Wāhine Māori acknowledged with awards for cancer research

March 2, 2026

Katya Hutton. Supplied / Cancer Society

Three emerging Māori researchers leading innovative projects to improve cancer outcomes for whānau Māori will receive this year’s Māori Cancer Researcher Award.

Their research range from exploring how papakāinga living can strengthen the practice of Rongoā Māori, to developing next-generation immunotherapies with fewer side effects, to enhancing genomic tools that more accurately predict treatment responses for Māori and Pasifika patients.

This is the fifth year for the awards, which are a partnership between Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa (Cancer Society New Zealand) and Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa.

This year, two PhD scholarships and a master’s scholarship have been awarded.

Rongoā Māori practitioner and researcher Robbie Richardson (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Hauiti ki Rata, Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) is completing her doctoral research through Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuārangi.

Her work focuses on her whānau’s ancestral home, Mangamāhoe, exploring how papakāinga living and Rongoā Māori practices can help protect whānau and whenua in the face of PFAS contamination from the neighbouring Ohakea Air Force Base – chemicals that persist in the environment for more than 150 years and have been linked to increased cancer risk.

For Richardson, the impact was real not just on her community but within her whānau as her father passed away from cancer a year after residents were first informed of the contamination.

“So there we are with my dad not even 200, 300 meters living from the Ohakea Air Force Base all his 83 years, only having eaten from the land, drank the water from the land, animals such as like chooks and all of that sort of stuff, and all of the vegetation and the crops, that’s all he’s known. He very rarely had takeaways.”

The revelation of PFAS contamination was a shock to community with the Base taking a long time to engage with the papakāinga, she said.

“It’s what they call a forever chemical, so it stays, it moves in water, it doesn’t dissipate in water. So the impact to the whenua is 150 years plus that it will then be able to move out of the so-called red zone.”

Robbie Richardson. Supplied / Cancer Society

Richardson has been practising Rongoā Māori for more than 15 years, among the goals for her research include building evidence for Rongoā Māori within cancer prevention and survivorship frameworks and supporting whānau and hapū health sovereignty in contaminated environments such as at Mangamāhoe.

Her father lived on the papakāinga all his life and Richardson said her research will look into the ways papakāinga living facilitates the expression of rongoā.

“[Rongoā has] been missing since the 1907 Tohunga Suppression Act. So we’ve had this backwards and forwards…. all the medical kind of questions around it, when in fact all it’s simply about is bringing out ease, whatever that might be.”

Ariana Drabble’s (Te Arawa – Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Raukawa – Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Toa – Ngāti Kimihia) PhD research at the University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka will look to tap into and better understand the power and potential of Natural Killer (NK) cells.

“Our immune system can be reprogrammed to destroy cancer cells, but current CAR T cell therapies for blood cancers often fail when tumours evade detection or suppress T cell activity. NK cells have powerful cancer-killing abilities and a safer profile. By combining CAR T cells with CAR-engineered NK cells, we aim to harness their complementary strengths. NK cells can guide and support T cells while reducing factors that shut down immune responses.”

In the last five years, Drabble’s mother, grandmother, an aunt and uncle have all received cancer diagnoses.

“Each diagnosis was not just a moment of grief, but confirmation that this mahi is not simply academic, but it is a commitment to my whānau, my tūpuna and generations to come,” she said.

Katya Hutton (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Ngāti Kura) from Waipapa Taumata Rau The University of Auckland is undertaking her Master’s looking at the impact of using Māori genomic information to improve the accuracy of cancer immunotherapy predictions for Māori and Pasifika patients.

Ariana Drabble. Supplied / Cancer Society

Current biomarkers guide treatment decisions and predict treatment responses but rely on global DNA reference databases that lack representation from Indigenous populations. If we don’t take into account the natural variability among underrepresented communities when using DNA reference databases to interpret genomic biomarkers, there is a risk that we lose the precision in our precision health approach.

“This could lead inappropriate care for them,” Hutton said.

“My goal is to accelerate precision care and precision heath research to ensure that every patient in Aotearoa – no matter what age, sex, ethnicity or ancestry – is getting the best care they can get.”

Cancer Society director of research and innovation, Christelle Jolly said the awards empower Māori researchers to pursue the questions that matter most to their communities.

“Each of these projects has the potential to directly improve cancer outcomes for whānau. This is why investing in a strong and supported Māori cancer research workforce matters so much.”

Hei Āhuru Mōwai Tumuaki (chief executive) Anna-Marie Ruhe said the organisation is immensely proud to stand alongside these emerging researchers whose work carries the aspirations of their whānau, hapū, and iwi.

Their projects demonstrate what becomes possible when mātauranga Māori and scientific innovation are supported to flourish, she said.

“These awards are not just an investment in individual researchers – they are an investment in a future where Māori leadership in cancer research is strong, visible and transformative. When Māori are empowered to ask the questions that matter to our communities, we move closer to a health system where whānau Māori can access care, treatments, and solutions that truly work for them.”

As part of the award, each master’s scholarship will last for one year and will comprise:

Stipend of $35,000
Tuition fees of $10,000

Each PhD scholarship will last for three years and will comprise:

Stipend of $40,000 per year
Tuition fees of $10,000 per year
Tikanga contribution of $10,000 across the course of the award

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

Qatar Airways, Emirates flights to Doha and Dubai cancelled amid Iran attacks

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Emirates has cancelled flights through Doha and Dubai. Thierry Monasse

A Qatar Airways 777 and two Emirates A380 planes are stuck in Auckland after the airlines were forced to cancel flights through Doha and Dubai amid the Iran attacks.

“Auckland Airport is supporting those airlines with aircraft parking and operational assistance while services are paused and airlines work through their plans to resume flying,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Are you a New Zealander in an affected region? Email iWitness@rnz.co.nz

“Airlines will be working to rebook affected travellers,” the Auckland Airport spokesperson said.

“We encourage anyone due to travel through the Middle East in the coming days to check directly with their airline or travel agent for the latest updates.

“Other international flights are operating as scheduled.”

It comes as Dubai’s international airport and its landmark Burj Al Arab hotel sustained damage as overnight Iranian retaliatory attacks spread across the Gulf states and the wider Middle East, reaching beyond US bases and interests.

Dubai is the biggest tourism and trade hub in the Middle East and its airport is one of the world’s busiest travel hubs.

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

Last total lunar eclipse until 2029 is coming tomorrow – don’t miss it

By The Conversation -

March 2, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Hill, Senior Curator (Astronomy), Museums Victoria Research Institute; The University of Melbourne

On Tuesday March 3, the Moon will pass directly through Earth’s shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse. Best of all, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are in a prime position to watch the show.

This time, the eclipse even occurs at a reasonable hour – no need to set an alarm and crawl out of bed at a ridiculous time.

On Tuesday evening, a dark shadow will begin to sweep across the bright and round full Moon. Once the Moon becomes fully immersed in shadow, it will take on a reddish glow.

Astronomers call this “totality”. But with the ominous appearance of a red Moon hanging large in the sky, it’s no wonder that throughout history and across cultures it was seen as a portent of evil. In today’s world, the name “blood moon” has readily captured public imagination.

Watching a lunar eclipse is a reminder that we are part of a fascinating universe. No special equipment is needed and it’s usually not hard to find the Moon in the sky. Tomorrow’s eclipse will be our last chance to see a blood moon until 2029, when it will ring in the New Year in the early hours of January 1.

When can I see the lunar eclipse?

Lunar eclipses are leisurely events that take a few hours to unfold.

In this case, it’ll take 75 minutes for the Moon to enter Earth’s shadow – what’s known as the partial eclipse phase. This will be followed by an hour of totality when the Moon turns red, and then another 75 minutes as the Moon emerges out of the shadow and returns to full brightness.

Since Earth’s shadow is so large compared to the Moon, everyone on our planet’s night side experiences a lunar eclipse at exactly the same time. To know when to see the totality, we only need to make adjustments for different time zones.

Across most of Western Australia the eclipse begins with the Moon below the horizon. As the Moon rises it will be partly in shadow, making it hard to spot, especially against the bright twilight sky (noting that the Moon is rising as the Sun is setting).

However, just give it some time and the eclipsed Moon will become easier to see as it climbs higher in the east and twilight gives way to night.

The eclipse will start later in the evening across the rest of Australia, with the Moon in the eastern sky. In New Zealand the eclipse will begin much later at 10:50pm local time. That will provide the best views, as the sky will be well and truly dark, and the Moon will be high in the north.

Why does the Moon turn red?

Against the bright Moon, Earth’s shadow appears black at first. It’s only when the Moon is fully immersed in shadow that the reddish “blood moon” glow becomes apparent.

Complete lunar eclipse seen from Jakarta, Indonesia, early Saturday July 28 2018. Tatan Syuflana/AP

How red the Moon appears depends entirely on the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at the time. The dustier the atmosphere, the less light makes it through, turning the Moon a dark and deep red.

A clearer and more transparent atmosphere allows more sunlight to pass through, bathing the Moon in a bright orange glow.

Only red light makes it through the atmosphere because blue light (which has a shorter wavelength) is scattered away. Known as Rayleigh scattering, it’s the same process that makes the sky blue. Blue light doesn’t pass through the atmosphere towards the Moon, because it has been scattered across the entire sky. No matter where we look in the daytime sky, our eyes will happen upon one of those randomly scattered rays of blue light.

On March 14 2024 Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander experienced a total lunar eclipse from the surface of the Moon. From its perspective, the lander saw a solar eclipse, with Earth blocking out the light of the Sun and bathing the lunar surface in a red glow.

Celestial misalignment

Because the Moon’s orbit is tilted very slightly relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun, the three objects don’t always align perfectly for us to see a full lunar eclipse.

For the next six lunar eclipses, the Moon will only dip into Earth’s shadow instead of being fully immersed in it.

Penumbral lunar eclipse of August 2027, where the Moon will only cross through the faint penumbral shadow. It will be nearly impossible to see any change in the Moon’s brightness. Wikimedia Commons

In fact, during the three lunar eclipses of 2027, the Moon will only enter Earth’s outer and much fainter penumbral shadow. Technically the Moon will dim slightly, but it’ll be almost impossible to perceive this.

Even better to appreciate all the times when the celestial geometry works and we can be treated with such a marvellous, awe-inspiring evening gazing up at the Moon.

Let’s hope the weather is clear across Australia and New Zealand on eclipse night, because we’ll be waiting almost three years for our next blood moon.

– ref. Last total lunar eclipse until 2029 is coming tomorrow – don’t miss it – https://theconversation.com/last-total-lunar-eclipse-until-2029-is-coming-tomorrow-dont-miss-it-276392

After a sports hall in Iran was bombed, witnesses describe chaos and ‘continuous screaming’

By Asia Pacific Report -

March 2, 2026

By Mahmoud Aslan in Lamerd, southern Iran

Dozens of teenage girls were attending their regular training sessions of volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics in the main sports hall in Lamerd, a city near the Persian coast, when a missile slammed into the building at 5pm on Saturday.

Additional strikes hit two nearby residential areas and a hall adjacent to a school, as the US and Israel pounded targets across Iran on the first day of what President Donald Trump declared as a “regime change” war.

According to local officials cited in Iranian state media, the strikes on Lamerd killed at least 18 civilians and wounded scores more.

“Within seconds of the missile strike, the windows shattered into thousands of fragments. Sports equipment, balls, tables, barriers flew through the air. Black smoke filled the space,” Mohammed Saed Khorshedy, a 29-year-old worker at the gym who witnessed the attack, told Drop Site News.

“The smell of gunpowder made breathing almost impossible. The screaming began immediately, layered with the sound of debris collapsing and concrete falling from the ceiling.”

The facility sits on the outskirts of Lamerd, a quiet city in Fars province, near the surrounding Zagros mountain range, giving the natural landscape an uneven, rugged character.

Gym building at crossroads
The rectangular building is at a crossroads connecting the city center to Bandar Assaluyeh, an industrial port and energy hub on the Persian Gulf.

The sports hall was poorly maintained, with deteriorating walls surrounded by a low perimeter fence. A high arched metal roof sat atop a reinforced concrete frame and a rubber floor for volleyball and other sports.

The missile struck the middle of the roof, destroying a large part of the building. The main court, small spectator stands, changing rooms, and coach’s office were all reduced to rubble.

Hossein Gholami, a 50-year-old elementary school teacher, was returning from work when he heard the blast. His 16-year-old daughter, Zahra, was training in the hall.

“I noticed a strange gathering of people at the corner of the street leading to the sports hall,” Gholami told Drop Site.

“The screaming was rising from a distance. A colleague ran toward me, waving his arm, and said in a shaken voice: ‘Zahra, the hall, there has been an explosion.’

“I felt as though the ground had split beneath my feet. Everything around me became hazy,” he said. “I ran immediately, and with every step the columns of black smoke rose higher, while the smell of fire and flames entered my nose with force.”

Scene of horror
When he reached the site, he came upon a scene of horror.

“The continuous screaming of the injured mixed with the sounds of secondary explosions. The ground was covered in debris and shattered glass. It was difficult to move with all the rubble. Ambulances arrived after about twenty minutes, but most of the injured were in critical condition,” he said.

“The smell of blood and burns covered everything…the survivors were injured with fractures and burns from the shrapnel.”

Later, he learned that Zahra was among the dead.

“Every time I close my eyes I see her face, her smile, and I hear the sound of the explosion,” Gholami said.

There has been no public statement by the US or Israeli on the Lamerd strikes.

CENTCOM and the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

165 killed – many schoolgirls
The bombing of the sports hall in Lamerd came hours after a strike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, another small city on the Persian Gulf, further east near the Strait of Hormuz, that, according to the state-run IRNA news agency, killed 165 people, many of them schoolgirls.

Neither the US nor Israel claimed that strike. The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in the area of Minab; CENTCOM’s spokesperson said they were “looking into” reports.

Another strike hit an adjacent IRGC naval base and the USS Abraham Lincoln is stationed nearby.

The governor of Lamerd said “The United States and the Zionist regime fired missiles at the sports hall while female students were playing inside,” according to the Fars news agency.

As of Sunday morning, the Iranian Red Crescent and state-linked media have reported preliminary casualty figures of more than 200 people killed and more than 740 injured across Iran, though the actual toll is expected to be significantly higher.

Iran launched retaliatory strikes across nine countries in the region: Israel, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with a total of 18 killed, including three US servicemen, according to a tally by Al Jazeera.

Mir Dehdasht, an administrative officer at Azad university whose 15-year-old daughter Rabab Dehdasht was training at the sports hall, was at home when a neighbour knocked on his door to tell him the facility had been attacked.

‘Their voices were deafening’
“I ran immediately toward the place, and when I arrived, I found burning cars and rubble scattered everywhere,” Dehdasht told Drop Site. “The injured were bleeding heavily, some had lost consciousness on the ground, others were screaming without stopping.

“Their voices were deafening.”

He continued: “Blood and dust covered everything, and the rubble blocked quick access to the building. Rescue teams were working with extreme care to bring out the injured athletes and the bodies of the victims.

“The screaming filled everything,” he said. “Robab did not survive the force of the explosion, while others survived but with life-threatening injuries. I felt complete helplessness.”

Farhad Za’eri, a retired Ministry of Health employee, received the news of the strike by phone. His 16-year-old daughter Elahe, was also there.

“I left immediately with some neighbors. The roads were unusually congested and there was a sense of anxiety throughout the neighborhood,” Za’eri told Drop Site. “When we arrived, the rescue teams were already there and they had begun bringing out the bodies one by one.”

“I did not know what I would see,” he continued, “but when I got close to the place where they were bringing out the victims, I felt a heaviness in my chest.

‘Mark of pain’
“Every body that was lifted carried the mark of pain, and the rescue effort was trying to distinguish between those who could still be saved and those whose lives had ended,” he said.

“There were voices from every direction, everyone was trying to understand what had happened. In that moment, everything inside me was silent, and I was waiting for them to tell me about my daughter Elahe.”

Elahe’s body was eventually brought out. “My daughter’s body was completely destroyed. It appears she was directly hit by the strike. The lower part of her body was completely destroyed,” Za’eri said.

“How can a father describe what he feels when he sees his child like this? All my memories of her, her laugh, her training, her dreams, collapsed before my eyes in a single moment.”

This articles was published first by Drop Site News in collaboration with Egab.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Coronial inquiry into death of 10-month-old Manurewa infant Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering gets underway

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A coronial inquiry into the death of a 10-month-old Manurewa infant is underway in Auckland. 123rf.com

A coronial inquiry into the death of 10-month-old Manurewa infant Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering is underway in Auckland.

Poseidyn was rushed to Middlemore Hospital and later moved to Starship Children’s Hospital on the evening of 5 September, 2020, after he was found unresponsive at his South Auckland home.

He died hours later.

In the Auckland Coroner’s Court on Monday, Coroner Tracey Fitzgibbon acknowledged the inquiry followed a criminal trial in 2022 where the infant’s father, Anthony Simon Pickering, was acquitted of murdering his son.

“This coronial inquiry was put on hold until the completion of a criminal trial. This can make it very challenging for witnesses and whānau, and I encourage everyone to be mindful of this as we progress through the next few days.”

She said the inquiry was to determine how Hemopo-Pickering died and the circumstances leading up to his death.

“I’m not here to determine civil, criminal, or disciplinary liability.”

Fitzgibbon invited Poseidyn ‘s mother Filoi Huakau to reflect on her son’s life.

“He was gentle, he was soft, he was pure,” Huakau said.

“He’d do this little chuckle at every silly face and noise I made, and had an unforgettable smile that was so contagious and something I choose to cherish every day.

“At just 10 months of age I could feel the love he’d have to give if given the chance to.”

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

Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu issue advisories amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran

By Asia Pacific Report -

March 2, 2026

RNZ Pacific

The governments of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have issued advisories for their nationals in the Middle East to remain calm and take the necessary precautions due to US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Fiji’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi said Fijian nationals who were not residents of the United Arab Emirates should register with the embassy as soon as possible amid airspace closures in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

The embassy said registration would allow them to offer necessary consular support and maintain situational awareness of Fijian nationals in-country.

The Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Ministry has advised all its nationals not to travel to the region until further notice.

“Solomon Islanders residing in the Gulf Region and Israel are urged to take necessary precautions, remain calm, follow host country authorities, and monitor reliable updates,” the ministry said in a statement.

While the Vanuatu government is advising its nationals and passport holders that the situation “is extremely volatile and unpredictable” and those caught in affected areas should “make immediate arrangements to depart if possible”.

“Stay informed about local conditions and register with the Vanuatu Ministry of Foreign Affairs if you’re planning to travel to affected areas,” the Vanuatu Foreign Ministry said.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Officer accused of kidnapping ex-wife avoids disciplinary action, keeps job

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The IPCA released a summary of a police investigation into the officer, overseen by the authority, on Monday (file photo). hamilton, auckland, station, office, precinct, municipal, new zealand, nz, sign, building, editorial, symbol, logo, city, street

The police watchdog has criticised police for not disciplining an officer who allegedly kidnapped his ex-wife.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a summary of a police investigation into the officer, overseen by the authority, on Monday.

The investigation centred on allegations the officer possessed child exploitation material and committed family harm against both his ex-wife and ex-partner.

“The police investigation found there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation that the officer was ever in possession of objectionable material. Additionally, the investigation determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge the officer with assaulting his ex-partner.

“However, the investigation did find that there was sufficient evidence to charge the officer with kidnapping, assaulting and threatening his ex-wife.”

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The incidents occurred over several years while they were married, the IPCA said.

“The kidnapping related to an occasion in 2015 in which the officer prevented his ex-wife from leaving her bedroom. Police ultimately decided to charge the officer with a threatening act, due to any potential assault charge being time-barred.”

The IPCA agreed with the police’s decision to charge the officer, but said it “expected disciplinary proceedings to follow”.

“The officer appeared in court and later completed diversion for the charge. Following the proceedings, police indicated that they would not continue with an employment process for the officer, essentially because the incidents occurred before he became a police officer.

“We disagreed with police, confirming with them that the kidnapping occurred while the officer was in fact employed by police and that he also acknowledged a criminal offence through the diversion process at the same time.”

The authority said the officer met with the “employment decisionmaker” to respond to the concerns raised.

“During the meeting, police concluded that the officer’s actions did not warrant any disciplinary action. The process was formally concluded without the Authority being given an opportunity to comment on the outcome.

“The Authority subsequently expressed concern to police about the outcome, but acknowledges that ultimately, that is a matter for police as the employer.”

Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny said in a statement to RNZ the matter was investigated by police’s National Integrity Unit, independently of the officer’s district.

“Investigators found no evidence to support the claim of possession of child exploitation material.

“With regards to the allegations of family harm, the matter was put before police’s Criminal Charging Advisory Panel, and on their recommendation the officer was subsequently charged with a threatening act. He completed diversion for the charge.”

District staff also sought advice around conducting an employment investigation.

“The advice received was that because the officer was not employed at the time of the offending, police could not carry out an investigation.

“A senior member of staff instead had an expectation-setting meeting with the officer.”

The officer remained employed by police.

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

Labor down in Newspoll and Redbridge polls, with One Nation still in a clear second position

By The Conversation -

March 2, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

New federal polls from Newspoll and Redbridge have Labor’s primary vote dropping, with One Nation seven or nine points ahead of the Coalition in second place.

Labor maintains a clear two-party advantage over either One Nation or the Coalition. However, the total vote for the Coalition and One Nation combined increased two points to 47% in both these polls.

There are also two South Australian state polls for the March 21 election. Labor is still dominant in SA.

A national Newspoll, conducted February 23–26 from a sample of 1,237, gave Labor 32% of the primary vote (down one since the previous Newspoll three weeks ago), One Nation 27% (steady), the Coalition 20% (up two), the Greens 11% (down one) and all Others 10% (steady).

With the Coalition still seven points behind One Nation, no two-party estimate was given. Applying 2025 election preference flows would give Labor about a 54–46 lead over the Coalition, a two-point gain for the Coalition.

Anthony Albanese’s net approval slumped five points to -15, with 55% dissatisfied and 40% satisfied. Angus Taylor’s initial net approval was -3 (38% dissatisfied, 35% satisfied), a huge improvement on Sussan Ley’s -39 in her final Newspoll as Liberal leader. Albanese led Taylor as better PM by 45–37 (49–30 vs Ley).

Albanese’s net approval in this Newspoll is his worst since he scored -21 in mid-February 2025. But at the May 2025 election, Labor won a landslide. Here is the graph of Albanese’s net approval in Newspoll with a smoothed line.

Redbridge poll

A national Redbridge and Accent Research poll for The Australian Financial Review, conducted February 23–27 from a sample of 1,006, gave Labor 32% of the primary vote (down two since the previous Redbridge poll in late January), One Nation 28% (up two), the Coalition 19% (steady), the Greens 12% (up one) and all Others 9% (down one).

By respondent preferences, Labor led One Nation by 54–46 and the Coalition by 53–47, with Labor’s lead against the Coalition increasing to 54–46 by 2025 election flows, a two-point gain for the Coalition.

Albanese’s net favourability fell three points to -13, Taylor’s improved three points to -1 and Pauline Hanson’s was up one to -2. In a three-way preferred PM question, Albanese had 34% (down three), Hanson 23% (not previously asked) and Taylor 10% (up one vs Ley).

SA DemosAU poll has Labor landslide

It’s less than three weeks until the March 21 South Australian state election. The Poll Bludger reported that a DemosAU poll, conducted January 31 to February 16 from a sample of 1,070, gave Labor 43% of the primary vote (down four since the DemosAU October poll), One Nation 19% (not previously asked), the Liberals 18% (down three), the Greens 12% (down one) and all Others 8% (down 11).

While this poll was recently released, it was taken before the SA Newspoll and YouGov polls that I reported on February 20.

Eleven of the 22 upper house seats will be up for election by statewide proportional representation with preferences. A quota for election is one-twelfth of the vote or 8.3%. Upper house members have eight-year terms, so changes in representation are compared with the 2018 election.

A man stands at a podium and makes a victory fist in front of a crowd. — SA Premier Peter Malinauskas is well ahead as preferred premier. Matt Turner/AAP

In this poll, Labor had 38% of the upper house vote (up one since October), One Nation 21% (up nine), the Liberals 15% (down two), the Greens 11% (steady) and Family First 4% (up one). If these votes occur at the election, Labor would win four seats on raw quotas, One Nation two, the Liberals one and the Greens one. The three remaining seats would probably go to the Liberals, Labor and One Nation.

