Source: Radio New Zealand

Authorities are warning residents in the Otago town of Palmerston near a pine tree blaze to keep their windows and doors shut due to smoke.

The fire started at 2:35pm on Thursday near Goodwood Rd and had been fought by ground crews and four helicopters.

It was now contained, but burnt through 25 hectares of pine.

Fire and Emergency said there was no risks to homes but smoke may blow towards the town on Thursday night.

“People in the vicinity of the fire should keep windows and doors shut and stay inside if possible.

“Remember to also keep the ventilation systems in your house and car turned off.”

Fire crews were expected to mop up the blaze on Friday morning.

It was one of nine fires across Otago and Southland on Thursday which had all been contained or extinguished by 9pm.

Near the Southland town of Mataura, State Highway 96 would remain closed over Thursday night between State Highway 1 and Waimumu due to a now contained fire which was 300 x 200m in size.

Nine fire trucks and two helicopters tackled the fire at a forestry block.

It would be extinguished on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, four crews were called to a paddock fire in Papakaio in the Waitaki district sparked by a trampoline blowing into powerlines.

Two crews were working on a smouldering tree near Whitstone.

The wind blew three branches onto two cars in Oamaru but Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said a dog in one of the cars was not hurt.

A paddock fire that broke out on Johnston Rd on the outskirts of Balclutha about 1pm had been contained.

FENZ said 30 firefighters on the ground and two helicopters with monsoon buckets were now working to put it out.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Aucklanders are overwhelmingly against a plan to trial fortnightly rubbish collections.

Auckland Council received 5086 submissions on a proposed trial to halve the number of kerbside collections in Te Atatū, Panmure, Tāmaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth from February to August.

About 80 percent of written submissions were against the trial.

Auckland Council’s general manager of waste solutions, Justine Haves, said there were some common themes.

They included worries about managing fuller bins, smells, hygiene and whether they would have enough bin space, particularly in big households.

The council had ideas about to help, he said.

“If the trial goes ahead, we will offer additional and larger bins at no cost, support households with higher waste needs, and provide a one-off rates remission for participating ratepayers,” he said

There was some positive feedback.

“Supporters highlighted the need to reduce waste to landfill and the opportunity to test the service before any wider decisions are made,” he said.

“Some also noted they don’t produce enough rubbish to need a weekly collection,”

The trial was part of a plan by the council to reduce household kerbside waste by 29 percent by 2030.

There were 2377 written submissions from the trial area, with another 2090 from other places.

About 5 percent of people made face-to-face submissions, with those people more likely to be evenly split.

A decision on whether to go ahead would be made next month.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Dunedin City Council will ask for expressions of interest to set up a housing outreach service in a bid to help address a growing homelessness crisis

.

The council was originally discussing setting up an in-house service immediately for $270,000, but a new motion opted to ask for proposals from community providers and report back to council with the options instead.

The vote narrowly passed by eight votes against seven.

A report tabled at Thursday’s council meeting said homelessness and housing insecurity were rising among Dunedin’s young people, and the city’s transition home was under increasing pressure with a long and growing waiting list.

During the debate, different councillors flagged the horror stories they knew about in the city – mothers living in cars with babies, tents set up in parks and reserves, and a family of seven sleeping in two cars.

Councillor Andrew Simms put forward the new motion, saying it was clear the elected members all believed that council had a role to play in addressing homelessness in the city, the debate was around how to achieve that.

His motion was not shutting the door on an in-house outreach service, but sought to hear from trusted and established providers about what they could do before they examined all of the proposals, he said.

He believed there could be more cost effective ways of creating an outreach service than the proposed $270,000 in-house service that included two full time equivalent staff and a moderate operating budget.

The passed motion allows the chief executive to develop the terms for service including an initial three year service starting in April, performance measures and community outcomes, and annual reporting, before staff ask for expressions of interest to deliver the service.

Councillor Marie Laufiso did not support the motion, instead foreshadowing that she would support setting up a council-led housing outreach service immediately.

This service needed to be built yesterday and it was frustrating that they had not been able to give staff the resources they needed to set one up, she said.

Councillor Christine Garey said the message from the community on the frontline was they were looking to the council for leadership.

She called for a bold, courageous decision, saying they needed to put their money with their mouth was and should go with an in house model.

Councillor Russell Lund, who supported the motion, said it was naive to think that the council could provide the same kind of service that established organisations offered in such a short timeframe.

Councillor Lee Vandervis also backed the motion, saying it potentially gave them the best of both worlds by ensuring those with expertise were involved, allowing for local sponsors and had the potential to get up and running quicker.

Councillor Jules Radich called the proposal “practical”.

Councillor Brent Weatherall said he believed the problem was out of control and existing outreach services were the most cost effective option.

Councillor Mandy Mayhem, who voted against the motion, said they needed urgent and immediate action.

Councillor Steve Walker said it was clear they wanted a solution, but they were getting bogged down on how to get there.

He backed setting up an in house model before considering possible transitions further down the track.

Mayor Sophie Barker supported the plan to explore different proposals, saying they needed to make the right decision rather than a fast one.

In the original proposal, the council said the new service would connect people to the appropriate support service, help them use the services, respond to people at high risk of harm and work with emergency services to de-escalate situations.

During the public forum, Aaron Hawkins from the Otago Housing Alliance told the council that more public housing was needed in the long term, but right now more support was needed for people experiencing homelessness.

“There’s no outcome of any review that won’t tell us that this outreach service is needed and needed urgently in our city,” he said.

The government had acknowledged that the need existed, but they had not gone far enough, he said.

The report said the Ministry of Social Development had recently funded Catholic Social Services to support people experiencing homelessness and help to link them to the Ministry’s services.

That initiative was expected to run for up to one financial year.

The Alliance surveyed council candidates ahead of the election with the overwhelming majority stating they believed the council had a role to play in addressing homelessness in the city, he said.

“This is the first opportunity you have as elected members to make a meaningful contribution to that work.”

He would love for central government to see this as a core part of its responsibilities and resource it adequately.

“But they don’t and we can’t wait for government to come and save us, we need to be in control of our own destiny.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The construction of a controversial sewerage pipeline near a Rotorua lake is set to head back to court.

The Rotokākahi Board of Control (RBOC) was taking the Rotorua Lakes Council to the High Court over the Tarawera Sewage Scheme which would connect about 440 Lake Tarawera properties to the public wastewater network.

Part of the pipeline, 1.4km of it, would run along Tarawera Rd parallel to Lake Rotokākahi an area considered wāhi tapu by mana whenua, with tūpuna (ancestors) buried nearby during the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.

The construction of the pipeline had been intermittent, with protests, an occupation of the area and seven arrests for trespass in February 2025.

Speaking to RNZ in February, Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive Andrew Moraes said the scheme would remove the need for properties in the vicinity of Lake Tarawera to have septic tanks which often leak into the lake.

“We have almost 20km of pipe throughout the district of similar type and construction that is installed a similar distance from our other lakes and we’ve had no incidences of those pipes leaking in the history of this district,” he said.

Board spokesperson Te Whatanui Leka Skipwith said the council’s refusal to honour genuine consultation with mana whenua had pushed this into the courtroom.

“We welcome our day in court – because we’ve had enough. Council has ignored consultation, disrespected the process, and pulled last-minute legal stunts whenever we pushed back.

“On December 1, they’ll have to front. No more hiding behind rushed paperwork, closed-door deals or political convenience. This is a chance for mana whenua to finally challenge the council on neutral ground – and to make it clear that we will always protect Rotokākahi, no matter who tries to silence us.”

Skipwith said the message from the RBOC consultation must be real, legal obligations must be honoured and mana whenua decision-making must be respected.

A previous bid to stop the pipeline being installed had failed in the Environment Court.

The hearing at High Court at Rotorua was set to begin on Monday, December 1.

RNZ approached Rotorua Lakes Council who said as the matter was before the courts, it would not be appropriate to comment.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Bioeconomy Science Institute is planning to ask for voluntary redundancies from all permanent staff.

The institute – formed in July – saw the merger of AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion into a single organisation as part of an overhaul of the science sector.

CEO Mark Piper said the proposed voluntary redundancy offer was part of a financial improvement process to support the new organisation.

It employs 2300 people and its headquarters is at the Lincoln University Campus in Canterbury.

Piper said voluntary redundancy, “would give individuals space to reflect on their own aspirations as we shape the next phase of our institute”.

“These steps will help us build a more connected and resilient organisation, positioned to support our partners and continue delivering research that matters. Our priority through this process remains maintaining continuity across our research and supporting New Zealand’s bioeconomy.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Millions of dollars have been spent on a new speedway track at Auckland’s Waikaraka Park, with drivers calling it “a win” for the motor sports community.

An $11 million construction project has finished just in time for the first Auckland race of the 2025-2026 speedway season on Saturday.

Speedway New Zealand, the governing body of the sport in Aotearoa, certified the safety of the new track on November 26.

It was the first new speedway track the country had built in the last 25 years.

Midget car driver Ben Morrison was stoked to test out the track for the first time on Thursday, a year after the upgrades were first announced.

“We’ve all followed the progress on social media and seen how it’s tracking. Huge credit to the people who have been building this in the wettest months of the year, and they got it done just in time.

“It was a whole lot of fun out there. I think it’s got potential to be the best track in the country.”

In October 2024, Auckland Council made the controversial decision to end nearly 100 years of speedway racing at Western Springs and move all speedway to Waikaraka Park in Onehunga.

Sprint car driver Luke Brown, who also owned and worked on his car, said it was sad to see speedway end at Western Springs.

“It is sad that Western Springs is gone. Awesome place, awesome venue, awesome history.”

But he said the new track was a massive improvement from what the city had to offer before, and it made more sense to have a single venue for motorsports.

“For me, I think it’s a vast improvement in terms of spectator viewership and potential sponsorship. It’s one facility run by two different groups. It’s the best of both worlds; you can pick and choose which [speedway] classes you want or don’t want to see.

“The facilities are good, and they’re only going to get better. Overall, I think it’s a win.”

After its facelift, Waikaraka Park now sported a wider track, new lighting and toilet facilities, and an improved speedway safety wall and catch fence.

A new pit area had been built, fitting up to 130 racers at a time, 40 more than before. The pit would also be open to fans during racing, for them to mingle with drivers.

There was also a new heritage wall, honouring the track’s history from when speedway racing started there in 1967.

Auckland Stock and Saloon Car Club, which hosted speedway events at Waikaraka Park, said at the moment, the venue could accommodate 4500 spectators at a time, with 3000 in the grandstand.

Club promoter Bruce Robertson said the new track, designed by an architect who is a former speedway driver, was similar to international speedway tracks.

“We’ve really got a great facility here for racing and the track’s banked as well, which is unusual for a New Zealand track; there’s only one other that has a banked track. This is something they’ll get used to and enjoy American-style racing.”

He said the consolidation of speedway in Auckland to just one venue means drivers and fans would have a better experience.

“There’s still some thinking Western Springs [speedway] should continue on. But if this [upgrade] wasn’t done, they would have nowhere to race.

“I’ve invested a lot in Western Springs, unfortunately, but times have changed.”

They were expecting sell-out crowds for their upcoming events.

Waikaraka Park had a lease in place until 2051, with the club, which would now host all four-wheel speedway classes, including the open wheel classes that previously raced at Western Springs.

Meanwhile, the Western Springs Speedway Association was taking Auckland Council to court.

Spokesperson Jason Jones believed having just one venue for speedway would not help the sport’s growth.

“We’re happy for Waikaraka, but it’s not a solution for the entire sport whatsoever.

“Anyone who says it’s a great thing for speedway moving forward is not being truthful.”

He argued Western Springs could accommodate larger crowds, which would attract more money from sponsors.

“A key aspect of the business model with motorsport is sponsorship, if you own a car or your race, and that’s solely based around bums on seats. The less people you have at a venue, the less exposure you have for your branding, and the less likely it is for you to gain sponsorship.”

Celebrating the opening of the new track, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) chief executive Nick Hill said focusing on Waikaraka was the right call.

“Not everybody has been supportive of these changes and the consolidation, but that’s the history of all sporting venues when they consolidate or move somewhere new.

“People are very passionate about their experiences with sport, and there’s a lot of history with the [speedway] venues. But this secures the future of speedway in Auckland in one place, and at one venue.”

TAU were looking at adding more spectator seating at Waikaraka Park in the future.

Auckland Council was expected to make a final decision about how Western Springs Stadium will be used going forward early next year.

