Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

After the Waitangi Day Festival dawn service at Te Whare Rūnanga – the Treaty Grounds, in the Bay of Islands, people lined the beach in front of Te Tii Marae and the Waitangi Bridge to watch the arrival of the waka flotilla.

Organisers prepared for some 700 kaihoe (waka paddlers) to make their way under the Waitangi Bridge to Te Tii Marae, led by the massive Waka Ngātokimatawhaorua.

Treaty Grounds officials said about 3000 people attended the dawn service and there were about 35,000 people at the grounds by midday Waitangi Day.

• Waitangi 2026 dawn service: In pictures

Albert Cash, kaihautū of the waka parade, spoke to RNZ just before the waka were launched this morning: “It’s exciting, what a beautiful day we’re blessed with,” he said.

People had come from all corners of Aotearoa to share in the ambience, and honour what the tūpuna signed,” Cash said.

“Waka is what’s brought us together, waka is what brought us across the Pacific.”

RNZ/ Mark Papalii

The arrival of kaihoe at Te Tii Beach. RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

Many took a break from the official Waitangi Festival programme with a manu (divebomb) from the Waitangi Bridge.

“We’re popping some manus out here today at Waitangi,” said one of the people lined up to leap from the packed Waitangi Bridge. “Why? For the culture – I’ve got 20 years experience and I’m kind of used to it,” he said.

It was his first time jumping from Waitangi’s bridge, “but I’m used to the height”.

While popular with children, adults were taking a dive too.

But one adult jumper said they was steering clear of the famed manu slap: “I backslap – so I just do a coffin [instead]. It’s not my first time but it’s great, I love it,” she said.

Jumping was only painful when landing in the water with your thighs, she said.

RNZ/ Giles Dexter

RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

Crowds on the Waitangi Bridge, during the Waitangi Day Festival. RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

“This year’s kaupapa or theme is manaakitanga (hospitality) and Mō tātou, mā tātou (by all of us, for all of us),” the organisers said ahead of the festival, in the programme.

“Manaakitanga reflects the importance of caring for others, extending warmth, respect and generosity to all.

“Mō tātou, mā tātou reminds us that the future of Aotearoa is something we shape together. It speaks to collective responsibility and shared benefit, a commitment to build a future designed, carried and upheld by all who call this place home.

“As we gather to celebrate Waitangi, we invite you to honour these values, fostering an atmosphere of unity, respect and shared purpose.”

Hīkoi at Waitangi Day Mark Papalii

Mark Papalii

RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

Mark Papalii

The chair of the Waitangi National Trust said Waitangi is a place for all New Zealanders, not just a few.

Tania Simpson said this year’s theme, ‘Mō tātou, mā tātou’, was about the constructing a future together.

She said New Zealanders from all walks of life should be respected.

“Whoever is in the conversation about where we’re going, it needs to be a future for all of us, a future that we can all see ourselves in.

“And that doesn’t mean sameness or homogeneity, it means that we collectively construct something that everybody feels their identity can be respected within.”

RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

Kapa Haka RNZ/ Mark Papalii

RNZ/ Mark Papalii

RNZ/ Mark Papalii

Many people made a day of it, enjoying lunch together in the shade of the norfolk pines and pōhutukawa. RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/waitangi-day-2026-in-pictures-the-waka-kapa-haka-and-crowds/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) is warning that ongoing strikes are putting the public at risk.

It received 18 calls during Friday’s strike, and 10 cases were in areas impacted by the industrial action.

Fire crews dealt with two vegetation fires. One was controlled and the other burned out of control, but was stopped within the hour.

FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said the continued strike action was unnecessary and dangerous.

She said union threats to escalate to twice weekly strikes was not bargaining in good faith.

FENZ expressed similiar concern after a fire destroyed a Pakuranga business on 9 January when firefighters a few minutes away were on a notified stopwork for an hour.

Professional Firefighters’ Union national secretary Wattie Watson rejected that criticism at the time, saying FENZ had presented them with a “long list” of types of incidents the union might call off the strikes for, though the action had strict legal parameters around it, including advance notice.

“FENZ is attempting to go behind that notice, and any change that we give them would give them an argument that these notices are no longer valid,” she said.

FENZ and the union have had a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/fenz-warns-of-public-risk-as-18-calls-received-during-strike/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Waitangi Day celebrations are ongoing, starting with a dawn service which included a rowdy reception for the deputy prime minister and a waka flotilla and poewrful haka.

Follow coverage on our live blog below.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/watch-live-waitangi-visitors-reflect-on-manaakitanga/

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/ch-nonso-bringing-the-sounds-of-afro-soul-to-aotearoa/

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person has died, after a boat capsized off Tararu Beach, Thames on Friday morning.

Coastguard was alerted to two people in the water at 11.45am and found both had reached shore, but efforts to resuscitate one of them through CPR and a defibrillator proved unsuccessful.

Police, Fire and Emergency NZ and St John were also at the scene, and the capsized boat was recovered.

The death will be referred to the coroner.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/one-dead-after-boat-capsizes-off-thames-coast/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are investigating the “water-related” death of a five-year-old boy in Napier, after recovering his body early Friday morning.

The boy went missing around the Westshore area between 6pm and 8.30pm on Thursday. Police were notified that a body was seen in the water off The Esplanade, Westshore, at about 8.25pm and it was located by emergency services at 1.30am Friday.

A formal identification process was underway and the death will be referred to the coroner.

“Police would like to hear from anyone who was in the Westshore area, in particular Charles and Gardiner Streets, and the Ferguson Avenue Surf Life Saving Club area, who saw an unattended child on Thursday night,” said Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley of Hawke’s Bay Crime Squad.

Anyone with CCTV footage or any other information can contact police on 105.police.govt.nz or call 105, and use the reference number 260206/9567. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/police-launch-investigation-into-water-related-napier-death/

Source: Radio New Zealand

At Waitangi, Papamīharo stands out as an intentional space.

The colourful, immersive tent has invited mokopuna, rangatahi and whānau to slow down, reconnect and “simply be”. Creating room for play, imagination and rest, grounded in the principles of taakaro, or indigenous play.

Designed by mokopuna, for mokopuna across Te Tai Tokerau, the space positions children as leaders – “atua of the space”.

Papamīharo has been evolving for nearly six years. Led by ĀKAU Foundation, the space is a collaboration between Whetū Marewa, the Children’s Commission, Mana Mokopuna and schools across the rohe.

Kaimahi at ĀKAU Joe Henare and spatial designer Hope Pūriri have both been involved in this year’s presence.

They said that rather than emerging from a single vision, the kaupapa grew out of a shared concern from whānau, hapū and iwi around Te Tai Tokerau – that Waitangi is often experienced through an adult lens, with children expected to follow along.

“Well, going into this, we weren’t alone,” Henare said.

“It was a want, a need from our community, from our iwi, from our hapū. If you look around the Waitangi space, it’s a very adult space, and our kids are usually just dragged along for the ride.”

Papamīharo offered an alternative – an immersive, hands-on environment where people of all ages were encouraged to take part.

Fun was central to the kaupapa, but not in a “loud or over-stimulating way”, Henare said. Instead, the space was designed to support different ages, energies and rhythms, from pēpi through to kaumātua.

“This year, we’ve just gone for it and created this beautiful mokopuna space for our mokopuna, where our kids are the atua of the space.”

Intergenerational care

Intergenerational care was also key, Pūriri and Henare explained. Throughout the week, kaumātua and kaitiaki had been present to support the space and those moving through it.

“Papamīharo came together with kōhanga reo babies, preschoolers, through to our school kids, but our older kids too… A lot of it’s been around this creation of ideas of taonga tākoro,” Pūriri said.

“So we’ve got some of our kaumātua from around who’ve been amazing, and just coming along on the journey with us, being here to manaaki, all of us throughout this time, ensuring that our babies, our tamariki and our whānau are safe during their time here,” she added.

The space itself had been shaped directly by tamariki and rangatahi. Schools from across Te Tai Tokerau were given design packs, resources and timeframes, with everyone’s mahi coming out “completely different”.

“So, we gave out design packs to each school. They all had the same resources, the same tohu, the same timeframes, but yet we have 1000 different variations of the same thing. And that is beautiful. It speaks to the individualism of each child,” Henare said.

There had been poi and rākau making, tamataiki weaving, and manu rere making, amidst climbing structures and shelters, many made from recycled and natural materials.

Every piece reflected what mattered to the child who created it.

“They’ll see that whānau is important to them. They’ll see that learning is important to them. And our challenge to the school is, does your curriculum reflect what your kids want?” Henare said.

Underlying Papamīharo was a belief that children did not need to be taught how to play – they already knew.

“For us here, they’re the teachers. They’re the ones who know how to naturally play, who have vivid imaginations, who are free to express themselves inside these walls,” Henare added.

That belief was echoed by Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad, who saw Papamīharo as a place where play and culture existed together.

“It’s a week and a day for everyone in Aotearoa, Māori, Pākehā, and what I’ve heard from taitamariki here in Te Tai Tokerau is the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi for them; they’ve talked to me about how it’s an important document… for all people.

“They want more taitamariki to feel empowered with knowledge about Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Achmad added. “Here… taitamariki are sharing their whakaaro.”

For her, the leadership already being shown by rangatahi was unmistakable.

“The rangatahi of today, they are already stepping up to be rangatira, to lead and show the way towards that kotahitanga for Aotearoa, and I think that’s incredibly powerful.

“Papamīharo is here to ensure mokopuna have space at Waitangi, and have the opportunity just to be themselves here at Waitangi.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/our-kids-are-the-atua-of-the-space-papamiharo-creates-space-for-taitamariki-at-waitangi/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man’s attempt to flee police by setting sail quickly failed when he came across a police catamaran operating nearby.

Police said at about 8.30am Friday, officers told a 27-year-old Porirua man at the Mana Twin Bridges public boat ramp he was under arrest for breaching bail conditions.

“Rather than face the consequences of his actions on a public holiday, the man jumped into his boat and fled towards the horizon,” police said.

Unbeknownst to him, the police catamaran, Lady Elizabeth IV, was operating nearby and responded when shore-based officers reported his escape from custody.

Unit Supervisor Sergeant Richard Kennedy said the appearance of the police boat, complete with flashing lights, probably came as a surprise to the fleeing skipper, who allegedly ignored all instructions to stop.

“When he saw us, he did a 180 in his boat and headed off at a rate of knots. He hit Porirua Harbour at speed and headed toward the shore, with us in pursuit,” Kennedy said.

“It didn’t get any better for the absconder because we were speaking with police units on the ground and letting them know where he was heading ashore.”

The man was quickly found hiding under a boat shed on the south side of the twin bridges at Paremata and placed in custody.

Police said the man has been charged with breach of bail and escaping custody. A further charge of dangerous boating was being considered.

Fisheries officers were also making enquiries after an inspection of the vessel.

The man is expected to appear in the Wellington District Court in the coming days.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/quick-getaway-sinks-fast-as-fleeing-boatie-runs-into-police-catamaran/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Water says screened wastewater is now being discharged straight into the Cook Strait again after days of being discharged near the shoreline on the South Coast.

On Wednesday the Moa Point wastewater plant’s lower floors completely flooded when sewage backed up in the 1.8km outfall pipe, which normally sends treated wastewater into the Cook Strait.

Since then raw sewage has been spewing from a five-metre pipe directly into the southern coastline.

In an discharge notice on Friday morning, Wellington Water said screened wastewater was now discharging to the long outfall pipe again.

Late on Thursday evening staff were able to get the long outfall pipe partially operating and the screens at the treatment plant working, Wellington Water said.

The screens remove items like sanitary pads and wet wipes from the wastewater, before it is discharged.

Wellington Water board chair Nick Leggett said currently they were only able to pump 900 litres per second of wastewater through the long outfall pipe.

“Which is most of the wastewater during an average day, but during peak flows throughout the day we will need to use the short outfall pipe,” he said.

Wellington Water said discharging screened wastewater out to sea via the 1.8km long outfall pipe allowed for greater dilution of the wastewater in the Cook Strait, reducing the amount of untreated wastewater flowing around the coastline, but the risk to public health still remained.

“For this reason, our advice to the public remains the same: we strongly advise that people avoid the coastal area along the south of Wellington until further notice. Do not enter the water or collect kaimoana from this area. Do not walk your dog along the beach,” said Leggett.

Leggett said while the situation remained serious, it was good to see progress.

“The team are working carefully throughout the weekend to increase the volume of flow through the long outfall pipe as much as possible, to reduce the use of the short outfall pipe,” said Leggett.

“However, the situation remains complex and at this stage we are unable to provide a timeframe of when this may be.”

Material being drained from longfall pipe, diver inspections taking place

Wellington Water said on Friday work was also being done to drain the clarifier tanks.

“There is some biological material that settles in the clarifier tanks that cannot be trucked, and the plan is to drain this via the long outfall pipe, where it is diluted.”

It said it was important to remove this material as soon as possible before it has a chance to become anaerobic and septic.

“This would cause an odour problem and pose a significant health and safety risk to workers onsite.”

However it cautioned that while the material was being drained people could see an increase of murky water in the area 1.8km out to sea.

Wellington Water said divers were also inspecting diffusers at the end of the outfall pipe on Friday.

“Shoreline inspections and clean-up of debris on the coastline around the short outfall continue three times daily, with a focus on completing these at low tide.”

A rāhui remains in place and covers anything the water touches/can touch with the high or low tides. While it is in effect, no public activities should be undertaken on or around the beaches on the southern coastline.

Mayor Andrew Little previously described the event a “catastrophic failure”, and said there must be an independent inquiry into what happened.

There were also concerns the leak could contaminate a nearby marine reserve and put several species at risk.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/wellingtons-sewage-diverted-away-from-shore-out-to-cook-strait/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Waitangi Day celebrations are ongoing, starting with a dawn service which included a rowdy reception for the deputy prime minister and a waka flotilla and poewrful haka.

Follow coverage on our live blog below.

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/2026/02/06/watch-live-waitangi-day-celebrations-continue/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Water says screened wastewater is now being discharged straight into the Cook Strait again after days of being discharged near the shoreline on the South Coast.

On Wednesday the Moa Point wastewater plant’s lower floors completely flooded when sewage backed up in the 1.8km outfall pipe, which normally sends treated wastewater into the Cook Strait.

Since then raw sewage has been spewing from a five-metre pipe directly into the southern coastline.

In an discharge notice on Friday morning, Wellington Water said screened wastewater was now discharging to the long outfall pipe again.

Mayor Andrew Little previously described the event a “catastrophic failure”, and said there must be an independent inquiry into what happened.

There were also concerns the leak could contaminate a nearby marine reserve and put several species at risk.

Wellington Water strongly advised the public to stay away from South Coast beaches, and not to collect kaimoana in the area.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/screened-wastewater-now-being-discharged-straight-into-cook-strait/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Celebrations have begun at Waitangi Day, starting with a dawn service which included a rowdy reception for the deputy prime minister.

Follow coverage on our live blog below.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/watch-live-waitangi-day-celebrations-continue-as-waka-hit-the-water/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle on a northbound lane of the Southern Motorway at Ōtara early on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called about 12.30am on Friday, between the Te Irirangi Drive on-ramp and the East Tamaki Road off-ramp.

First responders attended to the person, who died at the scene.

The northbound lanes were closed until 6am Friday.

Police said enquiries into the crash were ongoing.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/pedestrian-dies-after-being-hit-by-vehicle-in-otara/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle on a northbound lane of the Southern Motorway at Ōtara early on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called about 12.30am on Friday, between the Te Irirangi Drive on-ramp and the East Tamaki Road off-ramp.

First responders attended to the person who died at the scene.

The northbound lanes were closed until 6am Friday.

Police said enquiries into the crash are ongoing.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/pedestrian-killed-after-being-hit-by-vehicle-in-otara/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A body has been located at a beach in Napier, police say.

At around 8:25pm on Thursday, police were notified that a body was seen in the water off The Esplanade, Westshore.

Police and Coastguard responded and conducted a search for the body, which was recovered just before 1:30am.

A formal identification process is underway, and the death will be referred to the Coroner.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/body-found-at-napier-beach/