Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The ownership of approximately 7,583 acres (3,068 hectares) of Top of the South land will be restored to descendants of its original owners following a long-standing private litigation, Attorney General Judith Collins and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced today.

The Crown and the owners, descendants of Te Tauihu Māori, have agreed to allow continued public access to land currently used by the government agencies. This includes the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve and the Abel Tasman Coast Track Great Walk, with a 25-year agreement on the latter. There will also be a $420 million payment. 

“This is very different from Treaty settlements, which settle historical claims concerning breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles,” Ms Collins says.

“In this case, we are simply returning land to its rightful and legal owners. 

“This case is the result of a private property litigation brought by Kaumātua Rore Stafford against the Crown in 2010 but which originates in the 1840s. At that time, the Crown agreed to reserve 15,100 acres (6,110 hectares) – which was a tenth of the land being granted to the New Zealand Company at the time – for the land’s original owners and their descendants. The agreement to reserve the land was in part-payment for the company’s purchase of the land.

“The Crown failed to keep its side of the deal but in 2017 the Supreme Court ruled it had a legal duty to the original owners. In 2024 the High Court confirmed that the land, in parts of Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay, had been held on trust by the Crown and that it had always belonged to descendants of its original owners.” 

Mr Potaka says the Department of Conservation has worked with the owners to ensure ongoing public access to this special part of New Zealand.

“The Abel Tasman Great Walk, the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve and wider conservation areas will remain open, with all bookings and access continuing as normal,” he says.

“Visitors, tourism operators, and local communities can be assured there will be no immediate changes to access or day-to-day use.”

No private property is affected by the agreement but for many decades the Crown has been using some of the affected land for roads, schools and conservation purposes. The agreement transfers the land back to its rightful owners but allows the Crown to lease some of the land currently being used for important public purposes.

“Schools will continue to run as normal, the public can visit and enjoy the national park as they currently do, all bookings within the national park remain in place, and the Crown and Mr Stafford’s representatives have agreed the return of the land will be as seamless as possible for the public, tenants and businesses who use it,” Mr Potaka says.

“Both parties are mindful of the need to balance legal ownership with how the land is currently being used and the desire for certainty for everyone. Everyone acknowledges that the Great Walk and Reserve are important sites, much loved by locals and visitors, and that they are of deep significance to the original owners, local business operators and future generations.”

Ms Collins says the Government is pleased to be resolving this unique private law case, and to be able to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion for all parties.

“I want to acknowledge Mr Stafford and his whānau, and to thank them for their patience across many years.” 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Crown’s relationship with Ngāpuhi has taken a significant step forward with legislation which returns the historic Kororipo Pā passing in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka say.

“The return of the pā reflects the Crown’s commitment to right the wrongs experienced by Ngāpuhi. Advancing Treaty settlement negotiations with Ngāpuhi groups remains a priority, and we are eager for these conversations to begin,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“This moment is the result of three years of dedicated negotiations between the Crown and Ngāti Rēhia, supported by hapū with deep connections to Kororipo Pā.

“Ngāpuhi have stood alongside Ngāti Rēhia in this journey, and it was a privilege to welcome both Ngāti Rēhia and their Ngāpuhi whanaunga to the House today to witness this important occasion.”

“Kororipo Pā is significant to New Zealand as a place of learning, diplomacy and trade.  It was a hub of interaction between Ngāpuhi, missionaries and settlers – a place where rangatira gathered to deliberate matters of war and peace, politics and progress,” Mr Potaka says.

“Ngāpuhi have long called for the return of Kororipo Pā, and today we honour their perseverance and leadership across generations.  This is not just a legislative milestone – it is a celebration of enduring relationships and shared history.” 

Kororipo Pā will transfer to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust on 23 January 2026. They will hold it as kaitiaki on behalf of Ngāpuhi. 

The site will retain its historic reserve status and public access to the reserve will not be affected. 

Source: PHARMAC

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the names of the two climbers that died on the north buttress of Sabre Peak, Fiordland, at the weekend.

They were 28-year-old Connor Scott McKenzie, a dual citizen of New Zealand and Canada, and 23-year-old Australian citizen Tanmay Shetankumar Bhati. Both men resided in Australia.

Police remain in contact with the men’s families and are offering ongoing support.

Their deaths have been referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  17 December 2025

Manta rays are amongst 113 species assessed by an independent expert panel for the latest conservation status report on New Zealand’s chimaeras, sharks and rays.

The latest data shows manta rays are now ‘Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable’. Previously, they were considered ‘Data Deficient’. This change represents a greater level of concern for the species than previously held.

DOC Senior Science Advisor Dr Karen Middlemiss, who was a member of the expert panel, says manta rays are curious, gentle natured, and highly intelligent.

“They’re highly mobile, which is a challenge for data collection. They navigate over long distances through the Pacific region, visiting our waters to feed and breed for six months each year.”

Karen says collaborative efforts to get better data on New Zealand manta rays have so far included satellite tracking studies and photo-identification of individuals. DOC, Manta Watch NZ and Conservation International NZ have partnered on this work.

“Boat strike and plastic pollution are a problem for them. In fact, researchers have found around 30% of the manta rays photographed showed signs of injuries likely caused by human activity.

“Raising awareness that manta rays spend from spring through to early autumn each year in New Zealand’s coastal waters can help, and we urge boaties to keep a lookout for them.”

Karen says manta ray population estimates are thought to be around a few thousand in New Zealand, but data is needed to confirm this.

“We know very little about our manta ray population size, age structure, and regional connectivity with other Pacific populations.”

Basking and Plunket’s sharks are now ‘Threatened – Nationally Critical’ – the last status before extinction. Basking sharks were seen in large schools along our coastline until the mid-1990s and Plunket’s sharks have also suffered large declines since that time.

“The disappearance of the basking shark from New Zealand’s shores is very concerning, and we don’t know exactly why this has happened,” Karen says.

“Urgent research is required to better understand population pressures – both human induced and environmental – to inform conservation management decisions for both basking and Plunket’s sharks.”

Frill sharks, southern Mandarin dog fishes, goblin sharks and smalltooth sand tigers have all improved in status, reflecting better information on the extent of their habitat and greater protection from the closure of the Kermadec Ridge and parts of Lord Howe Ridge and Norfolk Ridge to trawl fishing.

Karen says people can help all marine species by being “citizen scientists”.

DOC encourages the public to report details of sightings, captures or strandings of protected sharks, rays or chimaeras to sharks@doc.govt.nz or 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

Protected species identification guides are available on DOC’s website to help identify sea life: Protected species identification guides: CSP resources for fishers

“You can also take part in naturing for our native species by downloading the Spyfish Aotearoa app, which invites people to watch short clips of underwater footage in New Zealand’s marine reserves and count and identify fish species. Your input will directly contribute to scientific research,” Karen says.

To join Spyfish Aotearoa, visit: Spyfish Aotearoa | Zooniverse – People-powered research.

Visit DOC’s website to view the report: Conservation status of chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays) in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024.

Contact

Source: New Zealand Government

New data released today shows strong improvement across all three mental health and addiction access targets compared with the same quarter last year, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says. 

“With the first year-on-year comparison now available for quarter one, it’s promising to see more New Zealanders having shorter stays in emergency departments and receiving faster access to both primary and specialist mental health and addiction support,” Mr Doocey says. 

“The latest results compared to Q1 2024/25 show improvements across all three targets: 

• Faster access to primary mental health and addiction support: 83.4% of people accessed primary support within one week, up from 80.8%.
• Faster access to specialist mental health and addiction services: 82.2% of people accessed specialist services within three weeks, up from 80.4%.
• Shorter ED stays for mental health and addiction: 66.8% of people in distress were seen and admitted or discharged within six hours, up from 63.5%. 

“While the shorter stays in ED target remains our greatest challenge, eight out of twenty districts met the 77% milestone, including all South Island districts. 

“Progress is not only being seen nationally, but also across Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities. For example, our Asian communities improved from 53.8% to 59% for shorter stays in ED, Māori increased from 82.5% to 83.6% for specialist access, and Pacific peoples rose from 81.6% to 87.4% for primary support. 

“We are fixing the basics and building the future, which is why I am very clear about the direction going forward. We want to see an end to the postcode lottery. It’s not job done when we reach the national target, real progress happens when we work directly with the 20 health districts to lift under-performing regions. 

“Today’s results are a credit to the hardworking frontline mental health and addiction workers who make a difference in people’s lives every day.  

“At the end of the day, no matter where you live in New Zealand, you should be able to access support where and when you need it, and that’s exactly what we’re focused on delivering.” 

Notes to editor: 

• The latest mental health and addiction target factsheets for Q1 2025/26 can be found here.
• Workforce data for Q1 only reflects semester one results. Results including the second semester will be available in Q2 2025/26
• The comparisons are from Q1 2024/25 (1 July – 30 September) to the data released today, which is Q1 2025/26.

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 2, Tanners Point, Bay of Plenty, is blocked following a serious crash this morning.

Police notified of the two-vehicle crash, involving a truck and van, between Wolseley Road and Bridgman Lane around 8.50am.

Initial indicators are there are serious injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised and the road is expected to remain blocked for some time while emergency services work at the scene.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and expect delays.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Police

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers welcomes the announcement of Assistant Commissioner Mike Pannett as a statutory Deputy Commissioner of NZ Police.

“I want to congratulate Mike on his appointment after a lengthy and very thorough selection process.

“Mike is a thoroughly decent person with integrity and determination and has the leadership experience needed for this position.

“He has had a varied career and brings valuable experience to the leadership of NZ Police.

“Mike’s background is in policing in Auckland and Northland, focusing on organised crime and intelligence. He was also District Commander of the Southern police district in 2015/2016.

“His subsequent experience working internationally and his extensive work on national security, intelligence and transnational crime equip him to ensure we are well-placed to address emerging threats to New Zealand.

“This appointment means I can now establish my wider leadership team after what has been a challenging period.

“I will commence the appointment process for a second, non-statutory Deputy Commissioner immediately and expect to finalise an appointment early in 2026.

“I also expect to announce new Assistant Commissioners soon to fill vacancies at that level.

“I have every confidence NZ Police has the strong, effective and stable leadership it needs over the coming months and years.

“Implementing the recommendations of the IPCA report will be an immediate focus for the new leadership team. Work is already underway on that important work.

“We have a big job to do and my focus is very firmly on doing that job to ensure we maintain and build on trust and confidence of both the public and the frontline,” Commissioner Chambers says.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Pannett says:

“I feel very privileged and excited about this opportunity and will do my best for the men and women of NZ Police, and the communities we all serve.

“I have experience in a wide range of policing approaches, and a strong belief that trust and confidence underpins everything that we do.

“There are 15,000 dedicated staff in Police and I want to ensure people understand the difficult job they do, day and night, and the dedication they show.

“I look forward to being part of a leadership team that focuses on the front line and the communities they serve.”

Biography: Assistant Commissioner Mike Pannett

Assistant Commissioner Michael (Mike) Pannett MNZM has served in NZ Police for over 40 years, holding senior leadership roles in New Zealand and internationally.

He is currently Assistant Commissioner – National Security and International.

Assistant Commissioner Pannett has held a range of roles in the investigation of serious and organised crime, and in national security and intelligence.

He was District Commander in Southern from late 2015 to the end of 2016.

He was appointed Assistant Commissioner in 2016 and was National Commander for the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks.

From 2020 to 2023, Mike was seconded to lead the Australian Federal Police (AFP) International Command, based in Canberra and working on global policing including Interpol activities.

He was the first police officer to be a sworn Assistant Commissioner simultaneously in both Australia and New Zealand.

