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Remembrance – “She bled for our people” – nurses pay tribute to Dame Tariana Turia

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Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōputanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) joins te ao Māori to mourn the loss of Dame Tariana Turia – a former Associate Minister of Health and Whānau Ora Minister.
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says like nurses throughout Aotearoa, Dame Turia was passionate about achieving better health outcomes for Māori.
“Dame Turia was the most influential Māori politician so far this century to shift thinking on government health policy.
“She introduced the concept of whānau ora into the health system, and while that hasn’t been fully implemented yet, the seed has been planted.
“Dame Turia introduced policies aimed to achieve a smokefree Aotearoa. And she advocated for better support to improve the Māori nurse workforce and achieve pay parity for nurses everywhere, especially with especially Māori and iwi health providers.”
Kerri Nuku said the sacrifices Dame Turia made to advance Māori health, and Māori rights, would not be forgotten by the Māori nursing community.
“She bled for our people! Her achievements didn’t just happen, she had to fight for them.
“We can only imagine the outcast treatment she would have got by exiting one political party to build another political party.”
Kerri Nuku said much of what Dame Turia stood for was now under attack by the current Coalition Government but many Māori working in health are “drawing strength from her work”.
“Our aroha goes to the whānau pani of Dame Turia – thank you to her children and mokopuna for giving us the taonga they did.”

MIL OSI

HKVAX and Victory Securities Form Strategic Partnership to Advance Virtual Asset Services in Hong Kong

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MIL OSI
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Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 January 2025 – Hong Kong Virtual Asset Exchange (HKVAX), a virtual asset trading platform licensed by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and Victory Securities (8540.HK), a licensed financial services provider, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing Hong Kong’s virtual asset ecosystem.

This collaboration aims to explore opportunities in virtual asset brokerage and distribution, combining HKVAX’s robust infrastructure and virtual asset capabilities with Victory Securities’ comprehensive financial services platform and established institutional relationships. Together, the two parties will explore opportunities in RWA and tokenization and build a robust ecosystem with the primary goal of increasing opportunities for virtual asset distribution. It will also provide investors with access to high quality, efficiently managed tokenization assets.

“This strategic partnership with Victory Securities represents a significant step forward in our mission to advance Hong Kong’s virtual asset ecosystem,” said Dr. Anthony Ng, Co-Founder and CEO of HKVAX. “By combining our technological expertise with Victory Securities’ deep understanding of traditional financial markets and strong institutional relationships, we are well-positioned to deliver innovative, compliant virtual asset services that meet the sophisticated needs of today’s investors.”

“Our collaboration with Victory Securities comes at a pivotal time in Hong Kong’s development as a virtual asset hub,” said Sam Fok, Co-Founder and COO of HKVAX. “We will work to bridge the gap between traditional finance and virtual assets, creating a more integrated and accessible financial ecosystem for our clients while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance.”

Victory Securities, with over five decades of market presence, brings extensive expertise in regulated financial activities and a deep understanding of institutional client needs. This collaboration with HKVAX demonstrates both companies’ commitment to fostering innovation within Hong Kong’s regulated virtual asset space.

‘Victory Securities is committed to becoming a diversified virtual asset trading platform. This partnership is expected to provide the joint licensed exchanges with unique virtual asset investment opportunities in the market, further drive market development and maintain competitiveness in the global virtual asset market.’ said Kennix Chan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Victory Securities.

The partnership represents a significant step in Hong Kong’s virtual asset ecosystem, combining established financial expertise with virtual asset capabilities. Both companies look forward to collaborating on innovative solutions that will benefit investors and contribute to the sustainable growth of Hong Kong’s virtual asset market.

Hashtag: #HKVAX

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

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

Draft Animal Products Notice: Dairy Preparedness and Response: Foot and Mouth Disease Incursion (Regulated Control Scheme)

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Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking feedback on a proposed Animal Products Notice: Dairy Preparedness and Response: Foot and Mouth Disease Incursion (Regulated Control Scheme).

The purpose of the Notice is to enable a regulated control scheme for dairy processors for export, so that processors can maintain business continuity with a high level of assurance in the event of an incursion of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV).

Background to this consultation

In March of 2023, MPI started working to develop a mechanism that would allow milk collection, transport, processing, and export to continue in the event of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), with the following objectives:

  • to facilitate trade negotiation with a high degree of assurance for trading partners
  • to enable export dairy processors to continue operations with minimal disruption and to obtain an exemption from movement controls
  • to provide clear and scientifically sound measures to prevent transmission between farms and contamination of the product from dairy operations.

To help achieve these objectives, MPI has developed this Notice. It enables a regulated control scheme under the Animal Products Act 1999 and sets out export requirements for dairy processors that supply their products overseas.

