Category: CTF

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/economy-1970s-style-stagflation-could-hit-global-economy-devere-ceo/

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/economy-why-new-zealanders-still-feel-squeezed-despite-lower-inflation-rbnz/

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/economy-positions-recruitment-for-assistant-governor-financial-stability-underway/

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand is an expensive country, Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway says, with many products priced well above the OECD average.

And some things – such as construction services, household utilities and some food items – are among the most expensive in the OECD.

Conway spoke to the National Financial Advisers Conference in Auckland on Wednesday.

He said inflation had been one of the most obvious economic disruptions over the past few years, particularly over the pandemic, when demand combined with a lack of supply sent inflation soaring at the sharpest rate in decades.

He said people were still asking why everything felt so expensive, even though inflation was much nearer the Reserve Bank’s targets than it had been.

Conway said, since the start of the pandemic, overall prices had risen by 26 percent and the price of some essentials had increased much more.

Wages rose 32 percent but that increase was probably not evenly felt – people who moved jobs were more likely to have received larger wage increases.

Conway said that for the past five years, one or more of a range of everyday household essentials that were hard to avoid had been increasing strongly in price at almost every point. “That included prices for council rates, construction services, some foods – including meat and butter, and insurance.

“Because households cannot easily avoid some of these costs, this has no doubt added to the sense of a ‘cost-of-living crisis’.”

Rates, insurance and gas had jumped particularly in recent years.

Tobacco products were among the most expensive in the OECD and milk, cheese, eggs and fruit prices were well above the average. Seafood, clothing, and meat were slightly below average.

“For services, the price of construction in New Zealand is the highest in the OECD and more than double the average. This is undoubtedly a handbrake on housing and infrastructure development here. In fact, the price of ‘capital formation’ – which covers machinery, equipment and construction – is 70 percent above average in New Zealand and also the highest in the OECD. The price of housing services and utilities in New Zealand is also assessed as being the most expensive in the OECD.”

He said low and stable inflation mattered for the cost of living but it was not the whole story.

Monetary policy – such as the official cash rate set by the Reserve Bank – could help to anchor prices but not make New Zealand affordable on its own. He acknowledged that inflation ended 2025 just above the Reserve Bank’s 1 percent to 3 percent target band and was likely to be more elevated because of the Middle East conflict.

He said what mattered for households was their purchasing power.

Before 2020, the purchasing power of wages in New Zealand was growing faster than the OECD average on the back of strong employment growth and favourable terms of trade.

“Today, while wage purchasing power is around average across all 38 OECD members countries, it is about 20 percent below the average of the more advanced OECD economies that we typically compare ourselves to.”

Productivity the key

For there to be continued sustained improvements in purchasing power, there would have to be more productivity, he said.

Real per capita income in New Zealand was below the OECD average, he noted. It had been about 80 percent of the average until the mid-2000s then increased to more than 95 percent by 2020.

“Since 2020, real income in New Zealand has fallen back to around 90 percent of the OECD average and the income gap vis-à-vis Australia has widened. Purchasing power, as measured by real income, has not kept pace with the rest of the OECD nor Australia since the beginning of the pandemic.”

Wages had declined less compared to the OECD average and were at best average, he said.

“Importantly, this is compared to all 38 current OECD member countries, which includes several emerging economies. Compared to the 30 OECD member countries in 2010, average incomes in New Zealand sit around 20 percent below the average.”

He said productivity growth would be the single most powerful determinant of higher real incomes and better purchasing power over the long run.

“New Zealand’s productivity performance leaves much to be desired and has lagged other OECD economies. Further, productivity growth in the New Zealand economy fell significantly following the global financial crisis and has been negative in the wake of the pandemic.

“While low and stable inflation is a key ingredient in lifting productivity and improving purchasing power, it is insufficient on its own. By anchoring prices, monetary policy creates the conditions for growth. But sustained gains in purchasing power require structural improvements in the economy.”

Measures to improve resilience

He said a more fragmented and unpredictable global economy would raise the stakes for ensuring New Zealand’s structural policies were resilient, adaptive and fit for purpose.

“We are in a new era of heightened geopolitical risk and persistent uncertainty, with the conflict in the Middle East a timely reminder of how quickly geopolitics can disrupt the global economy. At the same time, cross-country flows of trade, capital, and people are shifting, governments are becoming more interventionist, and the rules-based order that once underpinned global integration has weakened considerably.

“This is not a temporary shock that we can simply wait out. It’s a durable shift that makes the global economy more difficult and dangerous for small economies like New Zealand. We are more exposed to external shocks, fragile global supply chains, and shifts in global rules and norms over which we have little control.”

He said sustaining living standards would depend on structural policy settings that built resilience into the structure of the economy by encouraging flexibility, investment and adaption.

“A more resilient and flexible economy would mean monetary policy does not have to work as hard, or be as aggressive, to stabilise inflation as shocks wash through the economy.

“While monetary policy plays a critical role in responding to shocks, it cannot solve New Zealand’s ‘cost-of-living crisis’. Low and stable inflation underpins economic stability and is critical for sustained gains in purchasing power. But monetary policy does not create prosperity directly. It creates the conditions in which prosperity can endure.

“Improving the purchasing power of New Zealand households requires improved productivity. Productivity gains support stronger real wage growth, while competitive markets help keep price increases in check… stronger productivity raises the economy’s speed limit – allowing faster growth without inflation. A more resilient and flexible economy also means monetary policy doesn’t need to be as aggressive to keep inflation stable when shocks hit.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/new-zealand-is-expensive-reserve-bank-economist-says-heres-what-we-can-do-about-it/

Source: New Zealand Government

A new prospecting permit application in the offshore Canterbury Basin signals renewed sector confidence in pursuing opportunities in New Zealand’s search for oil and gas, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.

New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals (NZP&M) has today opened a three-month competitive process for an application submitted by CBX Energy Limited. The proposal outlines a programme of technical and economic studies, including work on a comprehensive Canterbury Basin development strategy.

“The Canterbury Basin, off the east coast of the South Island, is one of New Zealand’s 18 sedimentary basins with known or potential hydrocarbons. It has long been viewed as a promising but largely untapped opportunity,” Mr Jones says.

“The basin remains far less explored than comparable regions overseas, highlighting how much potential is still to be tested.

“Further prospecting and exploration in the Canterbury Basin could unlock new domestic energy resources, strengthening New Zealand’s long‑term energy resilience and creating valuable economic opportunities.”

NZP&M will accept competing applications until 5pm, 24 June. Applications will be prioritised in accordance with the criteria set out in the Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025. A permit may be awarded in response to the best application that also meets requirements of the Crown Minerals Act 1991. A petroleum prospecting permit is an early‑stage, low‑impact permit that allows a company to search for evidence of petroleum/oil and gas.

Since the removal of the petroleum exploration ban in late 2025, two exploration permit applications have already progressed through the competitive process and are now under assessment, with decisions expected later this year.

For more information see: Applications under the open market competitive process – New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/prospecting-application-targets-frontier-acreage/

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Vessels can discharge oily water that causes harm to the oceans and rivers we depend on for our livelihoods and wellbeing.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/easy-ways-to-avoid-oil-discharges/

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is taking practical steps to strengthen New Zealand’s fuel resilience by temporarily allowing fuel that meets Australian specifications to be supplied to the New Zealand market, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.

“In a tight global fuel market, flexibility matters. Countries that can access a wider range of shipments are better placed to keep fuel flowing. This decision removes unnecessary technical barriers and helps ensure New Zealand isn’t excluded from available supply our neighbours across the Tasman are accessing,” Mr Jones says.

The temporary alignment will open up more options for fuel importers by allowing fuel refined to Australian specifications to be supplied domestically.

“The change reduces the risk of supply disruptions driven purely by technical specification differences. Fuel companies have told us this could allow them to secure shipments more quickly and from a wider pool of suppliers.

“Our fuel specifications are already very similar to Australia’s. Fuel refined to Australian standards is compatible with New Zealand vehicles and meets safety and quality expectations.”

New Zealand will not, at this stage, be following Australia’s lead and relaxing standards to allow higher sulphur fuel. Australia has made the decision so it can access high-sulphur fuel from its Brisbane refinery.

“However, we will keep an eye on whether further changes to fuel specifications could open up further supply channels if necessary,” Mr Jones says.

“This is a sensible, time‑limited step that gives importers access to a broader range of fuel shipments, including those already in our region.

“We are closely monitoring market conditions and will keep under review any further practical measures that could strengthen New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience while global conditions remain uncertain.”

The temporary alignment with Australian specifications could remain in place for up to 12 months if needed.

Editors’ note:

Fuel specifications set the minimum technical and environmental requirements that petrol, diesel and other transport fuels must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Each country has its own fuel specifications.
Where there are differences in fuel specifications for the purpose of catering to different climatic conditions, this is dealt with by the requirement that fuel sold in New Zealand must still be ‘fit for common purpose’. For example, this means diesel for hot climates cannot be sold in very cold ones. 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/23/government-widens-fuel-supply-options/

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/energy-re-energise-26-highlights-opportunity-for-energy-sector-workforce-to-secure-new-zealands-energy-future/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tauel Harper, Associate Professor in Communications and Media, Murdoch University

The US military action in Iran may have an unintended secondary effect – ending the cultural dominance of the internal combustion engine and ushering in the age of electric vehicles.

Back in the 1970s, a sudden increase in the price of oil led to the public embracing smaller and more fuel efficient cars; similarly, the choking of the Strait of Hormuz, and the resultant high cost of oil, is driving a historic surge of interest in electric vehicles.

Google Trends data shows that almost three times as many Australians searched for “electric vehicles” on March 23 when compared to February 27, the day before the US started to bomb Iran and the cost of oil (and fuel) started to skyrocket. The increase in RSV (Relative Search Volume) represents a 278% increase in Australians searching for “electric vehicles”.

While research shows a number of factors influence Australians’ choice to own an electric vehicle, the price and availability of energy clearly plays a central role and the weight of public opinion is slowly shifting towards embracing EVs.

EV interest remains over time

Historically, the relationship between the cost of petrol and interest in electric vehicles (EVs) is even more telling. The graph below shows a clear pattern of higher petrol prices leading to more searches for EVs.

While the most notable feature of this data is the dramatic increase in searches for EVs since the US attacks on Iran began, it’s also interesting that while interest in EVs often drops as oil prices return to “normal”, it never drops back down to its previous level. Once sparked, our interest in EVs remains higher than before.

For instance, after the spike in oil prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, you can see a similar spike in searches for EVs. However, even after the oil price had dropped back down and stabilised, the Relative Search Volume (RSV) of Google searches for EVs remained at a higher level than before the invasion.

This suggests consumers retain some interest in EVs after the increase in oil prices has passed. Perhaps these global oil crises prompt the realisation that relying on energy imported from the other side of the world is more tenuous than relying on energy from your own rooftop.

A pragmatic interest in saving money

My colleagues and I recently explored Australia’s cultural attitudes to EVs. We argued increasing access to household solar energy was driving an enthusiasm for a new relationship with energy. But long-held anxieties around range, infrastructure, gender roles and national image, as well as traditionalist hold outs like enthusiast car culture and engine sounds, as factors that inhibit the take up of EVs in Australia.

However, the clear signal this trend data sends is that Australians are a pragmatic lot. If using an EV might save them money, then they are interested.

The data also presents a warning to car makers that have “bet against” the rise of the electric vehicle. Porsche, Lambourghini and Ferrari have all recently announced plans to reconsider or scale back their production of EVs. This is based on their assessment of shifts in the “political climate”, with security and trade taking precedence over “environmental concerns”.

While economic driving may not be a concern for many Ferrari drivers, Toyota has also made the decision to “not go all in” on electric. Instead, it offers only one full EV in Australia, amid a range of internal combustion and hybrid options. This bet against electric vehicles may look foolish if oil prices continue to rise.

Is this the ‘critical mass’ for EVs?

Google trends data is an enigmatic metric. It tells you how interest in things changes but not how much interest there is overall. According to sales data, there was a slump in EV sales in 2024, but EV sales in February 2026 were already 95% higher than they were in February 2025. The evidence of Google Trends suggests March’s results will show even more of an increase.

While technological change can be difficult to initiate, new technologies tend to reach a tipping point when they reach a “critical mass” of public adoption. Like the move from LPs to CDs to streaming services, what starts out as idiosyncratic can soon become a norm. Similarly, technology that once seemed here to stay can quickly become outdated.

With the cost of petrol rising once again, and Australians increasingly harnessing their solar electricity, we are rapidly normalising the benefits of electric vehicles.

I’d like to acknowledge the contribution to this article of my colleague, car enthusiast and academic Damian Fasolo, whose understanding of car culture contributed significantly.

– ref. Our interest in electric vehicles has grown due to oil price spikes. And it’s likely to remain – https://theconversation.com/our-interest-in-electric-vehicles-has-grown-due-to-oil-price-spikes-and-its-likely-to-remain-278664

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/25/our-interest-in-electric-vehicles-has-grown-due-to-oil-price-spikes-and-its-likely-to-remain-278664/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Tian, Senior Lecturer, Finance School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology

Many Australians don’t realise their superannuation savings – worth A$4.5 trillion and growing – may be invested in fossil fuel companies, gambling, or even weapons manufacturers.

If you’ve switched how your super is invested to avoid any of those industries, you’re not alone.

The latest official superannuation statistics show most of Australia’s major super funds now offer investments designed to reduce exposure to everything from coal and oil to other industries like tobacco, weapons, gambling and alcohol.

But if you care about particular issues – from climate change to weapons of war – it’s worth reading the fine print to be sure where your money is going.

It’s easy to put off thinking about superannuation when retirement is years away. In this five-part series, we ask top experts to explain how to sort your super in a few simple steps, avoid greenwashing, and set goals for retirement.

What even counts as ‘sustainable’?

There’s no single definition of what makes a super option “sustainable” or “responsible”. So it’s not easy for consumers to compare different funds.

That’s why the federal government is currently consulting on clearer labelling rules for financial products marketed as “sustainable” (and a long list of similar terms) – including for superannuation.

For now, each fund sets its own criteria.

A few funds, such as Australian Ethical and Future Super, only offer sustainable options, with tighter investment restrictions than most super funds. Even so, the fine print matters.

For instance, in Australian Ethical’s case, weapons makers and tobacco producers are excluded outright. But a diversified company earning a small share of revenue from fossil fuels or alcohol may still be held, if its positives are judged to outweigh its negatives.

Among the biggest super funds, which most Australians have their super in, there’s a wide variety of “sustainable” options on offer.

Check what’s screened in or out

Most super sustainable options in Australia use some combination of “negative screening” (excluding sectors like fossil fuels, gambling or weapons) and “positive screening” (favouring companies with strong environmental, social and governance practices). But those thresholds vary widely.

A common approach is to set a revenue threshold, rather than an outright ban. This means a company can still be held as long as its income from a screened activity stays below a set percentage.

For example, HESTA’s “sustainable growth” option has a long list of exclusions, including companies with thermal coal, oil and gas reserves, tobacco and controversial weapons. Its thresholds vary for each category, from outright bans (such as on uranium miners) to restrictions on revenue (such as weapons).

Australia’s biggest super fund, AustralianSuper, has a “socially aware” option with some of the same exclusions. But its thresholds also vary. Last year, AustralianSuper attracted criticism for buying back into Whitehaven Coal for its wider, non-sustainable investment portfolio – a reversal of its 2020 sale of stocks in the coal miner.

The Australian Financial Review recently reported Australia’s third-largest pension fund Aware Super was lifting some restrictions on investments in carbon-heavy companies, under a new benchmark system to track which companies are doing most to cut emissions.

However, Aware Super told The Conversation that current fossil fuel screens in place for its “socially conscious” investment options “remain unchanged”.

Just last month, the Environmental Defenders Office lodged a complaint with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) about industry fund UniSuper. The complaint came after UniSuper halved the environmental revenue threshold for its “global environmental opportunities” product – from 40% to 20%.

UniSuper has said those changes were made “to expand the investible universe while maintaining the option’s environmental theme”.

Watch out for greenwashing

Australia’s corporate regulators are responding to more greenwashing allegations – with some resulting in fines.

ASIC has had several wins against major funds for misleading sustainability claims.

In a landmark first Federal Court greenwashing case in 2024, Mercer Super was fined $11.3 million after admitting it made misleading statements about its “sustainable plus” options.

Vanguard was then hit with a record $12.9 million penalty, after it was found to have misled investors about its $1 billion ethical bond fund.

And last year, Active Super was ordered to pay $10.5 million in a third greenwashing case. The court found Active Super’s marketing claimed it had eliminated investments in areas like gambling, coal mining and oil tar sands – when it hadn’t.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has again made greenwashing one of its enforcement priorities for the next year. The watchdog predicts misleading environmental claims will “continue, if not increase” as Australia transitions toward “net zero” emissions.

It pays to ask questions

None of this means sustainable investing is a bad idea.

In fact, research suggests companies investing in sustainable and socially responsible activities tend to be better governed – and that this is more often than not good for shareholders too.

But the labels and screening methods matter enormously.

If you’ve chosen a “sustainable” or “socially responsible” option because you care about particular issues, it’s worth checking if the fine print in your fund meets your expectations.

If you think your fund’s claims don’t stack up, try contacting your fund. If that doesn’t work, you can report concerns to ASIC or the ACCC.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not intended as financial advice.

– ref. Is your ‘sustainable’ super funding fossil fuels or weapons? How to check the fine print – https://theconversation.com/is-your-sustainable-super-funding-fossil-fuels-or-weapons-how-to-check-the-fine-print-276879

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/25/is-your-sustainable-super-funding-fossil-fuels-or-weapons-how-to-check-the-fine-print-276879/

Source: New Zealand Government

A report released today shows coordinated action is needed to build New Zealand’s energy workforce and meet growing demand across the energy sector, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says.

“The Re‑Energise 26 report shows that without the right people, in the right roles, at the right time, we risk slowing growth and missing opportunities across the energy sector”, Louise Upston says. 

Re-Energise 26 maps workforce needs across the full energy sector and identifies key challenges including sectoral uncertainty, uncoordinated workforce initiatives, training pipeline issues, pressure to fill critical roles, and bottlenecks in supervision, mentoring and assessment.

“This report is clear about the challenges facing the sector, but it also points to real opportunities. It is now more important than ever that we support talent development across the energy sector. 

“A more unified approach could help get New Zealanders into work, strengthen pathways into energy sector careers, and ensure employers can access the skills they need.”

Government, industry and training providers all have a role to play in strengthening the energy workforce, including improving career visibility and building clearer pathways into energy sector jobs.

“Our Government is focused on fixing the basics and building the future and we need a strong pipeline of talent, better connections between job seekers and employers, and training that gives people the skills they need for sustainable careers.”

The report also highlights the importance of timing, particularly in regions experiencing declining industries, where skilled workers risk being lost before new energy opportunities are available.

“The Government welcomes the clarity and evidence this report provides, and looks forward to working with industry, educators, regions and communities to turn these insights into action,” Louise Upston says.

Re-Energise 26 was produced by Energy Resources Aotearoa and the Electricity Engineers’ Association, with data and analytical insights provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The report is available at: https://eea.co.nz/what-we-do/projects/re-energise-2026/

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/workforce-planning-key-to-meeting-new-zealands-energy-needs/

Source: New Zealand Government

A new prospecting permit application in the offshore Canterbury Basin signals renewed sector confidence in pursuing opportunities in New Zealand’s search for oil and gas, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.

New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals (NZP&M) has today opened a three-month competitive process for an application submitted by CBX Energy Limited. The proposal outlines a programme of technical and economic studies, including work on a comprehensive Canterbury Basin development strategy.

“The Canterbury Basin, off the east coast of the South Island, is one of New Zealand’s 18 sedimentary basins with known or potential hydrocarbons. It has long been viewed as a promising but largely untapped opportunity,” Mr Jones says.

“The basin remains far less explored than comparable regions overseas, highlighting how much potential is still to be tested.

“Further prospecting and exploration in the Canterbury Basin could unlock new domestic energy resources, strengthening New Zealand’s long‑term energy resilience and creating valuable economic opportunities.”

NZP&M will accept competing applications until 5pm, 24 June. Applications will be prioritised in accordance with the criteria set out in the Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025. A permit may be awarded in response to the best application that also meets requirements of the Crown Minerals Act 1991. A petroleum prospecting permit is an early‑stage, low‑impact permit that allows a company to search for evidence of petroleum/oil and gas.

Since the removal of the petroleum exploration ban in late 2025, two exploration permit applications have already progressed through the competitive process and are now under assessment, with decisions expected later this year.

For more information see: Applications under the open market competitive process – New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/prospecting-application-targets-frontier-acreage/

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/transporting-new-zealand-calls-for-payload-increases-to-mitigate-diesel-price-hikes/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some Meridian customers have complained of increases in the cost of the power they use for their electric vehicles – but interest in electric cars overall is booming.

A number of EV owners have taken to social media to question increases in the power company’s Electric Vehicle Power Plan.

One was told that when his plan renewed on 1 May he would be put on a new fixed rate plan, which would mean more than 50 percent increases on the day and night rates, and a 30 percent increase on the daily fixed charge.

Another said the increase could add hundreds to his monthly power bill.

Meridian said some customer plans were changing.

“Our EV plan offers a fixed rate for two years and we recently communicated with some customers whose term is coming to an end about their new offer. As you know, beyond our own costs there have also been substantial increases from lines and distribution networks over the last couple of years and this is another flow-on effect of that.”

Mike Casey, chief executive of Rewiring Aotearoa, said he had been contacted by people about the changes, too.

“What is driving these increasing costs is probably not actually Meridian themselves, but the cost to transport the electrons or the power from the power plants all the way to your home, and that’s namely the poles and wires.

“What we’ve seen very recently is the Commerce Commission allowing for much higher expenditure and much higher charging of customers for the maintenance and the growth of our poles and wire network in New Zealand.”

He said it would have been nice if the power company had “read the room a little bit” in the context of fuel prices increasing quickly.

“We have a really big opportunity here to convert a lot of drivers over to electric, and the news that energy into electric vehicles is also going up isn’t really what we want to be hearing right now.

“We want to be trying to encourage as many drivers into electric vehicles as possible because they will save a lot of money.

“The key thing here is even with the prices going up, the savings potential is absolutely huge. All this increase in Meridian’s prices are absolutely dwarfed by what’s going on the fossil fuel market at the moment, so I hope that New Zealanders, even though they see price rises on both options, that they realise how small one price rise is compared to the other price rise at the moment.”

He said charging an electric vehicle off the normal grid would cost the equivalent of about $1.50 a litre. “If you charge an electric vehicle off your rooftop with your solar, you’re probably paying close to $1.15 a litre … compared to what $3.30, $3.50 a litre, whatever it might be at the moment, you can see there’s still incredible savings by going electric.”

Westpac New Zealand managing director of institutional and business banking Reuben Tucker said demand for electric vehicles through the bank’s greater choices home loan top up and other loans for electric vehicles had soared.

“In the last two weeks the number of applications for EVs through these products has roughly doubled,” he said.

“We’re the only bank to offer interest-free lending on EVs and chargers, which is a key way we can help customers manage higher living costs not just now but in case of future events.”

Trade Me said people were also motivated to look for ways to become independent with their homes.

Searches for “off-grid” properties were up 68 percent year-on-year in the last month.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/ev-owners-complain-of-50-percent-power-price-increases/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The rural sector says it is being challenged by soaring diesel prices, the likes of which one operator says it has never seen before.

JTC Viticulture in Marlborough is partway through a busy grape harvest, with 14 harvesting machines and 28 tractors running 24 hours a day.

“We have about 90 people to run that operation,” managing director Jason Tripe said. “Our diesel price has increased sort of 90 percent over the last two-and-a-half weeks, pretty much.”

Tripe said the company was used to fluctuating fuel prices, but nothing like this.

“Fuel is a large part of our cost, and the biggest challenge about this has been the short nature, it’s happened so quickly.

“And we’ve quoted or priced work based on a known number and fuel has been part of that, we’ve been seriously impacted by that because of the speed it’s gone up.”

Tripe said the immediate impact had been “incredible”.

“So it’s been pretty difficult to manage that, our clients have been very open to discussions about it but they’re under pressure as well because our industry is facing a few headwinds at the moment and our returns are down, so this is just another hit to us basically.”

He said clients were being asked to consider paying more, but it was a double-edged sword given the challenges they were facing themselves.

“But our clients for the main part have been understanding, and we’ve sort of soaked up what we can and we’ve sort of met in the middle.”

Asked if he had seen anything like the surge in diesel pricing before, Tripe said “nothing even comes close” in the time the company had been operating.

“It’s staggering, really.”

Tripe said every load of diesel being delivered was a different price and going up several times a week.

The sooner harvesting was complete the better, he said, and added his supplier had already said diesel supplies were getting tight.

“We’re dealing with the increased costs, but in the background is concern about supply. We’re using large volumes daily, and if we can’t get that fuel delivered then machines will come to a halt.

“We’re just hoping we get the harvest completed before things really start to bite from a supply issue, not to mention the cost.”

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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/2026/03/25/staggering-diesel-prices-changing-several-times-a-week-always-up-grape-farmer/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The logging industry is warning some companies could be on the brink as the conflict in Iran pushes up the cost of diesel.

Logging operators say it’s increasingly difficult to get logs to port and if the situation drags on, export-reliant regions like South Canterbury and the west coast of the North Island could face shutdowns.

“The costs of shipping have risen dramatically, with rates going from roughly 33 US dollars per cubic metre into China for March, through to about 45 US dollars in April. It’s a perfect storm just right now.”

Forest Management group director Glenn Moir said that would put some companies on the brink.

“I can see that if it does continue we’re going to face some real pressure in the higher cost forests, so the ones that are further away from the market and have steeper country, just to make it economic.”

There had been some huge cost pressures going through the chain. The industry was diesel dependent, and it took 12 litres of diesel to produce one tonne of logs.

Higher diesel prices meant a 25 percent increase in costs across their operations for logging contractors.

“The industry can’t sustain that.”

Talks were continuing with everyone involved, including forest owners, to try and get some agreement on what could be done in the short-term.

The costs of shipping were also rising dramatically, Moir said.

“It’s a perfect storm right now.”

Moir said until the war in Iran started, 2026 had been looking like a fantastic year for the forestry industry, with export prices rising and domestic demand growing.

“All that turned on its head three weeks ago, and we’re struggling a little bit now with these rising costs.”

The government’s latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report showed forestry exports were forecast to rise 2 percent this year.

The industry employs 42,000 people around the country and is the sixth-largest export owner.

While the Chinese market was declining, there was growing demand for New Zealand logs from India, Moir said.

“… and the FTA towards the end of last year really helped that.”

The forestry industry were a resilient bunch.

“We’ll work together and get through this. It is going to be pretty tough, especially if we move to Level 2 under the National Fuel Plan.”

Impact on older New Zealanders

The head of Age Concern Auckland said soaring petrol prices were making the basics of life even more difficult for already vulnerable elderly people.

The government announced yesterday around 143,000 people would receive up to $50 per week through the in-work tax credit to help with fuel costs.

But beneficiaries and superannuitants would not qualify.

Age Concern Auckland chief executive Kevin Lamb said increases in superannuation, in response to the high cost of living, were not agile enough to meet the sudden rise in petrol prices.

Superannuitants would miss out as trips to the doctor or medication started to eat into basic budgets for food and essentials, he said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/higher-diesel-shipping-costs-pile-pressure-on-logging-industry/

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Vessels can discharge oily water that causes harm to the oceans and rivers we depend on for our livelihoods and wellbeing.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/easy-ways-to-avoid-oil-discharges/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A woman who accused former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming of sexual offending allegedly sent 87 abusive emails to the wife of an officer who was overseeing an investigation into her.

Police claim the emails were “threatening and highly disparaging” of the woman and made reference to her children, including “suggesting they should be sexually abused”.

A damning report released in November by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) found serious misconduct at the highest levels, including former Commissioner Andrew Coster, over how police responded to the woman’s allegations.

The woman, who had name suppression but was referred to as ‘Ms Z’ in the IPCA’s report, was charged in May last year with causing harm by posting digital communication in relation to over 300 emails sent to McSkimming’s work email address between December 2023 and April 2024.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/jevon-mcskimming-complainant-allegedly-sent-87-emails-to-wife-of-officer-overseeing-investigation-into-her/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Families of those killed in the Pike River Mine disaster fear the government’s proposed health and safety law changes will remove worker protections and risk another tragedy.

Sonya Rockhouse, who lost her 21-year-old son Ben, and Anna Osborne, who lost her husband Milt, told the Education and Workforce Select Committee on Wednesday they wanted health and safety laws strengthened.

A methane-fuelled explosion ripped through the Pike River coal mine in the rugged Paparoa Range on the South Island’s West Coast on 19 November 2010, killing 29 workers.

The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament last month and the government said it was intended to reduce death and injury rates while also cutting compliance costs by focusing on the most serious critical risks and reducing confusion.

But critics said the changes could weaken worker protections and result in more workplace injuries.

Osborne said her husband’s death was preventable, it was not bad luck or an act of God.

“He was killed by a company that put its profit ahead of his life and the lives of 28 others, and that was allowed to happen by years of people, sitting in the same seats you are now, weakening the health and safety laws and regulations again and again,” she told the committee.

“This should never have happened and the travesty of justice that followed is a blight on New Zealand’s soul.”

‘This bill takes that away’

Workplace health and safety laws were strengthened in 2014 after the mining disaster, which had kept workplace deaths and injury rates at bay despite the population of the country growing larger, she said.

“People could be confident in speaking up and employers began to feel they needed to listen,” she said, of the 2014 changes.

But that was still not enough and Osborne and Rockhouse wanted to a corporate manslaughter charge introduced in New Zealand law.

“Milt always looked out for his people – he was a volunteer fireman, a local councillor – I have always thought that among all the bad that came from Pike he would have taken some heart in the fact his death helped keep others safe even just by a little bit,” Osborne said.

“This bill takes that away. It takes it away from every person at work in New Zealand and it takes it from the memory and the legacy of Milt and all the men he is lying with in that shithole of a mine.”

The pair made the submission on behalf of Stand With Pike outlining their concerns with the proposals in the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill.

Rockhouse said Ben was a intelligent, articulate, gentle boy who believed people were good.

“I don’t know what he would have made of how hard we’ve had to fight for truth that should have been ours by right. We should never have had to fight, protest and campaign for justice, accountability or truth,” she said.

“I don’t even know what to think of this right now, of the fact that we are having to come here again to tell people yet again about the consequences of taking people’s rights to health and safety from them.”

Osborne and Rockhouse met with Workplace Safety Minister Brooke van Velden at Parliament last November on the 15th anniversary of the disaster.

The minister, who admitted she had not read the Royal Commission’s report on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy, and did not support the introduction of a corporate manslaughter charge, instead preferred to focus on “upfront guidance” for businesses.

Rockhouse said everyone had the right to go to work in the morning and come home safely.

“It feels like the authors of this Bill have failed to learn from history, they have wilfully ignored it and it makes me sick and angry”, Rockhouse said.

“To wind back health and safety despite the price our men and us – their families – have paid, despite the fact that all of New Zealand has seen that cost? Shameful does not even begin to describe it.”

‘Absolute conflict of interest’

Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March asked the pair about their concerns with the law change.

Rockhouse said both her sons – Dan was one of just two survivors from the disaster – told her if they tried to raise issues around health and safety, no matter how big or small, they were told to “just shut the F up and get on with your job, basically that was the mentality”.

Several miners told her they had been worried about an explosion at the mine and the chief executive had said, “if you don’t like it there’s the door, leave, you’re not in Australia now”, she said.

“It’s very hard in that context to think the CEO would have identified the appropriate critical risks under the financial pressure they were under.”

Osborne said methane levels in the mine peaked over 19 times in the two weeks before the explosion.

“Those 19 times the men should have been out of the mine and, until that mine re-ventilated, they should not have been allowed to work but [Peter] Whittle and the managers there wanted production to happen,” she said.

“It was almost like they were playing a game of Russian roulette – production over safety.”

Stand With Pike advisor Rob Egan said the Bill assumed the workplace health and safety regulator could police and provide guidance and consultation to employers.

“That’s exactly what happened at Pike River … it is an absolute conflict of interest,” he said.

Earlier this year police said they were nearing the final stages of the criminal investigation into the disaster.

Detective superintendent Darryl Sweeney said the investigation was legally complex and police had been working with the Wellington crown solicitor for more than 18 months.

Further investigation was still needed and an update was likely to be several months away, he said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/pike-river-mine-victims-families-fear-proposed-health-and-safety-law-changes-risk-another-tragedy/

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Inspector Grant Tetzlaff, Acting Auckland City District Commander:

A 30-year-old man is facing serious charges after he fled from Police and drove dangerously before crashing in northern Waikato.

At around 11.40pm on Tuesday, a vehicle of interest was seen on Dominion Road, Sandringham.

This vehicle had been reported stolen at gun point earlier in the day from the south Auckland area.

Eagle located the vehicle as it entered the Southern Motorway at Newmarket and monitored it as it travelled towards East Tāmaki.

As the vehicle exited the motorway onto East Tāmaki Road officers attempted to perform a traffic stop, however the vehicle took off at speed.

The driver was seen driving in a dangerous manner through south Auckland, turning off its lights and reaching high speeds on residential streets.

The vehicle re-entered the motorway at SH20 and continued south towards Te Kauwhata.

Police units were able to spike the vehicle, and it continued for a short distance before losing control and crashing into wire median dividers.

As officers approached the vehicle, the sole occupant had barricaded himself inside.

Officers observed live ammunition on his lap.

Police deployed a taser, before being able to extract the man from the vehicle.

He was taken into custody and transported to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition after receiving injuries from a dog bite during his arrest.

A search of the vehicle located two handguns and a large amount of live ammunition.

It is pleasing that these firearms are now out of circulation in our community.

The 30-year-old man will face failing to stop, reckless driving, receiving, possession of firearms and resisting arrest.

Police are continuing to make enquires into the initial stolen vehicle report, and we cannot rule out further charges in that matter.

As standard procedure, the Independent Police Conduct Authority will be notified of the incident.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/man-faces-court-after-fleeing-police/

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Sergeant Heath Jones, Hastings Criminal Investigation Branch:

Hasting Police have arrested and charged a person in relation to a fight at the Common Room bar earlier this month.

Police responded to the fight around 1.45am on Sunday 8 March, where several people were injured – some seriously, with one requiring hospital treatment.

Police arrested one man today in relation to the incident. The 32-year-old is due in Hastings District Court tomorrow, charged with five counts of assault with intent to injure, three counts of injuring with intent to injure, injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and assault.

Police are not ruling out any further arrests and would like to speak with the five people pictured, as we believe they may be able to assist in our enquiries.

If this is you, or you know who these people are, please get in touch through 105 – either online or over the phone – and reference file number 260308/6292.

Alternatively, information can be provided through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/update-common-room-bar-fight-hastings/

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie:

Police executing search warrants have arrested one person from a religious organisation that has a presence in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji.

A 45-year-old man will appear in the Christchurch District Court today charged with unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault, strangulation and rape.

Today’s arrest follows a number of allegations, and partner agencies are supporting those that have come forward.

It is possible there may be other allegations that we are not yet aware of, and I strongly encourage any survivor to speak with us, should they wish to. Your voice matters, and you will be treated with respect.

Our staff who work in this space are specially trained, and any reports will be made in confidence, and we will provide wrap-around support.

Please make a report by calling Police on 105 or using our online service. Click ‘Make a report’.

Please reference Operation Aurora or use file number 260319/8197.

Police will not be making further comment as the matter is before the Court.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/arrest-in-operation-aurora/

Source: New Zealand Police

Police in Counties Manukau have been busy cleaning up and returning a pile of stolen goods following a tip off from a member of the public.

On Friday afternoon, Police patrolling the Counties Manukau West area were alerted to an address of interest in Mangere Bridge by a member of the public who reported he’d had several items taken from his vehicle in Pakuranga.

Counties Manukau West Area Commander, Inspector Dave Christoffersen, says one of the items belonging to the victim had a GPS, which lead to a property in Tima Lane.

“Units were in the area at the time and met with the victim, who had observed his items inside the address.

“A search of the property located multiple tools and other items, one of which was a GPS linked stolen nail gun.

“This lead to one person at the address being arrested and charged for receiving.”

Inspector Christoffersen says Police recovered the alleged stolen goods and have managed to return several to their rightful owner.

“This is a great example of members of the public reporting incidents when they happen, then following up with any helpful information that comes to hand.

“This allows the opportunity for Police to act and, as in this case, recover stolen property.

“I would like to acknowledge the community for their vigilance and reporting suspicious activity promptly to Police.”

A 37-year-old man was remanded in custody and will appear in Manukau District Court today charged with receives property.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/23/nailed-it-police-clean-up-following-tip-off/

RNZ Pacific

Fiji’s human rights watchdog has warned that the country’s pro-Israel foreign policy and diplomatic engagement works against its international obligations and could be enabling “genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity” in Gaza.

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC) released a statement on Tuesday in response to the Fiji government announcing plans to establish a resident embassy for Israel in Suva.

The FHRADC said that the announcement “raises important questions” and is calling on the government to uphold its human rights obligations “in all aspects” of its diplomacy.

As a state party to the Genocide Convention, Fiji is bound by international human rights law and international humanitarian law, the FHRADC said.

It added under the Convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the country “is obligated to support international efforts to prevent genocide” and ensure those responsible for such crimes are held responsible.

“This includes ensuring that Fiji’s foreign policy and diplomatic relations do not assist, enable, or legitimise conduct by parties or states involved in serious violations of international law.”

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024 said that claims are “plausible” that the rights of Palestinians in Gaza under the Genocide Convention are being “violated . . .  by Israel’s large-scale military operation in Gaza” a position firmly rejected by Israel, which has maintained its actions are necessary for self defence against Hamas.

“The duty to prevent genocide is a jus cogens obligation, a non-derogable principle of international law,” FHRADC commissioner Alefina Vuki said.

Legal responsibility
She said according to international law every state had “the legal responsibility to intervene and prevent the intentional or deliberate destruction of a group of people”, suggesting Fiji had failed to do this.

“No government can ever justify or excuse its failure to carry out this responsibility. States must ensure diplomatic relations that uphold, rather than undermine the duty to prevent genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity,” she said.

Fiji opened its permanent diplomatic post in Jerusalem in September last year.

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said at the time that the opening of Fiji’s embassy in Jerusalem “reflects our desire to build bridges — not walls — between nations, cultures, and peoples”.

Fiji is one of a handful of countries to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv, which is controversial.

Diplomatic actions
According to FHRADC, the Fiji government has the “sovereign prerogative to determine bilateral relations”.

However, Vuki said Fiji must ensure that its “diplomatic actions do not violate international norms relating to occupation, self-determination, and the protection of civilian populations”.

“Any strengthening of bilateral relations must be carefully balanced against Fiji’s responsibilities as a member of the international community,” she said.

The FHRADC has offered to provide “independent and technical advice” to support the Fijian government with its foreign policy to keep it aligned to its international human rights commitments.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/25/fijis-human-rights-watchdog-raises-concerns-over-new-israeli-embassy-plans/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Alarm bells are sounding about harsh reductions in appeal rights for migrants which could lead to families being separated by deportation.

Overseas right-wing sentiment, reporting of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) crackdowns in the US and fears about domestic migration could be factors driving policy change, says a top immigration and refugee lawyer.

Legal experts say strict rules already exist for migrants seeking to overturn deportations, and they fear that axing humanitarian appeal rights for temporary visa holders will potentially harm children caught in the crosshairs.

Law Society Immigration and Refugee Committee convener Simon Graham said current policy balanced individual rights and the public interest, but the proposed legislation would shift the goalposts against vulnerable people, especially children and families.

“You could have a child born here, only ever gone through the New Zealand educational system, seven, eight years of age, all the formative years, and then that child is now being asked to return back to a country, [with] language barriers, different educational system, whatever that might be.

“When a child is into that seven, eight-year period, a fundamental shift occurs. Generally speaking, child psychologists will say this is going to cause or this has the potential to cause a problem for this child. And these are the types of things that currently the system looks at and weighs up in the balancing exercise. But if that’s removed, who’s going to consider this issue or weigh it up?”

Concerns were widespread in the legal community, he added, and he was worried other governments’ policies could be creeping into New Zealand’s thinking.

“I do wonder, stepping back from it all, whether there is some overseas influence as we see in other jurisdictions. It’s a sort of hardening line in a lot of these areas, probably for good reason, in certain European countries and America, where there’s this excess and it’s causing problems, whereas I think New Zealand is different from that. I don’t think we have the same tensions – but possibly our policy choices are now potentially mirroring or lining up with some of these overseas jurisdictions.”

Deadline over appeals

The Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT) – which hears appeals against deportation, as well as residence and asylum application refusals – has seen a large increase in cases, as migration numbers have risen. In terms of deportation appeals among temporary migrants, its latest annual report shows 188 people lost and 174 won their cases.

Graham said a 42-day deadline already limited who could appeal, and the tribunal weighed up humanitarian circumstances against public interest concerns.

Under the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill, migrants classed as visitors – which can include renewable partner and parent visas – would not be able to appeal on humanitarian grounds to the IPT at all.

“From a legal perspective, I think it’s unnecessarily harsh and unnecessary because there’s already systems in place to weigh the balance. This seems to be shifting the balance unnecessarily in one direction without any real justification for it. So it’s certainly harsh and it could potentially create very harsh and unfair outcomes in a certain percentage of cases.

“What parameters or safety nets are going to be put in place to substitute for the Immigration and Protection Tribunal process? Has that been thought about? And if it has, what is that process and who oversees it?”

The ‘Mama Hooch’ clause

Another proposal would extend the ability to deport people from 10 years after they become residents, to 20 years. Non-residents, such as temporary workers and students, would lose their chance to appeal deportation if they committed a crime.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford last week said New Zealand had “one of the most lenient criminal deportation liability regimes” compared to Australia, the UK, Canada, and Ireland, saying those countries all made residents liable for deportation indefinitely, including for relatively minor convictions.

She cited the notorious sex offending ring in Christchurch operated by rapist brothers Danny and Roberto Jaz who have been in New Zealand too long to be deported, under current laws.

Graham said that framing did not acknowledge the new law would strip appeal rights from less serious offenders, or who had immigration question marks.

“I noticed the minister made reference to the Mama Hooch guys as a general sort of overlay as to justify some of these changes to the policy, and being not able to deport these guys for serious criminal offending,” he said. “And that’s a legitimate question and consideration, I understand that. But I believe that the proposals also incorporate all the other reasons which would trigger deportation liability, which encapsulates for example, providing misleading information to immigration as part of a visa process.”

Auckland University’s Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies co-director, Professor Jay Marlowe, worried discussion about the bill and amendments also blurred important distinctions between migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

The Jaz brothers are the children of Australian migrants, and arrived about 25 years ago as teenagers.

“I would be cautious about how the Mama Hooch case is being used in this context. It was an extremely serious case, but one that involved harm occurring over time within New Zealand, and raises serious concerns about how institutions responded to women’s complaints. Linking that case directly to asylum policy risks conflating different issues and shifts attention away from the need to address those underlying failures.

“Extending deportation liability to 20 years means we may be dealing with people who arrived as children and have grown up here, raising questions about responsibility and belonging. There are parallels with Australia’s section 501 deportations, which New Zealand has criticised – and it raises a fundamental question about whether we are managing harm here, or shifting responsibility elsewhere.”

Stanford has been approached for comment.

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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/2026/03/25/fears-for-nz-children-in-harsh-immigration-crackdown/

Source: Radio New Zealand

An Auckland man has died after being arrested by police in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill this morning.

Acting Auckland City District Commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaff said a critical incident investigation was now underway after the man’s death in custody.

The man was arrested shortly before 10am this morning on Morrie Laing Avenue, after officers responded to several reports of “a disorder”.

He was arrested without incident and taken to the Auckland District Custody Unit, where he collapsed.

An ambulance was called and first aid was given to the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tetzlaff said next of kin had been informed. He said support had been provided to the family, as well as police staff who had been involved.

“Several investigations will now get underway, including the critical incident investigation, which will examine the course of events this morning.

“As part of this process police have notified the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

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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/2026/03/25/auckland-man-dies-in-police-custody/

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Karli Whiu:

Polce investigating alleged serious sexual offending by a Flaxmere man are appealing for anyone who may have information to come forward.

On Monday 23 March, a 37-year-old Flaxmere man was arrested and he appeared in the Hastings District Court yesterday.

He has been charged with abduction for sex, impedes breathing/blood circulation, two counts of unlawful sexual connection with female over 16, and four counts male rapes female over 16.

The 37-year-old has been granted name suppression and is remanded in custody to reappear on 14 April in Hastings District Court.

Police are now appealing for anyone who may have information on any other alleged offending by this man to come forward.

This may have occurred in the Hastings area from approximately 14-15 March this year.

We know it can be incredibly difficult and at times distressing to talk about these matters, but we would like to reassure any victims of offending that we will take them seriously.

Police has a number of officers and detectives dedicated to these cases and we provide a safe space to report offending in confidence.

If you have any information that may assist Police in our investigation, please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105, referencing file number 260316/3776.

We can then contact you to make appropriate arrangements to discuss matters in an appropriate and safe way.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/appeal-for-information-as-man-arrested-for-alleged-sexual-offences/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Allegations of bullying against one of the most senior staff at Corrections were raised more than a month ago.

RNZ earlier revealed Corrections commissioner of custodial services Leigh Marsh was facing an employment investigation in relation to allegations of bullying.

On Wednesday, Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot confirmed the concerns were raised on February 15.

“No other formal concerns have been raised about this individual, and they have not previously been subject to an employment investigation.”

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

After receiving the concerns, advice was sought from the human resources team and support was put in place for the staff member who raised the concerns, Lightfoot said.

“The decision was then taken to undertake a formal employment investigation.”

Lightfoot said it was important staff felt confident raising any concerns.

“And as an employer I have a duty of care to ensure the ongoing privacy and wellbeing of those involved.

“For these reasons, it would not be appropriate for us to provide further details about this employment matter at this time. I acknowledge the public interest in the conduct of our senior leaders and Corrections is committed to being transparent about the findings of this investigation at the appropriate time and in line with our obligations under the Official Information Act and Privacy Act.”

In response to questions about the inquiry into Marsh earlier this week Lightfoot told RNZ he expected “high standards of all our staff and take any allegations raised about their conduct extremely seriously”.

“Corrections can confirm that concerns have been raised about one senior leader that will be investigated by an external independent investigator.

“The concerns raised relate to alleged conduct around management processes and bullying within the employment relationship.”

The staff member who raised the concerns with Lightfoot was “being supported while this employment matter is ongoing”.

He also confirmed three operational deputy chief executives, including Marsh, would be undertaking six-month secondments into different DCE roles within Corrections.

“I had already been considering moving the operational DCEs into each other’s areas later this year. This is because I believe these secondments will allow each operational DCE to deepen their understanding of each other’s respective areas so we can continue building a coherent, cohesive organisation. Their employment agreements were developed to allow such secondments to take place.

“The decision to do this now was brought forward to ensure that a thorough and fair employment process for both parties in relation to the above complaint can be carried out.”

The secondment sees Marsh move to DCE of Pae Ora.

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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/2026/03/25/bullying-allegations-against-senior-corrections-staffer-raised-more-than-a-month-ago/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A woman who withdrew $31,500 from her bank account and gave it to a scammer is one of two recent cases that have sparked a warning from the Banking Ombudsman about cryptocurrency ATMs.

Banking Ombudsman Nicola Sladden said she had investigated several scam cases where people had deposited money through the ATMs.

Crypto ATMs allow people to deposit cash and buy cryptocurrency, which is sent to a digital wallet. Transactions usually happen quickly and cannot easily be stopped or reversed once completed.

Sladden said it made them risky when used under pressure or at someone else’s direction.

She highlighted two cases, in which she said people believed they were following legitimate instructions but lost large amounts of money.

In April last year, a woman responded to a job ad online and, following instructions, went to her bank and withdrew $31,500, telling the teller it was for a car.

She put the money into a cryptocurrency wallet via a crypto ATM but later realised she had been scammed and asked the bank to reimburse her. She said it should have noticed her anxious and unusual behaviour.

The ombudsman scheme said it had to decide whether there was anything that should have caused the bank to suspect a scam.

“A bank must follow a customer’s transaction instructions unless it detects – or should have detected – warning signs of a possible scam. If it detects such warning signs, it must make inquiries about the transaction and, if warranted, warn the customer about the possibility of a scam before processing the transaction.”

It said there was nothing about what the customer told the bank that should have indicated a problem.

In another case, a man lost $65,000. He authorised payments to cryptocurrency merchants and withdrew cash from ATMs that he deposited in a crypto ATM.

The bank refused to reimburse him, saying he had authorised the payments.

Sladden said obvious red flags included requests to keep payments secret or give false information to a bank.

“People should independently verify who they are dealing with, and talk to someone they trust before making large or unusual payments.

“It’s important to stop and ask questions before taking any steps that might result in the loss of money.”

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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/2026/03/25/tens-of-thousands-lost-to-crypto-atm-scams-ombudsman-says/

Source: Radio New Zealand

After a million hours of labour, Te Rua – Archive New Zealand’s brand new Wellington building – is now open.

The 10-level, $290 million building is described as one of the world’s most technologically advanced archive protection facilities and forms part of Te Kahu, a new heritage campus.

The campus, which sees Archives New Zealand and the National Library physically joined, includes Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision and the Alexander Turnbull Library in its wider net.

Delivered on budget and on time, Te Rua has been held up as a win for public-private partnerships, but where the nation’s archives will ultimately be stored – and how much it will cost to do so – remains unclear.

Preserving windows into the past

Under the bright lights of the brand new Te Rua facility, research archivist Shaun McGuire points to a cluster of carefully laid out black and white photographs of the 488 Squadron.

“It was a fighter squadron that was sent to Singapore prior to the outbreak of hostilities with Japan. As you can see from their general posture, they’re green as grass and not particularly military,” he said.

“This chap here playing in the puddle – because it’s monsoonish – is Pete Gifford and the fellow playing with him is Len Farr. They’re both pilot officers.”

McGuire said the Brewster Buffalo planes they flew were outdated by World War II, and while Peter Gifford survived the war, others were not so lucky.

The photographs of the young men are but a taste of the historical material that will eventually be housed in Te Rua.

The bronze-accented state-of-the-art archive facility – boasting more than 19,000sqm of floor space and 90km of storage under tightly controlled environmental condition – will ultimately be home to millions of photographs, films and records, documenting the nation’s political, cultural and social history.

According to Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, the new facility could not come soon enough.

“I think it’s a really awesome day for New Zealanders because it means that our nation’s history will be preserved. And I have to tell you, a couple of years ago when I went to visit the old archives building I could feel for myself that it was damp and that it was falling apart.”

She said it was “wonderful” that country will have preserved archival material for centuries to come.

“For all our children’s children.”

A public-private partnership

Van Velden, who is also deputy leader of the ACT Party, heralded the facility as a win for public-private partnerships over successive governments, with the contract signed under the previous Labour government.

While the taonga within the building and its fit-out is publicly owned, the building base and land belongs to Canadian Mutual Fund, PSPIB/CPPIB Waiheke Inc. and is managed by Australasian real estate assets manager Dexus – also the developer.

The 25-year lease agreement with the Crown has the option to extend for another 25 years.

A spokesperson for the Department of Internal Affairs said the rent has been fixed – with yearly increases agreed upfront and budgeted for – but the amount can’t be made public due to commercial sensitivity.

Van Velden said given the building’s specifications it would be unlikely for the lease not to be renewed.

She said collaborations between business and the public sector, highlighted the private sector’s expertise.

“Government has a lot of interest and expertise in particular areas, but they’re not building things all the time. They’re not experts in seismic strengthening.”

Dexus portfolio manager for New Zealand Phill Stanley said the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016 was a “learning curve for everyone”.

The site, which previously housed the quake-damaged Defence House, now featured a building on 36 base isolators that could drift up to 1.3m horizontally and up to 300mm vertically, during an earthquake, he said.

In order to meet UNESCO standards, climate control within the building must hold within ±1°C for at least 48 hours in the event of a power failure.

“In layman’s terms, we have built the most beautiful chilly-bin on base isolators.”

He said the project had been a career highlight and hinted at more partnerships with the Crown in the pipeline.

Space for taonga unknown

The relocation of more than 150,000 containers of historical material from the Mulgrave Street facility is currently underway.

A massive undertaking, that chief archivist Poumanaaki Anahera Morehu hoped would be completed by December this year.

However, Te Rua won’t be able to hold all the material – and how much it can take remains to be seen.

National Librarian Te Pouhuaki Rachel Esson said while there were estimates, they won’t truly know until the material has been shifted.

“Part of the process of bringing things over is we’re rehousing them. So some things have been in boxes that aren’t quite as good as they could be, so they’re being put in new boxes.

“Sometimes things have been crammed into a box so they might be split out into two. We’re just not quite sure yet exactly.”

Morehu said the new facility was never going to house everything contained in Mulgrave Street and anticipated the wider heritage campus – Te Kahu – would absorb overflow.

She said access to the archives was just as important as preservation.

“It’s all good to preserve it and hold on to it, but it’s no good if nobody’s got access to it.

“This is creating that opportunity and the campus is creating that opportunity, while it opens the doors to other facilities to think about how we play a role as archives and libraries in making this more collaborative and sharing.”

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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/2026/03/25/archive-new-zealands-new-wellington-building-opens/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The local government minister has called Wellington’s mayor for an explanation of the huge water bills that residents are facing – and are forecast to hit almost $7000 a year by the end of the decade.

Wellington’s new water entity Tiaki Wai is a council-controlled organisation taking over Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua City Councils water assets from July.

It announced this morning that residents will face an average nearly 15 percent hike in water charges this coming financial year – from $2100 to $2400.

Those bills may rise by nearly a quarter the following year – and keep increasing – to reach an estimated $6800 per year for water services by 2036 as the water entity tries to fix old, failing infrastructure.

Local government minister Simon Watts said those costs were higher than he was expecting.

“I’m concerned for Wellington ratepayers again, you know we’ve got a long string of issues in this area.”

Watts said the plan that Tiaki Wai presented to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and the water regulator last year did not forecast such high costs.

He said he phoned Wellington’s Mayor Andrew Little about this today.

“I outlined to him that we received a plan from you which outlined a profile of cost increases, and as a result the entity has now published a price which is not in the plan, which is much higher, I need to understand, and have an explanation around that.”

A Tiaki Wai spokesperson said the Water Services Delivery plan it presented in August last year was based on the best available information at the time, and the organisation will continue to review its costs as investment plans develop.

Little said Tiaki Wai was responsible for what it sent to DIA last year, and he did not control or veto the organisation’s decisions under the new system.

He said he shared the minister’s concerns about bills, but the government campaigned on this model under its Local Water Done Well policy.

He said he will be scrutinising Tiaki Wai’s performance and pricing closely.

“If the increases follow the path that Tiaki Wai are saying, then people are going to expect high quality, that leaks are repaired quickly, also that they can contact their water company, at any time of the day.”

He wanted the Commerce Commission to be granted the power to intervene if water entity’s bills became unreasonable.

Watts did not confirm if the Commerce Commission would have the power to step in over sky-rocketing bills, but said he had called in the commission in this instance to work with Tiaki Wai and the councils over the projected prices.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said bills reaching nearly $7000 a year in a decade were horrendous, and could drive people away from the region.

“At those sort of prices, who’s going to be living here? I can’t pay $6000 in water, and $6000 in rates… we have to do something.”

She said while she supported the establishment of the water entity, and understood the scale of the work at hand, water charges still needed to be affordable.

Wellingtonians divided over jump in bills

Some Wellingtonians RNZ spoke to were worried about the charges due to cost of living pressures, while others said the region’s assets had to be fixed.

Dale said she did not look forward to the future knowing those charges lay ahead.

“That sounds pretty crap. I’m 28, so the way it will be, by the time I am 38, that doesn’t sound like I’ll be living a great life.”

But another resident Daniel Freese said the city had ignored failing assets for too long.

“I think it has to happen, I think we’re paying for under-investment over many years, and although it’s not good news, we just need to suck it up and pay for it.

“If we don’t pay now, we’re going have to pay later, and it’s going to be more.”

Resident Tom Arkell said he was keen to see water meters brought in for the city.

“I’d like to think we could bring in some pay-per-use water monitors, that we can actually incentivise people to use less water, and to track, and therefore they could pay within what they’re comfortable, rather than getting a fixed bill no matter how much water you use.”

Tiaki Wai is considering water meters, and the organisation expects they will take up to seven years to roll out across Wellington, and cost $590 million in total.

Peet yesterday told reporters the dire state of the region’s infrastructure could no longer be ignored after decades of under-investment.

“We know we’ve got a lot of leaks, we know we’ve got compliance issues with wastewater, and we all know that stormwater continues to be a significant challenge for many cities – but Wellington in particular.”

Peet said fixing the failed Moa Point plant – which has been spewing raw sewage into the sea for nearly six weeks – will be a top priority.

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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/2026/03/25/wellington-water-woes-a-price-which-is-not-in-the-plan/

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie:

Police executing search warrants have arrested one person from a religious organisation that has a presence in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji.

A 45-year-old man will appear in the Christchurch District Court today charged with unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault, strangulation and rape.

Today’s arrest follows a number of allegations, and partner agencies are supporting those that have come forward.

It is possible there may be other allegations that we are not yet aware of, and I strongly encourage any survivor to speak with us, should they wish to. Your voice matters, and you will be treated with respect.

Our staff who work in this space are specially trained, and any reports will be made in confidence, and we will provide wrap-around support.

Please make a report by calling Police on 105 or using our online service. Click ‘Make a report’.

Please reference Operation Aurora or use file number 260319/8197.

Police will not be making further comment as the matter is before the Court.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/arrest-in-operation-aurora/

Source: New Zealand Police

Police in Counties Manukau have been busy cleaning up and returning a pile of stolen goods following a tip off from a member of the public.

On Friday afternoon, Police patrolling the Counties Manukau West area were alerted to an address of interest in Mangere Bridge by a member of the public who reported he’d had several items taken from his vehicle in Pakuranga.

Counties Manukau West Area Commander, Inspector Dave Christoffersen, says one of the items belonging to the victim had a GPS, which lead to a property in Tima Lane.

“Units were in the area at the time and met with the victim, who had observed his items inside the address.

“A search of the property located multiple tools and other items, one of which was a GPS linked stolen nail gun.

“This lead to one person at the address being arrested and charged for receiving.”

Inspector Christoffersen says Police recovered the alleged stolen goods and have managed to return several to their rightful owner.

“This is a great example of members of the public reporting incidents when they happen, then following up with any helpful information that comes to hand.

“This allows the opportunity for Police to act and, as in this case, recover stolen property.

“I would like to acknowledge the community for their vigilance and reporting suspicious activity promptly to Police.”

A 37-year-old man was remanded in custody and will appear in Manukau District Court today charged with receives property.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/23/nailed-it-police-clean-up-following-tip-off/

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Sergeant Heath Jones, Hastings Criminal Investigation Branch:

Hasting Police have arrested and charged a person in relation to a fight at the Common Room bar earlier this month.

Police responded to the fight around 1.45am on Sunday 8 March, where several people were injured – some seriously, with one requiring hospital treatment.

Police arrested one man today in relation to the incident. The 32-year-old is due in Hastings District Court tomorrow, charged with five counts of assault with intent to injure, three counts of injuring with intent to injure, injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and assault.

Police are not ruling out any further arrests and would like to speak with the five people pictured, as we believe they may be able to assist in our enquiries.

If this is you, or you know who these people are, please get in touch through 105 – either online or over the phone – and reference file number 260308/6292.

Alternatively, information can be provided through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/update-common-room-bar-fight-hastings/

Source: Radio New Zealand

An Auckland man has died after being arrested by police in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill this morning.

Acting Auckland City District Commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaff said a critical incident investigation was now underway after the man’s death in custody.

The man was arrested shortly before 10am this morning on Morrie Laing Avenue, after officers responded to several reports of “a disorder”.

He was arrested without incident and taken to the Auckland District Custody Unit, where he collapsed.

An ambulance was called and first aid was given to the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tetzlaff said next of kin had been informed. He said support had been provided to the family, as well as police staff who had been involved.

“Several investigations will now get underway, including the critical incident investigation, which will examine the course of events this morning.

“As part of this process police have notified the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

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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/2026/03/25/auckland-man-dies-in-police-custody/

Source: New Zealand Police

Raglan Police have arrested one person and impounded their car after reports of illegal street racing around the area over the weekend.

The arrested person was one of multiple drivers seen driving dangerously on Nau Mai Road.

The 19-year-old man was taken into custody around 1.30am on Sunday. He is due in Hamilton District Court on 27 March, charged with operating a motor vehicle causing sustained loss of traction, and excess breath alcohol.

Senior Constable Brendon Richardson, Waikato Road Policing Team, says Police continue to run a dedicated operation focused on responding to and investigating illegal street racing activity that endangers road users, damages roads and causes disturbance to the public.

“We are taking a district-wide approach to this and will take action against those that are putting others at risk.

“Police are also working with our partner agencies and local councils around other measures that can assist us in preventing this behaviour.

“I also want acknowledge Constable Hetal Patel who assisted with this arrest and contributed greatly to the outcome,” Senior Constable Richardson says.

Police are asking anyone that sees illegal or dangerous driving to make reports so officers can follow up and hold offenders to account.

Photos and video footage is helpful for Police to follow up on offenders that quickly speed off when driving unlawfully. These can also be used to identify the vehicles, hotspots and times dangerous driving occurs and helps to identify the drivers.

If you see any dangerous driving, call 111 immediately.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/illegal-street-racing-sees-arrest-and-car-impounded/

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm the name of the man who died following a crash in Waipaoa on 20 March, and are appealing for information from the public.

The man was 75-year-old Owen Rutherford Lloyd, from Whatatutu.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Police are now appealing to the public for any information in relation to the crash that may assist our investigation.

We would also like to speak with anyone who may have CCTV, or dashcam footage from the Matawai Road area between 6am and 7am on 20 March.

A 29-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, and is due to appear in Gisborne District Court today.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/23/name-release-fatal-crash-waipaoa/

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died and three others are injured following a three-vehicle crash in Palmerston North overnight.

Emergency services were called to the crash on Tremaine Avenue, near Malden Street, about 2.30am. It involved two cars, one of which caught fire, and a utility vehicle.

Sadly, one person died at the scene. Another has serious injuries and two others have been treated for minor injuries.

The crash also caused power to be cut to multiple addresses.

The Serious Crash Unit has carried out a scene examination and enquiries into the cause are ongoing. The reopened about 7am.

Appeal for information:

Senior Sergeant Christine Pinfold from the Central District Command Centre said Police would like to hear from anyone who captured CCTV prior to the crash.

“We believe the vehicles were travelling south on Tremaine Avenue, towards Malden Street when the crash occurred.

“We ask that people with CCTV in the area please review it and contact us if they have video showing two vehicles travelling down the avenue just before 2.30am.”

Anyone with CCTV showing the vehicles is asked to make a report online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105. Please use the reference number 260324/3928.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/fatal-crash-tremaine-avenue-palmerston-north/

Source: New Zealand Police

Two people have been located deceased in a vehicle in Makara this morning.

Police were called to Makara Road at around 8:05am following reports of a vehicle upside down in a body of water.

Upon arrival, two people were located deceased in the vehicle.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the deaths are ongoing.

Makara Road was closed while a scene examination took place and has since reopened.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/25/fatal-crash-makara/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two bodies have been found inside a car that was discovered upside down in a stream in rural Wellington this morning.

Police, Fire and Emergency and Wellington Free Ambulance were called to the crash in Mākara just after 8am.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Alex Norris said crews arrived to find a car partially submerged in the stream on Mākara Beach Road – a narrow, winding road between Karori and Mākara Beach.

The bodies were found by police when they arrived at the scene.

The road was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

A local resident who did not want to be named said they could see the crash site from their home.

They said they saw at least four police vehicles, two ambulances and a fire appliance attending the crash as well as white blanket laid on the ground.

“Usually you hear stuff a night but we didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary. Our neighbour told me it’s quite a common place where people go off there’s about a two to three metre drop from the road down to the stream.

“I’ve witnessed cars having a head on collision on the stretch before and a bunch of near misses. I haven’t really had a chance to let it sink in. I’ve talked to some of the locals this morning and they’re really shocked” he said.

The road skirts a small stream bordered by wire fencing down the bank from Mākara Road.

Mākara Village cattery owner Cody Stephens said he saw police cars and a fire engine fly past his property this morning, heading towards the beach.

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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/2026/03/25/two-dead-after-car-flips-upside-down-into-stream-in-wellington/

Source: New Zealand Police

Human remains found in a garden on Wellington’s south coast last year have been determined to be centuries old.

A homeowner discovered the remains in his garden in Ōwhiro Bay on June 22, 2025.

Detective Constable Sarah Steed says radiocarbon dating has been conducted on the remains, which show them to be from the 1600s-1700s, and possibly pre-European.

“This information will now be supplied to the Coroner for consideration,” Detective Constable Steed says.

“Consultation will take place with local iwi to arrange a suitable burial site, once the remains are release by the Coroner.”

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/23/remains-found-in-wellington-centuries-old/