Source: New Zealand Police
Motorists are being advised to expect delays citybound from Greenlane this morning following a vehicle breakdown.
The incident, between Greenlane and Market Roads, was reported to Police at about 6.30am.
Road users are advised to expect delays or consider alternative routes to the CBD.
ENDS.
Nicole Bremner/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can confirm one person has died following a serious crash in Poroporo overnight.
At around 10pm, emergency services were called to a single-vehicle crash on Station Road near Buller Road.
Sadly, one person was located deceased at the scene.
Three other people were transported to hospital in a serious condition.
The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination.
Station Road reopened at around 4.20am this morning.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
COMMENTARY: By Phil Goff
“What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. It’s the result of government policy — knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated.”
This statement was made not by a foreign or liberal critic of Israel but by the former Prime Minister and former senior member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s own Likud party, Ehud Olmet.
Nightly, we witness live-streamed evidence of the truth of his statement — lethargic and gaunt children dying of malnutrition, a bereaved doctor and mother of 10 children, nine of them killed by an Israeli strike (and her husband, another doctor, died later), 15 emergency ambulance workers gunned down by the IDF as they tried to help others injured by bombs, despite their identity being clear.
Statistics reflect the scale of the horror imposed on Palestinians who are overwhelmingly civilians — 54,000 killed, 121,000 maimed and injured. Over 17,000 of these are children.
This can no longer be excused as regrettable collateral damage from targeted attacks on Hamas.
Israel simply doesn’t care about the impact of its military attacks on civilians and how many innocent people and children it is killing.
Its willingness to block all humanitarian aid- food, water, medical supplies, from Gaza demonstrates further its willingness to make mass punishment and starvation a means to achieve its ends. Both are war crimes.
Influenced by the right wing extremists in the Coalition cabinet, like Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s goal is no longer self defence or justifiable retaliation against Hamas terrorists.
Making life unbearable
The Israeli government policy is focused on making life unbearable for Palestinians and seeking to remove them from their homeland. In this, they are openly encouraged by President Trump who has publicly and repeatedly endorsed deporting the Palestinian population so that the Gaza could be made into a “Middle East Riviera”.
This is not the once progressive pioneer Israel, led by people who had faced the Nazi Holocaust and were fighting for the right to a place where they could determine their own future and be safe.
Sadly, a country of people who were themselves long victims of oppression is now guilty of oppressing and committing genocide against others.
New Zealand recently joined 23 other countries calling out Israel and demanding a full supply of foreign aid be allowed into Gaza.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters called Israel’s actions “ intolerable”. He said that we had “had enough and were running out of patience and hearing excuses”.
While speaking out might make us feel better, words are not enough. Israel’s attacks on the civilian population in Gaza are being increased, aid distribution which has restarted is grossly insufficient to stop hunger and human suffering and Palestinians are being herded into confined areas described as humanitarian zones but which are still subject to bombardment.
People living in tents in schools and hospitals are being slaughtered.
World must force Israel to stop
Like Putin, Israel will not end its killing and oppression unless the world forces it to. The US has the power but will not do this.
The sanctions Trump has imposed are not on Israel’s leaders but on judges in the International Criminal Court (ICC) who dared to find Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu guilty of war crimes.
New Zealand’s foreign policy has traditionally involved working with like-minded countries, often small nations like us. Two of these, Ireland and Sweden, are seeking to impose sanctions on Israel.
Both are members of the European Union which makes up a third of Israel’s global trade. If the EU decides to act, sanctions imposed by it would have a big impact on Israel.
These sanctions should be both on trade and against individuals.
New Zealand has imposed sanctions on a small number of extremist Jewish settlers on the West Bank where there is evidence of them using violence against Palestinian villagers.
These sanctions should be extended to Israel’s political leadership and New Zealand could take a lead in doing this. We should not be influenced by concern that by taking a stand we might offend US president Donald Trump.
Show our preparedness to uphold values
In the way that we have been proud of in the past, we should as a small but fiercely independent country show our preparedness to uphold our own values and act against gross abuse of human rights and flagrant disregard for international law.
We should be working with others through the United Nations General Assembly to maximise political pressure on Israel to stop the ongoing killing of innocent civilians.
Moral outrage at what Israel is doing has to be backed by taking action with others to force the Israeli government to end the killing, destruction, mass punishment and deliberate starvation of Palestinians including their children.
An American doctor working at a Gaza hospital reported that in the last five weeks he had worked on dozens of badly injured children but not a single combatant.
