Category: Asia Pacific

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High Court Judge wins right to have family bach dispute in private court

Source: Radio New Zealand

The case was taken to the High Court but had been referred to independent arbitration. (File photo) RNZ / Dan Cook

A High Court Judge has won the right to have a dispute over a family bach heard in private, rather than open court.

In 2022, Justice Anne Hinton sold her share of the bach to two of her four sisters – but her other sister, Gillian Gatfield and niece, Emma Pearson (who inherited her mother’s share) argued Hinton had, years earlier, promised to transfer her share to them.

They took their case to the High Court, but Hinton successfully applied to have it referred to independent arbitration.

The plaintiffs appealed the arbitration referral in November – but the Court of Appeal dismissed that on Thursday.

Hinton wanted arbitration because it was faster and cheaper than going through the courts – and private.

Her lawyers argued any judge hearing Hinton’s case in court would be put in a difficult position: either risking the perception of favouring a colleague, or ruling against her which would effectively question her credibility.

But Gatfield and Pearson disagreed.

Lawyer Matanuku Mahuika said “significant weight” was placed on Hinton’s role as a judge in her request for arbitration, which was “not appropriate”.

He urged the judges to be mindful of open justice and warned them against being seen to give preference to a fellow judge.

Mahuika also pointed out arbitration had never been ordered – as opposed to agreed to – in a trust dispute.

But in Thursday’s decision, the judges said the Associate Judge who ordered the arbitration was following the correct procedure.

“We consider that the court has power to order that an arbitration take place and to appoint an arbitrator, even when there is no agreement to arbitrate.

“We also consider there is nothing inherently inappropriate in doing so.”

The Judges said it was “unnecessary” to explicitly address all the matters Gatfield and Pearson’s lawyers raised as reasons against private arbitration.

“We agree with the decision made by the High Court,” their judgement said.

Mediation and arbitration were appropriate options in a case involving “strongly felt personal allegations”, it said.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/high-court-judge-wins-right-to-have-family-bach-dispute-in-private-court/

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Health NZ shrugs off red ratings for big hospital builds

Source: Radio New Zealand

The project management office for the new Dunedin Hospital. RNZ / Delphine Herbert

Health New Zealand says two of its flagship hospital rebuilds are on track despite red alerts put on them months ago.

The red ratings on the Nelson and Dunedin projects were in the latest publicly available investment report from Treasury dated mid-2025.

Around that same time, the central health agency had rated itself badly with Treasury for how it managed its billions in assets, joined in the dog-house by Police and Defence on the latest measurement known as the Chief Executive Annual Attestations.

The Treasury investment report meanwhile showed the Dunedin outpatients building project under cost pressure, by a sum that was blanked out.

It also redflagged Nelson to ministers for not having its business case ready in time for Budget 2026 decisions.

Health NZ said on Wednesday that this related to Nelson’s future stages of work and there was no impact on construction timelines or the expected operation of new facilities.

“The project continues to progress as planned,” said head of delivery of infrastructure, Simon Trotter.

The Nelson project was shrunk to under half its former budget and cut into phases by the present government.

In Dunedin’s new hospital build, the cost risks had since been managed and it was expected to open within budget on time later this year, Trotter said.

The wider programme that included the bigger inpatients build was also expected to be delivered within approved funding.

The total budget was set at $1.88 billion a year ago after the government rescoped it in the face of public protest, on the grounds sticking with the previous plan would blow it out to maybe $3b.

Health Minister Simeon Brown (R) and Nelson Mayor Nick Smith (second from right) open the new emergency department at Nelson Hospital in November 2025. Samantha Gee / RNZ

Trotter also commented that a red rating reflected an assessment against specific reporting measures at a point in time and “does not necessarily indicate a delay to delivery”.

However, Treasury’s description of a red rating was that: “Successful delivery appears to be unachievable. There are major issues which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable. The programme may need re-baselining and/or overall viability re-assessed.”

Falling short on keeping up

In the other Treasury pulse-taking reports to ministers – the attestations – Health, Defence and Police scored the worst for meeting higher standards for managing their billions of dollars of assets.

Infrastructure experts have castigated public agencies in general for not keeping across the state of their buildings or spending enough on maintenance – the country’s leaky courts have been an egregious example of lack of maintenance, which a series of expensive projects were now trying to sort out.

Since 2023, 62 agency chief executives have had to attest to Treasury annually on how they measure up in 25 areas such as taking care of really critical assets.

A minnow like Antarctica NZ that has been caught up in stop-start rebuilding was non-compliant in only one of the 25 (some measures did not apply) in the latest attestations done last July.

One or two non-compliances were common, such as at Internal Affairs, and perhaps surprisingly Justice, and Kainga Ora, which has massive assets. Education complied with all 25.

By contrast, Health NZ failed in more than half – for 13 out of 25 measures, including being too slow setting up investment assurance standards for its failure-prone digital services; and not properly keeping track of “the identity, condition, and risk exposure” of its service-critical assets.

This last was a black mark against the Defence Force, that missed on seven measures, even as it struggled with a $2-3b refurbishment of rundown housing and other facilities.

Police were non-compliant with the watchdog’s demands on eight fronts, telling Treasury they were five-10 years away with some, such as getting all their asset management plans done or having an IT set-up that could keep track.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/health-nz-shrugs-off-red-ratings-for-big-hospital-builds/

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Live: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to face questions in Dunedin

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will face questions following a visit to Space Operations New Zealand.

Luxon has been touring the facility in Southland with Environment Minister Penny Simmonds.

The stand-up is due to start around 2.45pm.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/live-prime-minister-christopher-luxon-to-face-questions-in-dunedin/

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DOC Community Fund will provide $9.2 million for community-led conservation

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  12 February 2026

New Zealand has the highest proportion of threatened indigenous species in the world, with more than 1,000 native species currently classified as ‘threatened’ by extinction, and almost two-thirds of our rare ecosystems at risk of collapse.

This new round of the DOC Community Fund will support local conservation activities to deliver tangible outcomes for biodiversity, promote collaboration, and enable meaningful Māori engagement.

Sia Aston, DOC Deputy Director-General Public Affairs and Partnerships, says the contributions of community groups enables greater outcomes for nature.

“Community groups play a pivotal role in protecting our native species and their habitats, and we know they bring a lot to table,” says Sia. “By drawing on the strengths and resources of these groups – like volunteer hours, expertise, or co funding – DOC can amplify the positive change they create.

“This reflects DOC’s goal for New Zealanders to ‘Always Be Naturing’; we can all make a bigger difference through shared effort, with every action adding up to support the nature we all rely on.

“Together we can achieve the best outcomes possible for our very special biodiversity, so I’m really excited to see what this round of applicants will bring to support critical conservation work around New Zealand.”

Community groups, iwi and hapū, as well as private landowners throughout the country can apply for the funding.

The 2026 funding round will open on 31 March and close on 30 April 2026, giving applicants more time to plan and engage with relevant parties. Details on how to apply are available on the DOC website. Successful applications will be announced from July 2026.

Background information

The DOC Community Fund (DOCCF) is a Crown fund established in 2014 that provides contestable funding for community-led biodiversity restoration projects on public and private land.

The DOCCF has an annual appropriation of $4.6 million (the 2026 round is doubled as it includes the 2026/27 appropriation).

Since 2014, the fund has awarded approximately $50 million to over 750 community conservation initiatives across New Zealand.

This round focuses on projects protecting threatened species (defined as Nationally Critical, Nationally Endangered, Nationally Vulnerable or Nationally increasing) and threatened ecosystems (defined as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable).

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/doc-community-fund-will-provide-9-2-million-for-community-led-conservation/

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Cyber and Supply Chain Risks Reshaping Japan’s Business Landscape, Aon Survey

Source: Media Outreach

  • “Geopolitical Volatility” is a top five current and future risk, highlighting the growing instability across the region
  • 83 Percent of Firms Report Rising Insurable Risk Costs

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 February 2026 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, has released the Japan findings of its 2025 Global Risk Management Survey. The survey reveals that Japanese businesses are navigating a complex landscape marked by persistent cyber threats, supply chain disruptions and weather/natural disasters. The survey, which gathered insights from nearly 3,000 risk managers, C-suite leaders and executives across 63 countries, highlights the unique risks Japan businesses are facing amid global disruption.

Japan’s Top Risks:

“Cyber Attacks/Data Breach” remains the top risk for Japanese businesses, consistent with global trends. “Supply chain or distribution failure” ranks second, as extreme weather events and mounting geopolitical volatility including shifting trade policies force companies to reassess their supply chains. In addition, “Product Liability/Recall” and “Exchange Rate Fluctuation” pose significant risks, reflecting the country’s manufacturing strength and exposure to global market volatility. Notably, 63.6 percent of Japanese respondents reported losses due to product liability or recall issues and 47.6 percent cited losses from exchange rate fluctuations.

Tatsuya Yamamoto, CEO of Japan at Aon, said, “Japanese organisations are operating in an environment of unprecedented complexity. Cyber, weather and geopolitical risks continue to be acute challenges for Japan businesses, underscoring the need for robust risk management frameworks and agile strategies. As market trends shift and competition intensifies, vigilance and adaptability will be key. The interconnectedness of risks – where a cyber attack can disrupt supply chains or geopolitical volatility can trigger regulatory changes – demands a holistic, proactive approach to resilience.”

2025 Top 10 Business Risks in Japan

  1. Cyber Attacks/Data Breach
  2. Supply Chain or Distribution Failure
  3. Weather/Natural Disasters
  4. Geopolitical Volatility
  5. Business Interruption
  6. Economic Slowdown/Slow Recovery
  7. Exchange Rate Fluctuation
  8. Commodity Price Risk/Scarcity of Materials
  9. Product Liability/Recall
  10. Failure to Attract or Retain Top Talent

Risk Management: Formalisation and Focus on Insurable Risks

Japanese organisations demonstrate a strong commitment to risk management, with 74.7 percent having a formal risk management and insurance department, compared to 68.4 percent globally. Additionally, 75.3 percent measure the total cost of insurable risk and 83.3 percent report that these costs are increasing. While risk awareness is rising, most organisations have yet to quantify their exposures or leverage advanced analytics.

Japanese Businesses Risk Management Assessments for Top Three Risks

For “Cyber Attacks/Data Breaches”:

  1. 27.2 percent have assessed the risk
  2. 12.6 percent have developed continuity plans
  3. 22.3 Percent have risk management plans

For “Supply Chain or Distribution Failure”:

  1. 25 percent have assessed the risk
  2. 20 percent have developed continuity plans
  3. 26.7 Percent have risk management plans

For “Weather/Natural Disasters”:

  1. 24.1 percent have assessed the risk
  2. 22.4 percent have developed continuity plans
  3. 13.8 percent have risk management plans

Future Risks: Rapidly Changing Market Trends and Geopolitical Volatility

Looking ahead, Japanese organisations expect “Weather/Natural Disasters” and “Geopolitical Volatility” to remain critical risks, alongside “Rapidly Changing Market Trends,” which is more prominent in Japan than globally. This highlights the country’s exposure to climate events and evolving consumer preferences.

Japan’s Top Five Future Business Risks by 2028:

  1. Cyber Attacks/Data Breach
  2. Weather/Natural Disasters
  3. Geopolitical Volatility
  4. Rapidly Changing Market Trends
  5. Increasing Competition

Shinichi Kandatsu, head of Commercial Risk Solutions for Japan at Aon, said, “Cyber and weather-related risks continue to lead the rankings as top concerns for Japanese businesses today and in the future, with geopolitical volatility also ranking among the top five risks across both periods. This trend reflects the growing instability across the region, with implications for supply chains, regulatory environments and financial performance. In today’s fast-moving market, leveraging advanced data analytics is essential for businesses to anticipate emerging risks, optimise risk capital and build resilience. The findings from Aon’s Global Risk Management Survey provide Japanese businesses with actionable information to benchmark their risk strategies and identify areas for improvement.”

To access the full report and explore how Aon is helping clients navigate today’s disruption dynamic, visit Global Risk Management Survey Japan

Hashtag: #Aon

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/cyber-and-supply-chain-risks-reshaping-japans-business-landscape-aon-survey/

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Sustainable seafood matters to eight in ten consumers, leading to calls for retailers to support sustainable choices

Source: Media Outreach

MSC calls on retailers to increase their offer of sustainable seafood products ahead of the Chinese New Year, in response to insights from consumers

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 February 2026 – As families across Singapore and Malaysia prepare to toss yusheng and serve whole steamed fish for Chinese New Year, new research reveals a striking disconnect: more than eight in ten Malaysians (85%) and nearly three-quarters of Singaporeans (74%) say sustainable seafood matters to them.

Despite actively seeking out sustainable sources, a YouGov survey commissioned by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) found that more than half of Singapore consumers (58%) have never noticed an eco-label when shopping. Recognition of the MSC blue ecolabel label sits at 21%.

With seafood consumption expected to rise during Chinese New Year as celebrations take centre stage, it’s a critical moment for sustainable shopping choices.

Malaysia consumes more than double the global average per capita (49 kg versus 21 kg globally), while Singapore imports most of its seafood supply. Without clear labelling and retailer commitment, consumers who want to make sustainable choices often cannot.

In Malaysia, where fishing remains central to coastal livelihoods, 75% of Malaysians believe support and resources are essential for local fishermen to fish responsibly and sustainably.

In Singapore, where nearly all seafood is imported, consumers look to retailers and regulators for assurance, with 55% citing government standards and 54% citing origin information as key drivers of confidence.

“When asked what sustainable seafood means to them, consumers demonstrated a sophisticated understanding: 62% of Singaporeans and 56% of Malaysians associate it with well-managed fisheries operating under clear rules.

“It’s clear that consumers are ready and willing to seek out credible certification, so we’re urging retailers and businesses to make MSC eco-label products visible and accessible,” saidAnne Gabriel, Program Director for Oceania and Singapore at the Marine Stewardship Council.

The research also highlights expectations of retailers. More than half of Singaporeans (52%) believe supermarkets should commit to sourcing sustainable seafood. Even amid cost-of-living pressures, 38% say they are willing to pay more for sustainably sourced seafood, while many others say clear labelling would help them make better choices within their budget.

The findings suggest that as festive demand peaks, clearer eco-labelling could help consumers align their values with their shopping – without changing what’s on the dinner table.

Shoppers can find MSC certified sustainable seafood at Cold Storage Singapore, FairPrice Group and Prime Supermarket in Singapore, and at AEON Retail, Jaya Grocer and Village Grocer in Malaysia.

Key findings at a glance

  • 85% of Malaysians and 74% of Singaporeans say sustainable seafood is important
  • 63% (MY) and 58% (SG) have never noticed any eco-label on seafood
  • 75% of Malaysians believe fishermen need support to fish sustainably
  • 52% Singaporeans say retailer commitment to sustainable sourcing would encourage them to choose sustainable seafood
  • Malaysia consumes 49kg of seafood per capita annually vs 21kg global average, sources from Malaysia – Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profiles

About the research
The survey was conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Marine Stewardship Council between 15-19 January 2026. The sample comprised 1,007 adults aged 18+ in Singapore and 1,003 adults aged 18+ in Malaysia. Data was weighted to be representative of the adult population in each country.

Hashtag: #TheMarineStewardshipCouncil #MSC

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/sustainable-seafood-matters-to-eight-in-ten-consumers-leading-to-calls-for-retailers-to-support-sustainable-choices/

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ATPI Strengthens Taiwan Presence with Award-Winning Travel Management Solution

Source: Media Outreach

2025 Global Travel Management Company of the Year recognition affirms ATPI’s leadership in localised, enterprise-ready travel management

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 February 2026 – ATPI Taiwan continues to strengthen its position as a trusted global travel management partner for organisations operating in Taiwan, following the recognition of ATPI’s Hong Kong and Singapore operations as Global Travel Management Company of the Year at the Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025.

Photo caption: (Left to Right) Kelly Jones, Managing Director of ATPI Taiwan; Gary Marshall, CEO of Travel Daily Media; and Ali Hussain, Managing Director of ATPI Asia, at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 – Asia

The Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards – Asia recognises organisations demonstrating excellence in operational delivery, technology integration and service innovation. ATPI was recognised for its ability to deliver globally integrated travel programmes supported by personalised service, secure platforms and disciplined governance across complex, multi-market environments.

Building on these globally recognised capabilities, ATPI Taiwan operates as a professional travel management organisation purpose-built for multinational and technology-driven enterprises. Its local operating model addresses key structural gaps in Taiwan’s corporate travel landscape, where many providers remain leisure-focused and reliant on manual processes that limit transparency, control and scalability.

A defining differentiator is financial transparency. Unlike traditional agencies that issue a single “all-in” receipt, ATPI Taiwan provides two separate documents:

  • a Travel Agency Receipt detailing the net ticket fare; and
  • a Government Uniform Invoice (GUI / 發票) clearly itemising the agreed service fee.

ATPI is currently the only travel management company in Taiwan offering this structure. The model enables procurement and finance teams to perform audit-level cost analysis, eliminates hidden mark-ups and supports compliance requirements for publicly listed, multinational and technology-led organisations.

ATPI Taiwan’s cloud-based global travel management platform integrates directly with ATPI’s worldwide traveller profile and governance framework. This enables organisations to enforce consistent travel policies, approval workflows and duty-of-care standards across Taiwan and international markets. Centralised dashboards provide real-time visibility of both Taiwan and global travel spend, supporting procurement oversight, financial control and data-driven decision-making for high-volume international travel programmes.

Data security is another critical differentiator. While traveller information in Taiwan is often collected via unsecured consumer messaging platforms, ATPI Taiwan operates in line with ATPI Global Standards and international data protection protocols. Traveller data is managed through the ATPI e-Profile platform, supported by PCI-compliant secure links for document submission and mandatory quarterly data-security training. To date, ATPI Taiwan has maintained a zero data-misconduct and zero data-leakage record.

ATPI also provides professional 24/7 global emergency support through its World Support Centres (WSC), ensuring continuity across time zones with full system access and defined escalation protocols — capabilities essential for mission-critical and time-sensitive travel.

“Our focus is on delivering enterprise-grade travel management that combines global consistency with local precision,” said Kelly Jones, Managing Director – Southeast Asia, China, Hong Kong & Taiwan, ATPI. “Clients choose ATPI not only for our global reach, but for the governance, transparency and personalised service that allow their travel programmes to operate with confidence and control.”

“These capabilities translate directly into measurable outcomes for our clients,” added Asa Yang, General Manager, ATPI Taiwan. “In one recent case, our team conducted a strategic fare analysis for a complex five-destination itinerary and identified a more cost-effective routing. Instead of retaining the price differential, we returned 100% of the savings to the client, delivering a direct saving of TWD 160,000. This reflects our commitment to financial transparency, integrity and proactive programme management.”

The dual awards further reinforce ATPI’s long-standing leadership in corporate and specialist travel management. Following ATPI’s acquisition by Direct Travel in September 2025, the combined organisation operates as a global travel management group, bringing together international scale and personalised service across corporate and complex travel sectors, including marine, energy, mining, sports and group travel. Together, Direct Travel and ATPI manage more than USD 6 billion in annual travel volume, with operations spanning over 100 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

https://www.atpi.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/atpi

Hashtag: #atpi #corporatetravelmanagement

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/atpi-strengthens-taiwan-presence-with-award-winning-travel-management-solution/

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Employment Disputes – New Zealanders warned about escalating NZPFU strike action

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is warning New Zealanders about the increasing threat posed by the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) escalating its industrial relations activity to two one-hour strikes per week. 
Strikes are currently planned between midday-1pm this coming Friday and Monday, with subsequent strike notices in place for 20, 23 and 27 February, and 2 March. 
During the strikes Fire and Emergency will still respond to emergency calls but is warning responses will be delayed in areas covered by professional firefighters as the closest, available volunteers will be responding from their stations. 
“We think striking when both parties are actively involved in facilitation needlessly puts the community at risk,” Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says. 
“We asked for facilitation as there was a significant gap between what we were offering and the NZPFU’s expectations.
“Our offer at the time amounted to a 6.2 percent average increase over 3 years and compared favourably with equivalent recent public sector agreements, but this was three times less than the NZPFU’s settlement proposal.” 
 Fire and Emergency’s pre-facilitation offer would have taken average senior firefighter salaries from a range of approximately $81,000-$87,000 to $86,000-$93,000 at the end of the period, excluding overtime and allowances, which currently add an average of almost $39,000 to annual remuneration.
Over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent, which is more than 10 percent above the average increase for all workers. 
“We continue to call on the NZPFU to call off its now twice-weekly strikes while the process of facilitation takes place. We remain committed to a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement so we can continue working to keep our communities safe.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/employment-disputes-new-zealanders-warned-about-escalating-nzpfu-strike-action/

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Police clamp down following scooter robbery

Source: New Zealand Police

A man will scoot to court today following an alleged robbery in east Auckland yesterday afternoon.

Just after 4pm, Police were notified of an incident in Point England Road where a person had allegedly been assaulted and their scooter taken.

Auckland City East Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Tony Ngau Chun, says the victim was able to provide a detailed description of the alleged offender.

“Staff arrived quickly and were able to obtain a statement from the victim where he advised that the scooter was fitted with an AirTag.

“Based off that information Police attended an address in the nearby area and took one person into custody without issue.”

He says the scooter was also recovered from the property and returned to its rightful owner.

“We’re pleased we were able to locate this person and bring them before the Court to be held to account for their actions.”

A 49-year-old man will appear in Auckland District Court today charged with robbery.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/police-clamp-down-following-scooter-robbery/

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Legislation – Still time for NZ First to do the right thing by workers and vote down Fire at Will Bill – PSA

Source: PSA

The PSA is calling on New Zealand First to stand by New Zealand workers and vote down the most draconian anti-worker legislation since the notorious Employment Contracts Act in 1991.
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill was set to pass today but has now been removed from the Order Paper.
“Now is the time for NZ First to do the right thing and stand by New Zealand workers as this anti-worker bill goes through its final stages in Parliament,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The bill amounts to a radical change to every workplace and fire at will for each worker, it is a recipe for exploitation.
“There is nothing in the Coalition Agreements that would stop NZ First voting against the Bill at the conclusion of the Third Reading expected next week.
“NZ First has talked about being the party of ‘the responsible face of capitalism’. Responsible capitalism means basic protections for workers from unfair treatment which is what personal grievance remedies and contractor protections and are all about.
“The responsible thing to do right now is to vote against this bill which effectively allow employers to fire workers at will.
“NZ First indicated it wanted to make changes to these provisions at the Bill’s committee stages this week, believing they created a power imbalance but chose not to.
“It’s not too late. We urge NZ First to listen to the concerns of unions and workers before this bill becomes law and hands more power to employers to sack workers.
“We have already seen a huge shift in power to businesses. Workers have been penalised by the Government through 90-day trials, the scrapping of pay equity, the suppressing of minimum wage rises, and the axing of Fair Pay Agreements.
“Now is the time for NZ First to support New Zealand workers – the PSA urges NZ First to vote against the Employment Relations Amendment Bill.”
ENDS
Background Employment Relations Amendment Bill
In summary, the changes will:
– mean workers who are legally unfairly dismissed will have no proper remedies if they have contributed to the situation, however minor.
– allow employers to fire at will workers who are unjustifiably dismissed and earn more than $200,000 – they cannot access a personal grievance process for unjustified dismissal.
– remove the provision that automatically enrols new employees in collective agreements for 30 days. This means new workers will risk being exposed to 90-day fire-at-will trials before understanding the protections offered by collective agreements.
– allow employers to deem workers contractors removing their right to holiday and sick pay and means they can be fired at will – the law change written by multi-national ride share company Uber.
Previous statement
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/legislation-still-time-for-nz-first-to-do-the-right-thing-by-workers-and-vote-down-fire-at-will-bill-psa/

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Economy – Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the six months ended 31 December 2025

Source: The New Zealand Treasury

The Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the six months ended 31 December 2025 were released by the Treasury today. The December results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2025 (HYEFU 2025), published on 16 December 2025, and the results for the same period for the previous year.

The key fiscal indicators for the six months ended 31 December 2025 were overall favourable compared to the forecast. The Government’s main operating indicator, the operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx), showed a deficit of $5.2 billion. This deficit was $1.6 billion smaller than forecast. Net core Crown debt was lower than forecast by $2.0 billion at $191.4 billion, or 43.5% of GDP.

Core Crown tax revenue, at $60.0 billion, was $0.1 billion (0.2%) higher than forecast.

Core Crown expenses, at $71.4 billion, were $1.0 billion (1.3%) below forecast, reflecting lower spending across a range of functional classifications.

The operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx) was a deficit of $5.2 billion, $1.6 billion less than the forecast deficit. The ACC deficit was close to forecast. As a result, the OBEGAL deficit was $5.5 billion, $1.6 billion lower than the forecast deficit.

The operating balance was a surplus of $4.3 billion compared to a forecast surplus of $0.2 billion. The variance of $4.1 billion is due to a combination of the OBEGAL variance of $1.6 billion noted above, and stronger valuation gains compared to forecast on non-financial instruments ($2.2 billion) and financial instruments ($0.2 billion).

The core Crown residual cash deficit of $10.1 billion was $1.2 billion smaller than forecast, largely owing to lower-than-forecast net core Crown operating cash outflows of $0.6 billion and higher-than-forecast net core Crown capital cash inflows of $0.6 billion.

Net core Crown debt at $191.4 billion (43.5% of GDP) was $2.0 billion lower than forecast. This variance was largely due to the lower-than-forecast core Crown residual cash deficit of $1.2 billion noted above, as well as higher-than-forecast issuances of circulating currency of $0.6 billion.

Gross debt at $219.6 billion (49.9% of GDP) was $3.3 billion below forecast, largely owing to lower-than-forecast issuances of Euro Commercial Paper (ECP) and Treasury bills of $1.9 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively.

Net worth attributable to the Crown at $183.7 billion (41.8% of GDP) was $4.2 billion higher than forecast. This favourable variance largely reflects operating balance discussed previously.

  

  Year to date Full Year
December
2025
Actual1
$m		 December
2025
HYEFU 2025
Forecast1
$m		 Variance2
HYEFU 2025
$m		 Variance
HYEFU 2025
%		 June
2026
HYEFU 2025
Forecast3
$m
Core Crown tax revenue 59,993 59,855 138 0.2 124,198
Core Crown revenue 66,083 66,154 (71) (0.1) 136,919
Core Crown expenses 71,399 72,358 959 1.3 149,047
Core Crown residual cash (10,135) (11,345) 1,210 10.7 (14,802)
Net core Crown debt4 191,440 193,439 1,999 1.0 196,987
          as a percentage of GDP 43.5% 44.0%     43.3%
Gross debt 219,607 222,943 3,336 1.5 227,225
          as a percentage of GDP 49.9% 50.7%     50.0%
OBEGAL excluding ACC (OBEGALx) (5,160) (6,755) 1,595 23.6 (13,852)
OBEGAL (5,494) (7,046) 1,552 22.0 (16,934)
Operating balance (excluding minority interests) 4,277 162 4,115 –  (6,547)
Net worth attributable to the Crown 183,659 179,505 4,154 2.3 172,693
          as a percentage of GDP 41.8% 40.8%     38.0%
  1. Using the most recently published GDP (for the year ended 30 September 2025) of $439,709 million (Source: Stats NZ).
  2. Favourable variances against forecast have a positive sign and unfavourable variances against forecast have a negative sign.
  3. Using HYEFU 2025 forecast GDP for the year ending 30 June 2026 of $454,497 million (Source: The Treasury).
  4. Net core Crown debt excludes the NZS Fund and core Crown advances. Net core Crown debt may fluctuate during the year largely reflecting the timing of tax receipts.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/economy-interim-financial-statements-of-the-government-of-new-zealand-for-the-six-months-ended-31-december-2025/

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New DOC concessions support regional economies

Source: New Zealand Government

Long-term tourism concessions that will support jobs, strengthen regional economies, and keep visitor access open at key South Island destinations have been announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.

The decisions include a 38-year concession for The Remarkables Ski Area, and a 30-year guided walking concession on the Milford Track and a 25-year concession for Te Ana-au Caves in Fiordland Te Rua o te Moko. 

“My focus is supporting jobs and regional economies.

“Long-term concessions give operators the certainty they need to invest, train staff, and plan ahead,” Mr Potaka says.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says the decisions provide important confidence for the tourism sector and the regional economies that depend on it.

“Tourism supports thousands of jobs across the South Island. Giving operators long-term certainty helps businesses invest, retain staff, and deliver high-quality experiences for visitors, while supporting local communities,” Ms Upston says.

A 38-year concession has been issued to NZSki for The Remarkables, supporting jobs across Queenstown visitor economy, including hundreds of roles and local businesses. Public access to surrounding areas will continue.

In Fiordland Te Rua o te Moko, a 30-year guided walking concession for Tourism Milford Limited (Ultimate Hikes) will allow guided walking on the Milford Track to continue long term, supporting jobs across transport, accommodation and tourism services.

“These decisions strike the right balance of protecting our natural environment, supporting regional livelihoods, and ensuring people can continue to enjoy these places safely and responsibly,” Mr Potaka says.

These concessions include enforceable environmental and safety conditions, with the Department retaining full regulatory oversight.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/new-doc-concessions-support-regional-economies/

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Funding approved for final stretch of Eastern Busway

Source: New Zealand Government

The final stretch of the Eastern Busway in Botany can now get underway, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say.

“The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Auckland Council have confirmed $101 million in funding to build the Botany link route at Guys Reserve, meaning more efficient transport choices are on the way for Aucklanders living in Botany,” Mr Bishop says.
“This is the final piece of the $1.4 billion Eastern Busway project. It’s a key part of Auckland’s rapid transit network, connecting East Auckland to the wider region and providing faster, more reliable journeys.

“Connecting Botany to Pakuranga and Panmure, with largely separated busways, means travel from Botany to Auckland’s city centre will take a reliable 40 minutes by bus and train.

“By 2028 the Eastern Busway is forecasted to carry 18,000 passengers per day, with 24,000 passengers per day by 2048.

“Alongside the City Rail Link, which opens this year, these projects will reshape the way people get around Auckland. The already-open Panmure to Pakuranga busway is proof of how rapid transit can give people better access to jobs and opportunities across the city.”

“The Eastern Busway is a major joint investment by the Government and Auckland Council, delivering 7km of dedicated busway, five new bus stations, and the Reeves Road Flyover,” Minister Brown says.

“Completing the full busway through to Botany Town Centre is a key milestone. It will integrate with the future Airport to Botany Busway and improve public transport options for people living and working in East Auckland.

“Some claimed that removing Labour’s Regional Fuel Tax in Auckland would stop this project. We axed the tax, Aucklanders are saving money every time they fill up, and the Eastern Busway is being delivered in full. Actions speak louder than words.

“Construction on the final section will begin in March, with work continuing at pace along Tī Rākau Drive to deliver the rest of the corridor.

“I look forward to getting out on site in the coming months with Minister Bishop and Mayor Brown to mark the start of construction and see this important project moving forward for Auckland.“

Notes to editor:

  • The Eastern Busway is delivered by an alliance of Auckland Transport with Fletcher Construction, ACCIONA, AECOM and Jacobs, in partnership with mana whenua.
  • The project includes 12km of dedicated walking and cycleways, 7km of busway and 5 new stations. It will deliver wide-ranging benefits for the area, increasing access to jobs and education, and attracting investment and growth.
  • In mid-February, construction along Tī Rākau Drive will move into its next milestone configuration as traffic heading towards Botany shifts temporarily onto the new busway lanes, opening up the next construction area for work to begin. As Auckland Transport continues to construct the busway along Tī Rākau Drive, two lanes will always remain open in each direction for vehicles.
  • People can already use the busway between Pakūranga and Panmure Station, where they can connect to trains to the city and the south. When the City Rail Link opens in the second half of this year, people will be able to easily get to even more places on a bus and direct train such as Eden Park, New Lynn and Henderson.
  • The Eastern Busway will open in 2027.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/funding-approved-for-final-stretch-of-eastern-busway/

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Government launches inquiry into deadly Mount Maunganui landslide

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bouquets and tributes at the Mount Maunganui landslide cordon. Ayla Yeoman

The government has confirmed it will launch an inquiry into the fatal landslide at Mount Maunganui last month.

Six people died after a portion of the maunga collapsed onto a section of a campground on 22 January.

Associate Emergency Management Minister Chris Penk was delegated responsibility for investigating whether the government would conduct an inquiry, separate from the Tauranga City Council’s inquiry.

Penk has confirmed to RNZ that Cabinet has agreed to the inquiry.

“It’s clear those directly affected by this tragic and unimaginable loss, alongside the wider community, want to understand how these events occurred, and whether anything could have been done to prevent them,” he said.

Penk said the next step would be to take a detailed paper to Cabinet, setting out the proposed scope, terms of reference, budget, and who will be appointed to lead it.

“Those responsible for the inquiry will be required to communicate with the families of the victims about its process and progress. It is my sincere hope that undertaking an Inquiry will help provide answers for all.”

The government has previously said there was a strong case for launching an independent inquiry, following conversations with the families of those who had lost their lives.

The Tauranga City Council has launched a separate independent review, focusing on the events leading up to the landslide at the base of Mauao.

The fact that the council owned the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park meant councillors had noted there was an inherent conflict, and so expected the Crown would order an inquiry as well.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/government-launches-inquiry-into-deadly-mount-maunganui-landslide/

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Alice Robinson about to start third Olympic campaign ‘a lot more calm this time’

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand skier Alice Robinson. Pierre Teyssot / PHOTOSPORT

Queenstown skier Alice Robinson feels she’s in the best place she has ever been heading into a Winter Olympics.

The 24-year-old is competing in her third Olympics and opens her Milano Cortina campaign on Thursday night in the Super Giant Slalom event.

She admits that she wasn’t in the best position to perform in her previous Games’ experiences, but that has changed in 2026.

At just 16, she became New Zealand’s youngest-ever Winter Olympian when she attended her first Olympics in South Korea in 2018.

Robinson believes she was selected to gain some experience as a future prospect. She finished 35th in the giant slalom and failed to finish the first run of the slalom event.

Four years later in Beijing, Robinson was 25th in the downhill, 22nd in the giant slalom and crashed out of the super-G.

In 2022 the world was still recovering from the pandemic, Robinson had been forced to stay away from New Zealand for a couple of years, and had just recovered from Covid herself.

“It was really tough for me and I definitely felt like I couldn’t put my best foot forward, so absolutely that is my goal to make my third time a charm and put my best skiing on show and we’ll see what happens from there. I’m a lot more calm this time around,” Robinson said.

New Zealand’s Alice Robinson competes in the Women’s Super G event of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2025-2026, in St. Moritz. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Robinson can’t believe that she is all set to compete in her third Olympics and admits the feeling this time is quite different.

“Probably because we’re in Europe rather than Asia so it is a bit more of a familiar environment for me. There is always that extra hype and excitement surrounding the Olympics and while my preparation hasn’t changed, there has been a lot of talk [about the Olympics].

Her form is probably also helping in her approach to the Games.

The giant slalom had been Robinson’s preferred event in recent years, but this season she has also featured in the faster super-G with a first and a second in world cup races.

“I’ve always really enjoyed racing it and it is really good to have two events as it kind of takes the pressure off a little bit putting your energy into two events rather than being solely focussed on one.”

New Zealand skier Alice Robinson © Erich Spiess / Red Bull Content Pool 2025 / PHOTOSPORT

So what has been the difference this season?

“It is a mixture of being courageous but also being smart to allow me to ski at my best. Approaching every race tactically and consciously as well, that will be my mantra moving forward.

“It is cool going into an Olympics knowing that you have the potential to do something and not just going to participate and to know that I have the capability to get results.”

Robinson credits her Kiwi team including Nils Coberger, Tim Cafe, and Alex Hull for her improvement this season, but admits she is still someway off being at her best.

“Every year I learn more and more and every year I think I’ve got it figured out and then I look back at myself and think goodness I didn’t know anything.”

First-placed New Zealand’s Alice Robinson celebrates on the podium after the Women’s Super G event of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2025-2026, in St. Moritz. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

She is also excited to be flying the New Zealand flag again and hopefully have more Kiwi fans watching her in action.

“In Europe there are so many resources that are behind these big teams so it sort of feels like David verses Goliath going up against these teams.

“It has always been a bit of a motivator for me to come from New Zealand and be competing against these countries where it is a religion and knowing our little team is going up against that, it makes me really proud.”

Alice Robinson’s schedule

  • Thursday, 12 February: 11.30pm women’s alpine skiing Super Giant Slalom – final
  • Sunday, 15 February: 10pm: women’s alpine skiing Giant Slalom, run 1
  • Monday, 16 February: 1.30am: women’s alpine skiing Giant Slalom, run 2 – final

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/alice-robinson-about-to-start-third-olympic-campaign-a-lot-more-calm-this-time/

Posted on

One in court following vehicle theft and attempted vehicle theft in Christchurch

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Senior Sergeant Hamish Keer-Keer

A 28-year-old Christchurch man is before the courts after unlawfully taking a vehicle and attempting to take further vehicles.

About 9.35pm on Wednesday 11 February, Police were called to Queen Elizabeth II Drive after a man allegedly stole another person’s vehicle following a three-vehicle crash.

It is reported the alleged offender crashed into two stationary vehicles at the intersection with Main North Road, before approaching another car involved in the crash.

The man has forced the driver from the car before leaving the area in the vehicle.

The stolen car has then been abandoned on Harewood Road where the offender has attempted to take a second vehicle, pulling a person from the driver’s seat.

After being unsuccessful in taking the vehicle, the man has abandoned the car before allegedly attempting to unlawfully take three further vehicles.

Fortunately, these drivers were able to drive away to safety.

A short time later, Police located the offender on Papanui Road where he was taken into custody without incident.

Following an initial search of the man’s first vehicle located on Queen Elizabeth II Drive, cannabis and items indicating supply were located.

Police continue to make enquiries into the circumstances of the incident.

While there were no serious injuries, a number of people have been left shaken by this incident and Police are providing them with support.

The 28-year-old man is due to appear in Christchurch District Court today, charged with possession of cannabis for supply, careless driving, driving in a dangerous manner, two counts of failing to stop or ascertain injury, and two counts of robbery.

If you have any information in relation to this incident, please get in touch with us online at 105.police.govt.nz, or call 105.

Please use the reference number 260212/9665.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/one-in-court-following-vehicle-theft-and-attempted-vehicle-theft-in-christchurch/

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Gisborne business leader calls for long-term solutions amid ongoing cycle of weather events, cleanups

Source: Radio New Zealand

The chunk of State Highway 2 between Ōpōtiki and Mātāwai closed for two weeks. Supplied/NZTA

Economic confidence in Tai Rāwhiti is being lost because of the constant weather impacts on its roading network, a Gisborne business leader says.

Heavy rain and severe flooding swept across the North Island last month, battering communities on the East Coast.

Former chief executive of horticulture company Leaderbrand Richard Burke was calling for a regional and national discussion about long-term transport routes, amid an ongoing cycle of weather events and cleanups.

The chunk of State Highway 2 between Ōpōtiki and Mātāwai closed for two weeks, with 40 worksites along the road including eight spots with severe damage due to slips and flooding.

A convoy had been operating three times a day in both directions; that is Gisborne bound and Ōpōtiki bound, since Monday.

Burke told Morning Report a lot of money had been spent fixing the problems rather than looking at “the core issues”.

“People want to talk about the cost of road closures. But the real cost is a lack of investment coming into the region as a result of uncertainty,” he said.

“We’ve got to start thinking, longer term and bigger picture, around how do we not only resolve the issue, but get the region standing on its own feet again. Because there’s a whole lot of really good stuff that happens down here, but we miss it in all the issues that are being created by poor infrastructure and changing weather patterns.”

Burke questioned whether existing roading routes were still fit for purpose.

“The roading infrastructure that comes into the region was really developed by our forefathers who rode horses and stuck to rivers and those sort of things. Whereas now we’re running big trucks and big equipment,” he said.

“And if you’re building that road today, would you really stick to the same path knowing what the issues were.”

Former chief executive of horticulture company Leaderbrand Richard Burke. RNZ / Kate Green

A rethink on alternative routes out of the region was needed, Burke said.

“I’m not underestimating the geological issues that are involved here, because there’s some big hills and some real challenges there. But, you know, unless we start looking at that, we’re not going to get out of the cycle we’re in,” he said.

“We’re just in this cycle of event, of cleanup, of event, of cleanup. And we’re just losing confidence in the region as a result.”

He felt the region was becoming less attractive for future investors due to a lack of certainty and resilience.

“We’ve got some good natural resources down here. We can grow stuff really well,” Burke said.

“But if you can’t be confident of getting stuff out of town or to market, and you can’t attract people here because they feel isolated, then you’re not going to build a decent-sized business.

“So your investment decisions are very different. I think that’s the big cost for the region.”

The government had shown in the past that it was prepared to “bite the bullet” by signing off on unpopular and costly projects, including the Clyde Dam, Burke said.

“Imagine if we hadn’t have done that. It would have cost a lot more now, and where would we be with our power industry,” he said.

“I know it’s a long-term process, but we’ve got to get serious about starting that and put some real attention into it and be brave enough to take some of these projects on.

“Otherwise, we’re not going to move forward.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/gisborne-business-leader-calls-for-long-term-solutions-amid-ongoing-cycle-of-weather-events-cleanups/

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Weekend weather: Warning for Bay of Plenty with muggy downpours on the way

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

You may need to keep your raincoats handy as the warm weather the North Island is experiencing may take a turn this weekend.

A low-pressure system is lining up a soggy weekend, bringing warm, humid air and the risk of heavy rain, especially for parts of the North Island still recovering after January’s floods.

MetService issued a rain warning for the Bay of Plenty from Friday night until 10am on Saturday.

Between 80 to 100mm of rain was expected to accumulate with the chance of 130 to 150mm in one or two places.

MetService warned it could cause surface flooding, slips and dangerous driving conditions.

MetService meteorologist, Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told Morning Report the next few days will be warm and humid for the North Island.

Makgabutlane said there are a couple of weather systems on the way this weekend.

On Friday, a front is expected to move across the South Island, bringing a period of heavy rain and strong winds.

However, it’s the weather system moving onto the North Island on Saturday that Makgabutlane said was the one of interest.

A trough over the northern Tasman Sea is likely to move onto the North Island, bringing very humid conditions with scattered showers and possible thunderstorms on Saturday through to Monday.

“The two main things to look out for with the system is that intensification. How deep that low-pressure system is will be one thing that tells us how strong or how much rain we will see,” Makgabutlane said.

“The other thing is the location of that weather system. So, if it forms a couple of hundred kilometres to to the east of us, [it’s] probably going to be a lovely weekend for most of us, but even if it forms just a little bit closer to us, then we could be in for quite a wet weekend.”

As things stand, it does look like it will be a wet couple of days ahead, she said.

At this point, the areas that look the most likely to bear the brunt of the weather are most of the North Island on Saturday, and the lower and eastern parts of the North Island on Sunday and into Monday.

“Over the next coming days, I would say certainly keep an eye out for those [weather] watches because they do look likely,” Makgabutlane said.

Along with the heavy rain warning, heavy rain watches were in place for much of the North Island on Friday and Saturday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/weekend-weather-warning-for-bay-of-plenty-with-muggy-downpours-on-the-way/

Posted on

Piopiotahi Milford Sound experiencing record summer

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  12 February 2026

Market intelligence from Great South suggests the Chinese market, which has been slower to rebound since COVID, has swung strongly back this summer – particularly for Chinese New Year.

Great South General Manager Tourism and Events Mark Frood says there has been continued growth in FIT (free independent traveller) demand, meaning more rental cars and self-drive visitors than in recent years.

“Chinese New Year is longer than usual this year – a 9-day holiday period – which is spreading demand and sustaining higher volumes. Air capacity into Auckland from Chinese gateways is up 18 per cent for the Chinese New Year period, and Christchurch capacity is particularly strong, with China Southern having 29 per cent increase for summer December to March period,” Mark Frood says.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is working alongside Great South, Milford Sound Tourism Limited (MSTL), and the Milford Road Alliance to look after Piopiotahi, support peak periods and promote safe travel.

“Located within a remote World Heritage Area with limited infrastructure, managing the peaks of Milford Sound’s visitation is key to protecting both the environment and the visitor experience,” says DOC Operations Manager John Lucas.

“Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, come well prepared, and uphold New Zealand’s Tiaki Promise by travelling safely and caring for the environment.

“The Milford Road is stunning but it can be slow, challenging and stressful to drive, particularly at peak times. Drivers should check weather and road conditions before setting out, allow extra travel and parking time, take care, and be considerate of others,” John Lucas says.

“With high traffic volumes putting pressure on the national park, taking a guided tour or coach is a great way to reduce your footprint, travel stress-free and enjoy the incredible scenery with insights from trained guides.

“Visitor facilities are kept to a minimum in this remote, natural location. People should be prepared to take out all they bring into the park including rubbish and ensure they use the available toilet facilities.

“These small acts of naturing help protect Piopiotahi so it can be enjoyed now and into the future.”

MSTL CEO Haylee Preston says the summer season has been exceptionally busy so far, with December day cruise passenger numbers up 12,117 (13%) and overall visitation six per cent higher than peak pre-COVID levels.

“Indications are that this could be Milford Sound’s busiest summer on record, although we won’t know for sure until the end of February,” Haylee Preston says.

“We’re expecting Chinese New Year to be another peak so MSTL will have extra parking attendants on the ground to help guide traffic and visitors.

“Visitors are advised onsite parking is limited and fills quickly. Those with cruise tour bookings should allow at least two hours to travel from Te Anau and 45 minutes for parking and walking to the terminal.”

DOC continues to work with Ngāi Tahu, community and key stakeholders to deliver short and long-term improvements for conservation and sustainable tourism on the Milford journey, building on recommendations from the Milford Opportunities Project.

Background information

For more information about tourism numbers and trends, visit Data Insights Southland Hub.

Advice for visitors – ‘Always be naturing’

We can all do our bit to take care of ourselves and the nature we enjoy, uphold New Zealand’s Tiaki Promise by preparing for your trip, travelling safely and caring for the environment.

Protect nature

Piopiotahi Milford Sound is a remote and environmentally sensitive area within Fiordland National Park with many rare and unique plants and animals.

  • Keep your distance and don’t feed wildlife.
  • Remove all rubbish from of the national park.
  • Plan comfort stops along the way. Public toilets are available at Knobs Flat and in Piopiotahi Milford Sound.
  • Leave dogs and other pets at home they pose a serious threat to precious wildlife and are not permitted in a national park, even in your vehicle.
  • Follow rules restricting drones, fires and vehicles.

Travel safely

Piopiotahi Milford Sound is situated at the end of a remote alpine road in a sensitive area of dynamic geology which exposes it to a range of natural hazards. It’s important all visitors plan and prepare for their visit.

Advice for drivers

Drive with care and be prepared for potential delays during peak periods.

  • Fill up with fuel before departing Te Anau.
  • Those with cruise bookings should allow at least 2 hours for the journey from Te Anau and 45 minutes to park and walk to the boat terminal.
  • Onsite parking is limited, and fills up quickly.
  • Be considerate of others and follow the guidance of staff and signage.

Find out more about how the Sustainable Destinations Piopiotahi Programme is progressing improvements on the Milford journey.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/

Posted on

Finance Minister Nicola Willis challenges Labour to keep Investment Boost policy if elected

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis at the New Zealand Economic Forum. RNZ/Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is challenging Labour to commit to keeping her Investment Boost policy if elected.

The centrepiece of last year’s Budget, the boost, allows businesses to deduct 20 percent of a new asset’s value from taxable income on top of normal depreciation.

When launched in May, it was expected to boost New Zealand’s GDP by 1 percent, wages by 1.5 percent and capital stock by 1.6 percent over the next 20 years.

Willis talked up the policy’s effects so far in a speech to the New Zealand Economic Forum in Hamilton on Thursday.

She said about 40 percent of firms investing in the next five years said the policy had increased their investment spending over the past 12 months, with 29 percent of those reporting a “moderate” increase and another 11 percent a “significant” increase.

The Economic Forum at the University of Waikato. RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Looking ahead, 49 percent planning to invest in the next five years were saying Investment Boost was positively influencing their plans, with 14 percent expecting a large investment.

“These are not theoretical ideas. These are real businesses making real decisions earlier, larger, more productively because their incentives have changed.

“That matters because capital deepening is how productivity rises and productivity growth is the only way we will grow wages sustainably over time.”

She said the policy would only work if businesses believed it would endure.

Labour’s finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“Firms do not invest in long-lived capital, plant, machinery and buildings if they think the tax rules may change at the change of an election.”

She called for Labour’s leader Chris Hipkins and his Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds to commit to not reversing the policy.

“Will they commit to retaining Investment Boost as a permanent fixture of our tax settings to unlock growth, or will it be sacrificed to fund higher spending? This government’s position is clear.

“I would put to you that those who say they are on the side of growth and productivity but would sacrifice this effective policy are speaking out of both sides of their mouth.”

Edmonds, who is set to speak to the forum on Thursday afternoon, has previously said the Investment Boost policy is overall good for business, but stopped short of committing to retain it.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/finance-minister-nicola-willis-challenges-labour-to-keep-investment-boost-policy-if-elected/