Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

Research Funding New Zealand will bring together leading science, innovation and technology experts to invest in research that delivers real-world benefits for New Zealanders, says Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti.  

Dr Reti has announced the inaugural Research Funding NZ Board, established to streamline research funding and provide independent, strategic investment decisions that support economic growth. 

“For too long, New Zealand’s research funding system has been fragmented and overly complex, creating unnecessary red tape and diluting impact,” says Dr Reti. 

“Research Funding NZ fixes the basics by replacing multiple decision-makers with a single, independent board. This will create a simpler, more coherent funding system while strengthening our focus on excellent research with real-world outcomes.” 

The Board brings together some of New Zealand’s most accomplished science and innovation leaders, with experience across the Marsden Fund, MBIE Science Board, Health Research Council, and international funding bodies in Australia, Singapore and Europe. 

The Research Funding NZ Board members are:

Dr Emma Blott (Chair)
Professor Aidan Byrne
Professor Amanda Barnard
Professor Brett Cowan
Professor Dianne Gleeson
Dr Meika Foster
Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Hunter
Dr Sue Bidrose

Research Funding NZ will replace most existing research funding decision-makers, including the Marsden Fund Council, the Science Board, some MBIE functions and the Health Research Council. 

The transition will be phased to ensure continuity and minimise disruption. The Marsden Fund and Endeavour Fund will be among the first to move under the new structure, with Research Funding NZ making decisions for upcoming funding rounds. All current research contracts will continue.  

“Government investment across the full spectrum of science, from blue-sky research to applied and commercial innovation, will help grow the economy and improve health and wellbeing,” says Dr Reti. 

“By fixing the basics of our funding system, we are building a stronger future for science, innovation and the researchers whose work improves our economy, health and resilience.”

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  28 January 2026

The six-week seasonal placements for Kylie Harris (18) and Hayley Forlong (19) have focussed on education and advocacy, and a “mountains to sea” kaupapa sharing information about the district’s precious environments and vulnerable protected species.

Kylie has recently graduated from Paeroa College and is starting a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Biodiversity at Waikato University. Hayley has just gained a Level 6 diploma in Environmental Management and this year will get her Bachelor of Applied Science in Biodiversity management at Toi Ohomai Polytechnic in Windemere, Tauranga.

Kylie and Hayley say the most rewarding part of their roles has been engaging with more than 4,000 members of the public who were out naturing, and sharing what they themselves have learned.

They’ve been discussing topics ranging from the safe management of dogs in dotterel habitats to how visitors can limit the risk of spreading kauri disease by following advice on protecting the majestic taonga trees.

“We had some great questions from the public including things like ‘do our dogs need to be on a lead if they have had kiwi avoidance training’ – and yes they do, to protect the kauri tree roots, keep the dogs safe and prevent harm to other wildlife living in in our forests such as native frogs and invertebrates,” says Kylie.

For Kylie, educating people about dotterels has been eye-opening.

“People think ‘dotterels are stupid’ and to that we say ‘nuh uh’,” she says.

“Some visitors to the DOC marquee came to us with this mentality, mostly because of how and where dotterels nest. Dotterels need to nest close to the water’s edge as dotterel chicks must feed themselves after they hatch.

“Along with this, due to houses getting closer and closer to the beaches, it gives the dotterels less space to nest, and they need 360 degrees of vision to spot any threats.”

Hayley and Kylie say they’ve loved working alongside experienced and passionate DOC staff.

“I’ve enjoyed working in the Hauraki office – everyone is amazing and has so much knowledge to share,” says Kylie.

“I’ve always loved nature, so being able to work in this role where a majority of my time is outside of an office has been wonderful.”

Says Hayley: “I have always wanted to work for the Department of Conservation, so it’s been great to get a step in the door and get an idea of what it’s like working for DOC and the different job roles they have.”

Hayley and Kylie have a few more public event commitments as part of their summer ambassador role and they’ll return to their seasonal roles next summer.

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Kāpiti-Mana Area Commander, Inspector Renée Perkins:

Two people have died in a helicopter crash north of Wellington this morning.

Police were notified to the crash in the Paekākāriki Hill area at about 7.30am.

Tragically, both the pilot and the sole passenger were located deceased following the crash.

Our thoughts are with their families at this time.

Work is ongoing to recover the deceased and to examine the crash scene, which will be done in conjunction with investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Cordons are in place at the Battle Hill campground – media and members of the public are asked to respect those cordons and follow the instructions of emergency services staff.

Police would like to thank our partner agencies who assisted in the response this morning, including Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Civil Aviation Authority and Greater Wellington Regional Council.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is deploying motorhomes to quickly support people displaced by recent severe weather, with 10 motorhomes making their way to Northland Te Tai Tokerau today, with an additional 50 intended to be deployed in coming days, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.

Additional motorhomes are planned for deployment later in the week as temporary accommodation needs become clearer in other impacted areas particularly the East Coast Tairāwhiti.

