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‘Precious taonga’: Family mourns 11-year-old boy who died fishing

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jason Paul Wharerau died while out fishing earlier in November. Facebook/Tāmaki Primary School

The heartbroken whānau of an 11-year-old boy who died during a fishing trip in Northland has described him as clever, cheeky, loving and full of wairua.

Jason Paul Wharerau, who lived in Auckland, went fishing at Pātaua South near Whangārei with his brother-in-law Ethan Gordon James Neels on 14 November.

Whānau raised the alarm when the pair failed to return that evening.

The following day their empty runabout was found adrift off Bream Bay’s Hen and Chicken Islands, and Jason’s body was found in the water near Pātaua North.

Police released their names on Tuesday morning.

The search for Neels, who was 23, had been scaled back but was continuing.

Jason’s whānau said he was the pōtiki – or youngest – of his family, “a precious taonga of our whānau, clever, cheeky, loving, and full of wairua”.

Losing him had left their hearts heavy with pouritanga, or sadness.

“To us, he carried the spirit, curious, brave, and dearly cherished. His sudden passing has left a gap in our whakapapa that will be felt for generations.”

The whānau said they also felt deep aroha and sorrow for the loss of Neels, who was more than Jason’s brother-in-law.

A Coastguard Air Patrol plane searches the sea off Ngunguru, east of Whangārei. Malcolm Pullman

“He was woven into his partner’s whānau through aroha and whānaungatanga. Ethan’s partner has suffered the unbearable loss of both her younger brother and her beloved, in one tragic moment,” they said.

“Their mamae is immense, as they wait with hope to lay their son to rest with dignity, as every parent should be able to do.”

Jason’s whakapapa connected him to Ngāti Tautahi Te Māhurehure, Te Hikutu, Te Waiariki Ngāti Korora, and Ngāti Hau.

His whānau said they were deeply grateful for the aroha, tautoko, karakia and manaaki shown by Te Waiariki, Ngāti Kororā, Ngāti Takapari hapū uri katoa, the wider Pātaua community, Tamaki Primary, whānau members, Coastguard, Search and Rescue, Police, the Royal New Zealand Navy and Surf Lifesaving.

“In these moments of darkness, you have been a light that has held us.”

Ethan Gordon James Neels. Supplied

Jason’s whānau said no parents should have to place their children in the whenua before themselves.

“E kore e tika kia tanu ngā mātua i ā rātou tamariki… We ask that Aotearoa holds our whānau gently in your karakia, in your thoughts, and in your hearts as we navigate this profound loss together.

“Haere rā e ngā rangatira kōtiro, e ngā puna aroha. Moe mai rā i te takotoranga tapu. Haere, haere, haere atu rā.”

His school, Tāmaki Primary School, posted on Facebook saying he “filled our classrooms and playground with laughter”.

“He brought humour, surprises, and positive energy wherever he went, and he will always be remembered with warmth and pride by all of us at Tāmaki Primary School. We hold Jason’s memory in our hearts, and we honour the beautiful way he lived and the happiness he brought into our kura.”

Neels’ whānau also expressed their gratitude to police, Search and Rescue and Coastguard for their ongoing support and assistance.

“Thank you also to all the community and Jason’s whānau for their love and support through this time. It brings us peace that Ethan found love and support from a beautiful whānau.”

Police said Search and Rescue teams, alongside Coastguard, continued to sweep the moana and shoreline in the hope of bringing Neels home to his whānau.

Enquiries into the tragedy were continuing.

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

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Huge, suspicious recycling centre fire spews smoke over Waiuku

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than 60 firefighters tackled a blaze at Waiuku recycling facility. Supplied

A large blaze that tore through a recycling facility in the Auckland town of Waiuku is being treated as suspicious.

Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said it was called to the incident about 11pm on Monday, and found nearly 5000 square metres of plastic on fire. Six shipping containers were also on fire.

FENZ said 16 fire trucks attended at the peak of the blaze, which was contained as of 5am Tuesday morning.

The fire was now extinguished, and they had returned the site to its owner.

“Thank you to our crews who worked throughout the night to extinguish the fire,” a spokesperson said. “If you are in the vicinity, it is now safe to open doors and windows and go outside without a mask.”

The owner of Waiuku Business Park, Sam Wulff, told RNZ he leased out part of the industrial lot to the plastics recycling company, Future Post.

He was shocked to learn that the fire might have been deliberately lit there.

“It’s gut-wrenching that somebody gets joy out of something as pathetic as that to go and put a match to it or whatever they did.”

He did not know what caused the fire.

FENZ said it would work with police to determine the cause.

Police said a scene guard remained in place and they would examine the scene later on Tuesday.

Residents near a huge fire at a recycling facility in Waiuku on Monday night were asked to stay indoors. Supplied

Wulff said he had been informed it was most likely arson.

“There’s nothing that would naturally have caused a fire.”

He said he first learned about the fire after getting a call from the fire chief at 1:30am.

“He doesn’t call at 1:30am for a chat, so there was obviously something brewing that shouldn’t be.”

He drove up from Tauranga to assess the situation.

He said the recycling facility converted waste plastic into fence posts, and he estimated the materials were worth tens – if not hundreds – of thousands of dollars.

“Now it’s all just turned into ash.”

He said Future Post had been informed about what happened.

Future Posts’ main recycling facility was not affected. The main facility is about 200m from its storage area, which was what caught fire.

Both facilities were at the Waiuku Business Park.

An Auckland auto shop next door to the recycling plant was without access to its property after the blaze.

Sprint R-E Engineering posted on Facebook that the carpark in front of the business park, which was full of plastic fence posts, caught alight.

Residents in the vicinity were asked to stay indoors and keep doors and windows shut. Supplied

“At this stage we have no access to the shop and power is out. Can’t thank the fire crews enough for the amazing work”, its post read.

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

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Minister Simpson to represent New Zealand at PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting, Solomon Islands

Source: New Zealand Government

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson will today travel to the Solomon Islands to attend the 2025 Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus Ministerial Meeting. 

“PACER Plus plays a significant role, it strengthens economic growth and resilience in the Pacific and reaffirms our shared commitment to transparent, predictable, rules-based trade,” Mr Simpson says.

“Since entry into force, New Zealand’s trade with Pacific PACER Plus countries has increased by 47 percent – something we can be incredibly proud of. 

“Our support of PACER Plus demonstrates New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to working with Pacific Island countries and Australia for a more prosperous, integrated, and reliable Pacific economy.”

While in Solomon Islands, Mr Simpson will also engage with the Solomon Islands–New Zealand Business Community and meet with regional counterparts.

Mr Simpson returns to New Zealand on 28 November. 

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Digitising healthcare to put patients first

Source: New Zealand Government

Repeating your medical history at every appointment will soon be a thing of the past, with Kiwis set to get faster access to care as part of a 10-year plan to bring New Zealand’s health system into the digital age, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Our health system is being held back by outdated, disconnected technology. Right now, 65 per cent of hospitals still use paper-based notes, and critical information doesn’t flow between your GP and hospital in many parts of the country,” Mr Brown says.

“This means patients often have to repeat their story multiple times, and clinicians waste valuable time on paperwork instead of treating patients.

“Currently, Health New Zealand has over 6000 digital systems – one different computer system for every 15 staff members. That’s the result of years of underinvestment and quick fixes instead of proper planning.

“To address this, we’re releasing New Zealand’s first Health Digital Investment Plan – a 10-year roadmap to modernise healthcare, with investments in technologies that will make a real difference for patients right now.”

The plan’s five core objectives are to improve outcomes for patients and families, support clinicians, stabilise critical infrastructure, build foundations for innovation, and enable data-driven decision-making.

Investments will be made in a single Electronic Medical Record system across the health sector, enabling medical information to flow seamlessly and securely between GPs, specialists, and hospitals. The plan will also fund remote patient monitoring to support earlier discharge, a national radiology system to prioritise urgent cases, and stronger cybersecurity to protect patient information.

“Imagine getting your cancer diagnosis and having your entire treatment journey coordinated through connected systems – no repeated tests, no lost referrals, no wondering what happens next. That’s what modern digital healthcare looks like.

“Modernising a system this complex takes time. The 10-year plan will be delivered in three phases – stabilising critical systems, modernising platforms, and enabling innovative healthcare models that put patients first. Each phase builds the foundation for the next, and Health New Zealand is already taking action Kiwis will see in the next few years.”

The Government is establishing the Centre for Digital Modernisation of Health – a collaboration between Health New Zealand and delivery partners that brings together global innovation capabilities, artificial intelligence expertise, and world-class process engineering to coordinate critical investments.

“This is a completely new approach for Health New Zealand, tackling the kind of large, complex programmes that have failed in the past when governments have tried to do them alone.

“But we aren’t waiting to move. The Accelerate programme is digitising patient notes in hospitals that rely on paper and upgrading Wi-Fi and device availability to support clinicians across hospital settings. Health New Zealand has also established HealthX to accelerate innovation and the use of AI.”

Sponsored by the Chief Executive, HealthX will roll out one innovation initiative each month to bring digital tools to the frontline, including:

  • AI scribes in emergency departments to reduce time spent writing notes and speed up flow.
  • Remote patient monitoring for safe home recovery.
  • Augmenting x-ray processes to speed diagnosis.

“Our Government is focused on fixing the basics while building the future so that all patients have access to timely, quality healthcare. Smarter digital investment means shorter wait times, safer care, and a health system that works for all New Zealanders.”

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Government to end Cook Strait open ocean tug contract early

Source: Radio New Zealand

The government has ended the contract for the MMA Vision early. Maritime NZ

The government has sunk plans to station an open ocean tug in the Cook Strait long term saying the costs outweigh the benefits.

For years local government leaders on either side of the North and South Island had been calling for open ocean tugs after several near miss accidents.

One of these was in January 2023 when the Interislander ferry Kaitaki was sailing into Wellington Harbour with 854 passengers on board and lost power, which resulted in a mayday call.

In April the government contracted the MMA Vision, an open ocean tug, to be stationed in Wellington till June while it came up with a long term solution.

On Tuesday, the government announced that contract will end earlier in February and there would be no replacement for it.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said cabinet had considered a detailed business case for open ocean tugs in March which would provide a tug which could stabilise a stricken boat and another which could tow that boat in.

Bishop said while Cook Strait clearly had risks, they were too small for the costs associated with the tugs.

He said those costs had escalated from the initial business case to the detailed business case from around $80 million over 10 years to over $259 million over 10 years.

The minister also noted most recorded boating incidents happened outside of Cook Strait.

“While most of these costs were intended to be paid with the establishment of EORC-specific levies, there would still be significant cost pressures on the Crown to procure an EORC solution, and these levies would be passed onto consumers through higher prices.

“Put bluntly, the cost to taxpayers is too high for something that’s unlikely to be needed – and unlikely to be useful even if it is.”

He said cancelling the MMA Vision contract early would save $9 million.

New Cook Strait ferries arriving in 2029 would have better safety features and reduces the need for open ocean tugs, he said.

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

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ACC focused on getting ‘less serious’ injuries off its books, chief executive says

Source: Radio New Zealand

ACC chief executive Megan Main. Supplied / ACC

ACC says efforts to get long-term claimants off of weekly compensation is not about taking support away from people who need it.

The agency has been instructed to reduce its long-term claims pool, currently the largest it has ever been at almost 25,000 people.

The move is expected to save about $7 billion between now and 2029.

