Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Auckland Council

A Kawau Island resident recently discovered they had an unexpected, feathered houseguest and he wasn’t paying rent.

Tucked into the corner of a humble garden shed, a determined North Island brown kiwi had dragged together an eclectic collection of plastic, paper and whatever else he could shuffle into place to fashion a cosy nursery. The reason? An egg, carefully laid by mum and now entrusted, as is kiwi tradition, to dad.

In the world of kiwi, the boys do the babysitting. Once the egg is laid, the male takes over incubation duties, sitting patiently for around 75–80 days; one of the longest incubation periods of any bird. For weeks, this devoted Kawau Island papa was spotted slipping out under cover of darkness to feed, then quietly returning to resume his devoted vigil.

Even a curious weka popped by to inspect the unusual setup, poking around to see what the shed-dwelling neighbour was up to.

When concerns were raised about the egg’s progress, a small team including Dr Juan Cornejo from Auckland Zoo and Lisa Tolich, Auckland Council’s Principal Specialist – Natural Environment Operations travelled to the island to assess the situation. The adult male was away at the time, but sadly the egg was cold and no longer viable. Candling confirmed the egg had developed to around 55 days, not far off maturity, but there were no visible blood vessels feeding it.

“It’s always disappointing when an egg doesn’t make it, especially when dad has put in such a monumental effort,” said Lisa Tolich.

“But every nesting attempt tells us something important about how our kiwi are doing and reminds us of just how resilient and determined our kiwi are.”

A comprehensive survey undertaken between January and March 2025 has provided the clearest picture yet of the Kawau kiwi population. Across three trips, trained kiwi dogs detected 56 birds, with 51 adults handled, many in just poor to moderate body condition. No chicks or juveniles were found.

“That absence of young birds suggests breeding success has been low in recent years,” said Tolich.

“Dry conditions, habitat degradation and heavy browsing of undergrowth by wallabies are likely reducing food availability and putting pressure on adults.”

Genetic testing also shows Kawau kiwi have very low genetic diversity, tracing back to a small founding population introduced in the 1860s. While unique traits remain, long-term resilience will rely on careful habitat restoration, wallaby control and managed genetic exchange.

While this chapter has a bittersweet ending, there is a bright side; the cheeky shed-squatter has since been picked up on camera, alive and well and hopefully before long, there will be another chance for him to egg sit with a happier outcome.

For this special Kawau kiwi population, this male, as he returns to his nesting duties, may yet play an important role in seasons to come.

What to do if you find a kiwi nesting on your property

• Do not disturb! – if the bird is sitting on eggs, don’t move the nest, the egg or the bird
• Keep it safe – make sure cats and dogs can’t disturb it
• Consider having a backyard trap
• Report it – let the Department of Conservation know. They may even want to monitor the bird – 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) or
• Don’t try to handle, feed (including leaving out food) or move the bird.

Visit the Save Kiwi website for more information.

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

24 February 2026

A worker’s life-changing injuries at a commercial bakery have exposed fundamental safety failures that WorkSafe says are far too common across New Zealand workplaces.

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is rolling out new Maths, English, and Science resources and initiatives, helping raise student achievement and sparking discovery in primary classrooms with brand-new science kits, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced.

“We’re committed to helping young people who are behind to accelerate and to ensuring they have the foundations to set them up for the next steps in their learning journey,” Ms Stanford says.

New resources now available include:

• A new teacher-facilitated writing tool for Year 6 to 10 students a year or more behind
• Maths resources for Year 9 and 10 students
• New science kits for primary school classrooms

“Today’s Maths and English package will help ensure children are ready when they finish primary school, along with supporting students currently in their early years of secondary school.

“From next week, through our Make it Write action plan, Year 6 to 10 students who are a year or more behind are set to benefit from the new Writing Acceleration Tool.

“Scribo is a teacher-facilitated 14-week tutoring programme that will provide targeted support for each student’s learning needs. 

“The writing tool will help close literacy gaps and strengthen students’ writing, spelling, and grammar. It is curriculum aligned and designed to reflect New Zealand context and culture.

“We have been able to extend the programme to Year 10, which was initially announced for Years 6 to 8. There will be 120,000 student licences available to all state and state-integrated schools. Resources and strong support will be available for teachers alongside the release.”

New curriculum-aligned digital maths resources are also being provided for Year 9 and 10 students, alongside professional learning and development, following feedback from secondary schools. This is a continuation of the maths supports we have provided to every primary school across the country, now rolling up to Years 9 and 10.

“The new digital resources for Years 9 and 10 will include digital textbooks and workbooks guidance for teachers. Over the next three years, the resources are expected to benefit around 140,000 students each year, supporting 6,000 teachers.

“Teachers can choose the extent to which they use the resources, whether in full, or for supplementing existing resources that are working for them. There will also be professional learning development provided.”

Ms Stanford says a major milestone has also been reached in delivering Budget 2025 investments to strengthen science in primary and intermediate schools.

“New science kits are now rolling out across schools. These will be hands on and curriculum aligned, supporting teachers with bringing science to life in classrooms.

“We’re focused on ensuring every child is inspired and engaged with their learning. The new kits will support strong science from an early age and support teachers to deliver practical, interactive lessons.

“Science is such a fun and interesting part of school for so many young people, full of discovery and experimentation. These kits will provide another great dynamic element to lessons that helps spark interest and knowledge that can lead into new pathways in the future. This will help provide a great introduction to STEM subjects, an in-demand area with high-value jobs.”

Through the Government’s investment of $40 million, science kit provision is set to have full national coverage by early 2027, to align with the implementation of the new science curriculum.

“This is a Government that has put more resources into the hands of students to help raise achievement and close the equity gap, through careful financial management and prioritisation. 

“Our children and teachers deserve the resources and supports to set them up for success. We’re committed to increasing the number of students to the expected level and to growing potential – our investment today is about fixing the basics, and teaching the basics brilliantly.”

Notes to editor:

• The initiatives support the Government’s target of 80 percent of Year 8 students at, or above, the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing and maths by December 2030. The Curriculum Insights and Progress Study 2024 showed that:
  • For writing, 24 percent of Year 8 students were at the expected curriculum benchmark.
  • For maths, 23 per cent of Year 8 students were at the curriculum benchmark
• The Writing Acceleration tool has been made available in response to results released last year from the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study.
• Scribo is used internationally by leading school systems across Australia, South-East Asia, the USA and the Middle East.
• The Government has also funded 349 literacy intervention teachers for primary schools and 143 maths intervention teachers through Budget 2025’s learning support investment package.
• The maths resources are being provided by Education Perfect, a local Kiwi company.
• In Maths, through Budget 25, maths intervention teachers will also be providing a new 12-week Maths Acceleration Programme for Years 3 to 6. This will facilitate small-group sessions as an addition to the regular classroom programme. More than 800 schools will be using the programme in 2026, with almost 140 additional full-time equivalent teachers already funded.
• The maths resources into schools programme for Years 0 to 8 has delivered more than one million maths books.
• Science kits will be developed and provided by House of Science, a reputable local provider. Training and ongoing support will be available for teachers.
• 720 schools have already registered for a science kit, ahead of the curriculum. There will be, on average, two kits per year level at any one time. The kits will be taken after a period of time and replaced with a brand-new kit.
• As part of this initiative, an entirely new suite of science kits is in development for Māori‑medium education, with purpose‑built resources for and settings that align with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, the Māori curriculum.

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac is proposing to widen access to two medicines used to treat melanoma, giving people another funded immunotherapy option that can help lower the chance of the cancer coming back.

The proposal would allow people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma, that can be removed with surgery, to receive nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab before surgery. People who require further treatment after surgery would also have access to funded nivolumab or other funded treatments if suitable.

“Treating melanoma with immunotherapy before surgery can significantly improve how well treatment works,” says Pharmac’s Director of Pharmaceuticals, Adrienne Martin. “This proposal would give people access to another effective treatment option that helps reduce the risk of melanoma returning after surgery.”

Pharmac’s clinical advisors have said that using these treatments together, before surgery, and then adjusting treatment after surgery based on how well the cancer has responded, can lower the chance of melanoma coming back. This approach has been shown to work better than using nivolumab on its own after surgery. Nearly two in three people have a very strong response by the time their tumour is removed, with significant shrinkage or very little active disease remaining.

“For many people, a strong early response may mean less treatment after surgery, with fewer infusions, and less disruption to daily life,” says Martin. “This also eases pressure on infusion clinics and helps the health system manage growing demand.”

People who still need treatment after surgery would continue to have access to funded nivolumab through this proposal, or other funded treatments if suitable.

Pharmac currently funds pembrolizumab, for people with melanoma which can be removed by surgery. Funding nivolumab combined with ipilimumab would mean that some patients would require fewer infusions, which would reduce pressure on hospital oncology infusion centres, and free up resources.

Pharmac estimates around 155 people would receive this treatment in the first year, increasing to about 166 people per year after five years. Most of the people in this group would have otherwise received funded pembrolizumab. Nivolumab and ipilimumab are already approved for use in New Zealand and are funded for some other cancers.

Pharmac is seeking feedback on the proposal from people with melanoma, their whānau and carers, health professionals, and other interested groups.

Consultation closes at 5 pm, Friday 6 March 2026. Feedback can be emailed to consult@pharmac.govt.nz. All feedback received before the closing date will be considered before a decision is made.

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Maritime NZ is preparing to launch an online application process for seafarer licensing. We’ve developed this new service through extensive engagement with the sector.

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

36 seconds ago

New EIT Auckland students were formally welcomed to Aotearoa during a visit to Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Te Whare Takiura o Manukau (Manukau Institute of Technology).

Held on February 13, the visit included a traditional pōwhiri and provided an opportunity for students and staff to engage with Māori tikanga and strengthen their sense of connection and belonging.

Robin Fabish, Pouārahi Māori (Executive Director Māori); Rocky Ropiha, Kaiwhakaako; and Putiputi Te Wake-Munro, Advisor Mātauranga Māori, travelled from EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale.

Robin said it was a real honour to join Rocky, Putiputi and members of the EIT Auckland team in welcoming the new cohort of international students.

“A formal pōwhiri is important for our new students not only for the cultural experience but also to spiritually welcome them to our land.”

“Many have left their families in their countries of origin, so as part of our manaakitanga and commitment to looking after them while they are in our country we’re pleased to be able to welcome them into our whānau.”

Student representatives Sofiya Parveen and Ruwan Dissanayaka also attended the visit to support their peers.
Ruwan said it was a privilege to be part of the marae visit as a student representative.

“I have visited the MIT Marae with EIT several times, and each experience has helped me deepen my understanding of Māori culture, values, tikanga and whakawhanaungatanga.”

EIT Auckland Campus Director Cherie Freeman said marae visits are an important part of welcoming students and helping them settle into life in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“EIT warmly welcomes all new students with a pōwhiri and visit to the marae. Our international students often connect with the pōwhiri experience, finding familiar elements within Māoritanga that resonate with their own culture,” she said.