Wednesday 18th of March 2026 03:01:24 PM
Page 30

Honey from Australian wildflowers has potent power to kill bacteria

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kenya Fernandes, Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney

Before antibiotics and antiseptics, healers across ancient Egypt, Greece, and China reached for honey to treat wounds. Archaeological evidence shows humans have been harvesting and collecting honey for thousands of years – and for much of that time, we understood it to be more than just food.

Today, honey sits in most kitchen cupboards as a perfectly ordinary pantry staple. But honey has never entirely shed its medicinal reputation. And modern research shows us why: it possesses genuine antimicrobial properties, capable of killing or inhibiting a wide range of bacteria, including drug-resistant strains.

This matters now more than ever. Antimicrobial resistance – where bacteria evolve to survive drugs designed to kill them – is one of the defining public health crises of our time. Infections caused by these resistant microbes are becoming harder and more expensive to treat, creating an urgent need for alternative therapies.

Our new study, published in the journal MicrobiologyOpen, shows honeys from Australia’s native flora might be a big part of the solution.

What did we do?

We analysed 56 honey samples collected from more than 35 apiaries across New South Wales. Many samples came from landscapes recovering from the 2019–2020 bushfires. Most were derived from native Australian plants such as eucalyptus, leptospermum and melaleuca.

We tested the honeys against two common bacterial pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph) and E. coli – both among the six leading causes of deaths associated with antibiotic resistance. For each sample we measured the minimum concentration needed to stop bacterial growth. The lower the concentration, the more potent the honey.

We also carried out comprehensive chemical profiling, measuring sugars, organic acids, amino acids, enzymes and a wide range of plant-derived compounds. Statistical and machine-learning analyses helped us identify which chemical features best explained antibacterial strength.

A bunch of honey bee colonies in the middle of a forest.

Researchers analysed 56 honey samples collected from more than 35 apiaries across New South Wales. Tocal College Bee Research and Training Centre

What did we find?

More than three-quarters of the honey samples stopped bacterial growth even when the honeys were diluted to 10% or less. This places Australian native flora honeys alongside some of the world’s most potent varieties.

The most striking factor was floral diversity.

Honeys from mixed floral sources – where bees foraged across multiple native plant species rather than a single species – were consistently the most antimicrobial.

This potency wasn’t due to any single compound but to a chemically rich combination.

Multiple bioactive factors – substances that have a measurable effect on living cells or tissues – worked together to inhibit bacteria. These included naturally produced hydrogen peroxide, plant-derived phenolic compounds (naturally occurring chemicals that plants produce as part of their own defence systems), and antioxidants.

When bacteria encounter honey, this combination acts on several fronts at once. The low moisture content draws water out of bacterial cells, while the acidity disrupts their metabolism. Hydrogen peroxide damages their cellular structures, and phenolic and antioxidant compounds interfere with their ability to function and reproduce.

The strength of mixed floral honeys may also reflect the health of the bees themselves.

Access to diverse forage keeps colonies well nourished. And healthier bees produce more biologically active honey as their enzymes help integrate and activate the plant compounds into a complex antimicrobial mixture.

Six vials full of honey in a lab.

More than three-quarters of the honey samples stopped bacterial growth even when the honeys were diluted to 10% or less. University of Sydney

What does this mean for antimicrobial resistance?

Honey won’t replace antibiotics for serious or systemic infections.

But for topical applications – chronic wounds, burns, or surgical site infections – it is a genuinely promising option. Because honey attacks bacteria through multiple simultaneous mechanisms, resistance is far less likely to emerge than with single-target drugs. Our team is now exploring these applications in more detail.

Australia is particularly well-placed to lead in bioactive honey production. Around 70% of Australian honey comes from native plants. These plants are found not only in forests but also across farmland, regional landscapes, and urban green spaces.

Our findings show that prioritising floral diversity over monoculture isn’t just good for ecosystems – it produces more potent honey. With the beekeeping industry under serious pressure from bushfires, floods, and now the varroa mite, protecting and restoring florally-rich landscapes is critical: for bee health, for industry resilience, and for expanding our natural antimicrobial toolkit.

In the meantime, the next jar of Australian honey you buy may just be doing more good than you realise.

– ref. Honey from Australian wildflowers has potent power to kill bacteria – https://theconversation.com/honey-from-australian-wildflowers-has-potent-power-to-kill-bacteria-276630

Primary care prevents health problems from becoming more expensive – why doesn’t NZ fund it properly?

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dylan A Mordaunt, Research Fellow, Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Flinders University; The University of Melbourne

To most of us, a visit to the local pharmacy feels like a simple transaction: we hand over a prescription slip and collect a box of pills.

What we don’t see is all the clinical judgement that precedes it: a pharmacist spotting a potentially dangerous drug interaction, or a GP untangling multiple conditions before deciding what or whether to prescribe.

This invisible work is precisely what prevents disasters and keeps patients out of hospital. Yet New Zealand’s primary care funding model barely recognises it.

Instead, the system relies on a “hidden subsidy” buried within dispensing fees and retail margins that actively penalises the deepest, most necessary clinical work.

It’s here where New Zealand’s primary care model begins to fail: not in the quality of its clinicians, but in how it pays for their time. Fixing that structural flaw couldn’t be more urgent.

When prevention goes unpaid

Just as pharmacists prevent harm through meticulous medication review, GPs prevent deterioration through time-intensive consultations with complex patients.

Spending 30 minutes with a family doctor can sometimes be the difference between stability and a hospital admission. When it works, there is no adverse drug reaction and no trip to the emergency department.

Research consistently links primary care continuity to fewer hospitalisations. But our funding structures simply don’t reward the absence of harm.

New Zealand’s primary care sector runs on a model where complex, time-intensive care for the sickest patients is financially propped up by high-volume, transactional care for healthy ones.

Nobody explicitly pays for the time a pharmacist spends phoning a prescriber to challenge a risky dosage. That life-saving intervention is covered by the margin on dispensing 50 routine scripts, or by the markup on vitamins and sunscreen sold at the front of the shop.

The profits from simple transactions quietly bankroll the complex care. Far from being an accident, it is a structural feature of the Community Pharmacy Services Agreement.

For GPs, capitation funding models often fail to account for the extreme variation in patient complexity.

A practice in a deprived community serving patients with diabetes, chronic lung disease or depression often receives much the same base funding as one providing mostly routine check-ups in a wealthy neighbourhood.

The clinics doing the hardest work are financially penalised for it. Underpaying for clinical time burns out doctors, nurses and pharmacists. It also leaves the highest-need communities with less care than they require.

Read more: We studied primary care in 6 rich countries – it’s under unprecedented strain everywhere

Why price caps don’t work

When budgets are tight, governments trim fees and margins. Illness remains. The pressure moves from primary care to somewhere more expensive.

If a pharmacy is forced to increase dispensing volume just to stay solvent, pharmacists have less time for important safety checks. If a GP clinic is financially squeezed, consultation times shrink and doctors are forced to close their books. Complex needs go entirely unaddressed.

Often, this unmet need simply accumulates: economists call it latent demand.

The patient who missed out on a comprehensive medication review eventually turns up at an emergency department with a severe adverse reaction or an acute flare of a chronic condition.

By then, they’re far sicker, and the cost to the taxpayer is many times higher than the primary care intervention would have been. Underpaying for time in primary care is a catastrophic false economy.

Fixing the flaws

Addressing the hidden subsidy requires a definitive shift from volume-based transactions to complexity-based funding.

A pharmacist conducting a comprehensive medication reconciliation for an elderly patient on ten drugs should be compensated for that thinking, regardless of whether a physical product is dispensed. That clinical judgement has value in its own right.

The same applies in general practice. A consultation that prevents a hospital admission requires far more time and skill than a routine script renewal.

Funding models must recognise that variation and properly support practices serving high-need populations, so clinicians are enabled to spend more time with complex patients, not less.

When a primary care professional catches a prescribing error or intervenes to stop a chain of avoidable harm, that action saves the hospital system thousands of dollars. It should be explicitly recognised and paid for.

New Zealand cannot keep relying on retail margins and the goodwill of overworked clinicians to prop up its primary care sector. If it does, the safety net will continue to fray – and preventable harm will eventually follow.

– ref. Primary care prevents health problems from becoming more expensive – why doesn’t NZ fund it properly? – https://theconversation.com/primary-care-prevents-health-problems-from-becoming-more-expensive-why-doesnt-nz-fund-it-properly-275793

Emptying bins and photocopying: nurses’ skills are too often wasted in general practice

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute

Australians are living longer, but we’re also living longer with disease and disability. Half of us now have at least one chronic condition.

As rates of disease rise, so does demand for health care. In the 40 years since Medicare began, the average number of visits to the GP per person has increased by more than 60%.

Now general practice – where most people go first for check-ups, diagnoses, and ongoing management of chronic conditions – is under pressure. In 2024, nearly 30% of Australians said they waited too long to get the primary care they needed.

But Australia has more nurses per person than many similar countries. Removing barriers that prevent nurses from using all their skills could help meet the growing demand for care.

Nurses’ skills are being wasted

Primary care works best when delivered by a team: with doctors working alongside nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals and other health workers.

When the team can safely use all their skills and training, patients benefit from improved access, equal or better health outcomes, improved efficiency and potential cost savings.

However GPs in Australia are less likely than those in similar countries to delegate tasks tasks such as immunisations, routine health checks and health promotion to nurses.

Two recent independent reviews found that while many practices employ a nurse, most are not using all their skills.

A chart showing GPs in Australia are much less likely to delegate care to nurses
Grattan Institute, CC BY

Nurses working in primary care agree. A 2024 workforce survey found only one-third of surveyed nurses in general practice regularly work to their full scope of practice.

Nurses are spending too much time doing basic tasks that others could do, taking them away from giving the care they are trained to provide. About 60% of surveyed nurses said they regularly emptied bins or did photocopying.

Meanwhile, less than one-third regularly provided health education and promotion services to patients, despite good evidence that doing so is safe and effective.

Chart showing how nurses in general practice spend their time
Grattan Institute, CC BY

Nurses want to do more. Four in ten said they want to provide health education and promotion services more often.

Nearly half (48%) said they had asked to do more complex clinical activities or extend their role in the past year.

While there is a long way to go, there has been some progress. The proportion of primary care nurses who said they regularly work to their full scope of practice rose from 29% in 2019 to 35% in 2024.

Nurses are being allowed to do more

In the past year and a half, reviews commissioned by the federal government have identified three key areas for reform.

First, the 2024 Scope of Practice Review found confusion across the sector about what nurses can do, and inconsistent rules between states that make it harder for practices to employ their nursing workforce effectively.

It called on federal and state governments to create a national framework that clearly sets out what different health workers can do.

Second, governments and accreditation bodies need to change the way health workers are regulated. Regulation should reflect the activities health workers are trained and qualified to perform safely, not rigid professional boundaries.

State governments should harmonise their legislation – including drugs and poisons acts – so the rules align with workers’ capabilities and are consistent across jurisdictions.

In October, there was a big step forward in expanded and nationally consistent nurse roles. Specially qualified registered nurses will now be able to prescribe medicines.

A funding fix is needed too

Both the Scope of Practice Review and the 2024 Review of General Practice Incentives found changes like these won’t fully succeed without another change: fixing the way Australia funds primary care.

The new rules allowing registered nurse prescribing are one example. Just last week a senate committee unanimously recommended nurse prescriptions should get the same subsidy at the pharmacy as scripts from doctors, instead of costing more as a private script.

Medicare funding needs to keep up too. The current fee-for-service model pays health workers for the number and type of services they provide. This restricts nurse-led care in three ways:

  • many services performed by nurses have no Medicare item number
  • those that do often have payments that are too low to be viable
  • the rules require excessive oversight from a doctor that creates inefficiency.

Outdated funding rules are the biggest obstacle to unlocking team-based care. Among surveyed nurses who sought to extend their role and were refused, the single most common reason was a lack of financial incentive for the clinic.

A chart showing no financial incentive is the single most common reason for nurse role extensions to be refused
Grattan Institute, CC BY

The Scope of Practice Review also found health professionals in fee-for-service settings face the greatest barriers to working to their full scope, while those under more flexible funding models face the fewest.

The solution is a blended funding model

Under blended funding, general practices would receive a lump sum payment to manage a patient’s ongoing care, with higher payments for patients with more complex needs.

This would sit alongside fee-for-service payments for individual consultations and procedures.

More flexible funding would enable clinics to decide how best to deliver care, including when it should be delivered by nurses.

Most countries with similar health systems to ours already use blended funding, and it was backed by both the recent reviews.

Australians’ health needs are getting more complex, and GPs can’t meet them alone. Australia has a large, trusted, and highly skilled nursing workforce. Governments should act now to remove the funding and regulatory barriers holding them back.

– ref. Emptying bins and photocopying: nurses’ skills are too often wasted in general practice – https://theconversation.com/emptying-bins-and-photocopying-nurses-skills-are-too-often-wasted-in-general-practice-269493

Australians scorn this fish once adored by monks and kings

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Humphries, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University

In many parts of Europe, the common carp is a prized table fish. But the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is arguably Australia’s most vilified fish. Nicknamed the “river rabbit” for its prolific breeding, carp is blamed for degrading rivers, lakes and billabongs.

Despite its popularity overseas, and among catch-and-release anglers and koi enthusiasts, carp in Australian rivers cause significant damage to aquatic plants, denuding the riverbanks and riverbeds when they feed.

In the 1960s, a European strain of carp entered Victoria’s Latrobe Valley and the Murray River near Mildura, believed to originate from a fish farm in Boolarra, in the south east of the state. This strain spread through the Murray–Darling Basin, prompting extensive research and attempted control programs, including the proposed cyprinid herpesvirus.

While debate continues over management, a question rarely asked is why carp was a strong candidate for introduction in the first place? For this, we need to take a two-thousand-year trip back in time.

A fisher holding a large carp in a river. Thirdman/Pexels

Roman troops needed food

Common carp comprises two subspecies: the European form (Cyprinus carpio carpio) and East Asian form (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus). Historically, the former’s range extended as far west as present-day Vienna, along the River Danube and as far east as Central Asia and Kazakhstan.

Archaeological remains suggest carp were especially abundant where a breakpoint in the Danube’s gradient and its tributaries, the Morava, Váh, Hron, Drava and Tisza rivers, converged. For millennia, large permanent and seasonal floodplains provided ideal conditions for carp.

Two thousand years ago, after crossing the Alps and pushing north to the Danube, the Roman army established military bases between modern-day Vienna and Budapest. Across the river, Celts and Germans watched with gritted teeth and weapons at the ready. Although only 240 km long, the frontier needed four Roman garrisons to hold out. Around 20,000 legionnaires, accompanied by families, slaves and tradespeople, meant a population of more than 100,000. And they all needed food.

Fortresses upstream and downstream of the Morava River lined one of the Danube’s largest floodplains. Czech-Canadian fish biologist Eugene Balon argues this frontier marked the beginning of Western Europe’s enduring love affair with carp. Archaeological excavations of these forts have uncovered abundant fish remains, predominantly carp, supporting his hypothesis.

A 16th century engraving of carp.
Whether legionnaires carried carp back toward Rome remains uncertain, but by the early Medieval period, carp was steadily spreading westward. Nicolaes de Bruyn/Rijksmuseum

Carp becomes European fish du jour

Whether legionnaires carried carp back toward Rome remains uncertain, but by the early Medieval period, carp was steadily spreading westward. Evidence from monastic latrine deposits (poo, to you and me) has shown carp moving through what are now France, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg by the late 13th century. By 1400, carp was the fish du jour in Parisian cuisine. The “Carpocene” had arrived.

Canadian historian Richard Hoffmann has documented carp’s westward spread, as it followed sweeping changes to European riverine landscapes, especially the rise of water mills. From about 1000 CE, an energy revolution of sorts shifted grain milling and paper production from oxen to water power. Thousands of mill dams transformed free-flowing streams into ponds and races, disrupting habitats and effectively expunging the previously abundant trouts, salmons and sturgeons. These heavily modified riverscapes proved ideal for carp.

This growing dominance of carp in Western Europe coincided with the rise of Christianity and founding of monasteries. Carp domestication in China may date back thousands of years, but Western European aquaculture probably had its origins in 11th and 12th century France, through monasteries and the nobility.

Christian precepts restricted meat on holy days and Fridays, but fish and laurices (unborn rabbit) were exempt. Monastic ponds, perhaps initially adapted from drainage works, were soon stocked with local fish. Monasteries with their own ponds meant monks could harvest carp and other fish for fasting days.

The techniques of pond construction and fish keeping by the Normans in continental Europe made their way over the Channel with the Norman Invasion in 1066, and were adopted in England. Carp arrived around the mid-1300s, and English monasteries quickly embraced this hardy, tasty and fast-growing new fish on the block.

Carp’s transformation from a monastic delicacy to national favourite in England came in 1536 through Henry VIII. During the “Dissolution”, Henry closed more than 600 monasteries as part of the Protestant Reformation. These changes formed part of the wider political and religious manoeuvres of Henry in England, including his effort to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn. Monastic wealth was redirected to the Crown, with lands and buildings commonly purchased by nobles and elites.

In England, fishponds became status symbols, with aristocratic owners keeping ponds for private use and sport. But as pond upkeep lost its appeal, many were leased to commoners who operated them as commercial enterprises. Fish, including carp, entered expanding markets, especially in fashionable London. By then, carp had spread across the Kingdom, outperforming other cultured species by growing faster and reaching market size years earlier.

Carp was now the most popular fish in England, widely recognised for its hardiness, and even appearing in Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well (c. 1603–06), in which Parolles is compared to a carp that can survive in a pool of excrement. Fifty years before Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler (1653), carp was as familiar to the average English person as it had become on continental Europe centuries earlier.

A black and white image of Henry VIII.

During the reign of Henry VIII in England, fishponds became status symbols, with aristocratic owners keeping ponds. British Library/Unsplash

Carp comes to Australia

Fast forward to mid-1800s Australia. Environmental destruction wrought by gold mining, especially in Victoria, was widespread. Acclimatisation societies were founded to introduce familiar “useful” species and “renovate” degraded ecosystems.

For those wanting a fish tolerant of heavily altered rivers, that provided sport, grew rapidly and was good eating, they had to look no further than carp. A fish that had once been on the outskirts of Western Europe, virtually unknown, was now an obvious candidate for introduction to the other side of the world.

The first carp arrived in Hobart on February 22 1858 aboard the Heather Bell and was released into Cascades Reservoir. And so began the story of carp in Australia.

An aerial photo of the winding Murray River.
An aerial view of the Murray River. The Murray Darling Basin is now home to an estimated 375 million carp. Flickr

This is an edited extract from Carp in Australia, by Paul Humphries and Katherine Doyle, published by CSIRO Publishing.

– ref. Australians scorn this fish once adored by monks and kings – https://theconversation.com/australians-scorn-this-fish-once-adored-by-monks-and-kings-276278

Australia’s gender pay gap is narrowing – and the public spotlight seems to be helping

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leonora Risse, Associate Professor in Economics, Queensland University of Technology

Since 2024, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has been publishing the gender pay gaps of Australia’s largest companies. Now, we have enough data to make some meaningful comparisons – and this public spotlight seems to be paying off.

Today, the agency released its latest employer gender pay gaps report. Drawing on this data, my calculations show the average gender gap in total pay fell from 13.1% to 12.7% between 2023-24 and 2024-25.

That’s based on more than 7,000 organisations that provided their numbers for both years.

While the gender pay gap narrowed in more than half of these employers, driving the overall improvement, it still widened in about 45%.

There are signs that companies are, on the whole, heading in the right direction. But gender pay gaps still overwhelmingly favour men. There’s still work to do – especially at Australia’s major banks and airlines.

Still far from ideal

Overall, today’s release gives us data on 10,500 employers and 5.9 million workers in the public and private sectors.

The WGEA has a target gender pay gap range of -5% to +5%, suggesting an employer doesn’t significantly favour men or women.

Only one in five private companies covered in today’s release fall into this range, compared to roughly two in five Commonwealth public sector employers.

Around seven in ten private employers have a gender pay gap that favours men. And many are still far from the ideal range: a quarter of private companies have a gender pay gap of 20% or more.

Several employers have a gender pay gap in favour of women, but they make up a very small share of the overall picture: only about 7%.

Companies’ scorecard

Of the ten biggest companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), banking giant Macquarie Group reports the largest gender pay gap, at 29.6%.

The Commonwealth Bank follows with a gap of 21.3%, while ANZ and NAB have gaps of 18.4% and 18.1%, respectively.

Among the largest private employers with the biggest gender pay gaps are airlines Qantas and Virgin, with gaps of 40.1% and 45.1%, respectively. This is partly due to the gender mix of jobs within this sector, with women comprising only a small fraction of the highest-paying occupations.

This occupational segregation is a common picture across Australia’s workforce. And it continues to fuel the overall gender gap in earnings.

Men are 1.8 times more likely to be in the top 25% of earners (where the average total annual pay is A$221,000). In contrast, women are 1.4 times more likely to be in the bottom 25% (where the average is $60,000 a year).

Qantas and Virgin airline tails are seen on the runway at Sydney Airport

Australia’s two major airlines had large gender pay gaps. Bianca De Marchi/AAP

The public sector leads the way

For the first time in WGEA’s reporting, public employers’ gender pay gaps are available alongside those of private companies.

The average gender pay gap for Commonwealth public sector employers was 7.5% for 2024-25. This is a little over half that of private employers, at 12.3%.

Among the Commonwealth public sector employers with the largest workforces, the Australian Federal Police report a gender pay gap of 11.5%, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has a gap of 7.3% and Australia Post is at 6.5%.

Among public organisations within WGEA’s target range, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has a gender pay gap of 4.3%, Services Australia records a gap of 3.9%, the Australian Taxation Office is at 3.7% and Treasury sits at 3.4%.

Actions to speed up progress

Pay gap transparency was legislated as part of reforms to the Workplace Gender Equality Act in 2023. This was done in response to progress on gender equality stalling in Australia’s private sector.

These reforms put the onus on leaders and employers – rather than individual women – to take responsibility for addressing gender inequities within their workforces.

The public spotlight is prompting more intentional action by employers. Around two in three employers are now conducting a gender pay gap analysis.

Shining a spotlight

Among employers who crunched the numbers at their own organisation, half detected the causes of the gap and a quarter were prompted to review their performance system to check for, and undo, gender biases.

Roughly a quarter of all employers covered in the report have a target to reduce the gender pay gap.

Evidence from other countries shows that pay gap transparency leads to a narrowing of the gender pay gap, but it’s through men’s pay rising less quickly rather than women’s pay growth speeding up.

This can bring potential risks such as an erosion in morale and productivity among workers: women come to learn how much more their male colleagues earn, while men face the prospect of their future wage growth being curbed.

The pitfalls of ‘greedy jobs’

Discretionary payments – such as bonuses, overtime, penalty rates, shift and leave loadings – are a big driver of the total pay gap, especially in fields such as finance.

When we strip out these extra payments, along with superannuation, and look only at base salaries, the average size of the employer gender pay gap falls to 10% in the private sector and 6.5% in the public sector.

This should prompt employers to review their discretionary payments, to ensure all workers have access to these opportunities and are rewarded fairly.

It also prompts us to guard against the harms of “greedy jobs”, where long hours are rewarded with bonuses and higher overtime pay.

It’s this type of analysis, matched with evidence-based action, that pay gap transparency is aiming to achieve.

– ref. Australia’s gender pay gap is narrowing – and the public spotlight seems to be helping – https://theconversation.com/australias-gender-pay-gap-is-narrowing-and-the-public-spotlight-seems-to-be-helping-276957

Westeros, Wes Anderson and Sabrina Carpenter meeting the Muppets: what to watch in March

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey Martin, Lecturer/Podcast Producer, Swinburne University of Technology

From new releases to rediscovered classics, this month’s streaming list is brimming with both spectacle and nostalgia.

We see a pared-back return to the world of Game of Thrones, a glossy portrayal of one of America’s most high-profile romances, some bingeable courtroom drama, and the welcome reappearance of the much-loved Muppet Show.

Add in a distinctly Australian shark survival thriller and you’ve got plenty to pad out the long, warm evenings.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

HBO Max

At first glance, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms appears to be a modest spin-off of Game of Thrones – a franchise previously defined by dragons, dynasties and spectacular bloodshed.

Instead, this show trades dynastic spectacle for something more intimate and unexpectedly incisive. Rather than centring rulers and succession wars, it follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a hedge knight with no inheritance, title or powerful allies. Honour is his only currency.

Travelling with Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), a prince moving incognito among commoners, Dunk learns that virtue carries little weight in a world organised around bloodline and inherited power. Land and lineage determine outcomes more than moral conviction.

By narrowing its focus to outsiders, the series exposes how hierarchy sustains itself. Power circulates through status, inheritance and masculine codes of “honour” that reward proximity to authority and exclude those outside it.

The world is structured around male succession and elite consolidation, leaving women largely peripheral in the series. What emerges is not triumphant masculinity, but a glimpse of patriarchal systems that reproduce themselves and limit even well-intentioned men.

Where Game of Thrones asked who deserves the throne, this prequel asks why the throne endures. It shows how the powerful remain powerful, and decency without structural backing rarely prevails.

– Corey Martin

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette

Disney+

There are many reasons to be sceptical about this new series from TV super-producer Ryan Murphy – whose track record with real people and events is patchy. But writer-creator Connor Hines’ 1990s fever dream is lucidly rendered, nuanced, and sparkling with chemistry.

Relative newcomers Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and John Anthony Kelley as John F. Kennedy Jr crackle together, helped along by Kelley’s uncanny resemblance to Kennedy Jr. And although not a direct facsimile of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Pidgeon perfectly captures the aloof, formidable, slightly mean, but enigmatic charm of a fashion girl in her element.

There are no real surprises here plot wise, but Love Story is more than a Wikipedia page come to life. It captures the limerence of infatuation, the seemingly magnetic connection between two forceful personalities, and the very real trauma of living under intense scrutiny, both at home and in public.

The costuming, sets and music capture the feeling of being at the centre of 1990s New York culture – whether smoking out the window of the Calvin Klein offices or fighting in Washington Square Park. Naomi Watts as Jackie O, Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy and Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein fill out the expertly drawn world. The delicious nostalgia will bring you in, and the love story will hold your attention.

– Jessica Ford

The Lincoln Lawyer, season four

Netflix

The new season of The Lincoln Lawyer, the Netflix courtroom drama inspired by Michael Connelly’s bestselling novel The Law of Innocence, returns with its core cast intact. Defence lawyer Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) appears alongside Maggie (Neve Campbell), Lorna (Becki Newton), Izzy (Jazz Raycole) and Cisco (Australian actor Angus Sampson). Prosecutor Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer) makes a guest appearance.

Framed by iconic Los Angeles vistas, from the Hollywood hills to the imposing modernist Stanley Mosk Courthouse, season four shifts its emotional centre, taking on a more intensive focus on Mickey’s ex-wives. They pull together to save him from life in prison. Developed as strong characters, Maggie and Lorna risk their careers without hesitation.

Mickey’s wonderful classic 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible, highlighted in previous seasons, symbolises individualism. But in this series, he spends more time in his two town cars, emphasising interdependence on those around him.

Previously characterised as a suave operator working from the back seat of his Lincoln Continental, Mickey is now more exposed and uncertain, following the broader trend in legal dramas towards emotionally vulnerable male protagonists, and communal – rather than individual – heroism.

His team and ex-wives never doubt his innocence and pull out all stops in a compelling story of the “wrongfully accused”. They are loyal, and provide the emotional safety one would expect from family. This season is light, fun and easy to binge.

– Lisa French

The Muppet Show

Disney+

The Muppet Show is back – at least for one episode.

A lovingly made continuation of Jim Henson’s original, which debuted on television in the United Kingdom 50 years ago, the new episode features recreations of the original set, format and characters.

Fozzy Bear hurling terrible one liners? Check (or Wukka Wukka). Miss Piggy battling for the Best Diva on Set? Check. The Great Gonzo with delightfully absurd stunts that provide satisfying call backs for trainspotters? Check. Statler and Waldorf (aka the old grumpy critics) providing dry critic? Check. Beaker and Professor Honeydew presenting a particularly experimental experiment? Check.

Come for the nostalgia; stay for the energy provided by Sabrina Carpenter, the show’s musical guest who delights as a musician and hams it up with Piggy perfectly (all puns intended).

Cameos by Seth Rogan and Maya Rudolph are also delightful, and, like the original series, the vibrant Muppets’ covers of contemporary songs really are the biggest draw.

The only real gap is Henson’s voice as Kermit. While new voice actor Matt Vogel has been in place since 2017, in this familiar context the difference is a bit more noticeable.

– Liz Giuffre

L’Eclisse

Mubi

I’m always pleased to see a Michelangelo Antonioni film become available to stream in Australia. Although I’ve seen his 1962 masterpiece, L’Eclisse (The Eclipse), several times now – and dedicated a thesis chapter to it – it still leaves me at a loss for words.

Succeeding L’Avventura (The Adventure, 1960) and La Notte (The Night, 1961), L’Eclisse constitutes the final piece in Antonioni’s so-called “trilogy of alienation”. This defining three-film run – often cited among the most influential in modern cinema – explores themes of emotional disconnect, and the unknowable conditions of modern life.

Set largely among the modernist architecture of the Mussolini-era EUR (Esposizione Universale Roma) district, and chaotic events at the Borsa stock exchange, L’Eclisse’s narrative centres on the doomed love affair between Piero and Vittoria, played by the inimitable Alain Delon and Monica Vitti.

Beyond the love affair, however, Antonioni’s film also explores far deeper existential and emotional concerns.

As epitomised through the haunting final seven-and-a-half-minute montage, L’Eclisse is a film enveloped in uncertainty and opacity. Like other titles by Antonioni, the film lays bare the texture of our human condition, capturing the enigmatic, ever-unfolding mysteries that characterise the modern world.

It continues to feel more groundbreaking and devastating with each rewatch.

– Oscar Bloomfield

The Royal Tenenbaums

Netflix

I recall Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums as charming but confusing to my 20-something brain when it came out in Australian theatres in 2002. What would I make of it more than 20 years later?

Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) is the mercurial patriarch. His artful antics have estranged him from his family, which consists of his self-possessed wife Etheline (Angelica Huston) and his brilliant brood, Margot, Chas and Richie (Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller and Luke Wilson, respectively). Each child is a prodigy in their chosen domain of art, business and sport.

When forced to leave his decades-long residence at the Lindberg Palace Hotel, Royal formulates a last-ditch plan to win back his family’s affection in league with his longtime companion, Pagoda (Kumar Pallana).

The time is modern but unclear, suggesting the late 1970s but with props that date it closer to Y2K. Stacks of vintage boardgames and Chas’ Dalmatian mice linger in the Flemish revival family residence, located in an imagined New York City. These elements coalesce with a killer soundtrack featuring Nick Drake, The Clash and The Velvet Underground.

Watching The Royal Tenenbaums with maturity on my side, what hit me was how deeply troubled this family is. Trauma, mental health, neurodivergence and arrested development aren’t so much lurking in the background as front and centre.

The film succeeds in offering viewers a way through familial messiness. It left me feeling reflective, hopeful and grateful.

– Phoebe Hart

Beast of War

Netflix

Australian writer-director Kiah Roache-Turner’s Beast of War is a unique blend of war and shark flicks of the “survival horror” kind. It’s a short, sharp, gory joyride at 87 mins.

Set in 1942, a warship full of Australian soldiers is suddenly sunk on the Timor Sea. Seven men cling to a makeshift raft to survive.

Our hero is an Aboriginal private, Leo (Mark Coles Smith). Among the soldiers are Will (Joel Nankervis), Des (Sam Delich) and Teddy (Lee Tiger Halley). As Japanese fighter planes strafe from above, the soldiers must defend themselves against a giant great white shark circling below.

Beast of War is visceral. It gushes with affect. Its stylistic trait is close-up after close-up of soldiers’ faces, each one brutal in conveying pure horror.

As you watch, you become absorbed in the shock and horror of it all, but without getting too drawn under. As soon as there’s a moment’s calm, literally rendered onscreen in the lulls between the shark’s attack, you’re jolted with something scary, surprising and gruesome.

It’s also a very Australian film. Alongside themes of mateship and racism experienced by Indigenous soldiers is over-the-top Aussie slang. In one comical line, Des points a puny rifle at the enormous shark surging towards them and yells: “Come on you toothy bastard!”

– Roger Dawkins

Read more: Beast of War is a beautifully shot survival thriller with bite

– ref. Westeros, Wes Anderson and Sabrina Carpenter meeting the Muppets: what to watch in March – https://theconversation.com/westeros-wes-anderson-and-sabrina-carpenter-meeting-the-muppets-what-to-watch-in-march-276510

Live: Trump says ‘big wave’ in Iran is yet to come as conflict widens, Qatar halts LNG production

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest with our live blog above

US President Donald Trump is warning what he is describing as ‘a big wave’ of strikes against Iran is yet to come.

Speaking to CNN, Trump said the US hasn’t even begun to hit the Iranian regime hard yet.

Missile strikes continued to fly over the Middle East overnight, with multiple countries threatening escalation of the ongoing conflict.

Top members of the Trump administration have spoken publicly about ‘Operation Epic Fury’ for the first time at a Pentagon press conference. The US said the goal of the war was not regime change, despite the deaths of top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States was not ruling out any options in the war, but promised, “This is not Iraq … This is not endless”.

Meanwhile, Iran said it was ready for a “long war” and has targeted US military bases in other Gulf states.

Kuwait said it accidentally shot down “several” US military aircraft in friendly fire.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade blows, prompting the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah’s military and security activities and call on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.

Trump has said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of this page.

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

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

Another wastewater leak hits Wellington

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Harbour is off limits for swimmers with strong southerlies, rain and rough seas forecast to ease heading into Wednesday. Supplied

Wellington Water crews are responding to a wastewater leak on Marine Drive in Eastbourne.

The leak is from the main outfall pipe, which transports fully treated wastewater over 18km from Seaview to Pencarrow.

Because of the leak’s location, it’s likely that fully treated wastewater is entering the stormwater system and may be coming into contact with the coastline around 735 Marine Drive.

Wellington Water said the risk to public health remains low.

At this stage, Wellington Water estimates the repair will be completed by early next week.

It’s not the first wastewater leak in Wellington this year. On 4 February, Moa Point treatment plant failed catastrophically, sending about 70 million litres of untreated sewage to the sea daily.

It prompted Wellington Water chair Nick Leggett to resign on 15 February, saying stepping aside would allow Wellington Water to focus on fixing the problems and restoring public trust.

An independent government review would examine the causes of the plant’s failure.

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

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

More than 100 schools apply for help covering cost of asbestos sand clean-up

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied / MBIE

The Ministry of Education has received 127 applications from schools for help with the cost of cleaning asbsestos-contaminated sand.

Some schools spent thousands of dollars on decontamination after several brands of coloured sand were recalled last year.

Applications for the one-off grants closed at the end of February.

The ministry told schools they could ask for help with costs including asbestos assessors’ reports, disposing of the sand, and removing furniture and flooring.

It would not cover the cost of replacing classroom furniture and resources.

The ministry said the grants were for schools whose insurance companies refused to cover them, but schools could apply before they knew if their insurance claims were successful.

The ministry earlier said that a “fixed sum of money” had been set aside for the “one-off, time-limited” support scheme.

School had to have completed a survey by 17 December describing the financial impact of the asbestos-contaminated sand.

Only schools “experiencing financial difficulty” would receive reimbursement for asbestos-testing costs.

Early learning services were not being included in the support scheme, the ministry said, as they were privately owned entities co-funded with government subsidies and parents fees.

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

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

Government ‘kicked the tyres’ on solar subsidies but went with ‘minor’ tweaks instead

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

While the rest of the world races to harness the power of the sun, New Zealand is languishing – as energy prices continue to climb.

An RNZ investigation has found that ministers were presented with clear evidence that rooftop solar is now among the cheapest sources of electricity households can access; that upfront cost is the primary barrier to uptake; and that Australia’s rapid expansion was driven by more than $11 billion in state subsidies.

But the coalition government chose not to follow the same path.

Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal that after studying Australia’s incentive scheme throughout 2025, the government rejected financial support and instead progressed regulatory tweaks expected to have only a “minor” effect on solar uptake.

Officials refused to release the full paper trail surrounding the solar work or their decision-making record. Of nearly 70 solar-related documents identified by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MVIE), two thirds were withheld in full.

But the result is clear: although New Zealand has higher average sunshine hours than Germany, one of the world’s leading solar markets, only about one in 35 households has panels on its roof.

Meanwhile across the Tasman, one in three Australian homes now generates its own electricity, creating rock-bottom daytime power prices and saving those families an average 40 percent on their electricity bills each year.

“We’re really lagging in terms of solar uptake here, despite the advantages we have,” says Consumer NZ’s head of Powerswitch Paul Fuge.

Consumer NZ is forecasting that power prices could rise at least another 5 percent this year, after a 12 percent increase in 2025 – an issue advocates say solar could help address.

“The research shows it’s actually cheaper to make your own power via rooftop solar than it is to buy electricity from the grid,” Fuge says.

“That’s a real game changer…but only if you’ve got access to capital, and that’s the problem in New Zealand, it’s out of reach for many households particularly households that would benefit the most.”

“Kick the tyres”

The documents show that in early 2025, the Minister for Energy, Simon Watts instructed the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to “kick the tyres” on barriers to solar uptake.

Officials listed a raft of issues relating to information, installation, and consenting timeframes. The amount of power allowed to be exported to the grid was also an issue, MBIE said. But the report said clearly that the biggest roadblock to home solar installation wasn’t technical – it was financial.

A typical 5-10kW system costs between $10,000 and $20,000. Batteries added another $10,000-$20,000.

“Rooftop solar can produce low-cost electricity for households as it generates where it is consumed and can therefore reduce some network costs,” the briefing said.

“For many consumers the up-front costs to have solar panels and batteries installed are relatively high, and this takes time to pay back for consumers.”

Ministers were presented with clear evidence that rooftop solar is now among the cheapest sources of electricity households can access; that upfront cost is the primary barrier to uptake; and that Australia’s rapid expansion was driven by state subsidies. RNZ

In other words, the cost of solar is in the set-up – but it pays for itself long term via a lower power bill.

Officials warned that without help to bridge the upfront cost, uptake would remain limited to households able to finance the investment.

The Australia example

As part of their work, officials prepared detailed material comparing New Zealand’s approach with overseas subsidy regimes, particularly Australia’s small-scale solar and battery incentives.

The documents noted Australia’s “solar revolution” was aided by $11.5 billion AUD in government grants, which reduced upfront costs by 30% and allowed the industry to achieve massive economies of scale.

Officials also examined risks – including grid congestion and poorly sequenced incentives. Those lessons were cited repeatedly as reasons for caution, with emphasis on avoiding poorly designed subsidies and unmanaged uptake.

“Subsidised uptake in Australia has been so high (including consumers installing systems that were arguably oversized for their needs) that in 2024 regulators enabled electricity networks to charge consumers for solar injection,” the briefing said.

“This is due to high volumes of electricity being injected back to the network during the middle of the day, causing congestion and other network infrastructure upgrade needs.”

The briefing then set up a second argument against a subsidy: that New Zealand’s solar economics differ from Australia’s. New Zealand has lower sunshine hours, and its electricity system peaks in winter evenings when solar panels don’t produce power – unlike in Australia, where daytime summer air-conditioning aligns more closely with highest solar generation.

That means while rooftop solar still makes sense in New Zealand, generation and consumption aren’t as well-matched as in Australia; and systems can take longer to pay off.

However, officials noted rooftop solar paired with batteries can shift load, reduce peak demand in shoulder seasons, and increase resilience. The cost of batteries remains high, but prices are falling.

Despite some complications, the core conclusion remained: rebates accelerate uptake.

Solar secrecy

By mid-2025, multiple workstreams to “boost” solar uptake were in train, the documents show, including improving consumer information and removing the need for council consents for rooftop solar.

A programme to accelerate solar on farms was also underway, run by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA); while government-backed “green” loans were rejected, leaving banks to finance such initiatives instead.

Officials were still collating information on subsidies, but any substantive information was completely removed from the records released to RNZ.

Of the solar policy paper trail, just two documents of 69 deemed “in scope” were released to RNZ in full. Fifteen were partially released, and 47 withheld entirely.

The documents noted Australia’s “solar revolution” was aided by $11.5 billion AUD in government grants. RNZ

The withheld material includes draft Cabinet papers, tracked changes and feedback from July through to September; a detailed table of “cost drivers, barriers and proposed solutions”; modelling about the impact that high levels of rooftop solar would have on the market; a document called “solar calcs”; and ministerial communications.

MBIE said the information was withheld to protect confidential advice to ministers and “free and frank” opinions from officials.

“I do not consider that the withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest considerations in making the information available,” Energy Use Policy Manager Scott Russell wrote.

The titles suggest costed options were developed. But the public cannot see what was recommended to ministers – or rejected.

Watts refused to answer questions about whether subsidies were costed or taken to Cabinet.

Labour’s energy spokesperson Megan Woods said the level of secrecy was ridiculous, given it was officials doing the work on the taxpayer dollar.

“Why is it that the government won’t even release the names of the documents that they’ve received in terms of solar policy?” she said. “What are they trying to hide?”

‘Terrifying, loud, and wild’

At the same time the energy minister was receiving advice from officials on solar, he was also deeply engaged with another part of the sector – the power companies themselves.

Correspondence released from Simon Watts’ office shows sustained engagement throughout 2025 with large electricity generators on dry-year risk and wholesale market stability.

One industry report provided to ministers argued strongly against interventions that might soften “price signals”.

The report, sent to Watts by Mercury Energy, stated “wholesale markets are not supposed to be friendly or quiet.”

“They are supposed to be terrifying, loud, and wild… they are something to protect oneself from through investments, operational optimisation, and contracting.”

Correspondence released from Simon Watts’ office shows sustained engagement throughout 2025 with large electricity generators. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The report warns that “affordability concerns” should be addressed outside the electricity market rather than through structural changes to pricing or incentives.

Solar isn’t mentioned directly in the report. But the power companies have the most to lose if customers can generate their own power. For example, analysis by Rewiring Aotearoa found if 80 percent of homes had solar, it would provide as much backup as 29 days of added hydro storage and could have halved wholesale peak power prices in 2024.

Such a shift would significantly change wholesale price dynamics.

“What we know is a demonstrable fact is that putting rooftop solar on a householder in New Zealand substantially lowers electricity bills,” says Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey.

“Yet what we’ve seen time and time again is we’ve kind of let the energy system up to its own devices – but electricity bills just continue to go up.

“That’s why I think it’s super important that we now look at making sure that if it’s not going to come from industry because it’s not necessarily in their best interests, well, then it really needs to come from central government.”

A “minor” change

When Watts made his long-awaited energy announcement on October 1, there was no new solar subsidy.

Instead the reforms remained regulatory – clarifying that most rooftop installations do not require building consent, fast-tracking consents for new homes with solar, and expanding permitted voltage ranges to allow greater exports to the grid.

In the supporting Regulatory Impact Statement, officials warned the changes would likely have limited impact.

“The Minister’s preferred options may meet the objective of incentivising demand for solar generation and sustainable buildings. However, the incentive effect is not clear and expected to be minor.”

The dominant barrier to uptake remained upfront cost, the RIS said.

Solar uptake continues – but largely among the small proportion of households able to finance the investment themselves.

Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey says the government should introduce policy to support rooftop solar. Supplied / Rewiring Aotearoa

Meanwhile, electricity cost and demand are both expected to continue to rise in the coming years, due to both lines and energy cost increases.

Consumer NZ has predicted a 5% increase in power prices this year, following a 12 percent increase last year.

Meanwhile, demand for electricity is expected to grow sharply as transport and industry electrify.

Modelling cited in MBIE briefings shows demand could more than double by 2050 – from roughly 40 terawatt hours today to around 90 terawatt hours.

Officials have warned existing hydro generation cannot meet that growth alone, particularly as climate change increases the frequency of dry years.

Rooftop solar does not solve dry-year risk by itself. But analysts say it could have formed part of a broader package of responses, alongside storage and demand management.

Instead, the Government’s response to dry-year risk has been to back a multi-billion-dollar floating LNG import terminal.

Writing for Carbon News, energy expert Christina Hood said modelling commissioned by the Government itself showed the LNG option could lead to higher electricity prices than alternatives such as gas storage or demand reduction – even with its fixed costs subsidised by a levy on consumers.

Hood argued the Government failed to model cheaper alternatives such as demand reduction and accelerated renewables in detail, despite their potential for greater impact on prices and system security, leaving consumers exposed to higher long-term costs.

Supporters argue the LNG facility reduces the risk of extreme price spikes and underwrites renewable investment.

Port Taranaki is the preferred location for a new LNG import terminal. LDR / Supplied

Critics describe it as an “expensive detour” that locks in fossil infrastructure just as solar and batteries come down in price.

“Refusing to subsidize solar while underwriting a billion dollar gas terminal is like renting an expensive fossil fuel heater for a house you’re already planning to electrify,” said 350 Aotearoa Co-Director Alva Feldmeier.

She said the LNG decision clearly showed the government was willing to intervene in the market – and yet was unwilling to do so when it came to bringing power prices down.

“They’re more than happy to slap a gas tax on every New Zealander’s power bill to underwrite this expensive LNG terminal while choosing to shelve plans to help households generate their own cheap, clean power.”

‘Watch this space’

This is not the first time National ministers have considered – and stepped back from – financial incentives for rooftop solar.

Newsroom previously revealed the Government had actively explored a home solar support package during 2024, including potential rebates or finance mechanisms, before shelving it ahead of Budget decisions.

Despite that, Energy Minister Simon Watts continues to cast himself as an advocate for distributed solar.

“Rooftop solar and batteries will be critical for a modern distributed energy system,” he told the Bluegreens conference in February 2026, adding that his government had “made it easier than ever for households and businesses to harness solar.”

Watts also acknowledged New Zealand could do more, noting that Australia demonstrates “just how much further we can go” and saying National would continue to look at opportunities to support solar. “Watch this space.”

One proposal that may yet advance is a Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, which would allow households to finance solar through their rates.

For now, however, no national rebate or finance programme exists. In response to questions from RNZ, Watts said only he was “focussed on making energy more affordable.”

“I acknowledge the valuable role that solar and batteries can play in New Zealand’s energy system,” he said.

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

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

Serious concerns at-risk youth will be caught up in government’s new move-on orders

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nick Monro

There is growing alarm among youth advocates and law experts that at-risk children could be asked to leave a public area if they’re caught begging or sleeping.

The government plans to give police the power to move on rough sleepers, beggars, or people displaying disorderly behaviour anywhere in public.

It would apply to anyone aged over 14 years old and be enforceable through fines and a maximum three month prison term.

The proposal comes after widespread concern about growing anti-social behaviour in Auckland and other city centres.

Aaron Hendry has worked with at-risk young people for a decade and is worried by the numbers of homeless rangatahi.

He heads Kickback, a youth development organisation responding to homelessness in Auckland.

“Currently we’re monitoring roughly 200 or so tamariki and rangatahi across the region, in various levels, some fairly intensively, others light touch just guiding and navigating. Others that we’ve been able to rehouse we stay in the background to make sure they don’t slip through the cracks.”

Aaron Hendry. RNZ/ Eva Corlett

Kickback can help children on the street to find shelter, sometimes in a matter of hours, but that has taken years of work building relationships with key services and landlords.

“We meet new young people every single week though, there’s always someone new, there’s something new going on and the system right now is under huge amounts of pressure,” Hendry said.

“We’re seeing young people coming both through the mental health system where they’re discharged from the hospital mental health unit and they’ve got nowhere to go,” he said.

“We’re seeing children that are coming through the care system, going through the justice system, kids that have just ended up in a lodge or a hostel by themselves and they’ve got nowhere to go.”

He said children and young people who find themselves homeless need support, and organisations like Kickback need more funding.

Hendry said the move-on orders were not the answer and police already have the power to respond to criminal behaviour among young people.

“The fact that children have been named within them is concerning to us,” he said.

“We know that when a child or a young person is on the street, when they’re experiencing homelessness, there’s some real significant risk to their lives and what we need to be doing is ensuring that we’ve got the right wrap-around support in place.”

Many shop keepers and business leaders support the government’s move-on orders to address ongoing anti-social behaviour.

But Youth Law Aotearoa general manager Darryn Aitchison said they should not apply to teenagers.

“We used to go downtown and walk around the streets on a Friday night, right, that’s what young people do, that’s normal young person behaviour,” he said.

“This law actually creates a situation where being a normal 14 year old could bring you into contact with the police.”

He said public places are central to the rights of freedom of movement, association, and expression – and children have a right to housing.

“We’re actually seeing a bit of a creep around civil rights and people’s ability to just be in their communities, be free, be normal, do the normal things that young people do and that’s concerning,” Aitchison said.

“I think all New Zealanders should be concerned about that.”

The Human Rights Commission said the planned move-on orders appeared to contravene the Bill of Rights Act.

Chief Human Rights Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow said he had “major concerns” about children as young as 14 being subject to move-on orders.

Dr Stephen Rainbow. Supplied/ Human Rights Commission

“Our role should be in protecting and supporting children to live a life of dignity. The best interest of the child is the paramount consideration for our human rights responsibilities.”

He said everyone deserved a life of dignity and a safe place to call home and the commission was concerned homeless people would be displaced and forced into areas away from food, health services and support networks.

“Public spaces are essential for democratic participation, social and cultural life, community belonging and access to services. They are central to our rights to freedom of movement, association, and expression,” Rainbow said.

“Restrictions on Bill of Rights Act rights must be necessary, proportionate, and justified. Though we do not have the specific wording of the amendment, the proposal does not appear to meet these criteria.”

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s office earlier said police are expected to connect people given move-on orders with the support they may need.

Rainbow said there were too many people with serious mental health and addiction needs in the community without adequate support.

“This is not humane for those living on the street, and can be unsafe for workers, public transport users, families and businesses who experience anti-social behaviour or disruption.”

He said the move-on orders proposal does nothing to deal with any of the key drivers of homelessness including the rising cost of living, addiction and mental health issues.

“We all have times in our lives where we need care to get by, and many of us don’t have the savings or personal support systems to bounce back after a traumatic event like a job loss, health crisis, or fleeing violence,” Rainbow said.

“What people experiencing homelessness need most is a home and access to social services, which will lead to greater safety for all. We call on the government to prioritise safety, dignity, and care over short-term measures that seek to make problems and people invisible.

Criminal Bar Association of New Zealand president Annabel Cresswell said the proposed move-on orders risk eroding fundamental rights without addressing the cause of the issues faced by those who are vulnerable in our communities.

“We stand ready to challenge any rights breaches through the courts, where our members have long acted to stand for equality and justice for our most vulnerable.”

Cresswell said everyone in New Zealand deserves a secure home and to live with dignity.

“But we are all aware of the worsening problem of homelessness in our communities, especially clear to our members working in our courts, where unhoused persons often end up,” she said.

“Forcing our unhoused community to leave their most familiar spaces, via harsh policing and criminalisation, is not only inhumane but will cause many to become unsafe.”

Cresswell said it was shocking because emergency housing and state housing is at its least accessible.

“We remind policy-makers that policing and criminal justice processes against unhoused people is actually far more expensive in the long-run than investing in homes, health access, support and care.”

Pam Elgar is executive chair of social services agency Lifewise. She said there is widespread recognition that anti-social behaviour needs to be addressed.

But she said the underlying causes were crucial to address and opposed the move-on orders.

“When homeless rangatahi are visible in public spaces it highlights unmet needs, not necessarily bad behaviour and the conflation of bad behaviour with homelessness is a risk,” Elgar said.

“These young people fall through the cracks, they’re ineligible for a benefit and do not meet criteria for housing support. There’s a real concern that in the absence of appropriate alternative, police may refer them to Oranga Tamariki, which of course is widely regarded as a measure of last resort.”

Hendry said he feels deeply frustrated at the move-on orders when there are rangatahi who desperately need help and homes.

“If we think about it for a second, a child ending up sleeping rough in the city centre. What is going on in that kid’s life, what is going on in his whānau’s life that is what’s happening right now. The question as a community should be how are we going to respond to that?”

He plans to make a submission opposing the government’s move-on orders, which require an amendment to the Summary Offences Act.

“My biggest fear right now is that kids are going to be pushed out of the city centre, out into the forgotten suburbs where they’re going to get missed, they’re going to be at greater risk of harm and of abuse, exploitation and we’re not going to be able to connect with them and give them the support that they need,” Hendry said.

“What we are seeing is that the support structure is not there to support tamariki when they are experiencing homelessness right now and we need to be doing a lot more work to ensure that children get the support they need.”

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

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

Forget L&P – Paeroa is the ‘antique capital of New Zealand’

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

In 1993, Vivien Leonard decided Paeroa was the Antique Town of New Zealand. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

A train carriage turned house, racks of clown costumes, tools from decades past, plates and teacup-lined walls.

These are the reminders of history you can find in Paeroa.

With a population of 4600, the town markets itself as the ‘antique capital of New Zealand’.

A train carriage turned home is what you can find at Shed & Co. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

In 1993, Vivien Leonard set up her first antique shop in the town in 1993, when there were only two antique shops and one second-hand store.

“About 1995, when I thought, well, there’s no other town in New Zealand that’s got as many second-hand shops as Paeroa, and we only had 4000 people, so I called Paeroa the antique town of New Zealand. From 2020, really it was the antique town in New Zealand, it started to catch on.”

Vivien Leonard opened her first antique shop in 1993. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

The town now has about seven antique shops and six second-hand stores.

According to locals, the Saint Paul’s Op Shop has been in town for a long time. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

But behind the so-far-uncontested title, is an array of factors that kept the antique community growing.

With a population of 4600, Paeroa market itself as the Antique Capital of New Zealand. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

At the start, the council and Leonard did their part.

“The council was good at supporting us and put the word out there. And I put it on my card, I wrote it on my car.”

Vivien Leonard’s antique shop is some people’s go-to for vintage and antique jewellery. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Many other factors made space for antique shops.

To the locals, Paeroa has always been a town with a reputation bigger than its population.

Lawrie Smith, 89, and 82-year-old Gaye Cleave are part of the town’s historical society.

They said the town was known as a transport hub, for its brewery, and later on, the L&P drink.

From L-R: Gaye Cleave, Kae Petch, and Lawrie Smith are part of Paeroa’s historical society. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Growing up, sewing factories and new furniture stores filled the streets, and buying second-hand, was uncommon for them.

But Cleave said when the railway closed, and big retail pushed out independent stores, space opened up for antique shops to thrive.

“Next door was Rodney Williams, when they closed down, it became the St John’s (op) shop. It seems to be that when shops [were] empty, people took the advantage and put antiques and op shops in them.”

St John has a retail store in Paeroa, selling secondhand goods. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Smith thinks Paeroa feared better than many other small towns across New Zealand.

“In the peak of the downturn when the rail first went, we lost a lot of business. But now there’s probably less shops empty here than there is in a lot of other towns.”

He has done maths. Paeroa has 220 shops, with just four currently sitting empty.

And even those won’t stay that way for long.

Shed & Co’s Sam Annison loves old tools. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Sam Annison, who runs Shed & Co, is looking to expand his presence in Paeroa.

“I wouldn’t want to say too much just at the moment. There won’t be many empty shops in town soon.”

Three years ago, Annison decided to sell his garden shed business and pursue his passion in second-hand goods.

Business partners Sam Annison and Connie Riddle with Sam’s favorite secondhand find – a 1951 London Taxi. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

After a stint running his store in Waihi, he moved his business to Paeroa.

“Paeroa has always been known as the second-hand capital of New Zealand. I really don’t know how it all started, but I do know that I’d just love to come and join in.”

The welcoming community has also attracted newcomers like Just Plane Interesting, bringing clown costumes and M&M collectibles to the main street.

Clown cosutmes are what you can find in the Paeroa secondhand stores. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

After running his West Auckland business for 26 years, owner Raymond May is ready to make Paeroa his permanent home.

“There’s so many different people, kindred spirits, and so many beautiful things to look at down there. And it’s in the middle of everything.”

Raymond May has been running Just Plane Interesting in Auckland for 26 years. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

He told RNZ he had been invited to join the Paeroa antique community years ago, but at that time, he had just bought a building in Thames and was planning to settle there.

Unfortunately a stoush with the local council over his facade renovation saw him pack up in disappointment.

M & M collectibles are another find on Paeroa’s main street. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

So far, his interactions with the Hauraki District Council had been pleasant.

“No one comes in and dictates to you. They just let you do what you want to do. It was just refreshing.”

Among the newcomers is Lisa Wellington who opened her own op shop two months ago.

“I was working in an op shop that closed down, so I opened my own. As we make profits, we will donate back to the community instead of going out of town.”

Lisa Wellington opened Funky Finds Op Shop. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

She said the business community is supportive of each other, and she’s not worried about profit or competition.

After 20 or so years, the Antique Capital title is catching on with many customers visiting Paeroa for secondhand shopping. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

“Everybody knows everybody. Everyone’s helpful and tries to help the customer rather than themselves. So I think the town does well from that.”

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

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

Authorities under fire for failure to deal with illegally parked car

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

A Wellington business owner is accusing authorities of failing to do their jobs and allowing the owner of car parked illegally on Tory Street to do so on a semi-permanent basis.

The businessman, who RNZ agreed not to identify, said he first noticed the car parked illegally in the time restricted on-street parking spaces about a year ago and it had become a fixture ever since.

“So, a couple of months into it I went, ‘nah, this is not quite right’. I called the council. The council said that they would look into it.

“It’s quite clearly not paying for tickets, and it’s quite clear they didn’t have a warrant or registration. The council was ticketing it every second day. So we’re talking about $400 a ticket, maybe $500 a ticket.”

Metered parks cost $5 per hour between 8am-8pm in Central Wellington and most were limited to 120 minutes 8am-5pm, and 180 minutes from 5-8pm. At the weekend the fee dropped to $3 an hour while most metered parks were limited to 180 minutes 8am-8pm. There was no charge or time limit on public holidays.

Annoyed at losing potential customers because the car park was occupied, the businessman went to the council offices in August in an attempt to meet with someone about the problem, but was asked to leave the building after becoming upset which he apologised for.

He took the issue up with council via email, as instructed.

Tory Street, Wellington. RNZ

In December, the Office of the Mayor thanked him for bringing the matter to its attention.

“We understand the seriousness of your concerns.

“Please be assured that we have discussed this with officers who have advised the situation is sensitive and is currently being handled by the appropriate authorities, including the police and MOJ (Ministry of Justice).

“We appreciate your patience and cooperation while the process is underway while the police and Ministry of Justice decide the best course of action.”

The businessman replied that he was “at the end of his patience” pointing out that the offending car now appeared not be be getting ticketed at all, and demanded to know if parking officials had been told not to ticket the vehicle.

The Office of the Mayor responded about three hours later.

“We have discussed this with officers and can advise that the parking team have not been instructed to avoid issuing tickets to this vehicle and they will follow up on the points you have raised regarding instances where tickets were not issued.

The office said parking services had been in contact with the Ministry of Justice as a number of outstanding tickets were currently with it for enforcement.

“They have broader enforcement powers than council, including the ability to clamp or seize vehicles,” the Office of the Mayor said.

A number of tickets have been issued for the vehicle. RNZ

“MOJ has indicated they will look to act in early to mid-January in relation to this vehicle as unfortunately, based on repeated behaviour from the vehicle owner, standard council measures such as ticketing or towing have not proven effective as a deterrent in this instance.

“I understand this may not be the immediate response you were hoping for. However, in this case, the best approach is to allow the Ministry of Justice and police to determine the appropriate course of action.”

The businessman, who said he owned three businesses in the city centre and paid a combined $17,000 in rates, understood the car owner was a difficult personality but was fed up and wanted the situation resolved.

“This is an issue for the council. I have no issue with the car owner. I have an issue with the council not doing their job.”

In a statement, the Wellington City Council said it was aware of the vehicle and the fact it had been parked in violation of restrictions that applied in the Tory Street area of the city.

“We can confirm the vehicle has been ticketed on multiple occasions.”

Council said parking wardens were only able to get a vehicle towed if they believed, on reasonable grounds, the vehicle was causing an obstruction, or removal was desirable in the interests of road safety or for the convenience or in the interests of the public.

“The vehicle concerned has been towed on several occasions, however council does not have the legal power to clamp, impound, or otherwise hold the vehicle. Council will continue to enforce this vehicle within the powers that it has at its disposal.

“A number of tickets issued to this vehicle remain unpaid and have been lodged with the Ministry of Justice for collection, who do have the legal powers to clamp, impound and dispose of the vehicle to allow for the full or partial recovery of unpaid fines.”

The tickets issues remain unpaid. RNZ

The WCC said questions about how many tickets had been issued to this vehicle, over what timeframe and amounting to how much in dollar terms would required a Local Government Official Information Act request.

RNZ has been unable to determine what, if any, enforcement actions are being taken beyond what the council has done already.

Police said they had no information indicating they were involved with the vehicle and pointed out parking was a Wellington City Council matter.

Ministry of Justice group manager national service delivery, Tracey Baguley, said the ministry couldn’t comment on the infringements issued in this case, as these were issued by the Wellington City Council and questions should be referred to it.

“When an infringement is not paid to the issuing authority by its due date, it can be transferred to the courts and becomes a fine.

“The ministry is also unable to provide you with specific information relating to an individual fines, as a person’s fines profile, and the actions taken to collect outstanding fines, is court information.”

Baguley encouraged RNZ to apply for court documents related to the vehicle but these require applicants to know the case number or full name of the defendant which the council, police and MOJ could not provide.

The Wellington District Court did not respond to an RNZ email regarding any potential action against the owner of the vehicle using the registration number to identify the vehicle.

Meanwhile, Baguley at the Ministry of Justice, provided general information on the role of the courts in this process.

When an issuing authority like a local council issued a ticket (called an infringement fee) the individual it was issued against was given 28 days to either dispute the infringement or pay it directly to the issuing authority, she said.

If the individual did not pay the fee in that timeframe, the issuing authority sent a reminder notice.

Baguley said if a further 28 days passed after this reminder, and the infringement remained unpaid, then the issuing authority could file the infringement with the district court for collection.

“When this happened, the infringement fee becomes a court fine. The court will issue a notice of the fine to the individual, giving them a further 28 days to make payment.”

If the fine was not paid within that timeframe, and the individual did not reach a payment arrangement with the court, then the court could take enforcement action to resolve the overdue balance, Baguley said.

This could include:

  • seizing and selling vehicles or other property;
  • clamping vehicles;
  • suspending driver licences;
  • making compulsory deductions from the offender’s income or bank account;
  • summoning the individual to court;
  • issuing warrants to arrest.

None of which impressed the businessman.

“Yeah, it is difficult, but that’s why we have the police. And that’s why we have what we have parking wardens. You know, people just have to do their jobs. When people come into my place of business, if they’re unhappy, we try and look after them as best we can.”

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

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

South Asians most targeted by racial abuse, police hate crime data reveals

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bus driver Rajnish Trehan was attacked by a passenger on the number 18 bus in the Auckland suburb of Avondale on Saturday, 7 September, 2024. Supplied

It has been one and a half years since Auckland bus driver Rajnish Trehan was told by a violent and angry passenger he was a servant in Aotearoa before the man smashed out four of his teeth – an incident not treated as a hate crime by police.

People of South Asian descent have copped the most hate as victims of reported racist abuse in New Zealand according the police’s latest hate crime data – with 4767 hate incidents reported involving South Asian victims in New Zealand between January 2022 and October 2025.

More than four years since the beginning of a $10.4 million initiative – Te Raranga, aimed at helping police officers better respond to hate-motivated offending and collect hate incident data following the Christchurch mosque attacks – police said they are continuing to work to mitigate hate-motivated offending over time.

Trehan, who was punched in the jaw by a passenger who told him “You’re in my country, you’re my servant” in September 2024, said the trauma still haunts him today.

“You can heal yourself physically, but when you get emotionally hurt, it’s very hard to come out [from] those emotions,” he said.

Trehan said he was unable to eat properly for half a year and had to get dental treatment for the dislocated teeth. He had since left his job on public buses to drive school buses instead.

Trehan said his daughter, who was just five at the time, hugged him tight and would not let him leave the house for several days following the attack.

Rajnish Trehan was attacked by a passenger who refused to pay his fare. Supplied

He said he told police about the racist comments, but was not aware of them recording it as a hate incident.

Trehan’s attacker Paki Keepa was sentenced to one month of home detention on 19 December, 2024, and police confirmed that the crime was not treated as hate-motivated.

“This determination was based off enquiries made into the circumstances of the assault, including speaking with a witness,” police said in a statement.

Trehan said there was no justice in the outcome.

“It was very hard for my family to digest this thing, what has happened to us, so it’s not proper justice [that] has been done, because something needs to be done very strongly … regarding in future also, if these things happen [again],” he said.

Trehan said he had experienced several instances of racist verbal abuse on the job in the months following the attack, and now after leaving his old job, he continued to see racism towards South Asians in his neighbourhood in Papakura, including people throwing stones at the homes of South Asian families.

Police data showed nearly 80 percent of the 22,069 hate incidents reported between January 2022 and October 2025 related to racial discrimination. South Asians (4767), Asians (2616), People of Colour (1884) and Māori (1427) were the most targeted.

While Asians were around 17 percent of New Zealand’s population (2023 Census), South Asians alone made up 27 percent of the victims of reported racial incidents.

The data showed 5.3 percent (1187) of the total number of hate incidents in this period had resulted in court action.

An Auckland social worker of Indian descent, who was punched in an unprovoked racial attack in Aotea Square last year, said he felt police put “minimal” effort into investigating his case, and also lacked empathy.

The man in his twenties, who did not want to be named, recalled hanging out with a friend outside Aotea Centre one evening when he noticed a man shouting “F** off, go back, you don’t belong here”, before making eye contact with him and approaching to punch him in the face.

An Auckland social worker of Indian descent was punched in an unprovoked racial attack in Aotea Square last year. Supplied / Google Maps

He said straight after punching him, the man confronted another South Asian male in the area.

“It did feel like on reflection, there was a huge substance factor there, then the behaviour was followed by whatever racial bias and hate this person had, again – those words were big,” he said.

He said while police did take note of the racial comments and recorded it as a hate incident, they did not ask too many questions about that aspect of his experience.

“It felt like they lacked empathy, like the fact that I had gone through this, and I’m sure they see a lot of worse things daily, but it would have been nice if they … if there was a little bit more of a human touch to how they approach it.

“They were just kind of asking me questions to tick-box their report,” he said.

He said police called him for a welfare check-in after a few days, but closed his case within weeks, saying they did not have footage of the offender’s face.

Police said to RNZ in a statement only one camera yielded footage.

“This footage was unclear and did not capture the offender or the incident clearly, leaving Police unable to make an identification.

“Unfortunately, there were no further lines of enquiry for Police to progress our investigation”.

The man said he felt horrible that police closed the case with “minimal” effort, when considering the number of cameras available to check in the Aotea Square area.

He said police were not giving enough attention to hate incidents, which were significant for individuals who experienced them.

“Compared to a stabbing, it was a lot more minor, but if I now look at it from a racial lens, it makes me mad, because I know there’s so much hate, and it’s worse that it happens in person and physically and tangibly, but there’s also a massive online component to the South Asian hate, that I experienced as well – and I feel like there’s a huge factor of both of them playing in together,” he said.

Mount Roskill MP Carlos Cheung. VNP / Phil Smith

Meanwhile, Mount Roskill MP Carlos Cheung – whose electorate has over 50 percent of its population born overseas – said he was not surprised by the recent data and had heard lots from people experiencing hate speech and racism.

He said he was aware of constituents not reporting to police their experiences, and fears that the number of hate incidents was under-reported.

“In order to address the issues, we need more accurate data, so we can address the problem, so we should encourage people to report to the police, no matter how big or how small the issues,” he said.

When asked whether he would advocate for hate crimes to be made a standalone offence, in his capacity as an Asian MP with a diverse electorate, Mr Cheung said that was not something an electorate MP could answer.

He said he had been talking to police regularly about how to promote social harmony.

Meanwhile, hate targeting immigrants, particularly South Asians, had become increasingly visible with far right demonstrations in New Zealand and overseas – including the anti-immigration protest led by the Freedom and Rights Coalition in Auckland in January, and two Sikh parades disrupted in South Auckland and Tauranga.

Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Labour party MP and former ethnic communities minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan said the latest police data on hate incidents and its impact on the South Asian community was alarming, both in a global context, and in New Zealand’s own context of the mosque terror attacks in 2019 – and that things were not getting better.

When asked whether her party would look into hate speech law reforms and making hate crimes standalone offences, Radhakrishnan said Labour would have a focus on improving diversity and inclusion, and strengthening social cohesion.

The Law Commission was looking into whether it should reform hate speech laws under the previous government, but Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith ordered it to stop in 2024, saying it would undermine free speech.

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

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

Goal-hungry Football Ferns coast into OFC qualifying semi-finals

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s Milly Clegg (L) and Solomon Islands’ Teisika Rotoava contest possession. photosport

The Football Ferns have notched another landslide win at the second round of World Cup Oceania qualifying in Honiara to ensure they’ll line up in the semi-finals on home soil.

Striker Hannah Blake scored a hat-trick as New Zealand dismantled the host nation Solomon Islands 8-0, matching the scoreline from their opening win over Samoa.

Victory ensures coach Michael Mayne’s team will contest the third round of qualifying – comprising semi-finals and final – in New Zealand in April.

They needed to finish in the top two of their pool in Honiara and will achieve that regardless the result of their final pool match against unbeaten American Samoa on Thursday.

New Zealand’s Indiah-Paige Riley celebrates after scoring a goal. photosport

Mayne was delighted with the form of his side and pleased they’ve been able to develop elements of their attacking game.

“This team’s been waiting to get back home and get back in front of our community and our supporters. To tick that off after our second game is great,” Mayne said.

“And I’m really proud of the performance, it was an enjoyable one for me.

“I think we knew this tournament would give us the opportunity to work a few different ideas in how we want to play, particularly in possession. The intent was just superb from the players.”

Football Ferns coach Michael Mayne at the New Zealand Football Ferns team announcement for the 2024 Paris Olympics at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand on 4 July, 2024. Photosport / Alan Lee

Mayne was also pleased Durham Women FC striker Blake could show her wares, having made sporadic appearances for the national side since her debut nine years ago.

Milly Clegg bagged a double while Indiah-Paige Riley, Grace Jale and Pia Vlok also found the net.

The Oceania semifinals will be played in Hamilton on April 12, followed by the final at North Harbour Stadium three days later.

The winners will qualifying automatically for next year’s World Cup in Brazil while the beaten finalists will contest an inter-Confederation play-off process.

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

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

Community forms in remains of Christchurch red zone

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Florence Waaka (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) with John Aramakatu, who has spent the past few months sleeping in the boot of his car in Christchurch’s red zone. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

At Bexley’s Wetlands Grove, three dogs in a caravan bark enthusiastically, shoving their heads through an open window, jostling to see who has arrived at their Christchurch red zone home.

The deserted street is the last remaining road leading to the old Pacific Park subdivision overlooking the Avon River and the Avon Heathcote Ihutai Estuary, which was largely cleared of homes because of liquefaction after the 2011 earthquake.

The caravan’s owner shut the dogs away and directed RNZ to Moko, the informal leader of a ramshackle street community that had sprung up around buses, vans and cars.

Moko, who wanted to be identified by his first name only, had been living at Wetlands Grove for about 18 months, with numbers growing from three to 40 over that time.

“Some people work, some people don’t. Some people are here because mainly there is no availability (of homes). They’ve got pets, they got too many kids. It’s too hard to afford cause you gotta pay rent, and then you also got to pay power, phone, internet, and then food,” he said.

Moko was living in emergency housing when he was the victim of a home invasion.

His request to move was turned down, so he started living in his van four years ago.

Moko worked full-time as part of an on-call road crew and while his set up worked for him for now, he was finding it difficult to return to housing.

“It’s getting picked as suitable. There is a lot of judgment,” he said.

“You turn up to a viewing and you’ve got 30 other families there. We’ve got families down here, actual families. There is a lady with three or four kids that has to live out of her bus.

“We’ve got people coming down here who work but they live in a tent. It shouldn’t be happening.”

Bexley’s Wetlands Grove is the last remaining road leading to the old Pacific Park subdivision. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

The council regularly removed rubbish and had delivered portaloos, Moko said.

“It’s better than walking 25 minutes to the closest one, only to find it has been shut because it has been tagged up or someone is sleeping rough in it,” he said.

One house remained in the red zone on Velsheda Street near Wetlands Grove after the owners turned down the Crown’s initial buy-out offer.

The house was sold to the council and quickly demolished in February.

Moko believed the owners had no issue with people living on the street, although the Wetlands Grove community has had problems with others who object to their presence.

“We’ve had people come down and try and do stuff, come down and throw eggs at our vehicles. I caught two young fellas just about to vandalise the portaloo, and their excuse? ‘My mum told us to, cause we don’t like you people’,” he said.

Bexley’s Wetlands Grove is the last remaining road leading to the old Pacific Park subdivision. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

‘This is freedom’

Down the road, the windows of Ngawai Timu’s tidy campervan were trimmed with curtains and her home on wheels had running water, lights, a fridge, television and a chemical toilet.

Ngawai Timu has spent years sleeping rough in Christchurch’s red zone. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

Timu started living in a car before upgrading to her campervan a couple of years ago after deciding $470 per week rental payments were too much.

“All I felt was I was paying for somebody’s mortgage,” she said.

“I’ve paid my way and did my work and paid my taxes and all my life of hard work and still paying high rent. So I’ve come from Auckland, Hamilton to Christchurch to live for free,” she said.

“I have water, running, and can have a TV, and also my lights, my fridge. I have a dirty big fridge, everything I need is in this van.”

Ngawai said she was recently offered a short-term one-bedroom house as part of Kainga Ora transitional housing programme but rules and restrictions, including the frequent checks and not being able to bring her fridge or have space for her two vehicles meant she moved back into her van.

Many members of Timu’s family, including some of her children, had moved to Australia although a son lived nearby and being close to her mokopuna was important.

For now, van life was okay.

Timu looks out over the open land and the view of the ever-changing estuary and distant Port Hills.

“I’ve gone back to being eight, nine-years-old and living out in the country. This is what I’ve known to be freedom. Look at it, nothing there,” she said.

Between Timu’s van and the sweeping Canterbury landscape was a stark reminder of tougher times, with a small, one-man tent just visible in the long grass.

In the depths of winter, when Wetlands Grove was icy cold, his neighbours helped him to an old broken-down car to sleep.

‘Refugees in our own country’

Polly Stewart is sitting in the sun chatting to a friend when RNZ arrives, with a short blonde bob, colourful dress and immaculate make-up.

“I’m transgender. My former partner asked me to leave because she couldn’t cope with the idea, and as Fats Domino sang ‘I’ve found my freedom’,” she said, singing the words.

Stewart said the cost of housing kept her in her bus, with the pension enough to cover expenses and a few savings.

She said the prospect of a Kaianga Ora home was unappealing.

“Being here is sort of freedom for me. Whereas living in a Kaianga Ora apartment, no. It’s like being in prison,” she said.

Other people living at Wetlands Grove did not wish to speak to RNZ, including a man who said there was no point because news coverage would not change a thing.

“We’re not homeless by the way, we’re refugees in our own country,” he said.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said some people would criticise the council for paying for portaloos and rubbish collection in Wetlands Grove, but the council needed to keep conditions safe.

“It makes sense to me that you should because that’s sanitary stuff. You imagine if it wasn’t there,” he said.

“The piece of road they are parking on is out of the way, so to speak, it’s high, it’s dry. It’s not down in the bits that flood, or anything like that. I understand it still has street lights running on it. If that is where they have ended up, sadly at this stage, we have to do something to make sure it is sanitary otherwise it could turn into an absolute disaster.”

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said some people would criticise the council for paying for portaloos and rubbish collection in Wetlands Grove, but the council needed to keep conditions safe. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

The council’s citizens and community general manager, Andrew Rutledge, said there was no set end date for the provision of portaloos and rubbish collection.

“We have been clear that this is a temporary situation as that space will be needed for ecological restoration works in the future,” he said.

With Pacific Park’s final house now gone, the council had started work on its plans for the area.

Rutledge said the river regeneration plan detailed the restoration of tidal wetlands in the area.

All infrastructure such as roads, power, water and wastewater services would be removed in the next 12 to 18 months and the council would soon start the process of closing all remaining roads.

Wetlands Grove would become wetlands once more, so Moko, Timu, Stewart and others would once again need to move on.

Five housing providers – Comcare, Emerge Aotearoa, Christchurch City Mission, Housing First Otautahi and the Christchurch Methodist Mission – work together to try to help people who are homeless.

Housing First Otautahi spokeswoman Nicola Fleming said there had been a massive jump in housing waiting lists since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’ve got 103 on that wait list at the moment, which is horrendous. Before Covid it sat at about 70, after Covid it’s jumping and just jumps all the time. We can’t house people fast enough,” she said.

That wait list was only for people who were classified as chronically homeless, which meant they had been without a home for at least a year.

In addition to community housing, Housing First Otautahi also helped people into private rentals and supported them as they re-adjusted to home life.

Fleming said a lack of housing remained a key problem and while more central or local government-supplied housing was much-needed, a quicker fix could be found in private landlords working with providers.

“They get rent paid every week by the government through MSD and they get market rent paid. It’s never missed whether the property is vacant or not, so that’s a massive bonus for someone,” she said.

“They don’t have to manage the property and don’t need a property management firm, we do that through our community housing providers. We visit with really great kaimahi, staff, who visit once or twice or sometimes four times a week if someone is in crisis.

“There is the other side that you are doing something great for someone in your community and you feel good that you can offer someone a home. So it’s a really lovely thing to do.”

At Wetlands Grove, a communal tent had been set up to create a more homely feel.

Moko wanted to make more of the expanse of green land around him, with dreams of putting in sheep to keep the grass down and provide food.

He pointed to a break down in mental health and housing services as reasons the Wetlands Grove population would keep growing.

Asked what Moko wanted for himself and others he replied, “humbleness and love”.

“It is okay to be not okay but never judge a book by its cover, that’s all. If you want to come down and talk to us, come down and talk to us. We’re not bad people,” he said.

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

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

The lure of private (and pricey) education

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Independent or private schools grew roughly five times faster than public schools between 2020 and 2025. File photo. Supplied

Parents are not being put off by the tens of thousands it can cost to send their kids to private schools.

Government data shows that private, or independent, schools are growing at a much faster rate overall than their public school counterparts.

Between 2020 and 2025, ACG Parnell College grew its roll by 42 percent, from 1343 to 1908.

ACG Sunderland grew by 72 percent, from 496 to 853. ACG Strathallan grew 40 percent from 892 to 1245.

Scots College lifted 33 percent, Whitby Collegiate 143 percent, St Kentigern College 10 percent, St Cuthbert’s 14 percent and Diocesan School for Girls 12 percent.

Some public schools grew quickly over the same period too – Rolleston College added 94 percent to its roll and Rangitoto College 26 percent. Ormiston Junior College grew 135 percent.

But overall, independent or private schools grew roughly five times faster than public schools – they added 12.8 percent over the 2020 to 2025 period, compared to 2.6 percent for public schools.

One mother, who did not want to be identified, said she chose Huanui College, a private school in Northland for her child because it seemed to be the best quality of the school options available to her.

She was not happy with the school she was in zone for and did not like the idea of moving elsewhere just for two years before moving on.

“This option was a one stop shop and didn’t require change again potentially if we were happy with it. I felt the option of continuity was good and gave us a taster to see whether it would be right for high school.”

She said small class sizes were a bonus and it was a small school so teachers were able to get to know kids well. “Downsides are bus cost and annual fees… but also it’s not a match for all kids in my view.”

She said she was not necessarily a fan of private schools in general but the area was more limited in terms of the options available.

“I think the biggest thing you get there which is an advantage is the networking.”

Helen Hurst, hautū (leader) of operations and integration at the Ministry of Education, agreed the independent sector was growing.

She said independent student numbers had grown from 27,600 in 2010 to 33,000 in 2024.

“This growth is supported by a 2025 Budget boost of $15.7 million over four years, which raises the subsidy for independent schools by 11 percent, from $41.6 million to $46.1 million per year, to accommodate rising enrolments and inflation.”

Independent Schools of New Zealand chief executive Guy Pascoe said there was regional variation in demand. “In Auckland I think over 6 percent of students go to independent schools but across the country it averages around 4 percent. “

He said some parents were making “really big” financial sacrifices to send their children to the school of their choice. “Fees are definitely a challenge for many families.”

The fees could vary a lot. ACG Parnell College charges $30,000 a year for Year 7 to Year 10, and slightly more for older students.

King’s College charges $33,422 a year for Years 11 to 13. Whitby Collegiate charges $23,815 a year.

“Schools do everything they can to keep their fees as affordable as possible but the cost of education is going up and up and up. With limited government funding, schools really are forced to increase their fees. That’s something that schools worry about that tipping point, when does it become too expensive?”

He said there was a range of reasons why parents chose a private school.

“It might be small class sizes or high academic outcomes, it could be that the school has a particular curriculum or educational philosophy that aligns with what the family is looking for.

“There might be a focus on service or co-curricular activity or it could be faith-based. We have some schools that deliver programmes specifically for children with high learning needs like dyslexia or high anxiety and that kind of thing as well.”

He said, if the students who were in the independent sector shifted to public schools, the cost would be “astronomical” for the government.

“At the same time, parents who send their children to independent schools are paying GST on those fees. And that GST is about twice as much as what the sector receives in funding from the government, so the government is actually in the fiscal beneficiary of the independent school sector,

“Independent school rolls are increasing, so independent schools are increasingly taking that burden of delivering an education to students. And we absolutely feel there’s more room for the government to recognise that.”

He said the recent increase in funding was the first in 15 years, even for inflation. “Our concern now is to make sure that we don’t start falling behind again because until we had that very modest increase there had been nothing. Schools at the moment are funded under a fixed appropriation, which means, the more students in the system, then the per student funding goes down.”

Associate Professor Naomi Ingram from the University of Otago College of Education said the increase in enrolments was a result of policy shifts to encourage “market-style competition” in education.

“It is also fuelled by parental anxiety about wanting ‘the very best’ for their children.

“New Zealand must tread carefully because we have a different context from the UK or Australia. We already have a significant achievement gap between students who perform at the highest levels and those at the lower end, and that gap is larger than in many comparable OECD countries (e.g., see PISA). Importantly, it is linked to socioeconomic status. Educational inequality in New Zealand is not random. It reflects broader structural inequities.

“Expanding the private and charter sector risks deepening this divide. Private schools are typically able to spend more on staffing, facilities, and enrichment, and operate outside key elements of the national curriculum framework. When public funding flows into parallel systems, it can dilute the collective strength of our public schools and concentrate advantage among families who already have greater access to resources.

“New Zealand’s public education system is one of our national strengths. It is staffed by highly qualified teachers and has been underpinned by a national curriculum designed to provide equitable opportunities for all learners. Rather than fragmenting the system, we should be investing in strengthening it.”

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money

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

Beneficiaries responding to traffic light system, government says

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Quin Tauetau

The government says a new survey shows its traffic light system for those on a job seeker benefit is working as planned.

In August 2024, the coalition set up a traffic light system – alongside sanctions – for beneficiaries who don’t meet their obligations.

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston said an evaluation had now found MSD clients were more on top of their job search responsibilities.

“Ninety percent of clients surveyed as part of the Ministry of Social Development’s latest evaluation said they found the traffic light system has been helpful for understanding their obligations, which include a range of activities towards finding employment.

“We’re also seeing nearly 99 percent of clients are fulfilling their obligations, along with a 10.6 percent drop in the number of sanctions issued between the September 2024 and September 2025 quarters.”

Upston said the traffic light system had been designed to reset expectations for those on welfare and it was clear the reset was working.

“The traffic light system ensures the welfare system is more integrated and helps jobseekers understand and navigate their obligations, helping them to be prepared, proactive and seize opportunities when they come along.

“Welfare is conditional on recipients meeting their responsibilities.”

Upston said the coalition remained committed to reaching its target of 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support by 2030.

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

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

Conflict in Iran shows ‘risk’ of government’s plan to import LNG as back-up to Taranaki facility

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026. SAHAR AL ATTAR / AFP

A spike in the price of LNG because of conflict in Iran shows how risky the government’s plan to import the fuel as a back-up is, experts say.

The government said last month it would proceed with plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Taranaki, with the cost spread across all electricity users through a levy.

Energy Minister Simon Watts said that it would result in overall savings to households, because it would help to lower electricity premiums during dry years.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf with open ocean – has ground to a halt since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

Alan Brent, chair of sustainable energy systems at Victoria University, said the strait was a “key choke-point” for the global energy market and its closure had prompted price spikes for many different fuels.

“LNG has been slower to respond than crude oil but it is up more than one percent already, just in the last few hours,” he said.

“The commentary that’s coming through is that they’re expecting this to be quite significant, especially for LNG.”

More than 100 billion cubic litres of LNG moved through the strait every year – roughly 20 percent of the global LNG trade, Brent said.

Energy Minister Simon Watts. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Goldman Sachs forecast price rises of 130 percent – more than double – if the disruption continued throughout March.

Both a Cabinet paper and a report commissioned by the four electricity gentailers warned that exposure to price shocks was a risk of proceeding with LNG imports.

“LNG-dependent markets saw extreme spikes in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine … illustrating the volatility imported into domestic bills,” the gentailer report said.

The government’s plan has been widely criticised, with even a report it commissioned last year finding that LNG should only be used as a last resort.

Energy advocates have pushed for the government to pursue alternatives, saying even burning a stockpile of coal at Huntly would be preferable.

Independent climate policy analyst Christina Hood said New Zealand already experienced the effect of petrol price shocks during periods of geopolitical turbulence.

“It’s a huge risk for the New Zealand economy to be exposing even more of our energy system to volatile international prices,” she said.

“That really worries me, and that risk analysis does deserve a re-think and we should be pivoting towards more stable, domestic energy sources.”

The government’s own analysis had found that using biomass pellets at Huntly was cheaper and had benefits for the local economy, she said.

That option was ruled out because, according to that analysis, it would take the longest to deliver.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said that “very quickly, the risks outlined around LNG access have come true”.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“Current events make it harder to immediately buy into why this LNG facility is likely the best option, because it has potentially fallen over at the first hurdle.”

It was true that high prices might not persist, he said.

“But if the whole idea of the LNG facility was to provide that short-term relief, well, if New Zealand hit a dry-year time and something’s happening in the Starit of Hormuz, then you’ve got a very expensive white elephant that might be sitting there.”

There was still time for the government to pivot to a different solution.

“From what I understand we haven’t signed commitments,” Olsen said.

“If there’s some real feeling of need around emergency supply in dry years, I do wonder if water take around the hydro lakes is a much more readily accessible option.”

There were environmental concerns to factor into that alternative, he said.

“But if you want to get stuff done quickly, then using the water in the lakes that’s already there … is going to be a lot easier.”

The government should also be telling those gentailers in which it held a majority stake to not return such a large dividend to the Crown, and instead invest it into renewables and other options to provide security of supply, he said.

Energy Minister Simon Watts’ office has been approached for comment.

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

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

GrabOne relaunches under new owners

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Global Retail Marketplace, which bought GrabOne in 2021, went into liquidation last October. Screenshot

Wellington business Paradigm Group has bought the GrabOne brand and assets.

It relaunches on Tuesday, offering vouchers for discounts at local businesses.

Global Retail Marketplace, which bought GrabOne in 2021, went into liquidation last October. At the time, liquidators said it was due to funding constraints.

Many consumers were left with vouchers they were not able to use, although some businesses said they would still honour them.

Paradigm said it already had 30 businesses on board for the relaunch.

Jonty Hodge, chief executive of Paradigm Group, said GrabOne going into liquidation was not just a platform shutting down.

“Real merchants lost a channel that was genuinely working for them, and over 350,000 Kiwis lost a way to discover what’s on their doorstep. For some of these businesses, GrabOne was generating millions in revenue. That matters. We couldn’t just watch that disappear.

“We understand it was a really difficult time for a lot of merchants and customers as well. We went and talked to a bunch of them, we talked to a lot of businesses and we understood there was something worth saving … there was a community of customers and businesses worth saving and that’s something that we’re looking into the future, how we can stand up the platform again and make it a discovery marketplace where businesses can acquire and find new customers. Customers can discover new places to eat, experience and do activities.”

He said the new business would not be able to honour any of the vouchers or deals offered by the previous owners.

If customers came to the new GrabOne business with questions, it would address that, he said.

“A lot of them would have done charge backs and stuff like that so they’ve still got avenues to go in that direction. For us, GrabOne felt like an iconic brand and that’s something we thought we can save and see if we can take it back to its roots … we’re focusing on escapes, experiences and activities. We’re putting a pause on the product side of things. We’ll re-look at that down the track but it will definitely have a really local lens when it comes to promoting products.”

Paul Raeburn is head of the new GrabOne and said it was good to return, having been involved almost 15 years ago.

“We were at the forefront of connecting people with local businesses, motivating Kiwis to explore more of the country. Last year’s liquidation marked the end of one chapter, but we always knew the platform still had so much to offer Aotearoa. This isn’t just a relaunch for nostalgia’s sake, but a reset focused on quality and long-term value.”

He said merchants had made it clear there were aspects of the previous iteration that were not working.

Dockside Restaurant and Bar general manger Conrad Banks said it had made more than $6 million in sales from GrabOne over time so the loss of the platform was a blow.

“We’re looking forward to having GrabOne back with a fresh start, backed by a Kiwi team that really gets how to help us grow, reaching new customers and turning first-time visitors into regulars.”

Sign up for Money with Susan Edmunds, a weekly newsletter covering all the things that affect how we make, spend and invest money.

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

Duo biking around the world say NZ drivers are the most aggro

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

A British father and son cycling around the globe to achieve a double world record say drivers in New Zealand are the worst they have encountered across 24 countries.

Joshua, 23, and George Kohler, 57, have cycled thousands of kilometres along Europe’s cycleways, through the mountain corridors of the ancient Silk Road, and dodged scooters in Southeast Asia. But on their 308th day, they had a near-miss with a caravan along the Buller Gorge road near Murchison.

The Norfolk pair were cycling downhill around a tight, blind bend when a car towing a caravan overtook Joshua, forcing an oncoming vehicle to pull over and stop to allow the caravan through.

Joshua and George Kohler cycling in the chaotic streets of Vietnam.

Supplied

Naval officers charged over HMNZS Manawanui sinking ‘unprecedented’

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Navy ship sank in October 2024 off the coast of Samoa after hitting a reef. Supplied / Profile Boats

A retired law professor who’s sat on military court panels believes the charges laid in relation to the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui are unprecedented.

The Navy ship sank in October 2024 off the coast of Samoa after hitting a reef, spilling hundreds of thousands of litres of diesel and oil into the ocean.

Now, three naval officers face a court martial – a specialised military court that tries members of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The charges include negligently causing a ship to be lost, which is punishable by up to two years in prison.

Former Auckland University professor Bill Hodge, who was in the military and served on courts martial, believes such charges have never been laid.

“We haven’t lost a ship like this in peacetime, ever, so it must be unprecedented in that regard,” he said.

“I think you can safely say it’s not only unusual … this is a unique case.”

A court martial trial is heard by a judge and a panel of senior military members.

The panel would need to carefully consider the case given there’s no precedent, Hodge said.

“Judges like to look at precedent, judges like to look at what all the other judges are doing in similar cases around New Zealand.

“This court martial doesn’t have that luxury, but on the other hand, these are responsible senior officers with a tremendous amount of experience and common sense.”

Hodge said the charges were laid under the Armed Forces Discipline Act – rather than the Crimes Act – which contains offences that don’t apply to civilians.

“The civilian world doesn’t include, for example, malingering, it doesn’t include AWOL, … desertion, … disobeying a lawful order … bringing the service into disrepute,” he said.

“There’s a whole range of things that are absolutely necessary to discipline in a uniformed service.”

However, if the officers were found guilty, they could serve time in a civilian prison, he said.

Lesser punishments could include being dismissed from the Navy, or forfeiting rank or seniority, Hodge said.

The NZ Defence Force said the date and location of the trial are yet to be set.

Defence Minister Judith Collins said she was aware of the charges, but would not comment further, given the matter is before the courts.

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

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

How supercritical geothermal energy could change our future

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rotokawa Geothermal Power Station. Mercury

With geothermal energy exploration underway and torrefied wood pellets already in use, New Zealand could look to turn away from fossil fuels

It’s already used to rear fish, grow flowers and to lure tourists, but a site near Taupō is the world-leading next step in geothermal energy that could truly deal to our reliance on gas.

Two hours’ drive away in Kawerau, work is underway on another cutting edge energy project that could deal to our reliance on coal.

Today The Detail looks at both projects in response to feedback on our podcast about the government’s planned $1 billion Liquified Natural Gas plant, when listeners urged us to look at alternative, fossil-free energy under development.

Deep Heat is the name given to the supercritical geothermal energy project where an international group of scientists is working on a plan to drill between four and six kilometres into the earth’s crust to reach superhot fluids.

It’s a first for New Zealand, it’s got $60 million in public money through the Regional Investment Fund, and the first hole at Rotokawa Geothermal Reservoir is expected to be drilled by late next year.

It won’t replace the $1b Liquified Natural Gas plant planned to open in Taranaki as early as winter next year, and it could be decades away from being a commercial prospect. But Tim Groser, chair of the Supercritical Geothermal Project board, says New Zealand has the best chance “to try to be the first country to actually crack the engineering problem”.

“It will actually be as close to what I’d call a silver bullet in terms of what is really required on climate change,” says Groser, a former climate change minister.

He describes supercritical geothermal energy as the heat that can be extracted from fluids when they exceed 370 degrees Celcius and can be brought to the surface and still maintain the pressure at 220 bars.

“What this does is convert the form of the fluids into more like a gas which has greater density and produces approximately three to four times as much energy as conventional lower heat, lower pressure geothermal steam does. It’s a massive gain of bang for the buck,” says Groser.

He says his expert advisers tell him New Zealand is probably as big as any resource in the world in terms of supercritical geothermal energy. It lies at very shallow depths compared with most other geothermal countries and the rock is “highly permeable” enabling the geothermal fluids to flow more easily through the rocks.

A graphic from MBIE and Earth Sciences NZ shows the difference in depth between traditional geothermal and supercritical geothermal. Image: Supplied

In Iceland, a geothermal energy leader, work on a third supercritical energy extraction project is underway, after the previous two efforts failed. Groser says New Zealand is working closely with Iceland on the engineering challenges. The work is potentially dangerous but the biggest risk is the failure to be able to bring supercritical fluids to the surface because of the lack of technology to deal with the extreme aspects of the fluid, such as its highly corrosive nature.

“Will New Zealand ever be able to access this renewable energy? Absolutely dead certain. The question is when. Is it in our generation or will we have to wait another generation or maybe a half generation for the technologies that are being developed now,” Groser says.

Something that already is on track as a commercially viable renewable energy is just a couple of hours’ drive away in Kawerau, where Australian company Foresta is building a $300m factory to make torrefied wood pellets made from forestry waste.

The small black pellets are already in use, and being lined up to replace coal at Genesis Energy’s Huntly Power station, says Bioenergy Association head Brian Cox.

A number of high power users like Christchurch hospital, Canterbury University and food processors already have biomass-fuelled boilers but the Foresta plant would be the first in the country to commercially produce the torrefied pellets, he says.

“Additional to the domestic market is the export market, because in Asia – South Korea, Japan – there are power stations of a similar design to Huntly Power Station and so they would be potential customers.

“We get a number of calls from South East Asia from people who are looking to purchase wood fuel and the one they would really like would be the black pellets.”

As a biofuel they formed part of a plan called the Integrated Bioenergy Programme that the association submitted as an alternative to the proposed LNG plant, says Cox.

It proposed ways to free up constrained and expensive supplies of gas and electricity by speeding up biomass use.

“We haven’t had any response at all from the government because they’re focussing on the LNG option,” he says. “We’re saying, look, why can’t we repurpose the infrastructure we already have by smart thinking of converting from using that existing boiler on particular fuel.

“Some of it would be black pellets, some of it would be white pellets, we can use the cheaper chip.”

Cox says there’s enough forestry waste to meet higher demand for biomass. A small amount of carbon emissions comes from transporting and harvesting the wood but the fuel itself is carbon neutral.

“So, we need to look as a country at the holistic aspect. It is not just a forest contractor or a grower that needs to be dealt with, it’s all of us.

“It’s a fuel which is under our control.”

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

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

Live: Trump says ‘big wave’ in Iran is yet to come as conflict widens

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

[liveblog ]https://rnz.liveblog.pro/lb-rnz/blogs/69a55551b6f113bca370435e/index.html

Follow the latest with our live blog above

US President Donald Trump is warning what he is describing as ‘a big wave’ is still to come in the war with Iran.

Speaking to CNN, Trump said the US hasn’t even begun to hit the Iranian regime hard yet.

Missile strikes continued to fly over the Middle East overnight, with multiple countries threatening escalation of the ongoing conflict.

Top members of the Trump administration have spoken publicly about ‘Operation Epic Fury’ for the first time at a Pentagon press conference. The US said the goal of the war was not regime change, despite the deaths of top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States was not ruling out any options in the war, but promised, “This is not Iraq … This is not endless”.

Meanwhile, Iran said it was ready for a “long war” and has targeted US military bases in other Gulf states.

Kuwait said it accidentally shot down “several” US military aircraft in friendly fire.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade blows, prompting the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah’s military and security activities and call on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.

Trump has said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of this page.

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

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

Previously unknown faultlines discovered in Auckland

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

123rf

Dozens of previously unknown faultlines have been discovered under Auckland – and new work is set to find out if they are likely to cause quakes.

Scientists will soon start to dig trenches across some of the lines to see if they are active.

So far the discovery has not increased the known risk to the city.

One of the scientists, Auckland University senior lecturer James Muirhead, said any fault that had moved in the past 125,000 years was considered active.

Some of the faults could have been still for six million years – which meant they were technically not active. Others were suspected faults.

Muirhead’s team would begin by looking at some of the most likely – near Pukekohe or Drury in the city’s rural south.

Diggers would carve out four-metre deep trenches across the fault which would then be analysed to see how recently they had moved.

Likely faults, possible faults and possible structures identified in the study superimposed on a shaded relief map of Auckland and plotted alongside Auckland Volcanic Field centres and earthquake epicentres since 1988. Supplied

“So hopefully two years from now we have a really good answer to that question – whether these faultlines in Auckland are active and whether they represent a significant seismic hazard,” he said.

There was a common perception that Auckland was not very seismic but that was probably because it was compared with other places in New Zealand which was a very seismic country, he said.

It had actually experienced some significant events, like the 1891 Port Waikato quake which was strong enough to shatter windows in the city, he said.

The new potential faults were discovered when researchers analysed borehole samples.

“Basically holes that have been drilled around Auckland to look at how the sub surface has moved both up and down below our feet through time,” Muirhead said.

The team divided the lines into likely faults, possible faults and possible structures – lines that showed signs of ground movement but it was unclear why.

Two of the most prominent probable faults ran from the Waitematā to the Manukau harbours, one through Avondale, the other from Glendowie to Blockhouse Bay.

They had already been suspected but the latest research had shored them up and more accurately measured them, Muirhead said.

Some of the possible faults were around Northcote, Birkenhead and Wiri.

There were many more in the “possible structure” category which meant they needed a lot more investigation, such as in Sandringham, Newmarket and Ōtāhuhu.

The research said it was possible intense urbanisation could mask faults.

The report also revealed Auckland experienced more small earthquakes than previously thought, but Muirhead said that was likely because there was better monitoring.

The work has been partly funded by the Natural Hazards Commission which has highlighted them in its latest Resilience Highlights Report which looked into the impact of natural hazards.

The commission said even though major earthquakes remained unlikley, the findings could help decide how land is used as the city grew.

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

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

Wellington council releases first triennium plan in almost a decade

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington’s mayor says making building cheaper through a one-stop shop for consents and fixing the failed Moa Point plant will be part of a three-year council plan.

On Tuesday morning, the council released a triennium plan for the first time in nearly a decade.

It outlined a range of policy ideas councillors were advocating to get done over the council term such as establishing an office that streamlined the building consent process, improving confidence in the council and fixing its ageing infrastructure.

Wellington mayor Andrew Little said an overwhelming majority of councillors and pou iwi had pledged to support the plan at a meeting next week.

Little said the plan’s purpose was to align council staff with councillors’ priorities.

Moa Point

A major element of the plan was the Moa Point sewage plant which Little admitted to RNZ was added to the plan recently.

“Moa Point has become a prominent issue for us just in a matter of the last few weeks and we have to address it.”

One of the priorities of the council was supporting the region to negotiate a regional deal with the government after it missed a deadline to show interest in doing so, which Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described at the time as “pretty lame-o”.

Little told RNZ it was possible funding for fixing the Moa Point sewage plant could be part of those negotiations.

“It might be something that goes on the table at the beginning.”

He said he could not predict “what the prospects of that would be”.

The mayor said generally it could be possible to get Crown funding for infrastructure through those negotiations.

Wellington mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Consents

As part of the plan the council would develop an urban development office which it described as similar to Auckland’s Eke Panuku which was an organisation that supported development in the city.

Little told RNZ the idea would be that one person would take responsibility for a consent rather than builders being passed between several people.

“It is about trying to co-operate with applicants because, look, we want to get these developments done.”

He said there was a large amount of support for the idea amongst councillors, so he believed once the plan was signed off it would not take “too long” before it worked through council.

The council would also set KPIs for building and resource consent timelines and review fees for consents in order to bring time and cost down.

Transparency

In a pre-election report released last year, it said less than a third of Wellingtonians surveyed had trust in the council.

In the introduction to the triennium plan, Little said “that must change”.

He told RNZ transparency, particularly when a councillor or staff member made a mistake, was important.

“Most of these things are more you know, cock-up than conspiracy.”

Little said he expected there to be fewer publicly excluded meetings around the council table.

“I am paying close attention to suggestions that something might be taken to publicly excluded and I want to be satisfied it genuinely is justified.”

He said there was one situation where a councillor suggested a meeting be publicly excluded, which was rejected.

A spokesperson for the mayor confirmed it was relating to when councillor Diane Calvert was chairing a briefing which was made publicly excluded in December.

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

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

Only lunar eclipse of 2026 taking place tonight

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

A montage of pictures shows the phases of the Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse as it is seen in Depok City, West Java province, Indonesia, on September 8, 2025. Aditya Irawan / NurPhoto via AFP

A total lunar eclipse is taking place tonight – and New Zealand has the “best seat in the world” to view it.

According to Stardome, the only lunar eclipse of 2026 (also known as a blood moon) will begin about 9.45pm.

“We are one of a few countries that will be able to witness the eclipse for its entire duration,” it said on social media.

“The best time to see the blood moon will be from midnight to 1am, with the peak of the eclipse occurring just after 12.30am (Wednesday).”

Send us your pictures of the blood moon to iwitness@rnz.co.nz

Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki earlier told RNZ lunar eclipses were not rare per se – the rarity was whether or not it was visible from your location.

“For this one in particular, we really have the best seat in the world, really. It’s really only visible for its entirety over the Pacific. And it’s the only one that we’re going to see this year. I don’t think we have another until 2028, about two years.”

With Nasa’s Artemis missions and sending people back to the moon, Aoraki said there was a lot of buzz and excitement around the moon and space exploration.

“Having this lunar event is just one of those reminders that there’s really cool things happening up there all the time.”

Aoraki said he had his “fingers crossed” that it wouldn’t be cloudy during the event.

Stardome has outlined the timings for the total lunar eclipse tonight – and when is best to view it. Supplied / Stardome

According to MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan, the South Island and upper North Island will be the best places to see the lunar eclipse “If you’re daring enough to leave the comfort of a warm bed”.

It is likely to be cold – with single digit temperatures possible for much of the country.

“These next couple of days are for everyone who loves the feeling of being wrapped up in a cozy bed. If you had to grab an extra blanket (Sunday night), it’s probably going to be needed for the next three nights as well.”

But what do you need to see the eclipse?

Nothing special, just your eyes, Stardome said.

“Just your eyes and a clear view of the sky. Be sure to check the forecast for your local area if you’re planning to watch this dazzling celestial display.

“There will not be another total lunar eclipse until 2028, and we are among the few locations able to watch the entire event unfold over the Pacific. Only an estimated 2 percent of Earth’s population will be able to view this eclipse from beginning to end.”

According to Nasa, totality of the eclipse will also be visible in eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and North and Central America.

Partial visibility will be visible from central Asia and much of South America – but it will not be visible in Africa or Europe.

Key events – Auckland time

  • 8.11pm Tuesday 3 March – Moonrise (AKL time, varies slightly between regions)
  • 9.44pm Tuesday 3 March – Penumbral eclipse begins: Earth’s outer shadow starts to touch the moon.
  • 10.50pm Tuesday 3 March – Partial eclipse begins: The moon begins to darken as Earth’s main shadow moves across it.
  • 12.04am Wednesday 4 March – Total eclipse begins: The moon is fully immersed in Earth’s shadow and appears red.
  • 12.33am Wednesday 4 March – Maximum eclipse: The moon is closest to the centre of Earth’s shadow.
  • 1.02am Wednesday 4 March – Total eclipse ends: The moon begins to exit Earth’s shadow.
  • 2.17am Wednesday 4 March – Partial eclipse ends: The dark shadow fully clears the moon.
  • 3.23am Wednesday 4 March – Penumbral eclipse ends: The Earth’s outer shadow leaves the moon completely.

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

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

Personal loan arrears hit 10-year high as people struggle to meet repayment obligations

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Consumers’ appetite to spend is growing but many are still struggling to meet their loan repayment obligations.

Data from credit reporting firm Centrix shows consumer credit demand is up 8.3 percent compared to a year ago, driven in large part by mortgage holders shopping around for a better deal and refinancing their debt.

Loan arrears overall are lower than a year ago, but personal loan arrears have hit a 10-year high at 10.2 percent, up 6 percent on last year.

“Consumers with a personal loan that aren’t homeowners are experiencing more difficulty in paying those loans back and that’s probably because homeowners have had some relief through interest rate reductions,” said Monika Lacey, chief operating officer for Centrix.

“People that don’t own a home just aren’t getting that relief flowing through, and their food and insurance costs, for example, have remained at a higher inflated level, whereas homeowners are getting a little bit of relief on the interest rate side.”

The challenges loan holders are battling are also reflected in financial hardship numbers, with personal loan hardships up 45 percent year on year.

Mortgage holders lock in a better deal

Demand for new mortgage lending in the January quarter was up 34 percent on this time last year, with refinancing a major driver. Close to half of all new mortgage lending in December was for refinancing.

“We have seen switching between banks and there is definitely some competition, so consumers are doing the right thing and shopping around and trying to get the best deal.”

Almost three quarters of switching is happening between the four largest banks compared to 56 percent a year ago.

Signs of recovery but liquidations still high

Meanwhile, businesses appear to be struggling to get out of the mire with demand for credit falling and liquidations still at high levels.

The Centrix data shows business credit demand is down 1 percent on a year ago, indicating a lack of optimism among businesses.

Company liquidations rose to 2952 in the year to January, up 16 percent on last year, with 70 percent of those liquidations stem from Inland Revenue action on tax debt.

“There’s a massive clean-up going on and it’s not unexpected as it’s well known in the market,” Lacey said.

“I think the tail is long, but it shouldn’t get any worse than what it is.

“I think it’s also really important to point out that although the liquidations are higher than they’ve been for a while, when you look at the relevance by industry, it’s still really small.”

Lacey said sector-wise, construction is the leading contributor to liquidations followed by hospitality.

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

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

Echo Technology expands footprint, acquires new company

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Echo chief executive Patrick Moynahan, right. Supplied.

The country’s biggest e-waste recycling company is expanding its footprint.

Echo Technology is acquiring BMS, a specialist in secure data storage disposal and the refurbishment and resale of end‑of‑life IT equipment.

The acquisition price was not disclosed.

BMS, founded by Stephen Westcott‑Jones, focuses on IT asset disposition, including breaking down data storage drives and refurbishing and remarketing used computers and devices.

Echo chief executive Patrick Moynahan said the partnership aimed to create New Zealand’s leading full‑service IT and e‑waste lifecycle provider.

“We’re committed to building long‑term capability for sustainable technology lifecycle services and e‑waste processing in Aotearoa New Zealand, and this acquisition is a substantial step towards that ambition,” he said.

“Together, Echo and BMS repurpose more than 150,000 IT assets for resale and process over four million kilograms of electronic waste each year.”

Westcott‑Jones would become a shareholder in Echo and join the company’s board.

“The transaction will allow us to build on the strong foundations of BMS and take our customer offering to the next level by integrating with Echo,” he said.

Altered Capital – a local venture capital and private‑equity investment firm, and an existing investor in Echo – brought the two companies together and would remain invested in the combined business.

Altered made a strategic investment in Echo in 2025.

The companies would be integrated over the next 18 months but continue to operate separately in the meantime, with existing customer arrangements unchanged.

Moynahan said Echo would initially focus on improving household e‑waste recycling by working with councils and running neighbourhood collection events, before expanding further into corporate and government e‑waste recovery and refurbishment.

He said the merged company also plans to open a new recycling plant in Christchurch, complementing existing facilities in Auckland and Wellington.

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

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

US-Israeli strikes on Iran could last ‘weeks’, 48 Iranian leaders and 3 US soldiers killed

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest with our live blog above

Israel and the US have begun a fresh waves of strikes on Iran, with Israel saying it is continuing large-scale strikes against targets across Tehran.

The US military says it has sunk nine Iranian warships and is “going after the rest” in attacks which US President Donald Trump says have killed 48 top Iranian leaders – including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says the government has not taken a position on whether or not it is in support of the US and Israeli led attacks on Iran.

Australia has ruled out deploying troops if the conflict escalates.

The attacks have sparked warnings about KiwiSaver, fuel and inflation in New Zealand.

Major Middle Eastern airports have been shut and regional gateways including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were closed.

MFAT is advising New Zealanders in affected areas to shelter in place and leave when it is possible to do so.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks on Saturday, which US President Donald Trump said were aimed at overturning Tehran’s government.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of the page

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

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

Eugene Doyle: Minab school massacre – hands off the children of Iran, Donald Trump

By -

Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle

When I heard the terrible news that the Americans and Israelis had killed more than 165 children this week in an elementary school in Minab in Southern Iran it took me back to a wonderful day I spent in Isfahan in 2018.

I met lots of Iranian school children and their teachers that day. They were keen to practise their English and ask lots of questions. I want to share that day with you because it was filled with hope, with promise for a better world.

My wife and I were visiting Iran, both for the second time.

Right at the end of our time there we spent a day in Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan. It is a massive square that could enclose a dozen football fields.

Built by Shah Abbas I in the 17th Century, during the Safavid period, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site with markets, palaces and other cultural sites framing its four sides.  At one end is the magnificent Imam Mosque where a string of memorable moments happened to me.

I even saw a most astonishing one-woman demonstration.

We were just approaching the Imam Mosque when I noticed a young woman removing her head scarf. A mass of black hair fell down to her waist and then she began dancing.

‘Is this a protest?’
Rhythmically she swirled her upper body in a circular motion that sent her hair out horizontally around her. I was gob-smacked.

After a minute or two she stopped and started talking to her male companion who had been photographing her. I approached.

“Is this a protest?” I asked, somewhat gormlessly.  Yes, against the clothing restrictions.

Today the courage and determination of such people has, to a degree, paid off. Those restrictions, particularly in the cities, have effectively been lightened.  I have seen lots of footage of Iranian women without any head covering.

I salute their courage and determination and know their struggle will continue.

“I also salute the courage and determination of the millions of Iranians who have turned out this week to support their government against the violent assault on the sovereignty of Iran.” Image: Eugene Doyle/Solidarity

I also salute the courage and determination of the millions of Iranians who have turned out this week to support their government against the violent assault on the sovereignty of Iran by the racist, fascist genocidal Israeli state and its powerful vassal the USA.

Following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, I saw remarkable footage of that same vast square in Isfahan filled to the four corners with what must have been hundreds of thousands of people. As with millions around the country, they were defying the missiles to protest the violation of their sovereignty.

The inconvenient truth
The scale of the pro-government demonstrations is virtually never shown in the Western media but to understand the contested political landscape that is Iran you need to understand that inconvenient truth.

Iranian politics in the Western view has been reduced to a cartoon, to a Manichean world of black and white — which partly explains why Westerners, most particularly the leaders, fail to grasp the fierce nationalism that has seen millions of Iranians rally round their government as their state comes under an existential threat.

That day in 2018 in that square I chatted with pro-government and anti-government people; all incredibly nice and open and welcoming. Everyone was keen to discuss Iran and the wider world.

“Iranians are remarkably hospitable, cultured and kind. For me, they are the finest people in the Middle East.” Image: Eugene Doyle/Solidarity

There were lots of school parties and both the teachers and their students were keen to speak with us. It was an unalloyed pleasure for us. Iranians are remarkably hospitable, cultured and kind. For me, they are the finest people in the Middle East.

That is partly why I felt sad and bitter when I watched the footage of the bombed-out Shajareh Tayyebeh girls elementary school (6-12 year-olds) in Minab and heard the screams of mothers calling for children whom they will never walk to school again.

The Western empire has a long history of killing children. I recently referenced Madeleine Albright’s infamous comment on the killing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children being “a price worth paying”.

This is just standard modus operandi for the West.

Protected by Mossad
Israeli football hooligans travel through Europe chanting “Why is school out in Gaza? Because there are no kids left!” They are protected by Mossad, local police and politicians like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese recently welcomed Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, who in October 2023 said: “It is an entire nation out there that is responsible.”

This is as clear a statement of genocidal intent as you could get and Israel made good on it.

Israel, the killer of tens of thousands of school kids, presents itself as a liberator for Iran? You don’t have to be an A-grade student to spot that lie.

Many people around the Western world want to commit the children of Iran into the hands of the President of the United States.

According to US Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), Vice-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus: “In the Epstein files, there’s highly disturbing allegations of Donald Trump raping children, of Donald Trump threatening to kill children.”

Lieu, one of the architects of the Epstein Files Transparency Act is also one of those legislators who has had access to some of the files still kept out of the public record.

Iranian children have as much right to grow up in safety as our own children.

“Iranian children have as much right to grow up in safety as our own children.” Image: Eugene/Doyle

infamous bro-talk
We should all also recall Trump’s infamous bro-talk with the vile radio host Howard Stern. Stern asked if he could refer to Ivanka Trump as a “piece of ass,” and Donald Trump salivated back at him: “Yeah.”

While they were joking about this “piece of ass”, Trump said he would try to date Ivanka if she wasn’t his daughter. It is a relevant anecdote because we live in the age of American Geopolitical Epsteinism — a world of predators seeking to violate those weaker than them.

You don’t have to like the Iranian government to support the UN Charter and the insistence on the sovereign equality of nations.

Nothing in the Charter says it is okay for powerful white countries to attack other countries.  The West needs to bring its leaders to justice for the crime of genocide not launch yet another war on innocents.

Hands off Iran, Netanyahu. Hands off the children of Iran, Trump.

Eugene Doyle is a community organiser based in Wellington, publisher of Solidarity and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report and Café Pacific. His first demonstration was at the age of 12 against the Vietnam war. This article was first published by Solidarity on 2 March 2026.

This article was first published on Café Pacific.

Gordon Campbell: Why the US has no credible reason or credible end game for its war on Iran

By -

COMMENTARY: By Gordon Campbell

Funny . . . back when Russia invaded Ukraine, New Zealand didn’t wait for Vladimir Putin to tell us whether his acts of aggression were legal under international law. Instead, we immediately decided the invasion was illegal, and forthrightly condemned Russia’s actions at the time, and ever since.

Different story when it comes to the Americans. Apparently, we’re on Team USA when it comes to international law, which forbids aggression against a sovereign state in the absence of an imminent threat to the aggressor.

Repeatedly though, Christopher Luxon told RNZ this morning that it is up to the US and Israel to tell us whether their attacks on Iran are in breach of international law.

Given that diplomatic negotiations were still under way in Geneva to find a peaceful compromise — a process supported by all of Iran’s immediate neighbours — there is no credible case that Iran was posing an imminent threat.

For 20 years, Israel has been claiming that Iran is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon, but this threat has never materialised.

Last June, the US claimed to have “obliterated” Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapon. (Israel, btw, has a large stockpile of them.)

Unfortunately, the babbling doofus we have in place of a Prime Minister seems to be intent on remaining in denial about such matters.

Luxon appears determined to exempt his friends — the US and Israel — from compliance with the rules of international law that apply to everyone else. So much for us being honest brokers on the world stage.

In reality, letting our traditional allies break international law whenever they see fit, is the surest way of undermining the entire system.

Regime change – how?
 US President Donald Trump says he aims to bring about regime change in Iran. If so, that can’t be brought about entirely from the air, no matter how intensive the bombing campaign may be.

Decapitation strikes against the top tiers of Iranian leadership will also not, in themselves, bring about regime change. Others will surely replace the fallen.

Besides, the US and Israel can hardly urge Iran to negotiate a peace, while continuing to kill everyone with the authority to make a credible deal.

In all likelihood, it will take tens of thousands of foreign troops on the ground to (a) topple the regime and (b) protect from guerrilla action whatever regime the US puts in its place.

The last 20 years of Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein should have taught the Americans just how long, bloody, costly and unpredictable that aftermath is likely to be.

Yet here we go again. As veteran political analyst Fred Kaplan put it on Slate:

“It is worth recalling that, in 2003, President George W. Bush sent 150,000 troops to depose Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, yet even they were unable to impose order but instead incited an insurgency and a civil war that lasted nearly a decade and destabilised the entire region.

“It is not clear how Trump’s stab at regime change without any ground support — in a country three times the size of Iraq — will be any smoother . . . [even] assuming the war succeeds in its strategic aim of regime change, the likeliest outcome will be a new dictatorship, a civil war among various armed factions, or utter anarchy and chaos, reminiscent of Libya after the killing of Muammar Gaddafi.”

Do we care about the outcome? Or are we waiting for the US to tell us not to worry out little heads about such matters?

Bombing is the easy part
 Before launching this offensive, Trump made no attempt to enlist allied countries — in Europe or elsewhere — in this campaign. At present, this is solely a US/Israeli joint operation, with the indirect help of those states in the region that have American bases on their soil.

So far — cross fingers — Iran has chosen not to sabotage the Straits of Hormuz, a key transit route for oil and gas exports from the region, and a waterway on which global commerce depends.

At this point, Trump is talking of waging a bombing campaign lasting for days, or a week, after which . . . what? Trump has also called on the Iranian people to rebel. (That seems unlikely for a variety of reasons, including the ferocity of the suppression of Iran’s recent “cost of living” protests.)

The mullahs appear to be planning on a longer conflict. Reportedly, Iran has been limiting its initial missile responses in order to conserve its estimated 3000 missile stockpile for attacks on Israel and regional US bases in the weeks and months ahead.

From this distance, and given the internet blackout, it is impossible to gauge where the balance of public opinion currently lies in Iran.

No doubt, there will be elation in some quarters that the leaders of a hated regime are dead or suffering, and that the regime’s survival is now in question. “Anything but the status quo” is likely to be a common response.

Millions of other Iranians however resist the attacks, and have been out on the streets mourning the Supreme Leader. If the regime falls, its true believers will still regard it as their sacred duty to continue to resist, by all means possible.

Even the current elation is likely to be tempered by the knowledge that Iran’s “liberators” — the US, Israel, the Gulf states — do not have the wellbeing of the Iranian people in mind.

Meaning: the last democratically elected government in Iran was the Mosaddegh government. This was overthrown in 1953 by the Americans, who bankrolled a coup and then installed the Shah on the Peacock Throne.

The coup gave American oil companies continued access to Iran’s vast oil supplies, until the Islamic revolution occurred in 1979. In the 1980s, the West also backed Saddam Hussein in his war of aggression against Iran, a conflict that turned into a grinding deadlock estimated to have cost a million lives.

America has earned the hostility of Iran, over decades.

Iran, at a crossroad
 Iran has a proud history, and a rich national culture. Normally, the mullahs could have relied on that fierce national pride to unite the country against foreign forces. In addition, Shia Islam has a strong tradition of sacrifice and martyrdom, commemorated annually in the day of Ashura.

That said, the recent slaughter of tens of thousands of people protesting the country’s economic conditions (caused by global sanctions) has put a question mark over how many Iranians will be willing to bury their differences, and fight back against foreign domination.

To repeat: the US had no credible reason for starting this war, and has no credible end game for it.

Over the weekend, Trump has desperately — and absurdly — delved back into history to paint Iran as posing an existential threat to the United States and the region, in order to justify this war to his MAGA sceptics.

Let’s be clear. Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States. Furthermore, its ability to intervene in the affairs of the Middle East has been sharply reduced over the past 18 months.

This hasn’t stopped the US from distorting the relevant history. For example: Trump and his minions have cited the deaths of 241 US Marines in Lebanon in 1983, and laid the blame at Iran’s door.

For the record, those 241 Marines — and 58 French troops — were killed by suicide bombers, in attacks claimed by Islamic Jihad, a Sunni extremist group only later linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

These attacks came in the wake of (a) the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and (b) the return of a multinational peacekeeping force to Beirut after (c) hundreds of Palestinians living in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps had been massacred by Christian gunmen, egged on by the Israeli commander, Ariel Sharon.

To paint this terrible episode as being caused solely by Iran is a travesty. Undaunted, Trump has also blamed Iran for the attack in 2000 on the American warship the USS Cole that killed 17 American sailors in the port of Aden.

Even the US intelligence agencies have attributed the USS Cole attack to Al Qaeda. Islamic Jihad and Al Qaeda are Sunni Islamic extremist groups, and were long time opponents of the Shia theocracy in Iran.

I’m not trying to defend the regime in Tehran. The point is to emphasise that there was no credible justification for the US offensive and New Zealand should be backing up UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his criticism of the US aggression.

(Not) going nuclear
 As for the nuclear weapons “threat” that Iran allegedly posed . . . In 2015, Iran signed a deal with the US via which Iran promised to forego the development of nuclear weapons in return for the US (and Europe) lifting trade sanctions.

This was a victory for the Iranian moderates within the regime.

Iran also agreed to allow in UN inspectors, who regularly confirmed that Iran was in full compliance with the terms of that deal. However, Trump tore up the deal as soon as he was elected, thereby boosting the hardliners in Tehran who had claimed all along that the US could not be trusted to keep its word.

Since then, Trump has engaged in indirect talks with Iran to re-negotiate a new version of the 2015 pact, and twice Israel and the US have bombed Iran and killed its leaders while those negotiations were still being held.

To the US and the Israelis, diplomacy seems to be merely a trick to lure out into the open the people that they have been planning to assassinate, all along.

Footnote: In Venezuela, the US has taken military action to secure control of that country’s oil reserves. It may well have oil wealth in mind in Iran, too.

If the US can install another puppet in Tehran as obedient as the Shah, Iran’s refineries will once again be at the mercy of US oil companies. No doubt, access to oil will be at heart of any further “negotiations” over a ceasefire.

Republished with permission from Gordon Campbell’s column in partnership with Scoop.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

‘Explicit aggression’ against Iran needs clear condemnation, envoy tells NZ

By -

Asia Pacific Report

Iran’s ambassador to New Zealand says the joint US and Israeli strikes on his country need stronger condemnation, reports TV1 News.

Ambassador Reza Nazar Ahari described the strikes as “explicit aggression” and a violation of the UN Charter.

“There is no doubt about it, and it deserves a very clear type of condemnation,” he told TV1 News in an interview broadcast tonight.

In a statement on Sunday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon “acknowledged” the US-Israeli strikes and condemned Iran.

“New Zealand has consistently condemned Iran’s nuclear programme, its destabilising activities in the region and elsewhere, and its repression of its own people.”

Ahari said the strikes on Iran were unilateral.

“What Iran is seeking is, since the beginning, through the diplomatic negotiations and all other measures Iran has taken, is a kind of commitment to multilateralism.”

Iran maintained regular diplomatic contact with New Zealand officials, including Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Ahari said, expressing confidence of continuing bilateral relations.

“Of course, there are difference of opinions and ideas between any other any country in the world. We are in a direct and regular contact with each other.”

No plans to expel ambassador
TV1 News also reports that a spokesperson for Prime Minister Luxon said there were no plans to expel the Iranian Ambassador.

“It’s important we have a way of talking to other countries, including those we disagree with,” the spokesperson said.

“New Zealand’s Ambassador to Iran was withdrawn in January because it wasn’t safe to remain there, so the Iranian Ambassador to New Zealand is our best way of conveying our position to Tehran.”

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Police looking for victim of alleged aggravated robbery

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

The incident happened at Ellerslie Train Station (file image). RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Police have made the arrests, but now they are trying to find the victim after an aggravated robbery in Auckland.

They say a group of six people allegedly threatened a woman at Ellerslie Train Station on Monday afternoon before taking her personal belongings.

Auckland Transport staff saw the incident and alerted police, who then tracked the group on the rail network using cameras and arrested them.

Police said they now want to contact the victim, who was wearing a grey hooded top with a Nasa space agency logo on the front.

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

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

Football Ferns v Solomon Islands – FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Manaia Elliott Joshua Devenie / Phototek.nz

The Football Ferns crushed the Solomon Islands 8-0 at National Stadium in Honiara for their second World Cup qualifying match win.

They have officially qualified for Round 3 of the OFC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

New Zealand’s other Group A opponents in the Oceania Qualifiers for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil are America Samoa, with the top two teams from the pool advancing to the semi-finals and final, hosted by New Zealand in April.

The Football Ferns play American Samoa on Thursday afternoon.

Follow how the game unfolded in the live blog below:

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

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

Watch: New Zealand not asking questions about US, Israel attacks

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Prime Minister says only the US and Israel have the intelligence to back up their attacks on Iran – and New Zealand won’t be asking to see it.

Christopher Luxon was asked if he believed the attacks were a breach of international law in his weekly post-Cabinet media conference Monday afternoon.

“Issues of legality [are] for Israel and the US to talk to because we’re not party to that information or that intelligence they may have,” he said.

Luxon went on to say it wasn’t guaranteed New Zealand would ever see this intelligence – and his government would not be asking to see it.

“We’ve had a long standing commitment under successive governments that any actions that stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon is a good thing, any actions that take to stop them from sponsoring terrorism is a good thing, any actions that stops them from killing their own people is a good thing.

“This is not a good regime and that has been a long standing position of New Zealand governments under different administrations.”

Asked if New Zealand’s support for “any actions” extended to “carpet bombing” Iran, Luxon made several attempts at answering the question before repeating his earlier lines.

“We’ve long supported actions under our governments, under successive political parties, that actually stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

“There have been endless rounds of diplomacy where Iran has flagrantly disregarded international law with respect to nuclear weapons programmes. That has not worked.”

Luxon was asked if New Zealand’s support for “any actions” extended to the bombing of a girls’ school that – according to reports by the BBC – killed at least 153 people.

“That is up to them [the US and Israel] to present what has happened there because I’m not in a position to judge that from sitting in New Zealand.”

Asked to clarify if he meant to say he couldn’t make a judgement call if a children’s school being bombed was a good or bad thing, Luxon said civilians should be protected.

“We want to make sure that any action is consistent with international law but we also need Israel and the US to explain their actions and their understanding of that event and that is for them to explain.”

The coalition has condemned the Iranian regime, focusing its criticism on the regime’s killing of civilians and pursuit of its nuclear programme.

The New Zealand government’s criticism has not extended to the United States and Israel’s actions, even after former Prime Minister Helen Clark said they clearly breached international law.

Asked if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had advised the government on the legality of the US and Israel’s attacks, Luxon said he couldn’t comment.

In terms of advice he had received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Luxon said he couldn’t go into it.

“I just can’t comment on that. Cabinet rules preclude me from doing so.”

Hard ‘no’ from Labour on supporting the US and Israel’s attacks

Fronting reporters shortly after the post-Cabinet briefing, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was asked if his party supported the actions of the US and Israel.

“No,” he said.

Hipkins says New Zealand should, as it had in the past, stand up for its values and international law. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Hipkins said he had been taken aback by Luxon’s language around New Zealand supporting “all actions” to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

“I was somewhat shocked to see that comment…that does not reflect the position that successive New Zealand governments have taken.

“Successive New Zealand governments have expressed significant concern about the Iranian regime but that does not justify any action, particularly when it breaches international law.”

Hipkins said New Zealand should, as it had in the past, stand up for its values and international law.

“When it came to the invasion of Iraq, New Zealand stood apart from what was a lot of international support for that action, and said no we did not think that was the right thing to do and I think we should do so here as well.”

Hipkins said there was “never a justification for killing school children”.

“International rules still matter. New Zealand has been very clear and consistent in its position of condemning the actions of the Iranian government and that’s been across successive governments.

“But that doesn’t justify simply ripping up the international rule book. There’s a need for a return to diplomacy, a return to international institutions. This is why bodies like the United Nations were established in the first place.”

Hipkins said if he were prime minister, he would be asking for New Zealand’s Five Eyes partners for more information about the situation.

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

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

Liberals’ former immigration spokesman Paul Scarr crosses floor to support Hanson Muslim censure

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Paul Scarr, dumped as opposition immigration spokesman by Angus Taylor, has crossed the floor to vote with Labor to censure Pauline Hanson over her comments about Muslims.

The Senate passed the government motion 36 to 17, censuring Hanson “for her inflammatory and divisive comments seeking to vilify Muslim Australians”.

Scarr, a Liberal moderate who worked on the opposition’s immigration policy before he was dropped, was one of two Liberals to cross the floor – the other was Andrew McLachlan, also a moderate.

Hanson has been widely criticised for saying on Sky News “You say, ‘Well, there’s good Muslims out there.’ How can you tell me there are good Muslims?”

Scarr told The Conversation after the vote: “There are people creating division and there comes a time when you have got to make a stand”.

Scarr said he had a close relationship with his “wonderful” Muslim community in his home state of Queensland and with other Muslim communities around the country.

He said he had picked up community feeling about Hanson’s comments at the five Iftar dinners he had attended in the past week. (These are dinners held during Ramadan to break the daily fast.)

“I know the real world consequences of divisive language”, he said. Young girls wearing the hijab would be attacked.

“I also think of the great work being done by so many Muslim leaders and members in the community – supporting fellow Australians in their time of need, seeking to establish interfaith dialogue and looking to give back to the community.

“It is really for them that I had to cross the floor.”

The opposition wanted to amend the motion to “condemn” Hanson rather than censure her but was prevented from moving an amendment under rules for the motion. It then voted against.

The censure was passed with the support of Labor, the Greens, independent senators David Pocock, Tammy Tyrrell, Fatima Payman and Lidia Thorpe, plus the two dissident Liberals.

Senator Fatima Payman listens to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson during debate on a censure motion in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, March 2, 2026. Lukas Coch/AAP

Moving the motion the government’s Senate leader Penny wong said: “The words of parliamentarians echo into classrooms, workplaces, communities. They help shape how others see each other and how they see themselves.

“This censure motion is about drawing a line and sending a message to the people of faith in this country, and sending a message to children in this country that your leaders believe that condemning an entire religion is not acceptable.”

Opposition’s Senate leader Michaelia Cash said, “I don’t think that Senator Hanson’s comments were appropriate. Why? Because I personally have Muslim friends. My mum’s best friend is a Muslim. So I have to say, I think that there are good Muslims in Australia.”

But, she said, “the censure is one of the Senate’s most serious institutional sanctions and it should therefore be rare and sober. Not used as a routine tactic to score political points.”

Hanson described the motion as an “absolute stunt” and said her remarks had been misreported without the full context of what she said.

“The people out there will actually judge One Nation and my comments. Let the people judge me. I’m not going to be judged by you at all.”  After speaking Hanson stormed out of the chamber without voting.

– ref. Liberals’ former immigration spokesman Paul Scarr crosses floor to support Hanson Muslim censure – https://theconversation.com/liberals-former-immigration-spokesman-paul-scarr-crosses-floor-to-support-hanson-muslim-censure-277188

Oriental fruit fly: Trapping zone widens in South Auckland as more flies found

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Three more male Oriental fruit flies have been trapped in Papatoetoe. Supplied / Biosecurity NZ

Biosecurity New Zealand is widening its trapping zone in South Auckland after finding three more male Oriental fruit flies.

A single male fly was found in Papatoetoe last week – and on Monday, three more males were trapped in the suburb.

“The finds in our traps, following last week’s detection of a single male fly in the suburb, are not unexpected and shows our enhanced surveillance and inspection is working,” said Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.

Inglis said there was no evidence of a breeding population.

“We continue to bolster our network of traps in the controlled area to ensure good coverage near to each fly detection. The lures we use in the traps are very strong and attract the fly,” he said.

Restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables have been in place since Wednesday last week, and Inglis said today’s detections meant the restrictions had been extended.

Signs would go up on roads in the new controlled area to remind locals the restrictions were in place.

A detailed map of the controlled area and a full description of the new boundaries and movement controls is available on the Ministry for Primary Industries’ website.

“We have successfully eradicated fruit fly from New Zealand 15 times, so we have very strong and detailed operational plans to guide our work and that includes a comprehensive trapping and inspection programme,” Inglis said.

Residents in the area where movement restrictions were in place were being asked to put fruit and vegetable waste into bins provided by Biosecurity New Zealand.

“Our people will be continuing their work on the ground, engaging with the local community and sharing information with residents in the newly extended controlled area,”Inglis said.

The Oriental fruit fly did not pose a risk to humans but would hit the horticulture industry if it was allowed to establish in New Zealand.

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

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

Changes to bridge design need to at least have ‘minor positive’ impact – engineers

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

siwakorn / 123RF

Bridge engineers say the NZ Transport Agency’s work to update how bridges are designed and assessed should at most have a “minor positive” impact.

Two trucking groups have expressed worries that NZTA is missing an opportunity to make more highway bridges able to carry heavier trucks in future, especially if that applies to the Roads of National Significance.

The agency said its new measures were “not anticipated to have a significant impact on existing bridge stock or the construction of new ones”.

The recently formed Bridge Engineering Technical Society at Engineering NZ agreed, based on what NZTA had said.

“It is our understanding that the update to the design (vehicle) loading model, to be applied to new bridge designs, has been done to address risks associated with accommodating heavy vehicles on our roads,” the society told RNZ.

“These have arisen from evolutions in the heavy vehicle fleet make-up, as well as bridge design and construction practice in recent times.

“Our understanding is that the risk relates to maintaining the standard margin between evaluation (day-to-day) loadings and design capacity for longer, continuous span bridge construction that has become more common.”

It also captured the effects due to multiple heavy vehicles following each other (“platooning”), which was more likely to occur with longer span bridges compared to shorter spans, it said.

NZTA has said the “effects of platoons of vehicle travelling at minimum spacings” in the same lane could be “substantially greater than those resulting from the previous evaluation loading”, so it had caught its bridge rules up to account for it.

However, Transporting NZ said “platooning” was not a factor as New Zealand roads were not the sort that allowed for it much if at all, so bridges should not be designed as if it was.

“Platooning trucks is highly unlikely to happen in New Zealand for the sheer reason that we don’t have enough multi-lane highways to do that,” it said.

“This is our concern, [that] they’re worrying about something that will likely never happen here.”

The society made the point it was not uncommon that design standards were revised periodically to take into account increased knowledge and understanding, improvements in technology and changes in demands such as traffic loading, “especially heavy vehicle configurations”.

“Based on available information, we concur in principle with NZTA’s response that any cost implications of the changes in the design loading model will not have a significant impact on new bridge designs.

“While any implications depend on the bridge type and/or material, in many cases the marginal increase due to the updated design (vehicle) loading, taken as a portion of the overall total weight of the structure, would not require significant additional material.”

The evaluation loading for existing bridges was amended some in mid-2022 and the updates for new bridge designs ensured consistency.

“It appears that the changes which NZTA have introduced should not have a significant impact on the industry, or a minor positive one.”

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

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

Former soldier and sex offender Adrien Bell’s volunteer work sparks concern

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Just Zilch. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham

There are concerns that a former soldier sentenced to home detention for filming young people using a bathroom for six years is now volunteering at a Palmerston North food rescue charity.

Adrien Bell, who also goes by the surname Bennett, has volunteered at Just Zilch since the New Year break.

Just Zilch takes donations from local suppliers, such as supermarkets and cafes, and distributes the food to people in need.

It’s understood other volunteers weren’t initially told of Bell’s history, although some are now aware.

Just Zilch said although it can’t comment on individual volunteers, it’s important to properly address concerns.

Open Justice reported in 2024 that Bell, a former army corporal, was sentenced to 10 months’ home detention after he admitted one charge each of committing an indecent act on a young person and possessing an intimate visual recording, and two charges of making an intimate visual recording.

A court summary said Bell put a hidden camera in a bathroom of a home, capturing images of naked people between 2014 and 2020. One of the victims was a girl aged 11-13, and other victims were in their teens.

Videos of them were found on Bell’s laptop, Open Justice reported.

A Just Zilch volunteer, who RNZ has agreed not to name due to worries they would lose their position at the charity, said Bell hadn’t caused problems with his behaviour there.

But, they felt his presence around vulnerable people – volunteers and people who received food donations – was a concern. They said young people would also volunteer at Just Zilch and work at its Featherston Street location, in central Palmerston North, at the same time as Bell.

The volunteer was told by a fellow charity worker who Bell was and to Google the Open Justice story, which was also published on the RNZ website.

“It was like, ‘Oh my god.’ I knew I had seen that story. I knew when I saw him that I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn’t think where.

“He makes no secret of the fact he’s ex army, but there’s no story as to why he gave up the army.

“Basically every day I do a shift the army comes up in conversation.”

Another former volunteer told RNZ they wouldn’t feel comfortable with Bell’s presence.

In a statement to RNZ, Just Zilch board chairperson Angela Rowan said: “While we’re unable to comment on individual Just Zilch employees or volunteers due to privacy reasons, given the nature of these concerns it is incredibly important to us that they are addressed properly in a way that respects all people involved.

“The safety of our volunteers, employees and clients is a non-negotiable,” she said.

“We balance our obligations to our people with our kaupapa and mission to minimise waste and support food security in our community, while upholding our values of kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, without judgement, and justice.”

RNZ asked about the charity’s policies and procedures for vetting volunteers.

“We have identified ways to improve how we onboard people, and are working with professional advisers to support this mahi,” Rowan said.

Open Justice reported that Bell was no longer working for the army by the time he was sentenced.

He could not be reached for comment.

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

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

1...293031...1,255Page 30 of 1,255
Listen on Apple Podcasts

- Advertisement -
© Copyright 2024 EveningReport.nz and Multimedia Investments Ltd. All rights reserved.