Posts

Posted on

Science and Climate – Discovery of Antarctic methane skyrockets

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

New methane seeps are being discovered at an astonishing rate in Antarctic waters.
Methane is a greenhouse gas, so scientists are investigating how these sources of methane may be connected to our warming climate.
Earth Sciences New Zealand marine scientist Dr Sarah Seabrook says these seeps are recently formed, indicating a fundamental shift in regional methane release around the continent.
“Methane seeps are areas of the seafloor where methane and other chemicals escape from reservoirs underneath the seabed and dissolve in the water, often having streams of bubbles that extend all the way up to the surface.
“The first was discovered by chance in 2012 and since then they’ve been cropping up at a remarkable rate. A similar phenomenon has also been observed in the Arctic,” said Dr Seabrook. 
Dr Seabrook leads the latest research on these seeps, published this month in Nature Communications, which explores the emergence and discovery of dozens of them in the shallow coastal environment of Antarctica.
“Every time we discover or hear of a new one, we feel immediate excitement, but that excitement is quickly replaced with anxiety and concern about what it all means. If they follow the behaviour of other global seep systems, there is the potential for rapid transfer of methane to the atmosphere from a source that is not currently factored into future climate change scenarios,” said Dr Seabrook. 
The Earth Sciences NZ team have been using remotely operated vehicles and divers under the ice to search for new seeps, sampling sites ranging from approximately five to 240 meters deep.
“Last year, we went to Cape Evans to look at one small area where gas bubbles had been discovered and were hoping to find that one site still bubbling. Instead, we found dozens more. If these seeps keep emerging at the areas we are working in, it really begs the question of what the shallow coastal environment of Antarctica may look like five or 10 years from now. This system is rapidly changing before our eyes from one year to the next.”
Dr Seabrook and her team will be returning this season to investigate more seep sites. However, some areas from last season such as Cape Evans are inaccessible because of disappearing sea ice. 
This work is funded by a Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Grant and the Antarctic Science Platform.
Posted on

Northland News – Four new councillors for Northland Regional Council

Source: Northland Regional Council

Voters have delivered four new councillors to the nine-strong Northland Regional Council – and voted to remove the council’s Te Raki Māori Constituency.
Council CEO Jonathan Gibbard says based on preliminary results, the new councillors are Colin (Toss) Kitchen (who will represent the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Constituency and who is returning to council after a three-year break), John Hunt (Coastal South General Constituency) and Pita Tipene and Arama Morunga (both Te Raki Māori Constituency).
Re-elected to council are Amy Macdonald (Coastal Central General Constituency), Joe Carr (Far North General Constituency), John Blackwell (Kaipara General Constituency), Jack Craw (Whangārei Central General Constituency) and Geoff Crawford, who was re-elected unopposed in the Mid North General Constituency.
Mr Gibbard thanked all those who stood for council and congratulated those who were successful.
He says a joint powhiri for all four new Northland councils is expected to be held at Waitangi on Thursday 23 October. Barring any calls for a vote recount, Northland Regional Council’s inaugural meeting will be held from 10am on Thursday 30 October.
Mr Gibbard says one of the first orders of business for the new regional council will be the swearing in of councillors, then selection of council’s new chair and their deputy.
Commenting on voters’ decision to remove the council’s Te Raki Māori constituency, Mr Gibbard says the outcome of the poll means that while council still have its two Māori seats for the next three years, they’ll be disestablished for the 2028 elections.
(On the preliminary figures, 30,967 people voted to remove the two Te Raki Māori seats, while 29,589 voted to keep them.)
“Our priority now is to support all our newly elected council members as they settle into their roles, so we can continue to lead the important mahi we’re here to do – for our environment and for the people of Te Taitokerau.”
The preliminary results are:
Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Constituency (one vacancy):
Colin (Toss) Kitchen (elected) 1936 votes; Lane Ayr 1333; Jane Wright 1240; Murray Hosking 1226; Nyze Manuel 959; Karl Barkley 665.
Coastal Central General Constituency (one vacancy):
Amy Macdonald (elected) 4350; Greg Chalmers 2824.
Coastal South General Constituency (one vacancy):
John Hunt (elected) 3148; Rick Stolwerk 2615; Robert Goodhue 1627.
Far North General Constituency (one vacancy):
Joe Carr (elected) 3590; Marty Yuretich 1976; Reina Tuai Penney 1217.
Kaipara General Constituency (one vacancy):
John Blackwell (elected) 5508; Lorraine (Nossi) Norris 1743.
Mid North General Constituency (one vacancy):
Geoff Crawford; elected unopposed.
Te Raki Māori Constituency (two vacancies):
Pita Tipene (elected) 6113; Arama Morunga (elected) 4933; Peter-Lucas Jones 3642; Tui Shortland 3446.
Whangarei Central General Constituency (one vacancy):
Jack Craw (elected) 2920; Caroline Davis 2687.
Mr Gibbard says the official result is expected to be declared on Friday 17 October.
“These will be issued via public notice and uploaded once all special votes have been validated by the Electoral Commission.”
At this stage, overall voting turnout was 47.7% percent of eligible voters. That compared to 43.2% in 2022.
Election results are available from: www.nrc.govt.nz/results2025
Posted on

Aged Care – New report finds broken aged care sector harming our elderly – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

A new research report which interviewed 80 nurses and health care assistants in the aged care sector reveals the disturbing impact on our elderly of an under-staffed and under-funded sector, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO says.
The NZNO report Care in Crisis: Manaaki i te Raru also surveyed 415 aged care workers and analysed 156 health and safety issues related to unsafe staffing. It is being launched formally in Wellington on Wednesday (15 October).
NZNO Age Safe committee co-chair and health care assistant (kaiāwhina) Brianna Dynes says residents are missing out on the most basic care because there isn’t enough staff to go around.
“Nurses and kaiāwhina are constantly forced to make impossible choices about who gets help first because they are stretched so thin.
“Our kaumātua are being harmed by the sector designed to care for them.
“Residents are suffering falls because care givers are unable to give them the support they need. They’re being put in continence products because they don’t have time to toilet them and they have infections because nurses are too busy to change their dressings and facilities are buying cheap wound products, and even cutting them in half, to save money,” Brianna Dynes says.
Fellow NZNO Age Safe committee co-chair Tracey Morgan says Care in Crisis: Manaaki i te Raru is irrefutable evidence of a sector in crisis.
“However, everyday nurses and kaiāwhina show that quality aged care is possible, if they are given the time and the resources they need to do their jobs properly.
“This report doesn’t just highlight the issues facing the sector; it provides a clear, practical plan to reset aged care and provide dignity to residents in the last years of their lives.
“That includes all facilities having a 24/7 nurse on site, legislated and evidence-based care hours that providers are legally required to meet, safe staffing ratios and funding determined on the cost of delivering care.
“The importance of cultural care must also be properly recognised and funded so kaumātua receive care that upholds tikanga and whānau connections. It must also be able to meet the needs of our elderly from other cultural backgrounds,” Tracey Morgan says. 
Figures at a glance:
Care in Crisis: Manaaki i te Raru is based on:
  • 80 in-depth interviews with nurses and health care assistants (kaiāwhina) working in the aged care sector from Kaitaia to Bluff.
  • Surveys of 415 aged care nurses and kaiāwhina.
  • Analysis of 156 health and safety forms related to unsafe staffing.
  • 53.4% of nurses and kaiāwhina surveyed reported their shifts were understaffed often or most of the time.
  • 87% strongly agreed staffing levels have affected their ability to provide high-quality care.
  • 43.9% felt they didn’t have enough time to do everything required most days with just 5.8% saying they always had sufficient time.
  • 39.8% reported frequently thinking about leaving the sector.
  • Kaiāwhina report residents are going without showers, getting their meals late or cold and getting no help with toileting 25.2% of all shifts. 
Selection of health care worker quotes:
Interview participants have been given pseudonyms to protect their identity, but all other info provided such as their role, workplace and region) is accurate.
  • “The quality of care is always correlated to the time that the staff can give to them.” – Laura, Clinical Nurse Manager, Enliven
  • “Some days it honestly feels like a milking shed, you know, line them up, hose them down.” – Tina, Kaiāwhina, Summerset, Central
  • “Some residents don’t get fed at all.” – Logan, Kaiāwhina, Bupa, Central
  • “Underarms didn’t get washed… teeth and dentures… missed more often than not.” – Ava, Kaiāwhina, Presbyterian Support Services, Te Waipounamu
  • “Three out of five residents do not need incontinence products.” – Rebecca, Clinical Nurse Manager, Arvida
  • “We started getting really budget dressings that would disintegrate into the wound.” – Sarah, Clinical Nurse Manager, Arvida
  • “Sadly, I know people don’t get turned… the evidence is on the residents.” – Grace, Unit Coordinator, Bupa, Te Manawa Taki
  • “Recently one of our dementia-level residents swallowed a glove.” – Jenna, RN, Bupa, Te Waipounamu
  • “The incidence of residents having falls has increased massively…” – Jacki, Kaiāwhina, small not-for-profit, Wellington
  • “Everything in te ao Māori world is missing in aged care.” – V, Māori Kaiāwhina, Heritage
  • “They honour that time of the resident’s life, but not the present.” – Māori kaimahi
  • “We’ll put ourselves second… they’re paramount.” – Theresa, RN, NZ Aged Care Services
  • “I feel I did my best to support them, but I feel ashamed.” – Jenna, RN, Bupa, Te Waipounamu
  • “We’re let down by everybody everywhere.” – Bonnie, Nurse Practitioner, Oceania.
Posted on

Advocacy – Welcoming home the best of New Zealand – Will Alexander – Christchurch Airport 2.45pm today – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa

Palestine solidarity supporters will be welcoming home Will Alexander this afternoon at 2.45pm at Christchurch airport. Will and his partner Ava Mulla were part of the latest flotilla to try to break the Israeli siege of Gaza.

Will and Ava were aboard the “Conscience” which, along with eight smaller boats, was illegally intercepted by Israel on Wednesday last week in international waters while on its way to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The New Zealand government has not protested this seizure of New Zealand citizens in international waters.

Will and Ava were taken to the “terrorist” prison of Ketziot and with the others were subjected to harsh detention conditions and degrading treatment until flown to Istanbul, Turkiye. Will is flying on to New Zealand and Ava to Germany. 

Will and Ava represent the best of New Zealand values of compassion and caring and being prepared to uphold those values for all human beings. Our government represents something else.

We invite media representatives to report on Will’s mission and his welcome home.

John Minto
Co-Chair PSNA

Posted on

Civil Defence – Prioritising prevention: Building a resilient New Zealand

Source: National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

 

Key government and private sector organisations are calling for stronger action to reduce risk before disaster strikes.

 

Marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC), and the Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) are urging more coordinated resilience-building to help protect people, property and communities across Aotearoa.

 

“On a personal level, it’s crucial to build your own resilience first, and that of your whānau and community,” John Price, NEMA’s Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management says.

 

“If we invest in our resilience now, we’ll be more prepared when we’re tested later.”

 

NHC invests in resilience projects that reduce natural hazard impacts through research, education, and information and advice on risk reduction.

“In a country at high risk of natural hazards, it is important that we all make evidence-based decisions for safer buildings and land use planning,” says Tina Mitchell, Chief Executive of NHC.

 

NHC also works to ensure high-quality data on natural hazards is available to decision-makers.

 

“A key priority for NHC is establishing a national view of risk so it guides resilience efforts in all its forms,” Tina Mitchell says.

 

ICNZ Chief Executive Kris Faafoi says the best time to act is before disaster strikes.

 

“The likelihood of more intense and severe weather events is rising, and New Zealand must prioritise risk reduction to protect communities and maintain insurance accessibility for all Kiwis,” he says.

 

Kris Faafoi is also calling for accelerated progress on New Zealand’s Climate Adaptation Framework and continued cooperation across all sectors to ensure the nation is better prepared for future challenges.

 

“Avoiding high-risk areas and investing in resilient infrastructure isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes economic sense. Research shows every $1 invested in flood risk reduction can save up to $4 in future response and recovery costs.”

 

NEMA, NHC and ICNZ recently signed a partnership to strengthen New Zealand’s disaster resilience through closer collaboration and knowledge sharing.

 

“We have significant expertise available in New Zealand – if we build on existing partnerships and co-ordinate effort, it will take us a long way,” says Tina Mitchell.

 

Mr Price says everyone can play a part.

 

“Get to know your neighbours and people in your community now, so that when an emergency happens, first responders can focus on those who need it most.

 

“Closely knit communities are more resilient because they’re more likely to look out for each other and help rebuild afterwards.”

 

New Zealanders can also take part in ShakeOut, the national earthquake drill, on 16 October. Visit shakeout.govt.nzto sign up and learn how to be better prepared.

Posted on

Luxon "goes full Trump" with climate-denying methane backdown – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace
The Government has confirmed it will rewrite New Zealand’s once bipartisan climate change law to water down methane targets and permanently exclude agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme – a move Greenpeace says amounts to full-blown climate denial.
“This is truly astounding,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa climate campaigner, Amanda Larsson. “Luxon has gone full-on Trump. He’s choosing climate denial and corporate profits over our kids’ future.”
The decision will weaken targets for biogenic methane – mostly from livestock – despite strong warnings from climate scientists that doing so could derail the global fight against climate change.
“New Zealand is the world’s biggest dairy exporter. If we back down on cutting emissions from our most polluting industry, you can bet other big livestock-producing countries will jump on the bandwagon. That could be game over for the climate,” says Larsson.
“As if it wasn’t bad enough that people can’t afford butter while Fonterra banks huge profits – now Luxon’s handing big dairy a free pass to keep polluting, at the expense of a liveable future for our kids.
“This is about profits for a few, at the expense of climate catastrophe for millions.”
At the heart of the move to reduce methane targets is a controversial accounting trick called “no additional warming”, designed to justify continued high levels of agricultural methane emissions – even as science shows they must fall fast.
“It’s a political trick dressed up as science,” says Larsson. “It pretends current methane emissions are fine – when in reality, they’re fuelling the climate crisis.”
The decision comes after heavy lobbying from the meat and dairy industries – sectors now directly represented in government, with former Federated Farmers lobbyist Andrew Hoggard holding key ministerial roles. Even today, Federated Farmers’ response to the new methane targets was released before the Government decision was publicly available, highlighting close links between industry lobbyists and Government.
Larsson says, “Luxon might think he’s doing the livestock industry a solid but, really, he is throwing farmers under the bus. Today’s announcement is a signal to our climate-concerned trading partners to start looking elsewhere.”
Earlier this year, dozens of climate scientists wrote an open letter, featured on the front page of the Financial Times, urging Prime Minister Christopher Luxon not to weaken New Zealand’s methane target. They called instead for stronger ambition, in line with advice from the independent Climate Change Commission.
Today’s announcement follows other major climate U-turns – including lifting the offshore oil and gas exploration ban and pledging $200 million in fossil fuel subsidies.
Both moves conflict with international climate law and trade agreements, and could carry legal consequences under the recent International Court of Justice advisory opinion and clauses in New Zealand’s trade deals with the EU and UK.
Notes:
Methane is responsible for nearly a third of today’s global warming. It’s a short-lived but super-potent gas – over 80 times more powerful than CO₂ over 20 years. Slashing methane, particularly from livestock, is seen by scientists as the fastest way to slow warming in our lifetimes – a vital “emergency brake”.
Posted on

Federated Farmers – Government ends methane madness

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is welcoming major changes to New Zealand’s climate policy as a long overdue and practical step that will be well received by farmers.
“Kiwi farmers have been bogged down in completely unscientific, unaffordable and unrealistic climate policy for far too long,” says Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford.
“At times it’s felt like absolute madness that we’d even be talking about policies that would shut down farms, send production offshore, and completely undermine New Zealand’s economy.
“Unfortunately, that’s exactly where we found ourselves as a country, losing sight of the fact our farmers are the most climate-friendly producers of milk and meat in the world.
“The impact on farmer confidence can’t be overstated. Farming families have been under huge pressure for a long time now – but it looks like that’s finally coming to an end.”
Today the Government has announced the current 2050 methane target of 24-47% will be significantly reduced to a much more realistic target of 14-24%.
Langford says the target of 24-47% has lacked any credible science to underpin it and left farmers scratching their heads wondering where those numbers came from.
“It was an entirely political and ideologically driven decision that placed an unfair burden on farmers and rural communities, while pulling the handbrake on the economy at the same time.
“This new target brings New Zealand’s climate policy in line with what the research tells us is actually required to stop Kiwi farmers contributing to further warming.”
Federated Farmers made reviewing New Zealand’s methane reduction targets one of its 12 top policy priorities to help restore farmer confidence before the 2023 General Election.
“Today the Government has also categorically ruled out unfairly putting a price on agricultural emissions like methane,” Langford says.
“This is a major step forward and will be a huge relief for farming families who have had the threat of a massive tax hanging over our heads threatening the viability of our businesses.
“A methane tax would have achieved the opposite of its intent – forcing the closure of Kiwi farms, driving production to less efficient countries, and increasing global emissions.”
Federated Farmers is also welcoming news that New Zealand’s climate laws will be rewritten to align with the wording of the Paris Agreement and ensure food production is protected.
“The world’s growing population is desperate for healthy, nutritious and affordable food. New Zealand can play a significant role in meeting that need,” Langford says.
“It makes absolutely no sense to add unnecessary costs to food production, or unfairly punish farmers, when that was never the intention of the Paris Agreement.”
As part of its policy reset on methane the Government has also committed to investigate setting a split-gas target for all future international climate change commitments.
“New Zealand has recognised the short-lived nature and different warming impact of methane in our domestic targets since 2019,” Langford says.
“It’s only logical that we would take the same approach with our international targets. Why would we take one approach here at home and then another on the world stage?
“Federated Farmers has long campaigned for the Government to take this approach to international targets, so we’ll keep pushing hard to make sure this happens.” 
Posted on

Local Govt Elections – Progress results – Porirua City Elections 2025

Source: Porirua City Council

Progress results in the Porirua City local body elections are now available, including all votes cast up until midday Friday, other than special votes.
Still to be counted are 2844 votes received between midday Friday and midday Saturday, and 797 special votes.
Based on the progress results, current Mayor Anita Baker has been re-elected receiving 6741 votes. Kathleen finished second, with 5367 votes, followed by Ura Wilson-Pokoati with 1139 votes.
Elected in the Onepoto General Ward are Kathleen Filo (1234 votes), Geoff Hayward (1002 votes), Mike Duncan (914 votes), Izzy Ford (900 votes) and Hemi Fermanis (852 votes).
In the Pāuatahanui General Ward the successful candidates are Josh Trlin (1380 votes), Nathan Waddle (1320 votes), Moira Lawler (1228 votes) and Ross Leggett (1225).
In the Parirua Māori Ward, Kylie Wihapi has received 790 votes, ahead of Jess Te Huia on 731 votes, Raniera Albert on 253 votes, and Rawinia Rimene on 164 votes.
Voters have opted to keep the Māori Ward. There were 8897 votes to keep and 4150 to remove.
In response to the non-binding poll, voters were in favour of working with other councils in the Wellington region to explore the possibility of creating one single council (7404 votes for and 5622 against).
Preliminary results will be released once the votes from Friday and Saturday are counted. This will likely be Sunday 12 October 2025. These results will include the 2844 votes received between midday Friday and midday Saturday, but not the 797 special votes.
Final results will be released once the special votes are counted and these are expected on 16 October, though this may change.
For more details of the progress results visit poriruacity.govt.nz/elections
Posted on

Save the Children – Girls Pay the Price As Aid Cuts Hit Countries with Deepest Gender Inequality

Source: Save the Children

About 167 million adolescent girls growing up in countries with the widest gender equality gaps are among those worst hit by this years’ aid cuts, with the massive fall in global aid having a disproportionate impact on countries where it is hardest to be a girl, according to Save the Children analysis.
The analysis, released on International Day of the Girl, found that 17 of the 20 countries most severely affected by global aid cuts this year were ranked as having ‘poor’ (4) or ‘very poor’ (13) gender equality on the global SDG Gender Index .
Girls living in Jamaica, Eswatini and Namibia are among the worst impacted – with the highest nexus of reduction in per capita country programmable aid and gender inequality – but around 167 million adolescent girls now have fewer opportunities to achieve their basic rights such as go to school, and face greater risks of violence and exclusion [1].
The aid cuts come in a year already devastating for girls living in crisis-affected countries, with more than 3.5 million adolescent girls affected by natural disasters and their aftermath since the beginning of this year and 122 million living with the uncertainty, fear and tragedy that come with life in fragile and conflict-affected areas.
Despite these emergencies, global aid has fallen about 14%, with US$22 billion lost in essential programmes and humanitarian support [2].
For many girls this translates directly into lost dreams, with no single country on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, a global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target agreed by world leaders to help achieve more peaceful and prosperous societies.
Maria-, 16, lives in a refugee camp in Tanzania, one of the countries with low levels of gender equality and where girls have been worst impacted by 2025 aid cuts. She dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. However, recent reductions in school services have made it difficult for her to continue her education. She told Save the Children:
“I want to study, I want to be a doctor, but without the right materials, it feels like I'm losing the fight. When we are given tests, only a few of us can do them because many don’t have notebooks. It feels unfair, but what can we do?”
Isack, Maria’s teacher, said attendance rates, dropouts and academic performance at the school have worsened because funding cuts mean children no longer receive free notebooks and girls cannot receive the sanitary pads they need to attend school.
Inger Ashing, Save the Children International CEO, said:
“Girls growing up in countries impacted by massive aid cuts were already facing disproportionate barriers to realising their rights. Now, with programmes halted and essential services reduced, these girls are facing increasing risks of violence, inequality and conflict with even less support.
“Hope lies with girls. They are organising in their communities, fighting for climate justice, demanding an end to violence and reimagining their futures. Girls are asking to be seen not only for the challenges they face, but for who they are and the solutions they bring.
“Not a single country on earth is on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, and at current rates a girl born today will have to wait until her 97th birthday – beyond her expected lifespan – to celebrate an equal society.
“Global governments, corporates and leaders must invest and re-invest in girls. Gender equality is a critical foundation for peace, economic and social development. Girls have a crucial stake in the future of gender equality and of global development cooperation, and we have a responsibility to support them.”
As a child rights organisation dedicated to ensuring all children have an equal opportunity to survive, learn, and live free from violence, Save the Children works around the world to support girls’ empowerment and gender equality.
This includes supporting the meaningful participation of girls in decision-making, providing improved and inclusive gender-responsive access to services, conducting research and budget analysis to inform good practice programming, laws and policies, and advocating to ensure decision-makers are accountable to girls.
Content
NOTES:
Posted on

Tatauranga umanga Māori – Statistics on Māori businesses: June 2025 quarter – 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