Category: Farming

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Country Life: Duntroon, a small town with a big sense of history

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ Country Life’s Mark Leishman interviewing Colin Martin at Nicol’s Blacksmith Shop Duntroon Karan Lawrence

A visit to Duntroon’s original Victorian-era blacksmith shop is a visit back in time. Nicol’s Blacksmith Shop has been around for 125 years and, while these days it is a tourist attraction, it is still a hub for the Duntroon community of 100 or so residents.

Rather than making horseshoes, today it makes metal knick knacks, pokers for outdoor fires and key rings for children’s school bags.

The ramshackle wooden structure includes the original earthen floor. There is no need for a wooden floor because that could catch fire.

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Chairperson of the Nicol’s Blacksmith Historic Trust, Jan Keeling, said the shop had been lovingly restored and rescued.

She said the community had a dozen or so volunteers who kept the tourism industry going in the town and made sure the local businesses survived.

The pay off was locals were able to have a coffee and scone all year round.

She said there was much pride among locals at managing to keep the blacksmiths, built in 1900 featuring hand-pumped bellows, in working order.

“Prior to this building, a lot of the farms had their own forge, and the blacksmith would travel around working, shoeing horses or repairing or sharpening implements.”

Master saddler and farrier Steve Smith shoeing Brook the gig horse at Nicol’s Blacksmith Shop in Duntroon Karan Lawrence

Keeling remembers when Duntroon was well off the beaten track, but that all changed about a dozen years ago.

Cyclists started arriving as the Alps To Ocean Cycle Trail added Duntroon to its list of stops.

She said the cycle trail had been a game-changer and amazing for the community.

“We have volunteers working here, creating things to sell in our little shop because the shop still runs on the smell of coal dust.”

The Duntroon Heritage Trail was created to honour the 150th anniversary of Duntroon last year.

Keeling said the smithy’s recent history was as important as its original history, with four local farmers getting together to buy it in the 1960s when they realised the building might be demolished.

With its forge, anvil and bellows, everything was in place and ready to go, but it sat there until 2005 when newcomer Mike Gray saw the potential and formed a trust.

It found a well-known restoration builder, Dave Barkman, who offered to come and live in Duntroon for a year. He literally pulled it to bits and rebuilt it like a jigsaw puzzle.

Judy Waterstone was the present-day chief blacksmith at Nicol’s shop with 25 years experience.

As “bellows boy” Colin Martin pointed out, the blacksmiths was predominantly run by women.

“This is quite a unique blacksmith shop. When you look around, we’ve got two lady blacksmiths with Mary an apprentice, and I’m just a bellows boy,” he said.

“And there’s a reason for that old saying about too many irons in the fire,” Waterstone added.

“Many a time I’ll try and do two pieces at once, and it’s fine as long as you keep that momentum up, but the moment you don’t, one burns, and is ruined because there’s too many irons.”

Leaving the huff and puff of the blacksmith shop, I headed over the back fence to meet Steve Smith, who, at 74 is a Master Saddler, one of only six in New Zealand.

The former freezing worker loves Clydesdale horses and decided, after having trouble finding suitable riding tack, he would try and make the harnesses and saddles himself.

So he travelled to Salisbury in the United Kingdom and learned from the best saddlers in the business.

Duntroon’s Master Sadler Steve Smith Jo Raymond

Just like a Savile Row suit-maker, Smith made each saddle to measure and it all started with a wooden tree or frame.

It was covered with heavy, bovine skirting leather, sheepskin padding and more softer leathers for the seat, skirts, and fenders or flaps.

Rather than using a sewing machine, Smith hand sews the leather onto the tree, finally stamping or carving designs into the leather and adding silver trim and stencilling his name on the flap.

Each saddle was worth around $3000 and took 50 hours to create.

Smith would like to retire.

“I’d love to be able to teach somebody, but nobody seems to be interested. For a young fellow or woman who had a bit of skill with their hands and motivation, it would be a pretty good sort of career.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/28/country-life-duntroon-a-small-town-with-a-big-sense-of-history/

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NRL season preview: How your team stacks up for 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Stephen Crichton, Joseph Tapine, Mitch Moses and Harry Grant. RNZ/Photosport

No matter who you support, off-season player movements will have your head spinning, as the 2026 NRL season approaches.

Some crazy pre-season results will have some fans reaching for the panic button, but the real test will come 1 March, when the Aussie rugby league comp takes its three-ring circus to Vegas for the regular season launch.

If you’re still trying to figure out where your team stand, here’s a quick (4500 words, phew) guide to the comings and goings over the summer.

Brisbane Broncos

Defending champions

Coach: Michael Maguire (18-9)

Championships (7): 1992, 93, 97, 98, 2000, 06, 25

2025 season: 18-9 (fourth), beat Melbourne Storm 26-22 in grand final

Pre-season: Lost to Hull Kingston Rovers 30-24 in World Club Challenge

Gains: centre Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm), halfback Tom Duffy (North Queensland Cowboys), centre Aublix Tawha (Dolphins)

Losses: wing Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins), lock Kobe Hetherington (Manly Sea Eagles), hooker Tyson Smoothy (Wakefield Trinity), second row Fletcher Baker (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Injuries: Second-row Brendan Piakura (knee, Round 3), prop Corey Jensen (concussion, tbc), hooker/half Billy Walters (knee, tbc), fullback Hayze Perham (knee, tbc)

Broncos fullback Reece Walsh is becoming the face of the NRL. AAP / Photosport

Key Kiwi: Prop Xavier Willison took a big step up last year to carve a prominent role for himself in the Broncos rotation and earn an international call-up from the Kiwis.

With Payne Haas signalling his imminent departure from the club next year, Willison will need to continue his progression to help fill that void in the future.

Key Player: Fullback Reece Walsh is becoming the face of the NRL, with his outrageous exploits on the field, but must still tidy up his act away from the game.

The former Warriors has shown time and again his ability to turn a contest on its head, including last year’s grand final, and will again be on top of any rival team’s scouting report.

Opening game: Penrith Panthers at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: At 5-7 after Round 13, Brisbane were outside the playoff picture and the experiment of transplanting Maguire, who had guided NSW to Origin victory the previous year, into the heart of Queensland seemed to have failed.

Somehow, ‘Madge’ managed to turn the ship around, closing faster than anyone to claim the spoils. With Haas departing and veteran half Adam Reynolds retiring at the end of the season, the window is ajar for one more title run.

Prediction: Brisbane have the talent, but can they continue where they left off? Not quite.

TAB: $5 (favourites)

Canterbury Bulldogs

Coach: Cameron Ciraldo (37-37)

Championships (8): 1938, 42, 80, 84, 85, 88, 95, 2004

2025 season: 16-8 (third), lost to Penrith Panthers 46-26 in semifinals

Pre-season: Lost to North Queensland Cowboys 34-30, beat Newcastle Knights 28-0

Gains: Fullback Kade Dykes (Cronulla Sharks), lock Finau Latu (Wests Tigers), half Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins), prop Leo Thompson (Newcastle Knights), hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly Sea Eagles), prop Fletcher Baker (Brisbane Broncos)

Losses: Hooker Reed Mahoney (North Queensland Cowboys), lock Kurtis Morrin (Gold Coast Titans), half Toby Sexton (Catalans), half/fullback Blake Taafe (Castleford Tigers), wing Blake Wilson (Manly Sea Eagles)

Kiwis prop Leo Thompson will start his Bulldogs career on the sidelines with injury. NRL/Photosport

Injuries: Halfback Mitchell Woods (hamstring, Round 4), fullback Kade Dykes (knee, Round 7), prop Leo Thompson (calf, Round 10)

Key Kiwi: The Bulldogs career of Leo Thompson is off to a shaky start, with a calf injury sidelining him for 2-3 months.

He can be expected to beef up the Canterbury pack, as they try to find the missing piece that will put them into title contention.

Key player: The midseason arrival of teen five-eighth Lachlan Galvin was expected to lift the Bulldogs to the next level, but may just have eroded some the team’s culture.

Galvin has had an off-season to embed into the club and mend any burnt bridges among his teammates, so this will be the time we see if he is the answer everyone anticipated.

Opening game: St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: With supremo Phil ‘Gus’ Gould pulling strings in the background, you can believe the Bulldogs are doing everything possible – and maybe some things not totally above board – to capture the NRL crown.

They certainly have the performers in key positions and Ciraldo has had time to incorporate Galvin into his programme, after a controversial arrival last season. As always, the pressure will be on the Sydney teams.

Prediction: Playoffs, but will miss the final again.

TAB: $13

North Queensland Cowboys

Coach: Todd Payten (62-1-62)

Championships (1): 2015

2025 season: 9-1-14 (12th)

Pre-season: Beat Canterbury Bulldogs 34-30, beat Penrith Panthers 66-24

Gains: Prop Matt Lodge (Manly Sea Eagles), hooker Reed Mahoney (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: halfback Thomas Duffy (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Emarly Bitungane (London Broncos), hooker Karl Lawton (Hull Kingston Rovers), hooker Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters), Wing Semi Valemei (Castleford)

Injuries: Prop Griffin Neame (shoulder, Round 2), centre Zac Laybutt (suspension, Round 3), second-row Jeremia Nanai (shoulder, Round 6), second-row John Bateman (shoulder, tbc), fullback Tom Chester (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Prop Griffin Neame has re-signed with the Cowboys through the 2029 season, which is a fair indication of how highly they regard him.

He has played 20 or more games in three of the last four seasons and will likely bring up his 100th appearance for the club this season.

Key player: Tongan second-rower Jason Taumalolo is nearing the end of a 10-year contract that seemed a good idea at the time, but he has probably struggled to fulfil that commitment in recent times.

Branstorming Jason Taumalolo is nearing the end of his 10-year contract with the Cowboys. PHOTOSPORT

Taumalolo was limited to just 10 games through injury last season and was a shadow of his former self. If he can play anywhere near his ability, the Cowboys are a very different proposition.

Opening game: Newcastle Knights at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: If they can stay healthy, they are a scary proposition, but injuries have plagued the Cowboys.

They have the ability to make a playoff run and four of their first five games to start the season are against teams that finished below them last year – Newcastle, Wests, Gold Coast and St George Illawarra.

Prediction: Just miss the playoffs.

TAB: $34

Dolphins

Coach: Kristian Woolf (13-11)

Championships: None

2025 season: 12-12 (ninth)

Pre-season: Lost to Gold Coast Titans 24-12, beat NZ Warriors 38-34

Gains: Wing Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Morgan Knowles (Widnes), prop Francis Molo, hooker Brad Schneider (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Centre Max Feagai (Gold Coast Titans), prop Peter Hola (Newcastle Knights), prop Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Sean O’Sullivan (Canterbury Bulldogs), Aublix Tawha (Brisbane Broncos)

Injuries: Centre LJ Nonu (knee, Round 4), hooker/second row Max Plath (knee, Round 4), hooker Jeremy Marshall-King (knee, Round 7), centre Jack Bostock (knee, Round 10)

Key Kiwi: Wing Jamayne Isaako finished 50 points clear of the next highest pointscorer in the competition last season and has scored more points than anyone else over the last three years.

There are plenty of tries in this squad, so he will have an excellent chance to retain his scoring crown in 2026.

Wing Jamayne Isaako scores a gamewinning try against the Warriors. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Key player: At 22, Wellington-born half and captain Isaiya Katoa is being heralded as the next great playmaker in the game, displaying maturity beyond his years.

