Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

Families of victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings are continuing their fight to prevent the terrorist from giving evidence at the coronial inquest into their loved ones’ deaths.

Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte Windley has sought to call Brenton Tarrant as a witness in the second-phase inquest into the deaths of the 51 people massacred at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre on 15 March 2019.

Survivors and victims’ families made their objections heard throughout the inquest and sought judicial review of the decision at the High Court.

Justice Jonathan Eaton dismissed the application in October.

Some of the victims’ families are now appealing that decision to the Court of Appeal, where the matter will be heard next Wednesday.

The notice of appeal claimed Justice Eaton had made several mistakes in dismissing the application for judicial review.

“The High Court erred in finding community abhorrence and the second respondent’s convictions were not proper considerations for a coroner when determining whether to call him as a witness for cross-examination at an inquest into the deaths of 51 people in relation to the 15 March 2019 Christchurch Masjidain Attack,” the notice said.

The victims’ families were appealing Justice Eaton’s entire decision.

They sought three orders:

• One allowing the appeal.
• One setting aside deputy chief coroner Windley’s decision to call the terrorist as a witness.
• And one directing the coroner to reconsider her decision to call the terrorist as a witness and any consequential decisions.

The 35-year-old Australian-born terrorist is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the terror attack.

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.

Deputy Chief Coroner Windley granted interested party status to Tarrant before the inquest, asked him to answer written questions and asked lawyers for survivors and victims’ families – as well as other parties to the inquest – if they wished to cross-examine him.

The terrorist provided two written briefs to the court in September 2024.

The only application to cross-examine him was filed by counsel assisting the coroner.

In dismissing the application for judicial review, Justice Eaton said he had listened to the concerns of victims and their families.

“At a hearing on 14 October 2024, those interested parties opposed Mr Tarrant giving evidence in open court due to the risk of him turning the process into ‘a platform to encourage like-minded individuals into the murderous behaviour of the terrorist’,” he said in a decision released in October.

“They questioned whether Mr Tarrant would provide oral evidence that was reliable or that had not previously been addressed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry. Further, they were concerned the costs and the efforts that would need to be taken to allow Mr Tarrant to give evidence may not be outweighed by any benefit.”

However, Justice Eaton ruled the coroner had not made any error of law.

“Each of the considerations identified by the applicant under the first ground of the review were weighed by the coroner, including those which are arguably not relevant to the admissibility of evidence. The coroner has exercised her judgement in an appropriate manner having regard to the countervailing interests, including public order and safety, as well as the overarching purpose of the inquiry,” Justice Eaton said.

“The alleged errors of law do not withstand scrutiny. They are closely connected and advanced on a flawed premise.

“Parliament has invested in the coroner a very broad discretion as to the evidence to be admitted at an inquiry. That reflects the broad purposes of an inquiry, including not only an investigation into the circumstances of the death, but making of recommendations to avoid a similar future event. Generally, but particularly in a coronial inquiry involving such horrific offending, so many deaths and such great public interest, issues of relevance, necessity or desirability of hearing evidence is very much for an experienced coroner so well versed with the subject matter.

“The extensive powers set out in the Act allow coroners to pursue all lines of inquiry and to weigh the evidence in a holistic manner to ensure findings are both effective and robust. Only then will the determination command the respect of society – this particular determination being one that is of high public interest both domestically and internationally.

“With respect and recognition given to the very sensitive nature of these proceedings, there has been no reviewable error by the coroner.”

The terrorist gave evidence at a Court of Appeal hearing earlier in February in a bid to quash his convictions and sentence.

The terrorist claims he was “forced” to plead guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism because he was irrational as a result of torturous and inhumane prison conditions.

The Court of Appeal reserved its decision in that matter after a week-long hearing.

The second-phase inquest is on hold while the decision on the terrorist appearing as a witness is decided in the courts.

The coroner’s first phase inquest, which began in October 2023 and heard further evidence in May and August 2024, covered 10 issues relating to the events of 15 March 2019 and the response of emergency services to the massacre.

It took just minutes for the terrorist to leave 44 worshippers dead or dying at Al Noor Mosque as he possessed two semi-automatic centrefire rifles as well as a multitude of high-capacity magazines, two shotguns, a lever-action rifle and a bolt-action rifle.

He then drove to the mosque in Linwood, where he killed seven more people.

Tarrant was able to obtain a New Zealand firearms licence through a gaming friend who was aware of his extremist political opinions and his racist and Islamophobic beliefs.

The friend and the friend’s father acted as referees.

He had originally planned to use his sister as a referee, but the licensing clerk rejected that possibility because she lived in Australia and could not be interviewed face-to-face.

The terrorist first submitted an application to obtain a firearms licence just 15 days after arriving in New Zealand in August 2017.

At the time of the attacks, the terrorist only held a standard A-category licence, but by inserting the high-capacity magazines into the semi-automatic centrefire rifles, he had turned them into restricted E-category military-style semi-automatic rifles.

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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/2026/03/05/fight-continues-to-stop-christchurch-terrorist-from-giving-evidence-at-inquest/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have charged a second person with the murder of a fatally shot Pakuranga courier driver.

Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said the second man, a 35-year-old, would appear at the Manukau District Court on Thursday, charged with the murder of Tuipulotu Vi.

He said he could not rule out further arrests.

On 19 August 2024, police were called to reports of gun shots on Marvon Downs Avenue at about 6.45am.

Despite efforts, Vi could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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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/2026/03/05/second-person-charged-with-murder-of-pakuranga-courier-driver/

Source: Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/what-is-black-sesame-and-is-it-really-the-new-matcha/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are at the scene of a fatal fire in Ōtāhuhu.

A scene guard is outside the house and officers are going door-to-door.

A Fire and Emergency investigator is also at the scene.

RNZ understands a person died in a sleep-out on the property.

Firefighters were called just before 9pm on Wednesday.

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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/2026/03/05/person-killed-in-fire-at-auckland-home/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pharmac says shortages in some ADHD drugs are expected to last throughout 2026.

Its Chief Medical Officer, Dr David Hughes, in a statement to told Nine to Noon, rising demand and manufacturing constraints meant supply remains unpredictable.

The drug option most affected is methylphenidate, used in branded treatments such as Ritalin,and Concerta.

Pharmac has funded a new brand of methylphenidate along with an alternative medication, Lisdexamfetamine.

ADHD New Zealand says clinicians have identified that children and adolescents need priority access to slow release methylphenidate and have suggested prescribing alternative medications for any newly diagnosed adults.

Wellington GP Dr Michael Buckley, who has a special interest in ADHD, is predicting even further demand for the medicines as more people are diagnosed.

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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/2026/03/05/pharmac-warns-unpredictable-supply-means-adhd-drug-shortage-expected-all-year/

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than half a century after the last whale was caught and killed in New Zealand, humpbacks are showing promising signs of recovery.

An international study involving researchers from the University of Auckland shows humpback breeding is getting more competitive, which suggests the population is growing.

University of Auckland marine biologist Dr Emma Carroll had been working with researchers in New Caledonia to track the local humpback whales.

Comparing data collected over decades, Dr Carroll described a stark difference in breeding habits between the first part of the study, conducted in the 2000’s, and the second part, in the 2010’s.

“For the first part of the study, when the population was really small, young males and old males had the same number of babies or paternities,” she explained.

“But in the second half of the study, as the population is recovering from whaling, we see that older males are actually more dominant.”

What Carroll described was called a “reproductive skew”.

Many species had a reproductive skew that favoured older, larger males, and these “super-males” had the most children.

But when their population was decimated in the 60s and 70s, humpback whales lost the luxury to be picky.

To maintain genetic diversity, Carroll said the whales moved away from their reproductive skew.

“We think that when the population is low, the fact that young males and older males have the similar chances of having offspring, that is actually quite good for the population,” she said.

“Because it means that every male can contribute, which means lots more genetic diversity can be continued or carried through the population.”

As the decades rolled on, female whales had more options, and the males were getting more competitive.

“Then we see as the population gets bigger, there’s this kind of preference towards older males. And it just shows us that whaling and the reduction in the population size has led to changes in these behaviours through time.”

New Zealand’s relationship with whaling had a long and complicated history.

In a 1996 report by RNZ’s Spectrum, Marlborough whaler Joe Heberley described the moment his profession reached a tipping point.

“As time wore on, we knew that whaling was going to become history, and it was a sad day, you know,” Heberley said at the time.

“We knew that the Japanese and Russians had got in and slaughtered the pod of whales that were feeding the New Zealand coast. We knew that by the numbers that we had spotted coming through Cook Strait, that something had happened.”

By 1964, New Zealand’s whaling industry had made its last catch, and sentiment began to shift.

New Zealand voted in favour of an international moratorium that banned commercial whaling from 1986.

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Juan Parada is proud of that transformation, but feared New Zealand had lost its conservational edge in the decades since.

“It’s clear that New Zealand had a big turnaround, from being a whaling nation we became vocal defenders of whales, and that’s something to be really proud of,” he said.

“Our point of shame really is to be the last country that is bottom trawling in the South Pacific high seas.”

Parada said New Zealand’s reluctance to give up bottom trawling presented a massive threat to whales.

“When bottom trawlers drag their heavy nets on these delicate habitats, the entire ecosystem is wiped out,” he said.

“I definitely think that bottom trawling is the worst thing that we’re doing. It would be really easy to stop, really, and that would make a huge difference for the ocean.”

Carroll said only a couple of generations had passed since whaling was outlawed, and she hoped to track the whales’ changing behaviour in the decades to come.

“The fact that we’re seeing this shift now, that means if we continue to monitor this population, which is relatively small and easy to monitor, it means we can see this change in behaviour through time,” she 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/2026/03/05/fifty-years-after-new-zealand-stopped-whaling-humpback-population-showing-signs-of-recovery/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Another child has died in a portable pool and the coroner’s court has renewed calls for these pools to be banned.

However, the government ministry in charge says change is unlikely.

Ten-month-old Majura Rapi-Davis died on Boxing Day 2022 in a portable inflatable pool at his Pukekohe home. The pool was only full to approximately 320 millimetres, around the height of a standard school ruler.

Associate Coroner James Buckle found the soft-sided pool would collapse inwards and downwards if a small amount of pressure was put on it, meaning Majura could tip himself in.

“Because the top of the pool collapsed in when weight was put on it but did not collapse out, Baby Majura was not able to climb out without help,” he said.

In March 2023, the death of a 20-month-old in a temporary pool in Napier resulted in a call from Water Safety NZ for a ban on the pools.

This followed a coroner’s investigation into the drownings of eight children aged under 6 during the summer of 2021-2022 when Coroner Michael Robb also recommended a ban.

Coroner Buckle said the evidence pointed to Majura’s parents being diligent in their supervision of the pool when being used and that they acted to try and restrict his access to it at other times. But with a busy household and several other children around, the sliding door which gave access to the pool was at one time left open.

“The death of Baby Majura was a tragic loss and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his whānau,” Coroner Buckle said.

He noted that this was not the first death of a child in these circumstances and endorsed Coroner Robbs recommendation that temporary pools of less than 1.2 metres in height be discontinued from sale.

“The cost of these pools has become the lives of children,” Coroner Buckle said.

However, a ban did not look likely to happen.

“The tenor of [Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s] response to both my and Coroner Robb’s recommendations were that they are very unlikely to be followed in the short to medium term, if ever,” Coroner Buckle said.

MBIE argued that discontinuing the sale of temporary pools under 1.2 metres in height would require significant policy work and would not be as simple a solution as it sounded.

Because he was not confident in government action to ban the pools, Coroner Buckle also recommended a law change to the promotion, advertising, and packaging of temporary pools.

“Any and all promotional, advertising and/or packaging images, whether static or otherwise, that show swimming pools must show the pool in a context that is clearly and unequivocally compliant with the relevant legislation,” he recommended.

He also said it should be clear that the pool itself did not come with the barriers to make it safe.

Water Safety New Zealand said two children under the age of 5 have drowned in portable pools already in the first two months of this year, a cause of death which did not exist a decade ago.

Water Safety’s Gavin Walker said the pools were an inexpensive choice but were often left unfenced and filled with water.

“Buyers typically do not budget for, or anticipate the real need for, appropriate fencing, leaving children at serious risk of drowning,” he said.

Walker said there was simply too much risk presented by temporary pools.

“Any unfenced pool is a tragedy waiting to happen. A split-second distraction can have devastating implications for our youngest and most vulnerable.”

Complete recommendations from the coroner:

• That portable pools between the heights of 400 millimetres and 1.2 metres be discontinued from sale in order to prevent avoidable deaths of young children;
• That a law change should be considered to require that any and all promotional, advertising and/or packaging images, whether static or otherwise, that show swimming pools must show the pool in a context that is clearly and unequivocally compliant with the relevant legislation;
• That any and all notices attached to packaging etc regarding barrier rules for swimming pools should clearly state that the relevant barriers are not included with the pools;
• That MBIE, or some other government department or organisation, conduct or commission research into the number of portable pools sold/used in New Zealand, the (mis)use of portable pools, the impact of that (mis)use on the incidence of drowning in New Zealand, and whether the current approach to pool safety needs to be modified to also be effective for portable pools;
• That MBIE, or some other government department or organisation, conduct or commission research into whether design improvements can be made to portable swimming pools to make them safer;
• That if the research provides designs that improve pool safety then the improved designs should be incorporated into the relevant design standards.

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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/2026/03/05/coroner-renews-call-for-temporary-pool-ban-after-further-death-says-they-are-costing-children-their-lives/

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/2026/03/05/vasectomy-reversals-the-more-kids-the-merrier/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The family of a former St Bede’s College student, who was offered $7000 after he complained of being sexually abused by a teacher on multiple occasions, want an apology from the school and a “very substantial financial settlement”.

After the former student, who has since died, initially rejected the $7000 ex gratia payment, the chairman of St Bede’s College’s Board of Proprietors wrote to him saying they realised he may have been hoping for more.

“But if you were to consult others regarding this you would find that this amount is around what might be expected in New Zealand.”

A lawyer acting for the man’s family says the complainant was “extremely angry with the whole process, the insulting offers, and the lack of compassion showed by all involved”.

The lawyer’s firm acts for eight former St Bede’s College students in relation to sexual assault allegations involving at least 10 named priests and staff members, as well as sexual assaults from other students “as a result of inadequate staff supervision”.

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

RNZ earlier revealed that former St Bede’s College priest Rowan Donoghue had admitted sexually abusing four boys at the school between 1996 and 2000.

RNZ then revealed that another priest, former rector Fr Brian Cummings, was also accused of abuse by three different complainants in 1996, 2014 and 2023. Cummings, who died in 2022, “strenuously denied” the allegations.

The school is now investigating what was known historically and how the matters were addressed. That work is being led by the current board and rector Jon McDowall.

RNZ has obtained a series of documents in relation to a former student who was allegedly sexually abused by a teacher at the school in the 1970s.

The man went to police in 2016. In August 2017 he got a letter from police which said the former staffer had a raft of physical disorders as well as several mental disorders which police believed would prevent him from being competent to stand trial.

Police said there was no physical evidence other than the man’s formal statement. That in conjunction with the time delay and the man’s mental health meant the complaint had not met the evidential test and there was not a reasonable chance of a successful prosecution.

Police said the complainant was a “credible and believable witness and police believe that his complaint is genuine”.

The man took the allegations to St Bede’s College in 2017.

In January 2018, the man received a letter from St Bede’s College Board of Proprietors chairman Shane O’Brien. The letter referenced a meeting from November at the school.

“You will recall I made it clear we wanted to do the right thing by you and we offered you a $5000 ex gratia payment in the spirit of an offer to support one of our Bedean community.”

The man had rejected the offer, and asked for $28,000, the letter said.

“We are not in a position to make such a payment and consider that a payment of that amount would be more appropriately asked of the individual responsible for the abuse.”

The offer was later increased to $7000. A letter from O’Brien in April 2018 said they hoped the man would be able to use the money “for the counselling and other things that will help with your healing”.

“We do realise that you may have been hoping for more, but if you were to consult others regarding this you would find this amount is around what might be expected in New Zealand. Please be assured we have not made this decision lightly, our real hope is that you can heal and move forward.”

In June 2018, the man wrote a letter to O’Brien and others, including the Society of Mary.

“It is with sadness and reluctance that I accept your offer of $7000. I am in dire financial need and lack resources to adequately seek what I believe to be fair and just. In short, I am simply worn out trying to express the devastating effect [the teacher] has had upon my life and the length of time this has taken.

“I have always been honest and straightforward in my approach to St Bedes and the Society of Mary. Where I was hoping for a ‘quick and just’ settlement I now find many months later my health is suffering further. In some ways I feel abused again but in a different form.”

An unsigned draft deed of settlement, dated 2018, said the man was taught by a staffer who invited him to visit him off the college property and “sexually abused him on about seven occasions over a period of several months”.

“The college was made aware in 2017 of the allegations of sexual abuse suffered by [the man].

“A committee representing the college heard the complaint. The committee’s enquiry found no previous knowledge of the abuse at the time or subsequently. The committee accepted the truth of [the man’s] complaint against [the teacher].”

The college offered, without admission of liability on its part, agreed to an ex gratia payment of $7000 and the man would agree not to commence legal proceedings nor seek further compensation or payment from the college.

The complainant did not sign the settlement.

In July 2018, O’Brien emailed the man about the deed of settlement and referred to a meeting that the man had with then rector Justin Boyle, O’Brien and Fr Allan Jones from the Society of Mary.

“We have entered into this process in the utmost good faith with you. We have kept you well informed and agreed to meet with you whenever asked. Our offer to you is a genuine and sincere offer to allow you to move on and assist with the healing process that you are wanting to occur.

“Our offer is being made as a full and final settlement but if you are now looking to engage lawyers and media as you suggest in your email it may not be possible to proceed on this basis.”

O’Brien asked that the complainant reconsider his position and “allow us to work with you to resolve this matter in an amicable and positive way”.

“As I have stated on previous occasions we are wanting to help you on your road to recovery and healing and see this as an important step for you.”

In 2020, the complainant instructed law firm Cooper Legal. Lawyer Sam Benton told RNZ the firm first wrote to St Bede’s College and the Society of Mary in January 2023 regarding the man’s claim.

“Our client suffered significant negative impacts from the abuse he experienced at St Bede’s, and he has never received any compensation or formal recognition of that abuse, despite his attempts to obtain it in 2017 and 2018.

“He advised our firm that the college was aware that he was ‘completely broke and in debt at the time’, and that the process was carried out in such a way that would have enabled the college to dismiss him as quickly and for as low a cost as possible.”

Benton said the man, who died in 2023, was “extremely angry with the whole process, the insulting offers, and the lack of compassion showed by all involved”.

Benton said Cooper Legal acted for eight former St Bede’s College students who suffered sexual, physical and psychological abuse while attending the school from the 1970s to the mid-2010s. This included sexual assaults from at least 10 named priests and staff members, as well as sexual assaults from other students as a result of inadequate staff supervision.

“For three years, Cooper Legal has sought acknowledgement, accountability, and redress from the college’s Boards and Rector, as well as through the Society of Mary, the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch and the Archbishop. Instead, these vulnerable survivors have faced delay, deflection, and policies designed not to provide healing but to avoid responsibility.”

He said the complainant’s ordeal “exemplifies the profound injustice these survivors continue to endure”.

He said the $7000 offer was “so patently inadequate that it left him retraumatised and angry”.

Benton supported the Chief Victims Advisor’s call for an independent investigation into historical allegations of sexual abuse at the school.

“For many survivors, financial redress is a critical component of accountability. It signals that the institution accepts responsibility and understands that the harm inflicted has caused lifelong consequences to survivors, including massive financial consequences. We call upon the college to commit to putting its money where its ‘mouth’ is.”

The man’s sister told RNZ she was “appalled” at the offers made from the school.

“[He] was smart, he really was a clever boy with a wonderful talent for writing. He could have had an amazing life and career … The impact of his experience at St Bede’s only supported his feelings of hopelessness, and, in his inability to hold down a job, desperation.”

She wants an acknowledgement of the alleged abuse her brother suffered, and an apology.

She also wants a “very substantial financial settlement” to his estate which she would administer on her mum’s behalf to an organisation treating victims of historical abuse.

RNZ put a series of questions to the rector of St Bede’s College including whether he believed the man’s complaint was handled appropriately, why he had not been paid and whether the school would now reconsider this.

In a statement, McDowall said the college does not comment on individual cases, “out of respect for the privacy of those involved”.

“What I am committed to is ensuring that any concerns that are raised with the college are addressed through the appropriate channels and in line with our current policy and expectations. My focus is on supporting anyone impacted and on ensuring our current students continue to receive the highest standard of care.

“I want to reiterate that abuse of this, or any kind, is appalling. I invite anyone impacted by this matter, or who has concerns, to contact me directly.”

A Society of Mary spokesperson replied: “For privacy reasons we have no comment to make.”

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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/2026/03/05/family-of-man-allegedly-abused-at-st-bedes-college-want-apology-very-substantial-financial-settlement/