Category: LiveNews

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The House: MPs agree infrastructure debate should be politics free

Source: Radio New Zealand

Highways, hospitals, schools, etc: MPs agree politics is detrimental to infrastructure decision-making and things need to change, but can’t help getting political about it. VNP / Phil Smith

Analysis – The centrepiece of Parliament’s week was a two-hour-long special debate on the recently released National Infrastructure Plan.

The Plan is a worthy and fascinating read. The debate had a different tone to many, with general agreement that New Zealand needs to do better on infrastructure.

“They have made a compelling case for change,” Chris Bishop said, introducing the Infrastructure Commission’s work. “We face significant challenges as a country: ageing stock, a backlog of maintenance and renewals, an ageing population, and increased exposure to natural hazard events.”

MPs all agreed that infrastructure planning is too important to be tinged with politics. MPs attempted to reflect this sentiment in the amiable debate, lauding others’ observations, even across the most bitterly fractious party divides.

Credit and blame

From the start, despite genuine effort, the debate failed to avoid politics. Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop lauded his own government for commissioning the Infrastructure Plan. Labour speakers focused on their former colleague Grant Robertson’s role in forming the Infrastructure Commission and commissioning a strategy.

The jealous guarding of credit is likely more automatic than deliberately political. It demonstrates one of the political bidi-bidis in the sock of bipartisan endeavour – other obvious contenders are blame and parochialism.

It would be an odd politician who highlighted his opponent’s success and his own failings. Each party came up with different examples of bad political decisions. For example National’s Katie Nimon pointed to the stop-start work on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway, while Labour’s Tangi Utikere pointed to the Interislander ferry (iRex) project.

But the sniping was comparatively minimal and MPs were even buoyed by the general positivity. National’s Nancy Lu said she was impressed by the opposition’s “willingness to work together for the long term betterment of our country”. Out of context that may sound absurd, but it illustrates that MPs tend to presume the automatic rejection of any proposition by those across the political divide.

All parties agreed that politics is detrimental to infrastructure decision-making, and that things need to change. Labour’s spokesperson on Infrastructure and Public Investment is Kieran McAnulty, who called for the Infrastructure Commission to have a stronger role.

“If all Crown infrastructure went through the independent assurance process that the Infrastructure Commission has set up, then we will go a long way to avoiding the cancellation of projects that we have seen in the past.

“It is about confidence and about certainty. And one way to assure that is if we get the settings right, then it doesn’t actually matter what is going to happen at an election, because they know that infrastructure projects have been properly assessed, and nothing has been promised without an ability to pay for it.”

Chris Bishop lauded his own government for commissioning the Infrastructure Plan. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Pork barrels and parochialism

Megan Woods, who has opted to be a list candidate in the next election, also observed a political tendency that, ironically, she will soon be freed from.

“Even in this debate, where I think we’ve had some very thoughtful contributions, we can’t have missed some of the … pork barrel politics that has underwritten infrastructure for too long in this country – that thinking being a good politician is talking about the ‘wins’ in your local patch.”

Typically, National has more electorate MPs, and in this debate they frequently lauded infrastructure projects underway on their own patches. Among them, Grant McCallum (MP for Northland) defended the imminent Northland Expressway, which had attracted strong criticism during the debate: “Is that investment a wise investment? Well, for the people of Northland, it is. And it’s because we’re making up for generations of a lack of investment.”

Green MP Julie Anne Genter had earlier noted the difficult cost-benefit choices involved, arguing that the possible cost of the Northland project was equivalent to seven new Dunedin Hospitals. McCallum wasn’t alone though. ACT’s Simon Court had earlier decried the state of the highway in Northland, while New Zealand First’s Andy Foster touted the project’s economic benefits.

The only MP who loudly decried a new road on their own patch was Green Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul, who said of Wellington’s new double tunnel project: “if you want to save money for the people of New Zealand, don’t do that project”.

Glum projections

Despite the calls for a bipartisan approach, Labour’s MP Ayesha Verrall sounded pretty glum about the projected health needs in the report, as well as the impact of politics on their delivery. (The plan notes we are likely to need 4900 additional hospital beds by 2043, to add to the current 12,000.)

“New Zealanders want roads, they want hospitals, they want schools, they want an electricity grid that works, and yet, it’s too tempting for us to lean into the politics around infrastructure that is detrimental to us achieving those outcomes.

“I am so grateful for the thoughtful contributions that I’ve heard today that suggest something else might be possible. I don’t underestimate the challenge of maintaining this posture from here, though. How easy is it going to be, in the next seven months, to promise a road, to oppose a road, to try and make political hay out of cancelling or promoting an infrastructure project?”

Ayesha Verrall sounded glum about the projected health needs. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Some MPs appeared to doubt they can be collectively trusted to sufficiently eschew politics to plan infrastructure effectively, but none were suggesting that infrastructure should be entirely removed from their oversight and control.

The Infrastructure Plan is an attempt to instil strategic thinking in government planning. It is not the project ‘to do’ list that its title might imply.

  • New Zealand’s first national infrastructure plan unveiled

    • It is a fascinating read though, full of revealing details of the sorts of things that should guide investment decisions. For example, in education, projections suggest an increase in school-aged Māori, while Pākehā school-aged populations decline (possibly meaning an increased demand for Māori immersion schools); while a shifting population distribution has led to 11 percent of schools (224 schools) being less than 50 percent utilised.

    The Infrastructure Plan looks forward 30 years. A few MPs referred to climate change and referenced ‘resilience’, but no one raised the potentially politically unpalatable impacts of three decades of accelerating weather events and coastal inundation. No one raised whether, for example, some of our significant coastal infrastructure will become physically or financially impossible to retain, and the implications of that on local populations.

    The Infrastructure Plan can be found here.

    The Hansard record of the debate can be found here.

    * RNZ’s The House, with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament’s Office of the Clerk. Enjoy our articles or podcast at RNZ.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/08/the-house-mps-agree-infrastructure-debate-should-be-politics-free/

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Live: White Ferns v Zimbabwe – second ODI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Brooke Halliday of New Zealand. www.photosport.nz

The White Ferns take on tourists Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the three-match series in Dunedin on Sunday.

New Zealand can clinch the series with a win after their 180-run triumph in the opener on Thursday.

First ball is bowled at 11am.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/live-white-ferns-v-zimbabwe-second-odi/

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Timothee Chalamet taken to task over opera, ballet dig

Source: Radio New Zealand

Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet is the frontrunner to take home the golden statuette for Marty Supreme, but he definitely has not won fans in the ballet and opera worlds.

In a town hall discussion late last month with Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey hosted by CNN and Variety, the 30-year-old Chalamet was discussing the future of movie theatres and whether the advent of streaming will spell doom for cinemas.

“If people want to see it — like Barbie, like Oppenheimer — they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it,” Chalamet said.

“And I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.’ All respect to the ballet and opera people out there,” he added, to laughs from the audience.

“I just took shots for no reason.”

The world’s opera and ballet companies were not entertained.

In the French American actor’s native New York, the Metropolitan Opera posted a backstage video with his quote plastered across it and the caption: “This one’s for you, @tchalamet…”

The Paris Opera riffed on “Marty Supreme,” in which Chalamet plays a 1950s table tennis player with big dreams.

“Plot twist, there is ping-pong in opera too,” it said on Instagram, with a video clip from “Nixon in China,” now playing in the French capital.

The Vienna State Opera shouted out to Chalamet: “Consider this your personal invitation to Vienna. Our stage is waiting.”

And in London, the English National Ballet posted Friday: “Dear any celebs that believe no one cares about ballet or opera… We’re happy to report that ballet is not only alive and well, but thriving.”

The Seattle Opera used the actor’s remarks as a marketing opportunity and ran a promotion for an upcoming performance of Carmen.

Posting on Instagram it said: “All we have got to say is use promo code TIMOTHEE to save 14% off select seats for Carmen, through this weekend only. Timmy, you’re welcome to use it too.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/timothee-chalamet-taken-to-task-over-opera-ballet-dig/

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White Ferns’ bowler Lea Tahuhu calls time on ODI career

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lea Tahuhu has called time on her one-day international career. PHOTOSPORT

The White Ferns all-time leading ODI wicket-taker Lea Tahuhu has announced her retirement from one-day international cricket.

She will continue to be available for selection in the T20 format.

Tahuhu has consistently been ranked inside the world’s top ten ODI bowlers and is one of just 12 players to have played more than 100 ODIs for New Zealand.

She also featured at four World Cups.

Tahuhu said the time was right to step down from the ODI format.

“To get one game was an amazing feeling. To have been able to wear the shirt and represent my country and my family over 100 times in ODI cricket is something I never could have dreamt of.

“I’ll treasure every moment and walk away from the ODI game incredibly proud of what I’ve been able to achieve in the format.”

Tahuhu made what was her final ODI appearance for New Zealand against England at the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India.

Selectors have announced she is part of the squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.

Lea Tahuhu stats

  • ODI debut – June 14, 2011 – Rose Bowl Series v Australia in Brisbane
  • White Ferns all-time leading ODI wicket-taker – 125 wickets
  • 103 ODI matches (one of just 12 players to play 100 ODIs for the WHITE FERNS)
  • Named in the 2023 ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year
  • Four ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup tournament appearances (2013, 2017, 2022, 2025)

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/white-ferns-bowler-lea-tahuhu-calls-time-on-odi-career/

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Mediawatch: Fears of interference and influence in news

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ headlines the broadcasting minister’s response in the House. RNZ Mediawatch

“There’s a power imbalance and it’s also off-the-record in an ‘under the desk’-style and I just find that dangerous,” former broadcasting minister Marian Hobbs told RNZ politics show The Whip last Wednesday.

She was reacting to current broadcasting minister Paul Goldsmith telling reporters in Parliament earlier that day TVNZ’s board chair Andrew Barclay had called him the previous weekend.

Goldsmith said that during the call Barclay raised a TVNZ 1News story aired last week – about the rising number of gang members – which had irritated Goldsmith and others in the government.

It didn’t come up on The Whip, but back in 2005 a former Labour colleague Hobbs appointed to the TVNZ board – Dame Anne Hercus – resigned in the wake of a row in which she was accused of leaking information about Judy Bailey’s salary to the government.

The scandal that followed created pressure on the entire TVNZ board to quit.

“The broadcasting law is clear that no minister can give media instructions about political coverage or anything like that,” Goldsmith said when questioned about it in Parliament the next day.

The editorial independence of TVNZ is protected by the TVNZ Act 2003, which says no minister should interfere with news at the state-owned broadcaster. TVNZ’s own editorial policy also has rules on influence from inside and out.

TVNZ board members are not supposed to exert influence on news or respond to complaints about it either.

You could be forgiven for thinking that only the media and political people would care about what seems like an obscure line that might be crossed. But while instances are rare – or rarely become public – it does matter if it happens.

How did this controversy come to light?

It was sparked by another story aired on 1News last Tuesday – all about the latest Crime and Victims survey showing 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime than in 2023.

Those figures were announced five days earlier – and hailed by the government as an endorsement of the government’s policies.

But they were not reported on 1 News on that day, when the same senior political reporter – Benedict Collins – instead reported on the official number of gang members overtaking the number of police officers.

Collins also pointed out the PM had said – in a pre-election debate in 2023 – this would not happen. The story also included Hamiltonians saying crime appeared to be getting worse there.

“Absolutely unbelievable that on a day that the Government announces 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime and a 22 per cent decrease in serious repeat youth offending — 1News chose instead to engage in unbalanced journalism,” police minister Mark Mitchell vented on Facebook.

Cabinet colleagues endorsed the post as “a must-read”.

On Newstalk ZB’s afternoon show the next day, Mark Mitchell said TVNZ had called him and apologised for that story.

“My message to them was: ‘if you want to maintain public confidence, just engage in balanced journalism. You shouldn’t be a mouthpiece for the opposition either.’”

It’s very unusual for a broadcaster to apologise formally to a politician like that.

It came under the headline: The Govt gets its wish from 1News – a headline on fewer crime victims.

Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy cited “concern within the wider TVNZ operation about who in the company was involved in discussions about broadcasting a second story that would include the Government-favourable statistics”.

“If there is evidence of the directors being across the decision, or involved in encouraging a second report to assuage Government criticisms, the company can be sure of another round of political attention – from opposition parties.”

And the media.

Did TVNZ’s directors seek to direct its news?

On Wednesday, Mark Mitchell told the House he did not contact TVNZ or its board members.

But Paul Goldsmith – who’s also the Justice Minister – told reporters the TVNZ board chair Andrew Barclay had called him last weekend. He insisted that when the gang numbers story came up, he told Barclay he couldn’t discuss it.

Asked in the House the next day if the Chair should have raised TVNZ reporting with the minister at all, Goldsmith said: “in the context of a board focusing on improving levels of trust … I don’t have a particularly strong view. He probably shouldn’t have, but it’s certainly not a major issue”.

But it would be if TVNZ news responded to pressure or instruction from within the broadcaster as a result of complaints from government ministers – or its own governors acting on them.

TVNZ’s response

An earlier statement TVNZ said it chose to run the follow-up story in the interests of balance.

TVNZ said the board takes an interest in how editorial standards are maintained, [but] decisions on how stories are covered are made independently.

TVNZ told Mediawatch chief executive Jodie O’Donnell concluded the positive crime stats could have been included in the otherwise-accurate gang numbers story aired on Thursday last week.

She asked news leaders last Monday to look at the story, but TVNZ says that process was already underway.

Mediawatch asked to speak to TVNZ CEO Jodie O’Donnell. TVNZ declined citing “a full dance card” on the day TVNZ released its latest financial results.

On Friday the New Zealand Herald quoted Jodie O’Donnell – also the company’s editor-in-chief – as saying there was “no political or board interference.”

But she also told the Herald the TVNZ chair Andrew Barclay had asked her: ‘Are you comfortable that we’ve maintained editorial standards?’”

Mediawatch asked TVNZ if the government’s criticism of the gang numbers story was discussed by the TVNZ board members. And if so, was the board’s response then communicated to CEO Jodie O’Donnell – or to broadcasting minister Paul Goldsmith?

TVNZ said Minister Mitchell’s Facebook post was raised by board directors with CEO Jodi O’Donnell but “Board Directors have not discussed the story with the CEO – or given any editorial direction.”

TVNZ also told Mediawatch the CEO did not direct political editor Maiki Sherman to apologise to the Minister of Police last week.

TVNZ also said O’Donnell had no role in the follow-up story last Tuesday – and has not given reporters any instruction about changing their approach to balance in future political reporting as a result of complaints about the original ‘gang numbers’ story.

Crossing the line?

RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

The TVNZ Act 2003 says no shareholding minister – or any minister – can “give direction to TVNZ in respect of its programmes, content or any complaints about its content or the gathering or presentation of its news and current affairs”.

“‘Direction’ isn’t defined in the act, but … a ‘direction’ is something that is quite formal. It’s more than seeking to influence pressure on an organisation. It has to be a formal requirement,” University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis told Mediawatch.

“This is more a question of the sort of relationship we think the governing body of TVNZ ought to have with a minister – and what he should be talking with the minister about in private.”

“If it’s to gauge how upset the Minister is and what sort of risk of blowback there is for the organisation, that’s troubling because it would seem to indicate the board is worried that how news is operating may harm the wider organisation in the future.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell criticising TVNZ’s “unbalanced” news journalism would not breach the TVNZ Act.

“What it does do though is raise this question of how ought ministers seek to express their disappointment or disagreement with media. There is a formal structure for complaints … through the Broadcasting Standards Authority,” Prof Geddis said.

“Complaining to that body and getting a formal ruling on does have a kind of disciplining effect on the media.”

Why apologise?

Two years ago David Seymour criticised a Benedict Collins story including a health advocate who David Seymour said had earlier criticised him. He also criticised TVNZ correspondent John Campbell for quoting and linking to a left-wing blogger.

“We are not asking for sympathy but are asking for our politicians to respect the independence of our media so they can get on with their work,” TVNZ said at the time.

Last week, TVNZ’s political editor Maiki Sherman apologised to Police Minister Mark Mitchell about that gang numbers story that aired last week.

The ‘good news’ crime survey stats could have been included as relevant and newsworthy context, or mentioned in the introduction, or even reported elsewhere in the bulletin.

But news shows and their reporters have every right to zero in on an angle when they see one. As Benedict Collins pointed out in his report last week, gang membership overtaking the police was part of a trend. It also contradicted a previous promise from the prime minister and it was tied to the parallel issue of police recruitment targets.

As Newsroom’s Tim Murphy pointed out on RNZ’s Midday Report, the Ministry of Justice surveys come out frequently and recent ones have also recorded significant falls in reported crime.

Editorial oversight at NZME

Questions about influence on the news were also raised last year when Trade Me bought a share in Stuff Digital last year – and when NZME created an Editorial Advisory Board (EAB).

That came out of the bid by activist shareholder James Grenon to persuade other shareholders to replace the entire NZME board – and introduce greater oversight news at the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB.

The appointment this week of Hamish Rutherford as chair of the EAB raised eyebrows.

He was a business journalist before becoming Chief Press Secretary to Christopher Luxon until late 2024 when he left to become a PR professional.

This week NZME told Mediawatch that Rutherford would continue working in PR while chairing the board advising NZME on its editorial matters.

“I’ve been upfront with [NZME] chairman Steven Joyce about my other work and will continue to be,” Rutherford told The Post.

Steven Joyce told The Post the EAB did not make editorial decisions and “all members are subject to our conflict of interest policies”.

Joyce is also a consultant who has contracted for government projects such as a medical school for the University of Waikato.

The PR firm Hamish Rutherford works for – BRG – told The Post it sees no conflict of interest problems.

“If any perceived or actual conflicts of interest arise, we will manage them quickly and appropriately,” managing director Georgina Stylianou said.

But that won’t be done in public – all behind closed doors at NZME, unless details are shared with investors in scheduled briefings or if it comes up from the floor at AGMs.

“So NZME – chaired by a former National Party cabinet minister and campaign manager – has appointed an editorial board that’s going to be chaired by a former National Party press secretary,” Labour leader Chris Hipkins told The Post when he was made aware the appointment.

And there are two other former press secretaries on the four-person board, one of whom – Brent Webling – also served National party leaders.

And this alarmed the Democracy Project’s Dr Bryce Edwards – a longtime advocate of tightening up on lobbying.

“A practising government relations lobbyist is now leading the body that provides “advice, support and constructive challenge” to NZME’s editorial team. The board advises on editorial standards, audience development, and – tellingly – “strategic positioning in New Zealand’s evolving media landscape,’ Dr Edwards wrote.

He said while NZME is a private company and is entitled to appoint whoever it likes, “public perception is the whole point of being a news organisation.”

The other main thing news organisations do telling the public things they need to know.

NZME wasn’t willing to talk openly about the work of its EAB this week.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/mediawatch-fears-of-interference-and-influence-in-news/

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Can psychopaths change?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Psychopaths might account for only about 1 percent of the general population, but they account for a disproportionate share of violent crime.

Distinct from other conditions like sociopathy and antisocial personality disorder, psychopaths tend to show traits such as an absence of remorse or guilt, a lack of empathy and a charming and manipulative interpersonal style.

You may find it hard to imagine how someone without much empathy can change. And early psychological treatments were not successful. But advances in research are showing that a deeper understanding of psychopathy may help to create more effective interventions.

To help psychopaths change, we first need to understand them.

Unsplash

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/can-psychopaths-change/

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First shore plover fledgling born on Pitt Island in 150 years

Source: Radio New Zealand

Shore plover fledgling banded on Pitt Island. Supplied / Department of Conservation

The Shore Plover Recovery Group has confirmed the first fledgling of the bird from Pitt Island in 150 years.

Pitt Island is the second largest of the Chatham Islands, which the shore plover – also known as the tūturuatu in te reo Māori, or tchūriwat’ in ta rē Moriori (Moriori language) – are native to.

There is a population of 250, which live in Māngere and Rangatira, as well as on Portland Island – south of Māhia Peninsula in Hawke’s Bay.

A shore plover in Māngere. Supplied / Department of Conservation

The fledgling is a result of a feral cat control programme to increase the population by the community living on Pitt Island.

Chairman Dave Houston said feral cats had eliminated the population on Pitt Island, as well as the mainland of New Zealand, in the 1870s.

But the programme allowed the shore plover to breed and for their chicks to survive after hatching, Houston said.

“The community were really engaged in that during the Jobs for Nature period after Covid.”

Shore plover. Supplied / Department of Conservation

Houston hoped for another fledging next year.

“It really depends on the cats on Pitt Island.

“We need sustained cat control to continue, or even better, to have the feral cats eradicated from the island.

“That’s a bit of a long term project, but it’s sort of a glimpse of what could be if we could have cats eradicated and get double the shore plover population, so go from the current 250 birds in the total world population to maybe 500 or more. That’d be great.”

Shore plover fledgling banded on Pitt Island. Supplied / Department of Conservation

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/first-shore-plover-fledgling-born-on-pitt-island-in-150-years/

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Why do high earners get the pension? – Ask Susan

Source: Radio New Zealand

Got questions? RNZ has launched a new podcast, [ https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/no-stupid-questions No Stupid Questions’], with Susan Edmunds.

We’d love to hear more of your questions about money and the economy. You can send through written questions, like these ones, but even better, you can drop us a voice memo to our email questions@rnz.co.nz.

You can also sign up to RNZ’s new money newsletter, [ https://rnz.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=211a938dcf3e634ba2427dde9&id=b4c9a30ed6 ‘Money with Susan Edmunds’.]

With all the talk about the country not being able to support the pension scheme I am at a loss as to why pensions are paid out to people who continue to work fulltime after they turn 65. I stopped work because of ill health but would otherwise have happily worked another 10 years. I would not have expected a pension and I have many working friends who take it simply because it is given to them, but don’t need it. Am I missing something here?

I don’t think so. While there is no shortage of people who argue that they are entitled to it no matter what, I think there is a growing number who question the fairness of people on very high incomes being paid NZ Super.

Last year, I reported on the fact that more than 9000 people aged over 65 earn more than $200,000 and are eligible to claim NZ Super, too.

While they would pay tax on their pension, and some of it would go back to the government that way, the retirement commissioner said it was fair to question the fairness of it.

Some people may be working because they have to – I know some people use the years when they might be getting the pension and a salary as an opportunity to shore up their savings so they can afford to retire.

It might be less desirable to reduce their entitlement. But I personally think it would serve us all to be more willing to at least have the conversation.

Sir Ian Taylor has been promoting Share My Super, an organisation that allows pensioners to donate part or all of it to charity, if they do not need the money.

Can a KiwiSaver account be used to fund a first home outside New Zealand?

If you are planning to leave New Zealand to go and live in another country, then probably – unless you’re going to Australia.

Once people have been out of New Zealand for more than a year, they can apply to withdraw all their KiwiSaver money, apart from the government contribution, by saying they have permanently emigrated. You could then use it to buy a house or for whatever purpose you liked.

If you’re moving to Australia, it’s more tricky. You can only move your KiwiSaver to an Australian superannuation savings account. There isn’t the same ability to withdraw for a first home there, although there is a “first home super saver scheme” that allows people to withdraw voluntary contributions to help buy their first home.

From what I understand, not all Australian super schemes offer this and you can only use $15,000 of your KiwiSaver money in this way.

If you’re staying in New Zealand then you can’t use the money to buy a house anywhere else because you need to be planning to live in it.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/why-do-high-earners-get-the-pension-ask-susan/

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New Zealand’s Corey Peters 5th in men’s downhill sitting at Paralympic Winter Games

Source: Radio New Zealand

Corey Peters was the defending champion from the Beijing Games four years ago. PHOTOSPORT

Four-time Paralympic medalist Corey Peters has finished out of the medals in the men’s downhill sitting in his first Winter Paralympic Games event at Milano Cortina.

The 42-year-old Kiwi was unable to defend the title he won in Beijing in 2022.

Peters made a couple of costly errors but twice managed to make a miraculous recovery to stay upright and record a time of 1:20.89.

“I feel disappointed. We work pretty hard over a number of years, and a lot of dedication and sacrifice goes into it. Unfortunately, conditions did not really gel with me today and I didn’t adapt,” Peters said, who was second out of the start gate.

“Fifth was definitely not what I was looking for with downhill being one of my better events.”

Norwegian Jesper Pedersen, the silver medallist from four years ago, produced a slick run down the Olimpia delle Tofane to register 1:18.14 to strike gold.

Niels de Langen of the Netherlands claimed silver – some 1.10 further back – with Canada’s Kurt Oatway filling the final podium spot in bronze (1:19.42).

Competing in warm temperatures of around 9C and softening snow conditions, 11 of the field of 23 registered DNF’s including Dutchman Jeroen Kampschreur, the quickest man in both training runs.

Peters continues his quest at the Milano Cortina Games when he competes in the Men’s Super-G Sitting on Monday.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/new-zealands-corey-peters-5th-in-mens-downhill-sitting-at-paralympic-winter-games/

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World-leading neurobiologist: Science means it’s not okay for me to hate Donald Trump

Source: Radio New Zealand

In his latest book, Determined, Robert Sapolsky argues that we are not, in fact, masters of our own destiny. Everything we think and do is beyond our control and caused by a combination of biology and environment.

The Stanford University professor was just 14 when one “very revelatory night”, he realised that humans have no free will at all.

“Suddenly, I woke up at two in the morning and said, ‘Ah, I get it. There’s no free will. And there’s no God. And there’s no purpose in the universe whatsoever.’ It all just evaporated right then and hasn’t been back since.”

This video is hosted on Youtube.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/08/world-leading-neurobiologist-science-means-its-not-okay-for-me-to-hate-donald-trump/

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Plan to release parasitic worm on invasive millipede horde

Source: Radio New Zealand

A portuguese millipede. RNZ/Mary Argue

A reinfestation of invasive millipedes, crawling out of the soil and into homes, is sending residents of Wellington’s south coast to arm themselves against the bugs.

The alarm was sounded about the portuguese millipede almost a year ago, with stories of people finding hundreds of the scaly black creatures outside or inside bags, shoes and even beds.

Since then, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has identified the species in New Plymouth and Nelson – and while it is considered a nuisance, it’s not classified as a pest species and doesn’t meet the threshold for official control measures.

However residents hope to fight back, and are pinning their hopes on a tiny parasitic worm to suppress millipede numbers.

The microscopic nematode wriggles inside its host, where it reproduces. Eventually the nematode offspring become so numerous they burst out of the host’s body, killing it.

A newcomer to Ōwhiro Bay told RNZ he planned to unleash an “aggressive” species of the nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, in addition to barrier sprays and insecticides.

“At this point there’s less concrete more millipedes as I step out of the house. They’re just pouring out of the soil – [it’s] probably got to do with the [recent] rainfall.

“It’s essentially like a millipede graveyard right now.”

He said he was aware of the millipedes before he moved, so was prepared, but the “volume, and the speed” of their emergence was “alarming”.

He hoped his experiment could potentially benefit others and if successful, “nip the problem in the bud”.

A trial of the nematode Steinernema feltiae as a biocontrol agent for the millipede is currently underway at Victoria University – results are expected in a few weeks’ time, but those plagued by the millipedes aren’t waiting.

Another Ōwhiro Bay resident, who had already sprayed the species of microscopic worm told RNZ their place was one of several houses on the street planning to use it.

“We … haven’t seen any effect yet. But that’s to be expected – it’s a long term thing.”

They said the millipedes were already appearing as numbers tended to surge in autumn and spring.

“They’ve started turning up – you’ll see 10, then the next day you’ll see 20, 30, and then before you know it, they’re just … everywhere.

“If I actually counted them up there’d be a couple of hundred outside and then maybe 10 or 20 inside.

“I’m prepared that they’re going to get worse for a while, before they get better.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/08/plan-to-release-parasitic-worm-on-invasive-millipede-horde/

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White Sox great and Olympian Rhonda Hira calls for greater recognition of softball

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rhonda Hira in action for the White Sox against Japan in 2000. PHOTOSPORT

Rhonda Hira (Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Tipa) has long secured her place in New Zealand softball history.

A five-time world championship representative, Olympian and New Zealand player of the decade from 1997-2006, Hira is widely regarded as one of the greatest White Sox to wear the fern.

Now, she says former players like herself have a responsibility to be more visible and help guide the game forward.

Raised in Hawke’s Bay, before settling in Christchurch nearly 40 years ago, Hira’s softball journey began with a newspaper article she read as a kōtiro.

“I was only like eight at the time and I was reading an article about a women’s team going to the World Series in South America,” she told RNZ.

“I thought, ‘Oh, I’d love to do that myself’.”

NZ White Sox representatives. Softball New Zealand

That early spark turned into a near 20-year international career. Hira debuted for New Zealand in 1983 and went on to represent the White Sox at five world championships – Auckland in 1986, Normal, Illinois in 1990, St John’s in 1994, Fukushima in 1998 and Saskatoon in 2002.

She also reached what she describes as the pinnacle of any sporting career – the Olympic Games – where the White Sox placed sixth. At Sydney 2000, she was New Zealand’s top batter.

“To be in that realm with your own people is something to aspire to,” she said, reflecting on the strong Māori and Pasifika representation within the New Zealand team at those Games.

Her most memorable campaign was the 1990 world championship final – which was never played – against the United States. A single round-robin result meant New Zealand needed a near-perfect performance to claim gold.

The gold medal game was rained out, which led to the United States claiming gold for the highest round-robin standing. 

“One run cost us 10 runs to actually win the tournament,” she said. “That’s a memory in itself.”

According to the latest rankings from the World Baseball Softball Confederation, New Zealand’s women are currently ranked 23rd.

It marks a shift from the White Sox teams of Hira’s era, who were regular podium contenders. New Zealand won the world championship in 1982, and claimed bronze in 1986 and silver in 1990.

As recently as 2016, the side was ranked eighth globally.

Softball’s Olympic status has also shifted over time. The women’s game featured at the Olympic Games from 1996-2008, before returning at Tokyo 2020.

It will again appear at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with six teams to qualify through a series of global and continental tournaments. Host nation United States automatically secures one place.

Rhonda Hira in action for the White Sox against Australia in 2000. PHOTOSPORT

Hira said, throughout her softball career, resources were limited. Programmes were handwritten on a single A4 sheet and training tools were improvised from household items.

“When I was making my way to being a White Sox, it was more of dedication to the sport and the commitment,” she said.

“We utilised a lot of resources we had in the home, like your can of spaghetti tied around a rope just to strengthen the wrists,” she laughed.

Today’s athletes had access to far more support, Hira said, but she believed the core principle had not changed.

“The real dedication is what you put into it is what you’ll get back.”

Softball in Aotearoa now has a membership base made up of about 60 percent Māori and Pasifika players. Hira said that connection wasn’t an accident.

“What draws our indigenous people to this game is that it’s community driven,” she said. “You don’t know until you actually play with somebody else that you think, ‘Oh, they’re from the same area. Why is that?’, so there’s that connection.”

She described softball as strategic, percentage-based and a whānau sport, where every player has a role to perform.

“It creates lifelong friendships. The camaraderie amongst those that have gone and those that are present is unbreakable.”

NZ White Sox Olympic team 2000. Supplied

While proud of what her generation achieved, Hira said visibility from former internationals was crucial to the sport’s future.

“Players like myself need to be a little bit more visible, so these players are able to say, ‘Well, that’s so-and-so and she went to so-and-so’, and maybe can approach these players that have been there and done that.”

She believed the softball brand was strong enough to demand more recognition nationally and internationally.

“It’s a brand that can be marketed. It has that support not only within the community, but at a higher stage as well.”

With Olympic qualifiers and junior world events on the horizon, Hira’s message to the next generation was to work hard.

“The resources that are available to you, use them well. The coaches that you have believe in the game that they’re trying to get you to play.

“If it’s not working, park it. It’ll be something you can use when it actually does come to fruition.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/08/white-sox-great-and-olympian-rhonda-hira-calls-for-greater-recognition-of-softball/

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Universities – $5.1 million grant to eliminate cervical cancer in Pacific region – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Pacific-led initiatives set to eliminate cervical cancer across the Pacific

Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, and its Pacific partners, are supporting the rollout of safe initiatives across the Pacific that are proven to prevent cervical cancer and save lives.

Cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease but remains a leading cause of cancer death among Pacific women. In parts of the Pacific, incidence rates are up to nine times higher than in Australasia.

The Matariki Fund, administered by Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern, is supporting the programme by expanding access to new and existing locally led cancer prevention initiatives for more people across the Pacific.

This new partnership enables a new Pacific-led and coordinated programme of work that:

  • Increases HPV vaccination coverage to reach at least 90% of girls. 
  • Expands access to cervical self-testing to achieve at least 70% of eligible women
  • Facilitates timely diagnostics to enable treatment for pre-cancerous lesions and invasive cancer
  • Establishes a coalition of Pacific women leaders to lead workforce and capability development, including digital and health system infrastructure.

The programme made possible through a NZ$5.1 million grant by the Matariki Fund, and active work of other partners in the region, will begin with a focus on the Cook Islands and Niue before being scaled up across the region.

Cervical cancer can be prevented through HPV vaccination, regular screening and timely diagnosis and treatment. Yet access to these services remains uneven across the Pacific. This new investment provides a critical opportunity to align national programmes, regional partners, and women leaders around a common goal towards elimination.

The initiative will work alongside successful existing regional programmes, including the EPICC programme (funded by the Australian Government and the Minderoo Foundation) and the Polynesian Health Corridors (PHC) (managed by the New Zealand Ministry of Health and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade).

Together, these partnerships will help scale effective interventions, reduce duplication, and strengthen regional health systems.

Aligning with the WHO Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer the initiative aims to support countries to achieve the “90–70–90” targets by 2030 — a threshold at which elimination becomes possible.  In practice, this means aiming to achieving 90% of girls aged 15 years receiving the HPV vaccine, 70% of women screened by age 35 years, and again at 45 years; and 90% of women with pre-cancer and invasive cancers treated.

Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, Co-Director of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, says the funding is a gamechanger for regional collaboration.

“Cervical cancer is preventable, yet too many Pacific women continue to die from it. This investment allows Pacific countries to work together — sharing expertise, strengthening systems, and supporting women leaders — to achieve elimination.”

Pacific women will be at the forefront of the initiative, working in partnership with Te Marae Ora (Cook Islands), the Niue Department of Health, and regional organisations.

Professor Judith McCool, Head of the School of Population Health and Co-Director of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, says the funding enables sustainable, system-level change.

“This grant allows us to move beyond isolated interventions to a truly collaborative, Pacific-led approach. By strengthening leadership, governance, and regional partnerships, we are building the foundations for long-term health equity.”

Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern says:
“Pacific women are disproportionately affected by a disease that can be eliminated. There is such excellent leadership within the region – this funding is simply about supporting them to save lives with solutions that should be available to everyone.”
 
Total investment: NZ$5,097,210
Duration: 2026–2031
Lead organisation: Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health – University of Auckland

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/08/universities-5-1-million-grant-to-eliminate-cervical-cancer-in-pacific-region-uoa/

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Kiztopia celebrates grand opening of its newest family edutainment centre at Toppen Shopping Mall, Johor Bahru

Source: Media Outreach

Kiztopia brings its award-winning “Play to Learn, Learn through Play” concept to Southern Malaysia, marking its 3rd outlet in Malaysia and 22nd across APAC

JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 March 2026 – Kiztopia, Singapore’s leading family edutainment brand, officially celebrated the grand opening of its newest outlet at Toppen Shopping Centre, Johor Bahru on February 26, 2026. This milestone marks Kiztopia’s third outlet in Malaysia since 2024 and its 22nd family edutainment centre across the Asia-Pacific region.

From left: Ms. Li San, Operations Manager of Kiztopia Malaysia; Ms. Heidi Tian, CEO and Founder of Kiztopia; Mr. Sergey Aristarkhov, Centre Manager of Toppen Mall; Ms. Su Wei, General Manager of Kiztopia Malaysia; and Mr. Nicholas Yong, COO of Kiztopia, commemorated the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new outlet.

Founded in Singapore in 2019 with its flagship outlet at Marina Square, Kiztopia was awarded “Best Attraction Experience” at the Singapore Tourism Awards in 2021. Today, the brand operates across Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, with sub-brands including Kiztopia Club, Bouncetopia, SkyPark, Kiztopia Prestige, and Xventure — a sports and adventure concept designed for teens, adults and thrill-seekers.

The Johor Bahru outlet represents Kiztopia’s continued commitment to expanding its footprint in Malaysia, bringing innovative and immersive family experiences to the southern region.

Speaking at the grand opening ceremony, Ms. Heidi Tian, Founder and CEO of Kiztopia, said:
“A very warm welcome to our grand opening ceremony at Toppen Shopping Centre today. This marks our third outlet opened in Malaysia since 2024 and our 22nd outlet in the APAC region. We are honoured to collaborate with Ikano Group and delighted to bring memorable experiences and timeless fun to all families in Johor and across Malaysia.

We are fully committed to Malaysia’s market development and hope to bring more innovative and creative concepts and experiences to Malaysian families.”

Ms. Su Wei, General Manager of Kiztopia Malaysia, added:
“This expansion reflects how much we value families in the South. Beyond the play zones, our team is here to create lasting memories — and we can’t wait to see the smiles begin at Toppen.”

Mr. Sergey Aristarkhov, Centre Manager of Toppen Mall, shared: “Toppen is not just a shopping mall; it is a place that creates meaningful experiences for families and children. This is what we believe in. We are proud to welcome Kiztopia as part of our experiential offerings, strengthening Toppen’s position as a destination for family bonding and interactive play.”

A world of imaginative play and active learning

Kiztopia is built around its core philosophy of “Play to Learn, Learn through Play.” The Johor Bahru outlet features vibrant thematic play zones inspired by Kiztopia’s eight unique IP-registered characters, each designed to stimulate creativity, physical activity, and social development.

Children can explore large-scale interactive playground structures, role-play zones that spark imagination, obstacle courses that encourage physical agility, and immersive activity areas that nurture teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Designed as a safe, engaging and enriching environment, the centre allows children to build confidence while strengthening family bonds through shared experiences.

Beyond daily play sessions, Kiztopia also offers curated birthday party packages and school visit programmes, providing customised, guided experiences that combine fun, education and memorable celebrations for children of all ages.

Strengthening Malaysia’s family entertainment landscape

The launch at Toppen Shopping Centre reinforces Kiztopia’s long-term commitment to Malaysia as a key growth market in Southeast Asia. By collaborating with Ikano Group and Toppen Mall, Kiztopia aims to deliver not just entertainment, but holistic family experiences that blend education, physical play and emotional connection.

With Malaysia’s growing demand for premium indoor family attractions, Kiztopia continues to innovate with new concepts, seasonal events and cross-brand experiences such as Jumptopia and Splashtopia — signature inflatable event experiences that have delighted families across the region.

Visit Kiztopia at Toppen Shopping Centre

Families in Johor Bahru and surrounding areas are invited to experience Kiztopia’s newest outlet at Toppen Shopping Centre and discover a dynamic space where imagination, learning and fun come together.

For more information, please visit:

Website: https://kiztopia.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiztopiamy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiztopiamy
Media Assets: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cA9ojcjEx2vOqVwoccUblUwR1UDLX4Y6?usp=sharing
Marketing: Rachel – 014-7196961

https://kiztopia.com.my/
https://www.facebook.com/kiztopiamy
https://www.instagram.com/kiztopiamy

Hashtag: #KiztopiaToppen #Edutainment #ToppenShoppingMallJB #JohorBahru

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/08/kiztopia-celebrates-grand-opening-of-its-newest-family-edutainment-centre-at-toppen-shopping-mall-johor-bahru/

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CGTN: How China builds consensus, boosts development through consultative democracy

Source: Media Outreach

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 March 2026 – CGTN published an article on the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. Reviewing the work of the CPPCC National Committee in 2025 in areas like its consultative and deliberative work and assisting in the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the article highlights the CPPCC’s role as a dedicated consultative body through which people’s democracy is practiced.

Committed to addressing the difficulties regarding people’s livelihood through the rule of law, Pi Jianlong, a lawyer and a national political advisor, has spent years going deep into factories, workshops, law firms and juvenile probation and rehabilitation centers, making sure that his proposals, grounded in rigorous field research, are precise, practical and responsive to real needs.

Noting the predicament faced by food delivery riders, including the lack of contracts, social security and basic protection, he proposed targeted suggestions such as innovating social security models and strengthening platform responsibilities. In 2025, platforms such as JD.com and Meituan successively introduced social security plans, providing full social insurance coverage for full-time riders and accident and medical insurance for part-time riders.

Awarded for his outstanding performance in 2025 by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee recently, Pi exemplifies the commitment of thousands of CPPCC members to serving the people through high-quality duty fulfillment, underscoring the CPPCC’s role as a major vehicle through which people’s democracy is practiced.

On Wednesday afternoon, China’s top political advisory body, the CPPCC National Committee, kicked off its annual session in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping, together with other leaders, attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

99.9% proposals handled

Acting as a dedicated consultative body, the CPPCC has pooled extensive consensus and strength to support the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and a solid start to the 15th Five-Year Plan over the past year, injecting strong vitality into the practice of whole-process people’s democracy – a key concept put forward by Xi himself to advance China’s political landscape.

Over the years, China has made all-around progress in improving the institutions, standards and procedures of socialist democracy and advanced socialist consultative democracy by way of extensive participation.

According to a work report delivered at the opening meeting, in 2025, the CPPCC National Committee received 5,992 proposals from its members, of which 5,061 were accepted for processing. The response rate for the accepted proposals stood at 99.9%.

The CPPCC National Committee members carried out 6,778 activities to serve the people, along with 11,115 outreach activities engaging people from relevant sectors. These efforts benefited more than 4 million people.

By innovating consultative and deliberative methods, improving consultative democracy institutions, and fostering a culture of consultation, the CPPCC has further strengthened its role in promoting democracy and offering policy advice while building consensus.

Over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee held 98 consultative and deliberative events, ranging from promoting the country’s green and low-carbon transition for the 15th Five-Year Plan and developing the silver economy to improving and innovating social governance. These efforts demonstrate that consultative democracy is grounded in reality and responsive to public needs, pooling support, consensus, wisdom and strength to advance Chinese modernization.

Securing a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan

Supporting the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan serves as a key task of the CPPCC in 2025, representing a vivid practice of whole-process people’s democracy.

From May 20 to June 20 last year, China launched an online public consultation to gather opinions for its next five-year plan. The initiative drew over 3.11 million valid submissions, yielding more than 1,500 constructive suggestions across 27 topics.

A summary of these findings was submitted to the Party leadership, ensuring that the people’s voices were heard at the highest level. By September, a total of 2,112 suggestions had been collected from various regions, departments and sectors, resulting in 218 revisions to the document.

To contribute to the 15th Five-Year Plan, the CPPCC, over the past year, held a special standing committee meeting and carried out 54 special studies, yielding a series of high-quality outcomes. Meanwhile, it launched a special research column, publishing 55 issues to provide evidence-based references for policy-making.

This broad-based participation highlights that national development strategies are rooted in public will, gathering strong momentum for Chinese modernization.

According to the work report, in 2026, the CPPCC will conduct in-depth research and thorough consultations on major tasks and strategic measures of the 15th Five-Year Plan and carry out cross-committee, cross-sector and cross-disciplinary studies, aiming to put forward forward-looking, targeted and operable policy suggestions, according to the report.

Focusing on key issues in areas such as economic development, technological innovation, reform and opening up, social development, and people’s livelihood, the CPPCC will truthfully reflect public opinions based on facts and implement the CPPCC National Committee’s democratic oversight work plan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-04/How-China-builds-consensus-boosts-growth-via-consultative-democracy-1LeSOfZLbk4/p.html

Hashtag: #CGTN

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/08/cgtn-how-china-builds-consensus-boosts-development-through-consultative-democracy/

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Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders attack exposed in Will Jordan’s absence against Blues

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Black Will Jordan was rested for the Crusaders’ clash against the Blues. Martin Hunter/ActionPress

World class one week, woeful the next.

The Crusaders barely fired a shot against the Blues at Eden Park, a sloppy and disjointed performance seeing them succumb 29-13 to their old rivals.

Most worryingly, their clunky attack failed to make any real inroads on the Blues defence.

After looking so potent against the Chiefs, the Crusaders lacked direction just a week later, fumbling passes, kicking aimlessly and repeatedly caught behind the advantage line.

Such a drastic dip forces questions and the obvious answer – they were without their primary weapon, Will Jordan, with the All Black rested for the round four clash.

Do the Crusaders rely on their sensational fullback too heavily? Coach Rob Penney concedes they might.

“We talk about that a bit and that’s the last thing we want to,” he said. “He’s world class and he makes a massive impact for any team he’s in.

“We need to take heat off Jordy. Will’s just an amazing talent, and we want to make sure he can come here and play with freedom, not feel as though he’s a critical piece.”

Penney described it as an “ugly performance”.

“Really disappointing,” he admitted. “We were messy, couldn’t get any rhythm.

“Looked as though we were a bit flat, didn’t bring any intensity really. We’ve got some talented players and we were inexplicably error-ridden tonight.

“There wouldn’t be too many that could put their hand up and say it wasn’t me.”

Handling errors plagued them throughout.

“You could see a lot of them were at times when there wasn’t a lot of defensive pressure on, so we can’t blame excess pressure. The boys are better than that.

“It’s hard to put your finger on when good players are making errors.”

They also had a Jamie Hannah try disallowed, due to an earlier high shot by Dom Gardiner.

“They’re big momentum shifters. We’re disappointed that we work hard on keeping our shots down, our tackle height down.

“We didn’t need to be in that position. Very frustrating, because it was a nice try and we’d fought our way back, so big turnaround.”

After their stunning upset win over the Chiefs, the Crusaders have now lost three of their first four matches to begin their title defence.

“It probably does feel as though we haven’t certainly made the progress we would’ve liked on the back of last week,” said Penney.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/07/super-rugby-pacific-crusaders-attack-exposed-in-will-jordans-absence-against-blues/

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Chief executive appointment ‘strong’ signal Taranaki councils headed for amalgamation – mayor

Source: Radio New Zealand

Taranaki Regional Council boss Steve Ruru has also been named interim chief executive at New Plymouth District Council. Supplied / New Plymouth District Council

The appointment of the current Taranaki Regional Council chief executive as interim New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) chief executive – a role that he will hold alongside his existing position – is a strong signal the two councils are headed towards amalgamation, according to New Plymouth mayor.

The move is believed to be a New Zealand first.

Max Brough said Steve Ruru’s appointment was an indication of what was to come.

“It’s a strong signal and I think, if you ask anybody in the wider local government sector, they all acknowledge reform is needed and it’s coming at us.”

Brough said the appointment would strengthen both organisations before local government reforms.

“It’s great, actually, because now we can start looking at what’s coming forward in front of us with all of this reform stuff and [we’re] in the perfectly placed position.

“Two councils that are naturally going to come together through the reform process anyway, as it pans out, and we’re going to be at forefront of the country at getting this underway.”

New Plymouth Mayor Max Brough. RNZ / Robin Martin

Regional council chair Craig Williamson also welcomed the move.

“Steve understands the complexity of regional functions, the operational realities of territorial authorities and the critical importance of collaboration between the two. He is the perfect person for the job.”

Ruru looked forward to exploring how the councils could work more closely for the benefit of Taranaki.

“The vacancy at NPDC provides an opportunity to pilot an innovative leadership approach in the region. Joint leadership gives us a strong platform to examine service models that could better serve Taranaki.

“This work will benefit both organisations and, most importantly, the communities we serve.”

Nw Plymouth Regional Council chair Craig Williamson. RNZ / Robin Martin

Ruru would take over from Gareth Green, who concludes his three-year tenure at NPDC in the coming weeks, and he would be in the role, while NPDC recruited a permanent chief executive.

He said both councils would have time to evaluate how service delivery and community outcomes could be improved as part of the wider Simplifying Local Government reforms.

“My focus will be on preparing both organisations for the future. I’m passionate about the role of local government in supporting our communities and I am committed to ensuring both councils remain well positioned through this period of transition.”

Details on how Ruru would split his time between the two organisations and be paid were still to be finalised.

South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon said he had been kept in the loop about developments, but at this stage, they did not involve his district.

“That’s just an agreement between TRC and NPDC. That’s out of the realm of South Taranaki District, that’s for sure.

“We’ve had no discussion, conversation whatsoever [about amalgamation]. I mean, that’s a thing really for the Mayoral Forum to discuss.

“Without further discussion, I’m not sure where this will go.”

Nixon was not sure what people in his district would make of any eventual amalgamation.

“I can’t speak for the community on this particular issue, but what I can make comment on is, when we went out to get submissions on Local Water Done Well around either a regional CCO [council-controlled organisation] or bringing it in-house, our community was very strong as to bringing it in-house.

“A lot made a comment that, whatever you do, we don’t want to be part of New Plymouth. They made it very clear, those ones that did reply to that.”

Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke believed his district and South Taranaki could eventually become involved.

“This is their initiative and they are looking to develop a plan between them. What will happen from there, they have left the door open, should we choose to join in at a later date, but at the moment, the proposal is between those two councils.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/chief-executive-appointment-strong-signal-taranaki-councils-headed-for-amalgamation-mayor/

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Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board candidate Chris Latham wants postal voting scrapped

Source: Radio New Zealand

A candidate in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board elections in Auckland wants postal voting scrapped. RNZ / Eveline Harvey

A candidate in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board elections in Auckland wants postal voting scrapped, after their 2025 election result was voided.

This week, a High Court judge in Auckland upheld a district court ruling that a new election should be held, after 79 voting papers were cast without the rightful voter’s knowledge.

Candidate Chris Latham said it was important his community could trust the voting system.

“Their faith in the postal ballot is completely and probably irreparably shot at this point, and I think it’s high time we moved to more modernised voting systems or booth voting, as we do in general elections.”

He said it cost Auckland Council about $200,00 to put on another election for his subdivision.

“The cost is borne by the ratepayer to put on another election. The council has to take an inward look at what went wrong, why it went wrong and how we can avoid it happening in the future.”

Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board candidate Chris Latham. Supplied

Voting for the local board’s four positions opens to residents on Monday, 9 March 2026.

Election Services has confirmed postal voting will be used for the new Papatoetoe election, as it was legally required to undertake the new election on the same basis as the voided election.

Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske told RNZ that extra safeguards were in place for the upcoming election.

“NZ Post posties and Auckland Council library staff have been asked to be extra vigilant in their duties, and to report any unusual behaviour to me or the police. The police have been briefed and are aware of the election taking place, especially over the voting delivery phase.

“Auckland Council is undertaking a communications strategy for the public to be aware of the election and to look out for their voting packs from Monday to Thursday.

“A candidate briefing was held on Monday night, where all candidates were reminded of the dos and don’ts when campaigning.”

Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske says extra safeguards were in place for the upcoming election. RNZ / Todd Niall

Senior lecturer at AUT’s School of Social Sciences and Humanities Julienne Molineaux said postal voting presented security challenges.

“With the delivery of ballots, there’s no oversight to ensure the voter receives their papers and, depending on the letterbox design, they could be easily stolen.

“When turnout is low, fewer people will notice that their ballots didn’t turn up, because they weren’t going to vote anyway.

“The other security risk with postal voting is that the voting takes place in private and it’s not supervised by election officials. This means voters can be bribed, they can be threatened and they can be pressured to vote a certain way.”

She believed in-person voting would resolve those issues, but that it might not increase voter turnout or make it easier for voters.

“I think it would be a mistake to assume that it would also be successful in our local elections, because the two elections are very different.

“For the parliamentary election, we’re asked, as voters, to make only two choices – to vote for a party and vote for a local candidate – and we have political parties, which are an information shortcut for voters. It makes it easier for us to make our decision.

“Local elections have much more complex ballots. My local election ballot for 2025 asked me to make 11 different decisions and that’s quite hard to do on the spot in a booth.”

She said nothing stopped councils from changing how their constituents voted.

She said the Auckland Council voted against postal voting supplemented by booth voting for the 2025 election.

“Existing councillors were elected under the status quo, so it’s no surprise that the majority of them support the system that they have been successful in.

“We need an independent electoral commission running our local elections and making decisions about how they’re run.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/otara-papatoetoe-local-board-candidate-chris-latham-wants-postal-voting-scrapped/

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Riverlink project affecting Hutt River water quality

Source: Radio New Zealand

A water quality monitor moored midstream south of Melling Bridge in Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi. Phil Pennington / RNZ

Lower Hutt’s roads may be blocked up by the Riverlink highway project, but the river itself has so far kept flowing pretty clear.

Bulldozers have been busy in the riverbed and on its banks, shifting masses of stones around.

Meanwhile, monitors in the water upstream and downstream from the epicentre at Melling Bridge have shown some changes in quality.

“Yes, there have been temporary changes in water quality linked to RiverLink construction activities in the river channel,” Greater Wellington Regional Council told RNZ.

However, by mid-February, tight conditions on pollution had only been infringed once, the project copping fines of about $1000.

The changes in the river were allowed on condition the water quality returned to “ambient clarity” approximately one hour after any job was done, the regional council told RNZ.

It released a host of test results under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

The council listed a few minor problems for Te Awa Kairangi partnership – in early January, for instance, the water got clouded by work shifting the entire flow of the river from the east bank to the west under the bridge.

In November, fine sediment levels got too high, triggering the first – and as of mid-February – only “active management response” that concluded it was minor and not directly related to Riverlink.

Back in June 2025, “there was a discharge of sediment-laden water from the haul road and Rockline L3 construction works during a site inspection”. That co-incided with heavy rain, so they quickly built some temporary soakage pits and used hay mulch to turn it around.

So far, the project has done four monitoring reports on the riverbed – three on trout, two on macroinvertebrates and two on indigenous fish.

The Hutt River was popular among trout anglers.

“The potential and actual impacts of the RiverLink Project were considered, assessed and appropriate mitigations applied through the Environment Court Consent process,” the council’s group manager environment Lian Butcher said in the released documents.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/riverlink-project-affecting-hutt-river-water-quality/

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says Cabinet colleagues back him, won’t stand down as National’s leader

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (L) flanked by his Cabinet colleagues. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The Prime Minister has told Newstalk ZB none of his Cabinet colleagues have told him to reconsider his future, saying “all of them” back him.

Christopher Luxon’s comments came after speculation about his leadership following a Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll had National on 28.4 – down nearly 3 points from its poll last month.

Labour was up at 34.4, while the Greens, ACT, and Te Pati Māori were all up on 10.5, 7.5, and 3.2 respectively.

New Zealand First had taken a slight drop to 9.7.

Those results would give the centre-Left bloc 61 seats, enough to govern, while the coalition government bloc would fall short on 59 seats.

Luxon told Newstalk ZB he was ‘absolutely not’ considering standing down and said he had the skills to lead the National Party and the country.

“The only thing I am considering is the future of our children and grandchildren.”

He said the only polling he took note of was National’s own internal polling, which was processed in the United Kingdom.

“I would reassure you – if there was a problem, I would be doing something about it. But we are long way away from what we’ve seen published in a TPU poll today.”

Luxon said he has “not thought about” what polling level would be the threshold for him to step down as prime minister.

“I have the full support of my team and my caucus.”

The poll came at the end of a week where Luxon struggled to communicate clearly on the Iran conflict.

Speaking on NewstalkZB, he acknowledged failings with his personal communication: “I’ve freely admitted, I’m not a career politician. I’m not always going to have the perfect most tidy soundbite like someone who’s been there 20 years would do.”

Luxon said the media had gotten carried away in its reaction to the public poll over the course of the day.

“The whole world seems to have got very exercised … the reason I’m going on your show is to clarify to people, no, I’m not doing that [considering my future].”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-says-cabinet-colleagues-back-him-wont-stand-down-as-nationals-leader/