Latest news with #TeWaipounamu
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Ngāi Tahu, Mint Renewables announce $100m fund for renewable energy projects
Ngāi Tahu Holdings chief executive Todd Moyle Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Mint Renewables and Ngāi Tahu Holdings have teamed up to build renewable energy projects with $100 million to invest. "This partnership marks a major step forward for Ngāi Tahu Holdings," its chief executive Todd Moyle said. Mint was established in 2022 by infrastructure investor Infratil and Commonwealth Superannuation to be a leading player in the renewable energy, including large scale solar and energy storage. Infratil owns a 73 percent stake in Mint. "Together with Mint, we will accelerate the development of renewable energy projects that will deliver lasting benefits for future generations," Moyle said. Photo: Karl-Friedrich Hohl He said the partnership combined Mint's long-term investment capital and technical expertise with Ngāi Tahu Holdings' strong local commercial presence, values and iwi governance structures. "Energy development has always been a priority for Ngāi Tahu. "We're also looking to partner with other iwi and landowners across the country to create jobs and build resilient infrastructure that meets the needs of our communities." Moyle said the initial focus will be on developments in the South Island. "Obviously, Ngai Tahu has extensive whenua ownership across particularly Te Waipounamu, and so we are working with Mint now to look across that estate first to see what opportunities exist there, and then we'll be looking more broadly for opportunities outside of that as well." Infratil chief executive Jason Boyes said the partnership represented the next chapter in a commitment to long-term value creation through renewable energy. "This partnership reflects our belief that combining deep technical expertise with strong local relationships is key to unlocking sustainable growth and delivering enduring impact," Boyes said.
RNZ News
23-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Nelson Hospital review dismissed as a 'plan to make a plan'
The Nelson Hospital redevelopment has been on the table for a number of years, due to increasing demands from a growing population. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee Persistent delays in recruiting medical staff for Nelson Hospital has been compounded by ageing infrastructure and increasing demand for services, a review of the hospital has found. The review - released on Wednesday - comes after senior doctors publicly raised their longstanding concerns over staffing and patient safety which had led to waitlists blowing out and, in some cases, people waiting months for treatment at the hospital. Health New Zealand flew senior clinicians to Nelson in April to look further into the issues that had been raised. The report has been released publicly this afternoon and its findings have been accepted. Health New Zealand national chief medical officer Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard said a plan would be put in place to address clinical issues, access to treatment, workforce vacancies and infrastructure constraints. It would be overseen by Health New Zealand Te Waipounamu deputy chief executive Martin Keogh. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said the review failed to hold Health NZ to account, months after issues were raised and was little more than a "plan to make a plan". "The review lacks timeframes, holds no leaders to account for these failures. Just last month Nelson Hospital was again in the news for booking "ghost clinics" in what appears to be an attempt to game the system in regard to first specialists' appointments numbers." There was a "worrying trend of poor management and poor leadership at Nelson Hospital which the review fails to address" and it was a wasted opportunity to make positive change, Dalton said. The association was disappointed there had been little engagement with hospital staff and no consultation on the review's recommendations and findings. The hospital, like many others around the country, simply needed more doctors, Dalton said. "Short staffing and increased acute patient demand, coupled with a lack of accountability from our health leaders that allow hospitals to be so poorly staffed has bred a culture of getting by instead of getting ahead," she said. Stokes-Lampard said the proposed action plan would examine high-risk specialties including vascular and obstetrics/gynaecology, improve access to first specialist appointments, reduce wait times for surgery and emergency department care, develop a plan for implementing a sustainable medical workforce and address long term vacancies and infrastructure constraints. She said, alongside the action plan, planning was underway for a temporary inpatient ward to be built within the next 12 months, ahead of a purpose-built 128-bed inpatient unit by 2029 . There were also plans to install a radiation therapy machine at Nelson Hospital by 2029, so patients would no longer have to travel outside the region for radiation treatment. Several other recent initiatives were cited as having improved outcomes for patients and staff, including the recently opened ophthalmology outpatient facility, paediatric outpatient facility and dialysis building. The refurbishment of the hospital's acute mental health facility Wahi Oranga was nearing completion, and the expansion of the emergency department was on track for 2026. Staff and unions would be kept informed as the report's recommendations were implemented, Stokes-Lampard said. While the review was focused on Nelson Hospital, its lessons would also inform wider improvements across New Zealand's healthcare system, she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
05-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather: South Island prepares for heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures to strike
Lake Tekapo has already been hit by heavy snow. Photo: Supplied / Tanja Clauberg A fresh surge of winter weather is set to descend on the South Island on Friday, bringing snow, sub-zero temperatures and the risk of travel disruption. Authorities are urging caution as road conditions turn slippery and alpine areas brace for heavy snowfall. Metservice issued weather warnings covering most of Te Waipounamu on Friday. Meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the heaviest snowfall was expected in high, inland areas. A snow warning was in place for Central Otago and areas of Canterbury south of the Rangitata River for 9am Friday until midnight. "These areas do look most likely to see some heavy snow throughout Friday, running into the night time and maybe just tipping over into Saturday as well," he said. MetService said 15-25 centimetres of snow could accumulate above 500 metres elevation - and that could mean travel disruption and possible damage to trees and powerlines. In Queenstown Lakes District a heavy snow watch was in place between 9am and 9pm Friday, with snow possible down to 400 metres. A heavy snow watch was also issued for Canterbury north of the Rangitata River and southern Marlborough from 4pm on Friday until 8am on Saturday. Temperatures across the southern half of the South Island were expected to dive into the negatives, and remain low for most of the weekend. "A lot of people will have noticed a real chill to the air," Ferris said. "It looks like the South Island, even parts of the North Island, will feel the chills through the weekend. Some places even into the middle of next week, especially around Central Otago, places like Alexandra, might be fighting to get out of those negatives even through the daytime," he said. Lake Tekapo after overnight snow dump. Photo: Supplied / Tanja Clauberg Authorities urged drivers to factor in the wild weather, and prepare for potential road closures. Ferris said Metservice had issued road snowfall warnings for a number of alpine passes. "Conditions could be quite treacherous, so it's going to be one of those things to check in with the Transport Agency, see if there are any road closures," he said. Metservice said snow could accumulate on the Crown Range, the Lindis Pass, the Haast Pass and on the Dunedin to Waitati Highway. In Canterbury, snow was also expected to settle on Porters Pass, Lewis Pass and Arthurs Pass. Civil Defence Emergency Management Canterbury said people who needed to travel should carry snow chains, sleeping bags, warm clothing and emergency items. "If driving, please remember to switch your headlights on, increase your following distance and be prepared for unexpected hazards," it said. Ferris said people should exercise caution even in areas where there was no snow expected. "Plenty of frosts will be forecast around the South Island. So it could just be a case of taking a little bit easier if you have to be doing any morning travel through the weekend," he said. The warnings follow two highway closures in inland Canterbury on Thursday. Both State Highway 8, between Lake Pukaki and Fairlie, and State Highway 80, between Lake Pukaki and Aoraki-Mount Cook, were closed due to heavy snow. New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said both closures were short-lived and the impact was not widespread. The agency said it would be working with its partners to keep a close eye on the State Highway network around the south and would be responding with its crews as required. It also noted a risk of potential severe gale force southeast winds in Westland on Friday afternoon, and encouraged motorists to be prepared. Central Otago and inland Canterbury, from the Rangitata River southwards are under an orange heavy snow warning. Photo: MetService/Supplied The sub-zero temperatures and potential snow are bringing added stress to farmers and their livestock. In Tapanui - near Gore - Federated Farmers' Otago president Luke Kane has been getting his farm and animals ready. He told Morning Report the drop in temperatures and heavy snow didn't come as a surprise for this time of the year. "It is winter after all. We normally would anticipate two to three of these storms for us throughout the winter and this may be the first one." Preparation was key when these types of snow storms hit, including putting out few extra hay bails, utilising shelter and making sure staff were safe and well feed, Kane said. "We make sure that we have got everything for the next few days pretty well prepared for the cows so we are not having to run tractors around in the mud or snow if it does come. "Most people are pretty well climatised to this type of thing down here." Kane said most farmers had mostly recovered going into winter after a "horrendous spring in the lower South". "Ground conditions are pretty fantastic really and it's shaping up to be okay at this point." He said he hoped people would use their common sense as the chill moved in. "There's always a hope for common sense but it doesn't always prevail right," he laughed. The cold snap could bring a welcome coating of snow for ski areas approaching their winter opening dates. The forecast showed Canterbury's Mt Hutt ski field, which abandoned plans to open early last month , could have a 50 centimetre top up. It was aiming for an opening date of 13 June. There was more than 50 centimetres of snow in Friday's forecast for some Arthurs Pass ski areas, such as Porters and Mount Cheeseman, and for Mackenzie Basin ski areas including Mount Dobson and Roundhill - all set to open later this month, or in early July. Ski fields in the Queenstown Lakes Area - set to open on 14 June - were all in line for a smaller dusting of about 10 - 15 centimetres on Friday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- RNZ News
Heading off: farmers and the move to high-country tourism
Heading Off is our weekly travel segment where we pick a destination and learn what's it's like to visit, what you'll see and what you can do. Today we're heading to Te Waipounamu - to speak to Jonathan Wallis who manages Minaret Station at Lake Wānaka Minaret station has been owned by his family since 1995 and like many farming families across the motu, the Wallis' have been diversifying their income through high-country tourism.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- General
- Scoop
Ngāti Rārua Acknowledges Te Pūtahitanga O Te Waipounamu
Press Release – Te Runanga o Ngati Rarua Te Rnanga o Ngti Rrua wishes to express our collective aroha, gratitude, and respect to all those who have served and led within Te Ptahitanga o Te Waipounamu throughout its remarkable journey. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua acknowledges the significance of today's poroporoāki (farewell ceremony) for Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, hosted at Te Ukaipō, Wairau. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua wishes to express our collective aroha, gratitude, and respect to all those who have served and led within Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu throughout its remarkable journey. Today is both a time for reflection and a reaffirmation of the mana that Whānau Ora has built within Te Waipounamu. We acknowledge the unwavering dedication of champions who have carried the kaupapa forward – including our Wairau-based leaders, kaumātua, whānau, navigators, and community advocates. Although today's poroporoāki closes a significant chapter, it also reminds us of the enduring resilience gifted to us by our tūpuna. It is upon these foundations that we will continue to uphold the vision of whānau rangatiratanga, wellbeing, and strength.
