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Chris Greenacre steps in as Wellington Phoenix coach for fourth time

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Phoenix interim coach Chris Greenacre, right pictured with former head coach Ufuk Talay in 2021. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Chris Greenacre has taken over as head coach of the Wellington Phoenix for the forseeable future following the abrupt departure of Giancarlo Italiano.

Greenacre is stepping up from his role at the Phoenix academy, where he has been the head of pro development and men’s reserves head coach for the past four seasons.

He is in ongoing discussions with the club about the head coaching position for rest of the A-League season and beyond.

Italiano quit after Saturday’s 5-0 loss to Auckland FC. The Australian had been with the Phoenix since 2019 and head coach since 2023.

This is Greenacre’s fourth time as an interim coach for the Phoenix.

He filled in after the club’s first coach, Ricki Herbert, resigned during the season after a run of poor results in 2013.

In 2016 he was called on again, in a co-coach role with Des Buckingham, after Ernie Merrick also left during the season and again during the 2017/18 season to fill in when Darije Kalezic exited after a breakdown in contract negotiations.

Over his time with the club, Greenacre has served as an assistant coach under Herbert, Merrick, Kalezic, Mark Rudan and Ufuk Talay.

Greenacre arrived at the Phoenix as a player in 2009 and made 84 appearances and scored 19 goals before hanging up his boots in 2012.

He has worked towards his coaching qualifications and is now one of the few coaches in New Zealand to hold a Pro Diploma after completing the course in 2022.

Greenacre’s first task will be preparing the team for Sunday’s home game against Sydney FC.

“It’s not the first time I’ve done this, but it doesn’t get any easier,” Greenacre said.

“Coming in this morning was quite difficult for me. We have to move on quickly as a club, but you never forget what’s gone before you.

“I want to pay tribute to Chiefy. He led the Phoenix to their best ever season, narrowly missing out on the premiers’ plate and a place in the grand final, and that shouldn’t be forgotten.”

Greenacre said everyone at the club is hurting following the derby defeat on Saturday and are determined to make amends.

“I wasn’t involved in it, but I’m still hurting. I’m a fan first and foremost.

“We want to get some pride back in the badge and what the Phoenix represent.

“It’s a big game for our players from a personal perspective. When you don’t have a great result you can’t wait for the next game to come around quickly, so you can get back to what you do well.

“The players will be chomping at the bit to get back on the field in front of our home supporters and restore some pride.”

Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill has thanked Greenacre for stepping into the role at short notice.

“We’re very lucky to have someone of Greeny’s calibre at the club,” Gill said.

“He’s a great coach and person, on top of being a Phoenix icon, and he’s done a tremendous job at the academy over the past four years preparing our young men’s players for professional football.

“These are difficult circumstances but Greeny didn’t hesitate when I asked if he could take charge. He loves the Phoenix and wants to restore some pride in the club.”

The Phoenix are also looking for a new assistant coach as Italiano’s right hand man Kelly Guimarães has resigned too, effectively immediately.

The Brazilian was appointed to the lead assistant role for the 2025-26 season, but has stood down in the wake of the derby defeat.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/chris-greenacre-steps-in-as-wellington-phoenix-coach-for-fourth-time/

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Three properties red-stickered in flood-hit Banks Peninsula

Source: Radio New Zealand

Flooding at Little River Cafe. Cameron Gordon/Supplied

Three properties have been red-stickered on Canterbury’s flood-hit Banks Peninsula after torrential rain last week.

The local state of emergency on the peninsula was lifted by Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger at 12.30pm on Monday.

The area was lashed by heavy rain last week, causing widespread flooding and slips, particularly in Little River.

Mauger said the region could now enter a recovery period and the council was focused on supporting locals and repairing damaged water and roading infrastructure.

Christchurch City Council controller Duncan Sandeman said three properties had been red-stickered and two yellow-stickered, and the council was waiting for the results of further inspections.

He said the council was still working to finalise the number of flooded properties, most of which were in Little River.

Access had been restored to all isolated properties, but Sandeman said it was too early to calculate a damage bill for the storm.

Little River was still deep in clean-up mode after the settlement was swamped on Tuesday.

Little River Cafe & Store owner Cameron Gordon said the cafe had closed indefinitely because flood damage was worse than first thought, although the business was being run from another building down the road.

“We’re having to close it down probably for a couple of months. Anything wooden has to be pulled out. So, that’s walls off, all our cabinetry, all our tables, benches, work benches, everything’s going and needs to be tossed and redesigned and rebuilt,” he said.

“I think the longest part is getting some cabinetry designed and built fast, that’s going to be the hard part, which we’re going to work on today, try and find someone that’s ready to drop everything and help us out with that.”

Little River Cafe and store owner Cameron Gordon RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

Gordon estimated the damage bill for his cafe would be about $100,000.

