Category: Radio New Zealand

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Opposition finds change to school lunch scheme’s name hard to swallow

Source: Radio New Zealand

David Seymour eating a school lunch. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A free school lunches programme rebrand has dropped the reo Māori name Ka Ora Ka Ako, in a move Associate Minister of Education David Seymour says is “delivering real value”.

The change comes alongside a new purpose statement and a review of the overall policy.

Papers released under the Official Information Act showed Cabinet agreed on 20 October to rename the programme formerly known as ‘Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches’, to simply ‘Healthy School Lunches’.

“People need to know what things are,” Seymour said. “That’s why we’re using an English name that everyone understands. Delivering real value with taxpayer money is important to Kiwis. That’s why we’ve delivered a healthy school lunch programme which gets the same results, and has been forecasted to save the taxpayer almost $300m already.”

He said they would continue to find ways to ensure the programme fed children “and gets value for the taxpayer”.

Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime said the change was “beyond ridiculous”.

“This government is more worried about what the programme is called than ensuring that our children have lunches that don’t explode. This government’s school lunches program has been a flop.”

Green MP Teanau Tuiono said it was “the opposite of virtue signalling”.

“I’m going to call it toxic signalling to their base… that’s going to bring out a particular contingent of people that think that way… It’s anti-Māori, it’s racist and in many ways pathetic.”

Seymour saying everyone could understand English was “just an excuse”, Tuiono said. “The English and the Māori sit right next to each other.”

A student from Otahuhu College holds an example of a school lunch in 2025. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said it was a “sad reflection of the views of this government”, and showed ACT was trying to get votes.

“We’ve seen Winston [Peters, NZ First leader] double down and basically say, ‘Unless you are a good Māori, you don’t deserve to have Māori representation.’ … These guys on Friday, sitting there saying, ‘Oh, we don’t want to see Māori names in the schools.’

“Expect the campaign from these two parties to be an attack at the Treaty, an attack at Māori, and it starts by again attacking our reo – no surprise.

“Buckle up, believe in yourself and vote against this type of divisive politicking.”

Seymour rebuffed the opposition’s criticisms.

“If they’re getting excited about minor administrative issues like this, they’ll be in opposition for a very long time,” he said.

Ngarewa-Packer denounced that.

“Takes a certain type of narcissist to sit there and trivialise the significance of food in schools, the significance of culture and communities, the significance of te reo Māori… it’s just too important for us to sit quiet and let David dismiss it as administrative.”

Tuiono said if it was so minor, “Why is the effort being put put on this in the first place?”

The papers showed Cabinet considered the original objectives of the programme “no longer fit for purpose”.

Those objectives include providing regular access to healthy lunches to reduce risk of food insecurity, improve wellbeing and promote attendance at school, and boost local economies through job creation including by providing a living wage.

They will be replaced by a new single primary objective, “to mitigate the impact of food insecurity in school”, and new “sub-objectives” focused on mitigating “the immediate negative impact of hunger on a student’s ability to learn” and “the long-term negative effects of food insecurity on a child’s physical, cognitive, and neurological development”.

The Ministry of Education was directed to investigate how to achieve the objectives, including whether curbing food insecurity could be better achieved “in other contexts that reach children during the time they are not at school”.

The review would also investigate other ways to target those at risk of food insecurity including “exploring a voucher-type solution and use of the Integrated Data Infrastructure Database” – indicating it could be brought into a Social Investment approach.

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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/2026/02/13/opposition-finds-change-to-school-lunch-schemes-name-hard-to-swallow/

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Four children escape as bus goes up in flames at Leigh

Source: Radio New Zealand

Four children were on board when the bus caught fire. Supplied / Police

A bus carrying children has been extensively damaged by a fire.

Emergency services were called to the fire near the north Auckland village of Leigh just before 8.30am on Friday.

Police said the bus, which was on Pakiri Road, was “extensively damaged” by the blaze.

“Four children were onboard at the time of the fire and they have all been safely removed,” Sergeant Mark Stallworthy said.

“It’s fortunate that no one has been hurt.”

Sergeant Stallworthy said Pakiri Road is down to one lane until about midday.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/four-children-escape-as-bus-goes-up-in-flames-at-leigh/

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Relying on tug boat from Australia risks lives, council leaders say

Source: Radio New Zealand

Interislander ferry Kaitaki was sailing into Wellington Harbour in January 2023 with 854 passengers on board when it lost power. KiwiRail

Council leaders on both sides of Cook Strait say lives could be put at risk due to its emergency tug being off-contract from this month.

