NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The busy intersection of State Highway 5 and State Highway 28-Harwoods Road east of Tīrau will be made safer with work starting next month on a roundabout.

The T-intersection has a poor safety record which NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says can be improved with a 3-leg roundabout.

Work will start on 18 August with traffic expected to be flowing on the roundabout by March 2026. Schick Construction has been awarded the physical works contract and will monitor and manage traffic through the site during the construction period.

Some closures of SH28-Harwoods Road at the works site may be needed later in the build, with dates and detours to be advised when confirmed.

In the past 10 years there has been one death and 17 serious injury crashes at the SH5 Harwoods Road intersection.

“This roundabout is one of several safety improvements planned for the stretch of SH5 between Tīrau and Tārukenga Marae Road,” says Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery,  Darryl Coalter.

A right-turn bay was built at Waimakariri Road earlier this year, while funding has been allocated to complete design for a roundabout at SH5/SH28-Whites Road.

NZTA is also undertaking general widening works between Whites and Harwoods roads to allow for wide centrelines. The first section between Whites and Waimakariri roads will be done this spring.

The maintenance programme this spring/early summer will see a rebuild of 400m of Whites Road from south of the SH5 intersection. The intersection itself will receive a new asphalt surface.

No changes are proposed for the road through Tūkorehe Reserve/Fitzgerald Glade.

SH5 Tīrau to Tārukenga safety improvements project page

View larger/downloadable map [PDF, 366 KB]

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The rail crossing on State Highway 1B Telephone Road, east of Hamilton, is set to reopen to traffic next week, more than 3 years after it was closed.

The signals and barriers at the crossing are in the final stages of KiwiRail’s testing and commissioning process. Pending final approval, the crossing is expected to open Wednesday afternoon, 30 July.  

“This is a big milestone for the Puketaha community who have been living with the lengthy detour,” says Andrew Corkill, Director of Regional Relationships for Waikato/Bay of Plenty at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). 

“It’s been a long process to reopen this rail crossing and we’d like to thank the community, Waikato District Council and KiwiRail who have all worked constructively with NZTA to get us to this point.”   

Since early 2025, work has been ongoing at the crossing to address the 2 main safety concerns which led to the rail crossing being closed in April 2022.  

The first was the height of the rail tracks above the road on either side of the crossing, which led to low vehicles hitting and dislodging sections of the rail track; the second was the short distance from the crossing to the intersection with Holland Road.  

To mitigate these, the road height has been raised by up to 410mm for a distance of 90 metres either side of the rail crossing and escape lanes have been built on Holland Road to ensure that vehicles can clear the rail crossing while the train is approaching. 

Siva Sivapakkiam, KiwiRail’s Acting Chief Infrastructure Officer says; “We are pleased to see the SH1B Telephone Road rail crossing open again, and safer than before with newly installed active safety protection. This is a good outcome for the community, and we thank everyone for their patience. This has not been a straightforward project, but strong collaboration with NZTA and others has led to this good result.”

New signals and barriers have been installed at the rail crossing and additional warning signs for approaching trains have been installed on SH1B Telephone Road and at the Holland Road intersection.

Background 

The rail crossing on SH1B Telephone Road was previously considered one of the most dangerous in New Zealand.

As a result of an incident in April 2022 KiwiRail and NZTA decided to immediately close the rail crossing until it could safely reopen.

Following the closure, NZTA commissioned a detailed report on the future options for the crossing from consultants WSP. The report explored a range of options from low-cost interventions such as barrier arms, limited access to light vehicles and judder bars, to more complex options that involved significant engineering work to reconfigure the rail crossing and adjacent intersection.

NZTA remained committed to investigating practical and affordable solutions to allow the SH1B Telephone Road rail crossing to reopen and continued to work with KiwiRail. This led to the new design which met KiwiRail requirements to allow the rail crossing to reopen.

Another important factor in the new design meeting safety requirements is the reduction in traffic volumes, particularly the lower number of trucks, using SH1B following the completion of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway.  

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is taking further action to ensure Kiwis can see a doctor, focusing on improved funding for rural practices, faster access to primary care, and a stronger pipeline of locally trained GPs, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
 

• Updating GP funding to better reflect patient needs
• Setting a new health target for faster GP access
• Backing GP training and retention

“We want all New Zealanders to be able to see a GP when they need one, regardless of where they live,” Mr Brown says.

“In rural areas especially, GP clinics with only one doctor or closed books makes it harder for patients to get timely appointments. We’re committed to changing that.

“The health system should reflect the needs of patients, wherever they live in New Zealand. That’s why we’re making changes to the way GP clinics are funded to ensure money goes where it’s needed most.”

The government’s funding method for GP clinics, known as capitation, will be updated for the first time in more than 20 years. This is proposed to take effect from 1 July 2026.

“The current model is outdated and doesn’t reflect the needs of patients. The revised formula will go beyond just age and sex, to also include multimorbidity, rurality, and socioeconomic deprivation.

“These changes will better distribute funding to where it’s needed most, so that GP clinics with a higher needs population of enrolled patients will receive more funding to care for them.”

The Government is also introducing a new national health target to drive timely access to primary care.

“People shouldn’t have to wait weeks to see a doctor. Delays can lead to poorer health outcomes, more pressure on hospitals, and growing frustration for patients. We’re focused on delivering timely, quality care that puts patients first.”

“This new target will be developed in partnership with the primary care sector and is proposed to ensure that more than 80 per cent of people can see a primary care provider within one week, taking effect from 1 July 2026. It will take effect from 1 July 2026 and aligns with the target of ensuring 80 percent of people receive faster access to primary mental health and addiction services within one week.”

The Government is also making targeted investments in general practice training to strengthen the GP workforce and support long-term retention.

“The General Practice Education Programme (GPEP), delivered by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, is the only accredited training and education pathway in New Zealand for doctors wanting to specialise as GPs. Vocational training through GPEP takes a minimum of three years to complete, but currently only the first year of training is funded. 

“We are increasing funding for this programme to ensure it is valued and supported in the same way as other medical specialist training programmes.”

As part of this investment, the Government is funding:
 

• Training fees in 2025 for doctors in their second, third, and post-third year of GPEP to encourage completion of their training
• Exam and preparation costs for around 200 GPEP trainees who have completed, or nearly completed, training but not yet taken the fellowship exam
• Full ongoing training and education costs for approximately 400 GPEP year 2 and 3 trainees each year

“Our goal is to make general practice a more attractive and sustainable career path, especially in rural and high-needs communities, so we can bring more doctors into the areas that need them most.

“By fully covering training and exam costs, we’ll enable hundreds of doctors to complete the pathway to becoming GPs, giving them the support they need to finish their training and enter the health workforce – building a stronger pipeline of experienced GPs who can train and mentor the next generation.

“This Government knows that primary care is the cornerstone of the health system, which is why we’re committed to making it more accessible and responsive to the unique needs of communities.

“Improving access, particularly in rural and underserved areas, will help ease pressure on hospitals and ensure New Zealanders get timely, quality care when and where they need it,” Mr Brown says.

Source: Press Release Service

Headline: Alchemy Bathroom Renovations Auckland Expands Services Across South and East Auckland

Alchemy Bathroom Renovations Auckland, a long-established specialist in bathroom upgrades, has announced it is now extending its services into South and East Auckland. The expansion comes as the company responds to steady enquiry growth from homeowners in suburbs such as Papakura, Takanini, Pakuranga, Howick, Botany, and Beachlands.

The post Alchemy Bathroom Renovations Auckland Expands Services Across South and East Auckland first appeared on PR.co.nz.

Source: Family First

Today’s superb (and well overdue) policy change by Sport New Zealand regarding biological males in women’s sports simply reflects public opinion.

A recent Curia Market Research poll found that only 13% of New Zealanders thought that boys who identify as girls should be able to play in a girls team. 68% said they shouldn’t, and 19% were unsure.

What is most interesting is that a similar poll in 2018 by the same polling company found that support and opposition was locked at 39% each. Opposition has grown markedly over the last five years to the unfairness and safety concerns around boys competing against girls.

Contrary to the narrative, ‘𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’ 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐱. The other option is to create a new mixed category.

But females deserve to play in their own league. The government had dropped the ball on this by not sending clear guidelines to sporting groups.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 & 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞.

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealanders will be better protected from cybercrime following legislation passing third reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. 

“11 per cent of New Zealanders were victims of fraud and cybercrime in 2024, and the National Cyber Security Centre estimates $1.6 billion was lost to online threats.

“The emotional and financial harm caused by cybercrime is significant, and such a quickly evolving threat warrants a coordinated response.

“The Budapest Convention, also known as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, is the only binding international treaty on cybercrime. 

“It aligns member countries’ laws and makes it easier for them to cooperate on criminal investigations.

“By joining the convention, we are signalling to the other like-minded countries that we take cybercrime seriously and we are prepared to do our part to eliminate it.

“It will help our law enforcement agencies to protect New Zealanders, by providing the tools they need to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal offending, even when it happens online.”

The Bill contains provisions to ensure our domestic laws meet the requirements of the Convention. These include;

• New ‘preservation directions’ in the Search and Surveillance Act, to enable law enforcement agencies to require companies to preserve records that could be evidence of offending.
• Amendments to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to enhance our ability to seek assistance from foreign countries for criminal investigations, and to provide assistance in return.

Minor amendments to the Crimes Act to ensure offences related to cybercrime and the use of computers are comprehensive and fully align with the Convention.

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming steps to provide medical practitioners with more tools to treat people with depression, with Medsafe publishing guidelines for experts wanting to prescribe Psilocybin. 

“This is huge for people with depression who’ve tried everything else and are still suffering. If a doctor believes psilocybin can help, they should have the opportunity to do what’s best for their patient,” says Mr Seymour. 

“Recent changes have put New Zealand’s settings in line with Australia, where authorised prescribers have been using psilocybin in clinical settings for some time.

“Psilocybin remains an unapproved medicine, but one highly experienced psychiatrist has already been granted authority to prescribe it to patients with treatment-resistant depression. 

“This is excellent news for their patients, but there are other Kiwis in need in different parts of New Zealand who might have an appropriate practitioner nearby. 

“Practitioners must meet a series of requirements to gain approval, including being registered with the Medical Council with a current practicing certificate, a good understanding and experience of the medicines and the psychotherapeutic processes involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy, and a detailed proposal of how they will administer the treatment that has been peer reviewed and will be considered by Medsafe. 

“Soon more practitioners will have the ability to use this medicine, meaning more patients will benefit.” 

Note to editors: Guidelines can be found here. 

Source: New Zealand Government

Police Minister Mark Mitchell today announced the retirement of statutory Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tania Kura.

Ms Kura has served in the statutory Deputy Police Commissioner role since her appointment on 18 April 2023.

Deputy Commissioner Kura notified the Governor-General yesterday of her intention to retire from the role and the New Zealand Police in November this year.  

Ms Kura has served in the police for 37 years, graduating from the Royal New Zealand Police College in 1988. She started her career as a constable in Christchurch before working her way through the ranks to be Area Commander Hawkes Bay in 2012 and District Commander Eastern from 2017. She moved to Wellington in 2020 to be based at Police National Headquarters, taking up the role of Deputy Commissioner Leadership and Capability.

“I wish to acknowledge Deputy Commissioner Kura for her service, and I wish her and her family the best for the future,” Mr Mitchell says. 

Statutory Deputy Commissioners of Police are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Public Service Commission has started a recruitment process for both Deputy Commissioner positions

Source: New Zealand Government

Vocational Education Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced the appointment of Yvonne Browning MNZM to a vacant position on the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). 

“I am pleased to confirm the appointment of Mrs Browning to this role. She is passionate about ensuring students, particularly young women, can realise their potential by engaging in tertiary education and training,” Ms Simmonds says. 

“Mrs Browning has been Principal of Southland Girls’ High School since 2003 and in 2023 was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to education and youth. 

“Key to this honour was her role leading a partnership with Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter and other organisations in Southland, including iwi and the Pacific community, that resulted in more young women pursuing qualifications and careers in engineering.” 

“The TEC has a statutory role to facilitate and strengthen connections between schools, employers and tertiary education organisations to ensure students are prepared for further education or training and employment. Mrs Browning’s expertise in this area will be valuable to its Board,” Ms Simmonds says. 

“Her experience and skills will complement and strengthen the governance of the Board and ensure that the TEC’s funding of tertiary education and training providers is informed by views of what works for young people when they are considering potential career options. 

“This is critical as the TEC has a key role in ensuring young New Zealanders have the information and skills they need to succeed and help New Zealand grow.” 

The appointment is for a three-year term from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2028.

Source: PHARMAC

The Medical Technology Association of New Zealand (MTANZ) is the leading industry body representing medical technology manufacturers, importers and distributors of medical devices in New Zealand. HealthTech Week is New Zealand’s national conference for health technology industry and research.

“It was fantastic to have such a strong presence at HealthTech week this year,” says Pharmac’s Director Medical Devices, Catherine Epps.

Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Health – Pharmac, David Seymour, gave the opening address, followed shortly afterwards by Pharmac’s Board Chair Paula Bennett, who spoke about her work as Board chair of Pharmac and vision for the organisation

Catherine Epps then provided an update on the progress of Pharmac’s medical devices programme.

“It was great to be able to share the significant progress that we’ve made on the comprehensive list of medical devices,” she says.

New Zealand’s first ever nationwide list of medical devices, effective from 1 July, will support better patient care and long-term investments in medical devices.

This list represents medical devices that are used in hospitals or provided to people to use at home.

“Having a comprehensive list of what is used will support the health system to make more strategic, long-term investments in medical devices,” Epps says.

HealthTech week provided a great opportunity for Pharmac staff to meet with suppliers, hear their questions, and share more about our work.  

“It’s essential that Pharmac’s medical devices programme is informed by those who work with medical devices every day – whether that’s clinicians, suppliers, consumers, advocates, or other industry partners,” says Epps.

 “We couldn’t have success in this programme without working together with many others,” she says.