The United States needs to end its obsession with perpetuating its supremacy and containing China, and cease using regional countries as its tools, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing following U.S. President Joe Biden’s claims that China continues to act aggressively and is testing the U.S. and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, claims which he made at the Quad summit in the U.S. over the weekend.
Lin noted that the Quad is seen as the premier regional grouping that plays a leading role in the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy. It is a tool the U.S. uses to contain China and perpetuate U.S. hegemony.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy attempts to amass forces to exclude and contain China by peddling the “China threat” narrative, and the Quad attempts to muster military and security cooperation under the pretext of maritime issues, he said, adding that they have the same intention and the same tactics.
Though the U.S. claims it does not target China, the first topic of the summit was China-related, and China was made an issue throughout the event, Lin noted, saying that the U.S. is “lying through its teeth” and not even the U.S. media believes these lies.
“China believes that cooperation between countries should not target any third party or even harm their interests. Any regional initiative should follow the overwhelming trend of the region and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity,” Lin said.
He stressed that ganging up to form exclusive groupings undermines mutual trust and cooperation between regional countries, runs counter to the overwhelming trend of pursuing peace, development, cooperation and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific, and is bound to fail.
The U.S. needs to end its obsession with perpetuating its supremacy and containing China, cease using regional countries as its tools, stop glossing over the strategic intentions behind all kinds of exclusive groupings, and act on its claim that the revitalization of its alliances is not aimed at China, instead of seeking selfish gains at the expense of other countries’ strategic security interests and the well-being of the people in the Asia-Pacific, Lin said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The upcoming 21st China-ASEAN Expo is expected to advance the building of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and promote high-quality regional development through a variety of economic and trade activities, the expo’s secretariat said at a news conference on Monday in Nanning, capital of Southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The expo will be held in Nanning from Tuesday to Saturday, with Malaysia to be the country of honor.
Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend and address the opening ceremony of the expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning on Tuesday. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will deliver a video address.
“Trade and economic activities at the event are increasingly emphasizing practicality and highlighting key areas to promote cooperation in the digital economy and green economy,” said Zeng Zhong, deputy secretary-general of the China-ASEAN Expo secretariat.
It will also focus on cooperation, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states holding national promotion events. For example, Indonesia is organizing promotional events focusing on environmental protection and investment. Cambodia’s national promotion events emphasize commerce, investment and tourism. Vietnam’s promotions will highlight trade and economic integration.
Zeng said the expo has been extended from four to five days, with the additional day open to the public. The exhibition layout has been optimized, with the addition of strategic emerging themes showcasing new, high-quality productive forces, along with new areas for digital technology and cultural exchanges.
More than 2,000 companies will be exhibiting in the main exhibition area. More than 800 ASEAN and regional foreign companies are participating, accounting for more than 41 percent of exhibitors.
“There are more than 400 companies from the Fortune Global 500 and China’s Top 500, as well as unicorns and specialized, innovative enterprises — representing a 15 percent increase over the previous session,” Zeng said.
Chinese exhibitors will showcase drivers of new quality production such as the digital economy, new energy vehicles and green, low-carbon technologies, including applications such as Beidou chips and high-end mechanical equipment.
More than 1,100 Chinese and foreign leaders, ASEAN ambassadors to China, heads of international organizations, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars will be present at the opening ceremony.
“Through such high-level dialogue activities as the opening ceremony, we hope a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future will emerge,” Zeng said.
China has been ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and ASEAN became China’s top trading partner in 2020. Last year, the value of trade between China and ASEAN members reached $911.7 billion.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lifted the tsunami advisory for the Izu and Ogasawara Islands at 11:00 a.m. local time Tuesday after several areas saw wave heights milder than previous forecast.
The agency warned that slight tidal changes could still be observed along the Pacific coast, but there is no concern about tsunami-related damage.
A tsunami advisory that urged residents to stay away from the coastline was triggered after a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Japanese islands on Tuesday morning.
The quake, which took place at 8:14 local time, was centered in adjacent sea of Torishima Islands at a depth of 10 km, but no seismic intensity of 1 or above was recorded, according to the weather agency.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Firing practice for October 2024 Firing practice for October 2024 ********************************
Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (October). Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing areas before and during firing practice. For their safety, people are advised not to enter the firing area. Following are the dates and times for the firing practice sessions in October 2024: San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range————————————-
The Government is introducing a new aggravating factor for offences against public transport workers as part of its plan to restore law and order, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced.
“In recent months, there has been a worrying increase in abuse and attacks on public transport workers. We want to send a strong message that any attacks on bus drivers, taxi drivers, and anyone working on a public transport train or ferry will not be tolerated,” Mr Goldsmith says.
“Building on the Government’s sentencing reforms package, this change will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029 and reducing serious repeat youth offending by 15 percent.”
“All those working on public transport deserve to feel safe while delivering an important service to their communities. These hardworking New Zealanders often work alone with little to separate them from their passengers,” Mr Brown says.
“Our Government is responding to these terrible incidents by introducing tougher consequences for those who engage in this cowardly behaviour.”
The Government is investing $15 million through Budget 2024 to deliver practical improvements to bus driver safety and working environments.
“Attacks on bus drivers and passengers have become far too common as New Zealand has faced an unprecedented crime wave. Industry has been calling for better, safer work environments for bus drivers, and our Government is delivering.
“Local authorities will soon be able to apply for funding for safety improvements, including retrofitted safety screens and real-time CCTV monitoring. Funding will also be made available to provide better restroom and break facilities for drivers.
“It is important we have the bus drivers required to deliver efficient and reliable public transport services so Kiwis can get to where they want to go, quickly and safely. These practical improvements are critical to improving working conditions so we can recruit and retain drivers,” Mr Brown says.
The Government is working with the public transport sector to develop new national guidance on managing passenger safety.
“Following a horrific attack on a young student travelling on a bus in July, I asked officials to look at what can be done to ensure greater safeguards for passengers and drivers on buses while the Government continues to restore law and order.
“Each bus operator is currently responsible for setting its own procedures for responding to attacks or altercations onboard. As a result, inconsistent processes are plaguing the system within the same city, let alone across the country, ultimately putting passengers and hardworking bus drivers at risk.
“Our Government is working with the sector to develop new national guidance on managing passenger safety and responding to incidents to ensure greater consistency and to improve bus safety,” Mr Brown says.
A tsunami advisory that urged residents to stay away from the coastline was triggered after a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Japanese islands on Tuesday morning, according to the weather agency.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the advisory for Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands, noting that tsunami waves of up to 1 meter are rapidly approaching and are expected to arrive around 9:00 a.m. local time.
The quake, which took place at 8:14 local time, was centered in adjacent sea of Torishima Islands at a depth of 10 km.
The Government’s introduction of its interventions in the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act threatens to throw relations between Māori and Crown into deeper disharmony.
“This legislation is not fit for Parliament and represents an outright assault on the rights of iwi and hapū, disregarding the founding agreement Aotearoa was built upon,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Steve Abel.
“Te Tiriti is foundational, governments are temporary and do not have the right to disregard or trample on the binding contract between Māori and Crown on which our nation is built. Iwi and hapū rights to their customary waters are part of tino rangatiratanga, and are core to the sovereignty tangata whenua never ceded.
“The Government’s Takutai Moana re-write legislation robs Māori of customary rights to the marine and coastal area without moral justification or evidential basis. It is a regression to raupatu.
“The disingenuous narrative of ‘restoring parliamentary intent’ that the Government is using to justify this attack on Te Tiriti is a complete misrepresentation of our history that overrides Māori rights in favour of corporations who want to exploit our oceans for private profit.
“The Waitangi Tribunal was damning in its evaluation of this legislation, stating that it was a clear breach of tino rangatiratanga, antithetical to good government, and sidelined Māori rights and interests in te takutai moana without providing evidence for its claim that the public’s rights and interests require further protection.
“Time and time again, Christopher Luxon has talked about the importance of Te Tiriti, praising it as our past, present and future. But these words are hollow in the context of his assaults on the taonga guaranteed to iwi in our founding agreement.
“The Green Party will stand alongside Te iwi Māori in opposing the Government’s confiscation of their customary rights to the marine and coastal environment,” says Steve Abel.
Gun lobbyist Nicole McKee and her conflict of interest has struck again, this time removing safety regulations from shooting clubs and ranges in New Zealand.
“The lessons of New Zealand’s worst terror attack have been forgotten as the Government tries to wind back the gun control laws put in place after the attack on worshippers in Christchurch mosques in 2019,” Labour firearms spokesperson Ginny Andersen said.
“The Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges and Other Matters) Amendment Bill creates multiple loopholes for gang members and extremists – like the Christchurch terrorist – to exploit. Minister Nicole McKee talks about being a safety expert but is removing safety requirements from shooting clubs and ranges.
“Ammunition is a form of currency among criminals and this bill could increase the supply of ammunition and allow unsupervised shooting at ranges by people without licenses. The Minister needs to be clear about what checks and balances are in place to prevent this.
“The changes also create a frightening precedent for landowners who might find ‘pop-up’ rifle shooting ranges over their back fence. The bill risks the ability of the Police or the firearms regulator to enforce any safety oversight or even inspect the facilities. The Wild West is coming to a backyard near you.
“The cherry on top for Nicole McKee and the gun lobby is the power grab under the section titled ‘other matters’ which removes powers currently held by Police.
“Her justification for the bill seems to be that the previous changes went too far, and that some shooting clubs or ranges are at risk of closing. However, her Cabinet paper provides no evidence of this risk,” Ginny Andersen said.
NANCY LU (National): 全能嘅上帝，我哋多謝祢賜畀我哋嘅祝福。撇開所有個人利益，我哋向国王致敬，並祈求喺我哋嘅討論中指引我哋，另我哋能夠以智慧、公義、仁愛同謙卑處理呢個議會嘅事務，為咗新西兰嘅福祉同和平而努力. 阿門.
Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations, that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom, justice, mercy, and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.
This piece is the final of a three part series on Australia’s defamation laws. You can read the other pieces here and here.
Defamation laws exist to strike a balance between press freedom and the protection of people’s reputations from wrongful harm. In Australia, this balance has always been loaded against press freedom.
This is due partly to the way the defamation laws have been framed and partly by the way the courts have interpreted them.
Courts examine matters of journalism in the same way they examine matters of law: forensically, with strict rules and high standards of evidence and proof.
While we rightly expect ethical and honest reporting from our media, even the best can prove insufficient under the piercing gaze of defamation law. And in a time when media companies are more cash-strapped than ever, this has a chilling effect on the stories that get told and press freedom more broadly.
Ethics vs the law
Until 2006, each Australian jurisdiction had its own defamation laws. This created a nightmare of complexity for publishers, especially of newspapers and broadcasts that crossed state boundaries, which meant all the main media organisations.
They had to take into account the risks posed by litigation in the jurisdiction least favourable to press freedom.
For many decades, that was New South Wales. It was one of the states where truth alone was not a sufficient defence; there also had to be a public interest in the material. In some other jurisdictions this was called public benefit.
This was a major burden on press freedom and it was removed by the introduction of uniform defamation laws in 2006.
Since then, it has been enough for publishers to prove the substantial truth of the meanings conveyed in an article in order for the defence of truth to succeed.
It may sound straightforward, but proving substantial truth requires producing admissible evidence strong enough to satisfy the civil standard of proof: on the balance of probabilities. That usually means having documents and witnesses who are willing to be identified.
If, as is often the case, the article has drawn on evidence from a confidential source, the publisher is unable to put that source in the witness box because to do so would breach the media’s fundamental ethical obligation to protect the identity of confidential sources.
So unless the source is prepared in advance to be identified should the matter come to court, a story relying significantly on that person’s testimony may not see the light of day unless some other defence is available.
In 2021, those defences were expanded, although quite how significant that expansion turns out to be remains to be seen.
What appears on paper to be the most significant change was the introduction of a general public interest defence. This says that if publication of a story is in the public interest, and the publisher has a reasonable belief that it is, then publication can be defended on that ground.
There has been only one major test of that new defence, and it went against the media.
That case showed “reasonable belief” depended on the journalism being sound. In this case, the court found that the defendant, which was the ABC, had relied on shaky testimony that had not been sufficiently verified and had not given the subject of the story a fair opportunity to respond.
At odds with practicalities
This brings us to the question of how the courts interpret the law.
One of the big disappointments in this respect has been the way the courts have interpreted what, at the time, was hoped to be a significant addition to Australia’s threadbare free-speech jurisprudence.
In a case brought against the ABC by a late prime minister of New Zealand, David Lange, the High Court established the principle that freedom of speech on matters of government and politics trumped a person’s case for protection for their reputation.
If a person wanted to sue for defamation, they had to do so in a way that did not burden freedom of speech on matters of government and politics.
However, the High Court attached a test of reasonableness to this freedom. In several ways, it’s similar to the “reasonable belief” test in the new public interest defence.
Unfortunately, successive courts have applied the Lange reasonableness test in ways that are so strict they require journalists to meet standards demanding more powers of investigation than they possess or to exceed the usual journalistic standards of verification. Journalists can’t subpoena documents or compel people to speak to them.
The result is that this defence has become more or less a dead letter for journalistic purposes.
Is a story worth the cost?
Those accused of defamation can also defend it by saying it was comment or honest opinion. The first requirement of this defence is that the material be a comment and not a statement of fact.
But courts have interpreted this in different ways.
This uncertainty was illustrated by a famous case that became known as “Leo the Lobster”. A restaurant and restaurateur in Sydney successfully sued the Sydney Morning Herald over a review of a lobster dinner written by one Leo Schofield.
Schofield, who was a colourful writer, said the lobster had been overcooked:
the carbonized claws contained only a kind of white powder which might have been albino walrus.
Despite the amusing language, the court interpreted that as a literal factual description, not a statement of opinion.
Courts have a limited sense of humour, which makes satirical writing a chancy business, since the sharper the satire, the closer it is to literal truth.
Cartoons, which are satirical by definition, have more leeway but are not immune to defamation suits.
Then there’s the costs of defamation, particularly for media outlets. They’ve become exorbitant.
It has been estimated that the costs involved in the case brought by Ben Roberts-Smith against The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times amounted to about $25 million. The newspapers won, although the matter has gone to appeal.
But even if the verdict is upheld, experience shows it is unlikely they will recoup anything like their full costs.
At a time when all major news media organisations are under acute financial pressure because of the inroads the internet has made on their revenue, there is a strong temptation not to risk publishing material the public has a right to know because of the financial impact an action for defamation would have.
Denis Muller does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Photo: A flooded school yard in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. (Khem Krairit / Save the Children)
BANGKOK/HANOI, 24 September 2024 – Floods in Thailand and Vietnam have damaged about 945* schools across both countries, leaving children out of classes as recovery efforts get underway following the worst storm Asia has seen this year, Save the Children said.
In the north of Thailand, floods tore through homes and schools leaving 140 schools damaged, while in Vietnam at least 805[1] schools have been damaged since early September after Typhoon Yagi battered the country.
Asia is the world’s most disaster-hit region from weather, climate and water-related hazards.[2] Across the world, a staggering 774 million children – or one third of the world’s child population – are living with the dual impacts of poverty and high climate risk.[3]
In Thailand, this means learning has been disrupted for more than 30,500 children[4] for an indefinite period.
The floods have also increased the risk of waterborne diseases. Globally, increases in disease related to climate change are projected to have deadly implications for children, including vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. [5]
Classroom floors, chairs, tables and learning materials in schools across Thailand’s northernmost Chiang Rai province remain covered in mud and many schools are in need of new learning equipment.
Children’s psychosocial well-being has also been acutely affected by the loss of their belongings, damage to their schools, their play areas and environments familiar to them.
Patchara*, a 15-year-old student from Chiang Rai province, said she was able to save only some belongings when the floods hit and water levels reached her waist level.
Her family is temporarily staying with relatives. Patchara said she’s worried about waterborne diseases as she travels to school. This is her first severe flood experience.
Many flood-affected areas in Thailand and Vietnam are also still inaccessible due to flooded roads and the danger of landslides, severely hampering rescue and relief operations.
Guillaume Rachou, Save the Children Thailand Executive Director, said:
“Children in Chiang Rai can’t go back to school anytime soon. Others have had to stay at home to help their families rebuild their lives. The recovery effort will take months so it’s important that these children’s lives are as normal and that they can return to their classrooms as soon as, and as safely, as possible and feel supported during the transition.”
Save the Children will provide essential support to children in five districts of Chiang Rai province, including booklets on flood recovery hygiene and on infant feeding.
The children’s charity will also provide 1,500 students with back-to-school kits including learning kits and school uniforms. In collaboration with global apparel retailer UNIQLO, the initiative will also see the distribution of 2,600 items of children’s clothing, which includes 1,600 new pieces of children’s innerwear and T-shirts, along with 1,000 pieces of adult clothing sourced from the brand’s customer take-back program known as “RE.UNIQLO.”
Save the Children is also working with community volunteers, teachers and Thailand’s Department of Mental Health to provide psychological first aid training and training in how to spot children who are at risk of dropping out of school. The children’s organisation will set up a mobile psychological first aid team to support school staff and students at 20 schools where community outreach activities will include theater and arts.
In Vietnam, Save the Children has been in discussions with government agencies to release a flood response plan to help affected children return to school safely and continue their learning.
Save the Children has worked in Thailand since 1979 to support children most impacted by discrimination and inequality running programmes on education, child protection, livelihood, and child rights governance.
Save the Children started working in Vietnam in 1990 and now operates in 22 provinces in partnership with government agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector and academic institutions.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered his opening remarks at the 21st China-ASEAN EXPO (CAEXPO), highlighting the importance of RCEP agreement and the efforts to the realization of the ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 as a bedrock of ASEAN-China economic relations. Dr. Kao stressed that digitalization and sustainability are key megatrends reshaping how businesses operate and how society lives in an increasingly interconnected world.
Download the full opening remarks here.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers opening remarks at the 21st CAEXPO appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
The next federal election will be conducted on new electoral division boundaries in Western Australia after a notice was published today in the Commonwealth Government Notices Gazette.
While final names and boundaries for House of Representatives seats in Western Australia were announced on 5 September, today’s gazettal is the step that formally sets them in place. Today’s gazettal also provides people with further details about the boundaries.
More detailed division maps and the final redistribution report will be available after the Minister has tabled material in both houses of Parliament.
Editor’s notes:
People on the electoral roll who are affected by the redistribution will now be moved into their new federal electoral division in readiness for the election. No action is necessary.
While the new electoral divisions will be in place from Tuesday 24 September 2024, they will only apply from the next full federal election onwards. Any federal by-election conducted before that point must be conducted on existing divisions to avoid overlap in, or missing, representation.
A woman has died following a crash in the city last week.
Just after 12.15pm on Friday 20 September police were called to the intersection of South Terrace and Sir Lewis Cohen Avenue following reports of a crash between a Nissan Micra and a Ford Territory.
The 93-year-old female driver of the Nissan was taken to hospital for treatment of her injuries, sadly today (Tuesday 24 September) she died in hospital.
The occupant and passenger of the Ford were not injured.
Major Crash Investigators are appealing to the public if they witnessed the crash or have dashcam footage and have not spoken to police to please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The woman’s death is the 61st life lost on SA roads this year.
Swimmers in Queensland’s fastest-growing city are a step closer to having a second Olympic-sized pool to enjoy, with works now underway on the $23.1 million Beenleigh Aquatic Centre upgrade.
The 50-metre, eight-lane swimming pool, is expected to open in mid-2025 and replaces the current thirty-three-yard pool which opened in 1964.
As well as being a beacon for local swimming enthusiasts, the new Olympic-sized pool will enable Logan to support more training, competitions and community sporting events.
Representatives from the Australian and Queensland governments and the Logan City Council met in Beenleigh today to celebrate the milestone.
The upgrades also include an expanded children’s water play area, shaded seating areas, modern changeroom facilities, a kiosk, and accessible and family friendly amenities.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the Beenleigh Aquatic Centre will feature solar panelling to generate clean energy, enable storm water harvesting and use of recycled materials.
The project is funded through the $285.8 million SEQ Liveability Fund, one of 29 commitments being delivered under the SEQ City Deal, with the Logan City Council investing $13.4 million alongside contributions from the Australian and Queensland governments of $4.85 million each.
The project will create an estimated 89 direct jobs and 78 indirect jobs for the local community.
The indoor pool remains open to the public while works are completed and existing programs will continue uninterrupted.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Cities Jenny McAllister:
“The Logan community is right to be excited by works starting on these facilities.
“As the temperature ramps up in summer, this will be a welcome retreat for families on weekends and school holidays.
“It’s a very real possibility that some of our future Olympians will start honing their craft right here at the future Beenleigh Aquatic Centre.
“That’s why investing in community sporting infrastructure like this is so important to the Australian Government.”
Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace:
“The new Beenleigh Aquatic Centre is a great example of a project that will help create a more liveable, sustainable and healthy community.
“That is what the Liveability Fund is all about – projects that leave a lasting and positive legacy in the community.
“The Beenleigh Aquatic Centre will support the region’s booming population and complement the work being done to deliver a successful Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.’’
Quotes attributable to State Member for Macalister Melissa McMahon:
“With less than 8 years until Brisbane 2032, we’re seeing the city’s newest Olympic sized swimming pool being build right here in Beenleigh.
“A new Olympic pool may see our future swimming heroes develop their skills locally and deliver the goods in 2032.
“And there is something for everyone with this upgrade with new areas for children and more family friendly amenities.
“This is great news for Beenleigh and Logan City.”
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Logan City Jon Raven:
“It will be a modern venue to take our young and fast-growing city into the future as we head towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Council is proud to deliver community infrastructure that turns our suburbs into connected neighbourhoods especially as our population grows.
“Last week we announced the nine court Logan Indoor Sports Centre for Logan Central, so we are well and truly starting our warm-up run for sporting success as the Olympics get closer.”
Quotes attributable to Logan City Councillor Karen Murphy:
“The old pool was more than 60 years old, so it is wonderful to see work begin full steam on this upgrade, which will complete stage two of the Dauth Park Masterplan endorsed by Council in 2018.
“I can’t wait to see locals splashing around and swimming laps here in Beenleigh.”
Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung will leave for a visit to Beijing and Tianjin later today, and will return to Hong Kong on Thursday.
In Beijing, Mr Lam will attend the Global Sustainable Transport Forum (2024), hosted by the Ministry of Transport. He will speak at a thematic session and meet ministry officials at the event.
He will then proceed to Tianjin to attend the 11th China Air Finance Development Summit and deliver a speech at its opening ceremony.
During his absence, Under Secretary for Transport & Logistics Liu Chun-san will be Acting Secretary.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Secretary for Health receives vaccinations against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 Secretary for Health receives vaccinations against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 **********************************************************************************
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, received vaccinations against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 at Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic today (September 24). The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Edwin Tsui; the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare of the Health Bureau, Dr Pang Fei-chau; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko; and frontline healthcare workers also echoed the move and were vaccinated. Professor Lo said, “Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. I strongly appeal to all members of the public to receive SIV early as it is now the best timing to get vaccinated for effective protection in the coming year against the influenza strains predicted by the World Health Organization in preparation for the possible winter or summer influenza seasons. Separately, individuals of high-risk priority groups should also receive an additional COVID-19 booster no less than six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later) to enhance protection and reduce the risks of serious complications and death.” He continued, “To boost the SIV coverage rate among schoolchildren, special arrangements have been made under the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach Programme (SIVSOP) this year to offer a more flexible choice of vaccine options for kindergartens and childcare centres. They can choose both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) (i.e. nasal vaccines) for the same or different outreach vaccination activities. Moreover, the DH will roll out a pilot scheme in which LAIV will be provided to primary and secondary schools that had indicated earlier this year their preference for arranging LAIV for their students.” At present, around 870 kindergartens and childcare centres (80 per cent) have already arranged vaccination activities for their schoolchildren. Among them, 246 schools will offer LAIV, eight schools will offer both IIV and LAIV, and the rest will offer IIV. Separately, around 610 primary schools (93 per cent) and around 390 secondary schools (77 per cent) have arranged vaccination activities for their students. Professor Lo added, “I call on those schools that have yet to join the outreach vaccination programme to enrol as soon as possible to seize the optimum timing for vaccination and do their part to provide the best protection for schoolchildren.” Hong Kong generally experiences two influenza seasons each year. The winter influenza season usually lies between January and March or April, whereas the summer influenza season typically runs from July to August. The overall influenza activity has remained at a low level since the end of the influenza season in late July this year. However, with reference to previous surveillance data, as the weather is expected to become cooler gradually, the CHP foresaw that the influenza activity level may rise at the end of the year. All citizens should receive SIV which can reduce the risks of serious illnesses and death. The Government will launch the 2024/25 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes, including the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, the Government Vaccination Programme, the SIVSOP and the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme the day after tomorrow (September 26) to provide free or subsidised SIV for persons aged 50 or above (including the elderly living in residential care homes); adults aged 18 to 49 with underlying comorbidities; persons aged 6 months or above with immunocompromising conditions; pregnant women and healthcare workers etc. Furthermore, individuals of the abovementioned groups should receive an additional COVID-19 booster in a timely manner regardless of the number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines received before for dual protection. A COVID-19 vaccine can be co-administered with, or separated from, an SIV under informed consent. The inactivated COVID-19 vaccines currently used in Hong Kong (i.e. Sinovac CoronaVac) will expire on October 3, and the vaccine supplier has confirmed that they will no longer produce inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. Members of the public who would like to receive an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine should make a booking as early as possible. Starting from October 4, only mRNA vaccines will be available under the Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. For more details, members of the public may call the CHP at 2125 2125 or visit the Vaccination Schemes page.
Ends/Tuesday, September 24, 2024Issued at HKT 12:52
Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung is on his way to Chengdu, Sichuan, where he has been invited by the China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda to attend a ceremony bidding farewell to An An and Ke Ke, two giant pandas bound for Hong Kong.
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Mickey Lai and representatives from Ocean Park Hong Kong are joining Mr Yeung on the visit.
Mr Yeung will also visit heritage sites and arts and cultural facilities in Chengdu to learn about the city’s integrated development of culture and tourism, and its promotion of tourism development.
The tourism chief will depart for Hong Kong tomorrow evening. During his absence, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Raistlin Lau will be Acting Secretary.
The Green Party vows to reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke permits when it returns to government following the coalition’s introduction of legislation to reopen offshore oil and gas exploration this afternoon.
“A Green Government will reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke any permits granted under the current regime and their obsession with pouring oil, coal and gas on the climate crisis fire,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick.
“We can have an economy that supports people and the planet, instead of exploiting both. It’s simply a matter of political willpower.
“Overturning the oil and gas ban risks exacerbating energy insecurity and driving exorbitant power prices. The Government must know this. And yet they persist with their lobbyist’s wish list.
“Luxon’s Government has weaponised the energy crisis to argue for more fossil fuels, conveniently neglecting that it’s the very reliance on those fossil fuels which is behind the energy crisis.
“Climate delay is the new denial.
“We can reduce emissions, lower power bills, and improve the resilience of our energy system. All we need is mainstream political willpower. New Zealanders deserve better than the Government’s attempts to pull the wool over their eyes,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.
On a review of current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction on September 24, 2024, Tuesday, as under:
A pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China will arrive in the city on Thursday, John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR announced on Tuesday. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.ChinaNews App Download
SAFE is renewing its urgent call for a ban on greyhound racing after the first race-related death of the 2024/25 season. Rocket Queen suffered a catastrophic compound fracture to her right leg during a race at Addington Raceway, Christchurch, on 20 September 2024.
Rocket Queen was one of four greyhounds involved in a collision during the race, with three other dogs sustaining injuries, including a suspected fracture.
SAFE Campaign Manager Emma Brodie says this tragic incident is not an isolated event, but part of an ongoing pattern of cruelty in the greyhound racing industry.
“Rocket Queen’s death is not an anomaly; this is a predictable outcome in an industry that consistently fails to protect the dogs in its care,” says Brodie.
“It’s both infuriating and heartbreaking that, despite years of warnings and public outcry, greyhounds continue to suffer and die in the name of entertainment.”
This latest death adds to the growing toll of greyhound fatalities. Last season saw nearly double the number of deaths compared to the previous season. Thirteen greyhounds died in the 2023/24 season from race-related injuries, compared to seven in 2022/23.
Earlier this year, Addington Raceway was temporarily closed for two months for remedial work following a spate of animal welfare concerns, including the deaths of three dogs in just one month.
