Author: MIL OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Government

The final transfer of Crown-owned residential red zone land to Christchurch City Council is a major step forward in the city’s post-earthquake regeneration, says Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor.

He marked the transfer of the final block of land at an event on-site at the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor today.

“An incredible amount of work was carried out by Toitū Te Whenua / Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to transform the river corridor into this park-like area for the people of Christchurch. It reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting the Canterbury recovery,” Damien O’Connor said.

“Following the devastating Canterbury earthquakes and their impact on families across Christchurch, the Crown and insurers completed thousands of demolitions and site clearances across 600ha of river corridor red-zoned land.

“Toitū Te Whenua / LINZ then carried out extensive survey and title work on about 5,500 property titles, working closely with Christchurch City Council.

“This work ensured the land could be used immediately by the Council for regeneration purposes once it was transferred. The phased transfer of land started in 2020, with the final block going across to the Council before the agreed completion date of 30 June this year.”

The transfer of the final block of land is the final commitment for Toitū Te Whenua / LINZ under the 2019 Global Settlement Agreement between the Crown and Council to finalise the remaining costs and responsibilities for the city’s earthquake recovery and regeneration.

Damien O’Connor acknowledged the courage and resilience of everyone connected to land that was red zoned following the Canterbury earthquakes.

“It has been a long road to today, which marks a significant step forward in delivering on the Government’s commitment to returning to local leadership in Christchurch,” Damien O’Connor said.

“It’s also a great example of the successful partnership between the Crown and Council. During its time as kaitiaki of red-zoned land, Toitū Te Whenua / LINZ facilitated more than 2,800 temporary land uses, including about 150 short-term projects and events.

“This area is now a unique space that is already being regenerated with numerous projects and activities.”

Source: New Zealand Government

Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall says health data released today shows the Government’s targeted approach to waitlists is making a real difference to Kiwis getting the treatment they need.

“When I became Minister of Health, I was clear that reducing waitlist times had to be a number one priority,” Ayesha Verrall said. 

“Agencies are working hard, and now we’re beginning to see the results, particularly in orthopaedics with the total number of planned care treatments, including minor operations, increasing nationwide.

“Around New Zealand, more regions are on track to meet their targets, despite winter pressures. A good example of progress is in Te Tai Tokerau – Northland, where between August 2022 and July 2023 there’s been a 76 percent reduction in the number of people waiting more than a year for surgical treatment.

“Working through these waitlists with a concentrated focus is making a difference,” Ayesha Verrall said.

• People who’ve been waiting longer than three years for treatment have now either been given a date and treatment plan or have received their treatment. The aim is to have patients waiting longer than two years treated or scheduled for treatment by the end of September.
   
• The next step is all patients waiting longer than 365 days, except for orthopaedic patients, being treated by the end of this year.
   
• Through work by Te Whatu Ora, in partnership with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association and Physiotherapy New Zealand, anyone who has been waiting longer than 365 days for orthopaedic surgery will have been treated or be scheduled for treatment by 30 June 2024.

“There has been work underway to improve theatre utilisation across the country, and less deferral of planned care,” Ayesha Verrall said.

“One staffing improvement that’s making a real difference comes from the work of the Anaesthetic Technician Tactical group, which was set up to reduce theatre cancellations through workforce shortages. This group has led several initiatives to improve the recruitment and retention of anaesthetic technicians across the country and it’s great to see the collaborative approach here.

“This and other work underway to improve theatre utilisation across the country will help reduce the number of last-minute theatre cancellations and the impact that has on patients who have sometimes been waiting a long time for their treatment.”

“The health reforms are having an impact. We are increasing our support for frontline healthcare and reducing the duplication of former DHB backrooms. 

“Working as one health system also means patients can move more easily to other areas of the country for planned care treatment. A good example of this is in South Canterbury where 302 patients from Canterbury and Southland have received treatment in Timaru Hospital over the last year.

“These initiatives wouldn’t possible without the commitment of the amazing people working on them.

“I want to acknowledge and thank the healthcare teams supporting New Zealanders and delivering exceptional care,” Ayesha Verrall said.

Source: New Zealand Government

• Clearing woody debris
• Support for Gisborne District Council on land use management
• Improved national guidance on forestry management, including on forestry slash
• Work to strengthen regional partnerships

The Government is backing a comprehensive package of action around land use in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa, Environment Minister David Parker and Forestry Minister Peeni Henare announced today.

The package supports the findings of the Ministerial Inquiry into the devastating East Coast weather events of 2023.

“We’re committed to change based on this report,” David Parker said. “Each of the report’s recommendations was carefully considered, and we are firmly focussed on reducing risk and setting this region up for sustainable longer term change.  

“Our response has two phases: immediate actions, then building resilience,” David Parker said.

Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said phase one includes action to remove woody debris, as well as work to understand how best to ramp up efforts to remove woody debris that’s at risk of further damaging downstream infrastructure for the longer term.  

“The Government has already made $10.15 million in funding available to enable the clean-up of up to 70,000 tonnes of slash. An initial $3.54 million of the fund has been distributed to councils across Tairāwhiti and the Hawke’s Bay to commence clean-up operations, with a further $2 million being administered through Te Puni Kōkiri directly for whenua Māori.

“The $10.15m is a start. But it’s clear more needs to be done to address the problem of woody debris and manage the risks to life, assets, and the environment.

“Other Government assistance for cyclone-related recovery in the region includes $202 million for silt and debris removal in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti (see below for more details) and $205 million for immediate roading repairs in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa announced this week.

“Communities want this prioritised. We need to reach a shared view of the size of the problem, actions to take and how the response should be paid for,” Peeni Henare said.

The Government will progress improvements around forestry management, responding to the Inquiry’s recommendations related to harvesting practices.  

“Responsibility for more active controls on forestry harvesting in the region rests with the Gisborne District Council, through specific measures in its regional plan that it is now updating,” David Parker said.

“This is why we are helping the Council by providing a statutory resource management advisor, so it can more quickly develop new resource management measures that are fit for purpose. This is not a reflection on the Council – rather, it recognises the scale of the task that it faces.

“Alongside the advisor, the Government will also appoint a facilitator to build partnerships, including with the forestry industry, landowners and Māori interests, to support an integrated approach to the recovery.

“Further, the Government is updating forestry management standards at the national level. This will include national guidance on forestry slash risk management and addressing risks of slope failure and slash mobilisation. This will assist the Council in updating its plan.”

“We’ve met regularly with the forestry industry and Māori with an interest in forestry,” Peeni Henare said. “They are also committed to change and are actively working with central and local government to reduce known risks.

“Again, we recognise and thank the Ministerial Inquiry for their carefully considered report. We are committed to taking meaningful action in response,” David Parker said.

Ministers Parker and Henare will report to Cabinet by the end of the year on initial delivery of the response.

Notes for editors:

• The Government initiated the Ministerial Inquiry in March this year, in response to damage suffered by people and communities during Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.    
• The Inquiry panel, chaired by Hon Hekia Parata, presented its report and recommendations to Ministers on 12 May 2023.   
• Alongside developing and confirming the two-phased approach, the Government has considered and responded to each of the Inquiry’s recommendations (see Appendix One of the Cabinet paper: Government response to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa).
• Eight of the 49 recommendations are not being progressed for reasons including: 
  • the recommendation has already been formally declined by Government (for example, fast-track consent of Te Araroa Kāhui Kupenga Marine Facility proposal)
  • it would set an unsustainable precedent (for example, shifting funding responsibility from local to central government for flood protection and control).
• Engagement with councils and hapū/iwi on terms of reference for the Ministerial appointees will take place over the next few weeks.
• The forestry industry continues to push for change: Statement from Eastland Wood Council and Hawke’s Bay Forestry Group
• Support for clean-up and recovery already provided by the Government includes:

• $10.15 million to clean up and remove a minimum of 70,000 tonnes of woody debris, including forestry slash, from highest priority areas in river and catchment systems in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay;
• $10.4 million woody biomass research fund over three years to build an evidence base for investing in biomass forestry, including research to promote woody residue and slash recovery;
• Support for development of a bioenergy plant in Tairāwhiti, using slash and business models for continuous-cover forestry as a viable alternative to clear-felling;

• $202 million of support for sediment and debris clean up, although this is mainly focussed on sediment. Within this funding:
  • $102 million is to help councils process and dispose of all the material coming from properties, and to deal with sediment and debris on council-land so it is available to the public again; 
  • $70 million is to help commercial properties – including farmers and growers – to clean up their land and return to profit; and
  • $30 million is for clean-up of a broad range of whenua Māori, supporting Māori to decide how to manage sediment and debris on their whenua