Source: New Zealand Police
Police are now in a position to release the name of the man who died several days after the two-vehicle crash on Taurikura Drive, Tauriko on 9 May.
He was 88-year-old, Robert William Norman MacGibbon.
Police extends our condolences to his family and friends during this time.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash on Rotowaro Road, Huntly on 24 July.
He was 28-year-old Kash McCuish, of Rongotaro.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can now release the name of the person who died following a crash in Te Aroha on 13 June.
He was 48-year-old Semisi He, of Waitoa.
Our thoughts remain with those close to him at this difficult time.
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can confirm one person has died following a single vehicle crash on State Highway 1, northbound near the Te Irirangi on ramp.
Emergency services were called around 7.50am after the vehicle veered off the motorway and collided with the left-hand barrier.
Sadly, a man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Serious Crash Unit attended and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
All lanes have now reopened.
ENDS.
Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 2, Maramarua is closed at the intersection with Maxwell Road following a crash.
The two-vehicle crash involving a car and a motorcycle was reported at around 11:35am.
One person has sustained serious injuries.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
Diversions are in place.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou. Kia ora mai tatou.
Good evening.
Thank you, Margaret, for your warm introduction, and thank you, for inviting me to join you today. Katrina, ko tēnei tatou mihi e tuku ora ki a koe. Ko tēnei te mihi, ko tēnei te mihi.
I’d like to welcome our overseas visitor, Dr Cathy Foley, who will speak later and to thank you for supporting New Zealand’s photonics and quantum sectors. I’d also like to extend congratulations on your appointment to the board of the new Future Magnetic and Materials Technologies Platform, hosted by the Robinson Research Institute.
I’d also like to acknowledge Professor Frédérique Vanholsbeeck, of the Dodd Walls Centre, for helping drive our photonics sector, and for your dedication to supporting our young researchers.
Frédérique wrote to me earlier this year on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Optical Society.
In her letter, she reminded me of the importance of New Zealand’s photonics industry, and how a strong science sector will provide economic benefits for all New Zealanders. A message this Government wholeheartedly shares, and I’m sure, resonates with everyone in this room.
Let’s place this where we are amongst our progress towards delivering the largest reform to New Zealand’s science and technology system in over 30 years. An important part of this work is a clear vision: that advanced technologies, like quantum, are critical drivers of New Zealand’s future growth and prosperity.
And let me be clear – this Government is not simply observing the global race in emerging technologies. We are committed to developing capability and capacity to lead in areas where we already have great strength.
Prioritising investment in fields like quantum, AI, advanced materials, and synthetic biology will help to secure our economic resilience, creating high-value jobs, and ensuring New Zealand remains a nation that doesn’t just adapt to the future, but helps shape it.
This Government does want every dollar invested in science to create meaningful benefits for all New Zealanders. That’s why we’re reshaping the system to be more cohesive, forward-looking, and better aligned with the needs of our economy.
We’ve already reached several important milestones. Earlier this year, we announced the consolidation of the seven Crown Research Institutes into three Public Research Organisations. These new organisations are focused on key areas of national importance, including the bioeconomy, earth sciences, and public health and forensic science. Senior leaders in the previous CRIs have explained the delight in having cross organisation discussions without NDA like arrangements.
Just four weeks ago, we unveiled the fourth Public Research Organisation, the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology, which will supercharge our country’s economy through advanced technologies like quantum, AI, and synthetic biology. These are fields with the power to completely revolutionise science and technology as we know it.
To support this new organisation, the Government has committed an initial investment of $231 million over four years.
As the first part to this investment, I recently announced $71 million in funding for the Future Magnetic and Materials Technologies hosted by Robinson Research Institute, here in Wellington. This investment will leverage our world-leading expertise in superconductors, magnets, and materials, positioning New Zealand at the forefront of cutting-edge research.
By consolidating the Crown Research Institutes, we are encouraging greater collaboration, reducing overlap, and boosting performance.
To ensure our science investments focus on areas of greatest opportunity and economic impact, I am chairing the new Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council.
This Council brings together some of New Zealand’s most respected leaders in science and technology, and has already begun providing clear, strategic advice to the Government on where to prioritise our national science investments
We held our first meeting three weeks ago, and had exceptionally productive discussions on science priorities and critical emerging technologies. I look forward to continuing this momentum in shaping a new strategic approach for our science system.
