A search and rescue operation is underway for a man missing on a yacht in the Cook Strait.

The Air Force, Navy and Police were searching for the vessel on Thursday night, following a mayday call made in the afternoon.

Harbourmaster Grant Nalder told RNZ the yacht had been near Baring Head and was having difficulties returning to Wellington.

He said two people had been on the vessel heading north from Wellington on Wednesday, when one became unwell.

CoastGuard and the Police Maritime Unit went out to Cape Palliser on Thursday morning and brought that person back to Wellington.

Nalder said the other person was still attempting to return to Wellington on Thursday night, with Police trying to locate where he was.

He said Police were the lead agency on the rescue operation.

Maritime NZ also referred queries to Police, saying “This is a CAT 1 SAR, meaning police is the lead agency.”

RNZ has approached Police for comment.

According to the New Zealand Search and Rescue website, Category 1 operations are locally coordinated by people who are familiar with the area, and can include close-to-shore marine searches (usually within 12 nautical miles of New Zealand).

A spokesperson for the Defence Force confirmed it was also involved in the search for the sailing vessel.

“Crew on a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A are launching an aerial search while Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Taupo is also in the area after responding to mayday broadcasts earlier this afternoon. The vessel with one person on board has reported becoming lost while en route to Wellington Harbour. New Zealand Police is the lead agency coordinating the search.”

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed a Philip Rescue Helicopter left Palmerston North shortly before 7pm and circled the area, before landing in Wellington at 8.30pm.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/search-operation-underway-for-yachtie-near-baring-head-wellington/

A man on a yacht near Baring Head is having difficulties returning to Wellington, according to the harbourmaster.

Grant Nalder told RNZ that there were two people on the vessel, heading north from Wellington, but one became unwell on Wednesday.

CoastGuard and the Police Maritime Unit went out to Cape Palliser on Thursday morning, and brought that person back to Wellington.

Nalder said the other person was still attempting to return to Wellington on Thursday night, with Police trying to locate where he was.

He said Police were the lead agency on the rescue operation.

Maritime NZ also referred queries to Police, saying “This is a CAT 1 SAR, meaning police is the lead agency.”

RNZ has approached Police for comment.

According to the New Zealand Search and Rescue website, Category 1 operations are locally coordinated by people who are familiar with the area, and can include close-to-shore marine searches (usually within 12 nautical miles of New Zealand).

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

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/rescue-operation-underway-for-yachtie-near-baring-head-wellington/

Brett Phibbs/NZ Herald via Getty Images In 1916, in the middle of the Great War, 2nd Lieutenant Leonard (Len) James Shaw of the 2nd Auckland Battalion sent a pressed Flanders poppy in folded paper to his niece Jessie Osborne in Waikato.

Shaw had picked the poppy at night from his trench on the Western Front. His sporadic correspondence with Jessie was a small but vital connection to his family and home.

“I thought you might like some little thing,” he wrote in an accompanying letter, “pieces of shells are too big to send, and I think flowers much nicer.” Shaw was following a centuries-long practice of using material objects to make sense of calamitous violence.

Today, the poppy reminds us of the role those objects play in how we remember war. Len Shaw’s pressed poppy and letter to his niece Jessie.

Auckland Museum, CC BY-NC In my 2023 book Why Memory Matters, I explored different “languages of memory” – written stories of the past, but also the sites, images and practices we use to make sense of change.

I would add to this the objects that texture and configure our lives, and which we imbue with values and meanings over time. Academics call this “material history”. Since the 19th century, soldiers have collected objects to make sense of their experience.

In the New Zealand Wars, we know British soldiers looted battlefields and wāhi tapu (sacred sites) as part of the regimental prize system. When Anzacs such as Shaw travelled to Egypt and London during the first world war, they sought out souvenirs as military tourists that would act as repositories of challenging memories.

In Shaw’s case, personal tokens became family memories and then cultural artefacts. In 2002, the descendants of Jessie Pearson (née Osborne) donated Shaw’s poppy to the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira.

I’m interested in how objects travel through families and museums and change the meaning of war over time. A brief material history of the poppy suggests it’s one of the most potent examples of this process.

How the poppy spread After 1918, the popularity of John McCrae’s famous poem In Flanders Fields saw the cultural spread and sale of poppies in Britain and France to bolster morale and raise funds to support the orphans and widows of soldiers.

This reflected the industrial scale of the war: poppies, like medals, were mass-produced by associations such as the British Legion factory, which produced an early type made from cloth. Poignantly, the factory employed ex-servicemen who had been severely disabled during the war.

A cloth poppy made by the British Legion factory.

Auckland Museum, CC BY-NC The rise of the poppy as a postwar emblem also showed how materials were repurposed to remember the fallen, through commemorative practices that emerged in the 1920s, such as Poppy Day.

As early as 1923, New Zealanders were trying to import poppy seeds from Flanders to grow and sell as mementos. There was a quirk here: in Britain, the poppy was (and still is) associated with the remembrance of the Armistice on November 11, which New Zealanders also observed.

But the delay in shipping silk and cloth poppies from Europe meant the New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (the RSA), repurposed them for April 25. Poppy Day has taken place in the lead up to Anzac Day every year since 1922 (other than 2020 because of COVID).

This connection created another quirk: New Zealanders now associate the original Flanders poppy with Gallipoli, transplanted both literally and figuratively. Part of Poppy Day’s appeal lay in its imperial and international resonance, as the allied nations turned to protecting some semblance of global peace in institutions such as the League of Nations.

Crucially, as Anzac Day morphed into a solidly male veterans’ ritual, selling poppies was also something civilians, especially women’s groups, could lead. In photographic archives we see groups of women carefully pinning flowers to the chests of veterans.

Historians estimate that by the end of the second world war, one in every two New Zealanders wore the red flower of remembrance. Images of poppies projected onto parliament buildings in Wellington, 2006. Getty Images A fiercely protected symbol I’ve written previously about the increasing public ownership of Anzac Day after 1965 as the original Anzacs passed away, a change symbolised by the 1978 plastic poppy.

It’s significant the WW100 commission, established to mark the 2015 centenary of the first world war in New Zealand, made the poppy its symbol. In 2026, the RSA’s decision to produce a biodegradable, paper version is a return to old practices.

Despite its imperial origins, the poppy is still seen as a national symbol today, one that is fiercely protected. The Auckland War Memorial Museum introduced a Rainbow-friendly poppy alongside the traditional red flower in 2021, which provoked the ire of some conservative groups.

You can now leave a “virtual poppy” at the museum’s online cenotaph, which records those New Zealanders who have served and died in wartime. Len Shaw is remembered among them. A month after sending the poppy home, he was killed at the Battle of Broodseinde in the third Ypres campaign, a devastating action that wiped out the officers of the 6th (Hauraki) Company.

Shaw was identified by his binoculars and pocketbook, and buried shortly after in a small village outside Cambrai. The poppy that recorded his war experience became a memento of his death for a grief-wracked Auckland family far from the ruins of the frontline.

Understanding this history allows us to glimpse the deeper significance of pinning a small poppy to our chests in 2026, and how we are wearing memories of war that echo down from the 20th century into our cultural life today.

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

Original source: https://analysis1.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/anzac-day-2026-how-the-poppy-has-endured-as-our-symbol-of-war-and-remembrance/

Rescuers placing wet towels on ‘Timmy’, the whale stranded near Wismar, Germany.

Morris MacMatzen/Getty Images A humpback whale repeatedly restranding in shallow waters in the Baltic Sea for more than three weeks has become the focus of a complex debate about reconciling compassion for animals with ethical, evidence-based decision making.

Affectionately known as Timmy, the whale restranded several times and has been growing weaker, failing to recover despite multiple rescue attempts. Its struggle attracted global attention and triggered debates between experts and the public regarding intervention versus allowing a natural end.

Marine biologists and veterinarians observing the whale made a clear and evidence-based assessment earlier this month: further intervention was unlikely to succeed and would risk prolonging the animal’s suffering. Yet public pressure – driven by empathy amplified by social media and sharpened into outrage – led German state authorities to permit renewed rescue efforts this week, framed as a “last ditch” effort.

At first glance, it seems an act of compassion. But beneath the surface lies a more difficult truth. As our research shows, when scientific advice is sidelined in favour of public sentiment, outcomes for the very animals we aim to protect can worsen.

The emotional pull of “doing something” Large, charismatic animals like whales evoke powerful emotional responses. They are intelligent, expressive and visibly vulnerable when stranded. For many people, choosing not to intervene feels morally unacceptable, with inaction often perceived as neglect.

Wildlife medicine, however, does not operate on instinct or optics. It relies on probabilities, welfare assessments and the recognition that intervention is not always beneficial.

In Timmy’s case, experts from the German Oceanographic Museum and the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, as well as international organisations, reached a consistent conclusion that the whale was unlikely to survive.

After repeated failed rescues, the environment minister for Germany’s state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania determined that continued intervention would likely worsen the whale’s condition. By then, Timmy was showing clear signs of trauma and exhaustion.

The decision was not made in isolation. In early April, the International Whaling Commission’s stranding expert panel publicly supported the German authorities. It outlined that further rescue attempts would likely increase suffering without improving survival chances.

Euthanasia, frequently suggested as an alternative, was deemed impractical, however. The whale’s partial buoyancy, combined with logistical, safety and personnel challenges meant this was not a viable option. New Zealand’s experience In 2021, New Zealand experienced a similar situation with Toa, a stranded orca calf.

The response was extraordinary, mobilising national and international expertise. Veterinarians, marine mammal scientists and stranding specialists contributed to an unprecedented rescue effort. The scientific consensus, however, was sobering. Given Toa’s young age (unweaned), prolonged separation from his pod, and the challenges of reintegration, his chances of survival were extremely low.

Over time, his welfare declined during extended human care. Many experts ultimately supported euthanasia as the most humane option. That path was not taken. Driven by public hope and attention, efforts continued. Toa died after weeks in care.

In retrospect, the case raised a difficult but necessary question: when expert consensus and public sentiment diverge, which should guide decisions? When perception overrides expertise This tension is not anecdotal; it is well documented. Research shows that human perceptions and emotional investment can significantly shape responses to cetacean strandings, sometimes directly conflicting with recommendations based on the animal’s wefare.

In high-profile cases, decision making can shift from expert-led processes to outcomes shaped by public pressure. The patterns observed in Germany – repeated strandings, declining condition and cumulative stress – are strong predictors of poor outcomes, regardless of continued intervention.

The disconnect is clear. Experts assess welfare through measurable physiological, behavioural and environmental markers to infer the mental state of an animal. The public often evaluates it through effort, visibility and intent. The result is a compelling but flawed assumption: that doing more means doing better.

A common principle in veterinary ethics is that the ability to intervene does not justify doing so. Every rescue attempt carries risks: handling stress, injury, prolonged suffering and the diversion of limited resources. While financial cost is often highlighted, the more critical issue is animal welfare.

In repeated stranding cases, the ethical balance becomes increasingly stark. When recovery is highly unlikely, continued intervention can shift from care to harm. In repeated stranding cases, the ethical calculus becomes sharper. Yet this is precisely the moment when public pressure tends to intensify.

A more difficult kind of care Compassion is not the problem; it is fundamental to conservation. But compassion without evidence can mislead. What’s at stake is trust in scientific expertise, veterinary judgement and the difficult reality that the most humane decision is not always the most emotionally satisfying one.

If every high-profile stranding becomes a referendum driven by public pressure, we risk creating a system where decisions are shaped less by animal welfare and more by public visibility. The instinct to rally around a stranded whale reflects the best of human empathy.

But real care in wildlife conservation is not always about action. Sometimes, it requires restraint. In Toa’s case, official documents later revealed most experts had recommended euthanasia to prevent prolonged suffering. Timmy’s situation raises a similar question.

Not whether people care enough, but whether we are willing to accept that caring also means listening to science, to experience and to the difficult truths they bring.

Karen Stockin is the ethics chair for the Society for Marine Mammalogy and a member of the IWC strandings expert panel.

Original source: https://analysis1.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/whale-strandings-draw-emotional-responses-but-repeated-rescues-can-cause-more-harm/

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has survived a caucus leadership vote and stays on as National Party leader. But the questions about his leadership style that brought the issue to a head are unlikely to simply melt away.

Flatlining or declining support, culminating in this week’s 1News-Verian poll showing the party seven points behind the Labour opposition, can partly be attributed to hard economic times and global uncertainty. But it is Luxon’s consistently low preferred-prime-minister rating that underscores the connection between a government’s popularity and its leader’s day-to-day performance.

Lifting his party’s polling, which is the key way to dispel leadership doubts, will involve him finding ways to appeal to those voters currently deserting National for other parties. It’s no simple task, but there are clues to what he might do in the extensive research around political and business leadership that identify what marks out effective performers from the rest.

Being ‘one of us’ A substantial body of evidence built over the past four decades helps shine a light on what people look for in leaders they will admire and support. Above all, they must believe a leader is “one of us” and what they do is “for us”.

This is fundamental to convincing people a leader genuinely shares their values and interests, and therefore deserves their backing. This has proved difficult for Luxon because of choices he has made. For example, he has repeatedly based his claim to leadership on his background as a corporate chief executive, and on taking a chief executive’s approach to the role of prime minister.

This may cement the connection with party loyalists, given National’s traditional claim to be the party that best represents business interests. But identifying oneself as a member of a small, highly paid elite undermines his chances of being seen as “one of us” by the broader population.

This is compounded by Luxon’s preference for business language and jargon, which can reinforce doubts about whose interests he has at heart. Ways of thinking Like all people, leaders rely on what researchers variously term “mental models”, “cognitive processes”, “implicit theories” or “sensemaking”.

Basically, how leaders think shapes how they act. But an individual’s perception of reality is never a complete or neutral picture. Rather, perceptions are filtered through experience, bias, sense of self, what others think and so forth.

What leaders say and do can offer meaningful clues to their underlying mental models. Luxon’s heavy use of corporate jargon has long been noted as a problematic aspect of his communication style. But this is a clue to an underlying perception that the roles of chief executive and prime minister can be conflated.

Of course, there are some skills relevant to both. But a chief executive is in charge of running a company, accountable to a board and shareholders; a prime minister is ultimately accountable to the public and is expected to lead a country.

The assumption that success in one domain will automatically transfer to the other is flawed. Change is never easy Effective leaders tend to be very aware of their own biases. They will seek input from others who see things differently to challenge and broaden their own thinking.

Yet according to one recent political analysis, “One of Luxon’s weaknesses in the top job has been his inability to take feedback from colleagues, staff or officials […] Another Achilles’ heel is Luxon’s complete lack of self-doubt.” Luxon has even sought to reframe his leadership and communication style as a virtue, saying it reflects the fact he is “not a career politician”.

But this avoids the real issue. A lot of the research about why leaders fail focuses on business examples, but many of the issues identified also appear in studies of political leaders. A clear theme is that leaders who cannot learn to change their behaviour, to respond more effectively to changing circumstances, tend to be less effective.

Overall, the research points to some of the underlying reasons Luxon is struggling to secure greater public support. But changing his approach would not be easy or guaranteed to work. Intensive coaching and a willingness to change could make a difference.

But altering one’s mental model is another matter entirely. And therein lies a paradox. Can a political leader make themselves, or be made, more authentic, relatable and “one of us”? Or in the process, do they simply risk being seen as inauthentic for not being themselves?

Suze Wilson has received funding from the Royal Society Marsden Fund for research about online misogyny.

Original source: https://analysis1.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/luxon-lives-on-as-leader-public-perception-is-a-tougher-challenge/

The move-on orders legislation has passed its first reading, following a heated debate at Parliament.

Around 80 people were sat in the public gallery to watch the debate, following a call to action from the Green Party.

Even though the legislation has passed its hurdle, a long debate on when the select committee has to report back on the bill has to be extended into next week.

The Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill would give police the power to issue move-on orders to people who are displaying disorderly, disruptive, threatening, or intimidating behaviour.

They will also apply to people who are obstructing or impeding someone entering a business, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, or displaying behaviour indicating an attempt to inhabit a public place.

After being issued with such an order, the person has to leave a specified order for up to 24 hours, and what the officer deems to be a “reasonable distance” away.

People as young as 14 would be subject to the orders.

The legislation has been heavily criticised by opposition parties, homelessness organisations, and the Police Association.

Speaking at the first reading on Thursday, justice minister Paul Goldsmith said the bill was not criminalising homelessness, but would simply give police the power to issue move-on orders.

Only people who refused to follow the orders would face prosecution, and people lawfully protesting or conducting charitable or not-for-profit fundraising would be exempt.

Goldsmith said there had been “unprecedented” levels of disruption in city centres with businesses, residents, and visitors playing the price.

“Our focus is ensuring that we reclaim those streets and those town centres for the enjoyment of people who live there, who work there, who visit there,” he said.

He said many “disruptive, distressing, and potentially harmful” acts could occur before police had any means of intervention, and that was what the legislation sought to change.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who lives, works, or visits our city centres that hasn’t witnessed disorderly behaviour.”

Goldsmith insisted there were “many tools” to help people in need, including access to the welfare system, additional Housing First homes, more funding for frontline services, and expanded wraparound support.

“It’s often said, ‘oh well, what about your empathy for those who are in genuine need?’ And I’d just say this, my empathy lies particularly with those New Zealanders who have put their life savings into a small business, who get up every day to do their business, to provide for their family, for their community, and for their customers,” he said.

“And they find a number of people lined up outside their businesses abusing those who come and go, and make it difficult for them to succeed, and to live, and to provide for their families. That’s where my empathy lies.”

‘Would you like them to go sleep in a bush?’ – Opposition parties slam bill

Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni said the bill was “purely ideological” and insisted it did criminalise homelessness.

“You stand up in this House and say you’re not criminalising, despite the fact if they don’t move on they can be fined or they can be sentenced.”

Sepuloni said it was “crazy” that the government would talk about disorderly behaviour when two of the categories that would trigger a move-on order were homelessness and begging.

“It’s not nice, and it’s hard when you have to explain it to your kids, but it’s even worse for the people that are actually living as homeless people, because they have nowhere to lay down with a roof over their heads at night time.”

Green MP Tamatha Paul said the government was misleading the public by saying it was not criminalising homelessness.

“If they comply and go home, they’re not going to be charged. The minister realises they don’t have a home, right? Where exactly are they supposed to move on? Should they go to your house?”

Paul was particularly aggrieved that the orders applied to people as young as 14.

“Where exactly are these kids meant to go? Would you like them to go sleep in a bush? Would you like them to go sleep under a bridge? They have nowhere to go, they have no parents, they have no responsible adults, and now they will be caught up in the justice system for the rest of their life.”

Paul, who had organised to get people into the public gallery, said those watching on worked on the frontline, and urged the government to listen to them.

Both Paul and Labour MP Willie Jackson mentioned that Goldsmith had advocated for a similar policy as an Auckland City councillor.

Jackson said Goldsmith had now “got his wish” almost 20 years later.

“Congratulations Minister Goldsmith, well done, what a political achievement,” Jackson remarked sarcastically.

“Hold on to anger towards the poor long enough … and you too can be a National cabinet minister.”

Bill gets coalition backing

National’s coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First voted in favour of the bill.

ACT MP Simon Court said there had been “political gaslighting” around the bill, and all it did was equip police to deal with public disorder.

“You are denying the lived reality of young people who I’ve worked with, in the central city, in K Road and other business, who told me they were afraid to come to work until it was light because of the intimidation and fear they felt from people who they could identify as being regularly occupying places in public spaces,” he said.

“The Greens and Labour are denying the reality of people who choose to live in urban centres, with all the enormous investments and infrastructure like City Rail Link in Auckland, we want people to come and live.”

New Zealand First’s Casey Costello, said as minister for seniors she wanted older people to be able to feel safe and part of the cities they lived in.

“It is returning our streets to the communities that own them, not allowing us to be intimidated and to be frightened, to just be in our own cities.”

MPs debate report back timeframe

Goldsmith wanted the Justice Committee to report back on the bill by 3 September.

“The reason for this slightly faster turnaround of three and a half months, rather than the usual period, is because this government wants to get on with this legislation, and have it enforced quickly, and because we believe three and a half months does provide plenty of time for full consideration of the issues,” he said.

It prompted a filibuster attempt from the opposition.

Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan argued it should be moved to 22 September – two days before the House is expected to rise before the election.

Xu-Nan said the bill had a Section 7 report by the Attorney-General, which had found removing rough sleepers and beggars did not appear to be justified.

The Green MP said this deserved further scrutiny, and also noted the government could have introduced it sooner, given it received a Regulatory Impact Statement in November.

“If they introduced something like this earlier in the year, they could in fact allow for a full six month select committee, without having to have a truncated process. Instead the bill has decided to introduce bills of a lesser significance, despite knowing something like this would have an impact and undermine our Bill of Rights.”

Labour agreed the report back timeframe was too short, with Justice Committee member Duncan Webb tabling his own amendment to stop the committee from meeting while the House was sitting.

Because Parliament had to rise at 6pm, the debate on the report back date was interrupted.

It means, despite the bill passing its first reading, the debate on exactly when it will next appear before the House will resume next Tuesday.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/move-on-orders-bill-passes-first-reading-following-heated-debate/

One way the Albanese government has recently tapped into social media audiences for its budgets is by inviting “influencers” to Canberra for the event. This broadens the audience and often garners favourable publicity.

This year, the prime minister gave a promo at the start of Toilet Paper Australia’s budget podcast, Talking Sh!t, “Hi I’m Anthony Albanese – make sure you’re following Toilet Paper Australia”.

But social media, of course, is a horse for hire. Post this budget the government was rattled by memes used to effect by critics. Albanese was digitally inserted into small businesses objecting to the capital gains tax hike, with lines such as “He’s having a great time with his new 47% equity,” and “We’re very pleased to welcome Albo to the @_checkonchain team as our new 47% co-owner of the business we’ve built!”

Albanese sought to play it cool. “I have seen some of the memes which are there and the memes are very flattering, I must say, some of them. So, thank you to those who’ve made me look rather good.”

Before the budget, Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers knew they’d be hit by criticism for its broken promises. But they underestimated the extent and ferocity of the backlash, which has gone not only to broken promises but deep into the weeds of individual measures, notably relating to CGT and trusts.

The government pitched this budget as one about intergenerational equity, and housing. But younger people have been critical on the grounds that some, not having the money for a home deposit, use shares and the like to build wealth. Chalmers says it is only a small proportion, but that doesn’t stop them having a loud voice.

Savvy campaigning has thrust into the public eye young entrepreneurs, many of them women, to amplify the objections to the CGT changes.

On Thursday, ten female founders of businesses issued a statement deploying the gender argument in their call for a rethink.

“It is already harder for women to access capital, secure loans, raise investment, and attract senior talent. Many female founders begin with fewer resources, smaller networks, and more family responsibilities than their male counterparts. The proposed CGT changes would make an already difficult path even harder,” they said.

The statement was targeting a vulnerable spot in a government that prides itself that it delivers for women.

Much of the present debate is the old story of budgets. The “losers” – or those who fear they might become losers – can cause a government a lot of grief.

Comparisons have been made of this budget’s unpopularity with that of the Keating government’s budget in 1993, and the Abbott government’s 2014 one. These were condemned by critics not just for their measures, but for their breaches of trust because they broke promises.

In political terms, however, we should be careful of pushing the parallels too far. This budget will undermine people’s trust in Albanese but he has considerable political capital as a buffer.

And the government’s circumstances are different. In 1993, though Keating had only been prime minister since 1991, Labor had been in power for a decade. Its time was running out. In 2014, while Tony Abbott led a new government with a large majority, he was being stalked by Malcolm Turnbull.

As it fended off criticisms of the budget, the Albanese government was less than pleased with the contribution of New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who highlighted how much working people are paying in income tax, with the top marginal rate at 47%.

“You work Monday, Tuesday, half of Wednesday for yourself and then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the government – that’s a tough burden for a lot of families to hit,” Minns said. “Whether it’s now or in the future, we do need to make sure we’re taking urgent action when it comes to personal income taxes, because at the moment a lot of working families are getting stung.”

Chalmers responded by saying, in essence, that Minns didn’t understand how the tax system worked. To say the federal government regards Minns as a pain in the neck is probably an understatement.

Given the government’s troubles, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has had a much better post-budget time than he might have expected, including a reasonable reception for his plan to index income tax to inflation, which he announced in his budget reply.

His humiliation in Farrer has been somewhat submerged. But on the other hand One Nation’s win there is reverberating, and further energising the “disruptor” party.

As the Farrer byelection is being formally finalised ahead of its new House of Representatives member David Farley taking his seat, One Nation appears to be hyperactive, preparing its future moves, or playing the tease, or both.

One Nation has its tail up with post budget polls showing rises in its support.

According to analyst Kevin Bonham, aggregating federal polls, Labor leads the Coalition 52.3%–47.7%; it has an estimated 52.9%–47.1% lead against One Nation. Those are remarkable figures. One Nation, a party with two House of Representatives seats, can be seen as the alternative opposition.

Pauline Hanson wants to set up a second office, in Yeppoon (near Rockhamption) where Nationals leader Matt Canavan lives. Yeppoon is in the electorate of Capricornia, held by the Nationals’ Michelle Landry. If Landry retires at the next election, Canavan may stand for the seat.

Meanwhile Hanson has left the option open of standing for a Queensland lower house seat (Blair or Wright have been speculated), Barnaby Joyce doesn’t rule out recontesting his seat of New England rather than running for a NSW Senate seat, as he originally planned.

One Nation is working on setting up a branch structure. One party adherent says this would see One Nation “move from a dictatorship to a democratic party like the Liberals and the Nationals”.

On Thursday, Hanson released her policy on gas. It would scrap the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, replacing it with a 10% “wellhead” royalty on all offshore gas and oil production, and have the government taking equity in new exploration and drilling projects.

Strong arguments may be mounted against the content of the policy. But politically, it could hit the spot with some voters. Remember the pre-budget push for more tax on gas exports. Both government and opposition are dismissing the Hanson policy, which she can use to argue they’re not listening to the people.

One Nation is currently a very large political balloon. State elections in Victoria (November) and NSW (March) could prick that balloon. If they don’t, the Coalition will be terrified, and Labor will start to worry.

– ref. Grattan on Friday: As Labor struggles with budget backwash, One Nation surfs a wave – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-as-labor-struggles-with-budget-backwash-one-nation-surfs-a-wave-282996

The principal of a West Coast secondary school says there are too many barriers to hiring teachers who were trained or born overseas.

Sam Mortimer from Greymouth High said newly-qualified teachers weren’t paid enough to meet minimum pay rates for a “Green List” work visa, and the paper work is excessive.

She told RNZ nearly all the teachers she hired came from overseas.

“Our last one for a maths position, we didn’t have a single New Zealand resident application. We had some people that were training in New Zealand but not a single New Zealander applying for the roles,” she said.

Mortimer said hiring foreign teachers was challenging if they were beginning or early-career teachers because they often did not meet the threshold for minimum earnings.

“They just don’t reach the threshold to get a visa which tells you a little bit about our beginning teachers’ pay rates when they don’t even hit the minimum for getting a visa,” she said.

Mortimer said being an accredited employer did not help much.

“It’s just very difficult and challenging and time-consuming,” she said.

‘Why do we have to jump through so many hoops?’

Mortimer said the Education Ministry provided $4000 toward the cost of using recruitment companies but they tended to charge about $8000.

“So we take that hit every time as well,” she said.

Mortimer said she understood the need to ensure overseas recruitment was legal and above board, but schools should be trusted to offer genuine jobs and pay their teachers correctly.

“Why do we have to jump through so many hoops,” she asked.

Mortimer said the administrative load associated with hiring teachers was very time-consuming and she was lucky to be able to pass that job on to other staff.

She said teachers wanting registration to teach in New Zealand had to provide details of their qualifications and overseas registration to the Teaching Council and then go through a similar process to ensure they were placed on the right step of the salary scale.

“It doesn’t mean anything because when you actually get offered a job and you arrive you have to do something called salary assessment and then you again have to put all of your qualifications in,” she said.

“You don’t just have a seamless thing from one to the other. They have to be all looked at by me again, I have to verify everything, then it goes to salary assessment for them to decide where you are on the [salary] steps.

“For some of our teachers coming from overseas I know of instances of up to three months where they’re being paid on untrained teacher wages or right at the bottom of the trained-teacher wage if they can show that first before they can get their proper pay. And these are people that have already put out a lot of money to pay for visas, to pay for transport to come to New Zealand so it’s very unfair.”

Mortimer said teachers from the US and South Africa were keen to come to New Zealand.

The school’s executive assistant Emily Westacott said it had to estimate for Immigration New Zealand what teachers would be paid as part of the visa application.

She said in a recent case the school ended up with a lot of back and forth with Immigration New Zealand because a prospective teacher did not meet the minimum wage requirement.

“We ended up writing to the minister to just get her support because we needed this teacher to come in but even with a green list role, a secondary teacher, it wasn’t enough,” she said.

She said removing the minimum wage requirement for accredited employers would remove a lot of the stress.

“Secondary teachers are a green list role. It should just be a given that they’re coming to a New Zealand school, they’re going to be looked after, they’re going to be paid correctly and fairly because it goes through the Education Payroll system,” Westacott said.

“That process could be streamlined. Remove that requirement to put the salary in the job check, that would remove a lot of the stress.”

Administrative obstacles

Meanwhile, a New Zealander with Australian teaching qualifications told RNZ she nearly gave up because of the paperwork and fees.

Sophie Kemp said she decided to come back to New Zealand to teach this year but she nearly gave up because of the administrative obstacles.

Kemp told RNZ she assumed her qualifications and registration would be automatically recognised, but she had to pay about $850 for the Teaching Council to check she was registered in Australia and register her in New Zealand, plus the cost of an Australian police check.

Once she found a job, she had to provide information to Education Payroll to ensure she was paid at the right step of the salary scale, a process that included paying $750 for an international qualifications assessment by the Qualifications Authority.

She said the requirement seemed ridiculous.

“It’s not like I’m coming from some far away place where my qualification’s in a different language and it could be a culturally really different education system that I’ve trained in. It’s literally just Melbourne and pretty easy to look up if that Master’s of Teaching is an appropriate initial teacher education programme. Not $750-worth I would have thought,” she said.

Kemp said she assumed the trans-Tasman mutual recognition agreement would eliminate the need for so much paperwork and the charges.

She said the sums involved were a lot for someone on a New Zealand teacher salary.

“It just seems totally counter-intuitive to me that New Zealand is crying out for teachers, good qualified teachers, to come and help and they’re met not only with the admin that you have to go through,” she said.

“It takes months to get all these administrative jobs done and then for them to get back to you and then you finally start getting paid appropriately. It takes a long time, it’s incredibly expensive. Wouldn’t you want to make it easy?”

‘Still practical visa pathways’

Immigration New Zealand said it acknowledged that recruiting recently-qualified overseas teachers could present challenges for schools, particularly if they were on lower salary steps and could not meet some visa requirements straight away.

“For teaching roles eligible for the Green List Tier 1, Straight to Residence is designed for experienced teachers who are working at, or are offered, roles paid at the New Zealand median wage. It is not intended for newly graduated teachers or those early in their careers who are not yet earning at this level,” it said.

Immigration New Zealand said minimum pay thresholds were a core part of immigration requirements and were applied consistently across all sectors.

“They are used to reflect skill and experience and to ensure migrant workers are appropriately paid in line with the New Zealand labour market. These thresholds apply regardless of how salaries are funded, including in centrally funded school systems, which is why state and state integrated schools are not provided with a waiver from these requirements,” it said.

“While teachers on lower salary steps may not meet Green List thresholds immediately, there are still practical visa pathways that allow schools to recruit overseas teachers and support them to gain experience and progress over time.”

The Education Ministry said the International Qualifications Assessment ensured all overseas qualification holders were treated fairly.

“It is not possible to tell from the name that an overseas qualification is comparable to a New Zealand qualification. Not all Australian qualifications are equivalent to New Zealand programmes. The structure and programme requirements for qualification, such as master’s degrees, can differ between jurisdictions,” it said.

“The qualification content may also differ between individuals depending on their study pathway. Confirmation that the provider, programme of study, study pathway is officially approved and accredited helps to determine quality assurance measures are in place.”

The assessment also verified if the qualification was genuinely awarded to the holder and an additional evaluation confirmed it met this country’s initial teaching education programme standards.

Immigration and Education Minister Erica Stanford said newly-qualified teachers earned enough to qualify for a five-year Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

“Newly qualified teachers who gain their teaching qualification in New Zealand will also be eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa and then a further five-year AEWV,” she said in a statement.

“The Green List Straight to Residence pathway is deliberately targeted at experienced teachers, not newly graduated teachers. This is a feature across Green List Straight to Residence roles in general which targets experienced people in a given role, not new graduates. People who are just starting or at the beginning of their teaching career have up to five years on an Accredited Employer Work Visa to reach the required wage rate for residence,” she said.

Stanford said accredited employer status was needed for either the Accredited Employer Work Visa or the Straight-to-Residence Visa and getting it was a straightforward process for schools that took on average two to four working days.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/too-many-barriers-to-hiring-overseas-teachers-secondary-school-principal-says/

In a video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday night, detained activists from dozens of countries are shown kneeling on the ground with their foreheads on the floor and hands zip-tied behind their backs.

Some of the activists, who had been intercepted by Israeli forces on a flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, are then pushed and dragged by Israeli personnel. Ben-Gvir is seen waving an Israeli flag and taunting them.

The video on his X account had a simple message in English: “Welcome to Israel”.

The video sparked widespread international condemnation. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called it “shocking and unacceptable”, while the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the treatment of the detainees was “degrading and wrong”.

Even Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel and a stalwart supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called Ben-Gvir’s actions “despicable”, saying he had “betrayed the dignity of his nation”.

Netanyahu himself also publicly rebuked Ben-Gvir. He said Israel had the right to stop the flotilla, but the minister’s behaviour had damaged Israel’s image and did not reflect the country’s values.

Even though international lawyers like myself have expressed concern about this on multiple occasions, it bears repeating: international law matters in conflict zones.

So, what obligations does Israel have to treat those detained by its forces, and did the country violate the law?

Why were the activists detained?

Israeli forces began intercepting the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla on Monday in international waters off the coast of Cyprus. Dozens of boats were stopped as they attempted to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza.

The flotilla reportedly carried more than 400 activists from over 40 countries. Those on board included humanitarian volunteers, medical personnel, peace activists and civil society figures. Organisers said the vessels were carrying humanitarian relief supplies, including food, medicine and other aid intended for Palestinian civilians affected by the war and blockade of Gaza.

Israel disputed the flotilla’s aid-delivery purpose and described it as “a PR stunt at the service of Hamas”.

After those on board were arrested, they were reportedly subjected to violence, with some suffering suspected broken ribs and other injuries.

In a post on X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry claimed Israel was acting in full accordance with international law.

What does the law say?

Under international humanitarian law, those involved in the transport and distribution of relief supplies must be respected and protected during armed conflict. They are to be treated as civilians so long as they do not directly take part in hostilities.

Bringing aid to the civilians of Gaza does not amount to “direct participation in hostilities”. In fact, the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to allow aid into Gaza given their obligations under the Genocide Convention.

International humanitarian law also says civilians may not be detained arbitrarily in conflict zones. If civilians are detained, however, they have certain rights under international law. They must:

Internment of civilians is only permitted when “absolutely necessary” for security reasons. It must end once those reasons no longer exist.

In addition, civilians detained during armed conflict must be treated humanely at all times.

They are to be protected from:

The phrase “public curiosity” has historically been understood to prohibit humiliating displays of detainees for propaganda, intimidation or public spectacle.

Intentional attacks against humanitarian personnel can amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Why does this matter?

The public humiliation and degrading treatment of the activists shown in the footage must be scrutinised and investigated. And Israeli officials must comply with their obligations under the law.

These protections exist precisely to preserve a minimum standard of humanity during conflict, and to ensure civilians and humanitarian actors are not stripped of their dignity for political theatre, intimidation or punishment.

When such conduct is normalised or left unchallenged, it risks undermining the broader international legal framework designed to protect all civilians caught up in armed conflict.

– ref. Taunting and degrading civilians in armed conflict is a clear violation of international law – https://theconversation.com/taunting-and-degrading-civilians-in-armed-conflict-is-a-clear-violation-of-international-law-283472

An inquiry into the state of Fire and Emergency’s fire trucks has heard its troubles go deeper than thought and require a wider investigation.

The parliamentary select committee inquiry was triggered by MPs who were angry at getting mixed messages from Fire and Emergency (FENZ) amid truck breakdowns and new trucks not being put on the road fast enough.

Ray Deacon of the Taxpayers’ Union said FENZ’s lack of asset management had been “astonishing”.

“Failures to control expenditure, failure to efficiently construct rural fire stations, failure to efficiently manage assets, all suggest a major failure of governance by the board and Department of Internal Affairs,” Deacon told MPs on Wednesday.

He disputed FENZ’s contention that it had inherited fire trucks from rural brigades that were worse than expected in the 2017 merger of urban and rural services. Deacon said that did not wash with what was on record, and if it were true, why the cost-benefit analysis conducted at the time did not raise it.

“Would the merger actually even have gone ahead had the actual costs that have been incurred subsequent to merger been known at the time? I very much doubt it,” he said.

Other submitters also called for a wider inquiry, among them Alan Collett, speaking on behalf of the Professional Firefighters’ Union’s Wellington branch.

Citing the Loafers Lodge fire that killed five people in Wellington in 2023, Collett said when trucks broke down, crews could adopt different tactics, but options got more and more limited as time ticked by.

He said at the Loafers fire, the shorter ladder of a truck standing in for a broken-down long-ladder Newtown truck prevented firefighters from rescuing people jumping onto a roof on the south side of the building.

Collett pointed to other weaknesses, citing an unreleased review within FENZ that he suggested showed “systematic inconsistencies” in training.

Another submitter, Adriana de Souza, told the inquiry she had witnessed firefighters’ commitment to the job at a lodge fire in the central Auckland suburb of Parnell in 2024, and said they deserved better.

It was the second public hearing of the inquiry, which is ongoing.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/mps-told-investigation-needed-into-state-of-fire-truck-fleet/

A family support service in the Hutt Valley is closing its doors tomorrow after 60 years of service.

Birthright Hutt Valley supports single-caregiver whānau in the region, and is the only specialist social service like it in the area.

Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the government has failed the Hutt Valley community.

“This closure is a failure of government. Birthright has served this community for 60 years and it’s closing because the government would not fund it adequately, said Fitzsimons.

“It’s heartbreaking. There has been no response from Oranga Tamariki, no plan, and no replacement. Hutt Valley families have been left out in the cold.”

Fitzsimons accused the government of not being serious about children and families doing well in New Zealand.

“This government has chosen tax relief for landlords over a 60-year-old organisation that support single-caregiver families.

“When you allow an organisation like this to close, you are not just failing the families in front of you today – you are failing generations to come.”

Birthright Hutt Valley manager Sarah Szabo said their social workers have helped families navigate Work and Income, supported survivors of family violence, advocated in family court and provided practical help through its Whānau Room.

“In the days since we announced our closure, whānau have been coming to us asking where they can turn to now. And I have had to tell them I do not know. There is nothing else.

“We have laughed and cried with these families. We have been there for some of the hardest moments of their lives. Saying goodbye to them is devastating.”

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Family Violence

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/hutt-valley-family-support-service-closing-doors-after-60-years/

The Citizens Advice Bureau says it’s “gut-wrenching” that Wellington City Council has decided to cut the bureau’s funding by around 60 percent.

The council announced yesterday that Wellington’s CAB will go from receiving around $230,000 to $100,000 from the council.

Citizens Advice Bureau CEO Kerry Dalton told Checkpoint the bureau was already “cut to the bone” and now their “survival is at risk”.

She said what made the announcement even worst was that they had been effectively “blindsided”.

“We got about five hours’ notice before the agenda with that recommendation got posted on the council’s public website.”

She said while there had been some discussion prior around changing the councils’ funding priorities, there had been no indication of this type of funding cut.

“We had shown that we met the new criteria and we in fact asked for a small funding increase, not having had it signalled to us that there was this degree of a funding cut being thought of.”

She said last year CAB had helped 11,000 Wellingtonians including 1,130 people with employment issues and 400 people with income support issues.

“Someone came in recently who had lost their job and as a result of that drop in income, they couldn’t keep up their rent payments. They lost their house and they were coming to us because they were homeless”

When asked about the potential of AI replacing their service Dalton said they had found a lot of people come to them wanting to speak with a real person after being frustrated with AI.

“People often need the reassurance of interacting with a person. They also need that information to be accurate.”

“They’re coming to us because they’ve only been able to talk to a bot and it’s a very limited interaction with them.”

Dalton said the CAB was heavily reliant on trained volunteers with the Wellington bureau having a handful of part time staff who support 125 volunteers throughout the city.

She said while council needed to support CAB and its volunteers, there needed to be a contribution made by central government as well.

“At the moment, central government does not provide any direct funding to our frontline CABs.”

“That needs to be additional to council funding. It’s not a replacement for it.”

With the government also looking to cut thousands of public sector jobs, Dalton said Wellington needed the CAB now more than ever.

She said support for the CAB had already been flooding in through Facebook.

“We will be calling on people to support us to get our funding reinstated because our volunteers, they were devastated, now they’re angry.”

Dalton also noted this was not the first time that the CAB was at risk of a funding cut.

“The council had a go at cutting our funding before in 2018 and Wellingtonians said no in force.”

A petition in support of the CAB had received 5000 signatures at the time and council had commissioned a review which showed that council should make funding to the CAB non-contestable.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/wellingtons-citizens-advice-bureau-devastated-by-council-funding-cut/

Hawke’s Bay mayors have written to McCain asking the international company to pause its closure of the Hastings processing plant.

More than 100 growers are impacted by McCain closing its frozen vegetable factory in Hastings, a decision the company said it made after reviewing operations and being “unable to identify a sustainable pathway under the current model”.

However, a group of growers are now looking at whether they could take over the processing operation.

Hastings District Mayor Wendy Schollum and Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Will Foley wrote to McCain Foods requesting an eight-week pause on any major changes to the company’s Hawke’s Bay processing plant while growers explore the potential for an independent feasibility study into the future of the sector.

The proposed study would assess whether a viable pathway existed for a grower-owned processing operation that could retain large-scale food manufacturing capability in Hawke’s Bay, and protect the wider economic ecosystem built around McCain’s long-standing presence in the region.

Schollum said the request was intended to allow time for the study to be completed before decisions are made that could limit future opportunities.

“We are asking for a short period to complete the work while the facility remains substantially intact. This will help to determine whether there is a credible commercial pathway forward for the sector,” she said.

It follows a series of meetings between mayors, growers, government ministers and members of parliament.

Foley said the mayors respected McCain’s commercial position and were seeking a constructive and pragmatic process.

“We acknowledge the realities McCain is working through and this request is not intended to challenge the company’s right to make business decisions,” he said.

“However, given the significance of this industry to Hawke’s Bay, we believe there is value in allowing this assessment to be completed before key infrastructure or processing capability is lost.”

The proposed feasibility study would examine infrastructure requirements, market opportunities, logistics, energy and water considerations, workforce needs and overall commercial sustainability.

Government support

Foley and Schollum said government support would be critical to ensuring the work could be undertaken quickly, independently and with the level of commercial and technical rigour required.

“This is a significant piece of work with potentially important implications for Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand’s wider food production sector.

“Government support would help ensure growers have access to the expertise and analysis needed to properly assess whether a sustainable long-term future remains possible for the sector,” Foley said.

And they are hopeful, after meeting with central government and MPs from across Parliament in recent weeks.

“These discussions extend well beyond a single processing site. They go to the future of regional manufacturing, grower confidence and New Zealand’s broader food resilience and security,” Schollum said.

The mayors confirmed they remain committed to working collaboratively with growers, government and McCain Foods as discussions continue.

McCain has been contacted for comment.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/hawkes-bay-mayors-ask-mccain-to-pause-plant-closure/

Queens Drive in central Lower Hutt has reopened after an earlier incident.

That incident had been resolved, police said.

The road had earlier been blocked while police were at the scene.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/central-lower-hutts-queens-drive-reopens-after-police-incident/

NRL: NZ Warriors v St George-Illawarra Dragons

Kickoff 7.30pm NZT, Saturday, 23 May

Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah

Live blog updates on RNZ

With Tanah Boyd now officially sidelined for the season with a ruptured knee ligament, NZ Warriors must not only settle on a replacement halfback, they must also find another goalkicker.

After a spectacular start to the 2026 NRL campaign, Boyd injured his anterior cruciate ligament early against Brisbane Broncos on Sunday and faces surgery next week, followed by nine months of rehabilitation.

Originally regarded by most as merely keeping the No.7 jersey warm for Luke Metcalf’s return, Boyd’s form was so compelling, it kept the club’s marquee half – who suffered the same injury last year – out of the starting line-up and persuaded him to seek his future elsewhere in 2027.

Veteran utility Te Maire Martin came off the bench and contributed mightily to the Warriors’ 42-12 romp over the defending NRL champions at ‘Magic Round’ and will have first crack as Boyd’s replacement on Saturday against St George-Illawarra Dragons, although Metcalf remains an option beyond that.

Turns out there is also no shortage of volunteers for the kicking chores.

Fullback Taine Tuaupiki immediately stepped into the role against the Broncos, missing his first attempt – a sideline conversion of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s opening try – before slotting his next five.

Inexplicably, five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita assumed the job, banging over a penalty from in front of the posts, before converting Watene-Zelezniak’s second try from the sideline.

“I actually just had a little niggle,” Tuaupiki explained, pointing just below his knee. “When you’ve got other good goalkickers in the team and you’ve got a niggle, you can just dish it over.

“We’re all happy to kick and the same would happen if [Chanel] got a niggle, I’d take over from him.”

Until that point, Boyd had taken all but two shots at goal for the Warriors this season, connecting on 70 percent. Veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was allowed to convert a try in his 150th game for the club against Canberra Raiders, while front-rower Jackson Ford was also on target in his 100th NRL appearance against Newcastle Knights.

Across his 19 games for the club over the past two seasons, Boyd had kicked with 73 percent accuracy.

Tuaupiki has kicked spasmodically in his limited first-grade appearances, but that sideline effort against the Broncos was his first miss from 12 attempts (92 percent).

His most memorable goalkicking performance came at 2024 Magic Round, when he converted his own late try for a 22-20 victory over defending champions Penrith Panthers.

Harris-Tavita kicked extensively for the Warriors during his early years in first grade, but hadn’t attempted one since 2024. He has made 65/83 (78 percent) across his career.

“I didn’t know at the time,” coach Andrew Webster reflected on the kicking handover on Sunday. “I thought, ‘What’s Chanel doing?’ but I was very happy when he slotted them over.

“Now we’ve got another headache – we’ve got Chanel who wants to kick goals – so that’s good depth again.”

The kicking ability goes way beyond those two. If Metcalf returns to the starting line-up, he brings a 63/92 (68 percent) return from his 36 games for the club, while centre Adam Pompey proved himself more than useful during the 2024 season and has a 51/68 (75 percent) success rate.

No-one is quite sure who will take the tee first this week.

“We probably haven’t had that discussion yet,” Tuaupiki confirmed. “We’ve got captain’s run tomorrow and that’s when we sit down with the goalkicking coach… we’ll see how we go.”

Meanwhile, the players and staff have supported Boyd, as he comes to grips with his predicament. With his current contract expiring this season, he had reportedly negotiated an extension with the Warriors, but it had not been officially announced before his injury.

“He’s upset,” Webster said. “He’s put a lot of hard work into his game and this club. He’s done a terrific job for us, and he’s done his family and himself really proud.

“He’s gutted, because he’s done all that hard work and will now miss the opportunity, but for a guy who’s gone through what he’s done, I haven’t seen a player go through an ACL and then reconnect with the team so quickly.

“He’s been in our meetings and telling Te Maire, if he needs any reps, he’ll help him with stuff – not physically, but mental reps. He’s been unbelievably good, but you can see the disappointment on his face.”

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/21/nrl-nz-warriors-audition-new-goalkickers-after-tanah-boyds-season-ending-injury/