Citizen scientists are spotting more and more rare frogs on private land

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney

The green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND

Almost two-thirds of Australia is privately owned. But most of our scientific understanding of how threatened species are faring comes from research done on public lands. Traditional biodiversity surveys by professional scientists are time and resource intensive and navigating access to private lands can be tricky.

This means there’s a huge gap in our knowledge amid worsening biodiversity loss. That’s where citizen science comes in. Every year, millions of Australian species records are logged by members of the public using smartphone apps. This flood of data is revolutionising conservation, producing large flows of species data and connecting people to nature.

But does this data better capture species on private land? To find out, our recent research examines almost half a million frog records logged on the Australian Museum’s national FrogID project by citizen scientists in New South Wales. Remarkably, 86% of these records come from private land.

Importantly, these records capture evidence of where threatened species are holding on in privately-held land. The beautiful green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) is considered vulnerable at a national level as it’s no longer found on about 90% of its former range. But almost three-quarters of all FrogID recordings of this frog in NSW are on private land.

woman by side of creek using citizen science app on phone. — Citizen scientists are using apps such as FrogID to record frog calls – and give vital data on where these species can be found.
Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND

Recordings with a smartphone

Frogs are one of the most threatened groups of animals on the planet. One in five species of Australian frogs – almost 50 species – are threatened with extinction. Disease, habitat loss and climate change are their greatest threats.

At least four species have already gone extinct – including the unique gastric-brooding frogs – while several others haven’t been seen in decades and are feared extinct. It’s vitally important to track how the surviving 240 plus species are faring.

In our research, we analysed the 496,357 frog records logged in NSW on FrogID between 2017 and 2024.

Private lands make up the majority of New South Wales, and cover almost every habitat type. It stands to reason that many frog species should be found across private land. Our analysis of FrogID data found the diversity of frog species was actually higher on private lands than on public lands, which include national parks and other protected areas, once we accounted for differences in aridity and surveying efforts.

In addition, the frog species recorded on private and public lands weren’t the same. Two species were recorded only on private lands and six only on public land.

As we expected, we found that citizen science more comprehensively surveyed public land than surveys by professional scientists, but the difference was more dramatic than expected. Data from professional surveys covered 19% of NSW, while citizen scientists using FrogID covered 35%. There were nearly ten times as many FrogID records as professional records over the same time period.

But the clearest difference was in private lands. A remarkable 86% of all FrogID records came from private lands, compared to only 59% of records obtained via traditional methods.

frog in leaf litter. — The green-thighed frog (Litoria brevipalmata) is considered vulnerable in NSW. Almost all recordings logged on FrogID were on private land.
Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND

Frog calls after floods

One of the biggest boons of citizen science is that it can help overcome many of the logistical obstacles associated with traditional professional surveys, particularly for frogs.

Most of the NSW FrogID records come from urban and suburban areas with high human population density. But the data showed an increasing number of landholders in regional and remote areas are using FrogID to record their local frogs.

Obtaining records of frogs from these areas via traditional surveys has long presented a major challenge for scientists. That’s because many frog species in arid and semi-arid areas only become active after heavy rains. But these areas can become inaccessible to scientists due to flooded roads.

By opportunistically recording frogs when they’re active, landholders are providing the vital information we need to better understand poorly-known frog species such as burrowing frogs from the Cyclorana genus and the charismatic crucifix frog (Notaden bennettii).

Private lands are vital to conservation

It’s common to think that threatened species will be restricted to protected areas such as national parks. Our research adds to the body of evidence showing this isn’t the case.

We found 20 of the 24 NSW threatened frog species we analysed had been recorded on private land. In fact, a third of all threatened frog species were predominantly recorded on private land, while three threatened frog species had over 70% of recordings logged on private land.

One such species is Sloane’s froglet (Crinia sloanei), a tiny frog from inland New South Wales and northern central Victoria. Habitat loss has greatly reduced its range. It’s now considered endangered nationally. We found 96% of records were on private land, largely around Albury–Wodonga on the Victorian border. Similarly, the nationally vulnerable green and golden bell frog was largely recorded on private lands.

figure showing how often frog species were recorded on private land versus public land — This figure shows how often frog species recordings were logged on FrogID based on land tenure. Threatened species names are in bold.
Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND

How can you help?

Private lands are now seen as increasingly important in conserving wildlife, including threatened species. The good news is, this means landholders and citizen scientists can make a direct difference.

Protecting or creating wildlife habitats on your property can make a very real contribution to biodiversity conservation. Even humble farm dams can support threatened frog species.

While citizen science has greatly improved our knowledge of frog species across Australia including poorly-sampled areas, scientists still need more data on Australia’s frogs.

Recording and uploading the calls of any frogs you hear using the FrogID app is a simple and effective way of adding to our collective knowledge of these remarkable amphibians. The more data sources we have, the better. Citizen scientists are giving real-time updates of where frogs live and how their distributions are changing over time. These data in turn help focus efforts to bring back threatened frog species from the brink of extinction.

Jodi Rowley is the Lead Scientist of the Australian Museum’s citizen science project, FrogID. She has received funding from state, federal and philanthropic agencies.

Grace Gillard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Citizen scientists are spotting more and more rare frogs on private land – https://theconversation.com/citizen-scientists-are-spotting-more-and-more-rare-frogs-on-private-land-271850

Christchurch to Vanuatu flights to launch in coming months

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Solomon Airlines confirmed an Airbus A320-200 would fly between the Garden City and Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila twice a week from July 1. Supplied

Direct flights linking Christchurch and Vanuatu will launch in coming months, as the Pacific opens up further for South Island travellers.

Solomon Airlines confirmed an Airbus A320-200 would fly between the Garden City and Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila twice a week from 1 July.

The service would depart Port Vila on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, before returning from Christchurch on Thursday and Sunday mornings.

The new route will be the first time there has been a commercial scheduled flight to Vanuatu from Christchurch,

The direct flight was expected to take about four hours.

Santo Lonnoc Beach in Vanuatu Supplied

Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson said the new route was a fantastic addition for Canterbury and the wider South Island.

“When the temperature drops and the rain jackets come out, it’s the perfect time to have a warm weather escape on the horizon. This direct service to Port Vila is a brilliant opportunity for South Islanders to enjoy an easy tropical break,” he said.

“We’re excited to welcome Solomon Airlines to Christchurch Airport and to offer travellers another new option in the South Pacific.”

Solomon Airlines chief executive Paul Abbot said the airline was proud to bring the new service to the South Island.

“We’re thrilled to launch direct flights between Christchurch and Port Vila, opening up a whole new gateway to the Pacific for Kiwi travellers. Vanuatu is known for its incredible natural beauty, warm hospitality, and year-round tropical climate and is a vibrant alternative to more cluttered tourist destinations,” he said.

“This service makes it easier than ever for South Islanders to experience everything the islands have to offer, from snorkelling and diving, to markets, culture, and relaxation.”

Vanuatu Tourism Office chief executive Adela Issachar Aru said it was thrilled to welcome “friends from the South Island to discover the magic of Vanuatu”.

“With our warm Ni-Vanuatu hospitality, stunning islands, rich culture and incredible food, Vanuatu offers a truly authentic Pacific experience just a short journey away. We can’t wait to share our home with South Islanders and create unforgettable holiday memories.”

Air New Zealand recently announced a new seasonal non-stop flight between Christchurch and Rarotonga from 26 May to 24 October.

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How much value could a granny flat add to your property?

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Consents are no longer needed for a granny flat. (File photo) 123rf

Consents are no longer needed to build a granny flat – but how much does it add to a property’s value?

The rule change took effect last week, updating the Building Act and adding a new national direction under the Resource Management Act.

These remove the need for a building consent and a resource consent for small standalone dwellings up to 70 square metres in size.

Associate finance minister Shane Jones said it could save up to $5650 in direct costs for people building a granny flat and speed up the process by up to 14 weeks.

Ed McKnight, economist at property investment firm Opes Partners, said a flat would add value to a property, but potentially not as much as other work might.

“They don’t work like a bathroom renovation where you spend $10,000 and it increases the value of the house by $20,000, for example.

“Instead, a granny flat tends to add the value you spent on it. So broadly speaking if you spend $120,000 on a granny flat, it might increase the value of your property by around $120,000. That’s because while you can add building, the main unit also misses out on that land.”

But he said they would appeal to some investors.

“Property investors still often build granny flats or minor dwellings because you can get an extra rental return. You might rent the granny flat out for $500 a week, but it only cost $200,000 to build. That’s a solid rental return on that extra spend. Because you already paid for the land. You don’t need to buy it again.

Ed McKnight is an economist at property investment firm Opes Partners. (File photo) Supplied / Ed McKnight

“When it comes to selling the properties a granny flat can limit who your potential buyers are. While some cultures tend to value multi-generational living, many other home buyers just want a single-family home. So the granny flat isn’t a drawcard for all buyers.”

Property investor Nick Gentle said the key for investors would be being able to rent the properties separately.

Property investment coach Steve Goodey said the rule change was helpful, but not as transformational as the government might have made it seem.

“There are still massive costs with getting water and power connected and so I think it will be of somewhat limited value to most investors.”

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Drop in births halts A2 Milk trading on Australian stock market

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A2’s share price fell 12 percent, after Chinese data showed new births dipping below 8 million for the year. Getty Images

A2 Milk has placed itself in a trading halt on the Australian stock market, with its share price falling 12 percent, following the release of Chinese data indicating a larger than expected drop in the number of new births.

A2 had previously indicated its forecast growth in infant formula sales to China would be supported by an annual growth rate in new births of between 8.5-9 million.

However, the number of new births in China fell 17 percent last year to just under 8m – the lowest in nearly 90 years.

Brokerage firm Forsyth Barr senior analyst Matt Montgomerie said the data was tracking well down on its forecast of 8.6m new births in 2026, with a low single-digit per annum decline thereafter.

“This now appears overly optimistic, particularly given this year’s number highlights that China’s proactive birth/fertility policies are having limited impact,” Montgomerie said.

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Northlanders battered by weekend flooding brace for second hit

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The outside of a home in Northland’s Ōakura on Monday. Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ

Northlanders already battered by the weekend’s heavy rain are bracing for another bout of rain.

Conditions were becoming increasingly wet and windy at Ōakura, one of the small communities particularly hard hit and now left caked in mud.

Elaine Lang had lived there for four decades and said she had never seen it like this.

“I’ve never had mud, it was a foot deep and we’ve never had it come in our driveway before.

Mud and debris outside a home in Ōakura. Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ

“And the last time a bit of the ocean come over once, many years ago, Bola come over the main road, but this was all rainwater.”

But it’s what the next round of rain could bring that was weighing on her mind.

“So Wednesday could be a whole different ball game because the surfies are saying there’s going to be a 5-metre swell.

“And if that’s the case, and the tide’s building in size it means it’ll come over the road,” she said.

“So it brings a lot of rocks in down those last 10 houses and at the shop, it comes right across the road.

“So it’s a different kind of flooding.”

RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Lang knew the area and its properties well, she looked after the keys for many bach owners and had been going between them to see what state they were in.

“We’ve got keys probably to everybody’s bach here so we’re in and out of everyone’s bach, checking what damage it is and how damaged they are,” she said.

“There’s five gone today that they don’t want to stick out their holiday here, which I don’t blame them.”

Behind her home is a tall and scarred hillside where a slip has fallen, smashing across her neighbour Bevan’s property.

The slip above Bevan’s Ōakura home. Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ

It shunted the boat a metre along the ground and up against his holiday home, but he said that was what saved it.

“The slip come down and it pretty much went under the boat and pushed the boat and trailer up against the deck and I think it stopped it going up against the bach,” he said.

He said he heard a big crack as the fence above gave way and when the boat hit the home’s decking.

“Never seen it like this before, I’ve been coming here for about 40 years and never seen anything like this.”

He was going to stay in the home, with the remains of the hill outside on his lawn, as the next weather system hit.

The slip shunted Bevan’s boat into his holiday home. Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ

MetService now had a Yellow Heavy Rain Watch stretching from 6pm Monday to 12pm Tuesday.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms and localised downpours were all possible.

Rainfall could approach warning criteria, or perhaps exceed that in some areas.

But as Lang pointed out, MetService also said more heavy rain was expected on Wednesday for which another watch or warning could be issued.

Outside the community hall, its interior in tatters after a slip ploughed through, skips had been set up for people to get rid of damaged belongings.

Skip bins at Ōakura have been put out and are filling up with the damaged possessions. Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ

Down the road, Brian Eunson had dehumidifiers going inside his holiday home while a truck was sucking water from the yard outside.

“There’s a bit of water gone inside, but hopefully it wasn’t in there too long, so we’ll wait and see,” he said.

“I think the houses with the slips have probably a lot worse because quite a lot of houses have sort of had the cliffs come down behind them, haven’t they?”

Brian Eunson is pumping water from his yard in Ōakura. Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ

Whangārei District mayor Ken Couper said all eyes were now turing to the incoming heavy rain which could mean more land-slips.

“With the ground now soaked, water will run off quickly and could lead to further flooding,” he said.

Lang had thoughts about the weekend’s rain that had soaked that ground.

“It shouldn’t have come without warning,” she said.

“We just never had the warning to say there was going to be torrential rain.”

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Family of missing tramper Graham Garnett express joy and gratitude he was found alive

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Missing tramper Graham Garnett was found sheltering in a hut in Kahurangi National Park yesterday afternoon Supplied / NZ Police

The family of missing tramper Graham Garnett say they did not know if they would see him alive again, after he took a wrong turn and spent three weeks lost in the bush.

The 66-year-old, was found sheltering in a hut in Kahurangi National Park on Sunday afternoon, nineteen days after he was reported overdue.

He had gone tramping in the Baton/Ellis River area of the national park and was expected to return on December 30, but failed to do so.

Police Search and Rescue Sergeant Jonny Evans said Garnett was “extremely lucky to be alive”.

Evans said Garnett had been disoriented by heavy cloud, with weather conditions closing in when he took a wrong turn in late December that sent him deep into the national park in north west Nelson.

“Graham had been on the move much of the time, and had sustained injuries along the way.

“He had tried to get himself out numerous ways, by following streams and ridges and finally finding the Karamea River, which he recognised, and which led him back to Venus Hut.”

He was found on Sunday by a helicopter pilot and a West Coast Regional Council staff member who were installing signs at Venus Hut ahead of a pest control operation.

Graham Garnett search Supplied/police

Evans said Garnett had only arrived at the hut a day or so before he was discovered.

Police announced on 5 January that a search was underway for Garnett in the Baton Valley after he had not returned from his tramp as expected.

On 15 January, police announced the search had been suspended after extensive efforts involving Land Search and Rescue New Zealand (LandSAR) groups and specialist teams, New Zealand Defence Force, Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand, and members of the public.

Garnett was found by chance, four days later.

His family said they’ve been overwhelmed with support during the ordeal, and did not have the words to express how overjoyed they were to have him back.

“We want to acknowledge the time and effort put in by the NZ Police and Land Search and Rescue including searchers on the ground, in the rivers and in the air.

“We are also deeply thankful to those who joined two private searches.

“Your professionalism, compassion and expertise were exemplary.”

The family said they were also grateful to friends and family and for the help given in to them in the field by those who provided radios, freeze dried meals and specialist searching skills and equipment.

Search efforts for Graham Garnett on 8 January included six search teams and the assistance of a New Zealand Defence Force NH90 helicopter. Supplied / Police

“Last but not least, we are in awe of Graham, his incredible self-reliance, resilience and perseverance.

“Words cannot express how overjoyed we are to have him back and we acknowledge the Kahurangi National Park as a place of rugged beauty.”

Garnett is still recovering at Nelson Hospital.

“Pretty brutal, rugged country”

Dave Barton has spent the last 40 years tramping in the Kahurangi National Park in north west Nelson and has helped to restore many of the huts in the area.

The engineer and avid tramper has long campaigned for the Polglaze Trail, to recognise the work of former Forest Service ranger Max Polglaze – who built huts and shelters in the park during the 1970s and 80s.

He said Venus Hut, where Garnett was found, sat beside the Karamea River half way along the remote Leslie-Karamea Track.

“It’s rugged, it’s not well maintained and it doesn’t get a high volume of use. You need to be relatively fit and you need to be carrying the right amount of gear to get through.

“It’s generally eight or nine days if you go to road end to road end and there’s not a lot of people, even in the summer, you might be lucky to see anybody on a nine-day tramp going through there.”

Search efforts for Graham Garnett was extensive with six search teams. Supplied / Police

“You’re in some wild country and you’ve got to have your wits about you.”

He said Venus Hut was a standard hut equipped with bunks, a wood burner with access to water tank and he said there was a chance that some food had been left there.

“We leave non-perishable food at the Roaring Lion Hut, because what a wonderful thing that would be if you got stuck by the weather or the river’s up and you’re planning to walk for so many days and you’re stuck in the hut and there’s food there.”

The Graham Valley Road that provides access to Flora Carpark offers the easiest access to the Mt Arthur Range in the Kahurangi National Park, but it had been closed after a section of the road collapsed during the Tasman floods in mid-2025.

Barton said it was likely that there were less people in the park as a result, with those venturing in having to resort to access through the Wangapeka Valley or the Baton Valley and the Ellis Basin.

He said to get to Venus Hut from the Baton Valley was potentially six days’ walk.

“It’s pretty brutal, rugged country, if we look at the Wilkinson Track the saddle is at 1300 [metres above sea level] and you drop down to 300 in a couple of kilometres so it’s relatively steep in places when you come off the escarpment and it’s rugged sort of bush to get through.”

He said the ground and terrain that Garnett had covered in the last three weeks was a big feat.

“From where he was set to start from to get there in 20 days, it’s quite a miracle that he was found alive really.”

Graham Garnett search was in difficult terrain. Supplied/police

Police urge safety in the backcountry

Police and Garnett’s family want to remind anyone heading out into the bush or back country to be prepared to increase the chance of survival, should the unthinkable happen.

“New Zealand has spectacular back country areas and a great outdoors culture,” Sergeant Evans said.

“However, being stranded in the bush for days or weeks on end can be incredibly harsh and, in many cases, isn’t survivable.”

He said anyone entering the back country should carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), a device that makes your rescue possible at the touch of a button, as well as a paper map and a handheld GPS with spare batteries.

While cellphones can sometimes be helpful, they should not be relied upon as a primary communication device due to their limited battery life and the limited coverage in the back country and Evans encouraged people to make use of satellite cellphone services.

He said it was critical when travelling through the back country and passing or using huts, that trampers made entries in hut books as it allowed searchers to track their movements and gain understanding into their planned movements.

“Always plan your trip, and make sure friends or loved ones know what your plan is.This could be crucial information to pass on to a search party.

“If you do become lost or injured, stay where you are and make yourself visible to searchers.”

Evans said if it was safe to do so, people could light a fire to alert searchers to your position or signal in any way using brightly coloured items or simple items like a small mirror or whistle.

More information for planning backcountry adventures is available on the [www.mountainsafety.org.nz NZ Mountain Safety Council website.]

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Whangārei man charged with alleged assault of Dallas Gurney granted interim name suppression

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dallas Gurney was pushed off the deck of his Whananaki Store from behind. DALLAS GURNEY / SUPPLIED

A man charged with the alleged assault of Whananāki store owner and former media executive Dallas Gurney has appeared in court.

On January 11, CCTV captured Gurney allegedly being pushed off the balcony outside his store, located on the east coast of Whangārei.

Gurney – once a high-profile media figure who worked alongside broadcasting heavyweights Sir Paul Holmes, Mike Hosking, Kerre Woodham and Duncan Garner – left the corporate world two years ago for a slower pace in Whananāki, where he runs the local store and a small community radio station.

The footage showed him approaching a group of patrons that Sunday, before falling onto concrete and suffering injuries, including a fractured shoulder.

A 36-year-old Whangārei man was subsequently charged with injuring Gurney with intent to injure.

On Monday, the man appeared in the Whangārei District Court before a registrar.

He was represented by duty solicitor Dave Sayes and did not enter a plea.

The man was granted name suppression and remanded on bail ahead of his next court appearance in February.

He will appear before a judge at that hearing to seek further name suppression and enter a plea.

This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.

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RBNZ governor should have sought advice before signing letter of support for US Fed boss Jerome Powell

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6387923407112

The Reserve Bank governor Anna Breman shouldn’t have signed a letter of support for US counterpart Jerome Powell without first consulting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Finance Minister says.

Nicola Willis made the comment to media after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked about Foreign Minister Winston Peter’s stinging remark that the governor should “stay in her New Zealand lane”.

Breman was one of a number of international central bankers who signed the letter supporting the US Federal Reserve head last week.

Powell has been pushing back to maintain the Federal Reserve’s independence after being served criminal charges by the US Justice Department.

Willis said she spoke to Breman the day after she signed the letter and asked why the governor had not informed her earlier.

“She put to me that she had been reluctant to contact me at 3am in the morning. I said to her ‘Look I’m available any time’ and that’s what New Zealanders expect of me.”

Willis said she made it clear to Breman that if she’d contacted her boss it would have given the governor an opportunity to get a range of perspectives before signing the letter.

“How that would have borne on her final decision I don’t know. I wouldn’t speculate.”

Asked if Breman made the wrong decision in supporting Powell, Willis said she wouldn’t speculate but “it would have been appropriate as the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said, for her take advice from across government”.

Willis said Breman should have let her know that she intended to sign the letter and had she done that, Willis would have advised her to take advice from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and speak with the Treasury Secretary about.

“She’s new in the job. I think she was being overly respectful of my private time.”

Asked if she agreed with the support, Willis deferred to Peters.

“…it’s appropriate that on issues of foreign affairs that she get advice from the officials who are experts in that area.”

Luxon, who was addressing media with Willis after his State of the Nation speech in Auckland on Monday, said they would only be speculating as to what decision Breman might have ended up taking had she sought that advice.

“What’s very important here is, as a government we don’t comment on the internal domestic affairs of other countries. That’s entirely appropriate. We don’t appreciate it when others do it to our own country.

“But as an independent Reserve Bank governor, we respect the independence of our Reserve Bank. It plays a critical role being independent on monetary policy in our own democracy. And we’ve got to respect her independence.”

Asked if Breman had apologised, Willis confirmed she didn’t.

“I didn’t think an apology was necessary. What is important is that in future she takes that learning of making sure she seeks advice and lets people know ahead of any international statements.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he didn’t have a problem with the letter of support signed by Anna Breman. Samuel Rillstone

In a statement to RNZ last week the Reserve Bank said Breman had signed the statement because she and the RBNZ believed strongly in the independence of central banks.

“Dr Breman’s signature on the statement indicates the support of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which is statutorily independent from the New Zealand Government.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he had no problem with the letter.

“I think it reflects the position that the New Zealand Government should be taking. The indepdendence of the (US) Federal Reserve and the threats against it are very concerning.”

Hipkins told media Peters was correct to say the Reserve Bank’s independence did not extend to foreign policy.

“Having said that, I think the Reserve Bank governor is entitled to express her view on international developments.”

He said the government could have been more visible on international developments such as the US attack on Venezuela, and its threats to take Greenland.

“I think the New Zealand government could have been more visible and more principled on all of those issues. Standing up for international laws, international rules, is something New Zealand has taken very principled positions on in the past and we should continue to do so.”

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ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for January 19, 2026

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 19, 2026.

Pro-France MPs confront Macron over New Caledonia at future talks
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Talks on New Caledonia’s political future have been underway in Paris after French President Emmanuel Macron launched a fresh roundtable on Friday, despite the absence of one of the French territory’s largest pro-independence group, the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS). During a first meeting

Tracing the long history of Aboriginal-Chinese people in Australia, through archives and art
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Burchmore, Senior Lecturer, Art History and Curatorial Studies, Australian National University Coming to Australia, 2012, Lloyd Gawura Hornsby, acrylic on canvas, 76 x 102 cm. Photo courtesy of the artist. Metaphors of cooking and eating are a firm favourite among writers on multiculturalism. No comment on

Social lives of whales and dolphins shape the spread of infectious diseases
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Nicholls, PhD Candidate, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University Australian humpback dolphins (_Sousa sahulensis_) engage in close social contact. Caitlin Nicholls, CEBEL, Flinders University Dolphins, whales and seals are highly social animals. Many live in groups, form long-term relationships, and repeatedly interact with the same

Trump is threatening more tariffs over access to critical minerals – will NZ be targeted?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images On January 14, Donald Trump issued a proclamation threatening yet more tariffs if “trading partners” fail to sign agreements on critical minerals and their derivative products within 180 days of his announcement.

Crime against wildlife is surging in Australia. These 4 reforms can help tackle it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isabelle Onley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, Adelaide University Around the world, wildlife and environmental crime is surging. It is estimated to be the fourth largest organised transnational crime sector, and to be growing at a rate two to three times faster than the global

One Nation surges above Coalition in Newspoll as Labor still well ahead, in contrast with other polls
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The aftermath of the Bondi terror attacks has brought about a shift in polling for the Albanese government, which has been riding high since its thumping win

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Garrett, Research Associate, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney A year into US President Donald Trump’s second term, his record use of executive orders, impoundment of government spending, and military interventions in Venezuela and Iran have sparked criticisms from Democrats and even some Republicans. They

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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, Adelaide University Westend61/Getty Images Running with your kids can be a great way to spend time together and build some healthy habits. But when is the right age is to start? Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just choosing a number.

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Watch: ‘Management speak mumbo jumbo’: Hipkins responds to Luxon’s State of the Nation address

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has called the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation address a “whole lot of management speak mumbo jumbo”.

Christopher Luxon has delivered his first speech of the year, to the Auckland Business Chamber.

Luxon launched a defence of his government’s progress and reform programme, and promised there would be no deviation from its plan should it win a second term.

The Labour leader responds to Luxon’s State of the Nation speech. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

He said National would continue with its savings programme at this year’s Budget, and that there would be no “extravagant” election promises from National this election, saying any party that wanted to increase spending would need to increase borrowing or taxes.

Hipkins said Luxon’s adddress had shown he had no vision and no plan for New Zealand’s future.

“We need a vision. We need a plan for the future and it’s clear only Labour can deliver that.”

In terms of Labour’s plans for the upcoming election, Hipkins said the party had plenty to talk about and would do so.

“Luxon should focus on delivering on the political promises that he made,” Hipkins said, which he said included fixing the housing crisis and making healthcare more accessible.

“Things are getting harder for Kiwis not better.”

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Watch live: Labour’s Chris Hipkins responds to Luxon’s State of the Nation address

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is responding to the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation address.

Christopher Luxon has delivered his first speech of the year, to the Auckland Business Chamber.

Luxon launched a defence of his government’s progress and reform programme, and promised there would be no deviation from its plan should it win a second term.

The Labour leader responds to Luxon’s State of the Nation speech. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Hipkins is expected to speak at about 3pm.

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ANZ’s new floating interest rate means an extra $12m in profit – expert

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

By lifting it’s floating mortgage interest rate 10 basis points ANZ will make an extra $12 million in profit, one expert says. AFP

The head of one of New Zealand’s biggest mortgage broking firms has taken aim at the country’s biggest bank for its latest interest rate increase.

ANZ last week lifted its floating home loan rate by 0.1 percent.

That takes it to 5.79 percent.

Squirrel chief executive David Cunningham said the lift would mean an extra $12 million in profit for the bank each year.

He said the rate had previously been in a “no man’s land” between Kiwibank and the other major lenders – not the cheapest on offer, but not the most expensive either.

“Why have your floating rate lower than the bulk of your competitors? Just quietly put it up and go ‘we may as well just take a bit more profit’. It’s as simple as that.”

Cunningham said all other major influences on home loan rates had remained the same since ANZ last changed its floating home loan rate on 26 November, so it seemed that market conditions were the sole driver of the move.

He said it would also help to fund the bank’s 1.5 percent cashback offer for new home loan customers, which had been extremely popular. One Squirrel customer had received more than $30,000.

“For mortgage brokers it was sort of a gold rush, almost everyone that had the opportunity took it … even as mortgage advisers, where we see a lot happening, we were pretty gobsmacked when we saw ANZ come out with that.”

He said banks were now competing with cash back rather than better interest rates, which meant those who did not move missed out.

Customers should “play the game” when they could and move banks to earn cash back when it was available, he said.

A spokesperson for ANZ said it was committed to offering competitive home loan rates.

“Since the OCR began to fall in August 2024, we’ve lowered our floating rate by 2.95 percent, more than any of the other main banks.

“On Tuesday we announced a small change to our floating and flexi rates to align with market conditions.

“Ahead of the November OCR cut, our floating rate was already below most of the main banks, our new rate remains competitively positioned among the main banks in the market today.

“We’ll continue to review rates as global and local conditions evolve.”

Cunningham said the New Zealand banking system was hard to break into because the existing banks could adjust prices across their range to alter what profit they made.

“You’ve always got a bunch of products you can compete to protect your margin.

“Whereas if you’re a mono-line provider and the competition turns to fixed rate loans and you haven’t got a floating rate loan to subsidise it or a credit card or a personal loan at a high margin or cheap deposits to subsidise it… that’s why the system is so resilient against attackers.”

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Weather: Another week of rain as second weather system looms

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A band of rain moves across the country on Thursday. Earth Science NZ

New Zealand is in for another week of rain as a new weather system is forecast to move across the country.

The top of the North Island has been hit by heavy rain, causing flooding and slips. But forecasters say there is no reprieve from the rain this week.

[embedded content]

MetService said a strong and humid easterly flow, the same set up from this weekend, is forecast to bring heavy rain to northern areas of the North Island on Monday evening and Tuesday, with severe thunderstorms and localised downpours possible.

The weather forecasting agency has issued heavy rain watches for Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula for Monday and Tuesday.

However, the rain isn’t likely to stop there. MetService said there would be more watches and warnings issued for the next weather system later this week.

“[On Wednesday] a low of tropical origin, moving southeast, is expected to be approaching the North Island, bringing heavy rain and strong east to northeast wind,” it said.

MetService meteorologist Braydon White told RNZ there is still a lot of uncertainty with this weather system, but forecasters hope to get a clearer picture of its effects in the coming days.

“What we do know is that it’s going to bring rain for pretty much the whole country on Wednesday and through to Thursday,” White said.

MetService modelling shows there is a moderate confidence warning amounts of rainfall will fall about Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and northwest Tasman. While from Buller to northern Fiordland, there is low confidence a rainfall warning would be needed.

The weather system is expected to have mostly crossed the country by the end of Thursday, bringing a break from the rain until later on Friday, White said.

Then, even more rain is forecast for later on Friday and Saturday for much of the country, as showers and cooler southerlies spread across the motu.

Civil Defence Northland said it was actively preparing for further heavy rain this week.

It said planning and coordination meetings with councils and key stakeholders took place on Monday morning to ensure officials are ready to respond if needed.

With weather conditions expected to remain changeable, Civil Defence encourages residents across Northland to take steps over the coming days to ensure they are prepared.

How to prepare:

Secure outdoor furniture and loose items
Clear drains and gutters
Move valuables and vehicles away from flood‑prone areas
Relocate stock from low‑lying land and bring pets indoors
Ensure you have food, water, medications, torches, and charged devices
Have a grab bag and evacuation plan ready.

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Tararua district caught between anniversary days

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Tararua District is located between three regions, Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. Google Maps

Tararua’s mayor says many in his district observe anniversary days celebrating areas north and south of it, but they don’t get an extra stat day.

The area includes the town of Dannevirke and borders Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay.

Officially its anniversary day was Monday — which was Wellington’s and encompassed the whole lower North Island.

But, due to its vicinity, Tararua Mayor Scott Gilmore told RNZ it was common for people to take Hawke’s Bay’s day too in October as annual leave.

“There is really close family connections, historical ties.”

Gilmore said often on those days there were events people liked to go to and they were prepared to take the day off for.

He said Tararua was unique because it was in an area which bordered three other regions – Manawatū, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.

“We do have lots and lots of connections with other regions.”

The mayor noted the region did not officially get two stat holidays.

“If only that was the case, I’m sure people would be delighted but for the entire Tararua District Wellington Anniversary is our official day off.”

Gilmore said it would be great for Tararua to have its own day which reflected the district.

“The anniversary days are a real historic carry over from very, very, very old provincial government.

“You know, whether we have a direct connection with Wellington is probably not true.”

He said the area having its own day could make the public holidays more meaningful.

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Pro-France MPs confront Macron over New Caledonia at future talks

By Asia Pacific Report -

January 19, 2026

By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

Talks on New Caledonia’s political future have been underway in Paris after French President Emmanuel Macron launched a fresh roundtable on Friday, despite the absence of one of the French territory’s largest pro-independence group, the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS).

During a first meeting with New Caledonia’s political stakeholders, Macron “regretted one of the political partners did not wish to respond to our invitation”.

But he said more talks were needed to “reach an agreement to get out of an already too long uncertainty”.

“Today, the State wishes to continue to advance on stabilising New Caledonia’s institutions, as part of a dialogue respectful of everyone, without any forceful passage, but without any paralysis either,” the French President said.

New Caledonia’s Congress (Parliament) Speaker Veylma Falaeo (Wallisian-based Eveil Océanien party) echoed Macron’s remarks, saying she too regretted the absence of the FLNKS absence “but it’s now time to move forward”.

Eveil Océanien leader Milakulo Tukumuli suggested politicians should agree on a “new period of stability of 15 to 20 years to rebuild and reform [New Caledonia], after which a new referendum could be held on a new common project or even an associated state”.

“[Macron] has now considered that one could not eternally wait for people who are not here around the table and that therefore we had to move forward because, and we told him once again, either we move forward or New Caledonia is sinking,” Pro-France Virginie Ruffenach (Rassemblement-LR) told French media.

The FLNKS, which last week decided not to travel to Paris for the talks, had however formulated a late request to join in remotely.

The request was declined.

Hardline pro-France politicians confront Macron
During the same opening session dedicated to each party’s statement, the most confrontational ones came from the two main pro-France MPs, who have also recently become increasingly critical of the French President.

“We have done our part. We have negotiated; we have made concessions; we have taken our responsibilities. Now it’s on you to do your part,” Les Loyalistes leader Sonia Backès told the gathering on Friday.

“Those who don’t want any agreement have already made us lose precious time.

“We are here because the [French] state did not engage sufficient forces on 13 May 2024.”

She was referring to the riots that killed 14, damaged or destroyed hundreds of businesses and the loss of thousands of jobs for a total of some 2.2 billion euros (NZ$4 billion) in damages.

She said the text, even if it was to be modified, was about “choosing what kind of society we want . . . Either it’s the rule of the strongest or it’s a victory for democracy,” she told Macron.

Another pro-France outspoken politician, New Caledonia’s MP in the National Assembly Nicolas Metzdorf, said: “Mr President, I don’t really know what we are doing here today. We never requested this meeting . . . Because as far as we’re concerned, we did everything that had to be done. We have worked. We have negotiated. We have made concessions.

“Instead, you should have convened the [French] ministers and parliamentary groups who remain . . . paralysed by fear.”

‘Basic principles of democracy’
Metzdorf went further in accusing France of being “unable to enforce the basic principles of democracy when it comes to one of its own territories”.

“As far as we’re concerned, we have reached the limits of what is acceptable. Now things are simple and perfectly clear: either we come out of this sequence [of discussions] with a precise text, a clear schedule and endorsement by Parliament or we will radically change our strategy and we’ll turn against our own state by using all means available to us.”

He was alluding to suing the French state in the European Human Rights Court of Justice, in reference to current restrictions to New Caledonia’s electoral roll at provincial elections, as prescribed under the previous 1998 Nouméa Accord.

This is the criteria that limits the number of eligible voters at provincial elections to those born or residing before 1998 and their descendents.

“Mr President, we have nothing left to lose . . . Because we can see the Republic has no more promise left for us,” Metzdorf added.

However, he appeared to remain optimistic: “With [pro-independence] UNI, we’ll find a point of equilibrium in the next few days.”

Moderate pro-independence leader Jean-Pierre Djaïwé, who belongs to the UNI (Union Nationale pour l’Indépendance, a gathering of PALIKA — Kanak Liberation Party — and UPM — Union Progressiste en Mélanésie), which broke away from the FLNKS and supported the Bougival text, said in Paris his aim was to “improve what can be improved”.

Financial backing needed
But other party leaders, like Philippe Dunoyer (from moderate pro-France Calédonie Ensemble), said any new agreement would remain meaningless without substantial French financial backing.

New Caledonia’s MP in the French Senate, Georges Naturel, made an outright call to Macron, asking him to be “lucid” and recognise that it is “impossible to implement” the 12 July 2026 agreement project within its original schedule.

Macron did not respond to the comments before departing the session.

After an initial sequence on Friday, marked by declarations by Macron and the main political parties in attendance, both pro-France and pro-independence, the session then split into workshops hosted by the French Ministry for Overseas, under the supervision of its Minister, Naïma Moutchou.

The talks are focusing on several aspects of the implementation of an earlier project agreement signed in July 2025.

The text, in its initial form, was mentioning the creation of a “State of New Caledonia” with its correlated “nationality” and a mechanism of gradual transfers of more powers from France to New Caledonia.

The specific themes discussed this month include the notions of the transfer of powers from France, self-determination, defence, security, external relations, the recognition of the indigenous Kanak identity and further financial assistance under a “refoundation pact” proposed by France for a total of 2.2 billion euros over a 5-year period.

Revised pact with ‘clarifications’
The final aim remains to arrive at a new document with “clarifications” to the initial Bougival pact signed in July 2025.

But the Bougival text has since faced several major obstacles in its implementation process.

This includes its outright rejection by the pro-independence FLNKS, while all other New Caledonian parties have decided to support the project at various levels.

FLNKS calls the July 2025 project a “lure of independence” because it does not address its demands for a short-term full sovereignty.

Another major obstacle was the division within the French Parliament, still faced with the absence of a clear majority, which has also delayed the endorsement of the French 2026 Appropriation Bill (budget).

Another objective of the talks is to have the revised project quickly endorsed by the French National Assembly (Lower House) in February and by the Senate (Upper House) mid-April and a final joint meeting of both House, under a “Congress” format to have the final document approved to modify the French Constitution.

If all those modifications eventuate, the next document would be renamed “Elyséee-Oudinot” and the original name of “Bougival” scrapped.

FLNKS reacts from Nouméa
Speaking on Sunday, FLNKS political bureau member and member of Union Calédonienne, Gilbert Tyuienon, denounced the Paris talks, saying this was not in line with the previous agreement signed under the name of “Nouméa Accord” in 1998, which paved the way for a decolonisation process for New Caledonia.

He said even if the Paris talks produced a new, revised document, it remained highly doubtful that it could be endorsed by French MPs “because President Macron doesn’t have a majority in Parliament”.

Another difficulty, he said, was that under the revised roadmap, New Caledonia’s provincial (local) elections could be postponed for the fourth time to sometime in September 2026.

But he pointed out that, when it gave its final green light to the former postponement to no later than 28 June 2026, the French Constitutional Council made it clear this should be the last time the crucial poll was rescheduled.

Back in Paris, talks were scheduled to continue on Monday and possibly conclude on another session supervised by Macron, should a new document emerge.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

New Zealand firefighters sent to help fight Australia’s bush fires

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A bushfire burning near the town of Longwood, northern Victoria. AFP / CFA Wandong Fire Brigade / Kylie Shingles

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has sent 22 firefighters to Victoria, Australia to help fight the catastrophic bushfires.

They departed on Monday morning and will return to New Zealand on 2 February.

Victoria is experiencing extreme weather conditions with multiple bushfires, which have killed one person and caused extensive damage to homes, property and the environment.

Emergency Management Victoria formally requested help from FENZ last week.

FENZ said the contingent being sent consists of 20 firefighters experienced in arduous conditions, and two liaison officers.

One of the crews is from the Department of Conservation, one is from the forestry industry and the other two crews comprise volunteer firefighters from FENZ brigades around the country.

Assistant National Commander Ken Cooper said the firefighters’ tasks would be confirmed when they reach Melbourne, but they are equipped and ready to stay at a fire camp in a remote location.

Fire and Emergency has international agreements to provide mutual assistance, and regularly deploys personnel overseas to Australia, Pacific Islands and North America.

“We assess each request to ensure that we have the capacity to send appropriate personnel without compromising our ability to maintain full capability to respond to incidents at home,” Cooper said.

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Sheep die after truck crash in Wairoa

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police attended the single vehicle crash where several sheep died. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Sheer have died after a truck with a number of livestock on board overturned.

The incident has closed State Highway 2, between Cricklewood Road and Kiwi Valley Road, in Wairoa.

Police were called to the single-vehicle crash around 10.40am on Monday.

They confirmed an unknown number of sheep had died, but the driver was uninjured.

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivers State of the Nation speech

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The prime minister says there will be no “extravagant” election promises from National, and confirms his government will continue to run a tight budget, in his first speech of the election year.

In a State of the Nation address at Auckland’s new International Convention Centre, Christopher Luxon launched a defence of his government’s progress and reform programme, and promised there would be no deviation from its plan should it win a second term.

National has been running on a slogan of ‘fixing the basics, building the future,’ but much of the speech was about the first part.

“For two years, National has been fixing the basics. Now heading into the election this year, National will campaign on a bold plan to build the future and leave a legacy of prosperity and opportunity for future generations,” he said.

Despite rising unemployment, a deficit higher than originally forecast, and a return to surplus pushed out to 2029-30, Luxon pointed to falling inflation and interest rates, as well as increased business confidence, as signs of the government’s progress.

“I have to tell you, I feel more confident than ever that the recovery has now arrived and Kiwis can look forward to a year which is brighter than the last few,” Luxon said.

RNZ / Calvin Samuel

Luxon used his State of the Nation speech last year to proclaim 2025 would be the year the country would “go for growth”.

At this year’s event hosted by the Auckland Business Chamber, Luxon told his audience he understood their frustration the recovery had taken so long to get traction.

“I remain of the view that we got the balance right,” he said.

“There were calls at the time for a big fiscal stimulus and to open the immigration gates and pump up house prices. As I spoke about last year, we can’t risk repeating the sugar-rush economics of the past.”

Luxon said Finance Minister Nicola Willis had delivered savings of around $11 billion a year, and promised this year’s Budget would be more of the same.

“New Zealand simply has to get its finances in order if it is to achieve a long-term improvement in its economic prospects. That’s why there will be more savings in this year’s Budget and no room for extravagant election promises,” he said.

“Let’s be straight up with each other. Any party that wants to ramp up spending is being economically irresponsible. Because the only way to spend more money is to borrow it or to raise taxes.”

He said New Zealand “can’t afford to be complacent” amidst global volatility.

RNZ / Calvin Samuel

Pointing to a rupturing of the rules-based system, and a shift from economic to security, Luxon said there was a “rising risk” of a “dangerous miscalculation” in the Indo-Pacific, Luxon said the government’s investment in defence was justified, as was its pursuit of Free Trade deals.

“We have what the world wants, we’re a reliable partner, we have the values to which most of the world aspire, and we’re an increasingly confident nation with ambition. That’s ultimately good for our economy and our country’s future,” he said.

“But a more volatile and uncertain world underscores the importance of controlling what we can. The more we are building our economy at home and developing and diversifying those relationships abroad, the stronger New Zealand gets.”

Luxon also trumpeted the Coalition’s progress on education, but signalled the scrapping of NCEA would take longer to implement than originally thought.

Public consultation ended in September, and Cabinet was supposed to consider a final set of proposals in November.

But Luxon indicated there would be a delay.

“While Erica [Stanford] is working around the clock to make these changes a reality, they won’t be bedded in for some time. The first cohort to sit the new qualifications are only starting high school in the coming weeks. These are big changes that are critical to our plan to build the future,” he said.

Law and order is the only category in the top five of the Ipsos Issues Monitor that the public believes National can handle better than Labour.

The move from annual to quarterly crime data releases has led to accusations of inaccuracies.

But Luxon said policies like the return of Three Strikes and the gang patch ban had led to “exceptional” results.

As it was a National Party event, Luxon did not mention his coalition partners ACT or New Zealand First.

But, in speaking about the Resource Management Act reforms, Luxon said he wanted National ministers in charge.

RMA reform minister Chris Bishop has been assisted by ACT parliamentary under-secretary Simon Court in drafting the reforms, while ministers like Andrew Hoggard and Shane Jones also have ministerial responsibility for certain aspects of the legislation.

“I’ll be blunt. I want, and you should want, National ministers writing those rules, so we have a resource management regime which allows New Zealanders to build the future,” Luxon said.

“And the only way to build that future is with a National government.”

Luxon also did not address any of the opposition parties by name. Labour leader Chris Hipkins is expected to speak in response to the speech later on Monday afternoon.

There were also no policy announcements during the speech, though Luxon repeated National’s pledge to raise the default KiwiSaver contribution rate if re-elected.

It is understood Cabinet has settled on a position regarding homeless ‘move-on’ orders in Auckland, but Luxon did not reveal more during his speech. Clarification around a potential weakening of housing intensification laws was also not mentioned.

Later this week, National MPs will gather in Christchurch for their first caucus meeting of the year, where it is expected Luxon will announce the date of the election.

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Tracing the long history of Aboriginal-Chinese people in Australia, through archives and art

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Burchmore, Senior Lecturer, Art History and Curatorial Studies, Australian National University

Coming to Australia, 2012, Lloyd Gawura Hornsby, acrylic on canvas, 76 x 102 cm. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Metaphors of cooking and eating are a firm favourite among writers on multiculturalism. No comment on cultural contact seems complete without the proverbial “melting pot”. This metaphor tends to imply a balanced mix of diverse ingredients, each adding its own flavour but merging with the whole.

We now associate this image with visions of broth, stew, maybe a fondue. In the early 20th century, however, the phrase more often suggested an alchemical blending of base metals in a crucible. The turning of lead into gold stood in for the conversion of the foreign into the familiar.

The later move into the kitchen can tell us something about changing attitudes toward cultures other than our own.

Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia suggests another metaphor. The National Museum of Australia exhibition brings together works of contemporary art, personal reflections on cultural inheritance and a rich selection of archival photographs.

While the melting pot isn’t entirely absent, a richer analogy arises here in the equally time-honoured image of the market garden.

A man sits in a doorway, reading a book. — House of Gold, Christian Thompson, photograph, 90 x 60 cm.
Photo courtesy of the artist

Preserving the seeds of future growth

It’s a short walk from the garden to the kitchen. But as metaphors for cultural contact, the two are miles apart.

The kitchen implies a one-way process of selection, preparation, combination, cooking and consumption.

The garden is a place for setting down roots, grafting and pruning, nurturing and cultivating. A place for preserving the seeds of future growth after the fruits of the present have been harvested and enjoyed.

The analogy is clearest in the pairing of Zhou Xiaoping’s Chinese Cabbage Leaves with his handwritten mapping of the A’hang family tree, which face each other on opposite walls.

Zhou has traced eight generations of this family from “Johnny” A’hang. Johnny arrived in South Australia in 1851 and there met a Nauo woman, “Topsy”. Zhou then takes us through hundreds of their descendants to the present.

Glass cabbage leaves cascade down a gallery wall. — Chinese Cabbage Leaves, 2024, Zhou Xiaoping, coloured glass, variable dimensions.
National Museum of Australia

Zhou’s glass cabbage leaves, in shades of jade and ochre, call to mind a comparably sweeping installation of glass coolamons created at the Canberra Glassworks by Ngambri-Ngunnawal artist Paul Girrawah House and glass artist Tom Rowney. Both works cast a humble and familiar object in a spectacular form with an elegant grafting of cultural experiences.

This metaphor of grafting is also powerfully conveyed in the A’hang family tree. The genealogy provides a conceptual anchor for the exhibition overall.

Our Story is a deeply committed exploration of generational experience as a counter-current to the mainstream of Australian history.

An emphasis on the personal

Stories of Aboriginal people and Chinese-Australians are usually told apart. Here, they come together in a range of well-known scenes: the harvesting of trepang (sea cucumbers) for Chinese consumers, the allure of the Victorian goldfields, the scars of White Australia, the trauma of the Stolen Generations.

These more familiar moments are cited as a contextual background for the real focus of the exhibition.

Our Story is the culmination of a larger research project dedicated to uncovering the long history of individual and familial Aboriginal-Chinese relations.

In the gallery hang portraits of some of the many individuals of combined Aboriginal and Chinese heritage who participated in this project. This ensures an emphasis on the personal.

Three sepia photographs. — An 8-year-old Michael Laing stands between his Aboriginal grandfather Gordon Charles Naley and his Chinese grandfather Leung Kee.
Photos courtesy Michael Laing

Their words are reproduced on the gallery wall and in the substantial exhibition text. Their voices, recorded for the documentary footage playing throughout the space, narrate a “history from below”. This phrase has recently gained use among historians to describe projects that seek to highlight previously overlooked or marginalised experiences and perspectives.

Or, to extend the garden metaphor, a history from the grassroots. A history that is very much alive, continually in process of discovery and rediscovery, animated by family ties and tales affording protection and solidarity.

Painting: a Chinese dragon and a rainbow serpent. — Dragonserpent, 2024, Gordon Hookey, oil on linen canvas, 179 x 237 cm.
Photo courtesy of the artist

The works of contemporary art shown among this wealth of archival and testimonial material offer points of focus crystallising core themes.

Koori artist Lloyd Gawura Hornsby’s paintings in acrylic on canvas New Beginnings and Coming to Australia combine images of gold and opal mining, tuna fishing, Uluru and the Great Wall. These are joined by affectionate portraits of his great-grandfather James Ahoy and the infamous anti-immigration caricature of “The Mongolian Octopus”, united in a shimmering field of dots.

New bonds and older connections, long denied or erased in official accounts, are here established.

The complex layering of culture

Our Story seems designed to inspire such reparatory unions. Its location in the museum’s First Australians Gallery is marked by a conspicuous fringe of red paper lanterns punctuated with woven grass dillybags.

This variation on a Chinatown theme is taken up again by Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman and Karrajarri artist Jenna Lee. Dillybag lanterns are recreated in rice paper and woven silk for her To Light Up installation and photographs.

Dilly bag lights. — To light up stories, 2024, Jenna Lee, assorted rice papers, powder-coated steel, rice paste glue, inks, light cord, lead bulb, 15 x 15 x 45 x 10 cm.
National Museum of Australia

The Chinatowns found in cities across Australia are one of the most cherished landmarks of our multicultural identity. They are a magnet for “melting pot” rhetoric. In contrast to the vision of that identity as a succulent meal of exotic dishes, however, Our Story celebrates the complex layering of culture as a lived experience of multiple connections.

Chinese and Aboriginal Australian heritage are presented here not as calculated percentages or assigned labels. Instead, they are celebrated as dimensions of family history and personal meaning to be tended, nurtured and, above all, to be shared.

Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia is at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, until January 27.

Alex Burchmore does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Tracing the long history of Aboriginal-Chinese people in Australia, through archives and art – https://theconversation.com/tracing-the-long-history-of-aboriginal-chinese-people-in-australia-through-archives-and-art-273467

‘Huge amount of luck’ led to discover of tramper missing since last year

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Graham Garnett. Supplied / NZ Police

Two people who stumbled upon a tramper missing for almost three weeks in the upper South Island were in the right place at the right time.

Graham Garnett, 66, was found by sheltering in a hut in Kahurangi National Park by a helicopter pilot and council staff member on Sunday afternoon, 19 days after he was reported overdue.

Heliventures NZ chief executive Nicki McMillan said on Monday a pilot and a West Coast Regional Council staff member found Garnett while they were installing signs at Venus Hut ahead of a pest control operation.

Venus Hut.

“We are thrilled with the great news and while being immensely proud of our staff, there was a huge amount of luck involved. We were in the right place at the right time and are extremely happy and relieved for Graham and his family and friends, who have undoubtedly been through an extremely difficult time over the past few weeks.”

A West Coast Regional Council environmental sciences group manager Shanti Morgan said two staff members were involved in the rescue of the missing tramper from Venus Hut on Sunday along with helicopter staff and others.

She said the council was very proud of the staff members and their role in the rescue.

Police said Garnett had been through “quite an ordeal” during his weeks in the bush.

“Graham has been transported to Nelson Hospital, where he has been re-united with his family,” Police Search and Rescue sergeant Jonny Evans said on Sunday.

Garnett had failed to return home from a hike in the national park on 30 December.

“This is an amazing result,” Evans said. “We are so pleased for Graham and his loved ones.

“Obviously, he has been through quite an ordeal and everyone involved in the search is delighted to hear that Graham has been found alive.”

Police search and rescue said they would suspend their extensive search for Garnett last week.

Four specialist canyon teams, as well as a Defence Force NH90 helicopter, were involved in the search.

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

Social lives of whales and dolphins shape the spread of infectious diseases

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Nicholls, PhD Candidate, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University

Australian humpback dolphins (_Sousa sahulensis_) engage in close social contact. Caitlin Nicholls, CEBEL, Flinders University

Dolphins, whales and seals are highly social animals. Many live in groups, form long-term relationships, and repeatedly interact with the same individuals over years or even decades. Some dolphins have preferred companions, while others move between groups in fluid, ever-changing social networks.

These social lives bring many benefits, from cooperative foraging to protection against predators. However, our new research, published in the journal Mammal Review, shows they also come with a hidden cost: social connections can shape how infectious diseases spread through marine mammal populations.

By bringing together decades of research from around the world, we unravelled that disease outbreaks in the ocean are shaped not only by how many animals are present, but by who interacts with whom.

Disease outbreaks are hard to predict

Infectious diseases are an increasing threat to wildlife populations globally, and marine mammals are no exception. Dolphins, whales and seals face growing pressures from climate change, pollution, habitat disturbance and human activity. These stressors can weaken their immune systems and make animals more vulnerable to infections.

Yet disease outbreaks in marine mammals are often sudden and difficult to explain. One year a population looks healthy; the next, animals are turning up sick or dead.

Some of the most dramatic examples involve morbilliviruses, highly contagious viruses related to measles, which have caused mass die-offs of dolphins and seals in Europe, North America and Australia.

In other cases, skin diseases such as lobomycosis-like disease have spread through dolphin communities, leading to chronic lesions, weakened health and increased vulnerability to other threats.

Part of the challenge is that the ocean hides much of what is happening. Unlike on land, scientists can’t easily observe every interaction, isolate sick individuals, or intervene early when disease begins to spread.

Another reason outbreaks are hard to predict is that disease doesn’t spread evenly through a population. Just as COVID spread faster in some human communities than others, infections in marine mammals often follow social pathways shaped by relationships and behaviour.

A grey dolphin swimming through clear water. — An Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops aduncus*) displaying ‘tattoo-like’ skin lesions characteristic of poxvirus infection.
Caitlin Nicholls, CEBEL, Flinders University

Finding the patterns

To understand these patterns more clearly, we conducted a systematic review, carefully gathering and analysing all available scientific studies that examined links between marine mammal social behaviour and infectious disease spread. Our final dataset included 14 studies that were geographically biased toward North America and Australia.

We looked at research on dolphins, whales and seals that used an analytical tool called social network analysis. This is a way of mapping who interacts with whom in a population, much like mapping connections on social media.

Scientists use photographs, observations and long-term monitoring to identify individual animals and track their associations. From this, they can measure how many companions an animal has, how often it interacts with others, and whether it occupies a central position in the social network.

We then examined how these social patterns related to disease presence, outbreak size and transmission risk.

Watch out for ‘super-spreaders’

One of the clearest findings was that highly connected individuals often play an outsized role in disease spread.

These animals, sometimes called “super-spreaders”, interact with many others and can rapidly pass infections through a population.

In dolphin communities, for example, animals with stronger or more frequent social ties were more likely to be associated with disease. In some cases, outbreaks appeared to hinge on just a few socially central individuals.

At the population level, social structure also mattered. While larger groups can initially facilitate disease transmission through frequent and close contact, the way those groups are organised is crucial.

In some populations, the presence of subgroups (semi-stable sets of animals that spend more time interacting with each other than with others) can act as barriers, slowing the spread of disease between clusters.

In other cases, tightly connected subgroups can allow infections to persist or spread more intensely within the population. As a result, a small but highly connected population may be more vulnerable to disease than a larger population with fewer close interactions.

We also uncovered major gaps in knowledge. Most studies focused on a handful of well-studied species, especially bottlenose dolphins, and were concentrated in North America and Australia.

Many threatened species and regions remain poorly studied, limiting our ability to assess global disease risk.

Two dolphins playing together in blue water. — Australian snubfin dolphins (*Orcaella heinsohni*) are gregarious and highly social, often engaging in close physical interactions.
Guido J. Parra, CEBEL, Flinders University

Reducing the risk of disease spread

These findings have important implications for how we monitor and manage wildlife health.

Conservation strategies often focus on counting animals or recording how many are sick or have already died. Our research shows this is not enough. Understanding social relationships and status can help identify which individuals or populations are most vulnerable before an outbreak occurs.

In some cases, targeting monitoring efforts towards socially central animals could provide early warning signs of emerging disease. In others, protecting habitats that support stable social structures may help reduce transmission risk.

There are also ethical and practical benefits. Marine mammals are difficult, and often impossible, to treat once disease is widespread. Prevention, early detection and informed management are therefore crucial.

As environmental pressures on the ocean continue to grow, infectious diseases are likely to become more widespread, frequent and severe. Our work shows that how marine mammals live together may be just as important as the pathogens they face.
Understanding animal social lives does not just tell us how dolphins behave; it may be key to protecting their future in a rapidly changing ocean.

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Mauricio Cantor, Assistant Professor at Oregon State University to this research.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Social lives of whales and dolphins shape the spread of infectious diseases – https://theconversation.com/social-lives-of-whales-and-dolphins-shape-the-spread-of-infectious-diseases-273460

Trump is threatening more tariffs over access to critical minerals – will NZ be targeted?

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Screenshot 2024-07-14 at 6.50.00 PM — US President Donald Trump raised a fist in defiance after an assassination attempt on his life in Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024 (USEDST).

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

On January 14, Donald Trump issued a proclamation threatening yet more tariffs if “trading partners” fail to sign agreements on critical minerals and their derivative products within 180 days of his announcement.

There is no list of target countries, but it would be surprising if Aotearoa New Zealand is not one of them.

Trump’s pronouncement follows an investigation under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act 1962 that found the United States is too reliant on foreign sources of critical minerals and derivative products, threatening its national (and economic) security.

According to the investigation, this dependence and unpredictable supply chains create vulnerability that could be exploited by “foreign actors”.

Ultimately, this is the latest salvo in Trump’s economic war with China. Critical minerals are essential to advanced weapons systems, high-tech industries (including artificial intelligence and data centres), nuclear energy and electric vehicles.

China dominates the mining, processing and manufacturing supply chain for rare earth elements and rare-earth magnets used in wind turbines, medical devices, electric vehicles and military technology. It sources much of the raw product from investments offshore.

The United States is totally or largely dependent on imports of over 40 critical minerals. Those it mines it lacks the capacity to process, exporting raw materials for refining and importing the final product.

Trump blames lack of investment in US processing capacity on China buying up mining assets in other countries, processing raw materials cheaply in China, then manipulating prices by flooding the market with cheap products, making US domestic production uneconomic.

Tensions grew last year when China imposed export controls on critical mineral technologies in the tit-for-tat tariff war with the US.

What Australia’s deal tells us

Trump has directed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to pursue or continue negotiations with other countries to ensure an adequate supply of critical minerals, and to mitigate supply-chain vulnerabilities.

We should assume the template for these negotiations is the critical minerals framework agreement Australia secretly negotiated with the US over five months, and signed in October last year.

The agreement contains numerous commitments that were once anathema to free trade advocates, including:

“price support mechanisms”, with a minimum price on “priority minerals” to come into effect in late 2026
developing a global framework to support those price controls
curbing Chinese acquisitions of new mining assets through domestic screening of investments and pressure on third countries.

On the investment side, a US$8.5 billion pipeline for targeted financing and joint ownership of projects between Australia and the US would see US$1 billion invested by each country within six months, and Australia fast-tracking approvals.

Australia’s mineral industry hailed the deal as “AUKUS in action”, with Australia also committing to major new military purchases.

There’s a logic behind the deal. Australia is the world’s fourth-largest producer of rare earth elements, and home to BHP, Rio Tinto and Lynas Rare Earths, among other mining giants. It was the top investment destination for rare earth exploration in 2024.

But Australia now faces tricky questions about who it can and can’t sell these products to.

An Australian representative from a critical minerals mining operation has been reported as saying their company was “mindful of the context in which we’ve been funded” and there’s an assumption they “won’t be making many sales to Chinese customers”.

But Australia has free trade and investment agreements with China, its largest trading partner. Most of China’s investments in Australia are in mining and energy.

The text of the US–Australia critical minerals agreement says it is non-binding and unenforceable. But the US has many forms of retaliation for non-compliance.

Trump’s proclamation makes it clear that anything below what the US demands, either in these new agreements or their implementation, can face retaliation through trade sanctions.

The US–Australia agreement also said they would convene a ministerial mining, minerals and metals investment meeting within 180 days, but it is unclear with which countries.

Would NZ sign up to Trump’s agenda?

What does this mean for Aotearoa New Zealand? At this stage we don’t know if the government has been approached, and any deal would be secret until it is signed. But given the coalition government’s pro-mining agenda, the background context is important.

As part of a Critical Minerals Dialogue under the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, New Zealand conducted a mapping of mineral reserves, resources and processing capacity in 2024.

The framework seemingly lapsed with the end of the Biden administration, but the critical minerals project lives on in another form.

In January 2025, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment published a Minerals Strategy, featuring a list of 37 critical minerals, 21 of which could be exploited here.

The strategy aims to double the value of minerals exports to NZ$3 billion by 2035, strengthen global minerals supply chains, and leverage relationships and international partnerships.

In November 2025, the government announced it had joined the international Minerals Security Partnership as a means to advance those goals.

At the same time, there is a current claim before the Waitangi Tribunal’s climate change inquiry challenging the government’s mining agenda as a breach of the Crown’s Treaty obligations.

To date we have heard nothing from the government about any demands from the Trump administration, and it is following a softly-softly foreign policy approach to the US.

But if New Zealand is a target of the latest Trump directive, there needs to be a full discussion about the implications – before, not after the fact.

Jane Kelsey advises countries, civil society and Māori entities on critical minerals and trade and investment agreements.

– ref. Trump is threatening more tariffs over access to critical minerals – will NZ be targeted? – https://theconversation.com/trump-is-threatening-more-tariffs-over-access-to-critical-minerals-will-nz-be-targeted-273780

All Blacks: The big issues for whoever takes over

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The All Blacks perform the haka before their test with Wales in Cardiff, 2025. Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency

So while the All Black conversation turns to who will be named as new coach, it’s worth weighing up just what they’re getting themselves into. For a start, the test schedule coming up is incredibly daunting. Most of the chat has been around the four test tour of South Africa, but the All Blacks also have home tests against France and Ireland, then finish the year with a tough Nation’s Cup schedule that ends at Twickenham.

That’s just the on field stuff. Scott Robertson’s firing ushered in a new era in the relationship between the All Blacks, NZ Rugby (NZR) and the public, here’s a look at what needs to be considered:

Aridie Savea wins a penalty and celebrates with Quinn Tupaea and Fabian Holland. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Winning over players

The term ‘player power’ is probably not going away, however the role the squad took in NZR’s decision is far more complicated and interesting than simply having a gripe. But it clearly shows just how important culture is within the team and how the new coaching staff needs to establish it from day one.

Cleanout?

We’ve got a whole season of Super Rugby Pacific to get through so the opportunity is there for potential debutants to put their hands up, so the main question is how bold the new coach will be in establishing his own group.

There’s also the fact that while Robertson is gone, all of his assistants are still employed. How many, if any, stay? Jason Ryan was the only one left after the last coaching handover, it’s hard to think that whoever coming in won’t be bringing their own people with them.

The All Blacks play the Wallabies in a Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park in Auckland, 27 September 2025 www.photosport.nz

Winning over the public

Whether they like it or not, the All Blacks are now going to be faced with not only scrutiny over results, but a heightened curiosity in whether everything is smooth sailing behind the scenes. The New Zealand rugby public can be extremely fickle and unreasonable, but are consistently astute at reading between the lines – something that played a significant role in Robertson’s downfall.

David Kirk, the chair of NZ Rugby, speaks to media following the departure of All Blacks coach Scott Robertson Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

The standard has been set

While David Kirk was keen to focus on the fact that it was more about the overall trajectory of the All Blacks, it’s hard to ignore the three losses they suffered in 2025. All were disappointing in their own way, but it also sets a marker that whoever takes over will likely be judged by. Strength of schedule is always going to vary, but if the All Blacks lose four tests this year, all of a sudden that overall trajectory is going to be hard to spin positively.

ADRIAN DENNIS

The Springboks

Rassie Erasmus has learned how to generate AI videos, which once again shows just how differently he not only acts as a coach, but also how much leeway his governing body is prepared to give him.

It’s unthinkable that anyone involved in the game here would do something like that, but then again nor would any coach put their best players on the bench or instruct their side to deliberately infringe in an attempt to win scrum penalties.

Like it or not, Erasmus and the Springboks are not only the team but the entire operation that everyone else is getting compared to. If what they do works, and for the most part it has, people are going to start asking why the All Blacks haven’t thought of it first.

Legacy and curse

Much was made about the Eden Park record last year and to give credit to Robertson, the defence of it will stand as his most impressive result as All Black coach. That hype will mount again when Ireland visits in July, and while the threat won’t be as high, it’s still going to add an extra layer of pressure on what will be the new coach’s third test.

Then there’s the Wellington Curse, which Robertson looked to have banished with good wins over the Wallabies and France, before it came back with vengeance when the Springboks gave the All Blacks the worst hiding in their history. Admittedly it would take a miracle for Italy to repeat that in July, but it will stand as an early marker for the trajectory that Kirk mentioned.

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

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to deliver State of the Nation speech

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will also take the opportunity to outline some of the government’s progress in areas such as law and order, education, and cutting red tape. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The prime minister will outline his plan for the year ahead and New Zealand’s future in a State of the Nation speech in Auckland today.

Speaking to a business audience, hosted by the Auckland Business Chamber at the new International Convention Centre, Christopher Luxon will also take the opportunity to outline some of the government’s progress in areas such as law and order, education, and cutting red tape.

The prime minister will be using his first election year speech to highlight what he considers wins by the coalition, and will likely reference the India Free Trade Deal announced shortly before Christmas last year.

NZ First immediately signalled its disapproval of the deal, and Luxon will likely speak today about maintaining a stable coalition with a focus on domestic affairs.

Clarification around a potential weakening of housing intensification laws, as well as plans for tackling homelessness in the Auckland CBD, may be discussed today, but will likely be revealed later in the week.

It is the first political event in the New Zealand calendar, and will be the first public appearance by Luxon following the summer break, in which international events dominated headlines.

Luxon has yet to release statements regarding the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by the United States, as well as anti-regime protests in Iran, and will likely be asked after his speech for his position on both events.

He was also yet to comment on New Zealand’s Reserve Bank governor writing in support of her counterpart in the US, and President Donald Trump’s push to take over Greenland.

There are no major policy announcements expected in the annual scene-setting speech, and the election date will not be revealed today either.

On Wednesday, both National and Labour will hold their first caucus meetings of the year, and later in the week, political parties will gather at Rātana.

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

Crime against wildlife is surging in Australia. These 4 reforms can help tackle it

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isabelle Onley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, Adelaide University

Around the world, wildlife and environmental crime is surging. It is estimated to be the fourth largest organised transnational crime sector, and to be growing at a rate two to three times faster than the global economy.

This kind of crime can take many forms, from the trafficking and trade of native species to the unlawful removal and clearance of habitat and species, lethal control such as poisoning of native animals, and illegal fishing.

There are several global assessments of these crimes and their impacts. But our understanding of their scope in Australia is limited.

This is a considerable problem, because Australia has unique and endemic wildlife species, high extinction rates, and is a country that is difficult to police due to its sheer size and vast remote areas. Our new, Australia-first study addresses this knowledge gap.

Published in Conservation Science and Practice, it reveals the most prevalent crimes against Australia’s wildlife and environment, and makes four key recommendations for urgent law reform.

Crimes in our backyard

Our unique Australian species, particularly reptiles, are prevalent in the international illegal pet market.

In one high-profile case from late 2024, a man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for 19 offences of trafficking and export of native Australian wildlife.

He used 24 different post offices across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory to attempt to ship 99 reptiles out of the country in cruel and cramped conditions.

We don’t understand the full extent and impact of these crimes in Australia, but we do know they can be disastrous. Wildlife trafficking and illegal trade erodes biodiversity through the removal of native species from their habitats. It also fuels the spread of invasive species, parasites and diseases.

Illegal harvesting of fisheries and timber can drastically impact populations and ecosystems. Unlawful lethal control of animals can also devastate local populations.

For example, in 2018 a farmhand in rural Victoria was found guilty of illegally killing over 400 wedge-tailed eagles, a large and long-lived bird of prey which is protected by law.

In 2004, employees of a fish farm in Queensland were found to have shot and killed birds including egrets, night herons, pelicans, jabirus and ducks, in numbers one witness estimated to be “in the thousands” over a fourteen month period.

The first database of its kind

For our new study, we used publicly available prosecutions from the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme, District and County Courts in each state and territory to compile a database of wildlife and environmental crime at a national scale. This is the first database of its kind in Australia.

We identified a total of 120 prosecutions between 1995 and 2024. Most of the crimes were classified as unlawful removal or damage (36.7%), illegal harvest (32.5%), or trafficking and trade (17.5%).

The most commonly targeted groups were plant species (40.8%), fish (30.8%) and reptiles (11.7%). Common targets of illegal fishing were abalone and rock lobster.

Over half of the environmental crimes (61.3%) occurred in outer regional and remote areas of Australia. These crimes overlap with areas of both greater environmental concern as well as regions more difficult to police and enforce. An increase in the number of annual prosecutions was also observed over the study period.

Tackling these crimes

Four key measures could help address the causes and effects of wildlife and environmental crime:

1. Community education to promote understanding of the damage these crimes can cause, and the ways members of the community can identify and report offences.

2. Judicial training and support to help sentencing judges understand the damage caused by wildlife and environmental crime, and accept they are “real crimes” and not less serious than offences against people and private property. Sentences and sentencing remarks need to reflect the seriousness of these crimes to effectively deter and punish offenders.

3. Boosting resources and technology to investigate and prosecute. Governments need to invest in technology and staffing to properly detect and investigate wildlife and environmental crime. For example, satellite observation can be used to identify illegal vegetation clearance, while compliance officers are vital to the ongoing prevention and prosecution of illegal fishing offences. Continued efforts at our borders to crack down on wildlife trafficking and trade will also help preserve Australian species, particularly reptiles.

4. Harmonising national laws. We need offences, definitions and penalties relating to wildlife and environmental crime to be consistent across States and Territories, and the Commonwealth. We also need to ensure that investigators have powers that cross jurisdictional State and Territory borders.

These recommendations could help Australia lead in preventing wildlife and environmental crime. In turn, they would secure Australia’s unique biodiversity and habitats from crimes that are driven by financial greed and hugely harmful to our environmental, economic and social wellbeing.

Phill Cassey receives funding from the Australian Research Council

Isabelle Onley, Katie Smith, and Kellie Toole do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Crime against wildlife is surging in Australia. These 4 reforms can help tackle it – https://theconversation.com/crime-against-wildlife-is-surging-in-australia-these-4-reforms-can-help-tackle-it-273006

One Nation surges above Coalition in Newspoll as Labor still well ahead, in contrast with other polls

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

The aftermath of the Bondi terror attacks has brought about a shift in polling for the Albanese government, which has been riding high since its thumping win in the 2025 federal election.

In the latest polls, Labor leads in Newspoll by 55–45 but only by 52–48 in Resolve. In Newspoll, Labor has 32% of the primary vote, One Nation 22% and the Coalition just 21%, but Resolve has the Coalition ten points ahead of One Nation.

A national Newspoll, conducted January 12–15 from a sample of 1,224, gave Labor a 55–45 lead over the Coalition, a three-point gain for the Coalition since the November Newspoll.

Primary votes were 32% Labor (down four), 22% One Nation (up seven), 21% Coalition (down three), 12% Greens (down one) and 13% for all Others (up one).

This is a record low for the Coalition in any poll and the first time they have been third in a poll. An early January DemosAU poll had One Nation and the Coalition tied at 23% each, so it’s not a record high for One Nation.

Anthony Albanese’s net approval slumped 11 points to -11, with 53% dissatisfied and 42% satisfied. This is Albanese’s worst net approval since last April. Sussan Ley’s net approval was up one point to -28. Albanese led Ley as better PM by 51–31 (54–27 in November).

The graph below shows Albanese’s Newspoll net approval with a trend line. His current net approval of -11 is much better than his nadir last February at -21.

Newspoll has been better for Labor this term than other polls. Three early January polls had Labor ahead by between 52–48 and 53–47, and the Resolve poll below, which was taken at the same time as Newspoll, gave Labor a 52–48 lead.

In the weeks since Bondi, there has been much negative media coverage regarding Albanese and Labor’s response to Bondi, and this probably explains the continued slide for Labor in Resolve since the post-Bondi Resolve poll in late December.

Bondi is a single incident that has had a negative impact on Labor and Albanese. As time passes, voters may move past Bondi, allowing Labor to recover some of the lost ground. Despite Resolve being much worse for Labor than Newspoll, the Liberals only led Labor by 29–26 on cost of living, which was easily the most important issue before Bondi.

Regarding the Coalition One Nation gap, while Newspoll has One Nation one point ahead of the Coalition, other polls disagree. Other than the tie in DemosAU, the Coalition led One Nation on primary votes by four points in Fox & Hedgehog, ten points in Resolve and 15.5 points in Morgan.

It’s likely that the Coalition is still second on primary votes with One Nation third, and we don’t need to estimate a Labor vs One Nation two party vote yet. But if One Nation’s surge continues, this will change.

Resolve poll

A national Resolve poll for Nine newspapers, conducted January 12–16 from a sample of 1,800, gave Labor a 52–48 lead over the Coalition by respondent preferences, a two-point gain for the Coalition since a special late December post-Bondi Resolve poll.

Primary votes were 30% Labor (down two), 28% Coalition (steady), 18% One Nation (up two), 10% Greens (down two), 7% independents (down one) and 7% others (up three). By 2025 election preference flows, Labor would have led by about 51–49, a three-point gain for the Coalition. Since the early December Resolve poll, Labor’s primary vote has dropped five points and One Nation’s has increased four points.

Albanese’s net approval was down 13 points since late December to -22, and it has fallen 28 points since early December. Now 56% rated him poor and 34% good. Ley’s net approval dropped four points since late December to -8, and is down 11 points since early December.

Albanese led Ley by 33–29 as preferred PM, down from a 38–30 lead in late December and 41–26 in early December. Albanese’s response to Bondi was rated poor by 56–32, while Ley’s response was rated good by 53–29.

The Liberals took a 31–26 lead over Labor on economic management after Labor had led by 36–33 in early December. On keeping the cost of living low, the Liberals led by 29–26 (a 31–31 tie in early December).

Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. One Nation surges above Coalition in Newspoll as Labor still well ahead, in contrast with other polls – https://theconversation.com/one-nation-surges-above-coalition-in-newspoll-as-labor-still-well-ahead-in-contrast-with-other-polls-273781

Trump has threatened European countries with higher tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland. Will it work?

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast

In an extraordinary escalation of his bid to claim Greenland, US President Donald Trump has threatened eight European countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Great Britain, France and Germany and the Netherlands – with a 10% tariff on all goods coming into the United States from February 1 until he is able to buy the semi-autonomous Danish territory. That tariff will then increase to 25% on June 1.

On the one hand, Greenland is potentially rich in raw materials and rare earth minerals, highly desirable for US tech giants who control key levers of power in Washington. On the other, Trump claims it is necessary for national security.

Greenland is part of a sovereign country, Denmark, and any offensive action against it would constitute an act of aggression.

In the past few days, a small number of European troops have arrived in Greenland to bolster its defences. Trump’s recalcitrant stance has sent shockwaves across Europe, which is now questioning the future of NATO.

So what might happen now?

The US needs a pretext of self-defence

Aggressive wars are illegal under international law. Under the UN Charter, the use of force is lawful only when

1. authorised by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII

2. as self-defence under Article 51 in response to an armed attack.

In this case, as the US’ claims have no backing from the UNSC, its use of force would require a pretext or provocation that would allow self-defence – in other words, an attack or imminent attack.

As I always tell my students in international law, these must be scrutinised carefully as there is long, chequered history behind such claims. The key problem are “false flags” by which states fabricate or manufacture a threat or attack to justify their own offensive operations.

A recent example of this is the illegal use of force in the US-led 2003 Iraq War. This was publicly sold on two claims that had no factual basis: that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and/or had close ties to al-Qaeda (and, by implication, the September 11 attacks). Even though these have been disproven, many continue to believe it.

The US wants to take over Greenland as a forward base, so we should be wary of false flags that may arise in this context. The US has justified its claim as preventing aggression from China and Russia, even though there is no evidence of their presence.

However, the potential of rivals in a region does not authorise the use of force against a third-party state. Any attack on Greenland would remain naked aggression.

What could Europe do?

There are several things Europe could do in response.

It could deploy forces, as already requested by Greenland. The Danish government has already expanded its military in Greenland and launched “Operation Arctic Endurance” in cooperation with allies including France, Germany, Norway and Sweden.

But sending 50-100 troops to Greenland is hardly a show of strength, with a handful of soldiers to cover areas the size of Switzerland.

Countries in NATO have an agreement for collective defence.
In the unlikely event of a US attack, the alliance would be sorely tested, especially given the US is a long-standing member. NATO has weathered inter-alliance disputes before, such as the 1956 Suez Crisis.

Many question whether NATO would dissolve, or if many members would leave. Certainly, it would weaken its reputation and paralyse it for some time.

Europe could threaten to close access to all military bases in Europe as this would dramatically hamper US capabilities not only in Europe but Russia, the Middle-East, and North Africa.

However, the biggest retaliatory threat Europe could muster is the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) and selling off of US bonds, of which Europe holds substantial leverage (around 28% of foreign holdings). If other states, such as China, followed suit, the US economy would likely collapse because of the rapid devaluing of the dollar. However, this is the “nuclear option”, and risks self-harm to European financial power at the same time.

Overall, Europe is in a much weaker position – hampered not only by lack of military parity but energy dependency on the US. After the mysterious destruction of the Nord Stream Pipeline, Europe is energy dependent on the US – and everyone knows it.

Moreover, if Europe took action against the US in Greenland, it would then also have to shoulder the commitment to Ukraine in the war with Russia. It would be hard-pressed on two fronts.

What would Australia and other allies do?

It is doubtful many states would actively defend Greenland against the US. But not many states would actively support it either, and with that turning away from the US as “saviour”, world order would have profoundly shifted. It would likely signal the end of the liberal international order, taking any semblance of international law with it.

All other allies would be put on notice of a rogue ally. Emboldening Trump would be highly dangerous: Cuba and Iran have already been listed. More operations in Venezuela would be possible. But he has also made statements about sending troops to Mexico and threatening Colombia. Canada is already extremely worried, given Trump’s claims of making it “the 51st state” in early 2025. Where would it end?

Australia would be in the extremely difficult position of having to side with either the US, Europe, or take an independent stance.

It would also be worried about risking the AUKUS agreement – a treaty essential for Australian defence. Taiwan would be questioning the credibility of US protection. World public opinion, already dangerously low regarding Trump, would plummet further.

For these reasons, it highly like this is all just bluster from the US to coerce Greenland from Denmark. Some have explored how US security concerns could be met without annexing Greenland but this is not the point for Trump, who is seeking to appear as the “strong man” to his MAGA supporters.

What appears likely is that European powers will offer concessions so that Trump appears to “win” for his domestic base. It has been reported that EU officials will propose to use NATO to bolster Arctic security and give the US concessions on mineral extraction. This is classic appeasement. Emboldened, we could expect further aggressive US action elsewhere.

The long-term damage would be to US credibility, with all allies on notice of aberrant and erratic behaviour. Trump’s attempts to grasp at resources and forward defences highlights US decline more than anything else.

Europe seems likely to fare little better, revealed to be utterly dependent on the US and a distinct lack of principles for its members. The real loser is the West: fractured and eating itself.

Shannon Brincat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Trump has threatened European countries with higher tariffs if he doesn’t get Greenland. Will it work? – https://theconversation.com/trump-has-threatened-european-countries-with-higher-tariffs-if-he-doesnt-get-greenland-will-it-work-273698

Congress’ power has been diminishing for years, leaving Trump to act with impunity

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Garrett, Research Associate, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney

A year into US President Donald Trump’s second term, his record use of executive orders, impoundment of government spending, and military interventions in Venezuela and Iran have sparked criticisms from Democrats and even some Republicans. They say he is unconstitutionally sidelining Congress.

As Trump increasingly wields his power unilaterally, some have wondered what the point of Congress is now. Isn’t it supposed to act as a check on the president?

But the power of the modern presidency had already been growing for decades. Successive presidents from both parties have taken advantage of constitutional vagaries to increase the power of the executive branch. It’s a long-running institutional battle that has underwritten US political history.

The years-long erosion of Congress’ influence leaves the president with largely unchecked power. We’re now seeing the consequences.

A fraught relationship

Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Under the US Constitution, it’s the branch of the government tasked with making laws. It’s supposed to act as a check on the president and the courts.

It can pass legislation, raise taxes, control government spending, review and approve presidential nominees, advise and consent on treaties, conduct investigations, declare war, impeach officials, and even choose the president in a disputed election.

But the Constitution leaves open many questions about where the powers of Congress end and the powers of the president begin.

In a 2019 ruling on Trump’s tax returns, the judge commented:

disputes between Congress and the President are a recurring plot in our national story. And that is precisely what the Framers intended.

Relative power between the different branches of the US government has changed since independence as constitutional interpretations shifted. This includes whether the president or Congress takes the lead on making laws.

Although Congress holds legislative power, intense negotiations between Congress and the executive branch (led by the president) are now a common feature of US lawmaking. Modern political parties work closely with the president to design and pass new laws.

Redefining the presidency

By contrast, presidents in the 19th and early 20th centuries generally left Congress to lead policymaking. Party “czars” in Congress dominated the national legislative agenda.

Future president Woodrow Wilson noted in 1885 that Congress:

has entered more and more into the details of administration, until it has virtually taken into its own hands all the substantial powers of government.

Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt after him would later help to redefine the president not only as the head of the executive branch, but as head of their party and of the government.

In the 1970s, in the wake of the Watergate scandal and secret bombing of Cambodia, Congress sought to expand its oversight over what commentators suggested was becoming an “imperial presidency”.

This included the passage of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, designed to wrest back Congressional control of unauthorised military deployments.

Nevertheless, the Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama administrations all argued that Congressional authorisation was not required for operations in Kosovo, Iraq and Libya (though Bush still sought authorisation to secure public support).

In turn, the Trump administration argued its actions in Venezuela were a law-enforcement operation, to which the resolution does not apply.

Why presidents bypass Congress

Historically, presidents have sought to bypass Congress for reasons of personality or politics. Controversial decisions that would struggle to pass through Congress are often made using executive orders.

Obama’s 2011 “We Can’t Wait” initiative used executive orders to enact policy priorities without needing to go through a gridlocked Congress. One such policy was the 2012 creation of the DACA program for undocumented immigrants.

Franklin Roosevelt’s use of executive orders dwarfed that of his predecessors. He issued eight times as many orders in his 12-year tenure than were signed in the first 100 years of the United States’ existence.

The question of what constitutes a genuine threat to the preservation of the nation is especially pertinent now. More than 50 “national emergencies” are currently in effect in the United States.

This was the controversial basis of Trump’s tariff policy under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. It bypassed Congressional approval and is now being considered by the Supreme Court.

Recent presidents have also increasingly claimed executive privilege to block Congress’ subpoena power.

Institutional wrestling

Institutional wrestling is a feature of Congressional relations with the president, even when the same party controls the White House and both chambers of the legislature, as the Republican party does now.

While Roosevelt dominated Congress, his “court-packing plan” to take control of the US Supreme Court in 1937 proved a bridge too far, even for his own sweeping Democratic majorities. The Democrats controlled three quarters of both the House and Senate and yet refused to back his plan.

More recently, former Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered many of Barack Obama’s early legislative achievements, but still clashed with the president in 2010 over congressional oversight.

As House minority leader, she rallied many Democrats against Obama’s US$1.1 trillion (A$1.6 trillion) budget proposal in 2014. Obama was forced to rely on Republican votes in 2015 to secure approval for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, despite his heavy lobbying of congressional Democrats.

Even today’s Congress, which has taken Trump’s direction at almost every turn, demonstrated its influence perhaps most notably by forcing the president into a backflip on the release of the Epstein files after a revolt within Trump’s supporters in the Republican party.

Given the extremely slim Republican majority in Congress, the general unity of the Republican party behind Trump has been a key source of his political strength. That may be lost if public opinion continues to turn against him.

Is Trump breaking the rules?

Trump and his administration have taken an expansive view of presidential power by regularly bypassing Congress.

But he’s not the first president to have pushed the already blurry limits of executive power to redefine what is or is not within the president’s remit. The extent to which presidents are even bound by law at all is a matter of long running academic debate.

Deliberate vagaries in US law and the Constitution mean the Supreme Court is ultimately the arbiter of what is legal.

The court is currently the most conservative in modern history and has taken a sweeping view of presidential power. The 2024 Supreme Court ruling that presidents enjoy extensive immunity suggests the president is, in fact, legally able to do almost anything.

Regardless, public opinion and perceptions of illegality continue to be one of the most important constraints on presidential action. Constituents can take a dim view of presidential behaviour, even if it’s not technically illegal.

Even if Trump can legally act with complete authority, it’s public opinion — not the letter of the law — that may continue to shape when, and if, he does so.

Samuel Garrett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Congress’ power has been diminishing for years, leaving Trump to act with impunity – https://theconversation.com/congress-power-has-been-diminishing-for-years-leaving-trump-to-act-with-impunity-273099

Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis affect thousands in NZ – a new study reveals the staggering cost

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith, Research Fellow in Gynaecology, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand

Annette Riedl/Getty Images

For tens of thousands of New Zealanders, endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain are lived quietly – through cancelled plans, lost jobs and years of being told their pain is “normal”.

Now, we have a clear picture of what that cost looks like in dollar terms. Our recently-published study – the first of its kind in New Zealand – estimates these conditions are costing NZ$22.6 billion annually.

Importantly, most of that burden does not sit in GP clinics or hospitals but shows up in people’s working lives. In other words, the largest economic toll is not the price of treatment, but the price of being unable to work.

A hidden burden

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and endometriosis are separate yet tightly interlinked conditions that are widespread, disabling and routinely misunderstood.

CPP, sometimes also called persistent pelvic pain, is pain between the tummy button and the top of the legs that occurs on a regular basis for six months or more.

Around a quarter of women in New Zealand are likely to experience CPP, arising from a range of underlying conditions such as bladder pain syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, and in some cases with no clear structural cause at all.

The most common underlying cause is the chronic inflammatory disease endometriosis. It affects about one in seven to one in ten women, girls and people presumed female at birth, during their reproductive years as well as an under-recognised number during and after menopause.

That makes it more prevalent than diabetes or heart disease. Its impacts extend far beyond pelvic or period pain, commonly including nausea, fatigue and profound disruption to daily life.

Yet endometriosis remains poorly understood and poorly treated. Decades of under-investment in research have left people waiting eight years or more for diagnosis, with only about a quarter satisfied with their treatment.

It is widely described as a “hidden” or “invisible” illness. Many people appear outwardly well, while enduring severe and persistent pain.

Gaps in education – among both the public and clinicians – combined with the lingering taboo around menstruation mean many grow up believing their symptoms are normal. Too often, it is dismissed as part of being a woman, or they are even advised to become pregnant as a supposed “cure”.

Counting the true cost

To gain a deeper understanding of the economic cost, we drew on a survey developed by the World Endometriosis Research Foundation, which has been used in multiple countries including Australia.

However, this is the first time the data have been analysed using a detailed economic methodology designed to capture the true personal and societal costs of these conditions.

We applied international dollars (INT$), which adjust for differences in purchasing power between countries, allowing fair comparison of costs across health systems.

When projected over a 34.5-year working lifespan, lifetime per‑person losses exceeded INT$1.9 million for endometriosis and $1.5 million for CPP, highlighting the long‑term economic consequences of diagnostic delay and under‑treatment.

As with international research, we found most of the cost was not driven by medical care such as GP visits or procedures. Instead, it was lost productivity – driven by pain and fatigue – that dominated.

These productivity losses accounted for an estimated 65% of the total cost of endometriosis and 75% of the cost of chronic pelvic pain.

Another important finding was that applying diagnostic attribution substantially reshaped both per-person and national cost estimates, revealing that a large share of the economic burden previously attributed to non-specific pelvic pain is more accurately assigned to endometriosis.

By valuing productivity loss from the ground up, at the level of individual patients, we also found indirect labour costs were far higher than those reported in earlier “top-down” models, which systematically underestimate how profoundly these conditions disrupt working lives.

What should be done?

Improvements in diagnostic technology, including ultrasound, and in the expertise needed to diagnose and manage endometriosis, mean that certain forms of the disease can now be reliably identified on scans.

Providing wider access to this technology, and to practitioners experienced in improving outcomes for people with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain – including specialist gynaecologists and multidisciplinary teams – could significantly reduce diagnostic delays and, in turn, healthcare costs.

In New Zealand, however, there are still many access issues that shape how people engage with healthcare for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. These inequities continue to have a negative impact on marginalised groups, including Māori and Pacific people.

Greater investment in support systems, particularly in the workplace, is also likely to substantially reduce the burden of these conditions.

Because most of the costs are related to reduced productivity and the need to take sick leave, relatively small changes – such as flexible working hours or the ability to work from home – could make a meaningful difference.

That said, these options will not suit everyone, especially people working in roles such as healthcare.

Finally, the development of a national action plan, underpinned by new and relevant research – similar to that introduced in Australia – has the potential to reshape experiences for people with endometriosis, including through the establishment of specialist pelvic pain clinics.

Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith is affiliated with the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (working as a paid research fellow), and is the president of Specialty Trainees of New Zealand (junior doctors union).

Mike Armour receives funding from the Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) for research into endometriosis and diagnosis unrelated to this work.

– ref. Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis affect thousands in NZ – a new study reveals the staggering cost – https://theconversation.com/chronic-pelvic-pain-and-endometriosis-affect-thousands-in-nz-a-new-study-reveals-the-staggering-cost-271715

When can my kids start going for a run with me?

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, Adelaide University

Westend61/Getty Images

Running with your kids can be a great way to spend time together and build some healthy habits. But when is the right age is to start?

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just choosing a number. But here are some principles to help you both decide when they can start.

What do the physical activity guidelines say?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends kids aged five to 17 do at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise every day.

This should mainly be aerobic (think running, cycling and active play). But it also needs to include muscle- and bone-strengthening exercise at least three times per week, such as contact sports, sprinting, or even weight training.

Are kids’ bodies ready to run long distances?

Most kids spend their early years performing unstructured activity that involves sprinting, jumping and changing direction. This means children should have the strength to start running.

But there is a key difference between kids’ activity and jogging or running for longer distances: it involves long bouts of continuous activity. Kids’ unstructured play involves short bursts of intense activity interspersed with periods of recovery.

Children aren’t just small adults: they regulate temperature differently and can be more prone to overheating. So it’s important to pay attention to hydration and take regular drink breaks.

Another difference is that most exercise children do is play-based, rather than formal “exercise”. Free play not only helps children meet physical activity guidelines but also improves their motor skill development and social abilities.

This doesn’t mean running is bad – it just shouldn’t replace all their free play.

What about injuries?

Running has a high injury rate. Almost half of adult runners will get an injury each year.

Among teens who did regular running training, one paper found 18% sustained an injury over the eight-month study period.

Most running injuries are known as “overuse” injuries. These are often caused by people running too much too quickly, without letting their body adapt and get stronger first.

There is some evidence suggesting children with weaker muscles around their knees and hips might be more prone to injury.

Girls also seem to be more likely to get injured than boys. It’s unclear why, but it may be linked to girls’ lower muscle mass, resulting in more load on their bones and joints.

Children should always start small and progress slowly over time, as doing too much too soon might lead to injury.

What are the benefits of kids running?

Kids who exercise more (running or otherwise) have:

a reduced risk of childhood obesity
improved heart health
better mental health
a greater likelihood of being active into adulthood.

So the benefits of running are likely to outweigh the potential negatives – especially if it’s approached safely.

What age is appropriate?

Because biological readiness varies between kids, there is no universal “right age”.

However the evidence suggests children under five shouldn’t need structured exercise. Their exercise should come almost entirely from play.

Some researchers suggest children aged five to seven can incorporate one to two play-based running activities into their week, such as tag or stuck in the mud. However, they should avoid continuous running until they are a little older.

By ages seven to nine, children can start going on runs lasting 20 to 30 minutes, up to three times a week. By this age they should have the strength to run continuously without a high risk of injury.

By age ten to 12, they can increase this to three to five runs per week that last 20 to 40 minutes at a time. However the distance should be capped at around 5km at a time.

At this age, running should be complemented by other sports that involve high-impact and multi-directional activities. This will help avoid overuse injuries and promote well-rounded physical development.

From 13 to 17, teens can progress running on a more individual basis. If they enjoy it, they could run three to five times a week and extend some runs up to 8km.

They should still be completing other activities. One option is to take a couple of months off from running each year to focus on other sports.

Remember, these are guidelines, not hard rules. What matters most is whether your child or teen is physically ready, interested and pain-free.

How to safely build up your kids’ running?

Start with time, not distance. Run for five to ten minutes (or even less) with walking breaks. Slowly extend the time over several weeks.
Use run/walk intervals. Running for one minute and walking for one minute might make it more enjoyable and help them regulate their temperature.
Increase volume gradually. Increasing your running distance by more than around 10% every 30 days will increase injury risk. So try and keep under this threshold.
Let your child lead. Allow them to choose when to run, when to walk, and when to stop.
Mix it up so running isn’t your child’s only form of exercise.

The goal is to build lifelong exercisers, not Olympic runners. Start slow, and let them guide you on how much they should be doing. If they don’t enjoy running, look for something different.

Hunter Bennett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. When can my kids start going for a run with me? – https://theconversation.com/when-can-my-kids-start-going-for-a-run-with-me-270681

What makes people more likely to give to charity after a disaster: new research

By The Conversation -

January 19, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalina Zlatevska, Professor of Marketing, University of Technology Sydney

The scope and breadth of natural disasters facing Australia right now can feel overwhelming.

Victoria, still reeling from disastrous, widespread bushfires, faced a new threat last week as a “historic deluge” caused flash flooding in several coastal towns. Queenslanders, meanwhile, have been grappling with flooding from ex-Cyclone Koji.

Disasters like these don’t just only destroy homes and lives, they also leave lasting scars on individuals, communities, and the environment. Though local support efforts are vital, they aren’t always enough, and further help becomes essential.

To fill in these gaps, many charities launch campaigns to raise money and encourage action that helps others from people who are far-removed and unaffected. However, with so many causes competing for attention and global priorities constantly shifting, it’s harder than ever for these campaigns to break through the noise.

Our new research, published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, wanted to understand something big: does distance really matter when it comes to helping others?

And if it does, how can charities use that knowledge to make their campaigns more effective – whether the cause is close to home or far away?

Different types of distance

To find out, we dug into 17 years of research, reviewing experimental studies on campaigns for causes that were “distant” in different ways.

Some were geographically distant – think helping people overseas versus those in your local community.

Others were socially distant – helping people who are nothing like you, compared to those you feel connected to. Think about supporting complete strangers versus people who share your background, interests or community.

And then some were “temporally distant”: causes focused on a distant time point in the future. Examples include climate change outcomes or long-term recovery, versus immediate support for fire and flood victims – such as those in Victoria and Queensland who still need help on the ground right now.

By looking at all these different forms, we started to see that distance isn’t just about kilometres – it’s a concept that shapes how people decide to help.

What we found was fascinating: different types of distance don’t all work the same way. Although people are likely to help when the cause is close to home, what matters even more is social proximity: how similar or connected we feel to people in need.

In other words, helping “people like me” often outweighs helping those nearby. This opens up a big opportunity for charities – if a cause is far away, making it feel socially closer could be the key to success.

Creating a sense of closeness

While we’re not the first to show the power of social identification in charitable decision making, we focused on studies that looked at real campaigns.

What we found is that social closeness can be created through relational ties or highlighting similarities between the donor and the person in need. This can include sharing the same name, age or even ethnicity.

When people notice these points of connection, it may make the cause feel more personal and, in turn, increases the likelihood of helping.

Matching the message

We believe there’s another layer to this story. The closer something feels, the easier it is to picture. When a cause is near in time, similar to us, or geographically close, we can imagine it more vividly. That sense of vividness matters because it shapes how people process and respond to campaigns.

Our review found some evidence that when a campaign fits the level of vividness the cause naturally evokes, it may help people engage more deeply. In other words, matching the message to the psychological “distance” of the cause could make the campaign more effective.

For causes that feel close, vivid and concrete elements, like focusing on individual victims and asking for direct donations, may align best.

For causes that feel distant, broader and less concrete approaches, such as collective stories and effort-based actions like advocacy or volunteering, could be more suitable.

Bridging the gap

In the face of bushfires and flooding in Victoria and Queensland, charities are facing a critical test: how to turn individual concern both at home and overseas into action that helps others.

The takeaway from our research is simple: closeness isn’t just about kilometres. It’s about connection. When a cause feels relatable, we are more likely to act. And when charities tell stories that bridge those gaps, generosity can flow, near or far.

– ref. What makes people more likely to give to charity after a disaster: new research – https://theconversation.com/what-makes-people-more-likely-to-give-to-charity-after-a-disaster-new-research-273217

Dozens of slips close State Highway 2 through Waioweka Gorge after wild weather

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A slip on State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge. Supplied/NZTA

State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge is expected to remain closed for several weeks.

A rescue was launched on Friday after extensive damage, caused by heavy rain, left more than 40 people stranded.

More than 320 millimetres of rain fell within 48 hours, double the area’s January average.

That turned gullies into waterfalls, overwhelmed and blocked culverts, and triggered widespread debris flows across the road.

A slip on State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge. Supplied/NZTA

Crews had worked throughout the weekend to clear the stretch between Mātāwai and Ōpōtiki.

However, the New Zealand Transport Agency said the situation is far more complex than first anticipated.

Waikato and Bay of Plenty manager for maintenance and operations, Roger Brady, said it was not something that could be fixed within days.

“Our crews are doing everything they safely can, but the sheer number of slips and continuing amount of debris falling mean this is a complex and challenging situation,” he said.

“The safety of our crews will always come first.”

Brady said it was estimated there were up to 40 slips in total, including four to eight larger ones.

“Given the scale of damage and uncertainty about the condition of the road underneath the debris, we expect the closure to extend well beyond a short-term response.”

People are urged to delay travel where possible, or to allow time for the long detour via State Highway 35 or State Highway 5.

The detour is five hours longer than driving from Mātāwai and Ōpōtiki on State Highway 2.

The NZ Transport Agency will also continue to monitor and maintain the detour route to ensure it is safe and accessible

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

Government considering ban on rock pool harvesting in Auckland

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A group of people at the Army Bay rock pools. MARK LENTON / SUPPLIED

The government is making moves to stop people stripping rock pools of sealife in north Auckland.

On Saturday, more than 100 Whangaparāoa residents protested against what they say are busloads of people plucking out everything from crabs to sea cucumbers.

Local iwi Ngati Manuhiri is seeking a two-year ban on harvesting shellfish along the city’s eastern coastline to allow marine life to recover.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones told Morning Report he’s considering bans and an education campaign to stop the practice.

“It’s grown into an issue that’s certainly generated a lot of passion thanks to the local community,” he said.

Jones said most of the people beach-combing were migrants, hence the need for an educational campaign.

He has sought urgent advice from Fisheries New Zealand on how to respond to over-harvesting at the site, which was currently being prepared. He said a rāhui, a temporary ban on access, could be enforced by the state.

“We need to ensure that when we introduce these prohibited measures, that not only are they going to be effective, but we don’t create too many unwanted consequences because this particular problem is attributable to unvetted immigration,” Jones said.

University of Auckland marine biologist Andrew Jeffs earlier told RNZ as the country had become more ethnically diverse, it had put pressure on species that were not always harvested here.

“People have different tastes in what they like to eat and enjoy, and harvesting from the shore of fresh seafood material is something that they enjoy.

“It’s about managing that activity so it doesn’t damage the environment, and whoever, whether it’s the community or government, needs to work with those people to make it possible for them to have some of that enjoyment, but without damaging the environment.”

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

Phoenix continue unbeaten start to year

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Isaac Hughes doubled Wellington’s advantage shortly after the hour mark. AAP / Photosport

The Wellington Phoenix continued their unbeaten start to 2026 with another statement win on the road.

The Phoenix upset second-placed Sydney FC 2-0 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, a fortnight after knocking over the then third-placed Roar 3-0 in Brisbane.

Carlo Armiento, on his return from suspension, gave the ‘Nix the halftime lead with a goal from a free kick before Isaac Hughes doubled Wellington’s advantage shortly after the hour mark by scoring his second header in as many games.

Sydney FC played the entirety of the second half with 10 men after having a player sent off shortly before the interval, and rarely threatened the Phoenix goal throughout the 90 minutes.

The result lifts Wellington to eighth on the ladder, just two points outside the top six and with a game in hand over the three sides that occupy the final three finals berths.

Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano said it was a good 90-minute performance.

“We came here with a gameplan and the boys executed very well in the first half and showed a lot of discipline,” Italiano told media post-match.

“In the second half, we adjusted a couple of things and it’s very hard to play against 10 men, but the boys executed very well.

“I’m very happy that some players came on as well and we were able to influence the game with the subs.”

It’s Italiano’s second win over his close friend and former Nix head coach Ufuk Talay.

“We have so much respect for each other. Uffy is really astute when it comes to tactical changes and seeing the game.

“I do have an advantage that I’ve worked with him for so long and also we probably did a couple of things that he wasn’t expecting today.

“But again, I’m not expecting an easy game now when they come back home in a couple of weeks.”

Giancarlo Italiano made one change to the XI which started last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Adelaide United with Armiento returning from suspension in place of Lukas Kelly-Heald, who was named amongst the substitutes.

Twin brother Alby Kelly-Heald was also back on the bench along with new signing Bill Tuiloma, who was available to make his Phoenix and A-League debut.

The Wellington Phoenix will stay over in New South Wales as they are back in action against the Jets in Newcastle on Friday night.

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

Fast-finishing Daniel Hillier gets second place at Dubai Invitational

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Daniel Hillier. photosport

An in-form Daniel Hillier surged to the late lead before settling for runner-up honours and a healthy pay-day at the Dubai Invitational.

The New Zealand golfer finished alone in second place behind Spaniard Nacho Elvira, who managed a par on his final hole to finish on 10-under, one stroke ahead of Hillier.

New Zealand compatriot Ryan Fox was in a share of 27th on two-over.

A mammoth putt for birdie on the 15th hole put Hillier on top of the leaderboard, closing with a six-under 65 to be clear of a group that included Northern Ireland’s world No.2 Rory McIlroy.

However, Elvira held his nerve, shooting birdie on the 17th to ultimately leave Hillier receiving a nevertheless sizeable cheque of US$302,000 (NZ$526,000).

“To be honest, at the start of the week I was chatting with (Ryan) Foxy, and we had a couple of nine-hole matches and he said ‘why can’t you be like this when you’re playing in a tournament?’,” Hillier said.

“Just pretend I was playing a little nine-hole match against the golf course, and yeah, basically taking it one shot at a time. For the most part, happy days.”

Hillier is in a rich vein of form, having opened the season with sixth and fifth placings at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open respectively.

He placed 16th at last November’s season-ending World Tour Championship, a result that left him fractionally short of earning a maiden PGA Tour card.

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Funding Wegovy will save taxpayer money in long run – specialist

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wegovy slimming medication at a pharmacy in Berlin. AFP / Jens Kalaene

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded.

New Zealand has the third-highest adult obesity rate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between 2-14.

Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide – a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss.

The first was in September, for people with an established cardiovascular disease (such as someone who has had a heart attack or stroke) and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or higher. The second was in October, for chronic weight management in people with a BMI of 30 or higher, with at least one weight-related comorbidity.

Pharmac director of advice and assessment David Hughes said guidance was expected to be published later this month.

“Our expert advisors will assess how effective the medicine is compared with current funded options, and consider its impact on individuals, whānau, caregivers and the wider health system,” he said.

Hughes added that Pharmac also had an application to fund Saxenda or liraglutide for people with very high BMI.

That application was currently under assessment.

On Monday, Australia announced that Wegovy would be subsidised, after being listed on the country’s equivalent to Pharmac.

The ABC reported that Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler committed to listing the drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for patients with an established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 35 or higher. No clear timeline for was established.

However, that would reduce the cost to AU$25 (NZ$29) per script or AU$7.70 (NZ$9) for a concession card holder.

Wegovy costs $459.99 per month in New Zealand.

Associate Minister of Health David Seymour could not comment on what Pharmac should or should not fund.

“However, I am urging them to improve their budget bids for more money, by considering how funding new drugs might save the taxpayer money elsewhere,” he said.

“That shift could lead to drugs such as this one being funded sooner, but the final decision remains with Pharmac.”

Weight loss specialist Dr Gerard McQuinlan also believed that funding Wegovy would save the taxpayer money in the long run.

He told RNZ that obesity was related to more than 200 other diseases.

“If I just take one of them, like diabetes, the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes if you have obesity is about 12 times, right?

“If you look at the cost of Type 2 diabetes to the taxpayer – this is from the Ministry of Health – it costs about $2.1 billion per year, so just reducing just one disease, like diabetes, you can save a lot of money.”

He did not think funding Wegovy would create a shortage, especially once the pill form was available in New Zealand.

He said obesity was a chronic, relapsing and progressive disease, with a 95 percent chance the weight would return, if the disease was not managed through medication.

“We don’t want people to lose weight and then stop the medication, and the weight comes back on, because usually, they’ll gain more weight than what they started with,” he said.

“People put on more weight after dieting, eventually, because it’s not a willpower problem – it’s a hormone problem. It’s to do with hormones that regulate hunger, appetite and particularly the feeling that people have had enough food.

“That’s the problem with obesity – people don’t feel that they’ve eaten enough. The signal’s lost.

“The Wegovy, that is the hormone that controls satiety, the feeling that you’ve had enough to eat.”

Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at the University of Auckland, Wayne Cutfield, described “vicious” weight regain after the drug was stopped, as one concern.

It meant people would likely need to take the drug for the rest of their life, meaning Pharmac would need to consider the long-term implications of funding it.

He was also very concerned about the high rate of side effects, which meant lots of people were stopping taking the weight loss drugs soon after starting them.

Cutfield said there would need to be strict criteria for people to get the funded Wegovy – likely not just obesity, but obesity combined with other obesity-related diseases.

Considering how to get people off the drug would also be important, he said.

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What exactly will New Zealand’s free trade deal with India mean?

By Evening Report -

January 19, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Trade Minister Todd McLay announce the conclusion of free trade negotiations with India in December. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Explainer – Trade Minister Todd McClay and his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal, announced the recommencement of free trade negotiations as part of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s trip to the South Asian nation in March last year.

Nine months later, shortly before Christmas, the government said the trade negotiations had been concluded, achieving significant wins for several industries but limited gains for dairy.

Indeed, both sides have described the free trade agreement (FTA) as a shot in the arm for their respective economies.

The Indian government said the trade deal was a “forward-looking partnership” that promised to give labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather a significant boost.

For New Zealand, the agreement provided new business opportunities through enhanced access for the first time to a rapidly growing Indian middle class – expected to exceed 700 million within five years.

McClay even called the deal a “once-in-a-generation” achievement.

Below is a deeper look at what has been negotiated and announced to date.

First things first. What’s the current status of the New Zealand-India free trade agreement?

The concluded negotiations of the proposed FTA will become a ratified treaty after enabling legislation is passed by New Zealand and India parliaments.

The passing of such legislation is relatively straightforward in India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a coalition government that is united on the deal.

The path is less clear in New Zealand, after a coalition member has expressed its opposition to the agreement.

New Zealand First has invoked an “agree to disagree” clause of its coalition agreement with the National Party, with leader Winston Peters calling the deal “neither free nor fair”.

As a result, the government will need support from the opposition to make the trade deal with India a reality.

If one of the opposition parties does support the deal, National would seek to pass enabling legislation as soon as possible with an eye on the general election that must be held by the year’s end.

Once both nations have done so, the agreement could be signed sometime in the first half of the year.

Both sides have also agreed to review the agreement one year after it comes into force, which provides a mechanism to pursue further improvements in future, according to McClay.

Trade Minister Todd McClay is confident Labour will support the free trade agreement with India. Mark Papalii

What has been the reaction to the deal so far?

Overwhelmingly positive.

Export NZ, the NZ Forest Owners Association, the Meat Industry Association, Beef + Lamb NZ, Horticulture NZ, NZ Timber Industry Federation, Wools of NZ, have all expressed support for the deal.

The Dairy Companies Association recognised the deal was good for the country but not for dairy, with core products such as butter and cheese being left out.

However, the association welcomed the inclusion of duty-free re-exports that would see New Zealand export ingredients to India for manufacture.

ExportNZ highlighted existing prohibitive tariff barriers – typically 30-60 percent and up to 150 percent for wine – the trade deal would bring down, giving New Zealand exporters more certainty and options.

The Meat Industry Association described the deal as a “strategically significant milestone” for the country’s red meat sector.

New Zealand Forest Owners Association believed the deal would provide a platform to lift forestry export volumes over time and grow higher-value trade in processed wood and building products.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand said the announcement was positive for sheep farmers, putting the country on a level playing field with Australia.

Horticulture New Zealand said improved access to India would further diversify horticulture’s export portfolio.

The NZ Timber Industry Federation also welcomed news of the agreement, saying it created “huge opportunities” for saw-millers and wood processors nationwide.

Since the announcement before Christmas, several media commentators have also expressed their support in the deal.

New Zealand Herald business commentator Fran O’Sullivan said the free trade agreement “could reshape our exports – and our politics”.

Meanwhile, Stuff political editor Luke Malpass described the deal as “1.4 billion reasons to cheer”.

Let’s talk trade numbers

Total two-way trade between New Zealand and India, which is forecast to become the world’s third-largest economy by around 2030, was valued at $3.68 billion in the year to June 2025.

Of this, New Zealand exported goods and services valued at $1.79 billion to India over that period.

This makes India the country’s 21st-largest goods export market and fifth-largest services export market.

New Zealand’s key exports to India in year ending June 2025 were travel services ($948 million), industrial products ($265 million), forestry and forestry products ($134 million, of which logs constituted $77 million), horticulture ($118 million, of which apples were $79 million and kiwifruit $36 million), dairy and dairy products ($76 million, of which albumins was $62 million) and wool ($76 million).

While travel is the largest services export between the two countries, other key services exports from New Zealand to India include education and government services.

Key Indian imports in New Zealand in 2024 included machinery and equipment ($174 million), textiles and apparel ($147 million), pharmaceuticals ($131 million), vehicles ($62 million), precious stones and metals ($60 million) and paper products ($44 million).

New Zealand currently imports a large quantity of mangoes from India. NOAH SEELAM

What did New Zealand and India agree on in terms of tariffs in the negotiations?

The free trade agreement eliminates duty on 100 percent of Indian imports (8284 tariff lines), while 95 percent of New Zealand’s current exports will be tariff-free or benefit from reduced tariffs.

According to the Indian government, New Zealand has generally maintained tariffs of around 10 percent for around 450 lines of key Indian exports, with the average applied tariff being 2.2 percent in 2025. The tariffs are expected to be zero from day one of the agreement coming into force.

India’s labour-intensive sectors – textiles, clothing, leather and footwear – as well as automotive companies are poised to benefit significantly from this.

Meanwhile, the average tariff applied to New Zealand’s current exports to India will decrease to 3 percent.

Tariffs have been eliminated from almost all forestry products, wool, sheep meat and coal.

Current tariffs for forestry products to India range between 5.5 and 11 percent, while current tariffs on sheep meat exports are 33 percent.

What’s more, the current 33 percent tariff applied to fish and seafood exports will be eliminated on most goods over seven years.

Most of New Zealand’s existing trade in industrial products with India will be tariff-free within 10 years.

The current 33 percent tariff placed on cherries and avocados will be eliminated over 10 years.

According to the Indian government, New Zealand has agreed on focused action plans for kiwifruit, apples and honey to improve productivity, quality and sectoral capabilities of these fruit growers in India.

For this, centres of excellence will be established, which will work on capacity building for growers, provide technical support for orchard management and impart knowledge on post-harvest practices, supply chains and food safety.

In return, there will be paired market access for New Zealand exporters managed through a tariff rate quota system with minimum import prices and seasonal imports.

The current 66 percent tariff on mānuka honey exports will be cut by 75 percent over five years to 16.5 percent.

For apples, the current 50 percent tariff will reduce to 25 percent for 32,500 tonnes from day one, growing to 45,000 tonnes over six years.

For kiwifruit, the current 33 percent tariff is eliminated for 6250 tonnes from day one, growing to 15,000 tonnes over six years.

In addition, there will be a 50 percent tariff reduction on kiwifruit exports exceeding the quota to 16.5 percent as soon as the trade agreement is in place.

There is good news for New Zealand wine exporters as well, which currently face a tariff of 150 percent.

Tariffs on wine exports will be reduced by 66-83 percent over 10 years from the date the agreement comes into force, ultimately ending on a tariff of 25-50 percent and levelling the playing field with India’s existing FTA partners.

There is also a commitment by India that any better outcome for wine exporters offered in the future to any other country will automatically be extended to New Zealand.

According to the Indian government, it has offered New Zealand market access in about 70 percent of the tariff lines, while keeping almost 30 percent in exclusion.

As expected, exclusions include dairy (milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese, etc), animal products (other than sheep meat) and vegetable products.

That said, the current 33 percent tariff placed on bulk infant formula and other dairy-based food preparations and the 22 percent tariff placed on peptones (a dairy-based product) will be phased out over seven years.

The free trade agreement also creates a new quota of 3000 tonnes for albumins (a milk protein product), which is above recent average export volumes to India. The 22 percent tariff will be halved on exports within the quota.

Finally, there is a commitment in the agreement that India could increase New Zealand access to dairy if the South Asian nation offered improved access to “comparable countries” – that is, similar per capita GDP, economic size and dairy production levels – in future.

However, Goyal told reporters that “India [is] never going to open up dairy” to any nation when announcing the conclusion of trade talks with New Zealand in December.

Dairy has largely been excluded from the free trade agreement with India. Adam Simpson

What about delays at the border and customs?

According to the government, the free trade agreement aims to streamline customs processes at the border, reduce transaction costs, increase transparency, cut red tape and provide greater certainty to New Zealand exporters.

“India Customs will release all goods within 48 hours, and, in the case of perishable goods and express consignments, endeavour to release within 24 hours,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

“The FTA codifies access to, and procedures around, advance rulings and a single window for customs clearance import procedures, as well as codifying the ability for traders to submit customs import documentation to India electronically.

“New Zealand exporters will have a choice of the type of proof of origin they can use, either a certificate of origin or self-declaration for approved exporters.”

What other commitments has New Zealand made?

New Zealand has made a commitment to promote investment into India, with the aim of increasing private sector investment by US$20 billion (NZ$34 billion) over 15 years.

To facilitate New Zealand investments, India will establish a bespoke New Zealand Investment Desk to assist New Zealand investors with issues that may arise across the investment lifecycle.

According to the Indian government, a rebalancing clause is in place in the trade agreement “enabling India to take remedial measures should delivery on investment be below commitment levels”.

What about healthcare, pharmaceuticals or traditional medicines?

According to the Indian government, the free trade agreement boosts India’s pharmaceuticals and medical devices sector by making provision for faster regulatory access.

“The FTA streamlines access for pharmaceuticals and medical devices by enabling acceptance of GMP and GCP inspection reports from comparable regulators, including approvals by the US FDA, EMA, UK MHRA, Health Canada and other comparable regulators,” the Indian government said.

“These will reduce duplicative inspections, lower compliance costs and expedite product approvals, thereby facilitating smoother market access and supporting growth of India’s pharmaceutical and medical devices exports to New Zealand.”

In addition, the Indian government says, New Zealand has signed an annex in the agreement to facilitate trade in Ayurveda, yoga and other traditional medicine services with India.

“It gives centre stage to India’s AYUSH disciplines (Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, Siddha and homeopathy) alongside Māori health practices,” the government said.

Ayurveda is a traditional form of medicine based around herbs and massage that is popular with the Indian community in New Zealand.

But, as Medsafe has told RNZ in the past, “there are no approved Ayurvedic medicines in New Zealand”.

New Zealand’s health agency does not directly regulate Ayurvedic practitioners or their practices and routinely publishes reports around concerns on products such as Ayurvedic medicines on its website to keep the public and health practitioners informed.

Any other regulatory provisions worth highlighting?

According to the Indian government, there’s a binding commitment in the free trade agreement from New Zealand to amend its laws within 18 months to provide EU-level protection for India’s geographical indications (GIs).

“The current GI Law of New Zealand only allows for India’s wines and spirits to be registered,” the Indian government said.

“Commitment is now in place to taking all steps necessary including amendment of its law to facilitate the registration of India’s wines, spirits and ‘other goods’, a benefit that was accorded to the EU by New Zealand,” it said.

“Timelines for this are 18 months from agreement entering into force.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade noted this in its summary of the agreement.

“New Zealand agreed to undertake a review of GI protections with a view to matching protections we agreed with the European Union, including to allow for protections of individual GI names,” the summary said.

“That process will start when the agreement is signed, and we will seek public input.”

Yoga instructors will be eligible to apply for a temporary employment entry visa to work in New Zealand under the free trade agreement. 123rf.com

On immigration, what has been included in the free trade agreement?

In a nutshell, the agreement includes enhanced provisions for student mobility, post-study opportunities, skilled employment pathways and working holiday visas in the negotiated deal.

Accordingly, 1000 Indians aged 18 to 30 years old will be granted multiple-entry 12-month working holiday visas each year, giving them an opportunity for global exposure, skills acquisition and people-to-people linkages.

In addition, eligible Indian students graduating from a New Zealand institution will be eligible for a post-study work visa, ranging from two years for a bachelors’ degree, three years for STEM bachelors and masters, and four years for doctorates.

The free trade agreement codifies the right for Indian students to work for up to 20 hours a week (within the current domestic policy of up to 25 hours).

The trade deal also simplifies entry arrangements for Indian service providers and professionals for short periods of stay, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“This includes an equivalent of 1667 temporary employment entry (TEE) visas per year for a number of occupations where New Zealand has a skills shortage such as certain ICT fields, engineering and specialised health services, as well as certain iconic Indian professions such as Ayush (Indian traditional medicine) practitioners, music teachers, chefs and yoga instructors,” the ministry said.

“These TEE visas are for three years and the total number available under the commitment is capped at no more than 5000 at any one time over that three-year period.”

The ministry did not anticipate this to prompt a surge in applications.

“This [1667 TEEs per year] represents less than 6 percent of the current average total number of skilled visas issued to Indian nationals each year by New Zealand,” the ministry said.

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