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Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Russian Federation
Terrorism
There is an ongoing threat of terrorism in Russia. Terrorist attacks have occurred in recent years, including in Moscow.
On 3 April 2017, an explosion occurred on a train carriage travelling between Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut metro stations in central St Petersburg. At least 9 people were killed and more than 20 injured.
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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Transport Agency proposes safety improvements for SH58
NZTA’s Director of Regional Relationships Emma Speight says the proposal is part of a wider package of improvements designed to make SH58 safer.
“SH58 has accumalated one of the worst safety records in New Zealand and it’s a priority for the Agency to make significant safety improvements as soon as possible,” Ms Speight says.
“We expect a lower speed limit, along with other improvements like straightening dangerous curves, intersection improvements and installing a median barrier, will reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries by up to 65% over five years.”
“We’re also working with local councils to set safe speeds for the local roads connecting to this part of SH58. As part of this engagement, the Porirua City Council is consulting on its proposal to set a 60km/h speed limit for PCC roads that connect to SH58.”
The consultation will run from 20 March to 20 April 2018. Two open days will be held at the Pauatahanui School on:
If you are unable to attend an open day you can:
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Source: Health Quality and Safety Commission – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Call for Nominations for one member to join the Family Violence Death Review Committee
Family Violence Death Review Committee
Nominations close at 5pm on Monday 2 April, 2018.
The Health Quality & Safety Commission’s Board is seeking one member to join the Family Violence Death Review Committee.
The Family Violence Death Review Committee (the Committee) is a mortality review committee established under Section 59e of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. The Committee will consider self-selected mortality subgroups.
Collectively, the Committee will have:
The other members include people:
The Commission welcomes all applications, particularly from candidates who offer independent academic and sector expertise in the following areas:
The Committee will be assisted by advisors from the following agencies and organisations:
Members will:
All members will also have:
If you would like to nominate suitable candidates, please complete the nomination form below and email it to Dez McCormack.
If you would like to apply directly, without nomination, please complete the application for appointment form below and provide your current curriculum vitae, and a cover letter outlining your interest in the position, by email to Dez McCormack.
Nominations close on Monday 2 April, 2018 at 5pm
Application for appointment (472 KB, doc)
Nomination form (435 KB, doc)
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Source: Antarctica New Zealand
Headline: Media Release: Rare footage of whales captured in Antarctica
Media Release
Tuesday 20 March 2018
Rare Footage of Whales Captured in Antarctica
“I’m such an excited scientist right now!”
Dr Regina Eisert, marine mammal expert at the University of Canterbury, still can’t believe the underwater footage her team captured on a recent Antarctic expedition to study killer whales.
“The whole whale glides past – this is such a lucky shot!” she says as she watches her computer screen.
With a serenity that belies its massive size, a minke whale floats gracefully through the frame. Little is known about Antarctic minke whales that can grow up to 10 m long and weigh 9 tonnes. Dr Eisert believes this may be the first time a minke whale has been filmed underwater, and in the sea ice, in the Ross Sea.
Dr Eisert is particularly excited as she didn’t think anything had been captured on a new prototype underwater camera designed by Antarctic film expert Anthony Powell of Antzworks.
“The plan was to film continuously across the icebreaker channel that is prepared for the re-supply vessel to cross McMurdo Sound. The water’s so clear, you can see right across the 50-80 m lane and monitor all the whales that use the channel,” Dr Eisert says. “Unfortunately, the system only recorded for just a few hours, due to teething problems for this new technology in the field. We had no idea that we had this footage until Anthony found it when checking the camera back in Christchurch!”
Dr Eisert’s research programme focusses on fish-eating (Type C) killer whales, but she also became interested in minke whales when she realised that they are champions of ice navigation, beating even the Type-C killer whales in their ability to infiltrate deep into McMurdo Sound.
According to IWC estimates, there are about 180,000 minke whales in Area V, the area of Southern Ocean that includes the Ross Sea region. Dr Eisert says while this species is likely to be an important part of the Ross Sea food web, little is known about their precise role in the ecosystem. Minke whales are also the only whales that are still hunted in the Southern Ocean, ostensibly for scientific purposes. But there are other ways to study whales that cause no harm, such as photo-identification and dart biopsies.
When a minke swims by, Dr Eisert and her team take a photo – and a skin samples using a small dart.
“We can learn so much from a small tissue sample, such as their diet – we think they just eat krill, but do they eat small fish as well? Also, DNA analysis can tell us whether Ross Sea minkes are separate from other minke whales on the Antarctic Peninsula or further north, or if they are all part of one larger population,” she says.
As filter feeders that primarily target krill, Dr Eisert says minke whales feed low in the food web and follow the retreating sea ice to find the richest feeding grounds.
“This means they’re excellent indicators of ‘ecosystem hotspots’ – particularly productive areas. This information in turn feeds into environmental stewardship, in particular by supporting the objectives of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (MPA).”
The Ross Sea region MPA came into effect on 1 December 2017. It covers 1.55 million square kilometres, and is the world’s largest marine protected area. Ongoing research and monitoring are required to show that the MPA meets its objectives and to ensure the MPA’s continued existence.
Dr Eisert’s team travelled to Scott Base with Antarctica New Zealand in January, and she hopes analysis of the samples and images they collected will begin a valuable data set for Ross Sea minke whale research.
ENDS
The footage can be accessed here.
Megan Martin
GM Communications
Antarctica New Zealand
027 2205 989
For further comment on this minke whale footage, please contact:
Dr Regina Eisert
University of Canterbury
regina.eisert@canterbury.ac.nz
03 369 2060
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Road crews to use explosives on the Lemons Hill slip that’s closed SH11
They’ve got to the point where the use of dynamite blasting is now a safe, viable option for moving a lot of the remaining loose material from the hillside in a controlled manner, says the Transport Agency’s System Manager Steve Mutton.
“There is still a significant amount of earth and rock sitting above the roadway. We’ve been constantly reviewing our approach to clearing the slip and we’re now in a position to change the method and bring a lot of the remaining loose material down the face of the slip.”
“This will help get the road open as quickly as possible. “
“Our crews are working as fast as safely possible given the complexity of the slip, the difficult access and the weather interruptions. We’re conscious of the importance of the link to the Bay of Islands for locals and tourists and we’re working to reopen the road as soon as we can.”
“We can start blasting this week and we’re still hoping to let traffic through the area sometime in the next 2-3 weeks as planned,” says Mr Mutton.
A further update will be provided closer to the time.
The signposted detour between Kawakawa and Paihia is via State Highways 1, 10 and 11. The detour will add another 10–20 minutes to the journey.
The Transport Agency thanks motorists and visitors to the region for their understanding and patience during this time.
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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Mata Bridges resurfacing on SH 1 depends on weather
All going well, the work requires four nights of closures on SH 1 between Oakleigh and Ruakaka. But the forecast is for continued unsettled weather, so the new plan is to start on the two bridges closest to Ruakaka on Sunday 25 March and Monday 26 March, says the Transport Agency’s System Manager Steve Mutton.
“These bridges are the highest priority and we might not be able to get more than a couple of nights of work completed. If there are more weather disruptions we’ll have to wait until after Easter.”
“We’ll plan to get the job done, but it is weather dependent so may be postponed at short notice.”
The Transport Agency thanks motorists for their patience and understanding. They’re advised to check the latest highway information on the Transport Agency’s website or social media sites.
Stop/go traffic management will be in place 7pm – 9pm and a full road closure from 9pm – 5am each night.
The detour for northbound traffic will start at State Highway 12 to Paparoa and follow Paparoa – Oakleigh Road, Paparoa Road and Mangapai Road before re-joining SH1 north. Southbound traffic will travel the same route in reverse.
The detour will add an additional twenty kilometres to journeys between Brynderwyn and Whangarei.
The detour is not suitable for HPMVs which will need to park and wait at the closure point.
Northbound traffic heading to Ruakaka and other destinations south of the closure point will be allowed to continue on State Highway 1.
Work on the most northern of the three bridges is scheduled for Tuesday night 27 March. There will be stop/go traffic management in place from 7pm – 9pm and a full road closure from 9pm – 5am.
The detour for northbound traffic is via Salmon Road and Springfield Road and back on to State Highway 1. Southbound traffic will travel the same route in reverse.
This detour is also not suitable for HPMVs which will need to park and wait at the closure point.
The final resurfacing is scheduled for the night of Wednesday 28 March. There will be stop/go traffic management from 7pm – 9pm and a full road closure from 9pm – 5am.
There are two options for motorists during the full road closure. Option one is to use the detour via SH12 above.
Option two is to continue on State Highway 1 and park and wait at the closure point instead of using the detour.
Delays of at least an hour and a half can be expected with traffic being let through the area between resurfacing works where possible.
The Transport Agency urges motorists to allow extra time for their journey or reschedule it to avoid the closures.
“Please follow the directions of the road crews, keep to the speed limits, and take extra care on the detour route which may be unfamiliar to regular travellers in the region,” says Mr Mutton.
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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Tawa on-ramp and off-ramp closed SH1
Emergency Services and are currently attending the blaze and NZTA are asking motorists to avoid the area if possible.
An update will be posted on our website and social media pages as soon as the work is completed.
The NZ Transport Agency wants to thank road users for their understanding and patience.
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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Old Kopu Bridge ownership passed on
After several years of consultation and negotiations, the Society presented a business case to NZ Transport Agency representatives and a legal agreement has been reached. The deal will see ownership of the heritage-listed bridge handed to the Trust in conjunction with the Society.
The central swing-span bridge across the Waihou River opened in 1928 and has been idle since the opening of the new two-lane Kopu Bridge in December 2011. As the bridge is no longer part of the national highway network the Transport Agency can no longer fund any future maintenance or upgrades.
Transport System Manager Karen Boyt says the agreement means the Trust will take financial responsibility for the bridge.
“The old Kopu Bridge is a historic structure, and we recognise it’s past, engineering legacy and early contribution to regional economic development.”
Ms Boyt says the Transport Agency has heard the views of many people ahead of the decision about the bridge’s future.
“Over the past years we have engaged widely with local councils, Heritage NZ, and the community to evaluate options and have used an independent consultant to facilitate part of that process.”
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement and we hope to see the bridge restored to something that the public can get enjoyment out of,” Ms Boyt says.
Bridge Trust chair Ross Bayer says they are delighted with the outcome.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to restore the bridge and open it as a public pedestrian and cycle way.
“We are aware that the hard work is about to start now and we are up for the challenge,” Mr Bayer says.
The deal is subject to the Transport Agency receiving yearly reports for five years from the Trust on the operation of the bridge. The Trust will also provide conservation, public health and safety, navigation of the Waihou River and engineering and maintenance plans.
If within the five years the Trust indicates that they cannot manage the project, NZTA can take back ownership of the bridge.
For more information go to: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/kopu-bridge-replacement/
The signing of the document with from left to right, Barry Dowsett, Mark Ensor and Karen Boyt from NZTA with Ross Bayer signing on behalf of the Kopu Bridge and Community Trust. Then there are some of the Trustees, again left to right Kim Buchanan, Anne Stewart Ball, Wati Ngamane. Then Patron of the Trust, Jeanette Fitzsimons and; lastly Gary Blake from Historic Kopu Bridge Society.
NZTA Waikato Transport System Manager Karen Boyt and Ross Bayer from the Kopu Bridge and Community Trust.
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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Mid and South Canterbury highway and bridge work delays this week and next week
Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed restriction will be in pace while contractors inspect five state highway bridges this week. Delays are expected on SH1 in Ashburton today (Monday, 19 March), SH1 in Temuka and Timaru (for Port Traffic) tomorrow (Tuesday, 20 March.)
“The inspections are carried out from a truck with a mobile platform to allow workers to access areas under the bridge. Vehicles will be directed around the inspection area with stop/go traffic management,” says Transport Agency Network Manager John Keenan.
Contractors will monitor traffic to ensure delays are as short as possible during these inspections, however motorists are advised to allow at least an extra 15 minutes for their journey during this time. The work is weather dependent.
Bridge inspections will continue on SH82 Hakataramea Highway next week at the two new Waitaki River Bridges near Kurow, Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 March from 8am to 5pm each day.
“Thanks to all drivers and road users for building in some extra time while this work is completed,” says Mr Keenan.
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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Bad weather delays start of Mata Bridges road repairs on SH1 in Northland
The repairs and resurfacing of the three Mata Bridges between Oakleigh and Ruakaka was due to start on Sunday 18 March and take four nights. It would have required stop/go traffic management from 7-9pm and a full closure of the state highway from 9pm to 5am.
“The weather forecast is not looking good for Sunday night and we need fine weather to do the work. So we’re making an early decision to postpone the work and road closures,” says the Transport Agency’s System Manager Steve Mutton.
A decision on whether to start the work on Monday night will be made around Midday on Monday.
For the latest on the Mata Bridge road works, road closure times and detour routes, go to:
For Auckland and Northland
Check the latest weather conditions and warnings here:
http://www.metservice.com/national/home
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