Nicola Willis thought it was the perfect time to celebrate today, while 230 people lost their jobs.
Her press release titled ‘Manufacturing increase welcomed’ landed as the people of Tokoroa are only just coming to terms with the closure of the Kinleith paper mill.
“Talk about tone deaf. People are hurting, whānau don’t know what to do, and instead of showing any kind of humility, Nicola Willis is sitting in her Beehive office patting herself on the back,” Labour Employment Spokesperson Willie Jackson said.
“As she is crowing about the sector doing well, 230 people no longer have a job or an income.
“Many of them would have thought the Government would act. Especially after the Deputy Prime Minister promised he’d do something about it. Instead, they’ve let the paper mill close with no plan to help the workers and Nicola Willis thought it was her time to shine.
“Shame on her, and shame on this Government for doing nothing,” Willie Jackson said.
Officers who attempted to stop a vehicle in Drury have taken a homemade weapon off the streets after the driver fled from Police.
At about 2.50pm yesterday, Police signalled for a vehicle on Great South Road to stop, however it failed to do so and continued on towards Papakura.
Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Matt Hoyes, says the vehicle was on Te Napi Drive, Takanini after it had stopped.
“Staff have quickly taken the driver into custody and a search of the vehicle has located a homemade taser, shotgun shell and ammunition.
“This is a great result and yet another example that we are committed to keeping offensive weapons such as these out of our community.”
A 29-year-old man will appear in Papakura District Court on 20 February charged with possession of an offensive weapon, unlawful possession of a restricted weapon, unlawful possession of ammunition and cannabis possession.
Statement attributable to Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura:
Police is issuing a statement of record regarding a media report concerning a private trip to China by Police staff in late 2024.
A media report claims the tour was organised by a government entity and a dinner was hosted by a government tourism official.
Police reiterate that on day three of the tour, a banquet dinner was hosted by the travel company for the travelling party.
The dinner was not hosted by the official, as referenced in the media reporting. Attendance of the tourism official was due to an invitation by the tour company.
Police have previously referenced on multiple occasions that each participant paid for their tour costs personally.
The dinner cost was incorporated into the overall tour price, paid for out of staff’s own pocket.
The group involved in this trip followed all requirements for a private trip of this nature. However, we acknowledge that the nature of this travel has resulted in some public scrutiny.
As a result, we have reviewed our national policy to ensure our advice for staff remains up to date and appropriate.
Watercare’s Central Interceptor project has passed an historic milestone with the southern half of the 16.2 kilometre tunnel (Blockhouse Bay south to Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant) going live. Watercare is now one step closer to the goal of cleaner waterways and beaches for central Auckland.
A formal event was held on 14 February at a new pump station in Māngere, attended by Minister for Local Government Simon Watts, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, politicians and project teams. Around 200 guests lined the pump station shaft as Mayor Brown gave an order to start up giant pumps sending wastewater flows from the Central Interceptor tunnel to the nearby treatment plant at a rate of 1,200 litres per second.
It was an historic moment during proceedings dedicated to recognizing the accomplishments of the 600-strong Watercare and Ghella Abergeldie JV Central Interceptor project team which began construction in 2019.
Watercare’s major new pump station has been built at Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant to take flows from the Central Interceptor tunnel to the plant for processing.
Mayor Brown said that as an engineer himself, he appreciated the skills involved to achieve this outcome:
“It’s a significant milestone for Aucklanders and a huge engineering feat for the team who have been working for the past six years. I look forward to the Central Interceptor project being completed next year to fully realise the benefit, including an 80 percent reduction in wet weather overflows and improved water quality.
“This is an important piece in fixing Auckland’s infrastructure. The Central Interceptor will take pressure off other parts of the network and will allow other long awaited wastewater projects to progress” says Mayor Brown.
Watercare Chief Programme Delivery officer, Shayne Cunis says getting the southern half of the Central Interceptor tunnel up and running as quickly as possible was always the goal:
“This is a huge result. It is rare both globally or in New Zealand for major infrastructure projects to be delivered safely, economically and on time.
We are hugely proud of the tenacity and dedication of our team, in particular our construction partners, Ghella Abergeldie JV. We didn’t want to wait until the project was finished at the end of 2026 before getting the southern tunnel going. We’ve done that despite everything that’s been thrown against us, including the COVID-19 pandemic, major storm events and unprecedented inflation for modern times.”
The main environmental benefits (cleaner waterways) won’t however be realised until the remaining Central Interceptor tunnel (running from Mount Roskill to Herne Bay) is completed, along with new infrastructure such as the Herne Bay Collector, which is currently under design.
It’s northern central city suburbs such as Mount Albert, Grey Lynn and Herne Bay where major wet weather overflows occur into the likes of Oakley Creek, Meola Stream, Point Chevalier and Point Erin beaches.
The switch on of the southern tunnel does however mean improved resilience for Watercare’s wastewater network, says Shayne Cunis: “Aging infrastructure such as ‘Pump Station 23, Hillsborough was often overwhelmed by stormwater in big storms. Now the new Central Interceptor tunnel will capture these flows.
The Western Interceptor will also no longer carry flows under the Manukau Harbour, which is another win,” he says.
The Central Interceptor project forms part of Watercare’s $13.2b programme to deliver new water wastewater and infrastructure over the next 10 years to allow for future growth and a cleaner environment.
More information on the Central Interceptor is available via this helpful PDF [802KB].
Heritage architects describe Strand Arcade as one of the grandest surviving shopping arcades in New Zealand. Some of the ornate elements present today were part of the earliest purpose-built arcade in the country dating back to 1899.
A jewel of Auckland’s retail heritage at 233 Queen Street, the arcade has caught the eye of a young Korean chef turned coffee innovator who is bringing new energy and artistry to the historic Strand Arcade.
Appreciating the potential of the site and the building itself – located between two City Rail Link station entrances / exits in the heart of midtown – Blues Shim (26) has plans to reinvigorate the 125-year-old arcade.
“I always wanted to be an artist. For me food and beverage creativity is the best art form as it inspires all five senses. Food is my art and at Slow Koi our baristas are artists,” he says.
Recently opened with jet black interior, relaxed vibe and tranquil aquarium, Blues Shim’s new coffee brewing shop Slow Koi is expanding Aucklanders’ coffee repertoire and bringing people back to midtown.
“I want to express my art with a gallery of brands in Strand Arcade, painting a different brand on each shop. Our group’s plan is to have seven shops here by the end of this year; maybe as many as twelve,” Blues says.
Born in South Korea in the city of Busan, Blues came to Auckland as a teenage chef. We sat down to chat with Blues in his stylish new store and soon discovered that there is much more to the art of coffee than a flat white and long black.
Councillor Richard Hills says it’s exciting to see so many fantastic businesses coming into midtown, with the city centre feeling alive and bustling again.
“The council team has put a lot of effort and resources into attracting people back into the city through redeveloped public spaces, pedestrian-friendly walkways, better public transport networks and activations like our Lunar New Year festival.
“We’re thrilled businesses like Slow Koi are seeing the positive future of this area as a great place to open a business. We’re looking forward to seeing what else is in store for the historic Strand Arcade,” Councillor Hills says.
This Q&A is not an endorsement or paid partnership. It is part of an occasional series shining light on the regeneration of midtown and some of the people who are playing a part in it. The Auckland Council group announced aninvestment of $155million in multiple projects to regenerate midtown in September 2021. Many are delivered already.
Our Q&A with Blues Shim:
What does Slow Koi mean?
Koi is a Japanese fish. I had to have it for the name. I love taking care of fish. I love to watch fish swim. It relaxes me a lot. Coffee in Japanese is the word ‘kohi’. So coffee and koi have a good similarity for me. We wanted to show coffee can be a good slow drink. Coffee gives joy and helps you chill and heal from hard work. Thankfully a lot of people love the vibe. They love the concept. It’s going really well. I feel very happy that people are coming to midtown to find Slow Koi and discover Strand Arcade. They relax. Just chill.
Blues Shim creating his coffee blends at Slow Koi.
Why did you choose Strand Arcade for Slow Koi?
There are already a lot of good streets in the city centre – Lorne Street, High Street, Britomart, Chancery – but I thought Elliott Street had potential. I just thought ‘wow!’ when I saw this building. This is such a beautiful building; one of New Zealand’s heritage buildings. I saw tourists taking photos. I couldn’t believe it was empty. It was sad. I wanted to do something here.
What was the potential you saw?
When I first saw Elliott Street, businesses were having a hard time due to many pressures including construction. But we could see a big potential here. Auckland Council’s regeneration of midtown really excites me. I was looking for a place. I want to open different food and beverage outlets here. We are excited about what midtown is going to look like in two or three years after the City Rail Link is established.
What is the vibe of the midtown food and beverage scene?
Midtown is packed with different cultures from different countries. A lot of small, passionate, authentic restaurants serve great food here. And I love the midtown street parties. A new series is starting this month and we’ll have them on every third Thursday of every month. I DJ through the window of Slow Koi and I see a lot of people from many cultures getting involved and joining together, eating great food, hearing live music and having fun. It has a unique kind of energy.
What are some of the other brands you plan to bring to Strand Arcade?
You’ll soon see ‘Hi Toastie’, which brings coffee and toasties together from many cities across Asia. I’m hoping to bring ‘My Mura’ which means ‘eat a lot’ in Korean. ‘Yooa & Tako’ is another brand we’re developing, and an Argentinian brand ‘Asado’. Our food and beverage will be authentic flavours from many different Asian cities, and all over the world.
For more stories about midtown’s change makers and change embracers, visit ProgressAKL. You’ll meet passionate Aucklanders who are giving midtown a new burst of energy. Hear their stories. Feel their optimism. Join midtown’s new momentum.
Like Blues, they are excited to see how the Auckland Council group is transforming midtown ahead of 2026 when the City Rail Link’s Te Waihorotiu Station opens. The station will bring thousands of people into midtown’s renewed laneways, streets and spaces every day.
Inside Te Waihorotiu Station; photo supplied by City Rail Link; taken in February 2025.
Read about the recent delivery of the first stage of a redesigned Victoria Street at OurAuckland.
Victoria Street is one of three east-west streets in the Te Waihorotiu Station neighbourhood undergoing a major transformation to create a new gateway for the city centre. Before the regeneration of midtown, Victoria Street, Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive were dense traffic routes carrying more than four lanes of cars, trucks and buses, with cyclists hugging the edges, pedestrians vying with scooters along narrow footpaths and a noisy environment for businesses.
Victoria St.
In the regeneration, Wellesley Street will become an important central city bus interchange, and the upgraded Victoria Street will make connecting between walking, cycling, high frequency bus routes, and the train station easier and safer.
Jenny Larking Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes says: “We recognise that beautiful public spaces encourage social interaction, creating a strong sense of community and belonging. These spaces become the stages where city life unfolds, memories are made, and a city’s identity is forged. We are creating streets and spaces that are authentic, safe, sustainable and reflective of our place in the world, with mana whenua-led expression woven throughout, while continuing to support the operations of a busy city centre.”
