Latest news with #SarahCurtis
NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Specialist education workers strike nationwide over pay talks
The two-hour strike was co-ordinated by two unions – the Public Service Association (PSA) and NZEI Te Riu Roa – representing different groups of ,inistry staff. Although bargaining separately, both unions say their members are united in frustration over inadequate pay offers and deteriorating working conditions. A parent gives a show of support for striking specialist education workers. Photo / Sarah Curtis The PSA, representing around 1500 members, includes staff working on national education programmes such as reform initiatives and emergency response. Their concerns centre on the ministry's attempt to remove flexible working provisions from their collective agreement and what they describe as a 'miserly' pay offer that fails to keep pace with the cost of living. NZEI Te Riu Roa represents about 800 field staff and service managers, including speech language therapists, early intervention teachers, psychologists, and advisers on deaf children. These workers say they are stretched thin, with children waiting too long for support due to chronic understaffing and excessive overtime. NZEI member Justine Blankenstein said the strike was a last resort. 'We're very sad that it's come to this, and we feel forced into it. Children are sitting on waiting lists for too long, staffing is inadequate, and we're doing too much overtime,' she said. 'We tried to negotiate our collective agreements, but the offer didn't address our issues – there was no new money for most of us.' She also pointed to the May Budget announcement, which allocated funding to some areas of learning support. 'NZEI has calculated that the Government would need to invest $2.5 billion over five years to fix the long-standing issues. The Budget delivered some changes, but it was done by cutting other specialist staff, like resource teachers for literacy and Māori,' Blankenstein said. From Wellington, PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said, 'The ministry is threatening flexible working arrangements by removing explicit commitments in the collective to allow members to work in a way which suits their family circumstances. This is the thin end of the wedge, reflecting this Government's hostility to what are modern workplace practices around the world.' PSA Whangārei delegate Te Wairua Muriwai (left) and NZEI member Justine Blankenstein. Photo / Sarah Curtis A letter distributed to parents ahead of the strike said the action was not taken lightly. 'We are between a rock and a hard place – trying to give tamariki the professional support they need while working under conditions that don't reflect the value of our roles,' the letter read. 'To fix this, we need fair working terms and conditions. This will help attract and retain great people to work with children.' The letter also noted that many families may never need to access specialist support but for those who do, the services are vital. 'Tamariki who need additional support and their whānau are at the centre of everything we do.' Both unions are urging the ministry to return to the bargaining table with better offers. The Ministry of Education has said mediation with NZEI was scheduled for July 31 and August 1, and discussions were continuing with the PSA. 'While we are disappointed that NZEI and PSA have chosen to proceed with industrial action despite initial offers, we remain committed to progressing collective agreements in good faith with the unions.' Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years' experience in journalism, most of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Botulism alert: Northland vets urge caution for dog owners
The dogs were also known to have been eating a rotten carcass – a risk for contracting the disease, Harrison-Wilde said. Botulism, which can also affect humans and a range of animals, including birds and fish, is a rare but potentially fatal illness caused by the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. Botulinal toxins are the most potent, naturally-occurring, acutely toxic substances known. They can be destroyed if exposed to temperatures above 85C for at least five minutes. However, C. botulinum spores are resilient, capable of surviving in soil and aquatic sediments for extended periods, potentially years, under favourable conditions. Warm temperatures, high humidity, and anaerobic environments – such as those found in decomposing organic matter – created ideal conditions for the bacteria to thrive. Dogs typically got botulism by ingesting the toxin from decomposing carcasses, spoiled food, rotting vegetation, or contaminated water and mud. 'In the Bay of Islands, the abundance of marine life means that fish or bird carcasses washed ashore can be a significant source of contamination. Additionally, improperly stored pet food or exposure to garbage can also pose risks,' Harrison-Wilde said. She urged owners to keep their dogs away from high-risk situations. 'Always supervise them around beaches, bush tracks, and paddocks,' Harrison-Wilde said. A dog usually showed signs of having the disease within 12-72 hours of ingesting the toxin, and the earlier those signs appeared, the more serious the disease, she said. Recovery typically took two to three weeks, but dogs on the mend should show marked signs of improvement within a week. With proper medical care and support (maintaining hydration, controlling symptoms, etc.), the expected outcome for most patients was positive, although some dogs could die from respiratory paralysis, Harrison-Wilde said. If the amount of ingested toxin was not large and there were no other infections, dogs often recovered naturally without medical intervention. The two dogs presented to Bay of Islands Vets were treated with supportive care, intensive nursing and intravenous fluid therapy, she said. An antitoxin was available for cases confirmed by laboratory testing, but was not readily stocked by most veterinary hospitals in New Zealand. And to be effective, it needed to be administered before signs of paralysis appeared. Previously documented cases included working dogs that had swum in muddy water after a hard day's work in warm weather. The water was suspected to have been contaminated during an outbreak of avian botulism. During 2024, about 60 ducks died from an outbreak of avian botulism in the Whangārei suburb of Totara Parklands. Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years' experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Northland police launch homicide investigation after man found dead in Parakao
'We are particularly seeking information and sightings in the area between 2pm and 8pm on Friday May 9, of a 1999 blue and silver Mitsubishi L200 ute and of a man reportedly seen walking along SH14 that afternoon and evening,' Harris said. Harris said police were also seeking any CCTV along Mangakahia Road, Otaika Valley Road and State Highway 14 towards Whangārei. Police would particularly like any dashcam footage on the same route between 2pm-8pm. 'We understand this is an unsettling time for the community and we are working hard to establish what has happened,' Harris said. Anyone with information should make a report online, or call 105, quoting the reference number 250509/6749. Information could also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years' experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
