MIL-OSI Publisher – Page 157

February 25, 2026

Ramadan recipes to indulge in after sunset

Across Aotearoa, the iftar table (the meal that marks the breaking of the fast) at mosques, markets and homes can be a vibrant spread of flavours cherished across the Middle East, Asia and beyond.

From comforting savoury bites to rose-flavoured sweets, these dishes reflect generations of culinary tradition. Though many of these homemade favourites are enjoyed year-round and across communities, they take on a special meaning during Ramadan.

As worshippers gather after sunset, these recipes offer warmth, nourishment, and just the right touch of sweetness to restore energy after a day of fasting.

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

February 25, 2026

Man admits murder of Bernice Marychurch on Auckland bus

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kael Leona at an earlier appearance. RNZ / Lucy Xia

A man has admitted to murdering a woman on an Auckland bus two years ago.

Bernice Louise Marychurch was killed in October 2024 while on the Number 74 bus in Onehunga.

There were nine other passengers onboard.

The man charged with her murder, 38-year-old Kael Leona, handed himself in to police shortly after.

He had previously pleaded not guilty on grounds of insanity but at a hearing at the High Court in Auckland this morning, Leona pleaded guilty to murder and strangulation.

He was expected to go to trial in March.

Bernice Louise Marychurch. Facebook

Marychurch’s murder prompted a number of calls for more security aboard busses.

Auckland’s deputy mayor Desley Simpson hoped they would consider safety officers, while more police were allocated for public transport in the wake of the fatal stabbing.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown had said he would look into whether the Sentencing Amendment Bill should expand aggravating factors to all public transport users.

“An expansion could include making offences against all public transport users an aggravating factor, ensuring greater protection for those who rely on buses, trains, and ferries,” he said.

“The Bill already provides for a new aggravating factor for offences against public transport workers.

“This is about making sure that public transport remains safe for everyone, whether you are a worker or a passenger. It sends a clear message that violence and abuse in these spaces will not be tolerated.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell had condemned the attack, calling it senseless and horrific, adding that peopled deserve to safe on buses, trains and ferries.

Meanwhile, Bus and Coach Association chief executive Delaney Myers told Morning Report there needed to be more people around and on buses to act as a deterrent for bad behaviour and to give people additional confidence using public transport.

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

February 25, 2026

Statement following sentencing of Nathan Boulter

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons, Christchurch Metro Crime:

Police acknowledge the sentence handed down to Nathan Boulter for the murder of Chantal McDonald in the High Court at Christchurch. The 37-year-old will now serve a minimum of 17 years in prison without parole.

Today’s sentence will never bring Chantal back, or end the devastating sense of loss inflicted on her loving family.

There is no prison term that will ever make up for what happened to Chantal or the profound sense of loss her loved ones have had to endure.

However, today brings a small comfort in knowing the community will be protected from a violent, controlling and pathetic gutless coward who so needlessly took Chantal’s life.

It is extremely disappointing that he made the decision to not physically appear in Court today and face Chantal’s family.

Chantal was a much-loved and devoted mother, daughter, sister and friend. She was regarded as a vibrant and special person to all who knew her, which makes her loss even harder to bear for those who were lucky enough to know her.

We are continuing to provide support for Chantal’s family as they navigate life without her.

Her family have been extremely dignified throughout this entire process and I commend them for that.

They are appreciative of the support they have received, but request privacy. They ask that media do not attempt to contact them.

I want to thank all of the Police investigators, staff, and the Crown prosecutor who dedicated themselves to getting justice for Chantal.

They have worked relentlessly to bring this case to court and hold Chantal’s killer accountable for his horrendous crime.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

February 25, 2026

A call to court: Woman charged over burglaries

Source: New Zealand Police

A Police response to calls for help brought a woman’s alleged offending spree across Auckland suburbs to a halt.

The woman will now face court over two burglaries and a stolen vehicle.

Senior Sergeant Shaun Richardson, of Auckland City Police, says units responded to Grey Lynn after 2.30am following calls from residents around Richmond Road.

“Residents reported hearing a woman calling for help in the vicinity of Westmoreland Street West.

“Police and ambulance attended the area and eventually located a woman stuck at a property under renovation; she had fallen between a retaining wall and earthworks.”

Units on scene established a burglary had occurred at the address.

Senior Sergeant Richardson says the woman was allegedly in possession of a handbag which had been stolen.

“Further checks established the handbag had allegedly been stolen just hours earlier in Epsom,” he says.

“Just before midnight, an offender had allegedly entered a house and stolen a handbag and keys, before driving off in a late model Audi hatchback.”

The 31-year-old woman was transported to hospital for her injuries.

She has since been charged with two counts of burglary for both the Epsom and Grey Lynn incidents, as well as unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Police have opposed the woman’s bail.

It’s expected a bedside court hearing will take place later today.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

February 25, 2026

What people with tourette’s want you to know

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson has explained he left the British Film and Television Awards (Baftas) ceremony early on Monday night, aware his outbursts were causing distress.

Davidson was attending the ceremony to support the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life living with the syndrome. Tourette’s can cause involuntary movements and sounds, including words.

Davidson’s outbursts during the ceremony included a racial slur while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindon, who are Black, were presenting an award.

Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo present during the BAFTA Film Awards in London.

Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for BAFTA

. He said he was “deeply mortified” that people might have thought otherwise.

There are valid criticisms about how the Baftas and the broadcaster handled the situation and failed to properly acknowledge the hurt caused, whether or not it was intended.

But the syndrome Davidson has spent his life educating people about remains sadly misunderstood. So let’s take a look at Tourette’s and the tics it causes.

A neurological disorder

Tourette’s is a neurological disorder characterised by unintentional movements and vocalisations, known as tics.

While the exact cause of Tourette’s is not fully understood, it is likely to be complex and multifactorial.

Various genes have been linked to the condition, and we know it runs in families, so it likely has a strong genetic basis.

We also know that other environmental exposures during key periods of brain development contribute to the onset and course of the condition, such as complications during pregnancy and birth, illnesses and infections, and intense stress.

Tourette syndrome also rarely occurs in isolation, with many diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and learning disorders.

What are tics?

Tics are thought to be caused by changes in brain circuits involved in impulse control and inhibition.

People with tics often experience uncomfortable physical sensations that build up in the body called premonitory urges. These urges are difficult and often impossible to suppress, and the only way to alleviate the urge is to tic.

It is a bit like when we experience itching on our skin or tingling in our nose, sensations we relieve by scratching or sneezing.

Tics vary between people and fluctuate in frequency, type and intensity, which can be challenging to manage.

Some tics are brief movements and sounds, such as forceful blinking, facial grimacing, head jerking, sniffing, throat clearing and grunting. These are referred to as “simple” tics and are very common, particularly in young children.

Other tics involve more elaborate patterns of movements and sounds – often involving several parts of the body.

These are “complex” tics. They include motor tics like hitting oneself, kicking or dropping to the floor, and vocal tics like repeating words or phrases. This can include socially inappropriate terms such as slurs or swearwords.

It is believed the Tourette’s brain sometimes struggles to control “forbidden” impulses. A person may experience urges to say taboo words and phrases, or make inappropriate actions, when they see or hear certain things within their environment.

How common are tics?

Tics are very common among children, with simple tics occurring in up to one in five children aged between five and six. These normally resolve in a short space of time, with many people unaware they are tics.

For one in 100 children, their tics will persist and become more severe. Having both motor and vocal tics for at least 12 months, meets the diagnostic criteria for Tourette syndrome.

While Tourette’s typically first appears in early childhood, onset can also occur during adolescence and adulthood.

For most children, tics will peak during early puberty, typically between 10–12 years of age, before reducing.

But for about one in four people with Tourette syndrome, their tics will be lifelong. Around 50,000 Australians currently live with a life-long tic disorder.

The use of obscene and socially inappropriate words and phrases, referred to as coprolalia, only occurs in about 15–20% of people with Tourette’s.

Unfortunately, coprolalia is often what gets portrayed in media and entertainment, impacting the public’s understanding of Tourette’s.

Is there a cure?

Tourette syndrome currently has no cure.

Ideally, treatment should include evidence-based behavioural interventions for tics. However these can be difficult to access, with few psychologists trained in these interventions.

Other psychological therapies aim to address the person’s stress and anxiety – which are factors known to increase tics – but not their tics.

Medications are also commonly prescribed if the tics are impacting the person, but these are not effective for everyone and often have side effects.

An exhausting and disabling condition

The frequent urge to tic disrupts attention and concentration, and the tics themselves can impact many aspects of daily living, such as dressing, eating, watching TV, and even relaxing.

Tics can also cause discomfort and injury, such as muscle soreness, cramping, whiplash, dislocations and broken bones. The research I’ve done with colleagues shows two-thirds of people sustain injuries from their tics.

I was involved in a national survey in 2025 involving more than 200 people with Tourette’s and their caregivers. They told us about the challenges they faced including:

long wait times for diagnosis
little understanding of tics and the condition from health workers and teachers
a lack of support and limited treatment options
a severe negative effect on mental health.

The social stigma, bullying, exclusion and exhaustion of living with this condition often leads to significant mental health struggles.

Our research shows around 70 percent of people living with Tourette’s struggle with anxiety disorders and one in three experience depression. One in four adults and one in ten children with this disorder have attempted suicide.

People with Tourette’s want to be understood and accepted

Tics are not something they are doing for attention. They increase when a person is stressed, anxious or excited, and trying to hold them in can make them worse.

Not everyone experiences coprolalia but, for those that do, the inability to inhibit taboo language can lead to public scrutiny and cause embarrassment and shame. This leads to many avoiding social situations and a life of isolation.

Melissa Licari is a Senior Research Fellow in Child Disability, The University of Western Australia; The Kids Research Institute.

Where to get help

Help

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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

February 25, 2026

Murder of Chantal McDonald: Nathan Boulter jailed for at least 17 years

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nathan Boulter NZPA / David Rowland

A man who stalked then murdered a woman in her Christchurch home has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Nathan Boulter was sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch this afternoon by Justice Owen Paulsen after pleading guilty to murdering Chantal McDonald in July last year.

He was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.

McDonald had been in a brief relationship with Boulter.

After she ended it, he harassed, stalked and threatened her, making nearly 600 calls in two weeks.

Boulter stabbed her 55 times with a hunting knife, as she arrived to her Parklands home with her children.

Chantal McDonald Supplied

More to come …

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

February 25, 2026

Firearms incident, Hei Hei

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Detective Sergeant David Parker:

A scene examination is ongoing at a Hei Hei property in Christchurch following an firearms incident this morning.

Police were called to a Keri Place address around 4:35am to reports a vehicle was seen leaving the area at speed.

It was also reported that gunshots were heard.

Police attended and located evidence outside the property, which was unoccupied, to indicate a firearm had been discharged.

There will be a Police presence in the area while officers make a number of enquiries, working to determine what happened.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

February 25, 2026

Driving investment in new energy projects

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is leveraging public sector energy demand to drive new energy projects and grow our national supply, Energy Minister Simon Watts says.

“As part of the Government’s Energy Package, we are pursuing possible long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) across the public service starting with our three largest energy users: Health New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Department of Corrections,” Mr Watts says.

Following the Request for Information issued late last year, the Government is commencing discussions with the energy sector including independent generators and new entrants on opportunities to lock in long-term supply.

“We are focused on one clear outcome – increasing abundant and affordable energy to put downward pressure on power bills for households and businesses,” Mr Watts says.

“There is a strong pipeline of projects ready to go, from large grid-scale generation to site-specific and smaller repeatable projects across the country. We are backing all technologies that can deliver reliable, affordable power at scale, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, woody biomass, hydrogen and battery storage. The priority is simple: get more generation built, faster.”

MBIE is now working with Health New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Department of Corrections on potential long-term PPAs to commence when their existing contracts expire.

“Locking in long-term supply will give developers the certainty they need to invest in new generation, while securing better value and price stability for taxpayers,” Mr Watts says.

“Solar will also play a practical and immediate role. I have directed officials to complete a rapid feasibility study on establishing a streamlined procurement model to accelerate the rollout commercially viable solar across government properties.

“The objective is to support aggregate demand, cut red tape, and bring installations online more quickly increasing supply and reducing peak demand pressures on the grid.”

MBIE will report back by the end of May 2026. If viable, a Request for Proposals will be issued soon after, moving quickly from study to implementation so projects can begin delivering additional generation and cost relief as soon as possible.

February 25, 2026

What do Trump’s latest tariffs mean for New Zealanders?

Source: Radio New Zealand

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2025. AFP / Brendan Smialowski

New Zealand exporters are relatively better off after the latest tariff move from the United States.

NZ Post wrote to exporters on Wednesday morning, explaining how the new 10 percent tariff will apply.

The levy came into effect late on Tuesday evening after the Supreme Court last week blocked many of President Donald Trump’s earlier sweeping import taxes. New Zealand exporters had previously been facing a 15 percent tariff.

The administration is applying the 10 percent levy to all imports, including those coming from New Zealand.

However, Trump – angered by the Supreme Court ruling – has threatened to raise the tariff to 15 percent but has not yet issued an official directive.

NZ Post said the measure was scheduled to last until 24 July unless extended or amended.

“In most cases, a 10 percent import duty will apply unless the item falls within an excluded category…

“Some product categories are excluded from the temporary import duty, including certain pharmaceuticals, electronics, passenger vehicles, aerospace products, and qualifying goods from Canada and Mexico.”

NZ Post said its tools and systems would be updated to reflect the new requirements and people could continue to send items as normal.

Part of doing business with US

Jarrod Kerr Supplied / Gino Demeer

Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr said a 10 percent tariff was annoying and a “good revenue generator” for the US government.

But he said it did not do a lot to divert trade. “Particularly in New Zealand where our currency is a bit weaker than where it was, that kind of helps digest that sort of traffic. From what I’ve heard from many of our exporting clients, particularly those going into the United States, the United States is quite a profitable market for them. They pay good prices. I got the feeling they could wear a lot of this.”

He said tariffs of 10 percent or even 15 percent, as previously expected to apply to many New Zealand exports, would just become part of the cost of doing business. “If it’s a 30 percent tariff and higher he [the US President] was originally throwing around, that means much more discomfort in markets and more diversion of trade elsewhere. You might just give up on the US and start exporting more to Australia or trying to get more into China or somewhere else. Isn’t it great we’ve got a free-trade agreement with India? These sort of things all matter a lot more.”

Trump was causing volatility and uncertainty at a time when businesses wanted less volatility and more certainty. “But I don’t think it’s enough to derail us.”

‘A winner in the short term’

Kelly Eckhold Newshub

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said it was an improvement for New Zealand.

“We were on 15 percent and it does seem that the categories of exports that had concessions under the previous regime continue to have them, so beef and horticulture are not subject to that 10 percent tariff so in that sense we’re a winner at least in the short term.”

He said what happened in the medium term would depend on what the US decided to do. “[Trump] has this tool available to him for 150 days and he has indicated an intention to replace the previous tariffs with tariffs under different authorities. Those authorities require him to appeal to national security and also trade and balance of payments imbalance issues to justify them. Most of those things I think are difficult to apply to New Zealand’s exports. I’m hopeful we do have some uncertainty but the range of surprises can be capped.”

He was cautiously optimistic. “The really good thing I think is that the discretionary ability to raise tariffs to really high levels … that’s the power that’s been removed by the Supreme Court and that has been the thing that’s really raised uncertainty and driven behaviours in the last year.”

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

February 25, 2026

Wellingtonians can swim in beaches at own risk after Moa Point sewage spill

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellingtonians can now swim at southern beaches after the sewage leak – but at their own risk.

The city’s southern coast has been off limits since the Moa Point treatment plant failed catastrophically on 4 February, sending about 70 million litres of untreated sewage to the sea daily. The no-go zones include Ōwhiro and Island bays, just a few kilometres from the plant.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little announced on Wednesday that the city has returned to its regular system for updating residents about where it is safe to swim.

This means residents can check where it is safe to swim on the LAWA website and make their own informed decision about returning to the beaches.

“We have to be realistic and practical about what we’re asking people to do. Conditions can change rapidly. There are areas where the risk remains higher, such as near the short outfall pipe at Tarakena Bay,” he said.

Little advises residents to check the website before swimming and follow the advice on it.

“I do want to be clear: a risk remains, but monitoring results so far show that it is low and it is now up to people to decide how they respond to the current information,” Little said.

“I want to thank Wellingtonians and local businesses for their patience and understanding. Our city has rallied behind the workers who’ve been tireless in cleaning out the Moa Pt plant and walking the coast to keep people informed.

“Today’s progress marks a turning point, but we are far from the end of the journey. There is still a major infrastructure plant to restore, and lessons that must be learned through the Crown Review process.”

The government has launched an independent review into the Moa Point treatment plant failure.

It comes after the Wellington Water chair, Nick Leggett, resigned on 15 February, saying stepping aside would allow Wellington Water to focus on fixing the problems and restoring public trust.

Since the discharge began, an interagency group including National Public Health, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Wellington Water has been monitoring the water quality sample results.

If the short outfall is used, Wellington Water will alert LAWA immediately, who will continue to provide advice to the public about which beaches are safe to swim along the south coast. LAWA’s standard advice is not to enter the water during rainfall, or after rain for 48 hours.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little and Wellington Water chief operating officer Charles Barker are speaking to the media from Lyall Bay beach. Watch it live in the player above.

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