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Auckland beachgoers warned of sewage overflows

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland’s Herne Bay Beach. RNZ/Felix Walton

It’s only the first day of summer but already a code brown is casting an unwanted shadow over Auckland’s beaches.

Sewage overflows from thunderstorms over the weekend have impacted water quality at beaches across the central city, with swimmers being warned to stay out of the Waitematā – or risk a nasty bug.

At Auckland’s Herne Bay Beach, friends Chris and Lauren were making the most of their day off.

But danger lurked under the surface. The beach was one of 13 to be marked black by Auckland Council on Monday, denoting a wastewater overflow.

Dozens more were marked red, meaning poor water quality.

Chris was relieved they hadn’t been swimming.

“[We] just wanted to enjoy the sun at the beach on our day off,” she said.

“I had no idea. I think I’m not going to swim right now, actually. I think we’re going to have to maybe drive further down to be able to swim in the sea.”

Lauren said she preferred to keep her distance from faeces, but she had seen a lot worse.

“I have very sensitive skin, especially with like folliculitis and like skin irritations, so water quality is important to me,” she said.

“I did yoga training in Bali and there was literal trash and like faecal matter in the water and I wouldn’t want to do that again. Wouldn’t recommend it.”

RNZ/Felix Walton

Thunderstorms over the weekend had filled Auckland’s wastewater infrastructure to the brim and spilled out into the harbour.

Victoria University freshwater ecologist Dr Mike Joy told Midday Report the warming climate would cause more frequent spills over time.

“You’ve got climate change, which means warmer temperatures, which means more growth of, you know, dangerous bacteria, but also more extremes in weather,” he said.

“So we get these flooding events and high rainfall events.”

He said the ageing wastewater infrastructure across New Zealand couldn’t handle the volume.

“Huge amounts of water that shouldn’t be in a sewage system that gets in through, you know, old broken infrastructure plus illegal connections, meaning massive flows, you know, additional flows coming into wastewater treatment plants and they just can’t handle it,” he said.

“They don’t have storage. They open the gates and let it out.”

At Sentinel Beach in Herne Bay, beachgoer Michael wished he could just go for a swim without ending up waist deep in waste.

“Yeah, I think that’s pretty bad… It would be nice to be able to like come down here, have a swim and know it’s safe without checking,” he said.

Auckland Council’s SafeSwim technical lead Dr Martin Neale said swimmers risked catching a nasty bacterial infection.

“The source of the contamination is pathogens in the water. So, that’s the risk you’re exposing yourself to,” he said.

“Generally, those will manifest as either respiratory or tummy upsets. But sometimes if you have a cut or something like that, it can infect the cut.”

He warned of similar interruptions throughout the rest of summer.

“During summer is when we get these sort of intense thunderstorm situations like we had yesterday, there was thunderstorm warnings out and we’ll see them in summer,” Neale said.

“We don’t know how many, but when those things do happen, we would encourage people to check out SafeSwim.”

Neale expected the contaminated waters to clear over the following two days.

In a statement, Watercare noted that it was already investing in upgrading wastewater infrastructure to reduce spills.

“We are investing $8 billion in new and upgraded wastewater infrastructure in the next decade, which includes $4.8b specifically in wastewater networks to reduce overflows,” head of wastewater Jon Piggot said.

“For Herne Bay and St Marys Bay, the real results will come around 2028 when we finish the Herne Bay Collector tunnel.”

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

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Invercargill council’s $2.4m storm damage bill unlikely to be recovered by insurance

Source: Radio New Zealand

The city’s 150-odd parks and reserves had been hit hard by damages. RNZ / Calvin Samuel

The damage caused by the storm that swept through Invercargill in October has cost the local council about $2.4 million, but it expects much of that cost will not be able to be recovered through insurance.

A local state of emergency was declared when gales caused widespread damage and thousands of power outages in October, downing trees, power lines and tearing roofs off buildings.

The Invercargill City Council reviewed the initial financial impacts report at a recent meeting, saying it was focused on the recovery efforts in the wake of significant damage.

In a report tabled at the meeting, the council said it was working with insurance assessors to confirm how much coverage it had.

Council chief executive Michael Day said the current cost estimates were expected to change once more assessments were completed and the sale of timber was finalised.

“The amount of damage inflicted on some of our facilities and infrastructure was significant and, unfortunately, completely outside of our control,” he said.

“We know how important these spaces are for our community, and it’s critical that we undertake substantial repair efforts to get Invercargill and Bluff back to normal.

“The costs associated with undertaking this work are unavoidable, as we need to ensure our community’s safety is prioritised.”

The council expected much of the cost would not be recoverable from insurance so it would likely to debt-fund the shortfall through a five-year loan, Day said.

The city’s 150-odd parks and reserves had been hit hard with an estimated $930,538 price tag that did not include the cost of tree replanting, he said.

Close to $300,000 needed to repair damage to street lights and traffic signals with a further $294,687 earmarked to damaged roofs and windows at council-owned buildings including Splash Palace.

“These facilities are a real lifeline for many people in our community, so we are working as hard and as fast as we can to carry out the repairs they need,” Day said.

Between the 23 October, when the wind struck, and 7 November, when the state of emergency was lifted, council employees had tallied up 525 hours of work at Emergency Management Southland.

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Football Fern Annalie Longo to sign off against Matildas

Source: Radio New Zealand

Football Fern Annalie Longo will end her international career against the Matildas in Adelaide. www.photosport.nz

Football Ferns legend Annalie Longo knew the end of a career spanning nearly 20 years at the top was coming this year and she is thankful to walk away on her own terms.

Longo will retire from international football after Tuesday’s match against Australia’s Matildas at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide.

The midfielder will finish her Football Ferns career on 144 caps, the fifth-highest total in the team’s history, and 15 goals.

Longo made her senior international debut as a teenager, before appearing at five FIFA Women’s World Cups, including the home tournament in 2023, and four Olympic Games.

Scoring her first goal against Japan to level the game in 2013, the 2012 Olympics where the Football Ferns won their first match at a Games and winning the opening game of the 2023 Football World Cup in Auckland, were among the highlights from a senior career which began in 2006.

The decision to hang up her boots follows her retirement from professional club football with Wellington Phoenix in April.

“It comes with mixed emotions. I can proudly say I have given everything for the Fern and this team,” she said.

“Football has shaped who I am.”

Longo said entering the senior national team as a 15-year-old she was “full of dreams and hopes that I would get to represent my country”.

“The journey it has given me and the memories and experiences and the rollercoasters its given me, it’s been part of my life for so long so obviously a tough decision but when I look at the future of the team and what they need going forward I think it’s the right time to step away.”

Longo was “tempted” to stay with the national team with the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the horizon but said there were several reasons why it would be better if she did not.

“When I look at my heart, I think if I’m still around playing in 2027 we’ve got a bit of a disservice to the system we’re growing in New Zealand. So, I have to look at it both ways and what’s best for the team and if I continued to stay around, just with my age and the toughness that it is to play professional football and the stage of my career, also where my body is at, a number of factors that kind of play into the decision I think the best thing for the team is that they get ready and work towards that 2027 campaign.”

Football Ferns head coach Michael Mayne was not ready for Longo to retire when she stepped away from the Phoenix so he asked her to fill a role with the national team this year.

“It’s been a challenge to work hard and not have a professional team but I try, as I have always done throughout my career, to keep my standards high and do whatever I can to be on that pitch,” Longo said.

“Timing-wise it felt right being able to build and create some structures in the way we want to move forward under Mayne so it was a privilege and I’m grateful to have that opportunity.”

Longo was emotional in recognising the likes of former captain, Ali Riley, who did not get to leave football on their own terms.

Riley retired in October after a prolonged battle with a chronic nerve injury.

“I know not everybody who has been part of the Ferns has had the perfect send-off… I hope [her experience] is set in stone of what it should be and when players retire, who have committed so much to the Ferns, that we can celebrate the amazing legacy that past Ferns previously maybe didn’t get the opportunity to do.”

Football will still be a big part of Longo’s life. She is already in a player development role with New Zealand Football and she was looking forward to dedicating more time to “inspiring and growing” the next generation.

She said coaching was a route she wanted to pursue.

Mayne said the link to former Ferns was important and he planned to keep in touch with Longo into the future.

“You can see everything you need to know about her by looking at her journey in the shirt. She has seen and experienced it all, but throughout her career she has always played her role, put the team first, and promoted excellence for herself and the side,” Mayne said

“Having seen Annalie come through the coaching pathway and where she is at in that, I think between her role, the coaching, there is no doubt in my mind the character she is and belief in our country, the drive for things to be better – all those things line-up to someone who can have a massive impact in the next phase of her career and life and that’s what we need more of going forward.

“That’s probably a gap I’ve seen for different reasons where we can do a lot better.

