Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have arrested a man after a gun was fired near a popular swimming hole in Thames, Coromandel.

Police were called to the scene on Kauaeranga Valley Road at about 5pm on Saturday, after reports that a man had threatened members of the public and fired a shot into the air.

Detective Sergeant Mark Leathem said the 20-year-old allegedly threw the gun into some bushes before leaving in a vehicle with another person.

The police Eagle helicopter was sent to chase down the vehicle, and police arrested the pair a short time later.

The firearm was also found in the bushes at the initial scene, Leathem said.

The man who was alleged to have fired the gun is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on Monday, with charges including unlawfully possessing a firearm and discharging a firearm to intimidate.

Police would like to hear from anyone who might have information about the incident, either online or over the phone on its 105 service with the reference number 251129/4740.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two new high security units are set to be built at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison adding an additional 316 beds.

Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell said the construction would begin next month and finish up by early 2027.

He said the new units would expand the capacity of New Zealand’s prison system.

“With the prison population increasing due to the government’s strong measures on law-and-order, these two new units will add more capacity and resilience to our prison system.

“The design and build agreement was signed on Friday 31 October 2025 with contractor Naylor Love…”

Mitchell said additional projects underway at Waikeria Prison and Christchurch Men’s Prison would further increase the country’s capacity by more than 1000 beds in 2029.

He said the prison population had increased by 2000 since October 2023 to 11,000.

Corrections is self-funding the new units through the department’s existing budget.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland’s annual Santa Parade is expected to draw 150,000 people into the city centre to see dozens of floats make their way down Queen Street.

The parade begins at one 1pm on Sunday on the corner of Mayoral Drive and Cook Street, with all inner-city roads closed until 4.30pm.

Auckland Transport’s (AT) general manager for public transport operations Rachel Cara said buses and trains were the easiest way to get to the Santa Parade.

“We’re expecting up to 150,000 people will head to the city centre to see Santa up close this Sunday, so we’re encouraging people to make the most of AT’s frequent buses and trains to navigate the road closures and avoid traffic and parking stress,” she said.

“To help people get to and from the city safely we’re adding a handful of extra ferries, extra double decker buses for the Northern Express routes and six-carriage trains on our rail lines.”

AT will also have extra trains on standby at Waitematā Station to help people get home.

The agency also has a Christmas themed double-decker bus in the parade, to celebrate the role its bus drivers play in providing 65 million trips this year.

Meanwhile, organisers are hoping the weather won’t rain on their parade.

MetService forecasts rain, with some heavy downpours from 3pm – the parade finishes at 2.30pm.

The Santa Parade starts on the corner of Mayoral Drive and Cook Street, heads down Mayoral Drive, left into Queen Street, and right into Customs Street East, ending at the corner of Customs Street East and Britomart Place.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

ACC has disbanded its toxicology panel that firefighters take their cancer claims to.

The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) says the corporation did not tell it about this, but it was pleased to see the back of the panel.

But the United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA) – which represents volunteer firefighters – said it was a “blow” to advancing the cause of getting cover for volunteers and of “great regret” ACC did not consult it.

ACC said it was disestablishing the panel due to retirement and bereavement, and would use individual advisors instead like it did in other clinical cases. The panel had several specialists on it.

Cancer claims now were assessed by an occupational doctor registered with Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM), who could call in extra expert advice from its clinical services team or further afield, said acting chief clinical officer Dr Dilky Rasiah.

NZPFU national secretary Wattie Watson said it would be nice if ACC had talked to them first, and they wanted to know more about the new approach.

“They don’t tell us how they are going to manage them,” Watson said. “We went backwards with the toxicology panel, so I am pleased that the toxicology panel is gone.

“But we still have not resolved the underlying issue about recognising, on a scientific basis, firefighters’ occupational cancer.”

The union has been fighting for years for an approach like in Australia, Canada and US where certain specified cancers are presumed to be work-related so firefighters face fewer hurdles in proving it.

A firefighter or former firefighter who developed cancer may be covered by ACC under work-related gradual process injury/disease legislation.

“To date everyone’s still going through the same process but without the toxicology panel,” said Watson, who argued it should instead be streamlined, with the onus on Fire and Emergency (FENZ) to lead that change.

Volunteer firefighters can only take the ACC approach if they fight alongside paid firefighters at a fire with proven toxic fallout – but could not claim over prolonged exposure.

UFBA chair Peter Dunne said it was possible the new doctor-centric assessments would be advantageous, nevertheless they had seen the panel as a bit of a “lever”.

“There’s still the problem of the legislation that excludes volunteer firefighters from coverage in certain circumstances.

“And the toxicology panel was seen as a bit of a way, a bit of hope, if you like, as a way of getting this issue resolved.

“I’m very surprised, given the interest and coverage of volunteers, that it’s been done without any consultation. This is news that’s come through just on Saturday.

“It will be seen as a blow for advancing the cause of getting coverage for volunteer firefighters in some circumstances.”

