Bacterial meningitis is deadly, but can also have life-altering long-term effects – new study

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Octavia Calder-Dawe, Lecturer in Health Psychology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Bacterial meningitis is once again in global headlines, with recent cases linked to the University of Otago in New Zealand and a fast-growing outbreak at the University of Kent in England.

Bacterial meningitis is well known as an acute, deadly illness. The World Health Organization estimates about one in six infected people will die – even with prompt medical care and antibiotic treatment.

While this frightening statistic makes headlines, less well understood is what happens to those who survive this highly contagious infectious disease.

Much of the existing research on bacterial meningitis tends to follow a similar pattern, focused on the acute phase when people are hospitalised and receiving treatment.

While this makes sense, it also bolsters the idea that bacterial meningitis is a short-term illness that is effectively dealt with by the time patients leave hospital.

This is not the case. Emerging international evidence suggests a majority of patients experience ongoing and life-altering physical, psychological and social impacts well beyond the acute treatment phase.

Our new research with people who survived bacterial meningitis is the first of its kind conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand.

With support from the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, we collated exploratory survey responses from 16 adult participants, followed by in-depth interviews with ten of these people.

This allowed us to build a nuanced, personalised picture of what life after meningitis is actually like. Our findings show significant and long-lasting impacts of infection.

Ongoing impacts long after acute illness

Participants emphasised that bacterial meningitis was a long-term illness with far-reaching impacts.

Far from being “cured” at hospital discharge, participants described experiencing multiple chronic after-effects, including fatigue, difficulties with concentration, memory and emotional regulation, persistent headaches, and issues with mobility, vision and hearing.

These after-effects were permanent for some and persisted for years for others.

Ongoing symptoms had major implications for how participants were able to live their lives. They affected their ability to work and support themselves, to study and to maintain relationships with others.

In turn, this had serious downstream effects on mental health. Participants linked their experiences to anxiety, depression and suicidality. As one reflected:

I thought my life was absolutely done and dusted.

Lack of guidance and support

In the context of these life-changing impacts, participants described an absence of accurate and useful medical advice about after-effects and recovery trajectories.

This information vacuum made the adjustment to living with lasting impacts especially difficult to understand and cope with. Interviewees described feeling abandoned and did not know whether and where they could access help.

Those we interviewed were not offered mental health follow-up despite having faced a life-threatening medical diagnosis – a known risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Many described leaving hospital in shock, with no accident compensation cover and no ongoing primary care plan or specialist referral in place. One participant explained her experience like this:

When I was eventually discharged, there was no support. There was no brochure to tell me that I could go and talk to someone or a list of potential after-effects.

Reflecting the focus on acute care, participants were typically treated by healthcare providers as if they were recovered and would be ready to resume their normal activities soon.

Several participants were told by doctors to return to work or school within weeks.

This proved to be alarmingly inaccurate advice. Most of those we spoke to experienced after-effects that affected their ability to work, study and socialise for months or years.

Without access to formalised aftercare, close family and friends filled the gaps. Many participants described being discharged from hospital while unable to feed themselves, and unable to move unassisted. In these situations, support from loved ones was vital.

Our findings demonstrate that bacterial meningitis is much more than a life-threatening infection. It is an acute disease with serious, chronic after-effects which are poorly understood and often go unrecognised.

Alongside efforts to raise vaccination rates and improve symptom recognition, we need to do better by those living with the impacts of this cruel disease.

Our recommendations highlight that patients and families need realistic information and responsive support to help them adjust to life after bacterial meningitis.

– ref. Bacterial meningitis is deadly, but can also have life-altering long-term effects – new study – https://theconversation.com/bacterial-meningitis-is-deadly-but-can-also-have-life-altering-long-term-effects-new-study-278545

Many tourism hotspots are ‘de-marketing’ – with mixed success. We researched the smartest ways to do it

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Hardy, Adjunct professor, Tourism, Southern Cross University

Those who watched the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics probably placed Italy high on their travel bucket lists.

Global events frequently generate abrupt spikes in visitor demand.

This is a boon for many tourism operators and business owners, but it often leads to short-term yet significant pressures on destinations, resulting in concerns regarding overtourism.

Some destinations are therefore actively trying to reduce tourism – with mixed success.

We recently researched how tourism destinations could do this successfully without causing major disruptions.

Overtourism and ‘de-marketing’

Overtourism can strain local communities and damages heritage and ecosystems.

Many of our favourite destinations are now trying to “de-market” themselves.

“De-marketing” is a term that has been used since 1971.

Rather than using the traditional “4 Ps” of marketing (price, produce, place and promotion) to attract tourists, de-marketing uses them to keep people away.

Tasmania’s Overland Track: a case study

Our soon-to-be-published research shows de-marketing risks failure if it ignores trends and pressures in society.

We found successful de-marketing cannot be conducted from one angle, such as changing the way a location is marketed. This is because attractions, businesses cultures, residents, heritage assets and natural areas all form the tourism system – when one is altered, the entire system is affected.

The Overland Track in southwest Tasmania, Australia, illustrates this well.

Hikers walk along Tasmania's Overland Track with Barn Bluff in the distance. — Hikers walk along Tasmania’s Overland Track with Barn Bluff in the distance. Adam Cooper/AAP

By the 1990s, the 65-kilometre, five-day hike was under significant strain. Rising visitor numbers, overcrowded huts, waste issues and track erosion were reducing environmental quality and visitor satisfaction.

Following extensive consultation, in 2011 the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service introduced a suite of measures:

a booking and permit system
a track fee
capped daily departures
the introduction of free mid‑track access for Tasmanians to maintain local recreation opportunities.

In 2011, hiker numbers were at 8,260 per year. Since then, there has been modest increase, and for the past three years numbers have stabilised at around 11,000 per year.

Using permits and capped daily departures slowed the growth of visitors, while track fees provide revenue from which rangers are employed and improvements to trails, huts and toilets can be made. This in turn reduces track erosion and environmental impacts.

Sometimes it backfires

Ironically, as destinations have tried to de-market themselves, media coverage of their actions can cause these attempts to backfire.

Locations such as Venice, Barcelona and Amsterdam are recent examples.

Amsterdam attracts around 20 million visitors a year and in 2023 the city tried to push back.

Its “stay away” campaign targeted young British men searching online for terms like “stag weekend” or “pub crawl,” aiming to deter tourists seeking party trips.

The campaign backfired.

Some businesses began selling “stay away” t-shirts and promoting rebellious “stay away weekends” while the campaign was parodied on social media.

Instead of discouraging this market, the message became a meme – and, for some, a reason to visit.

Why there is often pushback

De-marketing can be successful. But how can destinations that have had major investments from private and public stakeholders suddenly slow down business without triggering economic instability and resistance?

Not surprisingly, there is often pushback from businesses. Sudden halts to tourism hurt the hip pockets of those whose livelihood depends upon it. In Venice in 2021 for example, a ban on large cruise ships from entering the Venetian lagoon was met with resistance from local business leaders.

Regulating tourist behaviour, banning short-term rental accommodation and tourists taxes are popular responses to overtourism but are often ineffectual.

Iceland introduced a tourist tax in 2024 but what followed was a rise in tourist numbers.

Taxes can create revenue to repair environmental damage but they do not reduce people’s desire to travel.

How it can be done successfully

Our research shows successful de-marketing requires simultaneous use of soft and harsh responses.

Harsh responses include caps on visitor numbers, complete bans, regulations on visitor movement and raising pricing or taxes.

Soft responses include changing the types of attractions on offer (to attract certain tourist segments), codes of conduct, educational campaigns and using social media to promote initiatives.

Both soft and harsh responses must be co-designed with the tourism industry and community.

Technology can also be used.

Majorca, in Spain, has implemented an AI-powered platform to help tourists plan trips. At the same time, it recommends alternative attractions when tourist attractions are crowded.

Travellers can also contribute: staying longer rather than taking short, high-impact trips, avoiding peak periods and looking beyond algorithm-driven “must-see” lists can reduce pressure.

The most responsible travel choices are rarely the most “Instagrammable”. And sometimes, the most sustainable decision is not where to go, but when, or whether to go at all.

– ref. Many tourism hotspots are ‘de-marketing’ – with mixed success. We researched the smartest ways to do it – https://theconversation.com/many-tourism-hotspots-are-de-marketing-with-mixed-success-we-researched-the-smartest-ways-to-do-it-276966

‘I go into a Zen space, my body takes over’ – circus star’s rare balancing act

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

In his La Ronde performance, Adam Malone’s burlesque-inspired feats include a “chaotic” hoop act in which he manipulates fast-spinning blunt objects with his hands.

Less stressful, he says, is pulling off his take on the traditional but rare ‘Washington Trapeze’, which involves balancing on his head.

“I go into a bit of a Zen space, and I balance, and my body kind of takes over for me,” Malone tells RNZ’s Nine to Noon.

Adam Malone is also a renowned hula-hoop artist.

Benji Hardwick

Dan Hooker’s bare-knuckle backyard fights to be monitored by Christchurch police

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The gloves are coming off for the next instalment of Dan Hooker’s “1 Minute Scraps”. youtube

Police are monitoring a bare-knuckle fighting event in Christchurch organised by MMA professional fighter Dan Hooker.

The seventh-ranked UFC lightweight contender announced another “1 Minute Scraps” event on social media recently, telling hopefuls the event “is gonna scrap the gloves, we’re going bare-knuckle”.

A $50,000 prize was on offer for the winner with each combatant getting $1000 and $5000 available for each knockout.

Hooker told The Rock FM‘s Morning Rumble he had chosen the city for Sunday’s event because “I believe Christchurch has the craziest people”.

“We had thousands of people try to enter this. This excites me as a fighter,” he said.

The seventh-ranked UFC lightweight contender announced another “1 Minute Scraps” event on social media recently. STEVEN MARKHAM

Backyard-style fights have previously attracted backlash from some people involved in combat sports with the Boxing Coaches Association labelling it “straight-out thuggery“.

Following the criticism, Hooker told online combat sport programme the Ariel Helwani Show that, “there’s a few lefties having a sulk”.

“Since when did putting gloves on in the backyard and having a punch up become illegal?” Since when is that a crime?” he said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Damon Wells said police were aware of the event.

“We have spoken with the organisers of the event, who have been cooperative, and confirmed they are running a lawful event which they have done previously,” he said.

“Police monitored previous events run by these organisers and had no issues. However, we will continue to monitor such events, and anyone found to be participating in unlawful or antisocial behaviour should expect to be held to account for their actions.

“If anyone witnesses any concerning or antisocial behaviour is urged to call 111 in an emergency, or 105 to report non-urgent information.”

Hooker had promised to run more events in the future and said his plans for the next one “gets even more wild”.

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

Man found dead at Hastings construction site

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A scene guard would remain in place while investigators probed the scene, police said. RNZ / REECE BAKER

Police enquiries are underway after a man was found dead at a construction in Hastings earlier this week.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Karli Whiu said police were called to the site at 7pm on Thursday 18 March.

“The man was not an employee at the site and his death is currently being treated as unexplained,” Whiu said.

A scene guard would remain in place while investigators probed the scene.

“Work is under way to formally identify the man and at this stage we are unable to provide any further details regarding his identity,” Whiu said.

Police were asking anyone with relevant information to reach out using the 105 and quote file number 260319/6453.

Information could also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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

One dead, one seriously injured after crash on SH2 in Gisborne District

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Robin Martin

One person has died following a crash on State Highway 2/Matawai Road, Waipaoa, in the Gisborne region on Friday morning.

Police were notified of the two-vehicle crash near McMillan Road just before 7am.

One person was found dead at the scene.

Another person received serious injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.

Police had warned earlier there would be extensive delays for motorists.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are continuing.

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

Is antibacterial soap any better at killing germs?

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

If you’ve ever dealt with a sick household, the appeal of hand soap to kill germs is understandable and there are plenty of “antibacterial” and “antiseptic” products promising to do that.

Hand washing is one of the most important ways to prevent the transmission of pathogens between people, says Professor Paul Griffin, an infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist from Brisbane/Meanjin.

“Anyone who’s worked in health care, child care or had young kids knows how quickly germs spread amongst the household and in those environments,” he says.

Professor Paul Griffin says it is less about the product you use and more about the correct hand washing technique.

Supplied/ABC

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Our experts

Professor Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane

Dr Francesca Short, senior lecturer in microbiology at Monash University’s Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance

James Plant, director of environmental health at the Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit

Do antibacterial soaps kill germs?

Francesca Short has studied the use of antimicrobial additives in products such as hand soap in Australia.

She says her research has found product labelling “isn’t a reliable indicator” of whether that product has these additives.

Short says there are a few different terms used on products:

Antibacterial — describes products that kill or prevent the growth of bacteria (not necessarily fungi or viruses)
Antimicrobial — is more of a catch-all, as this includes fungi and viruses as well
Antiseptic — is used to describe antimicrobial products that are used on the skin, in Australia these products are strictly regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and they contain antimicrobial additives beyond regular soap or detergent

“There are some things that are labelled ‘kills 99 per cent of bacteria’ or ‘removes 99.9 percent of bacteria’, but they don’t have any additives beyond just the soap,” says the senior lecturer at Monash University’s Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance, in Melbourne/Naarm.

Griffin says products claiming to kill bacteria are “not necessarily substantiated as being any better than just usual soap and water would be”.

James Plant is the director of environmental health at the Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit on Kabi Kabi lands.

He says antibacterial, antimicrobial or antiseptic hand wash might have a “small amount of specific ingredients that will kill bacteria”.

“You might see benzalkonium chloride or benzethonium chloride, sometimes something called chloroxylenol,” he says.

“And those are all designed to kill bacteria, but they only form a very small part of the actual antibacterial soap.”

Griffin says these additives can be harsh and lead to dryness and cracked skin, which can create a pathway for germs to enter the body.

Our experts say there have also been studies suggesting that the use of soaps with antimicrobial additives can contribute to antibiotic resistance, which is problematic.

“The microbes [on our skin] might be exposed to the antimicrobials in that soap,” Short says.

“They’ll learn how to tolerate small amounts of them.

“And then in future, if you need antibiotics or if you get sick, then those microbes that just live on your skin will be more resistant to antibiotics.”

The concern is that this causes the antibiotics to be less effective.

How effective is regular hand soap?

Regular hand soap is very effective in removing potentially harmful pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), according to our experts.

Short says it can also kill bacteria and viruses by disrupting “their outer layers” or membranes which allow them to stick to skin.

Plant says “normal soap, water and hand-washing technique is definitely the way to go” for everyday use, such as after the bathroom, before meals, after touching pets, or if you’re unwell.

“So, using that water, soap and that pneumatic action to get all of the dirt and grime from your hands and then rinsing is going to be more than adequate to keep you healthy.”

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

Advice from the world’s happiest country, as NZ misses top 10

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finland has once again been named the happiest country in the world, a title it has now held a record nine times.

New Zealand often ranks in the top 10, but it has just dipped outside to 11th in the most recent World Happiness Report. It’s the third year in a row New Zealand has ranked outside the top 10.

It’s mostly Nordic countries ahead of New Zealand, but Israel is in 8th. Our friends across the ditch, Australia, were ranked 15th.

New Zealand has ranked 11th in the World Happiness Report.

123rf.com

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“I guess the Finnish people think of themselves as this slightly introverted, even melancholic, bunch of people. So, being the happiest people in the world doesn’t really fit into Finnish self-image,” he said.

Martela said rather than Finnish people being happier, there are fewer extremely unhappy people in Finland, which drives up the average.

“When you say that Finland is the happiest country, it’s one way of putting it, [but] another way of putting it would be saying Finland is the country where there are the least amount of people who are actively unhappy about their lives – that would be, in a way, a more accurate description.”

In other words, if New Zealand wants to boost its ranking, Kiwis should complain less.

“That’s the Finnish way of doing this – not complaining too much, just minding one’s own business and being happy about it,” Martela said.

To determine the ranking, the Gallup World Poll asks respondents in 147 countries to evaluate their lives using the image of a ladder, with the best possible life as a 10 and the worst possible as a 0. Each respondent provides a numerical response on this scale, referred to as the Cantril Ladder.

Researchers look at six factors, including GDP per capita, life expectancy, generosity and perceptions of freedom and corruption to help account for variations among countries. The rankings are based on a three-year average, which smoothes out spikes and dips occasioned by big events such as war or financial downturns.

The Finns reported an average score of 7.764 to evaluate their life satisfaction.

Martela said universal healthcare, low corruption, high-quality free education, unemployment benefits and good maternity leave are some of the factors behind the score.

Finland’s deep commitment to cooperation helps explain its staying power at the top of the ranking, John F. Helliwell, professor emeritus of economics at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the World Happiness Report, said in an interview.

“Successful societies cooperate in the face of adversity,” he said. “The Finns know this. And once you have the sense that you are in this together, there’s no end to what you can do.”

Youth crisis

The report’s writers have begun to pay attention to what they consider a crisis in youth happiness, first mentioned in the 2024 ranking.

In the latest edition, the survey found life evaluations among respondents under age 25 in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have dropped by almost one full point on the scale of 0 to 10 over the last decade, a dramatic slide especially since the average satisfaction for young people in the rest of the world has increased, according to Gallup World Poll data.

A key factor in the sharp drop in youth happiness, researchers said, is the number of hours young people spend consuming social media or gaming. And while experts say it’s important to limit time spent with the Internet overall, some ways of spending time online are healthier than others, including communicating with loved ones, and learning new skills.

A certain amount of Internet and social media consumption wasn’t necessarily negative, he said, saying, “There seems to be a sweet spot.”

“You don’t want to be unconnected but you don’t want to be too connected,” he said. “With the Internet, too much is a bad thing.”

The world’s top happiest countries in 2026

1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Costa Rica

7. Netherlands

9. Luxembourg

10. Switzerland

11. New Zealand

You can read the report here.

– RNZ with additional reporting by CNN

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

US Coast Guard sails into Wellington harbour

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Madleine CarrWhite, Massey Journalism Student

The USGC Polar Star has operated in Antarctica for the past 55 days. RNZ/Mark Papalii

A United States Coast Guard icebreaker has sailed into Wellington harbour after working with New Zealand in Antarctica.

The USGC Polar Star, celebrating its 50th year of service, has operated in Antarctica for the past 55 days resupplying New Zealand’s Scott Base, among other duties.

Two New Zealand sailors joined the American crew to participate in this year’s Polar Star’s deployment, Operation Deep Freeze.

Polar Star cuts channels through thick ice, creating access for ships to reach Antarctic research stations and bases.

David Gehrenbeck, the US Charge d’Affaires, said the arrival of the ship highlights the relationship between the United States and New Zealand.

“Each time Polar Star arrives in Wellington, it’s a reminder of the strong partnership and shared commitment between the United States and New Zealand in Antarctica,” he said.

“Royal New Zealand Navy sea riders have become an integral part of these missions. Their expertise and upbeat approach are always appreciated by everyone on board.”

The USGC Polar Star in Wellington harbour. RNZ/Mark Papalii

Earlier this year marked the end of a multi-year effort between New Zealand and the United States, with the Polar Star delivering a new pier for scientific research at McMurdo Station.

Gehrenbeck said that the ship’s mission involves more than supporting scientific research.

“It’s about making sure people and supplies can move safely, so our hard-working teams are supported and research at the bottom of the world never stops.”

In January, the Polar Star crew performed a six-hour rescue operation for the cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II, which was trapped in ice near McMurdo Sound.

Over the past decade, the ship has regularly docked in New Zealand when sailing to and from Antarctica.

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

Keith Rankin Analysis – Turkmenistan: The Hermit Autocracy in the Centre of Eurasia

By Keith Rankin -

March 20, 2026

20201212_KeithRankin — Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Analysis by Keith Rankin, 17 March 2026.

Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Iran is a crucial country in Southwest Asia. Not only is it strategically placed with respect to maritime transport, it also has land borders with seven countries. Most of these countries have been in the world news in the last decade, generally in relation to some conflict or other.

Two of these are currently at war with each other: Afghanistan and Pakistan (refer ‘I heard a huge blast’: Afghan journalist describes Kabul rehab hospital strikes, Sky News, 16 March 2026). Two others were at war a few years ago: Armenia and Azerbaijan. And Iraq has been in five separate wars, one against Iran itself, and one against Iran’s near-neighbour Kuwait, two against the wider West, and one against ISIL. Türkiye, by contrast, has been a sea of relative stability, and is indeed the main recipient of Iranian refugees at present.

But what about Turkmenistan, a country which has a 1,000km border with Iran; and important demographic and cultural links with Iran? A country successfully hiding in plain sight.

Korea was dubbed the ‘Hermit Kingdom’ in the nineteenth century, and since the Korean War (ceasefire in 1953) North Korea is not uncommonly still called that. But, at least in our awareness, Turkmenistan makes North Korea seem rather gregarious in terms of its relations with the world. I understand that it’s harder to get a visa to visit Turkmenistan than to visit North Korea.

Google: “Ashgabat, the capital, was rebuilt [after a big earthquake in 1948] in Soviet style in the mid-20th century and is filled with grand monuments honouring former president Saparmurat Niyazov.” This architectural gigantism is reminiscent of North Korea. BBC, 17 Sep 2016: “Turkmenistan has unveiled a gleaming new international airport with a roof in the shape of a flying falcon. … Ashgabat [the capital, and close to the Iranian border] boasts several other unique structures, including a publishing house in shape of an open book [and] two giant golden statues of both Mr Berdymukhamedov and his late predecessor Saparmyrat Niyazov.”

Economy

Turkmenistan, on the southeastern side of the Caspian Sea, has an ancient history in terms of trade along the Silk Road; it was indeed a land of transit in the times of caravans and camels.

In 1881 it was annexed and fully incorporated into the Russian Empire. And, during Soviet Union times, it was a full republic of that Union. Since the Soviet split-up, Turkmenistan, in true Orwellian fashion, has largely denied that it was ever part of the Soviet Union. Its population, believed to be just over six million, is kept in perpetual ignorance of the wider world. There is a relatively large regional diaspora of Turkmen people.

That ignorance is mutual. The West knows as little about Turkmenistan as Turkmen subjects know about The West. Interestingly, I looked up the CIA Factbook – a widely favoured reference resource for political geography – to verify my own knowledge. And I found this; the Factbook was closed last month (though see the wayback machine). Not widely reported, but note this on CNN: CIA terminates its World Factbook, overthrowing reference regime, 6 Feb 2026.

I found some maps still on the CIA website: https://www.cia.gov/resources/map/india/ and https://www.cia.gov/resources/map/turkmenistan/. While the maps on India are reasonably current (2023), this map of Turkmenistan dates back to 2008. Not exactly state-of-the-art intelligence.

Turkmenistan is not a poor country. It has substantial oil reserves, and has huge barely tapped natural gas reserves, comparable to those of Qatar. Despite contrived inequality between rulers and subjects, its people are not as poor as North Korea’s. Its long-distance trade nowadays passes mostly either to The West via the Caspian Sea, then Azerbaijan and Georgia; or to China via just one other country, Kazakhstan. There will also be regional trade with its four land neighbours: Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

Strategic Matters

For reasons fully beyond its control, Turkmenistan finds its most natural neighbour and most natural ally, Iran, in fullscale war with both regional and global hegemons. I suspect that there are very few Iranian citizens seeking refuge in Turkmenistan, even though many living near Turkmenistan – including in bombed nearby cities such as Mashhad (refer Iran’s Mashhad Airport Targeted Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes, The Caspian Post, 1 March 2016) – are now living in considerable danger.

Wars typically spill over, in one form or another, into neighbouring countries. Further, Turkmenistan might now become coveted for its geopolitically strategic location and resources. War might come in more than a local spill.

Airspace

Once upon a long time ago, the most strategic spaces in the world were land-spaces, especially central Asian steppes such as those of Turkmenistan. The last incursions from the East into Europe came from these lands: those invasions by Genghis Khan in the twelfth century, and Tamerlane in the fourteenth.

The last incursion from the East into Western Europe was that of Attila the Hun in the fifth century. Since those invasions – and since earlier western conquests, eg those of Alexander the Great – there have been many Western megalomaniacs invading Asia. The main opportunity for the West arose from the strategic development of seaspace trumping landspace.

Nowadays, airspace to a considerable extent trumps both landspace and seaspace. There are two components of this. The first is the military exploitation of airspace, a form of warfare favoured by most modern tyrants. The second is the civilian – and peaceful economic – use of airspace for long-distance transit and trade.

My guess is that, at least up until now, long-haul flights will have avoided overflying Turkmenistan. (Avoidance of countries’ airspace is not uncommon: in 2008 I flew Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong to Seoul return, and the flights avoided Chinese airspace. And I flew from Shenyang in China to Seoul by Korean Airlines, a flight that took a wide circle route to avoid North Korea.)

As it is now, if civil flights want to avoid both Turkmenistan and all countries currently at war, a flight from Singapore to London (say) would have to fly over Nepal, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and then over the Black Sea. That’s a very narrow corridor for two-directional long-haul flying. Turkmenistan airspace would ease this constraint somewhat. But how safe can we expect any of Iran’s neighbours to be in the future? Certainly, with airspace now being the geopolitically dominant space today, Turkmenistan comes at a premium; potentially a new aerial Silk Road.

Safe national airspaces are important, not only to avoid being shot-down as Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was in 2014, but also as potential emergency landing sites. How will long-distance civilian air travel function during a twenty-first century world war?

Conclusion

Most of us have some geographical blindspots and many historical blindspots. Some places and historical events are blind to most of us. If democracy is to survive in any form, we need populations – not just ‘experts’ – with more knowledge of the world. And, if not unbiased knowledge (very difficult to achieve), then at least knowledge with relatively balanced biases.

Turkmenistan is a strategically placed nation towards which most better-informed people have almost no knowledge. For us in the West, that lack of geographical knowledge is ignorance by choice, or by having priorities determined by our not knowing what we don’t know, even when those places are in plain sight. For the Turkmen subject people, their ignorance is different; it’s by design.

*******

Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Person critically injured in assault in North Canterbury

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are investigating following a serious assault on Thursday night in Amberley, in the Hurunui District in North Canterbury.

Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons said officers responded around 10.25pm after being told a person had been seriously assaulted at a rural property on Racecourse Road.

The victim was taken to hospital with critical injuries and was due to undergo surgery on Friday, she said.

Police are speaking with a person in relation to the incident and are not seeking anyone else at this time.

A scene examination is underway at the address, and enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are continuing.

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

Warriors’ ‘Mahi Man’ earns his moment in the spotlight

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mark ‘the mahi man’ pictured here with Warriors skipper James Fisher-Harris, will lead the Warriors onto the field this weekend to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. instagram

He’s the unofficial Warriors hype man, and a worthy challenger to the Mad Butcher’s title of the club’s biggest fan.

Introducing Mark ‘the Mahi Man’ Dekker.

From filling water bottles, to leading the team victory song, there is no job Dekker won’t do for the club.

But this weekend’s role stands out.

Dekker will lead out the Warriors team onto the field for their round three NRL clash against the Newcastle Knights on Saturday evening to mark World Down Syndrome Day.

It is not the the first time he has been asked to do the honour, but after a slight hitch in 2024, Dekker is ready to deliver in Newcastle.

“He jumped the gun and ran out a bit too fast ahead of the boys. Hopefully this year he’ll take his time,” said friend Leityn Swann.

Dekker was introduced to the Warriors after Swann emailed and asked if he could attend a training.

Although it was supposed to end after a few trainings, the cub quickly fell in love with the Mahi Man.

Dekker is always on hand to offer high-fives to players before and after training, as well as cater to needs from hydration, to a chat on the mats during stretching sessions.

Halfback Tannah Boyd said Dekker is the “energiser” of the club.

“He’s amazing, he waits for us when we come out every day to train, he gets us fired up, he has a big role this weekend and he’s pumped for it.”

Former Warriors star Shaun Johnson greets Mark Dekker ahead of the Warriors first game back at Mount Smart in June 2022. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Swann said Dekker’s duties are wide ranging.

“He’s filling the waters and ice in the morning, setting up the field, getting all the equipment in the field ready for the coaches to come and lay the safety fields. And then I think he’s head of morale boosting.”

Swann said the Mahi Man had a special connection with players.

“Some of them are very patient and sit down and listen, they’ve got banter, I wish people could see what I get to see every day, the love and time he gets from them. He gets a sense of fulfilment with what he does.”

Dekker said it’s a special moment to be in the spotlight.

“I love my club.”

He said he is already preparing for the party when the Warriors win the 2026 grand final.

“Up the Wahs, baby!”

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

Auckland resident contests council’s ‘broad brush model’ for flooding designations

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The council publishes multiple different flood maps, which provide broad information about flood risks across the city. Auckland Council

An Auckland homeowner disputes her property is flood-prone, despite it being designated as such on Auckland Council’s online maps.

The council publishes multiple different flood maps, which provide broad information about flood risks across the city.

Stephanie Burgess said the council’s flood modelling used a “broad brush model”, but it had a real impact on value of her Glendowie property and other properties in those areas.

Auckland Council’s flood mapping was based off aerial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) from 2016, which did not accurately reflect the real risk on her land, she said.

“There’s never been any flooding at my property. It requires a pipe to block and a 100-year flood to both happen together.”

The flood-prone marking from the Auckland council maps she had seen was not yet on her Land Information Memorandum (LIM) report, but she was concerned it would be, she added.

Auckland Council’s natural hazard map designates half of Stephanie Burgess’s Glendowie property as flood-prone. Auckland Council

Looking to sell her house, she was worried by the impact this flood-prone designation would have.

“I’m fearful that our property will be devalued because a lot of buyers will not be interested, because they see this notation.”

She was also concerned that people did not understand the difference between a flood-prone area and a flood plane, and the different risk levels between them.

Working in real estate, she said some people would not even enter the open home if there was flood notation on the LIM.

She was calling for the council to factor in site-specific information to more accurately represent the flood risk at properties in designated flood-prone areas.

“I’d like a letter that I can give to buyers that explains the real risk.”

‘Literally within centimetres’

Auckland Council head of planning networks Nick Vigar said the councils across the country were working to provide better information about flood risks, but contested the claim that LiDAR was not an accurate measurement.

“Modern LiDAR is getting within centimetres on your property. Yes, it makes some assumptions where there’s trees and where there’s buildings, but it’s literally within centimetres.”

It was, to an extent, “broad brush”, he conceded, but it was the best information the council had.

“If you want to go and develop your house you should absolutely get someone to come in and survey it accurately,” he said.

The council assessment was only based on the land, so flood mitigation work would generally not be acknowledged in its data, Vigar said.

“If there’s some mitigation in which the landform is changed then, next time we run the LiDAR, that will get brought into the model. But I think the important thing here is: its triggering an assessment of the house on the property.”

The flood-prone designation would need to appear on the LIM report, he said.

“If you get a LIM on that property then you have to understand if there’s one of these triggers across you property … because you need to understand that if you’re developing, the presence of one of those will trigger a flood risk assessment.”

He acknowledged that using decade-old LiDAR was not necessarily fair, but said new data had been gathered in 2024 and would soon be available.

That data was already being applied to landowners who had contested their designation, he said.

“Where we have more accurate information in the new LiDAR, we have inserted it for customers already.”

But getting a property survey would not remove the flood-prone overlay from Burgess’s property, Vigar said.

