Posts

Posted on

Toilet equity: Fighting for the right to pee

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s an experience almost every woman has had: standing in a queue at a concert, sporting event or public building, waiting to use the toilet. Sometimes, while we wait, we might be able to view the entrance to the men’s toilet, from which men happily come and go, queue free. This happened to me recently, at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre, where, by the end of the intermission, the queue for the ladies’ still hadn’t cleared.

This experience is so common; so apparently normal – most of us probably consider it just part of life. But why is it?

It’s been established via international research that women take between three and four times longer to use the toilet facilities than men (that’s not counting queuing time, which for women is on average more than two minutes. Men, if they have to queue at all, wait 40 seconds). This is what’s known as ‘flow rate’ – meaning the rate at which people flow through the facilities. Contrary to gender stereotypes suggesting the extra time is because women are applying lipstick and fixing our hair, there are far more practical reasons:

Are these the worst wellness trends of the year?

Wellbeing

Biology. At any one time, 10 to 25 precent of women will be menstruating. This means extra time dealing with tampons, pads or menstrual cups.

Caregiving. Women are far more likely to be looking after the toileting of small children. This takes, as any parent knows, more time.

Clothing. While men can usually get down to business by undoing a single zip, women need to navigate the removal of multiple garments and then re-dress.

Mechanics. Unlike men, women need to sit or squat to use the loo. That means individual toilets are needed: one woman, one toilet.

Zoe George is familiar with flow rate. The sports journalist and broadcaster became a toilet equity expert a few years back through frustration, after experiencing first hand a serious issue with the women’s toilets at Wellington’s Basin Reserve. After standing in a queue for half an hour, she made it her mission to get to the bottom of it (“You can’t talk about the dunny without being punny”, she laughs).

Thanks to George’s advocacy, the Basin’s outdated facilities were revamped in time to avoid the embarrassment and queues associated with the dire lack of womens’ and accessible toilets previously, for the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022.

Toilet inequity is not just about pelvic-floor-challenging inconvenience, George stresses. She cites research that has found that when people don’t think they will be able to access toilets in public spaces, they avoid those spaces.

The loos at Basin Reserve were revamped in time for the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022.

PHOTOSPORT

“Lack of toilets acts as a ‘loo leash’,” she explains.

“And it prevents one in five of us from leaving our homes to engage in public life, including going to the theater or sporting events. So that’s the entire population of Auckland or the South Island not leaving their homes to participate and engage in public life.”

This was echoed in a survey earlier this year prepared by WSE NZ, commissioned by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) which they termed a ‘loo review’.

One in five of the 3000 respondents said public bathrooms don’t meet their needs. This figure jumped to nearly half for those with a disability. A third said they often have to wait to use the bathroom – especially women, parents, and people with disabilities. One in five also reported feeling unsafe using public facilities, an issue particularly affecting trans and non-binary people.

A contributing factor here is that toilet standards for buildings – which set how many of which loos should be provided – are not up-to-date with modern society. The standards set by MBIE – including a ‘toilet calculator’ for buildings – haven’t been updated in 30 years. They don’t consider the changes in diversity in workplaces and in society at large that have happened since the 1990s. They are partly the reason why some public buildings have proportionally more male toilets than female, and few or no all-gender toilets. Cue the queues. The BRANZ report recommends changes to the standards for toilets in buildings including updates to the toilet calculator.

Daniel Thompson is an architect with Warren and Mahoney and the co-author of a New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Practice Note Beyond the Binary Bathroom: A Guide for All-Gender Bathroom Facilities.

Thompson says he can see how a situation like the Basin Reserve could have happened back when the buildings were being designed. “You can imagine… they would have just said ‘oh well, there won’t be women here, so forget about [women’s toilets].”

The situation of an intermission at a show or sports game is, Thompson notes, “the toughest ask of toilets, because in all other situations it’s much more random when people use the bathroom”.

He believes having mostly all-gender toilets is a solution to a lot of the inequity.

“It would mean, in the case of a theatre for example, the line would be shorter and it would contain both men and women, and they could use the next toilet that was free…. and any toilet that is free is free. None are hidden in the men’s and not being used.”

This would also mean, potentially, the phasing out of the traditional urinal. It’s something Thompson sees naturally happening anyway.

Could we see the end of the traditional urinal situation?

