Category: LiveNews

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Innovative digital labelling trial to progress

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government will move ahead with a digital labelling trial, another step towards removing barriers to consumer choice and competition.

It follows consultation at the end of last year on the trial, a requirement under the Food Act.

“Food retailers have told us labelling products can be a costly barrier to entry or expansion into the New Zealand market.

This trial provides an opportunity to test innovative digital labelling technologies and allows more flexibility to potential new entrants,” Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says.

“For smaller players and new entrants in particular, these costs would often need to be passed on to customers, resulting in higher prices that make it harder for them to compete.

“The end goal is a better deal for Kiwi consumers. It’s with that front of mind that the Government has decided to proceed with the trial.”

An Expression-of-Interest process is now open, seeking participants for a 12-month digital labelling trial for approved retailers.

Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says the trial will ensure robust food safety protections remain in place.

“A small number of approved retailers will temporarily be exempt from existing physical labelling requirements under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. It will only apply to lower-risk, pre-packaged imported foods.

“Products in the trial will have physical labels that comply with rules in countries with strong food regulatory systems, similar to New Zealand’s, and all the information that Kiwis are used to seeing on labels will be available digitally.” 

All other retailers will continue to display the normal physical labels during the trial. 

“Food safety and suitability remain non-negotiable during the trial, so all products must comply with the Food Act 2014, the compositional requirements of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, and all other relevant legislation.”

To ensure regulatory oversight, New Zealand Food Safety will assess potential participants, run the trial, provide guidance and monitor performance.

“The world is moving toward using this sort of innovative technology. New Zealand’s trial of digital labelling will inform broader consideration of the role of digital labelling for food, by Food Standards Australia New Zealand” says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard.

“The trial will help us understand how the system could work to ensure safety while providing business and consumers with more choice, without compromising the standards New Zealanders rightly expect.”

Locations of retail trial participants will be provided once they have been selected.

More information on the trial, including information for prospective trial participants, can be found here.

Submissions to the Expression of Interest process close on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/innovative-digital-labelling-trial-to-progress/

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Police acknowledge IPCA report into justified use of force, Tairāwhiti

Source: New Zealand Police

Police acknowledge and accept an Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report that found officers were justified in using force when taking a man into custody in Tairāwhiti.

On 14 December 2024, Police received reports of a man (referred to in the IPCA report as Mr Z) in a stolen ute in Tiniroto. He was believed to be in possession of a firearm.

Police saw the vehicle earlier in the day and the vehicle was signalled to stop, however, Mr Z fled driving in a dangerous manner and a pursuit was abandoned.

Mr Z was later located in the ute parked on the side of the road in Tiniroto.

While being told he was under arrest, Mr Z resisted and was seen to reach over the centre console and into the passenger footwell while kicking out towards the officers.

Officers believed Mr Z was reaching for a firearm, resulting in officers to act and use tasers, the deployment of a Police dog, and strikes and punches to apprehend Mr Z.

After a search of the vehicle, no firearm was located.

An IPCA investigation found the officers were justified in the use of force to take Mr Z into custody, and that overall Police’s actions were considered reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb acknowledges the report’s findings released today.

“I am proud of our Police Officers for their actions that day, they believed the man posed an imminent threat to them, their fellow officers, and members of the public.

“They took the appropriate steps to control the rapidly evolving situation and made split-second decisions that ensured the safety of everyone within the community.”

Mr Z made a full recovery from the injuries sustained during his arrest.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/police-acknowledge-ipca-report-into-justified-use-of-force-tairawhiti/

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‘We’re just meant to say thank you’: Goverment u-turns on disability funding

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied

Disabled people and their carers are welcoming a government back-track on funding for support services, but say the past two years have been deeply traumatic and won’t be forgotten.

The Government has wound back controversial cuts to disability support services it made in 2024.

Two years ago Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People – which at the time was in charge of the disability budget – abruptly introduced new purchasing guidelines which severely restricted what disabled people and their carers could use their allocated budgets for.

Following a review into the funding system, and a commitment the system is now “stabilised” the Government has confirmed as of 1 April the restrictions will be lifted.

Most recently people were told that as of 1 April their new budgets would reflect what they had spent between June 2023 and June 2025 – which for many had not been their full budget due to the restrictions on purchasing.

The Minister Louise Upston has now promised budgets won’t be cut to match the limited spending.

Carer Katy Thomas told Nine to Noon the trauma caused to families when the cuts were abruptly made, will not be easily overcome.

“I’m only aware of like one of my friends whose children are still in school there was just like a mass exodus of autistic children from mainstream schools.

“They just couldn’t cope without the supports.”

“Obviously it’s wonderful that it’s going to be reversed but I’m just going to hold my breath and wait and see because what I have seen is that they give with one hand and take with another.”

Emily Writes, the former director of Awhi Nga Matua – a charity supporting parents of disabled and medically fragile kids – told Nine to Noon she did not want to see the news turned around as a good news story.

“When we have literally thousands and thousands of families left utterly traumatised and having really long repercussions from the decisions that were made.”

“We had more than 10,000 people in just one week sign a petition begging for acknowledgment and an apology over the removal of supports. That was not even acknowledged by the Minister.

“And now we’re just meant to say thank you?”

Kristy Kewene is a Northland mother who carers for her adult son. She said it was shocking how quickly the supports were able to be taken away.

“It was scary that without consulting could just decide that they’re taking something quite significant from our lives and how we cope with our lives.

“We relied on that respite.”

Disability Support Service Tranformation general manager Alastair Hill said the community had been listened to, and he could assure certainty for them going forward.

“We heard a lot from carers through the community consultation… and they’re saying, for me, I’m best placed to know about what respite or what looking after myself looks like.

“And so they’ll be able to make those choices again.

He said the reintroduction of flexible funding was possible due the changes that had been made over the past two years.

“There is more money … our annual operating funding is around $500 million more than what it was two years ago.

He said under the previous system there was no way to forecast cost pressures and where the growth may come from, which lead to budget overruns almost every year, but now there was “commercial rigour” in place.

“We have a predictable growth track, we understand more and more the funding that we’re going to require.”

He acknowledged the past two years had been really difficult for people.

“It was a real privilegde to bge able to meet with people face to face around the country last year and to hear from them directly to hear their experiences, but also to hear what would make the biggest difference.

“We’ve worked really hard to rebuild the trust. It’s not for me to say whether that job is done.”

RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston said the changes reflected feedback from the disability community last year, and the recommendations of the 2024 Independent Review.

“The steps we have taken since 2024 to stabilise the disability support system have been successful. Because of this, we can now confirm two things: the current purchasing rules will be removed in April, and people’s flexible funding allocations will stay exactly the same as they are now.

“This means we no longer need to look at what people spent in previous years to set new budgets.

“People will also get more support, guidance or coaching to manage their flexible funding – in a way that reflects their situation.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/were-just-meant-to-say-thank-you-goverment-u-turns-on-disability-funding/

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Arrests after attempted robbery

Source: New Zealand Police

A group fleeing the scene of an attempted robbery at a central Auckland superette have also failed to give Police the slip.

Just before 9pm, two males covering their faces with balaclavas entered the store on Karangahape Road.

“These offenders entered the store, verbally abusing the shopkeeper,” Auckland Central Area Commander, Inspector Grae Anderson says.

“One of these males has jumped onto the counter, resulting in both offenders being chased out of the store by the shopkeeper.”

Both males ran to a waiting stolen vehicle which fled from the area.

Police units were dispatched to the incident.

“This vehicle was later detected in the Western Springs area, with a Police camera operator tracking its movements until the Police Eagle helicopter got overhead,” Inspector Anderson says.

The vehicle was seen stopping near St Lukes, with two males exiting before it drove off again.

“The two 17-year-olds were soon located by Police units and arrested, one of which was carrying a machete,” Inspector Anderson says.

Meanwhile, Eagle continued to track the stolen vehicle heading west on the northwestern motorway (SH16).

Inspector Anderson says the vehicle was stopped by Police on Te Atatū Road a short time later and two males, aged 12 and 13, were taken into custody without further incident.

Following further enquiries by Police, the two males have been referred to Youth Aid.

The two 17-year-olds arrested in St Lukes have been jointly charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

One of the pair has been charged with possessing an offensive weapon. They will appear in the Auckland Youth Court today.

“I would like to acknowledge all the Police staff involved in responding to last night’s incident, resulting in these apprehensions,” Inspector Anderson says.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/arrests-after-attempted-robbery/

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‘May be unusual, doesn’t make it wrong’: Public Service Commissioner responds to legal action filed by teachers union

Source: Radio New Zealand

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche. (File photo) VNP/Louis Collins

The Public Service Commissioner says there’s nothing wrong in offering pay rises to non-unionised teachers, despite it drawing fire and court action from a union.

NZEI, the primary teachers union, was filing urgent legal action after the government announced it was offering pay rises to teachers on individual employment agreements.

School boards could now offer individual agreements of a 2.5 percent rise from March 20, and a further 2.1 percent next January.

The NZEI said it was an attack on a strong collective decision by the majority of teachers to keep fighting.

The Council of Trade Unions further called the move an outright attack on tens of thousands of teachers.

“May be unusual, that doesn’t make it wrong,” public service boss Brian Roche told Morning Report.

He argued pay talks with the union had stalled “for some time”.

“This is the last union, I respect the fact that they have to make a decision at some point, they’ve chosen not to at this point,” he said.

“Why should non-unionised workforce be disadvantaged? I don’t think that’s fair, and I don’t think it’s equitable.”

Roche said he thought it was best non-unionised staff were given a pay offer while talks were ongoing with the union.

The deal was essentially the same as one the union had rejected, he said.

“Why would we have non-unionised workers basically caught in the middle of something they’re not involved in?”.

Asked if the deal for non-union teachers was legal, Roche said “of course it’s legal” and offers were able to go to the two groups at once.

“Nothing has changed with respect to our commitment to keep negotiating and bargaining with the unionised movement,” he said.

“You know, they’ve got a job to do, I have a job to do, I have to ensure best value for money for taxpayers, I remain committed to that.”

The Council of Trade Unions said it was supporting the NZEI in its stance and that Sir Brian had overstepped the mark.

“It is totally unacceptable that the Public Service Commissioner is attempting to turn teachers against each other and undermine solidarity across the sector” it said.

The NZEI said its legal action would ask for the commissioner to meet and discuss the proposal with the union first.

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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/2026/03/12/may-be-unusual-doesnt-make-it-wrong-public-service-commissioner-responds-to-legal-action-filed-by-teachers-union/

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Ministerial group to oversee fuel security

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s newly established Ministerial Economic Security and Supply Chains Group met for the first time last night to discuss New Zealand’s situation and potential next steps on fuel security in response to the Middle East conflict.

The group of senior ministers has been convened to provide strategic oversight and co-ordinated leadership to agencies to ensure a quick and effective response to any potential disruptions to petrol, diesel, and jet fuel supplies, as well as other key supply chains.

The meeting brought together ministers responsible for energy, transport, trade,  economic security and internal affairs, as well as well as agency chief executives.

“This group has been established with the purpose of strengthening whole-of-government co-ordination and providing clear direction during this period of heightened risk resulting from the Middle East conflict,” Minister for Finance and Economic Growth Nicola Willis, says.

“I have made the Government’s expectations to agencies very clear. This is a fast-moving situation and New Zealand needs to be prepared for all scenarios. Whether or not they come to pass, our economy depends on ministers having full, accurate facts in order to make significant decisions, if necessary.

“Having said this, I want to emphasise that New Zealand remains in a healthy position. We are actively monitoring domestic and international fuel supply conditions and assessing any impacts on New Zealand’s energy security.

“But the importance of fuel and the risk disruptions in supply can cause mean we need to be decisive, which is why we are are bringing together oversight of cross-agency planning and preparedness, ensuring government agencies and the fuel sector are aligned in our response options.

“Our role as a ministerial group is to provide strategic direction during any potential disruptions, enabling swift, evidence-based decisions to protect essential services, support industry, and maintain public confidence.”

As Associate Minister for Energy, Minister Shane Jones is responsible for fuel security. At last night’s meeting, ministers were briefed on a decision made to support the recommendation of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to release oil reserves.

New Zealand is a member of the IEA, along with 31 other countries, and is obliged to contribute to this release of strategic reserve, which is intended to bring down the price of oil globally and stabilise the market.

Members of the IEA are required to hold 90 days of oil stocks. New Zealand holds its stocks, in part, through oil tickets or contracts.

“New Zealand’s contribution is equivalent to about six days’ fuel supply here. It can make that contribution through measures such as terminating its tickets to make the oil available to the market.

“We have not yet determined how we will do this but the Government will ensure that the impact on Kiwis is minimised. We should not overlook the fact that we are making a small but significant contribution to protecting global economies and helping to ease the oil price and supply issues around the world,” Mr Jones says.

At last night’s meeting, ministers were advised that fuel companies in New Zealand are reporting no significant supply chain issues and that fuel stock levels, both onshore and in transit to New Zealand, remain strong.

“By establishing this ministerial group, the Government is taking proactive steps to safeguard fuel supplies, support economic continuity, and enhance New Zealand’s resilience in the face of global volatility,” Mr Jones says

“New Zealanders should be reassured that we are monitoring this very, very closely. When we receive information, we will share that information. If circumstances change, we will swiftly notify the public. There is no need for panic or over-reaction.”

Notes for editors:

MBIE’s latest update on fuel stocks can be found here: Middle East conflict and New Zealand’s fuel stocks | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/ministerial-group-to-oversee-fuel-security/

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Global Volatility Drives Surge in Demand for Financial Visibility Tool

Source: Press Release Service

Headline: Global Volatility Drives Surge in Demand for Financial Visibility Tool

Global market volatility linked to geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices is prompting more people to seek clarity about their personal finances. New Zealand fintech startup Dashr reports a spike in signups as individuals look for tools that provide a consolidated view of their financial position across banks, investments, KiwiSaver and other accounts.

The post Global Volatility Drives Surge in Demand for Financial Visibility Tool first appeared on PR.co.nz.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/global-volatility-drives-surge-in-demand-for-financial-visibility-tool/

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First MRI scanner for Wairarapa Hospital

Source: New Zealand Government

A new purpose-built facility at Wairarapa Hospital will house a new MRI scanner as part of a wider investment to strengthen diagnostic services, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Wairarapa is currently the only district in the lower North Island without its own MRI scanner. Once operational, this $3.7 million scanner will significantly improve access to diagnostic services for the Wairarapa community,” Mr Brown says.

“Improving access to timely radiology services across the lower North Island is a priority, and this scanner will help ease pressure on existing MRI services in surrounding areas.”

There are an estimated 1700 MRI scans undertaken each year for public patients who reside in the Wairarapa and southern Midcentral districts, with demand expected to grow by 6 to 7.5 per cent annually. Currently, however, those patients must travel to Hutt Valley, Wellington, Palmerston North, or private providers to receive those scans, and face waits of around 72 days.

“Having an MRI scanner on-site means patients will be able to access scans closer to home, while helping reduce wait times toward the 42-day target. Faster access to imaging will mean earlier diagnosis, quicker specialist decision making, and earlier access to treatment.”

