Source: Radio New Zealand

A towel shortage at Waikato Hospital has left an elderly patient unable to shower for days, with the family feeling appalled by the lack of basic care.

Maureen Cruickshank, whose mother stayed at the hospital earlier this month, said the wards ran out of towels twice during her stay.

The first was a one-day shortage in mid-December.

But it was the latest three-day shortage in the Older Persons Rehabilitation ward that made her wonder whether something was broken in the system.

“On Friday she messaged me, I can’t have a shower today, there’s no towels. On Saturday morning, she rang me and said they’ve told us there’s no towels until Monday. Which meant she would’ve gone Friday, Saturday, and then Sunday without showers.”

Cruickshank contacted the hospital and asked if she could bring their own towels for staff to use and received a yes.

“It’s definitely not a staff shortage, because they were more than happy to give mum a shower, they just didn’t have towels, which is ridiculous.”

She said she does not have the professional skills and experience to shower her mother who’s only recently out of surgery.

“When a patient has been in hospital for so long, it just feels so good to have a shower. To have the water wash your hair, to actually feel like you are rehabilitating. You’re taking one step closer to going home.

“And when they go you’ve got stay in bed, we’ll give you a bed bath, it just doesn’t feel human really.”

Cruickshank said she only learned about the issue through her elderly mother and is concerned for patients without family nearby.

“How many people aren’t in a position to have family bring up towels? And also the hygiene factor, is it bringing in more germs into the hospital people having to bring in their own towels?”

In a statement, Te Whatu Ora Waikato acting group director for operations Rachel Swain said the towel shortage was an isolated event on 27 December and was resolved within 24 hours.

Swain said the shortage only affected the Older Persons and Rehabilitation ward, and the duty nurse manager sourced towels from other areas of the hospital.

“This occurred due to an unforeseen operational issue that resulted in available emergency linen being depleted. Patient care, hygiene, and access to showers were maintained during this time.

“Patients were advised of the situation and at no time were patients or families asked to provide their own towels.”

Swain said linen services are provided by a long-standing external supplier, and there have been no formal complaints about the supply in the past 12 months. Waikato Hospital does not consider linen availability to be an ongoing concern.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Two new primary schools are scheduled to open at the start of 2026 – one in Christchurch and the other in Auckland.

The Ministry of Education said the schools in Rolleston and Flat Bush would open with about 100 students each.

It said construction of Te Kura Rau Iti Primary in Flat Bush would finish at the end of January.

The school would have 30 classrooms and an initial capacity for 600 pupils, though it was expected to grow to 1250.

The ministry said construction of the first stage of Te Rau Horopito Primary in Rolleston would finish in late January.

The school would open with 12 classrooms and an estimated initial roll of 90-100 students in the first year of operation.

“This projection is subject to the pace of residential development and population growth during the year. The school will be appropriately staffed and equipped with facilities to accommodate additional students if required,” the ministry said.

It said construction of a further 12 rooms plus an administration and technology block would start in February.

The ministry said work on two further new schools in Christchurch was scheduled to begin in 2026 with opening dates in 2027.

The ministry said on-site construction of Prebbleton Primary in Selwyn would start in July.

The school would open at the start of 2027 with 12 classrooms, an administration space and hall for an estimated initial roll of 75-125 students in the first year growing to 275 student places.

The ministry said construction of the first stage of Milns Road School in Christchurch would start in 2026.

It would include 12 classrooms and open in term 1, 2027 with an estimated initial roll 75-125 students ingrowing to 275 student places.

Meanwhile two specialist schools for children requiring significant learning support would be rebuilt.

The ministry said the rebuild of Central Auckland Specialist School was completed in mid-December.

It had 14 teaching spaces.

It said replacement of buildings at Sommerville Base School in Auckland would start in February.

The school would have: “22 new teaching spaces across seven fit-for-purpose one-storey classroom blocks will be provided, as well as an indoor hydrotherapy pool, an outdoor sensory learning environment and two new pick-up/drop-off areas”.

The ministry said construction was expected to finish in February 2027 with the school opening to students in term 2 that year.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Wet weather in parts of the country seem to have dampened New Year celebrations with both police and St John reporting relatively quiet nights.

The ambulance service responded to 177 incidents between 10pm and 3am – around 40 percent down on previous years, and similar to a busy Saturday night.

Deputy chief executive of ambulance operations Dan Ohs told RNZ the workload was busiest across the Western Bay of Plenty and Auckland areas.

“Unfortunately, overnight we have had some reports of our staff being abused at call-outs, including one significant incident in Auckland where our staff were quite significantly abused.

“One of the other trends that we have noted over the last week has been issues and challenges involving people taking synthetic cannabis, particularly in Auckland. And we’re reminding everyone that you need to be particularly cautious when taking any form of drug and please, when our ambulance people get there, ensure that you’ve disclosed to them what you have taken.”

Meanwhile, police said crowds were largely well-behaved during their New Year celebrations and there were no significant issues.

In Auckland city eight arrests were made, while there were large numbers of people in Omaha’s surf club area but no arrests.

In Whangamatā, police said the crowd was “larger than last year” with up to 4000 people at any one time in Williamson Park.

“The crowd was generally well-behaved and in good spirits. Some liquor ban infringements issued (although fewer than last year) and 12 people were arrested (again, fewer than last year).”

Raglan saw people mostly well-behaved, but fireworks were allegedly fired into crows at Mount Maunganaui, although no injuries were reported. A total of 17 arrests were made in the Western Bay of Plenty area for disorder/fighting.

In Tai Rāwhiti, police said plans for large gatherings by anti-social road users were “successfully thwarted by police”. No issues were reported at the Rhythm and Vines festival.

In Queenstown, police were happy with the behaviour of large crowds in the town, with just one arrest being made.

“A 19-year-old man who punched and broke a shop window. He has been charged with wilful damage and is scheduled to appear in Queenstown District Court on 5 January.”

A 29-year-old man was arrested at a bar in Wanakā for “disorderly behaviour and assaulting police”.

