NZ Transport Agency is seeking public feedback on a proposed speed limit change for a section of State Highway 3 (SH3) in Hāwera.
The proposal is to change the speed limit to 60 km/h on SH3 from just north of Kerry Road to just north of Fantham Street.
This 1km section of highway currently has a mix of 70 km/h and 100 km/h speed limits.
NZTA Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says NZTA has been working with South Taranaki District Council.
“This proposed change reflects the area’s ongoing transformation from rural to urban fringe, driven by two decades of growth and development.
“Planned industrial expansion, including the business park near Kerry and Fitzgerald Roads, is expected to further increase traffic volumes and activity along this corridor.
“Lowering the speed limit will support safer and more accessible travel for all road users and aligns with the South Taranaki’s District Council’s Corridor Strategy for SH3 (Normandy to Hāwera). The strategy includes planned upgrades to key intersections, such as new right-turn bays at Kerry Road and Fitzgerald Road,” says Ms Stewart.
Have your say
We want to hear your views on the proposed speed limit change. You can share your feedback by completing a short survey on our website before Wednesday 29 October.
From the start of next month tens of thousands of households will get extra help with the cost of early childhood education (ECE) thanks to the expansion of FamilyBoost, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
“Legislation expanding the ECE support scheme passed through its final stages in Parliament today.
“I am delighted that despite previously voting against FamilyBoost, Labour has today reversed its position, sensibly voting to support the enhanced FamilyBoost scheme.
“More than 60,000 families have already benefited from Family Boost and I’m sure they will welcome Labour’s ‘Road-to-Damascus’ conversion.
“The changes made today put more money in the pockets of households currently receiving FamilyBoost and extend the scheme to more households,” Nicola Willis says.
“Because the changes took effect from 1 July, households can apply for their first three months at the increased rate from 1 October.
The Income Tax (FamilyBoost) Amendment Bill increases the proportion of ECE fees families can claim from 25 to 40 per cent.
“An eligible household with fees of $100 a week will see its FamilyBoost entitlement increase from $25 to $40 a week, or from $1300 to $2080 a year.
“The entitlement for a family with weekly fees of $200 could increase from $50 to $80 a week, or $2600 to $4160 a year.
“FamilyBoost is paid on fees up to $300 a week so the maximum a family can now claim increases from $75 to $120 a week.
The Act also increases the household income limit for FamilyBoost from $180,000 a year to just under $230,000, making about another 21,000 households eligible for help with ECE costs.
To date, 87,800 households have registered for FamilyBoost and more than 67,000 families have received payments through the scheme.
“I encourage all parents paying for ECE who have not yet checked their eligibility for entitlement to do so.
“The last few years have been tough for many families, and FamilyBoost provides support at a time when many younger families are facing additional costs.
“Households can check eligibility and apply on Inland Revenue’s website. Families who have made a claim tell us it is simple to do and only takes five minutes.”
Notes to editor:
Officials have been asked to progress work on longer term improvements to the scheme, including exploring ways to make the process more automated and easier for families.
FamilyBoost is also included in the Early Childhood Education Funding Review which is examining the full range of supports available to families with children in early childhood education.
Approximately 162,000 families have children enrolled in ECEs across New Zealand.
The Ettrick Burn Valley in Fiordland is home to one of the only remaining populations of the southern lesser short-tailed bat/pekapeka, with a colony of around 400 bats discovered there in 2018.
Department of Conservation Te Anau Operations Manager John Lucas says a heavy beech mast predicted this summer could have disastrous impacts on the tiny population.
“This summer the beech forests are going to be absolutely bursting with fruit, and all that extra food is going to drive up the numbers of rats in the following months,” says John.
“This is bad news for the pekepeka. By the following summer the mast will be over, and all those extra predators will turn to the next available food source, our native species. These pekapeka are especially vulnerable to rats as they forage for food on the forest floor – an unusual strategy they evolved due to New Zealand’s lack of mammalian predators.”
Southern lesser short-tailed bats are only found in three locations in the South Island – predator free Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, the Eglinton Valley in Fiordland which has regular aerial predator control, and the Ettrick Burn Valley. A population in Kahurangi National Park has not been detected since 2008.
