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Onehunga shooting: Police seize shotgun during search

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police seize shotgun during search of Māngere property. Supplied/Police

A shotgun has been seized during a search of a Māngere property, as part of the ongoing investigation into a shooting in Onehunga last month.

Police were called to a house on Arthur Street on 16 January following reports several people had arrived at a house and fired shots toward the front of the home.

A man inside the home was shot and critically injured.

Police are yet to confirm whether they believed the gun, found during the search of a Māngere property on Friday, was used in the shooting.

Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce said they recovered a shotgun and ammunition.

“The public will appreciate we can’t share the details of the work ongoing, however we have a dedicated investigative team that is working to hold those involved to account for what happened that day.”

A 43-year-old man appeared in Auckland District Court at the weekend, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm as well as unlawful possession of ammunition.

Bunce called for any information that could help the ongoing investigation.

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

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Minister to attend AI Impact Summit in India

Source: New Zealand Government

Science, Innovation and Technology and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti will visit India this week to attend the flagship artificial intelligence (AI) Impact Summit, strengthening international AI partnerships and unlocking opportunities for New Zealand. The theme for the summit is ‘AI for People, Planet and Progress’.

“Attendance at this summit ensures New Zealand has a seat at the table, along with senior international Ministers and officials, to help shape global AI standards, while providing opportunities to strengthen international partnerships and drive economic growth,” Dr Reti says.

“As highlighted in the New Zealand AI Strategy, AI has enormous potential to lift productivity and grow our economy, with some estimates predicting that generative AI alone could add $76 billion, around 15 per cent of GDP, by 2038.

“Our government is focused on unlocking economic opportunity through AI adoption, while ensuring appropriate guardrails. That’s why we are investing up to $70 million over seven years to support innovative AI research and applications, develop world-class expertise, and sharpen New Zealand’s competitive edge.

“This visit is also a chance to strengthen our science, innovation and technology relationships and promote New Zealand as an outstanding destination for international education.

“India is a growing powerhouse in science and technology. While New Zealand already has strong links between universities and research organisations, there is significant potential for greater research collaboration between our two countries. 

“International education partnerships bring students and export earnings into New Zealand, while AI adoption will lift productivity, support higher incomes, and help drive economic growth.”

While in India, Dr Reti will attend the AI Impact summit, meet with science and education counterparts, engage with leading technology firms and undertake a range of education focused engagements. Dr Reti departs New Zealand on 14 February and returns on 21 February.

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Name release: Waiohiki fatal crash

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can release the name of the man who sadly died following a crash on Korokipo Road, Fernhill, on Friday 9 January.

He was Patutai Patterson Kire, 60, from Flaxmere.

Police extend condolences to Patutai’s loved ones.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Wellington Water chair’s resignation ‘right thing to do’ – Mayor Andrew Little

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Wellington’s mayor says he has confidence in Wellington Water’s current leadership, after its chair resigned in the wake of the Moa Point crisis.

Nick Leggett stepped down on Sunday, saying the failure at the Moa Point treatment plant was deeply serious and had affected the environment, public health and the community.

Last week the plant failed – sending millions of litres of raw sewage into Cook Strait per day.

Mayor Andrew Little said Leggett’s resignation was the right thing to do, and he believed the remaining directors could lead work on restoring the plant.

“Particularly the deputy chair person who is going to be stepping up – Bill Bayfield – I have confidence they [the directors] will continue to lead the organisation to respond effectively, they have to do that in conjunction with Wellington City Council.”

Little said Leggett made the decision to resign, and that it was “the right thing to do”.

“Wellington Water has I think been struggling with some public confidence issues for some time, this further incident doesn’t help. And it’s not a question of blame, it’s about indicating the organisation accepts the seriousness of it.”

File photo. Nick Leggett. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Little said he spoke with Leggett last week, who raised with him that he was considering resigning.

He said the priority now was for the organisation to set about fixing the plant.

“The focus now though has to be on Wellington Water being supported to get the recovery done, and an assessment of the damage and a plan for reinstating it, and that’s got to be top priority and that’s my expectation as what they’ll be focusing on.”

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

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Six-monthly company reporting season hoped to start to reflect turnaround in economy

Source: Radio New Zealand

Investment firm Forsyth Barr said 2025 looked to have ended on a strong note and it would be looking for revenue and profit margin growth. RNZ

The six-monthly company reporting season is about to start, with high hopes that earnings will start to reflect the turnaround in the economy.

Investment firm Forsyth Barr said 2025 looked to have ended on a strong note and it would be looking for revenue and profit margin growth.

“Many NZ corporates have had three-plus years to right size their businesses, therefore how they speak to operational improvements, cost control, and operating leverage will be key,” Forsyth Barr analysts said.

“This season will be the first litmus test.”

Sharesies head of data and analytics Jordan Cunningham said its customer base would be looking closely at the dividend payout of the big four power companies – Meridian, Contact, Mercury and Genesis.

“Expectations going into this earning seasons are quite subdued, but we think that our investors will be looking to New Zealand stocks in particular for dividends, if they’re looking for that growth potential for New Zealand.”

Power companies were also regarded as defensive stocks, often able to avoid or withstand market volatility.

Cunningham said only about 15 percent of the funds invested on the platform were in NZX-listed companies, with strong support from Air New Zealand, Auckland Airport and Spark.

“Despite that strong US focus, there really is still growing trading in New Zealand, and a really strong buy-to-sell ratio… In recent months for every dollar sold $1.50 was bought.”

The good, the bad, the ordinary

Forsyth Barr expected about 40 percent of reporting companies to have a positive outlook, including speciality milk company A2 Milk, healthcare and pet food firm EBOS, Port of Tauranga and casino operator SkyCity, despite its torrid time in recent years.

A similar proportion was likely to have a neutral outlook, with a handful of companies with potential to disappoint the market.

Among them was the national carrier Air New Zealand, which was expected to deliver a first-half loss, but with hopes of a more positive second-half outlook.

Forsyth Barr senior analyst Matt Montgomerie said companies most exposed to the economic cycle and which were hard hit by the recession such as building product firms, retailers, and service businesses might surprise on the upside.

He said many of the firms had aggressively cut costs, but might not be in a hurry to start spending again.

“This reluctance to re-expand costs creates strong operating leverage … As a result, net earnings growth during upswings can surprise to the upside, often materially outpacing consensus expectations.”

Window on recovery

Amova Asset Management head of equities Michael Sherrock said company reports should provide a steer on the economic turn around, with companies such as transport firm Freightways something of a bellwether.

“For the likes of Freightways, what is customer volume growth looking like? Six months ago, they started to see some pickup in that customer volume growth. How that’s tracking since they last updated the market.”

“The likes of SkyCity as well, somewhat cyclically exposed, but also some regulatory type of issues as well.”

Sherrock, the casino and hotel operator, has been required to implement carded play on pokie machines, and has just taken over the International Convention Centre, which would be pointers for the company’s future earnings.

Others to watch included Fletcher Building, pharmaceutical supplier and pet retailing chain EBOS and Sky Television.

“The market will be very, very focused on (EBOS) given that stock (price) has fallen … on the back of a disappointing result last year. They’ve got a new CEO. What are they telling the market ? And hopefully it’s a positive story, and there’s no disappointments.”

He said Sky TV would be watched to see if it delivered on plans to pay a dividend this year.

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

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Wellington Water chair’s resignation ‘right thing to do’ – Mayor Anderw Little

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Wellington’s mayor says he has confidence in Wellington Water’s current leadership, after its chair resigned in the wake of the Moa Point crisis.

Nick Leggett [ttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/586892/wellington-water-chair-nick-leggett-resigns-over-moa-point-sewage-disaster stepped down] on Sunday, saying the failure at the Moa Point treatment plant was deeply serious and had affected the environment, public health and the community.

Last week the plant failed – sending millions of litres of raw sewage into Cook Strait per day.

Mayor Andrew Little said Leggett’s resignation was the right thing to do, and he believed the remaining directors could lead work on restoring the plant.

“Particularly the deputy chair person who is going to be stepping up – Bill Bayfield – I have confidence they [the directors] will continue to lead the organisation to respond effectively, they have to do that in conjunction with Wellington City Council.”

Little said Leggett made the decision to resign, and that it was “the right thing to do”.

“Wellington Water has I think been struggling with some public confidence issues for some time, this further incident doesn’t help. And it’s not a question of blame, it’s about indicating the organisation accepts the seriousness of it.”

File photo. Nick Leggett. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Little said he spoke with Leggett last week, who raised with him that he was considering resigning.

He said the priority now was for the organisation to set about fixing the plant.

“The focus now though has to be on Wellington Water being supported to get the recovery done, and an assessment of the damage and a plan for reinstating it, and that’s got to be top priority and that’s my expectation as what they’ll be focusing on.”

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

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Onehunga shooting: Police seize firearm in ongoing investigation

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are continuing to make progress in investigating a shooting in Onehunga last month.

The Auckland City Organised Crime Unit has been investigating the incident on Arthur Street on 16 January 2026.

Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce says the investigation team executed a search warrant at a Māngere property on Friday.

“Our detectives were supported by the Armed Offenders Squad, in which we have recovered a shotgun and ammunition,” he says.

