Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

It’s a pleasure to be invited here today by the Auckland Chamber for my first post-Budget speech.

The Chamber is the peak body for the Auckland business sector, where so many of our country’s businesses are based.

Our Government backs business-friendly policies because, ultimately, business success underpins our success as a nation. 

I am going to talk to you today about the Budget’s business growth measures. 

Thriving businesses deliver the growth, jobs and incomes that New Zealanders need to get ahead.

One of those thriving businesses is hosting us right here. 

If you’ll pardon the pun, I reckon that Recorp is the can manufacturing company with the can-do attitude.

I admire the scale of your ambition to eliminate the use of single use plastic bottles in New Zealand by 2030.

My congratulations to you Bruce Parton and your team, and also to Rob Fyfe whose vision and commitment helped get this company up and running.

One of Recorp’s critical points of difference is the quality of its manufacturing equipment.

You invested heavily at the outset in the technology that enables you to accurately tailor orders to match customer requirements, regardless of size.

You have set an example for other new Kiwi businesses. Many are following it, but it’s a challenge for others.

We know that capital investment is a key to business success. So often, it’s the piece that gives companies the edge over competitors at home and overseas.

One of the things I hear from business leaders is the difficulty many Kiwi businesses face raising capital to invest in the equipment and other assets they need to succeed.

Lack of good quality capital has become a barrier to growth.

This Government has acted to lower that barrier.

The Investment Boost tax incentive announced in the Budget gives businesses an adrenalin boost to invest in the new productive assets they need to succeed.

I’m really proud that we’ve managed to incorporate this exciting new initiative in the Budget.

I expect almost all of you will have heard something about Investment Boost in recent days. 

You may even have heard our critics say in the media that it won’t make much difference.

Well, our MPs have been out since the Budget was delivered and what they’ve heard is that Investment Boost will be a game-changer for many Kiwi businesses.

Like the manufacturer now planning a $70 million capital expansion over the next two years to install a fully automated plant.

Like the chicken farmer now planning to raise his investment in upgrades and new assets from $12 million to $18 million over the next 12 months. He said this was the “best news for our sector in a long time”.

Like the caterer with a new kitchen to fit out, who says they will be “thousands and thousands better off”.

Like Robbie Smith, owner of Stevenson and Taylor, the large Hawke’s Bay agricultural machinery business. He has already seen a jump in sales since the announcement, with one customer purchasing two tractors. He said: “This initiative is great news for local businesses.”

Like Pic’s Peanut Butter Chief Executive Aimee McCammon, who thinks Investment Boost will be “super helpful” for the many small to medium-sized businesses like hers that are running on old kit.

Or like Chartered Accountants New Zealand country head Peter Vial who says  the announcement was more generous than expected and will significantly increase productivity and growth 

He says: “New Zealand’s poor productivity is not due to poor work ethic or laziness, but rather a lack of capital investment in equipment, machinery and technology. The Investment Boost tax incentive strikes at the heart of this.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Then there’s the semi-retired accountant who was inundated with calls on the Friday morning after the Budget from clients looking to take advantage of Investment Boost. 

He said: “It is a long time since I have seen a reaction like this to the Budget.”

I’m going to talk more about Investment Boost soon – how it works, with some examples of the savings it offers. 

But I’d like to start by putting a bit of context around the Budget, and why we’ve taken the approach we have.

The Budget is a responsible Budget for uncertain times.

I’ve been calling it the no-BS Budget.

We’ve levelled with Kiwis about the challenges we face as a nation. 

No rainbows or unicorns. No lolly scrambles. Just straight talk, and responsible actions.

We inherited a country with its bank account run down and the credit card maxed out.

Thanks to the previous Government’s refusal to turn off the spending tap after Covid, public debt ballooned from just 18.6 per cent of GDP in 2019 to 41.7 per cent in 2024, just five years later.

We’ve slipped back to the bad old days of the eighties and nineties, when debt servicing was among the biggest government spending items.

Today, about one dollar in every 15 of the Government’s operating spending goes to paying the interest bill on our borrowings.

Our political opponents say that’s all good. Other countries have higher debt, so we can just borrow and spend more to get ourselves out of trouble.

