Queenstown Lakes District Council has voted to seek long-term approval to pump treated wastewater into the Kawarau River.
Councillors agreed on Thursday to lodge a 35-year resource consent application for discharge from the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant, while staff keep looking for alternative solutions to the region’s wastewater woes.
The decision comes one year after the council first diverted wastewater to the Shotover River under emergency powers, following persistent performance issues at a disposal field on the Shotover Delta.
The temporary plan prompted community backlash, with some locals saying the river was at risk and the council had not been transparent.
QLDC retrospectively applied for consent in May, then sought for the case to be handled by the Environment Court.
Under the $77.5 million plan supported by most councillors on Thursday, the council would install advanced filters at the treatment plant, and build a 1.4km pipeline to carry the treated wastewater to a rock outfall structure on the Kawarau River.
It was the option recommended by council staff as the most technically feasible and cost-effective pathway, designed to handle the district’s projected growth through to 2060.
However, the plan was strongly opposed by Ngāi Tahu.
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Iwi representatives stated that the direct discharge of human waste to natural water was “abhorrent” and contrary to tikanga, because water classified as waikino (polluted water) should not be mixed with other categories of water, council documents showed.
Assessments showed the Kawarau River’s high energy and flow would provide rapid dilution, meaning the environmental effects were “no more than minor”.
The volume of wastewater requiring disposal from the Shotover plant was projected to more than double by 2060 to to 26 million litres per day, council documents showed.
On Thursday, councillors debated asking the Environment Court for an extension to the consent deadline – a move council staff had warned could be risky and costly.
Ultimately, an alternative option put forward by councillor Gavin Bartlett – to apply for the consent, but also direct the chief executive to undertake further investigations into long-term disposal options – was approved.
Councillor Jon Mitchell described it as a pragmatic but inclusive option.
“This will expedite getting us out of the current situation we’re in, into something marginally more acceptable. With an open mind to pursuing what other options might be available,” he said.
Councillor Nicola King said it was a difficult decision, but it would be costly and without “real reason” to delay the decision.
“We just have to make sure it’s not our long-term solution,” she said.
Mayor John Glover abstained from voting, and councillor Niki Gladding voted against it.
Once the council selected the most cost-effective option, it would be difficult to justify looking at anything else, she said.
“If you’re a developer and you’ve paid development contributions towards it, you’re not going to be wanting to pay twice for a second solution,” she said.
“Once we’ve done this, we’ve done it… we’ll have lost the opportunity to set the direction that we don’t want our wastewater just pouring into the Kawarau.”
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Community urges caution
Earlier in the meeting, during a public delegation, Queenstown Lakes Community Action founder Nikki Macfarlane urged the council to pause – in part because there had not been a “full environmental assessment clearly setting out the risks of each option” nor “meaningful engagement with the community”, she said.
“Once that pathway is set, it’s difficult to reverse,” she said.
“We’re asking you to request an extension from ORC and the Environment Court so you have the time and the necessary information to make a decision that you can stand behind with confidence.”
Andrew Davis, a Queenstown resident of 20 years, said the council should look at options to improve the quality of the wastewater.
“We are privileged to live in an environment with pristine water bodies, whereas many of the comparative plants are discharging into highly degraded environments,” he said.
Other options on the table
In the lead-up to Thursday’s vote, council staff also looked at adding a wetland to the Shotover Delta, hybrid schemes trialling partial disposal via deep boreholes, or shallow soakholes at Frankton Flats, or a high-cost land-only irrigation scheme on the Crown Terrace.
The council held a series of drop-in sessions in December and January for community members to learn about the options, but skipped full public consultation to meet the May deadline.
Councillors agreed to direct the chief executive to keep looking at “reasonably practicable wastewater options, including land-based and hybrid land-water options that may minimise the extent of the discharge of treated effluent to water”, and report back by March 2027.
The council also agreed to seek further hui with Kā Rūnaka leaders, and undertake further community engagement.
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HPV self-tests increase screening rates, with a new study finding 10 percent more coverage at clinics which offer it.
Self-testing for human papillomavirus was rolled out nationally in September 2023.
The study period for this newly-published research took place before that change – between February 2022 and September 2023 – but it compared screening rates at clinics which offered self-testing, to those which didn’t.
It found screening coverage was 10.8 percent higher at practices offering self-testing, and higher for all groups, including Māori – a historically undeserved group.
Published on Thursday in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health journal, it included 22,511 people enrolled in 14 GPs in Te Tai Tokerau Northland.
Half the practices offered HPV self-testing and half offered a vaginal speculum exam by a doctor or nurse, the standard screening method before self-testing was introduced.
Professor Bev Lawton, lead author of the study and director of the University’s Te Tātai Hauora o Hine-National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa, said the study proved self-testing was a game changer.
“We know from our previous research the HPV self-test is acceptable and accessible for under- and never-screened wāhine Māori,” she said.
HPV causes 95 percent of cervical cancers. According to Health NZ, since HPV self-testing was introduced in 2023, 81 percent of those being screened have opted to self-test – in the two years to July 2025, screening coverage rose by 7.4 percent.
It was important to understand how changes to the kinds of test on offer would affect the overall coverage, or number of people being reached by the programme, Lawton said.
“If you’re going to change it and offer a self-test, you don’t want to lose your coverage,” she said. “Because the more people that the programme screens, the more likely that you’re going to save lives.”
Speaking from Austria, where she and her colleagues were discussing the study findings at the international conference EUROGIN, an international congress on HPV infections and associated cancers, she said the study could have worldwide ramifications – millions of people around the world could be spared an invasive vaginal speculum exam.
