Source: New Zealand Police
Police can now confirm one person has died following a serious crash in Whanganui East this morning.
The single vehicle crash was reported at around 9.50am on State Highway 4/Anzac Parade.
Sadly, the sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.
State Highway 4 has since re-opened.
Support is being provided to those involved.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is supporting Tasti Products Ltd in a significant recall of a range of Tasti brand bars, peanuts and snack ball products due to the possible presence of foreign matter (small wire-like metal pieces).
“The concern with these products is that they could cause injury,??? says NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
“Affected products have been removed from shelves. If you have any at home, don???t eat them. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that???s not possible, throw them out.”
The products are sold at supermarkets and retailers throughout New Zealand. Up-to-date information on affected products, batches and flavours, including photographs, is available on the New Zealand Food Safety recall page.
Not all batches and flavours are affected, so consumers are asked to check the information on the recall page carefully.
New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated injury.
“As is our usual practice, NZFS will work with Tasti Products Ltd to understand how this happened and prevent its recurrence,” says Mr Arbuckle.
Some affected product has been exported to Australia, Fiji, India and Singapore. New Zealand Food Safety has informed food safety authorities in those countries.
The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the New Zealand Food Safety food recall page.
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are in attendance of a serious crash on State Highway 4/Anzac Parade, Whanganui East.
Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash at around 9:50 this morning.
Initial indicators are that there are critical injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit has been notified, and the road is blocked while emergency services at the scene.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and to expect delays.
ENDS
Source: New Zealand Government
Enabling works are now in full swing for the Nelson Hospital Redevelopment, with the site being prepared for major construction, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“In May, the Government announced a major redevelopment of Nelson Hospital as part of our $1 billion investment in hospital infrastructure. This project will deliver modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that Nelson needs to meet the demands of a growing and ageing population,” Mr Brown says.
“For too long, Nelson has had outdated facilities and too few beds. This redevelopment will increase the number of points of care by 44, bringing the total across the hospital to 197, and provide patients and staff with modern layouts and flexible spaces.”
Significant progress has already been made, including drone and site surveying, and the installation of new modular buildings to temporarily accommodate staff as they relocate to free up space for the new inpatient building. Relocations across the hospital campus will continue throughout the year to ensure smooth construction.
Nelson will also be one of the first hospitals in the country to receive a new modular temporary inpatient unit being delivered under the rapid capacity expansion programme.
“Procurement for the country’s first locally built temporary inpatient ward recently closed with strong industry interest. Preferred suppliers will begin design work shortly, and construction remains on track to meet the timeframe announced earlier this year. This 28 to 32-bed facility will help maintain services during construction and address current bed pressures.
“The $11 million expansion of the Emergency Department is also underway and is expected to be completed in early 2026, further supporting urgent and acute care during the redevelopment.”
Once enabling works are finished, main construction is expected to start at the end of next year. The first stage of the redevelopment will deliver:
A new inpatient building with 128 beds, which will include an acute assessment unit, transit lounge, pharmacy, blood bank, and rehabilitation areas.
A new Energy Centre providing resilient and efficient infrastructure to support hospital operations.
Refurbishment of the George Manson Building and the ground floor of the Percy Brunette Building.
“This redevelopment has been promised to the Nelson community for years. Our Government is providing certainty to the Nelson community by getting on and delivering it. Patients, families, and staff can now look forward to the modern facilities they need and deserve.”
Source: Tertiary Education Commission
We also cover other parts of the Gazette notice that are not criteria but provide further explanatory information.
On this page:
Part 1. Criteria for significant amendment to a plan
Criterion: 1) For all TEOs, if a TEO proposes to:
a) increase its approved total amount of on-plan funding
A tertiary education organisation (TEO) needs TEC approval if it wants to increase an approved funding allocation. When we target additional funding to a TEO and increase its allocation, this also comes under the SPA criteria.
For further information on additional funding see 2025 in-year additional funding requests.
Criterion: 1) For all TEOs, if a TEO proposes to:
b) decrease or stop the provision of programmes or activities that are a TEC priority1 and increase provision of programmes or activities that are not a TEC priority
A TEO needs TEC approval if it wants to decrease or stop delivering programmes or activities that are a TEC priority and increase programmes or activities that are not a TEC priority.
The table below explains.
… priority provision
… non-priority provision
A TEO wants to change programmes from priority provision to …
A TEO does not need to seek TEC approval.
A TEO must submit a proposed SPA and seek TEC approval.
A TEO wants to change programmes from non-priority provision to …
A TEO does not need to seek TEC approval.
A TEO does not need to seek TEC approval.
TEC’s priorities are listed in Plan Guidance. We may also include other priorities that we deem necessary for the tertiary education system to operate effectively.
TEOs should refer to Plan Guidance for the year for which funding has already been approved when determining TEC’s priorities. For example, if a TEO’s Plan has been approved for the 2026 investment year, TEOs should refer to Plan Guidance for investment in 2026.
Investment Plan guidance, templates and timeframes
Criterion: 1) For all TEOs, if a TEO proposes to:
c) introduce existing programmes or activities in a region of New Zealand not currently provided for in its plan
A TEO needs TEC approval if it wants to introduce an existing programme in a region of New Zealand that is not currently included in its plan.
For example, if a TEO currently delivers a marketing qualification in Auckland and wants to offer that same qualification in Waikato, but doesn’t currently deliver any programmes in Waikato, it would need to seek our approval. This criterion does not cover any extramural activity.
Criterion: 1) For all TEOs, if a TEO proposes to:
d) reduce any of the commitments that it is required (by its plan) to use to measure whether proposed outcomes for programmes or activities are being or have been achieved. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes any adverse change to learner success milestones.
A TEO needs TEC approval if it wants to reduce any of its commitments. This includes any adverse change to learner success milestones.
For example, a TEO would need TEC approval to:
reduce the first-year retention rate commitment for Māori students at Level 7 degree from 81% to 75%, or
extend the date of a learner success milestone by a year.
Criterion: 2) For all TEOs currently approved to deliver a work-based mode of learning, if a TEO proposes to:
a) increase the number of EFTS in a work-based mode of learning; or
b) make any change to the qualification or credential, or region or mode of learning of any work-based mode of learning in its approved plan.
A TEO that is approved to deliver a work-based mode of learning, needs TEC approval to increase the number of equivalent full-time students (EFTS) it delivers in a work-based mode of learning.
A TEO needs TEC approval to make any other change to the qualification, credential, region or mode of learning of any work-based learning in its plan. For example, if a TEO wants to move a work-based learning qualification from Bay of Plenty to Hawke’s Bay, it needs TEC approval. This criterion is deliberately tight as the sector undergoes significant structural change.
Tertiary education institution (TEI)-specific criteria
Criterion: 3) For TEIs, in addition to paragraph 1 above, if a TEI proposes to introduce new programmes or activities in a new field of study. For the avoidance of doubt, this is for programmes or activities by qualification, not by course.
A TEI needs TEC approval if it wants to introduce a new qualification in a new field of study that it does not currently deliver in. “Field of study” is defined as narrow field of study in the Course New Zealand Standard Classification of Education (NZSCED) for all provision except (99) Other Natural and Physical Sciences and (06) Health provision, where detailed field of study applies.
For example:
a TEI would need to seek TEC approval to introduce a qualification in speech pathology or pharmacy if it didn’t already offer qualifications under that NZSCED detailed field of study for Health
a TEI would need to seek TEC approval to introduce a new qualification in building or teacher education under the NZSCED narrow field of study, if it didn’t already offer qualifications under that NZSCED narrow field of study.
Examples of qualifications that would sit under different NZSCED levels
Detailed
Narrow
Broad
Speech Pathology
Rehabilitation Therapies
Health
General Medicine
Medical Studies
Health
Midwifery
Nursing
Health
Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Health
Computer applications and programming
Computer Science
Information Technology
Landscape Architecture
Architecture and Urban Environment
Architecture and Building
Glazing
Building
Architecture and Building
Jewellery Making
Visual Arts and Crafts
Creative Arts
Teacher Education: Early Childhood
Teacher Education
Education
Equine Trades
Agriculture
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
How will we capture a TEI introducing a new qualification into a new field of study for the SPA criteria?