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Robot Rampage: Enthusiasts watch epic final fight in Auckland

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Team Brazil was crowned champion at the Robot Rampage World Cup. Robot Rampage

Fought inside a bulletproof cage, a battle between combat robots is not for the faint-hearted.

It’s the grand final of Robot Rampage World Cup, a four day competition between teams from New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and the United States.

Sparks are a common sight during the battle between the bots. Robot Rampage

Unfolding on a quiet Sunday evening at Auckland’s shopping suburb Onehunga, the venue is packed with enthusiasts.

Ten-year-old Elon Jacobs secured a front row seat to catch the sparks, the clashes, and sometimes even a small fire.

Ten year old Elon Jacobs brought a robot he is building to the battle. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

“It’s really loud and there’s a lot of robots fighting today. So far there’s been a lot of action and it’s been very fun.”

He had been sketching robots since he was four years old, and thinks robotics will definitely be a big part of his future.

On Sunday, the battle was between Brazil and USA.

Thirteen-year-old Josephine Estevez gave her predictions.

“Brazil looks like it’s winning. I do enjoy watching different robots. I really like Touro. That was a great design. Displaying blade and it being a mostly defense robot, it’s very locked in on all sides and very sturdy looking.”

Josephine Estevez and Kira Matevie are enjoying the battle between the robots. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Her mom, Kira Matevie, the bigger robotic fan among the two, has her eyes laid on other robots.

“For tonight, I’ll have to say my favorite is Jump Rope because he’s a showboat, I like that. But my favorite robot to date is Black Rose. It reminds me of a vacuum cleaner.”

The matches are livestreamed for free, but that didn’t stop Ashley and Bryan Pierre booking a trip from USA to watch in person.

“It’s a neat format that they have here. You have five robots and basically until all your robots are out, you keep going. So, they kind of need a little bit of strategy to play. Do they want to fix a robot after the match if they win? They only got eight minutes to fix it. Not a lot of time if they got a lot of damage.”

Robot Rampage

After Bryan introduced Ashley to battlebots, robots quickly infiltrated every part of the couple’s life.

“Our wedding rings are made of a battle bot. We’re from Wisconsin and Team Wyachi is from Wisconsin. One of their main bot, Son of Wyachi, they sent us a signed part of Son of Wyachi.”

Ashley and Bryan Pierre’s wedding rings are made of a part of one of their favorite combat robots. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Ashley said turning the signed part into rings is another miracle.

“We randomly met someone who could work titanium and they were able to save the signature and make 4 rings out of it.”

Back inside the cage, the decisive moment arrives.

As Brazil’s Touro Feather defeated USA’s last standing bot, they were declared champions!

The decisive moment when Team Brazil defeated Team USA. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Team Captain Matheus Freitas said the victory means a lot.

“It’s such an amazing fight. We are from 4 different teams from Brazil, we designed two new robots that we put to test here. It did such a great job, and we are very excited for the results. It’s our first time here on New Zealand. I hope that we come on more times in the future.”

His family had been up early to watch him fight.

“When the live stream started, it’s 3am in Brazil and they [stayed up] just to watch and send good energies to us.”

The team brings together members from Brazil’s top robot combat teams, and Freitas said their strategy paid off.

In between fights, the Brazil team works on fixing their robots. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

“We won the first fight with Dark Khaos and then we unfortunately got some damage and then we swapped that, very strategically, and then we brought Jublieu. Jublieu did such a good damage on Synthesis 30, and then we put Touro, Touro did the rest of the job.”

The competition format means teams have very little time to fix their robots. Robot Rampage

Getting to New Zealand was a battle in itself.

Together, the Brazilians travelled with more than 180 kilograms of gear.

Team member João Marcos Cavalheiro recounted his journey.

“From Brazil to Miami, Miami to Atlanta, Atlanta to Austin, then we drove to Dallas, and Dallas to Houston, and Houston to New Zealand, six flights.”

Meanwhile, runnerup Team USA is looking on the bright side.

Team USA is fully made up of members without engineering backgrounds. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Captain Sam Hanson is proud the team is made up entirely of members with no engineering background, and encourages anyone to give robot building a go.

“One of them is a student. One is a nurse. I managed a farmer’s market. I’ve been building fighting robots since the early 2000s. All the information is on the internet. You don’t have to be an engineer. You just have to want to do it.”

Hosting the event was Robot Rampage, a venue founded by friends Jack Barker and Nick Mabey.

Jack Barker and Nick Mabey are founders of Robot Rampage. Outside of hosting events, the space also runs robot building and fighting experiences. Ke-Xin Li/RNZ

Barker said the venue has 90 seats, but there were more people standing.

“I’m really stoked with the turnout. We’ve had six shows and every single seat has been sold out.”

He said there is a special appeal to the format.

“Normally it’s a 1v1 fight, but this is a 5v5 fight format. It’s more exciting because instead of supporting one robot for one fight, you get to support your country between five to nine matches.”

Barker said it took them two years to build the venue with a bulletproof cage, and now they intend to fully utilise it.

Their next event – Kings Crown – is scheduled for May at Robot Rampage in Onehunga.

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

Why Iran is attacking Gulf energy infrastructure

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Powell, Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth

Iran targeted energy facilities across the Middle East on March 18, including the world’s largest liquefied natural gas hub in Qatar, in retaliation for Israeli strikes on an Iranian gas field hours earlier.

Iran has gone on to attack other energy facilities across the Gulf. This has included hitting a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea and setting two Kuwaiti oil refineries ablaze in an intensification of its campaign against energy infrastructure in the region.

As an expert on military strategy, I see the Iranian attacks on Gulf energy facilities as part of a broader strategic agenda the regime in Tehran has employed to try and ensure its survival.

Iran’s attacks on energy infrastructure since the start of the conflict have been accompanied with wider missile and drone strikes against US military bases and infrastructure in the region. Through these attacks, which have killed seven American service personnel so far, the regime has looked to demonstrate its capacity and capability not only to international audiences but also the Iranian population.

This includes, perhaps most importantly, those responsible for maintaining Iran’s internal security. If those tasked with this responsibility began to doubt the regime’s capacity to respond to attack, they might become less inclined to suppress rebellions and uprisings.

The ability to exercise force has long been central to maintaining the regime’s domestic political position in Iran. This has been demonstrated by the brutal repression of various protest movements over the past decade or so.

A gas processing facility near Doha in Qatar, pictured in 2005. Plamen Galabov / Shutterstock

In its attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, Iran has two main goals. The first is to hit the Gulf states economically in the hope that this will reduce their willingness to provide support to the US.

Gulf countries are heavily reliant on the export of energy for revenue. In Qatar, for example, earnings from the hydrocarbon sector accounted for 83% of total government revenues in 2023. These revenues help Gulf states maintain the low tax regime that is enjoyed by their populations.

If these revenues reduce substantially because energy cannot be processed, some of these nations may begin to question their alliances with the US. Such a scenario would reduce the ability of the US to conduct military operations in the Middle East and project its power and influence on the region.

The war is already having a significant impact on these countries. Goldman Sachs has estimated that Qatar and Kuwait could see their GDP drop by 14% if the war lasts until the end of April. Likewise, Capital Economics has suggested that GDP in the region could fall by between 10% to 15% if the conflict causes lasting damage to energy infrastructure.

Rifts do not yet appear to be emerging between the US and its Middle Eastern allies. But Tehran will be calculating that prolonged attacks – alongside continued disruption to the vital strait of Hormuz shipping lane – will add strain to relations.

Raising energy prices

Iran’s second, and wider, goal is to raise global energy prices. The Middle East is a key energy supplier globally, so disruption to supplies in this region can have an almost immediate impact on prices.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil pricing, has increased from around US$68 (£51) on February 27 to nearly US$100. This has so far largely been the result of disruption to the strait of Hormuz, which has prevented the Gulf states from supplying their energy to global markets.

But Tehran’s calculation appears to be that further efforts to reduce Gulf energy supplies will force nations worldwide, who are having to implement costly policies to reduce the impact of increased energy prices on their populations, to question the actions of the US in Iran.

In the Philippines, which is highly dependent on the Gulf oil, the government has told its agencies to cut electricity and fuel use by between 10% and 20%. Vietnam has introduced work-from-home policies for many public sector workers. And the UK government has announced a £53 million support package for people who rely on oil for central heating.

Iran’s final strategic consideration is that attacking energy facilities may help erode domestic support for Trump in the US. This could force a change in political direction. The price of petrol has already increased to an average of US$3.60 per gallon in the US – a level not seen since the opening days of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

This price increase will be passed on to consumers, creating a headache for Trump ahead of midterm elections in November. Trump’s platform of reducing the inflation seen under the Biden administration was a key part of the election campaign that successfully returned him to the White House.

Iran’s attacks on energy infrastructure are likely to continue. This is because they enable the regime in Tehran to increase the costs of the war even to those who are not directly involved, ramping up global pressure on the US to draw the conflict to a close.

– ref. Why Iran is attacking Gulf energy infrastructure – https://theconversation.com/why-iran-is-attacking-gulf-energy-infrastructure-278815

Why drawing eyes on food packaging could stop seagulls stealing your chips

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Kelley, Associate Professor, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter

The increasingly urban lifestyles of seagulls in the UK and around Europe has made them experts at grabbing food from unsuspecting outdoor diners. Herring gulls in particular are gaining a reputation for food theft in seaside towns like Falmouth in Cornwall, where I live.

On a day out at the beach last summer, I watched as one rummaged through an unattended bag and hopped off with a packet of crisps. Sadly, the gull didn’t hang around long enough for me to see whether it successfully opened the packaging.

Watching this kind of behaviour led me and my colleague Neeltje Boogert to explore new ways of deterring these resourceful birds. Our new research shows that displaying a pair of eyes on food packaging can be enough to stop some gulls from pinching your food.

This builds on our previous work which showed herring gulls approach food more slowly when someone is looking at them directly, compared with if they are looking away.

Many animals – both wild and domesticated – are very aware of eyes, which can indicate the presence of a predator or be used to communicate intent. Direct eye contact often conveys aggression, while looking away indicates a lack of threat.

Animals generally respond defensively when they see eyes staring at them. This is probably an instinctive tendency, since avoiding being eaten by a predator can be a split-second response.

Some animals may have evolved markings to exploit this behaviour. So-called eyespots are found on many insects, amphibians and fish, and they come in a variety of colour, size and pattern combinations.

Exactly how eyespots might deter predators has been hotly debated by scientists for over a century. They may increase predator wariness by being mistaken for predator eyes, or divert attacks to less important parts of the body.

Given that evolution suggests eyes are a good way of increasing animal wariness, the idea of mimicking nature by using fake eyes to deter other animals has been tried in a variety of settings.

Eyes were painted on the rears of cows in Botswana to put off predators. Communications Biology

In Botswana, livestock are at risk of being eaten by ambush predators such as lions and leopards, which causes conflict with farmers. To test whether eyespots could reduce the risk of predation, experimenters painted pairs of eyes or crosses on the rumps of cattle, or left them unmarked. This was repeated across multiple cattle herds, and any attacks on cattle were recorded.

During the study, 19 cattle were killed by lions or leopards – but none of the cattle with eyespots on their rumps were among them. They were also attacked less than either cattle with crosses or unmarked cattle, suggesting that eyespots can be an effective deterrent for a wide range of animals.

Put off by the eyes

For our study of herring gulls, we tested this idea in coastal towns in Cornwall where gulls are known to take food from people eating outside. We stuck pairs of eyes onto food takeaway boxes and presented individual gulls with a choice of two boxes placed two metres apart on the ground: one box with eyes and one plain box.

Gulls appeared to be put off by the eyes, as they were slower to approach and less likely to peck at these boxes, compared with the ones without eyes.

Food cartons with and without the fake eyes. Laura Kelley, CC BY

We also wanted to know whether gulls would, over time, figure out that the eyes on boxes were not really threatening. To test this, we presented 30 gulls with one takeaway box either with or without eyes, but did this three times for each gull over a short amount of time.

Around half the birds never pecked at the box with eyes, whereas the other half quickly approached and pecked. This suggests there could be a sustained effect from the fake eyes for some gulls that do not realise they are being tricked.

We now want to test this in a more realistic setting, by teaming up with food vendors and asking them to use takeaway boxes with eyes on. While this might only ever deter half of gulls from stealing food, perhaps when paired with other deterrents – including shouting – it can have an impact on the amount of food theft.

Eye-like markings have already been used to exclude birds from certain areas, including keeping starlings away from crops, seabirds from fishing nets and raptors from airports.

Video: SciShow Psych.

Humans respond to eyes too

It’s interesting to note that people, like gulls and many other animals, also pay attention to eyes. Images of human eyes have been found to reduce bicycle theft, reinforce honesty, and even increase charitable donations – all by creating the impression of being watched. This is probably because we are a social species, and tend to act more honestly if we feel we might be judged by an onlooker.

But as with herring gulls, the effect on human behaviour is inconsistent. Images of eyes can nudge behaviour in certain situations, but they don’t work on everyone.

Whether protecting chips, bicycles or cattle, the next step is to understand why some animals (and people) do not find eyes aversive. But already, the evidence is clear that fake eyes can offer a cheap, simple way to mitigate conflict with humans and other animals.

– ref. Why drawing eyes on food packaging could stop seagulls stealing your chips – https://theconversation.com/why-drawing-eyes-on-food-packaging-could-stop-seagulls-stealing-your-chips-278269

Return of the oil shock: lessons from a crisis New Zealand has seen before

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Basil Sharp, Professor of Energy Economics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

The world’s energy situation is growing more volatile by the day.

The US-Israel war on Iran has effectively shut one of the world’s most important oil choke points, the Strait of Hormuz, sending the price of Brent crude over US $100 a barrel for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Tit-for-tat attacks on gas fields in the region are compounding the crisis.

In New Zealand, the fallout is being directly felt with rising fuel prices, to which the government may respond with targeted support for some.

It has already warned a prolonged conflict could drive up inflation, slow economic growth and even lead to fuel restrictions.

At this stage, it says such a step is not yet needed. But a four-level contingency plan shows how quickly the government could move ahead if conditions worsen.

There has also been talk of other extraordinary interventions, available under the 45-year-old Petroleum Demand Restraint Act. Again, these are measures the government says would only be necessary if fuel supply were seriously disrupted.

Unsurprisingly, this has all focused attention on the vulnerability of New Zealand’s fuel security. In particular, there has been renewed political debate over whether the 2022 closure of Marsden Point refinery made the country less resilient.

Experts say the difference would be marginal. But for those who lived through New Zealand’s past oil shocks, the events unfolding now will come with a strong sense of déjà vu.

And with talk of reviving interventionist measures from decades ago, the question is whether the country has learned enough to respond differently this time?

Lessons from the Muldoon era

New Zealand’s response to the soaring oil prices of the 1970s, similarly driven by turmoil in the Middle East, came at a time of extensive government control of the economy and energy sector under the National government of Robert Muldoon.

The discovery of Taranaki’s Māui gas field in 1969 appeared to offer New Zealand a trump card for energy supply. But it was tied to a long-term “take-or-pay” contract, meaning taxpayers ultimately carried the cost whether the gas was used or not.

This was the beginning of the “Think Big” strategy. Large-scale projects, including gas-to-gasoline and CNG/LPG conversion, were promoted as pathways to energy security, with little room for dissent.

At the same time, the Petroleum Demand Restraint Act was used to impose restricted petrol sales and carless days, along with reduced speed limits.

Much of this intervention proved costly and ineffective. When global oil prices fell sharply in the mid-1980s, New Zealand was left with debt-funded infrastructure that no longer made economic sense.

From 1984, the economy shifted away from heavy government intervention towards a more market-based model. Nearly four decades later, there are some valuable lessons to be drawn from those interventionist responses to past oil shocks.

