Category: MIL-OSI

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PM’s Science Prizes celebrate excellence

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

Some of New Zealand’s most outstanding scientific minds have been recognised at the 2024 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes Award Ceremony, held this evening in Wellington.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised the winners, acknowledging the crucial role that science plays in building a more productive, innovative, and sustainable New Zealand.

“This year’s top honour, the Prime Minister’s Science Prize, has been awarded to Dr Linda Johnson and the Endophyte Discovery Team at AgResearch,” Christopher Luxon says. 

“Their groundbreaking work to improve the health and productivity of ryegrass is making a tangible difference for New Zealand farmers, boosting yields while reducing reliance on pesticides.”

Ryegrass is the most commonly used pasture grass in New Zealand agriculture. The team’s research has led to the development of beneficial microorganisms that protect grass from pests and disease, while also enhancing drought resistance.

“This is an excellent example of science delivering real-world solutions.

“By improving the quality of pasture on our farms, we’re not only increasing our capacity to produce high-quality food, but we’re also supporting the growth of our economy and ensuring a more resilient future for our agricultural sector.”

The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes comprise five prestigious awards, with a total prize pool of $975,000. The 2024 recipients include:

  • Dr Olivia Harrison, University of Otago – awarded the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize for her multidisciplinary work in understanding and managing anxiety.
  • Dr Aiden Kiely, Aorere College, Auckland – awarded the Science Teacher Prize for his dedication to equity and excellence in science education.
  • Professor Jemma Geoghegan, University of Otago – awarded the Science Communication Prize for advancing public understanding of infectious diseases and guiding policy responses to pandemic threats in New Zealand and the Pacific.
  • Rena Misra, Epsom Girls’ Grammar School – awarded the Future Scientist Prize for her innovative research into using fungi to improve stormwater filtration systems.

“Congratulations to all this year’s winners. Your achievements are a testament to the power of Kiwi ingenuity and scientific excellence,” Mr Luxon says. 

“Your work is not only advancing knowledge—it’s improving lives and building a better New Zealand for future generations.”

The five prizes are: 

The Prime Minister’s Science Prize

An individual or team for a transformative scientific discovery or achievement, which has had a significant economic, health, social and/or environmental impact on New Zealand and/or internationally. The total value of this prize is $500,000. $100,000 goes towards the team, and $400,000 will be used to support the ongoing research.

The Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize

An outstanding emerging scientist who has had their PhD or equivalent qualification conferred within the last eight years i.e. (no earlier than 1 January 2014). The total value of the Prize is $200,000. $50,000 is for the winner, and $150,000 for their ongoing research. 

The Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize

A registered teacher kaiako who has been teaching science, mathematics, technology, pūtaiao, hangarau or pāngarau learning areas of the New Zealand curriculum to school-age children in a primary, intermediate or secondary New Zealand registered school or kura kaupapa. The total value of this prize is $150,000. The winner can use $50,000 at their own discretion. The winner’s school will receive $100,000 which must be used for the development of science in their school.

The Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize

A practising scientist who can demonstrate an interest, passion and aptitude for science communication and public engagement, or to a person who has developed expertise in public engagement, or communication of complex scientific or technological information to the public and/or science and research communities. The total value of the Prize is $75,000. $55,000 of the Prize money is to be used to support the recipient to carry out a programme of activities/professional development to further their understanding of science communication.  $20,000 is for the winner.

The Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize

Awarded to a Year 12 or Year 13 school tauira student for outstanding achievement in carrying out a practical and innovative science research, maths, technology or engineering project. This Prize is valued at $50,000 and is to be used to support the winner’s tertiary education.

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Name release: Fatal crash, Hastings

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash on Tomoana Road, Hastings on 26 April.

He was 37-year-old Grant Ross Arthur Neville Tyler, from Akina, Hastings.

Our thoughts are with those close to him at this time.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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MPI helps farmers prepare for winter grazing season

Source: police-emblem-97

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will step up proactive farm visits and provide practical advice for farmers in the lead-up to the winter grazing season, says MPI national response manager Andrew Curtis.

“We will prioritise visits to farms where it can be more problematic to manage soil conditions during periods of wet weather,” says Mr Curtis.

“We’ll be assessing these farms before livestock start grazing winter feed and they will be closely monitored to ensure they are meeting animal welfare standards. We will do follow-up visits in June.”

Alongside the above, MPI has been working with regional councils and industry groups, especially in Otago and Southland, to develop practical information to help farmers prepare.

“This includes an information flyer that contains a winter grazing checklist. Extra support is available for Southland farmers around managing their animals and reducing mud build up should they need it,” says Mr Curtis.

“Most farmers work hard to do the right thing and have carefully planned ahead to look after their animals.

“Some farmers will need to continue adapting their approaches to ensure they have more robust back-up plans during extreme weather, which can come with little warning.

“A well-planned winter grazing system supports good animal health and welfare. It ensures animals have sufficient and appropriate feed, access to clean water, and comfortable areas to lie down and rest.”

MPI’s proactive on-the-ground support aims to ensure better outcomes for livestock, the environment, and farmers.

“MPI will also have a helicopter in the air from time to time so that we can pinpoint potential winter grazing problem areas,” Mr Curtis says.

Earlier this year MPI successfully prosecuted a Southland livestock grazing company for allowing hundreds of cattle to graze in mud with the company fined $48,750.

Southland livestock grazing company fined $48,750 over hundreds of cattle grazing in mud

“We visited numerous properties throughout Southland during winter 2024 and found most farmers were on top of their winter grazing requirements with good plans in place,” says Mr Curtis.

“Sector groups have useful resources and information on their websites to help minimise the amount of mud created during winter grazing, such as back fencing and using portable water troughs to reduce walking distances for livestock.”

Winter grazing is an annual practice where livestock are grazed on forage crops between May and September throughout Southland, much of Otago and other parts of New Zealand.

Further information about winter grazing

Animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility and MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 00 83 33.

For further information and general enquiries, email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

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Name release: Fatal crash, Awakino

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the person who died following a crash in Awakino on 30 April.

He was 31-year-old Stan Tangaroa-Green, of Te Awamutu.

Our thoughts are with those close to him at this time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Wildlife Act fix enables economic growth with animal protection

Source: Police investigating after shots fired at Hastings house

Date:  08 May 2025 Source:  Office of the Minister of Conservation

The High Court recently decided it was unlawful for the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai to authorise the killing of wildlife unless there was a direct link between killing and protecting wildlife. Incidental harm to wildlife, while not desired, sometimes happens when carrying out a lawful activity, such as consented construction works.

“This decision placed multiple projects, which previously received DOC authorisations, in a state of uncertainty,” Mr Potaka says. “Projects include activities for building new solar and wind farms, plantation forests, and powerline maintenance that are essential for supporting our growing economy.

“Today’s improvements give certainty to authority holders that their projects can continue lawfully, whether it’s for important conservation work like pest control or development and infrastructure projects.

“Today’s changes clarify how authorisations can be consistent with protecting wildlife, and that the Director-General of the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai can make authorisations. We are restoring the approach that DOC was taking for authorising activities before the Court’s decision and provide legal clarity.

“These changes keep safeguards to protect wildlife. It’s important Aotearoa New Zealand’s wildlife continues to be protected, and that species can thrive as we support a strong and growing economy.

“Under the amended Wildlife Act, authority holders are still expected to avoid and minimise harm to protected species. Examples include relocating animals before doing any construction work – to protect populations and support the ongoing viability of species,” says Mr Potaka.

“Now the amendments have been enacted, we can turn to accelerating a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act.”

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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Release: Bill launched to stop tobacco industry lobbying

Source:

Labour is launching a members’ bill to stop the Government from putting tobacco industry interests ahead of public health.

“The Tobacco Transparency Bill will strengthen the law surrounding tobacco industry lobbying, to ensure tobacco profits are never put ahead of New Zealander’s health,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.

“This Bill aims to prohibit government support for the tobacco industry and requires transparency around tobacco lobbying.

“Around the world, tobacco companies have a long history of influencing and weakening health policies to better suit their bottom line.

“This Bill will address those influences, and help us protect people’s health by meeting the obligations we’ve signed up to under the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

“One of those obligations is to protect tobacco policy from ‘commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry’.

“New Zealand’s 2025 smokefree goal is at risk and we need to be doing everything we can to meet it, to save lives, and keep people healthy and out of hospital.

“Our world-leading smokefree laws were scrapped by the National Government and smoking rates in New Zealand have risen for the first time in over a decade.

“It’s time we get rid of the smokescreen and protect Kiwis from big tobacco’s lobbying tactics – they have no place in health policy,” Ayesha Verrall said.

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Parliament Hansard Report – Wildlife (Authorisations) Amendment Bill — In Committee—Clauses 1 to 3 – 001468

Source: Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green): Thank you, Mr Chair. I want to ask the Minister a couple of questions. The first one is around the commencement date. Now, we have seen that the commencement date is the day after Royal assent. I would want to see if the Minister would consider pushing it back at least three months, so that way there is some clarity that is able to be granted to also the people who are applying or who have existing consent on some of the issues that we have heard our previous speaker, the Hon Rachel Brooking, mention. There is confusion around a lot of this because of the fact that we didn’t get sufficient clarity.

Now, the reason I’m suggesting pushing it back by at least three months, or even—just three months; I think that’s sufficient. The reason is that the Minister, throughout this debate, talked about the fact that this is required under urgency, etc. However, if we, again, go back to what started a lot of this, which is a High Court ruling, the judgment was made on 5 March, and it was two months ago. If Cabinet, and if the Minister, were really serious about the urgency of this situation, this bill would have been brought to the House a lot earlier. It did not need to be brought into the House two months after that particular ruling. So, clearly, the backlog that the Minister was referring to is not urgent enough for this bill to be brought to the House earlier. So I think another three months is not outside the realm of possibility and probability, over here.

