Category: Radio New Zealand

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Grocery Commissioner puts supermarkets on notice

Source: Radio New Zealand

Shoppers are bracing for more food price rises. 123RF

Shoppers are bracing for more food price rises, but the Grocery Commissioner has put supermarkets on notice about their margins.

Foodstuffs NZ managing director Chris Quin told Morning Report that there was likely to be pressure on food prices as conflict in the Middle East pushed up oil prices. Food prices were already up 4.5 percent year-on-year in February, before the impact began to be felt.

Quin said while it was hard to say at this point exactly how large the impact would be, it would become more of a problem the longer the conflict continued.

He said Foodstuffs was hearing from suppliers that they were under pressure too.

Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden told Midday Report that he had told supermarkets that the Commerce Commission’s expectation was that if prices increased, they dropped as soon as they could as well, and that supermarkets were not seeking additional margin.

“Discussions with suppliers about the pressure they are facing should be done in good faith, as per the grocery supply code.”

He said supermarkets had indicated that as of yet, the additional cost was not being passed on.

“It’s dependent on how long this war continues, how long they can do that.”

Van Heerden said grocery margins had come down a bit in recent years and then stabilised.

“I would expect to see them stable or come down,” he said.

Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden.

There was increasing competition in Auckland, he said, but other parts of the country were still only served by the duopoly.

The Commerce Commission is currently running an anonymous survey of supermarket suppliers to check for any concerns in the sector. He said small and medium suppliers were often scared to raise issues.

One shopper, Delwyn, said she was now spending about $500 a week on food for her family of five. She had to shift to chicken and pork mince instead of beef, which has risen [. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/589814/mince-records-biggest-annual-increase-since-data-began more than 20 percent] in a year in price

She said supermarket shopping could be a depressing and disheartening experience.

Earlier, Gemma Rasmussen, Consumer NZ’s head of advocacy, told RNZ that she was concerned about the potential for supermarkets to push up prices amid the conflict.

She said when Cyclone Gabrielle hit the Hawkes Bay, she spoke to a producer who provided an example of a produce item that was affected by the floods.

“This resulted in the store price going from $3.50 a kg to $9 to $14.

“They said, if it’s sold for $3.50 retail, the supermarket is buying it for around $1.99 wholesale. It ended up reaching $4.50 wholesale, but despite this, it ended up being sold in the supermarkets for as high as $14.

“One supplier spoke of an instance when the margin a major supermarket made on a frozen product was close to 60 percent. He’s currently selling frozen produce with an alternative retailer who is ‘a dream to work with’ and takes only a 25 percent margin.”

She said the country could do well to look at what Australia was doing to moderate supermarket prices.

“From 1 July 2026, it will introduce a specific excessive pricing regime for very large supermarkets that will ban prices considered excessive in relation to supply cost plus a reasonable margin. If one of the big players breaches these rules, it will face penalties of up to A$10 million, three times the benefit gained, or 10 percent of turnover.

“In effect, this is a direct attempt to curb price gouging and hold major supermarkets accountable where mark-ups are excessive and unjustified.

“New Zealand could benefit from a similar regime. Long-term structural reform has so far done little to meaningfully reduce supermarket pricing pressure, and with cost-of-living concerns continuing, households remain exposed to pricing that may be difficult to justify.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/18/grocery-commissioner-puts-supermarkets-on-notice/

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Watch: Polyfest opens with dawn ceremony

Source: Radio New Zealand

The world’s largest secondary school Pasifika cultural festival officially kicked off at the Manukau Sports Bowl in Auckland on Wednesday with an intimate flag raising ceremony.

The sun crept over the horizon, met with traditional waiata as the flags of the Pacific were hoisted into the air, marking the start of day one of ASB Polyfest – where the cultural diversity of Aotearoa’s students is being celebrated.

The Manukau Sports Bowl has been transformed into a cultural hub with five stages featuring the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, as well as a stage dedicated to Diversity.

Festivals director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu was full of excitement as Polyfest began this morning with a dedication.

“It’s a very special time for our Pasifika and Diversity stages to be able to bless their flags and sing a hymn, as well as just come together as well,” she told RNZ Pacific.

ASB Polyfest festivals director Seiuli Terri Leo-Mauu RNZ Pacific / Coco Lance

“It’s a good vibe with the sunshine over us right now at the dawn service with our flags and, yes, we are excited. We can’t wait to see the kids come in.”

More than 80,000 people are expected to attend to support the 263 groups from 73 schools who are registered to perform this year.

The Samoan stage will have a kava ceremony, while Tonga kicks off their speech competition.

While Polyfest mainly showcases Pacific students, Leo-Mauu said they embrace all cultures.

The diversity stage is the place to be today as students from all backgrounds were given the opportunity to share their heritage.

“We have to embrace the fact that our children are blended and come from different cultures,” he said.

“We’ve got also a lot of smaller Pacific groups that are on that stage as well. And then we’ve also got some new ones coming in this year, so there’s Germany and Latino that are coming through to celebrate on the diversity stage.”

Breona Nassau and Joseph Tulua from Tangaroa College at ASB Polyfest. RNZ Pacific / Coco Lance

Breona Nassau and Joseph Tulua from Tangaroa College said the diversity stage helps them learn more about their peers heritage.

“We’ve got some of the other cultures from our school performing on the diversity stage, so I’m really excited to support them.”

“Getting a taste of all of the cultures in one, seeing cultures I’ve never seen before.”

Faith Fomai, a student from Southern Cross Campus, is attending her first Polyfest.

“One thing that I’ll probably look forward looking at is the diversity and all our countries come together to perform and to represent each other’s culture,” she said.

“I think it’s just like, at least learning your roots, staying cool, also just be connected and be one.”

Southern Cross Campus students at ASB Polyfest. RNZ Pacific / Coco Lance

Meanwhile, Halatau Teputepu from Otahuhu College said this is his last year joining Polyfest, and he wants to make it count.