He noted that as well as being maimed and disfigured by bombing, many of the children were also suffering from malnutrition. Children were dying from wounds that they could recover from but there were not the supplies needed to treat them.
Protest is not enough. We need to act.
Phil Goff is Aotearoa New Zealand’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs. This article was first published by the Stuff website and is republished with the permission of the author.
The Minister is launched on an expensive and fruitless game to blame and shame parents. This feeds his law-&-order base. It also feeds his own diet of rigid neo-liberal control of society. His frame of reference is coercive and wrong-headed, offering no long-term solutions.
In its place, we propose a supportive school engagement model, with two basic principles to guide the issue of absenteeism in school:
1. a serious, well-intentioned, continuing investigation to address the complex reasons why some young people are not regularly at school
2. a community-based programme focusing on school engagement to work alongside families, to help them address school attendance
Awkward questions
An obvious question levelled at this issue demands to know what to do with parents and families who choose deliberately to keep students out of school.
QPEC holds that the country should extend the community-based programme above to work as closely and positively as possible with families for long-term effects.
In particular, the programme needs:
(1) to emphasise the lifetime benefits of well-supported, critical education for individuals, families and communities, and
(2) to listen carefully to families’ commentaries on school education.
The emphasis should be on including people rather than scapegoating them as Seymour proposes.
Such a programme could be supported by using the $140 million that Seymour has acquired for his law and order programme.
There is a disconcerting reality to face. Some households may have very legitimate reasons for children to avoid school, based on previous bad experiences. Nationwide, we need to recognise this possibility and develop mature responses as a result.
We should be ready to address discriminatory processes, for instance, and if necessary to provide alternative education models that are consistent with human rights and sound education practice.
Above all, our priority needs to be the best interests of young people and families.
David Cooke, National Chair, QPEC
Source: Kiwis Against Seabed Mining
On World Oceans Day, kiwis across the North Island’s west coast gathered today to paddle out in opposition to seabed mining, in seven different locations.
The day started in Patea, South Taranaki at 0730 am, with a small but determined crew paddling out in freezing temperatures, including Debbie Ngawera Packer.
Many of the Patea team then drove to Ngāmotu New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Beach where hundreds were on the beach, of which 130 paddled out.
At Whaingaroa/Raglan, a 120-strong crew from te whare Ururoa introduced the day with an Arahi, before around 50 surfers from the 300-strong crowd took to the water at Manu Bay Manu Bay.
In Pōneke Wellington the Island Bay paddle-out was thwarted by the huge swell that saw ferries cancelled, so the team gathered on the beach.
In Wautakia Bay near Muriwai, a small gathering of surfers took to the water amid big swells.
Port Waikato spelt out “no” on the beach, and did the paddle-out, followed by a beach cleanup.
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is delivering on its commitment to support parents living offshore to visit and stay with their families in New Zealand for longer, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford say.
Beginning in September, a new ‘Parent Boost’ visa would grant the parents of New Zealand citizens and residents multi-entry access for up to five years, provided they meet specific health, income, and insurance requirements.
“In order to drive economic growth, we need to incentivise skilled migrants to choose New Zealand,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.
“Ensuring we continue to attract the right people with the skills this country needs will deliver significant economic and social benefits for all New Zealanders.”
“We know that a longer-term visitor visa for parents is an important consideration for migrants who are deciding where they want to build their lives,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.
“Whether it be welcoming a new child, additional support during health challenges or providing childcare so parents can work, there is nothing quite like having family support close by.”
“We are proud to deliver this coalition agreement between National and ACT, which will make the New Zealand proposition more appealing and more competitive.”
To be eligible for a Parent Boost visa, applicants must:
One of the following income requirements must also be met:
“The Parent Boost Visa strikes the balance of making New Zealand more attractive for people who want to make our beautiful country their home, without putting additional strain on public services,” Ms Stanford says.
“We are committed to delivering an efficient and predictable immigration system that drives economic growth to take New Zealand forward.”
Parent Boost applications open on 29 September 2025.
Source: Green Party
The Green Party is calling out the Government’s parent boost changes that benefit a wealthier minority while doing nothing to help reunite thousands of migrant families.
“The Government is essentially telling thousands of migrant families that if your parents don’t have a quarter of a million in funds, they are not welcome here,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Immigration, Ricardo Menéndez March.
“Our migrant communities give so much to Aotearoa, they deserve to be treated with respect and provided with pathways that connect them with their families. Today’s announcement falls significantly short of this.
“The Government’s changes to the Parent Boost visa send a clear signal that they do not value the significant contribution of our migrant communities who National labelled as essential not long ago. This is not good enough.
“The requirements of the five-year parent category visa mean only those with significant wealth will be able to apply, leaving out the lower wage migrant workers National was calling “essential” not many years ago.
“The Greens support having genuine residency pathways for parents, because it makes no sense for families to be kept apart. Being wealthy should not be a prerequisite to having your parents with you in New Zealand. We will overhaul the parent residency scheme to ensure families are treated fairly,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.
Source: New Zealand Police
Attributable to Sergeant Jason Cleeton:
Police are asking for the public’s help after a hit-and-run incident this morning that left two women and their dogs injured.
Emergency services were called to Attwood Road, Paremoremo, about 7.10am after a report of a white ute striking two pedestrians.
The vehicle then left the scene without stopping.
One woman sustained serious injuries and another moderate.
Both were transported to hospital for treatment.
Police are now working to identify the driver of the vehicle which struck the women.
The ute was travelling on Attwood Road towards Paremoremo Road.
It sustained some damage in the crash, which will likely be noticeable.
If you have any information about this vehicle or its driver, we are urging you to get in touch.
We would also like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to us.
If you can help, please call 105 and quote reference number 250608/7303.
You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi stands in solidarity with the 38 workers and PSA members who have been suspended without pay by disability residential care provider Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau Trust.
“We condemn the actions of Te Roopu Taurima in the strongest possible terms and call on them to lift the suspensions on their workers and get back around the negotiating table,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.
“Responding to low-level strike action by suspending workers without pay for six weeks is an extraordinarily cruel action that has no place in employment relations in this country.
“The right to strike must be defended and upheld. Bullying and intimidation of workers is totally unacceptable.
“These suspensions come after protracted mistreatment of workers by Te Roopu Taurima, including a partial lockout put in place right before Christmas.
“This standoff has occurred because Te Roopu Taurima are trying to bring in 90-day trials, restrictions on secondary employment, while keeping wages low. They have rejected an independent recommended settlement by the Employment Relations Authority because they don’t want to resolve this issue fairly.
“The NZCTU stands in solidarity with these workers and the PSA in their fight for decent pay and conditions at work,” said Wagstaff.
Source: New Zealand Police
The Desert Road is expected to reopen approximately 6:45pm following the fatal crash earlier today.
Motorists are thanked for their patience while emergency services and contractors worked at the scene.
For updates on the road opening, please check https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/regions/bay-of-plenty
ENDS
Asia Pacific Report
The community is up in arms over another local post office in Aotearoa New Zealand about to be closed down, this time in the iconic and historic Auckland inner city suburb of Ponsonby.
A local author and founder of Greenstone Pictures, John Harris, has led a pushback against plans to close the Ponsonby post office branch in Three Lamps next month with an undated open letter to the chief executive David Walsh.
Saying he was “surprised and dismayed” to see the “closing soon but staying put” sign in the Ponsonby NZ Post shop, Harris pointed out that the small office gave “great service to dozens of businesses” in the area, and hundreds of residents.
“It is misleading on your poster to claim that people will be able to obtain the same services at nearby post shops like that in Jervois Road,” Harris said.
“Will they be able to pay their bills and car registration there? Collect mail and parcels? Buy courier bags and send mail and parcels?
“And do you expect them to walk there? It is not helpful to say this closure ‘might mean a few minutes extra drive’.
This assumed that all clients were using a car, not elderly or young who were on foot.
Parking in busy streets
“And people are expected to try and find parking on other busy streets — Jervois Road, Karangahape Road, Wellesley Street.”
Harris said: “The Ponsonby post shop is a vital part of the network that binds the community together.
“To close it is like removing part of the community’s nervous system: an ill-considered stab at the heart of a community which has always been vibrant, socially aware and productive.”
The NZ Post website proclaims that “we provide customers with the solutions and products to help them communicate and do business.”
However, said Harris, this planned closure for July 4 did not match those promises.
Harris also pointed out that NZ Post made a $16 million operating profit for the last six months of 2024.
“Congratulations. I’m pleased you are keeping NZ Post viable. But it shows there is a bit of ‘wriggle room’ to keep the Ponsonby store open.”
Digital services use
In response to the call to reconsider the decision, a customer services officer replied on June 6 on behalf of chief executive Walsh, saying that the NZ Post Office needed to “ensure our physical locations are in the right places and operating efficiently” in an age where more people used digital services.
“In some areas, including Ponsonby, we’ve had more than one store serving the same neighbourhood. That’s not a sustainable way for us to operate, so we’ve had to make some changes.”
