Source: Radio New Zealand

A hearing challenging extensive restrictions that prevents the media from publishing certain details related to the investigation into Tom Phillips is under way.

Phillips died following a shootout with police after they were called to reports of a burglary in the early hours of 8 September.

On 8 September lawyer Linda Clark, acting for Tom Phillips’ mother, went to the High Court in Wellington seeking an urgent injunction.

The injunction – which prevented media, police and Oranga Tamariki from publishing certain details related to the case – was granted by Justice Helen Cull.

A further hearing was held in the Hamilton High Court on Monday.

Media are only permitted to report the fact of the hearing, which continues on Tuesday, and the fact that it involves challenges to existing reporting restrictions including those ordered by the Family Court.

Last week, the government announced an inquiry into the handling of the case by authorities and whether all “practicable steps” were taken to ensure the safety and welfare of the Phillips children.

Attorney-General Judith Collins said the decision to establish a public inquiry “reflects the significant public interest and concern for the children’s welfare over the almost four years they were missing”.

“It is important that we establish the facts and determine whether agencies could take steps to prevent, or resolve similar situations more quickly and effectively in the future,” Collins said.

The terms of reference had been developed with the privacy and welfare of the children in mind. The inquiry would therefore be conducted in private and without public hearings.

A spokesperson for the Phillips family released a statement to RNZ.

“We welcome any inquiry that helps ensure this never happens to another family ever again.”

Collins said the inquiry must also respect the independence of the courts and would not include findings on judicial decisions.

Police have also welcomed the announcement of the inquiry, saying they “recognise the significant public interest in this matter and the decision that a robust and independent review is required”.

The Honourable Justice Simon Moore, KC, has been appointed as the sole member of the inquiry, with a final report and recommendations to be delivered by 21 July 2026.

Family court injunction

A second injunction was granted in the Family Court in Hamilton on 15 September.

A redacted version of Judge Garry Collin’s judgement was earlier released to RNZ.

Judge Collin said there was a “great deal of public interest in the Phillips’ children”, which he said was reflected in media reports and posts on social media.

“It is not in their short or long-term welfare that their experiences are subject to public curiosity or scrutiny.

“They should not be the subject of speculation, nor is it in their welfare and best interests that any information is released.”

He said the media and “public appetite” must be subject to the children’s right to privacy, their protection as vulnerable young victims, and their ability to integrate back into society “without everyone knowing their story”.

“Their views, and rights to participate in the making of decisions about what is written and said about them, needs to be respected. The children need to be able to do this in private, and in their own time.”

Judge Collin said the court was the “guardian of the children”, and had responsibilities “akin to those of a parent”.

“A responsible parent would resist the publication of private sensitive information unless for good reason they considered it to be advantageous.

“In the modern age, information does not disappear with time. What is published may never be removed and may follow these children throughout their lives.”

He said without the children, “there would have been no more than a passing interest in Mr Phillips”.

“This story is not about Mr Phillips but about his children. They were young children when they went in and were young children when they came out. Currently no child in New Zealand is likely to be more vulnerable than they are.”

He understood no-one in the family consented to any further information about the children being published.

Judge Collin said although there may be jurisdictional issues which were better resolved by the High Court, he made interim injunction orders.

He said there may be an issue as to whether he could grant an injunction when the High Court had already done so, or make a restraining order “on more restrictive terms” than made by the High Court.

“These are not issues I intend to deal with today because I do not have the time, and they are in my view, more rightly determined by the High Court.

“Consequently, I intend to make wide ranging restrictions on publication and leave it to the High Court to resolve any jurisdictional issues that exist when the proceedings are next called, or by way of judicial review.”

He made several orders, including an appointment of the court as the guardian of the children to remain, and an interim injunction.

The injunction included restraining anyone from the publication of any documentary, film, or book that referred to the children.

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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 boat has been seen fishing in a marine reserve off the coast of the Abel Tasman National Park as newly released data shows similar offences spike during summer.

The two reserves in Tasman Bay featuring prominently in the data on marine reserve rule breaches.

Motueka-based Department of Conservation (DOC) marine ranger Stew Robertson said a boat was seen off the Abel Tasman coastline on 16 November inside the Tonga Island Marine Reserve.

A member of the public alerted DOC to the black 6.5 metre Stabicraft, with a distinctive blue trim, whose occupants were seen catching fish about 12.45pm.

A 14-metre white launch was also seen anchored in the Horoirangi Marine Reserve, near Nelson on 5 November.

It was detected on a recently installed camera which monitors the marine reserve, anchored for 90 minutes, which Robertson said was unusual and suspicious boating activity in this particular reserve.

Fishing is banned in marine reserves. Taking and damaging marine life, removing natural materials, polluting and feeding fish are also prohibited.

Roberston has urged for the skipper of either vessel to make contact, or for anyone who saw them in the marine reserve to get in touch with DOC. Information can be provided anonymously and is treated confidentially.

He said there were now more people keeping an eye on the two marine reserves, through the launch of a new Coastwatch group comprising staff from several central and local government agencies and local residents.

Anyone who sees or suspects illegal activity in a marine reserve should call 0800 DOC HOT. Information valuable to DOC includes details of any fishers on land, or any boat involved, descriptions of those aboard, where and when it was seen – and the nature of the alleged activity. Any information offered by the public is valuable, including photographs and videos.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A 19-year-old Canadian man has been arrested after Customs officers found 15.17 kilograms of methamphetamine in his luggage at Auckland Airport on Sunday.

Customs said the man was identified as a ‘risk passenger’ during its standard pre-arrival screening. Upon arrival from Vancouver, he was taken questioning and a baggage check.

Fifteen vacuum-sealed packages containing a crystal-like substance, which tested positive for meth, were found hidden among clothing in his suitcase.

Customs estimated the potential retail value of the meth was $4.55 million.

The man appeared at Manukau District Court on Monday morning, charged with importing a Class A Controlled drug.

Auckland Airport acting customs manager Ben Wells said customs had robust processes in place to catch drug couriers.

“Customs uses several tools including intelligence and passenger targeting through data and the use of sophisticated technology to identify high-risk passengers such as this individual. Further questioning and a search by front-line officers at the airport clearly indicated that something was not right.

“As we head into the summer season, with higher traveller volumes, every intercept customs officers make further feeds our intelligence and targeting mechanisms to help ensure that only legitimate travellers can pass through, closing the door on opportunities for criminal behaviour.”

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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 national voice for local councils is relieved that the government is taking a more flexible approach to capping the amount local councils can increase rates.

The government announced on Monday that its long-awaited rates cap law would be a variable target band.

From 2027, councils would not be able to increase rates beyond the upper end of the government’s set range without permission.

The cap was expected to start with a maximum increase of four percent.

Local Government interim chief executive Scott Necklen said it was somewhat reassuring that the government had chosen a more flexible rates model.

But he wanted assurance that the policy would not affect local councils’ ability to invest in core services like roads, bridges and public transport.

“We need a common-sense, fast-track process for exemptions that enables investment in key infrastructure in economic growth in the regions, or when responding to natural disasters.”

Local Government vice president and Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said keeping rates low was a priority for all local councils.

But she said several councils, including the Gisborne District were rebuilding infrastructure after multiple severe weather events.

“Our community’s expectation is also that we deliver the critical infrastructure and services they rely on in a timely way.

“These are the sorts of considerations we will be working with the government to implement.”

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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

Two former police houses were unexpectedly taken from a Shannon property after a miscommunication involving government departments.

Ngāti Whakatere, the local iwi, had offered to fix up the old homes as part of a land banking application in a Treaty claim.

Instead, without warning in May this year, the houses were trucked off the land.

Te Meera Hyde, who had applied on behalf of the iwi to land bank the properties, said he only learned they were being removed by chance when a visitor dropped by his house.

“I’m like, you’re joking. And yeah, I just jumped in my car, come straight up here (to) have a look.”

It started with ‘pene raupatu’

The story dates back to 1865, when the land the houses would later be built on was lost to iwi by “pene raupatu” – confiscation by pen.

Under the Native Land Act, the whenua was carved up into small parcels held by just one or two owners, undermining Ngati Whakatere’s collective rights.

Years later, the Manawatu Wellington Railway Company took over the land. The company acted like “speculators for the government,” says Hyde.

“That’s how that land was initially moved from Māori ownership to European ownership.”

Part of the block was later acquired under the Public Works Act and two police homes were built in 1989.

But in 2016 it was decided the town didn’t need a full-time police officer anymore and the homes were vacated. The empty houses fell into disrepair.

