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Property Values – New rating revaluation shows Whakatāne home values dip by 2% while land values are down 9% – QV

Source: Quotable Value

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

Source: GenPro

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

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

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

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Greenpeace – Darfield water supplies above nitrate contamination reproductive risk levels

Source: Greenpeace

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

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

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

Source: Greenpeace

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

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace is calling for an end to intensive dairy expansion, after outrageous revelations that tank water supplied to Glenavy residents by the district council is contaminated with nitrate at levels associated with increased reproductive risks. The organisation tested both the tank water outside Glenavy Hall and the Lower Waihao town supply today during its free water testing in Waimate, finding both were above 5 mg/L of nitrate contamination.
Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “This water is being provided as an alternative source for people who cannot drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap. But by getting water from this tank, locals are inadvertently putting themselves at increased risk of bowel cancer and preterm birth due to nitrate contamination.”
“When Glenavy was issued a ‘do not drink’ notice in response to nitrate contamination, locals were advised to drink the water from this tank as it was ‘safe’. From the conversations we’ve had today, it’s clear that many are still collecting drinking water from this tank with the belief that it’s lower level nitrate than the town supply.”
Greenpeace’s water testing revealed that the Glenavy town supply – the Lower Waihao scheme – was testing at 6.07mg/L, while the Glenavy council-supplied tank was testing at an average of 5.38mg/L.
A growing body of international evidence has linked nitrate levels above 5mg/L in drinking water with reproductive health risks, including an increased risk of preterm birth. The New Zealand College of Midwives has advised that pregnant people should consider finding an alternative water source if their water tests above 5mg/L for nitrate.
Greenpeace also tested several private bores today. The highest reading for a private bore was 17.1mg/L, and the lowest was 1.24mg/L. The mean average for private bore nitrate was 5.11mg/L – also above the level associated with increased preterm birth risks.
The organisation says that it’s not all bad news, though. Waimate’s town supply was testing at 0.07mg/L of nitrate on average – which is well below nitrate levels associated with any adverse health impacts.
“While Waimate town’s water supply is excellent, the Waimate District’s water woes are far from over,” says Appelbe. “Intensive dairying has contaminated town supplies and private bores with unsafe levels of nitrate, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Even if all intensive dairying stopped today, it could take another 20 years before we see improvement.”
Greenpeace is advocating for an end to dairy expansion in Canterbury, and a reduction in the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser that is added to the land.
“We need our food systems to work for people and the planet. Agriculture can’t come at the expense of people’s access to clean, safe drinking water and swimmable rivers. Fonterra must support their farmers to transition away from intensive dairying and towards ecological farming practices that are better for nature.”
Additional information:
Greenpeace will be testing drinking water in Darfield tomorrow at the Darfield Recreation Centre from 11am-4pm. Media are welcome to attend.
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Save the Children – Largest aid delivery by NGO since March reaches Sudan with 40 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies

Source: Save the Children

A cargo plane carrying 40 metric tonnes of medical supplies landed in Port Sudan this week, with essential drugs, medical equipment and therapeutic food to treat children in Sudan, said Save the Children.
The delivery from Nairobi was the largest aid consignment by an international NGO since March 2025, when Sudan issued a nationwide ban on all imports from Kenya, applying to ports, border crossings, airports, and entry points.
The consignment is enough to keep hundreds of health facilities running for 6-12 months, allowing hundreds of thousands of children to be treated.
From Port Sudan, these supplies will be taken by road to reach children and families in the hardest-to-access areas across Sudan, including in Tawila, North Darfur.
The medicines in the delivery include essential drugs such as antibiotics to treat respiratory infections, fluids, multivitamins, and treatment for malnutrition. The delivery also includes medical equipment, such as thermometers, syringes and needles, bandage, gauze and dressings, IV fluids, gloves, masks and basic infection prevention items critical for providing health care and saving lives in emergencies.
More than 75% of health facilities in conflict-affected areas in Sudan are non-functional due to attacks, looting, and shortages of staff, medicines, and supplies. Millions especially children and pregnant women are currently without access to even the most basic healthcare, said Save the Children.
Outbreaks of cholera, malaria and measles continue to rise in areas where health, water and sanitation systems have collapsed, according to the UN, while Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates are alarmingly high, ranging from 38% to 75% in El Fasher and reaching nearly 30 % in Kadugli.
Mohamad Abdiladif, Country Director for Save the Children in Sudan, said:
“This aid delivery is a critical milestone and was only made possible through complex access negotiations and collaboration with government authorities. It is a lifeline for millions of people.
“Every box received and delivered brings us closer to restoring critical health services in Sudan.
“However, we need more deliveries, greater access, and critically, an end to the violence. Sudan faces escalating malnutrition and famine risk, deadly disease outbreaks in overcrowded displacement sites, and the collapse of maternal and child health services.
“Save the Children remains unwavering in its commitment to deliver life-saving health and nutrition services including mobile clinics and malnutrition treatment so that every child has a chance to survive and thrive.
“But we cannot do this alone. Donors and partners must act now to scale up food and nutrition interventions to avert famine, support health services and outbreak control to prevent deadly disease outbreaks, ensure education and protection for displaced children to safeguard their future, and advocate for safe humanitarian access and sustained funding to keep aid flowing. Together, we can prevent a health and hunger catastrophe and give Sudan’s children the future they deserve.”
Save the Children is urging the international community to redouble efforts to demand an immediate end to hostilities and lifting of all sieges on civilian areas in Sudan to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and a drastic scale-up of humanitarian assistance. Save the Children has been working in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across the country, providing health, nutrition, education, child protection, and food security and livelihoods support. Save the Children is also supporting refugees from Sudan in Egypt and South Sudan. 
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Meat exports reach $10 billion in the year ended October 2025 – Overseas merchandise trade: October 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release


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Health – ProCare announces winners of 2025 Quality Awards

Source: ProCare

Leading healthcare provider, ProCare has announced the winners of its 2025 Quality Awards, celebrating excellence across its Network of 140 general practices and approximately 700,000 patients across Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

The annual awards were announced Annual General Meeting last night and recognise practices that have demonstrated outstanding performance in delivering high-quality, equitable, and patient-centred care. Finalists were selected based on clinical indicators, patient experience survey results, and equity-focused initiatives.

