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State Highway 1 Transmission Gully resurfacing and repairs – next steps

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZTA/Waka Kotahi is outlining plans for ongoing drainage and resurfacing work for State Highway Transmission Gully/Te Aranui o Te Rangihaeata this summer.

December works

Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South, says no further 24/7 weekend full road closures are planned for the highway this month.

“All southbound and northbound lanes will be open by Friday, 19 December. This will allow holiday traffic to travel unimpeded.”

January works

More work is planned for the motorway early in the new year after the holiday break.

Mr Owen says this will include night-time road closures for both northbound and southbound traffic, but no full weekend 24/7 closures like there were in November.

“We will have a wide range of work underway in January. The focus for northbound lanes will be drainage works and pavement reconstruction. Chipseal will also be laid on the motorway, starting with southbound lanes.”

“Traffic volumes are typically much lower in early January, so we’re doing our best to get this work done as soon as we can,” Mr Owen says.

This work will coincide with Metlink bus replacement services between Porirua and Waikanae. They will be using State Highway 59 from Monday, 5 January, to Sunday,12 January.

Mr Owen says resurfacing work is planned for January/early February, depending upon the weather.

“As we signalled previously, around 18 kilometres of chip-sealing needs to be completed this summer. It will waterproof the road surface before winter.”

“We expect to be doing this from 5 January until mid-February, weather permitting. The southbound lanes will take approximately three weeks, followed by northbound lanes,” Mr Owen says.

Chip-sealing and impact on drivers

This is a process where bitumen is sprayed onto the existing road surface, with chip laid on top and rolled into the road surface.

Road users must take extra care and follow temporary speed limits to ensure they do not damage the new road or their vehicles.

The speed limit in areas where the motorway is being resurfaced will be lowered to 30 km/h for several days, following the new surface application, to allow the chips to bed into the road surface.

Mr Owen says drivers must be ready for potential travel delays.

“During night-time directional closures, drivers will have to detour via SH59 and be prepared for lower speeds during the day. Drivers are also able to use SH59 day or night, and this route will be free of any planned roadworks.”

“However, traffic will be affected, and people must plan ahead for this,” Mr Owen says.

The work is weather-dependent, and schedules may change. If that occurs, updates will be provided. 

Works schedule

Friday 19 December to Sunday 4 January

  • SH1 All southbound and northbound lanes will be open.
  • SH59 open with no restrictions.

Monday 5 January, 9pm – 4.30am

  • SH1 CLOSED northbound between Linden and Paekākāriki.
  • Northbound traffic must detour via SH59.

Tuesday 6 January to Sunday 11 January. Sunday to Thursday. 9pm – 4:30am

  • SH1 CLOSED northbound between Linden and SH58 interchange.
  • SH1 CLOSED southbound between Paekākāriki and SH58 interchange.
  • Traffic must detour via SH59 and/or SH58.
  • There will be northbound lane closures during the day.
  • Nightworks may happen on Fridays and Saturdays, depending on the weather. This will be confirmed closer to the time.

From Monday, 12 January until mid-February, weather permitting

There will be:

  • more night-time road closures in the north and southbound directions, with details to be confirmed closer to the time
  • 24/7 northbound lane closures when the road is open
  • 24/7 temporary speed limit of 30 km/h when the road is open.

More information

  • Road users can expect no planned roadworks and all lanes on Transmission Gully to be fully open from Friday, 19 December until Monday, 5 January.
  • From Monday, 5 January onwards, work will restart, with night-time road closures planned. Traffic volumes are typically lower in January.
  • There will be 24/7 lane closures in the northbound and southbound directions at multiple sites when the road is open. Drivers should consider using State Highway 59 as an alternative route.
  • Northbound and southbound lanes will be resurfaced with chipseal. Road users must follow all temporary speed limits. This allows the chip to bed into the road surface and helps prevent stone chip damage to vehicles.
  • Travel delays can be expected during peak traffic periods. People should allow for extra travel time, particularly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
  • Regular updates will be provided on planned work schedules
  • Road users are encouraged to keep up to date on the highway’s status and check road conditions before they travel. Updates can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website and our social media channels:
  • SH1 Transmission Gully summer maintenance
  • Frequently asked questions(external link)
  • Roadworks 101 – keeping everyone safe around roadworks (video)(external link)
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Rising production and employment sees manufacturing sector expand

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

  • Manufacturing activity expands marginally in November
  • Four of five sub-indexes in expansion – employment first since April
  • Manufacturing expands five months in a row
  • Points to broader economic recovery

The manufacturing sector expanded for a fifth consecutive month in November, led by rising production and employment.

The BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance Of Manufacturing Index (PMI) for October rose by 0.2 points to 51.4 from 51.2 in October, but is still below its long-run average of 52.4. A reading above 50.0 indicates expansion.

The sector has been gradually recovering from the mid-year slump when the economy stalled.

BNZ senior economist Doug Steel said the PMI has settled into growth territory, but he is hoping for bigger improvements in the months ahead.

“We want to see more upbeat out turns from this survey and the Performance of Services Index, to provide us with some comfort that the expected lift in Q3 GDP can be sustained into Q4.”

Steel said manufacturing was struggling to gain momentum, and its current activity was nothing to get excited about.

However, the survey attracted fewer negative comments from manufacturers, with the proportion of negative comments falling to 45.6 percent, down from 54.1 percent in October and 60.2 percent in September.

BusinessNZ’s director of advocacy Catherine Beard said in the current economic climate, any move higher was a welcome step.

“Manufacturers reported a lift in demand driven by seasonal Christmas activity, improving economic conditions and rising customer confidence.”

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

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Urgent debates in Parliament go into wee hours of the morning

Source: Radio New Zealand

VNP/Louis Collins

MPs may well be cranky after debates under urgency continued until about 1.40am this morning – resuming again at 9am.

The House continues a packed agenda as the government tries to clear through legislation before the end of the year.

When Parliament is under urgency, sittings usually conclude at midnight.

But when amendments are being voted on in the Committee of the Whole House stage of a bill, the session cannot stop until the amendments have been dealt with.

The opposition putting forward more than 200 amendments on the Electoral Amendment Act – which makes several changes to election rules – was therefore what kept MPs going into the early hours.

Labour’s Greg O’Connor was in the Speaker’s chair and patiently kept things running.

“No doubt to the great disappointment of the house, the time has come for me to leave the chair. The house will resume at 9am tomorrow,” he said.

The remaining pieces of legislation on Friday also includes pushing a climate targets bill through all stages – a process that will take significant time – as well as changes to overseas investment national interest tests, and a re-committal of the committee stage of a bill adding two extra judges.

If not all dealt with, sittings will continue on Saturday – potentially until midnight – or whenever voting on amendments concludes.

Urgent sittings this week have seen the government extend RMA consents, backtrack on controversial changes to the fast-track regime, and pass changes to the rules for pig farming.

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

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Disgraced former Gloriavale leader Howard Temple sentenced to 26 months’ jail for sexual offending

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former Gloriavle overseeing shepherd Howard Temple in the Greymouth District Court during his sentencing. Tim Brown / RNZ

The disgraced former leader of Gloriavale stole the innocence and childhood of the girls and young women he abused.

Through tears and strains of emotion his victims have detailed to the Greymouth District Court the lifelong effects of Howard Temple’s sexual abuse.

The 85-year-old has today been jailed for 26 months for indecently assaulting young women and girls over 20 years in the secretive West Coast Christian community.

He has also been added to child sex offender register.

Temple became the community’s so-called overseeing shepherd in 2018 when its founder Hopeful Christian died.

The victims, who have name suppression, told the court of the torment Temple created in their young lives due not only to his offending but the authority he wielded over their lives.

He held a “position like God”, one victim said.

“I don’t think you, Howard, have any idea of what you took from me,” the woman said.

“Your sexual desires came above what was right and you allowed yourself to take what you wanted.

“You abused that trust. You were not a servant of God. You were using the name of God to cover your sins.”

The woman told Temple she felt sick about the way he put his hands on her, but “who was I to say no to you?”.

Temple not only had the ability to control their lives but the victims also believed he controlled their ability to enter heaven.

“Abuse was not a word we knew,” the woman told the court.

“I wish I had a sense of before and after the offending … there is no before – you stole my innocence.”

The woman was further traumatised by having to give evidence at the aborted trial earlier this year.

She was accused of enjoying Temple’s attention and unwanted touching.

“I was assaulted over and over with questions and statements designed to look like I was the offender,” she said.

It took her back to her time in Gloriavale and the unrelenting accusations of the community’s elders.

Another victim said she still felt vulnerable and unsafe, even “wearing a skirt felt unsafe because it made me vulnerable to the harassment”.

She had escaped the community but her much of her family remained inside.

“I left with no sense of self,” she said.

“My parents and family inside are undoubtedly being told I’m evil for persecuting the leader.”

Another victim said she had been silenced since she was a young child.

“Howard abused his position and authority to normalise the behaviour,” she said.

“He wore my boundaries down and my instincts to protect myself were clouded as a result.

“I would submit to people in authority for fear of what would happen if I did not.”

Some of the victims were now themselves mothers, which had emphasised the innocence Temple had stolen from them.

Temple initially denied the offending before pleading guilty to amended charges three days into his trial.

He admitted five counts of indecent assault, five of doing an indecent act and two of common assault.

Many of the charges were representative, meaning they related to repeated similar offending.

The offending was against six girls and young women covering a period from 2002 to 2022.

It covered a period when he was the second-most and most powerful figure in the community.

Temple was the West Coast Christian community’s so-called Overseeing Shepherd from 2018 when its founder Hopeful Christian died.

Judge Raoul Neave said, of Temple, “if he wants to regard himself as a shepherd, this is not how you look after your flock”.

Hopeful Christian was himself jailed in the 1990s for sexually assaulting a young woman in the community.

Howard Temple resigned as leader in August about a fortnight after pleading guilty to the offending.

In January, Temple made a public apology to victims of historic sexual abuse at the community following the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

The apology was one of the inquiry’s recommendations, however, former members rejected it as insincere.

About 600 people are believed to live at Gloriavale’s compound at Lake Haupuri, about 60 kilometres from Greymouth.

The group, which began in 1969 as the Springbank Christian Community near Rangiora, was founded by Australian evangelist Neville Cooper, who would later be known as Hopeful Christian.

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

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Police increases presence in Napier this weekend

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Hawke’s Bay Area Commander Inspector Lincoln Sycamore:

Police will have a visible presence in and around Napier on Saturday 13 December, due to the unveiling of a headstone.

Inspector Lincoln Sycamore says that Police will be applying a firm line to breaches of the Gangs Act.

“We also won’t tolerate poor driving behaviour, disorder or any breaches of the peace.

“At the heart of this gathering is a grieving family. Our goal is to reassure people, maintain a visible presence, keep the peace and ensure the safety of everyone,” says Inspector Sycamore. 

It is expected that a large number of people may pay their respects and attend the event, some of whom will be gang members, and will have travelled from outside of the Hawke’s Bay area.

The unveiling is due to take place at 1pm at the Wharerangi Lawn Cemetery off Cato Road, Poraiti, Napier. A hākari is to follow at a Napier marae later that afternoon.

We urge anyone who witnesses illegal behaviour to call 111 immediately. If you are reporting matters after the fact, please make a report online or call 105.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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‘On track’: Auckland councillor’s renewed confidence in cashless ticketing for public transport

Source: Radio New Zealand

The first stage of the $1.4 billion National Ticketing System’s latest iteration, known as Motu Move, has been launched in Christchurch. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

An Auckland councillor has renewed confidence the National Ticketing System is getting back on track.

The $1.4 billion project which will allow people to pay for public transport with their phone or card anywhere across the country has faced major delays.

Earlier this week, RNZ revealed Wellington has decided to create its own interim system due to the rollout pushbacks.

RNZ had reported in April Auckland Council transport committee chairman Andy Baker was concerned delays for the project could turn into cost overruns.

Baker told Nine to Noon he recently spoke to someone working on the national project which alleviated his worries.

“He came from Auckland Transport, he’s far more confident that things are on track, that some of the issues I was worried about and that others and the mayor were worried about have been taken care of.”

He said given Auckland had a contactless payment system, the NTS was not needed for the city specifically but it was more about it playing its part in the country.

“This is about people coming from other parts of the country who might have Motu Move [the NTS].”

Christchurch has been the first part of country to get the NTS, but it was yet to get all the features of it, such as concession fares.

Environment Canterbury Regional Council chairman Deon Swiggs told Nine to Noon the system had been working well.

“What we have seen is that the cash fares on the buses have dropped by a little bit more than 40 percent which means that people are starting to use cashless payments.”

Swiggs said the change meant more casual users of public transport had a payment option.

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

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Shellfish biotoxin warning for eastern Bay of Plenty region

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

New Zealand Food Safety is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from the eastern Bay of Plenty region due to the presence of biotoxins.

“Routine tests on mussels from Te Kaha have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxins more than double the safe limit,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“The warning extends from Opape near Ōpōtiki, to East Cape.

See the map of the affected area

“Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick.

“Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes), Cook’s turban and kina (sea urchin).

“Cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten.”

“We are monitoring an algal bloom in the Bay of Plenty region, which appears to be spreading. This type of algae produces a dangerous toxin and, when shellfish filter-feed, these toxins can accumulate in their gut and flesh. Generally, the more algae there are in the water, the more toxic the shellfish get.”         

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and they may include:

  • numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet
  • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • dizziness and headache
  • nausea and vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death.

Pāua, crab, and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Finfish flesh is not affected by this public health warning, but we advise gutting the fish and discarding the liver before cooking. 

New Zealand Food Safety has had no notifications of associated illness.

If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.

“New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation,” says Mr Arbuckle. 

Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by New Zealand Food Safety to ensure they are safe to eat.

Help keep yourself and your family safe by:

For science-backed tips on preparing, cooking and storing food safely at home, download your free booklet.

Food safety at home booklet [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Find out more

Food safety for seafood gatherers booklet [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Collecting shellfish in New Zealand [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Toxic shellfish poisoning types and symptoms

Toxic algal blooms

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.

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Minimum wage workers to get pay increase next year

Source: Radio New Zealand

The increase was to keep up with the cost of living, the Workplace Relations and Safety Minister said. (File photo) 123RF

Minimum wage workers will get a pay increase from April 1, but its less than the current rate of inflation.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said the rate would go up by 2 percent, from $23.50 to $23.95.

She said it would benefit about 122,500 working New Zealanders and struck a balance between keeping up with the cost of living and not adding further pressure to businesses.

“I know those pressures have made it a tough time to do business, which is why we have taken this balanced approach. With responsible economic management, recovery and relief is coming.

“I am pleased to deliver this moderate increase to the minimum wage that reflects this Government’s commitment to growing the economy, boosting incomes and supporting Kiwis in jobs throughout New Zealand.

“The increase aims to help minimum wage workers keep up with the cost of living, with inflation projected to remain relatively stable at around 2 per cent from June 2026,” she said.

The increase was in line with the recommendation the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) made to the minister.

It said it would be the best balance between protecting real income of low-paid workers and minimising job losses.

“CPI inflation forecasts suggest annual inflation will ease to be within the 2-2.5 percent range in the first half of 2026 and remain relatively stable at around 2 percent from June 2026 through to 2028,” MBIE said.

“These forecasts indicate that a 2 percent increase would largely maintain the real income of minimum wage workers relative to the level of the minimum wage when it last increased on 1 April 2025.”

MBIE said the groups most likely to be affected included young people, part-time workers, female and Māori workers.

The effects would be concentrated in tourism, horticulture, agriculture, cleaning, hospitality and retail, it said.

It recommended increasing the starting-out and training wage rates from $18.80 to $19.16 per hour, maintaining the current relativity of 80 percent of the adult minimum wage rate. This recommendation was also adopted.

Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen said the increases were probably closer to the rate of inflation than people might think.

Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen. (File photo) LDR

“Only because of course these figures start from April 1 next year. At that point, it’s forecast would have inflation up 2.3 percent. So you’re sort of a lot closer than when we’re currently sitting at 3 percent for the September quarter.

“The minister’s been quite clear in her work to try and balance, supporting workers and the increasing cost of living, but where business conditions are at the moment and and you see that in terms of businesses highlighting cost pressures and the fact that job ads have not really improved all that much.”

Job numbers were not particularly “upbeat” at the moment, Olsen said, with unemployment at its highest since 2016.

“So all of that is a bit more of a balance that I think the government has had to go through this year.”

He said increases in previous years had been much bigger than the rate of inflation.

“Although in one year you might not have the minimum wage increase relative to inflation, the minimum wage is still considerably above where it would be if it indexed to inflation from, say, 2018 onwards.”

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

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Timaru’s Christmas tree set on fire, won’t be replaced

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Timaru Christmas tree has suffered some significant fire damage overnight. Timaru District Council

Police have charged a man with deliberately setting Timaru’s public Christmas tree alight.

A photo posted to social media by the district council shows the scorched side of the 10-metre-tall tree in the Canterbury city’s centre surrounded by a melted white picket fence in Caroline Bay Piazza.

Police were called to the Caroline Bay Piazza at about 5.30am on Friday.

Officers arrested a 30-year-old man who is due to appear in court on Friday on charges including arson and possessing a knife in a public place.

The council said the tree has suffered significant fire damage and they would have to remove the tree this year.

It said the tree won’t be replaced this year.

“We’ll be getting in touch with our insurers and looking into options going ahead,” the council said.

Timaru district mayor Nigel Bowen said it was a shame the tree had been so badly damaged.

“Our community was disappointed to wake up this morning to hear our town’s Christmas tree has been damaged due to a fire,” he said.

“This tree has brought lots of joy to our community in the few years we’ve had it and it’s really, really sad that someone has decided to deprive the community of it through a stupid and destructive act.”

Timaru district mayor Nigel Bowen said it was a shame the tree had been so badly damaged. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

The mayor said he was disappointed locals and visitors won’t be able to continue the tradition of taking family photos in front of the tree.

“Although the tree is a symbol of Christmas we can’t get past the fact that it is a place of joy and connection for our community,” Bowen said.

“The tree will be removed today, the area will be cleaned up and we will start the insurance process. We will also be providing police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand with any assistance they require in their investigations.”

The Christmas tree’s height includes the star, weighs around 7000kg with the base, and features a 275-metre string lights.

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

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Māori Years of Life Lost: Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2021

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Publication date:

This report presents findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, focusing on the years of life lost (YLL) for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. It highlights the leading causes of premature death for Māori, and significant health disparities between the Māori and non-Māori populations.

Key findings

  • In 2021, a total of 123,685 years of life were lost for Māori due to premature death.
  • The Māori age-standardised rate of years of life lost was double that of non-Māori (15,660 per 100,000 Māori compared to 7,860 per 100,000 non-Māori).
  • Non-communicable diseases make up the majority cause of premature death for Māori (78%). The largest contributors were cancer (29%), followed by cardiovascular disease (22%), which together contribute to more than half the years of life lost for Māori.
  • Ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of premature death for tāne Māori, and lung cancer was the leading cause for wāhine Māori.
  • Self-harm was the leading cause of YLL among Māori aged 15–44 years.

The report describes the methodology used and discusses the context for interpreting these results, including data quality and classification methods.