A statement on behalf of Nils and Anders, dad and uncle of Måns Loke Bernhardsson:
Måns was a super kind and loveable member of our family.
Back home in Sweden, he had many friends and was loved by all those friends and family very deeply.
He was a fantastic artist and was extremely talented. Måns was autistic, which was one of the many things we loved about him.
He was incredibly athletic and loved downhill skiing and gymnastics.
Måns was on holiday in New Zealand on what was a ‘hastily’ booked trip with two of his friends.
Him and his friends were adventuring around in their campervan, travelling both the North and South Islands.
He loved New Zealand, and often told us that he would like to stay here as long as possible.
Our hearts are broken, and we are going to miss Måns dearly. He was a cherished member of our family and it is going to be difficult to get used to not having him around.
We have received overwhelming support from community, officials, local iwi, and people back home. We are very grateful for their support through this difficult time and we want to express our gratitude.
Note to media: The family will not be providing further comment and ask that their privacy be respected as they grieve.
On Wednesday, the federal government announced plans to reform how medications are dispensed and tracked, aiming to reduce unsafe use, stockpiling and “doctor shopping”.
This will include two stages. First, the government will require all online and telehealth prescribers to upload information about a patient’s prescribed medications to their My Health Record.
Second, the government plans to develop a National Medicines Record – an over-arching database to register and monitor all current prescriptions.
So, how would this work? While some detail is still lacking, here’s what we know.
Why is this needed?
An increasing number of Australians take multiple medications. Recent research analysing prescribing patterns in Australia estimates almost two million of us took five or more regular medicines in 2024.
While multiple medicines are often needed to manage multiple conditions, there are risks of adverse effects.
And when a clinician prescribes medication or a pharmacist dispenses it without a full understanding of the patient’s current medications, it can lead to harmful interactions between them.
This can make a patient sicker and often lands them in hospital. An estimated 1.5 million people in Australia experience some kind of harmful side effect from using medicine each year.
Those at particular risk are older adults taking numerous medications, as well as those transitioning between health-care settings (such as going into hospital or returning home).
Sometimes patients also stockpile medications, including through consulting multiple doctors, known as “doctor shopping”. For example, they might do this to obtain extra supplies of addictive pain medication.
How does it work right now?
Currently, there is no centralised, mandatory register that records all of the medicines a person is prescribed and dispensed.
Instead, prescribing information may be siloed in hospital and aged care systems, general practice records and those of online telehealth providers such as Instant Scripts, 13SICK and Hola Health.
This can prevent any single doctor or pharmacist from having clear, comprehensive information about a patient’s medications.
Some health-care practitioner and pharmacy bodies have criticised the online prescribing industry, in particular, for contributing to inappropriate prescribing and medication misuse.
For high-risk medications such as opioids, there is already a Real Time Prescription Monitoring system. Victoria has a similar system called SafeScript, but this doesn’t record the full range of prescription medications.
Announcing the reforms, Health Minister Mark Butler referred to an Australian woman who died from an overdose after stockpiling her medicine. He explained her parent’s advocacy prompted the government to address the lack of a comprehensive medicines record.
What will change?
First, the government will require online and telehealth prescribing platforms to add information to the My Health Record system about prescribed medications. This will include information about the clinical reasoning for prescribing.
My Health Record is a government-run platform providing a secure, online collection of a patient’s health information. Both patients and their treating health-care professionals can access it.
So any medication or related clinical information uploaded by a prescriber would be accessible via My Health Record, to the patient as well as to their health-care providers and pharmacists.
In theory, it is a step forward. The challenge is that the My Health Record system remains under-used. One in 10 Australians have no My Health Record (the system is opt-out).
For the millions of Australians who do have a My Health Record, usage is increasing. But many still have never accessed their own record.
It is also not clear whether, and how, a patient’s access to their own My Health Record would reduce medication harm (particularly if the patient is deliberately stockpiling medication).
Almost all GPs, pharmacies and public hospitals are registered for My Health Record and have used the system. But data shows pharmacies are mainly using it to upload information rather than looking at records others have uploaded.
Overall, ensuring that all medicines information is available on the My Health Record is a positive step.
But it does not mean that the information will be accessed (or understood) by others who are prescribing and dispensing medication to a patient.
Indeed, sadly, the warnings that were placed by hospital services on the My Health Record of the young woman who died from an overdose were not accessed by telehealth services nor pharmacies prescribing and supplying her with medication.
What’s ahead?
As a second step, the government says it will design and build a National Medicines Record. This would be an overarching platform linked to My Health Record and other digital health systems, to register all current prescriptions.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Megan Prictor is a member of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law, the European Association for Health Law and the World Association of Medical Law.
Another victim of the fatal Mount Maunganui landslide has been formally identified as Måns Loke Bernhardsson, from Sweden.
Six people died in the Mauao slip last Thursday.
At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20 year old tourist.
Detective Sergeant Brent Griffiths told the court the body was found on Saturday, and forensic dental examination and DNA had determined his identity.
On Wednesday, the first victim was formally identified as Max Furse-Kee. His identity was released on the same day he would have turned 16.
Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui have resumed after being paused for a second time when technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered.
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Getting immunised with two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine (after the age of 12 months) is the best form of protection against measles.Sherry Yates/123RF
There is a new measles case in Tauranga which is likely linked to overseas travel.
Heath NZ says the patient is believed to have contracted the disease overseas and was not thought to be infectious on their flight to New Zealand.
National Public Health Service clinical director Dr William Rainger said the person was working with health officials to identify anyone they may have been in contact with while infectious.
The person’s early symptoms started on 21 January, he said.
So far two locations of interest have been listed for Wednesday 21 January: The General Cafe in Mt Maunganui from 7.30am-3.30pm and Pak N Save Cameron Road, Tauranga from 4.15pm to 7.15pm.
Measles symptoms include:
an illness that begins with high fever (over 38C), cough, runny nose, and sore red eyes (conjunctivitis)
a rash, beginning on the face and gradually spreading down the body to the arms and legs. The rash lasts for up to one week.
Dr Rainger said it was a highly infectious disease which could affect all age groups.
“If you have symptoms of measles, please phone ahead before visiting your doctor or healthcare provider so they can take precautions to prevent measles spreading,” he said in a statement.
“Getting immunised with two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine (after the age of 12 months) is the best form of protection against measles. ”
The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is very effective in preventing measles – and it is free in New Zealand for all children under 18, regardless of immigration status, and for adults 18 years old and over who are eligible for publicly funded healthcare, that includes all citizens and permanent residents.
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Flooding in the Helena Bay – Ōakura area of Northland on 18 January 2026.Screengrab from video – supplied
The Whangārei District Council has announced an emergency recovery fund for residents affected by last week’s severe weather.
Mayor Ken Couper said flood-affected residents would be supported with small grants of $1000 or $2000.
“The community spirit in the area has been nothing short of inspiring. It’s important to us that you’re not left out of pocket,” Couper said in a written statement.
“It’s been a really tough time for many in these communities and the emergency recovery fund is a small but vital part of the response.”
Community and non-profit organisations, marae and small businesses in the Hikurangi-Coastal Ward that had suffered extreme hardship would also be eligible.
Couper said the fund was around $130,000 in total and was made up from contributions from NEMA and the council itself.
The government has also announced that it will make Civil Defence payments available for people affected by last week’s weather events, in specific areas.
The payments would be for people based in Rawhiti, Ngaiotonga, Bland Bay (Whangaruru North), Punaruku, Ōakura (Whangaruru South), Mokau, Helena Bay, Mimiwhangata, Whananaki, Waioweka Gorge, Hicks Bay, and Te Araroa.
The payments would vary depending on someone’s circumstances and what they were paying for.
For example, a single person needing support for food, clothing, or bedding could receive a maximum of $400 and a couple or sole parent with three or more children could get up to $1100.
The payments could be used to help pay for some types of accommodation and assist with lost income.
The government had also provided $1.2 million towards Mayoral Relief Funds and a further $1m to reimburse marae that provided shelter and support.
It had stood up a Temporary Accommodation Service, and sent motorhomes to remote and isolated communities.
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The Crown and Ngāti Hāua have concluded nine years of negotiations as settlement legislation passes its final reading in Parliament today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“This is a significant day for the Crown and Ngāti Hāua. Through this settlement the Crown acknowledges its historical breaches of the Treaty, returns 64 culturally significant sites, and provides $19 million of financial redress.
“The legislation also provides statutory pardons for Te Rangiātea and Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu, who were tried under martial law in 1846, meaning they were deprived of protections that would have been their right at a civilian trial. These pardons remove their convictions, recognise their mana and honour their legacy within Ngāti Hāua for future generations.
“Recognising this history is vital to restoring our relationship going forward, and the redress provided by the Crown will contribute to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of Ngāti Hāua for future generations.
“It was a privilege to welcome Ngāti Hāua back into the House today and to share this moment as we look toward a future shaped by a strengthened relationship.”
Ngāti Hāua is an iwi based in the Central North Island, centred in Taumarunui. They have a population of approximately 2,500 members.
A copy of Te Pua o Te Riri Kore, the Ngāti Hāua Deed of Settlement, is available online at:Te Tari Whakatau – Ngāti Hāua.
Attributable to Investigations Manager Tauranga, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam:
A man has been charged with murder after the death of a woman in Pukehina on New Year’s Day.
Police were called to the Old Coach Road property about 3pm on 1 January, where a woman was found deceased.
A 50-year-old man was initially charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship, however he now faces a charge of murder. He is due to appear in Tauranga District Court tomorrow.
Police enquiries are ongoing, and we ask anyone with information about what happened to contact Police through 105, either online or over the phone, and reference file number 260101/9901.
Reports can also be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Government is providing a $950,000 loan through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to support a Māori trust to increase productivity on its farmland near Hāwera. The investment is expected to create jobs and drive regional growth, Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced today.
“The loan will support the trust to upgrade essential on‑farm infrastructure and move from passive leasing of its land to more active farm management.
These upgrades will allow the trust to increase its milking capacity, lift stock numbers and boost milk production and profitability by up to 25 per cent,” Mr Patterson said.
The Omuturangi 6E & 7A Ahu Whenua Trust, which administers 84 hectares of land on behalf of 290 owners, will receive the funding and contribute $120,000 to the project.
“In the longer term, the trust’s aspirations are to self-govern and manage their whenua Māori more profitably. They will also use the farm to train their people in commercial farming,” Mr Potaka said.
Without the loan, the land would have reverted from dairying to less-productive livestock grazing, as the old dairy shed had reached the end of its economic life.
“This project will benefit not only the trust’s landowners but also the wider local economy, with the trust engaging local businesses as part of its expansion,” Mr Patterson said.
This loan is a strong example of the RIF’s focus on Māori economic development. It provides investment where funding could not be secured elsewhere and supports regional growth and employment,” Mr Potaka said.
Construction is expected to begin shortly, with a new dairy shed operational later this year.
Takapuna CBD – shopping and retail genericRNZ/Nick Monro
Business confidence retreats 10 points from a 30-year high but still seen as strong
Businesses own expectations drop 9 points, but still historically high at 52 percent
Wage pressures start to lift modestly with inflation expectations the highest in 15 months.
More firms expect to raise prices over the next in two years
January’s business confidence is down 10 points from December’s 30-year high but is still considered to be extremely strong.
ANZ Bank’s business outlook’s headline confidence indicates a net 64 percent expected better economic conditions.
While businesses’ own expectations fell by 9 points to 52 percent, that reading was also historically high.
“The economy has clearly turned higher,” ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said.
“Reported past employment is also rising and is back in the black for all sectors. That hasn’t been the case since late 2022,” she said.
She said reported past activity, which was the best indicator of GDP, rose 3 points to 26 — the second highest reading since August 2021.
“The less-good news is re-emerging signs of inflation pressure.”
Inflation indicators rose to the highest reading in nearly three years (March 2023) with prices expected to rise by 2.1 percent, with wage pressures also expected to increase.
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About 200 pensioners have had the amount they receive in NZ Super affected this week because of a problem with the Ministry of Social Development’s IT system.
One man who contacted RNZ said he had been receiving NZ Super for more than 10 years, as well as a small proportion from Canada because he had worked there briefly.
But his NZ Super payment did not arrive on Monday.
When he called to ask what had happened, he was told there was a system error and everyone receiving Canadian or Netherlands pensions had their NZ Super suspended.
Paula Ratahi-O’Neill, the ministry’s general manger of centralised services, said it was working urgently to fix a fault that affected people receiving overseas pensions.
“The fault was in the IT system that updates overseas pension rates. It has caused a small group of people to have their NZ Super payments incorrectly assessed.
“This has led to some payments being suspended, and in other cases incorrect payments being made.
“We estimate that around 200 clients receiving overseas pensions have been affected. We will continue to monitor numbers.
“We are working with urgency to fix these payments and will be paying amounts owing to people by Friday. We apologise to those impacted by this fault.”
She said the ministry’s technical team was working “at speed” to stop other payments being affected and a data fix should be released by Monday.
Some overseas pensions that are deemed to be similar to New Zealand’s system offset NZ Super.
For every dollar people get from an overseas pension, their New Zealand payment is reduced by one dollar.
According to the government’s website, to count as a pension that offsets NZ Super, the pension needs to be part of a programme providing pensions or benefits, cover something that NZ pensions and benefits cover, such as old age or disability, and be administered by or on behalf of a country’s government.
Voluntary savings schemes generally were not included.
The bus driver was taken to hospital in a moderate condition.123RF
A 14-year-old has been arrested after a bus driver was assaulted in West Auckland.
Police were called to reports a person had been injured on a bus on Colwill Road in the suburb of Massey at about 7pm.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said upon arrival, the alleged offender had fled on foot.
The bus driver was taken to hospital in a moderate condition.
“This was an understandably frightening ordeal for the victim and we are continuing to support them,” Detective Bunting said.
He said on Thursday morning, police arrested a 14-year-old in relation to the alleged attack.
The teenager has since appeared in Waitākere Youth Court charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
“People have a right to be safe going about their business, without having to be subjected to any type of violence,” Bunting said.
“Any violent behaviour will not be accepted and those engaging in it will be held to account.”
The teenager will reappear in Waitākere Youth Court on 17 February.
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Reports that Victoria Police are issuing anti-association orders to “youth gang members” has sparked fresh debate about how to best deal with youth gang violence in Australia.
These orders have previously been used to reduce the presence of outlaw motorcycle “bikies” and are an attempt to prevent prospective harm.
While such measures may temporarily address public calls for tougher crime control, there have been significant criticisms of association laws in Australia and internationally.
Instead, we need to understand why young people gravitate to gangs, and consider evidence-based early-intervention solutions.
What do the stats suggest?
The number of young offenders in Australia is decreasing.
However, in Victoria, the number of offences committed by youth (aged 10–17 years) has risen in recent months.
Media and political discourses have consistently portrayed young people, and particularly migrant young people, as being responsible for anti-social, delinquent and criminal behaviour.
This fuels public perceptions that young people are out of control, threatening, violent and dangerous. Data from Victoria Police indicate young people account for just 13% of all offenders, yet media coverage of crime seems to focus mainly on youths.
Any durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of its group identity.
Gangs are often a group of delinquent friends, perhaps drawn together by their shared attitudes and propensity for delinquency.
In Australia, gangs rarely go out to recruit members as is sometimes seen in the United States or Central America. This is because Australia has, for the most part, escaped the transnational street gang presence that drives youth recruiting in other countries.
The risk factors of gang involvement
After the murders of two boys, aged 15 and 12, in Melbourne’s outer west last September, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Graham Banks said:
We need to get to the root cause of why these people are joining gangs and to make it a situation where they don’t want to be involved in that sort of behaviour.
There is no single reason for youth offending. Instead, multiple areas of a young person’s life come together to influence their behaviour: their own beliefs and attitudes, peer group, family, school and community.
Although the relative importance of each category changes across childhood and adolescence, a young person’s risk of violence, offending, or gang membership increases as the number of risk factors rises.
Individual risk factors include low self-control, low empathy, antisocial beliefs and attitudes, substance use, or having been victimised themselves.
Despite media portrayals to the contrary, ethnicity or migration background has not been shown to be a risk factor for violence, offending, or gang membership.
Peers are one of the strongest influences on gang involvement, with young people more likely to offend if their peers are delinquent.
In the absence of a legitimate pathway to social capital, youth gangs can provide a sense of belonging and social identity for disenfranchised young people.
Family risk factors include lack of parental supervision and abusive or neglectful family environments.
Risk factors at school include truancy, low grades, feeling unsafe at school and lack of attachment to school.
Finally, at the community level, we see the impact of risk factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage, low social cohesion and high levels of crime in the neighbourhood.
It is important to remember that although these interconnecting risk factors can increase the risk of a young person offending, they do not automatically cause offending.
If a young person has good conflict resolution skills, positive friendships, strong family relationships and opportunities for education and employment, it is likely their risk of offending is lower.
Yet evidence shows harsher bail laws do not have the desired deterrent effect. They also consistently and disproportionately affect those of a lower socio-economic status.
Queensland’s “adult crime, adult time” policy – which lists 33 offences for which children can receive the same penalty as an adult – has also faced scrutiny for perpetuating harm.
Financially, tough bail and sentencing laws cause unintended consequences that actually cost governments more by failing to break cycles of incarceration.
Violence and gang membership can emerge from a complex interplay of risks across childhood and adolescence. These are unlikely to be shifted by legislation.
Instead, best practice suggests a need to work with young people on early intervention and ideally prevention.
Young people at risk need mentoring, active school engagement and increased employment opportunities. Their families and communities need support.
Sustainable reductions in youth violence and gang involvement will only be achieved by adequately funding and expanding evidence-based early intervention and prevention programs that address the broader social and developmental needs of young people.
Kathryn Benier has received funding from Department of Health and Human Services (Victoria), Department of Justice and Regulation (Victoria), Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), Attorney-General’s Department (Australia), Campbell Collaboration, Department of Homeland Security (USA).
Angela Higginson has received funding from: Australian Research Council; Australian Institute of Criminology; Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS); 3ie; Campbell Collaboration (Dept Homeland Security USA & Public Safety Canada); Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime UK; College of Policing UK; Dept of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Dept of Social Services; Dept of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games; Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.
A youth has been arrested and charged following a serious assault on a bus driver in Massey last night.
At about 7pm, Police responded to reports of a person had been injured on a bus on Colwill Road.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā West Area Investigations Manager, says upon arrival the alleged offender had fled on foot.
“The bus driver was transported to hospital in a moderate condition.
“This was an understandably frightening ordeal for the victim and we are continuing to support them.”
He says Police have been making a number of enquiries and this morning arrested a 14-year-old in relation to the alleged attack.
“He has since appeared in Waitākere Youth Court charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and possession of an offence weapon.
“People have a right to be safe going about their business, without having to be subjected to any type of violence.
“Any violent behaviour will not be accepted and those engaging in it will be held to account.”
The youth will reappear in Waitākere Youth Court on 17 February.
People watch on as work at the slip site is halted.RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui following a deadly slip have resumed after being paused for a second time.
Work resumed at 2pm, several hours after it was suspended, following confirmation that the area was safe to re-enter.
“Following consultation with a number of experts on the ground, the recovery teams have been given the green light to continue with the recovery,” Detective Inspector Lew Warner said.
“While the suspension of work is frustrating for everybody involved, the correct measures must be taken to ensure the safety of everybody at the scene.”
Detective Inspector Warner reiterated the need to keep the recovery team safe.
“These people have been working tirelessly in a range of testing conditions across the last week, to bring families their loved ones back.”
Police said work was temporarily suspended just after 10.30am on Thursday after technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered.
Detective Inspector Lew Warner said earlier on Thursday that the safety of all staff working at the scene is front of mind.
“The systems installed are designed to trigger any potential land movements, and excess water within the scene,” Warner said.
“Geotechnical experts will now conduct a thorough examination of the area before clearance to return to work is given.
“All staff working at the scene have been withdrawn, pending further assessments.”
Staff working at the scene have been stopped.RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Warner said police would give an update when it was able to.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins got to the disaster site just as work was being halted.
Struggling for words at one point, he described a moving experience meeting workers and victims’ families.
“It’s incredibly hard for them and to the families who have been affected, some of whom I had the opportunity to speak to briefly.
“There just aren’t really any words that you can share that really express the sense of loss that is here and the commitment of the people who are working here now to do everything that they can to support those families and to bring them some comfort.”
Hipkins said everyone was doing everything they could to support those affected and working at the site, but also to protect their safety.
“It’s a very, very difficult time for the families,” Hipkins said.
“I imagine at this point, seven days on, they just need some space and so that’s what we’ve tried to do here.
“I think being here is important to, I guess, express the country’s support, but also recognising that they deserve their space.”
Over the weekend, work was halted for about 24 hours due to a potential slip occurring.
At the time, police said the victim’s families were understandably frustrated by the delay in the recovery work but they understood why it needed to happen.
Slip recovery a ‘dangerous environment’, expert says
Dr Chris Massey, an engineering geologist with Earth Sciences, told Midday Report, one of the biggest issues with digging into an area following a landslide was the potential for the land to be destabilised further.
Massey said while he was not involved with the recovery efforts at Mt Maunganui, generally with landslides there was a possibility that digging into the debris could cause a secondary slip that could kill or hurt people nearby.
“A landslide occurs when soil or rock moves from one location to another… so the key really is managing the risk to people in that lower area who are trying to excavate the debris.
“It’s a really dangerous environment.”
Monitoring a landslide was difficult, Massey said, due to their relatively small size when compared to something like a volcano.
“You need experts to understand where they are. We use different techniques – starting from space, we can monitor the movement of the ground using radar technology, we can then get closer to the ground by monitoring using UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), and aerial photography.”
On the ground sensors could be installed on the surface of the area, Massey said, which monitored movement or even instal sensors in the landslide to monitor when there was moving in the ground.
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Nelson mayor Nick Smith, regional development Minister Shane Jones and former Nelson Marina CEO and current city councillor Nigel Skeggs.RNZ/Samantha Gee
Nelson Marina has received a $13 million loan from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund for a new service centre and a vessel hoist for marine maintenance.
The project is part of the marina’s wider redevelopment, which is estimated to take 15 years and cost $120m.
In announcing the funding in Nelson on Thursday, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the project would create well over 100 jobs.
“It is anticipated this part of the project will create up to 110 jobs during construction and up to 180 ongoing roles once completed, while promoting local innovation within the marine sector,” he said.
Nelson City Council, which owns the marina, will also contribute $12.89m in co-funding for the expansion.
A maximum of $10.5m will go towards the marine service centre, which includes a mix of workshops for boat building and maintenance, office space and retail shopfronts for marine-related businesses, with construction due to begin in 2027.
A further $2.4m will be used to upgrade the existing boat yard and hardstand to double its current footprint, with capacity increasing from 14 to 54 bays. It also includes the purchase of a new 110-tonne straddle lift, which has already arrived from Italy and will replace the old 50-tonne machine once a new runway is built.
Jones said Nelson’s sea-based “blue economy” added more than $350m a year in GDP to the region and employed more than 3700 people. It serves as a base for a number of industries, including fishing and aquaculture and is a popular tourism destination. Nelson is also an important centre of marine research and marine engineering.
“This investment aligns with the RIF’s priority of supporting growth through enabling infrastructure that ensures regions are well-connected and productive,” he said.
The new 110-tonne travel lift at the Nelson Marina which was built in Italy.RNZ/Samantha Gee
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the announcement followed an incredibly tough year for the region with many job losses, and it had taken several years’ work to secure the funding.
“Council has worked hand in hand with the marina to secure this government investment of almost $13 million, which will enable us to accelerate our ambitious development plans for Nelson’s Marina. It’s a great way to start 2026 and a real boost for the city’s economic recovery,” he said.
“We want Nelson to become New Zealand’s lead marine centre by growing our blue economy – the go-to place for recreational and commercial boat building and maintenance, fishing and aquaculture and for marine science and associated professional services.”
The proposed Marina Service Centre at the Nelson Marina.Supplied/Nelson City Council
Nelson Marina Management chair Rick Herd said the investment would deliver long-term economic, social and maritime benefits.
“By improving infrastructure at the marina, we’re helping to future-proof Nelson’s waterfront and ensuring it continues to deliver value for locals, visitors, and marine operators alike,” he said.
Minister for the South Island, James Meager, said the marina upgrade was a priority for the region.
“After a tough 2025 for Nelson-Tasman, I know the creation of 110 jobs during the marina’s expansion phase and the 180 ongoing roles once completed will be welcomed by the community,” he said.
Construction is expected to start in May and be completed in mid-2028.
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Tairāwhiti Civil Defence says more than 25 military troops are expected to be on the ground in flood-damaged East Coast communities – Te Araroa and Wharekahika / Hicks Bay.
Several slips on State Highway 35 during last week’s storm has separated the townships from one another, and access into each remains restricted.
Civil Defence said it was working alongside Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou and the defence force to deliver emergency supplies to isolated communities on the coast, such as food, medicine, personal protective equipment, and cleaning gear.
It said the military were also providing vital information on where support is needed most.
Gisborne District Council’s Diana Dobson said medical drops were ongoing and on Thursday a doctor, nurse practitioner, and medical officer of health landed in Wharekahika / Hicks Bay – where an emergency shelter and water purification system had been set up at Hinemaurea Marae.
Facebook / Tairāwhiti Civil Defence
Speaking to RNZ from a busy Hinemaurea Marae, Ani Pahuru-Huriwai – of the Wharekahika/Potaka/Waikura flood relief team – said the community was doing well, all things considered.
“[We’re] thankful for the people that are worrying about us, we are okay, we’re very grateful for the support that we’ve been receiving from around the country.
“It has been devastating for us – heartbreaking seeing our paradise like this – but we will get through. We’re working together very well, and probably the silver-lining in all this is [that] everyone has come together.”
Pahuru-Huriwai said the focus now was on getting the community through the days ahead.
Dobson said a further 20 buildings were to undergo safety assessments in the coming days, with 14 properties red stickered and 17 given yellow stickers across Te Araroa, Onepoto and Hicks Bay.
She said internet access had been restored to all areas.
The New Zealand Defence Force 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
Detection dog handler Jonah Kitto-Verhoef and his possum detection dog Scout are often the first deployed into an area with low possum density to help them decide where to rule out and where they should hone their efforts.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Conservationists expect to officially declare the Otago Peninsula possum-free soon and put more pest species in their sights.
There have been years of mahi from residents, community groups and the Predator Free Dunedin collaboration to remove the pest from about 9000 hectares on the peninsula.
A steep patchwork of backyards, gullies and bush is the last line of defence to stop them from reinvading.
More than 25,000 possums have been removed from the area over the years.
The Halo Project, a delivery partner of Predator Free Dunedin, is leading the efforts on the ground, using AI cameras, trail cameras, and possum scat detection dog, Scout, to track down any remaining survivors.
The Halo Project, a delivery partner of Predator Free Dunedin, checks the elimination efforts in the Silver Peaks near Dunedin.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Its predator-free project manager Jonah Kitto-Verhoef said the community buy-in had been impressive and important, helping to report different sightings and granting permissions to clear predators from their properties.
“Possums don’t really care about who owns the habitat. Obviously, it will straddle several adjoining properties,” he said.
Kitto-Verhoef was also the handler for possum scat detection dog, Scout.
Detection dog Scout sniffs for scat to find possums.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Scout was a crucial part of their response as he helped them to work out where they needed to invest their efforts and where they could move on, he said.
“Half the challenge is having the data confidence to make operational decisions with the speed that we need to do so the scat dog compared to every other technique, maybe bar thermal drone, is the real game changer for us to be able to move rapidly.”
Predator Free Dunedin project lead Rhys Millar said the wider project area stretched across more than 40,000 hectares including Orokunui Ecosanctuary and in the city.
Rhys Millar.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
“We’re now at a point where we feel confident that we can eliminate possums and we’re beginning to explore multi-species elimination operations, which will encapsulate rats, the suite of mustelids as well as possums,” Millar said.
“We’re going to likely include feral cats and also rabbits in the mix. Not that rabbits are a target species for Predator Free 2050, we believe by removing rabbits it will make the control of mustelids a lot easier.”
That included looking at which toxins, traps and tools were appropriate for the different communities and areas they covered.
Awareness campaigns and community conversations about the impact of cats and feral cats on native wildlife were already underway, he said.
Kitto-Verhoef said they were already noticing more bird life and more diversity of plants that would usually be snacked on by possums.
Thermal drones are used to help find remaining possums where densities are low.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
“We’ve got people in residential areas who are winning flower competitions with their magnolias for the first time because they’ve been browsed so heavily by possums.
“People enjoy crops of broad beans and their roses so I guess our view of success is often in a conservation lens but for some people success is being able to grow a healthy rose bush.”
It was exciting to see less pressure on the ecosanctuary’s fence and vulnerable species spilling out from Orokonui, and now that plan was to improve survival rates of native species, he said.
While he was excited to celebrate success on the peninsula, Kitto-Verhoef said he was excited for the next challenge.
Possums caught on infrared cameras.Supplied/Predator Free Dunedin
Millar said they were only funded until the middle of 2027.
“Current funding uncertainties do make forward planning beyond the next two years quite difficult so it’s really important for us to prove that we can deliver.”
They might reach a time where they had to simply maintain their wins and tread water rather than expand further as it was vital not to lose the hard-won gains, Millar said.
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The recovery operation at Mount Maunganui has resumed, several hours after being suspended this morning.
Detective Inspector Lew Warner says work restarted officially at 2pm, after the team received confirmation from experts that the area was safe to enter and resume operations.
“Following consultation with a number of experts on the ground, the recovery teams have been given the green light to continue with the recovery.
“While the suspension of work is frustrating for everybody involved, the correct measures must be taken to ensure the safety of everybody at the scene.
“I want to reiterate that it is absolutely necessary that we do everything in our power to keep the recovery team safe.
“These people have been working tirelessly in a range of testing conditions across the last week, to bring families their loved ones back.”
Work continues near the ablution block
The recovery team, involving Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s urban Search and Rescue, and contract drivers are continuing to focus on the area where the ablution block was.
“This is meticulous work which we have to conduct extremely carefully. Teams will continue to work delicately through the area of interest, and we expect this to take some time,” says Detective Inspector Warner.
Police are not yet in a position to comment on what has been located to date, however expect the recovery to continue in the coming days.
One week since the landslide
Today marks one week since the landslide. Police would again like to acknowledge the community for the outpouring of support.
“The Mount Maunganui community is an extremely tight-knit community, and ever since this devastating event, they have come together and offered any assistance they can for the families, the emergency workers and everybody impacted,” says Detective Inspector Warner.
“We would also like to acknowledge the many staff assisting with the recovery. Not just the recovery team, but our family liaison officers and other specialist staff across the board.”
Police continue to seek imagery of mountain prior to slip
Police are asking anyone with video footage and images of the slip at Mt Maunganui to upload it via this online portal.
We are particularly interested in any footage or images of the campsite and Mount Maunganui between Wednesday night right through to the time the slip happened and the immediate time after the slip.
We have already received more than 100 video clips and photos through the portal and we want to thank those who have taken the time to send this in.