Divesting the properties proved a long process, but in July 2024, they were finally listed by the office for Māori Crown Relations Te Arawhiti, (now Te Tari Whakatau) as surplus land and invited Ngāti Whakatere to register their interest in land banking the properties.

In October 2024, Hyde did just that, applying to have the whenua returned to Ngāti Whakatere.

“As part of the application I suggested that our iwi would be prepared to help bring [the houses] up to spec and that they would be made liveable. That was in my application, and you can read all of that, it’s all clear,” Hyde says.

But then in May this year, Hyde rushed to the site after hearing of the house removals. One was already gone and the other was being prepared for relocation.

Hyde says a workman told him they were surplus government houses for demolition.

“He said to me that there’s a crowd of people who are house movers that they regularly have contact with and they said then that they have a list of prospective buyers. So they told me they were on-selling them to this other crowd.”

Precisely what happened next isn’t clear.

The more damaged of the two homes now sits down the road in Shannon township. A local house mover on site told Mata Reports he acquired both houses from the demolition company. He said: “The other one is sitting in our yard… I’ve got a block of land over in Pahiatua that that one might end up on.”

Mata Reports asked how much a house like this would cost. The response was: “Ah, this one was about 60 or 70 grand I think.” He had bought them from a demolition company which had ended up shifting and selling them.

The demolition company says no money changed hands between them and the removal company.

None of the companies involved have acted improperly. But it does raise the question: how did houses that should have been land banked for a Treaty claim end up being onsold at the taxpayer’s expense?

A costly ‘misunderstanding’

Police told Mata Reports it paid around $138,000 for the houses to be demolished. The process involved at least four different companies – the demolition company says it received only a portion of that amount. Saving the houses from landfill reduced overall costs, the company says.

It appears police only became aware of the houses being on sold instead of demolished after the iwi and locals began asking questions.

Police director of property and fleet, Brian Yanko, says it was a complete surprise that the houses had ended up being sold to private owners.

Police were under “time pressure” with it being the end of the financial year and neighbours had been complaining about the properties being in a state of disrepair and vandalised, Yanko says.

A police report into the divesting of the houses blamed “a communication misunderstanding, Police did not appreciate that there was iwi interest in the property.”

Yanko acknowledges Police made a mistake and he takes personal responsibility for it.

Te Tari Whakatau declined to be interviewed but in a written statement said it gave advice to the Police’s property agent about the process that needed to be followed due to the land banking applications.

“We also asked that they notify us if they decided to remove the houses, so we could let the applicant know before any work commenced. Ultimately, we did not proactively inform the applicant that the houses were being removed, because we were unaware of this ourselves.”

Whatever the cause of the misunderstanding, many in Shannon are upset that two state houses that could have housed whanau wound up sold off.

Community disappointment

The whole saga has angered Sharon Williams, the community navigator for Hapai Te Hapori. In 2021, Williams called for the houses to be restored and rented out because there was and is a shortage of housing in Shannon.

“We’re not happy at what’s happened. We’re not happy about the way that the Iwi have been treated, especially in the process,” Williams says.

“We need housing here in Shannon. We need available housing. We need affordable housing. And we the iwi to be respected and due process to be followed”.

Te Meera Hyde says they have since received an apology from Te Tari Whakatau.

“We apologise to you for what has occurred. The site has now been cleared and the bare land will be considered for land banking in June.”

A decision about Ngati Whakatere’s land banking application is expected soon, and Hyde is still optimistic for the future.

“We’re always hopeful, we’re always looking for tino rangatiratanga, put it that way,” he says.

“We know who we are, we know where we are and we have whanau that know where we should be going. Prosperity, tino rangatiratanga, kotahitanga”

Hundreds of empty state-owned houses

A survey of agencies by Mata Reports found there are hundreds of state-owned houses sitting empty, in addition to those owned by Kāinga Ora. Of the agencies contacted, at least 400 vacant houses in state ownership were reported, even as families wait for homes.

• Land Information New Zealand has 175 vacant houses and 24 earmarked for demolition.
• Ministry of Education has 89 vacant homes.
• Police has 52 vacant houses.
• Corrections has 5 vacant homes.
• Oranga Tamariki has 6 empty homes with 1 set for demolition.
• Fire and Emergency has 4 empty homes.
• MBIE has 7 portable and 29 cabins sitting idle, held for Civil Defence emergencies.