Racing will return to Waikaraka Park from Saturday, November 29, for stock and saloon cars, followed by open-wheel racing on Saturday, December 13.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A proposed 66 house subdivision near the shores of Lake Whakamaru in Waikato has sparked a land occupation by a local hapū.

But the issues Ngāti Te Kohera were fighting for go much deeper than the one development; and they might not be easy to solve.

When Jonathan Quigley set about asking for his land to be rezoned from rural to rural-lifestyle, he thought he did everything right.

“We consulted extensively with iwi and they helped, through conversations with them, they helped essentially inform the end result,” he said.

He said the feedback from iwi leaders he engaged with was that the consultation had been well done.

“So, you can imagine our surprise when we then had an occupation start on the end of the first day of the [plan change] hearing,” he said.

Ngāti Te Kohera hapū representative Craig Ahipene said they had problems with the proposed development culturally, environmentally and legally – and thought it would just be an eyesore.

However, many of the group’s concerns go back to the history of how the land fell into private hands, and to the way the crown developed the hydro lake in the first place.

“The river was flooded to form the new hydro lake that is there today. Unfortunately, the crown at the time didn’t allow us, and other hapū, to remove our dead,” Ahipene said.

This meant any development near the lake which might result in pollution of the river was deeply concerning to the hapū.

“Human waste that goes into that river is a grievous cultural harm to the mana and tapu and mouri of our dead ancestors, and ourselves as well because we are the protectors of that.”

Quigley said the proposal took that concern on board and had been developed so no sewage could get in the river, along with mitigating other environmental concerns.

Local Hope Woodward was against the development and said it might be well planned but the lakeside was not the place for 66 houses.

“It’s going to be an environmental experiment basically and this space just doesn’t need it,” she said.

She wanted the area to be protected as undeveloped land.

“We don’t have a lot of spaces like this left around our country and this is only going to set a precedent for further developments.”

The occupation was not on Quigley’s land but on the public land reserve right in front of it.

He said he’d been told the area was now under a rāhui and restrictions apply to when and how he and his family could use the reserve.

A South Waikato District Council spokesperson said it was aware of public access being restricted to the site and had seen reports of an apparent rāhui being put in place for part of Lake Whakamaru Reserve.

“However, this has not been officially communicated to us in any form. Raukawa, as the iwi who carry mana and responsibility for the hapū currently occupying the area, are the appropriate body to work with the group on this matter,” the spokesperson said.

The council said it respected the group’s right to peaceful protest, with maintaining public access to the site and the safe management of any fire present being its key concerns.

Both Quigley and those occupying the land said interactions at the lake are generally respectful, though online things have got personal.

“I’ve received death threats via Facebook, so that’s not fun,” he said.

Quigley felt lies had been spread about him and the development online, and it was an enormously stressful situation for his whole family.

“My wife is pretty strung out knowing what I’m going through, my kids are old enough to see that it’s having an effect, and it’s all for stuff that’s not actually accurate.”

Jacinta Rata had been occupying the land since day one and said the occupation was affecting those taking part.

“We’ve all had to sacrifice a lot to be here on the ground,” she said.

She said it wasn’t a situation anyone wanted, even those taking part in the occupation.

“But you know, I think if we didn’t do it, it would be harder to live with… if we didn’t do anything,” she said.

Ahipene said regardless of the outcome of the proposed development, the hapū expected the occupation to continue until they could preserve the land.

And that’s bigger than Quigley.

“The crown basically has created this problem through its processes in history and so the crown needs to be part of the solution as well,” said Ahipene.

Not that he had much faith in the current government. His faith was with where he felt the mood of the public was.

“The majority are against this [government’s] attack on the environment, we’re against this attack on Māori rights,” he said.

The proposed plan change was now with South Waikato District Council planning commissioners, and a decision was expected in the next few months.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A man has been charged with arson in relation to a house fire in the Southland town of Waikaia that happened almost two years ago.

Emergency services were called to the home on Elswick Street on 21 February 2024, where the blaze caused extensive damage.

On Wednesday police charged a 35 year old Dunedin man with arson who was due to appear in Gore District Court on 17 December.

Detective Sergeant Brian McKinney thanked members of the public who provided information to police for their investigation.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

National MP Carlos Cheung and several other Hong Kong New Zealanders have expressed their sadness and concern over the major fire that has killed dozens.

The blaze engulfed multiple residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.

“I am deeply saddened by the devastating fire in Hong Kong last night,” MP Carlos Cheung said.

“As someone who was born in Hong Kong and came to New Zealand as a teenager, this tragedy feels especially close to home. My heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones, those who are injured, and everyone affected by this horrific incident.”

The fire, which has engulfed multiple residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, has killed 44 people with around 270 missing.

“I also want to acknowledge the bravery of the first responders who put themselves at risk to save others,” Cheung said.

“As a New Zealand Member of Parliament, I stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong during this incredibly difficult time, and I hope for a full and transparent investigation so that answers and accountability can be found.

My thoughts are with all those grieving and with the survivors who now face an unimaginable recovery.”

The complex includes 2000 apartments and houses over 4600 people, many of whom were pensioners.

A Hong Kong New Zealander says he and his friends are saddened by the big fire in Tai Po.

Garry Ko, a committee member at the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association, says he used to live close to the area where a few high-rise buildings are on fire.

“As someone born in Hong Kong, I’m really saddened when I saw news about the fire. Although I [have left] Hong Kong now, Tai Po is always home in my heart,” he says.

Garry Ko says he has been keeping a close eye on the response to the blaze and his organisation will discuss what they can do to help.

Another Hong Konger living in New Zealand Anthony Lo says he hopes these who are unaccounted for in the fire could be found safe.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to the deadly blaze – two directors and a consultant of a construction company.

All election-related work has been paused in the city.

– RNZ/CNN

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A Corrections officer says the death of a man they pepper sprayed in Mt Eden Prison has stayed with them.

The second phase of a Coronial Inquest into the death of Caleb Moefa’auo is underway in the Auckland District Court.

It will focus on the circumstances of his death, how his mental health contributed to what happened and whether the officers involved adequately took this into account.

Moefa’auo had been previously diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and was staying at Tiaho Mai – a residential unit to support people with mental health issues – after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and shoplifting in June, 2021.

He was sent to Mt Eden Corrections Facility in December, 2021 after allegedly assaulting a fellow patient at Tiaho Mai, and was later placed in the prison’s Intervention and Support Unit, after being found to be at risk of self-harm.

The 26-year-old had a cardiac arrest after being pepper sprayed in 2022, in an altercation over returning towels following a shower.

On Thursday, the officer who sprayed Moefa’auo gave tearful evidence, pausing a number of times to wipe their eyes.

The officer, who cannot be named, had been charged with assault but was acquitted in a trial by jury.

They said they would’ve approached Moefa’auo differently, if they had known more about him.

“It wasn’t until after his death that I found out that he had come from an acute mental health ward, hadn’t been taking his medication, and had not slept the previous night,” they said.

“Looking back now, I think I would have approached him differently if I had known more about him. The more information about the people we are looking after, the better decisions we can make.”

The officer believed using pepper spray was necessary to gain control of the situation.

“I want to be clear that my decision to use pepper spray was not because Caleb had more than one towel,” he said.

“The towel issue was what started the interaction, but my decision to draw and then use spray was about the situation becoming unsafe, and needing to regain control.”

The officer said they drew the spray as a warning, but couldn’t see any sign of Moefa’auo following instructions.

The officer said the decision to use pepper spray was made in good faith.

Looking back, the officer said he might have tried talking to Moefa’auo for longer or creating more space between them.

“At the time, I saw risk from Caleb’s non-compliance, his size, his raised and agitated behaviour, and the wet towels which can be used as a weapon or ligatures.”

The officer addressed Moefa’auo’s family who sat sullenly at the back of the courtroom.

The officer choked back tears as they spoke about the impact of Moefa’auo’s death.

“Caleb’s death has stayed with me,” they said.

“I have replayed those moments many times in my mind and have reflected deeply on what happened that day, what began as a situation I believed I needed to manage for safety reasons ended in the outcome that none of us could have foreseen or wanted.”

They recognised the deep loss the Moefa’auo family carried, the officer said.

‘I try talk to the prisoners like they’re human’ – staffer says

The Coroner’s Court heard earlier on Thursday from another Corrections officer who tried to take Moefa’auo’s towel prior to him being pepper sprayed.

In phase one of the inquest, which took place in July, Counsel assisting the Coroner, Rebekah Jordan, outlined the series of events leading up to Moefa’auo’s death.

He had taken a shower that day, and used three towels to dry himself.

After taking a fourth, an acting senior corrections officer approached him, holding a can of pepper spray.

Moefa’auo was told to pass the towel to another officer, which he did, before being directed to get on his knees.

When Moefa’auo began to rise, the acting senior officer shouted at him, before spraying him.

“Caleb was clearly affected by the pepper spray. A number of officers restrained Caleb on the ground and placed him in handcuffs… While this was happening Caleb repeatedly apologised and made the first of a number of comments that he could not breathe,” Jordan said.

The officers took him back to his cell, where he stopped responding.

The Corrections officer on Thursday said as they read their statement Moefa’auo was “passively resisting” when asked to hand the towel over.

“At the time of speaking to Caleb about the towel, I didn’t perceive him as a threat,” they said.

“The response that I was using to get the towel from Caleb, I believe, was appropriate, in that it was verbal communication, and I felt that I was going to be able to safely resolve the situation by talking to him.”

However, as Moefa’auo went to pick up more towels, he was confronted by other officers and the situation escalated, leading to the pepper spraying.

Coroner McKenzie asked the staffer how they balanced looking after their own safety with the safety of inmates in their day to day prison work.

“Is there an emphasis on one safety over the other,” she asked.

“Ever since I started this job, I try talk to the prisoners like they’re human, because they are,” the staffer said.

“I never go high, I never go low, I try and stay in that level with them, try and gain compliance, and that’s how I build my confidence in dealing with prisoners.”

Officer Scrutinised by family’s lawyer

The lawyer representing Moefa’auo’s family, Sam Wimsett KC, grilled the officer on the stringent rules around towels.

“Is it written down somewhere, what you were told?” he asked.

“Not to my knowledge” the officer replied.

“Is there a manual with these types of things?”

“Not that I know of,” the officer responded.

He asked if the officer thought they could’ve given Moefa’auo more of a warning, to which the officer agreed.

Wimsett pointed out pepper spray fell under the use of force, and that the physical use of force was meant to be the final option.

He questioned what other options the officer used to try de-escalate the situation.

“No other options,” the officer said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A judge accused of disrupting a New Zealand First event has had her bid for legal clarity rejected.

District Court Judge Ema Aitken was accused of disrupting a function at the exclusive Northern Club in Auckland last November, allegedly shouting leader Winston Peters was lying.

She argued she didn’t shout, she didn’t recognise Mr Peters’ voice when she responded to remarks she overheard and she didn’t know it was a political event.

A judicial conduct panel – made up of retired Court of Appeal Judge Brendan Brown KC (chair), sitting Court of Appeal Judge Justice Jillian Mallon and former Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae – will review Judge Aitken’s conduct at a hearing next year.

This week, at a preliminary hearing in Wellington, Judge Aitken’s lawyer, David Jones KC, sought to clarify the legal test for judicial misconduct justifying removal from the bench.

“You have to have something to aim at, you have to have something to establish,” he said. “Here we have the difference – for example – between misconduct and misbehaviour, and we have to know how egregious that has to be, in order for the contemplation of removal to be considered.”

Special counsel Jonathan Orpin-Dowell, one of two lawyers presenting allegations of misconduct to the panel, replied that parliament didn’t intend to set a threshold for misbehaviour.

In a decision released this week, panel chair Brown KC said he wouldn’t decide on a legal test before the hearing, when each case depended on its own facts.

“In the circumstances where we have not read any briefs of evidence, we are currently operating in a factual vacuum,” he said. “In any event, we cannot make findings of facts, until we have heard the evidence [including cross-examination] at the hearing.”

There wasn’t any prejudice against Judge Aitken by not ruling on a legal test, as she has the statement of allegations made against her, Brown KC said.

Judge Aitken’s lawyers sought clarity over the word “heckled” in the allegations made against her, saying the Oxford Dictionary‘s meaning of “interrupting a public speaker with derisive or aggressive comments” wasn’t appropriate for the circumstances.

The request was declined by the panel, who agreed with the opposing lawyers that the word would be considered in the hearing.

Jones KC also sought to clarify the level of knowledge or intention which would need to be established at the hearing.

The Special Counsel said the allegations against the Judge were that she “either knew, or in the alternative, ought to have known she was commenting on politically contentious matters” when she spoke at the event.

Jones KC argued the hearing would need to establish Judge Aitken knew of the political context when she spoke at the event – not what she, as a judge, ought to have known.

He questioned whether the lawyers were making an allegation of dishonesty against the judge in their case against her, but the special counsel submissions were that there was no specific allegation of dishonesty against the judge.

The panel said the question of what the judge knew would be considered in the hearing and it wouldn’t make a ruling on it in advance.

The judicial conduct panel will consider Judge Aitken’s behaviour at a hearing in February.

It will determine facts and write a report to the g-eneral, including whether the removal of the judge is justified.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Metallica playing at Auckland’s Eden Park last week. (File photo) Tom Grut

A local community board has voted against having more concerts at Auckland’s Eden Park, angering a local business association.

The government wants to boost the number of gigs allowed at the venue to 12 large and 20 medium concerts a year. At the moment it was limited to six artists playing a total of 12 gigs a year.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop wrote to Auckland Council with an eye on loosening restrictions on Eden Park’s operations which he said were costing hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The government was now seeking feedback from the public and council on the findings.

The Albert-Eden local board has voted no to supporting that plan, which infuriated the Dominion Rd Business Association.

The association’s manager Gary Holmes told Checkpoint the decision was “economic vandalism” in his eyes.

“We’ve got business on Dominion Rd fighting to survive a rescission and here we’ve got a local board turning away $250,000 of economic stimulus for our area alone per event and they’re ignoring their own voters.

“We know over 70 percent of locals support more concerts. It’s not just out of touch with businesses but out of touch with reality.”

Holmes said the association had market view data that had shown the impact of spending over time.

“For example, when Coldplay played last year our dining revenue jumped by 25 percent.

“Because we’re competing with Sydney and Melbourne it’s crazy to turn away that kind of money due to restrictions on Eden Park.”

Holmes said the local board needed to listen to residents who wanted a “vibrant city”.

“We want to be a destination.”

Eden Park’s CEO Nick Sautner told Morning Report on Thursday morning, the national stadium was being “hampered by a bureaucracy of restrictions”.

“If I was the CEO of a toll road or a shopping centre and had 90 percent idle capacity people would be asking questions. My idle capacity is a result of our constraints and so, Chris Bishop’s initiative to implement these changes enables business to do business.”

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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 health minister has told Health New Zealand he wants more of a focus on decision-making closer to the frontline and expects a plan by the end of the year.

Simeon Brown’s letter of expectations to chair Lester Levy sets out the government’s priorities for 2026/27 and his feedback on the 2025/26 year so far.

“It is clear to me that Health NZ is too centralised,” Brown wrote. “Too many decisions are made by people who are removed from the problems that frontline clinicians are trying to solve.

“This is causing significant frustration for local districts and stifling innovation, which could lead to efficiencies, which deliver more care for patients within the budgets, which have been set.”

Brown said he expected Health New Zealand to develop policy by 31 December, showing how it planned to devolve decision-making to regions and districts.

The government re-established the Health New Zealand governance board in July, with Levy moving from his commissioner role to chair.

On Thursday, it was revealed hospitals in Wellington were waiting up to six months for Health New Zealand approval to begin recruitment for frontline roles.

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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

Benches are being stolen from bus shelters across Auckland but the city’s transport agency has yet to file an official report to police despite knowing about the issue for three weeks.

Auckland Transport told RNZ it was aware of benches being removed from about 65 of the city’s 3000 bus stops.

“It’s possible these benches are being sold as scrap metal. We are in the process of sourcing benches constructed from different materials making them difficult to graffiti and a less desirable scrap product,” said its manager of public transport real time and response, Rebecca Temple.

Temple said it’s unfortunate that anti-theft bolting on the seats wasn’t able to stop them being removed.

AT said in a statement that it “notified” police about three weeks ago, when it first became aware of the seats going missing.

But it said it’s yet to file a formal report.

“We have not filed a formal police report because we are still gathering information on the sites where seats have gone missing to include in a report to police,” it said.

“We have been gathering information on all 3000 bus shelters to try and understand the full extent of the issue across the network. This is due to be filed in the next day or so,” said AT.

“We work with the police daily and so lodging this complaint is just the formality not the reality. We sit together in our operations centre,” it added.

Meanwhile, a police spokesperson said they were not “immediately aware” of bus stop benches being stolen.

‘Are they just waiting for more to be stolen?’

Puketāpapa Local Board member Jon Turner said he first noticed the missing benches when going for a run down Mount Eden Road, and spotted eight missing.

Since he posted to social media, he’s received reports of others missing in Sandringham, Avondale and around Greenwoods Corner on Manukau Road.

Turner said AT should be taking action now, rather than waiting longer to make a police report.

“How long are they going to keep waiting to make a report, when the things have already been stolen?

“Are they just waiting for more to be stolen to add to the list?,” he said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Fire crews and helicopters are battling a series of scrub fires in Otago and Southland fanned by strong winds.

In Southland, nine trucks and two helicopters were tackling a forestry block fire near Mataura that broke out about 2.10pm.

The fire has closed State Highway 96 between State Highway 1 and Waimumu. It is expected to remain closed overnight.

In Palmerston, six trucks and three helicopters were dealing with a fire in pine trees near Goodwood.

Four crews were also called to a paddock fire in Papakaio in the Waitaki district sparked by a trampoline blowing into powerlines.

Two crews were working on a smouldering tree near Whitstone.

The wind blew three branches onto two cars in Oamaru but Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said a dog in one of the cars was not hurt.

A paddock fire that broke out on Johnston Road on the outskirts of Balclutha about 1pm has been contained.

FENZ said 30 firefighters on the ground and two helicopters with monsoon buckets were now working to put it out.

People are advised to avoid the area and said anyone affected by smoke should close their windows and doors and stay inside if possible.

Fire and Emergency had warned people to avoid lighting fires outdoors in Otago on Thursday and Friday because of warm, windy conditions.

Paid firefighters were due to strike around the country on Friday by walking off the job from 12pm to 1pm.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

By Lucy Craymer, Reuters

Analysis – A dramatic boom-bust cycle in New Zealand’s housing market has left many Kiwis and investors scarred and an economy struggling to fire, turning what was once a trusted strategy for creating wealth into a period of unease and potentially smaller future returns.

New Zealand has traditionally relied on housing as an engine of growth, but the current shakeout in the property sector has been particularly telling on the economy, dragging it into contraction in three of the past five quarters.

Two and a half years of flat to falling house prices has basically just been a heavy wet blanket on top of the economy, said ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner.

The current gloom in the sector is rooted in more than a decade-long affordability crisis that came to a head during the pandemic, as house values soared around 40 percent to sky-high levels in an 18-month period through to November 2021, fuelled by sharply lower interest rates and government stimulus.

When the bubble burst, a combination of aggressive interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and an increase in housing supply saw prices crumble by nearly 20 percent, and as much as 30 percent in some cities.

The collapse in house prices, which are still 15 percent below their peak in 2021, has brought much-needed relief for first-home buyers but has also raised questions about future returns as low net migration, rising unemployment and the government’s tight fiscal stance depress demand.

Satish Ranchhod, senior economist at Westpac, said the market dynamics have changed as the post-pandemic building boom increased the supply of homes, while slower population growth has kept inventory high.

It does mean quite a different supply and demand balance, said Ranchhod, tipping house prices to rise 5 percent in each of 2026 and 2027, a modest uptick in the context of recent sharp falls and compared with historic rates of growth.

New normal of modest resterns?

For a generation of New Zealanders, who have enjoyed average annual returns of roughly 7 percent in housing over the last three decades, the decline in prices for three consecutive years since 2021 is unprecedented.

In fact, property values dropped in only two of the years since 1990, making investment in housing a sure bet for Kiwis and a major driver of economic growth.

That certainty of steady capital gains has been eroded by several factors, not least by unemployment at a nine-year high and slow net migration growth even as the central bank has sharply reduced rates to a 3-1/2-year low since August last year.

Analysts note that with over half of New Zealand’s household wealth tied up in property, the downturn has had a chilling effect on consumption and the economy.

Kelvin Davidson, chief economist at Cotality, said that activity had started to pick up but this was off a low level, adding that a weak economy, an overhang of listings and concerns about employment continue to weigh.

You’d probably still call it a buyer’s market, said Davidson, predicting limited house price growth next year despite an improved outlook.

That view was underscored by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s latest forecasts released this week, with capital gains of 3.8 percent and 3.7 percent projected for next year and 2027, respectively.

While first home buyers have returned to the market, the number of houses available is higher than the historical average. Investors have also scaled back activity buyers of multiple homes are now 35.9 percent of the market, down from a recent high of 39.5 percent in 2021, according to data from Cotality.

The number of houses for sale in October was 33,588, up from 19,260 when the market peaked in November 2021, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, an organization representing the sector.

Tim Horsbrugh, a property investor with 13 rental tenancies, said a few years ago a group of investors he knew were flipping houses – the practice of buying a property at a low price and selling it for a profit after making improvements.

But not anymore, as the people that were doing it have lost money.

“Going for capital gains now is tough. Real tough,” he said. “And I don’t think people are going to be back into that market for a long, long time.”

Structural shift underway?

In an effort to shore up demand and revive the frail economy, the central bank has slashed its cash rate 325 basis points to 2.25 percent, having delivered the latest 25-basis-point cut on Wednesday. It has also eased some housing loan rules to lure back buyers.

The government campaigned on reducing house prices to improve affordability, yet the current property market downturn is putting a dampener on the economy.

Jarrod Kerr, chief economist at Kiwibank, said housing is by far the largest asset owned by New Zealanders, with two-thirds owning their own homes, and that means house price increases play a big part in sentiment.

If house prices are up, you know, 2 percent to 5 percent next year, then I’ll be saying that the economy will be climbing higher, because consumption will simply come back, Kerr said.

New Zealanders though may take some time to come to terms with a shift in the housing market.

“It’s too early to call a structural change in the housing market but there are some indications that might have happened,” said Paul Conway, chief economist at the RBNZ.

– Reuters

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The climber who died on Aoraki Mt Cook alongside guide Thomas Vialletet was American lawyer Kellam Conover.

The pair were roped together, climbing from Empress Hut to the summit when they fell from the mountain’s west ridge on Monday night.

Two other members of the climbing party who survived were flown from the mountain on Tuesday morning.

Conover was a Stanford Law School graduate who lived in Washington DC and worked for international law firm, King & Spalding.

Vialletet lived in Wānaka and was a married father-of-two, who co-owned the mountain and ski guide company Summit Explorers with his wife Danielle.

More than $90,000 dollars has been raised so far through a Givealittle page to support his wife and young children following his death.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

MetService has confirmed Thursday is officially Auckland’s hottest November day since records began.

MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said, for the first time in the month of November in Auckland, temperatures had surpassed 26 degrees celsius at its recording station.

“Auckland Airport reached 26.2 degrees this afternoon, which has broken its November maximum record temperature, sitting at 25.9 degrees.”

Ferris said MetService’s temperature records for the Auckland region began on 31 December 1965.

He said many parts of the country had experienced warm weather on Thursday, some exceeding 30 degrees.

“With record or near-record temperatures turning up in parts of the country, it’s not too surprising to see Auckland actually get up there as well, because a lot of these temperatures are being driven by very warm, humid air being dragged down from the north,” Ferris said.

“Auckland being closer to there, they are going to be feeling those effects and people have probably been wondering why it felt so swampy, so humid the last couple of days.

“It is that warm, humid air being dragged down, and it does look to hang around, as we make our way through the rest of this week and into next week.

“There will be some intermittent rain as well, so it is just going to make it feel a little bit more humid.”

Ferris said sea-surface temperatures to the northwest were already above average and similar windflows would likely make its way to New Zealand in the coming weeks.

“These warm, humid days could be something we see a little bit more of, as we head through December.

“Won’t be warm every day, though. You know, December is a little bit of a copout, when it comes to summer.

“There probably will be some cooler southerly air, but I think holding onto these days and thinking that they will be more of them as we make our way through December is probably not a bad idea.”

Ferris said warm, humid air did provide a good amount of low-level moisture, which could turn into afternoon showers and potentially thunderstorms.

“Conditions in the upper atmosphere aren’t always ripe for that kind of stuff, so people will need to be keeping up with the forecast to see if those showers are going to be turning up in the afternoon.

“You might think it’s a lovely day, it’s warm, let’s get out the barbecue for the evening and that could just be when some of those showers turn up.”

– 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

Biosecurity New Zealand says they’ve uncovered more queen yellow-legged hornets in Auckland’s North Shore, with the tally reaching 26.

The agency said 16 of the 26 confirmed queen hornets were found with either developed nests or evidence of nesting, while seven worker hornets have been found in nests.

The queen hornets and nests were found the Glenfield and Birkdale areas of Auckland’s North Shore. 

In their last update on 16 November, 10 queen hornets, 2 workers, and 7 nests had been removed.

The agency said they continue to urge Aucklanders to keep a watch for the invasive pest. They said they’ve received nearly 4000 notifications to date.

Biosecurity NZ said they’ve also extended trapping to 5km out from where hornet discoveries have been previously made.

They said a combination of carbohydrate and protein traps continue to be used, while they’re also looking to deploy advanced tracking technology from the Netherlands to trace hornets back to their nests.

The Ministry of Primary Industries said their Technical Advisory Group (TAG) comprises independent scientific experts from countries that have successfully managed hornet incursions.

MPI said the advisory group continues to support the response ot the invasive pest, with their recommendations shaping Biosecurity NZ’s strategy.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Thirty-three kilograms of cocaine – with a street value of around $11.5 million – were seized at the Port of Tauranga on November 20.

Customs said the drugs were found in refrigerated containers on a vessel that had originated from Ecuador, and transited through Balboa, Panama, before arriving in Tauranga.

Customs officers inspected the containers after an x-ray screening of the containers and found anomalies which led to a physical inspection of the containers and their contents.

Seventeen bricks of cocaine were found in one container, and 16 in the other, hidden among legitimate goods.

Customs couldn’t confirm if the two seizures were related.

Customs’ maritime manager Robert Smith said advanced risk assessment and screening technologies, and the expertise of frontline officers are hitting organised crime groups and protecting communities.

He said Customs’ focus at New Zealand seaports is disrupting criminal networks and making it harder for organised crime to exploit our maritime border and legitimate trade supply routes and shipments.

Smith said the cooperation between Police, port companies and industry partners is “an unwelcoming and problematic environment for transnational, serious and organised crime to do business.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch reserve with views of the Southern Alps has been selected as the preferred location for the long-awaited National Erebus Memorial, commemorating the 1979 Antarctica air disaster.

Cashmere’s Cracroft Reserve has been identified by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage as the best site for the memorial, almost 46 years after the Air New Zealand scenic flight crashed into Mt Erebus, killing all 257 people on board.

Families of the victims have endured an excruciating wait for a national memorial, with some saying they had given up hope of seeing one in their lifetimes.

Two Christchurch sites were formally offered by the council as potential locations this year – Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere and the banks of the Avon River – after an aborted plan to build the memorial in Auckland.

Ministry for Culture and Heritage secretary Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said Cracroft Reserve was a fitting place for the memorial.

“Cracroft Reserve has panoramic views over Christchurch and out to the Southern Alps,” he said. “It’s a space where both quiet moments or group gatherings can take place, it’s tranquil, green and has a beautiful outlook.

“It’s been almost 46 years since the Erebus disaster – Aotearoa’s worst civil accident. A memorial is long overdue and what I know for certain is that Erebus families deserve a memorial as soon as possible.

“Avon riverbank is also a very strong site, with many positive attributes. I’ve made the decision to retain the Avon riverbank as an alternative site in the event that we are unable to progress Cracroft Reserve.”

Leauanae said the memorial would be a place for Erebus families, members of Operation Overdue – who were involved in the recovery mission – New Zealanders and international visitors to gather, remember and reflect on those who lost their lives.

The government committed to building a memorial in 2017, but the project has been mired in controversy, protest and delay ever since.

A plan for a memorial at Auckland’s Dove Meyer Robinson Park in Parnell faced major pushback, with objectors claiming it would change the tone of the gardens.

The plan was ultimately abandoned in 2023, after cyclone damage meant the land was unsafe to build on

In July, three potential Christchurch sites were shared with the Erebus families, via online workshops – two council-owned options (the Cracroft Reserve and Avon River sites) and the St James’ Church grounds in Harewood.

Sixty-five percent of people who responded to a survey supported building the memorial in Christchurch, with nine percent conditionally supportive and 26 percent opposed to building it in the city.

Some Erebus families preferred building the memorial in Auckland.

Leauanae said the ministry had explored 50 different sites for the memorial in the greater Auckland area over the past two years, none of which were suitable, and was recently advised that Takaparawhau in Auckland was no longer a potential location.

“I have been heartened by Christchurch’s warmth, generosity and support through the process of identifying potential sites,” he said. “Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is fully supportive of the memorial being located with Ngāi Tūāhuriri and the people of Christchurch.

“I am confident that Christchurch’s warm welcome to Erebus families, and the city’s experience and understanding of the importance of remembrance will provide the right space for this national memorial.”

Air New Zealand and Qantas began offering sightseeing flights to Antarctica in 1977. By the time the flights ended – Air New Zealand’s at the time of the Erebus disaster and Qantas in February 1980 – more than 10,000 people had taken the trip.

The livestream will start at approximately 1pm.

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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 Christchurch reserve with views of the Southern Alps has been selected as the preferred location for the long-awaited National Erebus Memorial, commemorating the 1979 Antarctica air disaster.

Cashmere’s Cracroft Reserve has been identified by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage as the best site for the memorial, almost 46 years after the Air New Zealand scenic flight crashed into Mt Erebus, killing all 257 people on board.

Families of the victims have endured an excruciating wait for a national memorial, with some saying they had given up hope of seeing one in their lifetimes.

Two Christchurch sites were formally offered by the council as potential locations this year – Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere and the banks of the Avon River – after an aborted plan to build the memorial in Auckland.

Ministry for Culture and Heritage secretary Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said Cracroft Reserve was a fitting place for the memorial.

“Cracroft Reserve has panoramic views over Christchurch and out to the Southern Alps,” he said. “It’s a space where both quiet moments or group gatherings can take place, it’s tranquil, green and has a beautiful outlook.

“It’s been almost 46 years since the Erebus disaster – Aotearoa’s worst civil accident. A memorial is long overdue and what I know for certain is that Erebus families deserve a memorial as soon as possible.

“Avon riverbank is also a very strong site, with many positive attributes. I’ve made the decision to retain the Avon riverbank as an alternative site in the event that we are unable to progress Cracroft Reserve.”

Leauanae said the memorial would be a place for Erebus families, members of Operation Overdue – who were involved in the recovery mission – New Zealanders and international visitors to gather, remember and reflect on those who lost their lives.

The government committed to building a memorial in 2017, but the project has been mired in controversy, protest and delay ever since.

A plan for a memorial at Auckland’s Dove Meyer Robinson Park in Parnell faced major pushback, with objectors claiming it would change the tone of the gardens.

The plan was ultimately abandoned in 2023, after cyclone damage meant the land was unsafe to build on

In July, three potential Christchurch sites were shared with the Erebus families, via online workshops – two council-owned options (the Cracroft Reserve and Avon River sites) and the St James’ Church grounds in Harewood.

Sixty-five percent of people who responded to a survey supported building the memorial in Christchurch, with nine percent conditionally supportive and 26 percent opposed to building it in the city.

Some Erebus families preferred building the memorial in Auckland.

Leauanae said the ministry had explored 50 different sites for the memorial in the greater Auckland area over the past two years, none of which were suitable, and was recently advised that Takaparawhau in Auckland was no longer a potential location.

“I have been heartened by Christchurch’s warmth, generosity and support through the process of identifying potential sites,” he said. “Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is fully supportive of the memorial being located with Ngāi Tūāhuriri and the people of Christchurch.

“I am confident that Christchurch’s warm welcome to Erebus families, and the city’s experience and understanding of the importance of remembrance will provide the right space for this national memorial.”

Air New Zealand and Qantas began offering sightseeing flights to Antarctica in 1977. By the time the flights ended – Air New Zealand’s at the time of the Erebus disaster and Qantas in February 1980 – more than 10,000 people had taken the trip.

The livestream will start at approximately 1pm.

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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 body of a pygmy sperm whale, found stranded at the shore of Auckland’s Orewa, has been taken to a burial site.

The Department of Conservation said the whale was about 3.5-4 metres in length and there were no obvious signs of the cause of death.

DoC said Wednesday’s stranding was the third recorded of a pygmy sperm whale at Orewa, with another previously stranding at Whangaparāoa.

The iwi of the Mahurangi peninsula area – Ngāti Manuhiri – said each stranding was significant and treated with care, and the whale had been taken to their whale urupā (cemetery).

“From a tikanga and mātauranga perspective, strandings and whale deaths are understood as tohu – indicators of environmental change or events occurring within our wider realm,” said Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust chairperson Mook Hohneck. “We observe these carefully and with respect.”

He said all bones of a whale were taonga (treasure), and each iwi and hapū had its own tikanga (customs) for caring for and managing the remains.

“For us, the care of a whale is never about one bone or one moment. It is about honouring the taonga as a whole and upholding the tikanga handed to us by our tīpuna (ancestors),” said Hohneck.

“We appreciate the support of our community and partners in ensuring these remains were treated with dignity.”

DoC Tāmaki Makaurau operations manager Olivia Kean said between 10-20 pygmy sperm whales are found stranded each year on New Zealand’s shores.

While they often occur in Mahia, between Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay, they also strand all around the North Island and as far south as Dunedin, said DoC.

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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 Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) says Wellington police were justified in tasering an armed man who received a serious head injury after he fell onto the road.

Police were called to reports that a man, who was armed with a blade from a pair of hedge trimmers, had trapped a woman and her baby in a bus-stop on Cockayne Road in Khandallah just after midday on 9 January.

One person who called police told operators the man – referred to in the report as Mr Z – was “out of control”.

“I’ve got a situation at bus stop 4411 on Cockayne Road. I’ve got a bleeding woman with a distraught child. I’ve got a man who’s out of control, he’s violent, he’s tearing up the bus stop,” the caller said.

The authority’s report said “a hacking sound” could be heard over the line as the man struck the bus-stop.

Five police surrounded the bus-stop and the woman was able to slip out with her child as an officer attempted to speak to the man.

As the man tried to follow the woman onto the road an officer fired their taser but the weapon appeared to have no effect.

“[The man] stopped and turned to face the officers, as though he was preparing to confront them. At this point, [he] was approximately three to four metres away from the officers, holding the bladed weapon at a 45-degree angle,” as outlined in a summary of a witness’s cell phone footage.

Officers yelled “Taser! Taser! Taser!” and the footage recorded two loud bangs as two officers fired their tasers at the man.

“In response, Mr Z became rigid and fell to the ground. His head hit the tarmac surface of the road. This interaction lasted about five seconds from the moment Mr Z started following [the woman], until he fell to the ground,” the report stated.

Judge Kenneth Johnston KC said police acted out of genuine concern for the safety of the woman and child, themselves and other bystanders.

“The video footage shows that Mr Z adopted an aggressive stance, looking as if he was preparing to fight with the officers. Communication with Mr Z was ineffective. Officers cannot be expected to use open-hand tactics against someone armed with a bladed weapon. Mr Z was using the weapon in a threatening manner. Additionally, Officer B correctly assessed that four metres could be quickly closed and locked by Mr Z, which would put the officers at significant risk,” Johnston wrote.

He said officers wasted no time in requesting medical attention for the man once he had fallen.

“Police radio transmissions record that at 12.07 pm, Officer A informed Comms that Mr Z was tasered.

“Sixteen seconds later, Comms was informed that Mr Z had sustained a serious head injury, and a request for an ambulance was made. Comms informed the officers that an ambulance had already been contacted … and was en route to their location,” Johnston wrote.

Johnston concluded he was satisfied the officers had followed police policies on taser use and were justified in their actions.

In a statement, acting Wellington District Commander Inspector Nick Thom said officers assessed the situation and responded accordingly, to ensure the safety of the public.

“Officers deployed their tasers to stop a dangerous situation evolving into something that could have been much worse. Our officers have made good decisions and the IPCA investigation supports that,” Thom said.

Shortly after the incident, Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch confirmed the child was uninjured and the woman had been treated for a minor injury.

The IPCA report said the woman suffered a deep cut to her thumb when – at some point – she pushed the man’s weapon away from her.

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