Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will open a charter school called Te Kura o Ngāti Whātua ki Tamaki in Term 3 2026.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in ways which are more specific to their needs. Today’s announcement demonstrates the innovation enabled by the charter school model,” Mr Seymour says.

“At Te Kura o Ngāti Whātua ki Tamaki, students will participate in real-world learning through iwi-led and city based partnerships. This will include collaborations with Māori businesses, partnerships with universities and tertiary education providers, and international school exchanges.

“Learning will be digitally enabled, utilising AI and emerging technologies. It will also strengthen cultural ties through kapa haka and Ngāti Whātua tikanga.

“When it comes to education, one size does not fit all.

“Charter schools show education can be different if we let communities bring their ideas to the table.

“These schools have more flexibility in return for strictly measured results.

“The charter school equation is: the same funding as state schools, plus greater flexibility plus stricter accountability for results, equals student success.

“It will join the charter schools announced in the last year which will open in 2026. This takes the total number of charter schools to 20. We expect more new charter schools to be announced before the end of the year, along with the first state schools to convert. 

“I want to thank the Charter School Agency and Authorisation Board for the work they have done getting charters open. They considered 52 applicants for new charter schools. They tell me this round the choices were very difficult. 

“This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.”

Source: New Zealand Government

A record 235 primary care registered nurses will begin advanced education this year – nearly doubling the number originally planned – following strong demand for the Government’s new Registered Nurse Primary Care Scholarships, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Last year we committed to supporting up to 120 primary care registered nurses each year over four years to undertake advanced education. The very high level of demand has shown how strongly nurses want to take up these opportunities, which is why I’m pleased to confirm 235 scholarships have been awarded for this year, with placements beginning from next week,” Mr Brown says.

“This is the highest number of primary care nurses ever supported into advanced education in a single year.”

Of the 235 registered nurses currently working in primary and community healthcare settings, 147 will work towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Prescribing and 88 will undertake a Master of Nursing. The expansion has been achieved within existing funding.

“Nurses who complete these qualifications can become registered nurse prescribers, working as part of collaborative healthcare teams and prescribing from an approved list of medicines. Many will continue along the pathway to become nurse practitioners.”

Mr Brown says this additional training capacity comes at an important time following the recent expansion of prescribing rights announced in December.

“Nurse prescribers can now prescribe 211 additional medicines – covering a wide range of common and long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory conditions, and menopause symptoms. As more nurses gain these advanced qualifications, patients will see real benefits through faster, more convenient access to care closer to home.

“Growing the number of nurse prescribers is a practical way to improve access to care, particularly for patients who rely on regular, ongoing treatment. Enabling nurses to work at the top of their scope helps reduce pressure on GPs and hospitals and ensures more patients can be seen sooner.

“New Zealand registered nurses already deliver exceptional care in communities across the country. Empowering more of them to prescribe will help build a more responsive and sustainable health system, while strengthening the pipeline into future nurse practitioner roles.

“I want to congratulate every nurse who has taken up this opportunity. Choosing to continue your training while serving your community is a significant commitment, and it reflects the dedication you have to improving care for New Zealanders. Thank you for the vital role you play in supporting patients, families, and communities across the country.”

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  23 February 2026

The free annual hunting competition has been run by DOC’s Maniapoto team, with support from the NZ Deerstalkers Association (NZDA), for more than 30 years.

Allan – who’s been a part of the NZDA for 30 years – has been involved in for the competition numerous times, collecting the jaws, summarizing the results and relaying the information to the hunters. He was recently made an association life member.

He believes there’s scope for the competition to grow if more newcomers are willing to join in.

“We need wider involvement,” Allan says. “The prizegiving is a very family-friendly event – we see the same faces every year, and some have been coming for generations.”

The Pureora Hunting Competition includes a junior category, for hunters less than 15 years old. Young hunters can enter goat tails, rat tails and mustelids.

The fact the competition focusses on Pureora and is run by DOC makes it unique. DOC also runs the National Goat Hunting Competition, which has a broader nationwide focus and launched in 2023.

Allan says the consistent hosting of the competition – apart from 2020 and 2022 when the country was under COVID-19 restrictions – means there’s now 12 years of data and 580 hunted deer to glean information from.

“After COVID-19 lockdowns effectively banned hunting, I expected to see an influx of young deer into the competition when it restarted,” Allan says.

That wasn’t the case.

“Young jaws were rather sparse at the competition. Bored locked down locals were hunting hard – they really kept the freezer topped up.”

Allan believes the competition has the potential to become a significant contributor to wild deer management for the Pureora Forest, and as it’s run by DOC it has the potential to expand further.

DOC Principal Ranger Maniapoto Kina Tweedale says the competition gives participants a chance to hunt competitively during the Roar – rather than recreationally – in lush native forest and potentially claim prizes for their efforts.

“If your kind of naturing is a good hunt in the forest or you think it could be, then we’re keen to see you involved. The competition has a great sense of camaraderie, and we know it’s important to the local hunting community.”

The competition will open on 14 March and culminate with prizegiving at DOC’s Pureora Field Base workshop on Sunday 26 April.

For more information, visit Pureora Hunting Competition.

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Eagle-eyed Police who spotted a vehicle driving with no lights on through the streets of Papakura overnight have taken a pair into custody.

At about 12.30am, a vehicle travelling with its lights off sped past a Police car on Great South Road.

Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Matt Hoyes, says units did not attempt to stop the stolen vehicle and instead initiated assistance from the Police Eagle helicopter.

“Eagle located the vehicle still travelling at excess speed with its lights off, narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle.

“The vehicle has then turned into Glenburn Place where two occupants bailed out while it was still moving, causing it to crash through a fence.”

Inspector Hoyes says the pair allegedly attempted to flee through neighbouring properties.

“Unfortunately for them, we had our eyes in the sky who were able to direct staff on the ground to their locations and they were both taken into custody without incident.

“If you see any dangerous driving activity please contact Police on 111 if it’s happening now or 105 if it’s after the fact.”

Two youths, both aged 14, have been referred to Youth Aid Services.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm a third person has died following a serious crash on State Highway One near Redwood Pass.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash at around 10.40am on Sunday 22 February.

Two people died at the scene, and three others were transported to hospital with serious to critical injuries.

Sadly, despite best efforts by medical professionals, a third person has since passed away.

The two other injured remain in hospital in a serious and critical condition.

The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and the road has since reopened.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre