Source: Radio New Zealand

A seven-year-old Hamilton boy is missing after going to visit his friends on Wednesday afternoon.

Tyrese left his home on Anderson Road in Deanwell at 4pm. Police issued an ‘amber alert’ at 1.30am on Thursday.

They said Tyrese regularly walked to his friends’ houses on his own, but did not return home as usual on Wednesday, and wasn’t at the addresses of known friends. He had no nearby family members and there were no local parks in the immediate area.

Tyrese was expected to attend school tomorrow, making his absence “unusual”, police said, noting he had a medical condition that did not require medication.

They described him as 1.3 metres tall, Māori, of medium build, with brown eyes and medium-length black hair.

He was last seen wearing bright orange shorts, a black T-shirt featuring a blue dragon design on the front, and turquoise Croc shoes.

Police urged anyone who had seen Tyrese or had information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately on 105, quoting event number: P064746386.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

• People are surviving longer after cancer diagnosis – but New Zealand is not improving as fast as other high-income countries.
• Māori around 1.6 times more likely, and Pacific peoples 1.4 times more likely, to die from cancer than Pākehā /other ethnicity.
• Up to half of all cancers “preventable”: improved prevention efforts could see between 8000 and 14,000 fewer cancer diagnoses each year.

The number of New Zealanders diagnosed with cancer each year is set to skyrocket by 50 percent in the next two decades to more than 45,000.

That is according to a snapshot of the State of Cancer report over the last five years, released on Thursday by Te Aho o Te Kahu | Cancer Control Agency.

The agency’s chief executive, Rami Rahal, said the projected increase – from about 30,000 new cases this year, to over 45,000 by 2044 – underscored the need for ongoing investment to ensure the health system was ready.

“We cannot respond to this big increase in demand by doing more of the same,” he said.

“We need new and innovative ways of delivering care and preventing cancers.”

Since the first State of Cancer report five years ago, there had been “encouraging progress” in key areas of prevention, early detection and treatment, he said.

“The chance of surviving cancer has improved over the last 20 years. Smoking rates are declining across all ethnicities, and our national screening programmes are becoming more effective and accessible.

“However, much work is still needed.”

That included the need for “sustained, targeted action” on reducing ethnic disparities: Māori were around 1.6 times more likely, and Pacific peoples 1.4 times more likely, to die from cancer than people of European/other ethnicity.

“Addressing inequities must remain a system-wide priority,” Rahal said.

“Everyone in New Zealand deserves the same access to treatment and chance of cure.”

The Cancer Control Agency was currently working with the sector to update the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019-2029, which was set to be published early next year.

Other findings from the report:

• Most-diagnosed cancers in New Zealand: prostate, breast, bowel, melanoma and lung cancer.
• Cancer incidence rates have dropped in the last 20 years, but only by 5 percent overall – and that decrease has levelled off over the past decade.
• ive-year net survival for all cancers has improved by 15 percent in the last 20 years – probably due to screening and advances in treatment.
• However, obesity rates, harmful alcohol consumption, poor nutrition and physical inactivity – which all increase risk of cancer – are either worse or no better than 20 years ago.
• Between 2018 and 2022, the rate for uterine cancer was over five times higher for Pacific females than for females of European ethnicity and almost twice as high for wāhine Māori.
• For breast cancer, wāhine Māori and Pacific females have a higher rate of diagnosis than females of European – rate of diagnosis among Pacific females, increasing by more than 50 percent between 2001 and 2022.

Prevention better than cure

Up to half of all cancers could be prevented by eradicating tobacco use, limiting alcohol intake and healthy nutrition, physical activity, sun protection and infection-prevention measures.

The report noted that people’s risk of developing cancer often depended on where they lived, and their levels of power, money and resources, and “access to culturally safe care”.

“For example, in many socioeconomically deprived areas – where more whānau Māori and Pacific families live – there is a higher density of fast-food and alcohol outlets, making healthy choices harder to access.”

Cancer prevention was the most “cost-effective” approach to controlling some cancers.

“As the New Zealand population ages and increases in size, along with cancer incidence, ‘treating our way out’ of the significant increase that is forecast will not be possible,” according to the report.

“Prevention must be prioritised – improved prevention efforts could see between approximately 8000 and 14,000 fewer cancer diagnoses each year.”

Currently, only one in 10 adults eat the recommended amount of vegetables and just one in 17 eat the recommended amount of both fruit and vegetables.

For children, only one in 12 eat the recommended amount of vegetables, and daily breakfast consumption is declining.

Workplace exposures to carcinogens cause nearly one-third of work-related harm and roughly 650 deaths annually from cancer and respiratory diseases.

The New Zealand Carcinogens Survey, commissioned by WorkSafe New Zealand in 2021, found that 58 percent of workers were exposed to at least one carcinogen at work, with Māori, Pacific peoples and males facing higher exposure.

The next best thing to prevention: Early detection

Almost 1600 deaths per year could be avoided if all people diagnosed with late-stage bowel cancer were diagnosed at an early or mid-stage, when it could be treated more successfully.

About half of all European and Asian people with lung cancer were diagnosed following an emergency hospital admission.

For Māori, this proportion was far higher at 68 percent and for Pacific peoples higher still (73 percent).

Palliative care also needed critical attention and much better funding, particularly given predictions that, by 2038, the number of people needing palliative care would increase by more than 50 percent compared with 2015 levels, and by 90 percent by 2068.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Public Health Communication Centre says children exposed to asbestos contained in coloured play sands should be regularly monitored to ensure the best chance of successfully treating cancers – which could take decades to emerge later in life.

Hundreds of schools have been tested – with nearly 40 forced to temporarily close – following the discovery of naturally occurring asbestos, tremolite, in coloured play sands last month.

At least nine children’s activity products containing coloured sands were recalled over the last month after testing in Australia revealed the presence of the carcinogen in products.

Illnesses could take decades to emerge

University of Canterbury toxicologist, Professor Ian Shaw, said it could be decades before any illnesses related to the exposure emerged as symptoms.

“Mesothelioma, which is the cancer which is most likely to be caused by asbestos, tends not to be diagnosed early. The reason is that you don’t notice the symptoms – they’re the sort of things that you might just pass off.

“In kids that we know have been exposed, we would then want to monitor them – say, yearly – for many years so that if they did contract mesothelioma we could detect it really early and have a greater chance of treatment success,” Shaw said.

He said testing needed to be done to better understand the risks associated with exposure to the products.

“We need to know not only how much they’re breathing in – in terms of the concentration in air – but how long they’ve been breathing it because the higher the concentration, the longer the exposure, the greater the risk.

“It’s immensely complex but it’s really important because we’ve got kids exposed and what we do know about chemicals that cause cancer is that they tend to have a greater effect in children than adults. The reason for that is that kids are growing, their cells are dividing more frequently and cancer-causing chemicals generally only affect cells that are dividing. So there’s more chance of them affecting dividing cells in kids,” Shaw said.

Shaw said not everyone who breathed in asbestos would necessarily develop cancer.

“Even if somebody breathes a whole load of it for a long period of time they might not develop cancer. We mustn’t be thinking that everybody’s going to get cancer in this case ’cause they’re not,” Shaw said.

University of Auckland professor of commercial law Alex Sims said that in order to support the monitoring of children exposed to the chemical, the voluntary Asbestos Exposure Register – which stopped accepting new entries in 2023 – should be reinstated and expanded to include people who may have suffered exposure in a wider variety of environments.

“It was mainly to do with workplaces so if employees had been exposed to potential asbestos they could be on that register and it would allow for greater monitoring.

“Australia has one and – with the coloured play sand incident – people are being told to register there.

“As we’ve seen – with the coloured play sand – asbestos issues are far broader than just employees so that would be really useful,” Sims said.

Enforcement of importing regulations lacking

Sims said importing regulations meant it was currently illegal to import products that contained asbestos without a permit but little was being done to back up the legislation.

“The problem is that there is no requirement to test products before they come into New Zealand so we’re just relying on people to test products but there’s no one checking to see whether anything has been tested.

“If people are importing things into New Zealand [and] if there’s a risk that a product could contain asbestos then testing should be carried out but, as we’ve seen, you can’t rely on importers to do this, so instead you need a government body – say, for example, MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) – to arrange for the testing and to do that at the importer’s cost,” Sims said.

Sims said consumers should consider choosing children’s products that had simpler, more natural, elements to avoid the risks associated with chemical contamination or poor manufacturing standards.

“We have product safety laws about toys – for example [you] can’t have loose batteries and other things – but we do rely on importers and suppliers following the law and they don’t always.

“When it comes to enforcement, the MBIE and Commerce Commission can’t be everywhere, it’s only when reports are made and sometimes reports come after harm’s been suffered.

“The law and the government can’t protect everybody and it’s very much up to people to take care and if you’re looking at something, just go ‘no that doesn’t look safe’ and don’t buy it. Just because it’s sitting on a shelf it does not mean to say that it’s safe.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The family of man killed by a sand dune that collapsed and swallowed him on a West Auckland beach say losing him has left a hole that nothing can fill.

In findings released on Thursday, the coroner sounded a warning to beachgoers after probing the death in August of Kane Watson.

Watson, 28, his partner and children were at Muriwai Beach on 23 August.

He had been digging into dunes and tunnelling into the sand bank, and was almost entirely engulfed by the collapsing sand.

“Only his feet remained visible as he tried to kick himself free,” Coroner Ian Telford said in his findings on Thursday.

“It was immediately clear that the tunnel created by digging had collapsed and buried him.”

His partner started digging desperately to try to get to him, and bystanders joined the effort.

Police, volunteer firefighters, ambulance crews and a rescue helicopter all rushed to the beach.

Watson, when he was finally freed, was unresponsive.

Rescuers managed to restore circulation, and Watson was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition.

But it became clear he could not survive his injuries despite the lengthy resuscitation and advanced medical care, the coroner said.

Watson had his breathing tube removed and died two days later surrounded by his family.

“Kane wasn’t just my younger brother, he was my first love in life,” his sister Shaquille Thoumine said in a statement to RNZ shortly before the release of the findings.

“He was the person I grew up with, the one who knew me inside and out, the one you imagine will always be there.

“Your sibling is meant to be your forever person, you expect to grow old together, to watch each other’s lives unfold,” she said.

The coroner had ruled Watson’s death accidental, and that he died from complications from cardiac arrest caused by being asphyxiated and trapped in the sand.

“The weight and pressure from the sand can also prevent the lungs from expanding properly,” Telford said.

“Without enough oxygen, the heart can stop, and once the heart stops pumping, vital organs quickly become damaged,” he said.

His findings said that this led to swelling in Watson’s brain, which then caused harm to his liver and kidneys and reduced his heart function.

“This was a tragic accident leading to the death of young man,” the coroner said.

“My engagement with his family during this inquiry has made clear just how deeply he was loved and how greatly he is now missed.”

Coroner’s warning

Coroner Telford said Watson’s death brought attention to a danger that may not be immediately apparent to some beachgoers.

“Sand dunes can become unstable without warning,” he said.

“Even small tunnels or cavities may collapse leading to serious injury or death.

“As we approach the summer season it is important that beachgoers – especially those supervising young children – are aware of these risks, avoid digging into dunes, and seek emergency assistance immediately if anyone becomes trapped,” he said.

Watson was digging in the dunes with his children before the collapse, but they lost interest and he kept digging on his own before the accident.

“Losing him has left a hole that nothing can fill. Moving through life without him is incredibly hard, because everything reminds of the bond we shared,” Thoumine said.

“He was funny, loving, protective and had the most beautiful heart. He meant everything to me, and I miss him more than words will ever explain.”

Thoumine also told RNZ their mother Arlene had been left completely heartbroken by Watson’s death.

“Kane was her baby, her best friend, and the centre of her world. Watching her grieve her son has been devastating for all of us,” she said.

After Watson’s death, University of Auckland senior civil engineering lecturer Dr Colin Whittaker called for more public education about the dangers of sand dunes.

It was crucial to realise that just because the sand was still, that did not mean it was stable, he said.

In 2023, a dune collapsed on two boys aged 12 and 14 who were also digging tunnels during a family picnic on Aotea Great Barrier Island.

Levi Sonchai Golaboski, 12, was taken off life support days later.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Police records show fugitive father Tom Phillips‘ firearms licence was suspended just weeks after his first disappearance in 2021, and later revoked when he was deemed “not a fit and proper person” to hold a gun.

The information, released to RNZ under the Official Information Act (OIA), is among the only new details police have been willing to release about Phillips’ interactions with authorities ahead of a public inquiry into the case.

Phillips died on 8 September following a shootout with police, after nearly four years in the bush with his children.

The disappearance was his second – he first went on the run with the children in September 2021. His Toyota Hilux was found abandoned at Kiritehere Beach, keys under the mat, car seats in the back, parked below the high tide mark and being pummeled by waves. Authorities searched land, air and sea but found no trace.

On 30 September, Phillips and the children reappeared in Marokopa, claiming they had camped in dense bush for the 19 days they were missing. He disappeared again in December that year.

Police suspended and later revoked his firearms licence

According to the documents, police suspended Phillips’ licence on 11 October 2021 and formally revoked it on 5 January 2022. The decision was made on the grounds that he was no longer considered fit and proper.

Phillips had first received his firearms licence in 2003, and renewed it in 2013.

Police would not release any information about the reasons behind their decisions to suspend, then revoke the licence, the risk assessments that informed them, or any related notices or internal communications.

All such material was withheld under section 9(2)(ba) of the OIA, which protects information provided in confidence “or which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of any enactment”.

It is also unclear what action was taken around any firearms, ammunition or licensing materials Phillips may still have held after the revocation. Documents relating to attempted seizure or follow-up were also withheld.

The response illustrates the significant constraints on what is currently known – or can be made public – about agencies’ handling of Phillips before he spent nearly four years on the run.

Police said they were required to comply not only with active investigations into Phillips’ death and disappearance – including an ongoing investigation into whether he received outside support – but also with wide-ranging suppression orders imposed by the High Court and Family Court. Those restrictions limit the release of any information relating to the children or to court proceedings involving them.

Police said it did not want to prejudice the investigations by the premature release of relevant information.

Inquiry to examine agencies’ actions and information-sharing

The Attorney-General confirmed last month that a public inquiry would examine whether agencies “took all practicable steps” to protect the safety and welfare of the Phillips children, and whether government agencies responded appropriately and in a timely way to locate the children once they disappeared.

The inquiry was directed to inquire into the nature and extent of the involvement government agencies had with Phillips and the children, before and after their disappearance. It would also look into how Phillips obtained and maintained a gun licence, weapons and ammunition.

However, its scope would not include decisions made within the Family Court – despite the terms of reference noting there had been “extensive litigation” in that forum concerning the children, some of which remained ongoing and under appeal.

The government has directed the inquiry to “respect the independence of the courts, and not comment on or inquire into judicial decisions concerning the children, including suppression orders made in respect of the children”.

Some experts have critiqued that decision, saying the court should not be exempt from scrutiny.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Teaching Council’s governing board says appointing one of its members as interim chief executive does not breach a rule prohibiting board members from serving as CEO.

In a statement, the council said the interim chief executive Tom Gott had stepped away from his governance role and it had double-checked the legality of the move with the Education Ministry.

Gott was appointed because the council’s chief executive Lesley Hoskin was on agreed leave while the Public Service Commission investigated the council’s handling of conflicts of interest and procurement.

Sensitivity over the Teaching Council is running high because of the investigation and because of the government’s recent decision to strip the council of responsibility for initial teacher education and teachers’ practising standards, and to reconstitute its board next year so that a majority of members would be ministerial appointees.

Gott was one of six ministerial appointees on the now-12-member board and the issue of his appointment was raised with RNZ anonymously by people concerned the council was acting unlawfully.

The Education and Training Act 2020 said the council may appoint a chief executive but that person “may not be a member of the Teaching Council”.

Council chair David Fisher told RNZ it made sure Gott’s appointment was legal.

“Out of an abundance of caution and to satisfy any concerns that our decision was unlawful, prior to Mr Gott being appointed as interim CEO, the Teaching Council consulted with the Ministry of Education about the interim arrangements,” he said.

“The Ministry guided us that, in the circumstances, it was appropriate for Mr Gott to act as CEO while remaining on the Board, provided he steps back from all governance work during this time, which he has.”

Fisher said there was no co-mingling of executive and governance functions.

“Mr Gott is not attending any Governing Council meetings (other than in his capacity as interim CEO), receiving any Governing Council emails (other than emails that the CEO would receive), nor being paid for his position on the Council.

“Mr Gott will not participate in any governance decision making and has no voting rights. Mr Gott is very clear, as are we, that he is Acting CEO of the Council and as such has stepped away from his governance role.”

The Post Primary Teachers Association said it believed the appointment breached the rules and the ministry’s interpretation was incorrect.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Police received a call just after midnight on Wednesday morning reporting that a masked offender brandishing a firearm approached bar staff at Quinns Post bar on Ward Street and demanded cash.

“The offender then fled on foot along Ward Street towards Heretaunga College,” Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Todd said

“Bar staff involved were shaken, but not injured, and are being provided Victim Support. There were no patrons in the bar at the time.”

Hutt Valley Police investigating the armed robbery of an Upper Hutt bar are seeking help from the public.

Police are asking for anyone who was in the Ward Street and Fergusson Drive areas of Upper Hutt at the time (before and after midnight) and saw any suspicious people or vehicles, or who has any information relating to the robbery, to come forward.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

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The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has revealed the television ads that New Zealanders complained most about in 2025.

From burnouts to bare bottoms, Kiwis had a gutful of a few well-known businesses on their screens.

Topping this year’s list for the most complained about ad was KFC’s “Colonel Hacker” with 65 considered.

The campaign included footage of the ‘Colonel’ explaining his appearance on screen.

“Hello New Zealand, I am the Colonel Hacker. I’ve intercepted your ad break, but don’t panic, this isn’t a ggglitch, it’s a gift, and hacking the prices on the KFC menu, here’s a taste of what I’ve uploaded….”

One version of the advertisement (the “splash screen”) appeared when the TVNZ OnDemand app was opened. The Colonel Hacker figure appeared and said “Hello, this is just a taste of things to come.”

Complaints ranged from that it gave the impression consumers were being hacked, it was placed inappropriately in the OnDemand app, scary for children, caused fear and glorified hacking.

The advertisers removed it after the complaints were accepted to be considered by the Complaints Board.

Next was Lotto’s “A Promise is a Promise” ad, with 48 complaints considered.

The ad begins with a man at the top of a ski run. As the camera pans out, the viewer sees the man is skiing naked. The ad then moves to a group of friends discussing how they might celebrate if they win Lotto and joking about nude skiing.

Complainants said the portrayal of a man skiing naked, with images of his bare buttocks clearly visible, was indecent, offensive, and inappropriate for younger viewers.

But the board said the nudity in the advertisement was brief and not close-up or gratuitous, and it was relevant to the story in the advertisement.

The complaints were not upheld, but that didn’t stop a further 70 people from raising similar issues.

Rexona’s “Whole Body Deodorant” received the next most with eight complaints.

Its campaign tackled the taboo of full body sweat and odour, highlighting that only a small percentage of sweat comes from the underarms.

Complaints said it was not appropriate for peak viewing time and some of the scenes were crude, sexual and in poor taste. A further complaint raised concerns the ad did not use proper terminology for body parts.

It was deemed that it did not meet the threshold to breach the Advertising Standards Code, and no further action was taken.

Rounding out the top five were BNZ’s “Payap” and Turners Group’s ad featuring Tina from Turners with complaints ranging from misleading over surcharges to offensive song lyrics.

The board did uphold a complaint about a scene showing an illegal burnout in the Turners ad, requiring that section of the ad to be removed.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Lake Rotomanu in New Plymouth will be emptied this week to allow scientists to get a full picture of the extent of a freshwater gold clam infestation.

