Category: LiveNews

Posted on

CRL to lift tourism and major events in Auckland

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland competes in a highly dynamic global market for tourists and major events. The City Rail Link (CRL) is tipped to give the city a new edge in both arenas. 

Annie Dundas, Director Destination for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, says greater ease of access enabled by the CRL will support the agency’s aims.

“CRL will help elevate all our goals. We work hard to secure a strong pipeline of major and business events. In the last financial year, the events we supported in Auckland delivered more than $89 million in GDP – they are crucial for our success as a region and a country,” she says.

We sat down with Annie Dundas and asked her more about how she thinks the City Rail Link will enhance Auckland’s tourism and events sectors when the new rail system opens in the second half of 2026.

This is part of an occasional Q&A series with urban and economic development leads within the Auckland Council group, looking ahead at the region-wide benefits of the City Rail Link for multiple sectors.

Our Q&A with Annie Dundas:

Q. What is the role of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited?

We are Auckland Council’s cultural, events and destination agency. We attract visitors to the region, invest in major and business events and deliver cultural events such as Pasifika Festival and BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival.

We champion Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s global reputation and strive to make it a vibrant place to live and visit. We own and operate venues and cultural institutions including Auckland Zoo, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Aotea Centre, New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa, The Civic, Western Springs Stadium, North Harbour Stadium and Go Media Stadium.  

We also attract performing arts to the city through New Zealand’s largest performing arts organisation Auckland Live, and put on free Auckland Council Events in public spaces for all to enjoy.

Q. How will the CRL help visitors to our region experience it better?

Getting people around more swiftly will be a game-changer. The CRL is not just about new stops in the city, it enables better train services across Auckland by linking up the network and unlocking space for more trains to travel more often. It will provide visitors an easier way to experience more of our region – if they’re in downtown Auckland or arriving on a cruise ship, they’ll be able to hit Karangahape Road or an event at Go Media Stadium much more easily. If they’re staying further away, they can get to the waterfront, which we know is a major drawcard for visitors, much more easily.

This ease of travel will be especially valuable for visitors here for business events. Usually they’ll stay longer than three or four days, and are likely to attend a conference at say, the new NZICC or Aotea Centre. The new Te Waihorotiu Station will be right on those venues’ doorsteps – this will make us an even more business event friendly city. There will be frequent services, meaning no long waits for the next train. It will be a true international experience. It positions our reputation very well internationally.

CRL stations and surrounding areas also incorporate beautiful Māori design – it’s important to represent our unique culture in this way and we know visitors value this. 

Recently re-opened glasshouse entrance to Waitematā Station.

Q. How about locals – will it make coming into the city for events easier?

It will take away parking stress and cost for a much wider group of people and make it easier for them to get to events and shows. If you live in Maungawhau (Mt Eden) for example, you’ll be able to get to Waitematā Station in less than 10 minutes, then Spark Arena is right there. If you live in Henderson, you’ll be able to get to Te Waihorotiu Station in 35 minutes, 24 minutes quicker than the current public transport. That station is very close to The Civic, Basement Theatre, Q Theatre, Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre – so suddenly getting to that concert or a free festival in Aotea Square becomes a lot more attractive. From Glen Innes in the east, you’ll be able to get to Te Waihorotiu Station in 15 minutes, 10 minutes quicker. So we are really excited about the barriers it will reduce and cultural participation it will encourage for all Aucklanders.  

Q. What about major events in Auckland with crowds of more than 10,000 people?

For major events coming up including the British & Irish Lions Women’s Series in 2027, Cricket World Cup in 2028, and men’s Lions tour in 2029, the CRL will be amazing. Fans flowing in and out of Eden Park will be able to hop down to Waitematā Station at the waterfront in just 13 minutes. That will make it easier to enjoy bars and restaurants before and after matches and give huge crowds multiple hospitality options. There will also be a single train ride from the east to Eden Park on the new network, which will make it easier for families in the eastern suburbs to go along.

At Go Media Stadium in Penrose where Ed Sheeran just performed, access will be easier with a single train ride from the west to the stadium on the new network.

We’ve just brought in a wayfinding map at Go Media Stadium that links through to public transport and gives information about the nearby Penrose train station that will connect to the new CRL stations. We’ll be able to integrate it with our existing tools and strategies to reduce barriers to attendance.

Q. What if people want to go out or stay out after work for a cocktail or to see a live band – will the CRL help?

Yes. Part of our work at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is to encourage a humming night-time economy. More frequent trains until about midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and between 1am and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, will make it easier to go out or stay out later for a larger group of people.

There will also be a single train ride from the south to the famous night-time precinct of Karangahape Road. No more switching between trains and buses on the way. Fewer people will need to bring a car into town just so they can stay out at night after work. So definitely – the CRL is an important piece of the puzzle to help us elevate Auckland nightlife.

Q. How important is transport connectivity for what Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is tasked with achieving?

Ease of access, which the CRL will improve, will help us achieve our goals. We work relentlessly to secure a strong pipeline of major and business events in a hugely competitive global market. 

We also push hard to attract screen production and boost visitor numbers from key markets including Australia, North American and Asia and run world-class attractions including Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland Zoo – in all these areas, ease of access and movement is vital. Visitors know about our scenery – but we need to offer more.

Having a truly international city where it’s easy to get around is a crucial part of the ecosystem of drawcards we offer to make Tāmaki Makaurau an amazing place to live, work and visit.

Viaduct Harbour. Photo credit: AucklandNZ.

Read more about the benefits of CRL in earlier Q&A on OurAuckland.

Learn how the new network is expected to lift Auckland’s international standing with Barry Potter; support the region’s productivity with Gary Blick; and provide everyday benefits for Aucklanders and visitors across the region with George Weeks.  

City Rail Link information brochures are available in eight languages on the Auckland Transport website.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/crl-to-lift-tourism-and-major-events-in-auckland/

Posted on

Next stop for the Northwest Busway

Source: New Zealand Government

NZTA has applied for statutory approvals for the Northwest Busway project under the Fast‑track Approvals Act (FTAA), marking a major milestone for a project that will deliver faster, more frequent and more reliable public transport for Auckland’s growing northwest, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. 

“The project, similar to the successful Northern Busway, will provide a busway alongside State Highway 16 (SH16) between Brigham Creek and the city centre, and seven stations connected to the local bus and road network,” says Mr Bishop.

“People in the northwest are crying out for better transport options in one of the region’s largest planned growth areas, where an additional 100,000 people, along with 40,000 new homes and 40,000 new jobs, are expected by 2051.

“Lodging under the FTAA represents progress for the Northwest Busway, which is going to provide more transport choices for communities in the northwest. This is about building the future of public transport in New Zealand. Auckland is our largest city, and this will help support jobs and drive growth.  

“The Northwest Busway includes a park and ride station at Brigham Creek and stations at Westgate, Royal Road, Lincoln Road, Te Atatū, Point Chevalier and Western Springs. It will be able to move up to 9,000 passengers per hour in each direction, the equivalent of four motorway lanes.  It will also provide a reliable 25-minute journey time from Brigham Creek to the city centre – all day, every day.  

“Construction is already underway on the new Westgate Station, which will open later this year, and works on the Brigham Creek Station are expected to start next year.

“The busway will increase the capacity of State Highway 16 by nearly 20% during peak times by freeing up space on the motorway for freight and those that need it.  

“Aucklanders want better, faster and more reliable public transport and this project is a priority for this Government, so I welcome the progress being made by NZTA with the lodgement of statutory approvals for the project under the FTAA.

“The approvals will enable NZTA to construct the project in stages as further funding is made available. 

“The Northwest Busway project has received around $550 million, covering statutory approvals, design and site investigations, construction of the Westgate Station and Brigham Creek Station and Park & Ride, and targeted property acquisition. 

“The Northwest Busway project is part of an integrated plan to provide better connections to the wider transport network and maximise investment in other public transport projects like City Rail Link.” 

Notes to the editor: 

  • The northwest of Auckland is home to 90,000 people and is one of the city’s largest planned growth areas. 
  • 60 percent of residents commute out of the area for work and education, which means the Northwestern Motorway regularly suffers from congestion and delays.
  • This project covers an 18km corridor and navigates a heavily built-up urban environment. This means it requires underpasses and structures to navigate motorway interchanges, and it impacts some utility assets and property which also add to the cost. 
  • The whole project has a benefit cost ratio of 2:1, with the first stage at 6.3:1 so for every dollar that’s spent we’re getting high benefits in return.
  • Stage 1 will see new stations at Brigham Creek and Lincoln Road as part of a $330m – $380m package of work. 
  • Stage 2 will include the separated and bi-directional busway from Brigham Creek to Te Atatū, along with the stations at Royal Road and Te Atatū, the second stage of Westgate station, and the city centre connection at Newton at an estimated investment of $4,100m – $4,600m*. 
  • The Point Chevalier and Western Springs stations are to be delivered as a third stage. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/next-stop-for-the-northwest-busway/

Posted on

Economy – There’s still time to assess the effects of prior OCR cuts – Cotality

Source: Cotality – Commentary by Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson

As widely expected, the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, under new Governor Anna Breman, held the official cash rate unchanged at 2.25% today. This was firmly in line with the forward guidance from the previous meeting in November and it reflects the expectation that spare capacity in the economy should ultimately pull inflation back down again.
Many of the key economic forecasts released today were essentially unchanged from three months ago. The RBNZ expects the economy to expand by just short of 3% this year, with employment rising consistently and the unemployment rate edging down from 5.4% to 5.0% by the end of 2026. CPI inflation may already be back within the 1-3% target band this quarter.
The decision also noted that “if the economy evolves as expected, monetary policy is likely to remain accommodative for some time”. 
This suggests no immediate rush to bump up the OCR. Even so, the forecast track was ‘pulled forward’ a little, pointing to the probability of a rate rise late this year rather than early next year, as previously indicated. This really just endorses what financial markets and many commentators had already been suggesting was likely to happen and reflects the Bank’s suggestion that “settings will gradually normalise”.
For the housing market, it also just remains a case of waiting to see how a range of conflicting forces play out. On one hand, although banks have already been pushing small moves in some mortgage rates lately, generally they remain fairly stable and much lower than before. This will be supporting property sales activity and house prices.
By contrast, however, a cautious attitude still prevails across the market, and it’s difficult to see a sharp turnaround for activity or prices until jobs growth picks up and the unemployment rate falls more emphatically. This looks set to be a story for later in 2026 rather than sooner.
Indeed, the RBNZ itself predicts that property values could even fall a bit further in the next 3-6 months before edging higher later this year. They could end up flat for 2026 as a whole and only rise by 3.0% in 2027. 
Based on the recent rise in physical housing stock versus population, and also the new restraint of debt to income ratio caps, it’s hard to disagree too much with those modest expectations.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/economy-theres-still-time-to-assess-the-effects-of-prior-ocr-cuts-cotality/

Posted on

University Research – Lab discovery offers hope for lymphoedema – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

A newly discovered molecule shows promise for treating painful lymphoedema.

Scientists have made a breakthrough that could lead to effective treatments for lymphoedema, a painful swelling condition for which there is currently no cure.

Lymphoedema can be congenital or caused by an injury, but it mostly occurs as an unintended consequence following breast-cancer treatment.

It occurs when the lymphatic system, which moves fluid throughout the body via specialised vessels, is damaged, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues.

“Our group of researchers has discovered a new molecule and pathway that together promote lymphatic vessel growth,” says Dr Jonathan Astin, a senior lecturer in molecular medicine and pathology in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See Cell Reports.

“We initially made this discovery in zebrafish but have also shown that the factor works in human lymphatic cells.”

The scientists discovered the growth-promoting molecule, known as ‘insulin-like growth factor’, or IGF, accelerates the growth of lymphatic vessels in zebrafish, so has potential to repair damaged vessels.

They then worked with a University colleague, senior research fellow Dr Justin Rustenhoven, to grow human cells in the lab and found the IGF, could also ‘instruct’ human lymphatic vessels to grow.

“This work is of interest to the medical community as it provides an additional way to induce lymphatic vessel growth,” says Astin.

“This is especially important for people with lymphoedema. In Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 20 percent of women who have lymph nodes removed as part of breast-cancer treatment will develop lymphoedema, and currently there is no cure.”

There is another molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), that also promotes the growth of lymphatic vessels; the IGF molecule may work together with VEGF to promote the growth of lymphatic vessels, says Astin.

The work was conducted in Astin’s lab by then doctoral student Dr Wenxuan Chen and involved collaborations with Dr Kate Lee, Dr Justin Rustenhoven and Professor Stefan Bohlander, all in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, as well as a lab in the US.

“We use fish primarily because they’re very simple, but they’re still remarkably similar to us,” Astin says.

“The advantage of using fish is we can fluorescently label lymphatic vessels so that they glow and then image vessel growth in a whole larva or embryo and not impact its growth at all.

“We can just watch it grow, and things happen much quicker in a fish, because they develop much faster.”

The next step will be to test an IGF‑based therapy on mice with lymphoedema to see whether it helps.

Astin is cautious about promising too much but says this holds the potential to become a therapy for this painful, incurable condition in the future.

Read about ‘openness in the use of animals for research’: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/research/about-our-research/openness-in-animal-research.html

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/university-research-lab-discovery-offers-hope-for-lymphoedema-uoa/

Posted on

Outgoing Netball NZ chairperson denies any pressure to step down

Source: Radio New Zealand

AAP / www.photosport.nz

The outgoing Netball New Zealand chairperson says changes at the top will help inject new energy into a sport that is facing significant challenges.

The national body last night confirmed that chairperson Matt Whineray and three appointed board members had decided to step down.

It followed the resignation of CEO Jennie Wyllie in December after a disastrous year for the sport, which included the suspension of Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, who was later reinstated.

The story dominated headlines for weeks and calls for “heads to roll” at Netball NZ were loud.

Whineray denied anyone felt pressure to step down but said the board accepted the netball community expected some changes at the top after a difficult 2025 and new blood would be beneficial.

“It really came out of individual reflections on what was right for them personally and what we think is right for Netball New Zealand going forward. So the opportunity to get some new perspectives, new capabilities, some new energy and really reset the momentum and focus on the really important next couple of years is what we’re all thinking about,” Whineray said.

The national body was working in an environment that had changed rapidly in the past decade, including greater competition from other female codes. The future of the ANZ Premiership was still up in the air, with no broadcast rights agreement in place from beyond 2026.

While participation rates at grass roots are pleasing, Whineray believed the next CEO has a tougher job than what it entailed a few years ago.

“The media landscape, broadcast rights opportunities, and commercial environment has all changed. The person who is heading up a national sporting organisation has to be able to manage the commercials on one hand and balance that with the delivery of the community game and high performance programmes and that’s a challenging space to be.”

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua after her reinstatement. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

There were eight members on the Netball NZ board, split between four elected members and four appointed members, including Whineray.

Aliesha Staples, Stephen Cottrell, and Pavan Vyas are the other appointed members leaving their roles. Appointed members help ensure a board has a range of skills and experience to call on across a number of fields including commercial, legal, IT and tech.

Cottrell for instance brought 25 years of experience, including strategy and project management roles for New Zealand Rugby. He currently works for a global events and entertainment company, and is a principal in his own sports advisory law firm.

The Netball NZ constitution sets a maximum of three terms of three years. With Whineray’s nine year limit on the board due to finish at the start of next year, he said stepping down now made sense as his replacement will be in charge of recruiting the next CEO.

Jane Patterson was brought in as interim CEO but the board will advertise for a permanent boss in a few months.

The board positions will be advertised soon and an appointment panel will be made up of a couple of board members and one external member, expected to be veteran administrator Kereyn Smith.

Netball NZ has called in Smith, who in recent years has helped cycling and yachting with their issues.

“Kereyn’s been giving us a hand on a number of fronts and helping both within Netball New Zealand but also with our connections with the wider netball community so it’s been very helpful to have her in there, given her really deep experience in sports administration but also really great connections across the netball system.”

Matt Whineray has served on the board for over eight years. Supplied/NZ Super Fund

Whineray said Smith had been involved in looking at some high performance changes but said that was now largely being run by Chelsea Lane, who was appointed as Head of Performance – Silver Ferns, in the new year.

The decision to suspend Dame Noeline and her coaching team in September was met with widespread shock in the netball community. The lack of information led to a lot of speculation and fans vented their frustrations on social media, mostly directed at Wyllie and the board.

Whineray emphasised that the decision to suspend the Silver Ferns coaching team, was a board decision, not driven by any individual.

“The board made that decision on advice from our legal advice.”

He said the board can not make decisions on how the public might react.

“That’s the board making a decision about what’s in the best interests of the Silver Ferns environment and of the players and all of those who are working in the environment. Ultimately we have to wear the public response but you shouldn’t be making decisions like that with an eye on how the public is going to react.

“The board were all involved in this, we were supporting Jennie and working with Jennie through this process and I think the personal insults and the abuse were awful for all involved.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/outgoing-netball-nz-chairperson-denies-any-pressure-to-step-down/

Posted on

Prices continue to rise at global dairy trade auction

Source: Radio New Zealand

The price rises at the latest global diary trade auction have been described as a “very good result” for New Zealand dairy farmers. 123RF

Dairy prices rose again at the global dairy trade auction overnight – continuing a reversal of last year’s downward swing and raising questions about whether a $10 milk payout could be back on the table.

The average price rose 3.6 percent to US$4028 a tonne – it follows the 6.7 percent rise a fortnight ago, and is the fourth consecutive increase of the year.

Rabobank Dairy Analyst Emma Higgins said it was a “very good result” for New Zealand dairy farmers, with meaningful gains across key products.

The price of wholemilk powder, which strongly affects farmer payouts, rose 2.5 percent to US$3706 a tonne.

Prices for other products were mostly stronger, including a sharp increase in butter which rose over 10 percent.

“Overall, the event reinforced a couple of things. First is that there is improving demand sentiment across the dairy complex,” Higgins said.

“With current current dairy commodity prices where they are, the question begs whether we’ll start to see an increase in the farmgate milk price forecast for the 2025/26 season.”

Higgins was cautiously optimistic, adding there was still a lot of milk available on the global market at the moment.

“We’ve had some incredibly strong growth in the European Union, particularly driven from Ireland, France and Poland. And then if we think about the United States, we’ve seen consistently strong milk production for the majority of 2025.

“That was the reason that we saw weaker commodity prices at the back half of last year. It was the reason that we saw farmgate milk prices slashed by Christmas time.

“Now we’ve got the situation where demand is starting to improve, and at the same time, we’re starting to see perhaps some signals as we move through 2026 that supply environment will start to tighten up.”

She said current market dynamics would suggest there was support for lifting the current milk price forecast from where it sits at that midpoint range of $9, up to somewhere around the $9.50 per kilogram of milk solid mark.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/prices-continue-to-rise-at-global-dairy-trade-auction/

Posted on

Plans to deliver food and meds to more than 100 people trapped near Ngawi in Wairarapa

Source: Radio New Zealand

Residents are also concerned about a second bridge undermined by floodwaters at Hurupi Stream. Supplied / Sharon Durrant

Plans are underway to deliver food and increasingly urgent medical supplies to more than 100 people trapped near Ngawi on Wairarapa’s southern coastline.

Two bridges are out of action on the only roads into several rural and coastal communities – completely cutting them off – following torrential that hit overnight on Sunday.

Trucks are currently dumping boulders and metal into a 3-4m hole that opened on Tuesday at the Turanganui River bridge on Lake Ferry Road.

RNZ understands the goal is to reopen the road by Wednesday evening, restoring access to communities in Lake Ferry and Whangaimoana.

A bridge on Cape Palliser Road at the Hurupi Stream, known as the Banana Bridge, has been scoured out at the road edge and has been deemed structurally unsafe by the South Wairarapa District Council. Supplied

But a second bridge on Cape Palliser Road at the Hurupi Stream has since triggered an urgent warning from authorities.

The bridge, known as the Banana Bridge, has been scoured out at the road edge and has been deemed structurally unsafe by the South Wairarapa District Council.

“The bridge must not be used under any circumstances until it has been inspected and formally cleared by a qualified engineer,” it said.

A civil engineer was due to assess the bridge on Wednesday morning and as yet there was no timeframe for a fix.

A large hole has opened up at the Lake Ferry Road bridge cutting off communities in South Wairarapa. RNZ / Mary Argue

A council spokesperson said 119 people were trapped to the east of the bridge along the coastline to Ngawi.

Local Gavin Fenwick said the Hurupi bridge failure had caught people out, with holidaymakers and tourists among those who were stuck.

He said some people were getting quite desperate for food and medical supplies and he and his wife Donna had been helping organise a supply drop into the area, which was expected later on Wednesday.

The single-lane bridge to Lake Ferry, Wairarapa, has been gouged out by floodwaters. Supplied / South Wairarapa District Council

Fenwick said with medications that needed to be taken, the need for a delivery was getting “quite urgent”.

In an update on Wednesday morning, Powerco said 315 properties across Wairarapa were still without power following the storm.

Fenwick said fortunately contractors got over the bridge before it failed, restoring power by Monday night and while locals were quite “upbeat,” it was a different story for the tourists.

“It’s the campers that are here that have … just done a day trip and now they’re stuck here. Pretty hard for them.

“There’s not a lot of them, luckily, most of them got out in time, but there are a couple hanging around still. One of them put in an order for a food drop this afternoon, because they had basically nothing by the sound of it.”

More than 100 people are isolated on the south coast of Wairarapa after the “Banana Bridge” across the Hurupi Stream was deemed structurally unsafe. SWDC / Google Maps

The Fenwicks were also behind the well-known ‘Ngawi Big 3’ fishing competition due to be held this weekend, but Gavin Fenwick said the uncertainty around the bridge meant it had to be postponed.

In a post on social media the Ngawi Sports Fishing Club said given the state of the road, the postponement shouldn’t come as a surprise.

“The new proposed dates are 13th, 14th & 15th March – subject to the road being safe and accessible.

“We know everyone is itching to get back out there, but right now safety comes first. With our coast currently isolated, we’re focused on supporting our local community first and appreciate your understanding.”

A bridge on Cape Palliser Road at the Hurupi Stream. Supplied

Fenwick said the competition had been running since about 1992 and a few years ago had more than 500 entries – injecting quite a bit of cash into the local economy, but he said the call had to be made.

“People plan this months in advance and they can’t just be hanging around [wondering] ‘do we leave or do we not?’ We’ve got people come over from Australia even, they’re here in Wellington waiting to come out here.”

He said he spent Tuesday putting away all the prizes.

“It’ll have to happen another day.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/plans-to-deliver-food-and-meds-to-more-than-100-people-trapped-near-ngawi-in-wairarapa/

Posted on

New military health centre opens at Burnham

Source: New Zealand Government

A first-of-its-kind health and rehabilitation centre has opened at Burnham Military Camp to support the health, wellbeing and operational readiness of New Zealand Defence Force personnel. 

“Kiwis who put on the uniform put their lives on the line to defend and protect New Zealand and its people. They deserve the best support possible to proactively care for their minds and bodies, and to help them get back on their feet when they’re injured,” Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk says.  

“The new Military Health and Performance Centre, Tû Manawa Ora, at Burnham Military Camp is the first combined health and rehabilitation facility across the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) estate, bringing together a broad range of services under one roof.” 

The new facility includes: 

  • Comprehensive medical treatment centre
  • Dental services
  • Physiotherapy, rehabilitation and performance spaces
  • Psychological resilience, pastoral care, social work and counselling services
  • Education, research, simulation and training facilities
  • Staff and logistics areas
  • Emergency response, including ambulance facilities 

“Today’s opening represents a step forward in how the Defence Force looks after its people, setting a new standard for healthcare infrastructure across camps and bases,” Mr Penk says. 

“Providing multi-disciplinary care will benefit both the prevention and treatment of health issues, ensuring Defence personnel are well supported during service and continue to thrive long after they leave the Force.  

“Military healthcare professionals now also have a modern, fit-for-purpose environment that enables the delivery of high-quality health, rehabilitation and performance services, which in turn will improve retention and operational readiness across the Defence Force. 

“Building the centre at Burnham, the largest military base in the South Island, reflects its strategic importance. The camp plays a key role in New Zealand’s national security system, supporting training, operational deployments, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. 

“Completed in just 18 months, the $22 million project is a testament to the combined efforts of the Defence Estate and Infrastructure group, construction partner Hawkins New Zealand, and our Alliance partners Ernst & Young, GHD NZ and Beca. 

“This new centre demonstrates to our Defence people that while they dedicate themselves to serving New Zealand, we are committed to ensuring they have the health, wellbeing and working environments they need to perform at their best.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/new-military-health-centre-opens-at-burnham/

Posted on

Wellington Water stops pumping raw sewage directly into Tarakena Bay

Source: Radio New Zealand

Untreated water leaked onto the capital’s south coast beaches due to the Moa Point Treatment Plant flooding. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Wellington Water has stopped pumping raw sewage through a five metre pipe directly into the sea at Tarakena Bay.

The 1.8 kilometre long pipe into Cook Strait was overwhelmed during recent heavy rain, so the water company had to revert to the short pipe – but that has now not been used for 24 hours.

Wellington Water said it was trying to increase the volume of sewage that can be pumped to the long pipe, because after the plant’s massive failure two weeks ago, it can only cope in dry weather.

“We are working this week to construct a much larger air vent on the outfall pipe to help improve the flow of water through the pipe,” it said.

“We are continuing to look for other options to increase the flow through the long outfall pipe, remembering that screening remains the only treatment function in operation.”

The plant can pump between 1300 to 1500 litres per second through the long pipe, which Wellington Water said was “more than enough” for average dry weather flows (700-900 litres per second).

Anything above those limits had to be diverted to the short pipe, it said.

Wellington Water was also dealing with a bad smell at the plant.

“Odour monitors are being installed to measure the impact at sites surrounding the plant,” it said.

“We have one unit available and will confirm when this is in place.”

Water sampling did not take place on Monday due to the bad weather, so there were no results to report on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s results will be available on Thursday.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/wellington-water-stops-pumping-raw-sewage-directly-into-tarakena-bay/

Posted on

Cyclists thigh-deep in water days after rain

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Petone railway underpass on a nearly-new $70 million cycleway is thigh-deep in water more than two days after the storm and heavy rain in Wellington.

Surprised cyclists on Wednesday morning entered the 30m-long tunnel under the main Hutt Valley rail line with just their tyres underwater, but ended up with it most of the way up their bike frames – and very wet legs and shoes.

“Holy crap,” said one, “it’s quite deep.”

Alan rode through on his electric bike. RNZ / Phil Pennington

Another, commuter Alan, who went through on his electric bike, submerging the motor and part of the battery, told RNZ he hoped it would not be ruined.

Alan said he had no idea the tunnel was flooded – there were no warning signs either on Wednesday or Tuesday at the well-used underpass, though the water could be spotted from above.

“I was like OK, sweet, I’ll be fine then … I was like holy s***, holy s***, holy s***,” said Alan, laughing.

He then sobered a little. “I hope that didn’t damage my motor,” he said, “I hope it’s going to be fine.”

His jeans were still dry – he’d put his legs up on the bike’s top bar and the motor carried him through.

One cyclist laughed as he rode through the floodwaters. RNZ / Phil Pennington

The cycleway’s two rail underpasses were a particularly expensive part of the 3km path that blew out its budget by almost three times. It will be linked up later this year with the $300m-plus harbour cycleway-cum-seawall through to Ngauranga.

The northern underpass, near Normandale bridge, was dry on Wednesday.

At the Petone underpass, a cyclist heading north got off and turned around.

“It’s brand new,” he said. He had been through the water on Tuesday but expected by Wednesday it would be dry.

“Probably should do a better job than that but I’m sure there’s plenty of people got a lot worse than this.”

Also on Wednesday, political parties were arguing over the latest plan to fix the country’s failing or missing infrastructure, which contained a damning assessment of the shortfall – and recommended less-than-forecast spending on transport.

RNZ / Phil Pennington

The Transport Agency Waka Kotahi fronted the Petone-to-Normandale cycleway build with a little bit of local funding from about 2019-2023.

But it said maintenance was the responsibility of Hutt City Council.

“They are better placed to comment on frequency of flooding there.”

However, the city council told RNZ to ask Wellington Water about the drainage issues.

Wellington Water is in a crisis over Moa Point’s massive infrastructure failure.

“This was a significant weather event, affecting infrastructure across the city and in areas where we have not seen impacts before,” the council said in a brief statement on Wednesday afternoon.

“There is a big clean up happening given the storm damage.

“Council and contractors are focused on prioritising public safety and critical infrastructure.”

RNZ / Phil Pennington

At the underpass, a biker who had made it through the water from the south, heading north, told another heading the other way into the city: “I wouldn’t put your bike through it.”

“Thanks,” came the reply, “we’ve gone this far. We might as well finish it off.”

The second woman cyclist was, like most of the other riders, pretty chill about it.

“I wasn’t expecting this, that’s for sure,” she said, “but you know, it’s a hot day, so it’s quite refreshing.”

RNZ / Phil Pennington

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/cyclists-thigh-deep-in-water-days-after-rain/

Posted on

SH87 Clarks Junction near Middlemarch closed due to serious crash

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are in attendance at a serious crash near Clarks Junction between Rocklands Road and Johnson Road in Otago.

The crash involving two vehicles occurred at about 2.15pm today.

The driver of one vehicle has been transported to hospital with serious injuries.

Diversions are in place on SH87 while emergency services work at the scene.

Please expect delays in this area.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/sh87-clarks-junction-near-middlemarch-closed-due-to-serious-crash/

Posted on

Major outage on YouTube website

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Thousands of users worldwide are experiencing an outage on YouTube’s website with a “something went wrong” sign coming up on its homepage.

It appears that embedded YouTube clips are still playing, however the YouTube website is inaccessible.

There had been more than 200,000 reports of problems on the website, according to the unofficial, crowd-sourced site, Downdetector, Yahoo Finance UK reported.

This sign appears for some people when going to YouTube’s home page. Supplied / Screenshot

More to come ….

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/major-outage-on-youtube-website/

Posted on

New diplomatic appointments

Source: New Zealand Government

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced two new diplomatic appointments:

•           Georgina Roberts, High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.

•           Aramiro Tai Rākena, Ambassador to Brazil.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/new-diplomatic-appointments-2/

Posted on

Actor arrested after Mardi Gras fight

Source: Radio New Zealand

Shia LaBeouf was arrested just after midnight on Tuesday (local time) in New Orleans where police said the 39-year-old Transformers film star assaulted two men in a fight during Mardi Gras.

The actor has previously faced a series of arrests and legal issues, including pleading guilty to a charge of obstruction. Police said he was charged with two counts of simple battery.

Officers were called about 12.45am (local time) to a business on Royal Street where two men reported being assaulted.

A police statement said LaBeouf had been causing a disturbance and growing increasingly aggressive. When a staffer tried to remove him, LaBeouf allegedly struck the man several times with closed fists.

The victims told police LaBeouf left but soon returned and acted even more aggressive. Several people tried to restrain him and briefly let him up in hopes he would leave, but he allegedly hit the same staffer again, punching his upper body. Police said he then punched another man in the nose.

Bystanders held LaBeouf until officers arrived. He was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries and released.

Police gave no additional details on what triggered the disturbance or the victims’ conditions.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/actor-arrested-after-mardi-gras-fight/

Posted on

Advocacy – Up to 50 New Zealanders are fighting Israel’s genocide in Gaza – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa – PSNA

 

PSNA is calling for government accountability to stop and punish New Zealanders going to fight in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

 

A UK report by Classified, from official Israeli sources, shows 39 dual New Zealand/Israeli citizens, and 11 others with more than one additional passport, are serving in the Israeli Defence Force, which is carrying out genocide in Gaza. (The full dataset is in Hebrew at the foot of the article at this link) 

 

“The news that New Zealanders are participating in ongoing mass killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza is abhorrent,” says Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-Chair Maher Nazzal. “Our government must do what it can to stop these New Zealanders perpetrating genocide.”

 

“Israel’s political and military leaders are charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, for example, is wanted for trial on war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

 

“As well as killing perhaps hundreds of thousands and wholesale starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, Israel is still systematically destroying all civilian infrastructure: schools, hospitals, churches and mosques, farmland and crops.  Even New Zealanders’ graves in World War One cemeteries are not immune.”

 

“There’s no excuse for anyone fighting for a state committing genocide” says Nazzal. “Our government must step in and rigorously investigate the actions of each and every one of these 50 New Zealanders in the IDF.”

 

“New Zealand has obligations under the international Genocide Convention to do what it can stop a genocide.  New Zealand charged Mark Tayor for membership of ISIS in 2004.  There is ample precedent.  The government must be consistent.”

 

“All of these New Zealanders serving in the IDF have various degrees of culpability in the genocide, certainly the moment they set foot in Gaza.  But they would also be liable for actions at military facilities inside Israel, fuelling up bombers, for example, or calculating missile coordinates.”

 

“These soldiers must be identified, and their service in Israel’s army examined, alongside their social media accounts and those of the brigades and soldiers they joined.”

 

“The government must also collaborate with international agencies for evidence of how many of these people have already been identified for investigation of war crimes.”

 

“The Hind Rajab Foundation is working to identify specific Israeli war criminals for referral to the International Court of Justice,” says Nazzal.

 

New Zealand law does not specifically prohibit citizens from fighting overseas. But the government must act in this case, where New Zealand citizens are participating in a genocide, and also under our Fourth Geneva Convention obligations, where these New Zealand citizens are also enforcing an illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory.

 

“Despite the so-called October 2025 ceasefire, Israel has continued its daily killing of Palestinians, destruction of infrastructure and occupation creep.  Israel still refuses to allow the agreed amount of food, water and humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza.”

 

“Here is a case of direct responsibility by New Zealand citizens, about which the government can’t wash its hands and ignore.”

 

Maher Nazzal

Co-Chair PSNA

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/advocacy-up-to-50-new-zealanders-are-fighting-israels-genocide-in-gaza-psna/

Posted on

Reserve Bank leaves official cash rate at 2.25%

Source: Radio New Zealand

New RBNZ governor Anna Breman. RNZ / Supplied

The Reserve Bank has held the official cash rate steady at 2.25 percent, as expected.

The central bank says the economy is gradually recovering but it is uneven, and its priority is to get inflation back into the middle of its target band.

More to come…

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/reserve-bank-leaves-official-cash-rate-at-2-25/

Posted on

Woman killed by dogs in Kaihu named as Mihiata Te Rore

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Police have identified Mihiata Te Rore as the woman killed by dogs north of Dargaville yesterday.

The 62-year-old was killed while on a Kaihu property just before midday.

Police say the three dogs involved live on the property, and are now with Animal Management.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer says they want to hear from anyone in the Kaihu community who has had issues with dogs roaming in the area.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/woman-killed-by-dogs-in-kaihu-named-as-mihiata-te-rore/

Posted on

Tamariki are still no safer now than when Malachi died – 24 more child deaths at hands of carers

Source: Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor

A second review by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor, on the implementation of the recommendations made by Dame Karen Poutasi following the death of Malachi Subecz has found tamariki (children) are still no safer now than when Malachi died.

The review, Towards a stronger safety net to prevent abuse of children also looks at whether government agencies have done the things they said they would in their own internal reviews, how reports of concern are currently responded to, and if anything is changing after other children die.

Aroturuki Tamariki Chief Executive Arran Jones says 18 months on from its first review, three years on from Dame Karen’s report and four years on from Malachi’s death, work is just beginning. In October 2025 Government accepted all of Dame Karen’s recommendations and started a cross-agency work programme to implement them. In late January a new inter-agency hub for children whose sole parents are in prison was established, and the first phase of mandatory training for core children’s workers got underway.

“These are important first steps. Until change happens on the ground and across all communities, tamariki will continue to be no safer,” says Mr Jones.

Of the 14 recommendations made by Dame Karen, only two are complete. One (recommendation 14) was the Monitor’s first review of implementation, the other (recommendation 11) was considered complete as no action was determined to be required.

The review found tamariki continue to fall through gaps in the safety net. Between December 2021 and June 2025, another 24 tamariki were killed by someone meant to be caring for them. Many were babies, most tamariki were under the age of five. Half of the 24 tamariki were known to Oranga Tamariki – that is, someone had made one or more reports of concern about them. Most of the perpetrators were known to Police.

“Our review also found that even if everything Dame Karen said was needed to close the gaps is done, we are not confident that Oranga Tamariki will be able to respond appropriately.

“Beyond responding to Dame Karen’s recommendations, we need urgent improvements to the child protection system so it can respond effectively to reports of concern about the safety of tamariki. Put simply, Oranga Tamariki social workers need to be able to get in the car and go and see a child with their own eyes. The people reporting concerns include community social workers, police officers, teachers and health staff.

“On every monitoring visit we hear from people who are having to make repeated reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki before action is taken. We hear from frontline Oranga Tamariki staff who tell us how concerned they are about the tamariki they are unable to get to. Every day they are making tough decisions, not based on the safety of tamariki but on who they can get to with the level of resourcing they have,” says Mr Jones.

The data shows this too. Despite the number of reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki increasing, the number that local offices take action on has remained relatively constant over the last nine years – at around 40,000.

This is also reflected in the regional variation in response by Oranga Tamariki offices to reports of concern referred by the national contact centre for further action. Some offices take no further action on more than half of reports of concern referred to them for action by the national contact centre. Yet these are reports of concern that were triaged and considered serious enough to warrant a response. In 2024/25, the Oranga Tamariki national contact centre referred nearly 81,000 reports of concern to local offices for further action. More than 32,000 of these had no further action locally.

What Dame Karen called for was a child protection system that is always able to respond when needed. She also called for a well-resourced community sector that can help ensure all reports of concern are responded to – providing early intervention, organising support for whānau and preventing issues escalating further. While there are prototypes and pilots demonstrating how this can work, New Zealand is far from having a comprehensive response to child protection.

The review also found that most other government agencies are making reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki and have put some training in place for staff in lieu of Oranga Tamariki providing this. More is needed. Across agencies, greater understanding of how to identify abuse is needed. As noted by Dr Kelly, frontline health professionals receive little or no training in interpreting childhood injuries.

The Privacy Commissioner has also provided clear guidance to those working with children that it is okay to share information to keep children safe.

Mr Jones acknowledged the work of the late Dame Karen and her determination to see change after decades of reviews pointing to similar gaps that she found. He briefed her on an early draft of the second review in late 2025.

The review is available online at: aroturuki.govt.nz/reports/safety-net

Notes:

A report of concern can be made when someone is worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing

A report of concern is the term used for when someone tells Oranga Tamariki that they are worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing. The person making the report of concern may believe that the child is being abused, harmed or neglected. Abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional.

If someone believes a child is in immediate danger they should call the Police. To make a report of concern about a child or young person you are worried about contact Oranga Tamariki 0508 326 459.

About Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor

Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor checks that organisations supporting and working with tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau, are meeting their needs, delivering services effectively, and improving outcomes. We monitor compliance with the Oranga Tamariki Act and the associated regulations, including the National Care Standards Regulations. We also look at how the wider system (such as early intervention) is supporting tamariki and rangatahi under the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act. Aroturuki Tamariki works closely with its partners in the oversight system, Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner, and the Office of the Ombudsman.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/18/tamariki-are-still-no-safer-now-than-when-malachi-died-24-more-child-deaths-at-hands-of-carers/

Posted on

Economy – OCR on hold at 2.25% with inflation expected to fall – Reserve Bank of NZ

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

18 February 2026 – Annual consumers price inflation was slightly above the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band at the end of 2025. Increases in food and electricity prices and local council rates were the biggest contributors to above-target inflation.

The economy is at an early stage in its recovery. With ongoing strength in commodity prices, economic activity in the agricultural sector and regional New Zealand remains strong. Although residential and business investment is increasing, households remain cautious in their spending. The labour market is stabilising, but unemployment remains elevated. House price growth remains weak, dampening household wealth and inclination to spend.

In response to previous cuts in the OCR, economic growth is broadening across sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, construction and some retail. Economic growth is expected to increase over 2026.

Inflation is most likely returning to within the Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band in the current quarter. The Committee is confident that inflation will fall to the 2 percent midpoint over the next 12 months due to spare capacity in the economy, modest wage growth, and core inflation within the target band.

Risks to the inflation outlook are balanced. The global environment remains highly uncertain. Domestically, greater caution by households in their spending decisions could slow the pace of New Zealand’s economic recovery, risking inflation falling below the target midpoint. But with demand increasing in the economy, businesses could try to increase prices faster than expected, leaving inflation above the target midpoint.

The Committee agreed to hold the OCR at 2.25 percent. If the economy evolves as expected, monetary policy is likely to remain accommodative for some time. The Committee will continue to assess incoming data carefully. As the recovery strengthens and inflation falls sustainably towards the target midpoint, monetary policy settings will gradually normalise.

Read the full statement and Record of meeting: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=cc3fd2de11&e=f3c68946f8

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/economy-ocr-on-hold-at-2-25-with-inflation-expected-to-fall-reserve-bank-of-nz/

Posted on

Oversight agencies call for faster change to keep children safe following second review by Independent Children’s Monitor

Source: Independent Children’s Monitor, and Children’s Commissioner and Ombudsman

Oversight agencies are calling on government agencies in the children’s system to act faster in the wake of a report published today which has found children are still no safer than when Malachi Subecz was killed by his carer in 2021.

Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor has released its second review of the implementation of the 2022 Poutasi Report recommendations,Towards a stronger safety net to prevent abuse of children, which examines the progress made by government and agencies on recommendations made by the late Dame Karen Poutasi aimed at improving the child protection system.

Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor Chief Executive Arran Jones says since Malachi’s death, another 24 children were killed by someone who was meant to be caring for them between December 2021 and June 2025.

“Many of these were babies, most were under the age of five. This is equivalent to a primary school classroom of 24 children, gone in just three and a half years.”

Our review has found the gaps identified by Dame Karen have not been closed, that Oranga Tamariki is still not always able to respond when it needs to keep a child safe, and children continue fall through the gaps and die.

Mr Jones released the review alongside the heads of the other two agencies responsible for oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, the Children’s Commissioner and the Ombudsman.

Mr Jones says successive reviews going back at least two decades have pointed to the gaps in the system. Dame Karen noted her 2022 report findings were not new, and just last week Coroner Anderson also pointed to the similar themes and recommendations being made year after year, often with little evidence of substantive change taking place.

“The Government’s decision in October last year to accept all of Dame Karen’s recommendations, was a good first step. While there are some promising pilots, we need to see continued priority given to making sustained change.”

“Crucially, this review found that even if the gaps in the safety net are closed, a fundamental problem remains. That is the ability of Oranga Tamariki to respond when it needs to. Social workers need to be able to get in the car and go and check children are safe. We continue to hear from frontline staff across government and community organisations that this is not always happening when it should,” Mr Jones said.

Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad says the findings of this new review highlight the need for urgent, sustained action to make real change for children’s safety, off the back of the Government’s acceptance last year of Dame Dr Poutasi’s recommendations.

“The stark truth that 24 children – most of them babies – have died through abuse by the person meant to be caring for them must shock us into action. The lives of other children depend on it. Children and young people who have talked to me following the launch of our Dear Children campaign have emphasised to me how urgent the focus on children’s safety must be.

“Changes in our systems and communities must be made now to keep all our children safe. Between Dame Karen’s recommendations and last week’s recommendations from Coroner Anderson, the pathway for change is clear. Our nation’s children require the children’s system, and all of us at the community level, to actively work together to prioritise them and their safety. Because the fact is, all forms of child abuse and neglect are 100% preventable, but it takes all of us working together to prioritise children at every level of our society.”

Chief Ombudsman John Allen says the findings raise the important need for cross-agency collaboration – for health, education, welfare and justice – to keep working together for a better care and protection system. This is the type of shift that Dame Poutasi was calling for.”

“There are some ‘green shoots’ out there such as the new in-person hub pilot at the Oranga Tamariki national contact centre. Hub staff are helping to identify and address needs of at risk children when their sole parent enters prison. I’m also encouraged by what is happening in Whakatane, where Oranga Tamariki is working closely with a community-based provider Te Pūkāea o te Waiora. Community led organisations know the whānau well and are better equipped to intervene early and provide immediate support while at the same time taking pressure off the wider system.”

The Monitor’s review, Towards a stronger safety net to prevent abuse of children, is available on its website: https://aroturuki.govt.nz/reports/safety-net

Notes

The oversight system

The oversight of oranga tamariki system’s role is threefold, with a focus on the rights and wellbeing of children and young people known to Oranga Tamariki either through care and protection or youth justice.

Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor checks that organisations supporting and working with children and young people known to Oranga Tamariki are meeting their needs, delivering services effectively, improving outcomes and complying with the Oranga Tamariki Act and the associated regulations.

Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commissioner is the independent advocate for the rights, best interests, wellbeing and outcomes of children and young people under the age of 25 who are or have been in the system, as well as being the independent advocate for all of New Zealand’s children.

The Ombudsman is the independent watchdog of Government, and receives complaints from children and young people (and their whānau and representatives) about decisions and actions affecting them in the system. The Ombudsman investigates concerns where needed.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/18/oversight-agencies-call-for-faster-change-to-keep-children-safe-following-second-review-by-independent-childrens-monitor/