Category: New Zealand

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Lower Hutt man ‘left with nothing’ after large slip hits family home

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Lower Hutt man whose family was forced to flee their home when a large slip fell away from beneath the building says they will be “left with nothing”.

Aaron Pahl said time appeared to go into slow motion when a 10 by 30 square metre expanse of his back yard slid away on Monday – leaving the deck and the rear foundation hanging exposed.

“I was outside and I heard it start cracking, like all the trees just start cracking and crunching. So I pretty much screamed out to my kids ‘get your arses up here now!’ and I watched the whole thing just slide down the bank,” Pahl said.

Pahl said nearly 16 years of saving and hard work had gone down the drain as he, his partner and three children salvaged what they could from the building and sought advice as to what options they had following the slip.

“I don’t see a light. I don’t know, I honestly don’t know. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody man. It’s just like another test, I guess, but it’s not one that I was in any shape or form prepared for,” Pahl said.

The view from Stokes Valley painter Aaron Pahl’s house after a slip left the house uninhabitable on Monday morning. Supplied

The family’s home was issued with a dangerous building notice following the slip.

Pahl said he’d been told re-stabilising his property with retaining walls could take years but demolishing the home would exhaust practically all of his insurance for property.

“The reimbursement from my insurance company would be enough to cover the remainder of my mortgage and then the demolishing fee.

“I was talking to one of the engineers and he’s like ‘if they were to demolish it you’re looking at a couple of hundred thousand dollars. There wouldn’t be much left from that’.

Stokes Valley painter Aaron Pahl says he shouted to his children to get to safety when a large slip fell away from the base of his home – leaving the house uninhabitable -on Monday morning. SUPPLIED

“I’ve worked for the last 16 years to provide this for my family. To get to where I am today and I’m literally going to walk away with nothing. It’s just painful,” Pahl said.

Pahl said his insurance company had agreed to provide just under $12,000 in an accommodation supplement but the money was only likely to house his family for the next three or four months.

Until they could find a place the family of five – with two pets – were staying at Pahl’s father in law’s three bedroom home in Featherston.

Pahl said he was hugely grateful but the small space and extra distance to work and his children’s schools were adding to the family’s burdens.

“It’s added three hours plus a day just to get the kids to school and get myself to work and get my wife to work and it’s breaking man. The two younger one’s are sharing a double bed. They had their own rooms and stuff at home and they’ve just been crammed into a room and ‘that’s where you sleep’,” Pahl said.

He said he’d barely slept since the slip and – while he had some friends he could talk to – the events of the last week were weighing heavily on his shoulders.

“I work for myself and I’ve not been able to work since this happened because I’ve had so much to deal with and [I’m] just watching everything just crumble.

“I’ve got some really good friends and they’re always there to lend and ear. But I still feel like this is my problem and I’ve got to deal with it. I’ve always been that type that is like ‘you carry the shit that’s on your shoulders mate’. I’m tradesman that’s what we do,” he said

Pahl said the family had started a give-a-little page under the heading Help Support Our Family After Stokes Valley Landslide.

“I didn’t want to at first. I didn’t want to ask but, it’s like, if we don’t we’re absolutely screwed. They always say it’s going to get worse before it gets any better but I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel,” Pahl said.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/lower-hutt-man-left-with-nothing-after-large-slip-hits-family-home/

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Backyard invention turns into hot property

Source: Radio New Zealand

A jerry-rigged backyard invention has turned into sizzling hot property for a retired farmer turned entrepreneur.

Alan Dyer has worked out a way to brown sausages evenly, ensuring they don’t roll around on the barbecue.

Using piece of wire, he shaped a device that keeps snags in place while they brown and then helps to roll them all over in an orderly fashion to crisp up the reverse side.

And so, the Sossbosser was born.

Having refined the culinary accessory, it’s now attracting international attention.

Dyer told Checkpoint that coming up with the Sossbosser was a light bulb moment.

“When I first had that unruly sausage floating around the barbecue, misbehaving, and I fashioned this U shape out of a piece of number 8 wire, yeah it was quite a ‘gotcha’ moment to see that renegade rollaway finally under control.”

Dyer said he got annoyed that he couldn’t put the sausage where he wanted it to go because it kept rolling back onto the side that was already cooked.

After he promoted the device on social media there was some international interest, he said.

After appearing on a Chicago TV channel and with the help of some viral videos, the number of people ordering Sossbossers skyrocketed, he said.

“At one stage there we had to actually shut the website down because we couldn’t handle it and I was a bit concerned about taking money off people and not being able to provide them with product … but anyway we got through that.”

One of the videos “baited the Aussies a bit”, he said.

“We told them, you know we’ve invented this and we invented the flat white and we invented a few other things and they kind of took a bit of umbrage at that.”

But that worked out because people engaged with the post and it ended up getting several million views, he said.

To cook a good sausage you need to cook it slowly so that it hardly sizzles at all and to cook it gently all the way around so it’s totally brown, he said.

“Do not pierce the skin because you want to retain all that juice in there, I mean that’s the flavour that the butcher’s gone to all that trouble to put in there.”

