New Zealand canoe racer Aimee Fisher has overcome tricky winds and a parochial German crowd to win gold at the World Cup regatta in Brandenburg.

In the K1 500 final, Fisher sustained a strong challenge from the midpoint of the race to beat local favourite Pauline Jagsch by 0.4 of second.

The pair were neck and neck for most of the last 200m, with the crowd cheering wildly for Jagch, but Fisher just had the edge in the final stages.

Her time was one minute 54.45, with Jagsch comfortably ahead of third-placed Anna Pulawska of Poland.

“It was an epic contest in such difficult conditions,” said Fisher.

“That side wind really picked up just as we were coming into the start line.

“I don’t think I’ve ever raced with a perpendicular side wind so it needed a lot of skill and heart out there.”

Fisher had finished second in the K1 500 in the Hungary World Cup regatta in Szeged last weekend.

Fisher also took part in the K4 500 final in Brandenburg. She replaced [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/594593/dame-lisa-carrington-skips-world-cup-regatta-on-medical-advice Dame Lisa Carrington who decided not to compete on medical advice.

Fisher, Olivia Brett, Greer Morley and Lucy Matehaere finished ninth in the final.

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A jet ski near the Motuihe Channel exploded on Saturday, with smoke and flames seen in the area.

Senior Constable Nick Hall, Marine Rescue Centre said a vessel near Emu Point reported seeing the jet ski explode just before 2pm.

“Two injured people were pulled from the water and taken to hospital by ambulance services, now at home recovering.

“Police are investigating the incident, and early indications are that the jet ski reportedly exploded due to the fuel vapour line catching fire, splitting the craft and causing it to sink.”

He said even though the the 20-year-old jet ski had been serviced annually, the incident still occurred.

“The Police Maritime Unit are concerned that this isolated incident may indicate a ‘hidden’ situation for owners of older jet skis.”

Police who supported the water rescue are encouraging owners to check for hidden issues in their jet skis.

“Please check all fuel lines and fuel fittings as these items perish with age, and we encourage owners to replace such items periodically.”

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It’s surf’s up in the small Waikato town of Raglan, as it hosts the New Zealand Surfing Championships, and locals are excited for what it means for the town.

The World Surf League arrived at Manu Bay on Friday, marking the first time New Zealand has hosted a combined men’s and women’s Championship Tour event.

It has brought out surfing stars from around the world, and locals say the town is lapping up the international attention.

Hundreds of spectators crowded the shoreline of Manu Bay on Sunday to watch the totally tubular action.

Hamish Christophers was chuffed to have the chance to rub shoulders with the surfers from around the globe.

“It’s so good for locals, and just everyone in New Zealand to see what it’s all about,” he said.

“Good to meet them and rub shoulders with the best in the world, it’s epic.”

Up to 7000 spectators were expected to gather along headlands and the shoreline to watch elite surfers tackle one of the most famous left-hand breaks in the world.

Meanwhile in town, local Jeff Prudden said the town had been heaving with the competition on.

“Obviously, when the comp’s on town’s pretty quiet, but when the night hits it’s on bro,” he said.

“Yesterday, because obviously it got called off, town was bustling.”

He said surfers and spectators were arriving before the champs had even started.

“People come before as well, because you had the good weeks’ worth of swell before the comp, so it brought people in,” Prudden said.

“Just seeing pros chilling around town, and going to the pub, rubbing shoulders and having some food with them is pretty sweet.”

Orca eatery and bar manager Tom Oxley-Guest said while the competition had been great for business, such a large event could be a little overwhelming.

“Just trying to organise the days, and make sure we’re having enough staff on to deal with the amount of people,” he said.

“Obviously, everywhere’s got capacity, and we’re a pretty big place, so I think we can handle it well.”

He said hosting the competition was great for the town.

“I think it’s massive for Raglan, just to put us on the map, especially the time of year that it comes in, it’s huge because obviously that’s when the waves get better for the boys,” Oxley-Guest said.

“It’s perfect because this is when the town gets quieter.”

Oxley-Guest hoped the surf champs would be back in Raglan next year.

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Follow all the NRL action, as NZ Warriors take on Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett is one of four players returning from injury for the NRL ‘Magic Round’ clash, but Luke Metcalf has been left out of the squad.

The Warriors, who are second on the NRL table, two points behind Penrith, are attempting to win their fifth game in a row, while the Broncos are trying to right their ship, after two consecutive losses.

However, they have the wood over the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium, with the Kiwi side not winning there since 2018.

Kickoff is 6.05pm.

Team lists

Warriors: 1 Taine Tuaupiki, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Ali Leiataua, 4 Adam Pompey, 5 Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Tanah Boyd, 8 James Fisher-Harris (c), 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitchell Barnett (c), 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Kurt Capewell, 13 Erin Clark.

Interchange: 14 Sam Healey, 15 Jackson Ford, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Jacob Laban, 18 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 20 Te Maire Martin.

Reserves: 21 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 22 Luke Hanson, 23 Makaia Tafua.

Brisbane: 1 Reece Walsh, 2 Josiah Karapani, 3 Jesse Arthars, 4 Gehamat Shibasaki, 5 Phillip Coates, 6 Ezra Mam, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Preston Riki, 9 Cory Paix, 10 Xavier Willison, 11 Jaiyden Hunt, 12 Jordan Riki, 13 Patrick Carrigan.

Interchange: 14 Ben Hunt, 15 Ben Talty, 16 Va’a Semu, 17 Aublix Tawha, 18 Hayze Perham, 19 Josh Rogers.

Reserves: 20 Thomas Duffy, 21 Luke Gale, 22 Kane Bradley.

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New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has announced a policy to automatically enrol all newborn New Zealand citizens into KiwiSaver with a $1000 government contribution, alongside a proposal to buy back the Bank of New Zealand and merge it with Kiwibank to create a new state-owned bank.

Speaking at a campaign event at the Trusts Arena in West Auckland on Sunday, Peters said the party would make KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth for New Zealand citizens as part of what he called the “KiwiSaver Generation”.

Speaking at a campaign event in West Auckland on Sunday, Peters said the party would make KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth for New Zealand citizens as part of what he called the “KiwiSaver Generation”.

Under the policy, each child would receive a one-off $1000 Crown contribution at birth.

Peters said the scheme would work alongside New Zealand First’s existing proposal for compulsory KiwiSaver enrolment across the workforce, with employee and employer contribution rates eventually increasing to 10 percent.

“Universal birth enrolment will ensure every child begins their financial life as a KiwiSaver member,” Peters said.

The party also unveiled plans to buy back the Bank of New Zealand from Australia’s National Australia Bank and merge it with Kiwibank to form a new fully Crown-owned bank, to be called the “National Bank of New Zealand”.

Peters said the new entity would be commercially run and designed to compete more aggressively with the major Australian-owned banks operating in New Zealand.

He said four Australian-owned banks controlled about 85 percent of the banking system and accused them of extracting billions of dollars in profits from New Zealand each year.

The proposal would be funded through a mix of sovereign banking bonds, Crown debt, investment from the NZ Future Fund and ACC, and Kiwibank’s existing capital base, Peters said.

“This is not nationalisation – this is taking back our country,” he told supporters.

Much of Peters’ speech focused on immigration, superannuation and opposition to what he described as “globalist” policies.

He criticised Labour, National and Act over the recently signed India Free Trade Agreement, claiming it would significantly increase migration and allow uncapped numbers of international students into New Zealand with work rights attached.

Peters also repeated New Zealand First’s opposition to any changes to NZ Super, including means testing or raising the eligibility age.

He accused both major parties of considering asset sales and reiterated the party’s opposition to selling state-owned assets such as Kiwibank or Air New Zealand.

The speech also included criticism of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Paris climate accord, and references to Treaty principles in legislation.

Peters said New Zealand First would continue campaigning against co-governance arrangements and in support of freedom of speech protections.

The West Auckland event also served as a candidate launch, with former National MP and minister Alfred Ngaro announced as New Zealand First’s candidate for Glendene, while current NZ First MP David Wilson would contest Henderson.

Watch the livestream in the player above.

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The National Party is promising tougher sentences for sexual offending if it’s re-elected.

Its justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith – who is currently the Justice Minister – revealed on Sunday National would scrap good character assessments at sentencing for all sexual crimes, which meant harsher punishment.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made the announcement at the National Party Central Conference in Hamilton.

As it stands, judges must consider testimonies from people who were willing to speak to an offender’s character and maintain that their crime was “the exception, not the rule”, Goldsmith said.

“That might serve the interests of well-connected offenders, but it rarely serves the interests of victims,” he said.

“Under National, judges will be prohibited from treating good character as a mitigating factor at sentencing for all sexual offending.

“The result will be tougher sentences, and stopping judges from being forced to consider the public reputation of an offender when sentences for sexual offending are being handed down.”

The criminal justice system prioritises sexual violence offenders over victims “too often”, he said.

“National is fixing the basics in law and order and building a future where all New Zealanders can feel safe in their communities. Ensuring there are real consequences for crime is a critical part of that.”

Goldsmith said the policy built on previous changes which included limiting the discounts judges can apply at sentencing to 40 percent, giving sexual violence victims the power to determine whether their perpetrators receive permanent name suppression, and making stalking illegal and punishable by imprisonment.

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NZ First leader Winston Peters is due to make a policy announcement.

Peters will be speaking from Trusts Arena in West Auckland where he has been addressing a public meeting.

He is due to take questions around 2pm.

Previously, during his State of the Nation speech in March, Peters had announced his party would campaign on breaking up the Electricity Gentailers (generators and retailers).

He said the policy would ensure energy gentailers could “no longer control both the power and the price”.

The Party has also made a campaign promise to break up the country’s supermarket duopoly in a bid to lower grocery prices.

Its plan is to split Foodstuffs into two competing cooperatives and ramp up enforcement powers and fines.

Watch the livestream in the player above.

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

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

New Zealand’s walking football team is expecting to punch above its weight on the world stage this month.

The 2026 International Walking Football Federation World Championships kicks off in Brisbane at the end of May and it will be New Zealand’s first time competing at the championships.

The team’s coach and manager, Neil Haines – who formerly represented New Zealand – told RNZ the walking game is six-aside, played on smaller fields, and has rolling substitutes.

Crucially, the players are aged 50 and over.

Haines said the New Zealand team of 12 began training about three weeks ago on Sundays, but will be upping that to twice a week ahead of their first match against England on May 28.

“We’re looking forward to it! And then, we playing Australia. The best part of it, we will give them a run for their money.”

Haines said it was a fantastic line-up, with teams from across Europe also competing – some of whom had been playing for at least 10 years.

He said it would be a challenge, but the team was up for it.

“We’ve just started out here in New Zealand and we feel that… like most New Zealand sport we’re going to punch above our weight.

“I hope that we can cause some surprises and the players are keen to do very well, so we are hoping we will get further than just making the numbers up.”

Haines said he came across the sport a couple of years ago and has been promoting it through the local trust he chairs ever since.

From an initial gala day at the North Shore United Club, between 20-30 people now turn up for games twice a week on summer evenings, he said.

Haines said the game enabled men and women to continue to play a sport they loved and – although mainly about participation – players retained a competitive streak.

“Just because people are over 50, they have not lost their competitiveness and that makes it really interesting, because walking football allows the body to work without too much stress.”

Haines said it would be great if the world cup inspired more people to join.

“I’d love it if this… got people into activities where they can enjoy the company of each other, the banter, and also doing something they thought they possibly could never do again – that’s playing football on a pitch, but they’re just walking.”

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

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

Auckland Grammar School has welcomed the government’s proposed replacement for NCEA, saying the planned qualification reforms are a move toward greater academic rigour and consistency across the country.

The government on Saturday released further details about the new secondary school qualification framework, which is expected to begin replacing NCEA from 2028.

Auckland Grammar became the first state school to partially abandon NCEA in 2011, introducing Cambridge International Examinations after concerns the national qualification lacked academic rigour.

The school currently offers both Cambridge and NCEA pathways for senior students. Around 60 percent of students choose the Cambridge pathway, while 40 percent remain in the NCEA stream.

Headmaster Tim O’Connor said the school was positive about the government’s changes because the new qualification would place a stronger emphasis on independent assessment and external examinations.

”It’ll become a qualification that’s predicated on independent assessment,” O’Connor said.

”Examinations will be part of the qualification process across all subjects.”

O’Connor said the school believed NCEA ”was not as rigourous as it should be” and criticised what he described as inconsistent standards across the country.

”It’s certainly poorly designed from the outset,” he said.

The proposed replacement system would provide greater consistency for students nationwide, he said.

”Students from Invercargill and Tokoroa will know that they’ve learnt and been assessed against the same as students in Auckland and Wellington,” he said.

.O’Connor said the school would support the new national qualification if it proved rigourous enough in practice.

”We’d be fully supportive of the National Qualification Framework if it became rigourous enough in future years,” he said.

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The owner of Auckland’s St James Theatre has purchased two neighbouring properties on Queen Street and Lorne Street.

The heritage theatre, which opened in 1928, has been closed since a fire in 2007.

But in 2023, the government and Auckland Council each committed $15 million toward its restoration, and work is underway to reopen the theatre for its 100th anniversary in 2028.

St James owner, Steve Bielby, said the trust that owned St James Holdings, the Auckland Notable Properties Trust, had purchased 330-332 Queen Street and 57 Lorne Street.

He said it was a strategic decision that would make it easier to complete structural upgrades on the theatre’s south side.

“These buildings were built around 1900, and they’re hard up against the St James Theatre. So when we structurally upgrade the theatre, it will essentially destroy the building next door in an earthquake, so we have to do some works to that wall. Those works are a lot easier to do on the site than from within the St James site.”

He said the purchase also presented opportunities for expansion.

“It’s essentially a full site that runs from Queen Street to Lorne Street. It makes us the majority of the block, and it’s a through-site link. There are lots of hospitality offerings that could go in there. It would be a great hotel site. There are lots of options to complement a theatre.

“It also gives the ability to do what they did at The Civic. Larger-scale, Disney-style productions like Singing in the Rain require a larger backstage, so the backstage has to be extended. We’re not planning to do it, but this gives that option if that was ever desired.”

He said he bought the sites, which were currently commercial premises, from a family that had owned them for more than half a century.

He said the family had been very supportive of the theatre’s restoration.

The combined rateable value of the two properties is $7.55 million, but the St James Theatre said the purchase price was confidential.

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

NRL Magic Round: NZ Warriors v Brisbane Broncos

Kickoff 6pm NZT, Sunday, 17 May

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

For the first time in 2026, NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster will finally unleash his two-headed beast – co-captains Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris – in a formidable starting front row against Brisbane Broncos on Sunday.

While Kiwis colossus Fisher-Harris has been a pillar of strength for the 7-2 Warriors, Barnett has struggled to stay on the field, since starting his campaign late, as he completed rehab on his season-ending knee injury from last June.

After quietly bringing up 50 games for the Auckland club on the road against his old Newcastle Knights outfit, he broke a thumb in his next outing, missed two games, then played two games, but suffered concussion and had to sit out another week under protocols.

Then came last week’s bye.

“I’ve become a bit used to it, after last season, but it’s good to be back,” Barnett acknowledged. “I’m hoping I can get a bit of a run going now and string some games together.”

All four of his appearances have come off the interchange, as in-form dynamo Jackson Ford seemingly made the No.10 starting jersey his own, with a series of performances that have put him into Dally M Medal contention, sometimes going the full distance.

Webster has taken a risk tinkering with his winning line-up for NRL ‘Magic Round’, but is comforted by the knowledge he has re-united two of the game’s best front-rowers in tandem.

“We never intended to play Jackson Ford for 80 minutes each week,” he explained. “I think there have been three occasions when he hasn’t played 80 this year.

“We always wanted to get Fish and Barney pairing up together, with a passer, which is Erin Clark. We always wanted Jackson Ford to come on and finish the game.

“He could come on after 15-20 minutes and you almost don’t have to worry about Jacko – he can go 100mph right through to the end. That’s always what we thought would be the best dynamic, but Mitch obviously hasn’t got that momentum going.

“That’s why we wanted to do it – we’ve got our two skippers out there in the front row, and Jackson gets to come on and do his job.”

Barnett admits to being somewhat blindsided by Webster’s call.

“That’s not really a question for me, but for Webby,” he said. “He approached me and I just said yeah.

“I feel for Jacko, he’s been going really well, but I’m just here to do my role. Webby has obviously picked me, because he wants my style of game at the kickoff.

“The big fella, instead of playing 80 minutes, he might play 70 this week, so nothing really changes for him.”

With State of Origin looming, this weekend represents the last chance for contenders to push their cases, before selectors name their squads.

Barnett has made two appearances off the bench for New South Wales, both wins. Four days after last year’s 18-6 victory in the series opener, a torn anterior cruciate ligament curtailed his involvement.

Given his rotten run with injuries, he hasn’t had a chance to build any kind of form and would have to rely on past feats.

“I’m just trying to play rugby league at the moment, and put my best foot forward for the Warriors first and foremost,” Barnett conceded. “That other stuff takes care of itself, but if that opportunity comes, I’d be stoked.”

NSW fanatic Webster absolutely denies he’s switched his line-up to give his skipper his best chance to push for Origin inclusion, but is adamant Barnett deserves that call-up.

“I’m not trying to prepare Mitchell for Origin,” he said. “Personally, I think Mitchell is one of the game’s best players, particularly front-rowers.

“I know what leadership he brings. I thought, when he didn’t play last year, after he got injured, they missed him and I think great players like Mitchell have enough runs on the board, but I don’t pick the team.”

Ironically, Barnett and Ford may be competing for the same spot on the Blues’ roster.

Ford has been the best front-rower in the league this season, leading his team in running metres and tackles, and pacing the competition in post-contact metres.

As a starter, his ability to go wire to wire has essentially given Webster the luxury of an extra second-half substitution.

Barnett considers his teammate has done more than enough to deserve the call-up.

“Bloody oath,” he said. “I think he’s made for Origin.

“I just think he wouldn’t let anyone down. He does all the stuff that people don’t really see – the kick chase and the tidy-up stuff that Origin is built on.”

Another on the cusp of selection is second-rower Kurt Capewell, a 13-game Queensland veteran who wasn’t wanted for their opening loss last year, but helped turn them around with back-to-back wins to take the series.

At the time, he inexplicably led the NRL in missed tackles, but made some big stops in the Origin decider.

“I’m not particularly fond of Queensland, but I am fond of Kurt Capewell and think he should be in the team too,” Webster offered. “The way he played against Parramatta last week was an Origin performance.

“We weren’t playing our best football at times, but the way he defended and the effort areas, he’s made for Origin.

“If you look at his history, he’s got a great strike rate in Origin, so if they pick him, he won’t let them down.”

Over the past week, since Maroons halfback Tommy Dearden fell to an ankle injury, some pundits have even built a case for in-form Warriors half Tanah Boyd to replace him, while hooker Wayde Egan is another outsider on the NSW radar.

Chances are the successful candidates – or at least the contenders – will already know by now.

They will have been told to pack an extra bag for their trans-Tasman road trip.

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The New Zealand women’s cricket team continue to show promising signs ahead of the defence of their T20 World Cup crown next month, after beating England in Cardiff, in the final of a three match ODI series.

The White Ferns won by 17 runs by the DLS method, after rain interrupted the match.

England batted first scoring 181 for seven in a shortened innings of 33 overs, with Bree Illing and Rosemary Mair both taking two wickets for New Zealand.

The White Ferns initial target for the win was 184, and when England’s opening bowler Lauren Bell took three quick wickets, removing Suzie Bates, Melie Kerr and Georgia Plummer, all lbw, New Zealand’s task looked grim.

But Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze steadied ship in the rainy conditions, as New Zealand got to 141 for four midway through the 25th over, before play was abandoned.

Halliday was named player of the match for scoring an unbeaten 42 off 54 balls.

The series finished tied 1-1 after England won the first match by one wicket, while the second game was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.

Green was named player of the series, largely in the back of scoring 88 in the opening game.

The teams now switch to a best of three T20 series, which begins on May 20 in Derby, ahead of the T20 World Cup, which starts on June 12.

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