It is part of a suite of changes that, if all were implemented, would save the Crown entity about $25 billion over the same time frame.

ACC chief executive Megan Main told Nine to Noon two-thirds of the long-term claims pool had less complex injuries.

“We know that people with serious injuries are going to need ACC support for a long time, even their lifetime, and we’re here for them.

“Our focus is on people with less serious injuries like sprains and strains, shoulders, hips, backs, who, over the last decade, have been taking much longer to recover, still receiving weekly compensation a year or many years after their injury – and we’ve seen a tripling in that number in 10 years.”

Main said the higher figure was partly due to ACC pulling back on dedicated case managers for lower complexity cases in 2019.

“That is why two years ago, we changed our case management for long-term clients. We invested in 250 more case managers, through savings elsewhere.

“So every one of those long-term clients now has their own dedicated one-to-one case manager to help them get back to being ready for work, or back to being independent, back to living life as well as they can.”

In the year to June, 8000 people were exited from the pool, and by June 2026 ACC aimed to have a further 11,675 off.

Advocates for ACC claimants have expressed concern that people who were not ready to return to work were being exited without proper rehabilitation.

Asked if people were being exited against medical advice, Main said ACC case managers used information from medical specialists to make a decision on which of three ‘pathways’ to choose.

ACC Minister Scott Simpson.

“The first is that the person is assessed as being able to return to the type of work they were doing before they were injured.

“The second pathway is if they still can’t work but it’s not longer due to their ACC-covered injury.

“The third pathway is if they’ve been rehabilitated from their covered injury and it’s changed the type of work they can do… then we support them with vocational rehabilitation, vocational job training, to set them up for a different kind of job that they could do.”

Main said ACC did not collect data on what people went on to do once they had exited the scheme.

“There are so many reasons why someone might not go straight back to work after an injury. They’re often personal to the individual and there are other agencies responsible for supporting people to find employment.

“Our job is to make sure people are work ready through these three pathways.”

Main said ACC’s board was considering reduction targets, but there were not incentives for anyone at ACC to cut the number of people they support.

“We do not have targets that people are assessed against. We have targets in terms of what is good practice.

“We recognise that’s different for every case manager, and it’s also dependent on the types of claims people have, but we don’t have [individual] targets…

“We recognise that every client is different and we want our case managers providing good case management support.”

Asked about what ministerial, board or executive instruction she had received to improve financial performance, Main said ACC was doing what was in its control.

“Our minister for ACC has been clear that he expects us to improve performance. We need to make sure that the scheme is on a trajectory to be financially sustainable.

“We’re absolutely committed to that, from our board to me right through to our client-facing teams.

“We need to make sure that we are helping people to be rehabilitated in a timely manner that, in turn, lines up with the way levies are calculated.

“And ultimately we need to get back to a position where the costs of delivering… rehabilitation support for injured people are balanced out.”

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

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Media advisory – Police Media Centre, Tuesday 25 November

Source: New Zealand Police

The Police Media Centre will close early today, Tuesday 25 November, due to staff illness.

Media Advisors will be available to respond to urgent queries and significant events only until 6pm.

As always, information about any critical events outside our operating hours will be released proactively as soon as possible.

Some queries may be held until the centre reopens at 6am on Wednesday 26 November.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Name release: Waikanae homicide

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Detective Inspector Jamie Woods, Field Crime Manager:

Police can now release the name of the man who died at a Kakariki Grove, Waikanae address on Wednesday 19 November.

He was Michael Kenneth Tofts, aged 45.

We acknowledge this is an incredibly difficult time for Mr Tofts’ family and we are providing them with support.

The investigation into Mr Tofts’ death – Operation Heathcote – is ongoing.  A large number of investigators are working hard to determine the sequence of events leading up to the death of Mr Tofts, and to identify all individuals involved. 

A scene examination continues at the Kakariki Grove address and this is expected to be completed in the next day or so.

We would still like to hear from anyone with information which might be relevant to the investigation.

If you can help, please contact the investigation team via 105, quoting file number 251119/8049.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

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RIF funding backs West Coast resilience

Source: New Zealand Government

 

 More than $2.31 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will go into an upgrade of the West Coast’s Jackson Bay Wharf, strengthening the region’s disaster resilience and supporting the local fishing industry, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says.

“Jackson Bay Wharf is the only natural deep-water wharf on the West Coast. Unlike larger ports in the region, it is accessible in all weather conditions, making it a vital lifeline during natural disasters,” Mr Patterson says.

“This upgrade secures the wharf as a vital access point during disasters and supports the fishing industry by ensuring efficient seafood transport and supply chains.”

The project, led by Westland District Council, includes structural upgrades to extend the life of the wharf, and installation of digital surveillance and signage enabling the Council to enforce the launch fees that pay for ongoing wharf maintenance. The total project value is $3.3 million, including a $990,000 contribution from the Council.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Jenny Marcroft, who spoke at today’s announcement, says the project reflects strong collaboration between local and central government.

“The wharf is in a severely deteriorated state, so this upgrade is critical to keep it safe and reliable for all users,” Ms Marcroft says.

“This grant is a practical example of how we’re investing in infrastructure that not only supports long-term economic growth by sustaining the current industry but also builds resilience in the event of future challenges,” she adds.

“I commend the fishers and industry leaders who worked tirelessly to secure this upgrade. This is a great example of partnership delivering for our regions.”

The upgrade of Jackson Bay Wharf is the final component of RIF West Coast Ports Infrastructure Upgrade Programme, which also delivered improvements at Westport and Greymouth ports to boost regional resilience and support the fishing industry.

This RIF $7.81 million investment across the West Coast will not only strengthen critical infrastructure but also create up to 17 full-time equivalent jobs during construction, delivering immediate economic benefits alongside long-term security for the region.

 

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New logistics facilities for Burnham

Source: New Zealand Government

Defence Minister Judith Collins today opened an Army maintenance support facility at Burnham Military Camp, and broke ground on the next project in the Army logistics upgrade.

“The Defence Force can only operate with the right equipment, in the right place, at the right time, and importantly supported by the right infrastructure,” Ms Collins says.

“These new facilities will form a Regional Logistics Centre for the South Island, improving the Defence Force’s ability to sustain operations, support personnel, and protect New Zealand’s interests.”

The $58 million Burnham Maintenance Support Facility is a modern, technology-enabled complex for maintenance and repair of defence equipment and offers improved capacity and safety for personnel. By following the same design and process as the Linton facility, it has been delivered ahead of time and $6.25 million under budget.

Construction has also begun on a multi-functional regional supply facility at Burnham Military Camp. The new $82.7 million project will deliver a single, modern logistics hub, enabling efficient access to equipment and supplies.

This facility will support the local economy by providing employment opportunities for approximately 600 people across the life of the project. Significant cost savings have already been achieved by replicating the design used at Linton Military Camp.

“This is another example of the Defence Force delivering with discipline to ensure we can protect New Zealanders and our way of life,” Ms Collins says.

“Improving defence logistics is part of the $12 billion in planned commitments over the next four years outlined in the Government’s Defence Capability Plan.

“Logistics is often the quiet force behind success. It is the unseen engine that powers deployments and ensures our personnel have what they need, where and when they need it.”

Note to editors:

Both the Maintenance Support Facility and the Regional Supply Facility form part of the New Zealand Defence Force’s Consolidated Logistics Project (CLP) – a significant programme delivering five new logistics facilities across Linton and Burnham Military camps. 

These are: 

  • Two Maintenance Support Facilities, one each at Linton and Burnham Military Camps. (Both complete)
  • Two Regional Supply Facilities one each at Linton (under construction) and Burnham (groundbreaking event).
  • One Regional Vehicle Storage Facility at Linton (in design stage).