One is the appreciation that markets are complex systems, with many players. Interdependence exists across economies. Actions by one sovereign country, such as an oil embargo, inevitably affect others. Complexity plays out over time.

The current government’s response to the energy crisis needs to recognise that any heavy-handed decisions made now may influence the system for decades, often in ways that are difficult to predict.

Another lesson is that New Zealand is actually well positioned to let markets do what they do best: price scarcity.

When prices rise, people adjust their behaviour in response. Farmers faced with higher diesel and fertiliser costs, for example, do what they are renowned for: adapting and modifying.

With higher prices at the pump, many motorists may also prove able to adjust by using public transport, working from home or switching to electric vehicles.

Of course, the impact will be uneven and regressive. But the government directly intervening in the market with hardline measures similar to the Muldoon era should not be the answer.

A new fix, or old risks?

Lessons about the state meddling in energy markets should also apply to the government’s recently announced plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal.

The facility, likely to be based in Taranaki, is purposed to provide a back-up fuel source for electricity generation during periods of low hydro storage or weak wind. While that appears logical, the plan nonetheless warrants careful consideration.

Māui gas was a sovereign asset. By contrast, the government’s proposal would rely on imported LNG, tying New Zealand to overseas suppliers and long-term contracts that may prove inflexible and costly.

It also risks the prospect – as the present emergency in the Middle East does – of suppliers invoking “force majeure” clauses to suspend deliveries during crises.

A gas backup could also reduce incentives to invest in alternative energy sources or manage demand, while raising questions about how gas would be integrated into the electricity system and who would ultimately control its use.

While efforts to improve the reliability of electricity are welcome, past experience should make us wary of direct government involvement in commercial enterprise.

The current crisis should be treated as a strategic policy opportunity as the government reconsiders New Zealand’s energy settings to build a more resilient and sustainable system.

– ref. Return of the oil shock: lessons from a crisis New Zealand has seen before – https://theconversation.com/return-of-the-oil-shock-lessons-from-a-crisis-new-zealand-has-seen-before-278657

Foodstuff’s petrol stations continue to offer discounts despite stores running dry

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Foodstuff’s petrol stations say they will continue to offer discounts despite stores running dry and operating day to day.

Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as fuel prices rise amid fears over the Iran war and potential shortages.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said as of Sunday, New Zealand has 41.3 days worth of petrol 47 days of diesel and 49 days of Jet Fuel but they are preparing for the ‘worst case scenario’ from a prolonged conflict.

On Friday morning, some Pak ‘n’ Save and New World petrol stores had closed their stations because they were empty and awaiting delivery.

New World Levin had been waiting for more than two days. Consequently, the Gull station across the road was very busy.

Pioneer New World in Palmerston North and Pak’ N’ Save Hawera were also without supplies on Friday morning.

A Foodstuff’s spokesperson said fuel was available across New World and PAK’n SAVE sites, and there was plenty of supply.

On Friday morning, some Pak ‘n’ Save and New World petrol stores had closed their stations because they were empty and awaiting delivery. Jimmy Ellingham / RNZ

“The increased demand has meant some sites have temporarily run out ahead of scheduled deliveries.”

Foodstuff’s said there were no changes to it’s fuel discount program at this time.

“We continue to closely monitor demand and work proactively with our suppliers to maintain continuity at all sites. “

Pak ‘N’ Save Kapiti said it had been without stock but was refilled overnight.

“We’re still operating on a day-to-day basis as demand remains high and our supplier is finding it challenging to keep up.”

Overnight, petrol price app Gaspy updated to allow it to remove stores/stations from the site when they have run out of fuel.

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

Genesis says $300 million rights issue ‘strongly supported’

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Genesis chief executive Malcolm Johns. Supplied

Genesis Energy says its $300 million rights issue has been strongly supported, raising $242.7 million from eligible shareholders – including the Crown, which will maintain its 51 percent stake.

The offer opened on 23 February, giving investors one new share for every 7.9 held, and about 81 percent of eligible shareholders took up the offer.

Genesis said shareholders who exercised all their rights also applied for an extra $48.1 million in additional shares, which will be considered in Friday’s shortfall bookbuild by its underwriter, local investment bank Jarden.

Chief executive Malcolm Johns said the company was delighted with the response from its shareholders, including the Crown.

“The success of the equity raise is a strong endorsement of the Gen35 strategy from shareholders,” he said.

To complete the shortfall bookbuild, Genesis has asked the NZX and ASX to halt trading in its ordinary shares and subordinated bonds from the start of trading on Friday.

The halt will be lifted once the bookbuild results are announced, or when markets open on 24 March, whichever comes first.

The company said the halt was needed to ensure the bookbuild could be conducted fairly, without some investors having information before others.

Shareholders who did not take up their rights – along with those ineligible to participate – may receive a pro‑rata payment if the bookbuild price ends up higher than the rights‑issue price of $2.05, although this is not guaranteed.

Settlement of the new shares is expected on 24 March for ASX investors and 25 March for NZX holders, with trading beginning on 25 March.

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Woman seriously injured in stabbing in central Christchurch

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Police are investigating after a woman was found with serious injuries in Christchurch on Thursday night.

Detective Sergeant Ben Rolton, Christchurch Metro CIB said officers were called to Worcester Street, between Latimer Square and Barbadoes Street, around 10pm.

There were reports that a person had been stabbed.

The woman was taken to Christchurch Hospital by ambulance where she underwent surgery.

A scene guard was put in place overnight, and a scene examination is taking place today.

Police are making enquiries into the circumstances of the incident and working to identify who is responsible, Detective Sergeant Rolton said.

St John Ambulance told RNZ two people were taken to hospital.

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

Don’t complain too much: Finland’s advice as NZ once again ranks below top 10 happiest countries

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s the third year in a row New Zealand has ranked outside the top 10 in the World Happiness Report. 123rf.com

Finland has once again been named the happiest country in the world, a title it has now held a record nine times.

New Zealand often ranks in the top 10, but it has just dipped outside to 11th in the most recent World Happiness Report. It’s the third year in a row New Zealand has ranked outside the top 10.

It’s mostly Nordic countries ahead of New Zealand, but Israel is in 8th. Our friends across the ditch, Australia, were ranked 15th.

Finnish philosopher Frank Martela, the go-to expert on Nordic happiness, told First Up that Finnish people were relatively sceptical of the results.

Martela said rather than Finnish people being happier, there are fewer extremely unhappy people in Finland, which drives up the average.

In other words, if New Zealand wants to boost its ranking, Kiwis should complain less.

“That’s the Finnish way of doing this – not complaining too much, just minding one’s own business and being happy about it,” Martela said.

The Finns reported an average score of 7.764 to evaluate their life satisfaction.

Martela said universal healthcare, low corruption, high-quality free education, unemployment benefits and good maternity leave are some of the factors behind the score.

“Successful societies cooperate in the face of adversity,” he said. “The Finns know this. And once you have the sense that you are in this together, there’s no end to what you can do.”

New Zealand has ranked 11th in the World Happiness Report. 123rf.com

Youth crisis

The report’s writers have begun to pay attention to what they consider a crisis in youth happiness, first mentioned in the 2024 ranking.

A certain amount of Internet and social media consumption wasn’t necessarily negative, he said, saying, “There seems to be a sweet spot.”

“You don’t want to be unconnected but you don’t want to be too connected,” he said. “With the Internet, too much is a bad thing.”

The world’s top happiest countries in 2026

1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Costa Rica

5. Sweden

6. Norway

7. Netherlands

8. Israel

9. Luxembourg

10. Switzerland

11. New Zealand

You can read the report here.

– RNZ with additional reporting by CNN

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

Reserve Bank head Anna Breman will publicly speak about the Iran conflict

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Reserve Bank to increase media events after cash rate decisions
Will have online news conference after cash rate reviews, starting 8 April
Previously cash rate reviews only had written statement
Governor Anna Breman to speak about Middle East impact on economy next week

Reserve Bank governor Anna Breman has moved to deliver on her pledge to improve the central bank’s communication and transparency.

She is due to speak to business leaders next week on the RBNZ’s February monetary statement and the country’s payments system, but will now directly comment on the conflict in the Middle East.

“Due to the wider economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, this speech will now focus on the potential impacts of this evolving situation on the New Zealand economy,” the RBNZ said in a statement.

The speech will be released ahead of delivery and Breman will do a news conference and briefing for economists.

In the past, the RBNZ has entered a monetary “cone of silence” in the run-up to a meeting and decision about the official cash rate (OCR).

The next decision is due on 8 April and would normally only be a short statement and a summary of the meeting of the monetary policy committee.

But the April decision will be followed by an online news conference, which will now become standard practice.

In the past the RBNZ has only given media conferences after a quarterly monetary policy statement, along with full economic forecasts and interest rate track.

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

Inmate dies at Christchurch Men’s Prison

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Christchurch Men’s Prison. Luke McPake / The Wireless

An investigation is underway into the death of an inmate at Christchurch Men’s Prison.

Corrections says staff and paramedics tried to revive the man, who died in the health unit early on Thursday morning.

Other inmates and staff are being provided support.

Corrections says all deaths in prison are subject to an internal incident review, an investigation by the independent Corrections Inspectorate and are also referred to the coroner.

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

Fog disrupts flights at Wellington airport

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some Sounds Air flights had been cancelled due to fog. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

MetService says low cloud disrupting flights in the capital is already starting to lift.

Wellington airport said 12 flights had been cancelled and a further 10 delayed on Friday morning.

An airport spokesperson said the weather was expected to improve.

“We advise passengers to check directly with their airlines for details on their flights.”

MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley said the fog hanging about was already beginning to shift.

“We’re not expecting it to stick around for much longer.”

The airport’s online departure board showed some Sounds Air and Air New Zealand flights had either been cancelled or delayed indefinitely since 6.45am on Friday.

Sounds Air owner Andrew Crawford said planes can’t land in the fog, so they’d be waiting for it to clear.

The fog hasn’t affected Jetstar flights. Air New Zealand has been approached for comment.

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

Pumping wastewater into Kawarau River only option, Queenstown mayor says

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Kawarau River. 123rf

Queenstown’s mayor says pumping treated wastewater into the “pristine” Kawarau River is the council’s only realistic option.

Queenstown Lakes District councillors agreed on Thursday to lodge a 35-year resource consent application for discharge from the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant, while staff keep looking for alternative solutions to the region’s wastewater woes.

It comes after emergency discharges from the treatment plant to the Shotover River.

The discharges sparked community backlash and ultimately saw the Environment Court order the council to come up with a long-term solution by the end of May.

The mayor John Glover told Morning Report it was a difficult decision that would see treated wastewater pumped into the Kawarau rather than the Shotover River.

“I don’t think anybody recognises that what we’re moving forward with is what we want to do. I mean, it’s the case of there are no – at the moment – no realistic other options.”

Under the $77.5 million plan – recommended by staff and supported by most councillors – advanced filters would be installed at the treatment plant, and a 1.4km pipeline built to carry the treated wastewater to a rock outfall structure on the Kawarau River.

The decided-upon plan was strongly opposed by Ngāi Tahu, with iwi representatives stating the direct discharge of human waste to nature water was “abhorrent”.

Glover said council staff were also directed to investigate land-based solutions as most people understood – particularly Wellingtonians after the catastrophic failure at Moa Point – that discharging to waterways carried risk.

“So in the long-term, if we’re able to discharge to land, that’s obviously going to be the preferred solution. It certainly aligns with the preferred option for mana whenua.

“In a district where land is very expensive … it’s a challenge. But I think we owe it to future generations to do more and look at other options.”

He conceded that such a solution wouldn’t happen time soon.

In response to criticism that the council had failed over successive years to address wastewater issues, Glover said the current situation was the culmination of investment decisions, management of plants, and unknown technology.

“What has happened has happened. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that around New Zealand and elsewhere in the world, the primary route to deal with our discharge, with our treated wastewater is to pump it into the sea or pump it into a river.”

He said the environmental impacts would be assessed through the consent process.

“Because of the pristine environment of the river that the council are looking to discharge into there will be a consenting process, those environmental impacts will be tested.”

He said the Local Government Act means the impact on local mana whenua would also be taken into account.

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

What does One Nation actually believe in?

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kurt Sengul, Research fellow, Far-Right Communication, Macquarie University

One Nation’s unprecedented surge in the polls raises important questions about whether a party built on grievance can present coherent policies to voters.

While a Pauline Hanson-led federal government remains highly unlikely, One Nation now sees itself as a viable alternative government.

So what does One Nation stand for? How would the party change the country, if given the chance?

Strong views, light on detail

Since launching in 1997, One Nation has been a party driven by grievance, defined more by what it opposes than by a comprehensive vision for the nation.

As with many far-right populist parties, One Nation has been accused of offering simple solutions to complex economic, social and cultural challenges.

The party has typically relied on its supporters prioritising the party’s values and principles over a developed policy platform. The party believes its key strength is that Australians know where Pauline Hanson stands on the issues that matter to them, such as immigration.

In contrast to what One Nation sees as out-of-touch political elites and unelected “woke” bureaucrats, the party prides itself on a “common sense” approach to policymaking that recognises the needs of “ordinary Australians”.

However, if the party continues to ride high in the polls, it will face mounting pressure from voters, journalists and competing parties to do something it has long avoided – produce detailed policies to address Australia’s complex challenges.

New National Party leader Matt Canavan – whose party faces its greatest threat from One Nation – has accused Hanson of leading a party without substance:

Pauline [Hanson] has been in politics for more than double the time I’ve been, and I struggle to point to a single dam, single road, single hospital, that Pauline has delivered in Australia.

As we move closer to the next federal election, these lines of attack are likely to intensify.

Immigration

When assessing One Nation’s policy positions, immigration is the logical starting point. It is the party’s foundational issue, and frames its responses to many of the major challenges facing Australia, from cost of living pressures and housing affordability, to national security and social cohesion.

Like most far-right parties, One Nation argues most of Australia’s problems can be explained by excessive immigration.

One Nation’s current immigration policy calls for capping visas at 130,000 per year, a reduction of more than 570,000 people from current levels, which it argues would “ease pressure on housing, wages, and infrastructure”. (This is despite experts highlighting serious flaws in the policy).

In addition to cutting net migration, the party has proposed an eight-year waiting period for citizenship and welfare, deporting 75,000 “illegal migrants”, withdrawing from the United Nations Refugee Convention, and “refusing entry to migrants from nations known to foster extremist ideologies that are incompatible with Australian values and way of life”.

Hanson has consistently called for a “Trump-style immigration ban” since 2017, which overwhelmingly targets Muslim-majority countries.

The Economy and Cost of Living

Economic policy is arguably where One Nation is weakest. The party has faced accusations of flip-flops and about-faces on economic policy issues in the past. Even Hanson concedes the party needs to strengthen its economic pitch.

One Nation’s solution to Australia’s housing affordability and rental crises is to reduce housing demand by cutting immigration. At the same time, it wants to increase supply by banning foreign investment. The party has also proposed allowing Australians to use their superannuation to purchase a home.

Last year, Hanson announced the party planned to slash $90 billion in government spending. One Nation plans to do this through a range of cuts, including abolishing agencies such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It also wants to cut funding for arts and multicultural programs, as well as foreign aid, and withdraw from the UN and World Health Organization. It claims these moves will generate billions in savings.

One Nation has proposed levying royalties on gas producers, introducing income splitting for families to reduce their tax burden. It has also indicated support for flat income taxes.

To address immediate cost of living pressures, the party proposes cutting the fuel excise by 50% for three years, and immediately slashing electricity bills by 20%. However, as with most of One Nation’s policy proposals, there is no detail on how this would be achieved or what it would cost.

