tenancy bond-lodgment system. The stock measure was not included in last month’s SPI release as time was needed to integrate the new system’s data into the rental price indexes.

The completed update does not affect the results for the December 2024 quarter consumers price index (CPI), so no revision is required.

The release does not include the flow of rental properties measures (national and regional) as we are still working to integrate the new system’s data for these measures. The flow measures, which do not affect the CPI, will be included when we are confident they meet customer expectations.

Stats NZ would like to thank MBIE and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for collaborating on this work and making it possible to release the latest data. We will provide a further update in due course.

If you have any questions, please contact our Information Centre at info@stats.govt.nz.

Ends

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