Police are appealing for information from the public following a serious assault in Edendale on the weekend.
At around 10.55pm on Saturday (15 November), a woman knocked on the victim’s door, saying she had a flat tyre and needed help.
The victim – a man in his 50s – walked with the woman to the corner of Melvin Street and Turner Street, where he was accosted by a man and assaulted.
During the assault, the offender also attempted to restrain the victim by tying his hands behind his back.
The victim suffered serious injuries in the assault, including a fractured eye socket and broken nose.
Enquiries are under way to establish the identity of the man and woman involved in this incident and we’re hoping Edendale residents can help.
Following the assault, the victim saw an SUV leaving the area at speed, and we believe it is likely the man and woman were in this SUV.
To help us locate this vehicle, we would like to hear from any residents who have street-facing security cameras on Turner Street, Melvin Street, Seawood Road or Ferry Road, and who may have captured footage of the vehicle on Saturday night.
We would also like to speak to anyone who saw an SUV in the Edendale township between 10pm and midnight, or anyone with other information which could assist our enquiries.
If you can help, please contact Police via 105, quoting file number 251116/4977. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
A search for a missing fisherman off the coast of Pataua South has resumed this morning, with assistance from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Police, including the National Dive Squad, Search and Rescue crews and the Royal New Zealand Navy headed back out on the water earlier this morning.
The man was one of two people onboard a boat that was reported overdue on Friday night.
Detective Sergeant Paul Overton says the 17-foot runabout was meant to return at 7pm on Friday, and the alarm was raised at 9pm.
“On Saturday morning the boat was found drifting with no-one aboard, and shortly after a body of one of the two fishermen was found.
“This is a really tough time for the families of those fisherman, and for our community as a whole.”
Detective Sergeant Overton says search crews remain focused on bringing the missing man home to his whānau.
“A large-scale search by sea and air is ongoing, along with searches of the shoreline.
“The Royal New Zealand Navy has also kindly offered to assist in the search today, and we are grateful to have their expertise to assist.
“I would also like to like extend my thanks to all the other agencies involved in the search, as well as those members of the public who have been nothing short of generous with their time and support.”
Police continue to ask the public to contact us on 111 if you see anything unusual in the water.
Exporters are expected to continue to reap the benefits of a weak dollar and strong demand, despite a drop in prices for key agricultural products, including dairy, forestry and fruit.
Major commodities were traded in US dollars and ASB’s latest commodity index was marginally higher on last year, while a differently calculated and weighted ANZ index was about 6 percent higher on a year ago.
The New Zealand dollar (NZD) traded between 54.85 and 61.2 US cents this year, and for the year to date was about 1.5 percent higher. A weaker NZD meant better export returns.
Dairy prices engulfed by supply
However, the global dairy auctions run by Fonterra had been falling over recent months, putting pressure on the co-op’s mid-point $10 per kilogram of milk solids (kgMS), with its $9.75 forecast more in line with the NZX’s forecast of between $9.68 to $9. 80 kgMS.
NZX dairy analyst Cristina Alvarado said dairy prices had fallen as global volumes increased, however, New Zealand’s grass-fed dairy products were still in strong demand.
“It’s the quality, it’s the flavour, but also the safety that many countries have,” Alvarado said, adding free trade agreements had benefited New Zealand during the ongoing global trade disruption sparked by the introduction of President Donald Trump’s US tariff policies.
“Countries that bought more from the US before, have been buying more from New Zealand,” she said.
Soft NZ dollar helps returns
Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said the export sector remained strong, helped by the weak currency, which was also supporting the tourism sector, as visitor numbers increased.
“For most of the last six months to a year, we’ve had the unusual situation where the New Zealand dollar has been a bit weaker at the same time as external prices have been strong and also growing conditions have been good,” Eckhold said.
“Usually, there’s a bit of a counterbalance between some of these sort of factors, but they’ve all pushed in the right direction. Right now, what we’re seeing is the New Zealand dollar weakening, so therefore that’s helping support prices.”
Eckhold said the New Zealand dollar would also continue to be supportive, with its weakness expected to persist until the economy improved and interest rates stabilised.
“I don’t think that the exchange rate is likely to appreciate significantly until such time as it becomes clear that growth is starting to pick up sustainability in New Zealand, and the interest rates are no longer likely to fall,” he said.
“Next year’s outlook remains pretty uncertain still at this stage.”
Eckhold said rural communities were expected to remain resilient to the soft economy, and for dairy farmers to make the most of the likely a large cash payout from the sale of [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/577378/fonterra-ceo-says-lactalis-deal-will-allow-it-to-grow
F onterra’s consumer brands business].
A further confidence boost will also come from the Trump administration’s move to scrap the 15 percent tariff on imported beef and kiwifruit to reduce cost of living pressures on US consumers, although the sometimes erratic US tariff policy is making producers cautious.
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Peter is part of the Mount Somers Walkway Society, founded around 40 years ago. The volunteer group of mainly retired farmers is described as the ‘third arm’ of DOC, spending hundreds of hours looking after the Mount Somers tracks and biodiversity. They’ve just help build a new zigzag walk on the very popular Woolshed Creek Track.
DOC Geraldine Operations Manager Tony Preston says Peter Winter and the Mount Somers Walkway Society are the most productive, passionate and committed community group he has ever worked with.
“As well as Woolshed Creek, they constructed a new walk to Sharplin Falls (funded and managed by them), plus they’ve done an enormous amount of broom and gorse control in the Mt Somers area,” he says.
DOC ranger Chad Adams says they’re a key partner in the projects his team needs to get done.
“A lot of the work we do would be very difficult to achieve without them, we see them as one of us. It means we can focus on other areas. These guys are always ‘naturing’, there wouldn’t be a day go by when one of these guys isn’t out doing something. Peter’s a classic. He’s amazing at 94 to be going strong and what an inspiration,” Chad says.
Mount Somers Walkway Society President Robert Schikker says they get a huge amount of satisfaction from the work with DOC.
“Being retired farmers, we love hard physical work. Peter’s a real character and he’s been around for a long time. He’s apparently never been to the doctor. I reckon it’s this outdoor work and staying fit that keeps him going. We all enjoy a day out and bonding with each other and we love the idea that we are creating something that others can enjoy,” he says.
Chad Adams says having the group upgrade popular tracks is vital especially heading into a busy summer season.
“These tracks get masses of use, and we want to make sure they’re safe and well maintained. The Woolshed Creek Track is an ideal entry level tramp for families with the kids, as it’s an easy walk to a bookable DOC hut meaning you’re guaranteed a bed. There’s also a great flat area to pitch your tent. The work we did with the Mount Somers group has created a new zigzag track away from an area which had a bit of a steep drop off so it’s making it a lot safer for everyone. The new section of track leads down to an amazing spot called the Emerald Pools where you can have a dip,” he says.
The Mount Somers group wants more volunteers so is considering scheduling working bees in the weekend to attract younger people.
Chad Adams is keen to emphasise how much DOC values their work and how much more there is to be done.
“DOC is always busy. There’s a very long list,” he laughs.
“It’s hard work but it’s also good for your physical and mental health and you get to visit some very special spots. These guys all have big smiles on their faces, especially sitting on the hut verandah after a hard days track building.”
Peter Winter smiles and says it’s this type of work that keeps him feeling young.
“I just love it,” the 94 year old says.
Woolshed Creek Track
Family-friendly overnight or day tramp naturing experience to Woolshed Creek Hut, on one end of the Mt Somers Track. This track offers good overnight or day walking options. For a day walk, you can do a return walk to Woolshed Creek Hut or a shorter walk such as along the historic tramway route or to Blackburn Mine or trig R.
5.1 km one way
3 hr Intermediate tramping track
The Woolshed Creek Hut is perfect for families with children or new trampers with 26 bunk beds. Bookings are required Woolshed Creek Hut.
NATURE LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM HERE
Nature isn’t scenery. Nature is a society that we rely on for everything, every day. It’s behind our identity and our way of life.
Coach Scott Robertson has said that the feeling in the All Black camp is much the same one day on from their 33-19 loss to England. It was the third loss this season in a schedule of 13 tests, and the second by a significant margin following a record defeat to the Springboks during the Rugby Championship.
The aftermath of the loss to England sees focus now firmly on the issues that have plagued the All Blacks for the past two seasons, most notably their inability to keep teams under pressure in big tests.
“There’s lots of different reasons, but there’s no excuses from us. And we’ve got to be better in some areas so we can finish teams off,” said Robertson this morning.
“Ultimately, we want to be as consistent as we possibly can, that’s what a professional team wants to be, consistent with everything you work with. You’re not going to win every moment in games, but you’ve got to fight your way back into it, through adversity.
“When you it doesn’t quite come all together, you know, that’s the part that hurts. It’s not for lack of care, I’ll put it that way. But it’s definitely frustration that we work so hard to be consistent and that’s the part that gets you.”
Robertson, who came into the All Black job after seven consecutive championship seasons with the Crusaders, acknowledged that ‘test rugby is pretty brutal’.
Caleb Clarke lays during the Scotland v All Blacks test at Murrayfield.www.photosport.nz
“You lose a couple of player each game on average, just through the Ferocity of the match contacts. The recovery part becomes tougher, the travel, everything that comes with it.
“So when you get energy, new faces, new bodies coming in that, that excitement that…it’s a balance. Sometimes you have all the best laid plans of how you’re going to play, then you come off the field in these the medical ward are fuller than you’d expect.”
Steve Borthwick’s England side notably adjusted their game plan throughout Sunday morning’s test, with a heavy reliance on the kicking game of inside back pairing Alex Mitchell and George Ford. Robertson acknowledged that the aerial game was still a work on for New Zealand players, due to the comparative lack of exposure to it in the domestic game here.
English halfback Alex Mitchell.David Rogers/Getty Images
“It’s a crucial part, an important part of the game…we don’t tend to do it so much in Super Rugby. So coming into test rugby, you have got the most accurate kickers in the world and you’ve got incredible aerial catches. We spend a lot of time on it, look, we’ve got to get better laid plans.”
From a wider perspective, Robertson said that new NZ Rugby chairman and former All Black captain David Kirk has been ‘straight up’ with expectations two years out from the next World Cup.
“Look, he’s pretty pragmatic, he tells you how it is. Straight up, as you’d expect. (Also) hugely supportive. He understands good relationships in the group and we welcome him with open arms…he’s been great to us.”
Unsurprisingly, Robertson more or less confirmed there will be wholesale changes to the side for the last test match of the year. They face Wales in Cardiff, with the home team recording their first win in two years over the weekend when they defeated Japan 24-22 thanks to a last play penalty goal.
“There’ll be some fresh, new energy in the group for sure,” said Robertson, who singled out Ruben Love as a player who will likely start this weekend.
“He’s obviously a 15 that can play 10 and he deserves an opportunity.”
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Beamish won the 1500m gold at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
The other two finalists for the World Athletics Photograph of the Year show America’s Noah Lyles and Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrating their respective titles at the World Champs and a photo of the shadows of the Dream Mile at the Bislet Games in Norway.
The three finalists were selected from 141 images submitted from photographers from 41 countries.
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The controversial four-stage Mental Health Response Change programme started a year ago.RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The police are introducing higher thresholds for responding to calls from mental health workers to help deal with unwell patients or those who abscond.
Non-emergency mental health-related requests will be assessed against updated guidance to determine if police assistance is required. This includes requests for assistance under legislation, requests for assistance from in-patient mental health units and other requests from mental health services to police.
Reports of missing persons with mental health concerns (including those who have left mental health facilities and services or EDs) will be assessed against updated guidance to determine the appropriate police involvement.
Over the past 12 months, police have gradually withdrawn their support at mental health callouts, including at inpatient wards, community facilities, during transportation and at emergency departments, and banned mental health assessments in custody suites.
Moves leaves ‘unacceptable gaps’ – union
The Public Service Association (PSA) condemned the change programme, saying it left mental health workers and patients unacceptably vulnerable to harm. National secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the changes were “dangerous and will cause harm”.
“We call on Health NZ to properly consider the support needed given the withdrawal of police from this important work.”
For both new procedures, staff could engage police only when there was “an imminent threat” to life or property.
The change also meant that these emergency calls would be triaged along with every other request that came through the 111 line, Fitzsimons said.
Fleur Fitzsimons.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
“Mental health nurses and healthcare assistants work in what can be quite dangerous conditions, with very unwell people who can act unpredictably – they must have a direct line to police.
“Health NZ has said it does not expect them to put themselves in harm’s way, but the reality is that for many situations workers must at least do an assessment in-person, leaving themselves open to verbal and physical abuse.
“Furthermore, mental healthcare is legally highly complex. Security staff, for example, don’t have the same rights under the Mental Health Act as clinicians do. There are a whole lot of practical realities Health NZ seems to refuse to acknowledge.”
Mental health staff were worried for patients as well as their own safety.
“Mental health workers understand that the police can’t do everything. But there are a whole lot of what-ifs that haven’t been thought through, and at the end of the day patients and families are the ones who miss out.”
RNZ has approached Health NZ and police for comment.
Taranaki Veterinary Centre (TVC) has taken out New Zealand Food Safety’s inaugural Antimicrobial Resistance Award thanks to their concerted efforts to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in cows under their care.
AMR happens when germs (bacteria, fungi, or viruses) no longer respond to medicines. Resistant germs can spread between humans, animals, plants and the environment.
“If not properly managed, this can lead to devastating outcomes for our health, the welfare of our animals, and our economy. It is ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) among the top 10 threats to humans and animals,” says New Zealand Food Safety’s deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
“As we mark World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) which runs 18 to 24 November 2025, it’s a good time to stop and acknowledge New Zealanders making a difference to materially reduce AMR.”
Established in May 2025, the AMR Award recognises individuals, teams, or organisations making a real difference in reducing AMR risks in New Zealand. This includes using antibiotics responsibly, preventing infections, or finding new ways to reduce antibiotic use.
The inaugural award winner, TVC’s dairy team, services around 500 dairy farms (about 175,000 calving cows) based out of 5 clinics in South and Central Taranaki.
“They have demonstrated a strong leadership in their commitment to reducing antibiotic use in their practice,” says Mr Arbuckle.
“These efforts started in 2022 and have led to a major behavioural change in staff and clients. They’ve achieved a significant reduction in the use of critical medicines, and a reduction in whole-herd dry-cow antibiotic use in their clients’ herds.”
“I would like to extend my congratulations to the team at TVC for their leading example, showing what can be done when focussing on antibiotic stewardship.”
“We are impressed with the calibre of all award nominations and were pleased to see the hard work and dedication that individuals and organisations have committed in addressing this important issue,” says Mr Arbuckle.
If you have pets or animals on a lifestyle block or farm, there are things you can do to join the fight against AMR:
Keep your animal healthy and active to help reduce antibiotic use.
Vaccinate animals to help prevent disease and reduce the need for antibiotics.
Seek veterinary advice early if you notice changes in your animals.
Always follow your vet’s instructions when your animal needs antibiotics and ask for help if you are having trouble giving them. Finish the course, don’t save unused antibiotics for next time.
“Together, we can further reduce AMR and protect plant, animal and human health for current and future generations,” says Mr Arbuckle.
The charred landscape of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.Supplied/DOC
The charred landscape will add to the experience for those walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the Department of Conservation says.
A week-long rāhui was lifted on Monday following the wildfire that ripped through 3000 hectares of the national park.
DOC and Fire and Emergency will continue to monitor the area for hotspots but are confident that people will be safe on the tracks.
DOC director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson told Morning Report it had been a huge week battling the blaze.
“The walk is perfectly fine to do, but the landscape is very black.”
Visitors could only access the start of the track on Mangatepopo Road by booking a shuttle.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky, [but] there has been a little bit of damage focused around the Mangatepopo entranceway, the car park area there,” Wilson said.
“The beautiful new Pou, Te Ririō, is still standing… got a little bit of charring but I think that just adds to it. It’s a spectacular Pou and we’re really pleased that that was able to be saved but there is some damage.”
Wilson said it would be a different experience on some parts of the track.
“We’ve been really lucky that the majority of the Tongariro Crossing hasn’t been affected but the first 700 metres or so, it will be quite a charred landscape.
“It was awe-inspiring before and will be even more so now.”
Local iwi Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro placed a decade-long rāhui on areas where fires have damaged the whenua and native vegetation.
The second rāhui was put in place to heal and restore the land
“It’s about keeping people out, it’s about working together to fix the land and heal the land over some time because we know with the biodiversity loss that that’s going to be required,” Wilson said.
“What people who are walking in the area or recreation in the area can do to support the longer rāhui is just stay on the tracks, not litter, and be generally respectful of the landscape.”
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