First Nations, climate change, education and health

Arguably, the party’s most consistent policy positions have been in areas affecting First Nations people. Hanson and One Nation have persistently opposed agencies and measures aimed at addressing the systematic inequalities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These include native title, the Voice to Parliament, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ASTIC) and the NIAA.

They are staunch critics of Australia’s climate change policies and renewable energy transition. The party has called for Australia to withdraw from the UN Paris Agreement, reverse its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, build more coal fired power stations and embrace nuclear energy. It has repeatedly challenged the scientific evidence supporting human-induced climate change, boasting that One Nation “are the only political party to question climate science”.

One Nation is especially light on education and health policy. On education, the party is primarily concerned with ending what it calls “Western, white, gender, guilt shaming” and the “indoctrination of students” classrooms.

Key proposals on health include reducing the gestational limit for abortions, reviewing access to COVID-era medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and bolstering regional medical services by paying HECS-HELP loans of new doctors in full in exchange for working in regional communities. One Nation are opposed to vaccine mandates and are still pushing for a Royal Commission into the management of the pandemic by state and federal governments.

From grievance to governance

If One Nation wants to position itself as a serious force, a key challenge will be putting together coherent and substantive suite of policy proposals to take to voters. This is critical to shifting from a minor party of grievance to a mainstream political party and, as some have speculated, becoming the party of opposition across state and federal parliaments.

Should it manage to translate its polling spike into seats, One Nation will have an unprecedented opportunity to shape the state and national legislative agenda.

However, without policy details, One Nation risks falling foul of its supporters with on-the-fly decisions, as right-wing populist party Reform UK has recently experienced.

– ref. What does One Nation actually believe in? – https://theconversation.com/what-does-one-nation-actually-believe-in-278406

Indigenous Australians always come off worst in disasters. This needs to stop

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhiamie Williamson, Research Fellow in Disaster Resilience, Monash University

Indigenous communities are often the worst hit when major disasters strike. The recent floods across the Northern Territory are a case in point.

Last week, residents in the regional centre of Katherine were either evacuated or sought shelter at relief centres after the worst flooding in 28 years. Meanwhile, the remote Indigenous communities of Wugularr, Jilkminggan, Daly River and Palumpa were evacuated to Darwin. But the support provided to Indigenous communities appears to be different to that available to non-Indigenous residents.

The Northern Land Council has described how remote communities were left behind in the disaster response. And the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has criticised the federal and NT governments for providing unequal support to Aboriginal people affected by the floods.

Today is Close the Gap day, a way for Indigenous Australians to remind governments of the commitments they’ve made to address racism and improve living standards. This must include addressing the inequitable treatment of Indigenous communities in times of disaster.

A widening gap

Tragically, many Indigenous peoples have come to expect discriminatory government responses in the wake of natural disasters. This reality is now widely recognised, with research spotlighting authorities’ inappropriate planning and unsuitable interventions during crises.

Indigenous peoples are over-represented in disaster-prone regions and towns. On average, nearly 15% of residents in impacted local government areas are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is despite the fact Indigenous peoples make up just 3.8% of the Australian population.

Indigenous population by disaster declared LGAs — Indigenous Australians are disproportionately affected by natural disasters. National Indigenous Disaster Resilience

The reality of racism means Indigenous communities are often left out, or even left behind, in emergency response. The failed evacuation of Borroloola in 2024, where Indigenous residents were told to go to the local airport to be evacuated only for the plane to not come, is just one example.

This is why the National Agreement on Closing the Gap has a specific clause, Clause 64, which requires local, state and federal governments to engage with Indigenous communities before, during and after disasters.

In our recent analysis, we examined whether governments are on track to meet those commitments. Specifically, we compared the commitments governments made with the practical actions they took.

Worryingly, our findings suggest all Australian governments are failing to close the gap in emergency preparedness. Worse still, there is almost no evidence emergency management agencies are actively working to meet their commitments outlined in the National Agreement.

As Australia braces for more extreme, climate-driven disasters, this gap in emergency support will only get bigger.

Money matters

Recovering from a disaster can be very expensive. And we are failing to support the financial needs of Indigenous communities impacted by major disasters.

We found the structure of most emergency relief payments means Indigenous people usually receive less financial support than non-Indigenous people. Currently, infants and children receive lower payments than adults. Given one in three Indigenous people are younger than 15 years old, this puts the broader Indigenous population at an economic disadvantage, right when they need the most support.

We also analysed how the Australian government distributed its largest disaster management program, the Disaster Ready Fund. This fund was created after the Bushfire Royal Commission in recognition that Australia must put more resources into disaster preparedness. This is because investing in communities before disasters strike reduces recovery costs.

However, out of the nearly A$800 million pledged to strengthen the nation’s disaster resilience, only A$22 million went to Indigenous organisations. That represents only 2.2% of the total fund. And our analysis reveals no Indigenous organisations in any of the regions impacted by the most recent northern Australian floods received funding through the Disaster Ready Fund.

So, where to from here?

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has already given governments a framework to better support disaster-prone Indigenous communities.

But to hold them to account, Indigenous researchers, organisations and policy leaders have authored the first Indigenous-led review of the National Agreement. This review argues that when governments work collaboratively with Indigenous communities during disasters and pandemics, they achieve positive results.

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience’s evacuation guide for Indigenous communities also provides advice to support Indigenous communities during major emergencies.

When governments work respectfully and collaboratively with Indigenous communities positive change can, and often does, follow. So what does this look like in practice? Here are three suggestions.

building formal partnerships with Indigenous organisations and actively involving them in decision-making processes
committing $20 million of the Disaster Ready Fund each year to Indigenous organisations to strengthen resilience in remote communities
requiring all emergency management agencies to report progress towards Clause 64 of the National Agreement to Close the Gap.

As Australians, we know all too well how destructive major disasters can be. And it is clear they have distinct and significant impacts on Indigenous communities. So it’s time the government prioritises their safety, before the next disaster hits.

– ref. Indigenous Australians always come off worst in disasters. This needs to stop – https://theconversation.com/indigenous-australians-always-come-off-worst-in-disasters-this-needs-to-stop-278071

Some kids stop swimming lessons too early. How well can your child actually swim?

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Graefe, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University

As the weather starts to cool down and outdoor pools shut, are you thinking of pressing pause on your child’s swimming lessons, or even stopping altogether?

If your child has reached a certain level, has stopped making progress or is no longer enjoying their swimming lessons, you may also be considering pulling the pin.

But just because a child can float – or can even reliably swim some freestyle – they may not yet be water safe.

Many children stop lessons around age 8

National data indicates many children stop swimming lessons around the age of eight.

Common reasons for this include parents assuming adequate competency, conflicting schedules (such as other sport activities), children’s lack of enjoyment/engagement, and financial challenges.

This is an issue. At the same time, Australia is seeing a decline in children’s swimming ability. Recent research suggests many cannot swim 50 metres continuously in a swimming pool – the national expectation of children aged 12.

We also know more broadly that families say they struggle to find the time, transport and money to invest in swimming lessons.

Parents can misjudge childrens’ ability

Studies overseas and in Australia show parents and carers can misjudge how far their children can swim in a pool and their level of water safety knowledge.

For example, our 2026 study showed when parents reported their 10–12-year-old child as an “okay” swimmer, 65% of these children could not swim 50m in a pool. Likewise, 38% of parent-reported “good” swimmers and 21% of “excellent” swimmers could also not swim this distance.

This becomes even more dangerous if applied to a beach, lake or river, which are much more variable and challenging swimming environments.

Most children in Australia learn to swim in a pool. There is a risk of assuming that because they are confident and experienced in a pool, they have the skills and knowledge to stay safe in open water with waves, colder water, tides, rips and other obstacles such as rocks.

Things are confusing

To add to the confusion, the content of swimming programs differs between providers. Similarly, the progress children need to make before moving to the next level in their swimming program also differs between providers.

It’s not mandatory for swimming programs to align with the national benchmarks for swimming and water safety, developed by Royal Life Saving Society Australia.

This makes it difficult for parents/carers to know how their child’s ability aligns with the national expectations of their age group. Without clear guidance, it’s understandable that parents may assume their child can swim in open water if, for example, they’re at the top level in their swimming class.

What do we need?

Ultimately, we need to encourage broader understanding and use of the national benchmarks so all people in Australia know what it means to “know how to swim”.

For all 12-year-olds, this includes being able to swim 50m continuously without stopping or touching the bottom, and being able to float for two minutes. It also includes rescue and survival activities and demonstrating water safety knowledge for a range of environments.

The expectation for those aged 17-plus is that they should be able to swim 400m continuously and float for five minutes.

Specifically we need:

swimming programs to show how they align with national benchmarks including clear communication of expectations for parents/carers
swim programs to provide opportunities to swim at beaches, rivers and lakes. This might mean linking pools with lifesaving clubs
to improve access to these programs for families that struggle with costs and transport. All children should have adequate opportunities to learn how to be safe in the water.

– ref. Some kids stop swimming lessons too early. How well can your child actually swim? – https://theconversation.com/some-kids-stop-swimming-lessons-too-early-how-well-can-your-child-actually-swim-278665

Fines alone won’t stop big tech behaving badly. Here’s what might work

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren C. Hall, PhD Candidate in Psychology, University of Tasmania

As countries around the world look to follow Australia’s lead and implement a social media ban for kids, many are also considering fines as an enforcement mechanism.

This is part of the playbook when it comes to regulating big tech. For example, last month the United Kingdom’s data watchdog fined Reddit £14 million (A$26 million) for unlawfully using children’s data.

In April 2025, the European Commission fined Apple and Meta €500 million (A$820 million) and €200 million (A$329 million) respectively for breaching the Digital Markets Act. And in September, the commission fined Google nearly €3 billion (A$4.9 billion) for abusive practices in online advertising technology.

But fines don’t always work to encourage companies to follow the law. For some companies, “illegal with a fine” is interpreted as “legal for a price”. So what are some other, more effective methods to encourage good corporate behaviour?

Fines can backfire

If fines are not consistent, immediate, and severe, they can backfire. If they do, bad behaviour may increase.

For example, a 2000 study examined the effect of childcare centres in Israel introducing fines for parents who regularly picked their children up late. But instead, these fines actually increased late pick-ups by parents.

Even after fines were stopped, the number of late pick-ups stayed higher than before.

Why? Because when there were fines, they were small (not severe), and parents could wait a month to pay (not immediate). However, parents got the immediate benefit of longer childcare.

Similarly, technology companies may decide a fine is cheaper than the costs to make changes, or any loss in money from fewer users and ad sales. And this could lead to them continuing with business-as-usual.

Corporate fines often fail because it may be unclear who in the company is directly responsible. Fines can also sometimes be too small to stop bad behaviour by large companies.

For these reasons, corporate re-offending is frequent, even if companies have been fined in the past.

A fine equals forgiveness

After introducing fines, behaviours previously considered socially or morally unacceptable may also be seen as “forgiven” by payment. This can increase bad behaviour.

The importance of unwanted behaviours may also be judged by the size of the fine.

If fines are seen as “small”, violations may also be seen as small, and bad behaviours may rise. Corporations may also see “small” fines as just a cost-of-doing-business.

Importantly, fine size is closely linked to a company’s financial size. For a small company, a fine could seem huge. The same sized fine may seem tiny to a large company. If similarly sized fines are given to companies making different revenue amounts, the companies may respond differently.

Changing company practices can also cost more for some companies than others. This too may affect how they respond to fines.

Furthermore, companies outside a legislative jurisdiction, or that have refused regulators’ demands in the past, may ignore fines altogether.

For example, 4Chan refused to pay fines issued under the UK’s Online Safety Act, and X decided to legally challenge instead of pay a €120 million (A$197 million) fine issued by the European Commission.

Given the borderless nature of some digital harms such as child sexual exploitation and abuse, coordinated changes to corporate laws, and international cooperation are needed.

Pulling multiple levers at once

So if fines alone don’t stop big tech and other businesses behaving badly, what will?

Research shows monitoring companies, and better resourcing regulators, are more effective than fines alone. Consistent regulator inspections combined with education also work well.

A 2025 paper suggests making “stand-alone consumer tech safety research centres” focused on reducing digital harms. This may require technology companies making data and algorithms available to these centres for inspection.

Then, regulators can look at if companies are using important and best practice safety features. For example, checking the images on sites to make sure users do not see harmful content online.

Regulators can also share knowledge with companies about laws and digital safety measures to improve consumer protections.

This cooperative model has been shown to be more effective than fines alone.

A 2016 study about what works when it comes to corporate deterrence found using multiple levers at the same time, such as monitoring, accountability, auditing, and punitive action were the most effective at stopping bad corporate behaviour.

Unfortunately, understanding the scope of digital harms, and best responses, have been limited by not enough resources, or access to data.

A 2025 paper highlights that increased data transparency from corporations will also improve evidence-informed decisions, ensuring regulation is fit-for-purpose.

As companies continue to prioritise rapid rollouts, with problems found after launch, fines may continue to be ineffective.

To tackle this problem, online regulators must ensure fines are complemented with other policy levers – and that the punishment for bad corporate behaviour is consistent, immediate and severe.

– ref. Fines alone won’t stop big tech behaving badly. Here’s what might work – https://theconversation.com/fines-alone-wont-stop-big-tech-behaving-badly-heres-what-might-work-276969

Government looking at ways to assist families with increasing costs due to Middle East conflict

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis face questions on the fuel crisis. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

With the cost of fuel and other essentials rising due to the conflict in the Middle East, the government is looking at ways to ease the cost pressure for those feeling it the most.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Morning Report the price increases are extremely tough and affecting all New Zealanders, but said some are feeling it more than others.

“I can’t solve the pain for everyone. The cost of doing that would potentially involve levels of spending that would drive inflation higher, and certainly would put us in a more fragile position in terms of debt.

“So what we are looking at, is there something very targeted and temporary that we could do to assist those workers in particular who are most acutely impacted by these household budget squeezes?”

Willis said she doesn’t want to see a situation where people can’t drive to work, and has instructed the IRD and Treasury to come up with a package that could be implemented with urgency ahead of the Budget, but Cabinet will ultimately decide on timing.

Willis wouldn’t say what the income thresholds would be, but said the package would take into account household income and number of children.

“We’re also looking at forecasts at the moment and putting together a budget, all of which involves questions that we have to address on the way through. But I do want to stick to our fiscal strategy,” Willis said.

Fuel supply disruption

Willis also discussed rising fuel prices, and said the message remains the same, “this is not the time to panic, we’ve got plenty of fuel in the country and on its way.”

On Thursday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged a “big shift” in the government’s messaging around the war in the Middle East, warning New Zealanders the fuel situation could get worse before it gets better.

Willis said the government was preparing for scenarios where supply from Singapore and South Korea, where New Zealand gets petrol, diesel, jet fuel from, could be disrupted.

“We know that they are having challenges getting crude oil out of the Middle East and so are either reducing the amount of products they’re refining or, in South Korea’s case, looking to prioritise domestic customers.

“So what we’re anticipating is there could be a point down the line where that makes it harder for our fuel importers to get the refined products they need out of Asia.”

Willis also defended the government’s LNG plans, despite the attacks on Iran’s South Pars gas field and [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/590133/oil-prices-surge-stocks-sink-on-energy-shock-fears Qatar’s Ras Laffan.

Willis said the focus was still for New Zealand’s energy to be “largely renewable”, but having LNG as a back up remained the government’s strategy.

Not our conflict

Willis said the fighting in the Middle East was “not our conflict”, and reiterated calls for a humanitarian end.

“What we want to see is that the rules of international engagement are upheld, which involves not targeting civilians and protecting human life.

“We are not involved, we haven’t been asked for authorisation, we haven’t been asked for support, we haven’t been asked for assistance.

“Our opinion has not been relevant to the events that are unfolding in that region of the world.”

