NewzIntel.com

Category: New Zealand

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Our favourite West Coast huts | Conservation blog

    Source: Department of Conservation

    On the West Coast of the South Island, you’ll find a huge range of tramping opportunities – from simple overnighters suitable for young families to multi-day adventures for those with backcountry skills. We spoke with a few West Coast staff to hear about their favourite huts and adventures. 

    Remotest Hut: Gorge River Hut.

    What’s your name? What’s your role?

    Owen Kilgour, West Coast Operations Director, based in Hokitika 

    What is your favourite West Coast hut?  

    Kōhanga Atawhai – Manson Nicholls Hut 

    When did you first visit? 

    In 2022 it was our first overnight hike as a family with three young boys. 

    I have run into this hut frequently over the past eight years when visiting family who live close by. 

    Why do you like it?  

    Kōhanga Atawhai – Manson Nicholls Hut is the ideal first authentic kiwi tramping experience for families.  

    The original hut on this site, Manson-Nicholls Memorial Hut, was constructed in 1976 by members of the Christchurch Tramping Club and The Lake Daniell’s Fishing Club in memory of three young trampers who lost their lives nearby in 1974. The current hut was built by DOC staff especially for families and school groups. Every time I visit, it puts a smile on my face to see lots of kids enjoying their experience in nature. 

    How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness? 

    The hut is 3 hours walk from nearest road end on the Lake Daniell Track. It’s a great first tramp for families. 

    Kōhanga Atawhai – Manson Nicholls Hut.

    What’s your name? What’s your role?

    Alex Malcolm, Recreation Ranger, Reefton 

    Favourite Hut?

    Moonlight Tops Hut on the Paparoa Track.  

    When did you first visit? 

    September 2022 I think. I was the hut warden up there for a couple of seasons and it was such an epic place to spend eight days every other week watching the different weather patterns come and go and meeting lots of different people passing through 

    Why do you like it? 

    The highlight was always watching the most epic sunsets with a hot cup of tea above the hut, up a secret “spur”.  

    How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness? 

    Its 20 kilometres from Smoke-ho carpark. You need a moderate level of fitness as it’s lots of relentless uphill.  You need to be fairly competent on a mountain bike as there are narrow sections, steep drop offs and lots of loose rogue rocks that can kick you off if you are not careful.  

    Moonlight Tops Hut.

    What’s your name? What’s your role? 

    Benjamin Pigott, Inspector – Checking huts, tracks and structures throughout the WSI backcountry.  

    What is your favourite West Coast hut? 

    I have two! 

    Jacko Flat Hut, located up the Crooked Valley.  

    When did you first visit? 

    March 2024, and then later in May along with a crew  to undertake maintenance work. This took 10 days and we really gave the hut a birthday! New roof, piles, bearers & a paint to name a few of the jobs we did.  

    Why do you like it? 

    It sits in a beautiful remote valley with little tramping traffic. It’s now done up for all to enjoy!  

    How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness? 

    You’d want a good 8hr day of tramping to get in there. Moderate to difficult, but achievable by most parties with backcountry navigation skills who do their homework about track conditions.  

    Jacko Flat Hut – from left: DOC Inspectors Ben Pigott, Mike Detlaff, and Rangers Casey Rhodes and Matt Ainge

    What is your other favourite West Coast hut?

    Nolans Hut

    When did you first visit?

    Oct 2024

    Why do you like it?

    It’s a beautiful old hut with lots of heritage, built back in 1949. The Perth Valley has had a lot of Predator control done by ZIP, and the bird life is really on the rise. A spectacular hut to base yourself for adventures into more difficult terrain up the Perth valley.

    How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness?

    Approx 6 hours or so, moderate fitness and moderate route finding required. The hut is old and has character, it’s certainly not a Hilton so expect to be a bit feral! 

    Nolans Hut.

    Our network of tracks and huts

    Owen Kilgour Western South Island Operations Director– says “DOC has a fantastic network of tracks and huts on conservation land on the West Coast, and I’d encourage people to get out and explore. There are tramping opportunities for everyone, from families undertaking their first overnighters with young children, to backcountry wilderness experiences for those experienced in the outdoors. Going tramping requires warm clothes, a pack, a raincoat and a pair of sturdy footwear but you can start out with basic gear, and not spend too much money getting started. It’s a great way to see some of the most beautiful places in New Zealand.” 

    Biggest Hut: Heaphy Hut. Photo: Richard Rossiter

    DOC hut network in general

    DOC manages a network of over 950 huts around New Zealand providing shelter and enabling trampers and others to overnight in some of our most picturesque places including in forests, on mountainsides and by lakes, rivers and the sea.   

    DOC huts come in a range of standards from basic bivvies to serviced. Most are available on a first come first served basis but around 55 must be booked in advance. 

    Bookable huts help us manage our very popular or over-subscribed facilities. They provide certainty to families and less experienced visitors,  and support the payment of hut fees so these facilities can continue into the future.   

    It’s important all hut users pay their hut fees, are well-prepared before heading out and assess conditions before deciding whether it’s safe to go, even if people have made a booking. 

    How many huts does the West Coast have?

    In Western South Island Region we have 148 huts and bivvies in total with 147 open.  

    Highest Hut: Pioneer Hut. Photo: Jonathan Astin

    What is the highest (altitude)?   

    Above Mean Sea Level Hut Name
    2360 Pioneer Hut – NZAC Hut, managed by DOC
    2350 Centennial Hut NZAC Hut, managed by DOC
    1680 Almer Hut

    What is the biggest (how many beds)?

    Number of Bunks Hut Name
    32 Heaphy Hut
    31 Welcome Flat Hut
    28 Mackay Hut

    What is the oldest?

    Construction Date Hut Name
    1/01/1930 Douglas Rock Hut
    1/01/1931 Chancellor Hut
    1/04/1938 Locke Stream Hut

    What is the newest?

    Construction Date Hut Name
    1/03/2022 Belltown Manunui Hut
    1/11/2020 Mataketake Hut – Owned by Backcountry Trust
    1/03/2020 Kohanga Atawhai – Manson Nicholls Hut

    What is the most remote?

    Distance Hut Name
    35.1 Km Gorge River Hut
    29.5 km Neave Hut
    Newest Hut: Belltown Manunui Hut

    Who else helps maintain them?

    • Permolat, Backcountry Trust, private individuals, groups and volunteers.

    In addition to huts, on the West Coast DOC also manages:

    • 1283km of track

    • 2029 structures (eg boardwalks, bridges, jetties, culverts etc)

    • 19 campsites

    Oldest Hut: Douglas Rock Hut. Photo: Eiji Kitai

    Discover more from Conservation blog

    Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business and Energy – Winter ‘24 hedging costs impact interim financial result – Meridian

    Source: Meridian Energy

    26 February 2025 – Meridian Energy has reported a net loss after tax of $121 million for the six months ending 31 December 2024, compared to a net profit after tax of $191 million in last year’s interim result. 

    Operating cash flows were $50 million, down from $303 million in the same period last year. 
    These results were heavily impacted by the cost of hedge contracts for winter 2024 in the face of one-in-90-year record low inflows and an unexpected and unprecedented shortage of domestic gas. The hedge contracts included calling the largest demand response option with New Zealand’s Aluminum Smelter (NZAS).

    EBITDAF fell from $443 million to $257 million and underlying net profit fell from $175 million to a $5 million loss. Both of these are non-GAAP measures.

    “The combination of particularly low hydro inflows, low wind and gas shortages made the operating environment for the first half of this financial year as tough as I can recall experiencing,” says Meridian Chief Executive Neal Barclay.

    “We took a hit for New Zealand. Meridian put this country’s security of supply first and, as New Zealand’s largest renewable electricity generator, our balance sheet tends to underwrite the mitigation of extended droughts. That’s one of the ways the country benefits from having large and financially strong gentailers. While the situation was particularly challenging, we know we rely on Mother Nature for our fuel and accept the financial impact droughts bring. We prepare the business to deal with these kinds of eventualities, including maintaining a strong and flexible balance sheet.”

    “There is plenty of time before the coming winter, but we are highly focused on managing risks to winter 2025 security. We have reached a new agreement with NZAS for them to reduce demand by 50MW and are looking for simple rule changes to access this country’s existing contingent hydro storage. The bigger issue, though, is the structural and significant shortage of domestic gas. New Zealand needs to take urgent action to address this. Gas is the biggest factor in setting spot and future electricity prices,” says Neal Barclay.

    With a challenging first half to the financial year, the Meridian Board has decided to maintain the interim dividend at the same level as the prior period, and declared an interim ordinary dividend of 6.15 cents per share. The dividend reinvestment plan will apply to this interim dividend at a 2% discount.

    Mr Barclay says that Meridian has continued to build strong momentum to set the business up for future growth. This year, the company expects to commit over $1 billion of capital to new development projects.

    “The relatively fast decline in gas resources has put even greater emphasis on the need to deploy new renewable developments as quickly as possible, and also get more out of our existing fleet of hydro and wind generation. In that regard, we’ve had a few wins recently. We’ve reinstated capacity in the generation fleet after resolving transformer issues at Manapōuri and West Wind, and we’ve begun commissioning our Ruakākā grid scale battery. We’ve also made great progress in advancing a development pipeline that will deliver additional megawatts for many years to come,” says Neal Barclay.

    Meridian recently announced:

    A finalised consent for its 120MW Ruakākā solar development (February)
    Consent for its 90MW Mt Munro Wind Farm near Eketāhuna (February)
    A Scheme Implementation Agreement as part of its bid to acquire the remaining shares in NZ Windfarms (February)
    A Power Purchase Agreement with Harmony Energy / First Renewables in respect of their joint venture to build the 150MW Tauhei Solar Farm in the Waikato (January)
    A 50-50 joint venture with Nova Energy to build the 400MW Te Rahui solar farm at Rangitāiki near Taupō (December).

    The first half of FY25 has also seen tremendous progress in Meridian’s Retail business. Having completed a strategic reset and restructure to enable the business to meet changing technology and consumer needs, the company has launched three new products (Smart Hot Water, Smart EV Charging and the Four Hours Free Plan), with more to come over the remainder of the financial year.

    “Customers are responding to these changes, with record numbers signing up. As of 1 January, we had achieved our highest ever market share of electricity connections, with 16.58% across the Meridian and Powershop brands. Our brands also led the industry rankings for new connections in December, with Powershop first and Meridian second, and more than 4,000 connections that month across both brands,” says Neal Barclay.

    “The business has weathered an extraordinarily difficult set of circumstances and leveraged our financial strength to ensure the lights stayed on for New Zealand homes and businesses. At the same time, we’ve not backed away from our strategic goals and our customer market share has continued to grow as has our renewable development pipeline.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New information comes to light in West Coast cold case investigation

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are reviewing new information about the 26-year-old murder of David John Robinson after canvassing the small West Coast settlement of Kakapotahi.

    Detective Inspector Geoff Baber says after re-interviewing individuals in mid-February, new information and lines of enquiry had come to light.

    “The dedicated investigation team based in Hokitika Police Station, are following these new leads, and are interviewing new people now located across the West Coast and some other parts of the South Island.”

    The initial homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998, after the body of David was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross, where it had laid for up to two weeks.

    Cold cases like David’s murder are periodically reviewed with the aim of identifying opportunities to solve them and bring closure to loved ones, says Detective Inspector Baber.

    “Our goal is to get justice for David, and answers for his family.”

    It has been reported that a single gunshot was heard by a number of people in the Kakapotahi settlement between 14 and 18 December around 10am and 10:30am – approximately two weeks before David’s body was located about 3 kilometres away.

    “There has been no explanation to date as to what that single gunshot was.

    “If you know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us.”

    If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland Council cracks down on unregistered dogs: infringement notices issued as last resort

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council is, for the first time, taking firm action against dog owners who have failed to register their pets, with around 5,500 infringement notices to be issued over the next few days.

    Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley, emphasised dog registration is not optional.

    “This is the first time we’ve moved to last resort measures and issued infringement notices. Dog registration is a legal requirement designed to benefit both the community and pet owners,” says Councillor Bartley.

    The initiative is part of the council’s strategy to curb roaming dogs and dog attacks, by getting stricter on Aucklanders who do not register, de-sex or vaccinate their dogs, or keep them contained on their property.

    Infringement notices will be sent to owners of “sighted” dogs; dogs which were registered last financial year but not re-registered or dogs known to be still alive from either being “sighted’ by Animal Management Officers or as the result of a complaint.

    In November, Auckland Council sent out 22,929 pre-infringement reminder notices to the owners of unregistered dogs. This proactive approach resulted in a significant increase in registrations and provided the council with more accurate data on the number of dogs residing in the region, as well as increasing revenue that goes directly towards providing animal management services.

    “We appreciate those dog owners who responded to the pre-infringement notices and did the right thing by registering their dogs and paying the fee. But for those who haven’t, this is the final warning,” says Councillor Bartley.

    “Responsible dog ownership begins with dog registration. Ratepayers should not have to bear the cost of irresponsible dog owners who refuse to register their animals.

    “This enforcement action highlights Auckland Council’s commitment to reducing roaming dogs and dog attacks and ensuring dogs are registered across the region.”

    The $300 fines come after multiple attempts to contact owners and provide them with opportunities to renew their dog registrations.

    Auckland Council’s Animal Management Manager Elly Waitoa acknowledged the positive response from many dog owners following the pre-infringement notices being sent but reinforced the need for further compliance.

    “The number of unregistered dogs has now reduced which is a significant improvement,” says Ms Waitoa.

    “However, too many owners have still ignored their responsibilities. We have given them ample time and reminders, and now, as a last resort, we are issuing infringement notices. Our goal is for all dog owners to register their pets rather than face a fine.”

    Auckland Council urges all remaining unregistered dog owners to act immediately to avoid penalties. Pet registration is a legal requirement, and ongoing non-compliance will not be tolerated.

    For more information on dog registration and compliance, click here

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have you seen Daniel?

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are appealing for the public’s assistance in locating Daniel Quinn, who has been reported missing.

    The 30-year-old Pahurehure man was reported missing on 23 February by concerned family members.

    At that time, he was last seen in the Hamilton area.

    Police and Daniel’s family are concerned for his wellbeing, and we ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact us.

    We believe Daniel is still in the Hamilton area.

    If you have information that can assist Police, please contact 111.

    Information can also be provided by calling 105 and using the reference number 250225/2443.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Infrastructure Pipeline continues to grow

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The latest quarterly update from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission shows that the value of infrastructure projects in the National Infrastructure Pipeline totals $204 billion, an increase of $60.4 billion since the last quarter, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. 

    The Pipeline is managed by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission and provides a national view of current and future infrastructure projects, from roads, to water infrastructure, to schools, and more.

    “The December 2024 Pipeline update shows there are over 1500 projects currently under construction, worth a total of $48.6 billion. There are $107.9 billion of infrastructure projects that have a funding source confirmed, an increase of $8.1 billion from previous quarter,” says Mr Bishop. 

    “A strong pipeline of infrastructure projects means a growing economy with more jobs and more opportunities for Kiwis.

    “The Commission’s projections show that more than $15.1 billion is expected to be spent across all infrastructure sectors in 2025. This spend is equivalent to around 3.6 per cent of our GDP. The transport sector accounts for the biggest spend, with more than $7.7 billion – 51 per cent of our total spend in 2025.

    “The Commission continues to work with infrastructure providers to improve the transparency and quality of information that is available. A more complete Pipeline improves the effectiveness and value that we can gain from this tool.

    “The Pipeline now includes information on more than 7,600 infrastructure projects that are underway or being planned by 147 organisations. A more robust and transparent pipeline is good for New Zealand infrastructure. It can help us understand where there are pressures and opportunities for the construction sector.

    “The estimated value of projects in the Pipeline changes over time as infrastructure providers complete projects, update their project planning, improve the scope and quality of the information they submit, and as more organisations contribute their project information.

    “It’s great to see the number of organisations that contribute to the Pipeline continues to grow. There are now 108 organisations contributing, which include central government, local government, and the private sector

    “In December eleven more councils joined the Pipeline – making 59 in total. Local government has a major role in New Zealand’s infrastructure, and I encourage the remaining councils and any infrastructure provider who is not yet contributing to reach out to the Commission.”

    Read the latest Pipeline update: https://tewaihanga.govt.nz/the-pipeline/pipeline-snapshot

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Can you help us identify this person?

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attribute to Detective Sergeant Luke Vaughan

    Christchurch Police would like to identify the man in this photo.

    We are hoping they can assist with an ongoing enquiry in relation to an assault at the intersection of Radcliffe Road and Main North Road in Northwood, Christchurch on Saturday 15 February.

    If this is you, or you know who this is, please contact Police on 105 online or by phone and quote file number: 250216/8214.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police make arrests following Flat Bush burglary

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Two men have been charged following a ram raid burglary at a Flat Bush liquor store.

    Just before 12.30am, a burglary was reported in progress at the Bishop Dunn Place store.

    Detective Inspector Karen Bright, of Counties Manukau CIB, says two stolen vehicles had arrived at the scene.

    “One of the vehicles was used to gain entry into the business,” she says.

    “The Eagle helicopter deployed to the area and located the offenders fleeing the scene in one of the vehicles.”

    Police continued observations of the offenders’ movements to a nearby address on Belinda Avenue.

    “All three offenders abandoned this vehicle, before getting into another vehicle which stopped nearby,” Detective Inspector Bright says.

    “One offender got out and returned to the vehicle that had just been abandoned.

    “He drove this vehicle a short distance before it crashed into a fence, and he fled on foot.”

    A Police dog handler conducted several enquiries in the immediate area.

    Meanwhile, Eagle was continuing to track the other vehicle heading south to Takanini.

    Detective Inspector Bright says spikes were successfully deployed and the vehicle travelled further north to Ōtara where spikes were again deployed.

    “The vehicle became immobile and both offenders were arrested without further incident.”

    Two men were arrested, including a gang associate.

    The pair, aged 20 and 24, will face charges in the Manukau District Court.

    These include burglary and multiple counts of unlawfully taking a vehicle.

    The 24-year-old has also been charged with dangerous driving. 

    Detective Inspector Bright says Police are following positive lines of enquiry to locate the third offender.

    “This is a great result, and Police will continue to hold those to account who are committing this brazen offending within our community.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Barred European Union politician brands Israel as ‘a rogue state’

    Israel has now banned another European Union parliamentarian from entering the country, reports Al Jazeera.

    The government gave no reasons why Lynn Boylan, who chairs the European Parliament EU-Palestine delegation, was denied entry.

    “This utter contempt from Israel is the result of the international community failing to hold them to account,” Boylan, an Irish MP in Brussels, said in a statement.

    “Israel is a rogue state, and this disgraceful move shows the level of utter disregard that they have for international law.

    “Europe must now hold Israel to account.”

    Boylan said she had planned to meet with Palestinian Authority officials, representatives of civil society organisations, and people living under Israeli occupation.

    She is a member of the Sinn Fein party in Ireland, which has been among the most vocal countries in criticising the Israeli government over its treatment of Palestinians.

    France’s Hassan also refused
    Earlier, EU lawmaker Rima Hassan was also refused entry at Ben-Gurion airport and ordered to return to Europe.

    “Hassan, who is expected to land from Brussels in the coming hour, consistently works to promote boycotts against Israel in addition to numerous public statements both on social media and in media interviews,” said Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel’s office.

    Hassan is a French national of Palestinian origin known for her support of the Palestinian cause and for speaking out against Israel’s war on Gaza.

    Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, outlined a range of worries about the situation in war-battered Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

    “We have constantly called on all parties, including Israel, to respect international humanitarian law,” she said, adding that Europe “cannot hide our concern when it comes to the West Bank”.

    ICC raps Merz over warrants
    Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has declared that states cannot unilaterally “determine soundness” of its rulings

    Earlier, it was reported that Germany’s election winner Friedrich Merz was saying he planned to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the country — despite an ICC war crimes warrant issued for his arrest, which Merz claimed did not apply.

    The ICC responded by saying states had a legal obligation to enforce its decisions, and any concerns they may have should be addressed with the court in a timely and efficient manner.

    “It is not for states to unilaterally determine the soundness of the court’s legal decisions,” said the ICC in a statement.

    Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the court and denies war crimes were committed during its devastating war on Gaza.

    Germans feel a special responsibility towards Israel because of the legacy of the Holocaust, and Merz has made clear he is a strong ally. But Germany also has a strong tradition of support for international justice for war crimes.

    Amnesty slams ‘shameful silence’
     Amnesty International and 162 other civil society organisations and trade unions have signed a joint letter calling on the EU to ban trade and business with Israel’s settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

    “Despite EU consensus about the settlements’ illegality and their link to serious abuses, the EU continues to trade and allow business with them,” the letter said.

    This contributes to “the serious and systemic human rights and other international law abuses underpinning the settlement enterprise”, it added.

    The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July issued a landmark advisory opinion affirming that states must not recognise, aid or assist the unlawful situation arising from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.

    Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Pahiatua-Mangahao Road, Tararua

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can confirm one person has died following a single-vehicle crash near Pahiatua this afternoon.

    Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Pahiatua-Mangahao Road, between Ridge Road North and Soldiers Road, about 5pm.

    Two people are being treated for minor injuries. Sadly, another occupant died a short time later.

    The Serious Crash Unit is conducting a scene examination and the road remains closed.

    Support is being offered to the victim’s family and the death will be referred to the Coroner.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Activist News – Mana whenua file interim enforcement proceedings to stop sewage pipe

    Source: Mana Whenua

    “Under the leadership of mana whenua, Protect Rotokākahi Incorporated has filed for interim enforcement orders in the Environment Court to immediately stop Rotorua Lakes Council’s construction of a sewage pipe through wāhi tapu by Lake Rotokākahi,” said spokesperson for court action Te Whatanui Leka Taumalolo Skipwith.

    “Last night, over 100 police marched on our whenua and took control over this sacred area.”

    “They forcefully and violently removed our protectors on site, and today they have allowed the council to start drilling where our ancestors are buried.”

    “Many of our people were killed here by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. This is where our ancestors lie.”

    “Our people have been shut out of this whole pipeline approval process, and now we are shut off our whenua while it is desecrated before our eyes. So, we are escalating to urgent legal action to immediately stop the drilling.”

    “This builds on the Environment Court applications already filed last week. Rotorua Lakes Council never obtained the required resource consent for conducting earthworks around Lake Rotokākahi. We are asking the Environment Court for an urgent halt to the council’s works while the court considers this.”

    “Our people are here to protect what is ours, and what is sacred. We deserve the chance to protect our wāhi tapu in court before it is too late.”

    Mana whenua and their supporters are calling on people to join them on the whenua and bear witness as we show resistance throughout this desecration. The Protect Rotokākahi Instagram is urging a call-to-action for its supporters to “Show Up for a Shift” and hold the frontline as an expression of enduring peaceful protection.

    “The fight is actually going to be done here on the whenua, at whawhai, at protections like Rotokākahi. Peaceful resistance is the way we are going to be able to have liberation. And the way we are going to be doing that is being able to stand together side by side,”

    “And so that’s the reason why we’re here, we’ve always been here, we will never leave.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Pahiatua-Mangahao Road, Tararua

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are at the scene of a serious single-vehicle crash that has blocked the road between Pahiatua and Palmerston North.

    Police were called to the scene, on Pahiatua-Mangahao Road, between Ridge Road North and Soldiers Road, about 5pm.

    Two people have minor injuries, and one person is in a critical condition and will be airlifted to hospital.

    The Serious Crash Unit has been advised and the road will likely remain closed for some time.

    Motorists are advised to expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Manners Street, Wellington

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are at the scene of a serious crash on Manners Street, central Wellington, following a collision between a pedestrian and a bus.

    The incident happened about 4.40pm, between Victoria and Cuba streets.

    One person is in a critical condition.

    Part of Manners Street will be closed to traffic and pedestrians while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.

    Members of the public are advised to avoid the area.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Investigation Update: Appeal for sightings of vehicle following suspicious church fires in Masterton

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are following strong lines of enquiry in the investigation into arsons at churches in Masterton on the morning of Saturday 22 February.

    As part of our enquiries, we are seeking information about a green Ford Festiva which was seen leaving one of those fires.

    Police are working to establish the movements of the vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning when the arsons were reported, and the day or days beforehand.

    The vehicle was located abandoned on Sunday 23 February on Mikimiki Road, Masterton.

    A significant search was deployed into the area, however no occupants of the vehicle were located.

    Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation, including sightings of this vehicle, is urged to contact Police via 105 online or the 105 phone reporting line, referencing file number 250222/1673.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Samoan Prime Minister Fiame survives in resounding no-confidence vote

    By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor

    Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has survived a vote of no confidence after weeks of political turmoil.

    In a vote today, she defeated the motion by 34 votes in favour and 15 against.

    The motion was prompted by a split in the ruling FAST Party, which saw Fiame leading a minority government.

    But in a shock move today, FAST members voted alongside Fiame’s faction to register a resounding defeat against Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi’s motion.

    The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Papalii Lio Masipua, had granted the opposition’s formal request for a vote of no confidence against Fiame on Friday.

    Tuilaepa, who is also the head of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), confirmed that the Speaker approved the motion in writing and allowed five members from the opposition bench to speak on it.

    According to Samoa’s constitutional requirements, the MP who commands the majority of MPs should be elected as Prime Minister or continue as Prime Minister.

    ‘Another desperate attempt’
    However, the Samoan government stated Tuilaepa’s move was “another desperate attempt to stir political drama” ahead of the no-confidence vote.

    Political upheaval hit Samoa just three days into 2025 when the chair of the ruling FAST party and Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries La’auli Leuatea Schmidt confirmed he was facing criminal charges.

    FAST Party chair Laauli Leuatea Schmidt (left to right), Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, and Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. Image: RNZ Pacific/123RF/Samoa Government/FAST Party

    On January 10, Mata’afa removed La’auli’s ministerial portfolio and subsequently removed three of her Cabinet ministers.

    But La’auli remained chair of the FAST Party, and went on to announce the removal of the prime minister and five Cabinet ministers from the ruling party.

    This decision was reportedly challenged by the removed members.

    Fiame then removed 13 of her associate ministers.

    Laauli acknowledged the challenge of holding a vote of no confidence, but refrained from disclosing the party’s position, stating they would wait until Tuesday.

    First female prime minister
    Fiame is Samoa’s first female prime minister. She had heritage — her father, Fiame Mata’afa Faumuina Mulinu’u, was the country’s first prime minister.

    She took office following the April 2021 election, but that devolved into political crisis.

    The caretaker HRPP government locked the doors to Parliament in an attempt to stop the then prime minister-elect from being sworn into office following her FAST Party’s one-seat election win.

    Two governments claimed a mandate to rule, and the United Nations urged the party leaders to find a solution through discussion.

    The Court of Appeal ruled that the country had a new government after it judged the impromptu swearing-in by the newcomer FAST party on May 24 was legitimate under the doctrine of necessity.

    It took until July for the incumbent, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, to concede.

    Fiame went to school and university in Wellington, New Zealand, but her studies were interrupted in 1977 when she returned to Samoa to help with court cases around the succession of her father’s titles following his death in 1975.

    In 1985, she was elected as MP for Lotofaga, the same seat held by her father and then her mother after his death.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – New resources address implicit bias in the classroom – The Oranui

    Source: The Oranui

    Researcher and advocate Anton Blank (Ngāti Porou-Ngāti Kahungunu) this week launches new resources for teachers, to address racism in the classroom.The Oranui (www.oranui.co.nz) resources for teachers include a 20 minute video module, and a short book REWIRE: understanding racism and how to undo it.

    “The resources help teachers explore their own implicit biases towards Māori and Pasifika students,” Anton Blank says.

    Implicit biases influence human behaviour. They are aversions and preferences that sit below the level of our conscious awareness. Implicit biases are informed by stereotypes and can run counter to our explicit beliefs and values.

    “Everyone is influenced by stereotypes that circulate in the social world. We can manage the influence of these stereotypes on our thinking and behaviour by being mindful. This is the focus of the new resources, which explain the dynamics of racism and how to undo it.”

    Anton Blank argues that all stereotypes are harmful, because they promulgate generalisations about social groups that aren’t necessarily true.

    “Around the world, people of colour are more likely to be negatively stereotyped when it comes to issues like intelligence, work ethic and violence.”

    Recent data shows that more than 70 percent of Māori and Pasifika are failing NCEA numeracy standards, which equates to every third student in secondary schools overall.[1]

    “I find these numbers absolutely terrifying. Forty-one percent of New Zealand’s under 18-year-olds are now Māori and Pasifika. These populations are youthful — bottom-heavy compared to the ageing Pākehā cohort — so they will continue to grow and fill our schools.

    “The most important influence within this data is, I believe, the quality of teacher engagement. Decades of research shows that of all groups of students, teachers have lowest expectations of Māori and Pasifika.”

    The Pygmalion Effect describes how teachers’ expectations determine, to a large part, students’ educational outcomes.[2] If Māori children are to achieve, teachers must lift their expectations of students and treat all students as having the same potential for achievement.

    Research from the US also shows that the quality of teacher engagement is very important in underprivileged areas, and upgrading teachers’ skills has the most effect on achievement in those schools. In Aotearoa, 40% of Māori students live in the two most deprived deciles in the country.[3]

    The Oranui resources for teachers include a 20 minute video module, and a short book REWIRE: understanding racism and how to undo it.

    “The resources encourage teachers to explore their own attitudes towards Māori and Pasifika students. Teachers tend to expect these students to disengage from the learning. As a result, teachers make less effort with them.

    “These students internalise these beliefs and by secondary school, they group themselves together at the back of the classroom, where they attract less attention from teachers than Pākehā and Asian students.

    “Māori students do succeed in Māori educational settings, however, where they feel seen in the classroom, and their potential is nurtured by their teachers.

    “For almost ten years, I have worked with teachers across the motu. All of them say they want to see Māori students succeed.

    “It is not correct to say that they are deliberately excluding Māori and Pasifika students from learning in the classroom. Rather, teachers are working under pressure, which is when their behaviour is triggered by the automatic and implicit biases described here.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Evolution Traffic Management collapse highlights NZ’s impending infrastructure crisis

    Source: First Union

    Financial pressures, Government inaction and the changing nature of work have proved insurmountable for Evolution Traffic Management and have ultimately led to the company’s liquidation and the loss of over 100 jobs, FIRST Union said today.
    Workers across three Evolution Traffic Management sites in Auckland, Hamilton and Taupo were informed on Friday last week that the business’s liquidation will result in job losses for over 100 employees, marking a difficult and uncertain future ahead.
    “The company’s collapse is a direct casualty of the shutdown of rebuilds, the slowdown in roading and infrastructure development, and the sluggish pace of the National Government’s commitment to infrastructure,” said Justin Wallace, FIRST Union organiser.
    “Delays in critical projects have forced hundreds of skilled and unskilled infrastructure workers to leave the country, creating a significant risk to New Zealand’s development and growth.”
    Mr Wallace said the union is supporting members through the process and pursuing entitlements and redundancy compensation for workers as a first priority for the company ahead of any other creditors and commitments: “There’s a lot of stress and anxiety, and a real fear that workers will walk away with nothing if we don’t prioritise their wellbeing.”
    Mr Wallace warned that Evolution Traffic Management will not be the last to fall.
    “The slowdown in infrastructure investment is putting entire sectors at risk. The Government has already dropped the ball on manufacturing, and now it seems we’re letting infrastructure slip through our fingers as well,” said Mr Wallace.
    “Across the industry, there is a clear and urgent warning: if the Government does not act to give infrastructure companies like Evolution some certainty about future projects and their financial viability, we will continue to lose more workers overseas where their experience and talent are more highly valued and compensated.”
    “New Zealand is experiencing an exodus of workers who are seeking better opportunities abroad – a trend exacerbated by the Government’s failure to deliver on its “Back on Track” commitments to working New Zealanders.”
    “Instead of putting the country back on track, the current trajectory looks more like an impending derailment.”
    “The inability to secure and sustain critical infrastructure jobs is having long-term economic consequences that will take years to recover from if left unaddressed.”
    “The loss of skilled workers, the stagnation of infrastructure development, and the ongoing economic instability pose a significant threat to the country’s future. It is time for this Government to get its priorities right to prevent further damage and restore confidence in the sector.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy and Support – Rainbow organisations stand together despite hate and violence

    Source: OutLine Aotearoa

    Rainbow organisations stand together to address the recent attempts to shut down our communities’ joy and celebrations. It will not succeed. We have been excited to see the unity of our community, and how our shared spaces have encouraged belonging and safety amidst recent events. We want our rainbow rangatahi and whānau to stay proud, stand firm, and know there are always support services available.
    To our incredible rangatahi and community, our existence will outlive any hate. Always. No agenda, no opposition, and no force is stronger than the love we share, the friendships we build, and the courage we embody every day. To those who are out, to those still finding their way, to those reclaiming the words that reflect who you are, to those simply existing-we see you, we celebrate you, we stand with you. 
    Na RainbowYOUTH.
    There is no place for hate and violence in Aotearoa. Our rainbow communities are vibrant, loving and welcoming. We will continue to strive to stand in the gap for our people and to whakamana takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and rainbow peoples across the motu. We see you and value you.
    OutLine welcomes constructive kōrero from religious leaders across the spectrum to encourage communities to come together and show solidarity against hate and violence in this country. We implore religious leaders to use their platforms to bring their people in and teach love and acceptance because takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and rainbow peoples have always existed and will continue to exist. 
    It is ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY to keep Aotearoa hate and violence-free. 
    Na OutLine Aotearoa.
    It is time the Government takes serious action to prevent and respond to violence towards rainbow communities. The recent incidents at Auckland Pride are part of an organised ongoing attack on rainbow people’s rights to be themselves and come together. As pride and visibility in our communities grows, loud bigoted voices have tried to drown that pride out, including attempts to embed anti-trans rhetoric from overseas that has no place in Aotearoa. We need to show that we will not overlook hate and a key part of that must be our Government taking leadership. 
    Na InsideOUT Kōaro.  
    Our organisations call on the Government to:
    • 1. Remove the charitable status of Destiny Church and associated charities.
    • 2. Ensure no government agencies are making referrals to Destiny Church-led programmes, such as Man Up.
    • 3. Ask NZ Police to urgently instigate a work programme to improve the collection of hate crime data related to rainbow communities and grow public awareness on how to report hate crimes.
    • 4. Government prioritise a response to investing in rainbow mental health support and preventing and countering violent extremism and disinformation, with a focus which targets rainbow communities. 
    • We encourage our rainbow communities and allies to sign the parliament petition to remove Destiny Church’s charitable status and write to Charity Services to make a complaint. We encourage you to seek out support when you need it and stand steadfast in your right to be who you are and celebrate with pride.
    If you need support:
    1737 (txt anytime)
    0800 OutLine
    0800 611 116 Healthline

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Back out there: Custody Unit reopens on the North Shore

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police is re-opening a state-of-the-art custody unit, ready to support frontline policing operations across the North Shore and Rodney.

    Crucially, it will reduce the time frontline staff in the area spend transporting people in custody.

    The Waitematā East District Custody Unit, based at the North Shore Policing Centre, officially began accepting detainees this morning.

    Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, Minister of Police Mark Mitchell and Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan were in attendance at this morning’s opening.

    The North Shore facility has undergone improvement works in recent months and will support Waitematā District’s existing unit based in Henderson.

    Commissioner Chambers says the population across North Shore and Rodney communities continues to grow.

    “Waitematā is a vast district geographically and it’s important my staff aren’t unnecessarily taken of the road for lengthy periods of time,” he says.

    “The new District Custody Unit will mean reduced travel times for staff working as far north as Wellsford, down to Devonport.”

    Advanced facilities will also mean reduced processing times for arresting officers.

    “The facility is technologically advanced and future-focused for our custody staff,” Commissioner Chambers says.

    “At the end of the day we’ll have frontline staff back out there faster working to keep the community safe.”

    Around the country, Police manage more than 120,000 people in custody each year.

    “Our Custody Units are an important part of managing people in our care and custody safely.

    “In many instances those people in custody require intensive monitoring, and features such as high-quality CCTV and intercom systems will help custody staff.”

    Commissioner Chambers acknowledges the team involved in re-commissioning the unit.

    “It’s great to see the use of technology to make savings and efficiencies, such as the high-quality audio-visual link suite installed,” he says.

    “In many instances for those detainees appearing in court remotely this will remove some costs and complexities associate in transporting them.”

    Superintendent Hassan says the North Shore facility is a welcome addition to the district.

    “We are continuing to find ways to adapt to the growing demand and population across communities in Waitemata,” she says.

    “This facility will be supported by sworn Police staff, alongside additional Authorised Officers recruited into the roles.”

    The facility has been re-opened after being decommissioned in 2013.

    It has been utilised by Police periodically, as required, including periods to support police operations during the pandemic response.

    ENDS

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The Most Important Fact Schools Don’t Teach

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    The Chinese navy has made a big mistake. Sending what Defence Minister Judith Collins called a ‘formidable ship’ so close to Sydney, and interrupting Air New Zealand domestic flights, shows the New Zealand public we need to spend more on defence. ACT supporters have been alone in voting for two per cent of GDP on defence, we predict there will now be more.

    We remember the Ukrainians who’ve lost their lives and their homes in the three years since the Russian invasion. Free Press remains resolute. There are basic facts that cannot be changed. Russia is the aggressor. The war is not just or legal. The breach of borders by force is dangerous to free people everywhere. We must never accept might is right, but we must build our strength so the world doesn’t end up that way.

    The Most Important Fact Schools Don’t Teach

    Schools are teaching children all sorts of things, but so far as we are aware they are not teaching the most important fact of human life. The fact they’re not teaching this fact tells us how mindless education has become, and it limits children’s thinking.

    The fact we’re talking about is the astonishing growth of human life expectancy in the last two centuries. For 100,000 years, people lived to thirty on average. Now, the global average is 72 years.

    People have different ideas about what a good life is. But (except for a few terrorists and cults), everyone agrees being alive is better than being dead. Something in the last 200 years gave us a whole extra life.

    If the education system teaches children nothing else, it should teach that something happened in the last 200 years and it doubled life expectancy. Once they know that, they can learn what works.

    We think the answer might be the problem. The education bureaucracy, academics, and teacher unions don’t want to teach that capitalism is a raging success.

    They’d have to teach about the genesis of the free market in the swamps of the Netherlands. People driven to the lowlands by violence decided to make something of themselves. They drained swamps and built dykes, creating usable land that was theirs.

    The result was a society where ordinary people could make a difference in their own lives. They demanded property rights because they’d literally created their own property. If you couldn’t take then you had to trade, and tribalism gave way to the market. It was around this time Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand for Europe.

    William of Orange, a Dutchman who became King of England, helped take the revolution across the sea, where it germinated on an island buffered from invasion. The common law and the market, along with the enlightenment made the industrial revolution possible.

    In turn the British Navy opened up the world’s sea lanes to trade, and spread their system of democracy and capitalism to the new world, ensuring it would endure for centuries even when they themselves came under attack from fascism.

    All the while ordinary people could get enough calories to be healthy, live in cities with sanitation free of disease, and medical care would stop children and their mothers dying in childbirth or shortly after. Violence that was normal for most humans most of the time, and shortened many lives, is now an exceptional event for most people most of the time.

    The revolution spread further after the Cold War, lifting billions from poverty in the East the same way they had thrived in the west. That same prosperity has raised their life expectancy too. Now the whole world lives twice as long on average as it did before the industrial revolution, but your teacher won’t dwell on that basic fact in most of the world’s schools.

    Instead we have an epidemic of anxiety and depression amongst young people. The tremendous gains of the last two centuries are barely understood. Instead the gains are banked and forgotten while children worry about comparatively small problems.

    We spend a lot of time worrying about differences between people living today when, in reality, everyone is doing vastly better than everyone was even a few generations ago. So much division, so little reality, and not enough hope.

    Imagine if the most important thing children learned was that we’ve doubled our lives in 200 years after 100,000 years of misery. That could be springboard for asking what works and building a much more hopeful future. We just need the Left to make peace with capitalism.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Boatie fined after illegal island landing

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  25 February 2025

    The incident occurred on Saturday 8 February, when two people and two dogs from a 660 Haines Hunter recreational vessel were spotted on the shore of Kawhitu/Stanley Island – one of several pest-free islands off Coromandel’s east coast.

    DOC’s Coromandel Operations Manager Nick Kelly says DOC was tipped off to the landing by other concerned boaties in the area.

    “Landing on our pest-free islands is strictly prohibited, so our informants did the right thing by calling 0800 DOC HOT and reporting what they saw,” says Nick.

    “We’re very grateful for their assistance.”

    Publicity of the illegal landing prompted the vessel’s skipper – an Auckland man in his 50s, who had launched his vessel from Tairua – to contact DOC via the department’s 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) phone line.

    “The boatie was interviewed by a DOC warranted officer, and he’s admitted landing on Kawhitu, and walking right past a sign warning stating the island is off-limits to the public.”

    The boatie was subsequently fined $800 under DOC’s infringement system.

    Nick encourages boaties who see people go ashore on Kawhitu, or any of Coromandel’s conservation islands (Cuvier Island, Aldermen Islands, Mercury Islands), to contact DOC immediately.

    “Anyone landing on our pest-free islands risks undoing decades of conservation work protecting vulnerable species, and potentially compromises island biosecurity.

    “Our nature is among the world’s most vulnerable, and we hope this makes people more aware of how important pest-free areas like Kawhitu are, and why we need to protect them.”

    Roughly 86 ha in size, Stanley Island/Kawhitu is a haven for a number of protected and threatened species, including tieke/saddlebacks, flesh-footed shearwaters/toanui, and kakariki/red-crowned parakeet.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Future use of storm-affected land

    Source: Auckland Council

    More than 1200 high-risk Auckland properties are expected to be purchased by Auckland Council before the end of 2025 – making it one of the largest land acquisition programmes undertaken in New Zealand.

    We are carefully deciding what to do with this storm-affected land, with decisions expected to take years.

    Uses being considered for storm-affected land

    We want to ensure Auckland’s land is used effectively to provide homes and maintain strong communities, while managing risk and reducing the financial impact to ratepayers.

    If we keep the land, options for use could include:

    • flood resilience and stream management

    • adding it to neighbouring parkland or bush

    • managing it as high-hazard land.

    If we don’t keep the land, options could include:

    • sale for safe redevelopment

    • sale with conditions to manage the risk (such as converting ground floor units to storage)

    • sale to neighbours for extra backyard space.

    Auckland Council is considering a range of options for storm-affected land that manages the risks, ensures the land is used effectively and efficiently.

    How decisions will be made

    Auckland Council’s Governing Body is responsible for deciding whether to keep or sell the land, costs associated with keeping the land (if applicable), and considering any views and preferences expressed by a local board.

    The local board is responsible for communicating their views and preferences about storm-affected land in their rohe (boundaries); and is responsible for any storm-affected land that the Governing Body makes available for a local park and/or local service activity – including budget required to maintain it.

    With 1200 properties to assess, carefully deciding the future use for every section will take several years.

    Diagram showing the management of council land after purchase.

    Have a suggestion for a site?

    Where people have suggestions for specific Category 3 sites, we can capture that information in our expressions of interest register.

    Draft policy and implementation plan

    You can read the Draft storm-affected land use – policy and implementation plan on the Auckland Council website (item 12, attachment 1). This policy was endorsed by the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 13 February, ahead of the final approval step with the council’s Policy and Planning Committee expected in March.

    Frequently asked questions:

    What will happen to the land when properties are bought out?

    Auckland Council will explore all possible uses for the land and this may mean keeping it or selling it. We need to manage community expectations about what activities are possible, with safety being our no.1 priority.

    Redevelopment potential will be assessed by looking at the whole property rather than the existing dwelling – there may be scope to locate activity on other parts of the site, or options to re-engineer the land to mitigate risk.

    Who will decide how the land is used?

    We don’t know yet what the total land holdings will be from the buy-out process, so deciding the future use for every parcel of land will take several years.

    It’s anticipated that the council’s Governing Body will make most of the decisions regarding storm-affected land, with consideration of local interests.

    The Storm-affected Land Use Policy has been endorsed by Auckland Council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee and will go to the Policy and Planning Committee in March for final approval. This policy guides the use of this land. 

    Will the community have a say in what happens to land bought out by Auckland Council?

    We want to ensure communities are part of the process to determine the future use of the land, where possible, and we’re also exploring opportunities for partnerships with mana whenua.

    Where community members have suggestions for specific Category 3 sites, we can capture that information in our expressions of interest register, to consider as part of the Future Land Use process. Please send ideas to our expressions of interest register.

    Can the public access Category 3 land purchased by Auckland Council?

    Many of these properties are active worksites, where buildings are being demolished, deconstructed or removed. The council considers these properties pose significant health and safety risks for the public, and strongly discourages anyone from entering and accessing them.

    What will happen to vacant land while the long-term use is decided?

    Council-owned vacant land will be maintained to ensure a ‘kept look’ with a focus on maintaining areas visible from roads and footpaths (i.e. berms and front yards on properties that have road frontages). A budget of $39.4 million has been allocated over 10 years for ongoing maintenance including things like mowing and tree trimming. If you would like to report any maintenance issues please email recoveryoffice@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or if you see any suspicious behaviour please report it to the police.

    Why does it take so long to decide on the future use of these vacant sites?

    More than 1200 high-risk properties are expected to be purchased by the end of the year – making it one of the largest land acquisition programmes undertaken in New Zealand.

    We want to make the best decisions for the land and the community. The safe use of the site is our no.1 priority.

    We have to undertake thorough analysis to explore all possible uses for the land. Making the right long-term decisions takes time and we ask that communities are patient while this work is undertaken.

    Will you be selling sites to recoup some of the costs of the buy-outs?

    Aucklanders have told us we need to minimise the impact on rates of the buy-out programme, which along with other recovery costs tallies to around $1 billion.

    Limited opportunities to sell land for redevelopment or to adjacent landowners, in situations where hazards can be mitigated, will be explored.

    Although the existing dwellings were unsafe to live in, there may be options to redevelop the site in a different way and build new housing that doesn’t have the same levels of risk. This may include amalgamating sites into clusters. More homes are an important outcome for local communities.

    Where we do sell land, we’ll ensure that it is sold with conditions appropriate to manage the level of risk e.g. converting ground floor units to storage.

    Read all recovery FAQs on OurAuckland.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: A Journey from Biomedical Science to Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship

    Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: A Journey from Biomedical Science to Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship

    In a rapidly changing digital landscape, Deesha Bhatia, COO and Co-founder of Adclics, reflects on her journey from biomedical science to entrepreneurship in the world of digital marketing.

    The post A Journey from Biomedical Science to Digital Marketing Entrepreneurship first appeared on PR.co.nz.

    – –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Vehicle fire, Titirangi

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a vehicle fire on Tanekaha Road, Titirangi.

    There are no reported injuries, however the vehicle’s battery will take some time to extinguish.

    Cordons are in place on Otitori Bay and Miha Roads and motorists are advised to expect delays or seek an alternate route.

    Enquiries are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Violent crime drops for the first time since 2018

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Police data shows that violent crime has fallen for the first time since 2018, indicating that the Government’s tough-on-crime and victims-first approach is working, Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say.
     “After year-on-year increases in violent crime since 2018, it is encouraging to see a reversal of this rise with a two per cent drop in the numbers for 2024,” Mr Mitchell says. 
     “It is especially encouraging when you consider that violent crime increased by 51 per cent between 2018 and 2023. 
     “This drop coincides with New Zealand’s prison population hitting its highest level since 2018, and a raft of other Police statistics showing crime overall reducing, with total victimisations down two per cent, and assaults and serious assaults both down 1 per cent.
     “This is good to see, and what it shows is that after six years of emptying our prisons, and a soft-on-crime approach, the Government’s approach of restoring consequences for crime, and backing Police with new powers, is beginning to yield results. 
     “Police are getting back to basics. They’re highly visible and demonstrating why they’re a world class Police Force. New tools enabling Police to crack down on gangs have proved their worth, with the insignia ban enabling Police to net further charges on a raft of things including drugs and firearms. Getting Police back out on the beat with 40 per cent more foot patrols, has seen aggravated robberies drop by 8 per cent, and the upward trend around theft in retail premises starting to slow. 
     “With theft in retail premises up 11 per cent there is still more work to do but I am pleased to note that the violent element of that has plateaued, and the upward trend overall is slowing – which will be welcome relief for our small retail business owners across the country.”
     “The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey also shows how effective our work to restore law and order has been,” Mr Goldsmith says. 
     “There were 24,000 fewer victims over the year ending October 2024, compared to June 2024. 
     “These results are extremely promising, but we expect the data to remain volatile before a longer-term trend emerges. There’s still more work to do.
     “It’s important to remember this survey covers a 24-month period, so it will take some time before we see the full positive results of tougher legislation”. 
      “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and ensuring there are 20,000 fewer victims of serious violent crime by 2029.”
     
    Notes to editors:

    Statistics (nationwide)
     
    2023
     
    2024
     
    Percentage change

    Ram raids
     
    495
     
    207
     
    -58%

    Foot patrols
     
    56,134
     
    78.830
     
    +40%

    Total victimisations
     
    381,743
     
    373,684
     
    -2%

    Serious assaults
     
    55,470
     
    54,656
     
    -1%

    Resulting in injury
     
    25,129
     
    24,509
     
    -2%

    Not resulting in injury
     
    30,341
     
    30,147
     
    -1%

    Common assault
     
    21,432
     
    21,397
     
    0%

    Abduction and kidnapping
     
    475
     
    482
     

    +1%
     

    Aggravated robbery
     
    3,261
     
    2,988
     
    -8%

    Unlawful entry with intent/Burglary, break and enter
     
    66,355
     
    62,200
     
    -6%

    Victimisations at retail premises:
     
    2023
     
    2024
     
    Percentage change

    Acts intended to cause injury
     
    4,353
     
    4,341
     
    0%

    Robbery, extortion and related offences
     
    915
     
    895
     
    -2%

    Unlawful entry with intent/Burglary, break and enter
     
    8,023
     
    8,294
     
    +3%

    Theft and related offences
     
    109,991
     
    122,773
     
    +12%                    

    Violent crime is not a category of data that Police tracks, and therefore data is based off of @Charteddaily’s post on x: https://x.com/Charteddaily/status/1885143695667978298. Their measure for violent crime includes common and sexual assaults, abductions, robberies and blackmail.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Going for Growth: Public Works Act overhaul

