A viral monkey, his plushie, and a 70-year-old experiment: what Punch tells us about attachment theory

February 23, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Nielsen, Associate Professor, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland

A baby macaque monkey named Punch has gone viral for his heart-wrenching pursuit of companionship.

After being abandoned by his mother and rejected by the rest of his troop, his zookeepers at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan provided Punch with an orangutan plushie as a stand-in mother. Videos of the monkey clinging to the toy have gone viral worldwide.

But Punch’s attachment to his inanimate companion is not just the subject of a heartbreaking video. It also harks back to the story of a famous set of psychology experiments conducted in the 1950s by US researcher Harry Harlow.

The findings from his experiments underpin many of the central tenets of attachment theory, which positions the bond between parent and child as crucial in child development.

What were Harlow’s experiments?

Harlow took rhesus monkeys from birth, and removed them from their mothers. These monkeys were raised in an enclosure in which they had access to two surrogate “mothers”.

One was a wire cage shaped into the form of a “mother” monkey, which could provide food and drink via a small feeder.

The other was a monkey-shaped doll wrapped in terry towelling. This doll was soft and comfortable, but it didn’t provide food or drink; it was little more than a furry figure the baby monkey could cling to.

A monkey rests snuggled up against its cloth surrogate mother. — The wire ‘mother’ and the soft ‘mother’ in Harlow’s experiment. Harlow, H. F. (1958). The nature of love. American Psychologist, 13(12), 673–685.

So, we have one option that provides comfort, but no food or drink, and one that’s cold, hard and wiry but which provides dietary sustenance.

These experiments were a response to behaviourism, which was the prevailing theoretical view at the time.

Behaviourists suggested babies form attachments to those who provide them with their biological needs, such as food and shelter.

Harlow challenged this theory by suggesting babies need care, love and kindness to form attachments, rather than just physical nourishment.

A behaviourist would have expected the infant monkeys to spend all their time with the wire “mother” that fed them.

In fact, that’s not what happened. The monkeys spent significantly more time each day clinging to the terry towelling “mother”.

Harlow’s 1950s experiments established the importance of softness, care and kindness as the basis for attachment. Given the opportunity, Harlow showed, babies prefer emotional nourishment over physical nourishment.

How did this influence modern attachment theory?

Harlow’s discovery was significant because it completely reoriented the dominant behaviourist view of the time. This dominant view suggested primates, including humans, function in reward and punishment cycles, and form attachments to whoever fulfils physical needs such as hunger and thirst.

Emotional nourishment was not a part of the behaviourist paradigm. So when Harlow did his experiments, he flipped the prevailing theory on its head.

The monkeys’ preference towards emotional nourishment, in the form of cuddling the furry terry towel-covered surrogate “mother”, formed the foundation for the development of attachment theory.

Attachment theory posits that healthy child development occurs when a child is “securely attached” to its caregiver. This is achieved by the parent or caregiver providing emotional nourishment, care, kindness and attentiveness to the child. Insecure attachment occurs when the parent or caregiver is cold, distant, abusive or neglectful.

Much like the rhesus monkeys, you can feed a human baby all they need, give them all the dietary nourishment they require, but if you don’t provide them with warmth and love, they’re not going to form an attachment to you.

What can we learn from Punch?

The zoo was not conducting an experiment, but Punch’s situation inadvertently reflects the controlled experiment Harlow did. So, the experimental setup was mimicked in a more natural setting, but the outcomes look very similar.

Just as Harlow’s monkeys favoured their terry towelling mother, Punch has formed an attachment to his IKEA plushie companion.

Now, what we don’t have with the zoo situation is the comparison to a harsh, physically nourishing option provided.

But clearly, that’s not what the monkey was looking for. He wanted a comforting and soft safe place, and that’s what the doll provided.

Were Harlow’s experiments ethical?

Most of the world now recognises primates as having rights that are, in some cases, equivalent to human rights.

Today, we would see Harlow’s experiments as a cruel and unkind thing to do. You wouldn’t take a human baby away from its mother and do this experiment, so we shouldn’t do this to primates.

It’s interesting to see people so fascinated by this parallel to an experiment conducted more than 70 years ago.

Punch the monkey is not just the internet’s latest animal celebrity – he’s a reminder of the importance of emotional nourishment.

We all need soft spaces. We all need safe spaces. Love and warmth are far more important for our wellbeing and functioning than physical nourishment alone.

– ref. A viral monkey, his plushie, and a 70-year-old experiment: what Punch tells us about attachment theory – https://theconversation.com/a-viral-monkey-his-plushie-and-a-70-year-old-experiment-what-punch-tells-us-about-attachment-theory-276625

The Coalition has proposed vouchers for nannies or child care. It raises more questions than answers

By The Conversation -

February 23, 2026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Victoria Whitington, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct), Adelaide University

The federal Coalition has proposed an alternative to the universal child care system involving vouchers that could be used for long daycare, family daycare, nannies or a combination of these.

Senator Leah Blyth argues in an opinion article in The Australian Financial Review that a voucher system would provide families with choice and flexibility to better meet their needs.

This would be in contrast to the current system, in which the federal government directly funds long day childcare and family day care with subsidies to the service provider. Blyth argues the subsidised system distorts the workforce.

So what are the actual problems the vouchers would address? And how would they address the current shortcomings in the system?

The child care system has bigger problems

The most recent and well publicised issues in long daycare, used by 47% of Australian families with children under five, include:

child safety (including abuse)
insufficient appropriately qualified educators and teachers
high educator and teacher turnover rates – educators and teachers must be able to engage with children and families over time, building relationships of trust
the predominance of for-profit services (75% nationally that by their structure are very likely to put profit ahead of quality of care for children
the undersupply of places, also called “child care deserts” – these are geographical areas where there are either insufficient or no services to meet demand.

Surely, any proposal for reform needs to address at least some of these challenges.

Would a voucher change the choices available?

The voucher proposition raises several concerns.

Choice of service implies that such services exist. Many families live in areas where there is little choice. In rural, remote and regional areas, or on the outskirts of cities, there may be just one service. Or there may be insufficient demand for a centre to be financially viable.

A focus on choice also implies parents know what childcare services are available and what they offer, and can make an informed choice.

A sparkling new building or frequent media advertising, for example, may not inform parents about staff retention rates, qualifications, or the centre’s Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority quality rating.

The Coalition argues that over-regulation strangles supply. Currently, state-based regulators are working to improve quality by shutting down consistently underperforming centres. Centres are carefully assessing educator qualifications. Reducing regulation will not address safety and quality issues.

Extending the vouchers to in-home care, such as nannies, would ignore safety issues. Measures are underway to address the employment of abusers in long daycare. But a voucher system that includes in-home nanny care could give abusers unsupervised and long day access to young children.

Group of People Sitting on Green Grass Field — A voucher system would let parents choose from different types of child care. Kampus/Pexels

Given the staffing crisis, it is difficult to see how making the system less financially stable due to dependency on vouchers would encourage potential educators to consider a career in the sector.

How would centres plan for the future?

As in any organisation, whether for profit or not-for-profit, financial viability is critical. Centres must have reliable funding sources to operate a continuing service.

Salaries are the biggest cost in any service, followed by running costs. Under the current model, centres are able to plan for these costs because they know the numbers of children, their age and attendance, well in advance.

Under the proposed voucher model, funding would be more likely to fluctuate, which could make service planning difficult due to financial instability. It would also increase the administrative burden.

Vouchers would need to set the cost of care for each child per hour and per day. Because costs vary between cities and regions, it would be difficult to calculate a uniform cost per child that could apply across Australia.

Families with children with special needs often experience difficulty in finding a service. These children require costly additional support that services claim they cannot provide. Currently, an additional childcare subsidy is only available under certain conditions such as temporary financial hardship. A voucher system would need to consider this particular challenge.

