Category: Public Media

Posted on

How much of NZ’s tax is your region paying?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland pays just under 38 percent of the country’s personal tax, and has just over 33 percent of the population. RNZ

How much of the country’s total personal tax bill is your region picking up?

If you are in Auckland or Wellington, the answer may be more than you might think.

Inland Revenue data covering personal taxable income and income tax attributable to individuals shows that Auckland pays just under 38 percent of the country’s personal tax, and has just over 33 percent of the population. This is based on information for the 2023 financial year – the data for the 2025 year is not yet available.

Wellington pays 12.7 percent and has 10.5 percent of the population.

Waikato, in contrast, has 8.8 percent of the population but pays only 8.3 percent of the tax bill. Northland has 3.5 percent of the population and 2.8 percent of the tax bill.

Whanganui/Manawatu has 4.8 percent of the population and only 4 percent of the bill.

On a per-individual basis, Wellington has the highest personal tax bill at $12,300. Auckland is just behind at $11,500 and Canterbury is in third place with $9900. Otago is fourth at $9700.

Gisborne has the lowest at $7700.

Much of the variation can be explained by different areas’ income.

Auckland and Wellington are the areas of the country with the highest incomes, followed by Canterbury and Waikato.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said Auckland and Wellington had more people in the higher tax brackets who paid more tax.

“We know, for example, that Wellington City, rather than region, has the highest personal incomes in the country. Infometrics estimates show that Wellington region average annual personal earnings were around $90,600 and about $88,600 for the Auckland region. Those were the only two regions above the national average.

“If you look at the likes of the West Coast, which has got a fairly small proportion, and smaller than its total population. Even though the West Coast actually has some reasonable average earnings, that much smaller population is showing through there in terms of where they sit.”

He said Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Northland and Hawke’s Bay all stood out for the gap between their population proportion and the proportion of tax paid.

“The likes of Northland especially, you know, you’ve often got a high level of benefit dependency there, and potentially also more people that at the very margins might not participate quite as much with government… probably operating a little bit further away from the strict expectations of the IRD.

“Not necessarily trying to circumvent the law, just that you find some rural provincial economies that often more cash based, or operate sort of more in a community setting.”

Simplicity economist Shamubeel Eaqub said it was interesting to consider the tax paid compared to where the government spent its money.

“Last time I looked at it which was years ago, places like Auckland paid more into central government coffers than they took out in public services… large, dense places that are rich will redistribute. That’s what the redistribution mechanism is for… poverty is quite often disproportionate. We tend to have a lot more deprivation in rural New Zealand.”

Olsen said it was a hard question to contemplate.

“Transport funding, for example. That can sort of fluctuate quite a lot year on year … when the Waikato Expressway or Transmission Gully were getting built, those regions probably got quite a lot relative to otherwise, but they’re maybe not getting nearly as much now.”

He said areas where larger numbers of people were on NZ Super could also be receiving more government funding than others.

“There are a few hotspots across the country where there’s a higher average age proportionately – Thames Coromandel, the likes of Kapiti District and similar, so those areas will have more as well. And then it’s also going to be areas that have a greater government workforce concentration. The likes of Auckland and Wellington do generally have a fairly large workforce concentration, particularly Wellington, of course.

“A reasonable amount of the Wellington city economy is driven by the pay and work of the government workforce.”

How does your region compare?

Wellington

$12,300 per individual

10.5 percent of the population and 12.7 percent of tax paid

Total of more than $6.2 billion in tax paid

Auckland

$11,500 per individual

33.4 percent of the population and 37.7 percent of tax paid

Total of nearly $18.5 billion in tax paid

Canterbury

$9900 per individual

12.9 percent of the population and 12.6 percent of tax paid

Otago

$9700 per individual

4.1 percent of the population and 4 percent of tax paid

Waikato

$9500 per individual

8.8 percent of population and 8.3 percent of tax paid

Taranaki

$9300 per individual

2.5 percent of population and 2.3 percent of tax paid

Nelson

$9100 per individual

1.2 percent of population and 1.1 percent of tax paid

Bay of Plenty

$9100

6.87 percent of population and 6 percent of tax paid

Southland

$8900 per individual

2.1 percent of population and 1.8 percent of tax paid

Marlborough

$8900 per individual

1 percent of population and 0.8 percent of tax paid

Tasman

$8700 per individual

1 percent of population and 0.8 percent of tax paid

Hawke’s Bay

$8400 per individual

3.7 percent of population and 3.1 percent of tax paid

Manawatū-Whanganui

$8400 per individual

4.8 percent of population and 4 percent of tax paid

Northland

$8100 per individual

3.5 percent of population and 2.8 percent of tax paid

West Coast

$7800 per individual

0.6 percent of population and 0.5 percent of tax paid

Gisborne

$7700 percent of individual

1 percent of population and 0.8 percent of tax paid

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/how-much-of-nzs-tax-is-your-region-paying/

Posted on

Homeowners still paying the price for choice to buy in 2021

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

The shadow of 2021’s house price boom still hangs over sellers trying to shift their houses, even years later.

New data from Cotality shows that 12 percent of people selling residential properties in the last quarter of last year did so for less than the amount they paid for them.

In Auckland, that stretched to 17.4 percent. Wellington was just over 15 percent.

Those who lost money had held their homes for a median 3.9 years, taking their purchase price back to the 2021 peak.

“It was a tricky time to have been a buyer and any unforeseen change in circumstances over the following period may have meant needing to sell at a reduced price,” Cotality chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said.

People who made money had held their properties for a median 10.1 years, the longest ever recorded in the data, which goes back to the 1990s.

Those who lost money lost a median $55,000 compared to a median $298,000 for those who made a gain. Auckland sellers lost a median $78,944 and gained a median $367,250.

Davidson said the data probably showed that people were holding on longer before selling to try to allow gains to accumulate.

“Or in other cases it may just reflect the fact that in a relatively quiet market a lot of sellers simply have to wait longer for a deal to be achieved.

“Indeed, some property owners may also just be choosing to hold for a bit longer if they’re uncertain about their job prospects or don’t want to pay transactions costs such as an estate agent’s commission or conveyancing fees as regularly. In addition, lending restraints such as the loan to value ratio rules may have kept more people where they are for longer.”

He said there had been periods in the past where places had been held longer and still made a loss. In 2016, the median hold period for places making a loss was eight years.

Investors have historically been more likely to sell fort a loss than owner-occupiers but this quarter’s data showed little difference.

Investors were making a median loss of $58,950 and a median profit of $308,000 compared to $56,500 for owner-occupiers who lost money and $285,350 for those who made a gain.

Hamilton investors made more losses than owner-occupiers – at 20.6 percent of sales compared to 13.2 percent for owner occupiers.

But in Wellington the trend was reversed, with 17 percent of owner-occupiers making a loss and only 11 percent of investors.

Davidson said the data showed the general flatness of the market.

“A bit more balance out there now. Deals are being done, so buyers and sellers are meeting in the middle and maybe vendors aren’t necessarily getting the price they might have liked two years ago, but they have adjusted expectations and they’re happy with it now.

“The market’s clearing, deals are being done and okay, there’s a bit more pain out there for sellers than there has been in the past. But there are signs of a stabilisation, and we actually saw the median resale gain go up a bit in the fourth quarter, too.”

He said even if people were not able to sell for the sort of price they might have at the market peak, if they had owned their houses for 10 years or more, they were likely to get more than they paid.

“The gains are smaller than what they were, but still pretty significant. Even at 88 percent, that’s still most people making a resale gain when they sell.”

He said it was likely that those who bought in the 2021 peak would struggle to sell for a few years yet.

“We’re still down 18 percent from the peak nationally, some areas more than that … that’s taken four years.

“Let’s say growth from here on is even ambitiously maybe sort of 5 percent on average over the next three, four, five years, it’s going to take at least four years to get back to that previous peak. So, this sort of tough period to buy and sell relatively quickly could be around for two or three years yet.”

He said most people would not have bought with the intention of selling soon.

Davidson said he expected house price growth to resume later in the year as the economy improved and mortgage rates remained relatively low. “Property resellers may fare better in that environment but it’s unlikely to be a boom.”

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/homeowners-still-paying-the-price-for-choice-to-buy-in-2021/

Posted on

A CEO ousted, a board divided: What went wrong at New Zealand Cricket?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Scott Weenink. Photosport / RNZ composite

The insiders dubbed it ‘Project Underground’.

In February last year, a group of senior cricket figures, private investors and sports marketing experts gathered around the boardroom table within the bunker-like office of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (CPA) underneath Eden Park’s eastern stand.

The group was there to discuss whether a privatised Twenty20 franchise league might have legs in New Zealand.

At the time, the name was more of an in-joke – a self-aware nod to both the location and the speculative nature of the conversation. A blue-sky discussion held beneath the stands.

But in light of what was to follow over the back half of the year as NZ Cricket descended into open conflict and institutional paralysis, Project Underground would come to sound less tongue-in-cheek and more conspiratorial.

The bid by a consortium of high profile cricket figures, pulled together by CPA boss Heath Mills, to launch a T20 competition became a flashpoint in a much wider struggle for control of the sport’s future, culminating in the resignation of NZ Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink days before Christmas.

Last Friday marked the end of Weenink’s reign with the national body, bringing to a close a tenure defined by ongoing tensions with key stakeholders including the players, the six major associations, and eventually, his own board.

In a statement accompanying the announcement of his resignation, Weenink cited fundamental differences with the game’s stakeholders as a driver.

“After careful consideration, it has become clear that I hold a different view from several Member Associations, and the [CPA], on the future priorities for NZC, including the long-term direction of the game and the best role for T20 cricket in New Zealand,” Weenink said.

“I do not wish to create ongoing instability by continuing without the support of some key stakeholders.”

Weenink declined to be interviewed by RNZ about his time with the national body, maintaining his silence throughout the dispute.

It has been a common theme of the saga.

Few of the central players are willing to talk openly on the record about the tensions. Instead, much of the disagreement has played out in the media through leaked documents and correspondence.

Beneath the personality clashes and brinkmanship lies a more consequential argument – one that long predates NZ20 and will outlast Weenink’s departure. At its core was a dispute over how New Zealand cricket should be organised, funded and governed in a rapidly changing global game.

The central question facing the sport remains the same – whether the existing domestic structure can meet those pressures, or whether a privatised T20 league represents a necessary evolution.

The existing Super Smash T20 competition is widely seen as more of a development league than a commercial product photosport

The pitch

For years, the conventional wisdom was that New Zealand was simply too small a market to sustain a privately backed T20 franchise competition.

That assumption has been steadily eroded as T20 leagues have sprung up around the cricketing world. Since the Indian Premier League (IPL) launched in 2008, franchise cricket has taken hold in England, Australia, the West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, with newer ventures emerging in the UAE and the United States.

As the franchise game boomed, anxiety crept in back home. New Zealand’s top players and coaches plying their trade in overseas leagues began to worry the country was isolating itself from the rest of the world. Supporters of NZ20 point to a curious anomaly: New Zealand is the only test-playing nation without a franchise T20 league.

“We’ve become an island in international cricket,” says one advocate.

When the consortium began sketching out plans for a competition, they did not chase the scale of the IPL or Australia’s Big Bash League. Instead, they found inspiration in a more unlikely success story – the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The CPL was built across a scatter of small, cricket-mad islands with limited commercial clout. By doubling down on local colour, a party-style presentation and sprinkling in global stars, the league turned a high-risk idea into one of the most recognisable and resilient properties in world cricket.

Official documents frame the NZ20 in similar terms: a “boutique, city-based cricket festival”, designed to fuse sport with tourism and trade, and to deepen strategic ties between India and New Zealand.

RNZ understands the consortium has briefed several senior government figures about the competition and plans for Indian investment.

Under the proposal, franchises would not align directly with the six major associations. Instead, teams would be based in the main population centres and seasonal tourism hubs, including Mount Maunganui and Queenstown.

However, the major associations – Auckland, Northern Districts, Central Districts, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago – still stand to benefit financially, which has helped secure their support for the concept. It is understood the proceeds from the sale of franchise licences would be directed into a capital fund to be distributed among the associations.

Supporters of the model argue that private ownership would allow the league to operate with a clearer commercial focus than the Super Smash, which has come to be seen as more of a development league. They contend that separating those functions would allow the proposed league to prioritise broadcast appeal, sponsorship and fan engagement.

Don Mackinnon, chair of the NZ20 establishment committee, declined to be interviewed by RNZ while discussions with the national body remain delicate. In previous media appearances, however, he has outlined what he sees as the advantages of keeping the league at arm’s length from New Zealand Cricket and the major associations.

Don Mackinnon Elias Rodriguez

“It’s driven out of private investment and so you get the ability to be very innovative,” Mackinnon told ESPN in November. “You have greater capital to invest in the fan experience – at the ground, on television and online. And if we get this right, we believe we’ll attract the very best New Zealand players back into our domestic competitions.”

By September, the consortium believed it had secured sufficient international and domestic investor interest, including a group of six “high net-worth Kiwis”, to formally present the proposal to the NZC board. Among those rumoured to have expressed interest are Xero founder Rod Drury, and Zuru co-founder Anna Mowbray and her husband, former All Black Ali Williams.

For all the ambition and investor interest, NZC still holds the keys.

To get the league off the ground, the consortium needs the national body to sanction the league and commit to providing a protected four-week window in January free from international commitments.

The proposed scheduling has led to concerns from some within NZC about how a privately run league would fit alongside existing commercial and broadcast agreements, which are built around NZC’s control of the domestic and international calendar.

In hindsight, however, one person briefed on the board presentation believes the main sticking point came during discussions about potential investors. They believe the suggestion that former players such as Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum could leverage their overseas connections, particularly in India, to attract investors and possibly take ownership stakes themselves, shifted the mood in the room.

“There was a definite change after that,” the source said. “Suddenly, [that was interpreted as], ‘oh, they’re all on the take’.”

This would become a focal point for public critics of the proposal.

Much of the resistance that followed was shaped by a broader unease about private ownership – specifically, who would stand to benefit, and what control the game in New Zealand might lose in the process.

NZ Cricket’s governance broke down at the highest level. Kerry Marshall/www.photosport.nz

The letter-writing campaign

The proposal’s arrival at NZC marked the point at which a philosophical debate became a governance crisis.

The organisation was already grappling with its own future by the time the NZ20 consortium approached the NZC board. In parallel with discussions around a private league, NZC had begun examining options to rejuvenate its domestic T20 competition through an external review dubbed ‘Project Bigger Smash’.

The review, led by Deloitte, examined four separate pathways to revitalise T20 cricket, including private ownership and the option of entering a New Zealand team into Australia’s Big Bash League. The latter was widely understood to be Weenink’s preferred path.

In the months that followed, the board effectively attempted to pursue two tracks. It continued work on the Deloitte review, while appointing two directors – Bill Birnie and Anna Campbell – to the NZ20 establishment committee to further develop the consortium’s proposal.

That dual approach, however, soon began to fray.

Competing narratives took hold both inside and outside the organisation. Critics of the proposal portrayed NZ20 as a “rebel” league engineered through a hostile takeover by the players’ association.

Supporters countered that elements within NZC were posturing as open-minded regulators while quietly entrenching opposition behind the scenes.

Internal correspondence illustrates how quickly trust in the boardroom deteriorated.

In an email to fellow directors in October, then-NZC president Lesley Murdoch warned recent decisions had promoted “distrust and disunity”.

“A decision determined by a casting vote suggests to me that more thought should be given to that decision and perhaps be revisited to ensure all the relevant information has been revealed, discussed and understood,” Murdoch wrote, while not directly referencing the specific vote.

She also questioned whether members of the board were acting in self-interest, cautioning that the sport “deserves a board that operates as one team, not a collection of individuals with competing agendas”.

At the same time the Murdoch letter was leaked, another piece of correspondence surfaced in the media – one that hinted at a widening rift between Weenink and his board.

NZ Cricket chairperson Diana Puketapu-Lyndon wrote to the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah, to reject claims of a rebel league or player coup.

“We are deeply concerned about the origin of any messaging that has the potential to undermine the reputation of cricket and cricket governance in New Zealand,” the letter, which was also signed by the chairs of each of the major associations, stated.

According to one source, the letter reflected concerns from some officials that Weenink was perceived to be actively undermining efforts to establish a private league – a perception that placed him increasingly at odds with the major associations and the Players’ Association.

Weenink’s supporters believed he was simply urging the sport’s leaders to take time to do their due diligence on a decision with long-term consequences for the game.

Pressure from the major associations soon became explicit in correspondence. On 16 October, the chairs and chief executives of the six organisations wrote to the NZC board, stating their relationship with the chief executive had become “irretrievable” and that they had lost “respect, trust and confidence” in Weenink.

The same source said concerns about Weenink’s leadership style and approach had been raised directly with Puketapu-Lyndon earlier in the year, and again by follow-up letter in July – well before the NZ20 concept was formally presented to NZC.

As the dispute escalated, Weenink’s position became increasingly untenable, leading to reports the chief executive was “fighting for survival”. The response was more letter writing.

In early December a group of four NZC life members wrote to the board and directors of the national body, the major associations, the Players’ Association and the NZ20 establishment committee to express their “dismay” at what they described as a campaign to remove the chief executive.

“We urge all those involved to stop ‘playing the man’ and, instead, focus solely on ‘playing the ball’,” the letter said.

By that point, however, the relationship between Weenink and sections of the board had fractured. Weenink was increasingly sidelined from key meetings and decisions, and in December he abruptly went on leave ahead of mediation over his future.

His resignation followed days before Christmas, leaving NZC seeking a new leader amid unresolved questions about the future of the domestic game.

Ajaz Patel of New Zealand celebrates with his team Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd 2025

Projecting unity

While the immediate crisis has been defused, New Zealand Cricket is now seeking to steady itself and project a more unified front as it weighs decisions that will shape the game’s future.

Publicly, the message is one of alignment and patience. The NZ20 consortium, which was initially reluctant to engage with the Deloitte-led review, is now participating in the process as the board awaits the full findings before determining the long-term direction of domestic Twenty20 cricket.

In a statement, NZ20 establishment committee chair Don Mackinnon said the group was working closely with NZC “as the next stage of the concept is considered”.

“We have also engaged fully with representatives from Deloitte, who have been appointed to independently assess all options for the future of domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand,” Mackinnon said. “We support this process, and will continue to do so.”

Asked when the review might be completed, NZC referred RNZ to a statement issued in December, saying it was committed to running an “independent and objective process” but was limited in what it could say publicly due to “sensitivities and confidentiality requirements”.

Privately, however, tensions remain close to the surface. A number of figures across the game, including senior staff at the national body, remain loyal to Weenink and are said to be deeply unhappy with the manner of his departure.

There is unease that the mistrust sown during last year’s dispute has not been resolved, but merely contained.

Those concerns have been heightened by the need to repair relationships beyond New Zealand’s borders.

NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon travelled to India and Dubai last month alongside director Roger Twose and newly installed president Mark Greatbatch, a trip described by one source as a “diplomatic mission” to reassure international stakeholders and potential investors unsettled by the public stoush.

NZC has played down the travel, with public affairs manager Richard Boock describing the visits as “a regular part of NZC’s stakeholder management approach”.

Mackinnon, meanwhile, insists investor interest in NZ20 remains strong and says the consortium continues to be approached by prospective backers.

But one source involved in the proposal says there is growing anxiety around the length of time it is taking to land on a decision. There is currently no broadcast deal in place for New Zealand’s domestic competitions beyond this season, with the new agreement with Sky excluding domestic cricket.

While domestic cricket will likely still be streamed on NZC’s platforms, there are concerns that a sub-standard broadcast product could devalue the competition in the eyes of potential investors and weaken New Zealand Cricket’s negotiating position at a critical moment.

Several figures involved say that urgency sits awkwardly alongside a process that is designed to inform the decision, not make it.

The Deloitte review is expected to stop short of recommending a single preferred model, instead providing a cost-benefit analysis of the available options.

Ultimately, the decision will rest with the board – the same body whose divisions brought the organisation to a standstill just months earlier.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/a-ceo-ousted-a-board-divided-what-went-wrong-at-new-zealand-cricket/

Posted on

St Bede’s College investigates knowledge of allegations of sexual offending by priest

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fr Rowan Donoghue outside the Christchurch District Court last month. Nathan McKinnon / RNZ

St Bede’s College is carrying out an investigation following revelations it was told of allegations of sexual offending by a priest nearly 20 years before he was convicted of abuse at the school.

The rector says he would be “appalled” if there was inaction and any failure to respond appropriately.

RNZ earlier revealed Rowan Donoghue had admitted six charges including indecent assault on a boy aged 12-16, indecent assault on a boy 16 and over and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection. He is awaiting sentencing.

The offending related to four boys who were boarding at St Bede’s College in Christchurch between 1996 and 2000.

Since then, RNZ has revealed that Donoghue admitted sexual abuse to leaders of his religious order, the Society of Mary, in 2007. However, he was unable to identify the anonymous complainant and instead of notifying police, the order sent him to Australia for a six month-programme that provided “professional risk assessment and therapy” for people accused of sexual abuse.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

In a statement to RNZ, St Bede’s College rector Jon McDowall said it was brought to his attention by police in recent weeks that the college had previously been notified of concerns relating to Donoghue.

“On learning this, I immediately took steps to establish clearly what was known by the school, when it was known, and how it was handled. I was not in this role at the time, and records from that period are limited. This work is ongoing; I am committed to gaining as much clarity as possible and doing so with care and integrity.

“I will say again, if there was inaction, and any failure to respond appropriately, then I am appalled. My thoughts remain with the victims and survivors who continue to live with the impact of this harm.”

In response to questions from RNZ earlier this week, McDowall confirmed the school had been notified nearly 20 years ago of allegations involving Donoghue.

“As Rector, I have been made aware in recent weeks of further historical information indicating that, in the mid-2000s, College leadership was advised that an anonymous complaint of a sexual nature relating to Fr Donoghue had been made to the Society of Mary, and that he was subsequently withdrawn from ministry.

“Fr Donoghue had not worked at the College since 2000. The information conveyed to the College at that time was informal and verbal, there is no written record held by the College, and the matter was understood to be managed by the Society of Mary.”

McDowall said the details of the case were “deeply distressing”.

“My thoughts are with the victims and survivors who continue to live with the impact of that harm. Abuse has no place at St Bede’s – past, present, or future – and I continue to invite anyone who is impacted by this matter, or who has concerns, to contact me directly.”

He said that after being formally notified by police of allegations relating to Donoghue, the College took “immediate steps” to locate any relevant information it might still hold and had worked openly with police throughout.

A Society of Mary spokesperson has also confirmed that while Donoghue could not identify the complainant in 2007, he was “certain” they were from St Bede’s College.

“No year was specified, but he was at St Bede’s from 1993-2000, The Society of Mary leader at the time advised schools with which Donoghue had been associated that he had been withdrawn from ministry.”

The spokesperson said two schools were told of the allegations.

“Our records show that the schools were told that Donoghue was withdrawn from ministry immediately. To the best of our knowledge, and cognisant of the policy and practice of the SM leadership at the time, we are confident the reason would have been made very clear.”

The spokesperson said the Society was not aware of the allegations to which Fr Dongohue pleaded guilty until police laid charges.

“At the time of the initial complaint the Society made strenuous efforts over many months to encourage the complainant to contact the Police.

“As reported by RNZ previously, our first thoughts have always been with Donoghue’s victims and their families. We deeply regret the hurt and harm caused. We extend our sincere apologies to them, and will seek to provide appropriate support when they decide the time is right.”

The anonymous complaint

A Society of Mary spokesperson earlier told RNZ a complaint alleging offending by Donoghue was received by the priest via an anonymous Hotmail account in October 2007.

“He advised Society of Mary administration and in a conversation with leaders of the Society of Mary, Donoghue admitted that he was guilty of abuse but could not identify the complainant.

“He was removed from his ministry as a priest immediately. This permanent removal from ministry and subsequent ongoing monitoring has continued to the present day.”

The spokesperson said the society reached out to the anonymous emailer “encouraging him to identify himself” and make a complaint to the police so the matter might be properly investigated, and so that he might receive appropriate support.

“Donoghue was sent for a six-month programme to Encompass, an institute in Australia that provided professional risk assessment and therapy for those accused of sexual abuse.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons earlier told RNZ police were unable to comment on processes of other organisations and their decision making and whether they decide to call the police but that police encouraged people to do so if they have information they believe could be relevant to any investigation or suspected offending.

In response to earlier questions from RNZ, a Teaching Council spokesperson said in general, the council did not comment on complaints or mandatory reports to the council.

“However, given the level of public interest, we can confirm that we have been working closely with New Zealand Police since early 2025 in support of their investigation into offending by Mr Donoghue.

“The legal requirement for mandatory reporting to the New Zealand Teachers Council (now the Teaching Council) relating to the dismissal, resignation under investigation, serious misconduct, competence concerns, or specified convictions of teachers was first inserted into the Education Act 1989 by the Education Standards Act 2001 to protect the safety of children and young people in our education system.”

Now the criminal process had concluded, the council’s professional disciplinary process would resume.

“This process will include consideration of whether obligations have been met to report conduct or competence concerns to the council that were known at the time, and appropriate action depending on the findings.”

Asked who the disciplinary process would look at, the spokesperson said the council would “into the actions of everyone involved”.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of children and young people and the quality of teaching in our education system, and we encourage anyone who has concerns about the conduct or competence of a formally registered teacher to reach out to us.”

Where to get help:

  • Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason
  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
  • Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666
  • Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
  • What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds
  • Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, and English.
  • Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
  • Healthline: 0800 611 116
  • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
  • OUTLine: 0800 688 5463
  • Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053

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

Sexual Violence

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/st-bedes-college-investigates-knowledge-of-allegations-of-sexual-offending-by-priest/

Posted on

Raw sewage still pouring into Welly waters raises questions, and anger

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Breaker Bay local with a long history of fighting for clean water in Wellington explains why the sewage dump is so catastrophic, for health, history, and the environment.

Ray Ahipene-Mercer with his jar of 24-year-old water from Moa Point sewage treatment plant. Sharon Brettkelly

Ray Ahipene-Mercer keeps a jar of 24-year-old water in his refrigerator, labelled ‘Moa Point Final Effluent’.

“It looks like a glass of water, hasn’t got a single bug in it, no discolouration, nothing,” he says.

It is a memento of the new sewage plant which he battled over for years as the co-leader of the Wellington Clean Water Campaign.

But nearly 30 years after that successful campaign to stop the dumping of raw sewage in the sea, it is happening again.

Since last Wednesday, more than 600 million litres of untreated sewage have poured into the water off the south coast after a catastrophic failure of Moa Point, the city’s main treatment plant.

On a sparkling summer day Ahipene-Mercer looks out from his Breaker Bay home just around the corner from the plant and the bays are empty.

“I’m looking at the water about 50 metres away, it’s beautiful and yet underneath it there is this darkness. There is not a person walking the dog, having a walk, swimming, surfing, nothing,” he tells The Detail.

The former city councillor is angry, not just about the health risks to humans, but the damage to the environment and risks to the kororā, and to historic Māori sites.

“Toilet water is now brushing up against historic sites at Tarakina Bay. One of the reasons this campaign in the 80s was so successful, we married Māori concerns and Pākehā concerns together and that’s why we won that campaign,” Ahipene-Mercer says.

“I’m very angry, because of all this work we did. It’s not in vain however because Wellingtonians have responded magnificently.”

After a catastrophic failure last Wednesday at Moa Point, Wellington’s main treatment plant, more than 600 million litres of untreated sewage has poured into the water off the south coast. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The plant failed early last Wednesday morning during a bout of heavy rain. With the threat of more bad weather this weekend, there are fears the situation could get worse.

‘It’s going to get smellier’

The Post journalist Tom Hunt has been writing about Wellington’s wastewater woes for years and is experiencing first-hand the effects of days of raw sewage flowing into the sea.

“It gets worse the longer it’s there and it’s apparently going to get smellier as well,” he tells The Detail.

“I live not far from the tip and it was a still night last night and I could pick up a faint smell,” he says. “They’ve got these tanker trucks that Wellington’s quite familiar with because in covid time there was another pipe failure and they’d take the wastewater to the tip and they were called ‘turd taxis’. They’re just back and forth ferrying all the stuff out of the olympic-sized swimming pool room and just clearing that out and taking it to the tip.”

Wellington Water chief executive Pat Dougherty broke the news last Wednesday that a room in the plant was three metres deep in sewage, blowing the electrics and badly damaging or destroying equipment.

In the immediate aftermath raw sewage was flowing through a short outfall to five metres off the coast but it is now going through a longer 1.8 kilometre pipe.

“But it is still untreated sewage … and for the foreseeable future we will have effectively raw sewage being pumped off the south coast very near a marine sanctuary not far from a nesting area,” Hunt says.

It could be months before the sea on the south coast is safe for walking, swimming and collecting kaimoana.

It brings back memories for Hunt, who grew up around the south coast of the polluted waters in the 1980s.

“That was a different time when the south coast was not a desirable place to be.”

He says now they’re “back in that for a mystery reason, we still don’t know what caused it.”

Hunt explains the numerous reports of warnings and abatement notices issued to the operator, French-owned Veolia which is paid roughly $17 million a year by Wellington Water to run the plant.

He says it is too soon to say who is at fault and a full inquiry will impel people to give evidence.

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.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/raw-sewage-still-pouring-into-welly-waters-raises-questions-and-anger/

Posted on

Government tweaks law so contractors can’t challenge employment status retrospectively

Source: Radio New Zealand

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The government is tweaking its legislation removing the right for contractors to challenge their employment status to make clear that it will not be applied retrospectively.

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill was being considered at Committee Stage on Wednesday night, where members could raise issues about various parts of the proposed legislation.

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden said it was a “minor technical amendment” to make “absolutely clear” the law was not retrospective and “doesn’t override any court decisions”.

It came just a few months after the Supreme Court threw out Uber’s appeal against treating drivers as employees in November 2025.

But van Velden said the change had nothing to do with the Supreme Court decisions.

She said her officials had made a “minor oversight” over the transitional arrangements between the current law and the new law, and wanted “to make it very clear what the law will be going forward”.

The change would ultimately make a distinction as to which law – the old and the new – would apply when, allowing for split decisions in future cases.

The Minister said if someone took up a claim in the future to be considered an employee in previous work, she did not want a situation where they “may be found an employee under the old law into the future”.

“So we’re saying yes, they would be found an employee under the old law up until the point where the new law applies, where they would be a contractor,” based on whether they met the proposed gateway test.

They would not suddenly become a contractor after the law passed, she said, “that is not actually clear until someone has actually had that challenge through a court based system”.

Any decisions made about employment status before the new law starts would not be affected by the new transitional rules, and any cases filed before the new law starts would use the existing test to consider whether someone was an employee or a contractor.

For cases that were filed after the new law came into force, the existing test would be applied to the time before the law was pased, and the new gateway test could be used for the time after the law was passed.

This could result in a split decision, where a worker may be found an employee before the law changed, and a “specified contractor” after the law changed.

Labour opposed the proposed amendment because it locked in people who were potentially employees to a contractor status based on an arbitrary date, the party said.

Labour MP Camilla Belich spoke during Committee Stage and called for a significant debate on the amendment, given it had not been through select committee.

Labour MP Camilla Belich. ©VNP / Phil Smith

She said the last-minute amendment “further erodes worker’s rights by locking out potential claims by employees, who will be barred from taking claims against their employer once this Bill takes effect”.

“This effectively prevents contractors from fighting to be formally recognised as an employee after the Act has passed. This is hugely unfair to the many workers who may have a legitimate claim and silences their voices.”

The Greens believed the government continued taking sides with massive corporations like Uber, despite the amendment, which the party did not support.

“Uber drivers across the country should be able to benefit from the struggles of the drivers who won in court, and this amendment as we understand it will only extend the fruits of this victory to a small group of people,” said Green MP Ricardo Menendez March.

The upcoming law change came hot on the heels of the Supreme Court throwing out Uber’s appeal against treating drivers as employees.

It followed a case by four Uber drivers who took the ride-sharing company to the Employment Court in 2022 over their employment status.

They argued that drivers should be considered employees rather than contractors and be entitled to benefits such as leave entitlements, holiday pay and a minimum wage.

The Employment Court ruled in favour of the drivers, which Uber appealed unsuccessfully at the Court of Appeal in 2024.

Uber then appealed that decision at the Supreme Court, where five justices unanimously voted in November 2025 to throw out the appeal yet again.

Deputy secretary for Workers First Union, who represented the drivers, Anita Rosentreter, called the legislation the “Uber law” and the “Uber amendment” and the more the Minister denied that, the more clear it became the whole Bill was about “protecting the right of foreign companies to exploit New Zealand workers and deny them the rights the Supreme Court confirmed they’re entitled”.

She said the amendment confirmed that Uber drivers and other gig workers who filed with the Courts could still access wage arrears and backpay from the time they were misclassifed as contractors prior to the potential law change but that it locked them out of future employment rights if the Bill passed.

“This whole Bill is an unprecedented attack on workers’ rights and should not pass in any form.

“It’s an international anomaly, an embarrassment for New Zealand, and it must be reversed by the next government.”

ACT campaigned on amending the Employment Relations Act, so those who signed up to be independent contractors could not then challenge that status in court.

The coalition agreement between National and ACT stated they would, “maintain the status quo that contractors who have explicitly signed up for a contracting arrangement can’t challenge their employment status in the Employment Court”.

Van Velden has said she was creating certainty for businesses and workers with the law change.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/government-tweaks-law-so-contractors-cant-challenge-employment-status-retrospectively/

Posted on

Super Rugby Pacific preview: The Crusaders

Source: Radio New Zealand

Super Rugby Pacific is back after a real return to form last year, with the competition kicking off in Dunedin on 13 February. As usual, each team has gone through an eventful off season, so today we’re checking in on the defending champion Crusaders.

Read: Highlanders preview

Read: Moana Pasifika preview

Read: Blues preview

Read: Hurricanes preview

Read: Chiefs preview

Overview

Rob Penney with the Super Rugby trophy. John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

What a return to form last year, but was anyone really that surprised? After a horror 2024 that saw them miss the playoffs and coach Rob Penney narrowly avoid getting sacked, they came firing back to beat the Chiefs in the final. It wasn’t without hiccups, including a big loss at home to Moana Pasifika, but it didn’t matter in the end as we were once again treated to the sight of a jubilant Crusaders side lifting yet another trophy.

The Good

One NZ Stadium under construction. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

Not only do they go in as champs, but there’s also a new stadium to look forward to as well. The Crusaders will effectively double the amount of home support they get from Anzac weekend onwards, meanwhile Penney comes back as NZ Rugby coach of the year and with a pretty settled squad.

The Bad

Scott Barrett of the Crusaders. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Not much to nitpick over really, other than Scott Barrett sitting the season out due to a contract-mandated rest sabbatical. Even then, that will likely end up being a positive, the last Crusaders player to do that was Codie Taylor and he came back in career-best form.

Big boots to fill

Noah Hotham of the Crusaders kicks during the Super Rugby Pacific Final. John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

Noah Hotham had an injury-ravaged 2025, so will be keen to try and maintain his starting position over Kyle Preston. Both men are gunning for All Black spots later in the year, with Hotham having a big opportunity in Super Rugby Pacific to showcase his running game early, then switch to a defensive kicking strategy when the Crusaders inevitably make the playoffs.

What makes Crusaders fans different

Crusaders fans. © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz

They’re the only ones in the comp to have a new home ground, for a start. The opening of One NZ Stadium will make a massive difference to not only the fanbase, but entire city of Christchurch, putting the Crusaders on an even higher pedestal than they already occupy in local eyes. And boy, won’t they let us know about it if it ever gets brought up in conversation.

Big games

The biggest one will be on 24 February, when the Crusaders meet the Waratahs for the grand opening of their new home. After that, it’s a pretty tough run into the playoffs, with two games against the Hurricanes, as well as one each against the Blues and Chiefs.

Crusaders 2026 squad

Props: Finlay Brewis, Fletcher Newell, George Bower, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Seb Calder, Tamaiti Williams

Hookers: Codie Taylor, George Bell, Manumaua Letiu

Locks: Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Liam Jack, Scott Barrett, Tahlor Cahill

Loose forwards: Dominic Gardiner, Christian Lio-Willie, Corey Kellow, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Xavier Saifoloi

Halfbacks: Kyle Preston, Louie Chapman, Noah Hotham

First fives: James White, Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara

Midfield: Aki Tuivailala, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Toby Bell

Outside backs: Chay Fihaki, Johnny McNicoll, Macca Springer, Maloni Kunawave, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/super-rugby-pacific-preview-the-crusaders/

Posted on

Is owning a small business really worth it?

Source: Radio New Zealand

A new survey has found half of small business owners have thought about throwing in the towel. Supplied

There is a certain sort of freedom which comes with being your own boss.

But a lack of work-life balance alongside carrying the finances can get heavy quickly – especially when times are tough.

In new research released by Xero, small business owners confessed that sometimes it did get a bit much, with close to half of survey respondents admitting they had thought about throwing in the towel.

It seemed 2025 had been an uphill battle, with three quarters of the business owners surveyed saying this financial year had been more stressful than previous years, blaming rising costs and unpredictable demand.

“Running a small business is hard work and business owners often have to make significant sacrifices – missing a child’s swimming sports or working all hours and not getting enough sleep,” said Bridget Snelling, Xero New Zealand country manager.

“This is what we call an emotional tax – the hidden personal costs small business owners have to pay every year,” said Snelling.

The difficulties of being in business come to a head at the end of the financial year, with almost half of small business owners saying it was the most stressful time of year.

Chasing paperwork and worrying about making mistakes were listed as concerns, while a surprise tax bill (or refund, but more often it was a bill) had at some point kept 54 percent of business owners up at night.

“We know the end of the financial year can sometimes sneak up on business owners who are so invested in the day-to-day doing of the work,” said Snelling.

And they may not be sleeping either. The survey found that stress costed business owners five hours of productive work every week, which worked out to 30 working days lost per year.

Despite the challenges of small business ownership, only 10 percent sought advice from an accountant or advisor when they were stressed.

“Stress isn’t just a feeling – it slows decision‑making, reduces creativity, and leads to avoidable mistakes,” said Snelling.

“It impacts the skills owners rely on to succeed.

“With the right tools and support, business owners can reclaim time, reduce their emotional tax, and feel more confident heading into EOFY.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/is-owning-a-small-business-really-worth-it/

Posted on

How many children have to die for safety regulations for corded window blinds, mother asks

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tilly Cambie is remembered as a typically adventurous three-year-old who loved climbing and adored her big sister Lainey. Supplied

The mother of a child who died after becoming caught in a window blind cord is asking how many other children have to die before mandatory safety regulations are introduced.

Courtney Cambie said her youngest daughter Tilly was a joy to be around.

“Tilly was your typical three-year-old, adventurous, loved climbing and adored her big sister Lainey. They were best friends. She loved dressing up and putting on different necklaces and bracelets and bangles, and was a very, sparkly, shiny little girl, and very happy.”

It was her then five-year-old sister Lainey who discovered Tilly hanging in the cords in the family’s lounge in Hāwera on 1 January 2023.

Tilly’s father Ryan Cambie began CPR and ambulance officers were able to revive her before she was taken to Waikato Hospital by helicopter, but her condition deteriorated and given her poor prognosis, she was taken off life support and died later that day surrounded by family.

Courtney Cambie said window cords should be designed to break under pressure and come with safety clips – which keep the cords under tension on the window frame.

Tilly – who had a history of playing with the cords – had left Lainey and her father watching a movie in the master bedroom when the accident occurred.

Cambie still wrestled with guilt over the tragedy.

“We were only supplied a YouTube clip to install ours. We were in that situation. If I could go back in time I would’ve done the lounge at the same time as I did her bedroom and it’s just one of those things where I have instant mother guilt that it didn’t happen.”

The couple installed clips for the cords in the bedroom on their own account – they did not come with the blinds – but had yet to do the lounge.

Cambie said the loss of Tilly was too raw for the couple to submit to a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment consultation document on “options to address safety risks of corded window coverings” which closed 31 March 2023.

The consultation followed the death of six New Zealand children due to cords on blinds since 2009.

The government of those times’ preferred option was to introduce mandatory standards.

Cambie said reading Coroner Bruce Hesketh’s report into Tilly’s death – which was released on Thursday – had been tough.

“To read that the coroner feels exactly the same towards the fact that this is something (regulation) that’s been in play in other countries for years and years and we’ve just not adopted it because we haven’t got the number, the cases.

“I agree completely with the coroner that Tilly is that case and it was something that should’ve been changed a long time ago.

“It’s sad that it probably won’t be until it’s someone in their family that is impacted by this that they understand the impact of it and I just feel if they don’t how many more children are they willing to sacrifice if they don’t make that change.”

Hesketh found Tilly’s death had been a tragic accident.

She suffered a non-survivable hypoxic brain injury due to accidental neck compression.

In his findings, Hesketh lent heavily on the previous recommendations of Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale and Coroner Heather McKenzie, who had investigated similar deaths.

In 2021, Borrowdale reported on the death of a 19-month-old child from accidental asphyxiation from a roman blind cord.

She noted that New Zealand differed from comparable major jurisdictions in having no product regulation designed to ensure the safe supply and use of corded blinds.

Although efforts to educate consumers about safety were laudable “the incidence of window cord fatalities in this country, and the availability of preventative devices, to my mind readily make the case for mandatory regulation to address the risks”, Borrowdale said.

Hesketh made no new recommendations, but noted the MBIE consulted on the safety risks of corded window coverings in 2023, but little change had been forthcoming.

“Sadly New Zealand still lacks mandatory regulations for corded window coverings, despite the number of deaths increasing. MBIE continues to consider the introduction of standards to prevent child strangulation deaths from the options above and I would encourage MBIE to make progress sooner rather than later.”

There have been two further deaths since the consultation period in ended in March 2023, one of which was Tilly.

MBIE general manager commerce, consumer and business policy Andrew Hume acknowledged the tragic death of Tilly.

“My deepest sympathies are with the family and friends.”

Hume confirmed MBIE had consulted on options to address safety risks of corded window coverings in 2023.

“Our role is to provide advice and options for product safety regulation to the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister. At this stage, the government is not considering introducing regulations for corded window coverings.”

Hume said non-regulatory options to improve safety, such as public information and education campaigns, played an important role in increasing awareness for parents and caregivers and that since Coroner Borrowdale’s report in 2021, MBIE had taken a number of steps to address safety issues with corded window coverings.

“In light of this tragic event, MBIE strongly encourages anyone with corded window blinds to inspect them, review the material on our website and take action where necessary to minimise the risk of corded blinds becoming a danger in the home.”

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson also offered his thoughts and sympathies to Tilly’s family.

“I will consider the Coroner’s report, however I am not currently looking to introduce regulations.”

Simpson said education campaigns played an important role in increasing awareness about the risks associated with corded blinds and MBIE runs had developed information for businesses to make corded blinds safer.

That was of little comfort to Cambie who wanted New Zealand to adopt similar standards to Australia.

“Option 4a was to adopt exactly as Australia has and make sure the cords break free under pressure. So, the cords we had were metal chains, they should only supply plastic ones that break and that all suppliers must supply the clips.

Education could only go so far, she said.

“As a parent you can’t watch your child every minute of the day, they like to play and how do you explain to a three year old the hazards – in their entirety – of corded blinds.”

Consumer NZ head of research and advocacy Gemma Rasmussen supported the call for regulation.

“If you look at other jurisdictions like Australia, the UK and Canada, they all have standards in place for corded window coverings. This seems like a really straightforward thing to do, particularly when you’re considering what the ramifications are when things go wrong.

“We’re talking about babies, toddlers and children dying. You know, we have a number of product safety standards that are set by regulation under the Fair Trading Act and these standards are created to reduce the chance of accidents.”

Rasmussen said it was relatively straightforward to introduce a new standard compared to legislation.

“We see this as a disappointing example of the minister not prioritising product safety and it’s an example of where we’re really behind the eight ball when you compare ourselves to other jurisdictions.

Rasmussen said Consumer NZ would like to see a product safety standard created so that when blinds with cords were installed, it would be mandatory that there would be a fastening over them so that chains or cords wouldn’t be able to come loose and pose a safety risk.

She said education programmes alone were not enough.

“Often when parents are setting up blinds and other things in their homes, they’re tired, there’s a number of different things they need to do and we can’t be assuming that they’re going to go to a website to be reading safety guidelines.”

MBIE initiatives on corded window blinds safety include:

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/how-many-children-have-to-die-for-safety-regulations-for-corded-window-blinds-mother-asks/

Posted on

NZ looks to be on firmer footing in 2026, Westpac economist says

Source: Radio New Zealand

The economic outlook is looking increasingly positive with rising confidence, solid exports and low short-term interest rates. RNZ

The economic outlook is looking increasingly positive with rising confidence, solid exports and low short-term interest rates positioning 2026 for growth, according to Westpac’s first quarter economic overview.

“After a rocky few years, the New Zealand economy looks to be on much firmer footing in 2026,” Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said.

Westpac estimated annual economic growth lifted to 1.8 percent in the year ended 2025, with annual growth accelerating to 3.3 percent in 2026 and 2.7 percent in 2027.

Eckhold said the unemployment rate was expected to fall below 5 percent in the second half of 2026 and decline further over 2027, from 5.4 percent in the year just ended.

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold. Supplied / LinkedIn

“Average borrowing costs are expected to decline further in 2026 as more borrowers roll off earlier fixed terms onto lower mortgage rates. That will help support demand across the domestic economy.”

He said inflation, which had surprised to the upside in late 2025 at 3.1 percent was projected to moderate over 2026, though price pressures remained broad-based, and core inflation was expected to linger above the midpoint of the Reserve Bank (RBNZ)’s target of 2 percent through the rest of the year.

However, he said the RBNZ was likely keep the OCR (official cash rate) at current levels until the end of the year.

“The RBNZ will take most of 2026 to gain confidence that the economic recovery is sustained and durable,” Eckhold said.

“But from then they will move quickly to restore neutral interest rate settings and then move interest rates to slightly restrictive levels in 2028.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/nz-looks-to-be-on-firmer-footing-in-2026-westpac-economist-says/

Posted on

Air NZ strike a ‘last resort’ as cabin crew struggle to pay rent, union says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Air New Zealand cabin crews will strike on Thursday and Friday. RNZ/ Mark Papalii

Air New Zealand says staff are working “around the clock” to minimise disruption as cabin crews go on strike Thursday and Friday.

Flight attendants working on board the airline’s wide-body long range aircraft will stop work over stalled talks on pay and conditions.

Air New Zealand said 46 flights had been cancelled ahead of the strikes.

Chief customer and digital officer, Jeremy O’Brien, said teams were working to rebook and support the nearly 9500 customers affected.

“We have done everything possible to minimise the impact, and our teams have been working around the clock to reaccommodate customers whose flights are affected.

“We are very sorry for the disruption to some customers’ travel plans. Customers have been contacted directly with rebooking options and may also choose a refund or to hold the value of their ticket as credit for travel at a later date,” O’Brien said.

The airline said it had adjusted some flight times and used alternative aircraft to protect the majority of its Tasman and Pacific services from cancellations.

Striking a last resort

E tū union’s national secretary, Rachel Mackintosh, said the strike action was “a last resort” for members frustrated by the failure to reach an agreement after nearly 10 months of negotiations.

E tū national secretary Rachel Mackintosh. RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell

“The crew are – from a passenger point of view – the people who make Air New Zealand such a great airline, who keep people safe, manage crisis and are first responders. Pretty much every member of the travelling public will have seen flight crew manage difficult situations, calm people down who are anxious travellers, manage conflicts, keep every body healthy and safe.

“That’s really important work and the crew are so professional that they make it look easy but it’s actually complex and responsible work,” Mackintosh said.

She said while cabin crews received additional allowances for long hours and time away from home, the low base salary for flight attendants meant many faced problems paying rent or getting loans.

“The base pay [for flight attendants] is very low. Currently less than $60,000 a year. That is the only guaranteed income that people have and not all crew get much more than that because the extra allowances really depend on where you go and what roster you get.

“That pay level has an effect on people’s lives including that they can’t get bank loans or mortgages because that’s their only guaranteed income,” Mackintosh said.

Mackintosh said expensive additions to the airline’s assets such as a new hanger, purchasing aircraft and redesigning new uniforms flew in the face of the efforts of the people working aboard the airline’s flights who, like many others, were struggling to deal with the high cost of living back home.

Air New Zealand said it had offered to increase base salaries by a range of 4.14 percent to 6.41 percent and more pay talks were scheduled for later this month.

The airline has been approached for comment in response to E tū’s statements.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/12/air-nz-strike-a-last-resort-as-cabin-crew-struggle-to-pay-rent-union-says/

Posted on

Child hospitalised after being hit by bus while riding a bike in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

A child is in hospital after being hit by a bus while bike riding in Auckland.

Emergency services were called to the crash on Te Atatu Road around 6.30pm on Wednesday.

Police said officers responded to reports of a vehicle versus a cyclist on Te Atatu Peninsula, while Hato Hone St John dispatched one ambulance and a critical care unit.

A spokesperson for St John said one patient with moderate injuries was 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/2026/02/11/child-hospitalised-after-being-hit-by-bus-while-riding-a-bike-in-auckland/

Posted on

Sea life returns to Maitai Bay, eight years after local hapū declares unofficial fishing ban

Source: Radio New Zealand

Maitai Bay, on the Karikari Peninsula, is a popular Far North holiday spot. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Life is returning to a Far North bay once compared to an underwater desert, eight years after local hapū declared a fishing ban that makes up for its lack of legal clout with tikanga and staunch local support.

A no-take rāhui was declared at Maitai Bay in December 2017, covering the popular cove on the Karikari Peninsula and most of neighbouring Waikato Bay.

Annual monitoring since then has shown growing variety, numbers and size of fish, with a seven-fold increase in snapper leading the resurgence. In the past few years, crayfish have also started to reappear.

Te Rangi-i-Taiāwhiaotia Trust chairwoman Kataraina “Kui” Rhind said alarm about the state of the bay came to a head around 2014.

“We had a couple of whānau who’d spent their lives swimming in this bay and started realising there was absolutely no sea life left in here. It had become a kina barren.”

Rhind said over many decades all the bay’s big crayfish and snapper had been fished out, leaving the kina, or sea urchins, with no natural predators.

Te Rangi-i-Taiāwhiaotia Trust chairwoman Kataraina Rhind, centre, with Mateata Tetaria and Theo Guilloux visiting from Tahiti to learn about the rāhui. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

As kina numbers exploded, the creatures ate every last bit of kelp, leaving reef fish with nowhere to live.

The result was a kina barren, or bare rock populated only by hungry kina.

Rhind said local hapū Te Whānau Moana and Te Rorohuri held a series of hui to discuss what could be done.

At first, locals considered calling on the Ministry of Primary Industries to protect the bay, with an official marine reserve for example, but they soon had second thoughts.

“We had a vision ourselves of what we wanted to achieve and it didn’t include being told what we can and can’t do by MPI. So we decided we’d carry on by ourselves. We don’t have the law, but we have tikanga.”

That meant the no-take rāhui could not be enforced by way of warnings, fines or prosecutions.

Signs around the bay alert visitors to the no-take rāhui. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

However, Rhind said signs had been put up in prominent locations around the bay, pamphlets were handed out to campers, and locals kept an eye on the water.

A gate to neighbouring Waikato Bay, used in the past for launching boats, had been locked by the land owner over separate concerns about vehicles hooning on the beach.

Rhind said it was hard for would-be fishers to escape the sharp eyes of local kids.

“We’ve got our children, all our mokos, along the beach, and if they see anybody fishing they say, ‘Hey, we got a rāhui in here’. And sometimes these people say, ‘It doesn’t matter, we’re taking’. That’s really sad for our mokos. We’re trying to teach them how to rejuvenate, how to restore this place. And then you’ve got arrogant people who just think they’ve got the given right to take whatever they want.”

The hapū took an “education over enforcement” approach, explaining to would-be fishers why the rāhui was in place rather than trying to physically stop them.

Despite some setbacks, Rhind said most visitors and locals backed the rāhui.

“I would go as far as saying 95 percent of the community totally support this kaupapa. They love the fact that they can come to the beach and go for a dive and see fish. Fish come up to them and are nearly kissing them.”

Rhind said people had started comparing Maitai Bay to Goat Island, a long-standing marine reserve at Leigh, north of Auckland.

“There was nothing here, but as the years progress with the rāhui it’s changing. What’s happening is immense.”

That was confirmed by diver Rhys Spilling, who said he had been coming to Maitai Bay since he was a boy.

Now living at nearby Rangiputa, he had seen big changes since the rāhui came into effect.

“The main thing I’ve noticed is the fish aren’t scared of you at all. They’re fine just swimming next to you, and that’s pretty cool. And there’s also much bigger numbers, much bigger fish as well.”

Diver Sofia Koch, from Mount Maunganui, was bubbling with excitement as she emerged from the bay.

Divers Sofia Koch (Mount Maunganui) and Anna Parke (Mangawhai) fully support the rāhui. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

“We saw lots of really friendly snapper. You could pretty much touch them by hand which is really cute. You can pat them. We saw moray eels, octopus, a little jellyfish, an eagle ray, and some really colourful fish.”

Koch fully supported the no-take rāhui.

“Like all the animals, they sometimes need protecting. We take so much. I think it’s a good thing.”

Samara Nicholas, founder of Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, started taking school groups snorkelling at Maitai Bay in the early 2000s, as part of the trust’s Experiencing Marine Reserves programme.

There they would see the bay’s near-lifeless kina barrens before heading to Goat Island, so they could compare it with a healthy marine ecosystem.

“So the kids were able to see the difference, and they were completely blown away by all the fish they could see at Goat Island.

And one of the hapū members approached me and said, ‘It’d be great to do something like this, you know, not a marine reserve, but we’d like to make a no-take area under traditional authority”.

Nicholas said the role of the trust since then had been to help the hapū set up their own trust and achieve their aspirations.

Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust also provided training for local rangatahi [youth] so they could help monitor marine life in the bay.

Children enjoy a snorkel day at Maitai Bay organised by Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust. Supplied / Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust

Nicholas said the changes since 2017 meant Far North schoolchildren could now see a thriving underwater environment without having to travel all the way to Goat Island.

“This is really about restoring the balance and restoring our underwater forests by protecting these predators that eat the kina, then the kelp forest can recover. And that makes much more habitat for reef fish that we’re now seeing. The end goal is that there is more fish for the community to harvest in the future as well.”

Nicholas said the Maitai Bay no-take rāhui had been a success because of its simplicity – some marine protection attempts had been overly complicated, with different rules for different species or types of fishing.

Ecologist Vince Kerr, of Whangārei, said he had led monitoring of Maitai Bay, on behalf of the hapū, since 2018.

During the past four years in particular he had observed increasing fish numbers across all age classes.

“That trend is the really important part. It means restoration is underway, and it’s significant. It’s not just a one-off blip in snapper numbers.”

He had been concerned by the absence of crayfish for the first five to six years but they, too, were starting to return.

“Snapper and crayfish are really the keystone predators that control the joint. They dictate what happens, because they’re the ones that control kina as the primary grazer. So their role is super-important.”

His most recent report described 2025 as “a turning point” with snapper biomass now seven times higher than in 2017.

Fish are returning to Maitai Bay’s depleted reefs. Supplied / Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust

Kerr said it was reasonable to expect that trend would continue until the Maitai Bay figures were comparable to, or even higher than, those at Goat Island, due to habitat quality in and around Maitai Bay.

However, Kerr said populations of reef fish such as red moki and butterfish remained low, suggesting the kelp forests would need to regrow before they returned.

Rhind said the rāhui was originally supposed to remain in place only until 2020 but the hapū soon realised that “didn’t even touch the sides”.

It was then extended to 2025, and had since been extended indefinitely.

Rhind said restoration efforts had stepped up in the past year with volunteer divers now culling kina, giving kelp forests a chance to regenerate.

The trust was also planning to build a matauranga pokapu, or education centre, for use by school groups and researchers. It would include a classroom, lab, museum and kitchen.

Te Rangi-i-Taiāwhiaotia Trust chairwoman Kataraina “Kui” Rhind. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Rhind said the trust had held initial discussions with a major funding provider and hoped to open the centre in early 2028.

Long-term, she hoped the bay would act as a fish nursery for the surrounding area, repopulating waters right around the Karikari Peninsula.

Her dream was one of abundance, both for marine life and for future generations to be able to take the food they needed.

“If we do well within the bay, that will feed out all around the peninsula. You can’t ask for anything better than that, eh?”

Hapū member and keen diver Whetu Rutene was a key driver of the rāhui in 2017.

At the time he said concerns about declining fish numbers were not new, but the rapid spread of kina barrens gave the rāhui urgency.

He said Maitai Bay was not the only place in Northland with kina barrens but it was ideal for a rāhui because it was sheltered with water depth ranging from 1 metre to almost 100m, and it could be easily monitored.

Reaction to the rāhui had been for the most part ”very respectful”.

Before the rāhui, he saw spearfishers and kayak fishers in the bay almost every day, but within a month there were almost none.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/sea-life-returns-to-maitai-bay-eight-years-after-local-hapu-declares-unofficial-fishing-ban/

Posted on

‘Everyone is grieving’ – fatal Wairoa crash devastates community

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wairoa mayor Craig Little believes the people in the car were all from the same family. Nick Monro

A deadly crash involving a car and a school bus has devastated the town of Wairoa, says the local mayor.

The crash – at about 3pm on Tuesday – closed the intersection of Black Street and Archilles Street on State Highway 2.

Only minor injuries were reported from the driver and two passengers on the bus.

But a person in the car was killed, and two others critically injured.

Mayor Craig Little believed the people in the car were all from the same family.

“Wairoa’s a pretty unique place, we all get on, we all know each other,” he said.

“The families probably all know each other who have been involved, the first responders, my hat goes off to them, they would have come across something horrendous.

“The town was really quite sad yesterday and probably still is,” he said.

Police say the death will be referred to the coroner and that they would continue to investigate.

The mayor said that in itself would be a horrible job.

“No-one wanted this on anybody,” he said.

Little had been speaking with relatives who were struggling to cope.

“I don’t think they are, simple as that, you just will never ever get over something like this,” he said.

“Everyone is grieving, really.”

The Ministry of Education said it had engaged a traumatic incident team to work with the school that had its students on the bus.

“This support will be available for as long as it’s needed,” it said.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/everyone-is-grieving-fatal-wairoa-crash-devastates-community/

Posted on

Audit finds no evidence of some wait lists being misrepresented at Nelson Hospital

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the treatment areas in Nelson Hospital’s upgraded emergency department. Samantha Gee / RNZ

  • The Office of the Auditor-General has found no issue with the wait list numbers for first specialist appointments at Nelson Hospital.
  • It comes after two unions raised concerns about placeholder clinics being booked for patients, who had not been seen. They still want to know why “dummy clinics” are being used.
  • Health NZ welcomes the findings, which it says shows its administration approach had not affected first specialist assessment health target reporting.

The Office of the Auditor-General says it has found no evidence of wait list numbers being misrepresented at Nelson Hospital, but the unions which raised concerns say it does not explain why “dummy clinics” were set up to manage patients.

Last July, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation flagged that people at Nelson Hospital were possibly being removed from the waiting list despite not having been seen by a specialist.

At the time, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said the hospital was booking “ghost appointments” to make it look like their targets were being met.

Assistant Auditor-General Russell Bates said it looked at the issue as part of its annual audit of Health NZ and found patients had been removed from the waiting list only when they attended a specialist appointment, or for another valid reason.

He said the Nelson Marlborough District had allocated 24 patients, who had been on a wait list for more than two years, to a “dummy clinic” with a “do not contact” marker.

It served as a holding code while actual additional clinics were arranged.

Bates said the explanation was that it changed the status of patients from “unbooked” to “booked” but it had found patients remained on the waiting list until seen, or until they were removed for another valid reason.

“We can confirm that all 24 patients allocated to a dummy clinic were still included in the first specialist assessment waiting list as at 31 March and 30 June 2025, and the ‘referral date’ had not been altered. These patients are removed from the waiting list only when they attend a specialist appointment, or are removed for another valid reason.

“In other words, the process of setting up a dummy clinic was an administrative action that did not affect patients’ waiting list status for the purpose of reporting on the health target.”

Health NZ said it welcomed the Office of the Auditor-General’s finding that there was no misrepresentation of waiting list numbers and its administration approach had not affected first specialist assessment health target reporting.

It had contracted consulting firm EY to conduct an independent review of the accuracy of the first specialist appointment health target reporting.

Unions still seeking answers

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton questioned why “dummy clinics” had been used and if other hospitals were also using them to manage patient numbers.

“Effectively they’re still explaining themselves by saying this is a way of grouping patients together who need to be seen, who are breaching the waiting times and who we can’t see because we’re not properly staffed and resourced to do this in a timely fashion.

“It doesn’t really matter what you call it. If people are still waiting somewhere on a list and there’s no ability to see them because of resource and constraints, and we know that’s the case at Nelson, they’re rationing access to care.”

She said that was not the fault of the clinicians but a decision made by the health system and the way it was funded and organised and that some people were missing out on care, or waiting “way longer” than was clinically advised.

Waiting lists were matters of public interest and decisions made by Health NZ on how they were managed should be open for public scrutiny, she said.

The Office of the Auditor-General said Health NZ had contracted EY to conduct an independent review of the accuracy of the first specialist appointment health target reporting and the union was yet to see a copy of it.

It is said to address some of the administrative challenges encountered by Health NZ arising from variations across districts.

“If you look at the distribution of access to care for certain conditions around the country, it’s not equitable, it’s not fair. There is further disadvantage if you’re a woman, if you’re Māori, if you’re Pasifika, if you live in a smaller centre, if you live rurally, your access to care is not as good,” Dalton said.

“We still don’t have any kind of a plan or answers from Health New Zealand about how they plan to properly staff and resource all of their hospitals so that people can access care in our public health system within a reasonable time frame.”

Dalton said she understood work was underway to improve wait times and access to care in Nelson and Marlborough, but there was still a lot to be done.

“Although there is some positive change, such as an uptick in numbers of junior doctors being employed at Nelson, there is a long way to go.”

NZ Nurses Organisation chief executive Paul Goulter said its members had raised the issue out of concern for their patients.

“Using an internal code of ‘do not contact’ with five minute appointments didn’t pass the sniff test and concerned the Office of the Auditor-General enough to investigate,” he said.

“It still makes little sense and Te Whatu Ora has yet to explain why Nelson Hospital had to set up ‘dummy clinics’ to establish additional clinics.”

Goulter said NZNO would continue to support its members to advocate for their patients.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/audit-finds-no-evidence-of-some-wait-lists-being-misrepresented-at-nelson-hospital/

Posted on

Auckland secondhand bookshop owner saves store from closure finding new location

Source: Radio New Zealand

Warwick Jordan outside the new shop at 4 Glenside Crescent. RNZ / Evie Richardson

A much-loved and long-running Auckland secondhand bookshop will live to write another chapter, having saved itself from closure.

Hard to Find Books was struggling to find a new location for its hundreds of thousands of titles after its landlord – the Catholic Church – decided to sell the famous former convent where the shop has traded for eight years.

Following months of hunting the shop has finally found a home, but as other secondhand bookshops close their doors it’s still facing a tough fight for survival.

After spending the past five months lugging hundreds of heavy boxes and sliding thousands of books on to the new shop’s shelves it is hard to believe that Warwick Jordan still wants to buy more.

Hard to Find Books’ new location has needed kilometres of shelving to house thousands of books. RNZ / Evie Richardson

It’s lucky, then, that Hard to Find’s new location is only a hop across the road, tucked away in the basement of Auckland’s vinyl haven – Southbound records – in Eden Terrace.

“If we don’t buy them who will? There’s less and less second hand bookshops out there and the ones that are out there, a lot of them aren’t buying at the moment because things are really hard. But I’m obsessive I’ll just keep going into debt or whatever and carry on.”

The huge new basement space can house about 250,000 books allowing Jordan to empty out shipping containers full of titles he couldn’t display at the current shop.

But despite its size, Jordan worries it will not be the same as the grand, 120-year-old convent provided by Catholic church eight years ago in what he hailed as a ‘miracle’ – when the shop left its Onehunga location due to steep rent rises.

“It’s got so much character and it’s got history. There’s the confessional which is the children’

s room, there’s little fittings in the walls where the nuns would get holy water before they’d go in for communion in the chapel. Just sort of the vibe of the place, it’s just a beautiful, amazing building.”

The new shop can house over 250,000 books. RNZ / Evie Richardson

Despite the new space lacking these character features, Jordan is thankful to have somewhere to house his passion.

He said without the support built over the shop’s 43 years he was not sure it could have survived the uncertain times.

“I did debate about do I just take this as a hint of shut up and go away, but there was so many people who didn’t want us to close down. I mean there’s hardly any secondhand bookshops left, and we are a dinosaur and I know it’s not a very sensible economic model and all the rest of it, but I decided the amount of community support was kind of such that I’ve got to keep going.”

Warwick Jordan outside the new shop at 4 Glenside Crescent. RNZ / Evie Richardson

In the past three years two of Auckland’s longest-standing secondhand bookshops have closed their doors.

In 2023, Herne Bay’s Dominion books shut down after 37 years when new landlords put up the rent.

Jason Books, in the city centre, closed after 55 years at the end of 2024.

Manager of The Open Book, Rachel Lynch. RNZ / Evie Richardson

Rachel Lynch – the manager of the Open Book, an oasis of pre-loved novels in Ponsonby – agreed that running a secondhand bookshop is hard work.

“It’s not easy, I mean just straight up money is difficult, we try and pay our staff fairly and foot traffic especially in this particular part is quite difficult, especially on those poor weather days the money is just not there at all.”

Lynch said it was lucky to have generous owners.

“Basically our goal is to break even, ideally, but basically the shareholders, the owners are really enthusiastic about having a bookshop that stays open and serves the community and sometimes that requires extra input from the shareholders.”

The Open Book, a long standing second-hand bookshop on Ponsonby Road. RNZ / Evie Richardson

With hundreds of kilometres of shelving to shift, along with hundreds of thousands of books, Jordan said the backing of the community and donations to a Givealittle page played a large part in making Hard to Find’s move happen.

“For example we had to paint the floor because it was concrete, we couldn’t have afforded to paint it if it hadn’t been for give a little, and the shelving, we’ve had to get a lot of shelving.”

With the shop now once again safe from closure Jordan hopes the new, slightly harder-to-find location can thrive within a tough retail climate.

“I just hope they’ll like it. Where we are is iconic, where we were before that was iconic. Can I do iconic again, that’s kind of a big ask, I would hope I create something that people like, and want to come back to and get a buzz out of.”

The shop is expected to open at its new location around mid-March.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/auckland-secondhand-bookshop-owner-saves-store-from-closure-finding-new-location/

Posted on

Video of Michael Reed KC being asked to leave NZ First event played at probe into Judge Ema Aitken

Source: Radio New Zealand

A panel investigating the behaviour of a judge accused of disrupting an NZ First event has heard from its first witnesses today, members of the NZ First party.

District Court Judge Ema Aitken is before a Judicial Conduct panel over allegations she yelled at party leader Winston Peters, calling him a liar, and saying comments he made were disgusting, during an event at Auckland’s Northern Club in 2024.

The judge said she did not shout, did not recognise Peters’ voice when she responded to remarks she overheard, and did not know it was a political event.

The Judicial Conduct Panel was responsible for reporting on the judge’s conduct, finding the facts, and ultimately recommending if the judge should be removed.

On Wednesday, the panel heard from NZ First party secretary and deputy chief of staff Holly Howard, who provided details on the night in question and who allegedly blocked the judge from entering the event.

Later in the afternoon, panellists heard evidence from Dorothy Jones, an NZ First board member and the person who organised the event.

She spoke not only about the disruption not just of a “woman in yellow” yelling, but also that of Auckland lawyer Michael Reed KC.

In a video played to the panel, Reed can be seen trying to film inside the NZ First event, despite being told numerous times it was not allowed to.

At one point in the video, Reed cautions those trying to stop him they shouldn’t touch him, else they ‘be sued for a lot of money’.

Jones rang the Northern Club the following day to report the disturbances of the night prior.

“Primarily, it was in relation to Mr Reed wasn’t it […] because you understood him to be a litigious man,” asked Aitken’s lawyer David Jones KC.

“Hostile,” Dorothy Jones replied.

David Jones KC. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Aitken’s lawyer asked if Reed was the main concern for the party over what had happened that evening.

“Correct,” Jones replied.

Jones also recalled seeing a woman at the door of the event, yelling.

“I recalled the woman yelled words to the effect that the speaker was a liar, ‘how could you let him lie,’” she said.

“At this point Holly and I managed to escort the woman away from the doors.”

Dorothy Jones said she and Howard had been tried to usher the woman away at the event.

Jones KC pressed the witness on whether she and Howard put hands on the woman.

“We didn’t physically do anything, we just asked her to leave and we escorted her with our open arms,” Dorothy Jones said.

Jones KC asked what she meant by open arms.

“As in we were [ushering],” she said, “not touching.”

District Court Judge Ema Aitken at the Judicial Conduct Panel on Monday. Finn Blackwell / RNZ

Jones KC scrutinised the witnesses recollection of events, where people were standing and the timelines of the evening.

He asked about a report of the incident made by NZ First to the Northern Club following the incident.

Jones KC said mention of the woman who yelled wasn’t in the Northern Club report, despite the witness saying she had mentioned it.

“Did you raise that with the Northern Club, ‘hey the report isn’t accurate because I mentioned these other things as well,’” he asked.

“No, I didn’t,” Dorothy Jones responded.

“Is that because the incident so called with the woman in the yellow dress was really a nothing,” Jones KC said.

Dorothy Jones denied that, to which Jones KC did suggested she hadn’t mentioned it because it wasn’t important enough to actually say.

“I did mention it,” she reiterated.

Dorothy Jones said she had privacy concerns for the donors present at the event.

“Not physical safety,” David Jones KC asked.

“No,” said Dorothy Jones.

The inquiry continues tomorrow.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/video-of-michael-reed-kc-being-asked-to-leave-nz-first-event-played-at-probe-into-judge-ema-aitken/

Posted on

Children’s Minister too busy to front on Malachi Subecz report

Source: Radio New Zealand

Malachi Subecz was subjected to months of horrific abuse. Supplied

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is yet to front questions on a scathing coroner’s report into the death of Malachi Subecz.

Coroner Janet Anderson report found everything possible went wrong for the 5-year-old in the last six months of his life.

Senior Cabinet Ministers have expressed shock at the report; Child Povery Reduction Minister Louise Upston taking a series of questions on it before Question Time this afternoon.

Chhour, who has responsibility for Oranga Tamariki, has declined requests for a short interview on the coroner’s report today.

RNZ first contacted her office to arrange an interview this morning, given the minister does not walk through reporter scrums at Parliament due to hearing issues.

Chhour struggled to find free time to talk on the coroner’s report. NZME / Mark Mitchell

In response to a follow-up query a few hours later, a spokesperson said they were “struggling to find even a free 2 mins in the Minister’s diary”.

Chhour was seen at a promotional event, showcasing the red meat sector for National Lamb Day, on the Speaker’s Lawn about lunchtime.

When that was raised with her office, the spokesperson replied: “Sorry she needed to eat”.

Anderson’s report highlighted serious concerns about the pace at which Oranga Tamariki has improved its system in response to Malachi’s death.

“They are not happpening fast enough,” she said.

Malachi Subecz died of a blunt force head injury at Starship Hospital in 2021. Supplied

She pointed out a previous system-wide review, led by the late Dame Karen Poutasi, recommended Oranga Tamariki run a public awareness campaign to help anyone identify possible signs of abuse and how to take action – but that had still not happened.

“It is hard to understand why this has not yet happened given the Oranga Tamariki Chief Executive’s statutory duties, and the previous recommendations that have been made about this matter, including by Dame Poutasi over three years ago.”

She recommended Oranga Tamariki prioritise and roll out an awareness campaign, and that “it must no longer be delayed”.

Chhour’s office provided a statement just before 6pm Wednesday night.

“I agree with Coroner Janet Anderson assessment that Malachi Subecz was the victim of unspeakable cruelty and deliberate evil, which no child should ever have to endure.

“My heart goes out to everyone who loved and cared for Malachi, for whom today’s findings will be incredibly painful.

“The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention (the Centre) and Oranga Tamariki are supporting the work being led by MSD to implement recommendations from Dame Karen Poutasi’s report into the death of Malachi Subecz.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/childrens-minister-too-busy-to-front-on-malachi-subecz-report/

Posted on

Teaching Council too focused on ‘being liked by the profession’ – review

Source: Radio New Zealand

The review said the council should use its rich data about teachers to identify patterns and help tackle negative trends and risks. RNZ / Richard Tindiller

The Teaching Council needs to focus more on children’s safety and less on being liked by teachers, according to an independent review.

The review of the teacher registration body has called for significant transformation and more emphasis on its role as a regulator.

It has been published while the council’s chief executive Lesley Hoskin is on leave during a Public Service Commission review of the council’s procurement and conflict of interest practices, and amid widespread opposition to a government overhaul of the council.

The document – provided to RNZ by the council – said the council’s current statutory purpose was “to ensure safe and high-quality leadership, teaching, and learning in early childhood, primary, and secondary education through raising the status of the profession”.

It said the government was moving to cut the reference to raising the status of teaching and the review was aimed at establishing future opportunities in light of wider education reforms.

The report said those opportunities included shifting the council’s mindset “from the current focus on promoting respect for the profession and being liked by the profession to a prevention and stewardship mindset, focussed on improving child safety and the quality of teaching, and growing public trust and confidence in the profession”.

“The current focus on the mana of teachers and the profession must be properly balanced with the council’s’ statutory responsibilities to protect children from the sorts of competency and conduct breaches that create lifelong harm and trauma,” the report said.

“The council needs to lead the education sector to improve performance in preventing incompetence or misconduct while simultaneously shifting its focus from managing the consequences of misconduct to addressing the causes.”

Education Minister Erica Stanford told the Education and Workforce Select Committee on Wednesday the review vindicated the government’s moves to overhaul the council and take greater control over teacher education.

The review said the council appeared to have the culture of an advocacy body rather than of a regulatory or membership body.

“While there may be times when the council advocates for the profession, these must be balanced with its other roles and functions,” the report said.

“In spite of the statutory requirement to have regard to the policy of the government of the day, the agency does not appear to see itself as part of the wider state sector, within which the teaching profession sits.”

The review said the council should use its rich data about teachers to identify patterns and help tackle negative trends and risks.

“For example, the council’s registration teams can see the current trend towards increasing numbers of foreign trained teachers, which if extrapolated, will see up to 30 percent of the workforce foreign trained by 2035. They might also see patterns about where in the system probationary teachers are not reaching the standards required for permanent registration, or where leaders may appear to be ‘tick boxing’ certification applications.”

The report expressed concern that the council had recently lost qualified teachers and expert investigators from its staff.

It said the council had a strongly mission-driven and committed culture, but there were signs of dominant cliques that might “freeze out” those who did not agree with it.

“The executive has sometimes appeared, to some interviewees, to prioritise pliability over relevant experience and technical expertise,” it said.

The report warned that the level of change required at the council was significant and would need careful planning and management.

Last year the council’s acting chief executive [. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/581901/teaching-council-interim-ceo-resigns-from-board-for-avoidance-of-doubt-chair-says resigned his seat] on the council’s governing board after RNZ inquiries into the legality of the dual roles

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/teaching-council-too-focused-on-being-liked-by-the-profession-review/

Posted on

Finn Diesel, Trixie or Trevor? – name sought for Gore’s iconic giant trout

Source: Radio New Zealand

The brown trout statue was unveiled by Sir Bob Jones in February 1989, but has been unnamed ever since. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Gore’s famous giant brown trout statue is angling for an official name.

The sculpture – designed by local artist Erroll Allison and built by a local engineering firm – has proudly stood in Gore for almost 40 years.

The statue, capturing a trout mid-leap, is finally getting a name as part of a competition to promote the Southland town’s On The Fly Festival on the Mataura River later this month.

Gore District Council senior events co-ordinator Florine Potts told Checkpoint that there had been “heaps” of suggestions, with Trouty McTroutface one of the first to come through – “Someone had to do it.”

Potts said the list of initial names had been slimmed down to five finalists – Trixie, Scout, Trevor, Gordon or Finn.

“Voting has only opened on Monday, so people still have a lot of time to vote.

“Everyone can vote, they can go on our socials or text our local radio station. If you come to Gore, you can have an opinion on it.”

Potts said they were hoping other towns with giant statues of local animals and produce will follow suit and name their own statues.

She said locals were looking forward to being able to stop referring to it as just “the trout”, but said whatever the name, it would always be a true Gore icon.

“People come and visit and take photos with the trout. Everyone knows the trout.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/11/finn-diesel-trixie-or-trevor-name-sought-for-gores-iconic-giant-trout/