NZ Engine

Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

Three options for the future use of Western Springs Stadium will go out to public consultation this month, before the council makes a final recommendation later this year. 

Auckland Council’s Governing Body agreed to invite Aucklanders to give their feedback on the future use of Western Springs Stadium before determining a preferred direction. 

Max Hardy, Director of Group Strategy and Chief Executive’s Office, says Western Springs Stadium is a valued venue with a long history in Auckland. 

“Western Springs has served as an important venue for sports, large-scale outdoor festivals and concerts. 

“Through this process, we are seeking Aucklanders’ views on the future opportunities for the site and how it could continue to contribute to the city’s sports, entertainment, and community life. 

“We encourage people to consider the options and tell us what they think,” he says. 

This follows an expression of interest (EOI) process carried out by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU), which owns and operates Western Springs Stadium with funding from Auckland Council. Two redevelopment proposals emerged through that process. There is also a third option of doing nothing or exploring other ideas.  

A report presented to the Governing Body summarised the EOI process, the three options, and the recommendation of the TAU Board. 

A majority of the Governing Body supported asking the public for feedback on all three options, to help inform decision making on the future use of Western Springs Stadium.  

The three options that have been identified for public consideration are: 

• ​Option 1: Auckland Arena – a multi-purpose sports and entertainment precinct centred on a football-focused 12,500-seat stadium (25,000+ capacity for concerts), including high-performance facilities, 8 indoor basketball courts, 4 padel courts and related commercial activity (hospitality and sports/health-related services). This option would be funded by private investment (in the range of $200-300 million as the initial investment, with all ongoing operational and capital costs covered, with no upfront or ongoing costs to the ratepayer) in exchange for a long-term discounted or community lease. 

• ​Option 2: Western Springs Bowl – multi-purpose sports and entertainment facilities including permanent music/festival infrastructure (50,000 capacity), a broadcast-capable boutique stadium (5000+ seats) and a multisport community hub. This option would be funded by a mix of private investment ($30 million) and ratepayer funding ($18-20 million upfront investment and ongoing operational and capital costs), as well as long-term discounted and/or community leases.  

• ​Option 3: neither option above; do nothing or explore other ideas – under this option, TAU could retain existing arrangements with Ponsonby Rugby Club whose lease runs until 2027, or explore other ideas for the venue.  

Consultation will run from 19 May until 15 June 2025. Feedback can be provided through the council’s AKHaveYourSay website and other engagement activities. 

Following consultation, the findings will be presented to the council’s Governing Body. A recommendation will then be provided to the TAU board and TAU will make the final decision, as the venue owner and operator.  

Any future redevelopment would remain subject to detailed due diligence, business case preparation, and commercial negotiations.

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Home consents down in year ended March 2025 – 2 May 2025 – There were 34,062 new homes consented in Aotearoa New Zealand in the year ended March 2025, down 3.3 percent compared with the year ended March 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

In the year ended March 2025, the North Island recorded 23,570 new home consents, a decrease of 7.1 percent compared with the year ended March 2024. In contrast, the South Island saw a 6.4 percent increase over the same period, reaching 10,491 new homes consented.

“The increase in the South Island was driven by higher numbers of new homes consented in Otago, Tasman, and Canterbury compared with the same period last year,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.

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Source: Equinor

02 MAY 2025 – Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda., a subsidiary of Equinor ASA, has entered into agreements(1) with Brazilian company Prio Tigris Ltda., a subsidiary of PRIO SA (PRIO3.SA) for a sale of its 60% operated interest in the Peregrino field in Brazil.

PRIO, Brazil’s largest independent oil and gas company, will pay a consideration of USD 3.35 billion and a maximum of USD 150 million in interest to Equinor for the transaction. The final cash payment will reflect the closing date and any deductions generated by the asset since the effective date, which is 1 January 2024.

Equinor will be responsible for operations of the field until closing of the transaction, after which PRIO will take over operatorship.

“With this transaction we realise value from a long-standing asset in our Brazil portfolio. Brazil will continue to be a core country for Equinor, as we focus on starting up the Bacalhau field and continue progressing the Raia gas project. With these two operated projects and our partnership in Roncador our equity production in Brazil will be close to 200,000 barrels per day by 2030,” says Philippe Mathieu, Executive Vice President for Exploration and Production International at Equinor.

“This deal is part of Equinor’s ongoing effort to high-grade its international portfolio through asset divestments and acquisitions. We continue to see growth potential and opportunities to extend the longevity of our international oil and gas portfolio, also in Brazil,” says Philippe Mathieu.

Equinor has been operating the Peregrino field since 2009 and around 300 million barrels of oil have been produced by the asset since. Peregrino is a heavy oil field and consists of a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platform, supported by three fixed platforms. The field is in the Campos Basin, east of Rio de Janeiro. In Q1 2025, Equinor´s share of production from Peregrino was around 55,000 barrels per day.

Last year, PRIO acquired Sinochem’s 40% interest in the Peregrino field.

“PRIO has been a valued partner since joining the Peregrino license last year and we look forward to a smooth hand-over with them,” says Veronica Coelho, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for Equinor Brazil.

“We are very proud of the work that has been done by our team over the past 20 years on the Peregrino field. This asset has been the cornerstone of Equinor’s history in Brazil. Our journey in Brazil continues with full momentum, building on the legacy of those that have worked on Peregrino. We are preparing for operations on Bacalhau, as well as the startup of the Serra da Babilonia renewable hybrid project by our subsidiary Rio Energy and we are progressing the Raia gas project” says Veronica Coelho.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and legal approvals. The payment will occur in two tranches, one at signing and a further one closer to closing. The payment will be subject to customary adjustments.

1: The deal is divided in two parts, one for the acquisition of 40% and operatorship of Peregrino, the second for the acquisition of the remaining 20%. The 40% operation will receive a payment of USD 2,233 million, with an additional payment of USD 166 million which is contingent on the completion of the second part of 20%. The 20% operation will have a value of USD 951 million. The final component is USD 150 million of maximum interest, reaching the total of USD 3.5 billion.

Source: MetService

Covering period of Friday 2nd – Monday 5th May
 
Key Stats
• Canterbury saw 100 to 200 mm of rain between Wednesday and Friday morning, while parts of Banks Peninsula saw up to 300 mm
• On 30 April, Christchurch (80.2 mm) and Ashburton (105.4 mm) saw their wettest April day on record. For Ashburton, it was their wettest day in at least 19 years, while Christchurch records go back to 1943
• The wettest parts of Wellington recorded between 120 and 150 mm of rain in that time, with the largest accumulation in Wainuiomata
• On Thursday, at 118 km/h, Wellington Airport got their strongest southerly wind since 2013
• Waves of 12 metres were measured off Baring Head in Wellington on Thursday

After days of heavy rain, fierce winds, and widespread warnings, Aotearoa New Zealand is in for a change. MetService is forecasting an easing trend later today (Friday), with the wettest and windiest weather on the way out in time for the weekend.

While rain and strong winds remain in the mix – including heavier showers and thunderstorms with hail in the upper North Island, conditions are expected to gradually settle later in the day and into the weekend – offering a much-needed window for clean-up efforts and a return to something closer to normal.

South Island
After a very wet couple of days in Canterbury, breaks in the rain can be expected today, with the bulk of the showers expected to have cleared by the end of the day.  However, temperatures remain on the chilly side, with daytime highs hovering in the low to mid-teens.

The weekend brings a mostly dry forecast for many parts of the South Island. Some showers may return to parts of Canterbury, especially around the foothills and Banks Peninsula on Saturday night into Sunday morning. But with patches of sunshine also expected, the coming days should help support any recovery work. A brief front clips the far south (Southland and Otago) with showers from Saturday into Sunday morning.

North Island
Friday brings showers for Northland, Auckland, and the top of the Coromandel Peninsula — some heavy at times with thunderstorms and hail — before a clearing trend sets in during the evening.

After a wild and windy night, the worst of the winds have moved off the North Island. That said, it will still be gusty today for Wellington and Wairarapa, as strong southwesterlies continue — though more in line with what’s considered ‘typical’ for the region.

An Orange Heavy Rain Warning remains in place for Wairarapa until 3pm Friday, and rain and showers ease towards evening. Large waves along the Wellington and Wairarapa coasts are expected to gradually ease through Friday, though coastal conditions in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Gisborne remain rough through Saturday evening.

Looking ahead to the weekend, most of the North Island can expect a settled spell. Eastern areas may still see a few showers, and Wellington and Northland could get some early showers on Saturday. But for many, Sunday looks sunny — a chance to finally tackle that laundry backlog or spend time outdoors.

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Scientists are researching how best to identify mushroom species as a basis for a potential drug-checking service.

Magic mushrooms are coming under the microscope, as scientists at the University of Auckland forage for evidence to support a drug-checking service with the goal of reducing harm.

Doctoral student Sam Lasham will research the science and the acceptability of such a service.

“We’d like to work out the effectiveness of a magic mushroom drug-checking service and the best way to run that, and, in the case of people who are seeking mental health benefits, reduce the risks and offer advice on safe consumption,” Lasham says.

Lasham’s interest grew out of his studies at the University of Otago in genetics and botany and focused on Aotearoa New Zealand’s indigenous mushrooms.

“I was using environmental DNA from soil across our native beech forests in the South Island to estimate where species were and what species were around.

“A lot of that research was focused on DNA sequencing and something called ‘DNA barcoding’, which is using short genetic sequences to identify species.

“That’s what has led into this, because the most important thing, from a safety perspective, is making sure you’ve got the right species of mushroom, and you haven’t got a common lookalike that’s poisonous.”

At the same time, Lasham became interested in illicit use of psilocybin mushrooms and the need for harm-reduction measures, founding Students for Sensible Drug Policy Aotearoa in Dunedin.

There has been increasing interest in the potential benefits of hallucinogenic mushrooms, including studies of microdosing for mental health and creativity at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

Magic mushrooms are typically either grown from spores or foraged, then prepared in various ways to preserve them and enhance their effects.

The active ingredient, psilocybin, is relatively benign, but mushrooms contain other pharmacologically active compounds.

Adverse effects can include nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and headaches.
If foraging, the biggest risk is accidentally picking a poisonous look-a-like species.

“Galerina are the best example of this as they are very similar to Psilocybe subaeruginosa but they contain some of the same toxins (amatoxins) as the death cap mushroom,” Lasham says.

There are numerous reports of a syndrome termed ‘wood-lovers paralysis’, which seems to be caused by species of psilocybin mushrooms that grow on wood.

Lasham is based in the School of Pharmacy using the lab to identify the constituent parts of various types of mushrooms.

He is working in senior lecturer Dr Rhys Ponton’s research group, which holds the only drug-checking licence specifically for research purposes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“People can bring their mushroom samples in and know they are legally protected while we are doing a full, confidential and free check of their drugs,” Lasham says.

“We can test the samples to make sure they’re not a poisonous species and also to tell them what dose they have got, which will be another innovation that’s not currently being offered in any drug-checking service.”

The researchers will interview and survey people across the country to see how mushrooms are being consumed, what mushrooms people are using, how they’re using them and what sort of effects they are getting.

An advisory group of people with lived experience of mushroom use will guide how the research is set up, implemented and interpreted.

The research is supported by funding from the HRC and Ember Innovations.

Success in the lab could enable a ‘know your mushrooms’ service to run in a similar way to current drug-checking services at festivals, events and in the community.

Find out more about the study here: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/fmhs/research/research-study-recruitment/research-study-recruitment–m—p-/magic-mushroom-drug-checking-study.html

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

Sydney will host one of the largest surgical conferences in the southern hemisphere when the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) brings its 93rd Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) to the International Convention Centre from Saturday 3 to Tuesday 6 May 2025.

This year’s theme, Innovation. Precision. Excellence., reflects the event’s future-focused program and its role as a key connection and collaboration point for surgeons across all nine RACS specialties.

More than 1600 surgeons, Trainees and healthcare leaders from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond are expected to attend, with 253 new Fellows – the largest cohort in recent years – to be formally welcomed at the Convocation Ceremony on Saturday evening.

“ASC 2025 is designed to inspire and challenge,” says congress convener Professor Henry Woo.

“It’s a chance for surgeons to connect across specialties and geographies, hear from international leaders, and explore how innovation and leadership are shaping the future of care—from operating theatres to entire health systems.”

This year’s program puts a spotlight on cross-disciplinary collaboration, with sessions covering robotics and AI in surgery, rural surgical innovation, Indigenous health, and leadership development.

Event highlights include:

Dr Glaucomflecken (Dr Will Flanary), a US ophthalmologist and viral medical comedian, presenting Dr Glaucomflecken’s incredibly uplifting and really fun guide to American healthcare on Sunday 4 May at 4pm. A cancer survivor and healthcare satirist, Dr Glaucomflecken brings a unique dual perspective as both clinician and patient. This ticketed plenary session is open to the general public.
A surgical affair: question time with Tony Jones, a high-profile panel session chaired by veteran journalist Tony Jones, follows directly after. The discussion will tackle elective surgery waitlists and workforce challenges, with panellists including Australian Medical Council President Dr Danielle McMullen, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Michael Holland MP, and Queensland Health Chief Medical Officer Associate Professor Catherine McDougall.

The Congress also features a strong line-up of international speakers:

• Dr Callisia Clarke (USA) on diversity and political division in healthcare.
• Dr Doug Anderson (USA) on the future of xenotransplantation.
• Dr Ian Currie (UK) on innovations in organ donation and retrieval.
• Dr Stephen Wexner (USA), one of the most cited colorectal surgeons globally.
• Professor Hyung Seok Park (South Korea) on robotic breast surgery.

RACS ASC is recognised as the College’s flagship educational event and one of the most significant surgical meetings in the region. It showcases the latest in surgical research, innovation and practice, while providing a platform for shared learning, professional connection and leadership.

Media are welcome to attend keynote sessions, speaker interviews and selected panels.

Find out more about the RACS ASC: RACS Annual Scientific Congress: https://asc.surgeons.org

About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 8000 surgeons and 1300 surgical trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia being: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery. www.surgeons.org