Kāpiti Airport: Air NZ Withdrawal a Huge Loss
The suspension of Air New Zealand flights between Paraparaumu and Auckland will leave a large hole in the region's economy.
Air New Zealand announced today their last flight from Paraparaumu will be 3 April 2018, just a week after the hugely successful Open Day at Kāpiti Coast Airport where more than 1000 people visited to show their support for the daily flight service... More>>
ALSO:

• RNZ - Developer disappointed with Air NZ over Kāpiti move
• Kapiti District Council - Council working to attract new air services to Kāpiti
• National - Air New Zealand dumps on Kapiti
• Kapiti Coast Chamber Of Commerce - Earlier Business Professionals Encouraged To Fly From Kāpiti

Passenger Drones: The World’s First 'Self-Piloted Air Taxi' In Canterbury
Zephyr Airworks has today unveiled the world’s first self-piloted electric air taxi, supported by Christchurch and the Canterbury region. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Helping international innovators connect
• Airways NZ - Airways welcomes Zephyr flying taxi to NZ airspace
• Christchurch Airport - Flying from the South Island into the future
• NZTech - NZ seen as the world’s living global tech lab
• AI Forum NZ - AI now bringing exciting possibilities to NZ

Harassment Allegations: Margaret Bazley To Lead External Review Of Russell McVeagh
Malcolm Crotty, Chair of Russell McVeagh, has announced that the firm has appointed Dame Margaret Bazley ONZ DNZM, Hon DLit. to head an external review of incidents of sexual harassment within the law firm that occurred in 2015/16. More>>

ALSO:

• Russell McVeagh - Russell McVeagh Statement on poor behaviour allegations - Russell McVeagh announces external review - Russell McVeagh statement
• Women on Boards - Russell McVeagh Law Firm Sponsor Deal Cancelled
• NZ Law Society - Working group to focus on sexual harassment reporting - Law Society outlines complaints resolution process - Legal profession must act, says Law Society President - Law Society on Russell McVeagh allegations
• Criminal Bar Association - Statement on harrassment or bullying behaviour
• NZ Bar Association - Bar Association Re Sexual Misconduct Complaints
• Women's Law Journal - Russell McVeagh & NZ Women's Law Journal
• Diversity Works - Sexual harassment policies a must-have for all businesses - Human Rights Commission risks ‘no confidence vote’
• United Nations - #MeToo: “A transformative moment, liberating and empowering”
• NZ Govt - Human Rights Commission review of organisational culture
• Human Rights Commission - Human Rights Commission supports review
• Wellington City Council - Council supports sexual violence prevention initiative
• Wellington City Council - Wellington takes lead on sexual harassment
• VUWSA - VUWSA stands behind student rally against sexual violence

NIWA: Scientists Measure Glaciers After Record-Beating Summer
Climate scientists and glaciologists are taking to the skies this week to find out how New Zealand’s glaciers are faring following this summer’s record-breaking warmth... Dr Lorrey says he expects this year’s survey to reveal some “pretty pathetic” glaciers, following New Zealand’s hottest summer on record. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Glaciers in trouble after marine heatwave

Crown Accounts: Govt Accounts Continue To Track Slightly Above Forecast
Stronger employment growth and residential investment continued to support the Government’s financial accounts in the seven months to the end of January, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Government finances exceed forecast
• BusinessDesk - NZ govt's operating surplus tracking ahead of forecast
• The Treasury - Financial Statements of the Government

NZI Research: Sustainability Drives Growth
NZI has just released compelling research showing that those who run a sustainable business (taking into account environmental, social and economic factors) are twice as likely to grow as those not engaged. More>>

Summery Climate Summary: NZ’s Hottest Recorded Summer
The nation-wide average temperature for summer 2017-18 was 18.8°C (2.1°C above the 1981-2010 from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which began in 1909). Summer temperatures were well above average (>1.20°C above the summer average) across all regions. More>>

ALSO:

• NIWA - NZ Climate Summary Feb 2018: Two ex-Tropical Cyclones

Trump's Tariffying: NZ Could Get Caught In International Trade Crossfire
"If this action leads to a weakening of world trading organisation and the rules, then New Zealand could well get caught in the crossfire, it will reduce confidence globally." More>>

ALSO:

• BusinessDesk - Trade tariff and nuclear tensions ease, for now - World Week Ahead: Trump’s tariffs, US jobs - NZ dollar falls to month low vs euro
• TVNZ - Q+A: Winston Peters on China and the Pacific "reset" - Q+A: Simon Bridges talks trade, foreign policy and Te Reo
• The Nation - Lisa Owen interviews David Parker

Caulis Up To $10 Each: Vegetable Prices Grow As Crops Rot
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman said heavy rain across many parts of the country, Cyclone Gita and high humidity are causing crops to go to seed or rot. More>>

ALSO:

• ANZ Bank - Keeping up with smashing demand for avocados
• Eden Park - Eden Park helps cut neighbours’ food & beverage bills
• Bio Protection Research Centre - Food production system ‘unsustainable’
• Andy Loader - Fruit & Veg Un-Affordable

Hauraki Gulf Forum: Political Action Needed To Restore Capacity
The ‘State of our Gulf’ report released today by the Hauraki Gulf Forum highlights ongoing degradation in the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana and states that the most profound recent change to pressures facing the Hauraki Gulf is a surge in population. More>>

ALSO:

• Forest And Bird - Hauraki Gulf: Political action needed to drive Sea Change

E-Can: Approval To Release New Rabbit Calicivirus Strain
E-Can has received the approvals required for the importation and release of the new rabbit haemorrhagic virus disease strain, RHDV1 K5 ... More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Rabbit killing virus too slow to arrive, say farmers

Star-Crossed Beverages: Health Star Rating To Be Removed From Milo Powder
Milo’s high rating is based on the drink being made with skim milk. On its own, the powder only earns 1.5 stars. “It’s the skim milk that boosts the number of stars. But our research found most milo drinkers prepare the drink with standard blue top or full-cream milk,” Ms Chetwin says. More>>

Metastatistics: More Than Half A Million Fill In Census Online
More than half a million New Zealanders around the country have already filled in their 2018 Census online, with official census day less than a week away, Stats NZ said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Update Statistics NZ - More than 1.2 million people fill in census online
• NZ Govt - Minister of Statistics - Gender questions a priority
• Canterbury DHB - Completing the Census is vital
• Hawke's Bay DHB - Complete your Census to help fund future health services
• Taranaki DHB - Community urged to complete Census to secure millions
• Thames Coromandel District Council - Be counted - Census 2018
• Auckland DHB - Census at Auckland hospitals
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - Stats NZ’s sexualisation of Winston Peters disturbing
• Humanist Society - Non-religious New Zealanders encouraged to say so in Census
• Out-Link - Blind people should count. My run-around with Statistics New Zealand, and how they’re making me a criminal. – Mosen Consulting

Statistics: Record High Occupancy For Hotels In 2017
New Zealand hotels are the busiest they have ever been, with a record high occupancy rate of almost 70 percent in the year ended December 2017, Stats NZ said. More>>

Stink Bugs: Fourth Bulk Carrier Ordered To Leave New Zealand
The Glovis Caravel was ordered to leave New Zealand yesterday evening after the crew reported finding nearly 600 stink bugs, 12 of them alive, while the vessel was anchored near Auckland. More>>

ALSO:

• Earlier BusinessDesk - Minimal impact after ships turned away due to stink bug - 'Short-term' hit from MPI's stink bug strategy worth it
• Horticulture NZ - Bug’s impact on horticulture devastating, report says
• RNZ - Stink bug invasion could cost NZ billions
• Ministry For Primary Industries - MPI targets vehicles and machinery from Japan

Since 1990: Greenhouse Emissions Rise At A Slower Pace Than Growth
New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions rose 24 percent in the past 25 years, but grew more slowly than the economy in general, Stats NZ said today. More>>

ALSO:

• BusinessDesk - Govt support needed to hit renewable energy target - NZ carbon emission rise lags economic growth
• Science Media Centre - SMC Bulletin - Green transport with biofuels - Environmental economics report - Expert reaction

Nationwide Release Planned: Approval For New Rabbit Calicivirus Strain
Environment Canterbury has received the approvals required for the importation and release of the new rabbit haemorrhagic virus disease strain, RHDV1 K5. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Rabbit killing virus too slow to arrive, say farmers
• Waikato Regional Council - New rabbit virus to be released in parts of the Waikato
• Federated Farmers - Confidence new virus will put big hit on pest rabbits

Wine: New Zealand Confirmed Number 3 In USA Market
Last year the total value of New Zealand wine imported to the US reached US$422 million, up 6% on 2016 and surpassed only by Italy (US$1.9 billion) and France (US$1.8 billion). More>>

ALSO:

• Image -2006 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards - Wine Awards to pioneer Riedel glasses for judging

Gita Hits NZ: 'It Was Literally Like A Wall Of Water'
"We were looking at the river at 80 cubic metres at about 4pm thinking it was amazing that we'd dodged the bullet ... an hour and a half later it was 600 cubic metres, and it just kept going up to 900 from there." More>>

ALSO:

• Scoop Full Coverage - Cyclone Gita Hits the Pacific And NZ
• RNZ - Climate Minister: New cyclone category may be needed - Detected faecal matter closes popular swimming spot
• MetService - Settled weather expected for Cyclone Gita clean up
• Canterbury DHB - Health Warning for swimming after heavy rainfall
• Insurance Council of NZ - First storm of 2018 costs more than $26m
• Emergency Management Canterbury - Cyclone Gita - CDEM Canterbury
• Nelson City Council - Swimming advisory after Ex-Cyclone Gita
• Nelson Tasman Civil Defence - Cyclone Gita Update: Thursday 22 February 2018 1700 hrs - Nelson Tasman - State of emergency remains in place
• Taranaki Civil Defence - 22/2 10.10am: Working on multiple fronts
• Taranaki DHB - Health advice during the New Plymouth water shortage
• New Plymouth District Council - New Plymouth District water update: 5:15pm 23 February 2018 - Response update from NPDC 5pm 21/2
• Kaikoura District Council - Kaikoura Update: Emergency Operations Centre Standing Down
• Horizons Regional Council - Cyclone Gita update #4
• Hawkes Bay DHB - Pandora Pond Swimming warning
• NZTA - Kaikōura SH1 - effect of Gita and timeline for repairs
• Timaru District Council - Timaru: Cyclone Gita – Update #6
• Marlborough District Council - Cyclone Gita – Marlborough Civil Defence Update No. 3
• Image Out-Link - earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions
• EARLIER - Gita Hits the Pacific - Scoop's World Section

America's Cup: Another Day, Another Cup Village Plan
A fourth option modelling what an America's Cup Village in Auckland might look like has arrived today as a planning deadline nears with no agreement in sight.More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - Another day, another America's Cup plan
• Auckland Council - Two week extension for America’s Cup submissions
• Viaduct Harbour Holdings - VHH Has Alternative America’s Cup Plan