ACC told a select committee the cost to cover volunteers might be just $250,000 a year but it feared a precedent would be set for having to cover surf lifesavers and other volunteer responders, Dunne said, despite not being exposed to the same toxicities.

“The response that we’ve had all along on this issue has been, look… this is the thin end of the wedge.”

Also, new toxic threats – such as lithium battery fires – had to be taken into account, he said.

Whangārei firefighter and career union local secretary Maurice Tipene went to a lithium battery fire at the city’s port earlier in November.

“We were not so keen on putting people in ’cause of what was in there,” he said.

So they called in a long-ladder truck from Auckland two hours away. In the end, it was not needed.

They went back in later days because the batteries kept blowing up in small explosions, he said.

His crew had just done a case study at work on lithium battery fires when they were called out. Asked if the case study was scary, Tipene said: “One hundred percent. One of the lines in it was ‘this smells like cancer’.”

They had the right gear and personal gas metres, he said.

‘So-called values’

A FENZ letter to ACC in 2023 said out of 45 cancer claims, 35 were accepted for cover by the toxicology panel.

But Invercargill firefighter Brent Wilson’s ACC claim for thyroid cancer in 2020 was rejected and he also lost on appeal. But a mediator then upheld his claim based on international expert input, so that some of his expenses and lost earnings were covered.

“I’m not the only one at this station who’s gone through this,” Wilson told RNZ.

“Another guy on another shift [has] gone through the same process. The organisation has these so-called values – manaakitanga – but it’s all empty words. They have these values but they don’t stick to them.”

FENZ deputy chief executive of people Janine Hearn said they had kept working on this with the union.

“With or without the toxicology panel, the claims assessment process is hard to navigate for people who are unwell and stressed, and we are committed to making it simpler while still meeting the requirements of our Accredited Employer Agreement with ACC,” Hearn said in a statement to RNZ on Friday.

A working group was set up in September, including Watson, to help people get information and access to medical advice.

“This work we are doing with the NZPFU is focused on streamlining and simplifying the claim process for our firefighters.”

In 2023, FENZ told ACC: “We know firefighters have an increased risk of certain types of cancer due to their exposure to cancer-causing toxins (carcinogens). It is an issue fire services around the world are grappling with and many countries have introduced presumptive legislation as a means to address these risks.”

The agencies have looked at adding types of cancer to the schedule of accepted occupational diseases under the Accident Compensation Act. However, the schedule does not exclude firefighters from having to argue their case.

Most firefighter claims accepted so far have been for prostate cancer, but others, too, for multiple myeloma, intestinal tract, oral/ tongue, kidney, testicular and bowel/colon cancer.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Airbus A320 software updates have been completed on all New Zealand based Jetstar aircraft, while some of Air New Zealand’s fleet remain grounded with further flight cancellations possible.

About 6000 Airbus A320 aircraft around the world are affected by a recall for a software upgrade.

Airline passengers around New Zealand have been caught up in cancellations. Disruptions will likely continue as airlines deal with a backlog of flights.

Air New Zealand’s chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said about 20 flight cancellations were expected, with the flight schedule expected to return to normal on Monday.

Jetstar’s chief pilot and head of flying operations Tyrone Simes said on Saturday swift action had been taken by authorities and the manufacturer.

“I think the authorities in Europe and the manufacturer have done a great job in identifying this issue very promptly, they’ve issued a directive within 24 hours of the anomaly being identified.”

Jetstar have already cancelled approximately 90 flights.

Air New Zealand’s affected customers are able to make one free change within seven days of their original travel date, hold the value of their fare in credit for twelve months, or request a refund, including for non-refundable fares.

While Jetstar said their teams were working on options and were contacting affected customers directly.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

• KiwiRail to pay about $250,000 in fines and reparation over worker’s 10-metre fall
• WorkSafe finds ‘fundamental failures’ in KiwiRail’s introduction of new communications poles
• Worker says some good has come out of the situation
• KiwiRail commits to doing better.

KiwiRail has been fined more than $200,000 for breaching health and safety laws when an employee fell 10 metres while installing a communications pole.

WorkSafe says the fall was preventable and KiwiRail admitted a charge of breaching the health and safety at work act.

The employee who fell, senior telecommunications technician Myles Dyeming, suffered a torn artery, a torn liver, a broken sternum, a punctured left lung, fractured vertebrae, and five fractured ribs.

Dyeming was in a coma for days in hospital and later developed blood clots, which required groundbreaking surgery to remove.

Dyeming fell in October 2023 near Whanganui. He was flown to Wellington Hospital and later transferred to Palmerston North Hospital.

In the Whanganui District Court this month KiwiRail was fined $220,000 and ordered to pay Dyeming $28,500 reparation.

‘Fundamental failures’

WorkSafe said the incident was a reminder to all businesses that do work at height to check their safety systems.

When he fell Dyeming was installing a new type of Oclyte pole, which was different from the wooden poles previously used.

WorkSafe said its investigation uncovered “fundamental failures” in how KiwiRail managed the introductions of the new poles.

KiwiRail didn’t do a detailed, specific risk assessment; no dedicated procedures were developed; and workers lacked training in “risk assessment for complex work at height”.

A fall arrest system was installed but not in use at the time; climbing pegs in the pole were not installed correctly; and KiwiRail didn’t provide safer methods for the job, such as a mobile, elevated work platform.

“When you introduce new infrastructure, you can’t assume existing procedures will be adequate. Businesses need to step back, conduct a full risk assessment, and consider the changes required,” said WorkSafe central regional manager Nigel Formosa.

“Businesses must first ask whether the job can somehow be done from ground level. If you can’t eliminate the need to work at height, consider using an elevated work platform or scaffolding.

“Fall arrest systems should be the last line of defence – not the first option.”

WorkSafe said Dyeming’s recovery took 10 months.

It said falls from height were a leading cause of workplace deaths and serious injuries, but were entirely preventable.

‘Five days missing’

Dyeming said he still had no memory of his fall or the immediately aftermath until he woke in Wellington Hospital’s intensive care unit.

“I’ve basically got five days missing from my life.”

He said he wanted to acknowledge KiwiRail’s support of him since the fall, and at the time for providing accommodation for friends and family in Wellington as they stayed by his bedside.

“Obviously I’d rather not have fallen [but] a lot of good’s come of out. No one should ever fall again.

“KiwiRail’s supported me to develop a whole lot of health and safety tools.”

Dyeming said his employer had taken the incident seriously and was genuinely horrified at what happened.

Two years on he’s fully functional at work, although he’s not back to full fitness away from the job.

Dyeming is a keen runner, but can now only run for about 1 to 1.5 km at a time. He hopes to work his way to longer distances.

KiwiRail commits to doing better

KiwiRail chief infrastructure officer Siva Sivapakkiam said the rail operator deeply regretted the injuries Dyeming suffered.

“We have worked hard since the incident to ensure care has been provided to him, including meeting his expenses and providing compensation, along with ensuring his re-integration into our workforce,” Sivapakkiam said.

“KiwiRail accepts that it could have better assessed the specific risks involved in constructing the mast and done more to ensure that workers used safety equipment.”

Since the incident it had put measures in place, including tightening requirements for teams working at height and design changes to telecommunications poles so workers could move freely without disconnecting from the mast.

“At the same time KiwiRail has committed to a substantial safety programme to continuously improve safety outcomes.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

• KiwiRail to pay about $250,000 in fines and reparation over worker’s 10-metre fall
• WorkSafe finds ‘fundamental failures’ in KiwiRail’s introduction of new communications poles
• Worker says some good has come out of the situation
• KiwiRail commits to doing better.

KiwiRail has been fined more than $200,000 for breaching health and safety laws when an employee fell 10 metres while installing a communications pole.

WorkSafe says the fall was preventable and KiwiRail admitted a charge of breaching the health and safety at work act.

The employee who fell, senior telecommunications technician Myles Dyeming, suffered a torn artery, a torn liver, a broken sternum, a punctured left lung, fractured vertebrae, and five fractured ribs.

Dyeming was in a coma for days in hospital and later developed blood clots, which required groundbreaking surgery to remove.

Dyeming fell in October 2023 near Whanganui. He was flown to Wellington Hospital and later transferred to Palmerston North Hospital.

In the Whanganui District Court this month KiwiRail was fined $220,000 and ordered to pay Dyeming $28,500 reparation.

‘Fundamental failures’

WorkSafe said the incident was a reminder to all businesses that do work at height to check their safety systems.

When he fell Dyeming was installing a new type of Oclyte pole, which was different from the wooden poles previously used.

WorkSafe said its investigation uncovered “fundamental failures” in how KiwiRail managed the introductions of the new poles.

KiwiRail didn’t do a detailed, specific risk assessment; no dedicated procedures were developed; and workers lacked training in “risk assessment for complex work at height”.

A fall arrest system was installed but not in use at the time; climbing pegs in the pole were not installed correctly; and KiwiRail didn’t provide safer methods for the job, such as a mobile, elevated work platform.

“When you introduce new infrastructure, you can’t assume existing procedures will be adequate. Businesses need to step back, conduct a full risk assessment, and consider the changes required,” said WorkSafe central regional manager Nigel Formosa.

“Businesses must first ask whether the job can somehow be done from ground level. If you can’t eliminate the need to work at height, consider using an elevated work platform or scaffolding.

“Fall arrest systems should be the last line of defence – not the first option.”

WorkSafe said Dyeming’s recovery took 10 months.

It said falls from height were a leading cause of workplace deaths and serious injuries, but were entirely preventable.

‘Five days missing’

Dyeming said he still had no memory of his fall or the immediately aftermath until he woke in Wellington Hospital’s intensive care unit.

“I’ve basically got five days missing from my life.”

He said he wanted to acknowledge KiwiRail’s support of him since the fall, and at the time for providing accommodation for friends and family in Wellington as they stayed by his bedside.

“Obviously I’d rather not have fallen [but] a lot of good’s come of out. No one should ever fall again.

“KiwiRail’s supported me to develop a whole lot of health and safety tools.”

Dyeming said his employer had taken the incident seriously and was genuinely horrified at what happened.

Two years on he’s fully functional at work, although he’s not back to full fitness away from the job.

Dyeming is a keen runner, but can now only run for about 1 to 1.5 km at a time. He hopes to work his way to longer distances.

KiwiRail commits to doing better

KiwiRail chief infrastructure officer Siva Sivapakkiam said the rail operator deeply regretted the injuries Dyeming suffered.

“We have worked hard since the incident to ensure care has been provided to him, including meeting his expenses and providing compensation, along with ensuring his re-integration into our workforce,” Sivapakkiam said.

“KiwiRail accepts that it could have better assessed the specific risks involved in constructing the mast and done more to ensure that workers used safety equipment.”

Since the incident it had put measures in place, including tightening requirements for teams working at height and design changes to telecommunications poles so workers could move freely without disconnecting from the mast.

“At the same time KiwiRail has committed to a substantial safety programme to continuously improve safety outcomes.”

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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 government is trialling new technology to better control possum populations as part of its push to eradicate bovine tuberculosis.

The disease in cattle and deer herds is spread mainly by possums and can cause serious production losses and animal welfare issues.

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said drone and thermal imaging technology was being trialled in central Otago by disease eradication agency OSPRI to detect possums in rugged, hard-to reach terrain.

“New Zealand farmers and taxpayers have invested millions of dollars in the control, and eventual eradication of this disease, but we must finish the job, it all comes down to controlling and monitoring possum numbers. This new technology is expected to give a major boost to this work,” he said.

“This drone technology represents a real step-change in how we approach possum control in some of New Zealand’s most challenging terrain.”

Hoggard said the Central Otago trial site was selected because it was considered a hot spot for TB eradication, and was known to have a higher-than-average possum population.

Drones allowed teams to access remote areas, detect possum populations and pinpoint exactly where people needed to be deployed, he said.

“To eradicate bovine TB, we have to eradicate enough of the possums for the disease to be unable to exist in a possum population.

“Many farmers today may not remember the terrible situation that existed back in the late 70’s through to the early 90’s where thousands of herds had TB infections, I remember as a child the anguish and cost this caused my parents whenever an infected cow was found in our herd,” he said.

“We only need to look across to the UK and Ireland nowadays to see how much this matters, particularly the mental strain this disease can cause on farmers. That’s why it’s so important that we finish the job.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Airbus A320 software updates have been completed on all New Zealand based Jetstar aircraft, while Air New Zealand’s fleet remain grounded with further flight cancellations possible.

About 6000 Airbus A320 aircraft around the world are affected by a recall for a software upgrade.

Airline passengers around New Zealand have been caught up in cancellations. Disruptions will likely continue as airlines deal with a backlog of flights.

Air New Zealand’s chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said about 20 flight cancellations were expected, with the flight schedule expected to return to normal on Monday.

Jetstar’s chief pilot and head of flying operations Tyrone Simes said on Saturday swift action had been taken by authorities and the manufacturer.

“I think the authorities in Europe and the manufacturer have done a great job in identifying this issue very promptly, they’ve issued a directive within 24 hours of the anomaly being identified.”

Jetstar have already cancelled approximately 90 flights.

Air New Zealand’s affected customers are able to make one free change within seven days of their original travel date, hold the value of their fare in credit for twelve months, or request a refund, including for non-refundable fares.

While Jetstar said their teams were working on options and were contacting affected customers directly.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

There could be further flight cancellations as Airbus A320 jets are grounded globally for an urgent software upgrade.

About 6000 Airbus A320 aircraft around the world are affected by a recall for a software upgrade.

Airline passengers around New Zealand have been caught up in cancellations.

Jetstar expected to have all its affected aircraft ready overnight and Air New Zealand anticipated its aircraft would be back in service by Sunday evening.

Disruptions will likely continue though as airlines deal with a backlog of flights.

Air New Zealand’s chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said about 20 flight cancellations were expected, with the flight schedule expected to return to normal on Monday.

Jetstar’s chief pilot and head of flying operations Tyrone Simes said on Saturday swift action had been taken by authorities and the manufacturer.

“I think the authorities in Europe and the manufacturer have done a great job in identifying this issue very promptly, they’ve issued a directive within 24 hours of the anomaly being identified.”

As of 3:30pm on Saturday, Jetstar said 20 of its 34 affected aircraft were ready to return to service.

Jetstar have already cancelled approximately 90 flights.

Air New Zealand’s affected customers are able to make one free change within seven days of their original travel date, hold the value of their fare in credit for twelve months, or request a refund, including for non-refundable fares.

While Jetstar said their teams were working on options and were contacting affected customers directly.

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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 Banking Association is criticising social media, technology and telecommunications companies for not doing enough to prevent scams.

Payments NZ reported about $265 million had been scammed out of New Zealand bank accounts in the past year.

