Author: MIL OSI Publisher

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Move-on orders build on progress in Auckland CBD

Source: New Zealand Government

New move-on powers for Police, announced today, are a key part of the Government’s action plan to create a thriving Auckland city centre, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Move-on orders give Police an important tool to address antisocial behaviour that makes people feel unsafe. When people are intimidating others, blocking doorways, or engaging in threatening behaviour, Police need the ability to act.

“These powers build on the work already underway through our city centre action plan announced last year and will help restore confidence that Auckland’s CBD is a safe, welcoming, and vibrant place for families, workers and visitors.

“Auckland’s city centre is a vital part of New Zealand’s economy, contributing around 8 percent of our GDP and serving as the gateway to our tourism sector. Ensuring the CBD is safe and welcoming for those who live, work, and visit is essential.”

The city centre action plan is already seeing good progress in making the city centre safer and more welcoming. 

  • 146 people have been placed into housing through our Housing First initiative by the end of January – up from 33 when the plan was announced in November last year.
  • Crime victimisations have fallen from 1,010 in January 2024 to 638 in December 2025, with a new Police Station opened in the CBD last year and Police increasingly on the beat.

“Our approach balances support with accountability. We’re helping those who need housing and mental health services, while taking firm action against behaviour that intimidates others.

“Auckland Council has also made good progress improving city centre safety, including redesigning Pocket Park to reduce anti-social behaviour, and ensuring street lighting and cameras cross the CBD are operational to support Police.

“Our city centre has never been more important. The International Convention Centre has recently opened, the City Rail Link opens this year, and cruise ships are bringing thousands of visitors into Auckland. 

“I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the progress we’ve seen so far – from frontline Police and outreach workers to council staff and community groups. While we’re heading in the right direction, there’s still more work to do to ensure Auckland’s city centre is a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.

“Our Government is backing Auckland to succeed.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/22/move-on-orders-build-on-progress-in-auckland-cbd/

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Serious crash, SH1, Marlborough

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 1 is closed following a serious crash near Redwood Pass this morning.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash at around 10.40am.

Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

The road is closed while emergency services are in attendance, motorists are advised to expect delays or avoid travel if possible.

ENDS

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/serious-crash-sh1-marlborough/

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Government announces homeless move-on orders – for all town centres, not just Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

The government has confirmed it will give police the power to issue move-on orders – not just in Auckland, but all town centres across the country.

The powers will mean police can move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour as young as 14 years old.

That is despite data showing public order, health and safety offence proceedings reaching levels much lower than they were a decade ago, and the police minister expressing a reluctance towards police leading a homelessness response in Auckland’s CBD and an expectation other agencies “step up and own” social issues.

Last November, it was reported the government was considering measures to move homeless people out of Auckland’s city centre.

At the time, the prime minister said the government was “up for those”, but there had to be supports in place for the homeless.

Now, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell have revealed details of the policy, confirming it will be rolled out everywhere, and it will be left to police officers to decide what support a person needs, if at all.

Goldsmith said New Zealand’s main streets and town centres had been “blighted” by disruption and disturbance, with businesses “declining” as bad behaviour went unchecked.

He said police officers currently had limited options to respond, particularly if behaviour did not reach the level of offending.

“It means many disruptive, distressing and potentially harmful acts can occur before officers have any means of intervention. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The government will amend the Summary Offences Act to give police the power to issue move-on orders to people who are displaying disorderly, disruptive, threatening, or intimidating behaviour.

They will also apply to people who are obstructing or impeding someone entering a business, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, or displaying behaviour indicating an attempt to inhabit a public place.

The orders will require someone to leave that area for a specified time – up to 24 hours – and distance determined by the officer.

When the order is issued, the person will be warned it is an offence to breach it, unless they have a reasonable excuse for being there. The penalty for a breach would be a maximum fine of $2,000 or up to three months imprisonment.

Specifics on where people could be moved to were light.

Mitchell said someone would be required to move to a “reasonable distance” away from the area, “as specified by the constable.”

He said every situation would be different, and police had the expertise to assess and determine what support would be required.

“They do this every day,” Mitchell said.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Officers were familiar with their area and already had strong networks and partnerships with social and housing services, and Mitchell expected police would work closely with these services as the frontline operational guidance was developed.

However, emails released to RNZ under the Official Information Act showed Mitchell’s office expressing a reluctance for police to lead a homelessness response in Auckland’s CBD.

In the email, dated 5 November, a staff member said: “Feel it is important just to flag that Minister Mitchell does not believe that police has a leadership role in this and has in the past ended up picking up the work of other agencies, which stretches their resources in other areas.”

The staffer said police “obviously” had powers that others did not, and would assist, but Mitchell was “very keen to disabuse anyone of the notion that Police will lead a response to homelessness.”

“Police are already doing good work to curb offending in the CBD. Minister Mitchell’s view is that this needs to be cross agency work led elsewhere, with police continuing to do their part on the offending piece, but that the social issues require other agencies to step up and own those issues.”

The emails showed the government was considering adding in a commitment regarding antisocial behaviour to the Auckland City Deal, with police and Internal Affairs working with the Council to “support enforcement tools and powers, including strengthened bylaws and legislative change, where required.”

Mitchell’s staffer said they were “slightly frustrated” that the wording had progressed somewhat quickly, “as it looks to me like police may end up carrying a leadership role – acknowledge that this may end up having to be feedback on the CRD paper when it comes through, but I doubt Minister Mitchell would support that wording as framed.”

Rough sleeper tents in Wellington’s Shelly Bay. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The changes will have to go through a legislative process before coming into effect.

Police data shows public order, health and safety offence proceedings in Auckland City were at a 10-year low in 2025, with just 39 proceedings in December 2025 compared to 168 in December 2015.

Nationwide, there were 428 public order, health and safety offence proceedings in December 2025, compared to 1663 in December 2015.

Earlier this year, the Wellington City Mission said it would actively oppose any move-on orders if they were implemented without support services.

When they were first mooted in November, the Auckland City Mission said any enforcement approach would be “totally and utterly ineffective”, while Green Party co-leader and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick said moving homeless people out of the city centre would only shift the problem elsewhere.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/government-announces-homeless-move-on-orders-for-all-town-centres-not-just-auckland/

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Arts – 2026 NZSA Kupu Kaitiaki & Kaituhi Mentor Programmes for Kaituhi Māori

Source: NZSA

Open For Applications February 20th – April 10th

He karanga tēnei ki ngā kaituhi Māori, he pōwhiri hoki kia kawea ō pūkenga tuhituhi ki tētahi taumata kounga hou. Whakaae ki tā mātou wero ki te tuhi i a koe anō ki tētahi wāhi e tū ai koe i waenga i ō hoa aropā, i ō hoa kaituhi hoki e titiro ai ki anamata. Nau mai, piki mai, kake mai!

Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei

Ko tā ngā hōtaka o te NZSA e kīia nei ko ngā hōtaka Kaituhi, Kupu Kaitiaki hoki, he tautoko i te whakarahi i ngā reo Māori, i ngā kōrero Māori kia kitea ai, hei te mutunga iho, kia nui ake te tā me te whakaatu i aua mahi. Kua whakatauiratia aua hōtaka ki ngā hōtaka kaiakopono me te aromatawai kua 30 tau e haere ana, he mea whai pānga, angitu hoki hei tautoko i ngā kaituhi. Whakarato ngātahi ai te NZSA me Ngā Kaituhi Māori i aua hōtaka motuhake mā ngā kaituhi Māori.

These two programmes aim to support the amplification of Māori voices, Māori stories, and ultimately see greater publication and performance of these works.  They are modelled on NZSA’s 30-year successful and impactful mentorship and assessment support programmes for writers. NZSA offers two dedicated programmes for Māori writers through Ngā Kaituhi Māori.

Kaituhi Māori Mentor Programme:

Designed for emerging writers who whakapapa Māori to have the opportunity to work closely with an acclaimed writer as their mentor to hone their tuhituhi ability and, in the process, evolve and refine a work toward a publishable state. We welcome applications from kaituhi who write in te reo Māori and/or te reo Pākehā, in the genres of fiction including short fiction, on any topic(s). We welcome kaituhi of all ages – from rangatahi to kaumātua.
 
Over a period of up to six months, this mentorship provides opportunities to discuss ideas and issues – practical and editorial – and benefit from the experience, mōhio and mana of experienced kaituhi Māori to help aspiring kaituhi Māori develop further skills to sustain and strengthen their future career. Modelled on a tuakana-teina relationship, this kaupapa aims to offer a safe and supportive space for emerging kaituhi to develop their craft; gain encouragement and accountability, along with substantive feedback. As well as mentorship, part of this programme is to provide constructive suggestions for the refinement of a work in progress.  
 
There are four (4) mentorships for kaituhi Māori available in 2026.

Kupu Kaitiaki:

This kaupapa is an assessment programme and aims to provide new and emerging kaituhi with valuable feedback from a skilled Kupu Kaitiaki, for the refinement of a part of a manuscript written in te reo Māori or in English. The proposed work can be in the genres of poetry, fiction (excluding plays), short fiction or non-fiction (excluding screenplays and picture books), on any topic(s), of up to 30,000 words. The two selected successful manuscripts will be read by an experienced te reo Māori pūkenga and literary advisor – a Kupu Kaitiaki – who will compile feedback in a brief report. It offers kaituhi an opportunity to further develop style and direction, and receive support for a project in the early stages of development.

The desired outcome is to champion Māori writers and Māori writing and in particular, works by kaituhi Māori in te reo Māori. To apply, kaituhi can send in a piece a 1-2 page synopsis along with a sample (max 5,000 words) of the manuscript they are seeking feedback on. There are two opportunities available in 2026. Assessments of the recipients’ works will begin shortly after selection, and will be completed on/by 30 June 2026.

Applications for these programmes are open from 20 February – 10 April 2026. Applicants will be notified within 4-6 weeks of the result.

How to Apply

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/22/arts-2026-nzsa-kupu-kaitiaki-kaituhi-mentor-programmes-for-kaituhi-maori/

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Consumer NZ – Support for surcharge ban getting stronger

Source: Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ urges the government to push ahead with a surcharge ban, with research finding almost three in five New Zealanders support a ban on card payment surcharges, and only 15% oppose the proposal.

It’s estimated that excessive card payment surcharges cost New Zealand shoppers approximately $65 million a year. Yet since December 2025, businesses’ costs associated with accepting card payments have reduced, saving businesses an estimated $90 million a year.

“Two-thirds of New Zealanders think that businesses should cover the cost of card payments themselves,” says Jessica Walker, Consumer NZ campaign manager.

Since 2023, Consumer has received over 300 complaints about excessive surcharges. The highest reported surcharge was 25%.

Walker says New Zealanders are frequently being stung by excessive, hidden and unavoidable surcharges.

“Too many businesses are flouting the guidelines which say surcharges should be transparent, avoidable and not excessive.    

“Over a quarter of New Zealanders told us they think they are rarely or never informed of surcharges ahead of payment, and more than four in ten said they’ve paid a surcharge because they couldn’t use a no-fee option.”

According to Consumer, the best way to fix the surcharge mess is an all-out ban.

“A ban would be simple for businesses and would stop consumers from being hit with hidden or excessive surcharges. If a business chooses to pass on additional costs due to the ban, we expect those costs to be minimal.

“Internationally we are seeing a more progressive stance when it comes to surcharging, with Australian regulators signalling they will ban surcharges on debit and credit card payments from mid-2026. In the UK and EU, surcharging is already largely banned. We don’t think it’s fair New Zealand consumers are expected to continue shouldering these costs.”

Consumer says there’s widespread surcharge frustration amongst shoppers and it’s time for the government to fix the surcharge mess.  

Notes

Survey data is from the Consumer NZ Sentiment Tracker; a nationally representative survey of 1,000 New Zealanders aged 18+ conducted 21-29 January 2026 (margin of error ± 3.1% at the 95% confidence level). Respondents were excluded if they had completed the Sentiment Tracker at any point in the previous 12 months.

About Consumer NZ

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/22/consumer-nz-support-for-surcharge-ban-getting-stronger/

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PSA Responds – How dare you blame unions Mr Peters. You blew chance to block anti-worker law

Source: PSA

PSA calls on NZ First to put workers first, not big business
Winston Peters is simply wrong to blame unions for being too slow to convince New Zealand First to block the Fire at Will Bill when his party knew about unions’ concerns in August last year.
Winston Peters told RNZ NZ First could have stopped the Fire at Will / Uber Bill but unions came to the party too late. The party failed to vote against the Employment Relations Amendment Bill which passed its Third Reading on Tuesday.
“How dare Winston Peters claim unions were too slow when they contacted his party last year when there was plenty of time for him to make a difference,” said Fleur Fitzsimson, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“He had all the time in world in fact – 196 days in fact between the PSA’s first meeting with NZ First last year and the passing of the Bill this Tuesday.
“It’s as simple as this – the party lacked the guts to stand up to the ACT party despite expressing concerns in speeches about the Bill.
“They committed in the Second Reading to make changes to the personal grievance provisions. We held out hope, but nothing happened. Why?
“So, ACT got to write a bill that rips up personal grievance provisions and allows Uber to exploit workers on contracts.
“Here are the facts:
“I got in touch with New Zealand First in August last year and met with their staff in Mr Peters’ office on 5 August. It was a useful meeting, and they put me in touch with their Employment Relations spokesperson, Mark Patterson .
“There were two further constructive meetings with Mark Patterson before the Second Reading of the Bill. He really seemed to give us a fair hearing and asked for possible amendments to take the harsh edges off the proposed legislation.
“And we made a last minute, constructive plea to the party last week delivering a handwritten card to Mr Peters.
“This is the man who claims his party is all about ‘the responsible face of capitalism’. Responsible capitalism means basic protections for workers from unfair treatment which is what personal grievance remedies are all about.
“Mr Peters had every chance to walk the talk but turned a blind eye.
“Once again, Winston Peters and NZ First, have ignored workers, and voted for the most anti-worker legislation in three decades, adding to his party voting with National and ACT to scrap Fair Pay Agreements and pay equity for 150,000 women, supporting 90-day trials and suppressing low minimum wage increases.
“The facts speak for themselves. NZ First, like National, is simply the lap dog of the anti-worker ACT party. You must wonder what price has Mr Peters extracted for his party to back the Bill.
“Workers will never forget this latest betrayal – the PSA will be reminding voters come the election what NZ First really stands for – putting the Coalition Government’s business mates first, not New Zealand workers.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/21/psa-responds-how-dare-you-blame-unions-mr-peters-you-blew-chance-to-block-anti-worker-law/

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Federated Farmers – Rates cap potential and pitfalls need scrutiny

Source: Federated Farmers

By Sandra Faulkner, Federated Farmers local government spokesperson
At Federated Farmers, we’re all in favour of greater local government spending restraint.
We’re not in favour of so severely straight-jacketing council budget decisions that vital infrastructure upgrades and maintenance are delayed or cancelled.
That might sound like Federated Farmers wants a bob each way on the Government’s proposed 2-4% cap on council rates.
In reality, it reflects the tricky balance between calls for fiscal discipline and the unavoidable cost pressures councils face.
I think all of us, even councils, agree on one thing – that the trajectory of rates hikes is unaffordable for increasing numbers of families and businesses.
But the 2-4% rates cap the Government wants in place by 2029 is a blunt tool that could have unintended consequences.
Exempt from the proposed cap are charges for waste, drinking and stormwater services.
With an estimated network renewal backlog of as much as $47.9 billion because of previous under-investment, the Government knows we have to catch up on this vital work.
Work on other infrastructure particularly vital to rural areas – roading, bridges, drainage, flood protection – is also plagued by significant council (and central government) under-investment in many districts.
When councillors factor in paying interest on rising council debt, never mind soaring costs for contractors and raw materials, a rates cap will create temptation – even necessity – to delay or delete important capital works.
Federated Farmers believes there should be a rates cap exemption for targeted road and infrastructure rates, just as is proposed for three waters charges.
The Government’s thinking is that a rates cap will force councils to prioritise ‘must haves’ and pare back on ‘nice to haves’.
As a generalisation, smaller rural councils probably spend less on nice to haves.
A rates cap, including on district councils already grappling with costs of providing for high numbers of visitors and tourists, could end up cutting into budgets for ‘must haves’.
Faced with a rates cap, councils might also look to offset revenue shortfalls by hiking other charges or selling assets.
Rates are the largest source of income for local authorities, making up on average 57% of total operating revenue.
Other revenue comes from council-owned trading entities like ports and airports, but these tend to be owned by metropolitan councils rather than smaller district councils.
Councils also charge fees for everything from swimming pool entry to parking, building consents and liquor licences. These services are often subsidised by general rates.
To offset a rates cap, these fees could be raised.
Lots of people like the notion of ‘user pays’ – unless they’re a user.
Perhaps farmers would welcome higher council fees for rubbish collection, swimming pools, sports playing surfaces, food outlet inspections and other services they don’t get to use as much as town residents.
But they’re less likely to be happy with fee hikes for compliance inspections, resource consents and dog registration.
There’s a common misconception the rates cap will mean no property owner’s rates bill can increase by more than 4% in any year. But the restriction is on a council’s total revenue from rates.
Just as is the case now, a property owner’s share of total rates is determined by capital (or land) value.
In three-yearly revaluations, if your property value has risen more than the average for the district, you’ll pay more in rates – and vice-versa.
Two other ideas Feds will raise in our submission on the rates cap proposal relate to referenda and benchmarking.
We think councils should need residents’ consent for large spends on commercial facilities and ventures, like stadiums and conference centres.
A referendum would be required, for example, where the spend is greater than $500 per resident.
This would allow councils to provide community well-being services and activities, while restrain them from destroying their balance sheets through risky investments beyond their core purpose.
If we’re serious about driving council costs down, there’s also a case for much improved nationwide benchmarking of council costs.
Armed with detailed information on average costs for road maintenance, playground installation, reserves mowing and so on, councillors could drill down into spending – and challenge officers’ reports.
With council rates bills now one of the biggest household costs – and one of the most prominent lines in a farm’s budget – the rates cap and related issues deserve solid debate in the run-up to the general election.
Federated Farmers will be vocal in the debate, just as we have been in talk of council restructuring and amalgamation, to make sure the rural voice and priorities are prominent. 

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/21/federated-farmers-rates-cap-potential-and-pitfalls-need-scrutiny/

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Fire Safety – Fire and Emergency received calls for 17 incidents during today’s strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 17 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, Friday 20 February, the twelfth time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action.
Of these, 13 incidents were in areas impacted by the strike.
Two incidents were reports of fires at residential properties, one of which was a pot smoking on a stove and the other was a fire in a property’s roof space.
Two incidents were reports of car fires, which did not result in a fire and two incidents were reports of rubbish bin fires.
One incident was a motor vehicle crash with no rescue required. Five were fire alarms which did not result in a fire.
There was also a significant fire at Northcote College on Auckland’s North Shore.
Assistant National Commander Ron Devlin says Fire and Emergency was first notified of the fire through a fire alarm at 12.17pm.
“As part of our contingency planning to manage reduced capability during strike action, we do not dispatch crews to automatic fire alarm activations unless there are multiple activations or confirming 111 calls.
“Following a second fire alarm notification crews were dispatched at 12.19pm.
“While heading to the scene we also received a 111 call from a member of the public.
“A commander was first to arrive at the scene at 12.29pm followed by a volunteer brigade from Silverdale at 12.34pm.
“They were later joined by additional volunteer brigades and career crews arrived following the conclusion of today’s strike action.
“Students and staff were evacuated and thankfully there are no reports of any injuries. Approximately 20 crews remain at the scene and the fire is now under control.”
Ron Devlin says Fire and Emergency continues to urge the NZPFU to call off planned strikes while the process of facilitation is underway.
“I want to thank our 11,800 volunteers across the country, especially those who were called to attend events in areas impacted by the strike.
“I would also like to thank our Operational Commanders and Communication Centre Managers, who managed the response.”

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/21/fire-safety-fire-and-emergency-received-calls-for-17-incidents-during-todays-strike/

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Property Market – $40m wiped from property market in Q4, but figures show improvement on last year – RealEstate

Source: RealEstate.co.nz

  • 1,374 listings recorded a price drop in Q4 2025, the lowest number in two years
  • Only 3% of all listings were reduced, the lowest portion in two years 
  • $41,309,345 million was the total value of price reductions, the lowest total price drop in a quarter
  • Stable OCR could be first sign of a property market recovery in 2026.

Latest data from realestate.co.nz shows that more than $40 million was trimmed from property asking prices across New Zealand in the last quarter of 2025.

In a shift that may signal improving market conditions, the total amount that dropped out of the market was $14 million less than the $55 million slashed in Q4 of 2024 *

In Q4 2025, fewer properties reduced the price of their listing. And of the listings that did drop their price, they did so by slightly less than any other quarter.

*This data reflects the difference between a property’s original asking price when listed on realestate.co.nz and its price at the point of sale or withdrawal. While it doesn’t show the final sale price, it provides a strong signal of how much sellers are adjusting to meet buyer demand.

Is the property market in recovery?

Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, says the latest figures could be an early indicator that the market is beginning to swing in a different direction.

“While $40 million coming out of the market is still significant, fewer vendors reduced the price of their property last quarter than we’ve seen over the two years prior, an indication that the overall amount trimmed from the market in Q4 is a result not of smaller reductions but by fewer properties needing to reduce their price.”

Williams says: “This indicates that sellers may be starting to price more realistically from the outset, and buyer confidence could be slowly returning. It’s not a full recovery yet, but it could be one of the first signs that conditions are beginning to stabilise.”

How much are sellers cutting property asking prices by?

Nationally, vendors who reduced their asking prices in Q4 2025 took an average of $30,065 off each listing.

Regionally, Marlborough recorded the largest average drop, with sellers trimming $50,500 from their original asking prices. Gisborne followed at $49,333, while Northland, Wellington, and Coromandel rounded out the top five with average reductions of $38,479, $37,607, and $35,645, respectively.

Overall, fewer vendors dropped their prices in the final quarter of 2025, with the lowest percentage of price drops occurring in 11 of the 19 regions.

Signs of stabilisation heading into 2026?

The data suggests the intense repricing seen throughout 2025 may be easing.

“The significant amounts we saw slashed from the market in the earlier quarters of 2025 certainly hasn’t continued, which is a sign confidence is slowly returning to the market,” says Williams. “The stability of the OCR in this week’s announcement should also be an encouraging sign that the market may not be too far away from hitting its stride in 2026.”

realestate.co.nz is helping buyers and sellers move. Properties listed on realestate.co.nz that drop their price can receive free billboard advertising, while buyers who have saved them are alerted instantly.

About realestate.co.nz | New Zealand’s Best Small Workplace (2025)

Realestate.co.nz – your home for property search.

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996. Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry. We are certified carbon neutral (2024 & 2025) and in 2025, realestate.co.nz was crowned Best Small/Micro Workplace in New Zealand by Great Place to Work.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.  

Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.  

Want more property insights?

Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and trends over time: https://www.realestate.co.nz/insights

 Glossary of terms:  

Average asking price (AAP) is neither a valuation nor the sale price. It is an indication of current market sentiment. Statistically, asking prices tend to correlate closely with the sales prices recorded in future months when those properties are sold. As it looks at different data, average asking prices may differ from recorded sales data released simultaneously.  

Price drop reflects the difference between a property’s original asking price when listed on realestate.co.nz and its price at the point of sale or withdrawal. While it doesn’t show the final sale price, it provides a strong signal of how much sellers are adjusting to meet buyer demand.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/22/property-market-40m-wiped-from-property-market-in-q4-but-figures-show-improvement-on-last-year-realestate/

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Life Flight’s new aeromedical airbase for upper North Island officially opened

Source: Radio New Zealand

Life Flight chief executive Mark Johnston and Health Minister Simeon Brown officially open the new aeromedical airbase for the upper north island at Hamilton airport. Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Life Flight’s new aeromedical airbase for the upper North Island has been officially opened by Health Minister Simeon Brown, after quietly operating from a hangar at Hamilton airport since 2024.

The charity began fifty years ago after the founder, Peter Button, witnessed the sinking of the Wahine ferry and felt that a helicopter would have saved lives. It was best known for the Westpac Rescue Helicopters.

The Hamilton hanger is the upper North Island base for two of Life Flight’s air ambulance planes which provide bed-to-bed hospital transfers for critically ill and injured patients.

Life Flight’s board chair, Richard Stone, said that the airbase showed how different sectors could work together to build resilience into the health system.

“This hub is a clear example of what can be achieved when government, the community and corporate partners work together to strengthen health care for all New Zealanders,” he said.

Life Flight’s air ambulance planes which provide bed-to-bed hospital transfers for critically ill and injured patients at the new base in Hamilton Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Health Minister Simeon Brown echoed the focus on partnership.

“Fixed wing and rotary services are critically important to our health care service in New Zealand; transferring patients, providing emergency health care, and making sure everyone, no matter where they are in the country have that access to the tertiary hospitals that are needed,” he said.

Life Flight chief executive Mark Johnston said the planes flew patients around the country to where they can get the best treatment.

“From premature babies to stroke victims, Life Flight is often the only way for them to get to that care in time. Our Waikato airbase is going to provide us with faster access to this urgent care for those patients. It’s going to help us to deliver better outcomes, particularly for rural patients, and provide care to them that’s closer to home,” he said.

Johnston said it was the difference between reaching care in minutes, rather than hours.

Chief pilot for Life Flight Luke Rohloff. Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Chief pilot for Life Flight Luke Rohloff was at the event and said the New Zealand health care system was a hub and spoke service, which relied on a good transportation system for patients to get to services.

The aircraft are fitted out with intensive care equipment to enable transfer of even the most vulnerable patients.

“If you are talking about a baby needing neonatal care, sometimes we’ll see them as early as 25 weeks, and they are very small, and then maybe six months later you might be bringing them home and they’ve grown up and they are outside of the incubator, and that’s really neat,” he said.

Waipa mayor, Mike Pettit, was at the opening and said the service was fundamentally important to Waikato and surrounding regions.

‘It’s super important to keep the regions connected,” he said.

The mayor also had a personal connection to the service as his cousin, Paul Pettit, was one of Life Flight’s pilots.

Mike Pettit said every time he saw the air ambulance he would stop, look up, and tell people he was with that was his cousin up there.

“I know it’s not always Paul!” he said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/life-flights-new-aeromedical-airbase-for-upper-north-island-officially-opened/

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Noisy neighbours’ loud gear to be sold off

Source: Radio New Zealand

Confiscated audio equipment. Supplied

Dozens of sound systems seized by noise control officers in New Plymouth are about to go on sale at a charity op shop after their owners failed to pay the administration fee to have them returned.

Once the bane of sleeping neighbours, 18 sets of sound equipment – including stereos, Bluetooth sets, speakers and an amplifier – were confiscated between late 2023 and early last year after council received repeated noise complaints about the owners.

Council community health and animal services lead, Kimberley Laurence, said another nine sets of equipment seized later last year were set to join them at the charity sale unless their owners reclaimed them and paid a $130 administration fee.

“Confiscating noisy equipment is a last resort, but if someone is repeatedly deemed to be making excessive noise and won’t let their neighbours get a decent night’s sleep, then we have no choice,” said Laurence.

“We received 1399 complaints about residential noise last year and the vast majority of people making the noise were quick to turn it down after a noise control officer visited.”

The government changed the Resource Management Act last year to make it easier for councils to seize noise equipment from partiers.