He will have plenty of weapons around him and his ability to light the fuse will be key to the Dolphins’ playoff chances.

Opening game: South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 8 March

Outlook: At full strength, the Dolphins backline is stacked, but how far the go will probably be determined by the ability of their forwards to win the wrestle.

In broken play, they will be absolutely electric and no team can feel safe against them.

Prediction: They will again be there or thereabouts in the playoff hunt, but are probably one or two big forward signings away from contending.

TAB: $21

St George Illawarra Dragons

Coach: Shane Flanagan (19-29)

Championships (1): 2010

2025 season: 8-16 (15th)

Pre-season: Beat Newcastle Knights 28-18, lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-24

Gains: Halfback Daniel Atkinson (Cronulla Sharks), wing/centre David Fale (Penrith Panthers), prop Josh Kerr (Dolphins),

Losses: Lock Jack de Belin (Parramatta Eels), wing Sione Finau (Canberra Raiders), halfback Lachlan Ilias (Gold Coast Titans), prop David Klemmer (St Helens), prop Francis Molo (Dolphins)

Injuries: Hooker Jacob Liddle (hamstring, Round 2), wing Nathan Lawson (foot, Round 4), second-row Dylan Egan (knee, Round 8), lock Hame Sele (concussion, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Auckland-born wing Christian Tuipulotu has scored 16 tries in 21 appearances for the Dragons, but had a hard time staying on the field last season, when he scored eight in nine games.

In basketball terms, he’s a walking bucket, but needs to string some games together to maximise his impact.

Jack de Belin will be a major loss to the Dragons. David Neilson/Photosport

Key player: All fingers pointed at the coach’s son – half Kyle Flanagan – last season as a cause of the Dragons’ struggles, but dad hasn’t really found a replacement for him in the meantime.

All eyes will be back on him again and, if the team begins to flounder, you can bet the Flanagans will feel the heat.

Opening game: Canterbury Bulldogs at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 1 March

Outlook: Have lost two of their best forwards in de Belin and Klemmer, and that won’t help them escape the dungeon.

Prediction: Will battle for the wooden spoon.

TAB: $51

Parramatta Eels

Coach: Jason Ryles (10-14)

Championships (4): 1981, 82, 83, 86

2025 season: 10-14 (11th)

Pre-season: Beat Cronulla Sharks 40-6, beat Sydney Roosters 28-22

Gains: Lock Jack de Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Jonah Pezet (Melbourne Storm), centre Brian Kelly (Gold Coast Titans)

Losses: Half Dylan Brown (Newcastle Knights), hooker Brendan Hands (Toulouse), half Dean Hawkins (London Broncos)

Key player: Parramatta seem to go as far as half Mitch Moses can take them, but over the past two years, he’s played less than half their games.

Last season, the Eels went 1-5 to open their account, with Moses sidelined by a foot injury. He later missed more time with a foot injury.

Mitch Moses in action for the Eels against the Warriors. Brett Phibbs/Photosport

Moses kicked a gamewinning field goal against North Queensland in Round 23 and a hattrick of tries against Newcastle Knights in Round 27. Parramatta went 7-6 with him in the line-up and 3-8 without him.

Opening game: Melbourne Storm at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, 5 March

Outlook: Losing Kiwi half Dylan Brown is a major blow, but Jonah Pezet has good pedigree through the Melbourne Storm system.

They have a torrid draw to star their campaign – both last year’s finalists, Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos, on the road.

Prediction: As long as Moses stays healthy, they will push for a playoff spot, but the moment he goes down…

TAB: $21

Newcastle Knights

Coach: Justin Holbrook

Championships (2): 1997, 2001

2025 season: 6-18 (17th/last)

Pre-season: Lost to St George Illawarra Dragons 28-18, lost to Canterbury Bulldogs 28-0

Gains: Half Dylan Brown (Parramatta Eels), prop Peter Hola (Dolphins), wing Asu Kepaoa (Penrith Panthers), lock Trey Mooney (Canberra Raiders), prop Pasami Saulo (Canberra Raiders), half Sandon Smith (Sydney Roosters)

Losses: Half Jake Arthur (Hull), hooker Jayden Brailey (Canberra Raiders), half Jack Cogger (Penrith Panthers), second-row Adam Elliott (South Sydney Rabbitohs), prop Brock Greacen (Castleford), half Jackson Hastings (St Helens), second-row Jack Hetherington (Melbourne Storm), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), prop Leo Thompson (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Key Kiwi: Five-eighth Dylan Brown spent last season in the Eels doghouse, after announcing his imminent departure for Newcastle.

He showed his worth with his Golden Boot-worthy Kiwis campaign and the Knights will hope he can bring that form, as they try to escape the bottom of the table.

Dylan Brown must bring his international form to the Knights. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Key player: Fullback Kalyn Ponga pipped Shaun Johnson for Dally M honours in 2023, but has been plagued by injuries since and has a history of concussions.

Not long ago, he was regarded as the NRL’s next big star, but his team need him to stay healthy.

Opening game: North Queensland Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Outlook: There’s only one way for the Knights and that’s up.

The addition of Brown and Sandon Smith may give them some much-needed stability in the halves.

Prediction: They won’t finish last again.

TAB: $51

Penrith Panthers

Coach: Ivan Cleary (131-2-46)

Championships (6): 1991, 2003, 21, 22, 23, 24

2025 season: 13-1-10 (seventh), lost 16-14 to Brisbane Broncos in preliminary finals

Pre-season: Lost to North Queensland Cowboys 66-24, lost to Wests Tigers 26-12

Gains: Second-row Tom Ale (NZ Warriors), half Jack Cogger (Newcastle Knights), lock Kalani Going (NZ Warriors), hooker Freddy Lussick (NZ Warriors)

Losses: Centre/wing David Fale (St George Illawarra Dragons), second-row Mavrik Geyer (Wests Tigers), fullback Daine Laurie (Canberra Raiders), second-row Zac Lipowicz (Catalans), hooker Brad Schneider (Dolphins), hooker Luke Sommerton (Gold Coast Titans), half Trent Toelau (Melbourne Storm), hooker Soni Luke (North Queensland Cowboys)

Key Kiwi: Prop Moses Leota played all but one game last season and took over the mantle of senior front-rower with the departure of fellow Kiwi James Fisher-Harris for the Warriors.

He’s a player that may benefit from the tweaked rules that allow Kiwis to play State of Origin without losing their international eligibility.

Key player: Half Nathan Cleary is simply the best player in the NRL, when he’s on the field.

Can Nathan and Ivan Cleary return Penrith to the grand final? AAP/www.photosport.nz

He became Penrith’s all-time leading scorer last season, but took some heat from his inability to guide New South Wales to Origin glory for the third time – he was missing from the Blues’ 2024 success.

Cleary has nothing to prove at this stage of his career, but his team’s chance of returning to the grand final rest heavily on him.

Opening game: Brisbane Broncos at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Panthers failed in their quest for a fivepeat last season, stumbling out to a 2-6 start and sitting last on the table after eight rounds, before rallying late to reach the playoffs.

That run probably took the sting out of them, but they have lost none of their core players this year.

Prediction: They will rekindle their dynasty with another visit to the final.

TAB: $6

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Coach: Wayne Bennett (62-39)

Championships (21): 1908, 09, 14, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 67, 68, 70, 71, 2014

2025 season: 9-15 (13th)

Pre-season: Beat St George Illawarra 28-24, beat Manly Sea Eagles 30-6

Gains: Second-row Adam Elliott (Newcastle Knights), prop David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans), hooker Bronson Garlick (Melbourne Storm), half Jonah Glover (St George Illawarra Dragons), centre Moala Graham-Taufa (NZ Warriors), wing Ed Kosi (NZ Warriors)

Losses: Half Lewis Dodd (Catalans), hooker Siliva Havili (London Broncos), prop Davvy Moale (Melbourne Storm), wing Mikaele Ravalawa (Castleford)

Injuries: Halfback Jonah Glover (jaw, Round 7), centre Isaiah Tass (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: You have to think this may be the last chance for hooker Brandon Smith to resurrect a career that has gone off the rails in recent seasons.

Injuries and off-field shenanigans have seen ‘Cheese’ exit Melbourne and Sydney Roosters in disgrace, and his tenure at Souths has not begun well, as he faces drug and gambling charges in Queensland.

Brandon Smith must spend less time in a suit and more on the field for Souths. AAP / Photosport

Key player: Prop David Fifita is another star that shone brightly, but has faded in recent seasons.

Two years ago, he announced he was leaving Gold Coast for Sydney Roosters, then backflipped a week later, but fell out with coach Des Hasler last year and eventually signed with Souths.

Wayne Bennett has a history of calming troubled souls, and he will be tested to the limit by Smith and Fifita.

Opening game: Dolphins at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, 8 March

Outlook: Bennett has won more than any other coach in NRL history, but he already has his hands full guiding the enigmatic Lattrell Mitchell and had to manage that without the services of captain Campbell Murray, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in pre-season last year and never returned.

Prediction: Bennett, 76, is the master for a reason, but this will test him beyond his limits. Souths fall short of playoffs.

TAB: $21

Canberra Raiders

Coach: Ricky Stuart (157-1-137)

Championships (3): 1989, 90, 94

2025 season: 19-5 (first), lost to Cronulla Sharks 32-12 in semifinals

Pre-season: Beat Melbourne Storm 32-6, lost to Cronulla Sharks 48-6

Gains: Hooker Jayden Brailey (Newcastle Knights), wing Sione Finau (St George Illawarra Dragons), fullback Laurie Daine (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Fullback Adam Cook (Leigh), half Jamal Fogarty (Manly Sea Eagles), wing/centre Albert Hopoate (Warrington), hooker Danny Levi (Leeds), prop Trey Mooney (Newcastle Knights), centre Manaia Waitere (Melbourne Storm)

Key Kiwi: Prop Joseph Tapine has established himself as one of the best front-rowers in the game and has averaged 24 games a season for the past four years.

Last year, he brought up 200 games for the Raiders and has become Stuart’s righthand man out on the field.

Joseph Tapine has emerged as the leader of the ‘Green Machine’. PhotoSport / Brett Phibbs

Key player: Half Ethan Strange will take the keys to the ‘Green Machine’ from Jamal Fogarty, after earning best five-eighth at the Dally M Awards last year.

Despite his outstanding season, he was missing through illness, when Canberra bowed out of the playoffs to Cronulla.

Opening game: Manly Sea Eagles at Sydney’s 4 Pines Park, 7 March

Outlook: Ricky Stuart will be absolutely seething at finishing top of the competition table and then missing out on the grand final – that will have eaten him alive all off-season.

They will miss Fogarty, who was the real architect of their success, and it may take some time to find a successor.

Prediction: Playoffs yes, grand final no. They missed a chance last season.

TAB: $15

Sydney Roosters

Coach: Trent Robinson (210-126)

Championships (15): 1911, 12, 13, 213, 35, 36, 37, 40, 45, 74, 75, 2002, 13, 18, 19

2025 season: 13-11 (eighth), lost to Cronulla Sharks 20-10 in elimination finals

Pre-season: Lost to Wests Tigers 42-26, lost to Parramatta Eels 28-22

Gains: Half Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), fullback Cody Ramsey (St George Illawarra Dragons), hooker Reece Robson (North Queensland Cowboys), centre/wing Tommy Talau (Manly Sea Eagles)

Losses: Hooker Zach Dockar-Clay (Manly Sea Eagles), half Sandon Smith (Newcastle Knights), prop Xavier Va’a (York), half Chad Townsend (retired)

Injuries: Second-row Victor Radley (suspension, Round 7), hooker Reece Robson (thumb, Round 7)

Key Kiwi: Prop Naufahu Whyte has become a mainstay of the Roosters front row, logging 23 games in both the past two seasons, while also establishing himself in the Kiwis squad.

At 23, his best years are still ahead of him and he has re-signed with Sydney for another three years.

Key player: The Roosters have struggled in the halves recently, but recruiting the NRL’s oldest player – Daly Cherry-Evans – may not be the answer.

How much juice does Daly Cherry-Evans have left for the Roosters? Jeremy Ng/www.photosport.nz

He was dropped from the Queensland Origin team last year and seemed to be going through the motions, but sparked up towards the end of his time with Manly, kicking a winning field goal against the Warriors in his 352nd and final appearance for the club.

How much more magic is left?

Opening game: NZ Warriors at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Roosters will always be contenders, because they have deep pockets, but they are often sabotaged by injury and indiscipline.

Prediction: If Cherry-Evans and captain James Tedesco, 33, have anything left, they reach the second week of playoffs.

TAB: $7

Manly Sea Eagles

Coach: Anthony Seibold (37-2-35)

Championships (8): 1972, 73, 76, 78, 87, 96, 2008, 11

2025 season: 12-12 (10th)

Pre-season: Beat NZ Warriors 33-18, lost to South Sydney Rabbitohs 30-6

Gains: Hooker Zach Dockar-Clay (Sydney Roosters), half Jamal Fogarty (Canberra Raiders), lock Kobe Hetherington (Brisbane Broncos), wing Blake Wilson (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Losses: Half Jake Arthur (Hull), half Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters), prop Matt Lodge (North Queensland Cowboys), prop Tof Sipley (Warrington), win/centre Tommy Talau (Sydney Roosters), utility Jazz Tevaga (Wakefield Trinity), prop Josh Aloiai (retired), hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Lachlan Croker (retired), second-row/centre Michael Chee-Kam (retired)

Injuries: Lock Caleb Navale (knee, tbc)

‘Tommy Turbo’ has proved fragile, but capable of taking Manly deep. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Key Kiwi: New Plymouth-born hooker Zach Dockar-Clay has been brought in to replace Lachlan Croker in the dummy half rotation, after the veteran declared for medical retirement.

He has logged 36 games for Canterbury Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters, with two appearances for the Māori All Stars.

Key player: Fullback Tom Trbojevic takes over the Manly captaincy, but has a poor injury record.

Staying healthy will be his biggest challenge, but if he does, ‘Tommy Turbo’ can carry the Sea Eagles deep.

Opening game: Canberra Raiders at Sydney’s 4 Pines Park, 7 March

Outlook: Time to move on from the Daly Cherry-Evans era and Jamal Fogarty will prove an able replacement…

Prediction: But they’ll fall short of post-season again.

TAB: $34

Cronulla Sharks

Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon (66-39)

Championships (1): 2016

2025 season: 15-9 (fifth), lost to Melbourne Storm 22-14 in preliminary finals

Pre-season: Lost to Parramatta Eels 40-6, beat Canberra Raiders 48-6

Losses: Half Daniel Atkinson (St George Illlawarra)

Injuries: Second-row Cam McInnes (knee, Round 10), centre Mawene Hiroti (knee, tbc), fullback Liam Ison (knee, tbc), wing Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has consistently been among the NRL’s top tryscorers over the past four seasons, touching down 73 times during that span.

Ronaldo Mulitalo will start the season rehabbing a knee injury from the Pacific Championship. Photosport

He will start the campaign under an injury cloud, after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, while on duty with the Kiwis last year.

Key player: Since winning the 2022 Dally M and Provan-Summons medals, half Nicho Hynes has fallen from Origin grace, where selectors never quite figured out how to use him.

He played every game for the Sharks last season, as they went within a game of the grand final.

Opening game: Gold Coast Titans at Sydney’s Ocean Project Stadium, 7 March

Outlook: The Sharks have kept a pretty stable squad, so a repeat of last year’s performance is not beyond belief.

Prediction: Grand final contenders.

TAB: $19

Melbourne Storm

Coach: Craig Bellamy (413-2-178)

Championships (4): 1999, 2012, 17, 20

2025 season: 17-7 (second), lost to Brisbane Broncos 26-22 in grand final

Pre-season: Lost to Canberra Raiders 32-6, lost to Gold Coast Titans 42-12

Gains: Second-row Jack Hetherington (Newcastle Knights), prop Davvy Moala (South Sydney Rabbitohs), prop Josaiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans), half Trent Toelau (Penrith Panthers), centre Manaia Waitere (Canberra Raiders)

Losses: Centre Grant Anderson (Brisbane Broncos), hooker Bronson Garlick (South Sydney Rabbitohs), half Jonah Pezet (Parramatta Eels), prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona (retired), fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (retired)

Injuries: Wing Xavier Coates (Achilles tendon, Round 10), second-row Eliesa Katoa (concussion, indefinite)

Key Kiwi: After winning the Dally M Medal in 2024, Jahrome Hughes had to battle a dislocated shoulder and broken arm on his way back to the grand final, but could not quite steer the Storm home over the Broncos.

Little wonder the Aussies are trying to sneak him into an Origin team. Hopefully, he will save some of his geniues for the Kiwis’ World Cup campaign.

Kiwis fans would be happy if half Jahrome Hughes can save some of his form for the Rugby League World Cup campaign. Photosport

Key player: With the Storm leaking talent left, right and centre, the halves partnership between Hughes and Cameron Munster must maximise their time together on the field.

After a history of off-field indiscretions, Munster seems to have turned his fortunes around, succeeding Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland Origin captain.

Opening game: Parramatta Eels at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, 5 March

Outlook: Even through Penrith’s four-year run atop the NRL, Melbourne have somehow maintained their own legacy, despite losing key players every year. This season, they are without key forwards Asofa-Solomona and Katoa, and brilliant fullback Papyenhuyzen.

Prediction: Can’t wait to see how Bellamy gets this lot back to the grand final.

TAB: $7

Gold Coast Titans

Coach: Josh Hannay

Championships: None

2025 season: 6-18 (16th)

Pre-season: Beat Dolphins 24-12, beat Melbourne Storm 42-12

Gains: Centre Max Feagai (St George Illawarra Dragons), half Lachlan Ilias (St George Illawarra Dragons), lock Kurtis Morrin (Canterbury Bulldogs), hooker Luke Sommerton (Penrith Panthers)

Losses: Second-row Jacob Alick (Leigh), prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard (London Broncos), second-row Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (Catalans), prop David Fifita (South Sydney Rabbitohs), centre Brian Kelly (Parramatta Eels), wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira (NZ Warriors), prop Josiah Pahulu (Melbourne Storm), half Tom Weaver (Castleford)

Keano Kini has been a revelation for the Kiwis, but has yet to make an impact for the Titans. Photosport

Injuries: Prop Jaimin Jolliffe (knee, 2027), second-row Brock Gray (knee, tbc)

Key Kiwi: After a breakout 2024 season that saw him called into the Kiwis, pints-sized fullback Keano Kini sat out most of last year with a neck injury that threatened to paralyse him.

He turned out for New Zealand in the Pacific Championship, but his future health will be watched closely. Just where he fits into the Titans line-up alongside AJ Brimson remains to be seen.

Key player: While fellow powerhouse David Fifita finally cut ties with the Titans, captain Timo Fa’asuamaleaui has confirmed his future with the club, re-signing through the 2030 season.

He has proved an inspirational leader for the struggling Titans and his relationship with new coach Josh Hannay will be crucial to turning his club’s fortunes around.

Opening game: Cronulla Sharks at Sydney’s Ocean Protect Stadium, 7 March

Outlook: Fifteen years since their last winning season and five years since their last post-season appearance, two seasons under Des Hasler yielded just 15 wins, so there’s only one way to go.

Prediction: It may take a couple of seasons to turn this mess around.

TAB: $51

NZ Warriors

Coach: Andew Webster (38-1-33)

Championships: none

2025 season: 14-10 (sixth), lost to Penrith Panthers 24-8 in elimination final

Pre-season: Lost to Manly Sea Eagles 33-18, lost to Dolphins 38-34

Gains: Second-row/lock Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), wing Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs), wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Gold Coast Titans), half Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights)

Losses: Prop Bunty Afoa (Wests Tigers), hooker Freddy Lussick (Penrith Panthers), second-row Tom Ale (Penrith Panthers), wing Ed Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), centre Moala Graham-Taufa (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Kalani Going (Penrith Panthers)

Injuries: Prop Mitch Barnett (knee, Round 2), halfback Luke Metcalf (knee, Round 7), utility Te Maire Martin (broken leg, Round 10), centre Rocco Berry (shoulder, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Some are calling for understudy Taine Tuaupiki to take over the fullback position, so Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is already under pressure for his spot.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t make the starting line-up somewhere else, if the midfield or halves turn to quicksand again. His courage under fire is indispensable.

Key player: Luke Metcalf was leading Dally M standings, when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Round 17 last year, and he will miss the opening two months this season.

How well the Warriors cover his absence, whether it’s Tanah Boyd or someone else, may determine the course of their 2026 campaign. How quickly he can return to full fitness may well be the spark they need down the regular season stretch.

The Warriors title hopes ended, as Luke Metcalf hobbled off the field against Brisbane last year. Tertius Pickard/www.photosport.nz

Opening game: Sydney Roosters at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, 6 March

Outlook: The Warriors got off to a club record 8-2 start last season, sitting second on the table after 11 rounds, but fell away badly, after losing co-captain Barnett and Metcalf to knee injuries.

As it is with any team, health will be crucial, if they are do venture deeper into the playoffs. Not only do they need luck in avoiding further calamity, but Webster must give some thought to preserving those veterans who are prone to wear and tear, like Fisher-Harris, hooker Wayde Egan and second-rower Kurt Capewell.

While Barnett’s impending exit will be a blow for the Warriors next season, hopefully it won’t become a distraction like others have been in recent times.

Predictions: This is their year – of course!

TAB: $23 (outside playoffs)

Wests Tigers

Coach: Benji Marshall (15-33)

Championships (1): 2005

2025 season: 9-15 (13th)

Pre-season: Beat Sydney Roosters 42-26, beat Penrith Panthers 26-12

Gains: Second-row Mavrik Geyer (Penrith Panthers), halfback Jock Madden (Brisbane Broncos), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)

Losses: Wing/centre Sol Faataape (Catalans), wing/fullback Josh Staines (Catalans)

Injuries: Lock Kit Laulilii (concussion, Round 2), second-row Kai Pearce-Paul (calf, Round 2). Five-eighth Latu Fainu (shoulder, tbc)

Key Kiwi: Coach Benji Marshall has been under pressure ever since he took over the reins of the Tigers from Tim Sheens, who was also under pressure.

Every Kiwi league fan should be rooting for Benji Marshall to turn this team around. Alan Lee/www.photosport.nz

The joint-venture club doesn’t seem like a very supportive environment, but somehow Marshall has survived and slowly turned the ship around. Wests should be every Kiwi’s second-favourite club (after the Warriors).

Key player: Half Jarome Luai was named co-captain (alongside Apisai Koroisau) for his Tigers debut and relished the opportunity to break out of the shadow of Nathan Cleary at Penrith.

Unfortunately, his arrival heralded the departure of teen prospect Lachlan Galvin, so this season will show whether the swap was worthwhile.

Opening game: North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney’s Leichhart Oval, 14 March (Round 2)

Outlook: Pre-season means little in the grander scheme of things, but wins over Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers suggest Wests may have turned a corner.

They have a gentle introduction to the new season with a bye, then non-playoff teams North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs, before visiting the Warriors, then two more non-playoff teams, Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights.

Prediction: Well clear of the wooden spoon, but not quite playoffs yet.

TAB: $41

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/27/nrl-season-preview-how-your-team-stacks-up-for-2026/

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Pirongia residents remain cut off following extreme weather

Source: Radio New Zealand

Work continues to reopen the roads in the Waipā District. RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Waipā District is now in the recovery stage after extreme weather forced it into a state of emergency earlier this month.

But with some residents still cut off and the town of Pirongia still rationing water, things were far from back to normal.

RNZ talked to Paul Candace, who lives on Mount Pirongia, two weeks after the disaster.

He explained the moment he knew something was badly wrong.

“I saw the whole mountain go black from a cloud,” he said.

This was followed by a massive noise up in the mountain.

Flash flooding bought boulders, logs and massive amounts of water down the mountain.

“We were told in one [flash flood] we have video of, 200 million litres of water came down in one go.”

The road up to Mount Pirongia was washed out on 14 Feburary. Supplied / Waipa District Council

Twenty families live off a one-way road up the mountain. The road was plummeted and the hamlet was cut off.

Days went by, families shared what they could and a way through a farm was opened for those with a four-wheel drive.

Two weeks on the road is still inaccessible.. Supplied / Waipa District Council

But two weeks on, the road was still closed and the community continued to rely on the good will of the farmer’s track which takes three times as long as normal to travel through and can only be used on a dry day.

Candace wasn’t sure when the road would be back. The flash flooding, damage, and uncertainty was taking its toll, including financially.

“For me and my family we can’t make any money because my wife has her business up on the mountain and I need to get down to my contracts. People go ‘oh yeah, you lost fencing’ and that sort of stuff… it’s a little bit deeper than that,” Candace said.

Another major worry for the community was the environment.

The Department of Conservation stated that Pirongia Mountain was the largest area of native forest remaining close to Hamilton.

It was home to many native birds and the community worked hard to make it safe to reintroduce the North Island kōkako.

That’s all under threat.

“From these sorts of weather events, obviously the birds are in danger, but what happens is all of our trapping systems are down, the tracks have been washed out,” Candace said.

Supplied / Waipa District Council

The pest species also tended to explode after a major weather event, he said.

Waipā councillor Clare St Pierre spent years supporting the Pirongia restoration work and was also deeply concerned.

“There has been significant damage I understand and big slips. It’s the Department of Conservation’s role to assess what the damage is so we are just waiting on that,” she said.

The Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society said it would welcome any financial or volunteer help to try and protect and restore what remained.

Off the mountain and in the village of Pirongia, water also continued to be rationed after major damage to the reservoir.

St Pierre said for many people and places around Pirongia life isn’t “back to normal”.

“There’s recognition at council that it is going to take time, so there is a real desire to make sure those people are supported over the medium term, not just now but going forward,” she said.

Good news came through every day; people were making an effort to support local businesses and the New Zealand Transport Agency had found a solution to reopen State Highway 39.

But what was quickly broken would take much time to repair.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/27/pirongia-residents-remain-cut-off-following-extreme-weather/

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Fishers ‘living the funeral’ of low salmon, fish stocks in Rakaia River

Source: Radio New Zealand

Greenpeace Aotearoa says its activists “altered” the Rakaia salmon statue, turning it into a cartoon dead fish in protest of the dairy industry’s environmental destruction, but the council says it was vandalised. Supplied

For the first time in 40 years, no fish will be weighed in at Mid Canterbury’s Rakaia Fishing Competition today, due to woefully low numbers of salmon in the river.

The small farming township was once world famous for its abundant chinook salmon and other fish populations in the Rakaia River, even boasting a mighty 12-metre high salmon statue on state highway 1.

But numbers of sea-run salmon/hāmana, trout/tarauta and other aquatic life like smelt/paraki in the river have drastically declined in recent years.

This year, the 400 people entered in the iconic competition will instead vie for a lucky dip draw of $60,000 worth of prizes, including a motorbike – usually reserved for the heaviest fish.

Event organiser, Rakaia River Fishing Promotions’ president, Chris Agnew said it was a very difficult decision to run the event without fishing.

The mighty Rakaia River meets the sea Steve Terry

But he hoped it would encourage fish to come back and spawn in the river.

“It was a tough call to make because you know, like that’s what the thing is about, is trying to catch the biggest fish,” he said.

“It was the most sensible thing we could come up with that gave the competitors a chance to come and enjoy the competition or enjoy the camaraderie … But also to protect what fish are left coming back into the river, and to give them half a chance at spawning up the top.”

Agnew said low freshwater fish numbers were not isolated just to Rakaia.

“We’re not the only rivers, like every river in the South Island is suffering the same problem with no numbers.”

The Rakaia Fishing Competition started in the early 1980s and runs to Sunday. It bills itself as “the most successful fresh water fishing competition”. The contest started in 1983 as a way to promote local businesses but has evolved to promote ways to defend the river and highlight the fishery’s demise.

Earlier this month, Greenpeace activists vandalised Rakaia’s iconic salmon statue, turning it into a dead fish saying, “Fonterra killed my family” and blaming “dirty dairying”.

A spokesman said the protest was to highlight the damage to the Rakaia and pointed to the fishing competition not involving any fish.

Anglers’ harvest limited, more restrictions considered

Anglers have been restricted to catching just one salmon with current bag limits, and in January, Fish and Game consulted them on possible further restrictions on the fishery.

North Canterbury Fish and Game Council’s operations manager, Lyndon Slater said anglers were concerned, and the issue was not unique to Canterbury, where salmon numbers were historically low.

“The environmental pressures that we’re seeing are reflected right around right around the country. Particularly our East Coast rivers, we have seen the same decline across the board.”

Slater said environmental factors like warming oceans and reduced river flows from water takes were the largest drivers behind the decline.

He said that water takes affected river flows and the conditions of the habitats that supported spawning.

“We’ve seen, obviously with climate change, we’ve seen the impact of those consented takes decrease the quantity and quality of the water in the river.

“The impact of reduction in flows increases the temperature in the river and does result in increased mortality of fish.

“So while we recognise the need for irrigation generally, we would always like to see more water in rivers and the efficient use of water through that regulatory process.”

He said the Council wanted to see increased minimum flows in future.

“The issue isn’t necessarily with the [consenting] process itself, it’s around the amount that they allocated for its use and then how that water is used for the activity.”

Fish and Game’s latest sea-run salmon survey for the 2024/25 season said estimated harvest decreased on all four major sea-run salmon fisheries at the Rakaia, Rangitata, Waimakariri and Waitaki Rivers compared to the season prior.

“This is the third consecutive year we have observed a decline in the number of salmon harvested. On each of the four major salmon fishing rivers, the estimated harvest was less than half the previous season estimate,” it read.

North Canterbury Fish & Game Council chief executive Rasmus Gabrielsson undertaking DNA sampling of salmon in the upper Rakaia Supplied

Too much river water’s being taken – fishers

New Zealand Salmon Anglers’ Association president, Paul Hodgson said anglers saw the decline of the Rakaia River on a daily basis, describing the state of the fishery “like a death”.

“The only thing I can say for absolute dead certain is that the salmon in the rivers are almost gone. The trout in the lowland rivers are almost gone from where they used to be. The Stokell’s smelt are gone. All of these are indicators that something is not right.

“We’re living the funeral. We’ve been living it for the past five or ten years and nobody’s done anything about it to have any significant impact on it.”

Hogson said water extraction consents allowed enormous volumes of water to be taken from the Rakaia and other rivers, which affected river flow, the ecosystems and worsened sediment build-up.

“What’s truly amazing is people think that you can take 50 percent of the water out of the river and expect there to be no impact.”

He said the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) considered river health as proportional to river flow, but all adverse effects from water takes were not being properly tested.

“Well the health of the river doesn’t feature in the consent. And yet in every clause of a water abstraction consent, there’s a review course that goes along the lines of, ‘this consent may be reviewed if adverse effects are found.’

“But ECan doesn’t monitor for adverse effects, therefore, there is no evidence of decline. Therefore, there is no problem.”

He acknowledged that extraction consents legally allowed large water takes, and consented dairy farmers were authorised to do so, despite river degradation.

“The time has come where we need to start listening to what the science is telling us, and we need to take actions to manage the rivers adequately.”

Consenting conundrum

There were 63 water extraction consents between the Rakaia Gorge bridge and the sea, with minimum flow restrictions for when water could not be taken.

A Water Conservation Order here prevented more than 70 cumecs of water being taken from the river, with the highest daily abstraction at 42 cumecs in September last year.

Environment Canterbury’s general manager of regulatory implementation, Paul Hulse said the Rakaia River was a vital habitat for indigenous birds, aquatic species and a recreation hotspot.

He said it was a major source of hydroelectricity and it also supplied irrigation water to hundreds of farms, managed by consents.

“Each water take consent contains conditions to ensure that the volume is documented and that excess water is not taken, especially when river flow is low.”

Its water and land science manager, Elaine Moriarty said more work was needed to identify the causes of the declining fish populations in Canterbury’s rivers.

“However, there are interactions between climate change and land and water use pressures that may affect hāpua fish communities.”

She said a NIWA report showed changes in ocean conditions were likely a significant driver causing a decline in the survival rates of migratory fish, including Stokell’s smelt larvae.

Extraction not intended to be to be at river’s detriment – irrigators

Canterbury had the largest amount of agricultural land being irrigated across Aotearoa, at just under 480,000 hectares in 2022.

Home to more than a million dairy cows, the region now accounted for around 70 percent of the country’s total dairy farming irrigation.

Industry group Irrigation New Zealand represented water irrigation schemes and companies nationwide.

Chief executive, Karen Williams said water was extracted for a variety of uses in Mid Canterbury, and the schemes adhered to consent conditions.

“There are a lot of arable farms growing different seed and arable crops, there’s irrigated sheep and beef, and dairy,” she said.

“They are not wanting to extract water to the river’s detriment.”

Williams said E-Can was monitoring over-allocation closely, and building more water storage infrastructure would ease the pressure by harnessing rainwater while it was abundant.

“We need to capture and store that water because everyone needs that water, for potable water, anglers and recreation, all wanting to use it.”

Do irrigators’ fish screens work?

Paul Hodgson said there was evidence locally and internationally that the fish screens being used by irrigators to keep fish out of irrigation systems were not all in line with modern designs for effectiveness.

Lyndon Slater said Fish and Game was concerned about the condition of fish screens, especially as consent requirements had strengthened over time.

“The issue being some of these consents are many years old, up to 30-odd years old, and the conditions around them at the time of consenting was not as stringent as it is now,” he said.

“In an ideal world, we would have 100 percent efficiency across our fish screens.”

But Karen Williams said irrigators were working to make sure their fish screens were working well.

