Wednesday 29th of April 2026 05:39:16 AM
Page 4

A landmark US court ruling on birthright citizenship is coming. What does NZ law say?

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guy C. Charlton, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of New England

The US Supreme Court is poised to deliver its much anticipated and debated decision on the question of birthright citizenship.

At the centre of the case (known as Trump v. Barbara) is an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day of office in 2025, barring citizenship for children born to parents illegally in the United States or on long-term visas.

Americans have long held that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution grants automatic citizenship for babies born on US soil. Trump disagrees.

The case is also one more example of how citizenship and residency in many countries – including New Zealand – has become an increasingly vexatious issue in an age of massive migration.

Constitutional challenge

The 14th Amendment, passed after the American Civil War, states:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

A decisive case in 1898 largely established that babies born in the US are legally citizens. But the Trump administration argued the 14th Amendment only applied to former slaves.

That would mean babies born to individuals who are not “domiciled” – thus not owing allegiance to the US – are not citizens under the amendment.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the reinterpretation was justified given the threat of unchecked immigration and “birth tourism”.

At this stage, a majority of the Supreme Court seems sceptical about the Trump administration’s argument.

But from a broader perspective, Trump v. Barbara is also an increasingly common example of how citizenship and migration disputes are challenging constitutional understandings and legal recognition of national, social and individual identity.

Belonging and connection

Citizenship is essentially about relationships and connections – to people and place.

Formal legal membership of a nation-state is primarily identified at birth, either by parentage (known in law as jus sanguinis or “right of blood”) or from the place where one is born (jus soli or “right of the soil”).

Either way, citizenship provides certain core protections for the holder, including the right to remain in a country without fear of removal.

The English common law followed the jus soli approach, meaning nearly every person born within countries such as New Zealand and the US were considered citizens.

Like the US, New Zealand followed the jus soli approach from 1948 to 2005, when it moved to a hybrid form of jus sanguinus. This aligned the country with Australia and the United Kingdom, which restrict automatic citizenship based on parental status.

Today, a person born in New Zealand to parents born elsewhere does not automatically become a citizen.

The change increased the likelihood of creating undocumented, native-born residents who are still not citizens. If a government alters definitions of immigration status, it can affect education and employment rights.

This has the potential to create a permanent underclass of non-citizen residents, as is the case in some European countries.

Indeed, questions of belonging and connection surround the pending Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill. This makes targeted amendments to the Immigration Act 2009 and is now making its way through the New Zealand parliament.

As a mechanism to remove criminals or unwanted aliens, it seeks to expand the state’s power to expel long-term residents up to 20 years after they gained residency.

A fragment of te Tiriti o Waitangi which guaranteed Māori the ‘rights and privileges of British subjects’. Archives New Zealand via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC

The Treaty and citizenship

The Waitangi Tribunal considered questions of citizenship in its 2025 report He Tangata, he Whenua. While it didn’t explicitly consider the question of birthright citizenship, the report did consider what community membership means in the context of Māori identity.

The tribunal examined the claim of John Ruddock, a Māori born in Australia who became a New Zealand citizen by descent, but whose Australian-born children were not eligible for automatic New Zealand citizenship under the Citizenship Act 1977.

The act limits citizenship by descent to one generation. When Ruddock moved back to New Zealand, he discovered his children had no legal right to remain. He argued their special relationship with the country as tangata whenua (indigenous, people of the land) – recognised by the Treaty of Waitangi – was wrongly excluded in the law.

The report addresses how the act fails to recognise Māori as tangata whenua and fails to incorporate concepts such as whakapapa (genealogy) and ahi kā (continuous occupation).

By creating a system that prejudices Māori living abroad, the tribunal said, the Crown breached Article 3 of te Tiriti o Waitangi, which guaranteed Māori the “rights and privileges of British subjects”. It noted that citizenship is the core mechanism by which “a community is imagined through the practice of granting nationality”.

In the US, citizenship was given special constitutional protection to address the historical and social legacy of slavery.

By contrast, New Zealand’s colonial history and political development (including the Treaty of Waitangi), have meant citizenship has not been seen as requiring special legal protections.

But the Waitangi Tribunal report and the proposed amendments to the Immigration Act suggest there are unresolved questions about citizenship and individual connection to Aotearoa New Zealand.

And how can Maori sensibilities and identities be reconciled with purely Western notions of citizenship and national identity?

How can notions of national identity and citizenship be insulated from legal changes based on short-term political calculations or careless lawmaking?

Perhaps the pending birthright ruling from the US Supreme Court provides an opportunity to forge a concept of citizenship that aligns with New Zealand’s unique histories of relationship and belonging.

– ref. A landmark US court ruling on birthright citizenship is coming. What does NZ law say? – https://theconversation.com/a-landmark-us-court-ruling-on-birthright-citizenship-is-coming-what-does-nz-law-say-280366

We studied the bacteria on kids’ sports mouthguards. The results were eye-opening

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Huseyin Sumer, Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology

Many young Australians are beginning their winter sports season, gearing up for sports such as football, hockey and rugby. Apart from the training sessions, weekend games and oranges at half-time, these contact sports also involve mouthguards.

Mouthguards protect the teeth, gums and jaw from serious injury. But while most parents and coaches insist kids wear them, far fewer think about what happens after the game – and whether mouthguards get cleaned properly.

Our research suggests poor mouthguard care can lead to bacterial buildup and potential health risks.

Our research

We studied mouthguards used by under-12s Australian rules football players. This involved ten players who regularly used mouthguards in training and for matches.

We collected samples immediately before a training session. We collected samples from the mouthguard surface and the storage case.

Using advanced microscopic imaging to look at surfaces in very high detail and to map their shape, we examined how the mouthguard surface had changed and how bacteria attached to it.

From this, we could assess just how much bacterial colonisation was occurring — and how it related to mouthguard condition and cleaning habits.

We also swabbed the players’ tongues and mouths to see if the bacteria were the same or different from the mouthguards.

What we found

The results were eye-opening.

We found around seventeen 17 potentially harmful types of bacteria on the mouthguards and in the cases. Some of these are linked to gum disease, tooth decay, oral infections and even respiratory infections if inhaled.

These bacteria were different from those found in players’ mouths.

Even though a mouthguard may look fine to the naked eye, under magnification it was obvious that over time, chewing, contact and improper storage (such as tossing it in the bottom of a sports bag) scratch the mouthguard material, facilitating bacterial attachment.

The roughness on the mouthguard surfaces created tiny grooves and pits — perfect hiding places for bacteria to cling to and multiply.

A quick rinse isn’t enough

These bacterial communities aren’t easily washed away with a quick rinse under the tap.

Our study showed a simple water rinse removed only 60–70% of bacteria. Alcohol-containing mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide mouthwash and denture cleaning tablets also did not remove all the bacteria.

We found a thorough clean with a toothbrush and toothpaste removed up to 98% of bacteria.

The pictures don’t lie

Poorly maintained mouthguards don’t just smell bad, they can become a vehicle for infection.

The same bacteria that thrive on a dirty mouthguard can contribute to oral ulcers or infections, especially when the inside of the mouth is already irritated from sport.

Remaining bacteria after cleaning using different methods

Scanning electron microscopy imagery of bacteria on mouth guard surfaces after cleaning. Surface deterioration and poor handling of sports mouthguards for young football players promote bacterial attachment and colonisation requiring mechanical cleaning, CC BY-NC-ND

Advice for players and parents

The good news is that mouthguards can be cleaned and maintained easily.

  • After every use, rinse thoroughly under cool, clean water to remove debris.

  • When kids return home from training or games, we highly recommend further cleaning with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste or mild soap.

  • Dry the mouthguard completely before storing it in a clean, ventilated container.

  • Regularly clean the case with mild detergent.

  • Regularly inspect and replace mouthguards that become rough, cracked or ill-fitting.

Parents should remind kids not to chew on them during games as this can promote bacterial attachment to the tiny scratches and crevices that are formed.

For coaches and clubs, simple hygiene talks and reminders can make a big difference – especially for younger players who might not think twice before shoving their mouthguard into a muddy pocket, bag or sock.

Just as players look after their boots and uniforms, their mouthguards need the same attention. With proper cleaning and care, they’ll not only last longer but be safer for those using them.

– ref. We studied the bacteria on kids’ sports mouthguards. The results were eye-opening – https://theconversation.com/we-studied-the-bacteria-on-kids-sports-mouthguards-the-results-were-eye-opening-281018

How much a new $1,000 tax offset would really be worth – and who’s better off avoiding it

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fei Gao, Lecturer in Taxation, Discipline of Accounting, Governance & Regulation, The University of Sydney, University of Sydney

When Australian workers lodge a tax return from mid next year, around 6 million taxpayers look set to be able to claim up to A$1,000 with an “instant” work-related tax deduction, without receipts. The Albanese government has just released draft legislation on the change.

That deduction is higher than the little-known $300 limit on receipt-free work deductions available today.

But if you’re among the majority of people who claim more than $1,000 in work expenses, you’ll be better off keeping your receipts and claiming the way you do now.

And if you have buy equipment to do your job – such as a computer, phone or tools of the trade – there’s a separate change proposed to start from July 1 this year worth knowing about too.

Does this mean a $1,000 discount on your tax bill?

No. This proposal to let Australian workers claim up to $1,000 in work deductions is not the same as getting $1,000 more back in your bank account after you submit your tax return.

The federal government estimates 6.2 million workers (42% of taxpayers) could expect to benefit from introducing a standard $1,000 work-related tax deduction in the 2026–27 financial year, without receipts to back that up. The government estimates those taxpayers would save an average of $205 in 2026–27.

How much you might get back would depend on how much you earn and how much you’re taxed.

For example, if you earn less than $18,200, you do not pay income tax. So this change would not benefit you.

For higher-income earners, the benefit is potentially larger. At the top tax rate of 45 cents for each $1 over $190,000, a $1,000 deduction could reduce tax by up to $450 (or $470 including the Medicare levy).

However, while higher-income earners receive larger tax savings per dollar deducted, they’re more likely to already claim more than $1,000 in work-related expenses.

Who stands to benefit most?

Almost half (44%) of Australian workers lodge their own tax returns, far more than a few years ago.

If you’re one of them – and you’re an Australian tax resident, earning a salary here, or paying yourself a salary if you have a business – this proposed standard deduction could prove useful.

If your total work-related expenses are less than $1,000, you could simply claim the $1,000 deduction, without receipts.

The simplicity of the new rule is likely to benefit workers with less experience lodging their own tax returns, particularly those unfamiliar with keeping receipts.

For example, around 1.7 million taxpayers under the age of 30 are expected to benefit, with an average saving of about $200 in 2026–27.

What’s not covered by this new offset?

It’s worth noting some other work-related deductions could still be claimed from 2026–27 on top of the instant tax deduction, including:

  • charitable donations
  • investment expenses
  • union and professional association membership fees
  • income protection insurance premiums.

Who should stick to keeping receipts?

If your expenses are more than $1,000, you should continue to claim work-related deductions with receipts.

The majority of Australia’s 14.7 million workers – around 8.5 million people – aren’t expected to be affected by this change.

As of the 2022–23 tax year, the average Australian’s work-related expense claimed was $2,739.

The median amount was $1,338. This means most Australian taxpayers were already claiming more than this new proposed $1,000 instant deduction threshold. They’re better off continuing to claim their actual expenses.

One change that could catch people out

Putting aside the new $1,000 instant work-related deduction, this new legislation could still affect you.

Under this proposal, from 2026–27 the rules would change on “depreciation” (loss in value over time) on work items such as tools or computers.

Under the current rules, if you buy an asset mainly for work use, you may be able to claim an immediate deduction if it costs $300 or less.

But if you have work-related items costing between $300 and $1,000, you can choose to group them together into what’s known as a “low-value pool” and deduct the loss in value from your taxable income. This pool can include multiple assets valued under $1,000, purchased at different times.

For example, a laptop bought several years ago and a printer bought more recently can be grouped together, and “depreciated” as a single pool.

Under these proposed changes, from the 2026–27 financial year on, new work assets could no longer be added to a low-value pool.

Taxpayers could continue to claim depreciation on their existing pools – but any new purchases will need to be depreciated individually.

In particular, assets with longer effective life, such as musical instruments for work, would be written off more slowly – reducing the tax benefit you receive in the earlier years.

Overall, it’s unlikely to have a big impact on many people’s tax return, other than changing how they make future claims.

But if you do currently use the “low-value pool” for work deductions, it’s worth being aware of this proposed change now to look into it yourself, or to check with your accountant.

What does this mean for my 2025–26 tax return?

Nothing. These proposed changes are still in the consultation stage. They still have to pass through parliament to become law.

Assuming they do, these changes wouldn’t come into force until the 2026–27 tax year.

If you want to have your say on proposed instant offset or on the depreciation change, now’s your chance: public consultation on the draft legislation closes on May 1.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not intended as financial advice.

– ref. How much a new $1,000 tax offset would really be worth – and who’s better off avoiding it – https://theconversation.com/how-much-a-new-1-000-tax-offset-would-really-be-worth-and-whos-better-off-avoiding-it-281136

Auckland FC lost grip on A-League playoff bye

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ben Garruccio celebrates a goal against Auckland FC. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Auckland FC have missed out on a first-round bye in the A-League playoffs, after a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC in their regular season finale.

The Black Knights entered their final fixture in second place on the competition table, with the top two teams locking in a rest week to begin the post-season.

With several other teams breathing down their necks, Auckland needed victory to assure themselves of the bye, but were always chasing their rivals across the Tasman.

Scoreless at halftime, Sydney took the lead with Ben Garruccio’s first goal for the club, a rightfooted effort from outside the penalty area.

Uruguayan substitute Guillermo May replied, when Sam Cosgrove nodded a long throw-in across goal and May’s header deflected off a defender into the net.

Sydney took the lead back with five minutes of regulation remaining, as Alexandar Popovic loomed at the far post to guide home a corner.

May had a second off his head to earn the draw and keep Auckland’s hopes alive, as they finished their campaign with 11 wins, nine draws and six defeats – less losses than any other team in the league, but also more draws.

They lost their grip on the top two, when Adelaide United rallied from 1-0 down against Melbourne City, with two goals from Luka Jovanovic, the breakout winner coming eight minutes into injury time.

Jovanovic’s double elevated him to the top of the Golden Boot standings, with Auckland’s Cosgrover, but the striker earned an extra week off, when he took his shirt off during his wild goal celebration and was red-carded from the field.

Adelaide join Premier Plate winners Newcastle Jets with the bye next week, while Auckland FC host Melbourne City in a one-off elimination final.

Victory would see them pitted against Adelaide in the home-and-away semifinals.

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

New research suggests pretend play can help mental health

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pretend play is a significant and often magical part of childhood. Children have huge imaginations and use these to turn rocks into spaceships, tables into forts or pens into fairies. They might pretend to be “mum” or to “cook dinner”. Or they may invent their own characters, worlds and concepts that have no bearing on anything adults are able to come up with.

The ability to pretend play generally first emerges at 15-18 months. By about 20 months, children start to imitate life around them. By the time they are four or five, the play is complex and involves interacting with others and acting out characters.

But apart from being a part of development, are there other benefits? Our study suggests pretend play can also help mental health.

Two and three-year-olds with stronger pretend play ability had fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties after the age of four, says researcher Fotini Vasilopoulos.

The University of Sydney

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

Indian free trade agreement due for formal signing in New Delhi

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Mark Papalii

Trade Minister Todd McClay will formally sign the free trade agreement with India in New Delhi about 9pm Monday (NZT).

He has taken a delegation, including MPs from several parties, and more than 30 business representatives, and will also host a joint business summit with Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

“I’m just checking to make sure there is ink in my pen,” McClay said last week. “It’s such a significant achievement for New Zealand.

“If you think about it as 1.4 billion people in India, their wealth is growing, they are going to become the consumers of the future.

“The New Zealand economy is getting on at the ground floor of that and I think, in the future, this will be one of the most significant trade agreements to help secure our economy – but a lot of people have worked very hard to make sure we can get there.”

McClay visited India seven times as part of efforts to negotiate the deal, since the coalition took office, after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made securing such a deal an election promise during a televised debate in 2023.

Last week, Labour confirmed it would back the deal, paving the way for legislation enabling it to pass through Parliament.

The party’s support was needed by National, after New Zealand First announced – minutes before the deal itself was – the coalition party would oppose the deal.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has opposed migration aspects included in the deal, as well as a lack of wins for dairy and concerns about a clause requiring the government to promote $US20 billion of private investment in India within 15 years.

Labour’s agreement to back it came with a handful of policy concessions, and a warning the investment clause was “very unrealistic” and “almost impossible” to achieve.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins warned that could lead the Indian government to claw back the market access McClay and other officials had worked so hard to achieve.

McClay pushed back on the likelihood of that happening, saying if India decided New Zealand had not met the condition after 15 years, “they can put in place measures that are temporary and proportionate – and so it is not as significant as maybe it sounded”.

“There’s a special committee that the two parties have agreed to set up 12 months after the agreement enters into force – that is to monitor implementation of the agreement to make sure it’s working and, secondly, to continue to look for ways to improve the agreement.

“We’ll also be talking to them about the promotion that we are doing on an ongoing basis around investment, so I don’t expect there will be a challenge or a problem.”

He said the commitment was not for the government to invest that figure merely to promote investment.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis had previously expressed frustration about how long it took Labour to agree to back the deal, saying just the day before that Labour was “courting the same” anti-immigration votes as New Zealand First.

“We’ve been giving you advice for four months, we’ve had more than 20 meetings, we’ve responded to all of your requests. You’re trying to draw this out and, as I say, you’re playing into exactly the same concerns that New Zealand First is trying to whip up.

“You’re making a very political choice and I think it’s unfortunate, because what I think we should be doing on a matter like this is putting the interests of our people and our economy first.”

However, McClay was far less critical.

“No, I haven’t been frustrated by it,” he said. “I mean, it’s important to go through it, but we’ve had to do the legal scrubbing and, once that was finished, we reached agreement on a date to sign.

“It happens to have co-incided with when Labour have said they’ll give their support.”

He said Labour’s claim legal advice to the government about the deal had not been provided until last week was not entirely accurate, but refused to say how.

“You’ve got to consider their trade spokesman was in China last week. We had to wait until he was back, until he could have the meeting.”

McClay said the agreement provided huge opportunities for New Zealand exporters.

“I’m really not jumping into that,” he said. “They’ve made the right decision and I’m grateful to them.”

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

Indian free trade agreement due for signing in New Delhi

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Mark Papalii

Trade Minister Todd McClay will formally sign the free trade agreement with India in New Delhi about 9pm Monday (NZT).

He has taken a delegation, including MPs from several parties, and more than 30 business representatives, and will also host a joint business summit with Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

“I’m just checking to make sure there is ink in my pen,” McClay said last week. “It’s such a significant achievement for New Zealand.

“If you think about it as 1.4 billion people in India, their wealth is growing, they are going to become the consumers of the future.

“The New Zealand economy is getting on at the ground floor of that and I think, in the future, this will be one of the most significant trade agreements to help secure our economy – but a lot of people have worked very hard to make sure we can get there.”

McClay visited India seven times as part of efforts to negotiate the deal, since the coalition took office, after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made securing such a deal an election promise during a televised debate in 2023.

Last week, Labour confirmed it would back the deal, paving the way for legislation enabling it to pass through Parliament.

The party’s support was needed by National, after New Zealand First announced – minutes before the deal itself was – the coalition party would oppose the deal.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has opposed migration aspects included in the deal, as well as a lack of wins for dairy and concerns about a clause requiring the government to promote $US20 billion of private investment in India within 15 years.

Labour’s agreement to back it came with a handful of policy concessions, and a warning the investment clause was “very unrealistic” and “almost impossible” to achieve.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins warned that could lead the Indian government to claw back the market access McClay and other officials had worked so hard to achieve.

McClay pushed back on the likelihood of that happening, saying if India decided New Zealand had not met the condition after 15 years, “they can put in place measures that are temporary and proportionate – and so it is not as significant as maybe it sounded”.

“There’s a special committee that the two parties have agreed to set up 12 months after the agreement enters into force – that is to monitor implementation of the agreement to make sure it’s working and, secondly, to continue to look for ways to improve the agreement.

“We’ll also be talking to them about the promotion that we are doing on an ongoing basis around investment, so I don’t expect there will be a challenge or a problem.”

He said the commitment was not for the government to invest that figure, merely to promote investment.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis had previously expressed frustration about how long it took Labour to agree to back the deal, saying just the day before that Labour was “courting the same” anti-immigration votes as New Zealand First.

“We’ve been giving you advice for four months, we’ve had more than 20 meetings, we’ve responded to all of your requests. You’re trying to draw this out and, as I say, you’re playing into exactly the same concerns that New Zealand First is trying to whip up.

“You’re making a very political choice and I think it’s unfortunate, because what I think we should be doing on a matter like this is putting the interests of our people and our economy first.”

However, McClay was far less critical.

“No, I haven’t been frustrated by it,” he said. “I mean, it’s important to go through it, but we’ve had to do the legal scrubbing and, once that was finished, we reached agreement on a date to sign.

“It happens to have co-incided with when Labour have said they’ll give their support.”

He said Labour’s claim legal advice to the government about the deal had not been provided until last week was not entirely accurate, but refused to say how.

“You’ve got to consider their trade spokesman was in China last week. We had to wait until he was back, until he could have the meeting.”

McClay said the agreement provided huge opportunities for New Zealand exporters.

“I’m really not jumping into that,” he said. “They’ve made the right decision and I’m grateful to them.”

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

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon condemns shooting at gala attended by Donald Trump

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

One secret service agent was shot and hospitalised, but Donald Trump said the officer was “great shape”. AFP / ANDREW HARNIK

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has condemned the attack on the press gala attended by US President Donald Trump in Washington DC.

Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other officials were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner by secret service agents, after a man armed with a shotgun tried to breach security.

US media reports that the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, told law enforcement he was targeting someone from the Trump administration.

It has not yet been confirmed whether he was targeting Trump himself.

Donald Trump held a press conference shortly after the incident, where he described the would-be assailant as a “very sick person”. NATHAN HOWARD

One Secret Service agent was shot and hospitalised, but Trump said the officer was in “great shape”, due to the protection of his bulletproof vest.

The incident is being treated by law enforcement as a “lone wolf” attack and the suspect is expected to be arraigned on several charges.

In a post on X, Luxon said he was glad Trump and “all other guests” at the dinner were not harmed, thanks to the quick work of the US secret service.

“Violence has no place in our democracies.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told RNZ it was not aware of any New Zealanders attending the dinner and its safe travel advice for the United States remained unchanged.

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

Public praise for High Court ruling on NZ Superfund policies on Israeli companies

By -

Asia Pacific Report

An official of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) praised this month’s High Court judicial ruling over New Zealand Superfund “unreasonable and unlawful” investment policies towards Israeli companies — but warned that the fund management would need to shape up.

Speaking at the PSNA rally at Te Komititanga Square today in week 133 of protests over Israeli genocide in Gaza, national secretary Neil Scott also gave a verbal bouquet to all the activists and lawyers who had achieved the victory after a 20-year struggle.

He named Phil McNeale as one of the activists who began pushing for the Superfund to divest from Israeli companies funding illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank about two decades ago.

PSNA earlier issued a statement declaring that this was an “important and timely win for Palestine” and expressed confidence that the Superfund would “quickly divest from the four companies [where] it holds investments” which were on the UN Human Rights Council list involved in building and maintaining illegal Israeli settlements.

Scott recalled that during 2020 and 2021, PSNA had called on the Superfund chief executive Matt Whineray to divest from Israeli banks.

“We know Israel cannot build the illegal colonies in the West bank without bank funding,” he said.

“Essentially, our NZ Superfund was investing in funding war crimes. On our behalf.”

‘Shameful policy’
On each communication about the “shameful” policy, Whineray had rejected the PSNA protest.

“In 2021, PSNA got a King’s Counsel (KC) lawyer to review the investments in Israeli banks and then sent a letter to then Minister of Finance Grant Robertson setting out the legal opinion,” Scott said.

“Robertson refused to respond to us. But soon after, the Superfund divested from four Israeli banks. Yes, we won then.”

However, Scott said that in 2021, just after the divestment decision, the Israeli Institute was “all over the Superfund with a flood of OIA requests — six of them”.

“A bunch of private individual OIA requests also went in,” Scott said.

“Usually, the Superfund received about 3 or 4 OIA requests a year. In 2021, it received 11.

“So, it seems as if massive pressure was put on the NZ Superfund to change its policies on ethical investments — to benefit Zionist Israel.

Protesters at today’s rally in Te Komititanga Square . . . pictured are NZ’s “shameful” coalition government leaders. Image: Asia Pacific Report

‘Gutting ethical investment’
“In 2022, it did just that. Gutting the ethical investment policies so that even investments in Israeli banks wouldn’t have been excluded.”

Scott said the Superfund dropped any reference to the “UN Global Compact” and the “Principles for Responsible Investment” — two of the main ethical investment policies in the world.

“It did this, sliding the changes through in the shadows without letting anyone know. Just slid it through in the shadows.”

PSNA kept on calling the Superfund to divest from the UN Divestment list. However, the Superfund responded by claiming that the companies cited “did not meet their, now secret, threshold”.

Late in 2024, PSNA decided to call for a judicial review of the Superfund’s investment in four companies.

“We briefed two KCs on the call. They agreed that it would have a good chance of winning,” Scott said.

“During the process of discovery, the KCs found that the Superfund had secretly changed its ethical investment policies during 2022.”

Who is responsible?
Scott said the PSNA was now determined to find out who were responsible for changing the ethical investment policies for the “benefit of a foreign country”.

He named a minister, chair of the board and the chief executive at the time of the change, saying that as a result of the High Court ruling, the Superfund “has a duty to reformulate the policy documents consistently with the [NZ Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001]”.

Scott praised the team responsible for winning the case: PSNA co-chair John Minto; co-chair Maher Nazzal, a Palestinian; Palestinian Rawaa Elhanafy; Rodney Harrison KC (who wrote the original letter to then minister Robertson in 2021); Francis Joychild KC; and B A Mugisho.

He also gave a final message to the cheering protest crowd: “A word of advice to everyone in the management of the Superfund — Aotearoa is our country. Not racist, ethnic cleansing, land thieving genocidal Zionist Israel.

“You work for Aotearoa. Do your job.”

Stop Wars protesters . . . next rally is on May Day in Auckland’s Karangahape Road. Image: SWC

May Day ‘Stop war’ rally
Among other speakers at the protest, Stop Wars Aotearoa organiser Joe Carolan appealed for support at next Friday’s May Day “Stop the fuel crisis and stop the war” rally at 6pm at Karanga-a-Hape Station.

“High fuel prices are driving workers reliant on cars off the roads. Our rightwing coalition government rules for the rich and doesn’t feel the pain of the cost of living crisis. We need solutions, not excuses,” Carolan said.

“The Solution: Free, frequent public transport for all, funded by taxes on the oil companies and the super rich.”

The Stop Wars Aotearoa coalition is demanding:

  • Immediate free transport as a climate and cost-of-living solution;
  • Permanent, 24 hr, frequent and fare-free transit for all, paid for by taxing corporations and billionaires; and
  • Prioritised fuel for essential services, not luxury, while transitioning to renewables. New green jobs in a massive expansion of public transport and rail.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Super Rugby Pacific: Te Kaha’s roof traps heat, ‘quite humid’ say players

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jonah Lowe of the Highlanders tackles Tuna Tuitama of Moana Pasifika. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

The roof at Te Kaha brought a bumper atmosphere inside the stadium during Super Rugby Pacific’s ‘Super Round’ – but it also brought the heat.

The toughest conditions to play in this weekend no doubt occurred during the mid-afternoon Sunday match between the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika.

Highlanders skipper Ethan De Groot said things got hot under the roof.

“Yeah, it was hot, especially a midday game,” he said. “Bit of a greenhouse, but nah, awesome stadium.

“Almost as good as Forsyth Barr,” he chuckled.

Little reprieve was offered for the Chiefs and Drua kicking off at 4.30pm.

Players were visibly exhausted at the end of a frenetically paced match.

Two Drua players, who did not want to be named, said they struggled with the slippery ball and humidity, but they did not want this used as an excuse, particularly as they were scheduled to play indoors against Wales on Fiji’s tour to Europe in June.

Hurricanes midfielder Jordie Barrett played in the 5pm Saturday fixture and said the environment did make handling tricky.

“It’s got a different feel to Forsyth Barr, almost more like a European stadium, not as much airflow, quite humid and the ball gets a little more slippery.”

Kemu Valetini of Fijian Drua against the Chiefs at One New Zealand Stadium. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph commended his men for enduring the elements and grinding out the win over Moana 27-17.

“Just a real arm wrestle, a real sticky game,” he said. “I felt we created a lot of opportunities that we couldn’t actually finish off and kept the opposition in the game.

“Finding a way to win in a really difficult game like that is really important, so I’m fortunate to be on the right side of that. The players were being put under a lot of pressure right to the very end, so it was nice to get a win.”

A heart-in-the-mouth moment for Joseph was surely the premature celebration of winger Adam Lennox, which very nearly cost them a try.

The halfback-cum-winger raised an arm in the air, as he approached the line, but was caught from behind and managing to grass it with a desperate fight.

Joseph said he wouldn’t give Lennox a hard word.

“No, we’ve got to do more of that I reckon.”

Lennox had seized his opportunity in recent weeks, he said.

“When he gets a sniff, if he breaks a line, he’s gone. That’s a point of difference for him as a rugby player and something good for the team, but we’ve got some really good high-quality No.9s, so it’s a competitive position.”

Sunday’s win was crucial for their season, Joseph said.

“Coming off a couple of really tight losses against teams in the top half of the competition was hurting, because the boys played really well at times, enough to probably win those games, and fell short.

“Get a win under our belt, jump on the plane, get over to Fiji and have another crack.”

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

Wellinton Water reports ‘Minor discharge’ of wastewater into Lyall Bay

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Water said its team had responded to a wastewater overflow on Lyall Parade. RNZ / Krystal Gibbens

Wellington Water is addressing a minor discharge of wastewater into the sea at Wellington’s Lyall Bay on Sunday evening.

The water services provider said its team had responded to an overflow on Lyall Parade.

“This is the result of a blockage on the 150mm CIRC inlet main into the pump station,” a discharge notice said.

“There has been a minor discharge to the sea via the beach stormwater outlet. This will be managed by our operations team.”

Wellington Water expected the blockage to be cleared by 8.30pm Sunday.

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

Netball: Southern Steel best Northern Mystics behind Aliyah Dunn’s perfect shooting

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Aliyah Dunn shoots 47/47 in win over the Mystics in Auckland. Photosport

Southern Steel have notched up a solid win over Northern Mystics in their ANZ Premiership game in Auckland.

The Steel won 57-46, their second win from three games this season, but it was far from comfortable in the first half, as both teams traded goals for long periods.

The biggest margin before the break saw the Steel lead 8-5 midway through the first quarter, but the Mystics fought back to lock up the scores 26-all.

In the third quarter, the Steel took control, outscoring their rivals 16-10 and the was a similar story in the fourth quarter, with the Mystics unable to mount a comeback.

Steel shooter Aliyah Dunn was especially dominant, nailing 47 goals from her 47 attempts, as was the team effort, with the Steel enjoying a 56 percent possession advantage, while also conceding fewer turnovers and penalties.

The win moves the Steel to second on the ladder after the completion of the third round.

Champions Mainland Tactix lead with three wins from three.

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

Ōhura’s state of emergency lifts, but locals face long road to recovery

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Flooding at the old garage in Ōhura’s town centre. Supplied/ Ross Perry

Some Ōhura residents have “lost everything”, after floodwaters swept through the town a week ago, the district’s civil defence controller says.

Flooding cut off the remote King Country settlement, forcing some locals to escape in chest-high waters in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

A local state of emergency was lifted for the town this Sunday, but a week later, people were still out of their homes and dealing with “a lot of damage”, Ruapehu civil defence controller Clive Manley said.

About 50 homes were damaged by flooding, he said, and six were uninhabitable.

“Any individual homes affected is huge to that person, so when you’ve got water in that’s literally destroyed all your furniture, your whiteware, your belongings, it’s major for you.

“That was where the six are impacted… some have lost everything and are in alternate accommodation.”

Recovery efforts were now focused on getting residents back into the homes that were safe to live in. The council installed de-humidifiers to dry out sodden carpets and floors, and was pumping out septic tanks, Manley said.

An aerial view of Ōhura after the flooding. SUPPLIED

Extensive roading works were needed slips throughout the network.

The council was currently assessing the cost of the damage from the deluge and recovery required, said Manley, who was also Ruapehu District Council chief executive.

During the past week, residents have scraped sludge and silt from their homes, and others have searched for animals that disappeared in the floodwaters.

“[Some farms have] lost access through slips and fences damaged, and there was stock loss as well,” Manley said. “There has been loss and there has been hardship to them as well.”

A mayoral relief fund was set up with $50,000 of council funds and the government was asked to contribute to that fund.

Surface flooding outside the Ōhura Cosmopolitan Club. Supplied / Mike Crowley

The government has been approached for comment on whether it will contribute.

Manley appealed to the wider public for donations to help those whose clothes and whiteware were destroyed.

The community was resilient, but had been through an “absolutely horrifying” ordeal, he said.

“Just getting out and getting to a safe place was extremely harrowing for them, and we were very fortunate everyone was unharmed.

“There were cars lost and there were people trapped in cars on the night, but there was no-one that was injured, which was really great.”

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

View from The Hill: Taylor defends putting One Nation ahead of Farrer independent as ‘least worst option’

By -

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has defended preferencing One Nation ahead of high profile independent Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer May 9 byelection, declaring this was “the least worst option”.

In a close result preferences from the Liberals and Nationals could be vital in getting One Nation’s David Farley over the line, which would be the first time the party had won a House of Representatives seat.

Farley’s victory would be a major springboard for One Nation going into the November Victorian election.

The Coalition parties have insisted Milthorpe is a “teal” because she receives funding from Climate 200. She has repeatedly rejected the “teal” label.

The Liberals and Nationals, who are are preferencing each other, both have Milthorpe behind One Nation on their how-to-vote cards.

Taylor told the ABC on Sunday: “When we look at the other parties, the truth is that the teals have consistently in the parliament, the vast majority of the time, voted with the Greens.

“And in a place like Farrer, that’s going to be bad for the economy, it’s going to be bad for agriculture and agricultural communities and access to water, it’s going to be bad for fuel and energy security and abundance,” he said.

“If you vote teal, you get Green. And so […] beyond preferencing the National Party, [we] are picking the least worst option.

“The truth is that we don’t want to see teal policies for Farrer or for this country.”

Polling done for Milthorpe has shown Farley and her neck and neck on primary votes, with Farley ahead on a two-candidate basis. Neither the Liberal nor the Nationals candidate is considered to be competitive, with prepolling starting this week.

Liberal sources have previously argued the party’s base would be outraged if Milthorpe were preferenced ahead of One Nation, although the decision will be another strike against the party among many alienated former Liberal urban voters.

Nationals leader Matt Canavan told Sky News on Sunday the teals were “really tricky. They say and do anything to try and win,” he said.

Canavan claimed “million and millions” of dollars were coming into the Farrer campaign “from billionaires in Sydney with an inner city Sydney agenda, that they then try and hide”.

He said Nationals voters should put the “teal in independent clothing right down the bottom” of their ballot paper.

Canavan said that at a candidates forum in Deniliquin Milthorpe had said net zero was pretty unrealistic right now but “she was in a room full of farmers”. “She’s admitted she’s taking money from Climate 200 in Sydney, who obviously want to spread net zero across this country, want to shut down our energy sources.”

Milthorpe said last week:“The Coalition has done a deal with One Nation because they are worried One Nation will wipe them out.

“We will never know what One Nation offered the Liberal Party to strike this deal, but what we do know is this isn’t about Farrer. This is a decision made for the good of the Liberal Party, not for the good of our community.”

Both Canavan and Pauline Hanson spoke at an anti-immigration rally outside parliament house on Sunday. Hanson said victory for One Nation in Farrer would “win Barnaby [Joyce] a mate in the lower house to work with him”.

– ref. View from The Hill: Taylor defends putting One Nation ahead of Farrer independent as ‘least worst option’ – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-taylor-defends-putting-one-nation-ahead-of-farrer-independent-as-least-worst-option-281141

Super Rugby Pacific live: Chiefs v Fijian Drua

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chiefs halfback Cortez Ratima celebrates his try against the Drua. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Super Rugby Pacific’s ‘Super Round’ has ended with a scoring spree between the Chiefs and Fijian Drua, as the rivals put on a thriller under the roof at Christchurch’s Te Kaha.

Both sides played a high octane brand, with the Chiefs proving to strong in the chaos to run out 42-22 victors and take top spot on the ladder.

The Fijians kicked things off through Mesake Doge, before the Chiefs asserted their dominance through their rolling maul, with hooker Brodie McAlister rumbling over.

Centre Quinn Tupaea’s hot form continued, as he finished off a slick Chiefs backline move, slipping the final tackler to cross near the posts.

The Chiefs stretched their advantage through a moment of madness from the Drua fullback.

After cleaning up a kick ahead, Ilaisa Droasese opted to grubber for himself in his own ingoal and Chiefs prop Jarred Proffit simply dived on the loose ball to score, as all stood stunned.

They went bang-bang before the break, with wing Leroy Carter cutting through and linking with Cortez Ratima running the perfect halfback line.

The Chiefs kicked the scoring off in the second half with a simple blindside switch, as fist-five Damian McKenzie provided an easy draw and pass to send Dan Sinkinson over untouched.

With things opening up, replacement hooker Kavaia Tagivetaua busted the line, and showed a clean pair of heels to streak 30 and go in under the bar.

Tupea Cook Savage sparked and scored the final blow, closing out an emphatic Chiefs victory.

Follow all the action here:

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

Super Rugby Pacific: Moana Pacific looking for another miracle

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Miracle Faiʻilagi was a foundation member of Moana, and used his time there to elevate his game to become one of the country’s premier loose forwards. Supplied / Moana Pasifika

Moana need another miracle.

The side’s captain, inspirational leader, and encapsulation of what the franchise represents – Miracle Fai’ilagi, is walking proof of the possible pathway from the islands to Super Rugby.

However, the franchise will fold at the end of the current Super Rugby season barring a financial saviour, closing that path for many aspiring Pasifika players.

Fai’ilagi said it would be a devastating blow.

“The purpose of this team is to inspire Pacific players back home. There’s not much there in the islands, but having this opportunity, having this team in Super Rugby, is a huge step for boys and girls coming through.

“Opportunities like this are hard to get back home, so to come here, express themselves and earn a living is a dream for some of us. If that gets taken away, then that pathway for future players goes too.”

Faiʻilagi was a foundation member of Moana, and used his time there to elevate his game to become one of the country’s premier loose forwards.

Having lived the dream, knowing what this franchise can do for pacific players, Faiʻilagi was desperate to see it survive.

“It’s huge for me as one of the pioneers who came here. I had a job to do, not just for me but my family and players back home. It’s really special for me and for this team to continue.”

Despite the uncertainty, Faiʻilagi has taken it upon himself to keep morale high among Moana.

“For me it’s about doing my job as a leader within the group and staying tight while staying hopeful. One of our pillars is faith and believing anything can happen. There are a lot of positives out there and a lot of people willing to help us in our situation.”

The side has endured a cruel run of luck of late, from lightning strikes delaying games to a power cut at their home ground cutting the live broadcast.

“Things happen. You can’t control the weather, any of that. Those situations are another opportunity to keep the boys tight within the game, whether we’re up or down, and keep a positive mentality for not just 40 minutes but 80. It’s about focusing on what we can control within the team. That’s a big part of my job as captain.”

With Moana players likely to be available for other franchises in 2026, Faiʻilagi was coy on whether or not the sharks had come circling for him.

“Not focusing on that, just focusing on my job and the team. But as I talk about opportunities, there are opportunities out there and plenty of eyes looking. We’ll see what’s next for me and some of the boys here. It’s a good challenge.”

He said Moana are still playing with a point to prove.

“I think people already know the meaning and purpose of this team. We spoke about it before this situation came out. We’re Pasifika people, we can’t back down, we always find a way. We always go back to faith and trusting God. There are a lot of people outside the group trying to help us, so we stay positive and connected.”

However, despite what the future held, Faiʻilagi said the people of the Pacific were behind them.

“They are everywhere supporting us wherever we are.”

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

Super Rugby Pacific: Coach Tana Umaga laments Moana Pasifika anxiety

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Moana Pasifika halfback Jonathan Taumateine. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

The sharks are circling.

The carcass of Moana Pasifika is about to be picked clean by the other Super Rugby Pacific franchises and coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga is encouraging his players to secure their futures.

“These guys have got to start looking,” he said. “This is their livelihood.

“It’s not just the players you see, it’s the staff behind it too. A lot of people are affected by this.”

When the franchise folds at the end of the season, it’s collapse will leave 60 players and staff out of a job, but many would have already been on the wishlists of Kiwi sides.

“When you say you’re looking after your people, it’s all your people,” Umaga said. “If they’ve got opportunities and we can open up opportunities for them going forward, then that’s what these situations bring.

“Rugby’s got a short lifespan and, if you can get something, no-one will hold it against you, because who knows what’s going to happen.”

Umaga said the franchise’s unknown future had created fears within.

“It’s that uncertainty that brings on a lot of anxiety and there’s a lot of anxious kids within our group.

“We understand where we’re at. I’m so proud of the guys, our men, being able to park that in the carpark before they come in.

“We talk a lot around persevering and keeping faith, but also around controlling what we can control.

“Also understanding how grateful we are for the opportunity for some of these guys to keep showing their abilities, because everything is so uncertain… the guys that get their chance in the 23 get to showcase themselves for whatever might happen in the future.”

Umaga credited skipper Miracle Fai’ilagi for the way he had kept the troops bound.

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga has already found his next job with the All Blacks. Photosport

“He’s doing a great job, keeping them tight. We try to get them the right information, as soon as we can – we’re trying to keep open around that.”

Despite the turmoil, Moana Pasifika continue to front on the field, falling just short in a 27-17 thriller against the Highlanders.

“It just showed the pride and heart they have for the club, for themselves and for their families,” Umaga said. “We made enough opportunities for us to win that game and we just couldn’t nail it for ourselves, but we were right in it until the end.”

Little moments would hurt Moana Pasifika badly, from stray attacking lineout throws to offloads not quite finding the mark.

Fai’ilagi was first to put his hand up for the lack of execution.

“Speaking as leadership, I take ownership on some of the errors at the start,” he said. “Being a leader, that’s very unacceptable, but credit to my boys in there who stayed in the fight.

“They didn’t score any points until the 25th minute – that shows heart and confidence.”

Umaga said keeping his players focused on the season had been a difficult task.

“The most important thing for us is just looking after our people, making sure they’re okay. There’s probably a little bit more pressure on our guys when they go out there, because they’ve got a lot to prove and a lot going on behind the scenes.

“When they come in to work every day, we’ve got to make sure we’re checking in, but also understand we’re pretty fortunate to do the job we’ve currently got, so let’s just enjoy the moments while 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

Super Rugby Pacific:

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Moana Pasifika halfback Jonathan Taumateine. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

The sharks are circling.

The carcass of Moana Pasifika is about to be picked clean by the other Super Rugby Pacific franchises and coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga is encouraging his players to secure their futures.

“These guys have got to start looking,” he said. “This is their livelihood.

“It’s not just the players you see, it’s the staff behind it too. A lot of people are affected by this.”

When the franchise folds at the end of the season, it’s collapse will leave 60 players and staff out of a job, but many would have already been on the wishlists of Kiwi sides.

“When you say you’re looking after your people, it’s all your people,” Umaga said. “If they’ve got opportunities and we can open up opportunities for them going forward, then that’s what these situations bring.

“Rugby’s got a short lifespan and, if you can get something, no-one will hold it against you, because who knows what’s going to happen.”

Umaga said the franchise’s unknown future had created fears within.

“It’s that uncertainty that brings on a lot of anxiety and there’s a lot of anxious kids within our group.

“We understand where we’re at. I’m so proud of the guys, our men, being able to park that in the carpark before they come in.

“We talk a lot around persevering and keeping faith, but also around controlling what we can control.

“Also understanding how grateful we are for the opportunity for some of these guys to keep showing their abilities, because everything is so uncertain… the guys that get their chance in the 23 get to showcase themselves for whatever might happen in the future.”

Umaga credited skipper Miracle Fai’ilagi for the way he had kept the troops bound.

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga has already found his next job with the All Blacks. Photosport

“He’s doing a great job, keeping them tight. We try to get them the right information, as soon as we can – we’re trying to keep open around that.”

Despite the turmoil, Moana Pasifika continue to front on the field, falling just short in a 27-17 thriller against the Highlanders.

“It just showed the pride and heart they have for the club, for themselves and for their families,” Umaga said. “We made enough opportunities for us to win that game and we just couldn’t nail it for ourselves, but we were right in it until the end.”

Little moments would hurt Moana Pasifika badly, from stray attacking lineout throws to offloads not quite finding the mark.

Fai’ilagi was first to put his hand up for the lack of execution.

“Speaking as leadership, I take ownership on some of the errors at the start,” he said. “Being a leader, that’s very unacceptable, but credit to my boys in there who stayed in the fight.

“They didn’t score any points until the 25th minute – that shows heart and confidence.”

Umaga said keeping his players focused on the season had been a difficult task.

“The most important thing for us is just looking after our people, making sure they’re okay. There’s probably a little bit more pressure on our guys when they go out there, because they’ve got a lot to prove and a lot going on behind the scenes.

“When they come in to work every day, we’ve got to make sure we’re checking in, but also understand we’re pretty fortunate to do the job we’ve currently got, so let’s just enjoy the moments while 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

Super Rugby Pacific: ‘Bring Super Round to Dunedin’ – Highlanders

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Highlanders want to host next year’s Super Round at Forsyth Barr. Joe Allison

With Christchurch humming for Super Round, the Highlanders have declared themselves the perfect hosts for its next edition.

An indoor stadium, a proud rugby history, and a notoriously rowdy student population, the ingredients are all there.

Coach Jamie Joseph implored the powers at be to consider Dunedin.

“Don’t forget there’s 20,000 students that choose to live in Dunedin for four or five years. You may be one of them, I was. Dunedin’s an awesome place to host something like Super Round. We’ve got an indoor stadium that will lend itself quite well.”

Highlanders skipper Ethan de Groot said the city would step up for the occasion, just as Christchurch had done.

“We love our rugby down south and I feel like we don’t get enough of it, especially with test matches. The more rugby down south, the better.”

Teammate Timoci Tavatavanawai concurred.

“Same kind of ground, same kind of vibe. It’s a small city, but there’s a lot of people that always support. So yeah, I’ll take it down there if they want it.”

As the only side to have had a covered home ground prior to Te Kaha’s opening, the Highlanders feel they have the playbook for under roof rugby.

“We are used to playing under a roof, you know, but I think it gives an advantage for all the teams, really. The consistency of the conditions play no part, no wind, no sun in your eyes, it just sort of lends itself to a really good time,” Joseph said.

Their first match at Te Kaha comes against an embattled Moana Pasifika outfit, though Joseph is wary of a motivated Moana.

“They are playing to prove a point or trying to save their team or trying to find a job for next year. So we know we’re coming up against a very hungry Moana and just like us, we’re hungry to get a win after some of the close losses we’ve had.”

That defeat to the Blues last week was compounded by the loss of star winger Caleb Tangitau, who was knocked out after copping a shoulder to the head.

“Caleb is okay, he had a good run yesterday, a bit unfortunate because he has been a player that’s been consistently playing well for us this season.”

However, the Landers will be bolstered by the return of Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

“He’s beaten the doctor’s clock, so that’s always good. We find ourselves in a position where we’ve got to take each performance as it comes, and getting Jacob back is going to be crucial for our performance.”

De Groot said their pack is preparing for a bruising battle.

“They’ve got some big cattle in their squad and we have to get the technique right to go against those guys.”

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

Super Rugby Pacific: Highlanders heap more misery on Moana Pasifika

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Xavier Tito-Harris in action for the Highlanders against Moana Pasifika. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

The Highlanders have held off a spirited Moana Pasifika 27-17 in their first appearance at Christchurch’s Te Kaha Stadium.

Both sides opted to play enterprising rugby under the roof, producing some pulsating moments across a highly competitive 80 minutes.

It took 25 minutes for the first points, the Highlanders freeing up Jonah Lowe outside to waltz over for the opener.

Moana Pasifika struck back in style, a rampaging run from Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa taking them into the 22, before Willy Havili sent a towering cross over for Israel Leota to soar into the sky and score a stunner.

They would then take the lead as Glen Vaihu was put one on one with Cam Millar and skinned him to give Moana Pasifika a 10-7 halftime advantage.

Things were squared up shortly after the break through the boot of Millar before Angus Ta’avao rumbled over from close range.

Adam Lennox, moving from halfback to wing, showcased his gas as he latched onto a Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens grubber and skinned the cover.

Replacement Augustine Pulu gave Moana Pasifika a sniff after running a superb line and getting flipped into the in-goal.

However, more Moana Pasifika mistakes would hand it to the Highlanders, Millar knocking over the final points right on the siren.

See how things went down in RNZ’s liveblog below.

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

Liam Swiggs / RNZ

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

One seriously injured after alleged South Auckland assault

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police responded to a callout in Manurewa about 3pm Sunday. RNZ / REECE BAKER

One person is in a serious condition after an alleged assault with a weapon in South Auckland.

“Police were notified around 3.10pm of a person that had been dropped off to a premises on the corner of Great South Road and Weymouth Road, Manurewa with injuries, and is reported to have been assaulted with a weapon,” a police spokesperson said.

RNZ understands the premises was a fast food restaurant.

Police said the weapon involved was not a firearm and they were making inquiries to locate those involved.

St John said the person was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.

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

Person seriously injured after alleged South Auckland assault

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police responded to a callout in Manurewa about 3pm Sunday. RNZ / REECE BAKER

One person is in a serious condition after an alleged assault with a weapon in South Auckland.

“Police were notified around 3.10pm of a person that had been dropped off to a premises on the corner of Great South Road and Weymouth Road, Manurewa with injuries, and is reported to have been assaulted with a weapon,” a police spokesperson said.

RNZ understands the premises was a fast food restaurant.

Police said the weapon involved was not a firearm and they were making inquiries to locate those involved.

St John said the person was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.

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

Community group alarmed by Shotover River’s spike in E. coli, council opens investigation

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Shotover River near Queenstown. sellphoto1/123RF

A Queenstown community group is alarmed about a sharp spike in E. coli levels in the Shotover River, just downstream of the town’s troubled wastewater treatment plant.

The Otago Regional Council is investigating a high reading that the district council said was unrelated to the plant’s operation.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has been pumping treated effluent into the river for more than a year following issues with the plant’s disposal field on the Shotover Delta.

Last month, councillors agreed to seek a 35-year consent to keep pumping treated wastewater into the Kawarau River while a longer-term solution was found.

Monitoring data on the QLDC website showed E. coli levels reached 2100 cfu (colony forming units) at a site near the discharge point on 10 March, which was eight times above the council’s annual average consented limits and almost four times higher than safe swimming limits.

Right before the treated wastewater left the plant it returned a reading of 25 cfu, while levels upstream in the river ranged between one and 490 cfu throughout March.

In a statement, the district council said the spike could have been a compromised sample or isolated contamination, noting E. coli results varied because of wildlife and weather.

Queenstown Lakes Community Action member Nikki McFarlane said the data was strange and the spike was big.

She said the council should be more upfront.

A file photo of a jet boat on the Shotover River near Queenstown. Destination Queenstown

“We’d like to see QLDC much more proactive in giving explanations for when there’s high levels or of contaminants. I think it would go a long way to have public confidence if we actually did see an explanation, if there was a logical explanation,” she said.

Otago Regional Council confirmed it was investigating the 10 March reading.

“We can’t comment on the cause while an investigation is underway,” a spokesperson said.

As part of its own regular monthly sampling it had also taken samples over 17 different days in March, the spokesperson said.

McFarlane said government water quality guidelines showed water with E. coli levels above 550 cfu was unsafe for swimming, yet the QLDC did not put up any signs warning people to avoid the river.

QLDC told RNZ the location in question was not a common recreational bathing area and by the time the results were returned “whatever caused the elevated result was unlikely to be present”.

McFarlane said the council should still let people know.

“For us it’s their responsibility, even though they’re not managing the rivers per se, just making sure that the public understand when the river is safe and when it’s not,” she said.

“We’ve asked for that before, to put up signage, to put a message on the website so people know not to go swimming at that particular area. We haven’t had any positive response.”

QLDC’s website showed at least three other spikes in contaminant levels over the past year, which the council attributed to a disruption to the treatment plant’s control system, upgrades combined with cold weather and rainfall.

McFarlane said the community group was concerned about the possibility of untreated sewage ending up in the water.

Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant in Queenstown. Supplied / Queenstown Lakes District Council

Her group was preparing to take part in an Environment Court hearing challenging the retrospective consents that the council lodged after first discharging treated wastewater into the river.

“It’s not a case of if they have another operational problem at the plant, it’s when. And because we no longer have any barrier between the plant and the river, when they have another operational failure, then that is going to go straight into the river and that’s really concerning,” she said.

The district council said the plant was performing as expected, within consented limits and there was no additional action required or planned.

“Our primary interest is in the quality of the treated wastewater leaving the plant as this is the only aspect entirely within our control,” a spokesperson said.

Last month, the council’s decision to lodge a 35-year consent application came despite Ngāi Tahu stating that the direct discharge of human waste to natural water was “abhorrent” and contrary to tikanga.

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

Super Rugby Pacific live: Waikato Chiefs v Fijian Drua

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the Super Rugby Pacific action as the Waikato Chiefs take on the Fijian Drua at Te Kaha One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.

The Chiefs, a week on from their extra-time victory over the Canes, take on the Drua, who stunned the Brums in Canberra last weekend.

Isaac Hutchinson will make his first start at fullback, while flanker Michael Loft, who played one game for the Highlanders last year, is also poised to make his debut from the bench.

Kick-off is 4.30pm.

Chiefs: 1. Jared Profitt, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa’i (c), 6. Simon Parker, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Daniel Sinkinson, 12. Quinn Tupaea (vc), 13. Kyle Brown, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Isaac Hutchinson (debut).

Reserves: 16. Tyrone Thompson, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Benét Kumeroa, 19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Michael Loft*, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23. Lalakai Foketi.

Drua: 1. Haereiti Hetet, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Mesake Doge, 4. Message Vocevoce, 5. Temo Mayanavanua (cc), 6. Etonia Waqa, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Isoa Tuwai, 9. Frank Lomani (cc), 10. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11. Manasa Mataele, 12. Virimi Vakatawa, 13. Maika Tuitubou (debut), 14. Taniela Rakuro, 15. Ilaisa Droasese.

Reserves: 16. Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17. Emosi Tuqiri, 18. Peni Ravai, 19. Isoa Nasilasila, 20. Elia Canakaivata, 21. Simione Kuruvoli, 22. Kemu Valetini, 23. Inia Tabuavou.

Liam Swiggs / RNZ

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

Super Rugby Pacific: Highlanders heap more misery on Moana

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Liam Swiggs / RNZ

The Highlanders have held off a spirited Moana Pasifika 27-17 in their first appearance at Te Kaha Stadium.

Both sides opted to play enterprising rugby under the roof, producing some pulsating moments across a highly competitive 80 minutes.

It took 25 minutes for the first points, the Highlanders freeing up Jonah Lowe outside to waltz over for the opener.

Moana struck back in style, a rampaging run from Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa taking them into the 22, before Willy Havii sent a towering cross over for Israel Leota to soar into the sky and score a stunner.

They would then take the lead as Glen Vaihu was put one on one with Cam Millar and skinned him to give Moana a 10-7 halftime advantage.

Things were squared up shortly after the break through the boot of Millar before Angus Taʻavao rumbled over from close range.

Adam Lennox, moving from halfback to wing, showcased his gas as he latched onto a Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens grubber and skinned the cover.

Replacement Augustine Pulu gave Moana a sniff after running a superb line and getting flipped into the in-goal.

However, more Moana mistakes would hand it to the Highlanders, Millar knocking over the final points right on the siren.

See how things went down in RNZ’s liveblog below.

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

Liam Swiggs / RNZ

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

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 26, 2026

By -

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 26, 2026.

Israel’s diabolical killing machine and how it targets journalists
As World Press Freedom Day rapidly approaches and Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Israeli government for its massacre of journalists in Lebanon and Palestine, New Zealand journalist David Robie reflects in a speech at Te Komititanga Square today. MEDIA FREEDOM: By David Robie In a week’s time next Sunday, it is World Press Freedom

PSNA calls on McKee to condemn Israel’s bulldozing of NZ war graves in Gaza
Asia Pacific Report The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) has appealed to ACT MP Nicole McKee to condemn Israel’s deliberate bulldozing of New Zealand war graves in the besieged Palestinian Gaza enclave. PSNA co-chair John Minto has asked for the MP to take this action after McKee had posted on Facebook yesterday a message of strong

Super Rugby Pacific live: Otago Highlanders v Moana Pasifika

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the Super Rugby Pacific action as the Otago Highlanders take on Moana Pasifika at Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch.

Former All Blacks Julian Savea and Ngani Laumape remain sidelined for Moana.

After his electric cameo in Auckland, Highlanders fullback Finn Hurley has been ruled out, with Ethan Blackadder and Will Jordan still unavailable for the Crusaders, with Caleb Clarke missing for the Blues.

Kick-off is 2pm.

Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot (cc), 2. Soane Vikena, 3.Saula Ma’u, 4. Mitch Dunshea, 5. Tomás Lavanini, 6. Oliver Haig, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Nikora Broughton, 9. Adam Lennox, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Xavier Tito-Harris, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 13. Tanielu Tele’a, 14. Jonah Lowe, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Reserves: 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Te Kamaka Howden, 20. Hugh Renton, 21. Lucas Casey, 22. Folau Fakatava, 23. Taine Robinson.

Moana Pasifika: 1. Abraham Pole, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Chris Apoua, 4. Allan Craig, 5. Jimmy Tupou, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c), 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Glen Vaihu, 12. Tevita Latu, 13. Solomon Alaimalo, 14. Tuna Tuitama, 15. William Havili.

Reserves: 16. Mamoru Harada, 17. Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18. Paula Latu, 19. Tom Savage, 20. Ola Tauelangi, 21. Augustine Pulu, 22. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 23. Israel Leota.

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

Liam Swiggs / RNZ

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

Israel’s diabolical killing machine and how it targets journalists

By -

As World Press Freedom Day rapidly approaches and Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Israeli government for its massacre of journalists in Lebanon and Palestine, New Zealand journalist David Robie reflects in a speech at Te Komititanga Square today.

MEDIA FREEDOM: By David Robie

In a week’s time next Sunday, it is World Press Freedom Day on May 3. And already our whānau of journalists who are facing horrendous danger at the hands of the Israeli killing machine have had a shocking few days.

During our 133 weeks of protest we have become painfully accustomed to how one journalist after another has been brutally assassinated, some even alongside their family members.

Far more than 260 journalists — the actual number varies with different media freedom monitoring agencies and different methodologies — have been slaughtered in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023.

And some of you may have seen the chilling photograph circulating on some social media channels. It shows 8 Lebanese journalists – four men and four women – smiling and giving peace signs.

They have all been murdered in the last month, including the tragic killing of Amal Khalil, who died last Wednesday under building rubble in the town of al-Tayri, southern Lebanon, after a double tap attack and then the Israelis fired a stun grenade on the ambulance rescue workers preventing them trying to save her.

But before I talk more about her tragedy and what it means– she was just buried yesterday with thousands at her funeral — I want to show you another photo.

This is Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American journalist working for the Arabic channel Al Jazeera who was a highly popular household name right across the Middle East if not the world.

PSNA protest organiser Leeann Wahanui-Peters holds aloft the photo of assassinated Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh referred to in this article. Image: Del Abcede/APR

She was known as the “daughter of Palestine” and she was shot and killed by Israeli occupation forces on 11 May 2022 — just eight days after Media Freedom Day that year.

I have this photo hanging on the wall of my office, thanks to Palestine Youth of Aotearoa, to remind me daily of the brutality and global impunity of the Israelis.

With my experience as a media freedom defender for Pacific Media Watch and Reporters Without Borders since 1996, I have come to a chilling and shameful conclusion:

The fact that there was no accountability for her murder and the US authorities and Biden administration orchestrated a cover-up – even though she was American — signalled to the Netanyahu government that they could target journalists and those bearing witness with absolute impunity.

So this is where we are at now, the Israeli killing machine launched into a bloody massacre of more than 72,000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza over the past two plus years, especially targeting journalists, doctors and medical workers, teachers, and aid workers.

And the hypocritical Western countries, including Aotearoa New Zealand, have barely offered a timid bleat.

The Israeli bloodlust has now spread to Lebanon and other countries. The IDF claims that its military is the “most moral in the world”. That claim is an obscenity.

According to the New York-based Committee to Protect journalists (CPJ), Israel is by far the world’s biggest killer of media workers.

On its monitoring website it lists the following:

• 260 journalists and media workers killed by Israel, of which:
• 207 were Palestinians killed in Gaza
• 2 Palestinian killed in Gaza during the Iran war
• 2 Palestinians killed in Israeli detention centers
• 31 Yemenis – out of a total of 32 – killed in Yemen
• 6 Lebanese in Lebanon during the war on Gaza
• 9 Lebanese in Lebanon during the Iran war
• 3 Iranians in Iran during the 12-day war

To return to the targeted murder of Amal Khalil, who worked for Al-Akhbar, she was with another journalist, Zeinab Faraj, who was rescued and survived.

The Paris-based media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders said in a statement by its Middle East desk chief Jonathan Dagher:

“The Israeli army has very likely committed two more war crimes on 22 April, by targeting journalists who were identified as such, obstructing rescue operations and continuing strikes that killed one journalist and injured another.

“Responsibility for these crimes also lies with Israel’s allies, who continue to allow the Netanyahu government to commit them with impunity.”

RSF published a compelling and disturbing timeline of how the IDF blocked her would-be rescuers for seven hours.

CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa regional director Sara Qudah said:

“We knew [Amal] was alive beneath the rubble – a real, breathing presence. Not in the abstract, not as rumour or hope.

“The 40-year-old female journalist, Amal Khalil, whose voice had just reached her family and colleagues, her survival depended on whether the machinery of rescue would be allowed to operate as it is supposed to under international law, and the law of humanity.

“That is what made what followed so difficult to process — not only emotionally, but structurally.

“Because this was not a case of disappearance in the fog of war.

“It was a case of proximity to survival that collapsed into confirmed death while rescue was still theoretically possible.”

Journalist and author David Robie speaking at the PSNA rally for Palestine at Auckland’s Te Komititanga Square today. Image: Del Abcede/APR

Qudah added that her death could not be understood only as an individual tragedy, “although it was that to everyone who knew her, every journalist in the region”.

“It must also be understood as a stress test of the systems that are supposed to prevent this outcome — early warning, protection, humanitarian access and accountability. On each of these dimensions, the case raises unresolved questions.”

Israel is not only killing journalists, it is systematically torturing them — along with hundreds of other Palestinian hostages. CPJ’s recent report, “We returned from hell”, where the watchdog published the in-depth testimonies of 59 media prisoners released from jail since October 2023 is shocking reading.

Comment on an X post by a former Al Jazeera executive editor, Barry Malone. Image: APR

I would like to finish with a quote by Australian journalist Antony Loewenstein, who visited New Zealand in 2023 to launch his  book The Palestine Laboratory about how the Israeli killing machine exports in brutal technologies — a book that has been translated into many languages and had a profound influence in the world.

“With some notable exceptions, too many in the international media, journalists, editors and owners, have refused to take appropriate action against Israel. No official sanction.

“[They are] still interviewing Israeli spokespeople and politicians as normal. Not treating this as a monumental crime and outrage. Instead, often deferring to unproven Israeli claims that every journalist murdered was a ‘terrorist’.”

This complicity by many journalists — even in our own region — must be widely condemned.

Dr David Robie is convenor of Pacific Media Watch and a media defender with global groups including RSF. He gave this short address at the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) rally in Auckland on Anzac Day.

Some of the protesters at the Te Komititanga rally today. Image: Asia Pacific Report

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Highlanders-‘Bring Super Round to Dunedin’

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Highlanders want to host next year’s Super Round at Forsyth Barr. Joe Allison

With Christchurch humming for Super Round, the Highlanders have declared themselves the perfect hosts for its next edition.

An indoor stadium, a proud rugby history, and a notoriously rowdy student population, the ingredients are all there.

Coach Jamie Joseph implored the powers at be to consider Dunedin.

“Don’t forget there’s 20,000 students that choose to live in Dunedin for four or five years. You may be one of them, I was. Dunedin’s an awesome place to host something like Super Round. We’ve got an indoor stadium that will lend itself quite well.”

Highlanders skipper Ethan de Groot said the city would step up for the occasion, just as Christchurch had done.

“We love our rugby down south and I feel like we don’t get enough of it, especially with test matches. The more rugby down south, the better.”

Teammate Timoci Tavatavanawai concurred.

“Same kind of ground, same kind of vibe. It’s a small city, but there’s a lot of people that always support. So yeah, I’ll take it down there if they want it.”

As the only side to have had a covered home ground prior to Te Kaha’s opening, the Highlanders feel they have the playbook for under roof rugby.

“We are used to playing under a roof, you know, but I think it gives an advantage for all the teams, really. The consistency of the conditions play no part, no wind, no sun in your eyes, it just sort of lends itself to a really good time,” Joseph said.

Their first match at Te Kaha comes against an embattled Moana Pasifika outfit, though Joseph is wary of a motivated Moana.

“They are playing to prove a point or trying to save their team or trying to find a job for next year. So we know we’re coming up against a very hungry Moana and just like us, we’re hungry to get a win after some of the close losses we’ve had.”

That defeat to the Blues last week was compounded by the loss of star winger Caleb Tangitau, who was knocked out after copping a shoulder to the head.

“Caleb is okay, he had a good run yesterday, a bit unfortunate because he has been a player that’s been consistently playing well for us this season.”

However, the Landers will be bolstered by the return of Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

“He’s beaten the doctor’s clock, so that’s always good. We find ourselves in a position where we’ve got to take each performance as it comes, and getting Jacob back is going to be crucial for our performance.”

De Groot said their pack is preparing for a bruising battle.

“They’ve got some big cattle in their squad and we have to get the technique right to go against those guys.”

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

NRL: What we learnt from NZ Warriors’ Anzac Day win over Dolphins

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Warriors stand to attention during the national anthem. Photosport

Analysis – Anzac Day brought out the fighting qualities of the NZ Warriors, as they hung tough and finally wore down the Dolphins 20-18 at Wellington’s Hnry Stadium.

During the week, coach Andrew Webster was at pains to not compare a game of rugby league with the adversity faced by the combined Kiwi and Aussie soldiers at Gallipoli, but he was nevertheless proud of the qualities shown by his men on the sporting field.

“I’m Australian and that NZ national anthem was unbelievable, with everyone singing,” he admitted. “I had goosebumps… looking at the big screen at our players, how emotional they were and proud they were singing the anthem.

“Great day for rugby league and really good for the whole country of New Zealand. I reckon these boys should be proud that they didn’t send them home unhappy, they sent them home with a victory.

“We didn’t play our best football tonight, but I felt like they were digging their heels in and saying, ‘We’re not losing tonight’. I was proud of that.”

Best player

One of the most contentious positional battles within the Warriors squad has seen Taine Tuaupiki challenge Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for the fullback spot.

Concussion and a niggly neck injury have sidelined the incumbent for three games now, while he spent two others at centre to accommodate the inclusion of his understudy.

Performances like this will ultimately tip the scales Tuaupiki’s way long term.

Webster obviously loves the X factor he brings and, possibly for the first time this season, that ability was on full display, as he popped up all over the park, testing the defence with his speed and footwork.

Taine Tuaupiki broke eight tackles and scored the gamewinning try. Photosport

Tuaupiki ran 23 times for 236 metres, breaking eight tackles and scoring the gamewinning try in the 62nd minute.

Dally M-leading front-rower Jackson Ford was again immense, playing the full 80, tackling himself into the ground (58) and running more than 200 metres.

Skipper James Fisher-Harris and lock Erin Clark were also colossal up the middle, the latter with one incredible run up the centre of the defence, while wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira now has back-to-back try doubles for his new club.

Halasima nightmare

Spare a thought for young star Leka Halasima, who has been a walking human highlight reel during his short career – but seemingly couldn’t put a foot right on this particular night.

Two high tackles had him on report early.

His obstruction on a defender saw a try to wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scrubbed, then he spilt a difficult pass in midfield that ultimately resulted in Jamayne Isaako’s first try at the other end.

Just before halftime, he seemed to have redeemed himself, chasing Tanah Boyd’s high kick to the tryline, soaring, catching and scoring, but replays showed he lost the ball in the process.

Plenty of work-ons from this performance.

Key moment

Let’s call this the 40 key moments between Isaako’s second try for the Dolphins, taking their lead to 18-6, and Tuaupiki’s gamewinning try midway through the second half.

In fact, all the Dolphins’ scoring came in an 11-minute window during the first half. Apart from that, the home side pretty much dominated, especially on defence.

Even during that scoring burst, the Warriors had Watene-Zelezniak’s try disallowed and then Halasima’s just before halftime.

They completed 91 percent (22/24) of their sets in the first half and finished with 85 percent (40/47) for the game, right on their league-leading rate.

Even though they weren’t scoring, they were piling pressure on the opposition and, as long as they stayed patient, that had to toll eventually.

Dolphins front-rower Francis Molo is overpowered by three Warriors tacklers. Photosport

“We missed the jump, but after 25 minutes, our defence started to get better,” Webster reflected. “Guys were trying to make a difference in the first 20 minutes, but we weren’t together when we were defending and they [the Dolphins] were getting ruck speed as a result.

“We really flicked the switch with our defence. We really put them under pressure and came up with some big plays.

“They didn’t score a point in the second half, we kept them scoreless for a long time… super proud.”

Best try

The Warriors finally had their chance, when Dolphins wing Selwyn Cobbo couldn’t secure Boyd’s kick to the right corner, gifting them possession 10 metres out.

From dummy half, hooker Wayde Egan went right to Tuaupiki, who dummied to centre Ali Leiataua, before stepping inside two tacklers to level the scores.

While the Warriors don’t win without that try, they also needed Boyd to convert from the sideline to provide the winning margin. The halfback had another solid game, with Luke Metcalf reportedly available for selection again next week.

Injuries etc

If this is Mitch Barnett’s final season with the Warriors, it certainly isn’t much of a farewell tour.

The skipper will leave his contract early to join Brisbane Broncos next season, but hasn’t been able to stay on the field consistently during this campaign and won’t be available again next week.

Barnett missed the opening two games with the season-ending knee injury suffered last June, then played two games, before breaking his thumb and missing two weeks.

Against the Dolphins, he clashed heads with five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita and wobbled off the field to fail his concussion test, ruling him out of the next fixture.

He won’t be alone. Leiataua also clashed heads with Dolphins front-rower Thomas Flegler, as he was taken without the ball during the gamewinning try movement, and also failed his check.

“Mitch can’t get any momentum at the moment,” Webster said. “He’s had a long layoff and he gets back and something happens… he’s probably more frustrated than anything.

“Ali’s been playing really good football the last two weeks, so to go off like that, he’s frustrated as well.”

Mitch Barnett leaves the field for a concussion test against Dolphins. Photosport

That’s a tough break for Leiataua, who seemed to have taken advantage of Adam Pompey’s suspension to cement his place in the midfield. Pompey scored a try in NSW Cup on Saturday, so should now simply step back into first grade next week.

The Warriors lost second-rower Marata Niukore from the original gameday squad, with no indication what his problem was, while Watene-Zelezniak (hipdrop) and Halasima (high tackle) were both placed on report.

With Nicoll-Klokstad, Metcalf and Te Maire Martin all apparently available next week, the backline could look very different in seven days.

The absences of Barnett and possibly Niukore will be compounded by that of Tanner Stowers-Smith, who isn’t expected back until round 11 from a hamstring strain. The interchange may look a bit different too.

What the result means

The Warriors regained their tentative grip on second on the competition table, behind Penrith Panthers, but ahead of Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters, all on points differential.

That points advantage is coming down though and, with a bye looming, they can’t rely on it to carry them much longer.

Penrith will face Newcastle Knights on Sunday afternoon and a win would put them clear at the top. It would also put the Warriors four points clear of ninth on the table, which means they would have to lose twice to drop out of the playoff group.

Still, it’s early.

What’s next

Next Saturday, the potentially depleted Warriors will travel to Sydney to face Parramatta Eels.

It’s anyone’s guess which version of the Eels will turn up.

This season, they have conceded 50 points to Melbourne Storm and Gold Coast Titans, and another 48 to the Panthers. They have also lost to Wests Tigers, but beaten the champion Brisbane Broncos and Canterbury Bulldogs.

They have the worst defence in the league and logic suggests they shouldn’t be a threat, but if they beat Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon, we may have to revise that.

Definitely a chance for the Warriors to boost that flagging points differential.

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

NZ bottom of world’s savings rate – or is it?

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

A graphic circulating online from Visual Capitalist shows New Zealand ranked last in a comparison of countries’ net household savings rate. Unsplash/ Li Rezaei

New Zealand is bottom of the world when it comes to how much we’re saving.

Or is it?

A graphic has been circulating online from Visual Capitalist, based on OECD data collected in recent years, showing how countries compare for their net household savings rate.

Sweden tops the table, with a savings rate of 16 percent.

Hungary is next at 14.3 percent and Czechia third with 13.7 percent.

New Zealand is at the bottom, with a rate of -1.3 percent. South Africa is second worse at -1 percent and Latvia is third with a rate of zero.

Australia is middle of the table, at about 6 percent.

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold. Supplied / LinkedIn

But Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said it was potentially not an accurate comparison.

New Zealand’s data was taken from 2023, the worst for saving levels in recent years.

He said it was just as the interest rate tightening cycle was really starting to hit and households were potentially drawing money out of savings to help.

Westpac data showed the savings rate had improved markedly from that low.

But Gareth Kiernan, chief forecaster at Infometrics, said it was acknowledged that New Zealand had a low savings rate by international standards.

“There has been a long-term historical issue with us that our savings has been poor.

“In fact, a lot of time through the 90s and 2000s in particularly, it was in negative territory which means we were spending more than we were earning.

“It’s improved a bit since given the establishment of KiwiSaver, so there is more financial savings going on.”

He said New Zealanders tended to do a lot of “saving” in the property market on the expectation that house pries would go up.

RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

“That’s not captured by the numbers here. If you’re getting wealthier through that asset appreciate in value, that’s been all well and good at times over the last three decades given what house prices have done.

“But if they’re not going to appreciate going forward and you always need someone else to sell them to, that’s not a great position to be in.”

He said house prices relative to incomes were still pretty high and affordability was poor. “It’s not a particularly sustainable position. You’re still left from New Zealand’s point of view in being in a structurally not a great position.”

He said policy settings such as those around superannuaation would help to drive savings in some countries.

“In other cases there might be a bias from households to save via financial assets, shares and other investments, not via housing.”

Lifting the KiwiSaver contribution rates over time would help. “If that did change and if people’s attitudes around property, whether it [is] because of where the price is because of the experience of prices dropping 15 percent, if it’s not a sure way to accumulate wealth, you might see gradual improvement over time but it’s very much a medium-term thing.”

He said New Zealanders also had an expectation that the government would look after them in retirement to a degree. “Although there’s more warnings coming about how unsustainable that position is. But if the government is doing the saving for you, why you would bother? That’s over-simplifying it but it does have an impact on people’s behaviour.”

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

Local state of emergency lifts for Ōhura

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Flooded farmland in Ōhura, on 19 April, 2026. Supplied/ Ross Perry

The local state of emergency for Ōhura in the Ruapehu District has been lifted.

Flooding cut off the remote King Country settlement last Sunday.

About 50 homes were damaged, with six receiving serious damage.

Ruapehu civil defence controller Clive Manley said the focus was now on helping residents clean up and get back on their feet.

He said the impact of the flooding on the community was significant and the recovery would take time.

Welfare support is available for the community, and people are being encouraged to come forward and discuss their needs, Manley said.

Mayor Weston Kirton previously told RNZ between 100 and 150 people had been affected by the flooding when it occurred, forcing a number of residents to shelter at the Ōhura Memorial Hall.

Swathes of farmland were inundated by the deluge which hit the settlement in the early hours of Sunday morning, homes and the main town centre was also flooded.

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

Bryony Botha and Pru Fowler combine for World Cup madison silver

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bryony Botha and Pru Fowler contest the women’s Madison at the track cycling World Cup in Malaysia. SWPix

Bryony Botha and Prue Folwer returned to the podium for New Zealand at the track cycling World Cup in Malaysia after clinching silver in the women’s madison.

The result came 24 hours after the pair were part of the gold medal-winning women’s team pursuit.

New Zealand’s most experienced track cyclist Botha forged a strong combination with the inexperienced Fowler in the two-rider madison event over 30km, where teams score points from sprints every 10 laps of the 120-lap journey.

They were beaten out of gold by the Netherlands, who scored points on 10 of 12 sprints and tallied 66 points to New Zealand’s 54.

It has proven to be a remarkable meet for 23-year-old Fowler, who became ill following last week’s World Cup team pursuit win in Hong Kong.

With no reserve, the team changed tactics for the team pursuit in Malaysia, with Fowler in the unaccustomed role of starter and then pulling out after four laps with the remaining three riders completing a brilliant win in the final.

“Hong Kong was exciting and a big step up for me in the team pursuit,” Fowler said.

“But I came down with something and spent two days in bed.

“I gave what I could in the TP (Team Pursuit) and the girls finished it off nicely.

“I wasn’t sure how I would pull up in the madison today but the legs felt good, the lungs pulled through and set it up really nicely. We had to read the race at the end and came through for the podium, which was so pleasing.”

Earlier Keegan Hornblow finished fifth in the four-event omnium, placing third in the Scratch race, seventh in the Tempo and Elimination races and sixth in the final Points race.

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

Climate Change Commission warns NZ ETS could fail without reform

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

The Climate Change Commission said the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is on track to fail without reform.

In its annual advice to the government, the commission warned that the scheme faces huge future volatility and would fail without reform by the 2030s.

The ETS is a market in which the government sets a price for greenhouse gas that polluters must pay to emit. The price of units rises over time, incentivising firms to emit less.

The commission has advised the government this year to keep auction unit pricing and volumes the same to prevent price instability.

However, chief executive Jo Hendy said a unit shortfall as early as 2028 could see price spikes and significant economic harm.

She said that could result in factory closures to reduce emissions, rather than investment in decarbonisation.

The government could get ahead of the shortfall by publicly consulting on options to address it, she said.

Forest and Bird fears the scheme will soon be unfit for purpose.

Climate spokesperson Scott Burnett said the market had lost confidence in it, due to recent volatility in prices and recent government policy announcements, such as rolling back action on agricultural emissions.

He said it urgently needed reform and stability to allow businesses to make good investment decisions on decarbonisation.

The Climate Change Commission had been sounding the alarm on the fragile state of the ETS for years, he said.

Climate minister Simon Watts told RNZ in a statement that the government welcomed the commission’s advice, and it would carefully consider that before developing proposals for the ETS auction and unit settings.

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

Looking to history to protect marae from climate change

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dr Akuhata Bailey-Winiata. Supplied/The University of Waikato

New research is looking to examples from the past to inform how marae might relocate and rebuild in the face of sea level rise and other natural hazards brought on by climate change.

University of Waikato PhD graduate Dr Akuhata Bailey-Winiata (Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Tutetawha) told RNZ many existing adaptation options, processes and frameworks don’t consistently account for the cultural significance of marae.

Drawing on the whakataukī “Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past,” he looked back through history for examples of marae or communities being relocated.

“So we found 51 examples of where hapū and iwi had either discussed relocation or had actually done relocation of the communities, marae structures in response to natural hazards. But I want to preface is that 51 examples just came from the written record and I know that that is just the tip of the iceberg. There’ll be so many more examples through pūrākau, oral histories.”

History clearly shows that for Māori communities adapting to natural hazards isn’t a new thing, he said.

“We know this, but sometimes we kind of forget that we have adaptation in our whakapapa. So I guess bringing it to the forefront was like, okay, yep, we’ve done this before, we can do it again if it’s the right choice for us.”

One of the examples highlighted a personal connection in Bailey-Winiata’s whakapapa, the relocation of Tūhourangi iwi following the 1886 Tarawera eruption.

“Tūhourangi is one of my iwi I whakapapa too and I got to interview some of my kaumātua, some of my whānau, just to understand, you know, what did that process look like? What were the enablers of their specific process? Some enablers were land gifting, perspectives of land and infrastructure… and autonomy in decision making. So really the decision making power was with that hapū level. And again, that’s just one example there’ll be many more.”

Hinemihi meeting house at Te Wairoa, after the Mt Tarawera eruption. Buried Village Museum of Te Wairoa

The PhD research also involved working with hapū groups on adaptation planning. Bailey-Winiata worked with the Maketu Iwi Collective to develop their climate change strategy and with Tauranga hapū Ngāi Tamawhariua, with both groups sharing insight on how the went about adaptation planning.

Inisghts from wānanga with Māori who are currently assessing climate risks to marae informed the creation of framework to decision-making for marae facing sea level rise and other climate risks.

The first part of the framework is based on partnership and uses a waka hourua (double-hulled waka) model to illustrate the concept. Bailey-Winiata explains that each hull of the waka represents tangata tiriti and tangata whenua, it has two sails: one for Western knowledge and one for Mātauranga Māori.

But the waka is heading one direction, reflecting how climate change affects everyone, he said.

The waka hourua model is now in use by the recently launched Aotearoa Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) and Bailey-Winiata is part of a project that has received funding from Earth Sciences New Zealand to further develop the concept.

Seeing ASAP take a piece of his mahi and roll with it has been a privilege to see, he said.

Major protects to relocate marae are underway across Tairāwhiti after flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle, including two marae in Te Karaka inland of Gisborne, three marae in Ūawa Tolaga Bay, and two more north of Napier in Hawkes Bay.

Bailey-Winiata said these rebuild projects will offer some insight into the intricacies of contemporary relocation.

“The marae that are having to undergo it currently, I think there’s a great opportunity there to explore, you know, what did their process look like? What were the considerations that they were thinking about when they were making the decision to move? And what were the intricacies behind that? Because I think that’s going to shed a huge light and provide examples of how others can go about it.”

Bailey-Winiata was awarded his PhD at Waikato University’s Tauranga campus earlier this month, he also received the University’s 2026 Koko Kairangi Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis, in recognition of the impact of his research.

It’s been a humbling experience to receive the award and a good chance to go back and reflect a bit on the whole journey, he said

“I think this is common for many PhD students at the end, I think they’re a little bit traumatised by the whole thing, so they don’t want to think about it. But now being able to reflect it’s quite cool.”

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

New invention sees newborn babies stay asleep during hearing checks

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

Baby Lihona sleeps while she has her hearing checked. Supplied

Technicians at Christchurch Hospital have come up with a simple invention to keep newborn babies asleep during hearing checks.

The first six months of a baby’s life are considered a critical window for language and speech development, and the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme offers hearing checks to all newborns in New Zealand.

Electrodes are placed on the baby’s head with a conductive gel to assess the brain stem and hearing nerve response.

But there’s a catch – the baby needs to be asleep, or at least very settled, throughout the test.

And as it turned out, rubbing cold gel onto a baby’s head was an effective way to wake one up.

Screening programme co-ordinator Angela Deken explained: “Rubbing cold gel onto a baby’s head would often give them a fright and that’s the last thing we want.”

An unsettled baby would need to come back another time to get the test – not to mention the frustration it caused parents of newborns they had just managed to get to sleep.

The Medical Physics and Bioengineering team were contacted, and the solution was surprisingly simple – a custom gel warmer.

The team behind the Cosyplate Gel Warmer (from left) Angela Deken, Newborn Hearing Screening Programme Co-ordinator, Pam Spark, Hearing Screener, Stefan James, Electronics Technician and Johann Bader, Mechanical Technician Cosyplate. Supplied

With no portable, battery-powered commercial option on the market, they made one.

“We looked at what radiology uses, but they were thousands of dollars,” Deken said.

“And then two of the engineers said, ‘Well, I’m sure we can make something’.”

Development took about two years, but eventually the Cosyplate Gel Warmer was the official solution, and Deken said it was now being rolled out across the whole district.

Electronics technician at Christchurch Hospital Stefan James led its development. He explained it used a small, battery-powered heating element coupled to a stainless-steel plate, warming it to a safe and consistent temperature of 37 degrees.

“The surface temperature is continuously monitored, and screeners can read the current temperature via a small display on the device,” he said.

The Cosyplate Gel Warmer was designed and made in-house to meet a clinical need. Supplied

One important design consideration was that the gel should not be warmed above 30 degrees for prolonged periods, to prevent separation that could reduce the effectiveness of the electrode.

The control board and graphic overlay were designed by James, while the enclosure and labelling were crafted by mechanical technician Johann Bader.

Angela Deken said the results had been immediate.

“We have noticed that babies are far less likely to wake when we apply the gel now,” she said.

“Parents have also told us they much prefer the idea of warm gel being used, particularly with winter approaching.”

The team hoped other hospitals would be interested in picking up the device and Deken said she had already had an inquiry from another district keen to get their hands on it.

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

He taonga tuku iho: Remembering 28th Māori Battalion soldier Robert McLean

By -

Source: Radio New Zealand

This story is part of a series sharing the voices of whānau of the 28th Māori Battalion, keeping their memories alive.

Before any kōrero begins, Piripi McLean opens with karakia.

It is a practice passed down from his late father, Rāpata Pōtahi Makarini Tītore – also known as Robert McLean – a soldier of the 28th Māori Battalion.

McLean was born in 1919 in the Hokianga. He was the second eldest in a large whānau, where service during World War II would come to define a generation.

  • Daughter dedicates decades to preserving the legacy of the 28th Māori Battalion
  • Whānau carry legacy of Māori Battalion soldier George Manapiri Pitman

    • His older brother enlisted first. Then he followed. One of his younger brothers, Ben McLean, also served and later became one of only two Māori soldiers held as prisoners of war at Colditz Castle.

    Despite his own mother’s wishes, McLean enlisted.

    “He ran away,” Piripi said. “He never went home. Even when he returned, he never went back. Because he felt guilty. She died while he was away.”

  • Memory of 28th Maori Battalion carried on by whānau

    • His mother had been the only one writing to him during the war. But her words carried great strength and significance.

    “When he got a letter, she said, ‘we have karakia back home at seven o’clock every morning. Join us.’”

    And so, he did.

    “In the middle of everything, he’d stop and have karakia,” Piripi said.

    “His mates would look at him and go, ‘what the hell is happening?’ Then they realised he was having karakia, so, they all joined him.”

    “I think that probably was one of the reasons why he came home.”

    Supplied / McLean whānau

    Like many of his generation, McLean spoke little about the war: “He didn’t talk about it,” Piripi said. “Not very many of them did.” But the impact showed in other ways.

    “He couldn’t sleep at night in the silence,” he said.

    “That used to bring nightmares of him trying to be quiet [during the war]…So our house was always noisy. Singing, talking. It kept him grounded. Reminded him he wasn’t back there.”

    Reflecting on his father, Piripi said he was a soft and gentle man.

    “When he went to the reunions or he met up with other people from that era, he was really quiet.

    “There were sometimes … when I had to take him to the bathroom, you know… I’d be sitting outside and I’d hear him cry.

    “I just said, are you all right, old fella? And he goes, yeah, I’m all right. But he would be crying. And he’d come out and he’d clean himself up and that’d be it.”

    Those moments of mamae were never spoken of directly, even amongst the other mōrehu, Piripi said, but they were understood.

    “When he talked about the war, he didn’t talk about the death. He talked about the funny parts, you know,” Piripi said.

    “The things he was telling us, was that, they never walked anywhere during the war. What they did was they found a truck or a bombed vehicle… fixed it up, steal petrol from the officers, and off they’d go.”

    He laughed recalling it.

    “The Italians would find their pigs missing and the boys would be having a hāngī…Pigs would be in the hāngi… They were funny, those fellas.”

    Mōrehu on the 2002 veteran tour in Egypt commemorating the 60th anniversary of El Alamein. Robert McLean is pictured standing next to former PM Helen Clark. Supplied / Juliana Keefe

    In 2002, Piripi travelled with his parents and brother John to Egypt for the 60th anniversary of El Alamein, alongside other veterans and their whānau.

    Morehu from A, B, C and D Companies were amongst the rōpū, all of whom have since passed on.

    Pirpi said the journey revealed parts of his father he had never seen before.

    While visiting a museum, an Italian man greeted McLean in Italian.

    “Our dad answered him,” Piripi said. “In Italian.”

    It was the first time his sons had heard him speak it.

    “We asked him when he last spoke it… he said: ‘When I left, in 1945.’”

    At El Alamein, the group gathered to honour those who never returned. Markers were placed on graves and hīmene filled the urupā.

    “Many of them were very young,” Piripi said.

    “That brought many a tear from everyone around.”

    There was one moment that revealed just how strong his father was.

    By then, his father was frail and in a wheelchair. He had been asked to recite the ode in te reo Māori, but declined.

    “He said, ‘I’m not going to say it sitting down.’”

    Later, as the group prepared to leave, McLean stood tall.

    “He said, ‘I got pushed in, but I’m going to walk out.’”

    Step by step, McLean walked from the cemetery to the gates, leading the way.

    “I just thought, you’re a tough old bugger,” Piripi said.

    “That was quite a beautiful thing to see. Because that really showed his mana. He wanted to honour the people that weren’t coming back with him.”

    Soldiers of the 28 Māori Battalion, in Egypt in 2002: McLean holding the crutches, and his wife Huia behind him. Supplied / Juliana Keefe

    At one point, the group attended a memorial alongside Italian veterans. Tensions rose, shaped by memories of loss on both sides.

    “There was unrest,” Piripi said.

    “They were quite upset about us being there, because they could remember losing their comrades by these soldiers…So we got up and left.”

    “Even though [my father] didn’t show his mamae or his sadness in front of them, he certainly showed it when he was on his own. And he did cry.”

    It wasn’t until years after McLean’s passing in 2004 that their whānau learned more about his service.

    In 2011, Piripi’s sister contacted Veterans’ Affairs to ask whether their father had received any medals. They discovered he had been awarded the Military Medal, along with other honours.

    This citation records his actions in the April 1990 NZ 28 Maori Battalion Golden Jubilee Reunion booklet:

    During the crossing of the SANTERNO river on the 10 April, 1945, Pte McLEAN commanded the section which was detailed to form the Company’s initial bridgehead, during which he displayed outstanding courage and initiative in that, moving forward under hostile shelling and spandau fire, he led his section against enemy resistance wherein the section destroyed one enemy mortar and crew while he personally captured a spandau post killing fifteen of the enemy. The bridgehead thus created his Coy passed through to fight their way to their final objective, after which Pte McLEAN led his section up to consolidate on the final objective. After consolidation the enemy counter attacked several times but the sector his section held was defended gallantly by his men and on the whole, the success of the section and his platoon was due to the dash and gallant leadership of this soldier.

    An Anzac Day dawn service at Tuapero Marae, honouring Rāpata Pōtahi Makarini Tītore – Robert McLean. Supplied / Piripi McLean

    After the war, McLean stayed behind to find his younger brother Ben, and brought him home.

    According to Piripi, when they returned to Wellington, they were given little more than a train ticket north. From there, they had to find work and accommodation wherever they could. Getting all the way back to the Hokianga was out of reach financially, so they stayed where they could and worked to survive.

    “They had no money,” he said. “So they just took whatever work they could.”

    Piripi recalled his father living in the Sylvia Park army barracks in Tāmaki Makaurau, paying rent and doing labouring jobs to get by.

    “It was funny because when they got paid, they had to pay rent on all of that too,” he said. “I thought, these fellas didn’t even own Sylvia Park. It was run by the government, and yet they were asking them for rent.”

    Historians have long documented differences in how Māori and Pākehā soldiers were supported after both world wars, particularly around housing, land and state assistance.

    Piripi said that difference was visible in what his father lived through.

    “When the Pākehā soldiers came home, they got the ticket tape parades coming down and everything wonderful,” he said. “Then they got given houses by the government.

    “Our fellas came home and they didn’t get any of that. They were put on a train or sent away on a bus to go home, back to where they come from.”

    He said many Māori veterans were left to find work through whoever would take them on.

    “They met carpetbaggers,” Piripi said: “Come and work for us, we’ve got money, you can work for us. And they would never get paid the same amount as a Pākehā person.”

    “The Māori had to survive in their own way of things.”

    That lack of support continued long after the war, Piripi said.

    “You wouldn’t believe it…Up until 1949, my dad had to have a passport to go wherever he wanted to go.”

    Even travelling for sport required official permission, Piripi said.

    “The Police pulled over my dad. He had a passport saying this person is playing in a sporting tournament,” Piripi said. “And then they [Police] would say, well, it finishes at three o’clock, you better be on your way home by then.”

    Every movement was accounted for.

    “It had your name, where you were from, your reason for being there, who you were staying with, how long you were staying, and how you were getting home,” he said.

    “And you had to have enough money to get back. Ninety per cent of the time they didn’t.”

    Supplied / Juliana Keefe

    When reflecting on his father, Piripi said he was a man of quiet strength.

    He didn’t drink. He didn’t smoke. He was physically powerful, but gentle in his nature.

    “He never raised a hand to us,” Piripi said.

    That discipline shaped their home, but so did aroha.

    “He always had time for us. He played with us. He was a good sportsman… but he was very quiet.”

    Piripi said those values stayed with him long after childhood.

    “That’s why I am what I am today. Because of him.”

    Piripi McLean (right), at an Anzac Day dawn service at Tuapero Marae, honouring his late father Robert McLean. Supplied / Piripi McLean

    Piripi went on to serve in the Navy for more than 20 years, before retiring to care for his wife as she battled terminal cancer. Today, he lives with his youngest son, and two of his four mokopuna, while facing cancer himself.

    The memories of his father remain steady in the everyday moments.

    “You know, we’d go over there and chop wood,” he said. “He’d chop the tree down, and I’d be there cleaning it up.”

    “And then he’d just pick the whole thing up and carry it. I was thinking, who is this fella. He was strong. He could just do it all himself.”

    Even after being shot in the hand during the war, and losing strength in it, that same quiet determination stayed with him.

    “He just got on with it,” Piripi said.

    Rāpata Pōtahi Makarini Tītore, Robert McLean, passed away on 28 February 2004, aged 84.

    His legacy is carried forward by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

    With no more surviving veterans of the 28th Māori Battalion, their stories live on through those who carry them.

    “We still need to talk about it,” Piripi said.

    Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou – we will remember them.

    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

    Moana looking for another miracle

    By -

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Miracle Faiʻilagi was a foundation member of Moana, and used his time there to elevate his game to become one of the country’s premier loose forwards. Supplied / Moana Pasifika

    Moana need another miracle.

    The side’s captain, inspirational leader, and encapsulation of what the franchise represents – Miracle Fai’ilagi, is walking proof of the possible pathway from the islands to Super Rugby.

    However, the franchise will fold at the end of the current Super Rugby season barring a financial saviour, closing that path for many aspiring Pasifika players.

    Fai’ilagi said it would be a devastating blow.

    “The purpose of this team is to inspire Pacific players back home. There’s not much there in the islands, but having this opportunity, having this team in Super Rugby, is a huge step for boys and girls coming through.

    “Opportunities like this are hard to get back home, so to come here, express themselves and earn a living is a dream for some of us. If that gets taken away, then that pathway for future players goes too.”

    Faiʻilagi was a foundation member of Moana, and used his time there to elevate his game to become one of the country’s premier loose forwards.

    Having lived the dream, knowing what this franchise can do for pacific players, Faiʻilagi was desperate to see it survive.

    “It’s huge for me as one of the pioneers who came here. I had a job to do, not just for me but my family and players back home. It’s really special for me and for this team to continue.”

    Despite the uncertainty, Faiʻilagi has taken it upon himself to keep morale high among Moana.

    “For me it’s about doing my job as a leader within the group and staying tight while staying hopeful. One of our pillars is faith and believing anything can happen. There are a lot of positives out there and a lot of people willing to help us in our situation.”

    The side has endured a cruel run of luck of late, from lightning strikes delaying games to a power cut at their home ground cutting the live broadcast.

    “Things happen. You can’t control the weather, any of that. Those situations are another opportunity to keep the boys tight within the game, whether we’re up or down, and keep a positive mentality for not just 40 minutes but 80. It’s about focusing on what we can control within the team. That’s a big part of my job as captain.”

    With Moana players likely to be available for other franchises in 2026, Faiʻilagi was coy on whether or not the sharks had come circling for him.

    “Not focusing on that, just focusing on my job and the team. But as I talk about opportunities, there are opportunities out there and plenty of eyes looking. We’ll see what’s next for me and some of the boys here. It’s a good challenge.”

    He said Moana are still playing with a point to prove.

    “I think people already know the meaning and purpose of this team. We spoke about it before this situation came out. We’re Pasifika people, we can’t back down, we always find a way. We always go back to faith and trusting God. There are a lot of people outside the group trying to help us, so we stay positive and connected.”

    However, despite what the future held, Faiʻilagi said the people of the Pacific were behind them.

    “They are everywhere supporting us wherever we are.”

    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 House: Open mic night at Parliament

    By -

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox

    Debate in Parliament reveals a patchwork of roles and purposes: representational and legislative; government and governance; personal and political. The political weight of everything rises incrementally in an election year.

    The variations are most prominently on display in the weekly Wednesday General Debate – the only regular event that has no set agenda, topic or outcome.

    It’s like open mic night at Parliament. Every speech can be different, and things may change markedly from week to week.

    It’s not first-come-first-rant though. The parties are rostered slots by proportion and choose who will speak.

    Sometimes the General Debate includes some genuinely funny political stand-up. More often, MPs’ attempts at humour fail horribly. This week had neither, but there was still plenty to note, especially regarding treaty clause edits, party leadership, rest home exits, the India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and of course, the election.

    Defence and attack from minor governing parties

    ACT’s Parmjeet Parmar spent her time promoting the benefits of the India FTA, specifically, and immigration generally. It was a pretty traditional, straightforward rhetorical policy defence.

    “Migrants are not on the sidelines of our economy; they are part of our economy. This ‘butter chicken tsunami’ [attack by Shane Jones] is just a slogan. It’s a slogan that has been created to do two things. One is to create fear, and the second is to grab attention. I say this to New Zealanders: don’t fall in that trap.”

    The India FTA has been a point of discord within the governing coalition, and Parmar’s speech may have been themed to counter an expected General Debate attack from New Zealand First’s Shane Jones, who has been throwing grenades into the FTA debate.

    But Jones avoided the topic entirely. His very individual approach to speechifying had a drill-baby-drill energy.

    “Now, it was a fateful and very bleak day when Jacinda Ardern made her captain’s call and condemned the oil and gas industry to a deep-freeze virtual type of termination. It took our government to come, change the law, reverse that juvenile climate-riddled type of analysis, and provide an opportunity for investors,” he said.

    An unexpected display of potential National leaders

    The National Party provided five of the twelve General Debate speakers. Unusually, most were Cabinet ministers. The sole backbencher who spoke was Dan Bidois, whose speech was electoral, but also felt like a plea for internal unity among a list of most of the presumed main party faction contenders (missing only Mark Mitchell).

    “Resource Management Act reform, which Minister Chris Bishop is doing a great job with. We’ve got education reform-isn’t Erica Stanford doing a great job… We’ve got Nicola Willis making sure we actually get back to surplus… We’ve got Minister Simeon Brown, who is doing a great job of turning our healthcare system around.

    “And at the helm of this is our Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, who’s knitting together three different coalition partners, knitting together a broad coalition of National MPs, getting us moving in one simple direction.”

    National Party minister Simeon Brown spent all of his speech time attacking the Labour Party.

    “Labour has learnt nothing in Opposition and nothing from their time in government. If they are elected in November, they will go back to their same old policies of tax, borrow, spend. New Zealanders know better, and that’s why they’ll re-elect National in November.”

    Nicola Willis also spent almost all of her time attacking the Labour Party. A core theme of attacks was that Labour wasn’t yet revealing its own election policy, but was instead focused on government policy.

    Ironically, both these speeches were equally focused on the opposition.

    Paul Goldsmith also attacked the opposition, but unlike Brown and Willis, remembered to praise the prime minister. Goldsmith also praised his own and Mark Mitchell’s work within the Justice and Police portfolios.

    Mark Mitchell was the odd man out among National’s ministers (and purported leadership options). As Emergency Management and Recovery Minister, he has a role that allows a less political, less divisive approach.

    If the General Debate were an election debate, you might call him the unity candidate. He praised the work of the related spokesperson from every single party – quite a sharp change in tone from the other ministers who spent most or all of their time raging against the Opposition.

    Policy-oriented debate from the opposition

    On the Opposition side of the House, Labour’s Ingrid Leary used the General Debate to pressure the government on a specific policy – capital repayments to residents exiting rest home properties.

    “The government is proposing to change this after enormous pressure… But… the proposed time is 12 months, which is ludicrous, as has been said by Consumer NZ, and, perhaps even more unfairly, will not apply to existing residents.”

    Three different MPs from three different parties attacked the government over recently revealed efforts to water down Treaty provisions in existing legislation. Debbie Ngarewa Packer for Te Pāti Māori tied the plan to the politics of distraction.

    “We’ve got a climate crisis… We literally have seen cars on fences…What does it do?… It starts a culture war, because that is exactly what the playbook of Trumpism does… Epstein files. What does he do? Start a war. What does this government do? Start a war on Te Tiriti-slyly, quietly, without integrity.”

    Green Co-leader Marama Davidson took a gentler approach, but also tied the Treaty clause project to the regular marae role in responding to disasters; “In the face of all of that example of Te Tiriti beauty, this government is choosing to create hate.”

    For Labour, the MP who focused on legislative Treaty provisions was Camilla Belich, with “National members are too busy fighting with themselves and doing covert, secret operations to remove Treaty clauses, to actually focus on what matters to New Zealanders”.

    Most speeches were in some way an election speech, most obviously the all-attack speeches from National’s Simeon Brown and Nicola Willis. Labour leader Chris Hipkins’ speech was very election-oriented but also drew on National’s recent issues.

    “New Zealanders are looking for some reassurance that the government has a plan… They’re getting slogans, blame, and excuses. A government more obsessed with their own jobs than obsessed with the jobs of New Zealanders who are losing theirs.”

    The Sunday edition of the House is available from the link above.

    *RNZ’s The House, with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament’s Office of the Clerk. Enjoy our articles or podcast at RNZ.

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

    Ramones at 50: How a commercial flop became the foundation of punk rock

    By -

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    “Hey! Ho! Let’s go!” Is there a more powerful clarion call in rock ‘n’ roll? That catchy, four-word refrain opens ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’, the first song on Ramones’s eponymous debut album, released 50 years ago today.

    The phrase is now arguably bigger than the band. It’s a rallying cry at sporting events around the world, features in ads flogging pharmaceuticals, video cameras and soft drinks. Along with Ramones’s iconic logo, the phrase has adorned countless T-shirts worn by people well beyond punk’s original audience.

    Most importantly, it has been an on-ramp to the punk counterculture for 50 years. This galvanising opening chant introduces us to 29 minutes of sticky pop hooks and loud, distorted punk played at breakneck speed by four young men with floppy hair and leather jackets. Half an hour of noise that changed music forever.

    Punk Magazine’s Roberta Bayley shot the iconic photo of Ramones that adorned the front cover of the band’s debut album.

    Sire

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

    1...345...1,330Page 4 of 1,330
    Listen on Apple Podcasts

    - Advertisement -
    © Copyright 2024 EveningReport.nz and Multimedia Investments Ltd. All rights reserved.