Privacy Commissioner John Edwards has welcomed the settlement reached between Nicky Hager and Westpac over the banks disclosure of Mr Hagers financial information to Police in 2014. Mr Edwards says there are important lessons to be learned from the case, particularly around the need for clear process when commercial organisations deal with Police requests for customer information. Police had sought Mr Hagers bank information from Westpac without seeking a production order or search warrant from a court. The bank responded by providing several months of his transaction information. Westpac has acknowledged it was wrong to give Mr Hagers bank information to Police without seeking further explanation.
The Privacy Act allows companies to disclose some information to Police and other law enforcement agencies where necessary to avoid a prejudice to the maintenance of the law.
A month’s largely daytime road re-surfacing along Timaru’s SH1 Evans St gets underway next week (Monday, 3 March), says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
The area being re-surfaced is between Te Weka St and Beverley Road, close to 400 metres, 7 am to 7 pm.
Two-way traffic will be maintained for most of this work but some side roads will be affected, says Chris Chambers, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA in South Canterbury.
Beverley Road intersection will be closed throughout.
Trafalgar St will be left in/left out with an intersection closure when it is being re-surfaced.
“This work is dependent on dry, warm conditions to ensure the new surface sticks and will be long-lasting,” says Mr Chambers. “If it rains or temperatures drop significantly, the project may be extended. We will endeavour to keep all the business owners and residents around our work sites informed throughout.”
NZTA thanks everyone in Timaru for slowing to 30km/hour through this work site over the next four or more weeks and being alert for pedestrians using the traffic islands.
Consultation on no-stopping lines/removal of parking
This consultation is underway until mid March. The proposed no-stopping lines are part of the plan to widen Evans St to two lanes in each direction through this section of SH1 to improve traffic movements/efficiency. NZTA will inform people of the outcome and any changes to the existing road layout before the line marking for the re-surfacing project, starting 3 March, is completed.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises State Highway 1 will be closed to northbound traffic between the Drury Interchange and the Manukau Interchange overnight tonight (Wednesday 26 February) and tomorrow (27 February).
The closure will also impact the below on- and off-ramps.
The SH1 northbound closure between the Drury Interchange and the Manukau Interchange will be in place between 10pm and 5am. The above ramp closures and other lane restrictions may be in place before the advertised closure times for this section of SH1.
Northbound traffic will be detoured via Great South Road and Redoubt Road.
During this time, different contractors will undertake road works as part of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project, as well as general motorway maintenance activities, such as line marking, lighting, stormwater improvements and barrier maintenance, between Papakura and Manukau.
These works have been coordinated and scheduled over two nights to maximise the amount of work carried out while minimising overall disruption to motorists.
People are asked to plan ahead and allow additional time for their journeys.
This work is weather dependent and there may be changes to the planned works in the case of unsuitable weather. Please visit the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) for up-to-date information on these works, including any changes due to weather.
NZTA thanks everyone for their patience while this important work is completed.
Contractors will begin work to rebuild a section of State Highway 1 at Topuni, north of Old North Road, tomorrow (Thursday 27 February).
Work is expected to be completed by Thursday 17 April. The first five weeks (until approx. Wednesday 2 April) will be day works, between 6.30am and 5.30pm, while the final two weeks will be undertaken at night, between 5.30pm and 6.30am.
During work hours, the road will be down to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. Outside work hours, the road will reopen to two lanes with a temporary speed limit in place.
Travel delays during these works are expected to be approximately 5 mins and people are asked to plan ahead.
Please be patient and treat our crews with kindness and respect. Reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the directions of traffic management staff and signs.
Rebuilding the road, which often involves replacing all or most of the structural road layers, improves the longevity of the network, the resilience and ultimately the safety and efficiency for all road users.
This summer maintenance period (September 2024 to May 2025), we’re investing in the largest road rebuild programme ever for the region, with Northland one of three regions across Aotearoa with the most significant road rebuild programmes over the next three years.
This work is weather dependent and there may be changes to the planned works in the case of unsuitable weather. Please visit the NZTA Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on these works, including any changes due to weather:
For more information about the overall maintenance programme and planned works, visit the Northland State Highway Maintenance Programme website:
You can now sign up to receive email updates on upcoming road maintenance:
NZTA thanks everyone for their understanding and support while we carry out this essential maintenance to improve the safety and efficiency of Northland’s state highway network.
On the West Coast of the South Island, you’ll find a huge range of tramping opportunities – from simple overnighters suitable for young families to multi-day adventures for those with backcountry skills. We spoke with a few West Coast staff to hear about their favourite huts and adventures.
Remotest Hut: Gorge River Hut.
What’s your name? What’s your role?
Owen Kilgour, West Coast Operations Director, based in Hokitika
In 2022 it was our first overnight hike as a family with three young boys.
I have run into this hut frequently over the past eight years when visiting family who live close by.
Why do you like it?
Kōhanga Atawhai – Manson Nicholls Hut is the ideal first authentic kiwi tramping experience for families.
The original hut on this site, Manson-Nicholls Memorial Hut, was constructed in 1976 by members of the Christchurch Tramping Club and The Lake Daniell’s Fishing Club in memory of three young trampers who lost their lives nearby in 1974. The current hut was built by DOC staff especially for families and school groups. Every time I visit, it puts a smile on my face to see lots of kids enjoying their experience in nature.
How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness?
The hut is 3 hours walk from nearest road end on the Lake Daniell Track. It’s a great first tramp for families.
September 2022 I think. I was the hut warden up there for a couple of seasons and it was such an epic place to spend eight days every other week watching the different weather patterns come and go and meeting lots of different people passing through
Why do you like it?
The highlight was always watching the most epic sunsets with a hot cup of tea above the hut, up a secret “spur”.
How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness?
Its 20 kilometres from Smoke-ho carpark. You need a moderate level of fitness as it’s lots of relentless uphill. You need to be fairly competent on a mountain bike as there are narrow sections, steep drop offs and lots of loose rogue rocks that can kick you off if you are not careful.
Moonlight Tops Hut.
What’s your name? What’s your role?
Benjamin Pigott, Inspector – Checking huts, tracks and structures throughout the WSI backcountry.
March 2024, and then later in May along with a crew to undertake maintenance work. This took 10 days and we really gave the hut a birthday! New roof, piles, bearers & a paint to name a few of the jobs we did.
Why do you like it?
It sits in a beautiful remote valley with little tramping traffic. It’s now done up for all to enjoy!
How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness?
You’d want a good 8hr day of tramping to get in there. Moderate to difficult, but achievable by most parties with backcountry navigation skills who do their homework about track conditions.
Jacko Flat Hut – from left: DOC Inspectors Ben Pigott, Mike Detlaff, and Rangers Casey Rhodes and Matt Ainge
It’s a beautiful old hut with lots of heritage, built back in 1949. The Perth Valley has had a lot of Predator control done by ZIP, and the bird life is really on the rise. A spectacular hut to base yourself for adventures into more difficult terrain up the Perth valley.
How do you get there and long does it take someone with moderate fitness?
Approx 6 hours or so, moderate fitness and moderate route finding required. The hut is old and has character, it’s certainly not a Hilton so expect to be a bit feral!
Nolans Hut.
Our network of tracks and huts
Owen Kilgour Western South Island Operations Director– says “DOC has a fantastic network of tracks and huts on conservation land on the West Coast, and I’d encourage people to get out and explore. There are tramping opportunities for everyone, from families undertaking their first overnighters with young children, to backcountry wilderness experiences for those experienced in the outdoors. Going tramping requires warm clothes, a pack, a raincoat and a pair of sturdy footwear but you can start out with basic gear, and not spend too much money getting started. It’s a great way to see some of the most beautiful places in New Zealand.”
Biggest Hut: Heaphy Hut. Photo: Richard Rossiter
DOC hut network in general
DOC manages a network of over 950 huts around New Zealand providing shelter and enabling trampers and others to overnight in some of our most picturesque places including in forests, on mountainsides and by lakes, rivers and the sea.
DOC huts come in a range of standards from basic bivvies to serviced. Most are available on a first come first served basis but around 55 must be booked in advance.
Bookable huts help us manage our very popular or over-subscribed facilities. They provide certainty to families and less experienced visitors, and support the payment of hut fees so these facilities can continue into the future.
It’s important all hut users pay their hut fees, are well-prepared before heading out and assess conditions before deciding whether it’s safe to go, even if people have made a booking.
How many huts does the West Coast have?
In Western South Island Region we have 148 huts and bivvies in total with 147 open.
The incident occurred on Saturday 8 February, when two people and two dogs from a 660 Haines Hunter recreational vessel were spotted on the shore of Kawhitu/Stanley Island – one of several pest-free islands off Coromandel’s east coast.
DOC’s Coromandel Operations Manager Nick Kelly says DOC was tipped off to the landing by other concerned boaties in the area.
“Landing on our pest-free islands is strictly prohibited, so our informants did the right thing by calling 0800 DOC HOT and reporting what they saw,” says Nick.
“We’re very grateful for their assistance.”
Publicity of the illegal landing prompted the vessel’s skipper – an Auckland man in his 50s, who had launched his vessel from Tairua – to contact DOC via the department’s 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) phone line.
“The boatie was interviewed by a DOC warranted officer, and he’s admitted landing on Kawhitu, and walking right past a sign warning stating the island is off-limits to the public.”
The boatie was subsequently fined $800 under DOC’s infringement system.
Nick encourages boaties who see people go ashore on Kawhitu, or any of Coromandel’s conservation islands (Cuvier Island, Aldermen Islands, Mercury Islands), to contact DOC immediately.
“Anyone landing on our pest-free islands risks undoing decades of conservation work protecting vulnerable species, and potentially compromises island biosecurity.
“Our nature is among the world’s most vulnerable, and we hope this makes people more aware of how important pest-free areas like Kawhitu are, and why we need to protect them.”
Roughly 86 ha in size, Stanley Island/Kawhitu is a haven for a number of protected and threatened species, including tieke/saddlebacks, flesh-footed shearwaters/toanui, and kakariki/red-crowned parakeet.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) released their Joint Inquiry into Police conduct when photographing members of the public (opens to PDF) on 8 September 2022. Report findings
The report found that a general lack of awareness amongst Police of their obligations under the Privacy Act led to officers routinely taking, using and retaining photographs when it is not lawful for them to do so. It also found that thousands of photographs of members of the public have been kept on the mobile phones of individual officers or, if transferred to the Police computer system, not destroyed after there is no longer a legitimate need for them. The Joint Inquiry was initiated in March 2021 after Wairarapa whnau complained that Police officers were photographing their rangatahi in circumstances they felt was unfair or unjustified.
Over the past few weeks Eastern Bay of Plenty highways have been a hive of activity with crews busy resurfacing State Highway 2 (SH2) in the Waioweka Gorge (and carrying out other general maintenance work) which is due to be completed on Wednesday 26 February.
There is more work to come around the region, ensuring the network is resilient and safe for everyone.
Here’s a look at what’s happening:
SH35 Roundabout Ōpōtiki
Once the Waioweka Gorge work is complete, crews will move to the Ōpōtiki township to resurface the roundabout on State Highway 35 (SH35). From Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 February, between 8am and 4pm each day, the road will be closed at the St John and Elliot Street roundabout, with a detour available for all vehicles via King Street and Goring Street. There will be temporary traffic management in place while the work is taking place.
SH2 Matatā
From Friday 28 February for 4 days, a new chipseal surface will be laid on SH2 between Western Close and Manawahē Road in Matatā. This work will take place during the day, between 9am and 4pm, with stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit in place. Traffic management will remain until after the work has been completed to allow for the chipseal to be embedded into the road surface.
SH2 Waimana Gorge
From Monday 3 to Friday 7 March the Waimana Gorge will be closed from 10am to 6pm each day. Crews will be laying a new asphalt road surface and completing maintenance activities. Outside of work hours there will be temporary traffic management in place with a reduced speed limited until the new surface has been line marked.
While the road is closed there’s a 12-minute detour for light vehicles and trucks below the HPMV status, via Tāneatua Road, Valley Road, right to Ōhope Road to Pōhutukawa Ave through to Wainui Road then left to SH2. There is no suitable detour for HPMV vehicles. HPMV’s are advised to travel outside of these times.
By closing the Waimana Gorge completely for this time contractors can complete the work more efficiently and safely.
At the SH2 and Wainui road intersection service relocation works are underway near Kutarere west of Ōpōtiki. Shoulder closures will be in place and road users should be aware there may be 3-way stop/go traffic management operating at the intersection during this time.
Work schedule
SH2 Waioweka Gorge, resurfacing and general maintenance – complete 26 February
SH35 roundabout Ōpōtiki, resurfacing – 26 to 28 February
It’s not every day commuters between Napier and Hastings get to see a drilling rig in Tutaekuri River.
But that’s exactly what they’ll see from early March as work progresses on the State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance project.
The drilling rig will be here and in other locations on the expressway for approximately 4 weeks while geotechnical investigations are carried out, subject to consent approval.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Principal Project Manager Jacob Laird says the outcome of the investigations will be providing information to help finalise the detailed design of new structures, which form part of the stage 1 construction.
“Before creating new roads and structures (bridges, underpasses and culverts), it’s important that we first get a complete picture of the ground around them. Ground conditions also change over time and the geotechnical investigations will confirm the exact conditions for our designers to work from.
“We are working with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and mana whenua to ensure conditions of our consents will be met. We appreciate the importance of working carefully and respectfully in and around water.
“In March, we’ll also start the clearance of some vegetation between Pākōwhai Road and Taradale Road to allow for the investigations and future project work.
“This project is a really exciting one for the region and for regular users of the expressway. We’re really grateful for the support we’ve received so far from the public – we don’t take that support for granted, and we’re looking forward to being able to provide people with a safer, more efficient inter-city link,” says Mr Laird.
For more details on the vegetation plan and the project in general:
Tutaekuri River Bridge looking towards Hastings. The drilling rig, once on site and subject to consent approval, will begin geotechnical investigations to the right of the picture.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reminding senior drivers that they have the option of renewing their driver licence up to six months before it expires, in order to allow plenty of time to complete the renewal process.
“We understand how important it is for senior drivers to have enough time to get a medical certificate and, if required by their health practitioner, book a practical driving test. To ensure this process runs as smoothly as possible, we want to make senior drivers are aware that they can start the renewal process early. And remember that renewing early won’t affect the new driver licence expiry date,” says Karina Morrow, NZTA Senior Manager Safer Drivers.
Senior drivers are required to renew their driver’s licence at age 75, 80 and every two years after that, and need to present a medical certificate when renewing. These can be issued by doctors, registered nurses and nurse practitioners operating within their scope of practice.
What senior drivers need to do
a medical certificate issued within the last 60 days
EFTPOS, credit card or cash to pay the $21.50 renewal fee.
They may also need to complete a practical driving test if recommended by their doctor. There are two types of practical tests a doctor may require:
On-road safety test, which assesses a driver’s ability to meet the minimum safe driving standard.
Occupational therapist driving assessment, which assesses competency in a range of situations and where a medical condition may be a factor in driving (such as post stroke, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc).
More information about renewing from age 75 and over is available on the NZTA website:
