Category: DJF

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Welcome to the Year of the Horse

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

The 2026 Chinese New Year is on Tuesday February 17, entering the Year of the Horse. As part of the celebrations, many people will be sharing gifts, including American ginseng and other traditional Chinese medicines.

Some of these products contain ingredients from species protected under CITES. To bring them into New Zealand, you need a CITES permit. Without a permit these items could be seized.

Seahorses are protected under CITES. Photo: DOC

What is CITES

CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, is an agreement between countries that regulates the illegal wildlife trade – the fourth biggest illegal activity worldwide behind arms, drugs and human trafficking.

CITES is one of the oldest conservation agreements in the world, and aims to ensure the international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species. ‘Trade’ in this instance refers to any movement of specimens or items across international borders.

Each country puts the agreement into law through their own legislation. In New Zealand this is the Trade in Endangered Species (TIES) Act 1989.

CITES covers over 40,000 species. This includes many plant and animal species used in traditional Chinese medicine, including Tiān Má, Renshen Guipi Wan, Shí Hú and American ginseng.

Traditional or alternative medicines which contain CITES species come in various forms. Some are raw materials or ingredients like whole and sliced roots and stems. Others are in commercial medicine packages like tablets, pills and plasters.

American ginseng root (Panax Quinqefolius). Photo by Sam Droege CC PDM 1.0

How does it work?

Regulation of the international wildlife trade requires international co-operation, and CITES provides this framework. CITES regulates and monitors the trade in plants, animals and their parts as they cross international borders. Once a species is CITES listed, it requires imports and exports to be authorised through a permitting system.

Because CITES is species-based, items that were sustainably harvested, hunted or farmed still require permits if their species is protected.

A selection of traditional medicines Photo: DOC

What happens at the border?

In New Zealand, MPI and NZ Customs detain suspected CITES items at the border for DOC’s CITES Officers to check and follow up. This includes items carried by international air passengers, cruise ship passengers or private boat users, or sent via international mail or freight.

People who bring in traditional medicines containing CITES protected species without the correct permits will have the product confiscated and may be fined or prosecuted.

Having items seized by border authorities can be embarrassing and disappointing for travellers and family members coming to celebrate. The best way to avoid these situations is to simply not bring these products into New Zealand.

Traditional Chinese medicines and American ginseng are both widely available here online, and in retail stores, so you do not need to import them. Buying within New Zealand also supports local businesses, makes it much easier for buyers, and generates economic activity in our communities.

A selection of traditional medicines. Photo: DOC

Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day

In Auckland, the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day will be on Saturday 14 February 2026 at the Auckland showgrounds. Staff from the CITES team will be onsite to provide more information about CITES and what you need to do if you want to bring CITES-protected traditional medicines into New Zealand.

DOC and MPI staff ready for the crowds at the 2025 Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day. Photo: DOC

Where do I start?

If you are buying traditional medicines online or having them sent or brought in by family overseas, make sure to check the rules on our website first.

Have a look at the CITES information on the DOC website. There is a special section, here, which lists traditional Chinese medicines covered by CITES. There are also CITES website pages in Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. CITES is complex, so if you need help working out what you need to do for a specific item, email us at cites@doc.govt.nz.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/welcome-to-the-year-of-the-horse/

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‘Golden visa’ update announced by Immigration Minister

Source: Radio New Zealand

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has given an update on the government’s so-called ‘golden visa’, which aims to attract investors with at least $5 million to spend.

Changes to the Active Investor Plus visa took effect in April last year, bringing in two categories – riskier ‘growth’ investments of $5m-plus over three years and lower-risk ‘balanced’ investments of $10m-plus over five years – and reducing other barriers, including time spent in New Zealand and an English language test.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The minimum investment amount had previously been $15m.

Stanford said 573 applications had been received to date, totalling about $3.39 billion invested – with $1.05b of that already committed.

She said it compared to 116 applications and $70m of investment over the two-and-a-half years under the previous settings.

“I am delighted that our new visa settings are helping to open up possibility and opportunity for investment,” Stanford said.

“These investors bring not just capital, but global experience, expertise, and networks. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of these investors over the last year and I have seen firsthand their love for, and commitment to, New Zealand.”

She made the announcement at Hectre, an AI startup focused on orchard management and fruit quality.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/golden-visa-update-announced-by-immigration-minister/

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‘It’s appalling’ – the Auckland academic who appears in the Epstein files

Source: Radio New Zealand

“Lolita will never cease to shock”, wrote Brian Boyd in the introduction to his two-volume biography about Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov.

Fourteen years ago, when he spoke to Jeffrey Epstein about funding to write a book about the novel, the billionaire financier’s child sex abuse conviction “was not well known at all,” he says.

“If I’d known he’d been convicted, the last thing I would ever have done would be to suggest a book on Lolita,” Boyd tells RNZ’s Nights.

Jeffrey Epstein with his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking underage girls.

CNN/US District Court for the Southern District of New York

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/its-appalling-the-auckland-academic-who-appears-in-the-epstein-files/

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‘Decent economic growth’ as manufacturing expands – survey

Source: Radio New Zealand

The BNZ-Business NZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) fell 0.9 points in January to 55.2, but was comfortably above its long running average of 52.5. 123rf

The manufacturing sector’s turnaround continued into the new year as firms recorded growth in new orders and production, while employment also grew.