“You know, showcasing our culture, embracing our culture, our ancestors, and just dancing for our last year, we’re not gonna do Poly again and hopefully we bring back the trophies.”

Otahuhu College students at ASB Polyfest on Wednesday. 18 March 2026. RNZ Pacific / Coco Lance

The Pacific and Diversity stages run until Saturday.

Manukau’s Due Drop Event Centre will host the Māori stage with performances scheduled from 30 March – 2 April.

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Organised crime group linked to alleged hitman from US accused of bribing prison guards, bail address managers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland courier driver Tuipulotu Vi was killed in August 2024.

Police allege an organised crime group they’ve linked to the killing of a New Zealand man corrupted prison officers and bail officials.

It’s understood the man that was killed, Auckland courier driver Tuipulotu Vi, was not involved in the drug world.

RNZ earlier revealed that Tanginoa Tangi, one of three people charged with murdering Vi in August 2024, flew back to the USA where he has since been charged with attempting to murder someone else. If convicted there he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

The homicide investigation, dubbed Operation Block, is linked to Operation Mexted, a joint investigation by the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) and Customs, which targeted a transnational organised criminal cell.

Nine people are before the courts in relation to Operation Mexted.

Last week, Judge Yelena Yelavich lifted a suppression order on parts of a court document that details police allegations against the group. The rest of the document remains suppressed pending an appeal to the High Court.

Police claim the group, which included both New Zealand and US citizens, was responsible for the importation and dealing of methamphetamine and the trafficking of firearms.

The financial gains from the group’s activities were allegedly laundered through various construction and other companies in an attempt to conceal their source.

Vi’s death followed a series of shootings in the South Auckland area, which police claim were arranged by the syndicate, but which failed to reach the intended target.

The court document setting out police allegations against the group, details the roles police believe each defendant played in the operation.

One of the defendants, a 35-year-old Auckland man, is accused of being one of the senior members with direct reporting back to a more senior member in the US.

Police say that once he was arrested in September 2024, another person who was his “lieutenant” assisted him from outside while he was remanded in custody. This person’s role included laundering the syndicate’s financial proceeds as well as administration of the syndicate’s activities.

Police allege this included corrupting prison officers and bail address managers “to facilitate the movement of the syndicate’s property”.

After the 35-year-old man’s arrest, police claim the person also took control of a cryptocurrency account through which about $4.9 million had been transferred since the start of 2025.

Police accuse the syndicate of using various methods to traffic illegal consignments of drugs and firearms into the country, including using corrupt agents at international airports in the US and in New Zealand as well as New Zealand Post.

They claim the group rented Airbnbs at multiple addresses throughout Auckland to assist them in their activities.

In June 2025, the American syndicate members were arrested. Following this, police say the other members started attempting to move their property and assist the members in prison.

The remaining members also moved addresses.

In July 2025, three members were captured on CCTV checking into the Park Hyatt Hotel in downtown Auckland. Police allege that between 2023 and 2025 one of the “lieutenants” spent $164,000 on room bookings at the hotel, including rooms that cost as much as $1400 a night.

In that same month, police claim the “lieutenant” contacted a Corrections officer at Mt Eden prison who had been “corrupted” by the group and asked to move an associate of the syndicate to another part of the prison.

They are also suspected of arranging the officer to provide cigarettes to another person in prison.

Police allege that after the arrest of the American defendants, one of the members of the group started communicating with higher members of the syndicate, both in New Zealand and overseas.

In a 10-day period in August 2025, the man is accused of importing 7 consignments into New Zealand from the US containing almost 18kgs of methamphetamine. Forensic analysis to confirm the precise amount of methamphetamine is ongoing.

The court document also claims that while on EM bail the 35-year-old engaged in various mobile chat communications with a senior offshore member of the syndicate about ongoing efforts regarding their drug importations.

In September 2025, the man received a photograph from another defendant, who was at another EM bail address, while he was at the gym as well as photographs of him outside his bail address wearing his bail bracelet.

Later that month the 35-year-old was arrested again while walking along Tamaki Dr in Auckland with a mobile phone, in breach of his bail conditions.

After his arrest, one of the staff at the bail support service, was caught on camera clearing his room before police arrived, including removing “high value items” including a Rolex. Police claim the “lieutenant” called the staffer on Instagram while he was clearing the room.

That afternoon, the “lieutenant” called the manager of the bail support about the 35-year-old’s arrest. They were overheard saying “what are we gonna do damn it” to which the manager replied: “they can just bugger off”.

The “lieutenant” was arrested two days later at the Park Hyatt Hotel.

That same day police issued a press release announcing the five-month operation.

Acting Customs Investigations Manager Simon Peterson said at the time Customs used its “investigative and specialist expertise” to track the syndicate.

“Customs identified the suspects smuggling cannabis plants and resin into the country, tracking their smuggling activities throughout and gathering evidence.

“The offenders now face charges for the importation of 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as importation charges for cannabis.”

The US national

RNZ has obtained court documents in relation to the charges Tangi faces in the USA.

He’s accused of attempted murder, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, fleeing a pursuing police officer’s vehicle while driving recklessly, and possession of a firearm.

He has pleaded not guilty and is set to go on trial next month.

A spokesperson for the local District Attorney’s office told RNZ the office was “generally aware” that Tangi had another pending matter in New Zealand and that they were aware an extradition warrant existed.

Tangi was facing a possible life sentence with the possibility of parole, the spokesperson confirmed.

“Regarding the New Zealand matter, the DA’s office does not litigate extradition proceedings. However, we expect that once Mr Tangi’s case here in California concludes, the extradition process to New Zealand would move forward at that time.”

RNZ sent several questions to Tangi’s lawyer, who declined to comment.

“We cannot comment at this time and do not foresee being able to offer anything in the near future.”

In a statement to RNZ on Friday afternoon, police confirmed a third person had been charged with murder in relation to Vi’s death.

“The man is currently in custody in the United States for offences committed in that country and is now subject to an extradition process,” Counties Manukau CIB detective inspector Shaun Vickers said.

“We are working with the relevant authorities in relation to this.

“This is the third person charged over to Mr Vi’s death and our investigation remains ongoing.”

As the matter is before the courts, police are limited in providing further information, Vickers said.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/18/organised-crime-group-linked-to-alleged-hitman-from-us-accused-of-bribing-prison-guards-bail-address-managers/

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Government, SPCA putting $1.2 million towards desexing dogs

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. An animal control officer with a roaming dog. RNZ / Felix Walton

Hundreds of thousands of dollars is being directed by the government to try to curb rife uncontrolled dog breeding in Auckland and Northland.

The funding comes after a spate of serious dog incidents, including the death of 62-year-old Mihiata Te Rore in a remote Northland settlement in February. The SPCA says three of the last four fatal dog attacks had been in Northland.

Almost $500,000 of money from the Lottery Minister’s Discretionary Fund is going toward desexing.

The SPCA, which is continuing calls for a law overhaul, is putting up a further $700,000.

There was an urgent need for preventative action to protect people, animals and communities, the SPCA said.

Together, the money is enough to desex about 3000 dogs from what’s thought to be up to 51,000 across both regions that are not desexed.

It’s enough to stop around 7500 puppies in a year or about 45,000 across the lifetimes of desexed females.

Unregistered or roaming dogs that have not been desexed were specifically in the SPCA’s sights.

The programme is for early intervention, stopping litters, reducing roaming and lowering the chances of people suffering serious bites.

The funding is ringfenced, and the programme will run from this coming 1 April to 31 March 2027.

Mihiata Te Rore was killed by a pack of dogs at a property at Kaihu, near Dargaville. Supplied

Before Mihiata Te Rore was killed by a pack of dogs at a property at Kaihu, near Dargaville, the government appeared uncertain on the idea of law changes.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts had said there was no time for changes before the election and would not commit to changes if the government stayed in power.

After the death, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was open to changing the law.

The three dogs that attacked Te Rore were later put down.

The SPCA said there needed to be more than money, and that the current laws lacked teeth.

With the announcement on Wednesday, the SPCA called for an “urgent and comprehensive overhaul” of dog control laws as well as standardised national guidelines for every council.

It also wants a national database for dog bite incidents, strong and enforceable breeding rules, and updated Code of Welfare and ongoing funding for desexing.

In Auckland, one of the regions targeted, animal control staff have been busier than ever.

Last year Auckland Council got almost 17,000 reports of roaming dogs and more than 1300 reports of dog attacks on people.

Each year the council impounded about 10,000 dogs – releasing most of them – and it too has been calling for an overhaul of the decades-old Dog Control Act.

“We want people to be out and about, enjoying our parks, going for walks and having the fear of being attacked by a dog is not something that we want,” it said last month.

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Shadows cast on Auckland’s Sunfield development

Source: Radio New Zealand

Artist’s impression of the planned Sunfield development in Auckland. Winton / supplied

One of Auckland’s largest new housing developments – the Sunfield community near Ardmore Airport in South Auckland, given the go-ahead under fast-track rules – has raised the ire of local politicians.

Developers Winton envisage nearly 4000 homes, a town centre, retail and healthcare buildings, three retirement villages and approximately 26 hectares of parks and reserves and ecological areas. Regional development minister Shane Jones says it will deliver up to $3.2 billion to the economy and support more than 24,000 jobs over the 10- to 15-year building period.

But concerns have been raised that it sits on a flood plain, is located near an airport, and does not have the extensive transport, water and sewerage infrastructure needed to support it.

The fast-track panel that gave the go-ahead did attach a number of conditions, including the need for stormwater and drainage management plans. But Kelvin Hieatt, the chair of the Papakura Community Board, and Auckland councillor Richard Hills, chair of the Policy and Planning Committee, say those have not been met.

“We’re sort of downstream of everything, and you consider what’s got to go into that suburb and if there is a major storm, major flooding coming through, eventually their systems get overwhelmed and it’s going to be coming downstream,” Hieatt told RNZ’s Nine to Noon on Wednesday.

“Our Papakura stream is the receiving environment and it’s going to come out through our communities. So that’s the last thing we want to see.”

Hieatt said the land Sunfield was being built on was peat, “so what doesn’t drain away has to run off. And particularly when you’ve got these large storms moving through, once the ground is soaked, it has to go somewhere. You couldn’t build in enough residue, residual infrastructure up there to accommodate it. It’s got to go somewhere once you overload it.”

Auckland councillor Richard Hills. Alexia Russell

He said the presently rural area presently had no treated water, stormwater, power, communications infrastructure or plans for transport.

“There’s nothing. Everything’s got to come out from Papakura to that area. There was some planning in the past… but that land is noted after, particularly after the Anniversary Day storms and then Cyclone Gabrielle as being flood-prone and at-risk. There’s a lot of work gone into the future development strategy to keep those areas rural…

“One of the things with this development is there’s supposedly no cars on site.”

Sunfield’s plan involves electric shuttle buses once the population hits a certain level. But not before then. Hills called it bad city planning.

“They don’t even start the electric bus until 445 households are already in there, and they’re going to give them temporary parking for the first part of their lives there and then have the electric bus come in and I guess the cars just magically disappear… It is not normal city planning, and people expect us in all those neighbouring neighbourhoods to this site to deal with it, and we may not be able to.”

Hieatt said future residents might not appreciate being so close to an expanding airport either.

“We [don’t] want another Western Springs, where we have infrastructure that’s been in for decades, decades and decades before people move in, all of a sudden they think, ‘Oh, well, it’s my peace and quiet.’ Hang on a sec, you’ve moved in at the end of a runway, you know?”

Hills said there was little the council could do to slow down the development until it met its standards.

Sunfield community concept sketch. Winton/Supplied

“Fast-track supersedes all. I mean, we only get a couple of days to respond. Most of the work can’t be done. If you look through the Watercare responses, they say they didn’t [have time to check] some of the evidence they needed.

“So it doesn’t mean that there won’t be still resource consenting processes for housing in that development… but even through this process, there’s been no work on the overland flow paths, which is a normal process. There’s sort of no real suggestion about how stormwater is dealt with in a flood situation.

“It does deal – or supposedly deal – with lighter storms or heavy rain. But we know from 2023 and from this year across New Zealand how drastically things can change and where you build is just as important as how the infrastructure is around it.”

He said unless the developer planned to look after the development “forever”, eventually problems would end up back with the council.

“We have no plans for wastewater and water supply in that site anytime soon. And so it’s just pulling out-of-sequence infrastructure spending from current urban areas to these areas, which I’m assuming we’re going to be forced to do under the fast-track.”

He said the council was not trying to stifle development, but there was only so much it could do, particularly if rates were getting capped.

Winton was invited to join Nine to Noon to talk about its plans, but no one was available.

In a statement, it said the engineering solution for the Sunfield community had been designed by a ‘tier 1’ engineering firm, and the work had been peer reviewed by a further two equally well qualified independent engineering firms.

It said the stormwater solution for Sunfield was based on stage one of the Awakeri Wetlands, which serviced part of the Sunfield site, which was designed and constructed by Auckland Council and was currently operational.

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Interest rates rise, so what’s the best strategy now?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Economists were split on whether the conflict in the Middle East would mean lower or higher interest rates. Stuff/Kathryn George

Banks are moving interest rates higher, but the right term to pick depends a lot on how you think the economy will fare through the rest of this year.

BNZ on Wednesday increased its 18-month rate by five basis points, to 4.69 percent. Its two-year rate lifted by 20 to 4.89 percent, its three-year rate by 30 to 5.29 percent, its four-year rate by 30 to 5.49 percent and the five-year rate to 5.69 percent.

A day earlier, Westpac said it was increasing its rates, too. The one-year rate lifted by 10 basis points to 4.59 percent, and the two-year and three-year rates by 30 basis points to 5.19 percent and 5.29 percent, respectively.

It comes on the back of rising wholesale interest rates, which drive what it costs banks to borrow the money they lend.

The two-year rate has lifted from about 2.6 percent at the end of February to more than 2.8 percent.

Squirrel chief executive David Cunningham said although economists were split on whether the conflict in the Middle East would mean lower interest rates because of the impact on the economy, or higher interest rates because of the impact on prices, the markets were pricing in hikes.

“Ultimately, what the market prices is what flows through to the mortgage rates. We’ve really seen the pass-through of much higher swap rates, and so the banks naturally protect their margins and lift mortgage rates.”

He said other banks were likely to follow.

“The lowest point on the curve now is the six-month rate… if you take the six-month rate, it’s much lower right now, but you’re betting on interest rates not increasing, you’re almost betting against the market and taking the risk that they won’t be as high as the market’s pricing.”

Six month rates are available from about 4.49 percent, although some of the main banks are also offering one-year rates at that level, too.

Cunningham said if people thought markets had got ahead of themselves, it could be worth taking a shorter fix. “I’d probably go with six months on the basis that it feels to me like the market’s gone all gloom, and if anything, we’re going to unquestionably have a weaker economy because of the Middle East conflict.

“When it finishes, the oil price comes back down to the same level.

“Eventually, the world has a habit of sorting itself out, then the inflationary threats sort of disappear.”

He said people would need to consider their own circumstances and how they could cope with an increase, if interest rates did move higher.

But Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said there was “so much risk to the upside on lots of bad stuff at the moment”.

“Even though the two-year is a bit higher… in a world of uncertainty, paying a bit more in the short term to lock in at 5 percent-ish for two years is probably not a bad thing in my view.”

He said anyone who fixed for six months could be underestimating the chance of interest rates rising later this year.

“Financial markets would tend to back me up on that in terms of what swap rates and longer-term rates have done over the last few weeks.”

He said he expected a lift in the official cash rate in September.

“I guess the difficulty for the Reserve Bank is they’re trying to weigh up the negative effects on growth from higher fuel prices versus the effects of higher fuel prices on inflation more generally.

“We still have the view that businesses are more in a mindset to pass that kind of thing on than they were a decade ago… the Reserve Bank probably has to push back against that more than might otherwise be the case.”

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David Seymour announces new iwi-led charter school for Wellington region

Source: Radio New Zealand

Associate Education Minister David Seymour RNZ / Mark Papalii

An iwi-led charter school will open in Porirua later this year.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced the Ngati Toa-run secondary school for children in Y7-13, Kura Toa, would open in the third school term.

Seymour said Ngāti Toa’s education organisation, Puna Mātauranga, would work with the school along with Te Pikau o te Rangi, an iwi-designed service that supported learners.

He said the school and others opening this year would take the total number of privately owned, publicly funded charter schools to 21.

Seymour said Kura Toa would provide pastoral care founded on an iwi framework and would track students’ physical, mental, cultural, and social wellbeing.

He said it would ensure none of its students were falling through gaps in the education system.

Seymour said 28.5 percent of Māori students in Porirua left school without achieving NCEA Level 1, compared to 17.8 percent across all students in Wellington and 32.9 percent achieved NCEA Level 3 or higher, compared to 43.8 percent of all students in the region.

He said Māori youth were referred to attendance services at a rate of 23 per 1000, nearly twice the Wellington rate of 12.8 per 1000.

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Fire and Emergency postpones decision on cutting 140 jobs

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland firefighters protest for better pay and work conditions on November 2025. RNZ/Lucy Xia

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) has once again postponed its final decisions about restructuring.

Originally, FENZ said it would decide before Christmas on a proposal made last November to cut 140 positions and make changes to 700 roles in total.

It pushed that back to January, then again to Wednesday.

It has now been postponed again.

“The release of Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s organisational structure consultation decisions has been postponed until we have received the second determination from the Employment Relations Authority,” it said.

This second Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ruling was in response to two unions challenging FENZ’s consultation process.

FENZ said the ERA’s first ruling aligned with its position that it was not required to consult with the unions before issuing its change proposal last November, and that it can consult with them at the same time about the reason for changes and actual proposed changes.

The two sides were scheduled to go back to facilitated bargaining for two days in late March.

The Professional Firefighters Union earlier dropped a proposed ban on some administrative duties, such as doing fire reports.

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Consumers ‘nervous’ about economic outlook amid war in Middle East

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Quin Tauetau

Consumer confidence slipped in the March quarter as global uncertainty made households more nervous about the economic outlook.

The Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index fell 1.8 points to 94.7. A level below 100 indicates pessimists outweigh optimists.

Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod said the survey was conducted in the first two weeks of March, when the Middle East war took hold.

“Against that increasingly uncertain global backdrop, households have grown a little more nervous about the economic outlook,” he said.

“However, at the time we spoke to households, many will not have seen the full impact of the conflict or experienced the rise in fuel prices.”

Ranchhod said the longer the war went on, the economy would see more disruptions and lead to more pressure on households.

“Many households actually told us that their financial position had improved over the past year, and that lifted spending appetites in recent months,” he said.

“However, cost-of-living pressures are picking up again, led by sharp increases in fuel prices.”

Confidence was highest in Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay, followed by Auckland, with both regions sneaking into optimism territory above 100.

Taranaki/Manawatū-Whanganui was the most pessimistic region.

“Women remain much more pessimistic than men and their confidence has dropped this quarter by 4.7 points, down to an index score of 85.9. In contrast, men have experienced a small rise in confidence of 1.5 points to 104.1,” said Imogen Rendall, market research director at McDermott Miller.

“Looking ahead to next year, both men and women have similar expectations for their personal finances, with around a quarter expecting to be worse off.”

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Four teens charged charged burglary and high-speed chase in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police at the scene. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Four teenagers have been charged over an Auckland home invasion that resulted in a high-speed chase across the city, ending on Karangahape Road with a forced stop.

The accused – aged between 15 and 17 – are due to appear in the Manukau Youth Court on Wednesday.

They face charges of aggravated burglary and the driver has been charged with assaulting a person with a blunt instrument and failing to stop.

It started with an alleged armed home invasion in the sleepy eastern suburb of Howick and ended with police forcing a stolen ute to stop on Auckland’s Karangahape Road.

Manukau area commander Shanan Gray said four people, one armed with a machete, carried out the home invasion in Howick before stealing a white Ford ute and heading south, shortly after 3pm on Tuesday.

The superintendent said the ute reached high speeds and drove dangerously, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, as the four people made their way through Manukau and Ōtara.

Police inspect a Ford ute at the scene. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The police helicopter watched from above and Gray said at times, the ute crashed into cars and rammed patrol cars as they headed into the city.

Members of the police armed offenders squad (AOS) joined in the chase and a sponge round was fired.

Gray said a police dog was also used in the arrest.

The drama unfolded in the afternoon as commuters began making their way home from work.

A shopkeeper who only wanted to be known as Dave said the ute was heading into oncoming traffic when it was stopped.

“It was like full speed, boom. And the cop’s car … it just hit from the side. At that moment one guy jumped from the car with his hands up.”

A crashed car at the scene. Kim Baker Wilson/RNZ

A bridal shop worker, Jessie, was talking with a client when she heard two collisions outside on the street and what sounded like an explosion and a gun shot.

“I saw this white ute that had seemingly been the one that had crashed earlier, a bunch of men all kind of piled out of the car and all kind of got down on their stomachs…

“It had clearly been a police chase that had been going on for a while, because there were lots of police cars and police on them right away, and police dogs as well,” she said.

The worker said she was pretty shaken and locked the doors to their shop.

“We’re definitely kind of accustomed to some craziness happening outside on K’Road, so we’re definitely quick to lock our doors on occasions to keep our team and customers safe.

“But yeah, definitely nothing like this has ever happened before.”

Two other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Kim Baker Wilson/RNZ

She said one of the vehicles that the white ute crashed into looked like it had a young couple in, but she said they looked unhurt.

“It is extremely lucky that the reckless behaviour of these individuals did not result an anyone suffering serious injuries.”

Gray said two of the accused needed hospital treatment following the events.

“The victim of the aggravated burglary in Howick was shaken by the violent event that took place and has been provided support.”

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Moana Pasifika’s Augustine Pulu gets three week ban for dangerous tackle

Source: Radio New Zealand

Moana Pasifika halfback Augustine Pulu tackles Blues opposite Sam Nock. Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz

Moana Pasifika halfback Augustine Pulu has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle during his side’s 43-7 defeat to the Blues last weekend.

It’s a blow for Moana who have three tough games on the horizon. They host the Crusaders on Friday before matches against the Highlanders and Chiefs.

The high shot on Blues opposite Sam Nock occurred in the 17th minute of the Super Rugby match at Eden Park with former All Black Pulu receiving a yellow card which was later upgraded to red.

After the game Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga lamented Pulu’s sending off and said it made it harder for his side.

“That did harm us. It obviously harmed Sam Nock, which isn’t ideal. He’s a good, young man,” Umaga said.

“To play half an hour with 14 players… but the funny thing is, when we did have 14 men, we seemed to have a lot more urgency and showed what we can do.

“When we were 15, it wasn’t the same.”

The judiciary determined that the mid-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate for the incident in which Pulu made direct contact with a swinging arm to an opponent’s head, with no mitigation.

Due to Pulu’s guilty plea and other factors such as his prior disciplinary record and remorse, the judiciary applied the full 50 per cent reduction in sanction, reducing the ban to three weeks.

The ban will be reduced to two weeks if Pulu takes part in World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.

If he doesn’t attend the coaching programme he will miss Moana Pasifika’s upcoming matches against the Crusaders (21 March), Highlanders (27 March) and Chiefs (11 April).

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Investment property report sparks questions

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Property investors say new research shows that they contribute significant amounts to the country’s economy – but not everyone is convinced.

Work by Infometrics, commissioned by the New Zealand Property Investors Federation, showed that private residential property investors contributed $24.8 billion to gross domestic product, or 5.9 percent of GDP, and sustained 126,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

Federation advocacy manager Matt Ball said it directly countered the narrative that property investors were unproductive.

“Providing rental housing doesn’t just produce economic activity, it’s an enabler of economic activity throughout the economy,” he said.

“A well-functioning rental market allows workers, students, and families to live where they need to be. Without private investors providing most rental properties, the economy simply wouldn’t operate effectively.”

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said investors were often thought of as one singular group but there was a clear difference between speculators and property investors more generally.

“What we’ve found is that not only is there a substantial level of economic contribution and workforce that are indirectly supported by property investment in New Zealand, but the work that’s coming through, it does provide economic value in terms of places for people to live.

“The new builds that come through, the maintenance and repair spend, that’s a lot of continual year-on-year activity that emerges in the economy.

“That’s not what I think people think of when they think of property investors.”

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

He said investors spent $4.1 billion in the year on maintenance and improvements.

But Council of Trade Unions policy director Craig Renney said if rental housing was owned by people who lived in it, that would generate maintenance work, too.

“Let’s assume someone buys a unit of housing and they have it as a private rental and then they replace the kitchen, great, that creates GDP. But that’s making an assumption that if it was in private ownership as an owner occupied property it wouldn’t do the same thing, which is clearly not a valid thing to hold true.

“A private owner might well maintain it to a higher standard than a landlord.”

Ball said it would not be the case that the properties were all otherwise owner-occupied.

“The rental sector exists and always will, it’s just a question of how big it is.”

Olsen said in some cases there would be an element of displacement.

“But you’re still getting a fairly large amount of work that comes out sort of just constantly year on year.”

He said the research did not take into account what investment activity did to property values.

He said first-home buyers tended not to buy the cheapest properties and investors were sometimes in a different part of the market.

“The sort of flow on effects through to other parts of the economy are important and we see that probably most in terms of the sort of employment effects… we calculated that 109 different industries do see some sort of effect.

“It’s concentrated particularly around construction and given that as a large employer that’s important. But it does go through to other areas and one of the reasons that we approached the analysis the way we did was to try and provide that broader scope of what’s the sort of flow-on effects.

“It’s not just the immediate impact of property investment at day one, it’s where does that go? You know, if you’ve got those 126,000 workers that are supported by property investment, 5 percent out of the workforce, where do they spend their money?

“And then you’ve got the nearly $11 billion or so that was coming through on new builds.”

But Shamubeel Eaqub, chief economist at Simplicity, said there were wider questions to ask, and any industry could be portrayed as being large when set out in the same way.

“The issue to consider is the necessity – provision of housing – versus the margin – where additional capital goes in the economy.

“I don’t think the critique has ever been that no property ownership is good. It’s whether we have disproportionate allocation of capital – we do – that distorts the market and creates efficiency and equity issues.”

Ball said the report had been commissioned to address claims that providing rental accommodation was “unproductive speculation”, or people just buying and selling houses for profit.

“The report shows it’s not.”

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‘Trail went cold’: The hunt for masterpieces stolen in the Gardner Museum heist

Source: Radio New Zealand

Thieves stole 13 artworks by masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet, and Degas from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. Screeenshot / FBI

Thirty-six years on, mystery still lingers at Boston’s Gardner Museum.

In the early morning hours of 18 March 1990, two men dressed as police officers talked their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Within minutes, they had overpowered the security guards, duct taping and handcuffing them, and set about stripping the walls of treasures that may never be seen again.

The thieves moved between galleries, unbuttered by security who were still duct taped at the entrance. They triggered motion sensors and proceeded to cut canvases from their frames. By the time they left, 81 minutes after they arrived, they carried with them 13 works now valued at more than US$1 billion, names such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet, and Degas.

Other masterpieces went ignored. Works Titian and Michelangelo remained hung untouched, leaving investigators to wonder whether this was a targeted theft or simply a hurried snatch and grab. Whatever the motive, the result was the same: thirteen irreplaceable works gone, their empty frames hanging to this day in the museum’s Dutch Room.

Few know the case better than retired FBI agent Geoffrey Kelly, who spent 22 years interviewing hoaxers, chasing whispers and tracking rumours of Vermeer and Rembrandt masterpieces reportedly seen in darkened warehouses or in private vaults. His book, Thirteen Perfect Fugitives, is a true crime detective story.

An empty frame at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on 27 December, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP / Ryan McBride

The former Special Agent told First Up the reason the case fascinated the public was the audacious nature of the robbery.

“About 1.24 in the morning, on a Sunday morning right after St Patrick’s Day had ended, which is a big deal in Boston, these two subjects dressed as Boston police officers bluffed their way into the museum by claiming they were responding to a disturbance, and the guard – against protocol, let them in.”

For the FBI, the heist has become both legend and burden. Declared the largest property crime in United States history, the case has led agents through Boston’s criminal underground, across international smuggling channels, and down countless dead ends.

Kelly said that didn’t mean there weren’t suspects. Two men from Boston were identified.

“They were part of a bigger crew. It was an organised crime crew out of a section of Boston called Dorchester, and I’m confident they committed this robbery because they wanted to steal Rembrandts and hold on to them as a bargaining chip.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. AFP / Philippe Renault / hemis.fr

“In Massachusetts there had been a few instances in the previous two decades where subjects had stolen Rembrandts from museums in a effort to leverage their return in exchange for getting leniency on pending criminal sentences.”

Unfortunately for the suspects, and for investigators, both men died within a year of the robbery.

“One was violently murdered, and the other died under some very suspicious circumstances which, as you can imagine, can have a chilling effect on efforts to recover the artwork and might prevent somebody with information coming forward after seeing what happened to the subjects.”

Kelly said there were theories about where the art works went. “We were able to track some of the pieces up into Maine, down to Connecticut and down to Philadelphia but from there the trail went cold and that’s kind of where we were looking when it was time for my retirement two years ago.

“I think it’s quite possible the pieces have been split up and right now they’re waiting somewhere, waiting to be apprehended and our job is to find them.”

A US$10m reward remains on the table for information leading to full recovery.

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‘Morning Report: Chris Hipkins Hipkins says he considered his future in politics after ex-wife’s claims

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he did consider his future in politics after his ex-wife levelled claims at him on social media, but he remains “absolutely committed” to staying on.

Hipkins appeared on a suite of morning media on Wednesday – including Morning Report – where he again flatly denied all the claims, but said he would not be litigating them in public for the sake of his children.

The claims are not criminal and relate to a lack of support for his ex-wife Jade Paul during and after their relationship.

Speaking on Morning Report, Hipkins acknowledged he had considered stepping down, noting the impact on his family.

“It would be untrue to say that those thoughts hadn’t crossed my mind in the last 48 hours, but everybody in their lives at some point goes through rough patches, and you just have to keep getting out of bed every day.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Mark Papalii

“I love my job and and I’m absolutely committed to continuing to do it.”

Hipkins said the public debate was “very unfair” on his children, partner and parents – “you do pause and think about that” – but he had received a lot of support over the past day or two.

“Our marriage broke up. That was a traumatic thing. You know, clearly, there are always going to be lots of regrets in a situation like that.

“Many, many people have contacted me in the last 24 hours to indicate that they’ve been through a relationship break-up that has been difficult. I think people will understand that litigating those things through the public is in no one’s best interest.”

Hipkins confirmed he had sought legal advice about the further publication of his ex-wife’s allegations by others, as well as the addition of other “completely unsubstantiated things”.

“The online world is a bit of a sewer pit, and it seems that no one has any hesitation in adding to that,” he said.

“Social media certainly has emboldened a lot of people, and, you know, we have a virtual vigilante approach on social media that anybody in a public profile role now has to contend with. I don’t think that’s been healthy for democracy.”

Paul’s initial post was published on her private Facebook page on Sunday evening, but screenshots were quickly circulated online.

Paul later removed the post, but told RNZ she stood by the comments.

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Popstar Robbie Williams announces New Zealand tour

Source: Radio New Zealand

Global popstar Robbie Williams will play Christchurch’s new stadium later this year.

Williams will be one of the first international acts at the One New Zealand Stadium when he brings his BRITPOP World Tour to the city on 28 November – the singer’s first concert in Christchurch in 25 years.

He will also play Auckland’s Eden Park on 24 November.

“Australia and New Zealand have always had a very special place in my heart. Ever since my first solo tours, you have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home,” Williams said in a statement.

Released in January, BRITPOP was a nod to the 90s Britpop era and featured collaborations with Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Gaz Coombes (Supergrass), Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi, Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy and Gary Barlow.

The government said Williams was bringing his BRITPOP World Tour to Aotearoa with the support of its $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package.

“It’s fantastic to welcome a showstopper act like Robbie, giving fans the chance to see him entertaining us,” said Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston.

“We know concerts like his bring a significant economic injection into our cities and create a real buzz. It’s been calculated that for every dollar spent on live performance, $3.20 is returned in benefits to the wider community and that’s why we’re investing in them.”

The brand new 30,000 multi-use arena One New Zealand Stadium is due to open in April, and the following month, a dance and light extravaganza will take over.

Six60 and Synthony will perform in Christchurch on 16 May, the first live music set at the city’s brand new stadium.

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‘Batteries on wheels’: EV expert says power grid well-equipped for rise in use

Source: Radio New Zealand

If more Kiwis make the switch to an EV, could the electricity network handle the extra demand? ABC News / Brendan Esposito

With interest in electric vehicles increasing due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, questions have been raised over the reliability of New Zealand’s power grid, should there be an influx of EVs plugging in.

Petrol prices have risen past $3 per litre, and EV dealers told RNZ’s Morning Report they’ve seen a spike in sales since the Middle East conflict started to hit fuel prices.

But, if more Kiwis do make the switch, could the electricity network handle the extra demand from charging at peak times?

Drive Electric, an organisation established to advocate for cleaner transport options in New Zealand says even under the most extreme predictions of EV uptake, there’s no risk of the country running out of power.

Kirsten Corson, the chair of Drive Electric told Morning Report if all cars in New Zealand went electric, there would only be an increase of 20 percent in demand for electricity.

Corson says most people charge their cars overnight during off-peak hours, so are paying around $3 per 100 kilometres.

On top of the savings that can be made, Corson says smart charging set ups can often earn money with cars essentially becoming “batteries on wheels,” by allowing EVs to feed electricity back into the grid.

“Potentially, a car could put $2000 worth of value back into the electricity system. If you’re looking at something like a truck it was around $10,000 and a milk tanker was around $25,000 of value it could put back into the grid.”

Despite that, New Zealand has dropped behind other counties in the EV field.

“Embarassingly so, we’ve gone from a leader to a lagger. Over the last ten years we’ve seen around one in 10 new car sales are electric, compared to globally where one in four car sales are electric.

“The Australians are even ahead of us with one in five new car sales being electric, so we’re really behind the eight-ball. And, in China, one in two car sales are electric,” Corson said.

Corson says the government’s decision to drop incentives for EV purchases is concerning .

“We obviously want to see energy independence in this country, which we currently don’t have.” she said.

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England netball coach Jess Thirlby steps down to focus on family

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jess Thirlby former head coach of England. © Photosport Ltd 2021 www.photosport.nz

England netball coach Jess Thirlby has stepped down just four months out from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

She steps down with immediate effect in a decision she said was “best for me and my family”.

Thirlby had been in the job for almost seven years after replacing Tracey Neville in 2019.

Thirlby said she was stepping down in order to focus on her family.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share my decision to step down from my role as head coach at England Netball, effective immediately,” Thirlby said in a statement.

“This is not a decision I had ever thought I would have to make but I need to turn my attention onto supporting my incredible family.

“On reflection, I was mistaken to not prioritise and process the loss of my father at the time of his death, instead, and without regret, travelling with the team for the World Cup and the subsequent series in New Zealand.

“Everything I have done since has been to prioritise the England Roses and with this in mind, I feel that stepping down as head coach now is best for me and my family.”

Thirlby’s assistant Anna Stembridge will lead the side into the Commonwealth Games with former captain Olivia Murphy becoming assistant coach.

England won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2018 but missed out on the medals in 2022.

The Silver Ferns beat England 2-1 in their series in Britain late last year.

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‘Morning Report: ‘Sewer pit’ – Chris Hipkins looks to battle ‘absolutely untrue’ posts

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he doesn’t think it is in anyone’s best interests to be arguing over details of his marriage break-up in public.

It comes after he rejected allegations made against him by his ex-wife.

On Wednesday, Hipkins told Morning Report says “all sorts” of additional unsubstantiated claims were now being added from parts of the internet.

He said he has sought legal advice, not about his ex-wife’s posts, but about further allegations being published online that were “absolutely untrue”.

“The online world is a bit of a sewer pit.”

He said he had worked hard to protect his family from the spotlight in politics, especially his children, and wanted them to grow up with a sense of normality.

“Our marriage broke up. That was a traumatic thing. Clearly there are always going to be lots of regrets in a situation like that.”

Hipkins denies the unsubstantiated claims.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The allegations – which do not relate to any unlawful activity – were posted on Jade Paul’s private Facebook page on Sunday evening but have since been removed.

Each of the claims, which relate to accusations of a lack of support during the marriage and after, were put to Hipkins directly on Tuesday. He denied them all in turn.

Hipkins on Tuesday said marriage breakups were very difficult, and there would always be disagreements or “things that you regret” when relationships break up, but “a public forum like this is not the way to litigate those”.

Asked if his children were okay, Hipkins choked up and said: “My kids are.. my kids are with her, so I don’t know.”

Asked if the situation could be damaging for Labour, he said he hoped not, and said standing down wasn’t something he considered.

More to come…

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Person critically injured after scooter, vehicle collide in Auckland CBD

Source: Radio New Zealand

A police car seen behind a cordon as officers attend an incident. RNZ

A person has been critically injured after a scooter and vehicle crashed in central Auckland on Wednesday morning.

Police are at the intersection of Mayoral Drive and Cook Street.

The injured person has been taken to hospital.

Cordons are in place on Mayoral Drive near the intersection of Greys Avenue and Cook Street, as well as at the intersection with Hobson and Cook Streets.

Police say motorists should avoid the area if possible.

The Serious Crash Unit will attend, with a scene examination and crash investigation to begin.

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Iran war will lead to more supermarket price rises – Foodstuffs boss

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Shoppers will take another hit when the impact of the Iran war hits the supermarket shelves, a Foodstuffs boss says.

Households have already been feeling the pressure over the last year as shown by the release of new Stats NZ data.

Prices were up 4.5 percent on an annual basis in February, with mince up 23.2 percent, and sirloin steak 21.5 percent.

There have been warnings that the cost of food may rise further as producer and transportation costs increase, due to the Middle East conflict.

Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin said before the Middle East war, two factors were driving prices up despite a drop in inflation.

New Zealand lived in a global economy and when export prices were strong, such as for red meat and fish, Kiwis had to pay more for them.

As well, bad weather hit fruit and vegetable growing.

Retail grocery prices went up around 3.7 percent, he said, which was lower than the overall 4.5 percent announced yesterday.

Supermarkets tried not to pass on all their costs and to manage their costs as efficiently as possible.

Asked if supermarkets were taking the same margin as a year ago, he said they were or were taking even less.

Regarding the Iran war, suppliers were talking about the pressure they were were under but it had not impacted on prices so far.

The cost of diesel was of particular concern both for transport and the impact it had on plastic products.

“It is unclear at this point how much of an impact it will have but it’s going to be very hard to suppress that impact depending on how long it lasts as well.”

The impact of the war was still to be felt on supermarket shelves.

“It’s a live conversation now but it’s not showing up on prices so far.”

There was no concern about getting supply as goods didn’t travel through the Strait of Hormuz, Quin said.

“It is unclear at this point how much of an impact it’s going to have.”

Quin expected that if there was fuel rationing the supermarket sector would be a priority.

He was happy with discussions underway with the government.

Fertiliser being applied on a farm. 123RF

Domestic food production a priority

The flow-on effects from the conflict in Iran are being felt by farmers.

Fuel prices are up, and the Middle East is also a major player in fertiliser trade, producing about 40 percent of the world’s nitrogen fertilisers.

That’s a double hit for arable farmers, who rely on fertiliser to grow crops and diesel to run their machinery.

Federated Farmers arable chairperson David Birkett said without a doubt food prices would increase due to the conflict’s impact.

Higher costs of processing and transport were the two key factors, he told Morning Report.

If there was to be any rationing of diesel, farmers should be among those on the priority list.

“Domestic food production should be given some level of prioritisation when it comes to fuel.”

The arable sector was the biggest user of diesel, Birkett said. Harvesting was almost finished and crops would then be resown.

“The diesel price has affected us straight away, which is quite interesting given that the government says we have six weeks’ supply on hand.

“Yet the price goes up instantaneous when the war starts so there’s obviously some cost recovery being done there from the fuel companies I’d imagine.”

If diesel was rationed, that would be “a real challenge” for farmers, especially arable farmers who needed to use machinery.

The two main fertiliser cooperatives have indicated they already have supply to last through autumn which meant settled prices for “a little bit”, Birkett said.

However, for the peak demand time of spring, farmers were already concerned about both supply and price.

He did not expect prices to rise as high as the pandemic when prices doubled after all production stopped.

“Time will tell I guess.”

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