Of course, science alone doesn’t create economic growth. It needs to be taken up, put to work, and transformed into products by Kiwi businesses. That’s why we are developing a national policy for intellectual property arising from publicly funded research especially in our universities.
Grounded in international best practice, this policy will boost commercialisation by ensuring researchers, have more agency in their inventions and are rewarded for their breakthrough work.
To further support the reforms, Minister McClay has also established Invest New Zealand. Designed as a one-stop shop for foreign investment, this new government agency is working with multinational corporations and investors to attract people, businesses, and capital into our national science and technology systems.
Overall, I hope this brief summary has given you a real sense of the momentum currently building to create a more productive, commercially driven, innovation-led, science and technology system. An improved system capable of generating sustained growth, and delivering economic benefits to all New Zealanders, for many years to come.
Importantly, these reforms will also help build national capability, and ensure critical skills stay within New Zealand.
Advanced technologies, like quantum, are very much at the heart of this strategy in which New Zealand has a long and proud history. I think today’s event shows that we are set to continue being a key innovator, and international partner, in advancing this exciting frontier.
Part of the challenge across all advanced technologies, is to envisage what part of what can be vast domains, does New Zealand already have international competitive and strategic advantage and therefore what should be maintained and what should be accelerated. That is the discission we are currently having around AI and I would ask the quantum community to also ponder this.
In closing,s a goal we believe in and will continue to prioritise investment in emerging technologies – because they are the engines of our future prosperity, the foundation for new industries, and the key to ensuring New Zealand stands tall in a rapidly changing world.
Thank you.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are describing the results of a Controlled Purchase Operation in South Waikato as “staggeringly poor”, after multiple premises were caught selling alcohol to minors.
Bay of Plenty Police, along with South Waikato District Council and the National Public Health Service, joined up to run a Controlled Purchase Operation (CPO) in Tokoroa and Putāruru on Saturday 2 August.
Sergeant Greg Weston, Taupō Alcohol Harm Prevention Officer, says the CPO had an underage volunteer attempt to purchase alcohol from a range of on and off-licensed premises across the area.
“Eight out of 11 premises failed to check the volunteer’s ID,” he says.
“I’m extremely disappointed with the level of non-compliance, and genuinely shocked. During the last operation held in this area only one premises failed.”
Sergeant Weston says Police know the impact of alcohol-related harm in our communities, and ensuring alcohol is not being sold to underage people is a key part of reducing harm.
“There is absolutely no excuse for outlets not to have good systems and processes for checking IDs, especially when they are operating in vulnerable communities.
“The messaging is very clear – no ID, no service,” he says.
Premises that are found to be providing alcohol to minors can expect serious consequences, including the potential suspension or cancellation of their liquor licence. Duty managers also have the potential to have their licence suspended or cancelled.
The premises that failed this CPO have been spoken to and will learn of the outcomes in due course, Sergeant Weston says.
Bay of Plenty Police will continue to monitor licensed premises and will continue Controlled Purchase Operations in the area.
“Working with our partner agencies to reduce alcohol-related harm in our community, and ensuring alcohol is not being sold to underage people, is a crucial component of keeping our community safe,” Sergeant Weston says.
If you have any concerns about the sale or supply of alcohol to minors in your community, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
This report is the result of an inspection of Canterbury – Waitaha adult inpatient and associated mental health services. The Director of Mental Health has powers under section 99 of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 to inspect any hospital, or any ward, unit, or other part of a hospital, in which psychiatric treatment is given.
This inspection arose from concerns the Director of Mental Health held as to whether there were systemic issues in these services.
The inspection examined not only the operational and clinical governance and functioning of the adult inpatient and associated mental health services but also how that operational and clinical governance is overseen by wider organisational processes.
The Section 99 report made nine findings and made 18 recommendations falling into three broad categories: governance; care models; and resourcing.
The overarching theme across the recommendations is the need for better cooperation between service leadership and service delivery to prioritise the service, enable staff to do their best, improve the models of care, and plan for the future.
Health New Zealand have already commenced an improvement programme on the basis of recommendations in the draft report.
The Director is undertaking a 12-month programme of active monitoring of the Canterbury – Waitaha services to provide assurance that good progress on the series of improvements continues to be made.
*Some information in the report is redacted as it is covered by a non-publication order from the Coroner’s Office. When the order is lifted, the redacted material will be published.
Source: New Zealand Government
Good morning, everyone.
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government here at the Digital Identity New Zealand Hui Taumata 2025.
Last year you had to settle for a recording of me, so it’s a big upgrade to be here in person this time!
I would like to thank the organisers, and in particular Andy Higgs as the new Executive Director of Digital Identity New Zealand, and Maria Robertson as the newly appointed President.
I would also like to acknowledge my Ministerial Colleague, the Honourable Scott Simpson, who is leading important work on the consumer data right and who is equally passionate about improving the way New Zealanders access services, whether public or private.
This audience is well aware of the potential of digital identity to transform how New Zealanders share trusted information, whether online or in person.
I don’t need to convince you that a modern system using biometrics, verifiable credentials, and digital wallets is not only more user-friendly, but also more secure and private.
Our government is committed to delivering this and ensuring all New Zealanders have the tools to fully participate in a modern digital identity environment.
I’d be surprised if anyone here is feeling sentimental about the plastic cards still hiding in your wallets.
Over the past twelve months the government has made significant steps towards turning digital identity into a reality.
This time last year we were celebrating that the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework legislation was in force and that we had a regulatory regime ready to go.
But a regulatory framework was only the first step.
We have been hard at work to ensure that all Government agencies are ready and able to issue digital credentials, and that our statute books are enabling, not restricting.
For example, the New Zealand Transport Agency is actively working on the design and development of a digital driver licence, the Department of Internal Affairs has developed a proof of concept for a digital photo ID, and Immigration New Zealand is exploring opportunities for a digital visa ID.
These are just some of the many digital credential opportunities that agencies are looking at.
This work is well underway and I look forward to being able to share more on the progress we’re making in the near future.
However, it’s not enough to just create some credentials, we need to be able to use them as well. Right now, that means making it easier to prove who you are when you sign up for a new bank account or other financial service.
Who here has ever had to run to the bank on their lunch break, just to show them their passport or some other piece of paper?
Who here would like it if they never had to do that again?
That’s why we will propose updates to the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Identity Verification Code of Practice to put accredited credentials and services at the heart of New Zealand’s banking and financial sector.
We’ll be consulting on this in the coming months, so, when the Department of Internal Affairs, Reserve Bank, and Financial Markets Authority come to you, I strongly encourage you to say “yes!” to digital identity and to provide your practical experience to help make it work.
We’re also working to develop regulations that define levels of assurance for digital credentials. While it’s obvious that a passport and a tennis club membership carry different levels of trust, clear regulation will help make those distinctions explicit for both users and relying parties.
And finally, I am continuing to work across Cabinet to make sure accredited digital identity credentials and services can be widely used.
Updating the law is important, but we also need the right tools and underlying technology in place.
With that in mind, we’ve been busy.
We started the year with the launch of NZ Verify – a great app that you can download to your iPhone or Android to verify digital credentials. Currently, that’s digital driver licences from Australia and the United States, but in the future that’ll include all kinds of different credentials that we issue right here in New Zealand.
Even more importantly, we have our Government App which is under development as we speak. This will improve the way people interact with the government, providing a secure way for agencies to communicate with New Zealanders and a digital wallet to hold their accredited digital credentials.
The secure digital wallet will be key to making New Zealand’s modern digital identity system accessible to everyone.
Two great New Zealand companies, Dave Clark NZ and MATTR, are working with the Department of Internal Affairs to make this a reality – and we’re committed to putting it in your hands before the end of the year.
Finally, DIA are out in the market now for a shared issuance platform so that government agencies can issue their own digital credentials faster, cheaper, and with less complexity.
I’m proud of what we have achieved in just the past 12 months but there’s a lot more work to do.
Having world-leading rules, great technology, digital wallets, credentials, and verifiers is great, but people need to know how to use it all!
Now, I’m not an expert. But I know that the people in this room are, and that’s exactly why we need your help.
You’ll soon hear from our Deputy Government Chief Digital Officer, Myles Ward about exciting work that DIA wants to launch alongside you, the industry, to develop a Reference Architecture.
DIA will be inviting you to help shape cheat sheets and practical guidance on how to implement and use digital identity services, so that we have a system that truly works for all New Zealanders.
While there’s a role for government, we need you to step up too.
We’ve seen amazing progress from the private sector. I particularly want to mention Hospitality NZ who have said they want to be the first privately issued digital credential in the market.
That could be world leading and a great example of the public and private sectors working together.
But what about the rest of this room?
This event has been running for years and each time we’ve discussed what we’d like to happen and how it could work.
We now have everything we need to put it in action.
So, I challenge you to think about your organisations.
Are you ready for digital credentials? Can you receive them at your front counter yet? Can you receive them on your website? Are you ready to issue your own credentials?
I want you to identify what is standing in your way and address it.
Because this time next year at the Hui Taumata 2026, provided Andy invites me back, we are going to be talking about how New Zealand is leading the world with our digital identity services.
We are not going to be complaining about how the stars aren’t quite aligned enough!
The opportunity for New Zealand to be a world leader is right before us. We can once again show the world what a small country with the right people, the right knowledge, and the right attitude can achieve.
The benefits of Digital Identity are ready to be realised. So let’s get on with it.
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Date: 12 August 2025
Kakī are one of New Zealand’s rarest native wading birds and a taonga species for Ngāi Tahu. Conservation efforts over the past 40 years have seen this striking wader – known for its distinctive black plumage and red legs – rescued from a low of just 23 birds and the brink of extinction.
The released kakī were raised in captivity by the Department of Conservation (DOC) at their Twizel kakī facility, and by The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch. They join an estimated 141 adult birds in the wild, whose population fluctuates but is slowly increasing.
This month, 75 kakī were released at Lake Tekapo/Takapō, and another 73 into the Tasman valley, where extensive trapping helps protect the birds from introduced predators like stoats and feral cats.
DOC Senior Biodiversity Ranger Dean Nelson says the annual kakī release is a highlight for the local community, and the culmination of ten months of intense work.
“Each young kakī released into the wild has been hatched from incubated eggs taken from wild or captive pairs, then fed and cared for in captive facilities over many months,” says Dean. “For the teams that raised these birds, it’s a very special time, and a great feeling to set them free and watch them fly unrestricted for the first time.
“Kakī are critically endangered and found only in New Zealand. Our efforts to bolster and protect the wild population in the Mackenzie are crucial to their survival.”
The newly released kakī will be given supplementary food for up to six weeks as they settle into their new environment. Meanwhile, the DOC kakī team will clean and disinfect the kakī incubators and hand rearing facilities in preparation for springtime, when egg collection and incubation will start all over again.
Despite the extensive predator control across the braided river habitat in the Tasman, Godley, and Cass valleys, kakī are vulnerable in the wild. On average, about 30 per cent of released birds survive to adulthood.
Dean says planned research, funded from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, will use solar-powered GPS transmitters on kakī to improve understanding of why so many young birds are lost, and better focus management activities.
“We plan to use the GPS tags on young birds released next season and track them for up to a year. We’ll see where they go and what threats they face in different parts of the Mackenzie basin, where they live year-round.”
Trials are already underway with captive kakī to find the best method to attach the transmitters to the birds. This work was sponsored by Environment Canterbury and Guide Hill Station.
Extensive trapping takes place across the Mackenzie Basin, including through Te Manahuna Aoraki and Project River Recovery programmes, with vital support from local landowners.
Support from partner organisations is crucial to kakī conservation efforts. The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust raises birds at its captive breeding facility in Christchurch, continuing Isaac Construction founders Sir Neil and Lady Isaac’s vision to give back to nature. This year, the trust contributed 55 kakī for release.
Funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of $700k for the Kakī Recovery Programme over next three years will support a range of projects. These include trapping in key kakī breeding and feeding areas in the Godley and Cass rivers, GPS tracking research, improvement of biosecurity measures at the Twizel kakī captive facility and enhancement of ponds at Micks Lagoon and Mailbox Inlet used by kakī for feeding.
Visitors to the Mackenzie can play their part by giving kakī space especially in the nesting season from August to January, keeping their dogs under close control, and not driving in riverbeds.
A Study in Conservation – Isaac Conservation & Wildlife Trust
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz