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Assessment and reporting changes for parents shine light on learning

Source: New Zealand Government

Students returning to school this week will benefit from a significant change designed to give parents clearer, more consistent information about how their children are progressing at school.

2026 marks the first year of nationally consistent assessment and reporting in primary and intermediate schools, giving parents a clearer picture of their child’s learning and progress, no matter which school they attend.

“Parents have long called for clearer, more detailed reporting on academic achievement, and this new framework delivers that clarity. It supports parents to understand their child’s progress over time and to be active partners in their learning,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

This year, schools will begin using a nationally consistent reporting approach supported by twice-yearly progress check-ins. Together, these changes will ensure parents receive reliable, easy-to-understand information about progress in reading, writing and maths, alongside attendance information and guidance on next learning steps.

Parents are key partners in their children’s learning. To play that role well, they need information that is consistent, meaningful, and comparable over time. The new approach ensures families receive clear and detailed reporting regardless of which school their child attends.

The changes respond directly to expert advice and long-standing concerns about assessment and reporting. For years, the Education Review Office (ERO) and the New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI) have called for improved assessment practices and higher-quality reporting to parents.

“For too long, New Zealand has lacked consistent, reliable information on how students are progressing in the basics,” Ms Stanford says.

“Both ERO and the Assessment Institute have been clear that without nationally consistent assessment and reporting, parents can be left without the information they need, and the system cannot respond early when children need support. We are acting on that advice.”

“We are focusing on rich, detailed data that informs progress over time and gives clarity to enable action and support across all levels – between parents, schools, the Ministry and sector. This aligns with NZAI’s reporting, including that ‘assessment information is essential at all tiers of the education system’ and ‘contributes to improvement throughout the system’.

“ERO’s reporting on assessment has also highlighted key practices in effective schools, noting that while use of these is increasing, it is still not universal in all schools. We are acting to ensure students, and the sector at all levels are supported with nationally consistent information on learning progress.”

The new approach replaces an assessment system more than 20 years old and has been developed following consultation with principals’ associations and teachers, and trialling in 85 schools involving around 12,000 student assessment engagements. Feedback from participating schools has been positive.

Under the new reporting framework, parents of students in Years 0–10 will receive nationally consistent reporting across reading, writing and maths, including:

  • One of five clear progress markers describing learning progress
  • An explanation of why that progress marker was chosen and how parents can support next learning steps
  • Information on progress over time and attendance
  • Information on phonics achievement and twice-yearly progress check-ins

Reporting on other learning areas, values and behaviour will continue as it does now. Many schools already provide strong reporting and may continue using their existing templates where these meet the new expectations.

The second part of the change is the introduction of twice-yearly progress check-ins for students in Years 3–8, supported by the new SMART progress monitoring tool.

“The SMART tool is a low-stakes, light-touch way to support consistent assessment,” Ms Stanford says.

“It is not designed to replace teacher judgement. Teachers will continue to use their professional expertise, drawing on classroom work, observations and assessments. These tools support that judgement and help ensure parents receive clear, consistent information.”

The progress check-ins will align with mid-year and end-of-year reporting, helping parents see how their child is tracking across the year, not just at a single point in time.

Consistent, high-quality information across schools will also help better target support for students. This year, the Government is rolling out structured literacy and maths intervention teachers, expanding early intervention services, providing an additional 800,000 teacher aide hours, and introducing hundreds of new learning support coordinators and specialist staff.

“Our government is ambitious for every child,” Ms Stanford says.

“These changes ensure parents are better informed, teachers are supported, and students get help earlier when they need it. That is how we lift achievement and ensure every child can reach their potential.”

“I wish all students and teachers the very best as they return to school this year.”

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/assessment-and-reporting-changes-for-parents-shine-light-on-learning/

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Patient touched while sleeping, watched while washing during recovery at Hutt Hospital

Source: Radio New Zealand

The woman was in Hutt Hospital, recovering from a leg amputation. RNZ / REECE BAKER

A woman recovering from a leg amputation in Hutt Hospital was repeatedly harassed by a male patient who touched her while she slept and watched while she was being washed.

The Health and Disability Commission says the hospital failed to keep her safe during her 2022 stay.

The hospital took a week to assign someone to watch the male patient, 11 days to give the woman a security guard, and did not remove the man from the ward.

The woman, known as Mrs B, was being cared for in a room with other women but in a mixed gender ward, deputy commissioner Carolyn Cooper said in her report released on Monday.

Over the course of her stay, the confused man gave her “unwanted attention”.

That included “touching her when she was sleeping, watching her as she was being washed or changed, making inappropriate sexual comments, and going through her belongings”, the report said.

She was so badly impacted, her family discharged her early to finish her recovery at home and she became frightened to return to hospital.

The harassment began soon after the woman was admitted following her amputation.

For the first three days, the hospital used its confused patient protocols to manage the man – including medication, an alarm bracelet, regular checks and using nurses to help redirect him.

His behaviour escalated and a psychiatrist was consulted.

Health NZ told the commission it was unable to move the man from the ward to a place where his behaviour could managed better because of “resourcing constraints”.

On the eighth day of the woman’s stay, staff made an incident report and healthcare assistants were assigned to watch the man around the clock.

But the next day there was a “further incident” when the man entered the woman’s room.

She was offered a private room but declined because she felt safer in a shared room, saying it took 15 or 20 minutes for her call bell to be answered.

The family complained and met with staff to discuss safety measures.

It was not until another incident on day 11 that a security guard was posted outside the woman’s room and she was moved to a bed further from the door.

Her family told the commission the guard did not initially realise he was there to stop the male patient entering the room.

They decided to take her home early and her son complained to the commission.

She had post traumatic stress disorder as a result of her experience.

