Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  18 March 2026

Normally hidden amongst dense tussock, flax and mānuka scrub, the Volcanic Plateau speargrass has been exposed by the fire-cleared landscape, following extensive fires in late 2025.

DOC Technical Advisor and botanist Paul Cashmore says although the plant was known in the area, its abundance wouldn’t have been understood without the fires.

“It’s a welcome side-effect of these fires, discovering a new stronghold for this Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable species.

“It clearly can survive a fire, and we expect to see it increase even more over the next few years while there is less competition for light from taller growing vegetation.”

The speargrass is just one of the surprises ecologists came across in their post-fire assessments.

Wetlands were only partially impacted by the fire with many wetter areas remaining unburnt.

Paul says the fires burned very quickly with varying levels of impact on the different habitats present across the approximately 3,000-hectare burn zone.

“One of our memorable experiences in the field was walking into a completely intact stand of Hall’s tōtara, with a chorus of native birds including toutouwai/robin!

“Remnant patches of vegetation like this act as refuges where flora and fauna have survived, which can assist with natural recolonising of the burnt area.”

Paul says despite the optimistic outlook, there’s still plenty of work to be done.

“We’ll continue working closely with Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro to monitor and act, particularly where it comes to weeds and deer.”

Visitors can help by staying on the tracks, says Paul.

“Walking on the burnt area can introduce new threats like weeds and can directly affect the recovery of slow growing alpine plants.

“So, if you’re keen on naturing in this World Heritage listed landscape, we ask you to respect the 10-year rāhui by keeping off the firegrounds and sticking to the marked tracks.”

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can release the name of the man that died in a crash on State Highway 5 on Monday 9 March.

He was 29-year-old Wiremu Johnson, from Tokoroa.

Police extend their condolences to the family and friends of Wiremu during this difficult time.

Police continue to make enquiries around the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can name the man that died in a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 1 on Sunday 8 March.

He was Stephen Packard, aged 59, from Auckland.

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Stephen at this difficult time.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

More women and families affected by addiction will now have improved access to support, giving children the best possible start in life. Increased investment announced today focuses on preventing and reducing substance-related harm in the areas that matter most, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.

“Too many New Zealanders are affected by addiction every year, whether through harm to themselves or others. It’s incredibly important the health system can step up and respond so we can help prevent these devastating consequences,” Mr Doocey says.

“One of the most important times of a child’s life is the first 1000 days. If we get support to families early, we can help build a stronger future for these children. That’s why we are expanding pregnancy and parenting support services for women and families experiencing alcohol or other drug issues.

“These services work with pregnant women and parents who are often poorly connected to health and social services. Through intensive outreach and case coordination, they help strengthen the family environment and ensure parents have access to the support they need.

“This builds on work underway on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to prevent harm, improve diagnosis and support, and strengthen services for families. I want New Zealand to be a country that supports alcohol-free pregnancies, which means equipping our workforce and providing stronger support for affected families.

“Early identification is also critical to preventing addiction harm. We know we can’t wait until someone is in active addiction or asks for help. That’s why we are introducing Screening and Brief Intervention Practitioners in seven hospitals to identify people using meth, alcohol, or other drugs early and connect them with support.
 
“We are also establishing a community-based peer follow-up service for people leaving emergency departments after substance-related presentations to ensure they have wraparound support.

“The bottom line is drugs like meth destroy lives and tear families apart. Last year the government announced a comprehensive plan to combat meth harm, allocating $30 million to increase services and grow the frontline addiction workforce. 
 
“All of these actions are part of the first-ever Action Plan in New Zealand focused on supporting the addiction sector, launched today bringing together initiatives representing almost $20 million of new investment per year into addiction services so people can receive support, no matter what stage of addiction they are in.

“Progress is already being seen. The addiction workforce has grown by more than 11 percent since the Government came into office, and vacancy rates among drug and alcohol counsellors have dropped from more than 14 percent in September 2023 to 5.5 percent in September 2025.

“I asked the sector to develop a roadmap at the NZ Drug Foundation Summit last year. The sector told us clearly what was needed, and we are delivering.”

Note to editors:
•    The Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Substance Harm 2026-2029 can be found here, this includes all the new actions.
•    The Minister’s foreword is attached. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Superintendent Shanan Gray, Counties Manukau District Commander:

Police have charged four males following an aggravated burglary and fleeing driver incident across Auckland on Tuesday afternoon.

At around 3.10pm, Police responded to an aggravated burglary reported on Bleakhouse Road in Howick.

Police soon located a Ford Ranger allegedly stolen from the address, and a fleeing driver event took place which later ended on Karangahape Road in central Auckland.

Those arrested are all males aged between 15 and 17.

All four have jointly been charged with committing burglary with a weapon, over the offending that took place in Howick.

The 16-year-old driver has also been charged with assaulting a person with a blunt instrument, failing to stop and reckless driving.

All are expected to have appearances in the Manukau Youth Court.

Two of those arrested required treatment in hospital as a result.

The victim of the aggravated burglary in Howick was shaken by the violent event that took place and has been provided support.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is taking action to provide redress for more survivors of abuse in care, to include survivors of State-run mental health facilities from 1 July 1993 to 30 June 2022.

“The Government is continuing to address the wrongs of the past, and while this can never repair the harm suffered, we are focused on making the care system safe, and providing redress to New Zealanders who have suffered abuse in care,” Lead Coordination Minister Erica Stanford says.

“As part of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission, last year I commissioned work on gaps in the provision of redress for abuse in state mental health inpatient settings. 

“Currently, the state redress system covers claims for abuse in mental health inpatient settings up to 30 June 1993. After that point, responsibility for these claims sat with many different organisations. These responsibilities were transferred to Health NZ after it was created as a Crown entity on 1 July 2022, but Health New Zealand does not have a formal, consistent redress process in place to manage or respond to historic claims. 

“At an event late last year, I was approached by a woman named Charlotte who bravely shared with me her experience of abuse in a mental health setting in the 2000s and her fight for recognition and redress. Her attempts had hit bureaucratic dead ends with various agencies and authorities denying responsibility or declining to investigate. 

“Charlotte’s bravery drew attention to this group of survivors who cannot access redress and confirmed this was a priority for us to fix. Survivors of abuse are not responsible for, nor should they carry the burden of, health system restructures or structural reforms or the way that government organises itself. A person who was abused in mental health inpatient care should have the same ability to access redress if it happened in 1988 or 2018.

“Charlotte and other survivors have described the significant difficulties and distress they faced when trying to obtain acknowledgement, an apology or accountability for the abuse they experienced in mental health facilities. They have then endured further harm and retraumatisation due to ongoing lack of recognition of their abuse and the absence of accessible pathways to redress and support.” 

Cabinet has now agreed to amend the Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill (the Bill) that is currently before Parliament to extend the state redress scheme for abuse in mental health inpatient settings from 1 July 1993 to 30 June 2022, before Health New Zealand was established. 

Health New Zealand will remain responsible for responding to claims from 1 July 2022. This mirrors other redress settings where the Ministry of Social Development is responsible for claims relating to abuse or the care, custody or guardianship of Child, Youth and Family and its predecessors while Oranga Tamariki is responsible for claims since it was established.

“While we can never undo the harm that survivors experienced, we are committed to meaningful change so that the wrongs of the past are not repeated. There is still significant work to do and we will continue with initiatives to support survivors and improve the system.”

The Bill was reported back from the Social Services and Community Select Committee on 13 March and will proceed through its remaining stages in the coming months. 

Source: New Zealand Government

 Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Kura Toa will open as an iwi led charter school in Term 3 2026.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in ways which are more specific to their needs. Today’s announcement demonstrates the innovation enabled by the charter school model,” Mr Seymour says.

“Kura Toa has identified an opportunity to achieve better education outcomes for Māori students in years 7-13 in Porirua. It will create an environment which gives students the best chance to succeed.”

Puna Mātauranga, Ngāti Toa’s iwi education hub, and Te Pikau o te Rangi, an iwi-designed service providing tailored support for learners, will work alongside the school to ensure whānau are equipped to help their children succeed.

For the past 10 years, Puna Mātauranga has delivered education services for Ngāti Toa whānau. Te Pikau o te Rangi builds on that foundation, strengthening the learning and wellbeing support available to students and families.

In Porirua, 28.5 percent of Māori students left school without achieving NCEA Level 1, compared to 17.8 percent across all students in Wellington. As of 2023, 32.9 percent of Māori learners achieved NCEA Level 3 or higher, compared to 43.8 percent of all students in the region.

Māori youth were also referred to attendance services at a rate of 23 per 1000. This is nearly twice the Wellington rate of 12.8 per 1000. By age 17, only 66.2 percent of Māori students were still in school, compared with 79.1 percent across the region.

“Kura Toa will ensure that none of its students fall through the gaps,” Mr Seymour says. 

“The school will be supported by Puna Mātauranga, a learning support service run by Ngāti Toa for the past 10 years. This means the school can offer pastoral care to students founded on an iwi framework for wellbeing called Mauriora. Kura Toa will track the physical, mental, cultural, and social wellbeing of students. The support given will cater to identified needs.

“Partnerships with education providers and industry will also allow students to participate in live learning experiences that connect the classroom with real-world careers.”

