Source: Radio New Zealand

A fire has destroyed a home and left one person injured in the Christchurch suburb of Mairehau.

Up to four crews were called to Kellys Road shortly before 5am on Wednesday to find the single-storey property well ablaze.

Fire and Emergency said the fire encroached onto the next-door unit, causing minor damage.

A person has been taken to hospital in a moderate condition.

One crew is still there, dampening down hotspots.

A fire investigator is heading to the scene this morning.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Nelson nurse says he is living in fear as he tries to stop the deportation of his autistic child.

Immigration New Zealand has denied 5-year-old Aidhan Nithin a pathway to live in New Zealand, after finding he is likely to impose significant costs or demands on health and education services.

The decision has prompted a rally, two petitions and two unsuccessful requests for Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk to intervene.

The boy’s father, Nithin Mankeel, said he was pleading officials not to separate the family.

“It’s really heartbreaking. I don’t know how, mentally, I can cope, if that’s going to happen,” he said.

Mankeel moved to New Zealand from India in January 2024, followed by his wife and son later that year.

He works as an elder care nurse, and his wife Aparna Jayandhan Geetha works as a senior healthcare assistant.

Mankeel, whose job is on Tier 1 of INZ’s Green List, applied for the straight-to-residence pathway, listing his family members as secondary applicants.

INZ sought more information about Aidhan’s delayed speech abilities, leading to a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delay.

The agency then invited the family to submit further evidence to support a medical waiver, Mankeel said.

“I’ve consulted many doctors, psychologists and GPs, the latest GP reports state that he’s improving once he started kindergarten … he’s doing a lot of things independently,” he said.

After months of back-and-forth with INZ, Mankeel said he was told all three visas would be declined unless he withdrew Aidhan’s name and applied separately for a different visa category.

Mankeel did that; his and Geetha’s visas were approved in June, while Aidhan’s application for a new visitor visa was declined in July.

INZ found Aidhan was likely to impose significant costs or demands on health and education services, which under new rules introduced in March, meant he could not be granted a visa.

“His status is now unlawful because he doesn’t have any valid visa … so there’s a liability of deportation,” Mankeel said.

“I was really, really shocked.”

Appeals blocked, family seeks discretionary route

The family lodged an appeal to the independent Immigration and Protection Tribunal on humanitarian grounds, but it was not accepted as it was submitted after the statutory 42-day timeframe.

They also appealed to Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk, who under the Immigration Act 2009 has the power to intervene in exceptional cases.

Penk declined that appeal, and declined to consider a second appeal from Nelson MP Rachel Boyack on the basis there was no new extenuating or compelling information.

INZ confirmed it was reviewing a Section 61 request lodged by the family, a discretionary application that allows people unlawfully in New Zealand to seek a visa under the Immigration Act 2009.

If approved, it could restore Aidhan’s lawful status, it said.

The agency said it would not take any compliance action while it assessed that request.

MP and residents call for compassion

Boyack described the situation as “deeply unfair”.

“You can’t recruit essential health workers into New Zealand and then deport their child. If Aidhan is deported, then the family will leave as well. And that will be a massive loss for Nelson,” she said.

She said she had received countless emails from people who worked alongside Mankeel, were cared for by him, or were family members of people he cared for in their final days.

All of them spoke highly of his work as a nurse, she said.

“Nurses have said he’s the best healthcare professional they’ve worked alongside. I just can’t understand how a minister could read all of this evidence from members of the community and not look at it, you know, in a holistic way and look at what the benefits would be for Nelson in allowing this whole family to stay.”

The community would continue fighting, she said.

More than 4000 people have signed a petition asking officials to rethink the decision.

A second petition is calling on the House of Representatives to abolish the Acceptable Standard of Health immigration requirements.

Earlier this week, a rally was held in central Nelson to support the family.

“It was organised at the very last minute and had around 200 people turn out,” Boyack said.

Immigration New Zealand: Health rules must be applied consistently

INZ deputy chief operating officer Jeannie Melville said applicants assessed as likely to impose significant costs on health and education services could not be granted a waiver, “regardless of family circumstances or occupation”.

The requirements were designed to balance individual cases with the sustainability of the country’s health and education systems, she said.

The agency clearly advised Mankeel of the implications of withdrawing Aidhan from the original application, “including the impact on future visa applications”, she said.

“We understand the challenges faced by Mr Mankeel and his family; however, immigration health requirements are very specific and can only be waived through ministerial intervention. The granting of residence to Mr Mankeel and his wife was based on the critical need for healthcare professionals in New Zealand, as reflected by their inclusion in Tier 1 of the Green List. All secondary applicants must still meet the health criteria for their visa category,” she said.

The agency acknowledged the concerns raised by the family, local representatives and community members.

“INZ carefully considered all information provided, including evidence of parental support and Aidhan’s integration into his community. However, immigration decisions must be made in line with the Immigration Act and associated instructions. These rules help keep decisions consistent, while protecting the future of New Zealand’s health and education services. We recognise this is a difficult outcome for the family and will continue to engage with them to manage the process compassionately.”

Mankeel said he and his wife had given up everything to make Nelson their home.

He said his elderly parents in India would not be able to care for Aidhan, and the thought of being separated was unbearable.

“Deporting my child is like cutting off my arm,” he said.

Mankeel said the response from colleagues and neighbours and others had been overwhelming.

“We are living full of fear but I’m getting so much support from many, many different communities,” he said.

“I’m getting weaker day by day but I’m getting all this support, I’m getting the energy to push forward. We are just praying and hoping for the best.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

I need a last-minute Christmas gift. Are any shops open?

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A kororā is set to be released back into the wild in Auckland on Wednesday afternoon after two months in hospital.

The little blue penguin was being cared for by BirdCare Aotearoa after getting stuck in a metal drum near Army Bay.

The penguin, called Pingu, had an injured beak, as well as injured toes which the penguins use to climb.

It was also severely dehydrated and underweight.

BirdCare fundraising manager Dr Rashi Parker told RNZ Pingu was in a sad state.

She said the hospital had been helping the bird recover.

“Her feathers had to get waterproof so that she can actually stay warm,” she said.

“She’s got quite a bit of blubber now so she can float, but we wanted to make sure that when her feathers get wet they repel water so she doesn’t lose too much heat.”

Now that Pingu had recovered, Parker said she was set for a very special Christmas Eve release.

She said little blue penguins came to shore when they moulted, or when they were going back and forth with their babies.

“This time is very critical for these kororā,” Parker said.

“Their populations are in decline so we need to do everything we can to protect their coastal habitat.”

Parker said people should keep predators like dogs away or on leash at beaches where the penguins could be found.

“Piha, Te Henga, Omaha, Big Manly, these are all spots where small populations of kororā penguins are still hanging out, just really hanging on and hoping to survive,” she said.

“They’re already struggling in terms of feeding, so let’s not make it any harder for them, so let’s protect those habitats by keeping our dogs, our predators away from those areas.”

She urged those who came across a little blue on holiday not to rush in.

“Be very, very quiet, and just watch the bird and see what’s happening,” Parker said.

“Sometimes they might just be sitting there, hanging out, because that’s what they do particularly over moulting season. If you’re concerned in any way, if there are dogs around, if it looks like a youngster who hasn’t had parents attend to it you’re most welcome to ring the [Department of Conservation] hotline.”

The hotline number is 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fire crews are battling to control a scrub blaze that broke out near Hastings on Tuesday, leaving one person hospitalised and multiple buildings destroyed.

The fire in Fernhill – between the township and the Ngaruroro River bridge – also forced people living in and around the Farmhouse Lodge accommodation from their homes.

Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Jason Hill said crews had been patrolling the fire overnight, and it was contained, but firefighting would resume on Wednesday morning.

“Crews will be looking to bring the fire to a point where it’s 100 percent controlled, so that means there is no chance of it burning outside of the containment lines, whether the wind picks up or not,” he said.

“We still have multiple pockets of fire burning within the perimeter.”

A fire investigator would also begin looking into the cause of the fire, said Hill.

He said two homes, multiple sheds and some machinery were completely destroyed.

When crews arrived, flames fanned by strong winds were running up the hill, threatening multiple buildings, Hill said.

Firefighting efforts were hampered by gusts of up to 90 km/h, which meant they could not call on helicopters, leaving ground crews to tackle it.

Dawson Bliss owns Farmhouse Lodge and the fire was burning on his property, he said.

A tenant alerted him to smoke billowing up the hill and when he went to investigate, it appeared an old bus was on fire on flat land near the Ngaruroro river.

“I rushed down there and got close to it and had extinguishers and so forth, but it was just too ablaze to try and get close enough,” he said.

Bliss did not know when he and his tenants would be able to return to the property.

On Tuesday he told RNZ he was feeling okay, but “later on it might be worse, when we take stock of the situation”.

Fire and Emergency said Civil Defence had helped evacuees to find a place to stay overnight.

Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum said it was distressing for those impacted by the fire – and it was a stark reminder of how dangerous the region’s hot, windy summers could be.

Schollum and Hill urged people to take fire bans seriously.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The New Zealand Transport Agency has commissioned an independent analysis of breath testing data to try and identify the full scale of falsely recorded tests.

RNZ earlier revealed about 130 Police staff were under investigation throughout the country after 30,000 alcohol breath tests were “falsely or erroneously recorded”.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has since halted $6 million worth of funding to Police until it was satisfied Police had met their breath test targets.

RNZ has obtained a series of weekly reports to Transport Minister Chris Bishop on the issue under the Official Information Act.

One update, from 27 October, said NZTA had identified a preferred supplier to independently analyse the breath screening test data file provided by Police.

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

“This independent analysis will identify whether any further irregularities (over and above any detected by NZ Police) are discernible.”

The 30,000 breath tests related to an algorithm that determined if a second test took place within 90 seconds of the first, whilst the distance between the two indicated a speed of more than 20 km/h.

In an update to Bishop on 13 October, NZTA said Police could not determine if any irregular testing was undertaken while officers were stationary.

“NZTA is supporting and encouraging NZ Police to identify what, if any, options exist for removing these limitations, and to look beyond current detection methods to ascertain the true scale of irregularities.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mike Johnson earlier told NZTA that while the algorithm had “proven effective” in identifying tests conducted while the device was in motion, “there remains limitations in detecting all forms of irregular testing, including those undertaken in specific locations”.

In a statement to RNZ, Bishop reiterated the matter was “very concerning”, and said it was important that it was resolved.

“NZTA have kept me regularly updated as the work has progressed. Independent analysis is underway, and NZTA are working closely with Police. NZTA will have more to say early next year.”

An NZTA spokesperson told RNZ on Tuesday that the independent analysis was under way and was expected to be completed early next year.

“NZTA has requested that Police provide assurance that delivery numbers for breath screening tests and the wider road policing activity measures for the 2024/25 financial year and Q1 of the 2025/26 financial year are correct.

“We are working with Police, and we expect to verify the final results in early 2026.”

Johnson earlier said in a statement that NZTA had notified Police that delivery-dependent road policing funding for the first quarter of the financial year had been paused, while Police’s investigation into irregularities in breath testing data was ongoing.

“Police is working closely with our NZTA partners to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. We acknowledge it is important the data being assessed is accurate and the activity being carried out is legitimate.

“We are confident that once the data is confirmed as accurate, the funding will be authorised.”

Police continued to deliver “very high levels of breath testing activity”, Johnson said.

“We will continue to have a high-visibility presence over the summer period.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Switching between grief and festivities

What about the stages of grief?

Can you delay grief?

What if Christmas is the anniversary of a significant loss?

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

What were the most popular stories of the year on RNZ? They included major breaking news events, but there was also a lot of talk about laundry.

RNZ is setting audience records regularly and is now the third most popular news site in New Zealand.

In November, our digital audience was up to 1.73 million – a new record for unique audience.

RNZ has come close to matching the audience for the New Zealand Herald – 1.92 million for November – and market leader Stuff (2.17m).

Media columnist Tim Murphy of Newsroom has called RNZ’s website “the media performance of the year” and noted it is the best performing news website this year for audience growth.

