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PSA calls Ombudsman to mediation following move to disestablish jobs and outsource financial functions

Source: PSA

The PSA has called for mediation with the Office of the Ombudsman after the Office moved to disestablish jobs from its finance team and outsource their work to private accountancy firms, in breach of its collective agreement with the PSA.
The collective agreement requires the Office negotiate with the external contractor to attempt to have affected employees continue on the same or similar terms and conditions of employment.
The Office did not follow this process. Instead, it released a decision this week to disestablish eight roles, including financial leadership roles, and contract their work out to in an effort to save costs. The Office made no attempt to protect or transfer these workers’ employment when deciding to outsource their functions.
“It’s bad enough that a public sector organisation wants to hand its financial management over to a private company, creating a significant conflict of interest,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. “It is also leaving dedicated staff out in the cold.
“These workers dedicate their skills and experience to careers serving the public, and it is vital that we keep their skills and experience wherever possible.
“We’ve asked the Office to attend urgent mediation to resolve this matter. If it refuses, the PSA will seek all avenues to stop this change, including appropriate judicial or legal scrutiny.”
In reaching its decision, the Office ignored grave concerns about the risks of outsourcing and privatisation raised by PSA members during consultation. The PSA represents 133 people working at the Office.
“This decision is a desperate attempt to work with a budget that’s been shrunk by the Government and its ideological drive to cut costs,” said Leo. “And now we see who benefits; the Government would rather line the pockets of private contractors than properly fund functioning, independent public services.”
The rationale for the Office’s decision relies heavily on a report prepared for them by KPMG, which recommended disestablishing the roles and outsourcing the financial functions. The Office’s decision this week did not include a final decision on a vendor.
“The Office of the Ombudsman has a critical role in holding the entire public service to account,” said Leo. “Effectively managing its own financial capability should be a core part of the Office’s operations.
“Chopping up public functions and contracting them out will not give New Zealanders a public sector that delivers for them.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/psa-calls-ombudsman-to-mediation-following-move-to-disestablish-jobs-and-outsource-financial-functions/

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Fire Safety – New fire station opens in Marlborough

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Flaxbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade will celebrate the official opening of their new fire station on Sunday.
The new building is on the site of the former Ward Fire Station, which was damaged by the Kaikōura earthquake in November 2016.
Flaxbourne’s Rural Controller Duncan Roberts describes the new station as “fantastic” and says it will enable the brigade to operate more efficiently and safely.
“Just having both the trucks parked side by side instead of one behind the other is a great improvement,” he says. “There is vehicle fume management in the appliance bay to get rid of the diesel fumes and storage for our safety equipment, as well as a training room.
“It’s a big move for us.”
Flaxbourne’s firefighters are trained and equipped to respond to structure fires and wildfires, medical events, vehicle crashes and natural disasters including storms, floods and earthquakes.
Their new station has been built to Importance Level 4 (IL4) earthquake resilience standard, with additional water storage and generator back-up power, to ensure the brigade’s ability to respond to any natural hazard event.
The Ward Volunteer Fire Brigade amalgamated with the Flaxbourne Rural Brigade in 2022. Until moving into their new station this month, they have been operating from a nearby building owned by the Flaxbourne Settlers Association.
The new station will be officially opened by Fire and Emergency Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler on Sunday 19 April.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/fire-safety-new-fire-station-opens-in-marlborough/

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Bike mechanics are ‘swamped’ – how to get your two-wheeler roadworthy

Source: Radio New Zealand

The cost of fuel keeps ticking up and there are concerns about how much New Zealanders actually have left to fill their tanks.

The government unveiled updates to its four-phase fuel plan last month, but has yet to explain how any rationing measures would be prioritised.

As a result, many Kiwis are considering getting back on their bikes. But is your two-wheeler in good enough nick to make it all the way to work? Has it been left lying in the cold, needing a bit of attention to get road-worthy?

Biking for fun or fitness is a different game to using your bike as a mode of transport.

Unsplash / Getty Images

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/17/bike-mechanics-are-swamped-how-to-get-your-two-wheeler-roadworthy/

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Fuel crisis does little to diminish New Zealanders love for utes, data shows

Source: Radio New Zealand

Screenshot / Unsplash / RNZ

The current fuel crisis doesn’t seem to be diminishing Kiwis love affair with utes, but it is changing the nature of the relationship.

Figures released this week show sales of new light commercial vehicles in March were up 48 percent compared to the same month last year, with many purchasers looking at greener ute options.

Warren Willmot is New Zealand brand manager for BYD, a chinese manufacturer who specialise in EVs. He said BYD New Zealand normally sell 300 to 400 vehicles a month. In March they sold 866 vehicles, their entire New Zealand stock. “That wiped out our supply” he said “Every car we’ve got arriving in April and May is currently spoken for”.

Those sales included BYD’s plug in hybrid ute, the Shark 6.

BYD isn’t the only company experiencing a rush on EV utes. The Geely Riddara RD6 is the only fully electric ute currently on offer in New Zealand. They normally sell 10 a month, in March they sold 46 and had 25 pre-orders. Nordeast group GM Dane Fisher, who distribute the Geely Riddara, says the volume of sales took them by surprise.

But of the EV utes sold in March, the top seller wasn’t fully electric, or even a plug in. It was the hybrid variant of the Toyota Hilux. According to Brad Olsen of Infometrics the Hilux hybrid usually sells around 200 units per month. In March it was close to a thousand.

The US attack on Iran started right at the end of February, spiking fuel prices, so it’s not hard to explain the March surge in EV ute sales. Olsen believes some businesses are taking a long term view with their vehicle purchases, hoping the “bigger upfront investment” will pay itself off over time.

And while times are tight, Olsen said there has been a recent strengthening in light commercial registrations.

“The primary sector is still doing well. There’s clearly good payout for dairy and meat and horticulture, as well as that, you’ve got the Fonterra Capital divestment payment that’s emerging too. So there’s still a lot of money coming through for the primary sector”.

