Attributable to Detective Inspector David De Lange:
Police have arrested and charged two men following the death of Napier man Boy Taylor.
Police have been investigating Mr Taylor’s death after he died following an incident in Napier’s CBD on Wednesday 18 December.
Two men, aged 21 and 33, have been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and are expected to appear in Hastings District Court on Monday 23 December 2024.
Police cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests and charges.
Hamilton Police are investigating after a man was critically injured in an assault early this morning.
The man was assaulted outside his home on Sefton Crescent at around 4.25am today.
He is currently in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Police would like to hear from anyone who has CCTV in the Sefton Crescent area, or anyone who may have heard or seen anything relevant to our investigation.
If you can help, please contact Police via 105 and quote file number 241222/9970.
Police are still actively searching for 19-year-old Maia Johnston, who is missing from Totara Park, Upper Hutt.
Maia was last seen leaving a family home in Totara Park at around 8.30pm yesterday (Saturday 21 December).
Previously, Police asked for residents in the Totara Park, Upper Hutt area to share any CCTV footage they might have.
We are now expanding this request and are asking for anyone in the vicinity of Harcourt Park and Brown Owl, as well as those in Totara Park, to review their CCTV for any sightings of Maia after 8:15 PM last night.
We believe that Maia was wearing a black cardigan or light top, short shorts, and black and white converse shoes.
Police continue to search this evening.
Residents of Totara Park may see a drone in the air behind the houses on the northern end of Totara Park and should not be alarmed, as this is part of the search.
If you have any information or CCTV footage that could help our enquiries, please update us online now or call 105. Please use the reference number 241222/0237.
New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard.
A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall.
Authorities have issued warnings to people living near landslide-prone areas around the Vanuatu capital.
People living near low lying areas or rivers have also been told to move, should water levels rise.
The heavy rain may also cause flash flooding.
USAR team leader Ken Cooper said last Tuesday’s 7.3 earthquake caused significant landslides.
“With the weather system that’s coming in, there is a high likelihood that the landslides continue and we need to ensure that there’s no life risks if those landslides should move further,” Cooper said.
Death toll now 12 Aftershocks have continued, and early this morning, the US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 6.1 quake, at a depth of 40km west of Port Vila.
New Zealand and Vanuatu engineers were assessing prioritised areas in the capital, and a decision would then be made as to whether a community needed to be evacuated, Cooper said.
Since the team had been in Vanuatu, it had taken damage assessments of buildings and infrastructure, with the Vanuatu government, allowing them to prioritise the biggest risks and to assist the community in recovering more quickly, he said.
The official death toll from Vanuatu’s 7.3 magnitude quake is now 12 according to the Vanuatu Disaster Management office.
This has been confirmed by the Vila Central Hospital.
The deployment lead for New Zealand in Vanuatu praised the resilience of the ni-Vanuatu people following the 7.3 earthquake. Image: MFAT/RNZ Pacific
The team had completed almost 1000 assessments, alongside the Australia USAR team, which was a significant task, Cooper said.
Both teams shared common tools and practices, which had allowed them to work simultaneously and helped the teams to quickly carry out the assessments, he said.
“When we undertake the assessments that really gives us a clear picture of what should be prioritised and we work with the [Vanuatu] government and their infrastructure cluster, and some of the priorities we have looked at are bridges, [the] airport, the port, and also landslides,” he said.
Resilience shown by locals The deployment lead for New Zealand in Vanuatu praised the resilience of the Ni-Vanuatu people following the 7.3 earthquake.
Thousands of people had been affected by the disaster but the response effort was being hampered by damage to core infrastructure including the country’s telecommunications network.
Emma Dunlop-Bennett said the New Zealand teams on the ground were working in partnership with the Vanuatu government.
She said she was in awe of the strength of locals after the disaster.
“As we go out into communities, working . . . with the government, people are out there, getting up and doing what they can to get themselves into business as usual, life as usual. I am really in awe and humbled.
The purpose of the New Zealand team being in Vanuatu was three-fold: To provide urgent and critical humanitarian assistance, a response for consular need to New Zealanders, and to support a smooth transition from relief, response to recovery, Dunlop-Bennett said.
Then to business as usual, working along side the priority need identified by the Vanuatu government, she added.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
DOC Wildfire Manager Brent Swanson says it’s crucial people check whether fires are allowed in the area, and the fire status for the region, before lighting fires in the outdoors.
“The day you head out on your trip, go to the Check It’s Alright website first to follow the fire safety advice and check the local fire danger level. This tool will tell you whether it’s ok to light a fire.”