He was heartened by the support of locals who had helped him shovel silt and mud out of the building and move furniture.

“We’re still muddling through the clean-up, still pulling things out of the cafe to be thrown, still doing trips to the dump,” he said.

“People have just really banded together, just getting it done. It’s going to be a long, slow process, I think, it’s a huge job.”

Flooding at Little River Cafe. Cameron Gordon/Supplied

Gordon said it would take a long time for Little River to get back on its feet.

“I know the service station and second-hand store are still deep in the clean-up mode. I know a lot of properties are still very badly damaged and people are still asking for a lot of manpower to come out and help them,” he said.

“A lot of people are still in bad spots and still very unknown as to the state of their houses. It’s just still very fresh, I think, for most people.

“I’ve got four different properties with damage, so I’m just sort of shuffling between the four of them, chipping in on each one each day, then still being a chef at the restaurant.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/three-properties-red-stickered-in-flood-hit-banks-peninsula/

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South Taranaki councillor ‘disgusted’ at behaviour of ‘hostile’ group at car meet

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police officers retreated after their car was surrounded by what they describe as a “hostile” group of people at a car meet in Taranaki. Supplied / YouTube

A South Taranaki District councillor says she’s “disgusted” at the behaviour of a “hostile” group of people who forced a police patrol into retreat during an incident in Oaonui overnight.

A video posted on YouTube shows about a dozen people approaching the police car in Oaonui, which then reversed, with people running after it.

Coastal ward councillor Janet Fleming, who lived at nearby Pihama, said this kind of behaviour had no place in South Taranaki.

“I’m pretty disgusted that these young people have chosen to do this and the fact that they intimidated the police officer who felt threatened. Action needs to be taken and I trust that those people will be held accountable.

“I just think this is something that doesn’t belong on the coast or anywhere, to be fair, especially when lives are endangered.”

Police attended a report of antisocial road users gathering at Kina Rd about 1am on Monday.

Officers spoke to some of the people, but found them confrontational, police said.

“Due to the hostile nature of the group, it was determined that the safest course of action was to monitor the meet from nearby and gather information.”

Fleming was unsure if it was a single officer involved but that police did a great job with the resources they had.

“We’d always like to have more police officers, yes, but you know they need to have a life as well, so… yeah we’d always like to see more offices in small rural settlements.

The councillor didn’t think gatherings of antisocial car users were a common in South Taranaki and was unsure where the young people had come from.

“That’s not the sort of area that’s conducive for a big crowd of cars together, I don’t think, and certainly not welcomed by the locals.

“I don’t know how their minds work. They must have a bit of money to have these cars and fill them with fuel to be able to basically just burn up money. I would suggest that money would be better spent in other places.”

Police said they would use the information they gathered for follow-up inquiries.

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Critics urge coalition to slow down on MSD law change

Source: Radio New Zealand

Minister for Social Development Louise Upston. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Lawyers and health professionals are urging the government to slow down a law change, making it legal to claw back welfare supports once someone has been backpaid for an ACC claim.

The coalition, with Labour’s support, is moving to quickly pass amendment legislation to align the law with long-standing policy at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).

It comes after a significant High Court ruling made it clear MSD was breaking the law in clawing back payments for supplementary supports like the winter energy payment once someone had received ACC backpay.

The legislation is being considered by MPs for just one week before returning to the House to be read a second time.

Interested groups made verbal submissions to MPs during the Select Committee this morning.

‘Unfair and unjust’ – lawyers

Community Law Centres Aotearoa (CLMA) acted as an intervener in the High Court case against MSD and today argued the bill was “unfair and unjust” and should be “rejected in its entirety”.

“It’s really important to challenge any perception that this bill is about preventing double-dipping or treating beneficiaries in different categories fairly, because a person who’s fought for years to get their ACC and requires assistance in the meantime is not in the same position as somebody who received ACC when they were entitled to it.

“So, in our submission, the bill is not about ensuring fairness, it actually perpetuates unfairness,” barrister Jack Wass said.

CLMA’s law reform coordinator Rupert O’Brien said the organisation took particular issue with the retrospective nature of the law change.

“This bill really does present a genuine threat to the rule of law. It overhauls the High Court’s legislative interpreting role and we don’t think that going back in time in this retrospective way is appropriate in the circumstances.

“We recommend that if the bill is to pass, that the retrospective nature of it is removed. If it is going to be retrospective in some nature, we recommend that the Parliament consider the importance of the savings clause… that prevents this bill from affecting active litigants in the appeals authority and the high court.”

O’Brien also highlighted the law change would unfairly impact those who had applied for a sensitive claim as a result of suffering state abuse as children.

He suggested there be a carve-out to accommodate them.

“We recommend that the select committee and Parliament consider excusing those people from having to repay these debts. It’s double punishment for those people.”

