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First Responders – Tongariro National Park Fire Update #5

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire crews supported by aircraft are back at work to fully contain the fire in the Tongariro National Park.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has 30 firefighters on the ground and four helicopters with monsoon buckets this morning, with a full incident management team. Fixed wing aircraft are on standby to join the air attack if needed.
Incident Controller Assistant Commander Renee Potae says that conditions were favourable overnight and crews only had to deal with one hotspot. The fire is 50 percent contained and remains at 322 hectares with an 8.5km perimeter.
The fire is contained on the northern flank where it meets the area burnt in last month’s fire. The wind is forecast to change direction this morning, which will push it towards unburnt vegetation and may cause flare-ups in areas that were burnt yesterday. “We have planned for that and are consolidating that flank,” Renee Potae says.
Manawhenua Ngāti Hikairo and the Department of Conservation are working closely with the incident management team, and there is a high level of interest from the community, and particularly all those who were significantly impacted by the last fire.
SH47 from Waimarino to Tongariro is closed between the intersections of SH46 and SH48. We ask people to stay well away from the area and respect all road closures and detours.
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Health – Funding overhaul needed to keep nurses in primary care – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

About 80% of nurses working in primary health care have considered leaving their jobs in the past six months a survey by Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO has found.
NZNO recently conducted a survey of its members working in primary health care (see findings below). Of those, 30% said they frequently thought about leaving the sector, 31% had occasionally thought about leaving and 19% said they had thought about leaving once or twice.
NZNO primary health care spokesperson Tracey Morgan says it’s not surprising 80% of respondents have thought about leaving the sector when 78% say their workload has increased in the past few years.
“Primary health care in Aotearoa New Zealand is in crisis. Patients and whānau are often unable to get in to see their doctor or nurse for several weeks, leaving them sicker by the time they can get the health care they need.
“One of the main drivers of this crisis is chronic staff shortages. Nurses are leaving general practices to work in hospitals, where they earn up to 11% more (see table below), or for Australia where they are paid significantly more. Our survey found 42% had thought about going overseas.
“Our communities deserve accessible care, and our nurses deserve fair pay,” she says.
“Primary care nurses had been hoping a Pay Equity settlement would correct the undervaluation of their work, but the Coalition Government decision to scrap the legislation means their wages will stay lower for longer.”
There’s now agreement from both the Coalition Government and the Opposition that the primary health care funding model is broken, Tracey Morgan says.
“NZNO welcomes the focus on primary health care but there must be a bipartisan commitment and approach to creating a sustainable new funding model. That funding model must ensure that primary care nurses are paid the same as their Te Whatu Ora counterparts. Only then will they stop leaving primary health care,” Tracey Morgan says.
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First Responders – Tongariro National Park Fire Update #4

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Firefighters will remain on the Tongariro National Park fireground overnight to respond to any flare ups, with active firefighting resuming in the morning. Air operations finished at 8.30pm.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Incident Controller, Assistant Commander Renee Potae, says three crews with a tanker will be working through the night, supported by the command unit.
A reconnaissance flight at 9pm assessed that the fire has burnt 322ha of alpine vegetation with a perimeter of 8.5km. The fire is 50 percent contained. No structures have been damaged.
“Fortunately, the fire has moved towards the area which was burnt last month, and this has enabled the aircraft to contain the southern flank of the fire,” Assistant Commander Potae says.
A wind change forecast for the morning could cause flare ups, and potentially push the fire into unburnt vegetation. Incoming crews and pilots will be briefed on this first thing in the morning.
Fire and Emergency is advising other residents in the vicinity of the fire to avoid exposure to smoke from the fire by keeping their doors and windows closed.
SH47 from Waimarino to Tongariro is closed between the intersections of SH46 and SH48. We ask people to stay well away from the area and respect all road closures and detours.
Fire and Emergency is working closely with the Department of Conservation and Manawhenua. The Department of Conservation is providing updates on the status of its tracks and access to other parts of the Tongariro National Park.
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First Responders – Tongariro National Park Fire Update #3

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Aggressive air attack and ground operations against the fire in the Tongariro National Park will continue until dusk, as efforts continue to bring the fire under control.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Director of Operations, Brendan Nally, says that the fire is estimated to have burnt 322 hectares and is about 25 percent contained.
About 60 firefighters with 16 fire trucks supported by helicopters are working into the evening, with additional helicopters on the way. An incident management team has been established.
“We are hitting the fire hard and making the most of the daylight to try and get it contained,” Brendan Nally says.
Fire and Emergency is working closely with the Department of Conservation and Manawhenua, who are the managers and custodians of the whenua (land) and its sensitive environment and wahi tapu (sacred sites).
“We know that the community is anxious, as this comes so soon after last month’s fire in the same area. It’s particularly difficult for the people who live in the area and those who depend on the Maunga for their livelihood,” Brendan Nally says.
“We are planning for several days of operations. The objective is to contain the fire and then put it out.” Fixed wing aircraft will be joining the air attack tomorrow along with fresh crews of firefighters.
Brendan Nally says a fire investigation is underway, but initial indications are that it was not caused intentionally. “It’s understandable that people want to know how this fire started and they deserve facts, not rumours. We are working with Police to confirm the origin and cause of the fire and will provide more information when it is available.”
The Department of Conservation has asked visitors to leave Whakapapa Village as a precaution and has closed the Whakapapa Village tracks. Residents of the village have been advised to prepare for possible evacuation.
Fire and Emergency is advising other residents in the vicinity of the fire to avoid exposure to smoke from the fire by keeping their doors and windows closed.
SH47 from Waimarino to Tongariro is closed between the intersections of SH46 and SH48.
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Employment Relations Amendment Bill declares open slather on workers’ rights – PSA

Source: PSA

  • Fire at will to become new reality for workers
The Government’s all out assault on the rights of working New Zealanders has been laid bare by the report back today on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill.
Aside from some minor changes, the Education and Workforce Committee report back on the bill marks the most damaging attack on workers’ rights since the Employment Contracts Act in the 1990s.
“The Bill strips away fundamental protections that have been the bedrock of fair employment for twenty-five years,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“It is a radical change in workplaces up and down New Zealand – it’s plain and simple a power grab by employers at the expense of workers.
“We heard all this rubbish about 'labour market flexibility' in the 1990s under the Employment Contracts Act. It drove down wages, eroded conditions, and made working New Zealanders worse off and now the Government is dragging us back to those dark days.
“This Bill effectively guts the personal grievance system and makes fire-at-will a reality for every worker in this country.”
Workers who want to take a personal grievance will lose the right to compensation if they contributed in any way to the situation – even a minor contribution means no remedy at all and employers will have no trouble finding a contribution to avoid paying out a worker.
Any worker earning over $200,000 loses the right to challenge an unjustified dismissal. 
“The personal grievance system exists to protect workers from unfair treatment and hold employers accountable. It shouldn’t matter how much you are paid. It’s a fundamental right. This Bill tears that protection to shreds,” said FItzsimons.
“This puts New Zealand in the same tent as countries like the United States where workers can be fired without cause and have no right of redress.”
The 30-day rule is also being scrapped, meaning new workers will no longer automatically benefit from hard-won collective agreement terms while they decide whether to join the union or not.
“This is a direct attack on union membership and collective strength and an attempt to break unions and impose 90 day trials on workers.”
The Bill allows employers to decide a worker is a contractor, stripping them of sick leave, annual leave, and all statutory protections – with no recourse to challenge that decision.
“This Government is now letting Uber write laws for all New Zealanders.
“Workers can have all their rights stripped away by their employer's say-so. It's unconscionable.
“Working New Zealanders deserve better than a Government that treats them as disposable and strips away their basic rights at work.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
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First Responders – Tongariro fire update #2

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Five helicopters and multiple crews are working to extinguish a large vegetation fire near Tongariro National Park.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were first alerted to the fire, which is now 110 hectares in size, around 1.10pm.
There are 10 trucks and six support vehicles in attendance working alongside the helicopters.
Crews from National Park, Owhango, Whakapapa, Ruapehu Rural, Waimarino Rural, Turangi, Southern Lake Taupo Rural and Whanganui are in attendance.
The fire is on the eastern side of State Highway 47 in the vicinity of Tongariro National Park.
Police have advised that the road between State Highway 48 and Mangatepopo Road is now closed. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays. 
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Auckland Sky Tower lights up yellow for Human Rights Day: 10 December

Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

This year on Tuesday 10 December, the Sky Tower will be lit up yellow in honour of Human Rights Day, which commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges.
Every year, people around the globe mark this pivotal moment for humanity – the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. It was the first time that countries agreed on the rights that deserve universal protection for everyone, everywhere to live with dignity.
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand is part of a 10 million-strong global movement of people who stand for universal access to fairness, justice, dignity, expression and inclusion – our essential rights. Standing together, our shared humanity holds the power to create change.
Jacqui Dillon, Kaiwhakahaere Matua | Executive Director of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, said, “We’re thrilled to see the iconic Sky Tower lighting up as beacon for humanity.
“Amnesty International’s colour is yellow, and our symbol is a candle, which is a statement of hope. As the phrase goes, it’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
“On Human Rights Day, the Sky Tower may well be Earth’s biggest candle. It’s inspiring to see such a display of Aotearoa New Zealand’s collective commitment to living with care and respect for each other.
“Globally, authoritarian practices are on the rise. In contrast and defiance of this, we must embrace human rights here in Aotearoa as a catalyst for solidarity and positive transformation.
“Aotearoa New Zealand is in the first time zone to celebrate this critical moment for global human rights, so we’re looking forward to showing the rest of the world how humanity shines here as the day progresses around the globe on the 10th,” said Dillon.
As the Sky Tower lights up, Amnesty International will be celebrating human rights and asking people to get involved by going to BEHUMAN.NZ
In honour of its 60 years of operating in Aotearoa, the organisation is appealing for 60 extraordinary people to make transformational gifts of $5000 and over. These people – known as Amnesty Candles – enable vital domestic human rights work, as well as supporting global campaigns to free prisoners of conscience, demand accountability for atrocity crimes, promote climate justice, advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and more.
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Universities – A new study links scabies to rheumatic heart disease in Tongan children – researchers call for mass treatment – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

A new study links scabies to rheumatic heart disease in Tongan children – researchers call for mass treatment.

A new study has found a strong link between scabies and rheumatic heart disease in Tongan schoolchildren, prompting researchers from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland to call for further investigation.

The research was funded by the Health Research Council and conducted with the Tongan Ministry of Health and Tonga National University. See Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. (ref. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.70248 )

“Tonga screens all primary school children every two years for rheumatic heart disease as part of its Mafu Sai (Good Heart) programme,” says Pacific health researcher Dr Gerhard Sundborn from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. “In 2023, some were also checked for scabies and skin infection.”

Researchers trained nurses in a visual method of scabies screening and supervised them for consistency. They screened 400 children from four Tongatapu schools and found:

Scabies: 29.8 percent (around one in three children)
Impetigo (skin infection): 20 percent (one in five)
More severe bacterial skin infection: 15.5 percent
Rheumatic heart disease: 4.5 percent (one in 22).

One child’s scabies diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory testing in Auckland.

Children with both scabies and a bacterial skin infection were almost five times more likely to have rheumatic heart disease compared with children with healthy skin.

The study also found that the more severe the skin problems, the higher the risk of rheumatic heart disease – a pattern that was statistically significant.

The combination of severe bacterial skin infection and scabies was strongly linked to rheumatic heart disease, while scabies or impetigo on their own were not.

Researchers estimate that around one-quarter of rheumatic heart disease cases could potentially be prevented if scabies and skin infections were eliminated. The strength of the link is considered large by international standards, similar to other well-known health risks.

Lead investigator Dr Simon Thornley from the University of Auckland says this is a very strong association, and it suggests that tackling scabies could dramatically reduce rheumatic heart disease.

“Mass drug administration using ivermectin has worked in the Pacific – studies in Fiji show scabies rates dropped by 80 to 90 percent within two years.”

The study cannot prove causation, but it offers evidence that scabies control could play a key role in prevention.

Rheumatic heart disease remains common in Tonga, affecting five in 100 children. In New Zealand, rates are one in 1,000 overall, but one in 100 Māori children and two in 100 Pacific children.

Next steps
Researchers plan a pilot project on a small island near Tongatapu with about 5,000 residents.

Working with the Ministry of Health Tonga, contingent on funding, they will carry out mass treatment to eliminate scabies and then monitor new cases of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease over several years. If successful, this approach could transform prevention strategies across the Pacific.

Tongan researcher Mele Tilema Cama, Dean of Faculty of Nursing and Health Science at Tonga National University, says, “For 20 years our Mafu Sai programme has screened about 5,000 primary school children annually. It’s resource-intensive but vital for early treatment. We are excited this research may offer a way to prevent rheumatic heart disease.”

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First Responders – Multiple vegetation fires in vicinity of Tongariro National Park

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews are responding to a fire on the eastern side of State Highway 47 in the vicinity of Tongariro National Park.
There are two fires measuring 30 metres by 200 metres.
Crews are also responding to a third fire on State Highway 47, which they have had some difficulty reaching.
There are currently five fire trucks in attendance with support from three helicopters. More trucks are on the way, with a further two helicopters on standby if needed.
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Northland Regional Council media brief – 08 December 2025

Source: Northland Regional Council

CHRISTMAS FREE BUSES AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Northland Regional Council’s BusLink team are celebrating Christmas again this year, with free travel on all BusLink bus services running on Friday 19 December 2025.
CityLink Whangārei and Far North Link buses will be free all day, so passengers can go Christmas shopping, visit friends and whānau and spread some Christmas cheer.
BusLink services do not operate on public holidays, so passengers need to be aware there will be no BusLink or CityLink buses on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December 2025 and Thursday 01 and Friday 02 January 2026. Rose Street bus hub in Whangārei will also be closed on those dates.
CityLink buses will be running as usual on Saturday 27 December and Saturday 03 January. All regional BusLink services will operate according to their standard timetables, outside the public holidays.
More information at buslink.co.nz or on CityLink’s Facebook page.