Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

It was ”a full circle” moment for Rachael Williams and Dot Singh at the opening of a new whare at Te Kura o Tuahiwi in Canterbury on Friday, 5 December.

Williams, the board of trustees presiding member, and Singh, the tumuaki (principal), joined forces to celebrate the completion of a Ministry of Education-led building project.

As well as the new whare, Tūranga Tuarua, six new teaching spaces were built earlier this year, classrooms have been refurbished, and landscaping has given the school a new look as it prepares to grow to 250 tamariki.

Te Kura o Tuahiwi is a special character school, between Kaiapoi and Rangiora, with full immersion te reo and bilingual classes.

Williams and Singh, who have whakapapa at Tuahiwi, joined the teaching staff together at the kura 15 years ago, before going on to different roles.

”I taught here for 12 years, my three girls have gone here, and now my eldest daughter is returning next year to begin teacher training,” Williams said.

”It’s part of that full circle. You come and work here, and then you give back.”

Williams recalled that Maaka Tau, who officiated at the opening on behalf of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, was a kapa haka tutor at the kura when she started teaching.

While she was teaching at the kura, the roll fell to 76, but with the rebuild, it now has a capacity for 250 tamariki

The turnaround was thanks to the perseverance of Singh and previous tumuaki Sue Ross and Melanie Taite-Pitama, she said.

”There has been a lot of hard work from Dot and Mel to get here, and Sue before them.

”There was lots of liaising and promoting the school and encouraging people to bring their tamariki here.

”And now a lot of whānau are bringing their tamariki back here.”

The growth needed new classrooms, but the rebuild nearly didn’t happen.

It was delayed twice and then got caught up in the Ministry of Education’s review of 352 school building projects last year.

The new whare has been named Tūranga Tuarua by Ngāi Tūāhuriri upoko (leader) Te Maire Tau, Singh said.

”Our old hall was named Tūranga, and we wanted to keep the name, so this is the next generation Tūranga.”

The whare is designed to hold 250 people, meaning the kura will finally be able to hold full school assemblies, prizegivings and indoor sports.

The kura regularly supports the Marae across the road by hosting people on site before they are welcomed onto the Marae.

With the project completed, attention turns to refurbishing the administration block and building a new staffroom to support the growing staff.

The new project will be board-led, Singh said.

”Everyone walks into the staffroom because they think it’s the office, so this will mean the staff can have their privacy.”

The old hall has been refurbished, with the extra space allowing the kura to offer a Te Puna Reo group (pre-school) for 4-year-olds to help them prepare for school.

Williams said it just left a gap for rangatahi when they head off to high school.

”Our tamariki go to Kaiapoi or Rangiora High Schools or into Christchurch, but it’s not full immersion, so it can be a struggle for them going into mainstream.

”So it’s something to think about long-term – what do we provide beyond here?”

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: Radio New Zealand

The University of Waikato held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for its new medical school building.

In practical terms, the ground had already been broken for the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine, with heavy machinery on site and project fencing up.

But, as university chancellor Susan Hassall said, groundbreaking ceremonies are symbolic, offering participants an opportunity to celebrate the excitement of a new beginning.

It was a new beginning that many at the ceremony felt had been too hard fought.

A National Party election promise, the proposal hit opposition almost immediately, including from government coalition partners, the opposition, and the country’s existing medical schools.

University of Waikato vice chancellor Neil Quigley addressed why it took so much time and effort to get to this point.

He said, in part, it was because when change was proposed, incumbents have the resources to try to convince the public and decision-makers that a new offering was either not needed or would not be as good.

“Well said, well said,” replied Prime Minister Luxon from his seat.

“It’s taken great political leadership… to overcome the forces that oppose change and to get us to this point today,” said Quigley.

The prime minister also spoke of the opposition the project faced.

“It has been quite a fight because a lot of the political parties in Parliament haven’t wanted to support this at all, for various reasons,” he said.

But National had long believed that a third medical school was needed, he said.

“I think the message is pretty simple: this is a country that has one medical school for every 2.6 million people. Australia has one medical school for every 1.2 million people. This is a country where we have 350 New Zealand students now studying in Australian medical schools because they couldn’t get places here.”

Many speakers thanked Universities Minister Shane Reti for the work he did in opposition and while Minister of Health to encourage the university to persevere with the project and to advocate for the project within government.

Reti deflected praise to others.

“I want to acknowledge the many, many people, over many, many years, who bring us to this point today, who nourished the dream of a third medical school.”

The new school marked a new approach to medical training in New Zealand, he said.

“An innovative approach like this supports our focus on strengthening primary care, especially in rural environments, helping people to see a doctor more easily and improving the distribution of doctors across the country.”

The four-storey teaching and learning building is where medical students will spend their first year in the four-year programme studying biomedical sciences and the social factors that influence health.

In the second to fourth year, the students will be based in regional and rural communities. The third year will be entirely spent in a GP clinic.

The medical school will take a “digital-first” approach, using digital anatomy labs, VR-enabled case study rooms, clinical skills practice areas and hospital-standard simulation wards.

The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine will welcome students from 2028.

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Relaed

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

An intimate ceremony filled with singing, tears and laughter marked the opening of a new Pacific student space at the University of Aucklands Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui (General Library) dedicated to the late Green Party MP Fa’anānā Efeso Collins.

Fa’anānā died early last year while advocating at a charity event in Auckland.

Family, students and staff gathered for the blessing of the Fa’anānā Efeso Collins Space, described by his widow Vasa Fia Collins as “a great honor” for their family and communities across the region.

“It means this occasion, not just for our family, for my daughters, Kaperiela and Asalemo, but also for all of Tangata, ale Moana, for all of Pacific people so it signals that, we’ve come a long, long way, and that we belong here in these institutions.”

A measina (taonga) in the form of a Samoan Siapo was dedicated to the space. The Siapo was designed by Vasa’s brother Opeta Elika and hand crafted in Samoa, travelling the Pacifc Ocean to hang on the wall of this dedicated space.

Each pattern was designed from the motifs of Fa’anānā’s Tatau (Samoan Traditional Tattoo for men) said Vasa.

Speaking to RNZ Pacific about what Fa’anānā would have thought of the space, Vasa said he would have been deeply moved.

“I think he’d be really shy and humbled. He would be speechless, with Efeso, he’s always got something to say about everything. But I think if he had come into the space, seen the siapo, and understood the journey it took to bring it across the Pacific Ocean to this place. He wouldn’t be able to have the words. He’d be in tears.”

Fa’anānā’s own student journey was highlighted during the ceremony, from his upbringing in Ōtara as the youngest of six in a Samoan and Tokelau family, to his achievements at the university.

“Efeso didn’t simply pass through this university, he shaped it. He loved this place, here he founded the Pacific Islands dream fonotaga program encouraging young Pacific learners to dream big and to pursue their dreams with courage. In 1999, he became the first Pacific president of AUSA (Auckland University Samoan Students Association). But let’s be honest, if he were here, he’d tell you that all these.”

Vasa also reflected on the challenges Pacific students face on campus, citing research that shows many do not feel the general library is a place where they belong. She had encouragement for students.

“I shared some research earlier from a friend of ours, Cathleen Hafu Fetokai, who talked about interviewing Pacific students who are here at the university, and that many of these Pacific learners did not name the general library as a place of belonging for them.

“My prayer is that having the Efeso Collins space is going to change that data, where our kids walk into this space and they feel accepted, they feel a sense of belonging and that they can celebrate all of who they are, their languages, their identities and their culture.”

University of Auckland’s pro vice-chancellor for Pacific Jemaima Tiatia said naming the space after Fa’anānā was a natural recognition of his impact.

“It was only fitting and appropriate for someone that had given his life as an undergrad student and a postgrad student to this university. He stood up for the voice that was not historically welcomed in these type of spaces, he’d served in so many ways, even beyond these halls and for that, we just thought, there’s nothing more better that we could honor him with than to name him a space after him.”

Behind the scenes, making sure the event and planning went smoothly was Pacific Engagement Lead for Learning and Library Services Fay Nanai , who said her 18-year-old self would have wanted a space like this.

“I remember not feeling like I belong University felt overwhelming, and I don’t always believe I could achieve my dreams.

“I sometimes think about that 18-year-old me who would be cheering us on right now, because this is the kind of space we dreamed of, a space that says ‘Your voice matters, your story is valued’, and with the opening of the Fa’anānā Efeso Collins space, it says the opposite. It says you are seen you belong, and while you may not always fit, you definitely belong.”

“This space is more than a space. It is a tribute to the life and legacy of Fa’anānā Efeso Collins, grounded in values that shaped him, tautua and leadership and alofa, advocating and championing our people at every corner.”

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

• Twenty-one roles to go at the Public Health Agency
• Biggest impact in emergency management and Māori public health
• Union and public health experts say loss of critical expertise makes New Zealand vulnerable
• Health Ministry says consultation open now and any changes will be in place by April

Crucial public health roles – including in emergency management, pandemic preparedness and Māori health – are on the chopping block at the Ministry of Health, with yet another restructuring under way before Christmas.

The Public Service Association said the loss of skills and expertise would leave New Zealand “vulnerable”, as the risk from disease and natural disasters continued to ramp up.

Consultation on the changes at the Public Health Agency – the lead adviser to the government on public health and mental health – closes in just over a fortnight and any changes are expected to be in place by April.

Under the proposed restructure, 21 jobs would go – the biggest number from the emergency management team, which would shrink from 11 roles to just two, and from Māori Public Health, which could drop from six staff to two.

PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the ministry had told staff the cuts were no reflection on their work, which was high quality and of vital importance.

“Ultimately, this loss of deep skills and expertise to the Ministry of Health is also a huge loss for New Zealanders,” she said. “The COVID pandemic showed us all how crucial planning and public health is in an emergency, and decades of research have revealed that tangata whenua face health inequities at every level of the system.

“These changes make zero sense.”

The proposal follows cuts to public health in other areas, including the National Public Health Service, which sits under Health NZ.

Its job is delivering public health services, including running immunisation programmes, responding to infectious disease outbreaks, conducting public information campaigns, and monitoring water and air quality.

It was previously threatened with the loss of 55 positions, 300 vacant roles and a budget cut of $32m, but was granted a reprieve earlier this year, when Health NZ announced it had achieved “sufficient cost savings”.

The National Public Health Service had already undergone two major restructures in two years.

Under its new proposal, the Health Ministry has also proposed what the union described as “significant changes” to the mental health, addiction and suicide prevention office, with two group manager roles disestablished and eight roles moved elsewhere.

Fitzsimons said the reductions were driven by the government’s “reckless” budget-cutting.

“We’ve seen time and time again with the government’s cuts that specialist teams have been broken up,” she said. “When it comes to health, as our population grows and ages, we need those specialist teams with deep, specialist skills.”

Public health experts worried

Otago University public health professor Nick Wilson said the proposed cuts were “deeply worrying” at a time when other countries were gearing up public health expertise in the face of rising threats from pandemics and climate change.

“We’ve got increasing risk from biological spillover from the wild, but also, with humans intruding on wild spaces, that risk is increasing,” he said.

“We’ve got intensification of agriculture – we see influenza viruses from pig farms making that jump into the human population – and there’s the growing concerns about bio-engineering and AI producing new pathogens.

“As a country, we should be investing vastly more in pandemic preparedness.”

New Zealand would irrefutably see “more Cycle Gabrielles”, he said.

“Governments shouldn’t rely on academic commentators who are just doing bits of research in their spare time – that’s just too unreliable. You need lots of in-house expertise.”

Infectious disease expert Professor Michael Baker said the COVID-19 pandemic showed how crucial planning and public health was in an emergency.

“Also, you need the right people – people with real expertise – and the problem is, with every one of these re-organisations and downsizing processes, we’re losing expertise and momentum.”

When the Māori health authority Te Aka Whai Ora was disestablished by the government, there was a commitment that its functions and expertise would be retained in the Health Ministry and Health NZ.

The cuts to the small Māori public health team put that in further doubt, Baker said.

“This is a real concern, because we know there are huge health inequities for Māori in terms of life expectancy and every other measure we’ve got, so we need more expertise focused on reducing those disparities, rather than less.”

On Monday, the Wellington High Court will hear an application by Lady Tureiti Moxon, Dr Chris Tooley and Tony Kake, challenging the crown’s decision to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora on the grounds it breaches the rights of Māori, undermines tino rangatiratanga and entrenches inequity.

Changes in place by April

In a written response to RNZ, Director-General of Health Audrey Sonerson, said the ministry had started a change consultation with two groups within the organisation.

“Affected staff have had meetings to outline the proposed changes to their roles and now consultation on the proposed changes is open,” she said. “At this stage, we expect any confirmed changes to organisational structure to be in place by April 2026.”

There was no proposal to reduce the size of the suicide prevention team, but the plan was to bring it under a new ‘lived experiences team’.

Of the 11 roles in the emergency management team, three are already vacant.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Hāwera residents were evacuated from their homes, after an “item of concern” was found on a nearby property.

Police were called to Quin Crescent just after 2pm Friday.

Cordons are in place at the Rimu and Clement streets intersection, and at the Rod Syme Place and Rata Street intersection.

The Defence Force explosive bomb disposal team was alerted.

Evacuated residents were advised to go to the TSB Hub on Camberwell Road for shelter.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Noam Mānuka Lazarus, Massey University journalism student

Wellington festival Beers at the Basin has been cancelled after it was previously postponed for more than a year, with organisers blaming a tough economic climate in the capital.

In an email to ticketholders on Friday, organisers said the festival at the Basin Reserve scheduled for February was “taking a break” and they “remain committed to exploring opportunities for the future.”

It said they had hoped postponing the event from November 2024 to February 2026 would bring “excitement and energy,” but it had not sold well.

“Wellington’s tough economic climate has contributed to lower than expected ticket sales, despite strong early interest.

“Recent indicators show that discretionary spending in the region, unfortunately, continues to remain low.”

That meant they couldn’t “confidently proceed” with the event.

“This difficult decision was made after reviewing a number of factors that impact our ability to deliver the event experience attendees, vendors, and partners expect from Beers at the Basin,” it said.

All tickets will be fully refunded, the email said.

Damien Hochberg from Arada Promotions, the festival’s promoter, declined to comment further.

The first Beers at the Basin event was held in 2017.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Paihia’s boil-water notice will continue at least until Monday, the Far North District Council says.

Residents in Paihia as well as Waitangi, Ōpua, Haruru and Te Haumi have been told to boil tap water for at least a minute before drinking it or cooking with it.

The notice was issued on Thursday afternoon after testing showed E coli bacteria in the water above permitted levels.

The council said tests had to come back clear for three days in a row before the boil water notice could be lifted.

The results of Friday’s water tests were not known.

A reservoir at Te Haumi, just south of Paihia, had been isolated to prevent any risk of wider contamination while testing continued.

The council said anyone in the affected area who developed gastroenteritis symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, should seek medical advice.

Meanwhile, Kaikohe’s town supply was restored around noon on Friday after an outage caused by a burst water main earlier in the day.

A number of schools closed for the day due to the lack of running water, including Northland College and Kaikohe East School.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand