Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Aotearoa Infinite Academy, Te Aratika High School, and Altum Academic, will open in Term 1 2026 as charter schools.

“Every child deserves an education that gives them the opportunity to learn and grow in ways which are more specific to their needs. All of the schools announced today demonstrate the innovation enabled by the charter school model,” Mr Seymour says. 

• Aotearoa Infinite Academy is an online school for students. The school recognises that many students face barriers to attendance and provides those students with another option. The school teaches students in small virtual classrooms, which removes some of those barriers. For example, students whose location gets in the way of their education, or who don’t benefit from being in traditional classrooms.
• Te Aratika High School in the Hawkes Bay will prepare disengaged Māori and Pacific students for employment. Students will learn a vocational curriculum primarily focussed on the trades, and tailored to each individual. The school recognises that many students have had a tough start to life, which has hurt their relationship with education. The teaching style will rebuild the relationship by tying in the cultural values of students to create a sense of belonging.
• Altum Academy will be the first charter school to open in Wellington. Altum will look at addressing the equity gap in education by enabling disadvantaged students access to a school with strong teaching workforce. The school will teach Classical Education. Students will be taught how to learn and thinkbased on the Trivium method. The method identifies a three-stage natural development of a students’ education; grammar, logic, and rhetoric. In the early years (Grammar stage) students learn facts through recitation and repetition, and by asking ‘what’. In the middle years (Logic stage) students learn to ask ‘how’ and ‘why’. In the high school years (Rhetoric stage) students will learn to persuade others that facts are true. 

“They will join the three new charter schools announced in August opening in Term 1 2026. This takes the total number of charter schools to 14. We expect more new charter schools to be announced before the end of the year, along with the first state schools to convert,” Mr Seymour says. 

“I want to thank the Charter School Agency and independent Authorisation Board for the work they have done to progress this important work. They oversaw a robust and fair application process this year, which considered 52 applicants for new charter schools.

“This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.

“The huge demand to open charter schools not only highlights the need, but also the commitment of people to provide varied educational opportunities for young New Zealanders to maximise educational outcomes. Positive education outcomes can lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash at the intersection of Horse Range Road and Trotters Gorge Road in Palmerston on Saturday 11 October.

He was Trevor John Harris, 57, of Timaru.

Our sympathies are with Trevor’s family and friends.

Sergeant Tony Woodbridge says Police would also like to acknowledge the members of the public who came to the victim’s aid.

“It was a father and his son, who stopped and helped by administering CPR before emergency services arrived.

“Your efforts did not go unnoticed,” he says.

Victim Support services have been provided to all those involved.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

There is flooding and a number of slips on State Highway 3 just north of Awakino in the Awakino Gorge, as a result of significant weather in the area.

This has made the road impassable in places, and Police there are aware of some vehicles that are unable to move as a result.

Motorists are urged not to travel through the Gorge area until the slips can be cleared and the road made safe by contractors who are on scene.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s mandating of structured literacy is transforming the reading achievement of new entrants nationwide, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Activity is set to ramp up at State Highway 35 (SH35) Rotokautuku Bridge, near Ruatoria, with the next phase of cyclone repairs starting soon.

The bridge, over the Waiapu river, is a vital link for whānau, workers, communities and freight across the East Coast. 

Cyclone Gabrielle caused serious flooding and erosion beneath the bridge, damaging the riverbank and parts of the structure. 

The bridge remains structurally sound and has already undergone targeted repairs to its bearings and cross bracing. That initial work is expected to be finished shortly.

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) and local contractors are carrying out work on the bridge. TREC project manager, Richard Bayley says the next phase of works will build back and strengthen the riverbank and help protect the bridge from future flood damage. 

“Crews will stabilise and build back the riverbank and repair and refill the sheet pile groynes (steel structures) that guide the river and hold the bank in place,” he says. 

“We’ll also install several 4-tonne rock bags and around 200 locally made dolosse to absorb the river’s energy and protect the bridge foundations from erosion.”

A blessing has been held onsite ahead of enabling work starting next Monday. Construction is expected to finish in April 2026, weather permitting.

Most of the work will take place beneath the bridge, out of sight. Traffic impacts will be minor, but river access in this area will be restricted while work is underway. Fences and security cameras will be in place.  

Tiaki i te Awa I Protecting the Waiapu River during work

Local hapū representative Tui Warmenhoven is working alongside the TREC team on the project. 

She says Rauru a Toi hapū kaitiaki are collaborating closely with TREC environmental specialists to ensure river works uphold cultural values, protect taonga species, and preserve the mauri of the awa.

“The bridge and river are both deeply significant to our whānau. This bridge keeps us connected to vital services in Ruatoria, and the river is part of who we are. It’s essential the work here honours the awa and protects it for generations to come.”

 A temporary coffer dam will keep the work area dry and safely separated from the river flow.  Before work starts the environmental team and kaitiaki check for nesting birds and relocate fish from the work area. Water levels and sediment will be monitored to keep the river healthy during the project. 

Find out more about TREC recovery work and sign-up for fortnightly updates.(external link)

View larger/downloadable graphic [PDF, 8 MB]

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Northland District Commander, Superintendent Matt Srhoj:

A critical incident investigation is underway following a fatal crash in Whangārei on the weekend.

At about 11.15pm on Saturday, a Police unit observed a Holden travelling at high speed along Dave Culham Drive.

The Police unit responded and the red and blue lights were activated on Riverside Drive.

The exact response will form part of the critical investigation.

From Riverside Drive the Holden turned onto Memorial Drive and crashed shortly thereafter.

Officers immediately rendered first aid, however despite their best efforts the driver, and sole occupant of the car, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A scene examination has since been completed by the Serious Crash Unit.

There are several investigations now underway, which will work to establish all the facts surrounding this tragic incident.

This includes notifying the Independent Police Conduct Authority, as is standard procedure.

We are also working to support the family of the deceased, as well as our staff who were involved.

As part of our investigation, we are seeking witnesses who may have been in the area at the time and anyone who may have CCTV between Port Rosd and Memorial Drive to help establish the circumstances.       

If you have information, please update Police online now or call 105.

Please use reference number 251012/3275.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Rotorua Area Commander, Herby Ngawhika:

A man is facing court after a quick-thinking member of the public phoned 111 about his manner of driving in the Galatea/Murupara area.

On Sunday 12 October at around 6pm, Police received the call reporting someone allegedly driving dangerously along Troutbeck Road.

Police responded and located the vehicle a short time after and it was pulled over on Kopuriki Road.

A routine breath alcohol test was administered, to which the driver has blown around three times the legal limit.

Police would like to thank the member of our community for their vigilance and prompt reporting of the alleged dangerous driving, which led to this driver being held to account. It’s extremely lucky that no one was hurt.

A 69-year-old man is due to appear in Rotorua District Court on 16 October, charged with driving with excess breath alcohol for the third or subsequent time.

ENDS

Issued in Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are appealing for information about an Auckland teenager who is missing from her Mt Roskill home.

Dannii is 16-years-old and described as 163cm tall, with brown eyes and dark curly hair.

She is also known to be quiet by nature and keeps to herself.

Police and Dannii’s family have concerns for her welfare and would like to find her as soon as possible.

If you have seen Dannii or have any information that could help us find her please contact Police immediately on 111 and quote file number 251009/5045.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government welcomes new data showing a healthy growth in international visitor numbers and improved confidence across the tourism industry. 

“International tourism, as New Zealand’s second highest export earner, is a key part of our economic recovery,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. 

“So it is great to see that international visitor arrivals in August were up 7.5 per cent from the same time last year. With summer around the corner, we are making steady progress against our goal to return to pre-COVID visitor levels, sitting at 88 per cent of December 2019 numbers.

“More visitors means more full tables in our restaurants, more bookings in our hotels, more people visiting our regions and attractions, and more jobs being created across the country.”

The latest International Travel and Migration (ITM) data from Statistics New Zealand shows that of the 230,300 international visitor arrivals in August 2025, 52 per cent were from Australia, 9 per cent were from China, and 5 per cent were from the United States. 

“These positive statistics reflect what the tourism industry is obviously seeing themselves first hand with a Tourism Industry Association survey also out today showing 86 per cent of tourism organisations feeling confident about the year ahead. Up 11 per cent on last year’s results.

“We know the benefits a thriving tourism and hospitality sector bring to our economy, supporting local regions and communities. That’s why our Government has been making a series of investments this year to boost demand and position New Zealand as a go-to destination for people considering their next holiday.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services in Northland are at the scene of a single vehicle crash on Whangārei Heads Road, Tamaterau.

A vehicle is reportedly on fire down steep bank.

Road diversions are currently in place on Mackesy Road and Owhiwa Roads.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and that road closures may be in place for some time.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police