Appeal for information following Strowan burglary

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are appealing to the public for information following the theft of an Olympic gold medal in Christchurch on Monday 2 February.

The medal was won by rowing legend, Leslie O’Connell at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and was stolen during a burglary at Mr O’Connell’s Strowan address.

On Monday 2 February, around 9.50am, Police received a report of burglary at the address, which had occurred at some point after midnight that same day.

Detective Nigel Thomson says a number of items were taken during the burglary, but the gold medal holds immense personal and sentimental value to Mr O’Connell.

“The Olympic gold medal is a significant piece of New Zealand sporting history, and is irreplaceable for Mr O’Connell.

“We understand that Olympic medals are often difficult to sell and are frequently recognised once publicly reported.

“For that reason, Police are urging anyone who has information on the medal’s whereabouts to please come forward.

“If you are in possession of the medal – we urge you to return this immediately and without damage,” Detective Thomson says.

The medal can be returned anonymously through either of the below options:

– Dropped off to any Police station

– Through a trusted third party who can arrange delivery to Police

Anyone with information that may assist Police, or who wishes to facilitate the return of the medal, is asked to contact Police through 105, either online or over the phone, and reference file number 260202/5563.

Information can also be provided through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/appeal-for-information-following-strowan-burglary/

Tiny Northland town becomes centre of ‘impressive’ low petrol prices

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Dan Cook

The small beachside community of Mangawhai is traditionally associated with surfing and a legendary pub, but in the last few months of 2025, it became New Zealand’s petrol price hot-spot.

The Northland town has never been a cheap place to visit, let alone live, but residents and visitors have, over the past few months, been treated to some of the lowest petrol prices in New Zealand.

Mangawhai is home to a number of petrol stations, a Mobil near the town’s New World Supermarket, another closer to the heads, a G.A.S station and a new self-serve Gull across the road from the town’s museum.

According to the Gaspy App, which monitors fuel prices across the country, since the self-serve station opened in September, the price of 91 has sat at $2.33.9 except when dropping for discount days.

The director of Gaspy, Mike Newton, says the town is a bit of an outlier since the Gull station opened in September.

“They’ve had it really good, pretty much since then. They’ve just steadily been 20 cents lower than that national average, which is pretty impressive, especially for Northland, I don’t think they’ve generally have it that good.”

AA spokesperson Terry Collins said this type of competition shouldn’t be limited to Mangawhai.

“What we’re seeing here is a perfect example of competition driving prices down. The Commerce Commission has talked about it from time to time, about how when we do see lower prices, we see them in areas with the most competition.”

A file photo of a Gull petrol station. RNZ / Dan Cook

‘A lot of discounting going on’

The day First Up visited Mangawhai, the average price of petrol across the country was $2.55.9 per litre. Mangawhai’s Gull had the third lowest price at $2.33.9 per litre – only bettered by the Allied pump at Opua Marina and Westgate’s Costco.

Newton said the months of lower prices at the Gull forced Mangawhai’s other stations to compete, but the lower prices were not usually as sustained as they have been since September.

“If those other stations don’t compete, they won’t get any business. When the price is that much lower, if they’re sitting across the road and their price is 20 cents higher, why would anyone go there?”

Collins said they saw fluctuations in prices depending on demand during an average week.

“What we’re tending to see lately is a lot of discounting going on, people chasing on particular days, Tuesdays and Thursdays kind of thing, before the weekend and after the weekend where the demand is slacking and because they want volume they’ll make these discount offers to drive sales.”

As for Mangawhai Gull station’s other products, Newton said they were not as much of a bargain. “It’s really only the 91 price that is the significant outlier, diesel and 95 are pretty much tracking the national average, there’s really not much to be saved there”

He said the price of petrol nationwide has been pretty steady. “We haven’t seen any of the huge shifts we saw like when Russia headed into Ukraine, those sort of global [events] which see massive price changes, it’s really been steady as she goes.”

As for Mangawhai’s low prices, Collins said it was all good. “I’m not sure if they’re doing it in this case to encourage tourism, I think basically it has been ignited by the arrival of Gull and the competition it brings, but no, long may we enjoy it.”

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Homicide probe launched after man assaulted outside Napier nightclub dies

Source: Radio New Zealand

A 21-year-old man has appeared before Napier District Court on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

A homicide investigation has been launched in Napier after a man assaulted outside a nightclub last week died.

Andy Winitana, 46 from Hastings, died in hospital on Wednesday after sustaining injuries during an assault early on Sunday.

A 21-year-old man has appeared before Napier District Court on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and has been remanded in custody.

Further charges are now being considered.

He is next due to appear in Napier District Court on 25 February.

Police said they wanted to hear from anyone who may have footage or have witnessed the assault on the Napier wharf area between 12.30am-1.30am on Sunday 1 February.

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Minister Shane Jones hails roading upgrades to Treaty Grounds

Source: Radio New Zealand

Shane Jones at Waitangi in 2025. RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is hailing the completion of upgrades to the road to the Treaty Grounds in time for Waitangi Day this year.

Haruru Falls Road has been paved with added guardrails, drainage and earthworks thanks to $1.57 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund and $400,000 from the Far North District Council.

The upgrade – completed with just days to spare – provides a second paved route to the grounds without the need to go through Paihia.

Jones attended the opening on Wednesday with iwi leaders, trustees of the Waitangi National Trust, Far North Mayor Moko Tepania and other dignitaries.

“Anyone familiar with the road will know that it was a dusty, uneven and sometimes treacherous route because it was partially unsealed,” Jones said.

A further $10.2m from the RIF is helping with upgrades to the grounds themselves, including car parks, toilet blocks, pathway lighting and drainage to protect the Treaty House, due for completion this year.

“The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are a place for all New Zealanders and where much of our country’s history was shaped. It’s a site of national significance and its importance is evident in the more than 160,000 visitors who head to the grounds each year,” Jones said.

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‘People we’ve never seen before’: Homelessness in Wellington not letting up, agencies say

Source: Radio New Zealand

Social services say they’re seeing alarming numbers of rough sleepers in the capital. RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Social services say they are seeing alarming numbers of rough sleepers in the capital, with a constant stream of new people trying to get help.

It comes as an announcement by the government about move on orders for the homeless looms – with legislation expected to be introduced soon.

In the last two quarters of 2025, outreach teams dealt with between 30-40 people “never seen before”, Downtown Community Ministry’s chief executive Natalia Cleland said.

Before that, from the end of 2023 to the beginning of 2025, there was a 40 percent increase in rough sleeping each quarter, she said.

About 160 people were sleeping rough in Wellington within the past three months, Cleland said.

“I feel that whilst the numbers of people rough sleeping is high and it’s terrible, it’s actually quite disheartening as well to see new faces coming through the doors asking for services.”

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge agreed.

“There’s no question in my mind that the need we are seeing in our community, and the desperation of people’s circumstances is greater than we’ve ever seen before.”

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Edridge said in the year since the mission’s community hub in Newtown Whakamaru opened, 70,000 people had walked through its doors – though some of these would be repeat visitors.

About 30,000 hot meals had been served, with about 5500 people using the showers, and 6500 shopping at the social supermarket.

“Every day I see people I’ve never seen before in our cafe.”

‘Jail’s my home’

Marcus Pohio, 57, said his most recent stint on the streets had been about two months.

He said he was housed by Downtown Community Ministry for years, but lost his house when he went to prison, and had since been shoplifting “to survive”.

Pohio said he had been in and out of jail for the past decade, and when he went to court again on new theft charges, he would ask to be sent inside again.

“I seem to have more of a home in jail than I have out here. Jail’s my home, in the last 10 years I’ve probably done about 13 legs – just through drug addiction and theft, mainly theft, and through misbehaviour.”

He now sits outside a supermarket on Lambton Quay asking for money for food, he said.

In the year since the City Mission’s community hub in Newtown, Whakamaru, opened, 70,000 people had walked through its doors. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Downtown Community Ministry said it had been in touch with Pohio, who was under the Housing First service and was in the process of getting back on the social housing waitlist.

Pohio said he had seen a lot of new rough sleepers in the capital recently.

“There’s a lot of familiar faces, but there’s a lot of new people popping up, from Upper Hutt and Porirua, all over the place – the Auckland crowd are here, a lot of my mates from Auckland are here, they’ve come from Auckland because they want a better life here.”

He heard police had been moving rough sleepers away from Courtenay Place.

“All my mates have left the streets of Courtenay Place because they’ll be moved by police, police will move them along… they say take your shit and go – go, go go.”

But Police area prevention manager Jason McCarthy, said they did not move homeless people on in Wellington.

“Homelessness is not in itself a criminal matter, but rather a complex social issue that requires a multi-agency approach.”

McCarthy said police were sometimes called on to deal with disorder, intimidation and substance abuse, and these matters were handled on a “case-by-case” basis.

“Police are aware of a number of locations across the Wellington area that are frequented by unhoused people, however there is no particular location currently that gives cause for any additional Police resources to be utilised.”

Bradley Mohr said he was homeless in Wellington for a year and eight months about two years ago, but now lived with his sister.

He was asking for money outside New World on Willis street, saying he was trying to clear a debt, when RNZ stopped to talk to him.

Mohr said he had noticed new rough sleepers on the streets too.

“There’s just a lot more hustlers around… it’s just all increased – maybe they were getting no money in their town, so they come to Wellington.”

Bradley Mohr. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Rough sleepers appearing in new areas of the city?

Cleland said Wellington’s central city was still the main place where the street commmunity slept.

The agency had had recent reports of others seeking shelter in Charles Plimmer Park, in Mount Victoria.

Rough sleeping in different parts of Wellington’s town belt was not new, Cleland said, but fluctuated depending on the weather.

A person in the Shelly Bay area told RNZ he had seen a homeless camp at the start of Shelly Bay Road in Miramar in the past two months, but the people had recently packed up and left.

Andrew Wilson, Salvation Army core officer in Newtown, said rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour in the Wellington suburb of Newtown had improved since a concerning spike last year.

“We’ve seen some of our rough sleepers be housed now for longer than they have been for a long time – some of them receive proper mental health support and are practically thriving now that they’re receiving the support they need.”

Others had moved to different areas of the city.

Wilson said drugs were “rampant” in Newtown last year, but the police had done an “amazing” job cracking down on the suppliers.

“There is a risk that some of that starts to pop up again, and so we are working closely with police to ensure it stays out of our community, because that was a large driver of the anti-social behaviour we saw in our community last year.”

Andrew Wilson, Salvation Army core officer in Newtown. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Unclear how far ‘move on’ orders could apply

The Prime Minister has said a decision about “move on” orders in city centres would be announced shortly, with legislation expected to be introduced in the House.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith would not respond to RNZ questions about whether move on orders would apply to city centres throughout the country, or be limited to Auckland.

“The government has made decisions and will make announcements soon. All details will be revealed then,” a spokesperson for his office said.

Edridge said the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet had sought his comment on move on orders for rough sleepers before Christmas.

He said Wellington City Mission would actively oppose any move on orders if they were implemented without support services, but he was hopeful that would not be the government’s approach.

The Prime Minister has previously told Morning Report move on orders would be considered alongside support for the homeless.

“If move on orders aren’t created or imposed alongside a range of support services, then they’re absolutely ineffective and absolutely abhorrent for our community,” Edridge said.

“The idea that we would move somebody because we don’t want them there, or because we’re somehow offended by their circumstances or behaviour, but don’t do anything about seeking to address that behaviour is just wrong.”

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North Shore resident stung by yellow-legged hornet wants neighbours to stay vigilant

Source: Radio New Zealand

MPI officers removing a yellow-legged hornets nest from a property in Glenfield. Supplied / Niki Sherriff

An Auckland North Shore resident who was stung by a yellow-legged hornet while gardening is calling on her community to stay vigilant and report sightings to help eradicate the outbreak.

The number of yellow-legged hornet queens found in Auckland has risen to 49, and 51 nests have been destroyed since the sightings in October last year.

The majority of nests were found in the Glenfield and Birkdale areas, however most recently, new nests had been found in Takapuna and Forest Hill.

Biosecurity New Zealand had laid 1080 traps, and radio tracking technology was introduced in December last year to trace worker hornets back to their nests – already contributing to identifying 10 nests.

Niki Sherriff has had two nests removed from her property on Roberts Road in Glenfield over the past three months.

She was trimming a dense bush in front of her house two weeks ago, when she was stung by a hornet after unwittingly disturbing a hidden nest.

Sherriff said she was stung through her gardening gloves, and was lucky to not be allergic to stings.

In November last year, she reported a hornets’ nest in the corner of her covered deck, and was already familiar with what the insects looked like through leaflets from the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).

It did not take long for her to recognise the insects flying in and out of the bush, and she immediately reported it to the MPI hornets hotline.

Sherriff said MPI officers exterminated the colony, and have been regularly taking samples from a trap they had put in her lemon tree.

However she was still worried that not everyone in the community was aware of the threat and the need to report sightings, and hoped that eradication and education efforts could be further ramped up.

Sherriff said she felt there may be less awareness of the hornets oubreak among renters and people who did not normally do gardening.

“MPI just can’t do this on their own, they really just need everybody to keep their eyes peeled and be vigilant, they’ve got really good resources on their website about what a hornet looks like,” she said.

Sherriff said she was worried that hornets were in leafy communities like Glenfield, where there were many hedgerows and places for them to build nests.

To date, MPI had received more than 11,060 public reports of sightings.

Biosecurity NZ’s commissioner north, Mike Inglis, said radio transmitters attached to woker hornets had helped to succesfully track 10 yellow-legged hornet nests.

Surveillance and tracking had also scaled up as the summer progressed, he said.

He said the radio trackers had been useful as hornets began to build larger secondary nests high up in the trees, where they were less visible to ground searchers.

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$70m cost to fix Waitaki erosion by 2050, $80m needed for Ōamaru sewage by 2125

Source: Radio New Zealand

Erosion visible from the Hampden Closed Landfill. Supplied/Waitaki District Council

Plans to fix coastal erosion caused by increasingly big and powerful waves pounding the Waitaki coast could cost $70 million before 2050, with another $80 million needed to protect the entire Ōamaru sewage system by 2125.

In a report commissioned by the district council in late 2024 and publicly released this month, engineering firm BECA found three roads, a railyard, pump stations, a pā site and urupā were at risk.

The report described some locations as extremely vulnerable and others at risk from the next major storm.

BECA’s recommendations included relocating Hampden Cemetery, closing two coastal roads and accepting the loss of private property and land in northern Ōamaru over the next 24 years.

Waitaki District Council has weaved many of the suggested measures into its long term plan.

Mayor Mel Tavendale said the council faced some tough decisions and community feedback was important.

Waitaki Mayor Melanie Tavendale. Jackie Tav

“We’re a coastal community, we are going to be having these challenges and they’re ongoing. We do need to have some brave conversations and work out what’s important to us and what’s not as important because it’s going to get more and more challenging,” she said.

She said not all the land in the report was council-owned, so the council was trying to share the cost with other agencies, such as KiwiRail and the Transport Agency, where possible.

“I guess in a lot of ways the district cannot afford a $70 million spend. We need to prioritise the council-owned land and then we need to work with the community on other strategies,” she said.

“There are a few sites where [the erosion] is always going to be a bit further or a bit less than expected but it’s a well-known issue. How we solve the issue, that’s not as well-formulated at this stage.”

Peak wave heights expected to rise from 2m to 3.5m

The BECA report predicted 100-year peak wave heights could rise from under 2 metres to over 3.5m along parts of the coast by 2125.

Coastal scientist Martin Single said parts of the eastern South Island had been eroding for 12,000 years because of sea-level rise since post-glacial times, accelerated by climate change.

Single, an environmental consultant with Shore Processes and Management, said more storms were expected to hit the coast each year.

“I think it’s good to see that these reports are being written to identify the financial ramifications of coastal erosion around the country and the significance to infrastructure, and where a lot of money is actually going to have to be pushed into either protecting these assets or relocating them,” he said.

Long-time Ōamaru resident Peter De Reus said he remembered playing on fields at Waitaki Boys’ High School that had since washed out to sea.

He hoped the council would consult with ratepayers before deciding whether to abandon or reinforce an at-risk site.

“Obviously, you cannot guard the whole coast. It’s just not feasible to do that but areas where a lot of the town drive and routinely travel, those areas should be hardened and protected, armoured,” he said.

Beach Road future debated

One site in the BECA report, Beach Road North, has already been closed to traffic for several years, partly because of erosion and partly because of excavation work to remove historic waste.

The council had set up temporary fences for walkers and cyclists while it decided whether to reinforce and reopen the scenic coastal route or keep it closed permanently.

BECA estimated road reinforcements would cost almost $12m, while keeping it closed and relocating services would cost about $4m.

Beach Road North has already been closed to traffic for several years. Supplied / Waitaki District Council

De Reus said the temporary closure came as a surprise to many people and there was little support for a long-term closure, even though it was a cheaper option.

“We’re a tourist town and the area landscape around us is critical for us to market the town as for the tourist town. This road was a real big bonus for Ōamaru,” he said.

Ōamaru Ratepayers and Residents Group chair Ray Henderson said he also supported reopening Beach Road, noting it functioned as a backup to State Highway 1.

“Some years ago there was an accident on Mill Bridge [near the town of Herbert], a car actually got jammed on the bridge and that basically brought State Highway 1 to a halt. There’s nowhere else to go,” he said.

Other work ongoing

A Waitaki District Council spokesperson said the BECA report did not include recent work to tackle historic waste at risk of erosion.

‘Project Reclaim’ removed thousands of tonnes of waste from two fly-tip sites on Beach Road North and the former Hampden landfill, they said.

The council had also been reinforcing the coastline, carrying out rock armouring at the Ōamaru breakwater and replacing sections lost during storms.

“In 2025 we had to replace some on the north side of the Holmes wharf following some rough seas and some alongside the Orwell Street pump station when required,” the spokesperson said.

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‘A warning shot’ on the east coast

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tani Atkins-Waitoa and her crew deliver lunches to the workers around Te Araroa. Sharon Brettkelly

Sharon Brettkelly visits Ōpōtiki and Te Araroa to see how the towns are faring after the devastating January floods

The ancestral mountain of Te Araroa on the East Cape is still moving nearly two weeks after a devastating storm brought slips crashing onto roads and homes.

“Scary? I wouldn’t say scary, no,” says Robin Hapeta, whose family home is in the shadow of the towering Whetumatarau.

“I go back to that saying of the old people, ‘I am the land and the land is me’. If the land is moving it’s telling a story, really.

“It’s a warning shot, that’s what I reckon. It’s moving because there’s problems.”

Te Araroa local Robin Hapeta. Sharon Brettkelly

The Detail is speaking to Hapeta after landing at the Te Araroa airstrip for a brief visit. He has pulled up on his ride-on lawn mower outside the mānuka factory as a convoy of work vehicles drive past.

The group have been clearing up at nearby Punaruku, where a family with small children were trapped on the roof of their home for several hours as flood waters and debris rushed past.

Everyone in this settlement is part of the clean-up, he says.

The main road to Gisborne, State Highway 35, is now open, though Waka Kotahi says the area is still fragile and it may need to close at short notice for safety reasons. But whānau are still cut off on the other side of Te Araroa, around Hicks Bay and Onepoto, due to several slips. Many homes in the neighbouring settlements have been red-stickered.

Te Araroa local Robin Hapeta. Sharon Brettkelly

Hapeta says he’s “devastated for our whānau over the hill. But in saying that, they’re pretty strong, pretty hundy out there.”

Families have also been stranded on the road to the East Cape Lighthouse after two big slips blew out culverts.

“They can swim around at low tide or get a boat and some of the younger ones have got their four wheelers.

“But it’s still dangerous, the mountain is still moving.”

A pop-up kura has been set up at a marae in Te Araroa, catering for children of all ages, some of whom can’t attend school in Hicks Bay.

Tani Atkins-Waitoa has just pulled up in her ATV, and says she’s grateful that her three children can attend the school while she delivers 60 lunch packs to people “contributing mahi towards the cause”.

“We’re the road workers, plumbers, septic cleaners and we go round dropping off all their lunches,” she says.

More than 160 kilometres along the East Coast in Ōpōtiki, the town is undamaged but it has been hit hard by the closure of two main roads to Gisborne, SH35 and Waioweka Gorge, from two separate storms.

Waka Kotahi says Waioweka will stay shut for several weeks as it works to clear 40 slips.

Opotiki Mayor David Moore near the site of the planned marina. Sharon Brettkelly

“The Waioweka is a lifeline for Gisborne, products going to Port of Tauranga, our products, businesses from both sides, families affected. You have the commercial pressure that’s coming on but I’m comfortable that Waka Kotahi have done a very good job,” says Ōpōtiki mayor David Moore.

Moore says nothing can future proof the steep and winding gorge which is prone to slips.

“We need to mitigate these long term closures. We are very lucky in Ōpōtiki and Tai Rāwhiti, we have some very experienced roading companies [and] earth works companies based in Ōpōtiki. We cannot afford to lose them, those are the guys that are going to open this.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m not a big believer in centralisation and [that] big is better.

“With the ministers involved, I’m confident they realise the seriousness of this. They want to get us back on track, well they need a track to get back on track and I think you have to have local voices standing up and pushing that if we don’t see it.”

Listen to The Detail to hear Moore explaining the impact of the road closures on his town’s economy, the need for government support for projects like the planned marina and the financial troubles of Whakatōhea Mussels, an open ocean farm and factory.

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‘Dying is hard to do’: Cancer sufferer says KiwiSaver withdrawal bar too high

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some KiwiSaver members are having difficulty withdrawing their contributions, despite being terminally ill (File photo). RNZ / REECE BAKER

A cancer sufferer says he’s been so discouraged by what he’s discovered about early KiwiSaver withdrawals that he hasn’t even tried to get much-needed money out of his account – and wants the system to change.

The man, who wants only to be identified as Christopher because he has not told his teenage children about his prognosis, said he had been given about three years to live.

He was told in August that his cancer was stage four and terminal.

“At the time of discovery in August, the doctor said that based on what he saw, I only had a handful of months left. Fortunately, I have private health insurance and was therefore able to actually be seen and start treatment. If I hadn’t already had private health insurance, I’m sure I would have died before I was able to start treatment, if I’d been forced to rely strictly on the public health system.”

He said researching what was involved in a hardship application for KiwiSaver was “so discouraging” that it did not make sense to go through it and be rejected.

“I’ve got limited time and fighting with someone that’s holding my money and refusing to give it up is just one more stress I can’t afford.”

He pointed to a case that was dealt with by Financial Services Complaints Ltd, in which a woman wanted to withdraw her money early.

She too had incurable cancer and was not expected to reach 65.

She applied on the basis of serious illness but was declined because the supervisor for the scheme said she did not meet the criteria because she was expected to live at least another 12 months.

She argued it was unfair because she was not going to need the money for retirement. She said it was also unfair to say she was able to work because she was sacrificing time with her family to do so.

FSCL said the decision to decline her application was reasonable given that she did not face an imminent risk of death, which was determined as likely to happen in the next six to 12 months.

Christopher said he had lost his job as a public servant and had eight months without work before he found a contract role that lasts until June.

“Different kinds of cancer have different effects. Pancreatic cancer for example, is extremely painful and quite brutal. I’ve got bowel/colon cancer so the immediate first-order effects are moderate in comparison. However, things like the side-effects of chemo, the fact that treatment is two days out of five working days … it’s a lot for an employer to be willing to deal with. Those two days are strictly for the treatment/chemo infusion. The next day … it’s hard to even get out of bed. For me, that’s every other week.

“And that’s not even going into the various side effects of the medication, like puking, hyper-sensitivity to cold, brain fog and so forth.

“Even when I move, I’m super slow compared to a few months ago … Future contracts mean I have to disclose my diagnosis and hope that doesn’t mean I lose the contract to someone that doesn’t have cancer.”

He said living in Wellington with a mortgage and two kids meant that he had to work.

“I’ve got two or three years where I’ll be able to essentially function but … living ain’t easy. And dying is surprisingly hard too it seems. Instead of being able to spend time with the family, I’m either working or sleeping.”

He said the system should change.

“In theory, it’s my money. The government is apparently confident enough in my ability to manage it and get good returns, that they’ve cut the amount they’re willing to match.

“And yet trying to actually do something with it, people are treated as if they’re applying for a loan and have to justify it to the bank/service provider. I understand that there need to be rules to prevent people withdrawing it willy-nilly but when you’re talking about someone literally dying … I think it’s a bit ridiculous.

“I don’t deserve to actually enjoy the couple of remaining years of good life that I have and instead have to wait until I’m knocking on the hospice door, before they’ll reluctantly agree that they guess they can release my money? It feels like the banks/service providers consider it to be their money and it’s massively inconvenient for them when we need access to it. With the amount of profits the banking sector has turned in over the last few years, it’s kind of hard to swallow that these rules are in place just for my own good.”

David Callanan, general manager of corporate trustee services at Public Trust. Supplied / Public Trust

David Callanan, general manager of corporate trustee services at Public Trust, said he was sorry to hear about Christopher’s situation. He said while he could not speak about a specific case, in general people could apply to withdraw money under significant hardship or serious illness criteria.

“Under a serious illness application, people may meet criteria for ‘imminent risk of death’ as stated by law, allowing a full withdrawal of their KiwiSaver investment. The Financial Services Council’s guidelines interpret this as the person being diagnosed with a terminal illness with 18 months or less to live.

“However, supervisors and providers are encouraged to take a commonsense approach and the supervisor assesses each application individually.

“As part of the withdrawal application, the person will need a doctor or nurse practitioner to complete a declaration form confirming their illness. This form asks the medical practitioner to give a detailed description of their patient’s condition and attach any supporting evidence.

“Under a serious illness withdrawal application, a person may meet criteria to withdraw if they are totally and permanently unable to work due to their illness. This could allow them to access a full or partial withdrawal, or one-off costs.

“A person can also apply to withdraw on significant financial hardship grounds. In most cases, this could allow them to access an amount equivalent to up to 13 weeks of living expenses, including any one-off costs. We encourage people to speak to their KiwiSaver provider in the first instance to discuss early withdrawal options.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/dying-is-hard-to-do-cancer-sufferer-says-kiwisaver-withdrawal-bar-too-high/

How much do accountants actually earn?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Australian accountants are still getting paid more than New Zealanders. 123RF

Australian accountants are still getting paid more than New Zealanders – but the local sector had a bigger pay bump in the past year.

That’s according to the Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand (CAANZ) remuneration survey released on Wednesday.

It showed that members’ median pay was up 0.3 percent in Australia for the year, while New Zealand’s was up 6 percent.

People who were full-time employees in New Zealand were earning a median $153,000 a year. Part-timers were earning a median $98,800.

In Australia, full-time employees were getting a median A$160,500 (NZ$185,800) and part-time employees A$138,664 (NZ$161,000).

Full-time employees in the United Kingdom were earning a median GBP 133,522 (NZ$303,500).

Charlotte Evett, general manager NZ regions at CAANZ, said there had been higher salaries in Australia through the history of the survey.

“Australia is a powerhouse economy compared to ours… they have the big mining engine in minerals that we don’t have. But it’s still very, very good pay in New Zealand.”

She said it was notable that Otago accountants reported a 27 percent pay increase year-on-year.

“Nelson was up 11 percent, Canterbury was up 7 percent. Even the South Island and West Coast were up 6 percent. If you compare that to Australia, they had some good growth, Queensland was up 10 percent but apart from that ours are certainly standout numbers.”

She said that was part of the “two-speed economy” that had been seen in other sectors recently as Auckland and Wellington were slower to recover.

“On top of that I think we’d be remiss not to look at lifestyle… central Otago has got rivers, lakes, mountains, snow, beautiful weather… the story has been New Zealanders are moving to Australia in droves. While that is true, I think the report shows that Kiwis should look at specific regions in New Zealand before considering Australia.”

In New Zealand, general managers were earning $287,000, chief financial officers $270,400 and directors $215,080.

In Australia, CFOs were earning the most, at A$280,800 (NZ$326,000) and directors $231,000 (NZ$268,100).

Aucklanders topped the New Zealand table.

The largest pay growth was seen in the not-for-profit sector in Australia and corporate New Zealand.

The survey showed that while 76 percent of people had received a pay increase, almost a quarter had received 2.5 percent or less.

Only 8 percent of New Zealanders had experienced a pay increase of more than 10 percent. But 21 percent of those aged 20 to 29 had received such a lift.

New Zealand’s gender pay gap remains at 24 percent while Australia’s is 14 percent.

Artificial intelligence is expected to transform accounting further in the near future, with new tools emerging to assist with tools such as GST returns.

Evett said the industry was making the most of it.

“When you look at accounting back over time, I think it continues to and historically has moved with technology faster than any other profession. When you think of technology as the abacus, the calculators, then we’ve gone to cloud computing and now AI. So, I think it’s very exciting.

“It’s definitely has and continues to reshape accounting, but it’s not replacing accountants. Most New Zealand organisations would say they’re using AI and report positive results, especially in finance teams.”

She said it could be used to free accountants up to add value, spend time and build trust. Recent research by Infometrics had shown there would be a shortage of 15,000 accountants over the next five years. “Pretty exciting when you combine that with technology.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/how-much-do-accountants-actually-earn/

Youth mental health services improved since Tauranga teen Maddie Hall’s death – Health NZ

Source: Radio New Zealand

Leanne and Gareth Hall. RNZ / Kim Baker-Wilson

Warning: This story discusses youth mental health and suicide.

Youth mental health services and wait times have improved in the years since Tauranga teenager Maddie Hall took her own life, Health New Zealand says.

The 16-year-old died in March 2023, almost three years after she was first taken to hospital following an attempt to end her life.

During that period she attempted suicide more than 40 times, was seen by clinicians dozens of times, and faced delays in getting certain support and treatment.

In findings made public on Tuesday following a 2024 inquest, coroner Marcus Elliott found Maddie died by suicide but there was “no aspect of the medical care which can be said to have ‘clearly linked to the factors that contributed’ to Maddie’s death”.

As a result, he had no power to make any comments or recommendations about Maddie’s death.

But Maddie’s parents Gareth and Leanne Hall said clinicians could have been done more for their daughter and they wanted changes to the mental health system.

A serious incident review was completed after Maddie’s death and “service improvements” were identified.

Health New Zealand national director of mental health and addictions service enhancement Phil Grady said work on implementing the review’s findings had been started and there had been material improvements to services since 2023.

A child in Maddie’s situation could expect faster assessment and access to support today, he said.

“The independent review took into account how we receive and assess referrals in terms of the multidisciplinary team in that district and looked at ways of improving triage assessment and ensuring that we’re shortening the distance and prioritising those most in need to make sure that they are receiving a service,” Grady said.

“We’ve taken those things into account and continuing to work on them.

“In addition to that our overall wait times as a country have improved over the years since Maddie was engaged in working with services and her tragic death. So we know child and youth are receiving a more timely response, but there’s still work to be done to achieve the target of 80 percent being seen in three weeks.”

Health New Zealand national director of mental health and addictions service enhancement Phil Grady. Nathan Mckinnon / RNZ

At present about 75 percent were seen within that timeframe.

Grady said every parent had the right to expect their child’s life could be saved when they entered the mental health system at a time of crisis.

“I would accept that every parent would expect that,” he said.

“We’ve got a range of services that parents, if they’re worried, can reach out to. We’ve got access and choice in our general practices. We’ve got free counselling and support services. We’ve got Whakarongorau 1737, a range of online tools, and we’ve got our specialist services. So my message is to families that may be worried about their young ones there is help available.”

He extended his condolences to Maddie’s family and loved ones.

“Every life lost to suicide is one too many,” Grady said.

“As a parent myself, I know that losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and my thoughts are with Maddie Hall’s family, whānau, friends and all those that have loved her.”

Grady backed the state of the country’s mental health system.

“We’re working to improve our services as a whole. I think we’ve got very strong and growing ICAMHS (Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). We’ve got around 6500 clinicians working across our mental health and addiction services doing terrific work every day,” he said.

“So I think they are absolutely fit for purpose, really strong clinical leadership, strong clinical services across the country, and I really back our staff. In fact, I’d say it’s a great, great service.

“That being said, we recognise that actually there is some pressures on our services in terms of the amount of need out there in the community and we’re always looking to improve.”

In responding to the coroner’s findings, Maddie’s parents said they hoped their daughter’s death could be a catalyst for change in the mental health system.

“Maddie would have wanted a change and improvements in the mental health system, she hated other kids suffering and we don’t want other kids to suffer like Maddie did either. So if something good can come from Maddie’s passing I think that will help us,” her father Gareth said.

“People don’t understand how much these kids suffer and that’s the thing that still burns us is how much Maddie suffered. There has to be something done to prevent these kids suffering as much as they do because if it was a medical disease you know everything in the doctors’ power would be done to try to reduce the suffering.”

Where to get help:

  • Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
  • Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
  • Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
  • What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
  • Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
  • Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
  • Healthline: 0800 611 116.
  • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
  • OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/youth-mental-health-services-improved-since-tauranga-teen-maddie-halls-death-health-nz/

Homicide investigation launched, Napier

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley of Hawke’s Bay Crime Squad:

A homicide investigation has been launched after a man assaulted outside a Napier nightclub last week has died.

Police can name the victim as Andy Winitana, 46, of Hastings.

He died in hospital on Tuesday 3 February, after he had sustained injuries during an assault around 1am on Sunday on West Quay in Ahuriri outside a premises.

We extend our sympathies to his family, who we will continue to support.

A 21-year-old man has appeared before Napier District Court on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and has been remanded in custody.

Further charges are now being considered. He is next due to appear in Napier District Court on 25 February.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident on the wharf area on West Quay between 12.30-1.30am on Sunday 1 February.

We would also like to hear from anyone who might have footage available.

Please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz, or call 105, and use the reference number 260201/1791.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/homicide-investigation-launched-napier/

Home insurance premiums fall despite ongoing weather risks

Source: Radio New Zealand

Home insurance premiums fell in the last year, even in areas prone to weather-related risks. RNZ

Home insurance premiums fell across all regions of the country in the last year, even in areas prone to weather-related risks, new Treasury data shows.

The availability of insurance from multiple underwriters also improved in most hazard-prone areas, despite major insurer AA Insurance halting new policies in selected postcodes.

However, areas in high flood risk zones are still attracting thousands of dollars a year in extra premiums, in some cases.

Actuarial consultancy Finity has monitored insurance premiums on behalf of Treasury since late 2022, for a dataset of properties chosen to match New Zealand’s natural hazards profile.

The addresses are real but other information, such as property age, sum insured and construction materials, has been randomised so that the ‘houses’ in the dataset are not real people’s homes.

Since October 2023, the monitoring has expanded to include 1710 properties in suburbs around the country that are known to be flood-affected, either by river or surface flooding.

Smaller subsets are used to monitor pricing and availability for other hazard risks, such as landslides.

The most recent report, based on October 2025 data but released on Tuesday, showed that premiums had fallen since October 2024 – the first drop in pricing since monitoring began.

That was true for every region in the country.

Nationally, the average cheapest premium available fell from $1999 a year to $1886.

In its report, Finity said that multiple insurers had implemented decreases, driving the average price down.

“New business prices peaked around mid to late 2024 and have been falling since, driven by favourable reinsurance conditions and a benign period of natural perils losses.”

The monitoring occured prior to the recent massive storm and flooding in the upper North Island.

Experts have previously warned that insurance will become prohibitively expensive or impossible to get at all for some properties, as the risk from climate change-driven weather events continues to rise.

RNZ revealed last week that AA Insurance has temporarily stopped offering new home insurance policies in Westport because of the town’s flood risk.

The Finity data was collected prior to that decision – which AA Insurance informed Buller District Council of in late December.

However, there was “clear evidence that many insurers are using flood risk as a driver for their online underwriting criteria”, the Finity report said.

“Availability is limited in some high risk flood areas, specifically Avondale, Edgecumbe, Woolston and Westport,” the Finity report said.

“For example, the majority of low and high flood risk quotes in Westport only received quotes from two underwriters, with only one [property] quoted by three or more underwriters.”

As flood risk increased, availability dropped, the report said.

“High flood risk locations received approximately twice the number of rejections as locations with no flood risk.”

For insurers who did provide online quotes, the additional flood premiums were now higher.

The average quote for some of these properties was more than $1000 extra, up to a maximum quote in one case of $9250.

The report noted AA Insurance’s approach to new policies in “specific postcodes with very high seismic risk”, where a temporary halt had been placed on new policies.

RNZ reported on Tuesday that north Canterbury township Woodend was among those postcodes, along with Rolleston and Lincoln.

The pause, which began last September, also appeared to apply to Blenheim and the neighbouring settlements of Renwick and Seddon.

“Any impact from this restriction on the data shown will be outweighed by the wider increases in online availability in high seismic areas,” the Finity report said.

Overall, 95 percent of homes in the seismic dataset could get an online quote from at least two of the four underwriters included in the Finity monitoring (IAG, Tower, AA Insurance and Vero) – a small jump from 93 percent the year before.

That was mostly due to improved availability in Canterbury, central Wellington and the Hutt Valley.

Since the fatal Mount Maunganui landslide last month, landslide risk in New Zealand had earned heightened public attention.

The Treasury data did not show any evidence that insurers were charging additional premiums for properties with a high landslide risk – in fact, these properties attracted slightly lower premiums than the national average.

However, it noted that insurers were paying attention to landslide risk, with Tower expanding its property-level risk-based pricing last year to include landslide hazard.

Tower chief executive Paul Johnston said that had allowed the company to classify 93 percent of its customers as ‘low risk’ or ‘very low risk’, with an average reduction of $70 in premiums for those properties.

A ‘couple of percent’ had been classified as ‘very high risk’, with increases to their premiums.

A third of those increases were over $100 but Johnston would not say what the largest premium increase was.

For properties facing very large increases, “we’re calling them individually and talking to them about that and what we can do”, he said.

An Insurance Council spokesperson said it was “important New Zealand takes a long-term view on the risks from natural hazards as we face the prospect of more frequent and severe events due to climate related events”.

“We support a government-led approach to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate and an agreed set of natural hazard and climate risk data so we are all on the same page.

“This in turn will help reduce risk, protect communities and keep insurance accessible in the future.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/home-insurance-premiums-fall-despite-ongoing-weather-risks/

Mechanical failure sees Wellington Water discharge untreated sewage at Moa Point

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Water’s Moa Point treatment plant (file photo). Wellington Water

After a night of heavy rain, Wellington Water has started discharging raw sewage off the city’s south coast, and issued two other wastewater discharge notices.

Wellington Water said a mechanical failure at 3am on Wednesday caused it to start an unconsented discharge of untreated wastewater from its Moa Point treatment plant.

It said the sewage would emerge at the short outfall into the ocean at Tarakena Bay and may cause the water to appear cloudy or murky.

The water agency said it had discharged screened wastewater into Karori Stream at 10.45pm on Tuesday. That would also flow into the sea on the south coast.

About half an hour before that, fully treated sewage was released at 10.18pm into Waiwhetū Stream in Lower Hutt, which flows into the sea near Petone beach.

Water monitoring body Land, Air, Water Aotearoa advises people to stay out of the sea for two or three days after heavy rain.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/mechanical-failure-sees-wellington-water-discharge-untreated-sewage-at-moa-point/

Authors miss out on annual Public Lending Right payment after DIA bungle

Source: Radio New Zealand

The National Library became aware of an issue with payments for 2025 in late December. Google Maps

New Zealand authors have missed out on an annual payment that some describe as a key part of their income.

The Public Lending Right (PLR) scheme makes a payment to authors each year, when they have sufficient books in New Zealand libraries.

The payments are made in December from a government fund of $2.4 million. In 2025 there were 1541 registered and the per-book rate was $5.19.

But this year, a number of authors did not receive the payments they were told they were due.

Authors have to confirm their eligibility for payment every year, whether or not they have new books in libraries.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) said the National Library became aware of an issue with the payments for 2025, in late December.

“Due to an administration error, 318 authors received an email in error in July confirming they were registered for the scheme when, according to our records, they were not  registered.   

“These authors did not  receive  a payment when 1248 eligible authors received their PLR payment in mid-December. A portion of these authors would have been eligible for payment had they registered.

“We have been in contact with all authors to apologise for any upset or inconvenience this has caused and advise we are considering options to put things right. Authors financially impacted by the error will receive further contact regarding next steps once decisions have been finalised.”

It said it was also reviewing its administration of the scheme and usability to stop the error happening again.

“We have had useful feedback from authors about how the registration process could be improved. A key recommendation  from authors is an automated response in real-time to let them know that their registration has been received would resolve many concerns.”

One author, Linda Jane Keegan, said she was sure she had registered but when she queried the lack of payment, she was told she had not. She said she had been counting on the money.

“The PLR payment is a huge chunk of income for me, and I was expecting it to cover some expenses. Not receiving it when I was expecting to caused significant financial stress in what is an already high-cost time of year.

“I am also worried that even after putting time and mental energy into contacting the DIA to resolve the issue, that a payment won’t be possible because the fund, as a limited pool, has already been divided and paid out.”

Anna Mackenzie. Supplied / Madeline Ross

NZ Society of Authors spokesperson Anna Mackenzie said it was a concern that the error had happened.

“That this arose at all also highlights how overdue we are for an overhaul of the PLR legislation, which was written in a pre-digital world and in a particularly prescriptive manner.”

She said she had been told about half of the authors who were incorrectly told they had registered would have been eligible for a payment.

Mackenzie said New Zealand was behind other countries when it came to compensating authors for their work. There current rules did not allow for payments for electronic copies or for copies in school libraries.

“It’s a very inappropriate-in-today’s-world piece of legislation. It can only be changed at the behest of the minister and many ministers have been spoken to over the last 15 years and often they’ll say that, yes, they understand and they see it’s a priority, but we are yet to get that to the point where we’re even looking at a review.

“However, the current minister has indicated that she does think this is an issue that should be addressed, so we are once again hopeful that this will get back on to the table and be looked at properly.”

The society said the requirement that 50 books of a particular title are stocked in libraries was also unfair.

*Disclosure: Susan Edmunds is one of the registered authors who receives this payment and received it successfully in 2025.

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The Kiwi costume designer getting global attention

Source: Radio New Zealand

When Kiwi costume designer Kate Hawley signed on for Frankenstein, her third collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro, she knew it would be special, she says.

“I can really look back on it and be very thankful for the project, it was a wonderful project to be on, it was a very, very special collaboration.”

It’s a project that has garnered Hawley a slew of industry plaudits and recognition in recent months.

FRANKENSTEIN. Mia Goth as Elizabeth in Frankenstein. Cr. Ken Woroner/Netflix © 2025.

Ken Woroner/Netflix

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/the-kiwi-costume-designer-getting-global-attention/

Winter Olympic veteran Zoi Sadowski-Synnott – it’s a ‘privilege’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand. JAMIE SQUIRE / AFP

Wānaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott is about to compete in her third Olympics at the age of just 24.

Sadowski-Synnott is a member of the 17-strong New Zealand team set to compete at the Winter Olympics in Italy, which starts on Friday.

She competed in her first Big Air World Cup in 2016 at the age of 15 and made her mark in 2017 with a World Championship silver medal in slopestyle.

A year later, she competed at the Pyeongchang Olympics, claiming a bronze medal in the big air.

In Beijing 2022, she made history as the first Kiwi to ever win a Winter Olympic gold medal when she won the snowboard slopestyle title. She followed that up just days later with a silver medal in the Big Air.

“It is such a privilege to be coming into these ones having won gold in 2022,” Sadowski-Synnott told RNZ.

“But the way I look at it is that it has been four years and I’m in a sport that the progression over a year changes so much.”

New Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at the 2026 Aspen X-Games. JAMIE SQUIRE / AFP

Following her 2022 Olympic Games success, she was named Halberg Supreme winner and went on to impress around the world before an ankle injury kept her off the slopes in 2024.

“The last four years have been a rollercoaster with the highs and lows, [the injury] re-lit the fire in my heart to keep working hard.

“I’m hoping I can carry the momentum of last year so that when we get to the Olympics, I can show off and try my best.”

Since the injury, Sadowski-Synnott worked her way back to the top, winning the 2025 slopestyle world title (her third) and last month winning silver at the Aspen X-Games.

“I’m not going to put too much pressure on it, but I’m really proud and grateful for the level I’m at and just really excited to show all the work and progress that I have made over the past four years. I just want to do my best and if that gets me… it gets me and so yeah just hope for the best.”

With three Olympic Games under her belt, she has been able to share some of her wisdom with her compatriots. The average age of her teammates is just 20.

“I’ve told my younger team-mates who are going to their first Olympics to just have fun and really enjoy the experience because it is really special. Just focus on what matters most, which is putting down the best performance you can because you’ve worked really hard to get here.”

Sadowski-Synnott will get her Olympic campaign underway on Monday 9 February, with qualifying in the women’s snowboard Big Air.

Zoi Sadowski Synnott at Cardrona. Iain McGregor / PHOTOSPORT

Snowboarding and free ski disciplines

BIG AIR

Involves a single jump of a ramp with competitors producing acrobatic moves which are judged on difficulty, execution, amplitude and landing. A qualification competition is used to find the finalists, who then have three jumps with the two highest scoring jumps combined to determine the rankings.

SLOPESTYLE

Athletes move through an obstacle course as they make their way down the slope. It includes rails, boxes and jumps with judging on progression, amplitude, variety, execution and difficulty. There are three runs in the finals with the highest scores determining the rankings.

HALFPIPE

Athletes ride the walls back and forth as they make their way down the course launching into the air to perform tricks. they are judged on progression, amplitude, variety, execution and difficulty.

There are two runs in qualification and three in the final with the single best run determining the rankings.

Terminology:

Rotation: The number of degrees a rider turns in the air (e.g. 1080, 1440, 1800).

Frontside/Backside: The direction of the spin.

Cork: A spin that flips off the vertical axis. A “triple cork” means the rider flips upside down three times while spinning.

Grab: Holding a specific part of the snowboard while in the air (e.g., Bloody Dracula, Chicken Salad, Indy, Mute, Stalefish).

Switch: Riding in the opposite direction of one’s natural stance.

Stomp: Landing a jump cleanly without sliding out or putting hands down.

Jib/Rail: Metal rails or boxes in the top section of a slopestyle course designed for sliding.

Pretzel: Spinning in one direction onto a rail and landing by spinning in the opposite direction off the rail.

New Zealand Olympians (L to R) Alice Robinson, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Luca Harrington, Fin Melville Ives, Cam Melville Ives, Ben Barclay and Ruby Star Andrews pictured during the New Zealand Team first selection announcement for 2026 Winter Olympic Games. James Allan / PHOTOSPORT

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Diving NZ’s Olympic hopes boosted by world-class facility

Source: Radio New Zealand

Steve and Monique Gladding coach a stable of competitive divers. Supplied

The husband and wife Olympic duo running a new world-class diving facility in Christchurch believe it’s a game-changer for the sport in New Zealand.

Since the opening of the long-awaited Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre in December, Christchurch now boasts New Zealand’s largest indoor aquatic and sport facility.

It also gave Canterbury a purpose-built diving space for the first time in years. Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, competitive diving in the region effectively disappeared due to the destruction of the city’s main diving facilities, specifically the QEII Park pool.

In partnership with Christchurch City Council, Sport Canterbury, and Sport New Zealand, Steve and Monique Gladding relocated to the city because of the potential of the Parakiore facility.

Steve Gladding coached at multiple Olympic Games with Great Britain, and the pair moved to Aotearoa in 2015 when Steve was appointed performance director for Diving New Zealand.

Together with wife Monique, an Olympic diver, they bring a wealth of global experience and believe Christchurch is now positioned to become a national hub for the sport.

The timing of the facility plays a major part in Diving New Zealand’s ‘DNA 2032’ programme, which focuses on long-term athlete development. The national body is targeting Brisbane 2032 as an Olympics where it can make a real impact.

“The amount of money that is currently going into Australian diving speaks to that as well, so the fact that we do have this facility now, it will definitely play into that and help assist the vision,” Monique said.

New Zealand has only had seven diving Olympians since the sport made its Olympic debut in 1904 but with world-class coaching, now coupled with a world-class facility, it’s hoped the country can develop more.

Anton Down-Jenkins, who competed at Tokyo 2020, was New Zealand’s last Olympic diver.

Monique Gladding during the London 2012 Olympic Games. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Born in South Africa, Monique competed in gymnastics before an injury curtailed that path and she started diving comparatively late. Around that time Steve moved to the United Kingdom, and unsurprisingly the pair met through the sport.

Monique was able to compete for Britain through her father’s ancestry.

She just missed out on qualifying for the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and a horrific accident 18 months out from the 2012 London Olympics threatened to derail her last shot.

During a competition in Russia, her head struck the concrete diving board, instantly knocking her unconscious before she plummeted 10 metres into the pool below.

“They had to rescue me from the bottom but all I can remember was when I came out, was thinking ‘okay how do I come back from this? What do I need to do to still make this dream come true?’.

“I’d been pushing after the Olympics, that was my third cycle, and everything had been going so well, I was kind of at the top of my game at that point. It was an awful time but probably made me stronger and I really had to think smart about those last few months before the games of what I could do to really make it count, because I could only train a limited amount so I had to be really smart in my approach,” Monique said.

Perseverance paid off when Monique qualified for the London Olympics where Steve was her coach. She retired soon after and got into coaching herself.

The Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre in Christchurch boasts New Zealand’s premier diving space. Supplied

They initially moved to South Africa thinking they would settle there but when that didn’t quite work out, started looking at other options. That’s when Diving New Zealand pursued Steve.

“I had never been to New Zealand, Steve had been there doing a little bit of development work once before. It just sparked our interest and we thought maybe there’s an amazing opportunity to [do] development diving in a country that’s not so big at the moment and that was 12 years ago.”

Monique said there was still so much untapped potential in Aotearoa to develop elite divers.

“When we first got here we were in Auckland and there was really nothing about. Last year we got our first top seven in the world so we had two lads that went out to the World Championships and they got a top eight, which put us on the map. We’ve got some incredible juniors coming through and we’re only just getting started.”

Monique said a lack of a top world-class facility has held the sport back.

“We’ve been able to do what we can do with what we had but now we have this I think it’s just going to take it to the next level. I think it’s really going to open up some doors for people who are interested in other sports like parkour or tumbling or gymnastics, people who like to express themselves through artistic channels. Diving is another sport that they could be good at and I really think there is so much potential and we’ve already done so much and there’s still so much to do.”

Diving New Zealand actively recruits talent, focusing on students with a love for water and gymnastics through one of its school programmes.

The couple and their two children moved from Auckland to Christchurch last October to get the facility organised in the countdown to opening. Monique is the co-performance director of Canterbury Diving, along with Steve, who is still Diving New Zealand’s performance director.

The Canterbury region now has access to a state of the art dive pool at the Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre. Supplied

Some of the features of the state-of-the-art space include harnesses above the platforms.

“It’s a system that allows athletes to learn harder dives with assistance, which is such a huge thing – that learning curve is much quicker. We also have very wide platforms, the only ones in the country, which means we can do syncro and hold international events, because we have the minimum requirements.”

Monique said it would put athletes on a level playing field with their international counterparts.

“We’ve also got the dry land facility, which is an essential requirement now if you’re wanting to go on a high performance pathway.

“We have the new fulcrums on the springboards, which are now a requirement at all the world events. We never had them in the country before this so it means divers can practice and train on the actual boards that they compete at internationally.”

The couple are looking forward to holding national camps at Parakiore this year and perhaps some of those divers will be at the Olympics in eight years.

Outside of high-performance development, Monique said Parakiore would be a home for community participation.

“For those who just love water and want to learn how to dive, and flip and be safe in the water, we want to see people build their deep-water confidence, given the role water plays in the Kiwi lifestyle.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/diving-nzs-olympic-hopes-boosted-by-world-class-facility/

Iwi chairs prepare to challenge government, ahead of Prime Minister’s Waitangi visit

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon opted to stay away from Waitangi in 2025. RNZ / Calvin Samuel

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will arrive at Waitangi on Wednesday, ahead of meetings with iwi leaders, after opting to stay away in 2025.

While he will not stick around for Friday’s commemorations, Luxon will meet with the Iwi Chairs Forum on Wednesday and take part in Thursday’s pōwhiri.

When announcing the Prime Minister’s intention to return to Waitangi, a spokesperson said Luxon was “looking forward” to the visit, and would be “taking the opportunity to keep engaging with iwi about the response to last week’s weather events and the work the government is doing to grow the economy and help every New Zealander get ahead.”

Despite many politicians having already arrived at Waitangi, they will be formally welcomed onto Te Whare Rūnanga on Thursday morning.

On Tuesday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins joined the Greens on a Treaty Grounds walkabout with Māori Wardens, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters held a bilateral meeting with his German counterpart on the Purerua Peninsula, and associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka visited the flood-affected community of Ngaiotonga.

“They’ve gone through some pretty severe weather, trauma, and severe conditions. It’s damaged a lot of infrastructure, roads, farms, whānau, houses [and] communities, and we’ve taken action,” Potaka said.

The government has sent campervans to parts of Northland as emergency accommodation assistance, which Potaka expected would be needed for a “couple” of months, at most.

The government’s response to the severe weather was something Potaka expected would come up in meetings with the forum, along with the “basics” like the economy, law and order, and education.

However, the chair of the Forum’s Pou Tahua (economic arm), Jamie Tuuta, said the last term had been a challenging one.

Tuuta said iwi leaders had been focused on the government for years, but had now reached a stage where iwi were at the precipice of working together to “actually transform the realities” for Māori.

Pou Tangata chair Rahui Papa said the key message to the government would be what strategies would they employ to bolster Māori aspirations, instead of legislation which “unpicks” te Tiriti o Waitangi.

“We want to hear from them, what is their program of mahi? We also want to say to them, ‘here’s some of our points in a manifesto and you have to live up to this if you’re going to be a government for all.’”

On Tuesday, iwi leaders unanimously gave their backing to a court case by Ngāti Manuhiri, which seeks to challenge amendments to the Marine and Coastal Areas Act (MACA).

Speaking at a rare press conference alongside Labour, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said the opposition was in Waitangi to “reaffirm” a shared message that te Tiriti required “leadership to step up and take the guidance” of communities.

National Minister Tama Potaka insisted the issues that iwi chairs raised were “very engaging”. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Potaka, who is also Minister for Māori Crown Relations, insisted the issues that iwi chairs raised were “very engaging,” regardless of who was in government.

“A lot of the kōrero is actually engaged and directed by the chairs themselves, and we want to hear what their concerns are, and we can respond to them accordingly,” he said.

“A lot of them have those concerns around emergency management, but also around the Treaty settlement process, making sure we implement Treaty settlements, and we close out those historical settlements that are outstanding.”

Potaka acknowledged there were serious economic and social “deltas” between many Māori communities and the rest of New Zealand. He said the government would be working “very robustly” in a manner befitting te Tiriti o Waitangi, while also ascribing to National’s values of equal opportunity and citizenship.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/04/iwi-chairs-prepare-to-challenge-government-ahead-of-prime-ministers-waitangi-visit/

New charter school aims to boost attendance in Wairoa

Source: Radio New Zealand

Associate Education Minister David Seymour. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says a new charter school will provide more options for families in Wairoa, which is suffering high truancy rates.

Te Whare Kounga will open with a roll of 65 secondary students in term three this year, rising to 165 students from the start of 2027, for Years 7 to 13.

The school, located at a former primary school on Carroll Street, builds on the transition programme Te Papatipu Matihiko, which for the past two years has aimed to help children get back to school with a new enthusiasm for learning.

Te Papatipu Matihiko board member Chris Cormack said the school would still teach all the core subjects, but would use a different learning model based on Māori philosophy.

“They’ll start each day with kind of a swim or something to do with water – and that’s almost symbolic as well. An actual thing of, like, ‘we’re leaving all the stuff that’s happened at home, happened on the way to school, whatever,’ and we’re kind of starting fresh for the day.

“Then working with them to kind of create individual learning plans following the curriculum broadly, but … a more integrated learning approach, and having them move kind of at their pace.

“A big thing in Wairoa’s slash in the river and flooding and those kind of things, so maybe that’s what they’re interested in, so you craft the year’s curriculum around that – so we might study the river, we can do biology and chemistry and then we might use sensors and have a programme that records that into a computer.”

He said it was about building learning around things that got the akonga excited and wanting to come to class.

“Building up their confidence, helping them navigate group situations, manage conflict, de-escalate – those kinds of things, to get them to a place where you can challenge them a bit more. You don’t want to, like, challenge them on their first day because they’re going to shut down.”

Cormack said Te Papatipu Matihiko had found students would return to school after the transitional programme ended, but drop out again, so they had decided instead to build a longer-term solution.

“When they went back to school, they weren’t necessarily succeeding there because it was such a different learning environment than the one they’d kind of got used to and they didn’t have the support,” he said.

“It was a good program, people got very excited, not everyone dropped out – people went on to learning, which was far better than the alternative before. But we realised that we could do more, essentially, with a longer period of time.”

An ERO report shows the nearby Wairoa College had a statutory manager installed in December 2024 to help with low attendance and improve learning outcomes.

Despite that, attendance rates remained well below the target, with less than half of students attending regularly.

Cormack said those kinds of difficulties were what Te Whare Kounga aimed to address.

“You’ve got to teach to kind of the middle when you’re a big school, you can’t necessarily accommodate everyone. And that’s no fault of the state schools or the teachers there, who are wonderful people and trying their best, but when you’ve got big classrooms, there’s only so much you can do.

“It’s just an option for those who currently are kind of falling through the cracks.”

He said state secondary schools were already very different to employment, university, or polytechnics, and it was hoped the more holistic learning approach would better prepare students than a strictly subject-based education.

Seymour said Te Papatipu Matihiko was an established programme with a good track record, “which has earned the trust of some people who, frankly, don’t trust the state or its schools anymore”.

“These are students who, in many cases, have been checked out of state education. We don’t want to get into a blame game about why that is, we just want to get them re-engaged in education.”

Pushing back on questions about whether it would make sense to instead bolster Wairoa College, he said it was receiving the same resources as other state schools, or “I suspect, slightly more”.

“The question is, if putting resources into something isn’t working and you’ve got an alternative, then why shouldn’t the students be able to take their entitlement to funding as a New Zealand citizen to a school that works for them?” Seymour said.

“The thing about education is that you really only get one shot. That’s not to say people can’t sometimes go back, but for the most part, you get one shot and that’s why it’s vital. If these students aren’t engaged and there’s an entity with a track record of engaging them in the community, then maybe we should fund them to get the job done – that’s what charter schools allow.”

He said some people would see charter schools and state schools as competing, but in Christchurch, four state school principals had worked together to sponsor a charter school “because they recognise that there are some students that they are not actively serving”.

Describing the demand as “overwhelming”, Seymour said nine applications for a charter school were rejected for every approval, putting that down to limited funding.

He said he expected new attendance services and his STAR mandatory attendance action plans were initiatives being rolled out this year, “that I believe will make a difference at Wairoa College and indeed every other school that’s faced a challenge around school attendance”.

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