Why do we put our children in early years education and care?

As a nation, we need to decide on the primary purpose of early years education and care.

Is to provide care for children so that their parents can be part of the workforce, increasing overall productivity?

Or is its purpose to provide children and families with access to high quality early childhood education and care, which is their right? If we choose the second, we need to consider whether the provision of a voucher system would align with that goal.

– ref. The Coalition has proposed vouchers for nannies or child care. It raises more questions than answers – https://theconversation.com/the-coalition-has-proposed-vouchers-for-nannies-or-child-care-it-raises-more-questions-than-answers-276268

Runner Sam Ruthe rewrites the record books

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sam Ruthe’s run at the Potts Classic in January broke the under-17, U18, U19, and U20 national 800m records. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz

Runner Sam Ruthe has officially rewritten the record book, as he now holds every under-20 accolade possible.

Having already claimed record times from 800-5000m, there was one distance evading his near-perfect resume, the 3000m.

However, Ruthe completed the feat on Monday afternoon (NZT), as he comfortable eclipsed the time of 7:54.30 set by Liam Black in 2021, shaving more than 10 seconds off the record at the Saucony Battle in Boston.

Ruthe crossed the finish in 7:43.16, coming second behind American Ernest Cheruiyot.

Ruth shot out of the blocks quickly and was just .03 seconds behind Cheruiyot at the first 200m.

He dropped back to third after 800m, before he and Cheruiyot were separated by 0.24 seconds with 400m to go.

Ruth would produce his slowest 200m on the final stretch, though it was still more than fast enough to take the record.

Boston University is a happy running ground for Ruthe, the site of his historic 3:48 mile.

Ruthe became the youngest athlete to ever run a mile quicker than 3m 50s and took the New Zealand men’s record from Sir John Walker, which he held for 44 years.

Sam Ruthe’s complete crown of under-20 records:

800m – 1:45.86
1000m – 2:17.82
1500m – 3:33.25
Mile – 3:48.88 (NZ Mile Record)
3000m – 7:43.16
5000m – 13:40.48

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

Man charged over indecent assaults of Auckland students, teacher

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / REECE BAKER

A man in his 60s has been charged over what police say were indecent assaults of high school students and a staff member on Auckland’s North Shore.

It was the alleged assault of the teacher, last Monday, that led to further charges relating to incidents against students last year.

The staff member was on duty outside the school on the afternoon of 16 February, relieving Waitematā East Area Commander Mike Rickards said.

“A man has allegedly indecently assaulted the teacher before she confronted him,” he said.

“The alarm has been raised when other teachers saw this confrontation and immediately contacted 111.”

Rickards said police responded with urgency and found the man in the Milford area, and he was arrested soon after.

The 64-year-old was charged with doing an indecent act.

But that arrest sparked further police enquiries into a series of similar events in November last year.

“An extensive investigation was carried out to identify a man who had allegedly carried out similar behaviour, directed towards several high school students on the same day,” Rickards said.

That day was 11 November, and nobody was found at the time.

But on Friday, detectives laid two more indecent assault charges against the man.

“The students did the right thing at the end of last year and reported the offending, this information informed the school network so on Monday staff sprang into action.”

He has also been charged with assault over a separate incident allegedly involving an elderly woman at St Lukes, also in November 2025.

The man has appeared in the North Shore District Court and will appear again on new charges this Friday.

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ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for February 23, 2026

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on February 23, 2026.

PODCAST: A View from Afar – Defining a Way Forward When the World is in Chaos
PODCAST: A View from Afar – Paul G. Buchanan: “The sad fact, though, is that the US is the center of our earthly geopolitical universe, serving as the first rock to drop in the global pond whose ripple effects are extensive, negative, and washing up in unexpected and unforeseen ways. That rock, in fact, is a black hole sucking the remnants of the rule based order into oblivion, or if not oblivion, irrelevance in a new age of power politics (might makes right, etc.). It is a dark force from which things as they exist cannot return.”

250 million-year-old amphibian fossils from Australia reveal global spread of ‘sea-salamanders’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lachlan Hart, Lecturer, School of Education, UNSW Sydney The Kimberley region in the north-west corner of Western Australia is full of rugged ranges and gorges, and long stretches of red soil and rocky ground. The dry seasons are long, and the wet seasons often flood the Martuwarra

The work women do has changed. The case for pay equity in NZ hasn’t
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Meehan, Director, NZ Policy Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology Pay equity is back in the spotlight in New Zealand, with an unofficial “people’s select committee” about to report on last year’s legislative changes that overhauled the process and cancelled existing claims. As we await its

After the Milan Cortina medals, what comes next for Australian winter sports?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Milan Cortina 2026 was Australia’s most successful Winter Olympics. From 1936-2022, Australia won 19 medals, including six golds. This year, Australia has added another six medals, including three golds. How has this happened and what

As war in Ukraine enters a 5th year, will the ‘Putin consensus’ among Russians hold?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Rutland, Professor of Government, Wesleyan University Perceived wisdom has it that the longer a war goes on, the less enthusiastic a public becomes for continuing the conflict. After all, it is ordinary citizens who tend to bear the economic and human costs. And yet, as the

In Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights, domestic abuse has been recast as consensual kink
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Drury, PhD Candidate in History, Lancaster University Much has been done, by way of interviews and Instagram reels, to market Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights as a tale of ferocious passion and untameable desire. The question of precisely whose passion we see play out onscreen is a

How can unis balance academic freedom with the need to protect against antisemitism?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pnina Levine, Senior Lecturer, Curtin Law School, Curtin University Australian students are returning to university campuses for the start of the academic year. They do so amid highly charged debates around racism and antisemitism. Australian universities have been accused both of failing to protect freedom of speech

The ground beneath Sydney emits radiation. But it’s nothing to worry about
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Manenti, Experimental particle physicist, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney When most people hear the word radiation, their mind jumps straight to nuclear disasters, such as at Chernobyl or Fukushima. But radiation is everywhere. In fact, right now, as you read this, you are being exposed

Gaza’s cultural sites have been decimated. UNESCO’s muted response sets a dangerous precedent
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Isakhan, Professor of International Politics, Deakin University Since October 2023, Israel’s war in Gaza has caused mass human suffering. But it has also brought devastation to the cultural heritage of the Palestinian people. In our recent article in the International Journal of Heritage Studies, we documented

Planning a face lift? Why asking about your mental health doesn’t always hit the mark
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Toni Pikoos, Adjunct Research Fellow, Swinburne University of Technology; Federation University Australia If you walk into a cosmetic surgeon’s office, you probably wouldn’t expect to be asked about your recent break-up or how you cope with stress. But in Australia, that has been standard practice for nearly

Good fungus may one day help save plants from bad fungus like deadly myrtle rust disease
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Moffitt, Associate Professor in Microbiology, Western Sydney University What do coffee, sugar, wheat, soy, eucalypts and paperbarks all have in common? They are all susceptible to parasitic rust diseases caused by fungi. Plant rust disease can easily be spotted by the characteristic orange or yellow spores

Satellite imaging is now vital for disaster management. But there are dangerous gaps in our systems
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Marie Brennan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Waikato The extreme weather events and resulting destruction that have hit New Zealand this summer are not only signs of a changing climate. They also highlight the now indispensable role of remote sensing satellite technology. Broadly, remote sensing

Beyond Gaza, Israel pushes to occupy more of the West Bank
While the world has focused on the atrocities in Gaza, Israel continues its support of illegal settlements, hostility and apartheid in the West Bank. Asia-Pacific specialist journalist Ben Bohane reports from Bethlehem for Michael West Media. SPECIAL REPORT: By Ben Bohane We are no more than 5 minutes out of Bethlehem on a crisp December