Māori tourism now contributes more than $1 billion a year to economic growth, boosting jobs and incomes across the country, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Released today at Te Pā Tū, the tourism business of Tauhara North No. 2 Trust near Rotorua, the Value of Māori Tourism report shows Māori tourism businesses contributed $1.2 billion in 2023, up from $975 million in 2018. In 2023 there were 3,595 Māori tourism businesses operating in core and general tourism industries, collectively employing over 15,000 people. “The report, commissioned by NZ Māori Tourism and prepared by Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL), shows Māori tourism is an increasingly formidable part of the engine driving our country’s economic growth,” Mr Potaka says. “It creates jobs, fosters entrepreneurship, and provides a platform for Māori experiences, arts, and crafts. This economic empowerment contributes to the cultural revival, preservation, and self-determination of Māori. “As an example, Minister of Tourism Louise Upston and I recently visited businesses in Te Tai Tokerau and it was fantastic to see how they prioritise their communities and people as part of continuing to develop the local industry,” Mr Potaka says. Louise Upston said Māori tourism clearly had a very bright future. “Our visits in Te Tai Tokerau reinforced to me the passion and commitment of providers there and in other regions. I want to be able to do more to support them and the jobs they create for New Zealanders. “This Government absolutely understands the significant contribution tourism makes to our country’s economy, and as part of unleashing economic growth in 2025 and beyond, we are committed to supporting it to reach its full potential. “Māori providers will play a big part in attracting international tourists who want to learn more about our country, our people and our culture.” Tama Potaka said Māori tourism represented a total package. “The report states that Māori tourism operators put people before profits. Higher salaries paid to employees, and the average salaries of Māori tourism businesses also tend to be higher than in non-Māori tourism businesses. “Māori tourism thrives on the relationship between Māori, manuhiri, and the whenua, embodying manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga. “It sets Aotearoa New Zealand apart from others and is our great point of difference.”
Food prices increase 1.9 percent in January–14 February 2025 –Food prices across Aotearoa New Zealand rose 1.9 percent in January 2025, following a 0.1 percent increase in December 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
This is the largest monthly rise in the cost of food since a 2.1 percent increase in July 2022.
About 65 percent of items priced in the food basket were more expensive in January 2025, compared with an average of 54 percent per month in 2024.
“The proportion of the food basket that increased by over 5 percent in price was the highest in five years,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.
Visit our website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community – something that could have easily been avoided.
“If our regions are to not only survive but thrive, they are going to need much more support than they are currently getting,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Regional Development Scott Willis.
“This is absolutely devastating for this community and especially for Tokoroa, the heart of the South Waikato. This doesn’t just affect 230 families, this will devastate the local economy and lead to local businesses closing down and subsequent job losses within the community.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Winston Peters, Minister of Regional Development, Shane Jones, and local MP, Louise Upston, have all made commitments to this community to solve this issue. Closing the paper machine is not even remotely solving this issue.
“The Government can still act and help build a local economy that works for people and planet, instead of one which exhausts and exploits both. Instead of relying on risky overseas companies for investment, we need to start investing in ourselves, a sustainable energy market and future industries.
“We have a plan for a Future Workforce Agency to strategically upskill New Zealanders and coordinate industrial planning. Our Jobs for Nature plan will also be a central plank for providing people with meaningful and stable work.
“But until the rules of our energy system are changed, our communities will continue to suffer from job losses, issues of supply, and higher energy prices.
“Let’s support our regional communities and help unlock the potential for future industries by reforming our electricity market into one that prioritises people and planet over profits,” says Scott Willis.
The resignation of director-general of health Dr Diana Sarfati is a further symptom of the Government’s chaotic mismanagement and underfunding of the health system, the PSA says.
PSA Acting National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says Dr Sarfati’s resignation will create more turmoil in an overstretched health system being put under further pressure by the Government’s demands for health spending cuts.
“The alarm bells should be ringing in the health sector. Dr Sarfati’s resignation follows those of Health New Zealand Chief Executive Margie Apa and Director of Public Health Nicholas Jones in the past few weeks.
“The fundamental problem in health is that the Government is starving our health system of the funding needed to run it.
“Hard working public servants delivering health care like Dr Sarfati are being asked to work miracles to somehow keep a groaning system working for New Zealanders,” Fitzsimons says.
“That’s why we have started litigation in the Employment Relations Authority aimed at stopping rushed and damaging job cuts in health to meet the Government’s savings targets.
“These cuts will endanger the lives of patients and see thousands of dedicated and essential health workers lose their jobs,” says Fitzsimons.
Fitzsimons says the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi would like to thank Dr Sarfati for her work, which was an example of the dedicated service of so many public servants.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health and community groups.
China has confirmed details of its meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for the first time, saying Beijing “stands ready to have an in-depth exchange” with the island nation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters during his regular press conference that Brown’s itinerary, from February 10-16, would include attending the closing ceremony of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin as well as meeting with Premier of the State Council Li Qiang.
Guo also confirmed that Brown and his delegation had visited Shanghai and Shandong as part of the state visit.
“The Cook Islands is China’s cooperation partner in the South Pacific,” he said.
“Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and sought common development.”
Guo told reporters that the relationship between the two countries was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership in 2018.
“Our friendly cooperation is rooted in profound public support and delivers tangibly to the two peoples.
‘New progress in bilateral relations’ “Through Prime Minister Brown’s visit, China stands ready to have an in-depth exchange of views with the Cook Islands on our relations and work for new progress in bilateral relations.”
Locals in Rarotonga have accused New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters of being a “bully”, while others are planning to protest against Brown’s leadership.
A local resident, Tim Buchanan, said Peters has “been a bit bullying”.
He said Peters had overacted and the whole issue had been “majorly” blown out of proportion.
‘It doesn’t involve security’ “It does not involve our national security, it does not involve borrowing a shit load of money, so what is your concern about?
“Why do we need to consult him? We have been a sovereign nation for 60 years, and all of a sudden he’s up in arms and wanted to know everything that we’re doing”
Brown previously told RNZ Pacific that he had assured Wellington “over and over” that there “will be no impact on our relationship and there certainly will be no surprises”.
However, New Zealand said it should have seen the text prior to Brown leaving for China.
Cook Islands opposition MP and leader of the Cook Islands United Party Teariki Heather . . . he has filed a vote filed a vote of no confidence motion against Prime Minister Mark Brown. Image: Caleb Fotheringham/RNZ Pacific
Vote of no confidence Cook Islands opposition MP Teariki Heather said he did not want anything to change with New Zealand.
“The response from the government and Winston Peters and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, that’s really what concerns us, because they are furious,” said Heather, who is the leader of Cook Islands United Party.
Heather has filed a no confidence motion against the Prime Minister and has been the main organiser for a protest against Brown’s leadership that will take place on Monday morning local time.
He is expecting about 1000 people to turn up, about one in every 15 people who reside in the country.
Opposition leader Tina Browne is backing the motion and will be at the protest which is also about the Prime Minister’s push for a local passport, which he has since dropped.
With only eight opposition members in the 24-seat parliament, Browne said the motion of no confidence is not about the numbers.
“It is about what are we the politicians, the members of Parliament, going to do about the two issues and for us, the best way to demonstrate our disapproval is to vote against it in Parliament, whether the members of Parliament join us or not that’s entirely up to them.”
The 2001 document argument Browne said that after reading the constitution and the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration, she agreed with Peters that the Cook Islands should have first consulted New Zealand on the China deal.
“Our prime minister has stated that the agreement does not affect anything that he is obligated to consult with New Zealand. I’m very suspicious of that because if there is nothing offensive, why the secrecy then?
“I would have thought, irrespective, putting aside everything, that our 60 year relationship with New Zealand, who’s been our main partner warrants us to keep that line open for consultation and that’s even if it wasn’t in [the Joint Centenary Declaration].”
Other locals have been concerned by the lack of transparency from their government to the Cook Islands people.
But Cook Islands’ Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana said that is not how these deals were done.
“I think the people have to understand that in regards to agreements of this nature, there’s a lot of negotiations until the final day when it is signed and the Prime Minister is very open that the agreements will be made available publicly and then people can look at it.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the government would wait to see what was in the agreement before deciding if any punishment should be imposed.
With the waiting, Elikana said he was concerned.
“We are worried but we want to see what will be their response and we’ve always reiterated that our relationship is important to us and our citizenship is really important to us, and we will try our best to remain and retain that,” Elikana said.
He did not speculate about the vote of no confidence motion.
“I think we just leave it to the day but I’m very confident in our team and very confident in our Prime Minister.”
‘Cook Islands does a lot for New Zealand’ Cultural leader and carver Mike Tavioni said he did not know why everyone was so afraid of the Asian superpower.
“I do not know why there is an issue with the Cook Islands and New Zealand, as long as Mark [Brown] does not commit this country to a deal with China with strings attached to it,” he said.
Tavioni said the Cook Islands does a lot for New Zealand also, with about 80,000 Cook Islanders living in New Zealand and contributing to it’s economy.
“The thing about consulting, asking for permission, it does not go down well because our relationship with Aotearoa should be taken into consideration.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
The Government continues to tear apart New Zealand’s health leadership, sacking or forcing the resignation of our top medical experts.
“I am concerned to hear of the resignation of the Director-General of Heath Dr Diana Sarfati today,” acting Labour health spokesperson Peeni Henare said.
“Christopher Luxon thinks a purge of health leadership will turn around the health system while he refuses to invest properly for the health of New Zealanders.
“Dr Sarfati is a world-leading cancer research expert, improving survival rates and closing inequities in treatment. If the Government doesn’t reach its cancer targets without Dr Sarfati they have no one to blame but themselves.
“We acknowledge Dr Sarfati’s leadership when the Ministry of Health continued to give evidenced-based advice on tobacco control despite a hostile government.
“Health is complex, and firing the leadership may come back to haunt the Prime Minister.
“As Simeon Brown struggles to get up to speed on the complex health portfolio, it’s as if Christopher Luxon is getting rid of everyone who disagrees with him. It’s an absolute disgrace, causing damage that will ripple for years to come.
“The Director-General of Health has gone, the Director of Public Health stepped down, the Health New Zealand board was sacked and the Health New Zealand Chief Executive resigned.
“The executive leadership team of Health New Zealand has been gutted, and the organisation’s Chief Financial Officer was structured out of a job. Luxon is fast running out of other people to blame for his Government’s failures.
“I wish Dr Diana Sarfati all the best for her next role and thank her for the commitment, mahi and expertise she gave for the better health of New Zealand,” Peeni Henare said.
Union members are devastated to learn that Oji Fibre Solutions is set to close the paper manufacturing operations at Kinleith Mill in Tokoroa.
The closure will result in the loss of at least 230 jobs, with significant downstream impacts on the wider local community.
E tū senior delegate Ian Farall believes the company had made this decision long ago.
“The writing has been on the wall for some time, and the company never seemed serious about saving paper production,” Ian says.
“They have neglected essential maintenance that could have put us in a much stronger position. Of course, high power prices play a role, but the company should have been far better prepared for this.”
Ian also criticised the Government for failing to intervene meaningfully.
“We’re shocked and angry that the Government isn’t stepping in to save the paper mill. It’s a key part of our domestic manufacturing and vital to the wider Tokoroa community.”
Mario van der Putten, senior FIRST Union delegate at the mill, said workers were “bitterly disappointed” by the news.
“We were the last ones standing – the last paper-making machine in the country,” Mr van der Putten says.
“This puts our economy at risk and will have a ripple effect on primary industries that rely on our products for the safe, long-term storage of goods.
“We don’t believe the company has put forward a genuine business plan. Instead, they have reduced us to a business case. The writing was on the wall after two decades of underinvestment in the mill.
“This could end up being a disastrous decision that sinks the entire business. Specialist skills that take decades to master will be lost in the process.”
E tū Negotiation Specialist Joe Gallagher says the closure is yet another example of the Government failing to protect local industry.
“We hear Luxon talking about a focus on growth while doing next to nothing about the crisis facing manufacturing,” Joe says.
“The Prime Minister needs to get real about what economic prosperity actually looks like. It’s about protecting New Zealand’s industries and keeping local communities thriving, not standing by and letting them collapse.”
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“This authority will be the primary national agency that ensures the care and protection for mokopuna and tamariki Māori, prioritising whakapapa because whānau know what is best for their own mokopuna, not the state,” said Te Pāti Māori Spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.
“Dame Whina Cooper once said, “Take care of our children. Take care of what they hear, take care of what they feel. For how the children grow, so will be the shape of Aotearoa”. This drives the ethos behind the authority- Hokinga Whakapapa, Oranga Mokopuna.
“This bill honours the whakapapa-based rights and obligations of whānau, hapū, and iwi establishing a partnership network across these streams and Māori organisations including urban Māori organisations and with survivors of state care.
“No child can thrive when they’re just trying to survive, and our children deserve to know where and who they truly come from. With this independent authority our mokopuna shall no longer be ostracised from society or from their own.
“Mokopuna Māori are our lifeline, they hold the key for our future as tangata whenua. Their return to us will be a major catalyst for their ability to thrive as their whakapapa intended.
“This is the time to do something of substance with and for our people. It is our job to serve and do what is best by our mokopuna and tamariki. We Māori are the sole carers of this responsibility and so shall it remain with us,” concluded Kapa-Kingi.
Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed a lift in manufacturing activity, saying it is further evidence that the economy has started to turn around. The BNZ and Business NZ today reported their performance manufacturing index (PMI) had risen to its highest level since September 2022. “The increase from 46.2 in December to 51.4 in January follows 22 months of contraction. “It is early days, but together with high levels of business confidence, the increase indicates the economic growth forecast for this year is beginning to take place. “I know many families and businesses are still doing it tough after three years of high inflation, high interest rates and cost of living pressures squeezing the family budget and business bottom lines. “However, this suggests families and business can look forward to better times ahead. It is particularly welcome news for the manufacturing sector after two very tough years. And that is good news for everybody. “When the sector does well it creates jobs and opportunities for people.”
Police are seeking information on a vehicle of interest involved in an indecent act committed in Epsom this week.
Police have been investigating the complaint about a man’s behaviour towards a young student on the afternoon of 12 February.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greaves, Area Investigations Manager for Auckland City East, says the investigation has progressed in recent days.
“We have now obtained an image of a vehicle in the Gladwin Road area on Tuesday afternoon,” he says.
“Police would like anyone who saw this vehicle, or has further information concerning it to contact us.”
The incident occurred at around 3.35pm, when the sole male occupant of the vehicle began doing an act towards the young student walking past on Gladwin Road.
“Fortunately this man did not exit the vehicle, and it was last seen travelling down Lewin Road,” Detective Senior Sergeant Greaves says.
“Anyone who has information, please contact Police.
“I’d also encourage the driver of this vehicle, who knows who they are, to stop delaying the inevitable and come to speak with Police.”
If you have information, please contact Police on 105 using the reference number 250212/5501.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill.
“OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with all partners to make sure that we get the best outcome on the site,” said Wagstaff.
“At the meeting this morning, OJI officials disclosed that they were in negotiation with the Government about support for the Kinleith site. This support would be an investment in the pulp production side. It is essential that this investment comes with guarantees from OJI that as much employment is maintained on site as possible.
“Given the offer from the Minister, and the potential impact on the supply chain if alternative suppliers of paper are not found, OJI should reconsider their decision today to terminate employees.
“OJI must get round the table with all parties and find a solution that keeps as much employment on the site as possible. OJI Kinleith products are a vital part of the supply chain for our dairy and fruit exports.
“There is an opportunity here for a better outcome at Kinleith. One that would deliver more jobs, and brighter economic development for the region. We need to make that happen for the benefit of workers, the community and the regional manufacturing sector,” said Wagstaff.
The Government has no plan to support workers as 230 more jobs are lost today with the closure of the Kinleith paper mill.
“This is devastating news for the whole of the community and the many families who rely on the paper mill for income,” Labour employment spokesperson Willie Jackson said.
“This is on top of the 33,000 people who have lost their jobs across Aotearoa in the last 12 months under National. That’s more than the entire population of Blenheim, without the dignity of meaningful mahi.
“This is not good enough. Winston Peters promised that he would be an ‘advocate on your behalf’ and that ‘Kinleith Mill is the lifeblood of the Waikato’, yet here we are with another large employer closing its doors.
“The community and workers of Tokoroa deserve more than false promises.
“It’s a disgrace that the Government can sit idly by and let thousands of people lose their jobs, after promising they would help, and then let this happen,” Willie Jackson said.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises all southbound lanes on State Highway 1 at the Greenlane Interchange are closed due to a serious crash.
Motorists are asked to delay their journeys, where possible, consider alternate routes and expect delays and diversions. Traffic is heavy around the Greenlane Interchange and NZ Police expect the closure to be in place for at least two hours, while the Serious Crash Unit investigates.
Auckland through-traffic should use the Western Ring Route to travel south, from SH1 to State Highway 18 at Albany, left to State Highway 16 through Westgate and right to the State Highway 20 Southbound Waterview Tunnel to continue south from the SH1/SH20 link in Manukau.
The Greenlane southbound on-ramp remains open, as do all northbound lanes.
People are encouraged to visit the Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) for up to date information on the closure and detour route before they travel.
Registrations for the National Road Freight Survey have opened today (February 14) with company owners, managers, drivers and other essential staff encouraged to have their say in the largest sector snap-shot in more than a decade.
The survey is being run by independent research firm Research NZ on behalf of Transporting New Zealand, and is available to all road freight industry participants.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih says the survey is a fantastic opportunity to better understand industry attitudes on key issues including workforce shortages, operating conditions, revenue issues such as tolling and congestion charging, the Cook Strait ferries and road policing.
“There are over 30,000 people working in the road freight sector across more than 4,000 business entities, carrying 93 percent of the national freight task,” Kalasih says.
“We want to get a clearer picture of what their leading concerns are, what opportunities they see for improvement, and what might be lesser priorities.”
He says he is particularly interested in sharing the results with policy makers and industry partners about the retirement intentions of drivers and the employment of migrant workers.
“We know the average age of truck drivers is rapidly approaching 60, and that migrant truck drivers have played an important supplementary role in filling shortages. However, the survey will give us a clearer picture of what proportion of the workforce intends to retire within five years, what the main barriers are to employing new drivers, and what policy changes we need to prioritise to improve the situation.”
Kalasih says that Research NZ has kept the survey short, multi-choice and accessible, with the option to provide more in-depth answers.
“The survey will ask operators to rank leading industry issues in order of importance, and then get more detailed responses on topical issues relating to each of those. This will be followed by some key questions on workforce challenges, the public perception of truck drivers, and what (if any) skill gaps people are noticing with new drivers.”
“Because of the importance of the road freight industry, and its fragmented nature, people get a lot of survey requests from government, suppliers and supply chain partners. That’s why we’ve ensured this survey is concise, while still being comprehensive. We got feedback from our members on the content and it’s been designed to ensure we’ve got it right.”
“People who register for the survey before 3 March (the survey launch date) will also enter the draw for an iPad, and there will be more prizes to follow. So get registered and share it with your team today. It’s open to all industry participants.”
Road freight business owners, managers, drivers and staff can pre-register for the survey at:
Consumer NZ is warning New Zealanders to be on high alert this Valentine’s Day as romance scammers flip the typical scam protection advice on its head.
Ruairi O’Shea, Consumer NZ investigative writer, says romance scams are particularly insidious because they don’t follow the typical patterns associated with scams.
“Romance scams work because they bypass the red flags we’re trained to look out for. Instead of demanding urgent action or sending texts with links out of the blue, romance scammers build trust over months,” says O’Shea.
“And unlike an unsolicited text with a dodgy link, you may have even initiated first contact by swiping left on a dating app. It’s a slow burn, with scammers building trust before recommending investment opportunities or asking for intimate pictures that they could use to blackmail a person.
“Victims genuinely believe they’re in a relationship: they trust the other person implicitly and believe that person will act in their best interests.”
Between 2023 and 2024, a French woman was targeted by a scammer using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to successfully convince her she was speaking to the American actor Brad Pitt. She was scammed out of almost NZ$1.5 million.
“Romance scams can be utterly devastating because of the financial and emotional toll they take.
“Love is a strong incentive, and sadly, scammers know this and exploit it.”
Recognising these three ‘red flags’ can protect you from romance scams
The long game
Unlike traditional scams that rely on urgency, romance scammers play the long game. O’Shea says this slow-building trust makes victims more likely to overlook the more common or “typical” signs of a scam.
The investment
Once the scammer is confident they’ve established trust, they will begin exploiting.
“It might start with the scammer revealing a seemingly minor financial stress, and because they feel committed to this relationship, the victim may even proactively offer to help resolve the problem.
“Later, the scammer might casually recommend an investment opportunity, which, unfortunately, turns out to be fake.”
Strictly online
“It’s not new to hear of someone who is in a happy, committed relationship, with kids, a dog and a house, after having initially met their partner on a dating app.
“What is new, however, is the sophisticated way in which scammers are using AI to basically turbocharge their authenticity,” O’Shea says.
“Be suspicious if the person you meet online is reluctant to get together in the flesh. Their reasons for keeping a relationship secret or online can be incredibly convincing – health, travel, work, family – but if you can’t meet them in person, you shouldn’t trust them.”
4 don’ts to protect yourself and those you love (in real life) from romance scams
Don’t keep it on the down-low – talk to friends and family about online relationships: a fresh pair of eyes could help spot the signs of a scam.
Don’t give someone anything you wouldn’t post publicly on social media – this isn’t just intimate photographs but also your address or other potentially sensitive personal information.
Don’t send money to anyone you’ve only communicated with online – if you haven’t met someone in person, don’t give them anything of monetary value.
Don’t move to another messaging service – if you meet someone on a dating platform and they suggest moving to an encrypted messaging service like WhatsApp, be suspicious.
What to do if you’re the victim of a romance scam
If you’re the victim of a romance scam, contact the Police, Manaaki Tāngata Victim Support, your bank and Netsafe (the nation’s non-profit online safety organisation) immediately: a scam doesn’t necessarily end when a victim realises they’ve been scammed.
It’s also important to report online scams to CERT NZ, part of the National Cyber Security Centre. The National Cuber Security Centre runs Own Your Online and the service has helpful advice on how to spot a scam and what to do if you get caught out.
Twenty-two projects around Te Taitokerau are to share $600,000 of Northland Regional Council funding designed to help build climate resilience.
Council Deputy Chair Tui Shortland says during the council’s Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 consultation, the region’s communities had emphasised the importance they placed on council taking a leading role in helping to build that resilience.
