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Prime Minister expected to return to Waitangi

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ahead of Waitangi Day 2025, Luxon gave notice in December 2024 that he would not be going to Waitangi. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The Prime Minister is expected to attend Waitangi for the annual commemorations next week, RNZ understands.

Details on Christopher Luxon’s timetable are still yet to be revealed, but it is understood the Iwi Chairs Forum is expecting his attendance in the days leading up to the anniversary itself.

Luxon’s office is yet to confirm whether he will be there for the pōwhiri or the dawn service at Te Whare Rūnanga.

While a lot of focus goes on the Waitangi Day commemorations on the 6th, politicians are formally welcomed on the 5th.

Some opt to spend the whole week at Waitangi, to meet with iwi and soak up the atmosphere.

Last year, Christopher Luxon opted to go to Canterbury instead, spending the ‘political day’ in Christchurch to announce a roading upgrade.

He spent New Zealand’s national day in Akaroa, with Ngāi Tahu at Ōnuku Marae.

That will not be an option this year.

Ngāi Tahu, which usually alternates holding Waitangi Day events between Ōnuku, Awarua, and Ōtākou, is taking the unusual step of heading to Waitangi.

Ahead of Waitangi Day 2025, Luxon gave notice in December 2024 that he would not be going to Waitangi.

He revealed his actual destination a few days in advance.

At the time, Luxon said he held the view that he wanted to “go around the country” and visit the places where the Treaty was signed.

A historical precedent

Not every prime minister has been at Waitangi for Waitangi Day itself.

Helen Clark and Sir John Key both stopped going after falling out of favour.

After being heckled and jostled in 2004, Clark would go up for breakfast in subsequent years, but would not visit Te Tii Marae.

When Key was denied speaking rights in 2016, he opted to go to the NRL Nines in Auckland instead.

Sir Bill English, in his sole year as Prime Minister, spent the day with Ngāti Whātua at Ōrākei Marae.

When announcing the election date last week, Luxon said there was a protocol around when he would announce his decision, based on security reasons, and he would announce his decision “shortly,” while talking up the “positive reception” he received at Rātana.

He did not end up going to Rātana last week, instead focusing on the response to last week’s severe weather.

His decision was supported by the opposition and in speeches from the hau kāinga.

That may well have weighed on his mind when deciding whether to go to Waitangi.

The heat has gone somewhat out of the Treaty debate following the end of the Treaty Principles Bill.

But there is still a lot of hurt amongst Māori, with Waikato-Tainui leader Tuku Morgan saying the relationship with the Crown had become “pretty fractured.”

Plus, it is an election year.

The recent RNZ-Reid Research poll showed 62 percent of people think it is either very or somewhat important that New Zealand’s Prime Minister is in Waitangi for Waitangi Day. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/585236/nearly-40-percent-of-voters-think-treaty-of-waitangi-has-too-much-influence-on-government-decisions-poll

Politicians have their say

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour confirmed he would attend.

Last year, Seymour twice had the microphone taken away from him (although, wearing his own wireless microphone, his speech still made it out to ACT’s social media channels).

He said he would continue to go up and express his view that “we are all equal and alike in dignity and have the same opportunity in this country, regardless of when our ancestors got here”.

Asked whether the prime minister was also going, Seymour said he did not do Luxon’s diary.

“He’ll make his own decision. I’ve previously advocated that the celebrations should move around the country, so I understand if he wants to go to Christchurch or Ngāti Whātua, as he has in previous years. Equally, I’m from Northland and I quite like going up there myself.”

David Seymour accepting the wero at Waitangi last year. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Sons of the North Winston Peters and Shane Jones will also be there, no doubt already preparing to give as good as they get.

Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka, who often speaks at Waitangi, said Waitangi was “the birthplace of the nation” and confirmed he would be there throughout the week.

He also said he was not responsible for Luxon’s diary, but said “all MPs” should be there.

“It represents the font of kotahitanga in our country, and I’m all about that, and I’m very supportive of that.”

Potaka said there had been volatility in the korero on the paepae, and in the relationship “for the last few decades,” and said the government was working to address longstanding grievances.

“We go with an open heart, with some views and some pretty strong convictions around what we need to do to get things like the economy back on track, and public services, but also with an absolute appetite to settle and implement Treaty claims, that’s where we’re at.”

Tama Potaka on 5 February last year. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said it was New Zealand’s national day, and a significant occasion.

“We’re heading up towards a very significant milestone. Two hundred years of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not that far away. Now’s the time for us to be looking to the future, sitting down, having those conversations about where do we want to be when we hit that very big milestone, how do we want to celebrate it, what do we want to do between now and then so we’ve got more to celebrate,” he said.

“Now’s the time to have those conversations, and the prime minister should be leading that.”

Teanau Tuiono from the Green Party also said the prime minister should attend.

“I think it’s appropriate that the prime minister should attend Waitangi Day. It is an important day, Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our constitutional founding document and so he should show up. He should answer questions that the iwi have, that Māori have.”

Northland MP Grant McCallum confirmed he would be going, but deflected questions on whether the prime minister would be joining him.

“Waitangi is obviously a great place to be for Waitangi Day and I’m gonna be there as the local MP. And you guys are welcome to come and have a beer.”

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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/2026/01/29/prime-minister-expected-to-return-to-waitangi/

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Watch: Community vigil for Mount Maunganui landslide victims

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than 1000 people, with more expected, are attending a community vigil in the wake of the Mt Maunganui landslide.

Families of the victims, having held another service with emergency services at the base of Mauao, will be in attendance with seats set aside for them.

Older members of the community were asked to sit in other sets next to the family seats as a show of support.

Several people said it was important for them to be here to support one another as well as victims’ families. Many described a heavy feeling since the landslide a week ago today.

One woman came with black balloons with each of the victims’ names painted on in gold.

RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Hosted by the Tauranga City Council, the vigil was a time for the community to “come together in aroha – to support one another”, as well as say thank you to the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue working to return loved ones to their families.

The vigil will take place from 7pm at Coronation Park with a karakia at 8pm. The event is expected to conclude around 9pm.

“Our community is grieving deeply. This is a time for us to come together with compassion, to honour the lives lost, and to wrap support around those who have been affected,” says Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale.

“There is no right way to grieve – some may come to reflect in silence, others to stand alongside neighbours and whānau. However people choose to take part, they are welcome.

“This is a gathering of the community, where we can stand in solidarity with the families affected by this terrible tragedy. We come together to say thank you to all the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to return loved ones to their families.”