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

Iran war hits Kiwi wallets hard, as economist warns of another recession

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nick Monro

Higher fuel costs mean higher transport costs, and that means higher prices across the board – and that’s a hard pill to swallow for Kiwis three years into a cost-of-living crisis.

Kiwis are already feeling the expensive ripple effects of the war in Iran – and economists are warning that the real impact is only just beginning.

What started as a distant geopolitical conflict has quickly landed squarely on our country’s economy, driving up fuel costs, squeezing household budgets, and threatening to slow growth.

If it continues, New Zealand could be staring down the barrel of another recession.

“So this sort of shock, if it gets worse, will definitely increase the risk of a recession here,” Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr tells The Detail.

“And we have only just gotten out of recession, so to fall back in would be horrendous for households and businesses.”

At the centre of the crisis is oil.

Global prices have surged past US$100 a barrel as fighting disrupts supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for about 20 percent of the world’s oil.

And for New Zealand, which imports almost all of its fuel, the effect has been immediate.

Petrol prices are already climbing rapidly, with forecasts that they could push toward $4 a litre – or higher – if the conflict escalates.

And when fuel costs rise, everything that relies on transport follows – from groceries to clothing to construction materials.

“The direct impact that we are seeing right now is the rise in petrol prices, and that affects, I would say, every household, particularly those on lower incomes who are forced to drive to work,” Kerr says.

“It is just another cost that they have to wear. And they have been in a cost-of-living crisis for the past three years.”

He warns that the conflict could push inflation higher while slowing growth, with Kiwi households already tightening spending, cutting discretionary purchases, and reducing travel and fuel use. Delaying big buys and trading down to cheaper brands are likely on the horizon.

“Yes, we are going to see a spike in inflation, but what I don’t agree with is the commentary that that automatically leads to a rate hike. I disagree.

“That is only going to put greater pressure on a household that is already under pressure. That would be the exact thing not to do … for me, the bigger risk is that households get hurt, the economy doesn’t recover, and the central bank may be needed to come in and provide support.”

He said economists entered the year “quite optimistic, because we had been banging the table for a long time, because the Reserve Bank had not cut interest rates to a level that was actually stimulatory and helpful for the recovery.

“They finally got there in November last year, took them far too long to get there, but they got there. We came into this year saying, ‘this is it, we are going to recover, the settings are about right, let’s go, c’mon let’s get some growth happening’, and mid-way through that sentence, we were cut off with missile strikes in Iran.

“It’s just another international shock that we have to deal with, and it’s just another headwind that all households and businesses have to face into.

“It’s hard for households to pay the food bill and power bill, which is up 35 percent on the year, petrol prices, which will be up a similar sort of amount, it is very, very difficult.

“We need to see policymakers stepping in to help, not hinder. So calls for rate hikes from the RBNZ [Reserve Bank] are tone deaf.”

On this episode, The Detail also speaks to Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young, who says retailers and consumers throughout the country are feeling the fallout of the war.

She says prices for goods and services will increase and “we will see that relatively soon”.

“We are seeing increases in insurance … increases in the fuel to get the ships to New Zealand,” she says. “Those additional costs are being passed on to the retailers and, at some point, those costs will be passed on to consumers.”

She says, right now, it’s “a really uncertain time for everyone”.

“Ultimately, uncertainty is not good for business. And I think that’s the thing we have to remember, and right now everyone is in a state of flux and uncertainty.

“And for any business owner, whether you are a retailer or other business, it’s going to have an impact on your sense of how you are going to move forward, and therefore it will have an impact on your profitability and ability to spend money in other areas.”

She fears some businesses might not survive the war.

“It will be difficult for people, and we will see some people who are perhaps a bit more pessimistic about what the future holds and may decide to close the store, and there will be others who will try to hang in there.”

She says recovery will depend on how long the conflict lasts.

Economists say a short conflict will see a sharp but temporary spike in prices, while a prolonged war will mean sustained inflation, weaker growth, and reduced spending.

And an escalation? Enter the risk of recession.

For now, the message from economists is simple: New Zealand may be far from the conflict, but it is not insulated from its consequences, because a war a world away involving oil doesn’t stay overseas for long.

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

What is Flumist, the new flu vaccine for kids that’s sprayed in their noses?

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University

Many kids are scared of getting needles, and this can stop them getting vaccinations that protect that against the flu. Less than one in four Australian children were vaccinated against influenza in 2025.

This winter, Australian families have another option. A nasal flu vaccine called FluMist will be available for the first time for children aged 2–17 years.

FluMist is a needle-free alternative to the existing influenza vaccines. Nasal flu vaccines are widely used in the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada and the United States.

Recent studies in which both injectable and nasal flu vaccines are available suggest parents prefer a nasal vaccine, particularly when they’re hesitant about vaccination. As such, the nasal option could increase vaccination coverage in Australia and reduce the spread of flu, not only in children but potentially in the wider community.

FluMist will be free in some states and territories for certain age groups. It will also be available for a fee at selected pharmacies and immunisation providers.

Here’s what you need to know about how FluMist works, how effective it is, and whether your child is eligible.

What’s different about this vaccine?

Current vaccines used in Australia are all injected. They contain specific components of the influenza virus that are not capable of replicating.

FluMist is different. It contains a weakened “live” form of the flu strain. These types of vaccines are known as live attenuated vaccines. Other examples include MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), chickenpox and rotavirus vaccines.

With FluMist, six of the eight genetic segments in influenza virus are altered so they cannot replicate efficiently at normal body temperature. This means the virus only replicates in the nose (which is at a lower temperature), rather than deeper inside the body.

How do nasal sprays work? Are they more effective?

To give FluMist, a health professional sprays one dose of 0.1ml of the vaccine in each nostril. It is simple, painless and very well tolerated by children, even the very young.

Unlike injected vaccines, nasal vaccines trigger protective immune responses where influenza viruses enter the body – on the surface of the upper respiratory tract (the mucosa) including the nose and throat. So in theory, nasal sprays should work better than injections.

Early studies in the late 1990s suggested the vaccine provided very good protection against influenza in children – and might even provide some protection against influenza strains not contained in the vaccine.

However, in practice, data from subsequent studies suggests the live vaccine probably provides similar protection to the current injectable vaccines.

In the US, there was also an issue in the mid-2010s where the live attenuated vaccine (given as a nasal spray) was not as effective as the injected vaccines. This led to the recommendation for its use being withdrawn from 2016 until 2018.

As a result, changes were made to the process of selecting vaccine strains.

Data from more recent seasons shows nasal spray vaccines are now just as effective as injected vaccines. Both reduce influenza infection by 40–60%.

How safe is the nasal flu vaccine?

The vaccine is safe, with mostly similar side effects to the injected influenza vaccine.

The nasal flu vaccine has been used in the US since 2003, Canada since 2010, and Europe since 2011. The UK has had a national childhood program using the nasal vaccine since 2013.

A proportion of people may have side effects, but these are mild and transient. Over half of children will have a blocked or runny nose, and around one in ten have a fever or headache.

Those who are severely immunosuppressed (have a weakened immune system) or regularly take aspirin should not use FluMist.

If your child is mildly immunosuppressed, has severe asthma or another lung disease, speak to your GP or specialist about the vaccine. Adolescents who are pregnant should also seek medical advice.

What are the potential benefits?

The main benefit of a nasal vaccine is improving coverage in an age group where fear of needles stop children getting vaccinated and in settings where needles are a logistical hurdle.

The UK introduced a school-based vaccine program in 2013. This had an immediate impact on vaccine coverage, which had been very low before 2013. Now, around half of children there receive an annual influenza vaccine.

We know vaccinated children are less likely to fall sick and to take time off school. And evidence also suggests vaccinating this age group can reduce transmission of influenza in the community, thereby protecting others.

In the UK, studies suggest the introduction of influenza vaccines for school-aged children reduced GP presentations with influenza in all age groups.

Reducing influenza community transmission is expected to result in fewer influenza cases, lower health-care costs, and reduced pressure on hospital and health providers.

So, who can get the nasal flu vaccine?

In 2026, FluMist will be one of several influenza vaccines available in Australia. But funding arrangements vary across states and territories, affecting who is eligible for a free vaccine. Others will need to pay around $50–70.

From early April, the nasal vaccine will be available in:

New South Wales and South Australia as state-funded programs (free) for children aged 2–4 (inclusive) and available on the private market (for around $50–70) for 5–17-year-olds
Queensland as a state-funded program for 2–5-year-olds and privately for those aged 6–17 years
Western Australia as a state-funded program for 2–11-year-olds (inclusive), and on the private market for those aged 12–17 years
the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria on the private market for 2–17 year olds.

The nasal vaccine is currently only registered in Australia for children.

– ref. What is Flumist, the new flu vaccine for kids that’s sprayed in their noses? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-flumist-the-new-flu-vaccine-for-kids-thats-sprayed-in-their-noses-273111

How does your super balance compare to other people your age?

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Peng, Lecturer in Accounting, The University of Queensland

If you have ever checked your super balance and wondered whether you are “behind” for your age, you aren’t alone.

To see where you truly sit, you should ignore “averages”, which can be skewed by a small number of very large balances. Instead, we look at the median, which is the middle value. Half of people have more than this amount, and half have less.

Some of us use our balance as a scorecard for how well we are doing at life. But super balances are rarely about how “good” you are with money. They are just a mirror of your working life. They reflect whether you worked full-time, took career breaks, or moved between jobs.

CC BY-NC

It’s easy to put off thinking about superannuation when retirement is years away. In this five-part series, we ask top experts to explain how to sort your super in a few simple steps, avoid greenwashing, and set goals for retirement.

When the super gender gap widens

You’ll notice in this table that the gap between men and women is small in their 20s but grows significantly from their 30s.

This is not a coincidence. Australia’s super system was built in the 1990s around the idea of an uninterrupted, full-time career over 40 years. In reality, many women reduce working hours or take parental leave during their careers. This slows their super contributions at exactly the point where long-term growth matters most.

In the super world, a dollar contributed at age 25 is worth far more than a dollar contributed at age 50, because it has more time to grow. Missing those mid-career years does not just mean contributing less. It means losing decades of compounding that cannot easily be replaced later.

Retirement savings are individual, but family decisions are shared

Australia’s super system treats us all as individuals. But most households make financial decisions together.

A couple might jointly decide that one parent will step back from paid work to care for children. Yet the retirement savings impact falls entirely on one person’s account.

The gender gap when people near retirement is clear in the data. Men aged 60 to 64 have a median super balance of $219,773, while women have $163,218.

Moreover, in that age bracket, 23% of women have no super at all, compared with 13% of men.

One way to manage this gender gap in retirement savings is through contribution splitting. This allows some concessional contributions made by the working partner to be transferred into the other partner’s super account. It can help both people maintain retirement savings, even if only one is currently earning an income.

Why playing it safe can be risky

Your super is invested across a mix of asset classes, such as cash, bonds, property and shares, to help it grow.

Most Australians are in a “balanced” option in the MySuper product, which is the default option if you don’t make an investment choice. This mixes higher growth assets like shares with more stable assets such as cash or bonds.

Cash and bonds tend to offer steadier returns in the short term but lower expected growth over longer time frames. Shares are more volatile from year to year but have historically delivered higher long-term returns.

If you are young, playing “safe” can actually be a risk.

With 30 years or more until retirement, a conservative option might protect you from a small dip today, but it stops you from getting the growth you need to live comfortably later. For a 25-year-old, the “roller coaster” of the stock market can turn out to be their best friend in the long run.

The default MySuper option is invested in a range of different assets. Leeloo/Pexels

Consistency matters

The most powerful tool in your super is compounding. This is just a fancy way of saying you earn money on your money.

Small, regular contributions made early in your career can have a much larger impact than larger contributions made later in life. Adding an extra $20 a week in your 20s may ultimately do more for your retirement balance than adding $100 a week in your 50s, because the earlier contribution has far longer to grow.

One simple move: The 1% rule

You don’t need a complicated plan to boost your super. A great strategy is to “tax yourself” whenever you get a pay rise.

If you get a 3% raise, consider putting 1% into your super. You can do this either through voluntary contribution, or by asking your employer to increase your super contributions through a salary sacrifice arrangement.

The latter option may be an easier way to save for some people, as the extra contribution is automatic – set and forget.

Because this contribution comes from pre-tax income, you won’t feel the difference in your take-home pay, but because that money goes in before you see it, your “snowball” starts growing much faster without you having to change your lifestyle.

Your super balance is shaped as much by timing and life choices as by income. You cannot control every career break or life decision. But you can control whether small amounts go in early and consistently. The sooner your money starts working, the less you will have to.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not intended as financial advice.

– ref. How does your super balance compare to other people your age? – https://theconversation.com/how-does-your-super-balance-compare-to-other-people-your-age-276370

Shifting more healthcare to the private sector calls for a clear government plan – where is it?

By The Conversation -

March 20, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robin Gauld, Executive Dean, Bond Business School, Bond University

Access to public elective services such as hip replacements or cataract surgery has long been inadequate in New Zealand, with extended wait times and exclusion of those not assessed as high priority despite genuine clinical need.

Workforce shortages are adding pressure, and those unable to afford private treatment are increasingly experiencing unmet need, with wide-ranging impacts.

Current government policy intended to reduce public waiting lists by increasing provision through private services has therefore focused attention on the role of the private sector in the healthcare system.

Most recently, a report by the Westpac bank has detailed the growth of the private sector in health and government support for the trend. It positions private funding and provision of services as increasingly valuable, solving healthcare challenges and creating investor opportunities.

The latter may be true. Westpac recommends a public-private partnership model, with the private sector investing in infrastructure (hospitals and clinics), IT systems and digital services.

But if public-private partnerships are to be supported, some fundamental questions need addressing first.

Role of the private sector

In capitalist economies such as New Zealand, there will generally always be a role for the private sector in healthcare.

New Zealand has long had a mixed delivery model, with general practitioners (GPs) largely private and subsidised by government, and parallel public and private hospitals. GPs are the gatekeepers; specialist appointments require their referral.

Many specialists work in both public and private systems and GPs refer to either, with private options depending on the patient’s ability to pay. More than a third of New Zealanders hold voluntary private health insurance; others use their savings.

Emergencies and intensive care are dealt with by public hospitals only. The system is complex and can be difficult to navigate.

Many countries operate a public-private mix and partnerships. Each is different. Australia, for example, has what some consider the world’s best health system.

The mandatory tax-funded Medicare public insurance programme provides support for public and private services. There are also private insurance tax incentives for the better off.

However, Australia performs less well on equitable access to care, and a large for-profit private hospital group failed in 2025, requiring the public sector to step in.

Australia also has a reasonably self-contained private sector. Similar systems are found from the United States to Singapore, which have different mixes as well as access and equity challenges.

Need for clarity on policy

If private infrastructure is to be built up at a rate faster than public, then the government must consider the risk of potential market failures.

This means it needs to be clear about the architecture for a public-private mix, the policy levers it will apply, accountability arrangements and outcomes it expects.

Technology businesses are legendary for failing to deliver. This ranges from large-scale IT project failures such as the SWIFT project at the former Counties Manukau district health board to security lapses such as the recent data breach at Manage My Health. These come at massive taxpayer and system cost.

The same applies to equitable access to private care, patient charges and mounting private insurance costs.

New Zealand has some unique workforce arrangements and backup systems. Determined through a historical political agreement, public support for the private system is significant. This comes through GP subsidies for patients referred to private specialists, staff training through publicly funded tertiary providers, and public emergency and intensive care backup when things go wrong in private.

If political leaders want to facilitate growth in public-private partnerships, they must be clear about how this works and what their expectations are.

There is a need to debate how patients with complications from private treatment are paid for when transferred to the public sector, and whether taxpayers should subsidise GP appointments for those seeking private referral.

With private insurance premiums going up at rates way beyond inflation there may be limited appetite for extending insurance to such patients. Yet this important part of the health economy needs to be factored in.

Ensuring equity of access

The private sector is not self-contained and needs public input. Politicians need to consult on whether there is interest in designing effective public-private partnerships that will not favour the better off and not detract from the public sector.

As the private sector builds up, the public workforce and capacity will be undermined unless more specialists are recruited. Private work is more lucrative than public, and political leaders would be prudent to outline how the balance will be maintained.

Particularly important is attention to overall system architecture, including the funding model. If public-private partnerships are pursued, equity (if valued) requires a guarantee that every citizen has equal access. This means clarity on funding.

Perhaps New Zealand needs to consider extending the accident compensation scheme to cover healthcare, or a funding system similar to Australia’s Medicare or Japan’s insurance funds.

There are many examples New Zealand could draw from to ensure a public-private mix delivers as intended. But we need to know what the intention is. So far, political leaders haven’t delivered a clear plan.

– ref. Shifting more healthcare to the private sector calls for a clear government plan – where is it? – https://theconversation.com/shifting-more-healthcare-to-the-private-sector-calls-for-a-clear-government-plan-where-is-it-278197

Military alliances: is NZ getting a tangled web or a ticket to get in?

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

China is warning that military alliances will likely escalate rather than de-escalate tensions. NZ Defence Force

China is warning that alliances will likely escalate rather than de-escalate tensions and “spread rather than limit the conflicts”.

The warning delivered by its ambassador in a hardhitting speech on geopolitics in Wellington on Thursday came as New Zealand was getting closer to Australia and Australia was getting closer to the United States on defence.

The speech closely followed China accusing the trans-Tasman allies of “arrogance” in a clash over military manouevres.

That in turn came on the heels of the allies releasing a new ‘Operationalising our Alliance’ joint statement aimed at “being able to operate seamlessly as an increasingly integrated, combat capable Anzac force by 2035”.

Canberra for its part under a separate alliance was “committed to deepening cooperation through accelerating and expanding joint defence initiatives, shared investments in new capabilities and industrial base integration” with the US.

This all came a few weeks after US President Donald Trump announced a big shift in how his administration would sell weapons.

Gone was what his directive called the “partner-first arms sales approach”, newly arriving was an “America First” arms export strategy, where allies would be encouraged to buy US-made weapons as an explicit powerful foreign policy tool that prioritised partners “that have invested in their own self-defense and have a critical role or geography for executing the National Security Strategy”.

US President Donald Trump announced a big shift in how his administration would sell weapons. ALEX WONG / Getty Images via AFP

‘I haven’t seen New Zealand miss out’

Would the new ‘America First’ priority partner list impact New Zealand? It had favoured status in Anzac, ANZUS and Five Eyes, but is not part of AUKUS.

RNZ put that question to L3 Harris, a top 10 US defence contractor that just did a billion-plus-dollar partnership to add missile rocket motors to the US “arsenal of freedom”; signed a defence collaboration deal with Saudi Arabia last month; and supplied advanced comms gear to the NZ navy and army.

“In my career, I haven’t seen New Zealand miss out because they weren’t perfectly aligned with the way that the administrations have played,” said Alan Clements, L3 Harris vice president for Australia and New Zealand.

“Never once have I heard, either when I was in the military or outside the military, that New Zealand was to be excluded from anything.

“Yes, there’s policies … but there are also carve-outs for that, there are waivers.

“From our company perspective, nothing that’s been said inside those policy settings has stopped us being able to work with New Zealand and deliver capability with New Zealand.”

The country was not part of AUKUS Pillar Two – a military tech sharing arrangement for Australia, the US and UK – but was not missing out, Clements said. “New Zealand wouldn’t miss out because New Zealand being part of the Five Eyes [intelligence grouping] would be able to get access to that as we go.”

Share and share alike

In Australia, defence media reports had foreseen “major implications” from Trump’s America First arms move.

It beholdened the Pentagon to put a MAGA lens over the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, which was the place where New Zealand went arms shopping. The government began talks under the FMS last August to buy $2 billion of naval Seahawk helicopters.

The Seahawk deal showed how the closer the three militaries got, the closer they were likely to get. “The Seahawk helicopter, operated by Australia and the United States, is the preferred helicopter,” an aide memoire to Cabinet last year.

“The ability to leverage American and Australian supply chains and through-life support arrangements … makes this the most cost-effective and durable helicopter. It means Defence does not need to fund the integration and certification of essential military equipment and systems” – plus aircrew would be interchangeable.

Alan Clements, L3 Harris vice president for Australia and New Zealand. Supplied / L3 Harris

Clements said the defence industries on either side of the Tasman had to align to rein in costs by preventing double up.

“We are now seeing more and more that we’re working closer together, particularly when it comes to capability alignment.”

L3 Harris had seven people working in New Zealand, compared with over 500 across the Tasman.

“But we work with other New Zealand companies and they do the work either as a subcontractor or sometimes as a prime for us where we try to build that capacity and capability within New Zealand itself, rather than import.”

‘Entanglements’

In the higher, weightier world of geopolitical alliances, who was in control?

China’s ambassador Wang Xiaolong warned on Thursday that alliances were “entanglements” where everyone would end up less secure.

“The next non-solution I want to debunk is military alliances, which we believe is, often a de-stabiliser rather than a stabiliser for the world.

“These alliances, by definition and by design, are meant to win wars rather than to keep the peace,” he told the Wellington Club.

China’s ambassador Wang Xiaolong. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Defence Minister Judith Collins, asked by RNZ on Thursday where the line was within increased integration, given Australia’s different positions, say, on nukes or the Iran war, said those were foreign policy differences, not defence.

“There’s no risk to our independence,” said Collins.

The existing “enormous” defence integration with Australia went both ways.

“The biggest risk to our independence is to not be closely connected to Australia,” she said.

The 2035 joint statement mentioned “sovereignty” six times.

‘Rocket diplomacy’

The statement also made clear the Anzacs would be using the same weapons more and more; by 2035 the two would “deploy increasingly integrated and interchangeable units”.

Australia and the US would be, too. Canberra recently signed on to spend over $20 billion with the Pentagon and contractor Lockheed to co-produce guided weapons – what Politico called “rocket diplomacy”.

The track to human-machine integation was also becoming well beaten. The US Army planned to deploy its first Human Machine Integrated Formation (HMIF) platoons by 2027, while the NZDF in its new long-term insights briefing made “human-machine teaming” one of four themes.

It was not just about sharing weapons at the pointy end either, but also the data-crunching AI systems behind them that the NZDF told MPs last week would become the number one force multiplier.

AI allowed command-and-control to be integated like never before on the battlefield. The NZDF was experimenting with this in US-led multinational exercises.

Defence Minister Judith Collins. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Clements said New Zealand’s stance and defence capability plan meant the country would probably want to head down the path of aligning command and control with their allies and partners, in particular Australia.

“That alignment with command and control is important for both countries.

“Australia has gone down a particular path with its command and control, and it aligns and the services have aligned slightly with the way the US do things.

“Those systems that are actually currently being used are not L3 Harris systems at the moment. But if there was an opportunity where they were looking at doing something new, then absolutely.”

Lower level control of, say, a drone could be programmed to “put constraints around what it goes to do, where it looks, [where] the information goes.

“So you can absolutely put constraints around that,” said Clements. Once the data went up to a higher level, that would be a different system.

So, L3 Harris’s product Amorphous that controlled of swams of land, sea and air drones all at once, could be controlled at the frontline, and a separate system sit behind it where the bigger targeting decisions were made.

Lethality on order?

One shift by Collins had been to order Defence to become more lethal.

Defence has been holding ‘early-days’ workshops with contractors to get ideas about drones and the like.

Was the NZDF asking for more lethal and autonomous weapons now?

“I’m not aware of them asking for that from us directly at the moment,” said Clements.

“But yes, as a defence organisation, we will develop capability using all the tools that we currently have to meet the requirements of the lethality requirements of the Defence Force.

“But often we’re not in there trying to beat a door down and say, ‘You need to buy this piece of kit’.

“It’s looking at what they’re doing from a full structure and then having a conversation about, ‘Do you think this would help you in what you do?’”

While Clements has stressed how “autonomy, AI-enabled sensing and unmanned systems” were transforming military capabilities, he told RNZ that autonomy was not a prerequisite for the huge gains in precision and humans could be first in the loop – “at the beginning to hit the button”.

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

Too expensive to smile: Calls grow for universal, Te Tiriti-consistent dental care

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A dentist provides dental care to a girl. AFP/ Thibaut Durand/ Hans Lucas

Nearly half of adults in Aotearoa are avoiding dental care because they cannot afford it, leaving many in chronic pain, at risk of serious infection, or in need of hospital treatment.

New research and frontline experiences are painting what advocates describe as a system failing to meet basic health needs, with growing calls for dental care to be fully integrated into the public health system.

Dental for All, a coalition of health workers, unions, community organisations and advocates travelled the country last year speaking directly with whānau about their experiences.

Dental for All campaigner Max Harris said the stories they heard were confronting.

“We heard about the shame and pain people face when they can’t get to the dentist, and how problems get worse over time,” he told RNZ.

“We also heard about the home remedies people resort to, things like using pliers or fishing wire to pull teeth, or relying on painkillers just to get through.”

There are growing calls for dental care to be fully integrated into the public health system.

A system built without teeth

According to the latest Ministry of Health survey, 47 percent of adult New Zealanders reported not visiting a dentist due to cost, with even higher rates among Māori and Pasifika.

Research commissioned by Dental for All also estimated untreated oral disease was costing the country around $2.5 billion each year in lost productivity and $3.1b in reduced quality of life.

“That is people missing work, missing job interviews, or living with constant pain and stigma,” Harris said.

“When you compare that with estimates that universal dental care could cost between $1 and $2 billion a year, it starts to make economic sense as well as human sense.”

According to a Talbot Mills poll in 2023, 74 percent of New Zealanders agreed that adult dental care should be funded in the same way it is funded for tamariki. So why wasn’t it?

Harris said that gap dated back to the system’s foundations.

“When the public healthcare system was set up in 1938, some dentists lobbied to carve teeth out of the system and it has essentially stayed that way ever since.”

Auckland City Mission opened the doors of its new onsite dental clinic in July 2025, delivering lifechanging dental care for those that need it most, free of charge. Supplied / Auckland City Mission

Across the country, demand for affordable dental care continues to grow.

At teaching clinics run by the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry, patients could receive reduced cost treatment from senior dental students under supervision.

In Auckland, the waitlist for student led care sat at around 950 people and was currently closed due to capacity.

Across both Auckland and Dunedin clinics, more than 14,800 patients were treated in 2025, delivering nearly 60,000 appointments.

Director of Dental Hospital and Clinics Janine Cochrane said demand had remained strong in recent years, reflecting wider national trends.

But even with those services, need continued to outstrip supply.

In July last year, Auckland City Mission opened a free dental clinic aimed at people who had struggled to access care.

In its first seven months, the clinic treated around 380 people and built a waitlist of more than 100.

Director of housing and health Brendan Short told RNZ that many patients had gone years without treatment.

“The people that we support have been marginalised from mainstream and public health care for a very long time,” he said.

“It is really clear that there is not enough funding for oral care in New Zealand for the general population. Dental care is essential healthcare and it seems that this is a blind spot for us as a nation.”

Auckland City Mission director of housing and health Brendan Short. RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell

Living with pain

Short said the impact of untreated dental issues went far beyond physical pain.

“Avoiding social situations, hiding one’s smile, or even missing job opportunities are everyday realities,” he said.

He said many people had normalised living with pain.

“It is quite common for people to live with pain, to think that what they are putting up with is normal or is okay, and it is not.”

The Auckland City Mission dental clinic operated three days a week and relied heavily on volunteer dentists.

“This is not possible or achievable for us without those volunteer dentists. They are superstars,” Short said, adding that some even travelled from outside Auckland, including as far as Taranaki.

Volunteer dentist Roger Tiang told RNZ that demand was constant at the clinic, highlighting the need for these spaces.

“Every time I come in my shift is fully booked,” he said.

Tiang said cost and sometimes discomfort with mainstream services were key barriers and that delaying care allowed small issues to escalate.

“If we do not catch things early, problems get bigger and we end up dealing with much bigger issues than we would have if we had seen them earlier.”

After more than 25 years in dentistry, he believed oral healthcare should be treated like any other part of the health system.

“People might not realise it, but if you cannot chew your food properly or you are living with infections in your mouth, that can affect your overall health.

“It is part of your health. Just like the rest of the health system in New Zealand, there is public healthcare and dentistry should be part of that as well.”

ActionStation and Dental for All campaigner Jasmine Taankink says poor oral health is “just another negative implication of colonisation” and Māori not being able to exercise tino rangatiratanga. Supplied / Jasmine Taankink

Longstanding inequities for Māori

For Māori, barriers to dental care were often compounded by cost, distance, and access, layered on top of longstanding inequities within the health system.

ActionStation and Dental for All advocate Jasmine Taankink said poor oral health outcomes for Māori could not be separated from colonisation.

“We know that upon arrival to Aotearoa, English settlers were really impressed with the overall physical health of our tūpuna Māori, especially their oral health. That’s quite widely documented,” she said.

“Our tūpuna Māori didn’t have cavities, they didn’t have massive oral health problems. So poor oral health is just another negative implication of colonisation and us not being able to exercise our tino rangatiratanga”

She said solutions must be grounded in Māori led approaches.

“We have the expertise within our own communities to develop solutions that work for us.”

Tumuaki of Te Ao Mārama (New Zealand Māori Dental Association) Leeann Waaka says whānau should not have to suffer in silence any longer. Supplied / Leeann Waaka

Leeann Waaka, dental therapist at Hauora a Toi and Tumuaki of Te ao Mārama (New Zealand Māori Dental Association) said the situation had remained largely unchanged for decades – with many left suffering in silence.

“The current suffering for our people is real, and it has not got any better since, well, what, 30 years?”

Waaka said while cost was a major issue for whānau, accessibility, especially in rural areas, remained a problem.

“When you are looking at a current structure and your lens is a holistic lens, it really does not fit.

“Whenever you need something, you should be able to access it, right there and then. Unfortunately that is not the case for dental.”

After travelling the country with the Dental for All kaupapa, she said the stories shared were confronting.

“Many have suffered in silence for a long time, It’s heartbreaking.

“I come from up north. I knew it was bad up there, but when we went up there for the roadshow, I don’t even think we could have imagined just how bad it is … It is inhumane.”

Waaka, alongside Dental for All and Te Ao Mārama, was pushing for a Te Tiriti consistent system – which would mean properly resourcing Māori providers and enabling iwi and hapū to design services that meet the needs of their people.

“It is reimagining the system and starting to rebuild it to what it needs to be to serve our whānau. Our people deserve better.”

Dental for All campaign set out on a national roadshow last year, hearing concerns from whānau and building public support over communities. Supplied / Dental for All

Looking overseas for solutions

Dental for All’s latest research pointed to countries including Niue, Japan, Brazil, Canada and the United Kingdom, where dental care was integrated into public health systems.

Harris said those models showed change was achievable.

“It ultimately comes down to political will,” he said.

“We have seen other countries make the decision that oral health is part of overall health and design their systems accordingly.”

Dental for All was now developing a detailed policy proposal outlining how such a system could be introduced in Aotearoa.

“This could be something we look back on as a once in a generation change to strengthen our healthcare system.”

Waaka said the focus must remain on equity and wellbeing.

“All knowledge systems matter, and coming together to bring the best of those knowledge systems is key for when we are serving our people,” she said.

“Our people deserve the best and nothing less.”

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Faulty alarm and surge protection led to Mahurangi River wastewater spill, reviews find

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A wastewater spill into the Mahurangi River meant farmers had dump thousands of oysters because of contamination. Supplied

A critical overflow alarm that was not working and a faulty surge protection component in a North Auckland wastewater pump station were factors that led to what is believed to be the biggest wastewater spill into the Mahurangi River that happened in October last year, according to independent reviews.

Wastewater poured into the Mahurangi River from about 2.30pm on 29 October, after a power surge at Watercare’s Warkworth Street wastewater pump station, and subsequent pump failures.

Watercare estimated that there was 1200 cubic metres of overflow, which was not discovered and stopped until 8am the next day.

Mahurangi oyster farmers were furious with the spill and contamination, with one reporting that much of their 80,000 oysters had to be dumped, at the peak of the oyster season.

On Thursday, Watercare confirmed that independent reviews into the cause of the overflow had been completed.

“The reviews found the incident resulted from a unique chain of events involving technical and operational factors at the newly commissioned Warkworth Street Pump Station, triggered by a power outage,” said Watercare in a press release.

Watercare’s chief operations officer Mark Bourne told RNZ the reviews found that a faulty safety relay – which was part of the plant’s surge protection system – was in conflict with other safety relays, and prevented the pumps from restarting following the power surge.

Watercare’s chief operations officer Mark Bourne. Jessie Chiang

He said the treatment plant was designed in a way that its protection system would kick in when individual components failed.

Bourne said if the safety relay was not faulty, the pumps would have restarted following the brief power surge – which lasted about half a second.

The most critical of alarms – the overflow alarm – had also failed to operate, said Bourne.

“That was tested during the pre-commissioning phase before the pump station went into operation but for whatever reason, failed during that operation phase,” said Bourne.

Bourne said the Warkworth Street plant was new, and was going through its commissioning and start up phase when the October event happened.

He said prior to commissioning, Watercare had run tests on the station with clean water, and added that the plant could not be tested across its full ranges until it was in service.

“We try and simulate all activities during the initial testing process, but as I indicated before this was a very unique set of circumstances,” said Bourne.

Bourne said the faulty safety relay had since been fixed and all alarms had been tested and checked.

When asked if he was confident that station could withstand future possible power surges, Bourne said he had “absolute confidence” in the Warkworth Street pump station.

“This event is just so unfortunate and quite frankly we’re gutted that it occurred,” he said.

Asked where responsibility could be traced to with the multiple failures of the treatment plant, Bourne said Watercare took accountability.

“It’s our pump station, it’s our operation, if there’s further conversations to be had, they’ll be for us to have at a later date, but at this point Watercare takes responsibility for the fault that occurred,” he said.

He added that this was a unique circumstance leading up to the failure of the station, and that there was no systemic issue.

Bourne said Watercare had over 550 pump stations across Auckland.

On Thursday, Watercare announced its final tranche of compensation payment for impacted oyster farmers, bringing the total payout to $2.75 million.

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Lower Hutt businesses report 50 percent drop as roadworks roll on in city centre

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lower Hutt businesses say they’re swiftly losing cash, and one’s shut up shop, as roadworks roll on in the city centre.

Authorities are sorry for the disruption, but say the work is essential.

Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Transport Agency are running multiple projects to future-proof service infrastructure, improve flood protection, develop the CBD and improve transport connection.

The obstacle course of road cones and closures has caused gridlock and delays, and now businesses are bearing the brunt.

A chunk of the work involves ripping up a roundabout at the Queens Drive/High Street intersection, which began on 2 March and will run until December, shutting the road.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

Jinuka Paranavithana runs Lakdiv Supermarket right on the roundabout and said there was a slump the day the works began, with takings down 50 percent.

The cluster of shops in the area are now effectively tucked down a dead end.

Paranavithana was not confident the supermarket would last until the works were completed, so he was looking for leases elsewhere and could be forced out to Naenae.

A few doors down, Raquib Gondal had already shut his kebab shop for good.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

He also reported a 50 percent drop in business, saying only the regulars would pop in, once a week at best.

“I feel really bad, because when I bought this business … I’ve taken all the money from my friends and family and we gathered the money … just to have a secure kind of income,” he said.

Gondal didn’t want to close, but he was getting into debt, he said.

“Opening it for longer, it will be … really a disaster for me.”

Another stretch of High Street is shut for four weeks, right outside City Green fruit and vege shop.

Owner Patrick Gao said he was only just hanging on, also reporting 50 percent less takings.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

“I’m not making enough to pay my bills, my rent, my wages … tough going,” he said.

He may have to consider closing, but thinks he can stick around another month or two, with the community behind him.

Gao put out a plea on social media on Tuesday, asking for local support to help get him through.

On Wednesday morning, Rachael Trudgeon answered the call, and walked out of the store carrying a box full of produce.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

She urged others to do the same, noting the deserted street.

“Just get out there, support our local shops that we have here, especially the small business owners, they are struggling so we want to help them out as much as we can.”

Across the road at cafe Espresso High, barista Rane Magno said the cafe was definitely quieter with a lack of parking.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

“Nobody wants to drive in this corner of the Hutt any more,” she said.

“On the flip side, we’ve been able to see how our community’s really supported us, and our regulars have come in and made their efforts.”

Works essential for Hutt resilience

Many spoken to by RNZ believed the roadworks were necessary but it was too much all at once.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ken Laban said there was not much council could do.

“I can’t take people’s pain away, if I was … affected by the business, or I was stuck in traffic trying to get mum to the hospital for her appointment, equally I would be frustrated and angry and all of those kinds of things.

“We are just trying the best that we can to minimise the disruption, but this is a hugely inconvenient time for everybody.”

RNZ / Mark Papalii

The work included a “once in a generation upgrade” of flood defences to protect the city, including the hospital and thousands of homes, said Laban.

Greater Wellington Regional Council transport committee chair Ros Connelly said disruption was certain no matter how the work was carried out, and the parties involved had chosen “the most efficient work programme from a cost perspective and also from a logistics perspective.”

“We absolutely understand that the roadworks are disruptive and we’re really sorry for the impact that this is having on businesses and commuters.

“But unfortunately, the works are essential to improving safety and flood resilience and reliability for everyone who uses the road.”

Once the work was done, the city would be better protected and connected, Connelly said.

The transport agency said it was continually considering whether the work could be sped up, and there would be night work in some places.

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How much might prices rise, and when?

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rising oil prices are expecting to put pressure on prices across New Zealand.

But from food to coffee and petrol to clothes, what are sectors expecting?

RNZ set out to ask.

Petrol

Mike Newton, spokesperson for fuel monitoring app Gaspy, said if crude oil prices were to remain at Thursday afternoon levels, after rising 10 percent overnight, the national average price for 91 would be about $3.30 a litre.

That was about 15c more than the average at the time but some petrol stations were already charging at that level.

A $4 national average for 91 might not be out of the question. Nick Monro

“Some economists and analysts are talking about crude rising ot US$200 a barrel and if that were to happen a $4 national average would not be out of the question. Early on in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, crude topped out at US$119 a barrel.”

Restaurants

Nicola Waldren, general manager of the Restaurants Association said it had been talking to restaurant and cafe members over the past few weeks.

“What we’re hearing at this stage is that significant price changes haven’t come through to them yet so they are in a bit of a wait and see. There are still a lot of unknowns about how long the impacts are going to go on for but we are firmly of the view that prices will get passed through to businesses.”

Restaurants are in a “wait and see” as to whether price rises will impact the industry. Supplied/San Ray

She said the association was advising restaurants to look at their menus, keep ahead of supplier bills and be across price changes coming through so they could adapt if they needed to.

“How much it might change is a difficult thing to answer because all the businesses are different, they’ve got different menus, they’ve got different supply chains… but hospitality businesses are small, they’re local businesses, we’re slowly coming out of some really tough years and now we’re facing this unexpected headwind.

“If it’s a sustained period of time when those cost pressures come on then we can expect some changes to pricing.”

She said restaurants were aware many households were squeezed in terms of what they could afford to pay but many hospitality businesses were working with such small margins that they would need to pass on increases.

Waldren said some businesses were concerned about being able to access products.

“Businesses are looking at are there ways to adapt their menus, source alternative ingredients… there’s a big focus on sourcing local from local suppliers that will probably help to mitigate some impacts but I think the fuel price changes are going to affect the whole supply chain.”

Coffee

Richard Corney of Flight Coffee said coffee bean prices had dropped from record highs but were still high compared to the past.

But there were concerns about the cost of everything else rising to push up the price of coffee in New Zealand cafes, he said.

Packaging and shipping costs have risen for the coffee industry. 123rf

“We’re already seeing shipping cost skyrocket back to pandemic levels, adding huge differential costs per kilo to landed coffee imports in NZ.

“Beyond that, packaging companies have alerted us to increase in packaging costs due to the constraint of plastics derived from oil.

“And to top it all off, in the coming months Brazil will need fertilisers to fed next year’s crop, and there’s major constraints on this due to the conflict in the Middle East – so what’s in effect been a great harvest out of Brazil, now faces existential threats that may very well force the commodity price higher or keep it at elevated levels.”

Fuel shortages could also make it hard to move coffee from storage locations to where it needed to be, he said.

But he said coffee prices were already getting to their limit in terms of what consumer would pay.

“We’re discovering, if not some parts of it’s been discovered, the ceiling of what consumers are able to pay … it becomes a point where the market will dictate its value.

“We’ve asked a lot from our customers and they’ve responded wonderfully but you can only go so high, right? You can only pass on so much before it becomes unsustainable.”

Construction

Auckland University of Technology construction expert John Tookey said the cost of building would rise.

“Anything that involves either the formation of materials or the transportation of materials is going to be massively affected … the kicker as far as construction materials are concerned is simply the fact that they tend to be high volume, low value and they are very energy intensive to transport.”

Experts predict the price of building will rise. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

He said prices would probably rise in anticipation.

“Stockists start hedging knowing that it’s going to start creeping up… they’ll start to feed that into their quoted prices.

“We’re already seeing the cost of diesel at the pump going up and as soon as diesel starts going up then transportation of materials goes up and up and up.”

He said he did not want to guess at how much construction prices would rise.

“I think that sort of prediction would age like milk in the sun.”

Retail

Carolyn Young, chief executive of Retail NZ, said the sector was already seeing increases in distribution costs and for things such as couriers.

“It’s a higher impact on goods and services being moved around the country because a lot of freight companies are using trucks that run on diesel.”

She said supermarkets, grocery retailers, fruit and vegetable outlets and bakeries would have increased transport costs and might not be able to absorb them.

The retail sector is already seeing price increases. Ke-Xin Li / RNZ

“Some will and some won’t. It will depend on the profitability of the business and the reserves they may have,”

People bringing in goods from overseas would also be affected.

“In terms of grocery,. they’ve got good supply of stock in the distribution centres but stock is always coming in.”

For things such as apparel or DIY or jewellery, she said, freight ships were staying in Singapore longer to make sure they were 100 percent full.

“The longer they take to leave port and fill up, the higher the cost of the fuel being passed on.

“If you are importing goods they’re going to land in Auckland, Tauranga or Lyttleton then they’re going to be distributed to your site or sites – so there’s two lots of costs that can be passed on a that point as well because you’ve got costs coming in internationally and then you’ve got domestic costs from the price of fuel in New Zealand.”

She said prices would rise if it was a sustained conflict.

“Retailers that are able to absorb as long as they can – it will impact their margins long-term and their profitability.”

Earlier, Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said fishing was particularly exposed to oil price rises.

BNZ chief economist Mike Jones said food prices were likely to rise faster but it was hard to quantify. He expected general inflation to peak at 3.8 percent in the second quarter.

Uber

Uber said fuel price increases were having an effect across a wide range of industries, including for driver partners and delivery people who used the Uber and Uber Eats app to earn.

“Uber is actively monitoring conditions as they evolve and regularly reviews ways to support driver partners and delivery people as circumstances change.

“We are always looking for ways we can continue to support them, including our Uber Pro programme which offers discounts on fuel and EV charging, as well as other savings to help reduce their expenses.”

Supermarket delivery

At Woolworths, a spokesperson said it was closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East.

“We have no current plans to change our delivery fees.”

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Rising cost of fuel forces Kiwis to consider alternative transport to save money

By Evening Report -

March 20, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Cost-of-living pressures are picking up again, driven in part by sharp increases in fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

So, are people ditching their cars, dusting off their bikes, or turning to public transport to save money?

At Auckland’s Waitematā Station, commuters poured off trains into the central city, with buses and the downtown ferry terminal just steps away, making it one of the city’s busiest transport hubs.

One commuter said they’ve noticed a clear shift.

“I notice on the train it’s getting really busy. Yeah, a lot more people are using it, which is good.”

They said rising fuel and parking costs were even changing how they think about short trips.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I’m even thinking … where I normally work, I’m only probably a 10-minute drive away … maybe I’ll start using my e-bike … between parking and the petrol … you’re still using a lot of gas. And I’d rather save it for doing trips I really want to do in the car.”

But another Auckland commuter said public transport still didn’t work for everything.

“Yeah, we use the cars to get around because convenience-wise, public transport’s no good. You can’t really pop down the road and do the shopping effectively… so we still need the cars.”

He said the flexibility of working from home was a bonus when it came to beating petrol prices.

Meanwhile, a third commuter in Auckland said cost was already shaping their routine.

“Choosing that option specifically because of the cost is the main reason … it just sort of reinforces it further with the cost of living and the petrol prices going up.”

In the capital, some people were already leaving the car at home.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I walked to work today because I thought, ‘I’d better not use the car’,” said this commuter.

Another Wellington commuter estimated the savings were adding up.

“I would be driving in, but it’s too expensive a lot of the time, so public transport is better. I can save around $100 a week.”

Others said they’re cutting back on extra trips.

“I probably won’t drive up to the Kāpiti Coast like I used to, just to go to the market. You need to be more thoughtful in each trip you plan.”

But not everyone was convinced habits have fully changed yet.

“Energy prices have definitely moved up, but I’m not sure that’s changing people’s habits yet. It might have [to] if petrol goes to $3.20.”

And for some, it’s not just fuel prices dictating new commuting habits.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I train in, then I walk to work, and it’s mainly because of higher parking, actually,” said one man.

In Christchurch, some commuters said they didn’t have the flexibility to change. A woman RNZ spoke to said she was still driving despite the cost and was worried about how to keep managing it within her budget.

“I am still driving, but it’s using up a lot of my gas … I don’t know what I’m going to do next … I assume I’m just going to keep driving because I have to get places … I have to get my kids to school.”

Another commuter in Christchurch said public transport simply wasn’t viable for their route.

“It’s really hard to get public transport to where I work because it’s just out of Rolleston … I have to drive there all the time, so it’s eating a lot of fuel.”

In Queenstown, where petrol was sitting between $3.15 and $3.19 per litre, commuters say the cost is biting.

RNZ / Nick Monro

“I travel daily from Glenorchy to Queenstown, so does my husband. It’s just getting so hard to cope.”

Another said they have no alternative.

“Where I live, I have no public transport in the morning. The only way I can get to work before 6 o’clock is using my car, so I have been dealing with the increase as I can manage. At the end of the day, you’ve got to pay it.”

Some were trying to adapt where they can.

A Queenstown commuter said they’re biking more often.

“I do drive occasionally, but more recently biking has become a cheaper alternative … you just have to limit where you go, don’t you? Because it’s just so expensive, and it’s already expensive enough to live in Queenstown.”

Others were making bigger changes.

“I just bought a hybrid car … that was sort of prompted by obviously the fuel prices and the war in Iran … I thought, ‘right, now’s the time’,” said a man who commuted daily from Cromwell to Queenstown.

He was also looking for ways to cut costs day-to-day.

“I’ve got the [fuel price] app on my phone, so I normally stick to the cheapest fuel station in Cromwell, but I’ll definitely be looking for new strategies,” he said.

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