NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Government

Auckland City Hospital has completed major upgrades to its critical infrastructure to strengthen resilience and ensure patients continue receiving essential care even during a major event, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 

The $364.3 million second stage of the Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme, unveiled today, delivers a new Central Plant Building and underground service tunnel that significantly enhances the hospital’s ability to withstand and operate through major events. 

“This is a milestone for Auckland City Hospital. These upgrades build reliability and give patients and staff confidence that care will continue when it is needed most,” Mr Brown says. 

The investment is part of the Government’s $743 million remediation programme, which is modernising critical services across the campus and addressing longstanding infrastructure risks.

The new Central Plant Building and services tunnel house and protect the hospital’s most essential systems, including emergency generators, medical gas supplies, and diesel and water storage tanks. Built on advanced base isolators and deep foundations, the structure is designed to last 100 years and withstand major disasters. 

“In the event of a major emergency, this new building will be able to keep Auckland City Hospital operating safely at normal capacity for three days.” 

The new service tunnel carries power, water, and other key services between the Central Plant Building and the main hospital, protecting them underground to ensure reliability and resilience. 

“This project is about safeguarding our most critical services and ensuring Aucklanders have access to safe, modern hospital care they can rely on.

“Day-to-day, these upgrades will also improve the reliability of essential systems, reducing the chance of service failures and helping ensure patients experience timely, uninterrupted care.” 

As part of the Government’s $1 billion Budget 2025 investment in hospitals, a further $73 million has been allocated to third stage of the remediation programme, which will upgrade essential services such as power, heating, and safety systems at Auckland City Hospital and the Greenlane Clinical Centre. The first stage addressed the most urgent issues, and this next phase will continue strengthening Auckland’s critical health infrastructure. 

“This includes design work for the next stage of the Auckland hot water pipes replacement project in the main building, with construction on the first stage already underway.

“We are committed to delivering modern infrastructure that supports hospitals and ensures they can keep providing the essential care patients rely on. This investment is about fixing the basics and building the future to safeguard health for generations to come.”

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has unveiled the host iwi and theme for next year’s national broadcast of Matariki, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“I’m delighted Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in Auckland has agreed to host next year’s official ceremony. 

“They’ve been welcoming the wider Auckland region to their public Matariki events for years. It’s estimated about 5,000 people attended this year, becoming the largest celebration in the country.

“This will help showcase the wider region and what makes the Māori New Year unique for the area. 

“The theme for next year’s event will be Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone.

“This theme is about all people coming together to celebrate Matariki 2026 in Auckland, the city of sails, or wherever they may be in New Zealand.

“The Māori New Year is a time of reflection, celebration, and preparation. It is a time to remember loved ones, come together with whānau to give thanks to what we have and look forward to the promise of a new year. 

“While the theme changes from year to year the values of reflection, celebration and preparation remain the same.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Acting Inspector Paul Wilson, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander:

Police investigating a fatal crash in Tāneatua are seeking further information from members of the public who witnessed the crash, or any movements leading up to the crash, to assist with our enquiries.

Prior to the crash, Police can confirm the red Honda Accord was observed travelling on Reid Road in excess of the speed limit.

A Police vehicle travelling the other direction observed the vehicle at speed, however was unable to locate the vehicle as it travelled towards White Pine Bush Road.

Police believe there were two other vehicles near or on the Pekatahi Bridge at the time of the crash, and we’d like to speak to the occupants of those vehicles to understand what they saw.

Additionally, we’re still seeking information from anybody who saw a red Honda Accord travelling in and around Tāneatua between 5:30pm and 6pm on Tuesday 2 December.

If you have information, please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 251202/5566.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

18 seconds ago

EIT Council has appointed Lucy Laitinen as its new Chief Executive of the Eastern Institute of Technology Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

Lucy brings extensive experience across international development, social services, local government and regional economic development. She is the former Chief Executive of Anglican Care Waiapu and more recently led the Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Agency.

She says she is excited to join EIT as the institute prepares to stand back up as an independent polytechnic for Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti from January 1, 2026.

“EIT has been an anchor of our community for 50 years. I am excited to work with the new Council, our staff, learners and the wider community as we re-establish our independence and lead EIT into its next era.”

Lucy studied History and International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington, including half a year at the University of Idaho in the United States, and later completed a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge in the UK. She also worked with the International Organisation for Migration in Europe and in senior roles with World Vision New Zealand and Manukau City Council.

She has deep personal and professional ties to the region. She grew up on a farm in Kererū and later lived with her family on a sheep and cattle station in Ruatoria. She now lives near Hastings with her husband and two children and maintains strong relationships with iwi and hapū across the East Coast.

Lucy says her time at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Agency gave her a strong understanding of the local economy and the region’s need for skills and qualifications.

“Our regions face serious skills shortages, and our industries are evolving rapidly. At the same time, living standards and educational attainment across Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti remain below the national average. There is a clear link between educational attainment and higher incomes and improved regional economic performance.

“Our challenge will be to lift learner success, particularly for Māori, strengthen industry partnerships, and offer flexible, relevant learning for all ages so we can start to turn those dials.

“I would like to acknowledge the dedication of EIT’s staff, who have stayed focused on learners through these challenging recent years.”

EIT Council Chair David Pearson says the Council is pleased to welcome Lucy to the role.

“Lucy brings a very strong skill set and a breadth of leadership experience across key sectors. We are looking forward to her leadership of our highly capable Executive and staff.”

Lucy remains active in community initiatives. She chairs Connect Community Trust, which operates Kuhu Mai, the community hub for the homeless, in Hastings, and serves on the Sacred Heart College school board. She has recently been working as an independent consultant.

Lucy will begin her role on January 19.