Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are urging anyone going near waters, no matter how strong at swimming, to take basic precautions to keep themselves safe.

Inspector Andrea McBeth, Area Commander for Hamilton City, says that each year Police see tragic outcomes in and around water.

“If you’re heading out to enjoy the water, be prepared. Water can be unforgiving. We want to have everyone come home safe and well to their whānau.

“Waters around our country have strong and deep currents, that are changeable and unpredictable. If you’re not a strong swimmer with a life jacket, stay where your feet touch the ground and take extra precautions.

“Be aware of your capabilities in the water, and understand it might not be the same as your mate’s. Don’t go in the water if you’re not comfortable,” says Inspector McBeth.

Not only does Inspector McBeth urge safety for swimmers, she also highlights the importance if you’re going boating or fishing.

Nearly half of water fatalities are from accidental falls into the water, highlighting the importance of life jackets, and swimming and floating skills.

When on a boat, always wear a lifejacket and have a waterproof bag to put your phone into to put inside your lifejacket, so it is always with you.

Everyone needs a plan in place for how they’re going to stay safe in case things go wrong. Remember these points when heading out to the water:

• Actively supervise tamariki in and around the water. Things can change in an instant.
• Know what your capabilities are. Even if you are a strong swimmer, that might not help you if you are swimming in a dangerous spot.
• Know the environment, is it safe to swim? Dangers exist in every river and at the beach and it is important to know where they are.
• If swimming at the beach, swim between the flags, they are there to keep you safe. Watch out for rips and strong currents in the water.
• Always check weather and tide conditions before heading out.
• When swimming, diving or boating, avoid alcohol and drugs. Alcohol, drugs and water can be a dangerous mix.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will come back – this can be crucial information for us to locate you.

If there is a water-related emergency, always call 111 immediately. 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre
 

Source: New Zealand Government

Open Electricity will help New Zealand homes and businesses plug in to the best power plan for their needs and drive better competition in our electricity market, Energy Minister Simon Watts and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson say.

The Government has designated the retail electricity sector as the next cab off the rank under the Customer and Product Data Act. This follows the implementation of Open Banking, of which the regulations came into force on 1 December 2025. 

“Right now, there are more than 15,000 power plans for residential users alone, making it nearly impossible to compare and find the best plan to suit people’s needs,” Mr Watts says.

“Open Electricity will make it simple to quickly compare the electricity needs of your household or small businesses against every power plan on the market, saving time and money.

“Recent energy savings campaigns show that consumers who switched power plans saved an average of $358 a year – a huge win at a time when cost of living is top of mind for many.

“New Zealanders can also expect lower costs through more efficient and reduced electricity consumption, and there are opportunities for network cost savings through reducing energy use at peak times.

“Open Electricity will mean customers can access data around their electricity consumption and product options quickly, clearly, and securely – and be able to share that information securely with others who can help them get the most out of their data. This will help them optimise their energy use and make important household decisions, like whether to install solar or buy an electric vehicle.

“I have been clear that ensuring Kiwis have access to abundant and affordable energy is my top priority. We are moving as quickly as practical to ensure Open Electricity can make these savings a reality for many. Consumers will start to see changes from September this year with all changes completed by mid-2027.”

Approximately two million households and 165,000 small business customers will benefit from greater choice through improved transparency and better access to their data. 

Mr Simpson says the changes will drive competition and offer access to new innovative products in the electricity market. 
“Currently, accessing information about your electricity usage is slow, costly, and inconsistent. It restricts your choices and your ability to get a better deal for your usage,” Mr Simpson says.

“Current electricity price comparison tools base usage on averages. While this can be helpful, it is not enough to support the high levels of cost reduction and innovation that we would like to see in our energy market. Secure and ready access to your individual data will ensure you get the best price. 

“Open Electricity allows customers to get the best value for their money. I am very pleased to see this roll out and I look forward to Kiwis making the most of this exciting initiative.” 

Source: New Zealand Police

A man is missing after a water-related incident in the Waikato River this afternoon.

Police were called to the river near Graham Island about 3.30pm after a report of a struggling swimmer being swept downstream.

They have not been located since.

Emergency services remain on scene carrying out a search of the area, and enquiries are ongoing.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after a water-related incident in Akaroa this afternoon. 

Police were notified about 1.15pm that a person had been pulled from the water by the Harbourmaster.

CPR was administered however sadly they were not able to be revived.

Drummond Wharf is currently cordoned off while emergency services work at the scene.

The death will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after a water-related incident in Taukiro this afternoon. 

Emergency services were called about 2.55pm to a location off Poripori Road, where a person had been pulled from the water.

CPR was commenced, however they sadly died at the scene.

The death will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Karen Bright, Counties Manukau CIB:

Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man in Manurewa overnight.

Emergency services were called to Balfour Road around 11.10pm to reports a man had been shot.

Sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cordons remain in place, while police conduct a scene examination at the address. A postmortem examination will take place tomorrow.

Residents of the area can expect to see an increase in Police presence as they make enquiries.

Police believe there is no ongoing risk to the public.

Anyone with information on the incident that can help Police with their enquiries can contact 105.

Please quote reference 260109/6338.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

This is the first state highway planned roadworks update for Manawatū-Whanganui in 2026.

Some of our state highways are busy with traffic this summer, so give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, and keep up to date with planned works via 

Journey Planner(external link).  

To keep up to date with roadworks in your region, sign up to your regional newsletter here:

Manawatū-Whanganui state highway maintenance programme

Below is this week’s list of planned works on state highways in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Please be aware that there may be other less disruptive state highway works not listed in this bulletin.

State Highway 1

SH1 north of Taihape
Road rebuild works are underway near the intersection of Spooners Hill Road. Works are underway until Wednesday 28 January, 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 25 minutes.

State Highway 2

SH2 Mangatainoka

Road rebuild and drainage works are underway at Mangatainoka, near the Ruawhata Road. Works are underway until Friday 30 January, 6am to 6pm. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 5 minutes. 

SH2 Woodville

Asphalt resurfacing works are planned for Vogel Street, Woodville from Sunday 8 February to Monday 16 March 2026. This work will be completed in 2 phases, under a full night-time closure, 6pm-6am. Expect changing traffic management, including during the day.

Phase 1:

• From Sunday 8 February to Tuesday 24 February from 6pm to 6am, works will be underway on SH2 between Ross Street and McLean Street.
• During this time, road users (cars and other light vehicles) will detour using Tay Street to Station Street, back to SH2. 
• Traffic management will change during the day. From 6am to 6pm, northbound traffic will travel through the worksite on SH2. All southbound traffic will continue to use the detour.

The detour for all freight and heavy vehicles is: SH3 to Woodlands Road to Oxford Road to Pinfold Road back to SH2. This will be in place 24/7 for 5 weeks for the duration of the works. Temporary traffic lights and a temporary 10km/h speed limit will be in place at the Oxford Road bridge.

Further information about phase 2 will be provided in future updates closer to the time.

State Highway 3

SH3 Palmerston North

Night-time asphalt resurfacing will take place at the intersection of SH3 Main Street and Princess Street, in Palmerston North. Works have been rescheduled to Thursday 8 January to Saturday 10 January, 6pm to 6am. During these work hours, the intersection will be fully closed. All traffic will be detoured via Church Street to Victoria Avenue and Broadway Avenue. Please follow detour signage. The road will be open outside of work hours.

State Highway 4

SH4 Raetihi

Road rebuild and drainage works are underway on Parapara Road, Raetihi, between Seddon Street and Alexandra Road. Works are ongoing to Tuesday 3 February, 6am to 6pm. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 15 minutes. 

State Highway 56

SH56, Opiki

 Resealing works are planned for SH56 at Opiki from Tuesday 20 January to Wednesday 28 January, before school resumes. This is for second-coat seals on the rebuilds completed last season. A daytime road closure will be in place each day from 6am to 6pm, excluding Sundays.

The detour is via SH57 or SH1. Plan ahead and allow for extra time. The road will be open outside of work hours.

All renewals receive a second‑coat seal the year after they are rebuilt. The first coat is left to settle for about 12 months, and the second coat is then applied to create a thick, more durable and waterproof surface.

Other works in January-February 2026 

A range of resealing road maintenance sites are planned across our state highways this summer. After resealing works are complete on SH1 and SH57, crews plan to move to SH2 south of Norsewood. Please follow temporary traffic management and expect delays at resealing sites.

Further road rebuilds are planned for SH1 near Foxton, SH57 near Shannon, and dates and temporary traffic management will be shared once confirmed.

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Karen Bright, Counties Manukau CIB:

Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a baby boy in Auckland on Wednesday.

On 2 January, the 10-week-old baby was taken to Pukekohe Maternity Hospital in a critical condition, where staff alerted Police.

The baby was transferred to Starship Hospital where it was established he had suffered non-survivable injuries.

Tragically, the baby passed away at the hospital on Wednesday 8 January.

A 27-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man have been jointly charged with ill treatment/neglect of a child.

Both will reappear in Manukau District Court on 8 May.

Suppression orders are in place regarding the identity of the child and the parties charged.   

The investigation remains ongoing and further charges are being considered.

As the matter is before the court, Police are unable to comment further.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: Privacy Commissioner

9 Jan 2026, 15:52

This statement was updated on Friday, 9 January 2026.

We were notified on 1 January by Manage My Health (MMH) of a serious cyber security breach of its platform. We have been working with them and other relevant agencies as they contain and investigate the size and scope of the breach and identify and notify affected health agencies and individuals.   

New Zealanders rightly expect any agency collecting, holding, using or storing their sensitive health information to maintain high standards of privacy and data protection. Failure to take all reasonable steps to ensure the security of personal information against loss, misuse or disclosure is a breach of the Privacy Act. 

We expect Manage My Health and any other relevant health agencies to be able to demonstrate to the Privacy Commissioner, as the privacy regulator, that they had appropriate security safeguards in place, if not, why not, and what steps will be taken to prevent such an incident happening again.  

We also expect them to demonstrate that they have taken appropriate steps to mitigate and respond to any harm caused to affected individuals. Failure to have taken reasonable steps to prevent a breach from occurring can result in compliance action, including directing the agencies concerned to take steps to improve their systems and processes.

It’s still early in the incident response process and our current focus is to support MMH and relevant health agencies in their response to the breach and notifying and supporting affected parties. 

Our next step is assessing the further responsive action we need to take as the regulator under the Privacy Act. Given the scale of the incident, the sensitivity of the personal and health information affected and systemic issues being identified, it is likely that the Privacy Commissioner may decide an investigation is warranted, depending on further information being provided by MMH.

If so, this would likely include consideration of the root cause of the breach, MMH’s breach response, and whether all reasonable steps were taken to ensure the personal information was appropriately safeguarded. This could also include issues about the retention of health information on the platform and any broader issues around how sensitive personal health information is managed and shared within the health system. 

Our Compliance and Regulatory Action Framework sets out the way in which our office intends to approach its regulatory and compliance activities.

Information for General Practices and health agencies affected by the breach

The Privacy Commissioner has issued a public advisory notice to all primary health providers affected by this breach.

In this case, given the scale of the incident, Manage My Health has notified OPC about the security breach and is providing OPC with information about the health agencies and practices affected. This means that individual practices do not also need to notify OPC.  Primary care providers will be contacted directly as further information is required.

Information for people impacted by the Manage My Health cyber incident

Everyone in New Zealand has privacy rights. Read about your privacy rights.  

The Privacy Act places responsibility on organisations that collect, use or store your personal information to keep it safe and secure using all reasonable steps. Failure to take reasonable steps to protect your information against unauthorised access is a breach of the Privacy Act.  If you experience actual or potential privacy harm because of this, you can make a complaint under the Privacy Act.

If you are a user of Manage My Health, you can log in to check if your information has been affected or not. You can also read the FAQs related to the cyber breach, update your password and set up multi-factor authentication.

• Manage My Health has set up an 0800 helpline.
• For emotional support, call or text 1737 Need to Talk? any time, for free.
• You can also contact your general practice if you have questions or concerns about your health information

Making a privacy complaint

If you wish to make a privacy complaint, you must first complain to the organisation responsible for your information under the Privacy Act and give them an opportunity to respond.

Manage My Health provides patient portal services on behalf of health providers and can also provide services directly to registered users. For this reason, we suggest you complain to both MMH and copy your health provider (usually your GP).

For Manage My Health, complaints can be sent to nzsupport@mmhglobal.com.

If you are not satisfied with their response/s and you believe that your privacy has been harmed, you can use our online complaint form to make a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner. You can find out about our complaints process from our website.  

What to do if you see or come across information that has been breached

NOTE – there are legal restrictions on accessing the affected information due to the court injunction that is in place.

As with any cybersecurity breach it’s important that should people receive or find information related to this issue, that they do the right thing and don’t spread it by sharing it further, they should also report it to the New Zealand Police.

Further updates

We will update this statement as the situation progresses.