The BNZ-Business NZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) fell 0.9 points in January to 55.2, but was comfortably above its long running average of 52.5. A score above 50 indicated the sector was expanding.

“The January PMI provides further evidence that the economy has finally turned the corner,” BNZ senior economist Doug Steel said.

“It is consistent with our forecasts and a breadth of indicators suggesting decent economic growth.”

All five sub-indices in the survey showed expansion.

“This was led by the two key indices of production (56.6) and new orders (56.4), followed by deliveries (53.3),” BusinessNZ director of advocacy Catherine Beard said.

“Employment (52.9) recorded its third straight monthly expansion, which had last occurred in the first few months of 2025,” she said.

Steel said the turnaround in employment was “good news”.

“When you’ve got more production and using up spare capacity… it does mean more jobs, and that’s what we see in the survey on Friday,” he said.

“If you look back at last year it implies that the net labour shedding that was occurring has drawn to an end.”

But despite the headline PMI index remaining strong, the survey noted the proportion of positive comments fell from 57.1 percent in December to 47.7 percent.

It said some manufacturers did report weak demand, while the Christmas and summer holiday shutdowns disrupted production.

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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/2026/02/13/decent-economic-growth-as-manufacturing-expands-survey/

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DOC urges caution over severe North Island weather warnings

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  13 February 2026

MetService has already issued orange warnings for the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, and Gisborne/Tairawhiti. Heavy rain is expected across many parts of the North Island.

Kahori Nakagawa, Acting Operations Manager Hawke’s Bay, says it’s important for visitors to check DOC’s website for any current warnings and updates, and stay away from campsites, tracks, or huts near areas with a high slip risk.

“MetService is forecasting intense rainfall over the weekend, which could affect tracks, campsites, and access roads,” says Kahori.

“We’re asking people to think carefully before heading out, and to be prepared to change their plans if needed.

“The last thing we want is people getting hurt or stuck.”

Once the extreme weather has passed, DOC staff will carry out assessments on sites and determine when huts, campsites, and tracks can be reopened to the public.

“If you’re in an affected area and planning a trip this weekend, please take care and put safety first.

“Naturing is about connecting with the outdoors, but that connection also means respecting nature’s power and knowing when to pause or change plans.”

All potential visitors should check the DOC website for the latest alerts before setting out. Checking websites for NZTA and local councils can also help visitors glean information about important travel and recreation aspects like road closures access or water restrictions.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/doc-urges-caution-over-severe-north-island-weather-warnings/

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Firefighters take 30 minutes to respond to callout amid strike action

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two trucks arrived 30 minutes after the report of smoke coming from Auckland’s ferry terminal. File picture. RNZ / Richard Tindiller

It took firefighters 30 minutes to respond to a callout in downtown Auckland on Friday afternoon, amid strike action.

The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union walked off the job for one hour from 12-1pm on Friday.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said two fire trucks arrived 30 minutes after a report of smoke coming from the top floor of Auckland’s Downtown ferry terminal was made at about 12.30pm.

The Waitakere and Laingholm Volunteer Brigades, both 30 minutes away from Auckland CBD, were the first at the scene.

Crews from Parnell and Silverdale arrived at just after 1pm.

A fire commander did arrive just after 12.40pm and was the first on site.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson told RNZ that after gaining access to the building, their crews confirmed at about 1.30pm that there was no fire, and the smoke was from a chimney working normally.

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/2026/02/13/firefighters-take-30-minutes-to-respond-to-callout-amid-strike-action/

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Wet summer keeps electricity hydro lakes full

Source: Radio New Zealand

Hydro lakes are fuller than they would normally be at this time of year. Meridian Energy / supplied

A wet summer has kept Meridian’s hydro storage lakes topped up, which could help keep power prices in check down the track.

Record rainfall in both the North and South Islands in January saw flows coming into the lakes exceed historical averages.

Meridian spilled from both its Waitaki and Waiau schemes throughout December and January, with national storage falling from 135 percent to 117 percent of the historical average.

“Wholesale electricity prices through the month of January were as low as I ever remember them being – they were $1 per MWh which is, you know, [basically] free,” chief executive officer Mike Roan said.

He said lower wholesale prices were down to both the large amount of rain and investment in new generation into the system.

Benmore Dam. Meridian Energy / supplied

“Hydro lakes are fuller than they’d normally be this time of year, which bodes well as we approach winter.

“[The lakes] hold about four months of water and they’re above average.

“So we’ve got a lot of fuel in the system right now, but you jump four months ahead – that’s kind of end of June, early July – so we can see most of winter, which is great, and in a month’s time, we’ll be even more confident.”

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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/2026/02/13/wet-summer-keeps-electricity-hydro-lakes-full/

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Watch live: ‘Golden visa’ update announced

Source: Radio New Zealand

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford is set to give an update on the government’s so-called ‘golden visa’, which aims to attract investors with at least $5 million to spend.

Stanford is expected to speak to media at 2.30pm.

Changes to the Active Investor Plus visa took effect in April last year, bringing in two categories – riskier ‘growth’ investments of $5m-plus over three years and lower-risk ‘balanced’ investments of $10m-plus over five years – and reducing other barriers, including time spent in New Zealand and an English language test.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The minimum investment amount had previously been $15m.

An update showed Immigration had received 532 applications for the visas between 1 April 2025, when the settings changed and 19 January, with the bulk of those – 423 – being in the ‘growth’ category.

Of those, 392 had been approved, at least in principle, 134 were still being assessed, and six had been withdrawn.

In total, it amounted to a minimum investment of $3.16b – with $926.2m of that already committed.

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/2026/02/13/watch-live-golden-visa-update-announced/

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Christchurch terrorist had ‘certainty of conviction’ regardless of plea, Crown says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Al Noor Mosque where 51 people were killed in a terrorist attack in 2019. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

The terrorist who massacred 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques is in prison because he committed the crime, not because of a coerced guilty plea, the Crown says.

Australian Brenton Tarrant wants the Court of Appeal to overturn his convictions and sentence for the March 2019 shootings at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre.

The 35-year-old now claims he was “forced” to plead guilty to 92 charges because he was irrational as a result of torturous and inhumane prison conditions.

On Friday, Crown solicitor Madeleine Laracy told the court the terrorist was where he was always going to end up.

“Mr Tarrant made an informed choice in circumstances where he was between a rock and a rock,” she said.

“If he pleaded, he was certain of conviction. If he went to trial, the Crown says a conviction was a certainty.

“This is more than an overwhelming case so we say there was a certainty of conviction either way and either way, he would spend the rest of his life in prison likely without parole. He knew all of that.”

Laracy said the terrorist’s appeal lacked substance and had no merit.

“My learned friend said yesterday that this is one of the most difficult cases. Certainly, it is one of the most terrible and despicable but in terms of looking at this as an appeal, the Crown would disagree,” she said.

“It is not a legally difficult appeal because the evidence to support the argument is not there and the law is clear.”

The terrorist’s pleas also had no impact on his prison conditions because he would remain subject to very restrictive conditions for as long as he posed a risk to himself and others, Laracy said.

On Thursday, Tarrant’s lawyers claimed their client’s guilty pleas were not voluntary and were the result of the “oppressive” conditions in which he was held.

They argued the terrorist suffered a “complete destruction of his identity” because of the isolation, constant surveillance, deprivation and harassment of his prison conditions.

Crown solicitor Barnaby Hawes said the records and reports from the time showed the terrorist was not suffering from any mental illness and raised no issues about his capacity or fitness to plea.

On 31 July 2019 the terrorist decided he wanted to plead guilty to all charges.

The decision became so advanced that paperwork was prepared in anticipation of the pleas being entered in court.

Four days’ later he changed his mind again, only minutes before he was due to appear before the High Court.

In March 2020 the terrorist appeared via audio-visual link and formally pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of committing terrorism.

Hawes said the terrorist spoke to forensic psychiatrist Dr Jeremy Skipworth in August 2020 ahead of his sentencing.

“Crucially, Dr Skipworth says that Mr Tarrant was fit to plead when he did,” he said.

“At this point, Dr Skipworth is interviewing Mr Tarrant. Mr Tarrant said he was sleeping well. Dr Skipworth says that Mr Tarrant was affable, engaged, polite. He was an intelligent man who enjoys debate.

“No thought forms or disordered thinking was noted. No delusions or perceptual abnormalities. No psychotic disorder either now or in the past.”

Earlier reports and records showed the terrorist felt the “need to uphold the honour of his movement” in May 2019 and that caused him distress and anxiety.

In August 2019 concerns were raised about his depressed mood.

The terrorist told clinicians at that point that he “had been doing a lot of thinking and thinks the attacks may have been a waste of time, a complete waste of time”, Hawes told the court.

“So there’s early evidence there of that type of thought being expressed, whether it is a true reflection of his thoughts at that point or not is perhaps something that will never be known.

“That was around the time that Mr Tarrant had first indicated that he was going to plead guilty and then changed his mind.”

The following month it was reported that the terrorist’s mood had improved after he was allowed to review his manifesto.

In May 2020 he threatened to kill himself but reported his mood had improved after a good sleep and it was noted his recent guilty pleas would have increased his anxiety and stress.

The following month he was again referred to clinicians because he was showering in his gown and did not want to go to Christchurch for sentencing.

Hawes said the records were clear and did not show the extreme mental decline and impairment that the terrorist now claimed was happening at the time.

“If the contention is that he was experiencing the levels of impairment, distress to call into question the guilty pleas the contemporaneous record should show it,” he said.

“There is a picture of fluctuating mood and behaviour but that is brief, it’s situational and it’s responsive to external stressors without a sustained mood disorder or psychosis being identified.

“There are no indications of breakdown signs or clues as to what’s suggested.”

Hawes said lawyers who acted for the terrorist from late March 2019 until June 2020 had also called into question their former client’s claims.

Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson told the court on Tuesday that once the terrorist indicated an intention to plead guilty, he maintained it from then on and only wished to control when the pleas were entered.

The pair had no reason to distort the record from that time and acted in the terrorist’s best interest and with real care, Hawes said.

“There are direct aspects that he says that he told his lawyers or the way that he was, which they simply refute,” he said.

“That’s of significance, not only in terms of the treatment of Mr Tarrant’s evidence, but also when looking at other evidence and whether it can be accepted or not.”

Hawes said the terrorist’s case boiled down to his word against all others who dealt and interacted with him at the time in question.

“Mr Tarrant is an unreliable witness and his evidence and his narrative should be treated with great caution,” he said.

Crown submissions would continue on Friday before the terrorist’s lawyers were allowed the right to respond.

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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/2026/02/13/christchurch-terrorist-had-certainty-of-conviction-regardless-of-plea-crown-says/

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Timing critical as Kiwi wasp bait tech trialled on Auckland’s hornet invaders

Source: Radio New Zealand

Vespex inventor Richard Toft’s specially formulated bait will soon be used to target the yellow legged hornet. Entecol

A homegrown scientific discovery from the South Island acclaimed worldwide for its wasp control is now taking on a deadly invader.

The specially formulated protein insecticide bait, which honey bees will not touch, will soon be at the forefront of yellow-legged hornet control on Auckland’s North Shore.

Called Vespex, it was developed by a Nelson-based entomologist.

Richard Toft was working at the then Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) in Nelson during the 1980s. He arrived in Tasman as common wasps were swarming South Island beech forests, and he set to work in his lab.

The discovery of the fiprinol-based protein bait provided a valuable new tool for controlling common and German wasps, designed to be used at a key point in their breeding cycle.

The yellow legged hornet. Washington State Department of Agriculture

Vespex was around 25 years in the making, and Toft’s work was honoured overseas with a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Conservation Innovation Award in 2015. The accolade recognised the significant breakthrough in conservation, helping protect native forests, insects and birdlife from invasive wasps.

The bait has been used extensively by the Department of Conservation to control wasps.

Now building on that success, Biosecurity New Zealand was analysing data to pinpoint the best time to feed it to the hornets.

South Island beech forest.

At this stage of the breeding cycle, wasps and hornets have shifted their diet to more protein-based food sources.

Biosecurity NZ’s Scott Sinclair explained it could be a critical time window.

“The Vespex bait works by either wasps or hornets rolling it into small balls at the bait station and then taking it back to the nest,” he said.

“It’s distributed around the nest to feed the growing colony.

“During that process that fiprinol-based bait gets ingested by a whole lot of either other hornets or wasps in the nest, and a large proportion of that nest [die] off.”

While it had become an extremely valued tool for the control of common and German wasps, Biosecurity was not sure how well it would work for controlling hornets.

Some work in France had suggested they would find it attractive.

“The protein-based baits are going to be more effective against the hornets later in the season,” Sinclair said.

“We’re trying to still determine exactly when we’re going to deploy based on our dissections on the hornet nests that we’re finding, because that allows us to understand how our population is developing. The likely window is in the coming weeks.”

To date, there have been 51 confirmed queen hornets found and 61 nests on Auckland’s North Shore.

Vespex was now manufactured and sold by Nelson company Merchento, of which Toft was the director.

What is Vespex?

Vespex is a protein-based bait formulation that contains 0.1 percent fipronil (a neonicotinoid insecticide) deployed in specialised bait stations. It is designed to be highly attractive to wasps, which take it back to the nest, resulting in the destruction of the nest. It is specifically designed to not impact bees or native insects and birds.

Where was it developed?

Vespex was developed by the Nelson-based company Merchento. Toft, a member of Biosecurity NZ’s Technical Advisory Group and a well-known entomologist in New Zealand, developed the product.

It had been used extensively in New Zealand, including by the Department of Conservation, in both small and large-scale wasp control programmes.

Why is it being used at this part of the breeding cycle?

The timing of the deployment of Vespex in the yellow-legged hornet Response is due to both:

  • a) the point in the life cycle, as earlier in season yellow-legged hornets favour more carbohydrate/sugar-based food sources, shifting to more protein-based food sources later in the life cycle
  • b) the need for us to have live hornets in the environment to facilitate our best shot at eradication. We need healthy, live hornets to track back to nests so that we can destroy the whole nest (including the queen) in one go. Vespex too early in the season may weaken these nests making them more difficult to detect.

What’s the latest with the hornet?

Ground operations are working to find and destroy nests. To date, there have been 51 confirmed queen hornets found and 61 nests on Auckland’s North Shore.

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/2026/02/13/timing-critical-as-kiwi-wasp-bait-tech-trialled-on-aucklands-hornet-invaders/

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Police urge people going outdoors to prepare following incidents since the new year

Source: New Zealand Police

Southern Police Search and Rescue are urging anyone heading to the outdoors to be prepared after multiple search and rescue operations since the new year.

Southern District’s Operations Manager Inspector Matthew Scoles oversees all Search and Rescue teams across the district, and emphasises that while conditions may be perfect when heading outdoors the weather can change in an instant.

“We are lucky to have access to stunning scenery in our part of the country, but if you’re not well prepared there can be devastating consequences,” says Inspector Scoles.

“New Zealand weather is unpredictable and anyone going tramping or climbing needs to pick the right trip for them and have the right equipment.”

Two trampers were forced to spend the night after becoming stuck at a permanent snowfield while tramping between Moraine Creek to the Gertrude Valley on Thursday 12 February.

Police spoke with the trampers and found they lacked appropriate equipment and was not possible for them to backtrack, and due to the weather conditions, rescue efforts were stood down overnight.

“Thankfully the pair had sufficient ability to maintain their safety on the mountain overnight despite it being very uncomfortable and cold,” says Inspector Scoles.

The trampers were rescued about 11.30am today after the Alpine Cliff Rescue team were deployed when the weather cleared.

“We have seen a number of incidents like this, where trampers and climbers have not researched or have been unequipped for their outdoor trip.

