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Northland Regional Council media briefs – 02 December 2025

Source: Northland Regional Council

NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL AT WHANGĀREI A&P SHOW – 06 DECEMBER
Northland Regional Council will have an information stand at the Whangārei A&P Show on Saturday, 06 December at Barge Showgrounds (sites 6 & 8).
The stand will feature information and resources on pest animals, weeds, biodiversity, and the Wild Deer Free Programme, along with updates on biosecurity threats such as exotic Caulerpa and the yellow-legged hornet.
Visitors can learn about Predator Free Northland, Check, Clean, Dry, and kauri protection. Family-friendly activities include colouring and predator-free games, and staff will be available to answer questions.
FREE CITYLINK BUSES SATURDAY 06 DECEMBER
Northland Regional Council’s CityLink buses have teamed up with the Whangarei A&P Show again to celebrate one epic show day.
On Saturday 06 December all CityLink buses will be free all day.
For everyone heading to the Show, there are two free shuttle buses that will run from Rose Street to the Show. Don’t rush for the bus! The shuttles will run continuously from 8.40am to 4.15pm on show day, Saturday 6 December.
For more information on CityLink services go to CityLink Whangārei’s Facebook page or www.buslink.co.nz.
For more information on the Show, including ticket prices and attraction and entertainment details, visit www.whangareishow.co.nz
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Auckland hosts national cleantech leaders for one-day innovation trek

Source: Ara Ake

Cruising around Auckland in New Zealand’s only hydrogen-powered bus, 30 energy innovators, investors, enablers and industry leaders will spend 4 December exploring the city’s growing cleantech sector. The bus, which generates its own electricity onboard using hydrogen, sets the tone for a tour focused on future-ready technology and commercial development.
The group is joining the Auckland Cleantech Trek to visit leading industrial and marine cleantech ventures. New Zealand is fast gaining a reputation as a cleantech hub, with global companies already using locally developed bioenergy, biofuel and waste-to-value technologies – and Auckland is at the centre of this growing industry.
The one-day programme will showcase Auckland innovation, examine pathways to commercialisation, and strengthen connections across Aotearoa’s cleantech ecosystem. The tour begins at the University of Auckland’s green chemistry and engineering departments before travelling to Environmental Decontamination Limited (EDL), whose technology offers a leading solution for hazardous waste treatment.
Participants will also visit EV Maritime, an engineering and design leader in electric ferries, and finish the day at Outset Ventures, home to many of Auckland’s deep-tech and cleantech startups, including Avertana, Ternary and Neocrete.
“To date, New Zealand’s cleantech sector comprises over 130 companies and has attracted at least $535 million in private investment – so supporting this sector is not only critical to climate mitigation but also economic growth,” says Associate Professor Natalie Plank, Deputy Director of Commercialisation and Industry Engagement at the MacDiarmid Institute.
The Trek is part of the wider New Zealand Cleantech Mission, a national initiative working to accelerate the development and deployment of clean technologies that reduce emissions, support regional resilience, and drive economic growth.
“Auckland is a major hub for cleantech innovation, and the more than 130 cleantech companies already operating across Aotearoa show that both Auckland and New Zealand can create world-leading ventures. Unlocking real economic impact means growing a wider pipeline of innovators who can scale globally. The New Zealand Cleantech Mission was set up to support that growth and help these technologies deliver on their sustainability potential,” says Jasmine Millet, Head of Sector Development at the Economic Development Office within Auckland Council.
Co-led by Ara Ake, New Zealand’s national energy innovation centre, and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, the Cleantech Mission is supported by Auckland Council, New Zealand Growth Capital Partners, Auckland UniServices, ChristchurchNZ, and KiwiNet.
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SAFE stands by call for animal welfare portfolio to be removed from Andrew Hoggard

Source: SAFE For Animals

SAFE is reasserting its formal complaint which highlights the urgent need for reassignment of the ministerial animal welfare portfolio due to serious and egregious conflicts of interest.
The complaint, sent to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on 10 November, outlines several issues relating to Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Haggard’s oversight of animal welfare.
SAFE Chief Executive Debra Ashton says Minister Hoggard’s close personal ties to the farming, trade, and animal agriculture sectors significantly compromise his ability to act impartially when it comes to the welfare of animals. “What we have consistently seen since Minister Hoggard was given oversight of animal welfare are very clear cases of industry capture going unchecked and animal welfare repeatedly being sidelined.”
“The current oversight of this ministerial portfolio raises serious concerns about conflicts between industry and economic interests and animal welfare obligations” says Ashton.
Examples cited in SAFE’s complaint include the proposed reversal of the ban on live animal export by sea, the ongoing controversy surrounding the use of farrowing crates for pigs, and Minister Hoggard’s prominent public endorsement of the highly contentious practice of rodeo.
“The response we received from the Prime Minister’s office was evasive and has not addressed the key issues raised” says Ashton.
Ashton also points to comments made by to Minister Hoggard to the media this week when he stated SAFE is angling for a vegan minister to oversee animals’ welfare, and his baseless declaration the organisation is opposed to people having companion animals.
“These ridiculous statements seem quite desperate and highlight how out of touch the Coalition Government is with organisations genuinely working to improve animal welfare,” says Ashton. “Ultimately what is needed is independent oversight of our animal welfare system, but to address these immediate issues of industry capture, the Prime Minister must reassign the animal welfare portfolio to a minister will provide unprejudiced oversight.”
During his tenure as the minister responsible for animal welfare Hoggard has gained a reputation for ignoring independent animal welfare science, disregarding the advice of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), sidestepping equitable consultation, and contravening High Court rulings.
SAFE’s formal complaint also references parliamentary guidelines, which stipulate that ministers must avoid situations where personal or professional interests influence their official duties with ‘substantial and enduring conflicts’ warranting reassignment of portfolio responsibilities.
“The bottom line is Minister Hoggard having oversight of the welfare of hundreds of millions of animals across the country compromises the integrity of governance” says Ashton.
“There is a very clear solution, and we will continue to pursue this matter until the animal welfare portfolio is reassigned to a minister who will provide unbiased oversight.”
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We're creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
Notes:
  • – Attached is SAFE’s formal complaint to the Prime Minister (10 Dec 2025) – Attached is the response to SAFE's complaint from Prime Minister’s office (21 Dec 2025)
  • Linked below is: 
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LEED annual technical notes – 2025 update – Stats NZ methods paper

 

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Townhouses drive rise in new home consents – Building consents issued: October 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release

 

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Education – Papakura Principals’ Association open letter to Education Minister

Source: NZ Principals Federation

Letter to the Minister of Education: Curriculum pacing and governance
Dear Minister Stanford,
This letter is written on behalf of the Papakura Principals’ Association and reflects our deep commitment to providing high-quality education to the tamariki of Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to first affirm that we, as educational leaders, are not resistant to change. We recognise the critical need for curriculum renewal and value the intent to modernise learning pathways for our students.
The core challenge: Volume and speed of implementation
While we embrace change, the current pace and sheer volume of curriculum reform are creating significant detrimental impacts on the daily operations and long-term planning within our schools. Our staff have demonstrated remarkable professionalism in implementing changes, but the constant introduction of new content, guidelines, and frameworks, often without adequate lead time, has pushed our staff to breaking point.
This continuous pressure jeopardises instructional focus, strains leadership capacity, and compromises the ability of our teachers to consolidate and refine new practices effectively.
Sustainable, high-quality implementation requires time.
Longer lead times and meaningful consultation
We urge decision-makers to adopt a phased approach to implementation moving forward. A longer lead time  for major curriculum changes would allow schools to:
1.  Budget and resource effectively: Align PD, staffing, and resource procurement well ahead of mandatory implementation.
2.  Conduct meaningful trials: Allow for classroom-level trial periods where teachers can test and refine resources, ensuring smooth adoption.
3.  Avoid reactive measures: Sudden, high-stakes changes – such as those seen recently with aspects of the Mathematics and English curricula – create unnecessary stress and require reactive operational decisions that could be avoided with greater forewarning and consultation.
We believe a more measured approach, built on genuine consultation with the sector before final publication, will result in stronger, more robust outcomes for all students.
Bicultural partnership
Furthermore, we must express our collective concern regarding the changes to the governance structure of Boards of Trustees, specifically concerning the bicultural partnership in the Education and Training Act.
We deeply value the bicultural partnership embedded in the Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi). This commitment is what fundamentally sets Aotearoa New Zealand education apart on the global stage, ensuring our schools reflect the unique history, culture, and aspirations of our nation.
We believe that the removal, or dilution, of the explicit responsibility of Boards to uphold this partnership risks eroding its importance and impact at the school level. The Treaty is not merely an optional extra; it is a foundational principle that must continue to guide the strategic direction and decision-making of every school in New Zealand.
We seek your assurance that the Ministry remains committed to supporting schools to honour the spirit and intent of the Treaty through clear, non-negotiable governance principles. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss these matters further and collaborate on a forward-looking plan that supports both curriculum excellence and sustainable school operations.
From the Papakura Principals' Association membership.
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Climate News – Earth Sciences’ Summer Climate Outlook

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

The Seasonal Climate Outlook for December.
Highlights:
– Moderate La Niña conditions are present in the tropical Pacific but a rapid weakening of La Niña conditions is expected over summer
– High pressure will be an increasingly common occurrence as December progresses
– Dryness is a concern from mid-December and into January
– An increased risk of significant heavy rain events in late summer, primarily for the North Island.
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Local Reform – Rates cap plan recipe for privatisation, job cuts and higher charges says local government union – PSA

Source: PSA

The Government's plan to cap council rates is a recipe for asset sell-offs, job losses and higher user charges that will hit households and communities harder than rates ever did.
“Rates caps will backfire and hurt the very communities they are supposed to help,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, which represents local government workers.
“Rates caps are lazy politics that will damage New Zealand. International evidence is clear. Rates caps starve councils of revenue, forcing them to privatise community assets, slash staff and impose new charges for services that used to be covered by rates.
“The only winners are private companies which get to buy up public assets on the cheap and then charge communities more to use them.
“This is a cheap slogan that will cost communities far more – through higher separate charges for swimming pools, libraries, rubbish collection and other services that are funded through rates.
“When councils are stopped from raising enough revenue, staff cuts inevitably follow. Our members who everyday support communities with vital services – maintaining parks, fixing pipes, running libraries – will be first in the firing line.
“This will prevent councils from raising the money needed to fix decades of underinvestment. You can't defer infrastructure maintenance forever – eventually the pipes burst and the cost of catch-ups will skyrocket.
“New Zealand already has a massive multi-billion dollar infrastructure deficit because councils have historically kept rate rises too low. A mandatory cap will only deepen that deficit and push critical repairs further into the future.
“This is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It doesn’t fix the fundamental problem that councils don’t generate enough revenue.
“If the Government was serious about keeping costs down for ratepayers, it should give councils other funding tools like sharing GST revenue or tourism levies rather than forcing them into asset sales and service cuts.
“Just like the cuts to public services across New Zealand, this is another short-sighted decision that’s prioritising political slogans over the long-term needs of communities.”
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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Health and Employment – Crest Hospital staff strike over collective disagreement – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

Crest Hospital staff, who are members of NZNO, will strike tomorrow (Tuesday, 2 December) over the employer’s refusal to allow lower paid workers to join their collective.
Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) delegate and nurse Susan Norma White says that while she’s been offered a less than the cost-of-living increase, that’s not why she’s striking.
“Until now, I’ve never felt the need to strike in my 51 years as a nurse. But Crest is blocking my lower-paid colleagues from joining our collective and wants to keep paying them less than public hospitals.
“I think the public will be surprised to hear private hospitals pay some staff less than public hospitals do.
“It should concern everyone that Te Whatu Ora MidCentral is outsourcing to a private hospital paying up to $7 an hour less than they’re offering their own staff.”
NZNO delegate and orderly Vicki Woodfield says all staff matter, whether they are an anaesthetic technician, nurse, sterile science technician, or administrator.
“Crest won't let orderlies join the collective to have a say over our pay and conditions but wants us to accept up to $5.60 an hour less than public hospitals.
“The company is only offering us a living wage on the condition we agree not to join the collective and meet some performance criteria.”
Woodfield says staff are particularly upset anaesthetic technicians have been told they can join the collective only if union members agree administrators, orderlies and theatre aids are not.
The strike will start at 2pm at 21 Carroll Street, Palmerston North, with staff marching to the corner of Grey and Carroll streets before finishing at 4pm.
Mediation between Crest and NZNO is scheduled for this Wednesday (3 December).
NZNO will hold a second short strike next Friday (12 December).
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PSA welcomes external review of Public Service Commission strike adverts – PM now needs to intervene in health dispute

Source: PSA

The PSA welcomes the Public Service Commission undertaking an external review of its controversial Facebook advertising campaign during October's health strikes.
The Public Service Commission Te Kawa Mataaho spent public money on social media adverts targeting striking health workers just days before the historic industrial action on 23 October.
The external review follows a complaint from Labour MP Camilla Belich to the Auditor-General who said that the issue of public spending on advertising raised significant constitutional issues about political neutrality. See response from Auditor-General here: https://www.oag.parliament.nz/2025/social-media-ads
“This review shouldn’t be necessary if the Commission had correctly weighed how its inappropriate actions in the first place undermined its political neutrality – it was a damaging lapse of judgement,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“A politically neutral public service is of paramount importance in our democracy. Using public funds to run adverts against striking workers crossed a line and it’s pleasing the Auditor General agrees that an external review is warranted after its initial scrutiny of the campaign.
“This situation could have been avoided entirely if the Commission had been genuinely committed to good faith bargaining with health unions rather than running public relations campaigns.
“The real waste here isn't just the money spent on these inappropriate adverts – it's the ongoing failure to resolve the very issues driving health workers to strike in the first place.
“Following last week's latest industrial action, it's clear these disputes remain unresolved. The Prime Minister needs to step in now, show leadership and direct the Commission to settle these negotiations fairly.
“Health workers are standing up for a properly funded public health system. New Zealanders deserve better than a government that spends money on adverts instead of listening to the concerns of health workers who see a system under strain every day.”
Response from Auditor-General to Labour MP Camilla Belich – Decision to purchase social media advertisements
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.