Deputy commissioner Carolyn Cooper. Supplied

Hospital criticised

Deputy commissioner Carolyn Cooper said the hospital did not provide the woman with the safe environment she was entitled to.

Health NZ had taken steps to address the behaviour of the man towards her but they were not effective – and incidents continued until she was discharged, Cooper’s report said.

The report noted the hospital’s comments that it could not move the man because of “resourcing constraints”.

“Despite this, I have concerns that the male patient remained in the ward when it was clear that his behaviour was escalating and could not be managed adequately by the measures taken to minimise the risk of harm to Mrs B,” she said.

The hospital also under-reported the number of incidents, the report said.

Health NZ responds

Heath NZ told the commission it took reasonable actions to provide appropriate care to the woman.

But it accepted that it had ultimately failed to provide her with a safe environment.

“Health NZ apologised for this and for the emotional distress this caused,” it said.

The hospital had considered moving the man to another ward but decided not to because of the complexity of patients on that ward and that they may have increased the confusion the man was experiencing.

It had made a series of changes since the woman’s stay.

It was increasing staff education, including for security guards, orderlies and minders on the risks of sexually inappropriate behaviour.

The hospital was looking into same-gender bays in wards to “enhance patient dignity, privacy and safety” and changing wards to include low-stimulation spaces for patients who are confused or agitated.

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/2026/02/02/patient-touched-while-sleeping-watched-while-washing-during-recovery-at-hutt-hospital/

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Four before the courts following burglary, New Plymouth

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Sergeant Seamus Doyle:

Three youth and one man have been arrested and charged following an aggravated burglary in New Plymouth last week.

On Wednesday 28 January, around 3am, Police were called with a report of a burglary in progress at a commercial address on Devon Street East.

Police responded immediately, however the alleged offenders had already fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.

A scene examination took place and Police conducted initial enquiries, which has led to the arrest of three youth and one man.

The three youth, aged 16-17, and a 22-year-old man, appeared in New Plymouth Youth Court on Thursday 29 January, two of the youth are due to reappear today, while the third youth and the man are due to reappear on Monday 16 February.

They are all facing multiple charges relating to burglary with a weapon and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Some of these people have also been charged in relation to aggravated burglaries over the last week, in Whanganui and Tauranga.

If you witness any suspicious behaviour around commercial or residential properties, or any other criminal behaviour, please report it to Police as soon as possible, with as much information as you can.

If it is happening now, please call 111 – otherwise, to make a report after the fact, you can contact 105 either online or over the phone.

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre
 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/four-before-the-courts-following-burglary-new-plymouth/

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SH1 Desert Road closing to progress essential roadwork

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The overnight-only closures, between Tūrangi and Waiouru, have been carefully programmed to enable swift progress during the last phase of road rebuilding in this location, while avoiding long-term disruption.

Closures here are needed to complete final surfacing in the area known as the 3 Sisters because the narrow, winding road can’t safely accommodate asphalting machinery and stop/go traffic management. Three consecutive southern sites spanning a total of 3.5km are affected: Mangamate, Oturere Hill and Mangatoetoenui.

All closures are scheduled to take place overnight between Sunday 15 February and Monday 9 March (weather dependent). Updates will be available on NZTA’s Journey Planner and Facebook pages, as well as electronic message boards in the area.

“Minimising disruption for road users, residents and businesses is always front of mind for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), so we don’t close roads unless it’s essential to ensure safety and to get the job done,” says Roger Brady, NZTA Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

“In this case, it’s short-term ‘pain’ for long-term gain, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while we improve this vital roading network.”

During the overnight closures, the recommended detour is via SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49 and back to SH1 in Waiouru, and vice versa. Those travelling on this alternative route will need to bear in mind that it adds approximately 35 minutes to journeys.

As well as this T2W rebuilding work being completed under closures, there’s a significant amount of general road maintenance happening at various sites on the Desert Road during the summer works season. This will require daytime stop/go traffic management. The schedule is being coordinated to reduce delays as much as possible.

Enabled by the Government’s $2.07 billion Pothole Prevention fund, T2W has condensed 4 seasons of work into 2, reducing future disruption on these sections of SH1.

“Having begun in September 2024, it’s now a matter of months before contractors working for NZTA will have completed the project’s entire 60km – 27 percent of SH1’s total 220km length.

“Weather and ground conditions generally being best during summer, the past few months have been a busy time for both road users and our crews. We’re working hard to ensure it’s not long now until this important project is completed and we can all get back to business as usual along SH1,” says Mr Brady.

SH1 Tūrangi and Waiouru detour map.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/sh1-desert-road-closing-to-progress-essential-roadwork/

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Tauranga City Council votes for independent review into fatal Mt Maunganui landslide

Source: Radio New Zealand

The six victims of the Mt Maunganui landslide – Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Lisa Maclennan, 50, Susan Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, Max Furse-Kee, 15, and Jacqualine Wheeler, 71. Supplied

Tauranga City Council has voted to commission an independent external review into the fatal Mount Maunganui landslide.

Six people died in the slip, and the police had finished their recovery efforts, with all the victims now recovered and identified.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale earlier said the council would arrange its own review into the slip, despite the fact the government was also likely to hold an inquiry.

In an emergency meeting held on Monday, councillors decided an independent external review would take place – opting for that instead of a “rapid internal assessment”.

“This is very much around establishing the facts, understanding what happened, and… whether the actions of Tauranga City Council were appropriate in the circumstances,” Drysdale said.

It was important any lessons would be delivered as soon as possible to protect the lives of residents and visitors, he said.

Tauranga mayor Mahé Drusdale speaking at the scene of the landslide. RNZ

The council would now finalise the terms of reference, appoint the independent reviewer, and decide on the timeframe.

The option to do nothing was discounted “as it is not prudent governance to ignore an incident of this scale and the need to provide assurance, transparency, and organisational learning,” the agenda document said.

A rapid internal assessment run by a senior staffer would be quicker and cheaper, but with weaker “perceived independence” given community expectations and scrutiny, it said.

An independent external review would be slower and more costly, but with greater public confidence, the paper said.

Monday’s meeting was held in “tragic circumstances”, following events that had changed the city forever, Drysdale said.

“We’ve had a number of questions, and as governors, we need to answer those questions.”

The cordon in Mt Maunganui following the deadly landslide was covered in tributes for the people who lost their lives. RNZ / Lauren Crimp

Councillors noted the fact the council owned the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park meant there was inherent conflict.

That was cause enough for an independent Crown inquiry, Councillor Steve Morris said.

“But in the meantime we’re responsible for the lives of nearly 170,000 people, so we’ve got to learn and implement any changes as soon as possible, because a future natural disaster isn’t going to give us the courtesy for the Crown or its agencies to complete their inquiries.”

Councillor Hemi Rolleston urged the council to balance haste and care.

Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said he fully supported an external review.

Public scrutiny had been growing following the landslip.

A camper who contacted emergency services on the morning of the landslide said she saw a local council representative drive through the campground and directly past three slips about two hours before the deadly landslide.

The council would not comment on that before any review took place, emergency controller Tom McEntyre said.

It was also revealed last week that geotechnical engineers told Tauranga City Council two decades ago buildings should not be allowed in the “runout” zones of potential landslides unless they had specially constructed protection like a retaining wall.

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/2026/02/02/tauranga-city-council-votes-for-independent-review-into-fatal-mt-maunganui-landslide/

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Schools fear uptick in absences for Lunar New Year

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ/ Dan Cook

A number of schools in Auckland have expressed concern about an uptick in absences at the start of the year as students travel overseas to visit families during Lunar New Year celebrations.

New Zealand’s state and state integrated schools begin the first term of 2026 between Monday, 26 January, and Monday, 9 February.

The upcoming Lunar New Year falls on 17 February this year – about three weeks after some schools resume classes.

That gap has prompted concern at schools with large numbers of Asian students that some families may miss extended periods of school.

Auckland’s Macleans College begins Term 1 on 2 February, with principal Steven Hargreaves acknowledging the absences the school typically records around Lunar New Year each year.

Hargreaves said some students stayed in China over the New Zealand summer holidays and only returned after Chinese New Year.

Lunar New Year fell a little later than usual this year, he said, noting that students who missed about three weeks of school could struggle to catch up.

“The first few weeks of school are always so important because that’s where the classroom routines are established,” Hargreaves said.

“If a student is away for three weeks, they miss some of the fundamental outlines of the course,” he said.

“They haven’t had a chance to review their timetable, the whole classroom dynamic and the establishment of routines is missed. It does put them behind their classmates for achievement.”

Macleans College principal Steven Hargreaves stands alongside international students from Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Brazil. Macleans College/Supplied

Hargreaves said about half of Macleans College’s students were of Chinese heritage.

The school’s average annual attendance rate was close to 95 percent, he said, and students of Chinese descent had the highest attendance of any ethnic group.

Even so, he said, the small number of students who missed classes during Lunar New Year remained a source of frustration.

He said some families cited medical reasons to justify absences when students were abroad, which he said was problematic.

“We take the family’s word for it, even if we have our doubts whether that’s true or not,” he said.

“It’s often an excuse given to be absent,” he said. “But it just seems too coincidental that there’s a group of students away for a week or two all at the same time of year.”

Hargreaves said New Zealand law clearly stipulated that students could be absent only for specific reasons, and that family occasions or reunions did not qualify.

Several primary schools on Auckland’s North Shore shared similar concerns about possible absences this year related to the Lunar New Year.

Browns Bay School said it had set its 2026 start date as late as possible – on 9 February – to give families more time over the holidays, and reminded parents that students were expected back on the first day of term.

In a newsletter sent to families, the school said it had seen an increase in absences at the beginning of the school year around Lunar New Year, along with more parents citing medical reasons during that period as families travelled overseas to celebrate.

RNZ has approached the school for comment.

Pinehill School also planned to start the new term on 9 February but admitted that attendance could be affected this year.

“Last year, the first day of Lunar New Year was Wednesday, 29 January,” said the school’s principal, Carla Veldman.

“To acknowledge this special time for our Chinese families, we started the school year [in 2025] at the latest possible date, Monday, 10 February. Attendance was not an issue, and all students were back on Day 1.”

“This year is a bit more challenging,” she said.

“We are starting at the latest possible date again … but Lunar New Year falls later, on Tuesday, 17 February. We anticipate that this may affect attendance for some families.

“Extended absences at the start of the year can affect how students settle in, build relationships with teachers and peers, understand routines and systems, and complete beginning-of-year assessments.”

Supplied / Ministry of Education

Veldman said about 60 percent of the school’s students identified as Chinese.

She said the school followed its attendance follow-up procedures to communicate the importance of regular attendance to all families.

“We include messages such as, ‘Missing one week of school each term adds up to missing a whole year of learning by the time your child is 16’,” Veldman said.

“Regular attendance helps students get the most out of their education.”

For families who needed to travel for Lunar New Year, she said, the school encouraged parents to let staff know in advance so teachers could provide learning resources and support, helping students return without feeling overwhelmed.

“We understand that Lunar New Year is an important cultural occasion for many families,” she said.

“Our advice is to plan travel around the school calendar where possible, keep absences to a minimum and communicate with the school so we can support students to stay on track with learning.”

Pigeon Mountain Primary School in East Auckland starts the new term on 3 February.

Principal Phebe Rossiter said the school had noticed fluctuations in attendance at the start of the year.

