Category: MIL NZ OSI

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Fuel prices keep drivers off roads

Source: Radio New Zealand

AFP / ROBERT MICHAEL

Rising fuel prices appear to be keeping some travellers off the roads in the main centres.

Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub helped RNZ compile NZ Transport Authority data showing traffic at sites throughout the country.

It shows Auckland’s light vehicle traffic numbers are down 2.2 percent and Wellington 4.5 percent.

Christchurch’s are up and heavy vehicle activity is also up across the country.

“Essentially what we are seeing in the very latest data from Auckland and Wellington is the volume of car driving has come off a bit, and that suggests that people are responding to the increase in prices and the uncertainty around fuel supply.”

He said that was a trend that was likely to continue.

“I think prices have risen even more since then and high prices discourage people from driving, so it’s not surprising.”

He said the early shift was likely to be among people who were able to choose to work from home but some people would find that difficult.

“We remember back during Covid, those people who were essential workers still had to come to work. Back then it was about exposure to virus, now it’s about exposure to cost.”

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said it would take time to show the trend in the data.

“Some people will still be burning through the remaining fuel they might have purchased beforehand.

“I think it’s more one of those things that, given we have heard of a high level of public transport use, it does seem like there are some early suggestions that people are moving their sort of transport means and methods.

“But I think probably too early to make it definitive that you’re seeing an absolute switch in activity.”

AA spokesperson Terry Collins said he had noticed an increase in public transport use.

“The train to Greytown last week was chocka with 56 standing.”

At Gaspy, founder Mike Newton said he had heard from a number of people who were driving less or switching to cycling.

“People are definitely looking for alternatives.”

People who were able to work from home were likely to be doing so more often, he said.

But he said the drop in crude oil prices in recent days should help to stop prices from increasing as quickly.

“There’s so much uncertainty … I’m not sure we’ll see a drop but we might see the price levelling.”

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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/2026/03/25/fuel-prices-keep-drivers-off-roads/

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Father’s meningitis plea after daughter’s death

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gerard Rushton and his wife Claire hold a picture of their daughter, Courtenay, who died of meningitis in 2014, at 16 years old.   Mike Clare / clickmedia.nz / supplied

A grieving dad renews his call for free meningitis vaccines as cases hit NZ students, and a deadly UK outbreak grows.

A grieving Kiwi dad, who lost his only daughter to meningitis, is renewing calls for free vaccinations for all New Zealand students as fresh cases emerge in Dunedin and a deadly outbreak unfolds at a United Kingdom university.

Gerard Rushton, chair of the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa, has spent more than a decade campaigning for change after his 16-year-old daughter Courtenay died suddenly from the disease after Christmas in 2014.

Now, amid renewed concern about the spread of meningococcal disease among young people, both here and overseas, he says not enough is being done to protect students.

“We are calling on the government to do the right thing, to protect our young people, because we are losing the lives of our young people to a disease that is vaccine-preventable,” Rushton tells The Detail, arguing that the current vaccine eligibility window is too narrow and leaves many young people exposed.

“People do not need to die.

“We are losing these young people, these great young people – they are our future – and we are playing roulette with their lives because at present we haven’t got enough money to fund the vaccination project.

“People just aren’t aware of this fast-moving and incredibly aggressive disease that can take a life in 24 hours.”

Put simply, meningococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria. It can lead to two very serious illnesses: meningitis – an infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, and septicaemia – blood poisoning.

There are different types of meningococcal bacteria, including A, B, C, W, and Y. Here, in New Zealand, most cases are caused by group B bacteria.

The disease is spread in similar ways to the common cold – by coughing and sneezing, or by contact with saliva, such as from kissing.

Meningococcal disease can develop rapidly and be life-threatening. It can become deadly in just a few hours.

People who survive meningococcal disease often have serious long-term effects, including amputation of limbs, hearing loss, seizures, brain injury, and permanent skin scarring.

Meningococcal vaccines are currently funded for children under 5 and for people aged 13 to 25 entering close-living situations like boarding schools or university halls.

But Rushton says that leaves a large number of students – including those flatting or living at home – without protection.

He wants universal access to the vaccine before students leave school, saying the current system is “not good enough”.

“All that people need to be aware of is they need to be protected from A, C, W, Y, and MenB, so there is one vaccination for A, C, W, Y, and they require two vaccinations for MenB, and they have got to be up to 8 weeks apart.

“That’s the concern; it does take a wee while to get our kids fully protected.

“And it is a concern that those in a lower-decile community simply cannot afford the vaccination. They are about $150 each, and you need three of them, so they are simply out of reach for a lot of New Zealanders. So, we can’t see why the government is not funding this.

“This present policy is really confusing, and we believe it actually discriminates against a large proportion of our at-risk population. And we can’t understand why New Zealand has a health policy at present that discriminates against these people.”

New Zealand Health authorities are dealing with at least two confirmed meningococcal cases in Dunedin this month, with officials treating the situation as an outbreak.

The cases involve students linked to the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic, with close contacts offered antibiotics and vaccinations.

It comes as a major meningitis outbreak linked to students at the University of Kent in England has left at least two people dead and dozens infected this month.

Health authorities in the UK have since widened vaccine access and rolled out emergency antibiotics, with scenes reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic as students queue for treatment.

The outbreak has reinforced fears about how quickly meningococcal disease can spread in close-living environments such as university halls.

“We are watching the UK situation closely,” Rushton says. “It’s really concerning for us because we know this can happen in New Zealand at any time, because of our present low vaccination rates amongst our adolescent population.

“It is devastating for us to see it personally because we know the life-long effects it can have on family members, whānau, and the community.”

For Rushton, the campaign is deeply personal.

His only daughter, Courtenay, a “normal, healthy 16-year-old”, had received a standard meningitis vaccine as a youngster, but her family later learned she wasn’t fully protected against “all of the different strains”.

Twelve years ago, over the New Year period, she complained to her parents of feeling unwell.

“We took her to the doctor three times in two days, all after-hours, and it wasn’t until the last visit that she collapsed in the medical centre. She was ambulanced to Timaru … then flown to Christchurch … but then sadly we found out it had got to her brain and they had to turn the life support off.”

He says no family should have to endure what his has – and believes wider vaccine access could save lives.

“It’s been 12 years since I lost my daughter, and I still have tears in my eyes now. Every time we hear about a case, it just rips your heart out because you know what’s going to happen to those people. You know what their life’s going to be like, and you know it just doesn’t need to happen, that’s the crux of it.”

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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/2026/03/25/fathers-meningitis-plea-after-daughters-death/

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Government announces new diabetes roadmap but keeps details secret, for now

Source: Radio New Zealand

Maungakiekie MP Greg Fleming. RNZ / Felix Walton

A new diabetes roadmap hopes to slow the disease’s progression and decrease the number of amputations.

The government’s roadmap would be released publicly, but not for a number of weeks while its details were finalised.

Maungakiekie MP Greg Fleming announced the plan on behalf of an airborne health minister Simeon Brown at the Tongan Health Society clinic in Auckland’s Onehunga.

“Health New Zealand estimates that diabetes care in 2024-2025 (fiscal year) translated to an estimated $2.1 billion, and even that figure likely underestimates the true cost,” he said.

“The National Diabetes Roadmap sets out a clear and coordinated direction for responding to these challenges, and recognises a vital truth: that diabetes cannot be managed by individual effort alone, it requires system-level leadership and it requires long term commitment.”

Fleming said that accountability would be provided by an oversight group led by epidemiologist Sir Jim Mann.

Mann was clear he intended to flex his role as overseer.

Sir Jim Mann. Billy Wong/University of Auckland

“Please warn Minister Brown that he will be hearing from me, and I hope lots of others, frequently,” he told Fleming.

“I have been in this country for 40 years now and I feel more positive today than I have felt before in my work in diabetes. I am absolutely determined that we’re not going to lose the momentum.”

Mann described the prevalence of diabetes in New Zealand as an epidemic akin to measles or Covid-19.

“People have talked about the ‘epidemic of diabetes,’ but it’s kind of been like ‘epidemic’ with a small ‘e’ instead of epidemic with a capital ‘E’.”

He said it would not be solved overnight.

“We are realists, we know what is written in that roadmap cannot be implemented tomorrow. We know there are a lot of constraints on public money, there are a lot of things that need to be funded, but this is clearly a priority.”

Health New Zealand’s Dr Richard Sullivan, also on the oversight committee, had his sights set on a number of priority areas.

Health New Zealand chief clinical officer Dr Richard Sullivan. RNZ / Calvin Samuel

“There’s areas we just know we need to tackle. Some of those things are foot care, weight management guidelines, opportunity around potentially a diabetes register,” he said.

“[On Wednesday], in fact, a small group are sitting down and looking at how we come up with a prioritisation framework, so we’ve got the roadmap, we’ve got the baseline review, we know the costs, so actually where do we start and where do we invest, and putting together that plan over the months ahead.”

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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/2026/03/25/government-announces-new-diabetes-roadmap-but-keeps-details-secret-for-now/

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Combat deployment of NZ troops to Middle East unlikely, even if help asked – law professor

Source: Radio New Zealand

A MarineTraffic map showing ship movements in the Strait of Hormuz . AFP / JONATHAN RAA

A law professor says if New Zealand was asked to support ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a combat deployment is unlikely.

But Professor Alexander Gillespie said a joint statement between 19 countries condemning Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf was “effectively just scoping”.

“Nothing’s been nailed down, and it would be premature to nail it down until you know what’s happening with the wider war.”

If a request was made to New Zealand, Gillespie told RNZ it could be helping with intelligence, or picking up patrolling obligations for others so they could deploy to the region.

Another option was actual deployment, which he thought was unlikely.

On Tuesday, the Foreign Minister said people should not be alarmed that “we’re going to be engaged in some military exercise” after the government signed the joint statement.

Labour had raised concerns about the “broad nature” of the statement, criticising the government for not detailing what that commitment might look like, with leader Chris Hipkins saying New Zealanders had a right to know.

But Winston Peters said there had been “scaremongering” from critics who said the government was “rushing to contribute military forces to this conflict”.

“What absolute crap, what absolute nonsense – New Zealand is not a party to this conflict, and we have absolutely no intention of joining it,” he said at Parliament on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters. RNZ / Mark Papalii

It also came as the head of NATO included New Zealand as one of 22 countries “coming together” to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

On Tuesday the government said it had not made any commitment towards military action in the Middle East, but Hipkins said he was very concerned about “what the government had signed us up to”.

He was referring to the joint statement the government signed with 19 other countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany, condemning Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf.

They called on Iran to immediately cease threats, laying mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block commercial vessels from travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the statement read.

The statement also expressed its signatories would be ready “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait”.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon clarified any such future support would need to be considered by Cabinet.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Luxon also outlined nothing had changed in terms of the government position on the initial attacks that started the war, after being asked about condemning Iran’s strikes, while “acknowledging” the strikes by the United States.

“What we’re talking about now is a second order consequence, which is Iranians holding hostage a whole bunch of ships that should be freely traveling to bring fuel and fuel and critical supplies to places like New Zealand.”

Gillespie said it was a “notable inconsistency”.

He said New Zealand should treat “all violations of the UN Charter the same”.

“In as much as we condemn Russia for their illegal war against Ukraine, we should act consistently with the US and Israel.”

On the ‘right side’ – law professor

Gillespie said New Zealand was on the “right side” in supporting an international principle – the freedom of navigation – but “we have to be very cautious and have our eyes wide open as we walk forward”.

He said the statement had the backing of the UN Security Council with regards to the protection of international waterways in freedom of navigation.

He said New Zealand was in good company with the other signatories, and pointed out it was not an initiative from the United States, Israel or Iran.

The protection of international waterways was a longstanding principle, “No country can effectively strangle international commerce by trying to control a waterway,” he said.

Professor Alexander Gillespie. Alexander Gillespie

“You just can’t do that.”

In terms of the wording “appropriate efforts” in the statement, Gillespie said that could be anything, “it could be civilian, but it’s likely to be military”.

In regards to what New Zealand could offer if support was requested he pointed to the operations in the Red Sea, where the contribution had been “modest”.

The personnel had helped with intelligence, and part of the operations of a much larger system, he said.

A second option was offering “our military to relieve other militaries to be deployed to the region”.

“So we might pick up the patrolling requirements and select some American vessels in a safe area to allow the American vessels to then be deployed to the strait.”

The third option was deploying the Air Force or Navy to the war zone, which he thought was “very unlikely”.

“We’re more likely to be doing the other two, if asked.”

Ultimately he said New Zealand needed to be “very careful what we commit ourselves to, because you can start off in these exercises with a fairly good objective, but then you can find yourself in a very sticky situation that can take years to unravel”.

‘New Zealanders have a right to know’ – Hipkins

On Tuesday, Hipkins said the government had “basically” signed the country up to say “we’re ready and willing to participate in securing the strait”.

“I don’t think we should be making a broad commitment like that at this point. Any support that New Zealand provides should be after a United Nations mandate, and at this point that doesn’t exist,” Hipkins said.

“The government has signed us up to an open ended commitment to re-open the strait, without detailing what that commitment might look like.

“New Zealanders have a right to know what the government is signing us up to.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Since the statement was released, speaking to Fox News, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said countries including Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Bahrain and the NATO alliance were working to “implement [US President Donald Trump’s] vision of making sure that the Strait of Hormuz is free, is opening up as soon as that is possible”.

Asked for clarification about this comment, Peters said Rutte did not speak for New Zealand and he had probably been misinformed.

“We haven’t been asked, and should we be asked – we would consider it. That’s all I’ve said,” Peters emphasised.

On the joint statement, he said it was “specifically narrow”.

In Parliament during an urgent debate on the conflict in the Middle East, Peters said the government was committed to working with partners to try and address one of the consequences of this conflict, that was higher fuel prices for New Zealanders.

“But that is not the same as saying we are definitely going to contribute.

“If we receive a request, or if an international coalition was established in the future to safeguard commercial shipping, any possible contribution would be a matter for – guess who – the Cabinet first of all, to determine based on careful consideration of New Zealand’s interests.”

Currently, the government would not comment on what potential resources would be considered or committed if New Zealand was requested to help, due to it being a hypothetical issue.

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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/2026/03/25/combat-deployment-of-nz-troops-to-middle-east-unlikely-even-if-help-asked-law-professor/

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‘Impactful’ weather event heading for upper North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash / Erik Witsoe

MetService says an “impactful” weather event is heading for the upper North Island this afternoon, with Northland likely to be upgraded to a red weather warning as it develops.

An orange heavy rain warning was in place for Northland from 4pm Wednesday and for Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula early Thursday, lasting until Friday.

Meteorologist Silvia Martino said the impacts might not be seen right away.

“This will be a long event, it carries on for a couple of days, so while we might not get to warning amounts [today], we are expecting over time that rain to build up to warning levels.”

She explained forecasters would be working with local authorities to determine if a red warning was needed.

“The decision about whether to go to a red warning is one that’s made based on what the impacts are likely to be.

“What our expert forecasters will be doing is talking to the council, talking to people on the ground about what the impacts are expected to be from the amount of rain we’re forecasting, and then together they’ll make the decision about whether a red warning is appropriate.

“With the heavy rain, we’re looking out for the risk of surface flooding, of possibly areas being cut off, and reminding people to avoid floodwaters. If you can avoid travel then that’s for the best.”

Clear the gutters, put anything away that could be a source of danger from wind, Martino 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/2026/03/25/impactful-weather-event-heading-for-upper-north-island/

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Two senior Corrections staff under investigation

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ understands both involve senior staff. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Two senior Corrections staff are under investigation including one who faces an allegation of sexual harassment.

The other person has been suspended following multiple allegations of bullying and harassment.

Corrections said the two cases, which both involve staff at Mt Eden prison, are separate matters and do not relate to each other.

RNZ understands both involve senior staff, however they are not at an executive level.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

In response to questions from RNZ, Corrections deputy chief executive people and capability, Rebecca Powell, confirmed in a statement both staff worked in Pae Ora at Mt Eden prison.

According to Corrections’ website the Pae Ora Group is “responsible for delivering evidence-informed, culturally responsive health and rehabilitation services to people under Corrections management”.

Powell said Corrections could confirm one person had been placed on alternative duties outside of the workplace following an allegation of sexual harassment.

“Another staff member within Pae Ora has been suspended following allegations from multiple internal and external sources of bullying and harassment,” she said.

“These are separate matters and do not relate to each other.”

Powell said Corrections was one of the largest government departments in New Zealand with about 11,000 staff.

“The overwhelming majority of our people act with integrity, honesty and professionalism in what is often a high pressure and challenging environment.

“We are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are free from bullying and harassment. Our clear expectation is that staff uphold the standards of behaviour in our Code of Conduct and comply with the law.”

Powell said the outcome of any employment investigation cannot be pre-determined. Any employment investigation process must follow the requirements of the Employment Relations Act and uphold procedural integrity.

A staff member may be suspended when the staffer has admitted to misconduct but there would be some delay before a decision is made on any disciplinary action to be taken, or if the allegations were of such a serious nature that it is not appropriate for the staff member to continue to perform their duties or to remain in the workplace while an investigation is undertaken.

A staffer could also be suspended if their presence in the workplace or their contact with colleagues or offenders “might hamper a full and fair investigation” and/or potentially raise a safety risk to other staff, people in Corrections management, or themselves.

RNZ earlier revealed that Corrections commissioner of custodial services Leigh Marsh was facing an employment investigation.

In response to questions about the inquiry into Marsh, Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot said Corrections could confirm one senior leader would be investigated by an external independent investigator.

“The concerns raised relate to alleged conduct around management processes and bullying within the employment relationship.”

Marsh was one of three operational deputy chief executives who is going to undertake a six-month secondment into different DCE roles within Corrections.

“I had already been considering moving the operational DCEs into each other’s areas later this year. This is because I believe these secondments will allow each operational DCE to deepen their understanding of each other’s respective areas so we can continue building a coherent, cohesive organisation.

“Their employment agreements were developed to allow such secondments to take place.

“The decision to do this now was brought forward to ensure that a thorough and fair employment process for both parties in relation to the above complaint can be carried out.”

Marsh will be moving to Pae Ora.

RNZ asked Corrections what involvement Marsh would have with the investigations.

“In the two cases you are referring to, these were initiated while Juanita Ryan was deputy chief executive Pae Ora so any tier 2 (that is, deputy chief executive level) involvement in these matters, if required, will remain with her.”

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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/2026/03/25/two-senior-corrections-staff-under-investigation/

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Iranian New Zealanders mark Nowruz at Parliament with mixed feelings

Source: Radio New Zealand

A dancer performing at the event. RNZ / Lillian Hanly

Iranian New Zealanders gathered at Parliament on Tuesday night to celebrate Nowruz, or Iranian new year, while grappling with a “mix” of feelings due to the ongoing conflict.

Those in attendance told RNZ they hoped a new year would bring new hope, and that “peace prevails”.

The event was also a memorial to those who were killed in Iran’s deadly crackdown earlier this year, and the scores of children killed at an Iranian girls’ school by a targetting mistake in a US strike.

One organiser for the event, Hoda, told RNZ last year was the inaugural event at Parliament, and it was a “happy moment”.

“But this time, the event is a little bit different. It’s a mix of feeling – Nowruz is felt differently by people, they are sad but hopeful.”

Hoda, one of the organisers of the event. RNZ / Lillian Hanly

She explained Nowruz meant ‘new day’, or a new beginning: “This is the first year that we felt that from the bottom of our hearts, there might be some hope.

“People, they are sad, but they are hopeful.”

She said she hoped for a “big change” and a “new life for our people”.

“They’re suffering from many years, and finally, they can see that some change might happen.”

Another organiser for the event told RNZ they had prepared a Haft-Seen table, a traditional part of the new year where seven symbollic items starting with the letter ‘s’ are spread on a table representing hope, renewal and prosperity.

The Haft-Seen table. RNZ / Lillian Hanly

One item was serke (vinegar), meaning patience.

“It also tells us that the new year is not always going to be a happy year, and we need a lot of patience, especially during these difficult times that Iran is going through right now,” said one member of the community.

She pointed to the posters representing those killed “as a result of the brutality of the regime or the war, especially there is one poster dedicated to the children of Minab, who were killed”.

There was also a dance performance, a moment of silence held and dates were served alongside the wall of remembrance.

Posters of those who had been killed, alongside a remembrance table. RNZ / Lillian Hanly

Other members of the Iranian community were in attendance including Soodeh who joined with her husband and young son.

She said Nowruz was an important cultural celebration in Iran, and always celebrated.

“It’s very important for us. It doesn’t matter how we feel. We always celebrate this celebration. That’s why we are here.”

She also hoped something new was going to start in Iran by changing the regime and installing a new leader.

Both Soodeh and Hoda said one thing the New Zealand government could do in response to what was happening was to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, as other countries around the world had done.

Soodeh (L) with her family. RNZ / Lillian Hanly

The designation has been under consideration for some time. The issue was raised again last year following Australia’s decision to make the designation.

Soodeh also criticised a lack of media coverage in New Zealand regarding the protests in Iran earlier this year, which led to a deadly crackdown.

Mehdi told RNZ he hoped peace would prevail, but also indicated the wish of those in Iran was “freedom” and he hoped that was implemented.

“Freedom of women, freedom of country, and freedom of thought is what what they need.”

Ehsan (L) and Mehdi (C). RNZ / Lillian Hanly

He said the use of ideology in a bad way was the “worst thing that can happen” and that was what happened in Iran, and “really upset people”.

Ehsan agreed, saying they wanted a new democratic system. He did not want a regime based on any idea, religious or non-religious. He wanted a system where what people were saying was accepted, and the ruler accepted the majority consensus.

That was what the war was about, he said.

“We don’t like war, but this is imposed on us.”

Iranian New Zealanders gathered at Parliament on Tuesday night to celebrate Nowruz, or Iranian new year, RNZ / Lillian Hanly

Labour MP Megan Woods hosted the event, and acknowledged those who could not gather “so freely”.

“As the Haft-Seen table reminds us – with its symbols of renewal, growth, and health – this is a time for both personal reflection and shared solidarity.”

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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/2026/03/25/iranian-new-zealanders-mark-nowruz-at-parliament-with-mixed-feelings/

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Dunedin City Council considers sanctioning first-termer Benedict Ong for code of conduct breach

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dunedin City councillor Benedict Ong. Supplied

The Dunedin City Council will consider sanctioning first-term councillor Benedict Ong for breaching its code of conduct after publicly criticising a staff member.

Ong last month sent an email complaining about the staff member’s performance to the council’s chief executive and two local journalists.

The email accused the worker of “apparent political bias” and a “lack of political neutrality”.

An independent investigation by senior lawyer Steph Dyhrberg found Ong seriously breached the council’s code of conduct and his actions could have been a deliberate attempt to retaliate against the staff member for not supporting his account in an earlier complaint he made against another councillor.

Ong used social media to call the findings he victimised or discredited the staff member “wholly false”, saying he had never publicly named the staff member and claimed he had been forcibly silenced and forced to leave a council meeting. He was escorted out of a February meeting with tape over his mouth following concerns about his behaviour.

The council would decide on Wednesday if it agreed with Dyhrberg’s conclusion, provide Ong with an opportunity to address the council and consider possible sanctions if councillors agreed the code was breached.

Possible sanctions included a letter of censure, a demand to publicly apologise, a vote of no confidence, removal of council-funded privileges or an invitation to resign.

Ong also faced losing two external council representative roles that could cost him $15,000 in annual pay.

Sophie Barker. Supplied

Mayor Sophie Barker made the request due to behaviour she described as “extremely disrespectful”.

Ong’s first six months as a councillor had not been smooth sailing with a series of controversies including speaking out after being asked to remain quiet about a code of conduct complaint he made against colleague John Chambers.

Ong claimed Chambers made inappropriate comments towards him.

Dyhrberg also investigated that complaint, but it was dismissed after her preliminary investigation found it lacked substance.

Part of the evidence she considered was a phone call transcript with a staff member who did not support Ong’s account of what was said.

The staff member also raised concerns Ong was known to share information with the media and might breach her privacy, prompting Dyhrberg to ask Ong to keep the information confidential when she shared it with him.

Ong sent the email to the council chief executive and local journalists about half an hour later in what might have been a deliberate attempt to retaliate or discredit her, Dyhrberg said, in a report following her investigation.

She regarded his attempt to discredit the staff member as a witness in a code of conduct process as particularly egregious.

While the staff member was not named, she was readily identifiable, Dyhrberg said.

He risked bringing the council into disrepute and compromising its obligation to be a good employer, as well as exposing it to potential litigation, through his public disclosure of sensitive material, she said.

Dyhrberg noted Ong was given several opportunities to respond to the concerns raised or comment but chose not to.

Ong had continued to defend himself in social media posts.

“I know in my heart and I know in my veins I am Right and I work relentlessly every moment every day for our Great City,” he said, in one such post.

Ong also faced possible removal from his council representative roles on the Otago Settlers Association and the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board.

Barker wrote to Ong in February to inform him he was no longer deputy of the council’s technology portfolio and she was withdrawing the privilege of attending informal meetings with herself, councillors, MPs and invited guests after his “extremely disrespectful behaviour” towards her and his refusal to remove disparaging online comments about the chief executive.

She told him she would reconsider her decision when he removed the posts and apologised in writing.

Chambers was recommended to replace Ong as the new council representative for the Otago Settlers Association and the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board.

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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/2026/03/25/dunedin-city-council-considers-sanctioning-first-termer-benedict-ong-for-code-of-conduct-breach/

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Board accused of interfering in Columba College, accuses ministry of ‘overstepping’ in turn

Source: Radio New Zealand

Columba College in Dunedin. RNZ

Documents show staff at Dunedin’s Columba College complained to education officials multiple times accusing the school’s board of bullying and interfering in the day to day running of the school.

In response, the college would later say the Ministry of Education’s apparent concerns were “not made out on the evidence” that it was “at risk of overstepping” and even that the board was concerned those involved at the ministry “may not be impartial”.

In a statement to RNZ this week the school said its relationship with the ministry was “highly collaborative and positive” and that information provided by the Official Information Act (OIA) process was a “valuable opportunity for transparency and reflection on previous issues”.

In October, the school announced its principal Charissa Nicol would not be returning.

Nicol, who had been in the role since June 2023, had been on leave since 30 July. The school earlier declined to say why she was on leave.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

RNZ requested under the Official Information Act the total number of complaints made to the Ministry of Education regarding Columba College in the past two years, a summary of the complaints, and a copy of all correspondence between the school and the ministry regarding the complaints last year.

The OIA reveals the ministry received 19 complaints regarding the school last year.

In April the Ministry of Education Dunedin/South Otago manager of integrated services Judith Forbes emailed the presiding member of Columba College Board Graeme Riley and Nicol asking for a meeting.

“The Ministry of Education has received some complaints about the Columba College Board, and our first step in any situation like this would always be to discuss with the Presiding Member and the Principal the concerns that have been raised with us.

“I acknowledge that it may be unsettling to hear that the Ministry has received such correspondence.”

Ahead of the meeting, Forbes sent a summary of the complaints to Riley and Nicol as well as the president of the Board of Governors Amy Columb.

“Complaints have come from a number of staff [redacted] relating to the actions/behaviour of the Columba College Board. Summary statement from one complainant is that the board is ‘overreaching and interfering with the day to day running of the school, as well as not following policies/procedures – either by demanding certain things do or do not happen or by attempting to circumvent the limits of their reach to enforce what they wish to happen’.”

There were several examples given including the process for investigating and decision-making around a complaint against a teacher raised by more than one complainant as a breach of policy, applying additional scrutiny to departments and writing new policies to enforce decisions which would normally be made by management.

“We were particularly concerned to note that complainants stated that they were afraid to raise their concerns because of the perceived risk that they would then be targeted by past and current members of the board, with one stating that ‘targeting of complainants has unfortunately occurred in the past’.”

Ministry of Education Dunedin/South Otago manager of integrated services Judith Forbes. RNZ / Ian Telfer

‘This seems like an escalation already’

In response, Riley said the board thought the usual process would have been to refer the complaints back to them in the first instance, or that any staff concerns would first have been raised with the board through Nicol.

“So this seems like an escalation already, and we are concerned that the Ministry seems to have made decisions about an appropriate process without the benefit of hearing the Board’s views or establishing the facts.”

Riley said the summary of concerns was “markedly similar” to concerns that had previously been expressed and were already being addressed by both the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees.

He added the school had engaged education consultant Cleave Hay to work with it as a “specialist governance advisor”.

On 23 April, Forbes sent an email following the meeting.

“As discussed, the Ministry is concerned to have received complaints from staff regarding the way that the boards have been operating. These complaints have a common theme: that the boards may have, over time, developed an unusual degree of involvement in the day-to-day management of the school, and that this may be having a negative impact on the smooth operation of the school and on the wellbeing of its staff.”

Forbes said the ministry was “pleased” that Hay had been contracted to support the boards, and it was “reassuring” that both Columb and Riley were “perturbed” to hear staff did not feel safe raising their concerns more directly.

She said some school boards had, in such situations, done a staff wellbeing survey with “the protection of anonymity for all respondents”.

“It would be helpful to hear back from you what plan of action the school board is thinking of putting in place to address the concerns raised, so that the Ministry can determine whether or not any further action from us is warranted and/or necessary.”

Ministry concerned about ‘ongoing operation of the school’

On 9 May Forbes received an email from Anderson Lloyd partner John Farrow who said the school’s boards had asked for advice on her email from 23 April.

He said the boards were concerned she seemed to be “forming opinions about the College without providing the information on which those opinions are apparently based, and without properly explaining the apparent concerns”.

Farrow said the boards had taken the complaints “seriously” and were taking steps to address them, in consultation with Nicol and Hay.

“In those circumstances your follow-up email, and the indication that you were still considering ‘further action’ is cause for concern. We do not see how any Ministry action could be considered at all appropriate or necessary.”

On 23 June, the ministry’s Otago central manager of integrated services Chris Bryant sent an email regarding a meeting they had the day prior referring to several matters that had been discussed.

This included that the ministry had heard from a few sources, that there was a “significant break down in the relationship between the Governance and Management. This raises concerns for the Ministry about the ongoing operation of the school”.

‘The Ministry is at risk of overstepping’

On 11 July, Farrow emailed David Tapp, the director of education for Otago and Southland on behalf of the school board and Board of Governors regarding a meeting requested by Bryant.

“Mr Bryant’s email records an option the Ministry has is to consider using its legislative powers to compel such a meeting.”

Farrow said the boards considered the ministry’s apparent concerns were “not made out on the evidence; the Ministry is at risk of overstepping; and it is too early for Ministry intervention.”

The board said the ministry may be “taking into account irrelevant considerations, including complaints made with specific agendas unrelated to concerns about the governance and effective operation of the school”.

He also said the board was “concerned those involved at the Ministry may not be impartial”.

Farrow said it was “premature” for the ministry to require a meeting with the whole school board and “almost certainly too soon for the Ministry to formally intervene”.

In response, Bryant said the purpose of the meeting was for the ministry to gain assurance that Columba College could “continue to operate effectively”.

“This is not an intervention…”

The ministry still wanted to meet with the boards.

A meeting took place in October between the Ministry of Education, Riley, Columb, Hay as well as Farrow and Fiona McMillan from Anderson Law. Following the meeting Tapp sent an email to those who attended.

Most of the email was redacted.

In a subheading titled ‘complaints process’, the email said the ministry had received 11 complaints to date. Where the complainants had included their name and email addresses, the ministry had referred them back to the school’s complaints process.

A “fear of retribution” was the common theme among the complaints.

“We positively note that the actions in Cleave’s report show that the Board is reviewing its complaints and [Professional Learning and Development].

“We are keen to see your progress on this and importantly to see how you intend to have a well-functioning complaints process which is free from the perception of fear of retribution.”

‘We have seen improvement’

In a statement to RNZ, Tapp said the ministry was in “regular contact” with the school and continued to meet with school representatives to support both the board and the leadership team.

“Last year we identified concerns about governance and leadership at the school. Columba has taken positive steps since then. We consider progress needs to occur more quickly. Several key governance matters remain unresolved, and the school is clear about the performance expectations that must be met.

“We have seen improvement. The Boards of Governors and Trustees engaged an independent governance adviser, and a working group involving staff and union representatives was established and is meeting regularly. These actions show constructive movement to resolving the governance issues identified, and we are confident the school is heading in the right direction.”

Tapp said the school continued to “operate effectively” for students on a day-to-day basis.

“At this time, further intervention is not being considered.”

In response to questions from RNZ the school’s acting principal Aaron Everett and Riley released a statement they said had been reviewed and “endorsed by staff” and was supported by both boards and the principal.

The statement said there had been changes within the school board, with seven new members joining since the board election in September last year.

The boards and staff were “working in close, positive collaboration” the statement said including formalising a dedicated working group comprising board and staff members to “ensure a unified approach and a commitment to open communication”.

They were also working together to review procedures related to the management of concerns or complaints.

“We view the information provided via the OIA process as a valuable opportunity for transparency and reflection on previous issues. It allows us to gain visibility of feedback and provides the opportunity to address these historical concerns and issues.”

The statement said the school’s relationship with the ministry was “highly collaborative and positive”.

“We welcome their partnership as we strive to provide the best possible environment for our students, staff and wider community.”

They were “encouraged” by the ministry’s confidence in the school’s current direction and its confirmation that intervention was not required.

Asked about the concerns raised about impartiality from the ministry, the statement said any “historical queries” regarding impartiality had been “fully addressed”.

“Both Boards have complete confidence in the MOE’s impartiality and look forward to our continued partnership.”

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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/2026/03/25/board-accused-of-interfering-in-columba-college-accuses-ministry-of-overstepping-in-turn/

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4am wake-ups: Can anyone be a ‘morning person’?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nadia White wakes up at 4am to make bacon and egg butties for the regular truckies loggers, shearers, boaties and fishers passing through Martinborough.

“We can’t do anything until we have the magic brown juice and once that magical juice is running through our veins and then, then we’re just into it,” she says. (She likes it long, black with a dash of cream.)

Kitchener’s, on the main drag in and out of Martinborough, officially opens at 5am. The family-run café cracks the door open from 2am, when White’s older sister Christy Anne is on site cooking and baking everything from scratch (she is in bed by 4pm, with an alarm set at 1am).

Nadia White (l) with her family who own and run Kitchener’s Cafe in Martinborough.

Supplied

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/4am-wake-ups-can-anyone-be-a-morning-person/

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John Beckenridge killed himself and stepson in 2015, coroner rules

Source: Radio New Zealand

John Beckenridge, left, and Mike Zhou-Beckenridge. SUPPLIED

John Beckenridge killed himself and his 11-year-old stepson in a vengeful act against his estranged wife, a coroner has ruled.

Coroner Marcus Elliot said the Queenstown man was angry, self-righteous and vengeful when he drove his car off a cliff in the Catlins in 2015.

Beckenridge and his stepson Mike Zhou-Beckenridge were last seen near Curio Bay in Southland in March 2015 and the 64-year-old’s car was later found in the sea at the bottom of a cliff.

Coroner Elliot, in a decision released on Wednesday, said the pair were not missing but had died in the crash in 2015.

It follows a coronial hearing in 2023, during which the boy’s mother Fiona Lu expressed doubt they had died and instead believed Beckenridge had staged their deaths and fled the country with her son.

The coroner did not intend to hold an inquest in the deaths but would instead issue in-chambers’ findings based on existing evidence.

The pair vanished after Beckenridge broke a court order and picked up Mike from school on 13 March 2015.

Beckenridge had been in a relationship with Lu since 2006 and they married in 2007.

They separated in 2013 and there was conflict over where Mike should live.

When police looked into the pair’s disappearance they determined the pair had died in a murder-suicide but Mike’s family are convinced they escaped overseas.

Coroner Elliot said he had looked at the theory but decided Beckenridge would have had to pull off the “perfect crime”.

That would have involved Beckenridge pretending to be increasingly angry, irrational and desperate and faking his dire financial situation, the coroner said.

“In short this theory requires Mr Beckenridge to have put on a convincing act, a complete sham, for months and even years portraying himself as someone other than who he really was,” he said.

The car belonging to John Beckenridge that was found in the waters of Curio Bay. Otago Daily Times

However, he decided Beckenridge was fuelled by rage when he drove his car over the cliff, killing himself and Mike.

“Mr Beckenridge’s willingness to use Mike as a weapon against Ms Lu reveals a callous disregard for the harm he was causing Mike. He did everything he could to turn Mike against, and incite hatred of, his mother and [Lu’s new partner Peter] Russell,” Coroner Elliot said.

“The only conclusion one can draw from Mr Beckenridge’s indoctrination of Mike against his mother is that he was at least indifferent to the harm he was causing to Mike. He had become so vindictive towards Ms Lu and so self-obsessed and self-righteous that he was willing to harm Mike.”

Private detective Mark Templeman told the coroner, on behalf of Lu, that the pair had staged the crash and left the country.

Templeman claimed Beckenridge rigged a driverless vehicle to go off the cliff and left the country with Mike – probably by boat – travelling to a country or countries overseas and establishing new lives under new identities.

Part of the plan involved creating the impression Beckenridge could not afford to stage an escape from New Zealand, Templeman said.

However, he claimed Beckenridge had other funding options, including $11,400 in a Superannuation Fund in Sweden, which had not been investigated.

Beckenridge was born in Sweden and originally named Knut Lundh.

He lived in several countries as an adult and changed his name first to John Lundh and then John Beckenridge.

Templeman said Beckenridge set up the site at the top of the Cliff to create the illusion he had committed suicide.

Beckenridge was an experienced diver and sailor and was very familiar with the tide and currents, he said.

Beckenridge selected the spot so the car would submerge and be difficult to locate and reach, Templeman said.

The cove near Curio Bay that was at the centre of the search for Michael Zhao-Beckenridge, 11, and his stepfather John Beckenridge. RNZ / Ian Telfer

The car is believed to have gone over the cliff on 20 March 2015 and debris was spotted two days later. But it could not be accessed by divers until 29 March due to the condition of the sea and the car was not recovered until early May.

Templeman said it would be dangerous to conclude Beckenridge and Mike were dead as all international monitoring would cease, which was exactly what Beckenridge wanted to happen.

But Coroner Elliot said the staging and escape theory was implausible.

“Mr Beckenridge’s actions illustrate that he either did not have or did not display the characteristics of the intelligent, resourceful, rational and well-prepared criminal which Ms Lu and Mr Russell believe him to be,” said Elliot.

The coroner also heard from Dr John Raine, Emeritus Doctor of Mechanical Engineering at Auckland University of Technology, who provided an independent report about the vehicle and clifftop scene.

Dr Raine said he did not think a driver could have left the vehicle as it was driven towards the edge and the only way the vehicle could have been launched off the cliff without a driver would be if it had been rigged to accelerate hard in a straight line towards its launch point.

When Dr Raine inspected the remains of the vehicle there was no sign of any fixtures to enable remote control and nothing was seen by the Police national dive squad.

It was “very, very improbable that a remote-controlled actuator system was used,” Dr Raine said.

Coroner Elliot said he had concluded Beckenridge and Mike were dead and their bodies lost at sea.

Mike was 11-years-old when he went missing and would now be 22 if he was alive.

Lu did not want to comment on the coroner’s decision. But at the hearing she said she thought about her son everyday and believed one day he would come back to her.

Detective Inspector Stu Harvey said the coroner had reached the same conclusion as police.

“We know this outcome will be difficult for members of Mike and John’s families, some of whom have held on to hope that the pair may still be alive. Our thoughts are with them today.”

Coroner Marcus Elliot said he now intended to open an inquiry into the pair’s death and would make findings using existing evidence.

He invited interested parties to make further submissions, including on whether an inquest should be held.

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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/2026/03/25/john-beckenridge-killed-himself-and-stepson-in-2015-coroner-rules/

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Southland leads regional GDP increase in year to March 2025 – Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2025 – Stats NZ news story and information release

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/southland-leads-regional-gdp-increase-in-year-to-march-2025-regional-gross-domestic-product-year-ended-march-2025-stats-nz-news-story-and-information-release/

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Legislation – Rally Against the Health & Safety at Work Amendment Bill – PSA

Source: PSA

Pike River family members Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse will join other speakers at a rally opposing the Government’s proposed changes to health and safety laws being held at Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday 25 March).
The two campaigners will join workers who are opposed to the Bill at the rally, after they have submitted to the select committee.
“The presence of Anna and Sonya will be a poignant reminder that everyone deserves to come home from work safely,” says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Duane Leo, who is also speaking at the rally after making a submission to the select committee.
The rally is being organised by the PSA on behalf of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and affiliated unions.
“The Government is pushing a bill that will water down employers’ obligations, put workers at risk push the burden of workplace injuries onto workers, their whānau, ACC and the health system,” Leo says.
“The Bill would give employers with 20 or fewer workers huge exemptions to their health and safety responsibilities.
“Smaller employers wouldn’t have to protect their workers from things like trips and falls, exposure to infection, bullying, and workplace stress.
“The bill would also allow industries to develop their own health and safety codes of practice that could reduce employers’ health and safety obligations.
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President, who is speaking at the rally Sandra Grey says: “We want worker health and safety to be a priority in businesses of all sizes and we are particularly concerned that this legislation gives smaller businesses a free pass.”
Speakers
As well as Sonya, Anna, Duane and Sandra the rally will be addressed by opposition MPs.
Visual elements
The rally will feature a large yellow “Accidents Ahead” banner:
Details
When 1pm-1.50pm, Wednesday 25 March
Where: Parliament Lawn.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/legislation-rally-against-the-health-safety-at-work-amendment-bill-psa/

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Property Market – NZ property market stabilising as more suburbs record price gains – Cotality

Source: Cotality

Property values in more than half of New Zealand suburbs have stabilised or risen in the past three months, suggesting the country’s housing market is gradually finding its footing after several subdued years.

The latest update of Cotality’s Mapping the Market interactive tool, which provides suburb-level property insights across the country, shows 56% of suburbs recorded either stable or rising standalone house values over the three months to March. That is up from 44% three months earlier, indicating a modest strengthening in market conditions.

Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the figures show the national market may appear subdued on the surface, noting results were more nuanced as more suburbs stabilised or recorded modest gains.

“At a high level, the NZ property market has been trending sideways in recent months,” he said.

“Sales activity has been lifting for some time now, but elevated listings are still keeping pricing power largely with buyers, which is why overall value growth has remained fairly subdued.”

“But suburb-level figures show that the cautious attitude does not apply everywhere.”

Rural regions showing resilience

Some of the strongest value gains have emerged in regional areas with 30 suburbs recording house value growth of at least 3%, with many located in Southland, Otago and the West Coast.

Among the strongest performers were Karitane in Dunedin and Blackball in Grey District, which each saw house values rise by more than 6%, while Mataura in Gore recorded growth of more than 4%.

Mr Davidson said relatively better affordability and the strength of the farming sector at a regional level had likely supported housing demand in those regions.

“Some of the more affordable regional markets linked to strong rural economies have been holding up well,” he said.

“That combination of lower price points and stable local economic conditions can provide a bit more resilience when the broader market is subdued.”

Patchy results across cities
While some regional areas have shown resilience, conditions in some other markets remain mixed.

Suburbs such as Crofton Downs and Kelburn in Wellington recorded house value growth of 3 – 4% in the March quarter, while Stillwater in Auckland and Aranui in Christchurch both rose by almost 2%.

However, declines were also recorded elsewhere across the country. For example, Little Wanganui in Buller fell by around 6%, while Wellsford in Auckland’s Rodney district dropped by almost 3.5%.

Mr Davidson said the suburb-level data highlights the uneven nature of the housing market at present.

“When you drill down to suburb-level data, conditions become much more varied. Some areas are already seeing values stabilise or edge higher, while others remain softer depending on local economic conditions, supply levels and affordability,” he said.

Townhouse markets remain softer

For townhouses and flats, 53% of suburbs recorded stable or rising values over the three months to March, indicating slightly weaker conditions than the standalone housing market.

A total of 45 suburbs recorded townhouse value increases of at least 3%, with 10 suburbs rising by 5% or more, including Tauranga South, Belleknowes in Dunedin, and Oamaru.

However, several areas also recorded declines, including Wesley and Goodwood Heights in Auckland, which both saw values fall by more than 3%.

Mr Davidson said the pipeline of new housing supply is still putting some downward pressure on prices in certain areas, such as Auckland, where there’s been a significant pipeline of fresh townhouses completed.

Wide price differences across NZ suburbs

Among standalone houses, Herne Bay in Auckland remains the country’s most expensive suburb, with a median house value of around $2.99 million, followed by Saint Marys Bay at $2.86 million.

At the other end of the spectrum, several suburbs have median house values below $300,000, including Patea in South Taranaki, Blackball in Grey District, and Clinton in Clutha.

Mr Davidson said Mapping the Market helps reveal the diversity of housing markets across the country.

“The suburb-level data highlights just how different local housing markets can be,” he said.

“Even within the same region, property values and trends can vary quite significantly depending on local supply, demand and economic conditions.”

Outlook points to modest growth

Mr Davidson said NZ’s housing market is positioned for modest value growth through 2026, adding that the General Election, debt-to-income lending restrictions and global economic risks would remain important factors to watch.

“Affordability has improved compared with the peak of the market, mortgage rates have stabilised and listings appear to be easing slightly,” he said.

“Those factors should support some gradual value growth this year, but buyers and sellers remain cautious, so the prospect of a boom looks unlikely.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/property-market-nz-property-market-stabilising-as-more-suburbs-record-price-gains-cotality/

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Te Awa Lakes welcomes IFF funding to unlock 1500-house development in Hamilton

Spurce: Te Awa Lakes

Te Awa Lakes has welcomed Government’s use of the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020 (IFF) to unlock 1500 houses in northern Hamilton’s largest greenfield development.

The IFF transaction, facilitated by National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited (NIFF), will provide $50 million of funding toward delivery of bulk infrastructure such as upgrade of roads, stormwater lake and outlets and other key bulk infrastructure to be delivered by the developer.

This funding is one of the first of its kind to support unlocking greenfield developments for housing, and is in line with the Government’s 3 pillars of “Going for Housing Growth.”

Te Awa Lakes is a fully master planned development that falls within the Future Proof Strategy Northwest Priority Development Area of the high-growth urban area of Hamilton. With an average annual population growth of 2%, demand for new dwellings and amenities is projected to increase by around 56% out to 2050, equating to a demand for an estimated 61,285 dwellings across the sub region.

Richard Coventry, Managing Partner of the Te Awa Lakes JV says, “The IFF funding tool is a game changer for Te Awa Lakes and the northern growth node of the region, as without this tool the infrastructure delivery would be fully reliant on direct developer funding, which is too slow and cannot keep pace with the demand for the region.

“We fully anticipate that this funding tool will not only accelerate the construction of housing for early stages of Te Awa Lakes, but it will also unlock other developable land in the northern node and gateway of the region.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/te-awa-lakes-welcomes-iff-funding-to-unlock-1500-house-development-in-hamilton/

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Politics – Workers will never forget van Velden’s damaging legacy – PSA

Source: PSA
Workers feel no joy in Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden resigning from Parliament at this year’s election – her tenure marks the end of one of the most destructive tenures in the history of New Zealand workplace relations.
“It is hard to think of an individual who has done more damage to workers in the modern era,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“She destroyed pay equity, stripped away freedom from unfair dismissal, and exploited the vulnerability of contractors including Uber drivers. She handed employers more power than they had ever hoped for – and that harm will be felt for years to come by women denied the pay they deserve, workers dismissed without remedy, and contractors left without protection.
“Today she had the gall to say she was ‘proud’ of all the decisions she made in government. How out of touch with the lived reality of the workers’ lives she damaged is that? They are less secure and many will earn less because of her decisions.
“This is a Minister who delivered to ACT’s business mates, but her relentless attack on workers’ rights did not happen alone. National and New Zealand First were right there, alongside ACT enabling every one of the attacks.
“These were not accidents or oversights – they were deliberate choices that make the lives of New Zealand workers worse every single day.
“The Coalition Government is still pursuing cuts to sick leave, annual leave and health and safety protections in the workplace. Van Velden is still the Minister till election day so the fight is not over.
“At this year’s election, on 7 November, this Government’s record on workers will be front and centre – specifically how National, NZ First and ACT, have enabled the biggest attack on workers and their families in a generation.
“The damage is real, it is ongoing, and we will be asking voters to kick them out. That would be a fitting parting gift from workers to Brooke van Velden.”
ENDS
Van Velden’s legacy
  • Cancelled pay equity for more than 150,000 women workers
  • Made it harder to bring pay equity claims in future
  • Axed Fair Pay Agreements
  • Reinstated 90-day fire at will trials
  • Made it easier to fire workers at will by weakening personal grievance rules
  • Suppressed minimum wage increases
  • Appointed more business aligned members to the Employment Relations Authority
  • Delivered employer contracts for Uber
  • Proposing to cut back sick leave and annual leave for part-time workers
  • Proposing to make workplaces less safe.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/politics-workers-will-never-forget-van-veldens-damaging-legacy-psa/

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New first response unit in Benneydale to boost emergency care

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

A new first response unit in Benneydale will enhance emergency medical response for the local community and surrounding area, providing faster treatment in critical situations and protecting more lives.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteer firefighters in Benneydale, 35 kilometres southeast of Te Kuiti, have been trained as first responders and will be dispatched to serious and life-threatening medical emergencies, working alongside the Hato Hone St John ambulance network.
While Hato Hone St John is the lead agency for all medical calls, the collaboration with Fire and Emergency will strengthen emergency response in rural and remote areas around Benneydale, where immediate care can make a crucial difference.
Fire and Emergency’s Waikato Assistant District Commander David Brown says eight volunteers in the Benneydale Volunteer Fire Brigade have just completed the Hato Hone St John first responder training.
“Because Benneydale is a volunteer fire brigade, our firefighters are usually the closest emergency service and first on the scene of any incident in the surrounding rural communities,” David Brown says.
“Benneydale now joins over 60 Fire and Emergency first response units across New Zealand as part of our Memorandum of Understanding with Hato Hone St John to respond to life-threatening medical emergencies.
“The training equips our people with essential patient assessment and treatment skills. They will now carry a first response kit, including an automated external defibrillator (AED), to provide immediate care while Hato Hone St John resources are enroute.”
Rob Chisholm, Hato Hone St John Group Operations Manager – Waitomo and King Country, is thankful to Fire and Emergency for establishing the first response capabilities in Benneydale.
“Our ambulance crews responding from the wider area can take comfort in knowing they have the support of trained first responders who can provide immediate care before they arrive.
“In serious medical emergencies, every minute counts, and having local first responders available greatly benefits patient outcomes and response times,” Rob Chisholm says.
It is important to note that the public should continue to call 111 and request an ambulance in a medical emergency.
Note: Establishing Fire and Emergency first response units is a vital part of HHStJ and Fire and Emergency’s Memorandum of Understanding, in which HHStJ is the lead agency for all medical calls.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/25/new-first-response-unit-in-benneydale-to-boost-emergency-care/

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‘You can find anything in there’: Exhibits from Tirau Museum up for auction

Source: Radio New Zealand

The museum’s collection was a labour of love for Geoffrey Ernst, who died in 2023. Supplied / Emma Faire

Hundreds of pieces of New Zealand history are set to be sold next month, as exhibits from the Tirau Museum go up for auction in the Waikato town.

The collection was a labour of love for local man Geoffrey Ernst, who died in 2023 – and was dedicated to preserving New Zealand’s rural and social history.

The collection comprises of and estimated 5000 items, including vintage signage, machinery, farm equipment, bottles, vehicles and even an aeroplane propellor.

Auctioneer charged with selling the collection William Britton told Morning Report the museum had been Ernst’s lifelong passion.

Ernst had been gathering the items since he was nine years old, and the collection had grown to cover some 13,000 square feet, he said.

“It covers everything that you can think of. You can find anything in there.”

The collection includes countless items of petrol station signage, William Britton said. Supplied / William Britton

One of the most prized items in the collection – an Indian motorcycle from 1941 – had been a service vehicle during WWII, he said.

“This bike’s very much complete and it’s not been restored which is quite rare these days.

“This one would have come over from America during World War Two and would’ve done service here. It’s missing a few pieces but it’s all there and it’s ready for someone to love again.”

The 1941 Indian motorcycle was brought over from the US as a service vehicle during WWII. Supplied / William Britton

Other interesting and rare lots included an antique ginger beer filling machine, the oldest tractor in the Waikato district and countess vintage petrol signs.

There was even an old TVNZ camera, which was one of six brought into the country in 1955, he said.

“It is very much a New Zealand collection.”

The collection included a rare antique ginger beer filling machine. Supplied / William Britton

The auction comprised of 350 lots, amounting to about 1500 individual items, Britton said.

There had been lots of interest in the auction “from all walks of life”, he added.

Pre-bidding has opened online, but the auction itself will be held in Tirau on 12 April at 10am.

Britton said he was expecting strong bidding, but with auctions like these it was impossible to say which lots would garner the most interest.

“Sometimes we get surprises.”

‘It feels bittersweet’

Ernst’s daughter Emma Faire said throughout his life, Ernst had been many things to many people.

“Many of our memories of dad are of him either working hard at our family business, Tui Apiaries, or collecting all sorts of ‘things’ for his beloved museum,” she said.

“So many family outings ended in detours to wonderful places, searching for the next piece.”

“Mum often said he loved the hunt for anything old with a story. She remembers going out with him bottle digging, anywhere there was an old historic dump, he’d be there! It was so exciting, especially when you’d find a nice, whole bottle.”

Ernst had loved giving things a place where they would be appreciated, she said.

Even later in life, Ernst was never far from the museum, Emma Faire said. Supplied / Emma Faire

“A lot of our childhood was spent helping keep the museum spick and span. We spent hours playing and keeping things clean. Looking back, we probably took it for granted.”

Even later in life, Ernst was never far from the museum, she said.

“We all knew this day would come. Dad didn’t have the heart to close the doors and sell his collection. Now, as it goes up for auction, it feels bittersweet for our family.

“If we had it our way, it would stay just as it is forever. But we know that if it had to go, dad would have wanted it to go to people who will appreciate the stories, the passion, and the little pieces of his and our heart that each item holds.”

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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/2026/03/24/you-can-find-anything-in-there-exhibits-from-tirau-museum-up-for-auction/

Posted on

Canterbury tops economic survey: ‘It’s an ever-growing city’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Canterbury outperformed the rest of the country in nearly every measure, including employment, retail spending, housing activity, and population growth. 123rf.com

Christchurch locals say the city is prospering and heading in the right direction, on the back of an ASB report finding Canterbury is the best place to be in the country economically.

The region topped ASB’s Regional Economic Scoreboard for the second quarter in a row.

The survey – covering the final quarter of 2025 – showed Canterbury outperformed the rest of the country in nearly every measure, including employment, retail spending, housing activity, and population growth.

Most locals RNZ spoke to in central Christchurch on Tuesday felt the city was doing well.

“I agree [with the report], it’s a great place to live. It’s an ever-growing city, it has grown so much since the earthquakes, the people and the city that it’s growing into is very cool,” a woman said.

“I think the confidence is pretty high, people seem to be quite happy, you’ve got more flights coming into the airport, tourism is doing well. Fuel’s a bit of a worry now, I think there’s a bit of uncertainty now so hopefully things keep going as they have been,” a man said.

“It doesn’t feel like the economy is that great. It feels like every week we’re spending more and more. My friends and colleagues in Christchurch we’re all talking about I dipped into my savings this week, and ‘oh did you see how much it costs to park now’, everything feels like it’s going up in price,” one woman said.

Paige Parnell, the manager of fitness clothing store LSKD in the central city, said business had been booming and they had been getting about 1000 people through the door every Saturday.

She believed Christchurch was a top tier place to be for a retailer.

“I’ve worked with other retailers, we’ve opened up down here and it just thrives, so Christchurch does really well. I think it’s the culture, everyone here is so lovely, I’m originally from Auckland so I’ve kind of travelled around a little bit but everyone here is just so friendly, everyone wants to stop and have a conversation and everyone wants to come into a store and see the vibe,” she said.

Christchurch central Bohemian Bakery manager Barsha Gurunj said strong business had meant the bakery chain had been able to expand to five locations in the city.

She said her store had great support from locals, but there was good and bad with Christchurch being so in demand for businesses.

“I think it is a tough competition, since a lot of bakeries are opening and a lot of cafes are opening as well, but since we are open for a pretty long time like five to seven years I think it is going good,” she said.

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said there had been a lot of development in Canterbury.

“So you’ve had the stadium, and you’ve also had quite a lot of other development happening in that region as well. So it’s all been very supportive of employment growth, retail spending, and the housing market also doing relatively well in the region,” he said.

The ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard had Otago and Waikato tied for second place, with Auckland climbing to fourth.

Wellington ranked last of the 16 regions thanks to a weak housing market, low construction and discretionary spending, despite an improving jobs market.

ASB warned the conflict in the Middle East would create fresh headwinds for both growth and inflation.

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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/2026/03/24/canterbury-tops-economic-survey-its-an-ever-growing-city/

Posted on

School support staff reach pay settlement

Source: New Zealand Government

Education Minister Erica Stanford is welcoming the conclusion of negotiations to renew both the Support Staff in Schools and the Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapists’ Collective Agreements.

A 23 March ballot with members of the NZEI Te Riu Roa and E Tū returned a majority vote to ratify the two collective agreements, benefiting around 37,000 support staff.

“The settlement announced today is a positive result for our valued support staff, who play a vital role in our education system,” Ms Stanford says. 

“Teacher aides, library staff, administrators, science techs, therapists, and kaiārahi i te reo support over 800,000 students across the country. This settlement is a positive step which will see them receive cumulative increase of at least 4.55 percent within 12 months,” says Ms Stanford.

“The majority of staff also receive yearly progression, which provides annual increases as they move up the pay scale.

“We are also continuing our investment in learning support with a special approved provider PLD fund for staff who work directly with students who experience behavioural or learning needs associated with neurodiversity. This fund will provide up to $8 million total over the life of the fund.”

“Every student deserves the chance to succeed and go on and live the life they want. We’re making sure that every student, regardless of background, has that chance. We will continue to support our education workforce with the tools they need to help our young people reach their potential.”

Notes for editors: 

Full details of the settlement can be found here: Collective Agreement negotiations | Education Workforce

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/24/school-support-staff-reach-pay-settlement/