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As beautiful as they were powerful: Jon Kudelka’s political cartoons were made with true conviction

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Brookes, Senior Lecturer, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University

The media and cartooning world shifted mightily between Jon Kudelka’s earliest contributions to The Mercury in Hobart in the early 1990s and to his last regular gig at The Saturday Paper, before the diagnosis and treatment of his glioblastoma sparked retirement in April 2025.

In contributions to these publications, and The Australian and The Age, Kudelka’s cartoons have been published for readers across the political spectrum, resisting the polarisation of the contemporary Australian media.

The award-winning cartoonist died in Hobart on Sunday, aged 53. Alongside the cartoons, he had a flourishing creative career evident to anyone who wandered into the Kudelka Gallery in Salamanca Place that was envisioned as a “retirement policy”.

The national conscience

If cartoonists are the persistent voice of the national conscience, then Kudelka’s was superficially quizzical but often searing in its conviction.

He turned his attention to hypocrisy, political grandstanding and manipulation; or to deep-seated social and political inequality in cartoons as beautiful as they were powerful.


Jon Kudelka

In 2016, Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles, in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, was valued at A$350 million. Coalition Senator James Paterson – either mischievously or out of proper philistinism – suggested we might now sell the painting and bank the profit.

Kudelka’s cartoon invites you in, almost sweetly, with the classic cliché and the childish-looking “suits”. He then skewers the reductive economic thinking with the punchline and exposes the violence inherent in the system with the small but savage chainsaw. But look how beautifully, how affectionately, he copied the great artwork.

The man himself knew a lot about art, and he could really paint.

When Kudelka won his first Walkley Award in 2008 for Welcome to Brendan, the members of the judging panel pointed to the way the “wistful, beautiful drawing” has a subtle power. It offers insight into the isolation of then Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson, as he struggled to decide on a position on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s upcoming apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples.

A decade later, Kudelka won a second Walkley for a cartoon with a sharper edge. From the Heart calls for a visceral response, reimagining the shape of Uluru as a raised middle finger to capture response to the Turnbull government’s dismissal of the main recommendations of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Kudelka’s cartoons paid attention to the issues, large and small, whose many threads make up the fabric of national life. They invited readers in, while laying bare the true shape of power and influence.

On 14 October 2023, the day of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, his cartoon in The Mercury pushed back against those political slogans that played on voters’ feelings and fears rather than the facts, reminding them it wasn’t too late to inform themselves.

A willingness to think publicly

Kudelka’s contribution to Australian cartooning is larger than the cartoons he leaves behind. It lives in his willingness to think and reflect publicly about the profession: the licence editorial cartoonists are afforded to contribute meaningfully to the life of the nation, and the (mundane as well as exceptional) sacrifices this requires.

We interviewed him late last year for our research on Australian editorial cartooning. Surrounded by the Tassie-inspired artwork that fills his gallery, he reflected on his career with unusual openness, wit and warmth.


Jon Kudelka

His somewhat accidental spearheading of a cartoonists’ boycott of the 2023 Walkleys offers a powerful insight into his convictions.

In a blog post, Kudelka explained he was choosing not to enter a cartoon that year after a review of award categories failed to introduce a new category on climate reporting, and the ongoing sponsorship of the Walkleys by Ampol.

He argued:

Whether this sponsorship influences journos or not, people seeing a bunch of allegedly well informed media types hobnobbing on a fossil fuel company’s dime makes people think well they must think this isn’t so bad so maybe it isn’t (spoiler alert: it is).

Some cartoonists followed suit. Others disagreed. This sparked a range of conversations about the changing culture within cartooning and, more broadly, about the history of the awards and their founder.

Change followed: the Australian Cartoonists’ Association instituted a new award for a climate-change related cartoon; the Walkley Foundation moved both to change its sponsorship policy and distance itself from the racist views espoused by W. G. Walkley in a 1961 newspaper column.

The issue continues to frame – if not define – Kudelka’s online presence. The front page of his blog now reads:

I mostly use this blog for causing trouble with the Walkley Awards and selling calendars these days, but mostly the latter.

In April 2025, Kudelka retired after more than three decades of professional cartooning. He reflected in a wry piece for The Saturday Paper that being an Australian political cartoonist had started “feeling a bit like Sisyphus rolling a boulder up a hill every day”.

He was happier, he realised, taking his time “making things”, with the weight of the daily deadline lifted from his shoulders.

‘Not today’

Kudelka left us with two self-portrait cartoons.

In the first, the cartoonist stares into the “abyss” for inspiration as a deadline approaches.

In the second, he potters about his studio, looking for his pen.

Meanwhile, on the wall hangs a gentle phrase laced with the honesty, humour and satirical sharpness that characterised Kudelka’s creative and cartooning life: “Not today”.


Jon Kudelka

Stephanie Brookes receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is an Associate Member of the Australian Cartoonists’ Association.

Richard Scully receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is an Associate Member of the Australian Cartoonists’ Association.

Robert Phiddian receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is an Associate Member of the Australian Cartoonists’ Association.

– ref. As beautiful as they were powerful: Jon Kudelka’s political cartoons were made with true conviction – https://theconversation.com/as-beautiful-as-they-were-powerful-jon-kudelkas-political-cartoons-were-made-with-true-conviction-275538

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/10/as-beautiful-as-they-were-powerful-jon-kudelkas-political-cartoons-were-made-with-true-conviction-275538/

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Government needs to ‘sit down and have a conversation with us’ on India trade deal – Hipkins

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Labour is getting closer to confirming support for the India Free Trade agreement, but says the full text has raised more questions that need answering.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Trade Minister Todd McClay announced the agreement three days before Christmas, touting wins for several industries.

During the announcement, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters revealed he would not be supporting the deal, saying it gave away too much – particularly on immigration – for too little, including dairy.

The divide between the coalition parties means National and ACT will need support from at least one opposition party to get legislation as part of the deal through Parliament.

McClay later revealed NZ First had [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/585343/nz-first-pulled-support-for-india-fta-before-it-was-secured-todd-mcclay-reveals expressed its disagreement before the announcement.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins on Tuesday said the party expected to write to the prime minister by the end of the week setting out conditions for Labour’s support.

“Just got to do a little bit of wordsmithing on that,” he said. “We clearly have some concerns about the potential exploitation of migrant workers, where we think the government is not doing enough, and we’re going to set out things that we want to see the government doing in that area. And I’ll set the rest of it out in due course.

“The government will need to do something that they have not yet done, which is that they’ll need to sit down and have a conversation with us rather than saying ‘this is the agreement that we have signed, you should just support it’.”

Coalition members had previously been relying on summaries provided by officials, as is usual.

Hipkins and Peters both confirmed their teams had received copies of the full text of the agreement in recent days, with Hipkins indicating that had added complications.

“We’ve got more questions now than we might have had based on the information the government gave us when they announced the deal,” he said.

He said US President Donald Trump’s tariffs had opened the path to securing the deal.

“Everything changed in India as a result of recent developments around Trump, a lot of countries suddenly got access to negotiate trade agreements that they had been really struggling to get,” he said.

He said New Zealand had come out of the process “with a deal that isn’t as good as other countries have been able to secure”.

Rather than blame the negotiators, he pointed the finger at Luxon’s public commitment to secure a deal before the 2026 election.

