Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  02 April 2026

Percy Burn and Edwin Burn viaducts, on the Hump Ridge Track, and Francis Burn Viaduct, on the South Coast Track, were closed in February due to structural deterioration of these century-old bridges.

The three-day Hump Ridge Track remains open, with hikers on the Great Walk able to bypass the closed Percy Burn and Edwin Burn viaducts via an existing alternative track and bridge. A fourth viaduct, Sandhill Viaduct, remains open.

There is no alternative marked route around the Francis Burn Viaduct on the South Coast Track, an expert route, as the surrounding gorge is too steep.

DOC Te Anau Operations Manager John Lucas says engineering and heritage conservation expertise will help determine the path forward for the century-old structures.

“These impressive wooden structures have borne the brunt of the wild southern conditions for more than 100 years. Timber always has a finite lifespan, and recent inspections showed the hardwood structural components have deteriorated rapidly in recent times. The viaducts are not safe to cross.”

The viaducts are part of the Port Craig Viaduct precinct, an important heritage site for New Zealand, and are regarded as some of the country’s most significant man-made structures, so heritage advice will be a consideration for any next steps, John says.

“Safety must come first, so the decision to close them while we work with the Southland District Council, who own three of the four viaducts, and the Hump Ridge Track on future management options was an easy one.”

DOC undertakes regular assessments and inspections of the viaducts for visitor safety, access and enjoyment.

As part of the work to upgrade the Hump Ridge Track to a Great Walk, a 58 m swing bridge was built bypassing the Edwin Burn Viaduct, in the event the aging structure needed to be closed.

Percy Burn was closed in 2013 for safety reasons, and a bypass track was constructed. The viaduct reopened in 2018 after a partnership between DOC, the Southland District Council and the Viaduct Trust was established to finance and repair the structure.

Since then, DOC inspectors have undertaken six-monthly assessments on the structures, and the Hump Ridge Track, an independent Charitable Trust running the Hump Ridge Track walk, undertakes basic maintenance.

People heading out naturing this long weekend should check the DOC website or head into their local visitor centre for the latest updates and track conditions.

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Source: Auckland Council

Source: New Zealand Government

Education Minister Erica Stanford has welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations to renew the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (PTCA). A ballot on the second of April with members of the NZEI returned a majority vote to ratify the collective agreement.

“Over 460,000 students receive instruction and guidance from talented primary teachers every day. Their dedication builds the foundational knowledge every learner needs to achieve their full potential as they progress through our education system,” Ms Stanford says. 

Under the terms of the PTCA settlement, teachers on the top two steps of the salary scale receive a cumulative pay increase of 4.7 percent by January 2027, which is comprised of a 2.5 percent increase effective from today and a further 2.1 percent increase on 28 January next year. This means teachers who are at the top of the pay scale will see their base salary increase to $107,886 per annum.  

Meanwhile, teachers who are moving up the pay scale will continue to receive annual step increases along with a cumulative 4.6 percent pay increase which is comprised of a 2.5 percent increase from today and a further 2 percent increase in January next year.

“Through this bargaining round, we’re really pleased to have been able to resolve the historic and longstanding inequity between the primary and secondary unit rates. This means the 60 percent of primary teachers who hold units will receive a phased increase in the value of units from $4,500 to $5,500 by October 2028, moving to a unit parity position with their secondary counterparts.    

“I want to thank all primary teachers for their significant commitment to implementing the refreshed curriculum, and I am committed to ensuring every teacher has the support and resources they need to lift educational achievement.

Full details of the Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement (PTCA) settlement can be found here: Collective Agreement negotiations | Education Workforce

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  02 April 2026

Department of Conservation staff on Stewart Island/Rakiura have scaled up an incursion response following at least two further rat detections on the island, coming after two months of no detections.

DOC Operations Manager Jennifer Ross says thanks to the earlier investment in the island’s biosecurity and trapping network, the rats were able to be detected quickly.

“Quick detections are a vital part of an incursion response. The sooner we know about an incursion, the sooner we can act, maximising our chances at returning the island to a predator free haven for vulnerable native species.”

In January, a dead rat was found in one of the island’s traps, sparking an incursion response. Increased surveillance over the next two months, including thorough searches by a pest detection dog, did not find any further signs of rats, and the response was wound down in early March.

A further rat was then detected by an AI-equipped trail camera located toward the eastern end of Ulva Island on Friday, 13 March.

Once the report was confirmed, the team were able to respond quickly and scale up an incursion response, which had been wound down just days before.

Since then, two rats have been trapped.

“While we never want to see a rat on Ulva Island, this shows our biosecurity network is working exactly as intended. Previously, it could have taken up to four weeks to discover another new arrival. Now, we detect incursions quickly and are able to scale up our response straight away,” Jennifer says.

The intensive incursion response includes weekly checking of all traps, reviewing all trail camera footage, and inspecting for signs of rat activity. Bait stations have also been opened, and a rodent detection dog is on hand to support the response.

The island’s network of trail cameras was upgraded in 2024 to boost the island’s defences against rats making the short swim or hitching a ride in people’s gear from mainland Rakiura. On average, one or two rats reach Ulva Island each year.

Jennifer Ross says the ongoing risk to Uva Island showcases the importance of the Predator Free Rakiura vision.

“Removing rats from Rakiura once and for all will dramatically reduce the risk to Ulva Island and other vulnerable ecosystems. Achieving a predator free Rakiura will be a gamechanger for native species and the future of conservation here.”

Visitors are asked to support Ulva Island’s biosecurity by checking bags and footwear thoroughly for soil, seeds and vegetation and reporting any signs of rodents.

If you see or hear anything suspicious while out naturing, take a photo, if possible, note the location and contact the DOC Rakiura Office as soon as possible at stewartisland@doc.govt.nz or on +64 3 219 0009.

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Source: Worksafe New Zealand

2 April 2026

This safety alert covers the importance of having communication devices on hand when doing work alone.

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

2 April 2026

This safety alert is a reminder to manage the risks around light utility vehicles on the job.

Source: New Zealand Government

Children and families are better protected and supported under the multi-agency model for responding to family violence incidents. 

Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour has welcomed a recent independent evaluation into responses to family violence incidents, which has shown the importance of support services working together to respond quickly after a family violence incident. 

It also highlighted reduced barriers to safety and staying alongside whānau longer enough to support lasting change as clear benefits to survivors from this approach. 

The model has been rolled out by government agencies, communities and iwi-led family violence sites in Auckland City, Rotorua, Tairāwhiti and Hawkes Bay. 

Minister Chhour says, “As a nation we have a tragic history of comparatively high levels of family violence. It is a great shame and one we cannot keep trying to address the same ways while expecting new results.

Fortunately, we are blessed with a lot of caring and empathic people in country. People in government and community support services who have dedicated their lives to helping and who are willing to try something new. 

A barrier I hear about from the community often is that these services are not connected, which can lead to gaps in the help they are provided and them needing to repeat and relive the most traumatic moments of their lives. 

The report shows that under this model people felt safer, feeling believed and supported, growing confidence and emotional regulation over time, and improved day-to-day stability that helps support healing.

Family violence affects children most of all, that is why children are such a key focus of this response. The report has highlighted greater routine and calm at home, better connection to health and therapeutic supports (where available), and stronger caregiver capability as tangible benefits of the multi-agency response model. 

The next step is increasing the communities covered and promoting government agencies to be more proactive in their measures to reduce barriers and improve support to families as they navigate these systems.

It is great that so many leaders in these communities and agencies have agreed to work together, but we need to make this a commitment that outlives their times in these roles so families can be safer for decades to come,” says Min Chhour.

The independent review was undertaken by Ihi Research and Wellbeing Economics NZ. 

You can find a copy of the Multi-Agency Responses: Outcomes Evaluation report here: Outcomes evaluation of multi-agency responses | The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention 

Source: New Zealand Government

The latest Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy, released today, has clearly shown a transformation in youth offending. 

Minister for Children Karen Chhour wants to take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress to what was once a national shame, youth crime, and has now become a great success of this government. 

“We’re now consistently seeing offending rates amongst children dropping, with the improvement since 2019/20 particularly significant and positive. 

This report confirms what I have been seeing and hearing from communities. They feel safer, their young people no longer believe that there will not be consequences for harming others and are turning their lives around by making better choices. 

The biggest improvement has come amongst what was once considered the hardest to help group, serious and persistent young offenders. 

These are young people who had been victimising others in serious and dangerous ways. 

The latest data I’ve received shows that the number of serious and persistent child and youth offenders is 25 percent lower than the June 2023 baseline figure. 

The goal, considered ambitious and challenging at the time, was a 15 percent reduction by 2030. Now, we are possibly looking at achieving double that drop within the next 18 months. 

The report also noted a reduction in substantiated findings of child abuse and neglect. 

We’re still receiving a record high number of Reports of Concern, and I strongly encourage anyone who treatment of a child that worries them to contact Oranga Tamariki. 

We’re turning around generational issues, that will take decades, but it is positive that people are speaking up, our children’s system is listening, and young people are safer and turning their lives around because of it. 

Lastly, I would like to personally thank the staff at Oranga Tamariki for helping make this happen. It is a challenging and sometimes thankless job, but I have travelled the country meeting as many social workers as I can and I regularly come away inspired and deeply humbled. 

“It means a lot to me, as Minister for Children, and also on a personal level, to be able to be able to play a part in positively turning around so many young lives,” says Minister Chhour. 

Source: New Zealand Government

Six months after the Government stepped up support for people sleeping rough, more New Zealanders are moving into stable housing across Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka says.

More than 500 additional households have now been housed through the Housing First programme, alongside over 280 rough-sleeping households supported into transitional housing.

“We are seeing fewer people tents in parks and doorways, fewer people sleeping rough in the cold, and more people moving into warm, stable housing,” Mr Potaka says.

Outreach services and housing assistance centres are also helping people take the next step, with around 45 households each month moving out of rough sleeping and into temporary or permanent housing.

“Six months on, we’re seeing the system working together and reaching people earlier, connecting them to support, and helping them stay housed.”

The additional 300 social homes announced last year are now coming through, alongside $10 million supporting frontline services working directly with people sleeping rough.

“We are backing what works through practical support, trusted providers, and homes that give people a stable place to land and a pathway forward for them and their whānau.

“Our focus is clear, we need the right homes, in the right places, with the right support, so more people can move from rough sleeping and into a more stable future.”

Media contact: Dallas Kete: +64 27 302 4850

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  02 April 2026

DOC Biosecurity Technical Advisor Connor Hines says invasive weeds like common heather, gorse, or broom have recently been found on some popular hikes such as the Routeburn and Kepler tracks, as well as in some remote places in Fiordland, Southland, and Rakiura/Stewart Island.

“These weeds are very harmful for our native ecosystems and can quickly get out of control once they get established. They can outcompete native plants and will completely change the look of the landscape and function of the ecosystem if left unchecked,” Connor says.

“They’re often spread accidentally by people, but people can prevent this by making sure seeds don’t hitch a ride along with the rest of your equipment.

“Before you head out, please give your gear – especially your boots, pockets, and tent – a good check and thorough clean for seeds and other biosecurity risks, to prevent accidentally spreading something. Just a few tiny seeds could start an infestation.

Connor says trampers, alpinists, packrafters, climbers and anyone else out naturing over Easter can also help by reporting sightings.

“Getting early reports is extremely helpful, enabling rangers to get in and control the weeds before they really take hold and become a major problem.

“We’re after reports of things that look out of place – sites where it looks like the invasive weed is just getting established and DOC might not know about it already.

“If you find an invasive weed somewhere unexpected, sightings can be recorded through the iNaturalist app, or by emailing info@doc.govt.nz with a photo and waypoint or detailed location.

“iNaturalist is great because it’s easy – you take the photo in the app, it uploads with exact coordinates, and we get an alert directly. But we realise not everyone has the app so, if you prefer to email, pictures and detailed location information are crucial. It’s a big wilderness out there.

“Only pull the weed out if you’re certain you’ve identified it correctly and can get all the roots – otherwise just report it. And, if you pull it out, please bring the flowers and seed pods into the local DOC office, along with a location, so we know where to follow-up.”

Background information

Heather is a green shrub that grows to about 90 cm tall and can be identified by its woody, wiry stems, small green to brown leaves that are longer than they are wide, and pink to purple bell-shaped flowers between December and March. It’s well established in many parts of the North Island and is a particular issue in Tongariro National Park. Heather is cold tolerant and can quickly take over subalpine areas. Heather has tiny seeds smaller than a sesame seed which can be easily overlooked and accidentally spread if equipment isn’t thoroughly checked and cleaned.

Gorse is a spiny shrub up to 3 m tall which has yellow flowers (typically in May to November). It grows quickly and produces large amounts of hardy seeds that can live a long time in the soil. Gorse can survive in a wide variety of habitats and soil types.

From September to April, broom looks similar to gorse from a distance thanks to its golden yellow flowers. The woody green shrub, which grows to about 2.5 m, is a prolific seeder which tolerates a wide range of temperatures and changes nitrogen levels in the soil, which changes the types of plants which can grow in the areas it is found.

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