Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

Auckland Council has appointed Rukumoana Schaafhausen as director of Watercare Services Limited (Watercare).

Cr Maurice Williamson chaired the selection panel and welcomes Rukumoana to the Watercare board.

“Ruku brings a wealth of experience of relevant sectors and will bring an essential Māori perspective to the governance of Watercare. She was the stand-out candidate in a highly impressive field. She will be an exceptional asset to the governance of Watercare Services ensuring that the organisation continues to deliver, and deliver well for Auckland,” says Cr Williamson.

The appointment was approved by the Performance and Appointments Committee on 29 April 2025. The committee is responsible for all appointments to the boards of council-controlled organisations, in accordance with the council’s Appointment and Remuneration Policy for Board Members and the Local Government Act.

About Rukumoana Schaafhausen

Rukumoana Schaafhausen is trained commercial and property solicitor who has more than 20 years of board room experience leading iwi organisations, utilities (energy and water), banking, investments and property development.

Her current roles include the boards of Contact Energy, Kiwi Group Capital, Alvarium Limited and Tainui Group Holdings.

Source: It’s time to fix the secondary teacher shortage

Today, Green Party MP Steve Abel has added a new Member’s Bill to the biscuit tin to ensure any product sold in New Zealand meets New Zealand’s animal welfare standards, even if it’s produced overseas.

“We shouldn’t allow on our supermarket shelves what we wouldn’t allow on our farms,” says Green Party Agriculture and Animal Welfare spokesperson, Steve Abel. 

“This is about fairness for animals and for farmers.

“We’re proud of our animal welfare laws here in New Zealand, but right now those laws have a glaring loophole.

“Currently, products which come from animals who have been kept or slaughtered in conditions which would be illegal here, like in sow stalls or battery cages, are still able to be imported and sold in our supermarkets. 

“New Zealanders don’t want to see our welfare values undermined by a loophole that allows cruelty to enter through the back door. 

“My Bill will ensure that imported products meet the same basic standards we expect on our own farms. 

“We can set a global standard that says robust animal welfare doesn’t stop at our borders.

“New Zealanders have been clear that they don’t want animals to suffer here or overseas. A recent poll showed that 83% of New Zealanders want the Government to act to align import standards with domestic laws.

“I will be working across the House to turn this Bill into law.

“If it’s too cruel to produce here, it should be too cruel to sell here,” says Steve Abel.

Source:

The 2024 General Insurance Stress Test (GIIST) bulletin published today noted insurers’ resilience in managing claims from an extreme seismic event. It also highlighted the need for a coordinated response across the industry and government to manage such shocks and ensure ongoing insurance availability.

Source: New Zealand Police

The winner of the 2025 Race Unity Speech Awards is Jordyn Joy Pillay, from Ormiston Senior College, Auckland.

Jordyn’s speech highlighted that diversity must be more than a moment – it must be a movement.

“I am the ocean I cannot be read I am calm and soothing and so accepting. Come to me …I’ll bring you peace. I see no difference. I’m home to fins and feathers, skin and scales …home to many, I freely give. I welcome you warmly. Abide in me.”

The awards were held at the Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, Manukau Institute of Technology Ōtara Campus over the weekend and featured students from several schools across New Zealand.

This year’s theme – ‘Te Moana Nui o te Kanorau – The Great Ocean of Diversity’ – highlights our need for the natural harmony that we see in the outdoors to be replicated in our society. The metaphor also talks to our strength being in our differences.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is delighted to be the first Commissioner to attend the awards.

“Supporting initiatives like this represents our commitment to building trust and confidence with the diverse communities we serve,” Commissioner Chambers says.

Police Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers, the chief judge of the awards, stressed the importance of providing a platform for rangatahi to discuss and share their thoughts on important societal issues.

“I am astonished by the quality of the speeches from our young people over the weekend,” she says.

“As Police, we are proud to be supporting a platform for our young people to voice their aspirations and solutions.”

Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo MNZM – National Partnerships Manager Ethnic, acknowledged the history of the award the partnership.

“As Iwi and Community Partnerships, we are honoured to have been supporters of these awards for nearly two decades. These awards offer us a meaningful platform to be highly visible amongst our youth and positively engage with them on issues that are important to them and their communities. Each year, we are inspired by the voices of our young people – who are leading us now and into the future,” he says.

About the Awards

The Race Unity Speech Awards were established by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community in memory of race relations advocate and Bahá’í Faith member Hedi Moani. Organised by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community, a religious community dedicated to promoting the oneness of humanity at various levels, the Speech Awards is supported by the New Zealand Police, the Human Rights Commission, Foundation North, Manukau Institute of Technology, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Speech New Zealand, Hedi Moani Charitable Trust, and Studio Marque.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Inspector Stu Harvey:

Police are asking for information from the public after a series of incidents in Invercargill overnight, including two aggravated robberies.

Officers were called to a Dee Street premises about 2.30am on Monday 5 May, after a report of two people entering the store and assaulting the worker, demanding cash. They then fled the scene in a vehicle.

The worker was not seriously injured, however they were very shaken by what occurred.

An attempted burglary and two burglaries were subsequently reported at three further premises, on Windsor Street, Elles Road and Yarrow Street.

Then, about 4.20am, Police received a report that two people had entered a Tay Street premises and demanded cash and items. Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident.

Police are making enquiries into each incident, and at this stage our information suggests they are linked.

Two vehicles were seen in the vicinity of some of the incidents. One of them, a red Toyota Vitz, has been involved in the offending. Police have recovered this vehicle, which was stolen the previous day.

The other vehicle is described as a dark-coloured car.

We would like to speak to anyone who saw vehicles fitting these descriptions between 1am and 5am.

Anyone with information about these vehicles or those involved is asked to contact Police via 105. Please use the reference number 250505/9732.

You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested a man following a series of reports about his behaviour from the Mt Wellington community.

Late last week, Police received reports about a man acting suspiciously around the morning school drop off times.

Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says the reports centred around the Mt Wellington Highway.

“Police attended on Wednesday and Friday after it was reported the man had been acting suspiciously around people near Harris Road.

“While he had not committed offences, Police were concerned about this man’s behaviour.

“Our frontline staff have been looking out for this man in recent days.”

This morning, Police received a 111 call reporting similar behaviour in the area.

Inspector Dolheguy says Police once again responded to the area, and arrested a man.

“The member of the public who contacted us was able to provide a clear description, which was able to assist the Police responding to the report.

“Our frontline team located this man outside shops near Harris Road.”

The 45-year-old Papakura man was arrested on four counts of breaching his bail and was taken into custody.

“It’s a pleasing result for us to remove this man from the area, and highlights a good partnership between community and Police,” Inspector Dolheguy says.

“This is a good reminder to continue reporting these incidents as they occur with as much detail as possible.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Pakuranga Road has reopened in both directions following an earlier building fire.

Investigations into the cause of the fire at the McDonalds are underway.

Police would like to thank the public for their patience while the fire was extinguished.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police