That had resulted in the council establishing a $600,000 fund to support communities to prepare for the growing effects of climate change and the natural hazard risks our region faces.
Councillor Shortland says the council had received a huge level of interest from communities across Northland, expressing their ideas and aspirations for a climate resilient future for Te Taitokerau.
“In this first round we had an overwhelming response, with 96 applications requesting $3.2 million.”
Councillor Shortland says deciding how to allocate the $600,000 available had been extremely difficult, but 22 projects that met the fund criteria and aimed to build community capacity and strengthen connections to build community resilience would receive a portion of this pūtea.
“Six of the projects directly focus on building kai resilience for the region.”
“These include on the ground community-led mahi that aims to educate and empower communities to grow their own kai and projects that identify and strengthen food support networks and develop a strategy for how the region can become self-sufficient in food production and distribution.”
Four projects supported water supply investigations to future proof water resilience and water tanks in vulnerable communities. “This extends the water resilience mahi NRC previously supported through the Water Resilience Fund which has now been replaced with this Climate Resilient Communities Fund.”
Three rural marae will receive funding to support the installation of solar panels, improving energy resilience and benefiting the wider community in times of need. Investing in energy security not only keeps the power on when energy infrastructure goes down, but reduces energy costs for our people and importantly helps reduce Te Taitokerau’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Funding will support four projects that look to nature-based solutions to build resilience to the changing climate, recognising how restoring wetlands, river margins and coastal dune systems can enhance protection from weather events, increase carbon sequestration and support our indigenous biodiversity.
Three other projects aim to build resilience across multiple impact areas looking holistically at how our resilience could be improved as the climate changes.
Two planning projects have been funded that will help the respective communities understand how climate change could impact them and to formulate specific plans to reduce these impacts.
Successful applicants and their projects are:
Bream Bay Coastal Care Trust – Bream Bay Coastal Restoration Project ($23,000)
Climate Change Taitokerau Northland Trust – Kai Sovereignty Strategy ($20,000)
Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand- Te Taitokerau branch – Te Taitokerau How to restore dunes video ($30,708)
Community Business Environment Centre – Hokinganui a Kai ($40,000)
Hokianga Community Educational Trust – He Kete Kai o Hokianga -Future Proofing our Hokianga Food Systems ($36,786.39)
Matatina Marae Trust – Matatina Kai Whenua – community garden at marae for self sufficiency ($22,476)
Maungarongo Whenua Trust on behalf of Ricco Tito -Taiao Kaitiaki Oranga ō te Waīma ($30,000)
Morehu Marae Committee – Water tank replacement at marae ($7127.66)
Ngaitupoto Trustees Marae – Solar system ($35,000)
Opuawhanga Community Hall Trust – Resilience Network ($10,500)
Oromahoe 18R2B2B2 Trust – Te Wai Ora, Te Whenua Ora: Oromahoe Water Feasibility Study ($25,000)
Pakanae 5A Trust – Cultural and Nature-Based Resilience Programme ($30,000)
Puketawa Marae – Solar Energy for marae resilience ($26,037.49)
Roma Marae – Te Ngao ki te Marae o Roma (Energy Resilience at Roma Marae) ($25,000)
Rural Support Trust Northland – Rural Support Climate Resilience ($40,000)
Te Hapua Sports and Recreation Club – Water Resilience ($6956.52)
Te Kōhanga Reo O Manaakitia – Kia manawaroa Te Kōhanga Reo o Manaakitia ($7200)
Te Maire Whanau Trust – Whānau-Led Fruit Orchard Development ($30,000)
Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board – Kāmehameha ($40,000)
Te Pokapu Tiaki Taiao O Te Tai Tokerau Trust -Tuituia Te Kahunuku & Food Resiliency ($32,325)
Te Runanga o Ngati Hine Trust – Tanks a lot ($40,000)
Whakapara Marae Trust – Te Taiao o nga Waipukehia” The environment of the flooded waters ($30,000) .
Fire and Emergency New Zealand will be moving parts of Hawke’s Bay into a restricted fire season from 9am, Friday 14 February, until further notice.
These areas are: Tararua West, Tararua South, Pahiatua and Eketāhuna.
Please see the attached map for an overview of these areas.
A restricted fire season means anyone planning on lighting an open-air fire will need to apply for and obtain a permit. You can apply for one atwww.checkitsalright.nz.
If anyone is unclear, they can enter their address atwww.checkitsalright.nzafter 9am on Friday to find out what fire season they are in.
Fire and Emergency Hawke’s Bay District Manager Glen Varcoe says the decision to move these zones into a restricted season is due to prolonged warmer temperatures, drying winds, and lack of rainfall.
Glen Varcoe says the public needs to be conscious of the surrounding fire risk conditions and consider if they need to light a fire.
“Everyone must visitwww.checkitsalright.nzto check the daily fire risk and see if they require a permit in their location.
“Even if you are not in the restricted zone, it may still be too dangerous to light a fire. If in doubt, don’t light,” he says.
“If people have checked the conditions and it is safe to complete a burn, please make sure you monitor the burn and have a water source nearby to fully extinguish it.
“Once the fire is out, please re-check the burn area for the next few days afterwards to make sure no re-ignition is possible.”
A new Government appointment of agricultural industry leader Rob Hewett to chair AgriZeroNZ will help boost the public-private joint venture’s efforts to get new tools, technology, and practices to lower on-farm emissions to farmers faster.
Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today announced Mr Hewett’s appointment to the Chair position for a three-year term until 3 February 2028.
“We’re delighted to have appointed Mr Hewett to the board, following the recommendation of the joint venture’s private sector partners,” Ms Willis says.
“As an experienced chair of several energy and agri-related entities, as well as a farmer, Mr Hewett’s strategic insights will make a significant contribution to driving forward AgriZeroNZ’s work to help farmers reduce emissions while maintaining their competitive edge.”
“Kiwi farmers are some of the most innovative in the world and AgriZeroNZ is accelerating the development and deployment of practical tools and solutions to support our farmers increase productivity without closing down farms or sending jobs overseas,” Mr McClay says.
“There’s currently $46.2 million committed across AgriZero’s investment portfolio, with 13 investments to date and a further 81 on the radar.”
Projects include:
research into methane vaccines and methane inhibitors
innovative probiotics
pasture treatments.
Ms Willis says the new tools and technologies developed through AgriZeroNZ investment will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.
“Our agricultural sector makes a substantial contribution to our economy and it’s essential that New Zealand remains productive while continuing to meet market expectations. The outcomes from these investments will help maintain New Zealand’s excellent reputation as a premium low-emissions producer of food and fibre.”
Rob Hewett commenced his role as Chair on 3 February 2025. The previous AgriZeroNZ Chair, Sir Brian Roche, finished his term on 31 October to take up the role of Public Services Commissioner, with Fraser Whineray taking on the role as interim Chair.
“Ms Willis and I would like to thank Sir Brian and Mr Whineray for their contributions, and we look forward to working with Mr Hewett as his term begins,” says Mr McClay.
A key piece of transport infrastructure linking a new industrial park in Bay of Plenty to the wider region will help grow the economy, creating jobs and opportunities, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today opened a motorway interchange linking Rangiuru Business Park near Te Puke with State Highway 2. “The thriving Bay of Penty has long needed new development to meet demand for sites for manufacturing, agricultural and logistics industries. Rangiuru Business Park provides the extra capacity the region has been looking for.” The Provincial Growth Fund provided $18 million towards the motorway interchange linking the park to SH2, a vital connection to the rest of the region including Tauranga where the port is located. “The motorway interchange will support the business park by providing access to major North Island and global markets. Rangiuru is around 25 minutes from the Port of Tauranga, with access to a skilled labour force from the surrounding areas. “The Bay of Plenty is one of the fastest growing regions and the business park will unlock economic growth and an estimated 4000 jobs in the region,” Mr Jones says. The construction of the interchange brought about 200 workers to the site each day. The $60m project was co-funded by Quayside Holdings Ltd, the investment arm of Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The 148ha business park is the largest consented green field industrial zone in Bay of Plenty. Work on infrastructure began in 2022. The business park recently opened its first 14ha of land for sale. Mr Jones will also today officially open Te Mahi ā Nuku at Te Reti in Judea. The Ngāi Tamarāwaho hapū-based nursery and training facility received a $726,000 grant from the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund in 2022. The facility was developed on unused Māori land and consists of a purpose-built nursery to train and employ local people in nursery operations and management, sourcing and growing local native seedlings, and tendering for planting, restoration and maintenance works in the region.
A report into the insurance industry’s response into New Zealand’s largest ever weather events has set out a number of actions to improve responses to future events.
The North Island Weather Events: The Insurance Industry response by the Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) examined insurers performance of claims related to the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023.
“The loss and devastation on families and communities was severe and the insurance industry has worked hard to settle claims and get people back on their feet as quickly as possible,” ICNZ Chief Executive Kris Faafoi said.
The North Island weather events resulted in more than 118,000 claims at an estimated value of $3.8 billion.
Despite the scale and complexity of the weather events, 91% of claims were resolved in 12 months, a rate of progress that surpassed previous major disasters. Within 16 months, 96% were settled.
“The industry response reflects the many people who worked hard every day to help assess and resolve claims and provide certainty for customers, including the additional 1,000 plus staff brought in to help deal with the surge in claims.
“We recognise that some of those affected are still dealing with the impact of these events. The industry is continually looking to improve its response and help customers recover.
“Some of the issues identified are being addressed by insurers. These include refining event response plans, investing in digital tools to manage the claims process more effectively, and improving communications with customers and support for vulnerable customers.
“The lessons learnt from previous major events were a significant factor in the industry’s preparedness and response to the North Island weather events. However, each event is unique, and it takes time for insurers to fully scale up in response to a surge in claims while also supporting their everyday operations.
“The report identifies a number of external factors that had an impact on claims, such as the need for better data sharing among Emergency Management agencies and councils, timely assessments for stickered properties, and access to skilled labour to assess land claims.
“The industry is working closely with the Natural Hazards Commission to identify new approaches to make land claims processes more effective for customers.
“We are also fostering closer relationships with Emergency Management authorities so our sector can get access to information about the scale and impact of events as early as possible to ensure a faster and effective response and recovery.
“More broadly, the insurance sector has called for a cross-sector recovery framework to enhance coordination and improve the response and recovery to natural disasters.
“Insurers have also consistently emphasised the importance of a collective approach to address climate change risks. By supporting climate adaptation – such as avoiding building in dumb places and investing in public infrastructure – we can better prepare New Zealand for future natural disasters,” Kris Faafoi said.
“I want to talk today about what it means to integrate fiscal and economic advice, with an eye to the long-term horizon. I will lay out the productivity and fiscal sustainability challenges that New Zealand faces. But I will also give you a sense of the broad solutions and policy toolkits that governments will have to contemplate over time to address those issues successfully, in the Treasury’s judgement.
The crux of my message today is that New Zealand needs to bend two curves. One is the long-term economic growth trajectory, which needs to bend upwards to expand our productive capacity and national real incomes. The second is our net public debt trajectory, which needs to bend downwards to rebuild the fiscal buffers that have been a major source of New Zealand’s resilience and ability to respond to shocks over recent decades. These are medium- and long-term challenges, but we need to address them soon.”