“We get even the most experienced people get caught up in situations where they need assistance, and any day trip has the potential to turn into an overnight situation.”

If you are going outdoors, no matter if it is hiking, hunting, or climbing, please follow the five simple steps of the Land Safety Code:

Choose the right trip for you

Learn about the route and make sure you have the skills for it. It is important to choose a trip that suits everyone in your group. When you are looking at options, make sure to think about everyone’s fitness levels and experience in the outdoors.

Understand the weather

New Zealand weather can change fast. Check the forecast and change your plans if needed. Weather can make or break a trip. It is one of the most important things to consider when going into the outdoors.

Pack warm clothes and extra food

Prepare for bad weather and an unexpected night out. Any trip, even if it is short and easy, needs preparation. Packing the right things can make trips safer and more enjoyable.

Share your plans

Telling a trusted person about your trip details and taking a personal locator beacon can save your life. We all want our trips to go as planned – but sometimes they don’t. If you get hurt or lost on your trip, how would you get help? Leaving trip intentions

Take care of yourself and each other

Eat, drink, and rest, stick with your group and make decisions together. Always carry two forms of communication. The best way to enjoy your experience in the outdoors and make it home safely is to look out for one another.

Distress beacons can be hired for as little as $10 from many Department of Conservation Visitor Centres, and outdoor tramping and hunting stores.

If you have purchased a beacon, make sure to register it at www.beacons.org.nz

More information on trip planning can be found at: Trip Planning — NZMSC

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/police-urge-people-going-outdoors-to-prepare-following-incidents-since-the-new-year/

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December visitor arrivals highest since 2019

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government welcomes new data showing New Zealand’s international visitor arrivals continued to rise in December, with strong growth from China and Australia in particular.  

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says Stats NZ’s arrival statistics for December 2025 show New Zealand’s tourism recovery continues to build.   

The December 2025 year was the first annual period to exceed 3.5 million overseas visitor arrivals since the March 2020 year. 

“International tourism is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economic growth, supporting businesses and jobs in communities right across the country. It’s great to see our Government’s work to boost tourism is paying off,” Louise Upston says. 

“We’re seeing strong growth in visitors from China, with arrivals up by 29 percent (6,400) in December 2025 compared with December 2024, as more Chinese visitors experience New Zealand’s unique scenery and hospitality.” 

Annual figures show overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.51 million in the year to December 2025, an increase of 196,000 on the previous year. This continues to track towards the Government’s goal of returning tourism to pre-COVID levels, now sitting at 90 percent of December 2019 figures.   

“It’s also great to see continued growth from our largest visitor market, Australia, with 1.52 million arrivals in the year to December, up 9.9 percent (137,000 since the previous year). 

Monthly data shows 32,800 more international visitors arrived in December 2025 compared with December 2024. 

The Government is supporting tourism growth through a range of initiatives, including strengthening partnerships with key markets, providing funding for the promotion of New Zealand as a year-round destination and streamlining travel processes. 

Changes that allow eligible visitors from China and the Pacific to travel to New Zealand from Australia with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), rather than a visa, are also making a difference. 

A new survey following these changes shows being able to travel with an NZeTA was a deciding factor in people’s decisions to visit New Zealand. An overwhelming 85% of respondents, —including 85% of Chinese travellers and 82% of visitors from Pacific Island Forum countries — said they travelled to New Zealand specifically because the NZeTA option became available. The simplicity and speed of the process meant they could plan trips more spontaneously and confidently. 

“We’re committed to fixing the basics and building the future through backing our tourism and hospitality sector. This data shows our plan is working as we position New Zealand as a top choice for people planning their next holiday.” 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/december-visitor-arrivals-highest-since-2019/

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University Research – Ovarian cancer picked up too late – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

By the time most women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in New Zealand, it’s too late to save their lives, says University of Auckland cancer researcher Dr Alicia Didsbury.

A trustee of The Ovarian Cancer Foundation New Zealand, Didsbury helped write and present the latest State of Ovarian Cancer Report to MPs, patients and medical professionals in Wellington on 11 February. (ref. https://ovariancancerfoundation.org.nz/state-of-ovarian-cancer-in-aotearoa/ )

The foundation’s report states that 60 percent of GPs said ovarian cancer diagnosis was delayed, because of difficulty accessing ultrasound scans.

If ovarian cancer is picked up at stage one or two, it’s often curable with surgery and, in some cases, chemotherapy, Didsbury says.

When picked up in these early stages, 70 to 90 percent of women survive for five years or more.

However, about 85 percent of women are not diagnosed with ovarian cancer until they are at stage three, when the cancer has spread to their lymph nodes or abdominal lining, or stage four, when the cancer has spread to other organs, such as the lungs or liver, she says.

By these late stages, the chances of survival drop dramatically, says Didsbury, from the University’s Centre for Cancer Research.

“Almost half of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed in emergency departments in New Zealand, which is double the rate in Australia.

“When it’s picked up in emergency departments, 42 percent will die within a year.”

Didsbury says the high rate of emergency department diagnosis is a warning sign the health system is failing women.

“An emergency department diagnosis should be the exception – not the norm.”

The report calls for better access to blood tests and scans that help diagnose ovarian cancer, and funding for more research that could develop better tests and treatments.

The Ovarian Cancer Foundation surveyed 500 members of the public, as well as women with ovarian cancer and GPs.

