Waitematā Police is seeking information about a fire at a Rānui house in the early hours of the morning.
Emergency services attended Vino Cina Heights after midnight, with the roof fully alight.
A scene examination was completed today at the address alongside a fire investigator.
“We believe this fire has been caused by a flare, which is commonly used by boaties and one that launches a projectile,” acting Detective Inspector Megan Goldie, Waitematā CIB says.
“Based on enquiries so far it appears this is an accidental fire as a result of reckless actions.”
It’s by good fortune only that Police are not dealing with fatalities.
“The house is completely uninhabitable and has been extensively damaged.”
Acting Detective Inspector Goldie says Police is seeking information about two people seen running away from the area.
“As a result of an area canvass this morning, residents have reported seeing two people running away after a loud bang was heard.”
A short time later the fire began.
Acting Detective Inspector Goldie says: “If you have any information, we need to hear from you.
“I would also call on those people who are involved to do the right thing and own up to what has happened.”
Anyone with further information to assist us should contact 105 using the reference number 260211/6037.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border financial platform, was honoured to be invited to join the Malaysia Economic Forum (Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026).Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, shared insights on how Malaysia can accelerate technology application and innovation to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale exports under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), during FEM 2026’s panel discussion, “Made by Malaysia: Accelerating Technology Applications & Innovation”.
Bill Deng (second from the right), Founder and CEO of XTransfer, joins as a speaker at Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026.
Bill was honoured to join YB Tuan Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, and Mr Ooi Ching Liang, Senior Director of Engineering at SkyeChip, for a discussion focused on strengthening high-growth, high-value industries, advancing R&D commercialisation, increasing productivity and competitiveness, and supporting MSMEs in global value chains.
Drawing on XTransfer’s work with MSMEs across markets, Bill noted that many Malaysian businesses are “able to export,” but face persistent barriers to scaling exports. The most common issues are trust, compliance, and scale, which often surface as payment delays, repeated documentation requests, FX uncertainty, and working capital pressure as orders grow.
“For B2B SMEs in foreign trade, the biggest constraint isn’t demand. It’s the operational complexity behind cross-border payments, foreign exchange, and compliance,” Bill said. “In particular, AML requirements can be difficult for both traditional banks and SMEs to manage efficiently, creating friction that slows down legitimate trade.”
Bill highlighted a structural shift in global trade flows from a single dominant corridor to non-U.S., intra-Asia, and broader South–South routes. This trend is increasingly clear in real SME transaction patterns. Bill shared, “In 2025, XTransfer’s average collection amount from Asia, Africa, and Latin America grew by 106% year-on-year, with Africa exceeding 270%, Latin America reaching 94%, and ASEAN reaching 82%.”YB Liew noted the trend and thinks it is a direction Malaysia should pursue.
XTransfer also said it plans to establish Malaysia as its regional compliance centre, citing Malaysia’s strong geographic and time-zone advantages, a mature regulatory environment, availability of talent in compliance and risk operations, and cost efficiency. “Malaysia gives us the talent, governance environment, and regional proximity to scale compliance as intra-Asia and emerging-market trade accelerates,” Bill added.
Auckland FC move on from fitness coach with months left in A-League season.www.ofcproleague.com
Auckland FC have parted ways with their inaugural head of performance midway through the A-League season.
Australian Elias Boukarim was credited with establishing a high-performance unit and running pre-season training sessions that players described as “hardest I’ve ever had”.
Boukarim left the club last week.
He had previously worked in the A-League with Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC before arriving in Auckland.
Last year Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn told A-League media players took a while to get used to Boukarim.
“I think the first two, three weeks, the boys absolutely despised him, hated him. But once you get to know him and know that everything he’s doing is coming from a good place, and it’s to make you better, they all love him.”
The club said after Boukarim’s sudden departure he had returned to Sydney to be with family and would not discuss his exit further.
Boukarim’s role with Auckland FC involved fitness and injury prevention.
The club said the “wider coaching team” was filling Boukarim’s duties and recruitment for a replacement would happen at “some stage soon”.
Elias Boukarim, fourth from right in cap, with Auckland FC coaching staff in April.Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The fitness of the Premiers Plate-winning playing squad last season was often referred to as a reason that the team could be competitive late in games.
Despite Auckland dropping competition points by conceding late goals in their second season in the league, coach Steve Corica brushed off suggestions fitness was a contributing factor to the lapses.
“That’s a tiring period for a team but I think we’re fit enough, it’s a mentality thing not to want to concede and be in the right spot, everyone working hard for each other I think is very important I think that’s part of our motto from the start and if everyone does that I think we start winning games again and get back to the top as soon as possible hopefully,” Corica said before Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sydney FC.
Last season the club had one major injury, with defender Dan Hall breaking his ankle in training and being sidelined for months.
This season captain Hiroki Sakai has battled with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the side over two stints and Guillermo May has worked back from a knee injury.
Elias Boukarim, left, during an Auckland FC training session at North Harbour Stadium this season.RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Among the latest injuries are goalkeeper Oli Sail who has had season-ending knee surgery and defender Nando Pijnaker who was also injured in the same game as Sail and has a leg injury that prevented him playing last week.
Auckland are currently second on the A-League ladder and play Sydney FC in Sydney on Tuesday in a catch-up game for a match that was postponed in December due to poor pitch conditions.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – As China marks Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year, there is growing evidence of its ancient traditions evolving into global lifestyle trends. CGTN published an article analyzing how this prelude to the Year of the Horse – from the folk ritual of “sweeping the dust” to the cross-cultural fusion of the Spring Festival Gala – illustrates China’s growing global cultural resonance.
As the lunar calendar turns its final pages, China enters a period of joyful anticipation known as Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year. Often celebrated as the Festival of the Kitchen God, it marks the official start of the “busy year” – a traditional term for the intense, joyful period of preparing food, cleaning homes, and shopping for the upcoming Spring Festival.
The Spring Festival is a deeply significant time for family reunion. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the “Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional Chinese New Year” onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
While daily routines continue to evolve, they remain anchored in rituals that provide a sense of normalcy and meaning. It is perhaps no wonder that in a climate of uncertainty, traditional Chinese lifestyles are finding a new audience beyond the country’s borders, with the Spring Festival chief among those unique traditions that are fast becoming a shared human experience.
Diverse traditions, shared aspirations
In a prelude to the broader celebrations, Xiaonian, observed on February 10 and 11 this year, kickstarts a focused period of preparation. According to ancient lore, families offer Zaotang, or sticky “Kitchen Candy,” to the Kitchen God to ensure he delivers a favorable report on the household’s conduct before he ascends to the heavens. This lighthearted tradition marks the beginning of several symbolic rituals aimed at welcoming a fresh start.
A key element of this transition is donning new clothes. In Chinese culture, the New Year represents a moment when “all things are renewed,” and wearing new garments symbolizes shedding the “dust” or misfortunes of the past to embrace auspicious energy for the year ahead. Alongside this personal renewal, families nationwide engage in “sweeping the dust,” a deep-cleaning ritual to purify the home and prepare it for new blessings.
Whereas these practices are universal, celebratory flavors vary by geography. In the north, families traditionally gather over steaming plates of dumplings, whereas in the south, the menu often features sweet rice cakes (Niangao) and glutinous rice balls (Tangyuan).
As Mao Qiaohui, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnic Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explains, these variations highlight the inclusive nature of Chinese civilization.
“Although folk customs differ between different regions across China, this diversity reflects the cultural pluralism within the Spring Festival tradition,” she notes. “Different regional identities contribute to a shared pursuit of harmony and reunion.”
The vitality of these traditions is also evident in local craftsmanship. In northern regions like Shandong and Henan, artisans are currently making Huamo, decorated steamed buns, featuring horse designs for the upcoming zodiac year. Meanwhile, in Shuozhou, Shanxi Province, intangible heritage inheritors are carving spirited stallions onto traditional gourds. These creations reflect the regional diversity of the festival and a collective desire for progress in the year ahead.
Cultural dialogue: From global stage to daily life
The festive atmosphere is reflected further in preparations for the Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan), produced by China Media Group.
Recent rehearsals show performances meshing traditional Chinese culture with international artistry. One performance piece combines the wooden clog dance of the Hani and Lisu ethnic groups with the rhythmic tap of Spanish Flamenco and Hungarian folk dance. And with global stars like Jackie Chan and Lionel Richie on the bill, the Gala’s stage is set to become a stage for the world to come together.
The reach of the gala has expanded far beyond a domestic audience. Through the “Spring Festival Gala Prelude” events held in the United States, Russia, France, Italy, and several African nations, the program has become a gateway to Chinese New Year customs and cultural exchange.
This interest extends beyond art and into the lives of people worldwide, as seen in the #BecomingChinese trend. This phenomenon features international social media users adopting elements of Chinese daily life – such as keeping a thermos of hot water handy, wearing quilted indoor slippers or practicing mindful movement with Baduanjin exercises.
The festival is no longer a distant event but a gateway to Chinese lifestyle, rooted in ancient wellness wisdom and constantly updated by modern convenience, and the first step to a journey of exploration into a culture that values ritual, safety and hospitality.
Whether through global broadcasts or shared daily habits, the Spring Festival increasingly strengthens a sense of cultural empathy between China and the rest of the world.
Al Noor Mosque where 51 people were killed in a terrorist attack in 2019.RNZ / Nate McKinnon
A forensic psychologist has called into question a report prepared for the white supremacist who massacred 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques.
Australian Brenton Tarrant is serving life imprisonment without parole for the March 2019 shootings at Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre.
He is seeking to overturn his convictions and sentence at the Court of Appeal.
On Monday, a psychologist, whose name is suppressed and is only known as Witness B, told the court the prison conditions affected the terrorist’s mental health.
The psychologist said the conditions were onerous and would have affected anyone’s mental health.
On Wednesday, forensic psychologist Professor James Ogloff, Dean of Health Sciences at Swinburne University in Melbourne, questioned the conclusions of that psychologist.
The terrorist was not subjected to deprivation or torture in prison, Ogloff told the court.
Ogloff said he believed when the terrorist spoke with Witness B he might have been consciously exaggerating the distress he claimed to be under at the time he pleaded guilty.
The terrorist’s argument for setting aside his guilty pleas was he claimed he was incapable of making a rational decision at the time because of the torturous and inhumane prison conditions.
A psychologist and a psychiatrist assessed the terrorist before his sentencing in August 2020. Both concluded he was fit to plea at that time.
Ogloff said he had no reason to call into question those assessments.
However, Witness B’s report appeared to reach the opposite conclusion and Witness B based much of his thinking on speaking to the terrorist several years after the time in question, Ogloff said.
When giving evidence on Monday, Witness B had tried to minimise his disagreement with the earlier assessments and appeared to back down from many of his report’s points, Ogloff said.
The terrorist was housed in the prisoners of extreme risk unit in Auckland Prison.
He was cut off from meaningful interaction with other people, including fellow prisoners.
Ogloff said he was not claiming the prison conditions were positive, but nor were they so harsh that severe mental deterioration was inevitable.
On Tuesday, the court heard from the two lawyers who represented the terrorist from late March 2019 until July 2020.
The pair presented an image of a man who was concerned with the attention he received in the outside world, who wanted to control the aspects of his legal proceedings he could, and who was often dismissive of his lawyer’s advice.
The terrorist had indicated to his lawyers he wanted to plead guilty in late July 2019 before again changing his mind several days later.
He finally pleaded guilty in March 2020 but the process was rushed.
However, both lawyers told the court the terrorist had indicated he would always plead guilty but he wanted to control when that happened.
Neither had any concerns about his fitness to provide instruction or to plea.
The court will hear evidence from the final witnesses on Wednesday afternoon before legal arguments on Thursday and Friday.
If the terrorist is successful, his guilty pleas will be overturned and he will stand trial in the High Court.
If he is unsuccessful, an appeal of his sentence will be heard, likely later this year.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
An alleged e-bike thief was caught by police after he crashed the bike he is believed to have stolen.
Police were called to reports that an electric trail bike had been taken at knifepoint from Coliseum Drive in the Auckland suburb of Albany at 7.41pm on Tuesday.
The police Eagle helicopter was already in the area, and located the suspect riding at “excessive speed” heading south down the Northern Busway, police said.
“The bike has continued to be tracked by Eagle, as it exited at Constellation Station, making its way onto the Northern Motorway,” Inspector Aron McKeown said.
The suspect was seen exiting at Tristram Avenue, heading for Beacroft Park, McKeown said.
“This reckless run came to an end after he fell off the bike on Bevyn Street.
“The 15-year-old didn’t suffer any injuries, but he did find himself in handcuffs and under arrest.”
Police charged him with aggravated robbery, reckless driving and possession for supply of cannabis.
He will appear at the North Shore Youth Court today.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Northlanders will now be able to access key vascular surgery procedures at Whangārei Hospital, marking an important step in improving access to essential specialist care in the region.
“People in Northland who need renal fistula surgery or varicose vein treatment will now be able to receive that care closer to where they live, without having to travel to Auckland,” Mr Brown says.
“Travelling for treatment can be stressful and disruptive for patients and their families, and providing these procedures locally is a practical step that will make a real difference.”
The new service builds on the vascular outpatient clinics and nurse specialist support that Auckland-based teams have provided for some time. While specialist teams have regularly travelled north to support patients, until now surgery itself could only be completed in Auckland.
“Delivering these procedures monthly at Whangārei Hospital is the next stage in strengthening the vascular service for Northlanders.
“It expands on the longstanding support provided by visiting vascular teams and reflects a commitment to ensuring more care is delivered as close to home as possible.”
Clinical nurse specialists have also been recruited to coordinate care, provide pre- operative and post operative support, and ensure patients have a seamless experience across both local and visiting services.
“Improving access to quality health services in regional and rural New Zealand is a priority for the Government. Strengthening services in places like Northland is an important part of fixing the basics and building a health system that works better for patients across the country,” Mr Brown says.
LONDON, UK – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – In the 1930s, De Beers redefined the role of diamonds in society, celebrating them as masterpieces of nature and craftmanship. Before this, diamond jewelry pieces were treasures exchanged discreetly amongst society’s elite, as luxury houses, fearful of diminishing their mystique, fostered only private relationships with their clients. De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds to a wider audience, shifting the perception of them from luxury item to a gift integral to romantic milestones and aspirational, glamorous lives, as well as a way of marking personal achievement.
De Beers Group And Assouline Celebate The Launch Of “A Diamond Is Forever: The Making Of A Cultural Icon 1926-2026”
When copywriter Frances Gerety captured the diamond’s essence with the phrase “A Diamond Is Forever” in 1947, the declaration enshrined the diamond as a promise of love and endurance, a sentiment resonating far beyond the notion of a simple gift. Gerety’s words, seen on archival advertisements, magazine placements, and celebrity endorsements, reflected the deep cultural connection between diamonds and enduring relationships. Commissioned artwork from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Raoul Dufy draw a direct line between a diamond’s rarity—each one formed deep within the earth over billions of years—and the creative genius of fine art. By sharing these artistic visions with the world, De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds—nature’s oldest treasure—to a wider audience, elevating their aura and allure while preserving the sense of rarity and significance that sets them apart.
For a century, the story of diamonds has been one of transformation and continuity. In the 1960s, stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe adorned themselves with diamonds, embodying the elegance and glamour associated with the gemstone. The 1990s “Shadows” campaign, with its evocative pairing of diamonds and the neoclassical composition Palladio by Karl Jenkins, captured the essence of the diamond: authentic, unique, and everlasting.
In recent years, the conversation around diamonds has expanded to include provenance, sustainability, and ethical stewardship, affirming the diamond’s place as a symbol not just of love but of responsibility and conscience. Much like walking through a gallery that traces the evolution of artistic expression, A Diamond Is Forever offers a view into how diamonds have come to embody the shifting ideals and aspirations of society itself.
The review into the Reserve Bank was to identify key lessons, the government said. (File photo)RNZ
The government is launching an independent review of the Reserve Bank’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, due to be published just months out from the election.
It would also look at the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy – that is, how the bank’s response interacted with the government’s.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the review’s purpose was to identify any key lessons, in light of the associated spike in inflation and house prices.
“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand took unprecedented action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis. (File photo)RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
“These actions helped to preserve jobs and keep businesses afloat, but the indirect impacts included decades-high inflation, and losses of about $10.3 billion on the LSAP [Large Scale Asset Purchase] programme and a significant spike in asset values with house prices increasing 30 per cent in one year.”
In October, Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway told a Sydney investment conference the LSAP scheme, commonly referred to as money printing, had effectively paid for itself and helped the economy to function at a time of stress.
“By boosting economic activity during the pandemic, LSAPs increased government tax revenues,” Conway said.
“This higher revenue almost entirely covered the direct losses from LSAPs, leaving consolidated crown debt virtually unchanged over the medium term.”
There’s a peculiar ritual in many kitchens: reaching past the crisp, pristine tea towel hanging on the oven door to grab the threadbare, slightly greying one shoved in the drawer.
We all know that old faithful dries dishes better, even if we can’t quite explain why. It seems counter-intuitive – shouldn’t brand new towels, fresh from the packaging, outperform their worn-out predecessors?
Yet here we are, instinctively choosing the frayed over the fresh.
That “worn in” feeling we associate with our favourite bath towels, tea towels and even bed linens isn’t just nostalgia.
Arina Habich
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Police said the alleged offender fled the scene prior to their arrival.RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A man remains in critical condition after being stabbed in Hastings on Saturday, and police are appealing for more information on his attackers whereabouts.
Police said they were called to a stabbing at an address in the Karamu Road North area at around 3.25am where a man was found with “severe injuries”.
“Police immediately provided first aid before paramedics transported him to hospital, where he underwent surgery,” a spokesperson said. “He remains in a critical condition.”
Police said the alleged offender fled the scene prior to their arrival.
“At approximately 6am, police received information about a man hiding at a property on Mayfair Avenue, not far from where the incident occurred.
“The man was located and arrested without further incident.”
Police said he had been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was remanded in custody.
Police were now seeking CCTV footage from residents in the surrounding area that may have captured information between the time of the incident and his arrest.
“Residents are asked to carefully check the time settings on their cameras, including any daylight‑savings adjustments, to ensure footage covers the relevant period.”
Police also asked locals to check their properties for any items that may have been discarded by the alleged offender.
Anyone with information is asked to make a report at 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has today hosted a celebratory barbecue for farmers, industry representatives and MPs to mark the upcoming National Lamb Day on 15 February.
“As we honour the legacy of the pioneers behind the first shipment of frozen sheep meat to the United Kingdom, we also celebrate lamb exports exceeding $4 billion for the first time last year,” Mr McClay says.
“Today we acknowledge the red meat sector and its significant economic contribution to New Zealand, as well as the hardworking men and women behind that success.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Meat and wool export revenue alone is forecast to increase seven per cent to $13.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2026.
“The efforts of New Zealand’s hard-working sheep and beef farmers support tens of thousands of jobs, and the sector is crucial to New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.
“This Government is focused on building the future. We’re cutting red tape through significant reforms, building trade, boosting farmgate returns, and investing in the health of rural New Zealand,” Mr McClay says.
“Since coming to Government, we have concluded, signed and entered into force the NZ–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, finished negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and secured a high-quality, once-in-a-generation Free Trade Agreement with India.
“We’ll continue removing barriers to trade, opening doors to new partners and making the most of strong trading relationships.”
SINGAPORE / KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – Point Hope, a local investment firm, has published a new research note examining the implications of accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) investment, infrastructure constraints, and evolving competitive dynamics within equities markets.
The research addresses two dominant concerns currently shaping investor sentiment. The first is whether AI will disrupt incumbent businesses, particularly in capital-light software sectors. The second relates to whether physical constraints — especially power generation, permitting, and grid capacity — may slow the rollout of AI infrastructure and temper expectations embedded in current market valuations.
According to the firm’s analysis, both concerns warrant careful consideration. Power generation remains capital-intensive and time-consuming, suggesting that AI deployment is likely to progress unevenly rather than in a linear fashion.
At the same time, the scale of capital investment underway is unprecedented. Large technology companies have outlined plans for an estimated US$600–700billion of AI-related capital expenditure in 2026, with a significant portion directed toward data centres, chips, servers, and supporting infrastructure. These commitments reflect their belief that AI will become a core input across the global economy.
The research argues that for equity investors, the more consequential question is not whether AI adoption will continue, but how it will reshape competitive advantage among incumbent businesses.
Recent market volatility has highlighted increasing scepticism toward established software companies, particularly those operating capital-light, subscription-based models. However, Point Hope cautions against assuming widespread displacement. Large software incumbents that possess entrenched enterprise relationships, network effects, and proprietary data, are likely to also have high switching costs for their customers, particularly in regulated or mission-critical environments.
Furthermore, the research notes that technological adoption does not necessarily imply wholesale reinvention. In many cases, AI is expected to reinforce incumbents’ competitive positions rather than undermine them.
This durability-focused perspective underpins Point Hope’s long-term equity investment approach, which emphasises resilience to disruption, cash-flow generation, and the ability to compound value across market cycles.
“We view earnings and cash-flow durability as the ultimate arbiters of value,” says Guan Zhen Tan, Chief Investment Officer of Point Hope. “That perspective encourages patience during periods when market narratives move faster than fundamentals.”
Point Hope’s research concludes that while markets will ultimately resolve these questions through earnings releases in the coming months, periods of heightened narrative-driven volatility may reward patient investors willing to prioritise fundamentals over short-term themes.
Students cut off from their high schools by a monster slip northeast of Whangārei are instead taking lessons at a temporary ‘education hub’ set up at a local primary school.Supplied / Ngātiwai Trust Board
Northland secondary students cut off from their schools by a massive slip are taking lessons at a temporary ‘education hub’ until the road can be reopened.
While the road to the north has reopened following repairs to a washed-out bridge, the detour via the Ōpua ferry adds at least an extra two hours each way to the journey to Whangārei.
The Ministry of Education said students in Helena Bay, Ōakura and Whangaruru normally attended four different high schools in Whangārei.
Isabel Evans, hautū (leader) for Te Tai Raro-North, said an education hub had been established at a local primary school so the affected students could continue learning.
Lessons at He Puna Ruku Mātauranga o Whangaruru, or Whangaruru School, started on Monday.
Evans said students attending the hub would remain enrolled at their usual schools. Learning would be supported on-site using Whangaruru School’s facilities, with students working at their current year levels using learning packs provided by their enrolled schools.
“School leaders will remain in regular contact with hub staff, the students and whānau. The hub will remain in place until the slip is cleared or the road is deemed safe to travel.”
Earlier, Whangārei District Council infrastructure committee chairman Brad Flower said the slip at Helena Bay Hill involved around 100,000 cubic metres of mud, boulders and trees. Some of the boulders weighed as much as 100 tonnes apiece.
Flower said even if contractors were able to shift 1000 cubic metres of debris a day, and worked every day with no weather interruptions, it would take three months to clear the road.
Only once the slip was cleared would it be known if the road itself had been damaged.
But that route was narrow, steep and unsealed, with traffic only allowed through in convoys at set times, one direction at a time.
A local state of emergency in the Hikurangi-Coastal Ward, which included the coastal communities worst affected by the storm, was lifted on 3 February.
Nearly half of all New Zealand women with ovarian cancer are being diagnosed in emergency departments across the country.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A new report says there are big gaps in New Zealand awareness, treatment and support for ovarian cancer which is the least survivable women’s cancer and takes one woman’s life every two days.
The Ovarian Cancer Foundation released new research at Parliament on Wednesday which found significant gaps in New Zealand’s awareness, diagnosis, treatment, support, research and clinical trials for ovarian cancer.
The report titled State of Ovarian Cancer Report – Aotearoa New Zealand 2025 said that there are an average of 306 new diagnoses each year and that one woman dies of the disease every 48 hours.
The foundation’s general manager, Liz Pennington, told Midday Report that there was a lack of awareness and understanding of the signs and symptoms of ovarian.
“We know that in New Zealand for example, nearly half of all women are actually being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in emergency departments across Aotearoa and we certainly know that when women are attending Accident and Emergency they’re attending because obviously they’re in pain or the presenting really acutely.”
That was a significantly higher rate of women being diagnosed in A and E than in Australia, where the rate was 21 to 28 percent, she said.
Crosses representing ovarian cancer deaths on the steps of Parliament after a petition with more than 7000 signatures, calling for national diagnostic guidelines to be developed for ovarian cancer was presented there on 16 March 2021.RNZ / Dom Thomas
New Zealand had a very low level of research funding into ovarian cancer when compared with comparable companies, she said.
“When it comes to access to things like clinical trials currently in New Zealand women can only access five, again if we look across the Tasman in Australia women can access 44.”
Another issue is problems with accessing ultrasound for New Zealand women which meant that diagnosis was often significantly delayed, with women being encouraged to pay to go privately when and if they could, she said.
“And we’ve got 30 percent of women dying in that first year from the diagnosis that I talked about and a five year survival rate of only 42.8 percent, so a really significant issue needing significant investment and a plan of action really.”
A woman who went to the GP in Australia with potential symptoms of ovarian cancer such as bloating, feeling full without having eaten a lot and changes to bowel or bladder habits would be treated differently from one in New Zealand, she said.
“In Australia the pathway would be pelvic exam, so you know a feel of her tummy and things, a discussion and then she can be sent for both a blood test and a scan, here in New Zealand that’s not the case.”
In New Zealand, the woman may be sent for the blood test which is called CA125 and then after that she would be likely to have to revisit the GP where there could be problems getting an appointment and then she might be sent for an ultrasound, she said.
“But the large majority of GPs were telling us in the survey that access to ultrasound was difficult and that it was one of the key factors delaying diagnosis – so that’s something that needs to change.”
Three new treatments for ovarian cancer had been released in New Zealand in the last five years which had reduced the gap with Australia, she said.
But if those treatments were not funded then patients and their families had to resort to things like crowd funding or mortgaging their houses to pay for it, she said.
The report urges health decision-makers to implement the following actions:
Add ovarian cancer symptoms education to the national cervical screening programme and clarify that screening does not detect other gynaecological cancers
Amend Health Pathways to allow GPs to refer symptomatic women for an ultrasound at their first GP visit
Identify people at higher genetic risk before they get ovarian cancer
Address gynae-oncology specialist shortages
Prioritise ovarian cancer clinical trials
Increase funding and focus on ovarian cancer by the Health Research Council
Address data gaps and make accurate, real-time data more accessible across the health system
Improve medicines access and investment
Include people with lived experience, their whānau and patient advocacy groups in service design, policy and research
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Small- and medium-sized businesses SMEs are handling more work than usual.123RF
Small- and medium-sized businesses SMEs are handling more work than usual, with nearly 40 percent reporting an increase in levels normally expected in the first quarter, according to a recent survey of more than 500 businesses.
The first quarter survey by accounting software firm MYOB indicates a quarter of SMEs had less work than usual in the pipeline, though there was an increase in the number expecting an increase in trade over the first three months of 2026.
Several key sectors, including 38 percent of manufacturing SMEs, 37 percent of retail businesses and 33 percent of the construction and trades businesses surveyed reported an increase in orders or work commissioned before the end of March.
MYOB chief customer officer Dean Chadwick said many SMEs were still navigating uneven demand and ongoing cost pressures, though the survey results suggested business activity for the new year had started on firmer footing.
“SMEs ended 2025 with largely steady trading conditions in the final few months of the year, though performance varied across the sector,” he said.
“While more than a quarter of businesses exceeded their sales expectations and most met their forecasts, a quarter saw a softer-than-predicted performance.”
The survey indicated SMEs were moving on their own spending plans, with 44 percent of those surveyed planning to bring forward deductible business purchases on things like supplies or equipment, before 31 March.
“We know from our research at the end of last year that many local businesses are planning to take advantage of the Investment Boost to maximise business investment this year,” he said.
“We can also see from the latest data that businesses are making good on the growth ambitions they signalled at the end of last year – not only seizing opportunities to increase sales before the end of the financial year, but also upping their own spending on plant, supplies and equipment to boost their operations.”
Damaged property from the landslide at Welcome Bay on 23 January.RNZ / Calvin Samuel
All four homes red-stickered in Tauranga’s Welcome Bay after a deadly landslide last month have had their safety restrictions eased.
The large slip hit neighbouring homes on Welcome Bay Road killing two people during the storm that hit the upper and eastern North Island.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council said yellow stickers had replaced the red.
“Given the land had dried out since the weather event, and the ‘additional weight’ on the land reduced, council’s consultant geotechnical engineers deemed the risk of imminent slip had reduced to a point where the properties could be accessed, under certain conditions,” it said.
Three homes had a Y2 type of sticker which allowed short-term access, and one had a more onerous Y1 which allowed access only to certain parts of a building.
It was up to the homeowners what to do next.
“Additional geotechnical investigations for affected properties will need to be undertaken by the homeowners in conjunction with their insurance companies, to identify a way forward to remove the hazards,” council duty controller Peter Watson said in a statement.
The council was not considering an inquiry, he said.
An [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/585703/tauranga-city-council-votes-for-independent-review-into-fatal-mt-maunganui-landslide
independent inquiry] is going ahead nearby under Tauranga City Council into the Mt Maunganui campground landslide that killed six people, and the government may also do an inquiry.
Last month, local resident Dawn McNaughton said there were seven slips on her property on Welcome Bay Road.Supplied
No detailed survey of landslide risks
The history of landslides in the Welcome Bay area included a geotech study in 1980 that said: “Recent subdivisions in Welcome Bay should be examined by a geotechnical engineer as the area contains many inferred landslides, which may be reactivated by urban development.”
“The site of the fatal slip was not subdivided until the 1990s, with the building having been built in the year 2000, therefore it would not have been one of the subdivisions mentioned in the report,” Watson told RNZ on Tuesday.
The council had not carried out a detailed survey or assessment of landslide risks for the parts of Welcome Bay Road in the district, he said.
“We instead require that the stability of subdivisions on sloping ground … is assessed and demonstrated by an accredited geotechnical engineer or geologist as part of the resource consent process.”
Urban and lifestyle development areas that were known to be susceptible to land instability from studies done in 1981 and 2009 became a focus, but the Welcome Bay Road properties were zoned rural and not included in these studies.
The studies provided input for its district plan hazard maps, covering:
For the latter, “the scale at which this assessment was completed does not allow analysis on a site-by-site or individual subdivision scale”, Watson said.
Students cut off from their high schools by a monster slip northeast of Whangārei are instead taking lessons at a temporary ‘education hub’ set up at a local primary school.Supplied / Ngātiwai Trust Board
Northland secondary students cut off from their schools by a massive slip are taking lessons at a temporary ‘education hub’ until the road can be reopened.
While the road to the north has reopened following repairs to a washed-out bridge, the detour via the Ōpua ferry adds at least an extra two hours each way to the journey to Whangārei.
The Ministry of Education said students in Helena Bay, Ōakura and Whangaruru normally attended four different high schools in Whangārei.
Isabel Evans, hautū (leader) for Te Tai Raro-North, said an education hub had been established at a local primary school so the affected students could continue learning.
Lessons at He Puna Ruku Mātauranga o Whangaruru, or Whangaruru School, started on Monday.
Evans said students attending the hub would remain enrolled at their usual schools. Learning would be supported on-site using Whangaruru School’s facilities, with students working at their current year levels using learning packs provided by their enrolled schools.
“School leaders will remain in regular contact with hub staff, the students and whānau. The hub will remain in place until the slip is cleared or the road is deemed safe to travel.”
Earlier, Whangārei District Council infrastructure committee chairman Brad Flower said the slip at Helena Bay Hill involved around 100,000 cubic metres of mud, boulders and trees. Some of the boulders weighed as much as 100 tonnes apiece.
Flower said even if contractors were able to shift 1000 cubic metres of debris a day, and worked every day with no weather interruptions, it would take three months to clear the road.
Only once the slip was cleared would it be known if the road itself had been damaged.
But that route was narrow, steep and unsealed, with traffic only allowed through in convoys at set times, one direction at a time.
A local state of emergency in the Hikurangi-Coastal Ward, which included the coastal communities worst affected by the storm, was lifted on 3 February.
When Kirsten O’Connor’s daughter Kahlia died by suicide in April last year, she started to keep records about her creative and complex daughter.
It was a way of processing her grief, she told RNZ’s Afternoons.
“Sometimes when you’re going through grieving, the brain isn’t working quite right. You forget memories. And I was really scared that I would forget memories of Kahlia.”
Kahlia and Kirsten O’Connor dressed up for an Elton John concert.
Kirsten O’Connor
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Nearly a week ago, the Moa Point Treatment Plant started pumping raw sewage into the ocean off the south coast after it completely failed early Wednesday morning.
The following Thursday evening, the raw sewage was diverted from being dumped near the coast to a 1.8km outfall pipe.
Wellington Water has warned it may need to use the short outfall pipe if it were to rain in the city.
There was no evidence to suggest sewage was reaching the city’s inner harbour, but at Oriental Bay most people RNZ spoke to thought locals were being careful around the water.
Calypso Science, a New Plymouth based oceanography research company with a focus on coastal currents, created a model of Wellington’s south coast after the sewage plant failure.
Physical oceanographer Remy Zyngfogel told RNZ based on that work, the sewage seemed not to be flowing into the inner harbour.
“I didn’t see anything near Lower Hutt, it is mainly concentrated near Lyall Bay and Ōwhiro Bay.”
See the migration of sewage in Wellington Harbour in the player above.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand