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The case was taken to the High Court but had been referred to independent arbitration. (File photo) RNZ / Dan Cook

A High Court Judge has won the right to have a dispute over a family bach heard in private, rather than open court.

In 2022, Justice Anne Hinton sold her share of the bach to two of her four sisters – but her other sister, Gillian Gatfield and niece, Emma Pearson (who inherited her mother’s share) argued Hinton had, years earlier, promised to transfer her share to them.

They took their case to the High Court, but Hinton successfully applied to have it referred to independent arbitration.

The plaintiffs appealed the arbitration referral in November – but the Court of Appeal dismissed that on Thursday.

Hinton wanted arbitration because it was faster and cheaper than going through the courts – and private.

Her lawyers argued any judge hearing Hinton’s case in court would be put in a difficult position: either risking the perception of favouring a colleague, or ruling against her which would effectively question her credibility.

But Gatfield and Pearson disagreed.

Lawyer Matanuku Mahuika said “significant weight” was placed on Hinton’s role as a judge in her request for arbitration, which was “not appropriate”.

He urged the judges to be mindful of open justice and warned them against being seen to give preference to a fellow judge.

Mahuika also pointed out arbitration had never been ordered – as opposed to agreed to – in a trust dispute.

But in Thursday’s decision, the judges said the Associate Judge who ordered the arbitration was following the correct procedure.

“We consider that the court has power to order that an arbitration take place and to appoint an arbitrator, even when there is no agreement to arbitrate.

“We also consider there is nothing inherently inappropriate in doing so.”

The Judges said it was “unnecessary” to explicitly address all the matters Gatfield and Pearson’s lawyers raised as reasons against private arbitration.

“We agree with the decision made by the High Court,” their judgement said.

Mediation and arbitration were appropriate options in a case involving “strongly felt personal allegations”, it said.

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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/2026/02/12/high-court-judge-wins-right-to-have-family-bach-dispute-in-private-court/

February 12, 2026

DOC Community Fund will provide $9.2 million for community-led conservation

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date: 12 February 2026

New Zealand has the highest proportion of threatened indigenous species in the world, with more than 1,000 native species currently classified as ‘threatened’ by extinction, and almost two-thirds of our rare ecosystems at risk of collapse.

This new round of the DOC Community Fund will support local conservation activities to deliver tangible outcomes for biodiversity, promote collaboration, and enable meaningful Māori engagement.

Sia Aston, DOC Deputy Director-General Public Affairs and Partnerships, says the contributions of community groups enables greater outcomes for nature.

“Community groups play a pivotal role in protecting our native species and their habitats, and we know they bring a lot to table,” says Sia. “By drawing on the strengths and resources of these groups – like volunteer hours, expertise, or co funding – DOC can amplify the positive change they create.

“This reflects DOC’s goal for New Zealanders to ‘Always Be Naturing’; we can all make a bigger difference through shared effort, with every action adding up to support the nature we all rely on.

“Together we can achieve the best outcomes possible for our very special biodiversity, so I’m really excited to see what this round of applicants will bring to support critical conservation work around New Zealand.”

Community groups, iwi and hapū, as well as private landowners throughout the country can apply for the funding.

The 2026 funding round will open on 31 March and close on 30 April 2026, giving applicants more time to plan and engage with relevant parties. Details on how to apply are available on the DOC website. Successful applications will be announced from July 2026.

Background information

The DOC Community Fund (DOCCF) is a Crown fund established in 2014 that provides contestable funding for community-led biodiversity restoration projects on public and private land.

The DOCCF has an annual appropriation of $4.6 million (the 2026 round is doubled as it includes the 2026/27 appropriation).

Since 2014, the fund has awarded approximately $50 million to over 750 community conservation initiatives across New Zealand.

This round focuses on projects protecting threatened species (defined as Nationally Critical, Nationally Endangered, Nationally Vulnerable or Nationally increasing) and threatened ecosystems (defined as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable).

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/doc-community-fund-will-provide-9-2-million-for-community-led-conservation/

February 12, 2026

Wellington mayor Andrew Little promises to cut commercial rates

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington’s mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Wellington’s mayor is promising to reduce the city’s commercial rates burden, but admits he doesn’t yet have the council’s backing to do so.

Andrew Little told a Wellington Chamber of Commerce breakfast event that the current commercial rates differential meant that businesses paid 3.7-times the residential rate – thought to be one of the highest in the country.

“That starts to make it challenging for developers when they’re developing inner-city land for commercial purposes. So, if we can address that differential and bring the differential down, then we become more competitive in that regard,” he said.

However, even a modest reduction could push residential rates up by around 4 percent.

Little said the first step was getting council spending under control, before shifting the balance.

“I’m confident that if we do the work on financial planning, budgeting, what have you, that in time we can do this.”

The mayor said reducing the commercial rates differential was a personal commitment.

He said there was no formal proposal yet and any change would need negotiation around the council table.

“There’s no collective council commitment to… I don’t know what the split on council would be. There are plenty who are keen to see it. There are some for whom it’s not the top priority, but that’s the nature of council. It would have to be negotiated through.”

Whether to decrease the commercial rates differential from $3.70 to $3.25 has previously stirred heated debate over the pressure on businesses versus residents.

At a 2023 council meeting a proposal to reduce the differential was voted down [ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/504175/wellington-city-council-votes-in-principle-to-keep-same-rates-for-businesses].

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/wellington-mayor-andrew-little-promises-to-cut-commercial-rates/

February 12, 2026

Cyber and Supply Chain Risks Reshaping Japan’s Business Landscape, Aon Survey

Source: Media Outreach

“Geopolitical Volatility” is a top five current and future risk, highlighting the growing instability across the region
83 Percent of Firms Report Rising Insurable Risk Costs

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 February 2026 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, has released the Japan findings of its 2025 Global Risk Management Survey. The survey reveals that Japanese businesses are navigating a complex landscape marked by persistent cyber threats, supply chain disruptions and weather/natural disasters. The survey, which gathered insights from nearly 3,000 risk managers, C-suite leaders and executives across 63 countries, highlights the unique risks Japan businesses are facing amid global disruption.

Japan’s Top Risks:

“Cyber Attacks/Data Breach” remains the top risk for Japanese businesses, consistent with global trends. “Supply chain or distribution failure” ranks second, as extreme weather events and mounting geopolitical volatility including shifting trade policies force companies to reassess their supply chains. In addition, “Product Liability/Recall” and “Exchange Rate Fluctuation” pose significant risks, reflecting the country’s manufacturing strength and exposure to global market volatility. Notably, 63.6 percent of Japanese respondents reported losses due to product liability or recall issues and 47.6 percent cited losses from exchange rate fluctuations.

Tatsuya Yamamoto, CEO of Japan at Aon, said, “Japanese organisations are operating in an environment of unprecedented complexity. Cyber, weather and geopolitical risks continue to be acute challenges for Japan businesses, underscoring the need for robust risk management frameworks and agile strategies. As market trends shift and competition intensifies, vigilance and adaptability will be key. The interconnectedness of risks – where a cyber attack can disrupt supply chains or geopolitical volatility can trigger regulatory changes – demands a holistic, proactive approach to resilience.”

2025 Top 10 Business Risks in Japan

Cyber Attacks/Data Breach
Supply Chain or Distribution Failure
Weather/Natural Disasters
Geopolitical Volatility
Business Interruption
Economic Slowdown/Slow Recovery
Exchange Rate Fluctuation
Commodity Price Risk/Scarcity of Materials
Product Liability/Recall
Failure to Attract or Retain Top Talent

Risk Management: Formalisation and Focus on Insurable Risks

Japanese organisations demonstrate a strong commitment to risk management, with 74.7 percent having a formal risk management and insurance department, compared to 68.4 percent globally. Additionally, 75.3 percent measure the total cost of insurable risk and 83.3 percent report that these costs are increasing. While risk awareness is rising, most organisations have yet to quantify their exposures or leverage advanced analytics.

Japanese Businesses Risk Management Assessments for Top Three Risks

For “Cyber Attacks/Data Breaches”:

27.2 percent have assessed the risk
12.6 percent have developed continuity plans
22.3 Percent have risk management plans

For “Supply Chain or Distribution Failure”:

25 percent have assessed the risk
20 percent have developed continuity plans
26.7 Percent have risk management plans

For “Weather/Natural Disasters”:

24.1 percent have assessed the risk
22.4 percent have developed continuity plans
13.8 percent have risk management plans

Future Risks: Rapidly Changing Market Trends and Geopolitical Volatility

Looking ahead, Japanese organisations expect “Weather/Natural Disasters” and “Geopolitical Volatility” to remain critical risks, alongside “Rapidly Changing Market Trends,” which is more prominent in Japan than globally. This highlights the country’s exposure to climate events and evolving consumer preferences.

Japan’s Top Five Future Business Risks by 2028:

Cyber Attacks/Data Breach
Weather/Natural Disasters
Geopolitical Volatility
Rapidly Changing Market Trends
Increasing Competition

Shinichi Kandatsu, head of Commercial Risk Solutions for Japan at Aon, said, “Cyber and weather-related risks continue to lead the rankings as top concerns for Japanese businesses today and in the future, with geopolitical volatility also ranking among the top five risks across both periods. This trend reflects the growing instability across the region, with implications for supply chains, regulatory environments and financial performance. In today’s fast-moving market, leveraging advanced data analytics is essential for businesses to anticipate emerging risks, optimise risk capital and build resilience. The findings from Aon’s Global Risk Management Survey provide Japanese businesses with actionable information to benchmark their risk strategies and identify areas for improvement.”

To access the full report and explore how Aon is helping clients navigate today’s disruption dynamic, visit Global Risk Management Survey Japan

Hashtag: #Aon

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/2026/02/12/cyber-and-supply-chain-risks-reshaping-japans-business-landscape-aon-survey/

February 12, 2026

Sustainable seafood matters to eight in ten consumers, leading to calls for retailers to support sustainable choices

Source: Media Outreach

MSC calls on retailers to increase their offer of sustainable seafood products ahead of the Chinese New Year, in response to insights from consumers

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 February 2026 – As families across Singapore and Malaysia prepare to toss yusheng and serve whole steamed fish for Chinese New Year, new research reveals a striking disconnect: more than eight in ten Malaysians (85%) and nearly three-quarters of Singaporeans (74%) say sustainable seafood matters to them.

Despite actively seeking out sustainable sources, a YouGov survey commissioned by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) found that more than half of Singapore consumers (58%) have never noticed an eco-label when shopping. Recognition of the MSC blue ecolabel label sits at 21%.

With seafood consumption expected to rise during Chinese New Year as celebrations take centre stage, it’s a critical moment for sustainable shopping choices.

Malaysia consumes more than double the global average per capita (49 kg versus 21 kg globally), while Singapore imports most of its seafood supply. Without clear labelling and retailer commitment, consumers who want to make sustainable choices often cannot.

In Malaysia, where fishing remains central to coastal livelihoods, 75% of Malaysians believe support and resources are essential for local fishermen to fish responsibly and sustainably.

In Singapore, where nearly all seafood is imported, consumers look to retailers and regulators for assurance, with 55% citing government standards and 54% citing origin information as key drivers of confidence.

“When asked what sustainable seafood means to them, consumers demonstrated a sophisticated understanding: 62% of Singaporeans and 56% of Malaysians associate it with well-managed fisheries operating under clear rules.

“It’s clear that consumers are ready and willing to seek out credible certification, so we’re urging retailers and businesses to make MSC eco-label products visible and accessible,” saidAnne Gabriel, Program Director for Oceania and Singapore at the Marine Stewardship Council.

The research also highlights expectations of retailers. More than half of Singaporeans (52%) believe supermarkets should commit to sourcing sustainable seafood. Even amid cost-of-living pressures, 38% say they are willing to pay more for sustainably sourced seafood, while many others say clear labelling would help them make better choices within their budget.

The findings suggest that as festive demand peaks, clearer eco-labelling could help consumers align their values with their shopping – without changing what’s on the dinner table.

Shoppers can find MSC certified sustainable seafood at Cold Storage Singapore, FairPrice Group and Prime Supermarket in Singapore, and at AEON Retail, Jaya Grocer and Village Grocer in Malaysia.

Key findings at a glance

85% of Malaysians and 74% of Singaporeans say sustainable seafood is important
63% (MY) and 58% (SG) have never noticed any eco-label on seafood
75% of Malaysians believe fishermen need support to fish sustainably
52% Singaporeans say retailer commitment to sustainable sourcing would encourage them to choose sustainable seafood
Malaysia consumes 49kg of seafood per capita annually vs 21kg global average, sources from Malaysia – Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profiles

About the research
The survey was conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Marine Stewardship Council between 15-19 January 2026. The sample comprised 1,007 adults aged 18+ in Singapore and 1,003 adults aged 18+ in Malaysia. Data was weighted to be representative of the adult population in each country.

Hashtag: #TheMarineStewardshipCouncil #MSC

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/2026/02/12/sustainable-seafood-matters-to-eight-in-ten-consumers-leading-to-calls-for-retailers-to-support-sustainable-choices/

February 12, 2026

ATPI Strengthens Taiwan Presence with Award-Winning Travel Management Solution

Source: Media Outreach

2025 Global Travel Management Company of the Year recognition affirms ATPI’s leadership in localised, enterprise-ready travel management

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 February 2026 – ATPI Taiwan continues to strengthen its position as a trusted global travel management partner for organisations operating in Taiwan, following the recognition of ATPI’s Hong Kong and Singapore operations as Global Travel Management Company of the Year at the Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025.

Photo caption: (Left to Right) Kelly Jones, Managing Director of ATPI Taiwan; Gary Marshall, CEO of Travel Daily Media; and Ali Hussain, Managing Director of ATPI Asia, at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 – Asia

The Travel Daily Media Travel Trade Excellence Awards – Asia recognises organisations demonstrating excellence in operational delivery, technology integration and service innovation. ATPI was recognised for its ability to deliver globally integrated travel programmes supported by personalised service, secure platforms and disciplined governance across complex, multi-market environments.

Building on these globally recognised capabilities, ATPI Taiwan operates as a professional travel management organisation purpose-built for multinational and technology-driven enterprises. Its local operating model addresses key structural gaps in Taiwan’s corporate travel landscape, where many providers remain leisure-focused and reliant on manual processes that limit transparency, control and scalability.

A defining differentiator is financial transparency. Unlike traditional agencies that issue a single “all-in” receipt, ATPI Taiwan provides two separate documents:

a Travel Agency Receipt detailing the net ticket fare; and
a Government Uniform Invoice (GUI / 發票) clearly itemising the agreed service fee.

ATPI is currently the only travel management company in Taiwan offering this structure. The model enables procurement and finance teams to perform audit-level cost analysis, eliminates hidden mark-ups and supports compliance requirements for publicly listed, multinational and technology-led organisations.

ATPI Taiwan’s cloud-based global travel management platform integrates directly with ATPI’s worldwide traveller profile and governance framework. This enables organisations to enforce consistent travel policies, approval workflows and duty-of-care standards across Taiwan and international markets. Centralised dashboards provide real-time visibility of both Taiwan and global travel spend, supporting procurement oversight, financial control and data-driven decision-making for high-volume international travel programmes.

Data security is another critical differentiator. While traveller information in Taiwan is often collected via unsecured consumer messaging platforms, ATPI Taiwan operates in line with ATPI Global Standards and international data protection protocols. Traveller data is managed through the ATPI e-Profile platform, supported by PCI-compliant secure links for document submission and mandatory quarterly data-security training. To date, ATPI Taiwan has maintained a zero data-misconduct and zero data-leakage record.

ATPI also provides professional 24/7 global emergency support through its World Support Centres (WSC), ensuring continuity across time zones with full system access and defined escalation protocols — capabilities essential for mission-critical and time-sensitive travel.

“Our focus is on delivering enterprise-grade travel management that combines global consistency with local precision,” said Kelly Jones, Managing Director – Southeast Asia, China, Hong Kong & Taiwan, ATPI. “Clients choose ATPI not only for our global reach, but for the governance, transparency and personalised service that allow their travel programmes to operate with confidence and control.”

“These capabilities translate directly into measurable outcomes for our clients,” added Asa Yang, General Manager, ATPI Taiwan. “In one recent case, our team conducted a strategic fare analysis for a complex five-destination itinerary and identified a more cost-effective routing. Instead of retaining the price differential, we returned 100% of the savings to the client, delivering a direct saving of TWD 160,000. This reflects our commitment to financial transparency, integrity and proactive programme management.”

The dual awards further reinforce ATPI’s long-standing leadership in corporate and specialist travel management. Following ATPI’s acquisition by Direct Travel in September 2025, the combined organisation operates as a global travel management group, bringing together international scale and personalised service across corporate and complex travel sectors, including marine, energy, mining, sports and group travel. Together, Direct Travel and ATPI manage more than USD 6 billion in annual travel volume, with operations spanning over 100 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

https://www.atpi.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/atpi

Hashtag: #atpi #corporatetravelmanagement

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/2026/02/12/atpi-strengthens-taiwan-presence-with-award-winning-travel-management-solution/

February 12, 2026

Judge Ema Aitken must have known who she was yelling at, NZ First MP Casey Costello says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Judge Ema Aitken is before a Judicial Conduct Panel accused of disrupting the event at Auckland’s Northern Club. RNZ Composite

A gudge accused of disrupting an NZ First event must have known who she was yelling at, a party members says.

Judge Ema Aitken is before a Judicial Conduct Panel accused of disrupting the event at Auckland’s Northern Club, yelling at party leader Winston Peters, calling him a liar, and saying comments he made were disgusting.

The judge argues she did not shout, did not recognise Peters’ voice when she responded to remarks she overheard, and did not know it was a political event.

Appearing on Thursday morning, NZ First MP Casey Costello gave evidence about the night.

She was not appearing as a government Minister, Jonathan Orpin-Dowell, who is assisting Special Counsel for the hearing, said.

Costello recalled being at her table when she heard someone yelling. She assumed they were yelling at her.

“Whatever she was saying, it was loud enough for me to hear and take notice of her,” she said.

“If it had only been in a normal speaking tone, I would not have heard the comments at that distance or taken any notice.”

NZ First MP Casey Costello. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Costello said the judge must have known who she was yelling at.

“From my observation of the events, the judge must have known that it was Winston Peters who was speaking,” she said.

“Mr Peters has, I believe, a distinctive voice, and had been speaking for some time when the judge began yelling.”

She said the judge would have also been able to see Peters through the doorway when she first came down the stairs.

Costello described another incident from the evening where she encountered who she later learnt was Judge Aitken’s husband, Dr David Galler.

Costello said Galler had confronted her, blocking her way and calling her despicable.

NZ First MP Casey Costello’s notes in her diary about the evening’s disruptions. Supplied

“He said ‘you are despicable, I hope you’re ashamed of yourself, you disgust me’,” she said.

Costello could tell the man was drunk by smell and described the altercation as particularly hostile.

“I asked the man why he had that opinion of me, he replied ‘you are responsible for killing hundreds of people, you should be proud’,” she said.

Galler went on to make other comments about Costello paying dues to the tabacco industry, and said she had no medical knowledge.

Costello had faced scrutiny earlier that year for rolling back smokefree laws and giving health officials a document that claimed “nicotine is as harmful as caffeine” and argued Labour’s smokefree generation policy was “nanny state nonsense”.

She said she had made a note in her diary about the evening’s disruptions but particularly about what had happened with Dr Galler.

“As a politician, whenever I have a public interaction with someone who is difficult, I tend to take a note of the interaction at the time, so I have a record of reference should it be needed.”

Judge Aitken’s lawyer David Jones KC cross-examined Costello, questioning whether the judge had in fact directed comments to her.

Judges called as witnesses

Thursday morning began with lead panellist Brendan Brown KC issuing a minute requesting other judges give evidence before the panel.

It comes after Special Counsel for the Inquiry requested the panel ask other District Court judges to give evidence.

KC requested District Court judges David McNaughton and Pippa Sinclair to appear and give evidence.

Those called had been among the people sitting at Judge Aitken’s table at a function of District Court judges that had brought her to the Northern Club that night.

Special Counsel Tim Stephens KC had told the panel earlier in the week some of the Judges and their partners who sat at Judge Aitken’s table may have relevant evidence to give.

Brown KC also indicated he would also call Judge Sinclair’s partner to give evidence, as well as the partner of another judge present.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/judge-ema-aitken-must-have-known-who-she-was-yelling-at-nz-first-mp-casey-costello-says/

February 12, 2026

Christchurch terrorist suffered ‘complete destruction of his identity’ in prison, his lawyers say

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fifty-one people were killed in two attacks on mosques in Christchurch in 2019. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon

Lawyers acting for the terrorist who massacred 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques say their client suffered a “complete destruction of his identity” because of his prison conditions, leading to an irrational decision to plead guilty.

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

After initially pleading not guilty in June 2019 to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of committing terrorism, he changed his pleas in March 2020.

The terrorist was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in August 2020.

The 35-year-old now claims he pleaded guilty only because he was irrational as a result of the solitary nature of his prison conditions, which were torturous and inhumane.

One of the terrorist’s lawyers, who can only be identified as counsel A, quoted Nelson Mandela in laying out their argument to Justices Christine French, Susan Thomas and David Collins.

“No one truly knows a nation until he’s been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged on how it treats its highest citizens but how it treats its lowest ones,” the lawyer said.

The lawyer argued there were minimum conditions that all prisoners were entitled to, regardless of the crime they were accused of, and the terrorist’s rights had been breached.

“Those conditions apply to everyone. They apply to everyone, even Mr Tarrant, who has been described as the most reviled person in New Zealand. He is entitled to the rule of law and to be treated in accordance with the same standards that attach to all prisoners in New Zealand,” the lawyer said.

“Even in this most terrible of cases there are minimum expectations – minimum – which we say were ignored in this unprecedented case. These principles and standards include the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, as well as international agreements as to how prisoners are to be held and treated.

“It is submitted that we must hold fast to those ideals that form this nation and not be pulled away by the undoubtedly strong and no doubt justified emotions that attach in this particular case. We must hold fast, especially in the most difficult of cases and circumstances which this case undoubtedly is. It is these most difficult of cases which test and strain at the rule of law the most.”

Counsel A claimed that the terrorist had lost all ability to defend himself in court as a result of his prison conditions, including total isolation aside from transactional contact with corrections staff, constant surveillance and limited activity.

“His guilty pleas were not entered voluntarily. They were entered as a direct result of the oppressive conditions in which he was held,” the lawyer said.

“It is said that these oppressive conditions impacted upon his mental health to such a severe extent that it prevented him from being able to participate in court process properly.

“It is Mr Tarrant’s evidence that due to his isolation and the associated conditions, he suffered a complete destruction of his identity. He describes this as nervous exhaustion or a nervous breakdown.”

The court has heard the terrorist initially raised the possibility of pleading guilty on 31 July 2019 – which came as a surprise to one of his then-lawyers – but four days’ later he again changed his mind and maintained his not guilty stance.

On Tuesday his former lawyers Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson told the court from that point they were clear the terrorist always intended to plead guilty but he wanted to control the timing of his plea.

The terrorist claimed his mental state had declined to such an extent he felt forced into pleading guilty and he feared embarrassing himself at trial.

“It is his evidence that he had lost his sense of who he was and the capacity, the resilience if you like, to be able to run an effective defence by himself,” counsel A told the court on Thursday morning.

“There was also the point made that he believed if he did plead guilty that he might be able to ameliorate or improve those prison conditions under which he was being held.”

On Wednesday the court heard from other lawyers who had previously acted for the terrorist and described his conditions as unsatisfactory.

A psychologist said the terrorist’s prison conditions were not positive but were not as harsh as some prisons globally and did not amount to torture.

The terrorist appearing at the hearing earlier this week. Supplied

The terrorist was housed in the prisoners of extreme risk unit (PERU) at Auckland Prison.

He was cut off from meaningful interaction with other people, including fellow prisoners.

Another lawyer acting for the terrorist, who can only be identified as counsel B, said the conditions her client was held under before pleading guilty were unprecedented in modern New Zealand history.

“Make no mistake, Mr Tarrant’s circumstances are like no other. They are far more extreme, in our submission, than any other prisoner in the PERU or any other prisoner in New Zealand history,” counsel B told the court.

The terrorist, in his own subjective assessment, was not acting rationally at the time of pleading guilty but had only become aware of that with the benefit of hindsight, counsel B said.

The terrorist’s lawyers will continue their submissions on Thursday afternoon.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/christchurch-terrorist-suffered-complete-destruction-of-his-identity-in-prison-his-lawyers-say/

February 12, 2026

NZ Warriors kick off NRL campaign with pre-season trial against Manly Sea Eagles

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Maire Martin, Wayde Egan, Leka Halasima, Luke Metcalf and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad prepare in different ways for their 2026 NRL season. Photosport/RNZ

NRL Pre-season: NZ Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles

Kickoff: 3.40pm Saturday, 14 February

McLean Park, Napier

Live blog updates on RNZ

Analysis: Take a deep breath and soak in the last warmth of summer – this could be as good as it gets for the next nine months of the NRL season.

This is the pre-season, a time when anything still seems possible.

If you’re a player, you feel the fittest, the strongest and healthiest you will be for a long time. Soon enough, you will be back to managing injuries from one week to the next, as each tackle takes its cumulative toll and life becomes a grind.

If you’re a coach, you have made no bad decisions – or at least, none that you know of yet.

If you’re a fan, your team have suffered no defeats and sit equal top of the table with 16 others.

If you’re a Warriors fan, you can still believe THIS is the year your team finally break their championship drought.

Hope springs eternal, but reality will be tested for the first time on Saturday, when the Warriors face Manly Sea Eagles in their opening pre-season trial at Napier.

Coach Andrew Webster is impressed by the individual work his players have put in during their off-season.

“Over the Christmas break, they made a pact to each other that they would go away and enjoy the break, but come back fit and hit their targets,” he said.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen every single player do so and I’m really impressed with that. It’s now about piecing the football fitness together, which we’re doing, and it’s enabled us to do more football, rather than just conditioning.”

The hits are about to get real for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and his Warriors teammates. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who has endured hundreds of pre-season workouts during his 12 NRL campaigns, has already noticed a step up among his teammates.

“My biggest [impression] of the 2026 pre-season is everyone’s moving a lot faster now,” he said. “I think the game is forcing us that way, but it’s good.

“The boys are looking sharp out there, everyone’s moving at a speed that is different to last year already. It’s exciting.”

Webster thinks he more or less knows who will line up for the season-opener against Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on 6 March.

“I reckon 15 players have probably picked themselves,” Webster said. “I reckon two spots are up for grabs, but of those 15 that have their nose in front, things could change quickly.

“We’ve got some decent continuity, we know who we’re thinking, but at the same time, 3-4 weeks is a long time in footy and things could change.

“If you got through each position, we’ve got great depth. Where we’ve got experience, we’ve got great youth knocking on the door behind them.

“Happy to have that headache, but it can also be an Achilles heel. You have great competition, but it’s hard to give people clarity straight away over what their year looks like and where they’re going to be.

“Some payers think it’s the Olympics and round two comes around four years later. If they don’t make round one, their world ends.

“It’s good to have that goal and ambition, and to want that round one position really badly, but round two is only seven days away.”

Here’s a few things to watch for over the next couple of weeks, as the hits become real.

Positional battles

Webster may not agree, but perhaps only Tuivasa-Sheck would seem assured of his backline spot for round one.

Coach Andrew Webster reckons he has 15 of his 17 players sorted for round one against Sydney Rooster – but that could change. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Others may be pencilled in as incumbents, but they will have to defend those positions against legitimate challengers.

These contests become somewhat blurred this week, with seven players away on Māori-Indigenous duty and niggly injuries sidelining others.

Fullback: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is as courageous as they come at the back, but towards the end of last season, some were calling for Taine Tuaupiki to inherit the No.1 jersey fulltime.

Neither are available against Manly – CNK lines up in the halves for the Māori, while Tuaupiki tends to a leg injury – so reserve-grader Geronimo Doyle fills the position.

Wing: RTS seems embedded on one flank (although some still see him as the club’s best fullback, while others consider him the answer to the problems at centre), but Dallin Watene-Zelezniak struggled with injury and form last season.

The arrival of speedster Alofiana Khan-Pereira means DWZ must maintain high standards or lose his spot.

Centre: Seven different players started in the midfield last season, with specialists Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua plagued by injury.

Incredibly, many still don’t consider Adam Pompey an automatic selection, despite playing every minute of every game, but his reliability cannot be overlooked.

Hopefully, Kurt Capewell will not be wasted there this time round. CNK is a better option – he played there for the Kiwis – and powerhouse Leka Halasima fills the void this week against the Sea Eagles, as he did against Penrith Panthers in last year’s playoffs.

Halves: First-choice halfback Luke Metcalf will miss a couple of months, so his position is up for grabs. Tanah Boyd has the inside running, after filling in last season, but Webster has plenty of half options up his sleeve, including Te Maire Martin (who will likely lose his utility value under new interchange rules) and Jett Cleary.

Webster also warns not to sleep on newcomer Jye Linane, once he’s up to speed from knee surgery.

Forwards: At full health, the pack almost picks itself. Front-rower Mitch Barnett should be back near the start of the season, but if he’s not, Jackson Ford or Demitric Vaimauga can deputise ably.

Webster may need to scale back Wayde Egan’s use at hooker to preserve him for later in the season and understudy Sam Healey has proved himself at this level.

Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett is eyeing a return to action by round one, after rehabbing his knee injury. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Dally M Lock of the Year Erin Clark appears ‘locked’ in, but exactly where Englishman Morgan Gannon fits remains to be seen. If Halasima stays at centre, that may open up a spot, but there are plenty of others queuing up to fill it.

Second row is probably where Webster’s biggest selection headaches lie. Who starts, who comes off the bench and who is consigned to NSW Cup may prove contentious.

Injuries

When he talks about how quickly things can change, Webster is referring to the almost inevitable pre-season injury that will alter his line-up for week one.

Last year, Watene-Zelezniak lasted only a few minutes before breaking his wrist.

Back-up fullback Tuaupiki described how he expected specialist winger Ed Kosi to get the call off the bench, but instead was suddenly thrust into a position where he had limited experience – and made it his own.

As DWZ returned to fitness, Tuivasa-Sheck tweaked a hamstring that extended Tuaupiki’s stay in the starting line-up.

“Taine played maybe the first 7-8 games on the wing last year and I think we won five out of those seven,” Webster recalled. “To be part of that and to have that depth, with everyone playing different positions is awesome.”

In fact, Tuaupiki stuck around through nine games, helping his team to a club-best 7-2 start and second place on the table. Soon after he was relegated to reserves, the Warriors began their slide.

The Warriors already have a series of minor injuries, but there’s every likelihood they will lose someone else in the build-up, as bodies adjust to impact again.

Bolters

Ten players have been named as reserves against Manly. None have played first grade, but most, if not all can expect some run this weekend – perhaps not enough to really push for places in the top team immediately, but maybe enough to delay their promotion further.

Tuivasa-Sheck highlighted a couple to watch out for – powerful outside backs Sio Kali and Motu Pasikala. Here’s some more.

Eddie ‘Goggins’ Ieremia-Toeava may be poised for promotion up the Warriors rotation. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Haizyn Mellars: With DWZ and AKP both away on all-star duty, the new kid from Souths gets an immediate chance to impress on the wing.

He has big shoes to fill, following father Vince into the Warriors programme, and is desperate to crack the top team to create a piece of family history.

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava: Often named as 18th man, Ieremia-Toeava finally made his premiers debut against the Dolphins in round 22, logged five games and scored a try against Gold Coast Titans.

He’s renowned for his work ethic at training, earning the nickname ‘Goggins’ after inexhaustible ultra-athlete and former US Navy SEAL David Goggins. He may be ready to jump a few spots in the second-row pecking order.

Kayliss Fatialofa: Maybe the last thing the Warriors need is another second-rower, but the club thinks enough of Fatialofa to secure him for the next two seasons.

He hasn’t played first grade yet, but appeared in every game for the champion reserves last season, logging 80 minutes in 19 of his 22 outings and finishing as equal top tryscoring forward in the NSW Cup. He’ll come off the interchange against the Sea Eagles.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/nz-warriors-kick-off-nrl-campaign-with-pre-season-trial-against-manly-sea-eagles/

February 12, 2026

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