The Government is focused on the delivery of Dunedin’s new inpatient building, with the establishment of a local engagement group to support the next phase of the New Dunedin Hospital project, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “Work is back underway on the inpatient building at the former Cadbury site, marking a critical phase for this major health investment. I’m pleased to announce, alongside Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, the formation of the Southern Engagement Group, which will help ensure the local community is kept well informed as this vital project progresses,” Mr Brown says. The group will be established to strengthen communication with the local community as the New Dunedin Hospital project moves into the construction phase. It will bring together Health New Zealand leaders and a range of local stakeholders, including representatives from local government, infrastructure partners, and tertiary institutions, to provide regular updates and support ongoing engagement throughout the project. Meeting quarterly, the group may consider a broad range of matters relevant to the successful delivery of the hospital. It will not provide advice on the building’s design scope, clinical models of care, or procurement decisions. “This will ensure the project is well embedded into the fabric of the city and the region, playing a vital role in ensuring the public receives clear and consistent updates as the project progresses. “The New Dunedin Hospital will be the largest health investment ever made in the South Island. We’re getting on with the job – and the Mayor and I want to make sure the people of Dunedin and the wider region are kept informed every step of the way.” Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich welcomes the group’s establishment. “The people of the South are rightly passionate about our new hospital. I’m pleased the Government has listened to the community’s call for it to be built on the right site, with all 11 floors promised. There is understandable interest in the finer details of the construction and fit-out,” Mr Radich says. “I’m delighted that the Minister has taken up my recommendation of reinstating a community oversight group to keep people engaged and informed. The Southern Engagement Group will ensure community leaders from across the catchment area for our hospital are aware of build progress and understand why key decisions are being made. “I look forward to working collegially with the Minister, the project team, and the Southern Engagement Group to ensure the delivery of a fit-for-purpose, modern tertiary hospital that will serve our region’s needs for many decades to come.”
PORT SUDAN,03 July2025 –Nearly 1,000 people have been killed so far this year in Sudan while seeking health care or visiting loved ones in hospital, with attacks on hospitals nearly tripling after two years of conflict [1] and exacerbating a cholera outbreak, Save the Children said.
Save the Children analysis of attacks on healthcare as reported by theWorld Health Organizationfound that at least 933 people, including children, were killed in over 38 incidents in the first six months of 2025. This is nearly 60 times the number of deaths reported over the same period a year ago [2].
Over 148 people were injured in healthcare attacks in the first half of 2025, which is nearly triple the number of people injured over the same period last year.
The deadly attacks targeted clinics, health facilities, major hospitals, ambulances, and medical convoys while looting of warehouses housing drugs and medical supplies has put more people at risk in a country where half the population – 30.4 million people – are in need of humanitarian aid.
Save the Children said the number of attacks on healthcare has been high since conflict broke out in April 2023 but the spike in casualty numbers this year was alarming, with nearly four times more people killed than in 2023 and 2024 combined.
The latest attack on healthcare took place last week at Al-Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan state and left over 40 people dead, including six children and five health workers, theWHO’s office in Sudan said. Dozens were also injured in the attack.
In January this year, at least one girl and three boys were reportedly killed and three boys injured in an attack on theSaudi Hospital in El Fasher, in Sudan’s North Darfur. The children were among patients receiving care in the hospital’s emergency ward, being treated for injuries resulting from previous bombings in the area.
The attacks on healthcare facilities and workers have increased as the country is reeling from a spiralling cholera outbreak, with 80,000 confirmed cases including more than 1,000 children under five and more than 2,000 deaths nationwide since the outbreak was declared two months ago [3].
On top of direct attacks on hospitals, looting of medical supplies is further compounding the suffering for millions in Sudan. This has included the theft of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) – a crucial treatment for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition – from UNICEF’s supplies at Al Bashair Hospital in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, in March and Save the Children facilities.
Save the Children is urgently working to increase life-saving supplies, especially ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), a micronutrient-rich paste used to treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children-especially into Darfur. ButRUTF stocks are already dangerously low, and Sudan is among the countries projected to face critical global supply chain gaps in the coming months due to aid cuts.
“Healthcare workers should never have to worry about their safety while providing health services and patients should never have to look over their shoulders while seeking care in hospitals.
“The number of people killed and injured in direct attacks on healthcare this year is alarmingly too high and yet the biggest danger posed by these attacks is families and children opting not to seek services from hospitals when in need and turning to unsafe traditional means.
“We are concerned that in most cases, the hospitals that have come under fire also happen to be the only remaining hospitals in those areas, putting healthcare out of reach for millions including displaced people. With at least 80% of hospitals in Sudan decimated by the conflict, all efforts need to be taken to protect the few standing health facilities still providing services.”
Save the Children is urgently calling on the international community to redouble efforts to demand a ceasefire to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and a drastic scale-up of humanitarian assistance. This includes securing safe passage for food, medical aid, commercial supplies, and critical nutrition interventions for children suffering from wasting especially in the Darfur region.
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across Sudan providing health, nutrition, education, child protection and food security and livelihoods support. Save the Children is also supporting refugees from Sudan in Egypt and South Sudan.
Notes:
[1] In the first half of 2025 at least 38 attacks on healthcare were reported compared to 13 attacks over the same period in 2024. At least 933 people were killed between 1 January and 30 June 2025 in attacks on healthcare recorded by the World Health Organisation’sSurveillance System for Attacks on Healthcare. This is compared to 16 people killed in 13 attacks on healthcare over a similar period last year. (Database accessed on 01 July 2025). Table below shows the number of attacks, deaths and injuries as retrieved from WHO’s surveillance system for attacks on health care (ssa) on 01 July 2025.
Period Number of attacks Reported deaths Injuries January – June 2024 13 16 55 January – June 2025 38 933 148 2023 – 2024 (since start of conflict) 136 238 214
[2] Important note that the WHO surveillance system came into full effect in November 2024 and there is a possibility of underreporting for previous years/ period.
[3] According to data from Sudan’s ministry of health.
Responding to the Dalai Lama outlining the process for his spiritual succession ahead of his 90th birthday, amid longstanding efforts by Chinese authorities to control the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:
“The Chinese authorities’ ongoing efforts to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama are a direct assault on the right to freedom of religion or belief. Tibetan Buddhists, like all faith communities, must be able to choose their spiritual leaders without coercion or interference by the authorities.
“The Chinese authorities have a long history of systematically suppressing religious freedom and tightening control over Tibetan Buddhism. For example, in 1995 the authorities forcibly disappeared Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy recognized by the Dalai Lama as the Panchen Lama; Beijing has yet to properly explain his fate and whereabouts.
“This climate of secrecy, coupled with the imposition of numerous state-appointed religious figures within Tibetan Buddhism, highlights a concerning pattern of state control over religion in China.
“The Chinese authorities must immediately end political interference in Tibetan religious practices and cease using religious succession as a tool for control and coercion. Authorities must uphold the right of everyone to freedom of religion or belief. They must also immediately allow independent access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and take steps to end 30 years of impunity for his disappearance.”
Background
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, announced on Wednesday (2 July) in Dharamshala, India that he will have a successor after his death. He said only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he founded, had the authority to recognize his future reincarnation.