However, critics of the decision to close the Ponsonby store say the reasoning was “not credible”, stressing that all claimed alternative postal stores are several kilometres away.
A year after chief executive Walsh was appointed in 2017, it was announced that NZ Post would close almost 80 local post offices across the country and replace some of them with franchises.
Harris, a children’s author with a strong association with the local community stretching back to the 1970s and a former editor of West End News in Freemans Bay, acknowledged that the Ponsonby PO boxes lobby was being kept open, “but what about the ordinary rank-and-file residents and small business owners who value the other everyday services offered at the store?”
He said he had written to local MP, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and the Ponsonby Business Association seeking their support.
Source: New Zealand Police
One person has died following a crash on the Desert Road this afternoon.
Police were called to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway One at around 1.10pm.
Sadly, one person was located deceased at the scene.
The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.
Motorists are advised to follow diversions and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
Resources Minister Shane Jones travels to Singapore tomorrow where he will speak to more than 400 executives about New Zealand’s oil and gas investment opportunities at the Asia Pacific Energy Capital Assembly.
“As a fierce champion for New Zealand’s oil and gas sector, the Asia Pacific Energy Capital Assembly conference on 9 and 10 June provides an unparalleled opportunity to tell investors from the Asia Pacific region that New Zealand is open for business and ready for investment,” Mr Jones says.
“Investment in our resources means jobs, opportunities and economic growth for regional New Zealand. The Coalition Government is working hard to make New Zealand an attractive proposition for investors, with changes such as the reversal of the oil and gas exploration ban and the passing of the Fast-track Approvals Act.
“Budget 2025 included a tagged contingency of $200 million over four years for business case-approved co‑investment in new gas fields. This investment sends a clear message to the international investment community that New Zealand is serious about oil and gas exploration to supply the gas we need to power our homes and businesses. The industry can also benefit from the Investment Boost policy, also announced in Budget 2025.
“Of particular interest to international investors will be upcoming changes to the Crown Minerals Act which align petroleum decommissioning requirements with international best practice. These requirements were previously seen as a handbrake on investment.
“I look forward to meeting oil and gas explorers and producers on the sidelines of the conference to discuss ways we can open new pathways for investment and opportunities for the oil and gas sector in New Zealand.”
Mr Jones returns to New Zealand on 12 June.
Source: New Zealand Police
The search for missing woman 79-year-old Elisabeth has resumed today in Christchurch, after poor weather conditions paused search activity yesterday.
Police Search and Rescue, along with volunteers from Land Search and Rescue, are out operating in the Fendalton and Riccarton areas.
Residents may notice an increased Police presence, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.
Elisabeth’s loved ones are feeling increasingly concerned for her, and Police are still urging anyone with any information, no matter how small, to come forward.
We are also asking anyone in the area who has not yet checked any outbuildings for Elisabeth or unusual signs of disturbance to please do so.
If you have seen Elisabeth or have any information about where she could be, please call 105 and quote reference number 250604/5465.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway One, Desert Road is blocked following a crash this afternoon.
Emergency services received a report of the two-vehicle crash at around 1.10pm.
Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.
The road is blocked near the Oturere Stream.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.
ENDS
Source: New Zealand Police
The search for missing 25-year-old Travis Langford remains ongoing, nearly five months after he was last seen.
His vehicle was located burnt out on a Tolley Road farm in Ngaroma in January, and his dog was found in a nearby paddock the following day.
Police recovered personal items belonging to Travis near his vehicle, and the Eagle helicopter surveyed the area not long after his vehicle was found.
An alleged sighting of Travis was reported to Police around Waitangi weekend, where it was believed he was seen at Lake Waipapa, however Police have not been able to confirm whether this was Travis or not.
A further alleged sighting was reported on 2 March, however it was confirmed this was not Travis.
Travis’s family are grateful for all the information that has been provided since he went missing.
His family are continuing private searches, and Police would like to remind the public to stay alert and report any unusual activity or potential sightings of Travis to Police.
His appearance may have changed over the last five months. Travis did not have any tattoos, however he does have a dark heart-shaped birth mark, about 3cm wide, on the left side of his neck. He is a slim build and approximately 5’10” tall.
There are serious concerns for his wellbeing. Travis was known to be very wary of people, however possibly has help from outside sources if he is hiding somewhere remotely.
Police are asking everybody in the wider Waikato region to keep an eye out for a man matching the description of Travis, and report any potential sightings to Police.
Please contact 105 either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250119/4439.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)
An Evening for Exploring Israeli-Kiwi Synergies and Partnership
Calendar Icon Event hosted by New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub
June 25, 2025 – June 25, 2025 Auckland Central, Auckland, New Zealand
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa says it’s astounded that an Israeli-NZ collaboration event is planned in Auckland later this month, and has written to the Auckland Business Chamber, demanding the chamber cancel all its business collaboration with Israel while Israel is carrying out genocide.
The Auckland Business Chamber is lining up with the Israeli Embassy to host “An evening for Kiwi-Israeli partnership and collaboration” to be held on June 25 in central Auckland.
PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says PSNA supporters are shocked to see such a tone-deaf, blatant promotion of money-making with such a pariah state.
“This is, especially after the International Court of Justice last year told countries not to provide ‘aid or assistance’ which would allow Israel to continue its illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory.”
“Any collaboration with Israel assists its economy and provides precisely the ‘aid or assistance’ at the heart of the ICJ ruling,” Minto says.
“Even worse, it seems mass killings, engineered starvation and ethnic cleansing, are no obstacle to the promotion of such profit-first dealings”
“Auckland Business Chamber head, Charlotte Parkhill should be leading the call for sanctions on Israel. You should be reminding the business community that ethical behaviour and moral standards should have a central place in all business dealings.”
Minto says he expects the Chamber has approached the government to have a senior cabinet minister attend the event.
“The people who run these types of trade promotions usually expect a senior cabinet minister to turn up and gush about the particular country New Zealand is collaborating with.”
“However even a bottom ranked MP in attendance would anger the growing number of New Zealanders who are outraged at New Zealand’s inaction on escalating Israeli atrocities.”
“Blatant sucking up to Israel at this time, would not go unnoticed by other governments as well.”
“The world is moving to sanctions against Israel, not trying to squeeze more profits out of it.”
John Minto
Co-Chair PSNA
Source: New Zealand Government
A more efficient, reliable and safer journey through the Ruahine Ranges will open to traffic from the week of 9 June, with the completion of the Manawatū Tararua Highway, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop.
The new 11.5-kilometre highway between Ashhurst and Woodville replaces State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge, which was permanently closed in April 2017 due to landslides.
“This is more than just a new road. It provides a vital link for freight operators and businesses throughout the lower and central North Island, which will encourage travel and support economic growth for the region”, Mr Bishop says.
“The four-lane highway, divided by a safe flexible median barrier, is expected to carry up to around 9,000 vehicles each day, with 10 per cent of those being heavy vehicles. General traffic will take between 10 – 12 minutes to drive the road, which is a significant improvement on the current 20 – 25 minute detour route in place.
“Constructing this new road required remarkable engineering. The road features six bridges, two of which are more than 300-metres in length, and features to minimise the risk of erosion and slips. The expected cost to complete the project now stands at $824.1 million.
“As this huge project comes to an end, I want to thank the truckies, motorists and local residents who’ve been so patient through these works, and the NZTA contractors who’ve worked hard to get this project completed.
“I’m looking forward to this road opening in the coming days and I know communities are too.”
Notes to Editor:
Key features of the project include:
a shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists.
Source: New Zealand Government
It’s been four months since the Fast-track Approvals system opened for business and the statistics show strong progress toward making it quicker and easier to build the projects New Zealand needs for economic growth, RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say.
“The Fast-track Approvals Act, part of the coalition agreement between National and NZ First, was signed into law just before Christmas and opened for project applications on 7 February this year. The Act helps cut through the tangle of red and green tape and the jumble of approvals processes that has, until now, held New Zealand back from much-needed economic growth,” Mr Bishop says.
“The Fast-track Approvals Act contains a list of 149 projects which, from 7 February, have been able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for consideration by an expert panel. The expert panels consider each application, decide whether or not each project receives approval, and attach any necessary conditions to those approvals.
“In the four months since the Fast-track one-stop shop approvals regime officially opened for project applications, we’ve seen good progress on a range of applications for projects that, if approved, will grow New Zealand’s economy and sort out our infrastructure deficit, housing crisis, and energy shortage, instead of tying essential projects up in knots for years at a time.
“As of this week, 15 substantive applications for listed projects have been lodged and found complete and within scope by the EPA. Of these, twelve applications have no competing applications or existing resource consents; two applications are undergoing checks for competing applications or existing resource consents; and one application was found to have an existing resource consent and can therefore not proceed any further through Fast-track.