“That’s part of my belief system in this role is how do we put things in place to make sure we’re retaining good people and people that can shift the game because we need more than what we’ve got at the moment. So, I will be definitely be a regular still talking to her and picking her brain because you can’t just let experience and knowledge disappear in our system we don’t have the luxury to be able to do that.”

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

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Section of Tasman’s Great Taste Cycle Trail set to reopen

Source: Radio New Zealand

A damaged cycle bridge for the Great Taste Trail, can be seen in the middle of the photo. Samantha Gee / RNZ

A section of the badly damaged Great Taste Cycle Trail in Tasman is set to reopen the by the end of the year, after significant progress has been made repairing storm damage.

The 200 kilometre cycle trail suffered more than $2 million in damage caused by flooding and slips during June and July, with parts of it completely washed out.

The southern section from Kohatu to Spooners Tunnel has reopened and the northern section from Spooners Tunnel to Belgrove is due to reopen at the end of December.

The New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund put $1.6m towards track repairs, with the funding announced by Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston during a visit to the Tasman District in September.

She said since the storms, a major on-road detour meant the trail wasn’t suitable for families or beginner cyclists. A number of tourism and hospitality businesses had also been affected by its closure through winter.

“Having Tasman’s Great Taste Trail ready for summer means more people can enjoy one of New Zealand’s most scenic rides. It’s great news for visitors and the local community.”

Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust chair Gillian Wratt with Tourism Minister Louise Upston on the Great Taste Trail. RNZ / Samantha Gee

Upston said having the majority of the trail reinstated would be a big boost for businesses, including bike hire, tour operators, cafes and accommodation providers.

“Bringing the trail back gives locals and visitors alike the chance to enjoy the outdoors and experience everything Nelson Tasman has to offer.”

Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust chair Gillian Wratt previously told RNZ it was heartbreaking to see the damage, especially given the track had been in really good condition.

Economic analysis in 2022 showed the trail brought $34m in direct economic benefit to the region through visitor spending, with an estimated 200,000 people using the trail each year.

The section from Pokororo Bridge to Ngatimoti remains closed, with a detour via the Westbank Rd to Riwaka. An on-road detour will also remain between Wakefield and Belgrove while plans for future repairs are finalised.

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

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Watch: Christopher Luxon faces questions amid speculation over rates cap policy

Source: Radio New Zealand

The government’s long-awaited rates cap will be a variable target band, and would be enforced by a new regulator.

Likely starting with minimum increases of two percent and a maximum of four percent, the cap would take effect from 1 January 2027.

It was not clear from the initial written statement how often the target might change, or exactly how it would be calculated, only that this could include “indicators like inflation at the lower end and GDP growth at the higher end”.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts said councils will need to seek permission from a new regulator to go above the maximum, and that permission would only be granted in “extreme” circumstances.

Water charges and other non-rates revenue will be exempt from the target range, but all general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges would be subject to the limits.

Watts indicated the ranges would likely start at between 2 percent and 4 percent per capita, per year, based on analysis.

“This means rates increases would be limited to a maximum of 4 percent,” he said.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts RNZ/Mark Papalii

Consultation on the changes announced at the post-Cabinet briefing on Monday opened immediately, and set to close in February 2026 with the legislation expecting to be passed by the end of that year.

The target would begin from 2027, with the “full regulatory model” in place by 1 July 2029.

The announcement follows last week’s unveiling of the government’s plan to abolish regional councillors, replacing them with panels of mayors from city and district councils.

In a statement, Watts said rates increases that recently had been in double digits was “unsustainable and is only adding to the cost of living for many Kiwis”.

“Ratepayers deserve councils that live within their means, focus on the basics and are accountable to their community. The Government’s decision to introduce a cap on rates will support that ambition and protect local government’s social license for the long term,” he said.

“A minimum increase is necessary so councils can continue to provide essential services like rubbish collection, council roads maintenance and the management of parks and libraries.

“From 2027, councils will be required to consider the impact of rates caps on their long-term plans and report on areas of financial performance, like the cost of wages and salaries, council rates as a percentage of local house prices and estimates of local infrastructure deficits.

“The full regulatory model will take effect by 2029. However, officials will be monitoring rates rises nationwide as soon as the legislation is enacted. Where councils propose increases beyond the proposed cap, this may present grounds for intervention under the Local Government Act.”

He said councils should not wait for the full enactment of the rates capping model before controlling rates increases for their constituents.

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

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Puberty blocker regulation ‘based on politics’, legal injunction filed

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa has filed an application for an urgent injunction to prevent the ban coming into effect on 19 December. File photo. RNZ // Angus Dreaver

An urgent legal injunction has been filed to stop the incoming ban on new prescriptions of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria.

Cabinet agreed last month to the new settings until a major clinical trial in the United Kingdom ends in 2031.

The drugs – known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues – would remain available for people already using them.

The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) said it had today filed an application for an urgent injunction to prevent the ban coming into effect on 19 December.

A spokesperson for Health Minister Simeon Brown said as the matter was now before the courts, “it would not be appropriate to comment”.

RNZ has also approached the Health Ministry for comment.

The move has been highly controversial, with a number of clinical groups criticising the government decision.

PATHA said it was asking for an urgent judicial review on the grounds that the incoming regulation was “illegal and unethical”.

President Jennifer Shields said the regulations were being enacted “based on politics, not on clinical evidence or best-practice decision making”.

“We won’t let transgender children in Aotearoa be subjected to harm just to ‘win a war on woke’.

“We’re taking this to court because we know what’s right, and we believe the law is on our side.”

Dr Rona Carroll – a GP specialist in gender affirming healthcare – said there was no evidence to justify this “extreme regulation”.

“Only a small number of young people in Aotearoa are prescribed reversible pubertal suppression, but for those who need it the negative impacts of this regulation will be huge. Politicians are ignoring the advice of health professionals, and are not acting in the best interests of children and young people who have a right to access healthcare free from discrimination.”

The coalition government’s move follows a major shift in Britain following the Cass Review – a four-year investigation commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS).

That review, spearheaded by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, found there was “not enough evidence to support their safety or clinical effectiveness”, and there were unanswered questions on their long-term impact on brain development and bone development.

In response, the NHS stopped routine access to puberty blockers for new patients. Other countries – including Sweden, Finland and Norway – had already tightened access and guidelines.

The Cass Review split opinion among clinicians and academics world-wide. While some endorsed the call of higher evidence standards, others criticised the report’s methodology and warned it downplayed the risk of denying treatment to young people.

New Zealand’s Health Ministry last year also released a report finding “a lack of high-quality evidence” on the benefits or risks of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria.

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Finish line in sight in Mycoplasma bovis eradication

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), OSPRI, and the country’s dairy and beef sectors are today marking that New Zealand is on the home straight to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis.

“Spring bulk tank milk testing across the country has found no sign of M. bovis. That’s a big win,” says MPI Director-General Ray Smith. 

“Thanks to the hard work of farmers, their sector bodies, MPI people, OSPRI, and many others, there’s been no new M. bovis infection detected for 2 years and we can now enter the very final phase of the eradication programme called ‘confidence of absence’. 

OSPRI’s CEO, Sam McIvor, says the ‘confidence of absence’ phase requires a further couple of years of testing to gather sufficient data to prove M. bovis has gone from the national herd, and to declare eradication. 

“At that point, we’d be confident to declare freedom from the disease which will be a world-first eradication. 

“These last 2 spring seasons (2024-25) of zero infections were important because this testing includes the new-born heifers from the year before, entering the milking herd for the first time. In many cases, this will be the first time these animals have been tested for M. bovis through the bulk milk tank testing process.

“Staying the course for the next period of surveillance will enable young cattle to become adults and be captured in the results.  

“But the good news is that, with the lower risk of disease now, we’ll no longer routinely use movement controls while investigating bulk tank milk detect results,” Mr McIvor says. 

DairyNZ Chair Tracy Brown welcomes the news of the clear spring bulk tank milk testing.

“Without the collective effort of dairy and beef farmers, as well as the wider sector stakeholders, we wouldn’t be where we are today – with a stronger and more resilient biosecurity system.

“I encourage farmers to continue supporting this important programme – including by enabling testing on farm if required.”

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chair Kate Acland says the M. bovis eradication programme has protected the sector from the productivity losses and animal welfare impacts of the disease.

“The progress to date is in large part due to the hard work and sacrifices of farmers and the wider pastoral sector. 

“We need to maintain our focus for a little longer. One important way farmers can support this work is by keeping their NAIT records up to date. This is essential for preventing the spread of disease and supporting effective disease management.”

The Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme is a 10-year, $870 million collaboration between the government and industry partners DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand. 

Allowing the disease to become endemic would have cost $1.3 billion in lost production in the first 10 years alone and continued to burden the sector into the future.

The last transmission of M. bovis in cattle was on 7 September 2023 and the programme remains on track to achieve eradication by June 2028.

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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Getting rates under control for ratepayers

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has agreed to progress a rates cap to help councils keep rates increases under control and reduce pressure on household budgets, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says.

“Rates are taking up more of household bills, and some communities have faced double-digit increases year after year. This is unsustainable and is only adding to the cost of living for many Kiwis,” Mr Watts says.

“Ratepayers deserve councils that live within their means, focus on the basics and are accountable to their community. The Government’s decision to introduce a cap on rates will support that ambition and protect local government’s social license for the long term.” 

The model sets a target range for annual rates increases, based on long-term economic indicators like inflation at the lower end and GDP growth at the higher end. 

The lower end of the range is designed to ensure councils can maintain essential services, while the upper end balances the need for sustainable growth with keeping rates increases affordable.

“Analysis suggests a target range of 2 to 4 per cent per capita, per year. This means rates increases would be limited to a maximum of 4 per cent,” Mr Watts says.

“A minimum increase is necessary so councils can continue to provide essential services like rubbish collection, council roads maintenance and the management of parks and libraries.”

The cap will apply to all sources of rates – general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges – but will exclude water charges and other non-rates revenue like fees and charges.

Councils will not be able to increase rates beyond the upper end of the range, unless they have permission from a regulator appointed by central government. Permission will only be granted in extreme circumstances, such as a natural disaster, and councils will need to show how they will return to the target range. 

Where councils need to raise revenue to pay for things outside of extreme circumstances, such as catching up on past underinvestment in infrastructure, they will need to apply to a regulator for approval. Again, councils would need to provide justification and explain how they will return to the target range over time.

“These new rules will be a big change, and many councils will need time to adapt, which is why there will be a transition period starting from 1 January 2027,” Mr Watts says.

“From 2027, councils will be required to consider the impact of rates caps on their long-term plans and report on areas of financial performance, like the cost of wages and salaries, council rates as a percentage of local house prices and estimates of local infrastructure deficits.

“The full regulatory model will take effect by 2029. However, officials will be monitoring rates rises nationwide as soon as the legislation is enacted. Where councils propose increases beyond the proposed cap, this may present grounds for intervention under the Local Government Act.

“Councils should not wait for the full enactment of the rates capping model before controlling rates increases for their constituents,” Mr Watts says.

Next steps:

  • Targeted consultation with stakeholders to finalise implementation, local considerations and legal details starts today and runs to February 2026.
  • Relevant legislation will be enacted during 2026 and be law from 1 January 2027. This will be the start of a transition period, allowing councils to integrate the cap into their long-term planning. During this time, councils will report on financial metrics while the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) monitors progress and provides guidance.
  • DIA will also develop the regulatory framework, including considerations for a permanent regulator.
  • The full regulatory model will be in place by 1 July 2029.
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Get naturing with Mahi Aroha

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  01 December 2025

Mahi Aroha – a collaboration between community group Project Tongariro and DOC invites visitors and locals to get naturing this summer with 30 trips on offer across the region.

Project Tongariro Chief Executive Officer Kiri Te Wano says the programme has a variety of options thanks to community groups across the region.

“It’s a collaborative effort; we all love this area and want to share it with others.

“New offerings this summer include an art auction, a presentation on invasive gold clams, and an awesome opportunity to enjoy an overnight hikoi via jetboat on the Whanganui River.”

“And we still have some of the old family-favourites like trap-building workshops, nature-art, and of course, tramping!”

Popular events such as heli-hikes and tours at Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary fill up quickly each year. Early booking is recommended.

DOC Community Ranger/Project Lead Charlotte Fletcher says Mahi Aroha provides an ideal opportunity to enjoy nature with friends and whānau.

“Mahi Aroha provides so many fun ways to explore, protect, and enjoy nature, so check out the calendar online and get naturing this summer!”

Some activities are free, and some carry a charge to cover operating costs for the trip.

Book your adventure on Mahi Aroha website.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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Food poisoning warning after Christchurch students eat contaminated school lunches

Source: Radio New Zealand

The school has recalled the lunches, but some had already been eaten by students. Unsplash

A Christchurch school says it has been provided with contaminated school lunches in a significant health and safety breach.

Haeata Community Campus, which covers from Year 1 to 13, has put up a post on Facebook saying they have recalled all of the lunches due to the contamination, but some had already been eaten by students.

It is asking parents to watch for symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting and diarrhoea, and says more serious symptoms could include bloody diarrhoea, fevers and dehydration.

The Facebook post said the school will be complaining to the provider.

The school has been approached for comment.

More to come…

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