NZ Engine

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: New Zealand Government

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.

Source: New Zealand Government

The 2024/25-2026/27 Rail Network Investment Programme has been finalised, providing $1.360 billion over three years with infrastructure investment that backs provincial New Zealand, Rail Minister Winston Peters says.

“When the taxpayer builds an asset, we expect it to be used for the benefit of our economy and not wasting away on the side of the road, which is why we are focussed on a no-nonsense rebuild of the railways,” Mr Peters says.

“Since the first railway was laid in 1863, rail has built New Zealand into an export nation connecting the hinterland to ports and communities to each other.

“Regional summaries of the work show the extent of work by track teams across New Zealand, relaying long lengths of rail, replacing ballast rock and sleepers, enlarging culverts to guard against floods and washouts, protecting bridges and slopes from erosion, and improving the telecommunication systems that manage the national signalling network.

“This is the type of basic day-to-day investment that makes the economy work – grunt work that gets our exports to the rest of the world.

“In 2020 when last responsible for rail, we changed the law to fund rail like roads by establishing a three-yearly Rail Network Investment Programme funding maintenance, renewals and network operations – rebuilding our rail infrastructure sleeper by sleeper after decades of dereliction.

“Our network investment is bolstered by brand new train control centres in Upper Hutt and Auckland, resilient to natural disasters, which were built thanks to our investment when previously responsible for rail, accompanying thousands of new wagons, shunts and locomotives to underpin a thriving rail company.

“And we have secured rail ferries for another generation.

“When we talk about sleepers, we mean what sits under the rails, not those in Parliament,” Mr Peters says.

Regional Summaries of the 2024/25-2026/27 Rail Network Investment Programme

Northland:

2km of re-sleepering and 4km of re-railing
2 culvert renewals
Renewals work on 3 bridges
Renewals work on 1 telecommunications asset

Auckland:

1km of re-sleepering, 1km of re-railing and 9 turnout replacements
Westfield yard renewals

Waikato (North Island Main Trunk and Waikato feeder lines):

400m of re-sleepering, 2km of re-railing and 4 turnout replacements
2 culvert renewals plus work on 5 slopes and river protection assets (along the Ongarue River)
Renewals work on 4 bridges
Renewals work on the active protection at 3 level crossings
Resealing of 1 level crossing
Renewal of points switching equipment at 9 turnouts
Renewal of train-detection assets along 6 sections
Renewals work on 11 telecommunications assets
Renewals of traction assets at 32 sites on the electrified northern section of the North Island Main Trunk
Business case study for electrification extension within the golden triangle
400m of re-sleepering, 2km of re-railing and 2 turnout replacements
1 culvert renewal and work on 1 retaining wall
Renewals work on 5 bridges (including Bridge 125 south of Matata)
Renewals work on the active protection at 1 level crossing
Resealing of 1 level crossing
Renewal of points switching equipment at 4 turnouts
Renewal of train-detection assets along 1 section
Renewals work on 17 telecommunications assets (including replacing the fibre-optic cable between the Waikato and Tauranga)
Signal cable replacements between Awakaponga and Kawerau
Mount Maunganui yard renewals

Waikato / Bay of Plenty (East Coast Main Trunk and Bay of Plenty feeder lines):

Hawkes Bay:

7km of re-sleepering, 5km of re-railing and 3 turnout replacements
Resilience work on 1 bridge (Bridge 156 – Ormondville Viaduct)
Renewals work on the active protection at 7 level crossings
Resealing of 2 level crossings

Taranaki / Manawatu-Whanganui (all lines west of Marton)

7km of re-sleepering and 6km of re-railing
3 culvert renewals and work on 2 retaining walls, 2 river protection assets and 1 slope
Renewals work on 4 bridges
Resealing of 8 level crossings
3km of re-sleepering, 2km of re-railing and 1 turnout replacement
1 culvert renewal and work on 2 slopes
Renewals work on 6 bridges
Renewals work on the active protection at 5 level crossings
Resealing of 7 level crossings
Renewal of points switching equipment at 4 turnouts
Renewal of train-detection assets along 5 sections
Renewals work on 9 telecommunications assets
Renewals of traction assets at 21 sites on the electrified southern section of the North Island Main Trunk

Manawatu-Whanganui (North Island Main Trunk and Manawatu Gorge to Pahiatua)

Wellington: 

300m of re-sleepering, 300m of re-railing and 2 turnout replacements
Renewals work on 6 telecommunications assets

Marlborough / North Canterbury (Main North Line):

3km of re-sleepering, 6km of re-railing and 1 turnout replacement
Work on coastal protection between Claverley and Oaro and on 2 slopes (around tunnel portals)
Renewals work on 12 bridges (including Bridges 189, 195 & 196 near Picton)
Renewals work on the active protection at 1 level crossing
Resealing of 1 level crossing
Renewal of points switching equipment at 1 turnout
Renewals work on 1 telecommunications asset

Central Canterbury (Midland Line section):

2km of re-sleepering and 3km of re-railing
1 culvert renewal and work on 3 slopes
Renewals work on 2 bridges (including Bridge 16, viaduct north of Springfield)
Renewal of points switching equipment at 2 turnouts

West Coast (including Midland Line section):

4km of re-sleepering, 4km of re-railing and 9 turnout replacements
Ongoing track renewals work in the 8.5km-long Otira Tunnel
3 culvert renewals and work on 2 retaining walls and 1 slope
Renewals work on 16 bridges (including Bridges 49, 88 and 89 on the Midland Line, and Bridges 11, 45 and 133 on the Stillwater-Ngakawau Line)
Renewals work on the active protection at 2 level crossings
Resealing of 2 level crossings
Renewal of points switching equipment at 16 turnouts
Renewal of train-detection assets along 1 section
Renewals work on 7 telecommunications assets
Resignalling renewals between Kokiri and Stillwater

South Canterbury (Main South Line):

300m of re-sleepering, 1km of re-railing and 11 turnout replacements
Renewals work on the active protection at 1 level crossing
Resealing of 3 level crossings
Renewal of points switching equipment at 5 turnouts
21km of re-sleepering, 13km of re-railing and 10 turnout replacements
8 culvert renewals and work on coastal protection assets, 6 retaining walls and 6 slopes
Renewals work on 11 bridges (including Bridges 207 and 208 north of Dunedin, and completing the renewal of Bridge 202)
Renewals work on the active protection at 4 level crossings
Resealing of 24 level crossings
Renewal of points switching equipment at 5 turnouts
Renewals work on 6 telecommunications assets

Otago / Southland:

All regions:

Minor renewals (across all asset classes)
Component refurbishments
Ballast top ups
Rail de-stressing
Rail grinding

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is stamping out another payment pain point – extending its surcharge ban to foreign issued cards and commercial cards to make life easier for businesses and consumers, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson announced today.

“The Retail Payment System (Ban on Merchant Surcharges) Amendment Bill passed its first reading last night. The Bill prohibits surcharges on all in-store EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard payments.

“Including foreign cards is easier for everyone. A comprehensive ban means businesses don’t have to second-guess what’s in or out, and consumers won’t get stung by surprise add-ons at the checkout.

“International visitors from our big inbound tourism markets like the United Kingdom and Europe, where surcharges are long gone, won’t feel like they’ve stepped back in time or they are being ripped off. 

“I want consumers to enjoy the benefits as early as possible, so the Bill proposes a one-month implementation period once it has been passed. The ban will be in place by May 2026, or sooner if possible. 

“By the time the ban is in full swing, the savings from the Commerce Commission’s latest cut to banking fees will benefit businesses, with expected savings of up to $90 million a year. That’s on top of the earlier savings of $140m from caps set in 2022.

“The ban means Kiwi shoppers will no longer be confronted at payment terminals by a pesky sticker and surprise, sometimes excessive, costs.”

The Retail Payment System (Ban on Merchant Surcharges) Amendment Bill will go to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. 

 Note to editors

• Transactions through the Visa and Mastercard networks and by EFTPOS are the main method of card payment in New Zealand.
• The Commerce Commission estimates New Zealanders pay about $150 million in surcharges annually. An estimated $65 million of that is excessive
• According to the Commerce Commission, approximately 20% of New Zealand businesses surcharge. Most businesses choose to absorb payment costs as a usual cost of doing business.
• Businesses pay $1 billion in merchant service fees each year, mainly to banks, for accepting Visa and Mastercard debit and credit payments (including online transactions).
• Interchange fees make up approximately 60% of merchant service fees. The Commerce Commission has decided to cut these fees from 1 December 2025 for cards that are already regulated and 1 May 2026 for cards that will become subject to caps for the first time (foreign-issued cards). The Commission estimates business savings of up to $90 million a year, on top of $140 million in annual savings from previous fee caps.
• Online transactions and payments through networks other than Visa, Mastercard and EFTPOS are excluded from the surcharging ban.

Source: New Zealand Government

The launch of a new safety campaign guides Kiwis on what to do to stay safe during an armed offender incident in a crowded place, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell.

“The campaign communicates three easy steps for people to follow that will help them stay safe in the unlikely event of an active armed offender incident in a crowded place,” Mr Mitchell says.

“New Zealanders love to get together and this is all about being prepared in public spaces, such as a sports and events venues, transport hubs or places we shop.

“I want to be clear that we are not expecting increased danger or risk in New Zealand, and while the advice may seem obvious, similar campaigns overseas have been helpful at guiding people.”

“While it’s unlikely Kiwis will encounter an active armed offender in a crowded place – someone with a weapon trying to hurt many people – it’s important everyone knows what to do.

“There are three simple words to remember: Escape. Hide. Tell.”

ESCAPE. Move quickly and quietly away from danger, but only if it is safe to do.
HIDE. Stay out of sight and silence your mobile phone.
TELL. Call the Police by dialling 111 when it is safe. 

“I encourage discussions within businesses, community groups and families. 

We all need to know how to respond in the unlikely event of an armed offender attack.

“Knowing what to do is the best way to keep ourselves and others safe.”’

For more information about the campaign visit: Know what to do: Escape. Hide. Tell | New Zealand Police

Source: Family First

MEDIA RELEASE – 16 September 2025

Family First NZ has written to the Associate Minister of Health Matt Doocey requiring an explanation of why the Government continues to fail to take action on the findings of the Ministry of Health’s Evidence Brief which clearly indicates that the use of puberty blockers must be restricted for those under 18 years of age.

As a result of further legal advice obtained by Family First:

• the Ministry of Health continues to contradict its own Evidence Brief by continuing to rely on, and refer people too, the PATHA guidelines.

• the Government is breaching rights and freedoms under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (NZBORA) by failing to protect gender dysmorphic children and teenagers against the prescribing of puberty blockers that have no quality evidence of safety, efficacy, or reversibility.

• we also reminded the Minister that consent is not possible when there is insufficient evidence about the efficacy of the treatment or the resultant complications following use of puberty blockers; put another way, it is impossible for anyone – let alone an under 16 – to consent to a treatment that itself is not understood nor has sufficient evidence to support it.

Family First’s position remains that there should be an immediate end to new prescribing of puberty blockers due to the clear lack of quality probative evidence of efficacy and safety. Existing users need to be transitioned from Puberty Blockers in a medically appropriate way or at the very least, have the lack of quality evidence on safety, efficacy and reversibility explained to them with a view to confirming they and their parents or guardians do provide informed consent.  This in turn also means the Ministry’s Position Statement must be updated immediately to remove the factually incorrect statements regarding efficacy, safety, and future risks, including any references to the PATHA Guidelines.

READ THE FULL LETTER TO THE ASSOCIATE MINISTER

Source: NZCTU

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to help the Tokoroa community after Carter Holt Harvey confirmed the likely closure of the plywood plant in the town.

“This is another body blow to a community already reeling from the loss of jobs at the OJI Fibre plant. 100 secure, well-paid jobs are being lost. The Government must act now to help,” said Wagstaff.

“It’s not just the workers directly impacted by this change who will feel its effect. Their families, communities, and the local economy have already suffered due to job losses.

“These workers could face a brighter future if the Government were to genuinely commit to delivering a just transition for Tokoroa. The skills and talents of workers don’t need to be lost if we could build sustainable industries that provide well-paid jobs.

“This Government lacks the political will to invest and seems content to sit by and watch these workers and the Tokoroa community suffer.

“These job losses are the latest in a trend of large employers closing their operations in New Zealand. Unemployment is rising. Businesses are not investing. Working people are suffering. Yet there is no plan except cuts and empty promises.

“With a different approach, different outcomes are possible. It’s time to change track, and invest in communities like Tokoroa, and not let them fall further behind,” said Wagstaff.

Source: New Zealand Police

A 24-year-old Auckland man has been charged with Wounding with Intent and Reckless Discharge of a Firearm in relation to an incident in Hobsonville, Auckland, around 4.40pm yesterday, 16 September.

The man will be appearing in the Waitākere District court later today.

Police believe this is an isolated incident and reassuring the Hobsonville community there is no ongoing risk.

Enquiries are ongoing to identify further offenders

Anyone with information that can assist enquiries is asked to please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250916/8726.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Source: Press Release Service

Headline: “Vapes and Energy Drinks”: Combining the 90s and the Now

Vapes and Energy Drinks introduces a new album that bridges New Zealand’s hip hop legacy across generations. Blending boom-bap rhythms and storytelling flow of the 1990s with the modern production, and melodic hooks of today’s scene, the project reflects homage and innovation

The post “Vapes and Energy Drinks”: Combining the 90s and the Now first appeared on PR.co.nz.

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are attending a serious crash involving a car and truck on Central Boulevard, Silverdale.

Police were called to the scene around 6.50am, where one person is in a critical condition.

Central Boulevard has been closed, with Police advising motorists to avoid the area.

WorkSafe have been advised.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance and an investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the crash.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police