Category: MIL-OSI

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500 litres of human waste spills onto SH1 near Geraldine

Source: Radio New Zealand

State Highway 1 near Geraldine is down to one lane as emergency services and local authorities respond to the crash. Unsplash / Dean Fick

A big clean-up is underway in South Canterbury after a truck carrying port-a-loos crashed and sent hundreds of litres of human waste spilling onto the road.

The crash happened on State Highway 1 near Geraldine shortly before 2pm.

Fire and Emergency said about 500 litres of waste had poured onto the highway near Arundel Belfield Road.

Police said local authorities were assisting with the clean up of hazardous waste at the scene.

“It is an unfortunate incident,” a spokesperson said.

The road was down to one lane as emergency services and local authorities respond.

No one was hurt.

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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/2026/01/26/500-litres-of-human-waste-spills-onto-sh1-near-geraldine/

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Fatal crash, Oakleigh, Whangārei

Source: New Zealand Police

One person died following a serious crash on Saturday 24 January on State Highway 1, Oakleigh, Whangārei.

Police and other emergency services responded to the crash around 2.20pm.

Sadly, one person died at the scene.

Three other people were transported to hospital, two in serious condition and one in moderate condition.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/fatal-crash-oakleigh-whangarei/

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Former Foreign Minister says NZ must stand up to Trump, defends WHO work

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Mark Papalii

New Zealand leaving the World Health Organization (WHO) – a possibility hinted at by Foreign Minister Winston Peters – would be “incredibly stupid”, according to one of his predecessors in the role.

Peters says the country needs to take a serious look at whether taxpayers’ money is being spent responsibly on the WHO. His comment, made on his personal X account, came after the United States withdrew from the organisation.

In his post on Friday, Peters said: “This is what happens when a bunch of unelected globalist bureaucrats are not accountable or responsible with worldwide taxpayers’ money.

“With the US withdrawing its membership it puts into question the current state of the WHO, its effectiveness, and if our taxpayers money is being responsibly spent overseas instead of here at home.”

Peters told Morning Report on Monday the WHO was a bloated organisation and not performing the way it should.

“They’ve forgotten what their original mandate was, they’ve forgotten the original parameters and boundaries they were given.

“I think we’ve got a right to question the issue of funding.

“We need to have a serious conversation in terms of accountability to the New Zealand people.”

Peters said it cost New Zealand millions of dollars to be part of the WHO.

“There have been countless occasions when they’ve sought to make rulings or decisions without any reference to the democratic nations that comprise it,” he said.

“Their job is to ensure they are efficiently the servants of the taxpayers worldwide that subscribe and sustain them.”

Washington formally withdrew from the WHO last week accusing it of numerous “failures during the Covid-19 pandemic” and of acting “repeatedly against the interests of the United States”.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the withdrawal made “the US and the world less safe”and the reasons cited for the US decision were “untrue.”

Speaking to Midday Report, Phil Goff – foreign minister between 1999 and 2005 under Helen Clark – said it appeared Peters wanted to “become a mini-Trump”, referring to US President Donald Trump.

“The WHO has done some incredible things in the world. It’s been responsible for the eradication of smallpox, the near-eradication of polio, fighting pandemics. You can’t fight pandemics on a national basis because diseases don’t respect national borders.

“But also [it brings] the advantage of health care to those countries that desperately need it, the underdeveloped countries. So we spend, I think there’s an annual assessment of about $2.25 million from New Zealand plus a voluntary contribution – it’s not huge money and it’s vitally important.”

Goff was sacked as New Zealand’s high commissioner to the UK by Peters last year after making comments critical of Trump.

Donald Trump and Phil Goff. AFP / RNZ

‘Gutless’ not to stand up – Goff

Goff said it was “gutless” Luxon had not ruled out joining Trump’s proposed ‘Board of Peace’, which the US president wants to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza and had suggested might one day replace the UN. Trump has invited the likes of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman.

Goff said by not immediately declining the invite, the government was appeasing a bully.

“When you stand up to a bully, they often have to back off. When you appease them, you just encourage them to keep on doing what they’re doing.

“And we know that what Trump is doing is destroying the fundamental basis of New Zealand foreign policy, which is to have an international rules-based order, not one based on personality and might being right. That is totally against what New Zealand has always stood for.

“And for us to suck up to Trump, to fail to criticise him, even when he says that our soldiers and NATO soldiers in Afghanistan didn’t go near the front line – deeply insulting, deeply hurtful to veterans – that’s a disgrace. And surely our foreign minister and prime minister should have felt it necessary to speak out and criticise Trump for saying that, as Starmer did, as Macron did, as Donald Tusk in Poland did.

“We have been gutless in this area, and I really feel that as a person proud of my country and proud of it standing up for the values that we have stood for so often in the past.”

Ten New Zealanders lost their lives during the War in Afghanistan.

WHO, UN need to be more effective – Luxon

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said global institutions needed to be more effective and renew themselves to stay relevant – but there was no question over New Zealand’s membership.

“The WHO plays an incredible role strengthening our healthcare systems, and national healthcare systems throughout the Pacific.

“New Zealand continues to benefit from the World Health Organization, but that doesn’t preclude it from continuing to improve its effectiveness and efficiency in delivery.

“I feel the same about the UN frankly – its relevance, its effectiveness needs serious overhauling.”

Luxon said New Zealand’s membership of the WHO and other global organisations was not in question, but they needed to be renewed and strengthened.

“Our challenge is to make them function better,” he said.

They were stuck in a way of working that’s “not relevant to where we are today”.

After the US withdrawal announcement, Tedros told staff in a memo the WHO would cut costs and review which health programmes to prioritise, Reuters reported. A spokesperson confirmed the memo was authentic but declined to comment further.

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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/2026/01/26/former-foreign-minister-says-nz-must-stand-up-to-trump-defends-who-work/

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ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for January 26, 2026

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 26, 2026.

Samoan playwright found dead in prison, local media report
RNZ Pacific Samoan playwright, author and poet Papali’i Sia Figiel has died in prison, according to local media reports. Local media, citing sources at the country’s main correctional facility in Apia, are reporting that Papali’i, 58, was found dead in her prison cell on Monday. She was being held at Tanumalala Prison, awaiting her next

Kalafi Moala: My view of tyrannical Trump
COMMENTARY: By Kalafi Moala, publisher of Talanoa ‘o Tonga As a journalist based in Tonga, I have chosen mostly to refrain from giving a view of US President Donald Trump, one way or another, as I thought that he would sooner or later get over his incredible childishness and tyrannical behavior, and start doing something

A major overhaul of NZ’s local government is underway – will it really fix what’s broken?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guy C. Charlton, Associate Professor, University of New England Phil Walter/Getty Images With a general election looming, the largest shake-up of New Zealand’s local government system in three decades sits on the table. New Zealanders are being invited to have their say on the draft policy proposal,

Opposition to moving Australia Day from January 26 is hardening: new research
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lowe, Chair in Contemporary History, Deakin University Australians are deeply divided over whether January 26 is an appropriate day to celebrate Australia Day – and we are no longer debating it as much as doubling down in entrenched camps. Over the past five years, we have

Comfort them or let them tough it out? How parents shape a child’s pain response
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Pate, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney Atlantic Ambience/Pexels It happens in slow motion. Your six-year-old daughter is sprinting across the playground at school drop-off time when her toe catches on uneven ground. She goes down hard. The playground goes silent. She freezes and

Human composting, natural burials, water cremation: greener ways to go when you die
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra van der Laan, Professor of Accounting, University of Sydney Photo by DEAD GOOD LEGACIES/Sarah Johnson Photography on Unsplash All of us, sooner or later, will need to make a decision about the final resting place for ourselves or a loved one. But the usual options offered

Practise using bags and lunchboxes: how to build your child’s confidence as they start school
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Boylan, Senior Lecturer, School of Education, Edith Cowan University Wander Women Collective/ Getty Images Starting school is a big moment in a child’s life. It is a time filled with new routines, new people and new places. These changes can also mean it is sometimes a

How this ‘dirtbag’ billionaire chose to do capitalism differently
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Scaife, Adjunct Associate Professor and Director, Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, Queensland University of Technology Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Few people globally have influenced business, sport, the environment and philanthropy like Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. Chouinard’s inventive approach across these spheres makes

Curious Kids: in ancient Egypt, what was the Sphinx all about?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Serena Love, Honorary Research Fellow in Archaeology, The University of Queensland Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images In ancient Egypt, what was the Sphinx all about? – Effie, age 8, New Plymouth, New Zealand. One of the most mysterious and iconic monuments of ancient Egypt is

Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg is 2026 Australian of the Year
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The first Australian to qualify as an astronaut under Australia’s space program, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, is the 2026 Australian of the Year. Bennell-Pegg, 41, who has yet to go to space, graduated from Basic Astronaut Training in 2024 as part of

Gaza peacekeeping deployment – five clear questions Fiji cannot ignore
ANALYSIS: By Jim Sanday The recent announcement by Fiji’s Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs that Fiji will consider contributing troops to a proposed international stabilisation force in Gaza imposes a responsibility on all of us to ask the hard questions before the decision is finalised by Cabinet. At the outset, let’s all be clear

Albanese takes safe course, appointing defence chief Greg Moriarty to replace Kevin Rudd
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed the Secretary of the Defence Department, Greg Moriarty, to be Australia’s new ambassador to Washington, succeeding Kevin Rudd, who leaves the position in March. The highly-respected senior bureaucrat is a safe choice, and his

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/26/er-report-a-roundup-of-significant-articles-on-eveningreport-nz-for-january-26-2026/

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Alleged Wānaka cell tower arsonist Daniel Miller refuses to answer judge

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of several cell towers allegedly destroyed by Daniel Miller in the Wānaka region. RNZ/ Katie Todd

A man who is facing arson and firearms charges following a series of attacks on cellphone towers in Wānaka has refused to answer questions from a judge.

Daniel Miller represented himself at a hearing at the Queenstown District Court on Monday.

The 41-year-old declined to say if he understood the proceedings, instead demanding to know if Judge Catriona Doyle was using her full and legal name.

Judge Doyle said Miller appeared to be taking a sovereign citizen approach.

He has been remanded in custody while he awaits a trial later this year.

The attacks had been on numerous cell towers in Wānaka including Spark and OneNZ towers.

Contractors removing a destroyed One NZ cellphone communications tower in Wānaka on Friday 10 October, 2025, after it was vandalised. RNZ/ Katie Todd

Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher had previously said the “mindless” attacks were not only frustrating for the police but posed a serious risk to the public.

“They can disrupt vital connectivity, including access to emergency services such as 111. The last thing we want, and I would also hope the persons responsible want, is for someone to be hurt because they couldn’t call for help,” he said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/alleged-wanaka-cell-tower-arsonist-daniel-miller-refuses-to-answer-judge/

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Wānaka cell tower arsonist Daniel Miller refuses to answer judge

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of several cell towers allegedly destroyed by Daniel Miller in the Wānaka region. RNZ/ Katie Todd

A man who is facing arson and firearms charges following a series of attacks on cellphone towers in Wānaka has refused to answer questions from a judge.

Daniel Miller represented himself at a hearing at the Queenstown District Court on Monday.

The 41-year-old declined to say if he understood the proceedings, instead demanding to know if Judge Catriona Doyle was using her full and legal name.

Judge Doyle said Miller appeared to be taking a sovereign citizen approach.

He has been remanded in custody while he awaits a trial later this year.

The attacks had been on numerous cell towers in Wānaka including Spark and OneNZ towers.

Contractors removing a destroyed One NZ cellphone communications tower in Wānaka on Friday 10 October, 2025, after it was vandalised. RNZ/ Katie Todd

Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher had previously said the “mindless” attacks were not only frustrating for the police but posed a serious risk to the public.

“They can disrupt vital connectivity, including access to emergency services such as 111. The last thing we want, and I would also hope the persons responsible want, is for someone to be hurt because they couldn’t call for help,” he said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/wanaka-cell-tower-arsonist-daniel-miller-refuses-to-answer-judge/

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Live: FENZ told of slip near Mount Maunganui camp hours before deadly landslide, recovery resumes

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest in RNZ’s live blog above

Work has resumed to recover six missing people after the landslide at Mount Maunganui.

The victims have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15 and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

An independent review, led by Tauranga City Council, has been opened into the events leading up to the landslide. Meanwhile, WorkSafe has announced it will be looking into the organisations that had a duty of care for everyone at the Mt Maunganui holiday park.

Follow the latest in RNZ’s live blog at the top of this page

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/live-fenz-told-of-slip-near-mount-maunganui-camp-hours-before-deadly-landslide-recovery-resumes/

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‘Australian pies… they give it a good try’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sick of getting into arguments about bakeries on social media, TimProvise and a videographer friend started the series Bakery Run back in 2019. Over seven seasons, he’s visited bakeries with Kiwi celebrities to chat over some “nice cheap hood pies that people love”.

Although conversation about who makes the best pies “cuts across age and class and politics and everything” in New Zealand, Tim says, the show’s YouTube comments section can get pretty vicious.

“It’s like part nostalgia and part civil war. Everybody’s scrapping,” he tells On The Air.

“Australian pies… they try. We’ll give them that, they give it a good try.”

The comedan’s number-one pie, though, “because of nostalgia,” is sold at Auckland’s Clendon Bakery.

“There’s a guy that works there, his name is Min. He would let me take out the boxes after school, and then he’d give me a feed, and I’m like, ‘You’re forever the man’.”

In the next few months, TimProvize will visit New Zealand’s favourite small restaurants in a new video seriesMy Shout, G.

He’s also started a toy business called Tee Toys, making 3D-modelled action figures of famous Kiwis and auctioning them on TradeMe.

Although TimProvise now lives in sunny Taranaki town of Stratford, ‘South Side’ – David Dallas’s tribute to South Auckland – remains his “anthem”.

“This is everything about me. I’m south side, I’m Rewa hard to the fullest. And shout out to Mareko and everybody else that reps their hood like this.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/australian-pies-they-give-it-a-good-try/

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FENZ warned of slip near Mt Maunganui camp almost 4 hours before landslide

Source: Radio New Zealand

Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler confirmed FENZ received a 111 call at 5.48am on Thursday 22 January from a person reporting a slip near the Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. RNZ/Nick Monro

The fire service received a 111 call about a slip near the Mt Maunganui holiday park nearly four hours before a fatal landslide, it can be revealed.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) say they notified the Tauranga City Council and the landowners of the camping ground within minutes.

Recovery work resumed at the site of the Mount Maunganui landslide on Monday, where six people remain missing following Thursday’s landslide.

The victims have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15 and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

In response to questions from RNZ, Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler confirmed FENZ received a 111 call at 5.48am on Thursday 22 January from a person reporting a slip near the Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

“Our call takers made contact with the Tauranga City Council, the landowners of the camping ground, and notified them of this information at 5.51am.

“The landslip that was referenced in the 111 call received at 5.48am did not impact life or property and therefore Fire and Emergency did not respond firefighters to attend, instead we notified Tauranga City Council as the landowner responsible.”

Do you know more? Email: sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

At about 9.30am a slip came down at the Beachside Holiday Park at Mount Maunganui, smashing into campervans, tents, vehicles and an ablution block near the Mount Hot Pools.

WorkSafe’s head of inspectorate Rob Pope told RNZ’s Midday Report Tauranga City Council was one of the entities it needed to speak with and understand its part in the event.

When asked if it would be extraordinary for an investigation not to be launched given six people were presumed dead, Pope agreed but said they needed to understand the scope and context first before committing resources to a formal investigation.

A WorkSafe spokesperson told RNZ they were in the “very early stages” of assessing what their role may look like once the search and recovery phase was complete.

“We are currently bringing together a team of inspectors and will be working closely with New Zealand Police to determine next steps.

“We will be looking into the organisations that had a duty of care for everyone at the holiday park, and whether or not they were meeting their health and safety responsibilities.”

Currently, the focus needed to remain on the recovery efforts, the spokesperson said.

Recovery work resumed at the site of the Mount Maunganui landslide on Monday. RNZ/Nick Monro

“When the time is right, our inspectors will begin engaging with witnesses and technical experts, and gathering evidence from a range of sources including the organisations involved in the operation of the holiday park and the scene.

“In the meantime, our local inspectors have also extended an offer of support to Emergency Management Bay of Plenty and other agencies to ensure that workers involved in the response are kept safe and healthy.”

Pope told RNZ WorkSafe was working closely with police to coordinate their responses after the “incredibly tragic event”.

He did not have a timeframe for when a decision on a formal investigation would be made, but said the inspectors would be working at pace and focused on providing the right level of confidence for the families who wanted answers.

“We will be committed to addressing this issue as quickly as we can.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Morning Report he supported Tauranga City Council’s decision to conduct a full, independent review into the landslide.

“There’s lots of concerns that people have about why they weren’t evacuated sooner. I think they are very legitimate, very good questions that need answers.”

RNZ has approached the Tauranga City Council 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/2026/01/26/fenz-warned-of-slip-near-mt-maunganui-camp-almost-4-hours-before-landslide/

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83-year-old woman dies after fall from stretcher at Whangārei Hospital

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

A woman died after being dropped from a hospital stretcher at Whangārei Hospital, a coroner has found.

Margaret Batten, 83, suffered a head injury after falling onto a concrete floor in the ambulance loading bay when a St John officer lost control of her stretcher during her discharge in May 2023.

Coroner Tracey Fitzgibbon said Batten was secured on a Stryker stretcher and was in the process of being moved down a ramp by a St John patient transfer service (PTS) officer when she fell.

“As the stretcher started to descend, the left wheel at the head of the stretcher has caught on the wooden kickboard and tipped down towards the loading bay floor. The stretcher has toppled. Mrs Batten landed on her left-hand side on the concrete bay floor,” she said.

“She was assessed by the PTS officer and HCA (healthcare assistant) and taken back to the emergency department for treatment. Mrs Batten sustained a fatal injury and died later that day.

A Stryker stretcher. File photo. 123rf / Alexander Ishchenko

“The cause of death was a traumatic brain injury sustained when she struck her head on concrete.”

The coroner said investigations were carried out into Batten’s death by St John and Health New Zealand, along with a WorkSafe inquiry.

“I am satisfied that the cause of the stretcher tipping into the ambulance bay was due to a loss of control by the PTS officer,” she said.

“The ramp was used on multiple occasions for transferring patients to ambulances. No previous incidents have been brought to my attention, and therefore, this was an isolated incident.”

The coroner outlined several contributing factors to Batten’s death, including the fact that the stretcher was meant to be operated by two people.

Fitzgibbon said the loading ramp outside Whangārei Hospital was also unsuitable for the use of Stryker stretchers.

“In hindsight, if the stretcher had two operators, at the foot and head, this likely would not have occurred,” she said.

If the ramp was the new configuration, the stretcher would not have tipped into the ambulance bay. I accept that the PTS officer also had to navigate through works being conducted at the ED entrance.”

Health New Zealand and St John had made a number of changes since Batten’s death and accepted the coroner’s findings.

“Of note, Hato Hone St John have increased training by two days to focus on the safe operation of stretchers as a single-use operator. This includes manoeuvring in a range of environments and loading/unloading,” the coroner said.

“By 2026, the replacement of non-powered stretchers to powered stretchers will be in place across the country. The powered stretchers are viewed as a safer option for single operators.”

The ambulance ramp reconfiguration at Whangārei Hospital was completed in August 2023.

Health New Zealand Northland group director of operations Alex Pimm said the organisation was “extremely sorry” about what had happened.

“We thoroughly investigated this incident with Hato Hone St John and have made changes to help prevent a similar event from happening again,” he said.

Whilst there were no formal recommendations made in relation to Health New Zealand’s clinical care, we have implemented recommendations from our internal review to improve safety when transferring patients between hospital and a patient transfer ambulance.

“These changes include regular meetings with Hato Hone St John regarding shared use facilities, improved systems for reporting concerns or issues with our facilities, and modifications to the ambulance bay ramp to improve patient safety.

“We have also developed a transit lounge where patients can be collected by ambulance for transfer to their home, which has purpose-built facilities and reduces traffic in the emergency department ambulance bay.”

Hato Hone St John ambulance operations general manager Debra Larsen said Batten’s death had a profound impact on everyone involved.

“We remain committed to learning from it and improving the safety of our services,” she said.

“Most of the recommendations have been completed or are underway, including working with Health New Zealand to improve the ramp and railings at Whangārei Hospital, establishing a formal communication system between Health New Zealand and Hato Hone St John to better manage overlapping safety responsibilities, refreshed training for staff involved in stretcher use, dynamic risk assessment training for single-crewed Patient Transfer Service (PTS) staff, carrying out risk assessment reviews of ambulance loading areas across New Zealand, and strengthening the content and guidance within Patient Transfer Service regional handbooks.

“We would like to reiterate how deeply sorry we are for what occurred and extend our sincerest condolences to Mrs Batten’s family.”

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/83-year-old-woman-dies-after-fall-from-stretcher-at-whangarei-hospital/

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‘Plan B’ wanted for highways that keep getting damaged by storms

Source: Radio New Zealand

A slip on State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge. Supplied/NZTA

Farmers on the East Coast are worried about how long it will take to reopen storm-damaged State Highway 2.

A large part of the Waioweka Gorge – which connects Gisborne/Tai Rāwhiti and Bay of Plenty – has been closed for just over a week, after heavy rain on 16 January caused about 40 slips.

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said it was going to take several weeks to clear the road.

But farmers were concerned taking the long detour to avoid the Waioweka Gorge closure raised animal welfare issues and put extra costs on farmers.

One of the slips blocking State Highway 2 through Waioeka Gorge. Supplied

Federated Farmers’ Gisborne/Wairoa president Charlie Reynolds said it was no longer acceptable for the region not to have access through the gorge.

“The East Coast needs a plan B,” he said.

“Long-term, NZTA really need to have a really, really serious look at their road managements and rebuilding programmes, because we can’t handle this every 18 months, 36 months.”

He said the area needed a resilient road network.

“NZTA and the government really need to consider a seriously decent plan B if the [Waioweka] Gorge gets wiped out through slips or something, because we can’t have animals sitting on trucks for 10, 12, 16 hours going south to then go north.”

One of the slips blocking State Highway 2 through Waioeka Gorge. Supplied

Chief executive of industry group Transporting New Zealand, Dom Kalasih, supported the call to improve resilience of the country’s roads.

“One of the impacts is these increased costs,” he said. “The detour, say Whakatane through to Gisborne, it’s an additional just over 200km. Time and money, that is a significant increase.”

NZTA was approached for comment.

Meanwhile, one of the country’s largest vegetable growers Leaderbrand said it had managed to get its produce out of the area via the road south.

It said while there had been a lot of rain, its produce was looking good and it was not expecting any shortages of broccoli or salad greens.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/plan-b-wanted-for-highways-that-keep-getting-damaged-by-storms/

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New DOC cadetship programme launched to build future conservation workforce

Source: New Zealand Government

A new Department of Conservation cadetship programme has been launched in Renwick to help build a skilled, fit-for-purpose conservation workforce for the future, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. 

The Te Pū Hono programme is a 30-month paid cadetship designed to support people at the start of long-term conservation careers. The first intake of 10 kaihonoa taiao cadets has begun the programme following a pōwhiri at Ōmaka Marae, hosted by Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau on behalf of the Te Tauihu iwi. 

“Our conservation system relies on skilled people working on the ground,” Mr Potaka says. 

“That’s why the Government is focused on fixing the basics by investing in workforce pathways that ensure DOC has the capability it needs now and into the future.” 

Cadets come from a range of backgrounds and will be working for nature from day one. The programme includes hands-on experience in trapping, weed control, ecological monitoring, track and hut maintenance, historic site restoration, and backcountry skills. 

Cadets will also gain experience in more specialised areas aligned to their interests, such as chainsaw operations or biodiversity monitoring. 

“Our native species, tracks and huts are central to who we are as New Zealanders and are a key part of our tourism and economic offering,” Mr Potaka says. 

“Investing in DOC’s workforce is essential to protecting these assets and maintaining New Zealand’s world-class conservation experience.” 

The cadets were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, reflecting strong interest in conservation careers and working in New Zealand’s backcountry. Once the programme is established, DOC intends to recruit up to 10 new kaihonoa taiao cadets each year. 

“This programme is about building the future by creating a strong pipeline of skilled conservation workers who can care for our natural environment for generations to come,” Mr Potaka says.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/new-doc-cadetship-programme-launched-to-build-future-conservation-workforce/

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Kalafi Moala: My view of tyrannical Trump

COMMENTARY: By Kalafi Moala, publisher of Talanoa ‘o Tonga

As a journalist based in Tonga, I have chosen mostly to refrain from giving a view of US President Donald Trump, one way or another, as I thought that he would sooner or later get over his incredible childishness and tyrannical behavior, and start doing something credible for his country, and the world.

I was initially horrified in 2024 watching Trump in a White House televised meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he rudely bullied the Ukrainian leader; told lies and acted arrogantly, humiliating him.

Also, I watched him boast unceasingly about “Making America Great Again” (MAGA).

He created an ICE force, unleashing them in states like Minnesota against their will, killing people in Minneapolis and wrongly arresting citizens while looking for illegals to be deported.

Tonga was listed among nations which were banned from entry into the USA, affecting many students who were planning to take up further schooling for 2026. Tongan families who planned to visit the graduation of their children were no longer allowed into the USA.

He ordered America’s military to attack Venezuela and kidnapped the President, against international law; also controlled the sale of their oil.

When the Opposition leader of that country offered him her Noble Peace Prize Award, he accepted — something he has tried to get saying he has “settled peace in 8 wars”.

Bombing of Nigeria
He ordered the bombing of Nigeria as a reaction to the “killing of Christians”. Is this what Jesus would have done whenever there are Christians who are persecuted anywhere in the world? Or is this Trump’s way to help boost his image among American Christians?

And then came the Greenland issue, which he called Iceland in a speech in Switzerland. He has threatened to invade this country which is under Denmark and NATO; then offered to buy it, and then after threats, changed his mind and announced there has been “a deal involving NATO, a peace framework for the future.”

But Trump could not help himself by boasting that “if it was not for us, German would be your language today”. He did not realise that German is the main language spoken in Switzerland.

Much more can be said about what this Nazi-style dictator is doing in America and the world, but the one that eventually tipped me over, was his most recent public statement, during a boast-fest in the White House that “God must be proud of me!”

How can a human be more deceived?

The narcissism of this man exceeds anyone else in that he now boasts that “God must be proud” of him! If God is proud of him, then God must be behind every move he makes.

Trump is not just a product of his own making. He has the support of the extreme rightist Republican Party, and a huge number of American Evangelicals. This is a huge concern, because the views of these groups continue to fuel the ungodly narcissism that is so much a part of Trump’s personality and character.

‘He is always right’
Its not only a case of “might is right” but that “he is always right” and that is why God must be proud of him!

What is also most shocking is that Trump supporters not only worship him as “a god” but also give great sounding explanations to Trump’s actions. An example is like saying Trump is only bringing the Venezuelan President (and his wife) to America to stand trial for drug smuggling.

Never mind about his cruelty, his arrogance, his lies, his “Epstein-style” immorality, and abuse of power resulting in senseless deaths.

“He is a wonderful Christian,” I was told by a Christian leader in the USA, who happens to be a friend of mine. Another Christian leader in Tonga said, “I like Trump because he opposes abortion, the murder of unborn babies.” My response was that I am also apposed to the murder of unborn babies, but I am also opposed to the murder of those who are already born.

I do take some of this personally because as an American citizen, I am a registered Republican voter out of Hawai’i. I am also an evangelical Christian. And yet Donald Trump, President of the country of my citizenship is definitely the most tyrannical and unprincipled leader of the free world we’ve had for some time.

Resisting the Trump nonsense does not mean endorsement of Biden and Obama or the Democrats for that matter. The people of America put Trump where he is, and the people of America have allowed him to do what he has done — his illegal and cruel actions, his senseless threats, his bullying of other world leaders, and international organisations, and so much more.

Reflection of US society
It can be true that a people deserve the leader they get.

In a Republic like America, they voted him in. Trump has become a reflection of American society, a warlike people who seem to look down on everyone else, and whose history is filled with cruel takeovers like they did in Hawai’i and other Pacific Islands; wiped out hundreds of thousands in Japan with the world’s first nuclear weapons, and fought wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Iran supposedly “to save the world” while killing countless others.

I recently saw an anti-Trump poster that says: “There is nothing more dangerous than an idiot who thinks he is a genius!” I do not think the President of the United States is an idiot, neither do I think he is a genius. But he is dangerous because he is a so-called Christian who does un-Christian things, he is a god-worshipper whose god is himself!

I am publishing the following article by Michael Jochum which speaks for a lot of people including myself.

What we witnessed in Switzerland was not a policy address. It was an X-ray

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Donald Trump didn’t merely embarrass the United States in front of its allies; he revealed, with clinical clarity, the pathology that now defines his presidency — and the pathology his supporters actively crave. The bluster, the grievance, the thinly veiled threats, the adolescent swagger masquerading as strength: this is not drift or decline. It is the point.

Here’s the dangerous truth that finally snaps into focus after Davos: the unhinged Trump on that stage is exactly the president his followers want. They don’t tolerate the chaos; they require it. They don’t excuse the cruelty; they cheer it. They don’t misunderstand the geopolitical land-grabs and war-mongering postures; they see them as proof of dominance. The spectacle is the substance.

[embedded content]

What makes this moment uniquely perilous isn’t just one man’s depravity. It’s the millions who looked at that performance and thought, Finally — someone who speaks for me. We are not up against a conventional politician or an opposing platform.

We are up against a movement animated by:

The racism embedded in “Make America Great Again,” which has always translated to Make America White Again.

The misogyny that waved off “Grab ’em by the pussy” as locker-room talk and called accountability hysteria.

The anti-intellectualism that confuses cruelty with strength and treats knowledge as weakness.

A provincial, grievance-soaked worldview that mistakes bluster for leadership and exclusion for sovereignty.

Trump is not a nightmare by accident. He is the most unprepared, unqualified, and disgraced president in American history by design. A bigot. A hater. A sexist. A xenophobe. A man with the intellectual and emotional maturity of a five-year-old child. He is mentally ill. He is a pathological liar who lies about his lies. He is obsessed with verbally attacking Hillary Clinton, and he reveals his deep racism through his constant, obsessive disparagement of Barack Obama. Donald Trump is a disgrace to humanity.

I have never heard — nor am I hearing — one single coherent, rational, intelligent, informed, educated, moral, fact-based, sane, mature, patriotic, or politically valid reason to support this illiterate, illegitimate, mentally ill, fish-mouthed “president”. What I do hear, loud and ugly, is resentment, self-hatred, impotent rage, and the glee of people who seem perversely proud that they have endangered everyone in this country.

This is no longer left versus right. The real question is whether we normalise this collective sickness — or excise it before it metastasizes further.

Every time someone says, “But the economy . . .  and those illegals . . . ” to justify their support, listen closely. They are telling you exactly which part of Trump’s reflection they see themselves in.

The good news? Mirrors can be shattered. But only if we stop looking away.

— Michael Jochum

Kalafi Moala’s column was first published by Talanoa ‘o Tonga and is republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/26/kalafi-moala-my-view-of-tyrannical-trump/

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Samoan playwright found dead in prison, local media report

RNZ Pacific

Samoan playwright, author and poet Papali’i Sia Figiel has died in prison, according to local media reports.

Local media, citing sources at the country’s main correctional facility in Apia, are reporting that Papali’i, 58, was found dead in her prison cell on Monday.

She was being held at Tanumalala Prison, awaiting her next Supreme Court hearing in relation to a murder charge.

RNZ Pacific has contacted the Samoan police for comment.

Samoa Observer reports she had been in custody since 2024 for the alleged murder of Professor Caroline Gabbard.

Often described as Samoa’s first woman novelist, Papali’i’s first book, where we once belonged (1996), won the Best First Book award in the South East Asia/South Pacific region of the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 1997. Her second novel was They who do not grieve (1999).

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/26/samoan-playwright-found-dead-in-prison-local-media-report/

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Clutha death a possible murder-suicide attempt

Source: Radio New Zealand

No charges have yet been laid. RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Otago homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the death of a woman at a Clutha property, where a man was also found critically injured.

Emergency services were called to Adams Flat Road in Crichton at about 6.10pm on Friday after reports of a “serious incident”.

RNZ understands the woman who died was Jillian Clark, a well-known local veterinarian, and police were treating the case as a possible murder-suicide attempt.

A death notice published on Monday described Clark as a much-loved family member who was tragically taken.

No charges had yet been laid.

The man remained in a critical condition in hospital.

In an earlier statement, police said people in Crichton could expect to see an increased police presence in the area.

Where to get help:

  • Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
  • Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
  • Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz|
  • What’s Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7 days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm
  • Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
  • Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
  • Healthline: 0800 611 116
  • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
  • OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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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/2026/01/26/clutha-death-a-possible-murder-suicide-attempt/

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Police close Wellington’s Lambton Quay over ‘item of concern’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police shut down part of Wellington’s Lambton Quay after an “item of concern” was found. RNZ / Pretoria Gordon

Wellington’s Lambton Quay was closed for about an hour on Monday after an item of concern was found.

Police were called to the area near Brandon Street about 11.20am.

The road had reopened by about 12.30pm.

Members of the public were asked to follow directions of emergency services.

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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/2026/01/26/police-close-wellingtons-lambton-quay-over-item-of-concern/

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Bitcoin costs more to mine in New Zealand than it’s worth as prices fall

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand miners need to spend an estimated NZ$173,192.96 on energy to produce one Bitcoin. Jonathan Raa / NurPhoto via AFP

The high cost of energy to produce a single Bitcoin seems to make little financial sense as the cryptocurrency’s price slips to about US$86,000 (NZ$147,000).

Latest data from Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index indicates the energy needed to produce one Bitcoin costs more than US$100,000 for 15 of the world’s top 20 producers, with Australia among the biggest spenders at nearly US$259,000.

New Zealand miners need to spend an estimated NZ$173,192.96 on energy to produce one Bitcoin, according to data provided by New Zealand industry organisation Cryptocurrency NZ.

Cryptocurrency NZ co-founder Nicolas Turnbull said there were more than 1000 Bitcoin miners active in New Zealand, though most were hobbyists rather than commercial producers.

“They purely want to mine it for exposure to it,” Turnbull said.

“It’s still a great asset to mine. It’s an exposure to a different asset class.”

Some miners contributed their computer power to global pools, in order to get a slice of what is known as the “Bitcoin block reward” which worked out to 3.125 bitcoin, valued at between US$280k to $300k, he said.

However, the energy cost per bitcoin was still outpacing the current market price, with three of the top five global producers, USA (171btc), China (95btc) and Russia (21btc), each spending more than US$100k in energy to produce one bitcoin, though Kazakhstan (60btc) was able to produce one bitcoin at the relatively low price of US$67k, with Canada at US$97k.

Still, Bitcoin sucked up a global estimate of 191 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy a year, though the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance noted Bitcoin miners were often able to tap into so-called ‘stranded’ energy assets that could not easily be put to productive use by other industries.

“In those cases, Bitcoin miners are not competing with other industries or residential users for the same resources, but instead soaking up surplus energy that would otherwise have been lost or wasted,” it said.

“Instances of this ‘non-rival’ approach has been observed, among others, with renewables curtailment in as well as gas flaring in North America.”

The UK topped the list with the most expensive energy needed to produce one Bitcoin a day, at US$266k or nearly three times the current market Bitcoin price.

However, Turnbull said price was not the only factor motivating hobbiests.

“There may be factors where it becomes unprofitable, but you can always offset it,” Turnbull said, adding some New Zealand hobbiests were generating their own renewable energy and using the output from high-powered mining computers to heat their homes.

“These machines give off quite a lot of heat, so you can actually use them for heating.”

There were other developments motivating Bitcoin enthusiasts, Turnbull said.

“The rules are changing, especially this year.”

He said an expected change in tax policy to exempt capital gains on any Bitcoin spending under $1000 is expected to extend the reach of Bitcoin.

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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/2026/01/26/bitcoin-costs-more-to-mine-in-new-zealand-than-its-worth-as-prices-fall/

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Rugby brothers turn injury setbacks into momentum at EIT

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

33 seconds ago

Two Hawke’s Bay rugby brothers have used time sidelined by injury to gain new skills through study at EIT.

Noah and Rudy Ioasa, well-known rugby players from Central Hawke’s Bay, both completed the New Zealand Certificate in Exercise at EIT last year, after injuries disrupted their playing seasons.

Brothers Rudy (left) and Noah Ioasa both studied the NZ Certificate in Exercise after injury setbacks forced them to take a break from playing rugby at a high level.

For Noah, 19, the decision to study followed a significant knee injury that halted an overseas rugby opportunity earlier in the year. He underwent ACL and meniscus surgery and spent much of 2025 focused on rehabilitation.

“I wasn’t really keen on studying because I didn’t enjoy school that much. But my rugby opportunity didn’t go to plan and I got injured, so I had to do something for the year. This course came up, and it actually worked really well alongside my rehab.”

The programme gave Noah a stronger understanding of how the body functions, particularly in relation to recovery and performance.

“It helped me learn more about my body, especially around nutrition. That side of it definitely helped while I was rehabbing.”

Noah has since passed his return-to-play testing and is preparing to head to Australia early next year to join Sydney club side the Hunter Wildfires, where he plays first five-eighth. His long-term goal remains professional rugby.

“That’s the big goal. This year, I’ll be focused on working, playing, and seeing where it takes me.”

Rudy, 20, also arrived at EIT following an injury setback after spending time playing rugby and working overseas. After returning home, he enrolled in the programme as a way to reset and refocus.

“It was really enjoyable. I’d been on an OE straight out of school, so it was good to get back into the classroom.”

He said the teaching and practical focus of the course stood out.

“We covered anatomy, human movement, nutrition and professionalism. It made sense studying something I’m genuinely interested in, because I’ve always enjoyed training and the gym.”

Studying together added another layer to the experience for the brothers, who have grown up playing rugby alongside one another.

“It was good having someone there, especially while we were both injured.”
Rudy is now planning to continue his studies at a higher level this year, while taking time to fully rebuild physically before returning to competitive rugby.

“I might take a year off playing to get back to full strength and speed,” he said. “Then I’ll look at going again.”
Both brothers said the programme provided knowledge that will be useful regardless of where rugby takes them.

“You don’t have to want to be a personal trainer to do it,” Noah said. “You learn a lot about the body and how to look after yourself, which is useful for sport and life in general.”

Todd Rogers, Head of School Trades and Technology, said: “It is great to see these young men engage in study whilst recovering from injuries”.

“Professional players can be only one injury away from unemployment, so training the brain is just as important.”

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/rugby-brothers-turn-injury-setbacks-into-momentum-at-eit/

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Road re-opened, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Source: New Zealand Police

Lambton quay has re-opened after a report of an item of concern. 

Police were called to the area near Brandon Street at around 11.20am. 

Cordons were in place, however these have since been stood down, as the item of concern has now been confirmed as safe. 

ENDS

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/26/road-re-opened-lambton-quay-wellington/

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The people who will pick the new All Blacks coach, and their one new requirement

Source: Radio New Zealand

The All Blacks during the national anthem. Copyright © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

NZ Rugby (NZR) on Monday confirmed the process to hire a new All Black coach will commence this week, with the ultimately successful applicant needing to have test coaching experience.

Tellingly, that was the one aspect missing from the recently axed Scott Robertson’s CV when he took on the role in 2024.

This stipulation once again brings a few names into sharp focus, with frontrunners Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie having both coached Japan and Australia respectively.

Jamie Joseph Coach of the Highlanders © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

This also means Blues coach Vern Cotter (Fiji, Scotland) can apply, but it somewhat ironically rules out coach Rob Penney, despite the Crusaders coach winning both the Super Rugby Pacific title and NZR Coach of the Year in 2025.

Today’s announcement also confirmed the makeup of a five-person appointment panel, and that it will solely be for the head coaching position. This is notable because both Robertson and Ian Foster’s hirings involved having to assemble a staff as part of the job application with them, only for both tenures marked by staff either leaving or being removed.

It’s understood that the current All Black assistant coaching staff of Scott Hansen, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have been told it’s ‘business as usual’ for the time being, although the new coach will ultimately have the final say on his assistants.

The panel will include Board Chair David Kirk, Board Member Keven Mealamu, experienced high performance expert Don Tricker, interim CEO Steve Lancaster and a recently retired All Blacks player. Mealamu, who played 132 tests between 2002-15, was also involved in the All Black end of season review that played a critical role in Robertson’s sensational removal earlier this month.

PHOTOSPORT

It’s understood the recently retired player who will join the panel has not been confirmed yet.

The final decision on the All Blacks’ head coach will be made by the NZR Board.

NZR interim CEO Steve Lancaster said that the role is “an incredibly important appointment.”

“We’ve started the process and are giving it the care and urgency it deserves to set the team up for success. We’ll provide further updates as soon as we can.”

The hiring process is expected to take at least a month, which leaves precious little time for the All Blacks to reset before a very challenging season commences in July. They face France, Italy and Ireland in the new Nations Cup competition, before an eight-match tour of South Africa that includes four tests against the world champion Springboks.

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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/2026/01/26/the-people-who-will-pick-the-new-all-blacks-coach-and-their-one-new-requirement/