“Eight of the 12 complete applications that are complete, within scope and with no competing applications or existing resource consents are being considered by the panel convenor who will soon establish expert panels for each project.
“Three are currently before expert panels for consideration, with a fourth expert panel being appointed on 6 June. These four projects are Delmore (residential subdivision and roading interchange in Orewa), (Maitahi Village (residential development including commercial centre and a retirement village in Nelson), Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension (new and extended wharf facilities at Port of Auckland), Milldale (earthworks and site work for approximately 1,100 residential allotments).
“The first expert panels’ final decisions are expected in mid-September this year.
“Projects not listed in the Act can also apply for referral to an expert panel through the same Fast-track website. Their applications go first to me as Infrastructure Minister for consideration, which includes inviting written comments from the Minister for the Environment and any other Ministers with relevant portfolios, before the deciding whether to refer the project for Fast-track.
“To date I have referred three projects to the Fast-track process, meaning they can now submit substantive applications to the EPA. These three projects are the Ayrburn Screen Hub (a film and television production facility) in Otago; Ashbourne (a development of 530 homes and 250 retirement units) in Waikato; and the Grampians Solar Project (a solar farm expected to generate 300 megawatts) in Canterbury.”
“As well as delivering a strong pipeline of projects into the future, Fast-track is well on track to deliver a much boost to the economy now, with up to 17 projects whose applications are underway expected to commence this year, if approved. This will be welcome news for the construction sector,” Mr Jones says.
“The projects that have applied for Fast-track approvals to date would contribute an additional 12,208 new homes across the Auckland, Nelson and Otago regions, and an additional 1,136 new retirement units in Auckland and Nelson.”
Note to editor:
In Fast-track’s first four months there have been:
Referral Applications
2 applications currently undergoing checks for competing applications / existing resource consents
12 projects found to be complete without competing applications or existing resource consents (all those that have gone to the Panel Convener prior to expert panel)
Rangitoopuni.
8 are with the panel convener to establish an expert panel
4 projects currently before expert panels, or have an expert panel appointed (have gone from the panel convener to the expert panel)
Substantive Applications
15 substantive applications found to be complete, of those:
With EPA for completeness, competing applications or existing resource consent checks:
12 applications have gone to the Panel Convener, of those:
With Panel Convener:
Expert Panels appointed for:
Milldale
One of the 12 activists on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid vessel Madleen has posted an update on their progress, saying the mission would not be deterred by Israel’s threats to block them.
In a video posted to X, Thiago Ávila said the crew, which includes high-profile Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, was not intimidated by a message they had received from Israel on Thursday, reports Al Jazeera.
He said Israeli authorities had said that the Madleen, which is carrying food and medical supplies, would be blocked from entering Gaza — and that if they attempted to deliver them, they would come under attack.
“It’s important that we understand that [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and any other repressive regime throughout history, they actually fear the people, we do not fear them,” he said.
“We know that this is part of a global uprising much larger than this humble mission of 12 people on a small boat. It will not be through force that they will make a way to defeat us.”
While crossing international waters in the Central Mediterranean on its way to Gaza yesterday, the Madleen received a mayday call relayed through one of the Frontex drones operated by Europe’s border security agency.
With no other vessel able to respond, the Madleen diverted to the distressed vessel, where it found 30 to 40 people trapped in a rapidly deflating dinghy.
While the crew of the Madleen were attempting a rescue of their own, they were approached at speed by a unit of the Libyan Coast Guard, specifically one belonging to the Tareq Bin Zayed brigade, which Al Jazeera has previously reported upon.
On realising that the approaching vessel belonged to the Libyan Coast Guard, four dinghy passengers jumped into the water and swam to the Madleen, where they were rescued.
The remainder were taken on board the Libyan Coast Guard’s vessel and presumably returned to Libya.
It’s the 6th day of our journey onboard the Madleen to #breakthesiege of Gaza and create a people’s humanitarian sea corridor! The Freedom Flotilla Coalition will never stop due to the Zionists threats. We know we have billions of people along with the 12 of us on this boat! pic.twitter.com/FfIDDtVbX7
— Thiago Ávila | Gaza Freedom Flotilla (@thiagoavilabr) June 6, 2025
By Giff Johnson, editor, Marshall Islands Journal, and RNZ Pacific correspondent
A new report on the United States nuclear weapons testing legacy in the Marshall Islands highlights the lack of studies into important health concerns voiced by Marshallese for decades that make it impossible to have a clear understanding of the impacts of the 67 nuclear weapons tests.
The Legacy of US Nuclear Testing in the Marshall Islands, a report by Dr Arjun Makhijani of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, was released late last month.
The report was funded by Greenpeace Germany and is an outgrowth of the organisation’s flagship vessel, Rainbow Warrior III, visiting the Marshall Islands from March to April to recognise the 40th anniversary of the resettlement of the nuclear test-affected population of Rongelap Atoll.
Dr Mahkijani said that among the “many troubling aspects” of the legacy is that the United States had concluded, in 1948, after three tests, that the Marshall Islands was not “a suitable site for atomic experiments” because it did not meet the required meteorological criteria.
“Yet testing went on,” he said.
“Also notable has been the lack of systematic scientific attention to the accounts by many Marshallese of severe malformations and other adverse pregnancy outcomes like stillbirths. This was despite the documented fallout throughout the country and the fact that the potential for fallout to cause major birth defects has been known since the 1950s.”
Dr Makhijani highlights the point that, despite early documentation in the immediate aftermath of the 1954 Bravo hydrogen bomb test and numerous anecdotal reports from Marshallese women about miscarriages and still births, US government medical officials in charge of managing the nuclear test-related medical programme in the Marshall Islands never systematically studied birth anomalies.
Committed billions of dollars
The US Deputy Secretary of State in the Biden-Harris administration, Kurt Cambell, said that Washington, over decades, had committed billions of dollars to the damages and the rebuilding of the Marshall Islands.
“I think we understand that that history carries a heavy burden, and we are doing what we can to support the people in the [Compact of Free Association] states, including the Marshall Islands,” he told reporters at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Nuku’alofa last year.
“This is not a legacy that we seek to avoid. We have attempted to address it constructively with massive resources and a sustained commitment.”
Among points outlined in the new report:
Despite this, “only a small fraction of the population has been officially recognised as exposed enough for screening and medical attention; even that came with its own downsides, including people being treated as experimental subjects,” the report said.
Women reported adverse outcomes
“In interviews and one 1980s country-wide survey, women have reported many adverse pregnancy outcomes,” said the report.
“They include stillbirths, a baby with part of the skull missing and ‘the brain and the spinal cord fully exposed,’ and a two-headed baby. Many of the babies with major birth defects died shortly after birth.
“Some who lived suffered very difficult lives, as did their families. Despite extensive personal testimony, no systematic country-wide scientific study of a possible relationship of adverse pregnancy outcomes to nuclear testing has been done.
“It is to be noted that awareness among US scientists of the potential for major birth defects due to radioactive fallout goes back to the 1950s. Hiroshima-Nagasaki survivor data has also provided evidence for this problem.
“The occurrence of stillbirths and major birth defects due to nuclear testing fallout in the Marshall Islands is scientifically plausible but no definitive statement is possible at the present time,” the report concluded.
“The nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands created a vast amount of fission products, including radioactive isotopes that cross the placenta, such as iodine-131 and tritium.
“Radiation exposure in the first trimester can cause early failed pregnancies, severe neurological damage, and other major birth defects.
No definitive statement possible
“This makes it plausible that radiation exposure may have caused the kinds of adverse pregnancy outcomes that were experienced and reported.
“However, no definitive statement is possible in the absence of a detailed scientific assessment.”
Scientists who traveled with the Rainbow Warrior III on its two-month visit to the Marshall Islands earlier this year collected samples from Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap and other atolls for scientific study and evaluation.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: New Zealand Government
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka have congratulated the winners of the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy and the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award, recognising their excellence and leadership in Māori agribusiness.
The Northland-based Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust was awarded the 2025 Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in Māori sheep and beef farming at a gala dinner in Palmerston North tonight.
“Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust turned a struggling farm into a thriving 1,200-head bull beef operation, and it’s a clear example of what vision and hard work can achieve,” says Mr McClay.
“This award celebrates Māori excellence in farming and the kind of leadership that will help us double the value of exports in 10 years,” says Mr McClay.
Mr Potaka says the Ahuwhenua Trophy recognises excellence in farming know-how, as well as the wider role that Māori intergenerational farming entities play in our regional communities and in protecting the environment.
“Sheep and beef farms are the backbone of the Māori primary sector, valued at over $12 billion, and these awards honour the landowners, rangatira and kaimahi who keep that success going,” says Mr Potaka.
Te Tai Tokerau farm manager Coby Warmington took out the 2025 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award for sheep and beef.
“Congratulations to the winner and all those who took part in this year’s competition.
“The prosperity and wellbeing farming generates for Iwi and Māori across the motu has far reaching impacts for communities, for whānau, for reinvesting back into marae and more. I tautoko the outstanding work these finalists are doing.”
Whakamihia ana e te Kāwanatanga ngā toa o te Tohutoa Ahuwhenua
Kua whakamihia e te Minita Ahuwhenua Todd McClay me te Minita Whanaketanga Māori Tama Potaka ngā toa whakaihuwaka o te Tohutoa Ahuwhenua me te Tohu Kaiahuwhenua Rangatahi Māori 2025, e āhukahuka ana i tō rātou kairangi, hiranga hoki i te mahi ahuwhenua Māori.
I whakawhiwhia ki te Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust nō te Taitokerau te Tohu Ahuwhenua 2025 mō te kairangi i te mahi pāmu Māori mō te hipi me te kau i te hākari whakanui i tū ki Te Papaioea i tēnei pō.
“I hurihia e te Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust te pāmu kūraruraru ki te whakahaere momoho me te 1,200 kau pūru, ka mutu, he tauira mārama o te mahi e taea ai e te wawata me te pukumahi,” te kī a Minita McClay.
“E whakanuia ana e tēnei tohu te kairangi Māori i te mahi pāmu me te momo ārahitanga e āwhina i a tātou ki te huarua i te uara o ngā hokotai i te tekau tau e tū mai nei,” te kōrero o Minita McClay.
E kī ana a Minita Potaka e āhukahuka ana te Tohutoa Ahuwhenua i te kairangi i te mātauranga pāmu, ka mutu, te wāhi whānui ake a te mahi pāmu ā-whakatipuranga Māori i ō tātou hapori ā-takiwā, mō te mahi tiaki taiao anō hoki.
“Ko te tuarā o te rāngai matua Māori ngā pāmu hipi me te kau, kei tōna $12 piriona te uara, ā, e whakamānawa ana ēnei tohu i ngā kaipupuri whenua, ngā rangatira me ngā kaimahi e whakapau kaha ana ki te hāpai tonu i taua angitu,” te kōrero a Minita Potaka.
I riro i te kaiwhakahaere pāmu o Te Taitokerau a Coby Warmington te Tohu Kaiahuwhenua Rangatahi Māori 2025 mō te hipi me te kau.
“Nei te mihi ki te toa, ka mutu, ki ngā tāngata katoa i whai wāhi mai ki te whakataetae i tēnei tau.
“He nui o te pānga o te tōnuitanga me te oranga e ahu mai ana i ngā mahi pāmu mā ngā Iwi me te iwi Māori puta noa i te motu mō ngā hapori, ngā whānau, hei whakahoki ki ngā marae me ngā āhuatanga i tua atu anō. Kei te tautoko au i ngā mahi mīharo e mahia mai ana e ēnei i tae ki te whiringa toa.”
Source: New Zealand Police
A man will be appearing in court next week in relation to the death of a man following a crash in Pongakawa.
The single-vehicle crash happened around 8:45pm on Tuesday 3 June on Maniatutu Road.
It was not reported to Police at the time, and the driver and the passengers of the vehicle made their own way home to their addresses in the area.
Around 4:30am on 4 June, the driver of the vehicle and flatmate of one of the passengers in the car located the passenger deceased at their home.
Police have made further enquiries and have today charged a 40-year-old man with dangerous driving causing death.
He is due in Tauranga District Court on 12 June.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 10 is closed at the intersection with Waipapa West Road following a crash.
The two-vehicle crash was reported just before 7pm.
Two people have sustained serious injuries.
Diversions are in place via Waipapa Road.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Counties Manukau Police have made an arrest following a fire at the McDonalds restaurant in Pakuranga last month.
Detectives have been investigating the suspicious fire which occurred at the Pakuranga Road branch on 5 May.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dean Batey, of Counties Manukau East CIB, says a 12-year-old young person has been arrested and charged with arson.
“This young person has appeared in the Manukau Youth Court and is currently on court bail conditions,” he says.
“Police appreciate the fire has been of high interest to the local community.
“We are not able to comment further around the circumstances of the alleged offending, however Police cannot rule out any further arrests in relation to the matter.”
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
A person has died after being hit by a truck at Peketā this morning.
Emergency services were called to the crash, between Inland Kaikōura Road and Rakanui Road, about 9.20am.
The person was a pedestrian and died at the scene.
Police are providing support to their next of kin.
The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and State Highway 1 reopened about 2.40pm.
Police would like to thank the emergency response teams who assisted at the scene, and motorists for their understanding and patience.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre