Category: Public Media

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Another bank cuts rates, but should you take them?

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Another bank has adjusted down its long-term rates, but borrowers deciding whether to take a longer term will need to weigh up a few factors.

BNZ said it was reducing its three-year rate by 10 basis points to 4.99 percent, its four-year rate by 36 basis points to 5.19 percent and its five-year rate by 40 basis points to 5.29 percent.

It comes after Westpac last week said it was trimming the same terms.

It was the first bank to move after the latest official cash rate (OCR) announcement.

The Reserve Bank indicated it expected to raise interest rates a little faster and earlier than previously forecast – but not as quickly as markets had priced in.

Wholesale markets fell as a result.

Commentators said it could be good news for borrowers and should mean a temporary end to the increases in home loan rates seen in recent weeks.

Mortgage adviser Glen McLeod, head of Link Advisory said, with longer term rates starting to come back down, he was beginning to see more interest in longer term fixed rates, but it was still a relatively small portion of clients.

“Part of my role as an adviser is to explain the pros and cons of where those rates currently sit and how suitable each option is for an individual client. I talk clients through what each rate term could mean in the current environment, where we are in the interest rate cycle, and what is likely to happen based on the best economic information available.

“From there, I look at different borrowing strategies and match them to the client’s goals. The key thing is ensuring clients fully understand the risks and what they are ultimately signing up for. Longer term rates can be appropriate in some situations, but it really depends on the person’s circumstances and risk profile.”

ANZ said in its latest Property Focus report that it was worth remembering that all rates out to two years are now below 5 percent whereas in late 2023 they were all above 7 percent.

“Given that, and our expectation that the next move in the OCR is likely to be up, we still see merit in fixing for longer at current rates, with the 18-month to three-year part of the mortgage curve likely appealing to many borrowers.”

They said four- and five-year rates were above where they expected one- to three-year rates to top out next year.

“From a pure cost perspective (that is, disregarding the value of certainty), one might only be inclined to fix for four or five years if you expect one- to three-year rates to rise above 6 percent over the next two to three years.

“That is possible, but it is not what we expect. Taking all of that into consideration, the 18-month to three-year part of the curve looks like the sweet spot, offering a good mix of certainty and low cost.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/another-bank-cuts-rates-but-should-you-take-them/

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Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and Crown sign Deed of Settlement for historical claims

Source: Radio New Zealand

Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith said the settlement included an agreed historical account and redress for historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and the Crown have signed a Deed of Settlement for historical claims dating back to 1866.

Representatives from the Crown, including Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith and the various hapū of the rohe gathered at Tuai to commemorate the settlement process finishing after six years of negotiation.

In a statement, Goldsmith said the settlement included an agreed historical account and redress for historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi which caused significant harm to generations of Ngāti Ruapani.

The settlement package includes:

  • $24 million in financial redress;
  • An undivided half share of Patunamu Forestry Ltd;
  • Four commercial redress and two cultural redress properties; and
  • Approximately 12,000 hectares of land added into Te Urewera.

Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana chair Kara Puketapu-Dentice said Waikeremoana, like other parts of Te Uruwera, carried a complex and deeply painful history.

“The hapū of Waikaremoana and the wider Te Urewera experienced invasion, displacement, and the systematic loss of land and livelihood.”

The settlement also included an apology for the Crown’s breaches, including those inflicted during its campaigns against the tipuna of Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana and other Tūhoe hapū in Waikaremoana.

These included attacks on kāinga at Te Kōpani in 1866, the displacement and starvation of hapū, and the coerced acquisition of around 178,000 acres of land under threat of confiscation which left the hapū virtually landless by 1895.

Puketapu-Dentice said he welcomed the opportunity to formally acknowledge his people’s history and bring closure to a process which required them to repeatedly recount those experiences.

“It allows us to recognise the truth of what occurred, while creating space for future generations to focus on rebuilding and renewal.”

Around 3500 descendants of Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāti Hinekura, Whānau Pani, and Ngāi Tarapāroa hapū maintain their connections to Waikaremoana and the wider Te Urewera, remaining centred around Waimako and Te Kuha marae.

“This settlement provides a foundation for the hapū of Waikaremoana, alongside other Tūhoe hapū, to restore their presence and strengthen their communities,” Puketapu-Dentice said.

“We have much to rebuild over the generations ahead. This settlement enables us to focus on restoring our relationship with our whenua, supporting our whānau, and ensuring that Waikaremoana continues to sustain future generations.”

In a statement, Minister Goldsmith said the long-awaited agreement acknowledges the past and looks to the future.

“It is a privilege to sign the Deed and deliver the Crown apology to Ngāti Ruapani in their rohe,” he said.

“A key feature of the settlement is the return of Crown-owned land into Te  Urewera, reflecting a central aspiration of Ngāti Ruapani to restore their connection with Te Urewera.

“While no settlement can fully remedy the injustices of the past, this agreement represents an important step forward. I hope it will support Ngāti Ruapani to achieve their cultural and economic aspirations for future generations to come,” Goldsmith said.

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Cyclone Gabrielle inquest: Wives of volunteer firefighters proud of their work

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dave van Zwanenberg, left, and Craig Stevens. Supplied

The wives of two firefighters killed in a landslide during Cyclone Gabrielle have recounted the moment they learned their husbands had died.

Volunteer firefighters Dave van Zwanenberg and Craig Stevens were buried while responding to slips on Muriwai’s Motutara Road on 13 February 2023.

Stevens was freed from the pile but later died in hospital, while van Zwanenberg was found dead after two days of searching.

A coronial inquest into their deaths is being held in Auckland.

Van Zwanenberg’s wife, Amy, said she first heard that her husband was trapped as she was preparing to evacuate their home at about 2.45am on 14 February, several hours after the slip fell.

“I had just started to pack the car to leave when members from FENZ (Fire and Emergency NZ) arrived to tell me what had happened. They were fairly vague on details other than that Dave was missing. They were searching for him and conditions were obviously incredibly challenging,” she recounted.

“Under an hour later I was told that they had called off the search due to the severity of the conditions, high risk to search personnel and low chance of Dave’s survival.”

She said the following days were extremely difficult.

Dave van Zwanenberg with his children. Supplied / van Zwanenberg family

“We spent that night in an odd sort of horrific limbo without much hope but the distressing thought of Dave, whether alive or dead, alone in a pile of mud and rubble still waiting to be found,” she said.

“You can imagine how difficult and heart-wrenching that was to explain to our six-year-old son.”

Van Zwanenberg’s body was recovered on 15 February, two days after the slip.

“I was told at about 10.45am on the 15th of February that a body dressed in FENZ uniform had been located and later that day this was officially confirmed as Dave,” van Zwanenberg said.

“I was told I was not allowed to see or touch him, which was very hard to hear, but I was granted the privilege to go to the site and say goodbye from the outside of the undertaker vehicle. On its departure, men and women who’d been involved lined the exit in a guard of honour, an incredibly touching salute.”

Amy van Zwanenberg said she was proud of her husband’s work as a volunteer firefighter, which he did alongside working as a vet.

Amy and Dave van Zwanenberg. Supplied / van Zwanenberg family

“While adjusting to life without Dave has been very painful and my two young children are now growing up without their dedicated father, a life-long loss, they can be proud of who he was and the respect he’s been given even in death,” she said.

Steven’s wife, Lucy, echoed that sentiment.

“When Craig left [that day] both his mum Marianne and I talked about how proud we were of him being out there in the cyclone helping the community,” she said.

“I never saw him conscious again.”

Stevens died in hospital on 16 February, three days after the slip, surrounded by his family.

Craig Stevens is survived by his wife Lucy and his two children Kauri and Tai. Supplied via NZ Herald

“Finding out Craig wasn’t going to make it and then having to tell the boys they were going to lose their dad was the hardest and most distressing moment of my life,” Lucy Stevens said.

She described Stevens as a perfect husband and father.

“My six-year-old said the other day, ‘I at least needed one dad, and that one was perfect.’ The deep loss of their perfect dad and my loving husband and partner in life will remain with us forever.”

Stevens’ mother, Marianne, was visiting Muriwai from the United Kingdom when Cyclone Gabrielle hit.

Lucy Stevens read a statement written by Marianne to court.

“As a mother every fibre in your being wants to protect your child, and I was unable to do that,” she said.

Coroner Erin Woolley was visibly emotional as she thanked the women for giving evidence.

“I’m always grateful when family members have the courage to give evidence. I find it moving just listening to you so I admire you for having the ability to do that and thank you very much for doing so,” Woolley said.

The Cyclone Gabrielle inquest will move into its next phase in mid-March, with a focus on the events in Hawke’s Bay.

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Two seriously injured after bus, cars crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied

There are serious injuries after an accident between two cars and bus in Auckland.

It happened on Jervois Road in Ponsonby just before 4pm

St John treated four people at the scene after sending three ambulances and two rapid response vehicles.

Two have been taken to Auckland City Hospital in serious conditions, while another is in a moderate condition.

Police believe all of the injured were from the cars, and that the bus was empty and not in service.

Auckland Transport (AT) says it is aware of the incident but doesn’t have details.

On Wednesday there was another accident involving a bus and a car in the suburb of Grafton.

Four people were taken to hospital from that crash.

AT said it appeared the car turned on a red arrow.

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Two seriously injured after bus, car crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied

There are serious injuries after an accident between a car and bus in Auckland.

It happened on Jervois Road in Ponsonby just before 4pm

St John treated four people at the scene.

Two have been taken to Auckland City Hospital in serious conditions, while another is in a moderate condition.

Auckland Transport (AT) says it is aware of the incident but doesn’t have details.

On Wednesday there was another accident involving a bus and a car in the suburb of Grafton.

Four people were taken to hospital from that crash.

AT said it appeared the car turned on a red arrow.

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Fiordland hunters make big push for venison meat processing plant

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation has a track record of two decades of deer management with volunteers within a zone known as the Wapiti Area. Supplied

A community conservation effort is hoping to fund a new processing facility for wild deer in the deep south.

Deer numbers have been exploding in Fiordland National Park following the decline of viable commercial and taxpayer-funded helicopter operations over many decades.

The deer have been ravaging the bush and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation hopes its planned abattoir in Te Anau will save precious bush and provide an outlet for culled deer.

General manager Roy Sloan said hunting is costly and this initiative could support it by selling meat to the market.

The Fiordland Project estimates that venison sales will help fund deer control operations in the National Park at a greater scale than is currently possible.

A helicopter operation collecting wild deer in Fiordland National Park. SUPPLIED / Mark Hollows

“It’s a charitable trust; we’re getting donations from various building companies around the country” Sloan said.

“Our goal is to raise $3 million to build this plant.”

The group of hunters and conservationists is confident funding can be secured.

Sloan is thrilled with the level of support shown for the project so far, with $2 million raised.

A number of tradies and professionals, including electricians and architects, have pledged their time to the project.

Plans of the building, seen by RNZ, show areas for skinning and boning, packaging and processing, and a chiller.

“We know that it’s costly to do deer recovery. We we know that the government can’t afford it, and we know that DOC can’t afford it,” Sloan said.

And while he admits it’s a gamble, he said the risk of a community model might just pay off.

A helicopter hunts deer above the snowline. SUPPLIED / Mark Hollows

“‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ That in five years we fall over. ‘But what’s the best that can happen?’ We could be still going and solve these problems.”

The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation also maintains a number of back-country huts in the area, including Fiordland National Park’s oldest hut.

How did wapiti become pests?

  • wapiti are similar to red deer, but more pale and much larger and heavier
  • The first wapiti were introduced into New Zealand in 1873, primarily for hunting
  • By the 20th century, wild deer had spread throughout the forests, feeding on young trees, shrubs, ferns and ground cover plants
  • From the 1920s, the government employed cullers to control deer populations
  • In 1966 the first live deer were captured from the wild by helicopter
  • By the 21st century, populations of wapiti and red deer have created major ecological problems
  • Deer remain a pest species, significantly impacting native ecosystems

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Lifting of Wellington swimming ban ‘positive shock’ for businesses

Source: Radio New Zealand

The owner of a business operating out of Lyall Bay says the partial lifting of the rāhui on Wellington’s South Coast has come as a “positive shock”.

The rāhui was put in place on the stretch of southern coast from Ōwhiro Bay to Breaker Bay after the Moa Point wastewater plant failed, leaving up to 70 million litres of raw sewage flowing into the sea each day at the beginning of the month.

Since then, local business had been reporting losses of up to 90 percent of their custom as people kept away from the coast in droves.

On Thursday, the council lifted the ban on swimming and gathering kai moana in the area – excluding Tarakena Bay, which was still off-limits due to its proximity to the plant’s shortfall pipe.

Lyall Bay beach in Wellington on Friday. RNZ/Bill Hickman

‘Suddenly it’s all good’

Owner operator of Wellington Sauna Project mobile saunas, Johan Balzer, said the “sudden” lifting of the rāhui caught him off guard.

“All of the information that we were being fed, it was looking like it was going to be months and months. So, in my mind, I was thinking the worst,” Balzer said.

“Suddenly, it’s all good, which is great and it’s fantastic – and I can’t wait to get back there myself – but I have a feeling that there’s going to be a lot of people who [might] wait a while, a few weeks, to see what it really is like,” Balzer said.

Balzer said he had previously based his sauna in Lyall Bay or Evans Bay ahead of the shutdown.

His customers typically took a plunge in the ocean to cool down and cleanse after a sauna session at the beach.

Balzer said there was an immediate 50 percent reduction in bookings in the week following the failure, despite the fact he could still operate from Evans Bay.

“Wellingtonians are a bit divided. I was looking at all the data, checking out LAWA and NEWA and they were saying that Evans Bay was good but it would still have people that – despite that information – just didn’t want to go in the ocean. But at the same time, you’ve got a lot of loyal daily swimmers out at Hataitai and they didn’t seem to be concerned,” Balzer said.

Little takes a dip

On Thursday, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little took a dip in the water to announce the lifting of the swim ban, but he said people should follow advice on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa LAWA website before they dive in.

Wellington mayor Andrew Little swims at Lyall Bay after announcing the lifting of a swimming ban. RNZ / Mark Papalii

“We have to be realistic and practical about what we’re asking people to do. Conditions can change rapidly. There are areas where the risk remains higher, such as near the short outfall pipe at Tarakena Bay,” he said.

“A risk remains, but monitoring results so far show that it is low and it is now up to people to decide how they respond to the current information,” Little said.

Owner of Dive Wellington, Dave Drane, said he was leaving it up to diving students to decide whether they wished to swim, but his staff were happy to dive on Friday.

“[Tertiary students] will be diving across the road in Taputeranga Marine Reserve today. I’ve left it up to them, it’s their personal choice whether they want to get in the water or not. But they’re all keen to get in and see the reserve again,” Drane said.

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‘Burned in my memory’: Man who pulled Sophia Crestani out of deadly party pile-up honoured

Source: Radio New Zealand

Samson Aruwa on the seat dedicated to Sophia Crestani in Dunedin. RNZ / Tess Brunton

A man who carried Sophia Crestani away from a deadly stairwell pile-up and helped free at least 30 others at a Dunedin student party says the night is burned in his memory.

Samson Aruwa carried the 19-year-old University of Otago student away from the five-to-six people-deep pile at the overcrowded party in October 2019 after managing to free himself while wearing a moon boot.

CPR was carried out on Crestani outside but she could not be revived.

Aruwa, who was 20 at the time, was awarded a certificate of appreciation by Police Commissioner Richard Chambers in Dunedin on Thursday morning.

Aruwa said it was an honour to receive the award but also a sense of melancholy.

Sophia Crestani. Facebook

“There was like a lot of tragedy surrounding that night. I don’t think I go a day without thinking about it at least once. It’s kind of burned in my memory. It’s like my Roman Empire,” he said.

“It wasn’t just me there that night. There were a lot of people there that had, like, a significant hand in helping out.

“Without the other people helping me, we wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere near as many people out as we did.”

Aruwa became a nurse after the deadly party and although his career choice was more about following in the footsteps of his mother, the events of that night gave him more confidence.

“I know how I’ll act in an emergency and I know that I’ll be trying to find the best solution,” he said.

Chambers said the party resulted in tragedy but the situation could have been much worse if it was not for Aruwa’s selflessness.

Richard Chambers with Samson Aruwa. RNZ / Tess Brunton

What Aruwa did on that night was remarkable, showing exceptional courage and acting selflessly in the face of a life threatening crowd crush, he said.

“It was a chaotic evening and to do what you did for those that were tangled in what was an absolute mess that night was just absolutely remarkable.”

Maggot Fest at the Manor was heaving with hundreds of people and there was only one exit after tenants sealed up the other doors.

The stairs were jam-packed and the door was a bottleneck when people started to fall.

As some remained behind locked doors, Aruwa was trying to pull people out of the pile-up.

The seat dedicated to Sophia Crestani. RNZ / Tess Brunton

Crestani’s mother, Elspeth McMillan, said she believed there would have been more dead and injured party-goers without Aruwa’s act of courage.

She said the tenants disregarded the safety of party-goers when they blocked all exits apart from the front door to protect their property.

“It was a disaster waiting to happen,” she said.

McMillan said Aruwa took control of the situation and stopped more people from coming into the party.

“Out of tragedy can come light and that light shines very brightly on Samson. Thank you for your bravery,” she said.

The inquest found Crestani’s death was a tragic accident, although Coroner Heather McKenzie said it was likely preventable with active oversight from the hosts.

She criticised the tenants – whose name are suppressed – saying it was not safe or responsible for some tenants to at times remain in secured rooms and let their party grow on its own, saying more active oversight might have led to the party being controlled or shut down before it became critical.

Sophia Crestani’s parents Bede Crestani and Elspeth McMillan. Tess Brunton/RNZ

Crestani’s father, Bede Crestani, said Aruwa showed dignity and courage despite chaos from all sides as more people tried to enter the party while people were being crushed.

“His courage was bigger than his stature. We have to contrast that on the night to the tenants. They were absent. They were on the stairs. They did nothing. They were derelict,” he said.

“They were weak people.”

McKenzie said there was evidence that some of those in closed off rooms knew people were asking to be let in and being in their rooms did not absolve them of responsibility.

Bede Crestani also commended Aruwa’s courage at the inquest.

“Didn’t matter what anybody said, what anybody thought. He was saying it. He stopped the court. It just shows the courage. It was a breath of fresh air and it put truth to lies,” he said.

“This is a courageous man in many ways.”

He thanked Aruwa for the care he showed his daughter, saying he was true to his values despite being under immense pressure.

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Fairlie farmer’s accident inspired his fundraising efforts for new town helipad

Source: Radio New Zealand

supplied

A Fairlie farmer who ended up with a shattered leg after a farm accident has spearheaded a fundraiser to get his local town a new helipad.

It was a normal day on farm for Andrew Hurst, he’d just returned from a bull sale when he was driving a two-wheeler round his farm.

In a split second he was under a Hilux that he had not seen coming from the other direction.

He was airlifted to Christchurch where he spent weeks in hospital undergoing over 10 surgeries to put his leg back together.

Hurst credits the skill and speed of the rescue helicopter with saving his leg and after recovering he quickly went about fundraising $90,000 for a new helipad.

“I felt Fairlie needed something better than just a piece of grass to land on.”

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is flying into Fairlie on Thursday to officially open the new helipad.

Hurst said it had been a real community effort, with the local Lions Club, companies the Fairlie Community Board, and the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust getting involved.

He admitted building the helipad was more complex than he first anticipated.

“Initially I thought I’d just be able to go down with a digger, scrape a bit of grass off and pour some concrete.”

“It turns out there’s a lot more involved in a helipad than that! But the helipad is as good as it could ever be, I’m stoked with what the community has achieved.”

Hurst said he would hate to think the rescue helicopter couldn’t help someone because it couldn’t land.

“This new helipad is on an IFR route, which means helicopters can fly here in low cloud or more adverse weather conditions.”

“We are a small, rural community, the rescue helicopter is the fastest way we can access critical care – the helipad will save lives,” he said.

Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust chief executive Christine Prince said the Fairlie community has shown an extraordinary level of commitment and heart throughout the helipad project.

“This helipad is a meaningful investment in the future health and safety of Fairlie which will benefit families for generations.”

She said the opening of the helipad is part of a major transformation of the region’s rescue helicopter service, known as MISSION 2026.

The Trust has purchased three state-of-the-art H145 rescue helicopters for the Canterbury West Coast region.

The first of these helicopters is now in service, with work underway to make the other two mission-ready.

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Portia Woodman-Wickliffe retires from international rugby again

Source: Radio New Zealand

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has again announced she is bowing out of the international stage. Photosport / Masanori Udagawa

The greatest of all time is hanging up her black jersey, again.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who came out of retirement for last year’s Rugby World Cup, has announced she is bowing out of the international stage.

She leaves an incomparable legacy behind.

Woodman-Wickliffe was a Rugby World Cup winner in 2017 and 2022, a Sevens World Cup champion in 2013 and 2018, an Olympic gold and silver medallist and Commonwealth Games gold and bronze medallist.

Whether in sevens or 15’s, Woodman-Wickliffe has lit up fields around the globe with her raw pace, power, and inexplicable eye for the try-line.

She walks away as the highest try scorer for the Black Ferns in both codes.

The Black Ferns confirmed the news on social media.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent my country, my iwi, my hapū and my whānau one last time on the World Cup stage, a moment I will cherish forever. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I feel both excited and a little nervous, but I’m ready.”

Woodman-Wickliffe was named World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2015, Women’s Player of the Year (XVs) in 2017 and in 2020 was named as the top women’s sevens player of the past decade.

The Woodman family name carries with it a bit of weight on the rugby field.

Not only did Portia grow up with an All Black father Kawhena, her uncle Fred Woodman played in two tests in the infamous 1981 series against the Springboks.

Arguably, Woodman-Wickliffe’s high-water mark in the 15-a-side code was during the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, in which she scored a tournament-record 13 tries.

Eight of them came in one match against Hong Kong.

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ANZ headline business confidence down amid rising interest rates

Source: Radio New Zealand

ANZ bank’s February survey showed headline confidence falling five points to a net 59 percent optimism level. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

  • ANZ headline business confidence down 5 points to net 59 percent optimism
  • Firms’ own outlook edges higher to 52.6 pct, manufacturing most bullish
  • ANZ puts the stumble down to the rise in wholesale interest rates
  • Profit, exports, investment indicators steady or a touch lower
  • ANZ warns price/cost indicators mixed, may test RBNZ confidence inflation headed lower

The rise in business confidence has taken a breather amid rising wholesale interest rates, but remains broadly upbeat.

The ANZ bank’s February survey showed headline confidence falling five points to a net 59 percent optimism level, but the measure of firms’ own business performance edged higher.

Chief economist Sharon Zollner said the survey overall was solid and the dip might only be temporary.

“The sharp turn in interest rates seen from late-November until mid-February has had an impact on the Business Outlook survey – expected credit conditions and profitability have taken a hit, and past activity has also seen a bit of a wobble.”

She said the Reserve Bank’s recent comments about policy seems to have helped ease rates, which may calm nerves in the next survey.

However, Zollner said there were a few inflation signs that needed to be watched, with inflation expectations the highest since mid-2024.

“The net percent of firms expecting to increase their prices eased very slightly but is still trending in the opposite direction to our and the RBNZ’s inflation forecasts.”

“The net percent of firms expecting higher costs also remains elevated.”

Zollner said the RBNZ has frequently expressed confidence that inflation was headed back into the 1-to-3 percent target band in the near term, but might yet be surprised.

She warns that inflation expectations and pressures are rising which may test Reserve Bank confidence that inflation will fall back into its target band soon.

Manufacturing was the most upbeat at the headline level, but agriculture related firms had the highest readings for export, profit and investment expectations.

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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/2026/02/26/anz-headline-business-confidence-down-amid-rising-interest-rates/

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Call for Ministers to stop ‘derogatory’ rhetoric against councils

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pita Tipene said he wouldn’t quote the ‘derogatory comments’ made by Cabinet Ministers. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Northland Regional Council chairperson Pita Tipene has called on Cabinet Ministers to stop making “derogatory” comments about councils.

Representatives from local and regional councils were gathered in the Beehive’s banquet hall for the All of Local Government conference on Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour had just delivered a speech about his Regulatory Standards Act and how it will impact councils once it takes effect as law.

Tipene got to his feet at the end of the question and answer session afterwards.

“Too often I hear politicians who sit around the Cabinet table, and you are the highest ranking politician who will address this forum, making very derogatory comments, particularly about regional councils but councils in general,” he said.

“I can quote them but I won’t. I’m really trying to get the message across that we are in this together and those sorts of comments, while we embrace change, must stop.”

Councillors broke into applause when Tipene stopped speaking.

Seymour responded by saying he was “a lover, not a fighter”.

“You guys can probably judge from the presentation today, I’m not bagging anyone. We do need to work together, we do to be more constructive and having a focus around a better conception of what good regulation looks like is a good way to unite us.

“We are all together as one, brother.”

David Seymour says he’s a lover, not a fighter. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Speaking to RNZ afterwards, Tipene said he was sick of central government bagging on local government.

“There are comments that come from Cabinet ministers, in fact from the prime minister himself, who say things like councils have got no social licence.

“When the first media statement came out from minister Simon Watts, he said, not exactly but close to these words, nobody knows who their regional council chairs are, everyone knows who their mayors are, they’re getting on with the fluffy stuff.

“It’s really playing councils off against each other because the focus is squarely on regional councils. So my point was, we, central government and local government, are in this together.

“We need to be proactive, positive and working together, not being disparaging towards local government.”

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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/2026/02/26/call-for-ministers-to-stop-derogatory-rhetoric-against-councils/

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Pedestrian dies after being hit by truck in Whangārei

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police said the pedestrian died at the scene. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

A pedestrian hit by a truck in Whangārei this morning has died.

Emergency crews were called to Kamo Road just after 9:35am on Thursday.

Police said the pedestrian died at the scene after being struck.

Kamo Road is still closed between Mains Ave and Simons Street as Police clear the scene.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/pedestrian-dies-after-being-hit-by-truck-in-whangarei/

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Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern moving to Australia

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dame Jacinda Ardern. RNZ

Dame Jacinda Ardern is moving to Australia.

The news comes after an Australia real estate website reported the former New Zealand prime minister had been house hunting for properties in Sydney’s northern beaches.

According to RealEstate.com.au, Ardern and husband Clarke Gayford were seen looking at homes for sale in Curl Curl and Freshwater.

The website puts the median price for homes in Curl Curl at AUD$4.1 million (NZD$4.8m) with a growth of 6 percent in the last 12 months.

In Freshwater, RealEstate.com.au said the median price was $3.9m.

In a statement, a spokesman for Ardern said her family had been travelling “for a few years now”.

“For the moment they’re basing themselves out of Australia – they have work there, and it brings the added bonus of more time back home in New Zealand.”

Ardern, Gayford and 7-year-old daughter, Neve Gayford, had been living in the United States where Ardern was working for Harvard University.

She is also a trustee of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.

In March 2025, Ardern joined Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government as a Distinguished Fellow and member of the world leaders circle.

Ardern also recent released a memoir, A Different Kind of Power, and a children’s book, Mum’s Busy Work.

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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/2026/02/26/former-prime-minister-dame-jacinda-ardern-moving-to-australia/

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Kiwi teaching academic named top Australian lecturer

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealander Roma Forbes is Australia’s top university teacher.

Ōpōtiki-born Forbes, who teaches physiotherapy at the University of Queensland, has been in Australia for 16 years, she told RNZ’s Afternoons.

“I studied physiotherapy at AUT in New Zealand and then came over to the University of Queensland to be a clinical educator, and I thought I’d last five minutes in Australia, but here I am 16 years later.”

She accepted the 2025 Australian University Teacher of the Year award, which recognises her student-centred approach to health education, in Canberra on Tuesday.

“It is quite a unique approach, like in the universities in New Zealand, we have huge numbers of students. I’ve got 200 physiotherapy students each year, and we really don’t want students to be another number, or to get lost in vast numbers. So, it’s so important that we get to know students individually.

“We’ve put them into spaces where they can work together. They can be valued and they can contribute to the group,” she says.

Her acceptance speech, which she says she delivered in her still strong Kiwi accent and included the use of te reo, emphasised the importance of student voices being heard.

“The area that I teach is pain, and particularly chronic pain. And so many people have misconceptions about what chronic pain is, so to actually hear from students, what do they understand about chronic pain? What’s been their experiences for them and maybe with their families or even their grandparents?

“To really hear what their views are, it’s so much easier, more fun to teach when we know the perspectives they’re coming in with.”

Forbes says she remains deeply proud of her eastern Bay of Plenty roots and acknowledges Te Whakatōhea and the whenua she grew up on when she speaks publicly.

She credits her upbringing in Ōpōtiki with shaping her resilience and strong sense of responsibility to community.

While she’s found great professional success over the ditch, Forbes hasn’t ruled out returning home.

“I left for personal reasons; my partner was actually over here. So, I miss New Zealand a lot. I’m very tempted all the time to come home and be able to help with universities there.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/kiwi-teaching-academic-named-top-australian-lecturer/

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Perpetual Guardian purchases Trustees Executors for undisclosed sum

Source: Radio New Zealand

Andrew Barnes, Perpetual Guardian founder. Supplied

Estate planning, trust and investment manager Perpetual Guardian Group is stepping back into the corporate supervision market with the purchase of Trustees Executors Limited for an undisclosed sum.

The companies are the oldest trustee institutions in the New Zealand, with histories stretching back more than 140 years.

Perpetual Guardian Group provides estate planning and investment services, and looks after over 125,000 client relationships, with $2.8 billion in funds under management, and $8b in total assets under management.

Trustees Executors supervises more than $200b worth of KiwiSaver, managed funds and other investment products.

It is the appointed supervisor for a wide range of investment managers and listed entities, including Milford Asset Management funds, Fisher Funds schemes, Midlands Funds, and the NZX‑listed Vital Healthcare Property Trust.

Perpetual Guardian previously exited the supervision sector in 2021, but said the acquisition will make it the country’s largest provider of fiduciary services.

Fiduciary services make sure that fund managers follow the rules, protect investors’ money, report accurately, and run their fund the way they promised.

Perpetual Guardian said it has notified the Financial Markets Authority of the sale.

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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/2026/02/26/perpetual-guardian-purchases-trustees-executors-for-undisclosed-sum/

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Fizz goes out of the beer industry as consumption keeps falling

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash / Bence Boros

The fizz has gone out of the beer industry.

Stats New Zealand numbers out Tuesday show beer consumption fell 10 percent to 265 million litres in the year ended December 2025.

It’s part of a sustained downward trend in overall alcohol consumption, happening in New Zealand and around the world.

Brewers Association of New Zealand executive director Dylan Firth told Midday Report it saw a bit of a shift this past year.

But not only that, Firth said there have been a “slight decline” over recent years, giving the industry time to look at what it was doing and understand its consumers.

He said there was “definitely” more of a push towards the lower, no alcohol space.

Firth said the higher alcohol beers had taken more of a hit.

“If you actually break down the data closely, the real story isn’t just about total volumes that are moving, it’s about how they’re shifting.

“The beer above 5 percent ABV, it fell about 27 percent which is quite significant but at the same time, 2.5-4 percents category was broadly stable, in fact a slight increase, so what that shows is there’s a shift in that space.”

Firth said lower carb options had seen “massive growth” and he put it down to a generational shift.

He said the younger generation don’t drink as much and they are drinking less as they get older for health reasons.

Firth also said Covid-19 lockdowns saw a change in the way people meet – with a lot moving to online – meaning not as many people were going out socially to have a drink.

Despite this, beer wasn’t going away, 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/2026/02/26/fizz-goes-out-of-the-beer-industry-as-consumption-keeps-falling/

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Ministers say ‘tough on crime’ working as new figures unveiled

Source: Radio New Zealand

The government says its tough on crime approach has driven a significant drop in the number of victims of violent crime.

It comes as the latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey reported 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in the year to October 2025 than two years previously.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith put this down to the coalition’s approach to law and order and the near doubling of police foot patrols.

“Since day one, we’ve been working tirelessly to restore real consequences for crime, and to place victims back at the centre of the justice system,” he said.

“We have reformed the sentencing regime so those who cause the most harm are imprisoned for longer, given Police effective tools to deal with gangs, stopped taxpayer funding for the proliferation of cultural reports, made stalking an illegal and jailable offence, given victims of sexual assault the power to determine if offenders are granted name suppression, restored Three Strikes, and much more.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speak on the latest crime statistics. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said higher police visibility in communities was helping deter crime and keep criminals off the streets.

“Our investment into the frontline has seen 12 new and expanded beat teams stood up nationwide, including the launch of a beat team in Hamilton this week.

“Our beat officers do an outstanding job at keeping the public, businesses and retailers safe. We know there is a lot more to do but these results show we are heading in the right direction.”

Goldsmith said while the government was tracking ahead on its violent crime reduction target it still had more work to do.

“This is going to be another busy year. We just announced plans to provide police with the power to issue move-on orders to deal with disorderly behaviour.

“Our Crimes Amendment Bill is making its way through the house, and legislation to strengthen trespass laws will soon be introduced.”

Children’s Minister Karen Chhour said Oranga Tamariki figures showed there had been a 22 per cent drop in serious repeat youth offending compared with when the Government came into office.

“This is well ahead of our target of a 15 per cent drop before 2030,” she said.

“We promised to fix what matters to New Zealanders. Ram raids are down 85 per cent. Kiwis are no longer being expected to live in fear that their cars have been stolen and used by young offenders in a ram raid of our local small businesses.

“Young offenders are avoiding re-offending because they know Courts, Oranga Tamariki and Police are working together more closely. They know now that their actions will have consequences.”

The livestream is due to start about 1.30pm and will be at the top of this page.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/ministers-say-tough-on-crime-working-as-new-figures-unveiled/

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Defence Force to test air, land, and sea drones from Mount Maunganui company

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied

The Defence Force is going to begin testing air, land and sea drones from a Mount Maunganui company.

Syos Aerospace drones are used in Ukraine and it recently took another step towards helping develop ‘wingman drones’ for the UK’s Apache attack helicopters, including for strike and target acquisition

The government said the trial of the combat-proven tech would strengthen capability while growing local industry.

“Having cutting-edge drone technology developed and supported by local businesses will reduce supply chain risk and strengthen our resilience,” said Defence Minister Judith Collins in a statement on Thursday.

Neither the Beehive or Syos’ media releases said how many drones or what the deal was worth. RNZ has asked for more information.

The trials in coming months would include transporting supplies, and doing maritime patrols and route reconnaissance.

Supplied

NZDF said it was looking at integrating the drones with a fire control system designed and built in New Zealand by European firm Hirtenberger.

New Zealand consulting firm Sysdoc would support training.

Defence ran consultations with companies in January around a potential plan for surveillance drones to scour the Pacific.

Its long-range drone project has a ballpark budget of $100-$300 million over four years. Other sums would be spent on AI in behind that.

Budget 2025 funded counter-drone systems – say, that shoot down drones – as one of 15 “priority” projects, but not maritime or other drones.

Supplied

Collins said the Syos deal was exactly what the recently released defence industry strategy called for, for delivering on the $12 billion defence capability plan.

The army and navy get to test Syos’ SG400 Uncrewed Ground Vehicle, SM300 Uncrewed Surface Vessel, SA2 ISR drone and SA7 one-way effector drone.

The NZDF has been part of big drone-testing exercises by the US and other Five Eyes partners in recent years, but last year took just a single drone to one such joint exercise in Australia.

Syos said it was delighted.

Syos chief executive and founder Sam Vye. Supplied

“Our platforms and systems have been proven in some of the world’s most demanding environments, and we’re proud to bring that experience to New Zealand’s capability development,” said chief executive and founder Sam Vye.

“Structured experimentation” at NZDF aligned with how they worked, he added.

The NZDF is trying to align itself with its Australian counterpart on emerging military tech. This was an objective of the AUKUS Pillar Two agreement; NZ has not joined that agreement but was still pushing to become more interoperable as combat, reconnaissance and other tech becomes more advanced.

Australia announced a three-year research project into counter-drone technology this week.

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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/2026/02/26/defence-force-to-test-air-land-and-sea-drones-from-mount-maunganui-company/

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David Seymour renews call to sell government’s Air NZ shares after half-year loss

Source: Radio New Zealand

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour criticised the airline, saying it should go back to the basics. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has renewed his call for the government to sell its 51 percent stake in Air New Zealand after it reported a significant half-year loss.

The airline posted a bottom-line loss of $40 million in the six months ended December, compared to last year’s profit of $106m.

Revenue was up just over 1 percent to $3.44b, compared to $3.4b a year ago.

Seymour, also the leader of the ACT Party, criticised the airline, saying it should go back to the basics.

“The taxpayer has to have a purpose for having all that capital tied up. My question is, what is that purpose if they’re not providing a service that is affordable and timely? Instead, they seem to have been distracted by a million other objectives.”

Seymour said Air NZ had been doing “politically motivated stuff” when it couldn’t take off and land on time for a decent price.

“Get woke, go broke. We hear about electric planes, glossy reports on climate change, paper cups in the Koru Lounge. What they can’t seem to do is take off and land on time,” he said.

“I’m fortunate that as an MP I don’t have to pay for work flights, but whenever I look at one privately, they’re looking at $600 to go from Wellington to Invercargill one way. That’s crazy.”

Seymour’s comments come as the airline continues to face severe disruption due to grounded aircraft.

Air NZ said the half-year loss was largely driven by global engine maintenance delays, slower-than-expected recovery in domestic demand, increasing costs, and a weaker New Zealand dollar.

It said that while capacity would likely increase modestly in the second half with aircraft returning to service and new aircraft, the airline was cautious on whether it would translate to earnings uplift.

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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/2026/02/26/david-seymour-renews-call-to-sell-governments-air-nz-shares-after-half-year-loss/