Six people died in the Mount Maunganui landslide.RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
A third investigation has been announced into the Mount Maunganui landslide, with WorkSafe launching an official investigation into work health and safety at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park in the lead up to the landslide on 22 January.
Retired High Court judgePaul Davison, KC, was leading an external review for Tauranga City Council into the deadly landslip.
The Prime Minister had also appointed National Party Minister Chris Penk to advise Cabinet on the possible scope of an inquiry into the fatal disaster.
WorkSafe’s central regional manager Nigel Formosa said the agency had taken time to be clear about what sat within their remit.
“Our investigation will focus on work‑related matters prior to the landslide,” he said.
WorkSafe would establish whether there had been a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 by businesses and organisations related to the operation of the holiday park. This would include technical expertise and gathering information from a range of sources.
“Our team is focused on understanding the decisions and circumstances that shaped the work environment at the holiday park before the landslide. We’re committed to carrying out a careful, methodical investigation that stays grounded in evidence and the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, for the victims and their whānau. This will take time, but it’s important we complete a thorough investigation,” Formosa said.
WorkSafe said it had already started to engage with Tauranga City Council as the operator of the holiday park. The roles of other parties would also be considered in the coming months.
WorkSafe investigations could take up to 12 months from the date of an incident. Given the amount of information and technical expertise involved, the agency said it expected the investigation to take a full year.
WorkSafe New Zealand has now officially begun an investigation into work health and safety at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park in the lead up to the landslide on January 22.
It follows completion of the recovery operation by Police on 1 February.
“We have taken time to be clear about what sits within our remit. Our investigation will focus on work‑related matters prior to the landslide,” says WorkSafe’s central regional manager, Nigel Formosa.
WorkSafe will establish whether there has been a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 by businesses and organisations related to the operation of the holiday park. This will include engaging technical experts and gathering information from a range of sources.
“Our team is focused on understanding the decisions and circumstances that shaped the work environment at the holiday park before the landslide. We’re committed to carrying out a careful, methodical investigation that stays grounded in evidence and the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, for the victims and their whānau. This will take time, but it’s important we complete a thorough investigation,” says Nigel Formosa.
The post-recovery scene of the landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.
WorkSafe has already started to engage with Tauranga City Council as the operator of the holiday park. The roles of other parties will also be considered in the coming months.
This health and safety investigation is independent from both the Government inquiry and Tauranga City Council’s external review which have recently been initiated.
WorkSafe investigations can take up to 12 months from the date of an incident. Given the amount of information and technical expertise involved, we expect this investigation to take a full year.
WorkSafe would like to thank New Zealand Police for their ongoing support. We’ll continue to work closely with them as we carry out our respective roles.
About WorkSafe New Zealand
WorkSafe New Zealand is the country’s primary regulator for health and safety at work. Our role is to influence businesses and workers to meet their responsibilities to ensure work is healthy and safe. We provide guidance, investigate serious incidents, and take enforcement action when necessary. We work with businesses, workers, and industry to reduce work-related harm and ensure all New Zealanders return home safely.
Construction is now underway on a rapid‑build inpatient ward at Nelson Hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“The 28‑bed ward will allow services to be relocated while major redevelopment work progresses at Nelson Hospital, including seismic strengthening of existing buildings,” Mr Brown says.
The project involves around four months of off‑site construction alongside approximately six months of on‑site works.
“Running these stages in parallel accelerates delivery, maintains high quality standards, and limits disruption to daily hospital operations.
“Once operational, the ward will boost inpatient capacity, easing current bed pressures and improving patient flow while Nelson’s permanent inpatient building is completed.”
The Nelson ward is the next step in the rollout of five rapid‑build wards being delivered nationwide through the Government’s accelerated hospital wards programme. With Hawke’s Bay already underway, the programme is focused on quickly increasing inpatient capacity and improving patient flow, supported by a $90 million Budget 2025 allocation that will add 140 new beds across key hospitals next year.
“These rapid‑build wards can be delivered more quickly and at lower cost than traditional builds, enabling us to expand hospital capacity where demand is greatest. Off‑site construction allows faster delivery, better cost control, reduced disruption for hospitals, and earlier benefits for patients and staff.
“Investing in modern, purpose‑built infrastructure is about supporting better care and ensuring patients remain at the centre of every decision. This new ward will strengthen services across Nelson Marlborough and help ensure people can access the care they need, close to home,” Mr Brown says.
A study of people living with HIV has revealed that despite advances in HIV treatment, criminalisation continues to create uncertainty and distress, with 60% of people living with HIV fearing legal consequences and many avoiding relationships altogether.
The full study and its findings will be released at a public event on27 February at3 pmat theEllen Melville Centrein Auckland, by Positive Women, Body Positive, Toitū te Ao and Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
The study surveying 247 people living with HIV in New Zealand, highlights the urgent need for rules and practice to align with modern HIV science. Over half of participants reported anxiety about legal consequences, particularly around disclosing HIV or discussing sexual practices with healthcare service providers.
“This shows that people living with HIV want to see HIV transmission managed by Public Health authorities, and not the Police. We have one of the highest rates of HIV criminalisation per capita globally, with at least 14 prosecutions since 1993,” says Liz Gibbs CEO of Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
“The Government’s decision to sign the U=U Call to Actionat Big Gay Out 2026 is a great first step in bringing New Zealand into line with overseas best practices on how to manage HIV.”
U = U stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). It means that a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to sexual partner(s).
“Currently people living with HIV may face prosecution under the Crimes Act for HIV non-disclosure to their sexual partners (unless they are using a condom), even if they are on treatment with an undetectable viral load and therefore pose zero risk of transmission,” says Gibbs.
A new travel option that enables eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors to cross the ditch to New Zealand visa free is bringing in a considerable boost in tourism and revenue, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston say.
“In December, we announced that 13,000 Chinese and Pacific travellers had already visited, with 24,000 total requests approved. After two months, that number has now almost tripled to 36,800 visits, along with 54,000 requests approved,” Ms Stanford says.
“With average visitor spend at $5,800 for Chinese visitors, according to the International Visitor Survey, that amounts to an estimated economic injection of $210 million for Kiwi businesses from those who have visited, with Chinese visitors making up around 36,200 of visits through the new pathway.
“We are committed to supporting Kiwis businesses to thrive, and these results, which boost our wider tourism sector. Tourism is our second largest export and it is fantastic to see results which boost our wider tourism sector.”
“Everybody wants the chance to visit and experience New Zealand, and through our change to allow more people to visit through visa-free travel from Australia, it appears to be a no-brainer.”
Ms Stanford says the change that was introduced was a deciding factor in people visiting New Zealand – 85 percent of Chinese travellers and 82 percent of Pacific travellers surveyed said they travelled here specifically because of the new NZeTA option.
