Category: Radio New Zealand

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Inside a prince’s hard and fast fall from grace

Source: Radio New Zealand

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his “prince” title in October, 2025, due to his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. AFP/ PAUL FAITH

The former prince hardly received the royal treatment last week as he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but an insider says the House of Windsor will do what it always does – keep calm and carry on

The news of his arrest last week echoed around the world, a prince’s public life imploding in real time, and the aftershocks are still rattling the monarchy.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s dramatic fall from public life has become one of the most damaging royal scandals in modern history.

The Detail talks to royal commentator Dickie Arbiter, who was formerly the press secretary to both the late Queen Elizabeth and to King Charles (when he was the Prince of Wales), about the arrest, the response, the fallout, and why Andrew has been targeted, while other alleged high-profile offenders continue to live large.

“It’s very unusual, the last time a royal was taken into custody was about 1647, when Charles I was arrested and then he had his head chopped off about two years later,” Arbiter tells The Detail. “So, it is extremely rare.”

Once a war veteran and senior working royal with global trade roles and front-row status at state events, Andrew was forced to step back after his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sparked international outrage.

The crisis intensified after civil allegations from now-deceased Virginia Giuffre, which Andrew has always denied, but which culminated in a costly out-of-court settlement that effectively ended any hope of a public comeback.

More recently, his titles have been stripped, his military affiliations removed, and he was pushed out of official duties – an extraordinary step rarely seen in royal history.

Last month, he was also forced out of his palatial home; now this month, the arrest and 11 hours in police custody.

Screenshot / BBC

“Andrew hasn’t responded at all … nobody has seen him,” says Arbiter, who says police aren’t releasing any information about the allegations while Andrew is being investigated.

“There are a lot of documents to go through, and they [police] are going to be going through them forensically.”

He says the arrest and allegations stem from Andrew’s job as a trade ambassador.

“When he came out of the Navy in 2001, a job had to be found for him, and he was given the job of trade ambassador international, part of the Department of Trade and Industry – a job that had been done for 20 years by the Duke of Kent … he did it for those 20 years without an inch of scandal at all. He did an extremely good job.

“Andrew seemed to have gone off the rails. Being the man that he is, or was – arrogant, bombastic, rude, you name it, he’s it, and he took advantage of the whole scenario, and he travelled globally, a lot of it on behalf of the British government to ostensibly sell British trade abroad.

“How much and how successful he was is still being asked. But he was taking advantage, and he was meeting all sorts of dodgy people, and within that meeting of dodgy people, somewhere along the lines, between 2008 and 2010, he was actually handing over – they are calling them sensitive, they are calling them secret, I prefer to use the word confidential, without knowing the full extent of the documents – but documents for his eyes, and nobody else’s eyes, and certainly not Jeffrey Epstein’s eyes.

“So, that is part of the whole concept of misconduct in public office.”

He noted that while Andrew has been “hauled across the coals,” former cabinet minister and ex-British ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, who has also been accused of misconduct in public office, “seems to be lying low at the moment, and nothing is going on there, except police taking away boxes of paperwork, over a week ago. So, it looks like Andrew is the one who is being nailed at the moment.”

Arbiter believes Andrew will be removed from the line of succession – he currently remains eighth in line to the throne, and the change will require new legislation.

He says the government is considering any further steps that may be required, and nothing is being ruled out.

Arbiter also believes Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has long been involved and knows what has been going on.

“How involved? Up to her armpits, quite frankly. She’s the one who was taking money all the time.”

But he feels for their children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

“They are the daughters of two very unsavoury people. They are lying low as well. It is very difficult for them, but it is probably more so difficult for their respective husbands, who are in businesses and yet tarred by the same brush.”

Despite the headline-grabbing scandal and public fallout, Arbiter believes the monarchy will survive as an institution.

“They are a family, and one of their own is a rotten apple; it doesn’t mean to say the whole basket is rotten.

“The family has been dented, but the family is carrying on. And the monarchy has taken a knock, and the monarchy will carry on, and the monarchy will survive.”

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Calls on Wellington Electricity for compensation after days with no power

Source: Radio New Zealand

Damage from the storm to electricity networks was extensive. Wellington City Council

Questions are mounting over whether Wellington Electricity should compensate households hit by damaging storms, as residents count the cost of week-long power outages.

The company had hoped to restore power to all affected properties that did not need complex or private repairs on Monday night. It said remaining homes were expected to be reconnected over the next few days.

Island Bay solo mum Nicola Hill lost power early last Tuesday morning after the storm battered her home, blowing out French doors.

Island Bay solo mum Nicola Hill assumed power would be restored within hours. Instead she and her children spent six nights without electricity. Penny Smith/RNZ

At first, she assumed it would be restored in a matter of hours. Instead, she and her two teenagers spent six nights without electricity.

Hill said that, with no functioning fridge, fresh food quickly spoiled.

“I’ve lost a fridge and most of a freezer full of food. So, I definitely think I probably lost about $200 in food, taking into account the extra stuff that I’ve bought, like UHT milk, just to have a little bit of milk in the morning.”

Hill estimated that she had lost about $200 worth of groceries due to the power outage. Penny Smith/RNZ

Dinners were cooked on the barbecue, when the weather allowed.

Showers were cold at home, or taken at friends’ houses, grandparents’ homes in the Hutt Valley, or at the local pool and washing was ferried between houses.

As a working parent, Hill said the outage also affected her job. She stayed home for three days expecting crews to arrive, only for no one to show.

“I’d try to work from home without a device, then use the iPad for an hour or two until the battery wound down, then go somewhere to charge it and come back,” she said.

“It really impacted my productivity.”

She described the communication from Wellington Electricity and her retailer as “not fit for purpose”.

“There were promises – four to six hours, 18 hours, everything by Friday – and by Monday I was looking at any promise with complete scepticism,” she said.

“There was over-promising and under-delivering.”

Calls for Compensation

On Friday, when about 700 homes still had no power, Wellington Electricity said it would donate $10 to KidsCan Charitable Trust for every customer who wouldn’t be reconnected that day.

Hill questioned whether a donation to charity went far enough.

“When you’re getting to one week without power? I’d be ropeable if there’s a fixed charge cost,” she said.

Just a few streets away, 71-year-old retiree Jim Waters faced a different challenge.

Waters had just been discharged from hospital after a fall – which left him with a fractured wrist in a cast – when the power to his home failed on Monday night.

Retiree Jim Waters spent about $800 on staying at a motel, after damaging winds knocked out power to his home. He hoped to claim back the cost from his insurance company. Penny Smith/RNZ

By morning, he discovered the gas supply had also shut off.

“It was a nightmare,” he said.

“My cellphone was running out of battery, I had no way of recharging it, I couldn’t use internet, and they’d say, ‘follow up your query online’ – but I had no power.”

Neighbours stepped in, offering Wi-Fi access, phone charging and meals.

But by Thursday, with no clear timeline for reconnection, Waters contacted his insurer and learned that emergency accommodation might be covered.

He moved into a motel, initially for one night.

He stayed four, costing about $800, which he hopes to claim back.

“I’m on superannuation, but I’m lucky I have some savings,” he said.

Waters said he felt his isolated outage may have been deprioritised in favour of larger jobs affecting whole streets.

“You got the impression they were doing the ones that were bigger,” he said. “If they’d come and looked at mine, they could have done it rather quicker.”

Like Hill, he questioned Wellington Electricity’s pledge to donate to charity rather than compensate affected customers directly.

“It sounds wonderful, but it doesn’t help the people affected much, does it?” he said.

Both residents said the experience had shaken their confidence in the capital’s infrastructure.

“We need to have power infrastructure that survives wind,” Hill said.

“It makes me worry about what would happen in an earthquake.”

By late Monday afternoon, crews had restored power to both homes.

Wellington Electricity said it was not funded to offer compensation.

“While our tight regulation by the Commerce Commission means we’re not funded to act as an insurer or cover consequential losses, if we find our actions while restoring a customer’s power caused damage to their property, we can consider a goodwill payment. We recommend customers questions about loss of supply to their electricity retailer, and any consequential loss or damage claims to their insurers.”

The company said it understood how frustrating it was to be without power for multiple days and it was sorry work to restore power across Wellington was taking longer than expected.

“The strength of the winds and the scale of the storm damage meant the situation evolved as crews progressed. In many cases, once trees were cleared and sites made safe to work at, our crews discovered more extensive damage than was initially visible,” it said.

“As with any major event, we’ll review our response and ensure improvements are continuously applied to future event responses.”

Hundreds of Powerco Customers Still Without Power

Meanwhile, Powerco said that about 200 customers across the Whanganui, Manawatū and Wairarapa regions were without electricity on Monday night, although some outages may not be storm-related.

Crews were working through complex high-voltage faults, particularly in remote forestry areas, with the Whanganui-Rangitīkei region the hardest hit. the company said.

“Access has been a challenge, with trees down across the affected regions, and outages have been widespread and in remote locations.”

At the height of the storm, more than 25,000 properties in Whanganui-Rangitīkei, Manawatū-Tararua and Wairarapa were left without power.

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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/2026/02/24/calls-on-wellington-electricity-for-compensation-after-days-with-no-power/

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Unions acuse Peters of being ‘wilfully misleading’ over Employment Relations Amendment Bill

Source: Radio New Zealand

PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons (left) and New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. RNZ

Winston Peters’ public spat with two unions has gone up a notch, with the PSA and Workers First now writing to the Prime Minister.

Secretaries from both unions say the New Zealand First leader is being “wilfully misleading” and it was “unequivocably” untrue they hadn’t engaged with the party earlier.

They want Peters investigated for breaching the cabinet manual.

Peters responded on social media, saying the Unions had been “whinging” about being “called out” and then throwing an “unhinged tantrum,” criticising the unions for being out of touch with ordinary workers.

He included a screenshot of an email sent by the unions the day before the Employment Relations Amendment Bill was set to be debated at committee stage, highlighting his criticism from last week that “you don’t alert someone within 24 hours after these things have been going for months what your concerns are.”

It comes after both New Zealand First and the unions publicly attacked each other over the Employment Relations Bill, which passed last week.

Peters said he would have been able to stop the law removing the right for contractors to challenge their employment status if the unions had come to him earlier.

The Unions wrote to Christopher Luxon on Sunday, outlining their view that Peters was in breach of the cabinet manual by making, and then defending, statements that were “wilfully misleading.”

Those comments were the claim from Peters last week that he could have changed the law, and that New Zealand First was only alerted to unions’ concerns within 24 hours of the Bill going through the Committee stage in the House.

“This is unequivocably and demonstrably untrue,” the unions wrote, outlining again the series of meetings and interactions that had taken place between representatives for both the unions and New Zealand First, which RNZ reported last week.

Those engagements included at least 8 meetings between New Zealand First and Workers First union to discuss the Bill, the letter stated.

Beyond that, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons had multiple meetings with New Zealand First representatives too, including with MP Mark Patterson

“Mr Patterson asked for possible amendments to take the harsh edges off the proposed legislation so on 10 February 2026 we sent him some suggested amendments New Zealand First could adopt,” in reference to the email sent the day before committee stage.

However, the unions had “engaged extensively with New Zealand First about the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, some months and years before Parliament considered the legislation” the letter stated.

Their concern was that Peters had “breached the expectations around “Conduct of Ministers” set out in paragraph 2.56 of the Cabinet Manual 2023:

In all of these roles [i.e., as per para 2.56, not only when acting in “in a ministerial capacity”, but also when acting “in a political capacity” or “in a personal capacity”] and at all times, Ministers are expected to act lawfully and behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical and behavioural standards. This includes exercising a professional approach and good judgement in their interactions with the public, staff, and officials, and in all their communications, personal and professional. Ultimately, all Ministers are accountable to the Prime Minister for their behaviour.

The unions asked Luxon to consider the matters and investigate their concerns.

On Monday, Peters posted on social media in response, including a screenshot of the email sent the day before the Bill was due at Committee Stage. He indicated all the unions were included in the email.

“Apparently both the PSA Union and Workers First Union have written to the Speaker whinging that I called them out for them demanding NZFirst make changes to the Employment Relations Bill just 24-hours before the committee stage debate in the House – and then them throwing an unhinged tantrum when they didn’t get their way,” Peters wrote.

A spokesperson for the PSA confirmed they had not written to the Speaker, only the Prime Minister.

Peter said the PSA and Workers First had made it clear the workers unions in the country “no longer represent ordinary, hard working blue-collar kiwis like they once did – they are now controlled by leftwing political agendas and arrogant elitist Labour Party sycophants with soft hands who live in leafy suburbs.”

“When the leaders of these unions are Labour Party candidates, sitting on Labour Party policy committees, run third party campaigns for the Labour Party in elections, and affiliated unions get a vote for the Labour Party leader, New Zealanders need to be asking what their true motivations are and who they truly work for.”

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister told RNZ the issue was a specific disagreement between two parties.

“The Prime Minister is satisfied that it is not a Cabinet Manual matter.”

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‘Imaginary income’ lands family $4000 Working for Families bill

Source: Radio New Zealand

A New Zealander who has left for Australia says he’s been hit hard by Inland Revenue “annualising” his income to claw back Working for Families credits.

Kenneth, who wanted to be identified only by his first name, said he moved with his family from Auckland to Australia in January last year.

“My total New Zealand earnings for that tax year were just under $84,000. However, the IRD has annualised my income, claiming I should be treated as if I earned closer to $110,000.

“Because of this imaginary higher income, they are demanding we pay back $4000 in Working for Families tax credits-money my wife used to keep us afloat while caring for our youngest in one of the most expensive cities in the world.”

He said a number of one-off payments were being treated as though they were daily wages, including $7213 in final holiday pay and $7027 in back pay from a two-year salary negotiation.

“When we challenged this, staff explained that if someone earned $20,000 in one month and nothing for the rest of the year, the IRD would treat them as if they earned $240,000. It is a rigid, ‘computer says no’ approach that is leaving families who are already struggling with a massive bill on their way out the door.

“I believe many other Kiwis are being “ripped off” by this same rule without realizing the math is flawed.”

Tax expert Terry Baucher said the reason that Inland Revenue took this approach was out of concern that otherwise people who left early in a tax year could end up paying less tax than they would otherwise be meant to.

He said the issue was also clearly connected to the abatement level, at which Working for Families credits are removed.

When households earn more than $42,700 a year, their Working for Families entitlements are cut at a rate of 27 percent.

“The threshold is so low, and everything above that is abated at 27c on the dollar. So we have an extremely low threshold, it’s now below the minimum wage. Someone getting 40 hours of minimum wage is now above that. So that’s the real kicker. The extra $26,000 of income just exacerbates that.”

He said that threshold had not been increased since 2018 and when the abatement rate was first introduced it was only 20 cents in the dollar.

Working for Families debt has been highlighted as a problem for some time. There are hundreds of millions of dollars owing, often because people earned more than was expected in a year and received too much Working for Families support. RNZ earlier reported on a case where a couple were overpaid $20,000 and having to pay it back at a rate of $350 a fortnight. (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/562593/couple-owes-20-000-working-for-families-debt-through-no-fault-of-our-own)

The Government last year announced a review of Working for Families intended to avoid households getting into debt. Options being considered included more frequent reporting of income to ensure that people were not overpaid.

In the 2022 year, only 24 percent of households receiving weekly or fortnightly payments who were squared up by IRD had received the right amount of Working for Families credits.

Baucher said Inland Revenue could make use of tax codes to claw back overpayments.

“Instead of requiring people to suddenly front up with $4000 at a time, it’s probably easier for them to say, ‘ okay, we’re going to adjust your PAYE code and take a bit extra to claw that back’. It would be for those families far more manageable … but to me the review’s window dressing, to be frank.

“The whole question around abatements and thresholds, and the amounts of being paid just needs complete rethink, in my view.”

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Emergency specialist says only law changes will reduce dog injury statistics

Source: Radio New Zealand

A dog runs freely on a roadside. RNZ

The patterns are clear for Dr Natasha Duncan-Sutherland to see.

Dog injury statistics are on the up, and the emergency specialist at Te Toka Tumai / Auckland City Hospital said that would not be fixed without urgent action.

“So if you see a certain number of dog-related injuries or dog bite injuries within a certain region, you can be pretty sure that without any further proper changes, that those are going to happen again the next year,” she said.

“And I think that’s really devastating.”

The next round of statistics would be in the middle of the year in June or July.

“And I am not looking forward to having to look at those next statistics,” Duncan-Sutherland said.

“I don’t look forward to having to look at those statistics again and seeing the same pattern happening all over again the following year with no changes being made.”

Duncan-Sutherland offered her “deepest sympathies” to the victims and families of recent dog attacks.

She had spent years researching the problem.

A decade’s worth of figures showed what had been done so far, including non-legislative strategies, was not working, she said.

“The Dog Control Act was introduced at one point, but things have continued to get worse and particularly over the last few years, we’ve been really trying to say this needs to happen and it hasn’t happened, and I think it’s devastating that has resulted in fatalities,” she said.

“And I think it’s devastating that the problem continues to happen and that those changes haven’t happened fast enough.”

Emergency services at the scene of a fatal dog attack in Northland last week. RNZ

Duncan-Sutherland said what there did need to be was an urgent review of the Dog Control Act with mandatory notification of all dog-related injuries.

