Source: Press Release Service
Headline: Thousands of NZ Businesses May Be Exposed Under New Contractor Law
A major change to New Zealand employment law has come into force with the new Gateway Test, potentially exposing thousands of businesses using independent contractors to legal and financial risk.
The post Thousands of NZ Businesses May Be Exposed Under New Contractor Law first appeared on PR.co.nz.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are working to locate Tevita Lasa, who has a warrant for his arrest and is wanted by Police.
Lasa, 35, is wanted by Police in relation to burglary and is known to frequent the Auckland City area.
It’s believed he is actively avoiding Police.
If you have seen him or have any information that may assist in locating him, please update us online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 260118/6795.
Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: Radio New Zealand
Phoenix operations manager Shaun Gill (right) with general manager David Dome. Photosport
Former Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano was already on borrowed time before his resignation at the weekend.
Italiano quit after Saturday’s 5-0 loss to Auckland FC. The Australian had been with the Phoenix since 2019 and head coach since 2023.
On Monday, Phoenix academy boss Chris Greenacre was announced as his replacement for the foreseeable future.
Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill said Italiano was aware that the club wasn’t happy with the team’s slump in form which has them second from bottom on the A-League table with five wins from 18 games.
“We had been talking about the state of the team, the state of the performances and the results and there had been discussions internally at the club in the weeks leading into it and following that discussion with Chiefy (after the game) he made the correct decision to resign,” Gill told RNZ.
“Sport at the professional level is a results business and when the results are not going right then there needs to be change.”
Italiano took the club to their highest ever finish in the 2023-24 season when they ended the regular season in second place.
Giancarlo Italiano Photosport
Gill was asked if the call should have been made a year later when the Phoenix finished the 2024-25 in 11th place with just six wins from 26 games.
“There were some things in the 24-25 season that didn’t go to plan but at that time we were confident that Chief had taken some valuable learning’s and lessons and we thought he had the tools to be able to deliver this season.
Gill said the players continued to back Italiano.
“At no time was it evident that the dressing room had been lost, the players were fighting for Chiefy and Chiefy was fighting for the club and the players but ultimately the results have just not been there.”
The Phoenix men have sometimes been criticised by commentators and fans for promoting development players rather than spending money on imports. Gill admitted there had to be a balance.
“One of our key strategies for the past four years has been the development of the women’s programme and professional football in New Zealand for females and the pathway that has been created there,” he said.
Wellington Phoenix players celebrate a goal during their 7-0 win over Sydney FC in a A-League women’s match at Porirua Park, 2025. Photosport
“There has to be investment across all of those three areas (men’s and women’s teams and development teams) and development of young players and moving them into the first team and the sale of them is not a straight-line process. There will be some years where results struggle a little bit.
“But ultimately that has not been the case this season that the strategy of the football club is the reason for the results and we will continue to develop players.”
The Phoenix men host third placed Sydney FC on Sunday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can release the name of the man who sadly died following a crash on Waiwhero Road, Lower Moutere, on Wednesday 4 February.
He was Paul Daniel McKay, 42, from Motueka.
Police extend condolences to Paul’s loved ones.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Radio New Zealand
On the exterior wall of Wellington’s Jam Hair Company, where once stood a mural of English music legend David Bowie, now lies the image of a local legend – Fat Freddy’s Drop co-founder Chris Faiumu, who died suddenly last year.
Mark Williams from Fat Freddy’s Drop says the mural seems an appropriate way to pay tribute to Faiumu, known as DJ Mu or Fitchie.
“And of course doing it in his hometown of Wellington in the streets where he basically started his musical journey seemed really appropriate.”
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Students using support services has surged, according to student leaders. (File photo) 123RF
Student leaders say the rising cost of living is reshaping university life – and for some, putting tertiary study out of reach altogether.
Campus groups said demand for hardship help was climbing as students struggled to cover rent, food and power while balancing study and work.
At the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association, president Aidan Donohue said usage of basic support services had surged over the past year.
“We’re seeing students need support from other avenues to make up shortfalls in income,” he said.
“Rent, power, groceries – things you can’t choose not to buy – those are the key pressures.”
The association’s free community pantry ran out of funding before the end of last year after demand exceeded projections.
Donohue said international students were among those relying heavily on food parcels, alongside increasing use of free menstrual products and discounted rubbish bags.
“By far, cost of living is the biggest issue for students. It’s ultimately what decides if someone goes to university at all – or whether they stay.
“When you compare studying with living costs and a part-time job, you’re often worse off than working full-time on minimum wage.”
At the Waikato Students’ Union, president Seamus Lohrey, 22, said the financial strain had been consistent since the pandemic but remained acute.
“More and more students now need to get a job, but they’re expected to be full-time students,” he said.
“There’s a difference between having enough money to live – and enough to actually achieve in your study.”
Lohrey, a final-year law student, said many students were juggling study and work simply to survive.
Bond payments for flats were one of the biggest immediate costs, he said.
“A cheap bond would be $700 plus. For someone who’s meant to be a full-time student, that’s a lot of money.”
While it was difficult to quantify because of confidentiality, Lohrey said the demand for food support on campus was also clear.
“There is an incredibly large need and desire for food, which is concerning.
“If you don’t have the foundation there – food, warmth – you can’t actually access those high-level needs.”
Scott Tambisari, president of the Student Association Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, said demand and underlying need are growing locally.
“In 2025 we supported 421 students through hardship assistance. Of these, 134 students were referred to the local Foodbank that we partner with as they also needed support for their whānau. This is lower than our 2024 figures, where we supported 701 students through hardship, including 289 Foodbank referrals.
The reduction in help was not due to reduced need, but rather funding constraints, Tambisari said.
“We did not receive dedicated hardship funding in 2025 and instead relied on remaining funding and external grants to continue supporting students”.
And for many students, the pressure is personal and immediate.
Christchurch nursing student Sarah Evans, 33, said her student allowance covers her bills “pretty much to the dollar”, leaving only a small amount each week for food, fuel and other costs.
She could earn a limited amount before her allowance was reduced, leaving little incentive to work more hours.
“I’ve got about $4 left of my student allowance after bills,” she said.
Evans said she had borrowed money from family to buy essential course equipment and sometimes struggled to afford groceries.
“Last week I didn’t actually have enough money for food, so I had to borrow $50 just to buy basics like bread and pasta.”
“You start to weigh it up and think it might actually be better to go back to work and earn a living. You want to follow a passion, but you still need to survive.”
In Auckland, 22-year-old Trinity Alp said she moved from Whangārei to study but had struggled to find part-time work.
“I’ve applied for over 60 jobs. There’s just not enough part-time work going around for students to survive.”
With rent and bills to pay, she said food often became the last priority.
“Food comes last and that’s horrible because it’s one of the main things we need to survive,” she said.
“Some weeks I’ve only got $50 to $80 left for food. You start thinking, should I just drop out?”
Tertiary Education Minister Shane Reti said the government recognised cost-of-living pressures on students.
He said most tuition costs were publicly funded, with student payments adjusted each year for inflation.
“The government also funds Student Job Search, which provides free support to assist tertiary students with finding employment,” Reti said.
“Other government funded support includes training incentives to help sole parents, carers and disabled people access tertiary education, Working for Families Tax Credits to assist families with dependent children and accommodation support which is available to student allowances recipients who are living away from home.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Development said it had added staff and temporarily extended StudyLink call centre hours to manage demand.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Dr Elena Garcia, St John. Supplied / St John
Only a quarter of people who have cardiac arrest in the community survive the trip to hospital, according to a new report by ambulance services.
Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance have released the latest annual Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report, saying “out-of-hospital cardiac arrests” (OHCAs) remain a major public health challenge.
Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, 2466 people were treated for cardiac arrest by ambulance officers across the country – almost seven a day.
Eighty-one percent of patients received CPR from a bystander, but only six percent received treatment with a defibrillator, otherwise known as an AED.
Twenty-four percent of patients survived to hospital arrival, and only 12 percent survived a month after the event – similar numbers to previous years.
Dr Elena Garcia, deputy clinical director at St John, said making sure people received timely CPR or AED access could be the difference between life or death.
“We know that patients who have recieved community defibrillation from an AED have more than double the odds of survival, so it’s just about getting them to the patients when they need them.
“It’s about having AEDs in communities all across New Zealand, and making sure they’re truly available in terms of being open to the community, 24/7 access, and unlocked.”
They were very straightforward to use, she said – the 111 call-taker could walk someone through it, or the AED itself would have an automated voice telling the first responder where to put the stickers and which buttons to press.
Deputy chief executive for clinical services at Hato Hone St John, Jon Moores, agreed that improving community confidence and capability remained essential, along with increasing awareness of early signs of cardiac arrest and the availability of AEDs.
Key metrics from the past five years regarding cardiac arrests outside of hospitals. Supplied / Hato Hone St John / Wellington Free Ambulance
The data showed Māori and Pacific peoples tended to have cardiac arrests more often, and earlier in life, along with people living in rural and higher-deprivation communities.
Hato Hone St John’s clinical evaluation, research and insights manager, Dr Sarah Maessen, explained Māori were 1.4 times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest and faced this risk a decade earlier in life than non-Māori.
Female patients had lower odds of survival at 50 percent, and were about 60 percent less likely to receive defibrillation from another member of the public than males.
Garcia said it was possible there was a fear of removing women’s clothing, or exposing them in an inappropriate way.
“Do what you can and help the patient, because they will be very glad to survive.”
Wellington Free Ambulance executive medical director Dr Erica Douglass said it worked to train people across the Wellington region in CPR and using AEDs through The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat CPR Training programme.
