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Update: Fatal crash, SH1, Marlborough

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm a third person has died following a serious crash on State Highway One near Redwood Pass.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash at around 10.40am on Sunday 22 February.

Two people died at the scene, and three others were transported to hospital with serious to critical injuries.

Sadly, despite best efforts by medical professionals, a third person has since passed away.

The two other injured remain in hospital in a serious and critical condition.

The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and the road has since reopened.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Chorus posts modest half-year profit

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chorus’s chief executive said the company had coped with tougher economic times and restrained consumer spending, as it looked to become an all-fibre operation. RNZ

Telecommunications company Chorus posted a modest half-year profit on the back of a lift in sales and connections to its fibre network, and lower costs.

Key numbers for the six months ended December 2025 compared with a year ago:

  • Net profit $15m vs loss $5m
  • Revenue $506m vs $500m
  • Expenses $149m vs $154m
  • Guidance full year operating earnings top end of $710m-$730m
  • Interim dividend 24 cents per share vs 23 cps

Chief executive Mark Aue said the company had coped with the tougher economic times and restrained consumer spending, as it looked to become an all-fibre operation.

“We have a clear aspiration to become a simplified all fibre business with 80 percent uptake by 2030, and this result is a culmination of the work we’ve done over recent years to reshape Chorus … we are focused on growth, simplicity and efficiency.”

Chorus added about 31,000 new fibre connections taking its total to 1.13 million, about 72 percent of the households in the regions in which it operates.

At the same time it disconnected 60,000 copper phone lines and expected to clear the remaining 3000 in its territory by the middle of the year.

Fibre broadband revenue was higher while Chorus reduced its operating costs.

Aue said the Chorus network was delivering faster connection speeds because of demand from businesses and households for cloud services, multi device use, and artificial intelligence.

However, he said it was also taking steps to cater for a large number of households who could not afford to connect.

“Nearly 400,000 households cannot afford a package of meaningful digital access – a challenge felt in every region and community across the country.”

He said Chorus was launching what it called “Equity Fibre”, which would be available to households meeting affordability and need-based criteria.

Aue also said fibre was proving its worth in bad weather events, with fewer faults and quicker repair times.

The company said it did not anticipate any significant change arising from the government’s decision to sell $643m worth of debt securities issued to finance Chorus’s roll out of the broadband network.

Forsyth Barr analyst Benjamin Crozier said the result was a “solid” one helped by stronger than expected cost controls.

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

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Tourism Holdings’ profits increase after strong half-year

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

Campervan operator Tourism Holdings (THL) says strong growth in its rental business has helped drive first-half net profit up 17 percent, with revenue growth of 4 percent.

“Our rentals business remains the engine of THL’s business model and continues to power our global revenue performance,” chief executive Grant Webster said.

“Globally, rental performance remained strong during H1 FY26, with 11 percent growth in sale of services revenue (primarily rentals) in the first half.

“As of today, we are seeing global forward rental revenue for future travel periods more than 15 percent higher than at the same point last year, despite the decline seen in the US market.”

Key numbers for the six months ended December compared with a year ago:

  • Net profit $29.6m vs $25.3m
  • Revenue $477.3m vs $458.4m
  • Underlying net profit $29.5m vs $26.5m
  • Interim 3 cents per share vs 2.5 CPS

“We remain confident in the outlook for global tourism. The industry is finally moving away from pre-Covid comparisons,” Webster said.

“Structural drivers, including growing global airline capacity and growing demand for our category of free independent travel, continue to support a positive outlook for RV rentals.

“Looking ahead, we expect continued momentum and growth through calendar year 2026 in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, with these markets seeing between 20 percent to 30 percent growth in forward rental revenue.

“The downside is that we are in an environment where the USA is ‘off the menu’ for many international travellers this year. While the 2025 high season still had the benefit of solid booking intakes before the Liberation Day tariffs were announced (subject to some cancellations), the entire 2026 booking window has been impacted.”

Progress on the strategic initiatives announced in August 2025

“We continue to view FY26 as a transition year as we implement transformational initiatives against a background of ongoing weakness in RV sales markets, broader macroeconomic challenges, and uncertainty regarding the timing of a recovery,” Webster said.

“Notwithstanding this, we are focused on our forecast for FY26.”

The company expected full-year underlying net profit to be in the range of $43m and $47m, including a $1m reduction associated with the timing of its UK divestment.

He said challenging vehicle sales conditions persisted, and the second half of FY26 was expected to largely reflect the trends seen in the first half, with any meaningful recovery unlikely within the current financial year.

Net debt was expected to be less than $400 million.

“Looking further ahead, the execution of our strategic initiatives, continued recovery in international tourism and rental demand, alongside ongoing cost-out actions, are expected to materially benefit FY27.

“We expect gross fleet capital expenditure in FY26 to be around $210 million, reflective of our fleet and capital management decisions.”

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

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Should you trust airlines to get you into the UK on an expired passport?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gill Bonnett

Changes to the United Kingdom’s entry requirements for dual citizens come into force on Wednesday, but a last-minute update has added further confusion according to travel agents.

Late last year, the British government announced anyone classed as a British citizen would soon need a valid UK passport to enter the country, or have to get a $1300 certificate in their foreign passport.

But on Friday, the Home Office said it will now allow airlines to decide whether to accept an expired British passport alongside a valid foreign one.

Travel Agents’ Association chief executive Julie White told Morning Report leaving it to the airlines’ discretion was risky.

“You can’t rely on that and look, it’s expensive, it’s stressful and you’ve taken annual leave so our suggestion is, you really should be travelling with the right documentation.

“We’re inundated with people contacting our travel agents around clarity because it really is confusing.”

She said airlines could only deal with the information they’d been provided and would face fines if they got it wrong.

“So, if the person standing in front of them has got a New Zealand passport with an ETA [Electronic Travel Authorisation], they will go through a set of questions … the liability then sits on the person travelling, which may actually be denied entry into the UK and turned around.”

White said the British Embassy had not been forthcoming about how airlines would know whether a person required a new passport/ETA or not, but expected people to be questioned upon entry into the UK about whether they had a British parent.

She said the motivation behind the changes was driven by the UK’s desire to tighten its borders and also its move toward digital.

“As they move along to [become] more digitally enabled, I think they’d have greater clarity on who has what rights.”

She said a grace period to comply with the rules would be helpful, but with the changes coming into effect in only three days’ time, thought it was unlikely.

White said some people had chosen to cancel or defer their travel due to the stress, noting insurance wouldn’t cover the cost.

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

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Pedestrian hit by car outside Te Anau business

Source: Radio New Zealand

Emergency services were at the scene. (File photo) RNZ

A pedestrian has been hit by a car in Te Anau.

Police said the crash was reported at 8.45am on Monday on Town Centre, in Te Anau.

The road was closed between Te Anau Terrace and Miro St.

Police said the pedestrian had been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Diversions were in place and motorists would need to avoid the area and expect delays.

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

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Serious crash, Town Centre, Te Anau – Southland

Source: New Zealand Police

The road is closed near Town Centre at Mokonui Road, Te Anau following a serious crash outside a business at about 8.45am today.

Emergency services are currently at the scene of the crash involving a car and a pedestrian.

The pedestrian has been transported to hospital with serious injuries.

Diversions are in place and motorists will need to avoid the area and expect delays.

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.

END

Issued by Police Media Team.

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Person dies after car hits tree and flips in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police said the vehicle hit a tree and flipped onto its side in the middle of the road. RNZ / REECE BAKER

A person has died after they were injured in a crash where a vehicle hit a tree and flipped in Auckland.

Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle crash on Eugenia Rise, Totara Heights, at 1.23am on 17 February.

Police said the vehicle hit a tree and flipped onto its side in the middle of the road.

One person was taken to the hospital in a serious condition.

In an update on Monday, police said they died on Thursday evening.

Another person suffered moderate injuries in the crash.

The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene, with enquiries ongoing into the cause of the crash.

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

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Stars and royals on the Bafta red carpet

Source: Radio New Zealand

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales, arrive at the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards in London, on 22 February, 2026.Jaimi Joy / POOL / AFP

‘One Battle After Another’ US singer-songwriter and actor Teyana Taylor.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘Bugonia’ US actress Emma Stone.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and ‘Stranger Things’ US actress Sadie Sink.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘Sinners’ US actor Michael B. Jordan.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘Marty Supreme’ French-US actor Timothée Chalamet.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘Adolescence’ British actress Erin Doherty.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ British actress Hannah Waddingham.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ US actress Glenn Close.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘Bugonia’ US actor Jesse Plemons and ‘Roofman’ US actress Kirsten Dunst.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘The Bride!’ US actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.AFP / Adrian Dennis

‘One Battle After Another’ US actor Leonardo DiCaprio.AFP / Adrian Dennis

Nigerian-British actress Wunmi Mosaku poses with the award for best supporting actress in the film ‘Sinners’.AFP / Justin Tallis

‘BOONG’ Indian film director Lakshmipriya Devi and Indian film producer Ritesh Sidhwani pose with Paddington The Bear and the award for best children and family film.AFP / Justin Tallis

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

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Health NZ’s redundancy payouts a ‘disgraceful waste of money’ – PSA

Source: Radio New Zealand

The redundancies were forced on Health NZ by government cuts, says the PSA. RNZ

Spending millions on redundancy payouts for non-clinical staff at Health NZ is a “disgraceful waste of money”, says the PSA union.

Te Whatu Ora made nearly $58 million in redundancy payouts between late 2023 and 2025.

In total, $57.91 million in payments for voluntary redundancies and early exits for non-clinical staff were made between 1 November 2023 and 31 December 2025, according to figures released under the Official Information Act to the PSA union.

PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimmons said the union estimated the agency let go about 2800 workers through cuts and voluntary redundancies during this time.

She said the non-clinical staff such as IT experts and administrators were still desperately needed in the public health system.

“We’ve lost administrators, we’ve lost IT experts, we’ve lost analysts, we’ve lost people that support training of health professionals – all people who played a critical role in our health system, who have more to give and who will be missed.”

Fitzsimmons said the $58 million in payouts was a “disgraceful waste of public money”, that will have “costs on our health system for years to come”.

She said the redundancies were forced on Health NZ by government cuts, citing major cuts in the agency’s IT department last year as one example.

“Everyday, we’ll see the cost of these departures in IT failures, in longer waiting lists, and in clinicians needing to do more of their own administrative and clerical work at the expense of seeing patients.”

Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government’s priority was ensuring more resources are directed to frontline care, rather than “back-office bureacracy”.

He said fewer New Zealanders were waiting for elective surgery or a first specialist assessment than at the start of last year, emergency department wait times are improving, along with childhood immunisation rates.

“This progress is being supported by significant workforce growth, including around 2000 additional nurses and hundreds more doctors employed by Health New Zealand since 2023.”

A Health NZ spokesperson said voluntary redundancy was a choice staff could make based on their own circumstances.

“Changes that have been made within Health NZ are part of an ongoing effort toward a more sustainable future for healthcare.

“We want to ensure our resources and people are organised to strengthen and support the front-line so more New Zealanders get the right healthcare when and where they need it.”

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

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Fatal crash, Totara Heights

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on Eugenia Rise, Totara Heights on 17 February.

Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash at around 1.23am.

The vehicle had hit a tree and flipped into its side in the middle of the road.

One person suffered moderate injuries, with one person being transported to hospital in a serious condition.

Sadly, they passed away in hospital on Thursday evening.

The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene, with enquires ongoing into the cause of the crash.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police