Discussion document

Animal Products Notice: Milk Collection and Processing for Export During a Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Incursion (Regulated Control Scheme) [PDF, 261 KB]

Draft Animal Products Notice

Dairy Preparedness and Response: Foot and Mouth Disease Incursion (Regulated Control Scheme) [PDF, 508 KB]

Making your submission

Submissions close at 5pm on 14 February 2025.

To help make your submission, we encourage you to use our submission template.

Submission template [DOCX, 65 KB]

Email your submission to animal.products@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post your submission to:

New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

What to include in your submission

If you are using the feedback form, make sure to include:

  • the name of the consultation document you are submitting on
  • your name and title
  • your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
  • your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

MIL OSI

State Highway 2 road rebuild Te Puna

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

State Highway 2 (SH2) near Snodgrass Road in Te Puna will be looking fresh by the end of February 2025 after 6 weeks of road rebuilding is completed.

Work gets underway on Sunday 12 January carrying out an asphalt road rebuild. Crews will be working overnight daily between 8pm and 5.30am. Stop/go traffic management will be in place overnight while the work is taking place.

The works are scheduled for completion on Monday 24 February (weather dependent).

“We understand how working in this area of the Western Bay can cause significant delays and queues, which is why crews are working at night to minimise disruption and getting the majority of the work done during the school holidays when traffic volumes are lower,” says Sandra King, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Bay of Plenty System Manager.

For the duration of the works, entry and exits from Snodgrass Road and Te Puna Quarry Road to/from SH2 will be closed. Alternative routes are Munro Road on the south side of SH2 and Armstrong and Borell Roads on the northern side of SH2.  (See map below.)

“Maintenance on this high volume stretch of road is very important for the safety and resilience of the network. These works involve digging out the existing road layers and replacing them layer by layer,” says Ms King.

During the day, there will be a reduced speed limit until the work is complete and there will also be gentle ramps for State Highway through traffic to allow for the height difference of the surfaces while work is carried out.

“More than 20,000 people travel through this part of SH2 daily and a smooth road makes all these trips safer and more enjoyable, and we encourage people to check the NZTA Journey Planner before you travel,” says Ms King.

This 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.  

Delays are to be expected, and NZTA thanks motorists for their patience.

View larger image [JPG, 283 KB]

MIL OSI

SH56 maintenance work at Opiki starting next week

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder State Highway 56 through Opiki will be closing during daytime hours for 2 months from next week for a raft of maintenance.

Crews will be onsite between Tuesday 7 January and Friday 7 March each weekday* between 6am and 6pm.

During this work, crews will be carrying out two road rebuilds, drainage improvements, resurfacing, bridge deck repairs and general maintenance.

The road will be closed between Alve Road and the intersection with State Highway 57. A detour will be in place, via SH57 through Tokomaru or SH1 through Foxton.

Access to residents, businesses and the school will be available throughout these works, and people will be asked to speak to the onsite crew.

Outside the 6am to 6pm closures, the road will be open and a 30km/h temporary speed limit will be in place for safety.

These detours are expected to add up to 15 minutes to people’s journey times.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi thanks road users for their support of this work which aims to strengthen this section of road and improve its long-term condition; ultimately improving travel times and minimising future disruptions.

*Weekend closures

While most of the work will be carried out during weekday closures, some weekend work will be required.

At this stage, the scheduled weekends of work with the closure and detour in place for are:

  • 11-12 January
  • 18-19 January
  • 25-26 January 2025
  • 1-2 February
  • 8-9 February
  • 15-16 February

These works are dependent on various factors including weather and may be postponed at short notice. Please keep up to date with any changes to the schedule by visiting NZTA’s Journey Planner.

Manawatū-Whanganui-region maintenance programme

State Highway 1 Tīrau to Waiouru accelerated maintenance

State Highway 1 Tūrangi to Waiouru – including the Desert Road – will be closed for vital road rebuilding and repairs for around 2 months from Monday 13 January 2025. Find out more and plan ahead

MIL OSI

Work to rebuild SH2 north of Waipawa begins soon

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder that maintenance work will begin soon on a stretch of State Highway 2 just north of Waipawa.

The road rebuild will be carried out in stages from 13 January to the end of March. Crews will focus on a 500 metre stretch of SH2, between Tamumu Road and Victoria Street.

Work will initially be focussed on installing new kerbs and improving channels. This is a continuation of the kerb and channel work undertaken in this section earlier this year.

Once the kerbs and channels are completed, crews will start rebuilding the road surface. This will involve recycling the existing road materials with cement added to the pavement, to improve and extend the life of the road and improve the journey through this section.

“Our crews will be working days and some nights to speed up the works and complete the job as quickly as possible,” says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani.

“There will be different traffic management set ups at different stages of the work which will be communicated before the works begin. We advise road users to please expect short delays through this worksite at times and to plan their journeys accordingly.”

“We know this work will be frustrating for road users and residents, and for local businesses and communities in the area. We also know Waipawa has already seen its fair share of disruption during earlier improvements on the main street and we are working with Central Hawkes’ Bay District Council (CHBDC) to minimise the impact these works will have on the community.”

“Ultimately, this work will improve the efficiency of travel for all road users, hopefully minimising disruptions in future,” says Ms Pani.

MIL OSI

Drive to the conditions into 2025

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

It may be wet under foot in the coming days but don’t let that dampen your holiday road trips.

Drive to the conditions and if they change, reduce your speed.

A reminder that the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Holiday Journey Planner remains up to date and easy to access – it may end up being one of your best road trip companions.

The Journey Planner shows predicted traffic flows over the New Year holiday, based on previous year’s travel patterns. This handy ‘trip hack’ is a great way to plan your trips and avoid the stress of getting caught up in lengthy delays.

Holiday Journey Planner(external link)

NZTA wants everyone to get to their destinations safely. More cars on the road, tired drivers and people driving on unfamiliar roads can all add up to make holiday driving stressful and risky. But there are simple things we can all do to stay safe.

We encourage everyone to check that their car is safe before heading off, keep your speeds down, drive sober, watch for signs of fatigue and share the driving on long trips.

Always drive to the conditions, which can change quickly. Check the weather forecast before leaving home, as well as our real-time traffic updates for any incidents or closures.

Over the coming days, as forecast heavy rain hits parts of the country, stay alert, expect possible delays or surface flooding in places.

Tips for safe driving on your summer holiday

Drive to the conditions, allow plenty of time and take regular breaks to stay alert.

  • Be patient when driving this summer so everyone can relax and enjoy the holidays together.
  • Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely.
  • Drive to the conditions – whether it’s the weather, the road you’re on, the time of day or the volume of traffic on the roads.
  • Take regular breaks to stay alert.
  • Allow plenty of time. You’re on holiday, no need to rush. 

MIL OSI

Forecast strong winds for Auckland Harbour Bridge traffic tomorrow

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

With strong winds forecast for the city, Auckland drivers are urged to take extra care on the Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow (Friday, 27 December).

A wind alert has been issued for tomorrow, between midday and 8 pm. Wind gusts of 90 – 95 km/h are forecast.

To ensure safety, speed limits on the bridge may be reduced, and lanes on the bridge could close if wind gusts reach threshold levels.

This may see traffic reduced to only one lane in each during the amber alert as the bridge’s southbound clip-on lanes are currently closed for maintenance. 

Motorists must drive to the conditions and pay attention to electronic message boards on the motorway. These will show if reduced speed limits, lane closures, or a full closure (depending on wind thresholds) are in place.

If winds are strong and the weather is bad, drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists should avoid the Auckland Harbour Bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.

Keeping road users safe and protecting the bridge are a priority. Decisions to lower speeds, close lanes, or close are carefully considered.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi will continue to work closely with Metservice to monitor conditions and ensure decisions are based on up-to-date and accurate information on predicted and current wind speeds.

Drivers are encouraged to check road and weather conditions before they travel:

MIL OSI

‘Tis the season for bad weather holiday driving

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Drivers hitting the road today and tomorrow are urged to check road and weather conditions before they travel.

The Metservice has issued a series of weather warnings around the country.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in place for this afternoon and evening, covering the Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Southern Lakes, Dunedin, Clutha, Southland, Fiordland.

A Strong Wind Watch has been issued for Kapiti Coast, Wellington, and coastal Marlborough from early Friday morning until early Friday afternoon. Southerly gales are forecast.

Further north, a Strong Wind Watch will apply to coastal areas of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne/Tairawhiti on Friday afternoon and evening, and a Heavy Rain Warning is in force for Gisborne/Tairawhiti from early Thursday morning to early Friday morning.

Drivers travelling over the holiday period must be prepared for challenging driving conditions in these areas and take proper precautions.

Heavy rain increases the risk of slips and flooding, and strong winds mean drivers of high-sided and towing vehicles, and motorcycles must take extra care in exposed areas.

Be ready for unexpected hazards and be aware that bad weather can see roads closed at short notice.

Check the weather and road conditions before you head off and allow extra time for your journeys.

MIL OSI

State Highway 2 Manor Park – southbound lanes closed due to crash (SH2 now OPEN in both directions)

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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Update 12:20 pm. The crash site has been cleared and the southbound lanes have reopened. State Highway 2 is now open to traffic in both directions.

Drivers can expect some delays while queued traffic clears.

11:10 am:

Drivers heading from Upper Hutt to Wellington City can expect delays on State Highway 2 following a crash near Manor Park this morning.

The highway’s southbound lanes are closed at the Manor Park southbound offramp/State Highway 58 interchange, while the Police Serious Crash Unit (SCU) investigates the incident.

The crash, involving a motorcyclist was reported shortly before 9:30 am.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area and use an alternative route until the crash site is cleared and the Police SCU work is completed.

Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

Highway conditions – Wellington(external link)

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