According to Fisher demand for Electric vehicles was already returning before the Middle East hostilites. He believes the fuel price increase created a tipping point for people considering buying an EV.

“The barriers to entry were at the lowest it’s been for years. That’s predominantly around range anxiety, charging infrastructure and affordability, and the likelihood to have an EV next was at the highest point. So that was just below the surface.”

Willmott believed it isn’t just the price of fuel driving new car purchases, it’s anxiety around supply.

“Most of the retail customers, when I’m talking to them, it’s not about the cost of the gas” he said. “It’s about the potential for there to be no gas or for the government to say, hey, you can’t drive your car on these certain days.”

With Ford, Toyota, GMW, Geely and BYD now all offering some variation of EV ute in the New Zealand market there are now plenty of options aside from standard internal combustion offerings.

“If you want to get a cheaper option but still get some decent running costs advantages there are ones on the market for you” said Olsen. “If you’re looking for something a bit more expensive but it’s got a lot more pull, a lot more torque, a lot more whatever else you need, you’ve got that as well, and particularly at a slightly higher price point, but it’s available.

“You can do more of a like-for-like placement these days compared to say five years ago when the options weren’t around quite as much.”

But with prices ranging from around 55 to 95 thousand dollars you’ll still need relatively deep pockets.

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/2026/04/17/fuel-crisis-does-little-to-diminish-new-zealanders-love-for-utes-data-shows/

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Analysis: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s loosey-goosey retort may come back to haunt him

Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis: “I have the numbers” was the quote of the day from an embattled leader and Prime Minister, and one that may still come back to haunt him.

Christopher Luxon was clearly schooled up ahead of his media conference in Pōkeno on Friday to bat away any questions about his leadership with the simple response of “I have the full support of my caucus”.

That’s a reasonable retort when a choir of senior ministers have come out fully backing their leader one by one, but boldly stating he has the numbers sounds like a line out of the loosey-goosey Luxon scriptbook, not that of his strategic communications advisor.

Saying he has the full support of his caucus implies he’s not bothered by the rumblings and his team is behind him, but saying he has the numbers immediately suggests some of his caucus don’t support him as leader, but he believes he has enough in his camp to win any challenge or vote.

It’s looking increasingly unlikely that a formal challenge or vote of no confidence would transpire at Tuesday’s caucus meeting, but there’s no doubt the party’s misfortunes in recent polls and what Luxon plans to do to turn that around will be high on the agenda.

Luxon can also expect to be issued a ‘please explain’ by the caucus as to why he publicly denied his senior whip Stuart Smith had tried to contact him during the last sitting block to discuss his leadership.

RNZ has been told by a well-placed Beehive source that Smith did try to speak to Luxon about caucus concerns regarding his flagging support, yet on Friday his office and Luxon both denied it.

That same source said it was very unclear at this point as to how next week would play out.

And if a TVNZ poll expected in the next fortnight drops on Sunday or Monday night and has National hovering on, or just under, 30 percent, then the nervousness in the caucus will only escalate.

Clearly that anxiety exists given senior minister Paul Goldsmith directly acknowledged it on Friday morning. When asked for his advice to nervous National backbenchers, he offered: “hold your nerve, knuckle down”.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, joined by MP Dan Bidois, addresses speculation that his position as leader is under threat. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The problem for Luxon is that he’s keen to be Prime Minister and get on with governing, or as he’d say running the business.

But the campaign has already kicked off in many ways, and regular polling is being scrutinised, no more so than by his own backbench and ministers who might be out of a job if National’s stocks don’t improve.

The fastest way for Luxon to deal with these ongoing needling questions about his leadership is lift the party in the polls, but there’s only one story in town – the fuel and cost of living crisis – and that’s not going the way of National.

That’s partly because the electorate feel grumpy, especially as summer comes to an end and winter looms, but it also relies on having a leader who can communicate what is going on and reassure people – these things aren’t Luxon’s strong suit.

Making matters worse is the person most widely tipped to replace Luxon if the caucus decides to make a move – Chris Bishop – was prolific in the media this past week, looking and sounding very across his brief.

After being turfed out of his favourite jobs by Luxon in a last minute reshuffle just before Easter, it was Bishop who stepped in to Nicola Willis’ regular Morning Report panel on Wednesday.

He also appeared on TVNZ’s Breakfast, and on the 6pm news that night, then he appeared on Newstalk ZB on Friday morning and has the Sunday lead interview slot on Q+A this weekend.

For somebody the Prime Minister is trying to give less profile to, he was very busy being seen.

The other big piece of the puzzle for any potential leadership challenge is what coalition partners New Zealand First and Act would make of it.

History suggests changing leaders doesn’t bode well at this point in government, and while Winston Peters and David Seymour are benefiting from Luxon’s poor polling, they’d have a fair bit to say if another MP stepped up to the challenge having not fully consulted them.

Peters told RNZ on Friday morning he doesn’t “start at shadows” while Seymour said what National does is “up to them, but Act is here to keep the government together”.

Luxon to his credit has been quite the unifier of not only the National Party but this coalition government, and anyone attempting to step into his shoes might find both those jobs are more difficult than they realised.

One other problem that Luxon needs to sort sooner rather than later is the unease being felt by staff in the Beehive.

His last-minute reshuffle before Easter had huge ramifications for a number of offices with staff being “evented” – effectively losing their job and having to reapply for any new ones that arise – just six months out from an election campaign.

The job market in Wellington is precarious enough as it is and some staffers are feeling like they’ve been unnecessarily thrown into job insecurity for the sake of a point-scoring reshuffle.

Unhappy staff are just as big a threat to Luxon’s leadership as a disgruntled caucus is.

If Luxon wants to secure his leadership in the coming weeks it will require him to turn the polling around in a meaningful way (no easy feat for a Prime Minister with woeful favourability ratings), calm the caucus and convince them he’s their best bet to win in November, and remind staffers in his ministerial offices they are valued and respected.

