Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Auckland Council

Aroha for the Manukau Harbour was on display at the highly successful 2025 Manukau Harbour Symposium, hosted by the Manukau Harbour Forum in Green Bay over Kings Birthday weekend.

More than 30 speakers – from rangatahi to specialist experts, mana whenua, scientists, conservation advocates, volunteers, Watercare and Auckland Council staff and elected members – updated the convention on their mahi and shared their stories of hope for the harbour’s future.

Jon Turner, Chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum said there was so much knowledge and experience, both on the stage and in the room.

“Everyone working around the harbour knows there is a great deal of work to do, but today left myself and others feeling inspired and hopeful.

“It was a conversation across generations and disciplines, with many of the speakers laying down a wero (challenge) to the audience.”

The day included the presentation of the new Ngā Tohu o te Manukau – Celebrating Harbour Champions Awards.

 Seven recipients received awards:

• Tohu Tiaki Taiao – Restoration (Group) Award: The CREST
• Tohu Mahitahi – Collaboration Award: Te Korowai o Papatūānuku – a partnership project of Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua and Āwhitu Landcare
• Tohu Whai Wāhi – Individual Awards : Siobhan O’Grady and Paul Arthur
• Highly Acclaimed: Manukau Harbour Restoration Society, Row Robinson and Kathy Nielson.

A range of community groups hosted information booths about their projects, along with Watercare and Auckland Council’s Marine Biosecurity team.

The Symposium is supported by the Manukau Harbour Forum, a joint committee formed by the nine local boards of Auckland Council that surround the harbour. It advocates for better resourcing and a stronger focus on this taonga.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to the family of Liam Hockings:

As a family, we are still coming to terms with the devastating loss of Liam, who tragically lost his life in the Loafers Lodge fire. He would have turned 53, just a few days ago.

Liam was much loved – an intelligent, caring, and unforgettable character. His absence has left a huge void in our lives and in the wider Newtown community that knew and cherished him.

We are aware that charges have now been laid by NZ Police against people involved with the management and operation of Loafers Lodge. While nothing can bring the victims back, we support this step toward accountability.

This tragedy has highlighted serious concerns about the safety and conditions of some accommodation, particularly for vulnerable people in our communities who are often housed in buildings like this. Everyone deserves a safe place to live – regardless of their circumstances – and we urge all those who own, operate, or manage buildings to take their responsibilities seriously. Buildings must be safe, compliant, well maintained. Lives literally depend on it.

We also want to acknowledge the tremendous professionalism, integrity, and compassion shown by the New Zealand Police and the investigative team. Their diligence and care throughout this process has meant a great deal to us.

Our hearts go out to the families of the other victims who are grieving alongside us.

We hope that, through this process, Liams death will not have been in vain, and that it may lead to real, lasting change that protects others in the future, so that no other family has to endure what we have.

We ask for privacy as we continue to grieve Liam and we will be making no further comment at this time.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre
 

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Timothy Leitch – Wellington Area Investigations Manager:

Today, Police have charged three people with manslaughter in relation to the fatal fire at Loafers Lodge on 16 May 2023.

Two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman will appear in the Wellington District Court later today, each facing charges of manslaughter.

Police have spoken to a third man and expect to also charge him with manslaughter in the coming days.

A dedicated team at Police has been working since the tragedy to establish if the state of the building and the management and compliance of its fire safety systems contributed to the fatal outcome.

The people we have charged today were involved with the management and operation of the building, and Police allege they were responsible for aspects of the building’s fire safety system.

Police previously charged a 50-year-old man with murder in relation to deliberately lighting the fatal fire. This matter is before the High Court, with a trial scheduled to start on 25 August 2025.

Police, Fire and Emergency and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment would like to take this opportunity to remind all those who own or manage a building, particularly buildings with sleeping accommodation, of their responsibility to ensure those who occupy their premises are protected from fire.

• Ensure your obligations are met under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 by having the necessary evacuation procedures in place, and an approved evacuation scheme if you have a ‘relevant building’. 

• Ensure the means of escape from fire for your building are maintained as outlined in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Regulations 2018.

• Where applicable, ensure you understand the maintenance requirements for the specified systems outlined in your building’s compliance schedule as required under the Building Act 2004, particularly those relating to the building emergency warning system or fire alarm.

• If you are the owner of a tenanted residential property, ensure your fire safety obligations are met under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

The loss of life and injuries experienced during this fire were preventable, and Police would like to acknowledge the long-term impact, on those who lost loved ones, the residents who lost their friends, their home and treasured personal property, as well as the many others that have been affected by the far reaching and devastating event.

As this matter is now before the courts, police will not be commenting further.

Media reference material:

Evacuation Schemes and Procedures

Evacuation Schemes and procedures | Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Building Act 2004

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2004/0072/latest/dlm306036.Html

Compliance Schedule information

https://www.building.govt.nz/projects-and-consents/sign-off-and-maintena…

Managing your BWoF | Building Performance

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/DLM94278.html
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/maintenance-and-inspections/laws-and-bylaws/
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/maintenance-and-inspections/smoke-alarms/

ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
 

Source: ACT Party

ACT’s Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron has welcomed long overdue reforms to Fish & Game New Zealand, saying the days of licence fees being weaponised against farmers are finally coming to an end.

“For too long, Fish & Game has acted like a rogue lobby group by using hunters’ and anglers’ fees to wage war on the very people who care for our waterways because they’re the ones out there buying the licences,” says Mr Cameron.

“In Southland, farmers have been treated like villains. Local Fish & Game councils have backed court cases that would force thousands of farmers to get resource consents just to keep farming – massively increasing costs and red tape.

“That kind of activist overreach has destroyed decades of goodwill from farmers who’ve voluntarily allowed public access to their land.

“These reforms focus Fish & Game on its actual job: supporting hunting and fishing, not harassing the rural communities who make those activities possible.

“Fish & Game was never meant to be a political battering ram for anti-farming ideology. It exists to serve licence holders – and many of those are farmers.

“ACT is proud to back these changes and proud to stand with rural New Zealand.”

Source: New Zealand Police

District:

Source: New Zealand Government

The Disability Support Services Taskforce will be extended for a year to continue its progress in stabilising the disability support system and shaping it for the future.
Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston says the Taskforce has been extended to 30 June 2026, with its work further enhanced by a billion-dollar funding boost announced in last month’s Budget.
“This Government is committed to the ongoing support of the disability community and delivering better outcomes for disabled people, their families and carers,” Louise Upston says. 
“We’ve demonstrated this in Budget 2025, where the DSS Budget received $1 billion in additional funding over four years – that’s about $250 million a year of new money. 
“This includes $60 million a year in residential care funding increases and about $190 million a year for increases across all DSS services for cost pressures, including care in the community.
“We are making good progress in delivering for disabled people, and the Taskforce will continue to play a key role.  
“In August 2024, the Independent Review made recommendations to manage increasing cost pressures faced by DSS.
“The Taskforce was established to lead the implementation of these recommendations. That important work is progressing well, and I am now looking to the Taskforce to lead more work to further strengthen the system.
“The Taskforce has already made significant progress to stabilise DSS, including:

reviewing pricing and contracting arrangements for residential care, which are being implemented following Budget 2025
improving systems and processes for assessing performance and forecasting expenditure
reviewing needs assessment and allocation, and flexible funding settings so they better meet the needs of disabled people, their whānau and carers. 

“My expectation is that DSS will continue to involve the disability community in discussions about how disability support services are delivered. I’ll have more to say on the next phase of work in the coming months,” Louise Upston says. 
Notes for Editors 
New funding for DSS in Budget 2025 included:

$1 billion over four years towards meeting the increasing costs of disability support services (including $240 million for residential care) and to support more people to access those services. 
$10 million over two years to address the increasing costs for services and support for people with an intellectual disability and complex care needs who live in secure or supervised care under the High and Complex Framework. This will also fund critical workforce training initiatives and essential infrastructure, including repairs and maintenance upgrades. 
$9.5 million over four years to recognise and respond to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. This includes work to strengthen how DSS audits the quality of its services, critical incident and complaints management processes and systems, and to contribute to other cross agency work to improve recordkeeping and the capability of the disability workforce.

 
 

Source: New Zealand Government

Reforms to modernise and strengthen Fish & Game New Zealand will improve the national management of hunting and fishing resources and advocacy, while maintaining local control over local fishing and hunting rules, Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager has announced. 

“I want to make it as easy as possible for Kiwis to go hunting and fishing in New Zealand. This long overdue reform to Fish & Game will refocus the organisation on its core job of managing our sport fishing and game bird resources and implement a more professional approach to national decision making,” Mr Meager says.

“It is important to our economy that Fish & Game is a well-functioning, highly effective and efficient organisation. Licence holders are estimated to spend up to $138 million every year, and our hunting and fishing resources are the envy of the world, drawing in tourists from across the globe. 

“Previous reviews have made clear current legislation is not fit for purpose, resulting in internal dysfunction, wasted revenue on duplicated activities and staff, variable governance practices, disconnect from licence holders and local advocacy which has overstepped the mark. These long-standing issues must be addressed.”

The reforms will make several key changes, including:

• Clarifying the roles and responsibilities so that regional Fish & Game councils focus on delivering hunting and fishing opportunities on the ground, with the New Zealand Council responsible for administrative tasks and policies.
• Shifting to a nationalised fee collection system to reduce double handling of licence fees and ensuring funding follows the demand on the resource.
• Making more licence holders eligible to vote and stand in Fish & Game elections and requiring councillors to comply with professional standards.
• Requiring Fish & Game councils to better consider the interests of other stakeholders such as farmers and the aviation sector in decision-making.
• Requiring a national policy around advocacy and restricting court proceedings to within that policy.

A stand-alone Fish & Game Act will be created, to better recognise the organisation’s contribution to helping New Zealanders hunt and fish.

“Sports fishing and game bird hunting are well-established traditions and important recreational pastimes for Kiwis. They have positive impacts on our regional economies and create wider benefits for tourism, wellbeing and our environment – making it even more crucial its regulator is modern and credible”, Mr Meager says.

Legislation will be introduced this year, and the Select Committee will provide an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the proposals.

Source: New Zealand Police

The north bound carriage way of State Highway 1, south of Cambridge is closed.

A vehicle crash has ocurred and is blocking the north bound carriageway.

The road closure is expected to last for at least 45 minutes, until the road is cleared of vehicles and debris.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 2, Matawai Road, between Gisborne (from the intersection with Back Ormond Road) and Opotiki has been closed.

Multiple slips along the length of the road will need to be cleared.

Roading crews have been deployed to assess and clear the obstructions.

There is no time scale available for this closure due to the number of slips and obstructions.

Motorists are requested to take an alternative route where possible or delay their travel.

ENDS

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  05 June 2025

The Department of Conservation is working with Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro to replace Oturere Hut. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring, and Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts will remain bookable online through the DOC website.

Department of Conservation Operations Manager Libby O’Brien says it’s a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy small tasters of the Tongariro Northern Circuit.

“This is a great chance for people who might never have stayed in a DOC hut, or perhaps in Tongariro National Park, to have an overnight experience this summer. These small bites of the normal loop track are suitable for families and those not quite ready for a full Great Walk.”

She says the existing Oturere Hut is more than 50 years old.

“It no longer meets the standards we want to deliver for this Great Walk, so we’re working with Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro to deliver a new building which better reflects the mana of the Dual World Heritage National Park.”

Designers have worked closely with Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro to incorporate cultural elements and hapū identity across the design.

Due to construction taking place at the existing hut site, Oturere Campsite and all facilities associated with Oturere Hut are closed for safety reasons this summer, meaning Tongariro Northern Circuit cannot operate as a Great Walk for the 2025-2026 season.

Libby says the walk between Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts is challenging without Oturere as a stop.

“It’s a 20 kilometre walk with a lot of elevation gain, so it’s a lot more demanding than what we offer with our Great Walk experiences.”

“While the new Oturere Hut is under construction, we’re encouraging people to try a small bite of the Circuit by having an overnighter at Mangatepopo or Waihohonu huts.”

Bookings for Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts will open on the DOC website in July.

The work on the new Oturere Hut will make the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk an even better experience and help it be enjoyed for many years to come.

Background information

• The Tongariro Northern Circuit cannot function as a Great Walk without Oturere Hut. The walk between Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts is 20 km through steep, rough alpine terrain. It takes 8-10 hours in an environment with fast-changing, extreme weather. DOC asks visitors to consider their fitness and preparedness carefully before committing to this walk.
• The campsite and all facilities associated with Oturere Hut will be closed for safety reasons. Construction activities and helicopter movements will make the area dangerous for members of the public.

Contact