Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Appointments – Earth Sciences New Zealand announces its new Chief Executive

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand


Earth Sciences New Zealand Chair, David Smol, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Palmer as Chief Executive of the organisation, with effect from 2 March 2026.
“James’s experience, which covers the key areas of core science for Earth Sciences NZ, coupled with his extensive leadership background, made him an ideal candidate. The Board is delighted with his appointment,” said Mr Smol.
Mr Palmer has been Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) since March 2023. He is also the chair of the Climate Change Interagency Executive Board, a member of the National Hazards Board and co-chair of the guardians of the Aotearoa Circle.
Before becoming CE of MfE, Mr Palmer was Chief Executive of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. During this time, he was extensively involved in freshwater and resource management reform, as well as being responsible for regional state of environment monitoring, flood and coastal management, and civil defence.
Prior to this, he was Deputy Secretary Sector Strategy at MfE, Director of Strategy, Systems and Science Policy at the Ministry for Primary Industries, Director Strategy Development at the Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Fisheries, and a Research Fellow with the Ecologic Foundation. Palmer has also been involved in the electricity industry, including in developing wind and hydro resources.
He has served as a board member of both the Sustainable Seas and Deep South national science challenges, a member of the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group, and held advisory roles with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research and the Foundation for Arable Research.
Mr Palmer has extensive experience in leading reforms of the environmental management system and collaborating with local government, iwi and industry groups to develop innovative solutions to natural resource management challenges.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Earth Sciences NZ at this exciting time,” he said. “The combined capabilities and scale of the new organisation will enable greater insights and solutions to New Zealand’s hazard and natural resource challenges and create new opportunities to innovate and support economic growth. ESNZ is also well positioned to make an even greater contribution to key areas of science and innovation on the global stage.”
David Smol also acknowledged the exceptional leadership of John Morgan as Transition Chief Executive of ESNZ since its formation on 1 July 2025, a role which will continue until Mr Palmer commences on 2 March 2026.
“John and his team have made huge progress on the merger of GNS and NIWA in a very short time, particularly given the size and complexity of the two organisations,” said Mr Smol.
Notes
Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) was formally established on 1 July 2025 through the merger of GNS and NIWA. In 2026, MetService and the Measurements Standards Laboratory will also become part of ESNZ. It will have revenue of approximately $400 million and 1500 staff.
ESNZ’s aim is to drive economic growth and wellbeing through increasing returns from the use of New Zealand's natural resources and environments, enhancing energy security, building hazard resilience and increasing prosperity in a changing climate.
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Northland Regional Council media brief – 24 November 2025

Source: Northland Regional Council

NEW BUSLINK WEBSITE
BusLink and CityLink public bus services provided by Northland Regional Council have a refreshed website.
The site now incorporates all BusLink services, including CityLink and SchoolLink, providing passenger information that’s easy to navigate, including timetables, fares and the CityLink live tracker.
Passengers can also find details of routes across the region, accessibility information and all the bus updates for Te Taitokerau.
CityLink’s Facebook page will continue to provide service updates and information for CityLink and SchoolLink bus passengers in Whangārei. www.buslink.co.nz 
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Weather News – Changeable weather for the final week of spring – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Monday 24th – Friday 28th November – Changeable weather for the final week of spring.

Key points

• After a brief break, warm and muggy conditions return this week
• Maximum temperatures swing back to the 20s for most, approaching 30°C in Canterbury
• The South Island sees wet and windy weather Wednesday and Thursday
• The North Island turns unsettled on Friday

The final week of spring brings a mix of weather, from a cool start to a warm and muggy finish, with several bouts of rain in between. MetService is forecasting a series of weather systems to move through: two from the Tasman Sea on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by one affecting the North Island on Friday. It all adds up to a changeable week to round off what has been a similarly changeable season.

North Island
Warm and muggy conditions make a quick return for the North Island. After a cooler start today (Monday), temperatures climb again from Tuesday, with daytime highs in the 20s expected from Northland right through to Wellington. Nights will feel warm too, with muggy, mid-to-high-teen temperatures from Wednesday.

Most places will see showers at times, especially on Friday, which is shaping up to be the most unsettled day of the week with the chance of thunderstorms.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane says, “This will be a good week to keep up with your local day-to-day forecast and an eye on our rain radars within our app and website. There’ll be plenty of dry breaks, but those showers could catch people off guard.”

South Island
The South Island, on the other hand, sees more than a few showers this week as two systems bring wet and windy weather on Wednesday and Thursday. The first wave moves in early Wednesday, with possible heavy rain for the ranges of Tasman, the West Coast Region and Fiordland. A Watch for Heavy Rain is in place for the ranges of Westland, and heavier falls may spill over into the Canterbury High Country near the Southern Alps. The next wave arrives on Thursday, bringing even larger rainfall totals for similar areas.

Northerly winds will also be felt markedly over the South Island this week, mainly on Wednesday and Thursday where speeds may approach severe gale in exposed places.

“Mid-week will be the time to plan for in the South Island. Additional Watches or Warnings may be issued, so keep an eye on metservice.com in the coming days,” Makgabutlane advises.

Warm conditions come with these northerlies. After today’s cooler spell, temperatures rebound quickly, with parts of Canterbury climbing towards 30°C on Wednesday and Thursday. And with warm nights also on the way, MetService Heat Alerts may be needed.
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Education – Open Letter from NZ Area Schools Association to Minister of Education

Source: NZ Principals Federation

Open Letter follows:
Hon Erica Stanford
Minister of Education
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6011
New Zealand
Tēnā koe Minister Stanford
Re: Unwavering Commitment of New Zealand Area Schools to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The New Zealand Area Schools Association (NZASA), representing schools across Aotearoa that serve students from Years 0 to 13 and are central to their communities, is writing to you today to express our profound concern and unwavering opposition to the directive to remove the statutory requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The Area School Context
Area Schools occupy a unique and crucial position in the education landscape. We are the educational hub for many rural and remote communities, catering to students from their first day of schooling through to their final examinations. This unique context means our schools must embody a consistent, comprehensive, and culturally responsive learning environment for every student (tamariki and rangatahi) across their entire educational journey.
For our schools, Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not an optional add-on; it is the foundational fabric that enables us to successfully operate in a bicultural environment and serve our diverse communities. Our commitment reflects the very real and long-standing partnership with local Iwi and Hapū who are integral to our operations.
Advocating for the Partnership, Participation, and Protection
The removal of the explicit obligation to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi sends a damaging message to our students, our staff, and our communities that the principles of partnership, participation, and protection are negotiable.
We strongly contend that upholding these principles is essential to achieving the very equitable outcomes the
Government seeks:
– Partnership (Tino Rangatiratanga): Requires boards to genuinely consult and partner with Tangata Whenua, respecting the self-determination of Māori, and incorporating Mātauranga Māori into strategic decision-making.
– Participation: Ensures that all students, especially ākonga Māori, see themselves and their culture reflected in the curriculum and the school environment, leading directly to higher engagement, better attendance, and improved academic success.
– Protection: Obligates schools to actively protect Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori as taonga (treasures), making bicultural education an inherent strength of our system.
Our Position and Call to Action
Removing this objective is not a practical clarification; it is an ideological step that undermines the legal and moral responsibility of the Crown to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the education system. It creates an unnecessary barrier to achieving equity for Māori learners, which has been established through decades of educational research and practice.
The NZASA executive is unanimous in its commitment to continue giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our governance and strategic planning across all our member schools.
We urge you to:
– Immediately reverse the decision to remove the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi from the Education and Training Act.
– Reaffirm the Crown's commitment to Te Tiriti as the essential foundation of a high-quality, inclusive, and successful education system for all in Aotearoa.
We stand in solidarity with the National Iwi Chairs Forum and the wider education sector in opposing this change. We request an opportunity to meet with you to discuss the vital role of Area Schools in honouring the Māori-Crown relationship.
Ngā mihi nui
Louisa Barham
Tumuaki / Principal: Te Kura a Rohe o Whaingaroa / Raglan Area School
Perehitini / President: Ngā Kura Takiwā o Aotearoa / NZ Area Schools Association.
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Property Values – New rating revaluation shows Whakatāne home values dip by 2% while land values are down 9% – QV

Source: Quotable Value

Whakatāne District property owners will soon receive a Notice of Rating Valuation in the post with an updated rating value for their property.
The new rating valuations have been prepared for 17,277 properties on behalf of Whakatāne District Council by Quotable Value (QV). They show the total rateable value for the district is now $16.4 billion with the land value of those properties now valued at $8.3 billion.
Rating valuations are usually carried out on all New Zealand properties every three years to help local councils set rates for the following three-year period. They reflect the likely selling price of a property (not including chattels) at the effective revaluation date, which was 1 August 2025.
On average, the value of residential housing in Whakatāne has decreased 2% since the previous effective revaluation date of 1 September 2022. The average home value is now $567,000, while the corresponding average land value has decreased 9% to $289,000
QV Senior Consultant and Registered Valuer Michael Power said rating valuations are like a snapshot of the market at a point in time. “When the previous rating valuations were set in September 2022, the local property market was coming off a period of exceptional post-pandemic growth.”
“In response to that rapid escalation and rising inflation, the Reserve Bank substantially lifted the official cash rate (OCR) to rein in spending and bring inflation under control. The resulting spike in interest rates sharply reduced borrowing power and dampened buyer demand,” he said.
“Since then, the higher prices and tighter lending conditions made it more difficult for first-home buyers to enter the market, while decreasing values and reduced yields curbed investor activity. The Whakatāne District experienced strong growth during that boom and has since undergone a correction.”
“Fast forward to August 2025, the market in Whakatāne has been relatively subdued, as is the general trend across the country. While the OCR has recently seen more cuts and interest rates are trending down again, other significant economic headwinds continue to deter growth. Job insecurity and cost-of-living pressures have weighed on household confidence. Combined with ongoing global uncertainty and weaker buyer sentiment, what was a sellers’ market in early 2022 has shifted to a buyers’ market in 2025.”
He said the residential market was subdued especially for vacant land. Property values have generally declined except for Murupara and beachfront Ōhope, which have seen some growth in capital values (CVs). Older housing stock in original condition often faces challenges in attracting buyers, whereas well-maintained and modernised homes tend to achieve stronger market interest and quicker sales. Residential rents have experienced strong increases over the previous three years; however, agents have mentioned rents are now softening.
“The commercial market has been steady, with reportedly reasonable demand. However, sales volumes are low due to cautious potential purchasers and limited stock of modern premises on freehold land. Vacancy levels remain reasonable and are at similar levels to the last revaluation. Quality office space with a high NBS (earthquake prone rating) can attract solid rents but being a provincial town, there is a limited number of government tenants, larger accountancy firms, and the like.”
Within the rural sector, the dairy market is slightly down from 2022 (-3%) as are good-contoured pastoral properties. Steeper-contoured properties have seen larger deductions as the competition from the forestry market has eased off. Demand still exists for quality kiwifruit orchards but again, values are slightly back from a heated 2022 horticulture market. Lifestyle sales activity has mainly been in the entry level price brackets with high valued coastal influence properties showing larger deductions from 2022 levels.
The effective rating revaluation date of 1 August 2025 has now passed and any changes in the market since then will not be included in the new rating valuations. In many cases, this means a sale price achieved in the market today may be different to the new rating valuation set as at, 1 August 2025
The updated rating valuations are independently audited by the Office of the Valuer General and need to meet rigorous quality standards before the new rating valuations are certified. They are not designed to be used as market valuations for raising finance with banks or as insurance valuations.
New rating values will be posted to property owners after 26 November 2025. If owners do not agree with their rating valuation, they have a right to object through the objection process by 16 January 2026.
If you’d like more information on rating valuations head to www.qv.co.nz/about/about-rating-valuations/# or about how to object to your new rating valuation go to www.qv.co.nz/services/rating-valuations/object-rating/.
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Health – Advertising for 12-Month Prescriptions Risks Misleading Patients – GenPro

Source: GenPro

Recent advertising promoting 12-month prescriptions is creating expectations that are unrealistic, unhelpful, and in many cases not in patients’ best interests, says GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers.

“These ads imply that everyone will be able to access a 12-month prescription, that it will be simple, and that people will save money,” Dr Chambers says.
 
“But this is over-egging the situation. It’s not how prescribing works, and it risks leaving many patients confused and disappointed.”
 
Not Everyone Will Qualify
 
Dr Chambers says the public messaging fails to reflect clinical reality.
 
“Many people will not qualify for a 12-month prescription. It is always at the discretion of the GP. If a patient requires regular monitoring—blood tests, blood pressure checks, medication adjustments—they’re very unlikely to receive a 12-month script,” he says.
 
“We’re already seeing patients coming in with unrealistic expectations because the ads have told them what to expect. A significant number will be told ‘no’ and – understandably – they are grumpy about it.”
 
Only a limited number of medicines are routinely suitable for 12-month prescribing. “Certain statins, once stabilised, may be appropriate. Thyroid medications and vitamin D supplements are other examples,” Dr Chambers notes. “But conditions like diabetes—despite being referenced publicly—require regular monitoring and dose adjustments. It’s unlikely many people with diabetes will be eligible for 12-month scripts.”
 
“Lower Your Expectations”
 
Dr Chambers’ message is simple: temper expectations. “We are asking for the advertising to be dialled back. Otherwise, GPs will be dealing with a lot of frustrated patients whose clinical circumstances simply don’t allow for this option,” he says.
 
The suggestion that patients will save significant money also needs to be treated cautiously.
 
“The government points to savings of up to $120 a year in GP fees. What they haven’t acknowledged is that this revenue loss will have to be recovered elsewhere,” Dr Chambers says. “Many patients already request repeat prescriptions through apps or websites. That revenue supports general practice viability. If that income disappears, practices may have to increase other fees. There’s no cap on prescription fees, so it’s entirely possible these could increase substantially.”
 
“Upward pressure on fees is almost inevitable. The idea that patients will see large net savings needs to be tempered.”
 
Limited Impact on GP Workload
 
The Government has stated the policy will free up GP time for more appointments.  Dr Chambers disagrees.
 
“I don’t know any GP who renews these kinds of routine prescriptions during appointments. The suggestion that it will significantly reduce workload is overstated. It might free up enough time for a cup of tea.”
 
GenPro has long advocated for a more cautious approach. “Our preference has been six-month prescriptions, not 12 months. Some practices may choose to adopt a six-month threshold regardless.”
 
A  Need for Realistic Communication
 
“Ultimately, we want patients to have accurate information—not spin,” Dr Chambers says.

“This change will help a proportion of people, but not everyone. Expectations must be realistic, so patients aren't left disappointed and GPs not having to manage frustration created by misleading advertising.”

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Greenpeace – Darfield water supplies above nitrate contamination reproductive risk levels

Source: Greenpeace

“Absolutely unacceptable”. That’s Greenpeace’s reaction to water testing results today which revealed more Canterbury public water supplies are contaminated with nitrate at levels above those associated with reproductive risk.
Greenpeace finished its latest round of free drinking water testing for nitrate contamination in Darfield today. The organisation tested more than 110 water samples and found that the Darfield town water supply was above levels associated with reproductive risk.
Greenpeace campaigner Will Appelbe says “It is absolutely unacceptable that people in these communities are drinking water that is above levels associated with reproductive risks. No one should have to worry about whether the water they’re drinking could be harming them – or their baby – but right now, people on the Darfield and Springfield town supplies are exposed to potentially harmful levels of nitrate in their water.”
The Darfield supply averaged 5.45 mg/L, with all 31 samples from the town supply which were unfiltered reading above 5 mg/L.
Greenpeace also found that 9 private bores in the region were testing well above the legal limit for nitrate in drinking water, with the highest reading at 15.1 mg/L.
Rural communities on private bores are the most at risk of high nitrate levels in New Zealand.
“Everybody should have access to clean, safe drinking water,” says Appelbe. “However, the intensive dairy industry has taken that away from many rural communities. They profit from pollution and everyone else pays.”
Selwyn District Council has estimated that establishing a new water source with low levels of nitrate could cost more than $400 million.
Appelbe says that’s unacceptable. “It’s Fonterra and their executives – like their CEO Miles Hurrell – who have pushed for these intensive and extractive methods of farming. They have profited from cramming as many cows onto the land as possible, using huge quantities of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to grow enough grass for all the cows. They should be the ones who pay for the contamination caused by their dairy herd.”
“Environment Canterbury isn't off the hook either. They have enabled intensive dairy expansion, approving the addition of 35,000 dairy cows to the Canterbury dairy herd just this year. As the regional council, they’re responsible for ensuring everyone has access to clean, safe drinking water, and right now they’re not doing that.”
“The last council declared a nitrate emergency in response to the unfolding health crisis that we’re witnessing here in Canterbury. It’s time for Environment Canterbury to follow through and take action to stop nitrate from getting into drinking water in the first place – and that means tackling dirty dairy’s pollution.”
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Health Studies – Study finds cannabis damages heart, triggers warning from heart health organisations

Source: Kia Manawanui Trust | The Heart of Aotearoa New Zealand

Cannabis may be putting hundreds of thousands of Kiwis at far greater risk of serious heart problems, according to new research that has prompted strong warnings from a heart health organisation.
A study published in the Heart journal found a 2.5-fold increase in major adverse cardiac events (MACE) over six years among people using cannabis.
This has prompted Kia Manawanui Trust – The Heart of Aotearoa to issue a warning to cannabis users that smoking this illicit drug can have negative effects on the heart
Trust Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says the new research challenges long-held assumptions.
“Cannabis is often seen as fairly harmless, but this study raises real red flags for cardiac health.
“Many Kiwis think smoking cannabis is not harmful to your health, but the reality is that it does damage to your heart.”
A 2.5-fold rise in serious heart events is something we cannot shrug off, Ms Harding says.
The latest New Zealand Health Survey estimates that 610,000 people over 15 used cannabis in the past year – roughly 1 in 8 Kiwis. About 210,000 people say they used it weekly or more frequently in the last three months.
Trust Medical Director Dr Sarah Fairley says the study should prompt changes in both clinical conversations and public awareness.
“Research into the links between cardiovascular disease and cannabis has steadily been growing, and this latest study confirms that health professionals can’t underestimate the impact cannabis has on the heart.
“Checking cannabis use needs to become a normal part of assessing someone’s cardiac risk.”
The Trust is advising that health professionals routinely ask people about cannabis use – just as they do with smoking, alcohol, or other known risk factors.
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Luxon Govt Two Year Anniversary: Greenpeace releases updated timeline of War on Nature

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace says a comprehensive timeline of the anti-environmental actions of the Luxon Government highlights the shocking extent of the coalition's war on nature.
Next week marks the second anniversary of the swearing-in of the National, ACT, New Zealand First coalition Government.
“It's hard to keep track of all the anti-environment policies of this Government since it took power nearly two years ago, there are simply so many of them,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman.
“The Government has launched a blitzkrieg attack on nature, on behalf of polluting industries and their lobbyists. They are aiming to overwhelm those seeking to defend nature by sheer volume.
“The first step to defending nature is to understand the attacks on nature, and that is the purpose of this comprehensive timeline.”
The timeline covers everything from the Government’s attempts to dig up more new fossil fuels, to undermining freshwater protections, and everything in between, week by week, over two years.
“The Luxon-led government’s ‘fossil of the day’ award at the COP30 climate talks last week was well earned.
“It's only when you see it laid out in black and white, page after page, week after week, does the full extent of this Government's war on nature become clear,” says Dr Norman.
But Dr Norman says New Zealanders have stood up to defend nature from the moment the coalition took office.
“The coalition's hostile policies are deeply concerning to many New Zealanders.
“It's driving them to take to the streets, whether it's the tens of thousands taking part in the March for Nature or protests by local communities determined to stop seabed mining taking place off the Taranaki coast. Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders have made submissions to Parliament against the Government’s anti-environment laws.
“We will not be silenced – there is simply too much at stake.”
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Greenpeace – Council-supplied tank water in Waimate District at reproductive risk levels

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is calling for an end to intensive dairy expansion, after outrageous revelations that tank water supplied to Glenavy residents by the district council is contaminated with nitrate at levels associated with increased reproductive risks. The organisation tested both the tank water outside Glenavy Hall and the Lower Waihao town supply today during its free water testing in Waimate, finding both were above 5 mg/L of nitrate contamination.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “This water is being provided as an alternative source for people who cannot drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap. But by getting water from this tank, locals are inadvertently putting themselves at increased risk of bowel cancer and preterm birth due to nitrate contamination.”
“When Glenavy was issued a ‘do not drink’ notice in response to nitrate contamination, locals were advised to drink the water from this tank as it was ‘safe’. From the conversations we’ve had today, it’s clear that many are still collecting drinking water from this tank with the belief that it’s lower level nitrate than the town supply.”
Greenpeace’s water testing revealed that the Glenavy town supply – the Lower Waihao scheme – was testing at 6.07mg/L, while the Glenavy council-supplied tank was testing at an average of 5.38mg/L.
A growing body of international evidence has linked nitrate levels above 5mg/L in drinking water with reproductive health risks, including an increased risk of preterm birth. The New Zealand College of Midwives has advised that pregnant people should consider finding an alternative water source if their water tests above 5mg/L for nitrate.
Greenpeace also tested several private bores today. The highest reading for a private bore was 17.1mg/L, and the lowest was 1.24mg/L. The mean average for private bore nitrate was 5.11mg/L – also above the level associated with increased preterm birth risks.
The organisation says that it’s not all bad news, though. Waimate’s town supply was testing at 0.07mg/L of nitrate on average – which is well below nitrate levels associated with any adverse health impacts.
“While Waimate town’s water supply is excellent, the Waimate District’s water woes are far from over,” says Appelbe. “Intensive dairying has contaminated town supplies and private bores with unsafe levels of nitrate, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Even if all intensive dairying stopped today, it could take another 20 years before we see improvement.”
Greenpeace is advocating for an end to dairy expansion in Canterbury, and a reduction in the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser that is added to the land.
“We need our food systems to work for people and the planet. Agriculture can’t come at the expense of people’s access to clean, safe drinking water and swimmable rivers. Fonterra must support their farmers to transition away from intensive dairying and towards ecological farming practices that are better for nature.”
Additional information:
Greenpeace will be testing drinking water in Darfield tomorrow at the Darfield Recreation Centre from 11am-4pm. Media are welcome to attend.