Before they were diagnosed, 75 percent of women reported being misdiagnosed with menopause symptoms, urinary tract infections, stress, ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, needing to lose weight, and depression.

Didsbury says women need to be persistent in asking their GP for tests if they have ongoing early symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as bloating; feeling full after eating little; abdominal, pelvic or back pain; frequent or urgent urination; changes in bowel habits; fatigue; or menstrual irregularities.

While ovarian cancer mostly affects postmenopausal women, it can strike younger women, who often have rarer types of the disease that are harder to detect through blood tests.

The report found nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders incorrectly believe cervical cancer screening detects ovarian cancer, and 60 percent did not know the symptoms.

“There is no screening for ovarian cancer, so women’s awareness of symptoms is vital for early detection.

“If they have new symptoms that persist for more than four weeks, they need to ask for thorough tests to check for ovarian cancer,” she says.

The report calls for a national strategy to address ovarian cancer, which kills more than 200 women a year in New Zealand.

“Ovarian cancer is our deadliest women’s cancer,” Didsbury says.

Despite this, ovarian cancer is under-researched and underfunded in comparison to more common cancers, she says.

Didsbury’s interest in researching cell-based treatments for ovarian cancer was sparked by a family member being diagnosed tragically late with the disease in 2019.

“Like many women, she was misdiagnosed for about 18 months and by the time she had treatment, she was already terminal.”

Didsbury searched for New Zealand clinical trials that might offer hope for her sick family member.

“I was appalled to find there were none.

“We’ve got good researchers in New Zealand looking at this type of cancer, but they’re struggling to get funding.

“We need to do more clinical trials so we can build the body of knowledge and provide better care.”  

Including information on the New Zealand Cancer Registry about the treatments patients received and their outcomes would be a great first step towards improving care, she says.

“There are plenty of actions we can take to make a big difference to women’s chances of survival and to improve their quality of life with ovarian cancer,” says Didsbury.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/university-research-ovarian-cancer-picked-up-too-late-uoa/

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Name release: fatal crash, Anaura Bay

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now name the person who sadly died following a single vehicle crash on Anaura Road, Gisborne, on 1 February.

He was Harry Papuni, 24, from Anaura Bay.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/name-release-fatal-crash-anaura-bay/

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Chocolate recipes to show yourself some love

Source: Radio New Zealand

Our chocolately recipe recommendations include a simple dairy-free cake by kitchen queen Alison Holst, a bananana-fied caramel slice and a chocolate-chip shortbread recipe nicknamed ‘Why Would I Make Another Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever Again?’.

Sweet-tart summer berries and dark chocolate equals instant love connection.

Rich baked banana-infused caramel packed into a malty biscuit base.

After eating cookies that were either too sweet, too soft or too chocolate, Alison Roman invented an instant classic.

Sure-to-be-moist brownies with a bit of extra nutrition.

Ascend to creamy, chocolate-y, nutty, spicy heaven when you’re low on time and energy.

The iconic Kiwi chef added a little spice to a simple dairy-free chocolate cake from her 1991 classic The Best of Alison Holst.

A cookie-pie loaded with dark, dark chocolate and sugar-pillows of marshmallow.

Studded with chunks of dark chocolate and topped with crunchy sesame seeds, these cookies are the perfect combination of flavours and textures.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/chocolate-recipes-to-show-yourself-some-love/

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Arts – SCREENRIGHTS CULTURAL FUND OPENS FOR APPLICATIONS WITH $300,000 FUNDING POOL AND 2026 FOCUS ANNOUNCED AS LEARNING THROUGH STORY

Source: Screenrights Cultural Fund
 
Screenrights has today opened applications for its 2026 Cultural Fund, inviting bold new initiatives to apply for a share of a $300,000 grant pool. With the 2026 annual focus revealed as Learning Through Story, the Fund seeks to award grants of up to $50,000 for projects that foster the creation and appreciation of screen content in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

“In 2026, the Screenrights Cultural Fund is placing a strong emphasis on supporting innovators who are expanding, improving, and accelerating learning outcomes through the creative use of screen stories,” says Tom Alegounarias, Chair of the Cultural Fund Working Group. “This year’s focus highlights our commitment to empowering those who are pushing boundaries in knowledge sharing and learner engagement through screen stories – both within the screen industry and across broader educational sectors. We welcome applications from a wide range of initiatives, whether you’re developing interactive learning tools and innovative curriculum content, or building mentorship platforms and screen-based projects that foster professional growth and community learning.”

Removing Barriers to Entry

Recognising that the best ideas don’t always come from the most experienced grant-writers, Screenrights is once again offering free expert consultations to applicants. This popular support system allows applicants to refine their submissions with professional guidance before the deadline, ensuring a diverse range of voices and projects can compete for the $300,000 pool.

Since its inception in 2018, the Cultural Fund has awarded over $1.8M in grants to a wide range of initiatives that strengthen the screen industry and enhance the way audiences engage with screen content.

