Latest news with #GETS
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Council Approves Local Contractors To Protect Kumeū From Flooding
Press Release – Auckland Council Auckland Council has approved the use of locally based contractors to carry out essential flood maintenance across the Kumeū district—marking a major win for the community following sustained public advocacy. 'This is great news for the Kumeu,' says Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers. 'The community asked for better care of the Kumeū River and the local stormwater systems to protect the town from flooding—and Council has listened.' Earlier this year, large-scale flood prevention options such as constructing a dam or building a tunnel to the Waitematā Harbour were ruled out as unaffordable and impractical. In their place, Council is now focused on more immediate, high-impact measures—including unclogging culverts, clearing swales, removing river debris, and repairing storm-damaged infrastructure such as stop banks. Importantly, the work will be delivered by contractors based in Kumeū, Huapai, Taupaki, Waimauku, and Riverhead, who bring local knowledge and pride to the job. 'Local contractors know the land and the flood-prone spots better than anyone,' says Sayers. 'They're better placed to deliver value for money and a higher quality of service.' The tender process will open late this month and be advertised on the GETS (Government Electronic Tender Service) tendering platform and in local newspapers. Work is expected to begin in November 2025. Contractors will need to demonstrate experience in flood resilience work and meet Auckland Council criteria. Council will also pre-arrange any required earthworks consents. Councillor Sayers cautions that no flood protection system is perfect. 'If more than 100mm of rain falls within seven hours, the Kumeū River will breach its stop banks and flooding will still occur,' he says. 'But this maintenance work will help to delay such breaches and improves drainage for the surrounding areas during heavy rain events.' Finally, Councillor Sayers is also urging both central and local government to halt new residential developments on known floodplains. 'Right now, the law still allows consents if buildings are 'engineered' to be safe. That's not good enough when it can still put lives at risk,' he says. Council is pushing for a change to the Unitary Plan to allow consents on floodplains to be declined without triggering legal challenges. However, this change depends on the Government's upcoming Resource Management Act reforms, expected before the 2026 general election. 'Proactive river maintenance is a positive step toward a locally-led, common-sense approach to flood resilience,' says Sayers. 'It shows that when the community speaks, and the Council listens, real progress can be made.'
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Council Approves Local Contractors To Protect Kumeū From Flooding
Auckland Council has approved the use of locally based contractors to carry out essential flood maintenance across the Kumeū district—marking a major win for the community following sustained public advocacy. 'This is great news for the Kumeu,' says Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers. 'The community asked for better care of the Kumeū River and the local stormwater systems to protect the town from flooding—and Council has listened.' Earlier this year, large-scale flood prevention options such as constructing a dam or building a tunnel to the Waitematā Harbour were ruled out as unaffordable and impractical. In their place, Council is now focused on more immediate, high-impact measures—including unclogging culverts, clearing swales, removing river debris, and repairing storm-damaged infrastructure such as stop banks. Importantly, the work will be delivered by contractors based in Kumeū, Huapai, Taupaki, Waimauku, and Riverhead, who bring local knowledge and pride to the job. 'Local contractors know the land and the flood-prone spots better than anyone,' says Sayers. 'They're better placed to deliver value for money and a higher quality of service.' The tender process will open late this month and be advertised on the GETS (Government Electronic Tender Service) tendering platform and in local newspapers. Work is expected to begin in November 2025. Contractors will need to demonstrate experience in flood resilience work and meet Auckland Council criteria. Council will also pre-arrange any required earthworks consents. Councillor Sayers cautions that no flood protection system is perfect. 'If more than 100mm of rain falls within seven hours, the Kumeū River will breach its stop banks and flooding will still occur,' he says. 'But this maintenance work will help to delay such breaches and improves drainage for the surrounding areas during heavy rain events.' Finally, Councillor Sayers is also urging both central and local government to halt new residential developments on known floodplains. 'Right now, the law still allows consents if buildings are 'engineered' to be safe. That's not good enough when it can still put lives at risk,' he says. Council is pushing for a change to the Unitary Plan to allow consents on floodplains to be declined without triggering legal challenges. However, this change depends on the Government's upcoming Resource Management Act reforms, expected before the 2026 general election. 'Proactive river maintenance is a positive step toward a locally-led, common-sense approach to flood resilience,' says Sayers. 'It shows that when the community speaks, and the Council listens, real progress can be made.'