In terms of the title of this bill, I really like the suggestion that the Hon Rachel Brooking has made in terms of, just, who knows? What about if the Minister considered the “Wildlife [shrug emoji] Amendment Bill”, because that is, essentially, what we’ve got out of this entire debate. What we have heard is pulling teeth from the Minister to try to get any ounce of any information out of him that we have gotten quite succinctly and clearly by the officials during the select committee stage. But over here, what we have largely heard throughout the debate is politicisation and “back on track”.

In terms of other potential titles, I would actually propose an alternative pathway when we are looking at the title for this, because what we are seeing with this, and this is fundamental to democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand, is a distortion of the separation of powers and the overstepping of that, and where the executive has decided to overstep into the judiciary and affect the rulings of the judiciary, and also the principle of comity.

I would ask if the Minister would consider “Wildlife (Distortion of the Separation of Powers) Amendment Bill”. Further on from that, the fact that we have been doing this under urgency, we are being criticised for doing our job as the legislature to scrutinise the executive because we have no opportunity and the New Zealand public has no opportunity to contribute to this. I would say that this actually is not about even parliamentary supremacy, because we have not been granted the privilege of that supremacy as the legislature, so I would recommend, finally, for the Minister to consider the title “Wildlife (Forget about Parliamentary Supremacy, the Executive Rules Supreme) Amendment Bill.”

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Pay Equity Events

Source:

The Government using Pay Equity settlements as a way to fund their Budget is a new low.

Join in rallies across the motu to speak truth to power.

Below is a list of all the event’s we are aware of. If you have any other events you’d like to add, please let us know here.

Auckland

  • Fight Back Against Pay Equity Attacks
  • Brooke Van Velden’s Office, 35 St Johns Rd, St Johns
  • 1pm Friday 9th May

Hamilton

  • Protest
  • Tama Potaka’s Office, 109 Rostrevor St
  • 1pm Friday 9th May

Tauranga

  • Red Square, Spring Street
  • 12.30pm Friday 9th May

Thames

  • Scott Simpson’s office, 614 Pollen Street Thames
  • 1.30pm Friday 9th May

Feilding

  • Pay Equity Rally
  • Suze Redmayne Office, 51 Fergusson St
  • 1pm Friday 9th May

Levin

  • Outside MP Tim Costley’s electorate office, corner of Bath and Oxford Street
  • 1pm Friday 9th May

Ōtaki

  • MP Tim Costly’s office in Ōtaki, 7, Office 6c/3 Te Roto Drive, Paraparaumu
  • 12.30pm Friday 9th May

Nelson

  • March for Pay Equity
  • Millers Acre Carpark by the Info Centre
  • 11am, Marching at 11.15 Saturday 10th May

Christchurch

  • Protest at Hon Nicola Grigg’s (Minister for Women) Office
  • Shop 34, Rolleston Square 9 Masefield Drive Rolleston 7614
  • 1pm, Friday 9th May

Timaru

  • Protest
  • Rangitata MP James Meager’s Office, 30 Cannon St, Timaru Central
  • 1pm, Friday 9th May

Dunedin

  • Protect Pay Equity
  • The Exchange
  • 1.30pm, Friday 9th May
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Name release: Fatal crash, New Plymouth

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are now in a position to release the name of the man who died in a crash on Mokau Road, New Plymouth on 21 April.

He was 64-year-old Allan Jefferson Latoa, of Spotswood.

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

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Police announce more details for training in Auckland

Source: New Zealand Police

Police has officially signed a long-term lease in Auckland so that training courses can begin in our biggest city next month.

“We are thrilled we have signed an agreement with Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University for space at their Ōtehā Auckland campus,” says Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers. 

“We have worked closely with Massey over the past couple of months to deliver an agreement that meet our needs and works for the University as well.

“As part of the agreement Police has exclusive use of part of the campus, which includes multiple classrooms with capacity to seat up to 155 people, a locker room, storage space, offices, and car parks. We will also have access to gym and recreation areas, and we have a small number of dorm rooms allocated for Police staff.

“These are high quality facilities and will be a great environment for police officers to learn and develop in.

“Extensive planning and organisation are essential to delivering training at the new Auckland training base. We are already onsite working to get everything up and running for a range of Police courses.

“This training space in Auckland is pivotal for running our senior courses and continuing to free up space at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) for recruit training. Upskilling and developing our officers is an important part of maintaining a highly capable workforce to keep our communities safe.

“This space will also enable the Tāmaki Makaurau recruit Wing 390 to start on 30 June. Wing 390 will complete the same curriculum as the recruits at RNZPC. 

“Some elements of recruit training which cannot be completed at the campus, including tactical training and swim assessment, will be completed offsite. 

“We know that being away from home for several months has been a deterrent for people wanting to join Police. The recruit training being based in Auckland will open the doors for a dream job that might not have been possible otherwise.  

“Whether you’re taking your first steps into the workforce or considering a career change, the best time to apply is right now.

“If you are ready to start your training for one of the most rewarding careers there is, visit newcops.govt.nz to apply today,” Deputy Commissioner Rogers says.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.