Category: Politics

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‘His legs were like jelly’ – man hospitalised for huffing nangs

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nitrous oxide is used recreationally for a high that can cause serious side effects. File photo. AFP / BENJAMIN POLGE

The mother of a man who still has nerve damage more than a year after huffing nitrous oxide – and is no longer unable to work in construction – wants tougher regulation around nangs.

Health and community leaders are concerned about a surge in huffing – including in Hawke’s Bay, where hundreds of kilos of large discarded canisters have been collected. Two cases of nerve damage in the region have also been linked to huffing nitrous oxide recently.

The gas has legitimate medical and catering uses, but is also used recreationally for a high that can cause serious side effects.

While it is illegal to sell nitrous oxide for huffing, a Checkpoint investigation found stores are selling large canisters of the gas that are the equivalent of hundreds of hits – with virtually no questions asked.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation has said recreational drug users often inhale it for a short-lived high.

However, the availability of thermos-sized canisters of the gas have community leaders and doctors seriously concerned about the safety and health risks linked to consuming large quantities of the gas.

One mother – who does not want to be named – says her son was buying large quantities of the gas and thought he could manage his doses.

But she told Checkpoint that things got serious when he started losing his balance.

“It was almost like he was drunk and couldn’t hold his balance, and his legs were like jelly.”

She said it was not constant, but there were times when he could not use a knife and fork.

“He just couldn’t grip it correctly, and was really struggling.

“He said he couldn’t feel his feet or his fingers, so they were completely numb and he had no sensation in his feet.”

She eventually took him to hospital after hearing him “crash” in their home at Christmas 2024.

“I was devastated. We just didn’t know what was wrong…and we just took him to hospital,” she said.

The woman says her son continues to suffer nerve damage, and that he had been purchasing the large canister products “regularly” from dairies when he became ill.

“I don’t know how much he was using, but I think to get into the state that he was, it was extreme,” she said.

“I was shocked that he just bought it from the local dairy.”

When she took him to hospital in late 2024, he ended up being admitted for an eight-day stay.

“He said he couldn’t feel his feet and his fingers, so they were completely numb and he had no sensation in his feet.

“It was almost like he was drunk and couldn’t hold his balance and…his legs kind of were jelly. But that wasn’t constant.

“And the real challenging time was when he couldn’t use a knife and fork, like he just couldn’t hold it, grip it correctly and… was just really struggling.”

The woman shared her story with Checkpoint because she wanted people to understand how dangerous nitrous oxide was, and that it was easily accessible – despite requirements under the Psychoactive Substances Act.

She said the ongoing impacts on her son, who previously worked in the construction industry, had been particularly heartbreaking.

“The thing is…my son was trying to be a responsible user and had looked into the adverse effects of using this drug and saw that it depleted vitamin B12, so he was taking B12.

“But it obviously was not enough.”

She said it took about 10 hours for doctors at the hospital to establish her son’s symptoms were a result of nerve damage from low levels of vitamin B12 and nitrous oxide use.

More than a year later, he continued to have problems and had not been able to return to his work in the construction industry.

“He obviously can use a knife and fork and things more easily now…but I feel like he hasn’t got 100 percent sensation back in his feet,” she said.

“I know nerves do take a long time to heal and grow back, but we’re talking about 15 months since he was hospitalised.”

She said she was so angry by what happened to her son, and that there was no information out there about how to deal with it.

“It’s just horrifying, I just can’t believe it’s happening still. The minister needs to stop it being sold through dairies for a start. It’s just crazy and there needs to be some regulation around it.”

Health Minister Simeon Brown previously said the government took nitrous oxide misuse “very seriously”.

He highlighted tougher enforcement measures around sale of the gas, which were introduced last year.

“These changes were designed to provide greater clarity for retailers and enforcement agencies, and to ensure there are appropriate consequences when the law is not followed,” he said in a statement.

“I have requested advice on how effective these changes have been, including whether the penalties are adequate, to ensure we can keep New Zealanders safe.”

For anyone affected by issues discussed in this story, free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor. Or call 0800 Lifeline or text HELP to 4357.

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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/2026/02/16/his-legs-were-like-jelly-man-hospitalised-for-huffing-nangs/

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Can artificial intelligence legally be an inventor?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Stephen Thaler is seeking a patent for a new type of food container. RNZ

An American computer scientist wants New Zealand’s courts to decide whether AI can legally be an inventor in a global test case next week.

Stephen Thaler is seeking a patent for a new type of food container.

The sticking point is he named his artificial intelligence system, called DABUS, as the inventor.

The Patent Office turned his application down in 2022, and the High Court agreed, with both saying an “inventor” had to be human.

Thaler was set to challenge that in the Court of Appeal on February 24.

His lawyer Clive Elliott KC said when Thaler filled out his application for a patent, he was simply stating the truth.

“He didn’t actually invent this food container, it was his machine,” he said.

“He invented what he calls an autonomous invention machine, in other words, an AI system which is itself able to invent.”

But in its 2023 decision, the High Court said the law in New Zealand did not allow for DABUS to get the credit.

“If the legislators had intended to allow granting of patents in New Zealand for inventions devised solely by non-humans such as artificial intelligences, or life forms other than human beings they would have drafted the Act to accommodate these possibilities specifically and explicitly,” it said.

But Elliot said New Zealand’s Patents Act was only passed in 2013 so parliament knew about artificial intelligence when they created it – and did not exclude it.

Auckland University professor Alex Sims says NZ faces the risk of being left behind. Supplied

Auckland University law professor and intellectual property expert Alex Sims said beyond the technicalities of the case, there was a bigger picture about whether AI could truly be an inventor.

“What AI does is it’s hoovering up human creativity and then it’s using that to produce something. So some people would actually argue that it’s not being creative because it’s all premised on what has gone before,” she said.

Thaler was part of a group taking cases about AI and patents around the world to try to set a precedent.

Auckland University lecturer Joshua Yuvaraj followed his – unsuccessful – attempt in Australia.