The New Zealand Law Society’s Gareth Richards submitted any retrospective law change that had carried detrimental impacts, in this case putting people into debt, was uncommon and required a proper inquiry.

Law change will affect new mothers with birth injuries – health professional

Pelvic health specialist Dr Melissa Davidson told MPs the urgent speed at which the bill was progressing didn’t leave enough time to consider its full impact, particularly on women with maternal birth injuries.

“When the legislation moves faster than understanding the harm does not fall equally, it falls on those least able to absorb it, Dr Davidson said.

“In the maternal birth injury space, there are systematic failures occurring daily. ACC claims have been declined or taken many months to be accepted through no fault of the woman themselves and the delays are often caused by ACC processes and health system failures, not by missing eligibility.”

Dr Davidson said new, injured mothers would not seek the help they needed if they had to pay it back.

“In New Zealand, women put their families first and themselves last. When supplementary assistance is provided, it’s meant to cover essential costs, but the reality of living with a birth injury includes far more than just water rates, power, food.

“It also includes treatment co-payments for the injury to get treatment for recovery, transport to and from appointments, childcare to attend those appointments if they can’t bring the baby and basic medical resources such as continence, products and pads, scar management, supplies and equipment.

“They face higher living costs while living on reduced incomes. We’re then asking them to repay costs that they reasonably believe are covered and it places them under additional psychological, physiological, physiology, physical and financial stress, again, through no fault of their own.”

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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/2026/02/23/critics-urge-coalition-to-slow-down-on-msd-law-change/

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‘No doubt’ new move-on orders for homeless will drain police resources

Source: Radio New Zealand

123rf.com

Requiring police officers to shift rough sleepers from one place to another could see other crime work delayed or dropped, the Police Association’s boss says.

The government is giving officers new powers to move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour in town and city centres.

Breaching an order, which requires someone to leave an area for up to 24 hours, risks a fine of up to $2000 or three month jail term.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell said it will be left to police officers to decide what support a person needs, if any.

Prime Minister Luxon told Morning Report police were capable of doing that.

But Police Association boss Steve Watt told Midday Report the police have limited resources, and it was unclear how big a job it would be to get people off the street and into a social agency.

Police Association boss Steve Watt. RNZ/ Phil Pennington

“Until we just get that detail it’s really tough to gauge, but there’s no doubt that it will have a drain on policing resources.

“It means that potentially someone won’t have a cop turn up to their burglary, or they’ll be delayed, because they’re having to deal with this issue.”

Watt said there were already laws in place to deal with disorderly behaviour.

“What we’re talking about here is individuals that have got a multitude of issues, mental health, financial, housing, and you’ve gotta ask the question, are the police the right agency … to deal with this, or should it be some other social agency?”

It was also unclear how far people had to be moved, Watt said.

“Rough sleepers have a lot of property sometimes, shopping carts full of it, so is it an expectation of our members to wheel the cart down with the beggar down the street … just to simply displace the problem?”

Emails released to RNZ show the Mitchell had expressed a reluctance towards police leading a homelessness response in central Auckland, and expected other agencies to “step up and own” social issues.

In the email, dated 5 November, a staff member said: “Feel it is important just to flag that Minister Mitchell does not believe that police has a leadership role in this and has in the past ended up picking up the work of other agencies, which stretches their resources in other areas.”

Watt agreed.

“In reality, it’s not a policing problem, it’s an all-of-society problem, and that’s the way we need to start looking at it.”

Move on orders deal with disruption and disturbance, ministers say

Goldsmith said New Zealand’s main streets and town centres had been “blighted” by disruption and disturbance, with businesses “declining” as bad behaviour went unchecked.

He said police officers currently had limited options to respond, particularly if behaviour did not reach the level of offending, leading to “disruptive, distressing and potentially harmful acts”.

Social agencies have widely condemned the move, saying shifting people around cities would do nothing to solve homelessness or mental health and addiction problems that many rough sleepers were dealing with.

But Auckland business leaders welcomed it, saying it would make the city centre safer and a more desirable place to be.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/no-doubt-new-move-on-orders-for-homeless-will-drain-police-resources/

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Dogs euthanised after killing Mihiata Te Rore in Northland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was killed by dogs at a Kaihu property. Supplied

Police have confirmed the dogs that killed a woman in Northland have been euthanised.

Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was attacked by three dogs while visiting a property in Kaihu, North of Dargaville, last week. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was the third person to be killed by dogs in Northland in the past four years, sparking calls for more to be done by local and central government to deal with the growing problem.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said police have received a number of calls about roaming dogs in the area.

Pilmer said there may have been two incidents in November and December in which cyclists were chased by dogs.

The police would like to hear from the cyclists.

“If this was you or you know who these people may have been please get in touch with us,” Pilmer said.

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‘Not a first responder’: Lake Taupō harbourmaster speak on rescue of boy from burning boat

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lake Taupō. (File photo) RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod

The Lake Taupō harbourmaster has clarified its role in rescues with Fire and Emergency after FENZ struggled to get hold of them when a boy was rescued just before Christmas.

The harbourmaster helped search for a 14-year-old who had jumped off a burning boat he had been left in charge of.

The message-log showed FENZ from the start telling police that “maritime would be lead, harbour master would be first”.

But “attempting to contact Lake Taupō harbourmaster, no success,” Fire and Emergency told police eight minutes after they got the first alert from Kinloch at 6.38pm on December 21.

They ended up calling three different numbers after the first two went to voicemail.

It took them a quarter of an hour to get through, to be told by a harbourmaster who was not on-call that the on-call harbourmaster would have been alerted by a pager.

A habourmaster spokesperson said they began responding quickly.

Richard Ward, from Internal Affairs, who oversees the lake’s harbourmaster, said the harbour master began responding within five minutes of the first call being made to Fire and Emergency.

At a later debrief they “re-clarified” the procedures for all lake emergencies.

“The Taupō harbourmaster is not a first responder and does not lead emergency responses relating to fire, medical emergencies, or search and rescue,” Ward said.

The call-log showed at 6.56pm Fire and Emergency was “attempting a 3rd number” for the harbourmaster and two minutes later got through.

Additionally, just after 7pm the police “spoke to Taupō Harbourmaster to make him aware of the event”, the message-log said.

Around this same time, police stood down a rescue helicopter. They reactivated it 20 minutes later and it went on to spot the boy.

Ward said the harbourmaster did not have formal Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in place with either Fire and Emergency or police.

“However, there are established working relationships and shared understandings with local first responder agencies.

“The harbourmaster remains available to provide assistance where appropriate and when requested by lead agencies,” he said in a statement.

The Auckland harbourmaster said they also did not have MOUs with Fire and Emergency or police either, but had “great relationships” with both.

The lake harbourmaster’s statutory responsibilities focus on maintaining navigational safety and managing maritime risks, including responding to regional marine oil and fuel spills, and coordinating maritime safety following sinkings, groundings or collisions that posed a risk to other water users.

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins put to make ‘affordability’ at the heart of all decisions

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has taken aim at the government’s cost of living and climate policies in his State of the Nation speech in Auckland.

Hipkins did not announce any new policy in the speech on Monday, repeating his promise that the public would see a “different” Labour to 2023.

“Labour didn’t get everything right last time – and some of you don’t hold back in telling me,” Hipkins told the Auckland Business Chamber audience.

“We tried to do too much, too fast, and we lost our focus.”

But what New Zealanders got instead, he said, was rising costs, job losses, and a shrinking economy.

“I’m not promising perfection. Where we make mistakes, I’ll take responsibility,” he said.

“But I am promising this: a government that puts the cost of living first. A government that partners with business to create jobs and raise wages. A government that invests in our people and backs our potential.”

Wary of Labour’s previous propensity to over-promise, Hipkins said he would put affordability at the heart of all decisions he made, and would expect ministers to do the same.

Chris Hipkins is speaking to the Auckland Business Chamber. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Hipkins said 2000 New Zealanders were leaving every week because they did not see a future here.

“I see young New Zealanders – smart, hardworking, full of potential – making calculations that no young person should have to do. Do I stay in the country I love? Or do I leave to build the life I’ve worked for?

“It breaks my heart. Because it means we are failing them. Not because they aren’t good enough for New Zealand. But because we haven’t made New Zealand good enough for them.”

Riffing off National’s slogan “Fixing the Basics, Building the Future”, Hipkins said New Zealanders would have a choice between two different futures.

He also called for stronger climate action.

“We can carry on treating each disaster as if it’s an isolated event, clean up and move on. Or we can recognise that the cost of inaction on climate change now far exceeds the cost of action.”

He did not give specifics on climate policy, but said New Zealand had an opportunity to be a “renewable energy superpower” but was instead being locked into a volatile global market.

“We would invest in the industries that cut emissions, build resilience, and create jobs. Because that is how you build a stronger economy. Not in spite of climate action, but because of it.”

Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Hipkins confirmed Labour would oppose the government’s plans to build a new liquefied natural gas terminal, and would not go through with any deal if it entered government before a deal was done.

“We won’t add new charges onto people, like increasing every household’s power bill to pay for a gas import terminal, or tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge to pay for a new crossing.”

The Infrastructure Commission modelled that tolling the existing bridge and a new Waitemata Crossing could bring in up to $9 billion.

The government has said a toll is something under consideration, but has not confirmed whether it would go ahead with it.

While no new policy was announced, Hipkins repeated Labour’s promises to fund three free GP visits a year, funded through a capital gains tax on investment and commercial property.

Labour was the highest-polling party in the most recent RNZ-Reid Research poll, but the coalition would still have the numbers to return to government.

The party has seen two high-profile departures from its Māori caucus, with former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe already bowing out, and former Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare also announcing his exit.

MP Peeni Henare has announced he’s leaving politics. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Henare will deliver his valedictory on 4 March.

State of the Nation speeches are a chance for party leaders to set out the priorities for the year ahead.

Earlier this year, Luxon confirmed the government would continue to run a tight Budget, and observed a “rupture” in the rules-based system.

Last weekend, ACT leader David Seymour took aim at “bureaucratic” governments that aren’t balancing their books, and confirmed ACT would again campaign on a smaller ministerial executive.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is set to deliver his speech in Tauranga in March.

The Greens, which prefer to call their address State of the Planet, are yet to confirm details of a 2026 speech.

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Man sought after allegedly entering home, assaulting occupant in Greymouth

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are asking for anyone who has seen a man matching the description, or any suspicious behaviour in the area to get in touch. 123RF

Police are seeking the public’s help to find a man accused of entering a home and assaulting one of the occupants in Greymouth.

Police said the man entered a home on Reid Street, Blaketown, at around 11.15pm on Saturday and assaulted one of the occupants, before being confronted by another occupant and leaving.

“The assault victim sustained minor injuries, and the pair are understandably very shaken by the incident,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Lyford said.

He said the assault was unprovoked.

Lyford said the police have conducted initial inquiries, including assessing available CCTV footage, but have been unable to identify the offender and are now seeking the public’s assistance.

The man is described to be in his 40s, Caucasian, and of medium build. He was reported to be wearing a black short-sleeved rugby-type top and long pants. He has dark short hair, and his face appeared to be dirty.

The home occupants also described the man as disoriented and said he seemed under the influence.

Police are asking for anyone who has seen a man matching this description, or any suspicious behaviour in the area on Saturday, 21 February, to get in touch.

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Illegal lender, Nane Easy Loan Finance Services, charged 15 percent interest per week

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Commerce Commission is trying to contact borrowers who had a loan from Ilaisaane Malupo, trading as Nane Easy Loan Finance Services. (File photo) 123RF

The Commerce Commission is looking for borrowers who might have received illegal loans from a lender in South Auckland.

Ilaisaane Malupo, trading as Nane Easy Loan Finance Services, admitted providing personal loans illegally to members of the Tongan community.

Commerce Commission deputy chairperson Anne Callinan said the commission was now trying to contact affected borrowers who could be entitled to financial compensation, if there were available funds.

“Ms Malupo failed to keep accurate records, and destroyed others, meaning we do not have the details of all affected borrowers,” Callinan said.

“This is why the commission is taking the step of appealing to the public to get in contact with us if they, or someone they know, borrowed from Ms Malupo.

“While Ms Malupo’s financial position is currently unclear, we do need to hear from affected borrowers as they could be eligible for financial compensation if there are funds available for this purpose.”

One of the charges was brought under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act (FSPA), which required all consumer lenders must be registered to provide consumer credit.

Malupo did not obtain registration despite repeated prompts and guidance from the commission and continued to lend, knowingly in breach of the FSPA, Callinan said.

Her terms included interest rates of up to 15 percent per week.

“This amount would double if borrowers failed to repay their loans within 28 days. Late fees of up to $10 per day would also be charged,” Callinan said.

“This put some borrowers, who were already struggling financially, in an even more difficult position. Some would sell sentimental possessions or miss rent payments to keep up with repayments.”

In some cases, Malupo threatened that borrowers who fell behind on repayments would be publicly exposed on Facebook or other Tongan media sites.

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins delivers State of the Nation speech

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is set to deliver a State of the Nation speech in Auckland, but the party is not promising many bells and whistles ahead of the address.

Hipkins will speak to the Auckland Business Chamber, just as National leader Christopher Luxon did in January – although Labour’s is expected to be a more low-key event than Luxon’s International Convention Centre affair.

The speech will be livestreamed at the top of this page from about 12.35pm.

Hipkins is not expected to announce any new policies during his speech, with Labour preferring to wait until after the Budget to add significant policies to its existing suite.

So far Labour has announced a policy of three free GP visits, funded by a targeted capital gains tax, as well as a Future Fund, free cervical screening, and a GP loan scheme.

Chris Hipkins is speaking to the Auckland Business Chamber. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Hipkins has confirmed Labour would repeal the Regulatory Standards Act, and reinstate the full pay equity system – though he has been reluctant to say how Labour would pay for the latter.

He also would not say if Labour would replenish the disbanded climate resilience fund, and will not set out partners Labour is prepared to go into coalition with until closer to the election.

Labour was the highest-polling party in the most recent RNZ-Reid Research poll, but the coalition would still have the numbers to return to government.

The party has seen two high-profile departures from its Māori caucus, with former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe already bowing out, and former Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare also announcing his exit.

MP Peeni Henare has announced he’s leaving politics. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Henare will deliver his valedictory on 4 March.

State of the Nation speeches are a chance for party leaders to set out the priorities for the year ahead.

Earlier this year, Luxon confirmed the government would continue to run a tight Budget, and observed a “rupture” in the rules-based system.

Last weekend, ACT leader David Seymour took aim at “bureaucratic” governments that aren’t balancing their books, and confirmed ACT would again campaign on a smaller ministerial executive.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is set to deliver his speech in Tauranga in March.

The Greens, which prefer to call their address State of the Planet, are yet to confirm details of a 2026 speech.

On Sunday, Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni did not want to get ahead of her leader’s speech, when asked what the party’s message might be.

“You’ll just have to wait and see. I don’t think it’ll be very career-enhancing if I pre-empted Chippy’s State of the Nation speech,” she said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/labour-leader-chris-hipkins-delivers-state-of-the-nation-speech/

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Critically injured climbers rescued from Mt Taranaki

Source: Radio New Zealand

(File photo) Mt Taranaki. RNZ/Sally Round

One person is in a critical condition and two are seriously injured after five climbers got into trouble on Mt Taranaki.

Senior Sergeant Andy Guy said emergency services were called to the area at 2.15 pm on Sunday.

He said the climbers were were taken off the mountain by helicopter at 6.50pm.

A spokesperson for St John ambulance said two were transported to Taranaki Hospital by helicopter and another was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Two members of the group received moderate injuries.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/critically-injured-climbers-rescued-from-mt-taranaki/

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Trial over Alan Hall’s wrongful conviction delayed

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Auckland High Court. RNZ / Simon Rogers

The trial of two men facing charges related to the wrongful conviction of Alan Hall in the 1980s has been delayed.

Hall was sentenced to life in prison in 1985 for the murder of Arthur Easton, but he was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2022 and paid $5 million in compensation.

The men, whose names and occupations are suppressed, are jointly charged with wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to Hall’s wrongful conviction.

A third man facing similar charges died in 2024.

At the High Court in Auckland on Monday, the lawyer of one of the defendants said his client was too unwell to attend the trial, which was meant to start at 10am.

The four-week judge-alone trial is now due to get underway on Wednesday.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/trial-over-alan-halls-wrongful-conviction-delayed/

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Genesis Energy announces $400m capital raise, government to buy up to $200m of new shares

Source: Radio New Zealand

Genesis Energy chief executive Malcolm Johns . Supplied / Brett Phibbs / PhibbsVisuals

Brimming hydro lakes and less use of coal and gas have powered Genesis Energy to a strong lift in half year profit, as it moved to raise $400m to finance new generation projects.

Key numbers for the half-year ended 31st December compared with a year ago:

  • Net profit $95m vs $70m
  • EBITDAF $303m vs $217m*
  • Company to raise $400m in share sale, government to participate
  • Interim dividend 7.3 cents per share vs 7.13 cps

*Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, fair value instruments – a measure of operating earnings.

Chief Executive Malcolm Johns said increased hydro-generation across the country allowed Genesis to buy cheaper electricity on the wholesale market, divert gas towards industrial customers, and reduce expensive coal and gas-fired generation at Huntly.

That resulted in the company posting record operating earnings.

“Among the factors influencing the result were improvements in how we trade our portfolio, improved fuels management systems and the

improved positioning of our customer books.”

“At the same time, we progressed our renewable generation pipeline for self-sufficiency in the future.”

The company said it would raise $400 million in a sale of new shares, with $100m to new investors and a $300m renounceable rights offer for existing shareholders.

The government confirmed it would invest up to $198m to maintain its 51 percent stake.

“Genesis’ proposed investments will directly contribute to enhancing energy security, including through enabling Genesis to bring more flexible capacity to the market which can be used to address dry-year risk,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.

Johns said the capital injection would speed up investment in renewable generation and “firming” capacity such as batteries and flexible thermal backup, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

“We can execute this plan in a five to six-year window, without that funding, we’re looking at 10 to 15 years,” he said.

“Acceleration of opportunities that meet Genesis’ capital allocation framework are expected to both enhance value for Genesis’ customers as well as shareholders by bringing forward earnings growth and strengthen Genesis’ ability to support New Zealand’s energy security.

Genesis’ maintained its full year earnings forecast between $490m-$520m.

Johns said wholesale power prices were expected to normalise as hydro conditions eased, meaning Genesis would likely run more gas-fired generation in the second half of the year.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/genesis-energy-announces-400m-capital-raise-government-to-buy-up-to-200m-of-new-shares/

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Total lunar eclipse: New Zealand has ‘front-row seat’ to only lunar eclipse of 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The “Blood Moon” is pictured during an eclipse in the night sky over Sydney on September 8, 2025. AFP / DAVID GRAY

It might pay to stay up late next week with a total lunar eclipse taking place.

According to Stardome, the only lunar eclipse of 2026 will begin on Tuesday, 3 March around 9.45pm.

“In just 10 days, Aotearoa New Zealand will have a front-row seat to witness a total lunar eclipse in its entirety – the only lunar eclipse of 2026.”

The moon will begin to enter Earth’s shadow, “slowly dimming before turning a deep red hue at around 11pm”.

The total eclipse – also known as a “Blood Moon” – will happen just after midnight on Wednesday, 4 March, with the best time to catch it about 12.30am.

No special equipment was needed to view the eclipse, Stardome said.

“Just your eyes and a clear view of the sky. Be sure to check the forecast for your local area if you’re planning to watch this dazzling celestial display.

“There will not be another total lunar eclipse until 2028, and we are among the few locations able to watch the entire event unfold over the Pacific. Only an estimated 2 percent of Earth’s population will be able to view this eclipse from beginning to end.”

MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said at this stage, there was “reasonably good news” in that the weather was expected to be settled across much of the country when the eclipse is due to happen.

However, because it was happening in the middle of the night and overnight cloud was a possibility, viewing could be obscured.

It was too early to tell what may be the best places across Aotearoa to view the eclipse – with viewers urged to check the forecast closer to the time.

According to Nasa, totality of the eclipse will also be visible in eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and North and Central America.

Partial visibility will be visible from central Asia and much of South America – but it will not be visible in Africa or Europe.

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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/2026/02/23/total-lunar-eclipse-new-zealand-has-front-row-seat-to-only-lunar-eclipse-of-2026/

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Third person dies after crash on State Highway 1 in Marlborough

Source: Radio New Zealand

State Highway 1, near Redwood Pass, was closed for six hours while the serious crash unit conducted a scene examination. Google Maps

A third person has died after a crash between a car and a campervan on State Highway 1 in Marlborough.

Emergency services were called to the crash near Redwood Pass, about 10.40am on Sunday.

Two people died at the scene, and three others were taken to Wellington Christchurch hospitals.

Police said on Monday that a third person has since died in a hospital, while one other was still critically hurt and another in a serious condition.

State Highway 1 was closed for six hours as police investigated.

The road has since reopened.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/third-person-dies-after-crash-on-state-highway-1-in-marlborough/

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Chorus posts modest half-year profit

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chorus’s chief executive said the company had coped with tougher economic times and restrained consumer spending, as it looked to become an all-fibre operation. RNZ

Telecommunications company Chorus posted a modest half-year profit on the back of a lift in sales and connections to its fibre network, and lower costs.

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

  • Net profit $15m vs loss $5m
  • Revenue $506m vs $500m
  • Expenses $149m vs $154m
  • Guidance full year operating earnings top end of $710m-$730m
  • Interim dividend 24 cents per share vs 23 cps

Chief executive Mark Aue said the company had coped with the tougher economic times and restrained consumer spending, as it looked to become an all-fibre operation.

“We have a clear aspiration to become a simplified all fibre business with 80 percent uptake by 2030, and this result is a culmination of the work we’ve done over recent years to reshape Chorus … we are focused on growth, simplicity and efficiency.”

Chorus added about 31,000 new fibre connections taking its total to 1.13 million, about 72 percent of the households in the regions in which it operates.

At the same time it disconnected 60,000 copper phone lines and expected to clear the remaining 3000 in its territory by the middle of the year.

Fibre broadband revenue was higher while Chorus reduced its operating costs.

Aue said the Chorus network was delivering faster connection speeds because of demand from businesses and households for cloud services, multi device use, and artificial intelligence.

However, he said it was also taking steps to cater for a large number of households who could not afford to connect.

“Nearly 400,000 households cannot afford a package of meaningful digital access – a challenge felt in every region and community across the country.”

He said Chorus was launching what it called “Equity Fibre”, which would be available to households meeting affordability and need-based criteria.

Aue also said fibre was proving its worth in bad weather events, with fewer faults and quicker repair times.

The company said it did not anticipate any significant change arising from the government’s decision to sell $643m worth of debt securities issued to finance Chorus’s roll out of the broadband network.

Forsyth Barr analyst Benjamin Crozier said the result was a “solid” one helped by stronger than expected cost controls.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/chorus-posts-modest-half-year-profit/

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Kiwi pole vaulters scrapping for world championship spots

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand pole vaulter Imogen Ayris. Simon Stacpoole / www.photosport.nz

The Athletics New Zealand selectors have a dilemma on their hands as they try to finalise their squad for next month’s World Indoor Championships in Poland.

New Zealand’s three female pole vaulters are fighting for just two spots at the event.

On Monday morning, Imogen Ayris vaulted a personal best 4.76 metres at a meeting in France to gain the qualifying standard for the world indoors. Four athletes finished on 4.76m, with a Czech athlete Amalie Svabikova winning on a countback. Ayris finished third.

Olivia McTaggart also delivered a season’s best performance of 4.70m to finish in 5th at the same competition, while Eliza McCartney recorded 4.70m at the Auckland Champs on Friday.

The trio have now all met the entry standard for the championships, but nations are only able to enter two athletes per event.

Both Ayris and McTaggart are scheduled to compete again in Europe before the World Championship qualifying period closes.

McCartney, the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, is scheduled to compete at the national championships in Auckland next week, but now may consider heading overseas to compete to help impress the selectors.

Ayris and McTaggart competed in last year’s World Indoor Championships, finishing ninth and eleventh respectively.

McCartney, who won the silver medal at the 2024 World Indoors in Glasgow, set the national record mark of 4.94m in 1998.

All three pole vaulters have also qualified for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Sprinters Zoe Hobbs and Tiaan Whelpton have run world indoor qualifying times in recent weeks, while shot-putter Tom Walsh is also scheduled to compete in Poland.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/kiwi-pole-vaulters-scrapping-for-world-championship-spots/

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Tourism Holdings’ profits increase after strong half-year

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Campervan operator Tourism Holdings (THL) says strong growth in its rental business has helped drive first-half net profit up 17 percent, with revenue growth of 4 percent.

“Our rentals business remains the engine of THL’s business model and continues to power our global revenue performance,” chief executive Grant Webster said.

“Globally, rental performance remained strong during H1 FY26, with 11 percent growth in sale of services revenue (primarily rentals) in the first half.

“As of today, we are seeing global forward rental revenue for future travel periods more than 15 percent higher than at the same point last year, despite the decline seen in the US market.”

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

  • Net profit $29.6m vs $25.3m
  • Revenue $477.3m vs $458.4m
  • Underlying net profit $29.5m vs $26.5m
  • Interim 3 cents per share vs 2.5 CPS

“We remain confident in the outlook for global tourism. The industry is finally moving away from pre-Covid comparisons,” Webster said.

“Structural drivers, including growing global airline capacity and growing demand for our category of free independent travel, continue to support a positive outlook for RV rentals.

“Looking ahead, we expect continued momentum and growth through calendar year 2026 in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, with these markets seeing between 20 percent to 30 percent growth in forward rental revenue.

“The downside is that we are in an environment where the USA is ‘off the menu’ for many international travellers this year. While the 2025 high season still had the benefit of solid booking intakes before the Liberation Day tariffs were announced (subject to some cancellations), the entire 2026 booking window has been impacted.”

Progress on the strategic initiatives announced in August 2025

“We continue to view FY26 as a transition year as we implement transformational initiatives against a background of ongoing weakness in RV sales markets, broader macroeconomic challenges, and uncertainty regarding the timing of a recovery,” Webster said.

“Notwithstanding this, we are focused on our forecast for FY26.”

The company expected full-year underlying net profit to be in the range of $43m and $47m, including a $1m reduction associated with the timing of its UK divestment.

He said challenging vehicle sales conditions persisted, and the second half of FY26 was expected to largely reflect the trends seen in the first half, with any meaningful recovery unlikely within the current financial year.

Net debt was expected to be less than $400 million.

“Looking further ahead, the execution of our strategic initiatives, continued recovery in international tourism and rental demand, alongside ongoing cost-out actions, are expected to materially benefit FY27.

“We expect gross fleet capital expenditure in FY26 to be around $210 million, reflective of our fleet and capital management decisions.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/23/tourism-holdings-profits-increase-after-strong-half-year/

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Should you trust airlines to get you into the UK on an expired passport?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gill Bonnett

Changes to the United Kingdom’s entry requirements for dual citizens come into force on Wednesday, but a last-minute update has added further confusion according to travel agents.

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.

But on Friday, the Home Office said it will now allow airlines to decide whether to accept an expired British passport alongside a valid foreign one.

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.

“So, if the person standing in front of them has got a New Zealand passport with an ETA [Electronic Travel Authorisation], they will go through a set of questions … the liability then sits on the person travelling, which may actually be denied entry into the UK and turned around.”

White said the British Embassy had not been forthcoming about how airlines would know whether a person required a new passport/ETA or not, but expected people to be questioned upon entry into the UK about whether they had a British parent.

She said the motivation behind the changes was driven by the UK’s desire to tighten its borders and also its move toward digital.

“As they move along to [become] more digitally enabled, I think they’d have greater clarity on who has what rights.”

She said a grace period to comply with the rules would be helpful, but with the changes coming into effect in only three days’ time, thought it was unlikely.

White said some people had chosen to cancel or defer their travel due to the stress, noting insurance wouldn’t cover the cost.

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