Category: MIL-OSI

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Release: Govt ignores the voices of survivors

Source:

Survivors of abuse in state care have a right to feel disappointed and sidelined by the Government.

“The Royal Commission was very clear, survivors needed to be involved in designing and implementing a new, independent system for redress. The Government has completely ignored that,” Labour Leader Chirs Hipkins said.

“Putting more money into an existing redress system that so many of the survivors have already said they have no confidence in just isn’t good enough.

“We offered to take politics off the table and work with the Government to make sure we lived up to the words in our formal apologies last year. The Government chose not to take up this offer.

“I want to be clear the Labour Party has not been involved in today’s announcement. We think it misses the mark and fails to live up to the Prime Minister’s lofty talk in the formal apology he delivered last year.

“The Government promised not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Today’s announcement shows those were hollow words,” Chris Hipkins said.

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Name release: Fatal crash, Little River

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are now in a position to release the name of the two people who were killed on Christchurch-Akaroa Road at Little River on 3 April.

They were Jack Delano Clark, 91, and Anne Craig, 79.

Our thoughts and sympathies are with their next of kin at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Petdirect Appoints Chief Veterinary Officer

Source: Tairāwhiti Graduates Celebrate Success – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Petdirect Appoints Chief Veterinary Officer

Petdirect has appointed Dr Olja Jovovich as its first Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) following the successful launch of Petdirect Pharmacy in 2024. With rising demand for at-home access to prescription pet medications, Dr Jovovich will lead clinical governance and ensure regulatory compliance. She brings over a decade of experience, including leadership roles at Animates Vetcare and Practical CPD. Her appointment underscores Petdirect’s commitment to trusted, affordable pet healthcare as it scales its pharmacy offering across New Zealand.

The post Petdirect Appoints Chief Veterinary Officer first appeared on PR.co.nz.

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Review seeks to improve Waitangi Tribunal

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Reviewing the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 will ensure the Waitangi Tribunal is best placed to continue serving the interests of Māori and all New Zealanders into the future, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says.
The New Zealand First and National Party coalition agreement includes a commitment to refocus the scope, purpose, and nature of the Tribunal’s inquiries back to its original intent.
“Over the past 50 years, the Tribunal has made significant contributions to the Māori Crown relationship and informed the settlement of both historical and contemporary Treaty claims impacting generations of whānau across the country.
“Given the progress of historical claims and settlements and concerns about the Tribunal’s current workload, it is timely to review the legislation that determines how it undertakes its inquiries.
“A review of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 will ensure the Tribunal continues to effectively meet the intent of the legislation – considering claims relating to breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi – and providing timely, well-reasoned findings,” Mr Potaka says.
An Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) will lead the review, supported by Te Puni Kōkiri. The review will consider whether the Act provides clarity around the Tribunal’s jurisdiction, how different types of claims are managed, and how the legislation aligns with other legislation. 
The ITAG will be chaired by legal expert Bruce Gray KC, and will include senior public servant Kararaina Calcott-Cribb, lawyer David Cochrane, and respected Māori leader Dion Tuuta.
“The ITAG will engage directly with peak Māori and Iwi entities, Treaty law experts, and current and former Tribunal members to ensure that the right voices and perspectives are reflected in the recommendations they provide to ministers at the end of their review,” says Mr Potaka.
“The review will ensure the Waitangi Tribunal remains focused, relevant, effective and fit for purpose not just for today, but for the generations to come.”
Engagement will begin in mid-2025 and continue throughout the review process. Advice will be provided to ministers, including NZ First Minister Shane Jones, by September 2025, with legislative proposals intended to be introduced before the end of the year.

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Bike racks are back for Canterbury buses with no restrictions

Source: PISA results continue to show more to be done for equity in education

We have worked closely with our operators and NZTA to identify and fix the issues in our fleet.  

The solution has seen operators installing additional lights on the buses that provide the necessary visibility.  

“We are so pleased to be able to offer this service fully to our community again,” Chair Craig Pauling said.  

“We also want to recognise all the work which has taken place to make this happen – there were many long days and nights of testing lights and working on a solution. It’s been no small feat.  

“We know people have been itching to use the racks as normal. This will allow them to do just that,” he added. 

The addition of extra lights means bike racks are back in use on Metro buses

Customers welcome full return of bike racks

As a regular bike rack user, Connie Christensen, is thrilled with the news. She mentors a young woman with down syndrome, and says it gives her mentee a sense of independence. 

“Her and I meet weekly for a bike ride and now that we’ve been doing it for a couple of years, we’ve been going on some longer rides,” she said.  

To do these longer rides they’ve been combining it with busing so that they’re able to bike one way and bus the other, which is also helping her mentee build confidence to use the bus.  

“It’s been really exciting being able to go a little further. So, we’re really looking forward to resuming that, thanks to the restrictions being lifted.”  

Test putting your bike on a rack at the interchange

For anyone who hasn’t used our bike racks yet, there’s a practice rack inside our central city Bus Interchange that can be used to practice putting on and taking off your bicycle.

You can also watch

this how-to video on using the bike racks on Metro’s Facebook page.

“We want to thank our community for their patience while we worked to resolve this issue – we look forward to seeing the racks in use at all hours again,” Chair Pauling said. 

View the original NZTA safety notice.

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Redress announcement leaves little justice for survivors

Source: It’s time to fix the secondary teacher shortage

The Green Party is appalled by the Government’s decision to severely underfund financial compensation for survivors of abuse in state care.

“This falls severely short of real redress, our survivors deserve so much better,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. 

“In November, the Prime Minister stood in front of survivors to recognise that the abuse they suffered should never have happened. 

“An apology is empty air without action. The Government has failed survivors by repeating the mistakes of old that resulted in the abuse and trauma detailed by the Royal Commission. 

“To add insult to injury, the Government has now offered survivors well below what they deserve in this redress announcement. 

“The Government is not only failing to heal the wounds of our past but is risking opening up new ones without real redress and a repeat of old mistakes.

“The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care provided us with harrowing testimony from survivors as well as invaluable insight into both how we failed as a society and how we must change. This was an opportunity to learn and do better as a country, an opportunity this Government has completely missed. 

“The Green Party remains committed to working towards a future where every child grows up safe, secure, and free from violence,” says Marama Davidson.

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Funding approved for two new roundabouts on SH2 near Ōpōtiki to improve road safety

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Two intersections on either side of the Waiotahe River Bridge on State Highway 2 (SH2) near Ōpōtiki will be made safer, with funding approved by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to deliver new tear-drop roundabouts and complete the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki safety improvements project, Minister of Transport Chris Bishop says.

“Located on a sweeping curve, the intersections of SH2 with Ōhiwa Beach Road and Waiotahe Valley Back Road, either side of the Waiotahe River Bridge, are considered high-risk. With two fatalities, one serious injury, and three minor injuries occurring between 2014 and 2023, upgrades to these two intersections are critical to improving safety for local road users,” Mr Bishop says.

“Delivering safe roading infrastructure that supports economic growth and productivity is a priority. SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne is a main route for locals, tourists, and freight between Tauranga and Gisborne. Around 5,000 per day vehicles use SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Wainui Road, with 15 percent of those being heavy vehicles.

“With poor forward visibility and constrained shoulders, the current alignment of the intersections either side of the Waiotahe River Bridge makes it difficult for drivers approaching the area on SH2 to see vehicles wanting to turn right onto the state highway and vice versa. NZTA has now confirmed funding to replace these high-risk intersections with two new tear-drop roundabouts. 

“NZTA will now move to complete the detailed design, finalise land acquisition requirements, complete resource consent applications, and procure a contractor to deliver the works. Construction is expected to begin in mid-late 2026 and take approximately 12 months to complete. This follows and complements work already underway to construct a roundabout at the intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road.

“Construction of the two new tear-drop roundabouts, minor re-alignment of the road, and other associated work, is expected to cost around $10 million. Final costs will be known once a contractor is confirmed. 

“I want to thank the local community in advance for their patience as this important work to make SH2 safer is carried out and I look forward to this work beginning as soon as NZTA it is able to get underway.”

Notes to Editor:

  • The 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme prioritises investment in road safety and efficiency by encouraging safer driving behaviour, vehicles and infrastructure. Funding is available for improvements at the highest-risk locations, which includes these two intersections either side of the Waiotahe River Bridge.
  • Once complete, these two new tear-drop roundabouts will complement each other in a ‘dog bone’ arrangement, either side of the Waiotahe River Bridge, with road users no longer able to turn right over lanes of active traffic in a high speed 100kmph environment on the state highway.
  • Instead, vehicles joining SH2 from Ōhiwa Beach Road or Waiotahe Valley Back Road will have a left turn only and be able to drive over the bridge to safely turn around at the other roundabout and head in the opposite direction.
  • The SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki safety improvements project is being delivered by NZTA in three sections:
  • Section 1 (Complete) – Safety improvements included wider shoulders, side barriers, edgeline and centreline rumble strips, signs and road markings. Improvements along SH2 were made between Wainui Road and Waiōtahe Valley Back Road and Appleton Road to Woodlands Road. This work was completed in 2023/2024.
  • Section 2 (Construction to begin mid-late 2026) – Upgrades to intersections of SH2 with Waiōtahe Valley Back Road and Ōhiwa Beach Road. A tear-drop roundabout either side of Waiōtahe Bridge. To complete final design late 2025, construction expected to begin mid/late 2026 and completed in approximately 12 months.
  • Section 3 (In construction now) – SH2 / Wainui Road intersection upgrade (Matekerepu).  A new roundabout is being constructed at this location. Work began in April 2025 and expected to take 12 months to complete.
  • The total funding budgeted for the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki safety improvements project  (Sections 1, 2, and 3) is $37.5M. Each section costs circa $10 million, with the remaining funding covering the business case, concept designs, investigations, land acquisition, resource consents and consent requirements to deliver the works.

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Transport – Government’s Ferry Delays Start to Bite

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

The announcement last week that the Aratere ferry is going to be retired has been met with great concern by members of peak road freight group Transporting New Zealand.
CEO Dom Kalasih says truck operators are very concerned about reduced capacity across the Cook Strait, rising freight costs, and the disruption the loss of the ferry will cause to their businesses.
“This frustration is completely justified,” Kalasih says.
“In June last year, the Government-appointed Ministerial Advisory Group recommended procuring two rail-compatible vessels, to be delivered by December 2027. Instead, the country will now wait until 2029 for rail-enabled vessels.
“Transporting New Zealand and the wider sector have been warning since the iReX cancellation that extended delays in purchasing replacement ferries would come at a cost. As is often the case with supply chain disruptions, road freight companies will bear the brunt of making it work.”
The announcement has already led to challenges for freight operators. KiwiRail has temporarily paused new passenger and freight bookings for travel from September 9 2025 onwards while they update their timetable and cargo allocations.
Subject to scheduling adjustments, the Strait will lose 26 sailings a week, including 10 freight-only trips. Freight companies and their customers will have to operate within a narrower range of time slots while accommodating steadily growing freight demands. Transporting livestock and other time-sensitive goods will be particularly challenging.
Kalasih says Transporting New Zealand has been actively engaging with KiwiRail and the Minister for Rail, Winston Peters, to keep the freight sector informed and to minimise disruption and cost increases.
“In correspondence with Minister Peters last week, I sought assurance that opting for rail-enabled vessels, as opposed to rail-compatible ones, was not causing delays and would not escalate costs.”
The Minister responded:
“You have also sought an assurance that proceeding with rail-enabled vessels as opposed to rail-compatible vessels is not delaying procurement or escalating the cost of the ferries. Yes, you can be assured of this.
“It was stated on 31 March that rail ferries are cheaper than road-only ferries, given new infrastructure is required for that option but avoided by the re-use option we selected. Further, all shipyards have stated that rail ferries have the same delivery timeframes as road-only ferries, meaning road-only ferries would not have been delivered sooner than 2029.”
The Minister’s full response, including updated ferry specifications and a delivery timeline, is available here.
“Our members can be assured that we will continue to hold the Minister and KiwiRail accountable, emphasising the cost of indecision and delay on businesses and consumers across the country,” Kalasih says.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
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Climate – Students representing New Zealand at the ‘Olympics of science fairs’ forging pathway for international recognition – NIWA

Source: NIWA

Two students are on their way to the United States to represent New Zealand at the ‘Olympics’ of science fairs, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio, which starts this weekend. The two New Zealand students are hoping to stand out among the nearly 2,000 young scientists from 70 other countries to win a share of the US $9 million (NZ$15 million) in awards and scholarships.
The last time a New Zealand student attended this event was in 2013 and it is only the second time that more than one student from New Zealand has taken part in the international event showcasing scientific inquiry, innovation and creativity.
Wellington College Year 13 student Jesse Rumball-Smith and Wellington Girls’ College Year 11 student Isabelle Aduna were selected following success in last year’s Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF), and are joining nine Australian students chosen from the 105 top science and engineering projects at last year’s event. As well as the opportunity to showcase school science projects on a global stage, the event is regarded as a platform for future leaders in innovation and real-world problem-solving.
While NIWA promotes science careers through its sponsorship of regional science fairs throughout New Zealand, because there is currently no national event the top students from regional fairs had to take part in the Australian event to qualify for selection to the international science and engineering fair.
Wellington College Year 13 student Jesse Rumball-Smith has developed a smartphone app to detect road risks and promote safer driving, reducing risky behaviour by 30 percent. The app incorporates state-of-the-art safety features, including recognising when the driver is fatigued.
Jesse has been taking part in science fairs since Year 7, and in 2023 won the NIWA Wellington Regional Science Fair. After a lot of ‘searching, struggling and (persistently) emailing’, he represented New Zealand at the Taiwan International Science Fair. Last year he also presented his project at an international conference in Germany, and at AUSSEF he came third.
He is hoping that his participation in the US will be inspiring for other students, and also that it will create an easier pathway for future students through a recognised National Science Fair in New Zealand. “This will be the second time in history that New Zealand has competed at the oldest, largest, and most prestigious international science fair – the first one-off event was more than a decade ago. For a country that wants to be a science-driven nation, we’re a bit late to the party! Hopefully Isabelle and I going will set the stage for this to change.”
Wellington Girls’ College Year 11 student Isabelle Aduna also developed her Power-Up with Produce project from a real-world problem, exploring the use of fruit and vegetable waste as natural dyes for sustainable solar cells. The organic food waste is made into eco-friendly dye-sensitized solar cells. Last year Isabelle won the NIWA Wellington Regional Science Fair.
Isabelle says going to ISEF will be a unique opportunity. “It is truly an honour and I feel proud and humbled at the same time to be representing New Zealand at ISEF. It will be a journey of many ‘firsts’ that I am looking forward to experiencing. I am most looking forward to being surrounded by diverse cultures. I can’t wait to participate and meet bright young people from across the world. This experience will allow me to connect with diverse perspectives, discuss groundbreaking research, and challenge my thinking. Ultimately, I hope to come away from ISEF inspired, not only with new ambitions for my own research, but with a developed appreciation for science’s role in our environment and society’s development. I hope that my participation inspires other young people to think beyond limitations and pursue a career in science and innovation.”
She’s also hopeful that plans for New Zealand to have its own national science and engineering fair come to fruition, so top qualifiers from the NIWA regional science fairs can have the direct opportunity to be selected for the ISEF instead of having to go through the Australian event. “I hope that my participation inspires other young people to think beyond limitations and pursue a career in science and innovation.”
The students are travelling with Amanda Hood, a science educator and NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair Organising committee member, and are supported by Royal Society Te Apārangi and their communities. She says the funding will also assist the development of a National Science and Engineering Fair for New Zealand. “Currently we don’t have a national STEM fair in New Zealand, and there has been little opportunity for talented students to compete internationally. The participation of Isabelle and Jesse as New Zealand’s first team at the world’s most prestigious science fair could be a landmark event in showcasing our best and brightest on the global stage, following the footsteps of world-leading achievements of pioneers Ernest Rutherford, William Pickering, Maurice Wilkinson, Alan MacDiarmid, and Beatrice Tinsley.”
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Name release: Fatal crash, Oparau

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are now able to release the name of the man who died following a crash in Oparau on 30 March.

He was 64-year-old Brian Leslie Withers, of Otorohanga.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre