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Strong backing for Applied Doctorates Scheme

Source: New Zealand Government

A scheme that brings student researchers and industry together to tackle challenges that matter to people’s daily lives is open for further applications, Science, Innovation and Technology and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti says.

“The Applied Doctorates Scheme attracted strong backing from industry last year, and the new call for projects will provide more students the opportunity to solve real world challenges while earning their PhDs,” Dr Reti says.

“Students in the applied doctorates programme will develop advanced research skills while working with businesses to build commercial skills and deliver practical solutions for New Zealand. For industry, this is a chance to work with skilled researchers who bring fresh ideas and deep expertise.

“The first cohort is focused on energy research, with 25 industry-led projects selected from 76 submissions across energy systems, infrastructure, agriculture and high-tech engineering, recognising energy’s central role in supporting households and businesses, lifting productivity and keeping costs down.

“These students will contribute to projects that deliver results for Kiwis, including geothermal innovation with Contact Energy, reducing household electricity costs with Vector, improving energy efficiency at the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter, and strengthening rural resilience through power trading with Victoria University.

“The second cohort of doctoral-level research projects is now open for applications, and the theme for the 2026 call is Aerospace, Defence & Security, sectors that underpin New Zealand’s economic resilience and national security.

“The projects include a mix of fully Government funded and co-funded initiatives, reflecting confidence in the scheme’s direction and purpose. The first group of students are enrolling now and are expected to begin in the middle of 2026.

“The Applied Doctorates Scheme backs high-value science that will deliver results for New Zealanders, building a pipeline of researchers who can turn strong ideas into real economic and community outcomes.”
Notes to editors:

Photos: Credit Rio Tinto – Students at the Tiwai smelter as part of their graduate studies.

Attached: Applied Doctorates Programme: 2025 Energy Research Cohort Case Studies. Visit the Applied Doctorates Scheme website for further information and a full list of projects https://applieddoctorates.nz/.

Established in 2025, the Applied Doctorates Scheme strengthens the connection between universities and industry by equipping PhD students with both advanced research expertise and applied skills needed in modern workplaces. It is supported by a five-year, $20 million Government investment to grow a workforce that can translate cutting edge science into real world benefit. 

The 2025 round sought projects on the theme of New Zealand’s path to energy innovation. The 2026 round of projects will focus on Aerospace, Defence and Security. Applications close 11 May and the projects will be made public week of 2 July. The 2027 theme will focus on Biotechnology and Bioprocessing research.

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Van owner arrested after crashing down a bank

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested the owner of a van following a burglary in Christchurch that ended with a trailer detaching and the van crashing down a bank near Amberley.

Sergeant Nathan Wilson, of Canterbury Police, says the incident unfolded after a member of the public discovered a sign‑written trailer abandoned on the outskirts of Amberley.

“The caller phoned the number written on the trailer, and the owner then contacted Police,” Sergeant Wilson says.

The trailer had been stolen overnight from a Cole Porter Avenue address in Mairehau, Christchurch.

Police arrived at the scene finding the van’s owner back up with the trailer. A van was also found nearby, having crashed down a bank after the tow ball ripped free and remained lodged inside the trailer’s coupling.

“The driver was extremely lucky to walk away from this,” Sergeant Wilson says.

The van’s owner was arrested at the scene. He has been charged with burglary, two counts of theft relating to petrol drive-offs and possessing drug utensils. Further charges are likely pending testing of a substance found among his belongings.

Police are also investigating other offending committed in the Mairehau area overnight.

Police encourage anyone in Cole Porter Avenue, or the wider Mairehau area, who believes they may have information regarding offending, to contact us.

“This is also a great example of the public stepping up to help us,” Sergeant Wilson says. “A quick call from a member of the community helped us recover stolen property, identify the offender, and keep North Canterbury that little bit safer.”

If you have information please update us online now or call 105.

Please use reference number 260220/8839.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. 

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How a wind gust triggered high-speed Auckland SailGP crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

A sudden increase in wind speed caused the Black Foils to lose control of their boat moments before their high-speed crash with Team France in this month’s SailGP regatta in Auckland, an investigation has found.

The horrifying crash, which unfolded just 15 seconds after the start of the third race on day one, left two sailors hospitalised, and significantly reshaped the seasons of both teams, with the two boats suffering extensive damage.

Black Foils grinder Louis Sinclair sustained compound fractures to both legs in the incident, while France strategist Manon Audinet suffered internal abdominal injuries after the French F50 catamaran ploughed into the out-of-control Kiwi boat at speeds approaching 90 km/hour. Both sailors have since left hospital and are recovering at home.

SailGP officials on Wednesday released the findings of its technical review of the incident, revealing its engineers had found “no evidence of system malfunction”.

Alex Reid, SailGP’s director of performance and engineering, said the incident occurred after the Black Foils’ boat Amokura hit a gust of wind as it charged towards the first mark at 90 km/h. The extra wind pressure caused the foiling catamaran to accelerate rapidly and lift higher out of the water.

That increased “ride height” proved critical.

Black Foils SailGP Team and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France collide during Race 3, on Race Day 1. Simon Bruty for SailGP

As the hull rose, the leeward hydrofoil pierced the surface – a phenomenon known as ventilation – destabilising the boat. What followed was, according to Reid, “a very fast chain of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic events” that unfolded within seconds.

Data from onboard telemetry, high-rate performance systems and simulator recreations show the F50 began to sideslip, generating lift in unintended ways. Despite control inputs from flight controller Blair Tuke, the boat could not be brought down quickly enough.

As the crew fought to regain control – increasing rudder angle while trying to avoid nearby boats – the rudder briefly lost effective flow. The windward bow then dipped, the boat rounded sharply into the wind and decelerated hard.

Immediately behind, the French F50 was travelling at roughly 86km/h. At those closing speeds, there was no time or room to avoid impact.

“There is no evidence of a system malfunction or structural failure prior to the incident,” Reid said.

“What we see in the data is a very fast chain of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic events that pushed the boat beyond its controllable envelope at that moment.”

A penalty review has upheld the on-water decision that New Zealand breached rule 14 (avoiding contact) handing the Black Foils an eight-event-point penalty. France was deemed to have had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the crash.

Speaking to media last week after Black Foils driver and team boss Peter Burling described the incident as “horrific”.

Black Foils driver Peter Burling and team are expected to be off the water for some time after the crash caused significant damage to Amokura. Alan Lee/Photosport

“We started off race three and were going down reach one to windward of the Italian boat. We ended up high on the foil and ended up sliding sideways.

“We hit a system limit, which drastically escalated that situation, and had to take quite drastic action to avoid the Italian boat to leeward, which resulted in us touching down. Obviously, the incident followed that.”

Both teams have since been ruled out of the upcoming Sydney Sail Grand Prix as repairs continue.

SailGP says it is now examining potential mitigations to help crews better manage similar gust-driven scenarios in future regattas.

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Sharlene Smith homicide: Vehicle of interest identified

Source: Radio New Zealand

The vehicle of interest in the Sharlene Smith investigation. Supplied / NZ Police

Police investigating the death of a grandmother whose body was found at a Hawke’s Bay worksite earlier this month have identified a likely route taken by a vehicle of interest.

Police have issued a fresh appeal for help from the public in the investigation into the death of Sharlene Smith, 64, from Rotorua.

Smith’s body was found at a property on Taihape Road in Omahu, near Hastings, on 3 February.

Police earlier described the incident as the “tragic and avoidable death of a much-loved mother, grandmother and sister”.

In a statement released this afternoon, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kris Payne said police had identified a likely route taken by a vehicle of interest.

“We know this vehicle was used on the day Sharlene’s body was left at the worksite, and officers have carried out extensive work to locate and review CCTV footage from the relevant timeframe.”

The route taken by a vehicle of interest in the Sharlene Smith murder investigation. Supplied / NZ Police

Anybody who saw a white 2005 Mazda 3 sports hatchback between 8am and midday on Sunday 1 February 2026, – travelling from the Awatoto area, through Taihape Road/Omahu Road and the Fernhill area, and into Marewa, Napier – is urged to contact police.

“We are asking anyone who saw this vehicle, or who has home, business, or dashcam CCTV footage from those areas during that time, to please contact Police if not already spoken to,” said Payne.

Two items belonging to Smith are believed to have been discarded along the same route: a handbag and a Samsung Galaxy A06 mobile phone.

A handbag that is being sought as part of the Sharlene Smith murder investigation. Supplied / NZ Police

Anyone with information can contact police by calling 105 and referencing file number 260203/9739. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Meridian warns households could face power bill increases up to seven percent

Source: Radio New Zealand

Meridian Energy CEO Mike Roan. Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy says households could face power bill increases of up to seven percent this year, mostly due to lines and transmission charges.

The country’s biggest power generator returned to profitability in the half-year ended December, posting a bottom-line profit of $227 million, compared to the previous year’s dry-year-driven loss of $121m.

Chief executive Mike Roan said “unfortunately” some cost increases would be passed through to households again this year.

“I had assumed they might be in the order of around 5 percent earlier as we came back from Christmas,” he said.

“But the lines and transmission component has come in higher than expected, so my 5 percent has lifted to more like 7 [percent].”

Lines and transmission cost increases are regulated by the Commerce Commission, and they have been increasing to fund infrastructure improvements.

“The energy component of those increases is just above the rate of inflation, so we are doing a good job of limiting the increases in price driven by electricity costs, but that lines and transmission component is challenging, and it will flow for the next few years through consumers’ bills.”

Roan acknowledged it was “really tough” for customers to hear.

Asked whether companies the size of Meridian could cushion the impact on households, Roan said it did cushion households when it came to energy prices.

“That was evident materially last year given our result where we did buy a whole lot of insurance to protect the electricity system, but we try to pass through those line charges to consumers,” he said.

Meridian has remained competitive in the household market, with the company recording a 12 percent increase in retail sales volumes from a year ago.

LNG will help dry-year risk but no ‘silver bullet’

Mike Roan said the government’s move to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) would help the energy system during dry years.

“The combination of the Huntly strategic reserve, the big demand response agreement we’ve got with the Tiwai aluminium smelter down south, and LNG, will help us navigate future droughts successfully as a country,” he said.

“There’s no question about that.”

Roan said early indications showed forward pricing had also moved lower following the government’s LNG announcement and various power companies’ results.

“Interestingly – and there aren’t many coincidences in financial markets – is those forward prices have come off over the last couple of weeks and since that announcement,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those prices have started to think about the amount of investment that’s coming to market because we’ve just been through the interim announcements by ourselves and our competitors.”

Roan said forward prices had fallen by around $10 a megawatt hour.

Along with the country’s other major generators, Meridian has extensive projects underway to build new electricity generation.

Meridian said it continued to move at pace towards its goal of having seven generation projects in construction ready by 2030.

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Investigation underway after body found near vehicle in Westland

Source: Radio New Zealand

A police officer found the body near Parkers Creek. Google Maps

Police are investigating after a person was found dead near a vehicle in Whataroa, north of Franz Josef.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Lyford said a police officer found the body near Parkers Creek.

“At this time, the death is being treated as unexplained,” he said.

Lyford said members of the Whataroa community can expect to see an increased police presence as investigations continue.

A postmortem examination is due to be carried out later in the week.

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Multiple injuries after bus crash in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. RNZ / REECE BAKER

Multiple people have been injured after a bus crash in the Auckland suburb of Grafton this afternoon.

Hato Hone St John said three ambulances and one rapid response unit were sent to the scene on Carlton Gore Road / Park Road, shortly after 2.30pm

“Four patients have been assessed and are being transported to Auckland City Hospital, three in moderate condition and one in minor condition.”

The crash involved a construction truck, according to a witness.

– more to come

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National and New Zealand First go head to head over Hauraki Gulf

Source: Radio New Zealand

NZ First’s Shane Jones and National’s Tama Potaka. RNZ

New Zealand First has hit out at National after its coalition partner promised to campaign on stronger fishing protections in the Hauraki Gulf.