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Public Works Act will undergo its most significant reform in nearly 50-years to help unleash an infrastructure boom, Land Information Minister Chris Penk has announced.  
    “Removing barriers to make it faster and more affordable to build the homes Kiwis need, creating jobs through new projects and providing infrastructure to support better public services is a major part of the Government’s economic growth agenda,” Mr Penk says.  
    “Complex regulations and inefficient processes are slowing down development, resulting in blown out budgets and added costs for taxpayers. 
    “The Public Works Act is the mechanism which empowers us to acquire land for new infrastructure, while ensuring that fair compensation is provided to landowners – but it is no longer fit for purpose,” Mr Penk says.  
    “A targeted review last year has found unnecessary duplication in the system, issues with outdated negotiation processes and disjointed government agency practices. 
    “Right now, it takes up to a year on average to acquire land. If compulsory acquisition is required, the process generally takes up to two years, with at least another year tacked on if objections to the Environment Court are made.  
    “We cannot afford this in the face of a productivity crisis and critical infrastructure deficit. A modernised Public Works Act will set the foundation for building better.” 
    Extensive policy changes will be announced over coming weeks. The first tranche will:  

    Delegate land acquisition responsibility: Empower government agencies like the New Zealand Transport Agency, which regularly use the Public Works Act, to enter into acquisition agreements with landowners. The Minister for Land Information will remain responsible for compulsory acquisition by the Crown.  
    Enable collaboration between agencies: Allow government agencies to work together when acquiring land for connected public projects. Instead of each agency acquiring land separately, they will be able to coordinate acquisition of land as needed to make the process smoother. 
    Enable relocation of infrastructure: Allow both the government and local authorities to acquire land when they need to move existing infrastructure (like powerlines or pipes) that are in the way of new public works. 
    Refine the role of the Environment Court: Clarify the factors that the Environment Court can consider when reviewing objections to land acquisitions for public works, with a renewed focus on individual property rights, removing overlap with the Resource Management Act. 
    Require mediation for compensation disputes: Require that parties try to resolve disputes over compensation through mediation or alternative dispute resolution before going to the Land Valuation Tribunal, to avoid lengthy court proceedings where possible.  
    Allow Transpower to bypass standard processes: Enable Transpower, the State-Owned Enterprise managing New Zealand’s power grid, to use the Public Works Act to acquire land by agreement. This would streamline their process for building energy infrastructure.  

    “We have already announced the Government will fix a discrepancy in the Public Works Act which undervalues Māori freehold land compared to other land types,” Mr Penk says.  “Further improvements will be revealed as we prepare to introduce the Public Works Amendment Bill to Parliament around the middle of 2025.” The public will be able to provide feedback during the select committee process.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Millions spent to rehash bad ideas on retail crime

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The Government has spent $3.6 million dollars on a retail crime advisory group, including paying its chair $920 a day, to come up with ideas already dismissed as dangerous by police.

    “Instead of focusing on real solutions, the Government has wasted millions on an advisory group that took several months to release a report, only to recycle old and bad ideas,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said.

    “Worse still, they’re paying Sunny Kaushal $920 a day to deliver a report with dangerous recommendations, like encouraging people to take the law into their own hands, which police have already rejected because they would put both retailers and the public at risk.

    “These are millions of dollars that could have gone to resourcing frontline police. Instead, they’re being used to pay a lofty salary for Kaushal to rehash his bad ideas.

    “His advisory group initially promised recommendations within weeks, but after months of delay, they’ve produced proposals that encourage citizens to use force against retail crime, something Police have consistently warned is unsafe.

    “This Government promised New Zealanders they would fix retail crime, but so far, all they’ve delivered is a hefty bill and no results.

    “The reality is they still don’t have a plan. This Government promised 500 more police officers, but they’re losing officers faster than they can recruit. Meanwhile, methamphetamine use is skyrocketing and instead of addressing the root causes of crime, they’re focusing on distractions like confiscating gang patches.

    “We need a government that will keep communities safe and break the cycle of crime, not one that wastes millions on rehashing bad ideas,” Ginny Andersen said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Social workers enabled to have more time helping children and young people

    Source: New Zealand Government

    “Families, young people, and social workers are set to benefit from technology upgrades at Oranga Tamariki that will free up social workers to spend more time with families, will help young people by ensuring important routines and needs are shared, and will improve collaboration and transparency,” Children Minister Karen Chhour says.

    “This is a significant development that will greatly enable social workers to better serve and work with children, families, caregivers, and partner organisations that provide services.

    “Until now, social workers and other practice staff have been having to use outdated, 20-year-old computer programmes and systems for administration tasks. 

    “I have heard feedback from social workers, caregivers, partners, and young people who have voiced their frustrations about the challenges of out-of-date legacy technology, and I am extremely pleased that we are now delivering a modern, fit-for-purpose solution.

    “I am looking forward to seeing the difference this makes not just for social workers but for young people and families.

    “It will also support working alongside service provider partners by making it easier to share personal information with them to improve the wellbeing of children – such as a child’s regular routine and specific needs.”

    Min Chhour says that the new case management system will also help make it faster for records and information to be provided to children and families when they need it, and will help ensure the protection of records in the future.

    “The records of our young people and of all New Zealanders are sacred. The report into abuse in state care highlighted for many the scenarios where records have been fragmented or lost over the decades. That is unacceptable for the people we serve and I am very pleased that the new systems will help to resolve this issue for the future.

    “The information that social workers record is an important part of the journey and life story of children and young people, particularly those in care.  

    “These improvements will enable better collaboration between children, families and social workers, with regard for how they participate in their plans and develop them. They will also be able to make sense of their experiences while in care.

    “Investing in our frontline and making sure social workers have the tools they need to focus on their critically important job of supporting children and young people in need is an absolute priority for me.  

    “Young people deserve to be heard, and to have agencies working together for their betterment. I also want young people to make sure they have control over the direction of their future, and this will enable that.

    “I’m delighted we can invest in our critical frontline workforce, remove barriers, and provide the tools they need to do their job, so they can focus on making the most difference for children and families.”  

    This upgrade is just one part of the $68.5m funding boost for frontline technology systems over four years announced as part of Budget 2024. 

    It will be up-and-running within 12 months, if not earlier. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: IPCA/OPC Joint Inquiry into Police conduct when photographing members of the public

    Source: Privacy Commissioner

    The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) released their Joint Inquiry into Police conduct when photographing members of the public (opens to PDF) on 8 September 2022. Report findings
    The report found that a general lack of awareness amongst Police of their obligations under the Privacy Act led to officers routinely taking, using and retaining photographs when it is not lawful for them to do so. It also found that thousands of photographs of members of the public have been kept on the mobile phones of individual officers or, if transferred to the Police computer system, not destroyed after there is no longer a legitimate need for them. The Joint Inquiry was initiated in March 2021 after Wairarapa whnau complained that Police officers were photographing their rangatahi in circumstances they felt was unfair or unjustified.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Four to appear in court following burglaries, Waihi

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Four people are before the courts after separate burglaries in Waihi and Waihi Beach areas.

    The offending occurred between 23 January and 5 February.

    A 31-year-old woman and 40-year-old man, both of Karangahake, have been jointly charged with burglary from a holiday park; a 48-year-old Auckland man is also charged with burglary from a separate holiday park; while a 24-year-old Waihi man has been charged with burglary of a residential property.

    Across all three burglaries, clothing, food and a car were stolen.

    Waihi Sergeant Nigel Sanderson says Police want to thank the members of the public who promptly reported the incidents.

    “The information they provided us allowed us to act quickly – and two of the accused were arrested as they walked past the Waihi Police station.”

    All four have appeared in court and will reappear at later dates.

    “It’s horrible knowing that someone has invaded your home or rifled through your property, and it’s great being able to get this result for the victims.

    “If you’ve been the victim of a crime, please let us know – call 111 if it’s happening now, or make a report via 105 if it’s after the fact.”

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –