Source: New Zealand Police
One person has died following a crash on 28 February.
The single vehicle crash involved an e-scooter.
Sadly, the person passed away on 10 March from their injuries in hospital.
The death has been referred to the Coroner.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/fatal-crash-twizel/
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a fatal crash on State Highway 5, Taupō, on Monday.
On Monday 9 March, around 2.10am, Police were called to the single vehicle crash where sadly one person was located deceased.
The Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain on going.
Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the crash or the manner of driving of a Green Land Rover Discovery towing a trailer with two motorcycles.
Alternatively, if you have dashcam footage from the State Highway 5, Taupō, or surrounding areas, in the late hours of Sunday 8 March to the early hours of Monday morning, please get in touch.
Information can be provided through 105, either online or over the phone, referencing file number 260309/9199.
You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/appeal-for-information-fatal-crash-sh5-taupo/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Justin Lester, director of Dot Loves Data said this trend was likely a consequence of tightening restrictions around marketing and flavours. 123rf
Under-35s are spending less on vapes each year, according to an analysis of bank transactions by Dot Loves Data.
Eighteen to 24-year-olds spent $90 million on vape products throughout 2025, down from $105 million in 2024.
And among those aged 25 to 34 – historically the largest spending cohort – spend was down from $122m in 2024, to $113m in 2025.
Justin Lester, director of Dot Loves Data, said those numbers had been trending down since 2023 – and so far, were continuing to fall in 2026.
Dot Loves Data, based in Wellington, was bought by ANZ in 2022, giving it exclusive daily access to ANZ transactions on credit and eftpos cards, which made up 35 percent of transactions nationwide.
Overall, Lester said, vape spend was down, after peaking at $34 million a month in 2025. By this January, that figure had dropped to $32 million.
Annually, New Zealanders spent a total of $401 million on vaping products in 2025, compared with $417 million in 2024.
It was not possible to see what products people were buying based on the data, Lester said, and they didn’t collect data for under-18s.
Lester said this trend was likely a consequence of tightening restrictions around marketing and flavours.
The government had made a range of regulation changes in recent years, including a ban on disposable vapes and a restrictions for marketing and flavours.
However, it was a different story among older demographics. For age groups over 35, spending remained comparatively steady, even increasing in line with price increases.
In general, men spent more on vapes than women.
According to the 2024/25 New Zealand Health Survey, 11.7 percent of adults were daily vapers, with the highest rates found among those aged 18 to 34, Māori and Pacific people, and adults living in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
Jonathan Devery, chairperson of the Vaping Industry Association (VIANZ), said the figures were encouraging, and pointed to those restrictions targeting young people having an effect.
While data wasn’t available for under-18s, the ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey of up to 30,000 students each year, showed regular vaping was on the decline.
Devery said those who didn’t experiment with vapes as teenagers were less likely to carry the habit into their twenties.
“Daily and experimental use amongst that age group has been on a steady decline for five years now, so I think you’re seeing a relationship between those under-18s not experimenting or using those products as they were five or so years ago, and those Kiwis falling into the new dataset no longer using those products.”
Devery said, according to retailers, the disposable ban had had the largest impact on sales.
He said research had shown the older generation tended to be the ones who had replaced a smoking habit with vaping, and were not such big users of the disposable, fun-flavoured alternatives.
The ANZ number was far higher than the Ministry of Health’s estimated total sales for “notifiable products” (vaping, smokeless tobacco, and herbal smoking products).
In 2024, the most recent year available, it was “at least $280 million”, compared to ANZ’s $401 million. The ministry noted its estimate was based on specialist vape retailers reporting their sales data, and was incomplete.
Data for 2025 was not available for comparison.
Devery explained those estimates relied on retailers and distributors accurately reporting their sales, but that wasn’t always happening, and a better, clearer platform for reporting data might help.
“Retailers, distributors, suppliers are all doing their best with the education and platform that they have available to them.”
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said it continued to work with industry to improve the usability and reliability of the annual returns system.
As the law left a relatively short window in which to submit annual returns, it had taken “a pragmatic approach” to ensure industry participants had enough time to submit complete and accurate information by allowing late or corrected submissions.
“This helps ensure that any information released publicly reflects the most accurate picture of the market,” it said.
But Letitia Harding, chief executive of the Asthma Foundation, said there needed to be harsher consequences for retailers for poor reporting. “It’s got to have enforcement, and that’s definitely been lacking,” she said.
The ministry said for the past year its compliance focus had been on retail practices that presented the greatest potential public health risk, like sales to minors, visibility and advertising restrictions.
“Annual returns reporting remains important for regulatory oversight; however, it has not been an area where limited compliance resources have been heavily directed.”
The ministry said it was unable to comment on the reported discrepancy between its number, and ANZ’s, “as we do not have visibility of how ANZ has collected or calculated its information, including what market segments or assumptions may have been included”.
Harding said while there was no doubt regulations were having an impact, she was still concerned by other studies which showed 18 to 24 year-olds maintained a high rate of daily vaping. “They’re the ones we’re concerned don’t have the support to quit vaping.”
She was also cautious the data didn’t show what products people were buying, and how many. “It would be interesting to see what’s going out.”
Box mods, or non-disposables – typically favoured by older generations – tended to be more expensive. But you only needed to buy it once, and then the only ongoing expense was vape juice.
The data on locality, however, was well supported by existing evidence, she said, and it was concerning to see vape spend highest in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/under-35s-buying-less-vapes-could-be-result-of-tighter-regulations/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Cathedral Square was badly damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes. Frank Film
A long-awaited plan for an upgrade to Christchurch’s Cathedral Square will go to the public in coming months, Christchurch City Council says.
Council staff briefed mayor Phil Mauger and councillors on concept design work for the city’s traditional centre on Wednesday.
Cathedral Square – which encircles the moth-balled Christ Church Cathedral in the central city – was badly damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes.
Efforts to upgrade both the cathedral building and surrounding square have floundered for more than a decade.
Council strategy, planning and regulatory general manager John Higgins said the revitalised concept design would go to the public for consultation later this year.
“The current programme has largely focused on surface improvements like upgrading roads and footpaths, paving and landscaping.
“We now have an opportunity to build on the design work done by Regenerate Christchurch to further recognise the role and importance of Cathedral Square as our central civic space.”
The council was seeking expressions of interest for the project.
Previous feedback had shown people want Cathedral Square to be an accessible and vibrant place to gather, Higgins said.
“For many, the square has historically been a gathering place for everyone who calls Christchurch home. We want to acknowledge its role as the heart of our city, connecting all our new and existing facilities and creating a space that reflects that importance.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/cathedral-square-upgrade-concept-design-to-open-for-consultation/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Richard Tindiller
The primary teachers’ union is angry that the government is offering pay rises to teachers on individual employment agreements.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said from Wednesday, schools could offer staff on individual agreements a 2.5 percent pay rise from 20 March, with a further 2.1 percent on 28 January next year.
She said the teachers had a right to a contract.
“It is fair and reasonable that nearly a third of primary school teachers, who are not part of the NZEI, should be offered a contract so they can receive the pay increases that the government has already offered,” she said.
“This would equate to approximately $50 to $76 each week and is pay that non-union teachers could already be receiving if not impacted by the NZEI’s ongoing approach to bargaining.”
The Educational Institute Te Riu Roa rejected the same deal for teachers in the collective agreement.
RNZ understands it is unusual for an individual offer to be made before the collective is settled.
NZEI primary teacher leader Liam Rutherfod said the move was a serious breach of good faith and undermined collective bargaining.
“The government is employing divisive tactics to undermine teachers’ fight to get fair recognition of our work. Our teachers deserve a fair deal that reflects their value, not sinister manoeuvres designed to break our unity,” he said.
“The government is demanding we implement sweeping, rushed curriculum changes, yet they refuse to pay us for doing the extra work and consistently undervalue our work in supporting students through these changes. There is widespread frustration regarding the pace of curriculum changes and its impact on ākonga and their learning.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/primary-teachers-union-angry-over-government-offering-individual-pay-rises/
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are making enquiries after a threat was made towards a Timaru school, however there is no information to suggest it is credible.
Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker says Police were alerted to the message about 7.45pm on 10 March.
“We will not detail the specifics of the threat, however investigators are actively pursuing positive lines of enquiry to identify the person responsible for sending the message.
“Officers are providing reassurance patrols in the area, and we are working closely with the school as the investigation progresses.
“At this time, we are unable to comment further, however ask anyone with direct information to contact us.”
You can make a report online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105. Please use the reference number 260310/5712.
Alternatively, you can make an anonymous report via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/positive-lines-of-enquiry-into-threat-against-school/
Source: NZCTU
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey is supporting NZEI Te Riu Roa and calling on Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche to back down from his plans to offer individual employment agreements to primary teachers.
“This is an outright attack on the tens of thousands of teachers up and down the country who choose to join together to fight for better pay and conditions,” said Grey.
“It is totally unacceptable that the Public Service Commissioner is attempting to turn teachers against each other and undermine solidarity across the sector.
“Brian Roche has overstepped the mark by breaching good faith bargaining and undermining the role of unions. This comes after his scandalous decision last year to run taxpayer funded ads to attack striking workers.
“It’s time for Roche to take his responsibilities to support public servants seriously. It is the workers who keep the public service running, not ministers. He has an obligation to them.
“As New Zealanders we love our teachers. They deserve to be paid what they’re worth and valued for their tireless work educating our tamariki.
“The CTU and wider union movement stands in solidarity with primary teachers and NZEI Te Riu Roa in the face of this outrageous attack,” said Grey.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/ctu-stands-in-solidarity-with-teachers/
Source: Radio New Zealand
(File photo)
Major food company Wattie’s has proposed changes to discontinue some manufacturing operations in New Zealand.
The company said the proposal would result in the closure of three manufacturing facilities in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. Packing would also cease at the associated frozen lines in King St, Hastings.
The company said about 350 jobs were expected to be affected.
MORE TO COME…
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/watties-nz-proposes-closure-of-three-manufacturing-facilities-impacting-350-jobs/
Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are attending a single vehicle truck crash on SH62 between Picton and Nelson.
The crash ocurred near the intersection of Rapaura Road and Selmes Road in Marlborough today at about 3.15pm.
It appears that the occupant of the vehicle has moderate injuries.
Due to the truck partially blocking the road, motorists should avoid the area until the road is cleared.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/delays-on-sh62-rapaura-road-marlborough-due-to-a-single-vehicle-crash/
Today, Heinz Wattie’s Limited announced proposed changes to certain areas of its New Zealand business as part of the company’s shift to focus on its long-term strategy.
ABOUT HEINZ WATTIE’S
A subsidiary of The Kraft Heinz Company, Heinz Wattie’s is a major food producer with a proud New Zealand heritage. Founded by Sir James Wattie in 1934, Wattie’s is home to the nation’s favourite tomato sauce, baked beans, spaghetti and a wide range of fruit and vegetable products and meals enjoyed by millions of Kiwis up and down the country. Learn more about New Zealand’s best-loved food brand, by visiting www.watties.co.nz
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/job-losses-heinz-watties-announces-proposed-changes-to-operations-in-new-zealand/
Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Exporters of live animals by sea are feeling “not flash” about the government’s announcement it will not resume the trade this term.
On Wednesday, senior National MP Todd McClay told RNZ the party would not progress the move to reverse a ban on live animal exports by sea.
It followed an announcement by Associate Agriculture Minister responsible for animal welfare, Andrew Hoggard, that he did not expect the legislation to progress this side of November’s general election.
“While discussions are ongoing, Cabinet has not agreed any final decisions,” he said.
Nearly three years ago, the Labour-led government banned the trade worth around $374 million in 2022, after a ship en route to China capsized in 2020, killing 41 crew members – including 2 New Zealanders – and nearly 6000 cattle.
But during the last election, there was a push for the practice to resume. It featured in coalition agreements between National and Act and National and New Zealand First.
Since then, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) had been working with industry to create so-called gold standards for live exports.
Industry group Livestock Export NZ’s executive director, Glen Neal said it spent years working closely with MPI on developing the new standards.
But he said he believed Cabinet did not understand that the sector was also focussed on animal welfare.
“The decision leaves us grasping for what the future of the sector really is,” he said.
“We couldn’t agree more with the SPCA and others that this is about animal welfare, which is why we work so closely with MPI on new standards; on standards that New Zealanders could justifiably be proud of, that lined up with our reputation as a proud trading nation in agricultural products.”
He said government went quiet on it last year.
“This decision announced from Minister Hoggard, unfortunately comes as no surprise. We haven’t heard much for the last nine months on this,” he said.
“We elected this government on the back of many promises, but one of them did include reinstating the trade, and so three years of missing $300 million in New Zealand’s rural economies, it does leave you scratching your head about why.
“Three-hundred million dollars, the minister mentioned last night, that per year. That’s what we’re leaving on the table in terms of trade with countries like Indonesia.”
Neal said New Zealand helped contribute to growing Indonesia’s domestic dairy herd, and China wanted this too.
He said these markets wanted dairy cattle from New Zealand, and may look to countries with lower welfare standards to plug the gap.
“Effectively, this decision just postpones the introduction of those good standards, postpones New Zealand’s re-entry into this market.”
Industry group Livestock Export New Zealand represented firms involved with the trade, like farmers, stock agents, shipping companies and veterinarians.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/live-animal-exporters-disappointed-by-backtrack-on-government-commitment/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Southern Medicinal has converted the old Mataura paper mill into a medicinal cannabis and hemp growing, testing and processing facility. Supplied / Southern Medicinal
Medicinal cannabis company Helius Therapeutics has been placed in voluntary administration, citing a tough commercial and regulatory environment.
The Auckland-based company was founded in 2018, and was one of the early players in the sector.
The voluntary administration does not impact the clinic business owned by Helius Group, and operating under Cannaplus.
Helius chief executive Vicky Taylor, who joined in late 2025, said the decision reflected challenges facing the sector.
“This is an incredibly difficult moment for our team and for the wider medical cannabis industry,” Taylor said.
“Unfortunately, the current commercial and regulatory environment has made it very challenging for manufacturers to operate sustainably at scale.”
Over the past few years, the sector has made repeated calls to ease regulatory burdens in New Zealand.
Helius Therapeutics will close its East Tāmaki manufacturing facility.
Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners were appointed voluntary administrators.
Stoneman said they would continue to trade the business at reduced capacity over the next six weeks to sell the remaining stock on hand.
All manufacturing operations have ceased, and assets would be sold, he said.
“The company has been placed in voluntary administration following a sustained period of trading losses driven by high operating costs and a challenging regulatory environment,” Stoneman said.
Taylor said its priority was to support staff and ensure patients received care through its clinic network.
“Most importantly, I want to thank the great people who have worked at Helius Therapeutics,” she said.
“Their commitment to patients, innovation and quality has been remarkable, and I’m grateful for everything they have contributed.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/medicinal-cannabis-company-helius-therapeutics-shuts-down/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Police were called to a house on Newcastle St in Mahia at 11.30pm on February 28. (File photo) RNZ / Marika Khabazi
A man who was struck in the head and face with a golf club after entering a house in Hawke’s Bay and seriously assaulting a person is being sought by police.
Police were called to address on Newcastle St in Mahia, at 11.30 pm on February 28 after a man entered the property and seriously assaulted a person.
Another person in the house confronted the man – hitting him with a golf club – and injuring his head and face, police said.
The man then fled on a dark-coloured side-by-side quadbike.
Detective Sergeant Joshua Jones said police were looking for man in his 30s or 40s with short black hair and a receding hairline.
The man was nearly six foot three inches tall – of chubby build – and wearing a white singlet and jeans at the time of the assault.
“This is a very serious incident that has happened in a place where the victim should have been able to feel safe.
“The victim sustained serious injuries, and both occupants are understandably very shaken by the incident,” Jones said.
Police were asking anyone who may have seen a person matching the description – possibly with unexplained head injuries – or who spotted the quad bike in the Newcastle and Weld St areas, near the time of the assault, to get in touch.
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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/home-intruder-hit-in-head-with-a-golf-club-following-serious-assault-in-mahia-hawkes-bay/
Source: Radio New Zealand
NZ First said the latest report did not go far enough when looking into vaccine safety and risks. RNZ / Angus Dreaver
New Zealand First has called for yet another inquiry into Covid-19 – this one focused on vaccine injuries.
The second phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry, commissioned by the coalition, released its findings on Tuesday, unequivocally endorsing the use of vaccines.
It did, however, highlight that officials were warned about the risks of giving two doses to teenagers – and said that was not passed on to ministers.
In a statement, NZ First said the latest report did not go far enough when looking into vaccine safety and risks.
It called for a select committee to hold its own inquiry to give anyone injured a voice and to hold decision-makers accountable.
“The Crown needs to know how widespread any effects of those known risks that were mandated on New Zealanders but specifically those young people.
“The downstream health effects could be disastrous with the report identifying myocarditis as a specific health consequence.”
Speaking at Parliament, NZ First leader Winston Peters told reporters he had serious concerns about vaccine safety.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected here. They need to know the truth. They need to know why they were denied the truth.”
ACT’s David Seymour said he was open to the idea of a select committee inquiry.
“A lot of people felt they were ostracized from society and if this helps them feel seen and heard, then it might not be a bad thing.”
Even with the support of NZ First and ACT, a select committee inquiry would require the backing of the National Party.
National leader and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon dodged questions over whether he supported an inquiry, saying only that there were “very serious questions” for Labour to answer.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said two high-level investigations had already been carried out – including one commissioned by the current coalition government.
He pointed out that Peters was once a staunch advocate for vaccines, even calling for them to be a requirement for welfare and parole.
“One of the wonders of being Winston Peters is you never have to be consistent in your position on anything.”
Hipkins said the government needed to “move on” and focus instead on the cost-of-living and the country’s future.
In its report, released on Tuesday, the Royal Commission of Inquiry said the process and consideration surrounding the approval of vaccines could not have been more thorough.
“We acknowledge that some people disagree with Medsafe’s decision that the benefits of [the Pfizer vaccine] Comirnaty outweighed its risks. They consider the risks of the vaccine then, and now, well outweigh any perceived benefit.
“We do not agree with that view.”
The report said the evidence did not support arguments that Covid-19 was not “a significant threat to public health”.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/nz-first-calls-for-covid-19-inquiry-focused-on-vaccine-injuries/
In February 2026, Gumboot Friday helped 1,754 young people aged 5–25 access free counselling, delivering a total of 2,721 sessions. Every session is free, needs no referral, and is chosen by the young person from a network of registered counsellors on the Gumboot Friday platform.
Breakdown by age group:
• 490 young people aged 5–11 (28%)
• 510 young people aged 12–17 (29%)
• 754 young people aged 18–25 (43%)
These numbers show what early intervention actually looks like: young people getting seen when they need it, not after things reach crisis point, not when “things get bad enough”.
“I look at the February numbers and I see the kids behind them — and a lot of them are still in primary school. The tricky thing is, a child who needs to talk doesn’t always look ‘obviously’ distressed. It can show up as being snappy, going quiet, not sleeping, acting out, or even without any obvious tells at all. What matters is they get the chance to sit down with someone who actually listens — properly — before things pile up,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.
“Government funding covers the counselling sessions themselves, and donations to I Am Hope are what keep Gumboot Friday running — onboarding counsellors, maintaining the system, running our school programmes, and supporting the wider foundation. To everyone who’s backed this kaupapa, thank you. It means help is there when our young people need it,” King says.
If you’re 25 and under and need someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz to connect with a counsellor for Free. No GP referral needed.
To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday, head to www.iamhope.org.nz or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.
LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/events-gumboot-friday-delivers-hope-in-february-1754-young-people-supported/
LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/health-aged-care-association-calls-for-stronger-direct-communication-in-pandemic-planning/
11 March 2026, 3 pm – NZ First and ACT appear to be threatening to sink a tax measure that would close a major tax loophole and raise important revenue for the government. Tax Justice Aotearoa and the Better Taxes Coalition say this is a concerning development.
It was reported in the NZ Herald today that the coalition parties are likely to oppose the proposal currently being considered by the Government for company loans to be treated as taxable income in circumstances where the shareholder would otherwise gain a tax advantage compared with recipients of dividends or salaries.
“This is a significant loophole – it creates unfairness and deprives the government of much needed revenue – and it looked like the Government was going to move to close it,” said Glenn Barclay, spokesperson of Tax Justice Aotearoa and the Better Taxes Coalition.
“It is concerning that NZ First and ACT, might not support a measure that both Australia and the UK have and which will address what appears to be a very significant distortion in the tax system. Shareholders owe around $29b to companies at the moment – that is a substantial amount and it needs to be taxed appropriately,” said Barclay.
Tax Justice Aotearoa submitted to the IRD consultation on the proposal and argued the UK legislation was the best model for Aotearoa New Zealand to follow. There the tax charge is linked to the loan and is repayable if the loan is repaid, providing an incentive to do so and ensuring that legitimate loans will not be taxed.
“The UK model is well established and a workable approach that would not result in excessive taxation,” said Glenn Barclay. “But would remove the current distortion and gather revenue that’s currently being lost to this loophole.”
Tax Justice Aotearoa noted the 2017-18 Tax Working Group recommended that closely held companies should provide security to IRD if the company was owed a debt by a shareholder and there was doubt about the ability and/or the intention of the shareholder to repay the debt and therefore should have been taxed as if the loan was a dividend or salary.
“The rhetoric around this has been intentionally overblown”, said Glenn Barclay. “With the right design, taxing shareholder loans would be a practical response to a real problem of unfairness and lost revenue – it would not be ‘draconian’ or ‘double taxation’. We call on all the parties in the Coalition Government to take a constructive approach to address this major loophole in our tax system”.
LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/tax-reform-concern-that-nzf-act-could-sink-closure-of-major-tax-loophole/
Source: Radio New Zealand
There was champagne and smiles as Dan Turner sailed into Antigua, in the Caribbean Sea, this week.
After 16 months at sea and 28,000 nautical miles travelled, the South Australian accomplished what some can only dream of — sailing solo around the world.
And to top it off, he completed the feat in a boat he built in his own garage.
Dan Turner celebrates finishing the Mini Globe Race with champagne in Antigua, in the Caribbean Sea.
Supplied / Dan Turner
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/australian-man-sails-around-the-world-in-homemade-boat/
Source: Radio New Zealand
SPENCER PLATT
Researchers at Melbourne start-up Cortical Labs have taught their “biological computer” made from living human brain cells to play Doom.
They say it brings biological computers a step closer to real-world uses, such as drug-testing or robotics applications.
Cortical Labs synthetic biological intelligence scientist Dr Alon Loeffler told Midday Report it was the “first code-deployable biological computer”.
“We like to call it neurocomputer, made out of about 200,000 to 800,000 cells that were taken from stem cells and turned into brain cells,” he said.
“Then we had an early access user, a customer of ours, in one-week programme the game Doom, or a free version of Doom, without the copyright restrictions, so that the cells can navigate this environment and try and beat the game.”
He said the cells were very similar to what would be in a real-life brain.
Loeffler said while they were human brain cells, they were not taken from people’s brains, but rather from blood donations.
“We take blood donations from willing volunteers and donors and then our amazing biology team does some biology magic, which is science, but I think of it as magic.
“They turn these blood cells into stem cells, similar to what in the past you’d have to take out of embryos, but now you can just get them from skin cells or blood cells.
“Then those are converted to brain cells or cortical cells, which are then placed on a Petri dish, and we can record the electrical activity from the cells because they communicate via electrical signals, similar to how they would in the brain.”
In that sense, they were alive, he said.
Loeffler said because the system didn’t have sensory inputs such as eyes or ears, the question was how they would encode the information.
A lot of research had gone into that, he said.
“We’re still in the very early stages of understanding that, but the idea is, for example, in the Doom game, if there’s an enemy or demon that appears on the left side, you can send in an electrical input on the left side of the chip, and if it’s on the right side, you could send in an electrical signal on the right side of the chip.
“This is obviously a much more condensed version and simplified version, but then the response of the culture would then kind of tell the game or tell the controller what to do, to move to the left or to move to the right, for example.”
Loeffler admitted the computer was not very good at the game, but would outperform a model that shot randomly.
He said it was “learning to improve over time”.
Loeffler said there were several real-world applications it could be applied to, such as drug development and testing.
“You can test all sorts of different drugs on these cells, and they’ll perform much more similar to biological systems,” he said.
“They’re also much more similar to brains than animal models, so you can kind of remove the need for mice and chimpanzees and sheep in animal models. You could also potentially use them for robotics applications.
“It’s one thing that biological systems are really good at doing, which AI is terrible at doing, is navigating new and changing environments.”
He said if they could improve its ability to understand inputs, they would be able to navigate an environment in a more biological way.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/researchers-teach-computer-made-from-human-brain-cells-to-play-doom/
Source: Radio New Zealand
SPENCER PLATT
Researchers at Melbourne start-up Cortical Labs have taught their “biological computer” made from living human brain cells to play Doom.
They say it brings biological computers a step closer to real-world uses, such as drug-testing or robotics applications.
Cortical Labs synthetic biological intelligence scientist Dr Alon Loeffler told Midday Report it was the “first code-deployable biological computer”.
“We like to call it neurocomputer, made out of about 200,000 to 800,000 cells that were taken from stem cells and turned into brain cells,” he said.
“Then we had an early access user, a customer of ours, in one-week programme the game Doom, or a free version of Doom, without the copyright restrictions, so that the cells can navigate this environment and try and beat the game.”
He said the cells were very similar to what would be in a real-life brain.
Loeffler said while they were human brain cells, they were not taken from people’s brains, but rather from blood donations.
“We take blood donations from willing volunteers and donors and then our amazing biology team does some biology magic, which is science, but I think of it as magic.
“They turn these blood cells into stem cells, similar to what in the past you’d have to take out of embryos, but now you can just get them from skin cells or blood cells.
“Then those are converted to brain cells or cortical cells, which are then placed on a Petri dish, and we can record the electrical activity from the cells because they communicate via electrical signals, similar to how they would in the brain.”
In that sense, they were alive, he said.
Loeffler said because the system didn’t have sensory inputs such as eyes or ears, the question was how they would encode the information.
A lot of research had gone into that, he said.
“We’re still in the very early stages of understanding that, but the idea is, for example, in the Doom game, if there’s an enemy or demon that appears on the left side, you can send in an electrical input on the left side of the chip, and if it’s on the right side, you could send in an electrical signal on the right side of the chip.
“This is obviously a much more condensed version and simplified version, but then the response of the culture would then kind of tell the game or tell the controller what to do, to move to the left or to move to the right, for example.”
Loeffler admitted the computer was not very good at the game, but would outperform a model that shot randomly.
He said it was “learning to improve over time”.
Loeffler said there were several real-world applications it could be applied to, such as drug development and testing.
“You can test all sorts of different drugs on these cells, and they’ll perform much more similar to biological systems,” he said.
“They’re also much more similar to brains than animal models, so you can kind of remove the need for mice and chimpanzees and sheep in animal models. You could also potentially use them for robotics applications.
“It’s one thing that biological systems are really good at doing, which AI is terrible at doing, is navigating new and changing environments.”
He said if they could improve its ability to understand inputs, they would be able to navigate an environment in a more biological way.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/researches-teach-computer-made-from-human-brain-cells-to-play-doom/