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New Zealand may experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the East Coast of Russia at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.
Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, … View moreNew Zealand may experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the East Coast of Russia at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.
Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
AREAS UNDER THREAT:
ALL COASTAL AREAS OF THE NORTH ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, THE SOUTH ISLAND, STEWART ISLAND, and the CHATHAM ISLANDS (updated: 3.02pm, 30/07/2025)
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:
STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
- Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
- Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
- Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
- Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
- Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until the Civil Defence states otherwise.
The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz...
What’s happening?
Nurses are going on strike TODAY.
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About 36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants will be off the job from 9am Wednesday to 9am Thursday.
Last-ditch negotiations on Monday failed to reach an agreement.
There will be pickets and marches … View moreWhat’s happening?
Nurses are going on strike TODAY.
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About 36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants will be off the job from 9am Wednesday to 9am Thursday.
Last-ditch negotiations on Monday failed to reach an agreement.
There will be pickets and marches throughout the country.
Why are nurses striking?
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Nurses are concerned about staffing levels and safety.
The latest pay offer was also dismissed as a “massive backward step”.
Health NZ is offering a 3% pay rise over 27 months, plus two lump sum payments of $325.
The counter-offer from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZO) seeks a 5% pay rise over two years, along with $2000 flat rate increases for senior positions. The union also seeks to restore a Tikanga Māori allowance.
“The average salary for both senior and registered nurses, including overtime, professional development recognition programme allowance, and penal rates, is $125,662,” Health NZ said.
“We believe the offer we have made to the union is a fair one given our current financial constraints.”
NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said: “Members also need a wage offer that enables them to meet the rising cost of living without them and their whānau going backwards financially for the important mahi they do.”
In a statement, Health NZ said: “We are disappointed that the New Zealand Nurses Organisation is taking strike action when there is a fair offer on the table.
“We are concerned about the impact strike action will have on patients who are waiting for planned care.”
Safe staffing tops nurse priorities
===========================
Goulter said the latest offer from Health NZ ignores concerns about safe staffing.
“Patients are at risk because of short staffing. Nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants are stretched too thin and can’t give patients the care they need. This is heartbreaking for our exhausted members who became healthcare workers because they want to help people.”
A safe staffing agreement was dropped from negotiations with Health NZ.
Figures obtained by NZNO from Health NZ show surgical hospital wards were short-staffed more than half of all day shifts last year.
Health NZ said in its statement it seeks to keep nurses and patients safe.
“While we are aware of NZNO’s commentary in recent weeks we would like to reassure New Zealanders that Health NZ is completely committed to safe staffing.
“For us, safe staffing in a busy hospital environment includes the skills mix of the staff, the way care is provided, strong clinical judgment, flexibility and thoughtful decision making from our experienced leaders on the frontline. We take responsibility for operational and patient safety decisions seriously as we are accountable for the safety of patients who access our services.”
Goulter said the key issue was making sure there was enough staff to “ensure patient safety”, which was “foremost in the minds of our members” during negotiations.
“While, obviously, there’s a wage element, we’re trying to do our best to ensure we get staffing that’s appropriate to meet what patients need and we seem to have come up short on that,” he told RNZ.
Negotiations began last October but the union said bargaining had stalled over “big ticket items” centred on public safety.
Nurses also walked off the job for eight hours in strike action in December.
“We are striking because patient safety is at risk every day due to chronic understaffing and under-resourcing,” Wellington nurse Hilary Gardner said.
“We simply don’t have enough nurses to provide the level of care our patients need and deserve. It’s not safe and it’s not fair – for patients, their whānau, or the staff trying to care for them. We’ve raised concerns time and time again, but nothing changes. So now we’re taking action to stand up for safer care.”
What happens if I need medical help
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Acute and emergency services will still be provided, including maternity care, intensive care, ambulance services and emergency departments. Patients already in hospital will still receive ongoing care.
“The public can be reassured that we have an agreement with NZNO for life-preserving services support throughout the strike and our hospitals and emergency departments will remain open,” Health NZ chief executive Dr Dale Bramley said.
“To maintain patient safety, most clinics will be closed. However, if you have a hospital appointment, please come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule.”
However, most appointments for the strike days will be rescheduled.
“It is estimated that 4300 planned procedures and specialist appointments would have to be postponed should the 24-hour strike action on July 30 and 31 go ahead,” Bramley said.
Aged residential care, St John Ambulance, GPs and hospice services are not affected by the strike and will operate as normal.
Anyone unsure about whether they need emergency department care should contact their GP or call Healthline 0800 611 116 for free advice.
What’s next?
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The union does not rule out further action if its concerns aren’t addressed, Goulter said.
“Our members have indicated this strike is just the beginning and they are in it for the long haul.
“Our members don’t take this action lightly. They are striking because they are exasperated with being short-staffed and their patients being put at risk because Te Whatu Ora refuses to resource safe staffing levels and instead staffs to an arbitrary budget set by the Government.
“The public know that when there aren’t enough nurses, patients wait longer to get the care they need. Critical observations and treatments may be delayed, errors are more likely and health outcomes worsen. A lack of nurses has reduced numbers of elective surgeries for years and contributed to longer waiting times and the current backlog.
“Any member of the public who has been to a hospital recently knows the reality for patients and the nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and kaimahi hauora who care for them.”
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If you have a power account and live in central, east or south Auckland, a dividend payment may be coming your way in late September. Look out for the Entrust pack in your letterbox or email inbox. Check we have your correct details and let us know of any changes by Friday 8 August by email, mail … View moreIf you have a power account and live in central, east or south Auckland, a dividend payment may be coming your way in late September. Look out for the Entrust pack in your letterbox or email inbox. Check we have your correct details and let us know of any changes by Friday 8 August by email, mail or through the secure web link in your email or letter.
Imagine checking your ticket and realising that you have won big ...
Tell us your dreams - what is the very first thing you would do with the winnings?
Would you make that silly purchase you have always wanted, but could never justify?
Call the bank and immediately pay off your mortgage? … View moreImagine checking your ticket and realising that you have won big ...
Tell us your dreams - what is the very first thing you would do with the winnings?
Would you make that silly purchase you have always wanted, but could never justify?
Call the bank and immediately pay off your mortgage?
Stop by the SPCA on the way home and make a donation?
Buy a captain's hat, open up Trade Me and browse "boats for sale"?
Curious about how coding can help your child?
Join us for a fun, FREE 1-hour online webinar where kids explore the world of coding through interactive activities/projects.
This session is perfect for beginners — no prior experience needed!
✅ Learn how coding builds creativity, logic … View moreCurious about how coding can help your child?
Join us for a fun, FREE 1-hour online webinar where kids explore the world of coding through interactive activities/projects.
This session is perfect for beginners — no prior experience needed!
✅ Learn how coding builds creativity, logic & problem-solving
✅ Live demo: create an animation or simple game
✅ Parents Q&A included
✅ Hosted by TechBuds – Coding for Kids
Register at www.revelationit.co.nz...
Red Cross Shop Onehunga - there’s still time to grab our Winter clothing as we countdown to Spring ☀️❄️
📍200 Onehunga Mall Road
📞096221565
Mon-Sat: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Sun: 10.00am to 5.00pm
A few weeks ago, the Neighbourly team shared a round of complaints over our morning cuppa about the challenges of juggling runny noses and work commitments.
After reading Flip Grater's opinion piece, Playing germ roulette with our kids’ health, we felt a collective sense of relief - … View moreA few weeks ago, the Neighbourly team shared a round of complaints over our morning cuppa about the challenges of juggling runny noses and work commitments.
After reading Flip Grater's opinion piece, Playing germ roulette with our kids’ health, we felt a collective sense of relief - another parent shares our niggling worries.
We wanted to check in with our online neighbours: do you feel the same way? We are all busy, and keeping children home from school is sometimes impossible given other responsibilities. Busy lives and the apparent loss of collective energy around monitoring cold symptoms have led to more students and staff in shared spaces with sniffles and coughs.
But what do you think? Is this a concern?
We want to know: Are there clear Guidelines on when to keep kids off of school?
Should we be having a nuanced conversation about risk management, and how to better support working families?
Share your opinion with us below!
Which companies offer hardship discounts?
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Only a few power companies provide discounts for customers facing hardship, according to a survey conducted for this series by Common Grace.
Mercury said it excluded 135 households from the April 1 price increase and… View moreWhich companies offer hardship discounts?
===================================
Only a few power companies provide discounts for customers facing hardship, according to a survey conducted for this series by Common Grace.
Mercury said it excluded 135 households from the April 1 price increase and froze their prices. It supported about 2000 customers a month experiencing financial hardship. Globug, owned by Mercury, gave the same answer.
Contact has its “HandUp programme”, which it says gave individual payment options and discounted energy to customers in need. It said it also offered short-term energy credits for customers needing immediate relief, and full debt forgiveness to clear long-term, unmanageable debt.
“In 2024, this programme assisted 3500 households, and in the last year, almost $500k of support has been offered.”
Genesis, and now-defunct Frank, pointed to the Power Shout scheme, wherein 328,830 hours of free power were supplied to 4205 vulnerable customers.
Toast, a not-for-profit social retailer, has up to 300 customers who have been referred by its community partners specifically for discounted power.
“Toast provides them with all-year lower pricing than their previous retailer and also aims to discount their tariffs by 30% over winter months. They estimate these discounts will amount to $70,000 off standard Toast tariffs during winter 2025,” the company said.
The remaining companies that responded to the survey said they did not provide discounted power.
Meridian said, “In our experience, discounts are not the way to help people transition out of energy hardship.”
Meridian has its Energy Wellbeing Programme. It provides customers with budgeting support, in-home assessments and tailored support to make their homes healthier, easier and cheaper to heat.
“In some cases, this involves providing items like curtains, insulation, or heat pumps. With more than 2500 households already assisted, we have found this to be a far more sustainable solution.”
Pulse did not offer discounts for hardship: “Our priority is to keep electricity pricing as low as we can for all customers. This year, as an example, from 1 April we only flowed through changes in network services charges and did not change our energy rates.”
Nova said it did not offer discounts for hardship, preferring to work through its support teams.
Ecotricity did not offer discounted power, but was “committed to supporting customers in hardship by offering flexible payment options, working closely with them to manage arrears and connecting them with external support services where appropriate”.
Electric Kiwi pointed to its daily free hour of power. Pre-pay service Wise said it did not offer discounted power to people in hardship because that was difficult to define.
Switch Utilities said it did not offer hardship discounts because the issue was “wider than those in immediate hardship”.
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Kiwi pukupuku (the little spotted kiwi) have been rediscovered in the wild on mainland Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time in five decades!
The pukupuku is the smallest and one of the most vulnerable kiwi species. Only around 2000 birds remain on offshore islands and predator-free … View moreKiwi pukupuku (the little spotted kiwi) have been rediscovered in the wild on mainland Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time in five decades!
The pukupuku is the smallest and one of the most vulnerable kiwi species. Only around 2000 birds remain on offshore islands and predator-free sanctuaries, and are the descendants of just 5 birds which had been translocated to Kapiti Island from South Westland in 1912.
The March discovery in the remote Adams Wilderness Area, on the West Coast, is definitely choice news.
Ka pai to the amazing investigation team: DOC biodiversity ranger Iain Graham and his conservation dog, Brew!
We hope this news brings a smile!
Two identical round mirrors, straight out of the box, never used, as good as the day they were bought. The diameter or length across from one side to the other is 80cm.
$50 each, or both for $80.
Four lovely lamp shades, in good condition but they do need a good clean. One has a crack on the bottom, as shown in the picture.
Give me whatever you think they’re worth.
If anyone needs an old, but still working well, radio cassette deck, this unit is from 1986, bought in Australia, and little used in recent times. The radio and tape deck both still work fine, the speakers are detachable, and there is even a jack so you can input music from another device.
Give … View moreIf anyone needs an old, but still working well, radio cassette deck, this unit is from 1986, bought in Australia, and little used in recent times. The radio and tape deck both still work fine, the speakers are detachable, and there is even a jack so you can input music from another device.
Give me what you think it is worth.
Has been sitting in the garage for a while, but still functions perfectly well, and does a good job sucking up leaves. The front is on a wheel to help support the weight, which makes it lighter and easy to use.
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