That’s thanks to all of you, and we’ll continue bringing you the latest headlines and features in 2026. Here are some of the stories that you read the most, and the ones that you spent the most time with on RNZ in 2025.

What you read the most

Our most read stories included some of the year’s biggest news events, including weather storms and the final fate of fugitive Tom Phillips. But it turns out you were also really interested in tips for your laundry routine, and anything about big Lotto winners.

Here’s a list of the top 10 most read stories on RNZ for 2025. Stories without bylines were written by general news staff or our content partners:

1. Live: Marokopa dad Tom Phillips killed in shootout with police (8 September)

2. Three laundry detergents no better than water – Consumer NZ (24 July)

3. Two large retailers preparing to lay off staff as sector far from optimistic by Nona Pelletier (9 September)

4. Weather live: Gales hit Wellington, South Island (23 October)

5. Australian Tradie dies after winning $22 million lotto in NZ and descending into drug underworld (10 June)

6. She’s won Lotto, so where is her money? by Susan Edmunds (13 November)

7. Tsunami activity after 8.8 quake near Russia (30 July)

8. Thousands of bank accounts closed, transferred to Inland Revenue by Susan Edmunds (21 October)

9. How to dry laundry without a dryer when it’s cold or wet outside (3 June)

10. Daylight saving: When it starts, why we have it and how to change the time on your phone (24 September)

What you read the longest

What’s the different between “page views” and “engagement time”? They’re quite different metrics – page views count the number of times a particular story was clicked on, but engagement time counts the length of time users are actively engaged with a story, scrolling, clicking and moving their mouse, et cetera.

Both are valuable metrics and news sites like to consider both in looking at how readers dig in to their content.

Some stories that perhaps didn’t get as many page views still led the field in engaged minutes for RNZ this year, including many essential reads from our In-Depth reporting team and others.

Here’s a look at some of those stories you spent the most engagement time with:

1. In death, Olivia Podmore is finally seen by a system that failed her by Dana Johannsen (24 April)

Just hours after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics ended, elite Kiwi cyclist Olivia Podmore was found dead in a suspected suicide at her Cambridge home. Six months of harrowing coronial hearings have revealed the disturbing truth about her treatment within New Zealand’s national cycling organisation. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen followed every day of the inquest.

2. Teen was told the crippling stomach pain she suffered was in her head – it wasn’t by Venetia Sherson (8 July)

At the start of last year, 13-year-old Amelia Turner was busy. She had started secondary school, made new friends and enjoyed hanging out with them. Today, Amelia is fed through tubes. She is bed-ridden and one leg is immobile.

3. ‘Awful error’: Two-month-old dies following overdose after pharmacy allegedly gives medication at wrong dosage by Sam Sherwood (28 July)

A two-month-old baby died following an overdose after she was allegedly given medication at an adult dosage by a pharmacy, RNZ revealed. Her grieving parents called for a law change that would make it mandatory for medication to be checked by two people before it is dispensed.

4. ‘Questions about the Marokopa Children as Tom Phillips Killed’ by Kirsty Johnston (8 September)

5. Three laundry detergents no better than water – Consumer NZ (24 July)

6. How the Silver Ferns culture clash reached boiling point by Dana Johannsen (11 September)

The shock decision to stand down netball coach Noeline Taurua marked a dramatic turning point in a months-long dispute between team management and the playing group.

7. ‘Who decided Tom Phillips was safe enough to leave alone with his kids?’ by Kirsty Johnston (12 September)

8. Crippling stomach pain was not in her head – teen has surgery in Germany by Venetia Sherson (21 October)

Following up a popular story earlier in the year, we return to the mysterious case of ailing teenager Amelia Turner and how a surgery in Germany changed everything for her.

9. Mother died in crash after boat and trailer unit from oncoming car broke free by Sam Sherwood (12 August)

A mother driving home to Auckland with her three-year-old son in the back seat was killed when a boat and trailer unit broke free from an oncoming vehicle and slammed into their car. When emergency services arrived, the little boy – who suffered whiplash and bruises – told them his mother was dead and showed them where her phone was so they could contact his family.

10. How does Jenny-May Clarkson feel about leaving TVNZ? by RNZ Sunday Morning (21 November)

As Jenny-May Clarkson signed off from TVNZ, she looked back at the cost of those predawn years and the strength she felt from her late father as she prepared to step away.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A serious crash involving a pedestrian has shut a road in Moera, Lower Hutt.

Emergency services were called to the crash on Randwick Rd, where a person had been hit by a car, shortly after 4pm on Tuesday.

Police said it appeared the person had been seriously injured.

Motorists should avoid the area and expect delays while the Serious Crash Unit investigates, police said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Department of Conservation is pleading with dog owners not to let their pets roam in nesting sites used by New Zealand’s rarest bird – the tara iti or fairy tern.

The plea comes after a series of incidents apparently involving dogs brought to shore by boaties, then left to run freely in a fenced-off area of beach at Mangawhai.

Only about 40 adult tara iti survive in the wild, and of those just 10 are breeding females.

DoC tara iti supervisor Kallan Mehrtens said the latest incident occurred on Sunday evening.

“Someone landed on the beach and allowed their dog to roam unattended, and it entered the shell patch under our fences and ran around near four of the tara iti nests where we have brand-new eggs on the ground,” he said.

“This kind of disturbance can cause our birds to abandon their nests. It seems to be getting more of an issue.”

Mehrtens said rangers were on site during the day to keep an eye on the protected area, but the offending was taking place in the evening.

When rangers followed the dog tracks they led back to the water’s edge and common landing sites for boats.

It seemed boaties, sea kayakers or even paddleboarders with dogs aboard were allowing their pets to run around on the beach and dunes, possibly to chase rabbits.

Mehrtens said only about 40 tara iti survived in the wild, so one careless dog owner could cause a huge setback to efforts by DoC, Auckland Zoo and local volunteers to help the species recover.

Tara iti made their nests in shelly parts of the beach along the east coast between Waipū and Pakiri, digging out shallow nests in the sand called “scrapes”.

Mangawhai was a critical nesting area for the birds and also where DoC had a nursery preparing tara iti fledglings for the wild.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A law advisor in human rights has lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman asking for an urgent investigation into the response to asbestos-contaminated play sand.

Sophie Bradwell-Pollak said there had been multiple failures which amounted to a human rights issue.

“Obviously there were initially products that were put on the recall list but as the weeks have gone on from November, more and more products have gone on the recall list.

“So I’m really starting to see a pattern that this is really widespread,” she told RNZ.

“And actually, we’re not taking a proactive enough approach given how problematic this is.

“This is in children’s products and it’s in sand that, you know, children were using to celebrate Diwali,” she said.

Bradwell-Pollak first complained to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on 4 December but had not had a substantial response.

She said she believed that lack of response meant it should proceed to the Ombudsman.

“The personal side of it is my son’s daycare has used the sand for Diwali and they took the initiative, even though the products that they used were not on the recall list, they took the initiative to get private testing, which was great,” she said.

“And actually, they tested three different batches, three different products, used at three different daycare centres within Auckland purchased in different places and they all came back with traces of asbestos.

“They’re still not on the recall list kind of three weeks later, and that for me is absolutely shocking,” Bradwell-Pollak said.

“I think that the fact that we haven’t just done a ban, recall, ban of sale and ban of import until we know there’s no contamination is absurd.”

Her complaint centred on the decision not to recall and ban the importation sale of all coloured sand.

It also focused on what she said was a lack of timely action and lack of a cohesive and robust approaching to mitigating potential harm.

“When it comes to children especially, there’s something called the precautionary principle,” she said.

“They should have taken the initiative to – in my eyes, and I think from a human rights perspective, if we look at the obligations to children especially, but also around health – they should have banned and recalled all the products until we know it’s safe.”

Another issue was the “passing the buck” of how the contamination has been dealt with, Bradwell-Pollak said.

“I think this is raising equity issues but even if we put all that aside, if the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and MBIE have been alerted and being given information that a product is contaminated, the fact that it’s still available in stores right now and it’s not on the recall list, I think is incredibly problematic,” she said.

“So I think that actually there’s kind of a layering of different places of failure here, but I think that actually the actions are just not swift enough.”

She said there had been nothing done to try to understand the exposure levels to children or keep records of who was exposed.

“The reality is we have a country that cares a lot about our border safety, we care a lot about our flora and fauna, we were very decisive when it came to action to close our borders for Covid-19 so the fact that we’re not doing enough to protect not only children, their families, their pets and the workers that are handling this and the ECE workers and the teachers is a huge failing all round, I would say.”

The government has a key obligation to protect the right to health and children’s rights, she said.

MBIE responds

MBIE told RNZ its response to Bradwell-Pollak was still being drafted.

“We apologise for any delay,” it said in a statement.

Its consumer protection spokesperson Ian Caplin said the ministry understood the potential presence of asbestos was concerning for parents and caregivers.

“The role of Consumer Protection, which is a business unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment as the coordinator of the government response has been to work with WorkSafe, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission,” he said.

“All businesses and individuals that make or sell products including retailers, online sellers, and manufacturers are responsible for product safety. Even products without specific mandatory standards still need to be safe for use and meet expectations under the Fair Trading Act 1986.”

The health, safety and wellbeing of New Zealand families was MBIE’s highest priority, Caplin said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are reminding people of the importance of personal locator beacons after three men endured a cold, wet night in a gorge.

Wellington District Search and Rescue coordinator Sergeant Jonathan Westrupp said the trio had planned to float down the Hutt River in the Kaitoke Regional Park.

They set out late on Monday, travelling down river on inner tubes wearing only light clothing.

They soon found themselves trapped in a gorge with impassable cliffs on both sides as darkness descended, and were initially without signal, police said.

Eventually, the men were able to get a “glimmer of cell phone reception”, and called for help at about 7.30pm.

Police coordinated a search and rescue operation as the weather worsened, Westrupp said.

“A New Zealand Defence Force NH90 helicopter was sent, but it couldn’t get to them due to low cloud and rain setting in.”

At about 3am Tuesday, Land Search and Rescue reached the men, and provided them with much-needed shelter clothing and food, he said.

“At first light, with the aid of Wellington Rafting, we were able to get them out of there.”

The men were grateful to see rescuers, but it was an uncomfortably close call, police said.

“They were on the verge of not being able to contact anyone.

“If they hadn’t managed to find a scrap of cell phone coverage in the gorge it could have been a very different Christmas for them and their families.”

It was a reminder that people heading off on adventures this summer needed to be prepared for any eventuality, Westrupp said.

“PLBs are cheap to hire, and they’re capable of saving your life, even when there’s no cell phone reception.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Homes in rural Hastings are being evacuated due to a scrub fire which has destroyed buildings.

Fire crews said they responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon which is located between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruroro River bridge on SH50.

Have you been impacted by the fire? Send photos to iwitness@rnz.co.nz

St John said one person has been taken to hospital in a serious condition, and another ambulance and a rapid response vehicle were at the scene on standby.

Fire and emergency crews had ordered some evacuations for residents living near the Farmhouse Lodge on the outskirts of Fernhill.

Everyone living around the lodge had been accounted for, a spokesperson said.

Hawke’s Bay Fire and Emergency said conditions are too windy for air operations, but five trucks, three tankers and support vehicles are working to contain the fire.

The fire is about 400 by 200m in size, they reported at 2.30pm.

People in the area should stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut to avoid smoke exposure.

Police said a section of SH50, Fernhill, had been closed and would remain so for some time due to smoke compromising visibility.

The public should avoid the area and take alternate routes or expect delays.

Meanwhile crews were also working on another scrub fire that’s threatening houses near Havelock North, but it was contained at this stage.

A fire and emergency spokesperson said the fire was threatening houses in Havelock North, but there were no formal evacuations at this stage.

However, nearby residents had been told to evacuate if they felt unsafe.

Hastings mayor Wendy Schollum said her heartfelt sympathy went to everyone impacted.

“It’s a really distressing time of year for our community to be facing something like this,” she said.

Schollum said the blaze emphasised the importance of adhering to fire bans, with record high temperatures last month, compounded by high winds.

“While we had a little bit of rain more recently, it’s not enough to make a meaningful difference,” she said.

“That complete fire ban is something we need our community to take seriously, and that includes things like fireworks too … if you’ve tucked some away from earlier in the year, please don’t set them off.”

Multiple fire restrictions are in place in Hawke’s Bay, with crews warning of high fire danger levels.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A little more than a 160 families’ Christmas Day became a little brighter this afternoon as they came to pick up Christmas hampers from the Christchurch Methodist Mission.

Each year the mission coordinates individuals, groups and workplaces who have volunteered to donate a Christmas hamper and connects them with those in need.

The Support a Family initiative has been operating for the last 17 years.

Christchurch Methodist Mission executive director Jill Hawkey said this year 127 groups donated goods for 164 hampers.

The hampers went to families who had been working with the Methodist Mission’s support services throughout the year, and Hawkey said their social workers Knew which families were most in need.

They had no trouble getting enough volunteers to donate items to the hampers, Hawkey said.

“We’ve got a great group of supporters.”

“They might be individuals, families, parishes, organisations. The Justice Department brought in a huge amount this morning. Spark has done a big collection for toys. So it’s a real community effort to make a difference for these families.”

The hampers were made up of Christmas food and a present for the children.

The donors were given a bit of non-identifying information about the families they were making a hamper for, including the age and interests of the children.

“Our supporter tells us it actually a lot of fun going out and buying something based on the information they get specifically for that child.”

One of those picking up a hamper was Jacqui Brunton.

The hamper would make a huge difference to Christmas Day for her family, and for the foster child currently in their care, she said.

The hamper would also be shared with the foster child’s family when she went to see them on Christmas Day.

“Its been a hard year for everyone, everyone is feeling it this year. But now I know that on Christmas day when we are getting catered to by other family members, we can also help out.”

Another of those picking up a hamper today was Andrew Fitzgerald with his two daughters, 12-year old Milie and seven-year-old Olivia.

The hamper would help ensure that Christmas was a special day for him and his girls, Fitzgerald said.

“It helps out big time. Means I don’t need to go and spend all my money for the extra stuff like a pavlova and that. It helps me out financially and means I can get more for the girls for Christmas.”

Fitzgerald said he hoped that one day he could be on the other side donating a hamper for others to help make their Christmas Day special.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Homes in rural Hastings are being evacuated due to a scrub fire which has destroyed buildings.

Fire crews said they responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon which is located between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruroro River bridge on SH50.

Have you been impacted by the fire? Send photos to iwitness@rnz.co.nz

The township has not been affected but the fire is close to some houses, crews said.

Fire and emergency crews had ordered some evacuations.

Everyone living around the lodge had been accounted for, a spokesperson said.

Hawke’s Bay Fire and Emergency said conditions are too windy for air operations, but five trucks, three tankers and support vehicles are working to contain the fire.

The fire is about 400 by 200m in size, they reported at 2.30pm.

People in the area should stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut to avoid smoke exposure.

Police said a section of SH50, Fernhill, had been closed and would remain so for some time due to smoke compromising visibility.

The public should avoid the area and take alternate routes or expect delays.

Meanwhile crews were also working on another scrub fire that’s threatening houses near Havelock North, but it was contained at this stage.

A fire and emergency spokesperson said the fire was threatening houses in Havelock North, but there were no formal evacuations at this stage.

However, nearby residents had been told to evacuate if they felt unsafe.

Multiple fire restrictions are in place in Hawke’s Bay, with crews warning of high fire danger levels.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have arrested four people of interest after a man’s death in Gisborne in September.

Bill Maangi, 36, died in hospital after he was shot in the early hours of 29 September at an Ormond Road address.

Four people aged between 25 and 37 were arrested, police said.

Police said they launched search warrants at multiple addresses in the Gisborne area earlier in December and a dive squad searched the Taruheru River.

The people will appear in Gisborne district in January on charges of aggravated robbery, and firearm and drug related matters.

“Nobody deserves this, and the investigation team remains committed to getting justice for Mr Maangi and his family,” Acting Detective Senior Sergeant John Love said.

“We urge anyone who knows what happened to Mr Maangi, or who has any information that could help, to please contact us.”

During the search warrants, police located and seized a number of items including firearms, which have been sent for forensic examination.

Police are not ruling out further charges for the people or arrests.

Information can be provided through 105, either online or over the phone, using reference Operation Bushman or the file number 250929/9035 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111, using the same reference or file number.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

General practice owners concerned about what they say is too much red tape, have been given the go-ahead to set up their own primary health organisation (PHO).

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has conditionally approved an application by the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro), to set up a nationwide breakaway PHO, called ‘”thePHO” – to be up-and-running by 1 July 2026.

PHOs are not-for-profit organisations, funded by Health NZ and are responsible for the delivery of primary care services, including general practices.

There are currently about 30 PHOs, made up of practices working together to care for the patients enrolled with them.

The approval of GenPro’s application follows the approvals for two big corporate general practice providers to set up their own PHO’s – Green Cross in November, and Tend in May.

GenPro said its members feared this would give the corporates a competitive advantage, and that they’d become increasingly concerned by what they saw as burgeoning PHO bureaucracy in recent years.

It promised to cut red tape and ensure more money for frontline care.

But General Practice New Zealand, which represents PHOs, says GPs already received 100 percent of per-person funding for their enrolled patients.

GenPro chair Dr Angus Chambers said he was pleased by the conditional approval, but that there were still aspects to negotiate with Health NZ – which had put in place requirements to be met by the end of March.

“It’s a very big job, I do think it’s possible, we’ve got a lot of expertise. But … there’s a challenge in it.”

The goal of thePHO was to direct more funding into the frontline rather than bureaucracy, and ensure money went to helpful and valued services, he said.

This would reduce upward pressure on patient costs and it didn’t necessarily mean job cuts, Chambers said.

“In the end, if practices are delivering services, there’ll be a need for practices to employ people to deliver those services.”

He said there had been uncertainty in recent years regarding the existence and future of PHOs, and GenPro could not wait for signalled policy direction from HNZ (a PHO strategy is expected in coming months).

Since the new PHO was announced, GenPro had received expressions of interest to join from 116 general practices representing more than 800,000 patients, he said.

“If all these practices proceed, the new PHO would become the largest in the country, covering around 16 percent of New Zealand’s total enrolled population.”

The new PHO would be organisationally independent of GenPro, Chambers said.

General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ) said it understood why GenPro was pushing for its own PHO, but maintained the establishment of new organisations – that saw practices switching PHOs – risked disrupting primary healthcare.

GPNZ chief executive Maura Thompson said PHOs were more than just “the bank” passing through Health NZ funds, and that many PHO-provided services such as diabetes, youth health, and marae clinics – in addition to general practice support services – flew under the radar.

“That might be business services, that might be data, it might be workforce, and these are essential to the functioning to the general practice and delivery of comprehensive services.

“I think that’s often not visible and maybe not fully appreciated by these new PHOs.”

The approval of three new PHOs this year was unusual, ahead of an expected Health NZ PHO strategy to be delivered by the end of March, she said.

“It’s a bit counter-intuitive, it’s ironic that these new nationally operating PHOs are established while we’re waiting on a direction on what a PHO looks like, which is a matter of three months away.

“These moves are far more likely to distract and destabilise than to improve care for patients.”

In a statement, Health NZ said the establishment of the PHO and impact on patient costs was yet to be understood, but it was committed to ensuring all communities had access to quality primary care.

ThePHO must meet a raft of requirements by the end of March before starting operations in July, including not-for-profit status, a strong governance framework, clinical leadership, and the ability to work with local health teams and provide urgent care, Health NZ said.

“It needs to submit flexible funding plans for each district, participate in collaborative planning, and ensure continuity of services, especially for mental health.”

Part of the measures, include the requirement that no patient facing services or staff were to be cut. ThePHO must also continue to fund health services provided by existing PHOs for at least 12 months.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The victim at the centre of a homicide investigation in Hamilton has been named by police as Jason Poa.

Police were called to a home in Lake Crescent at 6.15pm on December 18, where they found two people seriously injured.

Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said the man was 55-year-old Jason Poa, also known as Jason Tipene.

Poa died at the scene while a second person was taken to Waikato Hospital in serious condition.

Smith said the homicide investigation was ongoing and police were appealing for sightings of a Subaru Impreza hatchback, registration: KZH714.

Anyone who had seen the car or who had any other information was urged to make a report to police online at 105.police.govt.nz, and clicking “Update Report”, or by calling 105, using the reference number 251218/5897.

Anonymous reports could be made through Crime Stoppers, by calling 0800 555 111.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters are battling a blaze in Fernhill near Hastings.

Crews said they responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon which is located between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruroro River bridge on SH50.

The township has not been affected but the fire is close to some houses, crews said.

Hawke’s Bay Fire and Emergency said conditions are too windy for air operations, but five trucks, three tankers and support vehicles are working to contain the fire.

The fire is about 400 by 200m in size, they reported at 2.30pm.

A spokesperson said the fire was threatening houses in Havelock North, but there were no formal evacuations at this stage.

However, nearby residents had been told to evacuate if they felt unsafe.

People in the area should stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut to avoid smoke exposure.

Police said a section of SH50, Fernhill, had been closed and would remain so for some time due to smoke compromising visibility.

The public should avoid the area and take alternate routes or expect delays.

Multiple fire restrictions are in place in Hawke’s Bay, with crews warning of high fire danger levels.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

You’d hardly know it, given how often he appears in the media, but Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has done some serious air miles this year.

He’s visited 31 countries on 12 separate trips, racking up 85 days offshore and 182 political engagements.

Across the term, he’s been to 51 countries (78 if you count repeat visits) with a total of 201 days offshore and 511 political engagements.

“It’s been exhausting,” Peters chuckled in his Beehive office during a sit-down interview with RNZ before the summer break.

“We’ve been flat to the boards and we are very pleased to be going to Christmas, but it’s been absolutely exhausting.

“We’ve travelled mainly at night, during the parliamentary breaks or when Parliament’s not sitting and as a consequence I spent half a year offshore.”

Victoria University of Wellington’s centre for strategic studies director David Capie said Peters’ travel programme was “extraordinary”.

“It’s a travel schedule that’s befitting the scale of the challenges that New Zealand is facing and the disruption we’re seeing in the world at the moment.”

‘We’ve got to regain our mojo’

Peters has been highly critical of the former Labour government’s efforts in his portfolio and said he had to make up for lost time.

“One hates to say this but I inherited a totally neglected portfolio where the then-Minister didn’t want the job in the first place, didn’t want to travel in the second place and despite that, the then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern thought it was of so little significance she pushed her into that job.

“As a consequence, there were so many countries that have never seen us for all those three years and that’s why it’s been so hard for us.”

Capie said former Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta was in a “difficult spot” in that she also held the local government portfolio when Labour was pushing its Three Waters scheme.

“Those are two portfolios that are pretty difficult to keep in balance, plus you had the Covid-19 border closures,” Capie said.

“In hindsight, New Zealand stayed home too long at a time when lots of the rest of the world was already getting out and talking about its interests and building those new connections. We were probably slow out of the blocks.”

Peters said New Zealand was no longer living up to its reputation and had to work hard to get its “mojo” back.

“We have a good reputation but it’s not the reputation that we once had, where we were regarded as a world leader.

“People couldn’t understand how we were. They couldn’t understand how a country so far away from its markets, comprised of a population the size of Manchester, was billing a country the size of the UK.

“They were amazed by that. That’s where we were in the ’50s. So here we go. We’ve got to regain our mojo.”

‘The curiosity effect’

Easily the country’s most seasoned politician, Peters (80) said he lived by some advice he got a while ago: “Winston, don’t act your age”.

The minister’s demanding travel schedule would tire most people, but Peters’ energy, charisma and experience clearly buoy him along.

“One of the great things about having some experience or having age, may I put it, is the curiosity effect,” Peters said.

“They always are curious, particularly Pacific leaders who say, holy hell, Winston, you’re still going and they’re not saying it in a nasty way – but they were running around kindergarten when I was starting.

“These guys are serious guys in their governments nowadays and the Prime Minister Marape from Papua New Guinea is always going on about it.”

Peters believed his work in foreign affairs was now drawing votes domestically.

“I’m pleased in this context that for the first time ever, foreign affairs is bringing votes back in New Zealand.

“It’s never happened in the past, but all of a sudden, people started to realise this is a very tricky and difficult world, and foreign affairs is – for the first time in my whole career, which has spanned since the late 1970s – this is the first time I’ve seen it bring in votes, because people realise this is serious and we don’t need amateur hour here.”

South America in his sights

While Peters would kick into election campaign mode proper sometime next year, he wasn’t slowing down on the travel just yet.

He planned on visiting Kiribati early in the New Year, and South America in Q1 where trade progress had “stalled for three decades”.

“I’m going to do my best to help Todd McClay get things going,” he said.

Peters said he had worked closely with both Trade Minister Todd McClay and Defence Minister Judith Collins this term as all three portfolios complemented each other.

“We’ve tried to support the Minister of Trade to the maximum because we realise we’ve got to get this country’s trading relations in a far better, far more profitable state and that’s just hard work.”

Having pushed back against requests to cut his Ministry’s budget, Peters said every dollar spent in foreign affairs delivered dividends down the line.

“Those small economies that are doing magnificently well have done exactly that. They spent two and a half times on foreign affairs than we do.

“Ireland, Singapore and Croatia. Now Croatia’s got two and a half million people, two million less than us. They’ve got 86 posts. They know what they’re doing, where they’re going. There’s a lesson that’s for us, big time.”

Peters said foreign affairs would only grow more complicated and more important, so it was a portfolio that needed a lot of care and attention.

“We’re way out here in the South Pacific for goodness sake, we’re north of the penguins.

“Our isolation means we’ve got to go to it, flat to the boards, but there is some good news. I think there are exciting things happening… I think next year could be an exciting year, in foreign affairs and many other things.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters are battling a blaze in Fernhill near Hastings.

Crews said they responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon which is located between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruoro River bridge on SH50.

The township has not been affected but the fire is close to some houses, crews said.

Hawke’s Bay Fire and Emergency said conditions are too windy for air operations, but five trucks, three tankers and support vehicles are working to contain the fire.

The fire is about 400 by 200m in size, they reported at 2.30pm.

Multiple fire restrictions are in place in Hawke’s Bay, with crews warning of high fire danger levels.

More to come.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The owner of a cheese company whose discarded product was stolen from a Waikato landfill and resold is worried the situation will damage their reputation.

Police are investigating after previously dumped Over The Moon-branded cheese has reportedly been resold by two people in Putāruru at a local market and on Facebook Marketplace.

Over The Moon reported the issue to NZFS.

Over The Moon owner, Sue Arthur, says she was horrified to learn their discarded product was being resold.

“It was actually being sold out of a supermarket shopping trolley on the footpath by people who are not authorised to sell it.

“We’re a small business in rural New Zealand. It’s been tough trading this year. It’s just so disappointing and upsetting that all our hard work is being undermined by such illegal activity. The staff are absolutely devastated.

“I do worry it’s going to affect sales.”

Sue Arthur said the discarded cheese did not meet their internal quality standards, and there are no issues with their cheese sold by authorised retailers.

“The rest of our cheese is absolutely fantastic quality.

“The product in question didn’t look credible. We want to assure people that if they buy our products through their usual trusted retailers, they have no reason to be concerned whatsoever.”

NZFS is warning people to not eat affected cheese if found and to call 0800 00 83 33.

The affected cheeses have the batch numbers 18.11.25, 25.11.25 and 26.11.25. They include:

• Camembert
• OMG
• Black Truffle Brie
• Galactic Gold
• Halloumi
• Gee’s Spread (Black Truffle & Garlic Chilli flavours)
• Smoked Chilli Camembert
• Goat Camembert
• Double Delight

NZFS is not currently aware of any related illness.

‘Heartbreaking for them’ – Food Safety

Food Safety deputy director-general Vince Arbuckle said he had not seen anything like this happen before.

“This is very unusual. We have around 80 consumer recalls a year, where there is a product that needs to be securely disposed of. But it’s a very rare event that somehow, someone intervenes and secures it and tries to resell it.”

“In this case, Over the Moon Cheese did all the right things as far as we can see. They did a secure and appropriate disposal.

“This is a company that’s worked hard to build a brand. They’re an excellent company. It’s heartbreaking for them to see somebody misusing their products, so we really feel for that company.”

He did not know who owned the landfill and said police were investigating how the cheese was able to be taken.

“We will work with the appropriate authorities to see what can be done to stop this, and if there are any lessons learned that can be shared with other food businesses.”

He said Food Safety would be cracking down on illegal food sales, particularly on social media, in 2026.

“What we are seeing anecdotally is an increase in people preparing food from perhaps their home, and then selling that food on Facebook Marketplace or through local communities when they ought to be registered and therefore a part of a safety control system. We get information from councils suggesting that’s an increasing issue.

“The costs of registering and verification aren’t exorbitant and 99 percent of food businesses that consumers interact with are in the system.

“We’re still talking about a very small percentage, but it does expose consumers to risk if someone is outside the system, and we will want to focus on that more next year.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police say a teenager missing from the Avondale area has been found safe.

The 16-year-old was last seen at about 10pm on Sunday evening near Tiverton Road.

Police said she was found safe and well and thanked the public for their assistance.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Officers in Northland who pulled over a fake undercover police car – complete with flashing red and blue lights – found a lot more than they bargained for.

Senior Sergeant Clem Armstrong said the driver caught officers’ attention when he slipped into a police convoy outside Kawakawa Police Station last Thursday evening.

A quick check of the Commodore, which had police-style red and blue lights concealed in the grille, revealed the registered owner had been disqualified from driving.

The real police signalled the driver to pull over, arrested him and searched his car.

“During this search, we located a loaded firearm underneath the driver’s seat as well as a 3D-printed gun, a stash of ammunition and methamphetamine. It was quite the unexpected find,” Armstrong said.

“Our team is extremely pleased to be able to remove these items from our community and hold this offender to account.”

A 30-year-old man appeared in the Kaikohe District Court last Friday on charges including impersonating a police officer, unlawful possession of a restricted weapon, driving while disqualified and possession of methamphetamine.

He was due back in court on 20 January.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

St John crews who have endured the busiest winter months they’ve ever had are now gearing up for their busiest night.

New Year’s Eve, which last year had 570 incidents between 10pm and 6am, is fast approaching.

But before that is Christmas Day, on which there were 1500 last year across the whole day.

The two big days will come as paramedics are already dealing with physical and verbal abuse that has been rising each year.

“From our perspective, that is completely unacceptable,” St John general manager for ambulance operations Stu Cockburn said.

“We empower our staff, if they feel unsafe, to leave the scene and get away from the scene,” he said.

Cockburn said crews were already working long hours, rushing from one job to the next in hot conditions where there are large crowds or upset or intoxicated people.

“They’re just there to help people at their time of need and certainly the last thing they need is to be verbally or physically abused,” Cockburn said.

He said the same was true of other emergency services and hospital workers.

“Sadly, we’ve seen an increase year-on-year in violence and aggression towards our people, anything from physical, verbal threats and abuse to physical harm of our staff and damage to our vehicles and equipment,” he said.

St John said many of the incidents it had to respond to were preventable and involved alcohol, assaults and falls.

Demand for ambulance services was also going up each year, Cockburn said.

“So, yes, we’re already busy and these days are usually extra busy unfortunately.”

St John’s tips for a safe Christmas and New Year

• Keep ambulances free for life-threatening emergencies and consider alternatives like Healthline, online GP services, or visiting a local GP or pharmacy
• Have a great time but please be safe and be alert around water
• Ensure if you’re out in the sun that you’re using sunblock, wearing a hat and covering up
• If you’re preparing food, follow good food safety hygiene practices so you don’t end up with any food poisoning
• If you’re drinking, do so responsibly and drink other fluids and eat at the same time, and have a sober driver
• St John does not endorse taking drugs but it recommends using drug-checking services available at many festivals
• Be honest with ambulance teams if you have taken drugs.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are asking for the public’s help finding Larissa, who has been reported missing from the Avondale area in Auckland.

The 16-year-old was last seen at about 10pm on Sunday evening near Tiverton Road.

Larissa is described as about 175cm tall with brown eyes and blonde hair. She was wearing black shorts and a black singlet.

Police and Larissa’s family have concerns for her wellbeing and would like to bring her home.

“If you have seen Larissa or have information that might help us find her, please call 111 and quote reference number 251222/7046,” a police spokesperson said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Health New Zealand has announced three new cases of measles, with two in Auckland and one in Wellington.

It brings the total number of cases to 35 across the country.

One of the locations of interest linked to the new cases was Queensgate Mall in Lower Hutt on 5 and 11 December, but visitors there were considered casual rather than close contacts.

There were also several locations of interest between Canterbury and Queenstown, including the Chemist Warehouse in Riccarton, and the Fairlie Bakehouse and Mount Cook visitor centre.

A full list of locations of interest is available here.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Water safety experts are urging caution as a busy summer kicks off with surf lifeguards performing double the number of rescues compared to the same season last year.

Between Labour Weekend and the weekend before Christmas, surf lifeguards completed 127 more rescues than during the same timeframe in 2024.

Statistics are also up in other areas, with surf lifeguards performing 74 more assists, seven more major first aids, and eight more searches when compared with the same period in 2024.

Andy Kent, Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s general manager for lifesaving, said the increase reflected a combination of dangerous conditions and high early-season beach attendance, rather than a decline in public behaviour.

The extended periods of warmer-than-usual weather naturally drew more people to the water, while at the same time, conditions had seen dangerous rips and currents, particularly around sandbanks and channels, Kent said.

The statistics reinforced why early-season vigilance was so important, he said.

“Our lifeguards are responding quickly and professionally, often preventing situations from escalating into something far more serious. Every rescue represents someone who needed help, and in many cases, someone who may not have made it back to shore without intervention.

“Surf lifeguards continue to be actively engaging with beachgoers, taking proactive actions to move people out of danger, and manage risk before it turns into an emergency.”

With the increase in rescues, and approaching celebrations, Surf Life Saving urged the public to take simple steps to stay safe over the summer months, including swimming between the red and yellow flags and only when and where surf lifeguards were on patrol, checking conditions before entering the water, and never swimming alone.

While lifeguards were there to help, the safest rescue is “the one that never has to happen”, Kent said.

“Choosing patrolled beaches and listening to lifeguard advice can make all the difference.”

Beachgoers could use Safe Swim to check conditions and to confirm whether a beach was patrolled by surf lifeguards.

Coastguard New Zealand was also expecting a busy summer on the water and is urging all water users to prioritise safety during the holidays season.

Last summer was among the busiest on record for Coastguard volunteers, who responded to 1269 incidents, up nearly 3 percent on the post-Covid-19 average.

Major life-threatening incidents also rose by 26 percent compared to the previous summer.

On the water, things could go wrong very quickly, Coastguard New Zealand said.

In March, it rescued two elderly brothers from Lake Rotoiti who were attempting to tow a vessel that was taking on water, when their own boat was pulled under and plunged them into the cold lake within seconds.

The experienced boaties had no time to reach their lifejackets and spent more than an hour in the water, kept afloat only by a seat cushion and two bags before help arrived.

Coastguard chief executive Carl McOnie said there were simple measures water users could take to stay safe.

“Accidents can happen even when you’ve got the right gear and done the right planning. By always wearing a lifejacket, carrying two forms of waterproof communication, and making a trip report – especially when crossing a bar – you give our volunteers the best chance to reach you quickly and bring you home safely.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Motorists travelling on a major inland highway in the South Island are facing disruption following a two-vehicle crash.

Emergency services have been called to the Omarama-Lindis Pass Road, State Highway 8, near Omarama.

Police said there had been minor injuries.

The road was closed between between Short Cut Road and Omarama and motorists were told to expect delays.

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