Category: MIL OSI – New Zealand

Posted on

Last chance to save globally rare plants from rabbits

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  20 March 2026

It’s part of a wider goal to have a pest free Kaitorete Spit which is internationally recognised for its ecological value and contains many globally unique plants.

DOC Mahaanui Operations Manager Andy Thompson says the plan is to restore more than 300 hectares and bring back rare plant species which have been decimated by rabbits and hares.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in rabbit numbers, and they’re destroying incredibly special plants like native broom which has beautiful lilac flowers. Kaitorete is the only place in the world this plant exists. This could be our last chance to save it,” Andy Thompson says.

DOC is working with partners Pest Free Banks Peninsula and Tāwhaki. Tāwhaki was established in 2021 as a partnership between Te Taumutu Rūnanga, Wairewa Rūnanga, and the New Zealand Government, with a dual kaupapa (purpose) to advance Aotearoa’s aerospace sector and rejuvenate the unique whenua at Kaitorete.

Tāwhaki Head of Whenua Planning and Rejuvenation Julian Phillips says Kaitorete is a significant cultural landscape renowned for its mahinga kai, taonga species, and history.

“Kaitorete is home to rare and threatened flora and fauna species, including tororaro and pīngao which plays an important role in dune health and is coveted by weavers due to its brilliant yellow colour,” he says.

“This whenua is part of an ancestral travel route for tīpuna travelling north and south along the east coast of Te Waipounamu. It’s home to some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest concentrations of middens and pre-historic archaeological sites.

“Whānau from Wairewa and Taumutu, through Tāwhaki, have been completing observational monitoring across Kaitorete for four years to track the health of this whenua – including the land, water, taonga species as well as our connection to the taiao.

“What we’ve seen is increasing evidence of damage caused by rabbits and hares, despite the incredible work of DOC and Pest Free Banks Peninsula.

“Left unchecked, rabbit populations strip vegetation, de-stabilise dunes and put pressure on already vulnerable species,” says Julian Phillips.

Pest Free Banks Peninsula Team Leader Tim Sjoberg says DOC’s rabbit control work supports the multi pest elimination programme on Kaitorete.

“By working together, we have a much greater chance of creating a truly pest-free environment, which will allow the precious and rare plants and animals to thrive here,” he says.

Today, a helicopter with under slung cereal bait sowing equipment, and GPS tracking navigation will be used. The loading zone is at the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre with the helicopter transporting the bait to trickle feed across the DOC scientific reserve. The cereal bait contains the pesticide pindone.

Andy Thompson says due to the rabbit numbers and the size of the terrain and vegetation, the aerial operation was the best way to eliminate the rabbits with ground-based bait laying and night shooting as a follow up if necessary. A rabbit proof fence has also been constructed to keep the pests out long term.

“We”ve got this one chance to save this precious landscape which has enormous cultural and biodiversity values. We are so lucky to have a community so committed to naturing and helping us restore this area.”

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/last-chance-to-save-globally-rare-plants-from-rabbits/

Posted on

Court decision summary – Tamiefuna v R [2025] NZSC 40

Source: Privacy Commissioner

Have you ever wondered whether the information privacy principles in the Privacy Act 2020 are relevant to the right against unreasonable search and seizure? The Supreme Court answered that question with a yes in this criminal appeal. 

The appellant, Mr Tamiefuna, was convicted of one charge of aggravated robbery. He challenged the inclusion of photographic evidence used by Police to obtain this conviction. Mr Tamiefuna appealed a Court of Appeal decision which determined the photographic evidence was improperly obtained but declined to find the evidence should have been excluded from his trial. 

The Supreme Court found that the photographic evidence was both improperly obtained and should have been excluded from Mr Tamiefuna’s trial under s 30(4) of the Evidence Act 2006. A retrial was ordered.

Background

On 5 November 2019 Mr Tamiefuna was a passenger in a car which was the subject of a routine traffic stop. A police officer ran a National Intelligence Application (NIA) check for the occupants of the vehicle and discovered Mr Tamiefuna had previous convictions relating to property offending. The check revealed the driver of the car was unlicensed and the car was impounded. This required the occupants to exit the vehicle.

Mr Tamiefuna and his companions removed property from the car and stood on the footpath while waiting to be picked up. A police officer noticed there was a lot of property, including batteries and a woman’s purse and coat. This made them suspicious the property may have been stolen. At this point, the police officer took photographs of the property and the car’s occupants using their police issue smartphone. The photographs of Mr Tamiefuna show him standing on the footpath beside the car. He is looking towards the camera and is clearly aware that he was being photographed.  Mr Tamiefuna’s face and clothing are captured in the images.

The police officer added these photographs and a note of his observations to the NIA. The information was collected and retained as the officer thought it might be useful in future. There was no specific purpose. 

The photographs were critical evidence at Mr Tamiefuna’s trial, linking him to the aggravated robbery, as the clothing in the photographs matched a man captured in CCTV footage at the scene of the offending. 

There is no statutory authority authorising the taking of these photographs, nor the retention of one of those photographs on the NIA. 

Litigation history

Prior to his trial, Mr Tamiefuna challenged the admissibility of the evidence collected at the traffic stop. He argued it was improperly obtained and inadmissible under s 30 of the Evidence Act. The challenge was rejected in the High Court. The Court of Appeal declined leave to appeal that decision pre-trial. 

Following the trial, Mr Tamiefuna appealed his conviction. The Court of Appeal decided that the taking of a person’s photograph in a public place by police without a current investigative or law enforcement purpose, breached their right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure under s 21 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA). However, the Court did not consider the evidence should have been excluded under s 30 of the Evidence Act, on the basis the impropriety was outweighed by the need for an effective and credible justice system. The appeal was dismissed.

The Privacy Commissioner’s role as an independent intervener in the proceeding

An intervener is a third party who is allowed to join litigation even though they are not a party to the proceedings. This process is called “intervening” and allows an expert or interested party to assist the court by making legal submissions on particular points – especially if the case is of general public importance.

The Privacy Commissioner was granted leave from the Court to intervene as an independent expert as the appeal would have broad consequences for the interaction between information privacy, NZBORA, and Police information gathering powers. 

Grounds of appeal in the Supreme Court

(a)    Whether the Court of Appeal was correct to find that the photographic evidence was improperly obtained for the purpose of s 30 of the Evidence Act; and 
(b)    Whether the Court of Appeal was correct in admitting the evidence under s 30 of the Evidence Act.

Majority decision (Winkelmann CJ, Ellen France and Williams JJ)

At common law, Police have a duty to prevent crime and to detect and bring offenders to justice. The police have powers to undertake these duties and the common law will supplement existing statutory provisions when necessary. As the collection and retention of the photographs on the NIA were not authorised by statute, police were exercising their common law powers.

The exercise of police common law powers is subject to statutory requirements and restrictions. Relevant in this case was s 21 of NZBORA, which provides that every person has the right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure. 

Was taking the photographs a search?

In determining whether Police taking photographs of a person in a public place after they were required to leave a car following a lawful traffic stop was a search, the majority considered four key factors; the nature of the place, the use to which the information was put, the manner of collection, and the nature of the information. 

Significant weight was given to the fact that Mr Tamiefuna was only in a public place because he has been ejected from a vehicle. The manner of collection was not at the higher end of intrusiveness, however, the use to which the information was put increased the level of intrusiveness. They also noted there were very few controls over the retention and use of Mr Tamiefuna’s personal information. The majority considered the police power exercised was intrusive and very general.

In assessing the nature of the information, the majority relied on the joint report of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) and the Independent Police Conduct Authority | Mana Whanonga Pirihimana Motuhake (IPCA), which was issued in 2022 following an inquiry into police conduct when photographing members of the public (the Joint Report). 

The Joint Report highlighted that photographs of individuals are sensitive biometric personal information, stating they are “capable of being analysed using facial recognition technology and other digital techniques which makes it even more important that the information is being collected, used, retained and stored lawfully.” The majority added that the sensitivity of biometric information is recognised in the fact that statutory regimes are required to govern their use and collection.

Overall, the majority concluded the police officer’s actions amounted to a search as Mr Tamiefuna had a reasonable expectation of privacy that was intruded on.

Was the search reasonable?

The taking and retention of the photographs was not lawful. Police are subject to statutory controls when conducting searches and it was not appropriate to extend their common law power to authorise a warrantless search for generalised intelligence gathering in a way which is not appropriate, particularly where the relevant statutory framework imposes controls in relation to the very same activity (though in a different context).

The majority stated the information privacy principles (IPPs) (when this incident occured the Privacy Act 1993 was in effect. The Privacy Act 2020 sets out the current IPPs in section 22. For the purposes of this case, there are no material differences between these iterations of the IPPs) were relevant, though not decisive, in an analysis of s 21 of NZBORA and s 30 of the Evidence Act. In discussing the IPPs, the majority stated:

  • Under IPP 1, an agency may only collect personal information as is necessary for a lawful purpose. This was breached as there was no lawful purpose for the collection of Mr Tamiefuna’s information.
  • Under IPP 3, the collecting agency must take reasonable steps to inform the person concerned, among other things, about the collection, the purpose of the collection and its legal basis. This was not done in this case.
  • Under IPP 9, personal information once collected must not be held for longer than is required for the purposes for which the information may lawfully be used. As there was no lawful purpose, the retention of the information was in breach of this principle. 

The IPPs were useful in stating the expectations of a reasonable person. As Police failed to comply with the IPPs,  the search was not reasonable (as it breached the Privacy Act) and the evidence was therefore improperly obtained.

As the search was illegal it was unreasonable under s 21 of NZBORA. This meant the photographic information was improperly obtained for the purposes of s 30 of the Evidence Act. 

Was the court wrong to admit the evidence?

If evidence is found to have been improperly obtained, s 30(2) of the Evidence Act requires the Judge to “determine whether or not the exclusion of the evidence is proportionate to the impropriety by means of a balancing process that gives appropriate weight to the impropriety and takes proper account of the need for an effective and credible system of justice.”

In this case, it was decided that excluding the evidence would not be disproportionate to the breach. There was a breach of an important right and an overextension of police powers (though the Court noted the police officers involved acted in good faith). The majority stated “an effective and credible system of justice in this case requires the exclusion of the evidence. Otherwise, on a longer-term basis, the justice system is brought into disrepute.”

As intervener, OPC submitted in the cases where evidence has been obtained in breach of s 21 of NZBORA or another human rights obligation, s 30 should be applied to provide an effective remedy for that breach. An effective remedy must both vindicate the right of the individual and avoid recurrence of the breach in other cases. This submission was accepted by the majority. 

Outcome

The appeal was allowed. Mr Tamiefuna’s conviction was quashed and a retrial was ordered.

Minority decision (Glazebrook J)

Glazebrook J considered there was no search in this case, finding the concept of a “search” would be extended too far if it included filming or photography of what a person saw and heard, where there is no active looking for someone or something. Further, Glazebrook J found Mr Tamiefuna did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The photograph was taken on a public street, it was not covert, and people should be expected to be observed while in public. An individual interacting with another person (including the Police) can have no reasonable expectation that the other person will not make and store a full and accurate audio or video of the interaction, which can later be disclosed and used.

This minority decision also considered the collection and retention of the photographs was both reasonable and lawful. It was an appropriate use of Police investigative powers into offending.

Glazebrook J agreed with the reasoning in the Court of Appeal and would have admitted the photographs under s 30 of the Evidence Act. In reaching that conclusion the Court of Appeal said that while the right breached was important, the intrusion on this right was not very serious and the evidence obtained was central to the prosecution. In these circumstances, exclusion of the evidence would be disproportionate to the breach.

Minority decision (Kós J)

Kós J also considered there was no search, as the traffic stop and ejection of Mr Tamiefuna from the car was lawful and Mr Tamiefuna was in a public place. People on a public street lack a reasonable expectation of privacy from being photographed. Cell phones and CCTV make this a routine experience. 

The essential feature of a search was described as an examination or investigation for the purposes of obtaining evidence, which intrudes upon a right to privacy. Kós J stated there was no right to privacy on a public street and no reasonable expectation of privacy, finding an ordinary photograph of a person present on the pavement of a public street should not engage s 21 of NZBORA.

In this case, the entry of Mr Tamiefuna’s photographs in the NIA was unlawful, as it was not permitted by either statute or common law. However, Kós J would not have excluded the evidence for the same reasons as Glazebrook J.

Kós J concluded by stating “What might have been seen as a grey area in 2019 was no longer so grey after [the Joint Report] was published. A different balance might be struck thereafter, in another case.”

Privacy implications

Key takeaways:

  • The IPPs can be compelling in determining whether human rights have been breached.
  • Despite the current cultural context (including available technology, such as cell phones and CCTV) being on a public street does not mean an individual has no expectation of privacy. Particularly where the state is exercising an intrusive power.
  • At [33] the majority stated “there were features of the relevant events that mean the fact [Mr Tamiefuna]’s photograph was taken whilst he was on a public road is not a conclusive factor against the asserted reasonableness of his expectations of privacy. It remains important to preserve a sufficient zone of privacy for individuals. That in turn is a part of preserving the fundamentals of a liberal democracy.”

Related content

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/court-decision-summary-tamiefuna-v-r-2025-nzsc-40/

Posted on

Investigation following serious assault, Amberley, Hurunui District

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons: 

Police are investigating following a serious assault last night in Amberley, Hurunui District.

At around 10.25pm Police were called with a report that a person had been seriously assaulted at an address on Racecourse Road.

The victim was transported to hospital with critical injuries and is currently undergoing surgery.

Police are speaking with a person in relation to the incident and are not seeking anyone else at this time.

A scene examination is underway at the address, and enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/investigation-following-serious-assault-amberley-hurunui-district/

Posted on

Counties Manukau youth to get faster support

Source: New Zealand Government

A new dedicated child mental health service in Counties Manukau was officially opened today by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, marking an important step in ensuring our young people have faster access to support.

“Mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing our youth today. Every New Zealander deserves access to support, when and where they need it. By expanding the help available, we can ensure no one is left stuck on a waitlist,” Mr Doocey says. 

The new specialist child mental health team –Te Ooritetanga oo ngaa Ratonga moo ngaa Tamariki | The Equality of Services for all Children – will operate within the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (ICAMHS) at Counties Manukau Mental Health and Addiction Services. It has been established to support young people up to intermediate school age, along with their families, who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing, moderate to severe mental health challenges.

“We know the massive difference that early intervention can make. By identifying needs early and providing the right support before issues escalate, we can give our young people the tools they need to live the lives they deserve,” Mr Doocey says. 

Counties Manukau is home to one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing populations. Of the estimated total population in 2021, more than 20 per cent were under 15 years old, that’s around 123,400 children and young people.

“I am pleased that this new dedicated team will strengthen our specialist services, help meet the needs of this rapidly growing community, and ensure young people get support at the top of the cliff, rather than waiting for the ambulance at the bottom.” 

The multi-disciplinary team will provide wraparound support and includes a senior medical officer, registered nurses, two clinical psychologists, two occupational therapists, and two social workers. Recruitment is underway for whānau workers. 

The service is funded through the Government’s $18.7 million investment to expand and enhance ICAMHS. 

“We have all seen the startling youth suicide statistics in New Zealand and, quite simply, this is not good enough. What keeps me awake at night is knowing that some young people aren’t getting the support they need. I do not want any young person to fall through the cracks.
 
“Nationally, we have seen our focused efforts pay off. The frontline Health NZ mental health workforce grown by over 11 per cent since we came into Government. We have also seen increases in key workforces such as the child and adolescent workforce which has grown by 19 per cent.

“This is part of the Government’s plan to deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response.” 
 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/counties-manukau-youth-to-get-faster-support/

Posted on

Economy – RBNZ Advisory: Expanded April Monetary Policy Review and change to focus of Business NZ speech

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ)

20 March 2026 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ) is expanding its communications approach for the 8 April Monetary Policy Review.

The April Monetary Policy Review decision will be released as usual on the RBNZ website at 2pm. We will hold an online media conference at 3pm, which will also be livestreamed on our website. Governor Breman will be undertaking media engagements in the days following the announcement. (ref. https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=1454659f0e&e=f3c68946f8 )

This approach aligns with the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) commitment to greater transparency. Future Monetary Policy Reviews will also follow this revised format. We will review and adapt this format over time in response to stakeholder feedback.

The RBNZ’s quarterly Monetary Policy Statement, which includes updated economic forecasts, an Official Cash Rate projection and more detailed forecasts will continue as normal. Monetary Policy Statement releases will also continue to be followed by in-person media conferences. The next quarterly Monetary Policy Statement is scheduled for release on 27 May.

Change of focus for Business NZ speech
On Tuesday 24 March, Governor Breman is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech to Business NZ’s CEO Forum in Auckland. The RBNZ previously advised that the speech would touch on the current economic outlook, drawing on insights from the February Monetary Policy Statement, and outline how the Reserve Bank is working to modernise New Zealand’s payments system.

Due to the wider economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, this speech will now focus on the potential impacts of this evolving situation on the New Zealand economy.

The speech will be published on the RBNZ website at 9am on Tuesday 24 March ahead of two planned external engagement events with Governor Breman that morning. The first engagement is with external economists and analysts, and the second is with Auckland media representatives. The Business NZ CEO Forum event that Governor Breman is speaking at will commence from 2pm. The RBNZ is releasing the speech earlier in the day to ensure that all stakeholders have equitable access to information.

A speech outlining how the Reserve Bank is working to modernise New Zealand’s payments system will be delivered at a later date.

This speech will not pre-empt the MPC’s April Monetary Policy Review decision. The global environment, and other salient factors, will be discussed in full by the MPC when it meets ahead of its April decision.

More information

Event advisory: Business NZ CEO Forum: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=cebad07a06&e=f3c68946f8

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/economy-rbnz-advisory-expanded-april-monetary-policy-review-and-change-to-focus-of-business-nz-speech/

Posted on

Investigation launch following serious injuries, Christchurch

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Sergeant Ben Rolton, Christchurch Metro CIB:

Police are investigating after a woman was found with serious injuries in Christchurch last night.

Police were called to Worcester Street, between Latimer Square and Barbadoes Street, around 10pm last night, with reports that a person had received wounds consistent with being stabbed.

The woman was transported to Christchurch Hospital by ambulance where she underwent surgery.

A scene guard was in place overnight, and a scene examination is taking place today.

Police are making enquiries into the circumstances of the incident and working to identify who is responsible.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/investigation-launch-following-serious-injuries-christchurch/

Posted on

Allocation process for flight landings in Westland Tai Poutini National Park opens

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  20 March 2026

The allocations process is the way DOC manages aircraft landings in and around the popular South Westland glaciers. Currently, four businesses are directly involved in landings in the Park, which are a significant drawcard to visitors wanting to experience the glacier landscape.

This allocation follows a consultation period where DOC heard from operators and interested parties on how they thought aircraft landings allocations should be managed, given changes to the landscape of Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

Climate change is causing reduced snow cover and glacier retreat, which impacts on the safety and usability of some of the 18 approved landing sites, particularly during peak periods.

South Westland Operations Manager Wayne Costello says interest in aircraft landings has been high.

“There’s strong demand for the landings available. We received expressions of interest from 11 operators, which is not surprising and obviously more than the current four operators with concessions to land in the Park.

“We want to make it easier for businesses and people using these landings to interact with us to get the permissions they need and offer visitors flying in the Park the best experience possible.

“We have designed the allocation process to be consistent, clear and easy to use for operators interested in the opportunity. It will also enable landing sites to be better utilised within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

“The allocation process is aligned with the outcomes of the management plan and we are not increasing overall limits.

“We’ve designed the allocation process to support exceptional experiences for visitors, including time on the ground, storytelling, and deeper understanding of Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area.

“We also considered the experiences other users when developing this framework, for example, people walking in the Franz Josef Glacier valley to ensure impacts on their experience is minimised.”

An Assessment Panel will review allocation applications from 27 April 2026, and Operators will be notified of outcomes in July 2026. Operators who are granted an allocation will also need to apply for a concession in order to undertake flight landings.

Background information

Westland Tai Poutini National Park is a nationally and internationally significant landscape in Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area.

Aircraft access has long enabled visitors to experience high alpine areas, but this must be balanced with preserving natural quiet, protecting Park values and managing increasing visitor expectations.

The regulatory framework is set by the Westland Tai Poutini National Park Management Plan, which limits aircraft landings to 18 approved sites and caps total aircraft numbers.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/allocation-process-for-flight-landings-in-westland-tai-poutini-national-park-opens/

Posted on

Too expensive to smile: Calls grow for universal, Te Tiriti-consistent dental care

Source: Radio New Zealand

A dentist provides dental care to a girl. AFP/ Thibaut Durand/ Hans Lucas

Nearly half of adults in Aotearoa are avoiding dental care because they cannot afford it, leaving many in chronic pain, at risk of serious infection, or in need of hospital treatment.

New research and frontline experiences are painting what advocates describe as a system failing to meet basic health needs, with growing calls for dental care to be fully integrated into the public health system.

Dental for All, a coalition of health workers, unions, community organisations and advocates travelled the country last year speaking directly with whānau about their experiences.

Dental for All campaigner Max Harris said the stories they heard were confronting.

“We heard about the shame and pain people face when they can’t get to the dentist, and how problems get worse over time,” he told RNZ.

“We also heard about the home remedies people resort to, things like using pliers or fishing wire to pull teeth, or relying on painkillers just to get through.”

There are growing calls for dental care to be fully integrated into the public health system.

A system built without teeth

According to the latest Ministry of Health survey, 47 percent of adult New Zealanders reported not visiting a dentist due to cost, with even higher rates among Māori and Pasifika.

Research commissioned by Dental for All also estimated untreated oral disease was costing the country around $2.5 billion each year in lost productivity and $3.1b in reduced quality of life.

“That is people missing work, missing job interviews, or living with constant pain and stigma,” Harris said.

“When you compare that with estimates that universal dental care could cost between $1 and $2 billion a year, it starts to make economic sense as well as human sense.”

According to a Talbot Mills poll in 2023, 74 percent of New Zealanders agreed that adult dental care should be funded in the same way it is funded for tamariki. So why wasn’t it?

Harris said that gap dated back to the system’s foundations.

“When the public healthcare system was set up in 1938, some dentists lobbied to carve teeth out of the system and it has essentially stayed that way ever since.”

Auckland City Mission opened the doors of its new onsite dental clinic in July 2025, delivering lifechanging dental care for those that need it most, free of charge. Supplied / Auckland City Mission

Across the country, demand for affordable dental care continues to grow.

At teaching clinics run by the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry, patients could receive reduced cost treatment from senior dental students under supervision.

In Auckland, the waitlist for student led care sat at around 950 people and was currently closed due to capacity.

Across both Auckland and Dunedin clinics, more than 14,800 patients were treated in 2025, delivering nearly 60,000 appointments.

Director of Dental Hospital and Clinics Janine Cochrane said demand had remained strong in recent years, reflecting wider national trends.

But even with those services, need continued to outstrip supply.

In July last year, Auckland City Mission opened a free dental clinic aimed at people who had struggled to access care.

In its first seven months, the clinic treated around 380 people and built a waitlist of more than 100.

Director of housing and health Brendan Short told RNZ that many patients had gone years without treatment.

“The people that we support have been marginalised from mainstream and public health care for a very long time,” he said.

“It is really clear that there is not enough funding for oral care in New Zealand for the general population. Dental care is essential healthcare and it seems that this is a blind spot for us as a nation.”

Auckland City Mission director of housing and health Brendan Short. RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell

Living with pain

Short said the impact of untreated dental issues went far beyond physical pain.

“Avoiding social situations, hiding one’s smile, or even missing job opportunities are everyday realities,” he said.

He said many people had normalised living with pain.

“It is quite common for people to live with pain, to think that what they are putting up with is normal or is okay, and it is not.”

The Auckland City Mission dental clinic operated three days a week and relied heavily on volunteer dentists.

“This is not possible or achievable for us without those volunteer dentists. They are superstars,” Short said, adding that some even travelled from outside Auckland, including as far as Taranaki.

Volunteer dentist Roger Tiang told RNZ that demand was constant at the clinic, highlighting the need for these spaces.

“Every time I come in my shift is fully booked,” he said.

Tiang said cost and sometimes discomfort with mainstream services were key barriers and that delaying care allowed small issues to escalate.

“If we do not catch things early, problems get bigger and we end up dealing with much bigger issues than we would have if we had seen them earlier.”

After more than 25 years in dentistry, he believed oral healthcare should be treated like any other part of the health system.

“People might not realise it, but if you cannot chew your food properly or you are living with infections in your mouth, that can affect your overall health.

“It is part of your health. Just like the rest of the health system in New Zealand, there is public healthcare and dentistry should be part of that as well.”

ActionStation and Dental for All campaigner Jasmine Taankink says poor oral health is “just another negative implication of colonisation” and Māori not being able to exercise tino rangatiratanga. Supplied / Jasmine Taankink

Longstanding inequities for Māori

For Māori, barriers to dental care were often compounded by cost, distance, and access, layered on top of longstanding inequities within the health system.

ActionStation and Dental for All advocate Jasmine Taankink said poor oral health outcomes for Māori could not be separated from colonisation.

“We know that upon arrival to Aotearoa, English settlers were really impressed with the overall physical health of our tūpuna Māori, especially their oral health. That’s quite widely documented,” she said.

“Our tūpuna Māori didn’t have cavities, they didn’t have massive oral health problems. So poor oral health is just another negative implication of colonisation and us not being able to exercise our tino rangatiratanga”

She said solutions must be grounded in Māori led approaches.

“We have the expertise within our own communities to develop solutions that work for us.”

Tumuaki of Te Ao Mārama (New Zealand Māori Dental Association) Leeann Waaka says whānau should not have to suffer in silence any longer. Supplied / Leeann Waaka

Leeann Waaka, dental therapist at Hauora a Toi and Tumuaki of Te ao Mārama (New Zealand Māori Dental Association) said the situation had remained largely unchanged for decades – with many left suffering in silence.

“The current suffering for our people is real, and it has not got any better since, well, what, 30 years?”

Waaka said while cost was a major issue for whānau, accessibility, especially in rural areas, remained a problem.

“When you are looking at a current structure and your lens is a holistic lens, it really does not fit.

“Whenever you need something, you should be able to access it, right there and then. Unfortunately that is not the case for dental.”

After travelling the country with the Dental for All kaupapa, she said the stories shared were confronting.

“Many have suffered in silence for a long time, It’s heartbreaking.

“I come from up north. I knew it was bad up there, but when we went up there for the roadshow, I don’t even think we could have imagined just how bad it is … It is inhumane.”

Waaka, alongside Dental for All and Te Ao Mārama, was pushing for a Te Tiriti consistent system – which would mean properly resourcing Māori providers and enabling iwi and hapū to design services that meet the needs of their people.

“It is reimagining the system and starting to rebuild it to what it needs to be to serve our whānau. Our people deserve better.”

Dental for All campaign set out on a national roadshow last year, hearing concerns from whānau and building public support over communities. Supplied / Dental for All

Looking overseas for solutions

Dental for All’s latest research pointed to countries including Niue, Japan, Brazil, Canada and the United Kingdom, where dental care was integrated into public health systems.

Harris said those models showed change was achievable.

“It ultimately comes down to political will,” he said.

“We have seen other countries make the decision that oral health is part of overall health and design their systems accordingly.”

Dental for All was now developing a detailed policy proposal outlining how such a system could be introduced in Aotearoa.

“This could be something we look back on as a once in a generation change to strengthen our healthcare system.”

Waaka said the focus must remain on equity and wellbeing.

“All knowledge systems matter, and coming together to bring the best of those knowledge systems is key for when we are serving our people,” she said.

“Our people deserve the best and nothing less.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/too-expensive-to-smile-calls-grow-for-universal-te-tiriti-consistent-dental-care/

Posted on

Faulty alarm and surge protection led to Mahurangi River wastewater spill, reviews find

Source: Radio New Zealand

A wastewater spill into the Mahurangi River meant farmers had dump thousands of oysters because of contamination. Supplied

A critical overflow alarm that was not working and a faulty surge protection component in a North Auckland wastewater pump station were factors that led to what is believed to be the biggest wastewater spill into the Mahurangi River that happened in October last year, according to independent reviews.

Wastewater poured into the Mahurangi River from about 2.30pm on 29 October, after a power surge at Watercare’s Warkworth Street wastewater pump station, and subsequent pump failures.

Watercare estimated that there was 1200 cubic metres of overflow, which was not discovered and stopped until 8am the next day.

Mahurangi oyster farmers were furious with the spill and contamination, with one reporting that much of their 80,000 oysters had to be dumped, at the peak of the oyster season.

On Thursday, Watercare confirmed that independent reviews into the cause of the overflow had been completed.

“The reviews found the incident resulted from a unique chain of events involving technical and operational factors at the newly commissioned Warkworth Street Pump Station, triggered by a power outage,” said Watercare in a press release.

Watercare’s chief operations officer Mark Bourne told RNZ the reviews found that a faulty safety relay – which was part of the plant’s surge protection system – was in conflict with other safety relays, and prevented the pumps from restarting following the power surge.

Watercare’s chief operations officer Mark Bourne. Jessie Chiang

He said the treatment plant was designed in a way that its protection system would kick in when individual components failed.

Bourne said if the safety relay was not faulty, the pumps would have restarted following the brief power surge – which lasted about half a second.

The most critical of alarms – the overflow alarm – had also failed to operate, said Bourne.

“That was tested during the pre-commissioning phase before the pump station went into operation but for whatever reason, failed during that operation phase,” said Bourne.

Bourne said the Warkworth Street plant was new, and was going through its commissioning and start up phase when the October event happened.

He said prior to commissioning, Watercare had run tests on the station with clean water, and added that the plant could not be tested across its full ranges until it was in service.

“We try and simulate all activities during the initial testing process, but as I indicated before this was a very unique set of circumstances,” said Bourne.

Bourne said the faulty safety relay had since been fixed and all alarms had been tested and checked.

When asked if he was confident that station could withstand future possible power surges, Bourne said he had “absolute confidence” in the Warkworth Street pump station.

“This event is just so unfortunate and quite frankly we’re gutted that it occurred,” he said.

Asked where responsibility could be traced to with the multiple failures of the treatment plant, Bourne said Watercare took accountability.

“It’s our pump station, it’s our operation, if there’s further conversations to be had, they’ll be for us to have at a later date, but at this point Watercare takes responsibility for the fault that occurred,” he said.

He added that this was a unique circumstance leading up to the failure of the station, and that there was no systemic issue.

Bourne said Watercare had over 550 pump stations across Auckland.

On Thursday, Watercare announced its final tranche of compensation payment for impacted oyster farmers, bringing the total payout to $2.75 million.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/faulty-alarm-and-surge-protection-led-to-mahurangi-river-wastewater-spill-reviews-find/

Posted on

Rising cost of fuel forces Kiwis to consider alternative transport to save money

Source: Radio New Zealand

Cost-of-living pressures are picking up again, driven in part by sharp increases in fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

So, are people ditching their cars, dusting off their bikes, or turning to public transport to save money?

At Auckland’s Waitematā Station, commuters poured off trains into the central city, with buses and the downtown ferry terminal just steps away, making it one of the city’s busiest transport hubs.

One commuter said they’ve noticed a clear shift.

“I notice on the train it’s getting really busy. Yeah, a lot more people are using it, which is good.”

They said rising fuel and parking costs were even changing how they think about short trips.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I’m even thinking … where I normally work, I’m only probably a 10-minute drive away … maybe I’ll start using my e-bike … between parking and the petrol … you’re still using a lot of gas. And I’d rather save it for doing trips I really want to do in the car.”

But another Auckland commuter said public transport still didn’t work for everything.

“Yeah, we use the cars to get around because convenience-wise, public transport’s no good. You can’t really pop down the road and do the shopping effectively… so we still need the cars.”

He said the flexibility of working from home was a bonus when it came to beating petrol prices.

Meanwhile, a third commuter in Auckland said cost was already shaping their routine.

“Choosing that option specifically because of the cost is the main reason … it just sort of reinforces it further with the cost of living and the petrol prices going up.”

In the capital, some people were already leaving the car at home.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I walked to work today because I thought, ‘I’d better not use the car’,” said this commuter.

Another Wellington commuter estimated the savings were adding up.

“I would be driving in, but it’s too expensive a lot of the time, so public transport is better. I can save around $100 a week.”

Others said they’re cutting back on extra trips.

“I probably won’t drive up to the Kāpiti Coast like I used to, just to go to the market. You need to be more thoughtful in each trip you plan.”

But not everyone was convinced habits have fully changed yet.

“Energy prices have definitely moved up, but I’m not sure that’s changing people’s habits yet. It might have [to] if petrol goes to $3.20.”

And for some, it’s not just fuel prices dictating new commuting habits.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I train in, then I walk to work, and it’s mainly because of higher parking, actually,” said one man.

In Christchurch, some commuters said they didn’t have the flexibility to change. A woman RNZ spoke to said she was still driving despite the cost and was worried about how to keep managing it within her budget.

“I am still driving, but it’s using up a lot of my gas … I don’t know what I’m going to do next … I assume I’m just going to keep driving because I have to get places … I have to get my kids to school.”

Another commuter in Christchurch said public transport simply wasn’t viable for their route.

“It’s really hard to get public transport to where I work because it’s just out of Rolleston … I have to drive there all the time, so it’s eating a lot of fuel.”

In Queenstown, where petrol was sitting between $3.15 and $3.19 per litre, commuters say the cost is biting.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I travel daily from Glenorchy to Queenstown, so does my husband. It’s just getting so hard to cope.”

Another said they have no alternative.

“Where I live, I have no public transport in the morning. The only way I can get to work before 6 o’clock is using my car, so I have been dealing with the increase as I can manage. At the end of the day, you’ve got to pay it.”

Some were trying to adapt where they can.

A Queenstown commuter said they’re biking more often.

“I do drive occasionally, but more recently biking has become a cheaper alternative … you just have to limit where you go, don’t you? Because it’s just so expensive, and it’s already expensive enough to live in Queenstown.”

Others were making bigger changes.

“I just bought a hybrid car … that was sort of prompted by obviously the fuel prices and the war in Iran … I thought, ‘right, now’s the time’,” said a man who commuted daily from Cromwell to Queenstown.

He was also looking for ways to cut costs day-to-day.

“I’ve got the [fuel price] app on my phone, so I normally stick to the cheapest fuel station in Cromwell, but I’ll definitely be looking for new strategies,” he said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/rising-cost-of-fuel-forces-kiwis-to-consider-alternative-transport-to-save-money/

Posted on

‘I feel let down’: Complainants to sport integrity agency wait 15 months for resolution

Source: Radio New Zealand

Yachting NZ was the first national sports body to come under investigation by the Sport Integrity Commission. AFP/NICOLAS TUCAT

When multihull sailor Liz Alonzi first spoke to investigators from the Sport Integrity Commission, she was asked if she would like to add her complaint to the “melting pot” of allegations about the culture of yachting in New Zealand.

At the time Alonzi drew comfort from knowing she was one of many from within the sport to blow the whistle. There was power in numbers, she thought.

“I felt hopeful. I walked away from that conversation thinking something would be done about it,” Alonzi said of her March 2025 interview with investigators.

Three months earlier, the commission had opened an investigation into Yachting New Zealand following a raft of complaints including allegations of aggressive behaviour, unfair and unsafe selection processes, and serious misconduct among both athletes and staff.

The investigation was considered the first major test of the new watchdog agency’s muscle.

More than a year later, the inquiry into Yachting NZ continues to drag on, leaving dozens of complainants in the dark.

The unresolved process ultimately drove Alonzi away from the sport.

“It’s been really detrimental,” she said.

“Because the behaviour problems from my original complaint have never been addressed, and the people involved faced no repercussions and continued targeting me, I chose to take a pretty big step away from yacht racing in Auckland.”

Alonzi is not alone – concerns about delays have emerged across other sports.

In a separate inquiry into Boxing NZ and its head coach Billy Meehan, launched in May last year, concerns have been raised that the lack of a timely resolution has further harmed athletes. 1News reported last month that several top athletes had pulled out of Commonwealth Games contention while they awaited the commission’s findings.

The drawn-out investigations were fuelling broader concerns about whether the agency, established in July 2024 to provide independent oversight of New Zealand sport, was equipped to respond effectively to serious complaints.

Several complainants told RNZ the length of time it was taking for cases to be investigated was eroding confidence in the commission.

Concerns had also been raised about the level of buy-in from the wider sports sector, with just four national sport and recreation bodies having adopted the commission’s National Code of Integrity.

The criticism comes as the commission this week held its inaugural wānanga in Auckland, as it seeks to build support for its work and lift engagement across the sector. The event, which was attended by around 250 sports leaders, included a keynote speech from former world number four tennis star Jelena Dokic, who had spoken publicly about abuse in sport.

Sport Integrity Commission chief executive, Rebecca Rolls, said investigations could take time because of the number and complexity of complaints, but it was committed to a thorough and fair process.

“Public confidence takes a while to get, and it’s quickly lost,” said Rolls.

“I know how important it is to have matters resolved at the earliest point and as quickly as possible, and that’s definitely my objective.

“But rushing can risk some flawed outcomes that will further cause harm or present legal frailties. We know that confidence comes from good sustainable outcomes, independence and fairness.”

Rebecca Rolls, who heads up the Sport Integrity Commission, said lengthy investigations are sometimes unavoidable when serious complaints are involved. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Both the Yachting NZ and Boxing NZ investigations were launched under section 32 of the Sport and Recreation Act, which gives the commission special investigatory powers if it considers there is a threat to integrity.

Rolls said this legal lever was only used for the most serious and complex cases.

“That power [under section 32] was intended to be for a small number of cases that met high public interest threshold and by their nature are big and complex with multiple complainants. And that’s exactly what’s happened.

“The investigations have ticked those boxes well and truly.”

A “melting pot” of complaints is difficult to distill into findings.

Career-defining delays

For disaffected members of the high performance sailing community, the timing felt significant.

The establishment of the Sport Integrity Commission in July 2024 coincided with mounting frustration over Yachting NZ’s handling of Olympic selections.

A series of messy selection disputes had highlighted what former top windsurfer Bruce Trotter described as “deeply troubling process issues” and a “complete disregard” for best practice – allegations forcefully denied by Yachting NZ at the time.

It also brought to the surface other long-standing grievances in the sport, including allegations of sexism, harassment and bullying.

Following the Paris Games, in which the NZL sailing team brought home two medals, Yachting NZ initiated an “independent evaluation” of the Olympic cycle, dubbed Project Arotake.

Isaac Mchardie and William Mckenzie celebrate after winning the silver medal in the men’s 49er skiff event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. AFP/CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU

But questions over the scope and design of that review, led by former NZ Olympic Committee boss Kereyn Smith, saw many seek the intervention of the Sport Integrity Commission.

Olympic boardsailor turned elite coach JP Tobin was among the initial wave of complainants to the commission.

He believed his complaint “paled in comparison” to some of the other allegations brought forward, and was particularly concerned about the impact the delays were having on athletes.

Tobin warned the delays were untenable in a high performance environment.

In the time since complainants first stepped forward with their concerns to the commission, Yachting NZ completed its own review of its Olympic sailing programme, and had forged ahead in implementing the recommendations from it.

As the mid-way point in the LA Olympic cycle nears, selection policies were being developed and campaign plans enacted.

For complainants, there was a sense the sport had moved on without them – with no clear accountability for those accused of wrongdoing.

“The high performance environment shifts fast – it’s super dynamic. So an organisation that’s tasked with this mandate needs to be able to respond,” Tobin said.

“So from where I’m sitting, this is not an organisation that’s fit for the purpose, because some of these complaints are seriously affecting people’s lives.

“It’s potentially career-defining because people are walking away, or choosing not to campaign in certain classes because the people they’ve complained about are still around.”

JP Tobin competed at the London Olympics, and has since gone on to coach at the elite level. NZOC

Tobin was also frustrated at what he saw as a lack of transparency and communication from the commission. He claimed over the past year he had received only a few, vague updates on the status of the investigation.

That criticism had been echoed by club stalwart Allan Roper, who lodged a complaint with the commission in January last year over alleged breaches of competition rules and Yachting NZ’s disputes processes.

Roper, who had competed internationally, said when the commission was first established he was hopeful that what he saw as long-standing issues within his sport would be resolved.

“I thought, here we go, we’ve finally got an independent body with teeth,” Roper said.

“But we’re now 15 months down the track [since the investigation started] and it seems like nothing’s happened. I do feel let down.”

Earlier this year Roper wrote to the minister for sport and recreation, Mark Mitchell, to express his concerns with the process.

“Significant public funding has been allocated to support the Commission’s work. Given this level of taxpayer investment, I believe there is a strong public interest in ensuring that investigations are conducted efficiently, transparently, and brought to a timely conclusion,” he wrote.

It was not the first time the minister had been called upon to step in.

Following last month’s media reports that some of the country’s leading women boxers had pulled out of Commonwealth Games contention as a result of delays with the investigation into Boxing NZ, Mitchell requested a briefing with the commission.

Minister for sport and recreation Mark Mitchell. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Mitchell told RNZ that at the meeting he had impressed upon the commission’s leaders the need for transparency with all parties involved in investigations.

“The Integrity Commission is still very new. It’s only just been formed and stood up, so they’re still building their own cadence and momentum,” said Mitchell.

“But I think that it is critically important that there’s transparency in keeping parties informed, keeping them apprised of what’s happening with the investigation, at what stage they’re at, any of the challenges that they’re facing inside it, and just being completely transparent around that.”

Talking code

Rebecca Rolls did not accept that the commission was falling short.

The chief executive said in cases of both sailing and boxing – the commission’s two publicly notified investigations – volume and wide-ranging nature of complaints had made investigations difficult to resolve quickly.

She argued that was, in part, by design.

Rolls said the commission’s work marked a shift from the more limited, often sport-led reviews into elite sports environments such as cycling, hockey, football and canoe racing that have played out in the past.

“If we go back a few years, while there was some really great work done, a lot of the investigations back in the day were by consent and pursuant to a terms of reference,” she said.

“So the investigations were quite confined. I guess that was in a box and that’s all it could be, but it wasn’t necessarily covering all the right things or in the right direction.”

The Sport Integrity Commission was set up in 2024 after a string of damning reviews into the country’s elite sporting environments, including the 2021 inquiry into Cycling NZ following the death of Olympian Olivia Podmore. Dianne Manson / Composite RNZ

While the high-profile investigations had captured the headlines, Rolls said they did not paint the full picture.

In its first year of operation, the commission received 283 complaints across 70 sport and recreation organisations.

More than half were resolved early through facilitation, mediation or warning letters, while 26 percent remained active and 16 percent were deemed out of scope.

“If you think about it in that context, it’s a very, very small number that end up in a section 32 investigation.”

Under the commission’s broad remit it is also responsible for the anti-doping work previously carried out by Drug Free Sport NZ, which was folded into the new agency, including drug testing, investigations and education.

According to reports published by the Sport Integrity Commission, in its first year of operation it carried out more than 1100 drug tests, with six athletes sanctioned for rule violations.

Two sports integrity experts, who spoke to RNZ on background, said the concerns emerging from sailing and boxing pointed to deeper structural tensions within the model itself.

They questioned whether the commission’s broad remit was workable – particularly the way its safeguarding role, dealing with complaints such as bullying and abuse, sat alongside its regulatory functions like anti-doping and competition manipulation, where clear rules and evidential thresholds apply.

The vast majority of complaints fell into the former category, in which behaviour was often difficult to define, prove and resolve.

The experts also pointed to the background of many investigators, noting policing experience did not always translate neatly to workplace or safeguarding inquiries.

Rolls, however, was confident the issue was not resourcing.

“I’m really confident that if I look across the investigations we have, hiring more people, for example, wouldn’t necessarily change the timing.

“We also have the ability to bring in, and we have done in some cases, external support to help with that resourcing.”

The challenges facing the commission were not unique to New Zealand.

In Australia, Sport Integrity Australia was inundated with more than 600 complaints in its first year, with administrators later acknowledging they were unprepared for the volume and complexity.

In the United States, the Center for SafeSport has faced sustained criticism over delays, transparency and independence.

Back here, a low uptake of sports adopting the commission’s National Code of Integrity was also hampering efforts for speedier resolutions.

The code, which was introduced in June last year, set out minimum standards to help organisations manage integrity issues.

Rolls said it also provided the commission with a separate set of powers that could be used to address integrity breaches.

“They’ll be a bit quicker, can be earlier in the process, and we will have additional information gathering powers under that regime,” said Rolls.

“So it means we can get through cases a bit quicker and then at the end we can use a disciplinary panel to make some decisions.”

Weightlifting NZ is the only Olympic sport to have adopted the national code. supplied / Facebook / Weighlifting NZ

The problem is, only four national sport and recreation organisations – NZ Esports Federation, Scouts Aotearoa, Weightlifting New Zealand and Ice Hockey New Zealand – have adopted the code. 

This week the commission announced a fifth adoptee, mountain-biking charity WORD Youth.

The low uptake on the code, which was finalised in the middle of last year, has led to further questions about the agency’s effectiveness.

Rolls said she expected uptake to increase over the coming year, noting larger organisations faced more complex adoption processes.

Sailing on

Earlier this month, complainants in the sailing investigation received an update from the commission.

“We have continued to make substantial progress, including engagement with Yachting NZ regarding the information obtained and the allegations raised, and they have cooperated with our enquiries.”

The letter went on to say the commission was in the final phase of drafting the report and concluding the investigation.

It is understood Yachting NZ received a similar letter.

The organisation, now under the leadership of Steve Armitage following the departure of long-serving chief executive David Abercrombie last year, said it had continued to cooperate with the investigation.

“We’re committed to carefully considering the outcomes as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen how we support and serve the yachting and boating community,” the organisation said in a statement.

For Liz Alonzi, she had come to terms that she would not find closure in the pages of a report.

“I know people who managed the integrity investigation into Gymnastics New Zealand [in 2018]. From talking to them and telling them what I was experiencing with the commission and what’s been going on, their recommendation to me has literally been just focus on healing yourself because you’re not going to get anything out of this,” she said.

“But I’d like to think that I’ve helped make it better for others.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/20/i-feel-let-down-complainants-to-sport-integrity-agency-wait-15-months-for-resolution/

Posted on

Employment Issues – MBIE still fighting to cut flexible work as third mediation looms and Employment Relations Authority hearing set – PSA

Source: PSA

MBIE’s controversial and unlawful crackdown on flexible work arrangements protected under its collective agreement with workers will be subject to a third round of mediation with the PSA in Wellington today.
If mediation fails, a three-day hearing before the Employment Relations Authority will follow on 31 March to 2 April.
“Flexible work is more important than ever with household budgets hit by rising petrol price – MBIE needs to stop defending its new Flexible Work Policy which is out of step with modern workplaces,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“MBIE cannot simply tear up collective agreements that provide for flexible work.
“The policy rides roughshod over its obligations under the collective agreement which binds MBIE to support flexible work. If mediation fails, we will be seeking a determination from the ERA that MBIE is violating the ‘flexible by default’ approach which forms part of its collective agreement with members.
‘Flexible by default’ means employees at MBIE have a right to flexible work arrangements which suit their individual circumstances unless there is a good business reason not to.
“MBIE should be leading the way on flexible work, as should all public sector employers where it’s practical to do so, not spending public money fighting in the ERA to take it away. ACC heard its workers and backed down. It’s time for MBIE to do the same.”
MBIE introduced its new Flexible Work Policy last year to align with the Government’s directive to restrict working from home across the public service. The policy requires all existing flexible work arrangements to be renegotiated and reviewed every six months with the explicit aim of reducing days worked from home.
“We urge MBIE and all government agencies to take heed of the times. With petrol prices rising, working from home is one of the most practical ways public servants can ease the pressure on their household budgets. Every day working from home is a real saving on fuel and commuting costs,” Fitzsimons said.
The PSA is also challenging the Government’s broader flexible work restrictions at the ERA through separate proceedings against Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.
“Public sector employers need to see flexible work as a win-win, and the way of modern workplaces the world over,” Fitzsimons said.
ENDS
Background: The PSA filed ERA proceedings against MBIE in July 2025 after a first mediation failed. A second ERA-ordered mediation was held in December 2025. A third mediation is scheduled for 20 March 2026. If unresolved, a three-day ERA hearing follows on 31 March to 2 April 2026 in Wellington.
Previous statements
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/2026/03/20/employment-issues-mbie-still-fighting-to-cut-flexible-work-as-third-mediation-looms-and-employment-relations-authority-hearing-set-psa/

Posted on

Tasman ratepayers face rates increase of almost 10 percent as council grapples with costs

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Tasman District ratepayers are facing a rates increase of almost 10 percent, as the council grapples with the costs of last years floods and three waters infrastructure, on top of its core business.

Last week, the Tasman District Council elected members were split on moving forward with its draft annual plan which had an average rates increase of 9.9 percent, with sent staff back to the drawing board to consider how to further cut costs.

The split vote of 7-7 forced the council to seek legal advice after the plan failed to progress.

At an emergency meeting today, elected members voted 10-4 to put the draft annual plan out for consultation. The average rates increase for the 2026-27 remained at 9.9 percent, with an end of year debt of $320 million, $8m less than what was proposed at the last meeting.

The increase includes 2.3 percent for the costs of last year’s weather events, 5.3 percent for three waters cost increases and 2.3 percent for the rest of council business, which is below the government’s proposed 4 percent rates cap.

Council chief executive Leonie Rae told elected members that it had taken the direction to lower rates and had come back with options that could be exercised within the annual plan boundaries, with clarity on what the impact on the community would be.

She said the organisation was running lean, the salary budget had been reduced by $1.4m and it was running with around 40 staff under its FTE, and there were “continuing efforts to find efficiencies, savings and extra revenue where possible”.

Rae said in comparison to other councils, Tasman’s rates per capita were $1673, while the average was $1898. The district’s rates per rating unit were $3668, compared to an average of $3876.

“We are doing work and continuing to try and improve our financial position because we’re ratepayers too and no one wants to come to you with big figures, least of all of us.

“I do want to stress to you that further cuts into the operations will have to make significant cuts to levels of service because everyone is very, very busy.”

At last week’s meeting, elected members debated how the proposed storm recovery rate should be set, how much of the roading renewals should be funded by debt, and whether several community facility projects should be paused or not.

At today’s meeting, there was further discussion about the council’s debt in the short term, and whether to increase depreciation to get some debt relief.

One of the more contentious recommendations from last week was that a targeted weather event recovery rate of $125 be introduced for five years to fund $14.6m of the council’s recovery costs from the two winter floods last year.

Councillor Timo Neubauer proposed an amendment that the rate be set on capital value, instead of being a fixed amount per rating unit, which was lost 8-6, with staff agreeing it could be included as an option in the consultation document though the fixed charge would remain the preferred option.

Neubauer said the council had spent the last few months looking for savings, which hadn’t been easy and he hoped the process could be refined in the future, so elected members had more detail about major capital projects, earlier in the process.

He said he and others had asked for more detail around significant increases in the Three Waters infrastructure projects, and aggregated figures made it hard to understand what was driving the costs and where prioritisation could have occurred.

Mayor Tim King said the region was facing continued pressure in many areas, as was the rest of the country.

Mayor Tim King. Samantha Gee / RNZ

“That is the situation we are in all the time, pretty much the whole time I have been in this seat, things have come from left field, Covid, floods, it has been never ending the challenges.”

He said “uncertainty was the name of the game” and the council needed to be adaptable and flexible as it faced those challenges.

King said the council was not a business but instead had to provide a mix of community services, act as a regulator and be an infrastructure provider while also promoting growth.

“We have all of these roles and all of these hats and they don’t fit neatly into a tidy financial package.”

Councillor Trindi Walker asked whether there was any room for movement, if the feedback from the community after consultation was that they could not afford a 9.9 percent rates rise.

“Do we have room to suddenly stop, pause, look and acknowledge what our community is saying? Or are we so far in now that we have to wait for the long-term plan?”

Deputy Mayor Brent Maru supported the motion and said the diversity around the council table was a good thing.

“The debate and the different views and the different suggestions isn’t unhealthy for the system.”

“As we work through this, we will compromise, we will check the decisions we make on behalf of the communities we represent and come up with a collective decision.”

Councillors Mark Greening, Mark Hume, Dean McNamara and Paul Morgan voted against moving the updated draft annual plan to consultation.

McNamara said he wanted to see more action taken to reduce costs.

“This plan’s still going out with building nice-to-haves when we’re borrowing money to pay for our business as usual, all which increase both our debt and our ongoing costs.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/tasman-ratepayers-face-rates-increase-of-almost-10-percent-as-council-grapples-with-costs/

Posted on

Pioneering Māori broadcaster and journalist Moari Stafford dies

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pioneering Māori journalist Moari Stafford. Moari Stafford

Pioneering Māori broadcaster and journalist Moari Stafford, who cultivated opportunity and empowered generations of Māori journalists for more than 20 years, has died.

He was 74.

Hailing from Waikato, Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Apakura and Ngāti Te Wehi, Stafford spent much of his life in Kawhia situated on the east coast, under the shadow of Maunga Pirongia – the tallest peak in Waikato.

Stafford grew up speaking te reo in a community that recognised the language as a tāonga that must be preserved and protected.

He joined Te Karere as a reporter in 1987, the year te reo Māori was recognised as an official language in New Zealand.

At a pivotal time in history, he became part of a generation that championed Māori journalism through challenging times.

Veteran broadcaster Tini Molyneux worked closely with Stafford for many years in broadcasting and said it was a challenging time but his dedication to te reo was relentless.

“He didn’t pursue a career in broadcasting but had a calibre of reo that was becoming hard to find at the time, so he was encouraged to get involved,” Molyneux said.

“Throughout his career he prioritised te reo in his decision making which created opportunities for people who didn’t fit the status quo of mainstream journalism.”

Stafford was appointed editor of Te Karere in 1991 and over the next 20 years he played a vital role in launching the careers of award-winning journalists and broadcasters.

Māori broadcaster and journalist Mihingarangi Forbes remembers Stafford as an “incredible boss” and respected figure in the newsroom.

“I started at Te Karere in 1994, we were the last of the cadetships for Te Karere… we were so excited and we had a whakatau in the marae there at Māori and Pacific programmes. There would have been about 50 people who worked there at the time,” Forbes said.

“Moari was an incredible boss, so supportive: mātanga reo, mātanga tikanga, mātanga kawa. He had a huge heart, he believed in people.

“He would always see something in us. He would guide us through our hapa and our mistakes that we made which, when you work at Te Karere and Te Ao Māori, making a mistake can be fatal. He would always guide us through that and pull us out the other side.”

Forbes said Stafford would travel between Kawhia and the TVNZ office in Auckland weekly – a distance of around 200 kilometres.

“He was an amazing family man”, she said.

“He’d always bring us kai Māori, rewana bread or a boil up or any kind of Māori kai that he’d bring from home, kai moana, and he’d share it with everybody.”

“I’ll dearly miss him. I’ll miss his texts. He kept in touch with me for my last 32 years, encouraging me every time he saw me out there or doing something good, he’d let me know.”

Another veteran Māori broadcaster to work under Stafford was Julian Wilcox who, alongside Māori media mogul Bailey Mackey, joined Te Karere as a reporter in the late 1990s.

Wilcox told RNZ Stafford was a “quiet and humble” man whose time working manual jobs gave him a dogged work ethic.

“Moari just was worried about filling the half hour that we had on Te Karere… but he got into the gig because of, I found out later on, the encouragement of one of the great tohunga of Tainui, Henare Tuwhangai, who was a main orator for Te Arikinui Te Ataarangikaahu in his time, and one of the great tohunga of Māoridom,” he said.

“It was always about doing the gig, filling the half hour, making sure you had a kaupapa, and turning that kaupapa into a story, filling it out for two and a half minutes – which I know is a long time in news – but that was the average story length for Te Karere… he had that kind of discipline.”

Wilcox said Stafford was always interested in the voices of those the mainstream would leave out of the regular 6pm bulletin.

“How I figured out to please Moari was that if I could get kaumātua and kuia that people often didn’t see in news, particularly in mainstream, talking about news of the day, whatever it might have been at that time, the happier he’d be.

“I’d always turn up to work, and he would always say, ‘What’s your story?’ and I would tell him, ‘Well, I’ve got this kuia…’”

“He’d say ‘Kapai! Go get it’,” Wilcox said.

Stafford was part of a cohort of some of the first Māori broadcasters and journalists to appear regularly on New Zealand television screens like Hinerangi Goodman, Martin Rakuraku, Whai Ngata, Derek Fox, Tini Molyneux and Hirini Henare.

Wilcox remembers them all as “icons”.

“These were people who grew up watching… he was a cool, lovely, lovely man and [without] him I probably wouldn’t have a media career. We owe him a lot and we’re going to miss him.”

Former Te Karere journalist Dean Nathan joined Te Karere in the early 2000s. He told RNZ he met Stafford much earlier life as boy when Stafford worked in Forestry around the small, isolated town of Te Kao in the Far North.

“Who would have thought you would have met a forestry manager in television, right? Editing a national programme and obviously with turning over news it’s a demanding job and the team’s got to be out there and, you know, on the ball every day,” he said.

“I remember him as a really supportive editor and producer, a beautifully natured man.”

Nathan said Stafford gave him huge work opportunities.

“I’m grateful for Moari because he supported me and that was pretty much the starting of my career in television. He was the first editor to send me to repot internationally in America and North America, Canada and Hawaii and all over the South Pacific.

“Those are opportunities that really broadened my my skills and ability and I’m really grateful for that. I love Moari,” Nathan said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/pioneering-maori-broadcaster-and-journalist-moari-stafford-dies/

Posted on

Queenstown Lakes District Council seeks 35-year consent to pump wastewater into Kawarau River

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Queenstown Lakes District Council has voted to seek long-term approval to pump treated wastewater into the Kawarau River.

Councillors agreed on Thursday to lodge a 35-year resource consent application for discharge from the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant, while staff keep looking for alternative solutions to the region’s wastewater woes.

The decision comes one year after the council first diverted wastewater to the Shotover River under emergency powers, following persistent performance issues at a disposal field on the Shotover Delta.

The temporary plan prompted community backlash, with some locals saying the river was at risk and the council had not been transparent.

QLDC retrospectively applied for consent in May, then sought for the case to be handled by the Environment Court.

Separately, the Environment Court ruled the council needed to fix the issues long-term, and lodge a long-term resource consent application by 31 May.

Under the $77.5 million plan supported by most councillors on Thursday, the council would install advanced filters at the treatment plant, and build a 1.4km pipeline to carry the treated wastewater to a rock outfall structure on the Kawarau River.

It was the option recommended by council staff as the most technically feasible and cost-effective pathway, designed to handle the district’s projected growth through to 2060.

However, the plan was strongly opposed by Ngāi Tahu.

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Iwi representatives stated that the direct discharge of human waste to natural water was “abhorrent” and contrary to tikanga, because water classified as waikino (polluted water) should not be mixed with other categories of water, council documents showed.

Assessments showed the Kawarau River’s high energy and flow would provide rapid dilution, meaning the environmental effects were “no more than minor”.

The volume of wastewater requiring disposal from the Shotover plant was projected to more than double by 2060 to to 26 million litres per day, council documents showed.

On Thursday, councillors debated asking the Environment Court for an extension to the consent deadline – a move council staff had warned could be risky and costly.

Ultimately, an alternative option put forward by councillor Gavin Bartlett – to apply for the consent, but also direct the chief executive to undertake further investigations into long-term disposal options – was approved.

Councillor Jon Mitchell described it as a pragmatic but inclusive option.

“This will expedite getting us out of the current situation we’re in, into something marginally more acceptable. With an open mind to pursuing what other options might be available,” he said.

Councillor Nicola King said it was a difficult decision, but it would be costly and without “real reason” to delay the decision.

“We just have to make sure it’s not our long-term solution,” she said.

Mayor John Glover abstained from voting, and councillor Niki Gladding voted against it.

Once the council selected the most cost-effective option, it would be difficult to justify looking at anything else, she said.

“If you’re a developer and you’ve paid development contributions towards it, you’re not going to be wanting to pay twice for a second solution,” she said.

“Once we’ve done this, we’ve done it… we’ll have lost the opportunity to set the direction that we don’t want our wastewater just pouring into the Kawarau.”

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Community urges caution

Earlier in the meeting, during a public delegation, Queenstown Lakes Community Action founder Nikki Macfarlane urged the council to pause – in part because there had not been a “full environmental assessment clearly setting out the risks of each option” nor “meaningful engagement with the community”, she said.

“Once that pathway is set, it’s difficult to reverse,” she said.

“We’re asking you to request an extension from ORC and the Environment Court so you have the time and the necessary information to make a decision that you can stand behind with confidence.”

Andrew Davis, a Queenstown resident of 20 years, said the council should look at options to improve the quality of the wastewater.

“We are privileged to live in an environment with pristine water bodies, whereas many of the comparative plants are discharging into highly degraded environments,” he said.

Other options on the table

In the lead-up to Thursday’s vote, council staff also looked at adding a wetland to the Shotover Delta, hybrid schemes trialling partial disposal via deep boreholes, or shallow soakholes at Frankton Flats, or a high-cost land-only irrigation scheme on the Crown Terrace.

The council held a series of drop-in sessions in December and January for community members to learn about the options, but skipped full public consultation to meet the May deadline.

Councillors agreed to direct the chief executive to keep looking at “reasonably practicable wastewater options, including land-based and hybrid land-water options that may minimise the extent of the discharge of treated effluent to water”, and report back by March 2027.

The council also agreed to seek further hui with Kā Rūnaka leaders, and undertake further community engagement.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/queenstown-lakes-district-council-seeks-35-year-consent-to-pump-wastewater-into-kawarau-river/

Posted on

Oyster farmers get final payment over October Mahurangi River sewage spill

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wastewater poured into the Mahurangi River in October. Supplied

Watercare has announced its final tranche of compensation payment for oyster farmers North of Auckland, after an estimated 1200 cubic metres of sewage flowed into the Mahurangi River last October.

Watercare said a power surge at its Lucy Moore Memorial Park pump station tripped the pumps, and was compounded by an alarm and monitoring system that wasn’t operating as it should be – leading to delays in the response.

Wastewater poured into the Mahurangi River between the afternoon of 29 October, and the next morning.

One Mahurangi oyster farmer told RNZ that much of their 80,000 dozen oysters had to be dumped.

Watercare’s final payment brings the total payout to $2.75 million for the nine oyster farms.

Previously, a payment of $1 million was made in the immediate weeks following the spill and another $1 million at the end of last year.

Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne said the payment decision followed independent assessments of the financial impact resulting from the October event.

“We sincerely apologise to the oyster farmers affected by this incident and recognise the impact it had on their livelihoods and on the wider Mahurangi Harbour aquaculture industry,

“We commissioned an independent loss assessment to understand the financial impact of the October event on oyster farmers, resulting in the farms being shut down by MPI during a critical part of their harvesting season. This process has informed Watercare’s approach to resolving the claims.”

Watercare said independent reviews into the cause of the overflow has now been completed.

It said the reviews found that the incident resulted from “a unique chain of events involving technical and operational factors” at the newly commissioned station at Lucy Moore Memorial Park.

“We have taken the findings of the reviews seriously and have already implemented improvements to strengthen our systems and processes,” said Bourne.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/oyster-farmers-get-final-payment-over-october-mahurangi-river-sewage-spill/

Posted on

Oyster farmers to get another $2.75 million compensation over Mahurangi River sewage spill

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wastewater poured into the Mahurangi River in October. Supplied

Watercare has announced its final tranche of compensation payment for oyster farmers North of Auckland, after an estimated 1200 cubic metres of sewage flowed into the Mahurangi River last October.

Watercare said a power surge at its Lucy Moore Memorial Park pump station tripped the pumps, and was compounded by an alarm and monitoring system that wasn’t operating as it should be – leading to delays in the response.

Wastewater poured into the Mahurangi River between the afternoon of 29 October, and the next morning.

One Mahurangi oyster farmer told RNZ that much of their 80,000 dozen oysters had to be dumped.

Watercare’s final payment brings the total payout to $2.75 million for the nine oyster farms.

Previously, a payment of $1 million was made in the immediate weeks following the spill and another $1 million at the end of last year.

Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne said the payment decision followed independent assessments of the financial impact resulting from the October event.

“We sincerely apologise to the oyster farmers affected by this incident and recognise the impact it had on their livelihoods and on the wider Mahurangi Harbour aquaculture industry,

“We commissioned an independent loss assessment to understand the financial impact of the October event on oyster farmers, resulting in the farms being shut down by MPI during a critical part of their harvesting season. This process has informed Watercare’s approach to resolving the claims.”

Watercare said independent reviews into the cause of the overflow has now been completed.

It said the reviews found that the incident resulted from “a unique chain of events involving technical and operational factors” at the newly commissioned station at Lucy Moore Memorial Park.

“We have taken the findings of the reviews seriously and have already implemented improvements to strengthen our systems and processes,” said Bourne.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/oyster-farmers-to-get-another-2-75-million-compensation-over-mahurangi-river-sewage-spill/

Posted on

Screening rates for HPV increase at clinics with self-tests

Source: Radio New Zealand

123rf

HPV self-tests increase screening rates, with a new study finding 10 percent more coverage at clinics which offer it.

Self-testing for human papillomavirus was rolled out nationally in September 2023.

The study period for this newly-published research took place before that change – between February 2022 and September 2023 – but it compared screening rates at clinics which offered self-testing, to those which didn’t.

It found screening coverage was 10.8 percent higher at practices offering self-testing, and higher for all groups, including Māori – a historically undeserved group.

Published on Thursday in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health journal, it included 22,511 people enrolled in 14 GPs in Te Tai Tokerau Northland.

Half the practices offered HPV self-testing and half offered a vaginal speculum exam by a doctor or nurse, the standard screening method before self-testing was introduced.

Professor Bev Lawton, lead author of the study and director of the University’s Te Tātai Hauora o Hine-National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa, said the study proved self-testing was a game changer.

“We know from our previous research the HPV self-test is acceptable and accessible for under- and never-screened wāhine Māori,” she said.

HPV causes 95 percent of cervical cancers. According to Health NZ, since HPV self-testing was introduced in 2023, 81 percent of those being screened have opted to self-test – in the two years to July 2025, screening coverage rose by 7.4 percent.

It was important to understand how changes to the kinds of test on offer would affect the overall coverage, or number of people being reached by the programme, Lawton said.

“If you’re going to change it and offer a self-test, you don’t want to lose your coverage,” she said. “Because the more people that the programme screens, the more likely that you’re going to save lives.”

Speaking from Austria, where she and her colleagues were discussing the study findings at the international conference EUROGIN, an international congress on HPV infections and associated cancers, she said the study could have worldwide ramifications – millions of people around the world could be spared an invasive vaginal speculum exam.

“We believe all national cervical screening programmes should urgently consider a universal offer of HPV self-testing through primary care,” she said.

“If you have an organised screening programme, as you do in high income countries… it really means that millions of women do not need to have a speculum.”

The research was funded by the Health Research Council, the Ministry of Health, and Mahitahi Hauora.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/screening-rates-for-hpv-increase-at-clinics-with-self-tests/

Posted on

Men can get out of the manosphere – former incels on why they left

Source: Radio New Zealand

Louis Theroux’s recent documentary Inside the Manosphere, alongside Netflix’s 2025 hit drama Adolescence, has driven a spike in public discussion about the “manosphere”. The term refers to a loose ecosystem of anti-feminist online communities and influencers that promote male dominance and hostility toward women.

Much of the public conversation about the manosphere focuses on how boys and young men fall into these spaces. A new study by the Australian Institute of Criminology asks a different question: how do some men manage to leave?

Real-world dangers

Concern about this online culture has grown in recent years. Increasing attention has been paid to adolescent boys and young men going down toxic online rabbit holes, moving from the misogynistic worldview of manosphere influencers toward more extreme spaces.

Louis Theroux (R) talks to British influencer Ed Mathews in Inside the Manosphere.

Courtesy of Netflix

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/men-can-get-out-of-the-manosphere-former-incels-on-why-they-left/

Posted on

Fire Safety – North Waikato moves to restricted fire season

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has declared a restricted fire season for North Waikato from 4pm Thursday 19 March until further notice.
During a restricted fire season people wanting to light outdoor fires must apply to Fire and Emergency for a permit and have it approved.
The North Waikato zone includes the Waikato, Hauraki, Matamata Piako, Waipa, Ōtorohanga and Waitomo territorial authorities, and Hamilton City.  
Announcing the fire season change District Manager Daryl Trim says drier conditions during late summer and early autumn have triggered the change.
“Despite regular rainfall, the fire risk in North Waikato is increasing,” Daryl Trim says.
“We’ve had an increase in the number of vegetation fires including several large fires.
“While these have been controlled and extinguished, we anticipate fhese fires will likely become more frequent.
“Having a restricted fire season gives us greater control of who can burn and when, and we can provide direct fire safety advice to those completing burns,” he says.
“A restricted season will reduce the risk to persons and property.”
The Thames-Coromandel District remains in a restricted fire season.
Go to www.checkitsalright.nz for full details of the fire season status and what activities are restricted or banned.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/fire-safety-north-waikato-moves-to-restricted-fire-season/