Posts

Posted on

Joint statement by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and German Federal Foreign Minister H.E. Wadephul

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand and Germany met today to reaffirm our close and enduring partnership grounded in shared democratic values, a commitment to the global order based on international law and a determination to address global challenges collaboratively. We celebrated the strength of our bilateral relationship and expressed our shared intention to further deepen cooperation across strategic, economic, security and people-to-people domains.

We underscored our firm commitment to upholding international law and the UN Charter, and to support multilateralism, with the United Nations and its institutions at its core. We noted with concern the growing pressures on international rules and institutions and restated our shared conviction that collective action is essential to global stability.

New Zealand and Germany recognise the interconnected nature of European and Indo-Pacific security and prosperity. We discussed our shared interests in promoting stability, sovereignty and freedom of navigation. Germany welcomes New Zealand’s ongoing support for Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 illegal full-scale invasion, including financial contributions to NATO-aligned initiatives, deployment of NZDF personnel to Germany and other parts of Europe, and mutually reinforcing sanctions, which aligns with Germany’s longstanding commitment to European security and to countering threats to territorial integrity. Both sides reiterated our opposition to coercive or destabilising actions in any region. 

Germany and New Zealand reiterated that adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the seas and oceans must be carried out, is essential to peace and stability, and both sides express strong support for ASEAN centrality. 

New Zealand outlined the ongoing efforts of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members to build Pacific resilience and regional stability and welcomed Germany’s decade-long engagement as a Dialogue Partner of the PIF. Germany supported these initiatives, including through its pledge to the Pacific Resilience Facility, and reiterated its intention to deepen engagement with Pacific partners. We also recognised the implications arising from climate change and sea level rise for security.

We affirmed the need for resilient, diversified supply chains and open, rules-based trade. We were pleased to note that the European Union-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is exceeding expectations for increased trade and mutual prosperity. We welcomed ambition to upgrade the New Zealand-Germany Double-Taxation Agreement to further deepen economic ties. New Zealand discussed its participation in initiatives to strengthen critical mineral investment and strategic economic partnerships. We also recognised the importance of innovation, energy, space and digital cooperation and partnerships in supporting prosperity in both the Indo-Pacific and Europe. 

As close partners we reiterated our commitment to human rights, democratic governance and fundamental freedoms, emphasising that these principles are essential foundations for security and prosperity.

New Zealand welcomed recent and forthcoming repatriations of Māori and Moriori ancestors and taonga Māori from several institutions across Germany as a welcome example of strong cultural ties between our countries. 

New Zealand and Germany concluded by reaffirming our commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and working together in pursuit of a stable, secure and prosperous international environment. We welcomed ongoing dialogue at all levels and agreed to maintain close coordination on global and regional issues of shared concern.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/joint-statement-by-new-zealand-foreign-minister-winston-peters-and-german-federal-foreign-minister-h-e-wadephul/

Posted on

The big issue with Super Rugby Pacific’s new law changes

Source: Radio New Zealand

Referee James Doleman during the Crusaders v Blues, Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final match. Martin Hunter/ActionPress

  • Super Rugby Pacific’s new law tweaks aim to speed up play and reduce stoppages.
  • Players will be getting fewer reps in key test-match scenarios like fielding kicks and positional play.
  • This could create a disconnect between the style players experience for most of the year and the repetition-driven demands of international rugby.

Analysis – Super Rugby Pacific is back next weekend and will look a bit different, thanks to some new law changes. Designed to reduce stoppages, inspire positive play and – most importantly, simplify the viewing experience, they have been pretty well received by a public keen to see a repeat of last year’s highly entertaining competition.

Probably the most far obvious will be the new sanction for joining a ruck after the referee has called ‘use it’, which should mean the ball is cleared quicker. Accidental offsides and teams delaying playing the ball away from a ruck are now free kicks, so in turn here’s more leeway around taking quick taps.

One that probably won’t be seen often but will certainly have an impact is it will no longer be mandatory for the referee to issue a yellow or red card to a player on the defending team when awarding a penalty try. There seems to be an awful lot of guesswork around this at the moment in open play, with players carded being more unlucky than anything else, but the real positive is that it won’t result in a mess at scrum time.

Referee James Doleman. Mark Evans/ActionPress

A dominant attacking scrum on an opponent’s line that results in a penalty try also meant that a defensive side’s prop would get binned, therefore needing to be replaced at the next scrum. That in turn meant that another player would have to go off to reduce their numbers, if this happened late in a game it would mean rolling players back on who have already been subbed.

So not bad at all from the officials who have put all this together in order to get some free flowing rugby going.

Tamaiti Williams scores the winning try during the Crusaders v Highlanders, Super Rugby Pacific match, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch. Joseph Johnson/ActionPress

The only issue, and it’s not a new one, is that this is all for Super Rugby Pacific only. Once July rolls around, those changes don’t apply for test matches and the effects of that may well be playing a part in why the All Blacks have struggled in the last few seasons.

It’s not that the players can’t snap back into playing a tighter game plan, they are professionals and should be able to do that easily. Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie have both shown that they can run the ball out of their 22 from February to June, then kick it more often than not when they’re in a black jersey.

But the problem isn’t at their end. Speeding the game up and presumably reducing kicking means players coming through at the other won’t be exposed to as many repetitions as their foreign counterparts. The average back three player won’t have had to field anywhere near as many bombs, track across the field chasing kicks, or simply position themselves on field as an English or South African of the same age. Meanwhile props won’t have as many scrums, halfbacks won’t box kick as often, and so on.

Noah Hotham of the Crusaders kicks during the Super Rugby Pacific Final. John Davidson / www.photosport.nz

It’s offset somewhat by the fact that by the business end of Super Rugby is played in colder conditions, with more on the line, so therefore the gameplans will adjust accordingly. One look at last year’s final can attest to that, but the fact still remains that Super Rugby Pacific is the tier below a test rugby landscape that’s moved far closer to repetitive scenarios decided by fine margins than off the cuff play.

Again, that’s not new. It’s just that those fine margins seem to be far more in the favour of who the All Blacks are playing.

One thing is for sure, with Super Rugby Pacific, though; they’ve stayed committed to reducing the role of the TMO in general play, with the man upstairs only allowed to intervene unprompted if the referee has overlooked an act of serious foul play or some other massively obvious error when a team scores a try.

Which is bound to be popular and hopefully catches on in test rugby, because while we should all be mindful of how difficult the officials’ jobs are these days, no one likes watching them talk to each other all that much.

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/2026/02/03/the-big-issue-with-super-rugby-pacifics-new-law-changes/

Posted on

Emergency crews rush to Hawkes Bay Airport small after plane alert

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Fire and Emergency were called to Hawke’s Bay Airport after an alert was put out about a small plane.

A police spokesperson told RNZ during landing the plane nose landing gear appeared to be damaged.

Seven fire trucks, two tankers and a command unit were called to the scene just after 10am on Tuesday.

Crews were stood down after the plane landed safely, FENZ said, with crews assisting in cleaning up a small fuel leak.

Hato Hone St John was also notified of the incident.

Two ambulances and one helicopter responded, but had since been stood down, a spokesperson said.

The airport was temporarily closed, with the Civil Aviation Authority taking over the site, an airport spokesperson said.

It has since been reopened.

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/2026/02/03/emergency-crews-rush-to-hawkes-bay-airport-small-after-plane-alert/

Posted on

Water storage investment supports regional resilience and long-term food production

Source: New Zealand Government

Investment through the Māori Development Fund to support early work on a proposed water storage reservoir near Kaitaia will help strengthen regional resilience and support food production, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says.

The project, led by Te Make Farms Ltd and owned by Ngāi Takoto, is focused on improving year-round water security in Northland, where variable weather can place pressure on land use and supply.

“Reliable water infrastructure is one of the basics that underpins productive land use, regional jobs, and food supply,” Mr Potaka says.

“That’s why the Government is focused on fixing the basics early, by supporting practical work that helps landowners plan properly and make informed decisions.” The Māori Development Fund co-investment is supporting Te Make Farms Ltd to commission technical advice and assessments, including preparatory work for a future resource consent application. 

Mr Potaka says getting the fundamentals right at the front end gives projects the best chance of delivering long-term value.

“Once a water storage facility is in place, Ngāi Takoto expects to significantly increase the amount of land in production, strengthening output and resilience while keeping the land in Māori ownership.”

The co-investment positions Te Make Farms Ltd to progress the project over time and attract further investment, with ownership and decision-making remaining with the whenua owners.

Notes to editors 

  • Te Puni Kōkiri administers the Māori Development Fund and is investing $191,700 to help Te Make Farms Ltd access expert technical advice. Te Make Farms Ltd is investing a similar amount in cash and in-kind contributions to progress the work. • Organisations applying to the Māori Development Fund must fit funding priorities, meet criteria and be able to report on outcomes achieved. See www.tpk.govt.nz for more information.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/water-storage-investment-supports-regional-resilience-and-long-term-food-production/

Posted on

Academics call for divestment from NZ pensions fund implicated in Gaza

COMMENTARY: By Vincent Wijeysingha

Will maximising investment returns override ethics? That is the question the tertiary sector posed to UniSaver, the academic equivalent of KiwiSaver, now revealed to invest in Israeli weapons and military intelligence.

In 2024, some 400 university staff appealed to UniSaver to divest from such companies.

The fund initially ignored the call.

The fund issued a statement in September 2025 emphasising its fiduciary duty to ensure best performance, arguing divestment was unnecessary because the New Zealand government had not imposed sanctions against Israel, and noting its Israel-linked exposure is only 0.11 percent of total assets.

After a November open letter signed by 715 staff, nearly double the earlier number, UniSaver agreed to meet representatives of the group.

What should the tenor of those discussions be?

And why should any of this matter to the average New Zealander returning from the summer lull, facing a new year that looks uncomfortably like the last, with no sign from the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation last weekend that domestic pressures will ease?

The core question
This is the core question: with so many local concerns, why should the Israel–Palestine conflict matter?

Or, more pointedly, why should 0.11 percent of a pension fund belonging to a relatively privileged cohort matter to those worried about jobs, the cost of living, and healthcare?

Global issues are closer than we think. The suffering of Gazans and the anxieties of New Zealanders share a root: public policy framed as instrumental and amoral, where the wellbeing of persons is sacrificed to detached abstractions of markets and efficiencies while morality and integrity are treated as incidental.

These attitudes yield the same harvest everywhere: dehumanisation, insecurity, and the corrosion of civic trust.

Our only defence is a moral standpoint that declares “thus far shall you come, and no farther”.

When a society publicly avows that certain principles, human dignity and the integrity of persons, are non negotiable, it restores those ideals to the centre of the public square.

This is what a rules-based order is for: to foreground the human person before power and profit. Where such an order is honoured, flourishing follows; where it is neglected, flourishing is the first casualty.

Small acts of moral probity — even a mere 0.11 percent — may appear inconsequential.

Beacons for human progress
Yet as articulations of what we hold valuable, they resound deeply in the moral universe. They are the lit matches that, gathered, become the beacon that lights human progress.

Recent years have seen our public life dominated by the contrary impulse: to measure every policy by an economic yardstick calibrated to austerity.

As we enter an election year, two paths lie before us: one paved by slavish adherence to instrumental rationality, the other by a politics that puts people in a place of honour and treats wellbeing, security, and human flourishing as the purpose, not by product, of policy.

We have precedents. In the 1930s, as the world entered a moment not unlike our own, New Zealand, small, distant, still reeling from the Depression, adopted what became known as a moral foreign policy.

