Category: New Zealand

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Grape News! Drivers urged to be ready for Marlborough grape harvest

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Marlborough drivers are being asked to take extra care on the region’s roads with the annual grape harvest underway.

Harvest season sees an increase in heavy machinery moving between vineyards from now until mid-April, with activity peaking in the middle of March.

Drivers can expect to see harvesters and an increase in the number of trucks on the roads across the wider Marlborough region, as vineyards bring their grapes in for pressing and processing.

Road users can expect activity on all of the region’s state highways – SH1, SH6, SH62, and SH63 – and on local roads.

Drivers must take extra care on the roads and drive appropriately when they encounter harvesters and trucks.

This especially applies when overtaking. Drivers must check their passing distances, look out for oncoming traffic, and for trucks and harvesters entering and leaving vineyard areas.

Truck drivers carrying grapes for processing are also urged to watch their speed and drive with caution through roundabouts as these have been hot spots for spill incidents in the past.

Grape harvester travelling in Marlborough.

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Update: Crash closes State Highway 2 between Masterton and Carterton (SH2 OPEN in both directions)

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Update 1:45pm: The northbound lane is now open, and State Highway 2 is now OPEN in both directions.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank drivers for their patience and cooperation while emergency services and contractors responded to the crash.

Update 1.10pm:

The highway’s northbound lane has reopened. However, a closure remains in place for southbound traffic.

Southbound traffic must continue to detour via East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line.

Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

Highway conditions – Wellington(external link)

12.35 pm:

State Highway 2 is currently closed between Masterton and Carterton following a crash early this afternoon.

The two-vehicle crash occurred north of Clareville and was reported shortly after midday.

State Highway 2 is closed between the Wiltons Road roundabout and the Hughes Line intersection.

Local road detours are available via East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line.

Emergency services are at the scene.

Drivers can expect  traffic delays until the crash scene is cleared. Please take extra care when travelling through the area, follow all instructions of emergency services, and allow extra time for your journeys.

Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

Highway conditions – Wellington(external link)

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New management for Pūponga Farm Park

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  03 March 2025

HealthPost Nature Trust will carry out restoration work in the Triangle Flat area of the farm park. They aim to build a 3 km-long low predator fence across the base of the spit to provide a line of defence against reinvading introduced predators. The farm and crossing road area will remain open to the public.

Pax Leetch and Ellie Miller, who manage land next to the farm park, have successfully applied to graze land from the west of Old Man Range to Greenhills. This area will remain as a working farm.

These concessions run for five years while DOC works with our Treaty partners —Iwi Chairs of Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa, and Manawhenua ki Mohua — to develop a long-term strategic vision for the site, which is rich in ecological and cultural values and a popular visitor destination.

Last September, the Department of Conservation (DOC) ran an expression of interest process inviting parties to put in proposals for managing these sites as the previous license to graze was ending after 27 years.

Eight proposals were received and an evaluation panel made up of Manawhenua ki Mohua, Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board representatives and DOC staff decided on the successful applicants.

HealthPost Nature Trust will also fund 50 per cent of a salary for a DOC ranger to be based in Pūponga, who will spend half of their time working on the Trust’s biodiversity initiatives and half keeping the popular area maintained for visitors to enjoy.

They will work closely with Pest Free Onetahua, a large-scale conservation project removing pests on Onetahua/Farewell Spit and the surrounding areas.

Triangle Flat is a very significant archaeological site, and any proposed restoration would need to be careful not to impact these important values.

The Trust’s agreement will expand the significant restoration work they have been carrying out at Cape Farewell since 2017 to benefit burrowing seabirds, including creating a 3-hectare predator-free sanctuary.

The Trust has worked in partnership with Manawhenua ki Mohua and DOC for several years which has led to pakahā/fluttering shearwaters translocated to the area.

DOC Golden Bay Operations Manager Ross Trotter says Onetahua/Farewell Spit Nature Reserve is a unique ecosystem and a significant biodiversity hotspot, with several rare plants and more than 90 bird species recorded in the area. It’s recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

“HealthPost Nature Trust’s vision is exciting because if we can get predators down to really low numbers, Onetahua would be a much-needed safe haven for some of our threatened species in the area. It might also mean more rare species could be released into the area in the future.”

Ross says DOC was impressed with the calibre of the proposals and wants to thank everyone who submitted an expression of interest.

“We believe we’ve got a great outcome for the future of Pūponga Farm Park that is in the best interest of this really special part of the country.”

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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Major delays expected, Mount Albert

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Motorists are being advised of heavy delays following a multi-vehicle crash on the North-Western Motorway this morning.

The crash, reported to Police just after 6.30am, has blocked one citybound lane near the St Lukes off-ramp.

It appears five vehicles, including one towing a boat, have crashed in the far right lane.

As this stage there are no reports of injury.

Emergency services are responding and motorists are advised to expect delays or seek an alternative route while the scene is cleared.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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Property Market – Buyers breathe and browse in “breezy” market

Source: Brainchild PR for RealEstate.co.nz

New Zealand Property Report February 2025

National stock levels climb to over 35,000, the highest since 2015
11,000 new listings hit the market, below usual expectations
Average asking prices cool as sellers flex to meet buyers

The latest data from realestate.co.nz shows a continued rise in the number of properties available for sale, reaching levels not seen during February for a decade. Despite this, the number of new listings was lower than expected, and the national average asking price dipped slightly, indicating that sellers are continuing to adjust to market conditions.

Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz says that even though buyers continue to be spoilt for choice, the market remains active:

“The market currently looks relatively breezy, especially compared to the frantic pace the market saw in 2021.

“Buyers have time to breathe and do their due diligence as stable market conditions continue, while properties are still selling through, which is good news for sellers.”

National stock continues to climb

Nationally, stock climbed to 35,712 in February, a 10.2% increase from January. The increase was seen across all regions, with 14 of 19 regions recording double-digit increases.

Gisborne experienced the biggest rise in stock, rising 80.2% month-on-month. Wood explains that high stock and new listings percentages are often seen in less populated regions like Gisborne due to its small listing set.

“Nationally, the continued rise in stock levels brings us back to levels we haven’t seen in ten years, though not the highest ever recorded.”

New listings lift, below usual expectations

Over 11,000 new listings came onto the market in February, marking a 27.6% increase from January. Wood says that although February is usually a busy month for new listings, this February was lower than expected:

“We’re used to seeing a rush of new listings as everyone gets back from the beach and into business as usual. This year it’s less dramatic than the 40% uplift we would usually see.”

Compared to the same time last year, new listings were down 3.6% nationally. A mixed bag of growth and decline was seen across the regions, with Gisborne seeing a 79.4% increase in new listings, and Northland the largest decline, down 23.4%.

Prices dip as sellers flex to meet buyers

The national average asking price dipped to $851,090 in February, down 4.7% year-on-year and down 2.0% month-on-month. Despite the drop, the national average asking price remains between $840,000 and $890,000, as it has for the past two years.

Wood notes that the slight decline nationally, suggests sellers are becoming more flexible as stock levels remain high:

“With high stock levels, sellers are having to be more willing to negotiate.”

Seven of nineteen regions saw both year-on-year and month-on-month decreases in average asking prices. Leading the way was Central Otago/Lakes District (down 7.9%), Wellington (down 5.3%), West Coast (down 6.9%), Bay of Plenty (down 6.5%), Northland (down 3.9%), Auckland (down 3.5%), and Taranaki (down 2.6%).

At the other end of the spectrum, only three regions saw month-on-month and year-on-year growth: Gisborne, Otago, and Marlborough. Two regions achieved all-time February average asking price highs: Marlborough ($807,847) and Otago ($645,377).

Market moving, slow and steady

While buyers have more negotiating power due to the number of properties on the market, the market isn’t fully in buyers’ power nationwide. Just two regions, Auckland and Nelson & Bays remain buyers’ markets, where properties are selling at a slower rate than usual. Wood explains that the data shows a more balanced playing field between buyers and sellers:

“Properties are still selling, but at a steady pace. This is great news for buyers who have more options and more negotiating power. The good news for sellers is that properties are selling, with the number of properties sold increasing in January by 17.5% year-on-year according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, so working with agents and other experts to make your property attractive is key.”

About realestate.co.nz

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996. Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.  

Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.

Want more property insights?

  • Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and trends over time.
  • Sold properties: Switch your search to sold to see the last 12 months of sales and prices.
  • Valuations: Get a gauge on property prices by browsing sold residential properties, with the latest sale prices and an estimated value in the current market. 

Glossary of terms:

Average asking price (AAP) is neither a valuation nor the sale price. It is an indication of current market sentiment. Statistically, asking prices tend to correlate closely with the sales prices recorded in future months when those properties are sold. As it looks at different data, average asking prices may differ from recorded sales data released simultaneously.

New listings are a record of all the new residential dwellings listed for sale on realestate.co.nz for the relevant calendar month. The site reflects 97% of all properties listed through licensed real estate agents and major developers in New Zealand. This description gives a representative view of the New Zealand property market.

Stock is the total number of residential dwellings that are for sale on realestate.co.nz on the penultimate day of the month.

Rate of sale is a measure of how long it would take, theoretically, to sell the current stock at current average rates of sale if no new properties were to be listed for sale. It provides a measure of the rate of turnover in the market.

Seasonal adjustment is a method realestate.co.nz uses to represent better the core underlying trend of the property market in New Zealand. This is done using methodology from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.

Truncated mean is the method realestate.co.nz uses to supply statistically relevant asking prices. The top and bottom 10% of listings in each area are removed before the average is calculated to prevent exceptional listings from providing false impressions.      

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Government Cuts – Cuts to frontline health services exposed by health workers survey

Source: PSA

Chilling evidence of the Govt’s broken promise
– 81% say cuts have damaged health services
– 86% say cuts will make it harder for people to get healthcare
– 72% agree health is underfunded
The PSA’s survey of nearly 1300 health workers lays out in stark detail how the Government’s promise that its cuts would not impact frontline health services is blatantly false.
Four out of five workers said that cuts and restructuring over the last year had damaged the services they delivered.
Examples of the impacts of the cuts quoted in the comprehensive PSA Report Health Care in Crisis included:
Hiring restrictions mean that we are only able to run our national paediatric clinic at half capacity. This directly impacts children’s access to timely healthcare.
Cancer patients are not getting adequate diagnosis to help guide their drug regimen.
We now have nurses and social workers covering receptionist duties which takes them away from clinical duties.
Cutting IT support is effectively cutting frontline healthcare.
“The survey is chilling reading for New Zealanders. It shows that the Government’s repeated claims that cuts would not impact frontline health services are just false,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
The survey underpinning the report was run between Friday 24 January and Wednesday 29 January and was completed by 1,287 healthcare workers.
“Make no mistake this report makes clear that health is in crisis and Government policies are to blame. We now have stark evidence from health workers who know the system best that funding cuts and the hiring freeze are having a direct impact on services.
“This is a government prepared to put saving dollars ahead of saving lives. Patient care should not be sacrificed to pay for tax cuts for landlords and big tobacco.
“This report is a wake-up call for the new Health Minister Simeon Brown. He needs to listen to what health workers are telling him and advocate for more funding so New Zealanders get the timely, quality care they deserve.
“The stakes are too high for cuts and job losses to continue; that’s why the PSA has taken Health NZ Te Whatu Ora to the Employment Relations Authority to stop these reckless and poorly thought through cuts.
“Enough is enough – health workers say the Government must lift the hiring freeze, fill vacancies urgently and work with unions, and workers to build and fund a health system that provides the care patients need.”
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First Responders – Waipoua River fire update #8

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

The Waipoua River fire is now contained, and evacuated whānau will start returning to the Waipoua settlement from this evening.
The size of the fire remains 91 hectares with a 5.8km perimeter.
“After an extensive firefighting effort over the last 5 days, the Waipoua River fire is now contained and today’s objective is to keep it that way,” says Incident Commander Phil Larcombe.
“The fire has not gone into native forest and Tane Mahuta is safe.”
Ninety-six firefighters and heavy machinery are currently targetting hot spots. Overnight thermal imaging shows hotspot temperatures have dropped.
“We have been going big and hard here this weekend as a new weather pattern is forecast for Tuesday. We need to be ready for any impacts on the Waipoua River fire and for any incidents the weather might bring across Te Tai Tokerau Northland,” says Larcombe.
Evacuated whānau have been invited to return to their homes this evening, if they wish.
Phil Larcombe says his team are working closely with iwi to rehome people safely and when they are ready, as operations continue over the coming days.
“Fires like these are tough for communities and tough for our people too.
“We’d like to thank the local community and Te Roroa for their manaakitanga while we have been here. Thanks too for all the messages of support for our crews, they are greatly appreciated.”
Parts of Te Tai Tokerau Northland are now in a prohibited fire zone until further notice. This means no outdoor fires can be lit and all fire permits are revoked.
Everyone should go to Checkitsalright.nz to check the fire season in their area and for advice and guidance on lighting fires outside.
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Culture and Heritage – New Zealand rangatahi positively affected by participating in arts, culture and recreation

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

“New research out of Auckland’s University of Technology illustrates that New Zealand children who participate in arts, culture and recreation activities experience better wellbeing,” says Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage Deputy Secretary Policy, Performance & Insights, Emily Fabling.
On Children’s Day (Sunday 2 March 2025), the Arts, Culture and Recreation Participation and Wellbeing Amongst 12-Year-Olds report is being released, which draws on data collected through the well-known Growing Up in New Zealand study.
The Growing Up in New Zealand research project is a longitudinal study undertaken by the University of Auckland. The project follows the lives of more than 6,000 young people and their families from before birth. In 2024, the first specific report studying 12-year-old’s participation and experiences with arts, culture and recreation activities was completed.
“This second report shows that young people who engaged regularly with arts, culture and recreational activities had markedly better wellbeing,” says Emily Fabling.
“Our children are engaging with arts and culture through playing sport or belonging to a performing arts group, participating in ngā toi Māori, reading books or listening to music.
“The report shows that children who took part in these activities experience better wellbeing. Some of these benefits include better outcomes in health, peer- and parent-child relationships, quality of life, cultural identity and school engagement.
“The findings this year strengthen the recommendations from the first report released in 2024 and continue to build on what we already know – that ultimately, engagement in arts, culture and recreation activities is essential for our young people,” says Emily Fabling.
The illuminating findings also add “more in-depth understanding of how young people’s wellbeing is boosted by participating in extracurricular and free-time activities”, says AUT lecturer, and lead researcher, Dr Rebecca Evans.
“Our report took into account a holistic view of young people’s wellbeing, and was framed using a Māori model of health that considered many different aspects, such as a person’s wairua (spiritual health), and here tangata (social and familial ties).
“Findings suggest that regularly getting involved is linked to markedly better wellbeing in all of these areas.
“Kids that do at least five extracurricular activities (like sport practice, music lessons or kapa haka) have the strongest wellbeing scores. This effect was also seen where young people participated in at least four regular free-time activities (like drawing or playing outdoors).
“We also specifically examined participation in ngā toi Māori activities and found that they contribute positively to wellbeing across demographics, including better school engagement. The report suggests that opportunities to engage in ngā toi Māori activities should be provided whenever possible.
“This is the most comprehensive research to date that shows a diverse range of wellbeing benefits are achieved when our rangatahi participate in arts, cultural and recreational activities,” says Dr Rebecca Evans. 
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Update: Police presence at Ōrere Point

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

To be attributed to Assistant Commissioner Jill Rogers:

A man taken into police custody at Ōrere Point in Auckland this afternoon has died.

The man was one of two people taken into custody at Ōrere Point after earlier fleeing from Police in Papakura at 2.15pm.

Taser, OC spray and a police dog unit had been deployed after the man challenged and threatened officers with a samurai sword and bit an officer.

After being taken into custody by officers, the man became unresponsive.

Medical assistance was immediately provided however tragically the man was unable to be revived.

Police are working to locate the man’s next of kin, to inform them of the death and ensure appropriate support is in place for them.

Until the next of kin notifications have been carried out, further details regarding the deceased will not be provided.

A post mortem examination will be carried out in the coming days, to establish the cause of death, and Police will make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.

The matter will also be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and WorkSafe.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.