Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is investing in the world’s largest Pacific festival, Polyfest, supporting Pacific culture, young people and families, says Pacific Peoples Minister Dr Shane Reti. 

 

“Polyfest, which celebrated 50 years last year, is an important celebration of Pacific culture and youth. It showcases the pride and strength of our Pacific young people. Their leadership through culture, strengthens families, communities and New Zealand. The Government is proud to support this event again in 2026 with $60,000 from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples,” Dr Reti says.  

 

“I’m pleased we are making this investment because a vibrant culture is important to Pacific communities, but so is their safety, their children’s education and health, and quality of life overall.  

“The Government is helping Pacific people by fixing the basics and building the future, including making them safer with 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime and repeat youth offending down 22 per cent. We have also put in $1 million to support Pacific Wardens,” says Dr Reti.  

“Pacific kids are doing better in school with children meeting expected levels in phonics improving from 27 per cent up to 43 per cent and childhood immunisation rates at 82.6 per cent. More than 300 Pacific students are building a future through Toloa STEM scholarships. 

“Quality of life is being improved with significant investment into Pacific housing, including Our Whare Our Fale delivering up to 300 homes, plus 41 homes through the Pacific Affordable Homes Fund. Alo Vaka has supported more than 300 Pacific people into better paying jobs, while inflation has more than halved and mortgage rates are down. 

“Maintaining family connections is also important to Pacific people. The Government is making it more affordable with visitor visas for Pacific citizens travelling to New Zealand, dropping in June. Through these initiatives, the Government is uplifting Pacific peoples across the country,” Dr Reti says. 

The 51st annual Polyfest, including the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, and Diversity stages, will run from 18 to 21 March 2026 at Manukau Sports Bowl, with the theme:  

Ko au ko te Taiao! Ko te Taiao ko au! He Toa Taiao Taiohi nō te Moana nui a Kiwa, āke, ake, ake! The environment lives in me, as I live in it – a ‘Pacific Youth Eco-Warrior’ for generations to come. 

Te Paparewa Māori (formerly called the Māori stage) will be held from 30 March to 2 April 2026 at Due Drop Events Centre, Manukau. 

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has released its Delegate List of candidates for the 2026 General Election, which will now inform the final membership voting process.

“This is a strong electable list of people who represent diverse communities across Aotearoa and are ready for government,” says Green Co-leader Marama Davidson.

“Aotearoa has enough for everyone to thrive and we can build a society that works for people and planet. Only the Greens have a plan to ensure everyone’s needs are met and nature is healthy. With more Green MPs we will see this vision in place across the motu.

“Our diverse Māori candidates are supported by whānau, hapū and iwi, further strengthening Māori voice in the Green Party and across the motu. We are proud that our list reflects the importance of Māori candidates to the Party.

“By voting for the Green Party, we can build a society where power and wealth are in the hands of our communities and our precious nature is valued,” says Marama Davidson.

Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick added:

“2026 will be an historic election. With such a talented mix of returning Green MPs and new Green talent, the government New Zealanders deserve is ready to get on with the work of lowering bills and climate changing emissions.

“Politics belongs to those who turn up. That is why the Greens are organising in communities across this country for people to take back their power – to build an economy that works for everyone and the environment, instead of exploiting and exhausting both.

“Our candidates reflect the people and values of this country, and they’re hitting the ground running. Returning MPs are joined by candidates with experience spanning local government, education, law, green energy and community organising – to name just a few,” says Chlöe Swarbrick

The Green Party’s Delegate List for the 2026 election is:

1. Marama Davidson

2. Chlöe Swarbrick

3. Teanau Tuiono

4. Tamatha Paul

5. Julie Anne Genter

6. Hūhana Melanie Lyndon

7. Lawrence Xu-Nan

8. Lan Pham

9. Ricardo Menéndez March

10. Francisco Hernandez

11. Kahurangi Carter

12. Craig Aaron Pauling

13. Bhen Goodsir

14. Steve Abel

15. Tania Waikato

16. Scott Willis

17. Rohan O’Neill-Stevens

18. Yasmine Serhan

19. Heather Hinemoa Te Au-Skipworth

20. Louise Hutt

21. Shreejan Pandey

22. Mike Davidson

23. Asher Wilson-Goldman

24. Zephyr Brown

25. Angela Dalton

26. Josh Jacobsen

27. Lauren Craig

28. Carl Morgan

29. Nathan Hoturoa Gray

30. Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith

31. Alika Wells

32. Courtney White

33. Awhi Haenga

34. Pamela Grealey

35. Alma de Anda

36. Chris Norton

37. Melody Willis

This initial List will now be put to a vote of all members of the Green Party, who will be given the opportunity to choose this ranking, or rank candidates in their preferred order.

Source: Green Party

The Green Party announces 14 Māori candidates in the Delegate List for the 2026 General Election, which will now inform the membership voting process.

Co-Leader Marama Davidson says, “our diverse Māori candidates are supported by whānau, hapū and iwi, further strengthening Māori voice in the Green Party and across the motu. I am proud that our list reflects the importance of our staunch Māori candidates to our Party.”

The Māori candidates on the list with their ranking number are:

1. Marama Davidson

3. Teanau Tuiono

4. Tamatha Paul

6. Hūhana Melanie Lyndon

11. Kahurangi Carter

12. Craig Aaron Pauling

15. Tania Waikato

17. Rohan O’Neill-Stevens

19. Heather Hinemoa Te Au-Skipworth

22. Mike Davidson

24. Zephyr Brown

29. Nathan Hoturoa Gray

30. Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith

33. Awhi Haenga

This list includes three wāhine māori running in three Māori Electorates. Hūhana Lyndon in Te Tai Tokerau, Heather Te Au Skipworth in Ikaroa – Rawhiti, and Tania Waikato in Waiariki.

“It’s really exciting to see and celebrate candidates stepping forward who reflect the diversity and richness of communities across Aotearoa.

 

“Bold Māori voices will ensure that we can build a government that upholds te Tiriti o Waitangi and honours the Crown’s responsibility to guarantee tino rangatiratanga of tangata whenua over their whenua, kāinga and taonga katoa.

 

“Māori leadership strengthens the Green Party and the work we do for people and planet. Protecting our whenua, supporting whānau into warm homes and healthy kai, and drawing on mātauranga Māori to help lead solutions to the climate crisis” says Marama Davidson.

Source: New Zealand Police

When Police stopped a driver, it led to the discovery of a vehicle full of illegal items.

After stopping a vehicle on Friday, Police arrested the driver for driving while disqualified.

Police also noticed a long barrel firearm tucked down by a seat.

A search found more including a slug gun, hatchet, a loaded .22 rifle and a homemade 12-gauge pipe gun.

All items were seized, the driver was taken to the station and the vehicle was impounded.

A 34-year-old man will appear in Hamilton District Court on 1 April charged with possession of a firearms, ammunition and other offensive weapons, and driving disqualified.

Police continue to encourage people to report any suspicious behaviour on 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Craig Ellison, Christchurch Police:

Cordons are in place in the vicinity of Sheffield Crescent, Burnside, Christchurch.

Police were alerted to a concerning substance about 2.20pm today.

People are asked to avoid the area.

An increased police presence can be expected as safe removal of the substance is arranged.

Cordons will be removed once the area is safe.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  12 March 2026

Whangamarino is 7000 ha wetland an hour north of Hamilton, comprising open water, swamp, fen and peat bogs. It is listed as significant under the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and is home to numerous threatened plant and insect species.

A recent report on the wetland to the Convention identifies a concerning decline in water quality, indigenous wetland habitat, the wetland’s Australasian bittern/matuku population, and cultural values recognised by mana whenua.

One of the biggest threats to Whangamarino is invasive weeds, which outcompete native plants and alter the waterways and food sources essential to taonga species.

