Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

Good afternoon.

First, thank you to our speakers: Peter Jackson, Megan Drayton, Peter Reidy, Her Worship Adrienne Wilcock, and Deklin Frew-Parks.

Welcome to Members of Parliament, community leaders, transport representatives, first responders, and especially those among you who have been affected by deaths and injuries on our rail corridor.

This is a serious occasion. We are talking about the real risk to life that occurs when people enter the rail corridor. This year there have been six deaths on the rail corridor.

Communities like those represented by Mayor Wilcock understand far too well what that means. Losing a member of your community is devastating for all involved.

It is why we must follow the 2025 Rail Safety campaign message: “Stay Off, Stay Safe.”

As the Minister for Rail, and the word “for” is deliberate, we have a positive vision for rail.

There are 3,800 kilometres of track across New Zealand, and in hundreds of communities.

We want to see more people catching trains. We want to see more of our goods moved by rail. But we have to respect the network and the rolling stock. 

Locomotives weigh around 100 tonnes, while loaded freight trains weigh thousands of tonnes. These are heavy machines, often travelling at speed. They cannot stop on a dime.

So people need to stay out of the way. “Stay Off, Stay Safe” is a simple message.

Changing attitudes is not easy. We commend TrackSAFE for their work over the past 18 years to raise rail safety awareness. There has been a steady decline in the number of deaths in the rail corridor in recent years.

There are also practical steps being taken to improve safety. New fencing being installed, clear signs, and flashing lights and barrier arms. But it is not possible to fence all lines across the country. The most effective safety measure is an informed and alert public.

We commend KiwiRail’s teams for their visits to schools, as educating young people who live and study near rail lines is so important. It saves lives.

We commend Students Against Dangerous Driving, “SADD”, for working with TrackSAFE to develop new resources for secondary schools.

We commend everybody who understand the message: “Stay Off, Stay Safe.”

Now, many in this room will be health and safety professionals. You may have watched footage on Friday as we asked Patrick Brockie, Chief Executive of City Rail Link Limited, to explain why safety clothing was required at the City Rail Link. We were told: “it’s about visibility”, “in case of evacuation”, and “for safety reasons.”

After some time, it was later confirmed that the hard hats and safety glasses were not required. Presumably because everything above us was fixed in place and we were nowhere near flying debris. 

While we were at a construction site, we were sectioned off from the real work, walking on finished stone tiles and concrete, under the constant supervision of managers, and stepping on a fully compliant train.

Safety is critically important, and we must never trivialise it. Dressing up as workers when the risk is so patently low risks turning safety into a joke. There should be no health and safety leader who wants their important work to be a joke.

And that brings us back to the serious nature of this event.

We have workers across all 3,800 kilometres of track. These people lift heavy lengths of steel, loads of sleepers, manage huge equipment. These people are protected by safety officers, teammates, leaders and train controllers.

The crews on our trains are often the first to respond when commuters have health incidents. The locomotive engineers experience real trauma in near misses and fatalities.

As New Zealand’s towns and cities grow along and across train tracks, it becomes more important that we look for trains driving on level crossings.

It becomes more important that KiwiRail, NZTA and councils plan how they provide places for people to cross railway tracks safely. 

We must stay off the network unless we are in a train or legally passing through a level crossing.

So, “Stay Off, Stay Safe – Tracks are for Trains.”

Thank you very much.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are now able to release the name of the man who died following a crash on Maniatutu Road, Pongakawa on 4 June.

He was 27-year-old Amarjit Singh, of Te Puke.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.

A 40-year-old man is set to reappear in the Tauranga District Court on 29 August, charged with driving in a dangerous manner and dangerous driving causing death.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Fisheries New Zealand wants feedback on proposals to secure the long-term sustainability of 2 key North Island rock lobster fisheries, says director of fisheries management, Emma Taylor.

Proposals for the Hauraki Gulf/Bay of Plenty (CRA 2) and Wellington/Wairarapa (CRA 4) rock lobster fisheries would involve a higher volume of rock lobsters being maintained in the fishery over time.

“The options for proposed management targets, which set the level of fish maintained in a fishery, translate to more lobsters in the water for now and for generations to come.

“This is about improving resilience and making these fisheries more predictable year to year. It would mean a better fishing experience for customary and recreational fishers, and provide commercial fishers with the certainty they need to deliver consistently to their customers,” Emma Taylor says.

“Our rock lobster fisheries are highly valued by all New Zealanders, and rock lobster are part of an interconnected marine ecosystem.

“Rock lobster eat kina among other things, and they can help to keep kina numbers down, so they don’t destroy important kelp forest habitat and cause bare areas known as kina barrens,” Emma Taylor says.

The proposals also seek feedback on draft fisheries plans that would implement the management targets and defining management actions, such as providing for monitoring, compliance, and research.  

If approved, the fisheries plans and the management targets within them would be considered by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries when making future decisions for these stocks.

“Consultation starts today (11 August 2025) and runs until 5pm on Monday 8 September 2025, and I encourage anyone with an interest to read the proposals and provide feedback,” Emma Taylor says.

More information, including how to make a submission can be found on MPI’s website.

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Fisheries New Zealand wants feedback on proposals to secure the long-term sustainability of 2 key North Island rock lobster fisheries, says Director of Fisheries Management, Emma Taylor.

Proposals for the Hauraki Gulf/Bay of Plenty (CRA 2) and Wellington/Wairarapa (CRA 4) rock lobster fisheries would involve a higher volume of rock lobsters being maintained in the fishery over time.

“The options for proposed management targets, which set the level of fish maintained in a fishery, translate to more lobsters in the water for now and for generations to come.

“This is about improving resilience and making these fisheries more predictable year to year. It would mean a better fishing experience for customary and recreational fishers, and provide commercial fishers with the certainty they need to deliver consistently to their customers,” Emma Taylor says.

“Our rock lobster fisheries are highly valued by all New Zealanders, and rock lobster are part of an interconnected marine ecosystem.

“Rock lobster eat kina among other things, and they can help to keep kina numbers down, so they don’t destroy important kelp forest habitat and cause bare areas known as kina barrens,” Emma Taylor says.

The proposals also seek feedback on draft fisheries plans that would implement the management targets and defining management actions, such as providing for monitoring, compliance, and research.  

If approved, the fisheries plans and the management targets within them would be considered by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries when making future decisions for these stocks.

“Consultation starts today and runs until 5:00pm on Monday 8 September 2025, and I encourage anyone with an interest to read the proposals and provide feedback,” Emma Taylor says.

More information, including how to make a submission can be found on MPI’s website.

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

Source: Press Release Service

Headline: Kelray Heating Introduces Locally Made Fire Pits for New Zealand Backyards

Kelray Heating has launched a new collection of outdoor fire pits, offering New Zealand homeowners a way to add both warmth and visual interest to their outdoor spaces.

The post Kelray Heating Introduces Locally Made Fire Pits for New Zealand Backyards first appeared on PR.co.nz.

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog

by Michael Webster, Privacy Commissioner

A Hobson’s Pledge billboard that used the photograph of a kuia and her moko kauae generated a lot of discussion both in our office and across media. 

Experts are discussing which laws and oversight are relevant here. Is it the Fair-Trading Act or the Advertising Standards Code? We think it’s also a privacy issue because this is about the use and control of personal information, where it causes significant injury to feelings or mana. 

It’s also similar in nature to our recent Case Note where an employee had their photo taken that was later used for marketing purposes.  

The Privacy Act protects the personal information of all New Zealanders, which includes any information that identifies an individual, such as a picture of a face. In this particular situation we don’t know all the facts about what occurred, so we won’t speak specifically about this photo. Instead, let’s look more broadly at image use. 

There are many reasons why people may not want their image taken, including tikanga Māori considerations, which can be significant and sensitive for Māori because of the connection to parts of the body or images that are tapu, including tā moko, mataora or moko kauae.

This is why it’s important to be transparent about how you collect, use, and share personal information. Not only is this a requirement of the Privacy Act, but transparency also helps you build trust and confidence in the way your organisation manages personal information.

Commercial agencies must also make sure that the way personal information is collected is fair and not unreasonably intrusive. This obligation applies even when personal information is collected in a public place. 

Even if the personal information is publicly available, agencies need to make sure that using or disclosing it would be fair and reasonable to the relevant individual. Exactly what is unfair or unreasonable will depend on the circumstances of the case, but relevant factors might include the sensitivity of the image or the impact that using it may have on the relevant individual. 

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has a free service for members of the public to make complaints about breaches of their privacy. We look at any relevant privacy principles, whether they have been infringed and how an individual has been impacted. There are options for investigation, conciliation and resolution if the complaint is successful.  

Ideally, someone taking or using photos for commercial use should use a consent form where people can consent to photos being taken and then consent to specific purposes for which those photos can be used. Generally, the Privacy Act doesn’t apply to the collection and reporting of news and current affairs by news media.

For more information

Collection of information from subject
Case Note – Individual complains about use and disclosure of their photo

Back

Source: New Zealand Police

A disturbance in the night prompted a Police callout, resulting in arrests and stolen property being recovered.

A resident called Police around 10.51pm, after he heard floorboards creaking inside his property.

“The caller said he’d gone to investigate and could see the outline of a man in the darkness,” Inspector Wayne Kitcher, Area Prevention Manager, Auckland City West Area says.

“He’d disturbed the intruder, who got a fright and fled the scene.”

A 111 call-taker took all the available information, and Police were deployed to the area.

Inspector Kitcher says the Police Eagle helicopter, a Police dog unit and frontline staff were quickly on the scene.

Eagle directed staff towards two men seen in the area. The first, a 45-year-old man, who was later arrested for breaching bail.

The second man was seen jumping through properties on Ennismore Road.

“A dog handler tracked down the 30-year-man, who was arrested for burglary with a laptop also being recovered,” Inspector Kitcher says.

“We want to reassure the community that we respond quickly to calls of this nature. Please call us as soon as possible so we can follow-up and keep communities safe.”

A 30-year-old man will appear in the Auckland District Court on charges of burglary and being unlawfully in an eclosed yard.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police  

Source: New Zealand Government

A new Fiordland Marine Guardian appointment plus the reappointment of five existing Guardians will help safeguard Fiordland’s precious natural environment, Acting Environment Minister Tama Potaka says.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Murray Willans,” Mr Potaka says.

“Murray has in-depth knowledge of Fiordland and extensive networks with people interested in the Fiordland Marine Area. He brings valuable experience to the Guardians, including science and monitoring, strategic, governance and collaboration and engagement skills.”

The Fiordland Marine Guardians is an advisory group established under the Fiordland Marine Management Act 2005. The group advises central and local government on the integrated management of the Fiordland Marine Area.

“I am also pleased to announce the re-appointment of Dr Rebecca McLeod, Stewart Bull, Mark Peychers, Gavin Tayles and John Cushen.

“Having been chairperson of the Guardians since 2015, Rebecca McLeod knows Fiordland’s marine environment well. She provides continuity, stability and leadership to the group, as well as effective and established relationships with the management agencies.

“Stewart Bull (nominated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) has extensive knowledge of customary fishing management and resource use in Fiordland and has been a Guardian since the group was established in 2005.

“Mark Peychers has more than 30 years’ experience as a commercial fisher and is involved in fisheries management in Fiordland and other parts of the country. He is experienced in consent applications and the review of the Regional Coastal Plan for Southland.

“Gavin Tayles brings a recreational fishing perspective and valuable recreational fishing connections.

“John Cushen adds an important tourism perspective to the Guardians’ work. He brings education, communication, and engagement skills to the role.”

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: PHARMAC