Laurence said previously equipment could only be taken if someone was repeatedly deemed to be causing excessive noise within three days, but the new rules in August extended that period to eight days.

“So, if we get complaints about one property over two consecutive weekends, and the noise is deemed to be excessive, then we’ll have to pull the plug and take the sound systems away, so it pays to be considerate and get along with your neighbours.”

At a glance:

  • People should ask their noisy neighbours to turn it down before making a noise complaint, but if that was not possible, call the New Plymouth complaints line was open 24/7 on 06-759 6060.
  • Excessive noise was defined as noise that unreasonably interfered with the peace, comfort, and convenience of others.
  • NPDC donated confiscated items to charity op shops if they were unclaimed within six months.
  • Different rules apply to vehicle and construction noise – find out more on npdc.govt.nz/noise.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Review: Hemi Hemingway soars on Wings of Desire when letting his feelings fly freely

Source: Radio New Zealand

On Strangers Again, the debut album by Wellington singer Hemi Hemingway (Waitaha, Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga), he wore his love of ‘50s and ‘60s song structure on his sleeve. The sounds were modern, the vibe less so.

His followup Wings of Desire involved expansion behind the scenes, working with a producer and embracing collaboration in general. The result is a clear levelling-up, both sonically and song-wise.

Most apparently, influences from the 1980s have joined the mix, Hemingway drawing on post-punk and New Romantic styles to great effect. This new aesthetic goes well with the yearning that fuelled his past work, and he leans into it here with abandon.

The words “dramatic” and “indulgent” have come up in PR and interviews with Hemingway, and while they could have negative connotations, Wings of Desire’s biggest strength is exactly these aspects. He’s been open that the songs stemmed from a breakup, and knowing that tempers any desire to label this music ironic.

Certainly there are moments like in the title track, when a saxophone mirrors the vocal line, followed by two succinct handclaps, that feel like a sly wink at certain types of 1980s music. But it’s all performed with such depth of feeling, and is so exhilarating, that these thoughts quickly pass. After all, sincerity sits side by side with pastiche in a lot of modern music.

There’s a hint of Springsteen-ish chest-beating on ‘Wings of Desire’, and a bit of Bowie in the next track ‘This City’s Tryna Break My Heart’. ‘Long Distance Lover’ sounds like the work of a Nile Rogers fan, and has some of the sleaze of modern-day Jonathan Bree. Guitar parts throughout the album evoke King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.

Whether any of this is intentional is not for me to say, but it does add up to a rich aural blend. Still, the most exciting moments are when Hemingway opens his mouth, moving between a smooth baritone, occasional falsetto, and selective moments of upper-register anguish.

One of those comes on ‘Promises’, when he wails “It’s all over now”. Lyrically on the nose and better for it, the line has been replaying in my head in between listens. He’s joined on the song by Georgia Gets By, their voices merging gorgeously.

On another duet called ‘Oh, My Albertine’, Vera Ellen trades verses with Hemingway before they unite in a devastating-yet-rousing chorus. Other highlights include the slinky ‘(To Be) Without You’ (my personal favourite), and closing tune ‘No Future No Future No Future’, which ends things with an explosion of catharsis.

It adds up to one of the most emotive local releases in recent memory, a record threaded with humour and tasteful arrangement that really soars when it lets the feelings fly freely.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/review-hemi-hemingway-soars-on-wings-of-desire-when-letting-his-feelings-fly-freely/

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New Plymouth’s Metro Plaza building demolition to begin next month

Source: Radio New Zealand

A concept image showing the view over the development site from Devon Street. Supplied / New Plymouth District Council

Demolition of central New Plymouth’s Metro Plaza building will begin next month, starting a three-stage project to bring daylight back to a section of the Huatoki Stream after almost a century under cover.

The project is part of a $10 million City Centre Strategy, which includes ongoing work to create the West End Crossing shared space in Queen Street and replace Devon Street’s ageing alder trees with native plants.

The council bought the Metro Plaza in 2019 to make way for a greener, more vibrant city centre by opening up the awa as part of a private/public partnership.

The Metro Plaza has covered the Huatoki since 1929.

The new development will include a public walkway and footbridge across the Huatoki, connecting Devon and Brougham streets, alongside new developments by KD Holdings (KDH) on both sides of the awa.

Council general manager delivery and enablement, Helena Williams, said the city centre was entering a busy period of revitalisation, with the Huatoki, West End and greening projects underway alongside the completion of the TSB Showplace upgrade and the start of exterior maintenance at Puke Ariki Library.

“These projects will help keep our city centre thriving, supporting businesses and drawing more people into the city centre. We’re working with contractors to keep noise and disruption to a minimum and we apologise to businesses and other people in the city centre for any issues this work will cause and thank them for their patience and understanding,” said Williams.

“The Huatoki project is a first as we’re partnering with KDH, which owns the property on either side of the Huatoki, and Ngāti te Whiti hapū, in our first-ever public-private partnership.

“Together, we’re supporting the heart of our city as it adapts to changes in the way people live, work and shop, while delivering savings for our ratepayers.”

KDH owner Kevin Doody said the $1.1m demolition of the Metro Plaza was scheduled to be finished in the first half of 2026 and construction of the new development was scheduled to be complete later next year.

“We’ll aim to keep disruption to a minimum as we create this new green space and commercial area. Working with our partners, we’ll be able to streamline construction and complete the work safely and efficiently,” said Doody.

Ngāti Te Whiti Hapū spokesperson, Julie Healey, said opening up the Huatoki reflected Ngāti Te Whiti Hapū values as supported in the City Centre Strategy.

“The awa has great historical and cultural significance for Ngāti Te Whiti and we look forward to bringing its presence back into the city for the community to enjoy.”

At a glance:

  • NPDC bought the Metro Plaza in 2019 and it has been unoccupied since late last year (2025).
  • The demolition and construction would be carried out by KDH along with the demolition of KDH-owned buildings on Devon and Brougham streets.
  • The Ngāmotu New Plymouth City Centre Strategy was adopted by the mayor and councillors in December 2021.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/new-plymouths-metro-plaza-building-demolition-to-begin-next-month/

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Woman sex trafficked as a child wants mandatory abuse reporting from teachers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gloria Masters founded Handing the Shame Back, a campaign and charitable initiative aimed at combating sexual abuse against children. GLORIA MASTERS / SUPPLIED

  • Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking of young girls shines light on a ‘silent epidemic’, says survivor
  • She wants mandatory reporting by teachers if they suspect a child has been abused
  • Research suggests one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused

A woman who was sex trafficked by her family from infancy wants to see the government make it mandatory for teachers to reports signs of abuse to police or child welfare officers.

Gloria Masters founded Handing the Shame Back, a campaign and charitable initiativeaimed at combating sexual abuse against children and a US philanthropist has paid for her book, Keeping Kids Safe, to be supplied to every New Zealand school.

“If we did have a mandate for teachers to speak, I think we would find the floodgates would open,” she said. “I think there is so much concern out there. I know schools and teachers that I have addressed on this issue, usually, most of the teachers in that presentation will indicate that they have concerns about one or two children in their class.”

With international research suggesting one in three girls experienced sexual abuse before the age of 16 and one in five boys, she said it was time to start talking about a difficult topic.

“The powers-that-be do not necessarily accept the prolific nature of child sexual abuse in our country, which then leads to others who may wish to act on it feeling hamstrung or unable to. This is such a quiet, hidden subject, I call it the silent epidemic, it’s very unlikely that a teacher would raise their head above the parapet and say, I think this child’s being abused, it’s very hard for them to do so.

“It needs to be reported because we can’t keep expecting children to protect themselves. Teachers are often the first people that notice anything. Until it’s mandated, it’s a little bit difficult for them, because they’re under no obligation to do so. I think at the end of the day, most good people wish to stop this, but first of all, they have to be given permission to discuss it, and therein lies the issue.”

The education minister’s office had not responded to requests for comment.

Helping children speak up

People stayed quiet because of the cognitive dissonance or discomfort of believing such things happened at all, and they also tended to accept an adult’s word over a child’s – especially if it was someone well-thought of in their community, Masters said.

“The problem with silence is that it only serves one group, and they are the predators. All it does is ensure that more children get harmed because society doesn’t want to accept it, which means voices are not being heard.”

She was advocating for children to be taught a global hand sign, adopted by schools in America, to alert adults discreetly that they need help.

The global hand sign to alert adults discreetly a child needs help. SUPPLIED

Her book gave tips on how parents could protect their children, and how adults could spot telltale signs of abuse, such as a sudden and significant shift in their behaviour or self-soothing behaviours like thumb-sucking.

“It may be a child that was normally quite sunny and outgoing becoming withdrawn, they may show unexplained clinginess,” she said. “They may stop wanting to join in things where clothes need to be changed like PE or swimming.”

Other symptoms children might display included anxiety when someone arrived, having unexplained money or gifts, having aggressive or sexualised behaviour, or changed eating habits.

Epstein case shines light on trafficking

The scale of offending was clear from the number of cases in the news, Masters said, and abuse came in many guises, including online sexual content, grooming and child sex trafficking.

The trafficking and abuse committed by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell had prompted other victims to talk about their own stories, she said.

While Epstein may have highlighted elite and cross-border trafficking, much of it remained offending within one country.

“It’s surprising to the world somewhat that this horror ensued with people at the top of the tree,” Masters said.

“The concern I hold is there can also be a lot of copycat stuff, and we know there are cults out there who are actively engaged in this type of behaviour as well.

“I was born and bred in New Zealand. I was raised in a family where I was sex trafficked and abused from infancy, and this was to go on for 16 years within New Zealand. There were many groups involved, and my family who were the main perpetrators and traders of me were the ones who made a significant amount of money.”

It was time for action and advocacy on behalf of children, she said.

“At the end of the day, I’m just one person. Come on New Zealand – if this was motor vehicle accidents, including children being seriously maimed or even killed at these rates, there would be a billion, a multi-billion dollar campaign overnight to save our kids.

“We need community behind it. We need leaders in every sphere speaking out, in terms of law change and what needs to happen for this to be almost impossible to continue to occur. We need education and we need information and awareness.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/woman-sex-trafficked-as-a-child-wants-mandatory-abuse-reporting-from-teachers/

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Person dies after vehicle flips, hits parked car in Auckland’s Hillsborough

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police were alerted to the incident at about 6.30pm, where a vehicle had hit a parked car and flipped near the intersection of Frederick Street and Belfast Street. RNZ

One person has died following a crash in the Auckland suburb Hillsborough last night.

Police were alerted to the incident at about 6.30pm Saturday, where a vehicle had hit a parked car and flipped near the intersection of Frederick Street and Belfast Street.

Despite emergency services’ efforts, one person died at the scene, police said.

Diversions are in place while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.

Enquiries into the crash are ongoing, police said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/person-dies-after-vehicle-flips-hits-parked-car-in-aucklands-hillsborough/

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Memorial service to be held in Christchurch to mark 15 years since 2011 earthquake

Source: Radio New Zealand

The magnitude 6.3 quake on 22 February left 185 people dead, while thousands of homes were demolished because of damage to the buildings or land. RNZ / SIMON ROGERS

A public memorial service will be held in Christchurch today to mark the 15th anniversary of the 2011 February earthquake.

The magnitude 6.3 quake on 22 February left 185 people dead, while thousands of homes were demolished because of damage to the buildings or land.

The service will be held at the Canterbury National Earthquake Memorial at the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Montreal Street in central Christchurch.

A minute’s silence will be held at 12.51pm, the time the earthquake hit, then the names of the 185 people who died will be read aloud while the HMNZS Canterbury bell tolls.

Christchurch City Council spokesman Duncan Sandeman said deputy mayor Victoria Henstock would lay a wreath at the memorial wall on behalf of the people of Christchurch, while members of the public were invited to lay floral tributes after the ceremony.

“We welcome all members of the community who wish to attend to join and reflect on the impact the destructive earthquakes had on our district and remember those lives that were lost,” he said.

Fifteen years on, much of the land cleared of houses, known as the red zone, is now parkland.

An 11km cycle and walking path called the City to Sea Pathway winds through some of the red zone land from New Brighton to the central city.

Christchurch Cathedral in 2025, 14 years after the Canterbury earthquakes partially destroyed it. Frank Film

The Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, for many years the symbol of Christchurch, was badly damaged in the February earthquake and is still fenced off in Cathedral Square.

Work was done to stabilise and strengthen the building but worked stopped in August 2024 because of a budget shortfall of around $85 million.

The Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited’s (CCRL) current plan is to re-open the cathedral in stages, with the first stage including the tower, nave and western wall which features the rose window.

The plan would allow seating for about 700 people.

The cathedral has occasionally opened for events and tours, with visitors donning hard hats and high-vis vests to venture inside.

Under the new staged-plan the CCRL hopes the cathedral can completely reopen by 2030.

CTV building collapse ‘a preventable disaster’

For those who lost loved ones in the collapse of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building during the earthquake, this anniversary is also a reminder of what they say was “a preventable disaster and of a justice system that has yet to reflect that truth”.

A total 115 people were killed when the six-storey building collapsed – a building that was later found to have significant deficiencies to its design.

However, in 2017 police confirmed they would not prosecute those believed to be responsible, despite uncovering negligence.

CTV Families Group spokesperson Maan Alkaisi, whose wife was killed in the collapse, said the ongoing lack of legal accountability revealed deep flaws within the justice system.

Professor Maan Alkaisi – Spokesperson, CTV Families Group Supplied

“For the CTV families, the absence of prosecutions is not a legal endpoint. It is a continuing wound that raises hard questions about whose lives are protected by the law, and how far institutions are willing, or able, to go to match public expectations of justice.”

He said he would be inviting Attourney-General Judith Collins to meet with him in Christchurch to explain why police reversed their original intent to prosecute those who had been found negligent.

“This request is not an attempt to politicise the issue. It is an attempt to restore confidence in a system that appears to have failed 115 New Zealanders and their families.”

The CTV collapse was not unavoidable, but rather a preventable disaster, he said.

“Fifteen years on, our resolve has not diminished. What has changed is the narrative. It has evolved from ‘Still No Justice, Still No Accountability, Still No Closure’, to a new, determined stance: ‘The Story Does Not Finish Here’.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/memorial-service-to-be-held-in-christchurch-to-mark-15-years-since-2011-earthquake/

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Running shoes or barefoot – what should I wear to lift weights?

Source: Radio New Zealand

At the gym, you might have been told not to lift weights in runners.

There’s a common belief that this can be bad for your performance and lead to injuries. But is it really the case?

Let’s unpack the science.

Flat sneakers may be a good choice for lifting weights because they will be more stable than runners.

Susan Q Yin

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/running-shoes-or-barefoot-what-should-i-wear-to-lift-weights/

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Fatal crash, Hillsborough

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a crash in Hillsborough last night.

Police were called around 6.30pm, to the crash where a vehicle has hit a parked car and flipped near the intersection of Frederick Street and Belfast Street.

Sadly, despite emergency services efforts, one person died at the scene.

Diversions are in place while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/fatal-crash-hillsborough/

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Broken collarbone for Kiwi free skier Fin Melville Ives

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fin Melville Ives, after crashing out in qualification for the Freeski Halfpipe competition at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic games. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

The medical assessments are in and it’s been confirmed that New Zealand Freeskier Fin Melville Ives broke his collarbone in crashing out during the qualification rounds of the Halfpipe competition at the Winter Olympics.

Melville Ives, the current world champion and one of New Zealand’s best medal hopes, was stretchered off after the heavy fall during his second run after being knocked unconscious.

He’s now recovering and remains in good spirits, jesting his injuries are “nothing but a scratch”.

“It was really a game of two halves,” he said afterwards, with his sense of humour intact.

Melville Ives, 19, has also thanked the medical staff that have helped him so far, and his coach Murray Buchan.

Another Kiwi halfpipe freeskier Ben Harrington, who finished ninth, dedicated his second run to Melville Ives, saying to cameras on the slopes, “Hey Finski, this one’s for you, brother, love you, let’s go skiing.”

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Man On The Run: How Paul McCartney rebuilt his life after The Beatles

Source: Radio New Zealand

“The event is so momentous that historians may, one day, view it as a landmark in the decline of the British Empire.”

That was dramatic framing by CBS News of The Beatles’s break-up in April 1970.

It was illustrative of the intense hyperbole that followed this band, who went from Liverpool teenagers to the biggest musical act in history in under a decade.

This video is hosted on Youtube.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/22/man-on-the-run-how-paul-mccartney-rebuilt-his-life-after-the-beatles/