Brent says there are already very dry conditions in some places this season. There have already been several significant fires, including on conservation land, such as the December blaze in Craigieburn, Canterbury. The eastern parts of the country in particular are expected to have a high fire risk.
“Conservation land is always in a restricted or prohibited fire season, depending on the fire risk, and some areas have a year-round total fire ban.
“Although all conservation land is in a restricted fire season, people may light fires at a campsite’s designated fireplace, or in the backcountry according to specific conditions outlined on the DOC website. Care should be taken to thoroughly extinguish any campfires before leaving a site.
“If it’s a prohibited fire season, it means there is a fire ban and no fires can be lit, though fireplaces inside huts can still be used.
“There may also be useful fire safety information on the DOC webpage about the specific track, hut, or campsite being visited.”
Brent says disposing of hot ashes outside can start devastating wildfires, so ashes from hut fireplaces should be put into the metal bins provided at huts and then soaked with water.
“Gas cookers and enclosed liquid fuel stoves can usually be used at any time, but extra care should be taken if the fire risk is high. Set them up in an area that’s at least 3m clear of any vegetation on a stable, level surface, and be careful when balancing heavy pots on top as they could tip the cooker over.
“Another thing to think about is where to park the car at the start of a trip, as a hot exhaust in long grass can start a fire.”
“Fires on conservation land are often accidentally caused by people. No one wants to see native ecosystems, recreation assets, or heritage and cultural sites destroyed because of a fire, so we’re asking people to stay fire safe in the outdoors this summer.”
Public conservation land is always in a Restricted or Prohibited fire season:
Restricted fire season – means you may light fires at a campsite’s designated fireplace, and in the backcountry according to the specific conditions
Prohibited fire season – means there is a fire ban and you can not light any fires on public conservation land (you can still use fireplaces inside DOC huts).
You can light campfires at DOC campsites or day amenity areas only if:
there is no fire ban in place, and
you use the designated fireplaces/fire pits.
You can light campfires in the backcountry only if:
there is no fire ban in place
there are no notices prohibiting fires there
the fire is at least 3 metres away from trees and anything that could catch fire, and
the fire is smaller than 0.5 m in width and in height.
Backcountry refers to areas that are more than an hour’s walk from the nearest road end.
Perhaps you know your Daffy from your Donald, your Huey from your Louie and Dewey, but do you really know your ducks?
Communications and Media Advisor Krysia Nowak takes a duck-dive into the shallows for a quick wade around the ducks of Aotearoa.
This is the final episode, friends, with a focus on the fantastically fabulous whio. Found only in Aotearoa New Zealand (unless you happen to take a $10 note overseas), whio are more threatened than some species of kiwi – it’s time we showed them some love!
Adult whio | William Harland CC BY-ND 4.0
What’s in a name?
As Shakespeare almost once said, ‘a blue duck by any other name would still be blue’. Except these aren’t, really. At a stretch they might be a steel blue, but my personal opinion is that the name came about because ‘grey duck’ was already taken (See Ducktales Episode 1: Quacking the case on mallards and grey ducks). A more accurate name, then, is the te reo Māori ‘whio’, or ‘kowhiowhio’, said to resemble the whistling sound the males make.
Whistling you say? That’s right, no generic quacking for our whio whānau. Males have a piercing whistle, synonymous with out backcountry river soundscape, while the females utter a purring sort of growl.
You may be used to ducks living on still water, perhaps gently flowing water, a pond, a stream, a lowland river. Not so the whio; they’re thrill-seekers. Instead, picture these hardy ducks on rapids we’d usually associate with rafting and adventure sports. Even the ducklings can handle strong currents with ease, thanks to their oversized ‘umbrella-like’ feet.
Umbrella feet
Whio are only distantly related to our other ducks, as they separated from other species a long time ago. They’ve specialised in this fast-flowing environment, in fact, they’re one of only four species of duck in the world adapted to live in ‘torrent’ environments!
To give an example of their specialisation, I once saw a whio family on the pond at Tongariro National Trout Centre (they pop in occasionally, a holiday from the river I guess). I had the privilege of watching one of the adult whio chasing a mallard around the pond. Swimming near each other the differences were stark – whio with their streamlined bodies racing through the water, next to the dingy-like mallard at a relaxed pace. Needless to say, the mallard ceded the pond, and the whio emerged victorious.
Clean, clear, and cold
Whio need clean, clear, cold water to survive. Well…mostly so they can eat. Visual hunters, they peruse the current and under rocks for tasty insects and worms (with a cool beak!). They can handle the occasional flood muddying the water, but permanently silty environments kill their kai, and their ability to find it.
A whio surveying its domain | Michael Hayward CC BY-ND 4.0
So why clean and cold? Well not a whole lot of things like to live in pollution (except humans, apparently), and whio food is no exception. Prime whio fodder like mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies have high oxygen needs. Pollution uses up oxygen, and warm water holds less oxygen, so clean and cold is where it’s at.
Stoatally uncool
Imagine whio back before mammalian predators were introduced, when threats came from other birds like harriers and black-backed gulls. Birds are visual, and most (with a couple of notable exceptions) don’t have a good sense of smell. So, the ultimate whio defence strategy was born: look like a rock. People unfamiliar with whio spotting often fail to spot the ‘slightly animated rocks’ that betray a stealthy whio. Ducklings are a black and white combination that somehow disappears completely in the rapids.
Try and count whio ducklings on the move. Go on, I dare you.
Black and white whio ducklings are hard to track in the rapids | Bradley Shields CC BY-ND 4.0
Enter mammalian predators, like stoats, with an excellent sense of smell to tell boulder from bird. Suddenly, whio are *ahem* sitting ducks. Whio aren’t completely defenceless; they’re feisty and can often fight off predators, but they have no way to hide from predators who can sniff them out, and it’s difficult to fight a stoat and keep your eggs alive at the same time. If a stoat finds a female whio sitting on her nest, it’s only a matter of time before it either kills her or drives her off and eats the eggs. All the while, the male whio is diligently watching the river and sky for threats, not realising the real threat now comes from the land (this breaks my heart).
By the time conservationists realised there was a problem, there were estimated to be less than 2500 whio left in the entire country.
Whio Forever?
So, how can we stop the decline of whio? Partner up!
If we control stoats in whio habitat, we give whio their best chance of resilience in the face of other threats like climate change. We’re pretty fortunate here at DOC to have a partnership with Genesis, and with their support we’ve been able to protect more than 1,500 kilometres of river in whio habitat in locations across New Zealand.
Stoats aren’t the only threat to whio though, many of our rivers aren’t as healthy as they used to be, so habitat loss is right up there, along with climate change. Helping to keep our rivers healthy (don’t litter, plant trees, wash your car on the grass, etc), and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions (you know the drill) are actions that can help the wider picture for fabulous whio.
Whio live year-round on fast flowing rivers and streams | DOC
Well, I’m all out of ducks, and you’ve made it to the end of the ducktales blogs; well done you! Now you get to go on and share all these new facts at your Christmas parties. You’re welcome; you can thank me by being decent to ducks:
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see loved ones, embarking on a road trip with friends, or exploring all that New Zealand has to offer, please take care and drive responsibly,” Mr Brown says.
“You can expect to see Police anywhere, anytime, on the road. They will be out to deter any dangerous behaviour that impacts the safety of road users including speeding and driver impairment, and ensuring road users are wearing their seatbelts.
“Drive to the conditions. Don’t put yourselves and others at risk. If you’re having a drink this holiday season, don’t drive.
“Drunk and drugged drivers are the highest contributors to deaths on our roads, and the Government is focussed on increased enforcement and providing new tools to police to reduce alcohol and drug related deaths on our roads.”
Over 850,000 more alcohol breath tests were undertaken on our roads in 2023/24 compared to the previous year with a new increased target set of 3.3 million alcohol breath tests and screenings per year.
“We know alcohol breath testing and drug testing are incredibly effective at saving lives. That is why we are prioritising road policing and enforcement to improve road safety,” Mr Brown says.
The Government is also progressing legislation to enable roadside oral fluid drug testing to be rolled out in 2025. The oral fluid testing will give the Police the power to screen drivers for drugs at the roadside using oral fluid testing devices, similar to drink-driving enforcement.
“Plan ahead. Check the weather conditions, determine where you’re going to have breaks, and ensure you’re not under the influence when you get behind the wheel,” Mr Brown says.
The official 2024 Christmas New Year holiday period begins 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and ends 6am on Friday 3 January 2025.
Business employment data: September 2024 quarter – data revision –23 December 2024 –We have updated ‘filled jobs (workplace location based)’ data at the territorial authority and regional levels for the quarters ending March 2021 to September 2024.
Some jobs were incorrectly allocated to locations, which made it appear as though jobs in certain territorial authorities and regions had been ‘lost’, when this was not the case.
National level data for ‘filled jobs’ by workplace location is not affected by this issue as the information is fully sourced from data in the tax system. We are confident that it is robust and of high quality.
For a sub-national breakdown of job numbers and changes, we recommend using the data for ‘filled jobs’ (produced by employee location at the territorial authority and regional level) as this is fully sourced from tax system data and is of higher quality. This differs from the ‘filled jobs (workplace location based)’ data, where the issue was found and corrected.
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say.
“New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the world and are part of many Kiwi families’ summer plans – including mine,” Mr Bishop says.
“While Instagram feeds fill up with snaps of happy Kiwis frolicking in and on the waves, sadly we know that, statistically speaking, an average of 36 families will experience the devastation of a loved one’s preventable drowning this summer.
“So our message to you this summer is to take personal responsibility for protecting your family from that heartbreak.
“Fortunately there are some easy steps you can take to to keep yourself and your loved ones safe around the water. New Zealand’s water safety code was updated this year, and following the‘five ways to survive’can prevent tragedy.
“Always find the safest place to swim – much of our coastline is treacherous and many places don’t have lifeguard patrols, so always try to swim on patrolled beaches. If you’re going out on a boat, wear a lifejacket. It’s not rocket science and it saves lives, so get on board with water safety this summer.”
“Earlier this year the Government announced an investment of $63.6 million to Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand so they can continue their important work of keeping people safe in, on, and around the water,” Mr Doocey says.
“These largely volunteer-driven frontline water safety organisations have saved countless lives and will save many more. The funding increase is helping to cover increases to operational expenses for both organisations as well as rescue equipment, facilities and maintenance.
“But amazing as our Coastguard and Surf Life Saving volunteers are, there’s only so much they can do unless the rest of us play our part. So, this summer please help them by swimming at a patrolled beach during patrolled hours.
“If you’re heading out on a boat, even if you’re a strong swimmer, bear in mind that of the 17 people who drowned in a boating incident so far this year, Water Safety NZ reports that just one of them was wearing a lifejacket.
“Lifejackets save lives, and could save yours – it’s that simple.
“And remember to always keep in close contact with children in or around water. Their safety relies on you being with them to help when things go wrong.
“While our drowning fatalities for 2024 are currently lower than they were at the same time in 2023, keeping the numbers of preventable drowning tragedies down is going to take a combined effort from us all.
“Let’s all have a safe summer in, on and around the water this year.”
The New Zealand fuel company Z Energy is swapping out street names for “correct” kupu on service stops around the country, with the help of local hapū.
When Z took over 226 fuel sites from Shell in 2010, the easy solution was to name the respective stations after the streets they were on, or near.
But when it named the Kahikatea Drive station in Kirikiriroa Z — K Drive, the company’s Māori advisor questioned the abbreviation.
“Kahikatea is the correct name. That led to a bigger conversation about where are we with our knowledge as we start to learn a bit more about te reo Māori and acknowledging interconnected-ness of all things, like, where else are there opportunities to do it,” Z Energy customer general manager Andy Baird said.
After 12 months of whakawhanaungatanga (relationship building), the company was guided by Te Hā o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa on changing the name of Z Dinsdale to Z Tuhikaramea.
That led to two other stations being renamed — New Plymouth’s Z Courtenay Street became Z Huatoki, while Hamilton’s Five Cross Roads station became Z Te Papanui.
“This is not about ticking a box per se, this is about a bigger sort of commitment that we have to te reo Māori and obviously to the communities that we operate in, so it’s a much bigger broader long-term programme,” Baird said.
Z Energy . . . an internal drive to incorporate more use of te reo Māori. Image: RNZ
Internal te reo drive There had also been an internal drive to incorporate more use of te reo, kicking off each day with karakia, Baird said.
It added more of a connection between the company and Māori traditions.
“We’ve been adding bilingual language inside the sites but we have equally taken the time to make sure that we’re getting the right dialects as the regions as we go through it.
“Part of the project this year was to sort of understand the process that we go through in terms of engagement with mana whenua and how they want things to happen and occur, and how we can come together to make that really a great outcome for local communities we operate in.”
The company could have changed the station names off the bat, but Baird said consulting with local hapū and iwi was the right thing to do.
“The opportunity to meet them, to start to engage with mana whenua and to build a relationship with them and to do something that they’re just as proud of as we are, was just as important as the actual name.”
Each site’s name was gifted by the hapū, with careful consideration of the history of the whenua.
Facebook community included Ngāti Te Whiti hapū in Ngāmotu was thrilled to play a big part in renaming the Courtenay Street petrol station and included its Facebook community in making the decision.
