One Mount to invest in building Blockchain Layer 1 network in Vietnam

January 21, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

One Mount Group has committed to investing US$200 to 500 million to deploy a Layer 1 Blockchain network, aiming to establish Vietnam’s national blockchain infrastructure.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 January 2025 – One Mount Group was one of two organisations assigned by the Ministry of Information and Communications to build the ‘Make-in-Vietnam’ Layer 1 Blockchain network at the sixth National Forum on Developing Vietnam’s Digital Technology Enterprises.

One Mount Group’s CEO Nguyen Thi Diu (centre) receives a commemorative medal from Party General Secretary To Lam.

The event was attended by Party General Secretary To Lam and Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung.

The movement shows that Vietnam is undergoing a significant change in empowering private enterprises to lead and master strategic technologies in the nation’s digital transformation journey.

It is considered a strategic step to enable Vietnam to take control of blockchain technology, laying the groundwork for remarkable development in the digital era.

One Mount Group has committed an investment of US$200 to 500 million to develop a Layer 1 blockchain network with key features including high speed, exceptional scalability, optimal security and a consensus mechanism.

This platform is designed to meet the domestic demand for blockchain technology development and enable international connections, acting as a bridge to global public blockchain networks.

It will serve as a core foundation, facilitating operations, exploitation, interaction and interoperability across various types of blockchain networks. It will drive the development of decentralised applications (DApps) across multiple sectors, including finance, healthcare, education and public services.

“The Layer 1 blockchain platform developed by One Mount will serve regulatory agencies and businesses, and provide tangible benefits for Vietnamese people, propelling the nation further in the era of global digitalisation,” One Mount Group’s CEO Nguyen Thi Diu shared.

By 2025, Vietnam is set to establish a robust foundation for blockchain technology, including the creation of a secure and information-safe national blockchain infrastructure. It will also enable interoperability, integration and data sharing across various blockchain networks while supporting state management of blockchain application and development activities.

By 2030, Vietnam aims to expand its national blockchain infrastructure and position itself as a regional and global leader in blockchain research, application and development.

Supporting from Techcombank financial ecosystem

Backed by substantial resources from Techcombank’s financial ecosystem, One Mount Group has played a critical role in the digital transformation journey.

The group has demonstrated its technological, financial and talent capabilities by creating a comprehensive digital ecosystem spanning the consumer, retail and real estate sectors, which aligns with the nation’s digital transformation roadmap.

As part of Techcombank’s financial ecosystem – the best bank in Vietnam for 2024 – One Mount Group was founded with the vision of becoming the most reliable and largest technology ecosystem in the whole country. It provides solutions and services along the entire value chain in the financial services, distribution, real estate and retail sectors.

Guided by its core values ‘Vietnam First – Integrity – Understanding – Innovation and Breakthrough,’ One Mount is reshaping traditional consumer habits towards modernisation and opening new pathways to enhance economic efficiency.

It has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in deploying advanced technologies, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain, into its systems.

These investments have led to innovative products and services with exceptional technological value, adhering to global security standards like PCI-DSS and ISO 27001. The company also boasts outstanding human resources across its operational domains, particularly in technology.

The group’s subsidiaries have developed and provided ground-breaking technology solutions, including VinShop – Vietnam’s leading FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) distribution platform, OneU – the country’s largest lifestyle platform and OneHousing – a comprehensive real estate ecosystem offering housing solutions for Vietnamese consumers.

Thanks to its remarkable contributions to the economy, One Mount has consistently earned top accolades domestically and internationally. Notable achievements include Google Cloud’s outstanding supply chain and logistics partner (2022), the top 10 ICT Vietnamese companies providing digital transformation platforms, the top 10 Fintech Enterprises, the top 10 Proptech Enterprises and the top 5 national quality and prestige brands.

https://onemount.com/

Hashtag: #OneMount

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

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

Auckland food business and manager fined $16,500 over multiple food safety record keeping failures

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

An Auckland food producer and manager have been fined a total of $16,500 after failing to keep food production records.

All food businesses must have and follow a plan to manage any potential food safety risk to consumers, and the records must be kept for a minimum of 4 years.

