BizFest in Porirua will take place on 1 July – a day that aims to inspire, connect and share business knowledge.
Run jointly by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council,BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizoncelebrates the courage of those who seek new business opportunities, the wisdom of those who navigate uncertain times, and the collective resilience and strength of our people.
1 July will provide opportunities to engage in three key areas over the course of the day, with speakers, panel discussions and other kōrero:
– What’s on the economic horizon for our region and city
– How business leaders are navigating uncertain economic conditions
– Seizing opportunities during times of change and the key ingredients for innovation and success.
Key speakers include Animation Research Ltd’s Ben Taylor, Infometrics chief executive and principal economist Brad Olsen, and software engineer, director of Fibre Fale, Young New Zealander of the year and Porirua’s own Eteroa Lafaele. More will be announced soon.
Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Pou Ohanga Boyd Scirkovich will open BizFest with an overview of the first Economic Development and Investment Strategy for the Rūnanga.
“We are excited to partner with the Council to bring BizFest to our whānau and community,” he says.
“The event is an opportunity to shine a light on local businesses doing amazing things. We are surrounded by abundant potential here in Porirua and have unique talents within our diverse communities that thrive on the global stage. We hope Bizfest provides the opportunity for people to come together to support each other and explore new areas of collaboration.”
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, who has a background in business, says the event offers plenty to Porirua employers, business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, new and established businesspeople, and anyone wanting to be inspired.
“This will be an amazing day – what a fantastic opportunity for the business sector, which has experienced challenging times of late, to listen, share and connect,” she says.
“Porirua is a place to do business and that’s highlighted by large and medium-sized businesses establishing themselves here recently, along with our small traders that keep our city humming. Our city is always moving forward and I’m excited about BizFest showing off what we have now, what’s coming, and the innovation we’re seeing.”
Covering period of Monday 12th – Thursday 15th May – This week is shaping up to be a much more settled week compared to the severe weather of last week. However, that will come with some days of rain for others, mostly in the South Island. With only a few weeks of autumn left, temperatures remain steady.
For much of New Zealand, it is going to be a fine weather week. This is especially true for the North Island, where settled conditions will be the prevailing theme. The odd shower may pop up in western areas at times, and there’s a brief chance of showers in the east late Tuesday into Wednesday. However, for the South Island, it’s a mixed bag of weather. While today (Monday) remains fine apart from odd showers, a front is expected to move up the South Island on Tuesday morning, bringing rain for the lower and western parts of the island.
The rain in the South Island is forecast to clear by Tuesday night, as the front weakens significantly.
MetService Meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo states, “Midweek sees a clearance of the rain but also a slight and short-lived drop in maximum temperatures for the Island, as the wind turns southwesterly. Overnight temperatures are expected to drop below 3 degrees for some places in Otago, leading to the possibility of frosty nights,”
Another front is forecast to arrive in the South Island on Thursday morning, with yet another rainy day for the lower and western parts of the island.
Predator Free 2050 Limited (PF2050 Limited or the Company) is celebrating remarkable contributions by the collective of predator free landscape projects nationwide. A target of $164M of non-government contribution to work on urban and rural land has been more than met in what is proving to be an unprecedented community effort. “The belief and commitment from communities is truly inspiring,” says PF2050 Limited Chair Denise Church. “Having so many people and organisations investing in the movement not only financially but also through in-kind support demonstrates the power of collective action toward achieving the Predator Free 2050 goal.”
The goal of eradicating rats, mustelids, and possums across two-thirds of Aotearoa New Zealand, the urban and rural areas where people live, work, and play, has morphed from an ambitious “moonshot” into a feasible proposition. Beyond financial backing, volunteer efforts have become an invaluable asset, uniting a generation in a shared purpose and delivering what would normally come with substantial costs.
The tireless efforts of projects with boots on the ground, and supported by PF2050 Limited, have proved that predators can be eliminated in urban and rural areas. Thanks to those efforts, as of 31 March 2025, communities have already contributed more than $164M in non-government support for 18 major projects since their inception. This meets a key target for community contribution and is a testament to the unwavering dedication of hundreds of Kiwis working on urban and rural land to protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity before it’s too late. Support has come in the forms of cash, in-kind donations, and the value of volunteer labour, and it more than matches the PF2050 Limited contribution of $92M to this work.
Year after year, Predator Free 2050 projects have proven that, with a combined collective effort from communities, philanthropists, councils, and volunteers, people are willing to put more on the line to bring nature back to our communities and the places we live, work and play. From visible nature gains to economic and public health gains and strengthened communities, the payback is significant.
It is a great achievement so far, but to reach the PF2050 goal, more is needed. While PF2050 Limited and the projects it supports remain committed to sustaining momentum, they face the end of funding from Jobs for Nature and the Provincial Growth Fund. The collective of predator free projects and PF2050 Limited will be working to raise new funds to advance this essential work in our cities, towns, farms and forests and to develop even more efficient and scalable predator free approaches. So much has been achieved by the community already that it is unthinkable to let the momentum falter.
PF2050 Limited, a Crown-owned charitable company established in 2016, plays a pivotal role in this transformative movement. The Company focuses on supporting large-scale predator elimination projects and breakthrough scientific innovations, supporting professionally delivered, community-led initiatives, in its mission to address a critical biodiversity crisis. The Predator Free 2050 goal, a bold national commitment to eradicate possums, rats, and mustelids by 2050, has achieved remarkable funding success.
Transporting New Zealand told today’s[note: Monday]Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee at Parliament that goods vehicles should be exempt from time-of-use charging.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih and Head of Policy & Advocacy Billy Clemens listed four key improvements that would maximise time of use savings for businesses and consumers as part of their submission on the Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill.
The recommendations were:
1. That the legislation exempts freight vehicles and public transport vehicles from paying time-of-use charges.
2. That the legislation does not allow differentiated time-of-use charges according to vehicle class.
3. That the legislation specifies assessments of the impact of time-of-use charging include the expected impacts on the supply chain and freight movement.
4. That the legislation enables scheme boards, with the approval of impacted local authorities and the Minister, to implement short-term trials ahead of a scheme being put in place.
Clemens told the Committee that many in the road freight industry are understandably wary of freight efficiency tools focusing on revenue raising rather than boosting the productivity of the supply chain.
“We’ve seen examples of de-facto congestion charging at Port of Auckland where they introduced peak-based vehicle booking systems that were initially introduced at relatively modest rates… [and then the] Port of Auckland realised it was an excellent revenue raising tool.
“So our members are looking at that and thinking: ‘These are always sold to us on productivity grounds… but once things get settled in it’s pretty tempting to turn the system into a revenue lever.’
“I think you’ve probably heard from some local authorities and councils suggesting [time of use charging] would be a helpful revenue tool.”
Transporting New Zealand also called for the legislation to reference freight impacts and good supply chain outcomes to provide further reassurance to freight businesses and their customers.
This year’s Hospice Awareness Week comes ashospices struggleto keep their doors open because of a lack of Government funding and nurses’ chances of fair pay shattered by the removal of their pay equity claim, NZNO says.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) hospice pay equity claim was filed in late-2023 covering 27 hospices employing its members. That claim, alongside nine others for NZNO, were thrown out by the Government last week with its to pay equity law changes.
Hospice New Zealandtoday saidTe Whatu Ora had refused to adjust their funding so hospice nurses and health care assistants could be paid the same as their hospital counterparts. Hospices could not afford to fund the widening pay gap as at least 35% of hospice nurses’ wages came from fundraising and donations because of chronic underfunding of the sector.
NZNO delegate and hospice nurse Donna Burnett says hospice nurses are demoralised and angered by last week’s announcement.
“Hospices are already facing service cutbacks, with a strong possibility of closures in small region because of the current lack of funding. It is not sustainable. On top of this, at the swipe of a pen and a blink of an eye, Government pulled pay equity out from under us.”
Due to New Zealand’s aging population, the crisis for hospices will only worsen if the Government doesn’t step up and properly fund the sector, she says.
“We are meant to be raising awareness about hospices this week, but the reality is people need to be aware of what’s happening to us nurses and health care assistants because it impacts our patients.
“Without pay equity and a fully funded sector, hospices will keep losing nurses and health care assistants to better paying hospitals or overseas health systems.
“Dying New Zealanders and their whānau have enough to worry about without not being able to access hospice care because of short staffing which is a direct result of Government decisions,” Donna Burnett says.
The Government’s proposed review of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 is a clear attempt to undermine the Tribunal’s independence and diminish Māori rangatiratanga, the PSA says.
Janice Panoho, Kaihautū Māori of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, rejects Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka’s claim that the review is intended to “refocus” the Tribunal to its original intent.
“Māori and Treaty partners across the motu see this move for what it is: a political attempt to weaken one of the few institutions that holds the Crown accountable to its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Panoho says.
“For nearly 50 years, the Waitangi Tribunal has played a vital role in advancing justice for Māori. It has provided a platform for Māori voices, upheld the mana of Te Tiriti, and made recommendations that have shaped the very foundations of the Māori-Crown relationship,” Panoho says.
“This review is not about efficiency or clarity, it is about control. It is a clear attempt to undermine the Tribunal’s independence and diminish Māori rangatiratanga.
“The proposal to limit the Tribunal’s scope and reframe its inquiries according to a political agenda, as outlined in the coalition agreement between National and New Zealand First, is deeply concerning. Rather than strengthening the Tribunal, the review threatens to erase decades of progress toward honouring Te Tiriti and addressing the injustices faced by generations of whānau, hapū, and iwi.
“The so called Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG), despite including a handful of Māori members, lacks transparency and accountability. It is not representative of the whānau, hapū, and iwi who have engaged with the Tribunal for decades. The rushed timeline for engagement and legislation adds to the concerns.
“This review occurs at a time when Māori communities are already experiencing the impacts of cost-cutting measures across Te Arawhiti, Te Aka Whai Ora, and other kaupapa Māori initiatives. The cumulative effect is a sustained attack on Māori rights, institutions, and leadership.
The PSA and Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina, which represents the PSA’s 11,000 members who identify as Māori, strongly oppose the move and call on the Government to:
Halt the review of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975
immediately.
Uphold the integrity and independence of the
Waitangi Tribunal.
Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in both word and
action.
Engage meaningfully with Māori, not after
decisions are made, but before.
“The future of the Waitangi Tribunal is not just a Māori issue, it is a matter of national integrity, justice, and honouring our founding covenant,” Panoho says.
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.
Source:Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (NZSTA)
Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – New Zealand School Boards Association (formerly NZSTA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Meredith Kennett as Interim President, following the recent departure of long-serving President Lorraine Kerr MZNM.
Lorraine recently departed NZSBA after some 19 years as President and after an even longer period of involvement in the organisation since becoming a school board member in 1989.
NZSBA and its members wish her the very best for the future.
Meredith, who is in her second term on the organisation’s National Board, will lead it through to the next board and president elections in 2026.
Meredith brings a wealth of experience in leadership, communication, and governance. She has spent most of her career in professional learning & development and human resources, working as a consultant to a wide range of government agencies, schools and private organisations.
She joined the Hobsonville Point Schools board in 2014 and became a member of the Whangārei Girls’ High School board in 2021. Meredith was first elected to the National Board of NZSBA in 2020 and, in 2022, became a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
On being appointed Interim President, Meredith says she is “incredibly proud and humbled” to be entrusted by her fellow National Board members to lead the organisation forward. She looks forward to being a “fresh set of eyes” and helping the organisation grasp the significant opportunities for it that lie ahead.
NZSBA warmly welcomes Meredith into the role and look forward to her leadership as we continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of school boards throughout Aotearoa.
Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
With over 2,600 graduates, two parades, and eight ceremonies, this May graduation will fill Wellington’s streets with cloaked and capped graduates.
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s graduates will honour the community that saw them through and the connections they have made, as they cross the stage.
Among those crossing the stage this graduation will be Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, our first Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika), who is being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature, after leaving her position at the start of this year.
The inaugural recipients of our Master of Criminology, as well as an early graduate of the Bachelor of Global Studies, will also be graduating in the May ceremonies.
Parades on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May will see graduates walk from the Government Buildings to Queens Wharf Square, before our ceremonies are held at Michael Fowler Centre.
“This is a time to recognise academic achievement, but also to acknowledge the perseverance and resilience it has taken our graduates to achieve their goals.
“We are in a time of global change, but our graduates have developed values and relationships that will sustain them throughout their lives,” says Chancellor Alan Judge, who will preside over graduation for the first time in his new role.
“To our graduates—our future leaders and innovators, I look forward to walking alongside as you lead us into the future with creativity, empathy, and determination,” says Mr Judge.
The University will award PhDs to 50 graduates at the May ceremony. These graduates have added significantly to research in their fields, across the sciences, social sciences, arts, and beyond.
Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith says this cohort of graduates deserve every moment of praise for their incredible accomplishments.
“Our graduates are wonderful ambassadors for the remarkable work taking place at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. The impact of our university on society is significant, and we are proud to see our graduates take their skills, connections, and commitment to community into the public, creative, and commercial sectors that underpin our society.
“I look forward to witnessing the contributions they will make as they join our global network of 150,000 alumni. Congratulations to all our graduates — we celebrate your achievements and look forward to your future successes.”
About Graduation
Graduation ceremonies
Monday 12 May
Pasifika Celebration, 5.30 pm, The Hub
Tuesday 13 May
Ceremony 1 – 9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Ceremony 2 – 3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Education
Parade 1 – 1 pm, Old Government Buildings – Queen’s Wharf Square
Students from Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, Education, Architecture and Design Innovation, and Health
Wednesday 14 May
Ceremony 3 – 9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
Faculty of Health
Ceremony 4 – 3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Science
Thursday 15 May
Ceremony 5 – 9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre
Wellington School of Business and Government
Ceremony 6 – 3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculty of Law
Wellington School of Business and Government
Parade 2 – 1 pm, Old Government Buildings – Queen’s Wharf Square
Students from Faculties of Law, Science, Engineering, and the Wellington School of Business and Government
Friday 16 May—Te Hui Whakapūmau
Ceremony 1 – 9.30 am, Te Herenga Waka Marae
Wellington Faculty of Education
Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the road freight industry, a major survey of the sector has found.
The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of 194 industry participants across 128 road freight businesses was run by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also promoted by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ and represents the most extensive industry snapshot in more than a decade.
A total of 78 per cent of respondents in the survey called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance.
Finding new drivers and an aging workforce were also big issues for the sector. Almost one-half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that “up to 25 per cent” or more would retire or leave the industry in the next five years.
The survey painted a gloomy picture for business at the moment – only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins.
Concerns about the state of New Zealand’s roads were nearly universal. The vast majority (93 per cent) agreed that poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. A significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent).
However, one bright spot in the survey for truck drivers is how the public sees them.
While freight industry people believe the public have a negative perception of professional drivers, that is not the case. A poll of 1000 New Zealanders conducted by Research NZ painted a more favourable picture, with 52 per cent saying they view professional road freight drivers positively; and only 7 per cent expressing a negative view. (Only 20 per cent of industry people had thought the public viewed them positively.)
FREE CITYLINK WHANGĀREI AND SCHOOL LINK BUSES FOR YOUTH WEEK 19-24 MAY
Northland Regional Council (NRC) is celebrating Youth Week 19-24 May by providing free bus travel in Whangārei for rangatahi (young people) age 12-24.
The free bus travel is available on all CityLink and SchoolLink bus services from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 May 2025.
Young people can download a ticket from the posters around town or online, or pick up a printed ticket at schools, CityLink bus office (Vine Street car park), Youth Space, NRC Water Street reception and Whangārei Library. Show tickets to the driver when boarding the bus.
Terms and conditions apply – ID may be asked for proof of age with ticket and remember to be a respectful passenger when riding the bus and at bus stops around town. Inappropriate behaviour may result in removal of a ticket, once removed the ticket will be invalid.
Northlanders are being encouraged to have their say on Northland Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw, which sets the rules for keeping people safe on the water.
The council is proposing some changes to get better alignment of rules across regions, incorporate safety improvements, and make the bylaw easier to use.
Some of the proposed changes include a new requirement to carry two forms of communication on a vessel; amending the requirements for wearing a lifejacket; and removing a clause prohibiting wind-powered board sports in the Ruakākā and Waipū estuaries as this is not considered a navigation safety issue.
Fresh, stringent security measures have been imposed in New Caledonia following aborted political talks last week and ahead of the first anniversary of the deadly riots that broke out on 13 May 2024, which resulted in 14 deaths and 2.2 billion euros (NZ$4.2 billion) in damages.
On Sunday, the French High Commission in Nouméa announced that from Monday, May 12, to Friday, May 15, all public marches and demonstrations will be banned in the Greater Nouméa Area.
Restrictions have also been imposed on the sale of firearms, ammunition, and takeaway alcoholic drinks.
The measures aim to “ensure public security”.
In the wake of the May 2024 civil unrest, a state of emergency and a curfew had been imposed and had since been gradually lifted.
The decision also comes as “confrontations” between law enforcement agencies and violent groups took place mid-last week, especially in the township of Dumbéa — on the outskirts of Nouméa — where there were attempts to erect fresh roadblocks, High Commissioner Jacques Billant said.
The clashes, including incidents of arson, stone-throwing and vehicles being set on fire, are reported to have involved a group of about 50 individuals and occurred near Médipôle, New Caledonia’s main hospital, and a shopping mall.
Clashes also occurred in other parts of New Caledonia, including outside the capital Nouméa.
It adds another reason for the measures is the “anniversary date of the beginning of the 2024 riots”.
Wrecked and burnt-out cars gathered after the May 2024 riots and dumped at Koutio-Koueta on Ducos island in Nouméa. Image: NC 1ère TV
Law and order stepped up French authorities have also announced that in view of the first anniversary of the start of the riots tomorrow, law and order reinforcements have been significantly increased in New Caledonia until further notice.
This includes a total of 2600 officers from the Gendarmerie, police, as well as reinforcements from special elite SWAT squads and units equipped with 16 Centaur armoured vehicles.
Drones are also included.
The aim is to enforce a “zero tolerance” policy against “urban violence” through a permanent deployment “night and day”, with a priority to stop any attempt to blockade roads, especially in Greater Nouméa, to preserve freedom of movement.
One particularly sensitive focus would be placed on the township of Saint-Louis in Mont-Dore often described as a pro-independence stronghold which was a hot spot and the scene of violent and deadly clashes at the height of the 2024 riots.
“We’ll be present wherever and whenever required. We are much stronger than we were in 2024,” High Commissioner Billant told local media during a joint inspection with French gendarmes commander General Nicolas Matthéos and Nouméa Public Prosecutor Yves Dupas.
Dupas said that over the past few months the bulk of criminal acts was regarded as “delinquency” — nothing that could be likened to a coordinated preparation for fresh public unrest similar to last year’s.
Billant said that, depending on how the situation evolves in the next few days, he could also rely on additional “potential reinforcements” from mainland France if needed.
French High Commissioner Jacques Billant, Public Prosecutor Yves Dupas and the Gendarmerie commander, General Nicolas Matthéos, confer last Wednesday . . . “We are much stronger than we were in 2024.” Image: Haut-Commissariat de la République en Nouvelle-Calédonie
New Zealand ANZAC war memorial set alight A New Zealand ANZAC war memorial in the small rural town of Boulouparis (west coast of the main island of Grande Terre) was found vandalised last Friday evening.
The monument, inaugurated just one year ago at last year’s ANZAC Day to commemorate the sacrifice of New Zealand soldiers during world wars in the 20th century, was set alight by unidentified people, police said.
Tyres were used to keep the fire burning.
An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is underway, the Nouméa Public Prosecutor’s office said, invoking charges of wilful damage.
Australia, New Zealand travel warnings In the neighbouring Pacific, two of New Caledonia’s main tourism source markets, Australia and New Zealand, are maintaining a high level or increased caution advisory.
The main identified cause is an “ongoing risk of civil unrest”.
In its latest travel advisory, the Australian brief says “demonstrations and protests may increase in the days leading up to and on days of national or commemorative significance, including the anniversary of the start of civil unrest on May 13.
“Avoid demonstrations and public gatherings. Demonstrations and protests may turn violent at short notice.”
Pro-France political leaders at a post-conclave media conference in Nouméa last Thursday . . . objected to the proposed “sovereignty with France”, a kind of independence in association with France. Image: RRB/RNZ Pacific
Inconclusive talks Last Thursday, May 8, French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, who had managed to gather all political parties around the same table for negotiations on New Caledonia’s political future, finally left the French Pacific territory. He admitted no agreement could be found at this stage.
In the final stage of the talks, the “conclave” on May 5-7, he had put on the table a project for New Caledonia’s accession to a “sovereignty with France”, a kind of independence in association with France.
This option was not opposed by pro-independence groups, including the FLNKS (Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front).
French Overseas Territories Minister Manuel Valls . . . returned to Paris last week without a deal on New Caledonia’s political future. Image: Caledonia TV screenshot APR
But the pro-France movement, in support of New Caledonia remaining a part of France, said it could not approve this.
The main pillar of their argument remained that after three self-determination referendums held between 2018 and 2021, a majority of voters had rejected independence (even though the last referendum, in December 2021, was massively boycotted by the pro-independence camp because of the covid-19 pandemic).
The anti-independence block had repeatedly stated that they would not accept any suggestion that New Caledonia could endorse a status bringing it closer to independence.
New Caledonia’s pro-France MP at the French National Assembly, Nicolas Metzdorf, told local media at this stage, his camp was de facto in opposition to Valls, “but not with the pro-independence camp”.
Metzdorf said a number of issues could very well be settled by talking to the pro-independence camp.
Electoral roll issue sensitive This included the very sensitive issue of New Caledonia’s electoral roll, and conditions of eligibility at the next provincial elections.
🔴 Mesures administratives 🔴
À l’approche de la date d’anniversaire du début des émeutes de 2024, le Haut-commissaire, en lien avec les élus et responsables du monde économique, annonce les mesures suivante du 12 au 15 mai 2025 :
— Haut-commissariat en Nouvelle-Calédonie 🇫🇷 (@HC98800) May 10, 2025
Direct contacts with Macron Both Metzdorf and Backès also said during interviews with local media that in the midst of their “conclave” negotiations, they had had contacts as high as French President Emmanuel Macron, asking him whether he was aware of the “sovereignty with France” plan and if he endorsed it.
Another pro-France leader, Virginie Ruffenach (Le Rassemblement-Les Républicains), also confirmed she had similar exchanges, through her party Les Républicains, with French Minister of Home Affairs Bruno Retailleau, from the same right-wing party.
As Minister of Home Affairs, Retailleau would have to be involved later in the New Caledonian issue.
Divided reactions Since minister Valls’s departure, reactions were still flowing at the weekend from across New Caledonia’s political chessboard.
“We have to admit frankly that no agreement was struck”, Valls said last week during a media conference.
“Maybe the minds were not mature yet.”
But he said France would now appoint a “follow up committee” to keep working on the “positive points” already identified between all parties.
During numerous press conferences and interviews, anti-independence leaders have consistently maintained that the draft compromise put to them by Minister Valls during the latest round of negotiations last week, was not acceptable.
They said this was because it contained several elements of “independence-association”, including the transfer of key powers from Paris to Nouméa, a project of “dual citizenship” and possibly a seat at the United Nations.
“In proposing this solution, minister [Valls] was biased and blocked the negotiations. So he has prevented the advent of an agreement”, pro-France Les Loyalistes and Southern Province President leader Sonia Backès told public broadcaster NC la 1ère on Sunday.
“For us, an independence association was out of the question because the majority of [New] Caledonians voted three time against independence,” she said.
More provincial power plan Instead, the Le Rassemblement-LR and Les Loyalistes bloc were advocating a project that would provide more powers to each of the three provinces, including in terms of tax revenue collection.
The project, often described as a de facto partition, however, was not retained in the latest phases of the negotiations, because it contravened France’s constitutional principle of a united and indivisible nation.
“But no agreement does not mean chaos”, Backès said.
On the contrary, she believes that by not agreeing to the French minister’s deal plan, her camp had “averted disaster for New Caledonia”.
“Tomorrow, there will be another minister . . . and another project”, she said, implicitly betting on Valls’s departure.
On the pro-independence front, a moderate “UNI” (National Union For Independence) said a in a statement even though negotiations did not eventuate into a comprehensive agreement, the French State’s commitment and method had allowed to offer “clear and transparent terms of negotiations on New Caledonia’s institutional and political future”.
The main FLNKS group, mainly consisting of pro-independence Union Calédonienne (UC) party, also said that even though no agreement could be found as a result of the latest round of talks, the whole project could be regarded as “advances” and “one more step . . . not a failure” in New Caledonia’s decolonisation, as specified in the 1998 Nouméa Accord, FLNKS chief negotiator and UC party president Emmanuel Tjibaou said.
Deplored the empty outcome Other parties involved in the talks, including Eveil Océanien and Calédonie Ensemble, have deplored the empty outcome of talks last week.
They called it a “collective failure” and stressed that above all, reaching a consensual solution was the only way forward, and that the forthcoming elections and the preceding campaign could bear the risk of further radicalisation and potential violence.
In the economic and business sector, the conclave’s inconclusive outcome has brought more anxiety and uncertainty.
“What businesses need, now, is political stability, confidence. But without a political agreement that many of us were hoping for, the confidence and visibility is not there, there’s no investment”, New Caledonia’s MEDEF-NC (Business Leaders Union) vice-president Bertrand Courte told NC La Première.
As a result of the May 2024 riots, more than 600 businesses, mainly in Nouméa, were destroyed, causing the loss of more than 10,000 jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Caledonia GDP (gross domestic product) has shrunk by an estimated 10 to 15 percent, according to the latest figures produced by New Caledonia statistical institute ISEE.
What next? Crucial provincial elections As no agreement was found, the next course of action for New Caledonia was to hold provincial elections no later than 30 November 2025, under the existing system, which still restricts the list of persons eligible to vote at those local elections.
The makeup of the electoral roll for local polls was the very issue that triggered the May 2024 riots, as the French Parliament, at the time, had endorsed a Constitutional amendment to push through opening the list.
At the time, the pro-independence camp argued the changes to eligibility conditions would eventually “dilute” their votes and make indigenous Kanaks a minority in their own country.
The Constitutional bill was abandoned after the May 2024 rots.
The sensitive issue remains part of the comprehensive pact that Valls had been working on for the past four months.
The provincial elections are crucial in that they also determine the proportional makeup of New Caledonia’s Congress and its government and president.
The provincial elections, initially scheduled to take place in May 2024, and later in December 2024, and finally no later than 30 November 2025, were already postponed twice.
Even if the provincial elections are held later this year (under the current “frozen” rules), the anti-independence camp has already announced it would contest its result.
According to the anti-independence camp, the current restrictions on New Caledonia’s electoral roll contradict democratic principles and have to be “unfrozen” and opened up to any citizen residing for more than 10 uninterrupted years.
The present electoral roll is “frozen”, which means it only allows citizens who have have been livingin New Caledonia before November 1998 to cast their vote at local elections.
The case could be brought to the French Constitutional Council, or even higher, to a European or international level, said pro-France politicians.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Police have made several arrests and impounded vehicles following a gang tangi in Gisborne, attended by up to 400 gang members and associates.
The significant operation saw local Police supported by staff from neighbouring Districts including the Police Eagle helicopter, Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk said.
“Our focus today was the safety of the Gisborne community and those attending the tangi. In the lead up to today’s event, Police have been engaging with the family of the deceased, and gang leaders, who have passed on the message that we would be highly visible and enforcing the law.
“It’s disappointing to see some people choosing to break the law, but that number is small compared to how many people were attending the tangi. A big part of that can be put down to the engagement we’ve had with gang leaders and the responsibility that they took for regulating the behaviour of their members.”
At least four individuals were arrested or summonsed for public display of gang insignia and will appear in court in the coming days.
One motorbike rider failed to stop twice for Police following a sustained loss of traction. The bike was recovered and has been impounded for six months. Enquiries are ongoing to identify the rider.
Another three vehicles have been impounded for 28 days, two for dangerous driving, and one for driving while suspended.
Several people were also seen leaning out of the windows of vehicles. Police are aware of their identities and will be following up with them.
“While the tangi may have finished, our work to enforce the law has not.
“Additional Police will be working through the night across Gisborne, carrying out reassurance patrols in the community and monitoring driving behaviour on our roads,” Inspector Kirk said.
Police encourage anyone who witnessed illegal or intimidating behaviour around the tangi to make a report online or call 105. Please reference the file number 250511/1622.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Electricity and gas to be included in the monthly selected price indexes–12 May 2025 –Stats NZ will begin publishing indexes for electricity and gas as part of the monthly selected price indexes (SPI).
The April 2025 SPI, scheduled for release on 15 May 2025, will be the first to include the indexes, which will be part of the housing and household utilities group.
General manager and macroeconomic spokesperson Jason Attewell said this is the next step in Stats NZ’s continued commitment to improving and modernising the economic data it produces.
“The cost of electricity and gas prices are important to New Zealanders, especially as we head into winter. Adding these components to our monthly release now will provide decision makers and the public more timely information about energy costs,” Attewell said.
Ready-mixed concrete: March 2025 quarter–12 May 2025 –Ready-mixed concrete statistics provide an indicator of construction activity.
Key facts
In the March 2025 quarter, the actual volume of ready-mixed concrete produced was 854,509 cubic metres, down 1.5 percent compared with the March 2024 quarter.
In the year ended March 2025, 3.8 million cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete was produced, down 5.4 percent compared with the year ended March 2024.
In seasonally adjusted terms, the volume of ready-mixed concrete rose 1.4 percent in the March 2025 quarter, following a 4.6 percent fall in the December 2024 quarter.
Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines
In a once weed-ridden and forgotten corner of Māngere, something remarkable is flourishing. On the unused land of a former Kāinga Ora housing site, the Māngere Community Enviro Hub is now sprouting with fresh produce to feed the community.
The hub, on the corner of Elmdon St and Watchfield Close, often echoes with the chatter of school kids gathered around the raised beds learning about growing kai, and on special occasions, the smoke from the hāngī pit signals a community gathering. At the Auckland Council-funded Māngere Community Enviro Hub, the community isn’t just watching things grow – they’re growing together.
1. Growing kai for the community
In just one year, the Kāinga Ora land leased to community development organisation I AM Māngere has gone from bare earth to a thriving community garden. The driving force of this transformation is software developer turned horticulturist Rata Taiwhanga, from the Etū Rākau Charitable Trust.
In the māra kai (food garden), several garden beds are growing seasonal kai. The beds are designed in a tiered pyramid shape to create airflow. There’s also a section dedicated to Pacific and international produce such as taro, pawpaw and bananas.
Even in cooler weather, the garden is thriving with rainbow silverbeet and winter greens. There’s a garden bed set aside for locals who can use the garden to grow vegetables for their whānau. Other produce is sold at markets for an affordable price.
The pyramid design of the garden beds at Māngere Community Enviro Hub is designed to create airflow around the whenua (land).
Auckland Council has supported the Māngere Community Enviro Hub through the Climate Grant, the Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund and support through the Recovery Office. Installing a greenhouse is the next big project on the horizon which will allow the garden to extend the growing season on some crops – part of a bigger project around sustainability and climate resilience.
“It is important for Auckland Council to support Etū Rākau and the Māngere Enviro Hub,” says Frances Hayton, Low Carbon Specialist for the Council.
“Māngere is one of the three priority communities identified as needing support to be able to lead their own recovery following the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and adapt to the changing environment.
“The Māngere Enviro Hub sits alongside other Council programmes that aim to build on the understanding within the Māngere community of a changing climate to future hazards such as floods, drought, cyclones and rising sea levels.”
2. Composting waste and creating a circular economy
Council funding has helped provide carbon cycle composting bins for the site. Each bin can process 750kg of food waste a week, and the compost produced is used to replenish the garden. The composting system is part of the Enviro Hub’s circular economy and the group charges local businesses, such as cafes, $30 a week to collect their food scraps. The green waste is then used to grow microgreens, which are sold back to the cafe.
Local student Jackson has learnt how to compost Māngere Community Enviro Hub’s carbon cycle composting bins. The Council-funded bins have the capacity to compost 750kg of food scraps a week.
Another local business supplies the Enviro Hub with mulch and brown vegetation for the garden. If the compost bins can generate excess compost, Rata hopes to sell bags at local markets.
“The idea is to create a micro store that’s accessible for the local community as there’s no hardware store or plant store in Māngere,” says Rata. “By charging a small fee for things like plants, food or compost, it covers costs but it also shows there’s a value to what we’re creating.”
3. Growing great minds
The Enviro Hub works with several schools – including Māngere College, which helped build the foundations of the garden – and community groups, such as Ngāti Tamaoho, to run workshops and teach tamariki and rangitahi (children and teenagers) sustainable living skills like how to grow their own kai. From these practical skills and new-found knowledge of the environment comes personal growth, says Rata.
“Some of these kids have a 501 gang background and what we’re trying to do here is to equip them for life,” says Rata. “I see a lot of rangatahi and they’re afraid of being Māori. They think they need to speak the reo (language) to understand the history and know their whakapapa to be Māori.
“One thing I say to these kids is if you want to understand your culture, understand your first mother, Papatūānuku (Mother Earth). Once you learn how to look after the garden and the planet and all that, everything else will just come naturally.”
4. Replenishing the whenua (land)
In his workshops, Rata teaches his students how to rejuvenate the soil in the garden with compost and organic matter which brings microorganisms to the soil. He also talks to his students about carbon sequestration (the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the soil) and mycelium in the soil (the rootlike network of fungus) – the Enviro Hub even has a mushroom hut!
“The way I explain the soil is like a waka,” Rata explains. “When some people first see a waka they think the ingenuity is in the sail, but it’s actually underneath the boat which creates air bubbles that make the boat go fast – it’s the same with soil and the garden.”
Rata also leads the community on litter clean-up days and the restoration of Te Ararata Creek. This Matariki, the Enviro Hub plans to plant 500 native trees on the waterway.
5. Feeding the community
As well as feeding locals with fresh produce, Rata and the Enviro Hub team have worked together with the TūpunaMaungaAuthority to create community hāngī days. Earlier this year, the Māngere Community Enviro Hub and TePaneoMataoho/TeAraPueru/Māngere Mountain collaborated to feed the community with delicious hāngī.
The hāngī pit at Māngere Community Enviro Hub is used for special events. The carbon left over from the feast is used to replenish the soil.
The food was prepped by a kapa haka group from Māngere College and was cooked by Māori chef Kia Kanuta. The meat served was halal to cater to Māngere’s growing Muslim community.
“For some that attended it was their first experience of hāngī and that part of Māori culture. It was important to us to make it inclusive for everyone,” says Rata. “As humans, food is our first language and it’s a common shared experience for every culture. The good thing about hāngī is it sweetens the soil and we can use the carbon back in the garden – it’s all cyclical.”
Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager will consider formally designating wapiti deer as a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) in Fiordland National Park, which could cover more than 190,000 hectares. It is the second HOSI to be considered this year, following launch of the sika deer HOSI process in April.
“The wapiti HOSI represent an opportunity for economic growth in regional New Zealand. Better, healthier deer herds provide opportunities for domestic and international visitors to hunt the only free-range wapiti herd outside of North America,” Mr Meager says.
“The wapiti HOSI builds on existing community efforts of the hunter-led Fiordland Wapiti Foundation to manage the deer population for hunting and conservation purposes. The Foundation have been successfully managing populations in the Fiordland National Park for years, and this HOSI will give certainty and support to continue their work for years to come.
“Not only do they undertake regular culling and manage the popular wapiti ballot, they maintain tracks and huts, and carry out thousands of hours of trapping to better protect vulnerable native species like whio/blue duck. A successful HOSI will improve herd and trophy health, better manage the impact of valued and other introduced species and continue to improve conservation outcomes such as improved biodiversity and protection for native flora and fauna.”
The next phase will involve targeted engagement with iwi/hapū and stakeholders – including Forest and Bird, the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Game Animal Council, the Conservation Authority, relevant regional councils, and conservation boards.
The Department of Conservation will publicly notify a draft herd management plan after engagement with key parties is complete. This is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2025.
To support the wapiti HOSI, the Government will also introduce a bill to Parliament to clarify the designation of HOSI in national parks, through a small amendment to the Game Animal Council Act 2013. The bill will clarify that HOSI can be established in national parks as was originally intended and clarify the existing legislation.
“The legislation for HOSI needs to be clear and unambiguous,” Mr Meager says.
“The National Parks Act’s requirement to ‘exterminate’ introduced animals as far as possible is clearly at odds with the purpose of designating a HOSI, which is to manage game animals for hunting and conservation outcomes.
“The GAC Act always intended for HOSI to be allowed in national parks, and by introducing this bill, we aim to provide clarity for all involved. The legislation will retain the requirements for HOSI to be consistent with New Zealand’s wider conservation framework, including the preservation of indigenous habitats and natural features.”
“The public will have the opportunity to submit on the bill at the select committee stage and I look forward to hearing more about how we can improve conservation outcomes through hunting.”
The Government is turbocharging student achievement in maths by ensuring extra help is available at every stage of primary and intermediate schooling, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Proficiency in maths is such an important foundation of success in life. Every child deserves the opportunity to be confident and capable in maths so they can reach their potential. Budget 2025 invests nearly $100 million over four years so children needing extra help with maths gets the early intervention and targeted support they need to succeed,” she says. “Four million dollars of that investment is going into the development and implementation of a new Maths Check for lower primary students. “From next year, every child will have their maths ability checked in their first two years of schooling. The check will identify students who would benefit from additional support, early on in their schooling journey. Professional development and specialist support will be available to teachers to ensure the checks are used effectively. “The first two years of school are critical for developing foundational maths skills. Support in that time can transform a child’s learning journey. We’ve already successfully introduced this in literacy through the Phonics Check,” Ms Stanford says. “$56 million of the investment will fund the equivalent of 143 new full-time maths intervention teachers to provide targeted support to children in years 0-6 who are not achieving at curriculum level. This provides the same kind of additional staffing support as structured literacy approaches. “This investment means more students will get the expert support they need, when they need it,” Ms Stanford says. “The remaining $40 million will fund targeted, small-group maths tutoring for up to 34,000 year 7–8 students each year from Term 1 2026. This programme will build on the current pilot to provide tutoring to students who are not yet at curriculum level. “Ensuring students are prepared to enter secondary school with strong foundations in maths will support them to succeed in the co-requisite assessment, NCEA and life beyond school”. All of these initiatives will also be introduced in te reo Māori for students who are learning in a bilingual unit or kura Kaupapa so that students learning in te reo Māori have the same access to resources and support. Budget 2025 builds on Teaching the Basics Brilliantly and the Make it Count maths action plan to transform the teaching and learning of maths in New Zealand.
A clear and detailed, year-by-year and internationally comparable maths curriculum Approximately 830,000 maths books and resources distributed to schools Around 980 schools and over 15,000 teachers involved in maths professional learning and development 3,000 students already involved in a Year 7-8 maths trial to accelerate learning
“We want 80 per cent of Year 8 students achieving at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing, and maths by 2030. This system-wide boost will ensure Kiwi kids have the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to reach their full potential,” Ms Stanford says.
Police investigating a fatal collision between a shared cycle and a car in Martinborough on Thursday 13 February 2025 have concluded their enquiries into the crash.
One person was killed in the collision. Three other people, also on the bike, suffered serious injuries.
Police can confirm no one will be charged as the alleged offender has died (unrelated to the crash).
The families of those involved in the crash have been notified.
Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines
This update is our first in a series covering what’s been done and what’s to come in Auckland Council’s efforts to maintain and renew our extensive network of regional park tracks.
In the two years since the Auckland storms impacted 79 regional park tracks, Auckland Council rangers, engineers and contractors have made strong and steady progress to repair damage in all the hardest hit areas. Most tracks are safe once again for visitors to enjoy.
To the west, the landscape in the Waitākere Ranges and Muriwai regional parks was scarred with slips, tree and track damage. Bridges were washed away and ground stability issues presented a challenging list of complex and costly repair jobs.
Only a handful of tracks in West Auckland escaped unscathed (11 of the 60 forest and coastal walks that were open when the storms hit), requiring 49 tracks to close due to serious safety concerns.
Thanks to the council’s continued recovery effort, the council’s western rangers have reopened 39 tracks in a relatively short timeframe and another five are partially open to visitors again.
In the south, all 25 regional park tracks damaged when the storms swept through have now been restored and re-opened to visitors.
To the north, a handful of tracks closed as a result of storm damage but have now reopened, providing a total network of 54 tracks around northern regional parks to enjoy.
The few remaining tracks in West Auckland that are still closed because of storm damage present the most challenging issues due to the scale and extent of damage that occurred, as detailed in the checklist below.
Regional Parks Manager Scott De Silva says ongoing geotechnical investigation is needed at most of these sites to see whether significant, costly repair work is the best course of action.
“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to ensure we manage track restoration in the best way possible, to increase resilience and keep the public safe,” says Scott.
“Tracks that remain closed are not safe – it is important that people stay off them. We have so many other options to choose from that you won’t run out of choices.”
Regional Parks continue to attract high visitor numbers, drawing more than 1 million people during January 2025.
Kauri dieback remains an ongoing concern in our native forests and continues to require the careful management of tracks where there is a risk of this disease being spread. The council is working with Tiakina Kauri, iwi, local boards and interested communities to effectively manage the impacts of kauri dieback in multiple locations, most notably in the Waitākere Ranges and Hūnua Ranges regional parks.
In some areas, this calls for the need to minimise foot traffic to protect the environment by keeping tracks closed. In other areas, this will require more significant upgrades to allow people to return.
The Governing Body will consider Auckland’s Regional Parks track programme and associated funding in July 2025. Approval of the programme will enable council staff to undertake the work programme for 2025/26.
Track checklist – as of May 2025
More information on the status of Auckland’s regional park tracks is available via this PDF [69.8KB].
Planning to visit an Auckland regional park?
Check our map of walking tracks before leaving home, to see which tracks are open.
Stay safe and keep our forests healthy. Closed tracks are unsafe or managing a biosecurity risk – please follow the instructions on signage and choose a track that is clearly marked as open.
Be vigilant about using kauri dieback stations. Simple actions like cleaning footwear and gear before and after visiting will help us to continue to protect kauri.
Police moved swiftly to keep motorists in Counties Manukau safe yesterday by activating a plan co-ordinating road patrols and the Eagle helicopter.
A dirt bike rider who allegedly ignored a warning about dangerous driving was one of two people later arrested.
Police stopped and spoke to the rider in Manurewa at around 9.30am.
“The dirt bike rider was allegedly driving dangerously into oncoming traffic and doing wheelies on the roadway,” Inspector Warrick Adkin, Counties Manukau Central Area Prevention Manager says.
“The officer asked the rider to stop his behaviour and leave the area as he was putting other drivers at risk.”
The rider was allegedly undeterred by the warning and left the scene at speed riding into oncoming traffic.
Eagle tracked the rider to an address in Takanini.
“Officers then stopped a vehicle attempting to leave the address and the man was arrested,” Inspector Adkin says.
A woman at the wheel of the car was also arrested for displaying Mongrel Mob insignia inside the car.
“Eagle’s involvement enabled Police patrols to follow at a safe distance so lights and sirens were not needed,” Inspector Adkin says.
“The incident was resolved without harm to any members of the public.”
The 32-year-old man has been charged with failing to stop, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He will appear in Manukau District Court on 15 May.
A 34-year-year-old woman is facing charges of obstruction and prohibited display of gang insignia in a public place. She will appear in Manukau District Court on 15 May.
Labour’s Peeni Henare will pick up the foreign affairs portfolio, following David Parker’s departure from Parliament.
He retains his other portfolios of defence, economic development, Māori-Crown relations: Te Arawhiti and associate health.
Lawyer and human rights advocate Vanushi Walters returns to Parliament this week and will pick up shadow Attorney-General and associate foreign affairs.
“I am delighted to have Vanushi Walters returning to Parliament,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.
“She, Peeni Henare and Phil Twyford will make a formidable team in the important portfolio of foreign affairs.
“New Zealand has a proud history of independent foreign policy, but Christopher Luxon’s Government is not standing up for New Zealand in a more and more divisive and unstable world.
“My expectations of this team will be to ensure we are ready to step back into Government in 2026. That we have clear, principled positions that make sense to New Zealanders.
“David Parker provided a fantastic platform for Labour to build on in this space. His experience and passion will be missed, and I wish him all the best as he embarks on life after politics,” Chris Hipkins said.
Police have this morning arrested a patched Mongrel Mob member in relation to an arson at a Māngere Bridge funeral home last month.
Investigations had been underway following a fire at a funeral home on Kirkbride Road at about 11.50pm on 27 April.
The building sustained minor damage and there were no injuries reported as a result, however Police have been working hard to identify and located those responsible.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward, Counties Manukau CIB, says officers executed four search warrants at addresses connected to the Mongrel Mob across South Auckland.
“As a result of these search warrants we have arrested a patched member who has been charged with arson (endangering life).
“Police also located a pump action shotgun and ammunition at the one of the addresses.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Hayward says two other patched gang members present at the address were also arrested for breaching bail and another in relation to an unrelated serious assault.
“What was of real concern was that there were children present at the address the firearm was located at.
“However, overall this is a pleasing outcome in that we have been able to catch up with the alleged offender and take another firearm out of circulation in the community.”
A 30-year-old man will appear in Manukau District Court tomorrow charged with the arson.
Another man, aged 34, has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and will appear in Manukau District Court tomorrow.
Northland Police have launched a homicide enquiry following the death of a man in Parakao on 9 May.
Ambulance staff located the body of the 55-year-old man just before 4pm at a rural property off Mangakahia Road (State Highway 15).
Detective Senior Sergeant Michelle Harris, from Whangārei CIB, says enquiries are underway with a post mortem being completed today.
Police expect to release further information about the victim once these processes are complete.
The Operation Cossar enquiry team is appealing for the public with information to come forward in relation to a vehicle and person seen in the area.
“We are particularly seeking information and sightings in the area between 2pm and 8pm on Friday 9 May,” she says.
Those are:
– Sightings of a 1999 blue and silver Mitsubishi L200 ute – Reports of a man seen walking along SH14 that afternoon and evening
Detective Senior Sergeant Harris says Police are also seeking any CCTV along Mangakahia Road, Otaika Valley Road and State Highway 14 towards Whangārei.
Police would particularly like any dashcam footage on the same route between 2-8pm.
“We understand this is an unsettling time for the community and we are working hard to establish what has happened,” Detective Senior Sergeant Harris says.
Anyone with information is asked to make a report online, or by calling 105.
Please quote the reference number 250509/6749.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: Police investigating after shots fired at Hastings house
Date: 12 May 2025
DOC Hauraki Biodiversity Ranger Rachel Langman says a farmer at Pipiroa, near Thames, discovered the injured bird on his property on Wednesday 7 May. The farmer contacted DOC and suggested the bird had been shot -which was confirmed by a subsequent veterinary assessment.
The bird was euthanised on Friday, 9 May, based on veterinary advice. X-rays revealed a shattered wing joint where shotgun pellets were found.
“The bird was quite underweight so we believe it may have been injured for several days before it was found,” Rachel says.
“This beautiful and defenceless animal has suffered for some time after it was shot.”
Royal spoonbills are protected under the Wildlife Act, and hunting or killing a protected species can result in a fine of up to $100,000 or two years in prison.
Anyone who knows about the incident is urged to call 0800 DOC HOT, or email wildlifecrime@doc.govt.nz, and quote case number CLE-9126.
Fish & Game Auckland/Waikato Chief Executive David Klee says shooting protected birds – including this incident – is unacceptable.
“Hunters must clearly identify their target and there is no excuse for shooting a royal spoonbill, which bears no resemblance to waterfowl species that can be legally hunted,” he says.
“Our Code of Conduct states licence holders must ensure they can accurately identify and distinguish game birds from protected species. We have detailed guides in our regulation handbook of the species you can and can’t target.”
He echoed the call for people to report any information about this incident – or any others in which hunters shoot protected species.
“All hunters should follow the rules. We have very few incidents like this, but it can bring everyone in the hunting community into disrepute,” David says.
“Law-abiding hunters – it’s in your interest to report these few rule-breakers.”
Fish & Game compliance officers have been working alongside DOC staff since the opening of the duck hunting season to ensure hunters are following widely publicised rules for their sport. A Fish & Game compliance team is on call at weekends and will investigate any incidents.
Warranted Fish & Game officers and Rangers perform thousands of checks across the duck hunting season. Incidents of this nature are very rare, and anyone with information is encouraged to pass it on to Fish & Game or DOC so the agencies can investigate.
Royal spoonbills are a mobile species found in increasing numbers around New Zealand, and are identifiable through their unique bill, long black legs and white plumage. They feed by distinctively swishing their bill from side to side, while wading through shallow water.
Source: Police investigating after shots fired at Hastings house
Surprise, surprise, the Great Walks booking opening is the biggest event in our booking calendar, with thousands of people from all around the world logging in on each opening day to nab spaces for Great Walks huts and campsites, high demand lodges, sole occupancy and popular campsites. – How to book and what’s new?
