Infrastructure, Transport and Housing Minister Chris Bishop will travel to New York and Texas tomorrow for a range of meetings across housing, planning, urban development and transport, including a keynote speech at the Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange Programme.
“In New York I will be holding a series of meetings with city officials and other stakeholders about their introduction of congestion pricing. The early results for New York are very promising, and with legislation allowing time of use charging schemes in New Zealand soon to report back from select committee, I look forward to bringing home lessons learned to ensure our scheme is a success from the start,” Mr Bishop says.
“While in New York, I will meet with Professor Edward Glaeser, a leading global expert on urban economics, to discuss how governments can support affordable, thriving, and productive cities. I will also deliver a keynote speech at the Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange Programme, highlighting the Coalition Government’s efforts to create a well-functioning urban land and housing system. The Forum is a network of over 1,000 civic leaders committed to making New York a better place to live – a goal I strongly share for New Zealand.
“I will also spend a couple of days in Houston, Texas, the home of affordable housing in the United States. My engagements will focus on conversations with government agencies and local experts about their planning system and funding and financing tools which have seen the city make significant gains in delivering affordable housing.
“The Government’s ‘Going for Housing Growth’ policy draws lessons from the flexible land markets enabled by a liberal planning system in jurisdictions like Texas and I am looking forward to discussing this with local experts.”
Mr Bishop departs for the United States on Saturday 5 July and will return on Sunday 13 July.
Counties Manukau Police nabbed four prolific shoplifters after allegedly racking up more than $17,000 in unpaid groceries.
Earlier this week Police arrested a 54-year-old man from Manurewa after he was identified as a high risk, recidivist retail crime offender.
Counties Manukau Central Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Warrick Adkin, says officers visited the man at home where he was arrested and charged with 12 counts of shoplifting and burglary.
Inspector Adkin says it’s alleged the man has stolen more $10,000 worth of grocery items and other products in the space of just two months.
“His arrest is a great win for retailers and Police as the offender has allegedly been actively targeting retail stores across Counties Manukau District on a daily basis.”
The man has been remanded in custody and will reappear in Manukau District Court on 18 August.
Inspector Adkin says Police also apprehended a further three people in relation to shoplifting and burglary offences throughout the district in the past six months.
“We have charged the trio, who are family members, with a total of 36 charges.
“We will allege the group stole more than $7000 worth of grocery items.
“It’s really pleasing to have brought four people before the court in relation to these crimes and for them to be held accountable for their actions.”
A 54-year-old man was remanded in custody to reappear in Manukau District Court on 22 July facing charges of shoplifting and burglary.
A 53-year-old woman charged with seven counts of shoplifting will appear in Manukau District Court today.
A 20-year-old woman facing 14 charges of shoplifting will reappear in Manukau District Court on 18 July.
New Zealand Food Safety is supporting NZ Drinks Ltd in its recall of Hydr8 Spring Water (600ml x 24) as the product may contain blue plastic.
“The concern with the affected batches of bottled water is that they could contain soft shreds of blue plastic, which could be a choking hazard,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
“If you have any Hydr8 Spring Water in the 24-pack of 600ml bottles, with best-before dates of: 10 JUN 27, 11 JUN 27, and 16 JUN 27, don’t drink it. Return it to the place of purchase for a refund. If that’s not possible, throw it out.”
The affected products are sold at selected supermarkets throughout the North Island. They have been removed from store shelves and have not been exported.
Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for up-to-date information and photographs of the affected product.
New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated injury.
“As is our usual practice, New Zealand Food Safety will work with NZ Drinks Ltd to understand how this happened and prevent it happening again,” says Mr Arbuckle.
The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the New Zealand Food Safety food recall page.
Litres of Fantasy or GBL, pills and other illegal substances ordered through international online sources and imported into New Zealand to be sold in the local Waikato market have been uncovered in a joint operation by Waikato Organised Crime and New Zealand Customs.
Earlier this year, staff at Police and Customs identified a spike in the importation of GBL and 1,4-B (a drug similar to GBL), and an investigation was launched.
On Tuesday, the Waikato Organised Crime Squad, with assistance from Customs, the Armed Offenders Squad, and other Waikato Police staff executed warrants at two residential addresses and two storage facilities.
A total of 4L of 1,4-B, 129 cannabis plants, 1kg of dried cannabis, 100 BZP pills, and ammunition were located across the properties. This follows a previous seizure of 30L of GBL at the border.
A 40-year-old man and 42-year-old woman were arrested and charged with a variety of offences including importing a Fantasy type substance, supplying a Fantasy type substance, supplying methamphetamine, cultivating cannabis and supplying cannabis.
Detective Inspector Daryl Smith of the Waikato Organised Crime Squad warned those who attempted to buy drugs online that Police and Customs are on to them.
“This investigation sends a message to drug dealers shopping online – you can’t hide behind the internet.”
This week’s warrants also showed the value of the partnership between Customs and NZ Police to tackle international crime syndicates and the importation of illegal drugs into New Zealand, he said.
Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams said Customs is committed to identifying and disrupting the smuggling of illicit substances into our country.
“This is another great example of the collaborative work between Customs and Police. These arrests have prevented the distribution of harmful drugs into the Waikato, leaving our communities safer as a result.”
Counties Manukau Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the man in this photo.
We are hoping he can assist with an ongoing enquiry into an altercation near the Burger King in Manukau on the morning of 20 June, and would like to speak with him.
If this is you, or you know who this is, please contact Police via 105 online or by phone and quote file number: 250620/7181.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has established its first dedicated space unit with the reactivation of the No. 62 Squadron today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.
“This reflects our commitment to protecting New Zealand’s interests and security in the rapidly evolving space domain,” Ms Collins says.
“Space is vital for modern life. We rely on space-based infrastructure for a range of critical services, from weather observation to financial transactions.
“This is an important signal that we’re taking space security seriously.”
No. 62 Squadron was reactivated at a formal ceremony at RNZAF Base Auckland today. Originally active during World War II, the squadron supported Allied operations through the innovative use of radar technology. Now, its mission shifts to space domain awareness.
“The squadron’s initial focus will be on monitoring, analysing, and understanding space activity to safeguard national and international interests,” Ms Collins says.
“Recent global developments have highlighted the need for resilient, advanced defence capabilities. This move is part of the work the New Zealand Defence Force is doing to maintain a combat-capable, flexible force.”
The reactivation supports the recent Defence Capability Plan which outlined $12 billion of planned commitments to upgrade the Defence Force over the next four years.
Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta me Hineahuone, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, Toitū te tangata.
Significant investment into supporting native species and tackling invasive pests in national parks has been announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.
Mr Potaka visited the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust facility near Christchurch today, where he announced $22 million from the International Visitor Levy will go to restoring unique wildlife in national parks, islands and other popular visitor sites over the next three years.
Last year, nearly three-quarters of international visitors said they did a hike, walk or tramp while in Aotearoa New Zealand, and around half visited a national park.
“Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4 billion a year,” says Mr Potaka.
“By backing conservation and sustainable tourism, the government also boosts our economy. This funding is strategically split between supporting our native species and tackling invasive pests—giving birds, bush, marine life and landscapes respite to recover.
“We’re putting $4.15 million into expanding predator control, plus $11.5 million on the recovery of highly threatened species, including tara iti, at national parks and popular sites so visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed.
“Almost $7 million will target feral goats which remove the forest undergrowth and prevent regeneration.
“People fly here with the dream of enjoying our world-class environment and we want to make that experience even better for them. It’s about generations of whānau camping out and struggling to sleep because of noisy kiwi calling outside; later waking to find only precious footprints.
“I’m delighted $1.7 million of this will go towards protecting critically endangered Canterbury locals—kakī/black stilts and kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets.
“There are only about 400 of these parakeets in the world. They nest in trees, cared for by both parents – but parent birds are no match for rats and stoats. If these invasive predators are around, eggs and chicks are quickly wiped out.
“We want to protect and grow rare species like these so more people can enjoy them at places closer to home like at The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary near Nelson.
“Budget 2025 allocates $55 million per annum to DOC for new investments from money raised under the new $100 IVL rate.
“New Zealand attracts visitors who care about nature and every cent that goes into conservation is an investment in our environment and our economy.”
Additional information for editors on the IVL projects:
Expanding landscape scale predator control ($4.15m over 26/27 and 27/28)
Additional work in National Parks and priority sites, to grow populations of iconic bird species.
The IVL funding will allow DOC to boost predator control operations in 2 or potentially 3 priority areas in response to the beech mast forecast for 2026.
Potential locations (triggered by monitoring and need for urgent beechmast response) include: Fiordland, Mt Aspiring, Arthur’s Pass, and Kahurangi National Parks in 26/27.
IVL funding will also enable the government to maintain the gains of philanthropic projects, maximising predator control outcomes from the NEXT Foundation investment: e.g. in Abel Tasman, Taranaki Mounga and Predator Free South Westland.
Goat management in National Parks and popular visitor areas ($6.9m over 3 years from 25/26) where damage results in visitors experiencing forests with limited understory.
Priority locations for focus:
Whanganui and Kahurangi National Parks
Iconic landscapes of Marlborough.
In some places it is viable to eradicate (totally remove) goats, creating huge cost efficiencies over the long-term, and reducing the impact of goats on forests.
Priority locations include:
Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Kaimai Forest Park
Nelson Lakes National Park
Increasing populations of threatened species in national parks, islands and popular sites ($11.5m over 3 years).
While increased weed and predator control will help many threatened species, there are targeted actions needed to ensure recovery of our most threatened and iconic species.
Initial focus of the IVL funding will be on the recovery of priority, highly threatened species that occur in national parks and high visitation sites, so that visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed.
2025/26 IVL funded species include:
Enhancing biodiversity on islands in popular visitor areas and ensuring appropriate protection is in place for biosecurity on high priority islands. For 2025/26, funding is allocated to the Hauraki Gulf, Marlborough Sounds, Kapiti and Fiordland islands.
Police have arrested six youth in relation to three recent arson incidents in the Rolleston area.
Over the last week, Police have received three separate reports of arson involving buildings in the Rolleston Reserve area.
After following lines of enquiry, including CCTV, Police identified and located six youth in relation to the incidents and were taken into custody.
Sergeant Phil Bayne says Police understand these incidents can be disappointing to the community, and is pleased Police can hold the alleged offenders to account.
“Thanks to proactive and strong teamwork, we were able to identify and locate those believed to be involved quickly.”
The six youth have been referred to Youth Aid.
“We urge parents and caregivers to make sure their rangatahi are acting responsibly, and to be aware of where they are and what they are doing.
“Small choices can have lasting consequences – for individuals and the wider community, and anything could go wrong.
“We do not want to be knocking on your door at 2am telling you something serious has happened involving your young people.”
If you see any suspicious or unlawful behaviour in the community, please contact Police on 111 immediately with as much information you can safely gather.
Information can be reported in non-emergencies or after-the-fact online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Make a Report” or call 105.
As a WorkSafe prosecution comes to a close, two workers overcome by fumes from a toxic gas pit have for the first time told of their experience of narrowly dodging death.
The men were doing an excavation, to try to fix the smell of rotting plasterboard at the Taylorville Resource Park near Greymouth in August 2023. The smell was hydrogen sulphide and the workers were not told of dangerously high levels of the toxic, colourless gas measured weeks before at the contaminated waste facility.
The excavator operator went into the pit to clear a pump blockage but as he was climbing out fell unconscious and face down into black liquid at the base of the pit, known as leachate. His supervisor saw this from above and twice fell unconscious while trying to rescue him. He eventually managed to climb out and call for help.
The pit at Taylorville Resource Park where two men were overcome by hydrogen sulphide.
WorkSafe found inadequate risk assessment and planning for the excavation work, workers not being advised of the risks of hydrogen sulphide, and no gas monitors available on site. Two companies were prosecuted for health and safety failures and have now been sentenced in the Greymouth District Court.
Both survivors have permanent name suppression. The supervisor suffered from toxic gas exposure and now lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Every night for the first six months after the incident and now once a week, I wake up suffering flashbacks thinking I am still in the pit, not being able to breathe, and thinking I am going to die,” says the 64-year-old who has not been able to work since.
Although the man has been left “in a dark financial situation” he says there have been other losses too.
“My entire social circle consisted solely of my workmates so when I lost my job, I suddenly lost my social network and became socially isolated and alone… losing my social circle has probably been my biggest loss.”
“This incident has taken away my life, all my goals and aspirations can no longer be achieved. The mental, physical, and financial impacts have had a profound impact in every area of my life and will continue to do so for a long time.”
The operator suffered chemical burns to his eyes, chemical pneumonitis, atrial fibrillation, and seizures. He is now 38 and has returned to work. He has no memory of the incident, although he says he “feels bad for what happened” to his colleague “and the stress he had to go through when he pulled me out of the leachate”.
WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.
“We salute the courage it has taken for these two survivors to stay strong throughout our investigation and prosecution,” says WorkSafe’s Inspectorate Head, Rob Pope.
“The experience these men have gone through was both terrifying and completely avoidable. It’s only by sheer luck that both survived. Businesses must manage their health and safety risks, and when they do not we will hold them to account.”
Taylorville Resource Park Limited and Paul Smith Earthmoving 2002 Ltd were sentenced at Greymouth District Court on 4 July 2025.
Taylorville Resource Park was fined $302,500 and Paul Smith Earthmoving $272,250. Reparations of $81,256 were also ordered.
Both entities were charged under sections 48(1) and (2)(c) and s 36(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Being a PCBU having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely carrying out the excavation and associated work to access the base of Cell C (the excavation work), did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury.
The maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $1.5 million.
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