Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

Consultation has started on a new action plan to recognise unpaid or informal carers and to provide a long-term roadmap for making progress on the issues they face, says Associate Social Development Minister, Penny Simmonds.

“The Government is seeking feedback on a draft action plan to recognise the hundreds of thousands of Kiwis providing care for someone who needs help with everyday living due to age, a disability, illness, injury or a health condition,” Ms Simmonds says.

Ms Simmonds says the new draft ‘rolling’ action plan, which has been developed by the Ministry for Social Development (MSD) in partnership with the Carers Alliance and an advisory group of organisations representing carers, will make a difference across three core areas over time – recognition and appreciation; health and wellbeing; and financial security.

“The discussions so far have been extremely useful in helping to identify where support is needed and shape up the initial plan – we now want to hear from carers themselves,” says Ms Simmonds.

“We will be making it as easy as possible to give feedback, with stakeholder workshops, community-led workshops across the country, quick online surveys and written submissions on MSD’s website.”

Find out more information and make your submission by 12 February 2026 at: Consultation on Carers Strategy Action Plan – Ministry of Social Development

Source: New Zealand Police

Six people have blown over the limit and two people are due to appear in court after a disappointing weekend on Marlborough roads.

“Police saw a number of concerning incidents over the region and it’s lucky nobody was killed or seriously injured,” says Sergeant Josh Clauson.

At around 7:10pm on Friday Police observed a motorbike travelling over twice the legal speed limit on State Highway 63, Wairau Valley.

The 24-year-old man had his driver’s licence suspended and his motorbike impounded.

An hour later at around 8:10pm a youth crashed a vehicle into a fence after driving dangerously on Thomsons Ford Road. The teenager involved has since been referred to Youth Aid.

On Saturday at around 4pm a driver sped through a Police checkpoint on State Highway 6, Pelorus, with officers having to take evasive action.

The man fled from Police but was located a short time later and arrested at around 4:10pm.

The man is due to appear in Blenheim District Court on 8 December charged with excess breath alcohol, dangerous driving and aggravated failing to stop.

“As we come into summer the public can expect more checkpoints, more Police on the roads, and no tolerance for dangerous behaviour.

“Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts not only yourself, but passengers and other road users in serious danger.”

ENDS

Issued by the Police media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Resurfacing work on State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills is complete and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is pleased to confirm the road is fully open for summer.

Steve Matene, NZTA System Manager for Northland, says the early finish is thanks to an outstanding effort from crews on the ground.

“Despite heavy rain early in the closure, the teams worked day and night with a carefully coordinated plan to keep everything on track. Their commitment meant we could reopen safely ahead of schedule, avoiding a second super weekend closure.”

A full closure allowed crews to use the entire road width for paving machinery and deliver a high-quality finish. Partial or night-time closures would have extended the programme to 12–14 weeks, causing far greater disruption.

To make the most of the closure, 9 crews also completed essential maintenance activities, including pavement remediation, vegetation control, drainage work, guardrail repairs, and signage maintenance – over 100 tasks in total. Doing this now means fewer delays for drivers this summer.

“This completes the recovery project, and we look forward to providing safer, more reliable journeys for locals, businesses and visitors heading north,” says Mr Matene.

Drivers are reminded to still take care over the Brynderwyns as people adjust to the changes.

“Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to finish early and to road users for your patience. NZTA is committed to keeping Northland connected this summer. Travel safely and enjoy the improved road,” says Mr Matene.

Source: New Zealand Government

New and used vehicles could become more affordable for Kiwis through changes that will lower importing fees and help keep additional costs from being passed on to consumers, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today.

“Kiwis from all walks of life buy cars for all sorts of reasons – whether buying an affordable first car, upgrading to a bigger car for their growing family, or investing in a vehicle for their small business. 

“At a time when Kiwis are still feeling the pinch, the last thing they need is the cost of cars going up by hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars – but unless the Government acts urgently to fix the Clean Car Standard, that’s exactly what could happen,” Mr Bishop says.

“The Clean Vehicle Standard was introduced in early 2023, with the aim of encouraging New Zealanders to buy more efficient cars and reduce emissions. It sets annual CO₂ targets for vehicle importers, who must balance higher-emitting models with enough low-emission vehicles to meet their overall target. If they fall short, they face charges; if they exceed it, they earn credits.

“The Standard has helped lift fuel efficiency, but market conditions have changed. There is a supply shortage of cleaner used vehicles, and demand for new EVs has dropped.

“Most importers are now unable to meet the passenger-vehicle targets. In fact, right now, 86 per cent of importers are facing a net charge rather than net savings from credits. The scheme is so out-of-whack with reality that even some hybrid vehicles will attract charges rather than credits.

“Without relief, the local automobile industry face significant charges that are likely to be passed on to consumers through higher car prices and reduced choice.

“To prevent hardworking Kiwis facing steep price increases, the Government is making critical changes to ease pressure on importers and keep cars affordable for New Zealand families and businesses.”

The Government is:

• Temporarily slashing charges by nearly 80 per cent – from a top rate of $67.50 to $15 per gram of CO₂ for new vehicles, and from a top rate of $33.75 to $7.50 for used vehicles, for 2026 and 2027.
• Protecting credits – ensuring none expire before 31 December 2028.
• Launching a full review – with recommendations to Cabinet by June 2026.

“These changes will mean that the charges some of our most popular imports face will be significantly reduced. Depending on how much of the charge the importer can offset and how they price their vehicles, Kiwis could avoid thousands on the price of their vehicle.” 

“In total, it is estimated that the changes will avoid $264 million in net charges that could have been passed onto consumers through higher vehicle prices.

“Clearly, the Clean Vehicle Standard isn’t working in its current form. These practical steps will keep pressure off car buyers while the wider Standard is reviewed. They make it more affordable for importers to meet emissions targets in the meantime – and, most importantly, they ensure Kiwis aren’t hit with higher prices when they head to the dealership.”

The amendment to the Clean Vehicle Standard will be made via an amendment paper to the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Bill (No 2) which has just been reported back from Select Committee. The change is expected to pass this week and come into effect 1 January 2026.

Note to editors:

The Clean Vehicle Standard applies to both new and used vehicles. Both could attract savings via dealerships. The above calculations are based on the 2026 targets, which come into effect on 1 January 2026.

The charges below are indicative and based off publicly available information about vehicle models. In practice, charges may vary. 

Estimated impact of reducing charges on new vehicle importers for 2026
Model	Current charge ($67.50 per gram)	Proposed charge ($15 per gram)	Max potential savings
FORD RANGER XLT DOUBLE CAB W/SA	$405	$90	$315
TOYOTA RAV4 GX 2.5PH/4WD	$338	$75	$263
TOYOTA HILUX SR5 CRUISER TD DC	$1,350	$300	$1,050
MITSUBISHI ASX LS 2.0P/CVT	$6,075	$1,350	$4,725
KIA SELTOS LX 2.0P/IV	$4,658	$1,035	$3,623
NISSAN NAVARA PRO-4X 2.3D/4WD/7AT	$2,363	$525	$1,838
MITSUBISHI TRITON DC VRX 4WD 6AT 2.4DT	$1,823	$405	$1,418
FORD EVEREST PLATINUM 3.0D/4WD	$8,775	$1,950	$6,825

Source: New Zealand Government

A new platform to make it easier for Government agencies to issue secure digital credentials will be developed by New Zealand-based company MATTR, Digitising Government and Public Service Minister Judith Collins announced today. 

“This platform will be a shared service for government agencies and will be managed by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). It will allow agencies, such as Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and DIA, to issue digital credentials into the Government App which is currently being developed,” Ms Collins says.   

“There are many everyday tasks and activities that require you to share your personal details, such as date of birth or passport number. Often you’ll need to turn up in person or provide certified copies of physical documents, all of which takes time and can put your information at risk.  

“Government-accredited digital identity services will allow you to easily present credentials in a way that is safer, trusted and more secure. No one will be required to use digital identity services, but the Government App will make it convenient for those who choose to. 

“The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will be among the first agencies to use the new platform and as part of an initial trial will use it to issue New Zealand Business Number digital credentials. This business-friendly initiative will make it easier for company directors to prove their identity and authority when interacting with government and private sector services.  

“Building a single platform will reduce costs across the public sector, and ensure all agencies meet the same high standards for privacy and security. It will reduce paperwork and back-office administration.  

“This shared approach means government agencies can deliver better value for money and a faster, more consistent experience for everyone.   

“This is exactly the type of shared service we want to see more of throughout government agencies, as we work to get the best bang for buck for taxpayer dollars.

Source: NZCTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is calling on the Prime Minister to respect the ruling of the Supreme Court and abandon Brooke van Velden’s Employment Relations Bill. The Bill would enshrine in law the ability of employers like Uber to misclassify platform workers as contractors.

“The Uber drivers winning in the Supreme Court is a tremendous victory for workers and the union movement – the Government needs to respect the ruling and uphold the rights of platform and gig economy workers,” said NZCTU Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges.

“The ruling proves that these workers are employees, not contractors. It highlights the widespread problem of misclassification in the platform economy where workers are being deprived of their employment rights and need better protection.

“This win shows what can be achieved when workers stand together and organise – the four drivers who took first went to court in 2021, with the support of Workers First and E tū unions, have won against a powerful multinational corporation.

“Uber has consistently lost in the courts, so they have lobbied Brooke van Velden to rewrite the law and enshrine the ability of employers to misclassify platform workers as contractors.

“The Employment Relations Bill currently before parliament would create a system that incentivises companies to exploit the contractor loophole, eroding standard employment conditions across industries and the entire economy.

“Mislabelling employees as independent contractors exposes workers to exploitation, denying them many of their basic protections and entitlements, such as sick and annual leave, minimum wage, protection of hours and protection from unjustifiable dismissal.

“The Prime Minister needs to respect the Court’s ruling and immediately halt the passage of the Employment Relations Bill,” said Ansell-Bridges.

Source: New Zealand Police

A man has died after getting into trouble in the water at Riversdale on Thursday afternoon, 13 November.

Police were called to Riversdale Beach at about 4pm when a man, in his 50s, was seen struggling in the water.

He was brought to shore where CPR was performed.

Despite best efforts by members of the public, the local surf club, and emergency services, sadly he was unable to be revived.

His death has been referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

NZ Police and Health New Zealand have commenced implementation of Phase Three of the Mental Health Response Change Programme, following the successful rollout of Phases One and Two.

The change programme aims to see an increased health-led response to mental health, enabling Police more time to do the work that only Police can and which the community expects them to do.  

Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson says Health NZ and Police are committed to working together to safely introduce the changes in a way that ensures those in mental distress receive appropriate care, and staff delivering it are kept safe.

“We are determined to get this right and have been taking the time to ensure the plan for Phase Three and its implementation will be safe and clear. The Phase Three changes are being rolled out nationally across all Police and Health NZ districts.”

Police and Health NZ have taken on feedback from district teams and worked together to create a more streamlined process for submitting and processing non-emergency requests from Health NZ and updated the Police response threshold for managing them, Assistant Commissioner Johnson says.     

“Under Phase Three, any non-emergency requests for assistance and missing person reports from mental health services will be assessed against updated guidance that considers the immediate safety risk and if there is a risk of significant future harm that Police powers or capabilities are required to prevent.”

Health NZ Director of Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Karla Bergquist says the safety and well-being of patients and staff delivering their care is paramount.

“The detailed planning work for Phase Three identified a range of scenarios which cannot be managed by health practitioners alone, or where there may be a need for Police assistance in a coordinated, planned way.

“We therefore needed to take these situations into account to ensure the changes could be implemented in a safe way that works for both agencies, so have developed new procedures with clinical input and created training materials for staff to support them through this change.”

Assistant Commissioner Johnson says the updated threshold and new procedures ensure compliance with the agencies’ respective legislative responsibilities, while still aligning with the goal to free up Police to be redeployed to do work only they can do.

“Police will continue to be involved if there is offending, of a level that we would normally attend, or an immediate risk to life or safety – as has always been the case.” 

Ms Bergquist says the changes are aimed at creating a system that supports everyone’s mental wellbeing, so people are supported to stay well, and have access to help that works for them.

“The public can be assured there is a range of services to help people in mental distress or those who are concerned about the mental health of whānau.”

If a person is in serious mental distress or crisis, support is available from their local crisis team. If it’s a life-threatening situation or someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, emergency services should be called on 111.

ENDS

Note to editors

The Phase Three changes are:

• Requests for assistance from health practitioners – Non-emergency mental health-related requests will be assessed against updated guidance to determine if Police assistance is required. This includes requests for assistance under legislation, requests for assistance in inpatient mental health units, and other requests from mental health services to Police.   
• Missing persons from health facilities and services – Reports of missing persons with mental health concerns will be assessed against updated guidance to determine the appropriate police involvement. This covers people missing from Health NZ mental health facilities and services, and people with mental health concerns missing from emergency departments.

Contact numbers for local crisis teams are available online via the following link. Please consider including it in online articles: info.health.nz/mental-health/crisis-assessment-teams

Police media contact: media@police.govt.nz

Health NZ media contact: hnzmedia@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is introducing new legal protections so banks, telecommunications providers and digital platforms can act faster to block suspected online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says.

“Too many Kiwis are being ripped off by scams that spread through fake websites, texts and social media,” Mr Simpson says.

This new legal protection, known as a safe harbour, is for online service providers that take reasonable, good faith steps to disrupt suspected scams.

“Entities tell us they want to pull these scams down earlier, but they worry about being prosecuted if they accidentally take down a legitimate customer or website. These changes give them more confidence to act when something looks wrong.”

“This is about fast, decisive action to combat scammers. If a bank wants to pause a suspicious payment, or a telco wants to block a fake website link in a text campaign, we want them to be able to do that promptly without looking over their shoulder.” 

The safe harbour will include conditions to protect legitimate customers and businesses. It will only apply where:

• The provider has reasonable grounds to think the activity or website is a scam.
• The action taken is reasonable and proportionate to the risk.
• Any disruption to legitimate customers or businesses is corrected as soon as it is discovered.

The work supports the New Zealand Anti Scam Alliance, a cross-sector group bringing together government agencies, banks, telecommunications providers, digital platforms and consumer representatives to prevent, detect and disrupt scams.

To complement the safe harbour, the Alliance is also exploring a “trusted flagger” system. Under this model, regulators and law enforcement could provide reliable information about suspected scams to online providers, helping them distinguish scams from legitimate activity and act with greater confidence.

In the last year alone, Payments NZ has reported gross scam losses of around 265 million dollars through New Zealand bank accounts.

“Those numbers are too high,” Mr Simpson says. “We need a prevention first approach, where scams are blocked as early as possible.”

Today the New Zealand Banking Association has also announced a new fraud intelligence tool that will help stop scammers using “mule” accounts to move stolen money through the banking system.

The system will help banks:

• Identify and share information about suspected mule accounts more quickly.
• Freeze funds before they are moved on.
• From 30 November, meet their commitment to warn customers if they are about to send money to a high risk account.

“This technology will help banks move faster when money is at risk, and it fits well with the Government’s push to give providers more confidence to intervene early,” Mr Simpson says.

“Scams are constantly evolving, and no single organisation can tackle them on their own,” Mr Simpson says. “These changes are about backing the providers who see scams first, and giving them the tools and confidence to shut them down faster.”

Further information on the work done by the Anti Scam Alliance will be shared in the coming months.

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  17 November 2025

The Pou Taiao of Ngāti Koata, Neil Deans, says Lake Moawhitu was once an important kainga and mahinga kai site and used as a tuna (eel) fishery by generations of tangata whenua.

But after a century of farming in the Lake Moawhitu catchment, it now suffers from high nutrient levels, poor water quality and algal blooms.

“Restoring Lake Moawhitu and its surrounding catchment and downstream wetland is critical for Ngāti Koata,” Neil says.

DOC Senior Science Advisor Katie Collins says historic use of fertiliser, as well as erosion following deforestation, has resulted in a legacy of high phosphorus levels in lake sediments, which fuels growth of algae.

“Lake Moawhitu is ‘super-trophic’, meaning high levels of nutrients and low water clarity. Algal blooms can occur over summer, limiting native aquatic plant and animal growth, so the lake is in a perpetual state of poor health.”

An operation to lower phosphorus levels and restore the lake took place at the end September, involving application by helicopter of alum (aluminium sulphate) over deeper parts of the lake.

Areas of Lake Moawhitu were treated with alum, which binds with phosphorus and deactivates it before settling to the lakebed, creating an inactive layer that won’t fuel algal growth.

Project Manager of the Moawhitu restoration work, Dan Moore, says better water quality will help native aquatic plants grow, improving long term lake health and opportunities for wildlife and fish to thrive in the lake.

“The project team worked with researchers from the Cawthron Institute, NIWA and the University of Waikato to consider phosphorus management options and saw evidence that ‘alum’ operations work well to bind phosphorus and control algal blooms.

“Ongoing monitoring will determine the alum application’s success this summer, when algal blooms often occur. We hope to see a major improvement in water clarity.”

As well as alum dosing, Ngāti Koata, with DOC, Marlborough District Council, private funders and many supporters, have planted nearly 150,000 trees in the lake’s catchment over more than a decade.

Katie says communities need to work together to make a difference to help lakes with poor water quality like Moawhitu.

“Think about how you can help to our waterways when you’re out naturing – that can be anything from joining your local stream care group to checking, cleaning and drying your gear before you head to the water.”

For Ngāti Koata, the ultimate objective is getting healthy catches of tuna from the lake and renewing the relationship of rangatahi (young people) as future lake custodians.

Background information

Alum (aluminium sulphate) is a type of salt derived from metals. It’s used for lake treatments internationally and around the Rotorua lakes in New Zealand. For this operation, we ensured it was applied in a way to minimise any impact on fish.

Lake Moawhitu, the adjacent wetland and surrounding catchment were purchased in 2005 and added to the adjacent reserve and recognised in the Ngāti Koata Deed of Settlement. Since then, restoration work has including destocking, replanting and raising water levels in the adjacent wetland.

Lake Moawhitu is part of DOC’s Arawai Kākāriki wetland restoration programme. Work to improve the lake involves DOC, Ngāti Koata and Marlborough District Council with funding from multiple sources.

Visit He reo nō te puehu – Discover Lake Moawhitu, hosted by Our Lakes Our Future, for the lake’s history and a vision for the future.

Contact