In November it was announced the government had sunk plans to station an open ocean tug in the Cook Strait long-term after it said the costs outweighed the benefits.

The government also announced it would end the contract for the MMA Vision open ocean tug this month, rather than June when it was contracted for.

For years local government leaders on either side of the North and South Island had been calling for open ocean tugs after several near-miss accidents.

One of these was in January 2023 when the Interislander ferry Kaitaki was sailing into Wellington Harbour with 854 passengers on board and lost power, which resulted in a mayday call.

Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Daran Ponter said the absence of an emergency tug posed unacceptable risks.

Daran Ponter. RNZ / Dom Thomas

“Cancelling the MMA Vision contract puts lives and economic lifelines in peril.”

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor agreed, saying it was one of the most complex stretches of water in the world to navigate.

“It’s also a shipping route of national significance where the government is responsible for safety.”

The two leaders had penned a letter to Transport Minister Chris Bishop asking for an extension of the MMA Vision’s contract. They said not having the tug nearby would risk human safety, financial stability and the environment given the clean-up cost and damage if a large ship sank.

Ponter said from July, the closest vessel that would have emergency open ocean tug capability would be 1200 nautical miles away in Australia.

“That’s about five days of travel time. We cannot depend on harbour tugs for open-ocean rescues. They are not designed, equipped or crewed for towing large vessels in Cook Strait – where conditions are frequently beyond their operating parameters.”

RNZ has approached Bishop for a response.

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/relying-on-tug-boat-from-australia-risks-lives-council-leaders-say/

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Phoenix women chase A-League title

Source: Radio New Zealand

Makala Woods of Wellington Phoenix celebrates her goal with Brooke Nunn and Lucia de Leon. www.photosport.nz

The Wellington Phoenix can be forgiven for showing a bit of swagger after reaching the top of the A-League standings.

For the first time in their history, the Phoenix were number one in the standings, albeit briefly, after beating Brisbane on Waitangi Day, their fourth successive win.

Melbourne City took over top spot later in the weekend, but the Wellingtonian’s brief stint at the summit did give coach Bev Priestman the opportunity to think about the possibility of winning the league.

“It’s there right, it’s real and it is definitely in sight for us,” Priestman told RNZ.

In her first season in charge, Priestman has the team playing some impressive football despite the loss of a couple of key players to injury.

Wellington Phoenix FC women’s coach Bev Priestman www.photosport.nz

She said the unbeaten run in the last month had shown the team’s desire.

“Players getting through moments and willing to do anything for the team is the difference. You see teams be successful with players running through a brick wall for each other.”

However, she said they can’t get carried away.

“There is a mindset when you’re top of the table to be hunted rather than be the hunter, so we’ve got to forget about the table and just do us and get as many points as we can in our remaining matches.”

The Phoenix have seven wins, three draws and three losses this season and sit two points behind Melbourne City. They take on seventh-placed Central Coast Mariners in Porirua on Sunday.

They have scored the most goals so far this season (27) while their defence has also been solid, conceding just 10 goals – the least in the league, while they’ve had five clean sheets.

Pia Vlok is sixth in the goal-scoring rankings with five goals, Makala Woods is second in goal assists and Brooke Nunn is third in chances created.

Despite their lofty standings, Priestman is expecting more from her side.

“This team hasn’t hit the level that I know they can and that is the scary thing as a coach, I still think this team has more.”

Emma Pijenburg of Wellington Phoenix. www.photosport.nz

However, Priestman said the players need to remember what has go them to this position and that means remaining positive.

“What we don’t do is play it safe, (we’ve got to) go full throttle, doing us and doing it well.

“We just have to keep being brave, playing forward. What I don’t want is sideways and backwards. I want us to step forward, stand up and be counted.”

Priestman doesn’t believe they are the best team in the league, but that isn’t the priority for her.

“Everywhere I go right now people are talking about this team and that’s what we wanted, to create a movement and make this country a women’s football country.

“That’s what it means to this group, more than points and accolades, we want people talking about this team and what this team can do.”

In their four previous seasons, the Phoenix have finished 10th, 11th, 8th and 9th.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/13/phoenix-women-chase-a-league-title/

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Buying a house with friends or family? Watch out

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

A woman who helped her son and his wife buy a house has been offered $10,000 in compensation for the way the bank handled the dispute when the relationship went sour.

The case went to the Banking Ombudsman, which published a case note last month.

It said the woman wanted to help her son and daughter-in-law onto the property ladder. They formed a partnership and borrowed $320,000 in October 2008 to buy a house.

The loan was in each of their names.

But when the couple decided to separate, the mother and daughter-in-law decided to sell the property. The son told the bank there was a dispute and it froze the loan accounts and refused to act on any instructions until the dispute was resolved.

The mother offered to repay the loan in full so the mortgage could be discharged, but the bank still refused to act.

The Banking Ombudsman scheme said it raised concerns with the bank about its refusal to allow the woman to pay off the loan.

“We pointed out the dispute among the three borrowers had no effect on the right of each borrower to repay the loan at any time. The terms and conditions of the loan allowed for just such a step…. [she] held a 77 percent stake in the partnership so was able to pass resolutions without the consent of the other two partners.”

The bank offered the woman $10,000.

Banking Ombudsman Nicola Sladden said partnerships could be a good way to get into the property market, but the case was a reminder that it was important everyone was clear on their rights and what would happen if circumstances changed.

“When relationships end, joint accounts, loans and partnerships can become tricky. It’s crucial to understand how your accounts are set up, and what your rights and obligations are. This knowledge can prevent a difficult situation from becoming even more stressful.”

She said people should decide in advance how they would divide assets if they separated and get legal advice if they needed formal arrangements.”

Mortgage adviser Jeremy Andrews, from Key Mortgages, said he dealt with people wanting to buy in partnership several times a year.

“There are some advantages such as being able to combine everybody’s deposit together to get the best possible interest rates, and combining everybody’s incomes together to get the highest approval figure based on income servicing.”

He said the case highlighted the main downside – what would happen when one of the parties wanted to get out of the joint ownership, such as to buy a different property.

“If they are jointly and severally liable for the loan, which is typically higher than a single or couple’s income alone could have allowed, this could be a dealbreaker without selling the property.

“There needs to be a clear understanding of the future implications at that point, before entering into such [an] agreement, and we always recommend each party seeks independent legal advice on this.”

He said sometimes people would own a house as tenants in common, which gave them an agreed and specified percentage of the ownership.

“If the property increases in value over time, then each party receives their respective percentage increase in value each when the time comes to sell – hopefully for an overall profit.

“There are also downsides to this type of arrangement, such as if one or more of the co-borrowers wish to retain ownership of the property, and then based on the income they have at the time, can they buy out the other exiting parties share of existing mortgage – plus typically accumulated equity on top of that.”

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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/2026/02/13/buying-a-house-with-friends-or-family-watch-out/

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‘Devastated’: Hawke’s Bay campground being evacuated due to landslide risk

Source: Radio New Zealand

Clifton Motor Camp (file image). Supplied / Google Maps

Campers are shocked and devastated as a Hawke’s Bay campground is evacuated due to the “extreme” risk of a landslide, the manager says.

It comes three weeks after six people died in Mount Maunganui when a chunk of the maunga crashed onto a holiday park.

The Hastings District Council said it evaluated “at-risk” sites including the Clifton Motor Camp after that tragedy.

At 4.30pm on Thursday, the council told campers and permanent residents they had 24 hours to leave because a geotechnical report has found an extreme risk of landslides affecting the grounds.

“Heavy or prolonged rain, elevated groundwater levels, or an earthquake could cause the slope to fail,” the council said.

“If that occurred, soil, rocks and large trees would fall directly onto buildings and caravans located at the base of the slope.”

Hawke’s Bay is under a heavy rain watch from 3pm today.

The council said there would be little warning and limited opportunity to escape safely if a landslide occurred.

The council said making the site safe would require significant engineering and drainage works, likely costing several million dollars.

Unless that work was undertaken, the campground could not be considered safe to occupy.

There had been slips there in the past: one in 2011 damaged the toilet block and covered the playground, and one in 2019 that put two tourists in hospital.

Hastings District Council chief executive Nigel Bickle said the decision was not a “knee-jerk reaction”.

“The advice is clear – the level of risk is extreme and cannot be ignored.”

Bickle understood it was distressing news for people who used the campground – some for many decades.

“But when expert advice tells us there is a credible threat to life, we have a responsibility to act.”

Campers shocked, devastated

Clifton Reserve Society’s Piki Wellwood-King – which leases the land from Hastings District Council – said the advice came out of the blue.

“Everyone here is in shock around the short notice, absolutely devastated trying to comprehend what’s really happening,” she said.

“The camp composes of people who live here permanently, people who live here seasonally, and the public who come in and rent a site,” she said.

“It’s really weighing heavy on everyone … it’s huge.”

Some had camped there for generations, and more than a dozen lived there permanently, she said.

But Wellwood-King said the advice to leave made “perfect sense” given the safety risk.

The council said staff were working with the society and support agencies to help residents with accommodation and support services, and to ensure they could retrieve their personal belongings.

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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/2026/02/13/devastated-hawkes-bay-campground-being-evacuated-due-to-landslide-risk/

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Police praise bravery of Auckland slaver’s victims

Source: Radio New Zealand

Moeaia Tuai in court. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

An Auckland man promised two people a better life, but instead kept them as slaves for several years, police said following his sentencing.

Moeaia Tuai was on Thursday jailed for 16 years and four months for dealing in slaves, rape and numerous other sexual assaults.

Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin of Counties Manukau CIB said the Samoan chief arranged to bring them to New Zealand in 2016.

He praised the bravery of the complainants for standing up in court, saying they gave compelling evidence.

“Initially the victims were promised a good education and a better way of life. But that’s not what happened – instead he put them to work, kept their wages and assaulted them.

“The charges are the result of more than two years of work by Immigration New Zealand and New Zealand Police, dating back to 2024 when the first allegations of Tuai’s offending were brought to our attention.”

Specialist agencies supported the two young people through the process and five-week trial, he added.

Immigration investigations manager Jason Perry said slavery was often a hidden crime, and urged people to report migrant exploitation.

“Immigration New Zealand is committed to supporting police to ensure those who deliberately harm or take advantage of others are held accountable. Immigration investigators worked closely with police throughout the operation, helping to ensure those responsible for these often hidden crimes are brought to justice.

“Coordinated action like this is essential to protecting vulnerable people and raising awareness. If you see signs of exploitation, report it.”

Tuai, 63, was sentenced to a non-parole period of eight years.

The High Court in Auckland heard he put the male complainant straight to work at an Auckland boarding house run by his wife’s sister, before moving both victims to Australia, where the young man escaped in 2020.

It took another four years before the young woman, back in New Zealand, also managed to run away.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/police-praise-bravery-of-auckland-slavers-victims/

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Person shot during fight in Auckland’s Mission Bay

Source: Radio New Zealand

123rf.com

A person is in a stable condition in hospital after being shot and injured in the Auckland suburb of Mission Bay.

Senior Sergeant Rebecca Kirk says police were called to a property about 9.15pm on Thursday.

She said it appeared a group of people had turned up at the house where some kind of altercation took place.

An investigation was underway to track down those responsible.

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KiwiSaver managers under pressure as hardship applications spike

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Government has canned the $1000 KiwiSaver kickstart programme. 123RF

Fisher Funds says it has made some changes to the team that manages its hardship applications, with KiwiSaver managers under pressure as withdrawal applications spiked.

Inland Revenue data showed there were 58,460 withdrawals for hardship reasons in 2025, 10,000 more than were made for a first home.

In total, $514.8 million was withdrawn from KiwiSaver because of hardship and $2.1 billion for a first home.

Some applicants faced delays as providers struggled to keep up with the volume.

Fisher Funds said some changes were made last year to its team, for the eight staff based in Hawke’s Bay.

“We put a change proposal to them, inviting them to relocate to Auckland/or Wellington and unfortunately none of them took up the offer.

“All roles were replaced with people in either Auckland or Wellington.”

A spokesperson said Fisher Funds was not immune to the overall increase in applications and, anticipating that Christmas would be a time of additional pressure on household budgets, extra staff were added from November through January.

Milford Asset Management has a partnership with DebtFix, to help manage the hardship application process. It, too, has seen a significant increase in applications.

A spokesperson for Westpac said it had added staff to its team, to handle first-home withdrawals as well as hardship applications.

“We’ve improved some of our internal processes to make it faster and more efficient for customers.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/kiwisaver-managers-under-pressure-as-hardship-applications-spike/

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Investigation underway into suspicious Auckland factory fire

Source: Radio New Zealand

Up to eight crews were called to the two-storey building on Patrick Street. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Police say the fire that ripped through the top floor of a factory in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga is being treated as suspicious.

Up to eight crews were called to the two-storey building on Patrick Street at 2.15am on Friday, where they found the upper floor fully alight.

Fire and Emergency said the bulk of the blaze had been extinguished by 3am.

No one was hurt in the fire.

Police said staff will work with fire investigators, with a scene examination to be completed later on Friday.

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Hilary Duff announces first world tour in almost 20 years

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ex-Disney pop singer Hilary Duff has announced her first-ever headlining New Zealand show.

The Lizzie McGuire star will perform at Spark Arena on 20 October, as part of her world-spanning ‘lucky me’ tour.

The show’s announcement comes ahead of the release of her first new album in over a decade, luck… or something, out 20 February.

Duff’s big break came in the early-2000s hit Disney show Lizzie McGuire, playing the title character, before branching out into music.

She has sold millions of albums, and songs from her new album like ‘Roommates’ and ‘Mature’ have racked up millions of views.

The ‘lucky me’ tour will see her visit the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

The support act at Spark Arena will be synthpop singer La Roux.

General public ticket sales kick kick off 1pm 20 February.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/hilary-duff-announces-first-world-tour-in-almost-20-years/

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Multiple people trapped after crash in north Canterbury

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / REECE BAKER

Emergency services are responding to a crash in north Canterbury, that has left multiple people trapped.

Fire and Emergency NZ said it was called to State Highway 7, north of Waikari, at about 6.40am on Friday after a car went off the road.

At least four fire crews are working to help free people trapped in the car.

One of the people trapped is in a critical condition and three others in a serious condition.

St John said it is responding with three ambulances and a helicopter.

Motorists are told to expect delays.

Police have been contacted for comment.

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Single mum ‘repaying $8 a fortnight’ after insurance confusion

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Two customers caught out by large changes in the valuation of their vehicles through AA Insurance say they only realised something was amiss when they went to claim.

RNZ has reported on a number of people who have queried the valuations of their cars through the insurance company in recent months.

One woman, Nicki, was upset that the value of her 24-year-old Subaru had increased two-and-a-half times when the policy renewed this year.

Another said that the value of his 2003 Subaru Forester dropped 58 percent last year and then lifted by 3.67 times this year – to $9900, 10 percent more than he paid for it 11 years ago.

AA said it relied on third-party data to provide vehicle values and from time to time the methodology and data sources were updated.

One person, Chris, who contacted RNZ said their policy renewed in February.

But five days later, the vehicle was hit while stationary and it was only then that they realised the insured value had been reduced by 70 percent. Chris said while the change in premiums was made clear in the information emailed about the renewal, the change in the insured value was more difficult to find.

Another person, Ruby, said the value of her car dropped from $6900 to $1300 at her policy renewal..

“After a lot of back and forth, stressful phone calls, and providing my original purchase receipt, AA eventually reinstated the agreed value of $6900.

“The repair quote for the damage is between $2000 and $3000, so if the policy had remained at $1300, it would have effectively left me without meaningful cover.

“However, AA are now requiring me to back-pay the premium difference for the period where the vehicle should have been insured at the higher agreed value. I’m a single mum on a very tight budget with existing debt, and I’ve been trying to resolve this since the 2nd of January while my car is still damaged and difficult to use. They have just agreed to let me repay the additional premium at $8 per fortnight.”

Karen Stevens, Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman, said she could not comment on specifics but had received a number of complaints in recent years from people who had not been aware that their vehicle’s value had been reduced by their insurer until they had an accident.

“We always remind people that it’s important to review the new policy schedule every year and, if they’re not happy with the value, to challenge it then rather than later. They can also get a valuation or PAV to show the vehicle is worth more than the insurer says it is.”

Rebecca Styles, Consumer NZ’s insurance specialist, said anyone who had not been advised about a drop in value should challenge it.,

“If someone is advised of a drop in the value of their vehicle and they disagree with it, they can ask for a revised valuation and provide evidence of what they consider to be fair market value.

“It’s also important to check the policy renewal details when they come through to make sure the insured value is appropriate, and to take the opportunity to check how the premium compares with other insurers to make sure you’re getting the best deal.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/single-mum-repaying-8-a-fortnight-after-insurance-confusion/

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Issues for Liam Lawson at F1 testing ‘something I haven’t mastered yet’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls during F1 testing in Bahrain, 2026. MARCEL VAN DORST / AFP

Liam Lawson got through 50 laps in the morning session on day two of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain admitting they had a few issues.

The 24 year old spent much of the session sporting an aero rack on his new 2026 Racing Bulls car.

He recorded a best time that was 3.7 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc, who was the quickest in the session in his Ferrari.

Lawson spent his first session in data gathering mode for the team with the aero rack placed in front of the rear wing collecting information on air flow.

The information can be used for the front wing set-up and also for future car upgrades.

“We had a few little issues today that stopped a bit of running so early days. We’re learning as fast as we can, it’s obviously all very new,” Lawson said.

There are significant changes in 2026 with the cars smaller and lighter and no longer running DRS while half of their power is now electrically generated.

“It’s very new, it’s very different, a different driving style and it is more sensitive so we have to be a lot more aware behind the wheel.

“It is definitely something I haven’t mastered yet so we’ll spend the next few weeks trying to be as prepared for Melbourne as we can.”

Lawson will spend all day in the car on Friday with another test session again in Bahrain next week.

“Coming into the test we know to try not to be frustrated when we have these small things that stop runs, but the main thing is to try and put the car in a good place today and we have tomorrow to learn a lot more.

“Next week is probably when we spend a lot more time on performance rather than anything else.”

Lawson’s new team-mate Arvid Lindblad drove the car in the afternoon session and got through another 82 laps and went slightly faster than Lawson.

Leclerc completed 139 laps with the fastest time ahead of world champion Lando Norris in a McLaren and Oliver Bearman in a Haas.

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri were among the seven drivers who didn’t take part in testing today.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/issues-for-liam-lawson-at-f1-testing-something-i-havent-mastered-yet/

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Tai Rāwhiti locals isolated by slips anxious to have reliable northern route out

Source: Radio New Zealand

A slip on State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge in January. Supplied/NZTA

Tai Rāwhiti locals isolated by January’s slips on the Waioweka Gorge and East Coast highway are anxious to have a reliable northern route out of Gisborne.

Convoys along State Highway 2 were stopped on Thursday night and have been cancelled this weekend, because of the threat of rain causing more slips in the gorge.

On State Highway 35 around East Cape, the storm-damaged road remained closed between Te Araroa and Pōtaka.

The months of disruption and hours-long detour had prompted calls for an alternative northern route out of Gisborne – but it was not something the government was currently considering.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the Waioweka Gorge was the main freight route out of Tai Rāwhiti therefore cleaning it up was the priority – until then, discussing the future of the network and other routes would have to wait.

“We need to make a determination as to the state of the network once we can actually see it. Clearly, there are issues on the [east] coast in terms of resilience and sustainability.

“State Highway 35 has been a long-running issue, so has the Waioweka Gorge and all the evidence is that it is going to continue to happen into the future.

“I’m just not going to pre-judge where we might get to until I’ve got information.”

Transport Minister Chris Bishop. RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

Waioweka Gorge local Bob Redpath said the odd rockfall during heavy rain was nothing new and after weeks of closures felt frustrated by the cancellation of convoys due to forecast bad weather.

“Yes, it’s a bit fragile and tender at the moment, but they just need to be a bit kinder to the traffic, I think – [they] need to get it going.

“There’s a whole lot of people in Gisborne hurting.”

He said the uncertainty around the road’s status had put his farm stay operation on hold and dog trials due to be held Ōpōtiki next month had just been cancelled for the same reason.

Redpath backed the exploration of an alternative route but pinpointing its location was another matter.

“I tongue in cheek, jokingly said to someone recently, ‘If we were in China – China would build a bridge from Ōpōtiki to Matawai.”

Gisborne’s mayor, Rehette Stoltz, said unreliable roading infrastructure was hampering the region’s economic prospects by putting business confidence at risk.

She said with the cancellation of the convoys through the gorge, once again the only option to go north out of Gisborne was to first head south on State Highway 2, almost to Napier, before taking State Highway 5 – a detour which added between two and three hours.

For those north of Gisborne on the cape, the detour was even longer, creating a “huge time cost and huge money cost for our community”.

Gisborne’s mayor, Rehette Stoltz. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Stoltz said hard questions about the future of State Highway 2 would be asked once the region was back on its feet and hoped to sit down with the government in the first half of the year.

“Is it worth investing money constantly – and we are talking about nearly every year millions of dollars to build in, not even resilience into that route, but just to keep it available for us – or is it time for us to say we need to think bigger?

“What is the best option to either build resilience into State Highway 2 north? Or alternatively discuss a different route.”

However, she said the feasibility and location of a different route was best left to the roading engineers.

NZTA investigates resilience in current network

A 2020 National Resilence Programme Business Case prepared for the Transport Agency (NZTA) gave the Waioweka Gorge a 5VL rating – the highest level of “extreme risk” for likelihood of damage – and the only road in the country to receive it.

While NZTA had not investigated another northern route out of Tai Rāwhiti, three options for improving the gorge’s resilience were put forward in the SH2 Waioweka Gorge Corridor Resilience Single Stage Business Case.

NZTA regional manager of system design Lisa Faulknor said the options cost between $70 million and $200m as at 2024 and the agency had just completed work to address “weather-related risks” before the recent severe weather.

“The business case is complete and does not need any further work. So it can be utilitised without delay, subject to funding availability.”

However, the recommended option would only half weather-related road closures, she said.

“According to the business case, completing this option would result in a 53 percent reduction in closures – it would not fully eliminate the consequences of weather events or the subsequent closures.”

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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/2026/02/13/tai-rawhiti-locals-isolated-by-slips-anxious-to-have-reliable-northern-route-out/

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Weather: Fears of another landslide as North Island-wide rain settles in

Source: Radio New Zealand

The landslide that hit the holiday park wasn’t the only one to happen on Mount Manganui on Thursday. DJ Mills

Rain is on the way for almost all of the North Island, including areas badly battered last month.

An orange heavy rain warning will take effect from 6pm Friday for Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki, and Tai Rāwhiti north of Tolaga Bay.

Up to 100mm of rain is expected, with a chance of up to 150mm in one or two places.

Forecaster MetService said there was a low chance of it being upgraded to a red warning.

For most of the rest of the island there was a yellow heavy rain watch. It would begin in Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and Waikato at 9am, and make its way south through the middle of the day, with southern areas like Manawatū, Tararua District and Hawke’s Bay joining the watch at 3pm.

Wellington at this stage appeared to be spared.

East Coast residents were warned to expect up to 100mm or rain, with some localised areas getting up to 150mm.

“Peak rainfall rates are very dependent on localised downpours or thunderstorms, and may reach 25 to 40mm per hour during Saturday morning,” MetService warned.

There was a “low chance” the orange warning would be upgraded to red.

“Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions [are] possible.”

Tauranga City Council urged residents to evacuate immediately if the ground moved or there was another landslide.

Periods of heavy rain or showers and a chance of thunderstorms were expected in the region from noon.

The council said there was a higher chance of landslides because of the rain that had already fallen in recent weeks.

Six people died in a slip at Mt Maunganui last month, and two at a home in Welcome Bay.

There were still 40 slips on Mauao, and recent monitoring had found unstable land.

As a precaution, the council on Friday morning said it would close Adams Avenue, between Pilot Bay and the Maunganui Road roundabout, from 8am.

“This is a precautionary approach following geotechnical advice about the current risks on Mauao from anticipated rainfall from Friday to Saturday.”

No timeframe was given, the council saying it would only reopen once the rain had finished and experts had seemed it safe. The footpath on the ‘shop side’ of Adams Ave would remain open.

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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/2026/02/13/weather-fears-of-another-landslide-as-north-island-wide-rain-settles-in/

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The band that works together while thousands of miles apart

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s rare to find all the members of Christchurch-born alt-pop band Yumi Zouma in the same room.

The remotely working band is scattered across New Zealand, New York and London, operating across time zones where one member works while another sleeps. Milestones are marked over Zoom, each with their own cake or bubbles.

“The vibes are often very, very different,” member Josh Burgess tells Music 101. “It’s sort of like having a Labrador puppy in the middle, a sleepy elderly dog and a newborn.”

Band members Charlie Ryder, Olivia Campion, Christie Simpson and Josh Burgess

Marisa Suda

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/13/the-band-that-works-together-while-thousands-of-miles-apart/

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Firefighters battle Auckland factory blaze

Source: Radio New Zealand

Up to eight crews were called to the two-storey building on Patrick Street. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Firefighters are responding to a fire at a factory in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga.

Up to eight crews were called to the two-storey building on Patrick Street at 2.15am on Friday, where they found the upper floor fully alight.

Fire and Emergency said the bulk of the blaze had been extinguished by 3am.

Two crews are still on site dampening down hotspots.

A fire investigator is heading to the scene this morning.

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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/2026/02/13/firefighters-battle-auckland-factory-blaze/

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Potato prices could remain high as yields down

Source: Radio New Zealand

The tractor harvester working on the field. 123RF

Some potato growers are reporting yields could be down 20 percent this winter due to bad weather, but it’s still a bit early in the season to know the full impact.

Some growers are harvesting early varieties now, with the main harvest getting underway in a few weeks.

Potatoes New Zealand chair Paul Olsen said his crop in Manuwatu is looking good, but further north in Pukekohe, growers have had a lot of rain.

“What I’m told sort of further north that the yields are back by maybe 20 percent in some areas, and then the earlier crops in Canterbury, I’m told, are sort of on par,” Olsen said.

“It’s hard to know the full impact of the weather until we get into the thick of harvest in about a month or so.”

Olsen said if the national crop does end up being smaller, prices could remain higher as demand for potatoes has been solid.

“The general rule of thumb is that the prices do ease as the main crop comes on, so it’s sort of hard to gauge and I’d hate to jump to conclusions so early on in the season given, we’re only in February. But yeah, it’ll definitely be one to watch. “

Pukekohe company Hira Bhana and Co grows 140 hectares of potatoes year-round.

Owner Bharat Bhana said the potatoes have been struggling with the changeable weather.

“When it’s to wet, the roots don’t go down deep enough to go and search for water, then when it goes dry the roots aren’t prepared and then they dry out,” Bhana said.

“So, you need to keep the water on, yesterday it was 27 degrees during the day and only got down to 20 at night, it’s not cooling down enough – the muggy weather isn’t ideal for getting a decent crop of potatoes.”

Bhana said they aim is to get 45 to 50 tonnes a hectare, but they’re getting about 40.

He said if there are fewer spuds around, prices will probably go up.

“But, in saying that, potatoes at the moment, at $1.50 a kilo, or even at $3 a kilo, is cheap compared to anything else. Consumers normally complain about $3 a kilo for spuds, but go and get $3 worth of chicken or $3 worth of steak and see what that gets you.”

He hasn’t made money on potatoes for 18 months, so getting higher prices will be good for cash flow.

“Just the other day, Balance sent us a nice newsletter again saying that fertilizer price is going up again.

“As our dollar fluctuates and the New Zealand dollar loses value, everything we bring into the country like fertiliser, chemicals, machinery, it all goes up so our costs have risen a lot.

“It’s getting to the stage now where growers have decided, well, it’s not worth growing anymore, so they got out of it.”

Bhana said with rising costs more vegetable growers are leaving the industry – especially in Pukekohe, where some can sell land to developers for hefty profits.

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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/2026/02/13/potato-prices-could-remain-high-as-yields-down/

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Retirement age will rise to cover superannuation cost, investment company predicts

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

An investment company predicts New Zealanders will have to work into their 70s if the country wants to afford superannuation.

A debate has been held at the New Zealand Economic Forum at Waikato University.

Milford Investments CEO Blair Turnbull said 40 percent of retirees rely entirely on income from super because they have no savings.

He believes it’s inevitable the age for super will rise and be means tested.

He said Treasury is very clear, saying that unless the retirement age rises to 72 or 73, New Zealand can’t afford to pay superannuation.

“By 2030, we’ll have over one million people over the age of 65 and we want New Zealanders to retire with dignity and in a lifestyle they deserve.

“That is just going to compound. Why? Looking back, in the 1970s you had seven workers for every person over the age of 65. Today that’s about four workers for every person over the age of 65 and by 2060 it’ll be two workers for every person over the age of 65.

“The truth is we cannot afford the superannuation system, because we don’t have the workers and we don’t have the productivity – and just to bring the productivity point to life – in terms of the 37 OECD countries, we are 27th in the rankings in terms of productivity.

“And here’s the killer stat that follows that, in terms of our savings, we’re 33rd, so if we have lower productivity and lower wages, that, unfortunately, really hurts our ability to save because we literally don’t have the money to save for the future, even though we know we need to save.

“Fifty percent of people today are just surviving pay cheque to pay cheque and the news isn’t any better for retired people because 40 percent of them arrive at 65 and they have little to no private savings and they’re fully reliant on income from New Zealand super, which we simply can’t afford.”

Former cabinet minister David Parker told the conference that we have to match Australia on their better superannuation savings rate.

“I’m in favour of following Australia into compulsory KiwiSaver and there should be a tax incentive.”

Former MP and CEO of the Aged Care Association Tracey Martin said a much broader conversation is needed than whether the age of superannuation should be raised.

Sharon Zollner, the chief executive of ANZ, told the conference the health care costs for older people are also a consideration. She said the health needs of people over 85 cost five times more than those aged 65.

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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/2026/02/13/retirement-age-will-rise-to-cover-superannuation-cost-investment-company-predicts/