“A lot of schemes have invested a lot of time and resources to getting [fish screens] as effective as possible.”

Research carried out by NIWA in 2020 showed the effectiveness of fish screen devices varied considerably nationwide, usually based on design, with modern devices outperforming older ones.

Further research revealed that regional councils nationwide were reporting non-compliant screens that often failed to meet recommended specifications and were ineffective at excluding small fish including native species.

[Jellyman, P.G. (2020a) Effectiveness trials for different fish screen materials: reporting of Year 1 trial results, NIWA Client Report 2020035CH: 37.]

[Jellyman, P.G. (2020b) Status report summarising fish screening issues across New Zealand, NIWA Client Report 2020027CH: 34.]

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/27/fishers-living-the-funeral-of-low-salmon-fish-stocks-in-rakaia-river/

Posted on

Better outcomes for New Zealanders on ACC

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is delivering its strongest rehabilitation performance in over a decade and getting New Zealanders back to work and independence faster, Minister for ACC Scott Simpson says.

“For too long, New Zealanders have been languishing on ACC and not getting the support they need. That is teachers, nurses and farmers that are stuck on the scheme and not able to get back to doing what they love.”

That is why ACC were asked to improve their performance in a recent Letter of Expectations, and put rehabilitation back at the heart of what they do. 

In response, the board produced a Turnaround Plan to return the organisation to its best ever performance. 

“I was pleased to see the Turnaround Plan built around the priorities set out in the Letter of Expectations: putting clients first with care that supports lasting recovery, helping New Zealanders return to work and independence, and resetting ACC by getting the organisation back to basics.” 

Today, the first signs of progress were published in ACC’s first public-facing monthly turnaround report. The report shows the growth rate of the Long-Term Claims Pool has reduced to 1.8 percent – the first time since 2014 it has been less than 2%.

“When National left office in 2017, growth in the long-term claims pool was 3 percent and trending downward. Under Labour, this increased to more than 14 percent, equating to almost 200 additional people each month spending over a year on the scheme.

“That level of growth was unacceptable, which is why we have taken action to improve performance and support better outcomes for claimants.”

The January Turnaround Plan report also shows return-to-work rates lifted across all timeframes, with more clients regaining independence sooner.

“Faster rehabilitation means injured people are returning to work faster, supporting their families and being active in their communities,” Mr Simpson says.

The first report shows a huge performance improvement for ACC, but more importantly, better results for injured New Zealanders.   

“There’s plenty more work ahead. But today’s results are a strong indication New Zealanders will get the support they’d expect from ACC when they need it most.

“It’s just one way this Government is fixing the basics and building the future.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/27/better-outcomes-for-new-zealanders-on-acc/

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Farmers calling for same animal welfare standards on local and imported pork

Source: Radio New Zealand

NZPork has previously warned that local producers were struggling against a flood of lower-welfare imports. 123RF

Farmers are renewing calls for the Government to enforce the same animal welfare standards that local pig farmers face on imported pork.

A group of farmers, pork producers and advocates wrote to the Prime Minister and government ministers this week, calling for a “level playing field” among locally-produced and imported product.

The pork industry has wanted this for years now, with industry group NZPork warning that local producers were struggling against a flood of lower-welfare imports.

NZPork estimated that more than 63 percent of pork consumed in Aotearoa came from countries like United States, Spain, Germany and Canada.

In some of these countries, farmers still used sow stalls (narrow cages for pregnant pigs) which New Zealand banned, and had smaller space requirements or longer periods allowed for sows in farrowing crates (that have just given birth to protect the piglets).

It came after last year’s controversial move by the Government to allow farmers a decade grace period before enforcing stricter welfare regulations.

Waikato dairy farmer Walt Cavendish was about to transition his Matamata farming operation into free range pork farming.

He signed the letter addressed to the Government, having said farmers, consumers and the animals deserve high welfare standards.

“New Zealand led the way in 1999 with the Animal Welfare Act. It was a world leading piece of legislation,” he said.

“We made quite a clear decision as a country that animal welfare matters. And we seem to have gone down the road of insisting on that for our farmers, but not insisting that for our imports.”

“For these family farming families, they’re trying to compete with product that would just not be allowed to be farmed here.”

Cavendish had met with officials on the matter previously, and said New Zealand could legally enforce what was called a public morals exemption on importers

“The biggest argument that’s put is the trade implications.

“They’re just so nervous about it.

“Everyone keeps using the trade argument.”

But he said it would be unlikely that those exporting nations would take retaliatory action in response, considering the New Zealand market’s small scale.

“It’s just an argument to try and stop this going further, and that’s why I’m quite firm that the public morals exemption is our best way forward.

“And realistically, with such a low amount of the export from these countries, that they’re hardly going to worry about it.”

He believed people’s fears that pork prices would go up even further if we ditched imports was a “false narrative”, as the national pig herd would likely increase to meet demand.

“Because ultimately, you would be able to produce more, so the cost of production would go down.

“We don’t really feel that the price will go through the roof at all, and there are examples that Animal Policy International have done in their research, where we’re talking peanuts, you know, very little. We’re talking cents, not dollars, in relation to the price adjustment per kilogram of pork.”

But he acknowledged it was a significant concern for cash-strapped consumers, though many of them were passionate about animal welfare.

“One of the big things I get from people that comment to me is their fear of the price going up, because they can’t even now afford a lot of the meat products on the shelf.

Trade minister Todd McClay said if New Zealand introduced requirements based on our methods of production, this could potentially undermine our efforts to prevent other countries from applying unjustified measures that could impact negatively on our agricultural exports.

“Last year animal product exports worth $42 billion reached plates around the globe, making up more than half of our total goods exports.”

“New Zealand is a global leader in farmed animal welfare standards, which underpin our trade reputation and the high quality of our global exports.”

McClay said New Zealand works with other countries to improve animal welfare standards through our membership in the World Organisation for Animal Health and through bilateral collaboration.

“It is important to recognise that different countries have different production systems. Approaches to caring for animals are adapted to local conditions and applying the same standard can sometimes result in different welfare outcomes.”

Food and Agriculture Organization’s latest statistics show New Zealand imported more than 47,000 tonnes of pork in 2023.

The “Fair for Farmers” campaign was launched at the Northland Fieldays in Dargaville today that ran into Saturday.

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/farmers-calling-for-same-animal-welfare-standards-on-local-and-imported-pork/

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Government activates additional support for weather-affected farmers and growers

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has classified recent weather events in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, and Canterbury as a medium-scale adverse event. This enables additional support for farmers and growers in the affected regions who continue to face weather-related challenges.

“The effects of these weather events continue to be felt in these regions. Today’s announcement unlocks extra support, including tax relief, and it enables the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to consider Rural Assistance Payments and activating Enhanced Taskforce Green for affected farmers and growers,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.

“The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been working closely with local groups to identify the most affected farmers and where support is needed most, including through on-farm assessments.”

Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson is encouraging farmers and growers to seek support if they need it.

“It’s important we help those farmers, growers, and rural communities now facing a lengthy clean-up.

“Farmers and growers needing assistance are encouraged to contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254,” Mr Patterson says.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/government-activates-additional-support-for-weather-affected-farmers-and-growers/

Posted on

Fairlie farmer’s accident inspired his fundraising efforts for new town helipad

Source: Radio New Zealand

supplied

A Fairlie farmer who ended up with a shattered leg after a farm accident has spearheaded a fundraiser to get his local town a new helipad.

It was a normal day on farm for Andrew Hurst, he’d just returned from a bull sale when he was driving a two-wheeler round his farm.

In a split second he was under a Hilux that he had not seen coming from the other direction.

He was airlifted to Christchurch where he spent weeks in hospital undergoing over 10 surgeries to put his leg back together.

Hurst credits the skill and speed of the rescue helicopter with saving his leg and after recovering he quickly went about fundraising $90,000 for a new helipad.

“I felt Fairlie needed something better than just a piece of grass to land on.”

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is flying into Fairlie on Thursday to officially open the new helipad.

Hurst said it had been a real community effort, with the local Lions Club, companies the Fairlie Community Board, and the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust getting involved.

He admitted building the helipad was more complex than he first anticipated.

“Initially I thought I’d just be able to go down with a digger, scrape a bit of grass off and pour some concrete.”

“It turns out there’s a lot more involved in a helipad than that! But the helipad is as good as it could ever be, I’m stoked with what the community has achieved.”

Hurst said he would hate to think the rescue helicopter couldn’t help someone because it couldn’t land.

“This new helipad is on an IFR route, which means helicopters can fly here in low cloud or more adverse weather conditions.”

“We are a small, rural community, the rescue helicopter is the fastest way we can access critical care – the helipad will save lives,” he said.

Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust chief executive Christine Prince said the Fairlie community has shown an extraordinary level of commitment and heart throughout the helipad project.

“This helipad is a meaningful investment in the future health and safety of Fairlie which will benefit families for generations.”

She said the opening of the helipad is part of a major transformation of the region’s rescue helicopter service, known as MISSION 2026.

The Trust has purchased three state-of-the-art H145 rescue helicopters for the Canterbury West Coast region.

The first of these helicopters is now in service, with work underway to make the other two mission-ready.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/fairlie-farmers-accident-inspired-his-fundraising-efforts-for-new-town-helipad/

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Legislation – Four bottom lines for a workable farm plan system – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers has made it clear to the Government that it could support a national farm plan system, but only if it meets four firm bottom lines.
The Government is currently seeking feedback on its draft legislation to replace the Resource Management Act.
This includes a proposal to introduce nationally consistent farm plans under the new Natural Environment Bill.
“We’ve been looking closely at the wording and it’s fair to say we have some serious concerns,” Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says.
“Farm plans should be a positive, practical and enabling tool that help farmers improve environmental outcomes in a way that makes sense on their own farms.
“We don’t want to see farm plans adding unnecessary complexity, duplication, or another layer of expensive regulation for farmers to grapple with.
“Unfortunately, we don’t think the regulations as they’re currently drafted will deliver what farmers are expecting or what’s been sold to them by politicians.
“That’s why Federated Farmers is stepping up, drawing a line in the sand, and making it clear we have four clear bottom lines when it comes to farm plans.”
Federated Farmers’ first and most important non-negotiable is that farm plans must replace regulation, not add to it.
“Farm plans need to be the primary compliance tool for farmers. That’s what will make a real difference for farming families,” Hurst says.
“That means a farm plan should be able to replace all of the overlapping rules, duplicated requirements and expensive resource consents from the current system.”
Under the proposed legislation, all commercial dairy farms and all other farms over 50 hectares would be required to have a farm plan covering the whole farm.
However, those same farms could still be required to get a resource consent in addition to their farm plan.
“That framework doesn’t simplify anything. In fact, it’s actually adding more complexity and duplication for farmers,” Hurst says.
“It’ll create a system that’s even more onerous than what farmers face now, where they either operate within permitted standards or apply for a resource consent.”
Federated Farmers wants to see changes so that a farm plan is enough to demonstrate compliance.
“A certified farm plan should be the equivalent of holding a resource permit or consent,” Hurst says.
The second bottom line is that farm plans must be proportionate, practical and scaled to risk.
“Farms that are low-impact and low-risk should be able to complete a simple, quick and easy plan themselves,” Hurst says.
“We agree that higher-risk farms may need more detailed plans, but there’s absolutely no point putting low-impact farms through the wringer.”
The third bottom line is that, while farm plans should be auditable, not every plan should be audited.
“Many farming activities are currently low-risk and don’t require consents or ongoing oversight,” Hurst says.
“Requiring those activities to have a farm plan, and then auditing that plan, will put in place expensive red tape for absolutely no environmental gain.
“It will waste time and money that could be put to far better use improving the environment rather than just ticking boxes and shuffling paper.”
Hurst says certification may make sense for higher-risk activities if it replaces the need for a consent, but routine auditing of every farm sends the wrong message.
“Audit-everyone systems don’t create a high-trust environment. They simply create a box-ticking culture and get farmers offside, rather than driving better outcomes.”
Federated Farmers is instead advocating for a model similar to the tax system.
“That means everyone is expected to do the right thing, but only some are audited, either randomly or where non-compliance is suspected.
“That’s a fair, practical approach that farmers can understand.”
The fourth bottom line is that existing farm plans must be recognised.
“Many farmers already have plans in place through industry programmes or local catchment groups,” Hurst says.
“Farmers have put real time, thought and money into these plans because they care about water quality.
“They shouldn’t be punished for being proactive or early adopters.”
Federated Farmers wants existing plans that meet minimum standards to be recognised as equivalent.
“Forcing farmers to start again from scratch would be a completely unjustifiable waste of time and money,” Hurst says.
While the detailed regulations are still to come, Hurst says expectations are clear.
“Farm plans must be tailored to risk and, for higher-risk farms, should become a genuine one-stop shop that replaces permits and consents.
“That’s how farm plans can actually work.”
Federated Farmers has put these four non-negotiables to the Government in its submission on the RMA reform, which you can read in full here: https://fedfarm.org.nz/Web/Policy/Submission/2026/February/Submission-on-the-NEB-Bill-and-Planning-Bill.aspx

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/legislation-four-bottom-lines-for-a-workable-farm-plan-system-federated-farmers/

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NRL kicks off in Vegas this weekend

Source: Radio New Zealand

National Rugby League players Spencer Leniu (3rd L), Billy Walters (5th L), Aaron Woods (C) and Campbell Graham (3rd R) pose with Las Vegas showgirls, an Elvis impersonator and Fijian warriors. Vegas Promo Tour at Allegiant Stadium on December 12, 2023. David Becker

The National Rugby League competition kicks off on Sunday in Las Vegas, with four teams making the trip to start the season – the Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Dragons.

This is the third year the NRL has taken its first round to Las Vegas to put on a showpiece for the American market.

But it’s also round one of 27 to try and make it to the much-coveted grand final.

Bulldogs winger Marcelo Montoya said they still needed to focus on the result.

“For us it’s important that we get the two points,” he said.

“I know we’re going there to play and it’s exciting but at the top of our minds when we go there – the two points is what’s important for us.”

The Bulldogs play the Dragons in Vegas, after the Knights and Cowboys open season 2026 at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium.

It’s a long way from home for all of the teams, but some fans are expected to follow them over to Sin City.

Knights centre Dane Gagai said Newcastle fans tended to come out of the woodwork in most places.

“Knights fans turn up everywhere,” he said.

“No matter where you go, up north Queensland, they’re just everywhere, so I’m sure we’re going to have a fairly good turnout over in Vegas.

“I know people have already got their tickets and they’ve been mentioning that they can’t wait to get over there and watch us play, so hopefully we cannot disappoint.”

The Vegas season opener was introduced to the NRL in 2024.

On offer this week have been the Las Vegas Nines, a signing session, a school gala, and OzFest, and Scotland will play the USA in a triple header – the under-19 youth teams, the women’s sides and the men’s teams – at Cougar Stadium.

Super League teams Hull and Leeds will kick off the match day, which is Saturday local time, Sunday for most of the Pacific.

Game one of the new season kicks off at 1:15pm on Sunday (AEDT) – Knights versus Cowboys.

Now-retired Cowboy Chad Townsend told the NRL’s Game Plan show about the players to watch in his old team.

“For me the keys to attack for the North Queensland Cowboys… Scott Drinkwater… led the Cowboys in line-break assists and try assists last year.

“Tom Deardon – obviously the show-and-go we know is elite, defensively very sound, great leader; and Jaxon Purdue.”

After the Vegas games, the remainder of round one continues in Australia – and in Auckland, for the Warriors hosting the Roosters – from 5-8 March.

The Broncos are the defending champions. They also made it to the final of the World Club Challenge earlier this month, but lost 30-24 to Hull.

The Broncos will face the Panthers in the first round.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/nrl-kicks-off-in-vegas-this-weekend/

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Woman murdered in random attack on an Auckland bus was stabbed roughly 20 times

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bernice Louise Marychurch was described as a loving, beautiful and devoted mother. (File photo) Facebook

Content warning: This story contains graphic violence, which some readers may find upsetting

How a random and deadly stabbing on a bus began with a search for methamphetamine has been revealed in court documents.

Bernice Louise Marychurch was killed in October 2024 after she was stabbed roughly 20 times on the Number 74 bus in Onehunga.

There were nine other people onboard the bus at the time.

The man charged with her murder, 38-year-old Kael Leona, handed himself in to police shortly after.

Kael Leona at an earlier court appearance. (File photo) RNZ / Lucy Xia

He previously plead not guilty on grounds of insanity but at a hearing at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday, Leona entered guilty pleas to murder and strangulation.

He was expected to go to trial in a matter of weeks, but would now be sentenced in May.

Court documents released to RNZ detailed the brutal extent of the murder.

Leona and Marychurch met outside of a Woolworths in Onehunga on the morning of October 23, 2024. The pair did not know each other before then.

They boarded a bus to Panmure, in search of methamphetamine. When neither of them could find the drugs there, they and an associate went to Point England where they ultimately found someone to sell them a point bag of meth.

They consumed it soon after before travelling to Glen Innes.

Leona boarded a bus just after 2pm at the same time as Marychurch, who sat down in the left rear corner of the bus while Leona followed her, sitting at the right rear corner.

The bus in Onehunga following the murder. (File photo) RNZ / Lucy Xia

Court documents said Leona was agitated, “continually rocking backwards and forwards, from left to right,” and tried at times to speak to Marychurch.

Marychurch was on her phone, with headphones on, for the majority of the bus ride and did not respond.

As they travelled along Church St in Onehunga, court documents said Leona became increasingly more agitated.

Just before 2.30pm, he drew a knife from his bag.

Leona moved across the seat to Marychurch and began stabbing. He pulled her to the right and “plunged the knife into her upper back.”

She fell to the floor, where Leona stabbed her a number of times.

An image police released of Kael Leona before he handed himself in. (File photo) Supplied

Her face was slashed, cutting her ear in half and causing a deep wound down the left side of her face to her lower jaw.

Passengers yelled at the bus driver to stop and open the doors.

“Some passengers, fearing for their safety, exited the bus,” documents said.

Marychurch tried to defend herself by raising her knees to her body, before Leona pushed them aside and drove his knife into her stomach.

She also suffered wounds on her hands trying to block the knife strikes.

Marychurch was stabbed roughly 20 times.

She was taken to hospital where she died of her injuries.

Flowers left for Marychurch. (File photo) RNZ/Nick Monro

A summary of facts said Leona twisted the knife around while stabbing.

As he left the bus stepping over Marychurch’s “prone” body, Leona focused on another passenger, following him for roughly 100 metres before the passenger evaded him.

Leona then made his way to a family address, where a relative took him for a walk.

He went to the property of a family friend, knocking loudly on the door and demanding keys to their car.

When the family friend refused, Leona ripped the screen door off its frame and threw it. He grabbed the friend and said “I will kill you” before putting his right hand over their nose and mouth, impeding her breathing.

The family friend managed to break free, when other members of Leona’s family arrived and told him to stop.

He was caught on CCTV around Mount Wellington afterward.

The next day, Leona changed clothes at a store in the central city, leaving without paying, and caught a bus to North Shore where he handed himself in to police.

In a social media post following the murder, Marychurch was described as a loving, beautiful and devoted mother.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/woman-murdered-in-random-attack-on-an-auckland-bus-was-stabbed-roughly-20-times/

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Speech to Local Government Meeting

Source: New Zealand Government

Thank you to LGNZ for the opportunity, and thank you to the mayors, chairs, and councilors for putting your names forward to serve your communities. It’s not meant to be glamorous, it’s often thankless, but it really matters because you can’t have representative democracy without representatives.

Just like democracy doesn’t work without representatives, it also needs informed voters. That brings me to the Regulatory Standards Act.

At its heart, it is an information device. It is a codified declaration of how a regulation affects citizens. It is designed to help political markets function, by letting voters understand the impact of their representatives’ regulations. 

We take a wide view of regulation. Some people mean a specific category of secondary legislation. We mean any instrument constraining the use and exchange of private property, including bylaws.

It will be law in a few months, by July 1 at the latest, and from that time it will require Consistency Accountability Statements by Councils making bylaws.

A Consistency Accountability Statement asks and answers basic questions about how a new law affects citizens liberties and property rights. What problem is the council trying to solve? What is the cost of the solution? What are the benefits? And who do those costs and benefits accrue to?

To make the Statements credible and meaningful, they can be reviewed by the Regulatory Standards Board, so there is an incentive to maintain quality.

Over time, the publication of Consistency Accountability Statements is designed to drive out poor regulation by making it easier for voters to identify it, and the people responsible.

The Regulatory Standards Act is designed to address New Zealand’s major problem with productivity. At the moment, after a period of inflation, productivity is appearing as affordability. Nonetheless, affordability and productivity are two sides of the same coin low productivity means less to buy and less income to buy it with. 

The average rates bill has increased 43 per cent since 2022. You lump that in with the things that are out of your control, like energy, food and petrol, and you can understand why people are so jaded. 

Councils are both the victim and the perpetrator of poor regulation. So many of the costs you face from earthquake strengthening to temporary traffic management are the result of regulation. You also place a lot of cost on ratepayers in your jurisdiction. Councils and ratepayers both have a vested interest in improving the standard of regulation.

Bad regulation doesn’t just cost money. It stops good things from happening. Property developers abandon proposals that would ease the housing crisis because of ballooning regulatory costs. Community parades disappear under the weight of compliance costs, even when nothing’s gone wrong before. The climbing wall at Sir Edmund Hillary’s old school has signs put up saying don’t climb. 

Here’s what we can do – less. Central Government and Local Government both have a shared responsibility to inflict fewer costs on people. Preventing bad regulation which sucks up time and money is one of the best places we can start.

Central Government isn’t shirking responsibility. We’re finally getting rid of overzealous earthquake laws, methane reduction targets are being halved so farmers can keep on farming, health and safety laws are being overhauled to focus on critical risks. Thanks to resource management reform the number of consents required is expected to half. Meanwhile, peer reviewed analysis estimates that work by the Ministry for Regulation in its first 18 months will deliver a net public benefit of $280 million.

Even small regulations that might seem inconsequential add up. For example, council dictates that Wellington public transport can’t advertise alcohol or food high in sugar and salt. Meanwhile, passengers walk past advertisements for vodka cruisers delivered by uber inside the station. Instead of raising fares or putting more costs on ratepayers, it could be that a needless ban on advertising is preventing the service from being efficient. 

I’m sure there are countless examples like this. The Regulatory Standards Act is going to be the mechanism which levels the playing field between the overzealous regulator, and the regulated party.

How does it work? The Regulatory Standards Act requires certain laws to be tested against long-standing legal principles and to have the benefits and costs assessed. As an information device, it doesn’t prevent a Council passing a law, it does require you to do it more transparently than ever before.

Once part 2 of the Act comes into force, councils will generally need to prepare and publish a Consistency Assessment Statement, a CAS, whenever they make or amend secondary legislation, unless the instrument is specifically excluded.

The Act also creates a pathway for classes of existing secondary legislation to be brought into scope later, by notice – but only where that notice is affirmed by Parliament. 

Councils won’t be expected to go back and write CASs for every existing bylaw by default. Existing secondary legislation only becomes a CAS obligation if it is captured through those mechanisms, or if a CAS already exists for it, or if councils later amend it in a way that triggers the requirements.

If a CAS identifies that a bylaw is inconsistent with one or more principles of responsible regulation, the Act doesn’t say “stop”. It says “explain”. The council must publish a brief statement explaining why the inconsistency exists. For example, because of a legitimate public safety objective. The point is transparency and discipline: if you depart from the principles, you do it consciously and you tell ratepayers why.

Councils will also need to get ahead of the curve by developing plans for regularly reviewing the secondary legislation that falls within scope. This is not meant to be a one-off compliance exercise, but an ongoing habit of keeping rules up to date, proportionate, and justified.

These requirements will start on a date set by Order in Council. And if anything hasn’t commenced before then, the Act provides a backstop: any remaining parts come into force by 1 July 2026.

A number of councils argued local government should be excluded and warned this will impose time and cost and make it harder to pass bylaws. Yes, that is the point, it will be harder to put costs onto ratepayers.

However, I don’t buy that councils don’t have the time to be transparent. Councils somehow find time to make declarations about foreign wars and climate change, invest in relationships with sister cities with no benefit to 99.9 per cent of their ratepayers, ban sugary advertising, and find time to reinvent themselves as Tiriti-centric organisations. Councils just aren’t in a position to argue they can’t file a Consistency Accountability Statement.

Let me offer a ratepayer’s perspective.

If your council can’t explain why a bylaw is necessary, can’t show it’s proportionate, and can’t justify the costs it imposes, then maybe it should be harder to pass.

The Ministry for Regulation is preparing support material to help councils implement the Act, including statutory guidance issued by the Minister for Regulation and the Attorney-General, and non-statutory guidance, such as templates, to make CASs easier and more consistent.

And one more practical point: there has sometimes been confusion about what counts as “secondary legislation”. The definition sits in the Legislation Act 2019. Bylaws are in scope, and so is any other instrument made by a local authority or council-controlled organisation that has significant legislative effect. If ratepayers are paying for it, and it materially affects their lives, they deserve clarity about it.

Now if all of that sounds boring, good. Responsible governance isn’t fun and doesn’t involve thinking up new bylaws and regulations to scratch an electoral itch when it arises. 

Let me put this into perspective with something topical that I’m sure many of you are dealing with. Dog attacks, there’s been a brutal uptick in dog attack incidents and I know there is a lot of fear out there right now, rightly so. The pressure comes on to “do something”.

With every salient issue there’s a desire to find a solution that’s easy and wrong, which is what we’re trying to avoid. 

Bluntly the dogs causing issues are likely owned by gangs and degenerates – people who already ignore the rules. Councils would be wise not to perform any kneejerk regulating that actually just puts more cost or burden on the good dog owners. 

That’s the kind of moment where the Regulatory Standards Act helps. It forces you to ask: will this actually work? Who pays? Who gets punished? What’s the evidence? Is there a smarter option that targets the actual problem rather than the compliant majority?

When central or local government gets it wrong it’s the public that pays. We owe it to taxpayers and ratepayers to deliver better value, better service and fewer unnecessary regulations. 

That’s my challenge to you. But I’ll also offer this, we will help you implement this properly. We’ll provide guidance, templates, and practical support, because the goal isn’t to trip councils up but to lift the quality of decision-making across the board.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/speech-to-local-government-meeting/

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Seven rescued from Waikato River

Source: New Zealand Police

Seven people were successfully rescued from the Waikato River last night, after Police received reports of several people struggling in the water.

Around 7.20pm, Police were alerted to a group of four men who had decided to float from the control gates down to Hipapatua Reserve, otherwise known as Reids Farm.

The men only had basic inflatables and no life jackets.

Towards the end of the route, the group lost buoyancy, began to panic, and were heard calling for help.

Three people from a nearby tour group jumped into the river to assist the men, despite not having any flotation devices themselves.

Police arrived and were able to communicate with the now seven people in distress and contacted the Coastguard and Harbourmaster.

Using a jetboat and a jetski, Police, Coastguard and the Harbourmaster were able to rescue the seven people, who were hanging onto a tree.

Senior Constable of Taupō Police Barry Shepherd says the incident could have had a far more serious outcome.

“We want people to have fun and enjoy the outdoors but there’s a safe way to do it.

“While its admirable that people tried to help, we don’t want any dead heroes.”

The involved agencies responded quickly and were able to bring all seven people to safety by 8pm.

“I commend the Coastguard, Harbourmaster and my Police colleagues, whose quick thinking and coordinated response ensured these seven people were safely rescued.

This situation could have been drastically worse, and their actions prevented a potential tragedy.”

Police remind the public that for any water related emergency, always call 111 immediately.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/26/seven-rescued-from-waikato-river/

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Legislation – RMA reform at a crossroads for farmers – Federated Farmers

Source: Federated Farmers

A dark cloud is shading Matt and Tory Simpson’s optimism that a new dawn for land use regulation is around the corner.
Like thousands of other farmers, the owners of Ranui Station in Canterbury were delighted to hear pledges from the Government that resource management reform would reduce red tape, and balance environmental protection with property rights.
“It’s hugely disappointing to find the reality falls short of the rhetoric,” says Matt, who’s co-chair of Federated Farmers High Country.
“The two new bills are riddled with flaws and the select committee now has a mammoth task ahead to get things back on track.”
For the Simpsons, and many other landowners and businesses, it’s far more than just a desire for less paperwork, bureaucracy, hearings and expensive resource consents.
“Livelihoods are at stake,” Matt says.
“We look after nature and want to develop this place so it’s in good shape and a going concern for the next generation.
“We have high hopes the new resource management laws will help us combat the Outstanding Natural Landscape overlay restrictions on more than half the station, and other clamps on our ability to diversify income streams,” he says.
Last December the Government released two new bills – the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill – to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Federated Farmers has lodged a comprehensive submission on the bills, re-stating strong support for overhaul of the RMA.
“We absolutely back the goals and principles agreed by Cabinet,” Feds RMA Reform spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“Those include enabling primary sector growth, narrowing the scope of effects of the RMA, and greater use of national standards while reducing the need for resource consents.
“If you want that in less jargony terms – that means faster, better, more efficient processes and knocking on the head the trend of endless hearings, appeals and uncertainty.
“Unfortunately, somewhere in between the ambitions of Government MPs and drafting of the legislation, something has fallen over.”
A major concern is that, as currently written, instead of a farm plan replacing the need for a resource consent, a farm may need both.
“We see a risk of farmers facing more red tape under the Natural Environment Act than they presently do under the RMA,” Hooper says.
There are too many ambiguous, principle-based clauses in the two bills, which is likely to see continued expensive, time-consuming and litigious decision making, he says.
The environment bill fails to clearly rule greenhouse gas issues out of scope – despite these already being dealt with in other Acts – and the lack of a clear scope section and definition of effect also leaves the door open to intangible, hard-to-measure concepts such as the ‘mauri’ of water.
“Too much power is left in the hands of the Minister, under any future government, to impact the economy under National Policy Direction.
“And there’s still too much uncertainty over how farmers will access compensation for overlays and other restrictions on their property.
“We pushed hard for a risk-based approach to auditing and certification of farm plans but that’s also missing,” Hooper says.
Federated Farmers’ other concerns include the carry-over of aspects of outdated Water Conservation Orders from the RMA, lack of protection for stock drinking water, and inability to insure against inadvertent breaches of regulation.
Hooper says time pressure may be a reason for “too much drag and drop” of content from the RMA into the draft new legislation.
“The Government and officials worked hard last year to make a series of amendments to the existing RMA.
“These were important fixes that enabled farmers to get on with production.
“That took focus away from the two new bills, and perhaps in the back of their minds was the fact there would be a five-month long select committee process and chances to weed out flaws.”
But Hooper believes the select committee has a challenging task.
“Federated Farmers has already voiced its unwavering opposition to clauses in the Natural Environment Bill which enable the Minister to auction, tender, or levy water.
“Getting rid of these potential water taxes is probably quite easily handled with changes of wording.
“But for other parts, the bill is drafted holistically and it’s more like a spider’s web, with layer upon layer of clauses that are interactive with other clauses.
“It’s going to take a lot of effort to untangle it.”
Hooper says it’s vital the select committee works diligently, and that its members who represent the coalition Government stick up for the original goals of RMA reform: simplicity, efficiency, less cost and litigation.
“Quite frankly, they’re principles and goals that an elected representative of any political persuasion should defend.”
Notes:  You can find the Federated Farmers’ submission on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill here – https://www.fedfarm.org.nz/Web/Policy/Submission/2026/February/Submission-on-the-NEB-Bill-and-Planning-Bill.aspx  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/25/legislation-rma-reform-at-a-crossroads-for-farmers-federated-farmers/

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Tim Hortons® Singapore Marks Major Milestone with Official MUIS Halal Certification Ahead of the Festive Season

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – Tim Hortons® Singapore is pleased to announce that it has officially received Halal certification from the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) across all its existing restaurants islandwide. This significant milestone arrives at a momentous time, as the brand prepares to join the local community in celebrating the upcoming Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr festivities.

The attainment of the MUIS Halal mark, a global gold standard in Halal assurance, reaffirms Tim Hortons’ commitment to making its offering available to everyone. Since its debut in Singapore, the iconic Canadian coffee house has been a neighbourhood destination for all. With this certification, the brand’s full suite of signature coffee, iced beverages, sandwiches, and freshly baked treats is now accessible to the Muslim community, offering a new destination for family gatherings.

Fostering Connection in Singapore’s Multicultural Landscape

In Singapore’s unique multicultural landscape, dining is more than just a meal, it is a bridge between cultures. By securing official MUIS certification, Tim Hortons® strengthens its promise to provide a welcoming environment where every guest can gather with absolute peace of mind.

At Tim Hortons, we believe the best experiences are those that bring people together. Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr are seasons defined by reflection, gratitude, and the spirit of sharing. We are honoured to receive this certification at such a meaningful time, allowing Tims to be a part of our guests’ festive traditions. Whether it is a cozy spot for Iftar or sharing our signature treats during Eid visits, we are delighted to be a part of your celebrations.

Elevating the Festive Table: An Expanded Range of Offerings

With the MUIS Halal seal, guests can now explore the full breadth of the Tim Hortons® menu, featuring a diverse array of flavours suited for both daily indulgence and festive hosting:

  • Hearty Iftar Options: For those looking to break their fast with a satisfying meal, our Signature Grilled Sandwiches, including the fan-favourite Pesto Chicken and the iconic Montreal Beef Pastrami, provide a warm and wholesome option.
  • The Ultimate Festive Treats: Our world-famous Timbits® and handcrafted Assorted Donut boxes are the perfect addition to any festive spread. These bite-sized treats are

ideal for sharing during family gatherings and as gifts when visiting loved ones during communal Iftar gatherings and during the Hari Raya season.

  • Handcrafted Beverages: Guests can enjoy our 100% Premium Arabica coffee, including the legendary Maple Cinnamon Latte and the Montreal Latte, as well as our signature Frappe Iced Beverages (Iced Capps®) and a variety of espresso-based lattes and non- caffeinated refreshing drinks, all prepared under strict Halal-certified protocols.
  • Savory Selection: The menu also features a range of made-to-order sandwiches, bagels and bakes, offering a variety of fresh and flavourful choices for any time of day.

Uncompromising Standards of Quality and Integrity

The journey to MUIS Halal certification involved a comprehensive and rigorous audit of the entire Tim Hortons® operational ecosystem. This included a meticulous review of the supply chain, ingredient sourcing, and kitchen preparation processes. This achievement ensures that the high-quality standards Tim Hortons® is known for globally, are harmonized with the stringent religious and food safety requirements of MUIS.

A Commitment to Future Growth

As Tim Hortons® continues to expand its footprint across Singapore, where it currently operates 17 stores, this certification is a pillar for all future outlets. The brand looks forward to opening more doors across the island, ensuring that the “Tims” experience remains accessible to all Singaporeans.

http://www.timhortons.sg/
https://www.facebook.com/timhortonssingapore/
https://www.instagram.com/timhortonssg/
https://www.tiktok.com/@timhortons.sg

Hashtag: #TimHortons

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/23/tim-hortons-singapore-marks-major-milestone-with-official-muis-halal-certification-ahead-of-the-festive-season/

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Government awards primary sector student scholarships

Source: New Zealand Government

Six tertiary students have been awarded scholarships as part of efforts to support farmers and growers on-the-ground, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard have announced.

“This Government is backing the sector by supporting the next generation of on-farm advisers,” Mr McClay says.

“Our On Farm Support Science Scholarships are an important part of our efforts to ensure the sector can provide specialised on-the-ground expertise and advice for farmers and growers.

“The successful programme has already started producing the next generation of advisers with four of the inaugural 2024 recipients having secured roles.”

The 2026 scholarships went to students enrolled in agricultural science, commerce, or environmental sustainability degrees.

The recipients were Lincoln University students Cameron Brans, Jack Green, Eibhlin Lynch, and Fraser Wilson, Massey University student Ella Hogan, and University of Canterbury student Cecily Holland. Each will receive $5,000 for the year. They have an interest in dairy, sheep, beef, horticulture, and arable production.

“Recipients in the scholarship programme are also mentored by members of the Ministry for Primary Industries On Farm Support team, providing hugely beneficial experience and networking opportunities,” Mr Hoggard says.

“Farm advisers have a vital role to play in providing on-the-ground support to farmers and growers. These students are the future of the advisory sector and will help keep our food and fibre sector thriving.”

Note to editors:  
Biographies of the successful scholarship recipients can be found below.

Name: Cameron Brans
University: Lincoln University 
Degree: Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
Home region: Waipawa, Central Hawke’s Bay
Background: Cameron has an interest in sustainable meat and arable production and diversification on-farm. He’s seeking a career in an advisory role that combines scientific and business aspects of agriculture.

Name: Jack Green
University: Lincoln University
Degree: Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons)
Home region: Auckland
Background: Jack has been on an exchange at Cornell University (US) for a semester. His study in 2026 will focus on the growing complexity of data and software on New Zealand dairy farms. He’s seeking a career in agri-tech and farm consultancy.

Name: Fraser Wilson
University: Lincoln University 
Degree: Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
Home region: Gore, Southland
Background: Fraser was raised on a sheep and beef farm and is most interested in the sheep industry. He’s seeking a career in rural banking, agribusiness, and has a long-term goal of farm or agri-business ownership.

Name: Eibhlin Lynch
University: Lincoln University
Degree: Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons)
Home region: Whanganui
Background: Eibhlin was raised on a dairy, sheep and beef farm. She’s been on an exchange at University College Dublin in Ireland to learn how the country is tackling similar environmental challenges and consumer pressures within the agricultural sector. She’s seeking a career in farm advisory combining science and rural services.

Name: Ella Hogan
University: Massey University
Degree: Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Home region: Dannevirke
Background: Ella is passionate about supporting the sheep and beef sector through science-based advisory work. She is interested in connecting research and policy with practical farm management to help farmers build resilient, sustainable businesses.    

Name: Cecily Holland
University: University of Canterbury
Degree: Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability
Home region: Wellington
Background: Cecily is interested in horticulture, regenerative agriculture, and helping growers adapt to climate change and improve soil health. She’s seeking a career to work as a sustainability consultant or adviser.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/20/government-awards-primary-sector-student-scholarships/

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The llamas keeping sheep safe at Auckland’s Ambury farm

Source: Radio New Zealand

On a sunny weekday at lunchtime, Ken, Drick, and Lamar are working hard.

Grazing on grass, and occasionally lifting their heads to check the surroundings.

But don’t be fooled by their languid behaviour – they’re actually top notch security guards.

Park ranger Millie Law has been looking after the llamas.

Ke-Xin Li

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/20/the-llamas-keeping-sheep-safe-at-aucklands-ambury-farm/

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Fonterra provides Farmgate Milk Price and earnings update

 Source: Fonterra

  • Fonterra expecting to distribute Mainland Group earnings as special Mainland dividend
  • Fonterra confirms FY26 forecast earnings guidance from continuing operations
  • Fonterra lifts 2025/26 season forecast Farmgate Milk Price midpoint from $9.00 per kgMS to $9.50 per kgMS

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd has today lifted its forecast Farmgate Milk Price for the 2025/26 season and narrowed its forecast range.
 
The midpoint has increased from $9.00 per kgMS to $9.50 per kgMS, with the forecast range lifting and narrowing from $8.50-$9.50 per kgMS to $9.20-$9.80 per kgMS.
 
CEO Miles Hurrell says the Co-op has been able to make these changes based on recent improvements in global commodity prices combined with Fonterra’s well contracted sales book.
 
“As we have seen, global dairy prices have been volatile across the season. Following the declines at the end of 2025, prices have lifted in the last four Global Dairy Trade events.
 
“Global milk production remains above seasonal norms, meaning the risk of further volatility in pricing remains. As such, we continue to take a balanced approach with our Farmgate Milk Price forecast.
 
“Our team is focused on enhancing returns for farmer shareholders through the Farmgate Milk Price and earnings, by delivering on our strategy,” says Mr Hurrell.
 
Update on Mainland Group earnings
 
Fonterra is today advising that it intends to pay out 100% of underlying earnings generated by Mainland Group during FY26 while still under Fonterra ownership.
 
The earnings will be distributed through a special Mainland dividend payment to shareholders and unit holders following the completion of the sale to Lactalis.
 
“We are currently finalising our interim accounts and can indicate that we expect the special Mainland dividend to be in the range of 14-18 cents per share, which reflects the operating performance of the Mainland business during the first half of this year driven by ongoing cost management and favourable input commodity prices.
 
“This remains subject to the settlement date of the transaction and the finalisation of our financial statements and audit process.
 
“Fonterra’s FY26 forecast earnings guidance from continuing operations remains unchanged at 45-65 cents per share. It is intended that Fonterra’s dividend policy will be applied to these continuing earnings.  
 
“Our interim dividend from continuing operations will be confirmed when we release our FY26 interim results and an update on the special Mainland dividend will be given at this time,” says Mr Hurrell.
 
As previously indicated, Fonterra expects the transaction to be complete in the first quarter of the 2026 calendar year, subject to separation of the businesses from Fonterra and remaining regulatory approvals being received.
 
About Fonterra  
 
Fonterra is a co-operative owned and supplied by thousands of farming families across Aotearoa New Zealand. Through the spirit of co-operation and a can-do attitude, Fonterra’s farmers and employees share the goodness of our milk through innovative consumer, foodservice and ingredients brands. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to leaving things in a better way than we found them. We are passionate about supporting our communities byDoing Good Together.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/20/fonterra-provides-farmgate-milk-price-and-earnings-update/

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Backyard invention turns into hot property

Source: Radio New Zealand

A jerry-rigged backyard invention has turned into sizzling hot property for a retired farmer turned entrepreneur.

Alan Dyer has worked out a way to brown sausages evenly, ensuring they don’t roll around on the barbecue.

Using piece of wire, he shaped a device that keeps snags in place while they brown and then helps to roll them all over in an orderly fashion to crisp up the reverse side.

And so, the Sossbosser was born.

Having refined the culinary accessory, it’s now attracting international attention.

Dyer told Checkpoint that coming up with the Sossbosser was a light bulb moment.

“When I first had that unruly sausage floating around the barbecue, misbehaving, and I fashioned this U shape out of a piece of number 8 wire, yeah it was quite a ‘gotcha’ moment to see that renegade rollaway finally under control.”

Dyer said he got annoyed that he couldn’t put the sausage where he wanted it to go because it kept rolling back onto the side that was already cooked.

After he promoted the device on social media there was some international interest, he said.

After appearing on a Chicago TV channel and with the help of some viral videos, the number of people ordering Sossbossers skyrocketed, he said.

“At one stage there we had to actually shut the website down because we couldn’t handle it and I was a bit concerned about taking money off people and not being able to provide them with product … but anyway we got through that.”

One of the videos “baited the Aussies a bit”, he said.

“We told them, you know we’ve invented this and we invented the flat white and we invented a few other things and they kind of took a bit of umbrage at that.”

But that worked out because people engaged with the post and it ended up getting several million views, he said.

To cook a good sausage you need to cook it slowly so that it hardly sizzles at all and to cook it gently all the way around so it’s totally brown, he said.

“Do not pierce the skin because you want to retain all that juice in there, I mean that’s the flavour that the butcher’s gone to all that trouble to put in there.”

There should be no white stripes or “zebra sausages”, he said, because that meant they were only semi-cooked.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/backyard-invention-turns-into-hot-property/

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Fonterra farmers approve divestment capital return scheme

Source: Fonterra
 
Following today’s virtual Special Meeting, Fonterra can confirm that its farmer shareholders have approved the scheme of arrangement for the capital return that’s expected from the sale of its global Consumer and associated businesses.
 
98.85% of the total shareholder votes cast were in support of the capital return proposal, which was set out in the Notice of Meeting for the Special Meeting.
 
Today’s result means Fonterra can now seek final Court approval to undertake the capital return of $2.00 per share to shareholders and unit holders, subject to the divestment of Mainland Group to Lactalis being completed.
 
Fonterra expects the transaction to be complete in the first quarter of the 2026 calendar year, subject to separation of the businesses from Fonterra and provided the remaining regulatory approvals are received within the expected timeframes.
 
Once these steps have been completed, the Co-operative will confirm the record date for the capital return, which will be within the five business days prior to the capital return payment being made to shareholders and unit holders.
 
About Fonterra  
 
Fonterra is a co-operative owned and supplied by thousands of farming families across Aotearoa New Zealand. Through the spirit of co-operation and a can-do attitude, Fonterra’s farmers and employees share the goodness of our milk through innovative consumer, foodservice and ingredients brands. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to leaving things in a better way than we found them. We are passionate about supporting our communities byDoing Good Together.  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/fonterra-farmers-approve-divestment-capital-return-scheme/