Ifeanyi Eze celebrates after scoring for the Wellington Phoenix against the Brisbane Roar.photosport
Wellington Phoenix overcame a wretched run of form and an early red card to upset the Brisbane Roar 3-0 on the road in a major A-League upset.
In a result described by coach Giancarlo Italiano as his best win as a head coach, the Phoenix scored twice in the second half despite being without the services of winger Carlo Armiento, who was shown a straight red in the 38th minute.
The result came five days after their 5-1 loss to Melbourne Victory, which left the club languishing in 10th place ahead of a clash with the third-placed Roar.
Italiano was thrilled with their response, which included keeping a first clean sheet of the season.
“That’s probably the best victory I’ve ever had as a coach. We’ve had it very hard,” Italiano said, close to tears at one point in the press conference.
“I’m just immensely proud for the group. We suffered today. We spoke about it yesterday and it was like a self-fulfilling prophecy. We talked about in order for teams to be successful they need to learn to suffer, to grind, to be committed, to have courage and to be brave. They demonstrated everything today.
“It was almost like the football gods wanted Carlo to get sent off for us to go through this lesson. We needed this. It wasn’t so much the result, it was the performance.
“The boys showed a lot of character tonight. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Ifeanyi Eze scored Wellington’s first goal in the sixth minute, but their chances of victory nosedived when Armiento was shown red for an illegal tackle which sparked an all-in melee.
Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar players involved in a melee.photosport
However, the visitors responded with resolute defence and speed on the counter after the break, scoring through
Kazuki Nagasawa and substitute Paulo Retre.
Italiano reserved praise for teenage goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron, who made a number of fine saves in just his second start.
“Eamonn is like an experienced goalkeeper caught in a young guy’s body,” Italiano said.
“He’s fearless and what I really liked about him today was the reaction from conceding five goals against Victory. It didn’t faze him.
“In the air he was fantastic and the last ditch, brave saves were amazing. He started as the number three at the beginning of the season and now he’s playing like a mature number one.”
Ninth-placed Wellington host sixth-placed Adelaide United on Sunday.
Tolaga Bay Civil Defence is cooking breakfast for the evacuees who have spent the night at the Area School’s gymnasium.
State Highway 35 is still closed on Sunday, after heavy flooding in the Tai Rāwhiti region overnight.
The 30 remaining evacuees at Tolaga Bay Area School are a mix of travellers who were caught out when the road closed, and campers evacuated from the Tolaga Bay Holiday Park.
Ūawa deputy civil defence officer Nori Parata told RNZ the rain had been torrential.
“We had to open up the base because there are a number of travellers that had got caught with the road closure, and also didn’t have appropriate vehicles for that kind of situation.
“But equally we also had the holiday camp [at Tolaga Bay] needed to evacuate people that were camping in tents down there.
“So I think we’ve got about 80 people in our gym between the travellers and the campers.”
Parata said there were plenty of mattresses in the school gym for evacuees and anyone caught out by the flooding, and the civil defence base was well-equipped with kai and other supplies.
“We’re set up to cater in these emergencies. This is not our first rodeo.”
Parata said the Tolaga Bay Holiday Park had just reopened this season after recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle three years ago.
Shanan Gray from Tolaga Bay Civil Defence hoped the worst was over on Sunday.
He told RNZ that it had been pelting down overnight, but had since eased.
“The wind is quite heavy at the moment, so hopefully it is pushing the rain out to sea,” he said.
MetService meterologist Braydon White said rain of more than 50 millimetres an hour had fallen in Tolaga Bay since 8pm on Saturday.
While the orange-level heavy rain warning had expired at 8am, White said there had been some reasonably large accumulations of rainfall on Sunday morning too, especially on the East Cape.
Ūawa Civil Defence has warned on Facebook that the wharf bridge was “underwater and dangerous”.
“Do not go near it or try to cross. Please stay home, stay off the roads, and keep yourself safe.”
Gisborne residents told to be prepared
Meanwhile, Tai Rāwhiti Civil Defence is monitoring the situation in the city of Gisborne.
In a video message, the Tai Rāwhiti emergency management controller Ben Green said the focus was on the Taruheru River, which flowed through Gisborne City.
It was at 4.26m at 11pm, and the level of concern that posed a risk to low-lying properties was 4.5m, so it would be under monitoring overnight.
“What we’re asking people to do is adopt a ‘be prepared’ and cautious approach to really monitoring the river.
“If you haven’t already done so, check in with your neighbours. Make sure that they’re aware of what the current situation is. In the worst case if you do feel unsafe then, certainly, proactively evacuate if you are uncomfortable with that situation.”
Green said Fire and Emergency had been keeping people informed on Fergusson Drive and other low-lying streets.
Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, has been apprehended and flown to the US where the US attorney-general has announced he will face charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. The US military’s operation to snatch Maduro was carried out in the early hours of January 3 and follows months of steadily mounting pressure on the Venezuelan government.
Now it appears that the US operation to remove a leader it has designated as a “narco-terrorist” has come to fruition. But whether the capture and removal of Maduro will lead to regime change in the oil-rich Latin American country remains unclear at present.
The US campaign against Venezuela is the product of two distinct policy impulses within the Trump administration. The first is the long held desire of many Republican hawks, including the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to force regime change in Caracas. They detest Venezuela’s socialist government and see overturning it as an opportunity to appeal to conservative Hispanic voters in the US.
The second impulse is more complex. Trump campaigned for election in 2024 on the idea that his administration would not become involved in foreign conflicts. But his administration claims that Venezuela’s government and military are involved in drug trafficking, which in Washington’s thinking makes them terrorist organisations that are harming the American people. As head of the country’s government, Maduro, according to the Trump administration’s logic is responsible for that.
TruthSocial
During Trump’s first administration, his Department of Justice indicted Maduro on charges of “narco-terrorism”. Now Bondi says there might be a new indictment which also covers Maduro’s wife, who was taken into detention with him. The fact that US law enforcement was involved in their capture reinforces the idea that they will now face those charges in a New York court, despite an early claim by opposition sources in Venezuela that Maduro’s departure may have been negotiated with the US government.
What comes next?
The big question is what comes next in Venezuela, and whether either the Republican hawks or the “America first” crowd will get the outcome that they want: ongoing US military presence to “finish the job” or simply a show of US strength to punish its adversary which doesn’t involve a lengthy American involvement.
The US has discovered time and again in recent decades that it is extremely difficult to dictate the political futures of foreign countries with military force. The White House might want to see the emergence of a non-socialist government in Caracas, as well as one which cracks down on the drug trade. But simply removing Maduro and dropping some bombs is unlikely to achieve that goal after nearly three decades of bulding up the regime under Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez.
The Trump administration could have learned this lesson from Libya, whose dictatorial government the US and its allies overthrew in 2011. The country collapsed into chaos soon after, inflicting widespread suffering on its own citizens and creating problems for its neighbours.
In the case of Venezuela, it is unlikely that American military’s strikes alone will be enough to fatally undermine its government. Maduro may be gone, but the vast majority of the country’s governmental and military apparatus remains intact. Power will likely pass to a new figure in the regime.
The White House may dream that popular protests will break out against the government following Maduro’s ousting. But history shows that people usually react to being bombed by a foreign power by rallying around the flag, not turning against their leaders.
Nor would Venezuela’s descent into chaos be likely to help the Trump administration achieve its goals. Conflict in Venezuela could generate new refugee flows which would eventually reach America’s southern border. The collapse of central government authority would be likely to create a more conducive environment for drug trafficking. Widespread internal violence and human rights violations could hardly be portrayed as a victory to the crucial conservative Hispanic voting bloc.
If the Trump administration dreams of establishing a stable, pro-American government in Caracas, it is going to have to do more than just arrest Maduro. Bringing about durable regime change typically involves occupying a country with ground troops and engaging in “nation building”. The US tried this with decidedly mixed results in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Trump has pledged to avoid such entanglements and Rubio has said that, for now at least, the US has no plans for further military action against Venezuela. Trump has a penchant for flashy, quick wins, particularly in foreign policy. He may hope to tout Maduro’s capture as a victory and move on to other matters.
Nation-building failures
In almost no recent US military intervention did the American government set out to engage in nation-building right from the beginning. The perceived need to shepherd a new government into existence has typically only come to be felt when the limits of what can be accomplished by military force alone become apparent.
The war in Afghanistan, for instance, started as a war of revenge for the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11 2001 before transforming into a 20-year nation-building commitment. In Iraq, the Bush administration thought that it could depose Saddam Hussein and leave within a few months. The US ended up staying for nearly a decade.
It’s hard to imagine Trump walking down the same path, if only because he has always portrayed nation-building as a waste of American lives and treasure. But that still leaves him with no plausible way to achieve the divergent political outcomes he, his supporters and America’s foreign policy establishment want with the tools that he has at his disposal.
Meanwhile the US president will face pressure from a range of constituencies from Republican hawks to conservative Hispanic voters to force wholesale regime change in Venezuela. How Trump responds to that pressure will determine the future course of US policy towards the country.
Andrew Gawthorpe is affiliated with the Foreign Policy Centre in London.
Eighty evacuees are spending the night at Tolaga Bay Area School, which has been opened as a Civil Defence base because of heavy flooding in Tai Rāwhiti.
Surface flooding, slips and downed trees have led to the closure of State Highway 35 between Wainui Beach and Tolaga Bay.
Ūawa deputy Civil Defence officer Nori Parata told RNZ the rain had been pretty torrential.
“We had to open up the base because there are a number of travellers that had got caught with the road closure, and also didn’t have appropriate vehicles for that kind of situation.
“But equally we also had the holiday camp [at Tolaga Bay] needed to evacuate people that were camping in tents down there.
“So I think we’ve got about 80 people in our gym between the travellers and the campers.”
Parata said there were plenty of mattresses in the school gym for evacuees and anyone caught out by the flooding, and the Civil Defence base was well-equipped with kai and other supplies.
“We’re set up to cater in these emergencies. This is not our first rodeo.”
Parata said the Tolaga Bay Holiday Park had just reopened this season after recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle three years ago.
On social media, Civil Defence said the wharf bridge was “underwater and dangerous”.
“Do not go near it or try to cross. Please stay home, stay off the roads, and keep yourself safe.”
MetService lifted the thunderstorm warning for the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay areas just before 9.30pm.
“Severe thunderstorms have eased, however a few thunderstorms are still expected this evening bringing localised heavy rain.”
Motorists in Gisborne are advised to avoid non-essential travel.mrtwister/123RF
Police are urging motorists in the Gisborne area to avoid non-essential travel due to heavy rain and surface flooding in the region.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in place from Tolaga Bay to Gisborne and up to 170mm of rain is expected about the wider Gisborne region – ahead of 10am Sunday morning.
A police spokesperson said several roads had been closed and there are multiple reports of surface flooding.
Police are asking drivers who must travel to use extreme care – drive to the conditions – and respect road closures.
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Lulu Sun has had to withdraw from next week’s ASB Classic.Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse/Photosport
New Zealand tennis star Lulu Sun has had to withdraw from next week’s ASB Classic with a wrist injury.
Sun was expected to be one of the big attractions for the tournament, but she said she was battling an injured wrist and it had not recovered in time.
“Definitely not the way I wanted to start the new year but since Guangzhou I have been struggling with a wrist injury following a neck injury,” the 24-year-old said in an Instagram post.
“Not being able to have a proper pre-season and being injured left me no choice to sadly withdraw.
“My team and I will start preparing the best to be able to compete at the Australian Open. Hope to see you guys at AO.”
Sun has not played since reaching the final of the Guangzhou Open in October. Attempting to become the first New Zealander to win a WTA Tour-level singles title since Marina Erakovic, in Memphis in 2013, she was beaten 7-6 6-2 by American second seed Ann Li.
“This means everything to me. I get to play in front of a home crowd and fans. It is going to be energising and it’s going to be fun,” she said. “I am biased, but it is pretty much my favourite tournament of the year.”
Sun is rated at No 90 on the WTA ratings, which puts her in the main draw for the Australian Open which begins on 12 January.
Elina Svitolina is women’s top seed for the ASB Classic.Photosport
Play begins in the tournament on Monday, with the draw headlined by Ukrainian Elina Svitolina and American Emma Navarro, who have world rankings of 14 and 15 respectively.
Venus Williams, who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, returns to Auckland for the seventh time as a wildcard player. The 45-year-old has not played since the US Open when she and Layla Fernandez made the quarterfinals in early September.
A wildcard has been awarded to Kiwi player Monique Barry. Ranked 258 in the world she will also play in the doubles with compatriot Elyse Tse.
American Sloane Stephens and Briton Katie Boulter also have been granted wildcards.
Tse and fellow Kiwi Aishi Das attempted to gain entry to the main draw through qualifying but were both beaten by more experienced opponents on Saturday.
Das lost 6-3 6-4 to Veronika Erjavec from Slovenia, while Tse lost 6-0 6-1 to Sofia Costoulas on Belgium.
Tournament organisers said on Saturday that Williams and Svitolina would play together in the doubles.
Magma Healthcare director Simon Snook said the increase likely coincided with the launch of DECIDE, the National Abortion Telehealth Service.IGOR STEVANOVIC / SCIENCE PHOTO
A sexual and reproductive health specialist says a recent rise in abortion numbers reflects improved access to care rather than an increase in demand.
There has been a 37 percent increase since abortion was decriminalised in New Zealand – from 12,948 in 2019 to 17,785 in 2024.
The Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 and the Crimes Act 1961 were amended in March 2020.
However, Magma Healthcare director Simon Snook said the increase likely coincided with the launch of DECIDE, the National Abortion Telehealth Service, in 2021.
DECIDE can arrange an early medical abortion over the phone. The service is funded by Health New Zealand and run by Magma Healthcare and Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa.
In 2024, 67 percent of abortions were early medical, compared with 36 percent in 2020.
“I think what we are seeing now is people who previously would have wanted an abortion and couldn’t get one for their own reasons are now getting it,” Snook said. “We are getting the abortion numbers correct for the country’s need.”
Snook said that a similar number of abortions – approximately 18,000 per year – took place in the 2000s. The decline in the 2010s was likely due to better access to contraception, he said.
A longer-term form of contraception, the Jadelle implant, became government-funded in 2010, while the Mirena and Jaydess intra uterine device (IUD) became government-funded in 2019.
Snook said better sex education also likely played a role, as there had been a decline in risky sexual behaviours.
While Snook said access to abortion care in New Zealand was good – especially as 86 percent of abortions were provided at 10 weeks’ gestation or fewer in 2024 – he said there needed to be more funding, and for there to be no more associated costs.
“What could be better, I think, is greater availability of local abortion providers, in terms of primary care, midwives and that sort of thing.
“But there is a real lack of funding for them to deliver that care.”
It is free to terminate a pregnancy, but there can be an associated cost.
“Not everyone needs an ultrasound scan to continue to have an abortion, but in a number of cases, a scan is required to find out how far through the pregnancy is… so although abortion care is free in New Zealand, for some people, they’re paying $50 to $150 for an ultrasound scan to be able to access that abortion.
“I think that would be something that would be really good to get under control so that we can really have free abortion care for everyone.”
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Heavy rain to hit North Island’s east coast.Unsplash / Erik Witsoe
More than a thousand homes are without power in the upper North Island as a series of short and intense thunderstorms move across the region.
Power Co reported an outage affecting over 1300 properties in the Waikato town of Tīrau.
Residents in Muriwai – south of Gisborne have also taken to social media to report power cuts and torrential rain.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for the Far North in the Kaeo, Kerikeri and Matauri Bay areas.
Further south, a line of severe thunderstorms is lying near Auckland and is expected to affect areas in the Rodney and Albany regions.
And on the East Coast a warning is in place for Gisborne as MetService radar detects severe thunderstorms near Gisborne, Whangara and Waimata.
MetService early on Saturday afternoon issued a thunderstorm warning for Whangārei, saying it had detected “severe” storms near Bream Head, Pataua, Taiharuru, Opahi, Purua and Hikurangi. They were expected to be “accompanied by torrential rain and large hail”. Just after 2pm the forecaster said they were no longer considered “severe”.
The on-again, off-again warning for Auckland City was back on again shortly after 3.30pm, with Waikato and Franklin included this time.
A severe thunderstorm watch remained in place for Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Northland.
The east
Civil Defence in Gisborne was on alert for the second time in a week, with another bout of heavy rain forecast to sweep across the region Saturday afternoon.
MetService early on Saturday issued an orange heavy rain warning for Gisborne/Tai Rawhiti, and in the afternoon issued a thunderstorm warning.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz says 100mm of rain was dumped on Tai Rawhiti earlier in the week.
“We are asking the public to drive to the conditions, look after yourself, and most importantly, make sure you listen to all our Civil Defence messages as we update you.”
An earlier thunderstorm warning for Wairoa was cancelled, but renewed just after 2.30pm, this time with Gisborne included.
“These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the south, and are expected to lie near Wairoa and Frasertown at 11.37am and near Wairoa, offshore [Hawke’s] Bay and Frastertown at 12.07pm. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.”
MetService on Saturday morning also said thunderstorms in Bay of Plenty were “expected to become more widespread later this morning or during the afternoon and spread to southern Coromandel Peninsula”.
“From late morning until tonight, some of these thunderstorms may become severe, bringing localised downpours with intensities of 25 to 40mm per hour.”
At 12.30pm the forecaster said the storm had weakened. “There are other thunderstorms in the region, but none are currently classified as severe.”
From 12pm Saturday and for the next 22 hours, Gisborne-Tai Rawhiti could expect up to 150mm of rain, especially in the ranges, and thunderstorms are possible.
A similar heavy rain warning has been issued for Hawke’s Bay north of Napier from 9am Saturday until 3am on Sunday.
Up to 120mm of rain is expected and there is also a risk of thunderstorms. Metservice says the heavy rain will ease south of the Wairoa District on Saturday night.
MetService heavy rain warnings for the North Island’s east coast on January 3.MetService/Screenshot
Further South in the Ruahine Ranges, a heavy rain watch put in place on Saturday morning was quickly lifted.
“However thunderstorms are expected today and some of these thunderstorms could produce localised warning amounts of rain,” MetService said just before 10.30am.
Heavy rain over the Christmas/New Year period saw people attending the annual Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne having to wade through mud, as torrential rain struck.
Meanwhile, the Horowhenua District Council has activated the Mayoral Relief Fund to support residents who have been financially impacted by the recent severe weather and prolonged power outages across the district.
MetService says weather conditions should ease by Monday, with a ridge of high pressure forecast over the country, which would make the risk of severe weather minimal.
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A Northland boatie captured a waterspout in Whangārei Harbour.Chris Howe
A Northland boatie has captured a waterspout on camera as he was sailing out of Whangārei Harbour.
Chris Howe told RNZ on Saturday afternoon he could see a thunderstorm heading towards his vessel from the west.
“There was lots of lightning, and being in a sailing boat is concerning with the tall conductive mast.”
One member of Howe’s crew then spotted something forming over the Mount Mania range of Whangārei Heads.
“I managed to grab my camera and take the photographs before we decided that we actually needed to think about where we were and the situation we were in,” Howe said.
A second waterspout then began to form in the approaching storm, and Howe said it was not possible for his vessel to outrun the storm safely.
A second waterspout was captured in the approaching storm.Chris Howe
The three crew members decided the safest option was to spend time holding position at low power in open water.
Howe said thankfully the second water spout did not come to anything.
After 45 minutes holding position, they decided to head back to land, but their biggest concern was a lightning strike.
“The more immediate concern was now lightning, particularly given that we were on a large-masted vessel effectively acting as a conductor in the open harbour water.”
They decided to enter Smugglers Bay and anchor near higher terrain to reduce exposure.
“As the system moved east, lightning activity gradually reduced and became more distant. Conditions have since eased and no damage was sustained.
“While the situation was manageable, it was genuinely concerning for a period, and required careful judgement to balance the risks of remaining offshore versus sheltering near land.”
MetService early on Saturday afternoon issued a thunderstorm warning for Whangārei, saying it had detected “severe” storms near Bream Head, Pataua, Taiharuru, Opahi, Purua and Hikurangi. They were expected to be “accompanied by torrential rain and large hail”. Just after 2pm the forecaster said they were no longer considered “severe”.
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The operators of compromised patient data app ManageMyHealth say they have received “independent confirmation” from IT experts the flaws in its code have been fixed.
ManageMyHealth confirmed last week it had identified a security incident involving “unauthorised access” to its platform. It believed between 6 and 7 percent of the approximately 1.8 million registered users may have been impacted.
On Saturday it said just one part of the app – Health Documents – had been accessed by hackers, and not the whole app.
“We now have the complete list of people whose documents may have been accessed and expect forensic confirmation of the documents effected (sic) in the coming days,” the company said in a statement.
Affected users would be contacted in the coming days, it said, “following confirmation of forensics and liaison with PHOs and GPs to ensure that individuals are getting the right information, in line with Privacy Act requirements”.
The “specific gaps” that allowed hackers to access documents had been identified and closed, the company said.
“This fix has been independently tested and verified by external cybersecurity experts.”
Logins had been made more secure, the statement assured, and the number of access attempts in a short time limited.
“For peace of mind, any Manage My Health user can reset their password or enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where available including biometric measures, to add an additional layer of protection to their accounts.”
Users could now authenticate themselves using Google and Microsoft authenticator apps, the company said.
“In addition, keep an eye out for anything unusual, such as medical bills or insurance claims you don’t recognise, or unexpected letters from healthcare providers. If you see anything that looks odd to you, contact the relevant provider immediately.”
“This is a concerning breach of patient data and Health NZ is working closely with ManageMyHealth to ensure it is being appropriately addressed,” he said.
“At this stage, there is no evidence any Health NZ systems, including My Health Account, have been compromised as ManageMyHealth has separate systems.”
Shortly before midday on Saturday he said an incident management team had been established to support ManageMyHealth.
Brown said he had asked for advice from the Ministry of Health on options for an independent review of what occurred.
The Public Service Association said the incident was a warning to government departments shedding IT staff.
“We have seen it before in the public health system with the Waikato Hospital ransomware attack in 2021, and yet this government failed to heed that lesson in forcing Health NZ to cut the jobs of experts running digital services,” national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said.
“The risks are too high to play fast and loose with data systems – it’s a ticking time bomb.”
ManageMyHealth said it was working with the police, Health NZ and the privacy commissioner, and setting up a dedicated 0800 number and online helpdesk to help affected patients.
Stargazers can expect to see the first supermoon of the new year on Saturday night if skies are clear.
Dr Ryan Ridden from the University of Canterbury said a supermoon is when a full moon at its closest point to Earth.
He said it will appear to be 10 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than a normal full moon.
Ridden said anyone with a view out to the northeast should be able to see the supermoon, and moonrise is roughly 9.40pm. He also added it will be visible throughout the night.
“As with all astronomical objects it’s usually better to be in the middle of nowhere to limit light pollution, but the moon is pretty bright so you’ll be able to see it from cities.”
Ridden said the moon is “hanging out near Jupiter” at the moment, so when you are looking at the supermoon, the bright star just to the south will be jupiter.
He also said there is a meteor shower happening in the general area, and even though they are best viewed in moonless skies, viewers might be lucky to spot some shooting stars.
The other two supermoons will happen later this year in November and December.
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A helicopter swoops over the mountains above the Milford Road and drops explosives. Snow and ice cascade down, and when everything has settled, the area is much safer for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who will use the road below.
Each year, close to one million visitors travel the remote and rugged State Highway 94 from Te Anau to Milford Sound to reach the popular tourist destination in Fiordland National Park.
But behind the postcard-perfect scenery of glaciers, steep cliffs and waterfalls lies a high-stakes operation to keep the road open and safe no matter the weather, including using explosives to trigger avalanches before nature does.
The Milford Road Alliance, a partnership between the NZ Transport Agency and Downer, is tasked with managing the 120 kilometre stretch of highway that winds through the national park.
Milford Road Alliance’s weather/camera station above Milford Sound.Supplied
A dedicated team of 27 people work all year round to ensure travellers get to and from Milford Sound safely.
Alliance manager Kevin Thompson said the fairly short length of road presented a lot of challenges.
“We have the avalanche programme, we have rockfall issues, we have the Homer Tunnel, we have the alpine fault, we’re operating inside Fiordland National Park, and we have a very large number of tourists who visit Milford Sound both New Zealand and international visitors,” he said.
“All of those things wrap together to be quite a challenging environment.”
Among the team’s most specialised tasks is managing the risk of avalanches. Each winter, snow builds on the steep slopes above the road, creating hazards that could bury the highway without warning.
“Fiordland is an interesting place and it’s why visitors from overseas come here, it’s dynamic, it’s a big landscape. The avalanches we get here are some of the biggest in the world if they get up to their maximum and it’s because of the big valleys we have,” Thompson said.
“We can have avalanches that start way up high, they come to the edge of the cliff and then go into freefall and land on the road. Not a lot of time or chance for people to get out of the way or survive those big ones, so that’s why we have to use a number of methods to try and prevent them starting for the first case, or keep people away if we can’t deal with them ourselves.”
Some of the avalanche team completing snow tests to see what snow layers and types are building as winter progresses.Supplied
The avalanche control programme was established in 1983 to predict and manage risk from snow, ice and avalanches more effectively.
“Every winter is different, this winter we didn’t get avalanche hazard on the road until, really, the end of August,” Thompson said.
When the snow builds to dangerous levels, sometimes the team uses explosives to trigger avalanches.
“Explosives are something we don’t use all the time but when we do we will direct those where needed. So explosives we will drop into the avalanche zones that are the highest risk and we’ll bring down avalanches as much as we need to. The aim there is to try and bring them down before nature brings them down so we can control that process,” Thompson said.
Milford Road Alliance operation lead Brad Carpenter said the conditions had to be right to use explosives.
“We have to have flyable weather to get the helicopter to do that. When the conditions warrant, it takes a lot of background experience even prior to getting to working at the Milford Road, so when we’re hiring people we look for pretty extensive experience using explosives in more ski area settings,” he said.
Spring adds another challenge, as rising temperatures destabilise the snow just as tourists return in large numbers. September through to November was usually the riskiest period for avalanches, Thompson said.
The team shifted focus when it turned to summer.
An alpine weather station above State Highway 94.Supplied
Summer was a time to maintain equipment, maintain the road and infrastructure and carry out tree work to keep the road clear of trees and debris. The team also calibrated their network of weather stations, which fed into avalanche forecasting alongside MetService data.
“What we really want people to be left with is a trip to Milford Sound where they have no delays, everybody is in and out safely and we don’t interrupt or affect their visit. That, for us, is what we aim for where we don’t impact their trip, they have a safe visit and they don’t even know we do our job,” Thompson said.
He said a warming climate was adding new challenges.
Avalanche zones were being exposed to more rain and warmer temperatures, making the snow more unstable. The risk of rockfalls and trees falling was also increasing, Thompson said.
“We are expecting far greater numbers into the future into Milford Sound over the coming years so tourism is predicted to increase. That’s going to bring some interesting challenges for us as a team to manage and be part of. We are looking forward to that, that’s going to be an exciting challenge. That said, we are going to be dealing with nature and that’s changing too.”
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ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 3, 2026.
Oldest known cremation in Africa poses 9,500-year-old mystery about Stone Age hunter-gatherers Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica C. Thompson, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Yale University Why did this community burn one woman’s remains in such a visible, spectacular way? Patrick Fahey Near the equator, the Sun hurries below the horizon in a matter of minutes. Darkness seeps from the surrounding forest. Nearly 10,000
Heavy rain to hit North Island’s east coast.Unsplash / Erik Witsoe
The bad weather has spread north, with thunderstorm warnings in the eastern North Island cancelled but new ones in place for the Far North.
MetService early on Saturday afternoon issued a thunderstorm warning for Whangarei, saying it had detected “severe” storms near Bream Head, Pataua, Taiharuru, Opahi, Purua and Hikurangi.
They were expected to be “accompanied by torrential rain and large hail”.
A severe thunderstorm watch remained in place for Coromandel, Auckland and the rest of Northland.
The east
Civil Defence in Gisborne was on alert for the second time in a week, with another bout of heavy rain forecast to sweep across the region Saturday afternoon.
MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for Gisborne/Tai Rawhiti. Thunderstorms were also possible.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz says 100mm of rain was dumped on Tai Rawhiti earlier in the week.
“We are asking the public to drive to the conditions, look after yourself, and most importantly, make sure you listen to all our Civil Defence messages as we update you.”
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Wairoa just before 11.30am on Saturday.
“These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the south, and are expected to lie near Wairoa and Frasertown at 11.37am and near Wairoa, offshore [Hawke’s] Bay and Frastertown at 12.07pm. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.”
MetService on Saturday morning also said thunderstorms in Bay of Plenty were “expected to become more widespread later this morning or during the afternoon and spread to southern Coromandel Peninsula”.
“From late morning until tonight, some of these thunderstorms may become severe, bringing localised downpours with intensities of 25 to 40mm per hour.”
At 12.30pm the forecaster said the storm had weakened. “There are other thunderstorms in the region, but none are currently classified as severe.”
From 12pm Saturday and for the next 22 hours, Gisborne-Tai Rawhiti could expect up to 150mm of rain, especially in the ranges, and thunderstorms are possible.
A similar heavy rain warning has been issued for Hawke’s Bay north of Napier from 9am Saturday until 3am on Sunday.
Up to 120mm of rain is expected and there is also a risk of thunderstorms. Metservice says the heavy rain will ease south of the Wairoa District on Saturday night.
MetService heavy rain warnings for the North Island’s east coast on January 3.MetService/Screenshot
Further South in the Ruahine Ranges, a heavy rain watch put in place on Saturday morning was quickly lifted.
“However thunderstorms are expected today and some of these thunderstorms could produce localised warning amounts of rain,” MetService said just before 10.30am.
Heavy rain over the Christmas/New Year period saw people attending the annual Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne having to wade through mud, as torrential rain struck.
Meanwhile, the Horowhenua District Council has activated the Mayoral Relief Fund to support residents who have been financially impacted by the recent severe weather and prolonged power outages across the district.
MetService says weather conditions should ease by Monday, with a ridge of high pressure forecast over the country, which would make the risk of severe weather minimal.
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Police are concerned about the owner of a bike left near Lake Ōhau.Police/Facebook
Police were concerned about the owner of a bike left near Lake Ōhau in the South Island for several days, but have since identified the owner.
The bike had been at the Temple Campsite shelter off Lake Ohau Road since at least 27 December, according to police.
The bike was left at the Temple Campsite shelter off Lake Ohau RoadPolice/Facebook
Otago coastal search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Matt Sheat earlier said the bike may have been left by a tramper or climber.
“Our concern is that the owner may be overdue from a trip or have got into trouble in the area, and we want to hear from the bike’s owner, or anyone who may know who it belongs to,” Sheat said.
Later on Saturday, police said they had identified the owner and were no longer seeking information.
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Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson says officers found the body of a woman at the property on Old Coach Road on Thursday.
A 50-year-old man faces charges of assault on a family member. He was taken into custody and was due to appear in Tauranga District Court on Friday, charged with assault on a person in a family relationship.
Meanwhile, the man’s death was being treated as unexplained.
On Friday, officers also found the body of a man at a separate house on the property.
Post mortems were due to take place.
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Officers were called to the property on Kerr Street about 11pm on Thursday.RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Police are appealing to the public for information about an unexplained death in Auckland’s Devonport on New Year’s Day.
Officers were called to the property on Kerr Street about 11pm on Thursday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said a scene examination was ongoing, and police would be around the area through the weekend.
“We’re appealing for assistance from residents and businesses in the Devonport area with road-facing CCTV cameras,” he said. “Specifically, those on Vauxhall Road, between Grove Road and Church Street.”
Anyone who drove down Vauxhall Road or Kerr Street, between 10.30am and 10.30pm on 1 January who had dash camera footage was also urged to get in touch, referencing file number 260102/0177.
The St John ambulance had two officers on board, transporting a patient in a moderate conditionSt John
One person was critically injured in a crash between an ambulance and a car in Northland on Friday night.
Emergency services were called to Cove Road in Waipu around 7.50pm.
The St John ambulance had two officers on board, transporting a patient in a moderate condition from Mangawhai Heads to Whangārei Hospital.
One ambulance officer was treated for moderate injuries and was taken to Whangārei Hospital, along with a person in a critical condition.
The other officer and the patient on the ambulance were not injured as a result of the crash, and the patient was transported to hospital by another ambulance.
The damaged ambulance has been taken off the road for repairs, a St John statement said.
“Hato Hone St John takes the health and safety of the public and our people very seriously. We will assist Police with their investigation. Support will be provided to our ambulance staff involved; our thoughts are with everyone affected by the incident.”
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Police are concerned about the owner of a bike left near Lake Ōhau.Police/Facebook
Police are concerned about the owner of a bike left near Lake Ōhau in the South Island for several days.
The bike has been at the Temple Campsite shelter off Lake Ohau Road since at least 27 December, according to police.
The bike was left at the Temple Campsite shelter off Lake Ohau RoadPolice/Facebook
Otago coastal search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Matt Sheat says the bike may have been left by a tramper or climber.
“Our concern is that the owner may be overdue from a trip or have got into trouble in the area, and we want to hear from the bike’s owner, or anyone who may know who it belongs to,” Sheat said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the police.
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Heavy rain to hit Norht Island’s east coast.Unsplash / Erik Witsoe
The latest bout of wet weather is targeting the east coast of the North Island, from Tai Rawhiti to the Ruahine Ranges.
Two orange heavy rain warnings and a heavy rain watch are in place.
From 12pm Saturday and for the next 22 hours, Gisborne-Tai Rawhitican expect up to 150mm of rain, especially in the ranges, and thunderstorms are possible.
A similar heavy rain warning has been issued for Hawke’s Bay north of Napier from 9am Saturday until 3am on Sunday.
Up to 120mm of rain is expected and there is also a risk of thunderstorms. Metservice says the heavy rain will ease south of the Wairoa District on Saturday night.
MetService heavy rain warnings for the North Island’s east coast on January 3.MetService/Screenshot
Further South in the Ruahine Ranges, a heavy rain watch is in force until 9pm Saturday.
Heavy rain over the Christmas/New Year period saw people attending the annual Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne having to wade through mud, as torrential rain struck.
Meanwhile, the Horowhenua District Council has activated of the Mayoral Relief Fund to support residents who have been financially impacted by the recent severe weather and prolonged power outages across the district.
MetService says weather conditions should ease by Monday, with a ridge of high pressure forecast over the country, which would make the risk of severe weather minimal.
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National Secretary for PSA Fleur Fitzsimons is calling on the Privacy Commissioner to reconsider investigating the impact of cuts to Health NZ’s digital services workforce.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Public Service Association (PSA) says the security breach at privately run ManageMyHealth highlights the risk of cutting IT experts in public health.
It said the government had “blundered” when they cut off the jobs of many IT experts “safeguarding the public health system”.
ManageMyHealth confirmed last week it had identified a security incident involving “unauthorised access” to its platform. It believed between 6 and 7 percent of the approximately 1.8 million registered users may have been impacted.
PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the breach was a “wake-up call for the entire health sector in New Zealand”.
“We have seen it before in the public health system with the Waikato Hospital ransomware attack in 2021, and yet this government failed to heed that lesson in forcing Health NZ to cut the jobs of experts running digital services.
“The risks are too high to play fast and loose with data systems – it’s a ticking time bomb.”
She said hospitals were using outdated systems but no longer had experts who could understand their weaknesses
Fitzsimons called on the privacy commissioner to reconsider a previous request by the PSA to investigate the impact of cuts to Health NZ’s digital services workforce.
Health Minister Simeon Brown previously said government agencies were working with ManageMyHealth to fully understand the scope of the breach and to protect the privacy of patients.
“This is a concerning breach of patient data and Health NZ is working closely with ManageMyHealth to ensure it is being appropriately addressed,” he said.
“At this stage, there is no evidence any Health NZ systems, including My Health Account, have been compromised as ManageMyHealth has separate systems.”
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Why did this community burn one woman’s remains in such a visible, spectacular way?Patrick Fahey
Near the equator, the Sun hurries below the horizon in a matter of minutes. Darkness seeps from the surrounding forest. Nearly 10,000 years ago, at the base of a mountain in Africa, people’s shadows stretch up the wall of a natural overhang of stone.
They’re lit by a ferocious fire that’s been burning for hours, visible even to people miles away. The wind carries the smell of burning. This fire will linger in community memory for generations − and in the archaeological record for far longer.
We are a team of bioarchaeologists, archaeologists and forensic anthropologists who, with our colleagues, recently discovered the earliest evidence of cremation – the transformation of a body from flesh to burned bone fragments and ashes – in Africa and the earliest example of an adult pyre cremation in the world.
The pyre was found under a giant boulder near the base of Mount Hora. The site is in Malawi, which is outlined in black within the Zambezian forest (colored green) on the map of Africa. Jessica Thompson and Natural Earth
It’s no easy task to produce, create and maintain an open fire strong enough to completely burn a human body. While the earliest cremation in the world dates to about 40,000 years ago in Australia, that body was not fully burned.
It is far more effective to use a pyre: an intentionally built structure of combustible fuel. Pyres appear in the archaeological record only about 11,500 years ago, with the earliest known example containing a cremated child under a house floor in Alaska.
Many cultures have practiced cremation, and the bones, ash and other residues from these events help archaeologists piece together past funeral rituals. Our scientific paper, published in the journal Science Advances, describes a spectacular event that happened about 9,500 years ago in Malawi in south-central Africa, challenging long-held notions about how hunter-gatherers treat their dead.
Excavators standing at the depth of the pyre at the Hora 1 site in northern Malawi. Jessica Thompson
The discovery
At first it was just a hint of ash, then more. It expanded downward and outward, becoming thicker and harder. Pockets of dark earth briefly appeared and disappeared under trowels and brushes until one of the excavators stopped. They pointed to a small bone at the base of a 1½-foot (0.5-meter) wall of archaeological ash revealed under a natural stone overhang at the Hora 1 archaeological site in northern Malawi.
The bone was the broken end of a humerus, from the upper arm of a person. And clinging to the very end of it was the matching end of the lower arm, the radius. Here was a human elbow joint, burned and fractured, preserved in sediments full of debris from the daily lives of Stone Age hunter-gatherers.
We wondered whether this could be a funeral pyre, but such structures are extremely rare in the archaeological record.
Excavators began finding a thick ash deposit about 2 feet (0.6 meters) under the modern-day surface of the rock shelter. Jessica Thompson
Finding a cremated person from the Stone Age also seemed impossible because cremation is not generally practiced by African foragers, either living or ancient. The earliest evidence of burned human remains from Africa date to around 7,500 years ago, but that body was incompletely burned, and there was no evidence of a pyre.
The first clear cases of cremation date to around 3,300 years ago, carried out by early pastoralists in eastern Africa. But overall the practice remained rare and is associated with food-producing societies and not hunter-gatherers.
We found more charred human remains in a small cluster, while the ash layer itself was as large as a queen bed. The blaze must have been enormous.
When we returned from fieldwork and received our first radiocarbon dates, we were shocked again: The event had happened about 9,500 years ago.
Piecing together the events
We built a team of specialists to piece together what had happened. By applying forensic and bioarchaeological techniques, we confirmed that all the bones belonged to a single person who was cremated shortly after her death.
This was a small adult, probably a woman, just under 5 feet (1.5 meters) in height. In life, she was physically active, with a strong upper body, but had evidence of a partially healed bone infection on her arm. Bone development and the beginnings of arthritis suggested she was probably middle-aged when she died.
Marks incised on the shaft of the lower arm bone (radius) were inflicted by a stone tool. The bone then turned gray as it burned. The area in the box on the left is enlarged on the right of the image. Jessica Thompson
Patterns of warping, cracks and discoloration caused by fire damage showed her body was burned with some flesh still on it, in a fire reaching at least 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (540 degrees Celsius). Under the microscope we could see tiny incisions along her arms and at muscle connections on her legs, revealing that people tending the pyre used stone tools to help the process along by removing flesh.
Tiny pointed tools made from local stone were found within the pyre. They were probably made at the same time that it burned. Justin Pargeter
Within the pyre ash, we found many small pointed chips of stone that suggested people had added tools to the fire as it burned.
And the way the bones were clustered inside such a large fire showed that this was not a case of cannibalism: It was some other kind of ritual.
Perhaps most surprisingly, we found no evidence of her head. Skull bones and teeth usually preserve well in cremations because they are very dense. While we can’t know for sure, the absence of these body parts suggest her head may have been removed before or during the cremation as part of the funeral ritual.
A communal spectacle
We determined that the pyre must have been built and maintained by multiple people who were actively engaged in the event. During new excavations the following year, we found even more bone fragments from the same ancient woman, displaced and colored differently from in the main pyre. These additional remains suggest that the body was manipulated, attended and moved during the cremation.
Microscopic analysis of ash samples from across the pyre included blackened fungus, reddened soil from termite structures, and microscopic plant remains. These helped us estimate that people collected at least 70 pounds (30 kg) of deadwood to do the task and stoked the fire for hours to days.
We also learned that this was not the first fire at the Hora 1 site – nor its last. To our astonishment, what had seemed during fieldwork to be a single massive pile of ash was in fact a layered series of burning events. Radiocarbon dating of the ash samples showed that people began lighting fires on that spot by about 10,240 years ago. The same location was used to construct the cremation pyre several hundred years later. As the pyre smoldered, new fires were kindled on top of it, resulting in fused ashes in microscopic layers.
Loose, sandy, burned soil was mixed on top of very thin layers of ash, showing that the pyre was lit over and over again. Flora Schilt
Within a few hundred years of the main event, another large fire was built again at the exact same place. While there is no evidence that anyone else was cremated in the subsequent fires, the fact that people repeatedly returned to the spot for this purpose suggests its significance lived on in community memory.
A new view of ancient cremation
What does all of this tell us about ancient hunter-gatherers in the region?
For one, it shows that entire communities were engaged in a mortuary spectacle of extraordinary scale. An open pyre can take more than a day of constant tending and an enormous amount of fuel to fully reduce a body, and during this time the sights and smells of burning wood and other remains are impossible to hide.
This scale of mortuary effort is unexpected for this time and place. In the African record, complex multigenerational mortuary rituals tied to specific places are generally not associated with a hunting-and-gathering way of life.
It also shows that different people were treated in different ways in death, raising the possibility of more complex social roles in life. Other men, women and children were buried at the Hora 1 site beginning as early as 16,000 years ago. In fact, those other burials have provided ancient DNA evidence showing they were part of a long-term local group. But those burials, and others that came a few hundred years after the pyre, were interred without this labor-intensive spectacle.
What about this person was different? Was she a beloved family member or an outsider? Was this treatment because of something she did in life or a specific hope for the afterlife? Additional excavation and data from across the region may help us better understand why this person was cremated and what cremation meant to this group.
Whoever she was, her death had important meaning not just to the people who made and tended the pyre, but also to the generations that came after.
Jessica C. Thompson has received funding for this research from the Wenner-Gren Foundation, National Geographic Society, and Hyde Family Foundations. She is affiliated with the Yale Peabody Museum and the Institute of Human Origins.
Elizabeth Sawchuk and Jessica Cerezo-Román do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Hotel director Sourav Sharma outside the iconic hotel.RNZ / Anna Sargent
The new director of a historic Canterbury hotel that was shut for more than a year says he’s determined to bring the iconic site back to life.
The 150-year-old Hurunui Hotel, which sits on State Highway 7 in North Canterbury, reopened on 28 November after being closed while on the market and unable to find a buyer.
Hotel director Sourav Sharma has taken on the lease with plans to reinvigorate the hotel and buy it in the future.
Sharma, who had worked in hospitality for about seven years and managed pubs in Ashburton and Selwyn, said owning a pub had long been a goal.
“We tried a few times to look for something around this spot, but then this opportunity came across and we just couldn’t miss it,” he said.
“The first thought when we walked in here was it’s such an iconic spot, heaps of history this place has got. It was a shame to have the place shut, so we thought lets take a chance and bring it back to new life.”
The Hurunui Hotel has been serving guests since 1868 and is the oldest continuously licensed pub in Canterbury.
The two-storey building, constructed of locally quarried limestone, holds a special place in many locals’ memories.
“Everyone I spoke to had a story about this place,” Sharma said.
The building first opened in 1868.RNZ / Anna Sargent
“Some people had their first date here, some people had their kid’s 10th birthday, you know heaps of different stories. People just love to be back here and they’re so happy that the place is back open.”
Sharma said the response from the community since reopening had been overwhelmingly positive, despite some teething issues.
He had planned the hotel’s revival in three stages.
The initial focus was on reopening the bar and restaurant. The second stage would see a function area open, capable of hosting up to 100 people with its own bar and kitchen.
The final stage was reopening the upstairs accommodation.
“All these things are in progress, by the middle of January we should have function area open,” Sharma said.
He also saw potential in the hotel’s outdoor space, which included a beer garden with a pond and waterfall, a gazebo, and a camping area with facilities for travellers.
Sourav Sharma hopes to bring the place back to life.RNZ / Anna Sargent
For now, Sharma was leasing the hotel and he said any profits would be reinvested into the business, with a goal of buying the property after three years.
He credited his family for helping him take the leap to take on the hotel.
“My brother Harry who owns the Southbridge Hotel, the Coalgate Tavern as well as the Springfield Hotel, he mentioned that this is your legacy, either do it right or don’t do it,” Sharma said.
“Everyone has just said that the place sells itself, because of the iconic history and being on the Alpine Pacific road. To be able to open the place up meant a lot to us.”
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A lightning strike was the cause of a house fire in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn.Unsplash/ Rahul Viswanath
A lightning strike set fire to a house in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn on Friday night, as thunderstorms hit the centre of the region.
Fire and Emergency said the lightning caused a blaze throughout the roof of the two-storey house, 5:40pm on Friday night.
It was contained to that property and put out.
Three stations and a fire investigator responded, and an ambulance also attended to the people from the house.
The New Year’s severe weather is forecast to continue elsewhere in the North Island on Saturday, with a heavy rain warning in Hawke’s Bay north of Napier from 7am till Sunday morning.
There is also a heavy rain warning in Gisborne from 11am Saturday till 11am on Sunday.
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Immigration lawyers Pooja Sundar and Stewart Dalley.Supplied
Lawyers say an in-house immigration complaints process is a toothless tiger for visa applicants.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) received more than 6500 complaints in the last year, down from 9500 in 2019.
Immigration lawyers Pooja Sundar and Stewart Dalley say people who are overseas when they apply are given vague, or no, reasons why their visa has been rejected.
Decisions about temporary visas – such as tourist or family visits – can only be appealed if travellers are already in the country renewing a visa, or changing to a different one.
In those situations, INZ has to provide written reasons, as well as an opportunity before the decision is made to respond to concerns about an application.
It was unfair such a mechanism was not offered to offshore applicants who could instead only access a complaints and feedback process – which does not look at whether the decision was correct, Dalley said.
“I think there should be someone who’s looking at the actual merits of the application more than just the process followed,” he said.
“If there isn’t such a mechanism available, then you’ve got officers who are given so much discretion in their roles with absolutely no oversight, other than just procedural oversight.”
Challenging flawed decisions
“Where the officer knows in the back of the mind that nobody can review this decision, that’s not subject to an appeal, there’s no reconsideration then where’s the incentive to make a proper decision? And how many incorrect decisions are getting made when there’s no oversight?”
When decisions are appealed to the immigration and protection tribunal, more than a third of residence rejections are overturned, he said.
Sundar would like to see officers asking offshore applicants – whose visitor visa fee rose 60 percent a year ago to $341 – for more information if they are unsure about their application, and allowing reconsiderations of decisions.
“I’ve heard stories and I’m aware of situations in which there have been family trying to visit from various parts of the world, come to New Zealand for very specific events, or if they have holidays on their end of the world,” Sundar said.
“And they will have reasons to return [home] and they will have provided this to Immigration New Zealand, but because of potentially where they’re from or because of what immigration assumes with the application itself, they are declined.
“And in that position, the option is to reapply or to make a complaint. But the complaints process isn’t really going to go anywhere. And so the person looks at paying for those flights again, potentially, and paying the visa filing fees again, and going through the process again. And if it’s declined again, then we go back to square one, apply again, or the complaints process.
“A credible system requires transparency, clear reasoning, and a genuine path to challenge flawed decisions.”
Courts had previously ruled that where someone is engaging with New Zealand, the country’s laws apply to them and they were entitled to the rights of natural justice.
But Dalley said the office of the Human Rights Commission cannot investigate immigration-related issues and the only recourse was an expensive judicial review in the High Court.
“So we have excluded this under the Human Rights Act, which seems somewhat ridiculous that we are signing up to an international treaty on human rights but yet we’re going to trample all over them when it comes to our immigration policy settings. There’s something wrong with that.”
Immigration New Zealand [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/332479/immigration-nz-s-complaints-procedure-falls-short-lawyer
reviewed how it dealt with feedback] more than a decade ago and brought in a new system in 2017.
It was criticised for shrinking the scope of what people could complain about – as it could not be about the decision itself.
INZ complaints manager Katy Goodwin said while temporary visa applicants outside of New Zealand do not have a formal right of appeal or reconsideration “immigration officers may reconsider an application if new and compelling information is promptly provided”.
“If someone based overseas has had their temporary visa declined, they should submit a new application with all the correct and required information, answering any concerns that were outstanding from the declined application. If applicants are uncertain on what is required, they should check the requirements for each visa type on the INZ website.”
She said last year’s complaints numbers were at the lowest since the new feedback system started.
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An Ikea shopper who tried to buy a set of dining chairs was left fuming after the order was cancelled – except for the stickers on the bottom of the chairs, which still carried a $69 delivery fee.
“I placed an online order for four dining chairs through their app very early on the second day since IKEA launched in Aotearoa,” Rana Ghosh told RNZ.
“I double-checked that it was in stock before placing the order. I was fast in ordering because I knew this product even before their app officially started listing all the products. Per their app recommendation, I added stickers ($1.25) for the legs of the chairs to prevent these from scratching the floor. They added $69 for shipping my order to Lower Hutt.
“On Christmas Eve, the stickers arrived in a rather large box. They informed me that they have already unilaterally processed refund of the cost of the chairs. I think you can guess where it is going with the shipping charges… Friendly person from Mainfreight laughed out loud when I shared this anecdote.
“Soon after singing the receipt for the chair stickers, I received an email from Ikea that sounds more like mockery than a Christmas gift with the subject: ‘Have fun with your order from Ikea’.”
There have been a number of problems reported in recent weeks for Ikea, which opened its first New Zealand shop in early December.
Another man said he had only the legs of a desk delivered and was charged $79.
Ghosh said the experience reflected badly on Ikea and seemed to suggest it had not invested adequately in training staff or understanding the local market.
Ikea said in a statement that it had made significant progress in resolving the majority of cases and delivering outstanding customer orders since it opened.
“While we don’t comment on individual cases, instances like this are not aligned with our high expectations for customer service at Ikea, and all teams across our business are working hard to ensure these don’t happen.
“We remain fully committed to constantly improving our processes to consistently deliver the reliable experience customers expect from Ikea.”
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Members of the NZ Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) walked off the job for an hour at midday on Friday.
The union said pay talks with Fire and Emergency (FENZ) had broken down.
FENZ said it received 15 calls for help during the strike, with one callout for a small grassfire near Whangārei.
Earlier, FENZ deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said 111 calls would be answered during the hour, but responses would be delayed.
“Our dispatch system will direct volunteers from their own stations to help as they regularly do when there are multiple emergencies at one time, but it will take them longer,” Stiffler said.
“Businesses should take care with any work practices that could result in fire, and make sure their tenants understand their evacuation schemes and procedures.
“We are advising everyone that, should there be a fire, they should evacuate early and, once out, stay out, and call 111.”
FENZ previously applied for independent facilitation to put an end to its long running dispute with the firefighters union.
NZPFU began pay talks with FENZ in July 2024.
FENZ said the union’s most recent proposal was more than three times its offer and far beyond what it was willing to agree to.
“We’re asking the Employment Relations Authority to provide facilitation to help bring the parties together because of the protracted nature of bargaining and the impact on public safety from prolonged and repeated strike action,” Stiffler said in a statement.
The union has given notice of two more strikes over the next fortnight.
FENZ said firefighters were rolling the dice on people’s safety by calling another round of strike action.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Nearly three years on from the devastating floods of Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland Anniversary Weekend in 2023, many of the region’s walking and hiking tracks are still closed due to damage.
Auckland Council said it did not have a record of how many damaged tracks were unable to be used across its local and regional parks, but that several popular tracks were expected to reopen in time for the holidays.
But some residents, who have been missing their Auckland Domain stroll and Waitākere Ranges tracks, were frustrated that there had been no clear timeline for when damaged tracks would be repaired.
2023 weather events forced many regional park tracks to close or partially close, particularly on Auckland’s west coast.
Stephen French, who founded the tramping group Feet First, said he had not been tramping as much recently since so many paths were closed.
“The main reason I pulled away is we now have to tramp elsewhere out of Auckland, that’s been a big factor.
“I still take people tramping, but we now have to go elsewhere, we have to go to, unfortunately, the Waikato.”
“It’s almost like I have to take up golf now because there used to be 200 plus tracks open in the Waitākeres and now there’s probably only about 20, 20 officially. It makes me very sad.”
The council said Ahu Ahu Track in the Waitākere Ranges, and the Lookout and Quarry Tracks in Muriwai, which were heavily impacted by 2023 weather events, would all be restored by 2026.
“It’s a real shame. That was one of my favourite places to take people as a guide,” French said.
Reopening hopes for the new year
In the CBD, Auckland Domain’s Lovers Walk, including the Lovers Lane track, had been off-limits to the public since 2023, due to slips, path surface and stability issues, and stairway damage.
A rebuilt section of the track. Photo: Supplied/Auckland Council
Auckland Council initially said it was planning to have the track fixed during the 2024-2025 summer holidays. But by November 2025 it was still shut off.
Parks and community facilities operations manager Martin Wong told RNZ that the 500 metre bush path would be open for people to enjoy by 20 December 2025.
“This allows visitors to return to Auckland Domain’s central native forest and access the trail safely once again for the first time in nearly three years.”
Local resident Bethny Uptegrove, who first wrote to the council wanting to know when the track would reopen back in 2024, said people had been using it even while it was closed, and that all it needed was a bit of levelling.
“It’s really shocking how out of touch the council is, both because this charming and popular walk was not repaired until three years later, and because their communication is so uninformative.”
“I do understand the upgrades would take some time, and they might have to block it off for a while. If they had told us what they’re planning to do, that might have helped a little bit.
“I’m grateful they’ve put in the upgrades, but I think they could’ve taken this important track in an important part of the city more seriously.”
Auckland Domain Heritage walk leader Shelagh Coop was also pleased that the tracks were getting an upgrade.
“It’s got to be user-friendly for all ages.
“It will be delightful, many tourists who come to the Auckland Domain will enjoy walking there, and students will probably use it to make their way up to the universities as well.
Shelagh Coop. Photo: RNZ/Jessica Hopkins
“When I was at university, I used to walk down there. It’s a good start to your working day if you go down a nice, quiet pathway, where there’s no traffic.”
When asked why repairing the track had taken so long, Martin Wong said the work done had been “extensive”.
“The ecological area of this track is considered an outstanding natural feature of the Domain, with many historical and cultural features along the pathway.
“Due to its significance, all works have required a rigourous consenting process, which has extended the timeframe required to finish this project.
“For example, specialist planning advice has been sought on the requirements, along with input from an archaeologist and Heritage New Zealand. A cultural assessment from mana whenua has been completed, allowing time for site visits and feedback.
“We also needed to engage an arborist to assess requirements for tree protection, and an ecologist to determine measures to ensure lizards present in the area were not impacted.”
He said the walkway was made “more visually appealing” and “more resilient to future weather events” with a new low boardwalk, boxed steps, and bridges.
Bethny Uptegrove. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
‘Some people may be frustrated’
RNZ asked Auckland Council how many regional and local park tracks damaged in 2023 were still closed. Parks and community facilities general manager, Taryn Crewe, said it did not have that information readily available.
“We acknowledge some people may be frustrated that their favourite track is still awaiting repair.”
“The management and maintenance of our entire network is complex and time-consuming – we provide hundreds of walking tracks for people across the region to enjoy. The remaining repair work to address storm-related damage is some of the most challenging and costly, and we are facing delays in many cases due to both complexity and funding as we seek to prioritise these against other priorities in the parks, for example, playground renewals and community building renewals.”
But she said three more west coast tracks, the Smyth Ridge and Kuatiaka Tracks, which connected Anawhata Beach Track to Long Road Track, and the Zion Hill Track, were set to reopen by 2026.
“These three tracks were initially closed in 2018 to manage the spread of kauri dieback disease. Each track was upgraded in the years that followed, bringing them up to the standard required to reopen and not present a risk to healthy kauri in the Waitākere Ranges.
“Work on the Smyth Ridge Track commenced and will be completed by 2026. Following the severe weather events of 2023, land subsidence meant that new work on both the Kuataika and Zion Hill tracks was required before they could be reopened.
“This was hugely frustrating, but I’m grateful to all our partners, who have worked at pace and pivoted from other work to ensure these tracks are prioritised and completed for visitors to return during the peak summer months.”
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A teenager was rescued from a rip at Paritutu Beach.Jordan Tan / 123rf
A teenager rescued from a rip at Paritutu Beach thanks to the quick actions of a police officer and a member of Surf Lifesaving.
Police received a call about 7pm on Thursday night, reporting a teenager was caught in a rip and was unable to get themselves back to shore.
A water rescue operation was launched, including a rescue helicopter.
A surfer tried to reach the teenager to assist but was unable to reach them.
The police officer on scene and a member of Surf Lifesaving made the decision to head out into the water with a flotation device, and were able to safely bring the teenager back to shore.
Central Districts duty officer Inspector Ashley Gurney said it was very lucky the outcome was not worse.
“Without the quick thinking and bravery of my colleague and the Surf Lifesaving team member, this incident would likely be drastically worse.
“I commend them both on their efforts, it is great that no one was seriously injured or worse.
“I also commend the member of the public who was brave enough to attempt to help the young person.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 2, 2026.
Ancient African bedrock reveals the violent beginnings of life on our blue planet Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Lamb, Associate Professor in Geophysics, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington You have probably seen the images of the surface of Mars, beamed back by NASA’s rovers. What if there were a time machine capable of roaming Earth during its remote geological past, perhaps
Australia’s red and yellow beach flags can be dangerously confusing. Is it time to change them? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Every summer in Australia, millions of people head to the beach, and every year, thousands are rescued by lifeguards or Surf Life Savers and even surfers or other bystanders. Tragically, many
Is world peace even possible? I study war and peace and here’s where I’d start Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Bellamy, Director of the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland By any measure, 2025 was not a good year for world peace. Worse, it was just the latest of a decade-long decline of
Donald Trump loathes the courts. He’s following the autocrat playbook to sideline them Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Bergman, International Affairs Editor, The Conversation In democratic systems, the courts are a vital check on a leader’s power. They have the ability to overturn laws and, in Donald Trump’s case, the executive orders he has relied on to achieve his goals. Since taking office, Trump
Why do I seem to get sick as soon as I take time off? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor Emerita, Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University SolStock/Getty You’ve been hanging out for a break, getting through the busy last weeks of work or class. You’re finally ready to relax. And then tiredness descends, you feel the tickle in your
Moving house? 3 surprising ways your new neighbourhood can affect health and happiness Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor and Principal Fellow in Urban Risk and Resilience, The University of Melbourne Tom Rumble/Unsplash, CC BY-NC-ND January is consistently Australia’s busiest month for moving house – around 14-18% of the yearly total, far higher than any other month. When people choose a new
Why central bankers look to the ‘stars’ when setting interest rates Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Hartigan, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney James Wheeler/Pexels When the topic of central banks and the outlook for interest rates comes up, economists often turn to the so-called “star” variables to help with their predictions. What do we mean by star variables? Why they
Walk while you work: are the extra steps on an under desk treadmill worth the cost? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Brakenridge, Research Fellow, Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology Phynart Studio/Getty Images Recent surveys estimate more than 6.7 million Australians – almost half of all workers, and the majority in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra – work from home at least some of the
Professor Thomas Charles Roa has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori language and educationRNZ / Pokere Paewai
The Minister for Māori Development is praising those named on the New Year Honours list.
Māori who have been recognised for 2026 include Companions, Officers, and Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, as well as recipients of the King’s Service Order and Medal.
Tama Potaka, who is also the Minister for Māori Crown Relations, said they demonstrate deep and enduring commitment to Māori advancement and community leadership across Aotearoa.
“I’m particularly inspired and motivated by those Māori leaders and people working in the iwi, hapū and whānau space who are doing some wonderful work in maintaining and uplifting our identity, but also continuing our traditions and our tikanga through to our mokopuna,” he said.
Minister for Māori Crown Relations Tama PotakaRNZ / Mark Papalii
However, Potaka said they did not work alone.
“I think it’s wonderful that we’ve been able to honour and recognise people through this New Year’s list, and no doubt there will be further worthy people that are honoured and awarded in the King’s Birthday list coming up in six months, but for this moment, just to reflect on and thank the many recipients of honours and recognition for their contributions to their own whānau, and particularly for New Zealand as a whole.
“I do also recognise that within nearly everybody that’s been awarded an honour and award today and recognised for their massive contribution, there are often wives and husbands and children and parents and spouses and cousins that are behind them, and whilst individuals do get awards and recognition, often that comes with stronger whānau and stronger communities behind them.”
Renowned Māori academic appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Professor Thomas Charles Roa has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori language and education.
Tom Roa, who is a Professor of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato, has been a tireless advocate for te reo Māori.
Professor Thomas Charles RoaSupplied
He is a founder of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori movement in the 1970s.
His leadership has shaped Māori language revitalisation and educational excellence, Potaka said.
Roa said he was honoured to be recognised, but should not be the only one.
“There are so many people who have been a part of my journey,” he said.
“I enjoy that saying, ‘I see as far as I can see because I stand on the shoulders of giants.’ I’ve had the pleasure of being mentored, being taught, and learning at the feet of giants.
“One in particular, who I think should have been made a Sir, is Koro Wētere.
“I’ve also spent time with people like Sir Pita Sharples, Sir Tīmoti Kāretu, and Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan, who I very much look up to, and I like to think that I follow their example.”
Māori leadership, language, and service recognised
Rod Drury has become a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business, the technology industry, and philanthropy.
Supplied
Leith Pirika Comer has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori, governance, and education.
Rachel Emere Taulelei has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business, Māori, and governance.
Professor Beverley-Anne Lawton has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women’s health.
Christina Cowan has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori, particularly blind and low vision people.
Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and art.
Waihoroi Paraone Hoterene has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and Māori language education.
Roger Bruce Douglas Drummond has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby and Māori.
Dr Lorraine Shirley Eade has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori, governance and the community.
Hori Te Moanaroa Parata has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and Māori.
Andrew Ruawhitu Pokaia has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and education.
Arihia Amiria Stirling has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and Māori.
Kāren Eirene Johnson has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and human rights.
Gail Henrietta Maria Thompson has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and conservation.
Helena Audrey Tuteao has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people with disabilities and Māori.
Mark Joseph Harawira has become a Companion of the King’s Service Order for services to Māori education, arts and conservation.
Bonita Joanne Bigham has received the King’s Service Medal for services to local government and Māori.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
2025 was not a great year for many house price forecasters, who had to revise their forecasts down many times as the year went on.
At the start of the year, Westpac thought prices might lift 7 percent. At one point ASB thought they could lift 10 percent.
But while activity picked up over the past 12 months, prices were mostly flat and even went through months of decline in the middle of the year.
So what might lie ahead in the coming 12 months?
Commentators say there is likely to be a bit of an increase in prices in the year ahead, but this time no one expects increases anywhere near double-digit percentages.
BNZ chief economist Mike Jones said house prices might rise 4 percent over 2026, about the same as the Reserve Bank’s forecast.
“We’ve had three years in which house prices basically went sideways – we think the trend will bend upwards.”
But he said that increase would be below the average increase of earlier years and there was a chance that the lift could be smaller than 4 percent.
Turnover was back to healthy levels, he said.
“When we when we stack up the demand factors for next year, they’re all pretty positive – you’ve got the economy defrosting, which tends to coincide with a bit more housing market activity, you’ve got population growth which will probably pick up a bit… And mortgage rates may not go a lot lower, but they’re going to stay relatively low and at levels that will support a bit more housing investment.
“So I think when you line up those demand factors, we will see activity continuing to recover. It’s just on the house price front, the big uncertainty, the big question is what happens to supply and that’s been the real story of the last couple of years.
“Even though you’ve got lower mortgage rates and more demand, you’ve had more transactions coming through, that’s been more than offset by listings and growth in supply. We may be in the same position next year where we’ve just continued to see supply match up pretty well with demand and there hasn’t been much of a change in house prices.”
Kelvin Davidson, chief economist at property data firm Cotality, said 4 percent or 5 percent seemed a likely increase.
“Some of the things that have been restraining house prices – affordability, lots of listings, slowish pass through of lower mortgage rates, a weak economy, weak labour market – some of those things seem to be turning around now. Affordability is back to normal, interest rates are passing through a lot more, the economy is starting to turn around and listings have come down a bit. The conditions are definitely in place for growth in property values next year.”
But he said things like debt-to-income ratios would limit growth and there was still a strong supply of houses being built.
Wellington and Auckland were lagging other markets and could have more room to grow, he said. “I’m not saying they necessarily will but at some point in those markets you think they could snap back a little faster. But generally I think we’ll probably still have a wee bit of a two-speed economy… parts of Canterbury, Southland, Taranaki – rural areas might rise a bit more strongly as they have been doing this year.”
But Gareth Kiernan, chief forecaster at Infometrics and one of the few who initially expected the housing market to be weak in 2025, said he was not confident there would be much growth at all.
“We still have house prices going sideways or potentially drifting slightly down through the next year. That’s essentially based around our affordability argument that while interest rates are lower it doesn’t necessarily mean that people want to take on more debt or pay more for housing. House price-to-income ratios are still worse than any time prior to 2020.”
But he said if there was a strong economic recovery it could put pressure on house prices and he was not as confident in his forecast as he had been in previous years.
Rental market
Jones said what happened with the rental market would depend on population growth.
Rents have slowed significantly around the country.
“Population growth is quite weak, it’s about half the long-run average and so there’s been that excess of supply particularly when we’ve seen departures from New Zealand at relatively high levels. I think the picture will change as we go through next year. We’ll see the rental markets stabilise.”
Kiernan agreed the rental market was likely to be flat too. “We’ve got weak net migration, weak population growth, we’ve been seeing the impacts of that to some degree on the softness in the rental market through this year as well.”
Davidson said even though rents had been edging lower they were still high in relation to incomes. “That’s a natural handbrake. There’s still a decent amount of property out there. The rebalancing to a degree of the overall housing stock is keeping a lid on prices but it’ll also keep a lid on rents…. but rents don’t tend to fall for too long.
“So it could be that there’s a wee bit of growth next year. But generally, I think rental markets still stay pretty subdued, sort of vaguely in favour of tenants and a bit tougher for landlords.”