Nelson saw no arrests with “good behaviour all around”.

At the Twisted Frequency festival in Takaka, police helped evacuate up to 100 people to Takaka Hall as the local river was rising rapidly and some parts of the festival area began to flood.

In Christchurch, there were a “few minor incidents” at Rolling Meadows festival – including trespass, disorder and assaults.

“No significant disorder or incidents at Rhythm & Alps.”

Finally in Dunedin, police said there were two arrests made – one was a 40-year-old man for assault in a family relationship and the other was a 35-yea-old man for breach of bail, assaulting police and resisting arrest.

“Good natured crowd in the Octagon, no issues throughout the evening and pleased with the crowd’s behaviour.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Parts of the South Island are welcoming the New Year with heavy rain warnings and severe thunderstorm watches.

It has been a turbulent week across the country, with downpours and strong winds threatening celebrations.

At the Twisted Frequency festival in Takaka overnight, police helped evacuate up to 100 people to Takaka Hall as the local river was rising rapidly and some parts of the festival area began to flood.

On Thursday, the ranges of Tasman District, west of Takaka, and Buller were under orange heavy rain warnings.

Tasman’s warnings was until 4pm, with up to 80mm more rain expected on top of what has already fallen.

MetService said streams and rivers could rise rapidly, with surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions possible.

In Buller, up to 100mm of rain could fall on top of what already had. Its warning was in place until 6pm.

Meanwhile, much of the lower half od the South Island was under a severe thunderstorm watch from 2pm until 9pm. It covered Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, Central Otago, Southern Lakes, Southland and Fiordland.

MetService said an “unstable airmass” would affect the area Thursday afternoon and evening.

“For the Canterbury High Country and foothills south of Arthur’s Pass, Central Otago, the Queenstown Lakes District, far inland areas of Southland and inland Fiordland, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms.

“There is also a moderate risk that some of these storms may become severe until 10pm today, which could produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h.

“Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are crediting Operation Open Roads for the reduction in road deaths for the third year in a row.

In a statement, police said the provisional number of road deaths in 2025 was 272. In 2024, 292 people died on New Zealand roads.

As of 7am on 1 January 2026, at least one person had already died in a crash.

Superintendent Steve Greally, director of road police, said the reduction was in “large part”, because of its focus on deaths on open roads.

“Over the last three years, we have seen constant reductions in the number of fatalities on our roads, while we have also nearly tripled the number of alcohol breath tests in that same period.

“For another year, our officers have worked tirelessly to ensure we can do everything possible to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities on our roads.”

While the numbers were decreasing, Greally said far too many families were still having their lives changes after hearing their loved one had died in a crash.

In the 2024/2025 financial year, nearly 4.5 million alcohol breath tests were conducted and more than half a million speeding fines were issues.

“Breath testing and speed enforcement are two of our main focus areas, and we will continue to make no excuses for stopping and testing people.

“We continue to ask drivers to play their part and make sensible decisions both on the road and before you get behind the wheel.

“Unfortunately, we are still seeing evidence that people are making the wrong decisions when it comes to speed.

“Our aim is to see the number of speed infringements issued drop, which is an indication that people are doing the right thing, and following the sign-posted speed limits.”

Greally said roadside drug testing began in the Wellington region in December and that would continue to be scaled up nationally between April and June this year.

“Our staff are dedicated to changing driver behaviour and working towards maintaining the lowest number of fatalities in the coming years.

“We make no apology for taking action against anybody who is putting their life, and the lives of others, at risk on our roads.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A person has died following a crash in Waikato’s Hauraki District.

Police were called to the intersection of State Highway 26 and Cadman Road in Tirohia at around 12.40am this morning.

The sole occupant of the single vehicle crash died at the scene.

The road was closed as a result of the crash but will reopen once other agencies have finished working at the scene.

As of 7am on 1 January, the holiday road toll stands at five.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

One person has been found dead on Kaipara Coast Highway, north of Auckland.

Police had earlier asked motorists to avoid the village of Makarau after an “incident”.

In a statement, police said officers were called to the scene about 5.20am this morning “where a person was found deceased on the road”.

“The death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries into the circumstances are underway.”

Police said a scene examination was being carried out and the road would remain closed.

Cordons were in place at the West Coast Road intersection and the Makarau Road intersection.

“The public is advised to avoid the area, and motorists should take alternative routes.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Motorists are being asked to avoid the village of Makarau, north of Auckland, after an incident.

Police were called to Kaipara Coast Highway around 5.20am on Thursday.

The road is closed in both directions.

More to come…

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The near year has started with a bang across the country.

In Auckland, more than half a tonne of fireworks launched high up the Sky Tower.

Thousands poured into the central city after streets were closed to get a prime viewing spot for the five minute display that had taken half a year of planning.

Bipin Bhattarai and his family from Whangārei came prepared with camping chairs.

“We do a lot of camping, so why not?!” he said.

“We just take this all the time in our car so we’re just making use of it.”

He had only seen Auckland’s New Year fireworks on YouTube and said before they were let off that they looked “amazing”.

“So hopefully it will be nice this time as well.”

For others, it was a temporary homecoming.

Chris, who lives in Australia caring for her grand-daughter, also got a perfect spot near the base of the Sky Tower and had never come to see the fireworks before.

“No, never, I think it will be fabulous.”

But she was expecting more people, she said.

As it got closer to midnight, more people flooded in leaving standing room only on Victoria Street from Albert Park up to the tower.

Tourists were among them, a pair in the country from the UK had come from New Plymouth to see the fireworks.

There was also a group from Las Vegas armed with celebratory horns who took to dancing in the street.

“We travelled here for Christmas and family time,” one of the group said.

“We’ve never been and it was a long trip but it was worth it.”

Another in the group said they heard the excitement would be in the central city.

“So we came out, we wanted to bring some energy and this is a fun place to be to celebrate New Year’s Eve.”

Carnival on capital’s Courtenay Place

Wellington’s entertainment strip, Courtenay Place, was also partly closed to traffic and turned into a carnival zone for the night.

Kushla Pullman (aka Little Red Riding Hood) and husband Keith (the Big Bad Wolf) came from Wairarapa with their friends Chloe and Lee Dancey to see in the New Year.

“We actually dressed up because it’s meant to be a dress up party – it said that online – but nobody else is!”

Amid the hedonism of party central, Derryn and Chris Hunt from Palmerston North were enjoying a cold one of the cone variety.

“My New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier,” Chris said. “Hopes and dreams for 2026? For the war in Ukraine and Russia to end soon, that’s one of my bigger ones.”

Seven-year-old Naiya, who was at Whairepo Lagoon for the Kids’ Countdown, also had high hopes for 2026: “I hope there’s lots of fruit in my garden.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Horizons Regional Council has issued a warning to Manawatū River users at the historic Ōpiki Bridge.

One of the two suspension cables remaining from the old toll bridge, adjacent to State Highway 56, has fallen into the river.

In a post on social media, the council said anyone who used the awa for the likes of jetboating and canoeing should avoid the area because it is not safe.

The same cable had previously fallen into the river, the council said.

“It is the same cable which fell into the river in September 2023, but the issue is different. While the issue last time was with the bridge structure on the Manawatū District side, this time it’s with the bridge structure on the Horowhenua District side,” it said.

“Just like last time, we’re working to put signage up in the area to warn people of the hazard. We don’t have a timeframe for when we’ll be able to get the cable out of the water.”

The toll bridge was opened in 1918 by a flax company and converted to a toll road in the 1920s.

A new highway bridge upstream replaced the Ōpiki toll bridge in 1969.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A cyber security breach at ManageMyHealth has been “contained”, according to the company – but GPs and patients are still waiting to hear if their health records have been compromised.

The country’s largest patient information portal on Wednesday confirmed it had identified a cyber security incident involving “unauthorised access” to its platform.

Chief executive Vino Ramayah said the incident had been contained and was currently under investigation.

“We are working closely with the relevant authorities and independent cybersecurity specialists, and we will provide updates through formal statements as further information is confirmed,” he said.

“I want to assure our users, customers, and stakeholders that we take the protection of your health information extremely seriously.

“We recognise the concern that this situation raises, and I want to reassure you that it is being treated with the utmost seriousness.”

The immediate priority was ensuring the integrity and security of ManageMyHealth’s systems, he continued.

“As you will appreciate, it is important that any information we provide is accurate and verified. We thank you for your patience and will continue to share updates with you as information becomes available.”

GPs critical of lack of information

However, the dearth of communication has left family doctors worried.

The president of the College of GPs, Dr Luke Bradford, said he only learned about the potential breach through the media.

“It’s terribly disappointing. They’re an absolutely key tool that we use for patients. It allows patients to access their records and better manage their health, literally.

“But if their data’s not safe, then their very personal information is not safe, and that’s really concerning.”

It was “terrible timing”, with most practices now closed for four days, he said.

“We’re going into this period without any formal communication about what’s involved in the breach and what can be done about it.”

General Practice NZ chair Dr Bryan Betty agreed the situation was extremely worrying.

“Health data in terms of patients is incredibly important, and any breach like this has to be taken extremely seriously and has to be actioned as a matter of urgency,” he said.

“There should be obviously free and open transparency about the situation and what’s actually happened, both for patients and practices that use the ManageMyHealth portal.

“So I would expect that to be part of their management of the present situation.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A New Zealander has been arrested for breaking through security and walking onto the tarmac at Perth Airport.

Australian Federal Police said the 25-year-old man had been denied entry to his flight on Tuesday because he was thought to be intoxicated.

He allegedly broke the glass on an alarm and activated it, before pushing past airline staff at the international terminal.

The man then entered a restricted area known as ‘airside’ and walked onto the tarmac towards an aircraft. He was stopped by airport staff, who called police.

The man was charged with entering an airside area or airside security zone without permission, which carries a maximum penalty of A$15,650 (NZ$18,140).

He was scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court the following day.

AFP Acting Superintendent Hayly Faithfull said Perth Airport’s secure areas were clearly marked and closely monitored.

“Airside restrictions exist to ensure the safety and security of the travelling public and workers,” she said.

“If you choose to ignore the warnings and enter an airside security zone without permission, you will potentially face prosecution.”

Not the first badly behaved Kiwi

The man is not the only New Zealander to be arrested at an Australian airport for bad behaviour in recent times.

In July, a drunk 50-year-old woman allegedly ignored safety instructions, swore at cabin crew and danced in the aisle when the pilot was taxiing for takeoff on a flight from Sydney to Queenstown.

The pilot aborted takeoff and returned to the gate, calling for police assistance to remove the woman from the aircraft.

When police boarded the plane and asked her to exit, she became argumentative and non-compliant.

She was removed from the aircraft so the flight could depart, and returned to New Zealand the next day. She had been due to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court in September.

At that time, Detective Acting Inspector Trevor Robinson said the woman’s behaviour “risked the safety of herself, passengers and crew”.

“Anyone misbehaving on a flight and not cooperating with law enforcement isn’t just spoiling their trip, but they are potentially ruining the travel plans of hundreds of other people. They also face the possibility of a criminal conviction on their record for life.”

Drunken assault against airline crew

In another recent case, a 23-year-old New Zealand man was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and ordered to pay Air New Zealand A$10,824 (NZ$11,834) in compensation for drunkenly assaulting two airline crew.

On 23 October, 2024, Australian Federal Police were called to reports of an intoxicated and disruptive passenger on a flight from Perth to Auckland.

The man had refused to comply with requests from two crew members and assaulted both, causing minor injuries. His actions meant the plane had to be diverted to Melbourne, instead of landing in Auckland.

Police said officers boarded the plane once it landed at Melbourne Airport and removed the passenger, who had been restrained at the back of the aircraft.

He pleaded guilty on 17 April, 2025, to two counts of assaulting crew of an aircraft and was sentenced in July.

At the time of sentencing, Detective Superintendent Stephen Cook said airline staff deserved to feel safe in their workplace and not be subjected to violence and aggression from passengers.

“The AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene if anyone’s behaviour interferes with the safety of workers or the public in or around an airport, or on flights.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

New Year’s celebrations are well underway – despite the dreary weather in many regions.

Christchurch children have been the first to welcome the New Year, with a mock countdown with confetti cannons at 7pm at North Hagley Park.

The alcohol-free event included performances by headline act Kora and DJs, before what was described as an “epic” fireworks display.

Dunedin was embracing its Scottish heritage, with a piper to see in the New Year at a party in the Octagon.

In Auckland, half a tonne of fireworks launched from the Sky Tower for New Year.

Six months of planning and design work took just five minutes to show off when 3500 individual shots were launched at midnight.

Another severe thunderstorm warning that had been issued for areas around Auckland ended at 10pm.

The storms, with very heavy rain, were detected around just after 5.50pm on Wednesday, mainly in areas north-west of the city

“When it comes to lightning or thunder we just hold off for a little bit longer, but when it comes to 12 midnight we have to fire,” Rob McDermott from Pyrostar International earlier told RNZ.

SkyCity warned in advance that it had plans if wind speeds exceeded safety limits, but McDermott was confident they would not be needed.

“The forecast is saying that this rain is going to stop a couple of hours before midnight, the wind is dropping, it already has dropped, this morning it was about 40km/h and at the moment it’s around 20 or 25, we’ve got a limit around about 30km.

“So we’re going to be well and truly within that limit and we will fire at midnight,” McDermott said.

But there were things to see before then.

For the first time, photos of special moments through the year sent in by the public were shown on the tower in the hours before.

“From milestone birthdays to first smiles, the images capture the moments that shaped 2025 and highlight what mattered most,” SkyCity said.

As the photos were projected, the final testing of the fireworks got underway.

The final work was done from early Wednesday morning until mid-afternoon.

“We had a team of five pyrotechnicians and eight from SkyCity riggers helping us up there so everything is preloaded on the ground and then we take it up in the morning,’ McDermott said.

It had involved 1.6 tonnes of equipment and 14 kilometres of cabling.

“Not a bad morning’s work,” McDermott said.

He said the world was watching at midnight and nothing could go wrong.

“We’ll head up there about 9 o’clock and we’ll just check the coverings and we’ll retest so we can retest all the electrical circuits.”

Not just the Sky Tower

Auckland’s Harbour Bridge also burst into life at 9pm, with a brand new, dynamic light and sound show in the minutes before midnight.

“Roaming performers” would also feature along Queenstreet and the waterfront ahead of the clock ticking over.

Roads in the central city around the Sky Tower and Wynyard Quarter were closed from 10pm-1am.

The Wynyard Quarter pedestrian bridge was also upright, with no pedestrian access, from 11.45pm-12.15am.

‘Courtenay Carnival’

Further south, New Year celebrations in Wellington also went off with a bang, despite the dreary weather.

Courtenay Place, the capital’s entertainment strip, had been transformed into “Courtenay Carnival” for the evening, with multiple stages showcasing live performances, street eats and parades.

The area between Cambridge Terrace and Tory Street, including parts of Blair and Allen Streets was closed to vehicles, with Wellington City Council encouraging people to walk, bike or use public transport to attend the festivities.

The waterfront was the setting for the main event, with covers band Electric Avenue kicking off the entertainment at Whairepo Lagoon at 8pm and the Kids Countdown and fireworks at 9.30pm.

Orchestra Wellington took to the stage at 10pm, ahead of the countdown to 2026 and fireworks at midnight.

Steve and Vanya were seeing in the new year in the capital.

“Hopes and dreams for 2026 really is just, like, everybody just needs to calm the farm and, you know, be a bit more chill and kind to each other,” Steve said.

Vanya agreed: “Kind to each other, that’s the one, yeah.”

Other revellers on the streets of the capital were also happy to share their hopes for the new year.

“Hopeful for happy kids, more grandchildren and love. Keeping strong friendship relations going well, solid foundation with hubby,” a woman said.

“Oh, just carry on being cool and having fun and yeah, nothing major, staying alive,” one man told RNZ.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

With less than two hours left of 2025, New Year’s celebrations are well underway – despite the dreary weather in many regions.

Christchurch children have been the first to welcome the New Year, with a mock countdown with confetti cannons at 7pm at North Hagley Park.

The alcohol-free event includes performances by headline act Kora and DJs, before what’s described as an “epic” fireworks display.

Dunedin is embracing its Scottish heritage, with a piper to see in the New Year at the party in the Octagon.

In Auckland, half a tonne of fireworks are set to launch from the Sky Tower for New Year.

Six months of planning and design work will take just five minutes to show off when 3500 individual shots are launched at midnight.

But another severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for areas around Auckland, which is set to end at 10pm.

The storms, with very heavy rain, were detected around just after 5.50pm on Wednesday, mainly in areas north-west of the city

“When it comes to lightning or thunder we just hold off for a little bit longer, but when it comes to 12 midnight we have to fire,” Rob McDermott from Pyrostar International told RNZ.

SkyCity warned in advance that it had plans if wind speeds exceed safety limits, but McDermott was confident they would not be needed.

“The forecast is saying that this rain is going to stop a couple of hours before midnight, the wind is dropping, it already has dropped, this morning it was about 40km/h and at the moment it’s around 20 or 25, we’ve got a limit around about 30km.

“So we’re going to be well and truly within that limit and we will fire at midnight,” McDermott said.

But there are things to see before then.

For the first time, photos of special moments through the year sent in by the public will be shown on the tower in the hours before.

“From milestone birthdays to first smiles, the images capture the moments that shaped 2024 and highlight what mattered most,” SkyCity said.

As the photos are projected, the final testing of the fireworks gets underway.

The final work was done from early Wednesday morning until mid-afternoon, with just the last tests to go.

“We had a team of five pyrotechnicians and eight from SkyCity riggers helping us up there so everything is preloaded on the ground and then we take it up in the morning,’ McDermott.

It’s involved 1.6 tonnes of equipment and 14 kilometres of cabling.

“Not a bad morning’s work,” McDermott said.

He said the world was watching at midnight and nothing could go wrong.

“We’ll head up there about 9 o’clock and we’ll just check the coverings and we’ll retest so we can retest all the electrical circuits.”

Not just the Sky Tower

Auckland’s Harbour Bridge also bursts into life at 9pm, with a promise of a band new dynamic light and sound show in the minutes before midnight.

“Roaming performers” will also feature along Queenstreet and the waterfront ahead of the clock ticking over.

Roads in the central city around the Sky Tower and Wynyard Quarter will be closed from 10pm-1am.

The Wynyard Quarter pedestrian bridge will also be upright, with no pedestrian access, from 11.45pm-12.15am.

‘Courtenay Carnival’

Further south, New Year celebrations in Wellington are also set to go off with a bang, despite the dreary weather.

In the capital, the Kids’ Countdown has just finished at Whairepo Lagoon, with a short burst of fireworks.

Orchestra Wellington is due to take the stage now, ahead of the countdown and major fireworks display at midnight.

Courtenay Place, the capital’s entertainment strip, has been transformed into “Courtenay Carnival” for the evening, with multiple stages showcasing live performances, street eats and parades.

The area between Cambridge Terrace and Tory Street, including parts of Blair and Allen Streets is closed to vehicles, with Wellington City Council encouraging people to walk, bike or use public transport to attend the festivities.

The waterfront is the setting for the main event, with covers band Electric Avenue kicking off the entertainment at Whairepo Lagoon at 8pm and the Kids Countdown and fireworks at 9.30pm.

Orchestra Wellington takes to the stage at 10pm, ahead of the countdown to 2026 and fireworks at midnight.

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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

The year 2025 felt like the year of the strikes.

Over the past 12 months, we saw an abundance of industrial action across the public sector, including one of the largest strikes in New Zealand history.

Geopolitical tensions, weather extremes and contentious policy changes also dominated the headlines.

Scandals rocked the police force, free school lunches were criticised, and New Zealand said good-bye to seven decades of the Census.

Here are some of the biggest stories that made headlines around the country:

The disgraced former top cop and a police cover-up

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming had a dramatic fall from grace, but not without taking several top cops with him.

The first signs of trouble emerged in December last year when media reported McSkimming was on leave amid separate investigations by police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The investigations related to allegations of sexual misconduct by McSkimming from a former non-sworn female police employee.

Police then began a second criminal investigation related to McSkimming’s use of his work electronic devices, which were discovered during the initial investigation.

After being placed on leave at the end of 2024, McSkimming resigned in May before he could be dismissed, following recent allegations of ‘a very serious nature’.

In August, the media revealed McSkimming was facing eight charges of possessing objectionable publications, including child sexual exploitation and bestiality material over a four-year period.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December to nine months’ home detention.

But the troubles didn’t stop there.

A damning report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority was dropped in November, finding serious misconduct at the highest levels of police over how they handled accusations of sexual offending by McSkimming.

The allegations arose from an affair between McSkimming and a woman who was a non-sworn police employee at the time.

The IPCA report said when police did eventually refer the woman’s claims to the authority, several months after it was recommended, they do so, senior police attempted to influence the investigation.

The fallout was widespread and included resignations from former top cops and public apologies.

School lunches fiasco

The government’s cuts to the free school lunches have been a topic in the media all year.

Schools, students and parents have complained about lunches being late, too hot or too gross.

If that wasn’t enough, Libelle Group, the major provider of the school lunches, was placed into liquidation in March.

The school lunches seemed to quieten down in the news until the start of December, when a school complained they received mouldy meals. After a week of back-and-forth between the school, the lunch provider, and Minister responsible for the lunches, David Seymour, NZ Food Safety found that the rotten lunches were most likely caused by a mix-up by the school.

Trump Tariffs

This year, US President Donald Trump sent the world into a frenzy after announcing “reciprocal” tariffs on nations worldwide, sparking trade wars and causing turmoil in global stock markets.

Each nation received a tariff number that will apply to most goods. New Zealand initially received a baseline tariff of 10 percent; however, that was increased to 15 percent in August. However, there are some exemptions.

Tom Phillips and the Marokopa children are found

An investigation that not only gripped the nation but made waves across the world was the search for Tom Phillips and his children.

For four years, the group evaded authorities in the dense bush of the rural community of Marokopa.

On 8 September, it all came to an end when Phillips was killed in an early morning shootout with police. His children were safely found in a remote campground.

Gaza ceasefire

Almost exactly two years after the Gaza war began, a ceasefire was reached.

The truce stopped two years of devastating warfare in Gaza triggered by the 7 October, 2023 attack in which Hamas-led gunmen killed and took Israeli hostages, escalating the unresolved conflict in the Middle East.

The fragile ceasefire has seen Israeli hostages released and detained Palestinians freed.

However, it hasn’t stopped the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the population faces high levels of food insecurity, made worse by winter storms.

Te Pāti Māori

This year, Te Pāti Māori has been riddled with internal conflict, resulting in the party ousting one-third of its caucus.

The party was a smashing success last election, growing its caucus from two to six members and claiming all but one of the Māori seats.

In June, Parliament dealt its harshest ever punishment by suspending co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days, and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for seven.

The trio were sanctioned for their haka during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill in November 2024.

Then, later in the year, allegations of intimidation and financial mismanagement exposed rifts within the party.

It resulted in the party expelling MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, only to later reinstate Kapa-Kingi after she applied for a temporary court order.

The death of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Catholic Church, died aged 88 on 21 April.

He died of a stroke and heart failure, following a long illness.

Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church in May, taking the name Leo XIV, and becoming the first US pontiff.

Mega strike

This year has seen an abundance of strikes, from healthcare workers, teachers, firefighters, to journalists, many Kiwis have walked off the job seeking better pay and working conditions.

In the last 12 months, there’s been a swathe of industrial action, including a megastrike – one of the largest strikes in New Zealand’s history.

The industrial action in October involved of more than 100,000 primary and secondary teachers, primary principals, teacher aides, nurses, doctors, ACC workers, and other healthcare workers.

There has been some progress, but many major disputes remain unresolved and a significant number of pay negotiations are due to kick off in the New Year.

After 70 years, the Census has been scrapped

For many decades, one night every five years, every person in this country was asked to pick up a pen and answer a series of questions about themselves and the house they lived in.

The Census – a survey that attempts to count every single person in a population – has offered fascinating insights into New Zealand’s changing face over the years.

But 2023 has turned out to be the last year that the government will ask every person in the country to participate in the Census. The government announced the end of the Census, which had existed for 70 years, in June.

It will be replaced with a combination of administrative data from other government agencies and smaller annual surveys that a sample of the population will complete.

Bondi terror attack

In December, Australia saw its deadliest terror incident and the second-deadliest mass shooting in modern Australian history.

On 14 December, two gunmen opened fire on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, targeting a Hanukkah celebration.

The gunmen shot at the crowd, killing 15 people, the youngest being a 10-year-old girl.

One of the gunmen died at the scene, and his son – the other gunman – was taken to the hospital and charged with 59 offences, including one terrorist act and 15 counts of murder.

Police and Australian intelligence agencies declared it an Islamic State-linked terrorist incident.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The year 2025 felt like the year of the strikes.

Over the past 12 months, we saw an abundance of industrial action across the public sector, including one of the largest strikes in New Zealand history.

Geopolitical tensions, weather extremes and contentious policy changes also dominated the headlines.

Scandals rocked the police force, free school lunches were criticised, and New Zealand said good-bye to seven decades of the Census.

Here are some of the biggest stories that made headlines around the country:

The disgraced former top cop and a police cover-up

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming had a dramatic fall from grace, but not without taking several top cops with him.

The first signs of trouble emerged in December last year when media reported McSkimming was on leave amid separate investigations by police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The investigations related to allegations of sexual misconduct by McSkimming from a former non-sworn female police employee.

Police then began a second criminal investigation related to McSkimming’s use of his work electronic devices, which were discovered during the initial investigation.

After being placed on leave at the end of 2024, McSkimming resigned in May before he could be dismissed, following recent allegations of ‘a very serious nature’.

In August, the media revealed McSkimming was facing eight charges of possessing objectionable publications, including child sexual exploitation and bestiality material over a four-year period.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December to nine months’ home detention.

But the troubles didn’t stop there.

A damning report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority was dropped in November, finding serious misconduct at the highest levels of police over how they handled accusations of sexual offending by McSkimming.

The allegations arose from an affair between McSkimming and a woman who was a non-sworn police employee at the time.

The IPCA report said when police did eventually refer the woman’s claims to the authority, several months after it was recommended, they do so, senior police attempted to influence the investigation.

The fallout was widespread and included resignations from former top cops and public apologies.

School lunches fiasco

The government’s cuts to the free school lunches have been a topic in the media all year.

Schools, students and parents have complained about lunches being late, too hot or too gross.

If that wasn’t enough, Libelle Group, the major provider of the school lunches, was placed into liquidation in March.

The school lunches seemed to quieten down in the news until the start of December, when a school complained they received mouldy meals. After a week of back-and-forth between the school, the lunch provider, and Minister responsible for the lunches, David Seymour, NZ Food Safety found that the rotten lunches were most likely caused by a mix-up by the school.

Trump Tariffs

This year, US President Donald Trump sent the world into a frenzy after announcing “reciprocal” tariffs on nations worldwide, sparking trade wars and causing turmoil in global stock markets.

Each nation received a tariff number that will apply to most goods. New Zealand initially received a baseline tariff of 10 percent; however, that was increased to 15 percent in August. However, there are some exemptions.

Tom Phillips and the Marokopa children are found

An investigation that not only gripped the nation but made waves across the world was the search for Tom Phillips and his children.

For four years, the group evaded authorities in the dense bush of the rural community of Marokopa.

On 8 September, it all came to an end when Phillips was killed in an early morning shootout with police. His children were safely found in a remote campground.

Gaza ceasefire

Almost exactly two years after the Gaza war began, a ceasefire was reached.

The truce stopped two years of devastating warfare in Gaza triggered by the 7 October, 2023 attack in which Hamas-led gunmen killed and took Israeli hostages, escalating the unresolved conflict in the Middle East.

The fragile ceasefire has seen Israeli hostages released and detained Palestinians freed.

However, it hasn’t stopped the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the population faces high levels of food insecurity, made worse by winter storms.

Te Pāti Māori

This year, Te Pāti Māori has been riddled with internal conflict, resulting in the party ousting one-third of its caucus.

The party was a smashing success last election, growing its caucus from two to six members and claiming all but one of the Māori seats.

In June, Parliament dealt its harshest ever punishment by suspending co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for 21 days, and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for seven.

The trio were sanctioned for their haka during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill in November 2024.

Then, later in the year, allegations of intimidation and financial mismanagement exposed rifts within the party.

It resulted in the party expelling MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, only to later reinstate Kapa-Kingi after she applied for a temporary court order.

The death of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Catholic Church, died aged 88 on 21 April.

He died of a stroke and heart failure, following a long illness.

Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church in May, taking the name Leo XIV, and becoming the first US pontiff.

Mega strike

This year has seen an abundance of strikes, from healthcare workers, teachers, firefighters, to journalists, many Kiwis have walked off the job seeking better pay and working conditions.

In the last 12 months, there’s been a swathe of industrial action, including a megastrike – one of the largest strikes in New Zealand’s history.

The industrial action in October involved of more than 100,000 primary and secondary teachers, primary principals, teacher aides, nurses, doctors, ACC workers, and other healthcare workers.

There has been some progress, but many major disputes remain unresolved and a significant number of pay negotiations are due to kick off in the New Year.

After 70 years, the Census has been scrapped

For many decades, one night every five years, every person in this country was asked to pick up a pen and answer a series of questions about themselves and the house they lived in.

The Census – a survey that attempts to count every single person in a population – has offered fascinating insights into New Zealand’s changing face over the years.

But 2023 has turned out to be the last year that the government will ask every person in the country to participate in the Census. The government announced the end of the Census, which had existed for 70 years, in June.

It will be replaced with a combination of administrative data from other government agencies and smaller annual surveys that a sample of the population will complete.

Bondi terror attack

In December, Australia saw its deadliest terror incident and the second-deadliest mass shooting in modern Australian history.

On 14 December, two gunmen opened fire on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, targeting a Hanukkah celebration.

The gunmen shot at the crowd, killing 15 people, the youngest being a 10-year-old girl.

One of the gunmen died at the scene, and his son – the other gunman – was taken to the hospital and charged with 59 offences, including one terrorist act and 15 counts of murder.

Police and Australian intelligence agencies declared it an Islamic State-linked terrorist incident.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Half a tonne of fireworks set to launch from the Sky Tower for New Year in Auckland are being put through their final paces.

Six months of planning and design work will take just five minutes to show off when 3500 individual shots are launched at midnight.

But another severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for areas around Auckland, which is set to end at 10pm.

The storms, with very heavy rain, were detected around just after 5.50pm on Wednesday, mainly in areas north-west of the city

“When it comes to lightning or thunder we just hold off for a little bit longer, but when it comes to 12 midnight we have to fire,” Rob McDermott from Pyrostar International told RNZ.

SkyCity warned in advance that it had plans if wind speeds exceed safety limits, but McDermott was confident they would not be needed.

“The forecast is saying that this rain is going to stop a couple of hours before midnight, the wind is dropping, it already has dropped, this morning it was about 40km/h and at the moment it’s around 20 or 25, we’ve got a limit around about 30km.

“So we’re going to be well and truly within that limit and we will fire at midnight,” McDermott said.

But there are things to see before then.

For the first time, photos of special moments through the year sent in by the public will be shown on the tower in the hours before.

“From milestone birthdays to first smiles, the images capture the moments that shaped 2024 and highlight what mattered most,” SkyCity said.

As the photos are projected, the final testing of the fireworks gets underway.

The final work was done from early Wednesday morning until mid-afternoon, with just the last tests to go.

“We had a team of five pyrotechnicians and eight from SkyCity riggers helping us up there so everything is preloaded on the ground and then we take it up in the morning,’ McDermott.

It’s involved 1.6 tonnes of equipment and 14 kilometres of cabling.

“Not a bad morning’s work,” McDermott said.

He said the world was watching at midnight and nothing could go wrong.

“We’ll head up there about 9 o’clock and we’ll just check the coverings and we’ll retest so we can retest all the electrical circuits.”

Not just the Sky Tower

Auckland’s Harbour Bridge also bursts into life at 9pm, with a promise of a band new dynamic light and sound show in the minutes before midnight.

“Roaming performers” will also feature along Queenstreet and the waterfront ahead of the clock ticking over.

Roads in the central city around the Sky Tower and Wynyard Quarter will be closed from 10pm-1am.

The Wynyard Quarter pedestrian bridge will also be upright, with no pedestrian access, from 11.45pm-12.15am.

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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 police dog and its handler have been injured on Wednesday afternoon while pursuing suspects in Whangārei.

Northland District Commander Superintendent Matthew Srhoj said “a vehicle of interest” was stopped just after 2pm.

“The driver has taken off and police followed at road speed to [the suburb of] Tikipunga where the vehicle was abandoned and occupants fled on foot.”

Several police teams were involved in tracking them, including a dog unit.

“Unfortunately a police dog and its handler both suffered minor injuries but are on the mend.”

Four people were arrested, including a 19-year-old, who is facing driving charges, and a 48-year-old man, who is charged with obstruction.

Two youths have been referred to Youth Aid.

Police said enquiries were “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

The southbound lane of State Highway One near Takanini was closed following a crash between a car and a motorbike for several hours n Wednesday afternoon.

Police said early indication suggests one person has been seriously injured in the crash at about 12.30pm.

The lanes between Hill Road and Takanini were closed, but reopened shortly before 6pm.

However heavy traffic is still causing significant 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

A Navy Commodore has been awarded the Distinguished Service Decoration in the New Year Honours List.

The Distinguished Service Decoration has been instituted as a New Zealand Royal Honour to recognise military service.

Andrew Brown has been recognised for his leadership of New Zealand’s response to the grounding and subsequent sinking of HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa last year.

The Naval dive and hydrographic vessel ran aground while surveying a reef on the south coast of Upolu in October 2024.

It sank the following day.

The Citation said Brown acted as the liaison between New Zealand and Samoan authorities involved in the response, which addressed the initial impact assessment, environmental protection, salvage operations, diplomacy, and strategic implications of the sinking.

“He facilitated the Samoan-led response with an inclusive approach, engaging with leaders and providing constant progress feedback to Samoan authorities. This resulted in a high degree of trust being placed in New Zealand’s response, in a situation where the local community were concerned about the threat to their environment and livelihoods.

“He was Strategic Contract Manager for the NZDF’s oversight of salvage operations, had oversight of the deployed NZDF Task Group, and was a key advisor to the Maritime Pollution Advisory Committee that managed the Samoan national response. Commodore Brown’s leadership and diplomacy within the [Samoan] Maritime Pollution Advisory Committee and support to the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, with development and deployment of a water testing capability, positively influenced the decision to remove the precautionary zone and permit the community to return to fishing in the vicinity.”

Brown said that he was honoured and humbled to be recognised for his contribution to the response.

“But I must acknowledge the personnel from the New Zealand Defence Force, other government agencies, civilian contractors, and Samoan government officials that worked alongside me and supported me during the response.

“It was a very challenging and technical operation and there were not many days that I did not call upon my previous years of experience, training, and leadership, so I have many to thank and acknowledge.”

Brown has recently retired from regular service in the Navy, but remains a member of the Reserve Force.

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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 personal health portal ManageMyHealth has identified a cyber security breach.

The service connects patients with clinicians and allows people to access their medical records.

In a statement on its website, ManageMyHealth said the breach involved “unauthorised access to our systems”.

It said the matter was under active investigation and containment steps had been taken.

“We are working with our partners and relevant authorities and will provide further updates through formal statements as information is confirmed.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Consumer NZ is hopeful that electricity prices will improve in 2026, but does not expect much of a change.

The consumer advocacy group says investments in generating electricity and recent rain and snowfall bolstering hydro supply could keep prices down.

“We’re seeing some positive signs,” Consumer NZ Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge said.

“Gentailers (generator-retailers) have increased their investment in generation, which is really positive. Increasing supply and generation should help alleviate some of those high prices, in theory.”

But average New Zealanders wouldn’t see much difference, he said.

“I wouldn’t want to raise expectations there. I don’t think [prices] will decrease by much,” he said.

“We’d expect the price to at least stay static, if not a slight reduction. I would be surprised if prices increased next year, but I wouldn’t rule it out.”

He noted that many households had seen their power bills increase rapidly over the past year.

“Households are really feeling that, especially in a cost of living crisis. It’s an essential service. You can’t not have electricity, and so that’s hitting households and businesses pretty hard,” he said.

That was, in part, caused by a lack of competition.

“Close to 90 percent of the market is with one of the four gentailers or oil and gas subsidiaries,” he said.

“Independent generators and retailers really struggle to get a foothold, which sort of indicates that something’s not quite right with the structure of our retail market.”

Fuge hoped politicans would see electricity prices as a priority issue for the upcoming election.

“It will become a political issue. We feel there needs to be reform in the system, in the market, and that hasn’t happened. And so I think it will be an issue for politicians next year and not just us, lots of other organisations are also concerned about the price of energy and what it means for our economy,” he said.

“[The electricity market is] clearly not producing good results for businesses and households. You know, it’s been 25 years now since we put this retail market in, and the outcomes we’re seeing from that market are not aligned with what you’d expect from a thriving competitive market.”

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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 southbound lane of State Highway One near Takanini has been closed following a crash between a car and a motorbike on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said early indication suggests one person has been seriously injured.

The lanes between Hill Road and Takanini were closed.

NZTA said northbound lanes remained open, however heavy traffic is causing significant delays.

Southbound travellers can follow emergency services for detour routes.

The agency suggested motorists plan ahead and avoid the area if possible and to 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

New Zealand has not joined an international statement warning the humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating.

The statement, published overnight by the UK Foreign Office, describes conditions for civilians as “appalling” as winter approaches.

It said 1.3 million people urgently need shelter, and the majority of the population is experiencing acute food insecurity.

“More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding,” it said.

“Whilst the amount of aid going into Gaza has increased since the ceasefire, the response remains severely constrained by persistent impediments on humanitarian access.”

The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

It called on the government of Israel to allow more aid to enter, and to allow NGOs and the UN and its partners to keep working in Gaza.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister had already put New Zealand’s views on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza on the record “on a number of occasions”.

“We continue to call on the parties to exercise restraint, to fulfil their commitments, and to focus on the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid,” they said.

The ministry did not say whether New Zealand had been invited to join.

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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 Northland man who took his small boat into dangerous seas to rescue a yacht skipper says the conditions were “pretty hairy” and that his own vessel could easily have capsize too.

The police were called to the incident near Elizabeth Reef at around 5:10pm on Tuesday.

Coastguard National Operations Centre confirmed it received reports from members of the public about the capsized yacht.

A spokesperson said the person onboard was assisted by a nearby vessel, so Coastguard Tutukaka was not required to launch.

That nearby vessel belonged to Gordon Pengelly.

Pengelly was on his deck on Tuesday afternoon when he noticed a catamaran sailing past Elizabeth Reef in rough weather.

“It was so windy and rough I was thinking, ‘What are they doing out there?’” he said.

“It went down and back up and down again, and on the third time it didn’t come back up. I thought, ‘Oh, there’s something wrong there.’”

Pengelly, who said he was a confident boatie and longtime lifeguard, launched his boat and took his neighbour Dale with him.

“I told him this is going to be pretty hairy,” he said. “I’m a long-term lifeguard from the west coast at Muriwai and I know my limitations. If it got too dangerous, I wouldn’t push it.”

The pair alerted Coastguard to what they were doing and kept in touch along the way.

About two to three kilometres offshore, they located the overturned catamaran.

One hull was submerged, the other on its side. The skipper was sitting on the centre section, trying to get his dinghy.

“I backed up about three or four metres and said, ‘You have to swim out to me’.

“Dale grabbed him and we pulled him onboard.”

Pengelly said the skipper told him he was the only person on board and did not appear to be in shock.

“He’s an experienced yachtie,” he said. “Pretty bulletproof.”

The skipper’s dog, Rimu, had been onboard too wearing a bright orange life jacket but jumped from the dinghy and was last seen swimming toward shore.

Despite the conditions, Pengelly and Dale continued several kilometres along the coast searching for the dog before returning.

“I would’ve found it hard to just go straight back,” Pengelly said.

A community search for Rimu the dog continued, with locals responding to social media posts and using drones to scan the rugged coastline.

Pengelly’s generosity didn’t stop with the rescue, he opened his home to the skipper to stay the night and took him back to the catamaran, that has washed up upside down on Sandy Bay Beach, to salvage items from the vessel.

Paul Baragwanath, who alerted police to the boat and witnessed the rescue, commended Pengelly what jumping to action.

“He’s a very brave man because at any point his boat could have flipped.

“I think he’s a real hero.”

But Pengelly wouldn’t accept the title.

“I’m not a hero – it’s just in my DNA,” he said.

“When you’re a lifeguard and someone’s in trouble, you just go. But it wasn’t easy. It was fricking serious.”

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