“No amount of track repairs or superficial ‘safety measures’ can change the reality that greyhound racing amounts to a death sentence for these dogs,” says Brodie.
“This industry exists solely to fuel gambling profits, and it has no place in modern Aotearoa.”
SAFE is calling on the Government to intervene immediately and ban greyhound racing in New Zealand.
“This is more than just a welfare failure; it’s a moral failure. Greyhound racing does not reflect the values of New Zealanders, and the continuation of this industry is a stain on our national conscience.”
“It’s time for the Government to show true leadership and bring an end to this cruel and outdated industry before more lives are needlessly lost.”
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
Notes:
In May 2024, leading animal organisations Dogwatch, HUHA, SAFE and SPCAannounced a commitment to assistwith the rehoming of greyhounds should a ban be enacted.
A2022 pollcommissioned by SPCA found that 74% of New Zealanders would vote to ban greyhound racing in a referendum.
Gisborne the country’s top performer in ASB’s latest Regional Economic Scoreboard
Gisborne claims first place on the leaderboard for first time in more than four years
Biggest drops seen in Southland, down from first spot to ninth, and Marlborough, falling from fourth place to second-to-last
Despite signs of optimism in housing market and export growth in some regions, economic outlook to remain sluggish until 2025.
Growth is on the horizon, according to ASB’s Regional Economic Scoreboard released today. The Scoreboard ranks regions based on year-on-year growth across a range of measures, including employment, building consents and retail sales.
Scoreboard data for the April to June quarter paints a fairly bleak picture but ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown expects inflation pressures to ease further by the end of the year, leading to a brighter 2025.
“The unemployment rate rose to a three-year high of 4.6% in Q2, and we expect this to move above 5% by the end of the year. The construction outlook remains soft and household spending is weak, as cost of living pressures bite.
“However, we’re seeing some positive signs in the housing market with house sales increasing by 6.8%, and prices rising by 2.2% this past quarter, and we can expect it to pick up with a bit more speed in 2025.
“Exports for Q2 were $26.26bn, up from $25.99bn a year ago, with dairy still our most attractive offering. Our 2024 growth forecasts for some of our key trading partners have been revised higher which is good news for the country. Much like the rest of the economy however, growth is expected to remain below average for 2024, with weakness in China a concern.”
Gisborne claims top spot on scoreboard
For the first time in more than four years, Gisborne has claimed the top spot on the scoreboard, largely due to the post-cyclone rebuild in the region. Annual construction consents rose sharply by 40.8%, driven by a 152.8% increase in non-residential building. Annual house sales growth was the second highest in the country at 25.8%, and employment performed well, growing 3.6% year-on-year and exceeding the national average of 1.6% growth.
“It’s fantastic to see Gisborne make a comeback on the scoreboard, and we saw the same post-cyclone rebuild having a positive impact for Hawke’s Bay in the rankings last year. We expect this forward momentum for the region to continue in the short-term.”
Otago and Canterbury round out the podium
Otago remained steady in second place, while Canterbury climbed four spots to claim bronze, with both regions differentiating themselves from other parts of the country.
Otago generated the highest house price growth across the country, which rose 4.4% annually at double the national 2.2% average. Otago also showed strength in the labour market, with employment increasing 5.5% annually, the strongest pace of all the regions. Meanwhile, Cantabrians’ above-average consumer confidence showed in their spending, with retail sales growing at the fastest rate in the country at 2.5% annually, compared to a decline of 0.4% nationwide.
Marlborough and Southland see biggest declines to scoreboard positions
Marlborough’s position in the top four in Q1 was short-lived, with declines across construction, real estate and employment informing the region’s second-to-last placing. Tennent-Brown says the region’s most famous export could be the key to growth in future quarters.
“Marlborough enjoyed a spectacular 2024 wine season and if wine exports pick up as we head into summer, the region could see some much-needed momentum in the next 6-12 months.”
The full ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard, along with other recent ASB reports covering a range of commentary, can be accessed at our ASB Economic Insights page: https://www.asb.co.nz/documents/economic-insights.html
The NZ Regional Economic Scoreboard takes the latest quarterly regional statistics and ranks the economic performance of New Zealand’s 16 Regional Council areas. The fastest growing regions gain the highest ratings, and a good performance by the national economy raises the ratings of all regions. Ratings are updated every three months, and are based on 11 measures, including employment, construction, retail trade, and house prices.
Topics: Supporting adolescent boys and young men trial; Family, domestic and sexual violence.
SHAYNE NEUMANN, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BLAIR: I’m Shayne Neumann, Federal Member for Blair. I’m here with my friend Amanda Rishworth, who’s the Minister for Social Services, and Aime Carrington, who’s the CEO of Domestic Violence Action Centre, commonly known as DVAC, west of Brisbane, a great service that provides a lot of assistance for women and children in particular. But I’m so pleased, Amanda, to have you here today with this announcement, and you have as a psychologist and I as a lawyer, who practiced in family law and child protection, have worked in this field before, in our professional lives, before in Parliament. But I know this announcement is very, very good for Ipswich and surrounds, and I know that DVAC will do a lot of good with the Federal Government funding and support that you’re providing. I’ll hand over to you, Amanda, to tell us about it.
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: It’s so wonderful to be here today. Firstly, I’d like to thank Shayne, who’s been an amazing advocate for women and children in particular, who have experienced family, domestic and sexual violence. His advocacy has made sure that the attention, not just here in Ipswich, but right across the country, is really, really focused. I’d also like to thank Aime and the whole team at the Domestic Violence Action Centre, the frontline workforce that I met today. The Commonwealth Government, under the Albanese Labor Government, has really focused on family and domestic violence since we were elected. Our National Plan to End Family Domestic and Sexual Violence in a generation is something that we put in place very soon after we were elected, and we’ve now had a number of budget rounds that have put close to $4 billion on the table when it comes to frontline services and other programs. But it was wonderful to meet with Aime and the other frontline workers to hear how they’re actually working to spend this money. Whether it is through our frontline workforce, through the National Partnerships Agreement that we have, providing help to women and children really in crisis. Or whether it is the work that they complement their casework with, with keeping women safe in their homes, ensuring that there’s the right technical solution and support for women to stay where they want to live in their community, but don’t always feel certain to do so without this extra support. But most importantly, it was wonderful to hear about the enthusiasm for the new announcement today that we’ve made about supporting young men and boys break the cycle of family and domestic violence. We know that children, particularly men and boys, who have experienced family and domestic violence or other adverse childhood experiences, are more likely to choose to use violence, and therefore we know that if we are going to break the cycle, we must work with these boys and men to make sure that the cycle is not repeated. And that is what this trial I’m announcing today is. There’s 12 different organisations that will run support across the country. And it is wonderful that the Domestic Violence Action Centre will be one of those working in this new way. I have to say that one of the really key elements of the National Plan is to acknowledge the experience of children as domestic violence victim survivors and to make sure that they get the support that they need. That’s what these programs are all about. There’ll be both rural and regional areas that will have these trials, as well as metropolitan areas. And here in Ipswich, there is a there is a wonderful program that will be delivered. I’m going to ask Aime to speak about that soon. Services will begin to roll out, and support will begin to roll out from January this year, and will be over a three year period. But I’d just like to thank Aime and her team for the really wonderful application they’ve put in to work with these boys and young men and to make sure that we are really breaking the cycle when it comes to family and domestic violence. So I’m going to ask Aime to speak about her program in particular.
AIME CARRINGTON, CEO OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION CENTRE: I’m Aime Carrington. I’m the CEO of the Domestic Violence Action Centre. DVAC has been operating for just under 30 years within the Ipswich region, and we’re really excited about the announcement today and to be a part of this new partnership with YFS to pilot a program called ‘Breaking the Cycle’. Breaking the Cycle will be working with young men and boys aged 12 to 18 years who have experienced domestic and sexual violence. We will be supporting them on their journey for healing and trauma and abuse that they’ve experienced, and we’ll be supporting them to build their own positive masculinities, behaviours, and ways of behaving within the family and with their own intimate partners. We’re really excited, because what this program will do is it will build a new evidence base through being evaluated to show what really works with breaking the cycle of domestic and sexual violence. I’m really proud of the team at DVAC, and really excited to see the positive gains that we’ll be able to achieve alongside our community, our community partners, young men and their families, with this work together.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Okay, we’ll hand over to you for some questions.
JOURNALIST: Thank you. First question to the Minister. This kind of program for young boys is the first of its kind in Australia, is it? Why do you think it’s so important to have?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: What we know, and what the evidence shows us is that we must make sure that if we break the cycle, we have to intervene early. And of course, particularly boys and young men, if violence has been normalised in the home, if it has been shown that that’s the only way to respond, then we’re going to see that violence cycle continue. So we must intervene early to break the cycle, but also we must ensure that children, in particular that have experienced family and domestic violence carry their own scars, their own trauma, and we need to support them to heal. We need to make sure that they are over able to overcome what is often a very traumatic experience. So our National Plan has been very focused on that we need to elevate children. Children didn’t get the type of focus in the first National Plan around gender-based violence, but in this plan, we are elevating children, because that’s where we know we can make a real difference.
JOURNALIST: And of course, it’s not just here in Ipswich, but it is across the country, 12 sites, but likely more to come next year. Is that right?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: There’s 12 sites that will be running over the next few years. There’s one, for example, in Rockhampton, being run by Centrecare Rockhampton. They’ll be run across rural and regional areas as well as metropolitan areas in most states and territories. And we will be gathering the evidence from these trials to look at how we put in best practice and expand this type of support across the country.
JOURNALIST: And I have a question for Aime, sorry, how important is it to have these services funded by Government to, I guess, you know, get these kids to help they need?
AIME CARRINGTON: Government funding is essential to the success of specialist domestic family and central violence services. And it’s really important to be doing innovative pilots like the Breaking the Cycle program, because we need to do more as a society to really make a difference and to change the trajectory. If we want to achieve ending gender-based violence in one generation, it’s services like this that are going to make a real difference alongside everything else that we’re doing. Ending gender-based violence is going to take a whole society, and so this is a really important step forward.
A fire investigation report into the Port Hills fire, which started on 14 February 2024, has located a specific origin area on private property but the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
District Commander Dave Stackhouse says, “Investigators were unable to identify a specific ignition source. As the cause of the fire cannot be proven to an acceptable level of certainty, it is classified as undetermined. However, if further information becomes available, the investigation will be reopened.”
Dave Stackhouse says an examination of the scene identified a specific origin area of approximately five square metres, on private property about 50 metres off the side of Worsleys Road.
“The owner of the property where the fire originated cooperated with the investigation and advised that there had been no activity or equipment used on the day the fire started,” Dave Stackhouse says.
“Our legal advice is that, due to privacy reasons, Fire and Emergency is unable to release the specific origin area of the fire because it is on private property,” he says.
“We acknowledge this may be disappointing for all those who were affected by the Port Hills fire in February and were hoping for answers,” the District Commander says.
“Our investigation into the cause of the fire included three experienced wildfire investigators working alongside the New Zealand Police and who arrived in Christchurch the day after the fire started.
“They interviewed three witnesses who were in the vicinity of the fire when it started and were the first to report the fire to 111. They assessed photos and videos of the early stages of the fire which were sent in by the public or captured on CCTV,” he says.
“In the lead up to the fire, Canterbury was experiencing a warm, dry summer, combined with dry vegetation across the District. These conditions assisted in the ignition and spread of the fire.”
Dave Stackhouse says that while the cause of the fire is undetermined, significant incidents like this one are a strong reminder that everyone should take steps to protect themselves from wildfire.
