Category: New Zealand

Posted on

Health and Politics – Government Acknowledges Aged Care Pressures But Families and Carers Still Carrying the Load

Source: Aged Care Association

The Aged Care Association says today’s Government response to the Health Committee inquiry into aged care capacity recognises serious system pressures but leaves families and informal carers continuing to shoulder the consequences.
The inquiry examined how well the aged care sector can support people experiencing neurological cognitive disorders, including dementia. While the Government has welcomed the report and referred its recommendations to the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group for further consideration, no immediate actions or support measures were announced.
Association Chief Executive Tracey Martin says that delay has real-world impacts beyond providers, it lands hardest on families.
“Behind every delayed reform is a daughter reducing her work hours, a spouse managing complex care alone, or a family struggling to find a bed close to home. When the system strains, families absorb the pressure.”
Inquiry Highlighted Growing Strain on Families
The Health Committee heard extensive evidence about:
  • Limited availability of aged residential care beds
  • Financial barriers to accessing care
  • Workforce shortages affecting service quality and continuity
  • Inconsistent access to home and community support
  • The particular challenges of dementia care
These pressures often leave families filling gaps in care, navigating fragmented services, and carrying emotional, physical, and financial burdens.
“Families are becoming the default providers of care when services are stretched. That is not sustainable and it is not fair.”
Respite and Support Still Uncertain
While the Committee recommended establishing regular respite care programmes to support carers, the Government response points only to ongoing strategy work, with no new funding or delivery commitments.
“Respite is not a luxury – it is what keeps carers healthy enough to continue caring. Without reliable respite, burnout is inevitable.”
Delays in Funding Reform Flow Through to Households
The Government confirmed that aged care funding reform will be considered as part of a broader review process reporting back in 2026.
Until then:
  • Bed shortages persist
  • Dementia services remain financially constrained
  • Providers struggle to expand capacity
  • Access delays push care responsibilities back onto families
“When funding models don’t reflect the real cost of care, services can’t expand. When services can’t expand, families wait longer or cope alone.”
Home Care Progress Welcome But Gaps Remain
The Association acknowledged positive signals around:
  • More flexible home and community care services
  • Moves toward nationally consistent funding
  • Longer-term provider contracts
However, implementation timelines remain unclear.
“Supporting people to remain in the communities they know and love is the right goal. But families need to see changes on the ground, not just policy workstreams.”
A Human Issue, Not Just a System Issue
New Zealand’s ageing population means more families will face complex care decisions in the coming years.
“Aged care is not an abstract policy area. It determines whether older people can live with dignity, and whether families can remain families – rather than becoming exhausted, unsupported care coordinators.”
Call for Urgency
The Advisory Group is expected to report by mid-2026.
“We respect the need for careful policy design, but the lived reality is urgent. Families and carers need practical support now – clearer pathways, available beds, sustainable services, and meaningful respite.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/health-and-politics-government-acknowledges-aged-care-pressures-but-families-and-carers-still-carrying-the-load/

Posted on

Arrests made, drugs and firearms seized, Canterbury

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Damon Wells: 

Police have arrested two men and seized amounts cash, methamphetamine, firearms, and ammunition, in Canterbury.

Over the past two weeks, Police executed search warrants at various properties linked to Mongrel Mob gang members, in Christchurch and North Canterbury.

During these searches, Police located and seized several thousand dollars in cash, methamphetamine, several firearms, and ammunition.

Police also discovered a “chop shop” and have been able to recover several stolen vehicles. A further five vehicles were seized by the courts due to unpaid fines.

As a result, two men, who are both patched Mongrel Mob members, were arrested.

They are remanded in custody, due to reappear in the Christchurch District Court in the coming weeks.

A 34-year-old is due to appear on 25 March and a 29-year-old is due to appear on 1 April. Both are facing charges relating to driving matters, possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of cannabis, and unlawful possession if ammunition.

Police are not ruling out further charges.

Police are committed to disrupting and minimising the social harm caused by gangs in our community. If you have any information or concerns about illegal activity, please make a report through 111 if there is an immediate threat, or through 105 – with as much detail as possible – either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/arrests-made-drugs-and-firearms-seized-canterbury/

Posted on

Consumer NZ – No u-turn to petrol for New Zealand EV owners

Source: Consumer NZ

New research from Consumer NZ shows an overwhelming 96% of electric vehicle (EV) owners would buy another EV, confirming strong satisfaction among current owners.

Consumer has released findings from its latest car reliability and satisfaction survey, representing responses from 5,791 members and supporters collected in November and December 2025.

“This survey canvassed car owner experiences, providing insights into preferred engines, brand performance, reliability and overall owner satisfaction,” says Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy.

While petrol vehicles continue to dominate the nation’s roads, making up 59% of cars New Zealanders own, the landscape is shifting. The share of EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) has grown from 12% in 2023 to 17% in 2025. Hybrid ownership has also risen significantly, increasing from 10% to 15% over the same period.

“This indicates a gradual but growing shift towards going electric on our roads,” says Duffy.  

Over half of EV owners made the switch with the anticipation of lower running costs, and 81% of current owners say their operating costs are much cheaper. Environmental considerations were also a key factor.

“Our research found that one of the more affordable electric vehicle brands ranked highly when it came to price and reliability, outstripping performance on some better-known petrol brands,” says Duffy.

However, despite 56% of EV owners wanting lower running costs, 29% kept the same power plan after buying an EV, even though they would now be using more energy.

“This highlights the importance of heading to Powerswitch to the find the best deal for your energy needs. There are significant savings to be made on power by shopping around,” says Duffy.

The survey also explored how drivers feel about vehicle safety technology. Reversing cameras and sensors topped the list as respondents’ most valued safety features, while lane-keeping assist was ranked the most annoying.

For more insights into New Zealand’s best and worst cars, including reliable motoring, owner satisfaction, maintenance and repair costs, and the recipients of Consumer NZ’s annual People’s Choice awards, see the full survey results at consumer.org.nz/products/ car-reliability  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/consumer-nz-no-u-turn-to-petrol-for-new-zealand-ev-owners/

Posted on

Rural communities encouraged to attend emergency preparedness events

Source: New Zealand Government

A series of rural resilience workshops to help farmers and growers be better prepared for adverse events will be rolled out starting next week, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says.

“Significant rainfall and flooding this summer have caused damage to farms and orchards, and had an impact on freight, transport and other infrastructure,” Mr McClay says.

“Farmers and growers have shown significant resilience getting through recent storms and ensuring the welfare of their animals. These workshops will help in emergency preparedness.”

The catchment emergency preparedness workshops will be held across the country, and a rural resilience roadshow is taking place on the West Coast this month.

Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says rural communities are highly exposed to the impacts of emergencies, and preparation is key.

“The workshops are designed to be practical to help rural New Zealanders prepare for and respond to adverse events.”

A farm emergency plan template and an adverse event preparedness checklist for farmers can be found on the Good Farm website or on MPI’s website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/funding-rural-support/adverse-events/preparing-for-adverse-events       

Note to editors:

Catchment Emergency Preparedness Workshops 

18 March 

Otago – Cullen Conference Room, Invermay, Mosgiel. 9.45am-4pm.

24 March

Blenheim – Landsdowne Hub. 10am-4pm.

14 April

Canterbury – Dunsandel Community Centre, Dunsandel. 11am-4pm.

23 April

Ruapehu district. Taumarunui. 10am-4pm. 

30 April

Waikato. Waitomo. 10am-4pm.

4 May

Waikato. Mangatangi Hall, Mangatangi. 10am-4pm. 

13 May 

Bay of Plenty. Te Puna. 

19 May

Northland. Whangārei.

 

Additional details for workshops will be available on the events section of the NZ Landcare Trust website closer to the time.

 

Rural Resilience Roadshow – West Coast 

11 March 

Westport – Sergeants Hill Hall. 6pm.

12 March 

Reefton – Community Centre Hall. 11am.

Greymouth – Ashley Hotel. 6pm.

18 March 

Kokatahi – Kokatahi Hall. 11am.

Harihari – Community Hall. 6pm.

19 March 

Franz Josef – Community Hall. 11am.

Haast – Okuru Hall. 5.30pm.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/rural-communities-encouraged-to-attend-emergency-preparedness-events/

Posted on

Pharmac to fund life‑changing treatments for children with cystic fibrosis

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac will fund new treatment options for people living with cystic fibrosis from 1 April 2026.

The decision includes:

  • widening access to Trikafta and Kalydeco for all people with eligible mutations
  • funding Alyftrek for the first time for people with eligible mutations

“Trikafta has already changed the lives of hundreds of New Zealanders with cystic fibrosis,” says Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Adrienne Martin. “This decision means more people, including young children, will be able to access these medicines earlier.”

Cystic fibrosis is a lifelong condition affecting around 500 New Zealanders, including children. There is no cure, and people living with the condition typically have shorter lives. It causes thick mucus to build up in the body, leading to serious lung infections and damage to other organs.

“Damage from cystic fibrosis begins very early in life,” says Martin. “Earlier access to these medicines can help prevent irreversible harm, improve quality of life, and give families greater certainty and peace of mind.”

Trikafta, Kalydeco and Alyftrek treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis by helping the body produce thinner mucus. These medicines are considered life‑changing treatments, helping people live longer, healthier lives.

Currently, Trikafta has Medsafe regulatory approval for use in people aged two years and older, and Alyftrek for children aged six and older.

“Widening access to these treatments will also benefit the health system,” says Martin. “People are likely to need fewer hospital admissions and less ongoing treatment over time.”

The decision follows consultation with people with cystic fibrosis, their families, health professionals and advocacy groups.

“We received over 780 responses, and people told us how important earlier access is,” says Martin. “They said that this decision could mean their toddlers grow up going to daycare, playing with friends, and staying out of hospital.”

Pharmac also received feedback that clearer and simpler access rules were needed.

“In response, we’ve simplified and aligned eligibility criteria and ensured the widest possible range of eligible mutations is covered,” explains Martin.

“While weren’t able to make every change that was suggested, we’ve listened carefully and will continue working with Health New Zealand to monitor access and consider further improvements over time.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/pharmac-to-fund-life-changing-treatments-for-children-with-cystic-fibrosis/

Posted on

Alleged burglars head to court

Source: New Zealand Police

A late-night burglary attempt in Henderson on Wednesday ended with two men facing court after being caught by Police.

Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager, Acting Inspector Nick Salter, says around 2.15am Police were called to Central Park Drive following reports people had been seen unlawfully inside a building.

“These two alleged offenders were seen on CCTV loading their vehicle with metal items from inside the warehouse,” he says.

“When alerted that Police were on the way they jumped into their vehicle and sped off down the road and into a long driveway.”

Police helicopter Eagle was first on the scene and saw the alleged offenders drive though a locked gate to avoid being caught.

“As the vehicle has left this area Eagle noticed one of the alleged offenders had been left behind,” Acting Inspector Salter says.

“The vehicle then accelerated away towards Te Atatū.”

Police units quickly located the vehicle and signalled for it to stop.

“The alleged offender failed to pull over and continued driving on Edmonton Road,” Acting Inspector Salter says.

“A short time later he has pulled into an address on Vera Road, where he has exited the vehicle and run into the backyard of the property.”

Police were right on the alleged offender’s tail and took him into custody without issue.

“Officers located a large amount of metal items in the vehicle that had come from the warehouse on Central Park Drive,” Acting Inspector Salter says.

“Delta units located the second offender hiding at the site he was seen being dropped off at earlier.”

Acting Inspector Salter says this was a great result for Police, apprehending the alleged offenders and potentially preventing further burglaries from occurring.

“We will continue to send the message that this type of offending is not acceptable,” he says.

“These two men will now have to answer for their actions in court.”

A 38-year-old man will appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary by night, behaving threateningly and failing to stop.

A 42-year-old man will also appear in the Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary by night and behaving threateningly.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/alleged-burglars-head-to-court/

Posted on

Large kea flock ‘micro-chipped’ to track travels

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  11 March 2026

Department of Conservation science staff and rangers recently caught 31 kea from a record flock of about 36 birds, attaching leg bands with tiny microchips. The bands are scanned by solar-powered readers attached to hut roofs and other sites that kea like to visit, allowing their travels to be recorded.

DOC Senior Science Advisor Kerry Weston says the kea caught at Red Tarns above Aoraki Mount Cook Village were part of the largest flock seen at Aoraki since kea surveying began in 2019.

“They were mostly young kea, many just fledged from their nests, including one bird that had travelled 40 km from Whymper Hut on the West Coast across the main divide.

“This is the largest flock of kea I’ve seen at Aoraki or anywhere. Combined with increased sightings of kea around the park, it’s a positive sign that the local kea population is increasing.

“Young kea often band together in wandering flocks in late summer and autumn, but we don’t know where they’re coming from. We’re hoping this research will help answer that question.”

So far, 420 kea have been banded with the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags over the past two summers as part of the trial. There are 13 readers installed at huts and other sites within the adjacent Westland Tai Poutini and Aoraki Mount Cook national parks, and other nearby conservation areas. More readers will be added including to New Zealand Alpine Club huts.

Use of the RFID tags is a cost-effective way of monitoring kea. The leg bands cost less than $1 each and the data is passively gathered as kea land on the readers.

The trial, which is supported by the World Parrot Trust, addresses one of the priorities of a new joint recovery strategy by DOC, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Kea Conservation Trust to develop new tools and approaches to monitor kea populations and their movements across the landscape.

While it’s known kea fly large distances, improved understanding of kea movement patterns will help inform the design of effective predator control and other management measures.

Early trial results confirm young kea are travelling from lowland forests on the West Coast to alpine areas and across the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana. For example, one young bird was tracked flying over 30 km from its nest in lowland forest at Ōkārito to Chancellor Hut, perched above Fox Glacier/Te Moeka o Tuawe.

“The Predator Free South Westland and Te Manahuna Aoraki Project predator eradication work underway in this area is benefiting kea and will give this flock of young birds a good chance of survival,” says Kerry.

Predators such as stoats and feral cats are a big threat to kea, which nest and forage on the ground.

“As we see kea numbers increase in places like Aoraki, we ask people to help keep kea wild and safe.

“When you are out naturing, you can help by giving kea space, not feeding them and keeping your belongings secured so they don’t attract curious kea,” says Kerry.

Young kea, typically aged 1-4 years, form ‘teenage gangs’ to socialise, play and learn to forage and navigate their environment. There’s safety in numbers with flocking also reducing the risk of predation. When birds reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years old, they settle down to find a mate and establish territory.

Predator Free South Westland

Te Manahuna Aoraki Project

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/large-kea-flock-micro-chipped-to-track-travels/

Posted on

Queenstown-based tech entrepreneur Brian Cartmell donating hundreds of thousands to political parties

Source: Radio New Zealand

Political donations made in an election year must be declared within 20 days if they are more than $20,000. RNZ

Technology entrepreneur Brian Cartmell appears to have donated at least half a million dollars to the coalition parties – and to the Opportunity party.

Cartmell moved to New Zealand in 2010 and gave up his US citizenship in 2015. His former professional background includes working for the Internet Entertainment Group, an online pornography company. It was a pioneer in live webcam shows and subscription services.

In a statement on his website, Cartmell said he had donated equally to the three coalition parties as well as to Opportunity. The ACT Party told RNZ it had received a total of $200,000 from Cartmell last year. The Electoral Commission said a $100,000 donation to Opportunity from Cartmell had been disclosed. Neither National nor NZ First would confirm donations from him.

But Cartmell himself said the current coalition parties represent “the best available chance of navigating” a period of significant economic, technological, and geopolitical change in a way that preserves New Zealand’s sovereignty, prosperity and independence.

He said he chose to donate equal amounts to National, Act and NZ First last year as none of the three represents his thinking, but he believed the three parties complemented each other. The donation to Opportunity was made because he feels healthy democracies need parties willing to put forward ideas major parties won’t.

“New ideas enter the political process from the edges, and parties like Opportunity play an important role in making sure that process doesn’t stagnate.”

Who is Brian Cartmell?

Cartmell lives in Queenstown with his partner. He says he has donated more than $1 million to a range of organisations including Starship Children’s Hospital, Cure Kids, Hato Hone St John and NZSAS Regiment Trust.

In the 1990s, he worked at Internet Entertainment Group helping it to develop live streaming technology.

Cartmell also founded a domain registry firm in 1997 which managed domain names with the .cc extension, associated with the Cocos Islands territory, an island territory with a population of around 600 people. He told the United States Senate Commerce Committee 400,000 domain names were registered to the extension. The Australian Financial Review reported the islands received no benefits from domain name sales, although Cartmell did distribute technology and grants. Cartmell sold the company to Verisign in 2001 for an undisclosed sum.

Cartmell also funded an anti-spam service called SpamAlert. This company won a court case against the food company Hormel, maker of tinned Spam, over the use of the word spam. He was also an early adopter of cryptocurrency Bitcoin and participated in the first funding round of Coinbase.

The Companies Register shows he is a director of three New Zealand companies and a shareholder in an additional 12 companies. These include crowdsourcing platform PledgeMe, food and beverage companies Angel Food and Yeastie Boys. He has a small shareholding in Invisible Urban Charging, an electric car charging company co-founded by former National Party MP Jake Bezzant.

According to Cartmell’s website he is seeking investment opportunities and is looking for innovative start-ups in transformative technologies.

Parties respond

Opportunity party general manager Iain Lees-Galloway said the cash injection, which was declared as being received on 25 February was incredibly helpful for the small party, which is not in parliament.

“We don’t have parliamentary resources to run our campaigns that sitting MPs do. So a donation like this makes a huge difference to us to be able to get our message out.”

Donations would be spent on marketing as well as travel and events. The party has received one other big donation of $50,000 from Phillip Mills, taking its currently declared total for 2026 to $150,000.

Donations made in the 2025 calendar year will be published in early May. Donations made in an election year must be declared within 20 days if they are more than $20,000.

An ACT party spokesperson confirmed Cartmell had made donations in 2025 but had not made any donations this year.

“ACT New Zealand received a donation from Brian Cartmell of $100k in December last year. He donated a total of $200k to ACT in 2025.”

New Zealand First party secretary Holly Howard said donations would be disclosed as required by law.

“Out of respect for our donors’ privacy and due process, we will not provide commentary or confirmation on individual donations ahead of the statutory reporting requirements.”

The National Party said it wouldn’t comment on individual donations, except where required by law through donation disclosures.

Information released on the electoral commission website shows coalition parties have received $750,000 in donations of over $20,000 so far this year. National has received $250,000, ACT $350,000 and NZ First $150,000.

The Greens have received $43,000 and Labour $22,000.

Cartmell’s statement says he supports transparent political donations, but will be making no further statements on the matter.

“These donations were made with that broader objective in mind – with the understanding that it is voters, not donors, who decide the direction of New Zealand.”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/queenstown-based-tech-entrepreneur-brian-cartmell-donating-hundreds-of-thousands-to-political-parties/

Posted on

Rugby: Crusaders teammates in heated scuffle as tensions spill over at training

Source: Radio New Zealand

Crusaders’ forward Kershawl Sykes-Martin is one of the players reported to have been involved in the dust-up in training. Joe Allison

Clarification: An earlier version of this story reported punches were thrown. This was incorrect.

Days after a significant loss to the Blues, tensions rose at Crusaders training on Tuesday with reports of a heated scuffle.

Stuff is reporting prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin and lock Will Tucker were involved in the incident at Rugby Park in Christchurch during a contact session.

Captain David Havili was reportedly the man to break up the altercation.

After training, coach Rob Penney did his best to downplay the tension, telling reporters he was not fazed by the clash between his players and even welcomed it.

“So there should be,” Penney said when asked if there was tension in the camp after the 29-13 defeat to the Blues.

“It was a really lovely sight to see, actually. It is a reflection of how much it means. The boys aren’t happy with the performances and the outcomes.

“Very proud young men are going to come up against each other, and create a bit of sandpaper from time to time.

“But it’s not a thing that is going to affect negatively. We are all over it, the boys are fine.”

Penney expected there could be more scuffles at training in the future.

“It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last.”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/rugby-crusaders-teammates-in-heated-scuffle-as-tensions-spill-over-at-training/

Posted on

Education sector Guidance will help frontline workers

Source: Privacy Commissioner

New privacy guidance, launched today, will give people working in the education sector a better understand about how to use and protect personal information, the Privacy Commissioner says. 

 

“Privacy, especially when it relates to children and young people, can be a complex area.

 

“Our new guidance focuses on the specific needs of those working within the education sector and uses a range of real-world scenarios to help them make good privacy decisions with confidence,” Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says.

 

Topics include the rights of children and young people, education technology, and health and learning support information. Other areas covered are managing information requests, keeping learner information safe, unique identifiers, and managing privacy incidents.

 

The use of digital technologies is one key area explored, including the use of online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, and parent communication tools. There is also a checklist providing a list of questions to ask when undertaking due diligence on these digital tools.

 

Special topic chapters focus on the relevant areas of the Privacy Act and the applicable privacy principles, including how these can be applied across the lifecycle of information, from collection through to deletion.

 

“One of our aims is to raise awareness of the various privacy risks children face. Protecting children is also a major area of interest for the public, with our most recent privacy survey recording the highest level of concern (67%) for children’s privacy, says Mr Webster.

 

“Whether you’re a teacher, a principal, an administrator, a member of a school board, a speech language therapist, a guidance counsellor, a music teacher, operate an ECE service, or are a service provider with services for learners, this guidance has been created for you.”

 

This guidance follows on from recent guidance on information sharing, photographing and filming of children and young people, best practice when responding to requests for a child or young person’s personal information, and how to help children, young people and their parents protect their privacy while exploring the online world.

 

Read the full guidance here.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/education-sector-guidance-will-help-frontline-workers/

Posted on

Another Housing Development Approved

Source: New Zealand Government

One of Auckland’s largest new housing developments, the Sunfield Masterplanned Community has been approved through Fast-track says Regional Development Minister Shane Jones.  

Winton Land Limited submitted its application on 3 April 2025 to develop the ‘Masterplanned’ community to provide around 3,854 new homes, a 7.5‑hectare town centre, retail and healthcare services, three retirement villages, and extensive parks, reserves and green links.

“The Sunfield development is projected to be deliver up to $3.2 billion to the economy, support approximately 24,700 jobs during the 10–15‑year build‑out period, and around 9,800 permanent jobs once the community is fully established.” Mr Jones says.

Approval for this project has taken 10 months following the commencement of the expert panel process which included approximately four months of suspension.

“Applicants can request a suspension from the expert panel to do things such as collate information required for the panel’s process, this demonstrates the flexibility built into the Fast-track system.” Mr Jones says.  

Concerns were raised about whether existing infrastructure like roads, water supply and sewage systems would be able to support the new homes this project would deliver. The expert panel found those concerns could be addressed through development design and by meeting the conditions of consent. 

“These conditions ensure that growth pays for growth by ensuring the future development pays for its own infrastructure needs,” Mr Jones says. 

“This is a major win for housing supply, jobs and growth in Auckland. Fast-track is doing exactly what it was set up to do, getting big projects moving sooner.” Mr Jones says.

This is the seventh housing project to be approved through Fast‑track and the fourth approval in the Auckland region.

Notes to editor:

For more information about the project: Sunfield

Fast-track by the numbers:

  • 12 projects approved by expert panels.
  • 19 projects with expert panels appointed.
  • 149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
  • 47 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process.
  • 32 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure.
  • On average, it has taken 128 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.

Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:

  • Sunfield [Housing/Land]
  • Arataki [Housing/Land]
  • Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
  • Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
  • Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
  • Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
  • Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
  • Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
  • Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
  • Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
  • Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
  • Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]

Expert panels have been appointed for:

  • Ashbourne
  • Ayrburn Screen Hub
  • Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
  • Green Steel
  • Haldon Solar Farm
  • Hananui Aquaculture Project
  • Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme
  • Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works
  • Mahinerangi Wind Farm
  • Pound Road Industrial Development
  • Ryans Road Industrial Development
  • Southland Wind Farm Project
  • Stella Passage Development
  • Takitimu North Link – Stage 2
  • The Point Mission Bay
  • The Point Solar Farm
  • Waitaha Hydro
  • Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project
  • Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/another-housing-development-approved/

Posted on

Northland rough sleepers face more than 800 day wait for home through Housing First

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rough sleepers in New Plymouth, in Northland rough sleepers are typically waiting for more than 800 days for a home through Housing First. RNZ / Robin Martin

In Northland, rough sleepers typically wait more than 800 days for a home through the Housing First. The nationwide programme helps chronically homeless people into housing. It’s effective, and successive governments of both stripes support it. But a Northland provider says “horrendous” wait times are driven by a lack of funding, and a lack of homes. Lauren Crimp reports.

Casey Tangira, her husband, four kids and niece spent four months living in a car in 2024.

They had been in the same rental in the Northland town of Opua for eight years – but their landlord needed the house back, and they had nowhere else to go.

They parked up at a local rugby clubrooms, and showered at a freedom camping facility nearby.

But winter hit, and it got too cold, so they sought shelter with their in-laws.

Ten people crammed into a two-bedroom converted shed in Northland, sleeping on couches and mattresses on the floor.

“It was hectic, very stressful, just on edge all the time,” Tangira said.

Finally, after just over a year registered with Housing First through Ngāti Hine Health Trust, they were placed into a home near Moerewa, in the trust’s housing development.

“Were just so over the moon, that we could have a house of our own … and we could just be settled.”

The kids were not themselves when they were homeless, Tangira said. In their new home, they have their sparkle back.

“Just seeing my children waking up every morning and smiling and having their own beds… it’s my kids that I worry about the most,” she said.

“We’re just so grateful to Ngāti Hine every day.”

Northland, Bay of Plenty rough sleepers face longest wait

Tangira’s story is not unusual in Northland. In fact, a year-long wait is shorter than what’s typical: 826 days, from being accepted into Housing First, to being housed.

Bay of Plenty has the next longest median wait time of 566 days.

In other regions it’s between 100 and 300 days, aside from Waikato, where it’s 70 days.

The housing ministry allocates Housing First “places” – that is, funding for a person to be housed – to providers like Ngāti Hine Health Trust, who find homes for rough sleepers, often leasing them through the private market.

The ministry said at the end of January there were 3613 households in the programme, of which 2596 had been housed.

That leaves more than 1000 people who have sought help – and been told they could get it – still waiting.

Ngāti Hine Health Trust chief executive Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti said its allocation of 60 places is full, and up to 100 people are on the wait-list.

Single men, often just released from prison, usually wait the longest, he said.

That’s because “in these constrained times” the Trust is forced to make tough choices, and prioritise.

“You have to draw a line about what you find unacceptable. And for us, that’s families in cars,” Shepherd-Wipiiti said.

“We won’t have families in cars.”

He said the problem was twofold: housing supply, and funding.

In Moerewa and Kawakawa, there aren’t enough homes to lease from the private market, so Ngāti Hine is building some.

In Whangārei, the Trust could house 10 whānau immediately – if it had sufficient Housing First places, Shepherd-Wipiiti said.

He’s asked the housing ministry to consider upping its allocation.

The government funded an extra 300 Housing First places last year for Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti wants the government to think smarter about the distribution.

“It was a bit sad to hear that some providers aren’t actually reaching their cap because, if we run this sort of as a national network, we could easily fill that gap for people who are actually struggling to fill their cap,” he said.

However, the shortage isn’t just felt in Northland – Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson has said her city alone needed 1000 more places.

A South Auckland house which has been allocated under the Housing First programme which places chronically homeless people into permanent housing. RNZ / Eva Corlett

National, Labour won’t commit to more funding

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said since September nearly 500 rough sleepers had been housed through Housing First, and the government was spending “hundreds of millions, billions of dollars into supporting people who have been doing it tough in this space”.

He said households and providers must navigate “challenging social circumstances and local housing market conditions” to secure appropriate housing.

RNZ asked whether an 800-day wait time was acceptable.

“I don’t think anyone is happy to see people doing it tough on the street or living in a rough space,” Potaka said.

“No one wants to see Kiwis living under a bush, in a car, in a cowshed.

“And that’s why we’ve been really clear, we want the funds that we have applied to this space to be used efficiently and effectively.”

Labour’s housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said the need for Housing First jumped after the [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525607/government-was-warned-emergency-housing-crackdown-could-increase-homelessness

government made it tougher to access emergency housing] nearly two years ago.

“When you consider that they’ve saved a billion dollars by keeping people on the street … the amount that they’ve put into Housing First is an absolute fraction of that,” he said.

“It is a drop of water into an empty bucket.”

But he would not commit a potential Labour government to boosting Housing First support.

McAnulty said that call would be made after it considered this year’s budget, so it knows what money it had to work with.

While politicians battle over budgets, Casey Tangira thinks about other vulnerable people in her community, who she noticed when she was living in her car.

“Down the park and behind the library and that there was a lot of other homeless people too,” she said.

“I just want to bring them all home.”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/northland-rough-sleepers-face-more-than-800-day-wait-for-home-through-housing-first/

Posted on

Weather: Strong winds, heavy rain loom as tropical low nears New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rain forecast for 4pm Wednesday. MetService

A weather alert has been issued as a tropical storm nears the north of the country.

A tropical low is expected to lie north of New Zealand on Wednesday afternoon, bringing southeast gales and heavy rain to the north.

MetService has issued a strong wind watch for the Far North District from 1pm to 11pm on Wednesday. There was a moderate chance the watch could be upgraded to a warning.

Civil Defence Northland is advising people to take extra care on the roads and check they are prepared for any potential power outages caused by strong winds

From Thursday, the forecasting agency said the system is expected to move and reach Auckland.

Meanwhile, another front moves onto Fiordland, bringing strong northwesterlies and heavy rain.

MetService said there is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate in Northland, northern Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula, but moderate confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate in Fiordland.

Come Friday, the remnants of the low and the associated front are expected to move across the northern half of the North Island, while the front over Fiordland moves northeast over the remainder of the South Island.

“There is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate from Northland through to Taupō, also northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti, and from northwest Tasman to Westland, but moderate confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate in Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Fiordland,” MetService said.

The rain is expected to ease by Saturday morning.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/weather-strong-winds-heavy-rain-loom-as-tropical-low-nears-new-zealand/

Posted on

Farmers fear double whammy of rising fuel and fertiliser costs from Middle East conflict

Source: Radio New Zealand

Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett. RNZ / Conan Young

Farmers are getting nervous about the rising cost of fuel and fertiliser with the impact already being felt on farm.

The conflict in the Middle East has pushed up the price of oil which has been reflected in the price at the pump in New Zealand.

While the spot price of urea has jumped since the war began – retail prices in New Zealand had remained stable as the big fertiliser companies assured farmers they had enough product to cover the busy autumn period.

Federated Farmers arable chair David Birkett said for arable farmers it was a double whammy as they used a lot of fertiliser to grow crops and then diesel in their harvesters.

“At the moment we’re busy in the middle of harvest, so we’re using combine harvesters and a large machine that will use about a thousand litres of fuel a day.

“Then there’s trucks and tractors on top of that – so if we see an increase in price of $1 or even 50 cents a litre that’s $2000 to $4000 extra a day.”

Birkett said farmers were already feeling the pinch of rising fuel prices but were eagerly watching to see what would happen to the price and supply of fertiliser.

“The key word at the moment is uncertainty because we don’t know how long this is going to go on for, we know there is enough supply in the country for autumn, I guess for us it depends if the war continues how this will hit us in the spring.”

He said farmers were starting to hear from their fertiliser suppliers but were nervous about two things, the price and supply.

“There have been shortages before and farmers can use different products, they normally are more expensive but we have never got to the point where we’ve run out of fertiliser.

“Farmers should start planning ahead – talk with their fertiliser companies to give them an idea of what demand will be like come spring time.”

Fertiliser company Ballance Agri-Nutrients said it did not know what impact the escalation would have on price.

Chief executive Kelvin Wickham said the company had already seen significant price increases leading into this conflict and given this latest escalation and the market’s reaction it anticipated more.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham. FONTERRA

“Upcoming shipments are mostly subject to pricing at time of shipment, as a commodity, fertiliser pricing experiences movements similar to the imported oil market.”

He also encouraged farmers to plan ahead: “Thinking ahead and creating a plan early will help us make sure we have what they need, when they need it.

“The uncertainty caused by the situation in the Middle East highlights how critical local resilience is for New Zealand. In an increasingly uncertain global environment, secure access to fertiliser matters for farmers and for the wider economy.”

Wickham said for Ballance’s Kapuni gas to urea plant it continued to be active in the gas market.

“We’re becoming more assured about the likelihood of securing longer-term supply. Our priority remains very much on maintaining locally manufactured nutrients as part of the nutrient supply mix and preserving future options.”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/farmers-fear-double-whammy-of-rising-fuel-and-fertiliser-costs-from-middle-east-conflict/

Posted on

Court ruling ‘brought justice to Te Tai Tokerau voters’, Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. Anneke Smith / RNZ

MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says Justice Radich “brought justice to Te Tai Tokerau voters” when he ruled her expulsion from Te Pāti Māori “unlawful”.

It comes as a political commentator says the party might be looking to distance itself from the drama of last year, and focus on the election ahead.

The formally reinstated MP took to social media on Tuesday night to celebrate the verdict, saying her intention in bringing the case was not to incite division, but “seek clarity and ensure the processes we hold ourselves to – particularly those grounded in tikanga, are honoured”.

“Finally, today, the truth has risen,” Kapa-Kingi said following the release of the verdict on Tuesday afternoon, which ruled her suspension and subsequent expulsion as “unlawful”.

Radich said the tikanga principles that were infused into the kawa document “were not mentioned or applied” in relation to her suspension.

“Perhaps most fundamentally, the relevant tikanga principles – which must inform the way in which a decision-maker considers the kawa’s rules – were not applied in any way,” Radich said.

“This decision on its own will not heal all the mamae, but it is an important first step,” Kapa-Kingi said online.

Kapa-Kingi also mentioned she looked forward to meeting with those from Te Tai Tokerau to discuss their future strategy for the election in coming weeks.

She finished by acknowledging this week belonged to “my darling nephew Peeni Henare”, whose many years of service “deserve recognition and respect”.

Mike Colson KC – Kapa-Kingi’s lawyer – told RNZ it was nice to see an “unjust situation rectified”.

Mike Colson KC. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

He was particularly interested in the judge’s assessment of the party breaching its own tikanga, acknowledging tikanga was a “fairly hot topic” amongst the legal profession at the moment.

“Many judges are slightly nervous dealing with it, or – one might expect very respectful of it.

“Here we had such a clear explanation of what the tikanga was of the party, and I thought it was quite brave and right of the judge to find that kawa and tikanga had been breached.”

He also acknowledged it might be considered “unusual” for a judge to “direct a party to take an action within Parliament”.

But Colson said the situation was so clear, and there was a lack of clarity last time as to whether that extra step was necessary.

“The judge thought it was proper to do so and to direct them to give a notice to the speaker.”

He said it was an unusual set of circumstances, and did not think it would set a major precedent.

The defendants had argued the case was a contractual matter, and should be dealt with privately, but Colson said the judge was quick to point out the “public character of the proceeding”, and that it was not just Kapa-Kingi’s case, but her electorate who voted her in.

“They, of course, also had a role to play and a voice to be heard, and that really pushed into very much the public arena.”

What will happen now?

On Tuesday Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told reporters he had attempted to make contact with Kapa-Kingi, but it was not clear what the process was for her reinstatement or how the apparent rift would be addressed.

Associate professor in politics at Victoria University, Lara Greaves, told RNZ she had expected this ruling from the case.

She explained Te Pāti Māori’s constitution “wasn’t particularly clear”, and it was “very hard” to figure out if the party had followed the rules in terms of her expulsion.

Greaves thinks the decision to go to court was Kapa-Kingi’s attempt at staying with the party, “to change it from the inside,”, and this was “politics pushing up against the law”.

“Legally, there’s a judgment, here that Kapa-Kingi is still part of the party, but it’s not clear what will happen next.”

Political scientist & Victoria University of Wellington Associate Professor Dr Lara Greaves RNZ

She said the co-leaders had not spoken about the ruling much, and they had expressed a desire to limit any further drama, so “for a lot of us, it’s just going to be a case of waiting and seeing what happens”.

“Being within a political party where you’ve been expelled is probably not a comfortable place,” Greaves said.

She pointed to potential scenarios of further attempts at expulsion or further issues raised, “there’s still a lot of things that could happen here and happen here”.

Greaves said a lot of people, including herself, had made the assessment there was a “bit too much commentary” taking place last year from the party and others involved.

“So, just being a bit quieter might be a good solution there.

“Te Pāti Māori may have listened to a lot of their critics, listened to a lot of their whānau and communities, and thought – we need to keep this out of the media and keep a bit quiet on it going forward.”

Greaves also pointed to the Māori seats, and Labour and the Greens running strong candidates this election, “there are quite a few potential threats to their electoral success, so it’s kind of important that [Te Pāti Māori] sort it out now and figure out what they’re doing in order to get success in the election”.

“Te Pāti Māori may have made a decision in a way to hope that voters think that these issues are behind them and to move forward constructively.”

She said there would be a lot of scrutiny on the dynamics between Kapa-Kingi and the party leadership in the coming months, as well as a focus on MPs Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke and Oriini Kaipara and how they were fitting into the party.

It was possible, she said, that there would be enough time between the “drama” last year to the election this year that people did forgive and forget, “that would actually be a pretty good comeback”.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/court-ruling-brought-justice-to-te-tai-tokerau-voters-te-pati-maori-mp-mariameno-kapa-kingi-says/

Posted on

Black Caps World Cup octet in, eight more out for South Africa series

Source: Radio New Zealand

South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram (L) and David Miller (R) with New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson at the T20 World Cup. AFP

After nearly three months in the subcontinent, the Black Caps are finally headed home, albeit without the trophy they wanted, and staring down one last challenge before they part ways.

A five-match T20 series against South Africa, starting on Sunday, will cap off the home summer.

The series comes less than a week after the T20 World Cup final loss against India in India. And two months after their first ever one-day series win in India.

The cricket calendar can be relentless and Black Caps coach Rob Walter had that in mind when the team for the South Africa series, which begins in Mt Maunganui, was selected.

Eight players from the World Cup squad – captain Mitch Santner, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi – will play at least some part in the series.

“Primarily, we want to find a nice balance now between giving guys off, it was a pretty intense nine weeks to be fair in India and Sri Lanka, and obviously stepping straight into a five-match series in a couple of days’ time,” Walter said.

“So, sort of managing the guys who are going to PSL (Pakistan Super League), going to IPL (Indian Premier League), with guys who didn’t have much game time in the actual World Cup itself and working hard to get that balance right.

“That’s the nature of the beast right now in international cricket and understanding we also have to take care of our players

“Those guys left everything out there from a World Cup point of view.”

Walter said he was in “constant communication” with the playing group to gauge their readiness to continue into another series.

“You still need to be in a mental space to put your best foot forward for your country when you’re competing.

“But we have a fairly decent showing of our World Cup squad in the series, which is great, and there’s a lot of keenness from the players’ point of view to actually play, which is awesome, given that it’s been a pretty hectic little while.”

Ishan Kishan of India celebrates his fifty runs ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Grand Final. www.photosport.nz

Selector Gavin Larsen said they had to be “pragmatic” in selecting the squad.

“We’re lucky to have strong depth across the different skill sets, which has afforded us the opportunity to rest a few players and introduce some others,” Larsen said.

“That provides an excellent opportunity for many to stake their claim for regular inclusion in the T20 team moving forward as we begin a new World Cup cycle.

“It’s been a busy couple of months for those on the road and with the South Africa series ahead, a tour to Bangladesh in April-May during the IPL and PSL windows, alongside a New Zealand A tour to Sri Lanka and followed by winter tours to England and West Indies – keeping our players fit and fresh in the short and the long term is our top priority.”

Those who would be taking a break after the World Cup to manage workloads or family life were: Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert and Matt Henry.

Top order batters Katene Clarke and Nick Kelly are in line to make their T20 debuts during the series, as is Central Districts spinner Jayden Lennox.

Clarke’s maiden Black Caps call-up follows a break-out Super Smash season where the 26-year-old topped the competition run-scoring charts with 431 runs, including an unbeaten century, as his Northern Brave side claimed the T20 domestic title.

Katene Clarke of the Northern Brave. Photosport

“Katene is someone we’ve been keeping an eye on for a while now and so it was great to see him shoot the lights out in the Super Smash and force his way into his first Black Caps squad,” Larsen said.

“He’s an explosive player who possesses plenty of power and a variety of shots. He’s shown destructive ability inside the power play, but also crucially the ability to bat deep in an innings too.”

Lennox’s first inclusion in a Black Caps T20 squad follows his successful ODI debut series against India in January where he claimed 3-84 from his 20 overs against the formidable home batting line-up.

Kelly’s been a consistent performer for the Wellington Firebirds across the formats in recent years and earns his maiden T20 call-up off the back of his ODI debut series against Pakistan at home last April.

Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson get their chance to impress after being selected for the full five-game series, with Clarkson back in the side for the first time since playing eight T20Is in 2024.

Tom Latham, who was the top run-scorer for the Canterbury Kings in the Super Smash, makes his return to the national T20 set-up as a wicket-keeper-batsman and will also take over the captaincy reigns from Santner for the final two matches.

With Conway departing after three matches, Central Stags gloveman Dane Cleaver will join the squad for the end of the series, having last played for New Zealand in 2023.

South Africa arrived in New Zealand with three players from their World Cup squad that was knocked out of the tournament by the Black Caps.

None of their players with IPL contracts will travel to Aotearoa.

Walter, a former South Africa coach, knows the Proteas team that does come will still provide a challenge.

“The depth in South Africa has always been strong. Obviously, the SA20 competition has developed a lot of younger players in South Africa, so from that point of view, they have a pretty good team,” Walter said.

“Most of them have played international cricket, or have done very well domestically so it’ll be a good challenge.”

Black Caps T20 squad v South Africa

  • Mitchell Santner (c) (matches 1-3)
  • Katene Clarke* (4-5)
  • Josh Clarkson
  • Dane Cleaver (wk) (4-5)
  • Devon Conway (wk) (1-3)
  • Lockie Ferguson (2-3)
  • Zak Foulkes
  • Bevon Jacobs
  • Kyle Jamieson
  • Nick Kelly*
  • Tom Latham (wk) (c – 4-5)
  • Jayden Lennox* (4-5)
  • Cole McConchie
  • Jimmy Neesham
  • Tim Robinson
  • Ben Sears
  • Nathan Smith
  • Ish Sodhi

*Potential T20I debut

Michael Bracewell (calf), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back) and Blair Tickner (ankle) were not considered for the series due to injury.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/black-caps-world-cup-octet-in-eight-more-out-for-south-africa-series/

Posted on

Urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into government’s removal of schools’ Treaty obligations

Source: Radio New Zealand

The tino rangatiratanga haki (flag) outside Parliament on the day of the Treaty Principles Bill introduction. RNZ / Emma Andrews

The Waitangi Tribunal has granted urgency to an inquiry into the government’s decision to scrap school boards’ legal duty to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and reset Te Mātaiaho, the New Zealand Curriculum.

Northland iwi Ngāti Hine and hapū Te Kapotai, alongside the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), filed the claim in November last year, arguing the changes undermined Māori rangatiratanga, partnership and equity in education.

The claimants say the removal of Treaty obligations from school boards risks causing significant and irreversible harm to Māori learners and their whānau.

In the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision, it said the changes had constitutional significance and met the threshold for urgency.

“Any legislative change altering the nature and manner of the Crown’s Treaty obligations has a constitutional significance. That is especially so in a case where Māori have not been consulted.”

While the Tribunal noted the Crown had acknowledged there was no engagement with Māori on the decision to amend the law, it said removing the statutory obligation for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti had “immediate consequences for the status of the Treaty and for tamariki Māori within the education system”.

The Tribunal also rejected the Crown’s argument that other inquiries or future policy reviews could address the issue, saying those pathways would not provide “timely or targeted scrutiny”.

The Treaty of Waitangi. RNZ / Quin Tauetau

The requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti was introduced in 2020 as part of reforms to the Education and Training Act.

The government later removed the provision in 2025, with Education Minister Erica Stanford saying at the time of the anouncement that Treaty obligations sit with the Crown, not schools.

“School boards should have direction and we are giving very clear direction. You need to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori students, you need to be offering te reo Māori and you need to be culturally competent,” she said at the time.

Since the change, more than 1800 kura – around 70 percent of schools across Aotearoa – had publicly reaffirmed they would continue giving effect to Te Tiriti.

The Tribunal acknowledged the number of schools that had pledged to continue honouring Te Tiriti in its decision. However, it said the absence of a statutory framework could make those commitments inconsistent across the edcation system.

NZEI President Ripeka Lessels, the head of the country’s largest education sector union. NZEI supplied

NZEI Te Riu Roa president and claimant Ripeka Lessels welcomed the Tribunal’s decision, saying it sent a strong signal about the seriousness of the issue.

“I’m absolutely elated that they have granted urgency. It isn’t something that is done lightly for the Waitangi Tribunal,” she told RNZ.

Lessels said the decision to grant urgency reflected growing public and sector support for Te Tiriti.

“There was a time in our history where we didn’t have it, we didn’t have to give effect to it at all. And so nobody did. Nobody taught it. Nobody made references to it. Schools certainly didn’t see the importance of it until the Education and Training Act put in section 127. So that’s why it’s really, really important that we challenge what this government has unilaterally decided around moving the Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

She said removing the Treaty obligation signalled where the government’s priorities lay.

“By removing section 127 of the Education and Training Act, they are clearly deprioritising Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te reo Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori from legislation.”

Lessels said the Tribunal inquiry was an opportunity to challenge the government’s decision.

“We have to challenge this removal. We don’t want future generations looking back and thinking this happened and nobody stood up against it.”

Ngāti Hine leader Waihoroi “Wassi” Shortland speaks at Ruapekapeka Pā. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Speaking to RNZ, Ngāti Hine kaumātua and claimant Te Waihoroi Shortland said removing the obligation felt politically motivated.

“When you have it dismissed out of hand, for no other reason than people feel like they are losing something or they’re giving up something to Māori when they recognise the articles of Te Tiriti in any way, shape or form … it plays out to a largely Pākehā constituent that has no time to consider these things,” he said.

“People forget that two nations made this deal (Te Tiriti o Waitangi). One of them was Māori and one of them was the Crown of England … then one nation turns around and swallows the other one up and says, everything we decide is for your good.

“It’s been that way for 186 years. These kind of actions remind us that we haven’t moved very far in all of that time.”

Asked why Ngāti Hine felt it was important to file a claim, Shortland said his people were following the guidance of their tūpuna, Te Ruku Kawiti.

“In his ōhaki to Ngāti Hine – his last legacy statement to Ngāti Hine – he challenged all Ngāti Hine descendants to hold fast to our faith and to protect the commitments of our tūpuna … at any time that the words of the document that they signed up to are challenged, then Ngāti Hine must stand and oppose,” he told RNZ.

“We often can’t rely on the system of government to do that for us. Even with two sides of the Parliament, it doesn’t matter which one is in. It usually is a case that they both begin in their own interests first, and Māori are way, way in the distance second.”

In a statement to RNZ, Education Minister Erica Stanford said she was unable to comment.

“As the matter is currently before the Tribunal it would not be appropriate for me to comment.”

A date was yet to be set for the hearings.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/urgent-waitangi-tribunal-inquiry-into-governments-removal-of-schools-treaty-obligations/

Posted on

Strong winds, heavy rain loom as tropical low nears New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rain forecast for 4pm Wednesday. MetService

A weather alert has been issued as a tropical storm nears the north of the country.

A tropical low is expected to lie north of New Zealand on Wednesday afternoon, bringing southeast gales and heavy rain to the north.

MetService has issued a strong wind watch for the Far North District from 1pm to 11pm on Wednesday. There was a moderate chance the watch could be upgraded to a warning.

Civil Defence Northland is advising people to take extra care on the roads and check they are prepared for any potential power outages caused by strong winds

From Thursday, the forecasting agency said the system is expected to move and reach Auckland.

Meanwhile, another front moves onto Fiordland, bringing strong northwesterlies and heavy rain.

MetService said there is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate in Northland, northern Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula, but moderate confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate in Fiordland.

Come Friday, the remnants of the low and the associated front are expected to move across the northern half of the North Island, while the front over Fiordland moves northeast over the remainder of the South Island.

“There is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate from Northland through to Taupō, also northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti, and from northwest Tasman to Westland, but moderate confidence that warning amounts of rain will accumulate in Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Fiordland,” MetService said.

The rain is expected to ease by Saturday morning.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/strong-winds-heavy-rain-loom-as-tropical-low-nears-new-zealand/

Posted on

The world is eating our lunch: How our apples, seafood and avocados make millions

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Five years after Who’s Eating NZ, this series revisits where our food goes – but this time through the lens of Kiwi breakfast, lunch and dinner staples. We track how much of what we produce is eaten here, and who has a seat at our global table during meal times. Today, it’s lunch time.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon memorably advised parents unhappy with supplied school lunches to “make a Marmite sandwich and put an apple in a bag”.

New Zealand certainly does enjoy an abundance of apples.

We grow so many that almost nine out of 10 are sold overseas, fresh and processed.

The bumper crop is no accident. There has been a concerted push to grow the apple export industry with the development and marketing of new varieties. Royal gala and Braeburn apples have been joined by Jazz, Envy and Rockit.

Back in 2012, the industry set a goal of reaching $1 billion in exports by 2022. At that time, exports were sitting at $340 million. The target was missed in 2022, but exceeded in 2025 when exports of $1.26b were achieved.

New challenges come with that success though. Horticulture company T&G won a court order in China, forcing orchards in China to rip out illegally grown knock-offs of its Envy variety.

China clearly has developed a taste for our apples – it was our biggest apple buyer in 2025, followed by Taiwan, Vietnam and India.

For local apple buyers, prices fluctuate through the year, with the highest prices occurring in January. In 2007, 1kg of apples cost $3.89. In January 2025 a kilogram of apples cost $6.15.

The humble avocado might be one of the most controversial foods around. Along with being blamed for creating a generation of renters, its notoriously slippery stone has meant millions in ACC payouts for ‘avocado hand’ injuries, and telling someone they “have the avocados” can spark a language debate.

As well as being keen consumers, New Zealand makes a solid contribution to the global supply of avocados. More than 4700 hectares of the country is planted in avocados, with most concentrated in the Far North and Bay of Plenty.

About 50 percent of what was grown locally last year remained in the country, the rest heading offshore.

Australia is the biggest buyer, purchasing about a third of our exports in 2025, down from a peak of 90 percent in 2020. Far smaller quantities are bought by South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Export earnings have fallen from a 2020 high of $177m to $102m, as New Zealand competes with other global growers, such as Peru, which had a bumper crop in 2025.

New Zealand Avocado chief executive Brad Siebert said countries such as Mexico, Peru, Columbia and South Africa are producing more avocados, which leads to volatile prices. Demand globally is increasing, but at a slow, sometimes uneven pace.

Domestic prices rise and fall annually, often peaking in May. The highest price per kg of $28.67 was in May 2019.

Seafood might be hard to miss in an office lunchroom, but in the data it disappears. It is incredibly hard to put a figure on how much commercially caught seafood ends up in our lunchboxes compared to what’s exported.

The industry body Seafood NZ said there’s been no need to collect domestic information and this position hasn’t changed since RNZ examined seafood exports in 2020.

It is possible to take some stabs at the number. Previously published figures include 90 percent, 77 percent, and numbers previously on Seafood New Zealand’s website say approximately 450,000 tonnes of seafood is caught each year, with 276,901 tonnes exported.

This comes out at about 63 percent – but working on caught weight versus exported weight is not accurate. Fish is gutted and often filleted before export, so it is impossible to match the caught weight up with export data. Sanford’s 2025 annual report says about 82 percent of its sale value is from exports.

Where our seafood goes has shifted over time. In the 1990s, Japan, Australia and the United States were the biggest buyers of our seafood, but by 2011 China emerged as the top buyer. Its spending peaked in 2022 at $709m but by 2025 dropped to $594m.

Seafood exports earned $2b in 2024 and 2025. The biggest single export earner was live rock lobster – China bought $290m worth of them.

Crayfish might not be on everyone’s lunch menu, but rock lobster has been New Zealand seafood’s biggest export earner since 2017 with around 2500 tonnes exported each year, earning between $266m and $392m. Export volumes hit a record 2700 tonnes in 2025.

The demand has put pressure on crayfish populations. In December it was announced that commercial and recreational fishing for rock lobster will be banned from April 2026 off Northland’s east coast in an effort to halt the species rapid decline in the area.

Despite high-profile controversy about global beverage giants bottling our water, exported New Zealand water actually represents a small proportion compared to what’s sold locally.

An exact figure for local sales is hard to come by, but 2018 information published on the Ministry for the Environment’s website suggests only 17 percent is exported.

Bottling companies pay resource consent fees, but do not pay for the water itself. This can mean they pay less for water than residential rate payers.

In 2020 China was the biggest buyer, but since 2022 the US has taken top position.

Despite abundant water here, Kiwis still pay for water from other countries. In 2025 more than 3 million litres was imported, including 1m litres from Italy and nearly 300,000 litres from Fiji.

Stay tuned for Friday’s story, where we take a look at who we’re sharing our dinner with and dive into beef, sheep, onion and wine exports.

Where the data came from

Apples: New Zealand Apple and Pears and StatsNZ trade data items with a harmonised system description containing “Fruit, edible; apples”.

Avocados: New Zealand Avocado and StatsNZ trade data items with a harmonised system description containing “Fruit, edible; avocados, fresh”.

Seafood: Various sources and StatsNZ trade data for items with a harmonised system code between 301910000 to 308909000.

Water: Ministry for the Environment and StatsNZ trade data items with the following harmonised system descriptions: “Waters; mineral and aerated, including natural or artificial, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured), other than in metal containers”, Waters; other than mineral and aerated, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured), ice and snow, other than in metal containers” , “Waters; mineral and aerated, including natural or artificial, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured), in metal containers”, “Waters; other than mineral and aerated, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured), ice and snow, in metal aerosol containers, not containing chlorofluorocarbons” , “Waters; other than mineral and aerated, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured), ice and snow, in metal containers, not aerosol”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/the-world-is-eating-our-lunch-how-our-apples-seafood-and-avocados-make-millions/

Posted on

Counsellors facing growing demand,shrinking workforce, funding pressures – industry body

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Association of Counsellors says there is growing demand for counselling – alongside a shrinking workforce and funding pressures. MICROGEN IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LI

Counsellors say long wait lists and not enough publicly funded services are preventing people seeking the help they need.

The Association of Counsellors said its Counselling Workforce Report 2025 found growing demand for counselling – alongside a shrinking workforce and funding pressures.

President Huhana Pene said the lack of public funding for sessions was putting the handbrake on help.

“New Zealand has a qualified counselling workforce that wants to help,” Pene said, “But system barriers mean many people who need counselling are waiting too long or missing out altogether.”

Pene said there were also concerns about the workforce – with more than half working part-time with low or insecure incomes.

Many planned to reduce their practice, retire or leave the profession within two years.

“Without changes to funding and employment conditions, we risk losing experienced counsellors at a time when demand for support continues to grow,” Pene said.

Schools were under particular pressure, with counsellors reporting a steady flow of students seeking support and increasingly complex needs.

Many said they were forced to prioritise students in crisis, leaving limited time for preventative support.

Pene said practical solutions were available – improving funding stability for non-government organisations, increasing the ratio of counsellors to students in schools to 1:400, and strengthening recognition of the profession would all improve access to counselling.

“Counselling is a vital part of New Zealand’s mental health support, and if we address some of these barriers, counsellors would be better able to help many more people when they need it.”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/11/counsellors-facing-growing-demandshrinking-workforce-funding-pressures-industry-body/