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LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/business-financial-data-december-2025-quarter-stats-nz-information-release/
Wattie’s supplier fears for industry’s future after proposed closure of factories
Source: Radio New Zealand
The Wattie’s factory in Christchurch. Nathan McKinnon / RNZ
Wattie’s growers and staff are reeling following the company’s announcement of the proposed closure of three factories in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.
The move would see 350 workers made redundant, 220 suppliers affected, and the end of Wattie’s frozen vegetables, Gregg’s coffee and other household names.
Methven farmer Hamish Marr supplied Wattie’s with peas for around 20 years, and said the news was devastating for staff and growers alike.
It came as the arable industry was in real trouble, struggling with low prices for crops but record-high costs for inputs like fuel and fertiliser, he said.
“It’s another nail in the coffin for poor old NZ Inc, and the supermarket shopper ultimately will be buying something that’s not produced here.”
If he could not find an alternative buyer, Marr would consider abandoning peas for livestock, given the lack of options for arable crops.
Comments by Wattie’s that energy prices and red tape were behind the move were frustrating.
“It’s a little bit galling – we live in a country with some of the most sustainable electricity in the world, and yet we’re paying record high prices for electricity, so something needs to be looked at there I would think.”
He agreed compliance was an issue, and said it was only getting worse.
Associate energy minister Shane Jones. RNZ / Mark Papalii
Associate energy minister Shane Jones pointed the finger at electricity gentailers – the major companies that both generate and wholesale electricity.
“Look no further than the non-competitive structure, the non-competitive level of cost imposed on our manufacturing sector by the electricity sector. That’s why the electricity sector either has to be regulated or cut in half.”
Jones said job losses would be inevitable until the gentailers were broken up.
Heinz Wattie’s declined an interview, but in a statement managing director Andrew Donegan said the company was deeply aware of the impact the changes would have on people and their families, growers, suppliers and the community.
The decision was not taken lightly, but was a step that company had to take to position it for the future, Donegan said.
‘They’re heartbroken, gutted’
Forklift driver and E tū union delegate Kathy Perrin’s job was facing redundancy after more than 45 years at Wattie’s Hornby factory in Christchurch.
Everyone from young families juggling new babies and mortgages to workers who had been with the company for decades were facing redundancy, Perrin said.
Her colleagues were fearful of the tough job market and of what happened after the factory doors closed, she said.
Some had been there for several decades, and thought they would see out their working lives at Wattie’s.
The prospect of job hunting was daunting.
“My last interview for a job was in 1979.”
She wanted to see the government and union work alongside the company to support those who were made redundant with counselling, assistance with financial planning or help meeting rent or mortgage payments.
The union and local Wattie’s management were being supportive.
“This didn’t come from within New Zealand, it comes from outside – we’re globally owned.”
She said everyone was rallying around each other, but there was only so much the workers could do.
“They’re heartbroken, gutted.”
The closures came on the back of a wave of redundancies in the past year, including at Sealord, Griffins, Carter Holt Harvey and Smiths City amid economic downturn.
Company liquidations hit a 15-year-high last year.
‘I can’t make business stay in a district’
A “substantial” number of the suppliers were based in Canterbury’s Selwyn district, said mayor Lydia Gliddon.
She said the news had came as a surprise, and she been left with more questions than answers.
There was little the council could do to sway Wattie’s, but Gliddon said she would work to get more details.
“I can’t make business stay in a district, but I think it’s about advocacy, and connecting in and seeing actually what’s going on, trying to get some clarity about those contracts and what happens to them.”
Selwyn MP and associate minister of agriculture Nicola Grigg said the government has been focused on reducing unnecessary red tape and regulation for growers and farmers.
The decision would come as a blow for growers and distributors who were already grappling with rising fuel prices due to the war in the Middle East, and who had experienced losses in recent storms.
Wattie’s was founded in 1934 in Hawke’s Bay, starting with jams and expanding to fruits and vegetables.
H.J. Heinz Company, as it was known at the time, purchased the company in 1992.
In September 2025, Wattie’s reduced its peach production, cutting the contracts of around 20 Hawke’s Bay suppliers in the face of what it claimed was dumping from cheaper markets.
The Minister of Commerce confirmed that last month, after an investigation found Chinese company J&G International Co. Ltd had been dumping peaches, causing “material injury to the New Zealand industry.”
The company also announced in 2025 that it would also source fewer tomatoes, beetroot and corn from local growers due to a drop in demand.
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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/2026/03/12/watties-supplier-fears-for-industrys-future-after-proposed-closure-of-factories/
Co-founder of Copenhagen’s Noma steps down after abuse allegations
Source: Radio New Zealand
The co-founder of Noma, several times crowned the best restaurant in the world, Danish chef Rene Redzepi said Thursday that he was stepping down, following reports of past abuse at his fabled restaurant.
“After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I’ve decided to step away,” Redzepi said in an Instagram post.
Over the weekend, newspaper The New York Times published a story detailing witness testimony about stories of past abuse at Noma, including physical violence and episodes of public shaming.
The newspaper said it had interviewed 35 former employees about the period between 2009 and 2017.
“I have worked to be a better leader and Noma has taken big steps to transform the culture over many years. I recognize these changes do not repair the past,” Redzepi said.
He added that “an apology is not enough; I take responsibility for my own actions.”
Redzepi has previously admitted to losing his cool, including in 2015, when he said in an essay that “I’ve been a bully for a large part of my career”.
In February, former head of Noma’s fermentation lab, Jason Ignacio White, started posting about abuse he had witnessed while working at Noma and relayed stories sent to him by other former employees.
“Noma is not a story of innovation. It is a story of a maniac that would breed culture of fear, abuse & exploitation,” White said in an Instagram post in early February.
An acronym formed from the Danish words “nordisk” (Nordic) and “mad” (food), Noma first opened on a quay in central Copenhagen in 2003.
It closed in 2016 and reopened two years later in a slightly more remote neighbourhood of the Danish capital.
On Wednesday, Noma opened a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles, but the opening was marked by a protest led by former employees.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/co-founder-of-copenhagens-noma-steps-down-after-abuse-allegations/
Four before the courts after failing to appear, Coromandel Peninsula
Source: New Zealand Police
Four people are facing the courts following the first of many Police operations in Eastern Waikato today.
Police conducted a number of search warrants in the Coromandel Peninsula, today, in an operation targeting offenders with warrants to arrest or who have failed to turn up to Court recently.
As a result, four arrests were made in the Whitianga and Coromandel township areas which included two women aged 29 and 33, and two men aged 32 and 35.
Eastern Waikato Area Commander, Inspector Mike Henwood says the offenders had avoided Court appearances on various assault, burglary, and theft charges.
“Some offenders take advantage of remote locations to evade the courts, and it can be problematic at time for a couple local Police officers to successfully locate and arrest them.
“Police staff from the wider East Area were brought in and supported local Police to clear multiple addresses.
“Support like this for our local people ensures offenders can’t avoid us forever – even in the picturesque Coromandel,” says Inspector Henwood.
“I would like to thank all staff involved in these arrests and reassure the community that this doesn’t end here – we will continue to target any offenders that are attempting to evade Police, you can expect to see us anywhere, anytime.”
Both the women and men are held in custody due to appear in Hamilton District Court tomorrow.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/four-before-the-courts-after-failing-to-appear-coromandel-peninsula/
Should Marsden Point refinery have been saved? Shane Jones and David Seymour can’t agree
Source: Radio New Zealand
Currently the country has about 52 days worth of fuel supply either in country or en route. RNZ
Shane Jones is continuing to make a case for why the Marsden Point refinery should have been saved, but his coalition partner David Seymour says the economics don’t stack up.
The debate over whether the now-defunct refinery would have left New Zealand less vulnerable to supply chain issues played out extensively in Parliament on Thursday.
It comes after government ministers met on Wednesday night to discuss the country’s fuel security as the ongoing war in Iran puts pressure on supply.
Currently the country has about 52 days worth of fuel supply either in country or en route.
Jones, the associate energy minister, first blamed the previous Labour government for allowing oil companies to give up storing fuel here in favour of a ‘just-in-time’ model relying on multiple import sources, in an interview with RNZ’s Morning Report on Thursday.
Responding to that criticism, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Jones is being dishonest by blaming the previous government for current fuel resilience woes.
Hipkins told RNZ the closure of Marsden Point was a business decision, made by its private owners, and not a government decision.
“Ultimately Shane Jones is being very dishonest in the way he’s presenting that.
“Marsden Point refinery was processing oil that was imported from offshore. To say by importing the oil already processed, that somehow fuel security in New Zealand is less because of that, is just wrong.”
But Jones has doubled down saying the previous government fatally wounded the country’s fuel security in its decisions around Marsden Point, and says a 2021 Cabinet paper proves it.
The paper, which RNZ has a copy of, shows the Labour government considered providing a loan to Marsden Point but ultimately the then-Minister of Energy Megan Woods said there was not a strong case.
Hipkins says if Marsden Point would be useful as a storage option then “the tanks are still there and [the coalition] can have that conversation”.
It’s unlikely to get wide support at the coalition cabinet table however, with Act leader David Seymour declaring it a bad idea.
Seymour used to work at the refinery and his grandad helped build it in 1962.
“Let’s get a few things straight, first of all the shareholders chose to close it down. It was a commercial decision because it was costing more to refine there than elsewhere.”
To justify subsidising the refinery now to have it open would require a public benefit, he said.
“Once you go through the arguments it doesn’t actually stack up.”
When RNZ put to Seymour that it was his coalition partner, Jones, who was making the arugments to keep it open, he responded: “Well look, economics is not a gift given to everybody”.
Jones, however, has pointed to the 700 million litres of storage capacity at the refinery and the benefits that would bring if it was available today.
On Seymour’s criticism of his economic credibility, Jones said, “the leader of the Act party can say what he likes”.
“Sadly I was unemployed when that decision was made for the closure, and it would never have happened if me and my leader were around.”
Finance Minister Nicola Willis, who is chairing the ministerial group overseeing fuel security, said there was no question if Marsden Point was up and running today it would make the country more resilient.
“That’s a simple fact.
“Now the circumstances under which it closed is for the previous government to answer to, they were in the hotseats at the time,” she said.
Recommissioning it now isn’t an option, according to Willis.
“I’m focussed on what we can do here and now, not looking back in anger, but of course those who observe we’d be more resilient if it was still up and running, they’re right.”
‘Hard to say’ – fuel supply expert
Consultant Andreas Heuser, a fuel supply expert at Heuser Whittington, helped author a fuel security study last year, which found reestablishing the refinery would bring only a little more resilience at a very high cost.
“The study did conclude that re-establishing Marsden Point was by far and away the most costly option, and the resilience benefits that it did offer were relatively small compared to other resilience options, such as increasing tankage, transitioning to EVs, improving the fleet of fuel trucks that drive around the country.”
Heuser told RNZ it was “hard to say” whether it would help much now even had it remained open, given the refinery processed Middle Eastern crude.
“It might be marginally more secure. But also, given that it processed a lot of Middle Eastern crude, there’s definitely a case to say we’d be less resilient.”
Heuser said Jones did have a point that the refinery would have given New Zealand a “larger crude storage buffer”.
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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/2026/03/12/should-marsden-point-refinery-have-been-saved-shane-jones-and-david-seymour-cant-agree/
Zaroa NZ Salami products recalled due lack of required food safety controls
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
New Zealand Food Safety is supporting MeatUp Limited trading as Zaroa NZ in recalling all batches of 3 salami products due to a lack of required food safety controls.
“The concern is the salami has been produced without the required controls and oversight,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
All batches and dates of the following products are affected by this recall:
- Delicate Salami Pohutukawa Smoked Black Angus Beef (80g)
Batch Code: 50823-3, Use By: 6/04/2026 - Hawkes Bay Black Angus Beef Chorizo Salami (80g)
Batch Code: 50823-4, Use By: 11/04/2026 - Pure Black Salami Black Angus Beef (80g)
Batch Code 50823-2, Use By 11/04/2026
“These products should not be eaten. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that’s not possible, throw them out,” says Mr Arbuckle.
- Hesari Supermarket Great North Road: 344 Great North Road, Henderson, Auckland 0627
- Hesari Supermarket Wairau Valley: Unit 15, 170 Wairau Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland 0627
- Keri Berries: 484 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri 0293
- Pegasus Bay Winery: 263 Stockgrove Road, Waipara, RD 2 Amberly 7482
- Zaroa NZ stall at Parnell Farmers’ Market: 545 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052
- Zaroa NZ online store
Affected products are not available in supermarkets.
Visit our recall page for more information on the affected products.
Traditionally dried and cured products must be carefully controlled as the process of making them does not involve a high-temperature cooking step that kills bacteria like Salmonella and E.coli.
There have been no reports of illness relating to these products.
If you have consumed any of these products and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice.
The products have been removed from store shelves and have not been exported.
“As is our usual practice, New Zealand Food Safety will work with Zaroa NZ to ensure appropriate food safety controls are put in place,” Mr Arbuckle says.
The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts.
Information on how to subscribe is on the New Zealand Food Safety food recall page.
For more information, email: NZFoodSafety_media@mpi.govt.nz
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/zaroa-nz-salami-products-recalled-due-lack-of-required-food-safety-controls/
Successful end to fruit fly response in Auckland’s Mt Roskill
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill have been lifted with no further evidence of Queensland fruit fly found in the area, says Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north.
The decision to end the operation follows 6 weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and the inspection of more than 230 kilograms of fruit.
Mr Inglis thanked residents and businesses in the affected area for their support of the response.
“It wouldn’t have been possible to get to this point without the support of the local community. Every person who has kept an eye out for fruit flies, complied with movement controls, and safely disposed of their fruit waste, has played an important role in protecting our horticultural sector.
“We are satisfied that with no further detections, the Controlled Area Notice restrictions can be lifted, and response operations closed.”
Biosecurity wheelie bins that have dotted the neighbourhood will be removed and road signs will be dismantled.
While response operations are ending, Biosecurity New Zealand’s routine nationwide surveillance continues, with a system of nearly 8,000 fruit fly traps spread across the country. More than 4,600 of these are in the Auckland area.
“The surveillance traps target 3 exotic fruit fly species of concern: the Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Oriental fruit fly. This successful response is a great example of how surveillance traps help alert us to the presence of unwelcome pests and enable us to stamp them out quickly,” says Mr Inglis.
Biosecurity New Zealand staff will be out in the community today handing out flyers about the response closure and personally thanking residents and business owners for their contribution to the effort.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the good work of our people and our partners across the horticulture sector. By working together, and responding quickly, we have managed this situation well,” Mr Inglis says.
Key figures
- More than 9,800 individual visits were made to check the 358 fruit fly traps in the Mt Roskill area throughout the response.
- Over 364 biosecurity bins were distributed in the community to collect produce waste for safe disposal.
- More than 230 kilograms of fruit and vegetables were collected and examined for any signs of fruit fly eggs or larvae.
Read more on Queensland fruit fly, Mt Roskill
For more information, email: BiosecurityNZ_media@mpi.govt.nz
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/successful-end-to-fruit-fly-response-in-aucklands-mt-roskill/
Heritage advocates warn shifting to higher seismic zone will damage Dunedin’s economy
Source: Radio New Zealand
The Octagon in Dunedin. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Heritage advocates are warning shifting Dunedin to a higher seismic zone will damage the city’s economy and put its iconic heritage buildings at risk.
Under the proposed new earthquake prone buildings bill, Coastal Otago – including Dunedin – will shift from a low to a medium seismic risk area.
But on Thursday, the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee was warned of the harm this could do to a city known for its historical architecture.
The bill’s aim was to target buildings that posed the greatest risk to life in medium to high risk zones, including concrete buildings three storeys or higher, and those constructed with unreinforced masonry.
Southern Heritage Trust trustee Jo Galer told the committee that Dunedin’s ornate heritage buildings were a big drawcard for travellers.
But she said the city’s iconic buildings were already in the firing line – a pre-1900 church and a 1820s landmark home near the Octagon were recent casualties.
The promise of common sense changes to the seismic rules was welcome, but she said they had been left bitterly disappointed.
“The legislation risks unintentionally accelerating the loss of the very buildings that give Dunedin its character,” she said.
“Instead of making it easier to repurpose and restore buildings, developers and people in the business of knocking down buildings for carparks will have a field day.”
Southern Heritage Trust trustee Jo Galer. Supplied
Building in Auckland, along with Northland and the Chatham Islands, would be removed from the system entirely as they were deemed as lower seismic risk areas.
If Dunedin remained at a low seismic risk, Galer said it could be a lifeline for heritage buildings – if there were cost effective solutions offered.
Instead, she told committee chairperson Andy Foster that the new rules would make things worse.
“It’s tough enough and the costs are already sky high and they’re going to get even worse and I can not see how building owners can maintain their buildings in that environment, in that legislative environment. It’s just wrong for Dunedin.”
The bill said the shift from low to medium zone reflected the greater understanding of seismic hazard in that area.
That meant about 150 earthquake-prone buildings would remain in the system and more could be identified.
But councillor Russell Lund told the committee that figure was actually much higher and it was one of several flaws in the reports used as the foundation for the bill that made him question why Dunedin’s risk level was being increased.
“Dunedin has 323 earthquake prone buildings. There is a total of 6500 buildings that are going to be classified and there is still 3700 yet to be classified
He was one of six councillors calling for Dunedin and coastal Otago to remain a low-risk seismic zone, saying a change would pose a real economic risk to businesses and property owners.
The shift to a higher risk zone would take a toll on Dunedin, he said.
“Dunedin council has confirmed it’s unknown how many three level unreinforced masonry buildings there are in Dunedin. But they have confirmed that two levels plus a basement will be considered a three-level building and this is a critical point,” Lund said.
“Because under the new legislation, a three level unreinforced masonry building must have a full retrofit. There’s no partial or just facade securing, it’s full.”
Tourism contributed roughly $379 million to the city’s GDP last year and the city relied on its heritage look and feel to attract visitors, he said.
Dunedin already had many under-utilised heritage buildings due to the cost of remediation and this bill was expected to add even further cost and complexity, Lund said.
“As a heritage building owner and building contractor, I understand this intimately. It’s expensive and risky to do strengthening. Old buildings are frustrating. They’re not plumb, level or square. There’s often rot and decay uncovered during the work.
“They consume vast amounts of labour hours and supervision time. I have the scars and the job cost to prove it.”
They also advocated for Ōamaru and its wealth of heritage buildings to be exempted, saying the lower risk town would face significant costs because it was above the proposed small town population threshold of 10,000.
Structural engineer and heritage building developer Stephen Macknight said Dunedin has New Zealand’s best collection of heritage buildings.
“It’s a point of difference compared to other places. We didn’t have in the 80s all our heritage knocked down like many of the cities around the country, and also we had the gold rush at a time when they were building really significant heritage structures,” he said.
Dunedin was lucky to not have more demolition under the current rules as the main streets in some smaller towns had been decimated when earthquake prone buildings were left empty as it was too costly to strengthen them and it viewed as easier to bowl them over instead, he said.
He was left with questions over the proposed rules, and said what the city needed was more certainty.
“Developers who are trying to juggle money and borrow money, and banks and insurance companies, with all this doubt out there it makes it a lot harder to do,” he said.
“Everyone needs a bit of certainty so all these changes or the talk about medium (seismic zone) and so on is just creating a little bit more fear in people and making the easier option to build new rather than work on redeveloping.”
It was not necessarily a bad thing for buildings to be empty for a period, he said.
“It saved a lot of buildings in Dunedin. A lot of Ōamaru just wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for this kind of pause and wait so if we rush into anything under legislation, we lose things which in the future might be seen as really valuable and able to be saved.”
It was important to make sure the new rules were not used to take the easy option of demolition rather than protecting heritage, Macknight said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/heritage-advocates-warn-shifting-to-higher-seismic-zone-will-damage-dunedins-economy/
Road blocked, Western Bay Road, Waihaha, Taupō
Source: New Zealand Police
Western Bay Road, Waihaha, Taupō, is blocked following a logging truck fire this evening.
Police were notified of the incident, between Kuratau Hydro Road and Karangahape Road, around 5.50pm
Thankfully, no one has been injured.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and expect delays.
ENDS
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/road-blocked-western-bay-road-waihaha-taupo/
Fruit fly response ramps up in Papatoetoe
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
The Oriental fruit fly response continues in Papatoetoe, with no further sign of the pest so far, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north Mike Inglis.
It follows the identification of a single male fruit fly in a surveillance trap in the suburb on Wednesday.
“We’re continuing to ramp up our surveillance, including setting and checking additional traps in the area around the original find,” says Mr Inglis.
“Today our team is installing signage where legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables are in place.”
“The legal controls are an important precaution while we investigate whether there are any further fruit flies present.”
The area where controls are in place has 2 zones – Zone A is a 200-metre zone, including 501 properties. Zone B covers a 1,500-metre area, including 9,481 properties.
Zone A
No whole fresh fruit and vegetables, except for leafy vegetables and soil free root vegetables, can be moved outside Zone A. This applies to all produce, regardless of whether it was bought or grown.
Zone B
All fruit and vegetables grown within Zone B cannot be moved out of the controlled area.
Biosecurity disposal bins are being placed in the area for fruit, vegetable, and compost waste, which are then collected for secure disposal.
A map of the controlled area, as well as a full description of the boundaries and rules in place is available on our website.
Oriental fruit fly detection in Papatoetoe, Auckland
“Biosecurity New Zealand staff are on the ground in the area today and over the weekend, handing out brochures and providing information and support to the community and businesses,” says Mr Inglis.
“They will be visiting the local night markets this evening to share information about the response.
“We’ve stamped out previous fruit flies with the help of local communities and our sector partners, and we appreciate their ongoing support.”
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/fruit-fly-response-ramps-up-in-papatoetoe/
Fruit fly surveillance area widens in Papatoetoe
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
Biosecurity New Zealand is widening its trapping zone in Papatoetoe after today finding 3 more male Oriental fruit flies, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north Mike Inglis.
“The finds in our traps, following last week’s detection of a single male fly in the suburb, is not unexpected and shows our enhanced surveillance and inspection is working,” says Mr Inglis. A biosecurity operation has been under way in the area and restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables in place since last Wednesday.
“At the moment we’ve found 4 single males in total, all of them in Papatoetoe, and there’s no evidence of a breeding population. The key sign of that would be the detection of a mated female or larvae. We have been collecting fallen fruit from people’s backyards, which we will cut up and examine in our dedicated laboratory.
“We continue to bolster our network of traps in the controlled area to ensure good coverage near to each fly detection. The lures we use in the traps are very strong and attract the fly,” says Mr Inglis.
Today’s detections mean the restrictions on movement of fruit and vegetables have been extended. There are now 3 areas under Zone A restrictions, 200-metres around each fly detection. Zone B has also been extended to account for the location of the new detections.
Signs will be installed at every road entrance and exit to the newly extended controlled area, reminding people of the restrictions.
A detailed map of the controlled area and a full description of the new boundaries and movement controls is at the MPI fruitfly page. Remember – if in doubt, don’t take it out.
Oriental fruit fly detection in 2026 in Papatoetoe, Auckland
“We have successfully eradicated fruit fly from New Zealand 15 times, so we have very strong and detailed operational plans to guide our work and that includes a comprehensive trapping and inspection programme.,” says Mr Inglis.
Residents in the area where movement restrictions are in place are being asked to put fruit and vegetable waste into bins provided by Biosecurity New Zealand. This is so the waste can be disposed of securely.
Every household in Zone A has, or will receive in the next couple of days, a biosecurity disposal bin. In Zone B, there are bins placed around the edge of the zone, primarily on major transport routes, with more within the zone. More bins will also be provided in Zone B over the coming days.
“Our people will be continuing their work on the ground, engaging with the local community and sharing information with residents in the newly extended controlled area,” says Mr Inglis.
“We are grateful for the support from the community and our sector partners to date, which is critical to successfully find and eradicate any further fruit flies that may be present in the area.”
Mr Inglis says the fruit fly poses no human health risk, but there would be an economic cost to the horticulture industry if it were allowed to establish here.
If you find larvae inside fruit, or believe you have seen a fruit fly, keep hold of it and call 0800 80 99 66.
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/fruit-fly-surveillance-area-widens-in-papatoetoe/
Proposed options to improve the traceability of pigs and sheep
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/proposed-options-to-improve-the-traceability-of-pigs-and-sheep/
Biosecurity New Zealand investigating and boosting trapping after Oriental fruit fly find
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
A biosecurity operation is under way in Papatoetoe in South Auckland following the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly in a surveillance trap, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north Mike Inglis.
“The fruit fly was identified this evening as part of Biosecurity New Zealand’s national surveillance programme, which involves almost 8,000 traps around the country,” Mr Inglis says.
“We have located this pest thanks to our extensive network of traps. Because of this, we know where the problem is and we can respond quickly and effectively.
“Since 1996, we have successfully eradicated 15 incursions of different fruit fly in Auckland and Northland.
“These have all have been eradicated thanks to the work of Biosecurity New Zealand, our horticulture partners, and local communities who have stepped up to help.
“The most recent eradication was a single male Queensland fruit fly in Mt Roskill, which wrapped up last week after 6 weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and the inspection of more than 230 kilograms of fruit.
“The Oriental fruit fly find in Papatoetoe is unrelated to the Queensland fruit fly in Mt Roskill.
“We will be ramping up trapping and inspections in Papatoetoe. As a precautionary measure, Biosecurity New Zealand will put in place legal restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the area where the fruit fly has been found.
“Over the next 24 hours, we will issue details about these controls and the exact areas affected.
“In the meantime, it’s important that people who live and work in the suburb not take any whole fresh fruit and vegetables out of their property.”
Mr Inglis says biosecurity staff will be out tomorrow providing the local community with information.
“You may notice our staff carrying out inspections and trapping in the neighbourhood,” Mr Inglis says.
In addition to the field work, Biosecurity New Zealand is working closely with Government Industry Agreement (GIA) partners in the horticultural industry to minimise the risk to New Zealand growers and exporters.
The fruit fly poses no human health risk, but there would be an economic cost to the horticulture industry if it were allowed to establish here.
Mr Inglis says Biosecurity New Zealand has among the strictest controls in the world for the importation of fruit and checks at the border. The most likely way that fruit flies can arrive in New Zealand is on fresh fruit and vegetables.
To report suspected finds of fruit fly, call MPI’s Pest and Diseases Hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/biosecurity-new-zealand-investigating-and-boosting-trapping-after-oriental-fruit-fly-find/
Restrictions now in place on fruit and vegetable movements in Papatoetoe
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
Biosecurity New Zealand has placed legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe following yesterday’s detection of a single male Oriental fruit fly, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north Mike Inglis.
The Oriental fruit fly was found in one of Biosecurity New Zealand’s national surveillance traps placed in fruit trees in residential back yards. No other fruit flies have been found in traps in the area.
“Since 1996, we have successfully eradicated 15 fruit fly incursions in Auckland and Northland, with strong support from the community,” says Mr Inglis.
“This means we have detailed operational plans to guide our work.
“We’re calling on the community’s help again with this latest find.”
Biosecurity New Zealand staff are busy in the Papatoetoe area today laying more traps in addition to the network of national surveillance traps already in the area and giving out information to residents.
“There are now legal controls in place that prohibit the movement of certain whole fruit and vegetables out of a specified controlled area around where the fruit fly was found.”
The controlled area has 2 zones – A and B:
- Zone A is a 200-metre area, including 501 properties.
- Zone B covers a 1,500-metre area, including 9,481 properties.
Zone A
Whole fresh fruit and vegetables, except for leafy vegetables and soil free root vegetables, cannot be moved outside Zone A.
This applies to all produce, regardless of whether it was bought or grown.
Zone B
Whole fruit and vegetables grown within Zone B cannot be moved out of the controlled area.
Signs will notify people of the restrictions and mark the controlled area boundaries.
A detailed map of the controlled area, and a full description of the boundaries and rules in place, can be found on our website.
Oriental fruit fly detection in 2026 in Papatoetoe, Auckland
“These legal controls are an important precaution while we investigate whether any further fruit flies are present in the area,” Mr Inglis says.
“As our climate warms, it is important we remain alert to these risks. That’s why we have a robust surveillance and trapping system in place that allow us to act quickly and effectively when we need to. Our work in Papatoetoe, and the support of the local community, are a good example of our biosecurity system in action.
“We are working closely with our Government Industry Agreement (GIA) partners in the horticultural industry.
“Following these legal controls will help protect our horticultural industries, home gardens, and our New Zealand way of life. We thank the community for its support.”
To report suspected finds of fruit fly, call MPI’s Pest and Diseases Hotline on 0800 80 99 66
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/restrictions-now-in-place-on-fruit-and-vegetable-movements-in-papatoetoe/
Pams Beef Lasagna recalled due to incorrect use-by date
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Foodstuffs Own Brands in its recall of Pams Beef Lasagne due to the product being labelled with the incorrect use-by date.
“The concern with this lasagna is that the use-by date is incorrect by 2 months. It should have been March 1, which is this Sunday, but instead it is incorrectly labelled as May 1,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
“These products should not be eaten after Sunday. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that’s not possible, throw them out.”
The affected Pams Beef Lasagne (1.3 kg) with a use-by date of 01MAY26 is sold at Four Square, New World, and Pak’n Save supermarkets in the North Island.
Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for up-to-date information and photographs of the affected product.
If you eat any of these products after Sunday and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice.
The products were imported from Australia and labelled in New Zealand. The products have not been re-exported. They have been removed from stores.
“As is our usual practice, New Zealand Food Safety will work with Foodstuffs Own Brands to understand how the date mark labelling error occurred and prevent its recurrence,” says Mr Arbuckle.
The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur. Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the New Zealand Food Safety food recall page.
Pams brand Beef Lasagne recalled due to the product being labelled with an incorrect use-by date
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/pams-beef-lasagna-recalled-due-to-incorrect-use-by-date/
Hauraki Gulf collections closure comes into force
Source: New Zealand Government
Fishery Officers are ramping up patrols as a ban comes into force on gathering marine life from rockpools and coastal waters on the Hauraki Gulf coast north of Auckland, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft say.
The closure, which starts today, has been put in place to help preserve these important ecological areas and ensure the sustainability of the fishery.
“This means it is illegal for anyone to take any seaweeds, shellfish or other rockpool sea life from these areas including sponges, starfish, sea anemones, and sea cucumbers,” Mr Jones says.
“Fishery Officers will be at key locations to provide information to members of the public about the closure.”
Anyone breaking the rules could face fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 and have items used in the offending seized, including vehicles for more serious offences.
“It’s important that people familiarise themselves with the new rules and they can do this by downloading the free NZ Fishing Rules App, checking MPI’s website, visiting an MPI office, or talking with a Fishery Officer,” Ms Marcroft says.
“Officials continue to engage with iwi and local communities to provide support and help get the word out.”
Fisheries New Zealand worked with the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust on its request for a two-year temporary fisheries closure.
Ngāti Manuhiri will place a traditional rāhui over the closed areas and the same species.
“There is an educational component to help the public learn about the cultural and environmental significance of these measures,” Ms Marcroft says.
Fisheries New Zealand has also made a range of education materials available to help the public understand the closures, the species affected, and the importance of protecting intertidal ecosystems.
Other measures, including potential infringements, are still being worked on by Fisheries.
A broader programme of work is also under way for managing intertidal shellfish in the Auckland and Coromandel region.
More information, including a map of the closures, is available at www.fisheries.govt.nz/Hauraki-closures
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/hauraki-gulf-collections-closure-comes-into-force/
Gang members arrested after Bay of Plenty memorial run
Source: New Zealand Police
Persistent Police visibility and strong enforcement sent a clear message to gang members as they came into town for a memorial run last weekend – Police are watching, and we’ll take action when we need to.
The group travelled to the Bay of Plenty District ahead of an event in the small township of Murupara across 7 and 8 March.
In the Bay of Plenty there were several arrests, including three for displaying gang insignia, two for driving with excess breath alcohol, one for obstruction and three for driving while forbidden. A number of infringement notices were also issued.
More than 30 vehicle stops were carried out alongside more than 270 breath tests.
Acting Murupara officer in charge, Detective Sergeant Nathan Marten, said the police visibility and presence was noticed by locals.
“We heard from residents that extra Police in town provided a sense of reassurance. Our high visibility also meant that those involved knew their behaviour was being watched.
“We want our communities to be safe, and we know that sometimes large groups of gang members coming into town can feel intimidating to say the least.
“We’re committed to ensuring everyone feels safe, and holding those who offend to account wherever possible.”
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/gang-members-arrested-after-bay-of-plenty-memorial-run/
Wellington Water apologises for smell after turning fan on at Moa Point
Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Wellington Water has apologised to south coast residents after some complained of smells coming from its waste treatment plant late last night.
Crews at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant restarted its ventilation system to remove gases and smells from the facility yesterday, causing complaints from locals.
The plant had been forced to shut down in February a catastrophic failure in February, which has spewed tens of millions of litres of untreated sewage into the sea, and shut some south coast beaches for a period.
