Author: MIL OSI Publisher

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RBA raises interest rates as inflation pressures remain high

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stella Huangfu, Associate Professor, School of Economics, University of Sydney

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%, adding to pressure on households and businesses. While the move was widely expected by markets and most economists, the Reserve Bank says inflation risks remain too high to be comfortable.

The RBA said inflation “picked up materially” in the second half of 2025. Governor Michele Bullock told a press conference:

Based on the data we have seen and the conditions here and around the world, the board now thinks it will take longer for inflation to return to target and this is not an acceptable outcome.

The rate rise reflects concern that inflation will not return to the RBA’s 2–3% target range until June 2027, according to the bank’s updated forecasts also released today.

Stronger than expected economic growth means capacity pressures are rising and keeping inflation higher than expected. Progress could stall unless interest rates are pushed a little higher.

It was the first rate increase since November 2023, and followed three cuts in 2025 when inflation was cooling.

Policy set for a year ahead

In the lead-up to the meeting, there appeared to be a gap between market expectations and the RBA’s own comments. Markets and many economists focused on the latest inflation data, which showed a renewed uptick, particularly in prices for services. That data strengthened the case for a rate rise at this meeting.

The RBA, however, has repeatedly emphasised it does not set policy based on short-term movements in inflation.

That message has been reflected in recent meeting minutes and reinforced in a January ABC interview with Andrew Hauser, the RBA’s deputy governor. He said interest rate decisions are guided by where inflation is expected to be in about a year’s time – not where it has been over the past quarter or two.

Today’s decision suggests that, on that forward-looking view, the RBA became less comfortable with the inflation outlook. Rather than a temporary overshoot, the path back to the 2-3% inflation target will take longer than previously thought.

What’s driving inflation?

The latest consumer price index (CPI) figures help explain the Reserve Bank’s caution. Trimmed mean inflation – the RBA’s preferred underlying measure – was 3.3% in the year to December, up from 3.2% in the year to November. That puts underlying inflation clearly above the target range.

More importantly, recent inflation pressures have been led by services prices. Costs related to rents, insurance, health and education have continued to rise, reflecting domestic pressures such as wages and business operating costs.

In its statement, the RBA pointed to stronger demand and ongoing capacity constraints as key concerns:

Private demand is growing more quickly than expected, capacity pressures are greater than previously assessed and labour market conditions are a little tight.

Services inflation tends to fall slowly. Unlike petrol or food prices, it does not usually reverse quickly once it picks up. For the RBA, this persistence increases the risk inflation could remain above target for longer than hoped.

Why the RBA moved now

Faced with these risks, the bank appears to have concluded that waiting would have been the bigger gamble. If inflation stayed above target for too long, or if expectations began to drift higher, the RBA could later be forced into sharper and more disruptive rate rises.

By lifting the cash rate to 3.85% now, the Reserve Bank is trying to stay ahead of the problem. A modest move today may reduce the chance of more aggressive action later.

Australia is out of step

This decision also puts Australia out of step with several other major economies.

In the United States, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times in 2025 and is signalling further cuts are likely this year. The European Central Bank has moved even faster, cutting rates eight times between June 2024 and June 2025 to boost growth.

By contrast, Australia’s inflation challenge appears more domestically driven, particularly through persistent services inflation. That helps explain why it is moving in the opposite direction to many of its global peers.

Credibility and what comes next

The quick turnaround after the last rate cut in August may raise questions about the RBA’s earlier judgement. But inflation risks remain tilted to the upside.

The board judged that inflation is likely to remain above target for some time and it was appropriate to increase the cash rate target.

For households and businesses, the message is clear. Borrowing costs and mortgage repayments are rising again.

What happens next will depend largely on whether services inflation begins to cool and whether wage growth shows clearer signs of moderation.

If inflation resumes a steady decline towards the target band, this increase could be a one-off rise. If not, the RBA has signalled it is prepared to do more.

For now, the message from the Reserve Bank is simple: inflation is lower than it was, but still too high for comfort – and interest rates are likely to stay higher for longer until that changes.

Stella Huangfu 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. RBA raises interest rates as inflation pressures remain high – https://theconversation.com/rba-raises-interest-rates-as-inflation-pressures-remain-high-274840

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/03/rba-raises-interest-rates-as-inflation-pressures-remain-high-274840/

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Regulating Islamic education can strengthen trust and authority, if religious scholars lead the way

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Milani, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Western Sydney University

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for greater regulation of Islamic preachers in Australia in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack. His comments triggered an immediate backlash.

Many Muslim leaders and commentators heard the remarks as another episode in a long history of government suspicion toward Islam, or as a thinly veiled attempt to crack down on a religious community already under pressure.

That reaction is understandable. Public debates about Islam in Australia are often freighted with fear, moral panic and political opportunism.

Morrison’s comments also came at a tense moment for the country, which helps explain their bluntness and the intensity of the reaction they provoked. It is entirely understandable that Muslim communities would be angered by any conflation with acts of violence committed in Islam’s name.

But focusing only on whether Morrison’s comments were offensive or ill-judged risks missing a deeper issue that has been quietly unresolved for decades.

The real question raised by this controversy is not Islamophobia or security. It is the role of religious authority and accountability in Islamic teaching in a modern, pluralist society.

Why frameworks are important

Every secular democracy regulates institutions that play a role in shaping moral and civic life. Schools are accredited. Childcare and aged-care providers operate under public standards and oversight. Charities and community organisations are subject to transparency requirements.

These arrangements are not expressions of hostility. They are the mechanisms that build trust between institutions and the wider public.

Religion should not, in principle, be exempt from this framework.

Treating religion as untouchable when it comes to government regulation does not protect it. It leaves it vulnerable to crude political interventions, moral panic and collective blame when something goes wrong.

This tension is not unique to Islam. All religious traditions must contend with the fact that religious authority can be claimed and religious teachings distorted by divergent actors. This makes questions of public accountability more pressing, not less.

If done carefully and respectfully, with parameters established in partnership with religious communities, this sort of regulation would not infringe on religious freedom. In fact, such regulation often protects religious freedom by clarifying who speaks with authority and on what basis.

The importance of training local imams

Representative bodies such as the Australian National Imams Council and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils play important advisory and coordinating roles in Islamic education in Australia. However, there is no agreed national standard or framework for Islamic education. Nor is there a common system for training or accrediting imams.

Many imams in Australia are trained overseas. This reflects both the relatively recent development of Islamic institutions in Australia and the longstanding authority of established education centres in the Middle East.

As a result, this religious education takes place in countries with very different political and theological debates.

In addition, mosque governance in Australia is often localised, fragmented and dependent on volunteer leadership. These arrangements are not inherently problematic. However, they do create a structural ambiguity about religious authority in the faith.

That ambiguity affects everyone. For Muslim communities, it leads to uncertainty about:

  • who represents Islam publicly

  • who is responsible for religious guidance

  • how theological disagreements are resolved.

For the wider society, it can produce anxiety about what is being taught, by whom, and under what norms. In the absence of a coherent public framework, suspicion fills the gap.

What can be done?

There is a more productive approach. The first step is recognising that religious authority does not exist in a vacuum.

In a pluralist society, religious leaders shape ethical outlooks, social norms and public behaviour. This comes with great responsibility – not because Islam is suspect, but because it matters.

Governments do not need to strengthen their surveillance or impose heavy-handed controls in response. Rather, religious institutions need to operate with greater transparency, public engagement and institutional maturity.

For starters, governments can play a supporting role in developing pathways for Islamic education grounded in Australian civic life, rather than imposing direct state control. This includes through partnerships with universities, community institutions and established overseas centres.

Religious literacy should be encouraged, both within Muslim communities and beyond.

And, importantly, governments must work with Muslim scholars, educators and community leaders on developing regulatory frameworks or public standards.

These leaders are already grappling with the challenges posed by imported religious authority, fragmented governance and the pressures of representing Islam in a secular society. Their more careful voices are often lost in the noisy, polarised debate.

Islam is not alone here. Similar tensions can be found across many other religious traditions as they adapt to modern pluralist societies, even if they surface differently.

If there is a lesson in the Morrison controversy, it is this: Australia has not yet worked out how Islamic authority fits into its public institutions. Until it does, debates about Islam will continue to oscillate between denial and suspicion, neither of which serves anyone well.

The question is not whether Islam belongs in Australia. It already does belong, deeply and permanently. The question is how religious authority is situated in a society that values freedom, accountability and civic trust. That is a conversation worth having calmly, seriously and without fear.

Milad Milani 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. Regulating Islamic education can strengthen trust and authority, if religious scholars lead the way – https://theconversation.com/regulating-islamic-education-can-strengthen-trust-and-authority-if-religious-scholars-lead-the-way-274736

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/03/regulating-islamic-education-can-strengthen-trust-and-authority-if-religious-scholars-lead-the-way-274736/

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Northland News – Wool in, weeds out!

Source: Northland Regional Council

An innovative and sustainable method is being trialled in Taitokerau to suppress Egeria densa an invasive oxygen weed found in Rotokawau on the Poutō Peninsula.
The Northland Regional Council’s Biodiversity, Biosecurity Marine, and Maritime teams collaborated towards the end of 2025 to lay wool matting on 412m square metres of the lake floor with support from local commercial divers.
The New Zealand grown wool which resembles a carpet underlay, offers a non-toxic and cost-effective solution for the NRC.
Northland Regional Council Biodiversity Manager Lisa Forester says until now the lake had been hand-weeded by divers – a process which is painstakingly slow, labour-intensive and costly.
“Using a natural fibre such as wool matting will allow native plants to easily recolonise while acting as a weed suppressant, preventing the oxygen weed from pushing through and hopefully eradicating the pest plant over time.”
Kaipara constituency councillor John Blackwell says ecological monitoring including weed surveillance on dune lakes’ is part of the Northland Regional Council Biodiversity team’s everyday mahi.
“We are looking forward to the results of this experiment as Rotokawau is one of the 12 lakes ranked as ‘outstanding’ in Te Taitokerau. This particular lake supports threatened underwater plant species and kākahi (freshwater mussels), as well as 14 other threatened species, but is also impacted by the invasive oxygen weed, Egeria densa.”
“If we don’t act now the oxygen weed will eventually fill the lake, smothering native plants in the process and degrading the water quality.”
The Biodiversity team will revisit the lake in late summer to check on the wool matting and continue weed checks twice a year.
With summer underway it is important to use the ‘Check, Clean and Dry’ method when visiting any Te Taitokerau lakes or waterways.
Always check your gear, clean and then fully dry your gear, before moving between waterways. This is especially important now that the invasive freshwater clam has arrived in New Zealand.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/northland-news-wool-in-weeds-out/

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Teen’s grieving parents left asking just one question – what if?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gareth and Leanne Hall spent years fighting to save their daughter from the darkness that haunted her. Kim Baker-Wilson/RNZ

Three years after Tauranga teenager Maddie Hall took her own life her parents are left with one unanswered question – what if?

What if Maddie had been given all the support she needed as soon as she went to Tauranga Hospital after trying to take her life in May 2020?

What if Maddie had received the comprehensive psychotherapy her clinicians agreed would be most beneficial?

What if Maddie’s early life was not upended by sexual trauma?

What if more could have been done to save her life? What if the mental health system was better?

Maddie died on 31 March 2023 at the age of 16.

Almost three years earlier in May 2020 she was found trying to take her life. It would later emerge she had earlier tried to kill herself in November 2019.

In findings made public on Tuesday following a 2024 inquest, coroner Marcus Elliott found Maddie died by suicide but there was “no aspect of the medical care which can be said to have ‘clearly linked to the factors that contributed’ to Maddie’s death”.

As a result, he had no power to make any comments or recommendations about Maddie’s death.

The Canterbury Suicide Postvention Working Group – a collection of agencies including health, education and care authorities that monitor and respond to suicides in the region – sought to suppress details of the coroner’s report and Maddie’s name.

The group submitted that four other young women had died by suspected suicide since Maddie’s death in circumstances that amounted to a “cluster” with links through direct peer connection, shared social networks or online

interactions.

The group also said a cohort of 44 other people in Canterbury connected to the “cluster” was at elevated risk of suicide contagion.

“These connections reflect an overlapping peer ecosystem in which distress, grief and identification with each other’s experience have been continually reinforced,” the group said.

The group was concerned about the “significant online and social media risk component associated with this case, particularly the unregulated dissemination and glamorisation of suicide related content on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.”

Maddie’s parents, RNZ and Stuff opposed suppression.

In declining the application, coroner Elliott emphasised that while “there were areas in which service improvements were warranted, any shortcomings cannot be said to have contributed to Maddie’s death”.

“She received extensive mental health care, both in a public and private context. Her death does not support an argument that mental health care is unavailable to those who need it or that the mental health system is broken.”

‘Always room for improvement’ – family calls for change

In the three years before her death, Maddie was admitted to hospital 25 times and went to Tauranga Hospital’s emergency department more than 50 times.

She made more than 40 attempts on her life.

Her parents Gareth and Leanne Hall feel as if their daughter and family were an inconvenience to the public system.

Eventually they pursued treatment through a private psychiatrist but Gareth Hall believes it was too late to save Maddie despite the efforts of the “excellent and caring practitioner”.

“Health New Zealand and CAMHS (Tauranga’s Maternal, Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), although they stood up in an inquest and said ‘we’ve looked back and there’s nothing we would have done differently’, well I’ll call bullshit on that,” he said.

“There’s always room for continuous improvement and everyone knows the mental health system in New Zealand, particularly for young children, needs massive improvement. Chris Luxon knows that. Matt Doocey knows that.

“In the first three months [following her May 2020 suicide attempt] there were six suicide attempts and a similar number of other incidents that required emergency services, police and/or ambulance, and there’s no support provided in those three months,” he said.

“So we knew something was lacking pretty early on in the piece.”

For three months after the May 2020 episode, Maddie did not have a key worker to co-ordinate her care and be a primary point of contact in the mental health sector.

The Halls would email clinicians to provide updates on Maddie’s condition and her symptoms.

“That seemed to be an inconvenience to them to hear from us. They eventually told us in a multi-disciplinary meeting a number of months into it just to stop sending them emails,” he said.

Maddie required comprehensive dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), a dedicated psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder.

It was first recommended and accepted about six weeks after Health New Zealand became involved.

Maddie did not receive her first session until late November 2020, almost five months after it was accepted as a form of treatment, and following 13 hospital admissions.

“It is possible that Maddie would have been more amenable to DBT in July 2020 than she was almost five months later. It seems likely that, by the time of the first DBT session on 26 November 2020, her attitude may have been affected by the sense of ‘invalidation and trauma’ she was developing in relation to her public mental health service involvement,” coroner Elliott said.

“However, it is not possible to say whether the provision of comprehensive DBT from July 2020 would have prevented Maddie’s death. It is possible that it would, however a finding cannot be made to the required standard of proof about this.”

By February 2021, comprehensive DBT was no longer available to Maddie.

A ‘vibrant wee soul’

Leanne Hall said her daughter was a “vibrant wee soul” as a child.

“She was either going to be an artist or an early childhood teacher. She was a lovely, gorgeous little girl,” she said.

Gareth Hall said Maddie was kind, caring and empathetic, traits she maintained towards others even as her own world crumbled inside her head.

“A few of Maddie’s friends have said that they wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Maddie. That’s how big an influence she was,” he said.

“She couldn’t help herself but she was unbelievable at helping others.”

Maddie’s decline could be traced to sexual abuse at the age of six.

Leanne Hall said they were unaware of the violation until Maddie told a friend when she was about 11-years-old and her friend told her father.

“If she didn’t have that sexual trauma at age six she wouldn’t have developed the PTSD and the complex mental health history,” she said.

The trauma catalysed into a deep darkness within her mind during her early teenage years.

As the Halls fought to save their daughter’s life they would sleep in her room at night to ensure she was safe.

“During those particularly quiet times and when she was struggling to sleep, she did tell us a lot of stuff and it was pretty harrowing to listen to that coming from your own daughter,” Gareth Hall said.

“When you hear your daughter repeatedly every day, say she wants to end her life, it’s hard to hear,” Leanne Hall said.

Gareth Hall said they both know it paled in comparison to how hard it was for their daughter.

“People don’t understand how much these kids suffer and that’s the thing that still burns us is how much Maddie suffered,” he said.

“There has to be something done to prevent these kids suffering as much as they do because if it was a medical disease you know everything in the doctors’ power would be done to try to reduce the suffering.”

No evidence deficiencies contributed to Maddie’s death – Health NZ

Health New Zealand submitted to the coroner that “there is no evidence that was presented during this inquiry that any alleged deficiencies in this care contributed to Maddie’s death”.

A serious incident review highlighted “service improvements”.

The review’s findings included recommendations relating to communicating with patients and their families, trauma-informed care and specialist pathways of care.

While coroner Elliott endorsed the review’s recommendations, he said any shortcomings in the care provided by Health NZ could not be said to have contributed to Maddie’s death because:

– The causes of Maddie’s illness were identified and treatment was provided

– The nature of Maddie’s illness meant that she was at a very significant risk of taking her own life

– The illness might not necessarily have been resolved by medical treatment

In a statement, Health NZ group director of operations for Bay of Plenty Andrew Boyd told RNZ the serious incident review had resulted in “learnings to start making practical improvement”.

“This was a highly complex case involving multiple agencies, providing care and treatment to Madeleine during the three years from her initial referral to the Maternal Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Tauranga,” he said.

The Halls did not accept that Maddie’s life could not have been saved and disagreed with the coroner’s decision not to make comments or recommendations.

“It’s possible that if Maddie had more help at those earlier stages and had a clinician at CAMHS who could have built a rapport with her in the first instance, which was critical and lacking, that there could have been a different outcome, but that’s all speculation,” Gareth Hall said.

“The coroner deemed there was no gross negligence that contributed to Maddie’s passing, we think that as parents having witnessed everything we did, we still disagree with that. That’s the coroner’s rulings based on the balance of probability but there’s always possibility.”

A handful of incidents stood out to the Halls, including a time when Maddie was strip-searched at Starship Hospital.

“It was barbaric. There was no kindness. It was like she was in a prison or something. For somebody that has gone through trauma and had PTSD to be faced with that, it’s huge,” Leanne Hall said.

On another occasion Maddie had surgery at Rotorua Hospital after harming herself, followed by a request to transfer her to Starship.

After Rotorua clinicians spoke to a nurse in Tauranga she was instead discharged and found wandering on railway tracks later that night.

The coroner’s report also said a police officer gave evidence to the inquest about two incidents in which the officer believed “that health practitioners argued with Maddie in a disrespectful and unprofessional way about her medication and that another practitioner who Maddie disliked and distrusted deliberately came into Maddie’s view ‘as if on purpose to wind Maddie up’.”

The coroner made no findings about the two incidents but said: “Any lack of professionalism or disrespect for Maddie would have been unsatisfactory. However, while health practitioners should act with patience and compassion towards a patient, there are reasons why this may not always happen.”

An ‘appalling’ youth suicide rate

While Gareth and Leanne Hall could not save their daughter’s life, they take solace knowing she knew how much they loved her.

“The one thing that we did achieve before Maddie passed away was that she knew she was loved because earlier on, due to her mental illness, she felt completely unlovable and didn’t feel loved,” Gareth Hall said.

“She saw what we did for her and despite the negativity of her mind she did realise that she was loved and that gives us some comfort because you wouldn’t want your daughter to go feeling that she wasn’t loved.”

The couple now hope to channel their love and Maddie’s memory into driving meaningful change in mental health services.

“Maddie would have wanted a change and improvements in the mental health system, she hated other kids suffering and we don’t want other kids to suffer like Maddie did either. So if something good can come from Maddie’s passing I think that will help us,” Gareth Hall said.

He said New Zealand had an appalling youth suicide rate.

“That is something that as a country we should be extremely embarrassed by and we need to do whatever we can to improve that statistic,” he said.

“That’ll improve a statistic but it will improve the lives of not just the children who are going through extreme mental illness but all their parents and family and friends.”

In his findings coroner Elliott referenced the government’s 2018 inquiry into the country’s mental health and addiction sectors.

“Mental health legislation was referred to as ‘outdated and inadequate’ and reform was recommended. Health New Zealand accepted the inquiry’s recommendation in this respect,” the coroner said.

“However this has not yet been implemented and the Act has not been amended. In relation to Maddie, Health New Zealand was working under the law as it applied at that time.”

In a statement, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said “every single life lost to suicide is one too many”.

“Losing a child truly is every parent’s worst nightmare and my thoughts are with Maddie Hall’s friends and family.

“For me as Mental Health Minister, the most important part of my role is listening to those who have been directly affected by suicide. I have met with the parents of Maddie Hall to hear first-hand what they feel we need to do to improve New Zealand’s mental health system. I believe the key part of improving the mental health system is incorporating voices of lived experience. The reality is that we cannot make the changes needed on the ground without listening directly to families who have unfortunately gone through what families like the Hall’s have experienced.

“I acknowledge that New Zealand continues to face high suicide rates, particularly among youth. We can and must do better.

“I think it’s particularly clear, we are long overdue for a better crisis response. No one in New Zealand should face barriers when seeking help for themselves or others and that’s exactly what this government is focused on doing.”

Where to get help:

  • Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
  • Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
  • Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
  • What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
  • Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
  • Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
  • Healthline: 0800 611 116.
  • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
  • OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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/2026/02/03/teens-grieving-parents-left-asking-just-one-question-what-if/

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Police launch investigation after body found at worksite in Hawke’s Bay

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Police have launched an investigation after the discovery of a body at a worksite in Hawke’s Bay.

Officers were called to the property on Taihape Road in Omahu, near Hastings, at 9.10am on Tuesday – where cordons remain.

Police said it was unclear how the person came to be there, and how they died, and were treating the death as unexplained.

They said a scene examination and post-mortem would be carried out as they worked to identify the person and understand the circumstances surrounding their death.

Police said anyone with information could get in touch by calling Crime Stoppers or 105, quoting reference number 260203/9739.

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/2026/02/03/police-launch-investigation-after-body-found-at-worksite-in-hawkes-bay/

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‘They will be deeply missed’: Orana Wildlife Park’s family of lions euthanised

Source: Radio New Zealand

Meeka and Mambila at Orana Wildlife Park. Supplied / Orana Wildlife Park

A family of lions has been euthanised because of their poor health, a Christchurch zoo says.

Orana Wildlife Park said 22-year-old sisters Leah and Meeka, and Meeka’s 15-year-old son Mambila had died.

The group had been suffering from multiple age-related ailments, including degenerative muscle wastage (atrophy), suspected arthritis, and incontinence.

In a social media post, Orana Park said the decision to euthanise the lions together was because of their highly social nature.

Leah, pictured, and her sister Meeka were 22. Supplied / Orana Wildlife Park

“Leah and Meeka lived their entire 22 years together, and Mambila shared a very close bond with his mother. Prolonging the decision for one or more of the animals would have severely compromised their welfare beyond the degenerative issues they were already facing,” a spokesperson said.

“Leaving one elderly lion alone or attempting to integrate them with Orana’s remaining pride of two males would have resulted in a negative welfare state or potentially fatal consequences, given lions’ highly territorial nature.”

Orana Park said Leah and Meeka were the oldest lions in Australasia at the time of their death.

“All three cats reached old age and Leah and Meeka had exceptionally long lives.

“Male lions typically lived up to 14 years and lionesses slightly longer in the wild. This longevity is testament to the extraordinary care provided by our dedicated animal and veterinary teams.”

The park said staff were devastated by the lions’ passing.

“Anyone who has farewelled a beloved animal will understand the depth of emotion people experience at such a loss. These lions were treasured members of our whānau, they will be deeply missed by everyone who cared for them throughout their lives and our community who enjoyed meeting them.

“We are incredibly grateful to our team for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to ensuring all three lions experienced a peaceful and dignified farewell.”

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/2026/02/03/they-will-be-deeply-missed-orana-wildlife-parks-family-of-lions-euthanised/

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Calling rangatahi changemakers: Applications now open for Save the Children’s 2026 Youth Ambassador programme

Source: Save the Children

Save the Children is calling on passionate rangatahi to apply for Generation Hope New Zealand, a youth leadership programme empowering young people aged 14 to 18 to speak up, take action, and champion children’s rights in Aotearoa and beyond.
With young people facing increasing social, climate, and economic challenges, there has never been a more important time to invest in youth leadership. Generation Hope Youth Ambassadors are supported to turn their ideas into action, from leading workshops and speaking at events to advocating for change and engaging directly with decision-makers.
“Generation Hope gives rangatahi the confidence, skills, and support to use their voices in meaningful ways,” says Save the Children New Zealand’s Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey.
“This year’s General Election presents an important opportunity to empower children and young people to speak up on the issues that affect their lives and be part of shaping the future they want to see.”
Through Generation Hope, youth ambassadors take part in leadership and advocacy training and gain real-world experience creating change. In previous years, ambassadors have hosted youth-led events and panel discussions, met with political leaders, and shared children’s messages on issues such as climate action and wellbeing at Parliament. Several alumni have gone on to establish youth councils and lead initiatives in their own communities.
“Generation Hope helped me realise that my voice could create change, especially when working alongside other passionate young people,” says Generation Hope alumna Sonya-Alice. “It gave me the confidence to speak up and take action on the issues I care about.”
Another former ambassador, Kereama, encourages young people to take the leap. “If you’re even thinking about applying, do it. You don’t need to have everything figured out. This programme helps you grow into the leader you already are.”
Applications for the 2026 Generation Hope Youth Ambassador programme are open from today until 27 February 2026.
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in more than 110 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/calling-rangatahi-changemakers-applications-now-open-for-save-the-childrens-2026-youth-ambassador-programme/

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Transporting New Zealand praises driver licensing changes

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Road freight association Transporting New Zealand is backing the Government’s changes to the driver licensing scheme, saying the changes will help get more New Zealanders travelling safely on the road.
Transporting New Zealand Head of Policy & Advocacy Billy Clemens says that removing the second practical driving test will put New Zealand in line with other comparable countries, and that there was no substantive research establishing that the second test improved safety outcomes.
The changes will be accompanied by additional safety measures, including a longer learner license period for under 25s, an extended restricted license period for drivers who get demerits, expansion of the zero-alcohol rule, and stronger oversight of training providers.
Clemens says that engagement with the driver licensing system has been declining, with serious consequences for the entire country.
“There are over one million eligible New Zealanders currently without a full driver license, a situation that has been worsening since the early 2000s. Not having a full license can be a serious obstacle to employment, and accessing essential services like groceries and healthcare.”
“With the road freight workforce rapidly aging, we are also keen to ensure there is another generation of potential commercial drivers able to help keep New Zealand moving.” 
“Research from NZTA and WSP found that anxiety, cost and access were all key reasons for not gaining a full license. Removing the second practical driving test will remove a barrier to progression, and the $80 reduction in licensing costs will help with affordability.”
“This combination of changes will help ensure that people are progressing through the driver licensing system, rather than idling on a learner or restricted license.”
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand 
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion. 

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/transporting-new-zealand-praises-driver-licensing-changes/

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Breakers’ mask maker wants player to keep wearing ‘bad ass’ design

Source: Radio New Zealand

Max Darling of the Breakers Paul Kane

An unfortunate training incident sidelined New Zealand Breakers forward Max Darling for weeks, left him with a metal plate in his face and searching for personalised protective gear to get back on court.

After copping a teammate’s elbow in his eye and fracturing his orbital, the 25-year-old Tall Black needed a mask he could wear for the remainder of the ANBL season.

Finding something fit for purpose – and his face – on short notice was not a straightforward task.

That is where MWDesign came to the rescue.

Founder Mike Williams and his team at the Hamilton and Tauranga-based design company were on their end of year break when the request from Breakers physio Rob Knight came through.

Knight had worked with MWDesign previously and knew that the company had the tools, including a laser scanner and a 3D printer, to create what Darling needed. Even though the company was more accustomed to doing work for a diverse range of projects, from playgrounds to geothermal measuring tools to retail items for mass manufacture that get shipped globally.

Williams called the mask a “fun project” that piqued his interest and he spent three days getting it right.

Before the mask, Williams had done two designs for hands for himself and a colleague who had broken digits.

“I broke my thumb a couple of years ago and the cast that got put on meant that I couldn’t use my mouse and I couldn’t do a lot of things. The doctors will probably hate me for this, but I chopped off the fibreglass cast, scanned my hand and made myself a nice little splint that was still supportive, but I could use the mouse and I could have a shower.

“That was as close as I got to mask building for basketballers.”

An injury-hit Breakers side needed Darling on the floor to help cover the minutes that starter Sam Menennga was playing before he suffered a season-ending wrist injury.

Darling is not the first ANBL player to get back on the court wearing a facial accessory after an orbital fracture.

Keanu Pinder wore a similar mask when playing for the Perth Wildcats in 2024 after a similar injury. In the same year in the NBA, Toronto Raptors swingman Scottie Barnes also wore a ‘Batman’ mask for a orbital fracture that did not require surgery.

NZ Breakers Max Darling, Toronto Raptors Scottie Barnes, Keanu Pinder with the Perth Wildcats. Photosport

Williams had seen examples of NBA masks that he said did not look “overly special” and that Darling’s was different and custom-designed from a glass-reinforced 3D print plastic.

After a description from Knight about the injury and the areas of Darling’s face that needed to be protected, Williams used a laser scanner to scan the player’s face.

“It did a really brilliant job of capturing all that detail on his face.

“It’s actually perfectly his face, I put it on and it was uncomfortable as hell for me because I have a different shaped face, but when he puts it on, it’s like nothing’s there.”

Williams spent time trying different thickness and how it was going to sit on Darling’s face “so it didn’t look silly”.

The harness behind the head was another consideration.

“You can imagine if he’s sprinting up and down the court, you don’t want this thing bobbling around on the face. We’ve got a little sweat headband part on the inside of it too. So, when he starts to sweat under heavy load in the game, it doesn’t run down in his eyes. So, there’s quite a lot of different considerations around the design of it but from the outside I suppose it looks pretty simple.

“It’s one of those complicated things that is really straightforward if you know how.

“I hope he keeps wearing it because he looks bad ass in it, it looks real cool, I like it.”

Williams said the company had not looked into doing much work for sports previously, but were now considering it.

“It’s not a big money spinner but at least to offer the service to get people out in the game and playing again that would be pretty cool.”

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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/2026/02/03/breakers-mask-maker-wants-player-to-keep-wearing-bad-ass-design/

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New drone footage shows submerged catamaran close to shore in Akaroa Harbour

Source: Radio New Zealand

New drone footage shows the stranded Black Cat Cruises catamaran submerged close to shore in a small rocky bay in Akaroa Harbour on Canterbury’s Banks Peninsula.

The boat ran aground in the Akaroa Marine Reserve on Saturday, resulting in the rescue of more than 40 passengers and crew and a Transport Accident Investigation Commission investigation.

Christchurch’s Geoff Mackley captured the footage near Nikau Palm Valley at the Akaroa heads.

The Canterbury Regional Council temporarily suspended recovery efforts because of bad weather.

Attempts to move the boat to deeper waters to protect its structural integrity were on Monday because the hull had settled firmly on a large rock.

The regional council’s on-scene commander, Emma Parr, said staff had made every effort to retrieve hazardous and loose material from the wreck, whilst monitoring its stability.

“We continue to work with the salvage team to oversee and guide alternative options for the most effective and timely recovery of Black Cat,” she said.

“Our focus remains on reducing environmental impacts and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.”

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

Retired Otago University professor and biologist Liz Slooten said nearby Hector’s dolphins could be exposed to diesel pollution if it was not cleaned up quickly.

“Diesel will get into their eyes, diesel and other oils that come out of the vessel,” she said.

“It will get into their lungs by inhaling the fumes, which tend to accumulate close to the water surface because it’s heavier than normal air. That’s exactly where these dolphins are breathing.

“When they eat contaminated fish, it will get into their digestive system.”

Parr said the council was monitoring any immediate affects on the environment or wildlife and that fuel had rapidly dispersed.

“We have not observed any immediate impacts on the environment or wildlife,” he said.

Research had been done on the effects of oil and diesel spills on dolphins and showed they led to a range of serious health effects, including lung disease and adrenal gland problems, Slooten said.

She called on authorities to be more proactive when responding to emergencies.

“It seems that each time something like this happens, basically everybody stands around going, ‘oh my goodness, what are we going to do now’. We need a plan up front, rather than waiting for a disaster to happen and then trying to figure out what to do about it. That is obviously not effective,” she said.

It is the second diesel spill near Banks Peninsula in just over two years after the Austro Carina fishing boat ran aground at Shell Bay in September 2023.

Slooten said the boat would cause further environmental problems if it broke up.

“Then you’ll get plastic and metal and goodness knows what other pollutants into the environment. The longer it’s left and the more it breaks up, the harder it’s going to be to clean up the mess,” she said.

In a statement posted to social media on Saturday, Black Cat Cruises said while some of the 38 passengers were shaken by the grounding, they commended the crew for their calm, efficient and reassuring manner during evacuation.

“This is first incident to occur in over 40 years of this nature and naturally safety is our number one priority and we are deeply saddened that this has occurred. We are very grateful for the support of local operators and boaties that assisted us during this incident.

“We are commencing an investigation into the incident and working with authorities on the matter.”

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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/2026/02/03/new-drone-footage-shows-submerged-catamaran-close-to-shore-in-akaroa-harbour/

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Needle steriliser a ‘third hand’ for farmers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Graduate Jade Luxton with her Sterineedle invention. SUPPLIED

The final touches are being put on a new gadget promising to speed-up vaccinating or giving pain relief to livestock.

Around 20 New Zealand deer farmers were trialling a locally-designed holster for their livestock vaccination gun that sterilised the needles in an attached reservoir between jabs.

Founder Jade Luxton made the original Sterineedle holster with a 3D printer through high school some years back to address an agricultural challenge.

Since then, the Waikato-born graduate in product design said she had created around 100 iterations of her Sterineedle ahead of its commercialisation.

“When I looked further into this problem, I found that needles could actually be sterilized, and that’s kind of how we started with the holster idea,” she said.

“We wanted that ability to give farmers kind of like a third hand to put the vaccination gun in between animals as well.”

Jade Luxton. SUPPLIED

Luxton said it was originally created for farmers during velvetting, because every needle on each stag needs to be sterilised to meet food grade requirements.

She said deer farmers needed a solution for constantly changing needles, but the device could also benefit sheep and beef farmers.

“We currently have 20 models out trialling at the moment. But I’ve also been speaking at NZ Deer Association events, just kind of spreading awareness about the product and getting more farmers keen on the idea and keen to try it as well.”

Luxton hoped the final design would to bring it to market in time for the next velvet season.

“We’re currently testing the final design and looking for manufacturers so we can get a few models out by the start of velvetting season this year.”

She said she was inspired by her grandparents who were involved with farming.

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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/2026/02/03/needle-steriliser-a-third-hand-for-farmers/

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Peeni Henare ‘stepping back’, won’t be contesting Tāmaki Makaurau seat at election

Source: Radio New Zealand

Peeni Henare is stepping down after 12 years in Parliament. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Senior Labour MP Peeni Henare is “taking a step back from politics”, saying the time has come to put his energy elsewhere.

Earlier on Tuesday, the former minister confirmed to RNZ he would not be contesting the Tāmaki Makaurau seat this year.

But in an interview with Māori start-up Tuia News, Henare went further, revealing he would step down after 12 years in Parliament, six of them as a minister across multiple portfolios.

He told the outlet there were many other issues within Te Ao Māori he wanted to focus on, including in Te Tai Tokerau and for Ngāpuhi.

Henare noted the energy required to be successful in election year, and the recent resignation of his colleague Adrian Rurawhe. He said he realised he was the only one left.

“Kua tae te wā,” Henare said. The time had come.

Both Henare and the Labour Party confirmed the decision not to seek re-election around 3pm on Tuesday.

“I have thought long and hard about this over the summer and decided not to seek the nomination for Tāmaki Makaurau again or a place on the Labour Party list,” Henare said in a statement.

“Last year was tough after losing the by-election and after careful consideration and kōrero with my whānau over the break, I have decided that it is time for me to take a step back from politics.

“It’s time to focus on my family, my wellbeing and my future”.

It stated Henare would leave Parliament in the coming weeks.

Hipkins won’t be drawn

Speaking to reporters around 2pm, Labour leader Chris Hipkins refused to comment on Henare’s movements.

When asked, Hipkins wouldn’t say whether Henare had his backing for the Māori seat or not.

“I’m not going to start a conversation on this.

“I’m still leaving Peeni the space to make his own decisions and his own announcements.”

He rejected his refusal to answer implied a lack of confidence, “no, it just means I’m leaving him the space.”

Hipkins said he’d been told by Henare in the last week or two that he wouldn’t be putting nominating himself as a candidate for the seat.

The news from Tuia broke as Hipkins was speaking, but despite the confirmation of Henare’s plans, Hipkins declined to answer.

“It’s not fair for me to go out and comment on people’s decisions before they have communicated them.

“You’re not going to have to wait that much longer.”

Hipkins said an announcement would be made at 4pm on Tuesday.

He said he’d comment on the news later on.

A decade in Parliament

Henare entered Parliament in 2014, winning the the Tāmaki Makaurau seat over the Māori party. He held onto the seat for nearly a decade, before being ousted by Te Pāti Māori’s Takutaki Tarsh Kemp in 2023 by a slim margin.

He contested the seat in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election in 2025, following Kemp’s death, but lost to Oriini Kaipara who received around twice as many votes.

During the by-election he batted away suggestions of a Labour leadership bid, but didn’t rule it out.

At the time Henare said Hipkins, the current leader, had his full support.

During the previous Labour government, he held portfolios such as Defence, Whānau Ora, Civil Defence, Tourism and ACC.

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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/2026/02/03/peeni-henare-stepping-back-wont-be-contesting-tamaki-makaurau-seat-at-election/

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Weather News – A cold and wet Tuesday, but sunshine coming – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th February
 
January 2026 saw sweltering heat early in the month with intense rain to follow. Some long-standing records were broken:

Tauranga Airport Wettest Day (9am to 9am) with 274.0mm on 21st Jan.*
Timaru Airport Wettest January with 135.7mm.
Tauranga Airport Wettest January with 408.9mm.
Kerikeri Airport Warmest January Day (9am to 9am) 32.7°C on 11th Jan.
Whitianga Airport Wettest Day (9am to 9am) 247.6mm on 21st Jan.

Records began in 1910 for Tauranga, 1956 for Timaru, 1978 for Kerikeri and 1987 for Whitianga.

Today (Monday), the upper South Island celebrates Nelson Anniversary Day. While cloud and rain move in from the west, many have had a fine morning in the east. The remainder of the day will be dry for Marlborough. It’s a different story for the rest of the country.

MetService Meteorologist Michael Pawley adds “There’s a soupy mess of humid air covering much of the North Island today, and a low-pressure system moving in from the Tasman Sea. Rain is trekking up the South Island today, getting heavier about central New Zealand tomorrow as the low crosses over. There is even the possibility of snow above 1,200 meters about Canterbury from Tuesday afternoon.”

MetService has a Heavy Rain Watch about the Westland ranges south of Fox Glacier until this evening. Tomorrow there is a Heavy Rain Watch for Marlborough south of Seddon, and Canterbury north of the Rangitata River, which has a high chance of being upgraded to an Orange Rain Warning.  In addition, there is a Strong Wind Watch for southeasterlies about Fiordland, Westland and Grey District.

MetService has heat alerts for Napier and Hastings today, which are expected to reach 32°C and 33°C respectively. Much of the North Island has a muggy night ahead. Napier has an overnight minimum temperature of 23°C, and Auckland will only drop to 21°C.

On Tuesday, the maximum temperature for Canterbury will be in the early hours of the morning. Christchurch will drop to a chilly 12°C for most of the day.

* Tauranga experienced a wetter 24-hour period between 17th and 18th May 2005; however, this rainfall was spread across two official reporting days, as daily rainfall is measured from 9am to 9am for climatological records.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/weather-news-a-cold-and-wet-tuesday-but-sunshine-coming-metservice/

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Health – Patients Strongly Prefer Face-to-Face GP Care, New Survey Shows

Source: General Practice Owners Association (GenPro)

A new survey of nearly 1,800 New Zealand patients shows a clear and consistent preference for face-to-face consultations with family doctors, reinforcing the central role of in-person, GP-led care in general practice

The survey, conducted by the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro), gathered feedback from 1,798 patients through GenPro member practices.

The results provide a valuable snapshot of patient sentiment at a time when access targets and digital care models are under active discussion.

Eighty-seven percent of respondents ranked in-clinic, face-to-face consultations as their preferred way to receive care, with telehealth options — including video, email, and patient portals — ranking significantly lower.

“Patients are telling us very clearly that quality care, trust, and reassurance are closely tied to seeing their GP in person,” said Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of the General Practice Owners Association.

“Digital tools absolutely have a place, but they are not a substitute for the clinical judgement, connection, and confidence that come from face-to-face care.”

The survey found that patients particularly value in-person appointments when it matters most. Nearly two in three patients prefer face-to-face care when a physical examination is needed, or if they have new health concerns, the survey says.

“These results highlight that patients see in-person consultations as critical for accurate diagnosis and building trust,” Dr Chambers said. “That’s something a screen cannot replicate.”

While telehealth is useful for convenience, patients don’t see it as a replacement for in-person GP care. Telehealth was most commonly used for:

Repeat prescriptions (60 percent);
Test results (55 percent);
Minor or simple health issues (53 percent).

However, 15 percent of respondents said they did not like telehealth and would not use it at all.

“Telehealth works well for specific, low-complexity tasks,” said Dr Chambers. “But patients are clear — when it comes to real clinical engagement, they want to be in the room with their GP.”
The survey also revealed a strong preference for GP-led care:

96 percent prefer to see a GP when visiting their practice;
48 percent said they always want to see a GP, even when other clinicians are available.

When booking appointments, patients prioritised appointment availability (80 percent) and continuity with the same clinician (66 percent).

Cost and convenience ranked lower, suggesting patients value ongoing relationships and access over speed or price.

“This reinforces what general practice has always known — continuity of care matters,” Dr Chambers said. “Patients want to be known, understood, and cared for by a qualified professional they trust.”

The survey did not collect demographic or regional data and was not intended for formal benchmarking. However, GenPro says the findings highlight the need for patient voices to be front and centre in policy discussions about access targets and models of care.

Dr Chambers said that the Government had lavished subsidies on telehealth providers of telehealth.

“A ‘digital first’ policy might look good on paper and create the impression that the government is taking action. But it will not deliver the outcomes it promises. The money would be far better invested in retaining and recruiting community GPs to deliver the safer, higher-quality care they already provide.”

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/health-patients-strongly-prefer-face-to-face-gp-care-new-survey-shows/

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Universities – New Zealand law lags where dark patterns target the vulnerable – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Researchers are exploring how dark patterns exploit vulnerable consumers, and what New Zealand law can do about it.

Several of the world’s most powerful social media giants, including Meta and YouTube, are on trial in the US over claims their apps were designed to be harmful to young people. For University of Auckland law academics Professor Jodi Gardner and Dr Joshua Yuvaraj, the case connects closely with their research into manipulative advertising, vulnerable users and New Zealand law.

In the chapter Manipulative Advertising and Vitiating Factors, which features in a forthcoming book examining how laws in the Asia-Pacific region are transforming in response to the digital world, the researchers look at the role ‘dark patterns’ play in manipulative advertising.

Dark patterns are digital design tactics intended to confuse users, make it difficult to express their true preferences, or manipulate them into taking certain actions.

There are different types of dark patterns that can influence purchases, for example, forced action, obstruction, sneaking an item into a basket, and scarcity or urgency messaging. These practices are objectively unfair to all consumers, and the researchers say they’re relatively straightforward to recognise and regulate.

Their chapter, however, focuses on a more complex dark pattern: identifying people with potential vulnerabilities, such as by tracking their search habits, and then exploiting these through targeted ads or pop-ups.

The researchers call this ‘vulnerability exploitation’.

“The harm in question doesn’t come from the content of the advertisement itself, but from the fact that it purposefully targets people who are vulnerable and may agree to purchases not in their best interests,” they write.

Gardner and Yuvaraj use three case studies to highlight how vulnerable groups can be targeted by manipulative advertising: children urged to buy online game add-ons before a countdown ends, financially illiterate or disadvantaged people encouraged to invest in digital assets, and women anxious about fertility targeted by egg-freezing companies.

The authors argue that the heightened vulnerability of such groups to dark patterns underscores the need for better consumer protections.

Another issue when it comes to manipulation in gaming is the use of ‘loot boxes’, says Yuvaraj. This is where players can open a virtual crate or similar item, without knowing in advance what kind of game feature or ‘loot’ they will receive. One New Zealand gamer described becoming addicted to the thrill of opening loot boxes and spent about $16,000 doing so.

The Department of Internal Affairs has so far rejected calls to include loot boxes in the definition of gambling, and the researchers say their regulation and that of other in-app purchases will likely need to come under the Fair Trading Act.

Yuvaraj and Gardner say protections in the Act to directly address the exploitation of vulnerable consumers should be expanded. They advocate supplementing ‘statutory unconscionability protection’ with broader ‘unfair practices’ provisions, as seen in recent European Union and Singapore reforms.

They say expanding New Zealand’s statutory consumer protection framework to directly cover ‘vulnerability exploitation’ could bear fruit, as shown by a €1.125 million fine ($NZD2.2 million) given to Epic Games in the Netherlands for targeting children with in-app purchases in the popular game Fortnite.

Another avenue to improve the law in this area is to expand court-developed protections so they better fit modern, app-based and standard-form contracts, and Yuvaraj says courts could intervene when a person’s vulnerability or lack of meaningful choice affects their ability to agree to or understand the impact of a contract or transaction. This could include situations where a business should have been more alert to a person’s vulnerability, or where there’s a power imbalance.

“Given how quickly new technologies are developing that can cause harm to people, such as AI deepfakes, it’s critical to ensure New Zealand’s legal framework is set up to protect the most vulnerable members of society,” he says.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/universities-new-zealand-law-lags-where-dark-patterns-target-the-vulnerable-uoa/

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Federated Farmers warns of ‘water tax’ risk

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers says while it supports the intent of the Government’s resource management overhaul, a deep dive into the draft legislation has revealed some serious concerns.
Most concerning are provisions allowing freshwater rights to be auctioned, tendered, or levied – effectively enabling freshwater to be taxed, says Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say we were alarmed when we read clauses in the Natural Environment Bill that give future Ministers sweeping powers to tax water to manage demand.
“There is no way on earth Federated Farmers can or will support that.
“I’ll be seeking urgent clarification from the Beehive, because any reform that allows water taxes by stealth is completely unacceptable to us.”
Last December the Government released two new bills – the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill – to replace the Resource Management Act.
Hooper says Federated Farmers staff have spent the past eight weeks working through the detail.
“It’s important to state up front that Federated Farmers is completely on board with the aims of the reform.
“The promise of a stronger focus on property rights, a tighter scope, fewer resource consents, more standardisation and less litigation all sound like the reset farmers have been calling for.
“But as we’ve worked through the detail, it’s become clear that there are parts of these bills that do not align with those aims at all.”
Hooper says the risk of water taxes is not the only concern. As currently drafted, the new system may be more permissive where environmental limits are comfortably met, but significantly more restrictive where a catchment is at or near its limit.
“Councils often set limits that aim to maintain current water quality levels, so this could mean many catchments are immediately at or beyond environmental limits from the outset.
“As the Natural Environment Bill becomes more restrictive as catchments approach those limits, that could actually mean more resource consents for farmers as the bills are currently drafted.
“This is on top of requirements for all farmers to also have a Freshwater Farm Plan.
“Federated Farmers supports a shift to a farm plan approach, but only if it replaces, rather than sits alongside, the need for a resource consent.”
Another area of concern is the wording around when councils must compensate landowners for loss of property value.
Hooper says Federated Farmers welcomed the Government’s earlier commitment to compensation when restrictive overlays – such as Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Significant Natural Areas – are imposed on farms.
“But now, when we read the draft legislation, we’re seeing a compensation regime that’s much more uncertain than many expected.
“It relies on proving a ‘significant impact on the reasonable use of land’, which means compensation could be very limited and will ultimately depend on how future court cases interpret that threshold.”
Hooper says another major concern is that Water Conservation Orders remain largely untouched, despite being an outdated planning tool.
“Farmers and growers are pretty baffled that these relics haven’t been ditched, as they’re a very poor way to manage freshwater resources.
“They allow any member of the public to override regional council processes and push for stricter freshwater controls.”
Hooper says much of the most important detail in the Natural Environment Bill – including the meaning of key goals, the scope of regulation, and what regional plans must contain – is deferred to future national direction set by the Minister.
“That creates a ‘trust us and wait’ model and opens the door to wildly different interpretations by future governments.
“Farmers need certainty if they’re going to invest in their land. A system that leaves key details up to future Ministers creates risk, delays decisions, and undermines confidence in the whole reform.”
Federated Farmers is preparing a strong submission aimed at highlighting weaknesses in both bills and supporting the Select Committee process to amend both bills.
“We’ll be doing all we can to ensure the reform delivers what farmers were promised,” Hooper says.  

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/federated-farmers-warns-of-water-tax-risk/

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Universities – Lotto reform: could a new prize-linked bond be a safer bet? – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Researchers look back in time to see how people react when lotteries are restricted and an alternative is offered.

Imagine if the money from every Lotto ticket you bought had instead gone into a ‘lottery bond’. You’d still have a chance to win life-changing cash prizes, but your money would also be saved, earning interest and being paid back over time. If you don’t win, you don’t lose it all either.

In Belgium, where University of Auckland finance lecturer Dr Gertjan Verdickt lived most of his life, Lotto draws, like in New Zealand, are broadcast on national television each week, and this sparked his interest in how people respond when governments try to curb gambling.

The Business School researcher and co-author, Amaury De Vicq (University of Groningen), studied what happened after, in 1905, the Dutch government banned the sale and purchase of traditional lotteries but allowed an alternative: ‘lottery bonds’.

“We wanted to look back in time to investigate what happens when a government tries to shift gambling from something addictive and loss-making (lotteries) to something safer such as lottery bonds. How do different socio-economic groups react?”

These ‘lottery bonds’ were a legal fixed-income product that let people invest in a bond while also going into a prize draw. Buyers were guaranteed their money back, plus interest, with the added chance of winning. Similar prize-linked products operate in several countries today, with different designs.

Verdickt says this kind of government-run bond scheme could be attractive in New Zealand.

“Lotto is often defended because it funds community projects, which is fantastic, but it can disproportionately draw spending from people on lower incomes. Maybe the government could move towards supporting people to put money into something where they get a safe return, and the chance for a big win.

“A premium government-led bond-style product, different to the solely prize-based Bonus Bonds which wound up in New Zealand in 2020, could fund public projects, while allowing New Zealanders to grow their money rather than lose money week after week.”

So how did everyday Dutch people react when regular Lotto was banned?

The researchers drew on Dutch inheritance tax archives to create detailed portfolio holdings for 3,618 people, allowing them to track how different groups adjusted their investments after the policy change.

The researchers found that overall, less wealthy people put more money into lottery bonds, while wealthy individuals decreased their holdings.

“Although we didn’t observe people’s prior lottery purchases, the magnitude of the move towards lottery bonds indicates that these bonds could be considered a substitute for gambling.”

Age and location mattered too. The researchers found younger people were less likely to take up lottery bonds, while older individuals showed a stronger move into them after the policy change.
The lack of interest in lottery bonds among younger individuals could be seen as a success in the Dutch government’s attempt to curb gambling, says Verdickt.

Lotteries and other forms of gambling remained legal in neighbouring Belgium and Germany, and the researchers say poorer people living farther from those borders were more likely to invest in lottery bonds than those closer by, who may have been tempted across the border.

Channelling the urge to gamble

The regulation of gambling has always been a challenge for governments, say the researchers, pitting concerns for financial stability and addictions against consumer demand.

“Our study shows the Dutch government’s lottery bonds were helpful; they channelled people’s urge to gamble into an instrument that also encouraged saving.”

He says governments like New Zealand’s might consider promoting a form of ‘lottery bond’ as a safer alternative to playing Lotto.

“Of course, these days people have so many options online and in-person when it comes to gambling. You can’t ban the urge to gamble, but you can guide people towards safer channels.

“The lottery bond offered by the Dutch government, for example, wasn’t a perfect investment, but it did provide a better option for many people.”

Read the working paper: Financial Regulation and Household Portfolio Reallocation: The Impact of the 1905 Dutch Lottery Ban: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5261473

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/universities-lotto-reform-could-a-new-prize-linked-bond-be-a-safer-bet-uoa/

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These voices are the loudest in Australia’s ‘climate wars’

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Downie, Professor of Political Science, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University

The Conversation, CC BY-SA

There’s a reason political commentators refer to Australia’s “climate wars”. Every time a climate policy is put on the table, supporters and opponents come out in force and duke it out.

Last year, debates over Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions target led to a heated contest between various groups such as the Climate Council — arguing for strong action — and others such as the Business Council of Australia, which commissioned modelling to highlight the economic costs of a strong target.

This was not a one-off. Since at least the 1990s, emissions-intensive industries such as coal and gas and their lobby groups have had an outsized influence on climate policy. This includes groups such as the Minerals Council of Australia, which represents BHP, Rio Tinto and Whitehaven Coal, and Australian Energy Producers, which lobbies on behalf of BP, Shell and Woodside, among others.

Until now, we did not have a good understanding of who mobilises on climate policy in Australia, what side of the issue they fall on, and in which arenas they mobilise. In our new research, we found a core set of only 20 groups dominating climate policy debate in Australia, including gas corporations, industry lobby groups, environmental NGOs, and think tanks.

Who are these groups?

To find out which groups are most influential, we collected data on all organisations active on climate policy in Australia between 2017 and 2022. This included examining the number of groups as well as their volume of activity in the executive branch of government (responsible for implementing and enforcing laws, managing day-to-day administration and setting policy), the parliament and the media.

For example, we identified 700,000 mentions of groups in articles about climate change from 13 media outlets, including The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald.

As well as media records, we also built a database of organisations who actively consulted with government departments and provided evidence to parliamentary inquiries.

We found 20 groups accounted for more than half (52%) of all activity.

They included a mix of mining and energy firms, such as AGL, BHP and Rio Tinto and their lobby groups, such as the Minerals Council of Australia. It also included high-profile NGOs, such as the Climate Council, and think tanks active on climate policy, including the Australia Institute and the Grattan Institute.

It’s important to note we didn’t look at the content of the messages in the media, the parliament or in departmental consultations, just the number of organisations and the frequency of their activity.

Where do these groups stand on climate action? tweaked

Among the 20 groups, some are strong supporters of climate action, such as the Climate Council. By contrast, the Minerals Council of Australia has a long history of opposing climate policies dating back to the Kyoto Protocol in the 2000s and the short-lived carbon price in the 2010s.

Interestingly, there are more pro-climate groups than anti-climate groups. Most NGOs in our study tended to support action on climate change, including the Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace and WWF.

Many of the business groups do not. But it’s not as black and white as this might suggest. Firms and business advocacy groups are not unified. A growing number of renewable energy companies now mobilise in support of climate policy, often through advocacy groups such as the Smart Energy Council.

Interestingly, many industries active on climate policy don’t have a hardwired position. Rather, they sometimes support and sometimes oppose climate policy. This is often because their commercial interests are only indirectly impacted by climate policies, such as firms in the technology or finance industries.

These somewhat “neutral” groups actually account for the majority of groups active on climate policy in Australia.

Does this vary by arena?

We also explored whether some groups dominate the media more than the parliament, or the parliament more than the executive. For example, are environmental NGOs more active in the media than in Senate hearings? Are business groups more active in consultations with the government departments that make up the executive branch of government?

Interestingly, we found the media is the only arena where fossil fuel interests dominate. For example, groups typically opposed to climate action represent 43% of all media mentions, compared to 20% in support and 36% neutral.

This begs the question – why does the media appear to have a strong bias for reporting pro-fossil fuel messages?

One explanation consistent with overseas studies
is simply that messages from business coalitions and very large businesses are more likely to receive media coverage than other types of organisations, such as environmental NGOs.

These organisations are likely to have high standing in the media because they are viewed as key players in policy debates with inside knowledge. Certainly in Australia, the largest firms and lobby groups mobilised on climate change are tied to? fossil fuel industries.

Do these groups matter?

As we sweat through another of the hottest summers on record, the federal government will rightly remain under pressure to put in place further policies to cut carbon pollution. In fact, recent polling shows one in two Australians want action on climate change “even if this involves significant costs”.

Who mobilises to support or oppose climate policies will likely have a big influence on policy outcomes such as increasing renewable electricity in the grid, phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles or stopping new coal and gas projects

Our research shows a core set of groups, including firms in the coal and gas industries, that are likely to have an outsized voice in such policy debates.

While this does not always equate to influence, it is an important precondition. In the media in particular, it appears fossil fuel interests have the loudest voice.

This research was funded by the Climate Social Science Network.

– ref. These voices are the loudest in Australia’s ‘climate wars’ – https://theconversation.com/these-voices-are-the-loudest-in-australias-climate-wars-272347

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/03/these-voices-are-the-loudest-in-australias-climate-wars-272347/

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Investigation launched after body located on worksite, Omahu

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have launched an investigation after the discovery of a body at a worksite on Taihape Road, Omahu, earlier today.

Staff were called to the scene about 9.10am after a body was located on the property.

The circumstances of how the person came to be there, and how they died, are unclear, and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

Police will now work to identify the person and to establish the circumstances surrounding their death.

A scene examination will be carried out, as well as a post mortem examination. Cordons are currently in place at the address.

Anyone with information about this incident or anyone believed to be involved can get in touch through our 105 service, quoting reference number 260203/9739.

You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/investigation-launched-after-body-located-on-worksite-omahu/

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Unemployment set to linger as wage growth remains steady

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

  • Unemployment expected to remain steady at 5.3 pct – data due 4 Feb, 10.45 am.
  • Labour market probably at the bottom, but improvement gradual.
  • Prospect of some modest job growth.
  • Wage growth to remain subdued, lagging inflation.
  • Data not likely to change RBNZ rates on hold policy.

Unemployment looks set to linger around a near-decade high, but may show signs that the labour market downturn has ended.

Most major bank economists expect the unemployment rate to stay unchanged at 5.3 percent for the three months ended December, but with tentative signs of employment growth, and wage growth subdued.

ASB senior economist Mark Smith was among the more optimistic with a forecast unemployment rate easing to 5.2 percent, which would be the first decline in four years.

“We expect the data to confirm we have passed the turning point for the labour market.”

Other economists echoed the view that the labour market, the sector that lags recessions and recoveries, has at least touched the bottom.

“We do expect this Wednesday’s suite of … labour market data to show a general halting of deterioration as well as some more signs of improvement in the details,” BNZ senior economist Doug Steel said.

Labour market numbers can be something of a statistical lucky dip.

The unemployment rate can be moved by the size of the workforce, how many are participating, have gone training or stopped looking for work, irrespective of how many jobs may have been created.

ANZ senior economist Miles Workman said more people participating in the search for work, even if the jobs were not there, might still be a positive.

“While it would point to a more disinflationary labour market than the RBNZ anticipates, it would also add to the evidence that conditions are rounding a corner, with labour supply responding to improving job prospects.”

The jobs are coming

Partial labour market indicators in the recent months, such as job advertisement and filled jobs numbers, point to an increase in jobs matching the growth in the working age population.

“Employment is expected to register its strongest growth in around two years, although numbers are still more than 30,000 shy of late 2023 peaks,” ASB’s Smith said.

However, Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon said overall improvement would be gradual with employers being wary of hiring.

“The September quarter saw a strong lift in hours per worker, and indeed that’s where we’d expect to see the initial response to an economic upturn – employers have scope to get more out of their existing workers, before resorting to new hiring.

Slow wage growth to please RBNZ for now

Wage growth is expected to remain subdued and steady around four-year lows of 2 percent.

“Labour cost growth is expected to remain modest, with the balance of power still tilted towards employers,” ASB’s Smith said.

He said emerging signs of skilled labour shortages, a stronger labour market and growing wage demands would eventually weigh on the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate outlook (OCR).

“Reducing labour market slack suggests the need to normalise OCR settings. We expect a 25 basis point hike in December and a 3.0 percent OCR endpoint, but note the risks are pointing to a larger and more frontloaded pace of OCR hikes.”

The RBNZ is expected to hold the cash rate steady at 3.25 percent for most of this year.

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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/2026/02/03/unemployment-set-to-linger-as-wage-growth-remains-steady/