There should be no white stripes or “zebra sausages”, he said, because that meant they were only semi-cooked.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/backyard-invention-turns-into-hot-property/

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UKRAINE: Children anxious, fearful after 4000 hours of air raid alarms in four years of war

Source: Save the Children

Children in Ukraine have endured an average of about 4,000 hours of air raid alarms – equivalent to over 5.5 months of constant alerts – since the start of full-scale war in February 2022, with constant fear of attacks taking a severe toll on their mental health, Save the Children said. [1]
Parents and Save the Children staff report that children are anxious and worried, while some children have developed gastrointestinal disorders due to stress. The last quarter of 2025 saw an uptick in the duration of alarms, coinciding with an intensification of the conflict in recent months, further compounding psychological pressure on children and families already living under prolonged strain.
Children in the frontline areas and in the Kyiv region have been hardest hit in the past four years, facing 7,000 hours of air raid alerts – equivalent to around 9.5 months, according to analysis of official alert data on sirens.[2] This means some children have spent nearly a full year of their lives under the sound of sirens.
Air raid alerts, warning civilians of a missile strike or shelling threats, can sound multiple times a day. When a siren sounds, children and families must decide whether to take cover in basements, cellars or subway stations with little or no access to water, electricity or heating. Many families, however, exhausted by years of alerts, are increasingly choosing the less safe option of sheltering in hallways or bathrooms away from the building’s exterior, illustrating the deep fatigue civilians face after years of constant danger.
Sirens, which can last from a few minutes to several hours or longer, frequently keep children home from school, and an estimated 50% of alerts [3] happen in late evening or at night, robbing many children of consistent sleep and a sense of safety.
Anastasiia, 8-, fled with her family from their hometown in Zaporizhzhia region to Zaporizhzhia city when full-scale war broke out. Like many children in frontline areas, Anastasiia- has learned to live with nights regularly interrupted by explosions from drones and missile attacks. When the air raid alert sounds at night, the family goes to the corridor where the children sleep on mattresses until it becomes quiet again – a routine that has become disturbingly normal for many families.
“It is constant emotional strain. Adults feel it, but children feel it more deeply. The nervous system is exhausted,” said Anastasiia’s mother, Veronika-. “When children hear an explosion, they worry, they get nervous.”
Save the Children, together with local partner organisation Posmishka UA, operates a Child Friendly Space where children can take part in educational activities, play and receive psychosocial support, offering rare moments of stability, learning and emotional relief.
Yana-, who works at the Child Friendly Space, said there are children there who have developed gastrointestinal disorders and children who are frequently ill.
“All this, of course, is psychosomatic, due to the fact that the child is constantly in this nervous state and their body is trying to protect them as best as it can,” she said.
Four years of war in Ukraine has made living in this state of constant distress a “new norm” for many children. Research by Save the Children in 2024 found that over four in 10 children were suffering from psychosocial distress, with some children developing speech defects and uncontrollable twitching, while others have terrible nightmares and even scream in their sleep. [4] A study in 2025 found that four out of five people surveyed experienced high levels of stress, predominantly due to the war [5], underscoring the nationwide mental health crisis affecting both children and adults.
Sonia Khush, Country Director for Save the Children in Ukraine, said:
“Four years of full-scale war in Ukraine have shattered children’s lives and ripped away their childhoods as they’ve been forced from their homes and schools, lost loved ones and lived in fear as air raid alerts, drones and explosions consume the world around them.
“Children in Ukraine, especially those who live near the frontline, are under constant stress because of air raid sirens both day and night. For some children, the only world they have known is one filled with air raid alerts that disrupt their sleep, interrupt their learning, stop their play, and signal constant, life-threatening danger day after day.
“Despite playing no part in the war, children are paying the heaviest price, including damage to their psychological wellbeing. All parties to the conflict must immediately cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools and hospitals, and end grave violations against children.
“We also need to ensure support for children’s recovery and mental health to address many of the unseen impacts of war that, if not addressed, can leave wounds that last well into adulthood. Sustained international funding is critical to ensure children affected by the war receive the protection, care and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives, and to prevent a generation from carrying the invisible scars of conflict for life.”
Save the Children has been working in Ukraine since 2014. Since 24 February 2022, the children’s rights agency has dramatically scaled up its operations, supporting children and their families with access to essential supplies and services. Save the Children has reached over 4.7 million people – including around 1.9 million children – in Ukraine in the last four years, delivering lifesaving aid, education, protection and mental health support
Notes
[1] Data on the duration of air raid alerts taken from https://air-alarms.in.ua/en, a source which aggregates alarm alerts, from official sources. Data in this press release includes official alerts only. Since the duration and frequency of alerts differ greatly by area, we used a weighted average taking into account latest populations estimates from the UN to calculate an average alert time since February 2022 across the 23 regions and Kyiv city for which alert data is available from https://air-alarms.in.ua/en,
[2] Calculation is a weighted average based on population for the following regions: Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dniprov, Zaporizka, Kherson, Odessa, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv and Kyiv region.
[3] Based on analysis of alerts with a duration that fell between 9pm and 7am from https://air-alarms.in.ua/en, provided to Save the Children on 29 January 2026.
[5] 2025 study on mental health by the All-Ukrainian mental health program “How are you?”. Available here (in Ukrainian) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t0wPXZTPEJQUSi5ftDcNf8oQUX-bIQdl/view. 78% of people suffering from stress directly linked this to the war.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/ukraine-children-anxious-fearful-after-4000-hours-of-air-raid-alarms-in-four-years-of-war/

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Environment – Seabed mining company TTR gives up on the Fast Track process – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) have today issued their formal response to the Fast Track Expert Panel’s draft decision, in it, they say they will not propose any changes to conditions. There is now nothing stopping the panel from making a final decision to decline consent.
TTR go on to say they reject the “assumptions and conclusions” of the panel that the evidence TTR provided around potential environmental impacts were “uncertain, incomplete or inadequate”. 
Greenpeace Aotearoa seabed mining campaigner Juressa Lee says:
“It’s clear that TTR knows their project fails to meet even the pro-industry Fast Track Act process and are fast running out of options to get their doomed project across the line. TTR even suggests the panel misunderstands the application, an arrogant dismissal of the panel, the months they have dedicated to careful deliberation, and the wealth of expertise that has been provided to ensure the decision is well-informed.”In its draft decision released earlier this month, the expert panel ruled that seabed mining in Taranaki would harm threatened species like pygmy blue whales and penguins, and could not be safely managed.
“This is, in part, the result of a united position from all eight iwi of Taranaki, as well as expert witnesses who submitted on behalf of Greenpeace and Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM),” says Lee. 
“It’s also what mana whenua, communities and environmental groups have been saying for decades: Seabed mining will cause irreversible harm to the moana and there is no place for this industry in Aotearoa.
“It’s time political leaders took bold action and stopped seabed mining once and for all by banning it in Aotearoa,” Lee continues.
The panel declined TTR’s proposal in February, finding seabed mining would harm threatened species like pygmy blue whales and penguins, and could not be safely managed. It will make its final decision before 18 March.
“It’s clear TTR is out of ideas. They have been defeated time and time again all the way up to the Supreme Court. The evidence is clear. There is no place for seabed mining in Aotearoa.
“The resistance to seabed mining is strong and unyielding. Iwi, environmentalists, community groups, and ocean protectors have been fighting for decades and any attempt to start seabed mining in Aotearoa will be met with further resistance.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/environment-seabed-mining-company-ttr-gives-up-on-the-fast-track-process-greenpeace/

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Defence News – NZDF air and maritime assets combine for successful search and rescue operation south of Tonga

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

The New Zealand Defence Force has combined its maritime and air assets to conduct a search and rescue operation for two men drifting in a wooden boat 105 nautical miles south of Tonga.

The two men were located by a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon yesterday morning and were then recovered on board the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Canterbury last night.

The P-8A had been en route to conduct maritime surveillance operations for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the South West Pacific when it was diverted to conduct the search for the missing boat.

Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre requested the aircraft crew search for the boat after it was reported overdue.

The crew on board the 11.5-metre wooden boat named Mysterious Wonder were reported to have left Tongatapu, Tonga on 8 February. Authorities were notified on Tuesday that the vessel was missing.

The P-8A crew flew to Fiji to base overnight before starting the search Wednesday morning. They found the boat at 10.15am. The call then went out to HMNZS Canterbury to rescue the men and bring them to safety.

Commander Wayne Andrew, the Commanding Officer of HMNZS Canterbury, said the ship launched a sea boat, rescuing the two men late yesterday evening.

“This was an excellent combined effort to locate and rescue the crew members,” he said.

“The P-8A crew did a fantastic job locating the vessel in a large search area about 105 nautical miles south of Tonga. We were fortunate to be in a position to be able to assist the two men.”

HMNZS Canterbury recently completed a successful trip to Tokelau supporting Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro to mark the centenary of New Zealand administration of Tokelau. The ship was en route to the Kermadec Islands before it turned around to assist with the rescue.

The two men were flown to Tonga this morning on a RNZAF NH90 helicopter embarked on HMNZS Canterbury.

The ship will today resume passage to Raoul Island, to assist MetService and Earth Sciences New Zealand personnel to carry out upgrade and maintenance tasks of critical weather, tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment and facilities.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/defence-news-nzdf-air-and-maritime-assets-combine-for-successful-search-and-rescue-operation-south-of-tonga/

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Greenpeace – Govt announces critical mineral ‘slush fund’ as TTR flees the fast track

Source: Greenpeace

Today, as seabed miners Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) withdrew from their failing Fast Track bid, the NZ government has announced a $80 million dollar ‘critical minerals slush fund.’ Greenpeace is questioning if this signals an invitation for TTR to have another bite at the cherry.
It comes just weeks after it was revealed the NZ government has been in backroom talks with the US Trump administration over a minerals deal, which includes vanadium, found at TTR’s desired mining site off Taranaki.
“They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Juressa Lee.
“The courts have said no, iwi have said no, thousands of New Zealanders have said no, and now even the Government’s own Fast-Track panel has declined it. Yet here is Shane Jones, doubling down with $80 million of taxpayer money to try to breathe this destructive, failed industry back to life.”
In 2024, TTR withdrew from the EPA process right before new Fast Track legislation was announced by the government, allowing them to apply.
“In the same moment that TTR realises their Fast Track dreams are over, we’ve got the NZ government desperately finding a way to make their project a reality,” says Lee.
“We have to ask: is TTR’s withdrawal today a genuine exit, or just a tactical retreat knowing the government is orchestrating a 6th bite at the cherry?
“Is it planning to re-apply to the now amended and “even more favourable” Fast-Track, hoping the Government will appoint a more obedient panel next time, while the government uses its new slush fund to pave their way with infrastructure?
“It seems as though the Government is actively coaching mining companies on how to bypass the very processes that are meant to vet them.””If this is the case, we certainly hope TTR submits a new application rather than the same one it has flogged for a decade and we’ve beaten down at every step of the way.”
On Thursday, TTR released news that they had officially withdrawn from the Fast Track process, after they were given a draft rejection decision earlier in February. The Panel ruled that seabed mining in Taranaki could harm threatened species like pygmy blue whales and penguins, and could not be safely managed, and that economic benefits don’t outweigh the risks.
On the same day, Shane Jones and Winston Peters announced $80 million dollars earmarked for critical minerals projects in the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
“By funneling $80 million into these projects, Shane Jones and Christopher Luxon are laying the red carpet for overseas mining giants to treat New Zealand as a low-standard extraction zone that services US interests,” says Lee.
“This $80 million belongs to the people of Aotearoa for real infrastructure, like renewable energy, not as a consolation prize for mining companies who can’t get their projects past a basic environmental assessment.”
“So who are these mining projects for? It sounds as though they are designed to pander to the wants of the Trump administration, and are not in the best interests of New Zealanders.”
“Iwi, environmentalists, community groups, and ocean protectors have been fighting for decades. Any attempt to start seabed mining in Aotearoa – whatever avenues or work around mining companies try to use – they will face strong resistance.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/greenpeace-govt-announces-critical-mineral-slush-fund-as-ttr-flees-the-fast-track/

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Fonterra farmers approve divestment capital return scheme

Source: Fonterra
 
Following today’s virtual Special Meeting, Fonterra can confirm that its farmer shareholders have approved the scheme of arrangement for the capital return that’s expected from the sale of its global Consumer and associated businesses.
 
98.85% of the total shareholder votes cast were in support of the capital return proposal, which was set out in the Notice of Meeting for the Special Meeting.
 
Today’s result means Fonterra can now seek final Court approval to undertake the capital return of $2.00 per share to shareholders and unit holders, subject to the divestment of Mainland Group to Lactalis being completed.
 
Fonterra expects the transaction to be complete in the first quarter of the 2026 calendar year, subject to separation of the businesses from Fonterra and provided the remaining regulatory approvals are received within the expected timeframes.
 
Once these steps have been completed, the Co-operative will confirm the record date for the capital return, which will be within the five business days prior to the capital return payment being made to shareholders and unit holders.
 
About Fonterra  
 
Fonterra is a co-operative owned and supplied by thousands of farming families across Aotearoa New Zealand. Through the spirit of co-operation and a can-do attitude, Fonterra’s farmers and employees share the goodness of our milk through innovative consumer, foodservice and ingredients brands. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to leaving things in a better way than we found them. We are passionate about supporting our communities byDoing Good Together.  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/fonterra-farmers-approve-divestment-capital-return-scheme/

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Local News – Have your say on the future of Spicer Landfill – Porirua

Source: Porirua City Council

Consents to operate Spicer Landfill are set to expire in 2030 so the way we dispose of rubbish in Porirua has to change. Consultation on four options for the future of Spicer Landfill begins on Tuesday 24 February.
Previous plans to extend the landfill are on hold as a range environmental challenges mean new consents are unlikely to be granted.
Today Council officers presented elected members with four options for the future and received the green light to consult the community on which one will be best for the city.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker encouraged residents and landfill users to give their input so the Council can develop a preferred solution.
Mayor Baker says the status quo is just not an option.
“The landfill is much closer to neighbouring properties than desirable, meaning issues like odour are amplified. There are also ongoing environmental effects, geotechnical risk, and cultural impacts for Ngāti Toa Rangatira.
“We have no choice but to do things differently and unfortunately that will come at a cost, with increases to rates bills under every option. What varies in each option is who can dump rubbish at Spicer, how much they pay to dump it and the impacts on the environment.”
David Down, Council’s Waste Manager, says currently Spicer Landfill is a big income earner for the Council, paying for its own operational costs and generating an annual surplus of around $4 million. This surplus is used to reduce rates by 4-5%.
“Each option has significant financial implications for rates and increased costs for disposing of rubbish,” he says.
Spicer Landfill receives general waste from Porirua and the wider Wellington region. It was established in 1976 as a joint venture between Porirua City Council and the then Tawa Borough Council, now Wellington City Council, who retain an interest in the landfill.
Consultation options
Three of the options provide waste transfer station services on the same site. The fourth option, option D, would see the landfill closed entirely and no replacement service at all. The options are:
Option A: Public refuse transfer station
This option would provide a facility for residents and small businesses (with cars, utes, trailers, vans and small trucks) to drop off waste that is then transported to another landfill. There would still be recycling drop-offs and green waste services.
Option B: Public and heavy vehicle refuse transfer station
Similar to option A but with more space so commercial waste from large trucks can also be dropped off, with all waste then transported to another landfill.
Option C: Public and heavy vehicle refuse transfer station with clean fill disposal
This is the same as option B, with waste transported to another landfill, but option C would also have a clean fill landfill, which is limited to accepting earthworks or inert material such as soils, clays, rocks, and gravel – materials that aren’t hazardous or that create odour.
Option D: Close Spicer Landfill in 2030 with no replacement service
This option would see Spicer Landfill close at the end of June 2030 when the resource consents expire. There would be no alternative service provided by the Council and customers would need to travel to a transfer station or landfill elsewhere in the Wellington region to dispose of waste.
Kerbside collection services would still be available regardless of the option chosen.
Have your say
Consultation opens on 24 February and closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday 25 March 2026. Have your say by going to poriruacity.govt.nz/landfill-options or picking up a copy of the consultation document from one the city’s libraries or at the front counter of Porirua City Council, 16 Cobham Court.
Further consultation on the interim preferred option next year, as part of the Long-term Plan consultation in 2027, will inform the Council’s final decision on whether to proceed with the preferred option or a different option.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/local-news-have-your-say-on-the-future-of-spicer-landfill-porirua/

