Source: Radio New Zealand

At the top of the South Island, in the centre of New Zealand’s aquaculture and fishing industries, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to provide better information about what’s going on under water.

Scientists and engineers are working together to develop new tools that give marine farmers better metrics, in a bid to push growth in the sector.

Tim Rensen is one of the founders of UWAI Robotics, a Christchurch-based company that’s built an underwater drone that uses artificial intelligence and advanced imaging to scan mussel lines, so farmers can see their crops in real time.

“What we are working on at the moment is being able to tell farmers what the condition of their mussels is, because at the moment they have to shuck them open to look at the quality of the meat, but we are looking at that, looking at what other biofouling is growing on the lines and what have the conditions been.”

Once the drone is in place on a mussel farm using sensors and GPS, it scans the lines and provides a video stream to a laptop on the surface, capturing images of thousands of individual mussels.

The data was then instantly analysed using AI and Rensen said it had taken eight years of development to get to this point.

“It is about distilling all of this raw data into a few key metrics like count, size, the variability on the line, we could be looking at whether the mussels are clumping together or if they are well distributed,” Rensen said.

They can provide insights on expected yield, when to reseed and harvest, with the aim of providing even more information as the technology develops.

In Havelock, the Greenshell Mussel Capital of the World, Mills Bay Mussels operations manager Maegan Blom said checking the quality of the shellfish usually involved hauling lines out of the water and opening mussels to inspect them.

“Those quality decisions that you make when you are checking the crop for harvest are really crucial to maintain the value of the product. If you tell your customer what you have got for them and then it arrives at their factory and it is different, that is really not good.”

The company, which supplies fresh live mussels, mussel meat products and health supplements to the domestic market, has marine farms in the Marlborough Sounds and Golden Bay.

She said it had been fascinating to see Rensen use the underwater drone on a Mills Bay farm in Kenepuru Sound, and then almost instantly supply her with a graph showing the size of the mussels.

“It’s not necessarily quicker, but the accuracy of the information is just incredible so you can make better decisions.”

Blom said had imagined technology like what UWAI Robotics was developing and was excited to see what was already being used in other industries being adapted for use in marine farming.

She said there was lots that couldn’t be controlled when farming in the ocean, so it was important to focus on what could be. Quality data collected over time would enable better operations, previously learnt through years of experience.

“You can control things like when you seed your lines, the density, where you put your farms, what time of the year you harvest, but then there’s things you can’t control, how much food’s in the water, the weather, what happens in the natural environment with predators like when the snapper are going to come and eat the mussels.

“With good information you can actually start to draw conclusions, patterns, trends and become a more efficient mussel farmer.”

In Nelson, marine tech company Seaweave have developed camera systems, sensors and artificial intelligence for use in the aquaculture and fishing industries.

Chief executive Chris Rodley said not only was it hard to see what was happening in a marine farm, but access to those sites was weather dependant.

“If a big storm comes to Tasman Bay and the farmers they can’t go out on their vessels to check the farm, they can’t even go out the next day because the weather is so bad, they can’t see it from land and how do we help those guys put their head on the pillow and actually sleep at night?”

He said the benefits were two fold, visual data was available in real time, but could also be interpreted over time to identify patterns and trends.

“Number one, what’s going on in real time on the farm, what’s the water quality like, are there any issues with lack of food, or a huge weather event that dumps a bunch of freshwater into the harbour.”

He said AI was changing the way that data was accessed.

“What if you could talk to your farm, if you could ask it, ‘what is going on right now?’ and your farm could simply answer.

“In the past that was difficult and now we just put that data into a model and it can be queried and that’s exciting.”

Seaweave first started working with mussel farmers and had since moved into other areas, including wild caught fisheries.

Last year, Seaweave signed an agreement with the Bioeconomy Science Institute to further develop AI imaging applications for fish in aquaculture, which Rodley said it was like facial recognition for fish.

He said nine fish species were currently recognisable. It means individual fish can be identified, assessed for breeding programmes and monitored underwater.

Rodley said New Zealand had some of the best seafood in the world, but because of its distance from key markets, so there was a need to focus on quality and telling the story behind the product.

“We can identify individual [fish] as they travel through the supply chain at various points and that’s huge for population modelling and management.

“Linking that to the end consumer allows us to create a huge amount of value.”

It’s hoped the technology will help the aquaculture industry reach its goal of quadrupling its annual revenue to reach $3 billion by 2035.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Far North councillors on Wednesday voted to expand a Māori liaison committee which has been at the centre of a nationwide social media firestorm.

More than 100 people, many carrying flags and home-made banners, gathered outside the Far North District Council chambers in Kaikohe ahead of this morning’s meeting to finalise the committee’s membership.

Unusually, the gathering was called not to protest the council’s plans, but as a show of support for its direction and for embattled Mayor Moko Tepania.

Both the Far North District Council and Tepania had been under intense pressure since a podcast last week by former TV journalist Duncan Garner, in which he interviewed outspoken councillor Davina Smolders and claimed the council’s appointment of unelected members to its committees was “illegal”, “undemocratic” and “co-governance on steroids”.

Both called on the government to step in and appoint a Crown observer.

The controversy centred on the council’s Te Kuaka Māori Strategic Relationships Committee, which includes six councillors – including Smolders – and, as of today, two representatives of the Northland iwi chairs forum, known as Te Kahu o Taonui, and eight hapū representatives.

The Local Government Act states councils can appoint any number of unelected members to their committees, and that councils must involve Māori in decision-making.

Among those at the protest was former Kaipara Māori ward councillor Pera Paniora, who travelled from Dargaville to take part.

She said many of the claims in the podcast were incorrect.

“This committee isn’t illegal or unlawful. It’s a committee that makes recommendations, it doesn’t make decisions, and it’s not a co-governance committee.”

Also there was Taitokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, who said she had helped set up the committee years ago with then chairman Harry Burkhardt.

She said the committee worked well, and the claims she had seen on social media were “disturbing and distressing”.

“To take it away would undo some very good work that has benefited everyone, Māori and non-Māori.”

Pākehā at the protest included Michelle Cels of Kawakawa, who wanted to “stand together against division that’s being sown in the community”.

“There’s so much misinformation out there, and people need to be very clear they are doing their own research, not living in an echo chamber and trusting what people say to them is true.”

Ngāpuhi chairman Mane Tahere, one of the newly appointed committee members, said Māori were already an economic force in Northland – even without a Treaty settlement – and had much to offer in the way of solutions to Northland’s meth and housing crises.

“We’re just carrying on with the mahi and rising above all the rhetoric,” he said.

The social media storm of the past week had, however, been frustrating for Far Northerners dealing with real-world problems such as the cost of living and extreme weather.

It’s hōhā [annoying] for our people with everyday struggles, most recently the floods.”

Only 30 people were allowed inside the chambers during the meeting with the rest having to follow the livestream from the nearby Memorial Hall.

Speakers included Green MP Hūhana Lyndon and Northland Regional Council chairman Pita Tipene.

Tipene drew a link between the social media firestorm and real-life storms of recent weeks, saying people would be better served by calm and rational debate.

“Me personally, I have come here to listen and get the truth. I’m here with everyone else because we need more light and less heat, given the storms of the last couple of weeks.”

Ngatiwai’s Aperahama Keripeti-Edwards, a committee appointee, urged councillors not to be swayed from their current path.

“I ask you to uphold the integrity of your processes. Respect the role of tangata whenua within them. And make decisions that are based on fact, not misinformation, because the future depends on it.”

Advisory committees such as Te Kuaka were necessary, he said.

“You do not make decisions about people without them. You do not speak for others when they can speak for themselves.”

Councillor Smolders said appointing unelected members was allowed under the Local Government Act, but risked going against the intent of the law.

She also said the council could not appoint unspecified hapū representatives to the committee, it could only appoint named individuals.

That meant another resolution would have to be passed later, at another extraordinary meeting, once hapū had decided who would represent them.

The decision to expand the committee’s membership was passed by nine votes to one with one abstention. Only Smolders voted against.

Afterwards she said she was disappointed in the outcome, saying councillors would be outnumbered by unelected members on the Te Kuaka committee.

“And the community has voted for elected members to be their voice,” she said.

The meeting drew the largest media contingent at the Far North District Council in recent years, along with possibly the first ever media stand-up at the Kaikohe chambers.

Tepania said broadening the Māori relationships committee was the right thing to do, and gave credit to the previous mayor under whose tenure the council signed its first Memorandum of Understanding with iwi.

He hoped the next generation would not still have to justify including Māori in decision making, as his tūpuna [ancestors] had done and as he had been forced to do this week.

“It’s hōhā to have to stand and do that right now, but from the aroha of the iwi who have come here today I feel we are coming together. We have a huge road ahead, but we can do it together.”

Last year’s local elections saw Tepania win the Far North mayoralty by a landslide, and Māori elected to six out of 10 council seats.

Far Northerners also voted to retain their Māori ward.

According to the most recent Census data, just over 50 percent of the Far North population is of Māori descent.

Smolders, an ACT Party candidate, was elected last October with the second-highest number of votes, after Ann Court, in the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Ward.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The water regulator is satisfied with the approach taken by more than a dozen rural schools, after they had E coli breaches in their water supplies.

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai data from 2024 shows drinking water suppliers serving 80,000 people had positive tests.

There were 38 water suppliers that had positive tests and did not issue a warning, and 18 of those where small rural schools.

Head of regulatory Steve Tayor told Nine to Noon he was satisfied no one was put at risk, but expects suppliers to investigate how it occurred to prevent it from happening again.

In some cases it was possible to isolate the part of the network that had tested positive for E coli, he said.

“In that situation you don’t actually need to issue a boil water notice because there are no consumers affected by it.”

In a school where part of its network tested positive for E coli for example, it would be possible to disconnect the water supply, he said.

“If it’s a holiday period that’s entirely appropriate and that avoids the risk, so if it’s over a weekend you can just disconnect the supply at that time when there are no pupils in that school.”

Taylor said they were seeing a disproportionate number of schools with positive E coli results and they want to see the numbers come down.

“We’d also expect to see in each case the investigation behind what is the reason for that E coli, starting to identify the sorts of improvements and changes needed within those supplies to ensure that actually those E coli readings don’t happen again in the future.”

The Ministry of Education was working to undertake a number of condition assessments across those schools, he said.

“The condition assessment that they’ve been undertaking has involved going around, looking at each case, identifying where the problems in the treatment is and then identifying what the work required is to resolve that.”

The schools under the spotlight had a mix of rooftop collection from rainwater collection and tanks and some had bores as well, he said.

The basic treatment requirements were similar for each, he said.

He said they had tried to make it easier for schools to comply by introducing “acceptable solutions”.

“It’s an alternative to complying with the drinking water rules and an acceptable solution, it’s a smaller unit, it’s basically got your UV treatment that destroys your protozoa and bacteria, it’s got filtration that removes some of the main sediment out and then it can pass through.”

That avoids the need for managing chlorine, for example, which could be difficult in a school situation, as well as reducing ongoing maintenance costs and making it far simpler for schools, he said.

Water NZ chief executive Gillian Blythe told Nine to Noon it was important to look at whether organisations had barriers in place to protect against E coli.

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai, in 2023 wrote to a number of councils to say they did not have the multiple barriers that were necessary in place, she said.

“So you didn’t have your bacteria, you didn’t have your protozoa, you didn’t have your residual disinfection, your chlorine arrangements.”

Since then councils had been investing in water processes, she said.

That had not necessarily been happening in small rural schools, she said.

Blythe said there were capital and capability components in getting school’s drinking water up to scratch and Water NZ had had good engagement with the Ministry of Education.

Water NZ advised schools throughout the country in both city and rural areas to flush their taps after the weekend or after the holidays.

“In some parts of the country there are lead fittings that are there, there might be dust that might have somehow got in, it’s got a bit stagnant, you know flush your taps, there are those simple things that we can do to keep us all safe.”

The Ministry of Education says it has come to an agreement with the regulator to reach a target of 64 schools reaching full drinking water compliance by that end June 2027 deadline.

It says it is on target to ensure all schools have the infrastructure they need to provide safe drinking water by 2030.

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A new piece of graffiti carrying a violent, anti-Indian message has been discovered in Auckland, heightening concerns after a similar incident over the weekend.

The latest graffiti was found inside a public toilet on Campbell Road in Royal Oak, just days after an identical message appeared near Papatoetoe Central School.

It’s unclear when the graffiti could have been written.

Police were investigating the Papatoetoe incident as a hate-motivated crime.

Inspector Jim Wilson, commander of the Auckland City East Area, confirmed a report of willful damage had been made in the Royal Oak area on Wednesday morning.

“Police take these threats and hate-motivated crime seriously,” Wilson said.

“We will now assess this report for further action and lines of enquiry.”

Marcel Morgan, manager area operations for Howick and Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Boards, said the graffiti in Royal Oak was removed by Auckland Council contractors on Wednesday.

“The council strongly condemns any offensive or racist graffiti,” Morgan said.

Sher Singh, president of Migrant Rights Network NZ, told RNZ he received a photo of the Royal Oak graffiti from a friend.

“I’m a bit disheartened and shocked,” Singh said.

“I’ve been living in New Zealand for 30 odd years, and I’ve never seen anything like this before.

“It’s emotionally draining and it is very concerning that it is appearing in more places.”

Singh said it was time for stronger action.

“It is time for the community to put pressure on the government and find a solution to this because if we don’t do it now, it’s just going to continue,” he said.

Narendra Bhana, former president of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, said the message was “deeply disturbing”.

Bhana’s family has been living in New Zealand for multiple generations.

“This is not simply an act of vandalism,” he said.

“It is a message of hate that, if ignored or minimised, risks normalising something far more harmful than words on a footpath or a public place.”

Bhana said New Zealand had built an international reputation as a country that stood for inclusion, fairness and unity.

“But these values are not self-sustaining, and they require active commitment from all of us, especially when tested,” he said.

He said the incidents should be met with a firm and constructive response.

“Acts of hate must be clearly condemned, and those responsible must be held accountable,” he said.

“At the same time, we must strengthen community engagement, invest in education that promotes understanding and ensure that our young people grow up in an environment where diversity is respected, not targeted.”

Ethnic Communities Minister Mark Mitchell said that racism had no place in New Zealand.

“Violent or intimidating messages like this are despicable, and I’m pleased to see that police are taking them seriously,” Mitchell said.

National’s Maungakiekie MP, Greg Fleming, also said the discovery of the graffiti at Royal Oak was “deeply disturbing”.

“Maungakiekie is one of the most diverse electorates in the country, and that diversity was part of who we are and what makes our communities strong.” Fleming said.

“What concerns me most is the pattern we are now seeing,” he said.

“Violent threats in Royal Oak and Papatoetoe, protests targeting Sikh communities and the [recent] “remigration” banner outside the Mahatma Gandhi Centre all point to a rise in behaviour designed to provoke fear and division. That is simply not acceptable.”

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, a Labour MP who won the Maungakiekie electorate seat in 2020, said the threatening messages were causing Indian New Zealanders “significant distress”.

“Threats of violence and ethnicity-based hate and vandalism have no place here,” Radhakrishnan said.

“Indian New Zealanders are part of the social and economic fabric of New Zealand and have been for generations. They continue to contribute significantly to New Zealand and many of them live in Royal Oak.”

Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby on Monday said she had been seeing increasing anti-migrant rhetoric, including towards the country’s Indian community.

“I know from my engagements with many ethnic communities the fear these messages generate for people,” Derby said.

“Regarding this particular incident, I am deeply concerned about the violent racist rhetoric and its impact on community members’ sense of safety and belonging. … Everyone should be able to live in their community, work or attend a school in this country free from racial harassment and discrimination.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Guamanians are being urged to continue sheltering in place as Typhoon Sinlaku slowly tracks away from the neighbouring Northern Mariana Islands.

The US National Weather Service in Guam says typhoon Sinlaku is weakening as it slowly moves away from Saipan and Tinan in the CNMI.

Despite the storm weakening residents in Guam on Wednesday evening were still being warned to continue sheltering in place as the slow moving storm’s effects continued to be felt across Guam and the CNMI.

Jenna Blas stationed in a concrete bunker in Guam with the Joint Information Warning Centre says Guam remains in condition readiness one, the highest alert level, and everyone is to remain indoors until the all clear is given.

“So at this time we are still expecting some of those extended peak conditions from this really slow moving Typhoon Sinlaku, Jenna Blas said.

“We are still expecting to experience damaging winds of 39 miles per hour or more and really continuing well into this evening.

Ms Blas said the Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has declared that Guam will remain at the highest alert level through the evening to ensure public safety and allow for emergency responders to conduct essential assessments.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A whistleblower sparked an investigation by a top lawyer into Health New Zealand’s medical scanning services.

The agnecy said Michael Heron KC would lead an independent investigation after a protected disclosure about radiology services.

An investigation three years ago found patients had had suffered harm for years from poor radiology tech at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, while RNZ reported extensively on the Bay and other districts’ struggles with technology and radiology workforce shortages.

“We can confirm that the board has commissioned an independent investigation into issues raised in a protected disclosure in relation to radiology services,” board chairperson Dr Levy and deputy board chairperson Dr Andrew Connolly said in a statement.

They would not confirm if the findings would be made public.

“Relevant Health NZ staff are being interviewed as part of the process. We can’t comment further while this confidential investigation is underway.”

The senior doctors’ union, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), said several doctors and nurses in Hawke’s Bay had been invited to talk to Heron and it was offering them support.

The Protected Disclosures law gave protection against retaliation.

In a note to members that RNZ had seen the ASMS said, “You may be aware that Michael Heron KC is conducting an investigation, at the request of Health New Zealand’s Board, following a protected disclosure concerning radiology services in Hawkes Bay.

“He will be visiting Hawkes Bay Hospital later this month.”

Association executive director Sarah Dalton said, “We know that there is an inquiry underway as a result of a protected disclosure.

“And we understand in the Terms of Reference is an undertaking from [HNZ chair] Lester Levy that the inquiry will be made public but that hasn’t happened.

“A number of clinicians – doctors and nurses – have been invited to talk to Heron. We are offering advice and support.”

Heron was a former Solicitor-General and had led government inquiries into misuse of Census data, and judicial behaviour, and culture reviews such as for the Law Society.

The Protected Disclosures Act 2022 protected an employee or former employee who in good faith reports “serious wrongdoing that they believe on reasonable grounds is, or has been, occurring in their workplace”, according to Employment NZ.

Health New Zealand had for years struggled with risks to patients and workers in various districts from outdated and fragmented radiology technology systems, stressing out staff who risked missing vital scanning information and raising the risk of misdiagnoses.

In 2024, documents sought by RNZ revealed hospitals across the central North Island were struggling to overhaul unstable medical scanning technology with faults rising rapidly.

In 2023 HNZ released a report it had tried to keep secret under whistleblowing laws, that found patients had been harmed by “unsafe” processes and inefficient radiology medical imaging services at Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

This had dragged on for years despite red flags raised with management. Consultant radiologist Dr Bryan Wolf triggered the investigation as a whistleblower.

Work had been underway for several years to upgrade the tech nationwide.

RNZ in February sought an update on that work in an Official Information Act request but a response had been delayed by HNZ to May.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The opposition is voicing its cautious support for a crack down on black market tobacco, but warns the tobacco industry itself could be stoking fears.

A report into the illicit tobacco trade, released by Retail NZ on Tuesday, pushed for the formation of a unified response from Customs, Police, Health NZ and Inland Revenue.

Its chief executive says we need to act quickly, but the prime minister isn’t convinced.

Chief executive Carolyn Young said there needed to be a dedicated, collaborative effort.

“You also have to have the ability to arrest people, you’ve got to have the ability to seize product, you’ve got to have the ability to close the store,” she said.

“If we really want to get on top of this we need to attack it now, with dedicated resources, and funding appropriately.”

An RNZ investigation found multiple shops operating in Auckland selling the cheap smokes, with one charging just $13 for a pack, less than half the excise duty required by law to be paid.

Importing cigarettes without paying the excise duty is illegal, and offenders can be charged with defrauding customs revenue.

It was also illegal for retailers to sell illicit cigarettes, with offenders facing a six-month prison sentence, a $20,000 fine or both.

Young said she was open to legislative changes to make a taskforce more effective.

“Without having appropriate penalties that would deter criminals from wanting to continue down this pathway, then they’re just going to continue…”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is supportive, but sceptical.

“We’re certainly open to looking at how we can support a crack down on the illicit tobacco trade,” he said.

He didn’t believe the black market was as big in New Zealand as it was overseas.

“I’m also very mindful that often a lot of the fear-mongering around the illicit tobacco trade is actually stoked by the tobacco companies themselves, but is there more we can do to ensure that we don’t have illicit tobacco trade in New Zealand, if there is a need for more action there, we’re very open to it.”

Hipkins said he was yet to see proof on an illicit market here.

“I think the key thing is we’ve got to identify what the problem is that we’re trying to solve here,” he said.

“I’ve yet to see significant evidence that there is an illicit tobacco trade in New Zealand, but if it’s out there, we do want to see it dealt with.”

In 2024, the illicit market reached 27.2 percent of total tobacco use, according to data from tobacco industry groups.

But when asked about supporting a potential taskforce, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was unenthusiastic.

“That’s not a priority for me right now,” he said.

Customs minister Casey Costello welcomed Retail NZ’s report, and told RNZ the illicit market had been a concern since she had been in the role.

“I think a joined up taskforce is a priority, is achievable, and is something that we really need, and it is consistent with my desire around organised crime to have much better connectivity between agencies.”

The minister said a joint task force would be essential, and has already sought advice around a broader “force multiplier” response from health, police, and Customs.

Police minister Mark Mitchell said he was concerned about any black market or illicit trade, which often linked back to organised crime, though said he had not read the Retail NZ report yet.

“We’ve just got to be vigilant and constantly working on ways of making sure that we don’t allow that type of black market to really become and entrenched baked in in New Zealand.”

At the moment, we were better placed than Australia, he said.

“We want to make sure that we stay there, and that we can continue to deal with these issues.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Medicinal cannabis exporters are able to move New Zealand product overseas faster with export license processing times reducing by almost four days.

The average time it took to get an export licence had been 10 working days but since the start of this year it’s been cut on average to 6.4 working days.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour said New Zealand companies were becoming more reliable trading partners overseas as a result.

Exporting of the cannabis flower has increased significantly with just 49 kilograms moved offshore in 2021, compared to 2310 kilograms last year.

Applications for an export licence and average processing times:

• 2022/2023: 26 applications; 22.5 working days
• 2023/2024: 48 applications; 17.8 working days
• 2024/2025: 65 applications; 10.0 working days

A licence is required for every shipment of medicinal cannabis exported from New Zealand.

“The government is also looking at giving exporters more permanent licences to reduce red tape and bureaucracy,” Seymour said.

“Vendors are required to hold a medicinal cannabis licence, and must also apply to Medsafe for a controlled drug export licence for each shipment. Officials have said there may be an option to consider a broader or enduring export licence across multiple consignments.”

Seymour said Medsafe was also making it easier for growers of low-THC hemp to operate in New Zealand.

“Medicinal cannabis cultivators will soon be able to grow low THC plants without a licence, allowing more of the plant to be used to make medicinal cannabis products,” he said.

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bunnings Warehouse has switched on facial recognition technology in two of its Waikato stores with others set to follow in a phased introduction of the system.

The Hamilton South and Te Rapa stores are the first to trial the technology with further assessment of the system due to take place before it is rolled out in Bunnings stores nationwide.

Bunnings says the number of threatening incidents in its New Zealand stores increased from 303 to 697 in four years, with repeat offenders accounting about a third of all threatening incidents.

The new technology aims to protect staff and customers, as well as catching repeat offenders.

Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines told Checkpoint that anyone who entered a Bunnings store would see some prominent signs letting them know that facial recognition technology was being used there.

“So it’s actually as you come into the store your face is quickly scanned and a check-in match is made against a database of previous offenders of serious situations in our stores, if no match is made then the image is pretty much immediately deleted.”

Haines said there were people who were previously involved in serious harm situations in Bunnings’ stores who were kept on a secure database within New Zealand and that was what the images were being matched up against.

If the image was matched to a previous serious offenders then a member of the Bunnings’ team would be notified and they would then “assess and determine the best course of action from there,” she said.

“We’re introducing this technology because our number one concern is keeping our team and our customers and our suppliers that are in and around our stores safe.”

There had been “a really alarming increase in retail crime in these violent and threatening situations,” she said.

For some Bunnings employees it was their first job, while others were in the latter part of their career, she said.

“We firmly believe that they should be able to work safely in our environment.

“So we are introducing this technology to do that and we’re going to assess that it makes a difference and we’re hoping that it does and we’ll roll it out across our stores.”

Bunnings stores have more than 1 million customers visit a week, she said.

Haines said Bunnings had undertaken the trial in a very careful and considered way.

Bunnings had learnt a lot from a trial and roll-out of the technology that Food Stuffs did in their stores, she said.

“We also conducted our own thorough research in terms of making sure we understand how we can protect people’s privacy, that our team will be really well trained and they’ll be able to you know assess the best course of action when they’re dealing with this.”

They had also worked with a Māori data and sovereignty expert and received advice about the potential implications for Māori people and to ensure they took “a culturally respectful approach to this”, she said.

There would be further assessment once the technology had been rolled out to the two Waikato stores, she said.

Other retailers and facial recognition technology

Facial recognition technology trials are also underway in 18 Briscoes and Rebel Sports stores across the North Island.

Briscoes Group’s year-long trial of the technology began in September 2025 and it said the trial was about the safety of its team and customers, but removing violent people from stores may also reduce thefts.

Bunnings and Briscoes were among 11 big box retailers and supermarkets that signed a statement in June 2025 supporting facial recognition to “protect workers and customers” following the Privacy Commissioner giving a cautious tick of approval to the Foodstuffs trial.

Foodstuffs North Island is using FRT in 15 Pak’nSave stores and 10 New Worlds.

Foodstuffs South Island has deployed it in three Christchurch stores, where a trial ended in January.

“Only people who have previously been violent, threatening or aggressive in our stores are entered into the FR watchlist,” the South Island chain said on its website.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

• About 3000 eels rescued from dried-out coastal Manawatū lake
• Hundreds of dead eels remain on the muddy lake bed
• Call for investigation into what’s happened at Pukepuke Lagoon

Iwi volunteers are desperately working to save as many eels as they can from a dried-up lake bed in coastal Manawatū.

After rain this week, it’s tough work. What was until the weekend dry dirt is now a thick muddy sludge where each step requires effort – and balance.

The rescue operation at Pukepuke Lagoon began late last week, and since then, an estimated 3000 eels have since been moved into waterways elsewhere.

Iwi are calling for an investigation into how it happened.

‘An absolute tragedy’

About this time of year, thousands of longfin eels – tuna – make their way to the sea before heading to the Pacific Ocean to spawn.

Instead, at Pukepuke Lagoon, between Himatangi and Tangimoana, just to the west of nearby State Highway 1, they’re trapped in the mud, dying.

“We’re just back to assess the lake, see what’s happening with the water levels in here and if there’s any more movement with the eels themselves,” volunteer rescuer Justin Tamihana said

Tamihana, of Ngā Hapū o Himatangi, comprising Ngāti Rākau, Ngāti Te Au and Ngāti Tūranga, is one of about a dozen people at the lake when RNZ visited this week.

At the weekend, about 40 people responded to the call for help to save as many eels as possible after the Department of Conservation notified local iwi about what had happened.

The lake is on conservation land, where the rescue work is still going on and could do for some days.

“Part of the process today is trying to recover as many live tuna as we can locate and just getting them to a safer place to release and prolong their life,” Tamihana said, as he held two live tuna in a plastic bucket, while scouring the approximately 15 hectares of lake bed.

“We’re just concerned about the multi-generational loss of tuna in here. We have found tuna of all sizes, from large adults right down to the very smallest juveniles.”

They were caked in mud when Tamihana pulled them free, and showing only faint flickers of life, but seemed to improve when he washed off the mud in a puddle.

Tiana Meroiti also found a live eel.

“Luckily, it was still moving. We will relocate it to a better spot. I’m not too sure where we’ll end up putting it, but just somewhere obviously better than here.”

The area is littered with hundreds of dead eels and dead fish, which birds are picking over.

Tamihana said it was a devastating sight.

“I’m a customary fisherman and so this for me is gutting. I’m actively out there fishing every year.

“It’s a huge sense of loss. For those that have been raised out here and been a part of the lake this is a tragedy, an absolute tragedy,” he said.

“Standing here looking around me right now there’s probably 100 dead ones [eels] and it doesn’t include what you can’t see under the ground.

“When we were removing tuna from under the soil we were finding both live and dead tuna together under the ground, and a lot of tuna seemed to have lost their natural protection of their layer of slime, which is really bad.”

Rescues still the focus

Hayden Turoa, also of Ngā Hapā o Himatangi, said the rescue work wasn’t over, although it was likely the population of kākahi – freshwater mussels – was wiped out.

“All of our iwi had a strong response, and showed up in force and done as best as we could to look after it.

“The priority is still focusing on loss of life. At this point we don’t know what’s gone on.”

Turoa and chairman of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa Pahia Turia are hoping an investigation will find the cause of the water draining, and ways to improve the lake’s health.

A report by a consultant for DOC in 2018 said the lake dried out about once a decade on average, but didn’t provide further information.

Turia said he doubted it was simply a natural occurrence after a dry period, due to the changes down the years in surrounding land.

“We’re guessing the lake was probably empty for at least a week.

“I think if it had gone any longer then we probably wouldn’t have got any of them [eels]. Let’s just hope that we can try and find out what’s actually happened here.”

Council staff notice low water levels in area

Horizons Regional Council chief executive Michael McCartney said officials acknowledged the impact.

“Situations like these are confronting, and the harm to taonga species is something none of us want to see.”

Horizons staff discovered the situation on Thursday and while the rescue operation was iwi led, council staff were at the site to try to work out what happened.

“This includes investigating a weir in the area, which is important to maintain the water level. Staff found no signs of the weir being tampered with.

“Horizons staff have noted the coastal area along the west coast of the Horizons Region has been drying out during the past few months.

“Field staff have noticed several other lakes, such as Lake Dudding and Lake Herbert, have been very low.”

McCartney said council staff were gathering information on the historical regularity of such situations, as well as about conditions in the lead up to this month.

DOC operations manager for Manawatū, Moana Smith-Dunlop, said: “Our immediate collective priority is to protect and care for surviving tuna and other wildlife to the greatest extent possible.

“DOC will continue to work in partnership with iwi and agencies, providing technical advice, logistical support, and fulfilling its statutory responsibilities.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

One lane of State Highway 6 north of Nelson has reopened after a crash closed the main route between Nelson and Blenheim or Picton on Tuesday afternoon.

The Transport Agency says traffic is being managed using stop/go traffic lights and there is a temporary speed restriction of 30km/h in place.

Drivers are asked to travel with care through the area until the highway is fully reopened.

Police said they were notified of a serious crash about 2.40pm on Wednesday near the intersection of Todd Bush Road.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The main route between Nelson and Blenheim or Picton is closed north of Nelson due to a crash.

State Highway 6 is closed in both directions near the Todd Bush Road intersection in the Nelson Tasman region after a two-car crash.

Police said they were notified of the crash about 2.40pm on Wednesday near the intersection of Todd Bush Road.

People are believed to be seriously injured and emergency services are at the scene.

The Transport Agency said there was currently no direct access for drivers travelling between Nelson and Blenheim.

The only alternative route which was much longer was via State Highway 63 Wairau Valley and State Highway 6 south of Nelson, it said.

NZTA said at this stage there was no estimated time for when the highway would reopen and drivers should delay their travel until the crash scene had been cleared.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

* This article’s headline has been updated to remove the reference to murder. The four are accused of kidnapping and manslaughter and have never been accused of murder.

Four people charged with the kidnapping and manslaughter of a Chinese woman, whose body was found wrapped in plastic bags in the water at Auckland’s Gulf Harbour, can now be named.

Kaixiao Liu, Lanyue Xiao, Xiuyun Li and Jingui Liu, are facing a five-week trial starting late next month, over the death of 70-year-old Shulai Wang – whose body was first discovered by a fisherman in March 2024.

Wang was identified and named seven months after her body was discovered.

The defendants’ bid for interim name suppression was declined in the High Court in April last year.

They appealed that decision and their arguments were heard at a Court of Appeal hearing last month.

The defendants represented themselves in court.

The Court of Appeal has released its decision to dismiss the appeal.

Justices Susan Thomas, Cameron Mander and Andrew Becroft, have suppressed the reasons for their decision.

The defendants’ application to have their charges indefinitely put on hold was also dismissed in a High Court decision issued last month.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Four people charged with the kidnapping and manslaughter of a Chinese woman, whose body was found wrapped in plastic bags in the water at Auckland’s Gulf Harbour, can now be named.

Kaixiao Liu, Lanyue Xiao, Xiuyun Li and Jingui Liu, are facing a five week trial starting late next month, over the death of 70-year-old Shulai Wang – whose body was first discovered by a fisherman in March 2024.

Wang was identified and named seven months after her body was discovered.

The defendants’ bid for interim name suppression was declined in the High Court in April last year.

They appealed that decision and their arguments were heard at a Court of Appeal hearing last month.

The defendants represented themselves in court.

The Court of Appeal has released its decision to dismiss the appeal.

Justices Susan Thomas, Cameron Mander and Andrew Becroft, have suppressed the reasons for their decision.

The defendants’ application to have their charges indefinitely put on hold was also dismissed in a High Court decision issued last month.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man linked to a religious organisation has pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen sexual charges.

The 45-year-old – who has interim name suppression – is accused of rape, strangulation and sexual assault, and is connected to a church with a presence in several South Pacific countries.

He appeared via audio-visual link in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday and denied all charges.

The public gallery was packed with people connected to the case.

The man was granted bail despite the Crown arguing he should remain in custody.

He will be subject to a curfew and is not allowed to contact anyone from the church outside his family.

Name suppression will be argued further later in April.

The man was arrested in March following an investigation called Operation Aurora.

Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie said, at the time, the man was arrested following several allegations.

“It is possible there may be other allegations that we are not yet aware of and I strongly encourage any survivor to speak with us,” Baillie said.

“Your voice matters and you will be treated with respect. Our staff who work in this space are specially trained and any reports will be made in confidence and we will provide wrap around support.”

Anyone with information should contact police.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A teenager has been arrested after businesses were robbed by armed assailants in Christchurch.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Luke Vaughan said two stores were targeted on 6 April.

“On Monday 6 April police were called to two aggravated robberies of commercial businesses – one around 8.10pm on Briggs Road, Shirley, and another around 8.20pm on McBratneys Road, Dallington,” Vaughan said.

“In both incidents two offenders entered the stores with weapons and assaulted one of the workers before fleeing in a vehicle.”

Police searched a Hoon Hay home on Wednesday and arrested a teenager in relation to the robberies.

“They will undergo the Youth Court process in due course,” Vaughan said.

Officers were still searching for other offenders.

“Police are not ruling out further arrests and continue to ask for anyone with information on these incidents to please come forward,” he said.

Information can be provided through 105, either online or over the phone, referencing file number: 260407/1737.

You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A planned emergency services hub in central Rolleston in Canterbury has been scrapped.

Selwyn District Council had been working with police, Fire and Emergency, and St John since 2023 to a build a joint emergency services campus for New Zealand’s fastest-growing district on undeveloped land in the town.

But councillors voted on Wednesday to scrap the planned Helpet Block site and use the land for other – yet to be determined – purposes.

Council executive director of building, planning, and regulatory services Robert Love said money for the project was not available.

“Generally I’d say the agencies are very supportive of the campus idea, the land was operationally suitable for the purpose, but due to funding issues and an ageing infrastructure stock for all those agencies they haven’t been able to prioritise the development of the campus at this time,” he said.

“That would leave a prime block of land in the core of Rolleston undeveloped for an unknown period of time.”

Councillors still supported such a hub, as a council report said current emergency services were no longer fit for purpose in Selwyn due to rapid population growth.

“The current emergency response occurs out of multiple separate sites, of which there is a large variance of facility age, capacity, and capability. Selwyn has experienced consistently high growth for the last 15 years with this high growth expected to continue for a foreseeable future,” the report said.

Councillors agreed to investigate other sites in Rolleston for the joint campus.

Selwyn mayor Lydia Gliddon said it was unclear when it would be built.

“It’s really hard to get government agencies all aligned in their planning and funding cycles and so we need to assess where are the pieces of land in Rolleston that are appropriate for this to be and then re-establish those connections and those conversations,” she said.

“We recognise it is very important that these services are strong and well maintained within our community.”

The report recommended councillors agree to repurpose the available land on the Helpet Block site for housing.

Love said that would support the growth of Rolleston and potentially provide an economic return to ratepayers in the short term.

But councillors did not want to commit to that yet and instead agreed to take more time to consider what it should be used for.

Councillor Sarah Barnsley said the council’s decision did not change the need for an emergency services campus in Selwyn.

“I am satisfied despite the land being available it’s not necessarily the ideal location for that emergency services hub being a high residential area with significant noise and disruption for that community and certainly the timing doesn’t seem like it is lining up between the stakeholders to this project,” she said.

“Hopefully with a wee bit more time it might give central government time to consider what an asset this would to a fast-growing district.”

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