Category: MIL-OSI

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Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Ben Barclay to bear NZ flag at 2026 Olympic Winter Games

Source: Radio New Zealand

NZ Team Ngā Pou Hāpai (flag bearers) snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (L) and freeski athlete Ben Barclay (R). Supplied / New Zealand Olympic Committee

The Olympic Committee has named snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and freeski athlete Ben Barclay as New Zealand’s flagbearers at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

The pair were formally announced as Ngā Pou Hāpai Tāne and Wahine (male and female flagbearers) during a special team gathering at New Zealand Lodge in the Italian town of Livigno.

Sadowski-Synnott said she felt “very honoured” to be selected.

“To share this with Beano (Ben) who I’ve spent a lot of my career with, not only on my snowboard but off it too, is special. He’s just an all-round great human being and I’m proud to be sharing this moment with him,” she said.

“I just hope to lead the NZ Team in a way that can make everyone proud, it means a lot to me,” she said.

Barclay echoed Sadowski-Synnott’s feelings of pride.

“It’s an honour to wear the kākahu (cloak) and be chosen as a flagbearer alongside such a good friend as Zoi. To lead the team into the opening ceremony is a privilege for both of us,” he said.

“When the kākahu was put on our shoulders it gave me a bit of a shiver, it’s an honour that not many people get to experience and to carry that forward throughout this Olympic experience will be incredible.”

The flagbearers were selected by the team’s chef de mission Marty Toomey, who considered past performances, leadership qualities, the ability to inspire teammates, and each athlete’s competition preparation and performance.

He said both athletes reflected the spirit the team wanted to take into the games.

“These two are not only incredible athletes, but incredible human beings … They work hard, they stay grounded and they lift the people around them.

“Ben represents resilience, commitment and genuine care for his teammates. He has earned deep respect across the team through his attitude, his professionalism and the way he supports others.

“Zoi has set new standards for New Zealand snow sports. Her consistency, her competitive courage and the way she carries herself make her a powerful example for every athlete here.”

Sadowski-Synnott, Olympian #1384 had a full set of Olympic medals, having represented the NZ Team at PyeongChang 2018 where she won bronze in Big Air and at Beijing 2022 where she won gold in Slopestyle and silver in Big Air.

Barclay, Olympian #1520, represented the NZ Team at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air, finishing tenth in Slopestyle, which stands as New Zealand’s best result in the event.

New Zealand is set to be represented by 17 athletes at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, which run from 6-22 February.

The opening ceremony will be at 7.30am New Zealand time on Saturday.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/zoi-sadowski-synnott-and-ben-barclay-to-bear-nz-flag-at-2026-olympic-winter-games/

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Suicide bomber kills 31 in Shi’ite mosque in Pakistan’s capital

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Asif Shahzad, Reuters

Security personnel and locals gather at a blast site inside a mosque in Islamabad on February 6, 2026. GHULAM RASOOL / AFP

An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday (all times local) before setting off a suicide bomb and killing at least 31 people, in the deadliest attack of its kind in Pakistan’s capital in over a decade.

More than 170 others were wounded in the explosion, detonated after guards challenged the attacker as he made his way into the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah compound on the outskirts of the city, officials said.

Images from the site showed bloodied bodies lying on the carpeted mosque floor surrounded by shards of glass, debris and panicked worshippers. Dozens more wounded were lying in the gardens of the compound as people called for help.

The man blew “himself up in the last row of worshippers,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X.

He said the bomber had a history of travelling to Afghanistan and blamed neighbouring India for sponsoring the assault, without providing evidence.

There was no immediate response from New Delhi, which has dismissed Pakistan’s accusations of backing militants in the past.

Capital already on alert for visit

The attack was the deadliest suicide bombing in Islamabad in more than a decade, according to conflict monitor ACLED, which said it “bears the hallmarks of the Islamic State”.

Shi’ites, who are in the minority in the predominantly Sunni Muslim nation of 241 million, have been targeted in sectarian violence in the past, including by Islamic State and the Sunni Islamist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Bombings are rare in the heavily guarded capital, although Pakistan has been hit by a rising wave of militancy in the past few years, particularly along the border with Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry condemned the attack. Kabul has repeatedly denied charges that it provides safe haven to militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan.

“A total of 31 people have lost their lives. The number of wounded brought to hospitals has risen to 169,” Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner, Irfan Memon, said in a statement.

The capital was already on high alert on Friday for the visiting President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, with roads around the capital blocked by checkpoints and security forces posted across the city.

“We are giving every possible help to the families of those killed and those injured,” Pakistan’s parliamentary affairs minister Tariq Fazal said after visiting the wounded at Islamabad’s Polyclinic hospital.

Week of violence

Pakistan has also blamed India for assaults by militants in the restive Balochistan province over the weekend, accusations that have fanned smouldering tensions between the nuclear-powered neighbours who engaged in their worst conflict in decades in May.

New Delhi has denied any involvement in the violence in Balochistan where Pakistan’s military has battled a decades-long insurgency.

That region was brought to a standstill after separatist militants stormed government buildings, hospitals and markets in a coordinated attack, killing 58 civilians and security officials. The military said it killed 216 militants in targeted offensives across the province.

The military said earlier on Friday that another 24 militants linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The last major attack in Islamabad was a suicide bombing on 11 November that killed 12 people and wounded 27 others. Pakistan said it was carried out by an Afghan national. No group claimed responsibility for that attack.

– Reuters

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/suicide-bomber-kills-31-in-shiite-mosque-in-pakistans-capital/

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‘Too often people look to Wellington’ – Northland leaders want more local involvement at Waitangi

Source: Radio New Zealand

Northland leaders want local government to get more involved at Waitangi. RNZ/ Mark Papalii

Pita Tipene is no stranger at Waitangi. He served on the Waitangi National Trust Board for almost a decade, only stepping down when he hit the board’s maximum term limit.

Now as chairperson of the Northland Regional Council, he wants local government more involved at Waitangi.

“Knowing that the bicentennial of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is now only 14 years away, I hope I’m still here then, so if you keep that in focus and you look at what Te Tiriti o Waitangi is all about, article 2 refers to kawanatanga, governance.

“Too often people look to Wellington, and by the way, the capital used to be just across the water here at Okiato. But too many people look to Wellington as kawanatanga and tend to forget that local government is just as involved in that article. Local government, in my case Northland Regional Council, has to step up and be honourable partners.”

Northland Regional Council chairperson Pita Tipene. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Tipene said it did not really matter where the council was located, but he said the four Northland councils, Far North, Whangārei, Kaipara and Northland Regional, had been working together to ensure the solutions for Northland came out of Northland.

“So what we know is Northland is not one place where you can paint it with one brush. Over in the Kaipara, or north of Mangamuka, or in the Bay of Islands or Hokianga, we have our different ways and implications. So my message is we are very united and we are going to the government to say we have the solutions, bespoke solutions, that for instance protect and enhance our environment.”

Northland Regional Council included a committee called Te Ruarangi, which was a mixture of iwi voices and hapu voices, to give affect to Te Tiriti, he said.

“It is a very powerful forum and if you were to ever sit in there and experience the level of discussion and debate and insight into how Te Tiriti o Waitangi as envisaged in 1840 can be applied in 2026 and beyond, I’d invite anybody to come and listen to that.”

Far North District Council mayor Moko Tepania said last year was the first that Local Government New Zealand was officially represented at Waitangi.

“We at a local government level carry so many of those principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi around partnerships, local partnerships with iwi, hapū, marae, whānau on the ground. So it’s only right that we as a sector are represented here at the same time.”

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. Peter de Graaf

Northland councils have always been co-hosts alongside mana whenua for Waitangi commemorations and it was great to have other councils participate, he said.

“We have obligations under so many different pieces of legislation, least of all in the Local Government Act to uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and how we deal with Māori on the ground. We’re local government. We sit alongside iwi rūnanga, who are also a form of local government in this country as well. So it’s always beautiful to come home to see those who come to also respect and honour our nation’s founding document here in the birthplace of the nation, Waitangi.”

Tipene said in the lead up to the centennial in 1940, iwi and political leaders got together and asked what could be done to ensure that the centennial reflected the nationhood.

“The tangible symbols is the Whare Rūnanga, they built and opened it on the 6th of February 1940. Ngātokimatawhaorua the waka was launched at the same time.

“Tangible symbols, what’s our generation contribution? Will it be a new bridge that is two lane and symbolic of Te Tiriti o Waitangi instead of the one lane bridge that we currently have? That’s something for us to all think about.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/too-often-people-look-to-wellington-northland-leaders-want-more-local-involvement-at-waitangi/

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NZ stock less affected by global market than Australia, advisor says

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Australian stock exchange was down by two percent. 123RF

A financial advisor believes the New Zealand stock exchange will be less affected by the latest global market trends than Australia.

The Australian stock exchange was two percent down when it closed trading yesterday evening, with some of the worst hit industries being mining and tech companies.

It came after some fears globally about investment returns on artificial intelligence.

Radical Investment financial advisor Darcy Ungaro said New Zealand’s main exports were quite different to those across the ditch.

“Specifically, commodities like iron and coal and the financial and banking industry. Obviously, there’s more tech companies in the ASX then the NZX.”

Ungaro believed that Australia was likely more connected to the global economy through its products and financial markets.

“They are far more sensitive to changes like Donald Trump’s recent nomination for Fed Chair.”

He said the New Zealand stock exchange was fairly insulated at the moment.

Tech and business commentator Paul Spain said the New Zealand stock market will be less exposed to the global trends driving down stocks in Australia and the US, due to having fewer tech companies that are listed on the local stock exchange.

However, he said New Zealanders with investments in NZ companies listed overseas, such as Xero and Rocketlab, or those with investments in international tech stocks, will still feel the hit.

Spain said the global trends may trigger people to sell off or exit from certain KiwiSaver plans; however, he said conventional wisdom would advise to hang in for the long haul.

“Sometimes we see these stocks that will have a drop, people will be fearful and maybe exit a KiwiSaver scheme and may well get burned if those stocks then end up bouncing back,” he said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/nz-stock-less-affected-by-global-market-than-australia-advisor-says/

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Yarns, pottery, woodwork and happy mail: The rise of analogue hobbies

Source: Radio New Zealand

When novice sourdough bakers kneaded their way through pandemic lockdowns, crafters were doing something similar – knitting, crocheting, stitching, journalling and shaping clay, not for virality, but for sanity.

Retailers jumped onboard, tempting doom-scrolling thumbs with crafty kits that became a gateway into what the internet affectionately dubbed “grandma hobbies” or analogue hobbies.

Five years on, the revival has moved beyond the screen. Across Aotearoa, these slow, tactile pastimes are drawing people into studios, markets and lounge rooms – spaces where creativity doubles as friendships, mental wellbeing and even activism.

Unsplash / CPhotos, Daiga Ellaby, pure julia

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/yarns-pottery-woodwork-and-happy-mail-the-rise-of-analogue-hobbies/

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Removing sewage before it goes septic is main focus of Wellington water company

Source: Radio New Zealand

Untreated water was leaking onto the capital’s south coast beaches due to the Moa Point Treatment Plant flooding and being turned off from early this morning. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Wellington Water is working against the clock to get raw sewage out of its Moa Point Treatment Plant before it goes septic.

Early Wednesday morning the plant was flooded by raw sewage – causing it to shut down and be evacuated.

Some of that waste had been taken to landfill – while the rest of it was now being pumped out of the facility.

The water company’s board chair Nick Leggett said they’re working hard to get the material out of the plant prior to it becoming septic.

“That has been a focus from pretty much the moment that we knew there was something wrong.

“It was getting this place clean so it is a safe place to work and so it is not emitting obviously a stench.”

Sewage can be seen on Wellington’s South Coast after a leak from the Moa Point wastewater plant. Kate Taptiklis

That sewage was being pumped from the plant’s 1.8 kilometre long outfall pipe to reduce harm to beaches.

Wellington Water believed some issue with that pipe had caused the major failure of the plant.

Leggett said divers had been inspecting it but were yet to find any form of blockage.

On Friday it was reported Wellington Mayor Andrew Little would be raising the Moa Point treatment plant failure with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday.

The meeting was scheduled already but Little said it would be a topic of discussion.

Little said one of the questions in the days ahead would be about setting up an appropriate investigation or inquiry into what happened.

“We can’t let this happen again,” he said. “We can’t let such a critical plant for a modern city fail in the way that this has and cause the environmental degradation that it has.

“It’s important we get the facts and it’s important we understand what we need to do to prevent it from happening again.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/removing-sewage-before-it-goes-septic-is-main-focus-of-wellington-water-company/

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WorkSafe says explosion that seriously burnt a forklift driver was avoidable

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Tank Test worker was hospitalised for nine weeks after several condemned, nine-kilogram gas bottles exploded and their forklift caught fire. SUPPLIED

An explosion that put a forklift driver in hospital for nine weeks could have been avoided with basic safety controls, WorkSafe said.

The worker was seriously burned when several condemned, nine kilogram gas bottles exploded and their forklift caught fire in March, 2024 at Tank Test in Papatoetoe, Auckland.

The company was fined more than $300,000, including reparations of $5,000, in a reserved decision of the Manukau District Court.

In sentencing Tank Test, Judge Gus Andrée Wiltens described the hazard as “clear and obvious”. He noted the company could have eliminated the risk at no cost by ensuring forklift and degassing operations never happened at the same time.

WorkSafe principal inspector, David Worsfold said the case highlighted a significant gap between knowing what should be done and actually doing it.

“This worker ended up in hospital because his employer didn’t take simple steps to eliminate an obvious risk,” he said.

Worsfold added that every business, regardless of industry, could learn from what went wrong at Tank Test and that procedures that weren’t monitored and enforced were just paper.

“This case isn’t just about flammable gases. It’s about a pattern we see across industries,” he said.

“Businesses may identify risks but can fail to follow through with proper controls. They have procedures but don’t ensure they’re working in practice.”

WorkSafe said that manufacturing was a priority sector for the regulator, as injury rates in manufacturing had remained stubbornly high over the past decade.

Tank Test has been approached for comment.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/worksafe-says-explosion-that-seriously-burnt-a-forklift-driver-was-avoidable/

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As it happened: Waitangi visitors reflect on manaakitanga

Source: Radio New Zealand

Waitangi Day celebrations started with a dawn service, which included a rowdy reception for the deputy prime minister, a waka flotilla and powerful haka.

Follow coverage on our live blog below.

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View from The Hill: Angus Taylor circles Ley, as Liberals watch polling and negotiations with Nats

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Sunday’s Newspoll is being keenly awaited by federal Liberals as leadership aspirant Angus Taylor contemplates the timing of a challenge to Sussan Ley.

With talks to try to get the federal Coalition together looking near collapse, Taylor danced around the leadership issue in a Sydney radio interview on Friday.

Some Liberal sources say whether there is a challenge as early as next week – the second week in the House of Representatives’ sitting fortnight – will likely depend on the polling and the outcome of the faltering negotiations with the Nationals.

Other sources discount the prospect because senators will be caught up in Senate estimates committees.

Quizzed on Sydney radio on Friday, Taylor said: “Of course I’ve been having discussions with colleagues about the future of the party.

“Look, there’s one thing we’re hearing from our supporters, the people who voted for us at the last election, the people we wanted to have vote for us at the last election and didn’t. It is a clear message from them: we must do beetter.”

If there is no imminent agreement on reunifying the Coalition, Ley is set to announce an all-Liberal frontbench, probably on Sunday.

Ley has demanded the three Nationals frontbenchers who defied shadow cabinet solidarity over the government’s anti-hate legislation should be off any combined frontbench for six months. The Nationals have now countered by suggesting all former Nationals shadow ministers should served a brief suspension. This is unacceptable to Ley.

The Liberal leader is in a no-win situation. She is under immense pressure to mend the Coalition. On the other hand some Liberals who support her leadership believe the two parties should stay apart. Also, some Liberals are eyeing the expanded opportunities for posts that a Liberal-only shadow ministry presents.

Ley’s determination to hold her hard line in the negotiations with the Nationals was undermined this week when former prime minister John Howard urged her to compromise.

Howard said both sides needed to “stop the nit-picking over minutiae”.

“Both sides have to […] concentrate on reforming the Coalition which is the political imperative that transcends all else,” he told The Australian.

“There’s no point in debating what has happened in the last two weeks and the priority must be the reforming of the Coalition.”

Previously Howard had been supportive of Ley’s tough position on the defectors.

The crisis around Ley’s leadership is playing out publicly in slow motion, with her supporters and her opponents in the party agreeing that it will inevitably come to a head, with only the precise timing still up in the air.

If he won the leadership, Taylor would likely quickly reunite the Coalition.

It had been originally thought Taylor did not want to challenge Ley until the budget session. But a fast-moving and chaotic situation, including the collapse of the Coalition, has changed things.

Last week the other leadership aspirant, Andrew Hastie, announced he would not run for the leadership, leaving the field to Taylor.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. View from The Hill: Angus Taylor circles Ley, as Liberals watch polling and negotiations with Nats – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-angus-taylor-circles-ley-as-liberals-watch-polling-and-negotiations-with-nats-274833

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/06/view-from-the-hill-angus-taylor-circles-ley-as-liberals-watch-polling-and-negotiations-with-nats-274833/

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Wellington Phoenix land All Whites star Sarpreet Singh in new loan deal

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sarpreet Singh in 2023. AFP

Wellington Phoenix have secured a stunning homecoming, signing 26-cap All White Sarpreet Singh for the rest of the A-League season.

The attacking midfielder is on loan from Serbian SuperLiga side Bačka Topola.

As a teenager, Singh made his professional debut for the Wellington outfit and logged 40 appearances, before moving to Bayern Munich in 2019 for what was then a club-record fee.

“I’m very happy to be back,” he said. “The club means a lot to me, and I can’t wait to get started and meet everyone.

“The most important thing for me is to be in an environment where I’m enjoying it, having fun and being able just be free on the field.

“That’s when I play my best football and I believe Wellington provides the best environment for that for me.”

Singh has played professionally in Germany, Portugal and Serbia over the past six-and-a-half seasons.

“I feel like I left as a boy and I’m returning as a more mature player,” he said. “Throughout those years, I’ve learnt a lot, and I’ve had plenty of highs and a lot of lows as well.

“I’ve had to deal with many setbacks throughout my career, and I feel like with age, time and experience, I’ve learnt a lot. I think I’m in a very good headspace and, physically, I’m very good as well.

“I feel like I’m a good age, I feel ready and I feel like my best years are still ahead of me.”

Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano jumped at the opportunity to sign Singh, after long being an admirer.

“We were very close to signing Sarpreet at the beginning of the season and he was going to be a player that I was going to try to build a team around,” Italiano said.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/wellington-phoenix-land-all-whites-star-sarpreet-singh-in-new-loan-deal/

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Wellington Phoenix women rewrite A-League history books with win over Perth Glory

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington’s teenage sensation Pia Vlok is flanked by Perth Glory defenders. www.photosport.nz

For the first time in club history, a rejuvenated Wellington Phoenix sit atop the women’s A-league, after a tense 1-0 win over Perth Glory.

The successful outing at home capped a remarkable four-match winning streak, catapulting them past Melbourne City and Brisbane into top spot on the competition ladder.

In four previous seasons, the Phoenix women have never reached the playoffs, finishing ninth last season, but they seem to have found their feet under former Canada national coach Bev Priestman.

Captain Mackenzie Barry told SkySport her teammates knew exactly what was on the line entering the match.

“I’m just so pleased we got the win,” she said. “We were pushing so hard this week.

“It feels like a huge achievement and it felt like finals football today.

“We believe in each other, and we’re going to keep pushing and do what hasn’t been done before, so I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season goes.”

The decisive moment in the tough contest came on the stroke of halftime, when American forward Makala Woods pounced for her third goal of the season, tipping the match in Wellington’s favour.

Makala Woods celebrates her goal at Sky Stadium in Wellington. www.photosport.nz

The second half saw further chances for the home side, as Grace Jale unleashed a strike that clipped the crossbar.

Phoenix goalkeeper Vic Esson faced an injury scare, halting play with a hand injury, but she remained on the field.

Perth pressed for an equaliser late in the match, as Wellington’s defenders held firm.

Next week, the Phoenix women host Central Coast Mariners at Porirua Park.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/wellington-phoenix-women-rewrite-a-league-history-books-with-win-over-perth-glory/

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Christchurch bottle stores ban the sale of popular drink Nitro to renew licenses

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nitro is a triple-distilled vodka beverage formulated with guarana. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

At least half a dozen Christchurch bottle stores have agreed to stop selling a vodka-infused guarana RTD in an effort to get or renew their liquor licences – the result of a campaign its manufacturer feels was driven by a “personally-motivated vendetta” against their product.

The alcohol shops have agreed to or suggested the condition during their applications to the Christchurch District Licensing Committee since 2022.

It prompted the owner of Nitro Vodka, National Brands, to take legal action, claiming the drink was being unfairly targeted. However, Justice Rob Osborne ruled the licensing committee was within its rights to grant liquor licences with the ‘no-Nitro’ condition.

Paul McMahon of Community Action on Youth and Drugs Otautahi, who championed the case against Nitro, said he wanted alcohol-and-caffeine-mixed drinks – not just Nitro – banned in New Zealand.

National Brands director Steve Shaw says that, as a Linwood Community Board member and a member of Christchurch Council, McMahon should be “fair and impartial”, but Shaw felt McMahon “chose a very biased, anti-competitive and a personally motivated vendetta against Nitro”.

McMahon told Checkpoint on Wednesday Nitro was particularly popular with young men, about university age.

He said the company’s social-marketing campaign targeted this demographic, and was associated with binge and harmful drinking.

“In my community, I’ve got footage of people drinking it in the middle of the day, outside bottle stores. One guy chugging some and throwing up out the back of one.

“It’s really associated with binge drinking, excessive and harmful drinking.”

Shaw took exception to McMahon’s comments Nitro was the “most well-distributed and well-promoted product”, as similar products like Smirnoff and KGB had been around “a lot longer, are owned by massive multi-national companies and have the largest distribution models in the country”.

“The marketing of Nitro is no different than many brands,” Shaw said to RNZ on Thursday.

“Nitro has not had a single complaint from Advertising Standards Authority complaint in since 2021. Even then, the complaints prior to 2021 were from anti-alcohol campaigners and not once from a normal member of the public.”

McMahon said mixing caffeine and alcohol is generally a bad idea.

“Mixing caffeine – a stimulant – and alcohol together elevates all the risks associated with alcohol. Apart from being harder on your nervous system, it also impairs judgement further and it impairs the perception of intoxication.

“It makes poor decisions more likely in every respect, and so it also makes people more likely to stay up longer and drink more,” he said. “Think of all the worst things about excessive and inappropriate use of alcohol, and compound those.”

“McMahon talks of harm from caffeine, but not once in any hearing or at any stage has [McMahon] provided any evidence of his made-up claims,” Shaw said.

While Nitro was legal, McMahon said the local district licensing committees retained broad statutory powers to tailor licensing conditions to control alcohol-related harm, which could include banning specific products.

“The reason for that is that the purpose of the act is to reduce harm from alcohol. There’s no, like, prior right to sell alcohol.

“The whole basis of the Sale and Supply Alcohol Act is that it’s a product that is different and only the act confers the right to sell alcohol, it’s not like a normal product.”

“McMahon should consider factual evidence-based criteria, before threatening hard-working, privately-owned liquor stores and manipulating the law to ban a legal alcohol beverage,” Shaw said. “Particularly as Nitro is no different than Smirnoff, KGB or at least six other products, with exactly the same guarana and alcohol content.”

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/christchurch-bottle-stores-ban-the-sale-of-popular-drink-nitro-to-renew-licenses/

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Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says he will bring ‘catastrophic’ sewage failure to PM’s attention

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sewage can be seen on Wellington’s South Coast after a leak from the Moa Point wastewater plant. Kate Taptiklis

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says he will raise what he has called a “catastrophic” failure of the city’s sewage plant with the prime minister.

Wellington Water has released its first batch of samples, since wastewater from its Moa Point treatment plant started spilling into the ocean close to the shoreline.

Screened wastewater is now being discharged straight into the Cook Strait again after days of being discharged near the shoreline on the South Coast.

On Wednesday the Moa Point wastewater plant’s lower floors completely flooded when sewage backed up in the 1.8km outfall pipe, which normally sends treated wastewater into the Cook Strait.

Since then raw sewage has been spewing from a five-metre pipe directly into the southern coastline.

Little said he wad already scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday before the failure of the sewage plant and would now discuss the issue with the plant during that meeting.

Little said one of the questions in the days ahead would be about setting up an appropriate investigation or inquiry into what happened.

“We can’t let this happen again,” he said. “We can’t let such a critical plant for a modern city fail in the way that this has and cause the environmental degradation that it has.

“It’s important we get the facts and it’s important we understand what we need to do to prevent it from happening again.”

Little said he had also enquired into how to ensure sample results published were more current.

“We’ve got to get that sorted out. People are expecting daily updates on the quality of the water, so we’ve got to get that right.”

Only three of the samples from Wednesday – the day the plant equipment failed – are above the threshold for safe swimming, but Wellington Water cautions that the samples do not reflect the current conditions and people still needs to follow public health advice and stay out of the water.

“Moa Point is continuing to discharge untreated wastewater,” it said. “Untreated wastewater poses a high risk to public health.”

The samples cover 18 sampling sites, from Ōwhiro Bay to Mahanga Bay. They were collected by Eurofins, an independent accredited laboratory, between 4-7pm on Wednesday, 4 February.

Wellington Water said the results from Hue Te Taka Peninsula, which was very close to the outfall, were many times over the safe limit.

“We are not able to draw any conclusions about the level of contamination or environmental impacts of the discharge from one set of samples. We will be conducting daily sampling and reviewing the results over several days to inform our response.”

Wellington Water said it would continue to sample around the eastern bays – Scorching Bay and Mahanga Bay – to confirm there was no indication of the discharge impacting the inner harbour.

“For clarity, while there were elevated levels detected in Wednesday 4th samples from Mahanga Bay and Ōwhiro Bay, these are considered to be caused by the rainfall earlier in the week, not the discharge from Moa Point,” it said. “These results may change.”

Wellington Water said discolouration in the inner harbour – Kilbirnie to Wellington CBD, around to Petone and Eastbourne – this week was very typical of rain and stormwater runoff being discharged by the Hutt River.

Wellington Water said reporting the results of water samples was delayed, because the bacteria needed 24 hours to grow in laboratory conditions.

“The results then need to be finalised to provide the most accurate data.”

It said sampling results could also be influenced by factors including wind, tide and rainfall.

Screened wastewater

In an discharge notice on Friday morning, Wellington Water said screened wastewater was now discharging to the long outfall pipe again.

Late on Thursday evening staff were able to get the long outfall pipe partially operating and the screens at the treatment plant working, Wellington Water said.

The screens remove items like sanitary pads and wet wipes from the wastewater, before it is discharged.

Wellington Water board chair Nick Leggett said currently they were only able to pump 900 litres per second of wastewater through the long outfall pipe.

“Which is most of the wastewater during an average day, but during peak flows throughout the day we will need to use the short outfall pipe,” he said.

Wellington Water said discharging screened wastewater out to sea via the 1.8km long outfall pipe allowed for greater dilution of the wastewater in the Cook Strait, reducing the amount of untreated wastewater flowing around the coastline, but the risk to public health still remained.

“For this reason, our advice to the public remains the same: we strongly advise that people avoid the coastal area along the south of Wellington until further notice. Do not enter the water or collect kaimoana from this area. Do not walk your dog along the beach,” said Leggett.

Leggett said while the situation remained serious, it was good to see progress.

“The team are working carefully throughout the weekend to increase the volume of flow through the long outfall pipe as much as possible, to reduce the use of the short outfall pipe,” said Leggett.

“However, the situation remains complex and at this stage we are unable to provide a timeframe of when this may be.”

Material being drained from longfall pipe, diver inspections taking place

Wellington Water said on Friday work was also being done to drain the clarifier tanks.

“There is some biological material that settles in the clarifier tanks that cannot be trucked, and the plan is to drain this via the long outfall pipe, where it is diluted.”

It said it was important to remove this material as soon as possible before it has a chance to become anaerobic and septic.

“This would cause an odour problem and pose a significant health and safety risk to workers onsite.”

However it cautioned that while the material was being drained people could see an increase of murky water in the area 1.8km out to sea.

Wellington Water said divers were also inspecting diffusers at the end of the outfall pipe on Friday.

“Shoreline inspections and clean-up of debris on the coastline around the short outfall continue three times daily, with a focus on completing these at low tide.”

A rāhui remains in place and covers anything the water touches/can touch with the high or low tides. While it is in effect, no public activities should be undertaken on or around the beaches on the southern coastline.

Mayor Andrew Little previously described the event a “catastrophic failure”, and said there must be an independent inquiry into what happened.

There were also concerns the leak could contaminate a nearby marine reserve and put several species at risk.

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

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Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency received calls for 18 incidents during today’s strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 18 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, Friday 6 January, the tenth time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action.
Of these, 10 incidents were in areas impacted by the strike,
The incidents related to two vegetation incidents, one of which was a controlled burnoff under supervision. The second was an out-of-control grass fire, which was brought under control within the strike hour.
There were five fire alarm activations, none of which were the result of a fire.
There was also one hazardous substance incident, one medical response incident, and one power plinth fire.
Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler thanked New Zealanders for their extra care during the strike hour.
“I want to thank our 11,800 volunteers across the country, especially those who were called to attend events in areas impacted by the strike.
“I would also like to thank our Operational Commanders and Communication Centre Managers, who contributed to the response.”
Megan Stiffler says continued strikes by the NZPFU and the threat to expand them to twice weekly, continues to unnecessarily put the public at risk.
“I once again ask the NZPFU to call off its planned strikes, especially given we are in facilitated bargaining with the union and are due to meet again next week to progress negotiations. 
 “We have previously sought to agree a process with NZPFU officials to respond to emergency events during strike periods where there is a risk to life or danger of escalation but were turned down.
“That approach is hugely disappointing.”

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Ministry of Justice publishes Long-Term Insights Briefing

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice

Headline: Ministry of Justice publishes Long-Term Insights Briefing

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The Ministry of Justice has released its second Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB) on The Future Operation of Courts and Justice Services, outlining six strategic choices to make courts more accessible, efficient, and resilient over the next 20 years.

The Ministry’s LTIB is a “think piece” that shares insights on challenges and opportunities that may affect the future operation of courts in Aotearoa New Zealand. LTIBs can help guide future thinking and work, but don’t make policy recommendations.  

Secretary for Justice Andrew Kibblewhite says public consultation confirmed that the draft LTIB identified the right areas for future consideration.

“It was heartening to see feedback on the LTIB indicate that New Zealand’s courts and justice services generally work effectively. However, there were concerns about the timeliness of justice, and that the court system is under-resourced and over-burdened,” Mr Kibblewhite says. 

The LTIB examines costs, user experience, and trends such as New Zealand’s growing, ageing, and diversifying population, which will affect court operations, and the level of support people need when accessing justice services. 

The six strategic choices for decision-makers identified in the LTIB are: 

  • whether we should find ways to address unmet legal need, particularly where cost is a barrier to people accessing justice
  • whether we should undertake structural reform of the court system
  • whether we should substantially increase navigation and support for people participating in court processes
  • whether we should look at more ambitious uses for AI
  • whether we should make greater use of remote participation 
  • whether we should more actively shape the future court workforce.

Consultation highlighted accessibility and victims’ experiences, with calls for simpler processes and more in-court support.

“Respondents raised the complexity of navigating justice services as a barrier to access to justice. They called for more in-court support and simpler court processes. The final briefing reflects these insights”. 

“Our latest LTIB provided the chance to look ahead and talk with a wide range of people about what they believe matters for the future operation of the courts and justice services. We particularly welcomed the insights of those with experience of the courts and justice services,” Mr Kibblewhite says.

The LTIB was tabled in Parliament this week. Any future changes stemming from the briefing would require discussion with the Judiciary and Government.

Read the full LTIB on the Ministry of Justice website: Long-Term Insights Briefing.

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Progress accelerates in complex Auckland District Court refurbishment

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice

Headline: Progress accelerates in complex Auckland District Court refurbishment

16 January 2026

Significant progress is being made on an upgrade of the country’s largest and busiest courthouse, with seismic strengthening and service upgrades on the nine‑storey tower at Auckland District Court nearing completion.

Work on the five‑level base of the building has now begun, marking the next phase in this complex refurbishment.

Ministry of Justice Deputy Secretary Corporate Services, Dr Kelvin Watson says the milestone is a significant step forward in upgrading New Zealand’s busiest court.

“Keeping justice services running while we strengthen and modernise this building is no easy feat. It has taken careful planning and extensive night works to ensure hearings can continue during the day while construction on the 13-storey building progresses behind the scenes.

“These improvements will make the courthouse safer, more reliable and a better place to work, benefiting staff, the judiciary and the public who use the building every day.

“I want to acknowledge Crown Infrastructure Delivery (CID), which is planning and delivering this project for the Ministry as well as the main construction contractor LT McGuinness and the project team for achieving this milestone” Dr Watson says.

CID Chief Executive John O’Hagan says the programme demonstrates the value of well‑structured project delivery in a live environment.

“This is one of the most complex infrastructure refurbishments currently underway in New Zealand, being delivered in a live operational setting so the court remains open. CID’s partnership with the Ministry is sequencing works floor‑by‑floor and coordinating out‑of‑hours activity to minimise disruption and keep justice services operating” Mr O’Hagan says.

The Auckland District Court building is the largest in the country, with 35 courtrooms across approximately 28,000 square metres.

Its scale and complexity have made this upgrade one of the most challenging courthouse projects in New Zealand history. The programme includes seismic strengthening and replacement of ageing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, lighting and fire systems.

Work began on the Auckland District Court building in mid‑2024 and is due for completion in late 2028 and budgeted at $204 million.

ENDS

For media queries contact: media@justice.govt.nz

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Survey results reveal fresh insights into perceptions of crime

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice

Headline: Survey results reveal fresh insights into perceptions of crime

class=”MsoNormal”>More than half of Kiwis (56%) say they have little fear of crime according to new analysis from the 2024 New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS).

Ministry of Justice Sector Insights General Manager Rebecca Parish says the NZCVS measures New Zealanders’ trust and confidence in the justice system, their views on fairness and effectiveness, and their concerns about different types of offending.

“The survey provides valuable insights into New Zealanders’ views on crime and how it impacts them. Our newly released analysis reveals that fear of crime is not uniformly experienced by all.”

Five new factsheets based on responses from the Public Perceptions Module, a new set of questions included in the 2024 NZCVS are released today. The NZCVS is an annual face-to-face survey of around 7,000 people aimed at capturing reported and unreported personal and household crime.

The results include the following:

  • In 2024, almost 9 out of 10 adults (89%) were concerned about interpersonal violence nationwide. In contrast, only about 4 out of 10 adults (37%) were concerned about it in their own neighbourhoods.
  • Concerns at a neighbourhood level were higher among specific groups, namely victims of crime (46%), adults who feel unsafe (53%), Māori (49%), Pacific Peoples (46%), and those living in the most deprived areas (52%).
  • Despite experiencing similar or lower levels of victimisation compared to the New Zealand average, Asian adults and Pacific Peoples reported a higher fear of crime.
  • Victims’ reduced trust in the justice system appears to be due to a reduced belief that the criminal justice system is fair and effective.
  • Māori have consistently lower levels of trust and confidence in the justice system compared to non-Māori.

The factsheets cover the following areas:

  • how concern about violent crime varies at nationwide and neighbourhood levels across groups
  • how fear of crime varies across different population groups
  • how beliefs about the causes of crime differ across groups
  • factors behind lower Māori trust in the system
  • factors behind lower victims’ trust in the system.

Victims have a far lower level of trust in the justice system than non-victims, the results show.

“However, trust improves when victims are given more opportunity to participate in the system and to understand what is being done to help them. As a result, different parts of the justice system are trying new ways to better support the victims of crime,” Rebecca Parish says.

Fact sheets: NZCVS Cycle 7 resources and results

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Mining sector says Taranaki seabed plan rejection ’embarrassing’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Taranaki seabed mining protest in 2025. RNZ / Emma Andrews

A group representing the mining sector insists the decision declining plans to mine the Taranaki seabed is not final.

While the fast-track approvals panel turned down Trans-Tasman Resources’ (TTR) bid to mine 50 million tonnes a year, for 30 years, in the South Taranaki Bight, Minerals Council chief executive Josie Vidal said that was only the draft decision.

“We have to trust the process,” she told RNZ. “We have to hope that facts, evidence and science prevail.”

Resource Management Act Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the final decision was due on 18 March.

Vidal said it was embarrassing that the decision had come out while New Zealand officials had been sent to Washington to discuss how the country could be part of a global supply chain of critical minerals.

Trans-Tasman Resources said it had identified a world-class vanadium resource that could contribute a billion dollars annually to the New Zealand economy.

“Vanadium is a very sought-after critical mineral around the world,” Vidal said. “If we want to be part of a global supply chain and we have critical minerals, we should be mining them.”

Vidal said the government understood it had a role to play and that the mining plan would be good for the economy.

It would also create more jobs, Vidal added, at a time when the unemployment rate was at the highest in a decade.

“We have to hope that people believe it, and not get sidetracked by thoughts, feelings and emotions, rather than actual science.”

The panel found there would be a credible risk of harm to Māui dolphins, kororā and fairy prion, but Vidal said mining companies were well used to mitigating any kind of harm.

“There’s a lot of the word ‘may’ and equally with ‘may’, there’s ‘may not’.

“I think they need to be clear what they’re basing the ‘may’ on, because there’s been evidence produced that there won’t be harm to animals.”

The panel also found there was uncertainty as to the scale and extent of the sediment plume and underwater noise generated from the project.

It said the adverse impacts of the plan were out of proportion with its regional and national benefits.

TTR executive chairman Alan Eggers said he found it difficult to accept the panel intended to decline the project’s environmental approvals with concerns on almost every aspect.

TTR executive chairman Alan Eggers in 2025. File photo. RNZ/Robin Martin

“All the concerns raised by the expert panel were fully addressed in our application, which was supported by leading expert evidence and comprehensive responses to issues raised during the hearings process.”

Eggers said it was hard to reconcile why the panel did not accept the evidence the company provided.

TTR now had until 19 February to comment on the decision.

The company would consider its options on what next steps it might take before the application decision was finalised, Eggers said.

Despite the draft decision, Vidal remained optimistic about the future of mining in New Zealand.

“New Zealand is really becoming a country where ‘can’t’ is the default setting. It’s very frustrating to always be told you can’t do something.

“I think it’s no wonder that people are leaving in droves for more optimistic land. It sort of feels like our long white cloud is a big cloud of negativity and doom.”

Green Party, Te Pāti Māori ‘ecstatic’

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson told RNZ the decision to decline the mining plan was a win for the environment and the community.

“We’re absolutely delighted to see the proposal not backed,” she said.

Davidson said TTR would put profit before people and the environment, if it tried to appeal it.

“How silly would they look – the message is already very clear. This is destructive, overrides local community voices and Te Tiriti, and it’s harmful and dangerous to our environment, which people actually care about.

“They have no support.”

People marching through Patea in a hīkoi to oppose seabed mining, on 2 October, 2024. Supplied/ Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust

Davidson said, if the government relied on seabed mining as a way to grow the economy, it was “at a dead end”.

“It’s short-sighted, it’s stupid and it will not work.”

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told RNZ that the decision was also a win for those who had spent years opposing the plan.

Led by Ngāti Ruanui iwi, the seabed mining proposal faced opposition across Taranaki and Te Tai Hauāuru, she said.

Hundreds of people marched through the town of Pātea to protest in October 2024, after it was revealed that the project was subject to fast-track legislation.

“This has been a really long battle,” she said. “We are all ecstatic, having the best Waitangi Day ever.”

Ngarewa-Packer said the project should never have made the list in the first place.

“It should actually be banned, as something that New Zealand should never, ever be supporting,” she said.

“Our moana is not for sale.”

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

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Flying start: All three NZ snowboarders through to Winter Olympics big air final

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s Lyon Farrell reacts after competing in the snowboard men’s big air qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park, in Livigno. AFP

New Zealand has made a flying start to the Winter Olympics in Italy, with all three men qualifying for the final of the snowboard big air event.

Lyon Farrell, Rocco Jamieson and Dane Menzies all finished inside the top 12 in a 30-man field to secure their spots in the high-pressure showdown at Livignio Snow Park on Sunday morning (NZT).

Farrell was the best of them, locking down seventh with his third and final run, reacting with animation when he landed his run and then again when the judges’ score was announced.

Needing to score 73.50 to finished inside the 12, Farrell produced a score of 81.50.

New Zealand’s Lyon Farrell competes in the snowboard men’s big air qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno. AFP

“Olympic finalist sounds incredible, I can’t believe it, it’s so good,” he told Sky Sport, reflecting on the additional pressure of being the 30th and last competitor to complete his run.

“There were a lot of people getting their runs done and I’m just waiting.

“I’ve got the best team ever, to keep me going forward. Everyone believes so much in me, it’s the best formula I could possible have to doing well.

“They kept me in a place where I felt like I could do anything and somehow in the last run I made it happen. Just crazy.”

Farrell, the oldest member of New Zealand’s 17-strong Olympic team at age 27, produced a combined score of 170.00. It was found by adding his two best runs.

That was enough to lift him one place ahead of Jamieson (168.25) while Menzies snuck through in 11th place with 164.00.

The top qualifier was Japan’s Hiroto Ogiwara (178.50), followed by Italy’s Ian Matteoli and Japan’s Kira Kimura.

The next New Zealanders in action will be Ruby Star Andrews and Sylvia Trotter in women’s freeski slopestyle qualifying on Saturday night (NZT).

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/06/flying-start-all-three-nz-snowboarders-through-to-winter-olympics-big-air-final/

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Waitangi Day 2026 in pictures: the waka, kapa haka and crowds

Source: Radio New Zealand

This year’s Waitangi commemorations have provided a platform for many diverse voices, for togetherness and disagreement, and for culture, fun and getting out into the sun. Mark Papalii

After the Waitangi Day Festival dawn service at Te Whare Rūnanga – the Treaty Grounds, in the Bay of Islands, people lined the beach in front of Te Tii Marae and the Waitangi Bridge to watch the arrival of the waka flotilla.

Organisers prepared for some 700 kaihoe (waka paddlers) to make their way under the Waitangi Bridge to Te Tii Marae, led by the massive Waka Ngātokimatawhaorua.

Crowds awaiting the arrival of the parade of waka. RNZ/ Mark Papalii

RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

But first, a cameo by Bosco, known in Pahia as “the surfing dog” RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

RNZ/ Giles Dexter

Organisers prepared for some 700 paddlers (kaihoe) to paddle under the Waitangi Bridge to Te Tii Marae, led by the massive Waka Ngātokimatawhaorua. Mark Papalii

The waka are welcomed at the beach Kim Baker Wilson

A group representing Pacific, Māori and Aboriginal Australian peoples waited at Te Tii beach to welcome the estimated 700 waka paddlers arriving on Waitangi Morning. RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

A multicultural welcome for the waka RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

Mark Papalii

Kaihoe (waka rowers) power their way through the moana during the annual waka parade at Te Tii beach. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

RNZ/ Mark Papalii

Treaty Grounds officials said about 3000 people attended the dawn service and there were about 35,000 people at the grounds by midday Waitangi Day.

  • Waitangi 2026 dawn service: In pictures

    • Albert Cash, kaihautū of the waka parade, spoke to RNZ just before the waka were launched this morning: “It’s exciting, what a beautiful day we’re blessed with,” he said.

    People had come from all corners of Aotearoa to share in the ambience, and honour what the tūpuna signed,” Cash said.

    “Waka is what’s brought us together, waka is what brought us across the Pacific.”

    RNZ/ Mark Papalii

    The arrival of kaihoe at Te Tii Beach. RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

    RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

    RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

    Many took a break from the official Waitangi Festival programme with a manu (divebomb) from the Waitangi Bridge.

    “We’re popping some manus out here today at Waitangi,” said one of the people lined up to leap from the packed Waitangi Bridge. “Why? For the culture – I’ve got 20 years experience and I’m kind of used to it,” he said.

    It was his first time jumping from Waitangi’s bridge, “but I’m used to the height”.

    While popular with children, adults were taking a dive too.

    But one adult jumper said they was steering clear of the famed manu slap: “I backslap – so I just do a coffin [instead]. It’s not my first time but it’s great, I love it,” she said.

    Jumping was only painful when landing in the water with your thighs, she said.

    RNZ/ Giles Dexter

    RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

    RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

    Crowds on the Waitangi Bridge, during the Waitangi Day Festival. RNZ/ Kim Baker Wilson

    “This year’s kaupapa or theme is manaakitanga (hospitality) and Mō tātou, mā tātou (by all of us, for all of us),” the organisers said ahead of the festival, in the programme.

    “Manaakitanga reflects the importance of caring for others, extending warmth, respect and generosity to all.

    “Mō tātou, mā tātou reminds us that the future of Aotearoa is something we shape together. It speaks to collective responsibility and shared benefit, a commitment to build a future designed, carried and upheld by all who call this place home.

    “As we gather to celebrate Waitangi, we invite you to honour these values, fostering an atmosphere of unity, respect and shared purpose.”

    Hīkoi at Waitangi Day Mark Papalii

    Mark Papalii

    RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

    Mark Papalii

    The chair of the Waitangi National Trust said Waitangi is a place for all New Zealanders, not just a few.

    Tania Simpson said this year’s theme, ‘Mō tātou, mā tātou’, was about the constructing a future together.

    She said New Zealanders from all walks of life should be respected.

    “Whoever is in the conversation about where we’re going, it needs to be a future for all of us, a future that we can all see ourselves in.

    “And that doesn’t mean sameness or homogeneity, it means that we collectively construct something that everybody feels their identity can be respected within.”

    RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

    RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

    Kapa Haka RNZ/ Mark Papalii

    RNZ/ Mark Papalii

    RNZ/ Mark Papalii

    Many people made a day of it, enjoying lunch together in the shade of the norfolk pines and pōhutukawa. RNZ/ Craig McCulloch

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