Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

A Stats NZ programme to move more business surveys online is helping reduce the burden on businesses, Statistics Minister Dr Shane Reti and Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk say.

Stats NZ will begin moving more than 60 business survey forms to an online tool from August, following a successful shift of the Quarterly Building Activity Survey. 

“This is a milestone in improving and modernising the technology used to collect vital information from and about New Zealand businesses. Many of these surveys use older, less efficient digital tools or are paper-based,” Dr Reti says. 

“Businesses have asked the Government to reduce the burden on them and we’re delivering. They can expect a smoother, faster way to provide their data and a more standardised experience with the new tool. Other benefits include the ability to save progress and resume filling out survey forms later.

“In reducing the burden on businesses and making it easier for them to complete surveys, the Government is fixing the basics and building the future, allowing businesses to focus more on what matters most to them.”

Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk says digitising government surveys is particularly beneficial for firms with fewer than 20 employees, which make up 97 percent of all New Zealand enterprises.

“Small businesses often have fewer dedicated admin staff, and sometimes none at all, so every hour spent on paperwork is an hour away from serving customers and focusing on the work needed to grow the business.

“Moving surveys online makes it faster and more straightforward to share their valuable experiences and perspectives quickly and conveniently, without adding to their workload or disrupting their day-to-day operations. 

“It’s a simple change that reduces friction, improves response rates, and ensures policy is shaped by timely, real-world insights from the small business community,” Mr Penk says.

The programme will begin with forms for priority economic surveys, including the Labour Cost Index and Business Price Index, which are scheduled to move online in August 2026. 

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has serious concerns with the proposed changes to NCEA by Luxon’s Government, which will undo decades of progress towards a student-centred system. 

“Luxon’s Government is squeezing our young people back into one-size-fits-all model. Anyone who has met more than one child knows that they are all different,” says the Green Party’s education spokesperson, Lawrence Xu-Nan. 

“Education must be shaped by communities to meet everyone’s needs if we want our mokupuna to thrive.” 

“What the Minister announced today has confirmed what people have been concerned with all along. It is ill-conceived, haphazard, and nothing short of a vanity project. If this proceeds, we will see more students falling through the gaps and being left behind.” 

“Any country with a world class education system knows how important it is to work closely with the sector on any significant changes, but this Government is not interested in genuine engagement with our teachers and education experts.” 

“Education is about encouraging curiosity and nurturing our future generation’s love of learning. Yet this Government has treated education as a box-ticking exercise, exposing themselves as more interested in reporting than learning. It is outrageous that the Minister implied that she wants more students to fail than to pass.” 

“We have seen the harm of standardising assessment, where some students are left further behind—especially Māori, Pasifika, disabled and neurodivergent, and rural students.” 

“The Green Party is committed to working with education communities, including teachers and principals, parents, and students to ensure that any change is centred on the needs and aspiration of individual students, not simply whatever employers want out of them,” says Lawrence Xu-Nan.

Source: New Zealand Police

A man has been taken into custody following an incident in Grove Street, Nelson.

Police were called just after 9:20pm yesterday following reports of a verbal disorder between two people.

At around 10pm, the man was located on top of the roof of a building.

Police have negotiated with the man overnight, who came down and was taken into custody without further incident at 8:45am today.

Charges are being considered, and cordons have been stood down.

We wish to thank the public for their understanding and cooperation throughout this incident.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

Source: PHARMAC

Source: New Zealand Government

A new commercial vehicle safety centre in Taupō is now open, helping target unsafe heavy vehicles and improve road safety on one of New Zealand’s busiest freight routes, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Keeping people safe on our roads is a top priority, and that includes making sure heavy vehicles are operating safely,” Mr Bishop says.

“From 2012 to 2021, heavy vehicles were involved in more than 20 per cent of fatal crashes, despite making up only around 6 per cent of total travel. Nearly 90 per cent of those killed in these crashes were not in the heavy vehicle.

“That’s why we’re investing more than $200 million in a national network of new and upgraded safety centres to better target high-risk operators and reduce serious crashes.