People had been at the heart of intellectual property law as it developed over centuries, because there was no mechanism for creation other than the human mind, he said.

“That is why AI is challenging that notion because AI, it appears, can do a lot of what the human mind can do is the argument. That is the tension that IP law is facing.”

The food container US computer scientist Stephen Thaler says was invented by his AI and should be given a patent. Supplied

Patent were seen as important because they would determine whether someone’s designs could be protected if they were created by AI.

“Say you use an AI to make a new type of e-scooter or a new type of kettle or a new coffee machine, if you can’t register that patent then someone can take that idea and make money off your idea,” he said

Sims said many countries tended to be in lock step when it came to intellectual property law.

Most were grappling with the AI patent challenge.

An inquiry in the UK had considered the issue and those it talked to had mixed views, she said.

Some people worried by not allowing AI patents, it could stifle creativity and innovation because people would tend not to use AI.

Others worried letting AI be an inventor would push people out of the creative process, she said.

Thaler and his group were testing the law in several countries but had been unsuccessful everywhere but South Africa, which was considered to have a unique style of IP law.

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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/2026/02/16/can-artificial-intelligence-legally-be-an-inventor/

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Sewage spill stinks of double standards – Federated Farmers dairy chair

Source: Federated Farmers
By Karl Dean, Federated Farmers dairy chair
This month Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater treatment plant failed catastrophically, sending an estimated 70 million litres of untreated sewage straight into the ocean each day.
Mayor Andrew Little called it an environmental disaster and Wellingtonians have been told it could be months before the south coast waters are swimmable again.
This is a major stuff-up, but one question keeps coming back to me: will those responsible be held to the same standards we demand of Kiwi farmers?
As farmers, we’re no strangers to regulation. Our businesses must comply with strict environmental rules, and we know there are consequences for non-compliance.
Breaches can carry hefty fines, legal action, reputational damage – and in some cases, a criminal conviction against a farmer’s name for life.
We take this seriously, as we should, because farmers have a responsibility to protect waterways and communities.
But is what we’re seeing in Wellington a glaring example of a double standard in environmental accountability?
If a dairy farmer had pumped raw effluent into a local waterway, even by accident, there’d be no debate.
Resource consent conditions would have been breached, immediate investigations would follow, and criminal charges would likely be laid.
So, will we see the same scrutiny of large, publicly managed infrastructure?
Will the manager of the wastewater treatment plant be held personally responsible?
Will Wellington’s mayor, councillors or chief executive be held accountable for long-term underinvestment in critical water infrastructure?
Will there be enforcement action against the council or contractors involved?
It’s fair to assume the answer will probably be a resounding no – or at least, not in a timely or visible way.
I commend Nick Leggett for resigning as chair of Wellington Water following the sewage crisis. He’s done the right thing, but real accountability shouldn’t stop with one resignation when the failure runs far deeper.
Andrew Little has called for an independent inquiry, which is promising, but I highly doubt we’ll see any individuals held to account.
Much was made of The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai being the three waters regulator, which includes wastewater.
The Three Waters Review raised system-wide concerns about whether the regulatory regime was fit for purpose.
Taumata Arowai was presented as a key part of the fix, yet they’ve been strangely silent throughout this debacle, effectively saying: ‘It’s not our job’.
They say it’s Greater Wellington Regional Council’s (GWRC) role to be the primary regulator when it comes to wastewater overflows or breaches of wastewater consents.
That means it’s GWRC’s job to take enforcement action, but the council is a one-sixth shareholder in Wellington Water, the company responsible for the discharge.
That seems like self-regulation to me and doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence.
Let me be clear: this isn’t about farmers versus councils. It’s about fairness and consistency.
If we’re going to demand one sector follows strict rules under threat of penalties, those standards must apply to everyone.
Anything less erodes trust in our environmental system.
There are plenty of cases where individual farm employers or managers have been prosecuted for breaches of resource consent or environmental regulations, when the consent is in the name of a company. That same logic should apply here.
If a publicly managed facility can discharge untreated sewage – millions of litres a day, for an extended period – without consequence, what message does that send? That the rules are good for some, but not for all?
It also raises serious questions about advocacy and media coverage.
Activist groups usually quick to criticise farmers for environmental missteps because it suits their political narrative have been notably quiet.
Greenpeace, for example, haven’t said a thing about the millions of litres of untreated human waste flowing into the ocean each day in Wellington.
Yet they somehow found time to vandalise a salmon statue in Rakaia this week while ranting and raving about the evils of the dairy sector.
Why the silence? Because this disaster doesn’t align with their preferred villains.
New Zealanders care about clean water, and so do farmers.
We work hard every day to meet our obligations, often under challenging conditions, knowing the consequences of failure are real and enforceable.
But accountability must be universal; environmental laws and consent conditions can’t be selectively enforced.
If we want the public to trust that environmental protections are fair and effective, we must apply the same standards to all operators – farm or council, private or public.
The Wellington sewage spill is a clear reminder that environmental stewardship is everyone’s responsibility.
Farmers are already doing our part – but we also expect the same of every other sector.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/sewage-spill-stinks-of-double-standards-federated-farmers-dairy-chair/

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Universities – What New Zealand can learn from Japan on earthquake insurance – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Rohan Havelock is investigating how New Zealand’s earthquake insurance stacks up against Japan’s

Shortly after Associate Professor Rohan Havelock arrived in Japan to study its earthquake insurance system, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake damaged nearly 4,000 homes and buildings in Aomori Prefecture.

For the University of Auckland insurance law specialist, it was a reminder of the value of an insurance system that works for homeowners.

New Zealand’s earthquake insurance combines private insurance with government-provided statutory cover. Statutory insurance, says Havelock, pays first, up to a set limit for residential buildings and land, and private insurance typically covers additional building damage only.

After the Canterbury earthquakes, more than 460,000 claims were lodged with the former Earthquake Commission, far exceeding its capacity. Slow claims processing, significant litigation, and the insolvency of two insurers followed. Some claims remained unresolved after a decade.

New Zealand’s subsequent reforms included the Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023 and the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024, but the dual system continues and Havelock believes similar problems are likely to occur after the next big quake.

“There’s a need for more carefully considered reform, especially relating to standard terms, handling of claims and dispute resolution.”

What can New Zealand learn from Japan?

Havelock says New Zealand could follow Japan’s lead in three ways:
First, Japan’s earthquake premiums are priced to match risk: they’re based on a building’s location, age, construction and earthquake strength. In New Zealand, Natural Hazards Insurance is funded through a flat levy: 16c for every $100 of insured building value.

“This means that owners of more risky homes are subsidised by owners of less risky homes, and also that there’s no incentive to strengthen homes against earthquakes, or for owners to move away from earthquake-prone areas,” he says.

Second, Japan’s earthquake insurance is based not on quantifying actual loss, which can be resource-intensive and time-consuming, but on classifying loss into four types: total loss, large half loss, small half loss, or partial loss.

Settlement is invariably by payment (instead of the insurer undertaking repairs or reinstatement), which Havelock says means assessment and claims settlement is rapid and there are fewer disputes over what is necessary.

Third, he says Japan’s dispute resolution process is notably efficient and arguably more claimant friendly.

“Insurers routinely offer re-inspection or review of decisions, which resolves a large proportion of disputes.”

If disagreement continues, Havelock says the main pathway is through the ‘Financial Alternative Dispute Resolution’ system, involving an experienced mediator. This is non-adversarial and is free of filing or hearing fees, says Havelock. “Very few disputes proceed to litigation.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/universities-what-new-zealand-can-learn-from-japan-on-earthquake-insurance-uoa/

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Moa Point sewage failure to be independently reviewed

Source: Radio New Zealand

Moa Point. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The government has confirmed there will be an independent review looking into the Moa Point treatment plant failure.

On 4 February, the plant failed, sending millions of litres of raw sewage into the Cook Strait per day.

Last week, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little met with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Local Government Minister Simon Watts to discuss the treatment plant’s failure.

Following the meeting, Little said the three agreed an independent inquiry was needed.

Watts said the failure of the capital’s wastewater infrastructure, and the impact it has had on communities, the economy and the environment were “completely unacceptable” and an “independent and transparent” inquiry was required to determine the causes.

“The public is owed the assurance that we understand what led to this failure and that we are taking steps to prevent it from happening again.”

The Crown review team, made up of independent senior water services sector figures with “relevant technical engineering, governance, commercial and legal expertise” will be appointed to both Wellington City Council and Wellington Water.

Mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii

“The review team will be tasked with delivering clear, actionable recommendations which set out concrete next steps, including specific actions for Wellington City Council where necessary,” Watts said.

Because management of water services will move from Wellington Water to the new council-controlled organisation Tiaki Wai Ltd, Watts said timely findings and recommendations were needed.

On Sunday, Wellington Water chair Nick Leggett resigned, saying stepping aside would allow Wellington Water to focus on fixing the problems and restoring public trust.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/16/moa-point-sewage-failure-to-be-independently-reviewed/

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Independent review into Moa Point failures

Source: New Zealand Government

A Crown Review Team will conduct an independent review into Wellington Water’s Moa Point sewage plant failure, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says.

“The failure of a key part of our capital city’s critical wastewater infrastructure and the ensuing impact on communities, the local economy and the environment are completely unacceptable,” Mr Watts says.

“After discussions with Wellington Mayor Andrew Little we have agreed an independent and transparent investigation is required to determine the causes of this failure. 

“The public is owed the assurance that we understand what led to this failure and that we are taking steps to prevent it from happening again.”

The team will comprise independent senior water services sector figures with relevant technical engineering, governance, commercial and legal expertise.

The plant is owned by Wellington City but Wellington Water Ltd is responsible for its operation. Therefore, the review team will be appointed to both Wellington City Council and to Wellington Water Ltd in a parallel process to ensure it has the necessary scope to fully investigate and report on the failure of the Moa Point Plant.

“The review team will be tasked with delivering clear, actionable recommendations which set out concrete next steps, including specific actions for Wellington City Council where necessary,” Mr Watts says.

Under Local Water Done Well, management of the metropolitan Wellington region’s water services will soon transfer from Wellington Water to the new council-controlled organisation (CCO) Tiaki Wai Ltd.

“Given this imminent change and the ensuing transfer of assets to the new CCO, including the Moa Point plant, we need timely findings and recommendations,” Mr Watts says.

“As a nation, the need to invest more in our water infrastructure is clear as we fix the basics and build the future. We need to make sure ratepayers’ investment in water infrastructure is used wisely.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/independent-review-into-moa-point-failures/

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Northland News – Hapū-led biosecurity response framework sets new standard for community action

Source: Northland Regional Council

After tonnes of the invasive seaweed exotic caulerpa washed up on Bay of Islands beaches last year, one call on the ‘kumara vine’ was all it took for Te Taitokerau hapū to spring into action, with hundreds mobilising to help with the clean-up and prevent further spread.
That rapid response saw the birth of Te Tira Taiao o Te Taitokerau – a first-of-its-kind, hapū-led biosecurity response framework – marking a significant shift in how biosecurity risks are identified, communicated and responded to at a community level.
Te Ruarangi co-chair and Te Tira Taiao o Te Taitokerau lead Nyze Manuel says the framework draws on long-established hapū relationships, tikanga and local knowledge, first tested during Covid through the Te Taitokerau Border Control.
Manuel says Te Tira Taiao o Te Taitokerau is an extension of that mahi, bringing together hapū, Northland Regional Council (NRC) and the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to respond quickly and effectively to emerging biosecurity threats.
“This network isn’t something new – it’s whakapapa, it’s whanaungatanga and it’s been stood up because of the condition of our taiao,” Manuel says.
“It’s a model based on hapū concern. We’ve been working in what people might call ‘underground’, but really we were just doing what our tūpuna have always done ki mai rānō (forever) – noticing changes in our taiao and discussing our concerns collectively.
“What’s different now is that this way of working is being formally recognised and supported by councils and other agencies.”
Education as the first line of defence
A key focus of the framework, Manuel says, is normalising conversations about biosecurity risks so people know what to look for, why it matters and what to do if they find something.
Te Tira Taiao o Te Taitokerau is also unique in its approach as it prioritises prevention, education and mobilisation, led by people who know their environment and communities best.
When the exotic caulerpa response pilot launched last year, Manuel says many people didn’t know what it was, what signs to look for, or how to report it.
In response, the group has rolled out locally tailored signage (funded by MPI), hapū-led engagement and clear reporting pathways across high-use areas in Northland, including boat ramps, marinas and coastal access points.
“That was the gap – people just didn’t know what it was,” Manuel says.
“Now our hapū are out there on the ground as kaitiaki, we’re normalising conversations around biosecurity, using caulerpa as our springboard.
“Each sign includes a local contact person, which then feeds into a centralised MPI database.
“People can’t report what they don’t understand, so education is our most powerful tool.”
Working alongside NRC and MPI
While leadership sits with hapū, the framework works in partnership with regional and central government agencies, including NRC and MPI, to ensure information flows quickly and appropriate action can be taken.
NRC Deputy Chair Jack Craw, who chairs the council’s Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party, says the framework significantly strengthens early detection by increasing the number of trusted ‘eyes on the water’, particularly in remote coastal areas.
“It reflects the reality that locals are often the first to notice change,” he says.
“People who’ve dived, fished or gathered kai in the same places their whole lives will notice something different straight away. That local knowledge has already been critical in identifying exotic caulerpa early in places like Aotea and the Bay of Islands.”
The framework also recognises that biosecurity threats are not just environmental or economic, but impact cultural practices, identity, wellbeing and intergenerational relationships with the whenua and moana.
For hapū and iwi, protecting coastal environments is about safeguarding whakapapa and ensuring future generations can continue practices such as gathering kai, fishing and caring for wāhi tapū.
Looking ahead
Manuel says while the framework offers lessons for other regions, it is not a one-size-fits-all model, with success dependent on long-term relationships, shared accountability and deep community connection.
Instead, it demonstrates what is possible when hapū leadership is resourced, respected and partnered with.
“People have tried to replicate the model and failed because they don’t have the relationships or trust of those leading the kaupapa,” Manuel says.
“This kaupapa holds the tikanga of old, whereby back in the day, each hapū or whānau held different portfolios- whether on the moana, whakapapa or elsewhere.
“We do the same today because there’s no ‘I’ in this mahi. We can’t do everything on our own and will always need each other.”
With biosecurity risks expected to increase, the framework provides a strong foundation for responses to both current and emerging threats.
By centring hapū leadership, collective action and preventative education, it positions communities as active protectors of their environments, working alongside councils and agencies.
The framework is supported through MPI funding, with NRC focused on enabling and resourcing community-led action. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/northland-news-hapu-led-biosecurity-response-framework-sets-new-standard-for-community-action/

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Live: Labour leader Chris Hipkins takes questions in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is in Auckland and taking questions on the news of the day including the severe weather and the Prime Minister’s announcement of a State of Origin game at Eden Park.

More to come…

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File photo. Labour leader Chris Hipkins Samuel Rillstone

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/16/live-labour-leader-chris-hipkins-takes-questions-in-auckland/

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Environment – Mine e-waste for gold, not beautiful landscapes – Zero Waste

Source:  Zero Waste Aotearoa

As a fast-track consent is sought for a major gold mine in Central Otago and another has already been granted in Coromandel, Zero Waste Aotearoa is calling upon the government to mine electronic waste, not beautiful landscapes, for gold and other precious metals.

E-waste contains a significant concentration of gold, with one metric tonne of electronic waste containing up to 800 times more gold than a tonne of mined ore. While precious metals (including gold, silver, copper) make up approximately 60% of the composition of some e-waste, gold specifically is highly concentrated, with a single tonne of circuit boards containing roughly 39 grams of gold.

New Zealand currently generates 99,000 tonnes of e-waste every single year. Approximately 98 percent ends up in landfill or is disposed of illegally, according to the Ministry for the Environment.

“At present the voluntary product stewardship scheme means that we have one of the lowest rates of e-waste recovery in the world. We are literally throwing gold away into landfills while proposing to dig it up elsewhere in some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. It is the height of madness,” says Sue Coutts of Zero Waste Aotearoa.

“Like many people across the country, we are gravely concerned about the environmental impact of gold mining. We think that there are much better ways to get these valuable resources – and ensure that they stay in circulation forever, not dumped in landfills.”

“The World Gold Council says that only 7% of gold is used in tech but 27% of worldwide gold production is already from recycling. This is more than 4 times what we need for tech – there is no valid reason to dig up any more of our precious ecosystems.”

“Product stewardship would create a pathway for a new industry: one built on resource recovery of valuable materials and a circular economy.”

NZ company MINT Innovation relocated to Sydney because they could tap into flows of e-waste from extended producer responsibility schemes that collect electronic waste in Australia.

They chose not to invest in NZ because there is no regulated e-waste scheme here. That’s $60m in turnover that will be dropping into the Australian economy every year instead of ours.

E-waste was declared a priority product in June 2020 requiring the establishment of a regulated product stewardship scheme under the Waste Minimisation Act. Yet six years on, a mandatory scheme is not in place and no further work is being done.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/environment-mine-e-waste-for-gold-not-beautiful-landscapes-zero-waste/

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ‘open’ to looking at bed tax in a second term

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s announcement about a plan to establish an LNG import facility, and the levy to fund it, has been badly received. Marika Khabazi / RNZ

Christopher Luxon has continually ruled out a bed tax, despite frequent calls from Auckland mayor Wayne Brown to implement one.

Brown’s argument has been that a bed night levy on visitors, separate to the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism levy, would help fund destination marketing and events.