A free park and ride service is running from Kawaka St to Maunganui Rd.

RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

What we know about the six victims of the Mt Maunganui slip

One of the victims of the deadly Mount Maunganui landslide was formally identified as Max Furse-Kee, on what would have been his 16th birthday.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday evening, deputy chief coroner Brigitte Windley formally identified Furse-Kee after hearing evidence provided by Senior Constable Robert Stokes.

Max Furse-Kee one of the six victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide. Supplied

Stokes told the court his body was found on Monday, and detailed the forensic dental examination which determined his identity.

Furse-Kee’s body will now be released to his family.

On Thursday, another victim of the fatal landslide was formally identified as Måns Loke Bernhardsson, from Sweden.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20-year-old tourist.

The remaining victims of the landslide have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, and Sharon Maccanico, 15.

Only Furse-Kee and Bernhardsson have been formally identified.

Thousands donated to landslide victims’ families

Fundraising pages set up for some of the Mount Maunganui landslide victims’ families have raised thousands of dollars, with donors paying heartfelt tribute to those trapped by last week’s massive slip.

A Givealittle page set up by Maclennan’s sister had raised almost $13,000 within 13 hours for the Morrinsville teacher’s family.

Lisa Maclennan, 50, is one of six victims of a landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. Supplied / Givealittle

“She lost her life trying to save everyone else,” the page said.

“We cannot put a value on the loss of a loved one but any donations will make a difference and help this whanau through this extremely difficult time.”

A separate page has also been set up “In Loving Memory” of Furse-Kee, with $35,435 donated to the teenager’s family in less than 15 hours.

On Monday evening, about 100 people gathered at Auckland Domain to remember Maccanico, another Pakuranga College student and landslide victim.

Recovery efforts halted again over slip safety concerns

Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui following the deadly slip were paused for a second time.

In a statement, police said work was temporarily suspended just after 10.30am on Thursday.

Recovery efforts resumed at 2pm, police said.

Work resumes at Mount Maunganui landslide on 26 January. RNZ/Nick Monro

It comes a week after the slip occurred, burying six people.

Technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered and work suspended.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner said the safety of all staff working at the scene is front of mind.

Independent review ordered into landslide as iwi call for answers

Tauranga City Council has announced an independent review into the events leading up to Thursday’s landslide at the base of Mauao, as local iwi Ngāi Te Rangi say they are seeking a thorough investigation into the cause of the slip.

Drysdale and council chief executive Marty Grenfell confirmed the review last Friday, describing the landslide as an incident of “local, national and international importance”.

“The landslide and its impacts on those affected and their families clearly represents a serious and significant incident,” Drysdale said.

“It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded.”

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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/2026/01/29/watch-community-vigil-for-mount-maunganui-landslide-victims/

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More than 100 people help clean up rubbish from Wellington’s waterfront

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than 100 people have mucked in to help clean up rubbish from Wellington’s waterfront today.

Wellington Museum’s annual Great Big Waterfront Clean Up is in its eighth year.

On average each year, the clean up usually collected around 1500 litres of rubbish.

Organiser Naiomi Murgatroyd expected this year’s total would be about the same.

In the past they’ve uncovered some interesting finds.

“We get a lot of road cones,” she said. “We’ve actually pulled Lime scooters out of the sea.”

Acrylic nails were another common find, and once she said they found a doll’s head.

Murgatroyd said Wellington was the only capital city in the world to be home to little blue penguins, some of which nest along the waterfront.

“They make their homes right in all those rocks and crevices along the waterfront here. So any time there’s any rubbish or debris or anything like that, you know, that’s something that could harm them if they eat it.”

Cecilia Tuiomanufili liked to take an active part in looking after the environment. She brought her granddaughter Layla down to the clean up to help out.

She said what she hoped to get out of the clean up was removing all the rubbish the birds could eat and to teach her granddaughter about looking after the environment.

“If we can’t live well in our environment and take care of it, how are our children supposed to know how to do that?,” she said.

“We should be showing our children this is how we do it, this is how we keep our environment clean.”

Anna Brewster is here from England on a working visa.

“I’m a guest in this country and it’s beautiful and I’ve learned a lot about the ecology and the nature and I want to help in some way and I saw the poster and thought it would be a good thing to do.”

She said most of the rubbish she picked up was plastic or aluminium, but she did make a few other finds.

“I found some bucket hats, a lot of bottles of beer, lots of condoms,” she said.

She said she also came across a lot of cigarette butts.

“Which is a shame because I feel like that’s the kind of thing people, they don’t really see it as littering, because they’ll like have a cigarette and then just throw it away because it’s kind of the done thing.”

Maggie Drawz, Cole Kasbarian and Samuel Goldsmith were visiting from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

Through their school they’re partnering with local organisations to help solve social science problems and get involved in communities around the world.

They got involved in the clean up through Zelandia who is a sponsor of their project here.

“They asked us if we would like to join, and we were like, absolutely. So we’ve been here cleaning up, and we’ve enjoyed every second of it,” said Kasbarian.

Plastic, food and broken glass were among the items they cleaned up.

The group has also got some pretty nice things to say about Wellington’s Waterfront compared to back home.

“Everything is so nice around here,” said Goldsmith. “It’s much cleaner.

“People seem a lot more conscious of caring for their environment and doing what they can individually compared to back home, which is really great to see,” said Drawz.

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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/2026/01/29/more-than-100-people-help-clean-up-rubbish-from-wellingtons-waterfront/

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One dead after Auckland crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / REECE BAKER

One person has died after a single vehicle crash in the Auckland suburb of Taupaki.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Nelson Road at 5.20pm.

The road is closed and diversions in place.

The Serious Crash Unit is attending.

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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/2026/01/29/one-dead-after-auckland-crash/

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45,000 sign petition demanding equal treatment of visitors from Pacific nations

Source: Radio New Zealand

Arthur Anae (right) with Samoa’s Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt who says he backs the petition. Facebook / Anae Arthur Anae

More than 45,000 people have signed a petition demanding equal treatment of visitors from New Zealand’s Pacific neighbours.

At the moment they must apply for a visitor visa, provide proof of funds for the duration of their stay and could be asked to get an x-ray or doctor’s check to show they’re in “good health”.

But the petition wants visitors from six Pacific nations to be treated the same as travellers from 60 other countries – that it says are eligible for a cheaper more straight forward electronic authority to enter Aotearoa.