123rf

“There’s kind of a generational change in the use of urinals”, he explains. “It’s anecdotal… but these days people want a bit more privacy. As generations come through as you might find more men using cubicles just because it’s a bit more private.”

An all-gender toilet cubicle is a fully self-contained room, with full-height walls, basin and sanitary disposal included. It’s a practical solution which means that potentially fewer all-gender bathrooms are needed, compared to gendered toilets, reducing the floor area required. And it improves inclusivity and safety for trans and non-binary people.

In the case of a theatre like the Bruce Mason Centre, this would mean quite an overhaul though. Thompson runs through the numbers.

“If it was fully unisex, you would need 27 individual toilets, which is a lot. That would almost not really be possible.”

All-gender toilet cubicles would requite some major overhauls.

Unsplash/ Jonathan Taylor

It could happen, though. Female punters will need to cross their legs a bit longer, but Tātaki Auckland Unlimited – part of Auckland Council which runs many of the city’s theatres – is planning an upgrade of the Bruce Mason Centre in 2027/28.

Chief Operating Officer Justine White says while it’s too early to confirm exact details, “we can share that the plans include additional toilets including all-gender facilities to cater to the evolving demographics of both patrons and staff”.

Before that though, the Aotea Centre – another toilet queue hot spot – is set for an imminent glow-up. Over the Christmas-New Year break, there’ll be “a significant upgrade” to the Centre’s Limelight toilets on Levels 2 and 3, that’s set to put a relieved smile on female theatre-goers faces.

“This refurbishment will increase the number of toilets in this area from nine to 32,” says White, “including a family room with changing facilities and two additional accessibility bathrooms. The new facilities will be gender-neutral, reflecting our commitment to meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse audience and eliminating long queues at events.”

The entrance to the Aotea Centre in Auckland, looking out towards Aotea Square.

Supplied

Zoe George is a big fan of all-gender toilets. But she reckons we still need some gendered ones as well.

“We need women’s toilets for religious and cultural and safety reasons, and we need more toilets accessible to women than we do for men.”

She refers back to that ‘flow rate’.

“The flow rate needs to be three to one: three toilets accessible to women for every one toilet accessible to a man, including a urinal. And in some places – for example certain areas in New York – this has been legislated. A three-to-one flow rate or, in some cases a four-to-one flow rate to make access to toilets equitable.”

Thompson agrees that some gender-specific toilets are a good idea in certain situations. With all-gender toilets only, he points out, you can easily allocate some for specific genders simply by changing signage, rather than having to do a major building overhaul. Thoughtfully designed toilets can make a big difference to the overall enjoyment of a public building.

“I recently did a library building in Hawera in south Taranaki. We put all unisex toilets, and we put baby changes in every single accessible toilet, so that anyone can use them. And a caregiver’s room for people to breastfeed.”

It’s been well-received by the local community, he reports.

“You want people to go to your facility and just go, oh, I don’t have to worry about this. I can just go into this room and shut the door and, you know, it’s fine.”

George is keen for all of us to think about toilets more.

“Access to toilets is a fundamental, basic human right. Everybody goes, and it’s not something that we talk about because it’s such a very private thing that we do. But everyone does it. So we need to talk about toilets.”

Zoe George.

Supplied

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

Posted on

Taupō school fire: Pair face arson charges after huge blaze

Source: Radio New Zealand

The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon. SUPPLIED

Two young people have been charged with arson over the large fire at Taupō’s biggest school.

Crews contained the blaze at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College that broke out on Sunday afternoon.

Police closed surrounding roads for approximately four hours while Fire and Emergency New Zealand worked to contain the blaze at the school on Spa Road.

“The block of classrooms was destroyed, along with everything inside,” Detective Sergeant Allan Humphries said.

“We acknowledge this will be devastating for college teachers, students and families.”

He said the two youths were due to appear in Taupō Youth Court this week.

The school will be closed on Monday.

Local MP Louise Upston said the school and the Ministry of Education would minimise the disruption to students.

The ministry will meet with school staff today to assess the damage.

Board chairperson Michelle Barnett said the building houses several classrooms.

Fire and Emergency NZ said scene guards have been in place overnight and crews will be returning during daylight hours.