All of that, however, requires Luxon to accept there’s a problem in the first place – a self awareness many staffers and MPs have long declared isn’t in his DNA.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/analysis-prime-minister-christopher-luxons-loosey-goosey-retort-may-come-back-to-haunt-him/

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Weather: Heavy rain, possible thunderstorms to hammer parts of the country this weekend

Source: Radio New Zealand

Screengrab / MetService

Heavy rain is forecast for western and northern parts of New Zealand this weekend, with a risk of severe gales down south.

MetService said a complex trough is moving northeast on to the South Island Friday, before shifting to the North Island Saturday and early Sunday.

It is expected to bring heavy rain, and possible thunderstorms.

An orange heavy rain warning has been issued for Taranaki, Buller and Grey Districts, Headwaters of the Canterbury Lakes and Rivers and Ranges of the Westland District.

Headwaters of the Canterbury Lakes and Rivers could expect up to 150mm of rain, with Buller and Grey Districts possibly getting 120mm.

MetService warned streams and rivers might rise rapidly and there was a risk of surface flooding and slips.

There is also a heavy rain watch for parts of Northland, Tasman, Wellington and Otago.

Meanwhile, a strong wind watch is in place for Canterbury High Country from 2pm Friday until 5am Saturday.

Northwesterly winds could approach severe gale in exposed places and there was a moderate chance of it upgrading to a warning, MetService said.

Raincoats and umbrellas would also likely be essential for other parts of the country, with evening rain, possibly heavy and thundery to hit Auckland.

Warriors fans braving the rain in 2025. David Neilson

“Those heading to the Warriors game Saturday evening might want to pack a raincoat,” MetService meteorologist Braydon White said.

“With the potential for showers during the game, those looking to stay dry may need to break out the ponchos and brollies.”

While the Blues v Highlanders game at Eden Park on Friday is less likely to be affected by bad weather, those headed to the Chiefs v Hurricanes at Waikato FMG Stadium might not be so lucky; Hamilton is also forecast for rain from Saturday afternoon.

For Sunday, the broad low-pressure system will lie “over the country” according to MetService, with several fronts “rotating around it bringing periods of rain but also fine gaps to most”.

This means those headed to the Auckland FC game at Mt Smart Stadium might also have to prepare for a wet afternoon.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/weather-heavy-rain-possible-thunderstorms-to-hammer-parts-of-the-country-this-weekend/

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Educators call on crown to pause contentious changes to Waitangi Treaty obligations

Source: Radio New Zealand

The tino rangatiratanga haki (flag) outside Parliament on the day of the Treaty Principles Bill introduction. RNZ / Emma Andrews

Educators are calling on the government to halt its education changes, as the Waitangi Tribunal wraps up a three-day urgent inquiry into the matter.

The inquiry, which was brought by Ngāti Hine, Te Kapotai and the country’s largest education union NZEI Te Riu Roa, has [heard evidence over three days] on the removal of school boards’ legal obligation to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a planned reset of the national curriculum.

Claimants say the changes risk long-term harm for Māori learners, and were made without meaningful engagement with Māori or the education sector.

They want an immediate pause to the reforms, until the tribunal completes its inquiry and delivers its recommendations.

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Ripeka Lessels said taking the case to the tribunal was about ensuring Te Tiriti remained central to the education system.

“Establishing a mandatory legal requirement ensures that all school boards provide a consistent, equitable educational environment that honours the rights of ākonga Māori and their whānau,” she said.

Lessels said evidence heard during the week re-inforced concerns about the process behind the changes.

“Crown witnesses have admitted there was no engagement with Māori regarding the removal of school boards’ Te Tiriti obligations or the curriculum reset,” she said. “This occurred despite warnings from the Ministry of Education and the government’s own advisory group.”

Te Tiriti o Waitangi. supplied

On Friday, the tribunal heard from Justice Secretary Andrew Kibblewhite, who was summoned to answer questions on the government’s plans to introduce its new Treaty References Review legislation.

NZEI Te Riu Roa and other parties had requested the Crown to clarify its plans, which they said had “only become clear in evidence submitted by the crown the evening before the hearing began”.

As part of the coalition agreement between National and New Zealand First, the government – led by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith – is undertaking a review of references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi across 23 laws, including the Education and Training Act.

Evidence submitted to the tribunal showed cabinet had issued drafting instructions for legislation that would require decision-makers to “take into account” Te Tiriti, rather than “give effect” to it.

A Ministry of Justice Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) on the review said the approach had “no apparent benefits” and “risks significant damage to the Māori-Crown relationship”.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“This negative impact is likely to be exacerbated by the lack of consultation with treaty partners.” it said.

Despite that, the government had continued with its approach, Lessels said.

“It is clear the government breached its Te Tiriti obligations,” she said. “Their own witnesses acknowledge that removing these legal requirements could undermine Māori educational outcomes.”

She said the shortened consultation timeframes for Māori-medium curriculum (Te Marautanga o Aotearoa), compared to the English-medium curriculum (Te Mātaiaho), also highlighted broader concerns about how mātauranga Māori was treated in the reform process.

The hearing concluded on Friday, with another set for April 28 for closing submissions. NZEI Te Riu Roa / Naomi Madeiros

The tribunal hearing concluded on Friday, with another scheduled for 28 April for closing submissions.

Claimants have asked the tribunal to recommend restoring the legal obligation for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti, halting the rollout of both curriculums and undertaking an independent review.

They are also seeking public acknowledgment from the government that the removal of treaty obligations breached its duties.

Throughout the week, witnesses raised concerns around the content and development of the draft curriculum, including claims it sidelined Māori history, language and knowledge.

Ngā Kura-ā-Iwi representative Watson Ohia told the tribunal the changes had broken agreements between iwi and the Ministry of Education.

“Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the education system does not require perfection,” he said. “It requires good faith.

“It requires the crown to act as the partner it promised to be, to come to the table before decisions are made, not after.”

Education ministry officials told the tribunal that, while the legal obligation had been removed, schools were still required to monitor Māori student achievement and, for the first time, the new curriculum included a mandatory minimum level of teaching of te reo Māori.

They acknowledged consultation timeframes had been shorter, and said the government wanted to move quickly and had not intended to co-design the curriculum with the sector.

The government maintains treaty obligations sit with the crown, rather than school boards.

The tribunal’s findings and recommendations will be released in due course.

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/educators-call-on-crown-to-pause-contentious-changes-to-waitangi-treaty-obligations/

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New Zealand’s annual greenhouse gas emissions drop slightly, latest data shows

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

New Zealand’s annual greenhouse gas emissions have slightly fallen, the latest data shows.

Numbers from the Greenhouse Gas Inventory, the country’s official record of emissions from human activities, shows the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases being produced dropped 0.1 percent between 2023 and 2024.

Once forests and other carbon sinks were taken into account, net emissions fell two percent, from 56 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent gases to 55 million tonnes.

New Zealand has a target, set through legislation, to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The largest increase in emissions came from energy production, after low hydro lake levels in 2024 forced the country to burn more fossil fuels to produce electricity.

However, that was partly offset by decreased emissions from manufacturing and construction, because the energy shortage forced some companies to slow and even stop production.

Agricultural emissions – which account for more than half of New Zealand’s total emissions, mostly through methane from livestock – decreased slightly, by 0.3 percent.

That was largely because there are fewer sheep in New Zealand.

The emissions from cattle, especially dairy cows, rose by 200,000 tonnes (0.8 percent) because cows were producing more milk.

New Zealand’s gross and net emissions peaked in 2006.

Net emissions have fallen by 15 percent since then, through a combination of reducing emissions at their sources and more forestry planting.

The inventory, which is compiled by the Ministry for the Environment each year, is the data that New Zealand reports to the UN Framework Convention on Climate change, the body that governs global climate change action.

Ministry chief science adviser Alison Collins said it provided an “annual update on the health of the climate”.

“It helps all of us see which parts of the system are putting pressure on the atmosphere, which parts are easing that pressure, and we might need to focus effort.”

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://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/new-zealands-annual-greenhouse-gas-emissions-drop-slightly-latest-data-shows/

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Updated asbestos guidance now available for New Zealand businesses and workers

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

WorkSafe New Zealand has published an updated suite of guidance to help businesses and workers safely manage and work with asbestos.

The new guidance has been developed in close collaboration with the asbestos industry and introduces targeted resources for specific needs, including asbestos surveyors, removalists, assessors, tradespeople, and general businesses.

WorkSafe’s updated guidance reflects the latest industry practices and makes it easier for people to find the information relevant to their work.

“Asbestos remains the number one cause of work-related death in New Zealand, with approximately 220 people dying from asbestos-related disease each year. It’s critical that everyone working with or around asbestos has access to clear, current guidance on how to do so safely,” says WorkSafe’s chief executive, Sharon Thompson.

“We’ve worked alongside industry experts to create guidance that is easier to follow, more detailed, and tailored to different roles in the sector. This means a surveyor, a removalist, an assessor, or a tradesperson can go straight to the information that matters most to their work.”

The updated suite includes good practice guidelines, interpretive guidelines, information sheets, and videos. A mapping document shows where content from the existing 2016 approved code of practice (ACOP) sits within the new resources.

The existing 2016 ACOP for the Management and Removal of Asbestos remains in place. It’s anticipated that three of the new good practice guidelines, covering asbestos surveys, asbestos removal, and asbestos assessments, will be developed into updated ACOPs following the progression of the health and safety reforms.

“Publishing the updated guidance now means the industry doesn’t have to wait for legislative changes to access better information. It balances the need for timely, practical resources with the process for updating the ACOPs,” says Sharon Thompson.

The new guidance includes updates to surface testing requirements for asbestos clearance inspections, exclusion of swabs during asbestos surveys, exposure monitoring requirements, and clearer definitions around asbestos-containing dust, and minor contamination.

WorkSafe consulted publicly on the future of the asbestos guidance in late 2025, with feedback showing strong support for clearer, more detailed guidance regardless of format.

Read the new guidance

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/updated-asbestos-guidance-now-available-for-new-zealand-businesses-and-workers/

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Correction: Deaths following water-related incident, Kawerau

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Inspector Phil Gillbanks, Acting Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander:

A release yesterday stated the two people that had died following a water-related incident in Kawerau were aged 10 and 12.

This is incorrect, the two boys that died were aged 10 and 11.

Police apologise for any confusion that has been caused, and ask media to please update their stories to reflect this.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/17/correction-deaths-following-water-related-incident-kawerau/

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Southbound lanes blocked following crash, Pokeno

Source: New Zealand Police

Motorists are being advised of significant delays on State Highway 1 in Pokeno following a crash.

The single vehicle crash, involving a tractor and trailer, was reported to Police at about 2.30pm and is blocking both southbound lanes.

At this stage it appears one person has suffered moderate injuries.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area and seek an alternative route while the scene is cleared.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/17/southbound-lanes-blocked-following-crash-pokeno/

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ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 17, 2026

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 17, 2026.

