Author: MIL OSI Publisher

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Pharmac looks to fund two new medicines for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two new medicines for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia could be on the way, with Pharmac proposing to fund venetoclax with ibrutinib or with obinutuzumab.

If accepted, the combination therapies could be available as first line treatments from 1 May 2026.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour said CLL was not curable, but the right treatment meant patients could live longer.

They would help patients achieve longer lasting remission and avoid the need for traditional chemotherapy, Seymour said.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour said the right treatment for people with CCL could help patients live longer. RNZ / Mark Papalii

He said Pharmac heard from the blood cancer community these combination therapies would make a big difference for people with CLL, “especially when used at the beginning of treatment”.

It comes after public backlash following Budget 2024 failing to include promised funding for more cancer drugs, forcing the government to subsequently announce an extra $604 million for Pharmac over four years.

Since then, the government has funded seven blood cancer drugs, but in September 2025 some blood cancer patients were still saying the government was breaking its promise on life-saving drugs.

Blood Cancer New Zealand said at the time only 180 patients benefited from that uplift, less than 1 percent of all New Zealanders with a blood cancer.

On Wednesday, Seymour said people currently paying privately for these combinations could receive funded treatment in a private hospital, provided they meet the funding criteria at the time they began treatment.

“These combination medicines will be the second and third cancer medicines available in private clinics.

“When Pharmac fund a new cancer treatment, people already paying for that treatment privately are forced to make a very difficult choice: spend their savings to continue private treatment undisrupted, or transfer to a public hospital,” Seymour said.

He explained that patients had told Pharmac it was hugely disruptive and caused “significant stress during an immensely difficult period”.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government was committed to improving treatment and care for New Zealanders with cancer, including blood cancer.

“This announcement means more Kiwis with blood cancer will have access to medicines that improve their quality of life and help them live longer, fuller lives.

“We are also significantly expanding stem cell transplant services for patients with blood cancers and related conditions, helping more people access critical, life-saving treatment sooner.”

Consultation opens on Wednesday, and closes Wednesday 4 March. If approved, funding would begin from 1 May 2026.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/pharmac-looks-to-fund-two-new-medicines-for-chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia/

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Pharmac proposes funding new treatments that could transform early care for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer

Source: PHARMAC

People in New Zealand living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) could soon benefit from funded access to targeted treatments under a new proposal from Pharmac.

Pharmac is consulting on a change that would fund two new treatment combinations – venetoclax with ibrutinib, and venetoclax with obinutuzumab – for people with CLL. If approved, funding would begin on 1 May 2026.

“This proposal would give people access to powerful, targeted treatments immediately after their diagnosis,” says Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Adrienne Martin. “We expect around 80-90 people each year to benefit from these combinations over the next five years.”

While these medicines are already used to treat blood cancers, they are not currently funded for use together as a first treatment option for CLL. Pharmac funded venetoclax in combination with rituximab, as well as venetoclax on its own, for CLL in 2019. 

Ibrutinib was funded in 2022 for people whose CLL has returned or has not responded to other treatments. In 2016, obinutuzumab was funded in combination with chlorambucil for some people with CLL.

“We’ve heard clearly from the blood cancer community and from our clinical advisors that these combinations could make a real difference when used early,” says Martin.

CLL is a slow‑growing blood cancer where the bone marrow makes too many abnormal white blood cells. While it cannot be cured, people can live well for long periods with the right treatment.

“Using these medicines together can help people achieve longer‑lasting remission and may reduce the need for traditional chemotherapy,” says Martin. “They could also mean fewer hospital visits, and an improved quality of life.”

Pharmac is seeking feedback from people with CLL, their families, health professionals, advocacy groups, and anyone else who would like to comment.

Consultation is open until 5pm, Wednesday 4 March. Feedback can be emailed to consult@pharmac.govt.nz or submitted using the online form linked in the consultation.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/pharmac-proposes-funding-new-treatments-that-could-transform-early-care-for-people-with-chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia-a-type-of-blood-cancer/

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Gumboot Friday Wraps January in Hope: Giving 1,311 Young Kiwis a Lifeline

Source: Gumboot Friday

In January 2026, Gumboot Friday provided 1,311 young people aged 5–25 with free counselling support, delivering a total of 1,928 sessions nationwide. Every session is no-cost, requires no referral, and is chosen by the young person from a network of registered counsellors on the Gumboot Friday platform.

Breaking it down by age group:

  • 277 young people aged 5–11 (27%)
  • 382 young people aged 12–17 (29%)
  • 652 young people aged 18–25 (50%)

These figures reflect the steady, month-after-month work of getting rangatahi into a safe space to talk and finally get things off their chest when they need to.

“I look at these January numbers and see so many young people—some as little as 5 or 6—who got to sit down with a counsellor who really listened, no rush, no judgement, just letting them be heard for the first time in a while probably. That’s powerful stuff for kids who’ve been carrying heavy things.

“None of this happens without the incredible support from Kiwis who donate to I Am Hope. Government funding covers the counselling sessions themselves, while your donations to I Am Hope keep the Gumboot Friday platform running—onboarding counsellors, maintaining the system, running our Little People Big Feelings programme, and supporting the wider I Am Hope foundation. We’re deeply grateful, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for believing in our kids and making sure help is there when they need it,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.

If you or someone you know under 25 needs someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.com to connect with a counsellor today.

To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday, head to www.gumbootfriday.com or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/17/gumboot-friday-wraps-january-in-hope-giving-1311-young-kiwis-a-lifeline/

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Do you recognise these people?

Source: New Zealand Police

Bay of Plenty Police are seeking to the public’s help to identify the three people pictured in these images.

We believe they may be able to assist us with our enquiries into a breach of the Mount Maunganui landslide cordon on Wednesday 11 February and Sunday 15 February.

If you are one of these people, or you recognise them, please update us through 105 either online or over the phone.

Please use reference number 260217/6366.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/do-you-recognise-these-people/

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Lane blocked on Auckland’s northwestern motorway following crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Calvin Samuel

A crash on Auckland’s northwestern motorway has blocked lanes.

Accoding to the NZ Transport Agency, the crash has occurred just after the Waterview Tunnel.

Two lanes were inititally blocked but at 11.45am, NZTA said one lane had reopened.

The crash has occurred just after the Waterview Tunnel. Supplied / NZTA

A traffic camera shows traffic building up.

Traffic on the motorway as of midday. Supplied / Google Maps

“Pass with care and expect delays,” NZTA said.

Traffic is also gridlocked citybound, back to Te Atatū, the opposite side of the crash.

RNZ / Calvin Samuel

More to come…

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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/2026/02/18/lane-blocked-on-aucklands-northwestern-motorway-following-crash/

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Wellington and Lower North Island still without power days after weather bomb

Source: Radio New Zealand

This Wellington Electricity map shows the extent of area where individual homes remain without power SUPPLIED

People are still without power across Wellington and the lower North Island, days after destructive winds and heavy rain tore through the region.

Wellington Electricity puts the current outages at over 1000, and expects most properties to have power back on by tonight.

It says crews have restored power to most customers, but have discovered secondary faults on some lines which are taking longer to restore.

The winds that struck Wellington on Sunday and Monday were the strongest in a decade, tearing down power lines down across paddocks, roads, and over people’s vehicles.

A tree had fallen on power lines on Hornsey Road in Wellington on Monday. Supplied / Caleb Gordon

Is your power still out? Contact ellen.odwyer@rnz.co.nz

Manawatū-Whanganui was also affected, with Manawatū district mayor Michael Ford saying PowerCo crews were trying to remove trees blocking roads so crews could get to the power lines.

As of this morning, 1,632 homes and businesses in Powerco’s area were still without power, including 679 in Manawatū, 638 in Whanganui, and 315 in Wairarapa.

Trees blown down on Mondayin the Wellington suburb of Brooklyn. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Elliot Childs, an RNZ employee, said his family had been without power for two full days – and it had only just been restored this morning.

Childs said his house in Ranui, Porirua, lost power just before 5 am on Monday morning, and was restored mid morning today.

He said the outage had been “frustrating” without being able to cook anything, and use hot water for washing and showers.

“I’m lucky enough that work has let me borrow one of the big power banks that we’ve got here – so I managed to power the freezer off of that for a little bit – but yeah, it’s been very frustrating, and quite difficult.”

He said he was “very relieved” the power was now back on.

Wellington Electricity has been approached for comment on remaining outages.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/wellington-and-lower-north-island-still-without-power-days-after-weather-bomb/

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Tower expects rise in weather-related claims to nearly halve profits

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tower insurance chair Michael Stiassny says some progress to tackle the impacts of extreme weather events had been “haphazard, inadequate and painfully slow”. RNZ

  • Tower paid out $12m already in bad weather claims, expects more
  • Company has $45m fund for big events, a quarter already spent
  • Full year underlying profit will be almost halved if events fund exhausted
  • Chair criticises lack of action on climate change as “costing lives and money”

Local insurance company Tower expects a rise in weather-related claims will nearly halve its profits this year, as its chair criticised the lack of action to confront climate change.

The company’s annual meeting heard it had already used about $12 million of its budgeted $45m to cover large events, and expected more costs from the storms of the past week.

“This includes the October windstorm, the Timaru hailstorm in November, and the late January nationwide storm,” chief executive Paul Johnston said.

“Claims from the stormy weather across New Zealand over the past few days are still being assessed and at this early stage, Tower expects costs to exceed its … large events threshold.”

It forecast its full year underlying profit would be between $55m-$65m from a record $107m in 2025 if it used all of its large events fund.

Johnston told the meeting the first part of the year has been steady with growth in house policies, premium growth, and adding new customers.

The company said its risk based pricing meant it building a less vulnerable business, while its technical upgrades have sped up the processing of claims with more motor claims were being referred directly to repairers.

Climate change costing lives and money

The retiring chair, business veteran Michael Stiassny, said too little progress was being made in tackling climate change.

“In the wake of the tragic events at Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Warkworth, we face a chilling reality. Climate change is here, and it’s costing lives and money.”

He said some progress to tackle the impacts of extreme weather events had been “haphazard, inadequate and painfully slow”.

Stiassny said three years after Cyclone Gabrielle there had been no decisive action to prevent loss of life, prevent building on flood plains, active measures to protect against floods from more frequent and severe rain events.”

“Are we confident that our infrastructure is resilient and will cope with large storms that are no longer anomalies? The answer is a resounding no.”

Insurance review questioned

Stiassny also questioned the planned review of the insurance industry ordered by the government earlier this month from financial regulators to look at the high cost of insurance and growing evidence that some companies are refusing to insure certain towns or parts of towns.

“The rate of premium increase is either on par with the sum insured increase or much lower. In short, premiums have not climbed as much as some Ministers have said,” he said.

“The real issue when it comes to insurance affordability is the cost of living more generally for Kiwis. With costs of all goods and services spiralling up significantly more than incomes, it is inevitable that some people are unable to afford insurance.”

He said levies for Fire and Emergency and Natural Hazards Insurance made up about 40 percent of premiums, over which it had no control.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/tower-expects-rise-in-weather-related-claims-to-nearly-halve-profits/

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Events

Source: Privacy Commissioner

Events are a great way for us to promote privacy issues, and answer questions. Our people speak to a range of audiences across New Zealand about privacy issues. The Commissioner is often asked to be a keynote speaker at conferences. 

Privacy Week speaker applications are now open

During May each year we run Privacy Week, a series of free webinars that promote privacy awareness regardless of how much you already know. Applications for speakers for this year’s event opened on Wednesday 18 February.

Apply now using our form. Applications close Friday 20 March. 

Contact us at privacyweek@privacy.org.nz if you have questions.

About Privacy Week

Privacy Week is held in conjunction with Privacy Awareness Week, an initiative by the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) network. Find out more about APPA and Privacy Awareness Week.