National’s conservation spokesperson Tama Potaka laid out the position his party would take to the election campaign over the weekend.

He said the coalition’s decision to allow commercial fishing in two of the 12 High Protection Areas (HPAs) in the gulf had caused “widespread concern” from the public.

Last year, the government passed legislation establishing 12 HPAs, where most commercial and recreational fishing were prohibited, and five sea floor protection areas.

At the time, the opposition criticised the government for a late-stage amendment allowing commercial ring-net fishing operators exclusive access to two of the HPAs.

“National will look to reinstate the ban on all fishing in the High Protection Areas,” Potaka said over the weekend.

“A further decision, to allow bottom trawling in some designated trawl corridors in the Gulf has also been controversial so we will review that also.”

‘Who will pay for it?’ – Shane Jones

New Zealand First’s deputy leader Shane Jones said National’s decision risked $250 million worth of property rights secured in a major treaty settlement more than 30 years ago.

“Any suggestion that commercial fishing has to be terminated and trawling has to be outlawed in the Hauraki Gulf almost certainly lead to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of property rights being cancelled.”

Jones said National’s policy would “lead to the unravelling” of the 1992 Sealord Deal – a significant fisheries settlement that gave iwi 50 percent of the Sealord company and a substantial quota of fish caught through the Quota Management System.

He said everyone weighing into the debate needed to bring a “level of even handedness” to discussions to avoid a massive taxpayer bill.

“We can float what we like as politicians in the election campaign but at some point in time, manifesto ideas will meet the sheer cold reality of who will pay for it.

“People who want to terminate commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf need to take account of who will bear the costs because we’re not a communist country that goes around summarily cancelling property rights.

“The advocates for terminating commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf are essentially saying they want to terminate property rights. Well, we’re not Venezuela.

“If you want to terminate property rights then you have to deal with compensation and no one who proposes the termination of fisheries is willing to explain or justify why a quarter of a billion dollars should be spent on turning the hierarchy golf into a mill pond.”

Potaka said National could protect the Gulf while also respecting fishery settlements.

“High Protection Areas were always intended to provide genuine protection, and if elected we will restore that integrity in a way that upholds our obligations and respects existing fisheries settlements.

“New Zealanders expect clarity and consistency in how marine protections are applied, and we are being clear that safeguarding the long-term health of the Hauraki Gulf is the responsible course for its future and for the country.”

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Government scraps its quarterly action plans

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon previously said the plans helped create momentum and drive focus. RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

The government appears to have scrapped its quarterly action plans, after not releasing one so far this quarter.

At the start of the term, the Prime Minister released the things the government planned to do in its first 100 days.

Once that was completed, the government moved to quarterly plans, starting in April 2024.

“Having a clear plan with specific actions and timeframes for delivery creates momentum and drives focus,” Christopher Luxon said at the time.

Each plan would contain about 30 to 40 actions within the government’s three pillars of ‘rebuild the economy and ease the cost of living,’ ‘restore law and order,’ and ‘deliver better public services.’

Its most recent one [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575209/the-33-things-the-government-plans-to-do-before-the-end-of-year

from October 2025], for example, contained actions to introduce the planning legislation that will replace the Resource Management Act, pass the legislation to enable time of use charging, and release the English and Maths curriculum for Years 0-10.

Some commitments in the plans were more vague, such as “take policy decisions” around legislation that would appear in a future plan, or “raise the energy” of international relationships to signal Luxon would be taking an overseas trip.

Others were simply a product of timing, such as “deliver a Budget,” which happens the same time every year.

With the release of each subsequent plan, the government would also say which of the actions on its previous plan it had not achieved or which were still in progress.

On Monday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the plans were “slightly absurd” and had become “an exercise in managerialism” rather than setting the direction for the country.

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MediMap urgently seeks court injunction to protect stolen data after cyber hack

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ/Calvin Samuel

MediMap, the hacked health portal, is heading to court to try to block people accessing and using the data that has been breached.

It was breached on Sunday, and the company has now taken the platform offline while it investigates.

It’s used for prescribing and giving medication in places like residential aged care, hospices, disability services and community health.

In a new statement on Wednesday, it said it was urgently seeking an injunction to protect the information of impacted people.

“This injunction would prohibit anyone from accessing, using, copying, sharing, or publishing any MediMap data that may have been unlawfully obtained, and would seek to limit any further spread of that information online,” it said.

MediMap said it also sincerely apologised for any distress the hack may have caused.

“We understand this situation is concerning for residents, patients, their families, and healthcare providers.”

It said its own investigation into what it called alleged unauthorised access and data modification was ongoing, and that the company was working to find any personal information that may have been accessed by an authorised third party.

“Once this process is complete and we have verified the facts, we will contact affected customers directly regarding any necessary next steps,” its statement said.

According to information sent by MediMap to care providers in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and seen by RNZ, fields that were changed included patient name, date of birth, location within the facility, assigned prescriber or pharmacy, allergy or intolerance information or discharge or deceased status.

Providers with the portal offline have told RNZ medication was now being organised the old-fashioned way – on paper.

A Nurses Organisation member at George Manning Lifecare and Village in Christchurch told RNZ they needed double the number of registered nurses on each shift just to give out medication.

Aged Care Association chief executive Tracey Martin said every care home had a “disaster” plan to fall back on in case of something like a system outage.

“Basically, they had to switch back to paper-based.”

She understood it was not having an effect on residents, who were all still receiving medication, but some facilities might have needed to bring in extra staff who were qualified to double check the medication, before it was given to residents.

“It certainly takes longer, it’s certainly more painful than the efficiencies that you get through a digital system,” Martin said.

Most of the questions being asked were: “Is my mum still getting her medication?” and “How are you making sure that she gets what she needs?”

“With regard to somebody being marked as deceased or not? Well, our facilities have got the person there, so they know they’re not deceased. So while from a system perspective that is really interesting and needs to be sorted, from a real-life perspective, that individual’s still there, still being cared for.”

FAQs released by MediMap

Among the information sent from MediMap care providers were lists of frequently asked questions those companies might be getting, and how to respond to them, along with a draft email providers could use as a template to inform patients, residents and families.

MediMap said it was working with external cyber security and forensic specialists, Health NZ, and relevant authorities to identify which facilities and resident records had been affected, and passwords were being reset across all users “as a precautionary measure”.

“Importantly, we have been advised that there is currently no evidence that medication charts or medication administration records have been altered,” it said.

“Has resident data been exposed? – At this stage, we cannot confirm whether any resident data has been accessed beyond viewing, extracted, or exposed externally. The investigation is ongoing.”

“When will our facility be brought back online? – Facilities will be restored in phases. Facilities where current resident information has not been modified will be restored first following internal validation. Facilities where resident information may have been impacted will be contacted directly by MediMap to confirm current resident details prior to restoration.”

“Why are discharged or deceased residents being reviewed? – Some resident status information may have been incorrectly modified. Historical records will be reviewed following restoration of current residents.”

What is the health agency saying?

Health New Zealand, while supporting the company’s investigation, said MediMap, as a privately owned company, was solely responsible for its security and it needed to do everything it could.

Its digital services acting chief information technology officer Darren Douglass said New Zealanders expected companies involved in healthcare to secure systems and platforms so private information was safeguarded.

Privacy commissioner says New Zealanders expect better

The privacy commissioner told Midday Report changing people’s information was as much of a breach of privacy as stealing it.

With the system offline, he said, patients are now “relying on the professionalism of the health sector” to ensure they got the right medication.

Michael Webster said New Zealanders rightly expected companies with sensitive information to have higher standards of privacy and protection than any other area.

“The expectation out there from New Zealanders is increasingly, this information has to be protected, and has to be seen to be protected as well as any information – and better.”

He said it was not yet known how many people had been affected.

The commission was working with MediMap to understand the scale of the hack, Webster said, and he expected to receive updates as that work progressed.

MediMap has declined an interview with RNZ, but has again been approached for comment.

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