The petitioner, former National MP Arthur Anae, told Checkpoint’s Lisa Owen discrimination against Pacific peoples travelling to New Zealand needed to end.

“At this point of time 3.2 billion people around the world can access New Zealand direct or via Australia and be issued a visitor’s visa on arrival at the airport. The less than 16 million people of the Pacific have been denied this opportunity for far too long,” Anae said.

When challenged on the fact that people accessing the electronic authority also face barriers such as still having to have sufficient funds to sustain themselves while in New Zealand and also having to process online documentation and pay a fee Anae said they were not the same barriers put on people from the Pacific.

“We can meet those no problem. And the fees they have nothing to do in the size that we have to pay.

“All I am asking for, treat the people of the Pacific equal,” Anae said.

Anae said he wrote to the [immigration] minister and the prime minister last year describing it as a sad situation.

“I just said this question, close your eyes and put yourself in this position. Your mother’s died, your father’s died, or your brother or sister or your child, and you can’t come to the funeral.

No matter what the emergency Pacific people have to make an application and pay a fee before they can come to New Zealand, he said.

“Why are we discriminated [against] this way all the time by the New Zealand immigration office.”

Anae said he wanted to make it very clear who he thought was to blame.

“It is the New Zealand Immigration Office and the minister responsible who doesn’t give a damn about us,” Anae said.

When asked what kind of response he had had from government Anae said he had had none.

“Nothing. The minister hasn’t responded to anything I have asked in anyway at all.”

It was pointed out to Anae that the highest number of overstayers as a percentage are from some Pacific Island countries. When he was asked if he thought that was the reason why there are stricter requirements he had this response.

“That’s true, but that’s based on the few numbers that are here and taken into consideration all the other people. But the fact is, as I just said, if you made it easier for people to come and go, they don’t need to overstay.”

Anae said he intended to present his petition to Parliament next month.

“We present the petition on the 11th of February, asking for the petition to go … to Parliament so that the members of Parliament can have a conscious vote on the outcome of that.”

He said what he wanted was to have a select committee process so parliamentarians themselves could hear from people and understand how they had been treated in comparison to others.

“And they can make the decision if they think this is right or wrong.”

“I believe 95 percent of people [in] this country have no idea, no idea, how the Pacific people are treated by New Zealand immigration.

RNZ has approached the office of Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for comment.

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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/2026/01/29/45000-sign-petition-demanding-equal-treatment-of-visitors-from-pacific-nations/

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Huge demand for Wairoa pop-up dental clinic offering free care

Source: Radio New Zealand

During the last week the clinic did over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning, Dr Isha Woodhams says.

A pop-up clinic offering free dental care in Wairoa has been overwhelmed with demand in an area that has not had a full-time dentist for half a decade.

The clinic is a joint project between Health New Zealand, the iwi Ngāti Kahungunu and Hawke’s Bay’s Golden Apple dentists.

Patients are being prioritised according to need, and there have been a lot of them keen to get in the chair, with the clinic’s two week run almost over.

Dr Isha Woodhams of Golden Apple Dental volunteers her time at the clinic.

She told Checkpoint over the last week they had done over 100 extractions, on top of check-ups and cleaning.

Woodhams said that number of extractions was far higher than what you would see in a community that had been well serviced.

“There is a lot of unmet demand from just deferred care. So, we’re seeing a lot of patients in pain, a lot needing fillings, just basic dental care.”

The pop-up clinic has brought overwhelming demand, with some patients waiting as long as three hours to be seen.

“We have had patients booked in, but we’ve been accommodating patients that have been turning up and waiting.

“There’s quite a lot of people in pain, even some facial swellings and infections.”

While historically there had always been a dentist in Wairoa, Woodhams said due to a national shortage of dentists there had not been one in the town for over half a decade.

The Kahungunu Executive, a Māori health provider in the area has put in a weekend locum service, but it is not enough to meet demand.

The charitable trust has also recently acquired a full-time clinic with two chairs, but the challenge now is staffing it.

“We’ll be doing everything we can to help find a clinician, a long-term solution for the clinic.”

Woodhams said there were multiple factors that made it difficult for people in Wairoa to go outside of the district to access dental care.

“The region, a couple of years ago, was badly affected by the floods, and there’s very low socio-economic demographics here. So, it’s a huge barrier to leave for routine care.”

The clinic has been offering all of its services for free, something Woodhams said patients had been extremely grateful for.

“One patient misunderstood, they thought that they had to pay and they were extremely relieved. She was almost in tears when we said it was free.

“It’s extremely rewarding work… it’s a huge issue for many dentists to discuss fees with patients.

“We know that things have been tough for patients across the country, especially in the context of the last five years. So it’s a huge privilege to be able to provide free dental care and to just take cost out of the equation for the day.”

It is this feeling that has kept Woodham volunteering.

“It’s a privilege to practice dentistry and cost is a huge barrier, so practising in a context without it is just a blessing really.”

While her stint in the town is nearly over, she is hoping that a new dentist is not too far away.

“There’s huge funding in place at the moment from the Health New Zealand for a bonded scholarship scheme for health providers to come work in the regional areas, so I’m hopeful that someone will turn up soon.”

After two weeks in service, the clinic will wrap up on Friday.

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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/2026/01/29/huge-demand-for-wairoa-pop-up-dental-clinic-offering-free-care/

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Christchurch’s Bromley plant stench expected to continue for at least a week

Source: Radio New Zealand

Diggers working at the burnt-out Bromley wastewater treatment plant on 10 June 2022. Christchurch City Council

A putrid stench lingering in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs from the city’s wastewater treatment plant is expected to persist for at least another week.

Locals have complained of nausea and headaches and say the odour from the Bromley plant is driving them inside behind closed windows and doors.

Offensive odours have plagued Bromley and neighbouring suburbs since a fire at the plant in in 2021 but some neighbours believe the pong has become worse than ever in recent days.

The fire badly damaged the plant’s two trickling filters, affecting the quality of effluent flowing into the system.

The stench left people battling nausea, worsening asthma, sleepless nights and deteriorating mental health for months.

Christchurch City Council said recent heavy rain had affected the health of oxidation ponds and treatment plant staff were trying to improve the water quality.

Environment Canterbury said since Monday it had received 530 odour reports from east Christchurch suburbs which were likely related to the plant.

Since the beginning of this year 610 residents had reported odour issues to the regional council, it said.

In a statement, the regional council’s acting compliance manager Lauren Hamilton said it was aware “and we understand that these odours are affecting people’s daily lives in very real ways”.

Environment Canterbury continued to work with the Christchurch City Council to ensure they were “meeting their consent requirements and putting suitable odour mitigation measures in place wherever practicable,” she said.

Bromley woman Tracy Andrew said the smell was “absolutely vile”.

“The smell yesterday was the worst I have smelt it for a couple years. It woke me up, just about being sick. I have turned my HRV off as it was making the house so much worse,” she said.

Andrew said she was forced to keep doors and windows closed.

Gabrielle Barry said it was unfair that people were expected to live with the smell.

“It’s horrific it gives me and my children headaches, gets in your clothes so you can’t even hang your washing out, even with all the windows shut it somehow seeps into the house,” she said.

The Bromley Wastewater Plant in May 2022.

Another Bromley woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was concerned about her health.

“Everyday coming home from work I smell that, it’s very terrible. It smells like toilets. Hopefully the council can fix it because it’s alarming for the community,” she said.

Bromley local Sharon said the smell had been strong around Maces and Ruru Roads but it was dependent on the way the wind blew.

“I’ve had enough. For a lot of people I think that are paying their rates it’s about, ‘hey you’re charging exorbitant fees for our rates but you’re making us suffer with this putrid smell in the area’,” she said.

Christchurch City Council head of three waters Gavin Hutchison said the council expected higher-than-normal odour levels to continue for at least another week.

He said the council had received 12 complaints about the smell in the last week and 14 in total this year.

“The recent period of heavy rain has significantly affected the health of several oxidation ponds. Monitoring from this week showed a drop in dissolved oxygen levels across the system. These low-oxygen conditions create an environment where odour is much more likely to be released,” he said.

“This is different from what we’ve seen in the past. During previous wet-weather events, the additional rainfall has generally supported pond recovery, improving overall pond health and preventing odour issues. However, this time the ponds have not responded in the same way. Our staff are continuing to collect and analyse data to understand why these conditions have developed on this occasion.

“We’ve also seen increased loading to the ponds, which also put more pressure on the ponds, increasing the likelihood of odour.”

Hutchison said staff were trying to minimise the odour by using all available tools to improve the ponds’ water quality.

“We know odour impacts are disruptive and we want to reassure our community that reducing them is a priority for us,” he said.

Hutchison said work started on a new $140 million sludge plant, with construction expected to take about three 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/2026/01/29/christchurchs-bromley-plant-stench-expected-to-continue-for-at-least-a-week/

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Basketball: Breakers one win away from Ignite Cup pay day

Source: Radio New Zealand

Breakers coach Petteri Koponen Blake Armstrong/Photosport

The New Zealand Breakers have not won any silverware in more than a decade but that could change next month.

This week the Breakers cemented their place in the final of the Ignite Cup, thanks to other results going their way, and they will face in-form NBL team the Adelaide 36ers in the decider of the new in-season competition on the Gold Coast on 22 February.

Making history as the inaugural Ignite Cup champions would be a boost for the team operating under new ownership and fighting to get into the play-offs for the NBL Championship.

Knowing the Cup champions take home $300,000, while the runners-up will get $100,000, with 60 percent of the prize money going directly to players, is a boost of a different kind.

The Breakers’ second-season head coach Petteri Koponen has not yet lifted any trophies with the Auckland-based club and said getting a trophy of any kind in any season was “not easy”.

With the Ignite Cup final a month away, Koponen does not want to look too far ahead as he realises his injury-hit roster still need to win the six remaining NBL regular season games before the focus can turn to the final to be played three days after their last scheduled game.

“Before this we have still other goals we try to achieve and we keep fighting for the play-in spot until the end, but really happy about [the Ignite Cup] and one game everything is possible.”

The back end of the season will be a battle for the Breakers who have not won more than three games in a row this season.

To achieve a run of victories without one of their standout players this season in Sam Mennenga, who broke his wrist and will miss the remainder of the season, will be a challenge that Koponen believes he has the roster to achieve.

“Rob Loe, Max Darling need to take his minutes, it’s hard to replace [Mennenga] but they need to do their job and find their way how they can help the team but everything starts from the defensive end if you can get stops and run and get to the open court everything becomes easier unfortunately we’re missing Sam but the next guys need to be ready.”

Not only will the Breakers have Mennenga missing from the starting five they are also without injured American import Rob Baker who was getting regular minutes from tip off.

Koponen will make some tweaks to the game plan but admitted not a lot could change.

“Luckily we have enough guys, Carlin Davison, Reuben Te Rangi can play a bit more at the four spot and Reuben’s been playing really well the last few games and Max and Rob are going to take the five spot and help the team.

“It’s opportunities for other guys to step up and play more minutes and show what they can do. We still have enough depth and enough quality to compete and it’s just the mentality needs to be there and the guys that maybe didn’t play so many minutes in the beginning of the season, or a big part of the season, now with the opportunities they’ve got they need to be ready to take it.”

Koponen was not yet thinking of resting players ahead of the Ignite Cup final.

“Every game for us is like a final at the moment so every game is important and we treat it that way, we try to take it one game at a time but one month [until the final] is a long time so we don’t have that opportunity to start to think that yet, later on [maybe] but every game is the next big thing.”

Fourth placed Melbourne United are the next challenge on Friday at Spark Arena before the Breakers back up against Tasmania JackJumpers on Sunday.

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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/2026/01/29/basketball-breakers-one-win-away-from-ignite-cup-pay-day/

Posted on

Fatal crash, Taupaki

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a single vehicle crash on Nelson Road this afternoon.

Emergency services were notified of the crash about 5:20pm.

Nelson Road remains closed, and diversions are in place.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/29/fatal-crash-taupaki/

Posted on

Watch live: Community vigil for Mount Maunganui landslide victims

Source: Radio New Zealand

A community vigil is being held in Tauranga on Thursday evening to honour those missing and the lives lost following the landslide at Mount Maunganui.

Hosted by the Tauranga City Council, the vigil is a time for the community to “come together in aroha – to support one another”, as well as say thank you to the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue working to return loved ones to their families.

The vigil will take place from 7pm at Coronation Park with a karakia at 8pm. The event is expected to conclude around 9pm.

“Our community is grieving deeply. This is a time for us to come together with compassion, to honour the lives lost, and to wrap support around those who have been affected,” says Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale.

“There is no right way to grieve – some may come to reflect in silence, others to stand alongside neighbours and whānau. However people choose to take part, they are welcome.

“This is a gathering of the community, where we can stand in solidarity with the families affected by this terrible tragedy. We come together to say thank you to all the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to return loved ones to their families.”

A free park and ride service is running from Kawaka St to Maunganui Rd.

Flowers, notes and signs left near the site of the landslide-struck campground. RNZ/Nick Monro

What we know about the six victims of the Mt Maunganui slip

One of the victims of the deadly Mount Maunganui landslide was formally identified as Max Furse-Kee, on what would have been his 16th birthday.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday evening, deputy chief coroner Brigitte Windley formally identified Furse-Kee after hearing evidence provided by Senior Constable Robert Stokes.

Max Furse-Kee one of the six victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide. Supplied

Stokes told the court his body was found on Monday, and detailed the forensic dental examination which determined his identity.

Furse-Kee’s body will now be released to his family.

On Thursday, another victim of the fatal landslide was formally identified as Måns Loke Bernhardsson, from Sweden.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20-year-old tourist.

The remaining victims of the landslide have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, and Sharon Maccanico, 15.

Only Furse-Kee and Bernhardsson have been formally identified.

Thousands donated to landslide victims’ families

Fundraising pages set up for some of the Mount Maunganui landslide victims’ families have raised thousands of dollars, with donors paying heartfelt tribute to those trapped by last week’s massive slip.

A Givealittle page set up by Maclennan’s sister had raised almost $13,000 within 13 hours for the Morrinsville teacher’s family.

Lisa Maclennan, 50, is one of six victims of a landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. Supplied / Givealittle

“She lost her life trying to save everyone else,” the page said.

“We cannot put a value on the loss of a loved one but any donations will make a difference and help this whanau through this extremely difficult time.”

A separate page has also been set up “In Loving Memory” of Furse-Kee, with $35,435 donated to the teenager’s family in less than 15 hours.

On Monday evening, about 100 people gathered at Auckland Domain to remember Maccanico, another Pakuranga College student and landslide victim.

Recovery efforts halted again over slip safety concerns

Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui following the deadly slip were paused for a second time.

In a statement, police said work was temporarily suspended just after 10.30am on Thursday.

Recovery efforts resumed at 2pm, police said.

Work resumes at Mount Maunganui landslide on 26 January. RNZ/Nick Monro

It comes a week after the slip occurred, burying six people.

Technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered and work suspended.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner said the safety of all staff working at the scene is front of mind.

Independent review ordered into landslide as iwi call for answers

Tauranga City Council has announced an independent review into the events leading up to Thursday’s landslide at the base of Mauao, as local iwi Ngāi Te Rangi say they are seeking a thorough investigation into the cause of the slip.

Drysdale and council chief executive Marty Grenfell confirmed the review last Friday, describing the landslide as an incident of “local, national and international importance”.

“The landslide and its impacts on those affected and their families clearly represents a serious and significant incident,” Drysdale said.

“It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded.”

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/2026/01/29/watch-live-community-vigil-for-mount-maunganui-landslide-victims/

Posted on

Serious crash, Taupaki

Source: New Zealand Police

Nelson Road, east of Taupaki, is closed following a serious crash.

Emergency services received reports of the single vehicle crash at around 5:20pm.

Initial reports indicate there are serious injuries.

Diversions are in place and motorists are asked to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/29/serious-crash-taupaki/

Posted on

Correction: Statement from the family of Måns Loke Bernhardsson

Source: New Zealand Police

Police would like to urgently correct the earlier statement issued on behalf of Nils and Anders.

It should read: “Måns was artistic, which was one of the many things we loved about him.”

Police unreservedly apologise for the error, and thank the family for their understanding. 

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/29/correction-statement-from-the-family-of-mans-loke-bernhardsson/

Posted on

Man charged with murder after woman’s death on New Year’s Day in Pukehina

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / REECE BAKER

A man has been charged with murder following the death of a woman in Pukehina in the Bay of Plenty.

The woman’s body was discovered on New Year’s day in a house in the rural area.

A 50-year-old man who was initially charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship has now been charged with murder.

Police say their enquiries are ongoing and they are asking people with information to come forward.

A second person was found dead on the property a day after the woman.

The police say the man’s death is being classed as unexplained and their enquiries are ongoing.

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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/2026/01/29/man-charged-with-murder-after-womans-death-on-new-years-day-in-pukehina/

Posted on

Watch live: Mount Maunganui landslide community vigil

Source: Radio New Zealand

A community vigil is being held in Tauranga on Thursday evening to honour those missing and the lives lost following the landslide at Mount Maunganui.

Hosted by the Tauranga City Council, the vigil is a time for the community to “come together in aroha – to support one another”, as well as say thank you to the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue working to return loved ones to their families.

The vigil will take place from 7pm at Coronation Park with a karakia at 8pm. The event is expected to conclude around 9pm.

“Our community is grieving deeply. This is a time for us to come together with compassion, to honour the lives lost, and to wrap support around those who have been affected,” says Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale.

“There is no right way to grieve – some may come to reflect in silence, others to stand alongside neighbours and whānau. However people choose to take part, they are welcome.

“This is a gathering of the community, where we can stand in solidarity with the families affected by this terrible tragedy. We come together to say thank you to all the emergency response workers and volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to return loved ones to their families.”

A free park and ride service is running from Kawaka St to Maunganui Rd.

Flowers, notes and signs left near the site of the landslide-struck campground. RNZ/Nick Monro

What we know about the six victims of the Mt Maunganui slip

One of the victims of the deadly Mount Maunganui landslide was formally identified as Max Furse-Kee, on what would have been his 16th birthday.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday evening, deputy chief coroner Brigitte Windley formally identified Furse-Kee after hearing evidence provided by Senior Constable Robert Stokes.

Max Furse-Kee one of the six victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide. Supplied

Stokes told the court his body was found on Monday, and detailed the forensic dental examination which determined his identity.

Furse-Kee’s body will now be released to his family.

On Thursday, another victim of the fatal landslide was formally identified as Måns Loke Bernhardsson, from Sweden.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20-year-old tourist.

The remaining victims of the landslide have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, and Sharon Maccanico, 15.

Only Furse-Kee and Bernhardsson have been formally identified.

Thousands donated to landslide victims’ families

Fundraising pages set up for some of the Mount Maunganui landslide victims’ families have raised thousands of dollars, with donors paying heartfelt tribute to those trapped by last week’s massive slip.

A Givealittle page set up by Maclennan’s sister had raised almost $13,000 within 13 hours for the Morrinsville teacher’s family.

Lisa Maclennan, 50, is one of six victims of a landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. Supplied / Givealittle

“She lost her life trying to save everyone else,” the page said.

“We cannot put a value on the loss of a loved one but any donations will make a difference and help this whanau through this extremely difficult time.”

A separate page has also been set up “In Loving Memory” of Furse-Kee, with $35,435 donated to the teenager’s family in less than 15 hours.

On Monday evening, about 100 people gathered at Auckland Domain to remember Maccanico, another Pakuranga College student and landslide victim.

Recovery efforts halted again over slip safety concerns

Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui following the deadly slip were paused for a second time.

In a statement, police said work was temporarily suspended just after 10.30am on Thursday.

Recovery efforts resumed at 2pm, police said.

Work resumes at Mount Maunganui landslide on 26 January. RNZ/Nick Monro

It comes a week after the slip occurred, burying six people.

Technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered and work suspended.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner said the safety of all staff working at the scene is front of mind.

Independent review ordered into landslide as iwi call for answers

Tauranga City Council has announced an independent review into the events leading up to Thursday’s landslide at the base of Mauao, as local iwi Ngāi Te Rangi say they are seeking a thorough investigation into the cause of the slip.

Drysdale and council chief executive Marty Grenfell confirmed the review last Friday, describing the landslide as an incident of “local, national and international importance”.

“The landslide and its impacts on those affected and their families clearly represents a serious and significant incident,” Drysdale said.

“It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded.”

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/2026/01/29/watch-live-mount-maunganui-landslide-community-vigil/

Posted on

Pacific at risky crossroads – Gaza vs the urgent drug crisis at our door

COMMENTARY: By Ro Naulu Mataitini

An invitation from a distant warzone landed in Suva earlier this month. The United States, with Israel’s endorsement, has asked Fiji to send troops to join a proposed International Stabilisation Force in Gaza.

For a nation proud of its United Nations peacekeeping legacy, this whispers of global recognition. Yet, it is a dangerous siren’s call, urging Fiji toward a perilous mission that risks betraying a far more urgent duty at home.

This force would swap impartial peacekeeping for coercive enforcement, serving great-power ambition over principle.

Simultaneously, Australia faces its own costly summons, involving a bill of up to US$1 billion, to take up a permanent seat on a controversial “Board of Peace” overseeing Gaza.

With no Palestinian voice and critics decrying it as a “transactional colonial solution”, this board aims not for peace but to sideline the UN, cementing a donor-driven world order.

For Oceania, these parallel invitations present a defining choice: expend finite resources on a flawed project thousands of kilometres away, or assert true regional independence by confronting the clear and present danger eroding our own communities — the transnational crime and drug epidemic.

The Gaza plan is architecturally unsound. The force Fiji is asked to join is not a traditional UN mission deployed with consent; it is a peace enforcement body expected to demilitarise a shattered, hostile territory — a task requiring overwhelming force and unambiguous political will, neither of which is guaranteed.

Designed for dysfunction
The Board of Peace itself is designed for dysfunction, acting as a parallel structure to the UN Security Council where influence is bought, not earned.

For Australia, the billion-dollar question is stark: is this investment in distant geopolitical theatre wiser than addressing the existential crisis in its primary sphere of influence?

This moment mirrors a recent lesson from Europe. When President Trump targeted Greenland, European nations stood collectively on the principle of territorial integrity, forcing a retreat.

Their unity demonstrated that defending sovereignty collectively is the only way smaller states are protected from the predatory actions of larger ones.

For the Pacific, the lesson is clear: our security lies in collective regional resolve, not in subsidising external power plays that undermine the very multilateral rules that protect us.

This dynamic exposes the core hypocrisy of the new transactional order. It invites regions like ours to help manage conflicts born of imperial histories and great-power rivalries, while the same powers show a willingness to disregard the sovereignty of smaller states when it suits their strategic whims.

The Greenland episode is not an isolated fantasy; it is a blueprint. If economic coercion can be levelled against a NATO ally for territory, what guarantees exist for nations in the Pacific, whose strategic waterways and exclusive economic zones are equally coveted?

Enshrines coercion
 The Board of Peace model enshrines this very coercion, asking nations to pay for a voice in a system that inherently devalues the sovereign equality that the UN Charter promises.

While Gaza beckons with false prestige, a real war is destroying our social fabric. Fiji’s National Security Strategy identifies the methamphetamine epidemic as a top-tier threat (p. 19). Record drug busts reveal not success, but the staggering scale of invasion.

This crisis fuels violence, overwhelms health systems, corrupts leaders and drains state resources.

To even contemplate diverting military and political focus to Gaza is to declare this domestic war secondary. It begs a foundational question: what is the ultimate purpose of sovereignty if not to deliver safety and security to one’s own people first?

This is the primary duty of any state. When institutions are eroded by cartels while security forces look abroad, that duty has failed.

This crisis is the true test of our regional architecture. The traffickers’ networks are transnational, exploiting fragmented governance and weak maritime surveillance. Their success is a direct result of our collective vulnerability.

To confront them requires a consolidation of sovereignty, not its diversion. Every police officer, intelligence analyst and naval patrol boat committed to a quagmire overseas is a resource stripped from guarding our own shores.

Diplomatic minefield
The political capital spent navigating the diplomatic minefield of Gaza is capital not spent rallying the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to adopt a wartime footing against a clear, shared enemy. We cannot allow the spectre of one crisis to blind us to the substance of another.

The strategic response lies not in the Middle East, but in our own waters. Australia must make up its mind. That US$1 billion — a sum that could transform regional security — could and should be the cornerstone of a bold, coordinated campaign against the drug crisis, championed through the Forum.

I am not arguing for a return to failed, militarised prohibition. I propose a holistic, regional compact built on:

  • Integrated policing: A permanent regional Task Force with real-time intelligence fusion to disrupt trafficking syndicates and their finances;
  • Community resilience: Co-designed programs creating economic alternatives for youth and supporting rehabilitation to erode the cartels’ demand; and
  • Institutional integrity: Major initiatives to shield judiciaries and border services from corruption, ensuring the rule of law is an asset.

In a world of transactional great-power politics, Australia must consciously encircle the Pasifika. This means investing politically and financially in the PIF, respecting its priorities and heeding its calls.

Addressing this crisis would be an act of enlightened self-preservation for Australia, and a lifeline for the region. The model exists in our history: the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, known as RAMSI, succeeded because it blended Australian resources with Pasifika personnel and local knowledge. We must summon that spirit again for a more complex fight.