“Now is the time to prepare for the fire season. We encourage the community to develop an emergency plan, this should include a plan for pets and livestock,” he says.
“We also recommend that property owners take action to create a defensible space around their properties, remove unwanted vegetation and leaves and use low flammability plants to assist with creating a green fire break around properties.”
People can find out more information about protecting themselves from wildfires on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand website and atCheckitsalright.co.nz.
“Fire and Emergency extends its thanks to the many volunteers and staff who worked long hours to contain and extinguish the Port Hills fire.
“We also want to acknowledge and thank partner agencies for their support throughout the response and the Port Hills residents and Christchurch community for their cooperation.
“We would also like to thank everyone who contributed to our investigation through sending in photos and videos of the fire during the incident,” Dave Stackhouse says.
A copy of the fire investigation report will also be available on Fire and Emergency’s website from 1pm on Tuesday 24 September 2024.
Background
Just after 2pm on 14 February 2024, Fire and Emergency New Zealand was alerted to a vegetation fire near Worsleys Road on the Christchurch Port Hills. The fire burnt through approximately 650 hectares and destroyed a residential structure and various infrastructure, including causing some damage to the Christchurch Adventure Park.
The fire burnt across the Port Hills for three weeks and involved firefighters from across Canterbury, multiple aircraft and ground machinery, a large number of support and incident management personnel, and Fire and Emergency’s specialist drone team.
Israel has begun the wholesale slaughter of Lebanese civilians in a war model based on the genocide in Gaza and PSNA is calling on the government to condemn the killing.
Over the past few daysat least 492 people, including 35 children, have been killed and 1,645 wounded in Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
This is the latest of Israel’s highly-inflammatory actions to provoke a wider Middle East War which include:
“Israel is an out-of-control rogue state which is pushing hard for an all-out war with Iran” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “Our government must condemn the killings and demand accountability for Israel’s reckless provocations”
“Christopher Luxon claims the government wants all parties to refrain from actions that would escalate Israel’s war on Gaza into a wider Middle East war. Israel is actively fanning the flames of war and Mr Luxon must call this out on behalf of Aotearoa New Zealand”
“The problem in the Middle East has always been Israel’s colonisation of Palestine over 76 years, driving Palestinians off their land before stealing the land”
In the meantime Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is driving for a wider war to avoid the collapse of his far-right government and his looming trial on bribery and corruption charges.”
Injury statistics – work-related claims: 2023 – 24 September 2024 – Injury statistics for work-related claims give information about claims accepted by ACC for work-related injuries.
Key facts
A total of 226,600 work-related injury claims were made in 2023 (up 1,200 from 2022).
The incidence rate for claims related to work-related injuries was 86 claims per 1,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) in 2023. This is the lowest rate since the start of the series in 2002.
The manufacturing; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; and construction industries had the highest incidence rates of work-related injury claims in 2023.
Trades workers had the highest number of claims by occupation in 2023, with 39,000 claims.
Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this information release:
Porirua’s ChoctoberFest is back for its third year, with 20 cafés across the city serving up unique creations throughout October, all featuring iconic Whittaker’s chocolate.
For the whole month, 19 Porirua cafés will be offering unique chocolate drinks, vying for the title of Top of the Chocs, and from 1 to 13 October there will be 10 delicious baked treats available as part of the Whittaker’s Bake Off.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says having the support of Whittaker’s is great for the city.
“We know how much Kiwis love Whittaker’s chocolate and to have it made on our doorstep here in Porirua is something we’re really proud of.
“We’ve also got some amazing hospitality outlets and we know it’s a tough time for that industry. So ChoctoberFest is a great way to get behind local businesses and show some support, while enjoying something delicious,” she says.
Whittaker’s CEO James Ardern says the company is proud to have been making chocolate in Porirua for more than 50 years.
“The annual ChoctoberFest is always a great opportunity to celebrate that, and we are delighted to be part of it again this year.
“We look forward to seeing how local businesses get creative with chocolate, and to sampling what’s on offer throughout the month.”
With hot and cold drinks, imaginative baked creations, vegan options, gluten free choices and even cocktails, there should be something for almost everyone.
Once you’ve tasted, you can vote for your favourites to help decide who comes out on top.
There are amazing prizes up for grabs, including a Whittaker’s factory tour, invites to an exclusive Whittaker’s event at Kai Tahi, café vouchers, and a year’s supply (52 blocks) of chocolate.
Pipe renewals along Awarua and Prosser streets and the first stage of replacement of the water trunk main at Titahi Bay have been completed as part of Porirua City Council’s ongoing work to renew the city’s drinking water network.
Wellington Water’s GM of Network Development and Delivery, Susannah Cullen, says the community’s patience is appreciated during some disruptions as these important jobs are carried out.
“Vital work like these pipe renewals is key to keeping the leaks backlog at a sustainable level and building a more resilient water supply,” she says.
While leaks are a concern across the region, the number of leaks in Porirua is manageable, Ms Cullen says. A “sustainable backlog” is the level of leaks agreed to by Porirua City Council and Wellington Water, meaning water loss is being contained and projects and work can be delivered efficiently.
Mayor Anita Baker was pleased to see the positive impact from Council’s increased investment.
“Balancing pipe renewals with leak fixes is vital to keep water loss down in the long term,” she says.
“But our work doesn’t stop here. As we look ahead to summer, we’ll work to keep leaks down and keep an eye on our wai across the board.”
Mayor Baker added there are simple, sensible ways the community can help too.
“Following water restrictions, making easy choices like doing full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher, and turning the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth – it all makes a difference.”
Porirua City will enter level 1 water restrictions at midnight on Sunday 29 September. At this level, the public are asked to only use sprinklers every second day. Even numbered houses can use their sprinklers on even numbered days, and odd numbered houses on odd numbered days.