“Taupō is the latest location to open in a network of 12 new and upgraded safety centres the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is building on high-volume freight routes around the country. Through these centres, NZ Police and NZTA will be able to quickly address unsafe driving practices and non-compliance amongst heavy vehicles in real-time and reduce the risk of serious or fatal crashes on our roads.

“Located at the intersection of SH1 and SH5, the centre uses in-road scales, number plate recognition cameras, and electronic signage to monitor heavy vehicles in real time.

“This allows NZ Police and NZTA to quickly identify issues like overweight loads, expired Certificates of Fitness, and that drivers are taking their rest breaks.

“These new and upgraded safety centres will help ensure heavy vehicle operators are playing by the rules, while keeping compliant vehicles moving. 

“Compliance officers can also focus efforts on high-risk cases, while automation does the rest, boosting safety and efficiency for all road users.”

Notes to editor: 

• When a heavy vehicle is required for inspection, its number plate will be shown on the electronic signage, telling the driver to pull into the centre for an inspection by the NZ Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team (CVST).
• When Police aren’t onsite, the in-road technology still collects data on passing vehicles 24/7. Using this data, NZTA and NZ Police can better target education and compliance work to where the safety issues are in the industry.
• Commercial Vehicle Safety Centres are already operating in Glasnevin (north Canterbury), Rakaia (south Canterbury), Ohakea (Manawatū), Paengaroa (Bay of Plenty) and Stanley Street (central Auckland).
• The Bombay CVSC, south of Auckland, will be the next to be completed, followed by locations in Wellington and Napier. Further centres are planned for in Marsden (Northland), Albany (north Auckland), and Tauranga Port (Bay of Plenty).
• Once completed, these new and upgraded CVSCs will mean 46 per cent of the heavy vehicle network will be covered.
• You can find out more about the national programme at: https://nzta.govt.nz/commercial-driving/trucks-and-tow-trucks/the-commercial-vehicle-safety-programme

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

When the Otago Peninsula was declared possum‑free in early March 2026, it marked a major milestone for the predator‑free movement and the communities who made it possible. Led by the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group and Predator Free Dunedin, it was the result of 15 years of dedicated work, including countless everyday actions from local residents: checking backyard traps, swapping tips over the fence, clearing trap lines, and welcoming volunteers onto their land. 

Broad Bay/Whaka Oho Rahi resident Jamie Morris is one of those locals. He grew up on the Peninsula in the 80s and 90s. Back then, possums were everywhere.  

“I remember we had a fruit tree – a greengage tree – and every year it would produce about one plum, because the possums would just destroy everything.”  

After two decades away, he moved back to the Peninsula in 2022 and learnt about the eradication efforts.  

“I thought that was very ambitious, because I grew up surrounded by them.” 

His new home came with a single trap in the backyard, so he started with that. It led to meeting his neighbours, sharing tricks and tips.  

He had a bit of time up his sleeve, so he reached out to the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group, who assigned him a couple of existing nearby trap lines.  

“That would involve me walking up the hill and across the neighbour’s property, through DOC reserves sometimes. But they also wanted to extend the network, so, starting with a trap from my own backyard, then going further up the hill, we put in new traps. I’d spend one day a week to make sure they were checked regularly and kept up to date.” 

Getting out in nature and exercising is one of the things Jamie enjoys most about trapping.  

“Living at the bottom of a hill and knowing that you have responsibilities at the top of it is great motivation to get out and walking around.”  

But soon, it was the community aspect that really hooked him in.  

“I got to meet some really interesting people along the way, people who worked for DOC or who were contracting, who just knew every trick in the book.”  

Community events, including an annual possum-spotlighting night, helped bring people together and narrow down the last possums. He also got to see some incredible places that he’d never been to before, like remote parts of Sandymount Reserve.  

“The big surprise was that there were still possums there – even at the far end of the most remote land, on top of the cliffs.” 

As numbers dropped, it became clear the eradication goal was within reach. “At the beginning I was easily catching a couple a week, and then within a year it dropped to almost nothing.” 

Jamie’s advice for new trappers is simple: Start with one trap in your backyard. 

“The next tip is to find someone in your local neighbourhood – I learnt the tricks of bait and trap placement from chatting to neighbours.” 

And get connected early with conservation groups, local predator‑free organisations, and DOC. They can help in all sorts of ways, and they always need volunteers.  