Kura Toa will provide a distinctive Ngāti Toa-led approach to education for students in Years 7–13 in Porirua. The school reflects the iwi’s long-held aspiration to do education differently and to build an education ecosystem that connects cultural identity, learning, and pathways beyond school. The iwi is working to provide greater choice in education, to enable every student to experience success.

“When it comes to education, one size does not fit all,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Charter schools show education can be different if we let communities bring their ideas to the table.

“These schools have more flexibility in return for strictly measured results.

“The charter school equation is: the same funding as state schools, plus greater flexibility plus stricter accountability for results, equals student success.

“It will join the charter schools announced in the last year which will open in 2026. This takes the total number of charter schools to 21. We expect more new charter schools to be announced before the end of the year, along with the first state schools to convert. 

“I want to thank the Charter School Agency and Authorisation Board for the work they have done getting charters open. They considered 52 applicants for new charter schools. They tell me this round the choices were very difficult. 

“This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are in attendance at a serious crash in central Auckland this morning.

At 7am, a crash involving a vehicle and scooter has occurred at the intersection of Mayoral Drive and Cook Street.

The scooter rider is currently in a critical condition, and is being transported to hospital.

Police have put cordons in place and motorists should avoid the area if possible.

Those cordons are in place on Mayoral Drive near the intersections with Greys Avenue and Cook Street, as well as at the intersection with Hobson and Cook Streets.

The Serious Crash Unit is enroute, with a scene examination and crash investigation to commence.

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Global pop superstar Robbie Williams is bringing his BRITPOP world tour to New Zealand this November, thanks to support from the Government’s $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package.

Tonight Williams has confirmed two New Zealand shows, opening at Eden Park, Auckland on 24 November before becoming one of the first international artists to play the new Christchurch One New Zealand Stadium on 28 November. 

“It’s fantastic to welcome a showstopper act like Robbie, giving fans the chance to see him entertaining us,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.

“We know concerts like his bring a significant economic injection into our cities and create a real buzz.   It’s been calculated that for every dollar spent on live performance, $3.20 is returned in benefits to the wider community and that’s why we’re investing in them.

“Robbie Williams is a master entertainer who can sell out stadiums like Eden Park and One New Zealand.  This event has been considered for its capacity to attract large audiences and international visitors.

“Events attraction is about energising the events sector and allowing New Zealand to compete on a global level to host big acts. If there’s one thing we don’t like doing – it’s losing to Australia. Without Government investment, New Zealand would not have been part of the global tour. 

“As well as entertainment, the economic benefits of concerts are huge – and that’s why our Government is supporting them.  Hotels fill up, restaurants and cafes thrive, tills ring, and local businesses see a surge in customers.

“We can already feel that it’s going to be a massive year in 2026, with stars like Robbie Williams and our Major Events and Tourism package boosting a strong tourism and hospitality sector. 

“We’ve previously announced:

• Linkin Park – Auckland
• Ultra Music Festival – Wellington
• FIFA World Series – Auckland
• WSL Championship Tour – Raglan

“It’s great to see artists like Robbie Williams bringing their tours to multiple cities and we expect to keep seeing more of that in future with New Zealand being a world-class destination for culture, sport and entertainment,” Louise Upston says. 

Source: New Zealand Government

[Joint Statement delivered at the Australia – New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations, Canberra 17 March 2026]

At approximately 4:30am on the 25^th of April 1915, the first ANZAC landing at Gallipoli forged a bond unlike any other; changing the Australian and New Zealand relationship forever. Since then, Australians and New Zealanders have served and fought 
side-by-side with selflessness, courage, perseverance, and mateship, to defend our freedom, our values, and uphold a peaceful world. 

This year we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the formal establishment of the Alliance in the 1951 ANZUS Treaty, and reflect on the legacy of 111 years of Anzac history. Our Alliance continues to underpin the defence relationship between New Zealand and Australia. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles and New Zealand’s Minister of Defence Judith Collins KC today reaffirm our formal commitments to each other as allies. We share a long history grounded in democratic values, an enduring commitment to multilateralism and international law, and our collective commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. 

Anzac 2035 Vision

The Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces are operationalising our Alliance with a vision of being able to operate seamlessly as an increasingly integrated, combat capable Anzac force by 2035, while remaining respectful of our status as two sovereign countries. In the face of a sharply deteriorating security environment, we must be ready to meet the security threats we face today and in the future.

Operationalising our Alliance builds on the significant work to date to strengthen integration. Our two militaries are building deep interoperability and interchangeability, including through common procurement and development of platforms and systems, where it makes sense to do so. We will be force multipliers for each other and combine our military forces in defence of our sovereignty, shared interests, and common values, and territory.

Operationalising our Alliance includes lines of effort across force posture activities, combined operations and exercises, preparedness, defence industry integration, resilience, and Pacific security as ways to protect our sovereignty and uphold regional security. 

Line of Effort One – Force Posture Activities

Further enhancing our ability to train and operate from each other’s territory strengthens our ability to respond to the threat of conflict and the prospect of coercion. Force posture cooperation enables us to project force to deter actions contrary to the security of our region and respond to crises. Our cooperation to monitor military activities in our region in 2025 demonstrated our ability to work together in pursuit of shared objectives. Deepening force posture cooperation will bolster our interoperability, our Alliance and collective deterrence. 

By 2035, we will:

• Enhance force posture cooperation, including rotational activities in, from, and through our respective geographies, where this is in each countries’ national interest; and
• Scope ways to increase Australia and New Zealand’s participation in each other’s force posture activities and force posture activities of our partners.
• Establish and use an Australia-New Zealand Force Posture Working Group to develop recommendations to advance force posture cooperation.

Line of Effort Two – Combined Operations and Exercises

Australia and New Zealand’s combined operations and exercises in the Indo-Pacific are an important contribution to deterring potential threats and promoting a stable, resilient region in which international rules are respected. Increasing the complexity of our combined operations and exercises will mean that by 2035, we will be able to increasingly integrate our forces should the need arise. 

By 2035, we will:

• Operate and exercise as a more integrated Anzac force alongside other allies and partners;
• Deploy increasingly integrated and interchangeable units to achieve our 2024 Closer Defence Relations Shared Defence Objectives;
• Further strengthen combined mission planning, combat readiness, and synchronisation mechanisms, including through the presence of embedded staff in each other’s strategic and operational headquarters;
• Exercise and plan for a range of potential crises and contingencies, including through Exercise TALISMAN SABRE; and
• Procure and employ common and complementary capabilities on our exercises and operations, including strike capabilities in a variety of domains, autonomous systems, maritime and air platforms and equipment, and land systems, where it makes sense to do so.

Lines of Effort Three, Four and Five – Force Preparedness, Resilience and Defence Industry Integration

Modern conflicts reinforce the need to be able to sustain military operations over time, and to have the resilience and industrial depth to support those operations. This also means building our collective capabilities and self-reliance within our Alliance construct. Cooperation across preparedness, resilience and defence industry is critical for us to generate and sustain the ability to achieve our 2024 Closer Defence Relations Shared Defence Objectives, drive cost-effective solutions, build resilience into our respective supply chains, and develop cutting-edge technologies. 

By 2035, we will:

• Build understanding of our respective and collective force readiness that underpins our ability to generate military power;
• Foster Australian and New Zealand sovereign capabilities and industries where possible to leverage our respective cutting-edge technology development;
• Reduce barriers to defence industry participation in our respective industries and build connections across our defence industry representative bodies;
• Increase resilience of our sovereign industrial bases and supply chains to increase self-reliance to better support our shared defence needs; 
• When it makes sense to do so, explore opportunities to co-develop, co-produce, and co-sustain common capabilities further entrenching our ability to act together in support of shared interests;
• Leverage Australian and New Zealand sovereign capability and sustainment services to increase shared logistics and sustainment (eg C-130J and P-8A), which provide redundancy for our respective defence forces; and
• Optimise collective training, education, exchanges and attachments to focus on common operating platforms. 

Line of Effort Six – Pacific Security

New Zealand and Australia are Pacific nations. Our security is inextricably linked with the security of the broader Pacific region. Recognising our shared geography and the importance of our defence relationships with our Pacific partners, we will continue to support combined operations and exercises in the Pacific. We will work through the region’s security architecture to continue delivering Pacific-led solutions to regional security challenges and enhance our collective capabilities. 

By 2035, we will:

• Increase Pacific defence force interoperability across a range of military tasks, with a focus on embedding the Pacific Response Group as a regional asset that enables more effective co-deployments in times of need, such as disaster response situations;
• Expand our combined operations and activities in the Pacific to address regional security concerns;
• Increasingly work through the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) to meet defence needs of the Pacific in accordance with Pacific aspirations and the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace; and
• Increase our support to Pacific-led combined maritime activities to uphold and bolster regional maritime security.

Implementation and Monitoring

This statement on Operationalising the Alliance, our 2024 Joint Statement on Closer Defence Relations, and our defence dialogue architecture provide the policy framework to regularly review, update and adapt our Alliance. Subordinate working groups will take forward practical implementation initiatives against each of the lines of effort above. ANZMIN will remain the primary vehicle for managing our Alliance. 

Signed in Canberra, Australia on 17 March 2026 by Hon Richard Marles MP and Hon Judith Collins KC MP