‘Unconstitutional’ – NSW court strikes down Minns’ draconian anti-protest laws
By Stephanie Tran of Michael West Media The Supreme Court of New South Wales has struck down the state’s draconian anti-protest laws, ruling they impose an “impermissible burden” on political communication and are invalid. In a landmark decision yesterday, the court declared key provisions of the anti-protest laws introduced after the Bondi terrorist attack unconstitutional,

Marshall Islands government shuts down at 3pm daily amid fuel crisis
By Giff Johnson, editor, Marshall Islands Journal/RNZ Pacific correspondent Most government offices in the Marshall Islands began enforcing a new policy this week of closing by 3pm daily as a way to conserve fuel given uncertainties of fuel supply globally. The move is to save energy and reduce the strain on the Marshalls Energy Company’s

Will retatrutide help me lose weight or look ‘shredded’?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Injectable peptides are generating a lot of buzz online. One of these is retatrutide, a drug that’s being described as the next big thing in weight loss. Some say it may be even more powerful

The Myanmar civil war is at stalemate – but anti-junta forces may be gaining the upper hand
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Damien Kingsbury, Emeritus Professor, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University Among the cruel ironies of the Myanmar civil war, now in its sixth year, is that for an army that is struggling to conscript soldiers, the Myanmar junta has repeatedly bombed its own troops held

Nurses with higher cultural competence don’t always perform better – new study
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emmy van Esch, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Management and International Business, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau The ability to function effectively in intercultural settings has been termed “cultural intelligence” – and it is often celebrated as a kind of modern superpower. But our latest research reveals

Trump’s clash with the pope reenacts a 1,000-year-old question: What happens when sacred and secular power collide?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joëlle Rollo-Koster, Professor of Medieval History, University of Rhode Island Alarm over the war of words between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV has escalated with remarkable speed, from The New York Times to the Daily Beast and local television. The pope has repeatedly called for

Can I get a free flu shot? And will it cover ‘super K’? Your influenza vaccine questions answered
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University For many of us, flu can mean a nasty few weeks of illness. But for the very young and old, and those with health complications, it can be extremely serious, leading to around 3,500 deaths in Australia each year.

Out of sight, but not out of trouble: groundwater contamination in NZ reveals a legacy of human pressure
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Rutter, Senior Adjunct Lecturer, Waterways Centre, University of Canterbury The latest official stocktake of the state of New Zealand’s freshwater carries many of the headline messages we have come to expect. Pressures such as intensive land use and climate change are continuing to degrade our lakes,

Inside One Nation’s strategy of scandal, chaos and controversy
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashlynne McGhee, Head of Editorial Innovation, The Conversation We’d all like deeply considered policy and informed debate to be at the heart of politics, but unfortunately controversies and scandals tend to steal the show. For most parties, scandals are disastrous: they lose seats, ministers and elections —

No‑one has been prosecuted for wage theft since it became a crime. 2 inquiries want answers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Irene Nikoloudakis, PhD Candidate in Law, Adelaide University Another day, another Senate inquiry – this time into Australia’s federal laws dealing with “wage theft”. Wage theft became a federal crime on January 1 2025. Employers who deliberately “steal” from their workers’ pay can now be prosecuted and

Iran hasn’t survived decades of hostile sanctions, assassinations and sabotage by accident – it’s by strategy
COMMENTARY: By Prince Taofeek Ajibade US President Donald Trump probably thinks he can starve a country that feeds itself. Washington is selling the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a chokehold. However, it is worth asking whether the hand actually reaches the throat. Iran shares land borders with seven countries — Türkiye, Iraq,

Albanese and Indonesian governments land fertiliser supply deal for farmers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The federal government has secured access to 250,000 tonnes of extra urea from Indonesia for Australian farmers. The deal between Incitec Pivot Fertilisers and PT Pupuk Indonesia was facilitated by the governments of the two countries. It will provide about

Black hole jets ‘dance’ in the wind from a massive companion star
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Prabu, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Curtin University; University of Oxford Black holes are among the most extreme objects in the universe. They can fling material outwards at speeds close to that of light, in powerful beams of plasma known as

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Economist Chris Richardson on next steps in fuel crisis
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The war in Iran has become the third major economic crisis in the last 20 years, with fuel prices jumping and inflation once again starting to pick up. Australians are feeling worsening economic pain. While the government has offered some

Grattan on Friday: Migration debate deserves better policy approach and less politicking from Liberals
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra An effective opposition is good at policy. Last term and so far this term, the Coalition has been very poor at policy formulation. Remember Peter Dutton’s defence policy? If you don’t, it’s probably because it was just a commitment to

Caitlin Johnstone: I hope the US loses and the empire collapses
COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone I don’t mind admitting that I hope the US and Israel suffer a crushing, devastating defeat in Iran. I hope this war collapses the entire US empire. My only loyalty is to humanity, and being on Team Human in today’s world means being against the US empire and against Israel. I

The new National Defence Strategy feels written for a bygone era – and ignores the elephant in the room
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University Sometimes new government strategies really aren’t newsworthy. The 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) is like that. The biggest headline from the document is the additional defence spending of $53 billion over the next decade, which the government claims (with

A new minister in Victoria will tackle the manosphere. Here’s what they should do
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Wescott, Lecturer in Humanities and Social Sciences, Monash University Victoria has its first minister for men and boys. Part of a cabinet reshuffle, the role was given to Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke. It comes with an explicit dual focus: on one hand, boys’ and men’s own

What does the Geelong refinery fire reveal about Australia’s fuel supplies?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Senior Fellow in Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute Late on Wednesday, Victorian firefighters were called to a large fire at Viva Energy Group’s oil refinery in Corio, a suburb of Geelong. The blaze is believed to have been an equipment failure. Thankfully, no-one was

When oil refineries burn, here’s what happens to your lungs and heart
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brian Oliver, Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney The fire at a major oil refinery in the Victorian city of Geelong has now reportedly been extinguished. But with thick smoke from the blaze lingering in the air on Thursday, many residents in Geelong and

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/17/er-report-a-roundup-of-significant-articles-on-eveningreport-nz-for-april-17-2026/

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TrendAI™ Partners with Anthropic to Extend Leadership in AI Security

Source: Media Outreach

Trend Micro’s enterprise business accelerates its transformation as AI security category leader

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 April 2026 – TrendAI , the enterprise AI security leader from Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), today announced a strategic engagement with Anthropic, embedding Claude models across its platform to power agentic workflows, automation, AI-native security operations, and develop threat research to identify vulnerabilities in AI systems and infrastructure. TrendAI will use Claude to advance vulnerability discovery while ensuring coordinated action in real-world risk reduction.

Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI : “We launched TrendAI to define the AI security category. This next phase is about scaling that vision globally, with leading partners like Anthropic. Our broad, strategic collaboration across research, defense, and innovation will define how AI is secured moving forward.”

TrendAI ’s use of Claude spans threat research, real-world risk reduction, platform innovation, and global go-to-market execution. This will operate across the full AI security lifecycle, from vulnerability discovery to automated defense and AI-native operations.

Ash Alhashim, Head of Cybersecurity GTM at Anthropic: “For 35 years, TrendAI has been at the forefront of cybersecurity. By using Claude to power TrendAI Vision One and initiatives like TrendAI Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) and Pwn2Own, TrendAI is advancing the next iteration of vulnerability discovery and reporting—and tilting the scales toward defenders.”

Focus areas include:

Advancing AI Threat Research: TrendAI is scaling its threat research to address the growing attack surface of AI, building on proven programs like Pwn2Own Berlin under TrendAI ZDI. This approach brings real-world vulnerability discoveries into AI systems, helping identify and address critical weaknesses before it reaches production environments.

Driving AI-Native Innovation: Anthropic’s Claude models will help power TrendAI ’s platform innovation, enhancing agentic workflows, automation, and AI-native security operations. This enables organizations to reduce noise, act faster, and scale security alongside AI adoption.

The announcement comes as TrendAI prepares to welcome over 600 cybersecurity leaders to its Spark Leadership Exchange in Phoenix, Arizona in May. Anthropic will join TrendAI on stage at the event alongside other industry leaders, reinforcing a shared commitment to shaping the future of AI security and engaging directly with global enterprise leaders.

To learn more about the Spark Leadership Exchange, visit: https://resources.trendmicro.com/spark-leadership-exchange.html

https://www.trendaisecurity.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
https://x.com/trendaisecurity
https://www.facebook.com/trendaisecurity/
https://www.instagram.com/trendaisecurity/

Hashtag: #trendmicro #trendai #trendaivisionone #trendvisionone #visionone #cybersecurity

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/trendai-partners-with-anthropic-to-extend-leadership-in-ai-security/

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EQS Asia’s Newswire Service to Support Cross-Border News Distribution for Corporate Clients

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – EQS Newswire – 17 April 2026 – EQS Asia today shared how its EQS Newswire service helps companies send corporate news to media and key audiences in other countries.

As more companies grow into overseas markets, their communications teams need to work with different media, audiences, and channels in each region.

Companies that communicate across borders often face these challenges:

  • Getting noticed by media in new and unfamiliar markets.
  • Making sure news reaches the right investors, media, partners, and decision-makers.
  • Adapting content for local languages and market needs.

To address these challenges, EQS Asia offers EQS Newswire — a service that helps companies send announcements or news to international financial and business media, as well as professional information platforms.

It delivers corporate news through the channels that international financial and business audiences use most.

1. International Media Distribution

EQS Newswire sends news to major international financial and business media, including the Financial Times and Reuters.

This helps companies build trust and raise awareness for their news in overseas markets.

2. Financial Information Platform Access

News can also appear on professional platforms such as Bloomberg, Dow Jones, and Refinitiv Eikon.

This puts company news in front of fund managers, analysts, traders, and other professionals who use these systems daily.

3. Multi-Market Coverage and Localized Distribution

The service covers major global markets including Europe, North America, Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Companies can choose to send news to a specific region or a single country and can also distribute in local languages to reach audiences more effectively.

EQS Asia believes this service helps companies communicate more effectively across borders and become more visible in international markets.

https://www.eqs.com/zh-hans/ir-services/newswire/

Hashtag: #EQS

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/eqs-asias-newswire-service-to-support-cross-border-news-distribution-for-corporate-clients/

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Don’t get scammed by unsolicited gardeners

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are urging people to be wary of unsolicited tree trimmers or gardeners, after a Masterton man was charged an exorbitant amount for shoddy work.

Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom says it’s a semi-regular problem, and generally people don’t realise what they’re going to pay until after the work’s done.

“In a recent incident, three people showed up at the man’s address, cut some branches, trimmed a hedge and charged $3500 for two hours work. They’ve driven the man, who’s in his 70s, to the bank so he can withdraw the money.

“It should’ve been a $600 job. These people take advantage of vulnerability and tend to target elderly victims or people who can’t do the work themselves.

“What can be really helpful is having conversations with your older relatives or neighbours and making them aware that there are charlatans who will try to get every dollar they can out of people.”

Inspector Thom urged people to shop around and get recommendations from friends or family. “Take your time and make sure you’re not going to fall victim to these opportunists.”

How to avoid being swindled:

  • Get recommendations from friends and family – and always get at least two quotes, in writing.
  • Check the reputation of the business online, and check their credentials.
  • If someone can’t give you a written quote for their work decline their services.
  • Be aware of those who resort to stories about coming back to do more but that they need the payment now.
  • Take your time finding the right person to do the job – if they’re putting pressure on you, it’s likely a bad sign.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/dont-get-scammed-by-unsolicited-gardeners/

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Fishing for trouble

Source: New Zealand Police

A man has landed himself a court date after he was caught fishing in a protected marine reserve overnight.

Earlier this week, the Police Maritime Unit received reports of a man late-night fishing at the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve.

The reserve on Auckland’s North Shore covers 980 hectares of coastal habitats. To protect the marine ecosystem, the reserve is a ‘no-take’ area, meaning fishing is prohibited. But this offender decided he was above the rules.

With the reserve locked at night, the suspect would allegedly access the beach by driving through private property. 

Inspector Vaughn Graham says CCTV footage had been obtained showing a man visiting the reserve on three separate occasions within the last week.

“At around 12.40am this morning, the Police Eagle helicopter observed a man illegally fishing at Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve.

“Ground units were dispatched and swiftly located the man.

“Fishing equipment and number of freshly caught fish were in his possession, and he was arrested,” Inspector Graham says.

A subsequent search of the man’s car was invoked, and drugs and related paraphernalia were located.

“This was a great collaboration between the Police Maritime Unit, the Police Eagle Helicopter and units on the ground to catch an offender who decided marine protection laws didn’t apply to him.”

A 32-year-old man has been charged with two counts of unlawfully being in an enclosed area, and further charges are being considered.

The man will appear in North Shore District Court on 24 April.

The Department of Conservation have been closely following this situation.

Kirsty Prior, Department of Conservation Operations Manager Marine, says mrine reserves are no-take areas that contribute to a healthier and more abundant ocean for all New Zealanders.

“At Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve, fishing, shellfish gathering, and any other disturbance of marine life is strictly prohibited.

“We’re thankful to the NZ Police for their support in stopping people taking from these vitally important reserves.”

ENDS.

Frankie Le Roy/NZ Herald
 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/17/fishing-for-trouble/

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Police defy district’s top cop by posting pay protest stickers in station

Source: Radio New Zealand

A ‘Repay the Risk’ campaign sticker inside the Dunedin Central Police Station. Supplied

Police pay bargaining campaign stickers have been put up inside the Dunedin Central police station, despite the district’s top cop telling staff not to.

It comes after the Police Association told members it was “extremely concerned” a police memo to staff regarding the campaign was “an attempt to intimidate members”.

On Wednesday, the association issued a press release which said that for the first time in its 90-year history it was driving a pay bargaining campaign that included “active and visible advocacy from a workforce that is legally forbidden to strike”.

Bargaining starts on 1 May.

The campaign slogan was “Repay the Risk”.

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

On Friday, RNZ was supplied a photo of a sticker with the slogan that had been put on a window in the Dunedin Central Police Station.

An RNZ employee said there was at least four of the stickers visible inside the public area of the station.

It comes a day after Southern District Commander Jason Guthrie emailed staff about a memo that had gone to staff about the bargaining campaign.

He said it was clear that while staff could “advocate and engage with campaigning”, they could not “alter or diminish our professional standards throughout this period”.

This meant that any non-branded police material such as stickers and ribbons were not permitted on uniforms, or any police assets such as equipment, vehicles or buildings.

Guthrie said staff could not engage in any sort of picketing during work time.

“I am aware that campaign stickers have been placed in multiple locations in at least one station in Southern and those stickers will be removed forthwith.

“My expectation is that any other stickers on NZP assets (including but not limited to buildings, walls, doors, laptops, vehicles, uniforms) are also removed forthwith and do not reappear.”

Guthrie said he was sending the email not to “limit or stop anyone supporting or advocating around the pay round”.

“But to make sure that activity doesn’t overlap with our commitment to professionalism or our operational delivery to communities.”

The memo

On Thursday morning, a memo was sent to staff on behalf of Assistant Commissioner Deployment Jeanette Park.

The memo, seen by RNZ, said police had always “positively engaged” with the service organisations and had a “long history” of supporting staff in being able to advocate their position.

“This does not change.”

Park said ahead of bargaining it was “important to remind you that our values continue to be front and centre of how we operate”.

“One of those values is professionalism: look the part, be the part which requires us all to maintain standards and present a professional image to ensure our communities have trust and confidence in us.

“Stickers, decals, ribbons, clasps, lanyards or other non-branded police material are not permitted on uniforms, or any police assets such as police vehicles, equipment, buildings, office spaces and noticeboards.”

Park said it was “essential for us to maintain our professionalism to ensure New Zealanders have trust and confidence in us”.

Following the memo, the association wrote to staff.

The email, seen by RNZ, said the association “rejects police’s view that participation in the ‘Repay the Risk’ campaign is unprofessional”.

“Our view is that it is highly professional to care about your terms and conditions and take collegial action to seek improvements, thereby aiding the viability of your occupation.

“We are extremely concerned that this morning’s Pānui was an attempt to intimidate members and to undermine our campaign.”

The association said it was “vital” members’ right to participate in the union was protected.

“Your employer should respect that and refrain from imposing any restrictions inconsistent with other external material, such as claiming that because our campaign materials – wristbands and stickers etc –

are non-Police branded they are not permitted within your workplace or while in uniform.”

Any members who experienced “retaliation” were asked to contact the union.

“Before ‘Repay the Risk’ was under way Commissioner [Richard] Chambers was advised about the material that was to be distributed. No concerns were raised.

“Accordingly, association president Steve Watt has written to the commissioner outlining our concerns. We have also indicated our willingness to take things further if we must.”

On Thursday, police told RNZ they had no further comment.

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/2026/04/17/police-defy-districts-top-cop-by-posting-pay-protest-stickers-in-station/

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‘Unconstitutional’ – NSW court strikes down Minns’ draconian anti-protest laws

By Stephanie Tran of Michael West Media

The Supreme Court of New South Wales has struck down the state’s draconian anti-protest laws, ruling they impose an “impermissible burden” on political communication and are invalid.

In a landmark decision yesterday, the court declared key provisions of the anti-protest laws introduced after the Bondi terrorist attack unconstitutional, finding they gave police sweeping powers to shut down protests across large parts of Sydney without sufficient justification.

“The impugned provisions infringe the implied freedom of political communication,” the court found.

The court held that the laws were “not compatible with the maintenance of the constitutionally prescribed system of representative and responsible government.”

Not constitutionally legitimate
 “It is not a constitutionally legitimate purpose to seek to discourage all forms of public assembly across a nominated geographical area to preserve social cohesion, on the grounds that the very act of holding public assemblies is apt to cause tension and division in the community,” the court found.

The challenge centred on a suite of laws rushed through on Christmas Eve under the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (NSW), in the aftermath of the Bondi attack that killed 15 people.

The laws allowed the NSW police commissioner to issue sweeping “public assembly restriction” declarations across broad areas.

Once in force, those declarations effectively shut down protests by preventing them from being authorised under the Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW), cancelling existing approvals and enabling police to disperse gatherings using expanded powers under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW).

In its reasoning, the court stated:

“peaceful protest is indispensable to the exercise of political sovereignty by the people of the Commonwealth”

and the laws imposed “substantial burden” to this right.

It rejected the government’s argument that the measures were necessary to preserve “social cohesion”, finding the scheme was disproportionate.

The system of government “does not permit the state … to impose such a sweeping and indiscriminate restriction on all public assemblies,” the court said.

The constitutional challenge was brought on behalf of Blak Caucus, Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation ’48.

‘A big win for everyone’
 Josh Lees, a spokesperson for Palestine Action Group Sydney, said the ruling was “a big win for everyone who cares about the right to protest”.

“These laws were terrible. They were so wide-ranging, and that is what the court has found today, that they unfairly and disproportionately burdened our rights to political communication,” he said.

Lees said the laws had been used by NSW Premier Chris Minns to violently suppress protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza and called for Minns to “take accountability” and resign.

The challenge came against the backdrop of heavily policed protests in early 2026, including the violent crackdown on the Sydney Town Hall protest against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Enabled police violence
 Nick Hanna, solicitor for the plaintiffs, said the laws had enabled “the most violent crackdown … against protesters in decades”.

“Today’s decision makes clear that, in my view, it is inevitable that prosecutions of every single person who attended that protest will be unsuccessful, and they will be found not guilty if they proceed to hearing,” he said.

“The maintenance of these prosecutions is untenable, and it’s time for police to do the right thing and discontinue them.”

Hanna is currently representing a number of protesters who were arrested during the Herzog protest.

Chris Minns responsible
 NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the ruling raised serious questions about police conduct during those protests.

“What we saw … was police brutality on a scale we have not seen for decades in this state,” she said.

“I hold Chris Minns responsible for that violence because it was his unconstitutional laws upon which the police acted.”

Higginson said the state could now face “tens of millions of dollars in civil liability claims” arising from the policing of protests under the invalid laws.

Stephanie Tran is a journalist with a background in both law and journalism. She has worked at The Guardian and as a paralegal, where she assisted Crikey’s defence team in the high-profile defamation case brought by Lachlan Murdoch. Her reporting has been recognised nationally, earning her the 2021 Democracy’s Watchdogs Award for Student Investigative Reporting and a nomination for the 2021 Walkley Student Journalist of the Year Award. This article is republished from Michael West Media with permission.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/17/unconstitutional-nsw-court-strikes-down-minns-draconian-anti-protest-laws/

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Surge in fuel prices largest increase since Stats NZ data began in 2011

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Unsplash

  • Fuel prices surge in March on Middle East conflict
  • Food prices ease 0.6 in March on month before
  • Annual food inflation lowest in a year
  • Consumer spending inflated by fuel costs
  • Other partial inflation indicators show modest rises in power/gas, accommodation
  • Full inflation numbers for March quarter due April 21

The immediate impact of the Middle East conflict has been measured in a sharp surge in fuel prices, while consumer spending has been softer.

Stats NZ data shows fuel prices rising nearly 19 percent for petrol and 43 percent for diesel last month on February, distorting consumer spending as households trimmed discretionary spending to cover higher fuel bills.

“The increases in petrol and diesel prices this month were the largest for both fuel types since Stats NZ started publishing monthly price movements for vehicle fuels in July 2011,” the department said in a statement.

Giving some relief was an easing in food inflation, which was down 0.6 percent for the month taking the annual rate to 3.4 percent from 4.5 percent in February.

High meat prices remained the driver of annual food inflation, along with bread, and takeaway coffees, while the monthly fall was due to cheaper fruit and vegetables, some dairy and chocolate products.

The selected prices were contained in a monthly tally of consumer costs covering fuel, food, rents, commercial accommodation, utility prices, alcohol and tobacco.

The goods and services surveyed make up close to half of the official inflation measure, the consumer price index which is due out on April 21 for the first three months of the year, with economists picking the annual rate is headed towards 5 percent .

Airfares were a mixed bag, with domestic airfares falling more than 14 percent on the month before but international fares rising 3.5 percent.

“Travellers typically book and pay for airfares in advance, so price changes reflect fares that were set up to 12 months ago,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

Fuel spending surges, discretionary lower

Stats NZ also released electronic card retail spending for March, showing a 0.7 percent increase on February, which reflected the surge in fuel prices.

Excluding fuel spending, which rose 17 percent for the month, overall card spending was 0.1 percent lower.

Spending on consumables such as food and durables such as appliances and electronics were higher, but were offset by reduced spending on hospitality and apparel.

Westpac senior economist Darren Gibbs said the spending numbers for the first three months of the year were up about 1 percent backing the view that the economy had been gathering pace at the start of the year.

“Looking ahead, at least in the near term, high fuel prices will continue to siphon money out of households’ pockets.”

“At the same time, higher transport costs will add to costs of production for a variety of other goods and services and will continue to significantly undermine consumer confidence,” Gibbs said.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/17/surge-in-fuel-prices-largest-increase-since-stats-nz-data-began-in-2011/

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Events – Governor-General’s visit to Gallipoli for Anzac Day

Source: Government House

The Governor-General, Her Excellency Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, will represent the people of New Zealand at this year’s Anzac Day commemorations in Gallipoli.
Dame Cindy and His Excellency Dr Richard Davies will travel to Türkiye on 19 April and return to New Zealand on 26 April.
On 24 April, Their Excellencies will attend the Turkish International Service, the French National Service, and the Commonwealth and Ireland Service in Gallipoli.
On Anzac Day, Dame Cindy will speak at the New Zealand and Australian Dawn Service in Anzac Cove, lay a wreath at the Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine, and speak at the New Zealand National Service at Chunuk Bair later that morning.
During her visit, Dame Cindy will also travel to Ankara to meet His Excellency Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, and His Excellency Mr Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

LiveNews: https://enz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/17/events-governor-generals-visit-to-gallipoli-for-anzac-day/