Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 1 is blocked following a single vehicle crash near Ohotu, south of Taihape.
Motorists are asked to delay travel if possible and expect delays.
Emergency services received reports of the crash about 3:10pm.
There are no reported injuries.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Andersons Floodway Bridge on State Highway 63 in Marlborough is now open to traffic, just over four months after it was severely damaged during a severe winter storm.
The new, more resilient structure is a significant upgrade on its predecessor that was deemed beyond repair after it was washed out during heavy rain in June.
Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South, says the project is a real success story for the region, with local contractors completing the work in record time.
“Building a new bridge quickly without compromising quality was the priority – we managed to do that by working on smart solutions with local contractors.”
“By using the design and construct model our contractors were able to begin construction on the new bridge immediately using generic bridge details that were refined as required as construction progressed, saving time and money.”
Mr Owen says the local community also played a key role in helping the project progress at pace.
“Landowners were accommodating of us using their land for the temporary bypass, local utilities companies were on board early and promptly relocated lines and cables and Marlborough District Council urgently produced a flood model that informed the design of the new bridge.”
“It’s been a real team effort from the outset, through to project completion.”
Work on the replacement bridge began on 18 August, with a temporary road and minor detour in place to keep traffic moving safely while construction was underway.
The new, longer bridge was built on site with a deep-piled foundation and a wider precast concrete deck, improving both resilience and efficiency.
As part of the upgrade, new barriers were installed on the approaches to the bridge, and these, along with the wider deck, mean the new bridge is much safer for traffic.
Mr Owen said the support from road users during this work is appreciated by everyone involved.
“We know State Highway 63 is a critical route in Marlborough, and we acknowledge the Andersons Floodway Bridge project, along with other recovery and repair works on the highway, have caused disruption and travel delays for drivers.”
“Our contractors appreciate the patience and cooperation the public have shown while the work has been underway. But the good news is we now have a new improved, and more flood-protected bridge open just in time for Christmas,” Mr Owen says.
Andersons Floodway Bridge – Facts and figures:
|
Old Bridge |
New Bridge |
|
|
Traffic Width |
7.3m |
9.0m |
|
Span |
4.3m |
11.5m |
|
Flood Capacity |
One-in-five-year flood event (with no allowance for climate change) |
One-in-100-year flood event (including allowance for climate change) |
Other work on State Highway 63:
Mr Owen says work to rebuild a section of State Highway 63 on the eastern side of the township is making good progress, and recovery work to repair significant scouring damage west of the Waihopai Bridge is now underway.
“From 17 November contractors will also begin work to rebuild a 200-metre section of the state highway, west of the Waihopai Bridge. This will involve removing the top layer of the road, laying new gravel, and then applying new chipseal. The end result will be a much stronger stretch of highway,” Mr Owen says.
SH63 West of Waihopai Bridge works schedule:
SH63 East of the Wairau Valley township:
Driver Advice:
Please follow all traffic management, temporary speed limits, and instructions from road crews. They are there to keep everyone safe
Source: New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police and Customs have congratulated five new handlers and their detector dogs on their graduation from the Police Dog Training Centre (DTC) in Trentham today.
The teams have completed their training to be qualified as operational Detector Dog Teams and three of the handlers are first time operators.
Two officers from Fiji Police and one from Samoa Police, one officer from Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and one from Tonga Revenue and Customs have proudly marched out at Trentham today.
National Coordinator Police Dogs and Pacific Detector Dog Programme (PDDP) Manager, Inspector Todd Southall, congratulated all the teams.
“These handlers and their dogs have trained here in Upper Hutt for eight weeks and now the rest of the training is completed back in their own jurisdictions under the watchful eyes of advisors from the PDDP,” he says.
New Zealand Police and Customs have a close partnership with our Pacific enforcement partners. The PDDP is part of a commitment to increase safety across the region.
New Zealand Customs’ Deputy Chief Executive – International and Governance Joe Cannon said when fully trained, these detector dog and handler teams will be deployed to perform both border security and community policing.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our shared mission to protect Pacific borders and communities.
The graduation of five new detector dog teams boosts our region’s capability to detect drugs, cash and firearms, and strengthens our collective response to transnational, serious and organised crime,” Mr Cannon said.“The DTC has been working with Pacific countries for much longer than the PDDP has been running, Inspector Southall says.
“About 20 years ago we started to work with some of the Pacific countries – initially the Cook Islands, Samoa, and Tonga, then later Fiji and now French Polynesia and New Caledonia has been added this year”, says Inspector Southall.
The PDDP officially started in 2018 and is jointly managed by New Zealand Police and Customs. It is funded through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Left to Right:
Inspector Todd Southall (National Coordinator – Police Dogs), Erin Williams (Senior Project Officer, Overseas Programmes), Constable Ratu Esala Drole & Detector Dog Vena, Sergeant Mike Robinson (Trainer), Constable Sher Singh Junior & Detector Dog Vector, Principal Customs Officer Saimoni Tuiraki (Trainer), Senior Customs Officer Camari Rotukana & Detector Dog Ouzo, Sergeant Matt Fage (Trainer), Customs Officer Andrew Manu & Detector Dog Twiggy, Constable Miracle Malaefono Pose & Detector Dog Yoko, Chief Customs Officer Dave Huff (NZ Customs).
Source: PHARMAC
Pharmac is proposing changes to the Special Authority and Hospital Indication Restrictions criteria for four biologic medicines: infliximab, etanercept, secukinumab, and rituximab.
These medicines are used to treat a range of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The proposed changes aim to reduce administrative workload for clinicians, improve consistency across biologic treatments, and respond to feedback received during previous consultation.
Special Authority and Hospital Indication Restrictions are funding tools used by Pharmac to ensure medicines are targeted to those who would benefit most. They set out specific clinical criteria that must be met before a person can get a funded medicine.
“We’ve listened to feedback from clinicians, patient advocacy groups, and others,” says Pharmac’s Acting Manager of Pharmaceutical Funding, Claire Pouwels. “This proposal is about making the criteria easier to use and more consistent.”
The proposed changes include:
Pharmac previously consulted on changes to the access criteria for adalimumab in 2021. That consultation was well received, and many stakeholders asked for similar updates to other biologic medicines.
“These proposed changes will make a difference for people who rely on these medicines,” says Pouwels. “Fewer administrative steps means less waiting, fewer treatment disruptions, and more consistent access to care.
“We encourage anyone with an interest in these medicines to share their views.”
From 6 November 2025, Pharmac will begin public consultation on the proposed changes. Feedback will be open until 5pm on 27 November 2025.
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Date: 06 November 2025
Nest surveying began in September and so far, the Department of Conservation’s Pukunui Recovery Team have found 12 nests, 35 eggs and five chicks.
DOC Rakiura Operations Manager Jennifer Ross says it’s a promising start to the season and potentially a big boost for pukunui recovery efforts as there are only an estimated 105 left (not including the new chicks) – making them the rarest and most threatened wading bird in the world.
“To see these little chicks emerge brings hope that we can save them from extinction.”
However, there’s no guarantee all eggs will hatch or that the chicks and their parents will survive as they are extremely vulnerable to predation by feral cats.
“In previous years, we’ve lost around 40-50 adult birds to predation, and last year, we lost around 20 adults but gained about 24 chicks,” she says.
There’s cautious optimism that more birds will survive as feral cat numbers have been heavily reduced in an aerial 1080 predator control operation in August covering 40,000 hectares of Rakiura National Park. This included vital pukunui breeding habitat along the Tin Range.
“We are thrilled as camera monitoring in the area has revealed zero feral cat detections for at least six weeks following the operation, however, they will eventually reinvade from areas where 1080 wasn’t applied,” Jennifer says.
“The main measure of success will be the pukunui flock count in April, and also the long-term population trends. Our aim is to grow the population to at least 300 birds by 2035.”
Nest surveying efforts have had a boost in funding this year from the International Visitor Levy. This is enabling the team to more extensively search breeding sites.
“They don’t breed in one big group, they are very widely distributed, so it’s hard to predict where their nests will be or find them as they blend very well into the alpine vegetation,” she says.
“This season, the team have been excited to find a few mystery male birds that we’ve banded at flocking sites but hadn’t seen at breeding sites. This is particularly critical as we estimate there are less than 30 males left. The males play an important role in incubating eggs at night, while females incubate during the day.”
The team is very careful to minimise any disturbance to the birds when nest surveying.
“It’s important when we’re out naturing we keep disturbance to a minimum. Once we are out of the way, pukunui always quickly settle back onto the nest. They aren’t scared away by our activity.”
In addition to nest surveying, the team manages a network of nearly 500 traps. They’ve caught 20 feral cats since May, and just one in the operational area since 1080 was applied.
“Just one feral cat has the potential to wipe out multiple nests in quick succession.”
Before predators were introduced to New Zealand, pukunui bred throughout the Southern Alps, but they now only breed on the Rakiura mountain tops – earning them a reputation as the “underbirds”.
“It’s been tough weather conditions for the birds lately – especially with the recent storm. The chicks will have been spending a lot of their time sheltering under the wings of their parents.”
From January onwards, the survivors will journey off the mountains to Rakiura beaches and Awarua Bay to gather and forage in groups. New birds will then be banded so their survival can be monitored.
“For birds that have fledged, it’s a rite of passage to make their way down and a bit of a test run for their flying abilities.”
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: Radio New Zealand
The Ōtara Papatoetoe local board for 2025 – 2028 where Papatoetoe hold both leadership roles regarding the chair and deputy positions. Photo: Mary Afemata / LDR
Ōtara elected members say being refused any local board’s leadership roles is like a “slap in the face” and broke a long-standing tradition of sharing the top positions between suburbs.
At the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board inauguration on Tuesday night, the newly elected Papatoetoe Action-Team used its four-seat majority to secure both the chair and deputy chair positions.
This left Ōtara’s three elected members without leadership roles for the first time since the Auckland Super City was formed in 2010.
Prior to the inauguration, Ōtara representatives – Apulu Reece Autagavaia, Topou Folau, and Li’amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara – said they had walked out of a meeting that morning over the issue.
Apulu, who chaired the board in the previous term, said the decision risked dividing the community and being a “tyranny of the majority”.
“They had a choice to involve Ōtara. If they go ahead with this decision, they’re disrespecting Ōtara. They’re saying the people of Ōtara are an afterthought.”
He said previous boards had deliberately shared the top roles to reflect the area’s two distinct communities of interest.
“When I was chair, we represented both Ōtara and Papatoetoe.”
At the meeting, the Papatoetoe representatives voted for the same nominee, confirming Kushma Nair as chair and Paramjeet Singh as deputy chair for the full three-year term.
Friends and family attend the inauguration as Ōtara community members voice their hurt and disappointment over Ōtara representatives being shut out of leadership. Photo: Mary Afemata / LDR
The decision prompted loud public outbursts and cries of “unfair” and “racist” from sections of the audience.
Supporters of Ōtara members stood and shouted as the votes were counted, accusing the Papatoetoe side of “locking Ōtara out.”
Newly elected chair Kushma Nair told Local Democracy Reporting he understood the emotion in the room but asked the community to give the board time to prove itself.
“People in Ōtara should not feel that we will leave anybody out. We are here to serve everyone,” he says. “It doesn’t belong to one party or any other party, we are ratepayers the same as you. We have to work together to achieve things in our community.”
Community members, friends and families attend the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board inauguration at Manukau Civic Building to support the newly elected members. Photo: Mary Afemata / LDR
Nair said all members, new and returning, would need to collaborate to achieve results.
“We have the experience of the three Ōtara members on board, and with that combined knowledge, I think the board can achieve a lot,” he said.
“It’s our first meeting. Over time, things will gel once we start doing the work on the ground.”
Prior to the meeting, Topou Folau, who was re-elected to the board, said the outcome ignored every opportunity to work together.
Ōtara representatives re-elected for another term, Li’amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara, Topou Folau and Apulu Reece Autagavaia. Photo: Mary Afemata / LDR
“It felt like we were told, ‘No, we’ll run things, you can support us to look good in front of the community.'”
Li’amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara, another re-elected board member, said it was a missed opportunity to showcase how they can work together, despite their political affiliations.
“I’m hurt for our people in Ōtara. I feel Ōtara has been belittled and not even considered in the leadership.”
According to Autagavaia, since Auckland Council’s formation in 2010, the chair and deputy roles have traditionally been split between Ōtara and Papatoetoe subdivisions.
During the meeting, Ōtara members proposed sharing leadership, with each subdivision holding the chair for half the term, but were outvoted four-to-three by the Papatoetoe subdivision.
From left: Sandeep Saini, Kunal Bhalla, Chair Kushma Nair and Deputy Chair Paramjeet Singh at the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board inauguration. Photo: Mary Afemata / LDR
Fuli and Filipaina both addressed the meeting, acknowledging the tension but urging cooperation.
“People are hurt and worried about what the future looks like for them,” Fuli said.
“If the chair is from Papatoetoe, then the deputy should be from Ōtara to honour that unity.”
Lotu said she and Filipaina would act as mediators.
Manukau Ward councillors Lotu Fuli and Alf Filipaina tell the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board they will act as mediators to help members find a way forward. Photo: Mary Afemata / LDR
“They can always change their minds in time once relationships build,” she said. “Alf and I will play that role, to help heal what’s happened and bring the board together.”
Papatoetoe Action Team spokesperson Kunal Bhalla said the decision followed due process and reflected voters’ will.
“The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board represents one united community. While our subdivisions exist for electoral purposes, our work is for all residents, from Ōtara through to Papatoetoe,” he said. “Our focus is on outcomes, not boundaries.”
Bhalla said the Papatoetoe Action Team won all four seats in its subdivision, giving it a clear mandate for change.
“The election of a Chair and Deputy Chair is a democratic process among elected members, not a public vote. Within that framework, our team proposed both positions to ensure continuity and clear direction for the term ahead,” he said.
He acknowledged previous boards had shared leadership between the two suburbs but said there was no formal requirement to do so.
Bhalla said the team acknowledged former chair Apulu’s service but believed in rotating leadership and valuing all members’ perspectives.
“The idea of ‘tyranny of the majority’ misrepresents a democratic outcome.
“The mandate for change came from the voters, and we intend to honour it through fair, inclusive governance.”
The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board was one of only a few in Auckland with formal subdivisions, created under the Super City reforms to protect distinct “communities of interest.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Government
Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes the summary report on Pharmac’s progress against his 2024/25 Letter of Expectations (LoE).
“For many New Zealanders, funding for pharmaceuticals is life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely,” Mr Seymour says.
“My expectation is that Pharmac should have strong processes so patients, their families, and clinicians, can have a say in decisions. This is part of the ACT-National Coalition Agreement.
“My expectation is also clear that Pharmac should publish measurable performance metrics to increase transparency. We are creating a culture at Pharmac which keeps consumers in the loop, because that’s important to them.
“It’s clear Pharmac’s culture is changing. Last week Pharmac published their first 90-day report on progress against the five-year Reset Programme. In July, they published a summary of progress on implementing the recommendations of the 2022 Independent Pharmac Review. In March they published the Consumer Engagement Workshop Report. The feedback from consumer advocates on this approach is positive.”
The summary report outlines Pharmac’s progress across 21 expectations in the 2024/25 LoE. As of October 2025, 8 expectations have been fully completed including:
Proactively publishing material of public interest, and establishing a monthly consumer update forum. This forum gives consumers the opportunity to hear from Pharmac’s Senior Leadership Team and provide feedback following independent engagement workshops.
Accelerated efforts to collaborate with health sector partners, including the establishment of the Health Sector Implementation Group and the Sector Equity Working Group.
Regularly reporting to track organisational culture and stakeholder sentiment, supported by quarterly and annual performance measures.
Continued review of statutory objectives and functions, with proactive engagement on legislative updates and medical technology procurement.
Strengthened consumer participation in decision-making, regular consultation with advisory groups, and improved transparency of clinical advice records.
“For the first time Pharmac has its own Minister. While still a work in progress, for the first time in years Pharmac is genuinely moving in the right direction. For example, five years ago many of the Medicines Summit attendees would have been picketing outside Pharmac. This year, they were having genuine conversations with each other and Pharmac’s leadership about how to deliver the best service for Kiwis,” Mr Seymour says.
“The Government is doing its part. Last year we allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift to give Pharmac the financial support it needs to carry out its functions – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders.”
The full report can be found here – https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/publications/corporate-publications/letter-of-expectations/letter-of-expectations-progress-update-november-2025
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government will invest $75 million to boost New Zealand’s resilience to infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness, says Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr Shane Reti.
“We’re funding new research over seven and a half years in the Infectious Diseases Research Platform, which will be hosted by the newly established New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science),” Dr Reti says.
“We’re currently seeing an outbreak of measles in New Zealand – a vaccine preventable disease – which has reinforced the need for robust infectious disease research and response systems.
“The new platform builds on the previous infectious diseases research programme Te Niwha. It marks a step-change in how we prepare for and respond to pandemics, with a nationally coordinated system that delivers world-class science and impact with longer-term investment.”
The platform will:
The platform will also support research breakthroughs that can reduce the burden of existing diseases such as rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, and meningococcal disease.
“PHF Science is well placed to lead a national approach to infectious disease research that will ensure New Zealand is better prepared to prevent and manage such devastating illnesses in the future,” says Dr Reti.
“PHF Science plays an important part in the health sector and has well-established relationships with the Ministry of Health, Public Health Agency, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. They also play a key role in government’s pandemic preparedness efforts.
“This investment reflects the Government’s commitment to science system reform by supporting long-term, mission-led research that delivers impact where it matters most.”
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are investigating after a man was seriously assaulted in his Ōpōtiki home early this morning.
The man sustained serious injuries in the assault, which is believed to have involved several offenders.
The man has been transported to hospital and enquiries are under way to identify and locate those responsible for the assault.
A scene guard is in place at the house where the assault took place and nearby residents can expect to see a continued police presence as our enquiries continue.
If anyone has information which could assist our enquiries, they’re asked to contact Police and quote file number 251106/9516.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries