Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council disagrees with Little River residents who say flooding in the Banks Peninsula town could have been mitigated by opening a nearby lake.

Little River, about 30 kilometres south of Christchurch, was badly flooded in February and last May. Locals claim opening nearby Lake Forsyth to the sea could have reduced flooding in the town.

Little River Cafe and Store owner Cameron Gordon – whose business and home was flooded – was one of a number of local residents who said delays in opening Lake Forsyth contributed to flooding in the town.

“Once that lake opened … it drained away pretty quickly,” he told RNZ earlier in February.

The town was also badly flooded last May with residents raising concerns Lake Forsyth was opened too late.

But Christchurch City Council head of three waters Gavin Hutchison said the recent weather event was significant and even if Lake Forsyth had been lower, or open at the time, Little River would have still experienced extensive flooding.

“While both this event and the May event caused flooding in the township, the most recent event had a much greater impact on Little River and the surrounding area,” he said.

The council also did not believe the lake contributed to the flooding in May.

“Lake levels were low at that time and the flooding was caused by the amount and intensity of rain with water flowing through the township,” Hutchinson said.

“Ahead of the recent rain, the lake level was within an acceptable range. Even if an attempt had been made to open it earlier, sea conditions meant it was highly unlikely the opening would have been successful.

“The council has previously looked into the role of lake levels in flooding. This confirmed that the lake does not cause flooding in the township itself, though high lake levels can affect low lying land at the head of the lake. One change already made is a winter trial of opening the lake at a slightly lower trigger level,” Hutchison said.

Lake Forsyth is about a kilometre south of Little River and is fed by the Okana and Okuti Rivers.

The only thing separating its southern banks from the Pacific Ocean is the gravel of Birdlings Flat Beach and a canal connecting the lake and ocean that could be opened by diggers when needed.

The resource consent allowed the council to open the lake when it reached 2.3 metres above mean sea level in spring and summer or 2.7m in autumn and winter. But it could also be opened if a storm was predicted to bring it to that level or threaten inundation.

The council opened the lake on 17 February after it had peaked at about 4.4m and Little River was already inundated.

The lake was opened in May last year after peaking at 4.15m with some local businesses already a foot under water.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/27/little-river-residents-say-opening-lake-would-have-eased-flooding-council-disagrees/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council disagrees with Little River residents who say flooding in the Banks Peninsula town could have been mitigated by opening a nearby lake.

Little River, about 30 kilometres south of Christchurch, was badly flooded in February and last May. Locals claim opening nearby Lake Forsyth to the sea could have reduced flooding in the town.

Little River Cafe and Store owner Cameron Gordon – whose business and home was flooded – was one of a number of local residents who said delays in opening Lake Forsyth contributed to flooding in the town.

“Once that lake opened … it drained away pretty quickly,” he told RNZ earlier in February.

The town was also badly flooded last May with residents raising concerns Lake Forsyth was opened too late.

But Christchurch City Council head of three waters Gavin Hutchison said the recent weather event was significant and even if Lake Forsyth had been lower, or open at the time, Little River would have still experienced extensive flooding.

“While both this event and the May event caused flooding in the township, the most recent event had a much greater impact on Little River and the surrounding area,” he said.

The council also did not believe the lake contributed to the flooding in May.

“Lake levels were low at that time and the flooding was caused by the amount and intensity of rain with water flowing through the township,” Hutchinson said.

“Ahead of the recent rain, the lake level was within an acceptable range. Even if an attempt had been made to open it earlier, sea conditions meant it was highly unlikely the opening would have been successful.

“The council has previously looked into the role of lake levels in flooding. This confirmed that the lake does not cause flooding in the township itself, though high lake levels can affect low lying land at the head of the lake. One change already made is a winter trial of opening the lake at a slightly lower trigger level,” Hutchison said.

Lake Forsyth is about a kilometre south of Little River and is fed by the Okana and Okuti Rivers.

The only thing separating its southern banks from the Pacific Ocean is the gravel of Birdlings Flat Beach and a canal connecting the lake and ocean that could be opened by diggers when needed.

The resource consent allowed the council to open the lake when it reached 2.3 metres above mean sea level in spring and summer or 2.7m in autumn and winter. But it could also be opened if a storm was predicted to bring it to that level or threaten inundation.

The council opened the lake on 17 February after it had peaked at about 4.4m and Little River was already inundated.

The lake was opened in May last year after peaking at 4.15m with some local businesses already a foot under water.

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/2026/02/27/little-river-residents-say-opening-lake-would-have-eased-flooding-council-disagrees/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A pedestrian advocacy group is pushing back against the government’s proposed changes to cycling on the footpath – saying only children aged five or younger should be allowed.

Living Streets Aotearoa says the current proposal, which would see children up to 12 years old being allowed to ride bikes or e-bikes on the footpath with no speed restriction, is dangerous for pedestrians using the footpath.

They also say some footpaths should be off limits to all bikes completely.

Living Streets Aotearoa president Tim Jones told Checkpoint bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters belonged in cycle lanes.

The group believed more safe, separated cycle lanes needed to be built, he said.

“There is a big difference between five-year-olds riding on small-wheeled bikes and 12-year-olds riding on full-sized bikes including e-bikes with no speed restriction.”

Many 12-year-olds want to be with their mates, he said.

“You want to show off to your mates, you want to have a group of you riding down the footpath competing to see who can do the most stunts, who can out speed the others – you’re not thinking about safety.”

Jones agreed that was not the case for all 12-year-olds but said just like with e-scooters “most people who ride them (bikes) are respectful and careful but some are not”.

That was where the problem came for both riders and pedestrians, he said.

“The most vulnerable people on the footpath are pedestrians, especially elderly pedestrians, parents with young children, say parents with a pram, pedestrians with disabilities.

“We’re putting them at more risk if this proposal goes ahead.”

E-bikes were particularly bad because they tended to be heavier and faster, he said.

“So the damage is about the speed times the weight, so the bigger the child is the faster the bike can go, the heavier the bike, then if there’s a collision with a pedestrian it does more damage and we’re talking here about serious injuries and potentially death.”

A pedestrian in Wellington was very seriously injured recently after being hit by a bike on a shared path, he said.

“So what this proposal would effectively do is make footpaths closer to shared paths, there’d be more people riding on them, more risk to pedestrians.

“So we say it is really important that everybody be safe and the way to do that is build separate lanes where e-scooters, bikes and e-bikes can safely go.”

It would be worth looking at banning all bikes and scooters from footpaths in some areas such as directly outside old people’s homes or hospitals, he said.

“Now that’s going to have to be done with local knowledge,” he said.

Footpaths are primarily for feet or wheelchairs, he said.

“That’s our space and we want to protect it and we want to be able to safely walk there, we want other people using other modes of transport to be safely in their own space.”

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/2026/02/27/proposed-road-rule-change-would-endanger-pedestrians-living-streets-aotearoa-says/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A pedestrian advocacy group is pushing back against the government’s proposed changes to cycling on the footpath – saying only children aged five or younger should be allowed.

Living Streets Aotearoa says the current proposal, which would see children up to 12 years old being allowed to ride bikes or e-bikes on the footpath with no speed restriction, is dangerous for pedestrians using the footpath.

They also say some footpaths should be off limits to all bikes completely.

Living Streets Aotearoa president Tim Jones told Checkpoint bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters belonged in cycle lanes.

The group believed more safe, separated cycle lanes needed to be built, he said.

“There is a big difference between five-year-olds riding on small-wheeled bikes and 12-year-olds riding on full-sized bikes including e-bikes with no speed restriction.”

Many 12-year-olds want to be with their mates, he said.

“You want to show off to your mates, you want to have a group of you riding down the footpath competing to see who can do the most stunts, who can out speed the others – you’re not thinking about safety.”

Jones agreed that was not the case for all 12-year-olds but said just like with e-scooters “most people who ride them (bikes) are respectful and careful but some are not”.

That was where the problem came for both riders and pedestrians, he said.

“The most vulnerable people on the footpath are pedestrians, especially elderly pedestrians, parents with young children, say parents with a pram, pedestrians with disabilities.

“We’re putting them at more risk if this proposal goes ahead.”

E-bikes were particularly bad because they tended to be heavier and faster, he said.

“So the damage is about the speed times the weight, so the bigger the child is the faster the bike can go, the heavier the bike, then if there’s a collision with a pedestrian it does more damage and we’re talking here about serious injuries and potentially death.”

A pedestrian in Wellington was very seriously injured recently after being hit by a bike on a shared path, he said.

“So what this proposal would effectively do is make footpaths closer to shared paths, there’d be more people riding on them, more risk to pedestrians.

“So we say it is really important that everybody be safe and the way to do that is build separate lanes where e-scooters, bikes and e-bikes can safely go.”

It would be worth looking at banning all bikes and scooters from footpaths in some areas such as directly outside old people’s homes or hospitals, he said.

“Now that’s going to have to be done with local knowledge,” he said.

Footpaths are primarily for feet or wheelchairs, he said.

“That’s our space and we want to protect it and we want to be able to safely walk there, we want other people using other modes of transport to be safely in their own space.”

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/2026/02/27/proposed-road-rule-change-would-endanger-pedestrians-living-streets-aotearoa-says/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Northland Regional Council says a woman whose teaching registration was cancelled for serious misconduct is no longer employed by them.

The Teaching Council’s Disciplinary Tribunal has found April Nordstrom had a sexual relationship with a student at Whangārei Girls’ High School and behaved inappropriately towards three other students at Horowhenua College in Levin.

The years the students attended the schools have not been disclosed by the tribunal to protect their identities.

Northland Regional Council Chief Executive Jonathan Gibbard told RNZ that Nordstrom was their Māori Policy Planner from 2022 until the role was disestablished.

“The Māori Policy Planner position was fixed-term in nature, which came to an end earlier this year.

“Whilst April is no longer employed by Northland Regional Council as an employee, she was engaged as an external contractor, which will be reviewed.”

He said the council did pre-employment checks, but would not answer questions about what Nordstrom disclosed to them prior to being hired.

‘We are not able to provide private information due to the Privacy Act.

“However, we can confirm that we have an extensive recruitment process where we conduct a number of pre-employment checks before making offers to suitable candidates.

“The position of the Māori Policy Planner was to advise on policy and planning matters; the position did not require contact with children and young people.

“At NRC, we conduct police vetting for those who hold positions that work with children as per the Children’s Act.”

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/2026/02/27/struck-off-teacher-no-longer-works-for-northland-regional-council/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have taken action against fewer children and young people, including fewer cases involving young people and serious offending, but more involving children and serious offending, new figures show.

The Youth Justice Indicators report, published on Friday, said in the year to June 2025 the rate of police action against children decreased by 22 percent, and against young people by nine percent.

The report, published by the Ministry of Justice, defines those aged 10 to 13 years old as children, and 14 to 17-year-olds as young people.

When measured relative to population size, the rate of offending decreased from 75 to 58 per 10,000 children, and from 252 to 220 per 10,000 young people.

The report only counts youth offending in cases where police proceed to take action against a child or young person, including in the form of warnings, youth justice family group conferences (FGCs), and prosecution in the Youth Court.

There were eight percent fewer cases in which police action was taken against young people for the most serious offences – carrying a maximum penalty of 14 or more years.

But for children, that number increased by 17 percent, leading to a higher rate of police action for serious offending.

This reflected increased action against youth with previous justice system involvement, who were more likely to seriously offend, the report said.

The report also found the rate at which police action was taken and rates of reoffending amongst children and young people remained relatively stable.

Of those who had police action taken against them, one in 10 children and three in 10 young people were proceeded against with an FGC or court hearing – roughly the same proportion as last year, it said.

For young people found guilty in court in 2022, 54 percent reoffended within two years.

For 16-year-olds found guilty in court in 2022, 42 percent reoffended and entered the adult system within two years.

However, for youth managed outside of the formal justice system, the reoffending rate decreased, the report found.

For children who received “alternative actions” or warnings for their first proceeding, the reoffending rate decreased from 27 percent to 24 percent.

For young people who received alternative actions or warnings for their first proceeding, the reoffending rate decreased from 22 percent to 20 percent.

The report also considered the type of offending for which children and young people faced police action.

Theft remained the most common offence, making up 37 percent, followed by assault at 14 percent, it said.

The report also acknowledged that “the vast majority of children (98 percent) and young people (88 percent) referred for a youth justice FGC had a previous care and protection report of concern”.

It pointed to a new inter-agency initiative that was last month introduced by Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston aimed at supporting youth whose sole parent was in custody.

“This initiative aims to ensure an immediate focus on the safety, wellbeing and adequacy of care arrangements for these children, which could also address the cycle of intergenerational justice involvement.”

The report outlined that Māori and Pasifika children and young people continued to be significantly disproportionally likely to face police proceedings as a result of offending.

Māori youth were more than twice as likely to be involved in the youth justice system compared with the total population, it said.

“Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are disproportionately represented in all stages of the youth justice system, suggesting that the system inadequately responds to their needs.”

• Of children proceeded against, 63 percent were tamariki Māori, and of young people, 53 percent were rangatahi Māori.
• Of young people appearing in court, 68 percent were rangatahi Māori.
• Of youth remanded into custody, 72 percent were tamariki and rangatahi Māori.
• 32 percent of Pasifika young people proceeded against had an FGC or court action, compared with 30 percent for the total population.
• 29 percent of Pasifika young people proceeded against appeared in court, compared with 26 percent for the total population.
• 38 percent of Pasifika children and young people who appeared in the Youth Court were remanded into custody, compared with 32 percent for the total population.

“While a part of disproportionality in the justice system may be explained by factors such as seriousness of offending or offending history, recent work completed by the Ministry shows that some of it remains unexplained”, the report said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/27/youth-justice-police-take-actions-against-fewer-children-young-people/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Whangārei woman Brooke Gibson was left feeling burned when she tried to use a $200 gift card for a local restaurant.

“We were given a gift voucher by a contractor that we used and I assumed it was 12 months and put it away for safe keeping … fast forward eight months later, I go to use it and I see it was only valid for six months.”

She asked the restaurant whether they would still honour it and was told they would not.

Gibson said she always tried to support local business but felt it had been handled poorly and she was not given an explanation for why there was no leeway.

New rules are set to take effect for gift cards that will stop situations such as this from happening.

From 16 March, new rules take effect that mean gift cards have to have a minimum expiry time of three years.

Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young said there had been some uncertainty about what was captured.

She said some retailers had wondered how gift cards related to loyalty programmes would be affected by the rules, or vouchers given as incentives or bonuses.

The Commerce Commission on Friday issued guidance that made it clear that any gift voucher or card had to work with the new three-year expiration date rules, no matter whether they were in exchange for money, loyalty points or offered with another purchase.

While prepaid top-up cards for telecommunication services, public transport, electricity, gas, or water services are excluded from the changes, any other prepaid top-up cards will be required to adhere to the new minimum expiry. Loyalty points are not affected.

Gift cards given out free would be exempt.

“This clarification is useful for retailers to understand what is captured by these new rules. While it might not be the news that some businesses will have been hoping for or expecting, it provides clear guidance that they can now use to make the relevant adjustments,” Young said.

“We are heartened to hear that the Commerce Commission will be taking a pragmatic approach to enforcement as retailers work to update their programmes.”

The commission also said in cases where businesses automatically provide a consumer with a voucher once they reached a minimum spend threshold or a required number of loyalty points, its view was that such vouchers were not subject to the expiry requirements because they were automatically generated rather than forming part of a sale.

The Commerce Commission said if there was no expiry date given, there was no limit on how long a customer had to use a card.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/27/new-gift-card-rules-clarified/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have taken action against fewer children and young people, including fewer cases involving young people and serious offending, but more involving children and serious offending, new figures show.

The Youth Justice Indicators report, published on Friday, said in the year to June 2025 the rate of police action against children decreased by 22 percent, and against young people by nine percent.

The report, published by the Ministry of Justice, defines those aged 10 to 13 years old as children, and 14 to 17-year-olds as young people.

When measured relative to population size, the rate of offending decreased from 75 to 58 per 10,000 children, and from 252 to 220 per 10,000 young people.

The report only counts youth offending in cases where police proceed to take action against a child or young person, including in the form of warnings, youth justice family group conferences (FGCs), and prosecution in the Youth Court.

There were eight percent fewer cases in which police action was taken against young people for the most serious offences – carrying a maximum penalty of 14 or more years.

But for children, that number increased by 17 percent, leading to a higher rate of police action for serious offending.

This reflected increased action against youth with previous justice system involvement, who were more likely to seriously offend, the report said.

The report also found the rate at which police action was taken and rates of reoffending amongst children and young people remained relatively stable.

Of those who had police action taken against them, one in 10 children and three in 10 young people were proceeded against with an FGC or court hearing – roughly the same proportion as last year, it said.

For young people found guilty in court in 2022, 54 percent reoffended within two years.

For 16-year-olds found guilty in court in 2022, 42 percent reoffended and entered the adult system within two years.

However, for youth managed outside of the formal justice system, the reoffending rate decreased, the report found.

For children who received “alternative actions” or warnings for their first proceeding, the reoffending rate decreased from 27 percent to 24 percent.

For young people who received alternative actions or warnings for their first proceeding, the reoffending rate decreased from 22 percent to 20 percent.

The report also considered the type of offending for which children and young people faced police action.

Theft remained the most common offence, making up 37 percent, followed by assault at 14 percent, it said.

The report also acknowledged that “the vast majority of children (98 percent) and young people (88 percent) referred for a youth justice FGC had a previous care and protection report of concern”.

It pointed to a new inter-agency initiative that was last month introduced by Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston aimed at supporting youth whose sole parent was in custody.

“This initiative aims to ensure an immediate focus on the safety, wellbeing and adequacy of care arrangements for these children, which could also address the cycle of intergenerational justice involvement.”

The report outlined that Māori and Pasifika children and young people continued to be significantly disproportionally likely to face police proceedings as a result of offending.

Māori youth were more than twice as likely to be involved in the youth justice system compared with the total population, it said.

“Tamariki and rangatahi Māori are disproportionately represented in all stages of the youth justice system, suggesting that the system inadequately responds to their needs.”

• Of children proceeded against, 63 percent were tamariki Māori, and of young people, 53 percent were rangatahi Māori.
• Of young people appearing in court, 68 percent were rangatahi Māori.
• Of youth remanded into custody, 72 percent were tamariki and rangatahi Māori.
• 32 percent of Pasifika young people proceeded against had an FGC or court action, compared with 30 percent for the total population.
• 29 percent of Pasifika young people proceeded against appeared in court, compared with 26 percent for the total population.
• 38 percent of Pasifika children and young people who appeared in the Youth Court were remanded into custody, compared with 32 percent for the total population.

“While a part of disproportionality in the justice system may be explained by factors such as seriousness of offending or offending history, recent work completed by the Ministry shows that some of it remains unexplained”, the report said.

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/2026/02/27/youth-justice-police-take-actions-against-fewer-children-young-people/