Source: New Zealand Police
Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt is currently closed due to a nearby fire.
Police were called to the fire on the corner of Blenheim Street and Goodshed Road at around 1:35pm.
No injuries have been reported.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are now able to name the person who died in a three-vehicle crash on the Lindis Pass on Sunday 15 March.
He was Murray Kevin Levers, 71, of Matamata.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.
Police would like to thank the motorists and first responders who acted immediately and did everything they could to help.
The investigation into the crash and its cause remains ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
A report released today shows coordinated action is needed to build New Zealand’s energy workforce and meet growing demand across the energy sector, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says.
“The Re‑Energise 26 report shows that without the right people, in the right roles, at the right time, we risk slowing growth and missing opportunities across the energy sector”, Louise Upston says.
Re-Energise 26 maps workforce needs across the full energy sector and identifies key challenges including sectoral uncertainty, uncoordinated workforce initiatives, training pipeline issues, pressure to fill critical roles, and bottlenecks in supervision, mentoring and assessment.
“This report is clear about the challenges facing the sector, but it also points to real opportunities. It is now more important than ever that we support talent development across the energy sector.
“A more unified approach could help get New Zealanders into work, strengthen pathways into energy sector careers, and ensure employers can access the skills they need.”
Government, industry and training providers all have a role to play in strengthening the energy workforce, including improving career visibility and building clearer pathways into energy sector jobs.
“Our Government is focused on fixing the basics and building the future and we need a strong pipeline of talent, better connections between job seekers and employers, and training that gives people the skills they need for sustainable careers.”
The report also highlights the importance of timing, particularly in regions experiencing declining industries, where skilled workers risk being lost before new energy opportunities are available.
“The Government welcomes the clarity and evidence this report provides, and looks forward to working with industry, educators, regions and communities to turn these insights into action,” Louise Upston says.
Re-Energise 26 was produced by Energy Resources Aotearoa and the Electricity Engineers’ Association, with data and analytical insights provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The report is available at: https://eea.co.nz/what-we-do/projects/re-energise-2026/
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Date: 25 March 2026
Alliance Group has signed a new two‑year contract to supply 5,000 kilograms of beef hearts per year to feed hungry chicks.
The hearts will feed juvenile kakī at the Department of Conservation’s captive breeding facility near Twizel in the Mackenzie basin until they are ready to be released at around eight or nine months old.
Department of Conservation Kakī Captive Breeding Project Lead Liz Brown says the chicks will also be fed the beef hearts for around six weeks after their release to supplement their diet and give them time to adjust to foraging for food in the wild.
“The hearts are a key component of the chicks’ diet and gives them the best chance of survival. They will be gobbled up with relish. The heart is a lean source of protein, and diet analysis has shown that with the addition of a few other mineral supplements, it’s an excellent replacement for their natural diet of freshwater invertebrates,” she says.
Alliance Group General Manager Safety and Processing Wayne Shaw says the company was pleased to be able to contribute to the recovery efforts for one of New Zealand’s most endangered birds.
“Feeding one of the world’s rarest birds is a long way from Alliance’s usual customers.
“Most of our beef, lamb and venison ends up on restaurant plates and family tables around the world, not in a breeding programme for endangered birds.
“These hearts go through a tightly controlled process to meet DOC’s exacting standards for the chicks. Knowing they’re helping lift kakī/black stilt numbers makes this work especially rewarding for the Alliance team.”
DOC’s Regional Partnerships and Investment Manager Christine Officer says the partnership with Alliance is an example of a business directly helping to save an endangered species.
“We love that Alliance is feeding these very special chicks. We are seeing more New Zealand businesses see the value of taking action for nature. Kiwis care about our endemic endangered species and really want them to survive,” she says.
The kakī were close to extinction with only 23 left in 1981. Their numbers have slowly increased to around 140 in the wild and they have the highest threat ranking of ‘nationally critical’. The distinctive wading bird used to be found throughout New Zealand, but now they are mainly found in the Mackenzie basin in the braided river systems.
There are currently 146 juvenile kakī spread between the DOC captive breeding facility in Twizel and at The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch, with a planned release into the wild this August.
Liz Brown says one thing’s for sure, the chicks will be fighting fit for release with the beef hearts supplementing their diet.
Nature isn’t scenery. Nature is a society that we rely on for everything, every day. It’s behind our identity and our way of life.
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz
Source: Press Release Service
Headline: Kiwis Ditch Spreadsheets and Compromised Password Sharing with Dashr
Dashr is a New Zealand platform that uses open banking to securely streamline real-time financial data sharing, reducing paperwork and speeding up lending processes for borrowers and advisors.
The post Kiwis Ditch Spreadsheets and Compromised Password Sharing with Dashr first appeared on PR.co.nz.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Makara this morning.
Police were called to Makara Road about 8:05am following reports of a vehicle upside down in a body of water.
Enquiries at the scene are ongoing and Makara Road is currently closed near South Makara Road.
Further information will be released when we are in a position to do so.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
The National Diabetes Roadmap has today been launched to improve care, strengthen prevention, and support better health outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders living with diabetes, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“Diabetes is one of the fastest growing long-term health conditions in New Zealand, affecting an estimated 348,000 people and placing increasing pressure on individuals, families, communities, and our health system,” Mr Brown says.
“That growing impact is being felt most acutely through preventable complications, particularly within our Māori, Pacific, and South Asian communities. This roadmap is about changing that by acting earlier, supporting healthier living, and reducing the avoidable harm diabetes causes.”
To drive that change, the roadmap sets out a clear, coordinated direction for the health system over the next five to ten years, with a focus on:
The need for a coordinated approach was reinforced by a Health New Zealand review completed in November 2025, which highlighted both the scale of diabetes in New Zealand and its growing financial burden. Diabetes-related care cost $2.1 billion last year alone, and without change, is forecast to double by 2040.
“A key part of our plan is updating the diagnostic threshold for type 2 diabetes, allowing more people to be identified earlier. By July, around 34,500 New Zealanders previously classified as having prediabetes will meet the criteria for diabetes, aligning us with international standards and supporting earlier intervention to reduce complications and improve long‑term outcomes.
“Alongside this change, the roadmap includes a range of initiatives to strengthen how care is delivered, including growing and supporting the diabetes workforce, improving access to foot and retinal screening, expanding community-based support, and exploring the use of new technologies to better manage the condition.
“An oversight group chaired by Sir Jim Mann has also been established, bringing together experts in this field to champion the roadmap and drive its implementation.
“This is about system-level change. Diabetes cannot be managed by individual effort alone – it requires coordinated action across the health system and our communities.”
Mr Brown says Kiwis living with diabetes and their families are at the heart of the National Diabetes Roadmap.
“This Government is focused on reducing diabetes-related harm by strengthening prevention, improving access to effective treatment, and ensuring people get the support they need to live healthier lives.
“The National Diabetes Roadmap lays the foundation for a more coordinated, consistent approach to prevention, care, and support – helping ensure New Zealanders living with diabetes can access the right care, at the right time, and achieve better health outcomes.”
Source: New Zealand Police
Do you recognise these men?
Police making enquiries into a disorder at a store on Eleventh Avenue, Queenstown on 24 January 2026 would like to speak with the men pictured.
We believe they have information that could assist with our enquiries.
Nobody was physically injured, however the store worker is understandably extremely shaken.
If this is you, or you can help us identify those pictured, please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 260128/1485.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
A project to extend Hamilton Airport runway will receive a $6.5 million loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, boosting resilience for Waikato and the national aviation network, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.
“Extending the runway will increase Hamilton Airport’s capacity to support a broader range of aircraft. Its location and proximity to major highways and link roads also make it a key hub for moving people and freight domestically and internationally,” Mr Jones says.
Waikato is home to several of New Zealand’s largest manufacturers and value-added primary sector exporters that depend on resilient freight infrastructure.
“In the event of disruptions at other North Island airports, Hamilton Airport is also an option to keep people and goods moving. Such incidents do occur from time to time. Last April, an international flight had to be diverted from Auckland to Hamilton due to bad weather.”
The work includes extending the runway by 255m to 2450m, expanding the runway apron and turning bay, and upgrading the approach and runway lights. The work will also enable any further future extension of the runway.
The construction work is expected to create up to 39 jobs, with local people hired where possible.
Waikato Regional Airport Ltd, a council-controlled organisation owned by five local councils, will receive the loan. It will contribute $3.3m to the project.
“Extending Hamilton Airport supports the Coalition Government’s commitment to a stronger, more resilient national aviation network,” Mr Jones says.
Source: New Zealand Government
The frontline mental health and addiction workforce has grown, with the latest target data showing the Government’s workforce target has been exceeded, giving more New Zealanders faster access to support, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.
“The Government’s mental health plan is delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response,” Mr Doocey says.
“This latest data clearly shows we have turned the corner on reducing wait times and growing the mental health workforce.
“One of the biggest barriers to timely support has been workforce shortages. That’s why I have prioritised growing the frontline Health NZ mental health and addiction workforce, which has increased by more than 11 per cent since we came into office.
“The latest results continue this momentum, with 514 new mental health and addiction professionals trained over the past year, exceeding our target of 500 and up from 457 when we first started reporting on this data. This result includes specialist frontline workers such as occupational therapists, social workers, registered nurses, clinical psychology interns, and Stage 1 psychiatry trainees.
“We have grown both the clinical psychology and psychiatry workforce. We funded 74 clinical psychology interns, exceeding the 2025 target of 60.
“We are also seeing record uptake in psychiatry training, with 48 junior doctors entering Stage 1 training last year, up from 33 in 2024.
“Prevention and early intervention are key priorities for this Government. That’s why we set a target for 25 per cent of mental health and addiction funding to be invested in prevention and early intervention.
“For the first time, that target has been met, with 25 per cent of ring-fenced mental health and addiction funding going toward prevention and early intervention.
“Early intervention makes a real difference. By identifying needs early and providing the right support, we can help prevent issues from escalating.
“Nationally, 83 per cent of people are being seen within one week for primary mental health support, and nearly 82 per cent are seen within three weeks for specialist support, both exceeding the target of 80 per cent.
“A recent report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission backs that wait times have decreased due to there being more specialist mental health workers compared to March 2023.
“These results show that mental health outcomes have improved and continue to improve under this Government.”
Notes to editor:
• The latest mental health and addiction target factsheets for quarter two 2025/26 can be found here