The Code of Banking Practice was updated on Sunday, with new protection measures introduced, including:

• pre-transaction warnings
• a “confirmation” of payee service
• identification of and response to high-risk transactions or unusual account transaction activity, and the ability to delay or block transactions in some cases
• providing a 24/7 reporting channel for customers who think they’ve been scammed
• sharing scammer account information with other banks to help prevent criminal activity, and freezing funds where appropriate.

Banks will be forced to compensate all or part of the loss for customers if these are not followed, and will also continue to compensate losses for customers whose banking was accessed without authorisation.

Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont told RNZ it was adopting a “prevention-led approach”, but he stressed the need for “shared responsibilities for protecting New Zealanders from scams”.

“Banks have stepped up their customer protections and will be accountable for those measures, but they cannot take on full liability for scam losses that are beyond their control and may start with a fake ad or chat on social media, or a fake search engine result,” he said.

While the Code of Banking Practice was updated every five years, Beaumont said the new protection measures would be reviewed on a regular basis.

“The thing about scams is that they’re constantly evolving,” he said.

“These are fairly high-level prevention measures that are in place, but scammers are tricky and devious and are always trying to get around the rules, and so it’s a matter of constantly reviewing and constantly evolving the vigilance that banks have to keep customers safe.”

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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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A $50 million redevelopment plan of North Auckland’s popular, now demolished Waiwera Hot Pools has been unveiled.

Concept designs for the currently empty site include 28 pools and wellness experiences along with saunas, reflexology walks and gardens.

Resource consent for the project, led by Waiwera Thermal Springs Property LP, would be lodged with Auckland Council on Monday, the group said.

The group had signed an agreement to acquire the site from landowners Urban Partners.

Director of Waiwera Thermal Springs, Brandon Batagol, said he wanted the attraction to be a “wold-class bathing and wellness destination”.

Waiwera had been open in some form since the 1800’s, but in 2018 the hot pools closed and were later demolished in 2023, leaving the site as a vacant piece of land.

“Our vision is to create a destination that reconnects people to Waiwera’s geothermal heritage, culture and lush native landscape,” Batagol said.

“This will be a place of genuine replenishment where wellness grows from nature.”

The development team behind the project had experience in thermal wellness destinations, Batagol said, and had operated the award-winning Peninsula Hot Springs in Melbourne and been involved in the revival of Maruia Hot Springs in the South Island.

“Together, with local experts and local partners, we have taken the upmost care to deliver a plan for Waiwera Thermal Springs that will bring considerable economic and social benefits to the region whilst honouring the natural environment.”

He said the springs would encourage guests to “slow down” and immerse themselves in nature.

Waiwera was a place of deep ancestral and cultural significance for Ngāti Manuhiri, Batagol said who would be involved as development partners.

“We recognise this land and water as part of a living whakapapa, shaped by generations and sustained through shared principles.”

Sharing the plans openly with the public for the first time was “exciting”, Batagol said.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Auckland Council through the Resource Consent process.

“In time, when we are ready to welcome visitors, we want them to come for the calm and stay for the connection in Waiwera’s mineral rich hot waters.”

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said the $50 million plan had his “full backing”.

“Waiwera Thermal Springs is expected to attract over 310,000 visitors to the region and generate around $300 million over its first five years, drawing tourism in both winter and summer.

“It is optimally placed along the tourist route, making the most of what we already have there. I look forward to its opening.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington police are asking the public for information on an unattended kayak found off Raumati Beach.

The kayak was found about 500 metres off Raumati Beach at about 12pm on Saturday.

Police also found a hoodie on the beach.

Anyone with information about the kayak, or the top, was asked to call 111, or use the 105 service, and quote event number P064619223.

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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 fire burning in tyres in an industrial area in Upper Hutt has been extinguished.

Five firetrucks were called to the blaze on Dante Road in Trentham just after 4pm Saturday and one person sustained serious injures.

Fire and Emergency said crews had left the scene and the fire’s cause was being investigated.

Crews from Trentham, Remutaka, Silverstream, Avalon, Wellington City and Thorndon attended the fire.

The fire was well alight on arrival and was escalated to second alarm.

Police were then called to assist at the address near the intersection of Alexander Road.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Akatarawa Road is closed following a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle.

Emergency services were called to the scene, near Upper Hutt, at 4.20pm Saturday.

One person has sustained serious injuries.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Travellers across New Zealand faced six-hour queues, cancelled flights, missed family events and last-minute scrambles for alternatives – as the global grounding of Airbus A320 aircraft rippled through airline schedules on Saturday.

While the software recall affects airlines worldwide, in New Zealand’s airport terminals, passengers described a morning of confusion, contradictory information and mounting frustration.

Birthday plan ‘out the window’

One Wellington-bound passenger said their day began with a text message at 9.30am, warning of Jetstar delays, but this didn’t prepare them for the scene inside Auckland Airport.

“I walked into a line that we could have been waiting another couple of hours for, so yeah, it wasn’t great,” they said.

By the time they reached the counter, every remaining Jetstar flight to Wellington was fully booked.

“I had a birthday plan for my daughter today and now that’s out the window,” they said. “I’m going to try and get a flight on [Air] New Zealand today… otherwise, I’ll be waiting until tomorrow morning.”

They said Jetstar had not offered compensation so far.

“Basically, I’ll pay money for a flight that I’m not even going to take at the moment.”

Six hours in line

For Christchurch-bound traveller Miguel, the delays were even longer.

His 8.25am flight was initially pushed back by 30 minutes, then an hour, before being cancelled altogether.

“I’m not so happy, definitely,” he told RNZ, adding he has been queuing for “maybe six hours”.

Jetstar eventually booked him onto a mid-afternoon flight, leaving him waiting in the terminal for most of the day.

‘Five different staff told me five different things’

Another passenger, April, said the experience was overwhelming, especially as she was travelling solo and visiting Auckland for the first time.

Her 11.50am Jetstar flight was rebooked, cancelled, then rebooked again, before she received conflicting instructions about whether she could board.

“I had five different staff tell me five different things,” she said.

“My boarding pass was cancelled and I didn’t know if I could still get on. I was really lost.”

Jetstar eventually re-issued her flight for a later departure – but she abandoned it altogether.

“I ended up rebooking with Air New Zealand instead, because I was just so confused. I’ll just get a refund from Jetstar.”

She said staff were kind, but the queues were impossible for her to manage.

“I’ve got chronic pain, I can’t stand in that queue. Someone said they’d been waiting two-and-a-half hours, another said six hours.

“I couldn’t do that at all.”

Overseas travellers caught in chaos

A group of friends from Blenheim, returning from a long multi-stop trip through Asia, said the Auckland cancellation was just the latest setback.

“We’ve had about eight flights so far, and every single flight has either been cancelled or delayed,” one said.

Their flight from Melbourne to Auckland arrived late and the onward domestic flight was cancelled shortly before boarding.

“We were at the back of the line – too many people. We missed our chance to get a flight… now we’ve been pushed back to tomorrow morning.”

After three changes to their onward connections, they abandoned their plan to fly home to Blenheim.

“Instead of doing that, we’re just flying to Christchurch and driving.”

Why is this happening?

The widespread disruption stems from an urgent software recall affecting a large portion of the global Airbus A320 fleet.

Airbus said intense solar radiation may, in rare cases, corrupt data inside a flight-control computer known as the ELAC – the system that translates pilot inputs into elevator and aileron movements.

The fault was linked to a 30 October JetBlue incident, where a sudden uncommanded altitude loss injured passengers.

Regulators have ordered airlines to update or revert the software, before affected aircraft can operate again.

Some updates take about two hours, but aircraft requiring hardware changes may face longer delays.

Air NZ, Jetstar responses

Air New Zealand has said all A320neo aircraft will receive the software patch before their next flight, but is allowing other A320 flights to continue until 1pm Sunday, with cancellations expected across the fleet.

Jetstar passengers told RNZ they received limited information beyond repeated delay notifications.

Despite the chaos, some passengers said staff were doing the best they could.

“They’ve been really helpful,” one stranded traveller said. “It’s out of their hands – it’s a global crisis.”

More disruption likely

With thousands of A320s worldwide affected, delays and cancellations are expected to continue throughout the weekend.

“I’m just going to sit here and see how long I last,” April said. “That’s pretty much all anyone can do today.”

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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 building is on fire in an industrial area of the Upper Hutt suburb of Trentham.

Fire and Emergency were called to the scene on Dante Road, just after 4pm Saturday.

Fire and Emergency understand one person has been injured.

Crews from Trentham, Remutaka, Silverstream, Avalon, Wellington City and Thorndon are attending.

The fire was well alight on arrival and was escalated to second alarm.

Five firetrucks and three support vehicles are working to extinguish the fire, which is measuring 30-by-20 metres.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The NZ government says it is not considering a ban on wet wipes containing plastic, despite recognising concern over the environmental and infrastructure impacts they cause.

The United Kingdom has announced England will ban the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic, a huge cause of pollution and sewer blockages, with the changes coming into force in early 2027.

The announcement comes as public concern about the state of the UK’s waterways and sewage grows.

In New Zealand, flushed wet wipes cause expensive headaches for councils across the country.

Despite this, Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds said the government was not considering a ban.

“We recognise the concern about the environmental and infrastructure impacts caused by wet wipes, but our approach is to focus on practical, evidence-based solutions, rather than blanket bans,” she said.

“Wet wipes are part of the broader issue of plastic waste entering the environment, and there is still work to do in addressing blockages and microplastic release.”

Simmonds said some manufacturers were already working to reduce or remove plastic from their products, “which will help limit the release of microplastics into the environment”.

She also pointed to the Australia New Zealand Flushable Products Standard (ANZ standard), developed by industry in 2022, which set out criteria for determining if products were suitable for flushing down a toilet.

The standard provided guidance and requirements for labelling products likely to be flushed, Simmonds said.

“The government’s priority is to ensure any changes are well-considered, manageable, and do not impose unnecessary costs on businesses or households, while still protecting New Zealand’s environment.”

In 2021, the previous Labour-led government said it expected more work on how to phase out certain types of plastics, including wet wipes.

Labour did not answer RNZ’s questions about how far these investigations progressed, before the government changed in 2023, but environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking acknowledged wet wipes were causing issues.

“Disposal of wet wipes into sewerage systems is a problem here in New Zealand – and it’s certainly something we’re open to working constructively with the government on addressing.

“It’s clear work needs to be done on public education to not flush wet wipes.”

Water New Zealand – the country’s largest water industry body – said it would support a ban.

Chief executive Gillian Blythe said wet wipes containing plastic were “a major problem” for water utilities.

“They are extremely damaging to sewers and to the environment, because they clog the sewers, causing effluent overflow into the environment. As well as a problem for the environment, blockages caused by wipes are a multimillion-dollar cost to ratepayers, as councils and utilities have to invest a lot of time and money unblocking pipes.

“Several years ago, it was estimated that the cost of damage caused by wet wipes amounted to $16 million a year, but we believe it is now likely to be more, as costs have escalated.”

Wipes often mixed with other non-flushables in pipes – such as fats, oils and grease – to form ‘fatbergs’.

“We urge people to only flush the three Ps – pee, poo, [toilet] paper,” Blythe said.

“However, there are now some wipes on the market that do meet the Australian and New Zealand flushability standard. We would urge anyone who feels they need to buy wipes to check the label – look for the logo and check the standard AUS/NZS 5328:2022 on the packaging.”

Blythe said the problem would escalate, because the “multi-billion-dollar” international wipes industry was growing.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand welcomes the government’s expansion of stem cell transplant services.

Health Minister Simeon Brown announced it had increased funding by $27.1 million to reduce the waitlist.

In September, RNZ reported some patients had died or relapsed, while waiting for bone marrow transplants.

On Friday, Brown said the investment would allow between 27-38 percent more patients to receive treatment for blood cancers and related conditions, increasing the number of treatments from 115 to 160 each year.

He said the money would be used to recruit 79 new full-time staff across the three transplant centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and would increase inpatient bed capacity at Auckland City Hospital and Wellington Regional Hospital, as well as upgrade infrastructure at the latter.

“By reducing wait times, expanding specialist capacity and upgrading critical infrastructure, we’re ensuring that more New Zealanders receive lifesaving stem cell transplants when they need them.”

Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand chief executive Tim Edmonds told RNZ the investment was much needed.

“It’s incredibly distressing for patients waiting for their chance at a cure, knowing that delays increase the risk of their cancer returning and can mean more toxic chemotherapy.”

Haematologist Peter Browett, also a professor of pathology and director of the Centre for Cancer Research at the University of Auckland School of Medicine, said it would take some time to reduce the waitlist.

“This is going to require recruitment of staff, training of staff, building of new facilities, so it’s going to take months to years to address the problem, but this is the only way that it can be done.”

Browett said New Zealand was behind other countries in standard of care and patients were often forced to go offshore for treatment, such as CAR T-cell therapy.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A person has died following a “water-related incident” at Glenbrook, Canterbury, on Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to an area near Falston Road about 8.40am, after someone was pulled unresponsive from the water.

Despite attempts to revive them, they died at the scene.

Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Four people were injured in a crash on Auckland’s Southwestern Motorway on Saturday.

Four Hato Hone St John ambulances attended the two-vehicle crash on State Highway 20, near the Waterview Tunnel, around 10.45am.

Police and Fire and Emergency were also in attendance.

One person was in a serious condition, while three others sustained moderate injuries.

All were transported to Auckland City Hospital.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

By Gwenaёlle Chollet, journalism student

Eight young New Zealanders will soon travel in the wake of great polar explorers, sailing from Argentina to Antarctica across the notorious Drake Passage on the historic tall ship Bark EUROPA.

The group of 18 to 30 year olds will set sail in January for a month-long voyage alongside record-breaking sailor Lisa Blair, as part of the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s inspiring explorers expedition.

Wellington global studies graduate Meleki Schulster, 21, said sailing, living and sleeping on a ship would be an entirely new experience.

“It looks like it’s out of the Pirates of the Carribean, it’s so cool. It feels like a crazy adventure and I’m always keen on an adventure,” he said.

“I honestly can’t wait to do it all. I still don’t know how I made it, but I’m so grateful, so honoured and feel so privileged to be in this spot.

“Our ancestors used to use the stars and used to go on voyages with even less crazy boats. It’s going to be a really cool experience to be able to tie it back to them and just inspire people to jump on board.”

The group would learn to sail the ship, with shifts of four hours on and eight hours off, before exploring the Antarctic Peninsula for just over a week.

The Drake Passage was known for its contrasting conditions – the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake.

Blair said the Drake Lake was a calm and quiet sea, while the Drake Shake saw storms thousands of nautical miles wide trying to funnel through the narrow passage.

