Category: MIL-OSI

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Off-duty officers swim into action

Source: New Zealand Police

You’re never really off duty, even at the beach.

This was the case for two Northland officers who quickly swam into action when a teenager was swept out in a rip at Coopers Beach.

Both staff were taking advantage of the favourable conditions, catching some waves, before weather alerts came into place on Thursday last week.

Far North Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Richard Garton, says the 14-year-old girl was with her family when staff noticed she had been pulled out in a rip.

“The teen’s mother had also entered the water in an attempt to help her daughter but quickly got into trouble.

“A helicopter had been dispatched and local boats signalled to come and assist, however two of our off duty officers happened to be surfing at the time and saw the commotion.

“Both females were rescued by our two local heroes and brought back to shore.”

Senior Sergeant Garton says the situation could have been drastically worse.

“Their actions prevented a tragedy.

“They’ve chosen to avoid the limelight but we would like to commend their work.

Police remind the public that for any water related emergency, always call 111 immediately.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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New appointments for Health New Zealand Board

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced a new Chair and members for the Board of Health New Zealand, reinforcing its focus on delivering for patients.

Mark Darrow has been appointed Chair for a three-year term, commencing 1 May 2026.

“Mr Darrow is an experienced board chair and director with a strong track record across both the private and public sectors, including health. He brings expertise in finance, audit, risk, and assurance, which will be critical to driving performance and accountability,” Mr Brown says.

Michael Schubert and Dr Bryan Betty have also been appointed to the Board.

“Mr Schubert is a professional director experienced in supporting organisations with financial stewardship, audit and risk, and organisational change. He has governance experience in complex, highly regulated environments, including in health. 

“Dr Betty is a specialist general practitioner who is well-respected as a sector leader and who has considerable governance experience. He will bring additional clinical and health system expertise to the Board, particularly in relation to primary care, which is a key priority for the Government.”

Mr Brown says the Government is focused on building a health system that puts patients at its centre, and tangible improvements are being delivered.

“Since its re-establishment on 1 July, the Board has made strong progress in reducing waiting lists, improving health outcomes, and strengthening financial discipline. This underlines the importance of strong governance, particularly in audit, risk and accountability. 

“As we look ahead, the Board will play a key role in supporting the transition to a nationally planned, locally and regionally delivered health system. From 1 July, this will shift decision-making closer to patients, communities and frontline services, helping ensure care is more responsive to local needs.

“I want to acknowledge the contribution of outgoing Chair Professor Lester Levy, who will finish his term as Chair of the Board at the end of this month. Through his leadership, first as Commissioner and then as Chair, Health New Zealand strengthened its financial performance and made meaningful progress against the Government’s health targets. 

“Professor Levy’s deep health system and digital expertise will continue to be valuable to Health New Zealand, and he has generously agreed to offer his support during the transition.

“I would also like to acknowledge Roger Jarrold, who will finish his term on the Board at the end of July. He has made a significant contribution during his time as Deputy Commissioner and Board member, and his extensive financial expertise has helped instil greater discipline, sharpen performance, and strengthen accountability across Health New Zealand during a critical period of reform.

“I expect the Board to maintain its focus on strong governance and accountability, ensuring Health New Zealand operates efficiently, transparently, and with patients at the centre.

“Our Government is committed to rebuilding a healthcare system that works for New Zealanders, and these appointments put us in a strong position to continue delivering on that.” 

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Remote Bridge to Nowhere gets a ‘facelift’

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  16 April 2026

At nearly 90 years old, heritage icon the Bridge to Nowhere owes its enduring stature to a regular beauty regime, with a recent ‘facelift’ the latest treatment.

Department of Conservation Project Lead Michael Christie says it’s ironic the bridge has become such a popular destination with visitors.

“It’s remote, a relic of past settlements, standing alone in otherwise dense bush – and the Bridge to Nowhere has become somewhere to see.

“But with that comes the challenge of maintaining a structure in the middle of nowhere,” says Michael. “It’s a 1-hour jetboat trip from the nearest town, with a 40-minute walk into the bridge itself.”

“For this mahi, we’ve flown contractors in and set them up with a bit of a campsite while they’re working here. This isn’t a go home to a soft bed kind of job!”

Over time, moisture to seeps into concrete and causes rust in the supporting rebar. DOC has a regular maintenance schedule to keep the bridge in good condition.

Site Foreman Vincent Smith says the process is fairly straightforward, with a few additions to protect the heritage bridge and natural environment.

“We’re marking, breaking it out, sand blasting the steel and treating it with a rust barrier. Then we fill it back in with a repair mortar.

“Structurally, the bridge is still very sound, so we’re really doing this work to ensure it remains that way for many years to come.

“The main challenge for us hasn’t been the remoteness but managing the visitors who have been coming through the active worksite. They’ve been really interested in our work though, which is neat – it’s something a bit different for visitors.”

Vincent has had the pleasure of returning to the Bridge to Nowhere as foreman for these recovery works 20 years after first visiting as a labourer.

“It’s been cool to come full circle on this in my career,” says Vincent.

Michael says the refreshed Bridge to Nowhere is fully open to visitors in time for Conservation Week on 20 to 26 April.

“The bridge is remote, but not out of reach. Whether you catch a jetboat or cycle through, take a side trip from the Whanganui Journey or head out tramping, it’s a truly unique place for your naturing adventures.”

Background information

The Bridge to Nowhere is one of the heritage icon sites cared for by DOC, helping to bring New Zealand’s history to life: DOC icon sites

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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SH73 Candy’s Bend resilience project getting underway

Source: New Zealand Government

 

A major resilience project on State Highway 73 (SH73) at Candys Bend between Christchurch and the West Coast is getting underway to repair a damaged retaining wall, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop.

“State Highway 73 (SH73) between Christchurch and the West Coast is relied upon for freight, tourism, business connections and the many communities that live along the highway,” Mr Bishop says.

“Because of this, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has put lots of effort into keeping the highway open and safe for road users. A big focus under this Government has also been building the longer-term resilience of important connections like SH73.

“Hunter Civil has been contracted to begin important repairs to a damaged retaining wall on SH73 at Candys Creek, between Arthur’s Pass Village and Otira. This concrete retaining wall was constructed in the 1950s and supports the highway and bridge above it but was significantly damaged by flooding in 2018.

“While the damage to the retaining wall does not present an immediate threat to road users, a significant flooding or seismic event in the future could cause the collapse of the retaining wall and the highway. If this happens, people will be at risk, and the South Island connection will be heavily impacted.  

“The retaining wall is still in a state where it can be repaired, but if it deteriorates further, it will likely have to be rebuilt completely at a much greater cost. It makes sense to invest now into this important piece of infrastructure.

“The repairs will include filling voids behind the retaining wall with mass concrete, the installation of drainage and fixes at the top and face of the wall where Candys Creek discharges.

“This work is funded through the Crown Resilience Programme, with $419 million invested by the Government over seven years. It has a budget of around $8 million.

“Work on the ground is due to start later this month and is expected to be completed early next year.” 

Notes to Editor: 

The Candys Creek/Candys Bend area is recognised as a special area for native flora and fauna. NZTA will be working with local iwi and the Department of Conservation to ensure these are protected.

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Marlborough moves ferry solution forward

Source: New Zealand Government

The Marlborough District Council has today started its consultation programme to fund Port Marlborough’s $110 million capped contribution to revenue-earning port assets in Picton, Rail Minister Winston Peters welcomed today.

“New Zealanders want two new ferries that serve road, rail and passengers long into the future with resilient infrastructure backing them up, and that is what we are delivering,” Mr Peters says.

“The consultation process is a required step under the Local Government Act, but it is also a progress milestone in the no-nonsense ferry replacement solution that is saving the taxpayer $2.3 billion.

“We encourage locals to have their say about a vital port and ferry business where a third of all passengers stop in Picton and spend locally. 

“Picton has been the home to the Interislander for more than 60 years, and to Bluebridge since it started in the early 2000s. Earlier this year, Bluebridge extended its long-term agreement to 2064 with Port Marlborough. Today’s work sets the foundations for sixty-year port assets to serve the Interislander.

“We have approved a $531 million budget for all Picton works of which the proposed $110 million from Port Marlborough will pay for assets it owns – in turn the origin of dividends to be paid to ratepayers.

“The balance will be paid for by the taxpayer through Ferry Holdings, generating revenue that benefits the taxpayer long into the future.

“Supporting this proposal would come at no cost to ratepayers and underpins value in their Port company, but we don’t need to explain commonsense to the good people of Marlborough,” says Mr Peters.

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SH2 roundabout boosts road safety in Eastern Bay of Plenty

Source: New Zealand Government

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed completion of a new roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road near Ōpōtiki, making this key corridor significantly safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight.

“There were nine crashes at the intersection of SH2/Wainui Road between 2014 and 2023, three of them were injury crashes, one of which was serious. Delivering safe roading infrastructure is a priority for the Government, and I’m pleased the new roundabout is now completed,” Mr Bishop says.

“Carrying around 5,000 vehicles per day, with 15 per cent of that heavy vehicles, SH2 is a main route for locals, tourists and freight travelling between Tauranga and Gisborne. This new roundabout delivers a practical safety solution to a high-risk intersection that has seen too many preventable crashes.

“There is more work to do to improve safety on this important corridor. With the new roundabout at SH2/Wainui Road finished we are in the home stretch of completing the wider SH2 Wainui to Opotiki safety improvement project.

“In May 2025, around $10 million in funding was confirmed to deliver two new tear-drop roundabouts at high-risk intersections either side of Waiōtahe River Bridge. Construction started in January 2026 and and is expected to be completed in April 2027.   

“Once finished, these roundabouts will complete the overall safety improvement project at a cost of around $37.5 million. In addition to the roundabouts, safety upgrades included road widening, new side barriers, and improved line marking.

“I want to thank local communities and road users for their continued patience while these safety upgrades are being finished, and the strong advocacy of local MP Dana Kirkpatrick. The new roundabout at SH2/Wainui Road will provide a much safer connection and I look forward to the two remaining roundabouts either side of Waiotahe River Bridge being completed as soon as possible.”

Notes to editor: 

At a cost of around $10 million, construction of the SH2/Wainui Road roundabout began in April 2025, taking 12 months to complete. The work was carefully staged to keep traffic moving and maintain access for residents and businesses.
Previous statement on funding and delivery of new roundabout at SH2/Wainui Road is here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-state-highway-2-roundabout-improve-road-safety-eastern-bay-plenty
Previous statement on funding and delivery of two new tear-drop roundabouts either side of the Waiotahe River Bridge is here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/funding-approved-two-new-roundabouts-sh2-near-%C5%8Dp%C5%8Dtiki-improve-road-safety

 

 

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Regional Data Release: New Zealand Health Survey

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Publication date:

The New Zealand Health Survey (Health Survey) provides information about the health and wellbeing of adults and children in New Zealand. These data tables present key health indicators from all years of the continuous Health Survey, using a three-year rolling average. Statistics are updated annually to reflect the latest survey data.

Results are available for adults and children, and are grouped by health topic. Data is provided for a range of geographic areas: health region, district health board (DHB), regional councils, iwi Māori partnership board (IMPB), and Geographic Classification for Health (GCH). Within these areas, results are broken down by gender, age, ethnic group, disability status, and neighbourhood deprivation.

Data tables

The data tables are available for download below. Two types of statistics are provided, each serving a different purpose depending on how you wish to use results. 

The datasets are provided separately for adults and children, and are grouped by health topic. The full set of indicators included in the tables is listed in the Indicator Reference Guide below, which should be used alongside to help locate and interpret results.

Indicator reference guide

The Indicator Reference Guide provides information to support interpretation of the data. It is a useful starting point for finding and understanding indicators.





Indicator Reference Guide

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Statistics (crude/unadjusted)

Statistics (crude/unadjusted) show the results as they are observed in the population. These estimates reflect the actual burden of health conditions or behaviours, including estimated proportions, totals, and means. Where totals are provided, they can be used to understand the approximate number of people affected within a population.

These statistics are most appropriate when you want to describe levels of health outcomes within a region.





Adult statistics

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Child statistics

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zip,
9.38 MB
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Age-standardised statistics

Age is an important risk factor for many health conditions so it can be useful to adjust for age when comparing populations with different age structures. These estimates have been age-standardised using the WHO World Standard Population.

Because age-standardisation is a statistical adjustment, these estimates should not be interpreted as the actual burden in a population. They are intended for comparing populations with different age structures rather than estimating actual rates.





Adult age-standardised statistics

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Child age-standardised statistics

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5.73 MB
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How to interpret results


Transcript

Kia ora. In this video, we’ll explore the New Zealand Health Survey Regional Data Release: what it is, what’s available, and how to find and use a statistic. We’ll walk through an example in four simple steps: choosing the statistic type, locating the indicator, filtering the data, and interpreting the result.

The regional data release provides New Zealand Health Survey data broken down by geographic areas and demographics. The data is available as downloadable data tables, allowing you to explore health and wellbeing indicators for different regions and population groups across New Zealand. On the regional release page, you’ll find the data itself alongside some other useful information.

