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Source: Radio New Zealand

Only a quarter of people who have cardiac arrest in the community survive the trip to hospital, according to a new report by ambulance services.

Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance have released the latest annual Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report, saying “out-of-hospital cardiac arrests” (OHCAs) remain a major public health challenge.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, 2466 people were treated for cardiac arrest by ambulance officers across the country – almost seven a day.

Eighty-one percent of patients received CPR from a bystander, but only six percent received treatment with a defibrillator, otherwise known as an AED.

Twenty-four percent of patients survived to hospital arrival, and only 12 percent survived a month after the event – similar numbers to previous years.

Dr Elena Garcia, deputy clinical director at St John, said making sure people received timely CPR or AED access could be the difference between life or death.

“We know that patients who have recieved community defibrillation from an AED have more than double the odds of survival, so it’s just about getting them to the patients when they need them.

“It’s about having AEDs in communities all across New Zealand, and making sure they’re truly available in terms of being open to the community, 24/7 access, and unlocked.”

They were very straightforward to use, she said – the 111 call-taker could walk someone through it, or the AED itself would have an automated voice telling the first responder where to put the stickers and which buttons to press.

Deputy chief executive for clinical services at Hato Hone St John, Jon Moores, agreed that improving community confidence and capability remained essential, along with increasing awareness of early signs of cardiac arrest and the availability of AEDs.

Inequalities for women, Māori and Pacific peoples highlighted by data

The data showed Māori and Pacific peoples tended to have cardiac arrests more often, and earlier in life, along with people living in rural and higher-deprivation communities.

Hato Hone St John’s clinical evaluation, research and insights manager, Dr Sarah Maessen, explained Māori were 1.4 times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest and faced this risk a decade earlier in life than non-Māori.

Female patients had lower odds of survival at 50 percent, and were about 60 percent less likely to receive defibrillation from another member of the public than males.

Garcia said it was possible there was a fear of removing women’s clothing, or exposing them in an inappropriate way.

“Do what you can and help the patient, because they will be very glad to survive.”

Wellington Free Ambulance executive medical director Dr Erica Douglass said it worked to train people across the Wellington region in CPR and using AEDs through The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat CPR Training programme.

“Last year close to 10,000 people across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa learnt this lifesaving skill,” she said. “This training is free of charge thanks to cornerstone partner Julie Nevett and The Lloyd Morrison Foundation who fund this essential programme.

“The data in this report shows us the positive impact bystander CPR and AED use has for chances of survival in a sudden cardiac arrest, and we encourage everyone to undertake training, know where their closest AED is and be ready to assist if needed.”

Key facts from the report

• 72 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home, 16 percent in public areas, and 4 percent in aged care facilities
• 43 percent of out-of-hospital events were attended by at least one GoodSAM responder
• 70 percent of those patients were male
• 94 percent of cardiac events were co-responded to and attended by Fire and Emergency
• Median age of patients: Māori – 59 years; Pacific peoples – 60 years; non-Māori, non-Pacific peoples – 69 years

How can you help?

Take part in St John’s community education programme ‘[www.stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/community-programmes/3-steps-for-life/ 3 Steps for Life]’ for one hour of free CPR and AED training.

Then sign up to [www.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid/lifesaving-apps/ GoodSAM], an app which alerts nearby people trained in CPR and defibrillation, when someone nearby is having a cardiac arrest.

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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/2026/02/24/only-a-quarter-of-cardiac-arrest-patients-survive-the-trip-to-hospital-report/

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person has died following a serious crash in the Canterbury town of Waikuku overnight.

Emergency services were called to the three-vehicle crash on Main North Road, near Tulls Road, just after 9pm on Monday.

One person died at the scene.

The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination but has since reopened.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/person-dies-in-three-vehicle-canterbury-crash/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Stay clean, don’t be seen – that’s the motto of many Auckland streeties who say they already get moved on by security guards, council workers and police.

The government is giving police new powers to move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour in town and city centres.

Shopkeepers and business leaders wanted it and social agencies condemned it, but homeless people warned it raised the question of where they were supposed to go.

Kevin lived rough for about a decade before moving into an apartment provided by a social agency in Auckland four years ago.

He described his experience like this: “Hustle – having unidentified struggle to live equally.”

Kevin still knew many people who slept rough.

“Not all the ones want to take the cup and ask for money, some of them are just walking around town biding time looking for refuge or sanctuary of some kind, or looking for help.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier said police were capable of dealing with the issues and the orders would give police another tool to address anti-social behaviour.

But the Police Association said it would be a drain on resources.

Breach an order, and it risked a fine or three month jail term.

Kevin said it should be the job of an agency already supporting rough sleepers.

“Why not another organisation because that uniform has a presentation, using that uniform and the police may not want to be doing this.”

A woman who had been homeless for just over a year in Auckland, whom RNZ agreed to keep anonymous, said there were fewer areas in the central city to hang out in.

She went by the motto – stay clean, don’t be seen.

“They have absolutely done everything in their power to move us away from the public areas, they’ve taken all the chairs, the tables, shut down the toilets so that we’re concentrated in certain areas.”

She said it was not easy getting off the streets because there was a lack of suitable housing – she preferred street life to boarding houses.

“We all recognise that we all have a lot of the same issues and we can’t reintegrate back into society because we didn’t fit there in the first place,” she said.

“So now pushing us into certain areas, not being able to be here at a certain time, you can’t lie down in Auckland city central business district at all.”

Moving someplace else would not be easy.

“The whole question in the beginning, where are we meant to go to? Where’s the designated area?

“They can try and move us on but there’s other ways around it, because we’re still able to be here, we still have nowhere else to go.”

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s office said police were expected to connect people given move-on orders with the support they may need.

Newmarket Business Association supported the introduction of move-on orders, as long as the problem was not shifted from street to street.

Its chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas said businesses did need help dealing with persistent anti-social behaviour outside their premises.

Kevin has a roof over his head now, but worried about those who did not, who could be asked to move on.

“They can’t give you a home so you’re going to take your trolley and move on, go somewhere else and move on, I think this is going to happen.”

The changes proposed by government would have to go through a legislative process before coming into effect.

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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/2026/02/24/we-still-have-nowhere-else-to-go-rough-sleepers-question-polices-new-move-on-powers/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Questions are mounting over whether Wellington Electricity should compensate households hit by damaging storms, as residents count the cost of week-long power outages.

The company had hoped to restore power to all affected properties that did not need complex or private repairs on Monday night. It said remaining homes were expected to be reconnected over the next few days.

Island Bay solo mum Nicola Hill lost power early last Tuesday morning after the storm battered her home, blowing out French doors.

At first, she assumed it would be restored in a matter of hours. Instead, she and her two teenagers spent six nights without electricity.

Hill said that, with no functioning fridge, fresh food quickly spoiled.

“I’ve lost a fridge and most of a freezer full of food. So, I definitely think I probably lost about $200 in food, taking into account the extra stuff that I’ve bought, like UHT milk, just to have a little bit of milk in the morning.”

Dinners were cooked on the barbecue, when the weather allowed.

Showers were cold at home, or taken at friends’ houses, grandparents’ homes in the Hutt Valley, or at the local pool and washing was ferried between houses.

As a working parent, Hill said the outage also affected her job. She stayed home for three days expecting crews to arrive, only for no one to show.

“I’d try to work from home without a device, then use the iPad for an hour or two until the battery wound down, then go somewhere to charge it and come back,” she said.

“It really impacted my productivity.”

She described the communication from Wellington Electricity and her retailer as “not fit for purpose”.

“There were promises – four to six hours, 18 hours, everything by Friday – and by Monday I was looking at any promise with complete scepticism,” she said.

“There was over-promising and under-delivering.”

Calls for Compensation

On Friday, when about 700 homes still had no power, Wellington Electricity said it would donate $10 to KidsCan Charitable Trust for every customer who wouldn’t be reconnected that day.

Hill questioned whether a donation to charity went far enough.

“When you’re getting to one week without power? I’d be ropeable if there’s a fixed charge cost,” she said.

Just a few streets away, 71-year-old retiree Jim Waters faced a different challenge.

Waters had just been discharged from hospital after a fall – which left him with a fractured wrist in a cast – when the power to his home failed on Monday night.

By morning, he discovered the gas supply had also shut off.

“It was a nightmare,” he said.

“My cellphone was running out of battery, I had no way of recharging it, I couldn’t use internet, and they’d say, ‘follow up your query online’ – but I had no power.”

Neighbours stepped in, offering Wi-Fi access, phone charging and meals.

But by Thursday, with no clear timeline for reconnection, Waters contacted his insurer and learned that emergency accommodation might be covered.

He moved into a motel, initially for one night.

He stayed four, costing about $800, which he hopes to claim back.

“I’m on superannuation, but I’m lucky I have some savings,” he said.

Waters said he felt his isolated outage may have been deprioritised in favour of larger jobs affecting whole streets.

“You got the impression they were doing the ones that were bigger,” he said. “If they’d come and looked at mine, they could have done it rather quicker.”

Like Hill, he questioned Wellington Electricity’s pledge to donate to charity rather than compensate affected customers directly.

“It sounds wonderful, but it doesn’t help the people affected much, does it?” he said.

Both residents said the experience had shaken their confidence in the capital’s infrastructure.

“We need to have power infrastructure that survives wind,” Hill said.

“It makes me worry about what would happen in an earthquake.”

By late Monday afternoon, crews had restored power to both homes.

Wellington Electricity said it was not funded to offer compensation.

“While our tight regulation by the Commerce Commission means we’re not funded to act as an insurer or cover consequential losses, if we find our actions while restoring a customer’s power caused damage to their property, we can consider a goodwill payment. We recommend customers questions about loss of supply to their electricity retailer, and any consequential loss or damage claims to their insurers.”

The company said it understood how frustrating it was to be without power for multiple days and it was sorry work to restore power across Wellington was taking longer than expected.

“The strength of the winds and the scale of the storm damage meant the situation evolved as crews progressed. In many cases, once trees were cleared and sites made safe to work at, our crews discovered more extensive damage than was initially visible,” it said.

“As with any major event, we’ll review our response and ensure improvements are continuously applied to future event responses.”

Hundreds of Powerco Customers Still Without Power

Meanwhile, Powerco said that about 200 customers across the Whanganui, Manawatū and Wairarapa regions were without electricity on Monday night, although some outages may not be storm-related.

Crews were working through complex high-voltage faults, particularly in remote forestry areas, with the Whanganui-Rangitīkei region the hardest hit. the company said.

“Access has been a challenge, with trees down across the affected regions, and outages have been widespread and in remote locations.”

At the height of the storm, more than 25,000 properties in Whanganui-Rangitīkei, Manawatū-Tararua and Wairarapa were left without power.

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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/2026/02/24/calls-on-wellington-electricity-for-compensation-after-days-with-no-power/

Source: Radio New Zealand

The patterns are clear for Dr Natasha Duncan-Sutherland to see.

Dog injury statistics are on the up, and the emergency specialist at Te Toka Tumai / Auckland City Hospital said that would not be fixed without urgent action.

“So if you see a certain number of dog-related injuries or dog bite injuries within a certain region, you can be pretty sure that without any further proper changes, that those are going to happen again the next year,” she said.

“And I think that’s really devastating.”

The next round of statistics would be in the middle of the year in June or July.

“And I am not looking forward to having to look at those next statistics,” Duncan-Sutherland said.

“I don’t look forward to having to look at those statistics again and seeing the same pattern happening all over again the following year with no changes being made.”

Duncan-Sutherland offered her “deepest sympathies” to the victims and families of recent dog attacks.

She had spent years researching the problem.

A decade’s worth of figures showed what had been done so far, including non-legislative strategies, was not working, she said.

“The Dog Control Act was introduced at one point, but things have continued to get worse and particularly over the last few years, we’ve been really trying to say this needs to happen and it hasn’t happened, and I think it’s devastating that has resulted in fatalities,” she said.

“And I think it’s devastating that the problem continues to happen and that those changes haven’t happened fast enough.”

Duncan-Sutherland said what there did need to be was an urgent review of the Dog Control Act with mandatory notification of all dog-related injuries.

She said there should also be mandatory de-sexing of all dogs by six months of age or within 28 days of an owner taking possession, unless owned by a registered breeder or when exempt on veterinary grounds.

Then, Duncan-Sutherland said there needed to be greater powers for local councils and animal control officers as well as minimum fencing standards.

She also called for infringement notices for roaming dogs or attacks on people, particularly children.

What had not lowered the figures, she said, were non-legislative strategies over several years that had included widespread education.

“Despite all of those non-legislative strategies that we’ve implemented over the last five to six years, ACC statistics show us that those changes have not been effective.”

Those figures, she said, showed the breadth and seriousness of the issue.

In 2024 to 2025, there were 29,220 dog-related injuries with nearly half of them dog bite injuries.

Adults were most often hurt on their limbs, but Duncan-Sutherland said children – because of their size – were most often hurt on their face, head or neck.

Rates of injury had been increasing steadily over time, she said.

“And so we really need to look at doing something differently.”

There were growing calls before the recent serious attacks for the decades-old Dog Control Act to be overhauled.

But Local Government Minister Simon Watts said then there was no time to do that before the election, and he would not commit to changes if National returned to power.

He said he was focused on options that did not need law changes.

On Monday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the government was open to intervening but councils could be tougher and enforce the powers they already had.

“We’re very happy to take further action and to support councils in cracking down on this,” he told RNZ.

Duncan-Sutherland said a systematic review had shown legislation, especially laws that reduced the dog population, were the most effective strategies.

“It is frustrating that over the last sort of three years we have been saying that this legislative change needs to happen because we have known about this problem for a long time, for around sort of nearly 10 years, really, we have known that this existed,” she said.

“In fact, 40 years ago, there were people who were doctors who were saying, ‘hey, this is an issue in New Zealand’.”

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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/2026/02/24/emergency-specialist-says-only-law-changes-will-reduce-dog-injury-statistics/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Disgraced former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming claims Andrew Coster – the Police Commissioner at the time – advised him to pursue harassment charges against a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

The revelation comes in a letter obtained by RNZ under the Official Information Act.

The December 2024 letter from McSkimming’s then-lawyer – addressed to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and copied to Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Deputy Police Service Commissioner Heather Baggott – said McSkimming was a “victim of a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment” that spanned several years.

In November last year, the Independent Police Conduct Authority released a damning report into police’s response to allegations of sexual offending by McSkimming.

The woman referred to in the IPCA’s report as Ms Z was charged in May 2024 with causing harm by posting digital communication, in relation to more than 300 emails she allegedly sent to McSkimming’s work email address between December 2023 and April 2024.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The charge against the woman was withdrawn in the Wellington District Court in September, because McSkimming did not wish to give evidence.

Following the IPCA’s report in November, RNZ became aware of a letter sent by McSkimming’s then lawyer Michael Heron KC to Luxon and Mitchell.

On Monday, RNZ obtained a copy of the letter under the Official Information Act.

The letter – dated 17 December 2024 – began with Heron saying that on 13 December McSkimming was informed by Baggott that Mitchell intended to advise Luxon to recommend to the Governor-General that McSkimming’s warrant be suspended on a temporary basis, pending the outcome of an investigation.

Heron said McSkimming posed no risk to police.

“He has voluntarily taken leave pending the outcome of the investigation and the further step of suspending him is not required and would, in fact, victimise him further.”

Heron said McSkimming was a “victim of a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment” that began in 2018 and was ongoing.

He said the woman who was stalking him was the same one who sparked the police investigation into McSkimming.

“My client has not been provided with any information about what exactly [Ms Z] alleges. However, that investigation appears to have prompted the Police Minister to request Ms Baggott to set in motion the steps to suspend Mr McSkimming without delay.”

The letter said McSkimming had a “consensual affair” with the woman between May 2016 and May 2018.

Heron said McSkimming informed two members of Police’s senior leadership team in May 2018 about the affair, the nature of Ms Z’s allegations and “his concerns of the risk of blackmail”.

McSkimming had made “continued disclosures” to several people, including telling Coster about the relationship and the nature of the threats and allegations when he was appointed Police Commissioner.

He also disclosed it in 2020 during the process of applying for a non-statutory Deputy Commissioner role, in 2023 when applying for the statutory role, and in 2024 prior to his interview for commissioner.

“Mr McSkimming has also, less formally, disclosed his circumstances to Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura and all his peers, including a number of Assistant Commissioners and senior officers. He has been open in these disclosures about the nature of [Ms Z’s] allegations about him.”

McSkimming had faced an “avalanche of harassment” which had been “persistent and harmful”.

This included sending emails to media organisations about him, filing anonymous complaints about him to the Police 105 online reporting line, and communicating with the IPCA about him.

Heron said Ms Z had blind copied McSkimming into the communications to the IPCA.

“She was in effect using these communications as a form of harassment and pressure.”

Heron said that in March 2024 Coster “advised McSkimming to file a complaint under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015”.

The impact of the “relentless attack” on McSkimming and his family had been “significant and severe”.

“Throughout this time, however, he has continued to perform his roles professionally and conscientiously.”

Heron said there were occasions where an officer under investigation would be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation. However, that was on a case by case basis.

“In this case, there is reason to believe the filing of a police complaint by [Ms Z] is actually an abuse of process and a further intensification of her long-running campaign of victimisation”.

Heron referred to the case of former Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha who in 2018 was subject to an independent review, a State Services Commission review and an IPCA investigation. Haumaha took leave, but was not suspended and eventually returned to his role.

“It follows that if Mr McSkimming is to be treated no different from any other senior officer he should be on leave, but not suspended.

“Further, Mr McSkimming has not been charged with any offence. He remains confident he will not be charged. Applying the presumption of innocence, it would be a significant step to treat Mr McSkimming more harshly than Mr Haumaha, particularly where, as here, there is a context to the allegations against Mr McSkimming that indicates he is already a victim.”

In relation to protecting the integrity of the investigation into McSkimming, Heron said to date the key factor that might impact that was “leaking of information” about the investigations into his conduct.

“Mr McSkimming is not responsible for those leaks and has been severely impacted by them. Last week he had media come to his family home, and family members, including his elderly father-in-law, were door-stopped by reporters.”

No Deputy Commissioner had ever been suspended, Heron said.

“To take such an unprecedented step in this case would be grossly unfair, given the extensive history leading up to the complaint and the fact that NZ Police [and the Public Service Commission] has been kept informed about these events.”

McSkimming requested he remain on leave, on full pay.

“If, however, it is your intention to make a recommendation to the Governor-General he asks to be consulted on both the wording and the timing of any announcement so that his family, particularly his children, can be prepared.

“He strongly hopes this will not be necessary. It would also be fair and reasonable to be clear as to the conditions upon which suspension is imposed and when those conditions will end (for example if there is a decision not to charge him, he must be immediately reinstated).”

McSkimming was formally suspended on 23 December. It was during the police investigation into Ms Z’s allegations that police found the objectionable material on his work devices and a second criminal investigation began.

When RNZ was made aware of the letter last year McSkimming, Coster, Heron, Mitchell and Luxon were asked for a response. Neither McSkimming nor Coster replied. Luxon and Mitchell declined to comment.

Heron said he could not make any comment about matters relating to clients.

“If you have the letter, then it speaks for itself, and you ought to ensure you quote or use it accurately and fairly.”

Coster resigned from the Social Investment Agency (SIA) last year following the IPCA report.

In an earlier statement to RNZ Coster said his resignation was “a result of my acceptance of full responsibility for the shortcomings” identified in the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report.

“I regret the impact on the young woman at the centre of this matter and sincerely apologise to her for the distress caused.

“I accept that I was too ready to trust and accept at face value Deputy Commissioner McSkimming’s disclosure and explanations to me. I should have been faster and more thorough in looking into the matter.”

Coster acknowledged he should have more fully investigated the allegations when they were brought to his attention, “rather than assuming that their previous disclosure to senior Police staff a few years earlier would have resulted in an investigation if necessary”.

“It is clear that Police’s handling of the whole matter was lacking and that I was ultimately responsible for those matters. It was sobering to read of a number of missed opportunities which should have proceeded differently and more appropriately.”

Coster welcomed Sir Brian Roche’s acknowledgement that the report made no finding of corruption or cover-up, nor did the IPCA find any evidence of any actions involving officers consciously doing the wrong thing or setting out to undermine the integrity of the organisation.

“I made decisions honestly. I acted in good faith. I sought to take all important factors into account with the information I had at the time. While it is not possible to alter past events, I am prepared to take responsibility – I got this wrong.

“I want to apologise to all members of the NZ Police. They work hard every day to keep our communities safe. I know they have been adversely affected by these events.”

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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/2026/02/24/mcskimming-claims-andrew-coster-advised-him-to-file-harassment-complaint-against-woman/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Frustrated dog owners are taking on Auckland Council in court on Tuesday.

Last year, the Puketāpapa Local Board voted four to two to ban dogs from running free in part of Hillsborough’s Monte Cecilia Park.

An interim order halting the decision is in place until the outcome of a judicial review, which starts on Tuesday morning at the High Court in Auckland.

At a gathering at the park over the weekend, Jonathan Sweeney from the Dog Lovers of Monte Cecilia Incorporated Society, told RNZ the 500-member-strong group had raised almost $13,000 in its spare time. Their lawyer, George Barton, had agreed to take on the case pro bono.

“It’s a bit ironic that we’ve had to raise our own funds to pay our legal fees and costs, and yet our ratepayer money is actually funding a KC and the legal team at the council.

“I’m the manager of a sports strapping tape company. Myself and all of our volunteers we’ve got other lives.

“This is a great example of David vs Goliath. We’re just regular people, ratepayers, taking on the might of Auckland Council.”

Sweeney said an overwhelming majority of the community wanted to keep the park as it was.

Out of 900 responses from the public during the local board’s consultation, 88 percent (795 people) were against removing the off-leash bowl area, and just 10 percent (89 people) supported it. A petition opposing the decision with more than 1000 signatures was also handed to the board.

Sweeney said the group would be arguing in court that the local board had “pre-determined” its decision before consulting the public.

It was also contesting the board’s view that the off-leash area was a significant safety risk.

“We have a fair amount of proof in terms of emails and correspondence that, in our opinion, demonstrate a high amount of pre-determination going back more than one year.”

Animal management data showed that between 2019 and 2024 there were 63 dog-related incidents at the park, including attacks, aggressive behaviour and reports of roaming dogs.

In that time, three people were attacked by an off-leash dog, all in on-leash areas. There were 12 dog attacks on animals, and all but one happened in the off-leash area.

Zara Moselen, who brought her dog Nala to Monte Cecilia most days, felt the board was ignoring the community’s voice.

“Hundred and hundreds of people voiced their opinion, and the board still went with the 10 percent.

“I really hope the judicial review is a fair process and our argument can be heard.

“The sense of community at this park you can’t find in many other places. It’s such a special, unique spot for dogs to run around and play. It’s such a small part of this huge park that’s off-lead.”

Louise Fletcher and her dog Ernie also used the park regularly.

“The local council is supposed to listen to public consultation, and they went very much against it. They should listen to what the people who pay the rates actually want.

“It makes me feel minimised as a dog owner.

“In Auckland, we’re really underserved with off-leash areas. We’re getting pushed into smaller spaces. This is one of the few premium places where the area set aside for dogs is actually really good.”

Auckland Council and Puketāpapa Local Board chair Roseanne Hay told RNZ they would not comment on the judicial proceedings while the case was before the court.

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LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/dog-owners-take-auckland-council-to-court-over-monte-cecilia-park-off-leash-ban/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A towering lantern of a moa is poised to make its debut at Manukau Sports Bowl when the Auckland Lantern Festival opens on Thursday, giving the annual event a distinct New Zealand flavour.

It was the first time the festival had included a lantern representing a slice of New Zealand history, said Jep Savali, group manager of major events at organiser Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

“[The moa] became extinct about 600 years ago,” Savali said. “It’s a very prominent animal within Māori culture, that’s why we’ve chosen the moa.”

Savali said the three-and-a-half-meter lantern had initially been designed in New Zealand.

A well-known producer in Zigong, China, was then asked to manufacture the lantern before shipping it to Auckland for display.

The entire process took about four to five months, he said.

A lantern depicting a kiwi was being planned for a future festival, he said.

A giant lantern of two galloping horses would also feature at this year’s festival to celebrate the Year of the Horse alongside more than 500 handmade lanterns.

“The horses will be four meters high and three meters long,” Savali said.

“[The lantern] is based on an Eastern Han artifact of a galloping horse treading on a flying swallow,” he said. “It symbolises speed, success and optimism for the year.”

In China, the Lantern Festival – also known as the Yuan Xiao Festival – is a festival that marks the end of Spring Festival celebrations.

People typically observe the holiday by visiting colourful lantern displays and eating sweet glutinous rice balls known as tāngyuán.

In some parts of China, festivities also include lion and dragon dances, stilt-walking and traditional riddle games.

In New Zealand, the Auckland Lantern Festival began as a one-night event at Albert Park in 2000.

It has since grown into a four-day festival and is now one of the country’s largest cultural events, moving venues over time as attendance numbers increased.

Savali said this year marked the third year the festival would be held at Manukau Sports Bowl.

“There are arguments both ways about where the festival should be,” he said. “Manukau Sports Bowl provides a really large venue.

“If you can imagine, 500-plus lanterns on display, over 50 food stalls, close to 100 stalls altogether, plus family rides, and contemporary and traditional performances on the stages. We needed to find somewhere that could cater for all of that.”

This year, the event will again operate as a free ticketed event, a system introduced to manage crowd numbers and support public transport use.

Ticket holders will be able to travel free on buses and trains from two hours before the festival opens until the end of regular daily services.

Free shuttle buses will also run regularly between Manukau Train Station, Westfield Manukau and Manukau Sports Bowl before, during and after the festival.

Savali said parking around the venue was limited and urged visitors to use public transport.

“We’re expecting up to 160,000 people over the four days of the Lantern Festival,” he said.

“The weekends are the busiest – that’s when we expect a large uptake of people to come along to see the lanterns.

“If you can, take public transport,” he said.

The festival will run daily from 4pm to 10:30pm from Thursday to Sunday, with fireworks scheduled for about 9:50pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Organisers encourage visitors to secure free tickets early to help manage capacity.

By Monday, 100,000 tickets had already been claimed, with tickets for Saturday fully booked.

Organisers said a limited number of walk-in tickets were available each day for visitors who had missed out.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/auckland-lantern-festival-to-unveil-a-new-zealand-icon/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Only a quarter of people who have heart attacks in the community survive the trip to hospital, according to a new report by ambulance services.

Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance have released the latest annual Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report, saying “out-of-hospital cardiac arrests” (OHCAs) remain a major public health challenge.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, 2466 people were treated for cardiac arrest by ambulance officers across the country – almost seven a day.

Eighty-one percent of patients received CPR from a bystander, but only six percent received treatment with a defibrillator, otherwise known as an AED.

Twenty-four percent of patients survived to hospital arrival, and only 12 percent survived a month after the event – similar numbers to previous years.

Dr Elena Garcia, deputy clinical director at St John, said making sure people received timely CPR or AED access could be the difference between life or death.

“We know that patients who have recieved community defibrillation from an AED have more than double the odds of survival, so it’s just about getting them to the patients when they need them.

“It’s about having AEDs in communities all across New Zealand, and making sure they’re truly available in terms of being open to the community, 24/7 access, and unlocked.”

They were very straightforward to use, she said – the 111 call-taker could walk someone through it, or the AED itself would have an automated voice telling the first responder where to put the stickers and which buttons to press.

Deputy chief executive for clinical services at Hato Hone St John, Jon Moores, agreed that improving community confidence and capability remained essential, along with increasing awareness of early signs of cardiac arrest and the availability of AEDs.

Inequalities for women, Māori and Pacific peoples highlighted by data

The data showed Māori and Pacific peoples tended to have cardiac arrests more often, and earlier in life, along with people living in rural and higher-deprivation communities.

Hato Hone St John’s clinical evaluation, research and insights manager, Dr Sarah Maessen, explained Māori were 1.4 times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest and faced this risk a decade earlier in life than non-Māori.

Female patients had lower odds of survival at 50 percent, and were about 60 percent less likely to receive defibrillation from another member of the public than males.

Garcia said it was possible there was a fear of removing women’s clothing, or exposing them in an inappropriate way.

“Do what you can and help the patient, because they will be very glad to survive.”

Wellington Free Ambulance executive medical director Dr Erica Douglass said it worked to train people across the Wellington region in CPR and using AEDs through The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat CPR Training programme.

“Last year close to 10,000 people across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa learnt this lifesaving skill,” she said. “This training is free of charge thanks to cornerstone partner Julie Nevett and The Lloyd Morrison Foundation who fund this essential programme.

“The data in this report shows us the positive impact bystander CPR and AED use has for chances of survival in a sudden cardiac arrest, and we encourage everyone to undertake training, know where their closest AED is and be ready to assist if needed.”

Key facts from the report

• 72 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home, 16 percent in public areas, and 4 percent in aged care facilities
• 43 percent of out-of-hospital events were attended by at least one GoodSAM responder
• 70 percent of those patients were male
• 94 percent of cardiac events were co-responded to and attended by Fire and Emergency
• Median age of patients: Māori – 59 years; Pacific peoples – 60 years; non-Māori, non-Pacific peoples – 69 years

How can you help?

Take part in St John’s community education programme ‘[www.stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/community-programmes/3-steps-for-life/ 3 Steps for Life]’ for one hour of free CPR and AED training.

Then sign up to [www.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid/lifesaving-apps/ GoodSAM], an app which alerts nearby people trained in CPR and defibrillation, when someone nearby is having a cardiac arrest.

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

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/24/only-a-quarter-of-heart-attack-patients-survive-the-trip-to-hospital-report/