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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 damage caused by the storm that swept through Invercargill in October has cost the local council about $2.4 million, but it expects much of that cost will not be able to be recovered through insurance.

A local state of emergency was declared when gales caused widespread damage and thousands of power outages in October, downing trees, power lines and tearing roofs off buildings.

The Invercargill City Council reviewed the initial financial impacts report at a recent meeting, saying it was focused on the recovery efforts in the wake of significant damage.

In a report tabled at the meeting, the council said it was working with insurance assessors to confirm how much coverage it had.

Council chief executive Michael Day said the current cost estimates were expected to change once more assessments were completed and the sale of timber was finalised.

“The amount of damage inflicted on some of our facilities and infrastructure was significant and, unfortunately, completely outside of our control,” he said.

“We know how important these spaces are for our community, and it’s critical that we undertake substantial repair efforts to get Invercargill and Bluff back to normal.

“The costs associated with undertaking this work are unavoidable, as we need to ensure our community’s safety is prioritised.”

The council expected much of the cost would not be recoverable from insurance so it would likely to debt-fund the shortfall through a five-year loan, Day said.

The city’s 150-odd parks and reserves had been hit hard with an estimated $930,538 price tag that did not include the cost of tree replanting, he said.

Close to $300,000 needed to repair damage to street lights and traffic signals with a further $294,687 earmarked to damaged roofs and windows at council-owned buildings including Splash Palace.

“These facilities are a real lifeline for many people in our community, so we are working as hard and as fast as we can to carry out the repairs they need,” Day said.

Between the 23 October, when the wind struck, and 7 November, when the state of emergency was lifted, council employees had tallied up 525 hours of work at Emergency Management Southland.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s only the first day of summer but already a code brown is casting an unwanted shadow over Auckland’s beaches.

Sewage overflows from thunderstorms over the weekend have impacted water quality at beaches across the central city, with swimmers being warned to stay out of the Waitematā – or risk a nasty bug.

At Auckland’s Herne Bay Beach, friends Chris and Lauren were making the most of their day off.

But danger lurked under the surface. The beach was one of 13 to be marked black by Auckland Council on Monday, denoting a wastewater overflow.

Dozens more were marked red, meaning poor water quality.

Chris was relieved they hadn’t been swimming.

“[We] just wanted to enjoy the sun at the beach on our day off,” she said.

“I had no idea. I think I’m not going to swim right now, actually. I think we’re going to have to maybe drive further down to be able to swim in the sea.”

Lauren said she preferred to keep her distance from faeces, but she had seen a lot worse.

“I have very sensitive skin, especially with like folliculitis and like skin irritations, so water quality is important to me,” she said.

“I did yoga training in Bali and there was literal trash and like faecal matter in the water and I wouldn’t want to do that again. Wouldn’t recommend it.”

Thunderstorms over the weekend had filled Auckland’s wastewater infrastructure to the brim and spilled out into the harbour.

Victoria University freshwater ecologist Dr Mike Joy told Midday Report the warming climate would cause more frequent spills over time.

“You’ve got climate change, which means warmer temperatures, which means more growth of, you know, dangerous bacteria, but also more extremes in weather,” he said.

“So we get these flooding events and high rainfall events.”

He said the ageing wastewater infrastructure across New Zealand couldn’t handle the volume.

“Huge amounts of water that shouldn’t be in a sewage system that gets in through, you know, old broken infrastructure plus illegal connections, meaning massive flows, you know, additional flows coming into wastewater treatment plants and they just can’t handle it,” he said.

“They don’t have storage. They open the gates and let it out.”

At Sentinel Beach in Herne Bay, beachgoer Michael wished he could just go for a swim without ending up waist deep in waste.

“Yeah, I think that’s pretty bad… It would be nice to be able to like come down here, have a swim and know it’s safe without checking,” he said.

Auckland Council’s SafeSwim technical lead Dr Martin Neale said swimmers risked catching a nasty bacterial infection.

“The source of the contamination is pathogens in the water. So, that’s the risk you’re exposing yourself to,” he said.

“Generally, those will manifest as either respiratory or tummy upsets. But sometimes if you have a cut or something like that, it can infect the cut.”

He warned of similar interruptions throughout the rest of summer.

“During summer is when we get these sort of intense thunderstorm situations like we had yesterday, there was thunderstorm warnings out and we’ll see them in summer,” Neale said.

“We don’t know how many, but when those things do happen, we would encourage people to check out SafeSwim.”

Neale expected the contaminated waters to clear over the following two days.

In a statement, Watercare noted that it was already investing in upgrading wastewater infrastructure to reduce spills.

“We are investing $8 billion in new and upgraded wastewater infrastructure in the next decade, which includes $4.8b specifically in wastewater networks to reduce overflows,” head of wastewater Jon Piggot said.

“For Herne Bay and St Marys Bay, the real results will come around 2028 when we finish the Herne Bay Collector tunnel.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An urgent legal injunction has been filed to stop the incoming ban on new prescriptions of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria.

Cabinet agreed last month to the new settings until a major clinical trial in the United Kingdom ends in 2031.

The drugs – known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues – would remain available for people already using them.

The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) said it had today filed an application for an urgent injunction to prevent the ban coming into effect on 19 December.

A spokesperson for Health Minister Simeon Brown said as the matter was now before the courts, “it would not be appropriate to comment”.

RNZ has also approached the Health Ministry for comment.

The move has been highly controversial, with a number of clinical groups criticising the government decision.

PATHA said it was asking for an urgent judicial review on the grounds that the incoming regulation was “illegal and unethical”.

President Jennifer Shields said the regulations were being enacted “based on politics, not on clinical evidence or best-practice decision making”.

“We won’t let transgender children in Aotearoa be subjected to harm just to ‘win a war on woke’.

“We’re taking this to court because we know what’s right, and we believe the law is on our side.”

Dr Rona Carroll – a GP specialist in gender affirming healthcare – said there was no evidence to justify this “extreme regulation”.

“Only a small number of young people in Aotearoa are prescribed reversible pubertal suppression, but for those who need it the negative impacts of this regulation will be huge. Politicians are ignoring the advice of health professionals, and are not acting in the best interests of children and young people who have a right to access healthcare free from discrimination.”

The coalition government’s move follows a major shift in Britain following the Cass Review – a four-year investigation commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS).

That review, spearheaded by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, found there was “not enough evidence to support their safety or clinical effectiveness”, and there were unanswered questions on their long-term impact on brain development and bone development.

In response, the NHS stopped routine access to puberty blockers for new patients. Other countries – including Sweden, Finland and Norway – had already tightened access and guidelines.

The Cass Review split opinion among clinicians and academics world-wide. While some endorsed the call of higher evidence standards, others criticised the report’s methodology and warned it downplayed the risk of denying treatment to young people.

New Zealand’s Health Ministry last year also released a report finding “a lack of high-quality evidence” on the benefits or risks of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria.

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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 have freed the driver of a logging truck who was trapped after a crash north of Balclutha.

Police said the crash occurred on Coe Road just after 11am on Monday.

Fire and Emergency said specialist equipment was used to free the driver shortly before 2pm

He has been flown to Dunedin Hospital in a serious condition.

Coe Road was closed between Paterson Road and Hillend Road.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Several burial plaques of First and Second World War soldiers have been stolen from grave sites in Invercargill.

Police said they are investigating the thefts from grave sites at St Johns Cemetery between 28 October and 22 November.

“Several of the stolen plaques were taken from the graves of Returned Service personnel who served in the First and Second World Wars, making this a particularly distressing crime for families and the wider community,” Acting Inspector Mel Robertson said.

Anyone with information on the stolen plaques are urged to contact the police via 105 and quote event number 251125/6603. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch school says it has been provided with contaminated school lunches in a significant health and safety breach.

Haeata Community Campus, which covers from Year 1 to 13, has put up a post on Facebook saying they have recalled all of the lunches due to the contamination, but some had already been eaten by students.

It is asking parents to watch for symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting and diarrhoea, and says more serious symptoms could include bloody diarrhoea, fevers and dehydration.

The Facebook post said the school will be complaining to the provider.

The school has been approached for comment.

More to come…

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A person has died after a car crashed into a tree and caught on fire.

Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 5 near Tapapa, Waikato at 10.45am on Monday.

Police said a car had collided with a tree between Harwoods Road and Tapapa Road.

The car caught on fire after the crash and the fire is reported to have spread to nearby vegetation, a police spokesperson said.

They said one person died in the crash.

The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit examines the scene.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and should take alternative routes where possible.

Trucks and heavy vehicles heading north between Rotorua and Tīrau will not be able to go past the intersection of Harwoods Road and State Highway 5, and a diversion has been put in place.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Minister for Pharmac says the departure of its former chief executive – which appears to have come with a $357,000 payout – was “very well managed” by the board.

Sarah Fitt resigned from the drug-buying agency in February after years of controversy over what has been called a culture of contempt and a fortress mentality.

She had been in the role since 2018 and faced criticism over interactions with and about a journalist.

When the agency came under criticism over changes to hormone replacement therapy patches in 2024, Pharmac’s board chair Paula Bennett and Associate Health Minister David Seymour – who has responsibility for Pharmac – refused to express confidence in Fitt.

Labour’s Ayesha Verrall at the Health select committee on Monday afternoon questioned Bennett about the $357,000 payout to a single employee, asking if it was made to Fitt.

Bennett acknowledged the payment was made under an employment contract, noting she has not notified Seymour of the figure.

“I don’t think I ever gave the minister a number, it’s confidential and it’s what’s to be expected in negotiations for… cessation payment for someone leaving,” she said.

“The truth is we were in negotiations as you would with someone exiting. They had an employment agreement, we negotiated that, we did everything within our powers to actually do the best for New Zealanders and New Zealand taxpayers but that was the terms of the agreement that I inherited and that’s – that’s what it is.”

Verrall responded that it was “well beyond the norm in the public sector”.

Seymour had appeared to confirm the assumption that the payment was made to Fitt was correct, saying Pharmac was a $2b a year operation for buying medicines for New Zealanders.

“Having the right leadership at the head is absolutely critical and I think the board’s managed it very well,” he said.

Verrall questioned whether it was a good use of taxpayer funds, considering the exit payment amounted to at least eight months salary for the highest-paid individual at Pharmac in that time.

“Well, you know, my views about employment law are on record and fairly expansive but we are bound by the laws of this country and we have done everything that we need to under them.”

Verrall asked if the matter had been “bungled”, but Seymour said he wasn’t involved and “as far as I’m concerned the board has operated very effectively in challenging circumstances”.

He pointed to having brought Malcolm Mulholland, a senior researcher and cancer patient advocate, on board as the chair of Pharmac’s advocacy committee after Mulholland previously protested against the agency’s decisions.

When Fitt resigned in February, Seymour thanked her, saying he was impressed by her commitment to Pharmac on its core role of expanding opportunities and access for patients.

Verrall had earlier asked about why a review into Pharmac’s culture had not been released in full.

Bennett said the report looked into “staffing issues”, and the advice the board received was that releasing the executive summary was enough.

She said a series of meetings and patient workshops had been run face-to-face and efforts were made to “genuinely not run it the Pharmac way, actually run it their way”.

“There was such a divide … I felt for us to do that we had to look eye to eye, we had to take the honesty and the bluntness of some of the hurt that had gone on.”

Bennett said she was present to “be the buffer if needed”.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Police Dive Squad is searching the water near Cape Reinga for a fisherman swept from rocks at Tapotupotu Bay.

The man was fishing at the remote location with friends when he was washed into the sea around 3pm on 23 November.

Police, Search and Rescue, Coastguard Air Patrol, Customs, Surf Lifesaving and the Northern Rescue Helicopter were all involved in the initial search.

It’s understood high winds in recent days have hampered the search but conditions at the Cape on Monday are fine with light seas.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A man who was taken to hospital with fractured ribs and bruised lungs was left paraplegic after a chest drain was inserted incorrectly.

The man had been admitted to Auckland City Hospital following a car crash in 2022 where, four days into his stay, he was assessed as having a build-up of fluid between the tissue lining his lungs and chest and would require surgery.

Health NZ’s Chest Drain Management policy stated, unless in an emergency, all chest drains for fluid aspiration should be guided by real-time radiology imaging.

However, said the request for real-time radiology imaging was not accommodated by the Interventional Radiology team, for reasons Health NZ were unable to determine, according to a Health and Disability Commission (HDC) report released on Monday.

A chest ultrasound was scheduled to indicate where the drain should be inserted, but the patient was in pain and could not be moved for the scan, the report said.

A different technique was used, that was deemed to be less painful and invasive.

Two attempts were made by a registrar to insert the chest drain using the different technique, before other doctors took over.

Dark, old-looking blood was drawn from the patient, and he began to sweat. His condition deteriorated and a code red was issued, the report said.

“The code red response was described in the [Serious Adverse Event Review] as chaotic, noisy, and without a clear code leader or any detailed communication or indication of the volume of blood that [the patient] had lost.”

“Sadly, as a result of hypovolemic shock and cardiac arrest, [the patient] developed ischaemic bowel and spinal cord injury, which resulted in paraplegia from the level of the T9 vertebrae, and suspected mild hypoxic brain injury,” the report said.

The investigation by the HDC revealed the chest drain was inserted incorrectly, which led to a hepatic vein injury and massive bleeding.

Other issues had arisen from the resuscitation efforts, it said.

“…the procedure room was cluttered, and there was a lack of code leader to determine when a code red and subsequent code blue was required.”

“In addition, the communication among the staff present was poor, and the equipment required for a code red and/or code blue was not readily available as it should have been.”

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Dr Vanessa Caldwell recommended Health NZ’s chest drain policy be updated, encompassing environmental safety, training and education requirements, as well as technical guidelines, and oversight of relationships.

She wanted a copy of the updated policy within six months of the report.

Caldwell also recommended the senior clinician who made the decision to perform the procedure without real-time radiology, write an apology to the patient.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An Auckland teenager has been missing for more than two weeks.

Police are now asking for the public’s help in finding her.

Metallica, 13, was reported missing from the Manurewa area, in South Auckland but is known to often visit the Wellsford area.

She’s described as about 160cms tall with long black hair.

Police are asking anyone who knows where she is or with information to call 111 and quote reference number 251114/0125.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Members of the public yelled abuse at a Lower Hutt man as he appeared in the dock on charges of intentionally hurting a baby.

The 30-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges when he appeared in Hutt Valley District Court on Monday.

Police responded to a callout for disorder in the suburb of Avalon on Thursday morning.

The 30-year-old was arrested and charged after unexplained injuries were found on the child, who was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

It is at least the fourth serious child abuse case in the Hutt Valley in recent months.

Today, two women were removed from court by security after yelling insults and threats at the accused at the beginning of proceedings.

The man has been remanded in custody until his next appearance on 22 December.

Police earlier said they would like to speak with anyone who may have more information.

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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 man charged with four counts of intentionally injuring a baby in Lower Hutt is pleading not guilty to all charges.

It is at least the fourth serious child abuse case in the Hutt Valley in recent months.

Police responded to a callout for disorder in the suburb of Avalon on Thursday morning.

The 30-year-old was arrested and charged after unexplained injuries were found on the child, who was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Police said at the time they would like to speak with anyone who may have more information.

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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 working to free the driver of a logging truck who is trapped after a crash north of Balclutha.

Police said the crash occurred on Coe Road just after 11am on Monday.

The driver is reported to be seriously injured.

Fire and Emergency said firefighters are working with specialist equipment to rescue the driver.

An ambulance and helicopter are also at the scene.

Coe Road is currently closed between Paterson Road and Hillend Road.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Young people are sleeping on the streets and in cars as a youth homelessness support service says the problem is getting worse.

Auckland-based Kick Back has released its first State of the Street report, which it says is an SOS to the government and community at large.

“And what we’ve observed is children couch-surfing, sleeping in and out of transitional housing or hostels, moving around constantly,” general manager Aaron Hendry said.

The report comes up with hard figures, the first Kick Back has been able to show in a report like this.

It revealed 22 percent of young people were sleeping rough when they first sought support.

Couch-surfers made up 22 percent, 12 percent were sleeping in cars while 27 percent were living in housing classed as unstable, overcrowded or insecure.

The report said 62 percent of young people turning to the organisation for help were under 19 years old.

Sixteen and 17 year olds made up 20 percent, and 17 percent were aged 15 or under.

The latter figure had shocked Hendry.

“It is not something that we expected to see as large as we did,” he said.

“We knew that there would be a significant portion there but it was much larger than we’d first anticipated.”

He said there were no resources to help children who were sleeping on couches, in cars or in the likes of transitional housing or lodges and hostels.

“And I guess this has also been an outcome, in our view, of the cuts that have happened within the public sector and the community sector is that our feeling is that there has been less capacity within the community to respond at the pace that these children require to ensure their safety and to ensure that they get the support that they need,” Hendry said.

“Kick Back is extremely concerned about the growing number of tamariki and rangatahi coming through our front doors ever week,” he said.

He said it is a crisis, and one that is growing.

What Kick Back’s report says needs to happen:

• Roll back emergency housing reforms and invest in immediate housing solutions
• Implement Duty to Assist Legislation to clarify the states obligation to provide essential support to people at-risk of homelessness
• Implement legislation to prevent young people being transitioned from state care into homelessness
• Review the Youth Services contract and ensure providers are equipped to provide intensive supports to rangatahi on the Youth Payment
• Build more public housing

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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• Widespread rain and possible thunderstorms for the North Island Tuesday and Wednesday
• Strong winds possible for upper North Island mid-week
• Humid air ahead of a low, followed by a cooler southerly change
• Improving weather for most areas on Thursday

The start of December might mark the beginning of summer but the upcoming week is not all sunshine and clear, blue skies.

MetService reports a broad range of weather including heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and sunny spells to finish the week off.

The North Island is in for a warm and humid start, while the south will see cooler temperatures throughout.

The week is set to start with comparatively settled conditions, some cloud and showers for western areas, with sunny spells elsewhere.

Gisborne and Hastings are making the most of their sunny start to the summer season, with temperatures expected to top out at 29 and 31 degrees respectively on Monday.

On Tuesday a low is expected to develop in the Tasman Sea and move toward the country through Tuesday evening.

MetService forecast for Wednesday December 3.

This will bring a period of unsettled weather for many regions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and into early Thursday, with heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms likely across the North Island.

“That low deepens rapidly and pulls a warm moist sub-tropical airmass across the county during Tuesday afternoon and evening,” MetService Meteorologist Devlin Lynden said.

“It’ll bring widespread rain, strong southwesterly winds and the risk of thunderstorms for many parts of the North Island, including Northland, Auckland and Coromandel.”

While the North Island may be in for the brunt of it, the South Island gets its share of rainy weather too.

A trough is expected to bring rain through Monday night and Tuesday, followed by cool southwesterlies.

The upper parts of the South Island may also see a period of heavier rain on Wednesday associated with the low to the north.

The low gradually moves off to the southeast on Wednesday night, and conditions will ease behind it, before starting to clear through Thursday morning, with many places seeing drier weather and some sunshine return.

However, strong to gale southwesterly winds will persist, particularly for Wellington, Wairarapa, Northland and Auckland; they will keep the temperatures capped towards the end of the week.

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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 formally identified the body of 25-year-old Te Anihana Pomana.

Pomana went missing on August 21 after leaving SkyCity Hotel in the early hours of the morning.

Last week, police announced a body they believed to be Pomana was found in dense bush in the Pukekohe area.

Police are now able to confirm the body was Pomana and her death has been referred to the coroner.

“As always, our thoughts and sympathies are with Te Anihana’s whanau and friends at this difficult time,” Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A motorcyclist has been hospitalised after crashing while fleeing Police on Taita Drive, in Lower Hutt last night.

Hutt Valley Area Commander, Inspector Wade Jennings, says local Police saw the motorcyclist driving in a dangerous manner around 10:30pm.

“Before Police signalled for the rider to stop, they allegedly accelerated, overtook another vehicle and failed to take a bend, crashing into a fence.”

He says the motorcyclist sustained serious leg injuries and was transported to hospital.

“The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene, and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.”

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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 Swiss national wiped away tears as he pleaded guilty to a careless driving charge following a fatal crash in Canterbury.

A woman died following a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 73 near Sheffield on 19 November.

Patrick Keusch was arrested and charged with careless driving causing death, police confirmed the following day.

On Monday, the 32-year-old appeared in the Christchurch District Court in front of community magistrate Sarah Steele.

Defence lawyer Grant Fletcher entered a guilty plea on behalf of his client, who appeared teary-eyed on the stand.

“Clearly this case is a terrible tragedy,” he said.

Keusch’s bail conditions meant he was unable to leave the country to return home after he surrendered his passport.

He is also disqualified from driving.

The court heard he was willing to offer restorative justice, including emotional harm reparation payments to the woman’s West Coast-based family.

Fletcher argued for getting restorative justice and a sentencing date finalised as quickly possible so Keusch could return home to resume his employment.

“I’m very concerned for the defendant’s wellbeing,” he said.

Keusch was due to be sentenced on 16 January.

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