For his first 30 years in Police, Mike was based in Auckland and Northland where he became Northland District Crime Services Manager. He established and led the Northland District Intelligence Unit, overseeing high-profile homicide and organised crime investigations. He also led policing operations at Waitangi for more than 20 years.

He was promoted to lead intelligence operations at the newly established National Intelligence Unit at PNHQ in 2009.

His career has included four years in Washington DC as Senior Liaison Officer to the US, Canada, Central and Southern America (2011 – 2015).

He has been involved in security operations for both the Rio Olympics and Beijing Olympics.

In 2010, he was recognised for his services to Police by being invested as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).

In 2014 Assistant Commissioner Pannett completed the Senior Executives in National and International Security Program at Harvard University – John F Kennedy School of Government and in 2017 he undertook the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Executive Institute Program.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre
 

Source: New Zealand Government

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed the Reserve Bank’s decision to ease Bank capital requirements.

The Reserve Bank announced today that it was winding back some of the additional capital requirements imposed on banks in 2019 including adjusting risk weights.

“Since 2019 concerns have been raised that the Reserve Bank’s capital settings may be undermining competition and reducing lending to New Zealanders.

“Higher costs for banks translate to higher lending costs for New Zealanders and, potentially, less lending to the agricultural and other important sectors.

“Therefore, when I issued the new Financial Policy Remit to the Reserve Bank last year I outlined the Government’s expectation that it should ensure that prudential regulation of the banking sector did not impede competition.

“The new requirements announced today remain prudent and strike a better, more graduated balance between risk and competition.

“In particular, the adjustments to risk weights are expected to enable smaller deposit takers to compete more effectively against the big four banks. They also open the door to more lending to the agriculture sector.

“These changes are part of a larger suite of measures to increase competition in the banking sector. The changes announced today will be introduced gradually over the coming years.

”They support our Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future.”

Source: New Zealand Government

 Competition reforms will drive productivity, growth and innovation for businesses and Kiwi consumers, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says.

 The Commerce (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill passed its first reading today and marks a significant step forward for a stronger economy.

 “This Government is modernising competition law. Competition helps our economy thrive, and it’s a key part of the Government’s growth strategy,” Mr Simpson says.

 “The changes mean a more balanced playing field – a place where Kiwi businesses thrive, and consumers get more choice.  

 “We are fixing processes that over the years have led to a small number of companies dominating some of our most important markets. This undermines competition, giving consumers less choice, keeping prices high and making it tough for smaller businesses to break in.

 “This is the first major reform of the Commerce Act in nearly 20 years, so these changes are well overdue.”

 The Bill will reduce compliance costs for beneficial collaboration, increase business certainty and improve the merger review process, welcome moves which have been called for by stakeholders.

Key changes being progressed in the Bill include: 

Stopping unfair tactics like creeping acquisitions and predatory pricing so genuine competitors can thrive.
Clearer merger rules to give businesses certainty while keeping markets fair.
Streamlined approval for beneficial collaboration, making it easier for businesses to work together where it helps the public.
Allowing the Commerce Commission to accept behavioural undertakings as part of merger applications.
Powers to temporarily suspend or ‘call in’ risky mergers before they are complete so they can be assessed.

 “The changes work for businesses and for customers. Not only will they help to strengthen competition, they will also make it easier for firms to collaborate when that’s in consumers’ best interests, like coming together to tackle scams.

 “We’re also reshaping the merger regime so it’s fit for the future. The new regime will deliver the competition and growth that Kiwi consumers and businesses are looking for.”

 The Government expects to pass the Commerce Amendment Bill by mid-2026.

Note to editors:

 Introducing the Commerce (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill is a target in the Government’s Q4 Action Plan.

As part of its competition reforms, and following an independent review, the Government is also making changes to the Commerce Commission’s governance structure.
These will ensure it continues to operate effectively and is well placed to exercise its additional powers.
Legislation amending the Commission’s governance structure is expected to be introduced in early 2026, with the aim of having the new structure in place in mid-2027.