Key Details:

Total Funding Pool: $300,000 (up to $50,000 per project)
Closing Date: Wednesday 8 April, 7:00pm NZT / 5:00pm AEST
How to Apply: Guidelines, application forms, and support requests are available at www.screenrights.org/cultural-fund

SCREENRIGHTS CULTURAL FUND
Previous recipients: www.screenrights.org/cultural-fund/funded-projects
Further information: www.screenrights.org/cultural-fund
Enquiries: culturalfund@screenrights.org
 
ABOUT SCREENRIGHTS
Screenrights is a non-profit organisation that provides rights and royalty management services to the screen industry, and facilitates access to screen content for licensees. We license Australian and NZ educators, and Australian government and pay TV retransmitters, to copy and communicate broadcast content. From the licence fees we collect, Screenrights distributes royalty payments to rightsholder members for the programs being used. Screenrights also provides services to the screen industry such as worldwide royalty collection, film and television disbursements and CAMs, performer residuals management, free Sydney meeting room hire, and an annual Cultural Fund. www.screenrights.org

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/arts-screenrights-cultural-fund-opens-for-applications-with-300000-funding-pool-and-2026-focus-announced-as-learning-through-story/

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NZ property profits hold steady as length of ownership hits longest on record – Cotality

Source: Cotality

New Zealand’s property owners are holding onto their properties for the longest period since records began, as the trend of declining profit and more frequent losses for vendors stabilises.

Cotality NZ’s Pain and Gain Report for Q4 2025 shows 88.1% of residential properties resold for more than their original purchase price in the December quarter, broadly in line with 88.0% in Q3.
While the figure is still well below the peak of more than 99% recorded in late 2021, the latest result marks an end to three consecutive quarterly declines for profit-making resales.
Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the figures suggest the market has entered a trough, which is consistent with how wider property values nationally have performed in recent months.
“Resale performance is still soft compared with the boom years, but the data suggests the downward drift has slowed and flatlined, and conditions are broadly holding steady,” Mr Davidson said.
“Property values have flattened out in recent months, and that stability is now flowing through to resale data. This has been a gradual downwards drift in resale performance since early 2022 rather than a slump, and almost nine out of 10 sellers are still making a profit when they trade.”
The national median resale gain in Q4 was $298,000, down from the late-2021 peak of $440,000 but still higher than anything seen prior to 2021. The median resale loss was $55,000, only slightly higher than in the September quarter.
As always, it’s worth keeping in mind that these gains, at least for owner occupiers, aren’t necessarily cash windfalls if they simply have to use all of that fresh equity for their next property purchase.
Hold periods hit highest level on record
Properties resold for a gain in Q4 had been held for a median of 10.1 years, the longest period recorded in the series dating back to the mid-1990s.
By contrast, homes resold at a loss had typically been owned for 3.9 years, which Mr Davidson noted placed many purchases close to the country’s most recent market peak.
“We haven’t seen a significant jump in the historical time ranges, but this hold period surpasses the previous high of 9.4 years, which was only set in the September quarter last year,” he said.
“This highlights the weakness of property values that has persisted since late 2021, which may be prompting some owners to hold longer as they look to maximise their capital growth. In other cases, it may reflect a quieter market and sellers are having to wait longer for a sale.”
Houses outperform apartments
Standalone houses continued to record a lower frequency of resale losses than apartments in Q4, with house resale performance broadly steady over the quarter.
Apartments remained more exposed to loss-making resales, reflecting smaller long-term capital gains and greater sensitivity to recent market conditions. Even so, Mr Davidson said there is little evidence of widespread distressed or forced selling.
“Apartments tend to feel market downturns more acutely, but the data does not point to sellers under pressure or fire sales occurring,” Mr Davidson said.
“The gap largely reflects long-run differences in performance rather than any sudden deterioration in demand for property types.”
Main centres show tentative improvement
Several main centres recorded small improvements in resale outcomes over the December quarter, helping underpin the national stabilisation.
Auckland continued to have the highest share of loss-making resales among the main centres at 17.4%, although this was down from Q3. Wellington and Tauranga also recorded modest easing, while Dunedin saw the sharpest quarterly improvement.
Christchurch remained the most resilient of the main centres, with 5.3% of resales made at a loss in Q4.
“We’d probably need another quarter or two of flatter results before calling a genuine turning point, but there are already tentative hints that resellers are starting to fare a little better in the main centres,” he said.
Outlook stable, not spectacular
New Zealand’s economic outlook, early signs of rising sales volumes and a tentative easing in listings may begin to support house price growth in 2026.
Mr Davidson said lower mortgage rates are likely to provide some support, particularly as housing market conditions become more settled.
“Lower interest rates should help underpin demand, but any lift in prices is likely to be gradual rather than a sharp rebound,” Mr Davidson said.
He cautioned that several more months of consistent sales activity would be needed before the downturn could be considered over.
“Conditions are improving at the margin, we’re seeing this in some of the main centres, and a stabilisation in value declines, but the data suggests we’re entering a period of stability rather than a boom” he said.

Notes:

The Pain and Gain Report analyses homes resold during the quarter, comparing the most recent sale price to the previous sale price to determine whether the result was a gross profit (gain) or gross loss (pain).

