Posts

Posted on

Greenpeace – Ashburton town supply water sample nears national health limit for nitrate; almost double levels associated with reproductive risk

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is deeply concerned about the future of Ashburton’s town water supply, as testing on Sunday revealed that a sample had reached nitrate contamination levels of 9.65mg/L.
“This sample from Ashburton’s town water supply is dangerously close to the New Zealand Government’s limit for nitrate contamination in drinking water,” says Greenpeace freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe.
However, Appelbe notes that this limit is outdated and that there are calls from public health scientists to lower it, in line with findings from a growing body of international research.
“Long-term exposure to nitrate in drinking water at levels much lower than the current health limit – and much lower than this sample from the Ashburton town supply – has been associated with significant health impacts, particularly for pregnant people.”
A 2021 Californian study found that nitrate levels above 5 mg/L is associated with a 47% increased risk of preterm birth. Above 10mg/L of nitrate, the risk increased by 250%. The New Zealand College of Midwives recommends that pregnant people consider an alternative source of drinking water if their supply is over 5 mg/L.
“Ashburton District Council and Environment Canterbury must make the community aware of the risk and provide an alternative safe source of water,” says Appelbe. “Because right now, pregnant people in Ashburton could be drinking this water with no knowledge of the potential risks to them and their baby.”
Greenpeace held water testing events over the last week in Gore, Waimate, and Darfield. It tested approximately 200 water samples over the three events, more than 100 of which were in Darfield.
Environment Canterbury’s Annual Ground Water Quality Survey released in August shows that nitrate-nitrogen contamination is worsening across 62% of groundwater wells, while 18% show no change in contamination and 20% show a decrease, in sites where a ten-year trend can be established.
“Even if we were to stop nitrate pollution immediately, Ashburton’s water would likely still get worse before it gets better. That’s why it’s so important to act now to stop pollution at the source. But right now, Environment Canterbury isn’t even trying to do that,” says Appelbe.
“Since the start of this year, Environment Canterbury has approved – or is in the process of approving – more dairy expansions that will add another 35,000 dairy cattle to the Canterbury plains. More cows mean more nitrate pollution, and more rural communities with undrinkable water.”
“Environment Canterbury must immediately stop dairy expansions, and phase out the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to protect rural communities’ drinking water here in Canterbury. They declared a nitrate emergency in September, and it’s time they put their money where their mouth is.”
Posted on

Overseas merchandise trade: October 2025 – Error in graph name


This email was sent by Stats NZ, 8 Willis Street, Wellington, CBD 6011, New Zealand to nz@enz.mil-osi.com


Unsubscribe

Posted on

Statistical area 2 and 3 population projections: 2023(base)–2053 – first instalment – Stats NZ information release


This email was sent by Stats NZ, 8 Willis Street, Wellington, CBD 6011, New Zealand to nz@enz.mil-osi.com


Unsubscribe

Posted on

Oxfam – Simon Watts Was Right About Pacific Climate Support at COP30 – Now We Must Deliver

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

At COP30 in Brazil, New Zealand has joined other higher-income countries in reaffirming their pledge to triple climate funding for lower-income countries by 2035. Oxfam Aotearoa is calling on the New Zealand Government to make good on that promise to our Pacific neighbours.
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts told COP30: ‘In the Pacific, climate change is not a distant threat; it is a lived reality.’ Minister Watts went on to praise New Zealand’s international climate finance programme, saying: ‘we provide high-quality, grants-based, accessible, partner-responsive climate support, with over half going to adaptation action.’
But with funding for New Zealand’s international climate programme running out in December 2025, Oxfam Aotearoa is calling on the New Zealand Government to explain how this promise will be delivered.
“Minister Watts is right, New Zealand provides high-quality funding for Pacific communities to adapt to the lived reality of climate change. Let’s keep up the good work.” said Nick Henry, Oxfam Aotearoa’s Advocacy and Policy Lead.
“Oxfam Aotearoa is glad to hear Minister Watts reaffirm New Zealand’s promise to stand with the Pacific by funding essential climate adaptation projects. With only a month to go until the current programme runs out, we look forward to a further announcement on how this promise will be funded.”
Notes:
Oxfam Aotearoa’s recent report Pacific Resilience: How funding for climate action strengthens our regionshows the positive difference that climate funding from New Zealand has made since this support was increased from 2022.

Posted on

Health survey shows good health isn’t for everyone – it’s about time it was! – IHC

Source: IHC

24 November 2025

The New Zealand Health Survey 2024/25 shows that most people consider themselves in good health, while people with intellectual disability experience some of the poorest health outcomes in the country.

Despite IHC raising awareness of this issue for many years we are still waiting for government intervention that will address these substantial inequalities.

The New Zealand Health Survey reports that most New Zealanders are doing well:

  • 86.6% of adults say they are in good, very good, or excellent health
  • Nearly all children (97.5%) are reported to be in good health
  • Adults report high life satisfaction (83.3%) and strong family wellbeing (83.2%)
  • Daily smoking rates remain very low at 6.8%
  • One in six adults (17.1%) and one in five children (19.1%) visited an emergency department in the past year
  • 21% of children lived in households where food ran out often or sometimes. (ref. https://communications.cmail20.com/t/i-l-zxkjyd-tjiltkjdiu-y/ )

But these positive national trends do not reflect the experiences of people with intellectual disability.

Key health outcomes for people with intellectual disability1:

People with intellectual disability die up to 20 years earlier than the rest of New Zealand 

  • 50% of people with intellectual disability have a diagnosed mental health condition – more than twice the rate for people without intellectual disability 
  • 9% have a mood disorder – three times higher than the rest of the population 
  • 4% have been treated for a psychotic disorder – 13 times higher than people without intellectual disability 
  • 11.5% of people with intellectual disability are smokers – almost double the national smoking rate
  • 62% of people with intellectual disability visited the emergency department in 2023. They are 2.7 times more likely to attend ED than those without intellectual disability
  • Children with intellectual disability are more than twice as likely to go without fresh fruit, vegetables, or protein compared with other children.  

The Reality Behind Self-Reported Health

Given their significantly lower life expectancy, high rates of preventable health conditions, and higher levels of unmet need, people with intellectual disability are far less likely to report being in good health than the general population. This stands in stark contrast to the overwhelmingly positive health ratings in the national survey.

IHC Senior Advocate Shara Turner says the findings show that people with intellectual disability continue to face avoidable and unacceptable health inequities.  

“What this data shows is that Government health policies continue to fail people with intellectual disability. Without meaningful, system-wide change, people with intellectual disability will continue to experience poorer health outcomes and much shorter lives.”

IHC has worked closely with the disability and health sectors for many years to identify a set of changes that will start to improve health outcomes for people with intellectual disability.

IHC is calling for:

  • Government-funded comprehensive annual health checks for all people with intellectual disability, with a focus on preventive healthcare 
  • Targeted preventative screening programmes and better monitoring of health outcomes, including a national intellectual disability marker in health records and wellbeing frameworks 
  • Improved healthcare professional training, including mandatory curriculum and ongoing professional development on communication, ableism, bias, and human rights 
  • Health literacy and advocacy support for intellectually disabled people and their families, including plain language resources, Easy Read formats, health passports, electronic health records, and evidence-based information 
  • A twin-track approach to care, combining mainstream health services with specialist intellectual disability healthcare teams, including nurses and liaison officers 
  • Better transition planning between paediatric, adult, and geriatric services 
  • Reduction of overmedication with psychotropic medicines, modelled on programmes such as the NHS STOMP initiative 
  • Inclusion of carers in hospital care teams and strengthening public health policies to improve health outcomes 
  • Monitoring and review systems for mortality and health outcomes, modelled on UK programmes like LeDeR, to identify risks and guide system improvements. 

References

1 Beltran-Castillon, L., & McLeod, K. (Forthcoming). From Data to Dignity Reality Check 2026: Updated health and wellbeing indicators for New Zealanders with intellectual disability. IHC.

1 Beltran-Castillon, L., McLeod, K., & Stone, G. (2025). The Cost of Exclusion: Hardship and People with Intellectual Disability in New Zealand (p. 9389854 Bytes). IHC. https://doi.org/10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.29387705.V1  

Posted on

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.
Posted on

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 
Posted on

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.
Posted on

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.
Posted on

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/.