“It’s luck of the draw. You could be there in a high-pressure system, which is no wind, calm seas, or you could be out there in 10-metre breaking seas. Everyone’s going to be seasick in those conditions. Cold, wet, maybe snowing, like brutal climate so we don’t know what will happen,” she said.

Blair said the Antarctic Heritage Trust aimed to inspire a spirit of adventure by providing opportunities for young people to follow in the footsteps of explorers who traversed the continent more than 100 years ago.

“Part of the inspiring explorers programme is that explorer’s mindset. So fostering their curiosity, their innovation, talking to teamwork, building their resilience and just really structuring their mind to go through challenges that they might face after this,” she said.

Blair holds eight world records, including being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica in 2022.

However, sailing a tall ship would also be a new experience for her and she would have to remember the names of different ropes and 24 sails like everyone else.

Blair said she understood what the group would go through, given she did not start sailing until the age of 25.

“I still really remember my first experience with it and how I struggled in certain things, so just trying to bring that to them and make them feel supported,” she said.

“I really think there’s so much incredible value for us, as a global world, in making sure that the next generation of people coming through can have forged a connection with Antarctica because we don’t protect what we aren’t connected to.”

Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton journeyed to Antarctica on tall ships like the Bark EUROPA.

Bark EUROPA was built in 1911 in Germany as a floating lighthouse on the Elbe river before being converted into a fully-operational sailing ship.

As well as learning to sail the ship, the group would participate in Bark EUROPA’s collaboration with the Polar Citizen Science Collective to gather data such as microplastic sampling and log bird and whale sightings.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

One person is dead after a vehicle crashed into water in the Hawke’s Bay town of Wairoa.

Police were alerted just after 4am on Saturday.

It happened at the intersection of Carroll Street and River Parade.

The National Dive Squad will inspect the vehicle, but it was not believed anyone was unaccounted for.

Cordons were in place while emergency services staff worked at the scene.

Motorists should avoid the area if possible, police said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour Party faithful are upbeat as they rally in Auckland’s viaduct, roughly one year out from the next election.

The mood has been energetic off the back of recent polling that has Labour tracking ahead of National on almost all issues, including the cost of living.

Already in campaign mode, Labour leader Chris Hipkins took a swipe at Te Pāti Māori in his opening remarks to the membership on Friday.

“I recently saw a whakataukī quoted in the media with reference to a different political party in New Zealand.

“He tōtara wāhi rua he kai nā te ahi – a tōtara that is split in half is only good for firewood. Well I can assure you that our waka is made of a very solid tōtara.”

There were lots of cheers and a series of standing ovations as the party’s leadership presented a united front at the top of the conference.

“We are energised, we are focused and we are determined to make this a one-term government,” Hipkins said.

Deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni said the coalition government’s policy programme had put people through so much.

“We now have a health system that is falling over right before our eyes. We’ve seen the cancellation of thousands of state housing builds and infrastructure projects, increased unemployment and skyrocketing cost of living.

“A tax on our education system and teachers, a tax on workers wanting a fair deal, a tax on women with the scrapping of pay equity, attacks on our rainbow community.

“And where do we even start with the attacks on Māoridom and Te Tiriti?

“We must keep fighting. We need to support each other, to keep the light burning. We have to retain hope and we have to believe that we can win.”

Sepuloni, like many other speakers, remarked on the varying views held in the Labour Party and pitched them as a good thing.

“We don’t all look the same in the Labour Party. We are a very diverse bunch. This is probably no starker than when looking at your leadership. You have a Sharkies-wearing ginga leader from the Hutt and an Amazonian Pasifika pulatasi-wearing deputy leader from West Auckland.

“We look like we come from different worlds. Have we always agreed over our 17 years of working together? Hell no.

“But do we share the same values and care enough about the same things to make it work? Abso-freaking-lutely.”

‘Doesn’t it feel good to see those numbers rise?’ – Labour president

Party president Jill Day said it was encouraging to see public support for Labour rebuilding.

“Now I know the only poll that matters is the one on election day, but doesn’t it feel good to see those numbers rise?” she said, as members cheered.

“To see those numbers rise, to feel the tide turning, to know that New Zealanders are putting their trust back in our party, our caucus, and our leader, Chris Hipkins.”

Day said it had been a tough couple of years.

“Every time we think this National government has gone too far, it pushes a bit further.

“It’s exhausting, it’s frustrating and it’s heartbreaking because behind every decision National makes, a real person is paying the price.

“We see that in the mum, working two jobs, having to choose between petrol and kai for her kids, kaumatua waiting weeks for a GP appointment and teachers buying classroom supplies from their own pay.”

Day said the party was busy organising ahead of the election and told members every call, leaflet and conversation mattered.

“Our LECs are growing stronger, our volunteers are knocking on doors, our branches are welcoming new members, and we’re selecting candidates who know their communities, who are grounded in the issues and who will not back down from the hard work ahead.

“Election 2026, will be won in the same way Labour has always won: by being visible, by being organised and by showing up, especially when it’s hard.”

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