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Education – 30 Years of responding to the need for mental health and addiction nursing at Whitireia and WelTec

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

Whitireia and WelTec are celebrating a 30-year milestone for their New Entry to Specialist Practice: mental health and addiction nursing programme (NESP). The one-year programme combines theory, supported clinical experience, clinical preceptorship and supervision and has been a hugely influential part in supporting communities all the way from Hawkes Bay to Nelson and everywhere in between.
Over the last three decades NESP has grown exponentially. This no doubt is due to the increasing understanding of mental health and the complex clinical expertise that is required to support the needs of the individuals, as well as their whānau and wider community.
Carmel Haggerty, Head of School for Health and Wellbeing at Whitireia and WelTec, has been involved with the programme since its inception in 1995. “Over the time that I have been involved, NESP has seen many changes with the programme including having it going from a Graduate Diploma to a Postgraduate Certificate, growing from its initial medical model of delivery to a more nursing focused, context-based learning programme,” says Carmel Haggerty.
The programme’s flexible, distance-learning structure allows ākonga to work full-time while studying, with regular block courses on campus to consolidate learning and foster connection. This approach has enabled graduates to step into a wide variety of roles, making a tangible difference across the sector.
Waimarama Durie (Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitāne, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa), a 2018 NESP graduate, is a leading example of the varied and impactful careers enabled by the programme. Waimarama’s journey has included roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist at Mt Eden Corrections Facility, Improving Mental Health Practitioner at Rimutaka Prison, Māori Nurse Educator at Te Rau Ora leading the Huarahi Whakatū PDRP and Āporei (Principal Advisor) at Te Whatu Ora. She credits NESP for equipping her with the skills and confidence to make a real difference, connecting her with like-minded peers, and broadening her approach to holistic, Kaupapa Māori-informed care.
“One of the most beneficial aspects was working in the field while studying, bringing real-world experiences back to the classroom to learn and grow with peers and teachers,” says Waimarama Durie. “The programme broadened my perspective and encouraged me to seek holistic approaches and integrate Kaupapa Māori into my practice.”
The programme’s success is a testament to its ongoing responsiveness. Course leaders and tutors are constantly reviewing and updating course content to reflect the latest best practices, Ministry guidelines, and community feedback. A strong emphasis is also placed on the wellbeing of ākonga, who often juggle study commitments while working in challenging environments. This support ensures graduates are not only clinically skilled, but also resilient, culturally competent, and ready to meet the evolving needs of the people they serve.
Catherine Fuller, Principal Academic Staff Member at Whitireia and WelTec, says “there will always be a need for nurses working in clinical areas, but really the opportunities that come out of this course are as diverse as the workforce at the time and the skills involved are transferable to all industries.”
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Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan and the Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39

Source: police-emblem-97

Have your say

New Zealand Food Safety invites you to submit feedback on the proposed changes to the:

  • Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan (FCP)
  • Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39.

This consultation would be of particular interest to food businesses operating under the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP, registration authorities, verifiers, and biltong manufacturers.

A summary of the changes is on this page and full details are in the consultation documents.

You can make submissions between 13 May and 1 June 2025. Submissions close at 11:59pm on 1 June 2025.

Consultation document

Draft Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39 [PDF, 386 KB]

Only the affected parts of Simply Safe & Suitable are provided. Changes to wording are in yellow, except for the addition of the ‘Making biltong’ card:

Draft Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Related documents

Current Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Current Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39 [PDF, 308 KB]

Summary of proposed changes to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP and the Food Notice [PDF, 280 KB]

Proposed changes to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP

We’re proposing to add the ‘Making biltong’ card as a specialist card to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP.

New Zealand Food Safety has developed a biltong procedure that will allow biltong manufacturers to operate under a Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP rather than a custom FCP.

Note: If you are manufacturing and selling biltong outside the scope of the procedure proposed to be added to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP, you will need to register a custom FCP with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Activities out of scope of this biltong procedure include:

  • whole selling biltong (the ‘Making biltong’ card will only cover retail sale)
  • manufacturing other dried-meat snacks (for example, droëwors)
  • making biltong from other meat sources not mentioned in the ‘Making biltong’ card.

Minor amendments are also proposed to other cards in the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP. These are listed in our summary document.

Proposed changes to the Food Notice

For the Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39, New Zealand Food Safety is proposing to: 

  • remove reference to S39-00001 template FCP as New Zealand Food Safety no longer offers this
  • revoke the existing Schedule 1 which detailed the format of the S39-00001 template FCP
  • change the existing Schedule 2 to Schedule 1 which details the format of the S39-00004 template FCP
  • update the transitional requirements described in Clause 1.4
  • update Table 1 to reflect changes made.

Making your submission

Email your feedback on the proposed changes by 11.59pm on 1 June 2025 to foodactinfo@mpi.govt.nz

You can also use our online survey to make a submission.

Online submissions – SurveyMonkey

While we prefer you email or use the online survey, you can post written submissions to:

Food Act template project team
New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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Fatal crash: Takapau

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm a person has died following a crash on State Highway 2 near Takapau this morning.

Emergency services were called to the two vehicle crash just before 7.30am.

One person died at the scene.

The Serious Crash Unit attended and enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the crash.

The road has since reopened.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Unions barred from Budget 2025 lock-up

Source:

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has sent an open letter to the Government objecting to its decision to block the NZCTU and other unions from attending the Budget lock-up on 22 May.

“We object in the strongest possible terms to the Government’s decision to bar the NZCTU from the Budget 2025 lock-up. The NZCTU represents over 300,000 workers across the private and public sectors and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Workers will be significantly impacted by the decisions made by government at Budget 2025, and it is important that the NZCTU can accurately report on Budget decisions to ensure working people are properly briefed.

“This Government appears to believe the banks, international financial institutions, and consulting houses are more important than working people, and it seems that is why the representatives of working people have been denied access.

“Last week the Government made the highly controversial decision to unilaterally gut the pay equity claims process. It is therefore unsurprising that it doesn’t want working people to understand the rationale and impacts of its Budget decisions this year,” said Wagstaff.

Read the open letter below:

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Homicide investigation in Parakao: Victim named

Source: New Zealand Police

A homicide investigation is continuing into the death of a man on 9 May, at a rural property in Parakao.

Police can today name the victim as Geoffrey Wayne Ware, aged 55, who lived at the Mangakahia Road address.

“We would like to extend our condolences to Mr Ware’s whānau and loved ones at this difficult time,” Detective Senior Sergeant Michelle Harris, from Whangarei Police, says.

A post mortem has been completed and the ‘Operation Cossar’ enquiry team is making good progress.

“We are following some strong lines of enquiry,” Detective Senior Sergeant Harris says.

“There has been an excellent response to our appeal released on Monday and I would like to acknowledge the public for their assistance.”

Police are urging anyone else with information to get in touch.

“We are particularly seeking information and sightings in the area of Mangakahia Road, Otaika Valley Road and State Highway 14 towards Whangārei, between 2pm and 8pm on Friday May 9, of a 1999 blue and silver Mitsubishi L200 ute and of a man reportedly seen walking along SH14 that afternoon and evening,” Detective Senior Sergeant Harris says.

“Our investigation team is working hard to establish what happened,” Detective Senior Sergeant Harris says.  “We want to reassure the community we are doing everything we can to hold the person responsible to account.”

Anyone with information is asked to make a report online, or by calling 105.

Please quote the reference number 250509/6749.

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

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

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Appeal for information following Lower Hutt assault

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Haley Ryan

Hutt Valley Police are appealing for information following a serious assault at a residential address in Randwick Road, Lower Hutt.

At around 8pm last night Police were called to the address where a 50-year-old man was located in a critical condition with injuries consistent with him being assaulted.

A scene guard was put in place overnight and a scene examination will take place today.

We are working to piece together what occurred, when it occurred and identifying those who may be involved.

Residents in the Randwick Road area will see a high presence of Police over the next few days.

Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the Randwick Road area in the last few days.  We would also like to any Randwick road residents who have CCTV or dashcam footage to help advance our enquiries.

Please contact us via 105 either online or over the phone referencing file number: 250512/6924

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

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Up in smoke: Gang member sprung for tobacco theft

Source: New Zealand Police

A patched gang member has been rolled after allegedly stealing tobacco pouches from Clover Park stores on multiple occasions.

Police have been investigating concerns raised by retailers on the Dawson Road shopping strip, in relation to thefts from their stores.

Counties Manukau East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says Police received two reports of thefts from the same shop between 9-12 May.

“Police have been making a number of enquiries after a man entered the premises and stole a pack of tobacco before threatening the store worker.

“Officers were able to quickly identify and locate the alleged offender, who is a patched member of the Killer Beez.

“As a result, Police also located a stolen bike at the address.

“We have zero tolerance for anyone who targets our business community, these people work hard to provide a service for their local community and we will continue to crack down on this type of crime.” 

A 30-year-old man will appear in Manukau District Court on 19 May charged with three counts of shoplifting and one charge of threatening to kill.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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New Verifier App signals step toward modern digital identity system

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Government has today released an app to verify international digital credentials, Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston say.
“NZ Verify/Whakatūturu App will initially be used to verify select international mobile drivers’ licences, meaning visitors can rent a car or check in to a hotel with just their phone,” Ms Collins says.
From today, it will be able to verify mobile drivers’ licenses from Queensland, Australia, and the US states of California, New York, Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Utah, Puerto Rico, Iowa, New Mexico, Hawai’i, Alaska
“The NZ Verify app can be tailored to suit different needs, such as showing only confirmation of age and a photo when proof of age is required, ensuring that other personal details remain private. This marks a significant step forward for the privacy of digital credential holders, and improves trust and user safety.”
“Anything that makes it easier for tourists to visit New Zealand is always welcome,” Ms Upston says.
“Visitors with a mobile driver licence will now be able to use it here just as easily as they do at home, without the hassle of bringing a physical copy.
“Encouraging more tourists means more people staying in our hotels, eating in our cafés, spending in our shops and visiting our attractions, creating jobs and driving economic growth.
“I encourage every business who needs to verify visitors’ identities to download this app.”
Ms Collins says international mobile drivers’ licences are just the beginning, and additional credentials will be supported by NZ Verify in the future.
NZ Verify is now available for download via the New Zealand Apple Store and will be coming soon on the Google Play Store.

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Health and Politics – Hui to further raise awareness on health woes – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

NZNO’s Ōtautahi/Canterbury members will join local leaders and politicians to talk about the dire state of their local hospitals and the public health system at a hui on Thursday.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) will be supported by their Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) and E tū colleagues at the event to raise public awareness and place further pressure on the Government to increase funding for health.
Included among the evening’s speakers is long-serving and long-suffering enrolled nurse Debbie Handisides who says the Government needs to immediately plug the sinking ship that is health care.
“I’m concerned for patient safety, and their health outcomes due to the shortage of doctors, general practitioners, nurses, physios, occupational therapists, pharmacists, midwives and surgeons.
“Our patients are getting delayed health care with longer wait times to see GPs so they report to hospitals more unwell.”
Like virtually every part of the country, Ōtautahi is struggling with under-resourcing and understaffing, and our communities are all feeling the impact, she says.
“Every sector of the health system is crumbling around health workers’ ears. The Government is not providing adequate funding for safe staffing, and they are disguising their frontline hiring freeze.
“Every day, health workers are burning themselves out while compensating for the Government’s refusal to fund a safe and effective health system.
“Patients are at serious risk of harm and are even dying on waiting lists. This is not good enough and we demand action.”
Other speakers include Patient Voice Aotearoa’s Malcolm Mulholland, Councillor and mayoral candidate Sara Templeton, an ASMS spokesperson, Spinal Trust National Programme manager Andrew Hall, and a nursing student representative.
Interview and photo opportunities available
WHEN: Wednesday, 15 May 2025
TIME: 5.30pm-7pm
WHERE: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch
Community members are welcome.
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Marine Environment – Attenborough’s Ocean highlights horrors of bottom trawling – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is welcoming the release of David Attenborough’s latest documentary Ocean, which shines a spotlight on the scale of bottom trawling destruction, and issues an urgent message to turn the tide.
The veteran broadcaster’s latest documentary turns its attention to the brutal realities of industrial fishing, and the damage it’s doing to the global oceans. With never before seen footage of trawling across the seabed, Attenborough attests:
“The idea of bulldozing a rainforest causes outrage, yet we do the same underwater every day.
“Surely you would argue it must be illegal.”
Greenpeace Aotearoa and allies have been campaigning for decades to restrict this damaging fishing practice from where it does the most harm, but has faced continuous pushback from the NZ industry and a lack of ambition from successive governments.
“Despite the NZ fishing industry’s desperate attempts to greenwash itself and claim their activities are sustainable, there is no such thing as sustainable bottom trawling, especially when it happens on sensitive habitats.
“Bottom trawling is destructive by nature. Dragging heavy nets across the seabed destroys coral and sponge habitats on seamount areas, and releases carbon stored in the seabed. It has huge biodiversity and climate impacts. This destructive method also catches and kills huge numbers of non-target species, with anything from dolphins, fur seals and seabirds becoming collateral damage.”
A government report released in 2023 showed that 99% of coral bycatch was attributed to bottom trawling methods over a thirteen year period – 200 tonnes of it having been observed coming up in nets.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” says Hooper, “given that most of the coral destroyed by trawlers does not come up in the net.”
“Many fish stocks in New Zealand are also data deficient, meaning we actually don’t know how they’re doing. Signs from some orange roughy populations that have been assessed in recent years do not paint a good picture. They’re showing signs of decline, and breeding groups of fish have disappeared from where they once were.”
“In the middle of an ocean and biodiversity crisis, bottom trawling is too destructive to continue. The industry can try to split the issue any way they want – but the writing is on the wall. And the footage from this documentary really says it all.”
At the end of Ocean, Attenborough encourages world leaders to propose global ocean sanctuaries at the UN Ocean Conference in June.
These sanctuaries, made possible under the hard-won Global Ocean Treaty, would be a critical part of protecting the world’s oceans, including in the Tasman Sea.