Even with the possums gone, the work is never done. Jamie’s still a keen trapper, with the focus now shifting toward trapping rats and mustelids (stoats, weasels and ferrets). 

Has he noticed a change compared to how it was when he was growing up? Absolutely, he says. His garden is thriving and full of native birds. There’s more pīwakawaka, tūī and kererū than ever, but Jamie says it’s the ground birds – pūkeko and paradise ducks – that are really flourishing.  

And across the Peninsula, the greengage trees are full of plums.  

---

What about you? 

Do you have a trap at home, or are you keen to start?  

Share your thoughts in the comments – your story might help someone else get involved. 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has taken the first major step in rebuilding New Zealand’s senior secondary qualifications system, with Cabinet agreeing to the structure of a new qualification system to replace NCEA following consultation, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   

“This is the first of two major milestones that make up a carefully sequenced set of decisions to design a modern qualification system. Our new qualification will be a credible measure of student progress and achievement against the curriculum that parents, employers and universities can trust. 

“Curriculum sets out the knowledge and skills students should learn. Qualifications should accurately recognise that learning. When those two things aren’t aligned, students are the ones who miss out.  

“The changes are being developed alongside the Government’s new knowledge-rich national senior secondary curriculum so that what students learn and how they are assessed are properly aligned. 

“We are ambitious for young New Zealanders and believe they deserve a qualification system built on high expectations that is internationally comparable. 

“The shortfalls of NCEA are well socialised and longstanding. NCEA has become increasingly fragmented, difficult to understand, and too easy to game. Too often students have been able to gain piecemeal credits without developing the knowledge and skills they need to succeed beyond school. 

“The 2024 ERO report on NCEA level 1 found three in five teachers and almost half of leaders reported NCEA Level 1 is an unreliable measure of students’ knowledge and skills. 

“We asked teachers, parents and the community what they thought about replacing NCEA and, with more than 10,000 people having their say, there was strong support for structural change to the qualifications, particularly around NCEA Level 1.   

“So we are building a new system that is clearer, more consistent across schools and internationally comparable so that when a student earns a qualification it genuinely signals they are ready for the next step and reflects what they know and can do. 

“Cabinet has agreed an initial package outlining the structural components of our new secondary qualification system. These include: 

• Replacing NCEA with a new secondary qualifications system with two levels over two years at Years 12 and 13. 
• Introducing subject-based assessment for Years 12 and 13, ensuring students are assessed on whole curriculum subjects.  
• Integrating industry-led subjects into the senior curriculum, providing a single qualification pathway.  
• Removing NCEA Level 1 and replacing it with deeper, curriculum-driven learning in Year 11. This will better prepare students for the qualification in Years 12 and 13.  
• Introducing a Foundational Award recognising students’ achievement in literacy and numeracy at a Year 11 curriculum level. 
• A requirement that all Year 11 students study English | Te Reo Rangatira and Mathematics | Pāngarau from 2028.  

“Students will be able to sit the Foundational Award when they demonstrate the required literacy and numeracy capability, typically at Year 11 level. 

“The Foundational Award is designed as a stepping stone into senior secondary qualifications. The basics matter. This award is a strong indicator of readiness to engage with the Year 12 and Year 13 qualification and basic competency in reading, writing and maths. 

Next steps 

“This is the first tranche in the design of the new qualification system. By taking decisions in two tranches, we have the time to engage with the sector and undertake detailed design work with the new Technical Advisory Group, on the more technical aspects of the proposal. 

Tranche two includes achievement requirements for Year 12 and 13, information about grading, the balance of internal versus and external assessments, weighting of exams, moderation, comparability, and complex decisions.

“These questions are interlinked and complex.   

“It is important to get the balance right to be aspirational for all students, while making sure we are setting them up for success.  

“Also, during the consultation process, it was suggested it be made compulsory for schools and kura to require Year 11 students to take Science | Pūtaiao. I will be seeking further advice on this.”  

The new system will be phased in: 

• 2026: Finalise senior secondary curriculum and develop assessment exemplars. Finalise qualification design.
• 2027: Preparatory year of assessment and PLD.
• 2028: NCEA Level 1 removed, Year 11 curriculum only, Foundational Award introduced.
• 2029: New Year 12 qualification and curriculum starts.
• 2030: New Year 13 qualification and curriculum starts. 

“No student will need to switch between NCEA and the new qualifications system during their schooling.  The first students to participate are the current Year 9 cohort. 

“It’s important that we get the reform of secondary school qualifications right, so we will continue to engage with the sector to ensure we achieve the best outcomes for teachers and students.  

“I expect to take advice on these technical design decisions before Budget,” says Ms Stanford.  

Curriculum and Assessment Roadshow  

To further support schools as these reforms progress, there will be a national curriculum and assessment roadshow for secondary school leaders in June this year.

“The roadshow will help schools prepare for the new subject-based qualification structure and the knowledge rich curriculum. 

“These events will support leaders to understand the changes, build capability, and share implementation approaches across the country,” says Ms Stanford.

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  26 March 2026

DOC Biosecurity Technical Advisor Connor Hines says invasive weeds like common heather, gorse, and broom are very harmful for our native bush, and can quickly get out of control once they get established.

“DOC has recently had reports of these species at some remote South Island sites, including on Rakiura/Stewart Island, Fiordland, South Westland, and Southland,” says Connor.

“Invasive weeds can outcompete native plants and animals and completely change ecosystems, if left unchecked. And if these weeds take over the landscape, it will also wreck the hunting experience.

“Getting early reports is massively helpful, since rangers can get in and sort the weeds out 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 wouldn’t 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.”

Connor says since DOC staff can’t be everywhere, and hunters can help by providing valuable intel from New Zealand’s special backcountry places, as well as by cleaning gear to prevent the spread.

“Over the coming weeks hunters will be getting out to enjoy the roar in some really remote pieces of wilderness where few others go naturing. 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.

“One of the South Westland sites we’ve seen weeds pop up at recently is a designated helicopter landing zone for hunting trips. We know no one wants to accidentally spread weeds around, so taking a minute give your gear a good check is a small action to make a big difference.”

Hunters are reminded to please follow the Arms Code and remember the basics of good hunting – get a hunting permit, remember there might be others around, share huts and tracks with other users, hunt safely and manage firearms and dead animals carefully.

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.

Contact

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has announced today their new campaign A Home for Everybody, calling to end homelessness, fix renter’s rights, and end the housing crisis once and for all. 

“In a country like Aotearoa, with our wealth of resources and skills, there is no excuse for people to go without a decent home, let alone any home at all,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. 

“In 2022, 46% of renting households spent more than 30% of their income on rent, compared to 19% of renters in 1988. Since 2003, house prices have increased by 230%, while the median household income has only increased by 137%.” 

“The idea that housing is a human right should not be controversial. And yet, successive governments have allowed housing to be treated as an investment asset first, and a human necessity second.” 

Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says “Every New Zealander needs to live in a warm, dry, stable home if we want a country that thrives, let alone a stable democracy. A Home for Everybody is how we make it happen. That means real renters’ rights, investing in public housing and ending homelessness.” 

“This isn’t rocket science. Mass building of public housing almost 100 years ago led to decades of stable, affordable homes for New Zealanders. Other countries have shown how sensible, practical policies to strengthen renter’s rights and common sense tax settings, to stop housing being treated as a state-sanctioned casino, means more affordable homes.” 

To strengthen renters’ rights, the Greens would implement a Renter’s Rights Bill, cap rent increases at 2%, reverse no-cause evictions for rental stability, and introduce a Rental Warrant of Fitness to fix the holes in the Healthy Homes Standards. 

To increase public housing, the Greens would build tens of thousands of quality, affordable public homes, and support community providers and councils with financing to provide more public housing in their communities. This would stimulate local economies and create local jobs, while reducing housing waitlists and homelessness in those same communities. 

To prioritise housing as a necessity, not an investment, the Greens would reverse National’s billions of dollars of tax cuts for landlords and property speculators, so first-home buyers have a chance of putting down a deposit without losing out to wealthy investors. 

Marama Davidson says, “By enacting meaningful policy, we can achieve secure, affordable housing for everyone, and benefit all New Zealanders in the process.” 

“Homelessness, the housing crisis, and unacceptable, unsafe housing conditions are political choices, and we will make every choice we can to end them.” 

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  26 March 2026

To give everyone a fair go, opening dates for bookings are staggered across several days, with bookings opening at either 9:30 am or 12 pm on their respective days. The phased approach helps people planning multiple trips and reduces pressure on the booking system on opening day.

DOC’s upgraded online booking system, introduced last year, will again include a virtual queue to help manage peak demand and create a smoother experience for users.

“Our Great Walks are some of the most iconic multi-day experiences in the world, and demand continues to grow,” says DOC Acting Director of Heritage and Visitors, Carly Strausberg.

“Last summer, many Great Walks huts reached or were close to capacity during the peak season. Milford Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track huts both reached around 95 per cent occupancy, with the Kepler Track close behind at 91 per cent. That shows just how highly valued these experiences are for people who want to go naturing, and while huts were often full, there was still good availability at many campsites for those willing to explore alternative options.”

Four of the 11 Great Walks recorded increased bookings compared to the previous year, reflecting strong ongoing demand and the successful recovery of tracks previously affected by severe weather in 2023. Lake Waikaremoana Track and the Heaphy Track saw particularly strong growth as visitors returned following storm recovery work.

Across the Great Walk network last season, around 60 per cent of hut bookings were made by New Zealanders, highlighting strong domestic appetite alongside a return of international visitors. “We know people plan their holidays around these bookings,” Carly says. “Some of the big-name tracks can feel a bit like trying to get tickets to a high-demand concert, but there are plenty of other incredible spots where people can still have a great experience.”

“Tracks like Heaphy, Lake Waikaremoana and the Whanganui Journey offer incredible experiences and often have space available. They’re fantastic options for people looking for flexibility or planning later in the season.”

High demand isn’t limited to Great Walks. Some of DOC’s most iconic and high-profile sites continue to see strong demand – with places like Mueller Hut, Hooker Hut and Totaranui Campsite regularly booking out over peak periods.

At the same time, booking data shows visitors spent more than 400,000 nights in DOC campsites last year, up more than 10 per cent on the previous year, reflecting growing interest in affordable, flexible outdoor experiences, while also highlighting that availability still exists across the wider network for those willing to explore beyond the busiest spots.

“If your first-choice books out, don’t give up,” Carly says. “There are amazing experiences right across the country from iconic Great Walks to quiet backcountry huts and family-friendly campsites. There’s a place in nature for everyone.”

Background information

Opening dates for Great Walk accommodation

(For stays from 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027. Bookings open 9:30 am on listed dates.)

Tuesday, 12 May – Paparoa Track 

Wednesday, 13 May – Milford Track 

Thursday, 14 May – Abel Tasman Coast Track 

Friday, 15 May – Routeburn Track 

Tuesday, 19 May – Kepler Track

Wednesday, 20 May – Heaphy Track, Whanganui Journey, Lake Waikaremoana Track

Thursday, 21 May – Tongariro Northern Circuit, Rakiura Track

Note: Hump Ridge Track bookings are managed separately and can be booked up to two years in advance. 

Opening dates for all other DOC accommodation

(For stays from 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027. Bookings open 9:30 am or 12 noon.)

Tuesday, 12 May – Huts, lodges, and sole occupancy accommodation (excludes Tiritiri Matangi Bunkhouse) 

Thursday, 14 May – North Island Campsites

Friday, 15 May – South Island Campsites (excludes Tōtaranui Campsite) 

Friday, 22 May – Tōtaranui Campsite 

Tips to secure your booking:

1. Create an account on the DOC booking system well in advance, if you don’t already have one.
2. Test out your login details before the opening day (one of the main reasons people miss out on opening days is forgetting their password).
3. Read up on the DOC website for the place you’re trying to book – some have rules and restrictions that are important to know before you book, and it’s good to double-check the opening dates.
4. Familiarise yourself with the booking system – search for availability, even test out making a booking (just empty your cart at the end, rather than paying).
5. Get online on the opening day at around 9:15 am or 11:45 am, and we’ll see you in the lobby.
6. Don’t give up if your first-choice books out – look at other options and have a plan B.

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