In response, DOC is planning an aerial operation using cereal 1080 bait targeting rats over 5429 ha in the Ettrick Burn area in November or December this year, prior to seeding this summer. A potential second round may be required in early 2027 depending on predator numbers.
John Lucas says the timing of the operation has been carefully planned to control rat numbers before they reach high levels.
“We know from our work in the Eglinton Valley that our predator control works extremely well; the short-tailed bat population there has grown from 300 to nearly 4,000 pekapeka over the years. What we do now ahead of the mast can really make a difference.”
This is the first time aerial predator control will be done in the Murchison Mountains, which are also home to Northern Fiordland tokoeka (kiwi), kea, whio, rock wren/tuke, numerous other native forest birds and the nationally vulnerable takahē. In the past, some takahē have been known to eat 1080 cereal bait so additional measures have been developed as mitigation for this operation.
“The Ettrick Burn Valley, at about 5,429 ha, is a small part of the area’s 50,000-ha takahē habitat and at that time of year, takahē are typically above the bush line and will be out of the planned treatment zone,” says John.
“We’ve taken steps to reduce the risk further – staff will monitor takahē during the operation and may attempt to relocate high-risk birds if they are found within the operational area.”
Consultation with iwi and key groups has taken place and public notification will occur in the coming weeks.
Getting ahead of this summer’s heavy mast is an important step in securing a future for the short-tailed bat, says John.
“Like most of New Zealand’s wildlife, these pekapeka are extremely vulnerable, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. We need to get in ahead of the mast and nip rat numbers in the bud, before they become a problem.”
New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 movement is stronger than ever with 9000+ community trapping initiatives and 20 large landscape projects. In this blog, we look at five stories from communities across the country that show the growing momentum behind Predator Free 2050.
Possums are being eradicated from Tekimoka/Mt Te Kinga on the West Coast. It’s surrounded by farmland, so collaboration with farmers has been vital to success so far. Photo supplied by Predator Free Te Kinga.
DOC is the lead agency for PF2050 working in collaboration with iwi and hapū, NGOs, businesses, central and local government, scientists and communities. Tens of thousands of people are taking action for nature by trapping in backyards, joining predator-free groups and donating resources.
Our collective effort to eradicate rats, stoats and possums is making a huge difference. Together, we are providing greater protection for native species across millions of hectares of land, researching and innovating new tools and technologies, empowering more people and communities to get involved, and unlock ways to eradicate predators in new areas.
Predator Free Waiheke – guarding the mouth of the Waitematā
Since stoat eradication began on Waiheke Island five years ago, native bird numbers have increased by 76%. The work has proved particularly beneficial for stoat sensitive birds, such as kākā, which are up 388%, and kiwi, which were safely returned to the island earlier this year.
This success is a testament to the group’s perseverance and innovation. With a network of 1,700 traps checked every fortnight, volunteers have managed to catch 258 stoats on Waiheke.
Along the way, the locals have come up with some ingenious ideas. Their inventions include a portable ‘interceptor’ mesh fence designed to funnel stoats (or other mustelids) into a trap by blocking or limiting their preferred escape or travel pathways. There’s also a new trap in the mix, the ‘Salisbury saucer, which is a multi-entry trap system designed to blend into the environment. It’s Kiwi ingenuity at its finest!
There are already 17 predator free islands in the Hauraki Gulf, and they are bustling with wildlife. Waiheke is exceptional because it’s visited by nearly a million people every year. This presents a biosecurity challenge to stop predators from returning to the island on boats. If this can be managed, the island could eventually support large populations of rare native species, and the wider Auckland region would see more birds in backyards and reserves.
The portable ‘interceptor’ fence designed by a Waiheke local to funnel evasive stoats towards traps. Photo supplied by Predator Free Waiheke.
Predator Free Dunedin – people power
There are more than 1000 people trapping across Dunedin’s urban and rural areas. These volunteers are united through a collective of 22 organisations working together to protect native species, strengthen communities and share predator free expertise across the country.
On the ground, this coordinated effort is transforming the region. The Otago Peninsula is nearly free of possums which is enabling the forest to quickly regenerate. Native bird populations are increasing, and it’s becoming more common to see tūī, kererū, bellbird/korimako, kākā and rifleman/titipounamu in the region.
Predator Free Dunedin has played an important role in trialling new technology to target predators, such as scat detection dogs, drone technology with thermal imaging to survey harder-to-reach areas, and traps using AI to target specific predators.
Since 2018, hardworking people across Dunedin have removed more than 60,000 possums, 20,000 rats and 2,000 mustelids. The Predator Free 2050 movement is strong down south!
Conor is a Predator Free Project Coordinator. Here he is expanding the mustelid trapping network on Flagstaff/Te Whanaupaki. Photo supplied by Predator Free Dunedin.
Predator Free Te Kinga – strengthening the lungs of NZ
On Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast), a collective of local farmers, businesses, mana whenua, and wildlife experts have banded together to remove invasive pests from Tekimoka/Mt Te Kinga, near Lake Brunner.
Under the banner of Predator Free Te Kinga, the team have removed possums from 4000 hectares of the 18,000ha project area. They’re close to declaring another 6,500 hectares around this core area possum-free as well, and feral cats, rats, stoats, and goats will be next.
Innovation is at the heart of their approach. They are using AI supported traps that target specific predators, and heavy-lift drones to bring tunnel traps into hard-to-reach areas.
Their vision includes the reintroduction and regeneration of taonga species such as roroa/great spotted kiwi, whio/blue duck, and pāteke/brown teal.
This is part of a growing alliance of groups taking action to protect the region’s rich biodiversity and vast forests which are described as the lungs of New Zealand. Together, we are working towards a Predator Free Tai Poutini, ensuring these ecosystems are healthy and resilient for generations to come.
To detect possums and stop them from reinvading, the team have the help of dogs trained to detect the smell of possum scat. Photo supplied by Predator Free Te Kinga.
Pest Free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū – a community united for nature
Saying there are no possums in town is a bold statement to make, but for Pest Free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū, it’s not a yarn.
The locals have united to make the Akaroa township possum free, with a network of traps and bait stations across more than 130 properties. The focus is now on defending the boundaries from any stealthy possums. A dedicated team of 20 rangers also roam the surrounding hills, valleys, coastlines, paddocks and parks every single day to monitor pests.
This community-led project is supported by DOC along with local government Ngāi Tahu rūnanga, and other conservation organisations. The long-term ambition is to remove pests from 110,000 hectares of the Banks Peninsula and then gradually expand the programme onto the Canterbury Plains.
Akaroa has the can-do attitude and team culture that will be needed in all our towns and cities to make New Zealand predator-free.
It takes a community to make a town possum-free! It’s heartening to see young people in Akaroa trapping and upskilling alongside experienced conservationists. Photo supplied by Pest Free Banks Peninsula.
Predator Free Rakiura – the largest predator eradication attempt ever
Rakiura/Stewart Island has a mix of urban and conservation land covering about 175,000 hectares. This makes it the largest, most complex environment anyone has ever attempted to eradicate predators from.
Predator Free Rakiura is being led by DOC, Zero Invasive Predators, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in partnership with the local community. The aim is to remove feral cats, three species of rats, possums and hedgehogs to enable kākāpō and many other threatened native species to return and flourish on the island.
A trial was completed across 6,500 hectares in August alongside a predator control operation to save pukunui/Southern New Zealand dotterel from extinction. While the results are pending, the trial could pave the way for a larger eradication operation on the island in 2026.
What is learnt on Stewart Island/Rakiura will inform other predator free island projects across the country, including Predator Free Waiheke and Predator Free Aotea. It will also help to unlock new tools and methods for predator-free efforts on the mainland.
Rakiura is the missing link in a collection of existing predator free islands south of Bluff, including Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, Te Wharawhara/Ulva Island, Waitaua/Bench Island and most of the Tītī/Muttonbird Island chain. Further south, DOC is working to clear predators from Maukahuka/Auckland Island as well.
We are one step closer to making Rakiura predator free with the completion of an eradication trial across a small portion of the forest. Helicopters were used to distribute bait pellets to target predators. Photo supplied by Predator Free Rakiura.
Just to name a few
For more information about some of the many other predator-free projects across the country, go to: Projects: Predator Free 2050
Learn more about how you can get involved in protecting nature: Get trapping
To find initiatives in towns, cities and remote areas across the country, see this map developed by the Predator Free New Zealand Trust: National map – Predator Free NZ Trust
A new nurse-led cystoscopy service at Dunedin Hospital is helping bladder cancer patients receive their essential follow-up care on time, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“Bladder cancer requires lifelong, regular monitoring. Timely access to surveillance cystoscopies makes a real difference for patients and their families,” Mr Brown says.
“Two highly skilled nurses are now running a weekly flexible cystoscopy clinic, carrying out surveillance procedures that keep patients on track with their care while easing pressure on specialists.
“Since the service began in November 2024, 290 patients have been seen, with all 150 patients on the planned surveillance programme receiving their cystoscopy on time. The nurses are now completing 10 to 15 follow-ups every week.”
Around 65 per cent of Dunedin’s current follow-up cystoscopy patients are suitable for the nurse-led service. Without this change, many patients would have been overdue, and additional specialist sessions would have been needed at locum rates.
Mr Brown says the model is not only improving access for patients but also making smarter use of the workforce.
“This is a fantastic example of innovation in our health system. It ensures patients are seen when they need to be, while also freeing up specialist doctors to focus on first specialist assessments and more complex procedures. That’s a win for patients and for the wider hospital system.
“It will also play an important role in achieving our faster cancer treatment target, by helping patients get the right tests sooner and enabling treatment to begin without unnecessary delay.”
Similar nurse-led models are already in place at Counties Manukau and Waitematā, where nurse practitioners provide both diagnostic and surveillance cystoscopies.
“This initiative shows the value of empowering our skilled nursing workforce. By making better use of their expertise, we are improving access to care, supporting our specialists, and making sure patients receive timely, quality treatment,” Mr Brown says.
A ‘tough but fair’ approach, and greater unity across both our communities and government, is keeping people and property safer.
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has confirmed a strong reduction in children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour dropping month-on-month since June 2024, a remarkable turnaround for what was once a national crisis.
“As I tour the country, I am consistently hearing that communities are feeling safer.
We promised to fix what matters to New Zealanders. We had been told that people felt unsafe, and that young people were going down the wrong path and harming their communities and their futures.
This significant reduction in serious and persistent youth offending is just one example of how we’re fixing what matters.
Community leaders are confirming to me that they are seeing the results on the ground, with young offenders no longer feeling above the law.
Ram raids are down significantly. Kiwis are no longer being expected to live in fear that our cars have been stolen used by young offenders in a ram raid of our local small businesses.
Repeat offending has also decreased, with innovative initiatives like the Military-Style Academies and greater collaboration between Oranga Tamariki and Police getting results.”
The number of serious and persistent child and youth offenders is 14.6 percent lower than in June 2023, with current trends pointing to this continuing towards achieving Government Target Three several years before the target date.
“I have also been informed that repeat young offenders are avoiding re-offending because they know Courts, Oranga Tamariki, and Police are working together more closely. They no longer believe they can avoid accountability and that their actions won’t have consequences.
We are investing in a number of safety and quality improvements to the facilities at youth justice residences, as well as greater investment in transitional support for young serious offenders.
These investments from Budget 2025 will reduce both re-offending and the number of young people being held in police custody for an extended period of time.
The reality is that there are times when that is the most appropriate place for them to be. I do not apologise for that.
I hope these young offenders turn their lives around, and they are provided with opportunities to do so, but the safety of the community and victims is our highest priority,” Mrs Chhour says.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson travels to London this week to strengthen New Zealand’s international partnerships in insurance, emergency preparedness, and business competition.
“Resilience and disaster recovery are central priorities for this Government. My visit to London is an opportunity to promote New Zealand’s leadership in these areas, and to build stronger ties with global partners who share our challenges and ambitions,” Mr Simpson says.
The Minister will attend meetings involving the Insurance Council of New Zealand, including with Aon, Lloyd’s of London, and the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Mr Simpson will also receive a detailed briefing from officials at the New Zealand High Commission, and take part in a series of events reflecting the breadth of New Zealand’s relationship with the United Kingdom.
This includes attending the 85th Anniversary Battle of Britain Service and Reception and supporting the Black Ferns in their Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against Canada.
Minister Simpson will be in London from 17–21 September.
