Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is today announcing the reestablishment of the Health New Zealand Board, with new appointments to drive its priority of ensuring timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.  The re-established Health New Zealand Board will take over from the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners appointed last year to stabilise the organisation and set a clear direction.  “Under Professor Lester Levy’s leadership as Commissioner, Health New Zealand has delivered a strong financial plan, and a clear Health Delivery Plan is now in place. He is refocusing the organisation on patients and driving progress on the Government’s health targets, which are seeing waitlists reduced,” Mr Brown says.  Professor Levy has been appointed Chair of Health New Zealand for a 12-month term to ensure continuity of leadership. His appointment will maintain momentum on the Government’s health targets and keep the focus firmly on patients. Mr Brown also announced his intention to begin a nomination process later this year for a permanent Chair to take effect from 1 July 2026.  “I have also appointed an experienced team of Board members who will support Health New Zealand to deliver for patients, including the appointment of Dr Andrew Connolly as Deputy Chair. Dr Connolly is an experienced surgeon and clinical director who has also held numerous appointments across Governments, including Chair of the Medical Council, Crown Monitor, and Commissioner on District Health Boards.  “I am also appointing Hamiora Bowkett as a Crown Observer to keep a close watch on performance and support the Board with independent oversight. This role will focus on supporting the Board’s re-establishment and ensuring Health New Zealand delivers on the Government’s health targets. Mr Bowkett will advise me directly, with a particular focus on Health New Zealand’s financial position and the delivery of health targets.” “We’re also tackling one of the biggest barriers to better care – our ageing health infrastructure – by establishing a dedicated Infrastructure Committee to make sure our Government’s significant investment in health infrastructure delivers modern facilities, on time and on budget.  “This is about accountability. Patients care about seeing a doctor sooner, getting their hip surgery faster, being treated in a hospital that works. That’s what these governance changes are designed to achieve.”  The key appointments include: 
 

Professor Lester Levy, currently Commissioner of Health New Zealand and Chair of the Health Research Council, has been appointed Chair of the Health New Zealand Board for a 12-month term.
Dr Andrew Connolly, a senior surgeon and clinical leader, is appointed Deputy Chair.
Board members include Roger Jarrold, Dr Frances Hughes, Parekawhia McLean, Peter McCardle, and Terry Moore.
Hamiora Bowkett is appointed as Crown Observer to support and monitor Health New Zealand.
A new Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Dr Margaret Wilsher, will oversee the delivery of critical health projects, supported by experienced members: Mark Binns, James Christmas, Sarah Sinclair, Evan Davies, and Roger Jarrold. 

“I want to acknowledge the work of Professor Levy as Commissioner, and thank Deputy Commissioners Roger Jarrold, Ken Whelan, and Kylie Clegg for the rapid progress they have made in refocusing Health New Zealand on patients.  “There is still much work to do, and I look forward to working with the Health New Zealand Board to deliver for patients, achieve the Government’s health targets, and continue driving progress on the key priorities I announced in March.  “These changes ensure we have the right people in the right roles to get it done.”  Appointed members will assume their roles on 23 July 2025, when the Commission ends. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Phill Hamlin, Criminal Investigations Cromwell:

Cromwell Police are appealing for information following significant damage caused to a rural cellular tower in the Lindis Pass-Tarras Road / State Highway 8 area.

Police were called at around 10.50am with reports of significant damage that had been caused to a cellular tower on Lindis Pass-Tarra Road, between Forest Range Station and Goodger Road.

Detective Phill Hamlin says the tower provides cellular service for residents and travellers in the area.

“Cellular service is especially critical in this rural and alpine area,” he says.

“Rural areas tend to rely on fewer cell towers to cover larger areas, and damage to these towers can cause significant reduction or complete loss of cell service in the area.”

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen any suspicious behaviour at or near the tower to please contact us immediately.

We are also asking for anyone who travelled along Lindis Pass-Tarras Road between 7am and 1pm on 6 July, and has dashcam footage, to please get in touch.

If you have any information that could help our enquiries, update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250707/0047.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Sean Cairns, Area Investigations Manager, Southern District Police:

A young person is set to appear in front of the Youth Court today, after he was arrested in relation to two aggravated robberies in Invercargill on Saturday morning.

At around 6am on Saturday, Police responded to two robberies at commercial premises on Tay Street and Dee Street.

The youth fled from the scene of the second robbery in a stolen vehicle, however was located and arrested by Police a short time later near Otepuni Ave.

Enquiries into the two incidents remain ongoing, however Police are not seeking anybody else in relation to them.

We’d also like to thank the members of the public who assisted Police with information at the time.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: PHARMAC

Information on what the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC) will be considering at its upcoming meeting in August 2025.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wescott: 

Police investigating the serious injuries caused to a young baby in the Hutt Valley are now in a position to provide further information on the baby girl’s injuries.

On 14 June, Police were notified that a three-month-old baby had been brought into hospital by her family.

The baby girl had sustained nine fractures, including throughout her ribcage and a fracture to her ankle and upper arm.

Some of these injuries occurred at different times, and Police are working tirelessly to find the truth about how the injuries were sustained.

We do not believe that these injuries could have been accidental.

Police would like to thank everyone who has come forward with information so far, and continue to assess all information as it comes in.

The baby’s condition is thankfully improving, but we continue to ask for anyone who knows anything about how this baby girl sustained such serious injuries to come forward.

If you can help, please contact Police via 105, quoting file number 250614/8509.

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

Source: New Zealand Police

Counties Manukau Police continues to appeal to the wider Māngere community for their assistance in locating Ella Davenport.

Ella, 57, has been missing from her Hain Avenue home since Friday 20 June.

Police have information she is still in the local community, with the last unconfirmed sighting of her being around the BP on Massey Road in late June.

She may also frequent the 24-hour laundromat near the petrol station.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Robb Kerr says: “I would like to thank those in the community who have contacted us or spoken to Police about Ella in recent weeks.

“I’m asking for residents in Māngere and Māngere East to keep an eye out for her.

“If you see her, please contact Police straight away.

“We are concerned for Ella’s wellbeing; on top of this we have been experiencing quite cold and wet weather recently.”

If you have other information which might assist Police, you can update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250621/8662 for Ella’s case.

Police and Ella’s family thank the community for their assistance.

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

One lane is now open while contractors continue to clear the road after the earlier diesel spill.

This will impact anyone planning on travelling between Napier and Taupō.

Motorists are advised to expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: Privacy Commissioner

27 Jun 2025, 02:02

Background

The complainant, who was in New Zealand on a working holiday, was employed at a factory on a short-term basis. They consented to the company taking a photograph of them while they worked and said they thought that the photos were to be only used internally. However, two years later after they’d returned to their home country, the complainant learnt via friends in New Zealand that their photos were being used for marketing. The complainant’s photo had been used on the side of the factory, on billboards, and in shopping centres. The photo was also used in the agency’s annual report. 

The complainant was upset about this as they felt that they had not been fully informed about why their photo was being taken, and that they had not consented to the use of their image for the purpose the company had used it for.  They complained to our Office about the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information.

The principles applying to this case

This complaint raised issues under principles 3, 10, and 11 of the Privacy Act. 

Principle 3 requires agencies to be open about the collection of personal information, telling people at the time of collection why it is being collected and how it will be used. 

Principles 10 and 11 state agencies can generally only use and disclose personal information for the purpose it was collected, and there are limits to using personal information for different purposes. 

Our approach

In this case, the agency felt it had proper consent from the complainant to use their image in the way it had, but the complainant disagreed.  Despite this difference in opinion, both parties (each were legally represented) wanted to be able to resolve the complaint. However, they hadn’t been able to before the complainant (the person in the photo) complained to our Office. 

We focus on resolving complaints wherever possible, and section 77 of the Privacy Act allows us to try to resolve a complaint without first investigating.  

We spoke with both parties who agreed to participate in our conciliation process to discuss their respective positions and try to resolve the complaint. 

Even though the parties didn’t agree on whether the complainant had consented to the use of their image in the way the company had used it, the company was genuinely upset and remorseful that the complainant did not feel they had consented. They accepted that they had caused the complainant a significant level of harm and distress.

The complainant provided psychological reports that explained they had a pre-existing mental health condition, for which they had received treatment and recovered. The evidence the complainant provided made it clear that finding out about the marketing campaign had caused a significant regression and required ongoing psychological care. 

The company apologised and agreed to review its procedures around consent for collection and use of employee photographs. It also agreed to stop using the complainant’s image and to take their picture down from their website and other platforms.  

Financial compensation was also paid, to reimburse the complainant for their legal costs, for their psychological care, and to compensate for the significant injury to feelings the complainant had suffered.

The matter was resolved, and we closed our file.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are continuing to make enquiries to locate missing man Kahu, who was last seen on Friday 27 June.

A vehicle was located in the Whanganui River, matching the description of the vehicle belonging to Kahu.

Kahu is still yet to be located, and we’re asking the public for any sightings of him in the Whanganui area.

He was last seen wearing a black hoody, with red text on the sleeves, and camo cargo pants.

We’re asking anybody who is walking along or near the river or coastline near Whanganui to report any unusual findings or clothing matching the description of what Kahu was wearing.

If you have any information, please contact Police via 105 either over the phone or online, and reference file number 250702/3842.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  07 July 2025

The approved quarry granted to Kokiri Lime Company Limited is a one-hectare site located south of Fox Glacier in the Te Wāhipounamu – South New Zealand World Heritage Area (WHA) on stewardship land and is a continuation of an historic quarry in the area. Kokiri Lime Company Limited originally applied for a 15 hectare site.

Acting Department of Conservation (DOC) Director General Stephanie Rowe, says the decision to grant was finely balanced given the quarry’s location on the edge of the World Heritage Area.

“The quarry is of strategic importance to the West Coast, with major infrastructure projects benefitting both economically and environmentally from locally sourced rock. It will supply rock for local flood protection and roading projects.

“I’m confident that the quarry will not compromise the outstanding natural heritage of this area or the integrity of the World Heritage Area as a whole. The quarry approved for operation is small, at a size of one ha, relative to the 2.6 million ha WHA. Factors in the decision are its location on the very edge of the WHA, its proximity to a previously modified site with regenerating vegetation, and the consideration of specific values at the site.”

“The approval requires the operator to take measures to mitigate the landscape effects of the quarry and protect local wildlife,” says Stephanie Rowe.

Background information 

Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area was established in 1990. It is made up of 2.6 million hectares (almost 10% of New Zealand’s total land area), and 70% of the WHA is located within Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring and Westland Tai Poutini National Parks, with the remainder made up of conservation land of other statuses.

Contact