NZ Engine

Source: Radio New Zealand

The West Coast polytechnic Tai Poutini will become a campus of the Open Polytechnic next year.

The institute is among the last four polytechnics remaining in super-institute Te Pūkenga.

Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds said the other three, Northtec in Northland, the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki and the joint Wellington region institute Weltec and Whitireia, would become stand-alone institutes from 1 January.

However, they would be placed in a federation with the Open Polytechnic aimed at supporting institutes that were relatively weak financially.

Simmonds said the changes were aimed at creating a strong network of regional-led polytechnics.

“This is a major milestone in rebuilding a vocational education system that is locally led, financially sustainable, and focused on delivering the skills New Zealand’s regions need,” she said.

“It means training can better reflect the needs of local employers, support key industries, and ensure vocational education delivery aligns with workforce demand.”

Open Polytechnic chief executive Sharon Cooke said Tai Poutini would become a regional campus within the polytechnic.

She said it would provide face-to-face learning with the Open Polytechnic’s online and blended-delivery courses.

“This model allows us to bring the best of both worlds – local delivery where it matters most, supported by national scale and expertise,” she said.

She said the change would ensure polytechnic courses continued on the South Island’s West Coast.

Ten other polytechnics became independent institutions at the start of this year.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A grand old dame who survived World War I and emigrated from Europe to New Zealand with a Kiwi solider has made a surprise visit to Te Papa to see an exhibition which tells her story.

Torty the tortoise is well over a hundred years old and had been taken care of by three generations of the same family.

She was brought to New Zealand by Stewart Little, a stretcher bearer who cared for her in Greece after she was run over by a French gun cart. He shipped her home in his rucksack in 1916.

After Stewart Little died, Torty was cared for by his son and daughter-in-law. After their deaths, Little’s late grandson and his wife Christine Little took on caring duties.

On Monday, Christine Little took Torty on an impromptu visit to see Te Papa’s Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition, which featured a replica of the tortoise.

“We thought we would just pop into Te Papa and see if we could grab a photo with her replica. But she caused quite a sensation, and the next thing we had many staff and lots of members of the public very interested to meet her.”

Torty’s story began when Stewart Little spotted her run over on a road. Christine Little said he was not expecting the animal to survive, so was surprised to see this resilient little tortoise had stood up and was carrying on trying to walk, despite her quite serious injuries.

“And given that obviously he was a man of kindness and compassion, being part of the medical corps, he picked her up and looked after her. I mean, she was, after all, wounded in the war.”

Christine Little’s husband was one of Stewart Little’s grandchildren and she said Torty once lived with Christine Little’s mother-in-law in her rest home.

“It is a complete family affair.”

If Torty could talk, Christine Little thinks she might want to thank Stewart Little for the kindness he showed lifting her out of the mud that day in Greece.

“And I guess that she would have some pretty horrible stories about what she saw during that time in the war. She’s also had a number of adventures along the way, like being stolen in the 1930s and turning up in a circus in Dunedin!”

Now well into older age, Torty still makes school visits and had her Te Papa outing but mostly her days were spent with a regular routine of waking about 8am, eating and sleeping and then bed at 5pm.

“She’ll wander out onto my lawn. She lives out just in my backyard, which I’ve let grow, and it’s grown into a bit of a meadow. And she’ll graze. Just eat until she feels tired and ready for a nap, and then she’ll have a nap. And then she might wake up and have some more to eat, and that’s sort of how her day goes.”

In the next couple of weeks Torty would go into brumation and wake up in September. It’s not known how long she could live for, but the family had a plan for when she passes on.

“A number of years ago we had a discussion about this as a family. It has been decided that when it’s her time, she will come back to the Manawatū and she will be buried with Stewart and his wife, Maud.

“So that’s all been organised with the cemetery and it’s all good and that is what will happen.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bluebridge says sea trials and final clearance from Maritime New Zealand for its beleaguered Connemara ferry have been delayed.

The ship was side-lined due to a technical fault 10 days ago. Then, on Monday evening, Maritime NZ announced that a “Port State Control Inspection” of the ship conducted ahead of the weekend had led the waterways regulator to detain the ship in berth at Wellington.

Bluebridge had hoped to resume sailings on Wednesday, in its last update.

However, in an email to freight customers, the company announced the morning and mid-afternoon sailings had been cancelled.

It said the Connemara was now scheduled to return to service at 8.30pm Wednesday – subject to successful sea trials and sign off – and asked customers to put their plans on hold, if possible.

“We understand the inconvenience that these changes may cause and sincerely apologise for the disruption. If you are booked on one of the affected sailings, we would greatly appreciate it if you could defer your travel until next week where possible. However, if travel is essential, please contact our freight teams and we will do our best to accommodate you on standby,” it said.

“For all customers who may have flexibility in their plans, we kindly ask that you consider postponing your travel to next week. Your understanding and support during this time are truly appreciated as we work to resume our regular service.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former Manukau City mayor Sir Barry Curtis – one of the country’s longest serving mayors – has died at the age of 87.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says Sir Barry leaves “an enormous legacy”.

He led Manukau City from 1983 to 2007 at a time when the city was expanding rapidly.

In a post on the Auckland Council website, Brown said he knew Curtis well.

“He was a hugely influential figure in local politics and a pioneer as Mayor of Manukau City Council for 24 years. He was the country’s longest serving mayor at the time,” Brown said.

“He was known for his booming trademark voice and was a genuine champion of the communities he served over a 40-year career in local government.”

The council post said Curtis was a dedicated public servant who devoted nearly 40 years of his life to serving the people of Manukau and Auckland.

Councillor Alf Filipaia said Curtis was a dear friend and colleague.

“Sir Barry championed an approach dubbed the ‘Manukau Way,’ which balanced economic progress with community welfare and fostered inclusive partnerships, particularly with iwi through early engagement on issues like the Manukau Harbour claim and Treaty of Waitangi responsibilities,” he said.

“From my perspective, part of his legacy will be about uniting diverse communities and ensuring that Manukau plays a significant contribution to Auckland’s economic, social, and cultural advancement.”

Curtis was backed by the right-leaning Residents and Ratepayers Association in his mayoral tenure, but was known for working well with the dominant Labour group on the council.

When he retired he said was proud of his working-class background, Auckland Council said.

“I came from a poor family and my father was a waterside worker. That is why I know how it feels to be born on the wrong side of the tracks. I never forget that,” he said.

Curtis consistently identified health, housing, education and lack of jobs as Manukau’s main problems, and called on the government to take a more interventionist approach.

He was knighted in 1992 for his services to local government and community.

Manukau City was one of four cities in the Auckland region before they merged with the Auckland Regional Council and three district councils to become what was known as the super city in 2011.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two young men allegedly filmed themselves drowning young puppies in the Whakatāne River and posted the video to social media last night.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with cruelty to an animal, and a 17-year-old male has been referred to Youth Aid after the incident.

Senior Sergeant Cam MacKinnon said police were contacted just before 6pm on Monday by members of the public who had seen a video on social media of two males allegedly throwing very young puppies in the Whakatāne River.

“We received information from the public who saw the males take the puppies out of what looked to be a pillowcase and throw them into the Whakatāne River, while filming their senseless activity.”

MacKinnon said the puppies tragically drowned in the river.

“This type of wilful ill-treatment towards animals is unacceptable in any form and is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

“As with this incident or any similar behaviour, we will robustly work to hold these offenders to account for their actions and this includes restrictions on bail during court proceedings.”

Both offenders were soon located by police.

“Police would like to acknowledge the members of the public who contacted and assisted police with this incident,” said MacKinnon.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Health NZ has changed its advice on Covid-19 vaccinations, saying most healthy people aged 30-64 no longer need regular boosters.

But there were exceptions and anyone who wanted or needed a booster could still have a free one every six months.

Recommendations to get for boosters remained in place for older age groups, Māori and Pasifika people from 50, the immunocompromised and many who had close contact with them.

Health NZ changed the advice in its 2026 Immunisation Handbook, the guide for health professionals.

It noted healthy adults in the age group were at lower clinical risk of severe infection so boosters were no longer routinely recommended.

But it encouraged people to discuss whether they needed one with their healthcare provider or vaccinator.

The Immunisation Advisory Centre’s Nikki Turner was part of the group giving clinical advice to Te Whatu Ora on this year’s handbook.

The change reflected the fact the vast majority of New Zealanders now had some level of immunity from Covid-19 – either from being vaccinated or having had the disease, she said.

It brought New Zealand in line with many other Western countries.

Cost was not a factor in the decision, with people still able to get one free booster a year if they wanted one, Turner said

Rather, it was about making the advice on who should be vaccinated less confusing by tying it to the risk of severe impacts from the disease.

“I think a lot of people were confused about who should be getting Covid vaccines and this general recommendation to suggest everybody, every six months just wasn’t happening,” she said

The changes focused on making sure the most at risk people were encouraged to get boosted.

They still recommended healthy people in the age group who were caring for vulnerable or immunocompromised people got regular boosters.

Worries about long covid

Epidemiologist Michael Baker disagreed with the change and urged Te Whatu Ora to think again.

He worried not being regularly boosted would lead to more people getting long Covid.

About nine percent of New Zealanders had experienced some form of long covid, and many were living with chronic, debilitating symptoms, he said.

“If you look at government statements on this, there is nothing. It’s almost like an invisible condition that we have not accepted at an official level – and I don’t know why,” he said.

The changes were continuing the pattern of ignoring the disease, he said.

Turner said there was no clear evidence that extra boosters protected people from long covid.

But Baker said there were studies that showed they were protective and it was important to keep reviewing the evidence.

While a booster might not help those who already had long covid, it could prevent many more people getting it, he said.

Advice for other age and risk groups

People aged 75 and over were still recommended to get two boosters a year in the latest handbook, as were most severely immunocompromised people, or those over 50 with other conditions on the advice of their doctor.

The National Public Health Service’s clinical director of protection, Christine McIntosh, said that was important.

“Older adults, those adults with increasing frailty, and people with compromised immune systems have a reduced ability both to fight infection and to create lasting immunity, ” she said.

“This puts them at the highest risk from the severe consequences of Covid-19 infection, despite having received multiple doses of vaccine and exposure to the virus.”

Those aged over 80 had a rate of hospitalisation with Covid 10 times higher than those under 60, while people over 70 years accounted for most Covid-19-related deaths, she said.

Those in the 65-74 age group, who were otherwise healthy were recommended to get one booster a year.

The advice for Māori and Pacific between 50 and 74 people had not changed from one booster a year, with the handbook saying that was because they were at higher risk of severe disease at a younger age.

There were some changes around advice for pregnant women.

Te Whatu Ora urged people to check with their doctors or vaccinators to get the best and latest advice.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The government’s mega-ministry is backing down from work from home policy a day before the matter was scheduled for court, the Public Service Association (PSA) says.

The union filed legal action last year after a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) policy restricting flexible work arrangements was introduced.

The flexible work policy was intended to align with the government’s directive to restrict flexible work arrangements for public service workers, including reducing days working from home.

The PSA claimed the rules ignored existing provisions under the collective agreement.

MBIE lodged a memorandum on Tuesday with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) which accepted the PSA’s position.

PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimmons said an ERA hearing set down for Wednesday and Thursday had been abandoned.

“This is great news for workers who argued all along that MBIE had no right to restrict their right to flexible work arrangements under the collective agreement,” she said.

The ERA would issue a consent determination of a resolution the PSA sought, which accepted MBIE’s flexible work policy and procedures were inconsistent with the collective agreement, Fitzsimmons said.

“This is a victory for MBIE workers and shows the power of a union to challenge an employer who threatens worker rights. ACC backed down too last year when it too backed from limiting working from home in the face of the concerns of workers and the PSA,” she said.

“This capitulation is a damning indictment of MBIE which had enforced the policy with some staff since last year. MBIE denied it was in breach, delaying the hearing at the Authority on numerous occasions. It refused to withdraw the policy. It refused to engage constructively. It went through three rounds of failed mediation. And then, on the eve of the hearing, it folded. Workers deserve an apology.”

The PSA said it would raise personal grievances for any worker disadvantaged by the policy.

Fitzsimmons did not rule out further legal action against other MBIE guidelines that breached the collective agreement., including a revised version of its flexible working policy.

“This is just ridiculous. MBIE still fails to understand that the collective agreement enshrines the ‘flexible by default’ approach common across the public sector. ‘Flexible by default’ is an important right, it means employees have a right to flexible work arrangements which suit their individual circumstances unless there is a good business reason not to,” she said.

MBIE has been approached for comment.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Crew on the Kaiārahi did not know a passenger was missing until they found his car.

A search is underway for a person that went overboard from an Interislander ferry on the Cook Strait overnight.

A KiwiRail spokesperson said the incident happened from its Kaiārahi ferry.

Do you know more? Email us at iwitness@rnz.co.nz

Police said they were alerted to the incident about 2.20am on Tuesday.

The Maritime Union said crew on board Interislander’s Kaiārahi were shaken by the incident, and did not know the passenger was missing until they found his car.

“What flagged the crew was that the car was left on board with the keys inside,” said the union’s Wellington branch secretary Fiona Mansell.

Mansell said she had spoken to members that were on board the Interislander ferry, which she said had gone between Picton and Wellington.

She said crew members searched around the ship for the man, then after checking the CCTV cameras found he had gone overboard about five hours earlier, while the ship was still crossing the Cook Strait.

Mansell said the crew were understandably shaken by the events.

“They’re feeling okay, a little bit distressed,” she said

She said the union had requested and was ensuring support is available to the crew, with a focus on those who had direct interaction with the passenger.

She said the union was currently awaiting further information as search and rescue efforts continue,

“This is a shocking event, and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and loved ones of the individual involved.”

Police said while they are trying to locate the person, they’re are not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter.

Wellington District Commander Superintendent Penny Gifford said the investigation and search were continuing.

“As part of our work, we are reviewing timelines and this will include speaking with staff when they come back on shift.”

Ten volunteers from Coastguard Wellington were searching the area aboard rescue vessels Reremoana and Spirit of Wellington.

Coastguard said it was supporting police and Rescue Coordination Centre NZ who were leading the search operation.

“Our volunteers assembled at base at 7.30am and were on the water at 7.54am.”

On Flight Radar, two rescue helicopters were seen flying in a grid-like pattern in the area.

GCH Aviation has confirmed its Nelson/Marlborough rescue helicopter was one of those assisting with the search.

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