First, the indicator reference guide. This is your starting point. An indicator is something that is measured in the survey and indicators are grouped together under topics. For example, the mental health topic includes indicators on loneliness and psychological distress. The guide explains: what each indicator measures, who it’s for, what topic it relates to, and what years it’s available for.

Next, the statistics themselves. Statistics are provided separately for Adults and Children and in two types: “Crude or unadjusted statistic”, which show the results as they’re observed in the population. These reflect the actual burden of health conditions or behaviors and are best used to describe health outcomes within a region. Then there are “Age-standardised statistics” which are intended for comparing populations with different age structures rather than estimating actual rates. They help us understand whether the differences we can see are due to real health patterns, rather than one group being older or younger than another. Because they are age standardised, they should not be interpreted as the actual burden in the population, so if you want to see that, then use the unadjusted statistics.

All the statistics are available across five different geographies: Health region, District health board, Regional council, Iwi Māori partnership board, and Geographic Classification for health. They can also be broken down by demographics such as: gender, age group, ethnic group, neighbourhood deprivation, and disability status.

Let’s go through an example together. Suppose I’m interested in adults’ self-rated health in the Central Te Ikaroa health region, around 2018. I want to find out what proportion of adults consider their health to be good to excellent.

Here’s how I’d find the information: First, I decide what type of statistic I need. Because I’m not comparing populations with different age structures, I’ll use crude or unadjusted statistics rather than age-standardised statistics. If I wanted to compare an indicator across ethnic groups, I might use the age-standardised statistics to account for differences in age structure. In our example, I’ll select “Adult statistics”.

Next, I’ll check the Indicator Reference Guide to see where self-rated health is located. The guide shows that self-rated health sits under the topic also called “Self-rated health”. The indicator I’m interested in is called ‘health_goodvgexc’. This indicator measures adults reporting good, very good, or excellent health. The guide tells me that this indicator is available for all survey years.

Now I’ll open the self-rated health topic file and filter the data to match what I’m looking for. I’ve already identified the indicator I’m interested in, which is the ‘health_goodvgexc’ indicator. I’m interested in data around 2018, so let’s select the 2017/18 to 2019/20 three-year pool, because it’s around 2018. I’m interested in the Central Te Ikaroa health region, so I will select health region under geography type. And Central Te Ikaroa under geography value. I’ll select All under demographics, since I’m not focusing on any particular subgroup. If I were interested in, for example, self-rated health among adults aged 45 to 54, I could select that demographic group here. Lastly, the value type I’m looking for is a proportion, as I want to know what proportion of adults reported good, very good, or excellent health. If I wanted to know the number of adults who have good, very good, or excellent self-rated health, I can select total here.

The table shows a value of 86.0%. Using the indicator description from the reference guide, I can interpret this as: “An estimated 86.0% of adults in the Central Te Ikaroa health region between 2017/18 and 2019/20 reported being in good, very good, or excellent self-rated health.” The web page also includes guidance on how to cite the data correctly.

Thank you for watching. We encourage you to explore the Regional Data Release and make use of the resources provided to better understand the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders across different regions and communities. If you have any queries, please email healthsurvey@health.govt.nz

The video above explains how to use and interpret results. Further information is provided below.

Results are available for the total population, by geography, by demographic group, and for geographic-demographic combinations.

Geographic breakdowns include:

  • Health region
  • District health board (DHB)
  • Regional council
  • Iwi Māori partnership board (IMPB)
  • Geographic Classification for Health (GCH)

Further details about each geography are available in the Details of available geographies section.

Demographic breakdowns include:

  • Gender
  • Age group
  • Ethnic group (Māori, Pacific, Asian, European/Other)
  • Neighbourhood deprivation
  • Disability status

Ethnic groups are based on total response ethnicity, meaning people many appear in more than one ethnic group.

Disability status is available from 2018/19 onwards for adults, and from 2022/23 onwards for children.

Geography Description More Information
Health region Health New Zealand has four regions nationally, known as Northern | Te Tai Tokerau, Midland | Te Manawa Taki, Central | Te Ikaroa, and South Island | Te Waipounamu. More information about health region geographies can be found on the Health New Zealand website.
DHB District health boards (DHBs) were responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services in their district. There are 20 DHBs. More information about DHB geographies can be found on the Stats NZ Geographic Data Service website.
Regional council Regional councils are the top tier of local government in New Zealand. New Zealand has 16 regional councils. More information about regional councils can be found on the Stats NZ Ariā website, and more information about their geographies can be found on the Stats NZ Geographic Data Service website.
IMPB Iwi Māori partnership boards (IMPBs) play a crucial role in advancing their tino rangatiratanga aspirations that ensure the health needs and priorities of Māori communities are met. More information about IMPBs and their geographies can be found on the Health New Zealand website.
GCH The Geographic Classification for Health (GCH) is a rural-urban geographic classification designed to allow New Zealand’s health researchers and policy makers to accurately monitor rural-urban variations in health outcomes. This release uses GCH18. Due to small sample sizes in the most rural areas, GCH is provided in three categories, U1, U2 and Rural (an aggregation of R1, R2, and R3).  More information about GCH can be found on the About the Geographic Classification for Health page, and more information about their geographies can be found on the GCH Maps page, both on the University of Otago website.

Estimates include 95% confidence intervals to show how reliable they are. Wider confidence intervals indicate greater uncertainty, often due to smaller sample sizes.

Most indicators are based on information people report themselves. In these cases, responses may be affected if people do not remember information accurately or report answers they think are more socially acceptable. Other indicators, such as height and weight, are based on direct measurements and are generally more reliable.

To maintain data quality:

  • Estimates with a relative standard error (RSE) above 100%, a sample size below 30, or a numerator of zero are suppressed and marked with “Suppress” in the quality_flag column.
  • Estimates with an RSE between 30% and 100% are marked with “Low Quality Flag” and should be interpreted with caution.

Ministry of Health. 2026. Regional Data Release: New Zealand Health Survey [Data File]. URL: https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/regional-data-release-new-zealand-health-survey/ (Accessed [INSERT DATE])

Example: Ministry of Health. 2026. Regional Data Release: New Zealand Health Survey [Data File]. URL: https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/regional-data-release-new-zealand-health-survey/ (Accessed 16 April 2026).

Methodology

The design, data collection, weighting, and analysis methods for the Health Survey are described in the Methodology Report 2024/25: New Zealand Health Survey. For this release, some weighting and analysis methods differ slightly from those described in the methodology report. These differences are explained below.

To produce reliable estimates for detailed geographic by demographic breakdowns, data from multiple survey years are combined using a three-year rolling average. For example, results for 2022/23 to 2024/25 include responses from the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 surveys. 

Only indicators collected consistently across all three years are included. Weights are recalculated so the combined data reflects the average New Zealand resident population for the period. Reported proportions, totals and means therefore represent average values across the three years.

Updates to previously published estimates are a normal part of our continuous improvement and quality assurance processes. For this release, updates include minor improvements to indicator derivations, a population rebase to align to revised Stats NZ estimates, and adjustments to a small number of records following standard checks. Because the population rebase involved revising weights back to 2018, totals for some indicators, particularly those representing large population groups, may differ more. Estimates are based on a three-year pooling methodology, which helps smooth year-to-year fluctuations and means that the effect of any single-year change is reduced across the pooled period. Full details of these changes are provided in the methodology report. Overall, these revisions have not changed the narrative drawn from previously published results.

If you have any queries please email healthsurvey@health.govt.nz.

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Man arrested over Papatoetoe graffiti

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested a man over offensive graffiti located outside a Papatoetoe school last weekend.

Enquiries have been ongoing throughout the week. 

Inspector Dave Christoffersen, Counties Manukau West Area Commander, says a local man has been arrested this morning.

“Given the threatening nature of the graffiti, our team has been making enquiries throughout the week which has led to a quick arrest,” he says.

The 61-year-old Papatoetoe man has been charged with offensive behaviour and wilful damage, under the Summary Offences Act.

He will be appearing in the Manukau District Court today.

Inspector Christoffersen says Police is aware the incident has caused concern amongst communities.

“I can reassure the community that we have assessed this particular event as an isolated incident and that tere is no wider risk to the community,” he says.

“We have made this assessment with information obtained through the investigation and after interviewing the man who has been charged.

“I am unable to go into the specifics of this, as we now need to let the court process take its course.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Northcote's new community hub awarded Green Star Design rating

Source: Auckland Council

Great news for Northcote! The new community hub has been awarded a 6-Star Green Star Design rating and As-Built v1.1 Certified Design Rating – the highest possible Green Star rating representing world leadership in sustainable building practices.

Green Star, operated by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), is Australasia’s leading voluntary sustainability rating system for non-residential buildings, fit-outs, and communities.

Projects are rated from 4 to 6 stars, with six stars recognising buildings that demonstrate global leadership in sustainability.

The programme aims to transform how buildings are designed and built, significantly reducing carbon emissions while improving health and wellbeing.

World-leading sustainable design

Kate Cumberpatch, Priority Location Direction at the Auckland Urban Development Office at Auckland Council, says, “We’re delighted the Northcote community hub has achieved the highest sustainability rating for its design, in recognition of its strong sustainability features.  

“From solar panels and rainwater reuse to thoughtful material choices and waste management, we’re delivering environmental and health and well-being benefits for the neighbourhood now and into the future.  We’re thrilled for the community to have their new community hub recognised as a leader in sustainable design”.

The sustainability features of the new community hub include:

  • An energy-efficient building design to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Solar panels to help power the building.
  • Recycled rainwater systems and smarter stormwater management.
  • Natural ventilation and other low-energy building technologies.
  • Dedicated bike parking to support active transport.
  • The use of low-impact, locally sourced materials and New Zealand-made components wherever possible for their beneficial health and environmental benefits.
  • Deconstruction of portions of the building, avoiding waste and saving materials for use.
  • Reuse and upgrading of the existing library, celebrating its heritage, and avoiding waste and embodied carbon emissions from its removal.

Construction of the new community hub is scheduled to begin from late April 2026 and is expected to be completed in late 2027

A modern hub for the whole community

Kate says, “The multi-purpose hub will modernise and extend the existing heritage-listed library, with the addition of a new wing. Once completed, it will bring together the library, Citizens Advice Bureau, Hearts & Minds, NorthArt and Plunket, all under one roof.  The development will also include shared community spaces, rooms available for hire, a large, covered veranda connecting to an upgraded Puāwai Cadness Reserve, and a larger, more welcoming front plaza.”

Alongside the community hub, Puāwai Cadness Reserve will be upgraded at the same time. Improvements include a new basketball court, two play spaces, gardens, a pavilion, toilets, and extensive new planting — creating a greener, more inviting place for people of all ages.

Kate says, “Both the new hub and reserve have been designed with and for the community, ensuring they are welcoming, accessible, and flexible spaces that support everyday use.”

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Investment strengthens resilience for two Tākitimu marae

Source: New Zealand Government

Two Hawke’s Bay marae damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle will be rebuilt in safer locations following a $27.6 million Government investment, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says.

Through the Whenua Māori and Marae Pathway, the Government has approved

$11.54 million for Petāne Marae and $16.06 million for Tangoio Marae to relocate and rebuild after both sites were severely affected by flooding in 2023.

“Marae play a vital role in supporting whānau and communities, particularly during

emergencies,” Mr Potaka says.

“During Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events we saw marae step up to provide shelter, food and care for whānau and the wider community.

“This investment provides certainty for trustees and whānau so they can rebuild in safer locations and continue serving their communities for generations to come.” Petāne Marae has selected 253 Onehunga Road, north of Napier, as the location for its new marae, with design work currently underway.

Following land acquisition and site assessments, 139 Beach Road in Tangoio has

been identified as the preferred location for Tangoio Marae.

“Marae are a key part of how communities respond during emergencies. Relocating

and rebuilding these marae will strengthen resilience across Hawke’s Bay.”

Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage across the region in February 2023. Petāne and Tangoio Marae were later assessed as Category 3, meaning the original sites face unacceptable future risk from flooding or landslides.

Note to editors

Background:

  • Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke’s Bay on 14 February 2023, with record rainfall,
  • Six Māori communities in Hawke’s Bay were severely affected by the weather event: Tangoio, Petāne, Waiohiki, Ōmāhu, Moteo, and Pōrangahau.
  • Two of the marae in these communities – Petāne and Tangoio, sustained significant damage during the weather event.
  • The Petane and Tangoio marae were later assessed as Category 3 — meaning they face unacceptable and unmitigable risk to life from future flooding or landslides. Homes and community facilities in these areas were not considered safe to rebuild.
  • As part of the Whenua Māori and Marae Pathway (WMMP) process, trustees for both marae entered into a Relationship and Funding Agreement with the Government and National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFF) to relocate and rebuild the marae.
  • The WMMP is jointly overseen by the Ministers of Finance, Emergency Management and Recovery, Māori Development, and Māori Crown Relations. Its purpose is to support the relocation of marae and culturally significant assets that have become unsafe due to land instability, inundation, or structural compromise.