Chinese government policy asserts that all reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist “Living Buddhas” must be approved by state authorities. This position is detailed in legal instruments such as the 2007 Measures on the Management of Reincarnation of Living Buddhas, which require official vetting and approval by multiple levels of government depending on the religious figure’s influence.
In its March 2025 white paper, “Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era,” the Chinese government reaffirmed this position, stating that the reincarnation system operates “under the guidance of Buddhist associations and the administration of the government.” The paper boasts that 93 reincarnated Living Buddhas had been confirmed following government approval by the end of 2024, highlighting state control as a key achievement.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama in May 1995. Three days later, he and his family were forcibly disappeared by Chinese authorities. He has not been seen in public since. The Chinese government has since made vague claims that he is “living a normal life”.
Under international human rights law, including Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), all individuals and communities have the right to adopt and manifest a religion or belief of their choice without coercion. Although China has signed but not ratified the ICCPR, it remains obliged not to defeat the treaty’s object and purpose. Enforced disappearance is a continuous violation under international law until the fate of the individual is clarified.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances have repeatedly requested information on the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief has emphasized that religious communities must be free to determine their leadership without state interference.
Source: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA)
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) welcomes auditors from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) who will undertake a full safety audit of New Zealand’s aviation system from 9 – 22 July 2025.
ICAO auditors will conduct an on-site audit of New Zealand’s aviation system and overall capability for safety oversight. This will be carried out via validation of information provided during the earlier preparation phase, and through a series of detailed interviews with CAA, the Ministry of Transport, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, and other organisations operating in New Zealand’s aviation system.
New Zealand is an active participant in the international aviation community and a member of the ICAO.
CAA Deputy Chief Executive, System, Strategy and Policy, John Kay said New Zealand is committed to global aviation safety standards.
“As active stewards of the civil aviation regulatory system, we welcome the audit as an opportunity to continuously evolve the safety and security standards and internationally recommended practices that keep New Zealand skies safe and secure.
“The transparency and accountability built into this process further help us maintain public confidence and international trust in New Zealand’s aviation system.”
The results of the audit will be available by early 2026, and any findings that require action will be addressed through a corrective action plan led by CAA.
While the full audit report will remain confidential, ICAO will publicly release the Effective Implementation score, which reflects the degree to which the state complies with ICAO’s international aviation safety oversight requirements.
CAA maintains formal engagement relationships with ICAO, as well as with other state aviation regulatory authorities worldwide. A range of diplomatic and technical relationships help ensure that international standards and agreements reflect the regulatory outcomes desired by New Zealand.
The sounds of cars and focused concentration are filling Hampton Downs Motorsport Park over the next two weeks, as more than 200 young drivers and their caregivers take part in the highly anticipated Street Smart driven by Tony Quinn Foundation Road Safety programme – now in full swing at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park across five dates in July.
Taking place on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 13th, the training days represent the largest-ever delivery in one school holiday period of the Street Smart programme at a single venue, reflecting surging demand from teens and families eager to boost road safety and real-world driving skills.
Street Smart Programme Director Hayden Dickason says the response has been overwhelming.
“It’s been incredible to see so many young people and parents embracing this opportunity. From day one, the engagement has been high, and the impact even higher – it’s clear that this hands-on practical approach is making a difference.”
Participants are guided through seven interactive activities covering everything from hazard awareness and safe following distances to distraction management, braking control and emergency reactions — all delivered in a controlled environment with expert instruction.
With several days already complete and more sessions still to come, feedback from attendees has been enthusiastic.
Hampton Downs attendee, Zach said he found the peripheral vision activity the most challenging,
“I was so focussed on completing the task I completely missed the things sitting out to the side”, says Zach. He recomm
Police responded to reports that a man was making loud, threatening comments at the Ōrākei Train Station just before 1pm, prior to boarding a south bound train.
Police established the train had continued towards Ōtāhuhu where the training was stopped and searched by Police.
Further information alerted Police that the subject of the report had exited earlier at Glen Innes.
Police have spoken to a person in the Glen Innes area and are reassuring the public there is no cause for concern.
Police must take these reports seriously and officers were armed as a precaution.
A thorough inspection of the train was carried out and Police thank the public and AT for their help in safely resolving this matter.
As some of the country’s senior lawyers and researchers in a range of disciplines (law, economics, Tiriti o Waitangi, public policy, environment), including a former Prime Minister and two New Zealanders of the Year, we cannot stand by as the Regulatory Standards Bill is rushed through a parliamentary select committee next week.
Each of us has written extensively and spoken out against this Bill from our respective areas of expertise. Many of us have done so for the three previous iterations of this Bill when it was promoted unsuccessfully by the Act Party and the Business Round Roundtable (later, the New Zealand Institute).
On each of those occasions Parliament has rejected the Bill as philosophically and legally unsound, profoundly undemocratic, and contrary to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
This time the Act Party has sought to bypass rigorous parliamentary scrutiny by securing commitments from the National and New Zealand First parties to legislate the Bill into law.There was an opportunity for public submissions on the proposal late last year, where itsecured the support of only 0.33% of the over 23,000 New Zealanders who expressed their views on the consultation document. It is evident that the advice in virtually all the submissions was ignored by the government.
The Bill could have profound constitutional consequences.It establishes a set of principles as a benchmark for good legislation/regulation, many of which are highly questionable and designed to establish a presumption in favour of a libertarian view of the role of the state – one that ceased to have any currency globally more than a century ago.Te Tiriti o Waitangi has been excluded altogether. The power vested in the Minister for Regulation and a ministerial-appointed board is not subject to the normal accountabilities of Crown entities, conferring significant yet largely unaccountable authority on the executive.
Dr Jim Salinger, 2024 New Zealander of the Year, further notes the chilling effect the Bill will have on any future policy on climate change and adaptation following the almost $4 billion cost of the 2023 Auckland Anniversary weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, the highest in our history.
Whilethere is a select committee review of the Bill, it is truncated and circumscribed.
The Coalition government has decided to submit the Bill to the Finance and Expenditure Committee rather than the Justice Committee, limiting the time to hear many tens of thousands of oral submissions to just 30 hours – at most 360 submissions – with 5 minutes per submitter, and truncating the period for those hearings and the committee’s report, further exposes the hypocrisy that this Bill is about good governance, better laws, improved regulation, greater transparency and enhanced governmental accountability. We are gravely concerned that the National Party and New Zealand First appear to be complicit in this undemocratic process.
We have each thought long and hard about whether to say we want to challenge this Bill before the select committee, lest it give some credibility to a process that is devoid of legitimacy. Some of us, such as Professor Dame Anne Salmond, 2013 New Zealander of the Year, and Professor Andrew Geddis, made written submissions, but feel there is no point in participating such a harmful process.
Professor Emeritus Jonathan Boston, Dr Geoffrey Bertram, Dr Bill Rosenberg and Dr Max Harris have indicated they want to address the committee to reinforce their submissions. In Professor Boston’s view:“The current Bill is destined to have a very short and ignominious life as an Act of Parliament: it enjoys virtually no public support; it lacks cross-party backing; it is opposed by the very Ministry that will be responsible for its implementation; and it endorses principles that have been found wanting by multiple generations of people throughout the world”.
In similar vein, long-standing academic critic of the Bill Professor Emeritus Jane Kelsey feels a responsibility “to speak truth to power” – in this case the abuse of proper process and the Act Party’s ongoing contempt for Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
For a time it appeared the Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Professor of Law at Te Herenga Waka/ Victoria University of Wellington, author of numerous books on parliamentary constitutinalism, and staunch critic of the Bill, was originally not invited to address the select committee, despite saying but he wanted to be heard. He was subsequently offered an opportunity.
All of us appeal to the National and New Zealand First parties to find their democratic voice and prevent this Bill from proceeding past the select committee.
Equally importantly, they are calling on Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee, as the Chair of the forthcoming review of Standing Orders, to conduct a first principles review of the select committee processes to find an appropriate balance for democratic participation in the digital era, and an effective way to reinstate some degree of integrity and rigorous review to law-making in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Government has announced a $56 million dollar subsidy through the Regional Investment Fund for three water storage projects in the Canterbury region – the Opuha Dam and Irrigation Scheme, the Balmoral Water Storage Facility (Amuri), and the Waimakariri Irrigation Scheme.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “It is deeply irresponsible to use public money to fund the expansion of these irrigation schemes, which will lead to more intensive dairy, more cows, and more pollution. This is a dirty deal for dirty water.”
“Shane Jones needs to go down and front up to rural communities in Canterbury whose drinking water is already so contaminated with nitrates they can’t safely drink it and explain why he is funding irrigation for dirty dairying that will contaminate their water more.
“Everyone should be able to safely drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap, but right now, some rural communities are facing the reality that they cannot do so, because their drinking water is contaminated with unsafe levels of nitrate.”
“The source of nitrate contamination in drinking water is effluent runoff and nitrate leaching from the intensive dairy industry,” says Appelbe.
“Subsidising new irrigation infrastructure, which will lead to more intensive dairying and therefore more contamination of groundwater and drinking water, shows that this Government has a total disregard for the health of rural communities who cannot drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap.”
Appelbe says this comes off the back of the announcement of a wave of regulation changes that Greenpeace has labelled the Government’s ‘Freshwater Pollution Plan’.
“This Government is seeking to strip back freshwater protections across the board – despite the fact that New Zealanders across the entire political spectrum want to see more protection for freshwater, not less.”
“The Government must end all subsidies for irrigation infrastructure immediately, and ensure freshwater pollution from the intensive dairy industry is stopped at the source.”
Porirua has officially joined the rollout of the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) work programme – a collaborative, community-led initiative designed to address the social conditions that enable organised crime and to support lasting change for whanau.
The launch, held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua today (Thursday 3 July) brought together local and national leaders to celebrate the expansion of the programme. Associate Minister of Police, the Honourable Casey Costello formally marked the occasion alongside key partners including Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Police, and the Greater Wellington Regional Public Service.
ROCC supports communities to respond to harm in ways that are locally led, socially grounded and enduring. The programme recognises that enforcement alone is not enough – lasting impact comes from working alongside whānau, iwi, and local organisations to address the drivers of harm.
Kāpiti-Mana Area Commander Inspector Renée Perkins welcomed the programme as a huge opportunity to make a difference to families and communities impacted by organised crime.
“We know that that ROCC works and what sets it apart is its commitment to coordinated, wraparound responses – that is Police, iwi, partner agencies and community working side by side.
“Enforcement is an important part of reducing harm in our communities, but we also know the reality of whānau left behind when a loved one is arrested, or imprisoned. At the heart of the ROCC community plan is building a resilient, strong, and thriving Porirua – which says to whānau, the whole system and community are here to support you through the tough times.
“ROCC can be a game changer for whānau impacted by organised crime, and for the wider Porirua community,” she said.
The ROCC in Porirua team is focused on building trust, strengthening local relationships, and supporting sustainable solutions.
Steve Johnson from Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira said “The most powerful voices shaping ROCC are the voices of lived experience. People who’ve seen addiction tear through their whanau. Who’ve watched their children fall into harm. Who’ve fought their way back from darkness. “The people who know what works are the ones who’ve walked the path. That’s why lived experience isn’t just included in ROCC. Its centred,” he said.
The ROCC Work Programme in Porirua has four key focus areas which have been identified as priorities by the local community:
• Addressing the social drivers and harms associated with methamphetamine use. • Preventing intergenerational harm by disrupting pathways into organised crime. • Persons impacted by methamphetamine and its associated harms. • Rangatahi (youth) on the pathway into organised crime (and their families)
Associate Minister of Police Hon Casey Costello said: “The coalition government is strongly focused on law and order and making our communities safer. We are committed to developing a sustainable funding model for ROCC so that communities are supported to develop responses to organised crime that work for them.”
She pointed to ROCC’s clear value, in Tauranga and Opotiki where, where ROCC teams helped local communities after enforcement activity targeted gangs and meth supply – pairing law enforcement with on-the-ground social support.
Porirua’s approach exemplifies the wider ROCC kaupapa: community-led, regionally supported and nationally enabled. It centres community voices and leadership, especially those with lived experience, while building trusted partnerships across agencies.
The Porirua event was an opportunity to reflect the Porirua community’s perseverance towards long-term, sustainable change and will be embedded in community, led with manaakitanga, and focused on connection and celebration.
Porirua Community representative Tania Carr says Porirua has never waited to be told what to do—we lead from within. This kaupapa reflects that. It’s grounded in our people, our history, and our belief that real change happens when community leads and agencies walk alongside.
A central feature of the launch, was the unveiling of a powerful mural, co-designed by local rangatahi and a Porirua based artist. The mural represents resilience, whakapapa, and the strength of the community in the face of adversity. It stands as a visual reminder of the kaupapa behind ROCC – that lasting change is rooted in connection, identity, and hope for the future.
The event also celebrated the community’s vision for its rangatahi with a dedicated youth event following the formalities offered a safe, fun environment during the school holidays. The space was designed in response to recent school holiday periods that saw over $70,000 in damage across schools in Porirua – a stark reminder of the need for positive outlets for young people.
“Sports give rangatahi more than just something to do – it gives them a team, a purpose and a reason to stay on the right track” says Steve Johnson.
This kind of prevention-focused, community designed solution is exactly what ROCC exists to support. The programme is about responding to harm – but also about creating space for hope, healing, and change.
A spate of incidents of animals found wandering on southern highways recently has the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) urging people to be vigilant about supervision and containment of livestock or pets.
Sometimes it is wild animals such as deer also creating hazards on the highways, says NZTA maintenance contract manager Justin Reid.
“There have been a number of recent incidents of livestock or other animals loose on Southland highways, and highways across the wider South Island, which have served as a reminder of the risks this can pose,” Mr Reid says.
“Now that winter is here, the risk is greater when the days are shorter and visibility is reduced. The potential for serious injury or death is high when a vehicle collides at speed with one of these animals or takes evasive action to avoid a collision.”
Owners may be held responsible when it comes to any damage caused by their animals.
Police say it is considered an emergency when animals such as livestock are found on the road in uncontrolled circumstances, and people should call 111 to report it.
“In the case of livestock, we would strongly encourage owners or managers to be mindful of their supervision, regularly checking their fences, and taking extra care when moving stock,” Mr Reid says.
“Sometimes it will be beyond peoples’ control when an animal gets loose due to the actions of others or unforeseen circumstances, but it’s all about trying to reduce the potential for harm.”
The impacts of wandering stock on motorists can be profound and long-lasting. Check out one person’s story in this short video, which also features Federated Farmers, police and FENZ on what people need to know about this issue
People travelling between the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato will be able to get where they’re going sooner, with the speed limit lifting this morning at the new roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29.
After 17 months of construction, the bulk of the work on the SH1/29 roundabout and approach roads in Piarere is complete, meaning it’s now safe for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to lift the speed limit to 100km/h.
“Lifting the temporary speed limit is a major milestone. We’ve come over the hill and the finish line for this project is now in sight,” says Acting Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Darryl Coalter.
Construction got underway in January 2024, and Mr Coalter says work is on track to be completed in August this year.
“Our project team and contractors understand just how important this new roundabout is for people who use the road on a daily basis and have been dedicated to completing it as efficiently as possible.”
People will continue to see activity over the next few weeks, including landscaping (around 200,000 plants will be in by the end of July) and finishing touches will be applied to the underpasses.
Final road surfacing works are also anticipated in July, likely to be carried out at night, with details to be confirmed closer to the time. These works would require a temporary reduced speed limit, before the limit will be reinstated to 100km/h again.
The 60-metre roundabout is designed to improve efficiency, connectivity, and safety on this very important high-volume route. It has also been constructed to allow connection with the future expressway between Cambridge and Piarere.
Work begins later this month (from Monday 28 July) preparing to replace the temporary Bailey bridge on State Highway 2 at Waikare Gorge, with a wider, stronger temporary bridge.
SH2, between Pūtōrino and the northern side of Waikare Gorge, will close for a 24-hour period from 10am Saturday 30 August to 10am Sunday 31 August while the Bailey bridge is removed and the new bridge is lifted into place.
Prior to this closure, SH2 will be reduced to one lane between the Bailey bridge and King’s Bridge, from late July, for construction work off to the side of the road. King’s Bridge is approximately 150m south of the Bailey bridge. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during this time and we ask road users to be aware of the new layout and expect delays.
That construction work will involve building a crane platform and putting the new steel bridge together, before it can be installed during the 24-hour road closure.
The new bridge, known as an Acrow bridge, is similar to the current Bailey bridge but it will be 1 metre wider (accommodating vehicles up to 4.2m wide) and have more capacity for HPMV and most over-dimensional vehicles. It will have a chipseal surface and is expected to be quieter than the current Bailey bridge.
The Acrow bridge will remain in use until the Waikare Gorge realignment project is complete.
Principal Project Manager Richard Bayley says the new bridge will remain single lane however, it will better support the local freight industry and improve safety for everyone.
“During the closure, a crane will be used to swap the bridges over – taking the Bailey bridge off its piles and lowering the Acrow bridge into place. Crews will then deconstruct the Bailey bridge off to the side of the road, before the parts are removed from site.
“We know a full closure like this is very disruptive which is why we’re planning this work on a weekend to reduce the impact on people who travel during the weekdays, like commuters, freight and school kids.
“We value the support from the community in the area and from road users. We’re confident this new wider, stronger, quieter bridge will make travel through the area easier for more people.”
Next steps
Following the 24-hour full closure, there will be an additional 3 nights of closures, to focus on widening the north and south bound approaches to the new bridge. These will be Sunday 31 August, Monday 1 September and Tuesday 2 September, 9pm to 5am each night.
This work is weather dependent. The contingency dates for the full 24-hour closure is the following weekend (starting Saturday 6 September), with the night closures following this. If weather delays this contingency date, the next contingency is the following weekend (starting Saturday 13 September).
Note that there will be no access for emergency services during the full 24-hour closure. However, emergency services will be assisted through the night closures.
Background
Installed in May 2023 after Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed the old bridge, the single lane Waikare Bailey bridge reinstated connection along SH2. It was only a short-term solution with a 2-year design life and is restricted to General Access and 50MAX vehicles.
Acrow bridges have a 5-year design life, have a higher load capacity, and can accommodate more vehicle types. The Acrow bridge will serve as an interim upgrade to maintain access, and support traffic and project construction needs until the Waikare Gorge realignment is completed.
Rotorua has a team of six Police starting on the beat across the CBD.
“Rotorua is launching their first beat team and later in the quarter we will see other beat teams operating across the Bay of Plenty and other districts,” says Police Commissioner Richard Chambers.
The city becomes the fifth to have a dedicated beat team.
“The public and retailers have welcomed the beat teams in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch and other centres will benefit from them too. A beat team has also just been launched in New Plymouth.
“We know that certain crime types have gone down in the areas beat teams operate. That shows the impact visible policing has. We want to see other communities experience that too.
“While the results from the first year of beat teams are encouraging, it is also clear ongoing focus is needed to drive down theft and violent crime. This remains a priority for Police,” says Commissioner Chambers.
Crime reductions by beat location of the last 12 months to April 2025 compared with previous 12 months:
• Auckland has seen a reduction in assault by 9%, theft by 21%, and robbery by 25% • Wellington has seen a reduction in sexual assault by 21%, robbery by 22% and unlawful entry by 7% • Christchurch has seen a huge reduction in robbery of 67%, unlawful entry by 29% and sexual assault by 16%.
“It’s great to see hard work from our staff is paying off and I expect to see similar results around the country as more teams roll out,” says Commissioner Chambers.
The three new beat teams have done 14,108 hours of foot patrols on the beat since starting in July last year to end of April this year. This is an increase of 189% from the same period in 2023-2024.
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson says it’s great to be starting a team in Rotorua.
“We have already done a lot of work with our partners over the recent years to improve safety in our city. With the Rotorua Lakes Council and Māori wardens we created a CBD safety plan that has already shown results for the people and businesses in our city.
“Now we’ll have a beat team to support this ongoing work to keep our residents, retailers, and businesses safe.”
“We all know we face some complex issues in our city which require a joint approach of agencies, iwi, and community groups working together to solve them. For our part, we want to ensure everyone who comes into our city feels safe – whether they live here, work here, or are visiting. I’m feeling really excited about having our team in place and I’m already looking forward to the next teams we’ll roll out,” says Superintendent Anderson.
3 July 2025 – A surprising trend has been uncovered in a recent survey of New Zealand’s real estate landscape: a significant slice of Kiwis are making spontaneous home purchases.
According to a realestate.co.nz study, 24% of participants have found themselves as property owners at some stage, having made the leap without the initial intention to buy. Within this group, 8% ‘accidentally purchased’ in the past year.
Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, said while it may sound unusual for someone to ‘accidentally buy a house,’ the data suggests it’s more common than many would believe:
“Kiwis have a real affinity with property; browsing listings is almost a national pastime. Attending an open home or an auction can quickly turn from casual interest to serious investment when the right property catches your eye and the price feels within reach.”
Williams notes that choosing a home is often choosing a lifestyle, and the emotional connection to a space or location can strongly influence decision-making.
realestate.co.nz has been tracking this data since 2020, which has revealed a cycle not too dissimilar to the property market.
“The 2025 data is a telling sign of growing optimism among property buyers,” says Williams.
“We haven’t seen this level of ‘accidental purchases’ since April 2022, which was coming off the back of a hot market.
The latest data indicates a correlation between these unexpected purchases and increased income. Individuals who bought a house without prior plans in the last 12 months reported a personal income of 54% above the average.
Accidental purchasers are also predominantly male (66% vs. 34% female), with an average age of 30.2 years.
Auckland remains the hot spot for these unplanned acquisitions, with those in the super city more likely to have made an impulse buy (51% compared to 31% of survey respondents overall). Williams says income is likely a factor here as well, but adds that a diverse market with ample choice, like Auckland, may also fuel spur-of-the-moment decisions.
“While it’s important to have a property investment plan that works for you and your personal circumstances, the property market can provide numerous opportunities for those with an open mind – something a fairly significant portion of the population seems to already know well,” says Williams.
The survey, conducted between 9 and 13 June 2025 reflects responses from 1,045 New Zealanders, with the results weighted on age, gender, personal income, ethnicity and region to match the New Zealand adult population. The survey has a maximum margin of error of ±3% overall.
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Covering period of Thursday 3rd – Tuesday 8th July – We’re in the thick of it again today (Thursday), with a slew of Heavy Rain Warnings and Watches, Severe Thunderstorm Watches, Strong Wind Watches, and a Heavy Snow Watch. The hits just keep coming with these quick moving systems, it’s giving us weather whiplash.
In amongst the widespread rain, the top half of the North Island is on the lookout for downpours with Severe Thunderstorm Watches from this afternoon. Commute time in Auckland is looking busiest, so it’s a good idea to head home earlier if you can.
MetService Meteorologist Katie Hillyer advises, “The localised downpours are the real risk we are highlighting with the Severe Thunderstorm Watches; people shouldn’t be fooled by the lack of thunder and lightning. It’s a good time for people to turn on notifications in the app for any Severe Thunderstorm Warnings that may be issued for their area”.
Damaging winds are also possible for Northland and Auckland, with a background of strong winds as per the Strong Wind Watches, combined with the potential of gusts between 90-110km/hr in any Severe Thunderstorms. As the heavy rain band moves off, these areas are not completely out of the woods, with heavy showers and possible thunderstorms and hail on Friday and Saturday. It will take until Sunday and into Monday for these areas to get some settled weather, even if it’s not for as long as we’re hoping.
Heavy Rain Watches have also been issued for the Wellington and Kapiti regions for this afternoon and evening.
Rain is setting in the Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough regions as they are under their Heavy Rain Warnings until 7pm today. “While accumulations are not as high as last week, the saturated starting conditions will play a huge part in the impacts we will see, so it is important to not get caught comparing numbers to last week”, says Hillyer. “We advise on the weather, but local emergency management services and councils know their areas best, so people are encouraged to also pay close attention to their messaging and advice”, she continues. After this rainband moves off today, showers, some possibly heavy, continue into Friday and early Saturday before settled weather pushes in.
A different flavour in the south of the country, with a Heavy Snow Watch for Southern Canterbury High Country, Queenstown Lakes District, and Central Otago where down to 600 metres, snow may approach Warning criteria, but those down to 400 metres may get a fresh dusting today. Many road passes have the risk of snow settling, so travellers should keep up with messages from NZTA Waka Kotahi. Dunedin and North Otago are also under a Heavy Rain Watch from 3pm-3am, before gradually settling into the weekend.
To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wescott:
Police investigating injuries suffered by a young baby in the Hutt Valley are appealing to anyone who may have information to come forward.
On 14 June, Police were notified that a three-month old baby had been brought into hospital by her family.
The baby girl had a broken arm, which appeared an unusual injury for such a young baby.
Further examination has taken place at the hospital, which has identified multiple further fractures throughout the baby’s upper and lower body.
Police are investigating the circumstances of how these fractures and injuries have occurred – we do not believe the injuries could have been sustained accidentally.
There will be people who know how the baby girl sustained such serious injuries and we are urging them – or anyone else with information – to do the right thing and come forward.
If you can help, please contact Police via 105, quoting file number 250614/8509.
You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
AUCKLAND, 3 July, 2025 — Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) and a global leader in helping clients realise their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people, today announced the appointment of Anna Scott as Mercer’s New Zealand CEO.
In her new role, Ms Scott will be responsible for leading Mercer’s operations across New Zealand, working closely with local and regional teams to further develop Mercer’s capabilities in superannuation, health and benefits, workforce solutions and investment services for the benefit of clients and members.
“Anna has the right breadth of experience to lead Mercer’s trajectory in New Zealand,” said Toni Ferrier, Marsh McLennan’s New Zealand CEO. “Through her deep understanding of our market, combined with her international experience, she will draw on the best of Mercer’s global expertise and capabilities to serve the needs of clients and members and deliver business growth. We look forward to welcoming her to the business.”
Ms Scott brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services and consulting sectors, both in New Zealand and internationally, to the role. She has demonstrated a capacity to identify business opportunities and align strategy with customer outcomes in her prior roles as Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand fund manager Smart and Chief Operating Officer for Hobson Wealth.
Ms Scott said, “I have long admired Mercer for its investment and consulting capabilities. I’m excited to work with Mercer’s local Board and leadership team, to continue to support clients’ and members’ investment and retirement needs and deliver strategic workforce solutions to New Zealand’s businesses.”
Ms Scott will be based in Auckland and will report to Ms Ferrier and is expected to start her new role on 1 October 2025.
About Mercer
Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman.
With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit mercer.com
An independent watchdog would shine a light into the shadowy world of security and counterterrorism, says Associate Professor John Ip in a research paper.
Since the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, New Zealand has introduced several counterterrorism laws, significantly expanding state power. Now, a legal expert says it’s time to follow the UK, Australia and Ireland in appointing an independent watchdog to keep that power in check.
In his paper, ‘The case for an independent reviewer of counterterrorism legislation in New Zealand,’ University of Auckland Law Associate Professor, John Ip, says although necessary, counterterrorism legislation often lacks provision for ongoing oversight.
Counterterrorism legislation, says Ip, is characterised by a government’s need to react to an incident decisively and quickly, leaving little time for public input, legislative deliberation or scrutiny. Once on the books, counterterrorism legislation is rarely repealed and difficult to ratchet back.
“This makes scrutiny and oversight essential, especially given the potential impact on individual rights and freedoms.”
Since 2019, New Zealand has introduced counterterrorism legislation including the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Act, the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Act, and the Counter-Terrorism Acts (Designations and Control Orders) Amendment Act. But Ip says this relative flurry of legislation hasn’t been matched by any permanent oversight mechanism.
“It’s important that any unintended consequences, gaps and shortcomings are brought to light and that the public have confidence that the powers conferred by counterterrorism legislation are being used appropriately.”
Ip argues that creating an independent review entity would enhance public understanding, facilitate evidence-based policymaking and augment existing legal and political avenues of scrutiny and oversight.
“Countries around the world quickly react to acts of terrorism, and in this, we see expansion, or at the very least, some consolidation of the power of the state. We see the creation of a stronger national security state. And as this is happening, we should strengthen the oversight and control of those same institutions.”
However, the options for oversight currently available, says Ip, have limitations. “As is typical of national security matters, secrecy shrouds the operation of counterterrorism law. Secrecy around national security creates a problem – those who might provide oversight often don’t have access to the whole picture.
“In the courts, legal challenges depend on individuals bringing cases, but secrecy can mean a wrong can’t be established because of a lack of publicly available evidence. When they do hear cases, without a comprehensive picture, judges are also likely to be more deferential.”
Temporary review bodies such as public inquiries also have limits, says Ip. For example, the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into the 15 March attacks meant that the Commission was not allowed to look into the police’s initial response.
“These kinds of inquiries and bodies also stop existing once they deliver their final report. If the government chooses not to act on the recommendations, there’s little option in following up or pushing for change later on.
“These limitations, including that more specialised review bodies tend to be either ad hoc or otherwise circumscribed in scope, suggest the need for something different.”
In his paper, Ip examines overseas models, including the UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation (IRTL). The IRTL is legally qualified, independent of government, and has access to the same classified information as ministers, enabling impartial, informed oversight.
Unlike courts, which look into specific cases, the IRTL has a broad mandate to review counterterrorism legislation as a whole.
While the UK model is interesting, Ip says New Zealand might more closely follow the formal statutory approach exemplified by Australia’s Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, and to a lesser extent Ireland’s Independent Examiner of Security Legislation (IESL). Both are created by legislation with clearly defined powers and responsibilities.
“A permanent independent office, with comprehensive access to information, could review the operation of counterterrorism legislation here and publish reports with findings and recommendations,” says Ip.
“Independent review bodies play a crucial role in shining a light into the shadowy corners of the world of security and counterterrorism.”
PSA members at disability support provider Te Roopu Taurima have voted to ratify a new Collective Agreement.
The settlement follows an 8-month dispute. The employer banned Kaitaataki and Poutaaki (residential whare leaders) from working additional hours before Christmas and threatened a six-week suspension in response to low level strike action.
“These workers stuck together through what was a long and difficult industrial dispute and proudly emerged stronger,” says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzismons.
“The new agreement doesn’t include 90-day trials which was a key driver of the dispute.
“Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the members of Parliament and representatives of the disability community who stood with workers in this challenging moment.
“Kaitaataki and Poutaaki are pleased to be able to return to focusing on their important work supporting taangata and their whānau.”
The legal action against the lockout is still to be heard by the Employment Relations Authority.
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 boards and community groups.
In a landmark test case of the European Union’s new legislation to protect freedom of expression and stop abusive lawsuits, Greenpeace International has overnight challenged the US oil pipeline company, Energy Transfer, in court in the Netherlands.[1]
The multi-billion-dollar company brought two back-to-backSLAPP suitsagainst Greenpeace International and Greenpeace in the US, after Greenpeace showed solidarity with the 2016 peaceful Indigenous-led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The first case was dismissed, but the Greenpeace organisations continue to defend against the second case, which is ongoing, after a North Dakota jury recently awarded over 660 million USD in damages to the pipeline giant.Activists from Greenpeace International and allies were present outside the courthouse in Amsterdam for the first hearing in the case with a banner reading “ENERGY TRANSFER, WELCOME TO THE EU – WHERE FREE SPEECH IS STILL A THING“.Mads Christensen, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, says:“Energy Transfer’s attack on our right to protest is an attack on everyone’s free speech. Greenpeace has been the target of threats, arrests and even bombs over the last 50 years and persevered. We will continue to resist all forms of intimidation and explore every option to hold Energy Transfer accountable for this attempt at abusing the justice system. This groundbreaking anti-SLAPP case against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands is just the beginning of defeating this bullying tactic being wielded by billionaires and fossil fuel giants trying to silence critics all over the world. Something absolutely vital is at stake here: people’s ability to hold corporate polluters to account for the devastation they’re causing.”
Russel Norman, Executive Director, Greenpeace Aotearoa, says:“The timing of this case is particularly poignant given that we are about to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by agents of the French Government here in Auckland. The bombing was an act of desperation by the French Government in the face of our successful, people-powered campaign to end nuclear testing in the Pacific.
“Forty years ago, we showed that we could not be intimidated. Greenpeace only grew stronger, and together with the nuclear-free Pacific movement, we put a stop to nuclear testing. Now, as Greenpeace International goes to court in Amsterdam, Energy Transfer would also like us – and all climate activists – to be afraid and to shut up – but once again, we will show that we will not be silenced.”The lawsuit is an important test of the European Union’s Anti-SLAPP Directive, adopted in April 2024.[2] The Directive is designed to protect journalists, activists, civil society organisations, or anyone else speaking out about matters of public concern, from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) – unfounded intimidation lawsuits brought by powerful corporations or wealthy individuals seeking to suppress public debate.[3] Since Greenpeace International is a Netherlands-based foundation and the damage caused by Energy Transfers’s US SLAPP suit is occurring in the Netherlands, both Dutch and EU law apply.
Amy Jacobsen, Senior Legal Counsel, Greenpeace International, says,“This case paves the way for protections from bullying lawsuits being implemented throughout Europe and beyond. The lawsuits that Energy Transfer have brought against Greenpeace International are the perfect example of the kind of abusive legal proceedings that the anti-SLAPP Directive is designed to protect against. By calling upon the EU anti-SLAPP Directive’s protections, Greenpeace International refuses to allow the bullying tactics of wealthy fossil fuel corporations like Energy Transfer to compromise our fundamental free speech rights.”
In July 1985, Australia’s Pacific territory of Norfolk Island (pop. 2188) became the centre of a real life international spy thriller.
Four French agents sailed there on board the Ouvéa, a yacht from Kanaky New Caledonia, after bombing the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, killing Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira.
The Rainbow Warrior was the flagship for a protest flotilla due to travel to Moruroa atoll to challenge French nuclear tests.
Australian police took them into custody on behalf of their New Zealand counterparts but then, bafflingly, allowed them to sail away, never to face justice.
On the 40th anniversary of the bombing (10 July 2025), award-winning journalist Richard Baker goes on an adventure from Paris to the Pacific to get the real story – and ultimately uncover the role that Australia played in the global headline-making affair.
The programme includes an interview with Pacific journalist David Robie, author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior. David’s article about this episode is published at Declassified Australia here.
In July 1985, Australia’s Pacific territory of Norfolk Island (pop. 2188) became the centre of a real life international spy thriller.
Four French agents sailed there on board the Ouvéa, a yacht from Kanaky New Caledonia, after bombing the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, killing Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira.
The Rainbow Warrior was the flagship for a protest flotilla due to travel to Moruroa atoll to challenge French nuclear tests.
Australian police took them into custody on behalf of their New Zealand counterparts but then, bafflingly, allowed them to sail away, never to face justice.
On the 40th anniversary of the bombing (10 July 2025), award-winning journalist Richard Baker goes on an adventure from Paris to the Pacific to get the real story – and ultimately uncover the role that Australia played in the global headline-making affair.
The programme includes an interview with Pacific journalist David Robie, author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior. David’s article about this episode is published at Declassified Australia here.
This winter, with introduced predators hungry and lurking, critical action is being taken to help one of the world’s most endangered birds produce a new generation of chicks on Rakiura/Stewart Island.
Pukunui/Southern New Zealand dotterel are critically threatened shore birds that nests on mountain tops. Photo by Bradley Shields.
You probably don’t know much about pukunui/Southern New Zealand dotterel, but the rangers on Rakiura have been battling the elements for decades trying to prevent them from being predated, primarily by feral cats.
Pukunui used to be widespread throughout Te Waipounamu, even found in the Southern Alps, but stoats and cats have decimated their numbers and they now only nest on Rakiura mountain tops.
“Pukunui have swooped under most people’s radar, but they deserve all the protection they can get,” says Guy McDonald who leads DOC’s Pukunui Recovery Team.
“We call them the ‘underbirds’ because they are only found at the bottom of New Zealand, and like many native species, they have a friendly, innocent manner, and are defenceless to introduced predators.’
The forest is overrun with predators
Guy is one of a small team of rangers on Rakiura who control predators around pukunui breeding areas, monitor nests and conduct annual population counts.
“Our team often works day and night, dealing with all kinds of extreme weather, in the effort to protect some of the last remaining strongholds of pukunui breeding pairs located around the mountains of the Tin Range – Ka Puketuroto.”
Pukunui Recovery Team Lead, Guy McDonald. Image from Underbirds documentary.
It has been incredibly challenging because the forest is overrun with predators and trapping networks can only cover a small proportion of the habitat.
Consequently, the pukunui population has plummeted to 105 – down from 176 in 2020 and 300 in 2010.
“Pukunui should live to at least 20-30 years old, but with the huge number of feral cats on the island as well as other predators, most pukunui only survive 4-5 years if they’re lucky,” says Guy.
“It’s hard on team morale when we find dotterels that have been eaten, especially the ones we have banded and become familiar with. It’s heartbreaking to find their little bodies.”
But there’s a new plan to reverse the decline, drawing on extra funding from Predator Free 2050 and expertise from DOC’s National Predator Control Programme and Zero Invasive Predators.
Not your average house cat
Although there aren’t stoats on Rakiura, pukunui are up against another stealthy and ferocious carnivore – the feral cat.
Feral cats captured by a trail camera in May between Doughboy Bay and the Tin Range, close to pukunui breeding grounds. Monitoring shows feral cats are rampant.
Feral cats are apex predators which means nothing preys upon them. They can hunt high and low across thousands of hectares of forest and mountains, and they survive by preying upon any animal they can sink their teeth into, including birds, bats, lizards, and insects.
In response, we’ve begun the first phase of an aerial 1080 operation to reduce the number of rats, feral cats and possums by more than 95% across more than 40,000 hectares of Rakiura National Park.
We will do this by accurately applying biodegradable 1080 bait pellets from helicopters to support the trapping efforts of the local team.
“It wouldn’t be possible or safe to cover this remote, rugged terrain with traps alone. It would put our people at risk,” Guy says.
The use of 1080 is vital for protecting populations of native species across the country. It will heavily reduce predator numbers so pukunui can have a safer, more successful breeding season.
If we don’t act now, future generations will ask why
The aim is to increase the population to at least 300 birds by 2035 with predator control. However, if predators can be permanently removed through the Predator Free Rakiura project, this target could be well exceeded.
“As a team we are excited and nervous because if we are successful, and predators can be eradicated, we may no-longer need a pukunui recovery team,” says Guy.
“This would be the best marker of success but also the end of an era.”
Dan Cocker, also known as Dotterel Dan, has been involved in protecting pukunui since 2017 as a teenager.
DOC Rakiura Ranger, Dan Cocker. Image from Underbirds documentary.
Dan wants to see these birds become so abundant on Rakiura that they can return to shorelines and mountains throughout Te Waipounamu when it’s safe.
“When I read books about our extinct native birds, I ask why didn’t they do more? Future generations will ask us this same question, if we don’t take action,” says Dan.
This isn’t just about pukunui – Rakiura should be bustling with native wildlife, but there’s a deafening silence deep in the forest. Predator Free Rakiura aims to restore the health and abundance of the ecosystem and bring back native species that belong here.
Donations a boost for pukunui protection
Pukunui and the Deceit Peaks. Photo by Guy McDonald.
In 2023 the New Zealand Nature Fund launched a campaign in partnership with DOC to raise funds from donors to support DOC’s Pukunui Recovery Team.
It’s early days but the pukunui team acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Nature Fund and everyone who has donated to this project.
“Project donations have been vital for expanding our predator control efforts,” Guy says.
Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Hotspots for the conservation of maire tawake or swamp maire in the Wellington region have been identified by researchers hoping to save this threatened native tree from the deadly myrtle rust disease.
Swamp maire is thought to have been common in the wetlands that once covered the Wellington region. However, farming and urban development have significantly reduced its numbers. The arrival of myrtle rust in 2017 added a new threat and the tree has a conservation status of “nationally vulnerable”.
Priority areas for its conservation have now been mapped in the western suburbs of Lower and Upper Hutt and in the towns of Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Ōtaki, Masterton, Carterton, and Featherston. These priority areas comprise up to 52 km2.
“We’ve identified sites that are likely to have the highest abundance of swamp maire and the lowest risk of myrtle rust. They’re also easy to access so we think focusing on these sites offers the most cost-effective conservation strategy,” said Dr Sarah Herbert, a researcher in biological sciences at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Dr Herbert said the sites could act as refuges for swamp maire, with additional planting undertaken to help maintain the tree’s population as myrtle rust spreads.
“Myrtle rust is a fungal plant pathogen that is primarily spread by the wind. It has a devastating effect on swamp maire, causing an almost complete loss of flowers, fruits, and new leaves. There’s an urgent need to identify sites where conservation and wetland restoration can take place to help ensure this treasured tree’s survival,” she said.
In addition to the priority sites for conservation, the researchers identified other areas that could act as refuges for the tree but these areas would require more intensive management.
“We mapped up to 233 km2 where swamp maire is present in relatively high abundance but where there is a higher risk of myrtle rust, so more effort would be needed to manage the sites. On the plus side, these areas are easy to access and existing community conservation efforts could be supported to allow more intensive control of myrtle rust.”
Pockets of less accessible land in the wider Wellington region could also be considered as refuges for the tree’s conservation, she says.
“We identified up to 134 km2, mostly within indigenous forest in the eastern Tararua range and in farmland in the Wairarapa, with potential for swamp maire conservation. Wetland restoration and swamp maire planting programmes by landowners and communities may be possible in places that can be accessed by off-road vehicles or on foot.”
The researchers were able to identify areas for swamp maire conversation by using models of the Wellington region’s soil moisture and plant distribution to pinpoint sites where swamp maire was likely to be growing. They then mapped the risk of myrtle rust infection in these areas and graded sites by how easy they were to access.
The Government’s deep and wide cuts to public service jobs have taken its toll on the housing market over the past year, as well as the lives of public service workers and public services.
Cotality NZ (formerly CoreLogic) latest home value index showed Wellington remaining the outlier, the only major metropolitan region experiencing big falls over the year (-5%) and over the last three months (-1%). There was also no change in house prices over June in Wellington.
“The deep wounds inflicted by the Government’s rushed job cuts have been laid bare by the impact on the housing market,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government not only cut jobs, but there remains a continued threat to the security of employment in Wellington.
“Insecure employment undermines the ability of people to make important life decisions like buying a house and starting a family.
“The cuts and proposed changes to personal grievance protections which amount to a fire at will approach will make it harder for people to commit to buying a home, putting down roots and having children.
“Lives have been turned upside down by this Government with little sympathy for the disruption it has caused.
“This is a heartless government which continues to think up new ways to erode the rights of workers and undermine the capability of the public service.
“Wellington’s economy continues to suffer from its decisions and ordering workers to spend more time in the office is ignoring the real reason for the city’s slump.”
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 boards and community groups.
At the fossicking site at Slab Hut Creek Campsite, south of Reefton on the West Coast of the South Island, there have been problems with fossickers mining into the creek bank. DOC staff say if left unaddressed, the fossicking will ultimately result in the creek eroding into the campground.
Senior Ranger Darrell Haworth says the repairs to the site needed a digger to remediate and have cost thousands to undertake.
“This is the second time we have had to carry out remediation to protect the camping area because of gold fossicking activity – which means we have less budget to spend on visitor assets elsewhere,” Darrell says.
“As well as threatening the stability of the camping area, the unlawful digging potentially impacts the access road for the campground.
“With the gold price so high at the moment (at over $5400 an ounce), we are assuming that’s a motivation for these people, as a lot of effort has been put into these destructive earthworks.
“We’d like people to spread the word the rules need to be followed when fossicking for gold at these sites. Signs are in place informing people of the key rules – fossickers must stay in the active streambed, use hand tools only, leave natural features undisturbed; and ensure the area is returned to near its original condition.
“We are aware this issue of digging in banks and undermining vegetation is also occurring at the Moonlight Creek fossicking area, and we have carried out legal proceedings in the past for people caught. Rangers are regularly in the area and will be monitoring these sites.”
Digging in banks on Public Conservation Land is an offence under the Conservation Act as it interferes with or damages natural features.
The penalty for this activity in the case of an individual, is imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding $100,000, or both: in the case of a body corporate, a fine not exceeding $200,000
Background information
Gold fossicking is the activity of collecting gold by a stream or river using pans, shovels, and sluice boxes.
People can do this in designated public gold fossicking areas. There is a low concentration of alluvial gold (found in soil usually around rivers and streams) within all the gold fossicking areas.
Nine of New Zealand’s 19 gold fossicking sites are on the West Coast.
The Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the eleven months ended 31 May 2025 were released by the Treasury today. The May results are reported against forecasts based on the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update 2025 (BEFU 2025), published on 22 May 2025, and the results for the same period for the previous year.
The majority of the key fiscal indicators for the eleven months ended 31 May 2025 were slightly better than forecast. The Government’s main operating indicator, the operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx), showed a deficit of $7.9 billion. This was $0.2 billion smaller than forecast. While the core Crown results were favourable to forecast this was largely offset by weaker results from State-owned Enterprises. Net core Crown debt was close to forecast at $180.3 billion, or 41.8% of GDP.
Core Crown tax revenue, at $111.2 billion, was $0.6 billion (0.6%) higher than forecast. The largest variances related to corporate tax at $0.7 billion (4.4%) above forecast and other individuals’ tax at $0.3 billion (3.2%) higher than forecast, which were partially offset by lower than forecast GST revenue of $0.2 billion (0.6%) and other direct tax revenue of $0.1 billion (3.0%).
Core Crown expenses, at $128.7 billion, were $0.3 billion (0.2%) above forecast.
The OBEGALx was a deficit of $7.9 billion, $0.2 billion less than the forecast deficit. When including the revenue and expenses of ACC, the OBEGAL deficit was $12.3 billion, $0.2 billion lower than the forecast deficit.
The operating balance deficit of $3.9 billion was close to the $4.1 billion forecast deficit. This reflected both the slightly favourable OBEGAL result, and offsetting valuation movements. Net gains on financial instruments were $1.8 billion lower than forecast, driven by New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZS Fund) and ACC’s investment portfolio. The majority of this unfavourable variance was offset by net gains on non-financial instruments being $1.6 billion higher than the forecast loss. This was largely owing to the net actuarial gain on the ACC outstanding claims liability being $1.3 billion higher than forecast.
The core Crown residual cash deficit of $4.9 billion was $0.4 billion lower than forecast. While net operating cash outflows were $0.5 billion higher than forecast, net core Crown capital cash outflows were $0.9 billion lower than forecast.
Net core Crown debt at $180.3 billion (41.8% of GDP) was broadly in line with forecast. The favourable residual cash position was partially offset by non-cash items, contributing to the net core Crown debt result.
Gross debt at $202.5 billion (47.0% of GDP) was $7.2 billion lower than forecast, largely owing to lower than forecast derivatives in loss and issuances of Euro Commercial Paper.
Net worth at $184.3 billion (42.7% of GDP) was broadly in line with forecast largely reflecting the year-to-date operating balance result as well as movements in reserves.
Year to date
Full Year
May 2025 Actual1 $m
May 2025 BEFU 2025 Forecast1 $m
Variance2 BEFU 2025 $m
Variance BEFU 2025 %
June 2025 BEFU 2025 Forecast3 $m
Core Crown tax revenue
111,172
110,558
614
0.6
120,894
Core Crown revenue
122,839
122,255
584
0.5
134,188
Core Crown expenses
128,706
128,418
(288)
(0.2)
142,207
Core Crown residual cash
(4,876)
(5,323)
447
8.4
(9,990)
Net core Crown debt4
180,310
180,430
120
0.1
185,644
as a percentage of GDP
41.8%
41.9%
42.7%
Gross debt
202,522
209,688
7,166
3.4
209,999
as a percentage of GDP
47.0%
48.6%
48.3%
OBEGAL excluding ACC (OBEGALx)
(7,909)
(8,125)
216
2.7
(10,175)
OBEGAL
(12,263)
(12,465)
202
1.6
(14,740)
Operating balance (excluding minority interests)
(3,911)
(4,121)
210
5.1
(5,493)
Net worth
184,259
184,440
(181)
(0.1)
183,130
as a percentage of GDP
42.7%
42.8%
42.1%
Using the most recently published GDP (for the year ended 31 March 2025) of $431,038 million (Source: Stats NZ).
Favourable variances against forecast have a positive sign and unfavourable variances against forecast have a negative sign.
Using BEFU 2025 forecast GDP for the year ending 30 June 2025 of $435,148 million (Source: The Treasury).
Net core Crown debt excludes the NZS Fund and core Crown advances. Net core Crown debt may fluctuate during the year largely reflecting the timing of tax receipts.
Household saving decreases in the March 2025 quarter – media release
3 July 2025
New Zealand household saving dropped $392 million to -$1.6 billion in the March 2025 quarter, as household spending increased more than disposable income, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Negative saving means households spent more than their disposable income. Negative saving can be funded by borrowing and drawing on existing funds.
New Zealand household net disposable income rose 1.5 percent to $60.6 billion in the March 2025 quarter.
“The main driver of a rise in net disposable income this quarter was an increase in salaries and wages, up 1.5 percent,” institutional sectors spokesperson Will Bell said.
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