The invasive clam Corbicula fluminea was found in the lake on 8 November, the first discovery in New Zealand outside the Waikato River.

The lake was closed to motorised watercraft days later.

The Taranaki Regional Council said the Lake Rotomanu outlet would be opened 11 December and it would take about four days for the lake to drain.

During this time the fish population would be harvested in partnership with local hapū, who would utilise as many fish recovered as possible.

Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) leads the newly established Regional Corbicula Coordination Group (RCCG) alongside New Plymouth District Council (NPDC), Ngāti Te Whiti hapū, Biosecurity New Zealand, Fish & Game, Earth Sciences NZ and others.

TRC Environment Services Manager Steve Ellis said before draining the lake the RCCG had to ensure the clams would not spread to the Waiwhakaiho River.

“Over the last few weeks we’ve carried out testing and obtained advice on the salinity and flow of the river. We are confident any clams or larvae will be quickly washed the short distance out to sea.

“Given that assurance the RCCG has asked lake owners NPDC to now empty the lake so we can get a good look at exactly what we are dealing with.”

A team from Earth Sciences NZ would next week carry out a detailed survey of the whole lakebed to determine where and how widespread the clams were, how deep they had burrowed and estimate the age of the clams present.

That information would help inform the next steps in the response. In particular, whether an elimination attempt was feasible and if so, what the treatment options were and how much they would cost.

Ellis said the financial cost of elimination was likely to be significant and at this point it was unclear how it would be funded and by whom.

“To be clear, there is no guarantee we will attempt to treat or eliminate the clams, even if it is technically feasible.

“We all want the best for the region and we’re all aware of the massive economic damage these clams can do, so we’re having those conversations as a matter of urgency. In the meantime, we’re looking forward to seeing what the lakebed survey uncovers.”

The recreational lake would need to stay empty for the summer, which Ellis said was not a decision made lightly.

“We know it’s a popular summer spot and that locals and visitors will be disappointed, but we hope they understand the reasons for it.

“The invasive clam Corbicula is a massive threat to our infrastructure, economy, ecosystems and recreational use of all the region’s waterways, so we need to act now to give ourselves the best chance of preventing long-term damage or recreational restrictions.”

Ellis said testing at Lakes Rotokare, Ratapiko, Rotorangi and the Waiwhakaiho River had not found any clams, while eDNA testing of the water had also been clear. While encouraging, that did not mean they were not present.

Boaties, jet skiers, kayakers and other lake users were asked to be extra vigilant this summer, so as not to unknowingly spread the clam or other freshwater pests. Juvenile clams produced an invisible sticky thread of mucus which attached to surfaces, like boats and recreational gear.

Lake users were encouraged to always follow the Check, Clean, Dry procedure when moving between waterways and if possible, wake boats should be kept to just one lake.

A washdown trailer was on its way to Taranaki, courtesy of Biosecurity New Zealand, and would be set up at popular lakes over the summer.

Two dedicated Check, Clean, Dry ambassadors would also be in the region to spread the message, supported by new signage, direct education with clubs and organisations and a social media campaign.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Jonathan Trubuhovich was found injured at Mt Eden prison on 29 November, assessed by on-site medical and taken to hospital. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

*This story has been updated since publication. 

The family of a man who died 10 days after allegedly being assaulted by his cellmate at Mt Eden prison want Corrections to be held accountable for any failures that led to his death.

Jonathan Peter Trubuhovich died in Auckland City Hospital on Tuesday. The 69-year-old’s death is the third homicide investigationinvolving inmates in double-bunk cells at the prison since September last year.

Lawyer of man allegedly killed by prison cellmate says it was preventable

Checkpoint10 December 2025

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A spokesperson for the Trubuhovich family says they are in “shock” at his death.

“We do want Corrections to be held accountable in any area where there has been a lapse in oversight where procedure wasn’t followed.

“This is the third one, we don’t want this to happen to another family. We don’t want Jonathan to have died without some sort of progress in Corrections.”

RNZ has obtained several documents in relation to Trubuhovich’s criminal history, which details nearly 200 convictions, mainly for shoplifting, burglary and other theft as well as convictions for assault.

He was remanded in custody to Mt Eden prison on 7 May and was due to be sentenced in the Auckland District Court on 15 December on charges of burglary by night, shoplifting and disorderly behaviour.

Court documents state the offending occurred between 1 and 6 May this year.

The burglary involved entering a person’s property about 3am on 1 May and eventually leaving with two bikes worth more than $5000.

The first shoplifting incident was on 4 May when he stole a box of condoms and a litre container of ice cream from a supermarket.

On 4 May Trubuhovich entered a Mobil petrol station and was asked to leave after causing a minor disturbance.

He returned about 10 minutes later and the store worker called police.

Trubuhovich took offence to this and punched the staffer with a closed fist in the left arm once. The victim suffered no injuries.

Then, on 6 May he stole a handbag from a Louis Vuitton store worth $4700.

The disorderly behaviour charge related to an incident where he yelled and behaved aggressively towards a bus driver and spat onto the bus doors.

Family want answers

Speaking to RNZ, a family spokesperson said they understood Trubuhovich was likely to be released at sentencing due to time served.

“We had accommodation, we had a whole lot of things set up for him which we had been trying to do. We were looking forward to him coming out so that we could house him and rehabilitate him and do all sorts of things.”

The family noticed about five years ago his behaviour changed and became more “irresponsible and erratic” and were trying to get him help.

They have a series of questions they want answered by Corrections including when he was injured.

The spokesperson said they were aware of Trubuhovich’s criminal history.

“It doesn’t reflect the person we knew, he got mouthy and lippy because he was institutionalised.

“When he was with us he was fun. He loved life, he loved his family.”

Mt Eden Corrections Facility (MECF) general manager Dion Paki earlier told RNZ that staff found Trubuhovich had been injured at 10.40am on 29 November.

He was assessed by on-site medical and taken to hospital.

“The alleged perpetrator was immediately secured and placed on directed segregation.”

In a statement to RNZ, McGilvary said Trubuhovich’s death was “entirely preventable”.

“Overcrowding in correctional facilities, driven by government policies mandating stricter enforcement against criminal activity, has resulted in historically high incarceration rates.

“This situation is compounded by insufficient oversight attributed to staffing shortages. Consequently, inmates are spending extended periods in confined spaces, increasing the likelihood of incidents.”

He said Mt Eden Correctional Facility was “currently the largest provider of mental health care in New Zealand”.

Unless additional government resources are allocated to address mental health issues-particularly within the incarcerated population-and appropriate treatment facilities are established, it is likely that similar incidents will continue to occur.”

Police have confirmed a homicide investigation is under way.

MECF acting general manager Edith Pattinson acknowledged the man’s death had been a “difficult and distressing time for his loved ones and our thoughts remain with them”.

“Police are investigating and Corrections is also carrying out a full review into this incident. An investigation by the independent Corrections Inspectorate will also be carried out. If these investigations and reviews identify areas where we need to strengthen our processes, we are absolutely committed to acting on these with urgency.

“We can confirm the victim was in a shared cell and that the suitability of this placement is part of our review into this matter. Understandably, the victim’s family will have questions they would like answered.”

Corrections had been in regular contact with the man’s family, and once the review was complete they would share the findings with them when they are able to do so.

Corrections’ review would look into what risk assessments were done such as the Shared Accommodation Cell Risk Assessment (SACRA).

RNZ earlier revealed there had been two suspected murders, both involving double-bunked cells, in nine months at the prison.

Corrections use the SACRA tool to review the compatibility of individuals before they were placed in a shared cell.

The SACRA tool identified key risk factors to consider before placing a person in a shared cell.

If a person was deemed not suitable to double bunk, a Not to Double Bunk (NTDB) alert was activated on their profile.

Corrections custodial services commissioner Leigh Marsh earlier confirmed he requested a review of the SACRA process which was under way.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Transport Agency says the Mount Victoria tunnel has now fully reopened after a crash.

Police were called to a two-car crash on State Highway 1 in the southbound lane near the entrance to the tunnel around 2.30pm.

One person received minor injuries, a police spokesperson said.

About 3.30pm, the Transport Agency said emergency services and contractors were on site with a tow on the way to clear the crashed vehicles.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Some of the dog names registered in New Plymouth this year have been barking.

New Plymouth District Council animal services lead Kimberley Laurence says the names owners give their dogs are a reflection of how much they love their best friend.

“Who wouldn’t enjoy a night in settled on the couch with a bag of corn chips and Guacamole – the family Vizla?

“Neapolitan mastiffs are usually big dogs with large appetites, but Jelly Bean was surely named for their sweet personality. And Tui Belles Roux tells me this is a German shepherd with a lot of character.”

Laurence said other names that leapt out of the pack this year included Chicabella, Chico Chan, Gyeoul Winter and Bobo Baggins.

The five most popular dog names are much the same as last year: Bella (145), Poppy (133), Charlie (122), Luna (119) and Max (112).

Laurence said there were about 11,500 dogs registered in the New Plymouth district at the end of June.

“There were 309 dogs impounded in 2024/25 for wandering, attacks and other issues, down from 414 the previous 12 months.”

All dogs aged three months or older must be registered.

Laurence said as the weather heats up, the animal control team had some tips for keeping your dog happy and healthy during the hot summer months:

• Never leave your dog in the car – heat stroke could come on fast, even on moderately warm days. Leave your pet at home in a cool, shady spot with fresh water
• Give your dog two bowls of fresh water at home in case one tips over.
• If leaving your dog at home, give it a variety of toys to keep it from being bored and barking. Puzzle-feeders and interactive toys were great options.
• Give your dog frozen treats in a bowl or ice-cube tray. They took longer to eat so keep your dog occupied, as well as helping it keep cool on hot days.
• Be careful transporting dogs on ute trays because the surface could get very hot and burn their feet. Give them a shaded spot or pop them into a dog crate with good ventilation.
• Exercise dogs early morning or late evening when temperatures (and pavement surfaces) were cooler, and keep walks/runs short so they don’t get over-exerted in the heat. Remember: dogs could get sunburned too.
• Walk dogs on grass or dirt tracks instead of hard surfaces and be aware of how hot black-sand beaches could get – if it’d burn your bare feet, it would hurt theirs.
• Fleas and parvo were both more common in summer, so keep up with vaccinations and flea treatments.
• If your dog went missing over the summer season, check if it was in NPDC’s dog pound by calling 06-759 6060.

As well as managing the local dog population, NPDC’s animal control service attended incidents involving wandering stock such as cattle, sheep, horses and pigs.

The council also ran dog safety talks for community groups, provided advice to animal owners, investigated dog attacks, provided dogs for adoption through the dog pound, and enforced the Dog Control Bylaw.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Glen Innes locals are mourning the death of a man killed on a bus in the Auckland suburb this week.

Two passengers were stabbed on the same number 76 bus on Monday night, first in Glen Innes and later in Ōrakei.

The first passenger died from their wounds, and the other was seriously injured.

A 36-year-old man was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Auckland District Court today charged with murder and grievous assault.

By Wednesday, several flower bouquets rested outside the Fenchurch Superette in Glen Innes, where the 59-year-old victim received first aid before being rushed to hospital and later dying from his injuries.

Fenchurch Superette manager Praful Patel was in charge of the store on Monday night, and ran to help.

“I heard the commotion outside and somebody told me that somebody got stabbed and I ran out. I think I was the third or fourth person who ran out. I knew exactly who the person was,” he said.

“I ran back inside the shop, got some t-shirts, you know, because I didn’t have any towels, because he was bleeding profusely, you know, trying to stop the bleeding.”

Patel said a nurse who happened to be nearby did her best to keep him alive.

“Lucky there was a nurse that was coming to the business and the dairy here, and she was helping him out. Without her help, I think he would have died probably another 10 minutes earlier,” he said.

Patel recognised the victim as a regular customer.

“I’ve known him for about 20, 25 years. Yeah, he’s a local boy, lives up the road there. He’s got a family, he’s got a son, he’s got a daughter,” he recalled.

“He’s a real nice guy, absolutely nice guy, humble guy.”

Police arrested a 36-year-old man on Tuesday afternoon, following a manhunt.

The cordon in Glen Innes had been lifted, and residents were trying to get on with daily routines.

But local man David said he did not feel safe anymore.

“It put a shudder down my body soon as I heard about it. I thought, ‘oh my God, that’s too close, that’s too close’,” he said.

“There’s too much stabbing and people getting bloody shot and everything. It’s not safe in Auckland anymore.”

Another resident Preethy was waiting for a bus just a few metres from the scene.

While a suspect had been arrested, Preethy still felt nervous.

“I do feel unsafe travelling, but it’s just… Life goes on,” she said.

“Like, okay, yeah, they have arrested someone, but you never know, like, when a person can go crazy and attack random people. I was stunned something like this could happen here. It’s scary, yeah.”

Fellow commuter Larson felt the same way.

“Yeah, it’s awful news. I mean, it’s close to home. I catch this bus every day, and so it’s one of those things where, you know, we start thinking about other ways of commuting because, yeah, it’s just nasty.”

Larson said he felt hesitant to take the bus on Wednesday morning, but had little choice.

“My partner and I were discussing other options last night, but it’s one of those things where you kind of just have to do what you’ve got to do,” he said.

“I’m glad the police have got him, but you never know. You see some odd figures around every now and then, and you’ve always just got to keep your wits about you, I suppose.”

