Auckland Council has unanimously endorsed its submissions on two government bills that would replace the Resource Management Act (RMA). While broadly supportive of creating a more efficient planning system, councillors say Aucklanders must continue to have a meaningful say in decisions that shape their communities.
Committee Chair Councillor Richard Hills says the council’s focus is on ensuring the changes work for Auckland.
“As the government overhauls the system, our submission aims to get the best outcomes for our communities, our planning system and our environment.”
The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill are proposed to come into force in mid‑2026. Public submissions close 13 February 2026.
More information on the Planning and Natural Environment Bills can be found on the main Auckland Council website.
Key points
Council wants stronger local decision‑making
Te Tiriti protections should be strengthened
Supports a simplified combined planning framework
Calls for better tree and biodiversity protection
Warns compensation costs could be financially unsustainable
Public submissions close 13 February 2026.
What the council is calling for
Keep local input strong
The proposed laws would shift more decision‑making to central government and reduce the ability to tailor planning rules to Auckland’s diverse areas. The council says local voices must remain part of the process.
Strengthen Māori protections
Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles are not required under the bills. The council says this weakens long‑standing protections for Māori values, rights and interests, including kaitiakitanga.
Support for a unified planning system
Councillors support combining multiple plans into one — an approach similar to the Auckland Unitary Plan — but say all national policy directions must be released on time.
Better safeguards for notable trees and biodiversity
Notable trees aren’t explicitly protected in the draft laws, and the council says environmental protection and biodiversity outcomes need stronger emphasis.
Concerns about compensation costs
New compensation requirements for affected landowners could limit the council’s ability to protect natural areas, heritage and sites of significance to Māori.
The Australian Olympic Committee has sent its second-largest Winter Olympics team of 53 athletes in ten sports to Italy for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Every athlete has a unique story of how they got to the pinnacle of their sport, but training methods can vary substantially.
This is especially relevant when it comes to the differences between athletes preparing for the summer and winter games.
In contrast, many of the Australian winter athletes have been competing in World Cup events in the Northern Hemisphere winter in the United States, Canada, Austria and Switzerland in the months prior to the games.
The Australian Institute of Sport’s European Training Centre in northern Italy has been a base for many athletes before the games.
How athletes beat the heat
A common preparation strategy for Olympic athletes is to spend time overseas chasing specific competition conditions.
It is the interaction of ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar load (amount of cloud cover) that contributes to how hot an athlete feels and how the body copes during exercise in the heat.
For athletes, gradual exposure to heat is crucial. They exercise in hot environments or in artificially hot and humid climate chambers and regularly use saunas.
An expert consensus statement also recommends competitions should be postponed if possible to avoid hot temperatures to help ease stress on athletes.
Keeping cool, aiming high
The expected temperatures of Milan Cortina could be as cold as -7°C for multiple days at several competition venues.
This presents a completely different challenge to the athletes.
Winter athletes can be at higher risk of airway irritation and asthma when breathing cold air during prolonged, intense competitions.
The risk of frostbite will also be monitored, with the IOC recommending athletes cover their skin and avoid competition if wind chill falls below -27°C.
Winter Olympians must then train and prepare in the cold to be ready for the competition conditions.
Training on the snow and ice provides athletes with the most specific preparation for their competition.
To ensure athlete safety, the IOC recommends athletes check the weather conditions to avoid hazardous wind chills, wear appropriate clothing and seek regular medical checks for early detection of exercise induced asthma.
Away from the snow and ice, purpose-built facilities such as the National Snowsports Training Centre in Jindabyne, NSW, allows skiers and snowboarders to develop freestyle skills, while the Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre in Brisbane has become a key training location for aerial and mogul skiers.
So, while many Australian winter athletes may miss out on time at the beach during summer, it’s for a good reason: they will have trained hard in the challenging environmental conditions they will likely face during competition.
Monica Kelly does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Kennedy Cherrington says the Maori jersey stands above them all.Instagram
For Kennedy Cherrington, nothing in rugby league carries more weight than the Māori jersey.
Despite playing at a World Cup, in State of Origins, and an NRLW grand final, Cherrington said the Māori jersey sits above them all.
She said the it connects her to something far bigger than the game.
“This kaupapa is everything to me. The Māori jersey is the pinnacle in the game for me personally and I know that’s a shared common feeling by my team-mates. I’ve been fortunate enough to play at World Cups and Origins and Grand Finals, but the Māori jersey is the pinnacle.
“I get to represent not just myself and my whanau, but my ancestors and everything we’ve worked towards being Māori in the land of today. So I just want to take back that narrative and show people that we can showcase our culture and game in one.”
Cherrington will run out alongside younger sister Ruben for the Māori vs Indigenous All Stars clash in Hamilton on Sunday.
“It’s not just a selection of random players. You have to be Māori to play here. So I think that’s the special thing and being surrounded by your own is such a wholesome feeling.
“It’s like all the whanau coming together and you just get to be yourself. This is probably one of the most well connected teams that I’ve been a part of because you share the same heritage.”
Despite growing up more than 2000km from her ancestral home, Cherrington’s connection to her whakapapa remained strong, thanks to her parents.
“They’ve always instilled confidence in us being Māori and learning the Māori way, they always reminded us, showed us where we come from, so we pay homage to our parents and all they had to sacrifice being away from their home because they miss it just as much.
“But obviously everything happens for a reason. We had to come over there for a fresh start and we’ve just harnessed that opportunity that they’ve sacrificed for us. But obviously not having our kapa haka or kohunga growing up has been kind of deflating because that’s what we kind of mourn for being in Australia.”
Cherrington said Māori representation is crucial for young wahine.
“You can’t be what you can’t see. and there’s so many little eyes, both Māori, non-Māori, watching us, looking at us going, ‘I want to be there. I want to be like them.’ And in a world full of a lot of negative things, we just want to be the positivity and the positive role models that they look to, leading the forefront and changing the narrative of how Māori are to be seen.”
Kennedy and Ruben Cherrington will run out together for the Maori All Stars this Sunday.Instagram
Joining the NRLW in 2020, Cherrington has seen a clear shift in the women’s game, most notably in the support they get from young fans.
“That’s probably been a bit of a pinch me moment, it’s been really, really noticeable. I was once that young girl looking up to people who I wanted to aspire to be like.
“So if someone says hello, I’ll always say hello back. If someone asks for a photo, I’ll always say yes and have a big smile on my face. I’m here, I’m a role model, whether I like it or not, well, I like it. So little eyes are watching you and monkey see monkey do, right? So yeah, that’s what you want to do, inspire the next generation because you were that young person.”
The Parramatta centre is also ensuring the women’s game has a strong players voice, having recently been appointed to the Rugby League Players Association as a player director.
“I’ve just been a big believer in standing up for change and using your voice when others don’t have a voice. So it’s just something that’s been in me since high school, speaking up. So I guess it’s kind of just transcended into rugby league world as well. I love seeing avenues of the game and how things roll and advocating for change.”
That change has been significant in the past six years.
“Some of the girls that have been around since those early days have just seen like, wow, we’ve gone to be basically afterthought to actually being in the forefront of the game itself here in Australia and New Zealand.
“We didn’t even have lockers or proper changing rooms, we were wearing men’s playing gear, had no maternity leave, and none of us having that well-being support. They were expecting a professional product, but not treating us like professionals. So that conversation has changed and it’s just come such a long way.
However Cherrington said more still needs to be done to get on equal footing with the NRL.
“Obviously, a fully professional schedule, that’s a big one. I’d love to see us finally transition slowly into the full-time space. It’ll take some time because I know a lot of the girls have still got full-time jobs, but I think we’d see a massive reflection of quality. I love our game and I just want to see a positive change for our future for our women.”
Locked in at the Eels until 2027, Cherrington did not rule out a potential move to Aotearoa and switch to the Warriors.
“I grew up supporting the Warriors and I do have a special place for them in my heart, beyond 2027? Who knows?”
Kennedy Cherrington scoring a try during her rugby days in 2018.Photosport
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Waitematā Police is seeking information about a fire at a Rānui house in the early hours of the morning.
Emergency services attended Vino Cina Heights after midnight, with the roof fully alight.
A scene examination was completed today at the address alongside a fire investigator.
“We believe this fire has been caused by a flare, which is commonly used by boaties and one that launches a projectile,” acting Detective Inspector Megan Goldie, Waitematā CIB says.
“Based on enquiries so far it appears this is an accidental fire as a result of reckless actions.”
It’s by good fortune only that Police are not dealing with fatalities.
“The house is completely uninhabitable and has been extensively damaged.”
Acting Detective Inspector Goldie says Police is seeking information about two people seen running away from the area.
“As a result of an area canvass this morning, residents have reported seeing two people running away after a loud bang was heard.”
A short time later the fire began.
Acting Detective Inspector Goldie says: “If you have any information, we need to hear from you.
“I would also call on those people who are involved to do the right thing and own up to what has happened.”
Anyone with further information to assist us should contact 105 using the reference number 260211/6037.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Dunedin and Auckland Police have got together, making an arrest over an alleged romance scam that has spanned nearly two decades.
Over this period an unsuspecting Dunedin man has lost more than half a million dollars.
Today, Dunedin Police executed a search warrant at an Auckland property, assisted by the Auckland City Financial Crime Unit.
A 44-year-old Ellerslie woman was arrested and faces a representative charge of obtains by deception.
“Police will allege in court that this scam has run for a period of 18 years, beginning online in 2006,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ali Ramsay, from the Auckland City Financial Crime Unit, says.
“The offender in this case has allegedly obtained $525,537 through this elaborate scam.”
The woman is expected to appear in the Auckland District Court on 17 February 2026.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ramsay says being able to put an alleged offender before the Court is a good outcome.
“Our colleagues in Dunedin have been investigating this case, and we’re glad to have assisted in this result,” she says.
“Romance scams are usually perpetrated by offshore offenders, making prosecutions difficult for law enforcement.
“At the very heart of this are victims whose good nature is taken advantage of, causing emotional and financial stress.”
Police are unable to comment further about specifics in the case as matters are now before the Court.
Police remind the public to be extremely cautious when meeting new people online or through dating applications.
Netsafe has more information on romance scams and what to look out for on its website.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border financial platform, was honoured to be invited to join the Malaysia Economic Forum (Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026).Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, shared insights on how Malaysia can accelerate technology application and innovation to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale exports under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), during FEM 2026’s panel discussion, “Made by Malaysia: Accelerating Technology Applications & Innovation”.
Bill Deng (second from the right), Founder and CEO of XTransfer, joins as a speaker at Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026.
Bill was honoured to join YB Tuan Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, and Mr Ooi Ching Liang, Senior Director of Engineering at SkyeChip, for a discussion focused on strengthening high-growth, high-value industries, advancing R&D commercialisation, increasing productivity and competitiveness, and supporting MSMEs in global value chains.
Drawing on XTransfer’s work with MSMEs across markets, Bill noted that many Malaysian businesses are “able to export,” but face persistent barriers to scaling exports. The most common issues are trust, compliance, and scale, which often surface as payment delays, repeated documentation requests, FX uncertainty, and working capital pressure as orders grow.
“For B2B SMEs in foreign trade, the biggest constraint isn’t demand. It’s the operational complexity behind cross-border payments, foreign exchange, and compliance,” Bill said. “In particular, AML requirements can be difficult for both traditional banks and SMEs to manage efficiently, creating friction that slows down legitimate trade.”
Bill highlighted a structural shift in global trade flows from a single dominant corridor to non-U.S., intra-Asia, and broader South–South routes. This trend is increasingly clear in real SME transaction patterns. Bill shared, “In 2025, XTransfer’s average collection amount from Asia, Africa, and Latin America grew by 106% year-on-year, with Africa exceeding 270%, Latin America reaching 94%, and ASEAN reaching 82%.”YB Liew noted the trend and thinks it is a direction Malaysia should pursue.
XTransfer also said it plans to establish Malaysia as its regional compliance centre, citing Malaysia’s strong geographic and time-zone advantages, a mature regulatory environment, availability of talent in compliance and risk operations, and cost efficiency. “Malaysia gives us the talent, governance environment, and regional proximity to scale compliance as intra-Asia and emerging-market trade accelerates,” Bill added.
Auckland FC move on from fitness coach with months left in A-League season.www.ofcproleague.com
Auckland FC have parted ways with their inaugural head of performance midway through the A-League season.
Australian Elias Boukarim was credited with establishing a high-performance unit and running pre-season training sessions that players described as “hardest I’ve ever had”.
Boukarim left the club last week.
He had previously worked in the A-League with Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC before arriving in Auckland.
Last year Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn told A-League media players took a while to get used to Boukarim.
“I think the first two, three weeks, the boys absolutely despised him, hated him. But once you get to know him and know that everything he’s doing is coming from a good place, and it’s to make you better, they all love him.”
The club said after Boukarim’s sudden departure he had returned to Sydney to be with family and would not discuss his exit further.
Boukarim’s role with Auckland FC involved fitness and injury prevention.
The club said the “wider coaching team” was filling Boukarim’s duties and recruitment for a replacement would happen at “some stage soon”.
Elias Boukarim, fourth from right in cap, with Auckland FC coaching staff in April.Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The fitness of the Premiers Plate-winning playing squad last season was often referred to as a reason that the team could be competitive late in games.
Despite Auckland dropping competition points by conceding late goals in their second season in the league, coach Steve Corica brushed off suggestions fitness was a contributing factor to the lapses.
“That’s a tiring period for a team but I think we’re fit enough, it’s a mentality thing not to want to concede and be in the right spot, everyone working hard for each other I think is very important I think that’s part of our motto from the start and if everyone does that I think we start winning games again and get back to the top as soon as possible hopefully,” Corica said before Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sydney FC.
Last season the club had one major injury, with defender Dan Hall breaking his ankle in training and being sidelined for months.
This season captain Hiroki Sakai has battled with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the side over two stints and Guillermo May has worked back from a knee injury.
Elias Boukarim, left, during an Auckland FC training session at North Harbour Stadium this season.RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Among the latest injuries are goalkeeper Oli Sail who has had season-ending knee surgery and defender Nando Pijnaker who was also injured in the same game as Sail and has a leg injury that prevented him playing last week.
Auckland are currently second on the A-League ladder and play Sydney FC in Sydney on Tuesday in a catch-up game for a match that was postponed in December due to poor pitch conditions.
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BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – As China marks Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year, there is growing evidence of its ancient traditions evolving into global lifestyle trends. CGTN published an article analyzing how this prelude to the Year of the Horse – from the folk ritual of “sweeping the dust” to the cross-cultural fusion of the Spring Festival Gala – illustrates China’s growing global cultural resonance.
As the lunar calendar turns its final pages, China enters a period of joyful anticipation known as Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year. Often celebrated as the Festival of the Kitchen God, it marks the official start of the “busy year” – a traditional term for the intense, joyful period of preparing food, cleaning homes, and shopping for the upcoming Spring Festival.
The Spring Festival is a deeply significant time for family reunion. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the “Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional Chinese New Year” onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
While daily routines continue to evolve, they remain anchored in rituals that provide a sense of normalcy and meaning. It is perhaps no wonder that in a climate of uncertainty, traditional Chinese lifestyles are finding a new audience beyond the country’s borders, with the Spring Festival chief among those unique traditions that are fast becoming a shared human experience.
Diverse traditions, shared aspirations
In a prelude to the broader celebrations, Xiaonian, observed on February 10 and 11 this year, kickstarts a focused period of preparation. According to ancient lore, families offer Zaotang, or sticky “Kitchen Candy,” to the Kitchen God to ensure he delivers a favorable report on the household’s conduct before he ascends to the heavens. This lighthearted tradition marks the beginning of several symbolic rituals aimed at welcoming a fresh start.
A key element of this transition is donning new clothes. In Chinese culture, the New Year represents a moment when “all things are renewed,” and wearing new garments symbolizes shedding the “dust” or misfortunes of the past to embrace auspicious energy for the year ahead. Alongside this personal renewal, families nationwide engage in “sweeping the dust,” a deep-cleaning ritual to purify the home and prepare it for new blessings.
Whereas these practices are universal, celebratory flavors vary by geography. In the north, families traditionally gather over steaming plates of dumplings, whereas in the south, the menu often features sweet rice cakes (Niangao) and glutinous rice balls (Tangyuan).
As Mao Qiaohui, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnic Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explains, these variations highlight the inclusive nature of Chinese civilization.
“Although folk customs differ between different regions across China, this diversity reflects the cultural pluralism within the Spring Festival tradition,” she notes. “Different regional identities contribute to a shared pursuit of harmony and reunion.”
The vitality of these traditions is also evident in local craftsmanship. In northern regions like Shandong and Henan, artisans are currently making Huamo, decorated steamed buns, featuring horse designs for the upcoming zodiac year. Meanwhile, in Shuozhou, Shanxi Province, intangible heritage inheritors are carving spirited stallions onto traditional gourds. These creations reflect the regional diversity of the festival and a collective desire for progress in the year ahead.
Cultural dialogue: From global stage to daily life
The festive atmosphere is reflected further in preparations for the Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan), produced by China Media Group.
Recent rehearsals show performances meshing traditional Chinese culture with international artistry. One performance piece combines the wooden clog dance of the Hani and Lisu ethnic groups with the rhythmic tap of Spanish Flamenco and Hungarian folk dance. And with global stars like Jackie Chan and Lionel Richie on the bill, the Gala’s stage is set to become a stage for the world to come together.
The reach of the gala has expanded far beyond a domestic audience. Through the “Spring Festival Gala Prelude” events held in the United States, Russia, France, Italy, and several African nations, the program has become a gateway to Chinese New Year customs and cultural exchange.
This interest extends beyond art and into the lives of people worldwide, as seen in the #BecomingChinese trend. This phenomenon features international social media users adopting elements of Chinese daily life – such as keeping a thermos of hot water handy, wearing quilted indoor slippers or practicing mindful movement with Baduanjin exercises.
The festival is no longer a distant event but a gateway to Chinese lifestyle, rooted in ancient wellness wisdom and constantly updated by modern convenience, and the first step to a journey of exploration into a culture that values ritual, safety and hospitality.
Whether through global broadcasts or shared daily habits, the Spring Festival increasingly strengthens a sense of cultural empathy between China and the rest of the world.
In Las Vegas last week, two people were admitted to hospital “deathly ill” after being exposed to “possible biological material, including refrigerators containing vials with unknown liquids” at a suburban home. Law enforcement quickly scrambled, taking down an illegal laboratory on the premises.
But this wasn’t a meth lab. Instead, it was allegedly filled with thousands of deadly pathogens.
The FBI has since opened an official investigation. It claims the Las Vegas lab is linked to another illegal lab in California that was shut down in 2023, which was investigated by US Congress. Congress found the California biolab had received millions of dollars from Chinese banks, and held more than 1,000 genetically modified mice as well as samples of diseases including HIV, malaria, COVID and even Ebola.
The US is now asking how many of these labs might exist. In Australia, we can’t really answer that question either.
Why are these labs emerging now?
New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are putting advanced biological techniques into the hands of everyday people.
Once, you needed a doctorate’s worth of knowledge and years of experience to build a biological weapon. Now, AI may be able to teach you everything you need to know.
A study published last year showed a publicly available AI model outperformed 94% of PhD-holding virologists (on one benchmark, at least). More specialised AI systems can help you design proteins or genetic sequences in your living room. Engineers at Google have even created an entire AI-driven “virtual laboratory” to devise and synthesise new chemical compounds.
What’s more, the genetic sequences of deadly viruses are freely available online. Open-source databases such as NextStrain and PathoPlexus offer researchers the ability to share their work in the hope of developing new vaccines or antibiotics.
But those same resources can be used by malicious actors to “shop” for pathogens, then pay synthetic biology companies to build DNA sequences to order.
Some scholars fear this situation means “no disease-causing organism can forever be eradicated”. In 2020, for example, Swiss scientists created samples of the virus behind the COVID pandemic using DNA sequences emailed from China weeks before any human infections were reported in Switzerland.
As the threat of politically motivated violence in Australia increases, so does the chance a sovereign citizen or far-right group, or any other kind of extremist, may look to use biology in an attack.
There are key gaps in Australia’s regulatory framework for pathogens made in backyard labs, as I outlined in 2024:
First, our laws only operate in the physical world. They don’t cover the virtual world, and struggle to apply to emerging technologies.
Second, Australia’s “security-sensitive agents” scheme controls specific pathogens by name. This means any newly invented disease is not covered. One observer suggested this is like “someone taking a hand grenade, painting it a different color, and walking it through an airport with no problem”.
And third, our regulatory scheme operates across ten different government departments, universities and funding agencies. With that much complexity, something is bound to get missed.
Another big problem is a lack of transparency, where even authorised laboratories in Australia operate under a cloud of secrecy. There is no publicly available list of who is authorised to handle these diseases.
While attempts to map such labs do exist, one study published last year estimated the number of labs in Australia working on highly hazardous diseases is anywhere between 15 and 40.
Even worse, despite increases in lab regulation and safety guidelines, mistakes happen. Labs leak viruses, infect their workers, and keep poor records, with a recent study showing “worldwide documentation and reporting of accidents are generally poor”.
Another potential risk is underpaid researchers and students willing to sell knowledge on the black market.
What can be done?
Australia needs to revisit its approach to regulating technology in life and medical science research. At the moment you can buy synthetic DNA online without even a permit, which introduces big risks.
The developers of AI tools used in medical and life sciences research also need to build in guardrails to prevent misuse. We need to make sure the researchers and students doing work on pathogens are trustworthy, too.
Further, Australia could also take a leadership role in pushing for a unified framework for regulating global access to dangerous diseases.
The newly established Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) also has a role to play. It can educate the medical profession and the general public about backyard biolabs and their threat to public health.
It can also coordinate the various government agencies who all have a hand in disease regulation. The centre could also drive more comprehensive public reporting of lab accidents and incidents. It will need to push adapting the “security-sensitive” agents scheme to modern research as well.
The public has a role to play, too: reporting suspected illegal labs, no matter what they are being used for. An anonymous tip-off from a member of the public was what led to last week’s raid on the Las Vegas lab.
Brendan Walker-Munro receives funding from the Social Cyber Institute, and has completed paid consultancies with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor. He is affiliated with the Australian National Security College, and the Social Cyber Institute.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
A South Australian Fox & Hedgehog state poll has the Liberals facing a possible wipe-out in the lower house, losing seats to Labor and One Nation. One Nation continues to surge in a federal YouGov poll, and Newspoll has respondent preferences for a Labor vs One Nation contest.
The South Australian state election will be held on March 21. A Fox & Hedgehog poll for The Advertiser, conducted January 31 to February 8 from a sample of 904, gave Labor a 61–39 lead over the Liberals by respondent preferences, unchanged from the December Fox & Hedgehog SA poll.
Primary votes were 40% Labor (down one), 20% One Nation (up seven), 19% Liberals (down two), 12% Greens (steady) and 9% for all Others (down four). A “three-party preferred” gave Labor 54%, One Nation 25% and the Liberals 21%, with Labor crushing One Nation by 63–37, two points higher than the Labor vs Liberal two-party estimate.
If this poll is accurate, there is some chance the Liberals will win zero of the 47 lower house seats. Labor would win a big majority, with the few conservative seats more likely to go to One Nation than the Liberals. At the previous SA election in 2022, the Liberals won 16 seats, with Labor winning the two-party vote by 54.6–45.4.
Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas was at 52–21 approve (51–19 in December) and new Liberal leader Ashton Hurn was at 20–13 approve (former leader Vincent Tarzia was at 25–17 disapprove). Malinauskas led Hurn as preferred premier by 54–22 (54–18 vs Tarzia).
One Nation recruited former right-wing federal Liberal SA senator Cory Bernardi as its lead candidate for the upper house. Half of the 22 upper house seats are up at this election by statewide proportional representation with preferences. With a quota of one-twelfth or 8.3%, Bernardi is certain of election on One Nation’s current polls. His ratings in this poll were 19–15 disapprove.
SA Labor was at 45–28 approve, the SA Liberals at 37–25 disapprove and One Nation at 36–30 approve. Federal politicians listed in this SA poll were Anthony Albanese (44–35 disapprove), Sussan Ley (32–17 disapprove), Pauline Hanson (44–34 approve), Angus Taylor (20–13 disapprove) and Andrew Hastie (17–15 disapprove).
Newspoll respondent preferences for Labor vs One Nation contest
Monday’s federal Newspoll gave Labor 33% of the primary vote, One Nation 27%, the Coalition 18%, the Greens 12% and all Others 10%. When voters from parties other than Labor and One Nation were asked to assign preferences between these parties, Labor had 50% of all preferences, One Nation 29% and 21% said they would follow how to vote card recommendations or didn’t know.
If we exclude these 21%, the overall Labor share of preferences is 63%, and Labor wins the two-party vote against One Nation by more than 58–42. This would be reduced somewhat if Coalition how to vote cards recommend preferences to One Nation ahead of Labor.
By party, Greens preferences favoured Labor over One Nation by an overwhelming 91–1, while Liberal preferences favoured One Nation at a far weaker rate (43–33). All Other preferences favoured Labor by 53–32.
YouGov poll: One Nation’s surge continues
A national YouGov poll for Sky News, conducted February 3–10 from a sample of 1,561, gave Labor 30% of the primary vote (down one since the January 20–27 YouGov poll), One Nation 28% (up three), the Coalition 19% (down one), the Greens 12% (steady), independents 5% (down one) and others 6% (steady).
Labor led One Nation by 55–45 using respondent preferences, a two-point gain for One Nation. Labor led the Coalition by 54–46, a one-point gain for the Coalition.
Albanese’s net approval was down two points to -18, with 56% dissatisfied and 38% satisfied. Ley’s net approval was down nine points to -40. Albanese led Ley as better PM by 47–25 (47–29 previously).
On best to lead the Liberals, Hastie had 15%, Ley 10% and Taylor 8% with 60% undecided. Among 2025 election Coalition voters, Hastie had 25%, Ley 12% and Taylor 11%.
Morgan poll: Labor down after interest rate hike
A national Morgan poll, conducted February 2–8 from a sample of 1,584, gave Labor a 53.5–46.5 lead over the Coalition by respondent preferences, a 2.5-point gain for the Coalition since the January 26 to February 1 Morgan poll.
Primary votes were 28.5% Labor (down two), 24.5% One Nation (down 0.5), 22.5% Coalition (up two), 13.5% Greens (up one) and 11% for all Others (down 0.5). By 2025 election flows, Labor led by 53–47, a 1.5-point gain for the Coalition. No Labor vs One Nation two-party estimate was reported.
Newspoll didn’t suggest Labor had been damaged by the February 3 interest rate hike, but both Morgan and YouGov suggest some damage.
Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Al Noor Mosque where 51 people were killed in a terrorist attack in 2019.RNZ / Nate McKinnon
A forensic psychologist has called into question a report prepared for the white supremacist who massacred 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques.
Australian Brenton Tarrant is serving life imprisonment without parole for the March 2019 shootings at Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre.
He is seeking to overturn his convictions and sentence at the Court of Appeal.
On Monday, a psychologist, whose name is suppressed and is only known as Witness B, told the court the prison conditions affected the terrorist’s mental health.
The psychologist said the conditions were onerous and would have affected anyone’s mental health.
On Wednesday, forensic psychologist Professor James Ogloff, Dean of Health Sciences at Swinburne University in Melbourne, questioned the conclusions of that psychologist.
The terrorist was not subjected to deprivation or torture in prison, Ogloff told the court.
Ogloff said he believed when the terrorist spoke with Witness B he might have been consciously exaggerating the distress he claimed to be under at the time he pleaded guilty.
The terrorist’s argument for setting aside his guilty pleas was he claimed he was incapable of making a rational decision at the time because of the torturous and inhumane prison conditions.
A psychologist and a psychiatrist assessed the terrorist before his sentencing in August 2020. Both concluded he was fit to plea at that time.
Ogloff said he had no reason to call into question those assessments.
However, Witness B’s report appeared to reach the opposite conclusion and Witness B based much of his thinking on speaking to the terrorist several years after the time in question, Ogloff said.
When giving evidence on Monday, Witness B had tried to minimise his disagreement with the earlier assessments and appeared to back down from many of his report’s points, Ogloff said.
The terrorist was housed in the prisoners of extreme risk unit in Auckland Prison.
He was cut off from meaningful interaction with other people, including fellow prisoners.
Ogloff said he was not claiming the prison conditions were positive, but nor were they so harsh that severe mental deterioration was inevitable.
On Tuesday, the court heard from the two lawyers who represented the terrorist from late March 2019 until July 2020.
The pair presented an image of a man who was concerned with the attention he received in the outside world, who wanted to control the aspects of his legal proceedings he could, and who was often dismissive of his lawyer’s advice.
The terrorist had indicated to his lawyers he wanted to plead guilty in late July 2019 before again changing his mind several days later.
He finally pleaded guilty in March 2020 but the process was rushed.
However, both lawyers told the court the terrorist had indicated he would always plead guilty but he wanted to control when that happened.
Neither had any concerns about his fitness to provide instruction or to plea.
The court will hear evidence from the final witnesses on Wednesday afternoon before legal arguments on Thursday and Friday.
If the terrorist is successful, his guilty pleas will be overturned and he will stand trial in the High Court.
If he is unsuccessful, an appeal of his sentence will be heard, likely later this year.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
An alleged e-bike thief was caught by police after he crashed the bike he is believed to have stolen.
Police were called to reports that an electric trail bike had been taken at knifepoint from Coliseum Drive in the Auckland suburb of Albany at 7.41pm on Tuesday.
The police Eagle helicopter was already in the area, and located the suspect riding at “excessive speed” heading south down the Northern Busway, police said.
“The bike has continued to be tracked by Eagle, as it exited at Constellation Station, making its way onto the Northern Motorway,” Inspector Aron McKeown said.
The suspect was seen exiting at Tristram Avenue, heading for Beacroft Park, McKeown said.
“This reckless run came to an end after he fell off the bike on Bevyn Street.
“The 15-year-old didn’t suffer any injuries, but he did find himself in handcuffs and under arrest.”
Police charged him with aggravated robbery, reckless driving and possession for supply of cannabis.
He will appear at the North Shore Youth Court today.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LONDON, UK – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – In the 1930s, De Beers redefined the role of diamonds in society, celebrating them as masterpieces of nature and craftmanship. Before this, diamond jewelry pieces were treasures exchanged discreetly amongst society’s elite, as luxury houses, fearful of diminishing their mystique, fostered only private relationships with their clients. De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds to a wider audience, shifting the perception of them from luxury item to a gift integral to romantic milestones and aspirational, glamorous lives, as well as a way of marking personal achievement.