That kind of talk ignores the reality that New Zealand’s economy is different to many of those other more highly indebted economies. 

We are small, isolated and heavily reliant on overseas trade. We have very limited ability to influence the global financial and trading conditions that affect our livelihood.

This audience needs no reminding of how unstable and unpredictable the world trading environment is right now. 

Further, we are a country that’s vulnerable to sudden, costly shocks. 

One day another big earthquake, cyclone, pandemic or biosecurity breach is going to hit us. Recovering from events like those is even harder if there’s nothing left in the kitty to pay for it. 

The good news is that the economic recovery is under way. 

Inflation is down and is forecast to stay within the 1 to 3 per cent target band.

Interest rates are down, and forecast to fall further. 

The Budget forecasts GDP to rise to healthy rates of around 3 per cent in each of the next two years.

Wages are forecast to grow faster than the inflation rate, making wage earners better off, on average, in real terms.

The Budget also forecasts that 240,000 more people will be in work over the forecast period to mid-2029.

Many New Zealanders may not be feeling better off now, but over time they will – provided we stay the course.

The recovery remains fragile. Global uncertainty has caused Treasury to peg back its forecasts, especially in the near term.

The recovery isn’t in danger, but it is likely to be slower than previously forecast.

As a government, we’re talking straight with New Zealanders about the way ahead. 

About getting public debt under control and nurturing the economic recovery now under way.

About carefully managing the public purse. Making sure we’re using taxpayer dollars to pay for the must-haves, rather than the nice to haves.

About doing nothing to put the economic recovery at risk – because a growing economy is the route to higher living standards for everyone.

But we’re also clear that the no-BS Budget doesn’t mean penny-pinching across the board.

We get that New Zealanders are struggling with the cost of living. The Budget responds with some carefully targeted help, including rates relief for more SuperGold Card holders, 12-month prescriptions to save the cost of repeats, better targeting Working for Families to low and middle-income earners, and continuing funding for food banks.

We’re also investing more in health, education, law and order and other frontline public services.

We’ve done that while also finding room to invest in business success.

The Budget demonstrates that we truly can walk and chew gum at the same time.

It’s about hope grounded in reality.

That we can continue to invest in the things that matter, while staying on a debt reduction and economic growth track.

That we can reduce government spending as a share of the economy and return the government’s books to balance.

We’ve done it despite reducing our operating allowance from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion a year.

That’s the lowest allowance in a decade. The adjustment was made to keep government spending on a tight track, recognising changing forecasts due to the uncertain economic conditions.

Despite the smaller discretionary kitty, we’ve still been able to deliver $5 billion in new spending and $1.7 billion for the Investment Boost tax incentive that I talked about earlier.

That’s because most of the spending increase is funded by savings.

We’ve been able to find $5.3 billion in savings through reprioritising and cost reductions across government.

Half the savings come from changes to the pay equity regime. 

To be clear, I am absolutely committed to pay equity. But we have to be sure that future settlements stick to fixing pay discrepancies between occupations that are based only on sex-based discrimination, and not for other reasons. 

Otherwise, pay equity negotiations simply become a surrogate for a normal wage bargaining round.

Even our political opponents are starting to realise that the previous pay equity regime was simply out of control. The scale of settlements coming at us would have limited our ability to invest in health, education and the other public services that the women – and men – of New Zealand rely on.

We’ve also put another $1.8 billion towards investment in health and education infrastructure like hospitals and schools.

And we’re putting $1.7 billion into what I believe is the single most important policy in this year’s Budget – the Investment Boost tax incentive that I talked about earlier.

Investment Boost is available right now to every business represented in this room.

Businesses large and small – manufacturers like Recorp, farmers, tradies, whoever.

It’s for all those businesses that are keeping their heads above water but need a bit of help to get beyond that, by getting their hands on the productive assets they need to grow.

Assets like machinery, tools, equipment, technology, vehicles and industrial buildings.

Investment Boost applies to new assets purchased by New Zealand businesses. It can also apply to second-hand assets imported from overseas.

It excludes land, residential buildings, and assets already in use in New Zealand.

There’s no cap on the value of new investments. All businesses, regardless of size, are eligible.

It allows you to immediately deduct 20 per cent of the cost of a new asset from your taxable income, on top of depreciation.

That means a much lower tax bill in the year of purchase. The remaining book value is depreciated at normal rates.

Since a dollar now is more valuable than a dollar in future, the cashflow from investments is more attractive and the after-tax returns are better.

It means that more investment opportunities stack up financially, so more investments will be made.

Let’s look at an example.

A manufacturer – let’s call it Green Kiwi – wants to invest in a new environmental test chamber, at a cost of $200,000.

Before Investment Boost, the company could claim an annual depreciation deduction of 10.5 per cent. That would reduce Green Kiwi’s taxable income by $21,000 a year over its useful life.

With Investment Boost, it can now also claim 20 per cent of the value of the asset – that’s $40,000 – in the year of purchase, as well as the standard depreciation on the remaining 80 per cent of its value

Together, these deductions reduce the company’s taxable income in that year by $56,800.

This translates to an additional $10,000 off the company’s tax bill that year.

That’s $10,000 more that Green Kiwi has to reinvest in the assets it needs to grow.

Another example. Farmer Brown gets a woolshed built for $150,000. The extra deductions he gets under Investment Boost mean his tax bill will be $8,274 less than it would otherwise have been, meaning more to invest in shearing equipment in his new shed.

And another one. Pam the plumber buys a ute for $60,000. Investment Boost gives her $2906 more than she would otherwise have had to buy new tools.

Over the next 20 years, Investment Boost is expected to lift New Zealand’s capital stock by 1.6 per cent, leading to wages rising by 1.5 per cent and GDP by 1 per cent.

These are estimates, not precise values. But officials estimate that roughly half those benefits will be achieved in the first five years.

The Government did consider reducing the company tax rate as an alternative to Investment Boost. But dollar for dollar, Investment Boost raises investment more than a company tax rate reduction as it only applies to new investments, not those made in the past.

The other advantage of Investment Boost is that the benefits are expected to flow to workers.

Inland Revenue’s Regulatory Impact Statement states that “the majority of the increase in national income from Investment Boost would flow to workers. This increase would come from a combination of higher wages and higher employment. We therefore expect that the benefits of Investment Boost will be spread broadly across a wide range of New Zealanders.”

There you have it. Ultimately, all workers benefit from Investment Boost.

There’s a number of other business growth initiatives in this Budget.

We’re setting up a new agency, Invest New Zealand, to attract global capital, business and talent to this country. An experienced advisory group chaired by Rob Morrison, has been appointed to support its establishment. 

We’re changing our thin capitalisation tax rules to encourage foreign investment in our infrastructure. We’re consulting now on the details of that.

We’re allowing employee share schemes to defer their tax liability, to help start-ups and unlisted companies to compete for and retain talent.

We’re re-prioritising our science and technology funding towards growth-promoting investment in areas like gene technology. We want our researchers to focus on real-world problems and innovations that can be commercialised.

And we’re supporting our highly successful film and television sector by increasing the screen production rebate to just over a billion dollars across this year and the next four years.

We don’t subsidise business as a rule, but when it comes to the screen industry, a rebate is the price of entry to the game.

Over the last decade overseas production companies have invested $7.5 billion in New Zealand. We simply wouldn’t get that kind of investment in future without continuing the rebate.

We’re also replacing the much-maligned Resource Management Act to unlock investment and growth across the country. You’ll be hearing more about that in the months ahead.

No doubt you have heard about the changes to KiwiSaver, which the media has focused pretty heavily on.

Essentially, we are raising the default employee and matching employer contribution rate from 3 to 4 per cent over the next three years. To ensure the scheme’s sustainability, we are also reducing the government contribution by half, to just over $260 a year. 

We’re also extending the government contribution to 16- and 17-year-olds, to foster the savings habit, but removing it altogether for people earning more than $180,000 a year, because they don’t need it.

I acknowledge that change impacts on employers. But to allow time to adjust, we are phasing it in over the next three years, and we are not making the new rate compulsory – employees can choose to opt back down to a three per cent contribution if they wish.

The changes are designed to lift our retirement savings rates which, frankly, are too low, especially when compared with other countries like Australia. 

Higher retirement savings deliver big benefits for individuals and for the country. Our financial institutions have a larger pool of capital to invest back in the economy, and the pressure on Government to financially support retired New Zealanders is eased.

To finish, I want to touch on where this Budget takes us.

Our decisions mean we are on track to bend the debt curve downwards without applying a blowtorch to public services.

We are taking a deliberate, medium-term approach to fiscal consolidation.

This is far from austerity, as some commentators have claimed. In fact, it is what you do to avoid austerity.

There’s no doubt that balancing the books is challenging.

Some would do it with higher taxes; we are doing it by controlling growth in spending.

We’re saying to New Zealanders: we’re about no BS, just straight talk about the choices we face as a country.

Thank you.

Source: New Zealand Government

Defence and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins will this week attend a range of defence and digital government events in Singapore.
“Experience has taught me well that meeting face-to-face is the best way to deepen existing relationships, share perspectives and learn from one another,” Ms Collins says.
“While in Singapore I will attend the annual Asia Tech X Singapore Summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers, and meet with counterparts.
“I am looking forward to progressing conversations with my Defence counterparts from around the globe, including a number who have been recently appointed.
“In times of increasing international tension, diplomacy is more important than ever, and the Government is committed to playing our part and stepping up on the world stage.”
During the Shangri-La Dialogue, Ms Collins will also join a panel discussion on Cyber, Undersea and Outer-Space Defence Challenges
While attending the Asia Tech X Singapore Summit, she will participate in an engagement hosted by Singapore Minister of Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo and meet with GovTech Singapore. These engagements are opportunities to discuss topics of shared interest to New Zealand and Singapore.
“I’m looking forward to engaging with other nations on digital government and technology,” Ms Collins says.
“These engagements help New Zealand stay at the forefront of technological innovation, and foster international relationships that are crucial to knowledge and information sharing.”
Ms Collins will return to New Zealand on 2 June.

Source: BNZ Statements

BNZ is pleased to announce cuts to its fixed home loan rates across every term as well as its variable home loan rate in anticipation of tomorrow’s expected OCR cut.  

BNZ General Manager Home Lending James Leydon says tomorrow’s OCR cut is widely expected, which has given us the confidence to pass on these savings to customers ahead of the Reserve Bank’s announcement.  

“We know many of our customers are looking beyond the very short-term fixed rates as the interest rate environment evolves. By cutting our fixed rates across all terms, we’re giving customers more choice and the ability to lock in a competitive rate for a longer period,” he says. 

 “Lower interest rates should also help relieve some pressure on household budgets by making borrowing more affordable.    

 “We are starting to see the impact of lower interest rates with increasing activity in the housing market. The number of customers applying for home loans with BNZ in the six months to April 2025 has increased 20% compared to the same time last year.  

 “Our home loan team is working hard to process the increasing number of applications within normal timeframes, with priority given to customers with the earliest settlement dates.  

 “For customers that come to BNZ direct, our in-house Home Loan Partners continue to offer fast, personalised service, providing decisions within 24 hours for eligible applications once all required information is received and lending checks are complete. 

 “We also understand that for those moments that really matter, like buying a home, many customers want the opportunity to talk to our bankers face-to-face. That’s why all our branches are now open five days a week – to be there when and where our customers need us,” Leydon says.  

Further details below:  

 Fixed home loan rates
Effective Tuesday 27 May  

Variable home loan rates
Effective Wednesday 4 June

BNZ lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), and terms apply. Rates subject to change. Up to $150 establishment fee and early repayment charges may apply. BNZ standard variable rate includes Private Bank Line of Credit – Secured.

The post BNZ cuts fixed and variable home loan rates ahead of OCR announcement appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Oute fa’atalofa atu ma le fa’aaloalo

Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e māmā

Thank you for the warm welcome this morning, it’s always good to be back home in Mana.

I want to acknowledge and thank the Porirua Chamber of Commerce for hosting us today.

Thank you, Steven Dyhrberg and everyone on the Porirua Chamber of Commerce Board for the great work you do.

Thank you to the Supply Room – you’ve always been supportive of the Chamber, and our wider community, and I also enjoy having MP clinics here where people can access me more easily.

And thank you to all of you for being here. Anita Baker, our Mayor, our local leaders, employers, and members of the community. You are here because you care about our community and the future of our country.

A lot has happened in Parliament over the last few weeks that has a profound impact on our families, our communities, and our country.

I’m here to today to break down the choices that this Government has made, and give you a preview of the different choices that a Labour Government would have made.

Today, I’m going to talk about three simple, but important ideas:

First – and make no mistake about it – this will be remembered as the Budget that cut women’s pay.

Not just any women. The hardworking women who help deliver our babies. The women who educate our young children. The women who care for us during the final days of our lives.

So, I’ll start there.

Then I want to talk about some of the other choices that this Government made in their Budget, and what it means for our communities. Because every decision a government makes isn’t just a number on a page or in a spreadsheet, it’s about people.

Lastly, I want to talk about what you didn’t see in National’s Budget. The choices that Labour would have made instead.

So let’s get into it.

Cutting women’s pay to make the Budget add up was a deliberate decision by Nicola Willis, no matter how many times she tells you it’s not.

The Government changed the law under urgency, wiping 33 active pay equity claims off the books, and hoped they’d get away with it.

David Seymour – the next Deputy Prime Minister – gave away the game when he told us that ACT had just saved the Budget.

For weeks, they refused to tell us the full extent of the damage, but last week we finally saw the figures – and it was shocking.

In one move, they swept billions off the books, money that was set aside for future pay rises for low-paid women.

They moved the goal post for any futures claims, leaving about 180,000 people – predominantly women – in service industries like Plunket nurses, teacher aides, and hospice care workers to start again.

They’ll try to tell you that no one’s pay has been cut. They’ll say that women can still make claims.

But when you take money that has been put aside for future pay raises and put it into something else, that is a cut, plain and simple.

The reaction from the public has been swift because they understand what the Government is really doing here. They’re telling hard working women that you don’t matter.

They’re telling women, “you’re not worth it.” They’re telling women that your contribution to the economy is less than a man’s is.

I think one of the reasons this is resonating so strongly is because for many Kiwis, the promises they were sold at the last election have turned to dust. The question almost every Kiwi should ask themselves is this: do I feel better off today than I did 18 months ago.

On almost every economic indicator, the National Government has made things worse. They will blame everyone else for it – or take credit for the work of the Reserve Bank – but the facts don’t lie.

While people all over New Zealand struggle to pay the bills, National is giving massive handouts to landlords and tobacco companies.

Kiwis were told the economy would be stronger. But it’s slower.

Kiwis were told the cost of living would come down. But prices are going up.

Kiwis were told that families with kids would get an extra $250 a fortnight to help with the cost of living, yet that most of that money is nowhere to be seen.

When I said last year that these families in their Budget documents were ghost families, the government clearly didn’t count on their own officials agreeing with me.

National cannot confirm if even a single family has received the full $250 they were promised.

Kiwis were told a new government would get things moving, and yet building projects have ground to a halt and 13,000 people working in construction lost their jobs.

This is a particularly important point for us here in Mana, where the construction industry is our second largest employer. Here in Porirua, up to December 2024 we saw a 70.6% decline in non-residential building consents, annual unemployment increased to 5.4%, and the number of people claiming Job Seeker benefits up by 16%.

Our local economy has declined by 2.2% over the year to March 2025, compared to a 1.1% decline nationally.

The sort of short-sighted decision making by the government that has also led to cuts in programmes and the loss of 60 jobs at our own Whitireia and Weltec, will have long-term impacts for the construction sector, which we will have to work hard to get back up to capacity.

Now they’ve broken their promise of a better future for working women.

Something this Government has failed to take in to account is what happens when you give low paid workers a pay rise, they spend it back in the economy, at our local shops, at our retailers.

The decision to cut women’s pay is not just bad for our economy, it’s a direct assault on our values as New Zealanders.

We’re the first country in the world to give women the right to vote. Fighting for equality is in our national DNA. Turning our backs on equal pay is not who we are as Kiwis.

So, while there are other parts of this Budget that I’ll get into next, we must not forget that all of it comes at the expense of women.

Every Budget is a choice.

These choices are meant to reflect the underlying values of the government of the day.

The reason we have a Budget is to allocate resources where they are needed, so we can build the kind of communities and society that are good for all people to live in.

The Budget is one of the best chances the government has to make clear to the people why it is in power and what it wants to do.

It’s not just women’s pay National went after.

They are also stealing from our kids’ futures by slashing the Government KiwiSaver contribution.

An 18-year-old New Zealander, as of this year’s Budget, is now going to be $66,000 worse off in their retirement due to this cut.

On cost-of-living support, the best many families will get is $7 a week. Not even enough to cover a block of butter

Even before this Budget, the Government was failing to live up to its promises. Remember that ghost $250 a fortnight for families I mentioned earlier!

Many Kiwis voted for this Government thinking they’d benefit from FamilyBoost, but fewer than half of their target has received the full payments. About a quarter of the scheme has been eaten up by administration costs, rather than going to families to help with childcare.

Even Nicola Willis admits it’s overly-complicated. She’s botched the numbers and the finances on her flagship cost of living programme. It’s quite simply a broken promise.

National are also taking money away from whānau with a new baby at home by cutting back Best Start.

$73 might not mean much to this Government, but for many families it’s the difference between a box of nappies and a tin of formula.

The Budget also made changes to Working for Families, making over 60,000 families about $43 a fortnight worse off.

It ended emergency housing contracts, meaning more Kiwis will be sleeping rough. The opening of the E Kai Soup Kitchen yesterday afternoon here in Porirua is yet another example of our local communities doing what they need to do to look after our most vulnerable when the Government won’t.  

They say, “there’s no alternative,” but that’s not true.

There is always a choice. And they are choosing wrong.

Instead of helping families with the cost of living they have wiped away about half a billion in taxes from multinational tech giants, like Facebook and Google.

Instead of creating jobs that pay well and help build a future here in New Zealand, they are pushing thousands of people out of work and driving up costs.

Instead of making sure everyone can get care they need, when they need it, National’s barely funding the health system enough to keep the lights on.

Instead of investing in a future where everyone has a safe, warm, affordable home near schools, work, and healthcare, they are gutting essential housing programmes

Instead of bringing down power bills by investing in renewable energy, they’ve chosen to give hundreds of millions of dollars to gas companies.

Now, I’ve heard some say that love it or hate it, at least it’s getting us to surplus a few years from now. But that’s only true because National moved the goalposts by making up their own measure.

Besides, what good is getting to surplus when people are finding it harder and harder to pay the bills? When our construction sector has been decimated and Kiwis are fleeing for better prospects overseas?

They call this the “Growth Budget,” but what growth are we talking about? If you’re measuring growing unemployment, growing homelessness, growing food prices, a growing gap between rich and poor, and the growing pay gap between men and women… If those are your metrics, then yes, this is a Growth Budget.

All Budgets are about choices, and we would have made different choices.

Labour’s focus will be on what matters most to people.

Well paid jobs, safe and affordable homes, quality healthcare, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can pay the bills, care for your family, and plan for the future.

We will choose to create good jobs, not cut them. That means supporting local industry and small businesses. That means backing training, apprenticeships, and skills for the future. And that means investing in infrastructure to get people into work and get the country moving.

We will choose to properly fund our public health system. Not just to keep the lights on, but enough to make sure people can see a doctor when they need one. That our health system is properly staffed, not frozen on the frontline.

We will choose to build homes, not cut housing support. Warm, affordable homes in communities where people can thrive and send their kids to a good public school down the street.

These are the foundations of an economy with people at its heart, and with an investment in our future.

Every year, Budgets are talked about at length in the media, in our workplaces, around the dinner table and amongst friends.  

In every case, they should be judged on the difference they will make to people’s lives

This will forever be remembered as the Budget that cut women’s pay. This is the Budget that said women don’t matter, that families can wait, that the future can be sold off. This is a Budget that tells New Zealanders you’re better off going to Australia.

Labour rejects their choices. We say that women deserve fair pay. We say that families doing it tough deserve support. We say, the next generation deserves hope.

We say, it’s time to invest in jobs, health, and homes.

That’s how we’ll build a better future, and we’ll do it by making different choices.

Fa’afetai lava mo le avanoa, thank you.

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Source: New Zealand Police

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers will be available to speak to media in Newmarket this afternoon regarding the Police approach to investigating retail crime.

Please RSVP to media@police.govt.nz by 3pm for further details and to confirm your attendance.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Inspector Ross Grantham, Manawatū Area Commander:

A 19-year-old man has died after being critically injured playing a tackle game with friends in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon.

The man suffered a serious head injury when tackled, and was taken to hospital by his friends. Tragically, he passed away in hospital on Monday night.

This young man’s death is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts are with his family and friends.

The tackle game played by the group of friends was based on a social media-driven trend, where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear.

While this was an impromptu game among friends, not a planned event, this tragic outcome does highlight the inherent safety concerns with such an activity.

We would urge anyone thinking about taking part in a game or event like this to consider the significant safety and injury risks.   

While this is not a criminal matter, Police will continue to undertake enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is reassuring the retail community and the public that retail crime is one of his top priorities, saying a recent memo was confusing and unhelpful.

Commissioner Chambers said the wrong message had been sent to the retail community and the public about the Police approach as a result of confusion about the memo which referred to thresholds for retail crime.

“I have made retail crime one of the priorities for the Police executive and that means increasing the focus on it. The memo has been confusing and unhelpful and does not meet my expectations on retail crime or the expectations of the retail community.”

“I have asked for a reminder to be issued to all District Commanders that they should continue to catch offenders wherever possible, regardless of the memo’s thresholds.

“It is my expectation Police continue to work hard to catch offenders wherever possible. Our role is to enforce the law. If we were to take our focus off that, we are giving license to offenders to commit crime. That will not happen.”

“That is important for Police, for the retail community and for trust and confidence with the wider public.

“Retail crime is increasing and we are working closely with the retail community to address it. I want them to have confidence that we will continue to do so.”

He said there were examples of successful approaches to retail crime, such as in Tauranga and Gisborne where a combination of dedicated teams, highly visible beat police and close work with the retail community had paid dividends.

Executive Director Service, Victims and Resolutions, Rachael Bambery, said District Commanders were being reminded today that districts continued to have discretion to investigate crimes, taking into account the context and available resources.

“Early case closure is not final as new information and patterns often allow Police to revisit cases, for example where a small number of offenders can be linked to multiple offences.”
 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  27 May 2025

Dogs (or other pets) are not allowed in Tongariro National Park, not even inside cars, to protect its fragile ecosystems and cultural heritage for which it has Dual World Heritage status.

Large new signs have been placed at three main entrances to the park to ensure all visitors know the rules.

Community Ranger Clodagh Costello says the team and their pooches had a bit of fun showing off the new ‘no dog’ signs just outside the Ohakune entrance to the national park.

“Our dogs were a little excited, I’m not sure they got the message to be honest. But it’s us owners who need to take responsibility,” says Clodagh.

“In Aotearoa, our environment is part of our identity, and dogs are part of how we connect with nature – but there’s a right time and place, and a national park isn’t one of them.”

Any dog can make a mistake and attack wildlife like the iconic brown kiwi present in Tongariro National Park. Even a dog standing around doing nothing can change the behaviour of wildlife.

Clodagh says there are many places to legally take dogs into nature, and the DOC website is a good place to check for options on Public Conservation Land.

“It’s important we have some places where wildlife can just be wild, without the influence of our pets.”

Disturbing or harming absolutely protected wildlife, including brown kiwi and whio, is an offence under the Wildlife Act 1953. Those in control of a dog which disturbs, or harms wildlife could be liable for an infringement fine of up to $800.

“With these signs we’re sending a clear message. Pleading ignorance is not an option for dog owners,” says Clodagh.

DOC’s Whakapapa and Ohakune offices sit within the boundaries of Tongariro National Park, so staff won’t be getting a ‘bring your dog to work’ day any time soon.

Background information

No dogs are not allowed in Tongariro National Park including Whakapapa Village, Whakapapa Ski Area, Tūroa Ski Area or inside vehicles anywhere in the park.

The national park boundary starts at the intersection of SH 47 and SH 48. No dogs are allowed anywhere past this point.

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