NZ Engine

Source: Auckland Council

One of Auckland’s most loved and historic waterbodies is getting a much-needed helping hand.

This week, Auckland Council’s Environmental Services and Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience teams will carry out a major pest fish removal operation at Te Wai Ōrea / Western Springs Lake, an important step toward improving water quality and protecting native freshwater species.

Western Springs is no ordinary lake. Known to mana whenua as Te Wai Ōrea, it is the original water source for Auckland and has long been a place of cultural, ecological and community significance. While the city has grown beyond relying on the springs for drinking water, the lake remains a treasured green space and an important freshwater ecosystem.

Over time, however, pest fish such as koi carp and brown bullhead catfish have taken a toll. These species feed by rooting around in the lakebed, stirring up sediment and nutrients that cloud the water and fuel algal blooms.

Matthew Bloxham, Auckland Council’s Senior Regional Advisor Freshwater says koi carp are well known for their negative effects on water quality.

“When left uncontrolled, their feeding disturbs lakebed sediments and harms freshwater habitats. Reducing pest fish numbers is a proven way to help lakes recover.”

Catfish add further pressure by preying on native fish and kōura (freshwater crayfish), and by competing with native species for food.

Western Springs is also home to a regionally significant tuna (eel) fishery, with three species of eel present. Because of this, there is a proposal to declare the lake an eel sanctuary, making protection of the ecosystem even more important.

“This is about looking after taonga species and restoring balance,” says Bloxham. 

“Cleaner water supports healthier eel populations and stronger native biodiversity overall and reduces the botulism risk.”

The operation will be led by a specialist team from the University of Waikato, using New Zealand’s only electrofishing boat of its kind. The technique uses a pulsed electrical current to temporarily stun fish, allowing pest species to be safely collected while native species, including eels, are returned unharmed.

“Electrofishing allows us to capture all sizes and species with minimal harm,” says Associate Professor Nick Ling from the University of Waikato.

“Unlike nets or traps, it’s highly effective while still being safe for native fish, which recover quickly and can be released back into the lake.”

Pest fish removed during the operation will be humanely euthanised and taken off-site to be turned into compost.

The work is scheduled for the week of 9–13 February. Water levels will be temporarily lowered from Sunday to improve the effectiveness of the operation, and parts of the lakebed, particularly at the western end, will be visible during this time.

Cultural monitoring will be carried out throughout the week by mana whenua (Te Ahiwaru).

Councillor Richard Hills says the project reflects a long-term commitment to protecting one of Auckland’s most iconic natural spaces.

“Western Springs is a place many Aucklanders have grown up with,” he says.

“This work shows we’re serious about restoring the lake, supporting native species, and doing the right thing for future generations. It’s good environmental stewardship and it’s the right thing to do.”

With no upstream source for reinvasion, ongoing management and community care, such as not releasing unwanted pet fish, gives Te Wai Ōrea a strong chance to remain a healthy, largely native freshwater ecosystem into the future.

Source: New Zealand Government

Thousands more plumbing and drainage products already used widely in Australia can now be accessed easily by Kiwi tradies and do-it-yourself homeowners.  
 
“The Government is focused on fixing the basics and building a better future for New Zealand, and that means making it easier and more affordable to deliver the homes and public buildings that will ease house prices and lift living standards,” Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.  
 
“It’s great to see the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) recognise a second tranche of overseas building products certified under the reputable Australian WaterMark scheme, issuing 54 recognition notices that cover around 38,274 products. 

“A first round in October made it easier to bring more than 90,000 WaterMark-approved products onto the market, including tapware, water service products, and sanitary and stormwater drainage products. 

“While these materials are already tried and tested in Australia and familiar to many tradies in New Zealand, Kiwi builders and designers previously had to individually demonstrate that each product met Building Code requirements when applying for consent to use it. 

“By amending the Building Act through the Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill, MBIE can now recognise building products already certified under overseas schemes in comparable countries in the tens of thousands, rather than one at a time.
 
“The granting of these recognition notices means Building Consent Authorities must accept the products as compliant, reducing unnecessary red tape, costs, and delays while allowing a more diverse range of materials to be used. 

“Supply chain shocks and shortages choke building productivity. Better access and greater choice provide industry with more resilience and increases market competition to put downwards pressure on prices for tradies and homeowners. 

“As MBIE continues to review overseas building products under the new law, tradies and homeowners can expect even better access to essential materials, including plasterboard, cladding, windows, and doors.”

Notes to editor:  

• “Recognition notice” is the official term for approval of an overseas building product or standard by MBIE. 
• Notices are not a blanket approval for all WaterMark certificates. Only products that have a valid, up‑to‑date certificate listed on a current notice can be used as meeting the required standards. 
• Recognition notices are now publicly available at www.building.govt.nz, along with a diagram showing how these overseas standards fit within New Zealand’s building regulatory framework. 

Source: Privacy Commissioner

This policy outlines the commitment of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) to equal employment opportunity, diversity and inclusion and to eliminating the barriers that cause or perpetuate inequalities in employment.

OPC aims to provide equal employment opportunities to make the most of the talents of all our people and attract top talent to the organisation. This policy applies to all OPC employees, including those on secondment to us.

Policy Statement

OPC is committed to upholding its responsibilities as an Equal Employment Opportunities employer and creating a workplace that attracts, retains and values a diverse workforce. 

2.2.    To achieve this OPC seeks to:  

a)    provide equal opportunities for recruitment, retention, development, and promotion of all its current and prospective employees, regardless of gender, sex, marital status, religious/ethical belief, ethnic or national origins, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status, or sexual orientation

b)    develop and maintain a workplace culture that values and supports diversity and inclusion

c)    ensure that it provides a safe, supportive, and healthy environment for all employees that is conducive to quality service delivery

d)    provide a workplace that welcomes, respects, and includes rainbow and takatāpui communities 

e)    identify and seek to eliminate all aspects of policies and procedures or other institutional barriers that cause or perpetuate inequality in respect of the employment of any person or group of persons

f)    ensure all staff appointments are made solely on the basis of merit, and that all promotions, advancements, salary reviews and professional/career development opportunities are based solely on merit

g)    seek to improve employment opportunities for groups who are traditionally under-represented in either occupational groups or levels of seniority, in particular women, Māori and Pacific people

h)    not tolerate any form of unfair discrimination in the workplace on any ground, including gender, sex, marital status, religious/ethical belief, ethnic or national origins, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status, or sexual orientation

i)    promote equal employment opportunities as an integral part of OPC workplace policies and practices

j)    monitor, review and evaluate progress towards achieving equal employment opportunities. This includes assessing and, if required, reducing identified gaps at all levels of the organisation.

Responsibilities 

General Manager	Framework development, implementation and compliance monitoring. Progression against OPC’s Kia Toipoto and DEI Action Plans.Supporting and training for OPC leaders and teams.
Managers	Creating an environment that promotes EEO/diversity. Understanding their obligations under applicable legislation and processes and ensuring compliance.Ensuring that all practices and procedures that apply to the staff for whom they are responsible are consistent with this policy.
All employees	Accountability for themselves and their activities to act in accordance with our EEO principles and OPC values.

References

Relevant Legislation

Persons/ Areas affected	All OPC employees and secondees
Contact	General Manager
Approval authority	Senior Leadership Team
Last review date	February 2026

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  11 February 2026

Pets are not permitted in New Zealand’s national parks or on DOC land where dogs are prohibited – even if the hounds are inside vehicles – and owners could face a $400 infringement fee.

DOC Principal Investigations Officer Marlous Heijs says staff at Aoraki/Mount Cook are seeing more canines in cars because they’re monitoring vehicles during the paid parking pilot running at Whitehorse Hill.

Staff have issued seven infringement notices in less than two months.

“We know this is an issue right around the country, but over the past couple of months our staff have seen it first hand at Aoraki, where they’ve spoken to people and gathered information and evidence,” she says.

“Some of the photos are quite classic. The dogs are clearly enjoying hanging out the windows and taking in the mountain air – but the issue of dogs in national parks is serious.”

“The rules are there to protect our precious native species. Dogs are loveable and popular pets, but they can have a massive impact on protected birds, plants and animals – and any pet can make a mistake and attack wildlife, defecate or dig something up,” she says.

A report compiled and released by DOC’s National Compliance Team in October 2025 revealed 75 recorded incidents of dogs attacking, killing, or harassing wildlife between 9 September 2020 and 12 August 2025.

“People sometimes plead ignorance of the rules or try and argue their pets staying in the vehicle don’t present an issue, but we’ve seen dogs being let out to have a run around and to toilet,” Marlous says.

“There is also an animal welfare issue, given how long it takes to drive to Aoraki and the amount of time people spend there,” she says.

Last December the SPCA issued a media release asking people to be more aware over summer about the risk of leaving their pets in cars during the hot December/January months.

SPCA receives hundreds of calls every summer about dogs left in hot cars – a preventable and heartbreaking welfare issue.

“You wouldn’t leave a child in a hot car,” says SPCA CEO Todd Westwood. “Please do the same for your furry family members.”

Todd says SPCA is reminding the public even on mild days, the temperature inside a car can rise rapidly. On a 21°C day, a car parked in the shade with windows down can still reach more than 31°C in just 10 minutes, and more than 40°C in 30 minutes.

“Dogs cannot cool themselves effectively in enclosed spaces. Panting alone is not enough. Parking in the shade or lowering windows does little to reduce the risk.”

Marlous says she’s surprised at what some pet owners do and it’s not just dogs. People have brought in cats and even goats into various national parks around the country wanting to walk the tracks.

She says it’s a pet owners’ responsibility to do research before taking pets onto public conservation land.

Roads running through some national parks in New Zealand are administered by Waka Kotahi/NZTA and as public roads, you are permitted to drive through them with a pet in your car. Aoraki/Mount Cook is not one of them.

“Many of the roads within Aoraki Mount Cook National Park are administered by DOC and are known as a ‘park road’. This includes most of the roads within Mount Cook Village and the road to White Horse Hill Carpark where many short walks start. These roads are part of the National Park therefore the same rules apply (no dogs in vehicles). These are all well signposted, and there is plenty of information online about where you can (and can’t) take your dog.”

Marlous Heijs says the clear message for everyone is pet owners have a key role to play in looking after nature.

“Our message is ‘leave your dog at home if you’re going naturing in a national park’. There are plenty of other places to go with your dog, but this isn’t one of them.”

Contact