Soma & Sons Limited, which trades as Tasty Foods, along with manager Bhavesh Soma (34) were yesterday (20 January 2025) sentenced in the Auckland District Court on 2 charges under the Food Act, following a successful prosecution by New Zealand Food Safety.

Soma & Sons Ltd were fined $13,500 for failing to comply with their Food Control Plan and Mr Soma was fined $3,000 for providing false information to a food safety officer.

New Zealand Food Safety deputy director general, Vincent Arbuckle says Soma & Sons is an experienced food producer and under its Food Control Plan, it is expected to record samosa cooling and cooking temperatures.

“The rules are there for a reason – to protect consumer health and the vast majority of food businesses do the right thing. Good record keeping is an important part of a food safety culture and ensures that if there was a food safety risk to consumers, we’d be able to access records and quickly find the origin. Poor record keeping makes this challenging and increases the risk to people’s health.”

In March 2021, a trade level food recall of fully cooked samosas was undertaken because the samosas found on site were being stored at an unsafe temperature and there were no records available for cooking and cooling temperatures.

An investigation by New Zealand Food Safety found Soma & Sons Ltd did not record cooling and cooking temperatures as part of its Food Control Plan on 4 occasions between 2020 and 2022.

“While we are not aware of anyone becoming ill from eating these products, the absence of records means there is no assurance that the plan is being followed. New Zealand Food Safety visited Soma & Sons Ltd several times and made it clear what was required, but they deliberately failed to act. It’s very disappointing to see this disregard for consumer health. New Zealand Food Safety will continue to hold such businesses to account to ensure consumers are protected and to demonstrate to the vast majority of food businesses that do the right thing, that the overall system is being monitored.”

For further information and general enquiries, email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

MIL OSI

Support for homeowners impacted by road reserve slips

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council is seeking expressions of interest for a limited one-off grants scheme to support homeowners with property access impacted by road reserve slips that occurred in the 2023 storms.

On 7 November the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee voted for the $5 million scheme, with the funding coming from the Crown-council funded transport network repairs budget.

Expressions of interest are open for the scheme from 13 December to 10 February 2025.

Are you eligible?

Was your property impacted by a slip on a road reserve? A road reserve is the strip of land between your property’s boundary and the road or footpath.

To be eligible to apply for this one-off scheme you must answer YES to ALL the following questions:

Has access to a residential dwelling on your property been impacted by a landslip?
Did the damage occur in the weather events in January and February 2023?
Is the slip within the boundary of the road reserve?
Has your property NOT been assessed as Category 3?

The full set of criteria was approved by the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee – item 10, in bold at the bottom – clause b) points i) to viii).

Register

If you answered YES to all the questions above please register your interest for the scheme before 10 February 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: The information you provide will be added to the property file for your property. We will remove personal information such as phone numbers and email addresses.

FAQs

If you have further questions please check out the Frequently Asked Questions on Our Auckland or email recoveryoffice@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

MIL OSI

EIT Hawke’s Bay Info and Enrolment Day to showcase study opportunities | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

1 minute ago

With a new year comes new opportunities, and EIT Hawke’s Bay is inviting prospective students to explore their study options at the upcoming Info and Enrolment Day this week.

The event will take place on January 23, from 9am to 6pm at the EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale, with additional sessions at the Maraenui, Hastings, and Central Hawke’s Bay (CHB) Learning Centres from 10am to 2pm.

EIT Hawke’s Bay will be holding an information and enrolment day on January 23, 2025.

EIT Executive Director of Operations, Glen Harkness, says the event is a great opportunity for those interested in further education to discover the diverse range of qualifications on offer.

“With the rebuild of our Taradale campus nearly complete, we’re excited to invite prospective students to visit and see first-hand the opportunities EIT has to offer,” Glen says.

“EIT allows people to gain qualifications locally while staying connected to whānau and community. Whether you’re looking to upskill, change careers, or explore new study options, our friendly team will be ready to help you find the right path.”

EIT offers a variety of study options, from certificates and diplomas to postgraduate qualifications, with flexible learning options including full-time, part-time, and online study to suit all lifestyles.

“Staff will also be available to assist with the enrolment process,” Glen adds.

For more information, visit the EIT | Te Pūkenga website at eit.ac.nz or call 0800 CALL EIT.

MIL OSI

Health and Politics – College of GPs says investment in primary care must be a top priority for new Health Minister

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) welcomes Hon Simeon Brown to the role of Minister of Health and looks forward to progressing changes to improve workforce challenges and health outcomes for New Zealanders.

College Chief Executive Toby Beaglehole says, “As the organisation responsible for training future generations of specialist GPs and rural hospital doctors, hearing the Minister’s commitment to increase access to general practice and primary care for New Zealanders is welcomed.

“How we can increase the numbers of medical graduates coming into our training programmes to become highly skilled specialists, and the funding around those programmes, will be at the top of our agenda to discuss with the Minister.”

College President Dr Samantha Murton says, “Healthcare starts in the community, not in the hospitals. In general practice we have 23 million patient contacts each year, no other medical specialty comes close to that, and we need to be recognised for the vital role we play in improving health outcomes.

“Investing in primary care is the most cost-effective way to address the challenges that the sector is facing. Proper investment would mean preventing further increases in non-urgent hospitalisations and Emergency Department visits. Proper investment also means having health services in the areas where they are needed with the appropriate health care professionals who are supported to deliver complex, comprehensive, timely and equitable care.

“I’d like to acknowledge Hon Dr Shane Reti for his dedication to the role of Health Minister. Over his tenure, the College has had many robust and productive discussions with Dr Reti on how to address the challenges being faced in primary care, and across the entire health sector, and we were able to celebrate some successes.”

The College welcomes the opportunity to work with Minister Brown on lasting solutions that will get New Zealanders swifter access to GPs as well as progressing advocacy on behalf of our 6,200 members to create well-resourced, sustainable and gold standard primary health workforce.

MIL OSI

Visitors flock back to Mautohe Cathedral Cove

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Department of Conservation

Date: 21 January 2025

In December, DOC reopened the main walking track to Mautohe Cathedral Cove after an extended closure due to damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, and concerns about visitor safety at a site with known risks. Funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy delivered reinstatement of walking access through a temporary re-route of the damaged track.

Tinaka Mearns, DOC’s Hauraki Waikato Taranaki Regional Director, says staff are pleased to see visitors enjoying the cove again.

“We have been manually recording the number of visitors on the Mautohe Cathedral Cove beach since 19 December, including Boxing Day and January 2 when visitor numbers peaked at more than 800 people.”

“The Coromandel DOC team says visitor levels at Mautohe Cathedral Cove are returning to pre-COVID levels, which indicates high demand for the experience offered at this picturesque site,” Tinaka says.

“The number of people enjoying the beach demonstrates the value of the investment in reinstating walking access – and the hard work of the staff, iwi, and contractors whose efforts ensured we could open it for this summer.”

Visitors to Mautohe Cathedral Cove are reminded there are no toilets on the beach, people should not linger under the archway or near the cliff faces, and anyone visiting the beach should take their waste with them when they leave. Toilets are provided near the Lees Rd entrance. An ideal time to visit is during low tide, which provides more space on the beach including distance from the risk of rock fall from the cliff face.

“Staff and ambassadors have been monitoring the site to ensure people have a great time and the place is well looked after,” Tinaka says. “We are really pleased visitors are making good use of the new toilets at the Lees Rd entrance, and are helping us care for this beautiful place.”

Meanwhile, DOC has implemented a new process to manage weather and landslide-related risk at Mautohe Cathedral Cove.

The Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) for natural hazard risk management at Mautohe Cathedral Cove establishes criteria for inspecting the site to manage public safety regarding landslide, rockfall, and treefall hazards.

DOC staff will monitor weather (particularly heavy rain) and seismic information, and if one of four triggers occurs, staff will inspect the track to decide necessary actions to minimise the risk to visitors.

If a worst-case scenario were to emerge, any decisions on track closure will be communicated through DOC’s website and directly to stakeholders.

“Ongoing geological risk at Mautohe Cathedral Cove is one of the main challenges we have at this site,” Tinaka says. “Having the TARP in place gives our staff a clear process and guidelines to manage visitor safety and minimising risk for visitors to Mautohe Cathedral Cove – and that’s an important priority.”

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

Aotearoa must step up as Trump plays with climate fire

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again.

“Every human being, from Aotearoa to the United States of America, lives on the same planet,” says Green Co-leader and Climate Spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.

“Every action, of any Government, that increases climate changing emissions increases the frequency and severity of catastrophes like the Los Angeles fires or our North Island’s Cyclone Gabrielle.

“Trump is talking about colonising Mars while scorching Earth.

“He’s right that ‘a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth’ from citizens – but he’s giving that system a shot of steroids by enabling more corporate profiteering from polluting fossil fuels.

“Regular people pay the price while billionaires get privatised firefighter forces.

“If the United States follows through on pulling out of the Paris Agreement, they join Iran, Libya and Yemen as the only nations on planet Earth unwilling to formally cooperate on securing our collective future.

“Christopher Luxon talks at length about how he’s got to work with international leaders even if he disagrees with them. How about working with those we apparently agree with to just take action on climate change?

“The climate crisis is a ticking time bomb – one we, perversely, actually know the code to diffuse. We either transform our economy into something that serves people and planet, or watch it go up in flames.

“Trump’s election requires us to show what we stand for and do it, instead of hiding behind the big boys.

“Christopher Luxon can and should set an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035, scrap opening new fossil fuel mines and drilling and actually commit to meeting our 2030 NDC.

“What I’m saying to you is, words are cheap,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

MIL OSI

Transport – Transporting New Zealand welcomes Chris Bishop as new Transport Minister

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

National road freight association Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand has praised outgoing Transport Minister Simeon Brown and welcomed his successor, Chris Bishop, following a ministerial reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Chris Luxon on Sunday.

Chief Executive Dom Kalasih said that Minister Brown, who is the new Minister of Health, made a lot of progress during his Transport tenure. He refocused transport investment on the essentials, particularly road maintenance and improvements, road policing, and emphasis on achieving value for money.

“Over the past 12 months we’ve seen funding approved for Roads of National Significance projects including Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance and Hawke’s Bay Expressway. There has been fast-track consenting enabled for 29 key road, rail, and port projects, and substantial investment in road maintenance and pot-hole repair. This all bodes well for future growth and reflects the outgoing Minister’s focus on delivery.”

Kalasih says that Minister Brown and the Coalition Government had also committed to using additional revenue tools to help address the transport deficit, including increased use of tolling, enabling congestion charging, and moving petrol vehicles from fuel excise duty to a more equitable universal road user charging scheme.

“Given the country is facing a large transport funding deficit, the work Minister Brown and his Ministerial colleagues undertook around new revenue sources has been critically important. We need a constructive, bipartisan, discussion about how we fund the transport system into the future.”

Transporting New Zealand is also welcoming incoming Minister of Transport Chris Bishop.

“Minister Bishop’s appointment will provide continuity to the portfolio, given his roles as Minister for Infrastructure and Minister Responsible for RMA Reform. The Minister previously held the shadow transport portfolio while in opposition, so he knows the sector well.”

“We look forward to working with the Minister to improve transport outcomes for the entire country, particularly lifting productivity, safety, and freight efficiency.”

Transporting New Zealand has also acknowledged outgoing Associate Minister of Transport Matt Doocey and incoming Associate Minister James Meager.

“Having Minister Meager holding the newly created role of Minister for the South Island along with being Associate Minister of Transport is a positive signal to our South Island members about the Coalition Government’s commitment to the mainland and its roading network.”

About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.

Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.

MIL OSI

NZ-AU: NOVONIX Announces Transition of Chief Executive Officer

MIL OSI

January 21, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NOVONIX Limited (NASDAQ: NVX, ASX: NVX) (“NOVONIX” or the “Company”), a leading battery materials and technology company, today announced the planned transition in the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) role, with Dr. Chris Burns stepping down as Chief Executive Officer, effective 24 January 2025. Dr. Burns will continue to support the Company in an advisory capacity, serving as Special Advisor to the Board of Directors (the “Board”), in order to provide continuity, support ongoing operations of the Company and ensure a smooth transition.

