Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

Storm recovery efforts are well underway in Mt Roskill, with council and the community working together to build resilience after the major 2023 storms. But recent weather events have been a reminder that the job isn’t over — and that preparing for future storms is just as important as recovering from past ones. 

Local groups, with support from the recovery planning Wesley and Roskill Leadership Rōpū, are working with flood-affected residents to understand what matters most to them in this space — including how to be better prepared for floods. The goal is to create a Community-Led Recovery Plan that genuinely reflects the needs of the people who live there. 

Upcoming events will help bring together different voices and experiences, ensuring that everyone’s input shapes the future. The goal is to not just to recover from the 2023 storms, but to be stronger and more ready for what’s ahead. 

Promoting emergency preparedness 

Two local groups— Acts of Roskill Kindness (ARK) and Global Hope Missions (GHM) — have multiple projects planned to support connection and preparedness. 

“With these events we are looking to understand what our community needs to feel recovered after flooding. Alongside that, we are conducting workshops with Auckland Emergency Management, Civil Defence, and other organisations to support these families and encourage them to be prepared so that in the event of a natural disaster our community is more resilient,” says Peter Leilua of ARK and GHM. 

As part of this series of events, they have launched ‘Road to Recovery’ workshops to help young people in Wesley and Mt Roskill learn about how to stay safe during natural disasters like floods and cyclones.  

“The 2023 storms caused a great deal of disruption in our families and communities, and a lot of those families are still suffering,” Peter adds. So, we are very excited to have such a diverse group of student leaders from various high schools participating in this community leadership project.”  

• Road to Recovery youth workshops: Saturday 23 May, 4-6pm followed by the free ‘Love and Light’ gig until 9pm. Roskill Youth Zone, 740 Sandringham Road, Mount Roskill. Performances by KMUX, Irene Folau, Lomez Brown, Switche, Brotherhood MUSIQ, and more. Registrations for workshops are essential. Those wanting to attend are invited to invited scan the QR code to register and answer some storm recovery questions.

Nik Naidu from the Wesley Whānau Community Hub

Engaging all communities  

This Sunday, the Wesley Whānau Community Hub is hosting an Ethnic Communities Festival — a celebration of culture, connection, and recovery — at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall. 

“Our Roskill and Wesley communities are amazingly diverse, so our focus is really on hearing from as many different flood-affected locals as we can,” says Nik Naidu, event organiser.  

“A celebration of ethnic diversity is a great way to start those conversations. We’ll be chatting with people about their experiences of recovery: what kind of support they still need; what a happy and healthy neighbourhood looks like for them; and what might be getting in the way.  

“Puketāpapa is one of the most diverse areas in Aotearoa, and that’s something we’re proud to reflect in this event.” 

• Ethnic Communities Festival: Sunday 18 May, 4-8pm, Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 15 May Road, Mt Roskill. Supporting Community led Flood Recovery with food, dance, performances and kai vouchers for survey participants. 

These events are part of a wider local effort to support community-led flood recovery in the Roskill–Wesley area. 

If you’d like to help out, come along to an event, or share your thoughts, email Heather at thecommunitycollectivenz@gmail.com.  

Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

Following recent bad weather, the Recovery Office has noted an increase in homeowners asking to join the categorisation programme.

While we sympathise with homeowners across the region affected by flooding, we are unable to admit any further properties into the programme.

The programme was a limited, one-off scheme co-funded by Auckland Council and the Government in response to the 2023 North Island Weather Events.

Affected homeowners were able to voluntarily register for a risk assessment between June 2023 and October 2024, and the programme was widely publicised over the 15-month period including via regional and national media, paid advertising campaigns, social media, community events and through local MPs and councillors.

The agreement with the Government requires all category 3 purchases to be completed by the end of 2025.

Outside of this limited programme, the council does not, categorise private properties to determine risk, and is not funded to acquire properties that are at risk of future flooding.

The council’s Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience teams, along with Auckland Emergency Management, will continue to help homeowners understand their level of flood risk and what they can do to prepare for future flooding.

Category 3 and 2P properties progressing

As you can see in the graphic above, the Category 3 buy-outs are progressing well with 703 properties now settled.

Category 2P works are also progressing with 17 homeowners having completed their mitigations.

Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

Following major storms in 2023, Auckland North Community and Development (ANCAD) is working with the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office, to facilitate community-led recovery planning in East Coast Bays communities. This is part of a series of partnerships in heavily impacted neighbourhoods across Auckland. Communities are being supported to develop practical plans, which will include activities and priorities to improve well-being and enable them to come out of recovery stronger. 

A community responds 

In major 2023 storms, East Coast Bays suburbs like Browns Bay, Mairangi Bay, Murrays Bay and Campbells Bay were hit with flooding and slips, cutting off roads, shops, and vital services. 

Even emergency services were affected. The Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club was flooded and forced to relocate — yet still rescued 69 people that day. The club is now working with the community to plan a more resilient future. 

Around 30 homes in the area have been classified as Category 3, meaning they face serious future risk. These properties are now eligible for council buy-outs, with land use decisions to follow based on safety. 

Flooding in Mairangi Bay village

Finding a Way Forward, Together 

Through a series of community engagements with affected clubs and residents, the top priorities for the community were determined by the community: Knowing Our Neighbours and Leveraging the Community Systems.

“Two remarkable things stand out about talking with the club management teams severely impacted by the floods: how much care they have for their community, and how resourceful they were to connect with others to help them recover. The community can be so proud to have them as their local leaders,” says Kristi Shaw, community-led storm recovery facilitator in East Coast Bays. 

“All the conversations so far have had a similar thread – how well we recovered is about how well we have been connected with each other.

“Our aim is to weave people, groups, and community initiatives to deepen relationships while discovering and leveraging our community systems.” 

Community initiative and collaboration has developed the Making Visible Workshops and Exhibition to connect residents with each other, and their experiences of living here, now, with the extreme storms. 

Sharing experiences through artwork 

Making Visible is a community-led project facilitated by local artist and arts therapist, Wendy Lawson.  

Through a series of neighbourhood gatherings, residents are invited to bring an object that holds meaning, whether emotionally, symbolically, or as a tangible part of their experience of the storms or storm recovery. Shared stories and objects lead to a co-created artwork that is designed to be temporary, woven from the contributions and materials offered by the group. 

Wendy knows first-hand what storm impact feels like. 

Rope used to tether Wendy’s art studio after the 2023 floods; later incorporated into the workshop and exhibition as an object of significance.

“We’ve already seen how much people care about this coastal landscape and one another. It’s about listening carefully and shaping something meaningful together.” 

The dynamic artwork, along with shared experiences and insights gathered throughout the workshop, will be curated into the ‘Making Visible’ exhibition at Mairangi Arts Centre from 14–19 June. 

Get involved 

If you live in the East Coast Bays and are aged 16 or over, you’re invited to register for one of the upcoming Making Visible Workshops. All you need is a curious mind and a willingness to share. 

• Sat 17 May, 1pm, Browns Bay Presbyterian Church 

• Sat 24 May, 1pm, RAFT Studios, Torbay 

Visit the ANCAD website to register or email kristi@ancad.org.nz for more information. 

Many hands making together – Making Visible Workshop, process photo.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Inspector Matt Cranshaw – Waikato Field Crime Manager

A homicide investigation has been launched after the death of a 30 year old woman in Hamilton City this morning.

The woman died after a vehicle drove into the power pole she was standing next to on the corner of Ohaupo Road and Kahikatea Drive. It was initially reported that two vehicles were involved, however this is not the case.

Enquiries are being conducted to ascertain the circumstances surrounding these events.

Investigators and specialists remain at this location with diversions in place. The road is expected to be closed for some time.

Police extend their thoughts to whānau and friends of the deceased at this difficult time.

As part of our enquiries into what happened, we are asking anyone with information to get in touch.

Please contact us at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

Please use the reference number 250515/6763.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Team

Source: New Zealand Police

Police investigating a house fire in Cobden are appealing for information from the public.

At around 12.10am on Wednesday 14 May, Police were notified of a house fire on Bright Street.

A scene guard was put in place overnight and Police conducted a scene examination with a Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire investigator today.

The house fire is being treated as suspicious at this stage.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage in the surrounding Bright Street area from 11pm Tuesday to 12am Wednesday.

If you have any information that could assist Police’s investigation, please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

Please use the reference number 250515/5998.

Information can also be provided through Crime Stoppers through 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Crown has settled a 17-year negotiation process with iwi of Tauranga as the Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill passes its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“This has been a long time coming and I thank the Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Settlement Trust and the negotiating team for their enduring efforts. 

“While no settlement can fully compensate for the Crown’s injustices towards Ngāti Ranginui, I sincerely hope this redress package will support Ngāti Ranginui to realise their economic and cultural aspirations for generations to come.”

The redress includes an agreed historical account, crown acknowledgements of its historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and a Crown apology.

Key elements of the redress include:

• Financial and commercial redress of $38 million
• The return of 15 sites of cultural significance
• Two properties of cultural significance vested jointly with other iwi
• Relationship redress with key Crown agencies

“In this settlement, the Crown has acknowledged its breaches of te Tiriti o Waitangi, including its responsibility for war and raupatu in Tauranga in the 1860s, the purchase of Te Puna-Katikati blocks soon after, the operation and impact of the native land laws, and the compulsory acquisition of land under later Māori land legislation that left Ngāti Ranginui without sufficient land for their present and future needs,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“I want to acknowledge the people of Ngāti Ranginui who have travelled to Parliament today to witness this auspicious occasion and those who watched the passing of this Bill online from Tauranga.” 

Ngāti Ranginui is an iwi based in the Tauranga region with a population of approximately 15,000 people. Their area of interest extends from Ngakuriawharei, north of Tauranga, inland to the summit of Mount Te Aroha, extending south-east along the Kaimai Range to Puwhenua and reaching south to the Mangorewa River. 

The Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Deed of Settlement is available at Te Tari Whakatau – Ngāti Ranginui 

The Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill can be found at New Zealand Legislation.