Radio New Zealand – Page 66

Worksafe said hazardous chemicals management was the most significant area of concern, followed by machinery safety issues and working in and around vehicles. 123rf

WorkSafe is mostly content with the health and safety of hundreds of orchards it visited late last year, but warns some farmers are still making risky decisions on farm.

Agriculture remained one of the most dangerous industries in Aotearoa, accounting for around [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regional/279795/man-crushed-by-tractor-in-bay-of-plenty

30 percent of injuries at work.]

The workplace health and safety regulator said it did not issue fines during its compliance campaign when it visited just under 660 horticultural businesses nationwide throughout July to September, but a number of infringement notices.

It said hazardous chemicals management was the most significant area of concern, followed by machinery safety issues and working in and around vehicles.

Inspectors said improvements around chemical management were required at just under 40 percent of the assessments.

Project lead, Carl Baker said many failed to have adequate hazardous chemicals inventories or safety data sheets in place that were required.

He said their main concerns were the administrative controls.

“Any business is meant to keep a list of the chemicals they have in their workplace, the quantities,” he said.

“The inventory is designed to help obviously the companies, but also emergency services when they turn on up, so they know what they’re facing.

“We found a high percentage of businesses out there didn’t have that in place.”

Baker said safety data sheets helped give workers an understanding of possible harm from chemicals and precautions that should be in place for their use, like protective personal equipment.

Eighteen percent of assessments found machinery safety issues, and 15 percent had issues of working in and around vehicles, usually around the use of helmets.

Baker said inspectors noticed an ongoing trend of unguarded power take-off shafts between the tractor to its implement.

“There’s a guard that goes around that because that spins at such a high revolution it creates a risk of people if you get in contact with it of getting in entanglement.

“That’s a really straight-forward fix. All they do is have to put a guard or cover over the top of it. But it’s one of the deadliest hazards that we probably would face on a farm is that unguarded PTO.”

He said another issue around vehicles was the lack of seatbelts being used on side-by-sides.

“We did identify a bit of a trend out there that the seatbelt was being plugged in behind the back. So the farmers were bypassing that safety feature,” he said.

“As we know with side-by-sides, just like a vehicle on the road, a seatbelt is designed to make you obviously safe in an instant.”

Horticulture New Zealand helped connect WorkSafe with growers the regulator said it previously had limited access to.

Chief executive Kate Scott said any injury was one too many, and it was using data like from these visits to better understand the causes of on-orchard injuries and develop training tools and solutions.

“The findings show where guidance and practical tools can make a real difference,” said Scott.

“We’re using data to better understand the causes of injury and develop training and tools that address risks such as sprains, cuts, machinery, weather exposure, and hazardous substances.”

There were 16 work-related deaths in agriculture throughout 2024, though the most common type was associated with injuries from livestock.

WorkSafe was set to report back about its health and safety sector compliance, next for sheep, beef and dairy farms it visited between October and December.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/most-orchards-pass-health-and-safety-checks-but-chemicals-and-machinery-risks-remain/

March 5, 2026

Nowhere immune from earthquakes, not even Northland

Source: Radio New Zealand

All five quakes were centred under Kerikeri Inlet at a depth of around 5km. Supplied / Hauraki Gulf Weather

Experts say a series of tremors around Kerikeri this week are a reminder that nowhere in New Zealand – even the country’s most seismically stable region – is immune from earthquakes.

Five quakes were recorded between 1 and 4 March, all centred below Kerikeri Inlet at a depth of about 5km.

The biggest, with a magnitude of 2.1, struck at 5.05pm on Tuesday.

Residents at Opito Bay, on the northern side of Kerikeri Inlet, described their homes shaking, hearing a “loud thud” or a booming sound like thunder, and their dogs “going crazy”.

Another said it felt like a car had crashed into the side of the house.

The quakes were also felt at Rangitane and Doves Bay, and at Wharau Bay on the opposite side of the inlet.

While small by New Zealand standards, any quakes in Northland get attention due to their rarity.

Seismic duty officer Sam Taylor-Offord said 10 earthquakes, including this week’s Kerikeri cluster, had been recorded in Northland since Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly GNS Science) expanded its monitoring network in 2022.

He said the Kerikeri quakes were not recorded automatically by GeoNet, the country’s geological hazard monitoring system, and so did not show up immediately online.

That was because the earthquakes were small and occurred at the margins of the monitoring network, which was tailored to large quakes in seismically active areas, such as around the volcanoes of the central North Island.

The shakes were, however, recorded by Northland’s local seismometer network.

The quakes were felt at Opito Bay, Doves Bay, Rangitane (pictured) and Wharau Bay, on either side of Kerikeri Inlet. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

Using that data, staff at the 24/7 National Geohazard Monitoring Centre were able to pinpoint the locations and manually add the five Kerikeri earthquakes to the record.

“These events correspond to reported times of shaking around Opito Bay and Doves Bay over the last couple of days. We’re now looking to see if there are more earthquakes in the sequence,” he said.

There was no known fault under Kerikeri Inlet so the cause could be best understood as the Earth’s crust breaking under accumulated stress.

Taylor-Offord said he was grateful to Northlanders who had reported the quakes at www.geonet.org.nz.

Such feedback helped Earth Sciences NZ update its records more accurately, especially around the margins of its monitoring network.

Taylor-Offord said earthquakes were rare in Northland because the region was far from the active plate boundary, where the Pacific plate was being forced under the Australian plate.

At its closest point to Northland, the boundary, known as the Hikurangi Subduction Zone, ran parallel to the east coast off Hawke’s Bay and Te Tai Rāwhiti, before continuing northeast along the Kermadec Trench.

That distance meant there was relatively little stress in the Earth’s crust under Northland.

The last big earthquake in Northland, in December 1963, was a magnitude 4.8 shake east of Kaitāia.

Northland’s average of about three earthquakes a year compared to thousands recorded every year along the East Coast (Hikurangi Subduction Zone) and Southern Alps (Alpine Fault) plate boundary regions.

Taylor-Offord said the Kerikeri Inlet shakes were a good reminder to expect earthquakes anywhere in New Zealand.

Anyone who experienced a large earthquake should remember the advice to “drop, cover and hold”.

Anyone who lived near the coast, as was the case for many Northlanders, should also be alert to the possibility of tsunamis.

“If the shaking is long or strong, get gone,” he said.

Northland’s monitoring network had 12 seismometers, with equipment at Whangaruru, Kawakawa and Omahuta closest to the Kerikeri earthquakes.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/nowhere-immune-from-earthquakes-not-even-northland/

March 5, 2026

Alcohol Healthwatch ‘horrified’ after Steinlager beer mislabelled

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than 2500 cases have been recalled. Supplied / MPI

Alcohol Healthwatch’s Executive Director has said he was “horrified” after thousands of Steinlager beer bottles were mislabelled as alcohol free.

Andrew Galloway said he would like to see a strong regulatory response after the incident.

Food Safety New Zealand Deputy Director General Vincent Arbuckle told Checkpoint the implications are serious.

“[Lion are] very acutely aware of the fact that people choose for very real reasons to not drink and this is a very serious mistake.

More than 2500 boxes of 24 beers, more than 60,000 individual beers in total, are now being urgently recalled by Lion NZ after they were wrongly labelled alcohol free when they are not.

The Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Beer is actually 4.2 percent alcohol, but has been mislabelled.

Some of those boxes have gone to hospitality venues and will have been broken up.

Food Safety New Zealand said it is potentially very serious, with many consumers choosing to avoid alcohol for religious, cultural and medical reasons.

Arbuckle said there will be a thorough investigation, but the priority is the getting the beer back.

“They (Lion) know that and they have apologised publicly and we’ll be working with them to make sure we understand why this has happened and to be sure that it never happens again”

Lion said it was made aware of the mistake after a customer complained.

The company then found out there was an error in its production run, meaning beer containing 4.2 percent of alcohol was incorrectly labelled.

Arbuckle said they were now working to spread the message as far as possible.

“They’re working with all the retailers that the product’s been sold through. It’s also gone to hospitality, so they’ll be working with hospitality outlets where the product may have gone.”

“[Lion] released a public release yesterday, as did we, and they’re doing their level best to get the message out.”

With some of the beer sold to hospitality outlets, Arbuckle said there is a strong possibility of it being hard to identify.

“You would see a row in a chiller, that’s the non-alcoholic and here’s the alcoholic beers. And it’d be very difficult to sort that out. So outlets will need to be very cautious about trying to make sure they isolate.”

“They’ll have records of when they received a product and they’ll have some records of the batch they received. There’ll be ways in which they can check this out, but it is serious.”

Alcohol Healthwatch Executive Director Andrew Galloway told Checkpoint the organisation had a number of concerns, with medical being the most stark.

“People who are pregnant might be choosing to drink zero percent products and the risk of drinking while pregnant is the potential of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, a lifelong disability.”

“There might be previously heavy drinkers or dependent drinkers. And buying this product that says it’s zero, that isn’t, could be a trigger into a relapse, which could ultimately cost lives.”

“I think there is responsibility, shared responsibility, one from the producer and manufacturer, but also the regulatory regime in which this is allowed to happen.”

“I don’t think there is any checks and balances on the products that are out there for sale… I think monitoring would be good to see… some more tools when something like this happens that you can follow up with a regulatory response and perhaps send a very strong message out there to other manufacturers that this will not be tolerated.”

He said it was important that the recall response was swift and far-reaching to avoid further harm.

“We are talking about New Zealand’s most harmful drug… in the situation we are at at the moment there’s over 2500 cases out there.”

Galloway said the development of zero alcohol options meant it was often hard for the consumer to tell the difference in taste and appearance.

He said it was likely someone drinking the alcoholic version with a non-alcoholic label would not be able to tell the difference and end up in a dangerous situation like drink driving.

“These products do mimic the parent brand… so someone could quite easily in good faith be thinking they’re doing the right thing and land themselves in trouble.”

Vincent Arbuckle said anyone who thought they might have the incorrectly labelled product should return it.

“Check the best before date. If you’ve got any doubt at all, return that product from where you purchased it from. Advice is to be very cautious with those with that product, if there’s any doubt at all, don’t drink it, return it to your retailer.”

The recall is for Steinlager Ultra Low Carb beer 24 pack of 330ml bottles.

On the outer carton the best before date is 21/10/26, the best before is the same on the bottle.

Steinlager Alcohol Free is only sold in green bottles, not clear bottles, so if a beer in a clear bottle is labelled alcohol free it is incorrectly labelled.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/alcohol-healthwatch-horrified-after-steinlager-beer-mislabelled/

March 5, 2026

Hamish Mitchell-Wood jailed for distributing photos, videos showing sexual exploitation of children

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Warning: Contains content about sexual offending against children.

A Dunedin man has been jailed for distributing photos and videos showing the sexual exploitation of young children.

Hamish Mitchell-Wood was sentenced to two years and nine months’ jail when he appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday after earlier pleading guilty to possessing and distributing an objectionable publication.

The 30-year-old’s offending occurred over six weeks in March and April last year.

Mitchell-Wood was arrested in May when police seized his phone and devices.

Police learned he was operating multiple accounts on a digital platform on his computer and was in possession of more than 300 objectionable pictures and videos.

Eleven of the 12 publications shared involved children under the age of 13.

The court heard about half of the material in Mitchell-Wood’s possession involved young children of a similar age.

Judge David Robinson said Mitchell-Wood was complicit in child sex abuse, like all consumers of such material.

“This material both depicts and promotes child sexual abuse. The production of this material requires that real children be abused in the most violent ways,” Robinson said.

“That likely follows a period of exploitation and grooming of vulnerable and dependent children.”

Mitchell-Wood also had access to a “mega-link” where further objectionable material was stored on a separate server.

“These children are often damaged in irrevocable ways. The fact that their abuse has been recorded and disseminated amplifies those traumas,” Robinson said.

Most of the material Mitchell-Wood possessed was deleted but later recovered.

The court heard Mitchell-Wood had accessed the material during a stressful period when he had resorted to gambling and substance abuse.

“Today needs to be about holding you accountable for the harm that you have done to the community and the victims of your offending,” Robinson said.

Mitchell-Wood’s was also added to the child sex offender register.

Sexual Violence

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March 5, 2026

Broadcasting Minister Paul Goldsmith says he ‘may have grunted’ at TVNZ chair

Source: Radio New Zealand

Broadcasting Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed on Thursday the board chair of TVNZ contacted him after the police minister expressed dissatisfaction with a 1News story about gang numbers. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Broadcasting minister Paul Goldsmith says he “may have grunted” at TVNZ’s board chair after Andrew Barclay raised a crime story with him.

Goldsmith was quizzed about the exchange for an unusually long 12 minutes by Labour’s Reuben Davidson in Question Time on Thursday afternoon.

The minister confirmed the pair discussed TVNZ’s financials – due out on Friday – and board appointments in the 1 March phone call.

Barclay raised a TVNZ law and order story – that the government had been critical of – “in the context of the board’s interest in improving trust in TVNZ”, he said.

“I didn’t engage further in the discussion on that matter.”

A few days after the phone call, he had spoken at aTVNZ-hosted event celebrating the 60th anniversary of Country Calendar, Goldsmith said.

“(I) spoke with three board members and the chief executive. To the best of my knowledge, TVNZ news coverage did not come up in those conversations. The primary point of discussion was the history of Country Calendar.”

It was at this point that National minister Judith Collins interjected: “Best thing on TV!”

Goldsmith continued, “Yesterday I spoke to the chair informing him that I had been questioned about our phone call on the way out of the House as a courtesy.”

“I rang him again at 6.30pm yesterday evening, after the coverage over the afternoon to check on his welfare, as he is a new chair.”

“I may possibly have grunted” – Goldsmith

As the supplementary questions wore on, Goldsmith was asked what he had said after Barclay raised the crime story with him.

“I didn’t engage further in the discussion on that matter, I may possibly have grunted but I’m not sure.”

Asked if it was appropriate for a minister to complain about TVNZ’s news coverage in public, referring to Minister of Police Mark Mitchell’s Facebook post, Goldsmith said it was par for the course.

“I’m afraid that does happen from time to time and it seems to me it’s quite possible that the previous Labour government ministers may have done that from time to time as well.

Goldsmith was quizzed for an unusually long 12 minutes by Labour’s Reuben Davidson during question time Thursday afternoon. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

“I’ve often made the observation that a politician complaining about the media is like a farmer complaining about the weather. You may be right, but it makes no difference, and so you’ve got to figure out how to succeed in any respect.”

Government MPs had been laughing throughout Goldsmith’s answers but burst into applause after this.

The laughing continued when Davidson asked Goldsmith what he had done about other government ministers complaining about news coverage at TVNZ.

“Well, my concern is that I might find that I have no time left to do anything else if I was bothering myself [with that]. It is unfortunately something that happens from time to time, whether or not that’s fair or not is inappropriate.

“What I am clear about is the legislative requirement that no minister, including myself, should seek to direct TVNZ in relation to their coverage of news items, and we certainly haven’t done that.”

More details about the phone call

Taking questions from reporters before Question Time, Goldsmith said the phone call with Barclay had been “impromptu”.

“He sent me a text saying, can we have a chat? I called him back. I don’t think he answered, and he called me back. That was all.”

Goldsmith said it was not unusual for him to chat to board chairs over the weekend and TVNZ’s crime coverage had not been the impetus of the call.

“No. We were talking about a couple of things, talking about the financials of the company, the board appointments, I’ve got letters of expectations. There’s a range of issues that we covered.”

Goldsmith said his comments about the story had been appropriate.

“The broadcasting law is clear that no minister can give media instructions about political coverage or anything like that.

“All I was doing was saying I thought your story was bad, and this is why.”

“I don’t actually do it very often but occasionally I do it and I felt like doing it on this occasion.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/broadcasting-minister-paul-goldsmith-says-he-may-have-grunted-at-tvnz-chair/

March 5, 2026

NZ spy agency put US far-right group Proud Boys on terrorist list despite not meeting threshold

Source: Radio New Zealand

Yellow smoke fills the air as an American flag is raised at the start of a Proud Boys rally at Delta Park in Portland, Oregon on September 26, 2020. AFP / Maranie R Staab

New Zealand’s spy agency did not believe the US far-right group Proud Boys met the threshold to be designated a terrorist entity in 2022, but went along with it anyway.

This has come out at a briefing of MPs by the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) at a select committee on Wednesday.

SIS Director-General Andrew Hampton said they were also okay about the Proud Boys being removed from the terrorist list last year.

“We didn’t think they actually met the threshold” in 2022, he said.

Dropping them from the list in 2025 meant they ended up in a position that was “probably closer to our original advice” in 2022.

The Combined Threat Assessment group (CTAG), hosted by SIS, did not support putting it on the list back then, but the general view was to do it, and he was part of endorsing that.

“I know I’m sounding a little ambivalent here, but we didn’t necessarily think it was a strongly supported decision first time.”

SIS Director-General Andrew Hampton. VNP/Louis Collins

When it came around in 2025, “we didn’t have a strong view either”, he said.

In 2022, Proud Boys were described as an ideologically fascist group that violently targeted minority groups. Its supporters took part in storming the US Capitol in 2020, and several had their sentences for that commuted by US President Donald Trump last year.

In 2025, the group was removed from the terrorist list here, even though the National Security Board, which includes the SIS, unanimously recommended its designation be renewed.

The board chair then laid out the reasons arguing otherwise, and Hampton said he was happy with those.

“The reality is it’s not making much difference to the New Zealand threat environment because they aren’t subjects for our investigation,” he told the select committee.

Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan asked if the SIS would have endorsed removing it, despite the police saying they were a crypto-fascist group with participation in New Zealand.

The police had compiled a 29-page report of the case for putting it on the list. Under “Proud Boys in other countries”, the report mentioned Canada and Australia but not New Zealand.

Hampton said they had ended up closer to CTAG’s original advice in 2022.

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March 5, 2026

High Court recognises Ruapuke Island Marine Title again after revised legal tests

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ruapuke Island whānau at the High Court in April 2025. Supplied/Ruapuke whānau

Whānau from Ruapuke Island near Bluff have, again, won customary marine title (CMT) over the waters surrounding Te Ara a Kiwa/Foveaux Strait – the first claimants to do so under stricter rules.

In a judgement released on 26 February, the High Court found the group met the revised legal tests introduced by the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Amendment Act.

The Ruapuke Island Group had previously won CMT in late August 2025, following an eight year application process through the High Court.

At the time, Rick Fife of the Topi whānau, said the he was “extremely pleased” with the decision because it affirmed the connection the various Ruapuke whānau have with their takutai moana.

However, their win coincided with introduction of new rules, effectively making it harder for Māori to win customary marine title. The rule changes were also retrospective, meaning any court decisions issued after 25 July 2024 would be void and need to be reheard.

Despite that, the Court concluded that the claimants held the specified area in accordance with tikanga continuously since 1840, and had exclusively used and occupied the takutai moana without substantial interruption.

The evidence presented to the Court included generations of customary harvesting of kaimoana, seasonal mahinga kai practices and active stewardship of the environment through conservation and kaitiakitanga.

Ailsa Cain of the Kīhau whānau said the decision affirmed what Ruapuke whānau had always known.

“The Amendment Act asked the Court to apply new and more restrictive tests and consider all the evidence again. We are grateful that the Court has once more recognised our whakapapa our tikanga, and our uninterrupted relationship with these waters since before 1840.”

The Court found activities like commercial fishing did not amount to a substantial interruption of customary use and occupation, and had not prevented whānau from continuing their customary practices or exercising kaitiakitanga.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa congratulated the whānau on the outcome.

“Despite the government changing the law and forcing them back to court to face much stricter tests, their unbroken connection to these waters has now been recognised for a second time.” he said.

“This victory is significant, but we remain deeply concerned for other whānau who now have to fight much harder for their own recognition. Changing the law to raise the bar has put an unfair and unnecessary burden on whānau, hapū and iwi. It also risks shutting out whānau altogether whose whakapapa and tikanga connections are just as strong as those of Ruapuke.”

The law changes prompted sharp protest from Māori around the country, including Northland iwi Ngātiwai and Ngāti Manuhiri who are challenging the amendments in the High Court.

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March 5, 2026

Winter Paralympics 2026: When does it start, how to watch and who is competing

Source: Radio New Zealand

Paralympian skier Adam Hall during practice at the Skicenter Rienz – Toblach, South Tyrol Italy on Friday 27 February 2026. Photosport / Jeff Crowe

The Winter Paralympics kick off in Milano Cortina on Saturday (NZT) and all eyes will be on Kiwis Adam Hall and Corey Peters.

Hall and Peters are New Zealand’s only two para athletes in Italy, competing in alpine skiing.

So when is the Opening Ceremony? And how can you watch the events? Here’s everything you need to know.

When do the Winter Paralympics start?

The Winter Paralympics officially start on Saturday, 7 March, with the Opening Ceremony at the Arena di Verona, where the Olympics had its Closing Ceremony.

Competition did begin a couple of days beforehand, on Thursday, 5 March, with preliminary rounds in wheelchair curling, which New Zealand is not competing in.

The Games run for nine days and will finish on 16 March.

What time does the opening ceremony start in New Zealand?

The Opening Ceremony will get underway at 8am NZT on Saturday.

What is the Winter Paralympics schedule?

The official schedule can be found at the official Olympics website.

Find out when the Kiwis are in action at the NZ Paralympics website.

Corey Peters. PHOTOSPORT

Where are the 2026 Winter Paralympics?

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics, which have been held in the same host cities as the Winter Olympics since 1992.

It is also the second time the Winter Games have been held in Italy, with Torino hosting the Paralympics in 2006.

Like the Olympics, the Paralympics are being hosted by two cities, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Competition will be spread across five venues around north-east Italy, from Para Ice Hockey in Milan to Para Snowboarding in Cortina.

What sports are there?

There are six sports taking place at the Paralympics this year, with a mixed doubles event making its debut in Para Curling.

Para alpine skiing
Para biathlon
Para cross-country
Para ice hockey
Para snowboard
Wheelchair curling

How many New Zealanders are competing?

Two Kiwis will be representing New Zealand at this year’s Winter Paralympics. They are skiiers Hall and Peters.

How can I watch the Winter Paralympics

TVNZ will broadcast the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in New Zealand on Duke and TVNZ+.

-RNZ with ABC

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/winter-paralympics-2026-when-does-it-start-how-to-watch-and-who-is-competing/

March 5, 2026

About 5500 Waikato Health New Zealand staff not paid overnight due to glitch

Source: Radio New Zealand

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) is scrambling to pay about 5500 staff in Waikato after a payment glitch. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

One of the thousands of North Island health workers who were not paid overnight has been dipping into her son’s bank account while she has just $2 in hers.

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) is scrambling to pay about 5500 staff in Waikato after a payment glitch.

Waikato Hospital health worker Helen, who did not what her surname used, told RNZ she felt embarrassed having to ask for money.

“I’ve had to borrow money just so I could park my car and make sure I could get my car out of the car park this afternoon after work,” she said.

“I’ve had to call the banks to make sure that they’re aware that money will not be available for my loans, I’ve had to let my landlord know that I won’t be able to pay my rent today due to not having enough money in the account.

“At this stage, if money doesn’t go through overnight, I’m not 100 percent sure that I can come to work tomorrow because my petrol light is also on.”

HNZ has put the problem down to an error in the rostering system that is used to calculate payments.

“This issue has now been resolved, and all impacted staff will be paid by the end of today,” Robyn Shearer from its people and culture team said.

“We are confident we have addressed the underlying reasons, and we have reduced the likelihood of this reoccurring.”

Staff were informed about the problem in a memo, Helen said.

“They have told us that the hours have been sent to the bank at about midday today, and they’re hoping that the money will come in overnight,” she said.

“But there’s no guarantee that the amount will be correct.”

Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said health workers deserved to be paid on time. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Colleagues were in similar situations, Helen said.

“Most of them have been on the phone to the banks and changing mortgage payments and hoping that we don’t get stung with fees and dishonour payments or defaults on loans and things like that,” she said.

“It’s horrifically stressful at the moment.”

She said the pay glitch was frustrating, but she loved her job.

“And if I can be here tomorrow, I will be.”

The Public Service Association (PSA) called on HNZ to do an urgent review and said the error was a widespread failure.

The pay glitch struck about half of health workers in Waikato, it said.

“Workers turned up and did their jobs, caring for patients, keeping hospitals running, and they deserved to be paid on time,” PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said.

“A payroll failure of this scale is not a minor inconvenience, it causes real hardship.”

Health Minister Simeon Brown acknowledged staff who worked through the night to fix the problem. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Apologies from HNZ were not enough and IT failures had become a recurring feature of the public health system, Fitzsimons said.

Health Minister Simeon Brown acknowledged staff who worked through the night to fix the problem.

“I know this situation will be frustrating for those affected, and getting it resolved so staff are paid as soon as possible is the priority,” he said.

His office said he was waiting for Health New Zealand’s review into how the error happened.

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March 5, 2026

Moa Point wastewater plant replacement equipment not yet ordered, Wellington Water says

Source: Radio New Zealand

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. RNZ / Krystal Gibbens

Wellington Water says replacement equipment to repair the failed Moa Point wastewater plant is yet to be ordered.

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.

In the immediate aftermath of the fault a room at the bottom of plant, the size of an Olympic Swimming Pool, was 3m deep in wastewater.

At the time Wellington Water Chief Executive Pat Doughty said up to 80 percent of the equipment in the plant had been damaged.

A month out from the shutdown Wellington Water’s Chief Operating Officer, Charles Barker said additional equipment to repair damage parts of the plant had not yet been ordered.

“We understand that people want answers. Which is why we are working through a thorough and robust process to understand the full extent of the damage. We’ve had specialists from Beca [engineering consultants] go through the plant and they will provide us with an assessment soon. Once we have that, this will inform our approach to repairing the plant,” Barker said.

Barker said before details of the plant’s repair could be made public the water services provider would have to consult on their plans with insurers and the WCC.

“No additional equipment has been ordered as of yet. This process will take time (likely a few months) but it is important that we take the time and do this well,” Barker said.

In a prior statement Wellington Water said the clean-up of the site was completed last week and the plant was being readied for “recovery work”.

This week the water service provider noted that the plant had remained open since the failure to improve ventilation and protect staff onsite.

“Moa Point plant was designed to be essentially airtight, in part to manage odour. We are currently working to reinstate some ventilation systems that will allow us to close off the plant, however this will mean that untreated air will be vented out of the building via the odour discharge stack (similar to a large chimney). Venting this untreated air out of the stack will help it disperse more quickly. This has a low risk of odour, but will be carefully monitored,” the spokesperson said.

Mayor Andrew Little had been approached for comment.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/moa-point-wastewater-plant-replacement-equipment-not-yet-ordered-wellington-water-says/

March 5, 2026

Live: Football Ferns v American Samoa – FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action as the Football Ferns take on American Samoa at National Stadium, Honiara in the Solomon Islands.

Thursday’s match follows Tuesday’s 8-0 victory over the Solomon Islands – their second World Cup qualifying match win.

The Ferns have officially qualified for Round 3 of the OFC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

Kick off against American Samoa is 3pm.

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March 5, 2026

New Zealand family in Kuwait waits to hear if they can return home

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kuwait-based Kiwi family, from left, Malia-Lavalea Magele, Pauline Toleafoa, Koulton Magele, Sinsemillia Magele and Sage Magele. Supplied

A New Zealand family living in Kuwait is anxiously waiting to hear whether they will be able to return home, after the Defence Force confirmed it would deploy planes to the Middle East.

As part of contingency preparations, consular staff and two C-130J aircraft will be sent to the Middle East in preparation for evacuation operations.

The Foreign Affairs minister, Winston Peters, has said the planes will take people “out of nearby danger” to less dangerous places, where they can make arrangements to come home.

Sinsemillia Magele moved to Kuwait with her husband Sage and their two children Koulton and Malia-Lavalea in May 2021.

Sinsemillia and Sage work as teachers. The children’s aunt, Pauline Toleafoa, is also with them, having moved in 2020.

But now the family was looking to return home.

“It’s like Covid 2.0, with missiles and sirens. We just need to keep that routine going, and find ways to be calm, but also not ignore the situation that’s going on,” she said.

“We’re just trying to keep normality as much as we can, stay in routine, try not to run to the window every time we hear bangs and sirens.”

The children are struggling and want to leave Kuwait, Sinsemillia Magele says. Supplied

RNZ spoke to Magele on Thursday morning New Zealand time, or shortly after midnight in Kuwait.

The hour of the phone call was not a bother. It is when the sirens go off, and the missiles fly over. The family was wide awake.

“We can see it from our apartment building. The missiles come over us from Iran, and then they’re intercepted pretty much above our building. So we feel the shakes, the windows are moving, the booms are loud, and then you have the sirens going on in the background,” she said.

“So it is scarily becoming a little bit normal. This morning, when the sirens started going off, I was like ‘be quiet, just let us sleep for a little bit longer.’ And obviously that must be a tactic as well, just to keep us wide awake, I guess.”

The children were becoming increasingly nervous and wanting to return home.

“They are struggling. They don’t know how to help, and they can’t really help. They want to get us out of here, but I think the whole explaining to them the airspaces are closed, like we can’t go anywhere, we can’t, and it’s not safe to travel,” she said.

“We can’t move, it’s not safe. So they just can’t comprehend in their minds, they’re like ‘get out.’ But the reality when you’re over here, like we can’t, and it’s not like the movies. They’re not going to send in a helicopter to land in front of our building, take us home, like it’s just the reality of being here.”

From left Sinsemillia Magele, Sage Magele, Koulton Magele, 13, Pauline Toleafoa and Malia-Lavalea Magele. Supplied

Kuwait’s health ministry has confirmed an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling debris.

Magele said the girl was from a sister school.

Keeping a routine has been paramount, especially for the children.

The parents make sure they are logged on to school in the morning, lunch, daily workouts or throwing around the rugby ball, mid-afternoon naps, and are in constant contact with family back home.

“Most of our energy at the moment is making sure that they’re OK, because this is a whole other world to them. Us moving here in the first place was crazy to them, so a lot of our time and energy goes into reassuring them that we’re OK.”

Prayer and scripture have also been important, particularly from Pauline.

“She’s always making sure that scriptures are getting through to us, and her family back home are fasting and praying daily for us. So that gives us definitely a big sense of comfort.”

Sinsemillia Magele says the family definitely wants to return to New Zealand if they are able to be evacuated. Supplied

Like other Gulf states, Kuwait has a large expatriate population. Magele said the community was “spiralling,” and the family was trying to shield themselves from that.

“We’re New Zealanders, we’re Māori, we’re Samoan. We’re also there for our community because they’ve helped us through everything here,” she said.

The government is yet to confirm where the two planes will be deployed, although Defence Minister Judith Collins said the location would be selected “taking safety and other practical factors” into account.

Operational security has meant there would be limits on exactly how public the information will be made, in regards to when and where the planes would be deployed.

Magele said some tourist companies in Kuwait were “making a lot of money off this” by taking buses of people into Saudi Arabia, but she saw that as too much of a risk, especially if they still could not get a flight out.

The largest share of New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel are in the United Arab Emirates, which Magele said was either a 12 hour drive, or an hour-and-a-half long flight, although again there were no flights at the moment.

“If evacuation support becomes available, we would absolutely want to return home. Without a doubt.”

Kuwait has been good to them.

The children, now 13 and 10, have grown up as “global citizens” and the country has provided them many opportunities.

But a recent shake had put things into perspective.

“You know what? There was, the other morning, it was about 6:20am, and there was just a huge bang. And I jumped up and said ‘this is not the normal life I wanted for my children. This is not normal. This is not what I want for them, not coming from New Zealand, Aotearoa, not coming from Samoa. We don’t want this for our kids.”

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March 5, 2026

Upper Hutt’s pride: The making of new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie

Source: Radio New Zealand

Newly appointed All Blacks coach Dave Rennie. Photosport

The former mayor of Upper Hutt says the appointment of new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie is a moment of immense pride for the community that helped shape him.

On Wednesday, Rennie was named the new All Blacks head coach through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, seeing off Jamie Joseph in the two-man race to replace Scott Robertson.

The 62-year-old former Chiefs coach and coach of the Wallabies, will take up the role in June, when the Japanese Rugby League One season ends.

For Wayne Guppy, the news was personal.

Guppy, who served as Upper Hutt mayor for 24 years until 2025 and is a life member of the Upper Hutt Rugby Club, has known Rennie since his teenage years.

He coached him, coached alongside him, and watched him grow from a promising young Heretaunga College player into a leader whose influence was felt well beyond the clubrooms.

Both born and bred in Upper Hutt, Guppy coached Rennie as a player and also coached alongside him when they looked after the Upper Hutt Colts three decades ago.

They later reunited in the early 2000s with the Wellington B team.

“I coached him, played with him, his wife worked for us in the pharmacy, we go a long way back … I knew his parents really well,” Guppy said.

Guppy believes the man he calls ‘Rens’ will be successful with the All Blacks.

“He was always a star, he was always a stand-out as a young man, he was always a leader and he was a good person from day one when he came out of Heretaunga College and then came into the club as a young man with a reputation because he’d played very good rugby at college and came into the premier side at Upper Hutt.

“Rens just fitted in and very quickly became one of the stars and leaders within that squad, he’s had that leadership quality all his life.”

Former Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy. RNZ / Reece Baker

Guppy said Rennie, who also taught at an intermediate in Upper Hutt many years ago, was an icon in the community.

“He’s Upper Hutt’s most famous son and I know that all of Upper Hutt and the Wellington region are excited for him and proud. It’s a proud moment for the city to have him get arguable the toughest job in the country and he’ll do it proud.”

Guppy said he was impressed with him as a young man.

“He was one of those young men that grew up and knew what was right and what was wrong and not many do that … he treated everyone the same and respected people.”

The former mayor said Rennie had a knack of creating a winning culture that people wanted to be a part of and his attention to detail was exemplary. Guppy expects to see players excel Rennie’s his guidance.

“You will see All Black teams are respected around the world again because Rens will create that culture, everyone’s important in his team,” said Guppy.

“There will be no player in that All Black side that goes out and doesn’t know what they have to do, what’s expected of them.”

Guppy hoped that after nine years coaching overseas, that Rennie might consider settling back in Upper Hutt.

“I’ll give him a ring him this morning and tell him that this is where home is mate, you better come home to Upper Hutt,” Guppy laughed.

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March 5, 2026

New Zealand has small, important role in Middle East solution, expert says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and US President Donald Trump. Supplied / PMO

A geopolitical analyst says New Zealand has a small but important role to play in a peaceful solution in the Middle East.

The United States and Israel have continued airstrikes on Iran as the conflict moves into its fifth day.

Dr Geoffrey Miller told Midday Report that both countries had plenty of ammunition to keep the strikes going.

“The firepower of Israel and the United States in particular is unmatched, and you would expect they can continue this war from the air for quite a long time,” he said.

“The US is the biggest military in the world; no doubt they’ve got more ammunition, more firepower up their sleeve.”

But he said airstrikes could only get them so far.

“The issue is that you cannot win this war from the air, and that’s the problem. What is the endgame of this war? Iran is showing no mercy against the Gulf States, it’s continuing to fight back, and just in the last half hour or so, there have been new strikes on Bahrain, also towards Israel. That’s despite all these strikes from the air from Israel and the United States on Iran for, now, five days,” Dr Miller said.

Geopolitical analyst Dr Geoffrey Miller. Supplied

“We’ve now got an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon, and airstrikes over Beirut, we’ve got drones being intercepted going as far as NATO airbases in Turkiye, just across the region, is chaos and destruction and devastation.”

He said New Zealand, as a small but well-liked country, could work towards a diplomatic solution.

“New Zealand needs to be really thinking about all of this. Christopher Luxon had a phone call with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the president of the United Arab Emirates, last night. He said, in the readout that came out on X after that, that New Zealand was keen on negotiated solutions, on de-escalations,” Dr Miller said.

“I think New Zealand can, in a small way, be part of that. New Zealand has had an embassy in Tehran for fifty years, it’s had an embassy in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia for forty years, and has good ties with many of the Gulf States.

“New Zealand can be part of the solution to this conflict, because what we need is a diplomatic solution. There is no military solution to what we’re seeing in the Middle East, going down this path of war is only going to lead us to more chaos, destruction and devastation.”

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March 5, 2026

NRL: NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters – what you need to know

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kiwis teammates James Fisher-Harris and Naufahu Whyte will face off, when the Warriors host the Roosters at Go Media Stadium. Photosport/RNZ

NRL: NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters

Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 6 March

Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Live blog updates on RNZ website

NZ Warriors kick off their 2025 NRL campaign on Friday night against Sydney Roosters at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.

The home side haven’t enjoyed much success against their rivals in recent times and they will find another old enemy lurking in the Roosters line-up.

Here’s how the game shapes up:

History

Over 48 previous meetings, Sydney Roosters hold a 24-23 head-to-head advantage, with one draw – a 31-31 deadlock at Allianz Stadium that remained unresolved through ‘Golden Point’ in 2007.

That superiority is far more pronounced over the last 10 encounters, where the Roosters enjoy an 8-2 advantage. The first of those defeats came in 2017 at Mt Smart Stadium and the most recent was their last game at the same venue 12 months ago.

Centre Ali Leiataua scored two tries in the 14-6 victory, after the home team trailed 6-4 at halftime, kept their opponents scoreless over the second 40 minutes.

Sydney’s biggest winning margin was 58-6 in 2004, when centre Justin Hodges scored three tries for a home team coached by Ricky Stuart and captained by Brad Fittler. The Roosters would win the minor premiership, but lost to Canterbury Bulldogs in the grand final.

The Warriors’ biggest win was 42-16 in 2006, with Jerome Ropati scoring four tries. The result was part of an impressive finish that saw them win eight of their last 12 games, but a four-point penalty for violating the salary cap ultimately cost them a spot in the playoffs.

Jerome Ropati scores a try against Sydney Roosters. Tim Hales/Photosport

Form

Neither team managed to win during the pre-season, with the Warriors falling 33-18 to Manly Sea Eagles and 38-34 to the Dolphins.

Missing seven players to the Māori v Indigenous All Stars game, they were forced to field a very inexperienced team against the Sea Eagles, but performed much better seven days later at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval, where they led 34-20, before coach Andrew Webster gave his bench a run late.

The Dolphins scored three converted tries in the last 10 minutes – Tevita Naufahu, John Fineanganofo and Brian Pouniu were all born in Auckland – to snatch victory.

Sydney also fielded a makeshift line-up in their 42-26 loss to Wests Tigers, but were closer to full strength for a 28-22 defeat against Parramatta Eels, when they led 22-12 at halftime.

Teams

Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Demitric Vaimauga, 16. Leka Halasima, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Morgan Gannon

Reserves: 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 22. Luke Hanson, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Co-captain Mitch Barnett hasn’t recovered from last year’s season-ending knee injury enough to return for the opening round. He was due for testing in Sydney last week and hopes are high he will be available next week.

Front-rower Jackson Ford will start in his place, Chanel Harris-Tevita has recovered from his pre-season calf niggle to line up outside Tanah Boyd in the halves, while winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has bounced back from his hamstring twinge.

Marata Niukore is still nursing a calf strain and Jacob Laban will take his place in the second row. Englishman Morgan Gannon is poised for an NRL debut from the interchange.

Morgan Gannon may make his NRL debut for the Warriors off the bench. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Benaiah Ioelu, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12, Nat Butcher, 13. Blake Steep

Interchange: 14. Conor Watson, 15. Siua Wong, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Spencer Leniu, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Fetalaiga Pauga

Reserves: 20. Salesi Foketi, 21. Tommy Talau, 22. Toby Rodwell

Veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans will make his first-game debut for the Roosters, after spending the first 15 years of his career at Manly.

Last time he faced the Warriors, he provided the gamewinning field goal in his Sea Eagles farewell.

With off-season recruit Reece Robson sidelined by a broken thumb, Auckland-born Benaiah Ioelu will line up at hooker, while Victor ‘the Inflictor’ Radley will begin the new season serving a 10-game suspension for his part in the drugs scandal also involving Kiwi Brandon Smith.

Winger Mark Nawaqanitawase was the competition’s top tryscorer last year, while centre Robert Toia was Dally M Rookie of the Year.

Player to watch

When fullback James Tedesco lost his NSW Origin spot in 2024, after 22 consecutive appearances, many probably assumed he was entering the twilight of his career.

James Tedesco fends off Nathan Cleary during the 22025 NRL. DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAP/Photosport

Instead, he produced one of his best seasons in 2025, winning the Dally M Medal for the second time and taking Captain of the Year honours for good measure.

“We’ve got a world class fullback that we’re coming up against on the weekend,” Warriors counterpart Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad said. “It’s a really good challenge, a really good individual challenge… he can do whatever he wants, but if we get the ‘W’, I’ll be happy with that.”

Kiwi player to watch

Since the departure of Kiwi hardman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, young countryman Naufahu Whyte has elevated his game to fill the void, logging 23 games in each of the last two seasons and bringing up his 50th appearance for the Roosters last year.

His progress has made him an automatic selection for the national team and he will come up against NZ captain James Fisher-Harris this week.

“I’ve admired the bro for a long time now, ever since he was first in the Kiwis,” Fisher-Harris acknowledged. “Just the way he holds himself on and off the field.

“He’s developed into a good player now and last year he was killing it. He’s my bro and I’m keen to go at it.”

What they say

“It’s surprised me how well he trains for a guy who’s 37 years old. He doesn’t miss a session, he’s out there doing extras and looks after himself really well.”

Tedesco on new recruit Cherry-Evans

Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates his winning field goal against the Warriors in his final game for Manly. Jeremy Ng/www.photosport.nz

“A bit like us, I’m sure they’re not going to be perfect round one, but they will be experienced enough through those three [Cheery-Evans, Tedesco and Walker] to come with plenty of options. They’re a dangerous spine and Cherry’s going to add a lot.”

Webster on what to expect from Cherry-Evans

New rules

The NRL has brought in some new regulations that will challenge coaches’ adbility to adjust through the early rounds.

Trainers won’t be able to run onto the field during play, a move designed to prioritise player safety, while also reducing messages being carried onto the field from coaches.
Interchange benches will now consists of six players, but only four can be used up to eight times per game. This will allow coaches to carry specialist replacements among their subs.
Defensive teams will no longer have a seven-tackle set, if the attacking team knocks on in goal.
Infringements beyond the 20-metre line will be punished with a six-again call, replacing the previous 40-metres threshold.
A proposal to give teams the option of kicking off or receiving the kickoff after a try was shelved for now.

What will happen

Too early in the season to make any informed predictions. This is a talented Roosters roster, but the result will come down to whoever can find some early-season cohesion quickest.

Cherry-Evans and Tedesco certainly know how to beat the Warriors, and their combination is scary.

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March 5, 2026

Was it really a rubbish summer this year? What the numbers say

Source: Radio New Zealand

Canterbury flooding – Little River – 17 February 2026 RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

The latest data from Earth Sciences New Zealand shows just how wet and cool it was at some points this summer for parts of the South Island and lower North Island.

Chester Lampkin from Earth Sciences New Zealand told Morning Report although it may not have seemed like the best summer, overall the summer was about average, he said.

“Essentially we had a warm start to the summer, December was nearly 1C above what is considered the average and temperatures were near average for January and then it just got a little bit colder.”

In February temperatures were half a degree below average, there was low pressure and more southerlies, he said.

“As a result this is going to end up being an average summer, people won’t remember it that way but statistically that’s how it played out.”

The summer was dominated by lots of high pressure but there were three very unsettled periods, he said.

Flooding at Little River in Canterbury on 17 February 2026. RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

It was unsettled from Christmas to New Year holiday period with many places getting a lot of rain and wind, he said.

From around 20 to 22 January it was also unsettled and that was when record rainfall in Coromandel and Bay of Plenty saw the tragic incidents that occurred there, he said.

“We have the storm that occurred around Valentines Day that brought heavy rain to Gisborne and rain and wind to the Wellington region and parts of the South Island and continued all the way down to Banks Peninsula and Otago.”

Parts of the South Island and lower North Island such as Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin had above normal rainfall and below or near normal in terms of temperature, he said.

Earth Sciences New Zealand’s map forecasting the seasonal climate outlook from March-May 2026. Earth Sciences New Zealand

The weather pattern in autumn is expected to be similar to what happened in the summer, he said.

“That means the possibility of some tropical intrusions or some tropical air seeping southwards from the tropics across the North Island and perhaps the upper South and temperatures will likely be reflected in that if we get more tropical lows that’ll keep temperatures down, at western areas, particularly the South Island will be a little warmer than average but maybe you won’t notice it because it’ll be cooler autumn air.”

Lampkin said it would be difficult to predict how much sunshine there would be but his best guess was that “a lot of New Zealand would be in the cloud for much of the autumn as well”.

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March 5, 2026

Corey Peters determined to make last Paralympics a golden one

Source: Radio New Zealand

Corey Peters heads to Milan with four Paralympic medals already to his name. PHOTOSPORT

Corey Peters has spent most of the past decade chasing winters.

For 12 straight years, the New Zealand sit-skier went season to season without a break, building a career that has delivered four Paralympic medals, including downhill gold at Beijing in 2022. But the road to Milan has looked nothing like the ones that came before it.

Instead of relentless travel and northern hemisphere campaigns, Peters stepped away after the birth of his first child, Valentina, in 2023. He wanted to be present for her first year – and for his partner – and said the decision was one of the best he has made.

“I wanted to build that connection and bond with my daughter,” Peters told RNZ.

“Up until then, it had been 12 years of back-to-back winters without a season off. So it was a perfect excuse to have a break from the first year of an Olympic cycle. I wanted to support my partner and just be there for Valentina as much as I could.”

He had barely begun his return when a setback followed. A dislocated shoulder in training wiped out much of the next season, meaning Peters effectively spent the first two years of his daughter’s life largely at home.

“In hindsight, it was kind of a blessing in disguise really,” he said. “We’re really close and have a good relationship.”

That closeness has made this campaign different in more ways than one. Valentina, now three, struggles with his time away.

“She’s always saying how much she misses daddy and asks when I’m coming home. That goes to show the bond that we’ve created.”

It has also shifted his motivation.

“Up until then, I guess I’d been doing it for myself and now I feel like I am doing it for them as well.”

Peters won gold at the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022, adding to his two silver and one bronze in his medal collection. AFP/Xinhua

But fatherhood brought doubt too – particularly in a discipline as unforgiving as downhill sit-skiing.

“One of the biggest things that I did struggle with was how much risk you wanted to put into it,” he said. “You’re aware of your body and not wanting to crash.”

Working with a sports psychologist and logging more time in the start gate gradually restored his belief. Now, on the eve of his fourth Paralympics, he feels competitive again.

The Milan Games, which officially begin on Friday, will likely be Peters’ last at this level. At 42, he acknowledges another four-year cycle may be a stretch, though a world championships campaign next year remains a possibility.

He arrives in Italy as the defending downhill sitting champion after his breakthrough gold at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, where he also claimed silver in the Super-G. His first Paralympic medal came at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics with silver in the giant slalom, followed by downhill bronze at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics.

He has never left a Games empty-handed – a record he is keenly aware of.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want to get one,” he said. “To have that 100 percent success rate at each Games that I’ve participated in – that’s kind of in the back of my mind.”

This time, though, he knows the challenge will be steeper. The Cortina course is more technical than the one in China, with rolling terrain and blind breakovers that punish hesitation. The field has also deepened, as the sport continues to grow.

“It’s certainly not going to be an easy task. You’ve got a bit of a target on your back. Every four years, the competition improves.”

Peters will contest the downhill, Super-G and giant slalom in Milan and says a multi-medal haul would be “the icing on the cake” of his career.

Peters came away with silver in the giant slalom sitting event at his first Paralympics in Sochi 12 years ago. Supplied

His path to the top of the sport was anything but conventional. A former Taranaki age-group and development squad rugby representative, Peters’ life changed in 2009 when he suffered a crushed spinal cord in a motocross accident. After four months in a spinal unit learning to navigate life in a wheelchair, he discovered sit-skiing in 2011 – a sport that would reshape his future.

“It’s been massive for overcoming the spinal cord injury,” he said. “It completely changed my life.”

Whatever happens in Milan, Peters expects skiing to remain part of it. Even if this is his final Paralympics, he plans to continue recreationally, frequenting his local fields at Cardrona and Treble Cone.

“It’s the sense of freedom that it gives you,” he said. “Your disability kind of disappears when you’re in the sit-ski. You don’t have the same limitations on you as you do in the wheelchair on a day-to-day basis.”

For now, though, his focus is firmly on one more push at the highest level – balancing the pursuit of another medal with the perspective he has gained away from the slopes.

The downhill sitting event is scheduled for late Saturday night (NZT), with the Super-G and giant slalom later in the programme.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/corey-peters-determined-to-make-last-paralympics-a-golden-one/

March 5, 2026

Construction worker pulls man from burning house in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Marika Khabazi

A construction worker has described pulling someone from a burning house in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby.

A number of firefighters are at the scene on Tawariki Street, with crews using an aerial crane to try contain the fire on Thursday.

Jeremy Lodder was working at a construction site nearby when he noticed a fire on the other side of the road.

Jeremy Lodder was working at a construction site nearby when he noticed a fire on the other side of the road. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

He stopped working and leapt into action.

“I just thought it was a burn off, but it was a strange place for it in the middle of the city. I realised it was pretty close to the brick walls and once I saw that, I stopped my machine that I was using, told the other boys to stop, talked to the supervisor who was here [and] told him to call the fire brigade,” Lodder said.

“… knocked on the doors, found one guy in there, got him out, while the house was on fire.”

Lodder said he’s seen house fires before and knows how fast they can spread.

“That’s why as soon as I saw it I jumped out [and] stopped my gear.”

Workers were at a construction site nearby when they saw the fire. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) Senior Station Officer Michael Manning told RNZ there were multiple calls just after 10am.

“We got here within a couple of minutes and the rear of the house was well involved in fire and the neighbouring house was also starting to catch fire,” he said.

He said the first home has extensive damage, but the neighbour’s home has been spared and has only scorch marks.

“The crews did an excellent job stopping the fire moving through that property,” he said.

Manning said the police were called while there were initial concerns for the whereabouts of the person at the home and whether they were hurt or missing.

“He’s now been located and is speaking with our fire investigators and police,” Manning said.

Firefighters at the scene of the fire in Ponsonby. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Six fire trucks and more than 20 crew were called in.

Manning said it had been a busy morning for Auckland fire crews. They responded to the Ponsonby fire fresh after attending a fire on Hobson Street in the CBD.

“We had just recommissioned from that when this job came in,” he said.

Crews are using a high-reach ladder truck from Wellington to take the roof off and put out the remaining pockets of fire,” Manning said.

The fire comes a day after a person died in another house fire in Auckland.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/construction-worker-pulls-man-from-burning-house-in-auckland/

March 5, 2026

Wellington eco-sanctuary Zealandia facing huge bill after wild winds hit region

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington’s eco-sanctuary Zealandia is facing a bill of tens of thousands of dollars following last month’s wild winds.

In February, the lower North Island was hit by a brutal storm which brought down trees, shut roads and cut off power to thousands.

The capital experienced its strongest winds in more than a decade with gusts of 193 kilometres an hour recorded at Mount Kaukau, and 128km/h at Wellington Airport.

At Zealandia, which was home to Takahe, Kākā, Little Spotted Kiwi and more, the sanctuary’s conservation and restoration general manager Jo Ledington told RNZ the weather event had been described as like being in a “snow globe”.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

“That’s what it felt like, we came in and it just felt like the whole valley had been shaken, there was just leaf debris everywhere up to sort of 10 centimetres on tracks in places.”

Ledington said the wind toppled pine trees as tall as 30 metres which needed to be cleared.

“They are very big, big old trees.”

She said it had taken a financial toll on the community organisation.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

“The cost of cleaning up is high I have had to pull my team off their normal work of maintaining the predator free fence and yeah we have pulled everyone onto these tracks to get the cleaning up done.

“And then of course we need professional arborists to come in and do that really big heavy work and that comes at a significant cost.”

It was unclear what that full cost would be yet.

“It will be tens and tens of thousands yeah, we are running an appeal at the moment, and we have had incredible community support for that.”

RNZ / Mark Papalii

She said with Zealandia shutting more often due to storms, they were planning for how they dealt with the new normal of more severe weather.

That included refreshing the site’s predator proof fence with the latest climate data.

“The rebuild will be building for our future projections of wind and whatever gets thrown at it.”

It was hoped that the trees would be cleared by the end of March.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/wellington-eco-sanctuary-zealandia-facing-huge-bill-after-wild-winds-hit-region/

March 5, 2026

World media reacts to appointment of new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dave Rennie. AAP / Photosport

Dave Rennie has been tasked with leading the All Blacks through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Rennie was named as the new head coach on Wednesday, replacing Scott Robertson after just two years at the helm.

The former Chiefs and Wallabies coach will take up the role in June, when the Japanese Rugby League One season ends, where he coaches Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Rennie will then take charge ahead of the July home series against France, Italy and Ireland.

As a former coach of Australia, and with the World Cup also taking place there next year, his appointment as All Blacks coach didn’t go unnoticed across the Tasman.

The Sydney Morning Herald said Rennie was still very popular amongst the Wallabies’ players, with BBC Sport also touching on his popular tenure in Scotland.

Meanwhile, with the All Blacks set to tackle the Springboks in four-test tour in August, South African journalists have drawn parallels between Rennie’s appointment and Rassie Erasmus.

Rugby365

By Jon Cardinelli

A few parallels can be drawn between the appointment of Rennie at the All Blacks and that of Rassie Erasmus at the Boks in 2018.

Like Erasmus, Rennie has the technical knowledge to improve the team as well as the emotional intelligence to connect with the players.

What he doesn’t have, of course, is a lot of time.

There’s plenty of optimism in New Zealand at present, but Rennie himself summed the situation up when he said, “We’ve got a lot of work to do”.

BBC Sport

By Simon Armstrong

Certainly, Rennie’s record aged well. Eddie Jones, who replaced him for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, was divisive off the pitch and then disastrous on it, with the Wallabies losing to Fiji and Wales and failing to get out of their pool for the first time in tournament history.

Rennie was also highly respected during his three years at Glasgow Warriors, where he took the team to the Pro14 final in 2019, and went about his business in a calm, considered way.

He will need that composure in a high-pressure job that seemed to ruffle predecessor Scott Robertson. But Rennie is due another crack at the Test stage.

RugbyPass

By Nick Bishop

There is no question the newly-crowned All Black coaching king will reverse many of the stylistic and tactical trends of the Robertson era.

There will be more kick and turnover returns and more counters from deep with ball in hand. Forwards will be selected for intensity and skills rather than pure mass, and the prophylactic thumb blocking overseas selections may finally be pulled out of the dyke, allowing the water to flow from outside the country and back into New Zealand.

Brutality in and around the all-important tackle area will also make a welcome comeback, though whether it is accompanied by the requisite discipline may depend on the reassuring, steadying hand of Smith on the tiller. Not the first time in his coaching career, ‘Smithy’ may be the vital oil that allows the wheels of the almighty All Blacks machine to roll again.

Sydney Morning Herald

By Iain Payten

Strong references from former Wallabies stars played a part in New Zealand Rugby’s decision to appoint Dave Rennie as the new All Blacks coach.

Rennie remains a hugely popular figure among Australian rugby stars. An onlooker said Rennie was surrounded by Wallabies players when he visited the team hotel in Tokyo last year after a Test against Japan.

In a congratulatory post on X, former Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper sprayed RA.

Planet Rugby

By Jared Wright

The parallels with Erasmus are unavoidable whenever a nation makes a big coaching change so close to a Rugby World Cup. So the question is how much of SA Rugby’s playbook will New Zealand follow?

Erasmus signed an unheard-of eight-year deal in 2018; Rennie’s contract doesn’t compare.

But will the new NZ Rugby board move with the times and at least give Rennie some leeway in selecting overseas players? It’s an issue that Robertson raised almost immediately when he took over the reins, as he pushed to get his serial winning fly-half Richie Mo’unga in his squad. He was unsuccessful with his pleas.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/05/world-media-reacts-to-appointment-of-new-all-blacks-coach-dave-rennie/