We have defined “field of study” to align to the New Zealand Standard Classification of Education (NZSCED). TEIs will need to provide information on the Course NZSCED for field of study, as opposed to the Programme NZSCED to support our assessment.
For example, using Course NZSCED would capture when a TEI introduces a new qualification in Physics and Astronomy. If this is in a field of study it has not previously delivered in, the TEI would be required to seek TEC approval. This new qualification would not be captured if we used the Programme NZSCED and would not be identified as a significant amendment to its Plan.
Private training establishment (PTE)-specific criteria
Criterion: 4) For PTEs, in addition to paragraphs 1 and 2 above, if a PTE proposes to:
a) introduce new programmes and activities that are not provided for in its plan
A PTE needs TEC approval if it wants to introduce a new programme or activity (eg, a new qualification) that it doesn’t currently deliver. While TEOs currently need to seek approval from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to deliver certain programmes, TEC needs to decide whether it will fund this new programme.
Does this include new versions of a programme of learning approved by NZQA after a Type 1 or Type 2 change?
This would only apply where the new version of the programme overlaps with one of the criteria. For example, if the mode of learning changed from a provider-based to a work-based mode of learning, this would be covered by the criteria on work-based learning. This would be a Type 2 change for NZQA to approve (constituting a significant change to an approved programme) and TEC would need to approve it under the criteria. However, where the Type 2 change is approved by NZQA, and does not overlap with the SPA criteria, then a TEO does not need TEC approval.
Do PTEs need to seek TEC approval to deliver a new NZQA-approved programme against an existing qualification?
No, except where the new NZQA-approved programme features a change from the previously approved programme that is covered by the SPA criteria, eg, a change to a work-based mode of delivery.
Criterion: 4) For PTEs, in addition to paragraphs 1 and 2 above, if a PTE proposes to …:
b) change the qualification or credential, region (if currently provided for in its plan), and/or the mode of delivery of its approved EFTS:
by more than 10 EFTS where a PTE has 100 or fewer EFTS in a fund;
by more than 10% where a PTE has 101 to 249 EFTS in a fund;
by more than 25 EFTS where a PTE has 250 or more EFTS in a fund.
A PTE can make changes to some of its provision provided it is not covered in paragraphs 1 or 2 of the criteria. For example, a PTE needs TEC approval to shift provision from priority provision to non-priority provision as this is covered in paragraph 1. A PTE that is approved to deliver work-based learning needs TEC approval to increase the number of EFTS it has in work-based learning as this is covered in paragraph 2.
When can a PTE can use the PTE thresholds?
… priority provision
… non-priority provision
A PTE wants to change a programme or activity from priority provision to …
A PTE does not need to seek TEC approval, and if none of the other criteria in paragraphs 1 or 2 apply, it can make changes to its provision using the thresholds in paragraph 4.
A PTE must submit a proposed SPA and seek TEC approval. The thresholds do not apply.
A PTE wants to change a programme or activity from non-priority provision to …
A PTE does not need to seek TEC approval, and if none of the other criteria in paragraphs 1 or 2 apply, it can make changes to its provision using the thresholds in paragraph 4.
A PTE does not need to seek TEC approval, and if none of the other criteria in paragraphs 1 or 2 apply, it can make changes to its provision using the thresholds in paragraph 4.
Provided that paragraphs 1 and 2 do not apply, a PTE can shift some provision without seeking TEC approval. Based on the thresholds stated in the criteria, a PTE may change a qualification, credential, region and/or mode of delivery in its plan by up to 10 EFTS regardless of the size of its fund.
We provide examples below of how this will work in practice.
Example 1
A PTE has 50 EFTS in a fund. It can change 10 EFTS from one existing qualification to another in the same fund provided that the qualification does not meet any of the other criteria listed. For example, the qualification must not increase a non-priority qualification in place of a priority qualification. It can also change the region where those EFTS are delivered for the same 10 EFTS, provided that the PTE already delivers provision in that region.
Example 2
A PTE has 200 EFTS in a fund. It can change 20 EFTS from one existing region to another (10%) provided it already delivers provision in that region. It can also change the qualification it delivers. For example, it can move 20 EFTS from Dunedin to Invercargill if it already delivers provision in these two regions. Of those 20 EFTS, it can also shift from an existing tourism qualification to an existing hospitality qualification, provided none of the criteria in paragraph 1 apply.
It has another 150 EFTS in another fund. It can change 15 EFTS from one qualification to another qualification for that fund, provided it has been approved for both modes.
It has 30 EFTS in another fund. It can change 10 EFTS from provider-based: extramural to provider-based mode of learning in that fund, provided it has been approved for both modes.
When does a PTE need TEC approval?
A PTE needs TEC approval to make any change when that PTE:
has between 1 and 100 EFTS in a fund and wants to change more than 10 EFTS from a qualification, credential, region and/or mode of delivery to another in the same fund, or
has 101 to 249 EFTS in a fund and wants to change more than 10% of its EFTS from a qualification, credential, region and/or mode of delivery to another in the same fund, or
has 250 or more EFTS in a fund and wants to change more than 25 EFTS from a qualification, credential, region and/or mode of delivery to another in the same fund.
If a PTE makes more than one change to its programmes or activities in a calendar year, it must seek our approval before the total changes made add up to more EFTS than the threshold allows. For example, if a PTE has 140 EFTS in a fund and it changes 10 EFTS in April and then wants to change another 5 EFTS in June, it would need TEC approval to change the 5 EFTS in June as this is more than the 14 EFTS (or 10%) that it can change without TEC approval in a calendar year.
Criterion: 4) For PTEs, in addition to paragraphs 1 and 2 above, if a PTE proposes to:
c) for hours-based funds only, change, by more than 5,000 hours:
the number of hours the PTE will deliver in a region (if currently provided for in its plan); or
the number of hours associated with a particular mode of delivery.
In relation to hours-based funds only, a PTE needs TEC approval if a PTE wants to:
change the number of hours it delivers in a region by more than 5,000 hours, or
change the number of hours associated with a particular mode of delivery by more than 5,000 hours.
How are the changes to EFTS value or learner hours counted for the PTE threshold in paragraph 4 of the SPA criteria?
The changes to EFTS or learner hours are only counted once. For example, if a PTE changes three EFTS from one qualification to another qualification, that is counted as three EFTS, not six.
Additional explanatory information in the Gazette notice
6) In determining whether an amendment to a plan is a significant amendment for the purposes of the above criteria in paragraphs 4(b) and 4(c), the PTE must take into account all changes to the plan in the calendar year, regardless of whether those changes have already been made. For the avoidance of doubt, the maximum allowable changes is the cumulative total of all changes made in the calendar year.
A PTE must seek our approval if the total changes proposed add up to more EFTS than the threshold allows. This includes when a PTE makes more than one change to its programmes or activities in a calendar year in relation to changes it could make under the thresholds.
For example, if a PTE has 200 EFTS in a fund and changes 15 EFTS from one region to another, this would not require TEC approval on its own (as it is less than 10%). However, if the PTE then wants to shift 10 EFTS from one qualification to another, cumulatively, the total changes are more than 10% (25 of its 200 funded EFTS) and the PTE would require TEC approval for the additional changes.
This does not include other changes that a PTE makes to provision because of other criteria. For example, if a PTE wants to shift 10 EFTS from priority provision to non-priority provision, these 10 EFTS wouldn’t be counted.
7) Any over-delivery for which a TEO will receive flexible funding, or any delivery up to 105% (if such a limit is specified in the relevant funding conditions), does not require a significant amendment to a plan and is treated as if it is specified in the mix of provision.
The SPA criteria do not apply for allowable over-delivery, so TEOs will not be required to submit a proposed SPA in these circumstances. For example, the tolerance bands allow for over-delivery up to 105% of Delivery at Levels 3 to 7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all industry training Fund (DQ3-7) and Delivery at Levels 7 (degree) to 10 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework Fund (DQ7-10).
This includes flexible funding for eligible TEOs of up to 102% or 10 EFTS, whichever is larger. This means that TEOs are funded for delivery up to 102%, provided they meet the flexible funding requirements.
How will the SPA criteria work with over-delivery?
Scenario
Flexible funding rule
SPA criteria
Outcome
A PTE has 15 EFTS in DQ3-7.
The flexible funding rule does not apply as they have fewer than 20 EFTS.
They can change up to 10 EFTS (under the PTE thresholds) without requiring TEC approval.
The PTE can change the region of 10 EFTS from x to y, for example, without seeking TEC approval (provided no other criteria apply).
A PTE has 150 EFTS in DQ3-7.
The flexible funding rule applies, and they can deliver up to 160 EFTS.Note: 10 EFTS is greater than 2%.
The PTE can change up to 10 EFTS without requiring TEC approval.
The PTE can change the mode of delivery of 10 EFTS from online to provider-based, for example, without seeking TEC approval (provided no other criteria apply).
A TEI has 1,000 EFTS in DQ7+.
The flexible funding rule applies, and they can deliver up to 1,020 EFTS.
The TEI can deliver an additional 20 EFTS in any type of provision, regardless of whether it is priority or non-priority provision.
The TEI must seek approval to shift funding from priority to non-priority provision based on their approved Mix of Provision (MoP). For example, in their approved MoP, 30% of provision is priority and 70% is non-priority.Increasing non-priority provision above 70% requires a SPA. The calculation excludes the additional 20 EFTS delivered through flexible funding.
Criteria for replacement of a plan
Criterion: if a TEO proposes to:
8) change the TEO’s mission and role detailed in its plan in a way that is not consistent with the mission and role in its approved plan
A TEO needs TEC approval to replace its plan when it wants to change its mission and role in a way that is inconsistent with those in its current plan.
For example, if a TEO’s mission and role are predominantly focused on supporting learners to study health care and it wants to move into horticulture, this proposal changes its role in the network of provision and its overall mission.
Criterion: if a TEO proposes to:
9) make a change to a qualification, credential, region and/or mode of delivery over the course of a year that affects 50% or more of the TEO’s total programmes or activities, when measured by EFTS or hours learned, and where the total number of EFTS changing is 50 or more. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes cumulative changes made over the current year.
A TEO needs TEC approval to replace its plan when it wants to change 50% or more all its programmes or activities.
This applies to all the on-Plan funds for which it receives TEC funding.
This includes changing a qualification, credential, region and/or mode of delivery, measured by EFTS or hours learned.
TEOs that have fewer than 100 EFTS in total do not need to submit a Replacement Plan under this criterion. It only applies where the total number of EFTS (or equivalent hours) changing is 50 or more. A TEO with fewer than 100 EFTS would still be subject to the SPA criteria.
For example, if a TEO delivers 120 EFTS in agricultural qualifications in Canterbury, and it wants to shift 60% of those qualifications to Marlborough (72 EFTS), the TEO would need to submit a proposed Replacement Plan for TEC approval.
Part 2. SPA and RP assessment criteria
10) The criteria for assessing a significant amendment to or replacement of a plan are the same as the criteria prescribed by the TEC under section 424 of the Act for assessing proposed plans, set out in the current Education (Proposed Investment Plans: Content and Submission; Assessment Criteria; and Plan Summaries) Notice.
To assess a TEO’s request to change its plan based on the SPA and RP criteria, we will use the same assessment criteria that we use to assess proposed Investment Plans.
The assessment criteria are set out in a Gazette notice titled Education (Proposed Investment Plans: Content and Submission; Assessment Criteria; and Plan Summaries) Notice. It includes the year that it was published at the start of its title.
If a TEO’s Plan has been approved for the 2026 investment year, they should refer to the relevant Gazette notice. See the current Gazette notice for investment in 2026.
This includes the assessment criteria that TEC will use to assess a proposed SPA or RP when the criteria come into effect on 1 January 2026.
What do TEOs do if they meet the criteria?
We will provide further information on a process prior to the criteria (ie, the Gazette notice) coming into effect on 1 January 2026.
What should a TEO do before 1 January 2026 if it wants to change its Plan?
At this stage, there are no set criteria before 1 January 2026. If you are considering changes, then, as a first step, you will need to contact your Relationship Manager (RMI) or our Customer Contact Team.
If you have any questions, please contact 0800 601 301 or customerservice@tec.govt.nz using the subject line: [EDUMIS #] Significant Plan Amendment / Replacement Plan.
Source: New Zealand Police
An early morning arrest landed a 30-year-old man in custody with a number of new offences on his charge sheet.
Waitematā Police located the offender hiding under a vehicle in Don McKinnon Drive at around 1.45am on Friday 19 September.
Acting Inspector Tim Williams says the man of no fixed abode was breaching his conditions of bail and arrested.
“He’s also wanted for further offending including shoplifting, stealing number plates and stealing a vehicle,” Acting Inspector Williams says. “Additional charges laid after the early morning arrest amounted to 11 shoplifting charges, three theft charges and one charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.”
The man appeared in North Shore District Court and was remanded in custody until 7 November.
“What a result for the late night team on patrol,” Acting Inspector Williams says. “We want communities to know we’re always on the lookout for criminals, even it means working hard when most people are fast asleep.”
ENDS
Nicole Bremner/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
A five-month operation has culminated in 11 arrests and the recovery of an illicit stash of firearms and drugs, along with nearly NZ$1 million in cash in Auckland this week.
Operation Mexted, a joint investigation run by the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) and New Zealand Customs, has been targeting a transnational organised criminal cell involved in the smuggling of controlled drugs into New Zealand.
It’s the 29th such cell shut down in New Zealand since 2016.
The first phase of Operation Mexted commenced in late June, when Police executed a search warrant at an Air BnB in Māngere Bridge, in Auckland.
“During the search, four glocks and a submachine gun were located inside a suitcase in an upstairs bedroom,” Acting Detective Inspector Jason Hunt, National Organised Crime Group, says.
“Later that day, three American nationals were arrested at an Onehunga address for the possession of these firearms and were subsequently charged with importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.”
On 14 August, a second phase of arrests terminated with search warrants executed at four properties in Pakuranga, Ōtara, Blockhouse Bay and Papatoetoe.
“As a result, four people were charged in relation to a number of methamphetamine importations, as well as possession for supply of 750 grams of methamphetamine.”
Acting Detective Inspector Hunt says a further man was arrested for money laundering after more than NZ$800,000 was located in a Takapuna apartment.
He says the find was part of the operation’s third termination on 8 September, in which officers also discovered 41 grams of methamphetamine and NZ$77,000 at an address in Mt Wellington, which led to the arrest of another man.
Yesterday morning (18 September) Police and Customs investigators descended on 10 properties across the Auckland and Waikato regions, where a further seven people were taken into custody.
“We are continuing to focus our efforts on these syndicates establishing themselves for financial greed while preying on vulnerable communities.
“Police will continue to act, alongside Customs and our other law enforcement partners, to shut down this organised criminal offending taking place across different parts of the country.”
Acting Customs Investigations Manager, Simon Peterson, says Customs used its investigative and specialist expertise from the outset to identify the syndicate’s attempts to exploit our border and gathered and shared this intelligence with Police partners.
“Customs identified the suspects smuggling cannabis plants and resin into the country, tracking their smuggling activities throughout and gathering evidence.
“The offenders now face charges for the importation of 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well importation charges for cannabis.
“This joint investigation with our Police partners has disrupted this criminal group and kept 900,000 doses of methamphetamine off our streets,” Mr Peterson says.
Ten men, aged between 23 and 39, and one women, aged 33, are facing combined charges for multiple drugs and border related offences.
Those charges include unlawful possession of firearms, importation of methamphetamine, possession for supply methamphetamine, importation of cannabis resin (class b), importation of cannabis plant (class c).
Police have also laid charges of participates in an organised criminal group (material benefits) and participates in an organised criminal group (violence).
Those charged have appeared in the Manukau District Court.
By the numbers:
– 11 people arrested
– 5 firearms located
– NZ$915,335 cash seized
– 791 grams of methamphetamine located
– 18 grams of cocaine
– 54 grams of cannabis
Importation charges relate to:
– 18 kilograms of methamphetamine
– 408 grams of cannabis (resin)
– 1673 grams of cannabis (plants)
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
The State Highway summer maintenance season is coming to Motueka in a big way.
A two-stage resurfacing programme is planned for the road, between Old Wharf Road and Fearon Street, starting at the end of this month and continuing until late November.
Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman, says Stage 1 will see work underway between Tudor Street and Greenwood Street from Sunday, 28 September.
“Contractors will be resurfacing this section of State Highway 60 High Street with asphalt. This will create a much smoother, safer, and quieter road surface – and one that will require fewer repairs and maintenance in the future.”
Mr Service says the Stage 1 works will take around three weeks’ worth of nightworks to complete and will be ongoing to 17 October.”
“This is a big job, and it cannot be done without affecting traffic. We will need to have a southbound road closure and a local road detour in place while it is underway.”
“The good news is we can keep it open for northbound traffic heading to Riwaka. However, drivers can expect delays while the resurfacing is being completed. They will need to allow for around five minutes extra travel time to use the local road detour,” Mr Service says.
He says there will be three nights on 5, 6 and 7 October, when a full closure will be needed.
“This is because we have to resurface the Greenwood Street / Pah Street / High Street intersection. Unfortunately, crews will have to work across the full width of the road on these three nights, meaning it will be closed to north and southbound traffic.”
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. But the good news is the work will result in a much better road surface for one of Motueka’s busiest intersections,” Mr Service says.
Mr Service says stage 2 of the project will see the State Highway 60 High Street resurfaced between Old Wharf Road and Whakarewa Street at the southern end of Motueka, and also between Greenwood Street and Fearon Street at the northern end of the town.
“Contractors will start this work in mid-November, and we expect both sections will be resurfaced within two weeks, weather permitting.”
“We will be sharing more details about these works and how they will affect traffic and the community before they begin,” Mr Service says.”
Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand
The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has given its full support to Ra Whakamana, a national day of solidarity on 28 October 2025.
MUNZ is calling on maritime workers and their whanau to join mass mobilisations at 12pm to reaffirm the tino rangatiratanga of Tangata Whenua and protect the rights and wellbeing of all workers.
The national day of action is being co-led by the National Iwi Chairs Forum and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi.
Maritime Union National Secretary Carl Findlay says the fight for workers’ rights and the fight for Tiriti justice are intertwined.
“On the waterfront, in our ports, and on our ships, we see every day how the struggle for dignity, safety, and fair pay is the same struggle for all workers,” says Mr Findlay.
“This Government’s agenda is a direct attack on all working people. They are eroding hard-won rights and protections while costs keep rising, blocking pay equity for wahine, and attacking Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will not stand by and let this happen.”
R? Whakamana is a tikanga-led stand for cultural wellbeing, dignity, workers’ rights, mana wahine, rangatahi, and tino rangatiratanga, guided by iwi leadership in partnership with the union movement.
The date of 28 October carries deep historical significance, marking both the 1835 signing of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and the first Labour Day demonstrations in 1890 that helped secure the eight-hour working day.
Mr Findlay says this is a historic collaboration between iwi and unions.
“This is a call to all Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti to stand together. For generations, maritime workers have fought for a fair go. Now, we are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with iwi to create a future where tino rangatiratanga is real for everyone and Te Tiriti o Waitangi unites all our communities.”
“We urge our members to join their local events on 28 October and send a powerful message: we will not back down.”
Events will be held across the country. To stay updated on details, visit: https://www.together.org.nz/ra_whakamana
Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand
We honour trailblazers like Kate Sheppard, Meri Te Tai Mangak?hia, Georgina Beyer, and many more, whose courage helped make Aotearoa a leader in social change and equality for women.
Tomorrow, at the Women’s Day of Action on 20 September, across Aotearoa we continue their fight. To show this government that Aotearoa will not stand for their attack on women and working people. At NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi, we stand united with working w?hine across Aotearoa.
We also celebrate this year’s Kate Sheppard Memorial Award recipient, an incredible PhD student Katherine Ellis, whose work inspires us all.
132 years on, the fight for gender and workplace equality continues. Together, we keep pushing for a fairer, more inclusive Aotearoa.