After that most devastating conflict, we added our voice to a chorus that helped shape a rules-based international order privileging human rights, cooperation, and diplomacy over war.

From the gradual undermining of that settlement, particularly after the crisis-ridden 1970s, one can trace many of today’s global and national disorders.

So what has all this to do with UniSaver?

Instability gathering pace
From our relatively safe redoubt at the bottom of the world, we watch instability elsewhere gather pace. Shall we respond in the same polarising, amoral terms or recover the loftier stance that once gave us outsized moral influence?

The UniSaver Board now faces a profound opportunity. In opposing the 715 who call for ethical investment, it has chosen expediency over ethics.

But morality often begins with small, unfashionable acts that grow, over time, into the juggernaut of social change.

Consider how a small student-led divestment campaign in the 1950s catalysed what became the global movement that helped topple South African apartheid.

Such actions shift the parameters of the values debate. Even if it concerns only 0.11 percent, UniSaver can redraw the moral horizon.

If its decision signals that we value a fair go for all — yes, even for far off Palestinians — it will achieve far more than a simple reassignment of assets.

It will have reminded us who we are.

And it will return UniSaver to being an institution to be proud of, one that affirms that people matter at least as much as the return on investment.

Dr Vincent Wijeysingha is senior lecturer in social work and social policy at Massey University. He is a member of Uni Workers 4 Palestine but writes here in a personal capacity.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/03/academics-call-for-divestment-from-nz-pensions-fund-implicated-in-gaza/

Posted on

How much less than asking price are house buyers paying?

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

If you’re in the market for a new house, you might be wondering what to offer on any you’re interested in.

Do you offer the asking price? Try to cut 10 percent off? How hard do you negotiate?

As new data from Realestate.co.nz shows a 1.5 percent dip in average asking price in January, Cotality has confirmed that the gap between what sellers are asking and buyers are willing to pay appears to be shrinking.

Chief economist Kelvin Davidson said, excluding auctions, the median discount that buyers paid on the original list price of properties sold in 2025 was 3.8 percent.

It was 4.2 percent in 2024, 4.6 percent in 2023, 5.1 percent in 2022 and 2.9 percent in 2021.

Gisborne had the biggest discount, at 5.9 percent. That was followed by Northland at 5.5 percent and the West Coast at 5 percent. Taranaki had the smallest, at 3.1 percent.

Davidson said that could be affected by sellers in Taranaki setting more reasonable asking prices to start with.

“In some ways it’s a marketing tool. You’re never quite sure if someone is just hoping for too much of whether they’re actually setting a reasonable asking price or what their true motivations might be.

“Over time the availability of information to both sellers and buyers has widened. Any time, anybody can look up a free valuation estimate or you could come to Cotality, for example, and pay for a higher grade one but either way that information is widely available. It suggests that the chances vendors can sneak an above-market asking price in there have probably reduced because everybody’s got the same information and they are going to know what’ s unrealistic.

“I guess it applies to buyers as well …the chances putting in a sneaky 10 percent under offer and getting it accepted are also reduced because maybe asking prices are more realistic to start with.

“The scope for an excessive price is probably reduced but at the same time the scope for buyers to get a sneaky deal is probably reduced.”

The data does not include properties that went to auction.

Property prices have been broadly flat in recent years even as vendor discounts have reduced, suggesting it is sellers who have shifted their expectations.

“The longer the flat patch goes on the more people are saying ‘I just want to get this done I’ll set a more reasonable asking price’,” Davidson said.

“I think if you’re a market watcher, maybe you’ve been thinking about selling, maybe you held back because you thought ‘oh the market might pick up I’ll wait’. Now you might not necessarily be… you have to sell at some point. I think in general the fact those discounts have been slowly trending down suggests people are just being a bit more realistic than they might have been a few years ago.”

Realestate.co.nz said national stock levels rose 2.3 percent year-on-year in January, the first time the number of available properties for sale hit more than 33,000 in January since 2014.

Gisborne led the pack, with a 15.1 percent increase in available stock.

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/how-much-less-than-asking-price-are-house-buyers-paying/

Posted on

RIF investment supports Māori initiatives

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is investing $6.25 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to kick-start two horticulture developments on underutilised land, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka say.

“This infrastructure investment will bring collectively owned Māori land into productive use in Northland and Waikato. It will strengthen local horticulture supply chains and accelerate an iwi-led shift in land use,” Mr Jones says.

The two initiatives being funded are: 

  • Ngā Pūriri Pūmau – a kiwifruit development in Te Tai Tokerau, to be delivered by Oromahoe and Rangihamama Omapere trusts, will receive a $4m loan and $200,000 grant.
  • Ngāti Hauā Horticulture – a horticulture development in Waikato, to be delivered by Ngāti Hauā, will receive a $2.05m repayable grant. 

Ngā Puriri Pūmau will be supported by the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) through funding orchard preparation and infrastructure including irrigation systems, drainage, access tracks, orchard structures, and shelter belts. 

“With a total project value of $20.7 million, the RIF’s $4.2 million contribution has unlocked major local co-investment from Ngāpuhi Investment fund Tupu Tonu, and other key players in the local horticulture sector,” 

“This opportunity transforms underutilised land into high value horticulture and delivers long-term economic benefits for whānau in Te Tai Tokerau,” Mr Jones says.

The project will create around 10 FTE jobs during construction, nine permanent jobs and ongoing seasonal work.

The Ngāti Hauā horticulture project will bring nine whānau owned land blocks, totalling more than 90 hectares into commercial production, growing asparagus, strawberries, and blueberries. The RIF funding will build essential infrastructure, expand packhouse capacity, and support the first crop plantings.

The project will create around 11 jobs during construction, five permanent jobs, and up to 30 seasonal horticulture and post-harvest jobs. 

“This project is helping build a sustainable horticulture industry to support whānau for generations in Waikato,” Mr Potaka says.

The project has a total cost of $5.1m and is supported by co-funding from investors and joint venture‑ partners in Peria LP under the Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust, alongside the RIF contribution. 

“These initiatives show what is possible when iwi leadership and government support align behind a shared vision. They are delivering productive whenua Māori, stronger regional economies, and opportunities that will outlast this generation, and support generations to come,” Mr Potaka says.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Note to Editors: 

Funding is approved in principle and announced, after which contracts are negotiated. Some funding may depend on updated information as agreed in contract negotiation. Payments are made once agreed milestones are met. These are set as part of contract negotiations and differ from project to project.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/rif-investment-supports-maori-initiatives/

Posted on

All Blacks to kick off 2027 Rugby World Cup against Chile

Source: Radio New Zealand

Beauden Barrett after the All Blacks v Ireland, Gallagher Cup test match, Soldier Field, Chicago. ActionPress

The All Blacks will open their 2027 Rugby World Cup campaign with a Pool A match against Chile in Perth on Saturday 2 October.

The All Blacks then take on hosts the Wallabies in Sydney the following Saturday, with their final pool game against Hong Kong China in Melbourne on Friday 15 October.

The All Blacks have never played Chile or Hong Kong China in a test.

Caleb Clarke of New Zealand. New Zealand All Blacks v Australia Wallabies, Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship rugby union test match at Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday 28 September 2024. © Andrew Cornaga / Photosport Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

In releasing the schedule, tournament organisers resisted the temptation to open the tournament with a clash between Bledisloe Cup rivals New Zealand and Australia, with the Wallabies kicking off the tournament against Hong Kong China in Perth on Friday 1 October.

The defending champion Springboks begin their World Cup against Italy in Adelaide on Sunday 3 October, before games against Georgia in Brisbane and Romania in Perth.

The Springboks, in Pool B, will be looking for an unprecedented third World Cup win in a row.

South Africa’s No 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu dives to score a try against Argentina in a Rugby Championship match, 27 December, 2025. AFP

The draw also sets up a probable quarter-final between the All Blacks and Springboks.

Other major team match ups have Ireland and Scotland in Pool D, while England and Wales are both in Pool F.

The tournament will be the first in an expanded format, featuring six pools of four teams. The top two teams from each pool plus the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the knockout phase.

Australia will host the World Cup for the second time, after the 2003 edition in which the Wallabies went in as defending champions only to lose to England in the final.

To date, it is the only time a northern hemisphere side has won the World Cup.

The World Cup will take place in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Townsville and Newcastle. Sydney’s Stadium Australia will host the final.

All Blacks pool matches at 2027 Rugby World Cup:

All Blacks vs Chile – Perth – 2 October 2027 – 6:15pm NZT

All Blacks vs Australia – Sydney – 9 October 2027 – 7:10pm NZT

All Blacks vs Hong Kong China – 15 October 2027 – 7:15 NZT

Other match Match schedule highlights:

  • 24 teams, 52 matches, 19 match days, 7 cities and 8 venues
  • Opening match: Australia v Hong Kong China – 1 October, 2027, Perth Stadium
  • Final: 13 November, Stadium Australia, Sydney
  • Super Sunday (17 October): five matches played in a single day for the first time ever to deliver an exciting end to the pool phase: Italy v Georgia, Ireland v Uruguay, Scotland v Portugal, France v Samoa, South Africa v Romania.
  • Knockout Drama: Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney will host the first-ever round of 16, followed by quarter-finals in Brisbane and Sydney, and then the semi-finals, bronze final, and the RWC Final at Stadium Australia on Saturday 13 November.

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/2026/02/03/all-blacks-to-kick-off-2027-rugby-world-cup-against-chile/

Posted on

Driver licence system overhaul unveiled

Source: Radio New Zealand

A shake-up for the driver licensing system is on its way, with changes the government says will make it a lot cheaper for those looking to get their licence.

The changes include no longer needing to sit a second practical test to get a full licence, an increased learner period for those under 25, fewer eyesight screenings and an expanded zero-alcohol rule.

Making the announcement in Auckland on Tuesday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the current system was “expensive, outdated and no longer works as well as it should”.

The changes will mean it’s “significantly cheaper” to get a full driver licence, Bishop said. He also said New Zealand was an outlier in requiring a second practical driving test when moving from a restricted licence to a full licence.

“Removing the second practical test reduces costs and makes it easier to progress to a full licence, provided drivers demonstrate safe driving behaviour while on their restricted licence.

“We’re making practical, common-sense improvements to the driver licensing system to ensure it is accessible, efficient, and affordable, while keeping road safety front and centre.”

Minister Chris Bishop and Louise Upston announce an overhaul of the driver licence system. Screengrab

Bishop said the shake-up was the first major change to the system since 2011, when the learner licence age was increased from 15 to 16. The changes were informed by public consultation last year.

He said the proposal was refined to “ensure the system strikes the right balance between access and safety.”

Those tweaks included extending the learner period, extending the restricted period by six months for drivers who get demerit points rather than resetting it entirely, and keeping the existing demerit threshold for licence suspension for restricted drivers.

Key changes

  • No more full licence test: Drivers will no longer need to sit a second practical test to move from the restricted to full licence, saving time and money. This applies to Class 1 (car) licences only.
  • Longer time spent on learners for under 25s: There will be a 12-month learner period for under 25s, an increase of six months.
  • Option to reduce learner period: There will be an option for under 25s to reduce their 12-month learner period back to six months by recording practice hours or completing an approved practical course.
  • New restricted periods: The restricted period will be 12 months for under 25s and six months for over 25s, with no option to reduce it with a defensive driving course.
  • Cheaper to get a full licence: The total cost of getting a Class 1 (car) licence will reduce by $80 under the new system.
  • Encouraging safe driving: Drivers on their restricted licence will face a further six months on their restricted if they get demerits.
  • Fewer eyesight screenings: Eyesight screenings will only be required at the first licence application and at each renewal. This applies to Class 1 and Class 6 (motorcycle) licences.
  • Zero-alcohol rule expanded: All learner and restricted drivers, regardless of age, will be subject to a zero-alcohol limit.
  • Stronger oversight of training providers: NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will gain new powers to monitor and suspend driver training course providers.

There are no changes to licence processes and requirements for overseas drivers or seniors drivers.

NZTA will review the existing learner and restricted tests.

People must continue to adhere to the current system until the new system takes effect from 25 January 2027. The expanded zero-alcohol limit will be implemented separately.

A review will be undertaken by the Ministry of Transport after three years to assess the impact of the changes on road safety, employment and economic outcomes.

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/2026/02/03/driver-licence-system-overhaul-unveiled/

Posted on

Changes to the driver licensing system announced

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is updating New Zealand’s Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) to make it cheaper and easier for young people to get their driver’s licence, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

“These will be the first major changes to the driver licensing system since 2011, when the learner licence age was increased from 15 to 16,” Mr Bishop says.

“Driver licences are essential for helping people access jobs, education, and healthcare. For many young Kiwis, gaining a licence is a rite of passage, but the current system is expensive, outdated and no longer works as well as it should.

“Internationally, New Zealand is an outlier in requiring a second practical driving test when moving from a restricted licence to a full licence.

“We’re making practical, common-sense improvements to the driver licensing system to ensure it is accessible, efficient, and affordable, while keeping road safety front and centre.”

Key changes:

  • No more full licence test: Drivers will no longer need to sit a second practical test to move from the restricted to full licence, saving time and money.
  • Longer time spent on learners for under 25s: There will be a 12-month learner period for under 25s, an increase of 6 months. 
  • Option to reduce learner period: There will be an option for under 25s to reduce their 12-month learner period back to six months by recording practice hours or completing an approved practical course.
  • New restricted periods: the restricted period will be 12 months for under 25s and six months for over 25s, with no option to reduce it with a defensive driving course.
  • Cheaper to get a full licence: The total cost of getting a Class 1 (car) licence will reduce by $80 under the new system.
  • Encouraging safe driving: Drivers on their restricted licence will face a further six months on their restricted if they get demerits.
  • Fewer eyesight screenings: Eyesight screenings will only be required at the first licence application and at each renewal.
  • Zero-alcohol rule expanded: All learner and restricted drivers, regardless of age, will be subject to a zero-alcohol limit.
  • Stronger oversight of training providers: NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will gain new powers to monitor and suspend driver training course providers.
  • The removal of the full licence test will apply to Class 1 (car) licences only.
  • Changes to eyesight screenings apply to Class 1 and Class 6 (motorcycle) licences.
  • NZTA will review the existing learner and restricted tests to ensure they are fit for purpose. The hazard perception part of the current full licence test will be moved to the restricted licence test.
  • There are no changes to licence processes and requirements for overseas drivers or senior drivers.
  • The Ministry of Transport will undertake a review three years after implementation to assess the impact of the changes on road safety, employment and economic outcomes.
  • Most changes will take effect from 25 January 2027. The expanded zero-alcohol limit will be progressed separately.
  • More information is on the NZTA website: www.nzta.govt.nz/car-licence-changes

“Taken together, the changes will make it significantly cheaper to get a full driver licence,” Mr Bishop says.

“Under the current system, the total cost of getting a Class 1 car licence is $362.50. Under the new system, the total cost will be $282.50, a saving of $80.

“Removing the second practical test reduces costs and makes it easier to progress to a full licence, provided drivers demonstrate safe driving behaviour while on their restricted licence. Changes to the learner and restricted periods will support young drivers to gain more experience early on, without extending the overall time they spend in the system.

“These changes were informed by public consultation in 2025 and refined to ensure the system strikes the right balance between access and safety.

“Over 4,100 submissions were received during that consultation, showing overall support for the proposed changes,” Mr Bishop says.

“The Government carefully considered the feedback from submitters and agreed to a number of refinements to the original proposals, including extending the learner period, extending the restricted period by six months for drivers who get demerit points rather than resetting it entirely, and keeping the existing demerit threshold for licence suspension for restricted drivers.

“These changes strike the right balance between cost, efficiency, and road safety. Drivers are still expected to prove they can drive safely and responsibly, including maintaining a clean demerit record, before progressing to a full licence.

“The new system will take effect from 25 January 2027. Until then, people will continue to follow the current licensing requirements.

“Our young people and new drivers deserve a licensing system that is fair, accessible, and keeps them and others safe on the road.”

Notes to the editor:

  • The removal of the full licence test will apply to Class 1 (car) licences only.
  • Changes to eyesight screenings apply to Class 1 and Class 6 (motorcycle) licences.
  • NZTA will review the existing learner and restricted tests to ensure they are fit for purpose. The hazard perception part of the current full licence test will be moved to the restricted licence test.
  • There are no changes to licence processes and requirements for overseas drivers or senior drivers.
  • The Ministry of Transport will undertake a review three years after implementation to assess the impact of the changes on road safety, employment and economic outcomes.
  • Most changes will take effect from 25 January 2027. The expanded zero-alcohol limit will be progressed separately.
  • More information is on the NZTA website: www.nzta.govt.nz/car-licence-changes

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/changes-to-the-driver-licensing-system-announced/

Posted on

Woman charged over central Auckland assault

Source: New Zealand Police

A woman failed to outrun accountability and will appear in court over an alleged assault on a bus driver in central Auckland.

On Monday night, Auckland Central Police responded to an assault on a bus driver on Queen Street.

“At about 9.40pm, the driver passed a woman reportedly acting unusually towards the driver while she was on her route,” Area Commander Inspector Grae Anderson says.

“This woman was refused entry but has managed to chase the bus and force her way aboard.”

Once aboard, the driver was allegedly assaulted by this woman.

Inspector Anderson says the woman exited the bus and Police were contacted, with an ambulance attending for the victim.

“Units arriving on scene noticed a woman matching the description of the offender standing by Vulcan Lane,” he says.

“On seeing our staff, she ran off but was quickly chased down and arrested.”

The 20-year-old woman has been charged with injuring with intent to injure and will appear in the Auckland District Court today.

“Being subjected to violence in your workplace is unacceptable and we will continue to hold offenders accountable,” Inspector Anderson says.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/woman-charged-over-central-auckland-assault/

Posted on

Midwives to deliver more vaccinations to help protect families

Source: New Zealand Government

Midwives are now able to offer a wider range of funded immunisations, supporting families from pregnancy through the early months of a child’s life, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“In addition to providing pregnancy vaccines, midwives will now be able to administer funded vaccines to mothers after birth, babies, and eligible family members until the baby is 12 months old,” Mr Brown says.

“This change will improve access to vaccination for expectant mothers, new parents, infants, and close family members, helping to ensure timely protection against vaccine‑preventable diseases.”

In August last year, community midwives became funded to deliver antenatal immunisations to pregnant women. This expansion builds on that progress.

“Midwives are trusted health professionals who see families regularly during pregnancy and after birth. Extending the vaccines they can provide gives mothers and babies more opportunities to get the protection they need, when they need it.

“Providing these vaccinations as part of routine maternity care reduces barriers and makes it easier for families to stay up to date.

“This broader access is particularly important during outbreaks such as measles and the pertussis epidemic. Infants are most at risk from these illnesses, so making vaccination more accessible helps protect newborns and prevent serious disease.”

Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, the Midwifery Council, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) are working together to deliver this initiative.

“Immunisation remains the best protection. By supporting midwives to offer a wider range of funded immunisations, we are making it easier for families to access essential healthcare and ensuring more Kiwis are protected from preventable illness,” Mr Brown says.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/midwives-to-deliver-more-vaccinations-to-help-protect-families/

Posted on

Hope Bypass design contract awarded

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Stantec and WSP have been selected to provide technical expertise for this next important phase of work. Their appointment secures the professional services needed to support the detailed design and statutory approvals for the project.

Richard Osborne, Regional Manager System Design, says the contract award is a significant milestone.

“We received high-quality tender submissions from multiple consultancies. Each firm invested significant time and effort in preparing their proposals, making the contract decision a challenging one.”

“We are excited to partner with Stantec and WSP to deliver this next phase of the project,” Mr Osborne says.

He says specialist assessments and investigations – such as geotechnical investigations and noise assessments – will form a key part of this stage. NZTA/Waka Kotahi and contractors will also progress other statutory requirements needed for construction during this design phase.

“We are aiming to start specialist assessments in March 2026, with detailed design completed by mid-2027.”

“It is a significant programme of work to complete and finalise designs for both Stages 1 and 2, covering the sections between SH6 and Link Road, through to SH60 Appleby Highway and SH6 Gladstone Road intersection,” Mr Osborne says.

He acknowledges the high level of public interest in the project and thanks all those in the community who attended project drop-in sessions in November last year.

“We received valuable information from landowners, businesses and the community during this engagement that will be incorporated into this phase of work. We will continue to update the community through our project e-newsletters and website, and we will be in contact with directly impacted landowners, residents, and businesses as we work through different investigations and assessments.”

“We will have another round of community drop-in sessions in late 2026 to share the detailed design with the public,” Mr Osborne says.

Construction timeframes for the project are still to be finalised and are dependent on the outcome of the Government‘s prioritisation process for the wider RoNS programme.

View larger SH6 Hope Bypass proposed two-stage implementation map

Learn more about the project and sign up for project e-newsletters at:

What the investment case proposed

The investment case proposes a 2 staged implementation approach.

Stage 1: 

  • a new grade separated interchange on SH6 at Salisbury Road Extension (local road over)  
  • upgrading the Richmond Deviation from a 2-lane road to 4 lanes  
  • widening Lower Queen Street and Gladstone Road to accommodate an additional right turn lane  
  • signalising the intersection of Lower Queen Street and Stratford Street  

Stage 2: 

  • new 4-lane grade separated interchange at Lower Queen Street  
  • 4-lane Richmond bypass  
  • new 2-lane roundabout at SH60 intersection. 

The project will retain cycleway routes and connections. 
The designation between SH60/Gladstone Road intersection out to Eden Road in Hope is to be retained for future development.  

Background on Hope Bypass

The route of the Hope Bypass was designated in 1964. Richmond is growing at a significant rate, with development in Richmond West and planned development in Richmond South areas occurring sooner than originally anticipated.  

Due to this growth, in 2021, NZTA undertook the Richmond Transport Programme Business Case (PBC). The PBC was developed jointly between Tasman District Council and NZTA. The PBC highlighted the Hope Bypass as a long-term transportation route should additional capacity in the network be required based on future demand between Hope and Whakatu Drive. In response to this, the Hope Bypass designation (the southern end of the route) lapse date was extended from November 2023 until 1 November 2038. 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/hope-bypass-design-contract-awarded/

Posted on

Emergency crews rush to reports of small plane crash at Napier Airport

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Fire and Emergency have rushed to reports of a small plane crash at Napier Airport.

Hato Hone St John was notified of an incident on Main North Road, Napier Airport, about 10am on Tuesday.

Two ambulances and one helicopter responded, but have since been stood down, a spokesperson said.

Police told RNZ “the plane had landed safely”, but referred all other questions to FENZ.