This year’s Overall Practice Winner Award went to Eden Epsom Medical Centre, recognised for achieving the highest results for total population and high needs across the Outcomes Quality Framework indicators.

The winner of the ‘Our Picture of Health Outcomes’ Large Practice was Mt Eden Medical Centre, Medium Practice was Green Bay Medical Centre, and Small Practice was Eden Epsom Medical Centre.

These awards looked for the practices that achieved ‘best’ care for its overall and high needs patients based on clinical data across the following indicators:

·         Immunisations (8 months & 2-year-olds)

·         Cervical screening

·         Smoking brief advice

·         Cardiovascular disease risk assessment of the newly eligible cohort

·         Good/acceptable blood glucose levels (HbA1c glycaemic control < or equal to 64 mmol/mol)

·         Blood pressure control

·         Management of micro/macroalbuminuria

·         Primary & secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “These awards reflect the dedication and innovation shown by general practices across the network and highlight the incredible work our practices do every day to improve health outcomes for their communities.

“We’re delighted to recognise their achievements and celebrate their commitment to equity and excellence,” continues Norwell.

In a new category introduced this year, the Best Performing ‘High Needs’ Practice Award was awarded to Otara Family & Christian Health Centre, acknowledging exceptional care and outcomes for patients in high-needs populations.

Other awards included:

Ataria Marsden Māori Equity Award (the best performing practice across the OPOH indicators for Māori population. To be eligible practices would need to have 500+ Māori patients) winner) which went to Tuakau Health Centre Ltd
Dr Sam Fuimaono Pacific Equity Award (the best performing practice across the OPOH indicators for Pacific population in practices with 500+ Pacific patients) which went to Otara Family & Christian Health Centre
Patient Satisfaction Award (this award used patient survey scores from the National PES.  Successful practices had the highest average final score. A minimum of 1.5% of a practice population had to have participated in the survey to be eligible) which went to Assist Health Care

This celebration is part of ProCare’s 30th anniversary year, marking three decades of supporting general practice and championing population health across Aotearoa. All awards were for the period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025. The full list of winners is available below:

ProCare Quality Award Winners – 2025

·         ‘Our Picture of Health’ Small Practice Award: Eden Epsom Medical Centre

·         ‘Our Picture of Health’ Medium Practice: Green Bay Medical Centre

·         ‘Our Picture of Health’ Large Practice: Mt Eden Medical Centre

·         ‘Our Picture of Health’ Overall Practice Winner: Eden Epsom Medical Centre

·         Ataria Marsden Māori Equity Award: Tuakau Health Centre Ltd

·         Dr Sam Fuimaono Pacific Equity Award: Otara Family & Christian Health Centre

·         Best Performing ‘High Needs’ Practice Award: Otara Family & Christian Health Centre

·         Patient Satisfaction Award: Assist Healthcare.

About ProCare

ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi.

As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

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Fire and Emergency received calls to 17 incidents during today’s strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 17 incidents between 12pm – 1pm today, Friday 21 November, the time of the strike action by members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU).
Of these, eight incidents were in areas impacted by the strike.
Four of these incidents were in response to fire alarms. The remaining incidents related to two motor vehicle crashes, a hedge fire and a small fire in a rubbish truck.
Our volunteers responded as normal to incidents within their brigade areas.
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler thanked New Zealanders for their extra care during the strike hour.
“Thank you to our more than 11,000 volunteers across the country, and their employers for supporting them to respond over today’s strike hour.
“I would also like to thank our Operational Commanders and Communication Centre Managers, who contributed to the response.
“We are disappointed that the NZPFU has issued further strike notices for one-hour strikes at 12pm on 28 November and 5 December.
“I urge the NZPFU to withdraw these latest strike notices and not issue any more, so we can get back around the bargaining table while we wait for our application for facilitation to be considered.
“This is in the best interests of our people, and New Zealand’s communities.
“Fire and Emergency 's goal is, and has always been, to reach a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the NZPFU. We are bargaining in good faith and doing everything we can to achieve an agreement without disrupting the services communities rely on.”
Notes
  • Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union have been negotiating a collective employment agreement for career firefighters since 16 July 2024.
  • Fire and Emergency has improved its original offer of a 5.1 percent pay increase over the next three years, as well as increases to some allowances.
  • Fire and Emergency considers the offer is sustainable; balances cost of living pressures being faced by individuals alongside fiscal pressures faced by Fire and Emergency and is consistent with the Government Workforce Policy Statement.
  • The previous 2022 collective employment agreement settlement provided a cumulative wage increase of up to 24 percent over a three-year period for career firefighters.
  • Fire and Emergency has also been investing in replacing our fleet, with 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and another 78 on order. We are currently spending over $20 million per year on replacement trucks. There is also a significant programme of station upgrades underway, as well as investment in training.
  • For the 2025/26 financial year Fire and Emergency’s operating budget is $857.9 million. Of that operating budget, 59 percent will be spent directly on the frontline, while another 32 percent is spent on frontline enablers. This means that over 90 percent of Fire and Emergency’s budget is spent on the frontline and the people directly supporting the frontline.