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/
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.
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.
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/
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/
Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/proposed-options-to-improve-the-traceability-of-pigs-and-sheep/
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/
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:
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.
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Police Association president Steve Watt VNP / Phil Smith
Politicians considering wideranging changes to the Crimes Act, including widening the powers of citizens arrests and allowing retailers to detain suspected offenders, have received a stark warning.
Some of the proposed changes could result in deaths, the Justice Select Committee was told today.
The Police Association and Retail NZ say that as well as potentially ending in tragedy, this could see retailers in the dock charged with manslaughter.
The proposals stem from the work of the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime, whose chairman Sunny Kaushal today made a plea for tougher laws.
Police Association president Steve Watt didn’t mince words when conveying the organisation’s concerns should ordinary citizens have more powers to detain suspected criminals.
“We’re trained to recognise positional asphyxiation where general members of the public are not, and we still do not get it right every time.
“The reality of the bill passing as it is it could actually result in death.”
When questioned Watt agreed manslaughter charges could be laid.
A law change would raise serious legal questions, too.
“This is seen as giving a licence to assault and a perception of legal protection for risky behaviour, for which an onus would be placed on those using such force to prove that it was reasonable.
“There is little to no understanding amongst ordinary citizens around the legal definition of reasonable force,” Watt said.
At the moment citizens arrests can only be carried out in very specific circumstances, such as when an offence happens at night or when a crime is being carried out that’s punishable by at least three years imprisonment.
Kaushal was asked by Labour’s police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen about the Police Association’s concerns.
Chairman for the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime, Sunny Kaushal. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
“Wasn’t the Police Association concerned for the gang patch law as well, right? Here we need to be sensible. We need to see what works for New Zealand,” he said.
Kaushal was staunchly on-message about why retailers needed more powers to protect themselves, saying retail crime cost $2.7 billion a year.
“In 2019 we had 4000 monthly reports of retail crime. By the end of 2023 there were over 11,000 monthly reports.
“It went from one ram raid every three days to three ram raids every day.
“It leaves behind destruction, trauma and pain.”
Kaushal appeared at the committee alongside Upper Hutt retailer Suraj Parkash Sund to illustrate his point that the law doesn’t favour victims.
Sund slept on the floor of his business to ward off robbers, after his shop was repeatedly targeted, Kaushal said.
“Last month police caught the offenders – a 20-year-old, a few teenagers and a 9-year-old.
“Recently Suraj received an invitation to attend a family group conference. The purpose of the meeting? To see how to best support the offenders who have destroyed his life, not support for him.”
Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young was until a couple of months ago a member of the ministerial advisory group alongside Kaushal.
Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young. Supplied
Even then she criticised the citizens’ arrests proposal, and doubled down on that today.
“Retail NZ members have major concerns that the citizens’ arrest provisions within this bill would expose retailers, staff and their customers to increased risks or physical danger, and could result in serious harm or even death.”
Young said stores weren’t properly equipped to hold people, and there could be problems if police couldn’t immediately respond if an offender were detained.
Woolworths head of safety, health and wellbeing Denva Wren said retail crime cost the supermarket giant $30 million a year.
It was spending millions more than that on improved security measures, such as better CCTV. However, it did not support widening citizens’ arrests powers.
“We do believe that offenders will likely escalate much more quickly with the pre-emptive expectation that, potentially, citizens’ arrests could be used, and therefore they come in greater prepared with weapons.
“We have edge weapons and iron bars, and our team are being threatened by these on a weekly basis – generally about 60 to 70 serious events a year.”
Woolworths was also concerned customers would expect workers to intervene in dangerous situations, even if that was against company policy.
Employers and Manufacturers Association head of advocacy Alan McDonald said allowing retail workers to physically detain someone could cause problems under health and safety laws.
“There’s also another part of the law that says that if you feel you are being unlawfully restrained you may resist and use reasonable force to resist.
“You can see how that’s going to ramp up, because the people, particularly often those underage people who are doing these raids, know exactly what they can and can’t do.”
The Crimes Amendment Bill also includes provisions about tougher penalties for shoplifting and assaults on first responders, as well as coward punches and modern slavery.
The select committee will write its report on the bill, before it goes for its second reading in Parliament.
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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/police-association-and-retail-nz-warn-dangers-of-potential-changes-to-crimes-act/
Source: Radio New Zealand
More than 90 percent of freight in Aotearoa is moved by road.
Increased fuel costs could drive some trucking businesses under, according to an industry association.
War in the Middle East has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane, meaning oil prices are volatile.
On Thursday, the price of oil again rose to more than US$100 per barrel.
