Category: Radio New Zealand

Posted on

Riverlink project affecting Hutt River water quality

Source: Radio New Zealand

A water quality monitor moored midstream south of Melling Bridge in Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi. Phil Pennington / RNZ

Lower Hutt’s roads may be blocked up by the Riverlink highway project, but the river itself has so far kept flowing pretty clear.

Bulldozers have been busy in the riverbed and on its banks, shifting masses of stones around.

Meanwhile, monitors in the water upstream and downstream from the epicentre at Melling Bridge have shown some changes in quality.

“Yes, there have been temporary changes in water quality linked to RiverLink construction activities in the river channel,” Greater Wellington Regional Council told RNZ.

However, by mid-February, tight conditions on pollution had only been infringed once, the project copping fines of about $1000.

The changes in the river were allowed on condition the water quality returned to “ambient clarity” approximately one hour after any job was done, the regional council told RNZ.

It released a host of test results under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

The council listed a few minor problems for Te Awa Kairangi partnership – in early January, for instance, the water got clouded by work shifting the entire flow of the river from the east bank to the west under the bridge.

In November, fine sediment levels got too high, triggering the first – and as of mid-February – only “active management response” that concluded it was minor and not directly related to Riverlink.

Back in June 2025, “there was a discharge of sediment-laden water from the haul road and Rockline L3 construction works during a site inspection”. That co-incided with heavy rain, so they quickly built some temporary soakage pits and used hay mulch to turn it around.

So far, the project has done four monitoring reports on the riverbed – three on trout, two on macroinvertebrates and two on indigenous fish.

The Hutt River was popular among trout anglers.

“The potential and actual impacts of the RiverLink Project were considered, assessed and appropriate mitigations applied through the Environment Court Consent process,” the council’s group manager environment Lian Butcher said in the released documents.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/riverlink-project-affecting-hutt-river-water-quality/

Posted on

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says Cabinet colleagues back him, won’t stand down as National’s leader

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (L) flanked by his Cabinet colleagues. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The Prime Minister has told Newstalk ZB none of his Cabinet colleagues have told him to reconsider his future, saying “all of them” back him.

Christopher Luxon’s comments came after speculation about his leadership following a Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll had National on 28.4 – down nearly 3 points from its poll last month.

Labour was up at 34.4, while the Greens, ACT, and Te Pati Māori were all up on 10.5, 7.5, and 3.2 respectively.

New Zealand First had taken a slight drop to 9.7.

Those results would give the centre-Left bloc 61 seats, enough to govern, while the coalition government bloc would fall short on 59 seats.

Luxon told Newstalk ZB he was ‘absolutely not’ considering standing down and said he had the skills to lead the National Party and the country.

“The only thing I am considering is the future of our children and grandchildren.”

He said the only polling he took note of was National’s own internal polling, which was processed in the United Kingdom.

“I would reassure you – if there was a problem, I would be doing something about it. But we are long way away from what we’ve seen published in a TPU poll today.”

Luxon said he has “not thought about” what polling level would be the threshold for him to step down as prime minister.

“I have the full support of my team and my caucus.”

The poll came at the end of a week where Luxon struggled to communicate clearly on the Iran conflict.

Speaking on NewstalkZB, he acknowledged failings with his personal communication: “I’ve freely admitted, I’m not a career politician. I’m not always going to have the perfect most tidy soundbite like someone who’s been there 20 years would do.”

Luxon said the media had gotten carried away in its reaction to the public poll over the course of the day.

“The whole world seems to have got very exercised … the reason I’m going on your show is to clarify to people, no, I’m not doing that [considering my future].”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-says-cabinet-colleagues-back-him-wont-stand-down-as-nationals-leader/

Posted on

Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney stakes claim for world indoor selection with national title

Source: Radio New Zealand

Eliza McCartney in action at the Sir Graeme Douglas International. David Rowland/Photosport

Kiwi pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has thrown down the gauntlet to fellow Kiwis Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart in their internal battle for selection to the world indoor championships in Poland this month.

The 2016 Olympic bronze medallist and 2024 world indoor silver medallist has cleared 4.81m to capture her seventh national title at Auckland’s Trusts Arena.

The performance sees her catapult to second in the world so far this year and, more importantly, puts her ahead of her training mates for the world championships, where New Zealand can only field two athletes in each event.

Two weeks ago, Ayris soared over 4.76m for third at an indoor meet in France, while McTaggart was over 4.70m to match McCartney’s outdoor mark at the Auckland championships that same weekend.

All three have reached the qualifying standard, but nations are limited to just two entries.

Ayris took bronze at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, while McTaggart won the prestigious London Diamond League meet last year.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/pole-vaulter-eliza-mccartney-stakes-claim-for-world-indoor-selection-with-national-title/

Posted on

Live: Super Rugby Pacific – Blues v Crusaders

Source: Radio New Zealand

Photosport

Super Rugby rivals Blues and Crusaders face off in the match of the round at Eden Park on Saturday.

Surprisingly, both sides have just one win each to their names, but the Crusaders carrying the form of a victory over the Chiefs last week.

Kickoff is at 7.05pm.

Blues: 1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 2. Kurt Eklund 3. Marcel Renata 4. Josh Beehre 5. Sam Darry 6. Torian Barnes 7. Dalton Papali’i (c) 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Finlay Christie 10. Stephen Perofeta 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Pita Ahki 13. AJ Lam 14. Codemeru Vai 15. Zarn Sullivan

Bench: 16. James Mullan 17. Mason Tupaea 18. Sam Matenga 19. Che Clark 20. Anton Segner 21. Taufa Funaki 22. Beauden Barrett 23. Xavi Taele

Crusaders: 1. George Bower 2. Codie Taylor 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Antonio Shalfoon 5. Jamie Hannah 6. Dom Gardiner 7. Ethan Blackadder (VC) 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Rivez Reihana 11. Sevu Reece 12. David Havili (c) 13. Leicester Fainga’anuku 14. Chay Fihaki 15. Taha Kemara

Bench: 16. Manumaua Letiu 17. Finlay Brewis 18. Seb Calder 19. Will Tucker (Crusaders Debut) 20. Corey Kellow 21. Kyle Preston 22. Xavier Saifoloi 23. Dallas McLeod

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/live-super-rugby-pacific-blues-v-crusaders/

Posted on

The Detail: The great property breakup

Source: Radio New Zealand

Townhouses on Glengarry Road, Glen Eden. Supplied

New Zealand’s love affair with property could be in the break-up stage, with no shortage of houses and investors turning to the share market.

It’s been a national obsession for decades – buying property and creating wealth through soaring capital gains.

But the days of making huge, untaxed profits on such investments are likely over.

The Reserve Bank’s chief economist says we may be seeing a “structural change” in the housing market; there are too many empty townhouses failing to sell; prices are going sideways; and the prospect of a capital gains tax being introduced is becoming more certain.

First home buyers are making a comeback.

But is it too early to say we’re seeing the end of the housing crisis?

On this episode of The Detail we look at where we’re sitting, with experts saying while there’s no shortage of homes available now, that doesn’t necessarily make them affordable.

There are several factors behind the shift.

Younger investors who know they can’t afford to get a foot on the property ladder are turning to KiwiSaver and managed funds – they’re the “Sharesies” generation. The ASB’s latest Investor Confidence Survey says traditional property investment is losing ground to options that provide better returns.

New intensification rules have seen developers replace traditional single-home sections with townhouses – so much so that the market is now awash with them.

Rents are falling – it’s now a tenants’ market – meaning returns on property are less certain. Rock bottom interest rates, which encouraged debt, are unlikely to ever return.

And the ANZ’s chief economist, Sharon Zollner, says there’s an inevitability of new taxes that would dent profit margins in property.

She says maybe a Capital Gains Tax is not on our doorstop, but it will come eventually.

“How long can New Zealand really remain such an outlier internationally, and refuse to have that conversation?” she says.

“I do wonder if people are starting to think that perhaps there’s an inevitability around tax change.”

Zollner says first home buyers have got the field to themselves and some of them are taking advantage of it.

“But then the immediate question is – why have they got the field to themselves? Where are the investors? And I think that’s where it gets interesting.”

She says investors seem to be wary. Adding to the uncertainty has been a very strong outflow of Kiwis to Australia, and they are putting their own houses on the market.

“While interest rates have come down a long way, they’re nowhere near the lows we saw in the boom, and now it’s a question of when they’ll be hiked.”

But Zollner says there are bigger structural issues.

“Can we expect similar returns from the next 10 years say, in the housing market, that we’ve seen over the last decades? And there I think more people are realising, probably not.”

BusinessDesk property editor Maria Slade believes we are on the cusp of a change.

“Perhaps people are starting to see houses as something you live in, and not necessarily an investment,” she says.

“Successive governments have tightened the rules around property investment. It’s not quite as attractive as it used to be. And also the costs have made it less attractive – insurance has gone up, rates have gone up … you’ve got to be getting pretty good rents to get a good yield out of an investment property now. So that’s also, I think, changed the mindset a wee bit.

“I think the tide has turned in terms of how New Zealanders are looking at property.”

Slade says that’s a good thing.

“We have way too much wealth tied up in property – it’s unproductive wealth, it just sits there on a 700 square metre section … it’s not doing anything for the country.

“We definitely need to get over that one if the country’s going to become more prosperous going forward.”

As an example of change, Slade has been looking at what commentators are saying is a glut of townhouses, and the consequences of that. Some are sitting on the market for so long they’re no longer considered ‘new builds’, which means favourable lending for first home buyers doesn’t apply.

In spite of the stagnant market, new data from Infometrics shows consents for townhouses grew by 14 percent from the year to January.

In today’s podcast, Slade talks about some possible reasons for that, including a possible move away from cookie-cutter style homes without car parks to less crowded buildings.

Kelvin Davidson, the chief Property Economist at Cotality, hedges his bets when asked if the housing crisis is over.

“It depends what you mean by ‘housing crisis’,” he says.

“I suppose what people think about … over the past 20 or 30 years is an affordability crisis where house prices have been too high in relation to incomes and it’s been a stretch for people to get onto the housing ladder.

“I don’t think it’s ever been easy to buy your first house. It’s been a challenge through time.

“So is that crisis over? Maybe.

“I think we may be reaching a turning point in the market now, where the mindset is shifting and people are starting to realise that actually, ever-rising house prices isn’t necessarily the best thing for a country.”

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/the-detail-the-great-property-breakup/

Posted on

Prim Minister Christopher Luxon says Cabinet colleagues back him, won’t stand down as National’s leader

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (L) flanked by his Cabinet colleagues. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The Prime Minister has told Newstalk ZB none of his Cabinet colleagues have told him to reconsider his future, saying “all of them” back him.

Christopher Luxon’s comments came after speculation about his leadership following a Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll had National on 28.4 – down nearly 3 points from its poll last month.

Labour was up at 34.4, while the Greens, ACT, and Te Pati Māori were all up on 10.5, 7.5, and 3.2 respectively.

New Zealand First had taken a slight drop to 9.7.

Those results would give the centre-Left bloc 61 seats, enough to govern, while the coalition government bloc would fall short on 59 seats.

Luxon told Newstalk ZB he was ‘absolutely not’ considering standing down and said he had the skills to lead the National Party and the country.

“The only thing I am considering is the future of our children and grandchildren.”

He said the only polling he took note of was National’s own internal polling, which was processed in the United Kingdom.

“I would reassure you – if there was a problem, I would be doing something about it. But we are long way away from what we’ve seen published in a TPU poll today.”

Luxon said he has “not thought about” what polling level would be the threshold for him to step down as prime minister.

“I have the full support of my team and my caucus.”

The poll came at the end of a week where Luxon struggled to communicate clearly on the Iran conflict.

Speaking on NewstalkZB, he acknowledged failings with his personal communication: “I’ve freely admitted, I’m not a career politician. I’m not always going to have the perfect most tidy soundbite like someone who’s been there 20 years would do.”

Luxon said the media had gotten carried away in its reaction to the public poll over the course of the day.

“The whole world seems to have got very exercised … the reason I’m going on your show is to clarify to people, no, I’m not doing that [considering my future].”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/prim-minister-christopher-luxon-says-cabinet-colleagues-back-him-wont-stand-down-as-nationals-leader/

Posted on

Trevor Foley, Kat Matthews clear out to clinch Ironman NZ titles

Source: Radio New Zealand

Trevor Foley claims Ironman NZ victory at Taupō. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz

American Trevor Foley and Briton Kat Matthews have headed off strong fields to claim elite honours at the 42nd edition of IRONMAN New Zealand in Taupō.

Foley became the first United States man since Tim DeBoom to prevail in the men’s race, while Matthews justified her heavy pre-race favouritism, finishing well clear of her rivals.

Foley was rewarded for his late decision to come to New Zealand, following a heavy period of training in Florida, producing a breakthrough career performance.

Victory was based on his brilliant closing run, clocking 2h 35m 42s for the marathon distance, which was nearly five minutes faster than the previous best time for the course.

The 26-year-old claimed the lead about 10km from the finish, easing past Frenchman Pierre Le Corre, who finished second, 1m 43s back in his Ironman distance debut. American veteran Matt Hansen was third.

Pierre Le Corre leads at the end of the swim leg of Ironman NZ. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz

Foley’s overall winning time was 7h 46m 44s.

For the first time since 2008, no New Zealand men were on the podium.

The event was the first of the calendar year’s global pro series.

Matthews, who has topped the women’s pro series for the last two years, showed she’s ready to make it a hattrick with a dominant performance.

She was never threatened over the second half of the race to finish in 8h 28m 55s.

New Zealand’s Hannah Berry was nearly seven minutes back in second, while Dutchwoman Lotte Wilms was third.

All three women’s overall times were quicker than the previous race record.

The top four men and four women all qualify automatically for this year’s world championships at Kona, Hawaii.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/trevor-foley-kat-matthews-clear-out-to-clinch-ironman-nz-titles/

Posted on

Motorcyclist dies after Foxton Shannon Road crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

Foxton Shannon Road. Google Maps

One person died after a motorcycle crash that closed Foxton Shannon Road between the Manawatū towns of Foxton and Shannon on Saturday.

Emergency services were called to the area about 9.40am after reports of a single motorcycle crash between Himatangi Block Road and Poplar Road.

Police said the rider died at the scene.

The road was closed while emergency services responded but has since reopened.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/motorcyclist-dies-after-foxton-shannon-road-crash/

Posted on

Applause at Auckland Airport as flight arrives from Dubai

Source: Radio New Zealand

Those waiting outside Auckland International Airport’s arrival area erupted into applause for the landing of the first flight from the Middle East since recent conflict began.

Emirates flight EK448 from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates arrived at 11:30am on Saturday.

The flights follow a partial re-opening of the airspace, amidst the conflict in the Middle East.

  • Watch: Govt sends Hercules to aid NZers in Middle East

    • Michelle and Mark Frankham were at the airport to support friends who were arriving on the flight from Dubai. Pretoria Gordon

    Michelle Frankham and her husband, Mark Frankham, were some of the first at Auckland Airport on Saturday.

    The couple were waiting for Michelle Frankham’s friend Yvonne, along with Yvonne’s husband and two children.

    The family were returning to New Zealand after living in Dubai for a year.

    “We’re here to welcome them home, because I know that they spent their last night curled up in their bathroom with two young teenage girls, so we’re here with a car full of groceries and some gift baskets to make them feel better,” Michelle Frankham told RNZ.

    “We’re just relieved that they’re coming home.”

    Michelle Frankham hugs her friend Yvonne. RNZ / Pretoria Gordon

    Claire Eadie was waiting for her daughter-in-law Rebecca Fleming and her three grandchildren.

    Eadie’s son remained behind in Dubai, but had told Eadie that her grandchildren were upset by the alerts that warned of incoming missiles.

    “I think they are so stressed, I think it’s been a really hard week for them,” Eadie said.

    “I think they’re very sad at leaving their dad behind, but they must feel a huge sense of relief to have left.”

    As a grandmother and mother-in-law, Eadie was overjoyed to have her family back in New Zealand.

    “You don’t ever imagine your children in a war zone.

    “[I’m] heartbroken that my son isn’t here too, but very relieved that my daughter-in-law and grandchildren will be safe now.”

    Eadie said the rest of the day would be spent in “peace and quiet”.

    Fleming said all three of her children were born in the Middle East, and it was bittersweet to have left her home – and her husband.

    The flight was originally scheduled for Sunday, Fleming added, so she only had half an hour to pack before heading to the airport.

    She estimated there were 30 to 40 people on the flight.

    Claire Eadie with her daughter-in-law Rebecca Fleming, and her three grandchildren. RNZ / Pretoria Gordon

    David Ramsay was waiting for his wife, Leonie Ramsay, who had been in Dubai since 20 February.

    “I was going to go up last week, but as I was about to leave, they closed the airspace,” he said.

    While they had spoken “several times a day” since then, both burst into tears upon being reunited.

    “Really good to be home,” Leonie Ramsay said. “Really good to have her home,” David Ramsay added.

    David and Leonie Ramsay RNZ / Pretoria Gordon

    Louise Kyle, who came from Scotland, also burst into tears when she was reunited with her husband.

    “It is so lovely to be home, it’s so lovely to call New Zealand home, lovely to be on the other side of the world.”

    She had been stuck in Dubai for three days, listening to a “missile threat” alert from Civil Defence every hour or so.

    Louise Kyle RNZ/Pretoria Gordon

    Margaret Grogan was also relieved to have made it back to her “second home”. She was en route from South Africa when she got stuck in the Middle East due to the conflict.

    “I love New Zealand. I’m from Ireland and this is … my second home. I absolutely love it.

    “When they asked me: ‘Where are you from?’ I said New Zealand. [They said]: ‘Isn’t that the safest place in the world to be in right now?’ And I said absolutely … very, very safe.”

    Margaret Grogan reuniting with her husband. RNZ / Pretoria Gordon

    While most of the passengers on the flight were returning home, one tourist had come to visit New Zealand for the first time.

    Richard Parnicky, who is an expatriate living in Dubai, was planning to meet up with some friends in Auckland.

    “It was a very peaceful flight. It was basically empty… I was looking forward to going to New Zealand for quite some time and here I am now.”

    Richard Parnicky RNZ/Pretoria Gordon

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

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

    LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/applause-at-auckland-airport-as-flight-arrives-from-dubai/

    Posted on

    NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters: Too early to celebrate big win in season-opener

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad celebrate the Warriors’ win over Sydney Roosters. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

    Analysis: NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster isn’t getting too far ahead of himself, despite his team’s convincing 42-18 over Sydney Roosters in their 2026 NRL season-opener at Go Media Stadium.

    Up against a side Sydney media love to install among competition favourites at the start of each season, the Auckland-based side ran in seven tries to three, including a 22-point burst either side of halftime that gave them a firm grip on the contest.

    For the 12th time in their 32 seasons, the Warriors have begun their campaign with a win, but Webster wasn’t breaking out the champagne yet.

    “Tonight was worth two points, it’s not the grand final,” he insisted. “Everyone puts a lot of emphasis on round one and you get judged.

    “Last year, they said we’d get the [wooden] spoon, when we lost in Vegas. Tonight, everyone will say we’re real contenders.

    “It’s two points and, if I had a dollar for every time someone won in round one and didn’t back it up the next week, I’d be rich.”

    In fact, eight of the 12 season-opening wins across the club’s history were followed by defeats the next week.

    Here are some key points to come from the win over the Roosters:

    Best player

    Any early anxiety over how the Warriors would start the season without Luke Metcalf was eased by the performance of halfback Tanah Boyd, who probably had his best first-grade game for the club.

    He set the tone early, taking on the defensive line bursting through for the opening try and continued to orchestrate the Warriors attack masterfully, providing two try assists and two linebreak assists for a game-high 77 SuperCoach fantasy points.

    After a couple of early misses off the tee, he converted six of the seven tries, including three from near touch.

    “I think the way he’s trained and how clear he’s been, how fast he ran for that try… when Tanah runs, that’s when he’s playing his best.

    “I was really happy. I know he’ll have some things on his list, but I thought that was his best game.”

    Webster was cagey about any looming rivalry between Boyd and Metcalf for the No.7 jersey, but hinted he was open to playing one of them at five-eighth.

    Tanah Boyd scores a try for the Warriors against Sydney Roosters. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

    “You don’t have to pigeonhole halves that can only wear the seven jersey,” he said. “Everyone’s getting a bit better at being a six or a seven, or you just look at them as two halves.

    “I’m not suggesting at the moment. I’m just grateful we have four really good halfbacks at hand.”

    That said, Chanel Harris-Tavita showed he’d also be hard to displace, with a brace of tries, both scored running an inside support line to wing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for late offloads.

    Also a special mention for front-rower Jackson Ford, who led his team in both running metres (219) and tackles (28) over 71 minutes.

    This is a surprisingly rate feat – he was the only Warrior to achieve it last season, along with just a handful of others across the competition.

    Key moment

    Probably a couple, but the Roosters looked to have grabbed the lead in the 22nd minute, when Tuivasa-Sheck could not take a high kick from Daly Cherry-Evans and Roosters hooker Benaiah Ioelu won the race for the ball to score.

    Replays persuaded the bunker that rival winger Mark Nawaqanitawase had obstructed RTS in the midair contest and the try was disallowed.

    With the next possession, the Warriors marched up the other end and centre Adam Pompey scored a try in almost identical fashion to the one that was just ruled out, recovering a kick to scramble across the line.

    Even then, some doubt remained about whether he successfully forced the ball before spilling it, but replays suggested he probably did.

    Adam Pompey scores a try for the Warriors against the Roosters. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

    That 12-point swing gifted the Warriors momentum, which they turned into a 22-point lead.

    The other pivotal point came at 28-18, after the Roosters had scored back-to-back tries and seemed poised to close hard over the final half hour.

    Boyd kicked a penalty to stop the bleeding and the Warriors produced a strong defensive stand against repeated sets, including a brilliant reflex grab from second-rower Kurt Capewell, as Roosters half Sam Walker stabbed a kick towards the goal-line.

    Harris-Tavita finally put the nail in the coffin with his second try five minutes from the end.

    Best try

    Soon after halftime, the Roosters needed to score to wrestle back momentum, but instead, Boyd put up a high kick towards the goalposts and second-rower Leka Halasima soared high to claim the catch and crash over for the try.

    Halasima made a habit of this during his incredible breakout 2025 season, but Webster held him back until after the break and played him just 35 minutes in this game, preferring to give Jacob Laban a decent run from the starting spot.

    “The day will come when Leka will play 80 minutes and I’m looking forward to that day, because it will be awesome, but he doesn’t need to do it right now,” Webster said. “He just needs to own his little time and have that impact.

    “There’s nothing wrong with coming on and having a try first touch – it’s really good.”

    Injuries

    The Warriors seemed to escape any major injuries from this game, although Ford was left clutching his shoulder, after tackling Nawaqanitawase midway through the second half.

    He played on another eight minutes, before he was finally subbed off.

    Back-up hooker Sam Healey also left for a head check late in the contest, but Webster reported he passed and could be considered next week.

    Co-captain Mitch Barnett won’t be back next week, as hoped, as he continues to rehab last year’s season-ending knee injury.

    He underwent four days of testing in Sydney last week and, while Webster insisted he had suffered no setback, Barnett will be held out at least another week.

    “We’re getting closer, so no dramas there, but the last month to six weeks, you get down to the nitty gritty. Everyone thinks it’s nine months, but sometimes it’s eight-and-a-half months and sometimes it’s 10 months.

    “They’re not injuries you want to mess around with. The whole medical industry has advanced so far on how quickly they can get players back, but the ACL is one of those ones that takes so long.”

    Roosters

    Coach Trent Robinson quietly seethed over how his team wound up on the end of a lopsided penalty count that was 11-2 at one point.

    “Things will go against you and the opposition will apply pressure,” he said. “It depends on the referee and how they determine those.

    “Eleven-two is quite incredible in our game, and then we had video ref decisions and all of that, but as I go back to, depending on what team you want to be, is how much of a swing against you do you let in that many points.

    “We want to be a team that you can have 11-2 against, you can have decisions go against you, and you can put your gloves up and say, ‘That’s cool, we might be a few points down, but we can hold onto that, no matter how far it swings’.”

    Essentially, Robinson wants his team to be good enough to withstand that adversity and still compete.

    Roosters captain James Tedesco finally snapped over the lopsided penalty count against the Roosters. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

    With five minutes left, skipper James Tedesco finally snapped and was penalised for dissent, as he protested another call that went against them.

    The addition of Daly Cherry-Evans drew considerable interest. While he didn’t stamp himself on proceedings, Robinson insisted his team had created enough chances to win the game, but 42 points was too many to concede.

    The Roosters weren’t helped, when they lost State of Origin front-rower Spencer Leniu during warm-ups with a hamstring injury.

    What the result means

    A winning start to the season – and not much more.

    Midway through the opening round, the Warriors briefly sat second on the table, behind Melbourne Storm, but Penrith Panthers then achieved a bigger points differential in their win over champions Brisbane.

    That will likely change again, with three more games scheduled this weekend.

    What’s next

    Next Friday, the Warriors host Canberra Raiders at Go Media Stadium.

    The Raiders won both encounters last season, the first famously in Vegas, and went on to claim minor premier honours, before they were eliminated by Cronulla Sharks in the semifinals.

    They face Manly Sea Eagles in their season-opener on Saturday night.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/nz-warriors-v-sydney-roosters-too-early-to-celebrate-big-win-in-season-opener/

    Posted on

    Live: Highlanders v Western Force – Super Rugby Pacific

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Photosport

    The Highlanders are coming off back-to-back defeats after their stunning round one upset of the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific.

    They face a Western Force outfit on Saturday afternoon beaming after picking up their first win of the season against Moana Pasifika.

    Kickoff is at 4:35pm.

    Highlanders:

    1. Ethan de Groot (CC) 2. Jack Taylor 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Oliver Haig 5. Mitch Dunshea 6. Te Kamaka Howden 7. Veveni Lasaqa 8. Nikora Broughton 9. Folau Fakatava 10. Cameron Millar 11. Jona Nareki 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (CC) 13. Jonah Lowe 14. Caleb Tangitau 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

    Bench: 16. Soane Vikena 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Sosefo Kautai 19. Will Stodart 20. Sean Withy 21. Adam Lennox 22. Reesjan Pasitoa 23. Tanielu Tele’a

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

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

    LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/07/live-highlanders-v-western-force-super-rugby-pacific/

    Posted on

    Iranian diaspora form human chain on Wellington waterfront

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Ali Jafari-Gh, an Iranian-born academic who teaches at Massey University, at a demonstration in Wellington on Saturday, to show support for those in Iran living under repression. RNZ/ Penny Smith

    Members of New Zealand’s Iranian community and their supporters have formed a human chain on Wellington’s waterfront, calling attention to the situation in Iran and expressing solidarity with people they say are living under repression.

    About 60 people from the Iranian diaspora and their supporters stood hand-in-hand for about an hour holding placards and flags, on the capital’s waterfront behind Frank Kitts Park.

    Protesters said they organised the event to draw attention to what they describe as widespread unrest and government crackdowns inside the country.

    Many participants said they had family members in Iran and were concerned about their safety.

    Protesters calling for international support for people protesting against Iran’s government. RNZ/ Penny Smith

    Among those attending was Ali Jafari-Gh, an Iranian-born academic who teaches animal science at Massey University.

    Originally from Karaj, near Tehran, Jafari-Gh said he had recently travelled to Iran over the New Year period and witnessed protests first-hand.

    He joined demonstrations during his visit and was injured when security forces opened fire.

    “I was hit in the foot by gunfire,” he said.

    “Many of the people out on the streets were young, and thousands came out to protest.”

    Ali Jafari-Gh says he was shot in the foot while attending protests in Iran earlier this year. RNZ/ Penny Smith

    Ali Jafari-Gh said the experience reinforced his decision to speak publicly in New Zealand about the situation in his home country.

    Shirin, who has lived in New Zealand for about 13 years after leaving Iran, said she joined the demonstration to show support for people protesting against the government.

    Shirin took part in the human chain protest in Wellington on Saturday. RNZ/ Penny Smith

    “People raised their voices because life has become very hard,” Shirin said.

    “Many innocent people have been killed or arrested. We are here to support them and show they are not alone.”

    Several protesters said they supported international strikes against Iranian government targets, describing them as a necessary intervention rather than a war.

    Dr Reza Farhour, a general practitioner who has lived in New Zealand for more than a decade, said demonstrators believed the action was aimed at helping ordinary Iranians rather than harming them.

    “We do not see what is happening as a war,” he said.

    “We see it as a rescue mission for the Iranian people. People have tried for decades to change the system peacefully and were met with bullets and prison.”

    Dr Reza Farhour RNZ/ Penny Smith

    Farhour said the aim of the gathering was also to bring attention to what he described as a lack of information coming out of the country.

    “The main aim is to echo the Iranian voice, which is shut down by the government,” he said.

    “There is no internet and no media coverage there, so we want people here to know what is happening.”

    Participants said communication with relatives in Iran had become increasingly difficult due to internet shutdowns and media restrictions.

    Amir, who has lived in New Zealand for more than 16 years, said he had struggled to reach family members in recent weeks.

    “Our families are living in fear, but they are also hopeful,” he said.

    “Nobody wants their country to be under attack, but many people believe this operation could help free them from the regime.”

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

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

    LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/07/iranian-diaspora-form-human-chain-on-wellington-waterfront/

    Posted on

    Laser mapping and CT scans reveal North Island’s hidden quake risk

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    File footage, ESNZ – a diagonal fault offset exposed in a trench. Lloyd Homer

    Scientists are uncovering previously unknown fault lines and signs of hidden earthquake activity across the North Island, as new research sheds light on how the ground beneath Aotearoa moves.

    Studies are investigating potential faults beneath Auckland, newly identified fault lines in Wairarapa and signs of past shaking preserved in lake sediments near Hamilton.

    Principal scientist Dr Graham Leonard from Earth Sciences New Zealand said the work highlighted how much remained unknown about the country’s geology.

    “There are many, many thousands of fault lines across Aotearoa,” he told RNZ’s Saturday Morning.

    “We’ve really only studied some hundreds of them in detail.”

    In Auckland, researchers have identified one to two dozen possible fault structures beneath the city using thousands of underground drill samples originally taken for buildings and infrastructure projects.

    Likely faults, possible faults and possible structures identified in the study are superimposed on a shaded relief map of Auckland and plotted alongside Auckland Volcanic Field centres and earthquake epicentres since 1988. Supplied

    Scientists plan to dig trenches several metres deep across some of the most likely candidates, including structures near Pukekohe or Drury, to determine whether they are active.

    By analysing exposed layers of soil and sediment, researchers can identify where past earthquakes have shifted the ground. Buried material, such as wood or charcoal, can then be carbon-dated to estimate when those quakes occurred.

    “If there are bits of wood or leaves or charcoal in there, we can carbon date them,” Leonard said.

    “That helps us work out when the earthquake happened and whether the fault has been active in the last 100,000 years.”

    In Wairarapa, high-resolution laser mapping known as LiDAR has revealed seven previously unknown faults, including several crossing the Wairarapa Valley.

    One of them – the 26-kilometre Pāpāwai Fault – has recently been trenched for the first time.

    Scientists found a several-metre-wide disturbance zone, suggesting past earthquake movement may have occurred across multiple smaller fractures rather than a single break.

    Further trenching work is planned near Masterton to pin down when earthquakes last occurred there.

    Another study in the Hamilton Basin uncovered evidence of past earthquake shaking preserved in lake sediments.

    Researchers drilled more than 160 shallow sediment cores from lakes and analysed them using medical CT scanners, allowing them to detect disturbances in layers of mud and volcanic ash caused by strong shaking.

    Those disturbances, known as seismites, act as natural records of past earthquakes.

    The findings suggest some shaking came from distant faults already known to scientists, but other signals likely came from faults beneath the Hamilton area itself.

    Leonard said advances in technology were helping researchers detect previously hidden fault lines.

    LiDAR scans landscapes with millions of laser measurements taken from aircraft, allowing scientists to digitally remove vegetation and buildings and reveal subtle steps in the ground that may mark faults.

    An example of LiDAR scanning. File photo. ESNZ

    Although Auckland and Hamilton experience fewer earthquakes than other parts of the country, Leonard said that did not mean they were immune to major events.

    “You can still have a big earthquake anywhere in Aotearoa.”

    He pointed to the 1891 Port Waikato earthquake, which shattered windows across Auckland.

    Christchurch had shown how damaging earthquakes could strike areas that rarely experience strong shaking, Leonard said.

    The fault responsible for the 2011 Christchurch earthquake had been previously unknown and may only rupture every several thousand years.

    Research near Taupō is also examining whether earthquakes and volcanic eruptions may influence each other, after scientists found fault movements around the time of the 232AD Taupō eruption.

    Leonard said combining studies like these helped improve New Zealand’s seismic hazard models, which inform building standards and risk planning.

    “When we bring all these [studies] together, it helps us understand how faults interact with each other and how earthquakes might cluster in space and time.”

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

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

    LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/laser-mapping-and-ct-scans-reveal-north-islands-hidden-quake-risk/

    Posted on

    Defence Force plane bound for Middle East to help New Zealanders stranded by conflict

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules prepares to leave for the Middle East. Kaye Albyt

    A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules was expected to depart from Auckland’s Whenuapai air base on Saturday morning for the Middle East to help any New Zealanders who may be stranded by the US-Iran conflict.

    But as of 12.30pm, it still had not taken off.

    Minister of Defence Judith Collins said the government’s immediate priority was supporting New Zealanders in the Middle East.

    “New Zealanders in the region are still being advised to shelter in place, or take any safe and practical opportunities to leave.

    “We are preparing a range of contingencies should evacuation operations become possible.”

    Collins said Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular staff and two Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J aircraft are being pre-deployed so they “can respond quickly when conditions on the ground allow”.

    One of the C-130J Hercules aircraft will depart from Whenuapai on Saturday morning, and is joining another Hercules which Collins said is already in Asia and is being “re-tasked to support this effort”, and is being moved to an “on-going staging location”.

    Collins said for security reasons she could not provide specific routes, timings or destinations, but said the aircraft were being positioned to ensure they were ready to assist with any evacuation operations should conditions allow.

    Collins also urged New Zealanders in the Middle East to register with Safe Travel to stay updated on evacuation options.

    Emirates resumes flights

    Emirates said flights were gradually returning to normal after the partial re-opening of airspace in the Middle East.

    The airline was running a reduced schedule while it worked to restore its full global network.

    It expected to return to full operations in the coming days, depending on airspace availability.

    A friend waiting for a New Zealand family coming back from Dubai said they wanted to bring some comfort for their return home.

    Michelle Frankham was waiting for her friend at Auckland Airport after what she described as a frightening night in Dubai.

    Michelle Frankham (right) and husband Mark Frankham. Pretoria Gordon / RNZ

    “I know that they spent their last night curled up in their bathroom with two young teenage girls, so we’re here with a car full of groceries and some gift baskets to make them feel better, so we’re just relieved that they’re coming home.”

    Around 30,000 passengers were flown out of Dubai on Friday, the airline said.

    By Sunday, Emirates expected to operate more than 100 return flights a day to 83 destinations – about 60 percent of its network.

    The airline said its full New Zealand service is now running again, with Christchurch handling both inbound and outbound flights to Dubai on Saturday.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/defence-force-plane-bound-for-middle-east-to-help-new-zealanders-stranded-by-conflict/

    Posted on

    Bunnings to trial facial recognition tech in Hamilton stores

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    From next month, two Hamilton stores will set up the technology to test safeguards are working properly. RNZ / Richard Tindiller

    Bunnings Warehouse will introduce facial recognition technology (FRT) in its stores across the country in a bid to crack down on high-value theft and serious harm.

    From next month, two Hamilton stores will set up the technology to test safeguards are working properly, and it will then be rolled out across the country.

    Bunnings manager Melissa Haines said the scale of retail crime was growing, particularly when it came to threatening behaviour by repeat offenders, and showing no sign of stopping.

    “Our number one priority is keeping team and customers safe, and we believe that FRT can play an important role in helping to protect people from violence, abuse and intimidation in our stores by repeat offenders.

    “The scale of retail crime in New Zealand is accelerating and shows no signs of stopping.”

    She said the company had “undertaken a thorough assessment process, with privacy, safety and community expectations at the forefront, and we are taking a phased approach to get this right”.

    “FRT gives us a proactive warning when a serious repeat offender enters the store, so we can act before something happens. It adds one more layer to the safety tools we are already using, such as security guards, team member training, body-worn cameras and serious incident response processes.”

    Last year three Christchurch supermarkets began trialling FRT, like Bunnings citing regular offenders. Operator Foodstuffs South Island said it would not be used on teenagers, despite people under 18 making up more than half of those deemed a problem.

    A study in 2024 found it reduced serious harm in supermarkets by 16 percent.

    The Privacy Commissioner in 2025 said facial recognition technology in retail outlets had potential safety benefits, despite raising significant privacy concerns.

    Police have been using the technology for years.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/bunnings-to-trial-facial-recognition-tech-in-hamilton-stores/

    Posted on

    Road blocked in Otago due to crash

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Coast Road, Karitane is blocked due to a crash south of the Otago township. Screenshot/Google Maps

    Coast Road, Karitane is blocked due to a crash south of the Otago township.

    Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash just south of Marks Road about 9.25am Saturday.

    Police said early indications were the crash had caused serious injuries.

    The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/road-blocked-in-otago-due-to-crash/

    Posted on

    Foxton Shannon Road closed after crash

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Foxton Shannon Road. Google Maps

    The road linking Manawatū towns Foxton and Shannon has been closed after a serious crash.

    Police said the single-vehicle accident happened between Himatangi Block Road and Poplar Road at around 9.40am on Saturday.

    Early indications were that someone suffered a serious injury.

    “The Serious Crash Unit has been advised, and motorists are advised to take diversions,” police said in a statement.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/07/foxton-shannon-road-closed-after-crash/

    Posted on

    Fronts expected to bring heavy rain to deep south

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    MetService issued heavy rain watches for parts of the South Island. Screenshot/MetService

    A yellow heavy rain watch has been issued for parts of Fiordland, southern Westland and Southland.

    MetService issued the watches on Saturday morning as a slow moving front is expected to bring heavy rain to Fiordland and far southern Westland.

    Another front is expected to bring heavy rain to Fiordland from early Sunday, and a period of heavy rain is then also expected to affect inland Southland.

    The watches are for Westland about and south of Haast from 9am to 9pm Saturday, Fiordland about and north of Doubtful Sound from 9am Saturday to 9pm Sunday, and for Southland from 7am to 7pm Sunday.

    All three watches have a moderate chance of upgrading to a warning.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/07/fronts-expected-to-bring-heavy-rain-to-deep-south/

    Posted on

    Moa Point disaster exposes deeper problems, public health experts warn

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Lyall Bay beach and the rest of Wellington’s south coast has been off limits since the Moa Point treatment plant failed on 4 February. RNZ / Krystal Gibbens

    Public health experts are warning the catastrophic failure of Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater treatment plant exposes deep, systemic problems with New Zealand’s infrastructure management.

    Early last month a blockage in the plant’s outfall pipe led to a backflow of sewage into the plant, shutting it down and forcing the closure of beaches along the city’s South Coast as up to 70 million litres of untreated sewage was sent into the sea each day.

    The University of Otago’s Public Health Communication Centre said the failure was a severe example of problems already affecting systems across Aotearoa.

    It said Water New Zealand’s latest performance review recorded more than 3000 sewage overflows nationwide, though the true number was likely higher because reporting had historically been inconsistent.

    It also found about 20 percent of the country’s 334 publicly run wastewater treatment plants were operating with expired resource consents, meaning they may not meet current best-practice standards or have robust monitoring in place.

    If the inquiry into the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant was too narrow, the risk was only learning lessons about Moa Point and not systems across New Zealand, Marnie Pricket said. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

    University of Otago research fellow Marnie Pricket said responsibility for water services was spread across multiple organisations, including the national regulator Taumata Arowai, regional councils, local councils and central government ministers.

    Pricket said the complexity of that system made accountability unclear when things went wrong.

    “For example, Taumata Arowai has oversight of water services but doesn’t currently have the legislative tools to intervene if regional councils fail to regulate wastewater discharges effectively.”

    Poor wastewater management posed risks to both human and environmental health, including exposure to raw sewage, contamination of drinking water sources and polluted shellfish beds, she said.

    Ageing infrastructure and climate change were also likely to increase the risk of failures in the future.

    The government announced a Crown Review Team would investigate the failure under the Local Government Act 2002. But Prickett said that process appeared to focus largely on the role of Wellington City Council, which could limit its ability to investigate the full range of issues affecting wastewater management across the country.

    “The drivers of poor wastewater management are much broader than a single council,” she said. “They include policy and investment decisions, workforce limitations, problems with data quality, governance issues, and unclear roles and accountability across agencies.”

    The upcoming Crown inquiry must examine not just the immediate cause of the breakdown, but the wider drivers behind wastewater failures nationwide, Prickett said.

    “If the inquiry is too narrow, we risk learning lessons only about Moa Point,” she said.

    “But this is a national issue, and the inquiry should help us understand how to improve wastewater management across the country.”

    The review should follow the model used after the 2016 Havelock North campylobacter outbreak, she said.

    “The value of the Havelock North inquiry was that it looked at the specific outbreak, but it also examined the broader drivers of poor drinking water across the country.

    “That meant the lessons could be applied nationally. That’s what we’re hoping for with the Moa Point inquiry.”

    Local Government Minister Simon Watts was approached for comment.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/07/moa-point-disaster-exposes-deeper-problems-public-health-experts-warn/

    Posted on

    Defence Force plane leaves for Middle East to help New Zealanders stranded by conflict

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules prepares to leave for the Middle East. Kaye Albyt

    A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules is set to depart from Auckland’s Whenuapai air base on Saturday morning for the Middle East to help any New Zealanders who may be stranded by the US-Iran conflict.

    Minister of Defence Judith Collins said the government’s immediate priority is supporting New Zealanders in the Middle East.

    “New Zealanders in the region are still being advised to shelter in place, or take any safe and practical opportunities to leave.

    “We are preparing a range of contingencies should evacuation operations become possible.”

    Collins said Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular staff and two Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J aircraft are being pre-deployed so they “can respond quickly when conditions on the ground allow”.

    One of the C-130J Hercules aircraft will depart from Whenuapai on Saturday morning, and is joining another Hercules which Collins said is already in Asia and is being “re-tasked to support this effort”, and is being moved to an “on-going staging location”.

    Collins said for security reasons she could not provide specific routes, timings or destinations, but said the aircraft were being positioned to ensure they were ready to assist with any evacuation operations should conditions allow.

    Collins also urged New Zealanders in the Middle East to register with Safe Travel to stay updated on evacuation options.

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

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

    LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/07/defence-force-plane-leaves-for-middle-east-to-help-new-zealanders-stranded-by-conflict/