Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

A new Teacher Bonding Scheme is offering teachers incentives and will support schools with persistent recruitment challenges to attract and retain great teachers, Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford announced today.

“We want to help drive recruitment to schools around the country where it can be harder to bring new and experienced teachers on board, so that all of our children can get the best start and thrive with excellent teachers,” Ms Stanford says.

From October this year, teachers recruited to eligible schools under the scheme will receive up to $40,000 over five years when they remain teaching at the school. 

Payments start at $5,000 per year before tax after year one and reach $11,000 per year in year five. The Scheme will deliver 185 places each year.

“Great teachers are critical to student success and delivering the world-class education our learners deserve. This Government is committed to supporting schools that face the most persistent recruitment challenges. 

“The new Teacher Bonding Scheme will allow us to target support where it is most needed, and, by opening this scheme to all teachers, will help school boards and principals to have more options to recruit teachers who are the right fit for them.

“Sector feedback is clear that harder-to-staff schools want the opportunity to attract and retain experienced teachers to their schools, as well as beginning teachers. We have listened to that feedback and deliberately designed the Scheme to deliver what is needed.”

The scheme will be a $7.5 million investment annually by 2030 and will replace the existing Voluntary Bonding Scheme (VBS) and the BeTTER Jobs Programme. From 5 October  2025, the VBS and BeTTER incentives will be closed to new applicants, as TBS will replace them both. Teachers currently registered in the VBS and BeTTER schemes will continue to be supported.

“This is a practical, forward-looking solution that acknowledges school’s recruitment challenges vary across regions and within urban areas, and I look forward to the results it will produce for our young people.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Failing to stop proved to be the wrong move in Whangārei after it led Police to a serious discovery.

Police conducting proactive patrols on Tuesday afternoon spotted a stolen vehicle travelling south on Otaika Road.

Whangārei Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Rene Rakete says Police signalled for the vehicle to stop, however it took off at speed.

“When officers attempted to stop this vehicle it accelerated away at speed, turning down a side street in an attempt to evade Police,” he says.

A short time later Police located the vehicle parked at an address on Lichfield Place.

“A search was conducted of the address, with three people of interest located inside,” Senior Sergeant Rakete says.

Further searches uncovered live shotgun rounds, a firearm, and more ammunition.

“This was great work by our officers, who persevered when losing sight of the stolen vehicle” Senior Sergeant Rakete says.

“We are pleased these items are now off the street and the alleged offender is facing the consequences of his actions.”

A 45-year-old man appeared in the Whangārei District Court charged with failing to stop and unlawfully possessing a firearm. He was remanded in custody and will reappear on 29 September.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Twenty percent of councils have now had their water services delivery plans approved, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says.

“Within two weeks of councils submitting their plans, more than 2.5 million New Zealanders now have an accepted, financially sustainable delivery approach for their water services for the next ten years and beyond, using the tools developed under Local Water Done Well, including the Watercare Charter,” Mr Watts says.

“Accepted today, the Waikato Water Done Well plan will combine water services for over 130,000 people in the Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Ōtorohanga, South Waikato, Waipā and Waitomo District Council areas. This is an unprecedented and impressive collaborative effort between councils.

“With Taupō District Council as a shareholder in Waikato Water Done Well, there is an opportunity to achieve efficiencies for a further 40,000+ people in the coming years. I’m encouraged Taupō is taking advantage of shared services and is open to joining the CCO as benefits are realised.

“Hurunui and Kaikōura District Councils’ CCO plan was also accepted, and I’m advised they are keen to look at options to join forces with neighbouring councils where it makes financial and operational sense to deliver shared services at scale in future.

“With the help of long-term lower-cost finance available under Local Water Done Well, CCOs can service their debt at lower levels than they can going it alone. This means they will be able to plan coordinated infrastructure works and spread the costs over time, so they are more fairly shared between current and future ratepayers. 

“By ensuring water plan costs are well managed, we can ease the financial pressure on council’s and their communities. It will mean Kiwis are able to keep more money in their pockets. 

This will ensure water plans are prudent and costs are well managed, easing the financial pressure on councils and their communities. It will mean Kiwis are able to keep more money in their pockets by ensuring water services delivery costs are well managed.

“Subject to rigorous criteria under the Local Water Done Well legislation, councils that have plans opting for in-house business units also accepted to date gives me confidence in the financial sustainability of their plans.

“What is clear is that that regardless of the delivery model chosen, after decades of underinvestment, Local Water Done Well is delivering much-needed investment nationally in water services infrastructure while providing local council decision-makers the options that suit the communities they serve.” 

Source: New Zealand Government

Construction has begun on the State Highway 2 (SH2) Melling Transport Improvements Road of Regional Significance that will create a safer, more resilient and accessible transport system in Lower Hutt, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Turning the sod on the Melling Interchange is a huge step forward for a project that has been a long time coming. It’s going to be transformational for Lower Hutt – reducing congestion, improving safety, boosting public transport and active transport, and driving economic growth,” Mr Bishop says.

“After so many years of waiting, it’s exciting to see the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), working with AECOM and Fletcher Construction, getting shovels in the ground.

“This project is part of a wider programme led by central and local government to boost economic growth in Lower Hutt, while also strengthening resilience and protection against floods and severe weather.

“Every day around 40,000 vehicles travel north and south of Melling on the state highway, making it one of the busiest intersections in Lower Hutt and a major choke point for commuters and freight.

“The project will deliver a new grade-separated Melling interchange and a bridge over the Hutt River, alongside upgrades to walking and cycling routes. It will also improve access to buses and trains through relocating the Melling train station south of its current site, complete with new park-and-ride facilities.

“The wider $1.5 billion RiverLink programme also includes major flood protection works and city centre revitalisation, with funding contributions of about $1 billion from NZTA, $295 million from Greater Wellington Regional Council, and $180 million from Hutt City Council.”  

The Melling interchange and bridge construction is expected to be complete in 2031, with demolition of the old bridge to follow in 2032.

Source: New Zealand Government

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York this weekend to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“The 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations is an important moment for reflection about the state of the international, rules-based system that New Zealand has long championed,” Mr Peters says. 

“New Zealand was a founding member of the United Nations and we have always argued that all states – no matter their size – should have a say in how the world operates. But there is no doubt that the scale, complexity and persistence of the challenges facing the world are putting immense stress and strain on the United Nations. New Zealand, working with partners, needs to continue to press for reforms to ensure the United Nations can rise to the world’s challenges as humanity enters the second quarter of the 21st Century.” 

While in New York, Mr Peters will attend the Two State Solution conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, participate in a number of thematic and geographic events, hold a range of bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister counterparts and senior UN officials, and deliver New Zealand’s national statement to the UN General Assembly.

“Major conflicts – including in Ukraine, Gaza, South Sudan and Myanmar – loom large as world leaders gather in New York next week. Our time in New York will be an ideal opportunity to gather information about how a broad range of partners are viewing and tackling the challenges facing the world – to help inform our own policy positions on a number of issues. 

“This includes the complex issue of the recognition of Palestine, which New Zealand has approached cautiously and deliberately over months. Next week’s engagements will help us to finalise New Zealand’s position on this important issue, drawing on the latest available information.”

Mr Peters departs for New York on Sunday 21 September, and will return to New Zealand on Tuesday 30 September.

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  19 September 2025

The new public recreation area includes 22 km of tracks to and within part of the previously closed and rehabilitated OceanaGold Globe Progress mine site just outside of Reefton.

The Globe Hill Track and Globe Progress Mine tracks and visitor facilities, including a shelter, interpretation panels telling the story of the site, and toilets, have been developed by OceanaGold after almost 10 years working the area in search of gold. They provide a distinctive experience where people can get into nature and learn about the area’s recent mining heritage says Chris Hickford, DOC Greymouth District Operations Manager.

“This area offers a unique look at the mine site rehabilitation following mining activity. It will be a great addition to the already popular visitor experiences Reefton offers and attract people to the area.

“The tracks have been built to deliver great opportunities for walkers and bikers to get “naturing”. The track to Globe Progress starts on the outskirts of Reefton benefiting visitors and the local community, who can enjoy this new recreation asset right on their doorstep.”

Alison Paul, OceanaGold Senior Vice President, NZ Legal and Public Affairs says the company is really pleased with the end result.

“The tracks are the result of extensive work with DOC and iwi. It’s a great addition to the local track network, as well as opening up the rehabilitated mine site to the public.” 

Part of OceanaGold’s agreement with DOC to access the area required the company to ensure the site was restored once operations concluded in 2016. As well as removing mine infrastructure and landscaping, the area has been extensively replanted with plants grown from seed taken from the area.

OceanaGold continues to work on mine remediation and water treatment at the site while this is necessary, including maintaining and using the otherwise closed access road while this work is underway.

Find out more about the Globe Progress Mine tracks:

Contact

Source: New Zealand Government

Up to $300,000 of contestable funding is now available to support community events celebrating our national day and commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund supports community groups as they reflect on our shared history and the contributions of all cultures represented in New Zealand today.

“It supports events that bring New Zealanders together to recognise and celebrate all aspects of our national identity, on our national day, including the Treaty of Waitangi and its signing. 

“This is a day that should be commemorated not only at Waitangi where the Treaty was first signed, but throughout the country – recognising that the Treaty itself travelled across our country.

“Many well-established events are delivered by communities across the country each year, which are treasured by the thousands of New Zealanders who attend them. New applicants are always welcome and encouraged to propose new ways for New Zealanders to participate in Waitangi Day events in their community.  

“I encourage community groups, tangata whenua, and local councils to work together to organise local events that bring people and community together on our national day.”

Applications for the Fund are now open and close on Monday 20 October 2025. 

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced that the contract for the construction of Dunedin Hospital’s new inpatient building has been signed with CPB Contractors Limited.

“Delivering this inpatient building is a key priority for the Government.  In January this year, I gave the people of Dunedin certainty that it would be built on the old Cadbury site, and in July construction work resumed,” Mr Brown says.

“Under the previous government’s plans, the project risked a $3 billion blowout. We’ve reset the approach and strengthened planning to ensure we actually deliver the safe, modern hospital that Dunedin and the surrounding Otago and Southland regions deserve.

“The $1.88 billion New Dunedin Hospital programme is New Zealand’s single biggest health infrastructure project and an economic boost for the region. 

“Construction of the inpatient building will provide more than 900 FTE jobs and contribute around $100 million annually to Dunedin’s economy at the peak of construction.

“I am pleased to confirm CPB Contractors Limited as the main construction partner for the delivery of this building.

“CPB has been involved from the early days, working closely with Health New Zealand’s design team on pre-construction activities. With their experience in New Zealand and Australia, we are pleased to have a contractor in place who has the appropriate experience to manage a project of this scale and complexity – approximately 72,000 sqm of space.

“This project is highly complex, which is why we have also put in place a Crown Manager to oversee delivery and ensure CPB completes it on time and within budget.”

Construction resumed at the former Cadbury site in July, beginning with foundations and pile caps. A crane will be in the sky mid-next year, with the hospital due for practical completion in 2030 and open to patients in 2031.

“This Government’s record investment reflects our commitment to delivering a modern, fit-for-purpose hospital that meets the needs of future generations and can adapt to changing models of care.

“With the main contractor now in place, the people of Dunedin, Otago, and Southland can finally look forward to the modern, world-class hospital they need, and now will get,” Mr Brown says.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are working to locate Junior Israel Nelson, who has a warrant for his arrest and is wanted by Police.

Nelson, 53, is wanted in relation to burglary and retail offending and is believed to be in the wider Auckland or Northland regions.

If you have seen Nelson or have any information that may assist in locating him, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250826/9163.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Senior Sergeant Andrew Knox, Eastern Area Response Manager:

Police are aware of a planned gathering of gang members in Waipawa on Sunday and Monday.

As is standard with these events, Police have been proactively engaging with the organisers to ensure activity remains lawful and public disruption is minimalised.

Police would like to reassure Waipawa residents that plans are in place to ensure safety during the planned event.

If anybody witnesses any illegal or dangerous activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report via 105 if it is after the fact.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.