Roger Fowler, a legend of the Aotearoa solidarity movement, dies at 77
OBITUARY: By David Robie Roger Norman Fowler: 12 September 1948 – 21 February 2026 Roger Fowler, an activist legend of social justice solidarity movements from Bastion Point to resisting apartheid and racist rugby tours and freedom for Palestine, has died after a long illness. He was 77. Described by some as a “true Tāne Toa”,

Climate-related migration: Is New Zealand living up to the ‘Pacific family’ rhetoric?
SPECIAL REPORT: By Coco Lance, RNZ Pacific digital journalist Last week, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said Aotearoa’s immigration settings were “no way to treat our Pacific cousins”. “All Pacific people want is a fair go, equivalent to what other nations are getting, and they’re not getting it,” he said outside Parliament. While Peters’

How could Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor be removed from the line of succession to the throne?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor Emerita in Constitutional Law, University of Sydney The place of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, former prince and brother of the king, in the line of succession to the British throne appears to be under threat in the United Kingdom. Currently, Mountbatten-Windsor is eighth in line (after

The Epstein scandal has battered Britain’s political establishment. Can the radical-right Reform party benefit?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Wellings, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Monash University The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office will heap yet more pressure on the beleaguered government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest over allegations he passed government documents to sex

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for February 22, 2026
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on February 22, 2026.

Hipikins speech like ‘lump of jelly’ filled with sentiment, says Willis

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation speech read like a “lump of jelly” filled with sentiment, but no concrete plans, and that Chat GPT could have written it, says Nationals’ deputy leader.

Nicola Willis is calling for a contest of “actual ideas” with the Labour leader, because if the party does not come up with policy, “the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are ready to go”.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters also criticised Hipkins for one of the “most boring State of the Nation speeches in recorded history”, and ACT leader David Seymour called it “featherweight”.

Hipkins made the speech in Auckland today, taking aim at the government’s cost of living and climate policies. He did not announce any new policy, but repeated his promise that the public would see a “different” Labour to 2023.

Willis said she was more sorrowful than angry in response, hoping she would be able to debate a new policy idea from the Labour Party.

“Politics at its best is a contest of ideas about how we address the challenges our country is facing and how we move forward,” she said.

National deputy leader Nicola Willis RNZ / Mark Papalii

She expected an alternative set of ideas from the leader of the opposition who was “talking down New Zealand at every turn”.

“Instead, his speech read like a lump of jelly filled with platitudes and sentiment but no concrete plans.”

She referenced policy ideas from the Greens and Te Pāti Māori who had “laid out their plans”, saying “policy loves a vacuum”.

Willis said ahead of the 2023 election, National had presented the frame of an alternative tax approach, and a five-point “inflation busting plan”.

Taking a swipe at the media, she said Hipkins had not been “accountable at all” on his spending, borrowing or taxation plans, and he should be able to give New Zealanders a “broad indication”, rather than waiting for Budget 2026 to be released.

Going into the budget, he should have some clear parameters, she said, asking whether he thought debt should be higher and he wanted to collect more tax.

“Hipkins just doesn’t have any ideas. And you are all letting him get away with a really facile approach.”

Peters took to social media to criticise the speech as “boring”, calling the Labour leader Chris “softly” Hipkins, and saying he may as well have just sent out a press release.

“He couldn’t even fill a smoko room with a public meeting so had to tack on to a chamber of commerce hosted event.”

Peters said there was no new policy, no new plan and no new announcements. Similarly, he referenced the Greens and Te Pāti Māori suggesting Hipkins may be waiting for those parties to “fill the gaps.”

Hipkins talked about health, housing, and the economy Peters said, but New Zealanders don’t forget the “disaster” he delivered last time, including “debt, massive immigration, massive increases in crime.”

“Good luck to the mainstream media trying to dissect his ‘say-nothing’ speech,” finished Peters.

Seymour also weighed in, saying Hipkins’ speech was not lightweight, it was featherweight, and any politician could have read it out.

Seymour said Hipkins did not present any plan to pay for any promise, “underneath the smooth words there are no solutions, just new problems”.

“Hipkins’ examples of affordable policies included ‘free’ GP visits and a new Auckland harbour crossing without tolls on the existing bridge. But he can’t make the cost of those policies disappear. Someone has to pay, he just hopes Kiwis won’t ask who.”

He said the most glaring omission was how Labour would fund the “roughly $13bn hole created by its commitment to reverse the government’s pay equity changes”.

“We’re left wondering whether Hipkins plans to raise taxes, borrow more, or cut services elsewhere.

“Hipkins didn’t even mention crime, and not a word on Labour’s view of the Treaty and how to keep the country united.”

When Hipkins was asked why he did not announce any new policy, he told reporters he had restated Labour’s priorities, but said a lot can happen in six months and he didn’t want to make any promises he would have to change.

“I’m not saying that we won’t be making any promises before the election. We absolutely will, but it’ll be closer to the election once we know what we can deliver.”

He said it was responsible to wait and see what state the economy was in heading into the election.

“Remember, Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon said they were both going to bring down grocery prices. Now they’re saying the promises to bring down grocery prices would be irresponsible. Well, which is it? They actually promised to do that, and now they’re not delivering on it.”

He said a State of the Nation speech was about reflecting on “where we’re at now”, the challenges facing the country and the direction “we can go as a country”.

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

Christchurch father and son in hospital after ‘bloodbath’ dog attack

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Emergency services at a house in Bryndwr, Christchurch. Sam Sherwood / RNZ

A dog attack that left a Christchurch father and his teenage son in hospital resembled a bloodbath, a friend of the dogs’ owner says.

The father and son were visiting a friend in Bevin Place in Bryndwr on Saturday afternoon when the boy was attacked by two American Bulldog cross dogs.

The boy aged in his early teens was seriously injured, while his father suffered critical injuries trying to protect his son.

The dogs’ owner also sustained minor injuries during the attack.

On Monday police said a 40-year-old woman had been summonsed to court under the Dog Control Act in relation to the attack.

A friend of the dogs’ owner, who did not want to be identified, said the attack came out of nowhere and everyone was in shock.

“I know what the risk factors are and these dogs don’t fit the description, they really don’t,” she said.

“This is not a shit owner, this is not shit dogs. This is just a really, really horrible event. I can’t put it down to any one thing. The kid isn’t someone who’s going to be kicking the dogs or anything, he just ran outside.”

The woman said the boy knew the dogs, who were sisters and had lived with their owner since they were born about four years ago.

“She’s a good dog owner. They’re usually very obedient, they’re respectful dogs, they ask before they eat or get on the couch or anything,” she said.

“The property is well secured. Everything is set up to succeed and for some reason everything escalated that day.”

After the dogs started barking at the boy, his father and the owner rushed to help him, the friend said.

“They ran out there yelling at the dogs to stop and that might have enhanced the excitement at the time,” she said.

“Then they managed to separate the dogs off and confine them and started moving towards the front of the property to get the kid out of the front gate to safety.”

The woman said the dogs escaped and again rushed at the boy and that was when the man was grievously injured while trying to protect his son.

“He got him on to the bonnet of the car and he was trying to fend the dogs off and because he was in between them and the kid, they got him,” she said.

“All the bites were on the legs.

“Our friend, he’s the one classed as critical, he’s actually fine but it nicked a vein so there was quite a lot of blood coming out. It looked like something terrible had happened. It was a bloodbath.”

The woman said the pair remained in hospital and might need surgery.

“They’re in good spirits and they’re recovering and stable,” she said.

She said dogs’ owner had apologised to the boy’s father and he had replied, “what are you sorry for? This isn’t your fault”.

“The kid’s a lovely kid, he’s a nice guy. Everything is just a really shit, horrible situation,” she said.

“I was just speaking to him before and he was good. His son was singing songs and in high spirits.”

The woman was questioning how the attack happened.

“The owner’s devastated. She’s devastated for her friend and his son, and her dogs,” she said.

“They’re family pets. She’s got a one-year-old child and they’ve always been really great with the kid. They’re used to children.

“There was an incident a few months ago where police were searching a neighbouring property and they wanted to come over on to this property to search for whoever they were chasing and they pepper-sprayed the dogs and ever since then they’ve really not been the same. They’ve been more reactive.

“I can’t understand why once they were confined they still felt the need to break out again and neither does their owner. She’s devastated and she’s pretty realistic about the fact that she’s not going to try to fight to keep the dogs. Realistically they’re going to have to be in [the pound] for a long time and it costs per day to have them in there and the chances of them ever saying, ‘yeah, good idea, keep the dogs’ is probably never going to be high and she’s got a baby to think about.

“So she’s probably going to do the really hard thing and it’s really sad because you can’t even say goodbye to them and I know that sounds probably insane to anybody else because these are the dogs that did the attack but to us they’re family. We know them really well, they’re not horrible dogs.”

Christchurch City Council said it had not previously received complaints about the dogs.

“The dogs have been impounded pending an ongoing police investigation,” the council said.

“The owner may voluntarily surrender the dogs for euthanasia or on conviction the court must grant an order for destruction unless the owner can demonstrate exceptional circumstances as to why the dogs should not be destroyed.”

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Million dollar pay day for golfer Ryan Fox

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

It was a top 10 finish for Auckland golfer Ryan Fox on the PGA Tour.

Fox carded a final round four under par 67 to finish at 12 under and in a tie for seventh at the Genesis Invitational in California.

He started the day in a share of ninth and opened with an eagle on the first hole before mixing the rest of his round with four birdies and two bogeys.

American Jacob Bridgeman won the $33 million tournament at the Riviera Golf Course in Los Angeles by one shot.

It is another good result for Fox on the PGA Tour this year after scoring top 25 finishes at both the Phoenix Open and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He pockets $1 million for today’s result, which takes his season earnings to $1.4 million.

The result will help the Kiwi world number 49 to improve his FedEx Cup standing to inside the top 25.

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PODCAST: A View from Afar – Defining a Way Forward When the World is in Chaos

By Selwyn Manning -

February 23, 2026

Screenshot 2026-02-23 at 11.52.04 AM — A View from Afar podcast with Paul G. Buchanan and Selwyn Manning.

A View from Afar

PODCAST: A View from Afar - Defining a Way Forward When the World is in Chaos

00:00 / 1:25:41

Tena Koutou Katoa welcome to a new series of A View from Afar.

For this, the sixth series of A View from Afar, political scientist and former Pentagon analyst Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning deep-dive into geopolitical issues and trends to unpick relevancy from a world experiencing rapid and significant change.

And, in this episode, the topic will be: How to Define A Way Forward When the World is in Chaos.

Since the re-election of the US President Donald Trump, Paul has been doing a lot of work… a lot of reading… and a huge amount of thinking.

Today we hear from Paul about:

The US Trump Administration’s “Authoritarianism at home, Imperialism abroad” currency.
How to deconstruct the entire “spheres of Influence” nonsense.
About United States fears of the rise of the Global South in a poly-centric world.
And Paul and I will lean-forward and consider; what to expect in the medium and longterm.

If listeners enjoy interaction in a LIVE recording environment, you can comment and question the hosts while they record this podcast. And, when you do so, the hosts can include your comments and questions in future programmes.

With this in mind, Paul and Selwyn especially encourage you to join them via YouTube, as on YouTube live interaction is especially efficient.

You can join the podcast here (and remember to subscribe and get notifications too by clicking the bell):

OK, let us know what you think about this discussion. Let the debate begin!

*******

SIGNIFICANT QUOTE PAUL G. BUCHANAN: “The sad fact, though, is that the US is the center of our earthly geopolitical universe, serving as the first rock to drop in the global pond whose ripple effects are extensive, negative, and washing up in unexpected and unforeseen ways. That rock, in fact, is a black hole sucking the remnants of the rule based order into oblivion, or if not oblivion, irrelevance in a new age of power politics (might makes right, etc.). It is a dark force from which things as they exist cannot return.”

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NZ Rugby agrees to new deal with players

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The agreement includes the expansion of the medical, life and trauma insurance cover to include Aupiki players. ©INPHO/Billy Stickland / PHOTOSPORT

A greater investment in health and well-being, and rewards for long service are among the changes to the new collective agreement between players and New Zealand Rugby.

The New Zealand Rugby Players Association (RPA) and NZR have settled on a new three-year agreement for professional rugby in Aotearoa.

The agreement covers 1 January of this year through until 31 December 2028.

It includes the expansion of the medical, life and trauma insurance cover to include Aupiki players, while players will continue to receive 36.56 percent of player generated revenue over the term.

With offshore movement still a major drain on the Kiwi talent pool, the agreement will see increased annual investment for player retention, personal development, education, financial planning and player health and safety.

There is also the allocation of the player payment pool to ensure all professional players receive additional player payments and benefits.

Women will have greater incentive to stay in the country, with a new Super Rugby Aupiki contracting model seeing hub-based players paid $25,000 with campaign-only players getting $20,000.

Longevity will also be rewarded, with additional payments based on length of service for Sevens, in Super Rugby Pacific and for NPC players.

To harness future talent, a new scholarship fund will be established, co-designed by NZR with the parties providing up to $500,000 in 2026 and $1m per year in 2027 and 2028.

RPA chief executive Rob Nichol said the new Partnership Agreement was an influential turning point.

“This Partnership is a powerful and progressive agreement and delivers significant investment in the personal development and education, retention and long-term support of our professional players. It will position us well in a constantly evolving and competitive landscape.”

NZR interim chief executive Steve Lancaster said professional players were a huge factor in the success of the business and the game at every level.

“It’s critical that we are aligned with the RPA and act together in the best interests of our game and its stakeholders, and this new partnership reflects that commitment. It’s particularly pleasing to increase the investment in the Black Ferns, Black Ferns Sevens and Super Rugby Aupiki, and to commit to a greater connection between our professional players and the wider rugby community.”

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

Rugby: Tevita Ofa hopes to follow in Julian Savea’s footsteps

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tevita Ofa wants to emulate the impact Savea had on his younger self on the next generation. Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz

Shaking his idol Julian Savea’s hand was a surreal moment for an 11-year-old Tevita Ofa.

Now in 2026, he calls him team-mate.

“He was my favourite player growing up. He was awesome in that 2015 World Cup and they ended up bringing the trophy to where my primary had a rippa rugby competition and I got to meet him,” Ofa said.

“I rocked up on stage, and he was there. I was just buzzing. I was just so grateful that I got to shake his hand and now to be in the same environment as him, being able to see him now, it’s surreal. I still hold those memories close.”

Initially star-struck, Ofa is now able to call on his hero for advice.

“He’s awesome, always keeping me honest, always holding me accountable and then he’s always there to pick me up when I do make those mistakes.

“He’s one you can go to. He’s always open. He’s not afraid to help the young boys out. So, whenever I need to ask questions, I’ll go to him first.”

The electric Counties winger wants to emulate the impact Savea had on his younger self, on the next generation.

“I hope I can have that influence on someone, especially the young Polynesian kids coming through.”

Ofa plays his NPC rugby for Counties Manukau. Photosport

Ofa grew up in Manurewa with four rugby-mad siblings.

“We always played rugby, whether it was at the park or out on the road, because we live on a dead-end, just wherever we could throw the pill around, we always had a pill in our hand.”

As well as Savea, Ofa was not short on legendary wingers to look up to, being schooled at Wesley College.

“Obviously, when you hear about Wesley, you hear about Jonah, so there’s another big inspiration.”

The younger Savea has also been instrumental in Ofa’s development, with Ardie’s spectacular season with Moana in 2025 lighting a fire under the franchise.

“Ardie’s pretty important in his own respect. But, we want to not only to prove a point to everybody else, but also to ourselves. We spoke about there’s going to be a big hole, but it’s on us to fill that hole.”

Having spent time with the Chiefs academy and development side, Ofa was given his shot at Super in 2025 by Tana Umaga.

“It means a lot. They gave me an opportunity when no one else would, I also get to represent my family and my parents. They migrated from the island, so I’m carrying a lot of people on my back, and I’m proud to carry that.”

He said it’s a special environment being surrounded by his Pasifika brothers.

“The culture here is second to none. All the boys here love to have a laugh. But when we get on the field, it’s all business, the boys know that when we get out there, we need to switch on, get our job done, and then when we get off, boys have a laugh, have a muck.”

Ofa enjoyed a strong rookie season, but was not content with his performance.

“I want to earn a starting spot in this team, whether that’s on the wing or in the centres. I want to come back stronger this year. I wasn’t satisfied with my performance last year. I felt like I didn’t really make the most of that opportunity that they gave me, but coming back this year, I promised I’d step up to everything I promised myself.”

As well as Savea, Ofa was not short on legendary wingers to look up to, being schooled at Wesley College. Photosport

Not just wanting to improve his own game, Ofa said Moana is determined to prove they can meet or better the standards set by Savea.

Ofa is eligible to represent three nations due to his Samoan mother and Tongan father.

As for whether he is chasing a black, red, or blue jersey?

“Growing up, I always admired the black jersey, but for me it’s just playing my best footy for Moana and then if those opportunities come, I’ll take it with both hands.”

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

Baby died while nurse went on break, Health and Disability Commissioner says

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash / RNZ composite

A slightly premature baby who died while the nurse caring for him was on a break should have been checked while she was away, an investigation has found.

The Health and Disability Commissioner report said the case highlighted the challenges of caring for late pre-term babies, those born between 34 and 36 weeks who often appeared healthy but faced increased risks.

The baby boy died at Auckland City Hospital, two days after he was born by a “semi-urgent” caesarean at 35 weeks, three days gestation.

His mother made a complaint to the commissioner, saying his care felt hurried, lacked empathy, and staff did not take her concerns seriously enough.

A feeding tube had also been put in without her consent, she said.

After 17 hours in the maternal complex care area, the baby was moved to a post-natal ward with his mother, rather than the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU).

He was having trouble feeding, and had a tube going from his mouth to his stomach. He was jaundiced and was being monitored for neonatal abstinence syndrome because his mother had been on opioids for a pain disorder.

He had been vomiting but his mother and medical staff disagreed on how much.

On the night the baby boy died, the nurse caring for him went on a one hour meal break and when she checked on him on her return, he had vomited heavily and was not breathing.

He could not be revived.

The nurse told the commissioner that when she left she told the midwives on the ward to check on the baby, however the midwives said she told them none of her patients needed anything while she was way.

Health NZ said, either way, it would not have been usual practice to check the baby hourly, and if he had needed very close monitoring he would have been in the NICU.

Deputy Commissioner Rose Wall said she extended her sympathies to baby A’s whānau for their extremely tragic loss and that the serious complaint needed to be carefully looked at.

Deputy Commissioner Rose Wall. LANCE LAWSON / SUPPLIED

An expert nurse who reviewed the case found the baby should have been checked at least once during the nurse’s break as “he was in an incubator under lights, he had an orogastric tube, he was premature, he was being observed for opioid withdrawal and his mother was sleeping heavily”, the report said.

There was also a breakdown in communication between staff and the baby’s mother about the feeding tube and more should have been done to inform her about why it was needed, the nurse said.

An expert doctor found the baby had been cared for and monitored appropriately by medical staff.

The commissioner agreed, saying the baby’s symptoms were monitored and managed appropriately.

But it found his patient rights had been breached by the failure to check on him during the nurse’s break and the “apparent lack of team work” between nurses and midwives on that shift.

“The investigation has highlighted the unique challenges of managing late pre-term infants postnatally and the importance of a team approach to care,” Wall’s report said.

Auckland City Hospital now had a transitional unit for late pre-term babies, as well as those who are being transferred from the NICU.

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

Tonga to miss out on Moana match again

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

The franchise has again made the decision to cancel this year’s round nine fixture against the Chiefs in Tonga, initially scheduled to take place at Teufaiva Stadium. Andy Radka/ActionPress

The Pacific Islands will once again be without Super Rugby in 2026.

Tonga was set to host Moana Pasifika against the Chiefs on 11 April, but is now searching for an alternative venue due to a lack of funding.

Moana have played in the Pacific Islands just twice since their inception, in Apia in 2023 and in 2024 in Nuku’alofa.

Last year, they were forced to cancel a scheduled match in Tonga, citing logistical challenges.

The franchise has again made the decision to cancel this year’s round nine fixture against the Chiefs in Tonga, initially scheduled to take place at Teufaiva Stadium.

Moana Pasifika CEO, Debbie Sorensen, said that the decision came down to a lack of funding and sponsorship, despite the franchise’s best efforts to make the game happen.

“We have explored every avenue possible to try and make it work, but unfortunately, we were unable to secure the necessary sponsorship to bring this game to Tonga. The challenge we face is that we are not funded to bring any games to the Pacific region, and we believe we should be.

While we are heartbroken for our team, our fans, and especially our families in Tonga, we remain hopeful and deeply committed to growing the game in the region. We look forward to opportunities to bring world-class rugby to Tonga and other Pacific countries as soon as possible.”

Just last week, Moana coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga voiced his frustration at the lack of investment.

Moana Pasifika – a franchise born to provide more Pasifika players with another professional pathway – no longer receives any funding from World Rugby, a move which disillusions coach Tana Umaga.

“We just want to be on a level playing field around the funding that goes out to all the teams. You can just see what we bring to the competition, world rugby probably needs to help out a bit more. When you look around the world and how many Pacific island players are playing in all these different countries, you don’t want to lose sight of what we represent and what we can do for this game.”

Moana Pasifika is now working with Super Rugby Pacific, New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs to find an alternative venue.

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

Samson Aruwa, who rescued people from a fatal stairwell pile up at a Dunedin student flat recognised for courage

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sophia Crestani died at the Dunedin party in 2019. Facebook

The man who rescued people from a fatal stairwell pile up at a Dunedin student party is being recognised for his courageous actions.

University of Otago student Sophia Crestani died at the overcrowded party in October 2019, with a Coroner finding her death was a tragic, but likely preventable accident.

On the night, Samson Aruwa helped to free people from the crowd crush, carrying Crestani away from the pile.

The Commissioner of police, Richard Chambers, will present a Certificate of Appreciation to Aruwa on Thursday with Crestani’s parents and others in attendance.

Aruwa demonstrated exceptional courage, calmness, and leadership on the night, police said.

He was a pallbearer at Crestani’s funeral.

The Sophia Charter was launched in the wake of her death, with multiple organisations including the university and police pledging to support students and reduce harm.

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Labour’s Chris Hipkins to put ‘affordability’ at the heart of election year decisions

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has taken aim at the government’s cost of living and climate policies in his State of the Nation speech in Auckland.

Hipkins did not announce any new policy in the speech on Monday, repeating his promise that the public would see a “different” Labour to 2023.

“Labour didn’t get everything right last time – and some of you don’t hold back in telling me,” Hipkins told the Auckland Business Chamber audience.

“We tried to do too much, too fast, and we lost our focus.”

But what New Zealanders got instead, he said, was rising costs, job losses, and a shrinking economy.

“I’m not promising perfection. Where we make mistakes, I’ll take responsibility,” he said.

“But I am promising this: a government that puts the cost of living first. A government that partners with business to create jobs and raise wages. A government that invests in our people and backs our potential.”

Wary of Labour’s previous propensity to over-promise, Hipkins said he would put affordability at the heart of all decisions he made, and would expect ministers to do the same.

Chris Hipkins is speaking to the Auckland Business Chamber. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Hipkins said 2000 New Zealanders were leaving every week because they did not see a future here.

“I see young New Zealanders – smart, hardworking, full of potential – making calculations that no young person should have to do. Do I stay in the country I love? Or do I leave to build the life I’ve worked for?

“It breaks my heart. Because it means we are failing them. Not because they aren’t good enough for New Zealand. But because we haven’t made New Zealand good enough for them.”

Riffing off National’s slogan “Fixing the Basics, Building the Future”, Hipkins said New Zealanders would have a choice between two different futures.

He also called for stronger climate action.

“We can carry on treating each disaster as if it’s an isolated event, clean up and move on. Or we can recognise that the cost of inaction on climate change now far exceeds the cost of action.”

He did not give specifics on climate policy, but said New Zealand had an opportunity to be a “renewable energy superpower” but was instead being locked into a volatile global market.

“We would invest in the industries that cut emissions, build resilience, and create jobs. Because that is how you build a stronger economy. Not in spite of climate action, but because of it.”

Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Hipkins confirmed Labour would oppose the government’s plans to build a new liquefied natural gas terminal, and would not go through with any deal if it entered government before a deal was done.

“We won’t add new charges onto people, like increasing every household’s power bill to pay for a gas import terminal, or tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge to pay for a new crossing.”

The Infrastructure Commission modelled that tolling the existing bridge and a new Waitemata Crossing could bring in up to $9 billion.

The government has said a toll is something under consideration, but has not confirmed whether it would go ahead with it.

While no new policy was announced, Hipkins repeated Labour’s promises to fund three free GP visits a year, funded through a capital gains tax on investment and commercial property.

Hipkins pushed on energy plans

Hipkins was quizzed on energy policy by Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges (who, as former National leader, described himself as Hipkins’ one-time sparring partner).

Bridges, a former energy minister, agreed that New Zealand should be a renewable superpower, and asked Hipkins how he would tackle the country’s gentailers.

“Like governments, business also operates on social licence,” Hipkins said.

“The energy companies were reporting massive profits, but customers were seeing their bills go up.

“Those things aren’t going to wash with the public.”

Hipkins denied the oil and gas exploration ban, brought in by the previous government, was the reason power prices were as high as they are.

He said the government was asking the right question around how to make power bills cheaper, but had landed on the wrong answer.

“The more we’re reliant on fossil fuels, the more our energy bills are going to increase.”

Labour was the highest-polling party in the most recent RNZ-Reid Research poll, but the coalition would still have the numbers to return to government.

The party has seen two high-profile departures from its Māori caucus, with former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe already bowing out, and former Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare also announcing his exit.

MP Peeni Henare has announced he’s leaving politics. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Henare will deliver his valedictory on 4 March.

State of the Nation speeches are a chance for party leaders to set out the priorities for the year ahead.

Earlier this year, Luxon confirmed the government would continue to run a tight Budget, and observed a “rupture” in the rules-based system.

Last weekend, ACT leader David Seymour took aim at “bureaucratic” governments that aren’t balancing their books, and confirmed ACT would again campaign on a smaller ministerial executive.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is set to deliver his speech in Tauranga in March.

The Greens, which prefer to call their address State of the Planet, are yet to confirm details of a 2026 speech.

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

WNBA back on fit-again Charlisse Leger-Walker’s radar

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Charlisse Leger-Walker of the UCLA Bruins. RONALD MARTINEZ

After an injury delay, Tall Fern Charlisse Leger-Walker’s dream of becoming just the second New Zealander to play in basketball’s WNBA is back on track.

A torn ACL sidelined Leger-Walker from United States college basketball for the majority of last season and forced her to withdraw from consideration for the 2024 WNBA draft.

“I had a full year basically to recover and the process itself is pretty daunting and it’s a long one but I’ve had a lot of great people to support me and great resources so I’m feeling really good right now.

“With these injuries it can be really hard not to just try and rush to get back and when it is taking over almost months and years that is a long time to sit out so I’m just really glad that I didn’t do that and really took extra time almost to make sure I was feeling strong enough to come back and play.”

The Commonwealth Games bronze medalist began her NCAA career with Washington State University but is now a graduate working towards her master’s after making the move to UCLA.

“I’m going into my sixth year of being over here in college, fourth year I guess playing, but it is completely different to anything we have in New Zealand in terms of the scale of just collegiate sports and how much they put into it.

“Obviously they have a lot of money in America and they like to put a lot into their sports and so coming over here it’s been really cool just to be a part of that system and being in games where you’re playing in front of thousands of people and you get free gear and you get free food and you kind of just get taken care of in a different way that unless you’re professional in New Zealand isn’t really a thing for uni students.”

Charlisse Leger-Walker playing for her college team. Supplied

The 24-year-old said collegiate athletes were treated well with support systems that ranged from massages to academic tutors but it was not an easy ride for the players.

“It is a lot on your body, it is a lot in terms of just your time we train for about three hours on court every day and then you add a lift session after that which is about an hour, we have film study where we watch our practices and other teams.

“Every day we meet with our coaches and then on top of that you also have your school your studies as well which takes up a big portion of your day so it is a lot to navigate and manage.

“But I still am very grateful just to be living this and having the opportunity to travel all around America and play some amazing teams.”

The next step in Leger-Walker’s career is to turn professional and she will “for sure” put her name forward for the competitive WNBA draft after her final college season wraps up this year.

“In terms of the draft basically anyone can put their name forward if you are eligible, which for girls you have to have completed at least three collegiate seasons, most people do four, or you have to be over the age of 21 but have played pro so you can go into the draft.

“Only 36 girls get drafted but because the rosters are so small only 12 people get named to a roster.

“There’s really only 144 spots to go on to the WNBA so when you break it down to those numbers it’s very hard to make teams.”

The first New Zealander to play in the WNBA, Megan Compain, is someone Leger-Walker has turned to for advice.

“She played with my mum (Leanne Walker) and I’ve had multiple conversations with her about her kind of journey into that and what she thought of it.

“Obviously it was a different time back then with the WNBA but I just think it speaks to that it is possible and I think it’s really cool seeing people in front of you who have done that and that’s one of the motivations for me too is just to remind people especially girls from New Zealand that it is possible.”

Leger-Walker had been focused on getting back playing for the UCLA Bruins before she considered whether she would be available for the Tall Ferns, a team she had played for since she was 16

“Wearing the Tall Ferns singlet is a big part of my journey and something I want to get back to but those conversations will happen a little bit later on.”

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Chris Greenacre steps in as Wellington Phoenix coach for fourth time

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Phoenix interim coach Chris Greenacre, right pictured with former head coach Ufuk Talay in 2021. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Chris Greenacre has taken over as head coach of the Wellington Phoenix for the forseeable future following the abrupt departure of Giancarlo Italiano.

Greenacre is stepping up from his role at the Phoenix academy, where he has been the head of pro development and men’s reserves head coach for the past four seasons.

He is in ongoing discussions with the club about the head coaching position for rest of the A-League season and beyond.

Italiano quit after Saturday’s 5-0 loss to Auckland FC. The Australian had been with the Phoenix since 2019 and head coach since 2023.