“Ultimately, those negotiators work within the parameters set by the government. Christopher Luxon tied their hands behind their back. When he said that he was going to secure a deal before the election come hell or high water, that immediately made their job a lot harder.”

He again expressed frustration at the process.

“They could have spoken to us through these negotiations so that we would have been fully familiar with what it is that they were signing us up to. They chose not to do that.”

McClay said the deal was being “legally scrubbed and verified”, and once that was complete “it’ll be available to not only all parties, it’ll be available to the public”.

He said he was happy to keep answering Labour’s questions.

“There is nothing pressing over the next few weeks. But I think the business committee would like to know their position soon.”

He was asked if he regretted not approaching Labour earlier, given he knew NZ First’s stance.

“We have absolutely no regrets at all in doing a trade deal with one of the most populous countries of the world, and probably the best trade deal that India has done with anybody so far. It more than levels the playing field for Kiwi exporters,” McClay said.

He could not remember Labour ever having approached National for support on the EU trade deal, he said – and rejected the idea that was because Labour had a majority, so did not need National’s support.

“In essence I think they probably did, because they didn’t put it … into law when they were a government.”

Student migration stoush

Confusion has continued to surround aspects of the deal relating to student migration.

Documents released by the government point to a handful of provisions for migration:

  • 1667 three-year work visas a year, capped at 5000 total visas at any one time. Focused on priority roles on the Green List like doctors, nurses, teachers, ICT and engineering jobs, specialised health services, traditional medicine practitioners, music teachers, chefs and yoga instructors
  • Up to 1000 places on New Zealand’s Working Holiday Scheme (ages 18-30)
  • Codifies the right for Indian students to work up to 20 hours a week (within the current policy of up to 25 hours)
  • Post-Study Work Visas: 2-year for Bachelors students graduating from a NZ institution, 3-year for STEM bachelors and masters, 4-year for PhD students

A document released by the Indian government claimed the FTA would also remove numerical caps on Indian students, but no such cap exists.

International Students seeking visas need funds to be a student, and need to have been accepted to a place at a university or other learning institution, naturally limiting the number of students who can arrive.

Rules were also changed in 2022 to limit international students learning below degree level from working. It meant such students could only work in-demand sectors related to their study, based on the Green List.

While the text of the deal is still secret, McClay and Luxon have both maintained it makes no changes to the government’s ability to impose a cap at a later date.

“No, the New Zealand government, going forward, can make its own independent decisions about what it wants to do with respect to export education, what it wants to do with respect to visas, and any government can make changes to that,” Luxon said.

ACT leader David Seymour agreed.

“And I don’t believe that it’s significant if there was for the simple reason that we have never had a cap … when you restrict the quality and the price of the courses, that changes the quality of the people coming, so you can control it that way,” he said.

Peters claimed something different, however.

“There is a cap now, but the cap is controlled by the country of origin, and the parents of origin paying for the export education. This has changed, and that’s why it’s dramatically different. Our economy will be paying for the export education. So it’s not truly export education,” he said.

Hipkins said he was “still working my way through that”.

“There is conflicting advice coming from the government on that, particularly if you look at their public statements … once we understand what the government is signing us up for, then we’ll set out, set out our views on principle.”

He said Peters’ claims about the deal did not seem to line up with the official advice.

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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/2026/02/10/government-needs-to-sit-down-and-have-a-conversation-with-us-on-india-trade-deal-hipkins/

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Christchurch terrorist just seeking attention with his appeal bid, survivor says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Temel Atacocugu, who was shot during the massacre at Al Noor Mosque. RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon

One of the survivors of the Christchurch terror attack says the terrorist is just seeking attention with his Court of Appeal bid.

White supremacist Brenton Tarrant is serving a life sentence without parole for the mass shootings in March 2019 and has gone to the Court of Appeal to overturn his convictions and sentence.

Temel Atacocugu, who was shot during the massacre at Al Noor Mosque, said he believed this was all for the terrorist’s entertainment and so he could get the public’s attention again.

“He doesn’t want to be forgotten, but he lost that chance. He is forgotten already. I don’t think it will make any difference to his conditions in jail after all this court case is finished,” Atacocugu said.

Atacocugu was shot nine times in the attack and said it was still challenging for him physically and mentally.

He has been watching the court hearing via livestream in Christchurch and said it was difficult to see the terrorist’s face on screen.

March 2019 massacres happened at Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

“When I saw his face on the screen, flashbacks started bombarding my mind, and remembering that day. And my body reacted and was aching and my disabled arm on my left side. So it’s not easy for us to be still dealing with this court case,” he said.

The terrorist should stop with the self-pity and face what he had done like a man, Atacocugu said.

Federation of Islamic Associations chair Abdur Razzaq said the latest court appearance by the Australian terrorist followed a well-known pattern used by convicted right-wing terrorists globally to exploit legal systems in order to regain publicity, amplify their ideology and inspire online supporters.

The white supremacist was following an almost identical trajectory to the man responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks that killed 77 people, he said.

“After initially confessing guilt, the Oslo terrorist systematically exploited the Norwegian and European legal systems through repeated court actions following his 2012 conviction, including cases in 2016, 2017, and again in 2024, largely focused on alleged prison conditions. This is quite similar to the Australian 15 March terrorist who is now exploiting the NZ legal system claiming he pleaded guilty under duress by torture,” Abdur Razzaq said.

The terrorist was using the New Zealand legal system not to seek genuine redress but to re-enter the public arena, garner repeated media reporting and ensure continued visibility, he said.

The legal challenges brought societal costs to the March 15 families, who were already suffering from PTSD and large financial costs, Abdur Razzaq said.

“Unfortunately, as a society, we must confront an uncomfortable reality.”

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/2026/02/10/christchurch-terrorist-just-seeking-attention-with-his-appeal-bid-survivor-says/

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Experts say Wellington harbour water safe after sewage spill but Wellingtonians cautious

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Experts say it is safe to swim at beaches in the capital’s harbour, but Wellingtonians are taking a cautious approach.

Nearly a week ago, the Moa Point Treatment Plant started pumping raw sewage into the ocean off the south coast after it completely failed early Wednesday morning.

The following Thursday evening, the raw sewage was diverted from being dumped near the coast to a 1.8-kilometre outfall pipe.

Wellington Water had warned it may need to use the short outfall pipe if it were to rain in the city.

There was no evidence to suggest sewage was reaching the city’s inner harbour, but at Oriental Bay most people RNZ spoke to thought locals were being careful around the water.

Keita said there was nobody on the beach when normally it would be “a shocker”.

“People would be everywhere, especially this whole sand beach would be full of people.”

She would “definitely reconsider” swimming in the area despite there not being current warnings about entering the water there.

“I think everyone has their own little mindsets on it I guess you could say.”

Munroe said people would continue to be cautious until there was a fix for the sewage plant.

LAWA said people should monitor their website for the latest risk assessments for beaches people were planning to swim at.

“These predictions are based on a combination of environmental conditions such as rainfall along with the swim spot monitoring history.

“This afternoon, there are dozens of beaches in the region that are predicted to be suitable for swimming.”

Auckland University professor Karin Bryan said based on the evidence she would swim there.

“Because it is incredibly high delusion rates and I’m pretty sure that LAWA and the council is being really, really careful to make sure the advice is really sound.

“So, I would definitely trust them.”

Bryan said Cook Strait had extremely strong currents which would likely keep the inner harbour unaffected.

Calypso Science was a New Plymouth based oceanography research company, with a focus on coastal currents.

It created a model of Wellington’s south coast after the news of the Moa Point sewage plant failure.

Supplied / Calypso Science

Physical oceanographer Remy Zyngfogel told RNZ based on that work, the sewage was not seeming to flow into the inner harbour.

“I didn’t see anything near Lower Hutt, it is mainly concentrated near Lyall Bay and Ōwhiro Bay.”

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little has called for an independent inquiry into the sewage plant failure.

Separately to that, Greater Wellington Regional Council would be investigating the matter as the water regulator for the region.

“As the discharge from Moa Point is currently a live event, we are unable to comment further on the discharge or the details of our investigation.”

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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/2026/02/10/experts-say-wellington-harbour-water-safe-after-sewage-spill-but-wellingtonians-cautious/

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Dirt bike rider seriously injured in Whangārei crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

The latest crash came just as Northland police were highlighting the severe injuries suffered by a three-year-old boy being doubled on his father’s dirt bike. File Coopersgrl / Reddit

A dirt bike rider has been seriously injured in a crash in Whangārei, just as Northland police were warning of the dangers of joyriding on city streets.

The latest crash occurred about 5.20pm on Monday in the suburb of Raumanga, near the intersection of Otaika Road and Abbotts Way.

A car and a dirt bike were involved, with the rider suffering severe injuries.

St John Ambulance confirmed the rider had been transported to Whangārei Hospital in a serious condition.

Police said the rider was now in a stable condition and the Serious Crash Unit was investigating.

RNZ was unable to confirm if the rider was licensed or wearing a helmet, but it is understood the bike was unregistered and unwarranted.

That same day Senior Sergeant Clem Armstrong, of Northland police, had issued a stark warning about the dangers of dirt bikes on urban streets.

He said the problem was particularly bad in Kaikohe and Whangārei, but many places in Northland – and around the country – were affected.

Armstrong was especially concerned about a trend of people taking young children joyriding on city streets without helmets or protective clothing, on bikes that often had poor brakes and bald tyres.

The danger had been highlighted by the severe facial injuries suffered by a three-year-old boy in a dirt bike crash in Kaikohe.

Armstrong said the boy’s 22-year-old father had been charged with driving and child welfare offences, and was now going through the courts.

RNZ understands the child’s injuries included a broken jaw and facial lacerations.

Armstrong said the riders showed no consideration for children or other road users.

“It’s just a huge safety concern for us. I’ve seen first-hand people who have been seriously hurt, and the absolute last thing we want is for somebody to lose their life as a result of this sort of stuff,” he said.

Monday’s crash in Whangārei was on the same stretch of road – Otaika Road or State Highway 1 – where a 29-year-old man was critically injured when his dirt bike and a car collided last March.

He died later in hospital.

A Kaikohe resident, who did want to be named for fear of retribution, said he often saw people tearing up and down his street on dirt bikes – sometimes taking small children for joyrides.

Thinking about what would happen in a crash made him “deeply, deeply anxious”.

“Parents, mothers and fathers alike, will take a little, tiny baby for a ride down the street, and the child is sitting in front of them with no restraints … They have no idea what would happen if they suddenly hit something. They would just go flying like a bag of cement and have to be scraped off the road 20 metres ahead.”

The crash involving the three-year-old had not stopped people taking children for joyrides, he said.

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/2026/02/10/dirt-bike-rider-seriously-injured-in-whangarei-crash/

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Mum calls for changes at Mt Albert Aquatic Centre after son’s teeth smashed on slide, man’s finger torn off

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mt Albert Aquatic Centre. Supplied / Community Leisure Management

An Auckland mum is unhappy with the response from a local pool after her son smashed his front teeth while on a hydroslide – only weeks after a man lost his finger.

Tanya Rusher said she understands accidents happen, but felt the way her 12-year-old son was dealt with by staff at Mt Albert Aquatic Centre was not good enough.

It comes as Worksafe confirmed it would revisit the centre this month after learning about the second injury. It said improvements had been made when its inspector visited the centre two days after a man lost his finger when a ring caught on a bolt inside the slide.

Rusher said her son banged his teeth on the metal hydroslide when his head was thrown around while enjoying a day out with his family on January 2.

“He came up to me and said his tooth was feeling all fuzzy and sore and he felt sick.”

Rusher said when she looked at his teeth one had been broken in half and the pulp of his tooth was visible.

“We told reception what happened and asked if they had an incident form we could fill out to give to a dentist, but they said they didn’t have anything.”

Instead, Rusher said she was told to fill out her details on a piece of paper and staff would get in contact with her later.

She said her son, who was in a state of shock, was given an ice pack and told to sit in the public cafeteria, in full view of all the other patrons.

Tanya Rusher’s son was left with a chipped tooth after the accident at the Mt Albert Aquatic Centre. TANYA RUSHER / SUPPLIED

“As it was a public holiday, we didn’t know what to do… we rang up dental places but no answer, so we rang Healthline.”

Rusher said Healthline instructed her to give her son Pamol and Ibuprofen, and the next day they were able to get an emergency appointment at a dental company on Auckland’s North Shore.

A temporary cover was put over her son’s chipped tooth, but was told it was possible the tooth next to it was dying and may need work done in the future.

The family paid $289 for two dental appointments and Rusher worried her son may have lifelong dental problems as a result.

Rusher said the centre needed to have health and safety policies in place and incident forms for when accidents did happen.

She also wanted to see the centre create an area for injured people to go that wasn’t in the full view of the public.

“No one said we’ll stop the slide and see if we can find the tooth… it felt like no one wanted to know.”

She said someone from the centre called her the day after the incident, but only to ask for her to return the ice pack.

The manager rang the following week to say an incident report was being completed, but she had not heard more since then.

“They weren’t helpful and I still haven’t had any incident form sent to me.”

Rusher said her family used to go the Mt Albert Aquatic Centre regularly, but she wouldn’t be going back now.

“Accidents do happen but we weren’t helped… the fact this was the second incident shows something is going on with that slide.”

Operator Community Leisure Management (CLM)’s director Kirsty Knowles said staff followed the right process when dealing with Rusher’s son by recording details.

“It’s normal practice for our staff to apply first aid in the foyer, reception area or at poolside as the facility has no dedicated first aid room.”

She said the incident was captured in the centre’s health and safety system and would be tracked through usual processes.

The slide was regularly checked for operational safety, she said.

“We stress that following pool rules or guidance and the instructions of lifeguards is important in keeping everyone safe.”

She said signs around the slide were being improved and would be in place within the week.

Auckland Council’s head of service partner delivery Garth Dawson, said the slide had been inspected twice since August 2025.

He said if WorkSafe found an issue with the slide or the operating procedures beyond what had already been identified, council would work with the slide manufacturer and CLM on further steps.

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/2026/02/10/mum-calls-for-changes-at-mt-albert-aquatic-centre-after-sons-teeth-smashed-on-slide-mans-finger-torn-off/

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My kids (and I) hate sandwiches, what I can pack for lunch instead?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology

Antoni Shkraba Studio/Pexels

School is back and, with it, the daily task of packing a lunchbox.

If your child is coming home with uneaten sandwiches, you’re not alone. They’re easy to make and transport, but sometimes the last thing kids (or adults) want to eat.

The food kids eat at school typically provides at least one-third of their daily energy intake. So a nutritious lunchbox is an important way to support their overall health, as well as their focus and performance at school.

While sandwiches may be an obvious lunchbox choice, there are loads of other options.

What can you pack instead?

If you don’t want to stray too far from the sandwich, but want to change things up, try out sandwich sushi, or a sandwich roll. It uses similar ingredients to a sandwich but in the shape of a sushi roll.

To make sandwich sushi, cut the crusts off, flatten the bread using a rolling pin or your hand. Spread the bread with a dip or other ingredient such as avocado or tuna, fill with ingredients such as sliced cucumber or carrot, then roll and cut it like sushi.

You may also be inspired to try making some sushi rolls. These take a little more preparation, including cooking the sushi rice in advance, but are a great sandwich alternative.

If you want to stick with bread, a roll, wrap or pita pocket may be enough change to keep the lunchbox feeling fresh. You could try out recipes like this chicken and avocado wrap or ham and salad pita pocket.

A frittata is another good option for replacing the sandwich as the main lunchbox meal. Frittatas need to be prepared in advance but can be easily adapted based on ingredients you’ve got in the fridge or cupboard such as cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, baby spinach, roasted pumpkin or frozen corn.

Likewise, a savoury muffin (like these cheesy corn muffins) takes a bit or preparation but can be bulk cooked and portioned in advance to make mornings quick and easy. There are lots of different recipes for savoury muffins, so find one that suits your tastes. This recipe uses zucchini, carrot, peas and corn.

Dinner leftovers can also make great lunchbox meals. Stir fry with noodles, or a hearty salad like this Mexican-style one with beans, can be packed into containers to make a nutritious lunch.

Other salad options include pasta salad or this balsamic bean salad.

To make a salad that’s going to be filling for lunch, try to include some wholegrain carbohydrates (such as brown rice, wholemeal pasta, barley, lentils or quionoa) and a source of protein (such as egg, cheese, tofu, kidney beans or chicken).

Having an insulated lunch box or thermos can help to keep foods hot or cold until lunch time.

What else should a lunchbox include?

A lunchbox is more than just the main meal: a balanced lunchbox should include a main meal, a fruit or vegetable snack, another snack and a drink.

Snack options might include plain popcorn, hard boiled eggs, yoghurt, cheese sticks, crackers and fresh fruit and vegetables (which can be cut into pieces for easier munching).

For a balanced lunchbox, try to include at least one item from each of these food groups:

  1. fruit (such as banana, grapes, apple, berries, pear, stone fruit, melon)

  2. vegetables (carrots, celery, pumpkin, spinach, tomatoes, cucumber)

  3. grain and cereal foods (rice, wholegrain crackers, noodles, bread, wraps)

  4. meat or meat alternatives (eggs, nuts, chicken, tuna, lentils, tofu)

  5. milk, yoghurt or cheese (or non-dairy alternatives like soy milk)

  6. water.

Including foods from each of these groups will help to ensure the right balance of carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins and minerals.

Using a lunchbox with multiple compartments can help with packing a small portion of each different food. For example, rice crackers in one compartment, cheese cubes in another, and some cherry tomatoes and mini cucumbers in a third.

Offering variety and keeping portions small can also help to manage fussy eating.

Making it easier for parents

Parents juggle food preferences, logistics, societal expectations, time, nutrition and other pressures.

As a society, we need to better support families to create healthy and sustainable lunchboxes. Research suggests suggests this could include:

  • giving students a longer time to eat lunch at school
  • teaching students about the value of food
  • supporting healthy canteen policies
  • restricting marketing to children
  • improving the clarity of food labelling.

Some experts also argue we should move to a school-provided lunch program.

These changes can’t be implemented by schools or parents alone but require action across multiple industries and government departments.

In the meantime, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges and value the effort associated with putting together the daily lunchbox.

Margaret Murray 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.

– ref. My kids (and I) hate sandwiches, what I can pack for lunch instead? – https://theconversation.com/my-kids-and-i-hate-sandwiches-what-i-can-pack-for-lunch-instead-275207

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/10/my-kids-and-i-hate-sandwiches-what-i-can-pack-for-lunch-instead-275207/

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Want a tall, smart child? How IVF tests are selling a dream

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Polyakov, Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne

Vera Livchak/Getty

Prospective parents are being marketed genetic tests that claim to predict which IVF embryo will grow into the tallest, smartest or healthiest child.

But these tests cannot deliver what they promise. The benefits are likely minimal, while the risks to patients, offspring and society are real.

Parents deserve accurate information, not marketing hype, when making profound decisions about their future children.

Which tests are we talking about?

Prospective parents can already have their IVF embryos tested for inherited conditions. But these tests often relate to a single gene, such as for cystic fibrosis.

However, this latest type of testing tries to predict complex traits influenced by thousands of genes operating together. The testing generates “polygenic risk scores” for individual embryos.

This is said to be an embryo’s theoretical risk of developing conditions, such as heart disease or Alzheimer’s, or having certain traits, such as high IQ or above-average height. Parents can then use these scores to choose which embryo or embryos to transfer.

Although Australian companies do not offer these tests, multiple companies in the United States do so.

One, Nucleus Genomics, has papered New York with posters to market these tests with the tagline “Have your best baby”.

The company offers to screen embryos for up to 2,000 traits. These include eye colour, IQ, baldness, and conditions people usually develop later in life, such as Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

Posters urge parents to ‘Have your best baby’. But what’s best?
Nucleus Genomics

What the research actually shows

Our group examined whether this technology is ready for clinical use. We evaluated polygenic risk scores for embryo selection using the same framework used to assess any medical screening test.

We showed these predictions are extremely uncertain.

Researchers cannot examine the benefits for predicting late-onset diseases at all since the outcomes will not be known for decades. And mathematical modelling shows vanishingly small benefits, perhaps a few IQ points and 1–3 centimetres in height.

To some people, 3cm in height might sound a lot. But we cannot be certain how relevant this and other predicted benefits are, for a number of reasons.

Polygenic risk scores have been derived from studying people currently in their 50s and 60s who lived in vastly different environments. They grew up without smartphones, current levels of processed foods, air pollution and microplastic exposure. Their education, health care and lifestyle factors were fundamentally different.

This matters because traits and diseases result from lifelong interactions between genes and the environment. The same genetic variants that contributed to diabetes in the 60s might behave differently today. So we cannot assume genetic patterns from past populations will predict outcomes in radically transformed environments in the future.

Lifestyle and environmental factors cannot be captured by genetic testing. So polygenic risk scores examine only one side of a complex equation, ignoring the environmental side, which may be equally or more important.

Consider IQ. Early childhood education, nutrition, parental engagement and socioeconomic factors have an enormous impact on cognitive development. Choosing an embryo with a marginally “better” genetic score for IQ, while ignoring these proven influences, is like predicting a plant’s height from its seed alone, without considering soil, sunlight or water.

There’s also pleiotropy, where one gene affects multiple traits. For example, selecting for higher educational achievement might inadvertently increase your risk of choosing an embryo with a higher risk of bipolar disorder.

So many issues and concerns

In Australia, National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines recommend preimplantation genetic testing to avoid serious genetic conditions. But polygenic risk scores aim to predict the future risk of developing a condition or trait. They are not a diagnosis. So, using polygenic risk scores for embryo selection is inconsistent with the guidelines, and operate in a regulatory grey zone.

That doesn’t stop prospective parents – including from Australia – sending a sample, or genetic information derived from their sample, overseas for analysis.

There are also profound ethical concerns. This technology echoes eugenics movements that ended in forced sterilisation and Nazi atrocities. Selecting embryos for traits such as intelligence or skin colour risks entrenching discrimination and deepening social inequalities.

Another troubling aspect is decision paralysis. When parents receive polygenic risk scores for multiple embryos across dozens of conditions and traits, how do they choose between embryos with a higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease, schizophrenia, higher IQ, and height or any combination?

These aren’t straightforward medical decisions; they’re impossible value judgements.

Parents may find themselves paralysed by the weight of these choices, second-guessing their decisions for years, or choosing not to transfer any embryos.

There’s a cruel irony: couples who undergo IVF solely for polygenic risk score testing, rather than for fertility issues, reduce their chances of having a healthy baby.

That’s because IVF carries risks, such as an increased risk of high blood pressure in pregnancy and preterm delivery. The very process of obtaining a biopsy from an embryo to analyse its DNA may also affect pregnancy outcomes.

So prospective parents may be trading proven risks for unproven benefits.

What’s the take-home message?

The “best” child isn’t the one with the highest genetic score; it is one born into a loving family with access to good nutrition, education and health care.

These environmental factors have far more influence on how a child develops than tiny variations in DNA.

I would like to acknowledge Dr Genia Rozen from the University of Melbourne, who was a coauthor on our research and contributed to this article.

Alex Polyakov is the Medical Director of Genea Fertility Melbourne.

– ref. Want a tall, smart child? How IVF tests are selling a dream – https://theconversation.com/want-a-tall-smart-child-how-ivf-tests-are-selling-a-dream-275211

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/10/want-a-tall-smart-child-how-ivf-tests-are-selling-a-dream-275211/

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Legal Issues – High Court Confirms RNZRSA Acted Lawfully while Adopting New Constitution

Source: Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA)

The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA) welcomes today’s High Court decision, which confirms that the organisation acted lawfully and in good faith when it adopted transitional provisions under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 to approve its new constitution.

The Court rejected a challenge brought by a small number of Auckland-based RSAs, finding that the RNZRSA was within its rights to rely on transitional provisions that allowed constitutional changes to pass with the support of 50 percent of votes cast, rather than the 75 percent threshold that previously applied.

In its judgment, the Court held that the 2022 Act intentionally grants incorporated societies greater flexibility during the transition to the new legal regime and allows them to adopt new constitutions using a simplified voting threshold, provided the process is transparent and properly notified.

The Court accepted that the RNZRSA had acted in the best interests of members, noting that they had obtained specialist legal advice before recommending the transitional approach and had clearly communicated the proposed process to its member RSAs. The Court found no evidence of improper purpose, procedural unfairness, or any attempt to circumvent members’ rights. The Court also found that the RNZRSA had undertaken a “careful and thorough planning, drafting and consultation process” for the new constitution.

“We are pleased the Court has confirmed that the RNZRSA followed a sound and legally robust process,” said Board Chair Rhys Jones. “This decision brings clarity and certainty, allowing us to continue modernising our organisation so we can better support veterans and their whānau.”

The Court also recognised that the RNZRSA’s adoption of the new constitution was necessary to ensure timely compliance with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, which requires all societies to transition to updated governance frameworks, and to allow member RSAs time to adopt their own constitutions.

“We undertook this process in good faith, guided by expert legal advice, and with the best interests of our members and New Zealand’s veteran community at heart,” Jones said. “The High Court’s findings affirm that commitment.

The RNZRSA’s National President Tony Hill welcomed the decision and the opportunity it has provided to continue strengthening the organisation.

“We look forward to moving on as a united group, working constructively with all member RSAs to continue building and strengthening the RNZRSA to meet the challenges of the future, and ensure we are able to support all of our veterans.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/10/legal-issues-high-court-confirms-rnzrsa-acted-lawfully-while-adopting-new-constitution/

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Climate News – Earth Sciences NZ January climate summary – record rainfalls

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

Exactly how wet was it last month? Very.
Fifteen locations recorded their wettest or second-wettest January, including an astounding 494 mm of rain at Whitianga in the Coromandel Peninsula. Kaikōura logged 266 mm of rain, which is 562 percent of normal January rainfall, and Tauranga and Whitianga both had 515 percent of their normal rainfall.
This was thanks to two significant areas of low pressure 18-20 January and 20-22 January.
More highlights:
– The highest temperature was 36.8°C, observed at Napier on 11 January.
– The lowest temperature was 0.0°C, observed at Waipounamu on 30 January.
– The highest 1-day rainfall was 274 mm, recorded at Tauranga on 21 January.
– The highest wind gust was 194 km/h, observed at Cape Turnagain on 11 January.
– Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the warmest and wettest, Dunedin was the coolest, driest, and least sunny, and Auckland was the sunniest.
– The sunniest four regions in 2026 so far are Taranaki (286 hours), Tasman (270 hours), Auckland (258 hours), and wider Nelson (254 hours).

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/10/climate-news-earth-sciences-nz-january-climate-summary-record-rainfalls/

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Guinness Malaysia reimagines Premier League matchdays with a football-themed stay built for watching matches after midnight

Source: Media Outreach

Football Matchday Isn’t Always in a Stadium – In Malaysia, It’s at the Guinness Clubhouse

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 February 2026 – In Malaysia, football fans are experiencing matchday a little differently this Premier League season. With kick-offs often taking place after midnight – sometimes as late as 1am or 3am – following a match has become a late-night commitment rather than a quick night out.

Guinness Malaysia, the official beer of the Premier League, has opened its doors to Guinness Clubhouse, a first-of-its-kind football-themed stay in Kuala Lumpur

Introduced by Guinness, the official beer of the Premier League, Guinness Clubhouse is a football-themed experience created earlier this season to bring fans together around the rituals of matchday, not in a stadium or a pub, but in a shared, home-style setting designed for watching the game together when most places have closed.

Set to run through February 2026, Guinness Clubhouse reflects a broader shift in how football is experienced globally, particularly in countries where fans follow the game across time zones. Since its launch in November 2025, every weekend match night has been fully booked until February, highlighting strong demand for shared matchday experiences built around atmosphere, connection, and togetherness.

Inside Guinness Clubhouse

Set across three immersive storeys, Guinness Clubhouse brings together the worlds of football and Guinness under one roof. From hardcore fans and those cheering on their favourite teams, to friends simply looking for a good night in, every corner is designed to feel like a match night worth staying in for, with football-themed activities, bold Guinness touches, and plenty of moments built to be shared.

Guests who book a night at Guinness Clubhouse can look forward to:

  • Catch LIVE Premier League matches on a giant projector with surround sound recreating the atmosphere of a football stadium right in the living room. Perfect for those who live for the game.
  • Share a bite or two from the fully stocked kitchen and pantry, featuring Guinness-infused snacks and match-night essentials, made for the ones who come for the snacks.
  • Settle old scores upstairs in the Play Zone with foosball, table football, and the pool table, ideal for the friendly rivals in every group.
  • End the night in comfort in Guinness and football-branded bedrooms that can house up to 20 guests, complete with a starter pack featuring Guinness Draught in a Can for those who want to stay on after the final whistle.

Redefining Matchday Culture
“Match nights are more than just about the beautiful game, they’re about the people, the banter, and a pint of Guinness that bring every kind of fan together,” said Joyce Lim, Marketing Manager at Guinness Malaysia. “We created Guinness Clubhouse as a space for different kinds of fans to come together, whether they’re here for the football, the food, or just the company, all over a shared love for Guinness, making every match night a Lovely Day for a Guinness.”

More than a place to stay, Guinness Clubhouse reflects how matchday culture is evolving, particularly in football-fan cities where fans are finding new ways to come together around the game. Through immersive, communal spaces centred on live football, the experience demonstrates how shared rituals continue to shape the matchday experience.

*Items associated with Guinness Clubhouse are subject to availability; first come, first served basis, terms and conditions, and house rules as set by the organiser, sponsor, house manager, and property owner. Guinness and all related promotions and activities are strictly for non-Muslims aged 21 and above only. Guinness Malaysia advocates responsible consumption and urges consumers not to drink and drive.

Hashtag: #guinnessclubhouse #GuinnessMY #ALovelyDayForGuinness

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/10/guinness-malaysia-reimagines-premier-league-matchdays-with-a-football-themed-stay-built-for-watching-matches-after-midnight/

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Chinese New Year in Thailand: A National Celebration and a Regional Travel Magnet

Source: Media Outreach

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 February 2026 – As Asia-Pacific travel continues its strong rebound, Bangkok is reaffirming its status as one of the region’s most compelling cultural and retail destinations—particularly during the Chinese New Year season. In February 2026, Thailand’s capital will transform into a festive hub of heritage, gastronomy, and world-class shopping.

Voralak Tulaphorn Chief Marketing Officer, The Mall Group

While Songkran marks Thailand’s traditional New Year, the Lunar New Year holds cultural significance across the country, shaped by generations of Thai-Chinese heritage. Each year, the festival drives one of Thailand’s most dynamic travel and consumption periods, attracting domestic and international visitors seeking meaningful cultural experiences alongside premium lifestyle offerings.

From 12–22 February 2026, The Mall Group—operator of flagship destinations including Siam Paragon, Emporium, EmQuartier, Emsphere, and The Mall Lifestore—will stage one of Southeast Asia’s largest Chinese New Year celebrations. Developed in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Ministry of Culture, and major global partners such as Trip.com, UnionPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and iQIYI, the campaign positions Bangkok as a regional gateway for festive travel, luxury retail, and cultural immersion.

Under the theme Joy, Luck, Love, the festival blends entertainment, tradition, and emotional connection. Highlights include an immersive collaboration with iQIYI, bringing a popular Chinese drama to life through experiential installations designed for today’s social and digital-first travelers. Cultural authenticity takes center stage with the installation of a Guan Yu Heavenly Temple replica, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with auspicious rituals rooted in centuries-old tradition.

Food and shopping remain central pillars of the celebration. Across The Mall Group’s destinations, visitors can explore more than 3,000 auspicious dishes curated from renowned restaurants and Michelin Bib Gourmand-listed establishments, reinforcing Bangkok’s reputation as a global culinary capital. At EM District, the Chinese Boulevard Food Market and Yunnan cultural showcases enhance the experience with regional flavors, crafts, and interactive workshops.

To encourage international travel, The Mall Group will launch exclusive tourist privileges from late January to early March 2026, including shopping rewards and cash incentives tailored for overseas visitors.

By combining cultural heritage, festive celebration, and premium retail, Joy Luck Love Chinese New Year 2026 positions Bangkok not only as a place to celebrate—but as a destination where culture, commerce, and travel converge, inviting Asia-Pacific travelers to begin the Lunar New Year in one of the region’s most dynamic cities.

Home

Hashtag: #TheMallGroup #TheMallLifestore #JOYLUCKLOVE #ChineseNewYear2026 #BangkokShopping

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/10/chinese-new-year-in-thailand-a-national-celebration-and-a-regional-travel-magnet/

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Fair and efficient military justice proposed in Bill

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation to modernise the military justice system has passed its first reading today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.

“The Armed Forces Discipline Law Amendment Bill modernises New Zealand’s military justice system so that it is fairer, more efficient, and more transparent,” Ms Collins says.

“The Bill will make our system easier to navigate, allowing commanders to focus on operational readiness in an increasingly volatile world.”

“The current military justice system is out-of-date, with no substantial changes made since 2007. These updates align it more closely with developments in the civilian justice system. 

The Bill will introduce a Minor Discipline Sanction System for very low-level offending, such as being late for duty, avoiding the need for a Summary Trial. Serious, complex and sensitive offending will follow a new streamlined and independent pathway to Court Martial, overseen by the Director of Military Prosecutions. 

New search powers will increase the New Zealand Defence Force’s ability to investigate alleged offending, while providing better protections for those subject to them. These include the power for officers in charge of Defence Areas to authorise searches within those areas, and for judicial warrants to be sought for sensitive searches of electronic devices and areas outside Defence Areas, aligning with Bill of Rights Act requirements.

The Bill extends the right to elect trial by Court Martial to most offences and introduces a new power to drug test members of the Armed Forces for disciplinary purposes.

“Our Armed Forces must maintain strong discipline so they are always ready to protect New Zealanders,” Ms Collins says.

“We hold our personnel to a high standard and they should expect the same from their military justice system.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/10/fair-and-efficient-military-justice-proposed-in-bill/

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Retail crime advisory group disbands four months early

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sunny Kaushal is the chair of a ministerial advisory group on retail crime. RNZ / Calvin Samuel

  • Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime to disband four months early
  • Winding up comes after three of its five members resigned
  • Group’s spending has come under fire.

The ministerial advisory group charged with tackling retail crime will be disbanded months earlier than planned after a string of resignations.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has confirmed today that the group – which has faced criticism for its spending – will wind up in May.

The Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime was originally set up for two years until September.

Confirmation of its early demise comes after RNZ revealed last month that three of the group’s five members had resigned in recent weeks.

One of them – Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young – said her relationship with chairman Sunny Kaushal had become untenable.

Foodstuffs North Island senior manager Lindsay Rowles also resigned this year and Michael Hill national retail manager Michael Bell quit late last year.

This left just Kaushal and Hamilton liquor retailer Ash Parmar.

Young told RNZ Kaushal was not the right person to chair the group, which had an “unpleasant environment”.

RNZ has contacted Kaushal for comment.

The advisory group is renting an office in this Symonds Street building. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

The group has faced criticism over its spending, including on catered meetings around New Zealand and for its inner-city Auckland office space, which is rented for $120,000 a year.

It has also faced questions about its value for money after it was revealed that Kaushal invoiced more than $230,000 for work in its first 12 months.

Kaushal has previously the group’s work, saying it operates under its $1.8 million annual budget, which comes from the proceeds of crime fund.

Minister defends group’s work

Goldsmith confirmed the group would cease earlier than planned.

“For various reasons, three of the members have left, and we could either go through the performance of reappointing them, or just wind it up early,” he said.

“The MAG has been very successful in getting all the work done. We’ve got the Crimes Act changes in the House.

“They’ve provided advice on, sort of, anti-social behaviour, which we’ll have more to say on the next couple of weeks, and they’ve also work around trespass laws.

“They’ve got a couple of issues that they’re going to finish – one on facial recognition, and the other one on the security industry.”

RNZ revealed last year that one of the proposals the group had recommended was allowing shop keepers to defend themselves with pepper spray – a restricted weapon.

At the time, Young told RNZ that Retail NZ was opposed to that move due to safety fears.

The Security Association also made a submission opposing the move.

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/2026/02/10/retail-crime-advisory-group-disbands-four-months-early/

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NRL; NZ Warriors stars Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kurt Capewell enter final season of contracts

Source: Radio New Zealand

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Kurt Capewell begin the final year of their current contracts with the Warriors. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

NZ Warriors veterans Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Kurt Capewell have fended off speculation about their future with the Auckland-based club, as they prepare for the NRL season.

The 2026 campaign will begin this weekend with a pre-season hitout against Manly Sea Eagles at Napier and coach Andrew Webster confirms his two stalwarts will hit the ground running, with so many of his roster away on Māori-Indigenous All-Stars duty.

Both Tuivasa-Sheck – the club’s 2025 Simon Mannering Medal winner – and Capewell are off contract the end of this season, and this may be their last go-around at Mt Smart, although neither are giving much away.

“My head is still down in the trenches for the pre-season,” Tuivasa-Sheck, 32, insisted. “Just trying to turn up each day, each week for the grind, because everyone is so fast and I have to keep up.

“Future stuff I will get to at some stage, but I’m always putting my actions on the field and do my talking from there.”

Tuivasa-Sheck probably can’t afford to say too much about what lies in store beyond this season.

The former All Black and NZ Kiwi, now a Toa Samoa league international, has previously been connected with the rebel Rugby360 competition, which was due to begin in 2027, but has now been pushed back a year.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Apii Nicholls were Warriors male and female players of the year in 2025. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd 2025

The NRL threatened a 10-year ban on any player joining the exodus to the tournament, but recently backflipped, when NSW State of Origin star Zac Lomax was released from his Parramatta Eels contract, only to be caught out by the R360 postponement.

Australian Rugby League Commissioner chairman Peter V’Landys told The Daily Telegraph that the NRL would still register a new deal for Lomax for the coming season.

Tuivasa-Sheck is likely watching how all this pans out, before confirming his path forward. He has admitted R360 is an option, offering a big payday in the final years of his distinguished career, but so was an extension with the Warriors.

“I never want Roger to leave the club,” Webster said. “I think it’s similar to Tohu [Harris], Shaun Johnson… just really good dialogue between him and myself at the back end of last season.

“The season is long and he was our player of the year. If Roger has another season like that, and he wants to stay and wants to keep playing, I think it will be a no-brainer.

“At this time of year, we just let his footy do the talk. I know Roger is motivated and will do a good job.”

Capewell, 32, is in a completely different situation.

“I’ve thought about it, I just have to see how everything plays out and we’ll work it out from there,” he teased.

The Queensland Origin star has enjoyed success at almost every stop along his career, scoring a matchwinning try for Penrith Panthers in their 2021 Grand Final win over Melbourne Storm and helping Brisbane Broncos to the season climax two years later.

In his two seasons across the Tasman, the second-rower was part of a trainwreck 2024 run that failed to build on the success of the previous year, then often found himself out of position in the centres, as injuries derailed the Warriors’ hopes of a deep playoff run.

His goal for this season is straightforward..

Kurt Capewell took on a leadership role with the Warriors, after co-captain Mitch Barnett was lost to a knee injury. David Neilson/Photosport

“I want to win the comp,” he chuckled. “To be the first to do that is a chance you don’t get too often anywhere, so that’s what I want to do.”

As well as his playing ability, Capewell has taken on the role of father figure to the club’s promising brigade of back-rowers and also stepped into an unofficial leadership position, when co-captain Mitch Barnett was lost to a season-ending knee injury last season.

“I just want to do my role for the team, wherever that may be,” he said. “I want to play some of my best footy and get the wins.

“Like I said, I’m here to win a comp – that’s what my sights are set on. Obviously, there’s a lot of water to go under bridge throughout the season, but I just want to play my best footy to help the team win.”

Hopefully, if his body allows, he will bring up his 200th NRL appearance this season in a Warriors jersey.

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/2026/02/10/nrl-nz-warriors-stars-roger-tuivasa-sheck-kurt-capewell-enter-final-season-of-contracts/

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Motorcyclist nearly twice the limit after fleeing Police

Source: New Zealand Police

A motorcyclist’s decision to flee saw his wheels impounded and a variety of illicit drug items seized this morning.

The Papatoetoe man was also allegedly found to be nearly twice the legal breath alcohol limit.

A unit located the Harley Davidson on Great South Road, Papatoetoe at around 1.38am.

Counties Manukau West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey says two people were on the bike at the time.

“Due to the driving behaviour, the unit activated lights and siren to stop the bike,” he says.

“The rider has failed to stop and sped away from the unit at high speed and was seen running a red light.”

The Harley Davidson wasn’t pursued, but the Police Eagle helicopter deployed overhead and tracked its movements.

“Eagle located the motorcycle heading into a Papatoetoe property, attempting to hide in a garage,” Senior Sergeant Albrey says.

“Ground units attended the address and located both the rider and his passenger.”

While at the rider’s property, Police made further illicit discoveries.

This included a bag of cannabis, a cannabis plant and methamphetamine utensils.

Senior Sergeant Albrey says the rider appeared intoxicated and allegedly returned a breath alcohol result of 441mcg.

The 48-year-old man will be summonsed to court for the drink driving offence, with enquiries ongoing into the drug offences.

“Operating any vehicle or motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol is extremely risky,” Senior Sergeant Albrey says.

“It’s fortunate that the rider, his passenger or anyone else in the community wasn’t injured as a result of his actions last night.”

The passenger on the motorcycle, a 34-year-old woman, was also arrested for an unrelated warrant to arrest.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/10/motorcyclist-nearly-twice-the-limit-after-fleeing-police/

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Taupō school fire: Firefighter climbed onto roof of burning building after truck breakdown

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters could be seen on the roof at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College during the fire. LES WILLS / SUPPLIED

A firefighter clambered on to the side-roof of a burning building at Taupō’s largest school after the ladder-truck that hoses down fires from height broke down.

The fire that gutted a two-storey block of classrooms at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College resulted in arson charges laid against two young people.

After the first ladder-truck – called an ‘aerial’ – from Rotorua broke down as it set up the hose on its boom, another large ladder-truck was rushed in from Hamilton almost two hours away.

In the meantime, “firefighters successfully used other tactics to contain the fire to the building of origin and protect all neighbouring structures”, Fire and Emergency said.

The Professional Firefighters’ Union said such a delay mattered at fires of this scale.

Firefighters working at Taupō -nui-a-Tia College. LES WILLS / SUPPLIED

A video posted online showed the firefighter on the roof hosing through the second-storey classroom windows for about a minute as flames billowed out and began to consume the roof at the other end, before he got down on a ladder held by another firefighter.

Taupō retiree Les Wills was watching.

“It didn’t look very safe at all,” he said.

“I think other people around me were thinking pretty much the same sort of thing.”

He’d seen online commentary he agreed with, that it was “dumb but brave”.

FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said firefighters were trained to use various tactics.

“Firefighters can apply a range of tactics, including using hoses at height to direct water onto a fire,” she said.

“Doing this from an aerial appliance or from a roof are both tactics which an incident commander may consider, depending on the circumstances, the type of incident and the resources available.”

They also applied the so-called safe person concept and dynamic risk assessment.

“If one particular type of fire truck is unavailable, they can adapt their tactics to the resources that they have.”

Des Chan who was on the Rotorua truck said they got some water to the boom but not enough, and had to adopt a tactic that was “very much” less safe.

He was not referring to the firefighter on the roof, which he did not know about, but having to get very close-in to the flames.

“We were trying to stop the fire spreading to the library next door just across a little gap.

“With the aerial [ladder] we would have contained it completely, as it was we had to stand there, right underneath,” Chan, the union’s Rotorua local secretary, said.

Firefighters battling the blaze at Taupō -nui-a-Tia College. LES WILLS / SUPPLIED

‘The angst, the anguish, the frustration’

Wills had watched the Rotorua ladder-truck crew set up the boom to get their hose in the air, amid other smaller fire trucks and their crews.

“The water came out from behind the cab of the truck and simply flooded the ground. There was a very thin trickle of water came out of the boom itself onto the fire.

“I think what struck me more than anything else was looking at the angst, the anguish, the frustration, if not the actual anger on the faces of the firefighters who had just driven from Rotorua to assist putting out a huge fire and their equipment failed on them.”

Union spokesperson in Waikato, Jay Culhane said the boom would have allowed the high hose to penetrate deeply into the burning classroom in a way that ground-based hoses could not.

Stiffler said a sticking valve was the problem, and they had learned this had happened before but not been reported for repairs, and it was “critical” firefighters reported faults.

But Chan said two previous times the boom did not work, the firefighters had checked then restarted it and it had been okay. To report all such faults meant mechanics would be getting a lot of reports, he added.

Culhane said the Hamilton ladder-truck had to be nursed on its emergency run down to Taupō as it regularly overheated and was often laid up for repairs.

FENZ confirmed a second breakdown on Sunday, of the emissions control system in a command-unit truck coming down from Greerton station in Tauranga.

“As a command unit from Rotorua was already at the scene, this second command unit was not required,” Stiffler said.

The agency’s network approach enabled relief vehicles to be called on “whenever and wherever they are needed”, she added.

“All our trucks are maintained in a fully operational condition regardless of age. We have a proactive servicing regime for all trucks and replace any worn parts as required to keep them at an operational standard. These are large, complicated vehicles but they are well maintained, safe, certified, and legally compliant.”

FENZ was spending over $20m annually over the next three years on its fleet and $12.5 million on new aerials. Contracts were in place “although we acknowledge this will take some time”.

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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/2026/02/10/taupo-school-fire-firefighter-climbed-onto-roof-of-burning-building-after-truck-breakdown/

Posted on

Salvage operation begins to recover wrecked Black Cat tourist boat from Akaroa Harbour

Source: Radio New Zealand

The catamaran was stuck on rocks near the heads but swells last week dislodged part of the boat, leaving it broken up on shore. Environment Canterbury

A two-week salvage operation has begun to recover the wrecked Black Cat Cruises boat from Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula.

More than 40 people were rescued from the catamaran when it ran into trouble at Nikau Palm Valley Bay in the Akaroa Marine Reserve on 31 January.

The Canterbury Regional Council said work to recover parts of the tourist boat from the beach and the sea could take two weeks, depending on the conditions.

The boat was carrying 2240 litres of marine diesel fuel and around 120 litres of other oils in sealed containers and engines combined.

The catamaran was stuck on rocks near the heads but swells last week dislodged part of the boat, leaving it broken up on shore.

Regional on-scene commander Emma Parr said safety was a top priority.

“Recovery activities will only be undertaken when conditions are safe for crews and any potential environmental impacts have been minimised. This includes pre and post wildlife surveys and hydrocarbon testing of water, sediment and shellfish,” she said.

The salvage team will first dismantle the top of the boat and remove debris from the beach.

The council said the work would involve cutting up and removing the wreckage using a barge and crane over about five days.

Sections of the submerged hull and other debris will then be removed from the sea.

Parr said a 200-metre exclusion zone remained in place about the boat.

“The exclusion area is critical to keeping people safe while complex recovery work is underway. We ask the public to please respect all signage, on-water restrictions and advice from response crews,” she said.

“Removing the vessel and debris from this sensitive area is a priority and all parties involved remain committed to completing the recovery as safely and efficiently as possible.”

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is investigating the grounding.

Several agencies are working together on the recovery effort with the council, including the Department of Conservation, Maritime New Zealand, TAIC, Wildbase and NZ Defence Force.

The tour operator has previously said the grounding was the first incident of its kind in more than 40 years.

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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/2026/02/10/salvage-operation-begins-to-recover-wrecked-black-cat-tourist-boat-from-akaroa-harbour/

Posted on

Serious crash: Trentham, Upper Hutt

Source: New Zealand Police

The intersection of Messines Avenue and Seddul Bahr Road is closed following a serious crash involving a vehicle and a cyclist.

Emergency services received reports of the crash about 4pm.

Diversions are in place and motorists are asked to avoid the area.

There are believed to be serious injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit have been advised.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/10/serious-crash-trentham-upper-hutt/

Posted on

Police arrest group over vehicle crime

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have caught up with a group of young people likely involved in a wave of vehicle crime across parts of Auckland.

Frontline units deployed across the North Shore and west Auckland in the early hours of this morning.

It all began just before 3.30am in Hillcrest.

Inspector Jason Edwards, of Waitematā Police, says a member of the public reported vehicles being interfered with on Stanaway Street.

“We received reports that vehicles parked on the street were being interfered with by a group of males before they fled in another vehicle,” he says.

“Units quickly responded into the area and enquiries began to locate this group.”

Four vehicles had been interfered with by the group, and Police also located an ignition barrel on the ground.

Meanwhile, the Police Eagle helicopter was watching as a group of young people abandoned a stolen vehicle in Massey around half an hour later.

Inspector Edwards says they were seen trying on foot walking onto Zefiro Drive.

“Ground units were directed to their location with all five quickly taken into custody,” he says.

“We have established this group had just been travelling with two stolen vehicles in tandem, before colliding with each other on the Royal Road offramp.

“They abandoned one vehicle and had carried on a short distance.”

Those arrested are aged between 13 and 16.

Four males have been charged with unlawfully getting into a vehicle and will appear in the Waitākere Youth Court today.

Inspector Edwards says the group is also being spoken to in relation to other vehicle crime across west Auckland and the North Shore.

“This is an outstanding result for Police and our community,” he says.

“I would like to acknowledge all the frontline teams from the North Shore and Henderson, as well as our Crime Squad that responded this morning.”

Police continue to ask the community to report suspicious activity in their neighbourhood.

“Police acknowledge the vigilant member of the public for reporting the suspicious activity in the first instance,” he says.

“We know that stolen vehicles are used to commit further offending against the community, so to be able to disrupt this group is a great outcome.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/10/police-arrest-group-over-vehicle-crime/