Privacy Week 2025
Privacy Week 2024

Previous years’ webinar recordings can be watched on our YouTube page.

Request a privacy speaker

If you’d like to request a speaker please fill in our speaker request form.
 
We meet every two weeks to discuss requests for speeches and will accept or decline the request soon after that. Declines are almost always owing to resourcing – we are a very small office. If you have questions please email our communications team at  commsteam@privacy.org.nz

Sir Bruce Slane Memorial Lecture

The Sir Bruce Slane Memorial Lecture is delivered every two years by an invited guest, and always on a topic of privacy law. Sir Bruce Slane was New Zealand’s first Privacy Commissioner. Read more about his life.

2025 lecture (happening in 2026)
This year’s lecturer is Justice Christian Whata who will speak in February about the concept of privacy through a tikanga lens. Sign up to watch the webinar online via Teams.

2023 lecture
Professor Nicole Moreham
Balancing privacy and other interests in the social media age

(Regular lectures interrupted by COVID-19 pandemic).

2018 lecture
Hon Justice Helen Winkelmann
Privacy law at a cross roads: can the courts provide

Right to Know Day

Right to Know Day is on 28 September each year and promotes the legal right all New Zealanders have to see the information that organisations hold about them. Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to ask for personal information about you. You can do that using our About Me tool. 

Personal information can include simple details such as your name, address and your pay slips. It can also include any sensitive records such as medical test results and notes.
Download a Right to Know factsheet.

Watch us on YouTube

Our recorded events and webinars can be watched on our YouTube channel. 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/events/

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Police sent to Auckland school after ‘threats towards students’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Western Springs College’s principal says there was an “altercation” last week and a threat made on social media. RNZ / Lauren Baker

Police have been posted at an Auckland school after what it says were threats from another school.

“Last Thursday, a group of students from another school made threats toward our students during the school day,” Western Springs College principal Ivan Davis said.

“While nothing occurred on school grounds, an altercation took place later that afternoon at the Great North Road bus stop.”

The principal, in a post on the school’s Facebook, said there was then another threat made on social media.

That resulted in an increased police presence at the school on Tuesday.

“Our staff and involved whānau have been working tirelessly to contain the situation,” Davis said.

The school was getting strong support from police, he added.

“Please speak with your child and reiterate the importance of not leaving school without permission.

“It is vital that students do not put themselves in potentially dangerous situations by exiting the gates during the day or engaging with external groups,” Davis said.

Police have been approached for comment.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/police-sent-to-auckland-school-after-threats-towards-students/

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Weather live: Evacuations as landslip narrowly misses homes in Dunedin

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow our live blog at the top of this page for updates.

Banks Peninsula remains cut off by road after widespread damage from flooding and slips.

Canterbury’s civil defence controller Duncan Sandeman says the focus on Wednesday will be opening roads and restoring communications.

The peninsula was pelted by ten times the monthly average rainfall in the last 48 hours. Part of State Highway 75, the main road from Christchurch to Akaroa, was closed overnight.

Follow our live blog at the top of this page for updates.

Roads damaged after floods in Akaroa. Nathan McKinnon

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/weather-live-evacuations-as-landslip-narrowly-misses-homes-in-dunedin/

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The ‘sausage sensei’ who says his snags are art

Source: Radio New Zealand

If you’ve ever wanted to craft the perfect sausage, Texan Bill Dumas could make your dreams come true.

Known as the Sausage Sensei, Dumas is on his second visit to New Zealand for two sausage-making workshops.

And while sausages are a beloved barbeque staple in many parts of the world, for Dumas, they’re much, much more.

The sausage sensei’s creations.

Supplied

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/the-sausage-sensei-who-says-his-snags-are-art/

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Road closures following slip, Musselburgh, Dunedin

Source: New Zealand Police

Belmont Lane, Musselburgh, Dunedin, and surrounding roads are closed following a landslip this morning.

Police were notified of the slip around 10.50am. Thankfully, no one was injured.

Police are assisting Fire and Emergency New Zealand with evacuations of nearby residents.

The public is advised to avoid the area.

ENDS

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/road-closures-following-slip-musselburgh-dunedin/

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The truth about energy: Why your 40s feel harder than your 20s, but there may be a lift later on

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some of us remember having more energy in our 20s. We could work late, sleep badly, have a night out, recover quickly and still feel capable the next day. By our 40s, that ease has often gone. Fatigue feels harder to shake. It’s tempting to assume this is simply the ageing process – a one‑way decline.

The truth is that the 40s are often the most exhausting decade, not because we are old, but because several small biological changes converge at exactly the same time that life’s demands often peak. Crucially, and optimistically, there is no reason to assume that energy must continue to decline in the same way into our 60s.

Midlife is often a time of maximum cognitive load.

Unsplash

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/the-truth-about-energy-why-your-40s-feel-harder-than-your-20s-but-there-may-be-a-lift-later-on/

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Willis calls $9 Auckland crossing toll a ‘completely hypothetical scenario’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis RNZ / Mark Papalii

National’s Nicola Willis says the government has not given any consideration to putting a $9 toll on both the Auckland Harbour Bridge and a new crossing, calling it a “completely hypothetical scenario”.

And Labour says any such move would have to be “thought through very carefully” given the cost of living.

The Infrastructure Commission this week suggested twin $9 tolls as way of funding a tunnel or a second bridge across Waitematā Harbour.

In response, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said any new crossing would be tolled, but the government was still seeking advice regarding the existing bridge.

Speaking on Morning Report‘s political panel, Willis played down the $9 figure.

“I just want to be really clear that that is a completely hypothetical scenario in the Infrastructure Commission’s plan. It’s not something that the government has given consideration to.”

Willis said both National and Labour faced a challenge in paying for the “essential” multi-billion dollar project as no funding had been put aside.

“How do you pay for it? And what the experts and advisers always say is, you should make sure that the users of roads are contributing the cost to them.

“And actually, that’s a road that would have so many vehicle movements a day that actually a toll to help pay for it would mean you could deliver it sooner.”

Labour’s deputy Carmel Sepuloni said her party was “not completely opposed” to the notion of tolling but said they needed to be “thought through very carefully”.

“For someone like me who doesn’t go over the the Harbour Bridge very often, and perhaps is in a better position to be able to pay the $9, it’s not a big deal, but for someone who’s travelling over that bridge every day and going to work and perhaps not on the highest income, that becomes quite a big deal.”

Sepuloni said the government needed to think about ways to ensure any tolls were affordable given the pressures of the cost of living.

“We need to make sure that any measure, including tolls, are fair and equitable.”

Willis said both political parties had made decisions in recent years to keep petrol taxes a bit lower, meaning that road funding had had to be topped up from general taxation.

But she said that also raised questions of fairness: “we used to have the concept that those who use the roads pay for them”.

Greater Auckland editor Matt Lowrie had told Morning Report that the estimated revenue from the toll is between $7 and $9 billion, while the projected costs of the crossing could exceed $20b.

He said while a second crossing is needed to provide more capacity, other payment options could be considered.

Lowrie agreed that tolling both crossings was necessary because just tolling the new one meant people would simply continue using the existing bridge, however he suggested a lower toll be implemented to see the impact of it.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/willis-calls-9-auckland-crossing-toll-a-completely-hypothetical-scenario/

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Photographer invites you to become part of living archive

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Canterbury photographer, who has a project that turns portraits into time capsules, is inviting new faces into his lens at a Christchurch studio next week.

For more than a decade, Charlie Fox has been creating time-lapse portraits. The full-size versions are a towering 1.2 metres-tall and rendered at a staggering 150 megapixels. The detail, in full on his website, is to the point out that viewers can see skin follicles.

“I encourage people to put their noses up against the paper and just drink in the quality,” Fox told Nights.

“The eyes of the images especially, you can see the reflection of me in the catch light. That’s the level of detail that we’re playing with…

“I think the subjects are very brave to participate because they’re shown in such extreme levels of detail and quality that I haven’t really seen it anywhere else.”

The project, Panochron, began in 2013 and has since captured 30 people, including 12 repeat participants.

Fox hopes to reconnect with his earliest subjects and photograph them again, building what one friend described as a “longitudinal study” of the human face.

Some participants under 18 return annually, which Fox hopes will serve as a mini-movie of their journey into adulthood.

“In life, you have a lot of choice about things, but you don’t have any choice at all about the passage of time, that’s just a steady fact.”

Alongside the portraits, he now records brief interviews, asking subjects what they would say to their younger selves and inviting them to leave a message to be heard in a decade’s time.

“Some really interesting conversations will be had between them with themselves, I think, through this.”

Fox, who has spent 25 years behind the camera, traces his fascination with this portrait style back to a black-and-white 35mm portrait that first captivated him.

“Ever since then, I’ve just been sort of driven to keep capturing images in this style.”

Bookings with Fox for Sunday and Monday are available through the Photosynthesis Studio website.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/photographer-invites-you-to-become-part-of-living-archive/

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Foo Fighters returning to rock out in New Zealand at two stadium shows

Source: Radio New Zealand

Foo Fighters have announced two huge stadium shows for New Zealand in January 2027.

They will play in Christchurch on 19 January, before performing at Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium on 22 January.

Hawkins had been a member of the Foo Fighters since 1997. They have become one of rock’s most popular bands, winning 12 Grammy Awards including Best Rock Album four times.

The Foo Fighters – currently made up of Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear, Rami Jaffee and Ilan Rubin – have visited New Zealand several times. They were last here in January 2024.

General tickets go on sale 25 February.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/foo-fighters-returning-to-rock-out-in-new-zealand-at-two-stadium-shows/

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EMA – Employment Law Changes Bring Certainty for Employers and Contractors

Source: EMA

Yesterday’s third reading of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill gives employers long-sought clarity on defining the status of contractors in the workplace, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).
The EMA’s Head of Advocacy, Alan McDonald, said that wish for clarity predates the recent Uber court decision and gives employers a four-gateway test that they can apply in determining the status of contractors. In addition, for those working on contracts the new legislation clarifies what they can do within their contract, including the ability to work for other clients.
“The Bill also reverses an unpopular measure imposed by the previous government requiring employers to sign up new employees to union-based collectives and to provide information to new employees about joining unions,” says McDonald.
“In a time of declining union membership, this was seen by many of our employers as a ploy to help unions shore up their memberships, especially when employees then had to choose to opt out of that union membership after 30 days.
“The change to remediation measures is another positive for employers. The idea that reinstatement should be the first priority for remediation – if a hearing in the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) finds in favour of the employee – was anathema to many employers and had been imposed on them by the previous Employment Relations Amendment Bill.
“Generally, if the case has reached the authority, the relationship between the employer and employee is irretrievably broken – and expecting that employee to be amicably re-integrated into the workforce is unrealistic. It’s telling that of all the cases that went before the ERA, only about half a dozen employees were reinstated. They are the anomalies, not the norm.
“It also seems logical that employees who contribute to their own dismissal should have that behaviour taken into account when they later raise claims against the employer. It was counterintuitive that such behaviour was sometimes disregarded by the authority when awards for unjustified dismissal were made.”
“The other major change is that employees earning more than $200,000 will no longer be able to bring an unjustified dismissal claim.
“That threshold has risen from the previous $180,000, and it’s important to remember that it applies only to unjustified dismissal claims. The grounds for any other type of claim remain unchanged.
“These changes will help rebalance some of the current inequities facing employers,” says McDonald.
In today’s competitive and challenging workplace, employers need confidence and certainty that their employment relations practices are correct and within the law.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/ema-employment-law-changes-bring-certainty-for-employers-and-contractors/

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First Home Loan scheme gets another option

Source: Radio New Zealand

The loan underwritten by Kainga Ora. RNZ

ASB has joined the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan scheme, which allows borrowers to buy a house with a deposit of only 5 percent.

The loan is underwritten by Kāinga Ora, so borrowers are usually able to access the same interest rates as buyers with 20 percent deposit.

Previously it had only been available through Westpac, Kiwibank, The Co-Operative Bank, SBS, Unity, Nelson Building Society and NZHL.

ASB executive general manager personal banking Adam Boyd said home ownership was a “cornerstone of financial wellbeing and security for many New Zealanders”.

“This loan helps to get more people into their own homes without the challenge of saving a large deposit while managing everyday expenses, like rent.”

He said people using the scheme could also be eligible for ASB’s cash back offer.

Glen McLeod, head of Link Advisory, said it added another lending option for people thinking about buying a first home.

“The underlying criteria and approval process remain the same, as Kāinga Ora is still the gatekeeper for applications. More lender choice is positive, but the practical impact will depend on each client’s situation and how they meet Kāinga Ora’s existing requirements.”

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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/2026/02/18/first-home-loan-scheme-gets-another-option/

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Former prison guard’s appeal against murder conviction, sentencing to be heard in November

Source: Radio New Zealand

David Benbow was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non parole period of 17 years after a jury found him guilty of murder.

A former prison guard who murdered his childhood friend will have his appeal against conviction and sentence heard later this year.

David Benbow was sentenced in 2024 to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years after a jury found him guilty of murdering Michael McGrath.

McGrath was last seen alive in May 2017. Two years later, Benbow was charged with his murder – accused of fatally shooting his childhood friend.

Neither the gun, nor McGrath’s body, have been found despite extensive searches.

After his first trial, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. At his second trial, he was found guilty of murder.

The Court of Appeal confirmed to RNZ a hearing date for Benbow’s appeal on conviction and sentence had been set for November 9 and 10.

McGrath’s brother, Simon McGrath, told RNZ Benbow continued to show a “disturbing lack of empathy and remorse despite the clinically clear weight of evidence against him that has resulted in his unanimous murder conviction”.

At sentencing, Justice Jonathan Eaton described the murder as an execution style killing.

He said the high level of planning, including the fact that McGrath’s body has never been found, added to the length of the sentence.

Michael McGrath was last seen alive in May 2017. NZ Police

During the Christchurch High Court trial, the prosecution said that Benbow killed McGrath after learning that he was in a relationship with Benbow’s ex-partner of 17 years, Joanne Green.

McGrath’s mother, Adrienne McGrath, said she could not believe her son would never come home again.

In her victim impact statement, she said she still laid in bed some nights and hoped her son would come knocking at her window.

“I’ll never forget that first night when I realised that Michael was missing. That memory will haunt me forever.

“I still experience the pain of losing him every day, especially when I see or hear things that remind me of him.”

McGrath’s brother Simon, speaking after the guilty verdict, said the family still wanted to know where his brother’s body was.

Simon said he hoped the government considered legislative changes to stop killers who do not co-operate with police being eligible for parole.

“I believe New Zealand needs to strengthen the law to follow … what’s in many Australian states – no body, no parole.”

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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/2026/02/18/former-prison-guards-appeal-against-murder-conviction-sentencing-to-be-heard-in-november/

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Man’s body found in Tauranga park, homicide probe launched

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police said the man’s body was discovered in a secluded area of Wharepai Domain on Saturday. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

A homicide investigation has been launched after a man’s body was found in Wharepai Domain, Tauranga.

Detective Senior Sergeant Natalie Flowerdew-Brown, Western Bay of Plenty Area Investigations Manager, said the man’s body was discovered in a secluded area of the domain at about 2pm on Saturday 14 February.

“A post-mortem on Monday established the victim’s death is suspicious and we are now working to establish what happened and identify who was involved.

“An examination of the scene has now been completed”.

Detective Senior Sergeant Flowerdew-Brown said police would like to speak with anyone who has information that could help the investigation.

“We ask people to contact us if they saw unusual or suspicious behaviour around the Wharepai Domain prior to 2pm on Saturday.”

Police have urged anyone with information to contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, or by calling 105.

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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/2026/02/18/mans-body-found-in-tauranga-park-homicide-probe-launched/