Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Olivia Wentzell was the winner of the Landscape Category in the 2025 New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year. She studied zoology and environmental science at the University of Auckland. 

Photography was an integral part of my childhood. Going outside with my dad and his camera is where it all started. Holding a clunky DSLR and snapping photos regardless of the camera’s settings sparked a love for photography that has never wavered.

As a university student, my time often involves a lot of studying, staying inside with my eyes glued to a screen. But as a nature-lover at heart and photographer by choice, much of my spare time is spent naturing. It is the raw beauty of the landscapes and wildlife that I experience which endlessly inspires me to capture it, and it is the same beauty that inspires me every day to advocate for it.

Recently winning the landscape category in New Zealand Geographic’s 2025 Photographer of the Year has instilled an even greater drive to inspire others to experience the outdoors. As someone who grew up spending a lot of their spare time outside, and who now combines that with photography, I have grown to have a profound appreciation and respect for nature that I think we should all have. This love for the outdoors has only grown throughout my photography journey, where I have learnt many lessons over the years. It has taught me to appreciate nature, not just for its material value, but in experiences it provides, its profound beauty, and the true calm it can bring us. So, here are the five things that I have learnt along my photography journey that I think are essential for appreciating all that nature has to offer:

1. Take Notice of the Small Things

Many of us are guilty of only staring in awe at the megafauna when out naturing, but what about the small bugs that help to decompose leaf litter, or the fungi that creates mass networks underground, connecting all the trees in a forest. I have always been one to take notice of the under-appreciated, but photography has forced me to do so even more, as focusing on each detail in a photograph is essential to creating powerful images.

A detail for me that not many people notice is the lighting in a particular moment. Photography is all about light, so naturally I pay attention to it when I have my camera, but I also notice it everywhere I go, no matter the context. This means that I appreciate the soft sun rays filtering through the forest canopy, or the sunlight that just peaks over the horizon before it dips below for the night. This is one of the biggest lessons photography has taught me: the purity of light and the beauty it casts on moments.

Pīwakawaka in flight. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Pīwakawaka in flight. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Pīwakawaka on a branch. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Pīwakawaka on a branch. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Kererū on a branch. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Kererū on a branch. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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There is nothing overly special about these photographs—or to you there may not be—but the lighting in each creates something even more beautiful out of relatively common species.

Noticing the small details in nature deepens our appreciation for it, ultimately allowing us to connect more with the world around us and find meaning in even the simplest moments. Each time you go outside, I encourage you to focus on one more thing that is new to you so that your admiration for nature can grow.

2. Get Out Whenever You Can

In the past, I wouldn’t take photos unless I felt sure they would work compositionally. However, my mindset has recently shifted to wanting to take photos of everything. This has motivated me to get outside even on the days where I don’t feel inspired, or visit the places that don’t seem as interesting as a weekend mission to Rangitoto or Muriwai Gannet Colony. Getting outside whenever possible connects us with nature more and leads us to notice the small things.

Ngahere/forest. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Ngahere/forest. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Over the Mountain. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Over the Mountain. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Ngahere/forest. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Ngahere/forest. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Three photos I have taken recently, where the aim was not to create a strong composition, but rather to bring my camera out and photograph freely. As a result, I noticed details that I initially would have overlooked, and found beauty in the unexpected.

Some of my best moments in nature have either been those I wasn’t planning, or in places where the beauty far exceeded my expectations. My winning photograph in New Zealand Geographic’s 2025 Photographer of the Year is an example of this. I was on a road trip around the South Island and visited a canyon I had been wanting to go to for a while. I never imagined it would become one of my favourite places in New Zealand, and the location of where an award-winning photograph was taken. While wading through knee-deep water at its entrance, I soon realised the beauty that Wilson Creek Canyon held. With water trickling down from above, moss covered walls, and sunlight streaming through the forest at the top of the canyon, this was one of the most beautiful places I had ever been – yet it was just a small, unassuming canyon off the side of State Highway 1.

Water dripping into Wilson Creek Canyon. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Water dripping into Wilson Creek Canyon is illuminated by a shaft of sunlight striking vegetation on the canyon wall. “I had never visited Wilson Creek Canyon before, but after this moment, I knew it had suddenly become one of my favourite places in New Zealand,” says Olivia Wentzell. “It was definitely worth wading in knee-deep mountain-fed water. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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My winning photo in the Landscape Category of New Zealand Geographic’s 2025 Photographer of the Year. It shows a patch of vegetation on a canyon wall, with water droplets surrounding it.