📷: Trampers and Mount Balloon, Mackinnon Pass – Strother, John T
To recap, all DOC facilities for the 2025/26 Great Walk season bookings open between 13 May and 4 June 2025. The booking system opens at 9:30 AM, each opening morning. You need to create an account and have a login ready, if you want to book for this season (make sure you do this ahead of time).
This year, we’ve introduced a new booking system (details below) and since announcing how this new booking system works, we’ve had loads of questions come through to us asking for more clarity and details.
❓Where do I book? ❓What is this booking lobby you mentioned? ❓How does this queueing process work? ❓If I login in early, do I get closer to the front of the queue? ❓Is this system fair? ❓Can the system cope with the demand this year?
👇 All these answers and more below. 👇
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Routeburn Flats seen from Routeburn Track within Mt Aspiring National Park on New Zealand’s South Island.
To read about the great places we have been go to www.panafoot.com
📷; Routeburn Flats seen from Routeburn Track Strother, John T
The booking system has been improved with a new industry-leading lobby system, modelled after the major concert-booking companies. it means that not only will this system and process be somewhat familiar, but it should also be able to handle large increases of traffic on opening days and run smoothly for all users.
What does this mean for me and how does it work?
Users jumping on the booking system on opening morning will be redirected to a waiting lobby (elevator music may or may not be a part of this experience) and when bookings open at 9:30am, users in the lobby will be transferred to a queue and released into the booking system in a controlled manner. At 9:30 all users already in the lobby will be randomly assigned a place in the queue, meaning there’s no advantage to arriving any earlier to the lobby and that the system is fair and randomised.
We highly recommend you log in around 9-9:15, sit back with your morning cuppa and wait until you’re processed through. Anyone logging in after 9:30am will be added to the back of the queue.
Even though this new system should be comfortable handling higher volumes of traffic and process bookings quicker, please be patient and mindful that even though it may feel a little ride or die to get your spot, it isn’t, and that you’re not the only one trying to book at the same time. Try going into this year’s bookings with flexible dates or have multiple date options agreed upon with your group before attempting to book.
📷: Heaphy Hut – Liz Carlson
Also, as reassurance, on booking opening days our team doesn’t pack up and go on vacay -job done, we’ll be keeping an eye on things and adjusting the queue flow as we go, with the aim being to make sure there’s no hiccups in the system and that things run quickly and as smoothly as possible.
Here’s another tip for you – summer holidays are most people’s first pick, so for the best chance of getting a spot at high demand places, consider whether your trip can happen outside those peak weeks – especially for the Milford Track (there’s a good chance of rain regardless of whether you go in January or April!)
Here’s what we recommend people should do to be fully prepared when bookings open for your experience of choice:
Create an account on the DOC booking system well in advance, if you don’t already have one.
Test out your login details before the opening day (one of the main reasons people miss out on opening days is forgetting their password!).
Read up on the DOC website for the place you’re trying to book – some have rules and restrictions that are important to know before you book, and it’s good to double-check the opening dates.
Familiarise yourself with the booking system – search for availability, even test out making a booking (just empty your cart at the end, rather than paying).
Finally – get online on the opening day at around 9:15 a.m., and we’ll see you in the lobby!
Finally – get online on the opening day at around 9:15 a.m., and we’ll see you in the lobby!
📷: Mountain bikers Pike29 Memorial Track – Owen Kilgour
Key Booking Opening Dates
Get ready for Great Walks bookings to open!
The Great Walks bookings opening dates are staggered between 13th – 28th May
for the 2025/2026 season.
Great Walks can book out quick so make sure to mark these key dates and times in your calendar!
Great Walk accommodation bookings
15th May, 9:30am – Heaphy Track
15th May, 9:30am – Kepler Track
15th May, 9:30am – Rakiura Track
15th May, 9:30am – Hump Ridge
22nd May, 9:30am – Whanganui Journey
22nd May, 9:30am – Routeburn Track
22nd May, 9:30am – Tongariro Northern Circuit
27th May, 9:30am – Lake Waikaremoana Track
27th May, 9:30am – Abel Tasman Coast Track
27th May, 9:30am – Paparoa Track
28th May, 9:30am – Milford Track
All other accommodation bookings
13th May, 9:30am – Backcountry huts
13th May, 9:30am – lodges,
13th May, 9:30am – sole occupancy facilities
20th May, 9:30am – Conservation campsites, except Tōtaranui, Momorangi, Anaura Bay campsites
Police Minister Mark Mitchell today announced the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jevon McSkimming, has resigned.
Mr McSkimming has been on suspension since last December. Deputy Commissioners of Police are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Mr Mitchell said Mr McSkimming resigned today, with immediate effect, before he could be dismissed.
“I can confirm a process had been underway for the Prime Minister to consider recommending the Governor-General immediately remove the Deputy Commissioner of Police from office,” says Mr Mitchell.
“I instructed the Public Service Commission to commence the process to remove Mr McSkimming from office after allegations of a very serious nature recently came to light, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended.
“The Policing Act is very clear: A Deputy Commissioner of Police must be a ‘fit and proper’ person. They are rightly held to the highest standards of conduct and this new information called into serious question Mr McSkimming’s fitness for office.
“When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign. Mr McSkimming’s resignation has confirmed my view that his continuation in the role was untenable.
“Police advise that their investigations into Mr McSkimming will continue, notwithstanding his resignation.
“As the latest information remains subject to ongoing Police investigation, I am unable to provide further comment at this time.”
Tireless work by Invercargill Police has resulted in further arrests for burglaries and robberies early last Monday morning.
The two aggravated robberies, two burglaries and an attempted burglary at commercial premises happened between 1.50am and 4.30am on 5 May.Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported.
A 15-year-old male was arrested last week in relation to a number of the incidents including one of the aggravated robberies. He has appeared in the Invercargill Youth Court and has been remanded in custody.
A 35-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man have been jointly charged with the second aggravated robbery after search warrants were executed in Invercargill city. Both are currently remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
Police are continuing to investigate last Monday morning’s incidents and are still seeking assistance from members of the public in regards to the offending.
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual, Karen Chhour, has launched a one-stop-shop directory for family violence training that will aide support workers to access training that helps them safely recognise and care for people and families affected by family violence. “The family violence workforce are a deeply caring and thoughtful group who provide support to people and families during the most challenging times of their lives. “Knowledge around how to best support these people continues to grow, and this directory will allow these frontline heroes to access the latest best practice guidance and find specific training that aligns with the Family Violence Capability Frameworks,” said Mrs Chhour. The Family Violence Entry to Expert Capability Framework outlines the capabilities needed to respond safely and effectively to family violence for different roles and responsibilities. It sets out the expected capabilities of workers and practitioners, supporting them to continuously learn and increase their capability through Essential, Entry, Enhanced, and Expert levels. “The message from victim survivors has been clear, we need to support this vital workforce by ensuring they are able to support them in ways that enable them to get to safety, stay safe, and start healing. The training directory is another step in our efforts to build an effective system and strengthen the capabilities of those working in it. It’s just one way we are helping the helpers,” concluded Karen Chhour.
