Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

A New Zealand blood cancer patient has been forced to leave his four children behind and make a last chance dash to Australia for treatment

His case has prompted dozens of doctors to write an open letter to the prime minister, pleading for change.

Tawhai Reti was 29 when he was diagnosed with myeloma in 2019.

After going through two stem cell transplants, Reti started on the last funded drug treatment available in New Zealand last year.

But his health continued to rapidly decline, and in December he developed pneumonia and sepsis.

Having exhausted all funded treatment options, he was told he had weeks to live.

The 37-year-old former shearer and his wife then made the difficult decision to leave their family and go to Australia to get drugs that are not funded here.

Reti’s wife Lani told Checkpoint they had spoken about moving to Australia in October, but were hesitant about leaving their children behind.

But after his rapid decline, Lani knew it was time to go.

“After a couple of weeks watching Tawhai just lying around, not able to do anything other than sleep and be in pain, I woke up and just realised I couldn’t accept it.

“He was dying right in front of my eyes.”

Having lived and worked in Australia for a time while he was in remission, Reti still qualified for Medicare cover, and was able access daratumumab – the drug he needed for a chance at survival.

Daratumumab, or dara, is funded in Australia as well as more than 45 other countries, and has been on Pharmac’s “options for investment” list for years and is considered a high-priority drug – meaning it would fund it if it had the money.

Reti received his first dose of dara last week, something Lani said was a long-time coming.

“I can’t tell you how many tears we had when we found out that he was accepted for dara.

“It’s something that we’ve been fighting for such a long time and trying to spread awareness about and writing letters to the government to try and push for this so that we didn’t have to leave home. And within four weeks of being in Australia, he received his first dose.”

While finally being able to access the treatment has been a happy change for the couple, it had not been an easy ride.

The pair had to leave their four children at home in New Zealand with Reti’s sister.

In order for Reti to reach remission he will need to remain in Australia for at least a year, if not more.

He told Checkpoint being away from his children had been “horrible”.

“We’ve always sort of been a pretty close family… I see them every day, every night, every morning, know everything about them. Now it’s sort of just on the end of a phone.”

Fundraising done by the family through a Givealittle page helped them to travel to Australia, while still looking after their bills back home.

But now the money was running out.

“We have a mortgage, we have bills like everybody else, we also have four children at home.

“Sadly, I do have to come home. I am leaving next week and Tawhai will have to stay here by himself so I can come home and go back to work to help fund both our home and needs at home and [help] Tawhai stay here.”

Tawhai and Lani’s family have now set up another Givealittle page to help with their everyday expenses while Reti is in Australia.

‘Unnecessary loss of Kiwi lives’

Professor Judith Trotman, a New Zealand-trained haematologist working in Sydney, co-ordinated the open letter from 35 doctors, nurses and clinician researchers.

“We note with alarm the unnecessary loss of Kiwi lives,” it reads, because patients are deprived of access to treatments that are available globally and also missing out on clinical trials.

Trotman is treating Reti, who suffers from myeloma, a form of blood cancer which disproportionately impacts Māori and Pacifica patients. Improving survival rates rested solely on access to drug treatments.

“I commend my patient and his wife on their grace and tenacity in facing this painful, progressive cancer. Having for so long been champions for New Zealand’s myeloma community, we now focus on his survival and recovery after his immunochemotherapy.”

Trotman said the “medical migrants” heading to Australia highlighted the fact that without access to medicines, they will die.

Meanwhile, doctors feel disempowered.

“The lack of modern medicine and technology access and the inability to run many clinical trials are key factors driving highly trained professionals away from New Zealand or prohibiting their return,” according to the letter.

A three-point plan put to the government calls for more funding for medicines that are considered ‘standard of care’ overseas, pointing out that only 0.4 percent of New Zealand’s GDP is spent on medicines, compared to the OECD median of 1.4 percent.

It also seeks a taskforce of experts to address blood cancer treatment in Aotearoa and asks for more support for research and development to make the country ”a credible and competitive destination for clinical trial research”.

The blood cancer specialists – backed by the Australasian Leukaemia Lymphoma Group and the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand – say Kiwi patients were also being left behind in accessing clinical trials.

“For these trials to return to New Zealand, access to what are now global standard-of-care comparator drugs is critical.”

Auckland haematologist Dr Rory Bennett was one of 35 healthcare professionals who signed the letter.

He told Checkpoint he was disturbed by the state of blood cancer therapy in New Zealand.

“We feel that there’s a clear gap between the standard of care that we can deliver here in New Zealand compared with what is achieved overseas, and that gap that is well established is continuing to widen.

“We are very worried about the future of blood cancer therapy in New Zealand and the welfare of New Zealanders with blood cancer.”

Bennet said he was frustrated by the situation, but ultimately it was about the patient, not the doctor.

“We find ourselves in difficult circumstances frequently and I feel incredibly sympathetic and sorry for the patients that we have that had they had they lived overseas would have been able to access a more successful or less toxic or frankly just even a therapy that wasn’t available in New Zealand.

“Those are hard conversations to have, but it’s not about us. It’s about the patients at the end of the day and what they are missing out on. And I think that that’s the hardest thing.”

He hoped that the letter will push the prime minister to work with healthcare professionals on moving blood cancer treatment forward.

“Engage with us… acknowledge the data, hear us out, work with us to try and work this through.

“We’re in a desperate, desperate state at the moment, New Zealanders are dying prematurely from blood cancer and we need to sort it out.”

‘Take us seriously and start listening’

Reti said the letter has left him with no words.

“It just blows me away every time.”

Lani hoped that after all their years of crying out for help, the letter will push the government into action.

“I really ask them. to take into consideration the 21,000 blood cancer sufferers in New Zealand that are dying every day because of the lack of funding, because of the lack of standard care.

“I would just strongly urge them to take this letter seriously, take us seriously and start listening and putting things in place for people to continue to be able to live long lives.”

Health Minister Simeon Brown said in a statement that improving cancer treatment and outcomes was a key priority.

“Last year we invested $27.1 million to expand stem cell transplant services, helping more patients access life-saving treatment sooner. This funding will strengthen the specialist workforce, increase hospital capacity, and upgrade infrastructure to support more timely transplants.”

Brown noted that Health New Zealand was actively recruiting for blood cancer specialist roles across the country.

“I encourage doctors currently working overseas who want to make a difference for Kiwi patients here at home to consider these opportunities.”

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/2026/03/11/he-was-dying-right-in-front-of-my-eyes-cancer-patients-last-chance-dash-to-australia/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A woman has died after a car mounted the curb and ploughed into a cafe in Auckland.

The crash, about 9am on Wednesday, closed William Souter Street in the North Shore suburb of Forrest Hill.

Three people were initially hurt – one critically, one with moderate injuries and one with minor injuries. Two were taken to hospital.

Police have confirmed one of those injured had since died.

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

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

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

“The first thing we saw was obviously the lady that was really injured, she was lying on the ground and there was, like, another girl, it looked like quite a young girl, whose face was bleeding as well so there were like two very noticeably injured,” she said.

“And the first thing was just to call 111, just because obviously we saw that the lady who was hit was in a not so good situation, she was in a lot of pain and she kind of looked super, super confused so we called emergency right off the bat.

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

Jess said they then tried to keep people away from the entrance so there were no further injuries.

She credited another nearby worker.

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

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

“Very sad news to see today. Thinking of all those involved,” North Shore MP Simon Watts said in a post on Facebook.

St John sent three ambulances and two rapid response units.

Police said only one vehicle was involved.

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/2026/03/11/woman-dies-child-hurt-after-car-crashes-into-cafe-on-aucklands-north-shore/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police say armed officers are at an Ōtaki Beach property on the Kāpiti Coast.

A police spokesperson said the officers are armed as a precaution, as negotiators engage with a person at the property.

They said the person is there alone and there is no risk to the public.

Cordons are in place on Rangiuru Road and people should avoid the area.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/armed-police-descend-on-kapiti-coast-property/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The families of victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings say the terrorist is a witness “like no other” and he should not be allowed to give oral evidence at a coronial inquest.

But a lawyer appointed to assist the court said the public deserves the most thorough and rigorous coronial inquest possible to ensure a similar horror does not happen again.

Survivors and families of victims of the March 2019 terror attack are fighting in the Court of Appeal to prevent terrorist Brenton Tarrant from giving evidence at the inquest into their loved ones’ deaths.

They are seeking judicial review of Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte Windley’s decision to call him as a witness.

The High Court dismissed the application last year.

The second-phase inquest began in October 2024 and is examining how the terrorist came to obtain the guns used in the massacre.

It adjourned part-heard after objections were raised to the terrorist giving evidence.

A lawyer for some of the families, Nikki Pender, told the Court of Appeal on Wednesday that it was highly unusual for a coroner’s decision to be reviewed.

“This is an exceptional case, these are extraordinary circumstances, this particular witness is like no other witness.”

Pender said Sunday marked seven years since the massacres at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre, and the coronial inquest was extremely important to survivors and their families.

Tarrant not only murdered 51 people, he did so by invading and violating “a sacred place” during prayers, she said.

“That has resonated for years for the community.”

The therapeutic nature of the coroner’s court was highly visible in this specific inquest, and calling the terrorist as a witness would breach that, Pender said.

Each phase of the inquest started with a karakia and a recital from the Quran from Al Noor Mosque Imam Gamal Fouda, as well as a roll call of every victim’s name.

“They [the families] are at the heart of this… this is a safe space and therefore any decision to bring in this individual, to have him appear as a witness, needs to take account of the fact just how significant that is to the arena, to the jurisdiction that has been created, and to the safe space that has been created to those family members,” Pender said.

The coroner should have started from a presumption of whether it was absolutely necessary to invite Tarrant as a witness, Pender said.

Calling someone as a witness in an inquest could afford them a degree of mana and could dilute the aims of his life-without-parole sentence, as well as risking platforming his message of hate, she said.

“He has lost his right in public society, in civic society, and yet, if you call him as a witness too readily, what signal does that send?” Pender said.

“He does seem to enjoy the occasion in terms of the questions and answers and the interrogatories, and the community believe that it sends mixed messages – and if they’re a proxy for the public then … [the Coroner has] got to take note of that and just got to be really careful around that.”

The lawyer appointed by the court as a contradictor, Kerry Cook, said the Coroner’s decision to allow written and oral evidence from the terrorist was one that was “lawful, reasonable and proportionate”.

“The Coroner’s Act prioritises the public good associated with a full and independent investigation into the causes of death, and it prioritises that over subjective feelings – no matter how reasonably held – of abhorrence or difficulty in hearing from that particular person.”

Cross-examination was the best tool for testing the terrorist’s claims and excluding that evidence would leave a gap in the inquiry, Cook said.

The process of hearing live evidence and subjecting it to cross-examination might reveal information or bring to light inconsistencies and details otherwise not known, he said.

Coronial inquests were rigorous, fact-finding inquiries and required the coroner to make evidence-based recommendations or comments in public, he said.

Constraining evidence in the inquest risked the coroner making incorrect decisions and the conclusions might reflect only “what was allowed to be seen, rather than what actually occurred”.

“To stop something similar happening in the future, you must clearly understand what caused it to happen in the past,” Cook said.

The community wanted a thorough inquiry and to have all relevant evidence before it, even if it was uncomfortable, he said.

Another lawyer assisting the court, Sarah Jerebine KC, said any oral evidence the terrorist gave in the inquest and the cross-examination could be restricted to suppression orders decided by the coroner.

She said she had huge sympathy for what survivors and families had experienced and the test of deciding whether the terrorist should be orally cross-examined fell on whether the evidence was necessary, whether it met the interests of justice and balanced against the harm done to the families.

Justice Sarah Katz, Justice Jillian Mallon, and Justice Matthew Palmer reserved their decision.

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/2026/03/11/christchurch-mosque-attack-terrorist-is-like-no-other-witness-lawyer-says/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Selwyn District Council is attempting to drastically limit rates rises this year but the plan comes with some caveats.

Councillors agreed on Wednesday to consult the public on an average rates increase of 5.4 percent.

Ratepayers would also be asked to give feedback on options of 4.9 percent and 6.5 percent – all had different trade-offs.

The preferred option was less than half of last year’s hike of 14.2 percent.

However, all options excluded water charges which were now handled by a separate company – Selwyn Water Ltd.

Councillors were also searching for savings by possibly shifting some costs from general rates to user-pays.

That could result in increases to building consent costs, aquatic and fitness class fees, and dog registration fees.

The council would also have to reduce its library programmes and exhibitions to achieve the 5.4 percent increase.

Selwyn mayor Lydia Gliddon said there would need to be some hard conversations with the community.

“My view around community services is not to try and cut everything but to look at how we do it and work smarter with what we do have to provide benefit for our community as well,” Gliddon said.

Achieving lower rates hikes required careful prioritisation and difficult decisions, Gliddon said.

“This is our first annual plan as a new council and it reflects what we heard clearly during the election – that rates affordability matters and the council must live within its means while continuing to deliver essential services,” she said.

The draft plan said the rates increase could be reduced to 4.9 percent by significantly reducing recruitment at Selwyn District Council for the next year, removing some roles from budgets and significantly reducing consultant costs.

It was not recommended by staff, who said it could affect the council’s ability to meet its legal obligations and deliver services.

The plan included investments in roading upgrades and maintenance, Lincoln’s town centre, replacement of the Whitecliffs Bridge and remediation of the Leeston Medical Centre.

The plan said they were needed to support the district as it was one of the fastest growing areas in the country.

The council was predicting $213.6 million in revenue during the next financial, while it would spend $196.5m on operating expenses and $86m on capital infrastructure.

Consultation opens on Monday.

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/2026/03/11/selwyn-district-could-drastically-limit-rates-rises-but-it-comes-at-a-cost/

Source: Radio New Zealand

There are calls for fuel rationing following the effective closure of Hormuz Strait as a result of the war in the Middle East which has caused the price of oil to fluctuate.

The Wise Response Society has already said it the government should activate the National Fuel Security Plan, which was released last November to ensure New Zealand would have reliable access to fuel in case of global or domestic disruption.

Chairperson Nathan Surendran told Checkpoint on Wednesday the plan and rationing should be activated as a precaution.

“So rather than waiting for us to hit an issue, if we did not receive one of the deliveries that we are supposedly contracted to do, but which force majeure measures implemented by our suppliers may lead to not arriving, then, yeah, it’s something that we really should take seriously.”

Having an adequate fuel supply was critical for New Zealand’s economy, Surendran said.

“The critical question isn’t what’s here now, it’s whether the next round of deliveries will arrive.

“Australia’s wholesalers are rationing deliveries to petrol stations, despite that nation having 36 days of reserves and two domestic refineries, New Zealand has neither, and I’d rather be accused of raising the alarm too early and being wrong than staying quiet and being right.”

The Wise Response Society was calling for the government to tell the public how much physical fuel was in New Zealand, as well as to activate the National Fuel Security Plan, and begin rationing.

“We’ve got the Petroleum Demand Restraint Act, which gives the government the power to implement rationing by order of the Governor-General,” Surendran said.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/11/wise-response-society-calls-for-immediate-fuel-rationing-as-war-continues-in-middle-east/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A car which was driven recklessly through a cemetery in Porirua has been seized by police.

Police said the blue Ford Falcon and several other vehicles were seen speeding through Whenua Tapu Cemetery for about 15 minutes on Monday evening.

Kapiti-Mana area commander Inspector Renee Perkins said it was lucky that no one was hurt.

“Not only is this a dangerous activity within a cemetery, but it is also incredibly disrespectful for a place where people go to grieve and remember their loved ones who have passed.

“Thanks to information provided by the public, and through our initial enquiries, we were able to seize one of the vehicles and we continue our search for the other vehicles and their drivers.”

Anita Baker Mayor of Porirua said this type of dangerous behaviour would not be tolerated.

“It costs money to fix damage left by unruly drivers.

“We are grateful to members of the public who contacted police at the time the incident was taking place.”

Anybody else who may have witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact police.

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/2026/03/11/car-driven-recklessly-through-porirua-cemetery-seized-by-police/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A long-awaited plan for an upgrade to Christchurch’s Cathedral Square will go to the public in coming months, Christchurch City Council says.

Council staff briefed mayor Phil Mauger and councillors on concept design work for the city’s traditional centre on Wednesday.

Cathedral Square – which encircles the moth-balled Christ Church Cathedral in the central city – was badly damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes.

Efforts to upgrade both the cathedral building and surrounding square have floundered for more than a decade.

Council strategy, planning and regulatory general manager John Higgins said the revitalised concept design would go to the public for consultation later this year.

“The current programme has largely focused on surface improvements like upgrading roads and footpaths, paving and landscaping.

“We now have an opportunity to build on the design work done by Regenerate Christchurch to further recognise the role and importance of Cathedral Square as our central civic space.”

The council was seeking expressions of interest for the project.

Previous feedback had shown people want Cathedral Square to be an accessible and vibrant place to gather, Higgins said.

“For many, the square has historically been a gathering place for everyone who calls Christchurch home. We want to acknowledge its role as the heart of our city, connecting all our new and existing facilities and creating a space that reflects that importance.”

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/2026/03/11/cathedral-square-upgrade-concept-design-to-open-for-consultation/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Medicinal cannabis company Helius Therapeutics has been placed in voluntary administration, citing a tough commercial and regulatory environment.

The Auckland-based company was founded in 2018, and was one of the early players in the sector.

The voluntary administration does not impact the clinic business owned by Helius Group, and operating under Cannaplus.

Helius chief executive Vicky Taylor, who joined in late 2025, said the decision reflected challenges facing the sector.

“This is an incredibly difficult moment for our team and for the wider medical cannabis industry,” Taylor said.

“Unfortunately, the current commercial and regulatory environment has made it very challenging for manufacturers to operate sustainably at scale.”

Over the past few years, the sector has made repeated calls to ease regulatory burdens in New Zealand.

Helius Therapeutics will close its East Tāmaki manufacturing facility.

Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners were appointed voluntary administrators.

Stoneman said they would continue to trade the business at reduced capacity over the next six weeks to sell the remaining stock on hand.

All manufacturing operations have ceased, and assets would be sold, he said.

“The company has been placed in voluntary administration following a sustained period of trading losses driven by high operating costs and a challenging regulatory environment,” Stoneman said.

Taylor said its priority was to support staff and ensure patients received care through its clinic network.

“Most importantly, I want to thank the great people who have worked at Helius Therapeutics,” she said.

“Their commitment to patients, innovation and quality has been remarkable, and I’m grateful for everything they have contributed.”

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/2026/03/11/medicinal-cannabis-company-helius-therapeutics-shuts-down/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man who was struck in the head and face with a golf club after entering a house in Hawke’s Bay and seriously assaulting a person is being sought by police.

Police were called to address on Newcastle St in Mahia, at 11.30 pm on February 28 after a man entered the property and seriously assaulted a person.

Another person in the house confronted the man – hitting him with a golf club – and injuring his head and face, police said.

The man then fled on a dark-coloured side-by-side quadbike.

Detective Sergeant Joshua Jones said police were looking for man in his 30s or 40s with short black hair and a receding hairline.

The man was nearly six foot three inches tall – of chubby build – and wearing a white singlet and jeans at the time of the assault.

“This is a very serious incident that has happened in a place where the victim should have been able to feel safe.

“The victim sustained serious injuries, and both occupants are understandably very shaken by the incident,” Jones said.

Police were asking anyone who may have seen a person matching the description – possibly with unexplained head injuries – or who spotted the quad bike in the Newcastle and Weld St areas, near the time of the assault, to get in touch.

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/2026/03/11/home-intruder-hit-in-head-with-a-golf-club-following-serious-assault-in-mahia-hawkes-bay/