Just a few months later, I found myself in a similar situation when visiting Limestone Creek Reserve near Palmerston North. I visited this location for the glowworms but ended up seeing a different kind of beauty. This reserve included a limestone archway of a grand scale, with the most pristine native forest and a seemingly endless trickle of water down the walls of a narrow gully.

Limestone Creek Reserve. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Limestone Creek Reserve. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Limestone Creek Reserve. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Limestone Creek Reserve. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Limestone Creek Reserve was truly an unexpected beauty that blew me away.

Through appreciating the small things in nature by getting out whenever I can, these two moments are some of the best that I have ever experienced – and neither were set out to be.

3. Slow Down

Photography requires a lot of patience to achieve the photos you want, often with more failure than success. This patience is what taught me to slow down when in nature.

By learning to notice light as a photographer, watching sunsets has become one of my favourite things to do in nature. To me, this is a moment when everything is slowing down for the day. It is a moment where I can just sit, look, listen, and feel all that is around me. While watching a sunset, every moment seems to be better than the last, and I am forced to sit and watch until the painted sky slowly turns to stars.

Watching sunsets was one of the first ways I began to truly appreciate nature. Now it has taught me to slow down in other naturing activities as well. Whether I am looking at the trees in a forest on a day hike as they gently move with the breeze, or even just watching the lapping of waves on the coast, every moment in nature can be appreciated even more if we just slow down.

Hummingbird. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Hummingbird. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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A photograph of a hummingbird I sat and watched for at least an hour—slowing down to understand its movements and admire its beauty.

4. Notice With More Than Just Your Eyes

During sunset, I can hear the quiet waves on the beach while the sun sets over the horizon. I can feel the slight breeze on my skin as a Tui flies over me. I don’t hear any cars on the highway or sounds of the city – just the quiet moment as the sun dips below the horizon. Through slowing down while watching sunsets, I have learnt to take in all that is around me. I have learnt to notice not just the beauty that I can see, but which I can hear, smell, and feel too.

Photography taught me to appreciate light, which in turn taught me to slow down and observe how lighting conditions change. This awareness has helped me pay closer attention to the small details in nature, using more than just my eyes. All these lessons are interconnected and essential for appreciating nature—not just for what it gives us, but for its profound beauty too.

Kākāriki. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Kākāriki. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Not only was the visual beauty of the red-crowned kākāriki so striking while visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island, but the calls of countless individuals within the flock were overwhelmingly beautiful.

5. Expand Your Knowledge On All Things Nature

As a zoology and environmental science graduate, I know a thing or two about taking on new knowledge about the natural world. As a photographer, I also want to learn as much as I can about the natural world to better understand my subjects. Before university, I thought I had a deep appreciation for the outdoors through learning in my own time, but studying all things nature throughout my degree allowed me to have a whole new appreciation for it. I now look at birds and know what makes each one of them special, and the role they play in maintaining ecosystem health. I look at the trees in a forest and know that each one took countless years to grow and sustains thousands of animals throughout its lifetime.

Kākā. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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Kākā. Photo: Olivia Wentzell ©

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A kākā, whose beauty is made even more remarkable by knowing its conservation story and rarity of seeing one in the wild.

Developing my understanding of the natural world and how it works has been one of the most important shifts in how I now appreciate it. Now every time I go outside and see anything I have spent hours learning about, I can’t help but gawk at it like a fangirl, marvelling at its intricacies and unique beauty – unlike anything else in nature.

Final Thoughts

Nature is the one thing that connects us all. Despite our differences in passions, we all rely on nature and have access to it, so we need to learn to appreciate this unifying feature between us. So, when you next have the chance to get outside, take it—and remember to slow down, take notice of the small things, and learn more about the nature around you, because the best moments are often those that are unexpected.

Source: New Zealand Police

Seven people were successfully rescued from the Waikato River last night, after Police received reports of several people struggling in the water.

Around 7.20pm, Police were alerted to a group of four men who had decided to float from the control gates down to Hipapatua Reserve, otherwise known as Reids Farm.

The men only had basic inflatables and no life jackets.

Towards the end of the route, the group lost buoyancy, began to panic, and were heard calling for help.

Three people from a nearby tour group jumped into the river to assist the men, despite not having any flotation devices themselves.

Police arrived and were able to communicate with the now seven people in distress and contacted the Coastguard and Harbourmaster.

Using a jetboat and a jetski, Police, Coastguard and the Harbourmaster were able to rescue the seven people, who were hanging onto a tree.

Senior Constable of Taupō Police Barry Shepherd says the incident could have had a far more serious outcome.

“We want people to have fun and enjoy the outdoors but there’s a safe way to do it.

“While its admirable that people tried to help, we don’t want any dead heroes.”

The involved agencies responded quickly and were able to bring all seven people to safety by 8pm.

“I commend the Coastguard, Harbourmaster and my Police colleagues, whose quick thinking and coordinated response ensured these seven people were safely rescued.

This situation could have been drastically worse, and their actions prevented a potential tragedy.”

Police remind the public that for any water related emergency, always call 111 immediately.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Puketitiri Road is closed following a serious two-vehicle crash.

Emergency services received reports of the crash about 6:30am.

One person is understood to be seriously injured.

Police are in attendance and motorists are asked to delay travel if possible.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are making enquiries into a sudden death in Taupaki on Wednesday night.

At around 9pm, Police attended the incident on a shared driveway off Nixon Road.

Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie, of Waitematā CIB, says: “A man aged in his 50s had been riding his motorbike prior to being located deceased.

“On arrival the man was located deceased next to his motorbike.

“While there are no suspicious circumstances, Police will make further enquiries to establish how the man has died and whether he had been involved in a crash.”

A post mortem examination will be carried out as part of these enquiries.

Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this time.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand’s international aviation links and resilience will be significantly strengthened by a move to make RNZAF Base Ohakea available as an alternative runway for wide body aircraft 24/7, Associate Transport Minister James Meager says.

“The Government has approved funding for Airways New Zealand to provide round-the-clock air traffic control at the airport, resolving a long-standing constraint for airlines and one which has been a handbrake on New Zealand’s economic growth,” Mr Meager says.

“Under aviation safety rules, commercial flights must nominate an alternate runway in case their destination airport is closed due to weather or another event.

“Currently, Ohakea can’t be used as an alternate airport overnight when flights need to divert, due to the lack of air traffic control services.  Our investment in round-the-clock air traffic control will mean an alternate landing option for large international aircraft unable to land at Auckland or Christchurch.

“This simple solution increases the commercial viability of flying to New Zealand for major airlines. Aircraft can carry less fuel and fly these routes with full passenger and freight loads. This directly benefits our tourism operators, exporters and regional economies and is yet another example of how we are fixing the basics and building the future.”

This decision marks the completion of a key action of the Aviation Action Plan, launched in September last year, which contains 25 actions to grow and future-proof the sector.

Working together, government and industry have already     achieved 10 actions, including Ohakea, since its launch less than six months ago. These are:

•    Outlining a set of coordinated industry-led recommendations to address long-standing workforce challenges, to be taken forward by the Aviation Council. 

•    Developing and delivering new rules to allow for safe innovation and growth in advanced aviation in consultation with the sector.

•    Confirming New Zealand’s voluntary participation in the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation at the 2025 International Civil Aviation Organization General Assembly. 

•    Commencing work alongside industry with Australian counterparts to develop regional collaboration on sustainable aviation fuel uptake and supply.

•    Assisting flight schools to update pilot training programmes to better align with the needs of airlines. 

•    Identifying the new skills needed for the advanced aviation industry for the next 10 years.

•    Providing input to the National Infrastructure Plan on the minimum operating network requirements for air transport. 

•    Identifying all the costs borne by the aviation sector, such as fees and charges, from government agencies 

•    Assessing future infrastructure requirements including support for fleet expansion, jet fuel demand and electricity and transmission needs for next generation aircraft. 

In addition, the Government is securing vulnerable regional routes by supporting small airlines through loans and providing investment for interlining arrangements.

“I’d like to acknowledge the Aviation Council’s leadership of these initiatives. This progress has only been possible because of the continued commitment from government and industry to work together to grow and future-proof our aviation sector,” Mr Meager says.

“With these practical solutions, we’re reducing the barriers and costs for airlines and the sector, signalling New Zealand is open for business to international trade and tourism while strengthening resilience, growing our workforce and supporting long term growth.”

Notes to Editor:

•    RNZAF Base Ohakea has been available to airlines as an alternate runway between 5am and 10.30pm daily. 

•    The extended air traffic control service is expected to be operational within 18 months, after new staff have been recruited and trained. 

•    Airways New Zealand has been funded $4.57 million over two years to provide overnight air traffic control services.

 

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Superintendent Jason Guthrie, Southern District Commander:

Police have arrested a 46-year-old man in Brockville, Dunedin this evening.

The man had been sought in relation to a series of offences committed in the Otago Coastal Area over recent days.

Officers involved in the operation to locate the man sighted him at a commercial premises on Kaikorai Valley Road at approximately 6.00pm and attempted to apprehend him.

The offender drove his vehicle towards the patrol car and officers in his efforts to avoid arrest. In response, Police deployed a range of tactical options including one shot from a Police pistol.

No other shots were fired in the incident, and nobody was injured.

The offender fled the area in the vehicle which was later located in Brockville.

Road spikes were successfully deployed, and the offender fled on foot into a bush area. He was apprehended soon after by a police dog team in the Fraser’s Gully area.

Earlier this evening, Police asked the public to keep clear of Three Mile Hill and Brockville as police searched in the cordoned area.

Cordons in the area will be lifted shortly.

Police want to reassure the community that there is no ongoing public safety risk following this incident.

This was a very dynamic incident involving an offender who was highly motivated to avoid arrest and Police staff are commended for their efforts in safely resolving this incident.

A critical incident investigation has commenced, and the incident will be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), as is standard procedure for any matter involving the discharge of a Police firearm.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Crown and Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana have signed a Deed of Settlement at Tuai today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  

“After six years of negotiations we have reached a long-awaited agreement that acknowledges the past and looks to a stronger future. 

“It is a privilege to sign the Deed and deliver the Crown apology to Ngāti Ruapani in their rohe. 

“A key feature of the settlement is the return of Crown-owned land into Te  Urewera, reflecting a central aspiration of Ngāti Ruapani to restore their connection with Te Urewera. 

“The settlement includes an agreed historical account and redress for historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi which caused significant harm to generations of Ngāti Ruapani.” 

The redress package includes: 

• $24 million financial redress;
• Undivided half share of Patunamu Forestry Ltd; 
• 4 commercial redress and 2 cultural redress properties; and
• Approximately 12,000 hectares of land added into Te Urewera. 

“While no settlement can fully remedy the injustices of the past, this agreement represents an important step forward. I hope it will support Ngāti Ruapani to achieve their cultural and economic aspirations for future generations to come.”

Ngāti Ruapani are based in and around south Waikaremoana. The signing of this deed concludes settlement negotiations in Te Urewera.  

A copy of the deed of settlement is available online at: Te Tari Whakatau – Ngāti Ruapani. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Hard-working dog teams from across Police, New Zealand Customs Service and Department of Corrections have been battling for the title of top dog and handler as they competed at the 51st Patrol and Detector Dog Championships this week.

This years’ event wrapped up with a prizegiving held at the Dog Training Centre in Trentham this afternoon.

The overall winner of this years’ competition was Senior Constable Aaron Senior and his dog Cole from Tasman District. 

Inspector Todd Southall says, Congratulations to Aaron and Cole for an almost clean sweep. It’s been an intense competition across three categories since Monday for all the operational dog teams.” 

“We’ve had experienced handlers in both patrol and detector categories competing this week. Consistency and confidence between handler and dog have determined who gets the points and a title.

Taking part in the Police Patrol Dog competition were six operational teams from Northland, Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato, Tasman and Canterbury Districts.

Six narcotic detector dog teams also competed – two from Police (Northland and Tāmaki Makaurau), and two each from Customs and Corrections. 

The winning detector dog team is the formidable crew of Senior Constable Patrick Derbyshire and Ripper from Northland Police – a previous winner of the Narcotic Detector Dogs – Alan Symes Cup.

“Each of the teams start with a set of points and they’re put through a range of realistic but testing scenarios with points deducted for mistakes. The team that loses the least marks is the winner. The teams were marked on obedience, article retrieving, commands, tracking in grass, bush, operational scenarios, and criminal work, says Todd.

“All these dog teams do a fantastic job in helping keep our communities safe, says Todd.  They provide a critical frontline response, detection and prevention capability whether it’s on the street, at our borders or inside our prisons.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

NOTE: A more detailed story and list of all winners will be shared on Ten One next week.

Source: New Zealand Government

A scheme that brings student researchers and industry together to tackle challenges that matter to people’s daily lives is open for further applications, Science, Innovation and Technology and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti says.

“The Applied Doctorates Scheme attracted strong backing from industry last year, and the new call for projects will provide more students the opportunity to solve real world challenges while earning their PhDs,” Dr Reti says.

“Students in the applied doctorates programme will develop advanced research skills while working with businesses to build commercial skills and deliver practical solutions for New Zealand. For industry, this is a chance to work with skilled researchers who bring fresh ideas and deep expertise.

“The first cohort is focused on energy research, with 25 industry-led projects selected from 76 submissions across energy systems, infrastructure, agriculture and high-tech engineering, recognising energy’s central role in supporting households and businesses, lifting productivity and keeping costs down.

“These students will contribute to projects that deliver results for Kiwis, including geothermal innovation with Contact Energy, reducing household electricity costs with Vector, improving energy efficiency at the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter, and strengthening rural resilience through power trading with Victoria University.

“The second cohort of doctoral-level research projects is now open for applications, and the theme for the 2026 call is Aerospace, Defence & Security, sectors that underpin New Zealand’s economic resilience and national security.

“The projects include a mix of fully Government funded and co-funded initiatives, reflecting confidence in the scheme’s direction and purpose. The first group of students are enrolling now and are expected to begin in the middle of 2026.

“The Applied Doctorates Scheme backs high-value science that will deliver results for New Zealanders, building a pipeline of researchers who can turn strong ideas into real economic and community outcomes.”
Notes to editors:

Photos: Credit Rio Tinto – Students at the Tiwai smelter as part of their graduate studies.

Attached: Applied Doctorates Programme: 2025 Energy Research Cohort Case Studies. Visit the Applied Doctorates Scheme website for further information and a full list of projects https://applieddoctorates.nz/.

Established in 2025, the Applied Doctorates Scheme strengthens the connection between universities and industry by equipping PhD students with both advanced research expertise and applied skills needed in modern workplaces. It is supported by a five-year, $20 million Government investment to grow a workforce that can translate cutting edge science into real world benefit. 

The 2025 round sought projects on the theme of New Zealand’s path to energy innovation. The 2026 round of projects will focus on Aerospace, Defence and Security. Applications close 11 May and the projects will be made public week of 2 July. The 2027 theme will focus on Biotechnology and Bioprocessing research.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested the owner of a van following a burglary in Christchurch that ended with a trailer detaching and the van crashing down a bank near Amberley.

Sergeant Nathan Wilson, of Canterbury Police, says the incident unfolded after a member of the public discovered a sign‑written trailer abandoned on the outskirts of Amberley.

“The caller phoned the number written on the trailer, and the owner then contacted Police,” Sergeant Wilson says.

The trailer had been stolen overnight from a Cole Porter Avenue address in Mairehau, Christchurch.

Police arrived at the scene finding the van’s owner back up with the trailer. A van was also found nearby, having crashed down a bank after the tow ball ripped free and remained lodged inside the trailer’s coupling.

“The driver was extremely lucky to walk away from this,” Sergeant Wilson says.

The van’s owner was arrested at the scene. He has been charged with burglary, two counts of theft relating to petrol drive-offs and possessing drug utensils. Further charges are likely pending testing of a substance found among his belongings.

Police are also investigating other offending committed in the Mairehau area overnight.

Police encourage anyone in Cole Porter Avenue, or the wider Mairehau area, who believes they may have information regarding offending, to contact us.

“This is also a great example of the public stepping up to help us,” Sergeant Wilson says. “A quick call from a member of the community helped us recover stolen property, identify the offender, and keep North Canterbury that little bit safer.”

If you have information please update us online now or call 105.

Please use reference number 260220/8839.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.