Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

Thousands of Kiwis stayed connected to health services over the holiday period thanks to the Government’s new Online GP Care service, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“During the Christmas and New Year period many New Zealanders are on holiday in different parts of the country and away from their regular GP. Online GP Care ensures they can still get timely medical advice and treatment wherever they are,” Mr Brown says.

Over the December to mid-January holiday period, 11,800 online GP consultations were delivered to around 11,000 people.

Since launching in May 2025, the service has delivered over 60,600 online GP consultations to nearly 50,000 people, showing strong and sustained demand for flexible healthcare across the country:

• More than 85 per cent of consultations resulted in treatment being provided
• Nearly 72 per cent of users booked because they couldn’t get a timely in-person appointment. Other reasons included rural location, work and family commitments, and avoiding exposure to infectious illness
• Use was highest among people aged 30-49 years
• 59.5 per cent of users were women and 40.2 per cent were men
• Māori made up 14.2 per cent of users, Pacific Peoples 6.9 per cent, and Asian communities 10.1 per cent

“The service is reaching people in both urban and rural communities across the North and South Islands,” Mr Brown says.

To make access even easier, a new Next Available Appointment feature allows people to see the earliest appointment across all online GP providers and compare costs based on age and Community Services Card status.

The feature includes direct booking links and is an early step ahead of a more comprehensive booking system planned for mid-2026.

Health New Zealand is also exploring how Online GP Care can be used in more targeted ways, including clinician-to-clinician support in rest homes, community pharmacies, urgent care pathways, and other high-need services.

“Our focus is on ensuring New Zealanders can access healthcare when they need it. Online GP Care is already supporting thousands of people, and it is an important part of our plan to deliver a more accessible and responsive health system that puts patients at the centre,” Mr Brown says.

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  26 February 2026

Work to repair the Serpentine Church, in a remote part of Central Otago, has begun after it was trashed in mid-February.

DOC Central Otago Operations Manager Charlie Sklenar says windows were smashed, artefacts damaged and thrown around, and rubbish left all through the church.

“Serpentine Church is the last intact building in the remote Serpentine Reserve mining area and has stood strong for more than 150 years.

“Most of the Serpentine Reserve’s rich heritage is no longer visible, hidden beneath the tussock, so buildings like this present a tangible connection the region’s history. To have wilful damage inflicted upon it like this is upsetting.”

DOC staff have undertaken initial assessment of the site and completed urgent repairs to secure the site from further damage.

“Our first priority has been to make the building watertight, so there’s no further damage to the interior. Work to restore it fully will take time, and consideration to heritage requirements will be front of mind.”

Heritage repair work takes time and skill, and it’s not as simple as just replacing a window, Charlie says.

“We will draw on experienced people to help complete this work in a way that honours the original building, although every replacement takes the site further from its original material. It’s really disappointing a heritage site that’s stood all these years can have its integrity chipped away by senseless vandalism.”

Although the vandalism is disappointing, the response from the community has been heartening, says Charlie.

“This neighbouring communities take pride over these heritage sites as important parts of their local stories. Once the damage became known, we had people offering to get stuck in and help with repairs. Heritage restoration is very particular work, so we’ll engage qualified specialists for this mahi but we’re grateful for the care shown by the community.

“The best thing people can do is continue to advocate for their local historic sites. Visit them, enjoy them, and take the time to learn about what makes them so special. If you see something out of place, report it and encourage others to always be naturing responsibly.”

Background

Serpentine Reserve is a spectacular and well-preserved mining area on the Rough Ridge mountains.

An all-day walk or mountain bike ride, this significant and isolated scenic reserve has a feeling of remoteness. It shows many of the gold extraction technologies of the 19th century: a stamper battery, water wheel and church.

More than 1,000 m above sea level, the Serpentine Church was the most elevated in New Zealand when it opened in 1873. Today it is the only remnant of a once-bustling village. Much of the town’s rich heritage is hidden beneath the tussock: tailings, waterraces, dams, sod pits and the remains of buildings.

Contact

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is calling out this Government’s record on child poverty following the release of the latest child poverty statistics.  

“It’s clear this Government has done nothing to reduce child poverty, choosing landlords and the wealthy over our tamariki,” says Green Party Co-leader and Child Poverty spokesperson, Marama Davidson.  

“Today’s figures show 1 in 7 children are living in material hardship. That means their households are struggling to afford their basics needs: food, clothing, heating and transport.  

“For Māori and pacific children, the numbers remain abysmal with 1in 4 tamariki Māori and nearly 1 in 3 Pasifika children living in material hardship.  

“Whānau across this country are doing everything they can for their tamariki. They shouldn’t have to fight this hard just to cover the basics. Every child in Aotearoa deserves a warm, dry home, a bed of their own, and a full belly. 

“Aotearoa has more than enough for every whānau to thrive. This isn’t a resource problem, it’s a political choice.” 

“These numbers are not just statistics. Behind every data point is a child going to school hungry, a family choosing between heating and eating, a pēpi growing up without the basics they need to thrive.   

“Instead of acting, this Government has watered down its child poverty reduction targets, slashed benefit increases, and ramped up punitive sanctions on families already doing it tough.   

“The data is clear: over the course of this Government’s term, there has been no meaningful improvement in child poverty.   

“Luxon has had no trouble finding billions in tax breaks for property investors. He’s made his choice, and it wasn’t our kids.  

“Aotearoa has more than enough for everyone to thrive. What we lack is a Government with the ambition and the heart to put our mokopuna first.   

“We can’t keep tinkering around the edges while a generation of tamariki is being set up to fail. Our mokopuna deserve nothing less,” says Marama Davidson. 

Source: NZCTU

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi president Sandra Grey is blaming the Government for new data released by Stats NZ today that shows child poverty continuing to be a stain on New Zealand.

“Working to reduce inequality for families should be the top priority for politicians. This Government was elected to reduce costs, but their policies are leading to increased poverty and material hardship,” said Grey.

“Child poverty continues to trend upwards. The data shows that one in eight children live in poverty before housing costs, one in six after housing costs. That means one in seven children living are living in material poverty. There has been little improvement in the data over the past year, and on all three core measures of poverty the data has got worse since 2023.

“The biggest worry should that 23,700 more children are living in material poverty since 2023, up 16%. That means that they are going without the absolute basics including food, clothing, and heating.

“Progress on reducing child poverty has gone backwards over the past two years and it’s no wonder given the Government is making the cost-of-living crisis worse. They have cut the minimum wage in real terms, kept benefits low, and increased costs for essentials including prescriptions and travel costs.

“Tackling child poverty should be a top priority of this Government, but instead they are focused on cutting services to fund tax cuts for landlords and big business,” said Grey.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police and the Ministry of Health are working together in response to growing concerns about the misuse of nitrous oxide, particularly when it is used by drivers. Nitrous oxide is also known by other names, including nangs, laughing gas, and nos.

Police is increasingly concerned by the growing number of incidents involving drivers inhaling nitrous oxide and putting themselves, their passengers, and other road users at risk.

Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing and District Support Tusha Penny says any substance that affects judgement, coordination, or consciousness can have deadly consequences when someone is behind the wheel.

“Police is concerned with the immediate danger this is posing on the road,” says Assistant Commissioner Penny.

“We are now seeing an increase in the use of nitrous oxide as a factor in a number of serious crashes, including some crashes where people have died.”

While investigations into individual crashes continue, the risks are clear and grave: inhaling nitrous oxide can rapidly cause dizziness, confusion, and blackouts.

“We appreciate where the public has called Police to report instances of people using nitrous oxide in vehicles. We have taken action in response to those calls, and they have helped prevent harm and likely saved lives.”

Police is also engaging with retailers and reminding them that the sale of nitrous oxide is illegal for recreational use under the Psychoactive Substances Act.

“We will be providing letters to retailers in areas where this is a known issue over the coming weeks to remind them of their obligations.”

Police will take a graduated response to the unlawful supply of nitrous oxide, with a focus on engagement, education and encouragement, alongside enforcement where appropriate.

“We will continue to work alongside our partner agencies, monitor the situation closely, and step up to enforcement if we need to,” Assistant Commissioner Penny says.

The Ministry of Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Joe Bourne says that reports from Police of nitrous oxide misuse linked with driving are a particular concern.

He says that nitrous oxide can cause significant harm when misused for recreational inhalation, and those harms are magnified when combined with driving.  Mixing nitrous oxide with alcohol or other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm. 

“Nitrous oxide may seem relatively harmless, but it can cause real damage. When it’s inhaled, the gas pushes oxygen out of your lungs and bloodstream, which can make you dizzy, cause you to black out, or even be life threatening in some cases,” says Dr Bourne. 

“It should go without saying, that dizzyness or blackouts while driving are extremely dangerous.”

Inhaling nitrous oxide can also have long-term effects.

“Separately we know that heavy, frequent, or chronic use can cause nerve damage, leading to, weakness, numbness, and long-term  problems with movement or coordination,” says Dr Bourne.

Dr Bourne says unfortunately health professionals are the ones who see the harms from drug misuse, and it’s important to raise awareness about them. 

He advises individuals to contact their health care provider if anyone has used these products and is concerned about their health.  The Ministry will work with Health New Zealand to raise awareness of the harms caused to physical and mental health by the recreational use of nitrous oxide.

If you’re concerned about your own drinking or drug taking, you can reach out to the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797, or text 8681.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a Parliamentary and business delegation to Latin America next week, highlighting the strategic importance of New Zealand’s ties with the region. 

 “This trip is a timely opportunity to strengthen our relationships in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay – and to identify areas we can work together to navigate an increasingly uncertain global environment,” Mr Peters says. 

 “Our Latin American partners are important to us and this visit will raise our commercial profile in the region and create opportunities for New Zealand businesses. The delegation will promote New Zealand’s reputation as a provider of innovative, high-quality products and services and help create new commercial linkages. Latin American markets offer exciting potential for New Zealand exporters.” 

 Mr Peters will be accompanied by a business delegation as well as a group of MPs from across Parliament: 

Nicole McKee, Minister for Courts and Associate Minister of Justice;
Tim van de Molen, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee;
Carmel Sepuloni, Deputy Leader of the Opposition; and
Damien O’Connor, Opposition Trade Spokesperson. 

The delegation will meet with senior government leaders and a range of parliamentary, business and education contacts.  

 On its way back to New Zealand, the delegation will undertake short programmes in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and French Polynesia. 

“The Pacific is central to New Zealand’s foreign policy approach. We are pleased to have visited all Pacific Islands Forum countries at least once during this Parliamentary term and are looking forward to returning to French Polynesia and to making connections in Rapa Nui.” 

 The delegation departs on Sunday 1 March and returns on Monday 9 March.