It had a kete of three names that went to a vote — the name Huatoki was favoured.
Julie Healey of Ngāti Te Whiti said it was only fitting to have the name Huatoki, as the awa flowed just around the corner from the petrol station.
“Huatoki is probably all the life essence of New Plymouth at the beginning. We have the pā Puke Ariki at the front and then we have the other pā around, I think there’s about five or six different pā in that area.”
The hapū was in its rebuilding phase and was working towards a Huatoki restoration plan with the New Plymouth District Council, so when Z approached it at the start of the year, the timing could not have been better, she said.
“When we were approached, I just thought straight away ‘this is going to work brilliantly with our Huātoki’, and I was hoping whānau would vote that way, and they did. It just made sense, it was consistent.”
A plaque on the left-hand side of entrance has a brief mihi and the meaning of the word. Image: RNZ/Emma Andrews
She praised Z for taking the right steps to engage with locals.
“One of our whānau, Damon Ritai, met the people outside Puke Ariki Museum, talked to them about the museum, the designs, the cultural expression on the museum, the meaning of the different things of whakapapa on the ceremonial doors, all the names that were in the foyer, and explained everything about those.”
Cultural induction hīkoi The cultural induction hīkoi ended at Te Whare Honanga (Taranaki Cathedral) where they had refreshments.
Then, the hapū worked on the dialect, something Healey triple-checked before giving the nod of approval.
“This is about reclaiming our language and culture, not as a political act, but as a celebration.
“It’s always a good opportunity for hapū to try and get those names, you know, renaming before the colonial names, taking things back to language and culture.”
Z Energy aimed to rename more petrol stations but first, more whakawhanaungatanga, Baird said.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Police are continuing to search for 19-year-old Maia Johnston, who is still missing from Totara Park, Upper Hutt.
Maia was last seen leaving a family home in Totara Park at around 8.30pm on Saturday 21 December.
We are continuing to ask those who live Totara Park as well as surrounding areas of Harcourt Park and Brown Owl to check any CCTV footage for sightings of Maia.
We are now also asking anyone in these suburbs to check their properties including any outbuildings such as sheds or sleep outs to see if Maia might have gone in there.
We believe that Maia was wearing a black cardigan or light top, short shorts, and black and white converse shoes.
Police have received a number of calls from members of the public, which we thank them for. We have assessed each bit of information and followed up where relevant. Unfortunately this has not led us to Maia and we, along with her family, would like to find her and make sure she is safe.
If you have any information or CCTV footage that could help our enquiries, please update us online now or call 105. Please use the reference number 241222/0237.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand urges caution around any activity involving flames, heat or fire on the Coromandel Peninsula over the summer months.
Waikato District Manager Daryl Trim says conditions in the Coromandel do not require any changes to the current open fire season, but this is constantly being assessed.
“We are monitoring our local conditions closely as we see the devastating fires happening all over the motu,” he says.
“To stay informed and up to date on the current conditions, and check if there are any restrictions in place, head towww.checkitsalright.nz.
“Our beautiful Coromandel Peninsula attracts around 300,000 visitors in summer, and we urge caution regarding any fire activity – remember, it only takes one spark.
“We appreciate visitors and residents taking as much care as possible, to keep our people, property, environment and wildlife safe this summer.
Three child-killer diseases – dengue, cholera, and mpox – witnessed major resurgences in 2024 fuelled partly by climate crises and conflict, with these illnesses likely to cause significant strains on communities in 2025 without more focused global attention, said Save the Children.
More than 13,600 people, including children, are suspected or confirmed to have died from these three diseases this year, with cases of dengue and mpox reaching record highs. While there was a slight global decline in cases of cholera, the number of fatal cases of the virus jumped 126% from 2023.
It was a horror year fordengue fever in 2024, with cases of the mosquito-borne virus reaching the highest number on record at 13.3 million – more than double the 6.5 million cases in 2023 which was itself arecord high[1]. Increased urbanisation and changes in climate and temperatures have fuelled the mosquitoes that spread the virus. TheWorld Health Organizationestimates that 4 billion people are currently at risk of dengue and related viruses and this will rise to 5 billion by 2050.
There were nearlyhalf a million cases ofcholerathis year, with 3,432 deaths recorded by the end of September, when most recent data was available [2]. While the number of cases in 2024 is 16% lower than last year, there has been a126% spike in deaths, according to the WHO. The increase in mortality is likely due to the location of the outbreaks in conflict-affected areas where access to healthcare is severely compromised, and regions experiencing flooding that has damaged critical infrastructure.
This year saw a major increase in cases and fatalities from thempox virus, which was declared a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024 by both the World Health Organization and the Africa Centre for Disease Control. This followed a surge of mpox infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries in Africa, with a major portion of cases and deaths being children, and a new circulating variety (known as a ‘clade’) of mpox a particular concern to children.
Beauty, 17, lives with her sister and her parents in an informal settlement in Lusaka, Zambia. Her community was hit by a major cholera outbreak earlier this year. Beauty said:
“Cholera, this current outbreak, has really impacted me and my family because my father had to stop work because of the outbreak, and my mother – she’s a teacher – she also had to stop work for the same issue. It was challenging for us in terms of finances and surviving, but, to God’s grace, we’re surviving. It’s important to have access to clean water because most of the diseases that happen, they happen because people drink contaminated water. So, if you drink clean water…then you can prevent yourself from getting diseases like cholera.”
Dr Revati Phalkey, Global Health and Nutrition Director, said:
“Currently, about half of the world’s population is not fully covered by essential, quality, affordable health services – denying them their right to health committed as part of universal health coverage ambitions. Health systems are under enormous pressure to deliver universal health coverage with the majority of countries experiencing worsening or no significant change in service coverage since the launch of the sustainable development goals in 2015.
“We need greater global investments to build strong health systems that are able to deliver essential health services especially vaccines and essential medicines while responding to global health emergencies, including emerging issues like mpox.
“It is time for governments and the international community to step up and ensure all children are protected against disease and have access to adequate health services when they need them and where they need them. Every child has the right to survive and thrive and it is our collective responsibility to deliver on this.”
While these headline grabbing illnesses saw rapid increases in cases or death rates in 2024, pneumonia remains the leading infectious cause of death among children under 5, killing about 500,000 children a year.
However, new estimates from theGlobal Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD)show that the number of children dying from pneumonia dropped sharply from 693,000 in 2019 to 502,000 in 2021, the lowest number ever recorded. This 28% reduction is being attributed to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and underscores the power of preventing the spread of infection. That said, the impact of the climate crisis is likely to increase respiratory diseases such as pneumonia once again, affecting children the most impacted by inequality and poverty.
Meanwhile, children are particularly vulnerable to dengue fever because their immune systems are weaker than adults and they tend to play outside where there is less protection against the mosquitos. Children under five are at particular risk of developing dehydration and shock from dengue if they contract the illness, and children are most impacted if the illness incapacitates or kills their parents and other caregivers.
Mpox causes fever, rash and lesions all over the body, severe headaches and fatigue, with some children developing respiratory problems and difficulty swallowing. In severe cases, mpox can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection that requires immediate specialist medical attention.
Cholera takes a heavier toll on young children, especially those under the age of 5 who are at higher risk of severe dehydration and death during cholera outbreaks.
Around the world, Save the Children provides public healthcare for children and their families, including treatment for diseases like dengue, cholera and mpox, and works with schools and communities to improve awareness on how to prevent infection.
[1] Total number of dengue-related deaths globally in 2024 – 9600 see [2]; Total number of cholera and acute water diarrhea deaths in 2024 – 4018 see [3]; Total number of Mpox deaths in 2024 – 57 see [4]; Total number of deaths of the three diseases in 2024 – 13,675.
[2] According to the WHO Global Dengue Surveillance, since the beginning of 2024, over 13.3 million dengue cases and over 9600 dengue-related deaths have been reported globally.https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/dengue_global/
[3] According to the WHO, from 1 January to 27 October 2024, a cumulative total of 486 760 cholera and acute watery diarrhoea cases and 4018 deaths were reported from 33 countries across five WHO regions. While the number of cases reported in October 2024 is 42% lower than the same period in 2023, the number of deaths has increased by 54% – reflecting severe response challenges in outbreak settings [https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/multi-country-outbreak-of-cholera–external-situation-report–20—20-november-2024]
[4] According to the WHO, as of 1 December 2024, in Africa there were 13 171 confirmed cases of Mpox, including 57 deaths reported by 20 countries.https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/mpx_global/
It’s a wet start to Christmas week as showers persist for most areas of Aotearoa/New Zealand today (Monday), especially in the east of the South Island where a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued. A quieter, brighter and drier day of weather arrives on Christmas Eve. For Christmas Day the best of the weather is likely to be first thing ahead of cloudier skies and wetter weather moving in from the west.
For Monday, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the eastern half of the South Island, continuing the trend observed over the past weekend, where afternoons have seen areas of thunderstorms with localised downpours. There is also a moderate risk for afternoon thunderstorms over Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. Showers over the country are expected to ease late this evening or in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve is looking like the pick of the week, with sunny spells expected over much of New Zealand on Tuesday. Late in the day, rain is forecast to arrive in Fiordland with an approaching front from the Tasman Sea. But what does this spell for the big day?
MetService Meteorologist Oscar Shiviti says: “A warm and sunny start is expected for most of the country on Christmas Day. Rain then spreads north along the western half of the South Island during Christmas morning and extends eastwards in the afternoon”. In the North Island, a dry Christmas morning is expected ahead of rain reaching the western half of the island during the afternoon, with Northland most likely to receive the first drops of rain. The rest of the North Island can expect rain later in the day.
“The east of the North Island, particularly Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, looks best placed to stay dry for much of Christmas Day and will also see some of the highest temperatures of the day. However, a few showers are expected to squeeze through the Manawatu Gorge during the afternoon, affecting parts of the Wairarapa,” Shiviti says.
“It is also looking like a good Christmas day weatherwise for New Zealanders in the far south of the North Island, namely Wellington and Kapiti, as rain is only expected to move onto these areas in the evening, if at all” continues Shiviti.
Rain is expected to persist over parts of Aotearoa/New Zealand on Boxing Day as a low-pressure system moves over northern areas. The wet conditions are expected to clear from the south of the South Island during the evening.
Source: New Zealand ParliamentThe Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is calling for public submissions on the International Treaty Examination of the US Tuna Treaty Amendments to Annex II of the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America. MIL OSI
Source: New Zealand ParliamentThe Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is calling for public submissions on the International treaty examination of the Agreement Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. MIL OSI
A discovery of undeclared tobacco by the New Zealand Customs Service has resulted in the restraint of more than NZ$2.5 million worth of assets by New Zealand Police under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.
This case shows crime doesn’t pay, and profiting from criminal activities will eventually catch up with people, say the agencies.
In November 2023, Customs intercepted 110 kilograms of loose tobacco and over 230,000 cigarettes (or approximately 10,000 packets) concealed in Chinese tea packets destined for residential and business addresses in Napier and Gisborne.
No importation permits were held for the seized tobacco and cigarettes, and no excise equivalent duties were paid, amounting to around $645,000 in defrauded revenue.
Further investigations identified previous similar consignments had been successfully imported into New Zealand and were being sold by a restaurant in Gisborne to the public.
In March 2024, Customs carried out search warrants in Gisborne and located $10,000 cash in a bedroom, $106,371.20 cash inside a vehicle parked outside the restaurant, and over a kilogram of loose tobacco along with 11,000 cigarettes inside the restaurant.
The Customs investigation resulted in the seizure of 306,200 cigarettes in total, and charges were laid against four people for various offences under the Customs and Excise Act 2018.
With court proceedings still underway, the Police Asset Recovery Unit applied to the court and was granted restraint of the cash seized in the investigation along with further money from bank accounts, as well as four residential properties in Gisborne.
In total, over $2.5m in assets has been restrained, and a forfeiture of the money and residential properties will be sought by the Police Asset Recovery Unit at the conclusion of the criminal charges.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Fischer from the Central Asset Recovery Unit said this investigation shows the reach of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, and how closely Police are working with other government organisations to disrupt the flow of illicit funds.
“Funds sourced from any type of illegal activity can form the basis of criminal proceeds action. In this case, the blatant disregard of the law for personal gain has helped Customs and Police uncover a large-scale fraud generating a high amount of income, from an activity that is unfortunately becoming more and more common,” he said.
Chief Customs Officer, Nigel Barnes, said that illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime.
“It takes money out from our communities and puts it in the pockets of organised crime groups that then go on to use the money for other crimes,” Mr Barnes says.
“The motive for this offending is you can make a lot of money with low risk – but it’s not actually low-risk, and this is a prime example of how criminals can expect to lose their ill-gotten gains.”
If you know or suspect someone may be involved in illegal smuggling, call Customs on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768), a 24-hour confidential hotline, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Please attribute to Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard, Wellington Police:
Police are investigating after the death of a Wellington woman who died in hospital after she was admitted following an assault just over a week ago.
The victim, 53-year-old Lillian Wharton, died in Wellington Hospital on Thursday (19 December 2024).
Police are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding her death and are treating it as unexplained at this stage.
On Saturday 14 December, Lillian was at a friend’s address in Lower Hutt and left with people known to her to walk back to her home on Waiwhetu Road.
At some point after the leaving the address she was assaulted and admitted to hospital in a serious condition before she passed away on Thursday.
Police have charged a man, who is known to the victim, with assault, assault with intent to injure and injuring with intent to injure and he appeared in Lower Hutt District Court yesterday where he was remanded in custody until his next appearance.
Police are asking the public for any sightings on Saturday 14 December, between 8pm and 10pm, of two adult women and one male. One of the women was pushing a pram.
We are asking if anyone saw them or anything of concern between Randwick Road, York Street, Awamutu Road, Leighton Avenue and around the intersections of Whites Line East and Waiwhetu Road.
We would ask anyone who has information which may assist our enquiries to please update Police online or call 105 quoting file number 241219/9880. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
A person has died following a single-vehicle crash in Balclutha overnight.
Emergency services were called to Gormack Street, between Moir Street and Barnego Road, about 10.35pm.
The sole occupant died at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit responded, and Gormack Street will remain closed until mid-to-late afternoon while the scene is investigated.
Enquiries into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
The walking track to Tāne Mahuta in Waipoua Forest has been closed since 30 September 2024. The reopening comes just in time for the summer season and busy holiday period, allowing the public to reconnect with this treasured taonga.
Visitors can now enjoy Tāne Mahuta with new features that protect this irreplaceable tree and enrich the visitor experience. As part of the Rākau Rangatira project, the site now includes a specially designed raised boardwalk, bridge, and viewing platform, ensuring safer access while minimising environmental impact.
This reopening is a key milestone in the wider Rākau Rangatira project, a collaboration between Te Roroa and DOC to enhance forest health, protect kauri trees from dieback disease, and improve visitor experiences in Waipoua Forest.
Next steps in the project include:
Ongoing monitoring and maintenance of biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.
Long-term forest health assessments to ensure Tāne Mahuta and surrounding kauri thrive for future generations.
Further upgrades to visitor facilities and educational resources to foster a deeper understanding of kauri conservation.
“Tāne Mahuta is more than just a tree; he is a living ancestor, a sacred connection to our whakapapa and our atua. His health and survival are intertwined with the well-being of our people and the land. Seeing him protected and cared for gives us all great pride and hope for the future,” says Snow Tane, General Manager of Te Roroa.
Stephen Soole, Kauri Coast Operations Manager at DOC, expressed gratitude for the public’s patience and support during the closure.
“Tāne Mahuta holds a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders and visitors alike. We are proud to reopen this sacred site and invite everyone to visit respectfully, knowing their actions contribute to the preservation of this ancient forest,” says Stephen.
Visitors are reminded to follow biosecurity protocols during their visit, including using the wash stations provided, to protect Tāne Mahuta and the surrounding ecosystem.
For more information about Tāne Mahuta and the Rākau Rangatira project, please visit the DOC website.
Background information
About Tāne Mahuta
Tāne Mahuta currently attracts approximately 200,000 visitors per year and stands 51.5 metres tall, with a trunk diameter of 4.5 metres. It is estimated to be 1,500 years old.
According to Māori mythology, Tāne is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku the earth mother. Tāne was the child who separated his parents’ embrace and then set about clothing his mother in the forest we see today. All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tāne’s children.
About kauri dieback disease
Phytophthora agathidicida (PA) is a soil-borne pathogen that infects Kauri trees through their roots. PA restricts the ability of kauri to transport water and nutrients between their roots and their leaves, causing the condition known as kauri dieback disease, which eventually starves the tree.
PA could have devastating effects on New Zealand’s kauri forests. It has been found in Northland, Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula. There is no known cure, but we can help reduce its spread by avoiding any movement of soil around the roots of kauri trees. That means making sure we stick to the tracks and have spotlessly clean footwear and any gear that might touch the ground.
Attribute to Marlborough Area Commander Inspector Simon Feltham
Police remain near a residential address in Blenheim this morning following a family harm-related incident.
Police were called to a house on Park Terrace about 5.10pm yesterday, after a man carrying a firearm arrived at the address, where he is known.
Two occupants were inside at the time, and one was able to get to safety. The other person remains inside the property with the man.
The Police Negotiation Team is at the scene and no injuries have been reported. We are focused on the welfare of both people inside the address and are working hard to resolve this peacefully.
As a precaution, neighbours of the address were asked to stay in temporary accommodation last night, and we are keeping them informed of developments.
The incident is confined to the address and there is no risk to the wider community. A section of Park Terrace is cordoned off and we ask that people avoid the area.
Information will be released proactively, when we are in a position to do so.
