New Zealand / Testing Government ends road cone hotline as councils told to shift to risk-based traffic management Six-month pilot points to council approvals as the driver of cone-heavy sites, with NZTA now tying funding to updated guidelines and a full shift required by July 2027.
Testing / New Zealand Council drops fortnightly rubbish trial; alternatives due in 2026 The six-month trial in Te Atatū Peninsula, Panmure/Tāmaki and Clendon Park/Weymouth has been shelved after strong opposition, with staff now tasked to find other ways to cut kerbside waste.
Testing / Law Enforcement Roadside drug testing starts in Wellington, with national rollout set for 2026 Police begin saliva screening for THC, meth, MDMA and cocaine; lab confirmation required for penalties, with 12-hour driving bans after two positive roadside tests.
Testing / Law Enforcement Roadside drug testing begins in Wellington, nationwide rollout due by mid-2026 Police start saliva checks for THC, meth, MDMA and cocaine; positives go to the lab before penalties, refusals draw a $400 fine and demerits.
Government / Testing Auckland to allow in‑water spot cleaning of arriving ships this summer Provisional approval lets Port of Auckland and NZ Diving & Salvage deploy targeted hull-cleaning to help cruise and cargo vessels meet biofouling rules without leaving port
Law Enforcement / Testing Roadside drug screening starts in Wellington on Monday, first use on the roads here Saliva tests will check for THC, meth, MDMA and cocaine; refusals draw a $400 fine, 75 demerits and a 12-hour driving ban.
Law Enforcement / Testing Three Auckland liquor stores sold alcohol to minors in controlled purchase operation Police tested 36 premises over three weeks; three failed and will be referred to the licensing authority.
Law Enforcement / Testing Police seize 3D-printed firearm; three Mongrel Mob-linked men arrested in Hawke’s Bay meth operation A six-month covert investigation driven by wastewater results led to simultaneous raids across Central Hawke’s Bay and Hastings, with more charges likely.
Government / Testing Government eases testing for micro abattoirs, cutting carcass sampling from 60 to as low as 12 a season The change targets very low-throughput processors, with ministers saying it lowers costs without weakening food safety oversight.
Health / Testing Shellfish warning for Bay of Plenty coast from Maketu to Waihi after paralytic toxin detected The public is advised not to collect or eat shellfish along the stretch as an algal bloom drives paralytic shellfish toxin above safe limits.
Testing / New Zealand PPTA questions PISA as a guide for education policy, urges focus on inequality The secondary teachers’ union says international rankings risk narrowing the curriculum and distorting debate, and wants the government to prioritise socio-economic factors over league tables.
Testing / Government No sign of M. bovis in spring milk tests as eradication effort enters final phase After two years without a detected infection, the programme shifts to proving absence and scales back routine movement controls.