She said there should also be mandatory de-sexing of all dogs by six months of age or within 28 days of an owner taking possession, unless owned by a registered breeder or when exempt on veterinary grounds.

Then, Duncan-Sutherland said there needed to be greater powers for local councils and animal control officers as well as minimum fencing standards.

She also called for infringement notices for roaming dogs or attacks on people, particularly children.

What had not lowered the figures, she said, were non-legislative strategies over several years that had included widespread education.

“Despite all of those non-legislative strategies that we’ve implemented over the last five to six years, ACC statistics show us that those changes have not been effective.”

Those figures, she said, showed the breadth and seriousness of the issue.

In 2024 to 2025, there were 29,220 dog-related injuries with nearly half of them dog bite injuries.

Adults were most often hurt on their limbs, but Duncan-Sutherland said children – because of their size – were most often hurt on their face, head or neck.

Rates of injury had been increasing steadily over time, she said.

“And so we really need to look at doing something differently.”

Local Government Minister Simon Watts. RNZ / Mark Papalii

There were growing calls before the recent serious attacks for the decades-old Dog Control Act to be overhauled.

But Local Government Minister Simon Watts said then there was no time to do that before the election, and he would not commit to changes if National returned to power.

He said he was focused on options that did not need law changes.

On Monday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the government was open to intervening but councils could be tougher and enforce the powers they already had.

“We’re very happy to take further action and to support councils in cracking down on this,” he told RNZ.

Duncan-Sutherland said a systematic review had shown legislation, especially laws that reduced the dog population, were the most effective strategies.

“It is frustrating that over the last sort of three years we have been saying that this legislative change needs to happen because we have known about this problem for a long time, for around sort of nearly 10 years, really, we have known that this existed,” she said.

“In fact, 40 years ago, there were people who were doctors who were saying, ‘hey, this is an issue in New Zealand’.”

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Why childcare costs could be set to rise

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Some parents returning to work are facing childcare bills of $15,000 or $20,000 a year, and the industry is warning bills could rise.

Stephanie Pow, founder of Crayon, which helps employers with staff wellbeing, particularly around support for parents, said the cost of childcare and early childhood education was a big pressure point for a lot of families.

“It’s equivalent almost to private school fees. A lot of them are parents who would not otherwise be putting their kids in private school. And that’s per child, so if you have twins or you have two or more young children, it multiplies from there. When you look at the OED data, New Zealand is one of the least affordable countries in the world for childcare as a percentage of income.”

She said two parents earning full-time average wages in New Zealand with two children in full-time daycare would spend more than a third of their income just on childcare.

Data from the Household Economic Survey shows that the average cost of early childhood education has risen from $25.71 a week in 2007 to $85.18 in 2013, $95.45 in 2019 and $90.62 in 2023.

Between the March 2025 quarter and December 2025, early childhood education costs increased by 2.5 percent.

Family Boost payments took effect in July 2024, which contributed costs falling 22.8 percent through the same period a year earlier.

Family Boost covers 40 percent of a household’s childcare cost, up to $1560 for households earning up to $35,000 a quarter.

Households with income between $35,000 and $57,286 a quarter an claim either 40 percent of their ECE fees or the maximum $1560 minus 7c for every dollar earned over $35,000 – whichever is less.

Centres are also funded through the 20 Hours ECE scheme, which provides a subsidy for up to 20 hours a week of childcare, at six hours a day. Some centres offer 30 hours using other subsidies.

Costs vary

The Office of Early Childhood Education, an advisory body for the sector, said home-based education fees could range from $5 an hour to $12 or more.

Playcentres were the most affordable. Kindergartens received more money under the 20 hours scheme and could charge as little as $3 per hour for care beyond that, it said.

Most other centres charged $5 to $8 an hour for children not receiving 20 hours funding.

Amanda White, a researcher at the NZ Council for Education REsearch, said the cost could differ a lot.

“Sadly this variation does exist, and can be very costly for some parents and whānau. High quality ECE should be a public good for all children to access. A higher cost does not in any way reflect the quality of education children receive in a particular centre – there is no evidence that private centres offer better education/care than non-profit ECEs like community-based and kindergartens.

“Teacher qualifications, teacher-child ratios and group size are critical factors in terms of ECE quality.”

Fee warning

But the Early Childhood Council, which represents operators, said if changes were not made, the costs were likely to increase, or more centres would close.

It said 443 closed between March 2022 and July 2025 as pay parity requirements and “sustained underfunding” affected the sector.

The Government established a Ministerial Advisory Group in June to review funding for early learning. A paper as part of the review noted that the intention of the 20 hours scheme was for regular reviews to adjust funding to reflect increases in the cost of providing care.

“Many EE service providers say that the funding received for the 20 hours free does not cover the cost of delivering the service. While this may be correct, it is largely anecdotal.”

Services can require kids to attend more than 20 hours and charge for the additional hours, as well as asking for top-up payments.

Early Childhood Council chief executive Simon Laube said since 2019 there had been an 11.5 percent gap between the cost adjustments of the subsidy and inflation.

“We’re saying to the government that they need to, to try and just keep the lights on, put a bit more money into the system.

“If they don’t put in a significant cost adjustment this budget it’s going to lead to either parents having to pick up some of the rising costs through increased fees or more providers are going to fail.

“Our view is yes you can always afford to lose a few centres, overall there are thousands of centres in New Zealand… but the trend has kind of turned and we are losing more centres than we are opening… it’s not really in the interests of parents to lose these options.”

He said because centres were funded on a demand basis, they were sensitive to things like changes in the job market that could mean more parents staying home.

“If you’re putting up your fees, anyone who can do that should have already done that… so now you’re in the real crunchy period where every time you put up fees you’re going to lose enrolments.

“Every time you do it you’re just going to trigger a demand change because they don’t have the ability to pay.”

He said the funding review needed to consider centres’ ability to pay higher salaries. “The Government funding doesn’t actually try to keep up, it’s just set at a certain rate and it never increases. Whereas the obligation we’ve got is that every single teacher moves up an increment every year. Some of those increments are 7 percent between steps once you’re on the scheme.. there’s a real pressure on providers to increase fees just so they can retain their teachers.”

He said the government’s review was a good opportunity to address the problems and find a solution. “But solutions take time and changes to the funding system will take years to design and implement… I can’t just go ‘oh you know, it’ll be okay in the future’. Providers today need a bit of help just to keep the lights on.”

Some centres are making the numbers work, however. It was reported in 2024 that childcare cahrity Best Start made a profit of $32 million in 2023.

Occupany questions

Pow said parents were already finding it tricky to find care in some places.

“When we’re coaching parents we often tell them they should look into it 12 months or more before they intend to put their child into care because it can be so difficult to ge ta spot. There are a lot of wait lists and you don’t want to be in a position where you return to work and you haven’t secured childcare or weren’t able to get your first preference.”

Laube said centres had the highest occupancy in areas like Canterbury, where they could be up to 80 percent full.

“Whereas Auckland, you know, if you talk to the providers, they think that there are too many providers in Auckland. But that’s not really what the data is showing. The data is showing there are, you know, thousands of children up in Auckland who don’t even participate…Auckland’s challenge is something that we’re really trying to drill into.”

Otago University economist Murat Ungor said it was something that the country should address.

“ECE plays a critical role in human capital development. The World Bank notes that the first five years of life are the fastest period of human growth and development, with around 90 percent of brain development occurring by age five. Investing in these early years helps break cycles of poverty, reduce inequality, and boost long-term productivity.

“Recent UNICEF reports rank New Zealand fourth lowest out of 36 OECD and EU countries for child wellbeing, and lowest for mental wellbeing specifically. These statistics show the urgent need to prioritise early investment in the health, education, and wellbeing of New Zealand children.

“Today’s children are tomorrow’s labour force, so by investing more in our children, we will have a healthier and more skilled labour force and thus, a more productive Aotearoa.”

What are parents paying for childcare?

Khandallah Nursery School: One child, 8am to 4.30pm five days a week: $452.40

Chelsea House, Raumati Beach: One child, 35 hours a week: $150

University Kids Fairlee Terrace:: Two children, 28 hours a week: $474.64

Krafty Kidz, Ranui, Auckland: One child, four days a week: $105

High Five Early Education Centre, Hataitai: One child, 8.30am to 5.30pm five days: $275

Busy Bees Westgate: One child, 26 hours a week: $236.60

Little Minds, Whalers Gate, New Plymouth:: Two children, 28 hours a week: $584 a fortnight

Kindercare Belmont: One child, three half days: $218 a week

Busy Bees Daycare, Dargaville: One child, 35 hours a week: $136.50 a week

Royal Oak Childcare Centre, Auckland: One child, 9.5 hours a week: $115

Grey Lynn Kindergarten: One child, two full days: Free

BestStart Ponsonby: One child, 37 hours a week: $254

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Pay equity law changes ‘flagrant and significant abuse of power’, former MPs say

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former National MP Marilyn Waring. Supplied

A group of former female MPs has called changes to the pay equity law a “flagrant and significant abuse of power”.

The unofficial People’s Select Committee was formed in response to the Equal Pay Amendment Act, passed under urgency last year.

The law cancelled 33 claims from female-dominated workforces which sought to prove they were underpaid in comparison to similar male-dominated industries, and raised the threshold for future claims.

The committee, led by former National MP Marilyn Waring and made up of 10 cross-party former MPs, is releasing a report on the changes on Tuesday, after reading nearly 1400 submissions, and holding three months of hearings.

It said the government had violated the rule of law in retrospectively cancelling existing rights and remedies.

“Funded sector employers, charitable organisations and unions spent millions of dollars and thousands of hours, with other resource consequences, on the 33 cancelled claims,” the committee said.

Ministers worked on the pay equity amendment in secret until May when the changes were announced and passed under urgency – no Regulatory Impact Statement was done.

The committee described the processes of planning for and enacting the legislation as a “flagrant and significant abuse of power”.

It also found the law breached the Bill of Rights, the Human Rights Act, and the Regulatory Standard Act principles, as well as a number of international conventions that New Zealand was party to, including International Covenants on Civil and Political, and Economic and Social Rights, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Deputy Prime Minister Nicola Willis told reporters last year that tightening the scheme amounted to about $12.8 billion in savings in total over the next four years.

The committee disputed this could be classified as budgetary savings, because it said the funds were reallocated to other government expenditure and coalition government priorities.

Committee members also said it could find no evidence in available Cabinet documents or parliamentary debates to support scrapping the scheme.

“No minister, or briefing bureaucrat, and no speaker in the parliamentary debate, demonstrated any knowledge of how comparators and factor scoring work.

“The committee found that it is a sophisticated, highly rigorous process of co-research between worker and employer negotiators. The only evidence of attempts to game the system the committee could see were in the behaviours of government agencies.”

Minister for Workplace Relations Brooke van Velden. RNZ / Mark Papalii

In a statement, Minister for Workplace Relations Brooke van Velden said members of the public – including former MPs – were free to hold their own opinions and publish their own material.

“As I said at the time, equal pay is here to stay, and a pay equity system remains.

“The new system is already processing claims under the new law. The government has made the law simpler and more robust.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/pay-equity-law-changes-flagrant-and-significant-abuse-of-power-former-mps-say/

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McSkimming claims Andrew Coster ‘advised’ him to file harassment complaint against woman

Source: Radio New Zealand

Andrew Coster resigned from the Social Investment Agency last year following the IPCA report into the McSkimming case. RNZ

Disgraced former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming claims Andrew Coster – the Police Commissioner at the time – advised him to pursue harassment charges against a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

The revelation comes in a letter obtained by RNZ under the Official Information Act.

The December 2024 letter from McSkimming’s then-lawyer – addressed to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and copied to Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Deputy Police Service Commissioner Heather Baggott – said McSkimming was a “victim of a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment” that spanned several years.

In November last year, the Independent Police Conduct Authority released a damning report into police’s response to allegations of sexual offending by McSkimming.

The woman referred to in the IPCA’s report as Ms Z was charged in May 2024 with causing harm by posting digital communication, in relation to more than 300 emails she allegedly sent to McSkimming’s work email address between December 2023 and April 2024.

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

The charge against the woman was withdrawn in the Wellington District Court in September, because McSkimming did not wish to give evidence.

Following the IPCA’s report in November, RNZ became aware of a letter sent by McSkimming’s then lawyer Michael Heron KC to Luxon and Mitchell.

On Monday, RNZ obtained a copy of the letter under the Official Information Act.

The letter – dated 17 December 2024 – began with Heron saying that on 13 December McSkimming was informed by Baggott that Mitchell intended to advise Luxon to recommend to the Governor-General that McSkimming’s warrant be suspended on a temporary basis, pending the outcome of an investigation.

Heron said McSkimming posed no risk to police.

“He has voluntarily taken leave pending the outcome of the investigation and the further step of suspending him is not required and would, in fact, victimise him further.”

Heron said McSkimming was a “victim of a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment” that began in 2018 and was ongoing.

He said the woman who was stalking him was the same one who sparked the police investigation into McSkimming.

“My client has not been provided with any information about what exactly [Ms Z] alleges. However, that investigation appears to have prompted the Police Minister to request Ms Baggott to set in motion the steps to suspend Mr McSkimming without delay.”

The letter said McSkimming had a “consensual affair” with the woman between May 2016 and May 2018.

Heron said McSkimming informed two members of Police’s senior leadership team in May 2018 about the affair, the nature of Ms Z’s allegations and “his concerns of the risk of blackmail”.

McSkimming had made “continued disclosures” to several people, including telling Coster about the relationship and the nature of the threats and allegations when he was appointed Police Commissioner.

He also disclosed it in 2020 during the process of applying for a non-statutory Deputy Commissioner role, in 2023 when applying for the statutory role, and in 2024 prior to his interview for commissioner.

“Mr McSkimming has also, less formally, disclosed his circumstances to Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura and all his peers, including a number of Assistant Commissioners and senior officers. He has been open in these disclosures about the nature of [Ms Z’s] allegations about him.”

McSkimming had faced an “avalanche of harassment” which had been “persistent and harmful”.

This included sending emails to media organisations about him, filing anonymous complaints about him to the Police 105 online reporting line, and communicating with the IPCA about him.

Heron said Ms Z had blind copied McSkimming into the communications to the IPCA.

“She was in effect using these communications as a form of harassment and pressure.”

Heron said that in March 2024 Coster “advised McSkimming to file a complaint under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015”.

The impact of the “relentless attack” on McSkimming and his family had been “significant and severe”.

“Throughout this time, however, he has continued to perform his roles professionally and conscientiously.”

Heron said there were occasions where an officer under investigation would be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation. However, that was on a case by case basis.

“In this case, there is reason to believe the filing of a police complaint by [Ms Z] is actually an abuse of process and a further intensification of her long-running campaign of victimisation”.

Heron referred to the case of former Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha who in 2018 was subject to an independent review, a State Services Commission review and an IPCA investigation. Haumaha took leave, but was not suspended and eventually returned to his role.

“It follows that if Mr McSkimming is to be treated no different from any other senior officer he should be on leave, but not suspended.

“Further, Mr McSkimming has not been charged with any offence. He remains confident he will not be charged. Applying the presumption of innocence, it would be a significant step to treat Mr McSkimming more harshly than Mr Haumaha, particularly where, as here, there is a context to the allegations against Mr McSkimming that indicates he is already a victim.”

In relation to protecting the integrity of the investigation into McSkimming, Heron said to date the key factor that might impact that was “leaking of information” about the investigations into his conduct.

“Mr McSkimming is not responsible for those leaks and has been severely impacted by them. Last week he had media come to his family home, and family members, including his elderly father-in-law, were door-stopped by reporters.”

No Deputy Commissioner had ever been suspended, Heron said.

“To take such an unprecedented step in this case would be grossly unfair, given the extensive history leading up to the complaint and the fact that NZ Police [and the Public Service Commission] has been kept informed about these events.”

McSkimming requested he remain on leave, on full pay.

“If, however, it is your intention to make a recommendation to the Governor-General he asks to be consulted on both the wording and the timing of any announcement so that his family, particularly his children, can be prepared.

“He strongly hopes this will not be necessary. It would also be fair and reasonable to be clear as to the conditions upon which suspension is imposed and when those conditions will end (for example if there is a decision not to charge him, he must be immediately reinstated).”

McSkimming was formally suspended on 23 December. It was during the police investigation into Ms Z’s allegations that police found the objectionable material on his work devices and a second criminal investigation began.

When RNZ was made aware of the letter last year McSkimming, Coster, Heron, Mitchell and Luxon were asked for a response. Neither McSkimming nor Coster replied. Luxon and Mitchell declined to comment.

Heron said he could not make any comment about matters relating to clients.

“If you have the letter, then it speaks for itself, and you ought to ensure you quote or use it accurately and fairly.”

Coster resigned from the Social Investment Agency (SIA) last year following the IPCA report.

In an earlier statement to RNZ Coster said his resignation was “a result of my acceptance of full responsibility for the shortcomings” identified in the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report.

“I regret the impact on the young woman at the centre of this matter and sincerely apologise to her for the distress caused.

“I accept that I was too ready to trust and accept at face value Deputy Commissioner McSkimming’s disclosure and explanations to me. I should have been faster and more thorough in looking into the matter.”

Coster acknowledged he should have more fully investigated the allegations when they were brought to his attention, “rather than assuming that their previous disclosure to senior Police staff a few years earlier would have resulted in an investigation if necessary”.

“It is clear that Police’s handling of the whole matter was lacking and that I was ultimately responsible for those matters. It was sobering to read of a number of missed opportunities which should have proceeded differently and more appropriately.”

Coster welcomed Sir Brian Roche’s acknowledgement that the report made no finding of corruption or cover-up, nor did the IPCA find any evidence of any actions involving officers consciously doing the wrong thing or setting out to undermine the integrity of the organisation.

“I made decisions honestly. I acted in good faith. I sought to take all important factors into account with the information I had at the time. While it is not possible to alter past events, I am prepared to take responsibility – I got this wrong.

“I want to apologise to all members of the NZ Police. They work hard every day to keep our communities safe. I know they have been adversely affected by these events.”

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Dog owners take Auckland Council to court over Monte Cecilia Park off-leash ban

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Frustrated dog owners are taking on Auckland Council in court on Tuesday.

Last year, the Puketāpapa Local Board voted four to two to ban dogs from running free in part of Hillsborough’s Monte Cecilia Park.

An interim order halting the decision is in place until the outcome of a judicial review, which starts on Tuesday morning at the High Court in Auckland.

At a gathering at the park over the weekend, Jonathan Sweeney from the Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Incorporated Society, told RNZ the 500-member-strong group had raised almost $13,000 in its spare time. Their lawyer, George Barton, had agreed to take on the case pro bono.

“It’s a bit ironic that we’ve had to raise our own funds to pay our legal fees and costs, and yet our ratepayer money is actually funding a KC and the legal team at the council.

“I’m the manager of a sports strapping tape company. Myself and all of our volunteers we’ve got other lives.

“This is a great example of David vs Goliath. We’re just regular people, ratepayers, taking on the might of Auckland Council.”

Sweeney said an overwhelming majority of the community wanted to keep the park as it was.

Out of 900 responses from the public during the local board’s consultation, 88 percent (795 people) were against removing the off-leash bowl area, and just 10 percent (89 people) supported it. A petition opposing the decision with more than 1000 signatures was also handed to the board.

Sweeney said the group would be arguing in court that the local board had “pre-determined” its decision before consulting the public.

It was also contesting the board’s view that the off-leash area was a significant safety risk.

“We have a fair amount of proof in terms of emails and correspondence that, in our opinion, demonstrate a high amount of pre-determination going back more than one year.”

Animal management data showed that between 2019 and 2024 there were 63 dog-related incidents at the park, including attacks, aggressive behaviour and reports of roaming dogs.

In that time, three people were attacked by an off-leash dog, all in on-leash areas. There were 12 dog attacks on animals, and all but one happened in the off-leash area.

Zara Moselen, who brought her dog Nala to Monte Cecilia most days, felt the board was ignoring the community’s voice.

“Hundred and hundreds of people voiced their opinion, and the board still went with the 10 percent.

“I really hope the judicial review is a fair process and our argument can be heard.

“The sense of community at this park you can’t find in many other places. It’s such a special, unique spot for dogs to run around and play. It’s such a small part of this huge park that’s off-lead.”

Louise Fletcher and her dog Ernie also used the park regularly.

“The local council is supposed to listen to public consultation, and they went very much against it. They should listen to what the people who pay the rates actually want.

“It makes me feel minimised as a dog owner.

“In Auckland, we’re really underserved with off-leash areas. We’re getting pushed into smaller spaces. This is one of the few premium places where the area set aside for dogs is actually really good.”

Auckland Council and Puketāpapa Local Board chair Roseanne Hay told RNZ they would not comment on the judicial proceedings while the case was before the court.

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Auckland Lantern Festival to unveil a New Zealand icon

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two galloping horse lanterns will be the main attraction for visitors at this year’s Auckland Lantern Festival. SUPPLIED / TĀTAKI AUCKLAND UNLIMITED

A towering lantern of a moa is poised to make its debut at Manukau Sports Bowl when the Auckland Lantern Festival opens on Thursday, giving the annual event a distinct New Zealand flavour.

It was the first time the festival had included a lantern representing a slice of New Zealand history, said Jep Savali, group manager of major events at organiser Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

“[The moa] became extinct about 600 years ago,” Savali said. “It’s a very prominent animal within Māori culture, that’s why we’ve chosen the moa.”

A moa lantern will be unveiled at the Lantern Festival in Auckland this year. SUPPLIED / TĀTAKI AUCKLAND UNLIMITED

Savali said the three-and-a-half-meter lantern had initially been designed in New Zealand.

A well-known producer in Zigong, China, was then asked to manufacture the lantern before shipping it to Auckland for display.

The entire process took about four to five months, he said.

A lantern depicting a kiwi was being planned for a future festival, he said.

A giant lantern of two galloping horses would also feature at this year’s festival to celebrate the Year of the Horse alongside more than 500 handmade lanterns.

“The horses will be four meters high and three meters long,” Savali said.

“[The lantern] is based on an Eastern Han artifact of a galloping horse treading on a flying swallow,” he said. “It symbolises speed, success and optimism for the year.”

A woman in traditional attire dances in front of one of the snake lanterns at the 2025 Lantern Festival. RNZ / Yiting Lin

In China, the Lantern Festival – also known as the Yuan Xiao Festival – is a festival that marks the end of Spring Festival celebrations.

People typically observe the holiday by visiting colourful lantern displays and eating sweet glutinous rice balls known as tāngyuán.

In some parts of China, festivities also include lion and dragon dances, stilt-walking and traditional riddle games.

In New Zealand, the Auckland Lantern Festival began as a one-night event at Albert Park in 2000.

It has since grown into a four-day festival and is now one of the country’s largest cultural events, moving venues over time as attendance numbers increased.

Lanterns on display at the 2025 Auckland Lantern Festival. RNZ / Yiting Lin

Savali said this year marked the third year the festival would be held at Manukau Sports Bowl.

“There are arguments both ways about where the festival should be,” he said. “Manukau Sports Bowl provides a really large venue.

“If you can imagine, 500-plus lanterns on display, over 50 food stalls, close to 100 stalls altogether, plus family rides, and contemporary and traditional performances on the stages. We needed to find somewhere that could cater for all of that.”

This year, the event will again operate as a free ticketed event, a system introduced to manage crowd numbers and support public transport use.

Ticket holders will be able to travel free on buses and trains from two hours before the festival opens until the end of regular daily services.

Free shuttle buses will also run regularly between Manukau Train Station, Westfield Manukau and Manukau Sports Bowl before, during and after the festival.

Lanterns on display at the 2025 Auckland Lantern Festival. RNZ / Yiting Lin

Savali said parking around the venue was limited and urged visitors to use public transport.

“We’re expecting up to 160,000 people over the four days of the Lantern Festival,” he said.

“The weekends are the busiest – that’s when we expect a large uptake of people to come along to see the lanterns.

“If you can, take public transport,” he said.

The festival will run daily from 4pm to 10:30pm from Thursday to Sunday, with fireworks scheduled for about 9:50pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Organisers encourage visitors to secure free tickets early to help manage capacity.

By Monday, 100,000 tickets had already been claimed, with tickets for Saturday fully booked.

Organisers said a limited number of walk-in tickets were available each day for visitors who had missed out.

A dragon dance performance at the Auckland Lantern Festival in 2025. RNZ / Yiting Lin

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/auckland-lantern-festival-to-unveil-a-new-zealand-icon/

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Only a quarter of heart attack patients survive the trip to hospital – report

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dr Elena Garcia, St John. Supplied / St John

Only a quarter of people who have heart attacks in the community survive the trip to hospital, according to a new report by ambulance services.

Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance have released the latest annual Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report, saying “out-of-hospital cardiac arrests” (OHCAs) remain a major public health challenge.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, 2466 people were treated for cardiac arrest by ambulance officers across the country – almost seven a day.

Eighty-one percent of patients received CPR from a bystander, but only six percent received treatment with a defibrillator, otherwise known as an AED.

Twenty-four percent of patients survived to hospital arrival, and only 12 percent survived a month after the event – similar numbers to previous years.

Dr Elena Garcia, deputy clinical director at St John, said making sure people received timely CPR or AED access could be the difference between life or death.

“We know that patients who have recieved community defibrillation from an AED have more than double the odds of survival, so it’s just about getting them to the patients when they need them.

“It’s about having AEDs in communities all across New Zealand, and making sure they’re truly available in terms of being open to the community, 24/7 access, and unlocked.”

They were very straightforward to use, she said – the 111 call-taker could walk someone through it, or the AED itself would have an automated voice telling the first responder where to put the stickers and which buttons to press.

Deputy chief executive for clinical services at Hato Hone St John, Jon Moores, agreed that improving community confidence and capability remained essential, along with increasing awareness of early signs of cardiac arrest and the availability of AEDs.

Key metrics from the past five years regarding cardiac arrests outside of hospitals. Supplied / Hato Hone St John / Wellington Free Ambulance

Inequalities for women, Māori and Pacific peoples highlighted by data

The data showed Māori and Pacific peoples tended to have cardiac arrests more often, and earlier in life, along with people living in rural and higher-deprivation communities.

Hato Hone St John’s clinical evaluation, research and insights manager, Dr Sarah Maessen, explained Māori were 1.4 times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest and faced this risk a decade earlier in life than non-Māori.

Female patients had lower odds of survival at 50 percent, and were about 60 percent less likely to receive defibrillation from another member of the public than males.

Garcia said it was possible there was a fear of removing women’s clothing, or exposing them in an inappropriate way.

“Do what you can and help the patient, because they will be very glad to survive.”

Wellington Free Ambulance executive medical director Dr Erica Douglass said it worked to train people across the Wellington region in CPR and using AEDs through The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat CPR Training programme.

“Last year close to 10,000 people across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa learnt this lifesaving skill,” she said. “This training is free of charge thanks to cornerstone partner Julie Nevett and The Lloyd Morrison Foundation who fund this essential programme.

“The data in this report shows us the positive impact bystander CPR and AED use has for chances of survival in a sudden cardiac arrest, and we encourage everyone to undertake training, know where their closest AED is and be ready to assist if needed.”

Key facts from the report

  • 72 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home, 16 percent in public areas, and 4 percent in aged care facilities
  • 43 percent of out-of-hospital events were attended by at least one GoodSAM responder
  • 70 percent of those patients were male
  • 94 percent of cardiac events were co-responded to and attended by Fire and Emergency
  • Median age of patients: Māori – 59 years; Pacific peoples – 60 years; non-Māori, non-Pacific peoples – 69 years

How can you help?

Take part in St John’s community education programme ‘[www.stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/community-programmes/3-steps-for-life/ 3 Steps for Life]’ for one hour of free CPR and AED training.

Then sign up to [www.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid/lifesaving-apps/ GoodSAM], an app which alerts nearby people trained in CPR and defibrillation, when someone nearby is having a cardiac arrest.

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Chief executives optimistic about economic recovery, fear being left behind in AI race – survey

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand CEOs are less worried about the impact of global issues than their overseas counterparts. 123RF

  • Majority chief executives expect improved economics this year
  • More than a third expecting higher revenue
  • NZ chief execs more positive about finances, less worried about global issues than global peers
  • Biggest concern is keeping up with AI technology developments

The country’s top executives are optimistic about economic recovery and the fortunes of their own companies, but fear being left behind in the development and use of artificial intelligence.

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) annual chief executive survey found 58 percent expected improving economic growth in the coming year, fractionally lower than last year. That compared with the global rating of 55 percent.

Thirty seven percent were “very or extremely confident” about their company’s revenue prospects this year, rising to 54 percent looking over the coming three year’s revenue outlook.

PwC New Zealand chief executive Andrew Holmes said the optimism shown in the survey was “cautious”.

“Unlike many of their global peers, they have been less impacted by geopolitical issues and are poised to take advantage of better operating conditions.”

New Zealand’s small economy and isolation accounted for the reduced impact and concern of global issues.

Losing pace in the AI race

Holmes said the big issue worrying chief executives was artificial intelligence, and not being able to keep up with developments.

“It’s being left behind with outdated business models, unable to take advantage of new technology, specifically AI.”

More than half of the local respondents cited this as their main concern, although close to two-thirds also said their organisations were ready for AI, and 70 percent said their technology could support AI.

But Holmes said the survey showed little significant effect of AI on businesses.

“Over 78 percent have yet to see AI have any impact on their organisation, and only a minority are reaping any benefits from AI to their bottom line.”

On most of the issues polled, New Zealand responses were close to those of the global survey, but cyber security and climate change were two weak spots displayed in the survey.

“Only a third of New Zealand respondents [are] expecting their companies to take action to a significant extent to improve cyber security, as a response to geopolitical risk, in the next three years.

“Climate resilience is another weak spot, with fewer than a quarter of respondents, in New Zealand and globally, reporting robust measures to manage climate-related risks while seizing associated opportunities,” the report said.

PwC surveyed 4454 CEOs across 95 countries and territories from 30 September through to 10 November, with 103 New Zealand CEOs taking part.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/chief-executives-optimistic-about-economic-recovery-fear-being-left-behind-in-ai-race-survey/

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Campervan rentals drive Tourism Holdings’ growth

Source: Radio New Zealand

Campervan rentals are driving Tourism Holdings’ growth. photo by Miles Holden

The outlook for the campervan tourism sector continues to improve with New Zealand set for further growth.

“The tourism sector here in New Zealand is in a really positive place. We’ve got some good actions that have been undertaken by the government over the last sort of 14 odd months,” Tourism Holdings (thl) chief executive Grant Webster said, following the release of a strong first half result.

Thl’s campervan rental business helped drive up its first net profit by 17 percent with revenue growth of 4 percent.

New vehicles add to costs

However, the costs associated with the recent expansion of thl’s new RV fleet was seen as a drag on underlying profits.

Forsyth Barr head of research Andy Bowley said thl saw a 46 percent drop in the first half gross profits of new RV sales, with gross margins down 6.5 percent and volumes down 13 percent.

He said the value of New Zealand’s rental growth had declined when currency exchange rates were taken into account, given the expansion of thl’s New Zealand fleet ahead of the peak season, as well as the higher costs of ownerhsip.

“Tourism Holdings reported a 1H26 result ahead of our expectations but with full year guidance that is unlikely to materially change current market expectations,” he said.

Vehicle sales lag behind rental growth

Webster says new vehicle sales had been difficult over the past couple of years.

Linkedin

“(It) has been our Achilles heel … and the growth in rentals hasn’t been able to outstrip that decline,” he said.

“What we are seeing is people are looking more at the used product. They’re trading down.

“We’re still looking for some recovery in that over the next sort of 12 to 18 months.

“But yes, the majority of our growth is definitely in the rentals business.”

Rental growth

Webster said demand for rental vehicles suited growth in a style of travel, seen around the world.

“People are looking more at what their discretionary spend can buy them,” he said.

“And that’s definitely a theme for further recovery, just stabilisation and consumer confidence, GDP, growth, getting through, you know, just like we’re feeling in New Zealand at the moment, we’re getting through that tough time.”

Global tourism demand

“We’re a country that people want to come and visit,” Webster said.

“So is Australia, and indeed, so is Canada. The USA, in terms of our markets, is the one that’s of concern, but we’ll put that to one side.”

Overseas visitor arrivals in New Zealand were 3.51 million in the year ended December 2025, which was an increase of 196,000 from the year earlier.

The biggest changes were in arrivals from:

  • Australia (up 137,000 to 1.52 million)
  • United States (up 15,000 to 385,000)
  • China (up 13,000 to 262,000)
  • United Kingdom (up 12,000 to 192,000).

“Without a doubt, tourism is still in a really good growth phase, and we’re benefiting from that,” he said.

Regional tourism

Webster said visitors were travelling into regional New Zealand.

“We’re not getting any of the sort of congestion issues that we’ve thought about in the past, and might be a little bit out of Queenstown, but put that to one side so people are enjoying what’s going on.

“There’s been a few weather blips and ferry blips and different things, but no, we’re getting a really positive response from our customers, the international visitors, love New Zealand, and it’s been a good time to travel.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/campervan-rentals-drive-tourism-holdings-growth/

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Witnesses sought after pedestrian killed in Te Anau hit and run

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / REECE BAKER

Police are appealing for public help after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a car and the driver left the scene.

It happened in Te Anau at about 8.45am outside a business in the town centre.

Police want to speak with the driver, and want to hear from anyone in the area who saw the crash.

They’re also appealing for anyone who may have dashcam footage of it, or of the moments before.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police as soon as possible.

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Government advises Kiwis in Mexico to monitor updates after security and travel disruptions

Source: Radio New Zealand

Passengers remain stranded at Guadalajara International Airport following flight suspensions and lack of transport in Tlajomulco, Jalisco State, Mexico, on February 22, 2026. ULISES RUIZ/AFP

The government is urging New Zealanders in Mexico to monitor updates and follow the advice of local authorities after the death of a mexican drug lord prompted violence and disruptions.

Following the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, incidents were reported across the state of Jalisco, including in Guadalajara, Chapala and Puerto Vallarta, after a federal law-enforcement operation.

SafeTravel has said that New Zealanders in the affected areas should monitor local media for updates and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Mexican National Guard special forces stand guard around the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) headquarters in Mexico City on February 22, 2026. ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP

It also advised Kiwis in the region to contact the New Zealand Embassy if they require consular assistance.

Travel in the affected areas had been restricted with airlines suspending some flights in Jalisco, including to Puerto Vallarta. Due to highway blockades across the country, bus service had also been suspended in many areas.

SafeTravel said New Zealanders should get in touch with their travel provider for any updates or disruptions to travel.

It said security incidents were also reported in other parts of Mexico and authorities in Puerto Vallarta had issued a public advisory to stay indoors.

The New Zealand Embassy can be contacted on +52 55 5283 9460 or nzmexico@mfat.govt.nz. For urgent consular assistance after hours, please call +64 99 20 20 20.

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‘It has been a very invisible service’ – district nurses struggle with understaffing

Source: Radio New Zealand

District nurses who have done the job for decades say understaffing is the worst it has ever been. File photo. 123rf.com

Waikato district nurses are at the end of their tether, as demand for their services soars.

District nurses – who provide care for patients in the community rather than in hospitals or clinics – say they are severely understaffed and it is causing burnout and stress, leading to widespread resignations.

They also say it is putting their safety at risk.

It comes as Worksafe considers a complaint from the NZ Nurses Organisation that Health New Zealand’s failure to improve district nurses’ working conditions was a breach of the Health and Safety Act.

Amy* is a district nurse from the Coromandel and says when she finally gets home after a shift she is so exhausted she can not do anything other than quickly eat dinner and then roll straight into bed.

She has done the job for several decades and said understaffing was the worst it had ever been.

She told Checkpoint she has to be on call, almost around the clock.

“If you go out at 11 at night, you might be out for two hours till one in the morning. You’ve then gotta unwind somehow because you’ve just been dealing with a palliative situation… possible end of life and then have to get yourself organised and come to work at eight in the morning.”

District nurses provide care to people in their communities. This includes care for wounds, IV management and palliative care.

It means nurses in rural areas often have to travel long distances multiple times.

Amy said that due to the staffing issues, they can be forced to choose which patients to see that day.

“It has been for too long, a very invisible service. And it’s only when the wheels start falling off and we start saying ‘no, I’m sorry, we can’t take patients, we actually can’t see them’, that it’s created a crisis. The risk is also that people are discharged without the support that they need. They have another crisis where they end up back in hospital very quickly.”

Amy said without district nursing, 30 percent of their patients would end up in hospital, which would come at a far higher cost to the taxpayer.

“There isn’t a team wrapped around them. Every time they’re at a patient’s house, there isn’t somebody to ring. There isn’t a doctor just down the hallway or whatever. So that decision making happens for those nurses every day individually in a person’s home when they’re right there.

“You can’t just go and get somebody else to just come and have a quick look… it’s not a thing, so responsibility is very high.”

Sarah*, another Coromandel district nurse, said many of her colleagues over the years had resigned because they could not cope with the physical and mental toll of the job.

“I know there are some people that are on anti-depressants, I personally am not at that stage yet, but then it takes a lot to stress me out.

“But when you’ve got a family, I’ve only got a husband at home, but there are staff members who’ve got families and young children.”

Sarah said district nurses can be sent to isolated areas where there was no phone signal so they were unable to call for help if it was needed.

“At the moment we do go out by ourselves, we also go out to houses we’ve never been to before and they could be out in the middle of nowhere.

“You don’t know what you’re going to find when you get to that house. Sometimes, it’s not a very nice environment and you really don’t want to be there, so sometimes we just turn around and drive off.

“But you don’t know that until you actually get to the house.”

The situation is similar in Hamilton.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation said 34 full-time district nurses were needed across Waikato in 2024.

But NZNO Waikato organiser Nigel Dawson said demand for the service had nearly doubled since then.

“We need as soon as possible to re-do those calculations to look at what is required for safe staffing now.”

Dawson said district nurses in Hamilton are also often confronted with verbal and physical intimidation.

“A nurse had stopped at a traffic light and an offender jumped in with a machete, they didn’t actually take the car, but they forced her to drive around.

“She eventually managed to abandon the vehicle safely, but obviously with significant stress.”

In November last year, the NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO) wrote to Health NZ Te Whatu Ora and said the understaffing of district nurses was putting their safety at risk.

Worksafe said it was considering the NZNO’s complaint.

Health New Zealand Waikato chief nursing officer Cheryl Atherfold said it was currently recruiting an extra 13 full-time district nurses.

It was also reviewing community models of care such as district nursing, while strengthening night-call processes.

Every Health NZ Waikato car has a distress alarm on each key ring, which staff can push if they felt unsafe while out in the community.

Heath NZ have started their 2026 patient safety calculations and District Nursing will be recalculated.

*Names have been changed to protect identities

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New teen farmers get a shedful of sheep to learn the ropes

Source: Radio New Zealand

Taiwhakaea Osborne is in the second year of the Pāmu scheme. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham

Teenage farmers are getting put through their paces in a new scheme helping youngsters enter the industry.

Government-owned company Pāmu has 19 apprentices learning the ropes at its farms, which many will go on to work for.

After experiencing dairying and livestock, the apprentices – who are already well into their work – can specialise in their chosen field.

Five of this year’s apprentice intake are at Rangitāiki Station, about 40 minutes southeast of Taupō, ready to start their day when RNZ turns up.

Sixteen-year-old Tori Cheetham has just moved out of home to join this year’s apprentice intake. Supplied / Pāmu

Sixteen-year-old Tori Cheetham has just moved from Gisborne, and 17-year-old Ryan Sayers has come from Hamilton.

“I moved in on 10 January and we started on the 12th. It’s pretty cool. It’s such a cool experience being able to learn the different trades of it – doing the dairy and the livestock,” Cheetham said.

“I’ve done a bit of both. I’m interested in the dairy aspect but also I’m beginning to like the dry stock, but beef more than the sheep,” Sayers said.

In a shed, the apprentices are killing sheep and preparing them for dog tucker, as practice for getting the cuts right for human consumption.

It is just their third time doing this, but apprentice scheme manager Gary Brady said they were already getting a handle on something they were likely to do a lot as junior shepherds.

“They’ll get a shed full of sheep and they’re told that’s your job for the day, and they’re dog tuckers, so it’s important they learn these basics.”

Brady said once they fully knew what they were doing, it should take about 30 minutes a sheep.

Alex Iremonger says he doesn’t come from a farming background, but wants a career in the industry. Supplied / Pāmu

Alex Iremonger, 18, from Whakatane, worked quickly through his first sheep.

“We’ve just been doing some dog tuckers, so some not-as-well-off sheep – we captive bolt them, pull them out, cut the throat and then proceed to break them down from the shins to brisket.

“Then we take the skin off, open them up – that’s basically the finished product.”

Iremonger said he did not have much of a farming background, apart from working for a few months on a dairy farm.

But now he had chosen it as his career, he wanted to one day be a farm manager, and he said he had learnt plenty in his first few weeks as an apprentice.

“We’ve learnt to crutch, do dog tuckers, muttons, drench, give animals shots, just learned animal stockmanship, how to treat animals in the yards, how to move and shift animals.

“Also, we’re just learning a lot of people skills, how to budget, how to finance, how to deal with other people.”

Gary Brady says more than 100 people applied for 10 apprentice places this year. Supplied / Pāmu

The apprentices’ efforts impressed Brady.

“Ewes are a little bit tough, but they’re really good to learn on. If you can get the pattern and get everything tidy on these then the house meats come out really good.

“You can see a bit of wool and stuff on the leg there,” he said, pointing to one of the sheep carcasses.

“It doesn’t matter so much with these. I’ve never had a dog say, ‘I’m not eating that.’ It’s good learning.”

There was high interest in the scheme, with more than 100 applicants for the 10 places this year, he said.

After a three-week induction, the first years are then straight into work training, each getting a chance to look at dairying and livestock farming. Second and third years get to work in their areas of specialisation on Pāmu farms.

While the first years continue with their dog tucker, Taiwhakaea Osborne is hard at work loading bulls on to a stock truck.

He also gets to work with and train farm dogs – which he calls using Te Reo Māori, Osborne’s first language.

The second-year apprentice is working at Rangitāiki Station while still studying for his industry qualification.

“This year I’m focusing more on the feed allocation for stock. I’m currently working in the bull unit. It’s a 375-hectare block. In the summertime we’ve got about 1000 to 1200 bulls on farm.

“In that time I’m learning feed allocation and animal welfare and animal health.”

The 19-year-old, from Whakatane, also wants to be a farm manager.

When he speaks to RNZ, he’s fresh of an encounter with an angry animal.

“I noticed a bull that wasn’t moving so I decided to try to use my bike to give it a helping hand. It did not like that.

“It charged at me. I thought maybe that was a one-time thing, so I tried it again. He chased me.

“I though this is an unsafe situation for me and my bike, so I left it in the paddock.”

Osborne said that was all part of the learning.

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Companies could favour road as KiwiRail assets face decline

Source: Radio New Zealand

KiwiRail has to meet budget cuts of $200 million over the next three years. Supplied by Kiwirail

Companies sending goods up and down the country’s railways could begin to favour road transport as KiwiRail manages declining assets, an expert says.

KiwiRail is focusing on upgrades and electrification in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga – the so-called “golden triangle” – and other main freight lines while it manages older assets elsewhere.

The company said it was the only option that would allow it to meet budget cuts of $200 million over the next three years.

It’s preferred option to make “modest improvements” to network reliability and resilience would cost $6 to 7 billion, KiwiRail’s Rail Network Investment Programme said.

But the option it was forced to take due to budget constraints “attempts to keep all lines open but accepts there is potential for some line closures” at a cost of $4 to 5 billion, it said.

Rail, freight and public transport consultant Michael van Drogenbroek, who used to work for KiwiRail, told Nine to Noon freight lines could become less reliable.

“There’s potential risk there, if the main trunk was degraded in some way south of the golden triangle, that train speeds would have to be reduced, and therefore productivity of the rail network reduces, and customers start to move away.”

That was particularly a risk for services that needed to meet Cook Strait ferry connections, said van Drogenbroek.

But he said there was still significant investment in rail networks, and KiwiRail was taking a pragmatic approach.

“What it does mean… is a focus on areas where there is perceived to be growth,” he said.

“KiwiRail will always focus on where the bulk of the traffic is.”

That included coal on the West Coast of the South Island and interisland rail freight between Auckland and Christchurch, he said.

“Whilst it’s a focus on the golden triangle… It’s not an exclusive focus on that.”

Places south of the golden triangle still needed rail investment in the longer term, he said.

“This doesn’t take the option away to do that, but it really does defer a decision in some cases, across what the future state of the national rail network is.”

KiwiRail would not leave “key customers” in the lurch, said van Drogenbroek.

“They’re not gonna walk away from coal on the West Coast, just like they’re not gonna walk away from Fonterra, which moves a huge amount of dairy powder from the likes of Edendale in Southland to the Port of Otago.”

With a “managed declined” approach, there was a point where lines could no longer be nursed along, he said.

“If you get past a certain tipping point, it all becomes too difficult and the regulator steps in and says you have to stop trains on certain sections of line.”

But van Drogenbroek said New Zealand railways were being managed pragmatically and there was still significant investment in the network.

KiwiRail’s chief infrastructure officer Siva Sivapakkiam said the funding constraints mean prioritising lines which are most used: Auckland and Wellington metros, the golden triangle and the main trunk lines in the North and South Islands.

“We are working to save money nationally by introducing new, more cost-effective approaches to upgrade work,” he said.

“For example, we are delivering more standardised bridge designs, where most bridges previously tended to be bespoke.”

Renewals on parts of the network would be “staged and partial”, and increased inspections and day-to-day maintenance would ensure service standards were adequate, said Sivapakkiam.

Rail minister Winston Peters said the point of the Rail Network Investment Programme was to “arrest the decline in network condition through prudent renewals of assets and efficient maintenance activity”.

He said KiwiRail has been spending 61 cents in its network dollar on maintenance and renewals, which was forecast to lift to 75 cents over the coming decade.

Taking an iterative approach and dealing with renewals over years would allow the network to stay open during that work, Peters said.

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Wellington business losing thousands after sewage leak restrictions

Source: Radio New Zealand

The no go zones include Ōwhiro and Island bays. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A business owner who has lost tens of thousands of dollars due to Wellington’s sewage leak wants a more targeted rāhui so beach users can return to parts of the coast that are currently off limits.

The city’s southern coast has been off limits since the Moa Point treatment plant failed catastrophically sending about 70 million litres of untreated sewage to the sea daily.

The no go zones include Ōwhiro and Island bays, just a few kilometres from the plant.

The results of water samples taken on Friday along Wellington’s south coast show a significant drop in the amount of bacteria in the water, but the Rāhui or ban is still in place.

Wellington Water said work on the larger air vent for the outfall pipe has finished, which should help the flow of water through the long outfall pipe and reduce what goes through the short outfall pipe in bad weather.

Dave Drane owns Dive Wellington at Island Bay, and the spill has already cost his business significantly.

Drane told Checkpoint the business was down $25,000 in comparison to February last year.

“We have no other option of where to take people. The marine reserve’s our big draw card and that’s what brings people to us and we’re unable to dive it at the moment.”

At this time of year, the school would normally have 20 to 30 people a day diving in the marine area that is now blocked off.

The business also runs a dive diploma, training divers for a full year.

“They dive just about every day, they do 100 dives in a year, so it’s affecting them quite dramatically.”

“We’re diving in the harbour when we can, but as soon as there’s a big northerly, it kills the harbour diving for us, like the south coast is where you have to go in a big northerly.”

Untreated water was leaking onto the capital’s south coast beaches. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Drane said the other option is to take the boat out further towards Red Rocks, but strong winds often make that difficult too.

The marine reserve extends through Ōwhiro Bay, which Drane said often experiences pollution already.

“As soon as there’s a downpour of rain, we have the overflow from stormwater. So if they’re testing in Ōwhiro Bay, quite often they’re getting the result of that anyway.”

Drane said he wants to see the Rāhui lifted for places further out from Moa Point, including Ōwhiro Baywhich he said has had close to clean testing for a while now.

He told Checkpoint he is “disappointed and pretty angry” at what had happened, and it was “embarrassing” to have to inform customers that they couldn’t go in the water.

“We’ve got this jewel, Tapituranga Marine Reserve, right on our doorstep, and we’ve spent years just like leaving it alone to grow as it should, and now it’s getting polluted, supposedly, and it should never have happened in the first place.”

“There’s other businesses that are suffering more than us, even, like the surf shops in Lyall Bay and things like that, it must be devastating for them.”

Drane said they would not be covered by insurance for the losses caused by the spill.

“My thought would be that Veolia or someone’s insurance company should have some sort of compensation underneath their insurance.”

While he recently attended a meeting fronted by Wellington Mayor Andrew Little, and various Green MPs to discuss the spill, Drane said no-one from Veolia was there to front up.

“Those that need it, give them compensation and make sure this never happens again.”

Drane said it was “terrible” to be not know how long it would take before the beaches were safe for use again.

After taking samples on Saturday morning Wellington Water was still urging people to avoid swimming, diving, gathering or eating kaimoana along the south coast.

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Students struggling to find part-time work

Source: Radio New Zealand

There have been eight times more applications than jobs on Student Job Search. 123rf

Student Job Search says the number of students trying to find work is heartbreaking.

The government-funded employment organisation has seen thousands more applications than it has vacancies on offer.

In January, it had 4600 jobs listed and a whopping 38,000 applications for positions.

The nature of the work has also changed drastically, with very few permanent positions on offer.

University students in Auckland told RNZ the market is tough.

“I haven’t been able to get any jobs for two years now. Even your normal part-time ones like fast food, local cafes, [and] things in the mall,” one student said.

“It’s really tough. I have been applying since I was a young teenager and I still have not got a job. It’s really hard. You have to know someone,” another said.

“[I have applied for] Probably like 150… I was trying to find jobs for weeks and weeks and weeks, and then I finally got one, but it was only casual and I was wanting part-time,” a third said.

Student Job Search chief executive Louise Saviker told Checkpoint the market has completely changed.

“It is heartbreaking, but also so incredible the level of determination and resilience this group is showing. The amount of applications they are submitting and the fact they are just never giving up is just extraordinary,” she said.

“They are an incredible group, they’re ready and available to work and really super keen to do so. So, for employers, we’d really ask that they would consider listing work and thinking about students and hiring a student because they really are highly educated, innovative and ready to go.”

Saviker said while job listings are back at pre-Covid levels, the jobs available are far less secure. Instead of having one part-time role, students are often juggling multiple roles, such as casual employment.

Another factor Saviker said was that some graduates can’t secure full-time permanent work, and so they are holding on to their part-time or “student-like” roles, putting increased pressure on student work. Saviker says some students are also studying further because they can’t get full-time work.

Saviker said once the market recovers, she expects student employment to be in a better position.

“The employment market is often the last to recover in an economy. We are seeing this, and we saw this after the GFC as well, and students tend to fare better or worse. So, the troughs tend to be bigger for the students, or worse for the students.”

It comes after the latest figures, from Stats NZ, have revealed unemployment has risen to its highest level in more than a decade – 5.4 percent – with more people chasing work than jobs being created.

A total of 165,000 people are now unemployed – that’s a rise of 4000 on the previous quarter and 10,000 on a year ago.

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