Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is making it easier for police to punish shoplifters and is introducing stronger penalties for low-level theft, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. 

“Public confidence in our justice system is undermined if people can steal with apparent impunity. It’s disheartening, and our government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Currently, the administrative burden can deter retailers from making official complaints, and lower-level offending often goes unreported or unpunished. Our government is restoring real consequences for crime, and shoplifting is no exception.”

The proposed changes include:

Introducing an infringement regime for shoplifting in retail premises. For stolen goods valued up to $500, infringement fees will be up to $500. For goods valued over $500, fees will be up to $1,000.
Strengthening the penalties for theft. The maximum penalties will be one year imprisonment (if the value is approximately $2,000 or less), or seven years imprisonment (if value is approximately more than $2,000).
Creating a new aggravated theft offence for when the value of the goods is under $2,000 and the theft is carried out in a manner that is offensive, threatening, insulting, or disorderly.  

“Harsher penalties could mean up to twice as long behind bars for aggravated theft, and criminals will be forced to think twice before destroying more lives,” Mrs McKee says.

“Our government is focused on restoring law and order, reducing violent crime, and putting victims first in our justice system.
“I want to thank the Ministerial Advisory Group, and its Chair Sunny Kaushal, for their work shaping this proposal.”
These changes fulfill a commitment in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement to ensure real consequences for lower-level crimes such as shoplifting.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police advise motorists travelling on the Upper Harbour Highway (SH18) to expect delays tonight.

A four-car crash heading westbound has occurred just after the Tauhinu Road on-ramp, near Greenhithe.

There are no serious injuries to report.

While the vehicles are being cleared, there is an extensive backlog of traffic towards the Albany area.

Please allow additional time to reach your destination safely this evening.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash in Redwoodtown on 18 June.

He was 50-year-old Reginald Anthony Mischeski, of Mayfield.

Our thoughts are with those close to him at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Former Acting Governor Grant Spencer has been appointed to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Board, Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced.
Board member Byron Pepper has been reappointed. Both are on five-year terms, beginning today.
“Grant Spencer brings expertise in central banking, financial stability, and monetary policy,” Nicola Willis says.
Spencer also served as Deputy Governor, Head of Financial Stability from 2007 to 2017 and was Acting Governor from 2017 to 2018.
Nicola Willis says Byron Pepper’s reappointment reflects his contribution to the Reserve Bank Board.
“Mr Pepper has recently been made chairman of the RBNZ’s Financial Stability Oversight Committee. He is an experienced investment banking advisor and director with more than 25 years of experience, including 22 years at Goldman Sachs, bringing expertise in corporate strategy, financial services, and insurance.”
Nicola Willis also acknowledged the contribution of Rawinia Higgins, who retired from the Board effective June 30.
There remains one vacancy on the Board, which will be filled in due course.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has completed the transfer of safety camera operations from NZ Police.

After a 12-month period of transition, as of today (1 July 2025) NZTA is solely responsible for the operation of the safety camera network of around 150 cameras formerly operated by Police. This is planned to expand to around 200 cameras by 2027, including fixed speed cameras, mobile speed cameras, red light cameras and average (point to point) speed cameras. 

Details on the current safety camera network, including the locations of fixed cameras, can be found on the NZTA website. 

Fixed safety camera locations

NZTA Head of Regulatory Strategic Programmes Tara Macmillan says the transfer of safety cameras from NZ Police to NZTA will strengthen the road safety partnership between the two agencies, improve the effectiveness of safety cameras as an enforcement tool, and make New Zealand’s roads safer for everyone. 

“Managing roadside infrastructure like cameras is what NZTA does every day. Having responsibility for safety cameras allows us to use them where and when they will be most effective in reducing crashes, preventing serious injuries and saving lives,” says Ms Macmillan.  

“We’ve now rolled out signs at all fixed speed camera sites, giving drivers a fair warning to check their speed and slow down if needed.   

“These fixed cameras are installed at high-risk locations for crashes. Reminding drivers of that gives them the opportunity to slow down to protect themselves and others from, at worst injury or death, and at minimum, to avoid a ticket.” 

Ms Macmillan says the effectiveness of this approach in reducing speeds can be seen through data collected by NZTA at new speed camera sites collected before and after cameras and signs were installed. 

Safety cameras change driver behaviour

“The percentage of drivers travelling at or below the maximum speed limit at our new camera site on Mill Road in Pukekohe has increased from just 39 percent before the camera was installed to 99 percent after. Similarly, at our new camera site on SH1 at Kawakawa, compliance with the speed limit has increased from just 34 percent before the camera was installed to 94 percent after. 

“Across the ten new camera sites where we are currently tracking before and after data, the average compliance rate with speed limits has increased from 57 percent to 98 percent. 

“Fewer speeding vehicles at these high-risk sites make these roads safer for everyone who uses them. No matter what the cause of a crash, speed can be the difference between someone being killed, receiving a life changing injury or walking away unharmed.” 

As part of the transfer of cameras from Police, NZTA is also now operating mobile speed cameras in SUVs, alongside Police officers being highly visible on our roads. Both mobile cameras and officer enforcement deter speeding by operating anytime and anywhere.  

In addition to fixed and mobile speed cameras, NZTA is also planning the rollout of new average speed safety cameras along high-risk corridors and roads. This technology is internationally proven to be very effective at reducing deaths and serious injuries on longer sections of road.  The cameras work by calculating a vehicle’s average speed over a length of road between two cameras.  

Ms Macmillan says NZTA’s focus is on improving road safety, reducing crashes, preventing serious injuries and saving lives.  

“Speeding drivers can cause serious and irreparable harm on the roads, including deaths and serious injuries. Evidence shows that we can reduce the chance of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes if drivers travel within speed limits, and that is why we have safety cameras.”  

Source: New Zealand Police

A murder charge has been laid following the death of an inmate at Mount Eden Corrections Facility on 27 June.

“A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder,” acting Detective Inspector Greg Brand, of Auckland City CIB, says. 

“Police enquires are ongoing and at this stage and as this matter is before the courts Police are unable to comment further.”

The man will appear in the Auckland District Court on 3 July.

ENDS 

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

Source: New Zealand Government

From today, people getting Jobseeker Support will need to reapply every 26 weeks (six months), instead of just once a year, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. 

“This previously signalled change increases accountability, while also improving opportunities for jobseekers,” Louise Upston says.

“Reapplying for their benefit more often makes sure people receiving Jobseeker Support engage with MSD more regularly. Frontline staff are then able to check people are doing everything they can to find a job and prepare for work, while getting the right kind of support from MSD to make that happen. 

“It also gives MSD another opportunity to assess people’s eligibility and make sure they understand what they need to do to stay on track with their obligations while receiving a benefit. 

“We know getting back into work produces better outcomes for people and their families. Reapplying for Jobseeker Support every 26 weeks instead of 52 is a realistic expectation, as part of the Government’s initiatives to actively support people off welfare and into employment.

“Having to apply only once a year was a significant gap and didn’t help either jobseekers or the MSD staff working with them.” 

Changes have also been made to the reapplication process to make it easier for many people reapplying. If they’ve recently interacted with MSD about their job search, for instance, they may be able to complete their reapplication online without needing an appointment.

“The improved reapplication process means less time repeating information and more time focusing on support to overcome barriers to work,” Louise Upston says. 

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister David Seymour has today announced that Pharmac have created their comprehensive list of medical devices which are used in public hospitals, to improve the way they manage medical devices.

“Almost everyone diagnosed or treated at a public hospital relies on medical devices for their care. These can range from bandages and cotton swabs to pacemakers, hip replacements, hospital beds, and robotic surgery machines,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Pharmac has made a list of all medical devices currently used in public hospitals to improve the way medical devices are managed in New Zealand. Establishing the comprehensive list will not only support better planning and investment decisions, but it will also help identify funding priorities and guide future purchasing. 

“Over 26,000 medical devices were added to the comprehensive list, bringing the total number of devices on the list to 220,000. Pharmac will continue to refine the list as we engage with more suppliers and prepare for the next phase of the medical device management work.

