Category: Public Media

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

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Large search operation launched in hunt for man missing in Manawatū River

Source: Radio New Zealand

Manawatū River. 123RF

A large search operation is underway for a man missing in the Manawatū River in Palmerston North.

Police were called to a report of personal items abandoned in a suspicious manner on Albert Street last Tuesday.

Officers then went to the nearby riverbank, and spotting a man in the water.

They asked him to come back to land but he disappeared under.

A search had been underway since then, and conditions improved today, with calmer and clearer water.

A large group were taking part including police search and rescue and dive squads.

Land search and rescue teams using kayaks, boats, and drones were also helping, as were other regional response teams.

Searchers were also scouring the riverbanks and the Foxton estuary where the Manawatū River reached the sea.

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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/large-search-operation-launched-in-hunt-for-man-missing-in-manawatu-river/

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Deputy PM David Seymour renews call to sell govt shares after Air NZ’s big half-year loss

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/deputy-pm-david-seymour-renews-call-to-sell-govt-shares-after-air-nzs-big-half-year-loss/

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Police didn’t check properly on man who died in custody, watchdog finds

Source: Radio New Zealand

The man was found unresponsive in a cell on October 6, 2023. (File photo) RNZ / REECE BAKER

Police officers did not provide proper checks on a man in custody before he was found unresponsive in his cell and later died, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), has found.

The man died in hospital three days after being found unresponsive in a cell at the Auckland Custody Unit on October 6, 2023.

The IPCA found there were failings by police in the care of the man who died after self-harming in his cell.

The man had been taken into police custody after a stabbing at an Auckland dairy the day before and had told police he was “trying to reach heaven”.

It was reported the man was acting aggressively and erratically and tripped, falling to the ground while attempting to escape.

He was taken to the Auckland Custody Unit and while he was escorted inside, one of the officers tripped him, the IPCA said, unnecessarily, causing him to fall to his knees.

The officers involved said the man was very strong and believed to be on drugs. Three officers held him against a wall, with one officer holding him by the hair and pulling him off balance.

The IPCA said while the man was behaving erratically footage showed he was not significantly resisting and it was unnecessary for him to be held by the hair and taken to the ground.

The police sergeant in charge believed the man was experiencing psychosis or “excited delirium” and posed a risk to staff so he was put in a restraint chair.

He was taken to hospital due to the possibility of excited delirium, where he was sedated and discharged the same day.

The hospital noted was presenting as well and didn’t appear to be at an increased risk to himself or others.

A police doctor said the man could be place on frequent monitoring in his call, requiring him to be checked five times an hour, rather than constant monitoring.

The IPCA said given the advice from the hospital, this decision could not be criticised.

Overnight, police recorded completing 80 checks on the man but more than half did not appear to be done in line with police policy as officers watched him on a CCTV screen rather than physically entering the cell.

Thirty checks of the man were recorded the next morning, but these included looking at CCTV, talking to him over the intercom and checking on the man from the officer’s work stations.

“In our view, these checks were inconsistent with policy as the officer did not go to the cell,” the IPCA said.

Shortly before 11am, an officer checked on the man and found him unresponsive. He was given first aid and taken to Auckland City Hospital where he died three days later as a result of suspected self-harm.

“From the footage, it is apparent to us that the man was listening for, and observing, staff movements looking for an opportunity to self-harm. While we cannot say that this tragic incident could have been prevented, proper checks would have reduced the opportunity for it to occur,” the IPCA said.

Auckland City District Commander, Superintendent Sunny Patel, said after the death an investigation began along with a review into the prisoner checking system.

Patel said several “learnings” had now been put into place including updating their people in police custody policy.

“We would also like to again extend our condolences to the man’s family and friends.”

The man’s death remained before the Coroner.

Where to get help:

  • Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason
  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
  • Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666
  • Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
  • What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds
  • Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, and English.
  • Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
  • Healthline: 0800 611 116
  • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
  • OUTLine: 0800 688 5463
  • Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/26/police-didnt-check-properly-on-man-who-died-in-custody-watchdog-finds/

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New Zealanders in Iran urged to leave as tensions rise

Source: Radio New Zealand

Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced travel bans on members of the Iranian regime involved in the violent suppression of protests. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The Foreign Minister is warning New Zealanders to get out of Iran, adding that the advice to not travel there has been long-standing.

Tensions have been increasing between Iran and the US, and the New Zealand government applied further sanctions on the nation this week.

“It has been horrifying to witness the brutal killing of thousands of protesters in Iran,” Winston Peters said.

“Iranians have the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and access to information. Those rights have been ruthlessly violated.”

New Zealand joined Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and the United States in implementing travel bans targeting 40 individuals, including Minister of the Interior Eskandar Momeni, Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib, and Prosecutor-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad. It will also include members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Peters said if war broke out in Iran, which he said was possibly likely, there was a risk innocent New Zealand citizens could be retaliated against by the local regime.

He told RNZ he suspects there could be hundreds of Kiwis in Iran – currently 26 are registered as being there.

“The last time we had this exercise when we were getting people out rapidly when we thought there was an emergency it proved to be well over 130 and very dramatically in the last few days, so we just don’t know.

“Get out, I suppose, is the safest answer for us to give them, and it’s been the advice we’ve given them for some considerable time now,” he said.

In this circumstance Peters says there could be retaliation and that’s why he is encouraging New Zealanders to get out.

“If war was to break out the retaliation against innocent citizens who are there with no essence of guilt whatsoever could be nevertheless very huge, and that’s what we’re warning people against – not just getting caught up in the war but being caught up in retaliatory measures by the local regime.”

Peters told RNZ the motivation for New Zealanders staying in Iran is most likely being near family and making sure they’re safe.

“New Zealanders need to know we go to extraordinary efforts to try and keep our people safe but they have to do their bit to.”

On whether war is likely to break out in Iran, he said, “it’s possibly likely and you have to deal with the worst case circumstances if they arise and that’s what we’re trying to do”.

Peters said there were many countries who shared New Zealand’s view that “Iran is being supported by countless examples of terrorist proxies worldwide – and there are many Middle Eastern and Islamic countries who hold that view as well”.

On global tensions Peters told RNZ it’s the worst he’s seen it since World War II.

“It’s made things all that much more difficult for countries like New Zealand that’s got a tremendous record of supporting peaceful measures and engaging in freedom and democracy and the rule of law.

“It’s made it difficult for all of us but we’ve got to press on and make sure we don’t lose this battle,” he said.

In January, the New Zealand embassy in Iran was temporarily closed due to the “deteriorating” security situation.

At the time a ministry spokesperson said all diplomatic staff had left Iran on commercial flights, shifting operations to Ankara in Turkey.

The government’s long-standing advice over a number of years has been not to travel to Iran and in January, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) urged any New Zealanders still in the country to leave now.

– 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/new-zealanders-in-iran-urged-to-leave-as-tensions-rise/

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Three arrested after shooting in Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police arrested two women and a man. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Three people have been arrested after a shooting in Te Kauwhata, north of Huntly.

Police received a call shortly before 7am on Saturday that a man had arrived at Waikato Hospital with a gunshot wound.

Officers went to the address in Te Kauwhata where the man was injured and arrested two women and a man.

They also seized a firearm and ammunition.

Both women, aged 27 and 59, are due to appear in Huntly District Court on Friday. While a 56-year-old man is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on 20 March.

They are charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

– 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/three-arrested-after-shooting-in-waikato/

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One in seven New Zealand children living in hardship, new data shows

Source: Radio New Zealand

One in seven children are living in hardship in the latest recorded year, according to new data from Stats New Zealand.

The national statistics agency released the data for the year between July 2024 and June 2025 on Wednesday morning.

Around 17,900 households were interviewed for the research.

The number of children that were recorded as living in material hardship was 14.3 percent – one in seven.

There was no significant change in that from the year recorded prior or since 2018.

In the latest statistics, a child recorded as facing material hardship was recorded as being in a household going without seven or more of 18 necessities.

Those included being unable to pay for utilities on time, having to put up with feeling cold and putting off doctors visits.

That was a change to the year prior where the threshold for material hardship was six or more.

14.9 percent of Māori children were recorded in material hardship which was not statistically different to the year prior.

For Pacific children, that figure was 18.7 percent five points higher than in 2024.

17.8 percent of children lived in households with less than half of the 2018 year’s median equivalised disposable household income after housing costs were deducted.

That was not different to the year prior.

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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/one-in-seven-new-zealand-children-living-in-hardship-new-data-shows/

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Significance of UK border change only just being realised – travel correspondent

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gill Bonnett

The significance of changes to United Kingdom entry requirements has only just been realised, a British travel correspondent says.

Late last year, the British government announced anyone classed as a British citizen would soon need a valid UK passport to enter the country, or have to get a $1300 certificate in their foreign passport.

The change has ensnared dual British citizens.

The British government said it warned people of the impending changes but The Independent’s travel correspondent, Simon Calder, told Morning Report the communication had been woeful.

He said the impact had only just hit home in the past six weeks causing a lot of consternation, upset, and expense.

“I think it is absolutely the case that the British government did not come out … and say, ‘By the way when we make this finally compulsory, you do know that everything is going to change’.

“Because if they said it two years ago, people would be in a much, much better position than they are now.

“Yes, you can argue that you’re a dual citizen, you’re living abroad, you’ve got to keep your eye on stuff, but frankly it passed me by and I spend very little time doing anything other than looking a various new bits of bureaucracy.”

This week the British Home Office confirmed airlines could accept expired (post-1989) UK passports – should they wish to.

Calder said the take-up had been mixed, with British Airways, Easy Jet, and Virgin Atlantic confirming they would accept expired passports, but others such as Singapore Airlines had been a bit “enigmatic”.

He stressed, however, that it wasn’t as simple as showing up with a post-1989 passport and people needed to be careful not to get caught out.

“Things happen, people change their names, maybe they get married and that expired passport if it’s in a different name to your current New Zealand passport that is not going to work.”

Calder said the airport support hub should be able to help travellers.

Earlier this week, Travel Agents’ Association chief executive Julie White told Morning Report leaving it to the airlines’ discretion was risky.

“You can’t rely on that and look, it’s expensive, it’s stressful and you’ve taken annual leave so our suggestion is, you really should be travelling with the right documentation.

“We’re inundated with people contacting our travel agents around clarity because it really is confusing.”

She said airlines could only deal with the information they’d been provided and would face fines if they got it wrong.

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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/significance-of-uk-border-change-only-just-being-realised-travel-correspondent/

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NRL kicks off in Vegas this weekend

Source: Radio New Zealand

National Rugby League players Spencer Leniu (3rd L), Billy Walters (5th L), Aaron Woods (C) and Campbell Graham (3rd R) pose with Las Vegas showgirls, an Elvis impersonator and Fijian warriors. Vegas Promo Tour at Allegiant Stadium on December 12, 2023. David Becker

The National Rugby League competition kicks off on Sunday in Las Vegas, with four teams making the trip to start the season – the Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Dragons.

This is the third year the NRL has taken its first round to Las Vegas to put on a showpiece for the American market.

But it’s also round one of 27 to try and make it to the much-coveted grand final.

Bulldogs winger Marcelo Montoya said they still needed to focus on the result.

“For us it’s important that we get the two points,” he said.

“I know we’re going there to play and it’s exciting but at the top of our minds when we go there – the two points is what’s important for us.”

The Bulldogs play the Dragons in Vegas, after the Knights and Cowboys open season 2026 at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium.

It’s a long way from home for all of the teams, but some fans are expected to follow them over to Sin City.

Knights centre Dane Gagai said Newcastle fans tended to come out of the woodwork in most places.

“Knights fans turn up everywhere,” he said.

“No matter where you go, up north Queensland, they’re just everywhere, so I’m sure we’re going to have a fairly good turnout over in Vegas.

“I know people have already got their tickets and they’ve been mentioning that they can’t wait to get over there and watch us play, so hopefully we cannot disappoint.”

The Vegas season opener was introduced to the NRL in 2024.

On offer this week have been the Las Vegas Nines, a signing session, a school gala, and OzFest, and Scotland will play the USA in a triple header – the under-19 youth teams, the women’s sides and the men’s teams – at Cougar Stadium.

Super League teams Hull and Leeds will kick off the match day, which is Saturday local time, Sunday for most of the Pacific.

Game one of the new season kicks off at 1:15pm on Sunday (AEDT) – Knights versus Cowboys.

Now-retired Cowboy Chad Townsend told the NRL’s Game Plan show about the players to watch in his old team.

“For me the keys to attack for the North Queensland Cowboys… Scott Drinkwater… led the Cowboys in line-break assists and try assists last year.

“Tom Deardon – obviously the show-and-go we know is elite, defensively very sound, great leader; and Jaxon Purdue.”

After the Vegas games, the remainder of round one continues in Australia – and in Auckland, for the Warriors hosting the Roosters – from 5-8 March.

The Broncos are the defending champions. They also made it to the final of the World Club Challenge earlier this month, but lost 30-24 to Hull.

The Broncos will face the Panthers in the first round.

– 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/nrl-kicks-off-in-vegas-this-weekend/

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Woman murdered in random attack on an Auckland bus was stabbed roughly 20 times

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bernice Louise Marychurch was described as a loving, beautiful and devoted mother. (File photo) Facebook

Content warning: This story contains graphic violence, which some readers may find upsetting

How a random and deadly stabbing on a bus began with a search for methamphetamine has been revealed in court documents.

Bernice Louise Marychurch was killed in October 2024 after she was stabbed roughly 20 times on the Number 74 bus in Onehunga.

There were nine other people onboard the bus at the time.

The man charged with her murder, 38-year-old Kael Leona, handed himself in to police shortly after.

Kael Leona at an earlier court appearance. (File photo) RNZ / Lucy Xia

He previously plead not guilty on grounds of insanity but at a hearing at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday, Leona entered guilty pleas to murder and strangulation.

He was expected to go to trial in a matter of weeks, but would now be sentenced in May.

Court documents released to RNZ detailed the brutal extent of the murder.

Leona and Marychurch met outside of a Woolworths in Onehunga on the morning of October 23, 2024. The pair did not know each other before then.

They boarded a bus to Panmure, in search of methamphetamine. When neither of them could find the drugs there, they and an associate went to Point England where they ultimately found someone to sell them a point bag of meth.

They consumed it soon after before travelling to Glen Innes.

Leona boarded a bus just after 2pm at the same time as Marychurch, who sat down in the left rear corner of the bus while Leona followed her, sitting at the right rear corner.

The bus in Onehunga following the murder. (File photo) RNZ / Lucy Xia

Court documents said Leona was agitated, “continually rocking backwards and forwards, from left to right,” and tried at times to speak to Marychurch.

Marychurch was on her phone, with headphones on, for the majority of the bus ride and did not respond.

As they travelled along Church St in Onehunga, court documents said Leona became increasingly more agitated.

Just before 2.30pm, he drew a knife from his bag.

Leona moved across the seat to Marychurch and began stabbing. He pulled her to the right and “plunged the knife into her upper back.”

She fell to the floor, where Leona stabbed her a number of times.

An image police released of Kael Leona before he handed himself in. (File photo) Supplied

Her face was slashed, cutting her ear in half and causing a deep wound down the left side of her face to her lower jaw.

Passengers yelled at the bus driver to stop and open the doors.

“Some passengers, fearing for their safety, exited the bus,” documents said.

Marychurch tried to defend herself by raising her knees to her body, before Leona pushed them aside and drove his knife into her stomach.

She also suffered wounds on her hands trying to block the knife strikes.

Marychurch was stabbed roughly 20 times.

She was taken to hospital where she died of her injuries.

Flowers left for Marychurch. (File photo) RNZ/Nick Monro

A summary of facts said Leona twisted the knife around while stabbing.

As he left the bus stepping over Marychurch’s “prone” body, Leona focused on another passenger, following him for roughly 100 metres before the passenger evaded him.

Leona then made his way to a family address, where a relative took him for a walk.

He went to the property of a family friend, knocking loudly on the door and demanding keys to their car.

When the family friend refused, Leona ripped the screen door off its frame and threw it. He grabbed the friend and said “I will kill you” before putting his right hand over their nose and mouth, impeding her breathing.

The family friend managed to break free, when other members of Leona’s family arrived and told him to stop.

He was caught on CCTV around Mount Wellington afterward.

The next day, Leona changed clothes at a store in the central city, leaving without paying, and caught a bus to North Shore where he handed himself in to police.

In a social media post following the murder, Marychurch was described as a loving, beautiful and devoted mother.

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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/woman-murdered-in-random-attack-on-an-auckland-bus-was-stabbed-roughly-20-times/

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Sky TV trumpets major turnaround with $52.4m half-year profit

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Dan Cook

Sky TV has made a strong first-half profit and is on track to pay shareholders a full year dividend of at least 30 cents a share.

While it expects trading conditions to remain challenging, Sky TV chief executive Sophie Moloney said earnings growth would continue into the next financial year.

“The first half of FY26 marks an important step forward for Sky,” she said.

  • Net profit $52.4m* vs $1.7m loss
  • Revenue $415.4m vs $385m
  • Underlying profit $78.2m* vs $60.7m
  • Operating expenses $346.8m vs 347.9m
  • Interim dividend 15 cents per share vs 8.5 cps

*includes purchase of Sky Free

Moloney said Sky’s half-year performance reflected the execution of Sky’s multi-year strategy] and the financial and strategic benefits of the Sky Free purchase of Three owner Discovery NZ for $1.

“The Discovery NZ acquisition was a well-structured deal for Sky,” she said.

“It’s not often you get to acquire an asset for $1 and significantly strengthen the balance sheet at the same time – as is also evidenced by the gain on bargain purchase of $34.4 million we report today, reflecting the fair value of the assets acquired.”

Moloney said the combined business was already demonstrating benefits for Sky.

The company expected to report a full year underlying profit in a range of $145m and $160m, with revenue in a range of $820m and $835m and a dividend of at least 30 cps.

“Although the economic environment remains uncertain, earnings growth is expected to continue from FY27, and we remain confident in our ability to deliver at least $10m of incremental EBITDA (underlying profit) by FY28 through delivery of synergies across the group.”

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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/sky-tv-trumpets-major-turnaround-with-52-4m-half-year-profit/

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Why betting on top online prediction markets is now illegal in New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prediction markets are where punters wager money on the possibility of future events – but New Zealand is declaring some of them illegal. Andrey Popov / 123rf

Explainer – New Zealand has cracked down on two hugely popular online prediction markets, declaring them illegal here.

The Polymarket and Kalshi platforms are valued at billions of dollars, but the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has now ordered them to stop providing services to Kiwis.

“To avoid breaching New Zealand law, they must cease offering services to New Zealanders,” Vicki Scott, director of gambling for the DIA, told RNZ.

Here’s what you need to know about the world of prediction markets and how it’s changing in New Zealand.

What exactly are prediction markets, anyway?

Basically, it’s where people place bets on the future – that could be sports, politics, weather – even whether or not Jesus Christ might return before 2027.

Polymarket is the big dog in the arena, but there are many other sites, and they’re particularly popular among younger people. Billions of dollars in trading volume was seen during the recent American Super Bowl – not just the game, but things like what musician Bad Bunny would do during his halftime show.

“Any number of things have now been gamified and monetised and turned into basically a casino,” Bobby Allyn, a technology correspondent for America’s National Public Radio, told RNZ’s Afternoons recently.

“Prediction markets are apps where you can wager money on sports, on the outcome of say, a press conference – what will someone say at a press conference … even things like how many people will die of famine in Gaza this year, what will President Trump do in Venezuela now that Maduro has been toppled.”

Some of the big bets doing the rounds this week include whether the former Prince Andrew will be sentenced to prison and when or if the United States might launch a military strike against Iran. But it can even get as granular as what exact words a politician might say in a speech, in “mention markets”.

Polymarket offers option on a wide variety of events. Screenshot

There are New Zealand predictions in the mix, such as one on Kalshi over who will win November’s election, or wagers on Polymarket on what the Reserve Bank will decide in future Official Cash Rate announcements.

Kalshi co-founder and chief executive Tarek Monsour has said: “The long-term vision is to financialise everything and create a tradable asset out of any difference in opinion.”

New Zealanders have used the platforms and there are many variations of them, not all of which wager money. An Auckland engineer recently told The Spinoff that the appeal of betting on outcomes “makes me feel more engaged and connected to events, because I want to see how things go”.

So is it just a forecasting tool or is it officially gambling?

What has the government decided?

The DIA has weighed in to say these platforms are indeed a kind of gambling under New Zealand laws.

“Prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi are caught by both the Gambling Act 2003 and the Racing Industry Act 2020,” Scott said.

“They both offer products that meet the general definition of ‘gambling’ and the more specific definition of ‘bookmaking’ in the Gambling Act. They are accordingly prohibited under the Gambling Act.”

Scott said that “the surge in popularity and growth of prediction markets means time is right to take a clear regulatory stance”.

The government has sent letters to the companies asking them to prevent access in New Zealand.

Other countries like Australia and the UK have taken similar positions.

One of the big legal debates going on world-wide is whether these sites actually are gambling sites. Multiple lawsuits are playing out in America. The Trump administration has so far tended to back the prediction markets.

And then there are competitors such as Manifold, which uses its own “play” currency Mana instead of betting money.

Screenshot

“Those involved say they’re not gambling,” NPR’s Allyn said.

“They say these apps are placing a bet on a future outcome. But, I mean, look, if I were to explain to you in detail how this works and then you compare this to a casino I think you’d basically say there’s virtually no difference. I think it’s very fair to say that this is just a new tech-powered version of gambling.

“It’s a classic sort of tech company move to say ‘we’re not the thing that you think we are because we want to avoid the regulations.’”

Prediction websites aren’t entirely new, of course. In New Zealand, the iPredict site produced by Victoria University of Wellington ran from 2008 to 2015.

It closed not because it was decreed a gambling site, but instead after former Associate Justice Minister Simon Bridges refused to grant it an exemption from the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act, declaring that it was a “legitimate money laundering risk”.

New Zealand Initiative chief economist Eric Crampton said that back then, iPredict wasn’t being held to the standards prediction markets are now by the DIA.

“Deciding that prediction markets are necessarily gambling, however, is inconsistent with New Zealand’s prior authorisation of iPredict. It also shuts Kiwis out of an emerging financial market sector.

“iPredict, like other prediction markets, provided remarkably accurate predictions on future events like election outcomes, inflation outcomes, and interest rate decisions. It ended in 2015 not because it was considered gambling, but because it was too small to be able to afford to comply with new regulations that were mainly aimed at banks.”

Scott said the Financial Markets Authority and Problem Gaming Foundation were consulted and supportive of the DIA’s stance.

“I note that neither Kalshi nor Polymarket applied to the FMA for consideration or licensing of their products,” she said.

Crampton said electronic trading companies such as Tradeweb are increasingly working with prediction markets like Kalshi, and Allyn also noted that “they also are partnering with pretty huge institutions on Wall Street”.

“I expect that new hybrid financial instruments will soon be developed combining prediction market contracts and traditional financial market contracts,” Crampton said. “Regulating this space as gambling makes little sense.”

CNN has partnered with prediction market Kalshi in some coverage. CNN / Screenshot

So are they really predicting the future?

Betting odds for Polymarket and Kalshi have seeped into the real world. Allyn said such reporting can influence actual events.

“Right now we’re seeing a number of awards shows, a number of news organisations like CNN using the odds of prediction markets as part of their broadcast.

“These Polymarket odds are just mostly young men speculating on Discord and Reddit about what they think is going to happen – I mean, it’s pure speculation. When odds move up or down in some way it’s just a bunch of young people in basements slamming on their phones $10 here, $10 there, I don’t really see how this is providing something that’s more authoritative and more credible than polls.”

But as a counterpoint, Crampton called such descriptions clueless.

“Prediction markets prove remarkably accurate, providing regular updated data in areas where official forecasts are few and far between. The (US) Federal Reserve recently published a working paper based on Kalshi data, showing both the accuracy of Kalshi’s prices and their importance as leading financial market indicators.”

Researchers have found that speculators make markets more accurate, he said.

“Informed traders then have a stronger incentive to work hard at figuring out accurate prices, because they have people to trade with.”

Crampton cited an example in the 2024 US presidential election where a trader won big betting on Trump winning, by looking at polls that asked people who they thought their neighbours would vote for.

“From that he learned that Trump was (sadly) far more popular than the polls expected. He bought a lot of contracts that would pay out if Trump won, moving the prices to reflect that reality. And he was rewarded for his efforts.”

Polymarket buyers tried to predict what US President Donald Trump might say during the State of the Union. Screenshot

Does this only cover Polymarket and Kalshi?

The two companies have been specifically called out, but the decision sets a precedent for others in the prediction market space in New Zealand.

“The issues are not specific to Polymarket and Kalshi, although they are the biggest players in this space currently,” Scott said. “We will take a similar approach to other providers as they arise.”

“The approach we have taken aligns with our approach to overseas betting operators (including many well-known international brands) who have been advised they must withdraw immediately from the NZ market.

“Most have complied, geo-blocking their sites. In our view there’s no reason why prediction markets should be treated any differently.”

What did the platforms say?

The DIA sent letters to both Kalshi and Polymarket, informing them their services were illegal and they must prevent them from being accessed by people in New Zealand.

“Whilst neither have formally responded, Kalshi responded almost immediately by deactivating customer accounts and preventing new accounts,” Scott said this week.

“Polymarket do not appear to have taken any action, and we will be following up with them directly.”

Is online gambling legal at all in New Zealand?

At the moment, only TAB New Zealand can legally offer online race and sports betting.

Currently it’s legal to try your luck on offshore casino gambling sites, according to the DIA, but online casinos based in New Zealand are illegal and it’s illegal to advertise offshore casino gambling websites in New Zealand. Safer Gambling Aotearoa warns to use those sites “at your own risk”.

The Online Casino Gambling Bill, which would regulate and license up to 15 offshore casino operators, is currently progressing through Parliament.

The bill “will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritise harm minimisation, consumer protection, and tax collection,” Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke Van Velden said in introducing the legislation last year.

screenshot

What happens if I find a way to still use Polymarket or similar sites?

Scott warns that it’s risky.

“New Zealanders who engage with Polymarket should do so with caution. There will be no recourse through the gambling regulator if things go wrong and there appears to be no harm minimisation protections in place.”

However, Crampton said that he felt the sites were legitimate enterprises.

“Kalshi at least is (United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission)-authorised and CFTC-regulated. And I have never heard of payout issues at Polymarket.

“There are the occasional problems that every prediction market has in contract interpretation; iPredict had those too. Even if everyone is diligent and well-intentioned, sometimes the world moves in ways that make it hard to interpret whether a contract should pay out at $1 or at $0. It’s rare, but occasionally unavoidable.”

While Polymarket and Kalshi are now considered illegal in New Zealand, Scott said the DIA will not be going after individual users.

“Although it is technically an offence to participate in illegal gambling, we will not be looking to penalise those engaging with these platforms, our focus is on the platforms themselves.”

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Air New Zealand swings to half-year loss amid severe fleet disruption

Source: Radio New Zealand

Air New Zealand said the result was driven by disruption due to grounded aircraft. (File photo) AFP/ William West

Air New Zealand has slumped to a half-year loss as it continues to face severe disruption due to grounded aircraft, with challenges likely to continue in the short-term.

The airline posted a bottom-line loss of $40m 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.

Key numbers for the six months ended December 2025 compared with a year ago:

  • Net loss $40m vs $106m
  • Revenue $3.44b vs $3.4b
  • Pre-tax loss $59m vs $155m profit
  • No interim dividend vs 1.25 cents per share

The airline said the result was largely driven by global engine maintenance delays, slower-than-expected recovery in domestic demand, increasing costs, and a weaker New Zealand dollar.

The pre-tax loss came in worse than market expectations and the airline’s own forecast of between $30m and $55m.

Air NZ was also undergoing a major review of the business as it looked to cut costs and return to profitability.

“With the support of the board we are undertaking a comprehensive review of all aspects of the business, with the objective of returning the airline to sustained profitability through enhanced operational performance, growth and further cost transformation initiatives,” chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said.

Air NZ chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar. (File photo) Supplied / Air NZ

“While we are disappointed that the engine availability issues have taken longer than anticipated to resolve, we are pleased with recent progress and now expect a total of four grounded Airbus neo and Boeing 787 aircraft to return to service throughout the 2026 calendar year.”

Ravishankar expected Air NZ to receive two of its 10 new 787 aircraft later in the financial year, providing widebody capacity growth of 20-25 percent over the next two years.

Domestic demand soft, costs high

Air NZ said overall passenger revenue improved 4 percent to $3 billion on the back of more capacity to Australia and the Pacific Islands, and more premium seats on long-haul routes.

But it said domestic demand recovery was slower-than-expected, while international performance was supported by strong offshore bookings, particularly for premium cabins.

It said demand for outbound long-haul travel was subdued.

Jet fuel prices were on average slightly weaker than the prior period, but the airline said lower fuel prices were more than offset by a weaker New Zealand dollar.

“Non-fuel operating cost inflation of approximately $75 million was driven primarily by higher mandated domestic passenger levies, engineering and maintenance costs, and airport landing charges,” the airline said.

“The airline’s concern is not only about the current level of these costs, but the future trajectory and potential for further increases over time, which would place additional pressure on the business, and the sustainability of regional connectivity.”

Conditions not expected to improve in second half

Air NZ said 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.

“This is because widebody capacity cannot be operationalised into the schedule and sold at short notice,” it said.

“The primary constraint is uncertainty in the timing of aircraft and engine returns, which limits the ability to plan and sell additional flying with confidence.”

The airline said disruption-related costs and inefficiencies would also take time to unwind.

Based on current trading conditions, and assuming a jet fuel price of US$85 per barrel, Air NZ expected second-half earnings to be broadly in line with, or modestly below the first half.

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Darts: Beau Greaves becomes first woman to throw a perfect leg

Source: Radio New Zealand

Beau Greaves, in action during the 2026 World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London. SHANE HEALEY

There has been history made in the darts world on Wednesday (UK time), with English player Beau Greaves becoming the first woman to hit a nine-dart finish on the PDC ProTour.

The 22-year-old achieved the perfect leg in a Players Championship match against Austrian Mensur Suljovic, hitting back-to-back 180s, and finishing treble 20, treble 19 and double 12 in Leicester.

She celebrated the milestone with a quiet fist-pump, before accepting congratulations from Suljovic.

Reality then sunk in, as she shook her head in disbelief.

“I’ve narrowly missed hitting one a few times so it was nice to finally hit one. It’s nice to be the first woman to hit one on the PDC ProTour,” she said.

She went on to claim a 6-5 victory by clinching a final-leg decider, but was beaten in the next round by David Sharp.

Greaves, who is from Doncaster, has dominated the Women’s Series in recent years and beat Luke Littler on her way to the World Youth Championship final.

She also competed at this year’s World Championships, but lost a close first-round match against Daryl Gurney.

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Bike group praises government proposal to let under 12s cycle on footpaths

Source: Radio New Zealand

The proposal would let children under 12 ride on the footpath rather than the road. (File photo) 123RF

A cycling group is praising a government proposal to allow children under the age of 12 to ride their bikes on the footpath.

The idea was floated by Transport Minister Chris Bishop, along with others including allowing E-scooters in cycle lanes and requiring drivers to leave at least a one metre gap when passing cyclists.

Bike Auckland co-chairperson Karen Hormann told Morning Report, letting children ride their bikes on the footpath made sense.

“Having young kids in 50kph traffic is not the way forward. Ideally these younger kids won’t be travelling very fast and hopefully parents and caregivers are helping them to understand how to be considerate.”

Hormann acknowledged there were some concerns about pedestrian safety, but said there were already many shared paths around Auckland and cyclists and pedestrians would need to work together to make the change work.

Motorists would also need to take extra care when coming out of driveways, Hormann said.

“You’re going to have to look threes time, maybe more, just to make sure.”

Hormann also welcomed the proposed change to allow E-scooters in bike lanes, saying vehicles travelling a similar speed should be kept together.

A proposed change would allow e-scooters in bike lanes. (File photo) 123RF

The AA earlier said the plans to update some transport rules reflected the changing times.

Chief policy and advocacy officer Simon Douglas said the AA would consider the detail over the next month, but was supportive for the most part.

He said allowing scooters on cycleways was common sense.

The chief executive for Age Concern, Karen Billings-Hensen said while some of the proposals on rules were good, they key issue would be the impact on pedestrians.

She said there should be consideration around the speed children were cycling and whether they were riding two abreast.

It needed to be clear children need to give way to pedestrians, she said.

Consultation on the proposals would be open until March 15.

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Several people rescued from Waikato River after tour group gets stuck trying to help

Source: Radio New Zealand

People are brought ashore after their ordeal. Supplied / NZ police

Several people have been rescued from Waikato River while clinging onto a tree on Wednesday evening.

Police were alerted at 7.20pm that four men had entered the water to float from the control gates down to Hipapatua Reserve.

With only basic inflatables and no life jackets, the group lost buoyancy and called for help.

A nearby tour group jumped into the river to assist the men, but also had no flotation devices.

When police had arrived, all seven were in distress and, and contacted the coastguard and harbourmaster.

Supplied / NZ police

They were able to rescue them using a jetboat and a jetski by 8pm.

Senior Constable of Taupō Police Barry Shepherd said the incident could have had a far more serious outcome.

“We want people to have fun and enjoy the outdoors but there’s a safe way to do it.

“While its admirable that people tried to help, we don’t want any dead heroes.”

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Police probe death of rider found beside his motorbike at Auckland property

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are making enquiries into a sudden death in Taupaki near Kumeū on Wednesday night.

At around 9pm, officers attended the incident on a shared driveway off Nixon Road.

Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie, of Waitematā CIB, said a man in his 50s had been riding his motorbike before he was found dead lying beside his motorbike.

“While there are no suspicious circumstances, police will make further enquiries to establish how the man has died and whether he had been involved in a crash.”

A post mortem examination will be carried out as part of these enquiries.

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Is it time to abandon postal voting for local elections?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Several Auckland councillors think it’s time to abandon postal voting for local elections. RNZ / Eveline Harvey

Is it time to abandon postal voting for local elections?

Several Auckland councillors think so, with voter turnout in the region continuing to decline.

Less than a third of Aucklanders voted in the 2025 local elections. Twenty-nine percent or 345,004 registered electors voted, even fewer than in the previous two elections, where 35 percent voted.

This week, the Auckland Council released data on who is voting, and who is not.

The data reflects a lot of what we already know about local elections, including that young people are less likely to vote, and that voter turnout generally increases with age.

In Auckland, the number of 18 and 19-year-olds participating in local elections dropped from 31,691 in 2019 to 20,791 in 2025, a 34 percent decrease.

Voting had increased for most age groups over 25 in that time. But there was a decline in voter turnout for those aged 61 to 75 in 2025. In 2019, 54 percent of electors in that age group voted, compared to 44 percent in 2025.

As seen in previous elections, in 2025, voter turnout was the lowest in what the council identified as socio-economically deprived neighbourhoods, particularly in southern and western Auckland.

Whau ward councillor Sarah Paterson-Hamlin. Supplied

Whau ward councillor Sarah Paterson-Hamlin said the data was “depressing but not surprising”.

“It’s really upsetting, and what’s particularly gutting about it is that the trends are getting worse, and it shows around the local board tables and council table in terms of what lived experience is being represented and what’s being discussed.”

She supported a change to in-person voting for local elections.

“Postal voting isn’t helping. Central government elections have a turnout that’s really enviable, but our local elections don’t. One of the reasons for that has to be that one is postal and one isn’t.

“The fact that it’s all done by postal vote means it takes a lot of effort to change your electoral details when you move, and if you’re renting, you’re possibly moving quite frequently. It’s another thing that increases the lack of representation from people in lower socio-economic areas.”

She suspected postal voting was also a barrier for voters with disabilities, although the council did not collect data on that demographic.

Manukau councillor Alf Filipaina. RNZ / Felix Walton

Manukau councillor Alf Filipaina agreed more should be done to increase the number of people voting in his area.

“We need to change the system and hopefully engage more people, particularly the young.”

He said several years ago, Manukau City councillors and staff would visit local schools and talk to students about issues with roaming dogs, rubbish, and wastewater and stormwater.

“I know it was taken up by most of the high schools. When we explained what the council actually does it surprised quite a few of them.

“I think that’s one way to get rangatahi engaged.”

He believed there were a lot of issues with postal voting, and that it made sense to explore other options.

His fellow Manukau councillor Lotu Fuli said voting in Auckland had reached a new low.

Manukau councillor Lotu Fuli. Nick Monro

She described postal voting as “archaic” and she strongly supported moving away from it.

She said postal voting was also “vulnerable to tampering by those seeking to undermine democracy” as seen in Papatoetoe in the last elections.

Associate professor in politics at Victoria University of Wellington, Dr Lara Greaves, said: “It’s a concern that pretty much every local election we talk about voter turnout being a really big problem. There have been multiple reviews now saying this. But we are seeing government after government not doing very much to change anything.

“Hopefully, at some point central government does something to value local government and make it a bigger part of people’s lives, perhaps making it more efficient and investing in ways to make democracy better.

“A lot of people argue that if the Electoral Commission brought in their mandate and was funded to do so, they would run local government elections in a more efficient way than the private companies who are contracted by local councils. But there’s not a lot of information about how these companies operate in the public domain.”

Political scientist & Victoria University of Wellington Associate Professor Dr Lara Greaves RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

She said the government needed to seriously look at whether postal voting was still suitable.

“There has been a decline in New Zealand post services across the country, and certain groups, especially lower socio-economic groups and younger people, are more likely to move house.

“Perhaps it’s time to rethink postal voting. Having more in-person voting locations is one thing that has often been promoted.”

She said people not knowing enough about candidates or the role of local government was also known to deter voters.

“Many components of local government and democracy could do better to explain what local government is.

“But the public aren’t necessarily crying out for more stories or information about local government, and therefore journalists and local government people don’t provide that. It becomes a bit circular and quite impossible to solve.”

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has been contacted for comment.

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How to catch and move the country’s tiniest bird

Source: Radio New Zealand

If you want to catch a tiny bird and move it to a new home, you need expert help and your car’s aircon on.

Overheating is a threat to the rifleman.

And buzzing cicadas can get in the way of finding them in the first place as a group rounding up riflemen at the Wainuiomata water catchment area found out.

Behind four locked gates and among a gazillion buzzing cicadas, 30 volunteers intent on capturing up to 40 of the country’s tiniest birds unpacked on a bush road at the weekend.

They tested their radios, gathered together tent poles to spread out their so-called ‘mist’ nets – because they have such a fine mesh – and tested the half-a-dozen calls on the phone app they would play through speakers to lure the birds in.

The rifleman or tītitipounamu is New Zealand’s smallest bird. Steph Raille

Jim O’Malley laid out the high stakes to the three capture teams.

O’Malley helped set up the years-long Kotukutuku Ecological Restoration Project to move 40 or so birds north to a restored forest near Paraparaumu.

“The thing with riflemen is that they’re time critical,” he told them.

“After four hours, their mortality rate from stress goes up a lot. So we’re working in a window of three and a half hours from capture to release at Kāpiti.”

Volunteers at the banding station table. RNZ / Phil Pennington

Only trained people would get to handle the birds.

Greg Sherley would lead the banding team – he did his doctorate in the rifleman or tītitipounamu.

“Ornithologists will say there’s a ‘giz’ about a bird, a G-I-Z, which is talking about the essential nature of a bird,” Sherley said.

“And rifleman males are green mainly on the top, and in the light, they glow … they glow a green. If you get them in the right sunlight … [it’s] very very much like green pounamu.”

Morag Fordham with a rifleman. RNZ / Phil Pennington

Morag Fordham had this take on the birds.

“They look like wee squeaky brussel sprouts,” Fordham laughed.

They are the country’s smallest but do not rate in the world’s top 10 tiniest, dominated by humming-birds (the smallest bee hummingbird is a third of the weight of a rifleman).

It had taken years and a 150-plus-page report to get the permits for the project – that was “the most frustrating part,” said Sherley – but now they were here.

Fordham would lead one of the three capture teams.

Another team walked in with Simon Fordham – the Fordham pair from Auckland between them have caught over a thousand of the birds (though Morag is more a kōkako specialist).

However, it was evident from the word go there was going to be a problem. The crunch of our footfalls on the gravel road was muffled by another sound.

“We’re trying to find any birds, and so we do have a problem today with cicada noise,” Fordham said.

“That not only makes it harder for us to hear where birds are, but also birds need to be closer to hear the calls that we play.”

The keen ears of Victoria University ecology students proved crucial – Ryan and Harry, who studies the North Island robin, were both on their first bird hunt but seemed especially good at hearing the super-highpitched squeak of riflemen.

A rifleman is carefully extracted from the net. RNZ / Phil Pennington

A squeak heard, the team I am in set up the net, 4m high and 7m long, along the gravel road and hung the speakers in branches either side.

After an hour waiting we have had no luck and were about to move on.

“I haven’t heard any,” said Simon Fordham. “Emma has.”

Then suddenly, we spot a bird in a tree. It flies into the net, and Fordham and a trained volunteer hurry in, then quietly and calmly get it out.

We radio in the day’s first catch to the banding station.

“Woo-hoo, that’s awesome, great work … we’ll see your rifleman soon,” they radio back.

At this point the three-and-a-half hour countdown to get the bird to Kāpiti began, from the net, to a small soft drawstring bag, to a volunteer to walk it back to the banding station on a fold-out picnic table.

Then into a wee box with a takeaway meal.

“Sometimes you’re lucky if you’re standing by the boxes, you’ll hear this ‘tu, tu, tu, tu, tu’ – it’s the wee riflemen are picking up the mealworms,” said Morag Fordham.

Cicada noise on the first day made it difficult to hear any rifleman. Steph Raille

Paddy and Gill get the job of driving the first bird to Kāpiti, the aircon on full.

“No smoking, no talking, no stereo in the car, no phones, no slamming doors … no coffee stops,” they go through the rules.

“It was a silent, freezing trip for an hour,” Paddy said.

“It felt much longer,” Gill said.

It turns out to be the only bird caught on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, coordinator Jen Andrews updated the teams.

“I thought I would mention the bird that was caught yesterday, we heard from Peter the release went really well – he arrived safe and happy, shot out-of-the-box.

“So today we’re really hoping to catch some friends, so he’s not quite the loneliest rifleman in Kāpiti.”

As it turned out, the wee male won’t be.

Sunday was earlier, greyer and the cicadas were a little quieter. It paid off.

Nine birds were caught. I got to walk one out for banding.

Morag’s team ended up catching six of Sunday’s nine.

“Phew,” she said looking down at a juvenile female in her hands. “Hello sweetheart.”

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Black Caps fight back to eliminate co-hosts Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mitchell Santner top sored for the Black Caps in Colombo. (File pic) Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz

The Black Caps have knocked co-hosts Sri Lanka out of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday (local time) with a 61-run win in Colombo that boosted their semi-final hopes.

Sri Lanka needed an emphatic win to stay alive but instead exited with a whimper, limping to 107-8 chasing New Zealand’s 168-7.

A win for New Zealand against England on Friday at the same R. Premadasa stadium would see them top the Super Eights group and qualify for the semi-finals along with Harry Brook’s side.

A defeat would open the door for Pakistan, who would probably need a big win against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Saturday to sneak through on net run rate.

Sri Lanka were never in the chase as Matt Henry dismissed their leading batsman Pathum Nissanka with the first ball of the innings.

Henry also removed Chairth Asalanka with the first ball of his second over to leave Sri Lanka in trouble at 6-2.

Sri Lanka crawled to 20-2 at the end of the six-over power play, the lowest in the competition and Sri Lanka’s second lowest ever in T20 internationals.

Part-time spinner Rachin Ravindra found turn to put the game beyond Sri Lanka with a career-best 4-27.

Ravindra had a charging Kusal Mendis stumped and then removed Pavan Rathnayake in similar fashion in the same over as the sellout crowd was stunned into silence.

“It is very embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd,” said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka.

“We started really well, but to be honest, the Santner-McConchie and that partnership, it was a good one, which took the game away from us.”

New Zealand earlier recovered from a mini-collapse to reach 168-7.

“I think it was obviously a nice score there with the amount of spin on the ball. They squeezed us a lot,” said Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner.

Sri Lanka were right in the game as New Zealand slumped from 84-3 to 84-6 in the space of six deliveries.

But an 84-run stand off just 47 deliveries for the seventh wicket between Cole McConchie and Santner enabled them to set a tricky target on a turning pitch.

Skipper Santner top scored with 47 off 26 balls with two fours and four sixes.

McConchie, recalled to the side, posted an unbeaten 31 off 23 balls

New Zealand were struggling to read Maheesh Theekshana as the spinner claimed 3-9 in his first three overs.

New Zealand blasted 70 off the last four overs, including 21 off the final one from Theekshana.

Pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera finished with 3-38.

-AFP

– 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/black-caps-fight-back-to-eliminate-co-hosts-sri-lanka-from-t20-world-cup/