“We believe all national cervical screening programmes should urgently consider a universal offer of HPV self-testing through primary care,” she said.
“If you have an organised screening programme, as you do in high income countries… it really means that millions of women do not need to have a speculum.”
The research was funded by the Health Research Council, the Ministry of Health, and Mahitahi Hauora.
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has acknowledged a “big shift” in the government’s messaging around the war in the Middle East, warning New Zealanders the fuel situation could get worse before it gets better.
Speaking at a media conference at Parliament on Thursday, Luxon said it had become clear the conflict would have ongoing effects on supply chains, even “in the unlikely event” it was resolved tomorrow.
“Hope is not a plan,” he said. “And so we are preparing for the worst-case scenario where the conflict is prolonged.”
Luxon said ministers, officials and industry were all keenly focused on the next eight to 12-weeks.
“New Zealand has sufficient fuel supplies. But I do want to be straight with New Zealanders: things could get worse before they actually get better. And [as] a responsible government, we need to take a prudent response and be very prepared.”
Standing alongside him, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she wanted to reassure New Zealanders the government was taking the situation seriously in case future fuel supplies were disrupted.
“We live in challenging times,” she said. “We’re not just sitting back and saying, well, the fuel supplies are fine now. They are fine now… but we are actively preparing for scenarios where they are disrupted in future.”While the tone of the media conference was sharper than previous ones, the substance of the government’s plan remained largely as outlined earlier in the week.
That included engaging with other countries around accessing refined fuel and keeping in close contact with fuel companies to stay on top of any challenges.
Willis said she would provide an update next week on the steps which could be taken at each level of the National Fuel Plan, but stressed no escalation was required right now given the country had seven weeks’ worth of fuel either in the country or on its way.
Officials would soon begin giving public updates on the country’s fuel levels twice a week, up from just once a week now.
Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rises amid fears of rapidly jumping prices and potential shortages.
On Thursday, New World’s Levin station had no 91 or diesel. The local Z also had no diesel but was expecting some after midnight.
Willis said that was being driven by the individual fuel companies’ logistics and distribution, not by a national fuel shortages.
“They have sufficient supplies in the country to replenish their stocks and petrol stations. So they will be able to do that.
“But when people are buying more petrol, then they go through more at the petrol station than is normally the case. They are working to ensure that their logistics, their distribution, is working as effectively as possible.”
Regarding potential cost-of-living support, Willis said she had instructed Inland Revenue and Treasury to work on some options relating to the “tax and transfer system”.
But she stressed the government would not be able to allievate all of the cost pressures.
“We have to be careful not to raise an expectation that we will be able to blunt all of the pain that is occurring for people across the world because of the conflict in the Middle East.”
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A major transport upgrade for the Western Bay of Plenty has received Fast-track approval, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.
NZTA lodged its application in August 2025 to build about 7.7 kilometres of new highway in the Bay of Plenty.
“Approval has taken just five months following the commencement of the expert panel,” says Mr Bishop.
“The Government is committed to building a long-term pipeline of transport infrastructure investments to redress New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit and build jobs and growth for Kiwis.
“The Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 Road of National Significance will be a four lane, median-divided highway between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa, improving safety and reliability on one of the region’s busiest routes.
“Takitimu North Link Stage 1 is now four years into construction, with major structures largely complete. All bridge construction is scheduled to finish in 2026, and the project is expected to be fully completed in 2028.
“The new road will provide a safer and more reliable trip between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa, supporting regional growth and productivity. It will improve travel times for all transport modes and enhanced reliability and safety for commuters.
“NZTA estimates the project could deliver around $610 million in economic output for the Bay of Plenty region and provide more than 4,800 jobs over the development period.
“It’s part of the Government’s work to ensure New Zealand has a credible pipeline of high value infrastructure projects extending into the future, and that they’re ready to go as funding becomes available.
“This is the 14th project approved through the Fast-track process and the first roading project.”
149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
46 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process.
34 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure.
On average, it has taken 128 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.
Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:
Arataki[Housing/Land]
Homestead Bay[Housing/Land]
Sunfield [Housing/Land]
Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
Agreement with the Singapore digital media platform reinforces Media OutReach Newswire’s role as the leading global newswire for Asia Pacific
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 March 2026 – Media OutReach Newswire, Asia Pacific’s first and only global newswire, has entered into a strategic content partnership with AsiaOne, one of Singapore’s most prominent digital media platforms.
This partnership means that Media OutReach Newswire will be the first newswire to provide guaranteed online news posting on the AsiaOne website. The collaboration further solidifies Media OutReach Newswire’s status as the only global newswire offering guaranteed online news posting on two leading digital media platforms, AsiaOne and CNA, for all Singapore press release distributions.
The partnership follows recent high-profile collaborations with the Asia News Network (ANN), the consortium of leading Asia Pacific news media, and CNA – marking a period of rapid strategic growth. Once again, a leading media outlet has chosen to launch their partnership with Media OutReach before any other newswire, which demonstrates the deep trust it has earned within the global media ecosystem.
With this addition, Media OutReach Newswire’s Singapore distribution now guarantees online news posting on trusted news platforms AsiaOne, CNA, MoneyFM89.3 and Vulcan Post, as well as influential lifestyle media like Alvinology, Asia Journeys and SuperAdrianMe. This is alongside Asia News Network (ANN), a grouping of 20 leading news sites across Asia Pacific.
Ms Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire, said: “We are pleased to announce this partnership with AsiaOne, a digital news pioneer that has been a trusted voice in Singapore for 30 years. As the first global newswire they have chosen to partner with, this collaboration reflects the high level of credibility we have built. Together with our existing partnerships with CNA and ANN, this reaffirms Media OutReach Newswire’s role as the definitive global newswire for Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the wider Asia Pacific region.”
Media OutReach Newswire remains the only global newswire that guarantees online news posting exclusively on trusted, authentic media sites. This guaranteed presence on authoritative news sites like AsiaOne, with its high domain trust and over 5.5 million* monthly visits, provides brands with a significant boost in AI discoverability in SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This ensures that client news is not only seen by human readers but is also accurately surfaced and cited by AI-generated answers from leading Large Language Models (LLMs).
As the leading global newswire for Asia Pacific, Media OutReach Newswire is trusted by Asian corporations, SMEs, and government agencies to distribute their news globally. In addition to offering the most extensive distribution network and guaranteed news visibility, the newswire owns a proprietary international journalist database. This provides a robust global news reach spanning the Asia Pacific, USA, Canada, UK, and Europe, as well as Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Its total communications solutions empower strategic communicators and PR professionals to demonstrate tangible success through targeted news distribution and direct journalist access, as well as ready-to-use reporting and campaign intelligence with ROI designed for C-suite presentations.
*Source: Similarweb
Hashtag: #MediaOutReachNewswire
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rises amid fears of rapidly jumping prices and potential shortages.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis have been addressing the latest on the fuel crisis, warning that NZ is now preparing for a possible ‘prolonged’ Iran conflict.
“Hope is not a plan,” Luxon said.
It comes in the wake of a global rise in oil prices following the US-Israel war on Iran. Iran’s response has included the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transportation channel for Middle Eastern energy exports.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says baseline attendance data for charter schools shows they’re off to good start, but there is more work to be done.
“When children can learn and grow in ways more specific to their needs, they attend school more,” Mr Seymour says.
In 2025 the average regular attendance rate for charter schools was 59.7 per cent. For state schools it was 58 per cent. A student regularly attends when they are in class for 90 per cent of the term.
“This is a good result for the seven charter schools which opened last year,” Mr Seymour says.
“Three of the charter schools which opened last year work specifically with young people who have long‑standing challenges with education. This includes many students who previously attended school very rarely but are now at school significantly more.
“The regular attendance rate across the other four schools was 66.7 per cent. If it weren’t for illness making attendance in Term 4 difficult for students at one of these schools, it would have been even higher.
“Now that schools have their attendance baselines they will be monitored on how they perform against it. The expectation is that schools will show significant improvements in their second year.
“In return for greater autonomy with how they use their funding, charter schools will face greater scrutiny and must adhere to minimum standards.
“Minimum standards are informed by a school’s equity index (EQI), which is reviewed annually. As schools grow and change, their EQI, and the standards they are expected to meet, may also change. The goal is to guide schools towards the Government’s target.
“All charter schools are expected to make progress towards these minimum standards and the Government’s target of 80 per cent of students attending regularly.
“If a school does not meet its minimum standard, the Authorisation Board will step in. Initially, this may involve requiring the school to map out how it will improve attendance. If progress is not made, the Board can end the school’s contract.
“The charter school model ensures these schools can be flexible in how they use their funding, while maintaining clear accountability for results. Ultimately, this is about making sure more children are in class, learning, and succeeding.”
Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rises amid fears of rapidly jumping prices and potential shortages.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis have been addressing the latest on the fuel crisis, warning that NZ is now preparing for a possible ‘prolonged’ Iran conflict.
“Hope is not a plan,” Luxon said.
It comes in the wake of a global rise in oil prices following the US-Israel war on Iran. Iran’s response has included the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transportation channel for Middle Eastern energy exports.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis face questions on the fuel crisis.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
There have been reports of service stations running out of fuel as motorists rush to fill up.
New Zealand has several weeks’ supply in storage or on the way, the government has said.
Luxon and Willis will be speaking to the media at Parliament from 1.30pm. Watch it live at the top of this page. RNZ will also be blogging the developments as they happen.
A scathing Auditor General report said former council chief executive Paul Eagle’s actions over a project to upgrade his own accommodation were unacceptable and misleading.RNZ / Te Aniwa Hurihanganui
The Auditor General’s report, released last week, said former council chief executive Eagle’s actions over a project to upgrade his own accommodation were unacceptable and misleading, after costs blew out by more than $250,000.
A spokesperson for the office said it was assessing the report to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to open an enquiry or criminal investigation into the issues raised.
“At this stage, no further information can be given, including whether the SFO will open an enquiry or investigation.”
The council has referred concerns raised in a scathing Auditor General’s report to the Serious Fraud Office.
In a post on its Facebook page this week, the council said it had formally received the report and had unanimously resolved to refer it to the appropriate authority for consideration.
“We are committed to responding responsibly, transparently, and in the best interests of our community,” Mayor Greg Horler said.
The Auditor General’s report, released last week, said former council chief executive Paul Eagle’s actions over a project to upgrade his own accommodation were unacceptable, after costs blew out by $250,000.
Eagle’s handling of documents was misleading and showed exceptionally poor judgement, the report said.
The original budget was set at $200,000 and blew out to $460,001.65. Another $37,739.19 was also spent on rent to house Eagle and his family as the work went ahead.
“We saw little sign of any consideration of containing costs during the project. We also consider that the chief executive made spending choices that were not moderate and conservative,” the report said.
“Purchasing expensive appliances for the kitchen and carrying out extensive electrical work that suppliers working on the project widely considered to be excessive were particularly questionable.”
The report also uncovered “serious integrity questions” for the council to contend with, including its policies relating to procurement, conflicts of interest, staff expenses and fiscal reporting.
It said Eagle had sole oversight over the project, and because the cost of the upgrade could be perceived as benefiting Eagle, his family should have instigated approval by the council, mayor or deputy mayor, in line with council policy.
The report was tabled in Parliament last Thursday.
“We have not reached a view on the legality of the chief executive’s actions. In this case, we consider it sufficient to draw the council, Parliament, and the public’s attention to the matter.”
In a letter included in the report findings, Eagle, who resigned last month, apologised and said his actions did not meet the standards expected of himself and his role.
“I started as chief executive of the council in late 2023, three months earlier than planned and, because of the illness of the outgoing chief executive, did not receive a formal, structured induction process covering the policies, processes, systems and documentation expected of the role.
“I wholeheartedly accept now that I should have sought clarity and support for this process.”
Interim council chief executive Bob Penter declined to be interviewed.
Paul Eagle has been contacted for comment.
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Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rises amid fears of rapidly jumping prices and potential shortages.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis are set to talk about the latest on the fuel crisis.
It comes in the wake of a global rise in oil prices following the US-Israel war on Iran. Iran’s response has included the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transportation channel for Middle Eastern energy exports.
There have been reports of service stations running out of fuel as motorists rush to fill up.
New Zealand has several weeks’ supply in storage or on the way, the government has said.
Luxon and Willis will be speaking to the media at Parliament from 1.30pm. Watch it live at the top of this page. RNZ will also be blogging the developments as they happen.
Main construction is getting underway on the Waihoehoe Road Upgrade, helping to build the future of Auckland’s transport system Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
“This marks a major milestone in delivering improved transport connections and supporting long‑term growth in the Drury area,” says Mr Bishop.
“Alongside other investments already underway in South Auckland, including the SH1 Papakura to Drury improvements, the new Drury, Ngākōroa, and Paerātā train stations, and the planned SH22 Drury upgrade, the Waihoehoe Road project will ensure roads and rail are being delivered together as a connected transport network.
“South Auckland is the region’s fastest growing area with more than 120,000 additional people expected to make it their home over the next 30 years. Investing in an integrated transport network supports the Government’s priorities of unlocking growth and improving access to new housing and jobs.
“Waihoehoe Road will ultimately form part of a major east–west arterial route, running approximately 4.5 kilometres between Drury Hills Road and Jesmond Road. The corridor will support local communities and future rapid public transport services, helping connect people to the nearby Drury and Ngākōroa train stations.
“The project will widen and upgrade a 400‑metre section of Waihoehoe Road between Great South Road and Kath Henry Lane, improving safety, capacity and resilience.
“Access to the new Drury train station and nearby housing developments currently underway will also be improved, while laying the foundations for future growth in the area.”
Notes to Editor:
Key project features include:
Additional traffic lanes, increasing from two to four lanes, and up to six lanes on the new Waihoehoe Road bridge
New signalised intersections at Waihoehoe Road/Great South Road and Waihoehoe Road/Kath Henry Lane
A new, higher bridge over the North Island Main Trunk Line, with space to allow for KiwiRail to construct 3rd and 4th mains in the future.
Capacity for future bus lanes
New walking and cycling connections between Great South Road and the new Drury Train Station
Enabling works were completed in early 2025, and piling commenced in November 2025 to prepare the site for main construction work.
The project is expected to be completed in mid‑2028, at an expected cost of $136 to $148 million.
Economic data released today confirms the economy was growing at the end of last year, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
Stats NZ figures released today show real Gross Domestic Product rising 0.2% in the December quarter.
“While GDP data was volatile throughout 2025, the New Zealand economy picked up noticeably in the second half of the year, growing 1.1 per cent over the final six months after being relatively flat over the first half of the year,” Nicola Willis says.
Before the recent conflict in the Middle East, economic forecasters had been predicting growth to continue and strengthen in 2026.
“The conflict will have an impact on the economy, but we are starting from a much stronger position now than was the case in the past few years, when high inflation and high interest rates were weighing down on people.
“The full impact of the conflict will depend on the severity of the disruptions and how long they last, but realistic scenarios have so far shown growth continuing in 2026.”
Pictures of US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and US flags have been plastered on the prime minister’s electorate office in the Auckland suburb of Botany on Thursday morning.
A sign which reads ‘Trump War Minerals HQ’ with a cutout of a bald eagle preying on a Kiwi bird was also put up outside the office.
She said a minerals deal would lead to more mining projects, causing “environmental destruction”, and also make New Zealand complicit in the war in the Middle East.
“We know a minerals deal would be bad for the land and sea of Aotearoa. But since the United States and Israeli governments launched a military attack on Iran in clear breach of international law, the stakes are even higher.
“We’re calling on Luxon to say no to a minerals deal with Trump. We’re also inviting the public to show their strong opposition to this deal if they’re concerned about complicity in warmongering and the exploitation of our environment for military aggression.”
Luxon has previously said New Zealand is among more than 40 countries talking to the US about supplying minerals, and no Cabinet decisions have been made.
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A proposal to allow certain reef fish species taken as bycatch in the fishery in the north of the North Island to be retained and sold by commercial fishers will not go ahead, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.
“My officials tested a proposal to remove a historic ban that prohibits commercial fishers from retaining 19 non-Quota Management species of reef fish caught as bycatch in these fisheries (FMA 1 and 9). The proposal would have allowed trawl, Danish seine, and bottom long line fishers to retain bycatch of these species.
“I have weighed up the costs and benefits of the proposal, along with feedback from the recreational fishing community and the public, and decided to keep the current restrictions in place.”
The ban was introduced in 1993 as part of a package of measures to protect reefs from commercial set net fishing and risks of overfishing.
Public consultation on the proposal received more than 22,000 submissions.
“Some submitters sent a message that they were concerned about the ongoing sustainability of these reef-dwelling species, which have important ecological roles. They wanted commercial fishers who accidentally catch these fish to continue to return them to the sea,” Mr Jones says.
“I’m a huge supporter of our fishing industry which provides jobs in our communities and contributes around $1.5 billion to our economy.
“I thank everyone who provided feedback. This is an important part of the democratic process and demonstrates the interest Kiwis have in our fisheries.”
The proposal was part of a wider consultation on proposed amendments to commercial fishing regulations. The Minister’s decisions for the remainder of the proposed commercial fishing regulation changes will be announced in due course.
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster spoke on Tuesday 17 March at Takina in Wellington
It’s great to be here today to:
share some observations, from my perspective as Privacy Commissioner, about the place of cyber security in the minds of decision-makers, organisations, and the everyday person in the street, and
talk about the linkages between privacy, stewardship of personal information, and cyber security.
But, before I get into that – a pop quiz …
Who said, less than a month ago, “It’s a reason why I have been advocating very strongly that we need to strengthen our cyber security laws here in NZ and also make sure that we are not laid back … I think in 2026 sometimes our New Zealand business environment has been way too laid back, and not taking the risks and the threats seriously enough.”
Yes, that was Prime Minister Chris Luxon.
And who said, again less than a month ago, “digital threats are growing and New Zealand must strengthen its defences … Every New Zealander who provides data to a government agency, or to a company contracted by one, is entitled to the same standard of care. When that data is breached, it is a violation of trust … We could improve incentives for entities holding New Zealanders’ data. We could increase penalties for hackers and scammers. We should also question whether it is even reasonable to demand New Zealanders provide sensitive information or digital identification for everyday activities.”
Yes, that was Deputy Prime Minister, David Seymour.
Now, like a lot of organisations, at my work we subscribe to a media alerts service, for media and other stories about privacy and related matters – including cyber. I arrived at work a week ago, the morning email from the service had just popped into my in-box … no privacy breach stories this time … but every story was a cyber one … every story!
It seems that the public policy and media spotlights have swung their beams of light on to you.
You have to wonder, given this sort of political, public, and media interest, if we are on the cusp of cyber security leaving the wings, and coming to centre stage.
The question is, are we ready – and if we are, what are we going to do next?
Surveys and attitudes to cyber security
It’s always instructive to take ourselves out of our busy day to day context, and see how other organisations, and even other countries, are seeing cyber-security, and cyber threats.
Each year the Institute of Directors conducts a Directors’ Sentiment Survey and publishes the results with some commentary.
In the 2025 report, the IoD noted, and I quote, that:
“Technology epitomises this shift from curiosity to commitment. Six in ten boards are now working with management on how AI and automation can lift productivity – the second-highest result since records began. Digital oversight has re-entered the mainstream, no longer the preserve of tech committees or early adopters. But the enthusiasm is tempered by uneven assurance: cyber vigilance has plateaued, with the proportion of boards discussing risk or receiving breach reporting barely moving in three years. In effect, boards are accelerating innovation without upgrading the brakes.”
While 57.2% of directors said their board discusses cyber risks, this figure has softened slightly from 2024, which was 62.2%.
Likewise, 55.2% of boards report receiving comprehensive data breach or cyber-risk reporting, largely unchanged for three years after a sharp rise in 2023.
Privacy and data protection show similar stagnation; 57.2% of directors said their board regularly reviews privacy risks, a figure largely unchanged from 2024.
Internet NZ’s recent survey results show New Zealanders continue to have concerns in the data space.
65% of those surveyed were extremely concerned or very concerned about the security of personal data.
Kordia have just released their 2026 NZ Business Cyber Security Report.
Some key take outs from that:
44% of large businesses were subjected to a cyber attack or incident in the past 12 months
17% of cyber incidents resulted in personal information being accessed or stolen
61% of businesses impacted by a cyber incident suffered a serious business disruption
30% of businesses surveyed said they lacked confidence that they could recover from a major cyber-attack.
25% said they had no cyber security awareness or training programme for their employees, and
Around half had not practiced their incident response plans.
That’s not a brilliant picture.
Hence, the International Telecommunication Union’s global cybersecurity index last year ranked New Zealand in the third of five tiers, as an ‘establishing’ nation along side the likes of Kiribati and Myanmar.
The heightened cyber security risk environment has seen countries like Australia and Singapore among others, implement new cyber security legislation.
New regulatory frameworks are also increasingly being backed up with tools and manuals to support businesses to aim for and stay on the right side of the regulatory line.
And that is something the New Zealand Office of the Privacy Commissioner is also focused on.
Privacy and cyber security
It’s clear that there are many linkages between privacy and cyber security – and I want to begin by acknowledging that while my focus is on the stewardship of personal information, those working in cyber security are concerned about keeping all information – personal, financial, commercial, legal, marketing, the list goes on – safe and secure from harm.
Some of you here today will of course be working in or managing the IT/IS/cyber teams in organisations, ensuring systems are hardened against cyber-attack, and that your work colleagues engage in cyber smart practices.
Some of you will be advisors, providing organisations with advice on the latest developments in cyber threats and defences.
Some of you will be involved in research and development, seeking to get ahead of the cyber criminals and threat actors in the never-ending cyber war we all seem to be engaged in these days.
And some – like my Office – are focused on the risks to personal information.
My focus is making privacy a core focus for your agencies – in order to protect New Zealanders from harm, to enable organisations to achieve their own objectives, and to safeguard our free and democratic society.
And when things go wrong – when there’s a serious privacy breach which might see personal information exfiltrated, or deliberately corrupted – we ask questions about what happened and why, and – if it’s needed – we can hold agencies to account.
Security of information and IT infrastructure is a critical component of a robust privacy programme.
Both security and privacy staff must work together to identify external and internal risks, and to ensure that security is prioritised and resourced accordingly.
The Privacy Act 2020 is built around 13 privacy principles that govern how agencies (organisations and businesses) can collect, store, use and share personal information.
The Privacy Act makes sure that:
you know when your information is being collected
your information is used and shared appropriately
your information is kept safe and secure
you can get access to your information.
As many of you will know, Principle 5 is concerned with storage and security of information.
It states that organisations must ensure there are safeguards in place, that are reasonable in the circumstances, to prevent loss, misuse or disclosure of personal information.
There are a number of different aspects to consider, including physical security, electronic security, operational security, security during transmission and during destruction.
What steps are appropriate will depend entirely on the circumstances, including:
How sensitive is the personal information involved?
What are you using the personal information for?
What security measures are available, and how will using these measures impact on your agency’s functions?
What might the consequences be for the individual if the information is not kept secure?
I thought you might be interested to get a sense of the state of play with privacy breaches in New Zealand.
So, this morning, I have the latest breaking stats and news for you.
In the most recent quarter, 61% of serious privacy breaches were due to intentional or malicious activity, and 36% were due to human error … the days of most breaches being due to an email whoopsie seem to be long gone.
For the reporting year to date, 21% were unauthorised access breaches (including ransomware), and 28% were unauthorised sharing or employee browsing.
Employee browsing
Can I take the opportunity to touch on an increasingly serious privacy risk: that is, employee browsing.
The greatest threat to your workplace information security could be sitting in the office next to you at work.
Employee browsing or the unauthorised access and misuse of personal information is becoming one of the most common privacy breaches.
NZ is a small place, and there’s a good chance a familiar name will crop up in a database or on a file at work, and it can prove very tempting for some to have a look.
In some circumstances employees look up information and then pass it on for the explicit purpose of causing harm of some sort.
If your business or organisation holds sensitive personal information that your customers or clients would really, really not want to be revealed to someone else, like a violent former partner, or revealed to the public if someone happens to be a bit of a celebrity – then your organisation’s employees will, one day, come under pressure from others to access and hand over that information.
Attempts will be made to coerce, bribe, blackmail or threaten employees to access and misuse the personal information the organisation holds.
So, my question for you is, has your organisation invested in the systems, regular database audit checks, employee induction processes, and so on, to deter and, if it happens, identify unauthorised access and misuse of personal information?
Of course, my Office doesn’t always want to occupy the space of the privacy “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff”; increasingly, our focus is on working with people like you to “build the fence at the top”.
As I think I mentioned at last year’s conference, Poupou Matatapu is guidance on our website to help New Zealand agencies do privacy well – you can find it at privacy.org.nz.
It sets our expectations about what good privacy practice looks like and then helps organisations toward achieving that.
One of the components of this guidance focuses on security and internal access controls.
The obligation to keep information safe and secure applies to information that is held by the organisation (for example, in on-premises servers) and information that is held on the organisation’s behalf by a service provider (for example, a cloud-based data storage provider).
Remember, organisations are liable under the Privacy Act for the personal information stored and processed on their behalf.
The most effective strategy is having a well-thought-out security plan for all personal information you hold.
At a high level, this component of Poupou Matatapu describes key security controls across three areas – physical, technical, and organisational.
These controls are not exhaustive and are continually evolving.
Organisations need to ensure that they update their knowledge on security risks, including seeking advice from external experts where necessary, and implement all reasonable security safeguards in a timely way.
I don’t need to tell this audience that there’s a world of cyber security guidance and standards out there.
Providing security and IT advice is not a core function of my Office, so, in our guidance, we have provided links to advice and resources from other authoritative sources, such as NCSC, and others.
But, of course, like you, I have seen commentary around how to assess whether an organisation had reasonable security safeguards in place at the time of a security or privacy incident.
Reasonable security safeguards are those that are proportionate to an organisation’s role, scale, and risk exposure.
They reflect recognised national expectations at the time the safeguards were implemented and operating prior to the breach.
This approach does not require best-in-class or exhaustive controls, instead focusing on intent, decision-making, and proportionality.
It anchors reasonableness in nationally recognised frameworks, uses well-understood national standards like the NCSC Minimum Cyber Security Standards as a defensible baseline, and applies sectoral-specific standards – such as those applying to the health sector – as contextual overlays.
This approach provides a clear basis for determining whether reasonable security safeguards were in place at a given point in time.
The other day I was reminded of a comment from Misti Landtroop, the NZ country manager for cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks.
She said that many cyber breaches were preventable, with things like security culture, level of knowledge, and willingness to invest, all factors that left organisations vulnerable to cyber-attack. Organisations also make mistakes because they either don’t understand the value of privacy, or don’t care.
Sometimes privacy is as easy as just ensuring your IT systems are up to scratch and making sure you’ve thought about access, have got the permissions set correctly, and have tested them.
For example, a while back the UK Information Commissioner issued a 4.4million pound fine to a company which, in the Commissioner’s view, failed to follow up on the original alert about some suspicious activity, used outdated software systems and protocols, and had a lack of adequate staff training and insufficient risk assessments – all of which ultimately left them vulnerable to a cyber-attack.
The Commissioner commented at the time: “The biggest cyber risk businesses face is not from hackers outside of their company, but from complacency within their company. If your business doesn’t regularly monitor for suspicious activity in its systems, and fails to act on warnings, or doesn’t update software, and fails to provide training to staff, you can expect a similar fine from my Office.”
From my perspective, and reflecting on all this commentary, since taking up my role I have made it clear that agencies need to keep front of mind that, in the case of a cyber security incident resulting in a data privacy breach, one of the first questions I will ask is “has the agency undertaken all reasonable security safeguards” to protect the personal information under their care.
Health sector
Turning to the cyber elephant in the room, recent events in NZ would suggest that one sector which is well and truly facing some cyber security challenges, is the health sector.
Just a reminder: on 22 February, MediMap — a private portal used by aged-care homes, hospices, disability services and community health providers to coordinate prescriptions and record medication histories — was taken offline after it was discovered that some patient records had been tampered with by an unauthorized actor.
MediMap’s early investigations identified changes to fields including names, birthdates, assigned prescriber, and location of care and resident status, with some living patients incorrectly marked as “deceased.”
This event was unsettling not only because of the direct impact on individuals and clinical operations, but also because it followed another high-profile breach —the Manage My Health breach in late 2025, which involved the exfiltration of hundreds of thousands of medical documents.
One of New Zealand’s leading privacy commentators, Daimhin Warner, commented at the time:
“Taken together, these events suggest a broader pattern of cyber risk in health tech that goes beyond isolated vendor errors.”
“Several key themes are starting to emerge. First is the need for clarity of expectations. What baseline technical and organizational safeguards should be required for systems handling highly sensitive health information? Mandatory controls — for example, multifactor authentication, encryption at rest and in transit, regular independent security audits and incident response obligations — could help raise the floor of protection.”
“Second is making sure the health sector understands who is really accountable for ensuring these baseline safeguards are in place. It is alarmingly clear from these recent breaches that many organizations in the health sector do not fully understand their accountabilities and responsibilities.”
Daimhin Warner notes that the recent publication of the National Cyber Security Strategy has occurred at a time when some of the government agencies tasked with cyber security are making it clear that New Zealand has a long way to go before we can say our standards and approach meet international good practice.
And by the same token, then, we have a long way to go before we can assure New Zealanders, whoever they are … customers, clients, citizens … that their privacy is being protected and respected.
GCSB Director-General Andrew Clark said recently that “unfortunately, there are … pockets, including in our critical infrastructure, where cybersecurity is barely meeting that foundational level that we would expect.”
AI
And of course, AI is only making the challenge facing the cyber security industry even harder.
Reports show increasingly that AI agents are supercharging cyber-attacks by industrialising the scale of them.
In the Internet NZ survey I referred to earlier, 59% of those surveyed were very or extremely concerned about the use of AI to violate privacy.
And the Kordia survey found that a quarter of medium to large businesses now rank staff misuse of AI among their biggest cyber challenges, and that attacks involving AI-related vulnerabilities have more than doubled year on year.
Director-General Clark also noted that while smaller organisations might not meet the critical infrastructure description, many still hold a lot of sensitive personal information that needs protection.
So, no matter the sector, and no matter the size, there are questions we all need to be asking, and expectations that need to be met, in today’s increasingly super-charged threat environment:
From where I sit, those expectations include:
Security controls are specific to the type and sensitivity of information held across the organisation, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Regular auditing of systems is undertaken to ensure appropriate access.
An organisation follows industry guidelines and security standards relevant to its business context.
There is a remediation plan for managing and/or replacing legacy systems (where necessary).
Identified risks are proactively managed – for example, by incorporating them into the organisation’s risk and assurance reporting processes to ensure visibility, and Organisational controls – policies, procedures, and decisions – are regularly reviewed and fit for purpose.
Conclusion
People of cyber … at this time in New Zealand’s history you face your greatest challenge, and your greatest opportunity.
The Government is backing rural New Zealand by supporting 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey say.
“We established the fund mid-last year to boost wellbeing programmes that support the rural sector,” Mr McClay says.
“These initiatives will ensure farmers and growers have the support they need to thrive.”
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the Government is committed to delivering faster access to mental health support, including for the one in five people who live in rural communities.
“We’ve focused on supporting proposals that can have the greatest impact on the ground, as well as new initiatives targeting gaps,” Mr Doocey says.
“Partnering with grassroots organisations enables the Government funding to go further and make a real difference.”
The Ministry for Primary Industries and Health New Zealand each allocated $2 million over four years for the fund through Budget 2025.
Note for editors:
Organisations/programmes receiving funding through the Rural Wellbeing Fund
Funding amount
Whatever With Wiggy Charitable Trust
$740,000
The Whanau Ora Community Clinic Ltd
$716,000
The NZ Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Incorporated
$585,000
Seafood Sector Support Network Trust (FirstMate)
$550,000
Life-Supporting Communities NZ (Be A Mate)
$400,000
Farmstrong Charitable Trust
$399,250
Surfing for Farmers Charitable Trust
$160,000
Tuākana Tēina Kaiārahi Ltd
$90,000
Ara Taiohi Incorporated
$70,000
NZ Shearing Contractors Association (Live Well, Shear Well)
$50,000
Mates of Tairāwhiti Charitable Trust
$50,000
OTS Limited (Livemewell)
$48,400
Te Manu Korero O Nga Matauranga Central King Country REAP
$40,000
Spark That Chat Ltd
$20,000
DB Farming Ltd T/A Deanne Parkes
$15,000
Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers Incorporated
$15,000
The Aoraki Multicultural Council T/A Multicultural Aoraki
The latestBusinessNZ Planning Forecastshows that while the economic outlook largely depends on how the conflict in Iran evolves, current forecasts still point to encouraging growth through to March 2028.
Chief Economist John Pask says even as we navigate stormy seas internationally, there are reasons to remain optimistic at home.
“Our construction sector is showing signs of recovery, with increased consenting activity and a strong infrastructure pipeline, as has been outlined by the Infrastructure Commission.
“Tourism has rebounded too, and international visitor numbers are back to pre-covid levels, aided in part by a lower NZ dollar.
“On the agricultural front, Fonterra’s sale of several consumer brands for around $4 billion is expected to boost incomes and support rural communities. On the downside, input costs, including fertiliser, are likely to rise significantly if the conflict continues.
Pask says this latest Planning Forecast comes with a special note, due to a developing geopolitical situation.
“Given the fluid international economic situation at present, forecasts on economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation, and unemployment, should be seen for what they are – the best available information to date. These forecasts will likely be subject to significant change as both the global and domestic scene continues to evolve over coming weeks.”
The BusinessNZ Economic Conditions Index (ECI) is a measure of some of NZ’s key economic indicators. It sits at 18 for the March 2026 quarter, down 6 on the previous quarter, and up 13 on a year ago. An ECI reading above 0 indicates that economic conditions are generally improving overall; below 0 means economic conditions are generally declining.
The latest BusinessNZ Planning forecast is available now on theBusinessNZ website.
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
Upgraded airfield infrastructure of Masterton’s Hood Aerodrome improves safety and supports the strengthening of the region’s economy, thanks to a $10 million government grant, says Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson.
Mr Mark Patterson is in Masterton today joining locals to celebrate the completion of this significant milestone for Wairarapa’s aviation capability and regional development.
“The Hood Aerodrome upgrade is a major step forward for the Wairarapa. The aerodrome is now safer and better positioned to support the region’s aviation sector, economic development, and community needs for years to come,” Mr Patterson says.
“A series of essential improvements were completed at the aerodrome, including resurfacing and widening the runway, improving lighting, upgrading water and electrical networks for 27 new hangar sites, and building new access roads.
“This work secures the aerodrome’s long-term operational capability and has enabled it to meet Civil Aviation Authority certification requirements, which allows for larger aircraft to operate from the airfield, and positions the airfield for future tourism and economic growth.
“The region can now count on continued support for medical life-flight services, search and rescue operations, agricultural topdressing, aviation events, recreational flying, and pilot training,” Mr Patterson says.
In 2020, Masterton District Council received a $10 million grant to upgrade safety and services infrastructure at Hood Aerodrome. The total value of the project was $17.07 million, which includes co-funding of $7.07 million from the Council.
In addition to the airfield upgrade, further work – supported by $954,000 from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) – has recently been completed to protect the aerodrome boundary from erosion and enhance flood protection. This project is one of 16 flood resilience initiatives in the Wairarapa co-funded by the government.
Surrounded by festival goers this morning at Auckland Polyfest 2026, The Green Party announced that a Green Government would bridge the funding gap currently faced by Polyfest organisers.
“Polyfest is whakapapa, Polyfest is healing: Polyfest is the best of us. The Green Party wants to preserve and protect this,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.
“Polyfest is currently underfunded by over $1 million, creating real uncertainty about its future.
“Aotearoa can be a country that resources our storytellers to thrive. The Green Party celebrate and support Polyfest organisers for a vibrant festival, which has thrived for generations.
“Today, we have committed to ensuring Polyfest is properly funded to deliver the world’s largest Pacific festival, without needing to increase entrance and stall-holder fees,” says Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, Teanau Tuiono.
“Funding decisions are political decisions. The Green Party will give communities certainty that this cornerstone of who we are will continue, affordably and sustainably.
“While this announcement is specific to Auckland Polyfest, it should serve as an indication of the Green Party’s commitment to funding the arts that bring us together in celebration of our diversity: which is what unites us.
“A Green Government will work with Polyfest organisers on what this looks like to best support the Trust’s aspirations.
“We love Polyfest, and the Green Party want generations to come to love Polyfest,” says Marama and Teanau.
Source:Aotearoa Clinical Trials and Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
MRINZ and ACTT Launch CRANZ to Strengthen Clinical Research in New Zealand
The Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) and the Aotearoa Clinical TrialsTrust (ACTT) are pleased to announce the establishment of theClinical Research Alliance New Zealand (CRANZ), a new national partnership to strengthen and expand high-quality clinical trial research across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Both organisations are dedicated to improving health outcomes through rigorous, evidence based clinical research.CRANZ brings together MRINZ’s internationally recognised research expertise with ACTT’s nationwide, public hospital-embedded clinical trial delivery network to create a coordinated platform for medical research.
The Alliance will:
Increase the number and support of high-quality investigator-initiated trials (IITs) and collaborative group trials (CGTs)
Work with overseas funders and research institutes to enable more medical research to be performed in New Zealand
Enable New Zealand clinicians to design and lead trials that improve patient care and inform clinical practice
Strengthen collaboration across hospitals, universities, and research institutions
Investigator-led trials are essential for addressing locally relevant health challenges and generating evidence grounded in real-world patient care.CRANZ will provide the systems, governance expertise, and delivery infrastructure required to support efficient, high quality trial execution across New Zealand.
CRANZ will initially focus onRespiratory, Vaccines, Dermatology, and Infectious Diseases– areas of significant public health priority and established research strength.
Professor Richard Beasley, Director of MRINZ, said: “Clinical trials allow us to answer the questions most relevant to patient care in New Zealand. CRANZ strengthens our ability to support clinicians to access and lead high-quality trials, generating evidence that improves clinical practice.”
Dr. Edward Watson, Chief Executive of ACTT, said: “CRANZ connects research leadership with nationwide hospital-based delivery, creating a more capable and coordinated environment for all clinical research. This Alliance will expand access to high-quality trials for patients and strengthen New Zealand’s clinical research capability.”
Further details on CRANZ programmes and collaborative initiatives will be announced in the coming months.