Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  25 February 2026 Source:  Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Department of Conservation

The Agreement covers how the two organisations work together. It includes the fire control services provided by DOC including services such as advice, research, and personnel for deployments. It covers the designated services provided by Fire and Emergency including training of DOC personnel, wildfire risk analysis, data sharing and advice, and fire investigation reports.

Fire and Emergency Chief Executive and National Commander Kerry Gregory says the Agreement reflects the shared commitment to protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s public conservation land, including fire prevention, research, and raising public awareness.

“It refreshes and strengthens our already strong partnership, with clearer roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities for both organisations,” he says.

DOC Director-General Penny Nelson says the renewed Agreement shows the strong ongoing relationship between DOC and Fire and Emergency, which is vital to protect special places and unique threatened species.

“Wildfire is a significant threat to biodiversity values, tracks and huts, and public safety, and the risk is only increasing due to climate change. Recent examples like the Tongariro National Park fire show how devastating wildfire can be and the importance of an effective, coordinated response,” Penny Nelson says.

“The refreshed Agreement gives us greater clarity and confidence in how we work together, and strengthens our ability to protect our people, our places, and our taonga.”

Kerry Gregory says the Agreement recognises that fire is a growing risk driven by climate change,and it acknowledges the shared focus on prevention, mitigation, and reducing risk.

“The Agreement also recognises the importance of working with Māori as tangata whenua and reinforces both agencies’ commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Kerry Gregory says.

“Ngā mihi nui to the people in the joint project group involved in the review.”

The associated Schedules (which detail the supporting operational, service specification, and financial processes) will be jointly developed and finalised within 12 months of signing of the Operational Services Agreement. The existing 2021 Schedules will be retained in the interim.

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kris Payne: 

Hawke’s Bay Police investigating the homicide of Sharlene Smith are releasing further information and appealing for public assistance.

On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, Police were called to a worksite on Taihape Road, Omahu, after Sharlene’s body was located on the property.

Through ongoing enquiries, Police have identified a likely route taken by a vehicle of interest. We know this vehicle was used on the day Sharlene’s body was left at the worksite, and officers have carried out extensive work to locate and review CCTV footage from the relevant timeframe.

Police are appealing for sightings of a white 2005 Mazda 3 sports hatchback between 8am and approximately midday on Sunday 1 February 2026, travelling from the Awatoto area, through Taihape Road/Omahu Road and the Fernhill area, and into Marewa, Napier. [see pictured map]

We are asking anyone who saw this vehicle, or who has home, business, or dashcam CCTV footage from those areas during that time, to please contact Police if not already spoken to.

Police are also seeking two items, belonging to Sharlene, that are believed to have been discarded along the same route:

• a handbag [pictured], and
• a Samsung Galaxy A06 mobile phone.

Anyone with information is urged to get in touch through 105, either online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, or by calling 105, and referencing file number 260203/9739.

You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons, Christchurch Metro Crime:

Police acknowledge the sentence handed down to Nathan Boulter for the murder of Chantal McDonald in the High Court at Christchurch. The 37-year-old will now serve a minimum of 17 years in prison without parole.

Today’s sentence will never bring Chantal back, or end the devastating sense of loss inflicted on her loving family.

There is no prison term that will ever make up for what happened to Chantal or the profound sense of loss her loved ones have had to endure.

However, today brings a small comfort in knowing the community will be protected from a violent, controlling and pathetic gutless coward who so needlessly took Chantal’s life.

It is extremely disappointing that he made the decision to not physically appear in Court today and face Chantal’s family.

Chantal was a much-loved and devoted mother, daughter, sister and friend. She was regarded as a vibrant and special person to all who knew her, which makes her loss even harder to bear for those who were lucky enough to know her.

We are continuing to provide support for Chantal’s family as they navigate life without her.

Her family have been extremely dignified throughout this entire process and I commend them for that.

They are appreciative of the support they have received, but request privacy. They ask that media do not attempt to contact them.

I want to thank all of the Police investigators, staff, and the Crown prosecutor who dedicated themselves to getting justice for Chantal.

They have worked relentlessly to bring this case to court and hold Chantal’s killer accountable for his horrendous crime.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A Police response to calls for help brought a woman’s alleged offending spree across Auckland suburbs to a halt.

The woman will now face court over two burglaries and a stolen vehicle.

Senior Sergeant Shaun Richardson, of Auckland City Police, says units responded to Grey Lynn after 2.30am following calls from residents around Richmond Road.

“Residents reported hearing a woman calling for help in the vicinity of Westmoreland Street West.

“Police and ambulance attended the area and eventually located a woman stuck at a property under renovation; she had fallen between a retaining wall and earthworks.”

Units on scene established a burglary had occurred at the address.

Senior Sergeant Richardson says the woman was allegedly in possession of a handbag which had been stolen.

“Further checks established the handbag had allegedly been stolen just hours earlier in Epsom,” he says.

“Just before midnight, an offender had allegedly entered a house and stolen a handbag and keys, before driving off in a late model Audi hatchback.”

The 31-year-old woman was transported to hospital for her injuries.

She has since been charged with two counts of burglary for both the Epsom and Grey Lynn incidents, as well as unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Police have opposed the woman’s bail.

It’s expected a bedside court hearing will take place later today.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Detective Sergeant David Parker:

A scene examination is ongoing at a Hei Hei property in Christchurch following an firearms incident this morning.

Police were called to a Keri Place address around 4:35am to reports a vehicle was seen leaving the area at speed.

It was also reported that gunshots were heard.

Police attended and located evidence outside the property, which was unoccupied, to indicate a firearm had been discharged.

There will be a Police presence in the area while officers make a number of enquiries, working to determine what happened.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is leveraging public sector energy demand to drive new energy projects and grow our national supply, Energy Minister Simon Watts says.

“As part of the Government’s Energy Package, we are pursuing possible long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) across the public service starting with our three largest energy users: Health New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Department of Corrections,” Mr Watts says.

Following the Request for Information issued late last year, the Government is commencing discussions with the energy sector including independent generators and new entrants on opportunities to lock in long-term supply.

“We are focused on one clear outcome – increasing abundant and affordable energy to put downward pressure on power bills for households and businesses,” Mr Watts says.

“There is a strong pipeline of projects ready to go, from large grid-scale generation to site-specific and smaller repeatable projects across the country. We are backing all technologies that can deliver reliable, affordable power at scale, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, woody biomass, hydrogen and battery storage. The priority is simple: get more generation built, faster.”

MBIE is now working with Health New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Department of Corrections on potential long-term PPAs to commence when their existing contracts expire.

“Locking in long-term supply will give developers the certainty they need to invest in new generation, while securing better value and price stability for taxpayers,” Mr Watts says.

“Solar will also play a practical and immediate role. I have directed officials to complete a rapid feasibility study on establishing a streamlined procurement model to accelerate the rollout commercially viable solar across government properties.

“The objective is to support aggregate demand, cut red tape, and bring installations online more quickly increasing supply and reducing peak demand pressures on the grid.”

MBIE will report back by the end of May 2026. If viable, a Request for Proposals will be issued soon after, moving quickly from study to implementation so projects can begin delivering additional generation and cost relief as soon as possible.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Palmerston North Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Phil Ward:

A water search and rescue operation is currently underway in Palmerston North.

At around 11.20pm last night, Police were called with a report that various personal items appeared to have been abandoned in a suspicious manner on Albert Street.

Police responded and found the items which led them down to the Manawatū River, where a man could be seen in the water.

Officers made voice appeals to the man, in an attempt to get him to come back to land, however he disappeared under the water.

Police Search and Rescue and Fire and Emergency New Zealand, attempted to locate the man, but had no luck.

Due to the rough terrain of the river and limited visibility, emergency services were stood down around 1.30am today.

The search recommenced at first light today and involves Police Search and Rescue, Land Search and Rescue, Palmerston North Swiftwater Rescue, and use of the LandSAR boat and drones, to assist searching the Manawatū River.

The community can expect to see an increased Police and emergency services presence in the Albert Street area while the search is ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

We are asking the public for feedback on a proposal that banks must provide a minimum level of cash services so people, businesses, and community groups can withdraw cash, deposit cash, and get change free-of-charge close to where they live.

Source: New Zealand Government

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston welcomed new data that provides fresh insights into how and why New Zealanders travel domestically. 

Data released in February comes from the first wave of the new Domestic Visitor Survey, which measures insights into peak and off‑peak domestic tourism in New Zealand.

“This new survey provides valuable insights into New Zealanders’ domestic travel intentions, behaviours, and experiences,” Louise Upston says.

“Three in five New Zealanders took an overnight trip in the six months to October 2025, and nearly half took a day trip. That’s incredibly useful information for understanding where and how people are choosing to travel.

“Domestic tourism contributes around 60 percent of total New Zealand tourism expenditure and is essential to many of our regional economies. Insights from this survey will help the tourism industry plan with greater confidence and respond to changing travel patterns across the country.”

This first Domestic Visitor Survey was conducted in October and November 2025, capturing data on domestic travel over the previous six months and intentions to travel domestically over the next six months. 

“These insights build on the volumes and flow data released late last year, to help understand how people move around New Zealand and support local planning and investment,” Louise Upston says.

“Delivering this data within six months ensures the sector has timely, practical insights to support planning and respond to emerging travel trends.

Other key findings include:

Main reasons for past travel were to visit family and friends and to relax and unwind.
Trip satisfaction was high, with most travellers satisfied or very satisfied.
Over three-quarters intended to take an overnight trip in the following six months; over half intended to take a day trip.
Key barriers to planned travel were cost and weather conditions.
Planning relied mainly on destination websites, online resources, and recommendations from friends and family.

“We’re already seeing a positive resurgence of international visitors coming to our shores post covid. These new insights will help the industry to maximise our tourism offerings for domestic travellers, encouraging kiwis to explore more of their backyard,” Louise Upston says.

“As the country’s second-highest export earner, tourism and hospitality has a key role in New Zealand’s economic growth. As a Government, we are committed to ensuring a thriving tourism industry in New Zealand.”

The survey is undertaken by Verian on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Key results and interactive charts can be found on the Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre.

The next data release from the Domestic Visitor Survey is planned for September 2026 and will cover data collected in the April 2026 survey. 

Editor’s note:

The first Domestic Visitor Survey took place in October and November 2025, with a sample of 2,581 New Zealanders aged 15+. The survey uses an online panel survey, with demographic quotas on age by gender, region, and ethnicity.

As with all sample surveys, there are limitations related to coverage and non-response that cannot be fully corrected. To help reduce these limitations, the survey is carefully sampled, with survey results weighted to 2023 Census demographics to ensure representativeness of the adult population.

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand is applying further sanctions on Iran, placing travel bans on members of the Iranian regime involved in the violent suppression of protests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. 

“It has been horrifying to witness the brutal killing of thousands of protestors in Iran,” Mr Peters says.

“Iranians have the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and access to information. Those rights have been ruthlessly violated.” 

The travel bans will target 40 individuals who have perpetrated human rights abuses in Iran, including Minister of the Interior Eskandar Momeni, Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib, and Prosecutor-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad. It will also include members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 

New Zealand joins Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and the United States in taking this action.

The travel bans will also apply to three Iranian individuals implicated in Iran’s malign activity abroad.

“Iran’s destabilising activities are totally outside the norms of acceptable state behaviour,” Mr Peters says. 

The individuals affected by travel bans will not be allowed to enter or transit New Zealand.

“Today’s actions send a clear message that those who act with callous disregard for human life are not welcome here.

“New Zealand will continue to act deliberately and alongside partners when we see actions that undermine international law and regional stability,” Mr Peters says. 

New Zealand has previously announced three tranches of travel bans on 55 individuals responsible for human rights violations in Iran. New Zealand has also imposed sanctions on 29 Iranian individuals and 19 Iranian entities who have provided support to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.

The list of banned individuals is on the MFAT website.