Category: LiveNews

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Investigation following serious assault, Amberley, Hurunui District

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons: 

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

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

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

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

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

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

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

Source: Privacy Commissioner

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

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

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

Background

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

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

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

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

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

Litigation history

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

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

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

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

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

Grounds of appeal in the Supreme Court

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

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

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

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

Was taking the photographs a search?

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

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

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

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

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

Was the search reasonable?

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

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

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

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

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

Was the court wrong to admit the evidence?

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

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

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

Outcome

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

Minority decision (Glazebrook J)

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

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

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

Minority decision (Kós J)

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

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

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

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

Privacy implications

Key takeaways:

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

Related content

MIL OSI

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

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Counties Manukau youth to get faster support

Source: New Zealand Government

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MIL OSI

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

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Don’t complain too much: Finland’s advice as NZ once again ranks below top 10 happiest countries

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s the third year in a row New Zealand has ranked outside the top 10 in the World Happiness Report. 123rf.com

Finland has once again been named the happiest country in the world, a title it has now held a record nine times.

New Zealand often ranks in the top 10, but it has just dipped outside to 11th in the most recent World Happiness Report. It’s the third year in a row New Zealand has ranked outside the top 10.

It’s mostly Nordic countries ahead of New Zealand, but Israel is in 8th. Our friends across the ditch, Australia, were ranked 15th.

Finnish philosopher Frank Martela, the go-to expert on Nordic happiness, told First Up that Finnish people were relatively sceptical of the results.

“I guess the Finnish people think of themselves as this slightly introverted, even melancholic, bunch of people. So, being the happiest people in the world doesn’t really fit into Finnish self-image,” he said.

Martela said rather than Finnish people being happier, there are fewer extremely unhappy people in Finland, which drives up the average.

“When you say that Finland is the happiest country, it’s one way of putting it, [but] another way of putting it would be saying Finland is the country where there are the least amount of people who are actively unhappy about their lives – that would be, in a way, a more accurate description.”

In other words, if New Zealand wants to boost its ranking, Kiwis should complain less.

“That’s the Finnish way of doing this – not complaining too much, just minding one’s own business and being happy about it,” Martela said.

To determine the ranking, the Gallup World Poll asks respondents in 147 countries to evaluate their lives using the image of a ladder, with the best possible life as a 10 and the worst possible as a 0. Each respondent provides a numerical response on this scale, referred to as the Cantril Ladder.

Researchers look at six factors, including GDP per capita, life expectancy, generosity and perceptions of freedom and corruption to help account for variations among countries. The rankings are based on a three-year average, which smoothes out spikes and dips occasioned by big events such as war or financial downturns.

The Finns reported an average score of 7.764 to evaluate their life satisfaction.

Martela said universal healthcare, low corruption, high-quality free education, unemployment benefits and good maternity leave are some of the factors behind the score.

Finland’s deep commitment to cooperation helps explain its staying power at the top of the ranking, John F. Helliwell, professor emeritus of economics at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the World Happiness Report, said in an interview.

“Successful societies cooperate in the face of adversity,” he said. “The Finns know this. And once you have the sense that you are in this together, there’s no end to what you can do.”

New Zealand has ranked 11th in the World Happiness Report. 123rf.com

Youth crisis

The report’s writers have begun to pay attention to what they consider a crisis in youth happiness, first mentioned in the 2024 ranking.

In the latest edition, the survey found life evaluations among respondents under age 25 in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have dropped by almost one full point on the scale of 0 to 10 over the last decade, a dramatic slide especially since the average satisfaction for young people in the rest of the world has increased, according to Gallup World Poll data.

A key factor in the sharp drop in youth happiness, researchers said, is the number of hours young people spend consuming social media or gaming. And while experts say it’s important to limit time spent with the Internet overall, some ways of spending time online are healthier than others, including communicating with loved ones, and learning new skills.

A certain amount of Internet and social media consumption wasn’t necessarily negative, he said, saying, “There seems to be a sweet spot.”

“You don’t want to be unconnected but you don’t want to be too connected,” he said. “With the Internet, too much is a bad thing.”

The world’s top happiest countries in 2026

1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Costa Rica

5. Sweden

6. Norway

7. Netherlands

8. Israel

9. Luxembourg

10. Switzerland

11. New Zealand

You can read the report here.

– RNZ with additional reporting by CNN

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/dont-complain-too-much-finlands-advice-as-nz-once-again-ranks-below-top-10-happiest-countries/

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Woman seriously injured in stabbing in central Christchurch

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

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

Detective Sergeant Ben Rolton, Christchurch Metro CIB said officers were called to Worcester Street, between Latimer Square and Barbadoes Street, around 10pm.

There were reports that a person had been stabbed.

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

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

Police are making enquiries into the circumstances of the incident and working to identify who is responsible, Detective Sergeant Rolton said.

St John Ambulance told RNZ two people were taken to hospital.

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/2026/03/20/woman-seriously-injured-in-stabbing-in-central-christchurch/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More information

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

MIL OSI

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

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Inmate dies at Christchurch Men’s Prison

Source: Radio New Zealand

Christchurch Men’s Prison. Luke McPake / The Wireless

An investigation is underway into the death of an inmate at Christchurch Men’s Prison.

Corrections says staff and paramedics tried to revive the man, who died in the health unit early on Thursday morning.

Other inmates and staff are being provided support.

Corrections says all deaths in prison are subject to an internal incident review, an investigation by the independent Corrections Inspectorate and are also referred to the coroner.

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/2026/03/20/inmate-dies-at-christchurch-mens-prison/

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Investigation launch following serious injuries, Christchurch

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Sergeant Ben Rolton, Christchurch Metro CIB:

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

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

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

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

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

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

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

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  20 March 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Background information

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

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

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

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

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

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Appointments – CAA appoints new Chief Financial Officer

Source: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

After a thorough recruitment process, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Brett Banner as Chief Financial Officer to its Executive Leadership Team.

Brett is an experienced public sector finance leader and Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years’ experience across corporate services, including finance and governance, risk, procurement and ICT.

He is currently General Manager Corporate Services at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), and has previously held Chief Financial Officer roles at the Commerce Commission and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Brett also serves on the Board of NZ On Air, where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee.

CAA Chief Executive and Director of Civil Aviation Kane Patena says Brett brings strong leadership and experience at a time of continued organisational focus on performance, value, and delivery.

“Brett brings a depth of experience across government and Crown entities, and a strong track record leading organisational change and lifting capability,” says Mr Patena.

“He has led major programmes, strengthened business planning and risk management practices, and supported organisations to align to strategic priorities. His experience and approach will support CAA as we continue to deliver on our role as a modern, effective regulator.”

Brett will join CAA on 25 May 2026.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/19/appointments-caa-appoints-new-chief-financial-officer/

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Save the Children – Conflict drives Eid food price surge across Middle East and wider region, leaving families struggling to cope

Source: Save the Children

Food prices have surged in some of the most food-insecure countries in the Middle East and wider region due to the ongoing conflict, threatening to push the most vulnerable families further into hunger as Eid approaches, Save the Children said.
Families already struggling after years of conflict and economic shocks have told Save the Children staff that rising food and fuel costs – compounded by war and displacement – are stripping away the joy of Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Eid this year for many families will be a time of fear and hunger with more than 4 million people newly displaced mostly in Iran and Lebanon.[1]
While food prices generally tend to rise around Eid, the conflict has driven fuel and food prices higher than usual, pushing already vulnerable families closer to the brink while forcing many others to forgo Eid traditions such as buying new clothes for the celebrations, decorating homes or sharing sweets and chocolates.
Even before the conflict, about one in six people in the Middle East region did not know where their next meal would come from and had to sacrifice the quality of their food because of financial constraints. [2] In Lebanon supply chain disruptions and uncertainty in local markets have further driven up prices. Save the Children’s analysis of the cost of fuel and six key foods for a healthy diet found prices rose by 5% between 23 February and 9 March.[3]
One million people – or 20% of the population – have been displaced in Lebanon since the escalation started on 2 March. [4] Families living in collective shelters will miss out on food traditionally eaten by their families to mark Eid, while others staying outside shelters are prioritising spending on essentials due to ongoing uncertainty, Save the Children staff reported. 
Iran’s suspension of food and agricultural exports has had a significant impact on Afghanistan where about 9 million children – or one in three – are facing severe hunger. [5] Iran accounts for 30% of Afghanistan’s imports, including key goods such as food and fuel.[6] Prices of some vegetables and cooking oil have surged 13% in the past month, while staples are up 3%, according to Save the Children price’s monitoring. [7]
Fruit sellers in Herat, close to the Iran border, said the price of dried fruit – traditionally bought for Eid – has risen sharply. Families are replacing more expensive items used in Eid dishes with cheaper alternatives such as chickpeas, raisins, and pumpkin seeds.
In Iran, the UN has reported that preexisting economic pressures such as economic stagnation, high food inflation, and rapid currency depreciation which were already driving food insecurity prior to the current conflict, is leaving households with limited capacity to absorb further shocks.
The Government of Israel’s closure of the Rafah border on the second day of the conflict- which still remains closed to the entry of humanitarian goods and supplies – contributed to spiking prices in Gaza, compounding the inflationary effects of two years of war. Some fruits and vegetables have disappeared or become scarce in markets. The cost of peppers, potatoes, and onions more than tripled in less than two weeks while the prices of eggs and meat have also risen, putting children’s nutrition and development at risk.[8]
The UN has warned that if the conflict continues, elevated prices could push an additional 45 million people into acute hunger, up from 318 million, to an all-time record-high.[9] 
The effects could be felt in sub-Saharan Africa which is heading into planting season and relies on fertiliser shipped through the Strait of Hormuz – conduit for 40% of world fertilizer.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s regional director for the Middle East and eastern Europe said:
“Eid, traditionally a time of celebration and community, will be disquietingly unfamiliar for many children across the Middle East and wider region as the human and economic cost of the conflict unfolds.
“Children have been killed, displaced, and prices of everyday essentials such as food are rising. For children in Gaza and elsewhere, who have already endured unimaginable horrors during what is supposed to be one of the most joyful times of the year, this Eid looks to bring little respite.
“These price hikes are hitting children and families across the region whose safety, security and incomes have in many cases been battered by years of conflict and economic crises. It’s not difficult to imagine how even the smallest cost increase is a blow to these families who are already on the brink and exhausted by conflict and crises.
“It is another stark reminder of how conflict upends the life of children, inflicting new wounds on a generation of children across the Middle East and wider region, many of whom already carry the physical and mental scars of years of violence, insecurity, or deprivation.”
Save the Children is urgently calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. All parties to the conflict must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by facilitating the unimpeded passage of humanitarian supplies, fertiliser, and food through the Strait of Hormuz.
[3] Based on prices for rice, flour, red lentils, sunflower oil, eggs and tomatoes as reported in the Lebanon Ministry of Economy and Trade mini-basket of prices on 23 February and 9 March 2026. Fuel prices taken from IPT.
[7] Save the Children market price monitoring in Afghanistan
[8] Save the Children market price monitoring in Gaza. Prices collected on 23 and 28 February and 8 February.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/19/save-the-children-conflict-drives-eid-food-price-surge-across-middle-east-and-wider-region-leaving-families-struggling-to-cope/

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Health – New air pollution report prompts renewed calls for action

Source: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation

A new report reveals that more than 700 Aucklanders are dying every year from traffic-related air pollution – a toll now rivalling smoking – yet little is being done to reduce the human toll, a leading health charity says.
A new University of Auckland report – released by Healthy Auckland Together – found that over 90 per cent of Aucklanders are breathing air that falls short of international health standards, with vehicle emissions responsible for the vast majority of harm.
Nationwide, air pollution killed 3300 Kiwis, and was responsible for more than 13,100 hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiac illnesses, and 13,200 cases of childhood asthma, in 2016.
Ms Letitia Harding, Chief Executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ and Kia Manawanui Trust – The Heart of Aotearoa, says the findings highlight a preventable public health crisis.
“Air pollution is a direct and daily threat to people’s hearts and lungs.
“We are seeing the consequences in asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory illnesses affecting our communities every day.”
To address this, there needs to be long-term, Government-led change, Ms Harding says.
“Cleaner air means fewer hospital visits, fewer missed school days, and longer, healthier lives.
“That’s what’s at stake if we fail to act, and why reducing pollution must be treated as a priority.”
The report shows transport is responsible for around 80 per cent of harmful air pollution in Auckland. Pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and asthma.
Dr Ian Longley, Director of The Air Quality Collective, said the scale of harm demands a coordinated national and local response.
“The science is clear and increasingly difficult to ignore.
“Air pollution is contributing to thousands of deaths across New Zealand each year, and much of it is coming from sources we can control – particularly vehicles,” Dr Longley says.
“Auckland’s air quality in some areas is comparable to major international cities, yet our policy response has not kept pace with the evidence.
“It’s that gap that is costing lives.”
Proven solutions already exist and are being used successfully overseas, he says.
“Other cities around the world have already shown that measures such as low-emission zones, stronger vehicle standards, and investment in public transport can rapidly improve air quality.
“These are practical steps that deliver real health benefits.”
The WHO estimates that globally indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure currently kills about seven million people yearly due to cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes and ischaemic heart disease, and respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and lung cancer.
According to the World Bank, the global health cost of mortality and morbidity attributed to air pollution was $8.1 trillion in 2019.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/19/health-new-air-pollution-report-prompts-renewed-calls-for-action/

Posted on

Fog disrupts flights at Wellington airport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some Sounds Air flights had been cancelled due to fog. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

MetService says low cloud disrupting flights in the capital is already starting to lift.

Wellington airport said 12 flights had been cancelled and a further 10 delayed on Friday morning.

An airport spokesperson said the weather was expected to improve.

“We advise passengers to check directly with their airlines for details on their flights.”

MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley said the fog hanging about was already beginning to shift.

“We’re not expecting it to stick around for much longer.”

The airport’s online departure board showed some Sounds Air and Air New Zealand flights had either been cancelled or delayed indefinitely since 6.45am on Friday.

Sounds Air owner Andrew Crawford said planes can’t land in the fog, so they’d be waiting for it to clear.

The fog hasn’t affected Jetstar flights. Air New Zealand has been approached for comment.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/fog-disrupts-flights-at-wellington-airport/

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Pumping wastewater into Kawarau River only option, Queenstown mayor says

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Kawarau River. 123rf

Queenstown’s mayor says pumping treated wastewater into the “pristine” Kawarau River is the council’s only realistic option.

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

It comes after emergency discharges from the treatment plant to the Shotover River.

The discharges sparked community backlash and ultimately saw the Environment Court order the council to come up with a long-term solution by the end of May.

The mayor John Glover told Morning Report it was a difficult decision that would see treated wastewater pumped into the Kawarau rather than the Shotover River.

“I don’t think anybody recognises that what we’re moving forward with is what we want to do. I mean, it’s the case of there are no – at the moment – no realistic other options.”

Under the $77.5 million plan – recommended by staff and supported by most councillors – advanced filters would be installed at the treatment plant, and a 1.4km pipeline built to carry the treated wastewater to a rock outfall structure on the Kawarau River.

The decided-upon plan was strongly opposed by Ngāi Tahu, with iwi representatives stating the direct discharge of human waste to nature water was “abhorrent”.

Glover said council staff were also directed to investigate land-based solutions as most people understood – particularly Wellingtonians after the catastrophic failure at Moa Point – that discharging to waterways carried risk.

“So in the long-term, if we’re able to discharge to land, that’s obviously going to be the preferred solution. It certainly aligns with the preferred option for mana whenua.

“In a district where land is very expensive … it’s a challenge. But I think we owe it to future generations to do more and look at other options.”

He conceded that such a solution wouldn’t happen time soon.

In response to criticism that the council had failed over successive years to address wastewater issues, Glover said the current situation was the culmination of investment decisions, management of plants, and unknown technology.

“What has happened has happened. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that around New Zealand and elsewhere in the world, the primary route to deal with our discharge, with our treated wastewater is to pump it into the sea or pump it into a river.”

He said the environmental impacts would be assessed through the consent process.

“Because of the pristine environment of the river that the council are looking to discharge into there will be a consenting process, those environmental impacts will be tested.”

He said the Local Government Act means the impact on local mana whenua would also be taken into account.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/pumping-wastewater-into-kawarau-river-only-option-queenstown-mayor-says/

Posted on

Crash, Waihola Highway

Source: New Zealand Police

Traffic management is in place following a crash on State Highway 1/Waihola Highway, Milburn, in the Clutha District.

Emergency services received reports shortly before 7:50am of a van hitting a power pole.

Injury status is unclear at this stage.

Traffic is down to one lane and motorists are asked to expect delays.

ENDS

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/crash-waihola-highway/

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Iran war hits Kiwi wallets hard, as economist warns of another recession

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nick Monro

Higher fuel costs mean higher transport costs, and that means higher prices across the board – and that’s a hard pill to swallow for Kiwis three years into a cost-of-living crisis.

Kiwis are already feeling the expensive ripple effects of the war in Iran – and economists are warning that the real impact is only just beginning.

What started as a distant geopolitical conflict has quickly landed squarely on our country’s economy, driving up fuel costs, squeezing household budgets, and threatening to slow growth.

If it continues, New Zealand could be staring down the barrel of another recession.

“So this sort of shock, if it gets worse, will definitely increase the risk of a recession here,” Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr tells The Detail.

“And we have only just gotten out of recession, so to fall back in would be horrendous for households and businesses.”

At the centre of the crisis is oil.

Global prices have surged past US$100 a barrel as fighting disrupts supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for about 20 percent of the world’s oil.

And for New Zealand, which imports almost all of its fuel, the effect has been immediate.

Petrol prices are already climbing rapidly, with forecasts that they could push toward $4 a litre – or higher – if the conflict escalates.

And when fuel costs rise, everything that relies on transport follows – from groceries to clothing to construction materials.

“The direct impact that we are seeing right now is the rise in petrol prices, and that affects, I would say, every household, particularly those on lower incomes who are forced to drive to work,” Kerr says.

“It is just another cost that they have to wear. And they have been in a cost-of-living crisis for the past three years.”

He warns that the conflict could push inflation higher while slowing growth, with Kiwi households already tightening spending, cutting discretionary purchases, and reducing travel and fuel use. Delaying big buys and trading down to cheaper brands are likely on the horizon.

“Yes, we are going to see a spike in inflation, but what I don’t agree with is the commentary that that automatically leads to a rate hike. I disagree.

“That is only going to put greater pressure on a household that is already under pressure. That would be the exact thing not to do … for me, the bigger risk is that households get hurt, the economy doesn’t recover, and the central bank may be needed to come in and provide support.”

He said economists entered the year “quite optimistic, because we had been banging the table for a long time, because the Reserve Bank had not cut interest rates to a level that was actually stimulatory and helpful for the recovery.

“They finally got there in November last year, took them far too long to get there, but they got there. We came into this year saying, ‘this is it, we are going to recover, the settings are about right, let’s go, c’mon let’s get some growth happening’, and mid-way through that sentence, we were cut off with missile strikes in Iran.

“It’s just another international shock that we have to deal with, and it’s just another headwind that all households and businesses have to face into.

“It’s hard for households to pay the food bill and power bill, which is up 35 percent on the year, petrol prices, which will be up a similar sort of amount, it is very, very difficult.

“We need to see policymakers stepping in to help, not hinder. So calls for rate hikes from the RBNZ [Reserve Bank] are tone deaf.”

On this episode, The Detail also speaks to Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young, who says retailers and consumers throughout the country are feeling the fallout of the war.

She says prices for goods and services will increase and “we will see that relatively soon”.

“We are seeing increases in insurance … increases in the fuel to get the ships to New Zealand,” she says. “Those additional costs are being passed on to the retailers and, at some point, those costs will be passed on to consumers.”

She says, right now, it’s “a really uncertain time for everyone”.

“Ultimately, uncertainty is not good for business. And I think that’s the thing we have to remember, and right now everyone is in a state of flux and uncertainty.

“And for any business owner, whether you are a retailer or other business, it’s going to have an impact on your sense of how you are going to move forward, and therefore it will have an impact on your profitability and ability to spend money in other areas.”

She fears some businesses might not survive the war.

“It will be difficult for people, and we will see some people who are perhaps a bit more pessimistic about what the future holds and may decide to close the store, and there will be others who will try to hang in there.”

She says recovery will depend on how long the conflict lasts.

Economists say a short conflict will see a sharp but temporary spike in prices, while a prolonged war will mean sustained inflation, weaker growth, and reduced spending.

And an escalation? Enter the risk of recession.

For now, the message from economists is simple: New Zealand may be far from the conflict, but it is not insulated from its consequences, because a war a world away involving oil doesn’t stay overseas for long.

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/iran-war-hits-kiwi-wallets-hard-as-economist-warns-of-another-recession/

Posted on

Government looking at ways to assist families with increasing costs due to Middle East conflict

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis face questions on the fuel crisis. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

With the cost of fuel and other essentials rising due to the conflict in the Middle East, the government is looking at ways to ease the cost pressure for those feeling it the most.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Morning Report the price increases are extremely tough and affecting all New Zealanders, but said some are feeling it more than others.

“I can’t solve the pain for everyone. The cost of doing that would potentially involve levels of spending that would drive inflation higher, and certainly would put us in a more fragile position in terms of debt.

“So what we are looking at, is there something very targeted and temporary that we could do to assist those workers in particular who are most acutely impacted by these household budget squeezes?”

Willis said she doesn’t want to see a situation where people can’t drive to work, and has instructed the IRD and Treasury to come up with a package that could be implemented with urgency ahead of the Budget, but Cabinet will ultimately decide on timing.

Willis wouldn’t say what the income thresholds would be, but said the package would take into account household income and number of children.

“We’re also looking at forecasts at the moment and putting together a budget, all of which involves questions that we have to address on the way through. But I do want to stick to our fiscal strategy,” Willis said.

Fuel supply disruption

Willis also discussed rising fuel prices, and said the message remains the same, “this is not the time to panic, we’ve got plenty of fuel in the country and on its way.”

On Thursday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged a “big shift” in the government’s messaging around the war in the Middle East, warning New Zealanders the fuel situation could get worse before it gets better.

Willis said the government was preparing for scenarios where supply from Singapore and South Korea, where New Zealand gets petrol, diesel, jet fuel from, could be disrupted.

“We know that they are having challenges getting crude oil out of the Middle East and so are either reducing the amount of products they’re refining or, in South Korea’s case, looking to prioritise domestic customers.

“So what we’re anticipating is there could be a point down the line where that makes it harder for our fuel importers to get the refined products they need out of Asia.”

Willis also defended the government’s LNG plans, despite the attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field and [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/590133/oil-prices-surge-stocks-sink-on-energy-shock-fears Qatar’s Ras Laffan.

Willis said the focus was still for New Zealand’s energy to be “largely renewable”, but having LNG as a back up remained the government’s strategy.

Not our conflict

Willis said the fighting in the Middle East was “not our conflict”, and reiterated calls for a humanitarian end.

“What we want to see is that the rules of international engagement are upheld, which involves not targeting civilians and protecting human life.

“We are not involved, we haven’t been asked for authorisation, we haven’t been asked for support, we haven’t been asked for assistance.

“Our opinion has not been relevant to the events that are unfolding in that region of the world.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/government-looking-at-ways-to-assist-families-with-increasing-costs-due-to-middle-east-conflict/

Posted on

Significant delays, SH 2, Waipaoa

Source: New Zealand Police

There are likely to be extensive delays, of several hours, as a result of the State Highway 2/Matawai Road crash at Waipaoa.

The diversion is also extensive and motorists, including those in commercial vehicles, are asked to delay travel or consider alternative options.

ENDS

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/significant-delays-sh-2-waipaoa/

Posted on

Military alliances: is NZ getting a tangled web or a ticket to get in?

Source: Radio New Zealand

China is warning that military alliances will likely escalate rather than de-escalate tensions. NZ Defence Force

China is warning that alliances will likely escalate rather than de-escalate tensions and “spread rather than limit the conflicts”.

The warning delivered by its ambassador in a hardhitting speech on geopolitics in Wellington on Thursday came as New Zealand was getting closer to Australia and Australia was getting closer to the United States on defence.

The speech closely followed China accusing the trans-Tasman allies of “arrogance” in a clash over military manouevres.

That in turn came on the heels of the allies releasing a new ‘Operationalising our Alliance’ joint statement aimed at “being able to operate seamlessly as an increasingly integrated, combat capable Anzac force by 2035”.

Canberra for its part under a separate alliance was “committed to deepening cooperation through accelerating and expanding joint defence initiatives, shared investments in new capabilities and industrial base integration” with the US.

This all came a few weeks after US President Donald Trump announced a big shift in how his administration would sell weapons.

Gone was what his directive called the “partner-first arms sales approach”, newly arriving was an “America First” arms export strategy, where allies would be encouraged to buy US-made weapons as an explicit powerful foreign policy tool that prioritised partners “that have invested in their own self-defense and have a critical role or geography for executing the National Security Strategy”.

US President Donald Trump announced a big shift in how his administration would sell weapons. ALEX WONG / Getty Images via AFP

‘I haven’t seen New Zealand miss out’

Would the new ‘America First’ priority partner list impact New Zealand? It had favoured status in Anzac, ANZUS and Five Eyes, but is not part of AUKUS.

RNZ put that question to L3 Harris, a top 10 US defence contractor that just did a billion-plus-dollar partnership to add missile rocket motors to the US “arsenal of freedom”; signed a defence collaboration deal with Saudi Arabia last month; and supplied advanced comms gear to the NZ navy and army.

“In my career, I haven’t seen New Zealand miss out because they weren’t perfectly aligned with the way that the administrations have played,” said Alan Clements, L3 Harris vice president for Australia and New Zealand.

“Never once have I heard, either when I was in the military or outside the military, that New Zealand was to be excluded from anything.

“Yes, there’s policies … but there are also carve-outs for that, there are waivers.

“From our company perspective, nothing that’s been said inside those policy settings has stopped us being able to work with New Zealand and deliver capability with New Zealand.”

The country was not part of AUKUS Pillar Two – a military tech sharing arrangement for Australia, the US and UK – but was not missing out, Clements said. “New Zealand wouldn’t miss out because New Zealand being part of the Five Eyes [intelligence grouping] would be able to get access to that as we go.”

Share and share alike

In Australia, defence media reports had foreseen “major implications” from Trump’s America First arms move.

It beholdened the Pentagon to put a MAGA lens over the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, which was the place where New Zealand went arms shopping. The government began talks under the FMS last August to buy $2 billion of naval Seahawk helicopters.

The Seahawk deal showed how the closer the three militaries got, the closer they were likely to get. “The Seahawk helicopter, operated by Australia and the United States, is the preferred helicopter,” an aide memoire to Cabinet last year.

“The ability to leverage American and Australian supply chains and through-life support arrangements … makes this the most cost-effective and durable helicopter. It means Defence does not need to fund the integration and certification of essential military equipment and systems” – plus aircrew would be interchangeable.

Alan Clements, L3 Harris vice president for Australia and New Zealand. Supplied / L3 Harris

Clements said the defence industries on either side of the Tasman had to align to rein in costs by preventing double up.

“We are now seeing more and more that we’re working closer together, particularly when it comes to capability alignment.”

L3 Harris had seven people working in New Zealand, compared with over 500 across the Tasman.

“But we work with other New Zealand companies and they do the work either as a subcontractor or sometimes as a prime for us where we try to build that capacity and capability within New Zealand itself, rather than import.”

‘Entanglements’

In the higher, weightier world of geopolitical alliances, who was in control?

China’s ambassador Wang Xiaolong warned on Thursday that alliances were “entanglements” where everyone would end up less secure.

“The next non-solution I want to debunk is military alliances, which we believe is, often a de-stabiliser rather than a stabiliser for the world.

“These alliances, by definition and by design, are meant to win wars rather than to keep the peace,” he told the Wellington Club.

China’s ambassador Wang Xiaolong. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Defence Minister Judith Collins, asked by RNZ on Thursday where the line was within increased integration, given Australia’s different positions, say, on nukes or the Iran war, said those were foreign policy differences, not defence.

“There’s no risk to our independence,” said Collins.

The existing “enormous” defence integration with Australia went both ways.

“The biggest risk to our independence is to not be closely connected to Australia,” she said.

The 2035 joint statement mentioned “sovereignty” six times.

‘Rocket diplomacy’

The statement also made clear the Anzacs would be using the same weapons more and more; by 2035 the two would “deploy increasingly integrated and interchangeable units”.

Australia and the US would be, too. Canberra recently signed on to spend over $20 billion with the Pentagon and contractor Lockheed to co-produce guided weapons – what Politico called “rocket diplomacy”.

The track to human-machine integation was also becoming well beaten. The US Army planned to deploy its first Human Machine Integrated Formation (HMIF) platoons by 2027, while the NZDF in its new long-term insights briefing made “human-machine teaming” one of four themes.

It was not just about sharing weapons at the pointy end either, but also the data-crunching AI systems behind them that the NZDF told MPs last week would become the number one force multiplier.

AI allowed command-and-control to be integated like never before on the battlefield. The NZDF was experimenting with this in US-led multinational exercises.

Defence Minister Judith Collins. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Clements said New Zealand’s stance and defence capability plan meant the country would probably want to head down the path of aligning command and control with their allies and partners, in particular Australia.

“That alignment with command and control is important for both countries.

“Australia has gone down a particular path with its command and control, and it aligns and the services have aligned slightly with the way the US do things.

“Those systems that are actually currently being used are not L3 Harris systems at the moment. But if there was an opportunity where they were looking at doing something new, then absolutely.”

Lower level control of, say, a drone could be programmed to “put constraints around what it goes to do, where it looks, [where] the information goes.

“So you can absolutely put constraints around that,” said Clements. Once the data went up to a higher level, that would be a different system.

So, L3 Harris’s product Amorphous that controlled of swams of land, sea and air drones all at once, could be controlled at the frontline, and a separate system sit behind it where the bigger targeting decisions were made.

Lethality on order?

One shift by Collins had been to order Defence to become more lethal.

Defence has been holding ‘early-days’ workshops with contractors to get ideas about drones and the like.

Was the NZDF asking for more lethal and autonomous weapons now?

“I’m not aware of them asking for that from us directly at the moment,” said Clements.

“But yes, as a defence organisation, we will develop capability using all the tools that we currently have to meet the requirements of the lethality requirements of the Defence Force.

“But often we’re not in there trying to beat a door down and say, ‘You need to buy this piece of kit’.

“It’s looking at what they’re doing from a full structure and then having a conversation about, ‘Do you think this would help you in what you do?’”

While Clements has stressed how “autonomy, AI-enabled sensing and unmanned systems” were transforming military capabilities, he told RNZ that autonomy was not a prerequisite for the huge gains in precision and humans could be first in the loop – “at the beginning to hit the button”.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/military-alliances-is-nz-getting-a-tangled-web-or-a-ticket-to-get-in/

Posted on

Road blocked, SH 2, Waipaoa

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 2/Matawai Road, Waipaoa, is currently blocked following a serious crash this morning.

Police were notified of the two-vehicle crash, near McMillan Road, around 6.50am.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised, and the road is expected to remain closed for some time while emergency services work at the scene.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible, and expect delays.

ENDS

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/20/road-blocked-sh-2-waipaoa/