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Rocket or arugula? How a salad vegetable mapped the Italian diaspora

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Absalom, Senior Lecturer in Italian Studies, The University of Melbourne

sheri silver/Unsplash

If you watch American cooking shows, you’ve likely experienced “salad confusion”. You see a chef preparing what looks like rocket, but they call it arugula.

It’s the same plant (Eruca sativa). It has the same peppery bite. So why do English speakers use two completely different names?

The answer isn’t just a quirk of translation. It is a linguistic fossil record revealing the history of Italian migration.

The name you use tells us less about the vegetable and more about who introduced you to it.

A Latin word with a double life

It all starts with the Latin word eruca.

Crucially, this term had a dual meaning. It referred to the vegetable, but also meant “caterpillar” – maybe because the plant’s hairy stems resembled the pests often found on brassicas.

As the Roman Empire faded and Vulgar Latin (the language of the vulgus, or the common people) evolved into the Romance languages, this single word split along two paths.

The Northern route: aristocratic ‘rocket’

As the word travelled north through Italy, it morphed from eruca into the Northern Italian diminutive ruchetta.

From there, it crossed the Alps into France, becoming roquette.

By the 16th century, French culinary influence was dominant in England. The first written record appears in 1530, in John Palsgrave’s text L’esclarcissement de la langue francoyse (Clarification of the French Language – said to be the first grammar of French for English speakers), translating roquette to “rocket”.

The 1597 version of John Gerard’s Herball, featuring rocket.
Missouri Botanical Garden, Peter H. Raven Library

By 1597, English botanist John Gerard was describing “garden rocket” in his large illustrated Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes, cementing it in the British lexicon.

This terminology travelled with the First Fleet. In Australia, “rocket” was a colonial staple, not a modern discovery. Planting guides in the Hobart Town Courier from 1836 list rocket alongside other brassicas, such as cress and mustard, as essential kitchen garden crops.

This is why people in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand say “rocket”. For these speakers, the word followed an aristocratic, pre-industrial path.

Kitchen gardens at the Coree homestead, New South Wales, in the 1890s.
Trove

The Southern route: migrant ‘arugula’

In the United States, the word “arugula” didn’t arrive in books; it arrived in pockets.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of Italians emigrated to the US. This was a mass migration of the working class, predominantly from Southern regions like Calabria and Sicily.

These migrants spoke regional languages, erroneously called dialects, rather than Standard Italian.

In the South, eruca had evolved differently. We can trace this in historical dictionaries: Gerhard Rohlfs’ monumental Dictionary of the Three Calabrias (1932–39) records the local word as arùculu.

Similarly, Antonino Traina’s Sicilian-Italian dictionary (1868) lists the variant aruca.

When Italian immigrants established market gardens in New York, they sold the produce using their dialect forms. They weren’t selling the French roquette; they were selling the Calabrian arùculu.

The markets on Mulberry Street in New York City’s Little Italy, circa 1900.
Detroit Publishing Co/Library of Congress

Over many years, this solidified into the American English “arugula”.

For decades, arugula was an “ethnic” ingredient in the US, underscoring its origins as “an unruly weed that was foraged from the fields by the poor”. It wasn’t until a New York Times article on May 24 1960 that food editor Craig Claiborne introduced it to a wider audience.

Noting it “has more names than Joseph’s coat had colors”, he used the New York market term “arugula” alongside rocket in his recipes, inadvertently codifying it as the standard American name.

There is perhaps a sense that “arugula” might come from Spanish, given the influence of words like cilantro in American culinary terminology.

In Spanish, Latin eruca evolved into oruga which is uncannily similar to “arugula”. But, linguistically things are a little more complex.

While the Spanish word maintains the reference to the plant it also retains the Latin term’s double meaning: a salad vegetable and a caterpillar.

According to Bréal’s Law of Differentiation, named for the linguist Michel Bréal, languages detest absolute synonyms. If a word has two meanings, the language will intervene somehow. Indeed, today’s Spanish speakers prefer to call the plant rúcula. If you were to ask for an ensalada de oruga in Spain today, you’d probably get odd looks and, maybe, a caterpillar salad.

What about ‘rucola’?

So where does the word rucola – seen on menus in Rome today – fit in?

While the Anglosphere was splitting into rocket and arugula, Italy was undergoing its own linguistic unification. Standard Italian rucola is another diminutive which gradually won out over other regional variants.

Philologically, rucola represents a middle ground. Its rise in usage in Italy in the second half of the 20th Century eclipsed competing terms like rughetta, ruchetta or ruca.

Rucola now has international reverberations. The preferred term in Spanish is modelled on it, it appears in many other European languages and it is making inroads in the English lexicon.

From peasant weed to political symbol

By the 1990s in the US, the “peasant weed” had completed a remarkable social climb. It became a political shibboleth for the American “liberal elite” (most famously during Obama’s Arugula-gate in the 2008 presidential election campaign).

Meanwhile, in Australia, rocket popped up as the ubiquitous garnish of the cafe culture boom found on everything from pizza to smashed avo.

The divide is a reminder that language is rarely accidental. When an Australian orders “rocket,” they echo a 16th-century exchange with France. When an American orders “arugula”, they echo the voices of Southern Italian migrants in 1920s New York. And when someone uses “rucola” perhaps it’s a way of evoking Italy’s mythical, UNESCO-awarded gastronomy.

Matt Absalom 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. Rocket or arugula? How a salad vegetable mapped the Italian diaspora – https://theconversation.com/rocket-or-arugula-how-a-salad-vegetable-mapped-the-italian-diaspora-272059

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/28/rocket-or-arugula-how-a-salad-vegetable-mapped-the-italian-diaspora-272059/

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Ngāpuhi leaders challenge government over ‘rushed’ and ‘divisive’ Treaty settlement process

Source: Radio New Zealand

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Paul Goldsmith at the National Party caucus retreat, 21 January 2026.. RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

Ngāpuhi leaders are calling on the government to pause its Treaty settlement mandate process in Te Tai Tokerau, describing it as “divisive” and against the collective interests of hapū.

Ngāpuhi kaumātua and kuia say the process is moving too quickly and is not allowing enough time for hapū to reach collective decisions in line with tikanga.

Frances Goulton, a Ngāti Ruamahue kuia, said the mandate approach was causing harm within communities and reopening old wounds.

“This mandate process is driving wedges between our people,” she said.

“We’ve been here before with Tūhoronuku, and we rejected it then for good reason. It ignores our tikanga and pressures whānau and hapū to fall into line rather than taking the time to build real agreement. That is not the Ngāpuhi way.”

The Crown previously recognised Tūhoronuku as the mandated body to negotiate a Ngāpuhi settlement, but the model was widely opposed and later disbanded following legal challenges and hapū resistance.

Mike Smith, Tahawai kaumātua, said the current process mirrors that earlier approach.

“The Crown wants us to voluntarily extinguish our rangatiratanga now and into the future, that’s what this so-called settlement process is really about,” he told RNZ.

Smith said the historical context is critical to understanding the current tensions.

“Ngāpuhi has proved to be a rather tough nut to crack for the Crown in terms of a settlement. The Waitangi Tribunal two years ago ruled in our favour, confirming we have never surrendered our rangatiratanga authority,” he said.

“Yet the Crown embarked upon a tortuous 10-year process, Tūhoronuku, trying to cajole and manipulate tribes in the north into these extinguishing deals. We refused, and that process collapsed. It divided communities and caused acrimony.”

Now the Crown has returned with a new process, Smith said, seeking negotiators to sit across the table to finalise the settlement of treaty claims.

“They haven’t satisfied their own legal requirements to have a robust decision, but they’re still pushing forward with it.”

He described the current process as “fraudulent” and warned it risks dividing communities.

“People are jockeying for positions about who’s going to be the negotiators. But it doesn’t matter who the negotiators are going to be. You’re still not going to get anything,” he said.

“There’s very little around the edges to negotiate. What you really effectively want is some people who are going to sign the deal. That’s what you want. There’s no negotiation.”

Once agreements are signed, a post-settlement governance entity (PSGE) appointed by the Crown would receive any financial and commercial resources, leaving claimants and negotiators with little influence, Smith said.

“A lot of them have put their whole lives – it’s been a 50-year process. Many of the claimants have died, never seen the resolution of their claims. Their hapū, their whānau have endeavoured to carry that on,” he said.

“Now that it’s moving into this phase where the claimants are just shunted off over the horizon, many of them are trying to stay relevant in the game.”

Smith said the current process undermines tikanga and Māori unity.

“Ngāpuhi have consistently made clear that unity cannot be imposed. Settlement achieved through division, coercion, or exhaustion is not reconciliation – it is destabilisation,” he said.

He also criticised the lack of engagement from those facilitating the government’s process.

“We’ve recurrently requested all documentation to show evidence of engagement because they’re meant to be meeting with our people to convince them, but they haven’t,” Smith said.

“They’ve spent the last 12 months just having meetings with the Crown. So they’re not engaging with us. They’re engaging with the government, which is not a neutral process.”

Smith said the mandate process reflects broader political challenges facing Māori.

“We know that there’s a war on Māori. There’s a war on the Treaty. There’s a war on the environment,” he said.

He also questioned whether now was an appropriate time to negotiate with the current government.

“If we were going to settle with the government, do you think we ought to be settling with this government?” he said.

“They’d be the last ones to afford us any emoticon of justice.”

“Dark clouds loom over Waitangi”

As Waitangi Day approaches, Smith said Ngāpuhi are focussed on commemorating the vision of their tūpuna rather than celebrating government initiatives.

“If we had been getting things right, or at least moving in that direction, it would be a cause for celebration. But nobody up here is celebrating Waitangi,” he said.

“By continuing on its current path, the government risks entrenching conflict and doing lasting damage to relationships within Ngāpuhi and between Māori and the Crown.”

Smith said they are calling for a pause to the mandate process to allow whānau and hapū the time for genuine discussion and tikanga-based decision-making.

“Consent must be freely given and informed. Not manufactured through pressure, deadlines, or by treating silence as agreement,” Smith said.

“We want Treaty justice. We don’t want Treaty extinguishment, and that’s what we’re getting. We’re not getting the justice bit. We’re getting the extinguishment bit. Who does that suit? That suits the government. That doesn’t suit us.”

Smith said the current trajectory undermines decades of work and risks perpetuating grievances across generations.

“The light at the end of the tunnel is the Treaty extinguishment train, and it’s pulling into the station, and it’s just going to mow people down,” he said.

“It’s not only going to deprive the claimants and have no return to them. It’s a really abusive process, and it only benefits the government.”

Minister responds

Speaking to Media on Tuesday, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Paul Goldsmith said that when talking about a potential Ngāpuhi settlement, there is no surprise “there’s a wide variety of views.”

“Some who are implacably opposed to settling ever, and some who are fully in support.” he said.

“We’re just working our way through the process as carefully and constructively as we can.”

Goldsmith said as it stands, there are currently three or four different groupings across the North who are working their way through that process.

“We’re hoping to have more starting in the next little while. We’re seeing some momentum, so that’s good.”

However, Smith rejected this framing, arguing that it ignores hapū concerns and historical grievances.

“We’re not opposing settlement. We’re opposing extinguishment,” he said.

“We haven’t met anybody who said they don’t want to settle ever. We’re saying taihoa, just hang on a minute, put the brakes on. We need an independent review of what the government is doing so that we can hold that up to some type of standard.”

Smith said Ngāpuhi leaders will continue to advocate for processes that respect hapū autonomy and uphold the spirit and intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“Ngāpuhi deserves a process that builds unity, respects hapū autonomy, and upholds the Treaty,” Smith said.

“Not another failed mandate imposed in the name of expediency.”

RNZ has approached the Minister for further comment.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/ngapuhi-leaders-challenge-government-over-rushed-and-divisive-treaty-settlement-process/

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Political parties respond to government funding for communities hit by severe weather

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi says the government’s $1 million to reimburse marae that provided welfare in response to severe weather events is “not enough”.

He said, “We don’t need money for a response, we need money for resilience, and our communities need it right now.”

The first day back at Parliament saw parties responding to the government’s announcement on Tuesday it would top up the Mayoral Relief Funds with $1.2m for immediate support to those communities affected, alongside $1m for marae.

Christopher Luxon praised support from marae as “exceptional”.

“They have provided shelter, food and care to people in need, and I cannot speak more highly of them.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said Te Puni Kokiri would coordinate with NEMA on distributing funds to marae, “often Te Puni Kokiri are the ones with the relationships on the ground”.

“But of course, in all of these responses, it’s a matter for council, marae and emergency response to work together.”

Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell also praised marae, saying they had stood up and provided support at “just about every event that I’ve been to”.

He said his emergency management bill that was in the house at the moment “actually formally codifies them having a seat at the table, because they are very good at emergency management”.

Luxon went on to say he and Mitchell had the privilege of visiting some of the marae in Northland over the weekend.

“I came away feeling incredibly proud and humbled by the manaakitanga shown by everyone there,” said Luxon.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at He Maimai Aroha on Monday after the Mount Maunganui landslide. RNZ/Nick Monro

But Waititi said it was “nice to be proud and humbled by it when you just visit for five minutes”, but those communities had “quite often” had to face severe weather and climate issues without plans to “build resilience”.

“It’s our little communities that are hit first.

“We’re the first to respond, but we’re the last to be given any type of resources,” Waititi said. He wanted the Prime Minister to reconsider “giving the right resourcing to the right communities”.

The recovery period would take “months and months and months” he said, “but we’re sick of response”.

“This has happened before. This is not an unprecedented issue anymore. It’s not one in 100 years. This is not once in a lifetime. These events are happening every year. We’re having these conversations every year.”

He pointed to Te Tai Rawhiti who were having to rebuild roads “all the time”, and marae there who had to respond all the time.

“But they’re responding on the smell of an oily rag.”

He acknowledged those who had lost their lives, “but how many more lives must we lose before we start looking at plans of resilience and not response?”

NZ First leader Winston Peters said Waititi had got up and “made a fool of himself”.

He said NZ First had given the most money to marae upgrades “because we know they’re sustainable institutions” and they demonstrated that during Covid-19 and the current crisis.

NZ First leader Winston Peters spoke at Rātana last week. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

His deputy leader Shane Jones brushed off questions about whether climate change was linked to last week’s storms.

Jones said he was not interested in a debate on climate politics but he was all about adaptation.

He had this response when asked if climate change played a part, “no – the volatility of the weather is something we must not take for granted, but taxing cows as they belch and emit from the rear end is something I’m totally disinterested in.”

Jones said he was the minister that found $200m for stopbanks from the Regional Infrastructure fund.

Labour’s Chris Hipkins also said marae should be valued “day in, day out, year round” not only in “times of tragedy”.

“Marae do amazing work when New Zealand’s faced with tragedy, when we’re faced with adverse situations.

“They throw their doors open. They welcome everybody.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Hipkins was broadly supportive of the government’s initial funding support, saying it was “clearly a start”.

“I recall when cyclone Gabrielle hit initial sums of money looked quite modest, and then we had to build from there.”

He didn’t want to rush and criticise the amount, “because it will take some time to identify exactly what support for rebuild and clean up is required”.

Luxon had outlined this during the post-cabinet media conference on Tuesday when announcing the package.

“The top up of Mayoral funds, which is a very tactical, practical, immediate piece of funding, that is not the ‘be all and end all’ here.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis echoed this, saying the Mayoral Relief Fund was a “drop in the ocean”.

“Tthat’s just putting cash in local bank accounts to ensure that voluntary efforts aren’t stopped for lack of resource.”

Nicola Willis at the National Party caucus retreat on 21 January 2026. RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

Luxon indicated it was too early to say how much the total cost of recovery would be, but Gisborne District Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Checkpoint on Tuesday she estimated the damage caused to her region alone during last week’s storms will cost some $21.5 million to fix.

Willis said there was “hundreds of millions of dollars available across government for responding to this event”.

She gave the government policy statement on transport as an example, which specifically allocated funds for the rebuild of roads following natural disasters. There was $400m available for the rebuild of state highways and more then $300m for local roads.

The Greens also criticised the government’s $1.2m, questioning why the government had not implemented Civil Defense Payments, which was immediate relief and available under current legislation.

The Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said the government was not doing enough – especially when it came to long term challenges.

She said the government had “knowingly and intentionally made decisions to make climate change worse”.

Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“Climate change is not only devastating in terms of the loss of life that we see, but also in terms of exacerbating the cost of living crisis – so no, the government is not doing enough.”

The ACT leader said he was more in favour of climate funding going toward adaptation rather than mitigation.

David Seymour noted the government had spent “around a billion dollars on climate change adaptation”. He said the government had done deregulation work making it easier to “raise roads, to build drainage, to ensure that these things are less likely to happen”.

ACT leader David Seymour. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“So are we there yet? Clearly not remotely close,” he said.

“But the government has done a major pivot away from really quite futile efforts to reduce global emissions towards practical improvements to what is on the ground in New Zealand.”

He said he didn’t want to “further politicise it” by pointing out who he thought was politicising it.

Hipkins said in response to whether mitigation or adaptation should be the focus, “we need to be able to do both”.

“The reality here is that without mitigation, the amount of money that we’d need to spend on adaptation would be unaffordable.”

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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/2026/01/28/political-parties-respond-to-government-funding-for-communities-hit-by-severe-weather/

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NZ’s sodden January explained: what’s driven this month’s big wet?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Renwick, Professor of Physical Geography (Climate Science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

It has been a month of umbrellas rather than sunscreen across much of New Zealand, with persistent rain, low sunshine and deadly storms dominating headlines and daily life.

For many people, it has felt like midsummer never really arrived. Is it simply bad luck, or is there something more going on?

As with most aspects of our climate and weather, the answer isn’t straightforward. It reflects the interplay between New Zealand’s geography, warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, large-scale regional climate patterns and long-term global warming.

What the data shows – and why it’s been so wet

Climate observations back up what many New Zealanders have been feeling this month. Across northern regions in particular, sunshine hours have been well below average, while rainfall totals have been far above normal.

In central Auckland, a weather station in Albert Park had recorded around 244mm by January 27 – nearly three times the (1981–2010) average for the month. At Mount Maunganui, the month-to-date total had climbed to roughly 385mm, more than four times the norm.

The left map shows the 1991–2020 average for January rainfall across New Zealand. The right shows how much wetter than normal conditions have been this month, particularly across the upper North Island.
Earth Sciences New Zealand, CC BY-NC-ND

Similar patterns have been seen in many parts of the upper North Island, with repeated heavy rain events, high humidity and prolonged cloudy spells. The result has often been soggy soils, swollen rivers and increased risks of flooding and landslides.

While each storm that affects New Zealand is different, many of the systems visiting the country this summer share some common features. Several have originated in the tropics, subtropics or the north Tasman Sea before drifting south toward New Zealand. These systems typically carry warm, moisture-laden air – and the potential for intense rainfall.

When these moist air masses interact with cooler air from the south, or encounter New Zealand’s rugged topography, conditions become ripe for heavy rain.

As air is forced upwards over hills and mountain ranges – particularly along the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, East Cape and Gisborne regions – moisture condenses rapidly, producing very high rainfall totals. This is why northern and eastern parts of the country so often bear the brunt of these subtropical events.

The regional patterns loading the dice

One background factor this summer has been the lingering influence of La Niña, part of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system that dominates climate variability across the Pacific.

During La Niña, atmospheric pressure tends to be lower than normal over Australia and the north Tasman Sea, and higher than normal to the south and east of New Zealand. This effectively flips our usual weather pattern on its head, reducing westerly winds and increasing the frequency of easterly and northeasterly flows.

Those northeasterly winds draw warm, humid air from the subtropics toward New Zealand. Because our temperatures are highly sensitive to wind direction, even small shifts can have large effects.

La Niña also tends to be associated with warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures, which have again been observed around New Zealand. So, when northeasterly winds blow across these warmer waters, they pick up additional heat and moisture, further fuelling heavy rainfall potential.

Another background driver that constantly shapes New Zealand’s weather and climate is the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), which describes the north–south movement of the westerly wind belt that circles Antarctica.

A positive SAM phase, which has dominated much of this summer, tends to bring higher pressures over the South Island and southern New Zealand. This allows storms from the subtropics more room to drift south and linger near the North Island.

Climate change as an intensifier

Overlaying these regional drivers is the broader influence of climate change, which is steadily warming both the atmosphere and the oceans surrounding New Zealand.

As the planet heats, the atmosphere can hold more moisture – about 7% more water vapour for every 1°C of warming. This means that when storms do develop, they have more fuel available, increasing the potential for heavier rainfall and stronger winds.

Climate change does not cause individual weather systems, nor does it directly control large-scale climate patterns like ENSO or the SAM. But it acts as a powerful intensifier.

Event-attribution studies in New Zealand to date have shown climate change can increase the total rainfall from intense storms by around 10–20%.

But for the most intense downpours – when the atmospheric “sponge” is wrung out most vigorously – rainfall intensities can increase by as much as 30%, depending on the frame of time being looked at. These short, extreme bursts of rain are often what cause the greatest damage.

There are still important uncertainties. Scientists are actively researching whether climate change will alter the frequency or strength of La Niña and El Niño events, but so far there is no clear answer. The same is true for long-term trends in the Southern Annular Mode.

What we can say with confidence is that background warming is shifting the risk profile.

As global temperatures continue to rise, the kinds of extremes we’ve experienced this season are likely to become more common. The biggest unanswered question is how quickly we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit how severe these impacts ultimately become.

James Renwick receives funding from MBIE and the Marsden Fund for climate research.

– ref. NZ’s sodden January explained: what’s driven this month’s big wet? – https://theconversation.com/nzs-sodden-january-explained-whats-driven-this-months-big-wet-274416

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/28/nzs-sodden-january-explained-whats-driven-this-months-big-wet-274416/

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Rugby: Crusader Braydon Ennor set for French move

Source: Radio New Zealand

Braydon Ennor arrived in Christchurch as an 18 year old, and spent the next decade establishing himself as one of the club’s most reliable midfielders. John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

Crusaders utility Braydon Ennor will move to France at the end of the Super Rugby season.

The nine-test All Black has signed with French side Perpignan, where he will link up with former Crusaders team-mate Sevu Reece.

Ennor said the decision came with a lot of emotions.

“I love this place and the people here, but I’m really excited for what’s next. I’ve done so much growing in this place, and I owe so much to the red and black jersey. I’ll always call this place home.”

Ennor joined the Crusaders Academy in 2015 after moving from Auckland on a scholarship.

He arrived in Christchurch as an 18 year old, and spent the next decade establishing himself as one of the club’s most reliable midfielders.

In 2018, he made his Crusaders debut and just one year later he would earn All Black selection.

“To be able to call this a job and turning up to Rugby Park every week with my mates to go to work, it’s the best thing in the world. This is a chapter I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/rugby-crusader-braydon-ennor-set-for-french-move/

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Hutt Valley bar managers step up security after spate of armed robberies

Source: Radio New Zealand

One offender was wearing a black beanie, a dark coloured sweatshirt, long pants, and a blue cloth covering their face. NZ Police

Bar managers say they are stepping up security after a series of armed robberies in the Hutt Valley.

Since December, three Hutt Valley bars have been targeted in similar ways and police say the crimes may be linked.

Police said in each robbery the offenders used weapons, including a firearm, to demand money and other items.

For the Hardware Bar & Restaurant in Stokes Valley, it made for a rough start to the year when it was targeted on New Years Day.

Duty manager Mohammad Usama said because of the public holiday, it was a quiet night and it was the only place that was open.

He said his colleague was the one to close the bar.

He said a man was “hiding himself in the bush” across the road waiting for his colleague to exit the building.

Usama said he was however on the phone with his colleague at the time as they were taking precautions after an earlier robbery, and the Police were quickly called.

He said his colleague did however experience some anxiety following the robbery.

That earlier robbery was at Quinn’s Post in Upper Hutt.

Duty manager Harmony Weherua said an offender was also waiting in the bushes as her colleague exited the building.

“He was pretty shaken up.”

She said it also made some other staff nervous.

Weherua said they were also in quite an isolated area, with rest homes on both sides.

She said staff now were continually looking out the windows.

They had also increased the number of staff at closing.

“We always make sure there’s two staff on now, ’till we all leave. Sometimes there’s four of us as well as the cook.”

The most recent robbery was at 7 Bar & Restaurant, just over two weeks ago.

Police said two people entered the bar with weapons, including a gun, and threatened employees.

After making various demands, the offenders then fled in a stolen vehicle which was later located on a nearby street.

7 Bar & Restaurant declined to comment.

Neighbouring Blend Bar & Bistro, which shared a back exit with the bar was also open that night.

Duty manager Faye Biascan said the robbery had made a lot of staff there nervous.

“We’ve been more tight with the security,” she said. “Like going outside, we always have to have someone else come with us. It’s been very scary.”

Upper Hutt mayor Peri Zee. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Last week Upper Hutt City Council held a community meeting alongside Police, where the community was able to talk through some areas of concern.

Upper Hutt mayor Peri Zee said the community indicated it would like to see more cameras around the city. She said that could be considered in upcoming budgets and planning.

“The police are doing a really good job,” she said. “We also have an awesome local community patrol who are well resourced with volunteers as well. So there’s lots of people working on this together.”

Meanwhile Police have released images of a ‘Nike Academy’ sweatshirt with distinctive white stripes and metallic coloured shoes with a reflective marking on the heel.

They would like to hear from anyone who may know someone who has worn items that match these.

The shoes one of the offenders wore. NZ Police

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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/2026/01/28/hutt-valley-bar-managers-step-up-security-after-spate-of-armed-robberies/

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Live: Cordons ease around Mt Maunganui landslide as search continues

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest updates in RNZ’s blog

Crews continue to search for six people buried in a landslide at Mount Maunganui, while police say they will investigate whether there is any criminal liability.

A rāhui is in place at the site where six people – including two teenagers – were caught in the slip, which came down on the holiday camp.

Police say they [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/585156/police-say-they-did-not-attend-mt-maunganui-campground-over-disorder-call did not attend the campground after receiving a call about a disorder incident[ that referenced a potential landslip about three hours before a deadly landslide as it was unclear if the disorder resulted in any property damage.

The government is mulling an independent inquiry into the disaster.

For all the latest updates, check RNZ’s blog at the top of this page.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/live-cordons-ease-around-mt-maunganui-landslide-as-search-continues/

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Cost of living adding to problem of illicit meat consumption – charity

Source: Radio New Zealand

123rf

The ongoing high costs of living are prompting some families to turn to backyard killing of animals.

There’s also a claim that New Zealand’s food safety rules disproportionately affect Pasifika and other migrant communities.

Carolyn Press McKenzie from animal charity Helping You Help Animals (HUHA) says it’s noticed an increase in calls to rescue animals at risk of being slaughtered illegally.

Press McKenzie was responding to First Up‘s story on the sale of horse meat pies, which had been pulled from pie warmers after it was revealed the meat hadn’t been bought from a regulated abattoir. The pies had gone viral on social media, and were particularly popular with Pasifika communities.

Press McKenzie said HUHA was itself caught out after rehoming a pet cow.

“Somebody went through the process with us, we did home visits, passed the check, everything seemed very above board,” she told First Up. “The person was chatty and engaging, pretended to absolutely love the cow and then we found out they’d slaughtered it and eaten it.”

On another occasion police intervened when a wild goat had been hog tied and hung upside down from a tree.

Press McKenzie said it was also getting harder to rehome animals in the current economic climate. Feeding and caring for a pet was becoming a luxury many couldn’t afford.

“It’s pretty bad out there. There’s more animals being born into situations where they’re not being cared for correctly but shelters don’t have the homes to put them in.”

Meanwhile, Tongan community advocate Melino Maka said the recent decision by a Pakuranga bakery to withdraw its horse pies should not be seen as an isolated incident.

The former food safty regulator told First Up that it was not just a compliance issue, but a consequence of a system that no longer educated ethnic communities about food safety.

Maka was concerned Pasifika and other migrant communities weren’t being adequately warned of the dangers of eating non-regulated meat. He said MPI has cut community education programmes.

“Everything relies on online, and most of our community don’t get access to that information,” he said.

He agreed that the cost of living was exacerbating the situation as many households struggled.

“The reality of the cost of living is having a real impact on people affording meat for their own consumption.”

Maka said meat sold as pet food at flea markets was often bought by members of the community with the intent of feeding the family.

“The pet food companies, they target the Pacific community and I often engage with them and ask them to label the meat or even put food colouring on it just to make the people aware of what they’re buying, but they just play around on the fringes.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/cost-of-living-adding-to-problem-of-illicit-meat-consumption-charity/

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Government provides additional support for storm hit farmers and growers

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is increasing assistance for farmers and growers affected by recent severe weather, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson say.

“Significant rainfall, flooding, slips, and hailstorms have caused damage to farms, crops, and rural infrastructure,” Mr McClay says.

“The Government will provide an additional $200,000 to Rural Support Trusts to further assist recovery efforts. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed; however, this funding will be made available in Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti.”

Mr McClay says Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) staff are on the ground working closely with sector groups and the Trusts to identify where support is most needed.

“The Trusts play an important role in supporting farmers and growers facing personal, financial, and weather-related challenges,” Mr Patterson says.

This funding is in addition to the $2.2 million announced yesterday by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to support affected regions through Mayoral Relief Funds and to reimburse marae that provided welfare services in response to the event.

Farmers and growers needing assistance are encouraged to contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.
 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/government-provides-additional-support-for-storm-hit-farmers-and-growers/

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Ed Sheeran, Emilia Clarke spotted hanging out in Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two British stars have been quietly turning heads in Wellington.

Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke was spotted browsing blue cod at Lambton Quay’s Wellington Seamarket on Monday, telling staff she was in town filming a movie.

Teyenne Taana, who was working at the store when Clarke came in, says the actress told him she would be around for a bit, and he invited her back to try the shop’s fish and chips.

Clarke made her return to TV with spy series Ponies, now streaming on TVNZ+.

Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran surprised bar staff at Monsoon Poon by dropping in after officially wrapping the New Zealand leg of his Loop world tour.

Fresh from sold-out shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, the pop superstar kept things low-key. Restaurant and bar staff member Maddy O’Callaghan, who was on shift last night, says he signed a plate for the venue’s celebrity wall, left a tip, and charmed staff with his down-to-earth attitude.

“We were really taken aback when he was in Wellington. We were like, it would be so cool if he came. But obviously he didn’t last week and then [he did last night], yeah, it was very, very out of the blue,” she says.

“Everyone was very, very excited to see him. They were wanting to take photos and we were like, ‘no, no, no, let’s just leave him be’.”

His next tour stop will be Perth, Australia, on 31 January.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/ed-sheeran-emilia-clarke-spotted-hanging-out-in-wellington/

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New Zealand prison rates at an all-time high

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rising prison numbers put pressure on remand prisons like Mount Eden. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

With prison numbers at their highest ever and still rising, one former prisoner and critic of this government’s tough-on-crime policies has put his hope in a controversial programme.

As the prison population ticked over to a new record above 11,000 this month, one expert says controversial military-style academies are one of the best ways to keep troubled young men and women out of jail.

“I have never come away from anything to do with the justice system with more hope in my heart than I have when I visited the military-style academy,” says Paul Wood, a former prisoner who promotes rehabilitation programmes for men and women.

Wood is a critic of the current government’s prison policies and admits his stance on the academies, also known as boot camps, would surprise many people.

During the 12-month pilot academy, which ended last August, participants ran away, one was booted off the programme and another was killed in a car crash. Most of the 10 young men involved re-offended.

An ndependent report out late last year said the pilot contributed to “meaningful and positive change” but also said the cohort was too small to draw firm conclusions.

Wood, a convicted murderer who now has a PhD after starting his tertiary studies in prison, was on the advisory committee for the pilot programme. He is also an ambassador for other rehabilitation programmes.

“We have to be doing early intervention, we have to be identifying and supporting kids who are at risk of ending up exposed to the justice system once they’re teenagers. By the time people are in prison, by the time people are caught we have already missed the best, most useful opportunity to turn people around,” he says.

But his support of the academies comes with a big ‘but’.

The programme must be well-resourced, and right now the justice system and rehabilitation schemes are poorly funded, he says.

“When you use the term ‘boot camp’ that means a variety of different things but what we know is that the so-called boot camps that have a therapeutic focus as well as the discipline, those are actually really effective,” Wood says.

A system under pressure

The Detail looks at why the number of people in prison is now over 11,000 when earlier projections said that figure would not be reached until 2030.

Latest figures show there are 199 per 100,000 people in prison in Aotearoa, more than double Canada’s number and 29 more per 100,000 than Australia.

The coalition government’s tough-on-crime policies, including the reinstatement of three strikes legislation and sentencing changes, are factors in the sharp rise, says Wood.

“Can I just say this government is tough on crime, and unfortunately rehabilitation and reintegration.

“I do believe that they’re succeeding in terms of punishing people, that piece of the imprisonment experience, which is a legitimate part of what imprisonment is about, to punish you for misdeeds.

“But I think unfortunately they’re doing so at the expense of the capacity to rehabilitate and reintegrate people back into society.”

Criminal barrister Emma Priest says the record numbers affect the whole justice system.

Priest is also the convenor of the Law Association’s parole and prisoner rights committee and says it means prisoners on remand are being moved all the time to make way for more remand prisoners.

“We are really feeling it on the ground,” she says.

“They are literally playing Tetris trying to fit prisoners in beds.”

One of her clients is a teenager facing a serious criminal charge in Wairarapa, whose family lives further north and cannot afford to visit him in the youth facility. His trial date is set for mid-2028.

“That’s one very difficult and poignant example of how difficult it is for him.”

The teen is cut off from his family and Priest limits her visits to him to less frequent but extended meetings because of the cost to the taxpayer through legal aid.

“But his family are limited to phone calls,” she says.

“We’ve got these increased prison numbers but we also have real deficits in resource around the courts.”

Regions are worse off with court delays than the main cities which have high courts.

“There’s just a lot of flow on. So more prisoners mean you need more judges, you need more court rooms, you need more lawyers.”

Increased prisoners also puts pressure on programmes.

“People are just waiting for longer before they can start their substantive rehabilitation. And to be direct, until they’ve done their rehabilitation, they’re not going to get released on parole.

“They really need to do that criminogenic, substantive rehabilitation which allows them to come up with a safety and release plan, which allows the parole board to be satisfied that they don’t present an undue risk to the community and that allows them to be released safely.”

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What is Hyrox and why is everyone talking about it?

Source: Radio New Zealand

This story was first published in December 2024. The 2026 Hyrox Auckland competition begins Thursday, 29 January and runs until Sunday, 1 February.

A new mass sports event designed to test functional fitness and endurance has hit New Zealand, and all the fitness folks are amping up for it.

There’s space for young and old athletes and non-able-bodied competitors – and fans say it’s life-changing. So what the heck is Hyrox?

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Why single people are feeling the financial crunch

Source: Radio New Zealand

Households comprised of single people aged over 75 had the highest level of inflation. RNZ

Single older people are bearing the brunt of rising prices, and women may be particularly hard hit.

Data from last week’s CPI shows that over a five-year period, households comprised of single people aged over 75 had the highest level of inflation, up 27.2 percent, compared to a general rate of 25.3 percent.

Over two years, they had inflation of 7.8 percent compared to total inflation of 5.4 percent.

Those aged 70 to 74 had the next highest rate of inflation over five years, 1.8 percent higher than the overall level.

Over a two-year period, households of single people aged 65 to 69 had inflation of 6.3 percent.

Every age group of single people had a higher inflation rate than the overall rate over five years.

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub said it was because these households spent more of their money on essentials, which had experienced the biggest price increases.

“Inflation in recent years has been very focused on things like food, rates, insurance – those things take up more of the household budget.

“So the households who are spending more of their income on necessities have experienced more of it. The deflation was on things like buying TVs and stereos, stuff like that. Single older people aren’t buying many of those things.”

He said many of the costs of running a household were not reduced by only having one person in it.

“A single household is really expensive because you’re carrying all the rent, all the power, all those kinds of things that are more to do with the unit of house rather than the unit of people.”

One woman who contacted RNZ said she felt women were under more financial stress than their male counterparts. She estimated that having children had cost her $100,000 that would otherwise have gone into retirement savings.

“My brothers, in comparison, who did not take any time off to raise children, are much better off than me.

“Us women have given birth to and raised the generation of New Zealanders now in their 30s and 40s. We did this in the days before the widespread availability of full-time child-care by paid professionals.”

Eaqub agreed that older women were probably finding it tougher.

Women are reaching retirement with materially less in their KiwiSaver accounts than men.

Single person households spend more of their money on essentials, which had had experienced the biggest price increases, economist Shamubeel Eaqub said. 123rf / Warren Goldswain

Work by the Retirement Commission found that while there was not a lot of difference in how people aged over 65 felt about money, women were worse off. Just over half the women in its research had income below $30,000 a year compared to 42 percent of men.

It said women’s lower KiwiSaver savings were not because women were contributing less but because they earned less.

Older women were nearly twice as likely to live alone as men were and were reporting taking steps such as cutting down on food to save money.

Single older women were twice as likely to have experienced significant financial impacts due to the death of their spouse than men. Almost 40 percent of single women aged 65 to 74 said they did not feel at all confident about a financially comfortable retirement, compared to 25 percent of single men. But single women aged 75-plus were most likely to say they felt financially comfortable.

Eaqub said wage discrimination against women could compound over the lifetime to have an effect on their savings.

“Women, on average, earn less than men and take more time out of work. Time out of the workforce has quite a big impact on people’s lifetime incomes and lifetime savings.”

Liz Koh, from Enrich Retirement, said retirement was a struggle for women who were alone, or those in second relationships where finances were kept separate.

“It’s a well known fact that women earn around 10 percent less than men on average. This affects their KiwiSaver contributions and their ability to save. Women also have periods of time out of the workforce taking care of children and again, this impacts on retirement savings. Add to this the fact that women live longer than men, which means they need a higher level of retirement savings to avoid running out of money before the end of life.

“Women can be less confident investors, and a more conservative approach to investing can mean lower investment returns over the long term. On the other hand, women plan ahead and are receptive to receiving advice.

“There is a rather alarming trend, which is the number of women reaching retirement who do not own a home or who still have a mortgage. Separation and divorce combined with lower earning power are contributing factors to this situation. Owning a debt free home is essential for a comfortable retirement and those who are renting or still paying a mortgage struggle.”

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Brooke van Velden announces changes to hazardous substance rules for research labs

Source: Radio New Zealand

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden will change hazardous substance regulations for research laboratories, saying it will save the industry billions.

The labs would be able to develop their own risk management plans, a new code of practice would be developed, and some specific rules were being tweaked.

One researcher said the changes would make it much easier and cheaper for the sector, which he thought would support the new code of practice.

When the government changed the regulations for hazardous substances in 2017, rules for research labs – which had previously been separate – were lumped in with those for industrial labs including petrol refineries, food processors, and commercial cleaning and pesticide producers.

Van Velden told RNZ carve-outs for researchers were intended to be developed, but that never happened and some of the regulations were not well suited.

“It’s pretty clear there’s a big difference between people who have huge amounts of hazardous goods for … sale and production of goods versus people that have a lot of smaller portions of hazardous goods for research,” she said.

Victoria University of Wellington School of Chemical and Physical Sciences senior lecturer Mathew Anker said it was not that the rules for dangerous chemicals were being softened, but suited to the environment.

Victoria University of Wellington School of Chemical and Physical Sciences senior lecturer Mathew Anker. Supplied / Victoria University

For instance, the rules for handling ammonia made sense when using industrial quantities to treat milk.

“In a research lab we have 1000 chemicals, we don’t have 1000 sensors. Half the sensors we’d have to put in don’t exist … on top of that it’s at such a low volume that it won’t happen.

“We have huge amounts of ventilation, we have fume cupboards that suck away all those fumes … but that isn’t taken into account in the regulations.”

A Cabinet paper showed many research labs were now non-compliant with the rules because they were built under the previous requirements.

“The costs to rebuild these laboratories to comply would be extreme …. and overly restrictive, and may not improve safety,” the paper said.

Van Velden pointed to estimates from Universities New Zealand suggesting it would have cost between $1.5 billion and $3b to make the labs compliant if there was no change.

She said current rules specified that labs must be on the ground floor, but at a university it made more sense to have them on a higher floor so people could escape in case of a fire.

The regulator, WorkSafe, would work with the industry to develop a new Approved Code of Practice (ACOP), she said, clearly setting out obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act to solve problems like that.

“Industry experts as well as WorkSafe will be creating this tailored compliance pathway – it’s not going to be created by a minister that doesn’t have scientific background,” she said.

Cabinet on 2 December had also agreed to change some specific regulations:

  • Research labs would be able to manage handling, packaging and storage of hazardous substances through a risk management plan
  • Storage sites located nearby, which currently could face more stringent rules, would have the same regulations as labs
  • Researchers, who already had higher levels of training, would not need separate certification to handle hazardous substances
  • Lab managers would no longer need to be on site at all times, instead only required to be available to provide oversight
  • Instead of needing knowledge of all hazardous substances used, managers would only need knowledge of safety risks

Dr Anker said the research sector had been lobbying the government for eight years trying to get fit-for-purpose rules in place. 123RF

Dr Anker said research labs were operating safely, but compliance under the old rules was another question altogether.

For example, the university had spent more than three years and more than $1 million to move a device for purifying solvents without using heat or electricity because the regulations demanded it.

As a result, students now needed to walk through the hallways carrying solvent in glassware rather than simply moving around the lab.

“Two buildings across and three floors down, and that piece of equipment was being used 10, 20, 30 times a day … but we now have our students traipsing across two buildings and down the three floors to collect their very, very small volumes of solvent.”

WorkSafe had intervened, despite Fire and Emergency agreeing with the university about the safest way to do things, he said.

“The industry experts using the chemicals and the experts at putting the fires out from the chemicals agreed with each other, but the regulator disagreed with us.”

He said the research sector had been lobbying the government for eight years trying to get fit-for-purpose rules in place, and the result was a return to a pragmatic, risk-based approach.

He was confident creating their own risk management plans would be unlikely to lead to corner-cutting.

“The onus for responsibility for health and safety is on that person that’s trying to cut around the rules. Now, most people are not going to stick their neck out and say ‘I’m going to do something incredibly unsafe, just because I want to’,” he said.

“Second of all, when the lab managers build these risk assessments and all the rest of it, it has to go through a very thorough process.”

Such risk plans were already used in universities around the country, he said.

WSP Research national manager for research Wendy Turvey in a statement said the codes of practice and other tools agreed on were a pragmatic solution and would provide clearer settings for risk management while recognising the realities of research environments.

“WSP has had input through the working groups as the regulations were shaped, and we’re pleased with the final outcome. Just as importantly, the process has been strongly collaborative – involving MBIE, universities, WorkSafe, [public] research organisations and other independent research organisations and companies.”

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Voters split on who Labour should rule out as governing options

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is getting little clarity from voters on which governing partners he should shut out. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is getting little clarity from voters on which governing partners he should shut out, with a new poll showing the electorate divided on his post-election options.

Hipkins has so far refused to say which parties Labour would or would not work with in a future government but has promised to set that out “closer to the election”.

The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll, conducted from 15-22 January, asked New Zealanders whether Hipkins should rule out any potential pathways to power.

About half of voters want Labour to rule out deal with Te Pāti Māori

The most definitive response came regarding Te Pāti Māori, with almost half of all respondents – 49.6 percent – saying Labour should rule out working with it, compared with just over 34 percent who said it should not.

A further 16 percent said they did not know.

But Hipkins’ dilemma is driven home when looking more specifically at Labour’s own base.

There, just 38 percent of Labour voters said Hipkins should reject Te Pāti Māori, while 44 percent preferred to keep the option open. Undecideds numbered 18.5 percent.

Supporters of Te Pāti Māori and the Greens were strongly aligned in wanting Labour to leave the door open, with more than 60 percent in favour and just 20 percent against.

Among National voters, nearly two-thirds said Labour should rule out Te Pāti Māori, a view shared by about 75 percent of ACT voters and more than 80 percent of NZ First voters.

The polling lands after months of turmoil for Te Pāti Māori, marked by internal conflict, ill discipline and the expulsion of two MPs, one later reinstated after court action.

Hipkins has increasingly sharpened his criticism, saying Te Pāti Māori clearly was not ready for government right now. He has also said Labour would aim to win every Māori electorate, effectively eliminating Te Pāti Māori altogether.

But Labour’s pathway to power is precarious without Te Pāti Māori’s numbers.

The headline results from the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll show the opposition bloc – including Te Pāti Māori – just short of the majority support required.

NZ First could make the difference and has worked with Labour before, in 2005 and 2027. But leader Winston Peters says he will not work with Labour as long as Hipkins remains leader.

Hipkins has also been sceptical of any reunion, telling media he ruled out NZ First before the last election and that was “highly unlikely” to change.

New Zealand First divides voters most sharply

Voters appeared more open to the idea of a revived Labour-NZ First deal than the parties’ leaders were, though opinions were fairly evenly split.

Thirty-nine percent said Labour should shut the door on NZ First, while almost 37 percent said it should not. Nearly a quarter were undecided.

Labour voters leaned more strongly toward ruling NZ First out, with 45 percent suggesting that course of action and about 35 percent opposed.

In fact, supporters of every Parliamentary party except NZ First were, on balance, more inclined to want Labour to exclude Peters.

That was the stance of 37 percent of National voters, 44 percent of ACT voters, 46 percent of Te Pāti Māori voters and 52 percent of Green voters.

By contrast, just 23 percent of NZ First supporters wanted to kill off the potential partnership. Two thirds were in favour of keeping it on the table.

What about Labour’s good friends in the Greens?

Voters were also divided over whether Labour should rule out the Green Party, despite the two parties’ recent cooperation.

More than 40 percent of respondents said Labour should rule out the Greens, compared with about 46 percent who said it should not.

Once again, views split down government and opposition lines.

More than 60 percent of Labour voters wanted the Green Party to remain in play, as did 84 percent of Green voters.

National, ACT and NZ First voters were far more likely to want the Greens excluded.

Speaking to RNZ, Hipkins said he was giving “plenty of thought” to Labour’s governing options and would outline his position “in the fullness of time”.

“Under MMP, you do need to work with other parties,” he said. “But you’ve also got to make sure there’s some compatability there.”

This poll of 1000 people was conducted by Reid Research, using quota sampling and weighting to ensure representative cross section by age, gender and geography. The poll was conducted through online interviews between 15-22 January 2026 and has a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.

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Police say they did not attend Mt Maunganui campground over disorder call

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police say they did not attend the Mount Maunganui campground after receiving a call about a disorder incident that referenced a potential landslip about three hours before a deadly landslide as it was unclear if the disorder resulted in any property damage.

It comes after a camper who contacted emergency services on the morning of the landslide told RNZ she saw a local council representative drive through the Mount Maunganui campground and directly past three slips about two hours before the deadly landslide.

The victims of the landslide have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

A woman, who was woken by Maclennan, spoke with RNZ on Monday about efforts to raise emergency services earlier that morning, including her own call to police three hours before the landslide.

The woman captured this photo of a slip at the campsite at 6.15am on Thursday morning. Supplied

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

A call log provided by the woman confirms she called police at 6.18am. The outgoing call lasted eight minutes.

“I explained to them about the slips. I said, ‘look, I understand that you guys will be really busy, and this might not be anything, but this is what’s happened here’. 

“It was enough to push the ladies’ campervan forward, and there’s a homeless man in the toilet block, and he was actually going crazy and sort of banging on the walls and smashing things.

“And so I said, maybe you should send someone to have a look at that, just in case. You know, there’s a lot of kids here… and they said, yeah, it is a really busy night. It’s been a busy night. It’s a busy morning, we’ll try and get a unit there.”

In response to questions from RNZ, a police spokesperson confirmed police received an emergency call at 6.18am in relation to a disorder incident that had occurred at the campsite.

“During the call, the informant also referenced a potential landslip.

“Police did not attend as it was unclear whether the disorder resulted in any property damage.

“Fire and Emergency New Zealand were earlier alerted to the slip, and the council was in turn notified.”

Between 5am and 9.30am in the Mt Maunganui area, Police received one other call about a slip on the base track.

“The informant left the area safely and noted cones had been placed to restrict further access.”

A recovery crew working on the Mount Maunganui slip site on Monday. Nick Monro/RNZ

The woman earlier told RNZ no-one arrived until about 7.45am, when she said she saw what she described as a ute that was sign-written with Tauranga City Council. The ute stopped and the woman says she called out:

“Look, I don’t know if you can see them from where you are, but there’s these slips up here, I think, you know, someone should look at them.”

The woman was unsure the man heard her. The woman said the ute then drove through the Pilot Bay side of the campground slowly past the slips that she had filmed directly in front of several campsites.

“I figured, well, everything will be fine. Someone from the council’s come, they’ve seen the slips, he’s driven past them, he’s driven through the water that was coming down from that corner that collapsed. So I had no worries after that.”

Max Furse-Kee, 15, Sharon Maccanico, 15 and Susan Knowles, 71, are three of the six Mt Maunganui landslide victims. SUPPLIED

RNZ asked Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale for comment on the woman’s account.

In a statement sent via the council’s media team, Drysdale said “all relevant matters relating to the lead-up to this tragic event will be considered as part of the independent review we are currently initiating”.

“This will be reported back to the community as quickly as possible.

“The detailed scope, timeframes and personnel involved in this independent review process are currently being worked through and will be communicated publicly as soon as finalised.”

It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said there was a “strong case” for a government inquiry into the landslide.

He announced the possibility during a media conference on Tuesday afternoon, and said many questions about last Thursday’s slip were being asked, including whether there was a missed opportunity to evacuate people sooner.

“Six families are grieving the unimaginable loss of their loved ones, and they deserve answers. I acknowledge that the Tauranga City Council has ordered its own inquiry into the events leading up to the landslide at the campground.

“However, I do believe there is a strong case for an independent government inquiry, and we’ll be talking to Tauranga City Council about that.”

Luxon said it would be important not only for the grieving families but for helping to ensure lessons were learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

While an independent inquiry had already been announced by local council, Luxon said there were concerns it would not be impartial if it was conducted by the council.

“There’s a potentially an inherent conflict between the ownership of the campground and the council, but it’s also coming from conversations directly with the families that Mark [Mitchell] and I had in the last 48 hours with people in Tauranga at the Mount, and their big desires to actually understand what did happen here.

“I think doing that dispassionately, being able to do that very objectively, through an independent government inquiry would be the way forward.”

A gazebo was erected on the Mt Maunganui slip site on Monday afternoon as a crew in white suits continued work on the ground nearby, while diggers stopped for about half an hour. Nick Monro/RNZ

RNZ approached the Tauranga City Council and police for comment on Monday evening on the woman’s account.

“Once the recovery efforts are completed, we have secured the site and have geotechnical assessments that the landslide area is stable, there will be a process undertaken to examine the events that took place before and during this tragic event,” the council’s controller Tom McEntyre said.

“It would not be appropriate to make any comment now that could affect that process or pre-empt the outcome.”

In response to earlier questions from RNZ, deputy national commander Megan Stiffler confirmed FENZ received a 111 call at 5.48am on Thursday, 22 January, from a person reporting a slip near the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

“Our call takers made contact with the Tauranga City Council, the landowners of the camping ground, and notified them of this information at 5.51am.

“The landslip that was referenced in the 111 call received at 5.48am did not impact life or property and therefore Fire and Emergency did not respond firefighters to attend, instead we notified Tauranga City Council as the landowner responsible.”

View of the scene at the landslide that crashed through the Beachside Holiday Park in Mt Maunganui. Supplied / Alan Gibson

Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said there was no record of a 111 call being referred to the council.

However, a council statement released only hours later backtracked on this version of events.

“After further enquiries, we can confirm that the Tauranga City Council’s main Contact Centre received a call from Fire and Emergency New Zealand at around 5.50am on Thursday, 22 January.”

The council said the chief executive’s earlier comments referred specifically to information logged in the council’s Emergency Operations Centre, which did not receive a call.

At about 9.30am a slip came down at the Beachside Holiday Park at Mount Maunganui, smashing into campervans, tents, vehicles and an ablution block near the Mount Hot Pools.

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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/2026/01/28/police-say-they-did-not-attend-mt-maunganui-campground-over-disorder-call/

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Air New Zealand flight attendants plan trio of strikes in February

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Boeing Dreamliner 787-9, from the Air New Zealand fleet. Supplied / Air New Zealand

The Flight Attendants Association (FAANZ) says problems with Air New Zealand’s planes and services are creating extra headaches for staff working to look after passengers at 38,000 feet.

Flight attendants working aboard the airline’s B777 and B787 long range aircraft will stop work for three strikes on 11, 12 and 13 February.

The airline said it was looking to balance the contributions of crew members against the “challenging economic times” and international cabin crews had a unique work and compensation structure.

FAANZ president Craig Featherby said – despite months of bargaining and two rounds of mediation through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Air New Zealand had been unable to present a satisfactory pay offer to international cabin crews.

“The company has offered a pay increase that would see crew just hit the living wage. With inflation continuing to bite, many flight attendants are concerned they’ll be back below a liveable wage within a short time,” Featherby said.

He said the airline was failing to prioritise its staff and passengers – leaving it up to crews to address problems, often at 38,000 feet in the air.

“Flights are repeatedly impacted by preventable issues: lack of catering and limited choice, missing equipment to effectively look after customers, inoperative seats, and broken cabin features, alongside higher than usual cancellations.

“Flight attendants, as the face of the airline, are constantly having to work around these issues and apologise to passengers who have paid premium fares to fly with the national carrier,” Featherby said.

He said the latest pay offers from the airline were asking flight attendants to work harder and give up hard-earned terms and conditions in their current contracts in exchange for any “meaningful improvement” in wages.

“The company is sending a clear message to those who represent its front-line – that they are undervalued, despite carrying the weight of the operation every day.

“Air New Zealand must recognise that flight attendants are integral to the airline’s success. They’re safety professionals and ambassadors for the company. It’s time the board and executive team realise that their front-line staff – on the ground, in the call centres and in the air – need real investment,” Featherby said.

E tū union assistant national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said many of the airline’s long range crews had been with Air New Zealand “for decades” and did not take striking lightly.

“Pay for flight attendants has not been good enough for a long time and they are really aware that they are the factor that makes the airline a great airline. They have been pushing Air New Zealand for a long time and this really is a last resort,” Mackintosh said.

Air New Zealand chief people officer Nikki Dines said the assertion that crews were paid below the living wage was not accurate.

She said the airline’s latest offer increased base salaries by a range of 4.14 percent to 6.41 percent.

“Their base salary provides a consistent income, regardless of the hours they fly. In addition to their base salary, cabin crew receive payments and allowances to recognise additional responsibilities, time away from home, and longer duties. They also receive further allowances to support them while they are away from home,” Dines said.

Dines said the airline would work to support customers and minimise disruptions as much as possible if the strikes went ahead.

“We’ll contact any affected travellers directly as soon as more information becomes available and encourage everyone travelling during this period to check their booking details are up to date and to sign up for our Travel Alerts service,” Dines said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/air-new-zealand-flight-attendants-plan-trio-of-strikes-in-february/

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Mark Robinson to move into new World Rugby role

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson PHOTOSPORT

Fresh off finishing an often dramatic tenure as NZ Rugby CEO, Mark Robinson has found a new role with World Rugby. The sport’s governing body has hired Robinson as their chief of rugby, which will focus on growing rugby’s global appeal.

“The game is evolving rapidly, and the way players and fans engage with rugby is changing,” said Robinson via a World Rugby press release.

“I’m excited for the chance to help shape a future that enhances the spectacle for fans, supports unions and protects rugby’s core values on a global stage. I look forward to contributing to a strategy that ensures rugby continues to grow in relevance, reach and impact.”

Robinson has long been an advocate for change in rugby, notably brokering the controversial deal between NZR and the US private equity firm Silver Lake. He also attempted to reshape the make up of the NZR board, which was ultimately unsuccessful after major resistance by a number of provincial unions.

Mark Robinson. Graphic: Liam K. Swiggs PHOTOSPORT

Part of the Silver Lake deal involved increasing the All Blacks’ brand presence through digital media, something that Robinson had targeted in the long sought-after US market.

“We are a tiny, isolated island on the other side of the world with a leading sports brand. So we’re trying to grow value so we can invest in all levels of the game,” he said in October in Chicago as the All Blacks prepared to play Ireland at a sold-out Soldier Field.

“I think the positioning of the (All Black) brand now through digital reach and the fact that we’re in markets like the US with such a strong following, shows that our strategy in terms of the work we’ve done overseas is definitely worth it. Now we’ve got a handful of global partners, and we’ve got a growing fan base and much more strategic connection than we’ve ever had.”

The challenge ahead for Robinson will be to maximise the commercial potential for World Rugby in what is still a very scattered global landscape. This year will see the first edition of the Nations Cup, which is the closest the sport has been to a global season since the dawn of professionalism three decades ago.

Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair. Mark Kolbe/Photosport

However, outside of its World Cups, World Rugby is currently facing challenges in getting the fresh eyes on the game. Despite being a popular Olympic event and a format that has been a door opener into non-traditional markets, Sevens is now a significant cost centre, with the rebranded SVNS circuit incurring estimated losses of between NZD $70-120m since 2023.

World Rugby chair Brett Robinson said: “Mark’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for rugby…and as we embark on the delivery of a bold new five-year strategy, his leadership, rugby intelligence and knowledge will be instrumental in reimagining how our great game grows and thrives.”

Robinson will officially join World Rugby in May, after conducting a sport-wide review of game philosophy and match official alignment, which will be presented at the 2026 World Rugby Shape of the Game conference taking place in late February.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/28/mark-robinson-to-move-into-new-world-rugby-role/

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EIT barbering graduates build careers at Napier shop

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

25 seconds ago

A Napier barbershop owned by an EIT graduate has given two newly qualified barbers from the same programme their start in the industry.

Boxed Out Barbershop owner Brad Warren completed the NZ Certificate in Barbering (Level 3) at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale.

He now employs fellow EIT graduates Nich Allen (Ngāti Porou) and Declan Wong, who completed the NZ Certificate in Commercial Barbering (Level 4) in 2024 – a programme that was not available during Brad’s time of study.

Boxed Out Barbershop owner Brad Warren is not only an EIT graduate himself but has continued his connection with the polytechnic by employing a number of barbering graduates.

Brad, 34, came to barbering after working as a glazier and in boat building. He credits his time at EIT as crucial to his success, particularly the support he received from his tutors.

“At one stage I was going to pull out of the course, but my tutor Jen encouraged me to stay,” Brad said. “She saw the talent in me before I knew there was talent there. I loved EIT and didn’t want it to end.”

Brad has maintained his connection with EIT, occasionally visiting classes to speak with current students. When it came time to hire staff for the barbershop, he turned to the programme that had launched his own career.

“Jen would give me a message and say, ‘I’ve got some students who are really skilled barbers and are looking for work, can we send them in?’” Brad said. “They’ll come in and do a haircut, and I’ll be like, wow, they’re actually a good barber.”

The approach has worked well. Brad previously employed another EIT graduate for two years and had a student on work experience while studying last year.

Nich Allen (Ngāti Porou) studied the NZ Certificate in Commercial Barbering (Level 4) in 2024 and now works at Boxed Out Barbershop in Napier.

Nich, 23, originally from Gisborne, has been working at Boxed Out Barbershop for about a year.

“It’s a really positive space. The people make it a great place to learn and work,” he says.

He says the programme at EIT helped him find direction after leaving school unsure of what he wanted to do.

“I didn’t really know where I was heading at the time. The course helped me build confidence and gave me something to work towards.”

EIT graduate Declan Wong studied the NZ Certificate in Commercial Barbering (Level 4) in 2024 and now works at Boxed Out Barbershop in Napier.

Declan, 20, began at the shop as a work experience student about a year ago. He is now a qualified barber working full-time.

“It doesn’t really feel like work when you enjoy what you are doing,” he says.

Declan says work experience was one of the most valuable parts of the programme.

“Being able to go out into real barbershops helped me understand what the industry was actually like. It made stepping into full-time work much easier.”

He says working alongside other EIT graduates has helped him continue learning while building confidence behind the chair.

For Brad, seeing graduates now building their careers in his shop feels like a full-circle moment.

Boxed Out Barbershop Owner Brad Warren has employed EIT NZ Certificate in Commercial Barbering (Level 4) graduates Regan lusis, Nich Allen and Declan Wong.

“We’ve all come through the same training pathway, so it’s pretty special to now be working together.”

Paula Morris, Assistant Head of School – Health & Sports Science, said the success of the barbering programme relies on strong, genuine partnerships with the barbering industry.

“The relationship between our programme and Boxed Out Barbershop is a perfect example of this. When graduates return to the sector not only as skilled barbers but as employers who actively support the next generation – just as Brad has done – it creates an invaluable cycle of mentorship and opportunity.”

She says having barbershops welcome students for work experience and then employ graduates ensures learners gain the real-world exposure that simply can’t be replicated in a classroom.

“It enables them to build confidence behind the chair, understand the expectations of a professional shop, and develop the interpersonal skills essential to the craft.

“This level of industry support does more than help individual students – it elevates the whole programme. It keeps us connected to current practice, strengthens the training environment and ensures we are developing barbers who are truly ready to meet the needs of their clients. We are incredibly proud to see the full-circle impact that Boxed Out Barbershop continues to have on our learners and graduates.”

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/27/eit-barbering-graduates-build-careers-at-napier-shop/

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As it happened: Criminal liability to be probed after Mount Maunganui landslip

Source: Radio New Zealand

Crews searching for six people buried in a landslide at Mount Maunganui have so far had the weather they’ve been hoping for today.

It’s warm – 20 degrees – and sunny, with some cloud cover and a very gentle breeze.

Officials yesterday labelled moisture “the enemy” – because with it, the clay-like ground they’re working with could become unstable and risk further slips.

The rain has held off so far, however showers are forecast late afternoon and early evening.

An independent review, announced by Tauranga City Council, will look at events leading up to the landslide. Meanwhile, WorkSafe says it will looking into the organisations that had a duty of care for everyone at the Mt Maunganui holiday park.

See how the day unfolded in RNZ’s blog at the top of this page.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/27/as-it-happened-criminal-liability-to-be-probed-after-mount-maunganui-landslip/