The rise in oil prices could cause the cost of goods to rise as more than 90 percent of freight in Aotearoa is moved by road.
The New Zealand Trucking Association said fuel’s now overtaken labour as the highest cost for trucking companies. It said fuel now accounts for 30 percent of operating costs, up around eight to 10 percent from before the recent conflict in the Middle East.
NZ Trucking Association CEO David Boyce told Checkpoint the increase in fuel was concerning.
“It’s pretty tough out there… For some, this will be the straw that breaks the back, so to speak,” he said.
“But it’s a pretty resilient industry. There will be plenty that will hang on and hope that this is only a short-lived blip on the radar.”
Boyce said there has been a “wild fluctuation” in price, with diesel up 35 percent this week.
He said it won’t take long for the increase in costs to trickle down to consumers.
“Transport operators run pretty lean and mean on their pricing. There’s not much wriggle room for them to absorb costs, so they really have to pass it on to their customers straight away,” he said.
Boyce is confident we won’t run out of diesel, saying there was around 25 days supply of diesel in New Zealand, and another 29 days supply being shipped here.
“Assuming that supply that’s coming here is not interrupted or compromised, we’ll be covered. But if some of those ships get redirected or some untoward act happens, things could change quickly.”
Meanwhile, the Commerce Commission said it is ramping up its monitoring and scrutiny of fuel prices and will react to any pricing behaviours that are cause for concern.
Commissioner Bryan Chappel said the commission won’t hesitate to call out unjustified price hikes at the pump.
He said the commission would provide updates on retail fuel price movements and compare them with changes in the cost of importing fuel on its website.
Chappel said motorists should shop around and use tools like the Gaspy app to compare prices.
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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/fuel-costs-could-drive-new-zealand-trucking-businesses-to-the-ground/
Source: New Zealand Government
A much-anticipated Bill to ensure employees are paid correctly when taking time off work has just passed its first reading at Parliament, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today.
The Employment Leave Bill seeks to replace the Holidays Act 2003 and offers a simple, workable framework that gives businesses certainty, reduces potential error, and fixes what matters for employers and workers.
“The Holidays Act is complex, confusing, and has led to huge remediation costs.
The Employment Leave Bill will bring simplicity and logic to the way employment leave is calculated, which benefits businesses by saving them time and money when calculating their payroll obligations, and prevents headaches for both employers and employees from getting payments wrong,” Ms van Velden says.
“This Bill responds directly to what I’ve heard since coming into office: businesses are overwhelmed by compliance, and workers are missing out on entitlements.”
“I aim to strike a balance with this legislation. Businesses will benefit from the shift to hours-based accrual and pro-rata sick leave. Workers will benefit from having access to leave entitlements from day one, increased upfront pay for many casual employees instead of accruing annual and sick leave, and full pay for annual leave when parents return from parental leave.
“Since announcing Cabinet’s policy decisions last year, I have travelled around the country to get feedback from a range of sectors including payroll experts and lawyers to help shape the Bill in its current state. I have been heartened to hear genuine excitement that we have reached this point and that change is finally coming.”
“I am proud of the significant progress made already to have legislation ready and available for public feedback – a milestone successive Ministers tried but failed to reach. I especially encourage people with technical expertise to make a submission and help ensure this legislation is workable for decades to come.”
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/long-awaited-holidays-act-replacement-passes-first-reading/
Source: New Zealand Government
A bill to improve access to secondary legislation and digitise government services has passed its final reading in Parliament today, Attorney-General Judith Collins says.
“The Legislation Amendment Bill will make it easier for New Zealanders to find, use, and understand the law that they are required to follow,” Ms Collins says.
“Secondary legislation includes a range of regulations, orders, rules, and notices. Currently, it is difficult to access as it can be published in a variety of places, or sometimes not published at all.
“This makes it harder for businesses and individuals to understand their obligations, increases compliance costs, and works against our goals for a modern digital government.
“The bill will standardise publication practices by making it a requirement for all agencies to publish secondary legislation on their website, or another approved site.
“The redeveloped New Zealand Legislation website will provide a single point of access to all this secondary legislation, no matter who publishes it.
“This one-stop shop for legislation will make it simpler and faster for the New Zealand public to access the law.
“I’m excited to share that the new website is now live for all New Zealanders to use.”
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/improved-access-to-secondary-legislation/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust chairman Pita Tipene (left) inspects vines at Pukerau Orchard, near Kerikeri, after the iwi started expanding into kiwifruit in 2018. Peter de Graaf
A pre-harvest karakia at a Kerikeri kiwifruit orchard reflects growing recognition of tikanga Māori in the country’s horticulture industry, a Northland iwi leader says.
About 100 people – including workers, shareholders and business leaders – are expected at Friday’s blessing at Pukerau Orchard, which has been owned by Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust since 2018.
Trust chairman Pita Tipene said the karakia was a way of giving thanks for the coming harvest.
“I observed it when I was a child. I would see my father take the first fruits of each season and bury some at the foot of the trees, and then utter some words. It’s like Thanksgiving. We stop and we show our gratitude for all of these blessings and the fruits of the harvest.”
Tipene said many people were involved in growing kiwifruit – from pruners to pickers, managers to scientists – but they rarely met.
“Not often do we come across each other. We all go into the orchards at different times, and we don’t really know each other. But we’re all human beings. It’s important that we connect and enjoy each other’s company in the first instance, but also learn about how we can do better.”
The karakia would also help ensure the safety of workers and a good harvest.
Tipene said he had been in contact with the chairman of Zespri, the national kiwifruit marketing body, who was keen to embrace the tradition for all orchards around the country.
Tai Tokerau (Northland) was well placed to kickstart a national harvest karakia, because its crop was the first to be ready for picking.
In future, however, the karakia could be held in the Bay of Plenty or any other kiwifruit-growing region.
Tipene said business leaders who planned to speak at the event included the chair of regional development organisation Northland Inc, Suzanne Duncan, and the head of Northland’s Joint Regional Economic Committee, Geoff Crawford.
Tipene said the gathering would also be a chance to celebrate Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust making the finals of the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy, awarded each year for the nation’s best Māori farming and horticulture business.
The trust had been diversifying away from pine and now had six orchards in the Kerikeri area, totalling 34 canopy hectares and producing 13-14,000 trays of gold kiwifruit per hectare.
Horticulture firm Seeka was contracted to manage and pick the crop, while Zespri was responsible for marketing and sales.
The trust had also bought two dairy farms in the Maromaku area.
The Ahuwhenua Trophy was established in 1933 by Sir Apirana Ngata and Lord and Lady Bledisloe.
Last year’s winner was Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, which runs a bull-fattening farm near Whangaruru, north of Whangārei.
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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/pre-harvest-karakia-brings-together-team-at-pukerau-kiwifruit-orchard/
Source: Radio New Zealand
Central Auckland is more affected but the outskirts of the city were not spared. RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Rush hour traffic is a familiar sight to most in the city, but the latest data from Auckland Transport (AT) confirms some roads are more snarled than others.
Central Auckland is arguable the worst spot, but the outskirts of the city, from the North Shore to Manukau, were not spared.
AT’s data – compiled from February – looked at average speeds during the peak times of 8am and 5pm as compared to the actual speed limit of the roads.
It also considered the total travel times and determined Auckland’s 16 most congested roads from February.
All of the roads had either a 50 or 60 km/h speed limit, but during peak hours the average speed of drivers on some roads was at or below 30 percent of the limit.
Experts say the congestion boils down to a constraint in the transport network and road capacity.
AT also reported a spike in public transport use this month with last week being the busiest for buses, trains and ferry services.
Manukau Rd/Broadway and Ponsonby Rd/Newton Rd faced some heavy congestion at 8am with average speed limit sinking to 8km/h.
Raleigh Rd/Lake Rd was at 9km/h in the morning and a total travel time of 8.2 minutes.
The highest speed limit average in the morning was 15km/h on the Albany Highway and St Lukes Rd.
The speed limit average seemed to ease in some areas during the 5pm peak time with Raleigh and Lake roads being at 28 km/h and Meola Rd 34 km/h.
However, some locations were not so lucky, with Ponsonby Rd/Newton Rd still being at a low of 9 km/h and a travel time of 6.21 minutes.
Experts say the congestion boils down to a constraint in the transport network and road capacity. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
University of Auckland associate professor and director of transportation research Doug Wilson said Auckland’s congestion is a classic “supply and demand problem”.
He said it was fundamentally caused by too many cars with low vehicle occupancy trying to use too little road space at the same time.
“Auckland is growing and the existing transport network is currently constrained in both road and Public Transport options especially when also using the same road space.
“This results in capacity being exceeded during peak periods – the outcome being traffic users during these periods – experience significant travel time increases.”
He also said Aucklanders tend to be bad at ‘sharing’ when it comes to using the private motor vehicle and struggle to use alternative options.
But Wilson stressed alternative options cush as public transport or cycling and walking could provide some relief for busy roads and Auckland was in need of more investment into
“Auckland does need more investment in transport infrastructure, funding is however constrained as we will collectively as a country still need to pay for it and not at the expense of other essential utilities, infrastructure and services.”
Wilson said congestion charges could be one of the solutions that would do well to manage the demand for transport and not just the supply
The Land Transport Management (Time-of-Use-Charging) amendment bill to bring in the charges passed its final reading in Parliament last November.
RNZ / Lucy Xia
“Time of use charging is a very important tool to encourage the required behavioural change, but it needs to be implemented equitably. “
He added public transport is improving in Auckland with the promised City Rail Link and on-going improvements in bus rapid transit.
AT director of public transport Stacey van der Putten said they were always looking to optimise the network.
This included looking at public transport routs, adding bus or T3 lanes, different pay schemes or methods and promoting cycleways.
“We’ve done a tremendous amount in terms of uplifting what we call a frequent route in recent years. And with that, making it much more easy for people to access and increasing where things, a particular flow is going.”
With March Madness also upon us, the congestion is not likely to get better anytime soon.
AT’s data for March so far showed traffic on routes like Manukau Rd/Broadway and Ponsonby Rd/Newton Rd moving at an average speed limit of 9km/h at 8am.
And the top average speed on Great North Rd had been 16km/h in the morning.
Director of transport advocacy website, Greater Auckland, Matt Lowrie told Nine to Noon last month it’s the busiest period of the year on the roads and public transport.
“It’s basically the highest level of transport demand that exists.”
He said there were a number of factors behind the march madness rush including students going back to school and University, people fully back at work from holidays and a drop in sickness compared to the winter months.
Bus fares rose from 1 February, drawing mixed responses. Photo/Auckland Transport
This has also meant a spike in public transport use.
AT said last week had been the busiest time on public transport so far this year with Aucklanders taking 2.217 million trips on buses, trains and ferry services.
“This is more trips than during our busiest week last March when our passengers took 2.174 million trips.”
Last Wednesday (March 4) had marked the busiest day on Auckland public transport since 2019 with AT reporting passengers taking 389,000 trips.
AT’s van der Putten said they were expecting public transport to get busier.
“We know with the rising cost of petrol at the pump, it does impact, you know, families and how they decide to move about.
“We’ve got plenty of capacity available on public transport to be able to support people to get on board.”
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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/aucklands-most-congested-roads-and-peak-travel-times/
Source: Radio New Zealand
The police cordon at Sheffield Crescent in Christchurch. RNZ/Anna Sargent
Residents have been evacuated from a suburb near Christchurch Airport after a “high-risk explosive” was found.
Cordons are in place around Sheffield Crescent in Burnside after police were alerted to the substance shortly before 2.30pm on Thursday.
Police sent an emergency mobile alert to people nearby.
“All members of the public are advised to immediately evacuate the area in the vicinity of Sheffield Cres Burnside Christchurch and surrounding area due to high-risk explosive substance located,” the alert said.
Cordons are in place in the vicinity of Sheffield Crescent, Burnside, Christchurch. Google Maps
Senior Sergeant Craig Ellison said people should avoid the area.
“An increased police presence can be expected as safe removal of the substance is arranged. Cordons will be removed once the area is safe,” he said.
Cordons will be removed once the area is safe, he added.
Some businesses have been evacuated, including Orion and a dance studio on Sheffield Cres.
Kate Limuloa, of Silhouette Studios, told RNZ she left just after 3pm. She said none of her 15 dance students received the alert.
A nearby gym told RNZ that only one client received an emergency alert.
Christchurch Airport has confirmed it was not affected.
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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/christchurch-residents-told-to-evacuate-after-high-risk-explosive-found/
Source: New Zealand Government
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has today highlighted the importance of the hospitality industry to New Zealand’s economy, while speaking at the 2026 Hospitality Summit.
“Hospitality is a huge contributor to our economy and workforce, helping drive over $9 billion in GDP and employing people across the country,” Louise Upston says.
“Our hospitality businesses shape how visitors experience New Zealand and what they remember long after they leave.
“Since the inaugural Hospitality Summit in 2024, we’ve worked constructively with industry, responding to issues they’ve raised. We’ve brought the Michelin Guide to New Zealand, invested in regional tourism promotions, supported more major events across the country, and are assessing the regulatory environment through the Hospitality Sector Review.
“This year’s Summit was a chance for industry and government to reflect on progress to date and focus on practical next steps that support a strong, resilient hospitality sector.
“The progress made demonstrates the positive impacts on economic growth when business and government work together on fixing the basics and building the future.
“I want to acknowledge the continued work of Hospitality New Zealand, the Restaurant Association and hospitality businesses across the country, and look forward to discussing their ideas and opportunities for ongoing industry success.”
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/partnership-driving-hospitality-momentum/