NZ Rugby (NZR) on Monday confirmed the process to hire a new All Black coach will commence this week, with the ultimately successful applicant needing to have test coaching experience.
Tellingly, that was the one aspect missing from the recently axed Scott Robertson’s CV when he took on the role in 2024.
This stipulation once again brings a few names into sharp focus, with frontrunners Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie having both coached Japan and Australia respectively.
This also means Blues coach Vern Cotter (Fiji, Scotland) can apply, but it somewhat ironically rules out coach Rob Penney, despite the Crusaders coach winning both the Super Rugby Pacific title and NZR Coach of the Year in 2025.
Today’s announcement also confirmed the makeup of a five-person appointment panel, and that it will solely be for the head coaching position. This is notable because both Robertson and Ian Foster’s hirings involved having to assemble a staff as part of the job application with them, only for both tenures marked by staff either leaving or being removed.
It’s understood that the current All Black assistant coaching staff of Scott Hansen, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have been told it’s ‘business as usual’ for the time being, although the new coach will ultimately have the final say on his assistants.
The panel will include Board Chair David Kirk, Board Member Keven Mealamu, experienced high performance expert Don Tricker, interim CEO Steve Lancaster and a recently retired All Blacks player. Mealamu, who played 132 tests between 2002-15, was also involved in the All Black end of season review that played a critical role in Robertson’s sensational removal earlier this month.
PHOTOSPORT
It’s understood the recently retired player who will join the panel has not been confirmed yet.
The final decision on the All Blacks’ head coach will be made by the NZR Board.
NZR interim CEO Steve Lancaster said that the role is “an incredibly important appointment.”
“We’ve started the process and are giving it the care and urgency it deserves to set the team up for success. We’ll provide further updates as soon as we can.”
The hiring process is expected to take at least a month, which leaves precious little time for the All Blacks to reset before a very challenging season commences in July. They face France, Italy and Ireland in the new Nations Cup competition, before an eight-match tour of South Africa that includes four tests against the world champion Springboks.
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
Recovery work resumed at the site on Monday,RNZ/Nick Monro
WorkSafe says it will be looking into the organisations that had a duty of care for everyone at the Mt Maunganui holiday park, but for now the priority is on the recovery efforts.
Recovery work resumed at the site of the Mount Maunganui landslide on Monday, where six people remain missing following Thursday’s landslide.
The victims 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 WorkSafe spokesperson told RNZ they were in the “very early stages” of assessing what their role may look like once the search and recovery phase was complete.
“We are currently bringing together a team of inspectors and will be working closely with New Zealand Police to determine next steps.
“We will be looking into the organisations that had a duty of care for everyone at the holiday park, and whether or not they were meeting their health and safety responsibilities.”
Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz
Currently, the focus needed to remain on the recovery efforts, the spokesperson said.
“When the time is right, our inspectors will begin engaging with witnesses and technical experts, and gathering evidence from a range of sources including the organisations involved in the operation of the holiday park and the scene.
“In the meantime, our local inspectors have also extended an offer of support to Emergency Management Bay of Plenty and other agencies to ensure that workers involved in the response are kept safe and healthy.”
“There’s lots of concerns that people have about why they weren’t evacuated sooner. I think they are very legitimate, very good questions that need answers.”
He says the council, which is leading the review, was the right organisation to address those questions.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Stock photo. An Auckland bakery has stopped selling a popular pie.123rf
An Auckland bakery has stopped selling a popular pie after Auckland Council said the horse meat used wasn’t cleared for human consumption.
Before Christmas, Pakuranga Bakery started selling lo’i hoosi pies and promoting them on their Instagram page.
Lo’i hoosi is a traditional Tongan dish and has horse meat as the main ingredient.
The horse pie proved extremely popular, drawing rave reviews on social media.
When First Up initially contacted Pakuranga Bakery last week, they said they were no longer selling the pie.
Veronica Lee-Thompson, Auckland Council manager of specialist operations, licensing and environmental health, revealed why. She told First Up that Council had received a complaint and sent inspectors to investigate.
“There were horse meat pies that were being sold and the horse meat was not from a registered supplier,” she said.
“But the operator was very cooperative and agreed to dispose of all the horse meat on site and any pies that contained any horse meat.”
Pakuranga Bakery manager Pho Bok said the bakery was buying the lo’i hoosi already prepared.
“We just bought the filing, because I just saw everyone do it and all the customers have been asking for it. We don’t know how to make it. We just went to buy the filing from a Tongan guy. He just prepared it for us and we just chucked it in a pie”
It’s perfectly legal to eat horse in New Zealand, but to sell it it for people to consume it must be processed according to New Zealand food safety regulations.
According to the Ministry of Primary industries there is only one meat processor registered to slaughter and process horse meat for human consumption in New Zealand.
“Illegal meat could contain bacteria because the animals were sick or potentially diseased, risk of cross-contamination if there’s unhygienic conditions during the processing, they might not be handling things correctly, Lee-Thompson said.
“It could be contaminated by chemicals.
“We just want to make sure it’s approved meat that’s in our food chain.”
There had been no reports of sickness from Pakuranga Bakery’s pies, Auckland Council said.
Bok said he believed the horse meat he used was legitimately sourced.
“I did ask them are they a registered business – they said yes. Is the horse meat legal to eat, and they said yes.”
Pakuranga Bakery is not under investigation, but New Zealand Food Safety is investigating the source of the horse meat.
Anyone found to have knowingly prepared or sold meat unfit for human consumption can face a fine of up to $100,000 or up to a year in prison.
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
The following sections of State Highway are still CLOSED:
SH 25 Kūaotunu to Kūaotunu West/Matarangi: Contractors are making great progress clearing this slip, however the site remains unstable and the road will not open until it is safe to do so. If the work progresses well and the weather is favourable we hope to open the road by the end of next Wednesday (28 January).
SH 25 Whangamatā to Whiritoa: This slip is complex and remains highly unstable with a large amount of water running through it, which means it will be more challenging to safely clear than initially thought. The earliest we currently anticipate being able to reopen the road is Wednesday 4 February.
The following sections of State Highway are OPEN with caution (traffic management in place):
SH25 Coromandel town to Matarangi /Kūaotunu West
SH 2 Paeroa to Waihi (Karangahake Gorge)
SH 25 Hikuai to Whangamata
The Coromandel network is already in a fragile state, and there is a risk that more loose material may come down. Recovery work will pause and roads may close at short notice if conditions worsen or become unsafe for crews on the ground.
With bad weather continuing its important people slow down, be patient and drive with care and to the conditions.
The following sections of State Highway are still CLOSED:
SH 25 Kūaotunu to Kūaotunu West/Matarangi
SH 25 Whangamatā to Whiritoa
OPEN with caution (traffic management in place)
SH25 Coromandel town to Matarangi /Kūaotunu West
SH 2 Paeroa to Waihi (Karangahake Gorge)
SH 25 Hikuai to Whangamata
The attached map indicates the current status of the Coromandel network, following SH25 Hikuai to Whangamata opening last night. No changes expected in the next few days (weather permitting).
NZTA is closely monitoring the upcoming weather system. The Coromandel network is already in a fragile state, and there is a risk that more loose material may come down. Recovery work will pause and roads may close at short notice if conditions worsen or become unsafe for crews on the ground.
With more bad weather on the way its important people slow down, be patient and drive with care and to the conditions. People can stay informed by checking:
SH25 is now OPEN between Hikuai and Whangamata. NZTA thanks motorists for their patience as contractors have worked to safely open the road under temporary traffic management.
Please drive with care.
23 January:
Heavy rain has caused multiple slips, debris flows and pavement damage across the network. Crews have been clearing slips, removing fallen trees and assessing damage wherever it is safe to do so.
Andy Oakley, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) System Manager for Waikato, says the focus over the last few days has been assessing the damage and restoring access to roads that have been heavily impacted.
“The images of these slips speak for themselves, and some sections of state highway will remain closed through the long weekend.
“While some areas have been reopened relatively quickly, several significant slips are still moving and will take days to fully clear. Work can only continue when it is safe for crews to be onsite.
“SH2 through the Karangahake Gorge is now open with speed restrictions and our next immediate focus is on regaining safe access in and out of Whangamata via SH25 to Hikuai. This section is currently being monitored and is scheduled to open from 7pm tonight under lane and speed restrictions.”
Mr Oakley says teams are also managing dozens of smaller slips and two major unstable areas on SH25 at Kūaotunu and between Whiritoa and Whangamata.
“These two slips are large and unstable. Safety for road users and our crews is our priority, which means work will pause at times until assessments confirm the slopes have settled.
“As we head into the long weekend, we strongly encourage people to follow the advice of Civil Defence and local councils, only travel if necessary and check NZTA’s Journey Planner before they get on the roads,” says Mr Oakley.
If you must travel, slow down, drive to the conditions and allow extra time.
Current network status:
The following sections of State Highway are still CLOSED: SH 25 Kūaotunu to Kūaotunu West/Matarangi SH 25 Whangamatā to Whiritoa
OPEN with caution (traffic management in place) SH25 Coromandel town to Matarangi /Kūaotunu West SH 2 Paeroa to Waihi (Karangahake Gorge)
CLOSED but scheduled to OPEN from 7pm tonight: SH25 Hikuai to Whangamata
While the highway is closed to through traffic, sections of SH25 between Kuaotunu and Tairua are available for emergency travel, with a single lane open and traffic management at numerous minor slips.
The cafe, which is located near Wellington Airport, said in a post on social media it wasn’t the way they hoped their chapter would end.123RF
Wellington café Spruce Goose says its closing its doors after 12 years because it was unable to secure a new lease.
The café, which is located near and owned by Wellington Airport, said in a post on social media it wasn’t the way they hoped their chapter would end.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to secure a new lease, which means it’s the end of the road for us in this space.”
The café said it was “endlessly grateful” for the love support and loyalty its customers had shown them over the years.
“If Spruce Goose has ever been part of your life – your wardrobe, your memories, your go-to stop, we’d love for you to come in over the next two weeks and say goodbye in person,” the post said.
“Thank you for 12 unforgettable years.”
The café’s last day of trading will be 8 February.
RNZ has contacted Wellington Airport for comment.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Two new tracks – a nature walk to a scenic viewpoint behind the Ngāti Waewae Punangairi Experience Centre, which houses the DOC visitor centre, and a link pathway leading to the southern end of the village, cutting out a dangerous section of the highway, are now complete.
The two tracks are the final parts of the Dolomite Point Redevelopment Project, which broke ground in November 2020 with the goal of upgrading the visitor infrastructure in Punakaiki to reflect its status as a world class destination.
The Provincial Growth Fund funded project, which has been a multi-agency initiative led by the Department of Conservation, has seen the building of the multi award winning Punangairi Experience Centre, development of a carpark, landscaping around the village centre, and construction of a 4.2 km-long shared cycle/walkway connecting the Punakaiki River in the south to the entry of the Truman Track at the northern end of Punakaiki.
As well as being an entry and exit point for the popular multi-day Paparoa Track and home of the world-famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Walk, Punakaiki is important culturally for local hapū Ngāti Waewae, who now own and manage the Punangairi Visitor Experience Centre.
Chairman Francois Tumahai says the new nature walk has been named ‘Te Korowai o Punangairi’ which translates to ‘A journey through the natural world of Punangairi’.
“The walk takes manuhiri through the nikau forest to a viewing area where the Pancake Rocks and the Paparoa coastline can be viewed and is a great addition to this place.”
Phil Rossiter, who led the project for DOC, says the tracks add to the nature experience people come to Punakaiki for, enable more slow-paced access between Punakaiki attractions, and are the final elements in a project that will future proof the destination for many years to come.
NATURE LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE
Nature isn’t scenery. Nature is a society that we rely on for everything, every day. It’s behind our identity and our way of life.
Police can confirm the recovery operation at Mount Maunganui has resumed this morning, after specialist monitoring equipment was brought in overnight.
The search area was evacuated at 11.50am yesterday, after a contractor driver noticed potential instability on the face of the slip. Following advice from two independent geotechnical experts, it was deemed too hazardous for teams to continue working.
Bay of Plenty District Commandeer Tim Anderson says the recovery effort resumed at 10.30am today.
“Additional monitoring equipment has been brought in and specialist crews removed loose material that was of concern above the slip area this morning.
“This has meant recovery teams are able to return to work and continue the effort to return loved ones to their families.
“The safety of everyone working at the slip is important to us, and we will continue to monitor the hillside closely.”
Further information will be provided when it becomes available.
Wairoa Airport will receive a $4.2 million upgrade to help support the region’s growing needs, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.
“Wairoa Airport is critical infrastructure for the area, supporting commercial air passenger services, vital health transport and logistics during extreme weather events,” Mr Jones says.
The New Zealand Air Ambulance Service transports more than 400 patients each year to and from the Wairoa community from its headquarters at Hawke’s Bay Airport.
“When roads are cut off, the airport becomes an even more vital lifeline, as we saw during Cyclone Gabrielle when it handled more than 100 emergency flights in quick succession.
“This upgrade will extend and improve the runway’s operating capability, improving the area’s resilience and increasing potential for economic growth,” Mr Jones says.
The upgrade will be funded with a $3m grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund and $1.2m from the North Island Weather Event fund. Wairoa District Council, which owns and operates the airport, will manage the project and fund future maintenance.
The runway will be extended from 914m to 1250m. Improvements will also be made to the airport’s drainage, lighting and fencing to enable 24-hour operation, along with upgrades to the airport’s vertical guidance systems.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. Around 20 to 25 full-time staff will be working on the project at its busiest point, with locals employed where possible.
Please attribute the following to Sergeant Nigel Hurley:
Police receiving reports of counterfeit $50 and $100 banknotes are urging the public to be vigilant when handling cash.
Members of the public, especially those working in retail or hospitality, should increase their knowledge of how to spot a fake banknote to avoid getting duped at the till.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand recommends the look-feel-tilt test to distinguish the official security features of a legitimate banknote:
When looking through the holographic window, the edges of the window should look smooth, and you should see the bird’s silhouette, a map of New Zealand and a 3-D feature showing the value of the banknote.
When you run a finger across the words “Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua”, you should be able to feel raised ink on the denomination and the letters at the top.
When tilting the note, a bright shining bar should roll across the bird’s silhouette on the front and the holographic window’s colours should shift and change revealing fine details.
Anyone who finds a counterfeit note should report it to Police as soon as possible.
Manufacturing counterfeit notes or knowingly passing them on is a serious offence. Possession of forged bank notes can be punishable by up to seven years in prison, or up to 10 for using one.
Raglan’s Billy Stairmand surfs at the national championships at Raglan Beach.Photosport
Raglan will host the world’s finest professional surfers for nearly two weeks in May after its addition as a stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour.
The famed surfing town on the Waikato west coast has been confirmed as the fourth stop on the 2026 WSL circuit, Championship Tour, from May 15-25.
Raglan, which is renowned for its left-hand point break, will stage a combined men’s and women’s event for the first time in New Zealand.
Eleven-time WSL champion Kelly Slater of the United States after winning an event at Western Australia’s Margaret River Pro.Photosport
Taranaki hosted the elite women on four occasions in the early 2010s but the professional men’s circuit has never come here.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the event would attract global attention.
“This is an incredible opportunity for surfing in New Zealand. Fans will be able to watch the world’s most talented surfers get barrelled and compete, inspiring our budding young athletes and helping grow the sport in New Zealand,” Upston said.
“The New Zealand Pro will also give a major tourism boost to the Waikato, with a lineup of competitors and spectators
to the region and a global broadcast of the event, showcasing Raglan as a top surf destination internationally.”
Stephanie Gilmore of Australia.Matt Dunbar / photosport
The world’s top 36 men and 24 women will compete, with New Zealand set to be allowed one man and one woman to enter as wildcards.
There is likely to be trials to find the two New Zealand representatives, with recently crowned national champions Billy Stairmand and Maya Mateja likely to be among the favourites.
Maya Mateja (L) and Billy Stairmand celebrate their national championship surfing titles.photosport
The event is being backed financially by the Government’s Events Attraction Package, which aims to bring high-value international events to New Zealand.
“Major events like these give a huge economic boost to our cities and towns – supporting hospitality and tourism businesses, creating more jobs and growing our economy and building for the future,” Upston said.
“We’re not just hosting events; we’re building a reputation internationally as a world-class destination for culture, sport and entertainment.”
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
KiwiSaver providers are expecting to see some members opt to keep their contribution level static, even as the default rate rises.
It was announced last year that the base contribution rate for KiwiSaver would lift from 3 percent to 4 percent by 2028.
The first stage of the increase, to 3.5 percent, takes effect from April 1.
But from 1 February, members can apply for a temporary rate reduction, which will keep their contributions at 3 percent this year.
Employers can then also match that reduced rate.
The temporary reduction can be stay in place for anywhere from three months to 12 months but people need to reapply to continue after that.
Dean Anderson, founder of Kernel, said he expected an increase in inquiries when the changes took effect in April.
“While the long-term benefits for retirement savings are clear – with analysis suggesting funds could last significantly longer in retirement – the immediate reality is a potential change in take-home pay for many.
“This is a particularly important concern for those on ‘total remuneration’ contracts, as they will see a double hit: their own contribution increasing and their employer’s increased contribution being deducted from their gross salary.
“I also strongly recommend that all employees, especially those working for smaller businesses that may not use automated payroll platforms, triple-check their payslips in April. Payroll adjustments for these new rates are mandatory, and manual errors are a real risk during this transition.”
A spokesperson for Generate said because people would ned to take action on the reduction through IRD, that might be where most of the impact was felt.
“We may get calls when people see their rate change and aren’t aware it was going to happen.”
Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said when changes happened automatically, they would often stick. “That’s the thing with auto-enrolment, you have to take action to opt out.”
Government modelling suggested the increase in contribution rates could make a material difference to a person’s retirement outcomes.
It said someone who had an income of $60,000 at 25, had two children, a year of parental leave and withdrew money at 30 for a house would end up with 26 percent more at retirement with the higher rate.
A high-income earner could end up with 28 percent more and a low income or part-time worker could end up with an additional 21 percent.
Both National and NZ First have pledged to push contribution rates higher if they are in Government again.
In a landmark moment, the World Surf League (WSL) is bringing its Championship Tour to New Zealand shores this year.
Raglan has been selected as the fourth stop on the 2026 WSL Championship Tour, one of twelve international locations showcasing some of the world’s best professional surfers.
“I’m thrilled to announce that Raglan will be hosting the New Zealand Pro – WSL Championship Tour event, the biggest elite surfing event ever staged in New Zealand,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.
“It’s swell for shore. This is an incredible opportunity for surfing in New Zealand. Fans will be able to watch the world’s most talented surfers get barrelled and compete, inspiring our budding young athletes and helping grow the sport in New Zealand.
“The New Zealand Pro will also give a major tourism boost to the Waikato, with a lineup of competitors and spectators to the region and a global broadcast of the event, showcasing Raglan as a top surf destination internationally.”
The New Zealand Pro will run from 15 – 25 May 2026, when the top 36 men and 24 women will ride a wave and compete at the world-class, left-hand point break at Raglan.This will be the first combined Men’s and Women’s World Surf League Championship Tour event ever held in New Zealand.
The event is being supported through the Government’s Events Attraction Package, which aims to bring high-value international events to New Zealand, attracting international visitors, stimulating the economy and growing New Zealand’s global profile for major events.
“Major events like these give a huge economic boost to our cities and towns – supporting hospitality and tourism businesses, creating more jobs and growing our economy and building for the future,” Louise Upston says.
“We’re not just hosting events; we’re building a reputation internationally as a world-class destination for culture, sport and entertainment.”
The WSL Championship Tour is the fourth event announced from the Events Attraction Package, with more to be announced in the coming months.
Current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will not be pursuing the vacant All Black head coaching role, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Schmidt has apparently informed NZ Rugby that he is not interested in a return to the All Blacks set up, despite being due to step down after the July Nations Cup test matches. He will be replaced by Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss.
The 60-year-old was near the top of the list of potential candidates to replace Scott Robertson, however his contract status with Rugby Australia has been a fluid situation. The Wallabies’ season last year included a tense series loss to the British & Irish Lions, followed by a record victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park. However, the wave of enthusiasm around the Wallabies was dampened significantly by a run of disappointing losses to close the season out – including two comfortable Bledisloe Cup defeats.
Scott Robertson, Joe Schmidt.PHOTOSPORT
Veteran Wallaby prop Alan Alaalatoa said that the current group of players were hopeful that Schmidt would stay on through to the 2027 World Cup, which is being hosted in Australia.
“The boys do respect him so much, and we are hoping that he stays involved with us. It doesn’t have to be the Wallabies, but Australian rugby behind the scenes,” Alaalatoa told the SMH.
“Because what he’s done for our team in a short period of time has been massive. I think he’d only make positive movements for us in Australian rugby as a whole if he’s involved in some capacity.”
This news now appears to narrow the potential All Black coach pool even further, after the news last week that Tony Brown will be staying in his role as Springbok assistant coach. News came out yesterday that long time coach mentor Sir Wayne Smith will also be stepping away from NZR, apparently moving on to an undisclosed club overseas.
That leaves Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie as the most realistic options, with an announcement expected today that NZR will commence the hiring process for the new coach.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
It’s that magical time again when the sun stays out late, SD cards hit their limits, and suddenly everyone you know is a budding wildlife photographer. The Tūhura Otago Museum photography competition is back, and for 2026, it’s going national.
This year’s event ties directly into our Always Be Naturing campaign. The goal is to get tamariki and communities outside. We want people to talk, walk, play and learn in the natural world.
Photography forces you to slow down and actually notice the wild world. It’s about standing still long enough to hear a pīwakawaka fan snap shut or crouching low to see the “forest” in a patch of moss. As our Coastal Otago Operations Manager, Gabe Davies, says,
“When you engage with nature creatively, you build a connection. That bond is exactly what helps us protect our biodiversity for the future.”
Pūteketeke yoga | Monty McGee
New for 2026: the Wild Aotearoa category
For 26 years, this has been an Otago-only affair. But in a move as bold as a kea eyeing up a wiper blade, the museum has launched a brand-new category: Wild Aotearoa.
