It’s ‘working as intended’

Hawke's Bay officials have completed silt recovery work after cyclones caused widespread damage, with over 2.5 million cubic metres of silt and debris collected. In Tai Rāwhiti, woody debris removal work is ongoing, with forestry crews aiming to clear slash and debris to improve land use sustainability. Challenges such as steep terrain and high costs of helicopter use are being addressed in the ongoing effort to clear rivers and prevent future build-up of debris. Full...

The Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund, supported by the Auckland Radio Trust, aims to provide financial and editorial support to freelance journalists for producing high-quality, in-depth journalism. The fund will allocate $30,000 in 2025 through two intakes, offering three grants of $5,000 each, with applicants required to submit a one-page pitch outlining their proposed project. A panel of senior editors from The Spinoff will assess submissions based on criteria like originality, relevance, and feasibility, providing...

Job applicants at the Department of Conservation experienced a privacy breach when a staffer misused admin rights to access and manipulate external job candidates' information, impersonate individuals, and send fraudulent emails. The incident was reported in the DoC's 2022/23 annual report to Parliament, highlighting the unauthorized access and misuse of personal data by the employee. Full Article

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the opposition-led parliament due to his attempt to impose martial law, leading to the possibility of his removal by the Constitutional Court in the next six months. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became acting president, urging national security readiness amid concerns over North Korea. Yoon, facing personal scandals and low approval ratings, vowed to fight for his political future, sparking political turmoil in South Korea. Full Article

Israeli soldiers have been denied visas to enter Australia due to concerns of war crimes in Gaza, while facing no such requirements in New Zealand. Israel has a visa-waiver for three months in New Zealand, allowing soldiers to enter for "rest and recreation" from Gaza. The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is urging the government to suspend visas for Israeli soldiers due to alleged involvement in war crimes and genocide in Gaza. Full Article

A child has tragically died after a water-related incident at Motutawa Avalon Park in Lower Hutt, as reported by the police. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the child was found unresponsive in a body of water and despite CPR efforts, they could not be resuscitated. The police have stated that the death will be referred to the coroner for further investigation. Full Article