Mr Brown says the Government is focused on delivering modern infrastructure that keeps patients at the centre of care. 

“By expanding local diagnostic capacity, we’re supporting our targets for faster cancer treatment, shorter wait times for first specialist assessment, and shorter waits for elective procedures.

“Establishing MRI services in Wairarapa will make it easier for patients to get the scans they need, reduce unnecessary travel, and strengthen the resilience of health services across the region.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/first-mri-scanner-for-wairarapa-hospital/

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The New Zealand Threat Classification Series hits 50

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

A milestone worth celebrating for Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity

The New Zealand Threat Classification Series has officially reached its 50th issue! That’s 50 deep dives into the state of our unique species, 50 scientifically robust contributions to conservation knowledge, and 50 reasons to feel proud of the mahi behind this nationally important series.

Lepidium rekohuense | Credit: CC-Y Peter de Lange

What is the Threat Classification Series?

Since 2013, the New Zealand Threat Classification Series (NZTCS) has served as a cornerstone of conservation science in Aotearoa. It’s a scientific series, but not the gathering dust on a shelf kind. These publications are all open access, living online on DOC’s Science Publications webpages, and widely used by researchers, conservationists, NGOs, and agencies here and overseas.

Each issue shares the most up-to-date conservation status of New Zealand’s wild species, from algae and spiders to birds, fungi, and everything in between. On average, three publications roll out every year, covering 23 different species groups. More than 16,000 species have been assessed to date.  

Atrichopsis tenuirostris | Credit: Marley Ford

Flashback to issue #1

The very first issue, published in June 2013, was a whopper, compiling results from 21 peer-reviewed studies covering 12,223 species. It marked a major shift, moving NZTCS data from membership only journals to an open, freely available platform. 

The second issue, also released June 2013, helped shape the series’ now-recognisable structure, though the look has evolved over the years (including the addition of the official NZTCS colour scheme in 2021). 

We’ve actually come full circle – the series launched with a reptile assessment in 2013 and now issue #50 celebrates reptiles again. 

Enjoy the photos in this blog. They’ve all featured on the cover of a report.  

Awakopaka skink/Oligosoma awakopaka gravid female Homer Fiordland | Credit: James Reardon

It started with spreadsheets

In the early days, each issue came with an accompanying Excel spreadsheet packed with data. In 2018, this transformed with the creation of the NZTCS database, and supportive data is now accessed directly through digital links inside each publication.  

A global audience

The NZTCS isn’t just for New Zealand audiences. In 2025, it had more than 2,500 reads, including readers in 68 countries. Outside Aotearoa, the biggest readership comes from the United States, Australia and China. 

The most popular publication so far?

Issue 36 – Conservation Status of Birds in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021. The issue was a real milestone, announcing that North Island Brown Kiwi, while remaining conservation dependent, was no longer threatened or at risk of becoming threatened thanks to 30 years of community conservation. 

A massive collaborative effort

Behind each issue lies a considerable cross-sector effort. More than 200 authors – from DOC, Crown Research Institutes, universities, museums, and consultancies – have contributed their expertise. 

Why the NZTCS matters

The NZTCS provides evidence-based assessments of extinction risk for species across Aotearoa, including marine species. It complements the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but tailors its criteria to New Zealand’s unique natural environment such as island ecosystems, naturally small populations, and species with restricted ranges found nowhere else in the world. 

Sperm whale in Kaikoura | Credit: Will Rayment/NZ Whale Dolphin Trust

Panels of experts reassess each species group roughly every five years, weighing abundance, distribution, and population trends. The result is a clear, nationally relevant picture of how our species are doing and where conservation energy is most needed. 

Here’s to 50 issues, and many more to come

The NZTCS is more than a set of publications. It’s a living record of the state of Aotearoa’s biodiversity. It informs policy, recovery planning, advocacy, science and even national reporting. 

Reaching 50 issues is a huge achievement. And as long as our taonga species need champions, the series will keep growing, evolving, and supporting the mahi to protect our natural heritage. 

Aphis coprosmae

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Aphis coprosmae | Credit: Bioeconomy Science Institute

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who has contributed, supported, read, shared, or relied on this work. Here’s to the next 50! 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/the-new-zealand-threat-classification-series-hits-50/

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44,000 passengers to be hit by Air NZ cancellations over fuel, CEO says

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. AFP

Air New Zealand is set to cancel around 1100 flights affecting thousands of passengers through until early May.

Air NZ chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar told Morning Report between now and the end of April, early May the airline will cancel around 1100 flights.

That would amount to about a 5 percent reduction in the number of flights it was planning to operate.

  • Are you planning to travel and concerned about cancellations? Email us iwitness@rnz.co.nz

In that period the airline will carry around 1.9 million passengers, so 44,000 passengers will be affected by flight cancellations, he said. Most of the passengers will be moved to flights on the same day.

Nikhil Ravishankar will take over as Air New Zealand chief executive in October. Supplied / Air NZ

Ravishankar said he has spoken to “all regional mayors” about their concerns regarding regional services and has their support.

He said the airline was looking at reducing a small number of international services, but said US services are an important link to Europe, particularly while there were disruptions in the Middle East.

Air New Zealand is facing more massive cost pressures, with the conflict in the Middle East increasing the price of jet fuel.

This week the airline suspended its earnings guidance and increased ticket prices to account for the rise in fuel costs. Domestic fares will increase by $10, short-haul international by $20 and long-haul by $90.

On Wednesday, Qantas and Jetstar also confirmed they were increasing airfares due to a doubling in the cost of aviation fuel.

Last month, Air NZ announced a half-year loss of $40 million in the six months ended December, compared to last year’s profit of $106m.

The critical Hormuz Strait, a shipping route for up to 20 percent of the world’s oil, is essentially closed due to the conflict in the region.

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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/2026/03/12/44000-passengers-to-be-hit-by-air-nz-cancellations-over-fuel-ceo-says/

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Man’s body pulled from Auckland’s Tāmaki River

Source: Radio New Zealand

A police car seen behind a cordon as officers attend an incident. RNZ

A man’s body has been pulled from the Tāmaki River in east Auckland.

It’s after searches started this week for a man reported missing near Waipuna last Friday.

A member of the public found the body just before 6pm on Wednesday.

Inspector Jim Wilson, Auckland City East Area Commander, said the man’s death will be referred to the Coroner.

“Searching has been underway involving the Police Maritime Unit and the Police National Dive Squad, with assistance from the Navy,” he said.

“I would like to acknowledge all of those experts involved in the search effort.”

He said police thoughts were also with the the man’s family for their loss.

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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/2026/03/12/mans-body-pulled-from-aucklands-tamaki-river/

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Woman killed in Auckland cafe car crash mourned as member of Windsor Park Baptist Church

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sarah Clark died on Wednesday. Windsor Park Baptist Church / supplied

A woman who was killed after a car crashed into an Auckland cafe is being remembered for her faith, friendship and care she showed others.

Shortly before 9am on Wednesday, Sarah Clark was killed and her daughter injured, after a car mounted the curb and hit two people outside William Souter Espresso in Forrest Hill.

Windsor Park Baptist Church in Mairangi Bay, identified Clark as the victim, calling what happened a “tragic accident”.

“With great sorrow we share that a tragic accident on the North Shore has taken the life of our dear colleague and friend, Sarah Clark, Manager of the Windsor Park LifeCare Trust,” the church said.

Clark had been a staff member at the church for more than seven years, it said, and a member of the church for many decades.

Police at the scene of the crash in Auckland. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

“Sarah will be remembered for her deep faith, her leadership, her friendship, and the genuine care she showed to so many.

“Even as we hold onto the hope that Sarah is now with the Lord, we grieve deeply with those who loved her.”

A worker at the cafe that was hit by the car said Clark and her daughter were sitting outside at the time.

We just heard a massive crash sound,” Jess, who works in a neighbouring store, told RNZ.

The road in Forrest Hill on Wednesday morning. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

“I was out back and I thought maybe some of our shelves had fallen down, so I rushed out to the front of the store, and lo and behold, there’s just a car on the sidewalk.”

Jess said she and her manager both rushed out and could see that the car had “obviously” crashed into the cafe.

“The car obviously has taken out the door area, the whole glass panel, it’s almost like a split glass panel and the one glass panel is literally floating in mid-air.”

Jess credited another nearby worker.

“The cat doctor next door to us, there is a cat nurse, she was brilliant in that situation, she ran right across from the cat doctor and she sat on the ground with the injured lady and she just sat with her and talked her through it. She was amazing,” Jess said.

Police have 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/2026/03/12/woman-killed-in-auckland-cafe-car-crash-mourned-as-member-of-windsor-park-baptist-church/

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WOMAD music festival returns to New Plymouth after ‘purposeful rest’

Source: Radio New Zealand

The WOMAD Aotearoa festival is to return to New Plymouth in 2027 after taking a “purposeful rest” this year.

Event director Suzanne Porter believes the time is right for it to make a comeback.

“I think we have lost a number of festivals worldwide in the last three years. It’s been significant. But WOMAdelaide happened last weekend and they had a stellar turnout and that was after two not good years. So we think the tides are turning. We’ve got to be optimistic.”

The crowd at the Bowl for Womad in 2020.

Isabella Brown

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/womad-music-festival-returns-to-new-plymouth-after-purposeful-rest/

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Sudden death, Tāmaki River

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have recovered a man’s body from the Tāmaki River in east Auckland.

Search efforts have been underway through the week after the man was reported missing near Waipuna on 6 March.

Police responded to the area just before 6pm last night, 11 March, after a member of the public had located the man in water.

Inspector Jim Wilson, Auckland City East Area Commander, says the man’s death will be referred to the Coroner.

“Searching has been underway involving the Police Maritime Unit and the Police National Dive Squad, with assistance from the Navy,” he says.

“I would like to acknowledge all of those experts involved in the search effort.

“Our thoughts are with the man’s family for their loss.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/sudden-death-tamaki-river/

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Truck fire closes SH1 northern motorway in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Facebook / Silverdale/Wainui/Millwater Community Group

An overnight truck fire has closed part of Auckland’s State Highway 1 motorway north of the city.

It’s shut to north-bound traffic between Silverdale and Orewa so the truck can be removed, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says.

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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/2026/03/12/truck-fire-closes-sh1-northern-motorway-in-auckland/

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NZ will release six days of fuel amid global concerns over supply

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Mark Papalii

New Zealand will have to release about six days worth of fuel as part of a decision by the International Energy Agency.

The IEA has agreed unanimously to release 400 million barrels of oil from its reserves.

Senior ministers met last night to pore over the country’s fuel stores and supply chains.

Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says New Zealand is obliged to contribute to the IEA’s release.

He says that can be can done by terminating tickets this country holds for its own stocks.

Jones says it’s yet to be determined how New Zealand will release its stocks, and ensure the impact here is minimised.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/nz-will-release-six-days-of-fuel-amid-global-concerns-over-supply/

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AI in warfare being tested in Iran, needs ‘much more’ careful thinking by NZ – Defence

Source: Radio New Zealand

Defence says new AI-supercharged weapon systems will need to be “very, very carefully designed”. NZDF / Supplied

New AI-supercharged weapon systems will need to be “very, very carefully designed” to comply with international and domestic laws, MPs have been told.

And it would be the software behind the systems that would dictate like never before just how effective any new missiles, guns or electromagnetic jammers were, a defence official told a select committee.

Defence ministry deputy secretary Anton Youngman said it was time for some serious thinking by New Zealand.

“One of the key points that we talk about here is that with these new capabilities … they need to be very, very carefully designed to comply with international and domestic laws,” he said.

The briefing coincided with the first week of the Iran war.

Experts said the war was testing out for real the questions of what artificial intelligence should be used in warfare and who controlled it.

Fox News has reported that the advance in AI “is changing the nature of the battlefield by speeding up targeting and analysing intelligence all while raising new concerns over the role of human judgment and oversight in modern warfare”.

The Guardian reported, “The use of AI tools to enable attacks on Iran heralds a new era of bombing quicker than ‘the speed of thought’ experts have said, amid fears human-decision-makers could be sidelined.”

AI targeting has been developing rapidly in the last several years.

Youngman, for his long-term insights briefing of the select committee, drew on a less militaristic example. He described a future where NZ kept an eye on nearby oceans by using satellites, drones flying high and on and under the sea, surveillance aircraft and land-based radars – ” all of these working in sync together”.

The software did that syncing.

Such technology was typically ‘dual-use’ with civilian and military applications.

Youngman went on: “The ability of defence forces to collect and analyse data at speed will increasingly be the key determinant of military advantage.”

Defence Minister Judith Collins in her speech to a geopolitics conference on Tuesday said New Zealanders understood the world had changed, and “the highly skilled personnel” in defence needed to be ready to do what the govenment “and people ask of it”.

“That’s why we are focusing on more than doubling our defence spend and investing in a defence force that is combat capable with enhanced lethality and deterrence; a force multiplier with Australia and increasingly interoperable with partners,” her speech notes said.

Defence Minister Judith Collins. Nick Monro

What does this have to do with NZ?

NZ has already put development of these syncing technologies on a faster track under last year’s $12 billion defence capability plan (though officials had been tightlipped about the aim to get a sovereign satellite).

Its latest move was to start testing 14 drones for the sea and air, with potential strike capability, from local firm Syos.

It was also working internationally through its defence science technology section with its counterpart in Australia, and with the US and other countries. NZ has not waited to join AUKUS Pillar Two – which focuses on emerging military tech – to make these moves.

AI-targeting experiments were part of that. The NZDF has been taking part in the US-led Project Convergence exercise to test joint AI systems alongside multinational forces.

Last year’s exercise in California had a “digital backbone” provided by data-mining firm Palantir.

The Washington Post has reported that Palantir tech was being used by the Pentagon in Iran. The Post said its targeting system called Maven was using an AI tool, Claude.

“Anthropic’s AI tool Claude central to US campaign in Iran, amid a bitter feud,” ran the paper’s headline.

Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel, a NZ citizen, has said the software used at Project Convergence “provided a unified data infrastructure for advanced battlespace management that empowered users across all levels to plan, execute, and assess operations effectively and enable commanders to rapidly make informed decisions”.

Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel. Marco Bello / Getty Images / AFP

Another such Convergence exercise was scheduled for the coming US summer. The NZDF did not respond when asked how many people it was sending.

RNZ has previously reported how this work fits under a Pentagon top-priority project with allies and partners called CJADC2 or Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

‘Needs to be thought through much more carefully now than it ever previously did’

Youngman offered MPs another insight, that the ascendancy of software would change soldiering itself.

“Under the human-machine team … it’s a different role for defence personnel in this long-term future,” he said in response to National MP Tim Costley suggesting that NZ might be too small to properly deploy AI weapons and be better off adding to its soldiers, sailors and bullets.

Youngman said the role was moving potentially “from less kind of in the field work and more into that kind of tuning and training systems, interpreting the outputs, making decisions and ensuring adherence with … law and doctrine”.

Whose law and doctrine? That second question, of who controllrd the AI, also came up at the committee.

Green MP Teanau Tuiono asked, “You were saying earlier around making sure that the system design adheres to domestic international law. How are you going to do that?”

Green MP Teanau Tuiono. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Youngman said the challenge was new, now that machines could now take action themselves, for the first time in warfare.

“It’s going to continue to be a growing challenge and something that through the design of the capabilities, needs to be thought through much more carefully now than it ever previously did,” he said.

Labour MP and former Defence Minister Peeni Henare asked, “Do we have the foundational legislation to make sure that we’re able to govern effectively in the spaces of war?”

Youngman replied that was beyond the scope of the long-term briefing but added, “This is exactly the type of questions that this research is pointing to and saying we need to have this conversation.

“We are looking at a longer term horizon here, 2035, and the reason for doing this type of long-term research now is to say these are the types of conversations that we need to have.”

What about NZ being able to afford its own cloud-based AI military systems in future, Henare asked.

“Really good quesiton,” said Youngman. “I think the importance of remaining interoperable with partners is going to be key. It is today and it will continue to be.

“However … [the briefing] does talk about needing to continually balance that cost with sovereignty, with legality and social licence.”

‘A grey ship is a grey ship’

Everyone agreed that explaining all this to the public was much harder than talking about buying a new frigate.

“A grey ship is a grey ship,” said Henare.

“People will read this and go, this is preparing us for AUKUS,” he added.

Labour MP and former Defence Minister Peeni Henare. VNP / Phil Smith

Youngman replied that defence would “need to be more proactive” in communicating around the new capabilities.

The briefing itself said this was one of “three major shifts” defence had to get its head around.

“Public trust in defence forces is earned, not assumed. Ensuring Defence maintains public trust will remain essential, and possibly more challenging, in an environment defined by increased contestation and technological change,” it said.

When RNZ asked NZDF to lay out the nature of its technology and data-sharing with the US and other Five Eyes partners, Defence responded by turning it into an Official Information Act (OIA) request that would take at least five weeks to answer; similarly, a question about whether defence was taking a role in testing or developing systems from Palantir.

“Your request is noted, but the NZDF still needs to manage information requests in the way it deems appropriate,” Defence said.

The nature of NZ’s national security work within Five Eyes had come up earlier at a select committee. In that case, the SIS and GCSB replied they had tight controls around intellligence sharing and could withhold intel if legal, policy and human rights settings were not met.

An OIA in December showed that defence currently used nine AI-enabled tools in a restricted cacpacity for research in data and sensor processing and modelling. Sensors could be used in targeting.

The nine were: ChatGPT, Dalle-2, Github Copilot, Azure Machine Learning, Azure OpenAI services, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Teams, AiZynthFinder and Meta Llama 2.

National MP Dana Kirkpatrick thanked Youngman for the insights briefing: “There’s no time like the present in the current geopolitical challenges to be talking about future capability and interoperability in defence.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/ai-in-warfare-being-tested-in-iran-needs-much-more-careful-thinking-by-nz-defence/

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Prisoners struggle with reintegration after being released from jail

Source: Radio New Zealand

Convicted murderer Gail Maney. Fairfax Media

A woman who spent 15 years in prison says being released into the outside world was like being pushed out the gate.

The coroner is calling for urgent psychological support for long term prisoners before and after release, after a former prisoner who served nearly 30 years for murder died by suicide on his release.

Those who work at the frontline said something must be done.

Gail Maney spent a total of 15 years in prison and about 10 years on parole before her conviction for the murder of West Auckland tyre-fitter Deane Fuller-Sandys was quashed.

She found being released from the structure of prison difficult.

“I was very used to being behind closed doors, and everything’s done for you and managed for you, and then it’s like you’re just suddenly pushed out the gate and into society,” she said.

“I remember thinking ‘is this it? what now?’. It’s a really strange feeling.”

Maney said she was lucky to have the ability to put her life together, though she had to do much of it herself

Reporting to probation was also stressful, Maney said.

“Dealing with probation was one of the hardest parts for me,” she said.

“They’ll tell you that if you feel like your in danger or anything like that that you can contact them and talk to them, but if you tell probation that you’re in a difficult situation they will have you recalled back to prison straight away.

“Realistically, you don’t want to go back to jail so you’re not going to reach out to probation.”

Reporting to probation was also stressful, Maney said. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Maney spoke about the need to have someone who understood the needs of those who had been in prison for a long time.

“That could mean having a more gentle approach to how they manage parolees in society,” she said.

In January, Coroner Bruce Hesketh ruled that Lee Rawiri Kohiti died by suicide two months after he left prison.

He recommended the Department of Corrections work with other agencies to address systemic issues in providing services to prisoners on release.

Mahi Mihinare Anglican Action offered accommodation and reintegration for parolees in Hamilton.

Chief executive Peter Osbourne said they had first-hand experience with suicide and self-harm.

“We’ve seen the struggles that men and women have actually coming back into a society, and often it’s a society that doesn’t want them.

“We’re sort of a very punitive culture in this country, where we think we just should lock people up and some would say throw away the key.”

Osbourne spoke about the impact prison can have on people.

“In Scandinavia they’re closing down prisons, here we are in New Zealand building new ones because we think locking people up keeps us safe,” he said

“But actually, I don’t think it does, because at some point those people come out and they come out more damaged and traumatised than they did when they went inside.”

Dr Emmy Rākete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa. RNZ / Mabel Muller

Dr Emmy Rākete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa said parolees were affected by a lack of investment in state housing and the health system.

“There’s just this disinvestment from social infrastructure of all kinds, and the enormous suicide rate amongst parolees is just one symptom of this underlying rot,” she said.

The rate of suicide among parolees over the last three years was unknown because Corrections did not centrally record the data, nor was it always alerted to the cause of death when a person was serving a community based sentence.

Chief mental health and addictions officer Emma Gardner said Community Corrections staff tracked the progress of those they managed in the community and referred to mental health services when required.

“Once someone is released, like anyone else in the community, they have access to the public health service for any mental health support they might require, she said.

“If we know someone is going to require ongoing mental health support after they are released, Corrections works closely with relevant agencies and organisations to ensure the necessary referrals are made to enable a smooth transition for that support to continue.”

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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/2026/03/12/prisoners-struggle-with-reintegration-after-being-released-from-jail/

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Cricket: Fomer White Ferns captain Sophie Devine goes for top-dollar in The Hundred auction

Source: Radio New Zealand

White Fern Sophie Devine. PHOTOSPORT

White Fern Sophie Devine has picked up a $476,000 deal to play for the Welsh Fire in this year’s The Hundred in the UK.

It is the highest price for a women’s player in the history of the competition.

Devine, 36, who recently relinquished the New Zealand captaincy has played in the UK since 2016 and last season played for the Birmingham Phoenix.

Australian Beth Mooney was picked for the same top price by the Trent Rockets.

Their salaries are significantly higher than the previous top wage in the women’s Hundred ($147,000). They are also higher than the highest salaries in the Women’s Big Bash League, and are comparable to the wages on offer at the WPL.

The salary cap in the women’s Hundred has doubled to $2 million per team this year as a direct result of the new private investment in the Hundred, which has seen external investors become owners or co-owners of all eight franchises.

Amelia Kerr was not in the auction as she was pre-signed by the Mumbai Indians London.

The Hundred, matches of which consist of 100 deliveries for each team, starts in July.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/12/cricket-fomer-white-ferns-captain-sophie-devine-goes-for-top-dollar-in-the-hundred-auction/

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New pay deal for primary teachers welcomed

Source: New Zealand Government

Education Minister Erica Stanford welcomes the decision by Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche to enable school boards to offer primary teachers new pay agreements. The move benefits around 10,000 primary teachers who are not bound by the NZEI Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement.

“From today, school boards will be able to offer primary teachers, who are not part of the union and employed on individual employment agreements (IEAs), new agreements, which will allow them to receive pay increases of up to 4.7 percent within 12 months. These increases are comparable to those accepted by their secondary counterparts last year,” Ms Stanford says.

“Teachers have right to a contract and is fair and reasonable that nearly a third of primary school teachers, who are not part of the NZEI, should be offered a contract so they can receive the pay increases that the Government has already offered. 

“This would equate to approximately $50 to $76 each week and is pay that non-union teachers could already be receiving if not impacted by the NZEI’s ongoing approach to bargaining.

“I know the Commissioner did not come by this decision lightly. However, he has made his concerns on the delays in primary teacher bargaining very clear. 

“New IEAs will be available today through school boards for the primary teachers who are not a member of the NZEI Te Riu Roa union or bound by the NZEI Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement. 

“Sir Brian will continue to negotiate with the NZEI in good faith, and everyone is hopeful the bargaining process will result in a new collective agreement being ratified for teachers who are bound by the NZEI Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement. In the interim, the priority is to ensure that at least 30 percent of primary teachers can lock in pay increases without further delay.” 

Media contact: Michael van der Kwast +64 21 875 347

Notes to editors: New Individual Employment Agreement for Primary Teachers

  • Pay increase of 4.5% – 4.7% within 12 months:
    • Teachers on the top two steps of the scale receive a cumulative pay increase of 4.7% by January 2027. This is comprised of a 2.5% increase on 20 March 2026 and a further 2.1% increase on 28 January 2027.
    • Teachers moving up the scale (on steps 1-8) will continue to receive annual step increases along with a 4.5-4.6% pay increase by 28 January 2027. This is comprised of a 2.5% increase on 20 March 2026, and a further 2% increase on 28 January 2027.
  • Management Units Increase to $5,250: All unit holders will receive an increase to the value of salary units from $4,500 to $5,250 (16.7% increase to the rates that units are paid).  

All primary teachers who accept the new IEA will receive a cumulative pay increase of at least 4.5% on printed rates in the Base Salary Scale from the start of the 2027 school year. 

This means teachers who are at the top of the pay scale will see their base salary increase to $107,886 per annum from the beginning of next school year, and this is before units and allowances are included. For the many teachers who hold one or more than units, this increase will be even higher.  

Primary teachers who hold at least one unit will receive an overall 5.1% to 5.4% salary increase within 11 months of settlement.

Budget 2025 has already provided for teaching council certification costs to be met until 2028, saving teachers up to $550 per renewal.  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/new-pay-deal-for-primary-teachers-welcomed/