NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Government

Regulation Minister David Seymour says that from the end of July, barbers and hairdressers will be freed from costly, annoying, and pointless regulations. The Government is scrapping 80s-era rules so hairdressers can focus on cuts, instead of compliance.

“This review and the changes announced today show the power of a sector review,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Much like the perm, hairdressing regulations from the 80s are outdated and costly. Freedom is back in style though, by the end of July this year existing regulations will be revoked.” 

Cabinet accepted all of the changes recommended by the Ministry for Regulation. 

“Existing regulations aren’t making a practical difference to safety, but the compliance is frustrating and costly. We anticipate that revoking all existing regulations will save the industry a minimum of about $1 million per year.” Mr Seymour says.

“The review found that existing regulations are either unnecessary, already managed by other rules, or applied inconsistently between local authorities. 

“Local government is responsible for setting annual registration fees. These can range from anywhere between $140 to $495 depending on location. 

“Examples of absurd rules include how far apart salon seats should be, how bright the lights in the business are, whether you can have a ‘cuppa’ with your cut, and whether dogs are allowed in salons. From the end of July now these decisions will be up to the business owner. 

“Compliance with health and safety, building regulations, and general public health requirements is required already. There is no reason to also require compliance with hairdressing regulations from the 80s which aim to achieve the same thing – manage health risks. 

“The Ministry for Regulation will work with the Ministry of Health on guidance for industry related to hygiene, disinfection and sanitation practices in salons and shops to manage public health risks. This will be given when existing regulations are revoked and will accompany Worksafe’s existing guidance for the industry. 

“The Ministry for Regulation will then monitor the new regulatory system and report back to me on its effectiveness in two years. Work is also underway with the Ministry of Justice to respond to the issues with alcohol licensing raised by submitters.

“In a high-cost economy, regulation isn’t neutral. It’s a tax on growth. Every completed review makes it easier to do business, access services, and innovate in New Zealand. The Hairdressers and Barbers Sector Review is another example of what smarter regulation looks like in action.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson:

Police accept the findings of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Maritime Inquiry MO-2022-206 into the charter fishing vessel, i-Catcher capsize in Goose Bay, 10 September 2022.  

This was a terrible incident for the community and our thoughts remain with the victims, their families and friends, and the community.

Police is continuing work with Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) on the findings of the report. 

In addition to supporting a large number of events led by RCCNZ, Police manages more than 2,000 land and marine search and rescue (SAR) incidents each year.

RCCNZ and Police continue to collaborate on opportunities to enhance operational SAR responses, and continue with regular practice SAR exercises. Our on-call practices and tasking processes have been streamlined and continue to be improved. 

The joint Maritime Rescue Plan for Tasman has now been prepared and is in the final stages of being signed off. Standard operating procedures have also been updated to include that Police’s National Dive Squad must be contacted for advice and availability in life-threatening water rescue events.

This investigation by TAIC has been important for all of us to learn from. We are putting recommendations in place and looking at where we can support partner agencies across all the recommendations.

You can read the report at: https://www.taic.org.nz/inquiry/mo-2022-206

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police and other emergency services are responding to a crash on SH5 near Tarawera.

The crash occurred about 8.50am and has closed the road in both directions.

The crash involves a car and a truck.

One person is in a critical condition and another person has moderate injuries.

A helicopter is enroute to the scene and the Serious Crash Unit is in attendance.

Police are advising all motorists to take care on the road, follow the diversions and avoid this area if possible.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Source: New Zealand Government

Thank you to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs for organising this event, and for your efforts to foster New Zealand’s understanding of international affairs. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak here today.

Source: New Zealand Government

Minister for Rail Winston Peters says new appointments to the KiwiRail board bring commercial, freight and rail experience and a ‘can do’ attitude.

“We want railways to be successful for New Zealand and have every expectation that a focus on lower cost, higher reliability, increased volumes, improved safety and better performance will be delivered on,” Mr Peters says.

Sue Tindal has been appointed Chair of KiwiRail and the New Zealand Railways Corporation, and Jeff Kendrew has been appointed Deputy Chair of KiwiRail. Their terms will commence on 1 July 2025.

“Ms Tindal has been a Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and was on the Mainfreight and New Zealand Post boards. Ms Tindal is currently Deputy Chair of the Infrastructure Commission and Quotable Value boards. She understands construction, freight and infrastructure, and how to get an efficient outcome from an asset-intensive company.

“Mr Kendrew is the Chair of Port Taranaki, and previously chaired Western Australia’s bulk rail freight company Arc Infrastructure. He brings real world experience of rail infrastructure, engineering and freight.

“KiwiRail director Rob Jager has been Acting Chair since June 2024, and we thank him for his service.

“We have also reappointed Liz Ward as a KiwiRail director, reflecting her experience as a former CEO of CentrePort, Gough Group and Kennards Hire and her current role as a senior executive in Sydney’s passenger rail system.

“A reappointment decision has also been taken for Nicola Greer as a director on the New Zealand Railways Corporation given her financial and property expertise,” Mr Peters says.

Biographies of new directors:

Sue Tindal is an experienced C-suite executive having held a number of roles at Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Auckland Council and WEL Group. Having worked in Australia, Asia and New Zealand she has extensive knowledge of domestic and global markets, including structuring large multi-currency infrastructure financing programmes. She has 10 years governance experience as a director and chair across both the public and private sectors, currently as Deputy Chair of the Infrastructure Commission and Quotable Value Ltd, previously on the board of NZ Post, and Chair of a large privately owned construction company She has proven experience and knowledge in government, financial services, technology, energy, transport and logistics sectors across both regulated and non-regulated environments. Ms Tindal has led and delivered large infrastructure and technology projects in New Zealand, Australia and Asia, which required complex internal and external stakeholder management. She is a Fellow, Certified Practising Accountants of Australia (FCPA), a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors NZ (CFInstD) and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

Jeff Kendrew is currently the Chair of Port Taranaki. He has extensive experience in engineering, infrastructure, project management and supply chains. His past governance roles include the boards of Powerco Ltd, GeelongPort and Patrick Terminals. Notably, he was the former Chair of Arc Infrastructure, which owns and operates Western Australia’s bulk rail network, and Chair of Linx Cargo Care Group which owns C3 Logistics. He is a member of both the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Directors, and also a member of the New Zealand Institute of Engineers.

KiwiRail directors and terms from 1 July 2025:

• Chair Sue Tindal, 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028
• Deputy Chair Jeff Kendrew, 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028
• Rob Jager, 20 December 2022 to 31 October 2027 (Acting Chair to 1 July)
• Dr Sina Cotter Tait, 1 October 2024 to 30 June 2026
• Liz Ward, 20 December 2022 to 31 May 2028
• Bruce Wattie, 23 March 2020 to 31 October 2025

New Zealand Railways Corporation directors and terms from 1 July 2025:

• Sue Tindal, 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028
• Nicola Greer, 15 July 2019 to 31 May 2028
• Angela Edwards, 1 June 2020 to 30 April 2026

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog

Two factor authentication (sometimes called multi-factor authentication) is a good way to keep your information safe and secure.

This security requires two separate forms of identification to access an account, device, or system. Often this involves entering a password then confirming a code by a second message to your phone or email. This is designed allow you safer access to your systems. It provides an additional step of verification and greater security.

We encourage all agencies (businesses and organisations) to use two-factor authentication to protect the information they hold. 

When a cyber security privacy breach occurs, the question compliance officers will ask is “have you taken reasonable cyber security steps to protect the personal data you hold?” Not taking reasonable steps is a breach of the Privacy Act and the trust that your customers or clients have placed in you to keep their information safe.

What is reasonable depends on the size of the organisation and the scale and sensitivity of the personal information they hold.  

Two factor authentication is like an extra wall between you and people who would steal your data.

Two-factor authentication is a bare minimum we would expect for small businesses or organisations that hold or share personal information digitally.  If you are a small business that has a cyber-related privacy breach and don’t have at least two factor-authentication in place expect to be found in breach of the Privacy Act.

The small business Insights Report showed agencies’ confidence that they understood what privacy meant didn’t translate into having relevant privacy policies and procedures in place.

Back

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Maritime NZ has been working with the commercial and recreational fishing sectors to develop safety information for recreational tuna fishers on the West Coast, where large commercial vessels fish for Hoki.

Source: Auckland Council

This June, Aucklanders are invited to roll up their sleeves and dig in by planting a free native seedling in their backyard, and be part of a region-wide movement to increase Auckland’s ngahere (forest) canopy, bringing birdsong back to our neighbourhoods, along with numerous other benefits.

Auckland Council’s Plant More Natives seedlings campaign is partnering with community nurseries across Tāmaki Makaurau to give away thousands of native seedlings throughout the month of June.

The goal?

To help achieve Auckland’s Ngahere Strategy of increasing the regions tree canopy cover from 18 to 30 per cent by enabling Aucklanders to plant a native in their own backyard.

Auckland Council’s General Manager of Environmental Services Samantha Hill says the work to increase Auckland’s canopy cover is already underway with thousands of natives being planted in the region’s parks and public spaces.

Now Aucklanders can help restore our city’s biodiversity and enjoy the birdsong native plants attract by picking up a free native plant during June and planting it on their property.

“By supporting the work of community nurseries and having native plants freely available for a period of time, we’re empowering Aucklanders to take action, connect with nature and make a difference,” says Ms Hill.

Native plants play a vital role in the health of our local ecosystems. They provide shelter and food for native birds, lizards and insects, help stabilise soil and filter rainwater before it reaches our waterways.

Studies show that increasing native vegetation also helps reduce urban heat, clean the air and makes cities more resilient in the face of climate change.

And beyond their environmental benefits, these plants bring beauty, quality and birdsong to the places we live; birds like tūī, kereru and piwakawaka are drawn to native plants.

“We want to make sure everyone has the chance to connect with nature, no matter where they live or how much space they have,” says Hill.

“Whether you have room to plant a kōwhai tree in your front yard or a native grass in a small patch, every plant counts.”

Councillor Richard Hills adds the Plant More Native seedlings campaign also aims to connect Aucklanders with their local community nurseries.

“Our community nurseries, funded by Auckland Council, do amazing work for the biodiversity of the Auckland region,” Councillor Hills says.

“These nurseries don’t just grow plants, they nurture knowledge, build relationships and drive local action for the environment.” 

This June, participating nurseries will open their doors to the public, offering not only free plants but also advice, inspiration and connection.

Many are hosting Saturday events where people can meet local experts, learn how to care for native seedlings and discover how native planting fits into broader nature restoration work in their area.

Planting more native plant species in your garden is a small action that can collectively have a big impact supporting native wildlife, improving environmental health, and building stronger connections to nature.

Aucklanders can find their nearest participating nursery using an online map at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/birdsong [link to come] and are encouraged to collect their free native plant in June, while stocks last.

Let’s get growing for a better future.