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Charging $9 toll wouldn’t cover cost of new Auckland harbour crossing, advocate says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland Harbour Bridge. 123rf

Imposing tolls on the existing Harbour Bridge won’t raise enough revenue to cover long-term costs of a new crossing, the editor of an advocacy website says.

The Infrastructure Commission has suggested a toll as high as $9 to help pay for a second crossing.

Greater Auckland editor Matt Lowrie told Morning Report that the estimated revenue from the toll is between $7 and $9 billion, while the projected costs of the crossing could exceed $20b.

When the bridge was first opened in 1959, motorists had to pay 2 shillings and 6 pence, a figure the Commission said equalled around $9 in 2025.

Tolls were removed in 1984.

Lowrie said while a second crossing is needed to provide more capacity, other payment options could be considered.

He also agreed that tolling both crossings was necessary because just tolling the new one meant people would simply continue using the existing bridge.

That would see a “multi-billion dollar piece of infrastructure … sit unused”.

Lowrie suggested a lower toll be implemented to see the impact of it.

He said the addition of the Northern Busway in 2008 had delayed the need to spend billions of dollars on a harbour crossing as the uptake from commuters had taken the pressure off the existing bridge.

Whether a toll was introduced or not, Lowrie said Aucklanders would end up paying the bulk of the cost through a road tax or fuel taxes being raised.

But the majority would come from Crown investment – and that had to be weighed up amongst the need for improvements to hospitals and schools, he said.

On Tuesday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the new crossing would be the biggest infrastructure project New Zealand has ever done.

While the new crossing would be tolled, a question remained over whether the existing bridge would be tolled as well.

“We are working our way through that. That’s a very big decision for the country to make,” he said.

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What can you do if the weather forecast terrifies you?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Explainer – If the weather lately is stressing you out, you’re not alone.

As of Tuesday, there have been nine local states of emergency declared so far in 2026, according to Civil Defence.

That’s already more than were declared in all of 2025 and 2024.

There have also been two red severe weather warnings by MetService so far this year – and there were only four throughout all of 2025.

Do weighted blankets work for anxiety?

Repeated weather events and the wider spectre of concerns about climate change can all add up to a lot of stress and anxiety, said Dr Jackie Feather, a clinical psychologist and co-convener of the New Zealand Psychological Society’s climate taskforce.

“We’ve got to take mental health seriously when it comes to people’s experiences, absolutely,” she said.

The term ‘eco-anxiety’ has become more and more common in recent years.

But what can you do if you feel completely powerless in the face of floods, landslides and disasters? Here’s some tips.

Climate protesters in Wellington, 30 September 2024.

Samuel Rillstone / RNZ

How can a weather forecast freak us out?

Floods and landslides trigger a primal emotional reaction, Feather said.

“We’re programmed as human beings to respond to threat – we commonly call it the fight, flight, freeze response.”

It’s barely six weeks into the year, and it’s already shaping up as one for the weather record books.

“I can sympathise with those suffering for anxiety, it has been a wet, windy and thundery start to the year,” said MetService meteorologist John Law.

“We have issued two Red Severe Weather Warnings so far this year, one on the 21st January for those regions at the top of the country, and the one on the 15th February for the rain in the central parts of the North Island.”

That’s in addition to a pile of MetService watches and lower-priority orange warnings. There have also been 45 severe thunderstorm warnings this year so far.

“It’s normal to feel stressed or anxious right now,” NZ Civil Defence noted in one of its recent social media posts this past week. “Even if you haven’t been directly affected by this severe weather event, it might bring up past memories and emotions.”

Chris Brandolino, principal scientist for forecasting at Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA), said weather agencies are seeing people becoming more and more anxious.

“We … do get occasional feedback in person about being ‘triggered’ from the prospect of big weather events (heavy rain, etc.)”

“On our social media channels there are comments that are congruent with anxiety and (severe weather) fatigue when we go through spells or periods of active weather.”

Brandolino said that when it comes to weather forecasting, a certain amount of empathy is required so people don’t panic.

“I think a bit of care is required during times of elevated anxiety – say, coming off a big weather event and another one is lurking down the pike, for example – as to not unnecessarily inflame the situation or worsen their concern when it’s not needed.”

MetService’s Law also said constant warnings can wear people down.

“One of our concerns is about warning fatigue and how we make sure that the most important information reaches the people it needs to without over-warning or adding to anxiety.”

A person responds during Stokes Valley flooding.

RNZ / Mark Papalii

So how can you stay calm in the middle of a disaster?

Planning ahead can help – the government’s Get Ready website offers a wide range of tips.

Feather said preparation can include having an emergency “grab and go” bag and disaster plan organised with your family, and being sure you know your neighbours in case a flood hits your area.

“If you’ve already got to know your neighbours, and you have ways to communicate with them, then you’ve got a plan, and I think that helps allay the anxiety.”

Dr Jackie Feather.

Supplied

Feather offers three primary tools that can help in a crisis, taken from Acceptance and Commitment therapy.

Get Present

Ground yourself and be aware of what’s going on. “Look around you, use all your five senses together,” she said. “Are you actually safe in this moment?”

Open Up

Feel the feelings you need to and express them, rather than be overwhelmed.

Do What Matters

“This is where hope comes in, and it starts with our values,” Feather has written. Take action in a meaningful way – and if you’re in a situation where there is nothing you can do such as a power cut, perhaps take time to do something fulfilling with family, be it a board game or just talking.

“It’s kind of a three-step plan, if you like, for good mental health or resilience in any situation,” she said.

People can make bad decisions in the middle of disasters, such as trying to drive through dangerous floodwaters or refusing to leave their homes. Being present can help, she said.

“If you can, bring yourself back to the present moment and assess the situations, reflect. … It’s difficult to stay calm, because of course, you’re going to feel anxious in those moments, but make decisions together with other people.”

Simple breathing exercises in the moment can help, too.

“Just breathe slowly and deeply and make your out breath longer than your in breath, and that actually relaxes your system.”

And while weather disasters can make us all feel very alone, that only underscores the importance of turning to family or friends, even if you live by yourself.

“I live on Waiheke, and we have a WhatsApp group in our community,” Feather said.

“I’m sure if we had a serious weather event come through, everyone would be on the WhatsApp group, and we would be communicating with each other. So even those who live alone can be part of a community, you know. And then, of course, if WhatsApp goes down, the internet goes down, then we’d be door knocking.”

Climate protesters in Wellington, 30 September 2024.

Samuel Rillstone / RNZ

What is ‘eco anxiety’, anyway?

The flurry of weather events around Aotearoa affect many of us, but there’s also a lot of worries over the wider global threat of climate change.

Governments around the world have started to back away from climate change management, including New Zealand, which has been described as “backsliding” on climate policies by international analysts.

“Let’s be honest here that that things aren’t as they were,” Feather said.

“There are more severe weather events. They’re coming more frequently. The climate is changing, and there’s a big component of human-induced climate change.

“So there’s also that eco grief, there’s eco trauma. There’s a whole range of emotions that are related to what’s been happening on the planet.”

Research shows that up to 10 percent of young people experience eco-anxiety, she said.

One possible solution is to carefully curate your news diet and avoid falling into a spiral of doomscrolling.

“We need to take charge of our own exposure to news about weather events,” Feather said.

“My husband and I actually, few months ago, we deleted the news and weather apps off our phones, and now we have to turn on TV or go to the website.”

Going back to “doing what matters”, find something that aligns to your values and makes you feel better, she said.

“It might include lobbying your local MP, it might include having a look at what the political parties are offering in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

Multiple academic studies have also looked at the impact of climate anxiety on the young, and there are programmes such as the Climate Action Campus Ōtautahi, which aims to teach young people tools to deal with the issue.

Clean-up at the flooded Konini Superette in Wainuiomata.

RNZ / Karoline Tuckey

How can you recover after a weather event?

Weather events have cost New Zealand millions in recent years and left a huge physical impact.

But the mental impacts, while less obviously visible, can also leave their own kind of scars.

“I think it’s also very important to acknowledge that there are communities that have long-term effects from weather events,” Feather said. “It takes months and years for communities to recover. So I think we do have to acknowledge that can impact on mental health too.”

When things start to become too much to bear, it’s important to ask for help.

“If you’re not sleeping, you’re constantly anxious, you’re being woken at night with nightmares or re-experiencing flashbacks, that sort of thing, or even loss of hope and low mood… it could fall in the categories of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress… and this is when you need professional help and to go and talk to your GP, call one of the help lines, call Lifeline.”

And finally, while it may seem difficult sometimes in the midst of seemingly endless weather events, it’s important to look at the big picture, Feather said.

“99 percent of the time in New Zealand, we’re actually perfectly safe.

“You know, it’s a beautiful, sunny day here on Waiheke (today), and so just making the most of our lives when we’re here on Earth, we have friends and family enjoying the present moment and not not fearing the natural world.

“…There’s a lot of joy to be had in the natural world.”

What are some other resources?

There are several resources online dedicated exclusively to mental health around weather and other emergencies.

Get Ready: Looking after your mental wellbeing

Anxiety NZ on Eco-anxiety

Climate Mental Health NZ resources

Health NZ on mental health in an emergency

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

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Charging $9 toll wouldn’t cover cost of new harbour crossing, advocate says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland Harbour Bridge. 123rf

Imposing tolls on the existing Harbour Bridge won’t raise enough revenue to cover long-term costs of a new crossing, the editor of an advocacy website says.

The Infrastructure Commission has suggested a toll as high as $9 to help pay for a second crossing.

Greater Auckland editor Matt Lowrie told Morning Report that the estimated revenue from the toll is between $7 and $9 billion, while the projected costs of the crossing could exceed $20b.

When the bridge was first opened in 1959, motorists had to pay 2 shillings and 6 pence, a figure the Commission said equalled around $9 in 2025.

Tolls were removed in 1984.

Lowrie said while a second crossing is needed to provide more capacity, other payment options could be considered.

He also agreed that tolling both crossings was necessary because just tolling the new one meant people would simply continue using the existing bridge.

That would see a “multi-billion dollar piece of infrastructure … sit unused”.

Lowrie suggested a lower toll be implemented to see the impact of it.

He said the addition of the Northern Busway in 2008 had delayed the need to spend billions of dollars on a harbour crossing as the uptake from commuters had taken the pressure off the existing bridge.

Whether a toll was introduced or not, Lowrie said Aucklanders would end up paying the bulk of the cost through a road tax or fuel taxes being raised.

But the majority would come from Crown investment – and that had to be weighed up amongst the need for improvements to hospitals and schools, he said.

On Tuesday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the new crossing would be the biggest infrastructure project New Zealand has ever done.

While the new crossing would be tolled, a question remained over whether the existing bridge would be tolled as well.

“We are working our way through that. That’s a very big decision for the country to make,” he said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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Weather live: Banks Peninsula cut off by slips, flooding

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow our live blog at the top of this page for updates.

Banks Peninsula remains cut off by road after widespread damage from flooding and slips.

Canterbury’s civil defence controller Duncan Sandeman says the focus on Wednesday will be opening roads and restoring communications.

The peninsula was pelted by ten times the monthly average rainfall in the last 48 hours. Part of State Highway 75, the main road from Christchurch to Akaroa, was closed overnight.

Follow our live blog at the top of this page for updates.

SH75 near little river Nathan Mckinnon/RNZ

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‘Lifeline’ Lake Ferry Road bridge gouged out by raging floodwaters in South Wairarapa

Source: Radio New Zealand

Phillip Maybury and Natasha Robinson have been helping catch supplies. RNZ / Mary Argue

A “lifeline” road gouged out by raging floodwaters in southern Wairarapa is a “nightmare” scenario, that has split families and forced residents to scramble for supplies.

Several rural and coastal settlements on the road to Cape Palliser and Lake Ferry are completely isolated after a metres-wide gap opened at the Turanganui River bridge on Lake Ferry Road.

The road, which has been eaten away in large chunks, is due to be assessed by civil engineers on Wednesday morning, and RNZ understands the hope is to reopen it by the end of the day.

Torrential rain and gale force winds earlier this week left thousands without power and caused widespread flooding and damage across Wairarapa.

A human chain has formed to deliver food and medicine to families isolated on Wairarapa’s southern coast. RNZ / Mary Argue

Lake Ferry local Sharon Durrant told RNZ she mostly slept through the stormy weather that hit overnight on Sunday and although the community was cut off by flooding the next day, the real impact was not felt until Tuesday, when the bridge road washed out.

Durrant said the river had diverted, cutting through the single lane bridge where it meets the road.

She said while locals were “well-aware” of the flood risk at the Turanganui River bridge, it was “by far the worst they’d ever seen”.

“I was a little bit shocked at the way in which the water had ripped the tar seal off the road.

“It’s always in the back of our mind, like, if that bridge goes that’s the lifeline to the southern Wairarapa coastline. It’s a lifeline, and it’s our biggest nightmare.”

A washout on Lake Ferry Road has split families and left cut-off residents scrambling for supplies. RNZ / Mary Argue

Durrant’s son was likely one of the last people to cross the road before it gave way shortly after 5.15am on Tuesday.

“Not more than five minutes later another person tried to go through but obviously stopped and had a look,” Durrant said.

Half the road had fallen away, but a strip remained, she said. The call was made to reassess at daylight.

“Within three hours that whole part of the road had gone. It happens really, really quickly and in hindsight my son’s actually lucky he got across there.”

Her son was stuck on the wrong side for the night, but by Tuesday afternoon a human chain had formed to ferry supplies from one side to the other.

Durrant said before she knew it, she had become the liaison for the community ordering in eggs, milk, bread, nappies and beer, as well as medicine.

The washout on Lake Ferry Road. RNZ / Mary Argue

Stream kaitiaki and Mountains to Sea catchment coordinator Natasha Robinson spoke to RNZ after her fourth shift catching supplies on the edge of the river next to the bridge – which she believed was past its prime.

“I’ve been collecting supplies through this channel from people on the other side, just to get supplies to the old ones and to get medical supplies as well. It’s the only way.”

The chain did not stop there, with food crossing farmland to get to some families still cut off by severe flooding, Durrant said.

“I actually went down there [to the bridge] to get the milk and bread to put it in the letter box so another farmer could take it over to them.”

Durrant said they were “blessed to have such a good community” and the washout had highlighted some gaps in their disaster relief plan.

She wanted to see a wire established to ferry supplies in case the bridge road failed again, however she said it was not the only bridge of concern.

Locals told RNZ the bridge at Hurupi Stream – also known as the ‘banana bridge’ – on Cape Palliser Road had also been undermined, with photos showing significant erosion where it meets the road.

Residents are also concerned about a second bridge undermined by floodwaters at Hurupi Stream. Supplied / Sharon Durrant

A South Wairarapa District Council spokesperson said there were two bridges in the area in need of repair, but with the first assessements set for Wednesday morning could not put a timeframe on a fix.

“We are asking people not to attempt to cross the rivers or use the bridges.”

They said Wairarapa Emergency Operations Centre was working “with partners to establish reconnection and supplies”, with police delivering supplies to Kohunui Marae in Pirinoa.

“Welfare staff from the centre have also attended to assess needs and help as required.”

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The wine industry headache

Source: Radio New Zealand

It’s estimated that roughly a fifth of the potential crop may be left on vines this year due to a combination of factors. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Perfect growing conditions for grapes at a time when demand for wine is dropping is likely to result in more fruit left on the vine again this harvest

Kudos, Kiwis, for dramatically dropping your alcohol consumption – especially our younger generations.

But the wine industry wants words.

“In the last 10 to 15 years, each of us, on average, have slashed our consumption of New Zealand wine by 50 percent. I mean, that is dramatic,” says wine writer Michael Cooper.

He used to write best-selling wine bibles on the industry here – not so any more. There isn’t the demand.

Cooper describes the situation now faced by the industry as a crisis, and not just because of our more sober society.

Tariffs, an international drop in demand, and a couple of years of perfect growing conditions have led to grapes being left unpicked.

Some estimates suggest that last year 100,000 tonnes of grapes – roughly a fifth of the potential crop – was left withering and rotting on the vines. The 2026 harvest is upon us, and the same thing is likely to happen.

“Just imagine if you’re a wine maker, and suddenly your domestic market, the people who you’re pouring all your passion into catering for, they’re now drinking only a half of your wine [in terms of the whole industry] that they used to only 10 or 15 years ago,” says Cooper.

As well as that, nearly half (47.8 percent) of the wine we drink here is now imported. About a decade ago that figure was about a third of total consumption.

“Back in 1980, 95 percent of the domestic market was New Zealand (wines),” says Cooper.

It’s cheaper to drink imported wine. Plus, some very successful wineries have now been bought out by foreign-owned entities, including world-famous brands such as Montana, which is sourcing grapes more cheaply from Australia.

Wine writer Michael Cooper says the industry is in crisis. Sharon Brettkelly

“And more and more of those wines that are getting shipped are bulk wines, so what that means is that for the majority of vine producers in New Zealand is they’re small, they’re family-owned, and they’re confronted with the reality that the domestic market is halved. And for so many of them export is something that they’d love to do but really struggle to do. Scale becomes an issue … if you’re making a relatively small volume of wine, then to be traipsing around the world is a challenge.”

Such companies are looking to diversify their export attempts away from purely English-speaking markets, saying there’s been some complacency about export markets.

The state of the industry “truly is a crisis,” says Cooper. “I’ve certainly seen nothing like this in my time in and around the industry, which dates back to 1975. No one really saw this coming.”

Viticultural researcher and wine master Ross Wise, at the Bragato Research Institute in Blenheim, tempers that with some encouraging news about new developments where New Zealand is at the top of its game.

This includes helping wineries making lighter, fresher styles of wines; improving the taste of no and low alcohol wines; trying drought-resistant root stocks; and methods to help manage the costs of production.

He talks to The Detail about the innovation going on in this country, including new canopy systems and developments in pruning.

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

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Homeowners shifting properties could be good news for the economy

Source: Radio New Zealand

First-home buyers were still a strong force in the market, but dropped to 26.2 percent of transactions compared to 28.3 percent at the end of 2025. Unsplash/ Jakub Żerdzicki

Homeowners becoming willing to brave the housing market and shift to a new property could be a positive thing for the economy, one economist says.

Cotality, formerly Corelogic, has released its latest property data pack.

It shows that sales volumes were down 10.7 percent on the same month in 2025. It followed a stronger-than-expected December.

Property economist Kelvin Davidson said, when taking the two months together, there was still an overall lift in transactions.

“We’d expect to see more sales growth activity in 2026 on the back of reduced mortgage rates and a recovering economy,” he said.

Values dropped 1 percent in the year to January but Cotality said while Auckland and Wellington were soft, areas such as Dunedin and Invercargill had more pressure on prices.

Nationally prices are still down 17.5 percent from their peak but Wellington’s are down 25.5 percent compared to 3.6 percent in Christchurch.

First-home buyers were still a strong force in the market, but dropped to 26.2 percent of transactions compared to 28.3 percent at the end of 2025.

Investors were also active. But chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said movers’ share of the market increased from 25.3 percent to 27 percent. These are people who own a home and are moving to another.

“To be fair, it’s early days. But this could be the first sign that as economic confidence starts to recover more owner-occupying households may start to look at the market again and relocate. Their activity has been quieter than normal lately, so some pent-up demand to shift is probably present.

“They’ve been relatively quiet for quite a long time, biding their time, Watching the economy still feeling a little bit cautious about taking that next step, trading up, moving house. You probably don’t necessarily want to do that if you don’t have to in an uncertain environment.”

He said it was not a trend yet but something he had been watching for.

“All that time that movers have been quiet, there’s still been life going on. People have been changing their circumstances yet not moving. So I suspect there’s probably a bit of pent-up demand there that will come out at some point.”

He said, if it did, people such as valuers and real estate salespeople would benefit, but so too would big ticket retailers. “A good time to move house might be a good time to get a new sofa, that sort of thing.”

Flat prices might disappoint sellers but were positive for buyers.

“The predictability of current conditions is reassuring for buyers, who are continuing to adjust to the recent experience of stable prices and lower mortgage rates,” Davidson said.

“With affordability gradually improving and employment conditions set to strengthen slowly this year, there’s a growing sense of cautious optimism, even if the recovery will be measured rather than sharp. Debt to income ratio caps remain important to watch.”

The data showed rents were subdued.

Prices were down over the year in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Wellington.

The median national rent fell 0.8 percent in the last quarter of the year compared to the same time a year earlier.

Davidson said it was likely behaviour would shift, activity would improve and 2026 would be a year of gradual growth for sales and prices.

“Affordability has improved to its best position in several years, mortgage rates have eased, and listings are gradually drifting lower. Those factors combined are helping to steady the market and should support a lift in sales activity through 2026,” he said.

“Other considerations include borrowers who are rolling off higher fixed rates onto cheaper loans, which will help free up cashflow for some households and should the labour market slowly gather steam as expected, that sets the scene for modest price growth rather than a sharp rebound.”

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Company boss shocked as 2500 apply for one job

Source: Radio New Zealand

Oppo managing director Morgan Halim said more people applied for the entry level roles, than the ones with more specialist requirements. RNZ

Oppo managing director Morgan Halim would usually consider 500 a high number of applicants for a job ad.

So when a current advertisement ticked over 2500 applications – and counting – he was shocked.

“It’s quite surprising, actually. We have multiple ads running and this particular one has far exceeded our expectations.”

The job is a customer service role based in central Auckland. It requires someone with demonstrated experience in customer service and says it is advantageous for the applicant to have experience in a call centre.

“We brought back our call centre that used to be in Malaysia back to New Zealand. We made some changes about two years ago and we’ve found in this role there’s pretty good interest every time we advertise.”

He said more people applied for the entry level roles, such as this one, than the ones with more specialist requirements. Oppo is also advertising for a content creator.

Halim said he would work with a human resources partner to do the vetting on the thousands of applicants, and then the process would be worked through between three people. “It’s usually the HR person, the manager and myself. What we do is we work as a team and understand location-wise where they’re from, that’s important because we work in the CBD and we want to make sure they’re comfortable to come in and out from the business.

“Also experience, what we’re looking fo, we can usually narrow the options down quite quickly.”

He said only 44 percent of applicants for this role were from New Zealand.

“It’s still a lot of numbers, 44 percent is about a thousand and something but it at least cuts it in half, basically.”

He said it was good to know that so many people wanted to work for Oppo, which currently has a team of 27.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said there were still high numbers of applicants being recorded across all job listings.

“As of November 2025, which is the latest data we’ve got, relative to November 2019, which is sort of a fairly good pre-pandemic figure, we have seen a 243 percent increase in the number of applicants per job ad on the Seek site, at least.

“There is a substantial increase coming through, and it’s going to take a lot for that number to come back to anywhere near normal. It’s going to take both a large increase in the number of jobs being listed, noting that we’re still about 25 percent down on pre-pandemic levels in terms of job numbers, but also, clearly, there’s a heck of a lot of competition out there, given the unemployment rate is high as well.”

He said the number of applications per filled job seemed to have stabilised in the past six months but at very high levels.

“Looking through the monthly figures, there’s no indication that it’s necessarily getting any worse, but, equally, nothing to show it’s getting any better immediately, either.”

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Second priest at St Bede’s College was accused of sexual abuse by three complainants

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fr Brian Cummings was rector at St Bede’s College between 1990-2001. Supplied

A second priest who worked at St Bede’s College was accused of sexual abuse by three complainants over three decades, it can be revealed.

The priest, who “strenuously denied” the allegations, was rector at the school for more than a decade and worked alongside a priest who was recently revealed as sexually abusing four boys.

The school’s current rector says the matter is “distressing”, and that any form of abuse is “unacceptable”.

RNZ earlier revealed that former priest Rowan Donoghue had admitted six charges including indecent assault on a boy aged 12-16, indecent assault on a boy 16 and over and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection. He is awaiting sentencing.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The offending related to four boys who were boarding at St Bede’s College in Christchurch between 1996 and 2000.

It can now be revealed that another priest, Fr Brian Cummings, was also accused of sexual abuse by three different complainants.

Fr Rowan Donoghue outside the Christchurch District Court last month. Nathan McKinnon / RNZ

Cummings, who died in 2022 age 68, was rector at the school between 1990 and 2001.

RNZ approached the Society of Mary for comment on allegations involving Cummings last week.

Initially the religious order said if there were allegations about any other Marists they encouraged complainants to take them to police.

Pressed further for comment, a Society of Mary spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday it had records of three complaints of sexual abuse against Cummings from three complainants.

“They were received in 1996, 2014 and in 2023; the third came after he had died. All related to his time at St Bede’s College. Cummings strenuously denied the accusations in 1996 and 2014.

“The first two complaints were investigated by police and the Society of Mary. Police took no action on either complaint. The third complaint was investigated by the Church.”

RNZ asked St Bede’s College rector Jon McDowall for comment on allegations of sexual abuse in relation to Cummings.

He replied the school was “aware of allegations against the late Father Cummings”.

“Those allegations are working through a process and we are not able to offer any further comment at this time.”

He said he found the matters “distressing”.

“Any form of abuse is unacceptable, regardless of when it occurred or whether it involved one individual or many.

“I was not in this role at the time these matters arose. My responsibility now is to ensure we respond with clarity, care and integrity.”

He said work was under way to understand what was known historically and how those matters were addressed.

“That work is being led by the current Boards and myself.

“Some historical allegations were previously subject to investigation. Where new information comes to light, we encourage it to be brought forward and addressed through the appropriate channels.

“What matters most is that anyone impacted feels supported and heard. We are committed to ensuring concerns are addressed appropriately, with care, integrity and accountability.”

He said the school today operated with “clear safeguarding expectations, strong oversight, and a culture where student well-being comes first.”

“Abuse has no place at St Bede’s – past, present or future.”

In a statement Detective Superintendent Darryl Sweeney said: “Police can confirm offending was reported to us centred on St Bedes in the 1980s/90s, investigated by Canterbury District in 2013.

“Following enquiries, the evidential test to proceed with prosecution was not met.

“This investigative material has been handed to the current investigation [into Donoghue].”

McDowall sent an email to former St Bede’s students on Tuesday. The email, seen by RNZ, referred to “continued media coverage” relating to “historical matters” related to the school.

“I am aware there may be further reporting in the coming days. I do not want you as Old Boys and Alumni to be caught off guard if additional historical matters are referenced. I will not speculate on what may or may not be published, but it is possible that some of the content may be difficult to read.”

McDowall said he recognised that for many former students the coverage may “bring back difficult memories or raise personal questions about your own time at the college”.

“For some, it may be confronting or unsettling. That response is entirely understandable.”

Anyone who wished to speak to him about any concerns, or share their own experiences could contact him directly.

Cummings’ departure from St Bede’s College was marked in the 2001 yearbook.

Cummings first started at the school in 1980 as an english and religious education teacher, he was also a dormitory master, eventually becoming the dean of boarders. In 1988 he left the school and was deputy rector at St Patrick’s College Silverstream, but returned about two years later to become rector.

“St Bede’s has been his primary focus and the goal of all his efforts. He has never tired in working for the good of the Staff and Students who make up this College,” the magazine said.

McDowall earlier told RNZ it was brought to his attention by police in recent weeks that the college had previously been notified of concerns relating to Donoghue.

“On learning this, I immediately took steps to establish clearly what was known by the school, when it was known, and how it was handled. I was not in this role at the time, and records from that period are limited. This work is ongoing; I am committed to gaining as much clarity as possible and doing so with care and integrity.

“I will say again, if there was inaction, and any failure to respond appropriately, then I am appalled. My thoughts remain with the victims and survivors who continue to live with the impact of this harm.”

Police appeal for people to come forward

In a statement to RNZ Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons said last week police were appealing for anyone with information on offending by Donoghue to come forward.

A suppression order on Donoghue’s guilty plea was lifted last month.

“Following the lifting of all suppression, police have been made aware that former students of Wellington school St. Patrick’s College Silverstream, have alleged similar offending by Father Donoghue,” Simmons said.

“We know it can be incredibly difficult and at times distressing to talk about these matters, but we would like to reassure any victims of offending that we will take them seriously.

“Police has a number of officers and detectives dedicated to these cases, and we provide a safe space to report offending in confidence.”

St Patrick’s Silverstream rector Rob Ferreira earlier told RNZ the school had not been made aware of any allegations of abuse in care while Donoghue worked at the school between 1982 to 1992.

“We have not had any inquiries from the police either.

“We operate according to clearly set out guidelines and best practice and you should note that our primary concern is the wellbeing of our students. Given that – our protection of the privacy and any other rights of survivors of abuse and other individuals would be paramount.”

He said the school had informed the community that Donoghue’s name suppression had lifted.

Where to get help:

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

Sexual Violence

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

Posted on

Kaihu community in mourning after woman mauled to death by a pack of dogs

Source: Radio New Zealand

The scene of a fatal dog attack in Kaihu, Northland. RNZ

The small Northland settlement where a woman was mauled to death by a pack of dogs is devastated, a councillor and kaumātua for the region says.

Emergency crews rushed to Kaihu north of Dargaville on Monday and Police remained at the scene several hours.

Cordon tape was tied across the gate.

The community is tiny – the pub is for sale, there’s rugby field, a small gas station down the road and a smattering of homes.

“Our thoughts and our aroha is with the grieving family and the community,” Snow Tane told RNZ after learning of the attack.

He himself had driven by the scene before he knew what happened, taking note of the flurry of emergency vehicles that rushed there.

Tane had since heard from some who live in Kaihu.

“We’ve got a community there that’s absolutely devastated,” he said.

“So my thoughts are with the community and I’m really, you know, in the next few days, I hope to be able to support both the family and the community.”

Tane, a Kaipara councillor, will be freeing up his diary to do so.

“My sort of position is is very clear and it’s around dog owner responsibility and what that responsibility means and how we need to ensure that dog owners act in a more responsible manner,” he said.

“Because this has occurred, and it has occurred throughout New Zealand over the past 20 years and that and I think it’s really important that we need to make sure that dog owners understand and know what their responsibilities are, and two, we need to be checking and ensuring that there is compliance to those responsibilities.”

A dog seen roaming in Kaihu on Monday evening. Not related to the attack. RNZ

Tane said people should alert authorities immediately about any uncontrolled dogs in neighbourhoods and communities.

“Compliance officers should attend and act accordingly to these situations,” he said.

After the attack a local told RNZ the dogs had been at the property for about a year.

“There’s been so many complaints about them in the last year – the council know and haven’t done anything.

“They run out onto the road all the time. I was really scared about that and somebody getting hurt,” they said.

At least two dogs in the community were notorious for chasing cars as well as cyclists on the Kaihu Valley Bike Trail.

The Kaipara District Council would not say if the dogs that attacked and killed the woman were known to animal control.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts is asking officials for urgent advice after the death.

He said the Department of Internal Affairs is woking on the issue with local councils to improve dog control.

Watts expected new guidelines in the second half of this year.

Kaipara District mayor Jonathan Larsen called the death tragic and a sad situation for the families.

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