In 2025, she said, the school recorded 85 percent regular attendance in the first week and 90 percent in the second, which coincided with Lunar New Year, compared with a typical weekly average of about 96 percent in Term 1.

She cautioned, however, against attributing higher absence rates solely to cultural celebrations.

Rossiter said regular attendance in the first weeks of school was critical but noted it was also important to bring culture into school life.

“A student’s culture is incredibly important to us,” she said.

Rossiter said the school was planning to mark Lunar New Year with decorations and classroom-learning activities, as well as a lion dance performance.

For families weighing attendance against cultural obligations, she encouraged parents to contact the school for support.

“We want parents to know that if they plan a holiday during term time, their child may miss out on key learning or a fun event they had been really looking forward to,” she said.

“However, we also lead with empathy. We understand that traveling home to see family for special events is not usually a regular occurrence, and important part of life.”

Phebe Rossiter, principal of Pigeon Mountain Primary School, says a student’s culture is incredibly important at school. Supplied

Rossiter said the school’s target of having 80 percent of students attending regularly was achievable.

Helen Hurst, acting leader of operations and integration at the Ministry of Education, said the legal expectation for state and state integrated schools was clear: Students were required to attend whenever school is open.

“Regular attendance is generally understood as attending school for more than 90 percent of the term, which means students could be absent for fewer than five days in a term,” she said.

Hurst said the ministry could identify the number of students on holiday in Term 1, but could not attribute those absences specifically to Lunar New Year, since families travelled for many reasons at that time of year.

She said the ministry acknowledged Lunar New Year was a significant annual cultural occasion and reunion for many families, similar in importance to Christmas.

For families who are unavoidably away during term time, she said the ministry advised parents to notify the school early; discuss options to maintain learning, such as learning packs, online access or adjusted timing for assessments; agree on how progress will be checked while the student is away; and make a plan for re-engagement and catching up on their return.

The government has taken a tougher line on school attendance in 2026, with schools mandated to begin the year with an attendance management plan that set out how they would respond when attendance started to slip.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour said school attendance rates were trending upward, and the plans could include schools contacting families after five days of absence, organising a meeting when absences reach 10 days and referring students to truancy services after 15 days.

The government’s goal is for 80 percent of students to attend school more than 90 percent of the time by 2030.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/schools-fear-uptick-in-absences-for-lunar-new-year/

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NZ’s $2.5 billion shoddy building bill: how to fix the ‘build now, fix later’ culture

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kirby, Construction Industry Consultant, Auckland University of Technology

Getty Images

New Zealand’s residential construction industry contributes roughly NZ$26 billion annually to the economy and employs around 70,000 workers. Yet despite its significance and scale, the sector’s productivity levels have flatlined since the mid-1980s.

In housing construction, “productivity” isn’t a simple measure of output per worker; it refers to the industry’s ability to deliver the right quantity of high-quality homes without significant delays or flaws.

If a builder spends ten hours rectifying avoidable mistakes, for instance, their productivity for the day is effectively zero. And this has become all too common within the sector.

A 2014 study by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) confirms 92% of new houses surveyed had compliance defects.

Subsequent analysis carried out for BRANZ by the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research estimated the annual cost of defective building to the overall economy:

The results show that economy-wide effects of an increase in productivity would see New Zealand’s GDP rise by $2.5 billion, as the industry’s overall costs of production decrease.

That means nearly 10% of the sector’s total value is lost to systemic quality failure. Based on the average construction cost of an Auckland house, that loss represents around 5,000 missing homes every year.

Recognising the productivity problem, the government last year introduced major reforms aimed at speeding up consent processes and allocating financial liability for defective buildings to those responsible.

But while poor productivity is often blamed on procurement methods, technology or labour, our research suggests better quality management is key to remedying the industry’s “build now, fix later” culture.

Commercial viability before quality control

We surveyed the views of 106 residential construction professionals, including general managers, construction managers, site managers, project managers and subcontractors.

They were asked about the influence of quality management on improving residential construction productivity, and about the effects of government policy. The views expressed suggested a culture prioritising time and cost over quality is a systemic norm at the industry level.

We then traced the industry’s problems back to the major policy shifts that began in the mid-1980s. Before then, building quality was anchored in the prescriptive standards set by the Ministry of Works.

By specifying how to build, the ministry acted as a national governor of technical standards. But by 1988, those standards were viewed as a barrier to efficient market operation, effectively ending the era of the state as master builder.

The New Zealand Building Code subsequently replaced the previous prescriptive system with a performance-based model focused solely on outcomes.

Without strict procedural guidance, the industry moved towards a culture that prioritised speed and commercial viability over rigorous quality management.

A ‘tick-box’ culture

To understand why industry performance stalled, we refer to what’s called the “theory of constraints”, which argues a system is only as strong as its weakest link.

In New Zealand’s residential construction sector, we argue, the weakest link is not just poor quality control but the absence of a quality-focused culture in general.

The 1980s shift to a hands-off, self-regulated model helped foster a “tick-box” culture rather than genuine organisational reform. This has meant that with every step forward, the industry is pulled back by the need to fix previous errors, stalling productivity.

On the building site, this manifested as a disconnect between the “work as imagined” (the manuals and checklists from head office) and the “work as done” by builders and subcontractors.

The worst outcomes are well known. New Zealand is still paying for the nearly $47 billion legacy of the leaky homes crisis, which peaked in the early 2000s. Poor quality, damp and mouldy housing contributes to respiratory illnesses costing $145 million annually in hospitalisations.

While policies such as the healthy homes standards for rental properties now exist, such measures mainly treat the symptoms of a deeper problem.

In Auckland alone, one-third of all projects fail their final inspection. The high volume of remedial work required chokes the entire system’s throughput.

