Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A study comparing the intelligence of kea and cockatoos has put New Zealand’s native bird on top.

Researchers at Austria’s University of Vienna [. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/12/12/251264/366135/Physio-behavioural-manifestations-of-surprise-in examined the emotion of “surprise”] in kea and cockatoos, testing how they would react to being given less desirable food than they were led to expect

Kea that were shown a peanut but given a piece of apple appeared surprised and disappointed, searching for the peanut.

Meanwhile, cockatoos didn’t react to the bait and switch.

Dr Laura Young, a conservationist at the Kea Conservation Trust, said the study reaffirmed kea’s intelligence.

“I’m not surprised, kea are pretty clever. Kea are about the cleverest species I know of,” she said.

“They seem to work together quite well, and the way they just look and tilt their head, and learn and listen is very curious and it makes me think their brains are a lot bigger than we think.”

Dr Young said she had worked with kea for about 15 years and had seen their remarkable behaviour first-hand.

“One example I can think of is when, on the Milford Road by the Homer Tunnel, they found there were all these queues of traffic stopping outside the tunnel … All these road cones were laid out in front of the tunnel stopping the traffic,” she said.

“They wondered what it was so they put up some cameras and realised the kea were dragging these road cones onto the road and it was stopping all the traffic from going through, and I’m sure they were having a laugh about that.”

Despite their cleverness, the endangered kea still needed human intervention.

Dr Young said the Kea Conservation Trust had recently turned its focus to the threat of lead poisoning for curious kea.

“They love chewing on hut nails and flashings … Because it tastes sweet to them,” she said.

“And they often get into the carcasses of wild animals when they’re shot and so they get into the lead ammo in the carcass, so there’s been a big drive to go away from lead ammunition for government culling programmes, so that’s been a huge win.”

“There’s also been a big push by the Kea Conservation Trust to remove lead head nails and flashings off buildings in villages where kea hang out.”

She said New Zealanders on holiday over the summer could do their part to help the kea population by reporting sightings to the trust’s kea database.

And Dr Young said it was important for people not to teach bad behaviour to kea.

“[Don’t] ever feed kea or leave your gear out because it kind of just encourages them, they’re so cheeky and curious they’ll get into all your stuff and when they start learning that behaviour it leads to a whole raft of other problems,” she said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One of those picking up a hamper was Jacqui Brunton.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

Fire and emergency crews had ordered some evacuations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters are battling a blaze in Fernhill near Hastings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘We’ve got to regain our mojo’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘The curiosity effect’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

South America in his sights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters are battling a blaze in Fernhill near Hastings.

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

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

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

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

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

More to come.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

Over The Moon reported the issue to NZFS.

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

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

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

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

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

“The rest of our cheese is absolutely fantastic quality.

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

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

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

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

NZFS is not currently aware of any related illness.

‘Heartbreaking for them’ – Food Safety

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was due back in court on 20 January.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

A full list of locations of interest is available here.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

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

Police said there had been minor injuries.

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

It has been over a week since there was a double homicide in the small farming community of Ruatiti in the Central North Island.

On Saturday, 13 December, Sheep farmer husband and wife, Brendon and Trina Cole, were found dead at their Murumuru Road property.

Since then, police have been searching the Ruatiti bush for their son, 29-year-old Mitchell Cole, who is missing.

Updates from police have been few and far between, with many questions still unanswered.

What we know

On Monday, 15 December, police identified Mitchell Cole as a person of interest in their homicide investigation.

Police said they wanted to speak to Mitchell Cole, who they believed was in the remote Ruatiti area, near Whanganui National Park.

A friend of Brendon and Trina Cole, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Mitchell Cole was an “exceptional bushman” who had the skills and knowledge needed to survive in the bush for a long time.

The friend said there were multiple cabins in the area where local hunters stored food and supplies.

Two popular walks; the Mangapurua and Kaiwhakauka Tracks, were closed while police searched them. The tracks have since reopened this week.

Mountains to Sea Ngā Ara Tūhono trail manager Lynley Twyman said off the trails were very dense bush, most frequented by local hunters.

This week, police confirmed they were still looking for Mitchell Cole in the Ruatiti Bush.

The friend of the Cole’s believed Mitchell Cole was with his parents’ Blue Neapolitan Mastiff Dog named Rumble.

They said when friends went to collect the Brendon and Trina Cole’s dogs after the couple were killed, they noticed Rubmble was missing.

Police confirmed they understood Mitchell Cole had a dog with him.

Police asked anyone heading into the bush in Ruatiti to stay alert and report any unusual findings or sightings of Mitchell Cole or the dog.

They said Cole should not be approached and to call 111 immediately.

Trina Cole, Mitchell Cole’s stepmother, was well-known in the Neopolitan Mastiff breeding community.

The couple had been described as “hard-working” and “really good, genuine people”.

Police were also looking to identify a second man in relation to the homicide, who was seen near the intersection of Pukekaha Road and Rautiti Road in Ruatiti at about 6pm on Saturday, 13 December.

The man was described as being in his late 20s or early 30s, 1.83 metres (6ft) tall and clean shaven, with a lean athletic build.

Police said he was last seen wearing a singlet, shorts, and a baseball cap.

What we don’t know

Police have said they will release information proactively if they had anything to share about the progress of their investigation.

Police would not confirm if they believed Mitchell Cole had a gun with him. A warrant for his arrest has been issued against Mitchell Cole for unlawful possession of firearms.

The Defence Force directed requests for information to the police, and would not confirm their involvement in the search for Mitchell Cole.

Police were also yet to confirm the victims of the homicide or how they died. They said this would happen after formal identification by the Coroner.

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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 new approach to quickly opening up the flood-prone Wairoa River to the sea has been put in place.

Locals blamed the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for not opening a channel in the Wairoa river bar in a devastating flood in mid-2024. It caused $40m damage and flooded 400 properties.

The council said engineers had tapped local knowledge to come up with the new approach which was now in effect.

It would maintain a lower rivermouth “crest shaped like a funnel at the end of Kopu Road that enabled the mouth to be opened more quickly ahead of any heavy rain forecast.

It was introduced last month and maintenance was most recently done two weeks ago.

“By preparing early we can act faster when conditions change,” local regional councillor Di Roadley said in a statement.

“The new system also helps reduce flood risk for the community and ensure safer working conditions for our contractors.”

Wairoa-raised Māui ki Te Raki Councillor Michelle McIlroy said the approach combined the Kihitu whānau’s generational mātauranga about the rivermouth with the practical experience of Pryde Contracting and council experts.

“Together, these kete of knowledge are equally important to the safety, wellbeing, and resilience of Wairoa,” she said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealanders living at Scott Base in Antarctica are making the most of their white Christmas.

At the moment, 71 people are living at the New Zealand-owned research station.

The station’s social committee president, Faith Farquhar-Culling, had been planning their Christmas celebrations.

“Christmas day we actually have off, so our Christmas [celebrations] will be on the 24th,” she told Nine to Noon.

“In the evening we will have a nice meal prepared by the chefs, and secret Santa where we all have to craft something, so that will be pretty exciting.”

Staff will then get three days off to relax, and Farquhar-Culling said they may get to enjoy some snowfall.

“At the moment, I think the actual temperature is -2C with a wind chill of about -6 or -7C,” she said.

“Yesterday, we had some small flurries of snow, so I’m pretty excited to have the closest thing to a white Christmas I think I’ll get before I go to the Northern Hemisphere.”

Farquhar-Culling said Scott Base had been competing with the American McMurdo Base in strength games for the “Governor’s Cup”.

“We have three events between McMurdo and Scott Base, the first event was man haul and the Kiwis won that,” she said.

“Second event was tug of war and we just had that on Saturday and unfortunately we took a loss, and the third event is coming up in January and McMurdo will decide what that is.”

She said what Scott Base lacked in numbers, they made up for in strength.

“We definitely have less people but we are pretty strong for our numbers in comparison to their 900.”

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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 private use of fireworks has been banned at multiple holiday hotspots over the holiday period due to high fire risk.

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) confirmed fireworks would be banned in Coromandel from 8am Tuesday until 30 January.

Bans for Central Otago, Lakes and Upper Waitaki areas also come into effect at 8am Christmas Eve until further notice.

Enforced under Section 52 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act, the bans did not extend to approved public fireworks displays.

FENZ Waikato District Manager Daryl Trim said the fire risk across the Coromandel zone remained high.

“We’ve had consistently warm and windy days which has dried out the vegetation. The vegetation in this area is mainly scrub, which is very quick to burn when dry.

“It only takes one spark from a firework for a devastating wildfire to start.”

Two fires had broken out across the Coromandel peninsula, near Pauanui and the other near Port Jackson, over the past fortnight. Both blazes were caused by fireworks.

About 80,000 people were set to swarm to the holiday hotspot over the holiday period.

“We want to make sure everybody knows to enjoy our public fireworks displays instead of lighting their own,” Trim said.

“Let’s all do our part to protect this beautiful part of our country.”

The Coromandel zone was in a restricted fire season, meaning a permit approved by FENZ was required for most open-air fires.

Parts of Otago move into restricted fire season

The Queenstown-Lakes district will move to a restricted fire season on Christmas Eve.

FENZ said that brought the district into line with the Central Otago and Upper Waitaki areas who were already in a restricted fire season.

The restrictions, alongside temporary fireworks bans across the region, were part of a bid to lower the risk of wildfires over the summer period.

FENZ’s acting Otago district manager Craig Gold said the restricted areas included several popular holiday spots.

“Every year our firefighters have to drop everything and put out fires caused by people letting off fireworks. This is especially the case at New Year when people bring out fireworks they’ve saved from Guy Fawkes.

“They don’t always consider the fire risk, which is much higher now than in early November.”

Grass and scrub may appear to be too wet to ignite following recent rain, but terrain remained dry underneath, Gold said.

“Once a fire gets going in these conditions, it can cause a lot of damage very quickly, and be very challenging for firefighters to put out.”

A restricted fire season meant most types of outdoor fires, including bonfires and campfires, required a fire permit.

There were a small number of exceptions to the controls, including hangi and umu.

“This year we want to send a very clear message to locals and visitors alike – be a good sort,” Gold said.

“Leave the fireworks in the box. Think ahead if you’re planning an outdoor fire and apply for a permit in plenty of time.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man has been hospitalised after falling off the Paritutu Rock walkway in New Plymouth.

Police said they received a report at about 5:10pm on Monday that a man might have fallen from the top of the steep volcanic outcrop between Back Beach and Ngāmotu Beach.

Police, Search and Rescue, including Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, and a helicopter all helped to search for the man.

About 7pm, the man was found stuck at the base of Paritutu Road, with minor injuries.

He was winched by the helicopter and airlifted to the carpark where he was assessed by ambulance staff.

He was taken by ambulance to Taranaki Base Hospital in a moderate condition.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Hamilton airport expects to wrap up end the this year with its busiest ever month, after a new daily Jetstar jet service between Hamilton and Christchurch started on 1 December 2025.

Air New Zealand returned a jet service along the same route in September, and the airport began welcoming international flights in July, making it a year of aggressive growth.

Added together it expected about 60 percent more travellers through the airport in December 2025 when compared to 2024.

Hamilton Airport chief executive Mark Morgan said the jet services had added 70 percent capacity to the Hamilton-Christchurch route alone (the airport also had flights between Wellington and Hamilton) and had been great for consumers.

“It’s been very successful for us and I think what the low cost carrier option of Jetstar introduces is it brings people back into the market that perhaps were finding the regional domestic airfares quite expensive,” he said.

This was bringing back consumers who had not been actively travelling because of the cost of domestic airfares.

More competition and options on a route also influenced prices, softening airfares.

“The airlines have more seats to fill, that provides more low-cost fares with Jetstar and perhaps more competitive fares with Air New Zealand,” Morgan said.

When international flights returned to the city in July, it was seen as signalling Waikato as a region of growth.

Jetstar Airways chief operating officer Matt Franzi said demand had been strong on both sides of the Tasman and the company was thrilled with how the first six months had gone on the Hamilton-Sydney and Hamilton-Gold Coast flights.

“It’s clear Kiwi travellers love having more low fares and more choice for international flights out of Hamilton,” he said.

Travellers arriving into the country were also taking full advantage of the new flights.

Hobbiton Movie Set’s general manager of tourism, Shayne Forrest said some travellers were now visiting the Waikato attraction within hours of landing in the country.

“It’s been fantastic to have visitors travelling from Australia be able to arrive straight into the Waikato. When travellers arrive at Hamilton Airport, they are just a short drive away from a variety of adventures the Waikato offers, with our slice of real Middle-earth just 30 minutes away,” he said.

Hamilton airport had to create a new international border for New Zealand for international flights to return. That infrastructure then allowed the jet services to begin, as it included aviation security services and passenger screening facilities.

Franzi said Jetstar appreciated its partnership with Hamilton Airport.

“It’s been great working together to make trans-Tasman travel easier and more affordable for our customers, and we look forward to exploring new opportunities in the future.”

Morgan said the routes have outperformed expectations and the airport had an aggressive growth strategy going forward.

“Our customers have responded very, very strongly to the international routes and we’ve seen record passenger numbers coming through the airport because of that,” he said.

The airport was planning to conduct in depth research in 2026, but Morgan said anecdotally passengers were coming from all over the region, and further afield, to take advantage of the flights.

“Feedback is that the catchment is as wide as we had hoped, so strong support from the Bay of Plenty, from as far south as New Plymouth and as far east as the Hawkes Bay,” he said.

“All in all, we couldn’t really be more delighted.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person has been taken to hospital after an incident at Paritutu Rock in New Plymouth.

St John said it was called to the 156 meter tall volcanic outcrop between Back Beach and Ngāmotu Beach about 5.30pm on Monday.

It said one patient in a moderate condition required hospitalisation.

Paritutu Rock is also a popular summit hike, for its views of New Plymouth’s coastline.

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