For the first time, you don’t need a Dunedin postcode to enter. Whether you’re snapping a tūī in Northland or a gecko in the Alps, the whole country is invited. Tūhura Otago Museum Marketing Manager Charlie Buchan says the move responds to years of national interest—and as the Wildlife Capital of NZ, Dunedin is the perfect host for the national stage.
•The wait: sit quietly for ten minutes. The birds will stop seeing you as a threat and start acting like nobody’s watching.
• Look closer: you don’t need a rare species to win. A well-lit shot of a common garden snail can be high art.
• Ethical clicks: no photo is worth distressing a creature. If the bird looks stressed, back off.
• Backyard bliss: You don’t need a Great Walk. Nature is happening in your local park or garden right now.
The details
Submissions are open now and close on 1 February. It’s the perfect motivation to get outdoors over the summer break. And there’s an attractive $1000 cash prize for the Wild Aotearoa category winner, as well as two $100 cash prizes, all generously donated by the Royal Albatross Centre.
Finalists will be featured in a major three-month exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum. So grab your phone or your camera, head outside, and show us how you’re naturing this summer.
The government’s case for reform is that the status quo is inefficient, confusing to voters and “tangled in duplication, disagreements and decisions that don’t make sense”.
It argues these problems will only intensify as councils take on new responsibilities, from resource management reform to water services and climate adaptation. Its proposed solution: removing an entire tier of elected local government.
While reform may well be overdue, the proposal raises crucial questions about democratic representation, accountability and how regional decisions should be made.
These issues sit at the heart of the consultation – and they matter as much as the promise of efficiency or lower costs.
How the proposed changes would work
The proposal would abolish regional councils and replace them with combined territorial boards made up of locally elected mayors. Voters would elect only one set of local representatives, rather than both territorial and regional councillors.
The new boards would take on the legal responsibilities of existing regional councils, while much of the regional bureaucracy would remain. Mayors on the boards would not have equal voting power; instead, votes would be weighted by population, with adjustments set by the Local Government Commission.
The proposal also allows – though not as a preferred option – for a Crown Commissioner to be appointed to a territorial boards. Depending on the circumstances, that commissioner could have no vote, a veto, or more than half of the weighted votes, to ensure national interests are taken into account.
The boards’ primary task would be to prepare a regional reorganisation plan within two years of establishment.
These plans would aim to encourage cooperation between councils to reduce costs, improve efficiency and deliver services better aligned with regional needs, while safeguarding local voices. They would also examine whether combined councils or alternative regional entities could deliver services more effectively.
Importantly, the plans would consider how local government works with post-settlement governance entities in relation to Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
They would be guided by a central government review of council functions, assessing whether some responsibilities should be reallocated to other agencies, delivered through different models, or removed where national consistency is required.
Once completed, each plan would be assessed against national priorities, financial viability, service quality, governance and treaty obligations. The outcome could range from retaining the territorial board to modifying or dissolving it, depending on the region.
Where the plan falls short
There is little question that New Zealand’s local government system is no longer serving the needs of communities.
The sector is awash in paperwork, rates have increased, services reduced and it seems unable to deal with a multitude of problems that surfaced during the pandemic.
To this extent, the draft proposal, with its focus on shared efficiencies, reducing the number of local institutions and attempting to reinvigorate local democracy, is welcome. But it comes with significant shortcomings.
First, it does not require a prior assessment of national legislation and policy that shapes – and often constrains – local government functions. Many of the costs and inefficiencies councils face stem from nationally imposed mandates.
Reforming governance structures without examining these obligations risks entrenching, or even worsening, existing problems.
Moreover, the proposal does not consider the Local Government Act 2002, which imposes significant procedural and substantive obligations on councils that could be directly affected by legislative reform and any resulting reorganisation plan.
Second, eliminating regional councils before undertaking a comprehensive review of service delivery may exacerbate existing problems rather than resolve them.
Simply removing elected regional councillors while awaiting a central government review of service delivery is unlikely to resolve pressing local problems or uncover issues not already well known to local officials.
Will voter turnout improve?
The government also presumes, without clear evidence, that regional councillors are a major contributor to local government problems. Even under the plan, local government would still face too many nationally imposed obligations and too little funding to operate effectively.
Instead, the new boards have potential to increase parochial non-regional decision-making and create legitimacy issues due to how votes are allocated.
Nor is there much reason to think that restructuring councils in this way would lead to higher voter turnout in local elections. Given New Zealand voters routinely navigate the complexities of MMP, it is unconvincing to attribute low turnout to voter confusion.
A more plausible explanation lies in the growing centralisation of policy making by successive governments – a trend that won’t change under this proposal.
Lastly, by removing regional constituencies, the proposal effectively eliminates the possibility of Māori constituencies at the regional level. Given the likely outcome of more centralised local government, this change would remove an important mechanism for Māori representation and participation as treaty partners.
Retaining the option of Māori wards and constituencies is crucial to reflecting local aspirations, supporting reconciliation and ensuring meaningful involvement in regional decision making.
With changes of this scale on the table, the consultation now underway deserves careful scrutiny of what might be simplified, but also what could be lost.
Guy C. Charlton 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.
Australians are deeply divided over whether January 26 is an appropriate day to celebrate Australia Day – and we are no longer debating it as much as doubling down in entrenched camps.
Over the past five years, we have tracked attitudes on whether Australia Day should continue to be celebrated on January 26 through the Deakin Contemporary History Survey.
The most striking result from our late 2025 wave is not a shift in overall opinion, but a hardening of opposition to changing the date. While the balance between those who support and those who oppose change has remained stable, fewer Australians are sitting in the middle. This means more are expressing strong disagreement with changing the date of Australia Day.
The statement “we should not celebrate Australia Day on 26 January” was included in the Deakin Contemporary History Survey in 2021, 2023, 2024 and late 2025.
Respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement with this statement, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The survey is a nationally representative online survey widely regarded as one of Australia’s most robust social surveys.
What did the survey find?
Across all four surveys, the overall distribution of opinion has remained strikingly stable. In 2021, around 38% of Australians agreed Australia Day should not be celebrated on January 26, while just over 60% disagreed. By late 2025, those figures are effectively unchanged, with 37% opposing the date and 62% supporting its retention.
However, while there was some softening in opposition in 2023 and 2024, the latest results suggest a return to the long-term average rather than a new shift in sentiment. In effect, the community is split 40/60 on the question of whether to change or retain.
What has changed is the strength of people’s feelings. Between 2021 and 2025, the proportion who strongly disagreed with changing the date increased markedly (from 30% to 38%), while the share who simply disagreed declined (from 31% to 26%). This is illustrated below.
In other words, many Australians who already supported keeping Australia Day on January 26 have moved from mild to strong opposition.
These changes are not because one age or gender group has shifted relative to others. Younger Australians remain more supportive of change than older Australians, and women remain more supportive than men.
What has changed is the strength of views within groups. Among 18-34 year olds, the proportion that strongly disagree with changing the date rose from 16% in 2021 to 23% in 2025.
A similar pattern is evident among older Australians: for those aged 55-74, strong disagreement increased from 40% to 47%, and among those aged 75 and over it rose from 47% to 53%. The same hardening is visible by gender, with strong disagreement among men rising from 36% in 2021 to 41% in 2025, and among women from 25% to 33%. The result is a broad hardening of attitudes across age and gender groups, rather than a change in who supports or opposes change.
What does this tell us?
These findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution. Although each survey wave uses large, weighted samples, some age and gender subgroups are smaller in the later waves, particularly in 2025.
Even so, the consistency of patterns across age and gender groups suggests this reflects a real shift in attitudes rather than chance fluctuation. On the supportive side, there is a modest shift from agree to strongly agree between 2021 and 2025, suggesting some consolidation of the pro-change view, though this change is modest and should be interpreted cautiously.
This hardening of conservative views is perhaps not surprising in the current context. The debate around Indigenous rights, including the failure of the Voice referendum in October 2023, shows that many Australians do not support official truth-telling and recognition processes.
This reluctance is also evident in our 2025 survey, where only 48% of respondents agreed it was appropriate to rename places and institutions to reflect Indigenous names and histories.
Following the referendum’s failure, most state and territory governments have largely abandoned the task of leading their constituencies through such processes. Studies have shown a rise in explicit racism expressed towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities during and since the referendum.
The rise in voting support for One Nation, which mirrors the success of populist politicians in the United States and United Kingdom, provides further evidence of the rise of a more hardline, right-wing populism, which often celebrates rather than questions the history of European imperialism.
It will need strong leadership from politicians and civic and religious leaders if we are to find ways to bridge this deepening divide.
David Lowe receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Andrew Singleton receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Joanna Cruickshank receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
It happens in slow motion. Your six-year-old daughter is sprinting across the playground at school drop-off time when her toe catches on uneven ground. She goes down hard.
The playground goes silent. She freezes and looks up, straight at you.
In that split second she scans your face for data. Should she be terrified?
I’ve been there. I’d like to tell you that my pain scientist brain kicks in immediately. But honestly it’s usually my panicked parent brain that gets there first. My stomach drops and my instinct is to gasp, or rush in to fix it.
This reaction is typical because we want to protect our kids. However, these moments are opportunities to teach children that their bodies are adaptable. Our reactions teach them whether pain is a disaster to be feared, or a feeling that’s safe to feel.
Adults as the volume knob
Children look to adults and even borrow our nervous system to gauge danger. They read our tone and posture as clues to determine how worried they should feel.
Research into everyday pain shows incidents such as bumps, cuts and scrapes happen frequently. For active toddlers in daycare, they occur about once every three hours. In these moments, adults often respond to the child’s distress, such as crying, rather than the actual severity of the injury.
When we panic, we turn the child’s pain volume knob up. When parents are highly distressed and protective about their child’s pain, it can make children more fearful. They may avoid activity or have more trouble with pain over time.
On the other hand, remaining calm helps children turn the volume down. We teach them that the alarm can be loud without the threat being catastrophic.
Two phrases that can backfire
It’s tempting to try to switch the alarm off immediately. However, two common phrases can shut down a child’s signal for help too quickly.
“You are OK”
It’s a common assumption that pain is only real when there is visible damage. Telling a child they’re fine when they’re clearly hurting can feel dishonest. It suggests their internal signals are wrong.
“Don’t cry”
Crying is a healthy signal for help. Asking a child to suppress it suggests the sensation is too scary to be acknowledged, cutting communication without resolving the underlying feeling of threat.
Asking a child not to cry when hurt can suggest the feeling is too scary to be acknowledged. Yang Miao/Unsplash
The internal scan versus the spoken message
A better approach is to separate what you do in your head from what you say out loud. Staying calm doesn’t mean ignoring genuine warning signs. The goal is calibrated concern, which is a middle ground between panic and dismissiveness.
Before saying anything, do a rapid risk scan. If they’re safe, responsive and breathing, you have confirmed it’s not an emergency. (Parents should still watch for red flags such as vomiting, confusion, unusual sleepiness, or pain that worsens rather than improves.)
If the injury is a minor scrape, you can shift to validation: “that looked sore”, “you got a fright”, or “I am here”. You are confirming verbally that they’re safe.
Age matters
Toddlers (2 to 5 years) rely on your facial expressions to know how to feel. Keep words simple and use physical comfort.
Primary school-aged kids (6 to 12 years) may want to be more involved in the solution, such as helping clean a scrape.
Teens can need a mix of validation and space. Ask what they need from you instead of doing everything for them.
From protection to movement
Once the tears settle, the recovery phase shapes the child’s relationship with movement. For years, the standard advice was RICER (rest, ice, compression, elevation, referral). Now, emerging evidence suggests that complete rest may delay healing.
Updated guidelines have shifted to PEACE & LOVE. PEACE applies immediately: protect, elevate, avoid anti-inflammatories, compress, educate. LOVE follows after a few days: load, optimism, vascularisation (promote blood flow via cardio), exercise.
The big shift here is optimism and load. This approach teaches children their bodies are designed to heal, and guides them back to gentle movement.
Easing children back into movement after an injury teaches them our bodies are designed to heal. Chris McIntosh/Unsplash
Three tiny experiments to try
1. Name it to tame it
Help your child turn a scary feeling into a piece of data. We found that even children without chronic pain have average pain ratings that fluctuate by up to 6 points out of 10 over six weeks. This volatility is typical. For tweens and older, you can ask, “What number is your pain right now on a scale from 0–10?”. This implicitly shows them that pain is changeable and usually drops quickly.
2. Calm then choose
Your calm nervous system helps soothe theirs. Try getting down to their level and take three slow breaths together. Depending on their age, you can then offer a choice to regain control: “Do you want to sit with me a bit longer or try walking to the slide?”
3. Retell the story later
Research confirms children can change their concept of pain through stories. Later that night, try parent-child reminiscing, which is where you retell the story of the fall together. Focus on personal strengths: “You were brave. You took deep breaths and then you got back up and played again”. This accurately reframes the memory from “I got hurt” to “I got hurt and I coped”.
Good enough is enough
If you overreacted to a recent mishap, be kind to yourself. Kids benefit from “good enough” patterns where their pain is taken seriously and their bodies are seen as capable.
So, let’s take a breath when bumps happen. Your child is looking at you. You have an opportunity to show them they’re safe and that their capable body knows how to heal.
Joshua Pate has received government funding for his research. He has received speaker fees for presentations on pain and physiotherapy. He receives book royalties.