The government must lead

Fixing an annual $2.5 billion problem requires a structural shift. Our research proposes a framework where the state, as the primary funder and driver of major construction, sets the standard the rest of the industry must adopt.

The proposed framework is underpinned by “lean principles” designed to minimise waste and encourage continuous improvement through a “plan-do-check-act” cycle. It uses the ISO 9000 standards New Zealand already has in place for exports.

To help achieve this, we argue the government would need to do two things.

  1. Establish a national construction, productivity and quality commission. This would be a nonpartisan body staffed by industry and academic experts to ensure reform survives beyond three-year election cycles.

  2. Mandate quality management systems that align with existing ISO 9000 standards for all government-funded residential projects.

The aim is to create a trickle-down effect, driving culture change throughout the industry. To win stable government contracts, subcontractors would be forced to up-skill and formalise standards-based oversight of their work.

Improved quality and productivity should not be aspirational. New Zealand has 2.5 billion reasons to create the genuine structural reform required.

The author acknowledges the contributions of Senior Lecturer Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi and Associate Professor Nicola Naismith of AUT to the research described in this article.

Mark Kirby does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. NZ’s $2.5 billion shoddy building bill: how to fix the ‘build now, fix later’ culture – https://theconversation.com/nzs-2-5-billion-shoddy-building-bill-how-to-fix-the-build-now-fix-later-culture-272145

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/02/nzs-2-5-billion-shoddy-building-bill-how-to-fix-the-build-now-fix-later-culture-272145/

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Grammy Awards 2026: All the winners as they are announced

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s music’s biggest night, and we’re waiting to see who will take home those golden gramophones.

Going into the night, Kendrick Lamar leads with nine nominations, including for album of the year for his GNX.

Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter all follow close behind with nods for album, record and song of the year.

Bad Bunny made history by becoming the first Spanish-language artist to simultaneously snag nominations in the coveted best album, record and song categories in the same year with Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos).

The Grammys, hosted once again by Trevor Noah, will see performances from Gaga and Carpenter, as well as Justin Bieber and all eight best new artist nominees – Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR and The Marías.

Below is a list of nominees, with the winners denoted in bold as they are announced on the telecast:

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/grammy-awards-2026-all-the-winners-as-they-are-announced/

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Does your self-worth go down when the weather heats up?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsurprisingly, summer is peak season when it comes to body dissatisfaction, says science writer David Robson.

To alleviate self-consciousness about not having a perfect “beach body”, it can help to develop body neutrality, he says.

Instead of their appearance, learning to focus on the function of our bodies and how they enable us to do the things we want is key, Robson tells Sunday Morning.

“These anxieties are really shared by everyone, including the people you’d think would be least likely to experience them.” – David Robson.

Home

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/does-your-self-worth-go-down-when-the-weather-heats-up/

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Australian mining giant Santana Minerals granted road mine road access despite protest

Source: Radio New Zealand

Central Otago District Council chief executive Peter Kelly and Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring. Santana Minerals / supplied

Central Otago District Council (CODC) has granted road access to an Australian company planning an open-cast gold mine near Cromwell.

Santana Minerals will be able to use two roads linked to the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project in exchange for an annual payment of about $1.25 million, adjusted for inflation, once gold production begins.

The company submitted a fast-track consent application for the open-cast-mine in November.

Panel convenors have indicated a decision could take 120 working days.

In a message to shareholders on Monday, Santana Minerals described the access agreement as endorsement from the council and said it would deliver multi-generational benefits to the district.

However, Central Otago district Mayor Tamah Alley said the council had not taken a position for or against the project and acknowledged the community was divided.

“This agreement ensures that if the project goes ahead, the Central Otago community receives tangible, long-term benefits, while maintaining transparency and public accountability,” she said.

“Our focus is on ensuring decisions are made objectively, lawfully and with full consideration of the information available.”

Santana Minerals said the agreement covered Thomsons Gorge Road and Shepherds Creek Road – a paper road – including a 20-metre strip on either side of each.

Any future road stopping – where the roads cease to exist as public roads and become private use only – would still require Public Works Act or Local Government Act approval, the company said.

“If any roads are stopped, replacement routes would be built to ensure continued public access,” Santana said.

Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring called the approval a material step forward for the project.

“This agreement resolves a long-standing statutory access requirement, provides durable clarity around roading and access arrangements and establishes a transparent framework for long-term community benefit.”

A Wine not Mine event organised by Sustainable Tarras on Saturday. Sustainable Tarras / supplied

Council excluded the public – advocacy group

In a statement, advocacy group Sustainable Tarras said the access agreement was disappointing.

“We believe there are considerable legal pitfalls to granting such access and we have repeatedly pointed these out to CODC and cautioned them to take time to consult, consider the consequences and involve the wider community. Today, in announcing this behind-closed-doors decision, they’ve made it clear that community is secondary to their private negotiations with Santana.

“We do not understand the urgency with which CODC has decided to conclude this agreement with Santana. From the information we have so far, it again excludes the public and local community impacted and fails to take into account what Santana has clearly stated it will do with these roads.”

On Saturday 150 people attended a lunch to raise money to fight the mine, including actor Sam Neill and artist Grahame Sydney.

The Wine not Mine event organised by Sustainable Tarras was supported by 12 local wineries and held close to the proposed mine site.

Neill described the mining plans as ruinous for the region and said a growing community of ordinary, hard working people were joining together to fight a “very large, very powerful, very well-funded Australian mining company”.

Actor Sam Neill speaks at the Wine not Mine event. Sustainable Tarras / supplied

Sydney spoke of the “breathtaking, mystical, pristine and ever-changing” landscapes of Central Otago and urged people to fight against the “madness” of an open-cast gold mine.

Sustainable Tarras said funds from the event would cover expert fees and legal support costs as the group made submissions to the fast-track process.

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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/2026/02/02/australian-mining-giant-santana-minerals-granted-road-mine-road-access-despite-protest/

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Former owner of luxury Te Anau lodge thankful fire didn’t completely destroy building

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters at Fiordland Lodge over the weekend. Supplied

The former owner of the luxury Fiordland Lodge near Te Anau is relieved a weekend fire did not completely destroy the building.

Guests were evacuated when the fire broke out late on Saturday night, with crews from across Southland battling the blaze.

Fire and Emergency investigators were examining the cause of the fire although it was not being treated as suspicious.

Former owner Robynne Peacock and her late husband Ron, built the lodge in 2002 and ran the luxury accommodation for years until Peacock and her business partners sold it late last year.

Peacock arrived at the lodge on Sunday afternoon where a fire inspector showed her the damage.

The lodge was still intact despite part of the roof collapsing. Supplied

She said most of the building was intact, despite part of the roof collapsing and damage to the kitchen and conference room, where the fire was believed to have started.

“I did not want to see it burning,” she said.

“It all looks quite fixable and some of the lodge hasn’t been touched at all so we were pleasantly surprised and thrilled to see it’s not catastrophic.

“The fire inspector assured us that the structural integrity of the building was good in most areas.”

Peacock said it was a terrible blow for the new owners and she wished them well as they recovered from the fire.

Owner Vicki Onions previously confirmed no one was injured but all guests were moved to local hotels in Te Anau as a safety measure.

She was grateful for the swift response and support of emergency services, Onions said.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the fire had badly damaged the building.

“However, firefighters were able to contain the fire which prevented some of the structure from being destroyed,” they said.

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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/2026/02/02/former-owner-of-luxury-te-anau-lodge-thankful-fire-didnt-completely-destroy-building/

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Fatal crash, Ōtara

Source: New Zealand Police

A motorcyclist has died following a serious crash in Ōtara on Monday 26 January.

The crash, on Bairds Road, was reported to Police at about 5.10pm.

The motorcyclist was critically injured in the crash and tragically passed away in hospital on Friday.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/fatal-crash-otara/

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Blessing at Ngā Mokopuna school as work progresses

Source: New Zealand Government

Work is set to proceed on the significant redevelopment of a Kaupapa Māori kura in Wellington following the whakatō mauri event at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna this morning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

“Today is a significant milestone and one that many people have been waiting a long time for. It is a pleasure to attend this milestone event and join Ngā Mokopuna and the community to celebrate the redevelopment of their kura,” Ms Stanford says.

“In May 2025, I approved the redevelopment project for Ngā Mokopuna which will see much-needed, major renewals carried out for the kura teaching and learning spaces. 

Ngā Mokopuna is one of three kura across Wellington, Hutt Valley, and Porirua and the redevelopment will ensure that Ngā Mokopuna has the facilities moving forward to match its growing roll and future aspirations.”

The school’s redevelopment includes the replacement of existing classrooms with two new teaching blocks, providing a total of 16 classrooms. 

Work is now moving from enabling works to full construction of classrooms, due to be completed in Term 2, 2027. Construction of a new gym will follow.

“Investing in schools and building for the future is a priority for this Government – every child deserves to learn in warm, dry, safe, and modern classrooms,” Ms Stanford says.

“The Ngā Mokopuna redevelopment has been long deserved and overdue – I am delighted for the community and pleased that an upgrade has been delivered that will support their tamariki to flourish.” 

Construction has been supported through a $50 million investment in Budget 2025 to deliver up to 50 classrooms for Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori Education. 

Last year, the Government also prioritised Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou in Gisborne from within a former bank site.

This infrastructure work is part of a wider programme of investment in Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori Education.

This includes:

  • $10 million to launch a new Virtual Learning Network (VLN) for STEM education (Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics).
  • $4.5 million to develop comprehensive new te reo matatini and STEM curriculum resources and teacher supports.
  • $2.1 million to develop a new Māori Studies subject for Years 11–13.
  • $14 million into training and support for up to 51,000 teachers/kaiako.
  • $4.8 million to appoint seven new curriculum advisors for Māori medium and Kaupapa Māori Education.
  • $4.1 million to support the sustainability and data capability of the Kōhanga Reo Network.
  • $3.5 million to support WAI 3310 Waitangi Tribunal Education Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/blessing-at-nga-mokopuna-school-as-work-progresses/

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PNG govt defends using tear gas, force to evict illegal settlers in capital

RNZ Pacific

Papua New Guinea’s government has defended the use of force to evict residents of an informal settlement in the capital Port Moresby.

Police used tear gas to move people out of the Two-Mile settlement last week, while heavy machinery was used to tear down homes and two people were killed in clashes.

Acting Prime Minister John Rosso said the forced eviction was necessary to protect law-abiding citiizens from long-running criminal activity in the community.

The National reports him saying the settlement was on state land which had been unlawfully occupied for years.

“The settlement has, for far too long, been a major source of law and order problems, resulting in numerous attacks on city residents and police, as well as injuries to innocent people,” Rosso said.

“This eviction is not happening without reason. It is the direct result of repeated criminal activities and serious threats to public safety.

“The state has a responsibility to protect law-abiding citizens and restore order.”

Rosso, also the Minister for Lands, Physical Planning and Urbanisation expressed sympathy for the hardworking people who had been living at Two-Mile, saying that not everyone there had been involved in criminal activities.

The eviction operation prompted unrest and clashes between some settlers and police.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Two-Mile settlement . . . cleared by police with force, tear gas and 2 killed in clashes. Image: PNG Post-Courier

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/02/png-govt-defends-using-tear-gas-force-to-evict-illegal-settlers-in-capital/

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Auckland Transport chief Dean Kimpton to resign ahead of agency’s reform

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dean Kimpton. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Auckland Transport’s (AT) chief executive is stepping down from May, after almost three years leading the beleaguered agency.

Dean Kimpton took on the role in 2023, when AT faced a major shake-up.

Board chair Richard Leggat said since then the organisation had put a strong focus on delivering outcomes for Aucklanders, customers and communities.

“We are grateful for Dean’s commitment to AT and Aucklanders over the past three years. I’d like to thank him for his significant contribution and wish him the very best for his future endeavours.

“Under his leadership, we have seen two years of delivering our biggest ever capital programmes, the introduction of new ways to pay on public transport, more frequent services, innovation as we use technology to improve network productivity, and an organisation focused on delivering agreed outcomes for Auckland Council.”

As of next month, reforms mean AT will focus solely on public transport.

Leggat said with the reform, the board agreed this was the appropriate time for a change in leadership.

Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson acknowledges Dean’s contribution to AT and the wider Auckland Council whānau.

“I have known and worked with Dean for many years, both in his role at Auckland Transport and prior to that when he was chief operating officer at council and appreciate his commitment to delivering for Aucklanders in all his work. There have been measurable improvements at AT during his tenure.

“We wish Dean the very best and thank him for his work and leadership, and in particular in working closely with us to set transport arrangements up for the future.”

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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/2026/02/02/auckland-transport-chief-dean-kimpton-to-resign-ahead-of-agencys-reform/

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Long-running Wellington fish-and-chip shop Rice Bowl Burger Bar to close

Source: Radio New Zealand

A notice posted to Facebook from Rice Bowl Burger Bar announcing its closure. Rice Bowl Burger Bar / supplied

A long-running hole-in-the-wall fish-and-chip shop in Wellington is closing its roller door for the last time at the end of this month.

Rice Bowl Burger Bar’s current owner, Wawa Shen, said the small kitchen and serving counter – which opens out onto Riddiford Street near Wellington Hospital – had run since the early 1970s.

She said her family had owned the business since 2009, but now the building’s landlord planned to redevelop the site.

A notice posted to Facebook from Rice Bowl Burger Bar announcing its closure. Rice Bowl Burger Bar / supplied

On a notice posted to the shop’s Facebook page, they thanked their customers for their “continued love and support over the last 17 years” .

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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/2026/02/02/long-running-wellington-fish-and-chip-shop-rice-bowl-burger-bar-to-close/

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Young mum finds strength through study at EIT

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

26 seconds ago

After leaving school at 16 and becoming a mother at a young age, Blaze Stafford-Nukunuku never imagined she would one day be leading fitness and hauora classes for her community.

Now working at the YMCA Gisborne, Blaze (Ngāti Porou and Tainui) supports local wellbeing initiatives after completing the New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 4) at EIT in 2025.

Blaze Stafford-Nukunuku (Ngāti Porou and Tainui) is now working at the YMCA Gisborne after completing the New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 4) at EIT in 2025.

Returning to study through EIT marked a turning point for Blaze, who had spent several years as a stay-at-home mum before re-entering education in her early twenties.

She first completed the New Zealand Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Exercise (Multi-sector) (Level 3) in 2024, before progressing to Level 4.

“The learning was really inspiring,” Blaze said. “They made it feel achievable, and it opened my eyes to how many different pathways there are from personal training and instructing to coaching and sports coordination.”

Blaze said discovering study opportunities through strong community connections helped her take the first step back into education.

“When I learned about the YMCA and the courses at EIT, it really set me off on my journey.”

With two young children aged eight and five, flexibility and support were essential.

“The way the courses were run made it possible for me to study and still be there for my kids. It also inspired me to show them what I could achieve.”

She also credits EIT’s student support services for helping her succeed throughout her study.

“Whenever I felt nervous or stuck, there was always someone there to help. Having access to resources like laptops, internet and study spaces made a huge difference.”

That support has since translated into a career she finds deeply fulfilling.

“Working in fitness is my happy place. Any time I go into work, it just brightens my day. Seeing people grow in confidence and wellbeing is really rewarding.”

Through her role at the YMCA, Blaze delivers group fitness and hauora-based programmes, including free community classes and wellbeing initiatives delivered in partnership with local organisations.

Now confident in her abilities and future direction, Blaze encourages others who may have left school early or feel unsure about returning to education to consider study later in life.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from. Anyone can do it.”

Todd Rogers, Head of School Trades and Technology, congratulated Blaze.

“This programme of study helps prepare graduates to enter the Health, Sport and Fitness industry. It’s great to see our graduates succeeding in this field across our region.”

“I am really impressed with Blaze and what she has achieved over the last 12 months. She is a role model for future students. Outstanding effort.”

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/young-mum-finds-strength-through-study-at-eit/

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Mariameno Kapa-Kingi hopes to be back in Te Pāti Māori following court hearing

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. VNP / Phil Smith

MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says she hopes today’s court hearing will secure her reinstatement to Te Pāti Māori and pave the way for a reset of the party’s leadership.

Last year, she contested her expulsion from the party and was temporarily reinstalled in an interim judgement. A substantive hearing is now taking place at the High Court in Wellington.

Speaking outside on Monday morning, Kapa-Kingi told reporters she hoped the court could finalise the matter so everybody could move into 2026 “fired up and good to go”.

“I’m hoping that the reinstatement is secure and proper, and then we’ll see what happens from that point. But the reinstatement is key.”

Kapa-Kingi said she was also asking the court to require Te Pāti Māori to conduct a “proper full and open and honest process” regarding its leadership through a special general meeting.

“Good strong leadership is open … it’s about respect. It’s about love. It’s about kindness. It’s about all of those things that that we value as Māori and those things need to be obvious and apparent in the leadership. And I don’t know whether that’s so right now.”

Kapa-Kingi said she had never departed from the party’s kaupapa and was intending on visiting Waitangi for the annual commemorations later this week.

She said she was not sure how the party’s co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa Packer and Rawiri Waititi would be received up north given they had declined to attend a hui called by Ngāpuhi in November.

“We were disappointed and wished that they had turned up.”

Arriving at the court, Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere said he was feeling “pretty chipper”.

“[Let’s] just see how the game goes,” he said. “There’s a lot of things at play, so let’s just await the finding.”

In an interim ruling published in early December, Justice Paul Radich said there were “serious questions to be tried” on the manner in which Kapa-Kingi was expelled from the party.

He said there were “certainly tenable arguments” that the expulsion was founded upon “mistaken facts and procedural irregularities”.

Te Pāti Māori’s lawyers had argued reinstating Kapa-Kingi was likely to “create extreme tension within Te Pāti Māori’s MPs and leadership”.

They argued the national council did have authority to expel Kapa-Kingi as it was the “primary heavy-lifter of hard decisions” in that context.

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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/2026/02/02/mariameno-kapa-kingi-hopes-to-be-back-in-te-pati-maori-following-court-hearing/

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More graduate doctors set to train on the West Coast

Source: New Zealand Government

The West Coast will benefit from a stronger, home-grown rural health workforce, with a newly coordinated rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme officially starting today, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey say.

“The programme builds on long-standing local training and is now formally structured and scaled to grow more rural generalists for the region – a major milestone for the West Coast,” Mr Brown says.

“It means that after 20 years of averaging just two to three registrars, the Coast will now host around eight to ten. This will help build a stronger, more stable, home-grown rural workforce for the region.

“We are committed to strengthening New Zealand’s health workforce, with rural health a key priority. In rural areas where access to specialist services is limited, generalist doctors who can work flexibly across multiple disciplines play an essential role.”

There has been strong interest from both local and overseas applicants. Placements will run for six to twelve months and include high-quality supervision, stable rosters, housing assistance, and clear roles after training.

“The aim is to support trainees to stay on the Coast. When young doctors build long-term relationships with the communities they serve, they are more likely to remain,” Mr Brown says.

Mr Doocey says the new programme builds on a strong tradition of local training, with many of the Coast’s current rural generalists and specialist GPs having trained in the region.

“Achieving accreditation in October 2024 to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) training was a crucial milestone. It meant recruitment of New Zealand and Australian graduates could begin while the programme that is launching today was being developed.

“Accreditation also required demonstrating safe supervision ratios, an appropriate case mix, after-hours support, a robust curriculum structure, and strong quality systems, requirements the West Coast successfully met.

“A valued and flexible rural health workforce is a core priority of the National Rural Health Strategy, and training rural generalists is central to achieving that. All New Zealanders should be able to access healthcare when they need it, no matter where they live, including the one in five Kiwis in rural communities.

“This programme is an important step in ensuring the West Coast has a sustainable, home-grown health workforce that can meet the needs of its communities now and into the future,” Mr Doocey says.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/more-graduate-doctors-set-to-train-on-the-west-coast/

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Major motorcycle event adds to holiday weekend traffic

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Burt Munro Challenge

The Burt Munro Challenge from February 4–8 in Southland will be a hot destination for motorcyclists and enthusiasts, adding to traffic for other events and the usual holiday travel for Waitangi Day weekend around the South Island. New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and its contractors will be monitoring and ready to respond to any incidents.

“Long holiday weekends always mean more traffic on the state highways and greater potential for crashes,” says NZTA journey manager for Otago and Southland, Nicole Felts.

“Having a much larger than usual number of motorcyclists travelling adds another dimension of risk, given they are amongst the most vulnerable road users.”

Due to the limits of protection, motorcycle and moped riders have a higher risk of death or injury than drivers of other vehicles, however there are simple steps motorcyclists can take to help keep themselves safe.

Safe riding tips

MetService has heavy rain or strong wind watches for parts of the South Island through until tomorrow but says there is otherwise minimal risk of severe weather leading into the long weekend.

“Whether you are a motorcyclist or operating some other type of vehicle, people can stack the odds in their favour by ensuring the basics – keeping to the speed limit, avoiding drinking and driving, being well-rested, driving to the conditions, and showing patience and respect towards other road users,” Miss Felts says.

Pause for most roadworks for long weekend

NZTA acting system manager for the Central South Island, Scott McKenzie, says road users travelling on state highways should be aware there are various roadworks underway this week and next, that may mean delays.

Most work will pause over the long weekend itself and is weather dependent, but some traffic management may remain in place and less invasive work is likely to commence during or at the completion of the weekend.

“The delays can add up to a make a noticeable difference on a long journey, so we do encourage people to give themselves plenty of time to get to and from their destinations. This helps to avoid frustrations building,” Mr McKenzie says.

“We appreciate peoples’ patience and understanding as we make the most of the summer months to get important roading maintenance done to keep our state highways up to standard.”

Chinese New Year traffic increase

Beyond the Waitangi Day holiday weekend, South Island highways are also expected to have increased traffic volumes around the time of the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) from 17 February. Airports and tourism operators are expecting a leap in Chinese visitors travelling for the two weeks of holidays and festivities.

“Again, we want road users to just be aware of the potential for busier roads, especially leading in and out of popular tourist destinations such as Queenstown, Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo,” Miss Felts says.

“It may mean more visitors who are driving and not as familiar with New Zealand roads, so again we ask people to take care and show patience.”

Stay up to date on roadworks and potential delays at our Journey Planner site.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/02/major-motorcycle-event-adds-to-holiday-weekend-traffic/