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

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

Posted on

Southland man Donald Woodford tried to dispose of the explosives that caused his death

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Defence Force bomb squad ensured the remaining explosives were safely detonated (file image). Supplied / NZ Defence Force

A Southland man died trying to destroy old commercial explosives that he had not been able to safely dispose of elsewhere, a coroner has found.

Donald Woodford tried to return the Powergel to the manufacturer and then hand it to police after years storing the explosives in a shed on his Mossburn property.

In findings released on Monday, Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame said the manufacturer and police refused to take the Powergel and neither told him that he needed to contact the Defence Force to safely dispose of it.

Woodford died on his 79th birthday from blast and shrapnel injuries while trying to detonate the explosives near a remote hut on 1 February 2024.

The coroner said he had previously used the Powergel to blow up rocks in the ground while working as a fencing contractor.

“After he upgraded his equipment and no longer needed explosives, Mr Woodford stored the Powergel in a shed for many years,” she said.

When Woodford and his wife decided to relocate the shed to store firewood, they discussed a plan to move the explosives.

“As a child Mr Woodford had helped his father build a hut at Waterloo Station. The family had been going there ever since. Although they did not discuss it explicitly, Mrs Woodford understood that was where Mr Woodford planned to deal with the explosives from the shed,” she said.

Woodford left home on 31 January and planned to return the following day after 1pm, the coroner said.

When he did not return as expected, Woodford’s brother drove to the station where he found him lying a metre-and-a-half from a large hole in the ground.

“Most of the injuries were concentrated on the head and chest and the front of the thighs suggesting that Mr Woodford had the explosive in front of his chest while he was crouching down or sitting. Injuries to the left hand suggested that he was holding the explosive in that hand,” the coroner said.

The Defence Force bomb squad ensured the remaining explosives were safely detonated.

They told police that explosives deteriorate over time, becoming less stable and more volatile and more sensitive to heat, shock and friction as they age.

“Had he taken advice from the NZDF Mr Woodford would not have tried to detonate the Powergel himself and the tragic consequence could have been avoided,” the coroner said.

Cunninghame said Woodford’s family wanted others to learn from the tragedy to prevent it happening again.

She wanted police staff to be reminded of the correct procedure for unused explosives.

When a member of the public sought advice on how to dispose of explosives, the Defence Force’s explosive ordnance disposal squadron should be contacted, she said.

Cunninghame said police advised they were developing all-staff guidance on police-issued devices, with an advisory notice also shared on the police intranet.

She commended the proactive approach.

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

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

Posted on

District Court Judge Ema Aitken faces Judicial Conduct Panel for disrupting NZ First event

Source: Radio New Zealand

Judge Ema Aitken is accused of shouting that NZ First leader Winston Peters was lying. RNZ Composite

A District Court judge will have her actions scrutinised by a Judicial Conduct Panel today, as she faces accusations of disrupting a New Zealand First event.

Judge Ema Aitken will appear before the panel, after allegedly disrupting a function at Auckland’s exclusive Northern Club in 2024.

She is accused of shouting that NZ First leader Winston Peters was lying.

Judge Aitken said she didn’t shout, did not recognise Peters’ voice when she responded to remarks she overheard and did not know it was a political event.

A judicial conduct panel will determine facts and write a report to the attorney-general, including whether the removal of the judge is justified.

Judge Aitken is being represented by David Jones KC. RNZ / Mark Papalii

It is being led by retired Court of Appeal Judge Brendan Brown KC, and includes sitting Court of Appeal Judge Justice Jillian Mallon and former Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Judge Aitken is being represented by David Jones KC.

Presenting the allegations of misconduct to the panel are special counsel Tim Stephens KC and Jonathan Orpin-Dowell.

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

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

Posted on

Uncertainty for Auckland amid housing rule changes

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland is left wondering about the future of housing intensification plans after another potential u-turn in rules from central government. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Government interference in planning rules for Auckland housing has reached new heights with another u-turn frustrating the council

Sandringham residents Kristin De Monchy and Philip Bradley are walking around sodden, empty sections in their neighbourhood, wondering if the next homes to be built here will be swept away – again.

De Monchy’s home flooded in the 2023 anniversary weekend storms, and the impact on the suburb was severe. Since then both have been active trying to get better infrastructure in place so it doesn’t happen again.

“We made it clear right from the outset that this wasn’t about intensity,” says Bradley.

“In fact within the community we’ve been working with there seems to be a high level of support for intensification. But not when the infrastructure’s not there to support it. In our case the stormwater infrastructure is basically non-existent.”

Sandringham is a quick trip from the city and would be a great place to build up – if the pipes were in place. The government’s first attempt to force councils nationwide to increase housing options, the 2021 Medium Density Residential Standards, would have run over those objections.

“There’s never been a stormwater system built here,” says Bradley. “The system that exists, the piping under the streets around us now, is basically around delivering water to houses, and taking wastewater away, and maybe a little bit of stormwater into it where they can.”

There’s a massive infrastructure project being built practically under their feet – the central intercepter. But it’s for sewage, not stormwater.

“We do have a combined wastewater and stormwater system in our neighbourhood,” says De Monchy, “but what happens is once the flows get over much higher than a one in 10 year event they shut off connection to the wastewater network which means stormwater’s got to go somewhere – so it goes on the streets.”

Both say there’s no lack of knowledge on this issue – “there are hundreds of papers on this … dozens of studies,” says Bradley. “But they just seem to be reluctant to try and find a solution that doesn’t just involve people accepting that flooding happens.”

But the council is up against central government rules when it comes to rebuilding on those empty sections.

Richard Hills chairs the council’s Policy, Planning and Development Committee and deals with a slew of plans overlapping Auckland.

Lately those plans have been turned upside down by the government, as its quest to force councils to make way for more housing is pushed through in haste – failing to take into account issues such as the type of flooding the city experienced in January 2023, or where the most suitable place is for high-rise flats and intensity.

Now there’s another potential u-turn in the rules imposed by central lawmakers, the third in recent times. So far the chopping and changing has cost the council $13 million in wasted work, not including staff time, and it still doesn’t know where it stands.

This at a time when the government is lambasting councils for overspending, and plans to introduce a rates cap.

Meanwhile the council continues to work on the last iteration of the government’s law changes, because it has to – it’s the law.

At the moment “we’ve got hearings panel members already appointed with the government, they’re all raring to go and I’m not sure … do we change the direction? If it goes out to consultation again what does that even look like? Will people even engage because they just thought they engaged three months ago, four months ago? And a lot of people spend money on those submissions too, and time.”

“The frustration is I think we just need to stick on one path, understand what’s going on and then continue to address it.

“The other thing would just be nice if government worked with us before they jumped into new policies, new plan changes, new local government requirements.”

Aucklanders also seem to be hung up on a figure of two million more homes.

The number reflects capacity, not buildings.

“It would take every single person or property owner in Auckland to develop their property to the maximum possible available capacity on every single site in Auckland. Which we know that most people won’t. A lot of people will stay in their homes forever, a lot of people won’t sell, and there’s not the development community or the population that would build out every single property in Auckland,” says Hills.

The council’s data suggests Auckland can expect 300,000 to 400,000 new homes in the next 30 – 40 years, no matter what the plan is.

Timeline

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

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

Posted on

Serious crash, Buckland, Auckland

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on Logan Road, Buckland.

The single vehicle crash, involving a truck and trailer unit, was reported to Police at 7.32am.

Initial reports indicate there may be serious injuries.

Logan Road is closed between Yates and Buckville Roads.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance.

Police are advising motorists to avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS.

Posted on

Homicide investigation, Raumati Beach

Source: New Zealand Police

A woman has died, and a man has been arrested, after an incident in Raumati Beach overnight.

Police were called to the Matatua Road address about 1.15am after a report of someone being injured.

On arrival, they located the woman deceased.

A 24-year-old man was taken into custody. He is due to appear in Porirua District Court today, charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Further charges are being considered.

A scene guard has been in place overnight, and a forensic examination will be carried out at the property today.

Anyone with information that might help our enquiries can call 105, quoting reference number 260209/8606.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Posted on

Calls for investigation into Moa Point Treatment Plant failure

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Moa Point Treatment Plant. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Wellington leaders are calling for an investigation into Moa Point Treatment Plant’s failure.

The local MP says concerns have been raised over whether the plant’s privately-owned operator Veolia was fulfilling its contract.

Crews have spent the weekend trying to clean up Wellington’s wastewater plant so they can assess the damage after it was shut down due to being flooded by raw sewage. It’s likely to be months before the Moa Point plant is back in operation.

In the meantime, millions of litres of untreated sewage continue to spill out into the Cook Strait since early Wednesday.

Green MP Julie Anne Genter, who is the local MP, told Morning Report it was devastating.

“It’s really disappointing. I know so many people in Wellington love our south coast, and this is precisely the time they would be out there on a beautiful day on the beach,” Genter said.

“… It’s bad for us, but it is even worse for our wildlife.”

She said there were little blue penguins, or kororā, in the bay and a pod of dolphins there on Sunday.

“We can do better, we have to do better.”

Green MP Julie Anne Genter. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Genter said the council was putting enormous amounts of money into Moa Point, with an upgrade happening at the wastewater treatment plant.

She said concerns have previously been raised over the performance of Moa Point plant’s privately-owned operator Veolia.

“There seems to be some separation between the private company, Wellington Water and the ability of the elected people to get the results that we need,” she said.

Genter said there needs to be a full investigation.

Wellington mayor Andrew Little said last week that he would raise what he has called a “catastrophic” failure of the city’s sewage plant with the prime minister. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday.

Little said one of the questions in the days ahead would be about setting up an appropriate investigation or inquiry into what happened.

“We can’t let this happen again,” he said. “We can’t let such a critical plant for a modern city fail in the way that this has and cause the environmental degradation that it has.

“It’s important we get the facts and it’s important we understand what we need to do to prevent it from happening again.”

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

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

Posted on

Two charged following Taupō fire

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Allan Humphries, Taupō Police:

Two young people have been charged following a fire at a Taupō college yesterday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Spa Road, Taupō, at about 2.15pm on Sunday 8 February.

As the block became fully engulfed, Police closed surrounding roads for approximately four hours while Fire and Emergency New Zealand worked to contain the blaze.

The block of classrooms was destroyed, along with everything inside. We acknowledge this will be devastating for college teachers, students and families.

Our investigators were able to quickly identify two alleged offenders in relation to the fire.

Two youths have since been charged with arson and are due to appear in Taupō Youth Court this week.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Posted on

Black Ferns Sevens outclass Australia in Perth Sevens final

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kelsey Teneti. photosport

The Black Ferns Sevens have overwhelmed defending champions Australia in Perth, scoring five tries in the final to win 29-7 and extend their lead in the world series.

New Zealand were just as dominant as a week earlier at the Singapore tournament, when they crushed their arch rivals from across the Tasman 36-7 in the decider.

The two sides have met in all four finals this season, with the Black Ferns Sevens prevailing in the opening round in Dubai, before Australia struck back in Cape Town.

It was New Zealand’s first women’s title in Perth, a tournament the Australians have traditionally dominated, with Jorja Miller and Kelsey Teneti standing out after the hosts scored the opening try.

Jorja Miller, New Zealand vs ustralia in the women’s Cup Final at the 2025 Emirates Dubai 7s. © Alex Ho / World Rugby 2025

Miller had celebrated her 22nd birthday by scoring two tries in a tense 24-14 semi-final win over France and she set up New Zealand’s opener in the final, beating two defenders and offloading to send captain Risi Pouri-Lane clear.

Teneti scored tries either side of halftime to give the Black Ferns Sevens control, using her power for the first and her speed for the second, racing 75m to score.

It was enough to earn her the player of the final award, capping a tournament in which she crossed for eight tries.

“I’ve never received something like this before,” Teneti said.

“It’s more than just a game for our whanau back home. We carry our whanau and our country on our shoulders.

“To go back-to-back really means a lot.”

Katelyn Vahaakolo and Alena Saili crossed late to leave New Zealand on 58 points and Australia 54 with tournaments remaining in Vancouver and New York in March.

All Blacks Sevens struggle

Supplied/Photosport

New Zealand’s men had a final day to forget, steamrolled 35-0 in the semi-finals by Fiji before conceding a try after the final hooter to lose 12-10 to Australia in the playoff for third.

The All Blacks Sevens won just one of their five matches in Perth, having snuck through to the semis off the back of a lone win in their pool.

Their hopes against Fiji effectively ended when Akuila Rokolisoa was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle.

New Zealand remain third in the standings while Fiji held on to their top spot, despite a 21-19 loss to second-placed South Africa in the Perth final.

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

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