Category: New Zealand

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New deal paying above market price for regenerative sheep farmers’ wool

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Regenerative sheep farmers could muster an above-market pay cheque for their sustainable wool clip, thanks to a new industry deal.

Wools of New Zealand signed a new contract to supply American-owned company Keraplast, based in Ōtautahi, with hundreds of tonnes of strong wool over the next five years.

Keraplast extracted keratin, the main protein in wool, that was then used as an ingredient in haircare, skincare, nutraceuticals and medical products.

Wools of New Zealand chief executive John McWhirter said the contract linked growers to high-value end uses, rather than the traditional textile markets based on commodity prices, to improve returns.

“This agreement demonstrates how strong wool can move beyond traditional textile markets into advanced, high-value applications.

“It shows strong wool has a future when we combine quality farming and innovative global manufacturing.”

Regenerative farmers focussed on enhancing the health of their soil, waterways and their animals, practices which were auditted for certified farmers.

The new super-premium wool contract was paying 40 percent or $2 a kilogram above market pricing for 2025, at $6.88 per kilo clean – and prices will increase $0.50 a kilo each year.

Keraplast chief executive, Howard Moore said the deal was about shoring up the supply of low-carbon New Zealand strong wool.

John McWhirter of Wools of New Zealand and Howard Moore of Keraplast. SUPPLIED

“We really do want to encourage the supply of regeneratively-farmed wool, but we also do feel it as an obligation from the company for us to to share in the value that we are adding to wool, sharing that with our farmer suppliers.”

Moore said the wool-only company was committed to net positive, a business strategy about creating more positive impacts than negative on the environment, society and the economy.

He said its industrial American customers were very focussed on sustainability.

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“We sell to industrial customers and these industrial customers are concerned about their carbon footprint,” he said.

“And so we are able to demonstrate to these industrial customers of ours that we are doing our bit to source wool that’s got a reduced carbon footprint.

“That commitment to sustainability through using regeneratively farmed wool does help us with with our customers.”

Overseas competitors making products from keratin instead sourced the protein from chicken feathers, he said.

Moore said its 40 employees were working towards processing up to 100 tonnes of wool each year at its new factory near Hornby.

Since around August, wool prices in the North and South Islands had increased, exceeding levels in 2023 and 2024.

However, the national sheep flock was continuing to decline and major broker PGG Wrightson announced last month it was going to end its historic North Island from May.

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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/2026/02/12/new-deal-paying-above-market-price-for-regenerative-sheep-farmers-wool/

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Exploring AI to support breast screening services

Source: New Zealand Government

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being explored as a way to support breast screening services and improve early detection for women across New Zealand, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“AI is providing new opportunities to strengthen our healthcare system and deliver smarter, more responsive care for New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says.

“As part of this, Health New Zealand is inviting organisations with experience in AI image reading to outline how the technology could be safely and effectively used within BreastScreen Aotearoa.

“This exploratory step is about understanding how best to ensure New Zealand women continue to have access to quality, future focused breast screening services.”

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women in New Zealand. Around 3400 women are diagnosed each year, and approximately 270,000 women aged 45 to 69 are screened annually through BreastScreen Aotearoa. 

“As demand grows, we need to look at smarter ways to support our workforce and deliver faster, more reliable screening.”

This is the first step in a validation process to understand how AI tools could support radiologists, reduce workload pressures, and improve patient outcomes, while maintaining strong clinical oversight and safety standards.

“This work is focused on future-proofing breast screening so services remain accessible, patient-centred, and responsive to the needs of women.

“AI is already being used internationally to assist with medical imaging. Exploring how it could complement the work of radiologists in New Zealand is an important step toward strengthening early detection and ensuring the long-term sustainability of screening services.”

Health New Zealand will draw on advice from the health technology sector, engage with the breast screening workforce, and assess international examples of AI use in medical imaging.

The work builds on recent improvements to BreastScreen Aotearoa, including extending the screening age range to 74 and transitioning to a population based digital register.

“At the heart of this work is one simple goal: enabling more women to access timely screening and giving them the best possible chance of early detection,” Mr Brown says.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/exploring-ai-to-support-breast-screening-services/

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Backing ambition, building growth

Source: New Zealand Government

[Keynote delivered at the New Zealand Economic Forum, 12 February 2026]

Tēnā koutou katoa, and good morning.

Thank you to Professor Jennifer Kerr and the University of Waikato Management School for hosting us. 

It is great to be here in the Waikato – a region that is building capability for the future, from innovation in agritech, to world-class events in the new BNZ Theatre, and soon to producing much-needed doctors and medical research through the new Medical School.

To my parliamentary colleagues, mayors, representatives of local government, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, economists, academics, students, and guests from across New Zealand – thank you for being here.

It is a privilege to open the 2026 New Zealand Economic Forum.

The theme of this year’s forum is Big Choices for a Small Nation. And there is one choice I want to be clear about at the outset.

We are fixing the basics and building the future by choosing smart investments that increase performance and decrease debt.

New Zealand does not grow by taxing more and investing less, and our Government is choosing a better course.

We grow by backing ambition, cutting red tape, and rewarding success.
That is the choice this Government is making.

We are meeting at a time when that choice matters.

The global environment is unsettled. Markets are volatile. Geopolitical risks are rising. Climate events are increasing. And the economic recovery has taken time, with real pressure on hardworking Kiwis.

In moments like this, it can be tempting to drift, or to reach for higher spending as an easy answer. But after the last Government more than doubled debt to 41.8 per cent of GDP, New Zealanders know the cost of that band-aid approach – it is simply not sustainable.

Small, open economies succeed by making deliberate choices.

History shows New Zealand’s biggest gains have come from disciplined decisions at home – managing the public finances responsibly, backing investment, staying open to the world, and building institutions that support long-term growth.

That is what this Government is focused on.

This morning I want to set out three things:

  • how we are managing the public finances and restate the case for why fiscal credibility matters;
  • how New Zealand is positioning itself in a more volatile global environment; and
  • how we are strengthening the foundations of growth – by backing ownership, investment, and productivity through a wide-ranging reform agenda.

This is about backing New Zealanders with settings that reward effort.

When we make the right choices, there is no reason New Zealand cannot grow faster, lift incomes, and build resilience – not despite our size, but because of it.

1. Fiscal positioning and economic leadership

Let me begin with the fiscal context.

New Zealand has been through a long and difficult economic adjustment. The post-Covid period brought inflation that lingered too long, interest rates that hurt too many households, and a downturn that took time to unwind.

The most recent Treasury forecasts show the economy has begun to turn a corner. Growth strengthened through the second half of last year, unemployment is stabilising, and confidence is returning. Momentum is building – but sustaining it requires discipline and focus.

At the same time, the Crown’s balance sheet remains under pressure.

Core Crown expenses are still elevated relative to pre-pandemic levels. Debt-servicing costs are significantly higher than they were five years ago. Demographic pressures, particularly in health and superannuation, continue to intensify.

That context explains the fiscal strategy we are pursuing.

Our objectives are clear and worth restating:

  • to return the operating balance to surplus by 2028/29;
  • to place net core Crown debt on a downward track toward 40 per cent of GDP; and
  • to rebuild fiscal resilience so future governments have options when the next shock inevitably arrives.

Those are not arbitrary numbers. They reflect the hard-won credibility New Zealand has built internationally over decades. They underpin our sovereign credit ratings. They protect households from higher interest rates. And they preserve room for governments to respond when crises occur.

They are targets easily forgotten by politicians who wish to spend more in election campaigns. But if we forget those targets, New Zealand’s economic strength will be impugned. And my view here is that fiscal credibility is not ideological. It is practical – and it is essential.

That is why Budget 2026’s operating allowance is $2.4 billion per annum. This is a ceiling, not a floor. Every dollar must be justified. Every new initiative must come with a clear case for value.

Over the past two years, this Government has made decisions delivering around $11 billion a year in savings and revenue measures. Those decisions were not easy. But they have stabilised the public finances, protected frontline services, and enabled investment in long-term growth.

That approach of delivering savings will be continuing in this budget and every future budget I deliver. Fiscal discipline is not the end goal. It is, in fact, the foundation for everything else we wish to achieve, because without it, everything else – growth, investment, resilience – becomes harder.

2. New Zealand’s position in a volatile world

We are making these choices in a world that is more uncertain than at any point in recent decades.

Geopolitical competition is sharper. Supply chains are more fragile. Energy markets remain volatile. And technological change – from artificial intelligence to advanced manufacturing – is accelerating faster than policy systems typically adapt.

Yet New Zealand’s position in this environment is stronger than we sometimes allow ourselves to believe.

We are politically stable in an unstable world. We have strong institutions, high-quality regulation, low corruption, and an independent central bank. 

We produce food, fibre and energy the world genuinely needs. And we continue to generate globally competitive firms across agritech, software, advanced manufacturing and aerospace.

Our challenge is not a lack of potential.

It is whether our policy settings organise that potential, or suppress it through uncertainty, cost, and delay.

Much of what matters for New Zealand’s prosperity remains within our control: predictable policy, efficient infrastructure, credible fiscal management, secure energy supply, and settings that reward ownership and investment.

Resilience is not just about surviving shocks. It is about having the capacity to adapt, recover, and sustain growth.

3. Ownership, investment and productivity: backing growth

This global context brings us directly to the choices we are making at home to back growth 

For decades, New Zealand’s productivity growth has lagged behind comparable economies, and the consequences are clear, lower wages, less fiscal headroom for investment in public services, from medicines through to classrooms, fewer globally scaled firms, and in my view, too much reliance on population growth and house price growth rather than genuine productivity gains. 

And so, the task that our Government faces is not simply to repair the basics which were damaged post Covid, but to build foundations in our economy that allow us to address these long-standing productivity challenges. 

Our Going for Growth agenda, which I published at last year’s forum, is grounded in a simple proposition: productivity responds to incentives. Productivity is not resolved through one silver bullet, but ongoing, substantive, systemic reform.

When people are confident, they own assets, invest in capital, and earn a return without those settings being constantly reopened, they invest more – and they invest earlier.

That is why this Government is explicitly backing ownership, investment, and productivity-enhancing settings.

Not through subsidies or short-term stimulus.

But through durable policy settings that reward productive activity.

The Investment Boost tax policy introduced in Budget 2025 was designed to do just that – change investment behaviour in favour of more capital intensity in our firms. 

And it would have been easy to say at the last budget, we can’t afford a productivity-enhancing tax measure at this point, because that will require us to make difficult savings elsewhere. But the choice we made is that we can’t afford not to. We can’t afford to keep waiting to make productivity enhancing changes to our tax system. 

And so, Investment Boost is not about rewarding investment that would have happened anyway. It is about tipping decisions – bringing investment forward, increasing scale, and anchoring capital in New Zealand.

And we are already seeing that happen.

Early evidence from Inland Revenue shows that among firms that invested recently, 40 per cent say Investment Boost increased their investment spending over the past year, including 11 per cent reporting a significant increase directly because of the policy.

Looking ahead, the impact is even clearer. Nearly half – 49 per cent – of firms intending to invest over the next five years say Investment Boost is positively influencing those plans, with 14 per cent anticipating a large increase in investment as a result.

What matters is not just that businesses are investing more, but how they are investing.

More than half of firms report adjusting the timing, scale and type of investment. Projects are being brought forward. Capital is being prioritised into productivity-enhancing assets. And businesses are choosing to own capital rather than lease it.

We can see that on the ground.

Dunedin-based United Machinists has brought forward investment in robotics and automation, rather than phasing it over several years.

Foot Science International has accelerated investment in automation and renewable energy infrastructure.

Christchurch-based Vynco is investing in advanced manufacturing equipment that will lift efficiency and expand capacity.

These are not abstract policy effects.

They are real businesses making real decisions – earlier, larger, and more productively – because the incentives have changed.

That matters, because capital deepening is how productivity rises. And productivity growth is how wages grow sustainably over time.

But there is a broader issue that needs to be confronted.

Investment Boost only works in the longer term if businesses believe it will endure.

Firms do not invest in long-lived capital – plant, machinery, buildings – if they think the rules may change after the next election.

So, my question to Mr Hipkins is straightforward.

Will they commit to retaining Investment Boost as a permanent fixture of our tax settings to unlock growth or will it be sacrificed to fund higher spending and new taxes?

This Government’s position is clear.

We back ownership.

We back investment.

And we back productivity-enhancing tax settings.

Policy stability, long-term reform and the growth opportunity

I want to make a broader point about policy stability, because this is where long-term growth is won or lost.

Business investment decisions depend on confidence: confidence in the regulatory environment, confidence in the tax system, and confidence that major settings will not be reopened or rewritten after every election.

There is strong evidence, here and overseas, that uncertainty around tax policy has a chilling effect on investment. When businesses hear ongoing debate about capital gains taxes, wealth taxes, inheritance taxes, or new taxes on investment and savings, they delay decisions, reduce scale, or take capital elsewhere.

That uncertainty is not theoretical. It has been lived.

This Government is taking a different approach.

We are committed to stability where stability supports growth. Not because change is never needed, but because constant churn comes at a real economic cost.

Good economic policy is not about novelty or relitigating the same arguments every three years.

It is about credibility, consistency, and giving people the confidence to invest, train, and build for the long term.

That principle runs through our broader reform programme.

If we step back, the question is not just what grows the economy this year, but what kind of economy New Zealand becomes over the next 10 to 20 years.

We have emerging sectors with enormous potential. From agritech and advanced manufacturing to digital services, biotech, clean energy and critical minerals. Unlocking that potential requires more than one-off incentives. It requires long-term settings that endure across economic cycles.

That is why we are backing reforms that strengthen both the economic and human foundations of growth.

Our reform agenda is not Band Aid solutions or quick fixes, but systemic changes, from competition reform to procurement reform to real transformation of the public sector and its delivery of services, digitising public services, enabling housing growth through investing in new funding and financing tools in competitive land markets, infrastructure funding and financing and planning. 

This real reform doesn’t happen overnight, but it is essential, and in too many cases, overturned. Today, I want to focus on just three key areas where that reform agenda is significant. 

The first is education. Here we are lifting performance by fixing the basics, because productivity ultimately depends on skills.

That is why we are:

  • refocusing the system on core skills
  • strengthening curriculum clarity
  • investing in structured literacy and numeracy,
  • and beginning the work to replace NCEA with a more credible, coherent qualification

These reforms are essential to give New Zealanders the skills to succeed, and give employers confidence in the workforce they are investing in. And no one will argue with the fact that achievement of those who are undergoing structured literacy has increased significantly. 

According to our studies that doesn’t just mean that productivity growth, or GDP, will be increased in the next quarter, but that achieving better skills for our students is essential to our 20-year productivity goals. 

The second area where we are strengthening ownership and long-term savings is through our policy to increase KiwiSaver contributions over time. 

As Finance Minister, we made that commitment in last year’s Budget, and KiwiSaver default contributions will now increase half a per cent from this year and rise again in two years. 

As National Party’s finance spokesperson, I’ve been proud to announce our policy of increasing KiwiSaver contributions beyond that over time – lifting domestic capital, strengthening household resilience, and supporting investment in New Zealand businesses.

And the third area is our reforms to the planning system, because growth cannot happen if building is blocked.

Replacing the Resource Management Act is one of the most important economic reforms underway. The two new Bills Chris Bishop has put forward fundamentally rebalance the system by:

  • reducing unnecessary delay
  • clarifying decision-making pathways
  • improving certainty for investors
  • enabling nationally significant infrastructure to proceed, and making growth easier rather than harder

If we are serious about lifting productivity, we cannot continue with a system that makes it harder to build than to object.

And we are making strategic investments in human capital that will strengthen our workforce and our economy for decades. That includes expanding medical education right here with the University of Waikato Medical School.

From 2028, the Waikato Medical School will train an additional 120 doctors each year, focused on primary care and community health, helping reduce reliance on overseas workforce and improving access to timely care for families, especially in rural and provincial areas. 

This is a long-term investment in people – building the pipeline of doctors we need, creating new jobs, and strengthening the health workforce across this region and the country. And significantly, is occurring not just with Government funding, but with the contribution of the university and philanthropy as well.

We are also already seeing what disciplined reform can deliver.

A year into Kāinga Ora’s Turnaround Plan, performance is improving while debt is being brought under control. When this Government came into office, Kāinga Ora’s debt had grown from $2.3 billion to $16.5 billion, with forecasts showing it heading toward almost $25 billion. Clear direction and tighter discipline have changed that trajectory. Operating costs have been cut by $211 million in a single year, and peak debt has been reduced by $9.5 billion, now expected to top out much lower.

Importantly, this has occurred while outcomes have improved. Build costs are falling, renewals are accelerating, rent arrears are down by nearly 3000 households, and tenancy satisfaction has risen to 87 percent. It is a practical example of what happens when government focuses on accountability, value for money, and delivery – lifting performance, while reducing debt.

Taken together, these reforms share a common purpose.

They back ownership.

They reward investment.

They lift productivity.

And they provide the policy consistency New Zealand needs to grow with confidence over the long term.

That is what economic leadership looks like, and it is the platform on which sustainable growth is built.

Closing reflection

Let me finish where I began – with choices.

New Zealand’s future will be shaped by whether we back the people who invest, build, and create opportunity, or burden them with uncertainty and cost.

This Government has made its choice.

We are backing ownership.

We are backing investment.

We are backing productivity.

We are fixing the basics and building the future.

Others may argue for higher taxes and more spending.

But every one of those choices comes with a price – and that price is paid by hard working Kiwis.

If we make disciplined choices grounded in the simple belief: that New Zealand succeeds when people have confidence in the future, clear rules to operate within, and the freedom to invest and grow.

Then New Zealand’s future is not something to be cautious about, 

It is something to be confident in — and something to build. 

Thank you.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/backing-ambition-building-growth/

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Burglar caught by victim in their own web

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Acting Superintendent Ash Tabb, Christchurch Metro Acting Area Commander:

A quick-thinking member of the public led Police to a burglar after spotting their own stolen tools on Facebook marketplace.

They arranged to meet the seller and viewed the tools which were reported stolen in January. After seeing the engravement they made, the victim knew the tools were theirs. As they left, they snapped a picture of the offender to pass onto Police. 

Police executed a search warrant on the property and located the tools, returning them to the victim. A further three bags and crate of tools were seized for officers to evaluate whether they were stolen.

A firearm was also located and seized from the roof space.

A 33-year-old man will appear in the Christchurch District Court tomorrow on a range of charges including receiving stolen property, unlawfully possessing a firearm, and drugs charges.

Police will continue to investigate to determine whether the seized items have been reported stolen.

To prevent theft and help to recover tools:

  • Store your tools securely in a locked cupboard, out of sight.
  • Engrave the tools to help identify them during recovery.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/burglar-caught-by-victim-in-their-own-web/

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Appointments – CAA appoints new Deputy Chief Executive – Gayle Holmes

Source: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 

After a thorough recruitment process, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gayle Holmes as our new Deputy Chief Executive, Regulatory Enablement and Response, to the Executive Leadership Team.

Gayle is currently a member of the executive team as General Manager, Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), where she’s been since 2020.

During her time at the EPA, Gayle led several significant regulatory and organisational initiatives. These included leading the Hazardous Substances Modernisation Programme, which aligned New Zealand’s hazardous substances classification regime with the UN Globally Harmonised System (GHS) and replacing legacy data systems with a new chemical management database.

She also led the establishment and maturation of the EPA’s Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement function, bringing together previously separate compliance teams across a range of legislation into a single, integrated group. She led the establishment of the EPAs intelligence function, introduction of a new compliance case management system, and the first prosecutions under both HSNO and the Climate Change Response Act.

Gayle is recognised for her strong, values based leadership, particularly through periods of organisational change and heightened regulatory complexity. She has a strong track record in building capable, multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration and continuous improvement. Gayle has also made significant contributions to enterprise wide strategy, programme governance, and health and safety leadership.

We’re looking forward to her joining the team and getting to know the people and the business. Gayle starts in the role on 7 April 2026.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/appointments-caa-appoints-new-deputy-chief-executive-gayle-holmes/

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Federated Farmers – Government must urgently rule out controversial water tax

Source: Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to immediately and categorically rule out any form of ‘water tax’ in its proposed RMA replacement bill.
“There’s absolutely no way we’re going to support any laws that open the door to taxing water,” Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“A water tax would be a nightmare for farmers and growers, undermining confidence in our productive sectors and pulling a handbrake on economic growth.
“The Government needs to move quickly and strike out any wording that would allow water rights to be auctioned, tendered, levied or taxed.”
In December, the Government released two major pieces of legislation, the Planning and the Natural Environment Bills, to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Federated Farmers policy staff spent the summer break trawling through 744 pages of complex legislation and have serious concerns about what they’ve uncovered.
“It’s incredibly alarming to find clauses that give Ministers sweeping powers to tax water as a tool for managing demand,” Hooper says.
“Based on every conversation we’ve had with the coalition Government, we don’t believe it was ever their intent to impose a water tax on farmers.
“Unfortunately, it seems bureaucrats have snuck this one past Ministers, because that’s exactly what these provisions enable – it’s all there in black and white.”
Previous National Party Prime Ministers, including John Key and Bill English, explicitly ruled out water taxes in their day.
Federated Farmers is now calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to urgently do the same – because rural New Zealand needs to clearly understand his position.
“Federated Farmers strongly supports the objectives of the Government’s RMA reforms: growing productivity and making it easier to get things done,” Hooper says.
“We are in total alignment that there needs to be a stronger focus on property rights, a tighter scope, fewer resource consents, and far less expensive litigation.
“The Government’s messaging has been bang-on but, unfortunately, we don’t think the legislation as currently drafted matches the political rhetoric.”
Hooper says this may be a case of ‘officials gone rogue’, but serious questions remain about how such dangerous provisions have progressed this far.
“The Prime Minister needs to step in now, make a captain’s call, and categorically rule out any possibility of water taxes to give farmers and growers certainty.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/federated-farmers-government-must-urgently-rule-out-controversial-water-tax/

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High Court Judge wins right to have family bach dispute in private court

Source: Radio New Zealand

The case was taken to the High Court but had been referred to independent arbitration. (File photo) RNZ / Dan Cook

A High Court Judge has won the right to have a dispute over a family bach heard in private, rather than open court.

In 2022, Justice Anne Hinton sold her share of the bach to two of her four sisters – but her other sister, Gillian Gatfield and niece, Emma Pearson (who inherited her mother’s share) argued Hinton had, years earlier, promised to transfer her share to them.

They took their case to the High Court, but Hinton successfully applied to have it referred to independent arbitration.

The plaintiffs appealed the arbitration referral in November – but the Court of Appeal dismissed that on Thursday.

Hinton wanted arbitration because it was faster and cheaper than going through the courts – and private.

Her lawyers argued any judge hearing Hinton’s case in court would be put in a difficult position: either risking the perception of favouring a colleague, or ruling against her which would effectively question her credibility.

But Gatfield and Pearson disagreed.

Lawyer Matanuku Mahuika said “significant weight” was placed on Hinton’s role as a judge in her request for arbitration, which was “not appropriate”.

He urged the judges to be mindful of open justice and warned them against being seen to give preference to a fellow judge.

Mahuika also pointed out arbitration had never been ordered – as opposed to agreed to – in a trust dispute.

But in Thursday’s decision, the judges said the Associate Judge who ordered the arbitration was following the correct procedure.

“We consider that the court has power to order that an arbitration take place and to appoint an arbitrator, even when there is no agreement to arbitrate.

“We also consider there is nothing inherently inappropriate in doing so.”

The Judges said it was “unnecessary” to explicitly address all the matters Gatfield and Pearson’s lawyers raised as reasons against private arbitration.

“We agree with the decision made by the High Court,” their judgement said.

Mediation and arbitration were appropriate options in a case involving “strongly felt personal allegations”, it said.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/high-court-judge-wins-right-to-have-family-bach-dispute-in-private-court/

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Health NZ shrugs off red ratings for big hospital builds

Source: Radio New Zealand

The project management office for the new Dunedin Hospital. RNZ / Delphine Herbert

Health New Zealand says two of its flagship hospital rebuilds are on track despite red alerts put on them months ago.

The red ratings on the Nelson and Dunedin projects were in the latest publicly available investment report from Treasury dated mid-2025.

Around that same time, the central health agency had rated itself badly with Treasury for how it managed its billions in assets, joined in the dog-house by Police and Defence on the latest measurement known as the Chief Executive Annual Attestations.

The Treasury investment report meanwhile showed the Dunedin outpatients building project under cost pressure, by a sum that was blanked out.

It also redflagged Nelson to ministers for not having its business case ready in time for Budget 2026 decisions.

Health NZ said on Wednesday that this related to Nelson’s future stages of work and there was no impact on construction timelines or the expected operation of new facilities.

“The project continues to progress as planned,” said head of delivery of infrastructure, Simon Trotter.

The Nelson project was shrunk to under half its former budget and cut into phases by the present government.

In Dunedin’s new hospital build, the cost risks had since been managed and it was expected to open within budget on time later this year, Trotter said.

The wider programme that included the bigger inpatients build was also expected to be delivered within approved funding.

The total budget was set at $1.88 billion a year ago after the government rescoped it in the face of public protest, on the grounds sticking with the previous plan would blow it out to maybe $3b.

Health Minister Simeon Brown (R) and Nelson Mayor Nick Smith (second from right) open the new emergency department at Nelson Hospital in November 2025. Samantha Gee / RNZ

Trotter also commented that a red rating reflected an assessment against specific reporting measures at a point in time and “does not necessarily indicate a delay to delivery”.

However, Treasury’s description of a red rating was that: “Successful delivery appears to be unachievable. There are major issues which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable. The programme may need re-baselining and/or overall viability re-assessed.”

Falling short on keeping up

In the other Treasury pulse-taking reports to ministers – the attestations – Health, Defence and Police scored the worst for meeting higher standards for managing their billions of dollars of assets.

Infrastructure experts have castigated public agencies in general for not keeping across the state of their buildings or spending enough on maintenance – the country’s leaky courts have been an egregious example of lack of maintenance, which a series of expensive projects were now trying to sort out.

Since 2023, 62 agency chief executives have had to attest to Treasury annually on how they measure up in 25 areas such as taking care of really critical assets.

A minnow like Antarctica NZ that has been caught up in stop-start rebuilding was non-compliant in only one of the 25 (some measures did not apply) in the latest attestations done last July.

One or two non-compliances were common, such as at Internal Affairs, and perhaps surprisingly Justice, and Kainga Ora, which has massive assets. Education complied with all 25.

By contrast, Health NZ failed in more than half – for 13 out of 25 measures, including being too slow setting up investment assurance standards for its failure-prone digital services; and not properly keeping track of “the identity, condition, and risk exposure” of its service-critical assets.

This last was a black mark against the Defence Force, that missed on seven measures, even as it struggled with a $2-3b refurbishment of rundown housing and other facilities.

Police were non-compliant with the watchdog’s demands on eight fronts, telling Treasury they were five-10 years away with some, such as getting all their asset management plans done or having an IT set-up that could keep track.

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/2026/02/12/health-nz-shrugs-off-red-ratings-for-big-hospital-builds/

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Live: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to face questions in Dunedin

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will face questions following a visit to Space Operations New Zealand.

Luxon has been touring the facility in Southland with Environment Minister Penny Simmonds.

The stand-up is due to start around 2.45pm.

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/2026/02/12/live-prime-minister-christopher-luxon-to-face-questions-in-dunedin/

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DOC Community Fund will provide $9.2 million for community-led conservation

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  12 February 2026

New Zealand has the highest proportion of threatened indigenous species in the world, with more than 1,000 native species currently classified as ‘threatened’ by extinction, and almost two-thirds of our rare ecosystems at risk of collapse.

This new round of the DOC Community Fund will support local conservation activities to deliver tangible outcomes for biodiversity, promote collaboration, and enable meaningful Māori engagement.

Sia Aston, DOC Deputy Director-General Public Affairs and Partnerships, says the contributions of community groups enables greater outcomes for nature.

“Community groups play a pivotal role in protecting our native species and their habitats, and we know they bring a lot to table,” says Sia. “By drawing on the strengths and resources of these groups – like volunteer hours, expertise, or co funding – DOC can amplify the positive change they create.

“This reflects DOC’s goal for New Zealanders to ‘Always Be Naturing’; we can all make a bigger difference through shared effort, with every action adding up to support the nature we all rely on.

“Together we can achieve the best outcomes possible for our very special biodiversity, so I’m really excited to see what this round of applicants will bring to support critical conservation work around New Zealand.”

Community groups, iwi and hapū, as well as private landowners throughout the country can apply for the funding.

The 2026 funding round will open on 31 March and close on 30 April 2026, giving applicants more time to plan and engage with relevant parties. Details on how to apply are available on the DOC website. Successful applications will be announced from July 2026.

Background information

The DOC Community Fund (DOCCF) is a Crown fund established in 2014 that provides contestable funding for community-led biodiversity restoration projects on public and private land.

The DOCCF has an annual appropriation of $4.6 million (the 2026 round is doubled as it includes the 2026/27 appropriation).

Since 2014, the fund has awarded approximately $50 million to over 750 community conservation initiatives across New Zealand.

This round focuses on projects protecting threatened species (defined as Nationally Critical, Nationally Endangered, Nationally Vulnerable or Nationally increasing) and threatened ecosystems (defined as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable).

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/doc-community-fund-will-provide-9-2-million-for-community-led-conservation/

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Employment Disputes – New Zealanders warned about escalating NZPFU strike action

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is warning New Zealanders about the increasing threat posed by the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) escalating its industrial relations activity to two one-hour strikes per week. 
Strikes are currently planned between midday-1pm this coming Friday and Monday, with subsequent strike notices in place for 20, 23 and 27 February, and 2 March. 
During the strikes Fire and Emergency will still respond to emergency calls but is warning responses will be delayed in areas covered by professional firefighters as the closest, available volunteers will be responding from their stations. 
“We think striking when both parties are actively involved in facilitation needlessly puts the community at risk,” Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says. 
“We asked for facilitation as there was a significant gap between what we were offering and the NZPFU’s expectations.
“Our offer at the time amounted to a 6.2 percent average increase over 3 years and compared favourably with equivalent recent public sector agreements, but this was three times less than the NZPFU’s settlement proposal.” 
 Fire and Emergency’s pre-facilitation offer would have taken average senior firefighter salaries from a range of approximately $81,000-$87,000 to $86,000-$93,000 at the end of the period, excluding overtime and allowances, which currently add an average of almost $39,000 to annual remuneration.
Over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent, which is more than 10 percent above the average increase for all workers. 
“We continue to call on the NZPFU to call off its now twice-weekly strikes while the process of facilitation takes place. We remain committed to a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement so we can continue working to keep our communities safe.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/employment-disputes-new-zealanders-warned-about-escalating-nzpfu-strike-action/

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Weather News – Wet and windy weekend for many – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 12 – Monday 16 February
 

  • Orange Heavy Rain Watch on Friday for eastern Bay of Plenty/northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti
  • Yellow Heavy Rain Watches on Friday for much of the North Island
  • Lower temperatures expected from Saturday.

MetService is predicting the run of warmer-than-average temperatures will end this weekend, as a front moves over the South Island and a low pressure system starts to develop east of the North Island. Both features are expected to bring rain in their wake, as well as strong winds for the North Island and upper South Island. Thunderstorms with localised downpours are also possible for much of the North Island on Friday. Heavy Rain Watches have been issued over most of the North Island from Friday, with an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for eastern Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti.

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker states, “Warm and humid conditions over the North Island on Friday are likely to generate thunderstorms, with the potential for localised intense bursts of rain.”

The front moving up the South Island on Friday will bring a burst of heavy rain to western areas, with some rain making it east of the Alps. A southerly moving through on Saturday brings heavy showers and potential thunderstorms for Otago and Canterbury during the second half of the day.

While the low centre developing east of the North Island will be driving much of the weekend weather, its exact position is still uncertain. This means it is tricky to nail down the intensity and location of potential severe weather. The forecast position may change from one day to the next, so if you have plans over the weekend, it’s a good idea to keep checking the forecast.

“We’re currently predicting the rain will stay away until the tail end of Wellington’s Round the Bays on Sunday, which should motivate participants to keep up the pace. However, there will still be strong southerlies during the races, so take advantage of those tailwinds when you can,” advises Bakker.

We still have a couple of days of warmer temperatures and high humidity ahead of us, but things are set to change this weekend as cooler air pushes in from the south. A lot of the South Island will have a cooler-than-average weekend, with a few locations seeing a difference of more than ten degrees between Friday’s and Sunday’s maximum temperatures. Cooler temperatures move up the North Island through Saturday and should stick around into early next week.

For media enquiries or to arrange an interview with one of our meteorologists please call 04 4700 848 or email metcomms@metservice.com

Understanding MetService Severe Weather Warning System

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (Localised Red Warning) – take cover now:

This warning is a red warning for a localised area.
When extremely severe weather is occurring or will do within the hour.
Severe thunderstorms have the ability to have significant impacts for an area indicated in the warning.
In the event of a Severe Thunderstorm Red Warning: Act now!

Red Warnings are about taking immediate action:

When extremely severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Issued when an event is expected to be among the worst that we get – it will have significant impact and it is possible that a lot of people will be affected
In the event of a Red Warning: Act now!

Orange Warnings are about taking action:

When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather
In the event of an Orange Warning: Take action.

Thunderstorm Watch means thunderstorms are possible, be alert and consider action

Show the area that thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the validity period.
Although thunderstorms are often localised, the whole area is on watch as it is difficult to know exactly where the severe thunderstorm will occur within the mapped area.
During a thunderstorm Watch: Stay alert and take action if necessary.

Watches are about being alert:

When severe weather is possible, but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a warning to be issued
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather.
During a Watch: Stay alert

Outlooks are about looking ahead:

To provide advanced information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
Issued routinely once or twice a day
Recommendation: Plan.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/weather-news-wet-and-windy-weekend-for-many-metservice/

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Police clamp down following scooter robbery

Source: New Zealand Police

A man will scoot to court today following an alleged robbery in east Auckland yesterday afternoon.

Just after 4pm, Police were notified of an incident in Point England Road where a person had allegedly been assaulted and their scooter taken.

Auckland City East Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Tony Ngau Chun, says the victim was able to provide a detailed description of the alleged offender.

“Staff arrived quickly and were able to obtain a statement from the victim where he advised that the scooter was fitted with an AirTag.

“Based off that information Police attended an address in the nearby area and took one person into custody without issue.”

He says the scooter was also recovered from the property and returned to its rightful owner.

“We’re pleased we were able to locate this person and bring them before the Court to be held to account for their actions.”

A 49-year-old man will appear in Auckland District Court today charged with robbery.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/police-clamp-down-following-scooter-robbery/

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Legislation – Still time for NZ First to do the right thing by workers and vote down Fire at Will Bill – PSA

Source: PSA

The PSA is calling on New Zealand First to stand by New Zealand workers and vote down the most draconian anti-worker legislation since the notorious Employment Contracts Act in 1991.
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill was set to pass today but has now been removed from the Order Paper.
“Now is the time for NZ First to do the right thing and stand by New Zealand workers as this anti-worker bill goes through its final stages in Parliament,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The bill amounts to a radical change to every workplace and fire at will for each worker, it is a recipe for exploitation.
“There is nothing in the Coalition Agreements that would stop NZ First voting against the Bill at the conclusion of the Third Reading expected next week.
“NZ First has talked about being the party of ‘the responsible face of capitalism’. Responsible capitalism means basic protections for workers from unfair treatment which is what personal grievance remedies and contractor protections and are all about.
“The responsible thing to do right now is to vote against this bill which effectively allow employers to fire workers at will.
“NZ First indicated it wanted to make changes to these provisions at the Bill’s committee stages this week, believing they created a power imbalance but chose not to.
“It’s not too late. We urge NZ First to listen to the concerns of unions and workers before this bill becomes law and hands more power to employers to sack workers.
“We have already seen a huge shift in power to businesses. Workers have been penalised by the Government through 90-day trials, the scrapping of pay equity, the suppressing of minimum wage rises, and the axing of Fair Pay Agreements.
“Now is the time for NZ First to support New Zealand workers – the PSA urges NZ First to vote against the Employment Relations Amendment Bill.”
ENDS
Background Employment Relations Amendment Bill
In summary, the changes will:
– mean workers who are legally unfairly dismissed will have no proper remedies if they have contributed to the situation, however minor.
– allow employers to fire at will workers who are unjustifiably dismissed and earn more than $200,000 – they cannot access a personal grievance process for unjustified dismissal.
– remove the provision that automatically enrols new employees in collective agreements for 30 days. This means new workers will risk being exposed to 90-day fire-at-will trials before understanding the protections offered by collective agreements.
– allow employers to deem workers contractors removing their right to holiday and sick pay and means they can be fired at will – the law change written by multi-national ride share company Uber.
Previous statement
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/legislation-still-time-for-nz-first-to-do-the-right-thing-by-workers-and-vote-down-fire-at-will-bill-psa/

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Economy – Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the six months ended 31 December 2025

Source: The New Zealand Treasury

The Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the six months ended 31 December 2025 were released by the Treasury today. The December results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2025 (HYEFU 2025), published on 16 December 2025, and the results for the same period for the previous year.

The key fiscal indicators for the six months ended 31 December 2025 were overall favourable compared to the forecast. The Government’s main operating indicator, the operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx), showed a deficit of $5.2 billion. This deficit was $1.6 billion smaller than forecast. Net core Crown debt was lower than forecast by $2.0 billion at $191.4 billion, or 43.5% of GDP.

Core Crown tax revenue, at $60.0 billion, was $0.1 billion (0.2%) higher than forecast.

Core Crown expenses, at $71.4 billion, were $1.0 billion (1.3%) below forecast, reflecting lower spending across a range of functional classifications.

The operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx) was a deficit of $5.2 billion, $1.6 billion less than the forecast deficit. The ACC deficit was close to forecast. As a result, the OBEGAL deficit was $5.5 billion, $1.6 billion lower than the forecast deficit.

The operating balance was a surplus of $4.3 billion compared to a forecast surplus of $0.2 billion. The variance of $4.1 billion is due to a combination of the OBEGAL variance of $1.6 billion noted above, and stronger valuation gains compared to forecast on non-financial instruments ($2.2 billion) and financial instruments ($0.2 billion).

The core Crown residual cash deficit of $10.1 billion was $1.2 billion smaller than forecast, largely owing to lower-than-forecast net core Crown operating cash outflows of $0.6 billion and higher-than-forecast net core Crown capital cash inflows of $0.6 billion.

Net core Crown debt at $191.4 billion (43.5% of GDP) was $2.0 billion lower than forecast. This variance was largely due to the lower-than-forecast core Crown residual cash deficit of $1.2 billion noted above, as well as higher-than-forecast issuances of circulating currency of $0.6 billion.

Gross debt at $219.6 billion (49.9% of GDP) was $3.3 billion below forecast, largely owing to lower-than-forecast issuances of Euro Commercial Paper (ECP) and Treasury bills of $1.9 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively.

Net worth attributable to the Crown at $183.7 billion (41.8% of GDP) was $4.2 billion higher than forecast. This favourable variance largely reflects operating balance discussed previously.

  

  Year to date Full Year
December
2025
Actual1
$m		 December
2025
HYEFU 2025
Forecast1
$m		 Variance2
HYEFU 2025
$m		 Variance
HYEFU 2025
%		 June
2026
HYEFU 2025
Forecast3
$m
Core Crown tax revenue 59,993 59,855 138 0.2 124,198
Core Crown revenue 66,083 66,154 (71) (0.1) 136,919
Core Crown expenses 71,399 72,358 959 1.3 149,047
Core Crown residual cash (10,135) (11,345) 1,210 10.7 (14,802)
Net core Crown debt4 191,440 193,439 1,999 1.0 196,987
          as a percentage of GDP 43.5% 44.0%     43.3%
Gross debt 219,607 222,943 3,336 1.5 227,225
          as a percentage of GDP 49.9% 50.7%     50.0%
OBEGAL excluding ACC (OBEGALx) (5,160) (6,755) 1,595 23.6 (13,852)
OBEGAL (5,494) (7,046) 1,552 22.0 (16,934)
Operating balance (excluding minority interests) 4,277 162 4,115 –  (6,547)
Net worth attributable to the Crown 183,659 179,505 4,154 2.3 172,693
          as a percentage of GDP 41.8% 40.8%     38.0%
  1. Using the most recently published GDP (for the year ended 30 September 2025) of $439,709 million (Source: Stats NZ).
  2. Favourable variances against forecast have a positive sign and unfavourable variances against forecast have a negative sign.
  3. Using HYEFU 2025 forecast GDP for the year ending 30 June 2026 of $454,497 million (Source: The Treasury).
  4. Net core Crown debt excludes the NZS Fund and core Crown advances. Net core Crown debt may fluctuate during the year largely reflecting the timing of tax receipts.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/economy-interim-financial-statements-of-the-government-of-new-zealand-for-the-six-months-ended-31-december-2025/

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New DOC concessions support regional economies

Source: New Zealand Government

Long-term tourism concessions that will support jobs, strengthen regional economies, and keep visitor access open at key South Island destinations have been announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.

The decisions include a 38-year concession for The Remarkables Ski Area, and a 30-year guided walking concession on the Milford Track and a 25-year concession for Te Ana-au Caves in Fiordland Te Rua o te Moko. 

“My focus is supporting jobs and regional economies.

“Long-term concessions give operators the certainty they need to invest, train staff, and plan ahead,” Mr Potaka says.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says the decisions provide important confidence for the tourism sector and the regional economies that depend on it.

“Tourism supports thousands of jobs across the South Island. Giving operators long-term certainty helps businesses invest, retain staff, and deliver high-quality experiences for visitors, while supporting local communities,” Ms Upston says.

A 38-year concession has been issued to NZSki for The Remarkables, supporting jobs across Queenstown visitor economy, including hundreds of roles and local businesses. Public access to surrounding areas will continue.

In Fiordland Te Rua o te Moko, a 30-year guided walking concession for Tourism Milford Limited (Ultimate Hikes) will allow guided walking on the Milford Track to continue long term, supporting jobs across transport, accommodation and tourism services.

“These decisions strike the right balance of protecting our natural environment, supporting regional livelihoods, and ensuring people can continue to enjoy these places safely and responsibly,” Mr Potaka says.

These concessions include enforceable environmental and safety conditions, with the Department retaining full regulatory oversight.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/new-doc-concessions-support-regional-economies/

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Funding approved for final stretch of Eastern Busway

Source: New Zealand Government

The final stretch of the Eastern Busway in Botany can now get underway, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say.

“The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Auckland Council have confirmed $101 million in funding to build the Botany link route at Guys Reserve, meaning more efficient transport choices are on the way for Aucklanders living in Botany,” Mr Bishop says.
“This is the final piece of the $1.4 billion Eastern Busway project. It’s a key part of Auckland’s rapid transit network, connecting East Auckland to the wider region and providing faster, more reliable journeys.

“Connecting Botany to Pakuranga and Panmure, with largely separated busways, means travel from Botany to Auckland’s city centre will take a reliable 40 minutes by bus and train.

“By 2028 the Eastern Busway is forecasted to carry 18,000 passengers per day, with 24,000 passengers per day by 2048.

“Alongside the City Rail Link, which opens this year, these projects will reshape the way people get around Auckland. The already-open Panmure to Pakuranga busway is proof of how rapid transit can give people better access to jobs and opportunities across the city.”

“The Eastern Busway is a major joint investment by the Government and Auckland Council, delivering 7km of dedicated busway, five new bus stations, and the Reeves Road Flyover,” Minister Brown says.

“Completing the full busway through to Botany Town Centre is a key milestone. It will integrate with the future Airport to Botany Busway and improve public transport options for people living and working in East Auckland.

“Some claimed that removing Labour’s Regional Fuel Tax in Auckland would stop this project. We axed the tax, Aucklanders are saving money every time they fill up, and the Eastern Busway is being delivered in full. Actions speak louder than words.

“Construction on the final section will begin in March, with work continuing at pace along Tī Rākau Drive to deliver the rest of the corridor.

“I look forward to getting out on site in the coming months with Minister Bishop and Mayor Brown to mark the start of construction and see this important project moving forward for Auckland.“

Notes to editor:

  • The Eastern Busway is delivered by an alliance of Auckland Transport with Fletcher Construction, ACCIONA, AECOM and Jacobs, in partnership with mana whenua.
  • The project includes 12km of dedicated walking and cycleways, 7km of busway and 5 new stations. It will deliver wide-ranging benefits for the area, increasing access to jobs and education, and attracting investment and growth.
  • In mid-February, construction along Tī Rākau Drive will move into its next milestone configuration as traffic heading towards Botany shifts temporarily onto the new busway lanes, opening up the next construction area for work to begin. As Auckland Transport continues to construct the busway along Tī Rākau Drive, two lanes will always remain open in each direction for vehicles.
  • People can already use the busway between Pakūranga and Panmure Station, where they can connect to trains to the city and the south. When the City Rail Link opens in the second half of this year, people will be able to easily get to even more places on a bus and direct train such as Eden Park, New Lynn and Henderson.
  • The Eastern Busway will open in 2027.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/12/funding-approved-for-final-stretch-of-eastern-busway/

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Government launches inquiry into deadly Mount Maunganui landslide

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bouquets and tributes at the Mount Maunganui landslide cordon. Ayla Yeoman

The government has confirmed it will launch an inquiry into the fatal landslide at Mount Maunganui last month.

Six people died after a portion of the maunga collapsed onto a section of a campground on 22 January.

Associate Emergency Management Minister Chris Penk was delegated responsibility for investigating whether the government would conduct an inquiry, separate from the Tauranga City Council’s inquiry.

Penk has confirmed to RNZ that Cabinet has agreed to the inquiry.

“It’s clear those directly affected by this tragic and unimaginable loss, alongside the wider community, want to understand how these events occurred, and whether anything could have been done to prevent them,” he said.

Penk said the next step would be to take a detailed paper to Cabinet, setting out the proposed scope, terms of reference, budget, and who will be appointed to lead it.

“Those responsible for the inquiry will be required to communicate with the families of the victims about its process and progress. It is my sincere hope that undertaking an Inquiry will help provide answers for all.”

The government has previously said there was a strong case for launching an independent inquiry, following conversations with the families of those who had lost their lives.

The Tauranga City Council has launched a separate independent review, focusing on the events leading up to the landslide at the base of Mauao.

The fact that the council owned the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park meant councillors had noted there was an inherent conflict, and so expected the Crown would order an inquiry as well.

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/2026/02/12/government-launches-inquiry-into-deadly-mount-maunganui-landslide/

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Alice Robinson about to start third Olympic campaign ‘a lot more calm this time’

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand skier Alice Robinson. Pierre Teyssot / PHOTOSPORT

Queenstown skier Alice Robinson feels she’s in the best place she has ever been heading into a Winter Olympics.

The 24-year-old is competing in her third Olympics and opens her Milano Cortina campaign on Thursday night in the Super Giant Slalom event.

She admits that she wasn’t in the best position to perform in her previous Games’ experiences, but that has changed in 2026.

At just 16, she became New Zealand’s youngest-ever Winter Olympian when she attended her first Olympics in South Korea in 2018.

Robinson believes she was selected to gain some experience as a future prospect. She finished 35th in the giant slalom and failed to finish the first run of the slalom event.

Four years later in Beijing, Robinson was 25th in the downhill, 22nd in the giant slalom and crashed out of the super-G.

In 2022 the world was still recovering from the pandemic, Robinson had been forced to stay away from New Zealand for a couple of years, and had just recovered from Covid herself.

“It was really tough for me and I definitely felt like I couldn’t put my best foot forward, so absolutely that is my goal to make my third time a charm and put my best skiing on show and we’ll see what happens from there. I’m a lot more calm this time around,” Robinson said.

New Zealand’s Alice Robinson competes in the Women’s Super G event of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2025-2026, in St. Moritz. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Robinson can’t believe that she is all set to compete in her third Olympics and admits the feeling this time is quite different.

“Probably because we’re in Europe rather than Asia so it is a bit more of a familiar environment for me. There is always that extra hype and excitement surrounding the Olympics and while my preparation hasn’t changed, there has been a lot of talk [about the Olympics].

Her form is probably also helping in her approach to the Games.

The giant slalom had been Robinson’s preferred event in recent years, but this season she has also featured in the faster super-G with a first and a second in world cup races.

“I’ve always really enjoyed racing it and it is really good to have two events as it kind of takes the pressure off a little bit putting your energy into two events rather than being solely focussed on one.”

New Zealand skier Alice Robinson © Erich Spiess / Red Bull Content Pool 2025 / PHOTOSPORT

So what has been the difference this season?

“It is a mixture of being courageous but also being smart to allow me to ski at my best. Approaching every race tactically and consciously as well, that will be my mantra moving forward.

“It is cool going into an Olympics knowing that you have the potential to do something and not just going to participate and to know that I have the capability to get results.”

Robinson credits her Kiwi team including Nils Coberger, Tim Cafe, and Alex Hull for her improvement this season, but admits she is still someway off being at her best.

“Every year I learn more and more and every year I think I’ve got it figured out and then I look back at myself and think goodness I didn’t know anything.”

First-placed New Zealand’s Alice Robinson celebrates on the podium after the Women’s Super G event of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2025-2026, in St. Moritz. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

She is also excited to be flying the New Zealand flag again and hopefully have more Kiwi fans watching her in action.

“In Europe there are so many resources that are behind these big teams so it sort of feels like David verses Goliath going up against these teams.

“It has always been a bit of a motivator for me to come from New Zealand and be competing against these countries where it is a religion and knowing our little team is going up against that, it makes me really proud.”

Alice Robinson’s schedule

  • Thursday, 12 February: 11.30pm women’s alpine skiing Super Giant Slalom – final
  • Sunday, 15 February: 10pm: women’s alpine skiing Giant Slalom, run 1
  • Monday, 16 February: 1.30am: women’s alpine skiing Giant Slalom, run 2 – final

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/2026/02/12/alice-robinson-about-to-start-third-olympic-campaign-a-lot-more-calm-this-time/

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One in court following vehicle theft and attempted vehicle theft in Christchurch

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Senior Sergeant Hamish Keer-Keer

A 28-year-old Christchurch man is before the courts after unlawfully taking a vehicle and attempting to take further vehicles.

About 9.35pm on Wednesday 11 February, Police were called to Queen Elizabeth II Drive after a man allegedly stole another person’s vehicle following a three-vehicle crash.

It is reported the alleged offender crashed into two stationary vehicles at the intersection with Main North Road, before approaching another car involved in the crash.

The man has forced the driver from the car before leaving the area in the vehicle.

The stolen car has then been abandoned on Harewood Road where the offender has attempted to take a second vehicle, pulling a person from the driver’s seat.

After being unsuccessful in taking the vehicle, the man has abandoned the car before allegedly attempting to unlawfully take three further vehicles.

Fortunately, these drivers were able to drive away to safety.

A short time later, Police located the offender on Papanui Road where he was taken into custody without incident.

Following an initial search of the man’s first vehicle located on Queen Elizabeth II Drive, cannabis and items indicating supply were located.

Police continue to make enquiries into the circumstances of the incident.

While there were no serious injuries, a number of people have been left shaken by this incident and Police are providing them with support.

The 28-year-old man is due to appear in Christchurch District Court today, charged with possession of cannabis for supply, careless driving, driving in a dangerous manner, two counts of failing to stop or ascertain injury, and two counts of robbery.

If you have any information in relation to this incident, please get in touch with us online at 105.police.govt.nz, or call 105.

Please use the reference number 260212/9665.

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/2026/02/12/one-in-court-following-vehicle-theft-and-attempted-vehicle-theft-in-christchurch/