This is Greenacre’s fourth time as an interim coach for the Phoenix.

He filled in after the club’s first coach, Ricki Herbert, resigned during the season after a run of poor results in 2013.

In 2016 he was called on again, in a co-coach role with Des Buckingham, after Ernie Merrick also left during the season and again during the 2017/18 season to fill in when Darije Kalezic exited after a breakdown in contract negotiations.

Over his time with the club, Greenacre has served as an assistant coach under Herbert, Merrick, Kalezic, Mark Rudan and Ufuk Talay.

Greenacre arrived at the Phoenix as a player in 2009 and made 84 appearances and scored 19 goals before hanging up his boots in 2012.

He has worked towards his coaching qualifications and is now one of the few coaches in New Zealand to hold a Pro Diploma after completing the course in 2022.

Greenacre’s first task will be preparing the team for Sunday’s home game against Sydney FC.

“It’s not the first time I’ve done this, but it doesn’t get any easier,” Greenacre said.

“Coming in this morning was quite difficult for me. We have to move on quickly as a club, but you never forget what’s gone before you.

“I want to pay tribute to Chiefy. He led the Phoenix to their best ever season, narrowly missing out on the premiers’ plate and a place in the grand final, and that shouldn’t be forgotten.”

Greenacre said everyone at the club is hurting following the derby defeat on Saturday and are determined to make amends.

“I wasn’t involved in it, but I’m still hurting. I’m a fan first and foremost.

“We want to get some pride back in the badge and what the Phoenix represent.

“It’s a big game for our players from a personal perspective. When you don’t have a great result you can’t wait for the next game to come around quickly, so you can get back to what you do well.

“The players will be chomping at the bit to get back on the field in front of our home supporters and restore some pride.”

Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill has thanked Greenacre for stepping into the role at short notice.

“We’re very lucky to have someone of Greeny’s calibre at the club,” Gill said.

“He’s a great coach and person, on top of being a Phoenix icon, and he’s done a tremendous job at the academy over the past four years preparing our young men’s players for professional football.

“These are difficult circumstances but Greeny didn’t hesitate when I asked if he could take charge. He loves the Phoenix and wants to restore some pride in the club.”

The Phoenix are also looking for a new assistant coach as Italiano’s right hand man Kelly Guimarães has resigned too, effectively immediately.

The Brazilian was appointed to the lead assistant role for the 2025-26 season, but has stood down in the wake of the derby defeat.

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Three properties red-stickered in flood-hit Banks Peninsula

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Flooding at Little River Cafe. Cameron Gordon/Supplied

Three properties have been red-stickered on Canterbury’s flood-hit Banks Peninsula after torrential rain last week.

The local state of emergency on the peninsula was lifted by Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger at 12.30pm on Monday.

The area was lashed by heavy rain last week, causing widespread flooding and slips, particularly in Little River.

Mauger said the region could now enter a recovery period and the council was focused on supporting locals and repairing damaged water and roading infrastructure.

Christchurch City Council controller Duncan Sandeman said three properties had been red-stickered and two yellow-stickered, and the council was waiting for the results of further inspections.

He said the council was still working to finalise the number of flooded properties, most of which were in Little River.

Access had been restored to all isolated properties, but Sandeman said it was too early to calculate a damage bill for the storm.

Little River was still deep in clean-up mode after the settlement was swamped on Tuesday.

Little River Cafe & Store owner Cameron Gordon said the cafe had closed indefinitely because flood damage was worse than first thought, although the business was being run from another building down the road.

“We’re having to close it down probably for a couple of months. Anything wooden has to be pulled out. So, that’s walls off, all our cabinetry, all our tables, benches, work benches, everything’s going and needs to be tossed and redesigned and rebuilt,” he said.

“I think the longest part is getting some cabinetry designed and built fast, that’s going to be the hard part, which we’re going to work on today, try and find someone that’s ready to drop everything and help us out with that.”

Little River Cafe and store owner Cameron Gordon RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

Gordon estimated the damage bill for his cafe would be about $100,000.

He was heartened by the support of locals who had helped him shovel silt and mud out of the building and move furniture.

“We’re still muddling through the clean-up, still pulling things out of the cafe to be thrown, still doing trips to the dump,” he said.

“People have just really banded together, just getting it done. It’s going to be a long, slow process, I think, it’s a huge job.”

Flooding at Little River Cafe. Cameron Gordon/Supplied

Gordon said it would take a long time for Little River to get back on its feet.

“I know the service station and second-hand store are still deep in the clean-up mode. I know a lot of properties are still very badly damaged and people are still asking for a lot of manpower to come out and help them,” he said.

“A lot of people are still in bad spots and still very unknown as to the state of their houses. It’s just still very fresh, I think, for most people.

“I’ve got four different properties with damage, so I’m just sort of shuffling between the four of them, chipping in on each one each day, then still being a chef at the restaurant.”

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

South Taranaki councillor ‘disgusted’ at behaviour of ‘hostile’ group at car meet

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police officers retreated after their car was surrounded by what they describe as a “hostile” group of people at a car meet in Taranaki. Supplied / YouTube

A South Taranaki District councillor says she’s “disgusted” at the behaviour of a “hostile” group of people who forced a police patrol into retreat during an incident in Oaonui overnight.

A video posted on YouTube shows about a dozen people approaching the police car in Oaonui, which then reversed, with people running after it.

Coastal ward councillor Janet Fleming, who lived at nearby Pihama, said this kind of behaviour had no place in South Taranaki.

“I’m pretty disgusted that these young people have chosen to do this and the fact that they intimidated the police officer who felt threatened. Action needs to be taken and I trust that those people will be held accountable.

“I just think this is something that doesn’t belong on the coast or anywhere, to be fair, especially when lives are endangered.”

Police attended a report of antisocial road users gathering at Kina Rd about 1am on Monday.

Officers spoke to some of the people, but found them confrontational, police said.

“Due to the hostile nature of the group, it was determined that the safest course of action was to monitor the meet from nearby and gather information.”

Fleming was unsure if it was a single officer involved but that police did a great job with the resources they had.

“We’d always like to have more police officers, yes, but you know they need to have a life as well, so… yeah we’d always like to see more offices in small rural settlements.

The councillor didn’t think gatherings of antisocial car users were a common in South Taranaki and was unsure where the young people had come from.

“That’s not the sort of area that’s conducive for a big crowd of cars together, I don’t think, and certainly not welcomed by the locals.

“I don’t know how their minds work. They must have a bit of money to have these cars and fill them with fuel to be able to basically just burn up money. I would suggest that money would be better spent in other places.”

Police said they would use the information they gathered for follow-up inquiries.

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

Critics urge coalition to slow down on MSD law change

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Minister for Social Development Louise Upston. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Lawyers and health professionals are urging the government to slow down a law change, making it legal to claw back welfare supports once someone has been backpaid for an ACC claim.

The coalition, with Labour’s support, is moving to quickly pass amendment legislation to align the law with long-standing policy at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).

It comes after a significant High Court ruling made it clear MSD was breaking the law in clawing back payments for supplementary supports like the winter energy payment once someone had received ACC backpay.

The legislation is being considered by MPs for just one week before returning to the House to be read a second time.

Interested groups made verbal submissions to MPs during the Select Committee this morning.

‘Unfair and unjust’ – lawyers

Community Law Centres Aotearoa (CLMA) acted as an intervener in the High Court case against MSD and today argued the bill was “unfair and unjust” and should be “rejected in its entirety”.

“It’s really important to challenge any perception that this bill is about preventing double-dipping or treating beneficiaries in different categories fairly, because a person who’s fought for years to get their ACC and requires assistance in the meantime is not in the same position as somebody who received ACC when they were entitled to it.