“These motorhomes provide an immediate option for people who can’t stay in their homes, especially in affected areas where accommodation may be limited,” Mr Potaka says.

“This is about responding quickly to real need on the ground. Mobilising motorhomes into affected communities gives people somewhere to live while they wait to be allowed back into their home or for more suitable housing if they have sadly lost their home.” 

The motorhomes are being delivered through the Government’s Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS), which has been activated to support people displaced across Northland Te Tai Tokerau, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, East Coast Tairāwhiti and other affected areas.

“Agencies are working closely with councils, Iwi and community organisations to make sure people can access the accommodation and wider support they need.

“If your home has been damaged or you think you may need temporary accommodation, even if you’re staying with whānau or friends, please register with TAS as soon as possible so support can be put in place.

“I want to acknowledge marae, whānau, councils, Iwi and community organisations who have acted quickly to support people during this difficult time, and who continue to offer care, manaaki and practical support on the ground.”

On Tuesday, the Government announced an initial package which included $1.2 million to support affected regions with immediate and pressing needs through Mayoral Relief Funds and $1 million to reimburse marae that provided welfare in response to this event, and allow them to replenish and continue to build their resilience.

This is alongside existing funding across government that is available to support recovery effects in response to natural hazards and weather events.

Notes to editors:

People affected by the recent severe weather who have a current, or expected future need for temporary accommodation are encouraged to register with the Temporary Accommodation Service:

Online: www.tas.mbie.govt.nz
Phone: 0508 754 163

People only need to register once per household. The Temporary Accommodation Service is not a free service, and part-payments are required. However, TAS will work with each household to ensure these part-payments are affordable, and a hardship process is available if needed.
At this stage, it is too early to confirm numbers of registrations.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested and charged a man in relation to the shooting at Marriner Reserve, Palmerston North, earlier this month.

On Monday 12 January, emergency services responded to a report of gunshots heard on Marriner Street, where they located a victim with serious gunshot related injuries.

Police conducted extensive enquiries to identify a person of interest in relation to the matter, including appealing to the public for CCTV of the area.

At around 12pm yesterday [Tuesday 27 January], Police conducting area enquiries following a report of a stolen vehicle in Roslyn, spotted the vehicle on Featherston Street.

The vehicle we successfully spiked on Railway Road around 12.30pm, before coming to a stop on Alexander Street.

The driver of the vehicle, who Police determined to be a person of interest in the investigation into the Marriner Reserve shooting, fled on foot and extensive area enquiries were underway to locate him.

Police located and arrested the man around 5pm.

The 33-year-old is due to appear in Palmerston North District Court today, charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm with a firearm, in relation to the incident on 12 January.

“Yesterday’s arrest was a great result for our community,” Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson says.

“The work of our frontline and specialist groups, to take this man into custody without incident is a credit to their skill and professionalism.

“It was clear from yesterday’s events that this man was very motivated to remain at large, and that he was not going to stop until he was arrested.

“However, Police staff’s persistence and patience paid off, and we are now able to hold him to account,” Detective Senior Sergeant Thompson says.

The man is also facing a range of charges in relation to yesterday’s events, including two counts of unlawfully taking, unlawful possession of a firearm, failing to stop for Police, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Health and safety regulations for laboratory work are not fit for purpose, and regulatory relief is coming, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden confirmed today. 

“Nonsensical health and safety compliance was identified as a major pain point for research laboratories during my roadshows and in feedback through submissions. I’m pleased to back scientists to use their expertise to assess risks and put in place effective controls targeted to these highly specialised environments,” says Ms van Velden.  

Currently, those working in research, teaching and testing laboratories are subject to the same regulatory requirements as industrial operations that use hazardous substances, such as petrol refineries.  

“Research laboratory work is typically smaller-scale and often use a larger range of hazardous substances than industrial operations, whereas the current regulations are more easily applied to situations using a few substances in large quantities. 

“Not only are the current rules impractical, in some cases they could end up making laboratory work more dangerous. Some of the examples I heard included: 

• Laboratories with self-reactive substances are required to be on the ground floor of buildings. But locating laboratories on upper levels makes more sense from a safety perspective because it allows people to get out if there is a fire. 
• Cabinets used to store certain amounts of flammable substances must be separated by three metres. To meet this requirement, laboratories would need to be made significantly larger, or the hazardous substances would need to be moved frequently from outside the laboratory, which increases handling risks.
• Some flammable substances must be managed in workrooms that meet specified fire-resistance ratings. Many research laboratories were not constructed to those standards. Fire risk can be effectively managed in other ways, including storage in industry-standard cabinets and the use of ventilation or sprinkler systems.  

Universities New Zealand and the Independent Research Association of New Zealand estimate that the costs of compliance, unless changes are made, is likely to be between $1.5 billion to $3 billion. 

“Research laboratories used to be treated differently, with their own compliance pathway under a code of practice. Today’s issues have arisen because that pathway was removed by regulatory amendments in 2017. The Government at the time intended to replace the pathway with a better mechanism for laboratories, however, that did not happen, so research laboratories have been bound by overly restrictive rules for nearly a decade. 

“This Government will deliver what laboratories have been waiting for since 2017. There will be new tailored regulations for the sector and an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) that will set out clear guidance on how to manage these risks. 

“This is part of my wider health and safety system reform focused on making regulations workable so Kiwis can get on with their work safely without over-zealous rules holding them back,” says Ms van Velden.  

The amendments to the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 are expected to come into force in 2026. 

Editor notes: 

• The Cabinet paper is attached. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Sergeant Lee-Ann Grant

Police are investigating a robbery in Napier overnight where cash from the tills were taken.

Four males have entered the Z Service Station on Tennyson and Station Streets at about 1.15am today.

The males have threatened staff and taken cash tills and fled in a vehicle.

Police are seeking the public’s help to locate the vehicle, a blue Mazda Familia Station wagon.

No one was harmed during the incident; however those involved will be referred to Victim Support services.

If you have witnessed the incident, have knowledge of the vehicle’s whereabouts, or have dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV footage please get in touch.

Contact Police through 105 either online or over the phone using reference number: P065268828.

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today announced that Hon Judith Collins KC will be appointed as President of the New Zealand Law Commission and will not stand as an MP at the 2026 election. 

“It is with great regret and enormous gratitude that I thank Judith for her service; however, I am delighted she will take up this prestigious appointment to the Law Commission,” Mr Luxon says.

“The role requires astute legal knowledge – something Judith is eminently qualified for. She will follow in the footsteps of other highly regarded New Zealanders such as Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

“Judith has given more than two decades of her life to Parliament and public service as a Member of Parliament, Minister, and Leader of the Opposition.

“Throughout that time, she has served this country with commitment and conviction. She has carried a wide range of portfolios in Government and fronted some of the most difficult challenges without flinching.

“Working alongside Judith over the past six years, I have seen firsthand her deep commitment to New Zealand, her loyalty to our team, and her unshakeable belief in standing up for what she thinks is right. 
“On a personal level, I’ve seen Judith’s compassion for the people she represents, her love for her family, her sharp mind and sense of humour, and her quiet acts of kindness that most people will never know about. 

“On behalf of the Government and the National Party I want to thank Judith for all she has given this country,” Mr Luxon says.

Hon Collins KC will remain as an MP until her new role commences in mid-2026.

Source: New Zealand Government

A new inter-agency hub and the first phase of mandatory training for core children’s workers are now underway, as the Government takes further steps to safeguard children from harm.

Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says the initiatives are vitally important for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable children.

“These changes will provide an improved safety net for more than 2,000 children whose sole parents (or sole carers) are expected to be remanded in custody and/or sentenced to a term of imprisonment this year.

“The new in-person hub will co-locate key children’s agency staff at the Oranga Tamariki National Contact Centre, so they can quickly access and share information to identify and address risks to at risk children in this group.

“From now on, when agencies identify these children, a report to Oranga Tamariki will ensure there’s an immediate focus on understanding their needs including safety, wellbeing and the adequacy of their care arrangements.

“This will determine the appropriate response for each child so their needs are met, including referrals to community when statutory intervention is not required.”

The hub will also ensure information is shared safely and appropriately between key agencies to inform an initial assessment within 48 hours.

The testing of mandatory training for core children’s workers is also being rolled out.

“While developing a full package of mandatory training will take time, swift action is needed to fill known gaps. Immediate gains will be made by rapidly rolling out a short, electronic module covering foundational child protection information.”

The foundational module is initially being tested with a subset of core children’s workers from Health NZ, New Zealand Police, Ministry of Social Development (MSD), Ministry of Education, Department of Corrections and Oranga Tamariki.

“We know this type of training will not be new for many children’s workers but by standardising and enhancing existing training, we can ensure more consistent, quality training.”

In October last year the Government accepted all recommendations from the Dame Karen Poutasi Review. The Royal Commission into Abuse in Care also made a range of recommendations regarding child protection. The actions being announced today are part of an ongoing integrated Government response.

“I want to recognise and thank the late Dame Karen for her commitment to New Zealand’s children, and for her outstanding dedication to numerous other public service roles.

“In producing her report, Dame Karen had recommended regular campaigns to support public awareness of the signs of abuse and how to report concerns. I also want to acknowledge the “Dear Children” campaign, which Mana Mokopuna – Children’s Commission launched in December.

“It’s been heartening to see that campaign helping to significantly raise awareness of issues and responsibilities related to child maltreatment,” Louise Upston says.

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a serious crash on State Highway 15, Ruakaka this morning.

Emergency services responded to the crash at the intersection of State Highway 15 and McCathie Road around 6.40am.

A person suffered critical injuries and sadly died on the way to hospital.

The Serious Crash Unit attended, with enquiries into the circumstances of the crash ongoing.

The road has since reopened.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police