De Beers Group And Assouline Celebate The Launch Of “A Diamond Is Forever: The Making Of A Cultural Icon 1926-2026”
When copywriter Frances Gerety captured the diamond’s essence with the phrase “A Diamond Is Forever” in 1947, the declaration enshrined the diamond as a promise of love and endurance, a sentiment resonating far beyond the notion of a simple gift. Gerety’s words, seen on archival advertisements, magazine placements, and celebrity endorsements, reflected the deep cultural connection between diamonds and enduring relationships. Commissioned artwork from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Raoul Dufy draw a direct line between a diamond’s rarity—each one formed deep within the earth over billions of years—and the creative genius of fine art. By sharing these artistic visions with the world, De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds—nature’s oldest treasure—to a wider audience, elevating their aura and allure while preserving the sense of rarity and significance that sets them apart.
For a century, the story of diamonds has been one of transformation and continuity. In the 1960s, stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe adorned themselves with diamonds, embodying the elegance and glamour associated with the gemstone. The 1990s “Shadows” campaign, with its evocative pairing of diamonds and the neoclassical composition Palladio by Karl Jenkins, captured the essence of the diamond: authentic, unique, and everlasting.
In recent years, the conversation around diamonds has expanded to include provenance, sustainability, and ethical stewardship, affirming the diamond’s place as a symbol not just of love but of responsibility and conscience. Much like walking through a gallery that traces the evolution of artistic expression, A Diamond Is Forever offers a view into how diamonds have come to embody the shifting ideals and aspirations of society itself.
Northlanders will now be able to access key vascular surgery procedures at Whangārei Hospital, marking an important step in improving access to essential specialist care in the region.
“People in Northland who need renal fistula surgery or varicose vein treatment will now be able to receive that care closer to where they live, without having to travel to Auckland,” Mr Brown says.
“Travelling for treatment can be stressful and disruptive for patients and their families, and providing these procedures locally is a practical step that will make a real difference.”
The new service builds on the vascular outpatient clinics and nurse specialist support that Auckland-based teams have provided for some time. While specialist teams have regularly travelled north to support patients, until now surgery itself could only be completed in Auckland.
“Delivering these procedures monthly at Whangārei Hospital is the next stage in strengthening the vascular service for Northlanders.
“It expands on the longstanding support provided by visiting vascular teams and reflects a commitment to ensuring more care is delivered as close to home as possible.”
Clinical nurse specialists have also been recruited to coordinate care, provide pre- operative and post operative support, and ensure patients have a seamless experience across both local and visiting services.
“Improving access to quality health services in regional and rural New Zealand is a priority for the Government. Strengthening services in places like Northland is an important part of fixing the basics and building a health system that works better for patients across the country,” Mr Brown says.
There’s a peculiar ritual in many kitchens: reaching past the crisp, pristine tea towel hanging on the oven door to grab the threadbare, slightly greying one shoved in the drawer.
We all know that old faithful dries dishes better, even if we can’t quite explain why. It seems counter-intuitive – shouldn’t brand new towels, fresh from the packaging, outperform their worn-out predecessors?
Yet here we are, instinctively choosing the frayed over the fresh.
That “worn in” feeling we associate with our favourite bath towels, tea towels and even bed linens isn’t just nostalgia.
Arina Habich
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
The review into the Reserve Bank was to identify key lessons, the government said. (File photo)RNZ
The government is launching an independent review of the Reserve Bank’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, due to be published just months out from the election.
It would also look at the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy – that is, how the bank’s response interacted with the government’s.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the review’s purpose was to identify any key lessons, in light of the associated spike in inflation and house prices.
“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand took unprecedented action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis. (File photo)RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
“These actions helped to preserve jobs and keep businesses afloat, but the indirect impacts included decades-high inflation, and losses of about $10.3 billion on the LSAP [Large Scale Asset Purchase] programme and a significant spike in asset values with house prices increasing 30 per cent in one year.”
In October, Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway told a Sydney investment conference the LSAP scheme, commonly referred to as money printing, had effectively paid for itself and helped the economy to function at a time of stress.
“By boosting economic activity during the pandemic, LSAPs increased government tax revenues,” Conway said.
“This higher revenue almost entirely covered the direct losses from LSAPs, leaving consolidated crown debt virtually unchanged over the medium term.”
Police said the alleged offender fled the scene prior to their arrival.RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A man remains in critical condition after being stabbed in Hastings on Saturday, and police are appealing for more information on his attackers whereabouts.
Police said they were called to a stabbing at an address in the Karamu Road North area at around 3.25am where a man was found with “severe injuries”.
“Police immediately provided first aid before paramedics transported him to hospital, where he underwent surgery,” a spokesperson said. “He remains in a critical condition.”
Police said the alleged offender fled the scene prior to their arrival.
“At approximately 6am, police received information about a man hiding at a property on Mayfair Avenue, not far from where the incident occurred.
“The man was located and arrested without further incident.”
Police said he had been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was remanded in custody.
Police were now seeking CCTV footage from residents in the surrounding area that may have captured information between the time of the incident and his arrest.
“Residents are asked to carefully check the time settings on their cameras, including any daylight‑savings adjustments, to ensure footage covers the relevant period.”
Police also asked locals to check their properties for any items that may have been discarded by the alleged offender.
Anyone with information is asked to make a report at 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105.
So what about exercise? Our new research, published today, confirms physical activity can be just as effective for some people as therapy or medication. This is especially true when it’s social and guided by a professional, such as a gym class or running club.
Let’s take a look at the evidence.
What we already knew
Physical activity has long been promoted as a treatment option for anxiety and depression, largely because it helps release “feel good” chemicals in the brain which help boost mood and reduce stress.
Over the past two decades, researchers have conducted dozens of separate meta-analyses (studies that combine results from multiple trials) examining exercise for depression and anxiety. But these have still left gaps in understanding how effective exercise is for different age groups and whether the type of exercise matters.
Many studies have also included participants with confounding factors (influences that can distort research findings) such as other chronic diseases, for example, diabetes or arthritis. This means it can be hard to apply the findings more broadly.
What we did
Our research aimed to resolve this confusion by conducting a “meta-meta-analysis”. This means we systematically reviewed the results of all the existing meta-analyses – there were 81 – to determine what the evidence really shows.
Together, this meant data from nearly 80,000 participants across more than 1,000 original trials.
We examined multiple factors that might explain why their results varied. These included differences in:
who they studied (for example, people with diagnosed depression or anxiety versus those just experiencing symptoms, different age groups, and women during pregnancy and after birth)
what the exercise involved (for example, comparing aerobic fitness to resistance training and mind-body exercises, such as yoga; whether it was supervised by a professional; intensity and duration)
whether the exercise was individual or in a group.
We also used advanced statistical techniques to accurately isolate and estimate the exact impact of exercise, separate from confounding factors (including other chronic diseases).
Our data looked at the impact of exercise alone on depression and anxiety. But sometimes people will also use antidepressants and/or therapy – so further research would be needed to explore the effect of these when combined.
What did the study find?
Exercise is effective at reducing both depression and anxiety. But there is some nuance.
We found exercising had a high impact on depression symptoms, and a medium impact on anxiety, compared to staying inactive.
The benefits were comparable to, and in some cases better than, more widely prescribed mental health treatments, including therapy and antidepressants.
Importantly, we discovered who exercise helped most. Two groups showed the most improvement: adults aged 18 to 30 and women who had recently given birth.
Many women experience barriers to exercising after giving birth, including lack of time, confidence or access to appropriate and affordable activities.
Our findings suggest making it more accessible could be an important strategy to address new mothers’ mental health in this vulnerable time.
How you exercise matters
We also found aerobic activities – such as walking, running, cycling or swimming – were best at reducing both depression and anxiety symptoms.
However, all forms of exercise reduced symptoms, including resistance training (such as lifting weights) and mind-body practices (such as yoga).
For depression, there were greater improvements when people exercised with others and were guided by a professional, such as a group fitness class.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t available data on group or supervised exercise for anxiety, so we would need more research to find out if the impact is similar.
Exercising once or twice a week had a similar effect on depression as exercising more frequently. And there didn’t seem to be a significant difference between exercising vigorously or at a low intensity – all were beneficial.
But for anxiety, the best improvements in anxiety symptoms were when exercise was done:
consistently, for up to eight weeks, and
at a lower intensity, such as walking or swimming laps at a gentle pace.
So, what does all this mean?
Our research shows exercise is a legitimate and evidence-based treatment option for depression and anxiety, particularly for people with diagnosed conditions.
However, simply telling patients to “exercise more” is unlikely to be effective.
The evidence shows structured, supervised exercise with a social component is best for improving depression and anxiety. The social aspect and the accountability may help keep people motivated.
Clinicians should keep this in mind, offering referrals to specific programs – such as aerobic fitness classes or supervised walking and running programs – rather than general advice.
The findings also suggest this kind of exercise can be particularly effective when targeted to depression in younger adults and women who’ve recently given birth.
The takeaway
For people who are hesitant about medication, or facing long waits for therapy, supervised group exercise may be an effective alternative. It’s evidence-based, and you can start any time.
But it’s still best to get advice from a professional. If you have anxiety or depression symptoms, you should talk to your GP or psychologist. They can advise where exercise fits in your treatment plan, potentially alongside therapy and/or medication.
Samantha Teague receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
James Dimmock, Klaire Somoray, and Neil Munro do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has today hosted a celebratory barbecue for farmers, industry representatives and MPs to mark the upcoming National Lamb Day on 15 February.
“As we honour the legacy of the pioneers behind the first shipment of frozen sheep meat to the United Kingdom, we also celebrate lamb exports exceeding $4 billion for the first time last year,” Mr McClay says.
“Today we acknowledge the red meat sector and its significant economic contribution to New Zealand, as well as the hardworking men and women behind that success.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Meat and wool export revenue alone is forecast to increase seven per cent to $13.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2026.
“The efforts of New Zealand’s hard-working sheep and beef farmers support tens of thousands of jobs, and the sector is crucial to New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.
“This Government is focused on building the future. We’re cutting red tape through significant reforms, building trade, boosting farmgate returns, and investing in the health of rural New Zealand,” Mr McClay says.
“Since coming to Government, we have concluded, signed and entered into force the NZ–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, finished negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and secured a high-quality, once-in-a-generation Free Trade Agreement with India.
“We’ll continue removing barriers to trade, opening doors to new partners and making the most of strong trading relationships.”