The invitations to Gaza are a test of strategic identity. For Fiji, it is a test of resisting the seductive glare of distant drama for the sober duty of safeguarding the homeland.

Choice for Australia
For Australia, it is a choice: to fund a board that undermines global order or to invest in a sovereign regional compact against a shared existential threat.

True leadership is demonstrated not by saying a reflexive “yes” to powerful patrons, but by having the wisdom to say “no” when their wishes conflict with fundamental principles of multilateralism and life-and-death needs at home.

Europe showed that collective defence of sovereignty is how smaller states secure their future. For the Pasifika, our path to security and independence does not run through the rubble of Gaza. It runs through the strengthened, cooperative spirit of our own Blue Continent.

Choosing this closer, harder path is the mark of a region that truly knows where it belongs. It is the only choice that builds a legacy of genuine security, leaving our children a future defined not by the crises we attended elsewhere, but by the community we fortified here.

Ro Naulu Mataitini is a Fijian high chief of Rewa Province. A founding member of the People’s Alliance Party, he now serves as an apolitical member of Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs and is the chairman of Rewa Provincial Holdings Company Limited. He is a retired security executive with the United Nations. This article appeared first on the Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University and is republished under Creative Commons.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/pacific-at-risky-crossroads-gaza-vs-the-urgent-drug-crisis-at-our-door/

Posted on

With Iran weakened, Trump’s end goal may now be regime change. It’s an incredibly risky gamble

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Australian National University; The University of Western Australia; Victoria University

The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran are once again on the brink of a major confrontation. This would have terrible ramifications for both countries, the region and the world.

All signs point in this direction, but the two sides also have an off-ramp: the possibility of reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and other disputed issues.

The Iranian regime has never been so besieged both internally and externally. It has just faced yet another widespread protest movement demanding the government’s ouster, while dealing with the threat of military action by the US, supported by its ally, Israel.

Even so, the regime remains resilient and defiant. It brutally crushed the recent protests at the cost of thousands of lives and mass arrests and has warned the US of an all-out war if it attacks.

At the same time, it has signalled a willingness to reach a deal with the US over its nuclear program to avoid such an outcome.

So, what happens next, and can war be avoided?

A regime in survival mode

The regime’s tenacity is embedded in its unique theocratic nature, in which societal subordination and confrontation with outside enemies are the modus operandi.

Since its inception 47 years ago, the regime has learned how to ensure its longevity. This requires having a strong and defendable state, armed with all the necessary repressive instruments of state power, along with an ideology that mixes the concept of Shia Islamic martyrdom with fierce Iranian nationalism.

Given this, the regime has operated within a jihadi (combative) and ijtihadi (pragmatist) framework for its survival.

It has prepared for both war and making deals. This is not the first time Iran’s clerical leaders have been put in a tight corner by their own people and outside adversaries. They have always found a way to work through challenges and threats to their existence.

Still, the current challenge is bigger than any they’ve faced before. Over the past month, US President Donald Trump has vowed to punish the regime for its repression of the Iranian people, and now for its refusal to reach a deal on its nuclear program.

Some believe his ultimate goal, though, is to create the conditions for regime change.

Regime change not a given

Trump must know that regime change in Iran will not happen easily. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his fellow clerics are ready to fight to the very end. They know that if the Islamic system they created goes down, everyone in the regime is most likely to perish with it.

The regime has built sufficient fanatical forces (namely, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij paramilitary force) and advanced missiles and drones to defend itself. It also has the ability to block the Strait of Hormuz, though which 20% of the world’s oil and 25% of its liquefied natural gas flows every day.

The regime also has the backing of China, Russia and North Korea, which means any US assault could quickly escalate into a broader regional war.

Although Trump has not favoured regime change in the past, he now seems as if he’s not ruling it out. (His ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long had this aim.)

But even though Trump now has a “massive armada” of ships and fighter jets in the region, the Iranian regime cannot be toppled by air and sea alone. And a ground invasion is not on Trump’s agenda, given the United States’ bitter experiences with ground offensives in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The regime could only crumble if a sizeable part of its security forces defected to the opposition. So far, they have remained quite loyal and solidly behind the leadership – as the brutal crackdown to the recent protests shows.

A possible destabilising future

Even if the regime were to crumble from within by some chance, what would come next?

Iran is a large and complex country, with an ethnically mixed population. While Persians form a slim majority of the population, the country has significant minority groups, such as the Kurds, Azeris, Arabs and Balochis. They all have a history of movements for secession and autonomy.

With the exception of two short periods of experimenting with democracy in the early and mid-20th century, Iran has been governed by authoritarian rulers. In the event of a power vacuum, it remains prone to chaos and disintegration.

It is doubtful that Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled from 1941–79, will command sufficient public support and organisational strength to ensure a smooth transition to democracy. He has lived most of his life in exile in the US and has been closely identified with Israeli and American interests.

Netanyahu would be pleased to see a disintegrated Iran, as he has always wanted to prevent the formation of a united Muslim front against Israel. But the fall-out from a destabilised Iran would be problematic for the region.

These considerations are probably weighing on Trump’s mind, delaying his promise to the Iranian protesters that “help is on its way”.

Diplomacy is the better way forward. The time has come for the Iranian and American leadership to compromise and resurrect their July 2015 nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew in 2018.

This should be urgently followed by Iran’s clerical rulers opening their iron fist and allowing the Iranian people to determine their future and that of their country within a democratic framework.

Otherwise, the volatility that has long dominated this oil-rich country, where between 30–40% of the population lives in poverty, will eventually devour the regime.

Amin Saikal 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. With Iran weakened, Trump’s end goal may now be regime change. It’s an incredibly risky gamble – https://theconversation.com/with-iran-weakened-trumps-end-goal-may-now-be-regime-change-its-an-incredibly-risky-gamble-274626

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/with-iran-weakened-trumps-end-goal-may-now-be-regime-change-its-an-incredibly-risky-gamble-274626/

Posted on

Statement from the family of Måns Loke Bernhardsson + photo

Source: New Zealand Police

A statement on behalf of Nils and Anders, dad and uncle of Måns Loke Bernhardsson:

Måns was a super kind and loveable member of our family.

Back home in Sweden, he had many friends and was loved by all those friends and family very deeply.

He was a fantastic artist and was extremely talented. Måns was autistic, which was one of the many things we loved about him.

He was incredibly athletic and loved downhill skiing and gymnastics.

Måns was on holiday in New Zealand on what was a ‘hastily’ booked trip with two of his friends.

Him and his friends were adventuring around in their campervan, travelling both the North and South Islands.

He loved New Zealand, and often told us that he would like to stay here as long as possible.

Our hearts are broken, and we are going to miss Måns dearly. He was a cherished member of our family and it is going to be difficult to get used to not having him around.

We have received overwhelming support from community, officials, local iwi, and people back home. We are very grateful for their support through this difficult time and we want to express our gratitude.

Note to media: The family will not be providing further comment and ask that their privacy be respected as they grieve.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/29/statement-from-the-family-of-mans-loke-bernhardsson-photo/

Posted on

The government wants to track your medicines – here’s why

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Prictor, Associate Professor in Health Technology Law, The University of Melbourne

On Wednesday, the federal government announced plans to reform how medications are dispensed and tracked, aiming to reduce unsafe use, stockpiling and “doctor shopping”.

This will include two stages. First, the government will require all online and telehealth prescribers to upload information about a patient’s prescribed medications to their My Health Record.

Second, the government plans to develop a National Medicines Record – an over-arching database to register and monitor all current prescriptions.

So, how would this work? While some detail is still lacking, here’s what we know.

Why is this needed?

An increasing number of Australians take multiple medications. Recent research analysing prescribing patterns in Australia estimates almost two million of us took five or more regular medicines in 2024.

While multiple medicines are often needed to manage multiple conditions, there are risks of adverse effects.

And when a clinician prescribes medication or a pharmacist dispenses it without a full understanding of the patient’s current medications, it can lead to harmful interactions between them.

This can make a patient sicker and often lands them in hospital. An estimated 1.5 million people in Australia experience some kind of harmful side effect from using medicine each year.

Those at particular risk are older adults taking numerous medications, as well as those transitioning between health-care settings (such as going into hospital or returning home).

Sometimes patients also stockpile medications, including through consulting multiple doctors, known as “doctor shopping”. For example, they might do this to obtain extra supplies of addictive pain medication.

How does it work right now?

Currently, there is no centralised, mandatory register that records all of the medicines a person is prescribed and dispensed.

Instead, prescribing information may be siloed in hospital and aged care systems, general practice records and those of online telehealth providers such as Instant Scripts, 13SICK and Hola Health.

This can prevent any single doctor or pharmacist from having clear, comprehensive information about a patient’s medications.

Some health-care practitioner and pharmacy bodies have criticised the online prescribing industry, in particular, for contributing to inappropriate prescribing and medication misuse.

For high-risk medications such as opioids, there is already a Real Time Prescription Monitoring system. Victoria has a similar system called SafeScript, but this doesn’t record the full range of prescription medications.

Announcing the reforms, Health Minister Mark Butler referred to an Australian woman who died from an overdose after stockpiling her medicine. He explained her parent’s advocacy prompted the government to address the lack of a comprehensive medicines record.

What will change?

First, the government will require online and telehealth prescribing platforms to add information to the My Health Record system about prescribed medications. This will include information about the clinical reasoning for prescribing.

My Health Record is a government-run platform providing a secure, online collection of a patient’s health information. Both patients and their treating health-care professionals can access it.

So any medication or related clinical information uploaded by a prescriber would be accessible via My Health Record, to the patient as well as to their health-care providers and pharmacists.

Many general practices already upload this information, but online prescribing platforms may not. Organisations representing pharmacists have long called for this kind of change.

Will it work?

In theory, it is a step forward. The challenge is that the My Health Record system remains under-used. One in 10 Australians have no My Health Record (the system is opt-out).

For the millions of Australians who do have a My Health Record, usage is increasing. But many still have never accessed their own record.

It is also not clear whether, and how, a patient’s access to their own My Health Record would reduce medication harm (particularly if the patient is deliberately stockpiling medication).

Almost all GPs, pharmacies and public hospitals are registered for My Health Record and have used the system. But data shows pharmacies are mainly using it to upload information rather than looking at records others have uploaded.

Overall, ensuring that all medicines information is available on the My Health Record is a positive step.

But it does not mean that the information will be accessed (or understood) by others who are prescribing and dispensing medication to a patient.

Indeed, sadly, the warnings that were placed by hospital services on the My Health Record of the young woman who died from an overdose were not accessed by telehealth services nor pharmacies prescribing and supplying her with medication.

What’s ahead?

As a second step, the government says it will design and build a National Medicines Record. This would be an overarching platform linked to My Health Record and other digital health systems, to register all current prescriptions.

At this stage, detail is lacking, but health-care practitioner and pharmacy bodies are broadly supportive.

A consultation is underway.

If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Megan Prictor is a member of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law, the European Association for Health Law and the World Association of Medical Law.

– ref. The government wants to track your medicines – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/the-government-wants-to-track-your-medicines-heres-why-274532

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/the-government-wants-to-track-your-medicines-heres-why-274532-2/

Posted on

Second Mount Maunganui landslide victim formally identified as Swedish tourist

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Another victim of the fatal Mount Maunganui landslide has been formally identified as Måns Loke Bernhardsson, from Sweden.

Six people died in the Mauao slip last Thursday.

At an identification hearing at Tauranga District Court this evening, coroner Louella Dunn formally identified the 20 year old tourist.

Detective Sergeant Brent Griffiths told the court the body was found on Saturday, and forensic dental examination and DNA had determined his identity.

On Wednesday, the first victim was formally identified as Max Furse-Kee. His identity was released on the same day he would have turned 16.

Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui have resumed after being paused for a second time when technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered.

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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/2026/01/29/second-mount-maunganui-landslide-victim-formally-identified-as-swedish-tourist/

Posted on

Burst water pipe sends silt into Wellington’s Oriental Bay

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Water says crews are working to fix a burst water pipe on Oriental Parade in Wellington. Supplied / Wellington Water

A burst water pipe has sent silt and discoloured water into Wellington’s Oriental Bay on Thursday afternoon.

At 2.30pm crews responded to a burst drinking water pipe on Oriental Parade.

Following the pipe breakage silt and discoloured water entered the stormwater system – causing it to flow into the harbour.

Welllington Water said the material was quickly contained.

The team was using a sucker truck to clean out sumps in the area to prevent further discharge, it said.

At 5.25pm, Wellington Water said the fault had been located towards the side of the road which meant that there were no traffic issues.

It expected work to repair the pipe would take several hours.

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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/2026/01/29/burst-water-pipe-sends-silt-into-wellingtons-oriental-bay/