Category: CTF

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Fire ban declared in Queenstown

Source: Radio New Zealand

A fire ban has been declared for most of the Queenstown Lakes district. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

A fire ban has been declared for most of the Queenstown Lakes district amid warnings of recent near misses.

Firefighters and helicopters fought to control a vegetation fire near houses at Arthurs Point on Tuesday, while a burn-off escaped at Arrow Junction last Friday.

District Commander Craig Gold said both fires threatened structures and affected local trails.

“The vegetation across the Lakes Zone is primed and ready to burn,” he said.

“The risks and consequences of any fire in these conditions far outweigh any benefit in terms of land management or recreation.”

The prohibited fire season for Lakes Zone begins at 8am on Thursday.

Outdoor fires were also banned in the neighbouring zone covering the Central Otago District.

Gold urged people not to be fooled by the lower temperatures over the summer and occasional rainy day, saying the vegetation was very dry.

March was predicted to be drier than normal.

“Community safety is our primary concern and the best way we can keep the community safe in these conditions is to stop fires from starting,” Gold said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/fire-ban-declared-in-queenstown/

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Large kea flock ‘micro-chipped’ to track travels

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  11 March 2026

Department of Conservation science staff and rangers recently caught 31 kea from a record flock of about 36 birds, attaching leg bands with tiny microchips. The bands are scanned by solar-powered readers attached to hut roofs and other sites that kea like to visit, allowing their travels to be recorded.

DOC Senior Science Advisor Kerry Weston says the kea caught at Red Tarns above Aoraki Mount Cook Village were part of the largest flock seen at Aoraki since kea surveying began in 2019.

“They were mostly young kea, many just fledged from their nests, including one bird that had travelled 40 km from Whymper Hut on the West Coast across the main divide.

“This is the largest flock of kea I’ve seen at Aoraki or anywhere. Combined with increased sightings of kea around the park, it’s a positive sign that the local kea population is increasing.

“Young kea often band together in wandering flocks in late summer and autumn, but we don’t know where they’re coming from. We’re hoping this research will help answer that question.”

So far, 420 kea have been banded with the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags over the past two summers as part of the trial. There are 13 readers installed at huts and other sites within the adjacent Westland Tai Poutini and Aoraki Mount Cook national parks, and other nearby conservation areas. More readers will be added including to New Zealand Alpine Club huts.

Use of the RFID tags is a cost-effective way of monitoring kea. The leg bands cost less than $1 each and the data is passively gathered as kea land on the readers.

The trial, which is supported by the World Parrot Trust, addresses one of the priorities of a new joint recovery strategy by DOC, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Kea Conservation Trust to develop new tools and approaches to monitor kea populations and their movements across the landscape.

While it’s known kea fly large distances, improved understanding of kea movement patterns will help inform the design of effective predator control and other management measures.

Early trial results confirm young kea are travelling from lowland forests on the West Coast to alpine areas and across the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana. For example, one young bird was tracked flying over 30 km from its nest in lowland forest at Ōkārito to Chancellor Hut, perched above Fox Glacier/Te Moeka o Tuawe.

“The Predator Free South Westland and Te Manahuna Aoraki Project predator eradication work underway in this area is benefiting kea and will give this flock of young birds a good chance of survival,” says Kerry.

Predators such as stoats and feral cats are a big threat to kea, which nest and forage on the ground.

“As we see kea numbers increase in places like Aoraki, we ask people to help keep kea wild and safe.

“When you are out naturing, you can help by giving kea space, not feeding them and keeping your belongings secured so they don’t attract curious kea,” says Kerry.

Young kea, typically aged 1-4 years, form ‘teenage gangs’ to socialise, play and learn to forage and navigate their environment. There’s safety in numbers with flocking also reducing the risk of predation. When birds reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years old, they settle down to find a mate and establish territory.

Predator Free South Westland

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/large-kea-flock-micro-chipped-to-track-travels/

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Alleged burglars head to court

Source: New Zealand Police

A late-night burglary attempt in Henderson on Wednesday ended with two men facing court after being caught by Police.

Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager, Acting Inspector Nick Salter, says around 2.15am Police were called to Central Park Drive following reports people had been seen unlawfully inside a building.

“These two alleged offenders were seen on CCTV loading their vehicle with metal items from inside the warehouse,” he says.

“When alerted that Police were on the way they jumped into their vehicle and sped off down the road and into a long driveway.”

Police helicopter Eagle was first on the scene and saw the alleged offenders drive though a locked gate to avoid being caught.

“As the vehicle has left this area Eagle noticed one of the alleged offenders had been left behind,” Acting Inspector Salter says.

“The vehicle then accelerated away towards Te Atatū.”

Police units quickly located the vehicle and signalled for it to stop.

“The alleged offender failed to pull over and continued driving on Edmonton Road,” Acting Inspector Salter says.

“A short time later he has pulled into an address on Vera Road, where he has exited the vehicle and run into the backyard of the property.”

Police were right on the alleged offender’s tail and took him into custody without issue.

“Officers located a large amount of metal items in the vehicle that had come from the warehouse on Central Park Drive,” Acting Inspector Salter says.

“Delta units located the second offender hiding at the site he was seen being dropped off at earlier.”

Acting Inspector Salter says this was a great result for Police, apprehending the alleged offenders and potentially preventing further burglaries from occurring.

“We will continue to send the message that this type of offending is not acceptable,” he says.

“These two men will now have to answer for their actions in court.”

A 38-year-old man will appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary by night, behaving threateningly and failing to stop.

A 42-year-old man will also appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary by night and behaving threateningly.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/alleged-burglars-head-to-court/

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Three people hurt after car crashes into cafe on Auckland’s North Shore

Source: Radio New Zealand

Google Maps

A person has been critically injured and others also hurt after a car hit a cafe in Auckland.

Emergency crews were called to William Souter Street in Forrest Hill on the North Shore around 8.55am on Wednesday.

A person was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

St John said one person also suffered moderate injuries, and another minor injuries.

A worker at the cafe on William Souter Street said a woman was sitting outside and her daughter was also hurt.

She said she was shaken by the crash and the shop was damaged and had a broken wall.

Only one vehicle was involved, police said.

William Souter Street was closed between East Coast Road and Morton Avenue.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/three-people-hurt-after-car-crashes-into-cafe-on-aucklands-north-shore/

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Crackdown on illegal diving at Manawanui wreck

Source: Radio New Zealand

UAS footage of RNZN Divers surveying the area around HMNZS Manawanui on the Southern Coast of Upulo as part of Op Resolution. New Zealand Defence Force

Illegal diving and forced entry at the wreck of HMNZS Manawanui have prompted the Samoan government to increase surveillance of the navy vessel.

The Royal New Zealand Navy ship sank in October 2024 off the south coast of Upolu after hitting a reef, spilling hundreds of thousands of litres of diesel and oil into the ocean.

Three naval officers are now facing a court martial – a specialised military court that tries members of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The charges include negligently causing a ship to be lost, which is punishable by up to two years in prison.

The Samoan government has ordered a 300-metre radius ban around the vessel, saying it poses significant risks to divers, fisherman and small craft.

Its Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) said the vessel will be more closely monitored following reports of divers in the vicinity.

MPAC’s chair Fui Tupai Mau Simanu said the government had a statutory duty under the Shipping Act to prevent unsafe interaction with marine hazards.

He said divers risked getting tangled or trapped in ropes and cables and the wreck was unstable.

“It could suddenly shift due to currents and tides, and wreck material could threaten boats that may be operating nearby,” Simanu said.

He said there was a risk of pollutants being released, with lubricants still embedded in piping systems.

“When pipes corrode and break these chemicals will leak out into the ocean,” he said.

The committee has also imposed a ban on manned and unmanned aircraft flying below 500ft above sea level over the zone.

However, he said commercial air traffic at cruising altitude is not affected, as only low-level drone activity is regulated.

“It is Standard Practice in Maritime Emergency Zones. It aligns with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines for wreck sites and pollution response.”

“It is also stipulated in the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea Article 60, where a Coastal State is allowed to establish a safety zone of up to 500 metres around a dangerous zone,” he said.

The New Zealand Defence Force’s Manawanui response lead Captain Rodger Ward told RNZ Pacific that signs of unauthorised activity were found during a recent survey of the ship.

“Unauthorised diving on HMNZS Manawanui is an unsafe practice and creates a risk of injury and to life,” Ward said.

“There is currently a 300 metre Prohibited Area around Manawanui providing a safety buffer zone, with all diving within that zone prohibited unless authorised by Samoa’s Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.”

He said a team of Royal New Zealand Navy diving personnel would travel to Samoa to conduct an extensive survey the wreck and carry out remediation work.

The ban will remain in force until the MPAC is satisfied the wreck is stable, all pollution risks have been mitigated and the area is safe for navigation and public activity.

The government said it plans to “secure” the wreckage by stabilising the wreck, containing pollutants and controlling access to the site.

It will also erect navigational warnings and continue constant monitoring.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/crackdown-on-illegal-diving-at-manawanui-wreck/

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Live: White Ferns v Zimbabwe – third ODI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action as the White Ferns take on Zimbabwe for their third ODI at University Oval in Dunedin.

The Ferns have already won the series, having beaten Zimbabwe by 180 runs in the first ODI, and dismissing the visitors for 102 in their second.

First ball is at 11am.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/live-white-ferns-v-zimbabwe-third-odi/

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What do rural sector groups think of the RMA?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Aotearoa has more than 900,000 hectares of irrigated agricultural land, mostly in the South Island. Sally Round

Access to water, food production as a priority, and land use classifications are some of the issues primary sector groups are considering with the government’s proposed new resource management legislation.

Public hearings into the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill – which would replace the Resource Management Act – continued during the Environment Select Committee this week.

Primary sector groups generally supported the intent of resource management reform, but requested further changes to the drafts from the government.

The Environment Select Committee will consider all submissions before reporting back to Parliament by the end of June.

It said 2242 written submissions were publicly available, but the total number of submissions was confidential to the committee.

Wine

Water was a key issue for the country’s winemakers who warned that future access would likely become more difficult with climate change in a competitive market for users.

Wine vineyards covered around 44,000 hectares across Aotearoa, with the majority in Marlborough. The sector used water usually for irrigation, frost protection and then in winemaking.

New Zealand Winegrowers general manager for sustainability Dr Edwin Massey told the select committee on Monday, the RMA was no longer fit for purpose, as water became a more “scarce” resource.

“Certainly, water is absolutely critical for the success of our industry, largely along the east coast of both islands,” Massey said.

“And water is highly competitive.”

Wine vineyards cover around 44,000 hectares across Aotearoa, with the majority in Marlborough. RNZ/Sally Round

Massey said the sector prioritised efficient water use, and a market-based allocation, it opposed, could lock-up the resource.

“New Zealand is getting warmer and drier with less snow melt, and those east coast catchments are likely to, on long-term average, to have reduced access to clean, fresh water.

“So getting that allocation system right and basing that around incentivising sustainability, we feel is a great way to not only ensure export return, but also to protect the environment and its quality.”

Massey said wine companies metered their water use and reported back to the organisation to try to improve sustainability and efficiency of water use, under the Sustainable Winemaking scheme.

Group New Zealand Winegrowers represented 1400 commercial grape growers and wine companies.

Irrigators

Agricultural irrigators wanted the new resource management system to recognise the importance of food production and highlight their role as key infrastructure in its success.

Aotearoa has more than 900,000 hectares of irrigated agricultural land, mostly in Te Wai Pounamu/South Island.

These systems either stored rainfall when it was plentiful or extracted it from rivers and streams to feed crops during dry periods.

However, large-scale irrigation could impact river flows, degrade water quality from nutrient runoff, and cause soil issues.

Irrigation New Zealand represents around 5000 irrigators, irrigation schemes and farmers.

Chief executive Karen Williams told the Environment Select Committee on Monday, the proposed legislation replacing the RMA failed to highlight the role of natural resources in producing food.

“If irrigation and farming are framed primarily as environmental pressures, the system will regulate them mainly as activities to constrain,” she said.

“But when managed well, irrigated land strengthens food production, regional employment, and provides greater resilience to climate variability.”

Williams said water storage and distribution should be considered as long-life infrastructure in the legislation.

“So the decisions before this committee are very much about balance between protecting fresh water and enabling responsible use.”

Irrigation New Zealand represents around 5000 irrigators, irrigation schemes and farmers. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

But the Green Party’s agriculture spokesperson Steve Abel told the select committee, groundwater nitrate levels had significantly worsened since the advent of large-scale irrigation.

“Your industry is at the heart of some of our most chronic water contamination problems, particularly in Canterbury because big irrigation has driven dairy intensity,” he said.

“Isn’t your industry exactly the reason we need to constrain activities that could are going to chronically harm what is the collective commons, our freshwater?”

Williams said irrigation had enabled all sorts of agricultural land uses to evolve.

“Yes, it has enabled dairying, and the application of nutrients associated with any of those activities need to be carefully managed.”

The group said 90 percent of horticultural land was irrigated, 80 percent for arable, 40 percent sheep and beef, and 28 percent of dairy.

Livestock farming

Beef and Lamb New Zealand called for significant changes to the drafted legislation in its submission, arguing the wording in the legislation did not match the government’s own intent.

Chairperson Kate Acland said farmers could be worse off under the proposals, as setting and managing limits would likely see the need for more consents, not less.

“There are more onerous requirements on permitted activities,” she said.

“The lack of appropriate guard-rails on the exercise of ministerial and council powers in many areas and the lack of requirement to consider costs and benefits could result in significant economic impacts.”

Acland said freshwater health was incredibly important to farmers, rural communities and the country.

“We need to get the framework for managing this right. Changes to the legislation are necessary but I’m confident we can get to an enduring framework that’s practical and achievable.”

She said the drafted legislation lacked detail on how freshwater farm plans and other assurance programmes might fit into the consenting picture.

Federated Farmers too was concerned about compliance requirements and red tape for farmers.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand said farmers could be worse off under the proposals with the need for more consents. Beef and Lamb NZ

Spokesperson Mark Hooper said a major concern was that, as currently written, instead of a farm plan replacing the need for a resource consent, a farm may need both.

“We see a risk of farmers facing more red tape under the Natural Environment Act than they presently do under the RMA,” he said.

“There are too many ambiguous, principle-based clauses in the two bills, which is likely to see continued expensive, time-consuming and litigious decision making.”

It raised concerns that the same farming activity might fall between the two Acts leading to more complicated and costly compliance processes.

It did not support a market-based water allocation system nor a levy.

Pork industry group, NZPork said it urged the government to ensure permitted activity rules enabled farmers to operate without unnecessary red tape.

Horticulture

Horticulture New Zealand renewed its calls for commercial vegetable production to be enabled in the new legislation, rather than hindered as it argued some growers faced now.

Some growers in areas like Waikato and Horizons regions have struggled to get consents, due to local, regional rules.

Horticulture New Zealand renewed calls for commercial vegetable production to be enabled in the new legislation. RNZ / Eva Corlett

Chief executive Kate Scott told the Environment Select Committee last week, a clearer national direction for securing the supply of domestic production of fruit and vegetables was needed.

She said the government could create goals of either enabling the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables or making it an activity of national significance.

“The way these sections are drafted would mean that most horticultural activities would require a restricted discretionary or discretionary consent, even where growers are making environmental improvements,” she said.

“This is worse than the status quo, particularly for orchardists who do have a very minimal effect on freshwater quality.”

Scott said it was concerned permitted activities under the new system appeared to be more expensive for consent holders, than the status quo.

Horticulture New Zealand did not support the introduction of market-based water allocation, neither did New Zealand Winegrowers nor the Canterbury Regional Council.

It said the approach would allocate resources to the highest bidder or highest value user.

However, the Environmental Defence Society demanded changes to the drafts due to what it called significant weaknesses in the legislation.

It said regulatory relief risked undermining environmental protection, environmental limits lacked clarity, public participation would be stripped away and a narrow scope of planning.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/what-do-rural-sector-groups-think-of-the-rma/

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The egg race – hopeful signs for the Kākāriki Karaka recovery programme

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  11 March 2026

Department of Conservation kākāriki karaka recovery programme lead Wayne Beggs says it’s a milestone moment in the battle to increase the numbers of our rarest parakeet.

“The species would probably have gone extinct if wasn’t for organisations like The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and the wonderful team at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. It’s such an intensive team effort for these manu,” he says.

The recent egg retrieval was an incredibly delicate operation. High up a tree inside the sanctuary, a Department of Conservation ranger carefully extracted eggs one at a time, from a nest cavity with a small scoop on the end of a pole.

The eggs were then placed in a pouch, lowered down via a rope, put into a special padded case and then quickly transported to catch a flight to Christchurch. The eggs were placed under surrogate parent birds at The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust to hopefully hatch.

Chief Executive of the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, Chris McCormack says the first egg retrieval took a huge effort from monitoring where the kākāriki karaka nests were, to co-ordinating the operation to get the eggs safely to Christchurch.

“It was a very special moment that made us all very proud. Since their translocation here in 2021, we’ve seen remarkable growth in the population, we now have between 200 and 300 thriving manu. Thanks to an incredible group of staff and volunteers, we now support one of the largest populations of kākāriki karaka,” he says.

The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust CEO Rob Kinney says the success of the programme reflects the strength of collaboration across multiple organisations.

“The recovery of kākāriki karaka is a great example of what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared purpose. ICWT is proud to support the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary financially and to work alongside DOC as a national conservation partner. These kinds of collaborative partnerships are critical if we are going to see species like kākāriki karaka recover and thrive in the wild,” he says.

Wayne Beggs says the two wild populations in the Hawdon Valley near Arthurs Pass and in the Hurunui South Branch can fluctuate wildly, peaking in 2020 and 2021 at around 300 before plummeting due to the impact of predators. Current estimates have between 50 and 60 birds in each valley.

DOC, along with its recovery programme partners, have just transferred 22 birds from The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and Orana Wildlife Park to the South Branch in North Canterbury.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kākāriki Karaka Species Representative Yvette Couch-Lewis says it’s fantastic the population at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is at the point where it can support the genetic diversity of the wild populations.

“While Ngāi Tahu fully supports the need for this mahi currently, it is our aspiration that one day the wild populations of these manu can grow to the point that there will be less need for these kinds of interventions.”

Wayne Beggs says implementing additional predator control measures, and new innovative technology in trapping and in monitoring, will help grow the population of wild kākāriki karaka.

“We did a large predator control operation last December to get the rat numbers down in the North Canterbury sites and we also now have predator traps which self-set and we monitor. We are still in the process of investigating new predator free sanctuaries and islands where we can establish new populations, so we can safeguard the species if the mainland populations have another serious decline.

“With this species, you literally cannot put all your eggs in one basket. We’re not out of the woods, but with so many people doing the naturing alongside us, we’re making real progress.”

Orange-fronted parakeet/kakariki karaka: New Zealand native land birds

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/the-egg-race-hopeful-signs-for-the-kakariki-karaka-recovery-programme/

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Waipoua Forest embarks on bold Kauri Walks expansion to enhance visitor experience and protect trees

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  11 March 2026

DOC Northern North Island Regional Director Sue Reed-Thomas says the renovation at Kauri Walks will allow improved access to the Four Sisters and open previously inaccessible parts of Waipoua, including unique kauri gumland wetlands.

“Forest health is our top priority, and we are focused on delivering a memorable experience so visitors who come naturing here walk away and want to be part of protecting this incredible taonga for future generations,” Sue says. “Partnership is the key element of the Rākau Rangatira kaupapa. We work alongside Te Roroa to share this significant milestone of getting work underway.”

Piripi Moore, Te Roroa representative, says the renovation works mark an important step forward within the wider Rākau Rangatira kaupapa, which began in earnest with the completion of the new Tāne Mahuta infrastructure and enhanced visitor experience in 2024.

“This phase is also about more than new infrastructure,” Piripi says. “When people come to understand the cultural and ecological significance of Waipoua, they become part of its protection. Our hope is that every manuhiri leaves not only inspired by the majesty of these rākau rangatira, but with a deeper awareness of their responsibility to uphold the mauri of the ngahere.

“For Te Roroa, this is an expression of kaitiakitanga responsibilities in action. We are proud that our kaimahi will be actively involved throughout construction, visibly upholding our role as mana whenua and our intergenerational commitment to safeguard this taonga for ngā uri whakatipu, while helping shape a world-class visitor experience grounded in respect, conservation and kotahitanga.”

Sue says main contractor Keir Projects specialises in this type of construction, with many of the team being multi-disciplined tradespeople who are highly qualified to work in remote areas and sensitive areas.

The new boardwalk will be 1.5 km long. All work will be carried out under robust biosecurity controls approved and monitored by Kauri Ora, DOC, and Tiakina Kauri.

Kauri Walks (Te Matua Ngahere) and the Four Sisters are expected to re-open for visitors in October 2026.

The Four Sisters has been closed since 2019 due to the biosecurity threat posed by the plant pathogen that causes kauri dieback disease.

Tāne Mahuta will remain open for naturing during the upgrade of Kauri Walks.

Background Information

What is kauri Dieback Disease?

Phytophthora agathidicida (PA) is a fungus-type pathogen that damages the tree’s root system, reducing its ability to take water and nutrients from the soil. This causes the condition known as kauri disease, which eventually starves and kills the tree.
PA has devastating effects on New Zealand’s kauri forests and is spread easily through soil movements, for example, when soil is carried on dirty footwear, animals, equipment and vehicles.

Te Matua Ngahere

Te Matua Ngahere is the oldest out of the two largest living kauri trees and is estimated to exceed 2,000 years. He was discovered by Nicholas Yakas in 1928 when he and other men were working to build the road that is now known as SH12.

Measurements:

  • trunk girth: 16.41 m
  • trunk height: 10.21 m
  • total height: 29.9 m
  • trunk volume: 208.1 m³

Learn more

DOC and Te Iwi O Te Roroa are working closely with stakeholders, visitor groups and the community on this project, and everyone can play a role in supporting kauri protection. Find out more by visiting Rākau Rangatira project.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/waipoua-forest-embarks-on-bold-kauri-walks-expansion-to-enhance-visitor-experience-and-protect-trees/

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Latest wave of Covid-19 driven by low vaccination rates, expert warns

Source: Radio New Zealand

Covid-19 booster vaccination rates are dropping. (File photo) AFP

The latest wave of Covid-19 is being driven by low vaccination rates, a health expert says.

Latest number show 50 hospitalisation and 19 deaths with the virus within the span of a week.

University of Otago professor of public health Michael Baker said earlier this week, New Zealand was experiencing its ninth wave of the virus.

The chairperson of General Practice New Zealand, Dr Bryan Betty, told Morning Report, vaccination rates were dropping, with the number of people getting a booster hovering at 56 percent.

As Winter came closer, Betty believed we would see the Covid booster being promoted alongside the annual flu vaccination.

“I think lining it up with it [the flu vaccine], does make sense.”

He said he would like to see people getting a Covid booster once a year, especially if they were aged over 65, or over 50 if of Māori descent.

Betty noted Covid-19 was not seasonal and affected people year round.

Covid-19 is not seasonal. (File photo) 123rf.com

“Covid is always with us, it never goes away. When immunity drops we see a wave. Due to low immunisation rates that wave is occurring at the moment.”

Betty said 56 percent of the eligible population had the Covid-19 booster while 14 percent of non-Māori and 28 percent of Māori were not vaccinated at all.

“The booster vaccination is important to protect yourself against these very irregular waves of Covid that can occur,” Betty said.

Health NZ’s national director of public health service Dr Nick Chamberlain, said while Covid hospitalisations and cases had increased in recent weeks, levels remained below previous peaks.

“Since the arrival of Covid in our communities, we have been seeing both summer and winter Covid-19 increases, but from the available data, recent increases are currently not near the magnitude of 2022-2024 rates of Covid-19 illness.”

Chamberlain said since fewer people were testing and reporting results, most cases were identified in hospitals. He said there was no single dominant variant driving the increase.

Health NZ was monitoring Covid-19 trends through wastewater testing, hospital data, genomic sequencing and case reporting, he said.

“As we head into winter, we encourage people, particularly those at higher risk, to get your flu vaccination and stay up to date with their Covid‑19 boosters.”

Betty said lots of patients weren’t testing due to the fact tests were not subsidised by the government.

“Our advice is to stay home in those situations.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/latest-wave-of-covid-19-driven-by-low-vaccination-rates-expert-warns/

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Serious crash: Forrest Hill, Auckland

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are attending a serious crash on William Souter Street, Forrest Hill.

Police were called at around 8.55am following reports of a single-vehicle crash where a car has impacted a building.

One person has been transported to hospital in a critical condition.

Two people have suffered moderate injuries and have been transported to hospital.

William Souter Street is closed between East Coast Road and Morton Avenue.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance.

ENDS.

Frankie Le Roy/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/serious-crash-forrest-hill-auckland/

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Queenstown-based tech entrepreneur Brian Cartmell donating hundreds of thousands to political parties

Source: Radio New Zealand

Political donations made in an election year must be declared within 20 days if they are more than $20,000. RNZ

Technology entrepreneur Brian Cartmell appears to have donated at least half a million dollars to the coalition parties – and to the Opportunity party.

Cartmell moved to New Zealand in 2010 and gave up his US citizenship in 2015. His former professional background includes working for the Internet Entertainment Group, an online pornography company. It was a pioneer in live webcam shows and subscription services.

In a statement on his website, Cartmell said he had donated equally to the three coalition parties as well as to Opportunity. The ACT Party told RNZ it had received a total of $200,000 from Cartmell last year. The Electoral Commission said a $100,000 donation to Opportunity from Cartmell had been disclosed. Neither National nor NZ First would confirm donations from him.

But Cartmell himself said the current coalition parties represent “the best available chance of navigating” a period of significant economic, technological, and geopolitical change in a way that preserves New Zealand’s sovereignty, prosperity and independence.

He said he chose to donate equal amounts to National, Act and NZ First last year as none of the three represents his thinking, but he believed the three parties complemented each other. The donation to Opportunity was made because he feels healthy democracies need parties willing to put forward ideas major parties won’t.

“New ideas enter the political process from the edges, and parties like Opportunity play an important role in making sure that process doesn’t stagnate.”

Who is Brian Cartmell?

Cartmell lives in Queenstown with his partner. He says he has donated more than $1 million to a range of organisations including Starship Children’s Hospital, Cure Kids, Hato Hone St John and NZSAS Regiment Trust.

In the 1990s, he worked at Internet Entertainment Group helping it to develop live streaming technology.

Cartmell also founded a domain registry firm in 1997 which managed domain names with the .cc extension, associated with the Cocos Islands territory, an island territory with a population of around 600 people. He told the United States Senate Commerce Committee 400,000 domain names were registered to the extension. The Australian Financial Review reported the islands received no benefits from domain name sales, although Cartmell did distribute technology and grants. Cartmell sold the company to Verisign in 2001 for an undisclosed sum.

Cartmell also funded an anti-spam service called SpamAlert. This company won a court case against the food company Hormel, maker of tinned Spam, over the use of the word spam. He was also an early adopter of cryptocurrency Bitcoin and participated in the first funding round of Coinbase.

The Companies Register shows he is a director of three New Zealand companies and a shareholder in an additional 12 companies. These include crowdsourcing platform PledgeMe, food and beverage companies Angel Food and Yeastie Boys. He has a small shareholding in Invisible Urban Charging, an electric car charging company co-founded by former National Party MP Jake Bezzant.

According to Cartmell’s website he is seeking investment opportunities and is looking for innovative start-ups in transformative technologies.

Parties respond

Opportunity party general manager Iain Lees-Galloway said the cash injection, which was declared as being received on 25 February was incredibly helpful for the small party, which is not in parliament.

“We don’t have parliamentary resources to run our campaigns that sitting MPs do. So a donation like this makes a huge difference to us to be able to get our message out.”

Donations would be spent on marketing as well as travel and events. The party has received one other big donation of $50,000 from Phillip Mills, taking its currently declared total for 2026 to $150,000.

Donations made in the 2025 calendar year will be published in early May. Donations made in an election year must be declared within 20 days if they are more than $20,000.

An ACT party spokesperson confirmed Cartmell had made donations in 2025 but had not made any donations this year.

“ACT New Zealand received a donation from Brian Cartmell of $100k in December last year. He donated a total of $200k to ACT in 2025.”

New Zealand First party secretary Holly Howard said donations would be disclosed as required by law.

“Out of respect for our donors’ privacy and due process, we will not provide commentary or confirmation on individual donations ahead of the statutory reporting requirements.”

The National Party said it wouldn’t comment on individual donations, except where required by law through donation disclosures.

Information released on the electoral commission website shows coalition parties have received $750,000 in donations of over $20,000 so far this year. National has received $250,000, ACT $350,000 and NZ First $150,000.

The Greens have received $43,000 and Labour $22,000.

Cartmell’s statement says he supports transparent political donations, but will be making no further statements on the matter.

“These donations were made with that broader objective in mind – with the understanding that it is voters, not donors, who decide the direction of New Zealand.”

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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/2026/03/11/queenstown-based-tech-entrepreneur-brian-cartmell-donating-hundreds-of-thousands-to-political-parties/

Posted on

Rugby: Crusaders teammates in heated scuffle as tensions spill over at training

Source: Radio New Zealand

Crusaders’ forward Kershawl Sykes-Martin is one of the players reported to have been involved in the dust-up in training. Joe Allison

Clarification: An earlier version of this story reported punches were thrown. This was incorrect.

Days after a significant loss to the Blues, tensions rose at Crusaders training on Tuesday with reports of a heated scuffle.

Stuff is reporting prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin and lock Will Tucker were involved in the incident at Rugby Park in Christchurch during a contact session.

Captain David Havili was reportedly the man to break up the altercation.

After training, coach Rob Penney did his best to downplay the tension, telling reporters he was not fazed by the clash between his players and even welcomed it.

“So there should be,” Penney said when asked if there was tension in the camp after the 29-13 defeat to the Blues.

“It was a really lovely sight to see, actually. It is a reflection of how much it means. The boys aren’t happy with the performances and the outcomes.

“Very proud young men are going to come up against each other, and create a bit of sandpaper from time to time.

“But it’s not a thing that is going to affect negatively. We are all over it, the boys are fine.”

Penney expected there could be more scuffles at training in the future.

“It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last.”

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/rugby-crusaders-teammates-in-heated-scuffle-as-tensions-spill-over-at-training/

Posted on

Education sector Guidance will help frontline workers

Source: Privacy Commissioner

New privacy guidance, launched today, will give people working in the education sector a better understand about how to use and protect personal information, the Privacy Commissioner says. 

 

“Privacy, especially when it relates to children and young people, can be a complex area.

 

“Our new guidance focuses on the specific needs of those working within the education sector and uses a range of real-world scenarios to help them make good privacy decisions with confidence,” Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says.

 

Topics include the rights of children and young people, education technology, and health and learning support information. Other areas covered are managing information requests, keeping learner information safe, unique identifiers, and managing privacy incidents.

 

The use of digital technologies is one key area explored, including the use of online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, and parent communication tools. There is also a checklist providing a list of questions to ask when undertaking due diligence on these digital tools.

 

Special topic chapters focus on the relevant areas of the Privacy Act and the applicable privacy principles, including how these can be applied across the lifecycle of information, from collection through to deletion.

 

“One of our aims is to raise awareness of the various privacy risks children face. Protecting children is also a major area of interest for the public, with our most recent privacy survey recording the highest level of concern (67%) for children’s privacy, says Mr Webster.

 

“Whether you’re a teacher, a principal, an administrator, a member of a school board, a speech language therapist, a guidance counsellor, a music teacher, operate an ECE service, or are a service provider with services for learners, this guidance has been created for you.”

 

This guidance follows on from recent guidance on information sharing, photographing and filming of children and young people, best practice when responding to requests for a child or young person’s personal information, and how to help children, young people and their parents protect their privacy while exploring the online world.

 

Read the full guidance here.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/education-sector-guidance-will-help-frontline-workers/

Posted on

Another Housing Development Approved

Source: New Zealand Government

One of Auckland’s largest new housing developments, the Sunfield Masterplanned Community has been approved through Fast-track says Regional Development Minister Shane Jones.  

Winton Land Limited submitted its application on 3 April 2025 to develop the ‘Masterplanned’ community to provide around 3,854 new homes, a 7.5‑hectare town centre, retail and healthcare services, three retirement villages, and extensive parks, reserves and green links.

“The Sunfield development is projected to be deliver up to $3.2 billion to the economy, support approximately 24,700 jobs during the 10–15‑year build‑out period, and around 9,800 permanent jobs once the community is fully established.” Mr Jones says.

Approval for this project has taken 10 months following the commencement of the expert panel process which included approximately four months of suspension.

“Applicants can request a suspension from the expert panel to do things such as collate information required for the panel’s process, this demonstrates the flexibility built into the Fast-track system.” Mr Jones says.  

Concerns were raised about whether existing infrastructure like roads, water supply and sewage systems would be able to support the new homes this project would deliver. The expert panel found those concerns could be addressed through development design and by meeting the conditions of consent. 

“These conditions ensure that growth pays for growth by ensuring the future development pays for its own infrastructure needs,” Mr Jones says. 

“This is a major win for housing supply, jobs and growth in Auckland. Fast-track is doing exactly what it was set up to do, getting big projects moving sooner.” Mr Jones says.

This is the seventh housing project to be approved through Fast‑track and the fourth approval in the Auckland region.

Notes to editor:

For more information about the project: Sunfield

Fast-track by the numbers:

  • 12 projects approved by expert panels.
  • 19 projects with expert panels appointed.
  • 149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
  • 47 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process.
  • 32 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure.
  • On average, it has taken 128 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.

Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:

  • Sunfield [Housing/Land]
  • Arataki [Housing/Land]
  • Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
  • Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
  • Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
  • Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
  • Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
  • Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
  • Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
  • Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
  • Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
  • Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]

Expert panels have been appointed for:

  • Ashbourne
  • Ayrburn Screen Hub
  • Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
  • Green Steel
  • Haldon Solar Farm
  • Hananui Aquaculture Project
  • Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme
  • Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works
  • Mahinerangi Wind Farm
  • Pound Road Industrial Development
  • Ryans Road Industrial Development
  • Southland Wind Farm Project
  • Stella Passage Development
  • Takitimu North Link – Stage 2
  • The Point Mission Bay
  • The Point Solar Farm
  • Waitaha Hydro
  • Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project
  • Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/another-housing-development-approved/

Posted on

No Stupid Questions: What could the Iran war really mean for your bank balance?

Source: Radio New Zealand

ATTA KENARE / AFP

What will the war in the Middle East mean for the average Kiwi’s finances? How far are fuel prices going to rise? What will happen to interest rates?

And what does it all mean for the price of food – haven’t we had enough increases there, already?

A special episode of the No Stupid Questions podcast out on Wednesday aims to answer these questions – and more.

If you have any questions of your own, send them to questions@rnz.co.nz

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/no-stupid-questions-what-could-the-iran-war-really-mean-for-your-bank-balance/

Posted on

What is wabi‑sabi? Will this Japanese philosophy make me happy?

Source: Radio New Zealand

The ceramic bowl with an uneven glaze. The teacup mended with gold lacquer.

The images are calming and attractive.

They are said to reflect wabi-sabi – a Japanese aesthetic often summarised in the West as valuing imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness.

Wabi-sabi: things are flawed, things change, and things are never fully finished.

Ketut Subiyanto

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/what-is-wabi-sabi-will-this-japanese-philosophy-make-me-happy/

Posted on

Auckland Mayor says inner-city suburbs are ripe for housing intensification

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wayne Brown and councillors met on Tuesday after the government u-turned on 2 million homes for the city. File picture. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Auckland’s mayor says the city’s oldest suburb can expect intensification after a “long and painful” meeting to mull over how to grow the city.

Councillors met on Tuesday after the government u-turned on plans for 2 million homes for the city.

It last month cut that to 1.6m.

“We’ll send them a letter on the 17th of March,” Wayne Brown said.

“We’ll just be handing them ‘this is the process we’re going to go through’ and if you don’t like it we’ll stick with 2 million,” he told Morning Report.

He was asked what would happen if the government did not like the plan from councillors.

“They’re just the government, and they live in Wellington, and they should just spend their time wandering around the coast picking up the lavatory paper that they put into the harbour,” he said.

“And we’ll carry on running a big city.”

Brown said with 180,000 votes, he represented Aucklanders more than Parliamentarians did.

But he said he was “not really grumpy with the government”.

The back-and-forth on future development in the city has been a divisive debate.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has previously said he was frustrated by resistance from some for the government’s push for greater intensification.

After pressure from people worried about heritage homes and infrastructure, he announced last month Cabinet had agreed to lower the 2m number.

“We decided on some policies about how we would go about reducing the number from 2 million to 1.6, but we didn’t do anything about implementing it,” Brown said of Tuesday’s meeting.

“We’re not going to actually do any work about that until the government passes the legislation, so we’ve decided some sensible rules.”

Brown said there would be no intensification in suburbs “that haven’t got everything needed” and that are more than 10-kilometres from the central city.

But he said there would be in places with good public transport and infrastructure.

“It’s just sensible, it will end up with a city which looks like a city, not the world’s largest suburb,” the mayor told Morning Report.

Brown said “vocal constituents” had no more influence than local councillors did.

“Parnell has a railway station, bus service, and is on the upgraded sewage area so it will certainly be involved in intensification,” he said.

“Just like Mount Eden, Epsom, Ponsonby, and all the other areas that are close into the city that actually have a lot of it already.

“If you have a look, if you visit Parnell, there’s a multi-storey apartments everywhere, same with Ponsonby where I live, I’m in a multi-storey apartment as we speak so they’re just sensible things make it into a nice city.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/auckland-mayor-says-inner-city-suburbs-are-ripe-for-housing-intensification/

Posted on

Kurt Cobain’s Smells Like Teen Spirit guitar goes up for sale

Source: Radio New Zealand

The electric guitar Kurt Cobain played in Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video is expected to sell for more than US$7 million at auction in New York later this month.

The left-handed 1969 Fender Competition Mustang, which Cobain bought just before the release of the genre-defining album Nevermind, is among hundreds of items to be auctioned by Christie’s from the collection of late American billionaire Jim Irsay.

The guitar previously sold at auction in 2022 for $6.7 million ($US4.7 million), making it the most expensive electric guitar ever sold.

Kurt Cobain’s left-handed Fender Mustang is the most expensive lot listed for sale.

Christie’s

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/kurt-cobains-smells-like-teen-spirit-guitar-goes-up-for-sale/

Posted on

Northland rough sleepers face more than 800 day wait for home through Housing First

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rough sleepers in New Plymouth, in Northland rough sleepers are typically waiting for more than 800 days for a home through Housing First. RNZ / Robin Martin

In Northland, rough sleepers typically wait more than 800 days for a home through the Housing First. The nationwide programme helps chronically homeless people into housing. It’s effective, and successive governments of both stripes support it. But a Northland provider says “horrendous” wait times are driven by a lack of funding, and a lack of homes. Lauren Crimp reports.

Casey Tangira, her husband, four kids and niece spent four months living in a car in 2024.

They had been in the same rental in the Northland town of Opua for eight years – but their landlord needed the house back, and they had nowhere else to go.

They parked up at a local rugby clubrooms, and showered at a freedom camping facility nearby.

But winter hit, and it got too cold, so they sought shelter with their in-laws.

Ten people crammed into a two-bedroom converted shed in Northland, sleeping on couches and mattresses on the floor.

“It was hectic, very stressful, just on edge all the time,” Tangira said.

Finally, after just over a year registered with Housing First through Ngāti Hine Health Trust, they were placed into a home near Moerewa, in the trust’s housing development.

“Were just so over the moon, that we could have a house of our own … and we could just be settled.”

The kids were not themselves when they were homeless, Tangira said. In their new home, they have their sparkle back.

“Just seeing my children waking up every morning and smiling and having their own beds… it’s my kids that I worry about the most,” she said.

“We’re just so grateful to Ngāti Hine every day.”

Northland, Bay of Plenty rough sleepers face longest wait

Tangira’s story is not unusual in Northland. In fact, a year-long wait is shorter than what’s typical: 826 days, from being accepted into Housing First, to being housed.

Bay of Plenty has the next longest median wait time of 566 days.

In other regions it’s between 100 and 300 days, aside from Waikato, where it’s 70 days.

The housing ministry allocates Housing First “places” – that is, funding for a person to be housed – to providers like Ngāti Hine Health Trust, who find homes for rough sleepers, often leasing them through the private market.

The ministry said at the end of January there were 3613 households in the programme, of which 2596 had been housed.

That leaves more than 1000 people who have sought help – and been told they could get it – still waiting.

Ngāti Hine Health Trust chief executive Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti said its allocation of 60 places is full, and up to 100 people are on the wait-list.

Single men, often just released from prison, usually wait the longest, he said.

That’s because “in these constrained times” the Trust is forced to make tough choices, and prioritise.

“You have to draw a line about what you find unacceptable. And for us, that’s families in cars,” Shepherd-Wipiiti said.

“We won’t have families in cars.”

He said the problem was twofold: housing supply, and funding.

In Moerewa and Kawakawa, there aren’t enough homes to lease from the private market, so Ngāti Hine is building some.

In Whangārei, the Trust could house 10 whānau immediately – if it had sufficient Housing First places, Shepherd-Wipiiti said.

He’s asked the housing ministry to consider upping its allocation.

The government funded an extra 300 Housing First places last year for Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti wants the government to think smarter about the distribution.

“It was a bit sad to hear that some providers aren’t actually reaching their cap because, if we run this sort of as a national network, we could easily fill that gap for people who are actually struggling to fill their cap,” he said.

However, the shortage isn’t just felt in Northland – Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson has said her city alone needed 1000 more places.

A South Auckland house which has been allocated under the Housing First programme which places chronically homeless people into permanent housing. RNZ / Eva Corlett

National, Labour won’t commit to more funding

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said since September nearly 500 rough sleepers had been housed through Housing First, and the government was spending “hundreds of millions, billions of dollars into supporting people who have been doing it tough in this space”.

He said households and providers must navigate “challenging social circumstances and local housing market conditions” to secure appropriate housing.

RNZ asked whether an 800-day wait time was acceptable.

“I don’t think anyone is happy to see people doing it tough on the street or living in a rough space,” Potaka said.

“No one wants to see Kiwis living under a bush, in a car, in a cowshed.

“And that’s why we’ve been really clear, we want the funds that we have applied to this space to be used efficiently and effectively.”

Labour’s housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said the need for Housing First jumped after the [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525607/government-was-warned-emergency-housing-crackdown-could-increase-homelessness

government made it tougher to access emergency housing] nearly two years ago.

“When you consider that they’ve saved a billion dollars by keeping people on the street … the amount that they’ve put into Housing First is an absolute fraction of that,” he said.

“It is a drop of water into an empty bucket.”

But he would not commit a potential Labour government to boosting Housing First support.

McAnulty said that call would be made after it considered this year’s budget, so it knows what money it had to work with.

While politicians battle over budgets, Casey Tangira thinks about other vulnerable people in her community, who she noticed when she was living in her car.

“Down the park and behind the library and that there was a lot of other homeless people too,” she said.

“I just want to bring them all home.”

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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/2026/03/11/northland-rough-sleepers-face-more-than-800-day-wait-for-home-through-housing-first/