“We’re working toward a future where all public hospitals work from a single, trusted national list. One list used by all public hospitals brings greater transparency to what devices are used and funded. This will support consistent access, reduce duplication, and improve equity across the country.

“Previously the Hospital Medical Devices list only included medical devices covered by Pharmac’s contracts with suppliers. We recently added the remaining medical devices used by hospitals to this list, to create the comprehensive list of medical devices. 

Pharmac consulted on what to include in the comprehensive list from 11 February until 31 March 2025. 

“Pharmac staff carefully reviewed all feedback received during the consultation process. They contacted suppliers to validate data, confirm which medical devices have been added to the list, and explain why others have not,” Mr Seymour says. 

“When the Government manages its accounts like families and businesses have to, money goes a lot further.” 

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) says suggestions of privatisation of the new Cook Strait Interislander ferries would be a dangerous step backwards.

The proposals were contained in a cabinet paper presented to the Government earlier this year and obtained by media under the OIA.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says past privatisation of strategic transport infrastructure had caused great harm to our national supply chain.

He says the ideological push for privatization will be coming from the extreme right in the Government represented by the ACT Party.

Mr Findlay says New Zealand’s rail network, including the ferries, had been sold off to overseas corporates in the 1990s by a right wing National Government.

“What followed was a textbook case of corporate raiding, where assets were stripped for short-term profit, maintenance was run into the ground, and workers paid with their lives due to shocking health and safety breaches.”

“The taxpayer was then forced to spend millions to buy back the asset and start the long process of fixing it up.”

Mr Findlay says it is essential for a New Zealand owned, public ferry operator to be on the Cook Strait for economic security and supply chain resilience.

He says the Cook Strait is our ‘blue highway’, an essential extension of State Highway 1 and the Main Trunk Line.

“We believe the Minister of Rail, Winston Peters, who has spoken at length about the failures of past privatisations, will not allow the Government to be swayed by ACT style agendas.”

Mr Findlay says the ferry replacement process has already been a fiasco, with the decision of Finance Minister Nicola Willis to cancel the iRex project creating years of delays and a billion dollar cost to New Zealand.

He says there are many other opportunities for private operators to enter into other coastal shipping services, and the Government should be supporting this goal.

“For the Cook Strait, our focus should be on investing in a modern, reliable, and publicly-owned ferry fleet that is fit for the 21st century and serves all New Zealanders.”

The Maritime Union of New Zealand represents seafaring and catering crews on both Cook Strait ferry operators.

Source: New Zealand Government

New rules taking effect today will provide greater protection for Kiwis’ money in the unlikely event of a bank collapse, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

From today, deposits at banks, building societies, credit unions and finance companies are insured up to $100,000 per person, per institution.

The change comes from the launch of the Depositor Compensation Scheme (DCS).

“The implementation of this scheme should give New Zealanders extra peace of mind that if something were to go wrong at the institution where they have entrusted their money, they will get their money back.

“It has the additional benefit of promoting better competition by providing smaller deposit takers the ability to compete on a level playing field.

“Sometimes a smaller deposit taker can provide a more competitive deal, but the consumer’s confidence is undermined by that organisation’s exposure to risk. This scheme helps overcome that issue, promoting better competition, and therefore better deals for Kiwis.”

The introduction of the scheme, which is funded by deposit takers and administered by the Reserve Bank, brings New Zealand in line with internation peers, such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

Under the DCS, each depositor is protected up to $100,000 per deposit taker. That means that in the unlikely event of a deposit taker collapse, people who have put their money in eligible accounts will get back up to $100,000 per person.

The DCS covers money held in standard banking products, including transaction, savings, notice and term deposit accounts.

The change is automatic and depositors do not have to do anything to be covered, but it is recommended people check with their deposit taker – be it a bank or something else – to see what is protected by the scheme.

Notes:

For more information on the Depositor Compensation Scheme, including what it covers, and which banks and non-bank deposit takers provide DCS-protected deposits visit this page.