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Final Recipient Announced As Round Two Of Innovation Fund Opens
Press Release – New Zealand Government Once fully operational, Tends new service is expected to deliver more than 15,000 sessions to more than 5,000 people, which is another significant step towards the Governments commitment to strengthen peoples access to mental health and addiction … Minister for Mental Health The Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced round two of the Government's Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has opened today. 'The bottom line for this Government is to ensure we are delivering timely quality mental health and addiction support to those who are bravely reaching out for help in their greatest time of need,' Mr Doocey says. 'I am excited for community organisations across the country to have another opportunity to access funding. This time, there will be more smaller grassroots organisations that will be eligible to apply for funding due to the recently announced lowered matched funding limit required. 'It's also my pleasure to announce that Tend Health Ltd is the ninth and final recipient from the fund's first round to set up a new digital primary mental health and addiction service. 'The new service aims to make it easier for people to get primary mental health support, particularly those who are not enrolled in general practice or have difficulty accessing general practice. 'A multi-disciplinary mental health and addictions team will deliver support virtually and with extended operating hours, giving people more flexible access to help when they need it. 'Once fully operational, Tend's new service is expected to deliver more than 15,000 sessions to more than 5,000 people, which is another significant step towards the Government's commitment to strengthen people's access to mental health and addiction support. The initiative will receive $1.97 million of funding over two years from the Government which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Tend to total just under $4 million. 'I am also proud that funding from round one has already enabled eight other organisations to start delivering new and expanded initiatives. They include MATES in Construction, the Mental Health Foundation, Youthline, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust, the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Women's Refuge, and Just a Thought. 'By supporting these initiatives, we're ensuring that people across New Zealand can access the support they need, while also working towards the Government's goal of growing the clinical workforce and reducing wait times for mental health and addiction services. 'I encourage all eligible providers to take up the opportunity to apply for funding and scale-up their work to benefit the many people in the communities they serve,' Mr Doocey says. Notes: The Request for Proposals for round two of the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has been released on the Government Electronic Tenders Site (GETS) here. The match funding requirement for round one required $250,000 per application, round two requires $100,000 per application.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Final Recipient Announced As Round Two Of Innovation Fund Opens
Minister for Mental Health The Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced round two of the Government's Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has opened today. 'The bottom line for this Government is to ensure we are delivering timely quality mental health and addiction support to those who are bravely reaching out for help in their greatest time of need,' Mr Doocey says. 'I am excited for community organisations across the country to have another opportunity to access funding. This time, there will be more smaller grassroots organisations that will be eligible to apply for funding due to the recently announced lowered matched funding limit required. 'It's also my pleasure to announce that Tend Health Ltd is the ninth and final recipient from the fund's first round to set up a new digital primary mental health and addiction service. 'The new service aims to make it easier for people to get primary mental health support, particularly those who are not enrolled in general practice or have difficulty accessing general practice. 'A multi-disciplinary mental health and addictions team will deliver support virtually and with extended operating hours, giving people more flexible access to help when they need it. 'Once fully operational, Tend's new service is expected to deliver more than 15,000 sessions to more than 5,000 people, which is another significant step towards the Government's commitment to strengthen people's access to mental health and addiction support. The initiative will receive $1.97 million of funding over two years from the Government which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Tend to total just under $4 million. 'I am also proud that funding from round one has already enabled eight other organisations to start delivering new and expanded initiatives. They include MATES in Construction, the Mental Health Foundation, Youthline, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust, the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Women's Refuge, and Just a Thought. 'By supporting these initiatives, we're ensuring that people across New Zealand can access the support they need, while also working towards the Government's goal of growing the clinical workforce and reducing wait times for mental health and addiction services. 'I encourage all eligible providers to take up the opportunity to apply for funding and scale-up their work to benefit the many people in the communities they serve,' Mr Doocey says. Notes: The Request for Proposals for round two of the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund has been released on the Government Electronic Tenders Site (GETS) here. The match funding requirement for round one required $250,000 per application, round two requires $100,000 per application.
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
‘Gap' in care to be fixed
A new mental health and addictions service for young people in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago is expected to begin operating later this year. Aroha Metcalf. PHOTO: JULES CHIN Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) has confirmed it is seeking proposals for the service, which will cater for children, adolescents and youth. A request for proposals on the government's GETS website, expiring on May 19, says the service will "address the current service gap" in the region. In a statement, HNZ Te Waipounamu community integration group manager Aroha Metcalf said the service was expected to begin in the "second half of 2025". Ms Metcalf said she could not say more until the contract was awarded, but confirmed the new service had emerged from the "Te Hurihanga — Time for Change" review.