More to come…

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/2026/02/03/emergency-crews-rush-to-reports-of-small-plane-crash-at-napier-airport/

Posted on

Roads open, SH 1 and SH 26, Waikato

Source: New Zealand Police

Both State Highway 1 near Tamahere and State Highway 26 / Morrinsville Road in Newstead are open following two separate serious crashes this morning. 

Police thank motorists across the district for their patience as emergency services worked the scenes during high traffic this morning. 

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/roads-open-sh-1-and-sh-26-waikato/

Posted on

Driver Licence Support programme changing lives

Source: New Zealand Government

Helping New Zealand job seekers get their driver licence is one of the best ways to help them get a job and Government-funded driver training is well and truly exceeding its licence targets, Minister of Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says. 

“Around 70 per cent of jobs require a person to have a driver licence, reinforcing the importance of the Government’s investment in driver licence training,” Louise Upston says.

“In the last year, MSD’s Driver Licence Support programme has secured 21,063 enrolments, ahead of the 19,000 placement target. 

“We know getting a driver’s licence can change a life, as it has in the case of a young Auckland woman on Jobseeker Support. The case manager suggested she consider applying for a job in traffic management, but that relied on her having a driver licence. 

“The woman started driving lessons with the support of the programme and soon after was able to sit and pass her restricted licence, then starting a job as a traffic controller with Fulton Hogan.

“The driver licence was the key to her getting the job and starting an independent life. In other examples, people have been able to get jobs with shift work because of having a driver licence or take a rurally-based job on a farm because they can now drive there.

“We know that a challenging employment environment has made things difficult for job seekers.  

“We hear many successful stories of how a driver licence has been a turning point in contributing to a change in circumstances – getting a job, being able to care for and support family, and driving legally.

“Programmes like Driver Licence Support ultimately make for safer and stronger families and communities,” Louise Upston says. 

Notes for Editors 

  • The Driver Licence Support programme began in 2023 and over 34,000 licences have been issued in that time.
  • Youth aged between 18 and 24 make up nearly 40 per cent of the participants.
  • The overall pass rate of the programme is 82 percent.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/driver-licence-support-programme-changing-lives/

Posted on

Keith Rankin Analysis – A Black Sheep to Rule them All

Analysis by Keith Rankin.

Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

It’s great that there is a new season (Season 9) of William Ray’s podcast series Black Sheep, which looks at contributors to New Zealander history, many little known, who were of dubious or ambiguous character.

Here I draw attention to a black sheep who I think trumps them all, Edward Arthur Wilson; though he doesn’t really qualify for William Ray’s series, because his black sheepishness only happened after he left New Zealand.

Edward Arthur Wilson, born in Birmingham England in 1878, arrived in New Zealand in 1901. He married Margery Clark in 1902; she was a recent immigrant from Queensland, though her mother had been born in Wellington in 1852. Both the Wilson and Clark families were members of the somewhat messianic Catholic Apostolic Church (not to be confused with the Roman Catholic church), founded originally by Edward Irving in the 1820s.

Wilson’s employment in England (1901 census) had been as a telephone inspector. In Wellington in 1902, he’s listed as a ‘stenographer’. Edward and Margery had two children, in 1904 and 1906.

In 1911 the family sailed to Canada. Margery and the two children were on the Mārama, arriving in May 1911; presumably Edward was already there. In the 1911 census of Canada, Edward is living with his family in Sunnyside, Calgary, Alberta; listed again as a stenographer. His story gets murky after that.

Apparently, he abandoned his family in 1912. He never returned to New Zealand, though his family did. I understand that he has living descendants in New Zealand. Margery identified herself as a ‘widow’ in the 1920s (in Auckland), and was listed as ‘next of kin’ to her co-resident brother during World War One.

Wilson appears to have worked as a shipping clerk for the ‘merchant navy’ for around ten years from 1912; work that seems to have involved lots of travel, much of it no doubt in dangerous waters. He apparently had a major prophetic vision while in France, in the early 1920s. (His apostolic upbringing will have primed him for this.)

Nostradamus meets Rasputin meets Charles Manson meets Bert Potter

Edward Arthur Wilson restyled himself as Brother XII. He created the Aquarian Foundation in 1927, in the context of radical theosophy. In that time in the early-mid-1920s, he wrote many prognostations about the fate of the world. At that time – in the problematic remission phase of the 1914-1945 Great World War, albeit before modern social media – there was a substantial audience for alternative narratives, given the perilous reality of the then world order.

The story of Wilson’s aquarian cult – based at Cedar-by-the-Sea, just out of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada – is well summarised in Fear, Distrust, and Black Magic, written in 2024 by Kristin D’Agostino for A-B Tech (Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College) in North Carolina, United States. (Follow the link to part one first: How a 1920’s Socialite Fell Under a False Prophet’s Spell; the focus here is on Mary Connally, Brother XII’s principal patron.) While Mary Connally was an heiress, most of her fellow aquarians were also from prosperous families, and many not young – contrast most of the 1960s’ aquarians) searching for some missing insights as to where the seemingly bankrupt world went wrong.

The Aquarian Foundation community existed in two phases, from 1927 to 1928, and 1928 to 1933. In 1928 there was an important court case in which the prosecutors, judge, chief witness and court gallery appear to have been mesmerised by Wilson. The case collapsed when chief witness Mary Connally gave Wilson a glowing testimony instead of the damning evidence anticipated.

In the second phase of the community, Mary Connally became a slave to Wilson and his new paramour and enforcer, Madame Z, aka Mabel Scottowe; aka Edith Mabel Rowbotham, a former schoolteacher. And the cult became increasingly obsessed with hoarding money.

It’s not for me to say much more – others have done that – other than to note that Wilson’s ‘death’ in Switzerland in 1934 was possibly faked, signed-off by a member of the Aquarian Foundation. (Though it would have been hard for a narcissist sociopath like him, if still alive, to have rendered himself completely invisible.) Madame Z later married a man called Edric John Douglas Agate in 1943. In the United States’ 1950 census they were living together in – Eugene, Oregon – as Murray D and Edith M Agate.

Other Material about Brother XII

De Courcy Island farm of notorious cult leader up for sale, 7 May 2021, Times and Colonist.

For Sale: The Former Home of B.C.’s Notorious Apocalypse Cult, 8 June 2021, Montecristo Magazine.

#177 Edward Arthur Wilson, 9 March 2026, BC Booklook.

XII Brother, ABC Bookworld.

5 things you probably didn’t know about the Gulf Islands, 11 Jan 2026, Vancouver is Awesome.

entry in Dictionary of Canadian Biography

The Aquarian Foundation (about 1990), by James A. Santucci, professor of Comparative Religion at California State University; and The Aquarian Foundation, 18 February 2024.

Secrets of Brother XII, episode of Expedition Unknown (S.4, Ep.10) Josh Gates, 28 Feb 2018

The Dream of Brother XII, CBC podcast by Moss, Jennifer, 22 March 2016

ENCORE: Searching for Brother XII—the story of Nanaimo’s infamous cult leader, CBC podcast by Moss, Jennifer, 29 August 2016

The collapsing birth rate becomes front-page news, and a long-foretold financial crash? The Hub predicts 2026, Howard Anglin, a doctoral student at Oxford University

Works by John Oliphant, including Brother XII: The Strange Odyssey of a 20th-century Prophet and His Quest for a New World, 2006, Twelfth House Press

*******

Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/03/keith-rankin-analysis-a-black-sheep-to-rule-them-all/

Posted on

Labour leader Chris Hipkins sets signts on Māori seats

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. VNP / Phil Smith

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has reiterated his determination to win all the Māori seats in November’s election, as parties gather at Waitangi.

He told Morning Report that candidate elections were underway for Labour.

“I’ve been very clear that we want to do very well there.”

Asked about Te Pāti Māori which currently holds all seven seats, Hipkins said “they need to sort themselves out”.

“They’re in court and that’s really where their focus should be.

“In the meantime, we’re going to be busy organising in the Māori seats to win them back.”

The party was involved this week in a substantive hearing at the High Court in Wellington after a two of its MPs, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, were expelled.

Kapa-Kingi’s lawyers are arguing Te Pāti Māori’s constitution was not upheld during the process.

Hipkins told RNZ his message at Waitangi would be the same as elsewhere – that the country is stronger when people identify areas of common interest, work together and move forward.

In contrast to his stance on Te Pāti Māori, Labour is aiming to project a united front with the Greens at Waitangi with a joint press conference at the Treaty Grounds aimed to demonstrate working together despite policy differences.

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/2026/02/03/labour-leader-chris-hipkins-sets-signts-on-maori-seats/

Posted on

Celebrations commence for Operation Waitangi

Source: New Zealand Police

Operations for Waitangi Day are well under way in Northland after months of planning leading up to a day of national significance. 

Police is assisting a number of communities and partners as annual events take place ahead of 6 February.

Northland District Commander, Superintendent Matt Srhoj, says Police have been working alongside Iwi and the Waitangi National Trust to ensure a safe and memorable Waitangi celebration.

“It takes months of extensive planning from a large cohort of people and agencies to ensure this week of events goes off without a hitch.”

Superintendent Srhoj says locals and those travelling to Waitangi and the Bay of Islands ahead of Friday are reminded to plan ahead.

“We are expecting large numbers of people to attend the week’s commemorations so please be patient on the roads as it will be busy.

“Police is also asking motorists to wear seatbelts, drive to the conditions and follow the speed limits so everyone can enjoy the festivities.

“Once again we are looking forward to the week and celebrating Waitangi 2026 together.”

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/celebrations-commence-for-operation-waitangi/

Posted on

Radio tracker use ramps up – more hornet nests found

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Radio tracking technology has now enabled the detection of ten yellow-legged hornet nests as the eradication response effort on Auckland’s North Shore continues to accelerate.

Biosecurity New Zealand’s commissioner north, Mike Inglis, says the technique – attaching tiny radio transmitters to worker hornets and tracking them back to their nests – has quickly become a core tool in the response programme.

“Our capability with the equipment is growing rapidly, helped by practical advice from visiting experts in hornet management from the United Kingdom,” Mr Inglis says.

“Once we have a transmitter attached to a hornet, we are typically locating the nest within a few hours.”

See a video of a tracker being attached – YouTube shorts

“The trackers, which complement on-the-ground surveillance and public notifications, will become increasingly useful as summer progresses and hornets begin building larger secondary nests high up in trees where they’re less visible to ground searchers.

“We have located 3 secondary nests so far and after comprehensive planning, have successfully treated and removed them. 

“We always expected to find increasing numbers of hornets, and we have scaled up our surveillance and tracking programme accordingly. Finding hornets and their nests is a sign that our response is working as intended.”

Using tracking, trapping and ground surveillance, along with public notifications, the team has located and destroyed 49 queens, 51 nests and hundreds of workers to date.

The team was able to locate 3 small nests– one in Takapuna and 2 in Forrest Hill. These finds are well within zone B of our intense surveillance and trapping area – with zone C going out to 11km.

A network of more than 1,080 traps is operating. The zones reflect the density of traps and there have been no detections outside the 11km area.

“Public support continues to be vital to our response, with more than 11,060 notifications to date. 

“We encourage anyone who has a suspected hornet specimen, has located a possible nest, or has taken a clear photo to report it to us online at report.mpi.govt.nz or by calling 0800 809 966,” Mr Inglis says.

More information and updates on yellow-legged hornets

For more information email BiosecurityNZ_media@mpi.govt.nz

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/03/radio-tracker-use-ramps-up-more-hornet-nests-found/