Luxon was speaking to Morning Report after the announcement a State of Origin match will be played at Eden Park in 2027, co-funded by Auckland Council Events and the government’s Major Events Fund.

He said a bed tax was something the government would take a look at in a second term.

“We’re not considering it for this term, but we’re open to looking at it, again, next term. So we’ll do that process,” Luxon said.

Luxon said the country needed to “step up our competitiveness” on major events, and the government was putting in an amount of money comparable to Australian states.

“As you can see, we’re winning major events, and we’ve got quite a few coming right across the whole of New Zealand.”

Luxon said every dollar spent led to around $3.20 back into the local economy.

Brown was still making calls for a bed tax as recently as last week.

“The government can’t bring itself to do that yet, so that they’re raiding tourists at the border. And then central government will tell us how we spend on things, which is something we don’t like,” Brown told Morning Report.

“All these big events want some money up front. And if we have the bed night levy we will have the money up front.”

Brown has previously said a 2.5 percent bed tax would raise $27 million, and allow Auckland to compete with cities like Sydney, which has a bed night levy.

Wayne Brown MARIKA KHABAZI / RNZ

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), Tourism Holdings chief executive Grant Webster, [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/574936/hotel-bed-tax-in-auckland-could-boost-tourism-fund-major-events Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck, and former Air New Zealand chief executive [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/571315/air-new-zealand-s-profit-falls-amid-rising-costs-and-engine-maintenance

Greg Foran], have also expressed support for a bed tax.

In August 2024, a Curia poll commissioned by LGNZ found strong support for a bed tax.

One thousand people were asked “How should the local infrastructure and services that tourists use should be paid for?”

Only 8 percent said rates should pay for the lot, with 34 percent saying tourist fees and charges should be used instead, and 45 percent wanting a combination of the two. Another 13 percent were unsure.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/16/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-open-to-looking-at-bed-tax-in-a-second-term/

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Minister to attend AI Impact Summit in India

Source: New Zealand Government

Science, Innovation and Technology and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti will visit India this week to attend the flagship artificial intelligence (AI) Impact Summit, strengthening international AI partnerships and unlocking opportunities for New Zealand. The theme for the summit is ‘AI for People, Planet and Progress’.

“Attendance at this summit ensures New Zealand has a seat at the table, along with senior international Ministers and officials, to help shape global AI standards, while providing opportunities to strengthen international partnerships and drive economic growth,” Dr Reti says.

“As highlighted in the New Zealand AI Strategy, AI has enormous potential to lift productivity and grow our economy, with some estimates predicting that generative AI alone could add $76 billion, around 15 per cent of GDP, by 2038.

“Our government is focused on unlocking economic opportunity through AI adoption, while ensuring appropriate guardrails. That’s why we are investing up to $70 million over seven years to support innovative AI research and applications, develop world-class expertise, and sharpen New Zealand’s competitive edge.

“This visit is also a chance to strengthen our science, innovation and technology relationships and promote New Zealand as an outstanding destination for international education.

“India is a growing powerhouse in science and technology. While New Zealand already has strong links between universities and research organisations, there is significant potential for greater research collaboration between our two countries. 

“International education partnerships bring students and export earnings into New Zealand, while AI adoption will lift productivity, support higher incomes, and help drive economic growth.”

While in India, Dr Reti will attend the AI Impact summit, meet with science and education counterparts, engage with leading technology firms and undertake a range of education focused engagements. Dr Reti departs New Zealand on 14 February and returns on 21 February.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/minister-to-attend-ai-impact-summit-in-india/

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Wellington Water chair’s resignation ‘right thing to do’ – Mayor Anderw Little

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Wellington’s mayor says he has confidence in Wellington Water’s current leadership, after its chair resigned in the wake of the Moa Point crisis.

Nick Leggett [ttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/586892/wellington-water-chair-nick-leggett-resigns-over-moa-point-sewage-disaster stepped down] on Sunday, saying the failure at the Moa Point treatment plant was deeply serious and had affected the environment, public health and the community.

Last week the plant failed – sending millions of litres of raw sewage into Cook Strait per day.

Mayor Andrew Little said Leggett’s resignation was the right thing to do, and he believed the remaining directors could lead work on restoring the plant.

“Particularly the deputy chair person who is going to be stepping up – Bill Bayfield – I have confidence they [the directors] will continue to lead the organisation to respond effectively, they have to do that in conjunction with Wellington City Council.”

Little said Leggett made the decision to resign, and that it was “the right thing to do”.

“Wellington Water has I think been struggling with some public confidence issues for some time, this further incident doesn’t help. And it’s not a question of blame, it’s about indicating the organisation accepts the seriousness of it.”

File photo. Nick Leggett. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Little said he spoke with Leggett last week, who raised with him that he was considering resigning.

He said the priority now was for the organisation to set about fixing the plant.

“The focus now though has to be on Wellington Water being supported to get the recovery done, and an assessment of the damage and a plan for reinstating it, and that’s got to be top priority and that’s my expectation as what they’ll be focusing on.”

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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/2026/02/16/wellington-water-chairs-resignation-right-thing-to-do-mayor-anderw-little/

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Auckland’s Eden Park to host State of Origin match in 2027

Source: Radio New Zealand

Watch above: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Tourism Minister Louise Upston announce the deal.

A State of Origin match will be played in Eden Park in Auckland in 2027 following three years of high-level talks with the NRL and the Australian Rugby League Commission.

It is expected that 50,000 fans will pack the stadium for the Queensland versus New South Wales match.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said securing State of Origin reflected the city’s strength as a major sporting centre.

“From the outset, Auckland made it clear we wanted to bring State of Origin to our city, and we’ve worked hard to secure it,” he said in a statement.

“We know how to host major events, and we know the value they bring. This match will mean full hotels, busy restaurants and bars, and thousands of visitors experiencing everything our region has to offer.”

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Maroons celebrates after scoring a try during the State of Origin game two match between the Queensland Maroons and the NSW Blues. AAP / Photosport

Hosting State of Origin is expected to attract more than 10,000 international visitors from Australia, generate nore than 50,000 international visitor nights, and inject an estimated $17.4 million into the Auckland economy.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys AM said the historic clash would give New Zealanders the opportunity to experience the intensity of the game’s greatest rivalry.

“Rugby league is the number one sport in Australia and the Pacific, and the growth we have seen in New Zealand over recent years has been nothing short of extraordinary,” V’landys said.

Sir Graham Lowe, the only New Zealander to coach a State of Origin team as a former Queensland coach, said the occasion would be one to remember.

“Kiwis are excited about State of Origin, but there are only a few of them that have had the opportunity to actually watch it live. This will be a fantastic occasion for Auckland,” he said in a statement.

The 2027 fixture is being co-funded in partnership by Auckland Council Events and the New Zealand Government via the Major Events Fund.

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/aucklands-eden-park-to-host-state-of-origin-match-in-2027/

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State of Origin heads to New Zealand

Source: New Zealand Government

In an historic moment, New Zealand will host its first-ever State of Origin match next year at Eden Park, a major event expected to draw thousands of international visitors and deliver a significant economic boost for Auckland.

The New Zealand Government and Auckland Council have worked in tandem, alongside the Australian Rugby League Commission, to bring the sporting spectacular to Auckland. 

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says securing one of Australasia’s biggest sporting events represents a major win for fans, tourism and New Zealand sport.

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Blues and Maroons across the ditch for the very first time,” Louise Upston says.

“This is a milestone moment for rugby league in New Zealand, but it is so much more than a game. 

“Hosting State of Origin is expected to attract over 10,000 of our Aussie neighbours, generate more than 50,000 international visitor nights, and inject an estimated $17.4 million into the economy. 

“With a significant Australian audience, our biggest tourism market, this match will showcase Auckland on an international stage, and put New Zealand on the map as a world-class destination for major events.”

The State of Origin series is one of the fiercest rivalries in global sport, pitting Queensland and New South Wales against each other in a high‑intensity three‑match contest. Next year, for the first time ever, one of the series matches will be played on New Zealand soil.

Hosting events has been made even easier because of changes to planning restrictions at Eden Park announced by the Government today, which will unlock the opportunity for more major events to be hosted at the stadium.

The 2027 fixture is proudly supported by the Government’s Major Events Fund and Auckland Council Events.

Dates and ticket details for the State of Origin fixture will be confirmed by the NRL later in the year.

Attached:

NRL State of Origin fact sheet

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/state-of-origin-heads-to-new-zealand/

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More gigs, more goals, more growth: Eden Park planning restrictions eased

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is building Eden Park’s future as a major events venue, making significant changes to local planning rules that have been holding Eden Park back from its full potential, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Late last year the Government launched an investigation into whether outdated planning rules were unnecessarily limiting Eden Park’s ability to host major events and deliver jobs and economic growth for Auckland and the rest of the country,” Mr Bishop says.

“That investigation, which included public consultation in November, found the rules were overly restrictive, out of step with modern stadium use, and were directly constraining economic activity. We have now accepted all of the recommendations in full, with some technical amendments to reflect feedback from Auckland Council.

“The changes will allow Eden Park, New Zealand’s largest stadium with a capacity of around 50,000, to host more major events that bring significant benefits to the local and national economy.

“Under the new settings, Eden Park will be able to host up to 12 large concerts and 20 medium-sized concerts per year as permitted activities, without needing resource consent. That’s up from its current limit of 12 concerts, which were not permitted to be from more than six different artists or acts.

“The changes also enable a wider range of events, including exhibitions, displays, markets, fairs, trade fairs, and cultural and community events.”

Chris Bishop says the changes are expected to be in place in April 2026.

“Concerts will be able to take place on any day, must finish by 11pm, and can run for up to eight hours. This is a significant increase on the current maximum of five hours on a weekday and six hours on a Saturday.

“Night-time sports games will be permitted on any day, including Sundays, provided noise standards are met. Existing caps on the number of night games per year and per 35-day period, as well as the restriction on day-night cricket matches, will be removed.”

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Louise Upston says it’s a huge step forward for major events.

“We know big events deliver. For example, over three years, 14 Auckland shows (including Coldplay and Pearl Jam) generated $33.7m for the local economy with 490,000 attendees,” Ms Upston says.

“These changes sit alongside the Government’s $70 million events and tourism investment package announced in September, which is about helping New Zealand compete internationally, attract world-class events, and give both visitors and locals more reasons to get out and enjoy them.”

Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says Eden Park is our national stadium and a critical piece of infrastructure for Auckland and New Zealand, and these changes secures its future as a premier events venue.

“This is a significant win for Auckland and for New Zealand. Strengthening Eden Park’s ability to host major events supports our broader work to grow the economy and ensure Auckland remains a world-class destination.

“It means more jobs, more activity for local businesses, and more opportunities for people – whether they live here or are visiting – to enjoy more events at our largest stadium,” Mr Brown says.

“These common-sense changes will enable Eden Park to operate like a modern, world-class stadium and deliver more jobs and economic benefits for Auckland and the rest of New Zealand,” Mr Bishop says. 

Note to editors: 

Please see attached fact sheet which compares the key changes to Eden Park’s existing restrictions with the status quo.

Regulation-making power background:

The investigation was conducted under the new regulation-making power in the Resource Management Act, recently passed into law through the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025. 

The regulation-making power enables the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform to remove or modify provisions in RMA plans where they negatively impact economic growth, development capacity or employment.

The Minister must investigate the impacts of the provisions and whether specified statutory criteria are met and produce an investigation report which must be made publicly available.

The Minister must then report to Cabinet with the findings, for a final decision on any changes to the RMA plan. 

The changes will be delivered via regulations, which will require Auckland Council to amend its plan without using the regular plan-making process.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/16/more-gigs-more-goals-more-growth-eden-park-planning-restrictions-eased/

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Health and Policy – Burnett Foundation Aotearoa welcomes the Government’s decision on U=U

Source: Burnett Foundation Aotearoa

Associate Health Minister Doocey’s decision to sign the U=U declaration today is a critical step on the road towards zero locally acquired HIV transmissions in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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).
“The U=U message helps increase testing, treatment adherence, and viral suppression rates, but most importantly, it increases the confidence and dignity of people living with HIV. It’s proof that science and compassion walk hand in hand,” says Liz Gibbs, CEO of Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
This decision makes New Zealand the 5th country to sign the multinational U=U Call to Action, behind Australia, Canada, the USA, and Vietnam.
“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. With the Government’s official endorsement of U=U, it gives the Police, Courts and government departments the backing required to modernise outdated guidelines and policies, so they are in-keeping with the latest science.” says Gibbs.
This is a significant step forward that many across the HIV and sexual health community have been advocating for several years, and we are thrilled to see it finally come to pass.
About Burnett Foundation Aotearoa:
The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is a national organisation dedicated to preventing HIV transmission, supporting people living with HIV and reducing stigma across Aotearoa. For 40 years, it has driven public health education, advocacy, and community-led support. The foundation empowers people with knowledge, care, and connection, working towards a future with zero HIV transmissions. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/15/health-and-policy-burnett-foundation-aotearoa-welcomes-the-governments-decision-on-uu/

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Politics – Seymour’s calls for small government lazy politics straight from hard-right playbook – ignores NZ’s growing challenges – PSA

Source: PSA

ACT Leader David Seymour’s latest attack on the public sector is straight out of the hard-right playbook – slash and burn now, worry about the consequences later.
“We’ve seen this movie before Iin the 1980s and 90s and we know how it ends – with worse services for New Zealanders and the country less able to deal with the challenges we face,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The last thing New Zealand needs is more ideologically driven re-structuring designed to meet some arbitrary numerical target and bugger the impact on what really matters – the future of our country and the health and well-being of New Zealanders.
“This is lazy politics from David Seymour and an attempt to distract from the failure of the Government to address the high cost of living facing New Zealanders.
“Seymour wants to cut agencies at exactly the wrong time. New Zealand’s population is growing rapidly and aging. We face a massive infrastructure deficit. Climate change is here right now, as recent severe storms even this week show.
“On top of that, we have our unique bicultural obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, severe homelessness and high unemployment, and being an isolated island nation dependent on biosecurity – these challenges are complex and require more capability, not less, they need specialist agencies.
“Now is the time to be investing in the public services here to support New Zealand, not make more damaging cuts.
“The sad irony is that every time there’s a crisis – whether it’s Pike River, the Christchurch earthquakes, or the 15 March mosque attacks – the Royal Commissions consistently recommend more resources and clearer accountability, not fewer agencies.
“What Seymour dismisses as ‘vanity portfolios’ are often responses to specific community needs and advocacy. The Cancer Control Agency exists because cancer advocates fought for years for independent national leadership. Agencies serving women, Pacific peoples, and ethnic communities exist because these groups were historically underserved by government.
“Seymour claims reducing agencies will magically boost productivity and wages. That’s fantasy economics. Countries with strong public services – like Norway, which he name checks – invest heavily in their public sector and pay their workers well.
“ACT’s ideological belief in a minimal state will leave ordinary Kiwis to fend for themselves while the wealthy like Seymour’s landlord mates get tax cuts.
“The truth is New Zealand needs a capable, well-resourced public service to tackle the challenges ahead. Seymour’s slash-and-burn approach would leave us weaker, less prepared, and less able to protect New Zealanders when they need it most.
“Voters will have a clear choice this election – and the PSA will be saying loud and clear that ACT wants to sacrifice our future all for a deeply flawed ideology.”
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/2026/02/15/politics-seymours-calls-for-small-government-lazy-politics-straight-from-hard-right-playbook-ignores-nzs-growing-challenges-psa/

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ACT leader David Seymour delivers ‘State of the Nation’ speech

Source: Radio New Zealand

The ACT leader has distinguished his party from its coalition partners in a state of the nation speech, giving a blunt assessment of how tough things are at the moment, especially for young people.

ACT leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour took a swipe at “bureaucratic” governments that aren’t balancing their books, turned an old call for a smaller government into a campaign promise, and rejected the “endless blame game” of scapegoating one group after another.

Seymour spoke to around 200 party supporters at a venue in Christchurch while around 30 Free Palestine protestors gathered outside, alongside a police presence.

Some protestors were also heard chanting inside the venue, with sirens being played during his introduction by deputy leader Brooke van Velden.

Seymour said the number of people leaving the country was a “flashing light on the dashboard of New Zealand”, and he used his speech to specify the “hard choices” needed to “turn down those lights.”

He spoke of five warning lights that needed to be “overcome.”

ACT leader David Seymour during his State of the Nation speech in Christchurch. RNZ/Delphine Herbert

ACT’s five warning lights

First, he mentioned the cost-of-living crisis, but called it a productivity slump instead, saying wages hadn’t kept up with inflation.

“People work their guts out only to find that they’re further behind, and it’s no wonder that people are getting jaded and angry.”

Related to this, he said, was the problem that the government wasn’t balancing it books, saying the country was on a collision course with bankruptcy unless “we find the courage to change our spending habits.”

“If there are no nasty surprises for the next five years, we’re on track as a government to post a small surplus by 2030, but after that, our aging population will put us back in the red for more decades of deficit spending, where the red ink carries on.”

Seymour highlighted the risk to democracy throughout the world, because people find governments “frustrating and unresponsive”.

While he didn’t think democracy was in serious danger in New Zealand, “we are subject to the same frustrations.”

“People lose faith and trust in our institutions. They see government is so damn bureaucratic and unresponsive.”

He said New Zealanders don’t have a “positive, inclusive sense of who we are”.

“This experiment of dividing ourselves into a treaty partnership between Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti has been a disaster.”

Lastly, he said an entire generation felt let down by those problems, and young New Zealanders who look at their student loan, wages, taxes and the housing market, “they can’t make the numbers add up.”

“No one is saying that the boomers had it easy. Baby Boomers worked hard for what they have, but they worked hard because hard work was a rewarding strategy.

“That deal feels broken.”

He returned to those who were “voting with their feet”.

“It’s a great failing to fail at the expectations of your own citizens.”

ACT Party supporters wait to hear David Seymour’s ‘State of the Nation’ speech in Christchurch, 15 February 2026. Delphine Herbert / RNZ

He said ACT would be the party to “tell it like it is,” and take on hard issues and provide brave but constructive solutions in order to “set the country up for success”.

He drew a clear line between the current government and the “potential next government” of Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori, which he said frightened him.

“I listen to Chris Hipkins, and I hear Jacinda Ardern ‘light’ – a lilting voice that says all the right things, promises Nirvana, but never says how we’ll pay for it or tackle the key issues.

“He reminds me of what I imagine an anesthetist would sound like, just before he gives you the injection to knock you out and make you forget about the pain.

“I listen to the Greens, and I wake up quickly.

“They used to speak for the environment, but increasingly, they channel the young generation’s fear and frustrations, which are legitimate, by blaming others’ success and even bleeding into disgusting and unforgivable anti-semitism.”

He also mentioned Chlöe Swarbrick directly, calling her the “drag down merchant.”

“I listen to Te Pāti Māori and they sort of frighten me, but they also bewilder me,” said Seymour.

“If they want to be living as Māori, well, that’s ka pai.

“If they want everyone to live in a Māori society with themselves as tangata whenua, sitting atop a hierarchy of identity, that’s where we part company.”

He said ACT’s first mission was to keep them out of power. Seymour said if he’d had a dollar for every person who told him they’d leave New Zealand if Labour got back into power, ACT’s fundraising would be done for the year.

He explained he didn’t receive money each time he’d been told, so if people wanted to donate, there was a QR code on the table.

But he also drew a distinction between his own party and his partners in government, in which ACT is now polling lowest. In the latest Reid Research Poll, from January, National was on 31.9 percent, New Zealand First was on 9.8 percent while ACT was on 7.6 percent.

Seymour said on Sunday ACT had spent the past two years proving it was up to the job of “fixing what matters” and that it had an “outsized role” in making savings.

He cited the new school lunch scheme, pay equity changes and that the party had “knocked $200 million off” the cost of the Waikato Medical School.

“We calculate that if you gave your party vote to act last time, then you have saved the taxpayer $57,000.”

He highlighted work done by ACT ministers in government, “Brooke is fixing the Holidays Act, even as she fixes unfair employment laws and restores common sense to Health and Safety law by focusing it on critical risks”.

He highlighted the work done by ACT ministers in government as “competent managers.”

He also highlighted Act policy wins such as reinstating mortgage interest tax deductibility.

He mentioned the Treaty Principles Bill, which was defeated at its second reading, saying “we may have lost the vote, but we won the debate”, and that the first vote won’t be the final say on the legislation.

ACT’s solutions

He proposed the party’s solutions were based on three ideas to “break our country’s slump”:

  • 1. Equal rights for all citizens, “so we can all feel like we’re part of a country with a positive and inclusive identity”
  • 2. Positive-sum thinking, rather than “scapegoating some small group of New Zealanders,” before listing farmers, firearm owners, supermarket operators, landlords and bankers
  • 3. A smaller, more efficient Government “that you can trust to deliver services for taxes you can actually afford”

Seymour said the country needed an accurate and uplifting story, “we are not two peoples.”

“We are many peoples united by a common story,” he said, referencing a nation of settlers, “we don’t see wealth as something to divide, but something to create.”

He also rejected the “endless blame game”.

“Scapegoating one group after another hasn’t solved a single problem. We believe that most people, most of the time, are just trying to make the best of their time on earth, and we should start with that spirit.”

Beyond that, he said the books still needed to be balanced, wages raised, and faith restored in democracy.

He highlighted again a long-standing ACT party call for a smaller, more efficient government. In May last year, Seymour criticised the ministerial line-up as looking “bloated” and full of “meaningless titles”.

The pime mnister rejected the criticism at the time. However, late last year the government announced a mega ministry which will take on the work of housing, transport, and local government functions.

He said ACT would campaign this year on a smaller government, which would be made up of:

  • No more than 20 ministers, who all sit in Cabinet
  • No more than 30 departments, so most ministers have only one
  • No department answers to more than one minister
  • No minister has a portfolio; there are only departments with budgets to manage

He said it was an idea “whose time has come”, and the party would be campaigning to ensure it “happens completely.”

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/15/act-leader-david-seymour-delivers-state-of-the-nation-speech/

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Live: David Seymour delivers ‘State of the Nation’ speech

Source: Radio New Zealand

Deputy Prime Minister and ACT leader David Seymour will deliver his latest ‘State of the Nation’ speech in Christchurch on Sunday morning.

Last year, Seymour said the country was at a tipping point between “two invisible tribes” and what the country did in the next few years would decide “which way we go”.

He also urged New Zealanders to get past the “squeamishness about privatisation”.

Seymour is expected to speak at 10.45am. Afterwards, he will take questions from the media.

David Seymour. RNZ / MARIKA KHABAZI

The event will be livestreamed in the player above.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/15/live-david-seymour-delivers-state-of-the-nation-speech/

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Adolescence writer Jack Thorne on his new TV adaptation of castaway novel Lord of the Flies

Source: Radio New Zealand

Adolescence writer Jack Thorne hopes the UK will follow Australia in introducing a social media ban for children under 16.

“I think it’s amazing that Australia is ahead of the world in terms of the social media ban,” Thorne says.

“It’s hopefully going to spread like wildfire through the world, because I think it’s an incredibly important thing.”

Lord of the Flies and Adolescence were written and filmed at the same time.

Stan

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/15/adolescence-writer-jack-thorne-on-his-new-tv-adaptation-of-castaway-novel-lord-of-the-flies/