“At this stage we are unable to confirm this firearm was involved in the original offending.”

Police have charged a 43-year-old man with unlawful possession of a firearm as well as unlawful possession of ammunition.

He appeared in the Auckland District Court over the weekend.

“We have no tolerance for blatant violence involving firearms in our community,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bunce says.

“The public will appreciate we can’t share the details of the work ongoing, however we have a dedicated investigative team that is working to hold those involved to account for what happened that day.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Bunce continues to call for any information to assist the ongoing investigation.

If you can assist, update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 260116/9278.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Households and the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate decision

Source: Radio New Zealand

How soon is the official cash rate (OCR) likely to start to increase? And will any hint of it send what banks charge higher?

For many homeowners and households, that will be the main thing on their minds when the Reserve Bank issues its next update this week.

It cut the OCR to 2.25 percent in November, but what captured the most attention was the indication that it did not necessarily think it would cut rates much further.

Market attention turned to when the rate might start to lift, and wholesale rates increased, taking banks’ home loan rates with them.

  • Reserve Bank governor sends message markets gone too far

    • Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman took the unusual step of warning that it might have been an overreaction.

    In recent days though, all the main banks have again shifted their longer-term rates higher, as inflation worries continue to simmer.

    ANZ senior economist Miles Workman said any insight the bank gave into the future path of interest rates would be key for most households.

    “Swap rates have lifted meaningfully since the November MPS (monetary policy statement) as markets have reassessed the outlook for monetary policy following the inflationary vibe across recent data releases.

    “And that’s put upward pressure on fixed mortgage rates. The February MPS is an opportunity for the Reserve Bank to signal whether it thinks that move is justified by recent data and its updated economic outlook. Households may also be listening closely to what the bank says about the inflation and labour market outlooks, given cost of living pressures remain and the labour market is still soft.”

    Mike Jones, chief economist at BNZ, said the Reserve Bank would need to walk a fine line between signalling the OCR would not stay as low for as long as previously thought, and not sending financial markets higher on the expectation of future increases.

    “There will probably be a hat tip from the bank to the fact the economic recovery is growing in momentum, but equally confirmation that a period of low interest rates is still part of the plan to ensure it gets going proper and current spare capacity is soaked up.

    “There does appear to be some concern out there about whether recent lifts in wholesale and retail interest rates might lean against the fledgling economic recovery. The bank will also be wary of this, but it’s also important to note most mortgage borrowers soon to experience a mortgage rate reset will be rolling on to a rate more favourable than previously. So, there’s still some of the lagged impacts of previous rate cuts to come through.”

    He said households would probably also want to see confirmation that the bank still thinks inflation will return to about 2 percent later this year.

    Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said it would also be interesting to watch Breman‘s first press conference.

    “It will be the first opportunity we get to understand what sort of things she thinks are important, how she chooses to express the trade-offs that she inevitably has to deal with when deciding what to do with policy. Ultimately, is she dovish? Is she hawkish? What sort of factors and variables is she going to make more prominent when explaining to people what she’s doing?”

  • New Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman talks to Corin Dann

    • He said the market had already priced in a lot of cash rate rises this year.

    “It’s not to say that it’s impossible that they could price in more, but it feels like the hurdle, the bar is set quite high to really have those rates have to go up much further.

    “Perhaps, if she was to say that a September rate hike might be something that’s a realistic possibility, that could be the sort of thing that would leave the market to obviously fully price that in, and maybe even start speculating about an earlier move than that. But it strikes me as relatively unlikely, and that instead she might talk about the possibility of a rate rise at the end of the year. And, you know, possibility could have a capital P or a small p, depending on the nature of the discussion that’s around it.”

    He said households might also be interested in what the Reserve Bank expects of house prices.

    “We’re not really forecasting a house-price led recovery. We’ve got 4 percent [increase in house prices] this year, which is close to where the Reserve Bank was forecasting them at the end of last year.

    “What does she think about that? Does she think that the fortunes of the housing market are tightly tied to the fortunes of the broader economy, or not?”

    Westpac last week changed its forecast. It still expects a first increase in November, but then increases at each meeting between February and September 2027.

    “We’ve basically upgraded the growth forecasts, so that means excess capacity will get used up a bit more quickly based on our revised view,” Eckhold said.

    “We think once they get going they’ll move a bit more quickly, because by the end of the year, if the growth outlook that we are depicting has panned out then it won’t really be appropriate to have interest rates in the 2 percents.”

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

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    Ōtorohanga flooding: The silver lining amongst devastation, damage and disarray

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    An Ōtorohanga man in his 80s is devastated by the damage and disarray at his flooded home after the weekend weather event – save the silver lining of a saved pet goat and an heirloom teddy bear that survived the waters.

    Kio Kio Station Road resident Colin Payne had to be rescued by a boat, after floodwaters came through his property in the early hours of Saturday, when the region received between 150 to 300 millimetres of rain.

    He said he had a feeling on Friday night that things could get bad when the water came up to his gate, which prompted him to move his campervan to a friend’s house in the town centre before returning home.

    Payne slept at about 9.30pm, not expecting that floodwaters would gush through his property, and also not knowing about the state of emergency declared in Ōtorohanga around 1am.

    He woke up about 4.30am to find his bed surrounded by water.

    A family heirloom teddy bear from Colin Payne’s great great grandfather. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

    The only thing Payne managed to pull out of the water before his rescue boat came – besides his medication and clothes – was an heirloom teddy bear and its chair, which was inherited from his great-great-grandparents.

    Returning to check on his house for the first time on Sunday, Payne struggled to come to terms with the rooms with knocked over fridges, a fallen TV, and sentimental items strewn over the muddy floors, in rooms where they would have floated for hours.

    “Coming in and seeing the mess here is a bit devastating, 85 years of collections … personal stuff and family stuff and heirlooms,” said Payne.

    “How do you describe it… I mean daunting, devastated, everything, just suddenly your life’s expired in a sort of roundabout way, if you understand what I mean, from an asset … the biggest trick is you gotta be very careful walking around in the silt because it’s very slippery.”

    Colin Payne said he’s devastated to see 85 years worth of collections and family heirlooms drenched by floodwaters. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

    A silver lining amidst the chaos of his flood-damaged home and having to write off his drowned vehicle – Payne was relieved to find out that his pet goat Sophie survived, thanks to the help of neighbours.

    “At least my good friend Sophie’s been rescued, that’s my favourite friend, my goat.”

    Colin Payne and his partner Frances Rawlings. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

    Payne’s partner, Frances Rawling – who was not at the house that night – said it was hard to know where to begin when faced with the mammoth task of cleaning up.

    “Once the mould sets in… it’s hard to imagine being here again,” she said.

    The couple said they have a house in Te Kuiti where they can stay in the meantime.

    RNZ / Marika Khabazi

    On Sunday morning the rain resumed, and a community member with a quadbike came to help take Payne’s two steers to a safer place.

    Craig Janett, who had been helping out, said he felt for the Kio Kio Station Road residents.

    “A lot have been lost, one bloke down here lost all his lifestyle block… lost all their stock, washed away, just devastation, the river, the rubbish in the river, the drums, just everything rubbish.”

    Payne was moved by the kindness of the community.

    A washed over bridge off Kio Kio Station Road. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

    “Kio Kio Station Road, K-K-S-R stands for kind, caring, supportive residents, and believe me, that applies to everyone in this street.

    “Here’s two people coming this morning and taking my stock away… I know damn well that they’ll be well looked after and they’d take them away and put them onto safer ground, and that’s the kind of community we have in K-K-S-R.”

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

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    Auckland’s Eden Park to host State of Origin match in 2027

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Watch above: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Tourism Minister Louise Upston announce the deal.

    A State of Origin match will be played in Eden Park in Auckland in 2027 following three years of high-level talks with the NRL and the Australian Rugby League Commission.

    It is expected that 50,000 fans will pack the stadium for the Queensland versus New South Wales match.

    Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said securing State of Origin reflected the city’s strength as a major sporting centre.

    “From the outset, Auckland made it clear we wanted to bring State of Origin to our city, and we’ve worked hard to secure it,” he said in a statement.

    “We know how to host major events, and we know the value they bring. This match will mean full hotels, busy restaurants and bars, and thousands of visitors experiencing everything our region has to offer.”

    Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Maroons celebrates after scoring a try during the State of Origin game two match between the Queensland Maroons and the NSW Blues. AAP / Photosport

    Hosting State of Origin is expected to attract more than 10,000 international visitors from Australia, generate nore than 50,000 international visitor nights, and inject an estimated $17.4 million into the Auckland economy.

    Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys AM said the historic clash would give New Zealanders the opportunity to experience the intensity of the game’s greatest rivalry.

    “Rugby league is the number one sport in Australia and the Pacific, and the growth we have seen in New Zealand over recent years has been nothing short of extraordinary,” V’landys said.

    Sir Graham Lowe, the only New Zealander to coach a State of Origin team as a former Queensland coach, said the occasion would be one to remember.

    “Kiwis are excited about State of Origin, but there are only a few of them that have had the opportunity to actually watch it live. This will be a fantastic occasion for Auckland,” he said in a statement.

    The 2027 fixture is being co-funded in partnership by Auckland Council Events and the New Zealand Government via the Major Events Fund.

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