Ms Upston says this is already bringing in a sizeable boost in revenue across the country, and in particular our key tourism regions.
“Visitor spending is going directly into local businesses. That includes shops, eateries, accommodation, and tour operators – and this is spending which may not have come into New Zealand prior to the change. This is all part of our Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future.
“The South Island remains extremely popular, with 67 percent of Chinese and Pacific visitors arriving at an international airport in the South Island to start their travels.
“The travel changes we’ve made are reflective of this Government’s stance – we back Kiwi businesses and we back our regions. We are relentlessly focused on making smart, commonsense, and sometimes simple changes, which bring big value for New Zealanders.”
Notes to editor:
Since November, eligible Chinese and Pacific Island Forum passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia no longer need to obtain a Visitor Visa . Instead, they can apply for a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) as part of a 12-month trial.
Instead of spending $441 and waiting an average of 4 days, individuals from China travelling via Australia can pay as little as $117 and have their application for an NZeTA processed in 24 hours. Individuals from the Pacific can pay as low as $17 instead of spending $216 and waiting an average 6 days for a visitor visa.
Salvage crew survey the wreckage of Black Foils’ Amokura boat at New Zealand SailGP.James Gourley for SailGP
The Black Foils are drawing heavily on the strength of injured grinder Louis Sinclair as they come to grips with the horror crash that all but destroyed their F50 boat during New Zealand SailGP last weekend.
As the 13-boat fleet sprinted off the startline of Saturday’s third race, NZ driver Peter Burling seemed to lose control of Amokura’s rudder and swerved sharply into the path of France, whose boat ploughed over the top of bow, slicing it in two and leaving Sinclair with compound fractures in both legs.
He underwent surgery on the weekend and was pictured on social media overnight, leaving hospital on his own two feet.
“I just want to really commend Louis for how he’s handled himself throughout this whole incident,” Black Foils wing trimmer Blair Tuke said. “He’s been amazing really in true Louis fashion, and holding true to the values and characteristics we hope all our team members instil.
“Amazingly calm right from the first incident out on the water to the surgery in Auckland Hospital and as he comes out now for what will now be quite a long recovery back to full health.
“With his calm demeanour and unique sense of humour, he’s really brought strength to all of us through this time.”
The New Zealand team have spoken publicly for the first time since the high-speed crash that shocked thousands of spectators watching from the massive grandstand on Wynyard Point.
In happier times, the Black Foils, with Louis Sinclair second left, celebrate their SailGP victory at Portsmouth 2025.Jason Ludlow for SailGP
Team bosses Tuke and driver Burling are still processing exactly what happened in those fateful seconds before, during and after impact.
“We started off with a great two races, and were really enjoying the conditions and feeling comfortable in the boat,” Burling recalled.
“We started off race three and were going down reach one to windward of the Italian boat. We ended up high on the foil and ended up sliding sideways.
“We hit a system limit, which drastically escalated that situation, and had to take quite drastic action to avoid the Italian boat to leeward, which resulted in us touching down. Obviously, the incident followed that.”
Burling said once the spray had cleared, he could see his four crewmates safe, knowing strategist Liv Mackay was on the other side of the boat out of harm’s way.
Louis Sinclair leaves hospital, after surgery to compound fractures of both legs.Facebook/NZ SailGP Team
“At that stage, you’re thankful everyone’s safe, but very quickly we realised Louis had his legs stuck in the bottom of the cockpit and we can only commend Louis on his demeanour through that time.
“It was incredible to see someone in a situation like that remain so calm, and be such an instrumental part of telling us what he was feeling and where the pressure was, and getting the two boats apart.
“I think we can all learn a lot from Louis through this time and it’s pretty incredible to see the way he responded in the situation, but we’re also incredibly proud of the rest of our team and the way everyone came together in a tough situation, and the French team as well.
“They were dealing with situations on board, but definitely came straight to our aid.”
French strategist Manon Audinet sustained several abdominal bruising, when she was catapulted forward on impact, breaking the steering wheel. She is also under medical observation and is recovering well,
Burling has replayed the incident over and over in his mind, but has also had the benefit of a myriad other perspectives on the incident.
“The thing with SailGP is there are so many camera angles, all the audio and all the different aspects,” he explained. “It’s really nice in some ways to know that your memory of the whole situation was pretty accurate.
“It’s also interesting some things you didn’t see or weren’t concentrating on at the time, how everything unfolded.
New Zealand and France collide during New Zealand SailGP off Auckland’s Wynyard Point.Felix Diemer for SailGP
“It’s all part of the wider review process from here.”
New Zealand SailGP represented the first occasion all 13 teams raced on the water together, and other drivers suggested jamming that many boats onto the compact Waitematā Harbour course in tricky wind conditions probably didn’t help the situation.
Organisers responded by splitting the fleet into smaller heats on Sunday, increasing safety, but possibly detracting from the spectacle.
SailGP is still investigating the incident, but has already ruled New Zealand and France out of the Sydney regatta next week.
Inspections have confirmed Amokura’s central pod and port hull emerged relatively unscathed, and can be used to repair the damage to the French boat. Because they did not cause the impact, returning France to the startline will take priority.
Given the extent of damage to their boat, the Kiwis are probably waiting for completion of the next new boat, which SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts indicated could be June.
“From here, we’re still working out that exact path forward,” Burling said. “We definitely won’t be in Sydney and SailGP is still undertaking that wider planning process around when the Black Foils will be back on the startline.
“We’re having to play a little bit of a waiting game now.”
In the meantime, the mending continues.
“For the wider team, mental and physical health is paramount through this time,” Tuke said. “We’re just taking it day by day to make sure everyone is supported in the way that they need as individuals.
“It was a really horrific incident and how we manage our path back from here is really important.”
Designed as the next milestone in Infinix’s flagship journey, the NOTE 60 SERIES elevates the brand’s signature NOTE line with a sharper focus on flagship-class performance, expressive design, and immersive everyday experiences that go beyond expectations.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 February 2026 – At its annual flagship showcase, Infinix today unveiled the NOTE 60 SERIES, featuring the NOTE 60 Pro and NOTE 60—demonstrating a new chapter in delivering premium technology experiences to global users.
Infinix NOTE 60 Pro
Advancing design and performance within its class, the NOTE 60 Pro marks a significant milestone as Infinix’s first smartphone built on the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 Mobile Platform, delivering exceptional responsiveness and seamless multitasking that befits flagship-level performance.
It further elevates everyday experiences with an avant-garde Active Matrix Display that stays invisible when inactive, yet transforms into a dynamic interface for personalized interactivity, intelligent notifications, and on-screen entertainment—expanding what a smartphone can do in everyday life. Paired with a fluid 144Hz 1.5K Ultra HDR Cinematic Display and immersive SOUND BY JBL, the NOTE 60 Pro sets a new benchmark for premium multimedia experiences within its segment, proving that exceptional technology can be both powerful and pleasurable.
“NOTE 60 SERIES is our annual flagship showcase—an ‘all‑out’ blockbuster created with industry leaders,” said Tony Zhao, CEO of Infinix. “Embracing a whole-series 5G strategy, we are bringing together the best of performance, design, and entertainment—from our first NOTE powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., to premium design craftsmanship with Pininfarina, and immersive SOUND BY JBL. This ensures we deliver a pleasurable, fun experience that lets our global consumers actively enjoy the best modern technology.”
Performance Without Compromise with Snapdragon
The NOTE 60 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 Mobile Platform, delivering robust multitasking and exceptional gaming efficiency with up to 75%¹ faster CPU performance and 210%¹ improved GPU rendering compared to the NOTE 50 Pro. Infinix and Qualcomm Technologies have collaborated for the NOTE 60 Pro, integrating Infinix’s proprietary performance engine to fully harness the hardware’s capabilities. These optimizations deliver up to 25%¹ enhancement in multitasking performance, significantly faster app launch speeds, and a smoother, more stable experience when switching between apps during heavy use.
Powered by its strong Snapdragon chipset, the NOTE 60 Pro takes gaming performance even further, delivering smooth high‑frame‑rate gameplay across popular titles. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Honor of Kings run up to 120 FPS, ensuring ultra‑responsive, fluid action even during intense team battles. To maintain consistent performance, the NOTE 60 Pro also introduces an upgraded 3D IceCore Vapor Chamber cooling system featuring a 0.36 mm copper sheet that directs heat from the chipset to the vapor chamber, reducing temperature by up to 3 °C¹ during intense gaming for stable, sustained performance.
Active Matrix Display: Functionality Through Design
Featured on the back of the NOTE 60 Pro, the all-new Active Matrix Display represents a major design innovation for the NOTE SERIES.
This miniature, interactive LED interface stays invisible until activated, then instantly lights up to show smart notifications, animated pets, or mini-games. It enables at-a-glance information, versatile alerts, and moments of playful interaction. Users can personalize it with custom signatures, emojis, or dynamic patterns, giving users a creative outlet to express their personality and emotions, and turning the phone into a more emotionally connected personal companion.
Built around a robust one-piece frame of high-strength aluminum alloy with a refined micro-matte texture, the NOTE 60 Pro delivers a sophisticated, high-end feel while offering durable practicality and dependable IP64 protection² against dust, splashes, and everyday wear. Infinix NOTE 60 SERIES introduces multiple practical functions on the robust middle frame, including the new One‑Tap Button providing instant, customizable activation of Silent Mode or tools like the flashlight. It also features an industry-exclusive Advanced Health Monitor, providing proactive wellness tracking of key vitals like heart rate, blood oxygen, and long-term HRV to deliver actionable health insights.
Immersive Entertainment: A Stunning 1.5K Display Paired with SOUND BY JBL
The NOTE 60 Pro is engineered for an immersive, all-day comfortable audiovisual experience. It features a vivid 1.5K display with ultra-slim bezels, reaching 4500 nits peak brightness for visibility in any light and a 144Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth visuals. The display is designed for extended viewing comfort, featuring motion sickness prevention technology, which helps users stay comfortable while reading, watching videos, or gaming when commuting or traveling. Last but not least, NOTE 60 Pro is protected by durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i, and this visual excellence is complemented by a high-fidelity stereo sound system with SOUND BY JBL, to complete a truly compelling entertainment experience.
Capture Anything, Day or Night: The Pro-Grade Camera Setup
At the core of the Infinix NOTE 60 Pro’s imaging system is the exclusive 50MP OIS Night Master Camera, engineered to deliver crystal-clear photos and stable videos even in low light. Paired with a 112° ultrawide sensor, the system effortlessly captures everything from expansive landscapes to group portraits.
The device marks a major leap in imaging with Infinix’s first Ultra HDR pipeline, enabling full-chain HDR imaging, from capture and processing to display for brilliant, true-to-life photos. This high-end shooting mode preserves details in shadows and highlights that standard shots often miss, resulting in greater dynamic contrast range and rendering everything from daylight to neon with perfect clarity. Complementing this, the new Live Photo mode captures life as it happens and turns every photo into a vivid, pocket-sized memory.
Rounding out the professional imaging suite are intelligent features like 2x Lossless Portrait Zoom for studio-quality framing, 4K Ultra-Steady Video recording³ with creative filters, and the Infinix AI Studio for effortless, intelligent editing.
All-Day Power, Intelligent Care
The NOTE 60 Pro features a battery capacity up to 6500mAh⁴, a substantial 25%¹ increase over its predecessor. This provides ample power to support all-day browsing, messaging, and gameplay. To ensure power and performance are maintained in the long run, Infinix combines the increased energy density with an industry-first active healing system that automatically repairs internal battery materials in the long term, extending the battery longevity up to 200 cycles over time and ensuring at least 6 years of effective, hassle-free battery performance. The NOTE 60 Pro keeps you charged with 90W wired and 30W wireless⁵ charging. For the fastest wireless experience, an Infinix MagCharge phone case⁵ is included to guarantee perfect alignment. This gives you both the speed and the flexible convenience to power up seamlessly throughout your day.
Infinix NOTE 60: Flagship Implementation with Greater Accessibility
A design similar in high-end refinement to the NOTE 60 Pro’s graces Infinix NOTE 60, another 5G phone featuring a premium metal frame, a 1.5K Ultra HDR display at up to 144Hz, and exceptional battery capacity with advanced charging and longevity management. It’s built around the ultra-efficient MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultimate 5G mobile platform and delivers true 5G performance. The NOTE 60 sports many of the quality features common to the latest NOTE lineup, including Active Halo notification lighting, highly optimized system-level software, and the 3D IceCore Vapor Chamber cooling system. It retains the 50MP OIS Night Master Cam and Live Photo mode of NOTE 60 Pro, promising fun memory capture, editing, organization, and sharing with family, friends, and more.
Beyond “Pro”: Expanding the NOTE 60 SERIES
As a key step in its flagship journey, Infinix also previewed the NOTE 60 Ultra, marking a bold move into the premium segment. Designed by Pininfarina, the NOTE 60 Ultra introduces breakthroughs in form and delivers comprehensive upgrades in imaging, performance, and connectivity—representing the pinnacle of performance and experience within the NOTE 60 SERIES. More details about the NOTE 60 Ultra will be announced at a later date.
Demonstrating Infinix’s commitment to long‑term user support, the entire NOTE 60 SERIES comes equipped with the upgraded XOS 16, offering three generations of XOS platform upgrades and five years of security patches⁶. In addition, the whole series also supports eSIM connectivity⁷, providing users with greater flexibility and convenience in managing their mobile network experience.
Product availability
NOTE 60 Pro is available in five colors:* Mist Titanium, Solar Orange, Deep Ocean Blue, Mocha Brown, Frost Silver, Torino Black (Design by Pininfarina)*
It will be available in three variants:* 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB
NOTE 60 is available in five colors:* Mist Titanium, Rose Gold, Fizz Blue, Midnight Black, Mocha Brown
It will be available in two variants:* 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB
*Availability may vary by country/region. The Turino Black (Design by Pininfarina) will be released at a later date. Please consult local retailers and third-party shopping websites for more purchasing options.
*Available storage and RAM are less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software pre-installed on the device.
Price and availability vary between markets and sales channels. Please refer to the Infinix Official website for product availability and detailed regional sales information.
Disclaimer
Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
¹All data comes from Infinix laboratories. The testing data may vary slightly between different test versions and testing environments.
²The phone is dustproof and splash-proof under normal use. Under controlled laboratory conditions, its performance can reach IP64 level under IEC 60529 standard. Differences exist between real-life scenarios. Any damage caused to the phone by immersion in liquid is not covered under the warranty.
³Record at up to 4K 30 fps, with ultra-steady stabilization and a wide range of creative filters.
⁴Battery capacity and configurations may vary by market.
⁵MagCharge requires using the Infinix-branded magnetic attachment phone case.
⁶The specific XOS upgrade plan for each model will be announced separately. Please note that availability of this upgrade may be limited in certain countries.
⁷eSIM availability is carrier and region-dependent; it may not be supported in all countries.
Hashtag: #Infinix
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The peninsula remained under a state of emergency although State Highway 75 from Christchurch to Akaroa reopened on Wednesday afternoon and telecommunications were restored after widespread outages.
About 120 properties remained without power and at least 15 local roads were closed because of slips and flooding.
Kinloch farmer Tom Power said the “mental” rain caused the worst flooding he had ever seen.
Kinloch Road farm in Little River was flooded.Nathan Mckinnon
“I’ve never seen anything like it. It was predicted to be 100 millimetres or so and we ended up tipping out 430 millimetres in this catchment. It was chaos,” he said.
“I’ve never seen anything through Little River like that before and even up Okuti Valley, properties up there. It’s so widespread, it’s unbelievable.”
Power was dealing with stock losses as paddocks remained under water, with troughs and fences swept away and debris strewn across the property.
“We moved a lot of stock away to traditionally high areas that we’ve never seen go under water. We spent hours doing that beforehand and we were prepared for a lot of it, it was just the severity,” he said.
Flood damage in Little River.Nathan Mckinnon
“We’re still trying to get our head around what the damage is, to be fair, until the water goes away you don’t really know.
“People’s livelihoods have been well and truly affected by this, which is a crying shame.”
In Little River, Déjà New Preloved Goods owner Lisa Ashfield had cleared mud and silt from her shop with the help of firefighters – the second time her business had flooded in 12 months.
Flood damage at Deja New in Little River.Nathan Mckinnon
“I imagine this is probably the end of the shop,” she said.
“All of my furniture, my bookshelves, my storage units, people’s home-made jewellery, toys, books, clothes, furniture. Everything is just a mudbath,” she said.
“I was flooded in May last year, about 300 millimetres, over the top of your gumboots kind of level. This flood, unfortunately, was thigh-deep. All the preparation we did on Monday, raising everything off the floor, just wasn’t high enough,” she said.
Déjà New Preloved Goods Little River owner Lisa Ashfield said she’d been flooded twice in 12 months.Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ
Ashfield was now sorting through stock to work out what to throw in a skip.
Little River Cafe & Store owner Cameron Gordon also spent the day shovelling mud and silt from the building after water gushed in on Tuesday.
He said food from the chiller had to be thrown away and fridges and freezers would need replacing but he hoped to open the store by the end of the day and the cafe by the weekend.
Little River Cafe and Store.Nathan Mckinnon
Gordon was heartened by the support of locals who were helping to clean up the mess.
“They’re pretty keen to get the shop back going and get us up and running again. We got a lot of calls, a lot of messages overnight with people offering help, a lot of tools brought down, water blasters, squeegees and brooms and random people I haven’t met before. It’s great,” he said.
Gordon said the cafe had flooded five times, most recently last May when a foot of water washed through some businesses, but he had never seen flooding so bad in his 20 years living in the settlement.
He said water in Little River drained away quickly once Lake Forsyth was opened to the sea on Tuesday afternoon.
Outside the shop on Wednesday.Nathan Mckinnon
“If it was opened before this I think we would have had a lot less damage and probably a lower level through the building,” he said.
“[The council] seem to have their rules and their guidelines about how they monitor all that but it doesn’t seem to work for us. It seems to be the same story every year, with the same excuses every year as well.”
Living Streams Community Nursery co-ordinator Nicky Steinmetz said raging floodwaters had left a layer of silt over the plants, leaving a months-long clean-up job.
“Most of our volunteers will be really upset about what they see. It’s the small seedlings that will be most impacted, rather than the bigger plants. We’ll be able to wash those down, but it’s going to take forever,” she said.
Flood damage at Little River nursery.Nathan Mckinnon
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell and Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger visited Little River on Wednesday.
Mitchell told RNZ the flooding was worse than in May 2025.
“They’re in the middle of their summer season so we’ve got to do everything we can to support them and get them back on their feet as quickly as we can,” he said.
Boil water notices remained in place for Little River and Wainui.
Mauger said the water supply in Wainui was “absolute toast”.
The clean up inside the Little River Cafe and Store.Nathan Mckinnon
The council had sent Starlink WiFi devices to Akaroa and Wainui, although Chorus found and fixed a damaged fibre cable on a bridge that restored cell tower connections on Wednesday afternoon.
Students on two school trips who were stuck at Wainui and Ōnuku Marae had returned home.
Provisional figures from Earth Sciences New Zealand showed 243 millimetres of rain was recorded at its site in Akaroa in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday morning.
That was the highest 24-hour rainfall total for Akaroa in the month of February since records began in 1977, the organisation said.
Earth Sciences said Akaroa had received 316 millimetres of rain so far this month, making it the wettest February on record.
A newly discovered molecule shows promise for treating painful lymphoedema.
Scientists have made a breakthrough that could lead to effective treatments for lymphoedema, a painful swelling condition for which there is currently no cure.
Lymphoedema can be congenital or caused by an injury, but it mostly occurs as an unintended consequence following breast-cancer treatment.
It occurs when the lymphatic system, which moves fluid throughout the body via specialised vessels, is damaged, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues.
“Our group of researchers has discovered a new molecule and pathway that together promote lymphatic vessel growth,” says Dr Jonathan Astin, a senior lecturer in molecular medicine and pathology in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See Cell Reports.
“We initially made this discovery in zebrafish but have also shown that the factor works in human lymphatic cells.”
The scientists discovered the growth-promoting molecule, known as ‘insulin-like growth factor’, or IGF, accelerates the growth of lymphatic vessels in zebrafish, so has potential to repair damaged vessels.
They then worked with a University colleague, senior research fellow Dr Justin Rustenhoven, to grow human cells in the lab and found the IGF, could also ‘instruct’ human lymphatic vessels to grow.
“This work is of interest to the medical community as it provides an additional way to induce lymphatic vessel growth,” says Astin.
“This is especially important for people with lymphoedema. In Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 20 percent of women who have lymph nodes removed as part of breast-cancer treatment will develop lymphoedema, and currently there is no cure.”
There is another molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), that also promotes the growth of lymphatic vessels; the IGF molecule may work together with VEGF to promote the growth of lymphatic vessels, says Astin.
The work was conducted in Astin’s lab by then doctoral student Dr Wenxuan Chen and involved collaborations with Dr Kate Lee, Dr Justin Rustenhoven and Professor Stefan Bohlander, all in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, as well as a lab in the US.
“We use fish primarily because they’re very simple, but they’re still remarkably similar to us,” Astin says.
“The advantage of using fish is we can fluorescently label lymphatic vessels so that they glow and then image vessel growth in a whole larva or embryo and not impact its growth at all.
“We can just watch it grow, and things happen much quicker in a fish, because they develop much faster.”
The next step will be to test an IGF‑based therapy on mice with lymphoedema to see whether it helps.
Astin is cautious about promising too much but says this holds the potential to become a therapy for this painful, incurable condition in the future.
A first-of-its-kind health and rehabilitation centre has opened at Burnham Military Camp to support the health, wellbeing and operational readiness of New Zealand Defence Force personnel.
“Kiwis who put on the uniform put their lives on the line to defend and protect New Zealand and its people. They deserve the best support possible to proactively care for their minds and bodies, and to help them get back on their feet when they’re injured,” Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk says.
“The new Military Health and Performance Centre, Tû Manawa Ora, at Burnham Military Camp is the first combined health and rehabilitation facility across the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) estate, bringing together a broad range of services under one roof.”
The new facility includes:
Comprehensive medical treatment centre
Dental services
Physiotherapy, rehabilitation and performance spaces
Psychological resilience, pastoral care, social work and counselling services
Education, research, simulation and training facilities
Staff and logistics areas
Emergency response, including ambulance facilities
“Today’s opening represents a step forward in how the Defence Force looks after its people, setting a new standard for healthcare infrastructure across camps and bases,” Mr Penk says.
“Providing multi-disciplinary care will benefit both the prevention and treatment of health issues, ensuring Defence personnel are well supported during service and continue to thrive long after they leave the Force.
“Military healthcare professionals now also have a modern, fit-for-purpose environment that enables the delivery of high-quality health, rehabilitation and performance services, which in turn will improve retention and operational readiness across the Defence Force.
“Building the centre at Burnham, the largest military base in the South Island, reflects its strategic importance. The camp plays a key role in New Zealand’s national security system, supporting training, operational deployments, humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
“Completed in just 18 months, the $22 million project is a testament to the combined efforts of the Defence Estate and Infrastructure group, construction partner Hawkins New Zealand, and our Alliance partners Ernst & Young, GHD NZ and Beca.
“This new centre demonstrates to our Defence people that while they dedicate themselves to serving New Zealand, we are committed to ensuring they have the health, wellbeing and working environments they need to perform at their best.”
Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s proposal to fund two new combination therapies for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer.
“Improving access to cancer medication in New Zealand is important to cancer patients, and their families. That’s why it has been a focus of this Government,” Mr Seymour says.
Pharmac is proposing to fund venetoclax with ibrutinib, and venetoclax with obinutuzumab, as first line treatments from 1 May 2026.
“Pharmac heard from the Blood Cancer community and from clinical advisors that venetoclax with ibrutinib or obinutuzumab will make a big difference for people with CLL, especially when used at the beginning of treatment,” Mr Seymour says.
“While CLL isn’t curable, the right treatment means patients can live longer more fulfilling lives. Venetoclax with ibrutinib or obinutuzumab will help patients achieve longer lasting remission, and avoid the need for traditional chemotherapy. Two of these medicines will be available in pill form, which don’t require an IV drip and could mean fewer hospital visits
“Obinutuzumab will be the second cancer medicine available in private clinics. When Pharmac fund a new cancer treatment, people already paying for that treatment privately are forced to make a very difficult choice: spend their savings to continue private treatment undisrupted, or transfer to a public hospital. Patients told Pharmac the latter was hugely disruptive and caused significant stress during an immensely difficult period.
“People currently paying privately for these combinations could receive funded treatment in a private hospital, provided they met the funding criteria at the time they began treatment.”
Mr Brown says the Government is committed to improving treatment and care for New Zealanders with cancer, including blood cancer.
“That’s why this Government has funded seven new cancer medicines that target blood cancer through Pharmac’s $604 million investment – expanding treatment options for patients and their families.
“This announcement means more Kiwis with blood cancer will have access to medicines that improve their quality of life and help them live longer, fuller lives.
“We are also significantly expanding stem cell transplant services for patients with blood cancers and related conditions, helping more people access critical, life-saving treatment sooner.
“Alongside investment in new medicines, our Faster Cancer Treatment target, and wider efforts to strengthen cancer services, we are focused on improving access, reducing delays, and ensuring people get the treatment they need, when they need it.”
Two new medicines for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia could be on the way, with Pharmac proposing to fund venetoclax with ibrutinib or with obinutuzumab.
If accepted, the combination therapies could be available as first line treatments from 1 May 2026.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour said CLL was not curable, but the right treatment meant patients could live longer.
They would help patients achieve longer lasting remission and avoid the need for traditional chemotherapy, Seymour said.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour said the right treatment for people with CCL could help patients live longer.RNZ / Mark Papalii
He said Pharmac heard from the blood cancer community these combination therapies would make a big difference for people with CLL, “especially when used at the beginning of treatment”.
It comes after public backlash following Budget 2024 failing to include promised funding for more cancer drugs, forcing the government to subsequently announce an extra $604 million for Pharmac over four years.
Since then, the government has funded seven blood cancer drugs, but in September 2025 some blood cancer patients were still saying the government was breaking its promise on life-saving drugs.
Blood Cancer New Zealand said at the time only 180 patients benefited from that uplift, less than 1 percent of all New Zealanders with a blood cancer.
On Wednesday, Seymour said people currently paying privately for these combinations could receive funded treatment in a private hospital, provided they meet the funding criteria at the time they began treatment.
“These combination medicines will be the second and third cancer medicines available in private clinics.
“When Pharmac fund a new cancer treatment, people already paying for that treatment privately are forced to make a very difficult choice: spend their savings to continue private treatment undisrupted, or transfer to a public hospital,” Seymour said.
He explained that patients had told Pharmac it was hugely disruptive and caused “significant stress during an immensely difficult period”.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government was committed to improving treatment and care for New Zealanders with cancer, including blood cancer.
“This announcement means more Kiwis with blood cancer will have access to medicines that improve their quality of life and help them live longer, fuller lives.
“We are also significantly expanding stem cell transplant services for patients with blood cancers and related conditions, helping more people access critical, life-saving treatment sooner.”
Consultation opens on Wednesday, and closes Wednesday 4 March. If approved, funding would begin from 1 May 2026.
The Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora provides a weekly report to the Minister for Mental Health containing regular updates on the Ministry’s Mental Health work programme and other key information. The published weekly reports do not necessarily reflect the current status of the content.
In addition to the weekly reports published below, we also publish briefings and advice to the Minister for Mental Health, Minister of Health and Associate Ministers of Health, as well Cabinet material, including briefings to Ministers. These can be found on the Information releases page.
Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the Act that would apply have been identified. Where information has been withheld, no public interest has been identified that would outweigh the reasons for withholding it.
Key redaction codes:
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S 9(2)(b)(ii) where its release would likely unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied the information.
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Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for pharmacists employed by Health New Zealand, following a vote by members of the Association of Professionals & Executive Employees (APEX).
“I’m pleased for the approximately 300 pharmacists nationwide who will benefit from this agreement. It recognises the valuable work they do and the high level of skill and care they provide to patients and their families each day,” Mr Brown says.
“Importantly, it also helps provide greater stability for the workforce and supports the essential role pharmacists play in delivering services across our health system.”
The agreement also includes uplifts to professional membership contributions and other improvements to the collective agreement.
“This is another step toward building a more stable and supported pharmacy workforce that can continue delivering timely, quality care for New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says.
The agreement covers pay and conditions for pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and technicians.123RF
Pharmacists and Health New Zealand have reached an agreement on pay and conditions, with members of the union voting to accept HNZ’s latest offer.
Pharmacy Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX) members – which include pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and technicians – will receive a 2.5 percent salary increase from January 2026, and a two percent increase in 2027.
HNZ spokesperson Robyn Shearer said the health agency welcomed the decision, which would affect about 300 workers.
“We would like to acknowledge and thank APEX for its commitment to reaching this settlement.”
APEX represents pharmacy workers employed across Aotearoa, including those working for Te Whatu Ora and in private practice.
Senior advocate Denise Tairua told RNZ they began bargaining in mid-October, prior to their old agreement expiring in November.
“There’s a month between expiry and commencement,” she said. “It was an issue for the members, however, given some of the other things and improvements, it was a small timeframe not to receive back-dating.”
Other benefits included an increase in HNZ’s contribution to membership fees. It had been a longstanding practice for HNZ to cover less than the full cost of membership fees for various professional associations required for their work.
Those fees ranged from $200 to $500 annually, she said.
“There’s been a slight uplift in those, getting [HNZ’s contribution] nearer to that 80 percent.”
A pharmacy engagement group had also been formed, which would look at longstanding issues around safe staffing, monitoring the use of professional development funds, and the duration and frequency of on-call periods.
The bar for ratification was to exceed 50 percent. “We did have quite a good turnout, so a high percentage of members voted to ratify this agreement.”
“We’re quite pleased that this one didn’t drag on,” Tairua said. “What’s really important will be work we can do within the engagement group to look at longstanding issues.”
Earlier this month, the union also reached a settlement for its psychologists, with similar pay increases to the pharmacy agreement, affecting 670 workers.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop today welcomed the release of the National Infrastructure Plan and tabled it in Parliament.
“New Zealand’s future prosperity depends on high quality infrastructure. It is central to our quality of life and to the Government’s “Going for Growth” agenda,” Mr Bishop says.
“Delivering and maintaining better infrastructure is a key part of the Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future New Zealanders both need and deserve.
“Creating a 30-year plan for New Zealand’s infrastructure was a key campaign commitment for the National Party in 2023, and I asked the independent New Zealand Infrastructure Commission to begin work on it shortly after we formed government.
“The resulting National Infrastructure Plan, released today, sets out a 30-year view of how New Zealand can improve the way it plans, funds, maintains and delivers infrastructure. The final Plan follows consultation on a draft released last year and identifies four themes for change and 10 priority actions for the decade ahead.”
“The Plan does not sugar coat things: New Zealand has real challenges ahead.
“We spend a lot on infrastructure – around 5.8% of GDP annually over the last 20 years, one of the highest in the OECD – yet we rank towards the bottom for efficiency, and fourth to last in the OECD for asset management. Many central government agencies do not properly understand what they own or have long-term investment plans. The assurance system for new projects and long-term investments is fragmented and inconsistent.
“The Government has spent a lot of time in the last two years making a start on fixing the basics of our system, but there is a lot more to do. The Investment Management System has been strengthened, long-term investment plans are beginning to be developed, and Ministers are demanding higher quality information from agencies. We have launched a comprehensive programme of work to improve asset management in the public sector.
“On top of this, we have established National Infrastructure Funding and Financing to connect private capital with public projects, clarified roles and responsibilities across the system, published Funding and Financing Principles, updated guidance material for PPPs, and improved the quality and transparency of the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
“It is encouraging that many of the Commission’s top 10 priorities for the decade ahead (page 14) reflect work already underway by the Government:
Lifting hospital investment for an ageing population – Health New Zealand now has a long-term capital infrastructure plan, and this Government is providing record investment in both capital and maintenance spending for health.
Completing catch-up on water renewals and restoring affordability – The Local Water Done Well reforms are well underway, including stronger economic oversight.
Implementing time-of-use charging and fleetwide road user charges – Legislation enabling time of use pricing was passed last year, and the government is working with Auckland Council on scheme options. We have begun the transition to Electronic Road User Charges (E-RUC) across the transport fleet.
Prioritising and sequencing major land transport projects – the government will soon publish a Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
Managing assets on the downside and prioritising maintenance first – Phase 1 of the government’s Asset Management Work Programme has provided practical tools and guidance to agencies so that they can up their game in asset management. Phase 2 is about driving more fundamental changes to system settings.
Identifying cost-effective flood resilience infrastructure – The Government has developed a National Adaptation Framework to help reduce and manage the growing risks we face. The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) has invested nearly $200 million into 74 flood resilience projects across the country.
Committing to a durable resource management framework – The government has introduced legislation to replace the Resource Management Act with a more enabling and stable system, with spatial planning and national standards at its heart.
Upzoning around key transport corridors – the government’s housing and planning reforms are focused on enabling transport-oriented-development, particularly around the new City Rail Link stations.
Taking a predictable approach to electrification – we are focused on creating stable policy settings to unlock investment in electricity generation and transmission.
“The Plan contains a series of recommendations for long-term system shifts, including legislative change to require long-term investment and asset management plans, a consolidated assurance function for Ministers, and better linkages between the Commission’s assessment of long-term needs and fiscal strategy.
“We will be studying these recommendations carefully and the Government will publish a response to the plan in June 2026.
“As part of our response to the National Infrastructure Plan I intend to engage with other political parties in Parliament. Infrastructure Commission officials will make briefings available to parties who wish to take a deeper dive into the detail behind the recommendations, and I will be writing to Parliament’s Business Committee seeking time for a special debate on the Plan.
“Infrastructure lasts for generations. Where we can build durable consensus, we should.
“Fixing the basics and building the future of New Zealand infrastructure is central to lifting living standards and driving our prosperity. The National Infrastructure Plan is a great contribution to this shared agenda for everyone in New Zealand. Now it is up to all of us to do the hard work required to turn ambition into delivery.”
We’ve all heard the warnings about wet wipes and fatbergs but the kitchen sink is often where complacency creeps in. A splash of pan oil here or a rinse of leftover sauce there might seem harmless at first.
According to plumber Marc Brouwer, who has worked across Australia and New Zealand for 22 years, kitchen drain blockages are an everyday callout.
“It can range from the original plumbing that may have been installed, like the wrong pipe sizing. It can be due to old pipes… Then in most cases it’s all just self-inflicted, which is pouring oil down the sink.”
Dense oils and meat fats are a big culprit for blocked drains and pipes, says plumber Marc Brouwer.
Unsplash / Cooker King
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Nitrous oxide is used recreationally for a high that can cause serious side effects. File photo.AFP / BENJAMIN POLGE
The mother of a man who still has nerve damage more than a year after huffing nitrous oxide – and is no longer unable to work in construction – wants tougher regulation around nangs.
Health and community leaders are concerned about a surge in huffing – including in Hawke’s Bay, where hundreds of kilos of large discarded canisters have been collected. Two cases of nerve damage in the region have also been linked to huffing nitrous oxide recently.
The gas has legitimate medical and catering uses, but is also used recreationally for a high that can cause serious side effects.
While it is illegal to sell nitrous oxide for huffing, a Checkpoint investigation found stores are selling large canisters of the gas that are the equivalent of hundreds of hits – with virtually no questions asked.
The New Zealand Drug Foundation has said recreational drug users often inhale it for a short-lived high.
However, the availability of thermos-sized canisters of the gas have community leaders and doctors seriously concerned about the safety and health risks linked to consuming large quantities of the gas.
One mother – who does not want to be named – says her son was buying large quantities of the gas and thought he could manage his doses.
But she told Checkpoint that things got serious when he started losing his balance.
“It was almost like he was drunk and couldn’t hold his balance, and his legs were like jelly.”
She said it was not constant, but there were times when he could not use a knife and fork.
“He just couldn’t grip it correctly, and was really struggling.
“He said he couldn’t feel his feet or his fingers, so they were completely numb and he had no sensation in his feet.”
She eventually took him to hospital after hearing him “crash” in their home at Christmas 2024.
“I was devastated. We just didn’t know what was wrong…and we just took him to hospital,” she said.
The woman says her son continues to suffer nerve damage, and that he had been purchasing the large canister products “regularly” from dairies when he became ill.
“I don’t know how much he was using, but I think to get into the state that he was, it was extreme,” she said.
“I was shocked that he just bought it from the local dairy.”
When she took him to hospital in late 2024, he ended up being admitted for an eight-day stay.
“He said he couldn’t feel his feet and his fingers, so they were completely numb and he had no sensation in his feet.
“It was almost like he was drunk and couldn’t hold his balance and…his legs kind of were jelly. But that wasn’t constant.
“And the real challenging time was when he couldn’t use a knife and fork, like he just couldn’t hold it, grip it correctly and… was just really struggling.”
The woman shared her story with Checkpoint because she wanted people to understand how dangerous nitrous oxide was, and that it was easily accessible – despite requirements under the Psychoactive Substances Act.
She said the ongoing impacts on her son, who previously worked in the construction industry, had been particularly heartbreaking.
“The thing is…my son was trying to be a responsible user and had looked into the adverse effects of using this drug and saw that it depleted vitamin B12, so he was taking B12.
“But it obviously was not enough.”
She said it took about 10 hours for doctors at the hospital to establish her son’s symptoms were a result of nerve damage from low levels of vitamin B12 and nitrous oxide use.
More than a year later, he continued to have problems and had not been able to return to his work in the construction industry.
“He obviously can use a knife and fork and things more easily now…but I feel like he hasn’t got 100 percent sensation back in his feet,” she said.
“I know nerves do take a long time to heal and grow back, but we’re talking about 15 months since he was hospitalised.”
She said she was so angry by what happened to her son, and that there was no information out there about how to deal with it.
“It’s just horrifying, I just can’t believe it’s happening still. The minister needs to stop it being sold through dairies for a start. It’s just crazy and there needs to be some regulation around it.”
Health Minister Simeon Brown previously said the government took nitrous oxide misuse “very seriously”.
He highlighted tougher enforcement measures around sale of the gas, which were introduced last year.
“These changes were designed to provide greater clarity for retailers and enforcement agencies, and to ensure there are appropriate consequences when the law is not followed,” he said in a statement.
“I have requested advice on how effective these changes have been, including whether the penalties are adequate, to ensure we can keep New Zealanders safe.”
For anyone affected by issues discussed in this story, free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor. Or call 0800 Lifeline or text HELP to 4357.
Dr Emily Yassaie said dog attack injuries are very common and a review into animal control laws is needed.123RF
A Wellington plastic surgeon is patching up dog attack victims on a weekly basis, with some injuries so severe they are life changing.
Dr Emily Yassaie has already treated two dog attack victims this week.
She told Checkpoint Aotearoa needs to reviews animal control laws and consider mandatory reporting of bites and dog related injuries requiring medical treatment.
Checkpoint has been investigating the issue of aggressive dogs with some communities who have said they are effectively hostages to the problem and have to carry weapons in case they get attacked.
There are also growing calls for an overhaul of the 30 year old dog control act, in the face of increasing attacks.
Doctor Emily Yassaie said it is not just roaming dogs that are the issue, but also children around unsupervised or unfamiliar dogs.
“It’s really common, obviously, with all sorts of injuries they come in fits and starts, but it’s always common.”
While this week had already brought two surgeries caused by dog attacks for Dr Yassaei, it has been a big issue for a long time.
“A paper that some of my colleagues had written about dog bites quite a few years ago [showed] that there was 100,000 dog-related injuries over a five-year period between 2014 and 2019, and 3,500 of those required hospitalisation, so it’s a fairly big problem.”
She said the severity of injuries can range greatly, but even minor injuries could have severe consequences.
“Typically, because children are affected so much, they are a small injury but they are a lifelong injury with a visible difference, usually on the face. So even though they’re small and easy to repair, they have long-lasting consequences.”
Some attacks were so bad that people had lost parts of their face, like ears and noses.
“Really destructive tearing type injuries, which for at least one person I’ve seen in my career, the conversation was about things like face transplants, so they can be absolutely devastating.”
Dr Yassaei said treating the injuries came with a number of difficulties.
“They’re multifactorial injuries. So there’s not just the lacerations of tissue, but there is the destruction and tearing forces of everything underneath. So things like nerves, muscles.”
“There’s also the factor that a lot of the tissue that gets torn is devitalized, also doesn’t have a blood supply so you can’t necessarily repair that, you have to get rid of that and then reconstruct.”
She said contamination from the dog bite itself added an extra challenge to treating the wounds, as well as further contamination from the environment, such as soil.
“For the repair of them, usually for the big ones, it’s a multi-stage process where the first thing is cleaning the wounds, giving them a day to settle, just removing any of the dead tissue that you can’t use, and then coming back to reconstruct, which can be from one to multiple operations depending on the area and what’s injured.”
Most of the severe injuries Dr Yassaei sees from large dogs, such as Pitbulls, Shar Peis, Bullmastiffs and other crossbreeds within those types of large dog.
“It’s just the nature of biology, really. They’re stronger, they have different types of instinctual behaviour, and they can bring the most force and damage to people,”
“We’ve always wondered whether there should be some sort of either registration programme or some rules around public access to these dogs to try and reduce risk. But I understand that comes with a lot of debate.”
She said that a mandatory requirement to report dog bites and attacks as they come into hospitals could be a step forward in tackling the issue.
“The more data you have, the more you can accurately assess whether it is a breed issue, or it is a location issue or it is a training issue.
Currently data is available through ACC, which Dr Yassaei said shows a correlation between areas of deprivation and dog attacks.
“When you look at the decile 10 areas compared to decile one, those in greater deprivation are much more likely to be admitted to hospital with a dog bite. So it is not only a medical issue, but a social issue as well.”
While most injuries occur within adults, she said children who get bitten are far more likely to require hospitalisation and surgery.
“When they looked at it with regards to Māori and non-Māori, there’s a much higher rate of hospitalisation for Māori children compared to non-Māori.”
A standing hoist was not used because of safety concerns due to Mr B’s violent swaying and involuntary body movements. File photo.Bret Kavanaugh / Unsplash
A man with multiple sclerosis died from choking while being fed by a healthcare assistant sitting up in bed.
A Health and Disability Comissioner (HDC) report by Carolyn Cooper looked into the events, after his family made a complaint following his death amid concerns about his overall standard of care.
The man – named Mr B in the report – was aged in his late 20s and had lived at Lonsdale Total Care Centre in Foxton for about six months before his death in May 2022.
As well as multiple sclerosis, he was diagnosed with mental health co-morbidities, was sight-impaired and required assistance for all aspects of daily living – including to feed and reposition himself.
The family’s complaint queried why he was not showered for the six months he was there – but Lonsdale explained it was because he had requested not to be showered, and preferred to be washed daily, despite attempts by staff to encourage showering.
The hoist
In their initial complaint, Mr B’s family questioned why he was confined to his bed due to a broken hoist.
Up until late March of that year, Mr B was lifted out of bed on request – usually to smoke, which the home believed was important for his mental health – and that was usually done with a hoist.
But Lonsdale said that at no point was a standing hoist unavailable, but it was not used because of safety concerns due to Mr B’s violent swaying and involuntary body movements.
The HDC report concluded: “It is my view that Lonsdale has provided a plausible explanation of why these issues occurred, and I acknowledge that the staff were respecting Mr B’s wishes.”
The choking incident
Lonsdale noted Mr B had choked once before, and a plan was made for him to sit upright when eating to mitigate the risk.
However, Lonsdale told the HDC: “It is a fair question if more should have been done to recognise and mitigate the risk of choking, in particular by referring [Mr B] for specialist assessment. It’s one we have asked ourselves.”
Recommendations
The HDC found Lonsdale in breach the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, and was critical that Mr B’s risk of choking was not identified earlier and made part of a more comprehensive care plan.
Lonsdale has accepted this finding.
Ms B, who is Mr B’s mother and the one who laid the complaint, responded that she regretted placing Mr B in their care.
A registered nurse, who was asked to give feedback on the situation for the HDC report, said: “It appears that the care team knew Mr B well and were responsive to his needs; however, I consider the lack of personalised care guidance to have potentially created increased risk, particularly for those who were not familiar with Mr B’s care requirements.”
Since the incident, Lonsdale had made a number of changes to improve documentation and evaluations for those in their care.
The HDC report commended Lonsdale for apologising to Mr B’s family and for the prompt improvements, and made no further recommendations.
Approached by RNZ for further comment, Lonsdale general manager Mark Buckley said the team strove to provide the highest level of quality care to all their residents.
“All of us here at Lonsdale continue to extend our sincere condolences to our resident’s family,” he said. “This was a distressing event for everyone involved.”
Since the event in 2021, they had worked to improve aspects of care such as planning, communication and documentation, along with a change of GP practice to a more ARRC (Age-Related Residential Care Agreement) focused provider and the upgrade of patient management software. A clinical manager and additional management support were appointed in 2022.
“We continue to do all we can to make sure that an incident like this can’t happen again.
When approached by RNZ for further comment, Lonsdale general manager Mark Buckley said the team strove to provide the highest level of quality care to all their residents.
“All of us here at Lonsdale continue to extend our sincere condolences to our resident’s family,” he said. “This was a distressing event for everyone involved.”
Since the event in 2021, they had worked to improve aspects of care such as planning, communication and documentation, along with a change of GP practice to a more ARRC [Age-Related Residential Care Agreement] focused provider and the upgrade of patient management software. A clinical manager and additional management support were appointed in 2022.
“We continue to do all we can to make sure that an incident like this can’t happen again.”