Dr. Burns has led NOVONIX since September 2020 and has positioned the company for the next phase of growth as it scales up operations at its production facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With significant accomplishments during 2024, NOVONIX plans to begin production from its Riverside facility this year. With Dr. Burns’ stepping down, the Board has commenced a search for a new CEO who will be based at the Company’s headquarters in Chattanooga and will have experience in manufacturing, operations and scale-up to lead the Company into the planned growth in NOVONIX’s synthetic graphite production over the coming years.

Dr. Chris Burns, NOVONIX CEO said, “I am incredibly proud of everything that NOVONIX has accomplished during my time as CEO. We have developed innovative technology, new products, and have gained significant support from the US Government, investors and customers as we have established ourselves as a leader in the battery materials sector in North America. As we move towards commercial scale production at Riverside this year, it is a great opportunity for the Board to appoint a new CEO with the right skill set to lead the Company on the next phase of its journey. I look forward to working with the Board and management through this process to support the continued success of NOVONIX.”

The Board of Directors has appointed Mr Robert Long, NOVONIX Chief Financial Officer, to serve as interim CEO, effective 24 January 2025, until a permanent CEO is appointed. Mr Long will work closely with the Board to ensure a smooth transition and maintain our momentum and focus on our key strategic goals.

Admiral Robert J Natter, Chairman, said “The Board of Directors would like to thank Dr. Burns for his exceptional leadership and dedication in what has been a dynamic market environment. The Board has great confidence in Mr Long’s ability to continue this strong leadership during the transition period.”

This announcement has been authorised for release by Admiral Robert J Natter, USN Ret., Chairman.

About NOVONIX
NOVONIX is a leading battery technology company revolutionizing the global lithium-ion battery industry with innovative, sustainable technologies, high-performance materials, and more efficient production methods. The Company manufactures industry-leading battery cell testing equipment, is growing its high-performance synthetic graphite material manufacturing operations, and has developed a patented all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis process. Through advanced R&D capabilities, proprietary technology, and strategic partnerships, NOVONIX has gained a prominent position in the electric vehicle and energy storage systems battery industry and is powering a cleaner energy future.

To learn more, visit us at www.novonixgroup.com or on LinkedIn and X.

For NOVONIX Limited
Scott Espenshade, ir@novonixgroup.com (investors)
Stephanie Reid, media@novonixgroup.com (media)

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements about the Company and the industry in which we operate. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would,” or other similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements in this communication include statements we make regarding our plans to commence commercial scale production at our Riverside facility and grow our synthetic graphite production over the coming years.

We have based such statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Such forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the timely deployment and scaling of our furnace technology, our ability to meet the technical specifications and demand of our existing and future customers, the accuracy of our estimates regarding market size, expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, needs and access for additional financing, the availability and impact and our compliance with the applicable terms of government financing support, our ability to obtain patent rights effective to protect our technologies and processes and successfully defend any challenges to such rights and prevent others from commercializing such technologies and processes, and regulatory developments in the United States, Australia and other jurisdictions. These and other factors that could affect our business and results are included in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at www.novonixgroup.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes, and actual performance and outcomes may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement in this communication is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

– Published by The MIL Network

Two iconic hotels among Council’s Regional Historic Heritage Grant recipients

LiveNews Publisher

January 21, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

Two long-standing hospitality venues, at opposite ends of Auckland, will get some help to future-proof through Auckland Council’s Regional Historic Heritage Grant. The Puhoi Hotel and the Kentish Hotel were among 21 applicants from across the region allocated a share of $530,000 from the grant. Both hotels are scheduled as historic heritage places under the Auckland Unitary Plan.

The Regional Historic Heritage Grants Programme aims to incentivise best practice and encourage community involvement in the care of regionally significant historic heritage places. It is focussed on funding projects that benefit historic heritage places and outcomes that are relevant to all of Auckland.