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Appointments – eG Innovations Launches New Zealand Operations, Appoints Joanne Bowey as Country Manager

Source: eG Innovations

Auckland, New Zealand – 19th Feb, 2026
eG Innovations, a global provider of digital experience monitoring and full-stack observability solutions, today announced the launch of its operations in New Zealand and the appointment of Joanne Bowey as Country Manager, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting New Zealand enterprises with reliable, high-performance digital services.
With a surge in hybrid work initiatives, cloud adoption, and digital service delivery, IT operations teams in New Zealand face growing complexity, tool sprawl, and rising operational costs. eG Innovations’ local presence aims to help enterprises simplify monitoring, improve service availability, and resolve performance issues faster across increasingly complex IT environments.
With over 20 years of experience working with cloud technology providers across the ANZ region, Joanne Bowey will focus on building strong relationships with local customers, partners, and managed service providers.
“New Zealand is a strategic market for eG Innovations as organisations place greater emphasis on digital experience, operational efficiency, and service reliability,” said Srinivas Ramanathan, CEO of eG Innovations. “Joanne’s deep understanding of the local market and customer challenges will be instrumental in helping New Zealand enterprises achieve better outcomes from their IT investments.”
“New Zealand organisations are looking for monitoring solutions that reduce complexity rather than add to it,” said Joanne Bowey, Country Manager, New Zealand, eG Innovations. “My focus is on helping local enterprises and service providers gain clear visibility across their digital environments, cut through tool sprawl, and deliver consistent, high-quality digital experiences for employees and customers.”
This launch aligns with New Zealand organisations’ focus on service availability, hybrid work enablement, faster incident resolution, and IT cost control. eG Innovations supports these goals with unified visibility across IT stacks, enabling IT teams to identify and resolve issues before they impact users.
As part of its New Zealand strategy, eG Innovations will focus on:
  • Building a strong local partner ecosystem
  • Supporting enterprise and government digital initiatives
  • Enabling managed service providers with advanced monitoring capabilities
  • Delivering localised customer success and support services
eG Innovations will also participate in the CIO Leaders Summit NZ, taking place at the Viaduct Events Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland on 23-24 March 2026, where the company will engage with senior IT leaders on the challenges of managing digital experience at scale.
About eG Innovations
eG Innovations is a global leader in digital experience monitoring and full-stack observability. Its flagship product, eG Enterprise, helps organisations ensure high performance and availability across complex hybrid IT environments by providing deep visibility, intelligent diagnostics, and proactive issue resolution. eG Innovations supports customers worldwide across industries including finance, healthcare, government, retail, and manufacturing.
For more information, visit https://www.eginnovations.com.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/appointments-eg-innovations-launches-new-zealand-operations-appoints-joanne-bowey-as-country-manager/

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Law and Health – Momentum for change on HIV criminalisation

Source: Burnett Foundation Aotearoa

A study of people living with HIV has revealed that despite advances in HIV treatment, criminalisation continues to create uncertainty and distress, with 60% of people living with HIV fearing legal consequences and many avoiding relationships altogether.
The full study and its findings will be released at a public event on 27 February at 3 pm at the Ellen Melville Centre in Auckland, by Positive Women, Body Positive, Toitū te Ao and Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
The study surveying 247 people living with HIV in New Zealand, highlights the urgent need for rules and practice to align with modern HIV science. Over half of participants reported anxiety about legal consequences, particularly around disclosing HIV or discussing sexual practices with healthcare service providers.
“This shows that people living with HIV want to see HIV transmission managed by Public Health authorities, and not the Police. We have one of the highest rates of HIV criminalisation per capita globally, with at least 14 prosecutions since 1993,” says Liz Gibbs CEO of Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
“The Government’s decision to sign the U=U Call to Action at Big Gay Out 2026 is a great first step in bringing New Zealand into line with overseas best practices on how to manage HIV.”
U = U stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). It means that a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to sexual partner(s).
“Currently people living with HIV may face prosecution under the Crimes Act for HIV non-disclosure to their sexual partners (unless they are using a condom), even if they are on treatment with an undetectable viral load and therefore pose zero risk of transmission,” says Gibbs.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/law-and-health-momentum-for-change-on-hiv-criminalisation/

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Government ‘listened to Aucklanders’ by weakening housing intensification rules, Character Coalition says

Source: Radio New Zealand

The government agreeing to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland shows they have been listening to Aucklanders, a heritage group says.

Cabinet agreed to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland from 2 million to at least 1.6 million, it was announced on Thursday.

Auckland Council had been progressing a new plan to accommodate up to 2 million homes in the coming decades.

The council opted out of medium-density rules that apply to most major cities on the proviso it set up zoning for 30 years of growth.

The council’s Plan Change 120 set out the process for doing this, but the government had since come under pressure from proponents of heritage homes who raised concerns about further intensification in character areas that were already seeing major development.

Devonport Historic Society chairperson Margot McRae said the decision was the best-case scenario for them. 123RF

John Burns from the Character Coalition said two million zoned sites was always an unrealistic and unnecessary target.

“We’re also pleased it will leave it to the council to decide which areas are going to be removed from intensification. We do hope the council will consult with communities this time round before making any decisions.”

He was still concerned about character housing in Mount Eden and Kingsland after the minister said the council should prioritise intensification near the city’s rail network.

“We agree growth around stations generally is a good thing, but there’s plenty of zoned land around Maungawhau, Kingsland, and Morningside stations, and we say there’s no need to destroy these few surviving reminders of our heritage.”

Devonport Historic Society chairperson Margot McRae said the decision was the best-case scenario for them.

“Very relieved that finally common sense has prevailed. Chris Bishop and this ridiculous Plan Change 120, it was always just completely wrong-headed.”

She said the government had pushed Plan Change 120 onto the council and Aucklanders.

“Auckland Council has professional planners, and they’ve always said that Plan Change 120 was terrible. It was not the plan they would’ve written, it was imposed on them by central government.”

“Now they’re backtracking, thankfully, but what a waste of money, resources, time, and anguish that people all around Auckland have put into this. Thousands of people have submitted, and now they’ll have to re-submit. It has been a disaster and proves central government should not get involved in local city planning matters.”

Roughly 10,000 submissions were made on the proposal by organisations and members of the public.

McRae said many people’s opposition to Plan Change 120 was not just about protecting heritage buildings, but building more houses in places Aucklanders actually wanted them.

“The council will now have the right to decide which areas will be intensified, and we all know there are areas that can be intensified and they will be, and lots of areas in Howick, Belmont, and Milford, all of these places were going to be possibly ruined by high-rise buildings.

“It’s not just people wanting to protect the old houses. It would’ve affected every part of Auckland.”

Council would ‘stick with the two million and carry on’ – mayor says

Wayne Brown at the housing intensification announcement. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown fired a warning shot after the announcement that he would not be dictated by Cabinet.

Act leader David Seymour said the reduced number is a decision in principle and still needed legislation passed.

“The government will now await Auckland Council producing a summary of how the zones will change before legislating,” Seymour said.

But Brown suggested otherwise.

“We’re not doing this in order to go to the government and to the Cabinet and ask for their approval,” he said.

“I mean, the Cabinet mostly don’t even live in Auckland, so that’s not going to happen.”

The council would “stick with the two million and carry on” if it had to do that, he said.

On the whittling down from two million homes, Brown said people were focused on the wrong thing.

“And that was, we weren’t going to have two million houses, and it was just a concept that was beyond the thinking of most people.

“If it calms down some worried elderly residents in Epsom, then that’s done its job.”

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/government-listened-to-aucklanders-by-weakening-housing-intensification-rules-character-coalition-says/

Posted on

Firefighters at scene of reported chemical leak at Levin industrial site

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters are at the scene. (File photo) RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Firefighters are at the scene of a reported chemical leak at an industrial site in Levin.

Firefighters from Otaki and Levin and a specialist crew from Palmerston North were at the scene on Thursday evening.

An ambulance was also at the scene with more on the way.

It’s not yet known whether anyone had been injured.

MORE TO COME…

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/firefighters-at-scene-of-reported-chemical-leak-at-levin-industrial-site/

Posted on

A tragedy avoided

Source: New Zealand Police

Being prepared almost certainly saved a rock fisherman’s life at Piha.

Police were contacted at 7.43am on Wednesday by a fisherman advising one of his companions had fallen into water at The Gap.

Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Jamieson says the Police Maritime Unit took over incident control of the water rescue.

“The Police Eagle helicopter deployed over South Piha, and soon caught sight of the fisherman, and the crew could see he was well prepared,” he says.

“He had been fishing with a lifejacket on, and another fisherman had thrown an emergency life ring out to him.”

Meanwhile, Police Maritime Unit had called out Surf Life Saving NZ at Piha.

Acting Senior Sergeant Jamieson says Eagle kept watch from above while an IRB was heading to the location.

“Although he was struggling in the current, the devices were doing a good job at keeping him afloat while help was on the way.”

The man was soon uplifted and brought back to shore.

First responders are praising the event, as the fisherman walked away safe and well.

“Time and time again we have seen these stories end in a tragedy, and these rescue responses turn into recovery missions,” acting Senior Sergeant Jamieson says.

“This is a story where things were done correctly; the man was prepared and wearing a lifejacket and there were people equipped with a phone so that they could call for help.”

Acting Senior Sergeant Jamieson acknowledges the various resources involved.

“There was good collaboration between Northern Emergency Communication and Dispatch, Police Maritime Unit, the Police Eagle helicopter and Surf Life Saving NZ which brought about a prompt rescue.”

Surf Life Saving New Zealand GM – Northern Region, Zac Franich says the outcome highlights the importance of wearing the appropriate safety equipment when rock fishing, particularly a life jacket.

“This is a really positive outcome, and the fact the fisherman was wearing a lifejacket made a critical difference,” he says.

“When people are swept into the water while rock fishing, conditions can change very quickly. A lifejacket helps keep you afloat, conserves energy and buys crucial time for rescuers to reach you. Were it not for the lifejacket, we could very easily have been reporting on a fatal drowning.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

A video of the rescue has been posted to the North Shore, Rodney & West Auckland Police Facebook page.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/a-tragedy-avoided/

Posted on

Bill paves way for MCERT

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has introduced legislation to Parliament to establish the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), a key step in delivering its ambitious reform agenda across housing, transport, urban development and the environment.

The Environment (Disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill paves the way for the Ministry for the Environment to integrate into MCERT alongside the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Transport, and the local government functions of the Department of Internal Affairs.

“The new agency will be at the heart of tackling some of New Zealand’s greatest economic and environmental challenges, from housing affordability and our infrastructure deficit to climate adaptation,” RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says.

“The Ministry for the Environment is the only agency forming MCERT that was established by statute. That means it is the only Ministry that requires legislative change to enable the new department to be created, and we are moving swiftly to make that happen.”

Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says the amendment to the Environment Act will formally disestablish the Ministry for the Environment and transfer its statutory responsibilities to the Secretary for the Environment.

“MCERT will administer the Environment Act, with its chief executive fulfilling the role of Secretary for the Environment, ensuring a seamless transition and continuity of environmental oversight.

“Environmental functions remain a core part of the new Ministry’s work. Bringing related portfolios together in one department will provide integrated, practical advice that both protects our environment and lifts prosperity for communities across New Zealand.”

MCERT is set to be established from 1 April 2026 and become operational from 1 July 2026. A chief executive for the new agency will be appointed in the coming months.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/bill-paves-way-for-mcert/

Posted on

Te Huia service extension welcomed

Source: New Zealand Government

The New Zealand Transport Agency’s decision to extend the Waikato-Auckland passenger rail service Te Huia is welcomed, Rail Minister Winston Peters says.

“Te Huia came into existence because we funded KiwiRail to refurbish the carriages and build a dedicated mechanical depot in Hamilton,” Mr Peters says.

“The five-year trial service was negatively impacted by the Covid-19 Auckland shutdowns in its first year, so a one-year extension is pragmatic and means a fair assessment can be given.

“This Waikato Regional Council’s service has received strong patronage, developed into a weekday commuter and weekend city connector, and has 98 percent customer satisfaction rates which are a credit to operator KiwiRail’s crews.

“We are pleased to see the service will continue,” Mr Peters says.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/te-huia-service-extension-welcomed/

Posted on

Environment comes last as Government abolishes dedicated ministry

Source: Green Party

The Green Party is condemning the Government’s decision to disestablish the Ministry for the Environment.

“This is failure by a Minister who has turned her back on the very portfolio she was entrusted to protect. Abolishing her own ministry is as monumental as it is shameful,” said Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham. 

“The Ministry for the Environment exists because in 1986 New Zealanders decided that protecting our natural world needed a dedicated voice at the heart of government. 

“Burying the Ministry for the Environment inside a super-ministry designed to drive growth and infrastructure sends a clear signal that the environment comes last for this Government. 

“This is a Minister who claimed the balance had swung ‘too far’ towards the environment, even as her own ministry’s reporting showed air pollution, freshwater pollution, ocean pollution, and biodiversity loss all getting worse. 

“At a time when climate change is flooding our communities week after week, costing billions of dollars, lives, and livelihoods, this Government’s response is to dismantle the ministry responsible for environmental protection. 

“Abolishing the Ministry to streamline consent processes for roads and mining tells you exactly what this Government values more. It is economic growth at any cost. 

“Adding an ‘E’ to a new super-ministry and expecting New Zealanders to believe the environment will be looked after is fooling no one. New Zealanders deserve so much better,” said Pham.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/environment-comes-last-as-government-abolishes-dedicated-ministry/

Posted on

Public engagement on civil and political rights

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice

Headline: Public engagement on civil and political rights

The Government wants to hear from the public and civil society organisations before 19 March 2026 on its draft report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the Covenant).

General Manager, Civil and Constitutional at the Ministry of Justice, Kathy Brightwell, says all countries that have signed up to the Covenant have agreed to submit reports to the United Nations Human Rights Committee providing detail on how civil and political rights are being upheld.
 
The report, which is New Zealand’s seventh, responds to the recommendations and events following our last examination in 2016.
 
“New Zealand has a strong human rights record, and the draft report summarises New Zealand’s commitment to upholding civil and political rights. These rights include the right to life, liberty and security, to privacy, freedom of expression, association and assembly and criminal procedure rights, such as the right to a fair trial,” she says.

The content takes a constructive approach in explaining issues New Zealand is facing and what is being done to address these issues. 

The New Zealand Government will submit the final report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee following the consultation process.

How you can get involved

Your feedback will help to inform the report and provide information about how the Government is upholding civil and political rights in New Zealand. 

Submissions are open from 19 February 2026 to 19 March 2026. You can submit:

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MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/public-engagement-on-civil-and-political-rights/

Posted on

Hamilton-to-Auckland train Te Huia trial extended to June 2027

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Huia was launched in April 2021 for a five-year trial which was due to end in June 2026, but has now been extended by a year. RNZ / Gill Bonnett

The Hamilton-to-Auckland train, Te Huia, has been given an extra year to prove itself.

The train provides an interregional passenger rail service between the regions of Waikato and Auckland.

On Thursday afternoon the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) board agreed to a Waikato Regional Council request to keep government funding steady at 60 percent for a one-year extension.

The council took the step to ask for the extension in December 2025, expressing a need for certainty from NZTA before the council began its long term plan process.

The council argued that the current trial had been too heavily affected by Covid delays, being temporarily banned from operating in Auckland, and repeated line closures on the Auckland network.

Te Huia was launched in April 2021 for a five-year trial which was due to end in June 2026. It will now continue until the end of June 2027 with government funding steady at a 60 percent funding assistance rate.

Waikato Regional Council said councillors would now be asked to support continued local funding at the current rate when they meet next week to consider the budget for 2026/27.

The future of Te Huia and its funding would then be discussed with the public as part of the 2027-2037 Long Term Plan process.

Waikato Regional Council chairperson Warren Maher thanked the NZTA board for its decision.

“I also note the support we received from local councils, as well as champions of Te Huia.”

In December, letters of support from Auckland, Hamilton City, Waipā and Waikato district councils said they were committed to sustainable economic growth across the sub-region, along the Hamilton to Auckland corridor, and in the emerging economic zone centred around the north Waikato and south Auckland areas.

Also earlier this month, approximately 300 supporters attended a “Stack the Station,” event at Hamilton’s Frankton Station, calling for the permanent future of the Te Huia passenger rail service.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/hamilton-to-auckland-train-te-huia-trial-extended-to-june-2027/

Posted on

Tourists through new pathway triple in two months

Source: New Zealand Government

A new travel option that enables eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors to cross the ditch to New Zealand visa free is bringing in a considerable boost in tourism and revenue, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston say.

“In December, we announced that 13,000 Chinese and Pacific travellers had already visited, with 24,000 total requests approved. After two months, that number has now almost tripled to 36,800 visits, along with 54,000 requests approved,” Ms Stanford says.

“With average visitor spend at $5,800 for Chinese visitors, according to the International Visitor Survey, that amounts to an estimated economic injection of $210 million for Kiwi businesses from those who have visited, with Chinese visitors making up around 36,200 of visits through the new pathway.

“We are committed to supporting Kiwis businesses to thrive, and these results, which boost our wider tourism sector. Tourism is our second largest export and it is fantastic to see results which boost our wider tourism sector.” 

“Everybody wants the chance to visit and experience New Zealand, and through our change to allow more people to visit through visa-free travel from Australia, it appears to be a no-brainer.”

Ms Stanford says the change that was introduced was a deciding factor in people visiting New Zealand – 85 percent of Chinese travellers and 82 percent of Pacific travellers surveyed said they travelled here specifically because of the new NZeTA option.

Ms Upston says this is already bringing in a sizeable boost in revenue across the country, and in particular our key tourism regions.

“Visitor spending is going directly into local businesses. That includes shops, eateries, accommodation, and tour operators – and this is spending which may not have come into New Zealand prior to the change. This is all part of our Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future. 

“The South Island remains extremely popular, with 67 percent of Chinese and Pacific visitors arriving at an international airport in the South Island to start their travels.

“The travel changes we’ve made are reflective of this Government’s stance – we back Kiwi businesses and we back our regions. We are relentlessly focused on making smart, commonsense, and sometimes simple changes, which bring big value for New Zealanders.”

Notes to editor:

Since November, eligible Chinese and Pacific Island Forum passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia no longer need to obtain a Visitor Visa . Instead, they can apply for a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) as part of a 12-month trial. 

Instead of spending $441 and waiting an average of 4 days, individuals from China travelling via Australia can pay as little as $117 and have their application for an NZeTA processed in 24 hours. Individuals from the Pacific can pay as low as $17 instead of spending $216 and waiting an average 6 days for a visitor visa.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/tourists-through-new-pathway-triple-in-two-months/

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Update – serious incident, Northcote

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves:

Police are following strong lines of enquiry after four people were injured at a Hoani Street address last night.

Emergency services were called to the property about 9.30pm after a report of an altercation between two parties.

Four people were injured, two of whom remain in hospital.

Police staff continue to examine the scene to gather information about the incident and those involved.

Our initial enquiries have confirmed that a firearm was discharged at the scene.

We have also established that this was a gang-related incident and was targeted towards parties at this address.

We understand that incidents like this can be unsettling for the community, and would like to reassure people that we do not believe there is a risk to the wider public.

Residents can expect to see additional patrols in the area as we carry out our enquiries.

We would still like to hear from anyone who might have information about this incident or those believed to be involved.

If you can help, please call 105 and reference 260218/3391.

You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/19/update-serious-incident-northcote/