Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are investigating the death of a man at a Tākaka property.

They said they were notified at about 3am that the 75-year-old had died.

Police are treating the death as unexplained.

A scene examination has been completed at the property.

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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/2026/01/26/police-investigating-unexplained-death-in-takaka/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A union representing Kiwi nurses has expressed “disgust” at the death of a fellow medical professional in the United States at the hands of government agents.

Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by immigration officers during a protest in Minneapolis on Saturday (US time).

The government-employed intensive care nurse had been helping direct traffic during a protest against the Trump administration’s supposed immigration crackdown in the city.

Video showed he was assisting a woman who had been pushed to the ground by an agent when he was pinned to the ground, pepper-sprayed, disarmed and then shot 10 times by federal agents.

Government officials have said Pretti “approached” agents with a pistol and then “violently resisted” being disarmed.

While legally armed, video at the scene analysed by multiple media organisations shows Pretti did not draw his weapon during the confrontation.

Pretti was employed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which looks after the needs of the country’s military veterans.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) said it was “increasingly concerned at the callous and aggressive attacks” by the US government on its own people. Pretti’s death came two weeks after a mother-of-three was shot dead by agents in the same city.

“It seems that nobody is safe, and when health workers are losing their lives on the street it is gravely concerning,” kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said.

In both shooting deaths, Trump administration officials made claims about the circumstances that were contradicted by video evidence.

Pretti’s parents said a government claims he was an “assassin” and a “domestic terrorist” were “sickening lies”.

NZNO said it stood with “health workers everywhere and… with all peoples aspiring for freedom from an oppressive system and unprovoked attacks”.

“Nurses are always at the forefront of ensuring the safety and well-being of their communities,” Nuku said. “We are appalled that health workers and communities in general in the US live in constant fear of being indiscriminately harassed, assaulted and even killed.

“Nurses in particular are carers and protectors. Alex was an ICU nurse, so cared for patients when they were at their most vulnerable.”

Those who worked with Pretti described him as a “kind-hearted soul” and a “good, kind person who lived to help”.

Minnesota state officials have called for an end to the federal government’s operation in the city.

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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/2026/01/26/alex-pretti-death-new-zealand-nurses-organisation-appalled-at-us-governments-killing-of-icu-worker/

Source: Radio New Zealand

• Three of the five members of the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime have resigned in the past month.
• One of the three, Retail NZ chief executive, has cited the group’s “very unpleasant environment”.
• The group’s chairman says resignations reflect normal leadership changes
• Justice Minister says external commitments and job changes behind exodus.
• The group has faced criticism for its spending.

The chief executive of Retail NZ says she quit a ministerial advisory group because her relationship with its chairman became untenable.

Carolyn Young is one of three business leaders advising the government on how to combat retail crime to have walked away in the past month, leaving just two members to complete the work.

Young’s departure follows that of Foodstuffs North Island senior manager Lindsay Rowles and Michael Hill national retail manager Michael Bell, who quit late last year.

The group is led by Sunny Kaushal, who remains as chairman, with one other member remaining, Hamilton liquor retailer Ash Parmar.

Young said while Kaushal had the confidence of Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, he was not the right person to chair the group.

In an interview with Checkpoint on Monday, she told Lisa Owen about its “unpleasant environment”.

Goldsmith made the appointments to the group in mid-2024 and they were supposed to be for two years.

Since then, the MAG has faced criticism for its spending, including on catered meetings around New Zealand and for its inner-city Auckland office space.

It has also faced questions about its value for money after it was revealed that Kaushal invoiced more than $230,000 for work in its first 12 months.

Kaushal defends the group’s work, saying it operates under its $1.8 million annual budget, which comes from the proceeds of crime fund.

Ministerial advisory groups have been set up to provide expert advice to the government on issues such as aged-care funding and transnational crime.

The retail crime group was created after a sharp spike in crime in the sector. Members are appointed by the government.

‘Very unpleasant environment’

Young said her resignation was a difficult decision. It came after long conversations at the Retail NZ board level.

“We know that our members were really keen for me to stay on the group, but it really became untenable in terms of the relationship with the chair and just some of the ongoing communication that I’ve had from them and himself, really implicating my professionalism and who I am and how I work.

“I just didn’t think that was the right thing for me and a professional way to go about things.”

Young said the dairy owners sector group, previously led by Kaushal, had made a personal attack on her.

There were conversations within the MAG about that, which she described as “less than satisfactory”, as well as ongoing communication with Kaushal about engagement work by Young.

“It just felt like it was a continual battle to constantly be able to speak about what retailers are really looking for and how that plays out.

“It wasn’t wasn’t leading to getting good outcomes for retail, and that’s really the key thing that we’re after,” Young said.

“Certainly, it was a very unpleasant environment. It wasn’t a nice place to go and spend an afternoon in a meeting room, that’s for sure.”

She said the group’s effectiveness would be judged in time and, in her view, its key piece of work was about recommendations to strengthen trespass laws.

“But I’m not sure about anything else – whether it’s going to make a significant difference to retail crime and providing protections to retail workers.”

When asked about Kaushal, Young said it was important he was involved with the group.

“I’m not sure that he’s necessarily the right person as the chair, but the minister clearly has confidence in him and isn’t about to make a change – [that] is my understanding.”

On the group’s spending, Young said it was fine so long as it wasn’t out of kilter with other advisory groups.

She said the office space was significant for the group’s small number of people, and she was sure officials would make sure there was good accountability for what was spent.

Rowles and Bell were contacted for comment.

Resignations ‘reflect normal leadership movement’ – chairman

Kaushal said he was at the Indian Republic Day celebration event on Monday, so couldn’t be interviewed.

In a written response to questions from RNZ he said the changes “reflect normal leadership movement in any organisation”.

“Members hold other senior roles and when business demands increase, or people step into new appointments, they sometimes need to step back from external commitments,” he said.

“The work of the MAG continues. We have a busy year of new work ahead.

“The group remains focused on delivering practical, evidence-informed advice to improve safety for retailers and communities.”

He did not answer questions about whether, as chairman, he took any responsibility for the resignations; how the group worked together and if there was any conflict; and what work is in the pipeline for the group this year and if the resignations would affect that.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith was also unavailable for an interview.

“Due to external commitments and job changes, Carolyn Young, Michael Bell and Lindsay Rowles have recently resigned from the Ministerial Advisory Group,” the minister said in a statement.

“I thank them for their work and wish them well in their next endeavours.

“The MAG has been extremely busy over the last 12 months generating detailed policy proposals, including new citizens’ arrest powers, a shoplifting infringement regime and strengthening trespass laws.

“These were crucial in developing the Crimes Amendment Bill, which passed its first reading in December. We plan to pass this into law before the election.”

Goldsmith said the government was determined to give businesses more options, and to fix the basics in law and order.

“In order to achieve different outcomes, we need to try different things,” he said.

“We are now considering next steps.”

‘Clearly over-catered’

Just before Christmas RNZ revealed criticism of the group for its spending of almost $24,000 on a series of 22 well-catered stakeholder engagement meetings around New Zealand.

Two meetings in Auckland each cost more than $4000, while another cost more than $3000.

Rock melon, goat’s cheese and prosciutto crostini, mini chicken and leek savouries, and $9 bottles of Coke were among menu items around the country.

Kaushal said the meetings were an important part of his mission to fix retail crime in New Zealand.

After a select committee hearing, where the spending at one of the Auckland meetings came under fire, Goldsmith told the NZ Herald the event was “clearly over-catered” and “probably had too many scones”.

Labour MP Duncan Webb was critical of the cost of food at the meetings.

“It just sounds like he’s spending government funding lavishly,” he said.

RNZ has also revealed the Ministry of Justice, which provides back-office support to the group, has leased for it a central Auckland office space for $100,000 a year.

The ministry said the 389-square-metre space was used for meetings, video conferences and boardroom sessions, as well as having room for up to 70-80 people for engagements and events.

In his first year as the group’s chairman Kaushal billed $238,625, at a daily rate of $920.

Chairman of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime, Steve Symon, received the same rate, while chief victims adviser Ruth Money is paid $850 for every day worked in the role.

Kaushal can work up to 250 days a year and invoiced for the maximum amount.

Among the staff supporting the group are three principal policy advisers.

RNZ has previously revealed that one position earns $1261 a day for a contract ending next month, another earns $1126 a day on a contract finishing in March, and the third is on $1036 a day on a contract ending in September.

RNZ has also revealed how ministry officials have provided advice to Goldsmith about concerns to do with Kaushal, however, the minister won’t release the information.

‘On a mission’

In December Kaushal said the group had delivered five “legislative-ready major policy papers” – addressing citizens’ arrests, strengthening trespass laws and allowing retailers to use pepper spray to defend themselves.

“I am on a mission. My focus is on the bigger goal, fixing retail crime in New Zealand, which is costing $2.7 billion per year,” he said.

The ministry and the minister’s office refused to release advice and recommendations from the group last year, including about trespass and “personal safety aides”, which included pepper spray.

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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/2026/01/26/over-half-of-government-retail-crime-advisory-group-resigns/

Source: Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/what-are-new-zealands-spookiest-abadoned-ghost-towns/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Four days on from a devastating storm, pockets of whānau remain cut off from one another on the East Coast.

The communities were still isolated following widespread flooding and slips, with helicopters delivering supplies.

Te Araroa – one of the worst-hit areas – has just been reconnected to Gisborne via State Highway 35 to the south.

According to local Four Square duty manager Wiremu Henare, the opening of the road – three times a day to allow convoys into the township – could not have come soon enough.

“They let a truck through yesterday, so our supplies are real good at the moment. We were running low on some stuff like bread, eggs, and flour, but we are stocked up again.”

The store has been working alongside Civil Defence to help whānau still cut off.

“We probably supply close to… 20-30 families at the moment, that’s out Horoera ways, East Cape, because they’re trapped at the moment.

“We have a team on the ground that’s got four-wheeler buggies and they go round on low tide and supply families with groceries.”

He said it was a beautiful part of the coast, but the entrance – surrounded by hills – was vulnerable to slips.

They had been pulling some big shifts in the store, he said, with one half of his team still cut off in Hicks Bay.

Emergency management controller Ben Green said while the opening of the highway to Te Araroa was a win, it was a different story further north, with the Hicks Bay area likely to remain physically isolated for another week.

He said about 30-odd houses in nearby Onepoto – evacuated due to the risk of landslide over the weekend – were yet to be given the all-clear.

Local Civil Defence kaimahi Trudi Ngāwhare said communities on the East Coast were no strangers to extreme weather, but it still took its toll.

“You want to help, you want to get in there and help and do what you can, but all we could do was watch it happen – and that was horrible to be honest, and you really feel for our whānau.

“A few people woke up and… lost everything. And then we hear our Hicks Bay whānau’s cut off, cut off for days.”

She said the level of destruction has been surprising, leaving a nearby mountain range with “open gash wounds”.

With multiple slips in the area, there was “quite a bit of mess,” and Ngāwhare begged people not to go sight-seeing.

Since the torrential rain, Hinerupe Marae – the Civil Defence base and welfare centre in Te Araroa – had been humming, she said, hosting about 30-40 people at any one time.

“A lot of people to feed… even our kitchen crew has been going hard.”

Ngāwhare said the next few days would be more of the same, and responding to where the need was greatest.

“The needs change everyday depending on how long your power’s out, how long your road’s closed.

“Just keeping dynamic, I guess, and we’ll only know what we need as the day rolls on and plan for the next day.”

She said the support from people “all around the motu” had been heard and felt, and wanted to express “huge gratitude” for everyone’s kind words, karakia, and donations.

“We’ll get there.”

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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/2026/01/26/te-araroa-residents-band-together-to-get-through-the-storm/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Slowly but surely, the seven turtles stolen from Cornwall Park in Hastings are finding their way home.

The red-eared slider turtles were taken after a large square hole was cut in the fence of the Cornwall Park aviary at the beginning of January.

The first turtle was found just days after the theft, sitting on the steps of a dance studio in Hastings.

Community support officer for Hawke’s Bay SPCA, Karen Hacking, said a member of the public called them after finding the turtle in Murdoch Rd.

“We asked them to keep it safe until we arrived,” Hacking said.

“They may be slow, but they can still move, and with a busy road and a nearby park, it was safest to keep the turtle contained.”

She said when the SPCA arrived, the turtle’s shell was very dry.

“We knew about the theft, so we took it back to the Hastings depot, set up an area with water and bought some food. It was obviously hungry, making short work of the food we put in the water.”

She said it seemed really social, responding to voices.

“Most turtles are shy and will retreat into their shells around humans, so that fact stood out to us and made us think it was most likely one of the stolen ones.”

The Cornwall Park aviary keeper visited the next day.

“He believed it was one from the aviary so it went back and by all accounts settled in well.”

A second turtle was dropped off at a Napier pet shop by a member of the public who also called Hastings District Council.

A council spokesperson said once it was confirmed to be one of the missing turtles, it was returned to the aviary.

“It was hungry but otherwise in good health.”

The third was returned by a Hawke’s Bay resident.

The council is also investigating a sighting of a turtle at Anderson Park in Napier.

The spokesperson said people had offered to gift turtles to the aviary.

“However, the pond is only large enough for a maximum of 14 turtles, so we are keeping the space for the return of those who have lived there all of their lives.”

Hacking said anyone thinking about getting a turtle as a pet should do their research.

“Just like any other pet, they need food and shelter. Turtles can live for a long time, and take just as much care as any other animal.”

Red-eared slider turtles can live for up to 50 years in captivity and grow to around 35cm in shell length.

At the time of the theft, a council spokesperson said it was vital the turtles were kept in a cool area with water.

“They should not be released into the wild as they are unlikely to survive and can cause harm to local ecosystems. They can prey on fish, aquatic plants, kōura and insects, as well as small birds such as ducklings, displace nesting wetland birds and degrade water quality.”

Four turtles are still missing.

A police spokesperson said at the time they’d received a burglary report that suggested the turtles had been stolen from the Hastings District Council-owned aviary sometime between midnight 2 January and 6am 3 January.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/stolen-turtles-slowly-make-their-way-home-to-hastings-park/

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person has died in what police are calling a “serious” crash in Oakleigh, Whangārei.

Emergency services were called to the scene on State Highway 1 at 2:20pm on Saturday.

Police said one person died at the scene, while three others were taken to hospital – two in serious condition and one in moderate condition.

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/2026/01/26/person-dies-in-serious-whangarei-crash/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A big clean-up is underway in South Canterbury after a truck carrying port-a-loos crashed and sent hundreds of litres of human waste spilling onto the road.

The crash happened on State Highway 1 near Geraldine shortly before 2pm.

Fire and Emergency said about 500 litres of waste had poured onto the highway near Arundel Belfield Road.

Police said local authorities were assisting with the clean up of hazardous waste at the scene.

“It is an unfortunate incident,” a spokesperson said.

The road was down to one lane as emergency services and local authorities respond.

No one was hurt.

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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/2026/01/26/500-litres-of-human-waste-spills-onto-sh1-near-geraldine/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man who is facing arson and firearms charges following a series of attacks on cellphone towers in Wānaka has refused to answer questions from a judge.

Daniel Miller represented himself at a hearing at the Queenstown District Court on Monday.

The 41-year-old declined to say if he understood the proceedings, instead demanding to know if Judge Catriona Doyle was using her full and legal name.

Judge Doyle said Miller appeared to be taking a sovereign citizen approach.

He has been remanded in custody while he awaits a trial later this year.

The attacks had been on numerous cell towers in Wānaka including Spark and OneNZ towers.

Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher had previously said the “mindless” attacks were not only frustrating for the police but posed a serious risk to the public.

“They can disrupt vital connectivity, including access to emergency services such as 111. The last thing we want, and I would also hope the persons responsible want, is for someone to be hurt because they couldn’t call for help,” he said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/alleged-wanaka-cell-tower-arsonist-daniel-miller-refuses-to-answer-judge/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man who is facing arson and firearms charges following a series of attacks on cellphone towers in Wānaka has refused to answer questions from a judge.

Daniel Miller represented himself at a hearing at the Queenstown District Court on Monday.

The 41-year-old declined to say if he understood the proceedings, instead demanding to know if Judge Catriona Doyle was using her full and legal name.

Judge Doyle said Miller appeared to be taking a sovereign citizen approach.

He has been remanded in custody while he awaits a trial later this year.

The attacks had been on numerous cell towers in Wānaka including Spark and OneNZ towers.

Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher had previously said the “mindless” attacks were not only frustrating for the police but posed a serious risk to the public.

“They can disrupt vital connectivity, including access to emergency services such as 111. The last thing we want, and I would also hope the persons responsible want, is for someone to be hurt because they couldn’t call for help,” he said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/wanaka-cell-tower-arsonist-daniel-miller-refuses-to-answer-judge/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest in RNZ’s live blog above

Work has resumed to recover six missing people after the landslide at Mount Maunganui.

The victims have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15 and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

An independent review, led by Tauranga City Council, has been opened into the events leading up to the landslide. Meanwhile, WorkSafe has announced it will be looking into the organisations that had a duty of care for everyone at the Mt Maunganui holiday park.

Follow the latest in RNZ’s live blog at the top of this page

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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/2026/01/26/live-fenz-told-of-slip-near-mount-maunganui-camp-hours-before-deadly-landslide-recovery-resumes/

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/2026/01/26/australian-pies-they-give-it-a-good-try/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The fire service received a 111 call about a slip near the Mt Maunganui holiday park nearly four hours before a fatal landslide, it can be revealed.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) say they notified the Tauranga City Council and the landowners of the camping ground within minutes.

Recovery work resumed at the site of the Mount Maunganui landslide on Monday, where six people remain missing following Thursday’s landslide.

The victims have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15 and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

In response to questions from RNZ, Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler confirmed FENZ received a 111 call at 5.48am on Thursday 22 January from a person reporting a slip near the Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

“Our call takers made contact with the Tauranga City Council, the landowners of the camping ground, and notified them of this information at 5.51am.

“The landslip that was referenced in the 111 call received at 5.48am did not impact life or property and therefore Fire and Emergency did not respond firefighters to attend, instead we notified Tauranga City Council as the landowner responsible.”

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

At about 9.30am a slip came down at the Beachside Holiday Park at Mount Maunganui, smashing into campervans, tents, vehicles and an ablution block near the Mount Hot Pools.

WorkSafe’s head of inspectorate Rob Pope told RNZ’s Midday Report Tauranga City Council was one of the entities it needed to speak with and understand its part in the event.

When asked if it would be extraordinary for an investigation not to be launched given six people were presumed dead, Pope agreed but said they needed to understand the scope and context first before committing resources to a formal investigation.

A WorkSafe spokesperson told RNZ they were in the “very early stages” of assessing what their role may look like once the search and recovery phase was complete.

“We are currently bringing together a team of inspectors and will be working closely with New Zealand Police to determine next steps.

“We will be looking into the organisations that had a duty of care for everyone at the holiday park, and whether or not they were meeting their health and safety responsibilities.”

Currently, the focus needed to remain on the recovery efforts, the spokesperson said.

“When the time is right, our inspectors will begin engaging with witnesses and technical experts, and gathering evidence from a range of sources including the organisations involved in the operation of the holiday park and the scene.

“In the meantime, our local inspectors have also extended an offer of support to Emergency Management Bay of Plenty and other agencies to ensure that workers involved in the response are kept safe and healthy.”

Pope told RNZ WorkSafe was working closely with police to coordinate their responses after the “incredibly tragic event”.

He did not have a timeframe for when a decision on a formal investigation would be made, but said the inspectors would be working at pace and focused on providing the right level of confidence for the families who wanted answers.

“We will be committed to addressing this issue as quickly as we can.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Morning Report he supported Tauranga City Council’s decision to conduct a full, independent review into the landslide.

“There’s lots of concerns that people have about why they weren’t evacuated sooner. I think they are very legitimate, very good questions that need answers.”

RNZ has approached the Tauranga City Council for comment.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/fenz-warned-of-slip-near-mt-maunganui-camp-almost-4-hours-before-landslide/