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Police disrupt organised crime run through business, Dunedin

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested and charged three people following an operation targeting organised crime in Dunedin.

On Thursday 12 February, Police conducted a search warrant at a commercial address on Willis Street, Dunedin.

During the search Police located and recovered a stolen vehicle from the address, and three men were arrested.

The men, aged 28, 32, and 37, all appeared in Dunedin District Court today and are due to reappear on 12 March.

They face a range of charges relating to the supply of class C drugs, offering to supply class B drugs, and receiving stolen property.

“I am really pleased with this outcome, and it’s great for the community,” says Detective Jo McLaughlan of Dunedin’s Organised Crime Unit.

“The supply of drugs brings astronomical social harm to our community and will not be tolerated.

“This operation focused on disrupting illegal activity being run through commercial businesses and I am glad we are able to hold these three men to account.

“Police are committed to, and will, continue to work hard to disrupt organised crime,” Detective McLaughlan says.

Anyone with knowledge or concerns of organised crime, or any crime, in their area are urged to make a report through 105, either online or over the phone – or call 111 if the offending is happening now.

You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Black Foils begin physical, emotional repairs after horror SailGP crash with France

Source: Radio New Zealand

Salvage crew survey the wreckage of Black Foils’ Amokura boat at New Zealand SailGP. James Gourley for SailGP

The Black Foils are drawing heavily on the strength of injured grinder Louis Sinclair as they come to grips with the horror crash that all but destroyed their F50 boat during New Zealand SailGP last weekend.

As the 13-boat fleet sprinted off the startline of Saturday’s third race, NZ driver Peter Burling seemed to lose control of Amokura’s rudder and swerved sharply into the path of France, whose boat ploughed over the top of bow, slicing it in two and leaving Sinclair with compound fractures in both legs.

He underwent surgery on the weekend and was pictured on social media overnight, leaving hospital on his own two feet.

“I just want to really commend Louis for how he’s handled himself throughout this whole incident,” Black Foils wing trimmer Blair Tuke said. “He’s been amazing really in true Louis fashion, and holding true to the values and characteristics we hope all our team members instil.

“Amazingly calm right from the first incident out on the water to the surgery in Auckland Hospital and as he comes out now for what will now be quite a long recovery back to full health.

“With his calm demeanour and unique sense of humour, he’s really brought strength to all of us through this time.”

The New Zealand team have spoken publicly for the first time since the high-speed crash that shocked thousands of spectators watching from the massive grandstand on Wynyard Point.

In happier times, the Black Foils, with Louis Sinclair second left, celebrate their SailGP victory at Portsmouth 2025. Jason Ludlow for SailGP

Team bosses Tuke and driver Burling are still processing exactly what happened in those fateful seconds before, during and after impact.

“We started off with a great two races, and were really enjoying the conditions and feeling comfortable in the boat,” Burling recalled.

“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.”

Burling said once the spray had cleared, he could see his four crewmates safe, knowing strategist Liv Mackay was on the other side of the boat out of harm’s way.

Louis Sinclair leaves hospital, after surgery to compound fractures of both legs. Facebook/NZ SailGP Team

“At that stage, you’re thankful everyone’s safe, but very quickly we realised Louis had his legs stuck in the bottom of the cockpit and we can only commend Louis on his demeanour through that time.

“It was incredible to see someone in a situation like that remain so calm, and be such an instrumental part of telling us what he was feeling and where the pressure was, and getting the two boats apart.

“I think we can all learn a lot from Louis through this time and it’s pretty incredible to see the way he responded in the situation, but we’re also incredibly proud of the rest of our team and the way everyone came together in a tough situation, and the French team as well.

“They were dealing with situations on board, but definitely came straight to our aid.”

French strategist Manon Audinet sustained several abdominal bruising, when she was catapulted forward on impact, breaking the steering wheel. She is also under medical observation and is recovering well,

Burling has replayed the incident over and over in his mind, but has also had the benefit of a myriad other perspectives on the incident.

“The thing with SailGP is there are so many camera angles, all the audio and all the different aspects,” he explained. “It’s really nice in some ways to know that your memory of the whole situation was pretty accurate.

“It’s also interesting some things you didn’t see or weren’t concentrating on at the time, how everything unfolded.

New Zealand and France collide during New Zealand SailGP off Auckland’s Wynyard Point. Felix Diemer for SailGP

“It’s all part of the wider review process from here.”

New Zealand SailGP represented the first occasion all 13 teams raced on the water together, and other drivers suggested jamming that many boats onto the compact Waitematā Harbour course in tricky wind conditions probably didn’t help the situation.

Organisers responded by splitting the fleet into smaller heats on Sunday, increasing safety, but possibly detracting from the spectacle.

SailGP is still investigating the incident, but has already ruled New Zealand and France out of the Sydney regatta next week.

Inspections have confirmed Amokura’s central pod and port hull emerged relatively unscathed, and can be used to repair the damage to the French boat. Because they did not cause the impact, returning France to the startline will take priority.

Given the extent of damage to their boat, the Kiwis are probably waiting for completion of the next new boat, which SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts indicated could be June.

“From here, we’re still working out that exact path forward,” Burling said. “We definitely won’t be in Sydney and SailGP is still undertaking that wider planning process around when the Black Foils will be back on the startline.

“We’re having to play a little bit of a waiting game now.”

In the meantime, the mending continues.

“For the wider team, mental and physical health is paramount through this time,” Tuke said. “We’re just taking it day by day to make sure everyone is supported in the way that they need as individuals.

“It was a really horrific incident and how we manage our path back from here is really important.”

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

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British dual nationals with NZ passports no longer need new UK passport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Dual citizens face having to get both passports and keep them up to date – and to get a UK passport soon if they want to travel from the end of February. Gill Bonnett

The British government is now allowing dual nationals to have a lifelong digital stamp in their New Zealand passport instead of buying a new UK one.

Thousands of people have already rushed to buy a British passport after being told an alternative certificate of entitlement – costing £589 ($1329) – would last only as long as their current foreign passport.

But, in a change quietly announced on the UK passport’s website eight days ago, it said that from 26 February certificates of entitlement will be linked to new passports for free.

“At the moment certificates of entitlement are stickers (vignettes) placed in a passport. We are going to change this to a digital record.”

RNZ asked the British High Commission in Wellington if it had sent out a media release about any of the changes. It pointed to a January 2025 media release that dealt only with the issue of introducing ETAs (Electronic Travel Authorisations) and not the new requirement for British passport holders, or certificates of entitlement.

It has been asked for further comment on the issue of digital certificates of entitlement.

In questions about whether staff will be at airports to assist its citizens when the new passport requirement comes in next Wednesday, it said consular assistance was provided for all citizens abroad who needed it.

Many British migrants had asked why the passport requirement was introduced, after the UK government said it was to make their borders more secure. When asked for more information, the High Commission told RNZ it had already provided that reasoning.

Travel agents are warning travellers about next week’s border changes in the UK. Jasmine Fair / RNZ

Counting aliens

UK law professor Elspeth Guild, who specialises in border controls, said the rationale behind the changes could be led by a drive for better statistics.

“A number of countries insist that where their nationals are entering their ‘home’ country they must use their ‘home’ passport. This requirement seems to have a basis in the entitlement of countries to know whether their citizens are at home or not.

“The new insistence on the use of the home passport when entering a state, I think it [is] linked to the entry-exit databases where a lot of modifications were required to deal with dual nationals, and now states want to know. There is a justification in that citizens arriving home cannot be subject to immigration rules (at least in the UK), but if the authorities do not know that the person is a citizen they will be classified as an alien, and then when they fail to leave at the end of their permitted stay they mess up the statistics on how many ‘illegal’ immigrants are floating around.”

She said while revenue generation was also a possible reason for the new policy, several countries which permit dual nationality had tightened up their processes.

For travellers embarking on a trip to the UK next week who had British parents but no visible link to the UK, she had some words of comfort.

“Unless the place of birth stated on the passport indicates that the person may have birthright citizenship somewhere else, it is virtually impossible without a detailed investigation to know whether someone is a dual national. This is particularly so where citizenship was acquired through ancestry rather than place of birth.”

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Majority of Fonterra shareholders vote in favour of Mainland payout scheme

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than 98 percent of the co-op’s 8000 shareholders voted in favour of the capital return scheme resulting from the divestment of Mainland Group. 123rf / Supplied images

The multi-billion-dollar sale of dairy co-operative Fonterra’s consumer brands business is one step closer, as shareholders overwhelmingly approve another regulatory hurdle to the international deal.

More than 98 percent of the co-op’s 8000 shareholders voted in favour of the capital return scheme resulting from the divestment of Mainland Group, at a special meeting this morning.

In October, shareholders approved the proposal to sell the consumer brands business – behind well-known brands like Anchor, Kāpiti, Perfect Italiano and Fresh’n Fruity – to French dairy giant Lactalis.

This week’s vote was one of the various approvals needed for the international transaction of $4.22 billion to be completed, with more to go.

Fonterra’s board recommended its shareholders vote in favour of the payment schedule for the Mainland Group sale. PHOTO/Screenshot

Shareholders would receive $3.2 billion once the sale was complete in one lump sum, while up to $1 billion would go back into the co-op.

Board chairman Peter McBride said in the meeting that the sale process was progressing, before an expected completion by the end of next month.

“Your co-op has been working to deliver the proposed capital return as quickly as possible,” he said.

“We are targeting a tax-free capital return of $2 per share to shareholders and unit holders, equivalent to around $3.2 billion, once the sale is complete.”

Fonterra chairman Peter McBride. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

McBride said shareholders did not have to do anything to prepare, as the co-op would ensure their shares ahead of the deal remained unchanged.

“Subject to approval by shareholders, settlement of the transaction and receipt of final court orders, the co-op continues to expect the transaction to be complete in the first quarter of this calendar year.

“That is, by 31 March 2026,” he said.

A co-op spokesperson said it planned to invest up to $1 billion it would get from the sale into value-add projects across ingredients and foodservice, including the butter factory expansion at Clandeboye.

Fonterra co-operative chair and Wairarapa cocky John Stevenson said farmers would likely bank their dividends and pay down debt with the cash injection.

He said farmers will also keep a close eye on how Fonterra executes its new strategy as a global dairy ingredients supplier.

“I’m not surprised, I think the original vote on whether to divest or not was certainly the one where farmers put significant effort into understanding the proposal in front of them,” he said.

“Whilst an important part of the process is essentially in farmers’ minds re-confirming that they’re happy with the outcome of that in terms of the capital return and happy for Fonterra to continue in that direction.”

The payment would result in a lump sum payment for shareholders after the subdivision.

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Review: No Other Choice is impossible to predict

Source: Radio New Zealand

You aren’t in much danger of walking out of No Other Choice wondering what it was about.

But director Park Chan-wook’s idiosyncratic, dark-comedy thriller is a masterclass in how hilarious, anxiety-inducing and chilling being on-the-nose can be.

When protagonist and former “Pulp Man of the Year'” Yoo Man-su loses his paper factory job in a takeover, his idyllic, summer barbeque-filled life comes under threat. As bills mount up, Yoo, his devoted wife and their kids (a boy and a girl – the daughter is a cello prodigy, of course) face the prospect selling their beautiful mid-century mansion.

This video is hosted on Youtube.

It’s a very corny opening and laid on very, very thick. We even watch their two golden retrievers being driven away in the back of a car.

Struggling to get work amid fierce competition in a dwindling, increasingly automated industry, Yoo decides the only thing left to do is to find and kill the rivals that threaten to beat him to a new job.

What follows is an equally riotous and disturbing serial killer comedy of as many errors as you’d expect when a “paper man” tries to play assassin.

Park (Oldboy, Decision to Leave) is, perhaps, best known for films where people do violence to each other with things like hammers. But much of the tension of No Other Choice is the violence that doesn’t happen – the hesitation, the doubt and the incompetence that make any given moment feel like it could go any way. It’s impossible to predict.

Every scene feels as likely to end in slapstick comedy and humiliating failure as it is to turn truly grim. What’s most remarkable isn’t the seamless pivots from comedy to darkness, but how easily it manages at go both ways at simultaneously.

As Yoo holds a giant pot plant over the edge of a building, preparing to drop it on a competitor, plant water begins to trickle out and then runs slowly down his face.

These scenes are boldly wrapped in eye-catching and idiosyncratic cinematography, as Park deploys every playful technique in the kit, and a few new ones.

Be ready for Dutch angles galore.

Even the music gets in on the comedy – although it’s a joke better not spoilt.

No Other Choice feels like a test of the limits of sympathy for the very unsympathetic goals of a mostly unsympathetic antihero.

As Yoo, Lee Byung-hun (KPop Demon Hunters, Squid Game) mugs, grimaces, panics and transparently lies his way between job interviews, killings and family time. He plays it big, exactly where the film needs it to be.

It’s also a portrayal of cowardice disguised as desperation that’s as sleazy as they come.

And while No Other Choice devotes much of its energy looking into the strange ways we deform ourselves to compete in a capitalist system that turns us on each other, it refuses to let its protagonist off the hook.

It’s just as much concerned with the kind of toxic masculinity that drives men to obsessive, silly, madness, and what it means for those around them.

These are ideas both incredibly of our times and, of course, as true now as they were in fiction hundreds of years ago.

But No Other Choice delivers them in a heart-stopping, side-splitting vehicle that is a hard to compete with.

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

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Crayfishers in cut-off Wairarapa hope bridge reopens soon

Source: Radio New Zealand

The bridge over Hurupi Stream on Cape Palliser Road. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

It’s not “panic, panic” yet, but Ngawi crayfishers are keeping their fingers crossed that a failed bridge reopens soon on Wairarapa’s south coast.

While the bridge at the Turanganui River on Lake Ferry Road reopened on Wednesday, the bridge over Hurupi Stream on Cape Palliser Road remains shut.

The bridge, known as the ‘Banana Bridge’, has been deemed structurally unsafe after severe flooding earlier this week.

The road is the only route in and out for the more than 100 people trapped on the south coast, prompting food and medicine to be delivered by helicopter on Wednesday evening.

An update on the status of the bridge is expected on Thursday, following an urgent notice from the South Wairarapa District Council and subsequent assessment by a civil engineer.

“The bridge, often referred to as the Banana bridge, could pose a serious safety risk,” a council spokesperson said.

“The bridge must not be used under any circumstances until it has been inspected and formally cleared by a qualified engineer.”

Ngawi fisherman Andrew Sim told RNZ in his 40 years on the coast, the Banana Bridge had never gone down, and crayfishers and their stock were currently stuck.

“I think there’s nine of us here, six of us are finished [the season’s fishing], three still going to mop up the little bit they’ve got left,” Sim said.

“They’re probably a little bit left in the lurch to get their product out.”

He said the live lobsters were usually transported by truck out of the fishing settlement.

“I’ve got a big boat if worst comes to worst, I can transport it to Wellington.

“It’s not panic, panic at this stage, but it’d be nice to know where it’s heading.”

Crayfishers off the coast of Ngawi. Suppled/Andrew Sim

Crayfisher Lance Maindonald was also eagerly awaiting an update on the bridge.

Maindonald, who has been unable to get into Ngawi due to the bridge closures, said he was hoping to board a boat from Wellington to take him there.

Sim said his stepson was among those who needed to collect the last of his catch but was also trapped on the wrong side of the bridge.

“We’ll know a bit more later on.”

RNZ has contacted the council for an update.

A helicopter dropped supplies in Ngawi on Wednesday evening. Supplied/Kim Hayes

Sim said he was almost out of medication when the helicopter arrived on Wednesday with supplies.

“The chopper’s come in… and my goodness, what a haul of food that got delivered out to here.

“That went beyond all expectations, that was fantastic. Everything from fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, toilet paper, dog rolls, cat food. Basically, everything you needed to keep you alive for several days, that’s for sure.

“It was unbelievable.”

Sim didn’t expect there would be traffic “will-nilly” on the road any time soon, but hoped it would at least reopen to residents and those who needed to get in and out.

However, he said there were “certainly a lot worse places” to be stuck.

“We’re pretty blessed out here.”

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Dax Rodney Holland named as man found dead in Tauranga park

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

A man found dead in a Tauranga park, sparking a homicide investigation, has been named as Dax Rodney Holland.

He was 54.

Detective Senior Sergeant Natalie Flowerdew-Brown said police were called to the Wharepai Domain on Saturday around 2pm following Holland’s body being found.

A homicide investigation was launched following a post-mortem on Monday.

“Police continue to ask for anyone who may have seen any unusual or suspicious behaviour around the Wharepau Domain prior to 2pm on Saturday 14 February, to please get in touch,” Flowerdew-Brown said.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105.”

The reference number is 260214/8937.

People can also give information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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OCR: Why no move was probably good news for home loans

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Reserve Bank kept the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 2.25 percent. RNZ

Wholesale interest rates have softened a little since the Reserve Bank’s Wednesday update, but there is unlikely to be any relief for home loan borrowers.

The Reserve Bank kept the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 2.25 percent but updated its forecast for the future path of interest rates. It now expects rates to lift a little higher and earlier than previously, but not as early as the market had been pricing in.

The five-year swap rate has now dropped from a high of 3.8 percent at the start of this month to 3.52 percent.

The three-year rate has dropped from 3.45 percent to 3.19 percent over the same period.

Two- and one-year swap rates have also fallen.

Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said it could mean a minor drop in home loan rates.

The main banks have all put up their longer-term rates in recent weeks.

But Brad Olsen, Infometrics chief executive, was not convinced that rates would fall.

He said it was notable that the Reserve Bank had tried to dampen down the market excitement at the end of last year, when attention quickly turned from how far the OCR would fall to when it would rise again, and many retail rates lifted.

“I don’t think any of the banks are going to come out and reverse the increase to interest rates that they’ve put through in the last couple of weeks. It probably just delays whenever the next changes might come through.

“The long-term rates have lifted. I don’t think you’re going to see much in the way of changed six-month rates. And even if you do, who’s going on a six-month rate at the moment? In the most recent lending data, there was a huge pivot away from floating and six-month rates and a much bigger increase in the number going longer. It’s still probably a question of when you see further increase in retail rates and what magnitude?”

He said the economy was in an uncomfortable position with a lot of changes happening at once.

“Interest rate changes last year that are still to fully hit the economy. You’ve got weaker recent economic trends through parts of last year, but then a bit more hot inflationary pressure, hopefully temporarily.

“The Reserve Bank’s still got a lot riding on expectations that spare capacity in the economy will limit how ready businesses feel to pass on costs and an expectation that with a weak housing market that consumer spending or growth will remain low. The challenge so far is that both of those trends are true and headline inflation is at 3.1 percent.”

Mike Jones, BNZ chief economist, said the Reserve Bank’s messaging set the stage for some consolidation in wholesale and retail interest rates.

“Just how long that pause might last will depend on how the economic numbers fall from here, particularly those around inflation.

“The next move in the OCR is up, and we think in September, so I think we can expect the uptrend to resume at some stage, but the Reserve Bank’s ‘time is on our side’ messaging does buy a bit of extra time on that.

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Government weakens housing intensification rules for Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Cabinet has agreed to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland from 2 million to at least 1.6 million.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced the new figure to Auckland leaders at the International Convention Centre this afternoon.

Auckland Council had been progressing a new plan to accommodate up to 2 million homes in the coming decades.

The council opted out of medium-density rules that apply to most major cities on the proviso it set up zoning for 30 years of growth.

The council’s Plan Change 120 set out the process for doing this, but the government has since come under pressure from proponents of heritage homes who have raised concerns about further intensification in character areas that were already seeing major development.

Bishop has now confirmed Cabinet has signed off on legislating to “soften” the housing capacity equivalency requirement.

“Currently, that number equates to at least 2 million, and we are lowering it to at least 1.6 million,” he said.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop RNZ/Mark Papalii

The Minister told Auckland leaders PC120 had been “divisive” and fears the government had a target of building 2 million homes did not exist.

“The 2 million number was a red herring that transformed into a lightning rod….It’s clear a lot of Aucklanders are concerned about what growth means for them.

“That’s completely understandable. People want to know that their suburbs will continue to be liveable. That is what government wants too.

“This kind of angst in Auckland isn’t helpful for our housing goals. We need people to come with us on the journey of more capacity and more housing. We hear you and we are ready to act.”

Bishop said the government believed 1.6 million houses was the midpoint between the 1.2 million figure in the Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP) and the 2 million figure in PC120.

“This reduction is significant and strikes an appropriate balance between those Aucklanders concerned about densification, and those who wish to see more growth.”

He said Cabinet had asked for a summary of the provisional zoning changes the council would make once the government legislated for it.

“Once we legislate the lower housing capacity number, the rest is in Auckland Council’s hands.”

“The council will determine which parts of Auckland they wish to downzone in PC120. They can then formally withdraw parts of PC120 from the Plan Change, except for those parts needed to implement the NPS-UD or to upzone around key CRL stations.”

Legally complicated

Bishop said it was legally complicated to legislate in the middle of a process that was already underway but the coalition had found a workaround.

“We have devised a way through that will allow Aucklanders to see the areas that will be removed from PC 120 and provide another opportunity for Aucklanders to have their say – including those who have already submitted on PC120 and others who would like to join.

“I want to stress that I am determined to put this issue to bed once and for all. Auckland has been struggling with an update to the AUP since 2021. I accept Parliament hasn’t helped, but it’s now 2026. I think we’ve now got the balance right.”

He said the new plan would mean growth around the areas that made the most economic sense and where there was the most support – CRL stations, rapid transit stations and metropolitan centres while allowing more flexibility around suburban Auckland.

Existing provisions, such as setback requirements, tower dimension controls, and height limits, constrain development should be revisited, he said.

Bishop said “for largely unfathomable RMA legal reasons” the City Centre Zone was not included in PC120 and the council did not have a simple mechanism to unlock this potential.

“Cabinet has agreed that I will start an investigation into these planning provisions that are holding back Auckland’s city centre, with a view to making regulations under the RMA – similar to what we have just announced for Eden Park.

“My intention is that any additional housing capacity enabled in the city centre will count towards the new requirement to provide capacity for at least 1.6 million dwellings.

Together, these changes announced today will provide Auckland Council greater flexibility to respond to the feedback of Aucklanders and tackle our housing crisis.”

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How do you know when Ramadan begins? A night with the NZ moon sighters

Source: Radio New Zealand

Under a drizzly Auckland sky, clusters of people gather on hilltops across the city, eyes fixed on a narrow band of horizon on Wednesday night. They are waiting for a break in the cloud — a fleeting silver curve that will mark the start of Ramadan for Muslims across Aotearoa.

The window is brief. The new crescent, or hilal, might appear for only moments during sunset and can vanish just as quickly behind cloud or haze. No sightings mean the month completes 30 days instead of 29.

On this particular night, as Muslims anticipate the start of the holy month of fasting, the turnout is larger than usual for what is actually a monthly ritual.

Muslims point to the direction where they’re hoping to spot the hilal, or crescent moon.

RNZ / Isra’a Emhail

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