At the 2022 SA election, Labor won five of the 11 upper house seats up, the Liberals four, the Greens one and One Nation one. This poll suggests a total upper house ignoring defections of ten Labour out of 22 (up one since 2018), six Liberals (down two), four One Nation (up three) and two Greens (steady).

SA Morgan poll has One Nation at 28%

A SA SMS Morgan poll, conducted February 19–23 from a sample of 2,172, gave Labor 35% of the primary vote, One Nation 28%, the Liberals 16.5%, the Greens 11%, independents 6.5% and others 3%. In two-party matchups, Labor led One Nation by 59–41 and the Liberals by 61–39.

This poll has One Nation four points higher than in any other recent SA poll, with One Nation’s next highest 24% in Newspoll. In my discussion of a Victorian SMS Morgan poll that had One Nation first on primaries, I said SMS polls may be prone to having too many motivated respondents.

Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas had a 61–37 approval. Liberal leader Ashton Hurn was at 52–42 approval. Malinauskas led Hurn as better premier by 61–30.5

Tasmanian federal and state redistribution

A draft redistribution has proposed extensive changes to three of Tasmania’s five federal seats, which are also used at state elections. However, The Poll Bludger said the Labor vs Liberal two-party margins in all five seats were little changed.

UK: Greens gain very safe Labour seat at byelection

At the 2024 United Kingdom general election, Labour won over 50% in Gorton and Denton with no other party above 14%. At last Thursday’s byelection for this seat, Labour’s vote was halved, with the Greens winning nearly 41%, 12 points ahead of the far-right Reform, with Labour a further 3.3 points back in third. I covered this for The Poll Bludger.

– ref. Labor down in Newspoll and Redbridge polls, with One Nation still in a clear second position – https://theconversation.com/labor-down-in-newspoll-and-redbridge-polls-with-one-nation-still-in-a-clear-second-position-277081

AI is already creeping into election campaigns. NZ’s rules aren’t ready

By The Conversation -

March 2, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Lensen, Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

If you’re often on social media, you’ve probably seen it: the deluge of low-quality, artificial intelligence-made material clogging up our feeds.

So-called “AI slop” – the Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025 – is the result of generative AI being used at scale. It now floods the internet’s most visited platforms with often deliberately misleading text, images and video, siphoning clicks away from real news sources and confusing readers.

In New Zealand, AI-generated fake images of January’s tragic landslide at Mount Maunganui were widely shared, misleading people at a time of national disaster.

With a general election later this year, this is likely only the beginning. Already, political parties are toying with this new technology for their campaigns.

Warnings about the risks of AI-driven misinformation have been raised before in New Zealand, but its use is now accelerating – and the rules meant to govern it are struggling to keep up.

Politics in the AI age

On Facebook, bogus news sites have shared deep-fake AI videos purporting to show New Zealand politicians meeting at Waitangi and making policy announcements.

More concerningly, some parties have themselves begun using AI to attack opponents. The National Party has already been criticised for posting AI cartoon images of opposition leaders and for creating AI attack ads in the 2023 campaign.

Other parties hold mixed views on the use of AI in campaigning, potentially creating an unfair playing field in electioneering. While this might look like just another form of free speech in campaigning, the reality is more troubling.

Political attack ads have been around for centuries, but never has it been so cheap and easy to create them. At virtually no cost, and with minimal technical skill, almost anyone can now use AI to produce a smear campaign that would once have required professional illustration.

Even if political parties keep their distance, third-party lobby groups can do the dirty work instead. And foreign actors could use AI to interfere in New Zealand’s electoral process, potentially swaying an election as closely fought as the 2026 campaign is likely to be.

A much deeper problem lies in how AI can potentially distort voters’ perceptions. Research suggests people are more likely to believe someone is guilty of a crime when shown an AI-generated image – even when they know the content is fake.

At a time when trust in politicians is already low, that risks deepening political disengagement. AI also enables far more personalised campaigning: by profiling voters, a candidate can automatically generate messages tailored to their biggest concerns.

Where NZ’s election rules fall short

New Zealand fortunately has laws to govern election campaigns. But those safeguards were written in a very different technological era.

Current law regulates “election advertisements” in any media. The definition is very broad, covering any message that directly or indirectly promotes or opposes a party or candidate. A range of rules apply to all such material.

All election advertisements must include a “promoter’s statement” identifying who is responsible for them. Spending caps apply to producing and publishing these messages in the three months before election day. And any ad that promotes a party or candidate by name must first get their written permission.

Yet few constraints apply to the actual content of election advertisements. There is no obligation to disclose the use of AI in creating the message and there is no general prohibition on publishing misleading – or even outright false – election advertisements.

Instead, a handful of specific controls may apply to some AI generated election advertisements.