“Last year close to 10,000 people across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa learnt this lifesaving skill,” she said. “This training is free of charge thanks to cornerstone partner Julie Nevett and The Lloyd Morrison Foundation who fund this essential programme.
“The data in this report shows us the positive impact bystander CPR and AED use has for chances of survival in a sudden cardiac arrest, and we encourage everyone to undertake training, know where their closest AED is and be ready to assist if needed.”
Take part in St John’s community education programme ‘[www.stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/community-programmes/3-steps-for-life/ 3 Steps for Life]’ for one hour of free CPR and AED training.
Then sign up to [www.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid/lifesaving-apps/ GoodSAM], an app which alerts nearby people trained in CPR and defibrillation, when someone nearby is having a cardiac arrest.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
Good old-fashioned Police work has ended in the arrest of a man wanted in relation to an aggravated robbery in New Lynn last week.
At about 1am on 16 February, four masked offenders entered a venue on Great North Road and stole a large amount of cash.
The group fled the scene in a stolen vehicle and a short time later were seen entering a second vehicle.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā West Area Investigations Manager, says that vehicle was located abandoned on Winstone Road, Mt Roskill.
“A substantial amount of money was recovered from inside the vehicle.
“Following this, our enquiries team reviewed CCTV from the area and spoke with a number of people.”
He says the information received led officers to pound the pavement, eventually locating an address of interest.
“Police executed a search warrant at a Mount Albert Road address and located a suspect hiding inside a closet.
“He has subsequently been charged with aggravated robbery and unlawfully using a motor vehicle.
“This was a great arrest, and we can’t rule out further arrests or charges.
“This is a great example of good old-fashioned Police work, getting great results and holding people to account.”
A 22-year-old man appeared in court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear in Waitākere District Court this week.
Anyone with any further information is asked to please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online, and use the file number 260216/2305.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers online or through 0800 555 111.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: Radio New Zealand
File photo. Emergency services were called to the crash scene on Monday night. RNZ
One person has died following a serious crash in the Canterbury town of Waikuku overnight.
Emergency services were called to the three-vehicle crash on Main North Road, near Tulls Road, just after 9pm on Monday.
One person died at the scene.
The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination but has since reopened.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Auckland streeties say they already get moved on by security guards, council workers and police. Nick Monro
Stay clean, don’t be seen – that’s the motto of many Auckland streeties who say they already get moved on by security guards, council workers and police.
The government is giving police new powers to move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour in town and city centres.
Shopkeepers and business leaders wanted it and social agencies condemned it, but homeless people warned it raised the question of where they were supposed to go.
Kevin lived rough for about a decade before moving into an apartment provided by a social agency in Auckland four years ago.
He described his experience like this: “Hustle – having unidentified struggle to live equally.”
Kevin still knew many people who slept rough.
“Not all the ones want to take the cup and ask for money, some of them are just walking around town biding time looking for refuge or sanctuary of some kind, or looking for help.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier said police were capable of dealing with the issues and the orders would give police another tool to address anti-social behaviour.
But the Police Association said it would be a drain on resources.
Breach an order, and it risked a fine or three month jail term.
Rough sleepers are asking where they are meant to go. Nick Monro
Kevin said it should be the job of an agency already supporting rough sleepers.
“Why not another organisation because that uniform has a presentation, using that uniform and the police may not want to be doing this.”
A woman who had been homeless for just over a year in Auckland, whom RNZ agreed to keep anonymous, said there were fewer areas in the central city to hang out in.
She went by the motto – stay clean, don’t be seen.
“They have absolutely done everything in their power to move us away from the public areas, they’ve taken all the chairs, the tables, shut down the toilets so that we’re concentrated in certain areas.”
She said it was not easy getting off the streets because there was a lack of suitable housing – she preferred street life to boarding houses.
“We all recognise that we all have a lot of the same issues and we can’t reintegrate back into society because we didn’t fit there in the first place,” she said.
“So now pushing us into certain areas, not being able to be here at a certain time, you can’t lie down in Auckland city central business district at all.”
Moving someplace else would not be easy.
“The whole question in the beginning, where are we meant to go to? Where’s the designated area?
“They can try and move us on but there’s other ways around it, because we’re still able to be here, we still have nowhere else to go.”
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s office said police were expected to connect people given move-on orders with the support they may need.
Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas. supplied
Newmarket Business Association supported the introduction of move-on orders, as long as the problem was not shifted from street to street.
Its chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas said businesses did need help dealing with persistent anti-social behaviour outside their premises.
Kevin has a roof over his head now, but worried about those who did not, who could be asked to move on.
“They can’t give you a home so you’re going to take your trolley and move on, go somewhere else and move on, I think this is going to happen.”
The changes proposed by government would have to go through a legislative process before coming into effect.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand