Source: New Zealand Police
A 42-year-old man previously sought for escaping custody has been arrested.
He will appear in North Shore District Court today charged with escapes custody.
Police would like to thank those members of the public who contacted us and provided information.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Government
Nurse practitioners can now prescribe a wider range of medicines, helping New Zealanders get faster access to the medicines they need and improving continuity of care, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This change will be transformative for patients. By enabling nurse practitioners to work at the top of their scope, we are providing faster, more effective care and improving health outcomes,” Mr Brown says.
The Medicines Amendment Bill, which passed last week, modernises New Zealand’s medicines legislation to make it easier for qualified health professionals to prescribe and supply medicines safely and efficiently.
“Previously, prescribers such as nurse practitioners faced unnecessary restrictions that created delays for patients. This Bill removes those barriers so people can get the right medicine, from the right clinician, at the right time.
“These changes mean that when a nurse practitioner identifies a suitable treatment, in their area of practice, they will be able to provide that care directly without needing to refer the patient elsewhere. It’s a common-sense update that recognises their advanced skills and experience.”
Nurse practitioners are highly qualified health professionals who assess, diagnose, and manage patients’ health conditions across a range of settings – including primary care, aged residential care, and rural communities. They often serve as the lead clinician for patients and families.
“I want to acknowledge the nurse practitioners who have been calling for this change for years. They are a vital part of our health system and play an increasingly important role in meeting patient needs, particularly in communities where access to doctors can be limited.
“This is a practical change that will make it easier for people to get the care they need, when they need it, while supporting nurse practitioners to do what they do best.”
Source: Radio New Zealand
Dr Gary Payinda. Supplied
A high-profile emergency doctor has been selected to stand for the Labour Party against the incumbent Whāngarei MP, former Health Minister Dr Shane Reti.
Dr Gary Payinda said he felt compelled to do something about what he saw as the government’s ongoing attack on essential public services.
“I’ve been working in the public health sector 18 years, and understaffing and infrastructure problems come and go – but an assault on a broader array of public services is a new thing.
“We’ve got a government that’s bent on tearing up the social structure.”
Payinda said it was a wrench to consider leaving medicine.
“But there are some things that are more important than even treating one patient at a time – and that’s trying to protect thousands of patients, and tens of thousands of people, if I can get a chance to do that.”
Labour’s plans for three free GP visits a year would be “a game-changer” in healthcare, helping people before their conditions worsened and they ended up in hospital, he said.
“It’s a privilege to live and work in Northland, but over the past two years I’ve watched the National government drive inequity, undercut public health and make visiting the doctor more expensive and out of reach for many people.
“I believe in equity for all and in the social good that Labour has always stood for – policies that benefit every New Zealander, regular Kiwis, the regular person, not just those at the top.
“I understand how government policies and public services can literally transform lives.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
One of the affected play sand brands. Supplied / Product Safety NZ
Early Childhood centres are concerned about the cost to remove and dispose of potentially asbestos contaminated products after asbestos was found in a range of coloured play sand.
Some schools and childhood centres have closed after a significant recall last week that included four products sold by Kmart.
The Early Childhood Council’s chief executive Simon Laube told Midday Report the news was worrying to centres.
The cost of testing for asbestos and then potentially disposing of products was significant, he said.
More than 200 schools and childcare centres have sought advice from the Ministry of Education.
Laube said the cost was something many centres could not afford.
He wanted the government to step in and play a role.
“We’re talking about young children in ECE and the parents who care for them and I think they deserve better than nothing really.”
Remediation work would take time, Laube said.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said four products sold by Kmart – the 14-piece sandcastle building set and the blue, green and pink Magic Sand sets – tested positive for tremolite, a form of asbestos associated with higher cancer risks at low exposure levels.
Some schools using the products closed as a precaution for asbestos testing, including Burnside Primary, Clearview Primary, Waitaha School and Gilberthorpe School in Canterbury, and Dunedin’s Balaclava Primary.
The Ministry of Education said it could not confirm how many schools had closed.
Operations and integration leader Sean Teddy said 150 schools and 90 early learning services had sent queries as of 2pm Sunday.
“We are working closely with MBIE and WorkSafe to provide schools and early learning services with advice on testing, remediation and closure decisions,” he said.
“We appreciate that the presence of asbestos in products that are used by children will cause worry for parents and caregivers. We recommend they contact Healthline with any health concerns they may have about their children who may have come into contact with these products.”
Rolleston’s Clearview Primary said it had identified one home base that used the recalled Kmart product. The school’s board of trustees said a further four classrooms had used other brands of kinetic sand, or kinetic sand that had been removed from its packaging, making its origin unclear.
“At this stage, there is no immediate risk to staff or students. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are closing the school on Monday, Tuesday and possibly Wednesday this week while all our teaching and learning spaces are professionally tested,” Clearview Primary said.
In a Facebook Post, Burnside Primary School said a recalled kinetic sand product sold at Kmart had been used in “some areas of our school”.
The school said while the risk to staff and students was considered very low, it had been advised by WorkSafe to close on Monday as a precaution to complete testing and ensure learning spaces were safe.
In a post to Facebook, Waitaha School said it was also closed on Monday.
“Waitaha School will be closed on Monday November 17 as we have become aware that a number of areas of the school across satellites and the base school have been exposed to various coloured sand brands that have been recalled. The Ministry of Education have advised the Board to close the school and arrange for an investigation and clean by professional asbestos cleaners,” the school said.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment product safety spokesperson Ian Caplin said he understood how alarming the discovery would be for families.
“We appreciate that the presence of asbestos in products that are used by children will be concerning to parents and caregivers. We urge families who have purchased these products to stop using them immediately, secure them safely, and contact your local council for advice on where and how to dispose of the contaminated material safely,” he said.
“If you are a workplace, where you may have higher volumes of these products or more people may have come in contact with the products, you should contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist for immediate advice and support on your specific situation. A list of these is available on the WorkSafe website.”
Wellington City Council said following the urgent recall of Kmart’s Magic Sand there was free disposal of the product at the city’s Southern Landfill.
“To dispose of the sand, double bag the product and tape it shut. Clearly label it with ‘Contains Asbestos’. Take it to the Southern Landfill and let the weighbridge staff know you have an item that may contain asbestos, and they will direct you to the appropriate place to dispose of it at the transfer station for free,” the council said.
The contaminated Kmart products include:
The newly identified products are in addition to the previously recalled sands from Educational Colours and Creatistics:
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham will speak with media this afternoon about the fatal house fire incident at the weekend.
A stand-up will be held at 2.30pm in Palmerston North.
Media are asked to RSVP to media@police.govt.nz, and further details will be provided.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: Radio New Zealand
More than half of all students at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth take a primary industries subject. Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
A Taranaki high school is training the next generation of primary industry workers.
Nearly half of the 800 students at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth take part in the school’s primary industries programme.
As part of the programme, students even run a native plant nursery and are contracted to produce 10,000 plants a year for South Taranaki District Council.
The school operates its own 20-hectare beef farm where students apply classroom learning directly on the land – from stock work and fencing to sustainability projects.
The programme, led by Aimee Watkins, spans agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and sports turf, giving students pathways beyond traditional dairy.
Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
Watkins said many students go straight into farm jobs or some kind of related studies at university.
“Agriculture is really, really big here. It’s a really important part of the whole school and it’s massively supported.
“We have our practical stream, they’ve got stock in the yards and they’re fencing, they’re spraying, all those sorts of things and then there’s the academic stream, so the agriscience, agribusiness kids as well.
“So they come through and do different things – whether it’s investigations or environment, sustainability, and it’s all teed up through their standards that they do.
“It’s a pretty full package being able to have the farm as well, so the kids are talking about it in class and then also doing it.
“It’s pretty special. It’s a pretty unique environment really for students.”
Gerard Kalin has been the manager of the Francis Douglas farm since July. Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
Gerard Kalin, a former student of the college, has been the farm manager since July.
Recently the farm had Halter’s virtual fencing technology and smart cow collars installed, so Kalin had been walking students through that.
Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
“Just last week we put the collars on 25 15-month-olds, so we’re a week into it,” he said.
“Again, we’ve integrated all the boys to put the collars on and do all the work around it, erecting the tower that was dug by the students.
Recently the Francis Douglas students have been learning about tech and installing Halter’s virtual fencing system and smart collar cow collars. Supplied/Francis Douglas Memorial College
“Moving forward, it’s going to be a great concept, I think. If we can integrate that knowledge or system, the boys will be a good product when they leave here.”
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell, after scoring a century in the opening ODI against the West Indies in Christchurch, November 2025. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
Black Caps batter Daryl Mitchell is set to miss at least the second ODI against the West Indies as he has a scan on a groin injury.
Mitchell suffered the injury while scoring a century in Sunday night’s seven-run win in game one in Christchurch.
Mitchell isn’t travelling to Napier with the rest of the squad, with Henry Nicholls added to the squad as cover.
Nicholls has been in good form for Canterbury in the domestic ODI competition, leading the run-scoring charts with 306 runs at 76.50, including back-to-back centuries against Otago and Auckland.
The Blackcaps are heading to Napier this afternoon, ahead of the second ODI against West Indies at McLean Park on Wednesday.
The final game in the serIes is in Hamilton on Saturday.
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Source: Radio New Zealand
Green Party-co-leader Marama Davidson. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Green Party is pledging to revoke consents for any coal, hardrock gold, or seabed mining projects granted under the fast-track regime, if it forms part of a government at the next election.
“Today, we are putting the Seabed mining, hardrock gold mining and coal mining industries – and their investors – on notice. Your fast-track consents are not safe, and they are not secure,” Green Party-co-leader Marama Davidson said.
The Greens have been warning they would revoke consents as far back as December 2024, when the initial fast-track bill passed its third reading.
Then, it was a pledge to revoke consents that “short-cut our democracy, side-step environmental protections and degrade te taiao.”
Now, it has named seven specific projects it would revoke consents or permits, even though they are yet to be issued.
Davidson said the Greens were making the announcement before consents were issued to “ensure complete transparency”.
Panels are currently considering the Taranaki VTM project by Trans Tasman Resources, which would extract up to 50 million tonnes of seabed a year in the South Taranaki Bight, and the Waihi North project by Oceana Gold, which would expand gold and silver mining operations in Waihi.
Four of the remaining five projects (Macraes Phase Four, Buller Plateaux Continuation, Rotowaro Mine Continuation, and Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project) are listed on the fast-track website, while the fifth (Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project) has applied.
While the Greens singled the seven specific projects out, they said any new applications through fast-track that fell into the coal, hardrock gold, or seabed mining categories would be captured by their position.
The government is currently in the process of [. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/579045/fast-track-law-final-approvals-still-in-hands-of-expert-panels-government-says amending the fast-track legislation further], with an aim of passing it by the end of the year.
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Source: New Zealand Police
Police on the beat have launched into action, nabbing a group of alleged burglars who broke into a convenience store in the city late last night.
Just before 11.30pm, Police received a report of a break in at the shop on the corner of Karangahape Road and Day Street.
Acting Inspector Dave Plunkett, Auckland Central Area Prevention Manager, says the alleged offenders smashed the front doors before taking a number of items including cigarettes and cash.
“Police Camera Operators quickly reviewed footage and managed to track a person matching the description provided heading down Pitt Street to the corner of Hopetoun Street.
“The man has attempted to run from officers but was quickly taken into custody near the motorway.”
Acting Inspector Plunkett says another two people were also arrested nearby.
“This is another good example of frontline Police resources working together to keep the city safe and respond to any incidents that may occur.
“A search of the area by officers has also located the stolen items, which have since been returned to the owner.”
Two men, aged 39 and 37, and a 34-year-old woman will appear in Auckland District Court today charged with burglary.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: Radio New Zealand
Artist’s visualisation of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington. NZTA / Waka Kotahi
Plans for two new tunnels for Wellington’s State highway 1 have been revealed with a total cost of up to $4 billion and significant reworking of the surrounding areas.
The Transport Agency’s proposal includes second tunnels created at Mount Victoria and The Terrace in a bid to ease bottlenecking around the Basin Reserve.
A second Mount Vic tunnel was part of the National Party’s campaign promise, and is now listed in the Fast Track Approvals Act.
The proposal says it would save up to 10 minutes during peak periods on journeys from the Wellington region to the CBD, hospital, and airport by up to 10 minutes.
The agency’s Kesh Keshaboina says the “significant proposals” have the potential to have a major impact on Wellington’s transport infrastructure.
Public meetings on the proposals are to be held in the coming weeks.
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