Royal fern is among those. It’s an introduced, tough and adaptable deciduous plant, which grows rapidly and can take over wetlands by crowding out slower-growing, rare native species found in Whangamarino.

Department of Conservation Biodiversity Ranger Lizzie Sharp says two drones, operated by specialist pilots, were used to map the royal fern and implement targeted herbicide control during fine weather periods in late February.

“Slogging through the peat bog to carry out ground control would be very hard going for our teams and could also risk damaging the surface of the bog,” Lizzie says.

“The drones took to the air and used a targeted jet of herbicide on the royal fern in the centre of the bog, before moving out toward the edge of the bog in an effort to push the invasion back.”

It’s the first time royal fern has been controlled using an aerial device, and the success and efficiency of the method may lead to it being used to control other weeds in future. The contractors carried out half a day of mapping their work area before three days of control using the drone.

Lizzie says with weather increasingly unpredictable due to climate change, numerous approaches to pest plant control will be needed – and drones will be valuable for protecting important habitats like Whangamarino.

Left uncontrolled, royal fern will appear in most habitats, especially bare damp ground. It produces thousands of spores distributed by the wind and unintentional human carriers and forms dense forests shading out all other species. At Whangamarino, this includes native peat bog vegetation which has adapted to exposed sunlight. After the fire of October 2024, royal fern has used the disturbed ground to grow into dense canopies at a faster pace than native plant species.

Lizzie says contractors used a helicopter to control willow species across the wetland during summer. Willow is another introduced pest plant which can cover the breeding and feeding habitat for matuku-hurepo/Australasian bittern. The helicopter method was similar to the use of the drone, with half a boom used to apply herbicide to the willows. Precision spot-spraying on individual trees complements aerial control and means surrounding vegetation is not impacted.

Willows also absorb water from the surrounding area. Their root systems create mounds of earth where water should be running, altering fish populations. Whangamarino locations where willows were controlled a few years ago have native plants returning to support insects, fish and birds in the area.

The aerial application of herbicides is strictly controlled through DOC’s operating procedures and a set of rules and regulations that DOC and its contractors must follow.

Whangamarino is precious and fragile eco-system, and as it recovers from the fire of 2024, people are asked not to go naturing in the wetland to protect the fragile peat bog.

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Today’s verdict brings justice for Richard.

Nothing will ever undo what was done to him, and nothing will ever bring him back to the people who loved him. Richard was not just a name in a courtroom or a case in a trial. He was a son, a father, a brother, an uncle, and a man who was deeply loved by those closest to him.

For weeks we have had to sit through the most confronting and painful evidence imaginable. We have been forced to hear and see the devastating reality of how Richard’s life was taken. No family should ever have to endure that.

Today, the jury has recognised the truth of what happened. Someone has been held accountable for Richard’s death.

While this verdict cannot heal the grief we carry, it does acknowledge that Richard’s life mattered and that what happened to him cannot simply be ignored.

We would like to acknowledge and thank the Police who worked tirelessly to investigate Richard’s death and ensure the truth was brought before the court. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Crown for presenting the evidence and to the Judge for overseeing this difficult process.

We would also like to acknowledge Victim Support, who were with us throughout the trial process and supported us during this incredibly difficult time.

Today we remember Richard not only as a victim in this case, but as the son, father, brother and uncle he was to those who loved him.

He mattered. His life mattered. And today, justice has recognised that.

At this time, we will not be making any further comments to the media as we continue navigating this incredibly difficult journey together as a family.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is committed to building the resilience of New Zealand’s coastal shipping network, through six critical investments to deliver a more productive economy and ensure essential supplies can reach communities in times of crisis.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager has confirmed $400,000 towards a national digital platform to improve supply chain efficiency and coordination across ports, in partnership with PortConnect.

“Historically, the siloed nature of New Zealand’s port operations has resulted in limited ability to anticipate, respond and adapt to disruptive events. This funding will address the fragmented coordination of berthing windows and vessel visits,” Mr Meager says.

“Recent weather events have reinforced the value of clear, shared information when under pressure. Our ports are an economic lifeline to the outside world. If we are to grow productivity, we need greater resilience to external impacts on the way we trade.”

This is the final investment from the Government’s $30 million Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund, which also includes:

Container-handling equipment in Gisborne to support rapid freight movement
Modifications to the Rangitata coastal vessel to improve self-sufficiency in cargo handling
Reconstruction and return to service of the Greymouth wharf
Training berths on domestic vessels to give maritime students the sea time required to qualify as mariners
A cost-effective dredging capability, built in Northland, to support smaller regional ports

“Coastal shipping is a critical piece of our freight network, moving large and heavy cargo such as containers, cement and aggregate efficiently and safely. It is also a low-emissions mode of transport and has repeatedly proven its value following natural disasters,” Mr Meager says.

“After Cyclone Gabrielle, coastal shipping delivered essential supplies to Tairāwhiti when land routes were severely constrained. These six investments build on that experience and help ensure we are better prepared for future events in practical, tangible ways.”

Source: PHARMAC

A simple change in how ambulance medicines are funded is set to create more consistent emergency care.

Pharmac is proposing changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule to support the Government’s decision to shift responsibility for funding ambulance medicines from Health New Zealand and ACC to Pharmac.

With Pharmac already funding community and hospital medicines, this proposal would see Pharmac funding most medicines used by publicly funded health services.

Pharmac’s Director Strategy, Policy and Performance Michael Johnson said it made sense for Pharmac to take over responsibility for funding ambulance medicines.

“The vast majority of medicines used across the public health system are already funded by Pharmac; therefore, it makes sense for us to take over the funding of ambulance medicines as well.

“Not only will this ensure more consistent treatment between ambulance services and hospitals, it will also ensure the best prices for medicines used by ambulance services.

Johnson said the funding change wouldn’t mean any changes to the care provided by ambulance services but could mean long-term benefits for providers and the health system.

“These changes support seamless care for people transferred by ambulance to public hospitals, with both hospitals and ambulances able to access the same medicines, through the same agency, at the best price.”

“We also plan to work with ambulance service providers to establish regular communication and clear guidance to support individual funding requests for new medicines and better understand the ambulance-unique working environment.”

Public consultation on the proposal is open from 12 March and closes at 5pm 2 April 2026. You can email your feedback to consult@pharmac.govt.nz or use the online form.

Source: New Zealand Government

A Rural Training Hub to grow the frontline rural health workforce will be established in the Wairoa District, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey announced today.

“This second Rural Training Hub shows the Government’s commitment to fixing the basics and building the future for the one in five New Zealanders who live in rural communities. Kiwis should have access to timely, quality care, wherever they live,” Mr Doocey says.

“Rural Training Hubs are designed to deliver exactly that. They aim to attract and retain frontline health workers in rural communities by coordinating clinical placements, training pathways, and pastoral support. This will make it easier for doctors, nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals to live, work, and train locally.

“To bring healthcare closer to home, we also need to bring health worker education closer to home,” Mr Doocey says.

The Wairoa District Hub is the second of four hubs being rolled out nationally, following the first in South Taranaki. It will be co-designed with local communities, iwi, and health providers.

“One of the ways we can lift barriers to getting frontline workers settled in our rural communities is ensuring people feel connected to where they live. These coordinators will help people settle into life in Wairoa, whether that’s finding housing or helping find employment.”

Each hub will have a dedicated programme lead responsible for facilitating connections between local health services, universities, and training providers so students and staff can learn and work in the community.

The Hubs build on the work already underway to grow the rural health workforce. This includes the new medical school at the University of Waikato and the Rural Medical Immersion Programme, which places fifth-year medical students at local rural GP practices.

“These Hubs help ensure rural New Zealanders have access to timely, quality, and reliable care close to home.”