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/nz-property-profits-hold-steady-as-length-of-ownership-hits-longest-on-record-cotality/

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PSA calls for review of Law Commission President appointment

Source: PSA

The PSA is calling for an independent review of the appointment of the new Law Commission President after revelations Hon Judith Collins was appointed without any recruitment process, selection panel or consideration of rival candidates.
“This is a concerning breach of good practice for appointments to independent institutions and we call for an independent review,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Judith Collins was the only person considered for this role – there was no contestable process, no advertising, no shortlisting. It amounted to a simple Cabinet confirmation.
“This is not a reflection on Judith Collins’ credentials, but without a proper process, how can New Zealanders have confidence the best person was appointed?
“There are many highly qualified legal experts who were denied any chance to apply. This is a pivotal role in our legal system – one that brings an independent lens to important legal issues – and it merits a thorough, transparent selection process.
“The irony is stark. Just this week in Parliament, as Public Service Minister Judith Collins spoke about the Public Service Amendment Bill, saying ‘This bill reaffirms the principle of merit-based appointments… We’re strengthening the Act to make sure that the best person for the job is the one who gets it, not the most familiar or the easiest option but the person with the right skills and experience to deliver.’
“What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander. The Government can’t lecture public servants about merit-based appointments while ignoring these very principles when rewarding one of its own with a prestigious taxpayer-funded role.
“Cabinet guidelines require such appointments to follow good practice processes set out by the Public Service Commission. Those processes exist to protect against cronyism and ensure public confidence in our institutions.
“We note that Foreign Minister Winston Peters has previously stopped the appointment of former politicians to top diplomatic roles for exactly this reason – to maintain proper standards and avoid the perception of political rewards.
“This appointment sets a worrying precedent. The Law Commission’s independence and credibility depend on public confidence that its leadership is above political influence.
“New Zealanders deserve better. They deserve transparency in how senior public roles are filled, and confidence that merit – not political loyalty – determines who gets these positions.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/psa-calls-for-review-of-law-commission-president-appointment/

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Appointments – DING RETURNS TO GUARDIANS IN NEW INVESTMENT ROLE

Source: Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation

The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, manager of the $90 billion NZ Superannuation Fund, has appointed Qing Ding to the newly-created role of Head of Portfolio Strategy and Research.

Ding rejoins the Guardians from ANZ Investments, where she was Head of Asset Allocation. During her previous time at the Guardians, Qing worked in the Tactical Credit and Asset Allocation teams, and was a key contributor to the 2020 review of the Guardians’ Reference Portfolio.

She had earlier worked as a Senior Investment Analyst at both the Government Superannuation Authority and Westpac NZ, having started her career at AMP Capital Investors.

Guardians Co-Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin says Ding’s job will be to help ensure the Fund’s investment decisions fully consider current market conditions as well as the Fund’s long-term beliefs, structural advantages and investment objectives.

“Asset allocation is every investor’s most important decision. Qing’s skills and experience will help us to construct the right portfolio to meet our mandate and continue to deliver strong returns for all New Zealanders over the long run,” Goodwin says.

“As a member of the Investment Leadership Team, Qing will make an important contribution to the future strategic direction of the Investment Group and to the performance of the Fund.”

Ding says she is looking forward to the challenge of her new role, and to again being part of the Guardians’ investment team.

“I made some very good friends at the Guardians. It will be great to be working alongside them again.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/appointments-ding-returns-to-guardians-in-new-investment-role/

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Nowhere to go: Police response rounds up offenders

Source: New Zealand Police

A Police operation in Pukekohe quickly rounded up several persons of interest in recent aggravated robbery investigations.

The situation unfolded on Thursday afternoon with Police resource flooding into the township, resulting in three sought offenders being arrested.

Detective Inspector Karen Bright, from Counties Manukau CIB, says an off-duty officer located a group near the Michael Hill jewellery store.

One of the group was sought in connection with an aggravated robbery at a Napier Michael Hill store on 3 February, and a Papatoetoe bar on 10 February.

“The group were acting suspiciously near the chain’s Pukekohe store before leaving in a vehicle,” Detective Inspector Bright says.

“Upon realising the risk that a further robbery may be imminent additional Police resource was deployed into the township; on the ground and in the air.

“Our staff were highly visible and there was nowhere this group could go.”

Meanwhile, the National Retail Investigation Support Unit notified Michael Hill whose stores implemented additional security measures.

Prevention patrols were also initiated across the Auckland region at other locations.

  • Police strike:

A breakthrough moment came when a unit sighted the vehicle of interest on Manukau Road.

With the Eagle helicopter also overhead, Police had eyes in many locations.

“Despite the vehicle being abandoned on a side road, our frontline staff quickly deployed into the area,” Detective Inspector Bright says.

“A short time later, a suspicious activity report came in where a group of young people were seen changing their clothes at a nearby high school.

“Units were soon on scene stopping two young people, while Eagle observed two other males trying to walk away from the area.”

They were no match for frontline staff who quickly gave chase on foot on Harris Street, with both males giving up and being arrested.

  • Charges laid:

Detective Inspector Bright says with people in custody, the Counties Manukau Major Crime Team worked into the night to lay appropriate charges.

– A 17-year-old male has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, for the Napier and Papatoetoe incidents, as well as four counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

– A 15-year-old male has also been charged with aggravated robbery over the Papatoetoe incident on 10 February.

– Another 17-year-old male has been charged with aggravated robbery over an incident at a Takanini vape store on 23 January. He also faces several charges relating to vehicle crime.

“This is an outstanding result by every single staff member involved in responding on Thursday,” Detective Inspector Bright says.

“Between a highly visible Police response and partnerships with retailers, we have prevented further offending from taking place.

“These young people are now all before the Manukau Youth Court.”

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/nowhere-to-go-police-response-rounds-up-offenders/