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Whitianga before Cyclone Vaianu’s arrival. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

A Coromandel weather station recorded more than 200mm of rain as Cyclone Vaianu swept over the North Island.

The cyclone, which caused power outages, flooding and road closures across the east coast of the North Island, tracked away from mainland New Zealand overnight.

Some residents reported it was not as severe as the storms earlier this year.

MetService meteorologist John Law said although Vaianu had veered east, the cyclone track was still within the forecast “cone of uncertainty”.

Wind gusts of up to 126km/h were recorded at Māhia, with even higher speeds recorded at offshore stations, he said.

Very heavy rain was also recorded in some places in the 24-hour period to Sunday night.

“The base of the Coromandel, we’ve seen as much as 220mm of rainfall through there, and, similarly, in towards parts of the Bay of Plenty and the higher ground there, as much as 140 to 150mm of rain.”

New Zealanders did an “amazing job” of preparing in the days before the cyclone arrived, Law said.

“People working together to make sure that everyone’s up to date with the latest forecasts and watches and warnings.

“It’s always unfortunate to see impacts like the flooding and those power outages, but I think people have done very well to be prepared.”

Flooding in central Whakatāne from Cyclone Vaianu on Sunday 12 April, 2026. RNZ/ Robin Martin

Bay of Plenty evacuees return home

Those who have been evacuated in the Bay of Plenty are now able to return home, as long as it is safe for them to do so.

Whakatāne acting mayor Julie Jukes said the evacuation order was no longer in place.

A total of 270 households in Ōhope and Thornton were forced to evacuate, while an unknown number had chosen to.

Jukes said the weather had died down as of 9pm on Sunday.

Hawke’s Bay warnings lift

MetService lifted the heavy rain warning for Hawke’s Bay, but a strong wind warning remained in place overnight until 5am on Monday.

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence group controller Shane Briggs said on Sunday the eye of the storm had moved offshore.

“We’re not out of everything yet, but actually it’s been surprisingly less than expected and at this stage, it looks like we’ve come off pretty lightly.”

Briggs said people should still avoid unnecessary travel if they could as there may be fallen trees and damaged powerlines.

In its 8pm Sunday update, Hastings District Council said evacuation zones remained in place for parts of Haumoana, Te Awanga, Waimārama and Ocean Beach, and security was in place overnight, along with road cordons.

There remained a risk of high winds, which could cause falling trees, power outages, road closures and coastal swells in exposed areas. Rainfall in the ranges is causing rivers to rise, but not to dangerous levels.

People were advised to stay away from rivers for the following 24 hours due to the potential for flooding as this water makes its way down to low-lying areas.

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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/2026/04/13/cyclone-vaianu-brings-220m-of-rain-to-coromandel-in-24-hours/

April 13, 2026

Second fuel security trip to Asia for PM

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will leave on Tuesday for his second fuel security mission within a week.

He will visit Brunei and Malaysia, after his trip to Singapore last week won assurances that the country would not be putting restrictions on its exports of liquid fuel.

In Brunei Albanese will meet Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to discuss energy, food security, and the bilateral flow of essential goods.

Brunei supplies 9% of Australia’s diesel imports, and 11% of its fertiliser-grade urea imports. Australia exports food and agricultural products to Brunei.

In Malaysia, Albanese will meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, to discuss the supply of fuel and other critical goods.

Malaysia is Australia’s third-largest source of refined fuel. It supplies 10% of Australian imports of fertiliser-grade urea. Australia supplies 95% of Malaysia’s imported natural gas.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will also be on the trip, before she goes separately to Singapore.

Albanese said:“We are taking every step to reinforce relationships and engage with key partners to keep our fuel supply flowing”.

The government at the weekend announced a $20 million national advertising campaign on the theme “Every little bit helps”, aimed at encouraging people to save fuel by using public transport, and handling their vehicles more efficiently.

Economist Chris Richardson says crisis has budget upside

As Albanese pursues fuel security, independent economist Chris Richardson has estimated the pluses of the crisis for the budget.

Richardson calculates that even allowing for cost-of-living support such as cuts in fuel tax, the budget is likely to be about $30 billion better off between now and 2028-29.

One way the war boosts the budget is through increases in prices for our exported gas and coal, and also a high gold price.

“In effect, the world just gave Australia a pay rise, and the government gets a chunk of that,” Richardson says.

“And although the ceasefire has also reduced the fire under fuel prices, there’s enough damage to infrastructure and ongoing uncertainty to ensure the pay rise the world has granted us disappears slowly rather than fast.”

Second, a rise in inflation will act “like a tax, taking money from families and giving it to the government.”

“That first factor is boosting the size of the pie being taxed, and the second is increasing the taxman’s share.

“The uncomfortable fact is that war is a moneymaker for the Australian federal budget – partly because war boosts inflation (which effectively acts as a tax), but mostly because the war has bid up the price of what Australia sells to the world.”

Richardson estimates the effect will likely be smaller-than-budgeted deficits this year ($6 billion smaller than the official forecast of $37 billion), next year ($20 billion smaller than the forecast $34 billion), and the year after ($9.6 billion smaller than the forecast $36 billion). But, he says, the deficit may be bigger than budgeted (by $5.6 billion compared to the forecast of $36 billion) in 2028-29 as war-driven budgetary positives pass.

Also “net debt is set to be a smaller share of national income than the official forecasts had it being.

“That’s because inflation isn’t just good for the budget in the next couple of years. Inflation also shrinks existing debt, as that debt can now be paid off in ‘inflated dollars’. (And that’s true for all debtors, including recent homebuyers – inflation transfers wealth from creditors to debtors.)”

– ref. Second fuel security trip to Asia for PM – https://theconversation.com/second-fuel-security-trip-to-asia-for-pm-280434

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/13/second-fuel-security-trip-to-asia-for-pm-280434/

April 12, 2026

Cyclone Vaianu: Damaging winds, heavy rain hit NZ’s North Island

RNZ News

Weather warnings in New Zealand’s North Island are starting to lift, as Tropical Cyclone Vaianu tracks away from the country.

Red and orange wind and rain warnings have been in place across much of the island since Friday.

All red warnings and most orange warnings have now expired or been lifted.

Orange wind warnings are in place in Hawkes Bay overnight and in Tararua from 10pm Sunday, while Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Tairāwhiti have had overnight wind warnings downgraded to a yellow watch.

Metservice meteorologist John Law said the system was beginning to clear away.

“On the latest analysis, the central part of Cyclone Vaianu is now just off that eastern coast towards Hawkes Bay, with the winds now generally turning more southwesterly across New Zealand.

“We’ve still got some wet weather, particularly those areas east of Lake Taupō, but over the next few hours, we’ll start to find even that pulling away, as this whole system continues to move through.”

Far North mayor ‘grateful’
RNZ’s Peter de Graaf reports Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said he was breathing a huge sigh of relief after his district escaped serious damage from Cyclone Vaianu.

The district was the first to feel the effects of the cyclone on Saturday night, but the storm took a path further to the east than initially predicted, limiting its impact on Northland.

However, some areas, such as Whangārei’s central city, were lashed by more than 130mm of rain in a 24-hour period, and winds of 110km/h were recorded at Cape Reinga.

A buoy off the Bay of Islands recorded a maximum wave height of 10.8m on Saturday afternoon.

Tepania said the outcome was a huge relief.

“All of the reports that are coming in — and not just through our Emergency Operations Centre intelligence lines, but also the good old kūmara vine and our Kaitiaki Response Network on the ground — are showing us that the effects of Cyclone Vaianu have been very limited,” he said.

“Power outages, a few roofs that have blown off, but all in all, our roading networks made it through and rivers never breached warning levels. So I’m very grateful.”

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

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/12/cyclone-vaianu-damaging-winds-heavy-rain-hit-nzs-north-island/

April 12, 2026

Vingroup Launches Hanoi – Quang Ninh High-Speed Railway Project

Source: Media Outreach

QUANG NINH, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 April 2026 – The People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province, in coordination with Vingroup and the People’s Committees of Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Bac Ninh, today officially launches the Hanoi– Quang Ninh high-speed railway project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2028. With a maximum design speed of up to 350 km/h, the project will shorten travel time between the two localities by five to seven times, to approximately 23 minutes.

Rendering of Ha Long terminal station at Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long urban area (Quang Ninh).

The launch ceremony for the Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway project is part of a series of activities celebrating the successful election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term, aimed at creating momentum for a new phase of development.

The event was attended by Mr. Le Minh Hung, Politburo Member and Prime Minister; Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, former Politburo Member and former Prime Minister; Mr. Pham Gia Tuc, Politburo Member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister; Mr. Nguyen Hoa Binh, former Politburo Member and former Standing Deputy Prime Minister; Mr. Luong Tam Quang, Politburo Member and Minister of Public Security; along with leaders of central ministries, agencies, and localities.

The Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway project is developed by VinSpeed High-Speed Railway Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, a member of Vingroup, with a total investment of over VND 147 trillion, equivalent to more than USD 5.6 billion, excluding land clearance costs.

The project spans four localities: Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh, with a total length of 120.2 km. It is designed as a double-track, standard-gauge (1,435 mm), fully electrified railway, with a maximum operating speed of up to 350 km/h. The section passing through Hanoi will operate at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. The project is expected to deploy the latest generation of high-speed trains, alongside world-class signaling, communications, and equipment systems supplied by Siemens Mobility (Germany), with a roadmap for technology transfer to VinSpeed during operations.

The starting point of the line will be at Co Loa Station, located within the Vietnam National Exhibition Center, Vinhomes Global Gate Hanoi urban area. The terminal station will be Ha Long Station, located within Globe Forest Park, Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long, Quang Ninh. The route will include three intermediate stations at Gia Binh (Bac Ninh), Ninh Xa (Hai Phong), and Yen Tu (Quang Ninh), as well as one depot located at the Ha Long terminal station.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and delegates perform the project launch ceremony for the Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway project.

According to plan, the project is expected to be completed and enter commercial operation in 2028, reducing travel time from Hanoi to Quang Ninh by five to seven times, from over two hours to approximately 23 minutes.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Bui Van Khang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province, stated: “The Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway is a mega-project that carries significant expectations. It demonstrates the capacity and strong commitment of the investor, and stands as clear evidence of the increasingly deep participation of the private sector in critical national infrastructure. We are committed to continuing close coordination with central ministries and the investor throughout project implementation; proactively addressing any arising challenges; and ensuring land clearance, resettlement, and all necessary conditions are in place for the project to be delivered on schedule and to the highest quality standards.”

As the first inter-regional high-speed railway project to be implemented in Vietnam, the Hanoi –Quang Ninh line is expected to create strong momentum for the Northern Key Economic Region, while marking a significant step toward a new era of accelerated development, contributing to the realization of the Party’s and Government’s determination to enhance national competitiveness.

Representing the investor, Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vingroup, shared: “Today’s launch ceremony for the Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway affirms Vingroup’s strong commitment to contributing to infrastructure development, steadily building a modern, internationally-standardized transport infrastructure system, thereby supporting socio-economic growth and improving the quality of life for the Vietnamese people.”

Mr. Michael Peter, Global CEO of Siemens Mobility, shared: “We are committed to bring to Vietnam the world’s most advanced, safest, and most efficient high-speed rail system with proven track record across the globe. Every day, our trains run around one million kilometers, three times the distance to the moon, with an unbeaten safety record. Each train is developed fully digitally, delivering maximum energy efficiency and a superior passenger experience. Siemens is committed to deliver a close and sustainable partnership with Vingroup, where we envision a true win-win partnership, including an extensive technology transfer program. We will build and service these trains together, creating a new railway ecosystem in Vietnam.”

The Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway is the second project undertaken by VinSpeed. In December 2025, VinSpeed officially broke ground of the Ben Thanh – Can Gio railway line in Ho Chi Minh City, which is also expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The consecutive rollout of two high-speed railway projects in both the northern and southern regions not only affirms VinSpeed’s strong execution capabilities, but also lays the foundation for the development of a multi-billion-dollar railway and supporting industries ecosystem, contributing to elevating Vietnam’s position and competitiveness on the global stage.

Hashtag: #Vingroup #VinSpeed

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/2026/04/12/vingroup-launches-hanoi-quang-ninh-high-speed-railway-project/

April 12, 2026

Wellington Phoenix suffer crucial A-League loss to Melbourne City

Source: Radio New Zealand

Corban Piper stood out for the Phoenix against Melbourne City. Photosport

Wellington Phoenix’s chances of making the A-League playoffs have nosedived, with a 2-0 away loss to Melbourne City.

The result is good news for City, who improve their chances of sealing a top-six spot, but the Phoenix have a huge mountain ahead of them, with only two matches left in the regular season.

They are now five points off sixth-placed City and would need to win both matches – against Western Sydney Wanderers in Christchurch on Saturday and away to Macarthur the following Friday – and hope for City and Macarthur to lose their final two matches, if they are to make the playoffs.

The Melbourne side looked more assured at AAMI Park, where the Phoenix hoped to pull off a repeat victory, after surprising Melbourne Victory there last weekend.

They didn’t lack for intensity, but the cohesion wasn’t there and they couldn’t nail a goal against tight City defence and extend their winning run to four matches.

Aziz Behich put City ahead in the 27th minute, with a low kick deflecting off a diving Isaac Hughes into the corner.

Corban Piper, who led the Phoenix attack with a spirited performance, had his side’s best chance of scoring in the first half, snapping a low left-footed shot just wide of the left corner in the 38th minute, after strong lead-up work by Paulo Retre.

Marcus Younis scored in the 76th minute, with his deflected shot beating Phoenix goalie Josh Oluwayemi.

Even 2-0 down, the Phoenix tried hard to fight back, but City held firm.

Auckland FC drew their match 2-2 with Melbourne Victory on Saturday night and remain second on the table, three points behind Newcastle Jets.

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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/2026/04/12/wellington-phoenix-suffer-crucial-a-league-loss-to-melbourne-city/

April 12, 2026

One-legged Carlos Ulberg wins UFC light-heavyweight title by miracle knockout

Source: Radio New Zealand

Carlos Ulberg became the first Kiwi to claim the UFC light-heavyweight belt. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

King Carlos has his crown.

Kiwi Carlos Ulberg is the new UFC light-heavyweight champion, after knocking out Jiří Procházka in round one, while on one leg.

Ulberg blew out his knee, after stepping back and landing awkwardly, and was clearly compromised, as he hobbled around the Octagon.

Procházka did not attack the knee, but instead opted to enter a firefight, a decision he said he regretted in his post-fight interview.

The Czech implied he showed mercy on Ulberg before the finish, but none was shown in return, as Ulberg swung for the fences and stunned the world.

With one final desperation shot, Ulberg landed a picture-perfect check left hook, landing flush on the jaw of Procházka.

The lights were instantly shut off, Ulberg’s follow-up barrage academic, as his miracle killshot had already done the damage.

Ulberg becomes the first fighter from Aotearoa to claim the light-heavyweight title.

See how the event unfolded below.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/12/one-legged-carlos-ulberg-wins-ufc-light-heavyweight-title-by-miracle-knockout/

April 12, 2026

Eastern Hutt Road closed following crash, Upper Hutt

Source: New Zealand Police

Eastern Hutt Road is closed near the intersection with Fergusson Drive in Upper Hutt following a crash.

The single vehicle crash was reported just before 6pm.

One person has been critically injured, a second person has sustained serious injuries.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/12/eastern-hutt-road-closed-following-crash-upper-hutt/

April 12, 2026

The House: Citizens assemblies – an alternative to select committees?

Source: Radio New Zealand

A meeting of Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly. The country’s first deliberative democracy process was a Constitutional Convention held over 18 months starting in 2012. Maxwells

What if a group of randomly selected people were put in a room and asked to hammer out national policy, or co-opted onto select committees?

It sounds like a social experiment, but was raised repeatedly at last month’s Democracy Forum at Parliament, hosted by Labour’s Duncan Webb and National’s Vanessa Weenink.

The concept even has a name – a citizens’ assembly. It sits under a broader political science idea known as deliberative democracy (our current system is a representative democracy).

Randomly selected people would make decisions as a group. The issue could be very local or take on more precarious national questions, like the superannuation age.

One panelist at the forum was Mika Hervel, a winner of the Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize. He envisaged the process playing out a bit like a jury.

Citizens assembly proponent Mika Hervel. Phil Smith

“A group of randomly selected people, demographically representative of the population as a whole, are brought together, typically to discuss a particular issue,” Hervel explained.

“This group of people is then provided with experts who they can question, stakeholders who they can hear from. They’re provided with information about budgets and costs and benefits, scientific information, modelling… and given time to deliberate.

“This then leads to recommendations often, or decisions that are passed on to be implemented by officials or to be operationalised.”

Of course, Parliament already has built-in ways for people to participate between elections – through petitions, select committees, through contacting MPs – even via protest.

Hervel says these form a solid foundation for public engagement, but deliberative democracy could help address some of the limitations critics often point to in the select-committee process.

He argues that the current engagement is self-selecting, which can mean hearing from the usual suspects again and again, and that MPs rejecting one’s ideas can be disenfranchising.

Others might respond that the current system of self-selected feedback to select committees ensures that subject experts and those most likely to be impacted are also the most likely to feed into the issue.

“Deliberative democracy seeks to engage ordinary people, including those often forgotten by politics and decision-making, which I would suggest energises and connects people to the issues happening that directly affect them,” says Hervel. “[It] helps them see how they are affected and empowers them to be involved in looking for solutions.”

Fellow panelist Max Rashbrooke suggests that 100 people, representative of New Zealand demographically, would likely reach similar conclusions to the whole country, if everyone could fit in a room together.

Constitutional law expert Andrew Butler sees it as an innovative way to improve participation. He described a democratic fatigue – that political parties are not functioning as forums for deliberation in the way they might have in the past, when membership was larger.

“Most people get into politics through political parties – good people who go and put [their] heads above the parapet – because they actually want to make a difference,” says Butler. “They want to help debates, but there is something about the way in which the ecosystem works, which makes that difficult to achieve.”

Butler sees deliberative democracy as complementing select committees.

“Supplementing the work that is done [in Parliament would draw] people in to want to participate on issues that are important.

“What all of the studies emphasise is the importance of framing the issue, getting the right people in the room facilitating the conversation – probably the hardest aspect of the exercise – but well-facilitated deliberative democracy adds to the sense of democracy and… to democracy’s legitimacy.

“One of the points about our democracy is to try and achieve a level of acceptance of decisions, not the ones you agree with – that’s easy. The point of democracy is to find acceptance of those very things you do not agree with.”

While the idea of citizens’ assemblies raised its head repeatedly at the forum and most agreed it could be very useful for local issues, not everyone saw it as a solution for national decision-making, with criticism coming from other speakers, in Q&As and informally.

While proponents argued that democratic engagement is flagging, public submissions to select committees have grown by orders of magnitude over recent Parliaments, repeatedly breaking records and showing participation is in fact improving.

Some participants and attendees pointed out constitutional and process issues, while others saw citizens assemblies as hopelessly naïve – and that disagreement is not a product of politics but exists in any group of people facing a significant issue.

Some argued that the idea discounted the value of expertise and experience, factors they believed were crucial for solving complex national issues. Arguing that assemblies were not a salve to discord, one attendee noted that, in international experience, the randomly chosen participants had received threats (as politicians also do), which mirrored, rather than removed the emotion and discord of traditional politics.

Listen to the audio version of this story by clicking the link near the top of the page.

RNZ’s The House, with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament’s Office of the Clerk. Enjoy our articles or podcast at RNZ.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/12/the-house-citizens-assemblies-an-alternative-to-select-committees/

April 12, 2026

AM Edition: Top 10 Security Intel Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for April 12, 2026 – Full Text

AM Edition: Here are the top 10 security intelligence articles on LiveNews.co.nz for April 12, 2026 – Full Text

Storm News – Cyclone Vaianu Response Update #2

April 12, 2026

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is continuing to respond to 111 calls for assistance in areas affected by Cyclone Vaianu.

Most of the calls have come from the east coast of the North Island, reflecting the path of the storm and the high winds and rainfall.

Since 5am today, fire crews have responded to more than 100 calls, relating to wind damage and surface flooding.

Fire and Emergency is maintaining full readiness to respond to incidents in all areas already affected by the cyclone and in places where the full force is still to come.

Assistant National Commander Ken Cooper says specialist resources including teams with enhanced rescue and water response capability are in position ready to assist local brigades.

“In addition, resources will be moved from Rotorua to the Bay of Plenty to assist in areas most impacted by weather.

“We want to acknowledge and thank our communities for adhering to the safety advice and keeping off the roads and out of flood waters.

“We urge people to remain vigilant and to keep informed through your local Civil Defence and for weather updates MetService.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/12/storm-news-cyclone-vaianu-response-update-2/

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April 12, 2026

Mayor ‘grateful’ Far North escaped serious cyclone damage

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rāwene residents are being urged to conserve water after a water main broke under Parnell Street, the town’s main street. Supplied / FNDC

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania says he’s breathing a huge sigh of relief after his district escaped serious damage from Cyclone Vaianu.

The district was the first to feel the effects of the cyclone on Saturday night, but the storm took a path further to the east than initially predicted, limiting its impact on Northland.

However, some areas, such as Whangārei’s central city, were lashed by more than 130mm of rain in a 24-hour period, and winds of 110km/h were recorded at Cape Reinga.

A buoy off the Bay of Islands recorded a maximum wave height of 10.8m on Saturday afternoon.

Tepania said the outcome was a huge relief.

“All of the reports that are coming in – and not just through our Emergency Operations Centre intelligence lines, but also the good old kūmara vine and our Kaitiaki Response Network on the ground – are showing us that the effects of Cyclone Vaianu have been very limited,” he said.

“Power outages, a few roofs that have blown off, but all in all, our roading networks made it through and rivers never breached warning levels. So I’m very grateful.”

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

However, it was too soon to relax entirely.

Emergency responders had learned from Cyclone Gabrielle that the tail end of a cyclone, when the wind abruptly switched direction, could still cause damage such as downed trees and power lines, especially the soil was sodden.

“But all indications are that we have dodged a bullet this time around,” Tepania said.

Tepania urged anyone who had been affected by the cyclone but had not yet contacted the council or Civil Defence should call 0800 920 029 so staff could respond.

An estimated 50 families opted to evacuate their homes before the storm hit, with most spending the night at marae or community centres.

In some cases, entire settlements, such as Taemaro Bay, near Mangonui, self-evacuated and sought shelter at Kenana Marae.

Only six homes were evacuated on council orders, all on Wendywood Lane in Kerikeri.

Tepania said the homes were near a stand of large redwood trees, one of which had fallen in a previous storm.

Those residents were able to go home on Sunday afternoon.

Tepania said he was hugely grateful to the district’s Kaitiaki Response Network, community response groups, Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi and others for setting up evacuation centres in town halls and marae across Northland.

The mayor said having to endure three major storms since the start of the year had been tough on Northlanders, despite their often-touted resilience.

Kaitāia flooding after heavy rain, March 2026. Supplied FNDC

Just two weeks ago many people had been badly affected by floods in Kaitāia, Awanui and the Hokianga settlements of Panguru, Pawarenga, Whirinaki, Wekaweka Valley and Waimamaku.

Since then, Tepania said he and some councillors had met many affected people.

“We’ve been out and about in relief hubs talking to whānau and they’re crying in front of you because they’ve lost everything. There’s a heck of a lot of anxiety from them, and from community leaders as well – and then you get a tropical cyclone heading towards us,” he said.

“So the anxiety levels were incredibly high even as we went into this and that’s why it’s been so important to make sure whānau are informed, they know how ready all of the agencies are, and that they listen to the official advice.”

“There’s a huge sense of relief across there today, but also a lot of weariness because it has been really hard. We always say we’re resilient as Northlanders and we know our taiao [environment], we know our awa [rivers], we know our communities, but it does get you down because it takes a heck of a lot of adrenaline, waking hours and anxiety.

“I’m praying to the weather gods that they give us a little bit of respite, so we can have a breather and a rest and recharge.”

Tepania said he believed Northlanders were getting better at preparing for storms and heeding advice about staying safe.

In the March floods, firefighters had been frustrated about the number of rescues they had to carry out after people tried to drive through floodwaters.

This time, however, emergency services told him far fewer people had risked their lives trying to take on flooded roads.

“People are taking things seriously and that’s what we want,” he said.

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/2026/04/12/mayor-grateful-far-north-escaped-serious-cyclone-damage/

April 12, 2026

One-legged Carlos Ulberg wins UFC heavyweight title by miracle knockout

Source: Radio New Zealand

Carlos Ulberg became the first Kiwi to claim the UFC light-heavyweight belt. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

King Carlos has his crown.

Kiwi Carlos Ulberg is the new UFC light-heavyweight champion, after knocking out Jiří Procházka in round one, while on one leg.

Ulberg blew out his knee, after stepping back and landing awkwardly, and was clearly compromised, as he hobbled around the Octagon.

Procházka did not attack the knee, but instead opted to enter a firefight, a decision he said he regretted in his post-fight interview.

The Czech implied he showed mercy on Ulberg before the finish, but none was shown in return, as Ulberg swung for the fences and stunned the world.

With one final desperation shot, Ulberg landed a picture-perfect check left hook, landing flush on the jaw of Procházka.

The lights were instantly shut off, Ulberg’s follow-up barrage academic, as his miracle killshot had already done the damage.

Ulberg becomes the first fighter from Aotearoa to claim the light-heavyweight title.

See how the event unfolded below.

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

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/04/12/one-legged-carlos-ulberg-wins-ufc-heavyweight-title-by-miracle-knockout/

April 12, 2026

Rāwene residents urged to use less water after main break

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rāwene residents are urged to conserve water, after a water main broke under Parnell Street, the town’s main road. Supplied/Far North District Council

Residents and businesses in the Far North town of Rāwene are urged to immediately reduce water use, due to a major break in a main.

The Far North District Council said Sunday morning’s break had caused water storage levels to plummet to just 15 percent.

Everyone connected to the Ōmanaia-Rāwene water supply must reduce consumption immediately, or risk the town’s reservoir and taps running dry.

Hokianga Hospital was not affected by the break.

The council said some residents would be without water entirely for at least four hours, while contractors carried out repairs.

A water tanker stationed on Russell Esplanade would provide free, treated water until 6pm or when water supplies were restored.

The water main break was caused by a section of Parnell Street slumping at the intersection with Mariner Street.

Even after the pipe was repaired, residents would need to conserve water for at least 24 hours, while the reservoir refilled.

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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/2026/04/12/rawene-residents-urged-to-use-less-water-after-main-break/

April 12, 2026

Protesters rally across Aotearoa in condemnation of Israel, US ‘warmongering’ and ‘shameful’ NZ

Asia Pacific Report

Thousands of protesters took part in the “Stop Wars Aotearoa” rallies across New Zealand today, calling for an end to the illegal war on Iran and the brutal onslaught on Lebanon this week breaching a fragile two-week truce.

While high-powered delegations from Iran and the United States were arriving in Islamabad for historic mediation talks being brokered by Pakistan, protesters in Auckland, Christchurch and other places across New Zealand were challenging the US and Israeli “warmongering” and criticising the New Zealand government’s “shameful” stance.

Led by US Vice-President JD Vance, the Americans arrived to take part in direct talks with their Iranian foes for the first time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

A “Hands off Iran” banner at Auckland’s “Stop Wars Aotearoa” rally and march today. Image: Asia Pacific Report

Ironically, Americans living in New Zealand were among those protesting in Auckland.

Kelby Dalton of Americans Abroad Against the War told the cheering crowd in Aotea Square that many of his compatriots condemned the US warmongering under President Donald Trump and were leaving the US in droves – not because they hated America, but because “we love America” and want the destructive political direction to change.

One of the rally organisers, Socialist Aotearoa activist and Unite unionist Joe Carolan declared the protesters opposed all wars and championed freedom – “Hands off Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.”

Carolan said: “We will not be provoked by those who believe in violence down at the US Consulate, those who say that violence can bring freedom, those who think that Netanyahu can guarantee women’s rights in Iran.

“Are you joking?

Counter-protest
He was referring to a small counter-protest of Israeli and Shah-supporting Iranians outside the US Consulate in downtown Auckland who were calling for resumed bombing of Iran.

“These people are guilty of a genocide where 60,000 people have been killed [in Gaza].

Protesters in the “die-in” in the street outside the US Consulate in Auckland marking the slaughter of 168 Iranian schoolgirls by US bombs in Minab on the opening day of the war. Image: Asia Pacific Report

“No liberation for women – or anyone in Iran – can come from the pedophile Donald Trump or the genocider Netanyahu.”

The protesters marched to the US Consulate at the Citygroup Building in Customs Street and staged a “die-in” to mark the targeted slaughter of 168 children at the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in the southeastern Iranian city of Minab by US bombs.

This tragedy took place on February 28, the opening day of the illegal and unprovoked US-Israel war on the Islamic Republic.

Bill Bradford of the Workers First Union and Filipino community advocate Mikee Santos and a group of Filipino union activists spoke out about how the US military machine and imperialism had exploited migrant communities around the world, especially in the Middle East.

A wide range of speakers, politicians, civil society leaders and trade unionists earlier addressed the main rally, including Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa’s co-chair Maher Nazzal — “we cannot all be free until Palestine is free” — Labour Party’s Phil Twyford; Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez-March, Alliance Party’s Victor Billot, Council of Trade Unions’ president Sandra Grey and the union choir.

Stop Wars Aotearoa organiser Joe Carolan . . . “No liberation for women – or anyone in Iran” from the US-Israeli attacks. Image: Asia Pacific Report

‘Standing with peace and justice’
Two displaced Afghani women speakers thanked everybody for “standing up against American and Israeli imperialism — and for standing with justice and peace”.

Miriam Majud recited a 13th-century humanist poem “Bani Adam” (“Sons of Adam” or “Human Beings”) by Iranian Sufi poet Saadi Shirazi, in Farsi (Persian) and in English.

Bibi Amena gave a speech highlighting Iranian achievements for women in contrast to mainstream media reports.

“I am not from Iran, and I have never visited Iran. But I want to talk about what Iran has done for my people,” she said.

Two Afghani women speaking about the illegal and unprovoked war on Iran today. Image: Asia Pacific Report

“In 1979, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, Iran opened its borders for us. In 2001, when American and NATO forces invaded and brutally occupied Afghanistan, Iran once again opened its borders.

“For 40 years, Iran hosted millions of Afghan refugees — not in camps, but in cities among their own citizens. They gave us homes, schools, hospitals. They gave us a life of dignity.

“Now the same America that destroyed my home Afghanistan attacks Iran. The same Israel that bombs Gaza bombs Iran.

Today I stand with Iran because yesterday Iran stood with my people — just as Iran has and continues to stand with Palestine, with Yemen, Cuba, Lebanon, Venezuela and with every other oppressed nation fighting for freedom from the chains of neocolonialism.”

She pointed out that while the regimes in Washington and Tel Aviv “love to pretend they care about women’s rights – it’s only while bombing them”.

“Today, Iran’s female literacy rate is 99 percent, one of the highest in the world. Over 60 percent of Iranian university students in science and engineering are women,” she said.

“Again, one of the highest statistics in the world. 49 percent of doctors in Iran are women.

“Iranian women are engineers, pilots, doctors, judges, parliamentarians, and professors. They lead pro-government rallies, they guard their bridges and power plants against US and Israeli bombs.

“They’re not waiting for permission from Tel Aviv or Washington.”

PSNA’s co-chair Maher Nazzal speaking at Auckland’s Aotea Square today. Image: Asia Pacific Report

‘We can bring change’
In Otautahi Christchurch, Iranian-Kiwi columnist and writer Donna Miles told protesters that New Zealand and the world ought to leave Iran to sort out its own future free of global interference.

Iranian-Kiwi activist and writer Donna Miles . . . “Peace in the Middle East is possible.” Image: PSNA Ōtautahi screenshot

“We can bring change. We have brought change. And we can do so if Iranians are left alone — if sanctions are lifted, if the middle class in Iran are able to breathe. And if civil society is able to thrive.

“This is what we need. Leave us alone. America needs to get out of the Middle East.

“Peace in the Middle East is possible. It’s not unachievable. Israel needs to end its occupation of Palestine and America needs to end its imperialism.”

Miles also questioned the New Zealand government?

“How shameful it was to see [Foreign Minister] Winston Peters standing next to [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio soon after Trump made those tweets threatening extremist war crimes wiping out an entire civilisation, ending a country in one night, taking it back to the stone age — and we have a minister who stood there silent.”

Her critical comments came just days after her article in The Press warning that US President Trump “can’t kill off Iranians’ resilient spirit”.

PSNA’s Del Abcede and other protesters in Aotea Square today. Image: Asia Pacific Report

Americans Abroad Against The War protesters in today’s Auckland march against the US Consulate. Image: Asia Pacific Report

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/12/protesters-rally-across-aotearoa-in-condemnation-of-israel-us-warmongering-and-shameful-nz/