This was the first use of its fan since the flooding. Wellington Water had not anticipated smells to impact surrounding neighbourhoods.
Portable fans had previously been used to air the facility, with no noticeable odour for the wider community, Wellington Water said, and and the plant itself had been cleaned.
“We apologise for not notifying the community of this activity. We are committed to keeping the community informed of any operational activity that may have an impact on them, and we will do all we can to provide advance notice of any risk of increased odour,” it said.
The organisation warned locals that its odour-treatment systems were not “operational” and that there was an “ongoing risk of a low level of odour”.
“We are doing all we can to monitor odour onsite and mitigate the impact of odour on the community,” a spokesperson said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/wellington-water-apologises-for-smell-after-turning-fan-on-at-moa-point/
Kane Williamson ‘modernises’ protective gear after painful blow
Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson is behind a new business making protective gear for high-impact sports. Jay Drew
Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson has a very personal reason to be invested in protective gear in high-impact sports.
In 2012, a Dale Steyn delivery during Test against South Africa in Wellington split Williamson’s box in half and caused the Black Cap to think about how protective gear could be modernised and improved.
“It was extremely painful and it just absolutely dropped me,” Williamson said.
“I was hit, my box split, and that made it pretty clear that the protection players were relying on wasn’t up to the demands of the modern game. That started the idea to create a product which can actually provide the protection required.”
It was an incident which is all too familiar at every level of the sport, right from club cricket, through to international, where Australian Captain Mitch Marsh was last month ruled out of the T20 World Cup after being hit in the box by a fast paced delivery in training.
The moment stuck with Williamson and in the following years he helped assemble a team to bring science-backed design into the sports protection category which has changed very little in decades.
After years of research and development, the company is now releasing its first product: a New Zealand-made premium alloy box, engineered to withstand the extreme impacts of high speed projectiles across multiple hard ball sports including cricket, hockey, lacrosse, and baseball.
Kane Williamson’s box that was split when he was hit by a delivery from Dale Steyn. supplied
Co-founder Jason Low oversaw the initial development and testing of the box.
“We wanted to do this properly, so we took a scientific and data driven approach towards our research and development programme,” Low said.
“For a long time, this space has leaned on tradition rather than proof. In testing, our box has handled ball speeds well over 200 kilometres an hour, while most existing options start to fail at around 100. That margin of safety gives players real confidence when they’re out there.”
The business is backed by a group of investors including New Zealand Cricket, while former Black Cap Grant Elliott is leading the organisation’s commercial programme.
“We’ve put the box in front of a wide range of cricketers, from club cricket through to elite, and the response has been extremely positive,” Elliott said.
“It’s been built with care and rigour, and is for any cricket player, no matter their level. In my view, it’s the best box in the world. It’s comfortable to wear, durable, and does a great job of reducing pain on impact.”
Kane Williamson checks his box after being hit in the groin during the third Test versus South Africa at the Basin Reserve in 2012. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Williamson has been wearing the product throughout the summer and says the difference is obvious.
“A few months ago I took a quick one flush in the box and I remember thinking “that should have hurt more than it did”.
“The most important factor is that it gives you confidence,” he said. “When you trust your protection, you can play more freely.”
Cover’s launch is part of Williamson’s long term ambition to leave cricket in a better place.
“For me, this is about helping the next generation. If we can raise the standard of protection, we can improve confidence, performance, and safety for everyone who plays the game.”
More protective categories will follow from the company.
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/2026/03/12/kane-williamson-modernises-protective-gear-after-painful-blow/
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pasifika TV
Source: New Zealand Government
[Speech to the Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd (PCBL) conference, 6pm, 12 March, New Zealand International Conference Centre, Auckland]
Good evening –
Our hosts, the Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited, particularly Board Chair Brent Impey and Chief Executive Natasha Melesia;
Pacific broadcasting partners from across the region;
Members of the diplomatic corps;
Members of the media, government, and other partners;
It is a pleasure to be here today on the PCBL’s 10th Anniversary, marking 10 years of Pasifika TV on air across our Pacific region. Happy anniversary and warm greetings to you all.
It’s great you are all able to come together here in New Zealand to celebrate this momentous achievement. And as with many small broadcasting operations across the Pacific, collegiality, creativity, and the ability to solve problems is essential.
We are proud to have been your partner every step of the way. One of our great strengths as a region is our commitment to democratic governance. The work you do, as the Fourth Estate, helps to make our societies more connected and more robust.
New Zealand’s Place in the Pacific
We have spoken throughout this term about the importance New Zealand places on our region, the Pacific. This region is a core pillar of New Zealand’s foreign policy. Why? Because New Zealand is a Pacific country – we share history, geography, DNA, culture, sports, and religion.
Around one in four New Zealanders have Māori or Pasifika heritage. These connections shape our worldview and the responsibilities we accept as a member of the Pacific family.
And we see New Zealanders enriching Pacific countries too – through the expansion of New Zealand businesses into the region, through churches, and sports, our tourists, and those supporting development. This two-way, reciprocal exchange is essential.
Travel and Recent Engagements
The Pacific Reset reinforces that our identity, our security and our prosperity are inextricably linked with the Pacific. We have not only increased investment through our International Development Cooperation programme in the region, but we have been present, listening to our Pacific partners, and carrying those messages home.
Our travel has reaffirmed a simple but enduring truth: in the Pacific, there is no substitute for ‘talanoa’, having face-to-face engagement, listening carefully, and strengthening the bonds shaped by the challenges we face and our shared region and history. Our recent engagements underscored these priorities and highlighted the deep alignment between New Zealand and our Pacific partners.
During our recent visit to Kiribati, our discussions and the signing of a new Statement of Partnership deepened a relationship grounded in respect, cooperation, and a mutual commitment to addressing shared challenges. This visit also marked a significant milestone for us: during the current Parliamentary term, we have now visited all 17 fellow Pacific Islands Forum member states, demonstrating New Zealand’s steadfast dedication to regional partnership.
During these visits we saw the results of New Zealand’s work with Pacific partners to build better infrastructure, to manage our fisheries, strengthen public financial management, education and health systems, and to improve disaster preparedness.
The New Betio Hospital, which we visited in South Tarawa in January, is a great example of our approach. It is a high-quality, fit for purpose facility, built on a strong partnership between the Governments of New Zealand and Kiribati, with support from Japan and the Asian Development Bank. It stands as a symbol of the impact we can have by working together to support Pacific development.
Connectivity
Everywhere we’ve been, our counterparts have stressed the importance of connectivity: physical and digital. Pacific Leaders are clear to us that secure, resilient, and affordable digital infrastructure is essential to national development and regional cooperation. Digital systems underpin access to education and health, enable financial inclusion, expand economic opportunities, and connect remote communities to essential services. It means people can access online content, including broadcasting.
Achieving meaningful digital integration requires investment in undersea cables, satellite connectivity, and cyber resilience. It requires building local digital skills, supporting safe online spaces, and strengthening regional interoperability so systems can work across borders.
For New Zealand, partnering on digital transformation is both a practical responsibility and an expression of our Pacific identity. Harnessing digital transformation reduces distances, enhances disaster response, supports transparency, and enables broader participation in the digital economy. Ultimately, digital integration is not simply a technical challenge—it is an investment in sovereignty, opportunity, and the unity of our Blue Pacific Continent.
Technology is moving quickly in the region to support broadcasting. As Pacific broadcasters move to digital, local broadcasters begin to have access to multiple channels. This creates an opportunity for digital transformation platforms as connectivity improves, spreading its reach to wider Pacific audiences.
This is important because we know that broadcasting and media in the Pacific play a critical role in fostering democracy, ensuring safety, and preserving culture in communities spread across the vast Pacific Ocean. Media supports democracy by holding those in power to account, providing public service announcements, and promoting civic education.
Our ongoing support to PCBL reinforces the importance that New Zealand places on media freedom and a resilient, vibrant and regionally connected Pacific media sector. PCBL is a critical partner. It connects the world to the region during emergencies. And it supports local broadcasters to produce factual and locally relevant media content. New Zealand has been a proud provider of free-to-air content to the PCBL, and in the spirit of our shared love for sports, we are launching an initiative to support PCBL’s capacity to competitively negotiate and secure rights to show major live sports to Pacific audiences.
Talanoa is critical in the Pacific, but distance is a challenge. This has been raised with us on our travels, and we have been determined to break down that barrier, including through supporting leaders get to key regional meetings such as the Pacific Islands Forum. If we want regional responses to our challenges, we need regional leaders and our people to connect.
The Government is backing up these words with action. I’m pleased to announce tonight that from the 1st of June this year, we are decreasing the total cost of applying for a visitor visa for Pacific nationals from $216 to just $161, for a 12-month period. This is part of New Zealand’s ongoing work to reduce the barriers, including cost, to Pacific visitors travelling to New Zealand.
This is another practical update to visitor visa settings that reduces cost, supports easier travel, and helps to strengthen the relationships that matter most. This builds on earlier changes, such as longer visa durations and the current visa-free trial for Pacific travellers coming from Australia.
Partnership in difficult times
Strengthening our people-to-people connections is important when our strategic environment in the region is increasingly complex. The region is navigating sharper great power competition alongside climate and transnational risks that do not respect borders. In these difficult times, regionalism is essential.
Pacific leaders are clear: they seek cooperation, stability, and sovereignty — not division. The Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent remains our shared framework for long-term resilience, security, and prosperity.
New Zealand’s position is steady and principled. Pacific countries know they can turn to New Zealand in times of need. We’re continue to invest a range of initiatives that invests in the Pacific preparedness against physical and cyber threats, without adding pressure or duplication. We will also never shy away from having frank, mature, conversations with our Pacific family of nations, and we will continue to advocate for the Pacific – including on the global stage.
In an increasingly contested world, values matter. Our collective approaches and our regional architecture, like the Pacific Islands Forum, help guard against the ability of big, powerful countries to divide us. Together we can hold firm to our principles, enhancing the power of the region as a whole. Throughout these challenging times, our guiding principle is unchanged: to work with Pacific partners in ways that honour sovereignty, respond to local priorities, and support long-term resilience.
As we look forward to New Zealand’s hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2027, New Zealand will be working to ensure our region is connected and unified. We will use our hosting of the Forum to strengthen the region’s relationships with partners who share our regional values, and who can contribute positively to the region’s prosperity and resilience and to its development.
Consensus, respect, and dialogue have defined Pacific diplomacy since the early years of regionalism – they are The Pacific Way. The Pacific Way guides us to engage constructively, to listen carefully, and to move forward collectively even when the issues before us are challenging. At a time of shifting geopolitical currents, the Pacific Way reminds us that partnership is a strength, that sovereignty is to be respected, and that solutions must be Pacific-led and Pacific-owned.
Closing
The Pacific has a long tradition of navigating vast oceans with courage, vision, and unity. New Zealand is committed to continue working within the Pacific family of nations—listening first, aligning second, and delivering always.
In closing, let us reflect on the goal that was established a decade ago by PBCL – to build and support an empowered, resilient and sustainable Pacific broadcasting community which supports informed, open and democratic societies, and regional cohesion.
Congratulations again on the first 10 years and all the best for the remainder of your conference.
Thank you
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/celebrating-the-10th-anniversary-of-pasifika-tv/