Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bottles put in public toilets are being blamed for a wastewater system overflow that closed a popular Christchurch beach at the weekend.

A health warning was issued after raw sewage was detected at Corsair Bay in Lyttelton.

Christchurch City Council said the leak occurred after the septic system was blocked by items, including bottles, being put in the public toilets at Corsair Bay.

“Concurrently there was a malfunction to the outdoor shower which also discharged clean water down the pathway,” a council spokesperson said.

“The effect of any combined runoff into the bay on water quality is inconclusive. However, the Christchurch City Council contacted Environment Canterbury so appropriate water quality testing could occur, closed our facilities at Corsair Bay and are working with contractors to repair the septic system and open facilities as soon as possible.”

Council community parks manager Al Hardy said there were waste bins at the beach that people should have been using.

“The only thing that I can think is people may think that the council public facilities are more robust than their ones at home, but actually that’s not the case – if you clog your toilet at home, what does it do, it backs up on you, and the same thing has kind of occurred out here,” he said.

“The lucky thing is there’s a very small amount of waste that would’ve been overflowing it would’ve just been successive flushes if you will, once the system had backed up.”

The council would be testing water quality at Corsair Bay over the next few days.

Health New Zealand issued the warning on Saturday.

National Public Health Service public health medicine specialist Dr Imogen Evans said the warning covered Corsair Bay, the jetty and beach at Cass Bay, and the beach at Rāpaki Bay.

“Water quality at the affected site is not considered suitable for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other pathogens,” she said.

“Water contaminated by human matter may contain a range of disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.”

Eating fish or shellfish from these sites should also be avoided, Evans said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand lags behind other countries in clamping down on fake images of naked women and children, an organisation working to prevent child sexual exploitation says.

The British government is considering blocking Grok – X’s AI chatbot – which has drawn international condemnation for allowing users to create sexualised images of people without their knowledge or consent.

Ecpat national director Eleanor Parkes said New Zealand first needed enforceable legislation for AI that prevented the technology being weaponised.

“Bans and restrictions are tools and they’re not the starting point especially as the platform changes, whether the tool is Grok today or another image generator tomorrow, the principle is the same companies must prevent their products being used to create and spread child sexual abuse material,” she said.

“Just reactively banning an individual platform, certainly it’s a tool that can be used, but in New Zealand we need to first step back and have that bigger conversation around what privacy means in the AI era here.”

Parkes said banning chatbots was one measure, but there were many AI tools used to generate harmful nude images.

“Certainly in Aotearoa, we’ve seen a huge surge in AI-generated fake nudes and nudified images and that shows how quickly this technology is being used to sexualize people’s photos, whether it’s through Grok, which is built into part of X, formerly known as Twitter, or whether it’s on ChatGPT or another channel.”

She said it was not a problem linked to just about one platform or channel.

“New Zealand needs an AI-fit safety and privacy approach that protects young children’s images and their likeness as well so that it covers deepfakes. We’ve seen we can’t rely on goodwill here. We need enforceable standards.”

Education Minister Erica Stanford has promised regulatory change to address social media harm, in response to calls for a minimum age of 16 to access social media.

Last year she was tasked with exploring options for legislation and implementation of possible restrictions, and expected to announce in the “near future” exactly what that bill would look like.

“We’re looking at a really clever, world-leading approach at how we protect our kids. And we are going to need a regulator. We are going to need a Child Protection Act. And we are going to need some form of a ban,” she said.

Netsafe chief executive Brent Carey said New Zealand’s laws that governed digital media needed updating.

“The creation and distribution of sexual deepfake imagery can cause serious harm. New Zealand is already responding in sensible ways with the Harmful Digital Communications Act,” he said.

“The answer lies in modernising our laws and expectations so they work for AI-enabled harm. Blaming users alone for content generated by a company’s own AI tool is not an adequate response.”

Carey said the Act should be updated to explicitly cover AI-generated harm.

“If you build it, you’re responsible for how it can be misused especially when sexualised and if young people are at risk. That’s why initiatives like Laura McClure’s deepfake bill are important – they recognise that image-based abuse and non-consensual synthetic content need clearer, faster pathways for accountability.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The executive director of the Firearms Safety Authority is retiring two months after the police watchdog’s scathing report into how police handled allegations of sexual offending by former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming.

RNZ earlier revealed the identities of some of the senior leaders referred to in the IPCA’s 135-page report.

Among them is Ms G, who RNZ understands is Angela Brazier, the executive director of the Firearms Safety Authority (FSA).

A lawyer for Brazier earlier said she was challenging the IPCA’s findings in relation to her.

The lawyer earlier said Brazier was on “pre-planned leave”.

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

However, on Monday, RNZ was informed Brazier was leaving her role.

RNZ then approached police for comment.

A memo to staff from Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson, seen by RNZ, said Brazier had announced she was retiring from her position.

“Angela is the founding director of the FSA since it was established in 2021, launching New Zealand’s first digital firearms registry.

“During her 22-year policing career she has held a variety of roles across operations, strategy, transformation and partnerships, as well as corporate services manager for the Royal New Zealand Police College.”

Brazier will retire in April.

In response to questions from RNZ, police sent a copy of the same statement given to staff.

Following the IPCA’s report former police commissioner Andrew Coster resigned as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency and former deputy commissioner Chris de Wattignar, quit as the Upper North head of aviation security at the Civil Aviation Authority.

Former deputy commissioner Tania Kura and former assistant commissioner Paul Basham both retired ahead of the report being released.

Inadequate disclosure

The IPCA said Brazier told them she had known McSkimming for about 20 years.

When the Public Service Commission approached her for a reference check on McSkimming in the appointment process for interim commissioner in October last year she knew McSkimming had an affair, that he was being “harassed” with emails from the woman and that Kura had informed McSkimming that she had to investigate him as part of the police response.

However, Brazier told the PSC she had nothing relevant to disclose. She told the IPCA she did not think her knowledge was relevant to PSC’s question.

“Ms G’s disclosure was inadequate in light of her knowledge at the time,” the IPCA said.

RNZ earlier approached police for comment in relation to Brazier.

A lawyer acting for Brazier then emailed RNZ.

“I am requesting you cease and desist name publication and confirm that this will be done or in the event you still intend to proceed pause until we have been able to file a non-publication application with the High Court. Angela is challenging the ICPA findings in respect of her.”

RNZ earlier revealed a “health check” of the police agency had begun following concerns over its workplace culture, including intimate relationships as well as financial practices.

The review came after an “internal employment process” at the firearms regulator which was established following the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019.

Police’s chief assurance officer Mike Webb earlier told RNZ the health check of the FSA was completed in October.

“It sought to identify whether disciplines around corporate hygiene and internal controls are widely understood and consistently applied in the FSA,” Webb said.

“The FSA was found to have operated in accordance with police policies in almost all cases sampled from December 2022 to June 2025 and the review identified a number of strengths in its corporate practices and controls.”

The review also made recommendations to “support improved police policy and practice”.

Three recommendations related to the FSA and 19 relate to wider police.

“Of note, the health check report highlighted some operational and governance risks for FSA and police in the areas of financial oversight, lack of specificity in the sensitive expenditure policy at the time, and conflict-of-interest management across wider police.”

Webb said Brazier had accepted the findings and recommendations in the report and “acknowledged there is always opportunity for improvement”.

The report was considered by the police’s senior leadership team (SLT) in late October, as well as the independent Assurance and Risk Committee in mid-November.

“The police SLT endorsed action to address the report’s non-FSA-specific recommendations, as well as tracking work on the recommendations.

“Several recommendations have already been actioned – for example, making updates to the sensitive expenditure policy, which are due to take effect from 1 December 2025.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bluebridge passengers have been left stranded or out of pocket after several cancelled sailings due to a ramp fault on the Connemara ferry.

A problem with the winch that controls the stern door led to 200 passengers being stuck for 15 hours on Thursday, and subsequent sailings of the Cook Strait ferry have been cancelled, leaving many passengers having to be rebooked or refunded.

Gemma and her family were due to sail on the Connemara Friday morning.

The Christchurch family had driven down to Wellington from Whangamatā before finding out their trip was cancelled.

Gemma said they could not get on another sailing until the end of January and could not take that much time off work.

“It really [left] us with not much option.”

She said they instead scrambled to get flights, a task made more difficult by the fact they had to get a crate for their dog.

“It took us in total four days to get home,” she said.

“Our van is still in the North Island,” she said. “It’s got a trailer with our jet ski, we’ve got our motorbike up there, there’s our mountain bikes, all of our gear.”

Gemma said while they were able to leave their belongings in the care of family, they were now without a lot of their summer gear and another trip would be needed to get it home.

Gemma estimated that they had spent more than $1000 to get home. She hoped Bluebridge compensated them for the flight cost.

Greg from Northland was also unable to get rebooked for weeks.

He had been travelling the South Island in a RV and was trying to get to Wellington.

Greg said the cancellation had effectively left him “stranded” in the South Island and that came with a lot of knock-on costs, from accommodation to activities he had already paid for.

He said he had raised that with Bluebridge.

“I was told pretty curtly that that’s not how their refund process works, and it’s reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and we would be remiss to try to get any compensation out of those sorts of knock-on effects.

Greg felt the ferries were getting off light in terms of accountability, compared to some other modes of transport.

“I would expect them to be the ones working out a plan to get us home and in the interim, providing some sort of accommodation or place to stay while they worked this out, very similar to airlines.”

In New Zealand, if a flight is cancelled or delayed, and it was the airline’s fault, consumers were entitled to reasonable compensation for any additional loss suffered up to 10 times the cost of the flight, along with any refund, rebooking or credit.

Consumer NZ said if a ferry was cancelled due to an event within the operator’s control, such as a mechanical issue, consumers have rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

“In addition to getting a refund or being rebooked on a later sailing, consumers are also entitled to claim compensation for reasonably foreseeable costs (such as car hire, accommodation, flights etc). If Bluebridge denies liability, consumers can lodge a claim at the Disputes Tribunal,” a spokesperson said.

Consumer NZ said anyone who felt they had been misled could lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission.

In 2024, the Commerce Commission warned Bluebridge about potentially misrepresenting consumers’ rights to compensation when sailings were delayed or cancelled after the Commission found its terms and conditions contradicted what was in the Consumer Guarantees Act.

In a statement, StraitNZ Bluebridge spokesperson Will Dady said the company was working with passengers to reschedule, refund or recompense where appropriate.

“We have added additional capacity where possible – for example an extra sailing last Saturday – and are looking forward to returning to our regular schedule by this evening.”

He said the majority of people affected had been allocated to alternative sailings or chosen to travel by other means.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and apologise again for the disruption caused. We’re working as quickly as possible to liaise with those impacted but it does take time,” Dady said.

“It’s the most difficult time of year to experience a mechanical issue such as this with already heavy demand for sailings but we want to reassure our passengers we’re doing our best to assist getting them across Cook Strait to their destination as quickly as possible,” he said.

Bluebridge did not respond to RNZ’s questions around what compensation it was offering passengers.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are asking the public to take care in the water after two separate drownings on the North Island’s East Coast in 24 hours.

A man died in the water near Wainuiorangi Road in Mahia at about 9.20pm Sunday.

On Monday a woman was pulled from the water unresponsive near Whangara Road, Okitu at about 11.40am.

Both deaths would be referred to the Coroner.

Eastern District commander, Superintendent Jeanette Park, said water safety was often overlooked by most, but extremely important especially at this time of the year.

“As the temperatures continue to soar, more people are looking to cool off in the water.

“We’re asking everybody to be aware of their surroundings and capabilities while participating in water-related activities.”

Park said police wanted people to enjoy the weather safely.

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