In the final three days of the election period, it is an offence to publish a statement you know is false if the aim is to influence how people vote. But this safeguard is weaker now that voting takes place over 12 days.

The law also bans “undue influence” over voters. This mainly covers force or threats, but it also includes using fraud to stop people voting freely.

In theory, this could apply to fake AI messages designed to suppress turnout or mislead voters about how the system works. But the law dates back to the 19th century and has not been used for many years.

How the law could catch up

What can be done? At a minimum, New Zealand should have rules that require election advertisements to disclose the use of AI, so voters can make an informed decision.

Another simple measure would be to extend the “no deliberate lies to influence voters” rule to cover the entire advance voting period.

Elsewhere, New Zealand can look to other countries now being forced to forge AI-focused laws.

The European Union and many US states, for instance, recently passed laws that apply to deepfakes in campaigning.

Closer to home, the Australian Electoral Commission has created a “disinformation register” to combat false claims about how the electoral process works. But this only applies to mechanics of voting processes, not to claims about parties or candidates.

At a time when democracy around the world feels increasingly fragile, protecting the integrity of New Zealand’s elections should be a priority. Free and fair elections depend on transparency, trust and an informed public.

AI is already testing those foundations. Updating the rules will not solve every problem, but doing nothing guarantees the problem will get worse.

– ref. AI is already creeping into election campaigns. NZ’s rules aren’t ready – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-already-creeping-into-election-campaigns-nzs-rules-arent-ready-275688

Split Enz have reunited – two more shows for NZ

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Now the seminal Kiwi band – which includes celebrated song-writing siblings Tim and Neil Finn as well as Eddie Rayner and Noel Crombie – have announced shows for Auckland and Wellington.

The will play at TSB Arena, Wellington on Wednesday, 6 May, followed by Spark Arena in Auckland on Saturday, 9 May.

Formed in New Zealand in 1972 before relocating to Australia three years later, Split Enz last live concert in New Zealand was in 2008.

Presale tickets will go on sale from 3 March with general release on 5 March at noon.

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

Strong winds disrupt Cook Strait passenger services

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bluebridge and Interislander in Picton Marlborough sounds RNZ/ Rachel Thomas

Two BlueBridge ferry sailings have been cancelled for passengers due to rough conditions in the Cook Strait.

MetService forecast southerly swells of up to 4m with winds reaching just over 80 km/h.

Strong winds are expected to continue through Tuesday.

BlueBridge sailings from Wellington at 1.30pm on Monday and from Picton at 2pm were affected.

The ferry company was looking to rebook affected customers or add them to standby lists on later sailings. Availability was limited due to “peak season demand”.

KiwiRail was not expecting to cancel is Interislander ferry sailings but some could be delayed.

“While sea conditions may make it a little bumpy at times, cancellations are not expected. The weather conditions are resulting in some delays in departure as we take additional required steps to ensure vehicles are securely loaded for the conditions,” a spokesperson said. Interislander would closely monitor conditions.

No formal weather watches or warnings were in place for the region, MetService’s website showed.

“A southerly flow covers the North Island on Tuesday, while a large high in the Tasman Sea extends over the South Island, its severe weather outlooks said, noting a “strong or gale southeasterly flow” for the offshore Chatham Islands.

Meanwhile, ferry services connecting Eastbourne and Wellington City had been cancelled at least 10am Monday because of the conditions.

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

Should third party vehicle insurance be compulsory? Why the costs could outweigh the benefits

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Supporters of compulsory third-party vehicle insurance argue that it will prevent innocent drivers from facing hefty repair bills they can’t afford.

However, recent comments from the transport minister suggest that such a change wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.

Chris Bishop told interest.co.nz that the mandatory third-party vehicle insurance wasn’t considered by the government as part of changes to the driver licensing system.

He also said the gains were not necessarily as high as everyone else thought, given the huge number of New Zealanders already had vehicle insurance.

Automobile Association road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen said making third-party insurance compulsory was complicated.

He told Nine to Noon it needed very careful consideration as it could add extra costs to both parties.

“When you have something like this, it has the potential to push premiums up for everybody to try and get that coverage,” Thomsen said.

“The last survey that was done in New Zealand looking at this, and it was quite some time ago, we had about 92 percent of drivers having insurance.

“To try and get to 100 percent, probably impossible because even the countries that have compulsory insurance haven’t achieved that.”

Thomsen said an important consideration was the cost of enforcing third-party insurance.

Some of the European countries were getting close to around 98 percent, but there was a catch, he said.

“They have spent a lot in terms of enforcement. They have to have a lot invested in databases that can link up,” Thomsen said.

“Most of the ones that have got that high have camera networks looking at license plates quite extensively. “

Thomsen said just like car registrations or warrant of fitness, while both mandatory, you will never get to 100 percent.

He acknowledged how frustrating it could be to get compensation after a crash with an uninsured driver.

But he said the key question was whether a compulsory system would actually provide more benefits than the costs.

“We don’t think the case has been made for that yet. We would like to see more updated information because most people already have insurance,” Thomsen said.

“We know warrant of fitness, car registrations, those are both mandatory and compulsory and we know not everybody has those. So, we’re never going to be able to get to 100%.

“How much better could it be? I think more information is needed.”

Thomsen also stressed that New Zealand did have a form of compulsory insurance through ACC, which covered the costs of injuries.

He said while Australia had compulsory third-party insurance, it was only for injuries, which was the same as ACC here.

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

Tyres slashed on three ambulances during Manukau break-in

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

St John district operations manager Andy Everiss said the action was highly disrespectful. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Police are searching for a group of people who slashed the tyres of ambulances in South Auckland this weekend.

They said the offenders broke into a gated yard at Hato Hone St John’s Manukau Station on Saturday night, puncturing five tyres across three ambulances.

“These are destructive actions, and consequences of actions such as this can put people’s lives at risk,” Senior Sergeant Roelof Burger said.

“As the vehicles are inoperable for a period of time, this impacts St John’s ability to respond to those who are in need of medical attention within our community.”

But St John district operations manager Andy Everiss said the action was highly disrespectful.

“Thankfully, this incident did not severely impact our emergency ambulance response, and we remain available to respond in an emergency,” he said.

Police are seeking CCTV or dashcam footage from the nearby Plunket Ave and Wiri Station Road to help identify the people responsible.

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

The Detail: Net fishing is in, then out again as National Party does a backflip

By Evening Report -

March 2, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

A ring net fishing boat in Northland. Seafood NZ

National has announced that, if re-elected, it would ban ring-net fishing in some areas of the Hauraki Gulf, but the policy they’ve promised to reverse was their own

The battle has been long – fish versus fishing.

Now, the fight over the future of the Hauraki Gulf has erupted again, this time over politics, promises and what policy critics call a backflip.

Nine months out from the election, the National Party has pledged to ban the controversial practice of ring-netting in 12 high protection zones and to review rules around bottom trawling corridors. Currently, two high-protection zones can be accessed by five commercial fishers.

Announced by conservation minister Tama Potaka, the new policy pushes against a decision his own government made last year and comes as a “confusing” blow to Seafood New Zealand.

“The health of our oceans and the sustainability of our fisheries resources are absolutely critical to us,” Seafood New Zealand chief executive Lisa Futschek tells ‘The Detail’. “Without that, we don’t have businesses, we don’t create jobs and we don’t supply healthy protein to Kiwis,

“We work really hard on these credentials, but the policy reversal… I really do question whether it is about sustainability.”

She says the five fishers allowed to fish in the two high-protection areas “run small family businesses, they have been fishing in the area for decades, it’s really low impact, they have small boats… and their nets are hand set and hauled”.

“It’s hard to argue this is a sustainability measure,” Futschek says. “It’s really unfortunate, because these ring-net fishers were caught in what are now high-protection areas, lines were drawn, their operations weren’t considered and it really is unfair.”

“The exceptions that the government made were just transitions for these guys, so they could adapt their businesses and prepare for some time in the future, when those exceptions were no longer allowed.

“The fact that the National caucus has decided to roll those back early – or certainly they are electioneering on that promise – is really confusing to us, because it isn’t about sustainability and we would like to understand what it is really about.”

Newsroom senior business journalist Andrew Bevin, who is covering the story, tells ‘The Detail’ the policy backflip is a surprise move by the National Party.

“It’s not often you see someone campaigning to undo their own decision as an election policy,” says Bevin, whose story ran under the headline ‘Fisheries emerges as unlikely election battleground’.

“To come out with a fisheries policy nine months before the election tells you that this is something we are going to have a real discussion about this year.”

He says National has opted to campaign for this new policy, because the current situation is “just so unpopular”.

“It’s become a poster child of what has been seen as an anti-environmental agenda from the coalition and this perceived favouring of industry over fishing rights for the public – recreational fishermen, who are cut out of these high protection areas.”

Environmental groups, scientists and recreational fishers have long been vocal that the Gulf is under pressure like never before.

They point to declining biodiversity, stressed fish stocks and seabeds scarred by trawling, but Futschek argues that commercial fishers are being unfairly painted as ocean villains when, in their view, they’re among the most regulated fishers in the world.

“To say that the commercial fishing industry is responsible for the decline in biodiversity and ecosystems in the Gulf is simply wrong,” she says. “Putting the blame at our feet is completely unfair and I reject that.”

She says quotas, monitoring and strict rules already govern what they can catch – and further bans could cripple businesses, coastal jobs and food supply chains.

She believes the current setup works.

“New Zealand can be hugely proud of a quota-management system that has seen our stocks revive, has seen us fishing sustainably, has seen us the envy of the world, really, in terms of the way we manage our fishery.”

She says the seafood industry is adapting – trialling new gear, reducing seabed impact, investing in sustainability – but trust, she admits, is harder to rebuild than a fish stock.

That may be the real battle here. Not just fish versus fishing – but credibility versus suspicion.

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

Tyres slashes on three ambulanceduring Manukau break-in