“So, in our submission, the bill is not about ensuring fairness, it actually perpetuates unfairness,” barrister Jack Wass said.

CLMA’s law reform coordinator Rupert O’Brien said the organisation took particular issue with the retrospective nature of the law change.

“This bill really does present a genuine threat to the rule of law. It overhauls the High Court’s legislative interpreting role and we don’t think that going back in time in this retrospective way is appropriate in the circumstances.

“We recommend that if the bill is to pass, that the retrospective nature of it is removed. If it is going to be retrospective in some nature, we recommend that the Parliament consider the importance of the savings clause… that prevents this bill from affecting active litigants in the appeals authority and the high court.”

O’Brien also highlighted the law change would unfairly impact those who had applied for a sensitive claim as a result of suffering state abuse as children.

He suggested there be a carve-out to accommodate them.

“We recommend that the select committee and Parliament consider excusing those people from having to repay these debts. It’s double punishment for those people.”

The New Zealand Law Society’s Gareth Richards submitted any retrospective law change that had carried detrimental impacts, in this case putting people into debt, was uncommon and required a proper inquiry.

Law change will affect new mothers with birth injuries – health professional

Pelvic health specialist Dr Melissa Davidson told MPs the urgent speed at which the bill was progressing didn’t leave enough time to consider its full impact, particularly on women with maternal birth injuries.

“When the legislation moves faster than understanding the harm does not fall equally, it falls on those least able to absorb it, Dr Davidson said.

“In the maternal birth injury space, there are systematic failures occurring daily. ACC claims have been declined or taken many months to be accepted through no fault of the woman themselves and the delays are often caused by ACC processes and health system failures, not by missing eligibility.”

Dr Davidson said new, injured mothers would not seek the help they needed if they had to pay it back.

“In New Zealand, women put their families first and themselves last. When supplementary assistance is provided, it’s meant to cover essential costs, but the reality of living with a birth injury includes far more than just water rates, power, food.

“It also includes treatment co-payments for the injury to get treatment for recovery, transport to and from appointments, childcare to attend those appointments if they can’t bring the baby and basic medical resources such as continence, products and pads, scar management, supplies and equipment.

“They face higher living costs while living on reduced incomes. We’re then asking them to repay costs that they reasonably believe are covered and it places them under additional psychological, physiological, physiology, physical and financial stress, again, through no fault of their own.”

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

‘No doubt’ new move-on orders for homeless will drain police resources

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

123rf.com

Requiring police officers to shift rough sleepers from one place to another could see other crime work delayed or dropped, the Police Association’s boss says.

The government is giving officers new powers to move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour in town and city centres.

Breaching an order, which requires someone to leave an area for up to 24 hours, risks a fine of up to $2000 or three month jail term.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell said it will be left to police officers to decide what support a person needs, if any.

Prime Minister Luxon told Morning Report police were capable of doing that.

But Police Association boss Steve Watt told Midday Report the police have limited resources, and it was unclear how big a job it would be to get people off the street and into a social agency.

Police Association boss Steve Watt. RNZ/ Phil Pennington

“Until we just get that detail it’s really tough to gauge, but there’s no doubt that it will have a drain on policing resources.

“It means that potentially someone won’t have a cop turn up to their burglary, or they’ll be delayed, because they’re having to deal with this issue.”

Watt said there were already laws in place to deal with disorderly behaviour.

“What we’re talking about here is individuals that have got a multitude of issues, mental health, financial, housing, and you’ve gotta ask the question, are the police the right agency … to deal with this, or should it be some other social agency?”

It was also unclear how far people had to be moved, Watt said.

“Rough sleepers have a lot of property sometimes, shopping carts full of it, so is it an expectation of our members to wheel the cart down with the beggar down the street … just to simply displace the problem?”

Emails released to RNZ show the Mitchell had expressed a reluctance towards police leading a homelessness response in central Auckland, and expected other agencies to “step up and own” social issues.

In the email, dated 5 November, a staff member said: “Feel it is important just to flag that Minister Mitchell does not believe that police has a leadership role in this and has in the past ended up picking up the work of other agencies, which stretches their resources in other areas.”

Watt agreed.

“In reality, it’s not a policing problem, it’s an all-of-society problem, and that’s the way we need to start looking at it.”

Move on orders deal with disruption and disturbance, ministers say

Goldsmith said New Zealand’s main streets and town centres had been “blighted” by disruption and disturbance, with businesses “declining” as bad behaviour went unchecked.

He said police officers currently had limited options to respond, particularly if behaviour did not reach the level of offending, leading to “disruptive, distressing and potentially harmful acts”.

Social agencies have widely condemned the move, saying shifting people around cities would do nothing to solve homelessness or mental health and addiction problems that many rough sleepers were dealing with.

But Auckland business leaders welcomed it, saying it would make the city centre safer and a more desirable place to be.

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

Dogs euthanised after killing Mihiata Te Rore in Northland

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was killed by dogs at a Kaihu property. Supplied

Police have confirmed the dogs that killed a woman in Northland have been euthanised.

Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was attacked by three dogs while visiting a property in Kaihu, North of Dargaville, last week. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

She was the third person to be killed by dogs in Northland in the past four years, sparking calls for more to be done by local and central government to deal with the growing problem.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said police have received a number of calls about roaming dogs in the area.

Pilmer said there may have been two incidents in November and December in which cyclists were chased by dogs.

The police would like to hear from the cyclists.

“If this was you or you know who these people may have been please get in touch with us,” Pilmer said.

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‘Not a first responder’: Lake Taupō harbourmaster speak on rescue of boy from burning boat

By Evening Report -

February 23, 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lake Taupō. (File photo) RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod

The Lake Taupō harbourmaster has clarified its role in rescues with Fire and Emergency after FENZ struggled to get hold of them when a boy was rescued just before Christmas.

The harbourmaster helped search for a 14-year-old who had jumped off a burning boat he had been left in charge of.

The message-log showed FENZ from the start telling police that “maritime would be lead, harbour master would be first”.

But “attempting to contact Lake Taupō harbourmaster, no success,” Fire and Emergency told police eight minutes after they got the first alert from Kinloch at 6.38pm on December 21.

They ended up calling three different numbers after the first two went to voicemail.

It took them a quarter of an hour to get through, to be told by a harbourmaster who was not on-call that the on-call harbourmaster would have been alerted by a pager.

A habourmaster spokesperson said they began responding quickly.

Richard Ward, from Internal Affairs, who oversees the lake’s harbourmaster, said the harbour master began responding within five minutes of the first call being made to Fire and Emergency.

At a later debrief they “re-clarified” the procedures for all lake emergencies.

“The Taupō harbourmaster is not a first responder and does not lead emergency responses relating to fire, medical emergencies, or search and rescue,” Ward said.

The call-log showed at 6.56pm Fire and Emergency was “attempting a 3rd number” for the harbourmaster and two minutes later got through.

Additionally, just after 7pm the police “spoke to Taupō Harbourmaster to make him aware of the event”, the message-log said.

Around this same time, police stood down a rescue helicopter. They reactivated it 20 minutes later and it went on to spot the boy.

Ward said the harbourmaster did not have formal Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in place with either Fire and Emergency or police.

“However, there are established working relationships and shared understandings with local first responder agencies.

“The harbourmaster remains available to provide assistance where appropriate and when requested by lead agencies,” he said in a statement.

The Auckland harbourmaster said they also did not have MOUs with Fire and Emergency or police either, but had “great relationships” with both.

The lake harbourmaster’s statutory responsibilities focus on maintaining navigational safety and managing maritime risks, including responding to regional marine oil and fuel spills, and coordinating maritime safety following sinkings, groundings or collisions that posed a risk to other water users.

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins put to make ‘affordability’ at the heart of all decisions