In Ōrakei, where a second person was stabbed and received serious injuries, one local who asked not to be named questioned the lack of mental health support in the community.

“Everybody knows that there’s no network support system set up to properly help assist people, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, even with our wellbeing and our living. Nobody really is considering the proper way to pick up these pieces,” they said.

Patel echoed that sentiment.

He said that such an unstable individual should not have been allowed in the community.

“I’m glad that they found him, but why was he in the community in the first place?”

“How safe are you catching a public transport or the public trains or anything like that? When a person is not stable, there should be a facility where they should be getting looked after.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

New Plymouth readers checked out more than 667,000 books from the Puke Ariki library this year with a historical novel set during the Vietnam War topping the list of adult fiction issues – again.

Kristin Hannah’s novel The Women was issued 159 times, capturing top spot as it did last year. Not far behind was her novel The Four Winds with 112. Lee Child’s In Too Deep came in second with 140 issues.

Tumuaki Whare Pukapuka – Puke Ariki Manager, Angela Jowitt, said thriller fans couldn’t get enough of Lee Child and Freida McFadden, with multiple titles by both authors featuring in the top issues list.

“This year’s borrowing stats continue to reflect the interests of our community. So whether you’re after a gripping thriller for the beach or a cookbook to try out a new recipe, or a memoir to inspire you in 2026, our friendly team can help you find your next read.”

The non-fiction list reflected readers’ appetite for inspiration and self-improvement.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s memoir A Different Kind of Power was the most-borrowed non-fiction title with 95 issues, followed by Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory (94).

Memoirs from Ruth Shaw, Jenny-May Clarkson, and Alison Mau resonated strongly with readers seeking authentic Aotearoa stories.

Jowitt said on the teen shelves, Suzanne Collins dominated the list with three Hunger Games titles making the top 10, including prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (issued 33 times) and brand-new release Sunrise on the Reaping (50).

Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide… series (133) and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson adventures (82) also proved addictive for young adult readers.

In Puke Ariki’s Discover It! children’s section, younger readers had an unwavering devotion for graphic novel adaptations of The Baby-Sitters Club (726) and Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series (470) – proving that engaging stories and vibrant illustrations remain timeless.

Jowitt said as summer beckoned and the beach calls, Puke Ariki was encouraging Taranaki readers to borrow one of 2025’s most-borrowed titles from its catalogue for their holiday reading – all free with your library card.

“Leap into your new favourite book this summer at Puke Ariki or any of our community libraries.”

Beyond books, the New Plymouth District Council run Puke Ariki offered free wifi, research support, free events, and digital resources such as film streaming and eBooks accessible 24/7. Joining was easy and free and did not expire.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

New Plymouth’s Koha Café is the latest local crisis recovery cafe to receive a funding boost from the government.

The Koha Café – run by the Taranaki Retreat – is to receive $250,000.

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey, who made the announcement at the café today, said emergency departments were often not the best place for people suffering mental distress.

“Many people have told me that brightly lit, busy, clinical spaces can feel overwhelming and are not always therapeutic. Crisis cafés offer an alternative. They are a calm, peer-led, non-clinical space where people can get support.

“I’ve always said the solutions already exist within our community sector, they just need the opportunity to be backed. This café is a great example. It will be run by Taranaki Retreat, which has been providing mental health support to people across Taranaki for the past 11 years.

“They are already making a difference in the community, and this new investment will help them reach even more people.

“Lived experience roles are starting to gain more traction here in New Zealand. We are better utilising peer support workers in a range of settings, including emergency departments, eating disorder services, and crisis alternatives.”

Doocey said it had been heartening to hear that they were already making a real difference.

“One worker told me that, reflecting on her own experience the peer support service is exactly what she wishes she had when she was struggling, someone who can say, I see you, I hear you, I know what you’re going through.

“Today’s announcement forms part of our mental health plan. Last month, I announced a crisis response package that includes more clinical workers in crisis assessment teams, two new 10-bed peer-led acute alternative services, and additional peer support workers in emergency departments and crisis recovery cafés.

“My focus is on delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response.”

The government had committed to eight new crisis recovery cafés by June 2026, as well as boosting some existing cafés.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Health New Zealand has issued a warning for potentially toxic algae in parts of the Selwyn River.

Moderate to high cover of benthic cyanobacteria has been found in Waikirikiri/Selwyn River at Glentunnel and Whitecliffs Roads.

Health NZ said people should avoid the areas and animals should not be allowed near the river until the health warning was lifted.

Other areas of the river could also be affected and people are advised to be cautious of every low-flowing river.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Annabel Begg said the algae looked like dark brown or black mats and could produce toxins harmful to people and animals, especially dogs.

“Exposure may cause skin rashes, nausea, stomach cramps, tingling and numbness around the mouth and fingertips,” she said.

“If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical advice urgently and let your healthcare provider know you’ve had contact with dark brown/black algal mats or water in this area.”

Environment Canterbury monitored the sites during summer and would advise the public of any changes to water quality.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The man accused of a fatal stabbing on an East Auckland bus and wounding another has been remanded in custody.

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a 59-year-old man died from a fatal knife wound to his torso, and a 41-year-old man was seriously injured in the suburb of Glen Innes on Monday night.

A 36-year-old was arrested in the Auckland CBD on Tuesday afternoon.

In Auckland District Court on Wednesday, the man appeared charged with murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody.

The 36-year-old was expected to reappear in the High Court at Auckland in January.

Both passengers had travelled on the 76 bus going from Glen Innes to Ōrakei on Monday evening.

Police earlier said the attacks appeared to be unprovoked.

Flowers have been placed at the scene of the attack.

It follows a similar fatal incident in Onehunga in October 2024 during which Auckland woman Bernice Louise Marychurch suffered multiple stab wounds.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A crash has closed the Mount Victoria tunnel in central Wellington, and motorists should expect delays.

The Transport Agency said people should take alternative routes, and avoid the area.

An RNZ reporter near the scene said police were in attendance.

Ambulances were also there, and traffic was backed up.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis – The coalition’s new resource management laws bear significant resemblance to the one the government repealed in 2023, after winning the election.

There are key differences, which appear to mostly be focused on pushing development harder, faster and with less consultation – and a philosophical focus on property rights.

But the main thrust of how the legislation works is based on the same principles as the model set out under Labour’s David Parker.

‘Very similar’ or ‘big differences’?

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has been leading the coalition’s changes, and on Tuesday acknowledged there were “some similarities, to be fair” with Labour’s approach but also some “big differences”.

“At the end of the day, there’s only so many ways to skin a cat, right,” he said.

“There have to be plans, there has to be consents and permits – it’s really just about … what the threshold is and how you work that stuff out. And ours is different.”

He listed a number of these differences:

• “The concept of goals and objectives” trying to get the system to be more positively focused about what the system is trying to do is there as well … we have not gone for the huge degree of complexity and uncertainty that [Labour’s] purpose clauses would have created”.
• “They weren’t interested in doing local government reform at the same time, whereas we are”.
• “The implementation of [Labour’s] was going to take around 10 years, whereas, as you know, ours is going to be about three”.
• “The regulatory relief components”.
• “The funnel that I talked about … getting the system focused much, much closer down at a consenting level, with the system funnelling down to an individual consent”.

He rejected the suggestion it might have been better to amend Labour’s legislation, rather than reinstating the “broken” RMA for another three years and starting over.

“I stand absolutely behind the decision to scrap … we started again for a reason, and I think we’ve ended up with a with a good outcome. Yeah, I absolutely think that was the right thing to do.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said to him Bishop’s system was “very similar to the law changes that they repealed … from what I can see there’s a heck of a lot of similarities.”

However, he also said he had “barely had a chance to even look at it” at that stage.

Regulatory relief or ‘takings’

One of those key differences is the increased focus on property rights – particularly with the introduction of a lower threshold for regulatory takings.

This means councils would be required to compensate landowners, including through rates remission, land swaps, cash payments, development rights and other measures.

This would apply to:

• land-based indigenous biodiversity and significant natural areas
• significant historic heritage including sites of significance to Māori
• outstanding natural features and landscapes
• areas of high natural character in coastal environment, wetlands, lakes and rivers and their margins

Councils would have to provide relief where there is “significant impact on the reasonable use of land” in their plans.

It would be up to local councils to develop a framework for how to provide that relief, including definitions for what impact is considered significant, and how much cost it would impose.

Bishop said compensation would not be paid to people who had purchased the property when the regulations were already in place.

He said how councils could afford the compensation if a future government changed the national plans was “something we’ll need to work through”, given the new 4 percent rates caps.

Labour’s approach did not propose to dramatically change the RMA’s approach to compensating landowners, which is limited to extreme scenarios where land is considered incapable of reasonable use.

National-level planning

In both versions of the reforms, there are two main pieces of resource management legislation – one focused on planning and the other focused on environmental management.

Both propose to make more use of national-level documents setting out the government’s priorities, which can be changed by ministers.

Bishop’s plan uses national policy statements and “national standards” – another instrument which is also already in use and sets out standardised planning provisions, rules and methods. The first suite is expected to arrive by the end of 2026, with a second suite due mid-2027.

The Labour version envisioned a unified “National Planning Framework” combining more than 20 national policy statements and other government documents. They began consultation on the first NPF in September 2023.

This included a 44-page chapter on infrastructure written by the independent Infrastructure Commission.

It also planned to make more use of national standards, envisaging a range of “off-the-shelf” consent processes that councils would be able to use.

A key difference here: the coalition’s approach also specifically plans to standardise zoning, reducing the 1175 current zones down to a nationally consistent set laid out by central government.

Regional level planning with less consenting

The latest reforms set out a reduction in planning from more than 100 to just 17 – each of which would have three components:

• a regional spatial plan, prepared by regional councils
• land-use plans for each district or city
• a natural environment plan

The regional and natural environment plans would be prepared by regional councils – although the government’s abolition of regional councillors means this task will be taken on by the new boards made up of city and district mayors.

The land use plans would be prepared by city and district councils.

In contrast, Labour’s approach would have had each of 15 regions producing two separate plans each, a total of 30:

• A Regional Spatial Strategy
• A Natural and Built Environment plan

These would have been prepared by Regional Planning Committees with members from councils, central government, and at least two appointed by local Māori.

In both cases, the National-level plans would be the benchmark, with regional-level planning taking the national rules into account.

Both approaches also aim to reduce the amount of consenting work required by making far more activities “permitted”.

Bishop’s approach estimates up to 46 percent of current consenting could be done away with. Parker did not provide an estimate.

Parker’s approach would have cut the regional planning process down from 10 years to four, Bishop expects he can get it down to two years.

Both systems also highlight a need for stronger enforcement compared to the RMA, but neither reached final decisions on how this would be carried out.

Environmental protections

Both systems would shift from the RMA’s approach of focusing on the effects of a given development on the area, to a system that uses “environmental limits” set out in the national direction documents.

These limits would set out maximum levels for safe water quality, air pollution, noise and the like which planning would need to take into account.

In both systems, breaching these targets would require a plan to get the problem under control – bringing a stream up to swimmable quality, for instance.

Savings, timeframes and page-counts

The coalition approach estimates $13.3b in savings over 30 years from 2026; the Labour approach was expected to save $10b over 30 years – ramping up from 2023.

There is a stark difference in how long it would take to get each system up to speed, however: Bishop aims to have his fully up and running by the end of 2029.

Parker’s plan would have rolled out to three regions first, to stress-test the system before implementing it nationally.

In opposition, National heavily criticised Parker’s approach as introducing bills totalling a similar page-count to the current RMA.

Parker’s version after introduction was just one page shy of the total for the RMA at 891 pages, but by the time the two bills passed final readings they totalled 1004 pages.

The current RMA has since grown too – to 996 pages.

Bishop’s two bills combined currently sit at 744 pages.

Purpose and goals

The goals of the coalition’s legislation identified as a difference from Labour’s approach include:

• ensuring land use does not unreasonably affect others
• supporting economic growth
• creating well-functioning urban and rural areas
• enabling competition by making land available for current and expected business and housing demand
• planning and providing for infrastructure
• maintaining public access for coastlines, lakes and rivers
• protecting from inappropriate development of certain areas including bodies of water, historical and natural sites
• safeguarding communities from natural hazards
• providing for Māori interests through participation in the development of national instruments, spatial planning, and land use plans, and identification and protection of land and sites of significance to Māori

Māori involvement

The current RMA included a general clause requiring the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi to be taken into account.

Labour’s replacement would have stepped this up by requiring the Crown to “give effect to” the principles, and set up a new six-member “National Māori Entity” to monitor the government’s Treaty responsibilities under the system.

It would have also required consultation with relevant iwi and hapū, which would also have been able to provide statements about the wellbeing of the environment at any time.

The coalition’s legislation takes things in the other direction, with specific provisions that relate to the Crown’s Treaty obligations with “descriptive, non-operative” Treaty of Waitangi clauses.

As with Labour’s plan, it would also require Māori land and sites of significance to be identified and protected, and would provide participation for Māori in developing the national instruments and regional plans.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Parliament’s Speaker Gerry Brownlee has shut the chamber’s gallery to members of the public for the rest of the year after pro-Palestine protesters disrupted proceedings by shouting and throwing papers at MPs.

He called the decision “very disappointing” but necessary given protesters had indicated they intended further action.

The directive means only those with Parliamentary swipe cards will be allowed into the public gallery until next year. Parliament is set to rise on 17 December and return in late January.

Brownlee said the move was about keeping MPs safe, warning there could have been a “catastrophic result” if a protester had fallen into the chamber while being removed.

The protesters have been trespassed from Parliament for two years. Brownlee said he was also investigating whether they had been meeting anyone at Parliament ahead of the action.

About a dozen protesters delayed Question Time on Tuesday, chanting “free Palestine” and showering MPs with leaflets.

Security guards removed them after several minutes, dragging at least one protester across the seats as they continued to yell.

Brownlee watched in silence, before brushing it off as “performative art” and then moving on.

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa later claimed responsibility and urged supporters to gather on Parliament’s forecourt on Wednesday afternoon.

“Let’s give our government the message LOUD & CLEAR that they have betrayed our collective values and humanity by their complicity with Israel’s,” a spokesperson wrote on social media.

In contravention of Parliament’s rules, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer filmed the protest from her seat and shared it on social media with a message of solidarity: “Kia kaha e te whānau.”

Brownlee said that was “totally inappropriate” and he had been assured the video had since been taken down.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters battling a house fire in Christchurch have called for a fourth crew to assist.

Fire and Emergency received reports of a house being well ablaze in the suburb of Northcote shortly after 11.30am.

A spokesperson said three crews were at the fire and a fourth had been called.

There are no reports of anyone being trapped or injured.

It followed an earlier house fire in the suburb of Shirley.

Crews were called at 9.30am and had extinguished the fire by 11.15am.

Fire investigators were working to establish the cause.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

• Parole Board says Mark Lundy is making good progress in the first few months of his release
• He’s now allowed to speak to media but can’t use social media
• No longer subject to night-time curfew
• He’s gradually expanding social contacts

Convicted murderer Mark Lundy is expanding his social contacts, but isn’t able to have his own social media accounts.

He is otherwise fully compliant with conditions imposed on his release from prison when parole was granted earlier this year, according to a monitoring report released today by the Parole Board.

The board has relaxed some of the conditions imposed on Lundy, taking away the night-time curfew he was subjected to as well as the order preventing him speaking to media.

The then-66-year-old was released from Tongariro Prison in May, having been granted parole following a hearing the previous month.

Lundy has always maintained his innocence despite twice being found guilty of killing his wife Christine and 7-year-old daughter Amber in their Palmerston North home in August 2000.

This was a stumbling block at previous parole hearings before this year.

Social circle gradually expanding

Lundy was seen by the Parole Board for a monitoring hearing in late October.

There, the board read a report from his probation officer. It said Lundy was still living at the property he was released to – the location is suppressed – and that he had continued support from family members.

The report said Lundy had complied fully, had provided one negative drug test – he can’t use non-prescribed drugs or drink alcohol – and “is gradually expanding his social contacts”.

The probation officer had checked Lundy’s electronic devices and he was compliant with his social media ban.

“His probation officer reports no further treatment is required.”

Curfew no longer needed

The board agreed with Lundy’s lawyer Ella Burton that he no longer needed to face a 10pm to 6am curfew.

The social media ban was changed to make clear Lundy can’t have a social media account nor post anything on social media.

Burton had asked for change.

“The reason for that has arisen due to Mr Lundy accessing or seeking information from various sources, but finding that it may involve information from a social media site, such as Facebook.”

Burton also asked the board to consider whether his ban on giving media interviews was still needed.

“The board is cognisant of the expressed wishes of his victims that his conditions remain unchanged. This condition was imposed to prevent media contact upon his release,” the board report said.

“While the media interest in Mr Lundy’s progress in the community remains, the continued restriction on his ability to respond to any request can no longer be sustained. The condition will be discharged.”

Further hearing

The board found Lundy appeared to have made good progress, but decided to see him again in March for further monitoring.

He is now subject to 17 release conditions. They include a ban on entering Hastings, Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Nelson, and that he must inform probation as soon as possible should an intimate relationship begin, resume or end.

He is also unable to associate with victims of his offending unless with probation approval, nor access pornography or dating sites without approval.

Lundy must also make available to a probation officer any electronic device so it can be checked for compliance with his release conditions, and give passwords to these devices if asked.

He was convicted at a trial in 2002 and, after the Privy Council overturned his convictions, again at a 2015 retrial.

He was arrested in early 2001 and, apart from 18 months when he was on bail awaiting his retrial, was in custody until May.

Lundy was sentenced to a 20-year minimum term and was eligible for parole in 2022.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A Waikato police officer found himself at the centre of the custard and fruit crumble attack on the Crown Jewels by protesters at the Tower of London.

Senior Constable Mark Strongman, a former police negotiator and member of the police for nearly three decades, arrested four people after he heard a commotion.

“I walked up to the two female suspects and introduced myself, informing them that I was arresting them for criminal behaviour and advised them of their rights,” he said.

“I took an oath to the Crown so I figured my arrests procedures would stick.

Strongman, who was on holiday, said he heard a commotion going on ahead of him at the Tower and then saw that something had been thrown over a display case.

“One was in possession of a backpack so I was concerned about what could be in there so quickly removed that and waited with the females until the Metropolitan Police officers arrived.

“As you can imagine, the whole place shuts down when the Crown Jewels are at risk, some very thick steel doors slammed closed.”

He said his wife Carmen and brother and sister-in-law were ahead and had no idea what was happening.

He said he just “dropped straight back into work mode”.

The group responsible, Take Back Power, said two supporters smothered the dessert over the case containing the Crown Jewels to demand the establishment of a permanent citizen’s assembly with the power to tax extreme wealth and “fix Britain”.

Take Back Power describes itself as a new nonviolent civil-resistance group.

After the display cabinet was defaced two supporters held a sign that said ‘Democracy has crumbled – tax the rich’.

“Our political class, be it this government, Reform or Tory, serve the super-rich; they do not care about working people,” the group said in a statement on their website.

“That’s why we must demand real democracy, with ordinary people at the heart of decision making, through a citizen-led assembly that has the power to tax the rich.”

One of those involved, 21-year-old Miriam Cranch, 21, said wealth inequality was leading towards civil unrest.

“Britain is broken because the super rich are pocketing billions, whilst working people struggle to get by,” she said.

“Billionaires should not pay a lower tax rate on wealth they generate doing nothing, than those of us working jobs. It’s time ordinary people get a say on how to tax wealth with a permanent House of the People.”

Metropolitan Police officers arrested four people and have sent thanks to Strongman for his work.

According to police, the Met acknowledged his timely intervention and use of his police skills in detaining the suspects, which assisted in ensuring there was no further damage to the Crown Jewels and the Tower of London was able to remain open to the public.

Strongman is continuing a holiday around Europe and is due to return to New Zealand before Christmas to his role as member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Team.

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