Allocations for this financial year’s Regional Historic Heritage Grant were approved by Auckland Council’s General Manager Planning and Resource Consents, John Duguid.

The Puhoi Hotel complex in Auckland’s north was allocated $50,000 and the Kentish Hotel in Waiuku, in the south, was awarded $48,435.

“It’s essential that historic heritage places are preserved so they can be enjoyed by Aucklanders now, and for years to come,” says Councillor Angela Dalton, chair of the council’s Community Committee.

“These taonga give a window into the past of Tāmaki Makaurau and preserving them is crucial for the region’s identity.

“The Regional Historic Heritage Grant enables these historically significant taonga to be improved and future-proofed.

“This round we allocated funds to 21 applicants from a total of 35 applications. We thank all those who gave their time and effort to apply.”

The Puhoi Hotel pictured in the 1987.

Puhoi Hotel

The Puhoi Hotel was established by John Schollum, a Bohemian migrant who arrived in Puhoi in 1863. The first version of the hotel was built in 1876 and Schollum gained his liquor licence that year. The hotel had accommodation for both patrons and their horses. The current Puhoi Hotel was built in 1901, replacing the earlier 1876 building.

Pūhoi is a small rural town, located in a valley, approximately 43 kilometres north of Auckland city. The town developed near the Pūhoi River (along Pūhoi Road) following the arrival of Bohemian settlers in the 1860s and 1870s.

The hotel is recorded as standing out as a local landmark due to its height and picturesque appearance.

The $50,000 funding will go towards repairing the damaged verandah structure, and repainting the exterior and roof.

Bernie McCallion, owner of the Puhoi Hotel thanked Auckland Council for the funds.

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Auckland Council for approving our grant application.

“This funding will make a significant difference in enabling us to bring The Puhoi Pub, Hotel and Stables back to life.

“We appreciate the council’s support and commitment to help the hub of Puhoi be used to its full extent and allowing the verandah to be safe and secure for tourists and the community.

The Kentish Hotel, Waiuku, 1877.

Kentish Hotel

The Kentish Hotel was built in 1852 by Edward Constable who emigrated from Maidstone, Kent in England. Constable was granted a liquor licence on 10 January 1853. The same licence still continues today and the hotel lays claim to the longest continuous liquor licence in New Zealand. The hotel’s close relationship to the Waiuku wharf was key to its early success and it is a rare example of a large wooden colonial building. The hotel is associated with notable political figures Sir George Grey, Richard John Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward. Māori Kings Pōtatau Te Wherowhero and Tāwhiao held meetings there and it was the venue for sittings of the Native Land Court.

The $48,435 will be used for repairing the hotel’s exterior decks and repair and weather-proof the windows.

Regional Historic Heritage Grant 2023/2024 recipients
Place	Approved grant allocation ($)
Berrisville Flats, Anzac Ave, Central Auckland	50,000
Church of Ascension (former), Point Chevalier	15,670
George Courts Department Store (former), Karangahape Rd	50,000
Greenhithe School building (former), Greenhithe	7,931
Gravestone at St Stephens Church, Parnell	1,300
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Silverdale	50,000
Kentish Hotel, Waiuku	48,435
King’s Theatre (former), Newton	50,000
Kohekohe Presbyterian Church (former),Waiuku	7,000
Lake House, Takapuna	13,100
Mission Hall, Glenfield	5,490
New Zealand Guardian Trust, Queen St, Central Auckland	2,000
Northcote Point Senior Citizens Association, Northcote	25,000
Onehunga Primary School, Onehunga	28,900
Puhoi Hotel complex, Puhoi	50,000
Railway worker’s residence, Henderson	8,376
St Mark’s Church, Remuera	43,100
St Sepulchre Church (former), Mt Eden	10,000
Takapuna Library (former), Takapuna	35,000
Theosophical Society Hall, Queen St, Central Auckland	25,000
Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse	3,565

Applicants for the Regional Historic Heritage Grant 2024/2025 will open in the second half of 2025. More information will be posted on the Auckland Council website at a later date.

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