Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

A coroner has found the death of Liam Booth, who was sent home from hospital in a taxi after threatening to take his own life, could not have been prevented.

Warning: This story discusses suicide.

A coroner has found nothing could have been done to prevent the death of a 21-year-old Christchurch man who was sent home from hospital in a taxi after threatening to take his own life.

Liam Booth was found dead in Beckenham in October 2017. A coronial inquiry was opened that year followed by a 2022 inquest as a result of his father Geoff Booth’s concerns about the care his son received from the then-Canterbury District Health Board (now HealthNZ Canterbury).

Geoff Booth spent years seeking answers from health authorities, spoke out in the media about his son’s death and on behalf of other bereaved families and ran unsuccessfully for the District Health Board in 2019 to raise awareness about suicide and advocate for better mental health services.

In findings released on Monday, eight years after Liam Booth’s death, Coroner Bruce Hesketh rejected several of Geoff Booth’s concerns, including that his son’s level of care was unsatisfactory, and that he should not have been discharged from the emergency department and instead should have been compulsorily admitted to hospital.

A Serious Event Review conducted by the DHB after Liam Booth’s death found the hospital could have spoken to Geoff Booth before discharging his son, that his family were not involved in his discharge plan, some documentation was lacking and there was a lack of information given to the family about support available.

The DHB’s then-chief of psychiatry wrote to Geoff Booth in September 2018, apologising that Liam Booth died under the care of the mental health service, and committing to implementing recommendations from the review, the Coroner noted.

In their evidence, Liam Booth’s parents described difficult periods managing his behaviour from a young age, including low mood, a diagnosis of oppositional defiance disorder, acts of aggression and threats of self harm.

A 2008 incident in Liam Booth’s medical notes reported police were called after he became violent towards his father and resulted in officers taking the 12-year-old to the ED in handcuffs.

After counselling by the children’s mental health team finished in February 2009, Liam was not seen again by mental health services until early 2016, following a referral for help with drug use and low mood.

The next year and a half would see Liam Booth repeatedly engage with the Crisis Resolution team, alcohol and drug counsellors, community mental health and other agencies, with unremitting support from his parents, friends and flatmates, according to evidence to the coroner’s court.

His threats of self harm escalated during 2017, culminating in police bringing him to the ED in mid-September after he told his father of his plan to end his life.

On-call psychiatrist Dr Michael Clarke conferred with consultant psychiatrist Dr Katherine Hayes and decided Liam Booth did not meet the criteria to be compulsorily held under the Mental Health Act.

Liam Booth did not want to be admitted as a voluntary patient, and refused crisis respite.

Clarke discharged him, and he was given a taxi chit to get back to his flat.

That night formed the bulk of Geoff Booth’s complaint against the DHB.

He felt the hospital should have allowed him to be present at his son’s assessment, and did not believe the hour or so Clarke spent with Liam was long enough to assess him on their first meeting.

When Clarke phoned Geoff Booth after his son’s assessment, Geoff Booth warned him his son was lying when he said he did not have suicidal intentions, and urged him to admit him against his wishes.

By the time Clarke phoned Geoff Booth back later that night, his son had already been discharged.

Within weeks, Liam Booth would take his own life.

Court appointed expert witness, psychiatrist Dr Barry Walsh, found the quality of care Liam Booth received was adequate.

He told the Coroner compulsory treatment was a serious step, one that was often a “highly traumatising, frightening experience.”

“Further, with suicidal crises, admissions can cause a deterioration rather than an improvement,” he said.

Coroner Hesketh found the decision not to admit Liam Booth under the Mental Health Act was the right one, and cited research that found the focus on suicide risk factors was problematic, with tools or scales to assess risk used by an array of clinicians carrying “the kudos of science” despite “little evidence they are effective.”

Coroner Hesketh echoed the review findings that more should have been done to share information and include Liam Booth’s family in discharge planning.

He added a recommendation that Health NZ clarify with patients as soon as possible whether they consent to care and treatment plans being shared with family members.

If so, it was “imperative” families were kept updated and given the opportunity to have input, the Coroner said.

Health NZ told the Coroner all recommendations had been implemented, and it had added a Director of Lived Experience role to its mental health services leadership team who worked with consumer and family advisors to “translate principles into practice.”

The Coroner said he found Geoff Booth to be a “sincere witness” who at times “lacked objectivity.”

He had taken the evidence of Liam Booth’s doctors over his father’s, which meant he was entitled to review the draft findings, Coroner Hesketh said.

Geoff Booth raised several points in response, including asking what had happened to a pilot project for mental health co-response teams, made up of police, mental health and ambulance staff, which he felt would have helped his son.

Coroner Hesketh said the 2020 pilot was in response to the rapid escalation of mental health related 111 calls over the past decade, which now numbered about 73,000 a year.

The pilot included co-locating and jointly deploying staff from the three agencies who could provide advice to other responders as well as front-line capability for assessments and care in the community, avoiding the traditional response of police taking a distressed person to wait in an emergency department or a police station.

Mental health minister Matt Doocey last month announced the pilot was being expanded, with teams rolling out in Canterbury, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau from June.

Geoff Booth also asked when a single record would be available covering GPs and public and private hospitals, noting Christchurch Hospital was unaware his son had visited his GP with suicidal ideation on the same day he was admitted to hospital.

The DHB informed the coroner a system called HealthOne operated throughout the South Island allowing access to certain records, but that it was “limited in terms of information flow”.

Coroner Hesketh said he was satisfied that even if a comprehensive system was available, it would not have made any difference to the decision to discharge Liam Booth.

On whether the death could have been prevented, the coroner said in his report the answer, sadly, was ‘no’.

HealthNZ has been approached for comment.

Geoff Booth could not be reached for comment.

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.

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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/2026/02/02/coroner-finds-young-mans-death-weeks-after-hospital-discharge-couldnt-have-been-prevented/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Taranaki’s surfing community, -the only region in New Zealand to have previously hosted the globe’s elite surf competition, is stoked for its Raglan cousins who will hold a combined men’s and women’s World Surf League event in May.

The Women’s Championship Tours stopped at Fitzroy Beach in New Plymouth between 2010 and 2013 sparking a surge of interest in the sport – particularly women’s surfing.

Craig Williamson was event director for the Taranaki Surf Festival which included what was then the ASP Women’s Dream Tour.

Reflecting on the groundbreaking event ahead of the World Surf League coming to Raglan, the Surfing Taranaki chief executive said the idea was to give a local favourite a leg up.

“Paige Hareb had just qualified for the world tour, the first New Zealand female to ever do so. She was young at the time.

“So, that was a huge deal for surfing in New Zealand and in Taranaki and we thought that perhaps we could pull something together here and give her a home town advantage.”

Williamson said the festival – which was pulled off with the help of 60 community partners – had left a lasting impression.

“It was incredibly inspiring for young surfers all around the country. I bump into people who are young adults now a lot of them and they are still surfing and they talk about what an effect it had on them to actually see the world best here.”

He said the impact of the visiting athletes went beyond what they demonstrated in the surf.

“I remember vividly when we had Bethany Hamilton, the Hawaiian who’d lost her arm in a shark attack, speaking to like a whole classroom, a whole group of youngsters – mostly young girls.

“I’m sure they remember that and it had an impact on them, you know, in terms of what you can do in spite of obstacles that can be put in you’re way.”

Now based in Australia, Paige Hareb remembered the competition fondly.

“Yeah it was pretty cool. At the time I and probably didn’t realise how good I had it, but yeah looking back now it was definitely a special moment to be able to surf in front of friends and family in your home breaks and show it off to all the other girls and the rest of the world is pretty special.”

She said the New Zealand stop was popular with her fellow competitors.

“Everyone loved it. I know there was a lot of hype about it before they even went there and I think the worst part of it was that it was maybe too cold for them some days, but we got really good surf and everyone loved it the sea and the mountain I guess is pretty spectacular for anyone who doesn’t live there.,

She saw evidence of the Taranaki Surf Festival’s legacy every time she comes home.

“When I was growing up I was one of the only girls in the water and now I go home and there’s at least one other girl out every time I surf there, so yeah, there’s definitely a lot more females into surfing and out in the water which is cool to see.”

Hareb – who would compete for a wildcard into the Raglan competition – expected the Waikato settlement to be pumping during the 10-day event window.

Bruce Gatwood-Cook was media manager for the Taranaki Surf Festival.

A member of the New Plymouth Surfriders Club for about 20 years, he said the audience for WSL events was mammoth.

“It’d be in the millions of the reach we’d be getting because we provided packages to sports networks in Australia and America, Hawaii, South Africa to Europe.

“So, it would be impossible to quantify exactly how many people we reached, but we were reaching a global audience.”

He said WSL events were a marketer’s dream.

“At the same time as livestreaming footage of the heats and highlights of the heats, we also provided b-roll of mountain shots and scenics of the arena.

“So, typically as you see with sporting events like that they’ll have cutaways of the beach and local mountains and scenics like that of the country which really help destinations.”

As a surfer himself, Gatwood-Cook was also taken with the impact the surfers had with fans.

“We just had throngs of young girls idolising Paige Hareb let alone all the other superstars on the women’s circuit and it really created an aspiration for them that I could be that person and I could do that and also seeing how they surfed giving them inspiration to surf like that.”

Meanwhile, Izaro Williamson Sasia was a just a toddler when her dad ran the Taranaki Surf Festival.

Now a national under 18 and women’s longboard titleholder, she was stoked the world’s best surfers were returning to New Zealand.

“I don’t have any memories of it when it was here in Taranaki because I was only little, but I just can’t wait it would be such a cool experience to see it live and it’s been something I’ve always wanted to do, so I can’t wait. Like there’s no way I’m not going.”

The New Zealand Pro, which had attracted government major events funding, would run from the 15t-25 May at Manu Bay, Raglan.

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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/2026/02/02/taranaki-surfers-thrilled-over-return-of-worlds-surfng-elite-to-nz/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The chair of the Waitangi National Trust has extended the invitation to all New Zealanders to attend this year’s festivities at Waitangi.

Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson told RNZ the festivities at Waitangi continue to grow every year, both in terms of attendance and in the number of different activities.

“The theme [this year] is Mō tātou, mā tātou, which is for all of us and by all of us. And it reflects the fact that Waitangi and the Waitangi estate in particular is for all New Zealanders. And it is a place of belonging for all New Zealanders because it is the home to the signing of the founding documents of our nation.”

The second aspect of the theme is manaakitanga, about looking after one another, she said.

“So I think you can get the feeling that it is about a sense of unity and of working together … the future of Aotearoa is something we shape together. It’s our collective responsibility and our shared benefit. It’s our commitment to building the future for all of us and everybody in this nation who call Aotearoa home.”

The week begins on Monday with the meeting of the National Iwi Chairs Forum, which runs until Wednesday.

From then on it’s a packed schedule of festivities at both the upper treaty grounds and at the newly refurbished Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae below.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po will be welcomed at the upper treaty grounds on Wednesday afternoon.

“There will be, of course, places for us to discuss and debate, and the forum tent will be operating again on the lower treaty grounds where there’ll be lots of political and iwi-focused discussions. But there’ll also be the music stages, kapa haka, the food, of course,” Simpson said.

Politicians will be welcomed to Waitangi on Thursday, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to attend after spending last year’s Waitangi Day with Ngāi Tahu at Ōnuku Marae in Akaroa.

The one way bridge leading to Waitangi will be closed from Tuesday but there will be a free bus service and shuttle from Bledisloe Domain near Haruru along the newly sealed Haruru Falls Road.

Simpson said there will also be a ferry service from Russell directly to Waitangi operating every 20 minutes.

Although recent storms have taken their toll on Northland, with some areas still dealing with slips and roading issues, there should be no difficulties for access to Waitangi, she said.

Simpson said everybody is welcome at Waitangi as it’s a time to come together, reflect and connect and commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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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/2026/02/02/for-all-new-zealanders-celebrations-getting-underway-at-waitangi/

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/2026/02/02/singer-lily-allen-is-coming-to-new-zealand/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is facing questions over a clash in the government coalition over a recently signed free trade deal with India.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has claimed it could mean “tens of thousands of people” arriving onshore and taking opportunities “away from New Zealanders”.

National has strongly denied this. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Peters was “wrong” about the China FTA and “he’s wrong on this one too”.

The Prime Minister will be speaking to RNZ’s Morning Report shortly.

Listen to Morning Report live on the player above, the RNZ app or your local RNZ frequency.

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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/2026/02/02/morning-report-live-pm-faces-questions-about-coalition-clash-over-india-trade-deal/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Principals fear many of the 15,000 senior secondary students who failed to reach the critical NCEA reading, writing and maths benchmark last year will give up on school or future study.

Figures provided to RNZ by NZQA showed nine percent of students in Year 13 and 15 percent of Year 12s had not achieved the literacy and numeracy co-requisite by the end of 2025.

That equated to about 5000 Year 13s and 10,000 Year 12s who would not receive any NCEA certificates because they had not yet met the requirement.

While most Year 12s would return to school for Year 13, principals told RNZ many of those who failed to meet the co-requisite were likely to lose heart and give up.

The achievement rates were the lowest in the past five years and principals warned they were likely to drag down the number of school-leavers with NCEA qualifications – in 2024 the number of school-leavers without a qualification hit 16 percent.

• Students leaving school with no qualifications highest in a decade

Porirua College principal Ragne Maxwell said some of the students who failed to achieve the co-requisite were in fact literate and numerate, but struggled to pass online exams in reading, writing and maths.

“The concern really is that some people are failing who are literate and numerate,” she said.

“It’s very difficult because they lose hope. It’s all very well to say just keep trying but the resilience to keep trying time after time when you just keep failing, it’s really challenging.”

Maxwell said students who failed were not likely to return to school to keep trying to pass the co-requisite.

Ragne Maxwell RNZ / John Gerritsen

“People who might have come back otherwise who have failed perhaps again in the case of Year 12 – failed in Year 11 … they’re giving up hope and not returning.”

Maxwell said the achievement rate would worsen in 2028 when the alternative pathway for meeting the literacy and numeracy requirement – 20 credits on top of the 60 required for an NCEA certificate – ended and the only way of achieving the co-requisite would be through the online tests.

“We’re just going to see more and more people failing, leaving school with no qualifications and having worse futures as an outcome of this, even though some of them are in fact literate and numerate,” she said.

Co-requisite achievement was lowest in schools serving the poorest communities.

Only 74 percent of Year 12s at those schools met the co-requisite by the end of last year, down from 85 percent in 2021 and for Year 13s the achievement rate was 88 percent, down from 93 percent.

Simon Craggs RNZ / Luka Forman

Papakura High School principal Simon Craggs said the figures were concerning.

Craggs said he hoped senior students who did not have the co-requisite would return, but he feared some would not.

“We’re very much hoping that most of them will come back and I think a significant proportion will, but there will be some students who get disillusioned that they’ve completed Year 12 and they have no qualifications and feel that they’re locked out of qualifications who will leave school.”

Craggs said the co-requisite had a bigger effect on qualification achievement at his school than at others last year.

“Our number of Year 12s that don’t have literacy and numeracy is significantly higher than the national figure or even the equity index band figure, so we’ve got a lot of work to do to support those students to be able to come back.

“Hopefully we don’t lose too many of them and we can continue to work hard with them on getting them across the line so they do leave school with qualifications.”

Mākoura College principal Simon Fuller said his school had NCEA achievement rates above 90 percent last year, well above the average for schools in similar communities.

He said students in Year 11 and some in Year 10 attempted the online reading, writing and maths tests, but those in Years 12-13 reached the benchmark through the alternative pathway of 20 extra NCEA credits in literacy and numeracy.

Simon Fuller RNZ / John Gerritsen

Fuller said the older students would not have performed so well if they had attempted the online tests.

“Those students haven’t had the benefit of the minister’s investment in structured literacy or numeracy,” he said.

“So they wouldn’t have performed so well, I believe, in sitting that external [exam] without the prep work.”

He said the tests were not well suited to schools in poor communities, neurodiverse students and many boys.

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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/2026/02/02/ncea-hurdle-trips-up-15000-students/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Witnesses are being sought in relation to the grounding of a catamaran at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula.

The Black Cat Cruises catamaran was beached at Nīkau Palm Valley Bay, after it got into trouble on Saturday afternoon – requiring more than 40 people to be rescued.

Environment Canterbury (ECAN) said the first phase of the recovery operation – fully submerging the catamaran in deep water to prevent further damage – is expected to get underway on Monday.

The second phase to remove it from the water, depended on the weather and safety requirements, it said.

ECAN said it was working with the Conservation Department, iwi, and Black Cat Cruises on the recovery and salvage, while the Transport Accident Investigation Commission said it would be investigating.

The commission’s chief investigator Louise Cook, told Morning Report, a team of investigators were in Akaroa and would be focusing on people’s memories and digital information regarding the grounding in the first instance.

Cook said the aim of the investigation was to ensure a similar incident did not happen again and would look at aspects including survivability and environmental impact.

She said witnesses to the incident were being sought and anyone who was present on the day should go to the commission’s website where they could submit information about it including photos and videos.

The inquiry could take between 12 months to two years to complete, Cook said.

Black Cat Cruises was approached for comment.

Longtime tourism operator, Tony Muir – who runs Coast Up Close – said the grounding hadn’t put a hold on scenic tours, but the exclusion zone around it, had changed what’s offered.

“Where they have it is right in the marine reserve, right at one of the highlights of the marine reserve.

“[On Sunday] afternoon we took a tour to the south, which is just fine as long as the weather conditions are fine… it’s a beautiful trip.

“But… this is one of the jewels in the Akaroa crown, where this vessel has been positioned.”

ECAN said the vessel was more significantly damaged than it anticipated and it was likely that all the fuel on board had leaked into the water.

It said the environment was coping, with oily sheens decreasing over time, and there were no signs of wildlife in distress.

A spokesperson said no fuel was able to be pumped out of the boat due to the nature of the incident.

“Most was discharged (likely in the early stages of the incident) due to the significant damage to the hull.”

Muir said it “wasn’t an ideal situation” but accidents happened and commended the crew for getting everyone off safely.

“It’s [now] up to all the powers that be to lessen the impacts the best they can.”

Following the near-sinking, Muir took his boat out on the water and helped with the clean-up.

“We went around and picked up a whole lot of rubbish, and plastic gloves, and puke bags and bits and pieces that had floated off it – we picked up quite a lot of that stuff just to get it out of the water.”

Fellow tour operator, Roy Borelli of Fox II Sailing Adventures, said he also scooped up some of the Black Cat’s debris.

He said his yacht, with 24 passengers on board, was one of the first on the scene on Saturday.

After a “wonderful sailing trip” where they’d been surrounded by dolphins, seeing the vessel was a bit of a shock.

“It was very… distressing seeing the boat listing. Because I’ve seen that boat almost every day that I’ve been working for the last 20 years.

“I know that boat. So, when you see it slowly sinking it’s very, very upsetting.”

He said he was one of many boats to offer assistance but ultimately wasn’t needed, and believed the catamaran ran itself aground to prevent it from sinking further.

Borrelli said there was still plenty of wildlife outside of the exclusion zone.

“We don’t know how long this is going to last, but it’s still an amazing harbour, and we have so much to see.

“We typically see dolphins, penguins, seals, and albatross on many of our trips.”

ECAN said the exclusion zone around the boat remained in place, and all non-response vessels must keep clear.

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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/2026/02/02/appeal-for-witnesses-as-recovery-of-tourist-boat-grounded-in-akaroa-begins/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Principals fear many of the 15,000 senior secondary students who failed to reach the critical NCEA reading, writing and maths benchmark last year will give up on school or future study.

Figures provided to RNZ by NZQA showed nine percent of students in Year 13 and 15 percent of Year 12s had not achieved the literacy and numeracy co-requisite by the end of 2025.

That equated to about 5000 Year 13s and 10,000 Year 12s who would not receive any NCEA certificates because they had not yet met the requirement.

While most Year 12s would return to school for Year 13, principals told RNZ many of those who failed to meet the co-requisite were likely to lose heart and give up.

The achievement rates were the lowest in the past five years and principals warned they were likely to drag down the number of school-leavers with NCEA qualifications – in 2024 the number of school-leavers without a qualification hit 16 percent.

• Students leaving school with no qualifications highest in a decade

Porirua College principal Ragne Maxwell said some of the students who failed to achieve the co-requisite were in fact literate and numerate, but struggled to pass online exams in reading, writing and maths.

“The concern really is that some people are failing who are literate and numerate,” she said.

“It’s very difficult because they lose hope. It’s all very well to say just keep trying but the resilience to keep trying time after time when you just keep failing, it’s really challenging.”

Maxwell said students who failed were not likely to return to school to keep trying to pass the co-requisite.

Ragne Maxwell RNZ / John Gerritsen

“People who might have come back otherwise who have failed perhaps again in the case of Year 12 – failed in Year 11 … they’re giving up hope and not returning.”

Maxwell said the achievement rate would worsen in 2028 when the alternative pathway for meeting the literacy and numeracy requirement – 20 credits on top of the 60 required for an NCEA certificate – ended and the only way of achieving the co-requisite would be through the online tests.

“We’re just going to see more and more people failing, leaving school with no qualifications and having worse futures as an outcome of this, even though some of them are in fact literate and numerate,” she said.

Co-requisite achievement was lowest in schools serving the poorest communities.

Only 74 percent of Year 12s at those schools met the co-requisite by the end of last year, down from 85 percent in 2021 and for Year 13s the achievement rate was 88 percent, down from 93 percent.

Simon Craggs RNZ / Luka Forman

Papakura High School principal Simon Craggs said the figures were concerning.

Craggs said he hoped senior students who did not have the co-requisite would return, but he feared some would not.

“We’re very much hoping that most of them will come back and I think a significant proportion will, but there will be some students who get disillusioned that they’ve completed Year 12 and they have no qualifications and feel that they’re locked out of qualifications who will leave school.”

Craggs said the co-requisite had a bigger effect on qualification achievement at his school than at others last year.

“Our number of Year 12s that don’t have literacy and numeracy is significantly higher than the national figure or even the equity index band figure, so we’ve got a lot of work to do to support those students to be able to come back.

“Hopefully we don’t lose too many of them and we can continue to work hard with them on getting them across the line so they do leave school with qualifications.”

Mākoura College principal Simon Fuller said his school had NCEA achievement rates above 90 percent last year, well above the average for schools in similar communities.

He said students in Year 11 and some in Year 10 attempted the online reading, writing and maths tests, but those in Years 12-13 reached the benchmark through the alternative pathway of 20 extra NCEA credits in literacy and numeracy.

Simon Fuller RNZ / John Gerritsen

Fuller said the older students would not have performed so well if they had attempted the online tests.

“Those students haven’t had the benefit of the minister’s investment in structured literacy or numeracy,” he said.

“So they wouldn’t have performed so well, I believe, in sitting that external [exam] without the prep work.”

He said the tests were not well suited to schools in poor communities, neurodiverse students and many boys.

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/2026/02/02/lowest-ncea-achievement-rate-for-past-5-years/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A world class museum on Canterbury’s picturesque Banks Peninsula will mark 50 years of hosting the South Island’s biggest and longest-running Waitangi Day commemorations on 6 February.

The Okains Bay Māori and Colonial Museum has one of the most significant historical collections in the country.

The museum and annual event were the brainchild of the museum’s founder Murray Thacker, whose passion for preservation formed the foundation of the vast 20,000-object collection of Māori and colonial artefacts, from waka to wagons, taonga puoro (traditional Māori instruments), kitchenalia, a blacksmiths forge and hei tiki.

The first Waitangi Day commemoration was held at the museum site in 1976 when an open day raised funds to finish the buildings, with the museum officially opened a year later on Waitangi Day 1977.

Manager Nigel Intemann said it was difficult to explain the significance of the Okains Bay collection to first-time visitors.

“You can imagine going to a metropolitan museum, you’re going to expect a really amazing collection, but to visit a small town like Okains Bay with so few residents, to come across such an extraordinary collection of national significance, it’s just amazing,” he said.

Intemann did not know the museum existed until he moved to the bay in 2020.

“Of course my first trip out here, I wondered why I’d never been here, then coming through the museum and absolutely realising that every New Zealander should make this journey,” he said.

The annual Waitangi event has traditionally been co-hosted with iwi, including a formal powhiri, kapa haka and hangi.

During the 1980s and early 1990s when the Ngāi Tahu claim was before the Waitangi Tribunal, the commemorations were an important platform for the iwi.

Since the late 90s, the iwi began alternating hui at each of the papatipu marae closest to the sites where rangatira signed Te Tiriti at Ōnuku, Te Rau Aroha and Ōtākou marae.

Ngāi Tahu and mana whenua Te Rūnanga o Koukourarata still play intrinsic roles in the museum and the commemorations but during years they are unavailable to co-host, such as 2026, the event becomes a family fun day without a powhiri or hangi.

The first event raised money for the whare taonga roof and was run as a fundraiser over many decades. In recent years, in line with tikanga, it has become a free event.

Intemann said fundraising was always front of mind, despite the day’s popularity and the museum’s national and international significance.

“Funding is one of the hardest aspects, especially in terms of paying bills. People like projects, they love to give you money for a new project, but if you keep building projects, you keep building costs in. Finding the money that keeps the lights on, that keeps the rates paid, is a continual effort,” he said.

On 6 February, blacksmiths fire up the forge, the three-tonne waka Kōtukumairangi is paddled up the Ōpara Stream and competitions including the famous tug o’ war are held in the museum courtyard.

The waka will not be launched this year because of an early high tide but will be on display in the whare waka.

Nor will there be one of the event’s highly sought after hangi in 2026, which feed 500 to 750 people.

However, a 150-year-old colonial oven will pump out hundreds of buns, sausages will be sizzled and stalls sell everything from kai moana to local cheese and wine.

The museum began as Thacker’s private collection, as the great grandson of some of the earliest Pākehā settlers in Okains Bay.

Board chair and Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu representative Helen Brown said Thacker was drawn to history from an early age, collecting his first toki (adze) pounamu at the age of 9.

He would go on to amass a vast collection of taonga, from the prestigious – such as hei tiki and taiaha – to the less coveted mahinga kai (food gathering) equipment, which has seen the museum possess one of the best collections in the world of objects like nets, hinkai (eel traps) and kō digging sticks.

Brown said Thacker forged important relationships with Ngāi Tahu and Mātāwaka leaders from Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and Te Pataka o Rakaihautū (Banks Peninsula), who had a role in establishing the museum and discussed hosting an annual Waitangi commemoration.

“The Ngāi Tahu rangatira who supported the Waitangi Day commemorations at Okains Bay in those early years were very keen on the opportunity to educate people about Te Tiriti. There was always this idea of education and both tangata whenua and tangata tiriti coming together that was integral to Murray’s vision and was wholeheartedly supported by tangata whenua at the time,” she said.

While the first official Waitangi Day commemoration was held at the treaty grounds in 1934, 6 February did not become a public holiday until 1973 when the name was changed to New Zealand Day.

The Waitangi Day Act 1976 restored the former name, the same year Thacker held the first commemoration at Okains Bay.

Brown said the small museum punched above its weight.

“We care for three collections recognised as being of national significance. The jewel in the crown is the taonga Māori collection, there’s also a really significant antique arms collection and a collection of European boats,” she said.

Plans were underway to redevelop parts of the museum buildings, which were no longer fit for purpose, to protect its precious displays, and a fundraising campaign would be launched in the lead up to the museum’s 50th anniversary on Waitangi Day in 2027.

Visitor host Raukohe Hallett (Ngāti Hine, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu) said the opportunity to show visitors so many historical objects and tell the stories of the people who used them helped to bring the past alive.

Museum patron Nigel Hampton KC, who has been involved with the museum almost from its inception, described the Waitangi Day atmosphere as jubilant.

He said Thacker was ahead of his time in recognising the importance of commemorating beyond the treaty grounds.

“He saw individual events should be held up and down the country and started a trend to have that occur 50 years ago, before the museum was even properly created,” he said.

The museum’s collection of taonga Māori was “up to or beyond the standard of the country’s major metropolitan museums”.

“One of the outstanding things is that so much of the collection is on display, available to be seen and to be explained, and it’s the conversations – and I meant this quite sincerely – you as the viewer can have with the exhibits. They’ve got to commune with you and you with them and you get a much better understanding of the culture that lies behind and in those taonga,” he said.

“As a pākeha, you come to have a better understanding of the people that were here before our predecessors arrived.”

Continued support for the museum was vital, Hampton said.

“It seems extraordinary doesn’t it, that a small valley – not somewhere you pass through and stop but that has to be a destination – that such a place can have such a museum, such a treasure for all New Zealand. We must retain it,” he said.

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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/2026/02/02/canterbury-museum-to-mark-50-years-hosting-waitangi-day-commemorations/

Source: Radio New Zealand

As February begins we enter the last weeks of summer. It’s been a season of extremes, with record-breaking temperatures and heat warnings at the start being swept away by the devastating storms just after the new year began.

Following the warmer, settled weekend, you could be excused for wondering is summer making a comeback?

The short answer is most likely but it’ll be a bit of a roller coaster.

What is coming?

Niwa meteorologist Chris Brandolino said the start of February, although still uncertain, could bring dry clear weather for parts of the country.

“I think the theme for the next sort of probably week, maybe two weeks, is for much of the country, there is likely to be pretty dry conditions.”

That being said, Monday night and through to Tuesday will bring some rain for both islands before clearing out from Wednesday.

The West Coast will be the first to get some rain which would then move to the east coast, particularly Canterbury.

“They could be seeing a really significant drop of rain, now ahead of that rain it’ll be quite warm,” Brandolino said.

MetService had placed heavy rain watch on Fiordland and Westland south of Franz Josef Glacier until Monday.

There is also a heavy rain watch in Marlborough south of Seddon and Canterbury north of the Rangitata River until Tuesday night.

From Tuesday the South Island could see some cooler weather but in the upper north, Brandolino said it would be “grossly humid”.

“So Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland, Auckland, it is going to be a hot day.”

But a hot day does not mean a dry one because most of the North Island can expect “pockets of rain” on Monday and Tuesday.

“Because of that warmth and humidity, especially that tropical humidity, there could be some localised heavy showers. But it’ll be localised, it won’t be kind of a widespread thing.”

Despite the rocky start to the week, from Wednesday onwards most of the country was expected to have a “dry lean”, with the exception of some rain in Southland.

Temperatures on a roller coaster

The South Island was still in for a roller coaster ride with temperatures bouncing up and down.

Brandolino used Christchurch as an example saying the temperature could hit 30 degrees on Monday, but could also struggle to hit 20 on Tuesday.

Hawke’s Bay was forecast to see 28 degrees on Monday and Auckland was set to heat up to 28 degrees.

“So this is the up and down sort of roller coaster weather pattern in terms of temperature that’ll be especially prevalent for the South Island. The North Island will still see some variability, but it won’t be as wildly as dramatic as the South Island.”

“The upper North Island, so places like Auckland, places like Northland, they’re more likely to find kind of a steady, persistent sort of like summertime feel.”

Is La Nina still a thing?

New Zealand is currently experiencing La Nina conditions.

Brandolino said February and March have historically been the busiest times of the tropical cyclone season, irrespective of La Nina.

The late summer period sees the warmest ocean temperatures around New Zealand and up to the north of the tropics.

“Warm water is fuel. You need more than that, of course, to get a tropical cyclone, but that’s a key ingredient.”

When La Nina conditions are active, it plays a role in which areas are favoured to see tropical cyclones.

“What it does is it tilts the odds towards something developing between, say, Fiji and the Queensland coast.”

What about those storms brewing in the Pacific?

Brandolino said there had been tropical activity in the pacific, particularly between Fiji and New Caledonia, which had the possibility of moving towards New Zealand and causing a rainy Waitangi Day weekend.

The activity dissipated over the weekend, giving the country a much greater likelihood of a rain-free long weekend.

The impact of this tropical activity will instead be a wave of humidity.

“So, the reason for the warmth and humidity for the North Island on Monday is because what is left over of that tropical low, let’s call it, that was to our North, it’s going to make its way over the North Island.”

“I would say Waitangi is looking promising for people who want to get outdoors from much of the country.”

Brandolino said with so much changeable weather on the horizon, it was important keep up to date with the latest forecasts.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The muse for an iconic Dunedin statue has come face-to-face with her bronzed younger self nearly 60 years later and half a world away.

Catherine Lee was 9 when she posed as Wendy from Peter Pan for British sculptor Sir Cecil Thomas OBE in London.

The statue has been a beloved part of the Dunedin Botanic Garden since the 1960s, and on Sunday, Lee shared her experiences during a public talk before fairies and pirates descended for a Peter Pan-themed storytime picnic.

For Lee, now 68, seeing her younger self immortalised in bronze was like a homecoming.

She has been wanting to visit the sculpture for years and said seeing it was an arresting sight.

“I just remember taking this sharp intake of breath, sort of going ‘oh my god, it really exists on the other side of the world. It’s there. It’s me’. So it was a really heart stopping moment,” she said.

It all started nearly 60 years ago when her father answered a small ad posted in the window of a local shop.

She met Sir Cecil Thomas OBE, who gave his approved, before she started posing in his studio in South Kensington after school on Wednesdays.

She had to kneel on a hard stepladder with her arms out diagonally, looking upwards to capture Wendy in ‘flight’.

“Very precarious for the model,” Lee said.

It was incredibly uncomfortable so she could only hold the pose for 10 minutes at a time, but she enjoyed the overall experience, she said.

She never got to meet the two boys who posed as her brothers or the dog who sat in for Nana, but had a photo of the sculpture sitting on her mantle.

“Peter Pan has just always been a part of my life and I’ve read it obviously. We did the play at my school and I was the understudy for Wendy, but I actually played one of the Lost Boys,” she said.

“It’s sort of woven into the fabric of my life.”

Although this was her first New Zealand visit, she already knew the sculpture had made an impression – it is one of two Peter Pan-themed sculptures in the garden.

“When a friend of my father’s visited Dunedin and told the ladies in the gift shop that she knew the Wendy model, she was showered with free postcards of the statue with a message to the ‘Wendy Child’ written on the brown paper bag containing the postcards,” she said.

Lee did not get paid for the experience, but said Sir Cecil was extremely kind and good to her.

“He talked me a little bit like an adult, I think, and it made me feel quite grown up.”

Pirates, Wendy Darling and a Tinker Bell or two joined the Peter Pan storytime picnic.

Dunedin resident Katy Sinnott said generations of her family had loved the sculpture, including her mum.

“She has memories of them here when she was a child, and so it was really fun to bring my kids back to see them,” she said.

Sinnott grew up watching the Disney movies and reading the books and was excited to share that with her kids.

She spent the night before making a Tinker Bell costume for her 3-year-old daughter Sophie and they watched Peter Pan.

“Sophie loves the Peter Pan one and she loves seeing all of the Lost Boys all around the bottom and fairies and things like that, and pointing out little mice. And obviously, sitting on Nana the dog,” she said.

Ann remembered visiting the statue with her children during the school holidays.

“My children loved coming here to the gardens and the reason that dog’s nose is quite polished was partly their doing,” she said.

The sculpture – along with another Peter Pan sculpture by Sir Cecil – were the result of a donation by Green Island resident Harold Richmond.

Dunedin Botanic Garden manager Catherine Bradley said he was known for being a frugal man, but he loved to give back to the community.

He used to take orphans on outings.

“At the end of his outings, he would give the children a copy of the J.M.Barrie Peter Pan book. It was something that was very nostalgic to him and he thought all children should have the pleasure of reading, she said.

Wendy and her Attendants, also known as The Darling Children Learning to Fly, had been an iconic part of the garden for decades, she said.

“People come here with their grandchildren and children and share memories of when they were children, sitting on Nana the dog. It’s a very well polished sculpture which is what the purpose was for … for members of the public to enjoy,” she said.

There were not many sculptures in the garden, and Bradley said it was important that those included were a place for people to stop, take in their surrounds and spark joy or reflection.

She was delighted Lee could visit and share her experiences.

It was made possible in collaboration with the Dunedin Library and Friends of the Dunedin Botanic Garden, as well as through the generosity of Lee, Bradley said.

Since her Wendy days, Lee has studied in Oxford, ran a small opera company in Italy before returning to join the British Civil Service and eventually become the director-general in charge of policy at the Ministry of Justice.

She was a Commander of the British Empire in 2012 for her services to justice, and received the medal from the now King Charles III.

Lee flies home on Monday, but said the reunion had been the highlight of her trip.

“It’s so familiar, it’s been a really nice sort of homecoming.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

New rules allowing GPs and nurse practitioners to prescribe drugs to treat ADHD increase the risk of over-diagnosis, over-prescribing, addiction, psychosis and other harms, some clinicians are warning.

Christchurch hospitality worker Caity became increasingly anxious in the month after starting on ADHD medication.

“I just couldn’t shut my brain off at night, so I went 11 days without sleeping, which was definitely not fun.”

Then the TV started talking to her.

Caity had been prescribed atomoxetine by her GP while on the waiting list for an ADHD assessment.

It is not a controlled stimulant drug like Ritalin – but in rare cases, it can also trigger psychosis.

Admitted to Hillmorton Psychiatric Hospital, she was discharged too quickly.

“At that point I still believed probably about 50 percent of my psychosis, but I wasn’t a danger to myself or others so they didn’t really have a place for me.

“I was back within a month, and they were like ‘What happened? Why did you stop taking your meds?’ And I was ‘I don’t know’.”

Caity has since been diagnosed with ADHD but does not currently take medication, and has not had another psychotic episode.

Prescriptions rising

Since GPs lost their authority to prescribe stimulants in 1999 – due to worries about the potential for abuse – only psychiatrists and paediatricians have been able to initiate treatment.

Yet prescriptions for ADHD medications increased more than tenfold in the last two decades.

Wellington psychiatrist and addiction specialist Dr Sam McBride said it was “inevitable” that having more prescribers (GPs and nurse practitioners) would lead to more prescribing – and more negative impacts.

As happened now, some drugs would end up being “diverted” into the hands of people who had not been prescribed them, he said.

“A certain number of people come to harm from abusing them. A small proportion will develop addiction in the context of exposure to stimulants.

“We can expect a small number of people to have psychosis precipitated by these medications. And we can also expect some people will have physical effects due to exposure to stimulants.”

Those physical reactions could be short-term, like an irregular heartbeat, or become chronic, long-term problems.

There was also a risk to the wider health system: high demand for ADHD services could take “scarce medical resource” away from other parts of the health system.

“We’ll see the development of private providers meeting the need. And I’m unclear whether we’ll see the equity gains that were intended from the changes.”

Accused of ‘drug-seeking”‘

The lack of capacity in the public health system in the last few years has forced many people to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for an ADHD assessment.

Bella* waited more than nine months and paid nearly $1000 for an ADHD assessment by a psychiatrist – but felt “let down” by the experience.

“He said something along the lines of ‘a lot of people come in and try to get diagnosed so they can re-sell the medication’. It was like he had an idea of what I was trying to do that was completely inaccurate.”

Bella said she had already told the doctor she was not interested in medication, she just wanted a diagnosis.

“I cried throughout most of that session because I thought I was finally in a space where I was going to get answers and support, and to be put down in that way … I wasn’t expecting that at all.”

Three years on, she remains “really hurt” by the experience.

“I haven’t gone for a second opinion because I’m honestly worried that I won’t be seen for who I am or the mental hurdles that I overcome each day.”

However, she has researched widely and found her own ways to mitigate some of the problems, including turning off social media notifications, exercise, proper sleep and good food.

“It’s a lot of work and can be tiring, but the results have really paid off. I’ve also gone to therapy to work through some of the more ingrained habits and thought patterns, and I’m learning to accept myself and encourage the positive aspects of ADHD.”

She thinks she will “most likely” go to her doctor for a second opinion at some point, but is in no hurry.

It’s ‘big business’ – psychologist

A psychologist who worked at a private clinic specialising in neurodiversity said she left after witnessing “unethical and lazy practices”.

There were clinicians who treated it like “a box ticking exercise” or ignored red flags.

“I saw people being diagnosed that I am confident did not have ADHD and when I raised it, it was like I was stepping out of line,” said the woman, whom RNZ has agreed not to name.

In one devastating case, a teenager died of suspected suicide within weeks of being diagnosed with ADHD.

The psychologist believes no one adequately explored what was really going on for him.

A proper assessment should involve digging deep into family history, home-life, school, relationships, what trauma (even intergenerational trauma) could be involved.

“I don’t want to discredit it as a genuine diagnosis but I am really skeptical about the diagnostic framework, particularly as used by clinicians who claim to specialise in this area.

“It’s being used as an explanation for people’s difficulties too easily without considering other things.”

It was hard to say “no” to a client or parent who was desperately seeking a diagnosis, she said.

“There’s also a financial incentive to give people the answers they want.

“You’re talking about a private business that’s incentivised to keep clients on, send them onto the psychiatrist. It’s big business, and it’s concerning that the public don’t know that, you’ve got very vulnerable people coming in.

“It’s very frightening because the consumer has to come in with a lot of knowledge if looking for a diagnosis for themselves or their child.”

Furthermore, the huge pressure on mental health services meant there was also political pressure to get people seen quickly, she said.

“I’m really concerned about this pathway of making it easier and faster for less qualified people to diagnose ADHD.”

McBride said when a diagnosis was correct and properly managed and people were “well supported”, stimulants were useful.

They could even reduce the risk of people engaging in other addictive and risk-taking behaviour, he said.

However, they did not work for everyone, and treating ADHD was often much more complicated than just popping a pill.

“And I’m concerned that at present there’s been really little consideration given to monitoring any of these issues, educating the public about these issues, educating clinicians about these issues, and looking to contain some of these harms.”

Ministry to monitor

The Ministry of Health said only vocationally registered specialist GPs and nurse practitioners who had knowledge and skills in ADHD assessment and treatment would be able to diagnose and start patients on stimulant medicines.

“They must be confident they can do this safely, follow accepted clinical guidelines, and meet the professional standards set by their regulatory authorities.”

Prescribing would continue to follow “existing regulatory and clinical guidelines to ensure quality care and prevent misuse”.

“As with any regulatory change implemented by the Ministry, we will continually monitor the new framework to mitigate any risk.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The recovery of a catamaran that grounded at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula is expected to begin on Monday.

The Black Cat Cruises catamaran was beached at Nīkau Palm Valley Bay, after it got into trouble on Saturday afternoon – requiring more than 40 people to be rescued.

Environment Canterbury (ECAN) said the first phase of the recovery operation – fully submerging the catamaran in deep water to prevent further damage – is expected to get underway on Monday.

The second phase to remove it from the water, depended on the weather and safety requirements, it said.

ECAN said it was working with the Conservation Department, iwi, and Black Cat Cruises on the recovery and salvage, while the Transport Accident Investigation Commission said it would be investigating.

Black Cat Cruises was approached for comment.

Longtime tourism operator, Tony Muir – who runs Coast Up Close – said the grounding hadn’t put a hold on scenic tours, but the exclusion zone around it, had changed what’s offered.

“Where they have it is right in the marine reserve, right at one of the highlights of the marine reserve.

“[On Sunday] afternoon we took a tour to the south, which is just fine as long as the weather conditions are fine… it’s a beautiful trip.

“But… this is one of the jewels in the Akaroa crown, where this vessel has been positioned.”

ECAN said the vessel was more significantly damaged than it anticipated and it was likely that all the fuel on board had leaked into the water.

It said the environment was coping, with oily sheens decreasing over time, and there were no signs of wildlife in distress.

A spokesperson said no fuel was able to be pumped out of the boat due to the nature of the incident.

“Most was discharged (likely in the early stages of the incident) due to the significant damage to the hull.”

Muir said it “wasn’t an ideal situation” but accidents happened and commended the crew for getting everyone off safely.

“It’s [now] up to all the powers that be to lessen the impacts the best they can.”

Following the near-sinking, Muir took his boat out on the water and helped with the clean-up.

“We went around and picked up a whole lot of rubbish, and plastic gloves, and puke bags and bits and pieces that had floated off it – we picked up quite a lot of that stuff just to get it out of the water.”

Fellow tour operator, Roy Borelli of Fox II Sailing Adventures, said he also scooped up some of the Black Cat’s debris.

He said his yacht, with 24 passengers on board, was one of the first on the scene on Saturday.

After a “wonderful sailing trip” where they’d been surrounded by dolphins, seeing the vessel was a bit of a shock.

“It was very… distressing seeing the boat listing. Because I’ve seen that boat almost every day that I’ve been working for the last 20 years.

“I know that boat. So, when you see it slowly sinking it’s very, very upsetting.”

He said he was one of many boats to offer assistance but ultimately wasn’t needed, and believed the catamaran ran itself aground to prevent it from sinking further.

Borrelli said there was still plenty of wildlife outside of the exclusion zone.

“We don’t know how long this is going to last, but it’s still an amazing harbour, and we have so much to see.

“We typically see dolphins, penguins, seals, and albatross on many of our trips.”

ECAN said the exclusion zone around the boat remained in place, and all non-response vessels must keep clear.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Home loan borrowers are switching banks in record numbers, chasing cash back incentives.

But who’s paying the price?

Reserve Bank data shows there was $14.1 billion of home loan lending in December, $3.6b more than the previous strongest month, which was March 2021.

Cotality chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said it was a “large spike” in lending activity, for both owner-occupiers and investors.

He said some of it was for people buying houses but the bulk of the activity came from people switching banks.

There was $5.8b in home loan lending refinanced in the month, more than double the previous high. Switches made up 41 percent of the total movement of lending, compared to the previous highest level of 30 percent in June.

Davidson said it was all driven by increased “cashback” activity – where banks try to tempt borrowers in by offering them a percentage of their loan total, in cash.

“Remember that the banks were all offering 1.5 percent cash for lending for a period of time in November, which then fed into December’s strength once the loans had actually been drawn down.”

Davidson said it seemed that borrowers with large loans and large incomes were playing a key role in the activity.

“The share of lending being done at a high debt-to-income lending (DTI) actually dropped fairly sharply in December; or in other words, a lot of lending or switching was done at lower DTIs. For example, in relation to investment collateral, high DTI loans fell from nearly 17 percent of the total in November before exemptions to around 12 percent in December.”

He said December’s data was a story of “huge gross churn”.

“Borrowers will have been the winners, although some banks may have gained market share.”

Not every borrower benefits?

But chief executive at mortgage broking firm Squirrel, David Cunningham, said not every borrower would benefit.

Those who could move banks would get the extra cash, but those who were not able to could end up paying a higher price.

People usually cannot move without paying break fees if some of their lending is on a fixed term, or for a number of years after they accept a cash back offer.

“What you end up with is your new customers get their 1.5 percent cashback, but existing customers go well, hold on, why are they getting this deal?”

People who could move might have decided to take up the offer at another bank instead, he said, creating a giant “pass the parcel” scenario of borrowers.

He said it left the question of what fixed rates the banks would be offering if they were not funding cash backs.

“I’d argue we would have got the one-year down at four percent, but cash backs have become the new battleground.”

He said banks no longer tried to compete with lower interest rates to get new business.

Those lower interest rates would also benefit existing borrowers who would be able to claim them when they came to refix even part of their mortgage, and they would not have to change banks to do so.

But Claire Matthews, a banking expert at Massey University, was not so sure that existing borrowers were losing out.

“I’m not convinced that cashbacks would be having a significant impact on interest rates because they are only generally available to a subset of customers, and they are a standard time of marketing tool to attract new customers.

“Despite cashbacks, I think banks do still compete on interest rates, because that is still a key driver for borrowers given the longer impact and they will be important to a large portion of customers. And if they don’t qualify for the cashback, borrowers can negotiate with their bank for a better deal.”

ANZ, which initiated the 1.5 percent cashback offer, said it was committed to offering competitive home loan rates, too, for existing borrowers and new customers.

“Customers consider a number of things when choosing who to get a home loan from – pricing, approval times and other incentives on offer. Cash contributions give customers extra support upfront, helping with the cost of moving, refinancing or other expenses.

“Our recent cash contribution campaign was distinct from our choices on interest rate settings. We saw strong demand for the cash contribution campaign but for commercial reasons we cannot release details of specific amounts.”

BNZ said it would look at each customer’s situation individually to ensure it was meeting their needs and giving them the best overall value.

“Cashbacks are one tool that can help customers with costs when purchasing their first home, moving house, or switching banks,” general manager of home lending product James Leydon said.

“We currently have a cashback offer for first home buyers, offering at least $5000 cash back on new home loans of $250,000 or more, even with a deposit as low as 5 percent.”

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