Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has passed legislation clarifying the law on the impact of ACC payments on welfare entitlement to make sure the process is fair for everyone.

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says the Social Security (Accident Compensation and Calculation of Weekly Income) Amendment Act fixes an anomaly which saw one group of people being treated differently to another.

“This involves one group of people who receive ACC and welfare assistance at the same time, and others who receive welfare assistance while their ACC claim is being considered.

“Until now, as interpreted by the courts, the latter group, who receive lump sum payments, have been treated more generously than the former. 

“This hasn’t resulted in equal treatment and isn’t in line with the policy intent.  Put simply – it hasn’t been fair. The Government had a duty to fix this situation and clarify the law and that’s what we’ve done.

“We have worked carefully to overcome the anomaly which arises if there is an overpayment with MSD benefit and supplementary allowance payments while their ACC claim is being considered.

“As a result of the Select Committee process, Cabinet agreed that all individuals who were actively seeking a review of the decision by MSD prior to the introduction of this Bill will be treated in accordance with the decisions of the Appeal Authority and High Court.

“I accept that there will be a range of reasons why people are claiming ACC, and some of those are incredibly challenging and traumatic, but ultimately there should be no difference in MSD support between someone who is paid weekly ACC versus someone who gets a backdated payment.

“We want the process to be fair and equitable and not treat two separate groups of ACC recipients differently.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Three offenders find themselves charged after a botched getaway with thousands of dollars’ worth of power tools.

Police were advised of a shoplifting at a Grey Lynn hardware store at 4.30pm on Thursday.

“Two offenders had entered the store and allegedly stole around $8,000 in power tools, before fleeing in a waiting vehicle,” Auckland Central Area Commander, Inspector Grae Anderson says.

“The driver and two offenders were seen travelling in the Toyota hatchback along Great North Road towards Karangahape Road.”

Police began coordinating a response, with the Police Eagle helicopter tracking the vehicle’s movements from above.

Inspector Anderson says the vehicle continued towards the Greenlane area.

“Eagle observed the vehicle being driven dangerously, including on the wrong side of the road at one point.”

Spikes were deployed near Greenlane, forcing the vehicle to be abandoned on Campbell Road.

Eagle tracked all three offenders running towards a property on Rawhiti Road.

“Our staff cordoned the area, which ultimately ended with all three men being arrested without further incident,” Inspector Anderson says.

“We have also recovered all the power tools stolen from the store which is a fantastic outcome.”

Three men, aged 27, 28 and 33, have been jointly charged with shoplifting.

They are expected in the Auckland District Court today.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Two people are before the courts, following the execution of a search warrant at a Cromwell address.

After receiving information through a Crime Stoppers report, Cromwell Police conducted an investigation into the supply of cannabis within the community.

As a result, Police executed a search warrant at a local residential address where $8,000 cash and around two kilograms of cannabis were located.

A man and woman, both aged 50, were taken into custody without incident.

Otago Lakes Central Area Commander Inspector Paula Enoka, says the result of this search warrant is a great result, not only for the officers involved, but for the wider Cromwell community.

“We will always work hard to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs within our communities, however we cannot do this alone.”

Cromwell Police would like to thank whoever provided information anonymously through Crime Stoppers, as this assisted us in getting this result.

“With this result, a lot of harm has been removed from the streets to keep our communities safe,” says Inspector Enoka.

“We will continue to target those who supply illicit drugs, and urge anyone with information relating to illicit drugs within the community to please contact Police.”

Information can be provided through 105 online or by phone, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

The 50-year-old man and woman are due to appear in Alexandra District Court on 12 March, charged with possessing cannabis for supply.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s work to boost overseas investment and remove barriers to doing business with New Zealand is delivering billions for the local economy and Kiwi businesses, Associate Finance Minister David Seymour and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.

Starting today, many decisions under the Overseas Investment Act will be made in under 15 working days, with a target of five, thanks to a new two-track system, Mr Seymour says.

“These changes build on major success speeding up consenting under the old law. Since our Government was elected, we’ve reduced the average processing time by 60 per cent, from 71 working days to 28.

“In the past year $7.82 billion worth of investment applications have been processed. These law changes, passed last year and coming into effect today, will help bring even more money into the country.

“To balance the need for speed with the need to screen risky investments, we’ve created a two-speed pathway. Low risk applications don’t have to jump through the same hoops as higher risk ones. This approach is a win-win speeding up most consents while freeing up time to scrutinise those that are risky.

“The law says decisions on all investments except residential land, farmland and fishing quota must be made within 15 working days, unless there is a potential national interest concern, but the target is five working days. Residential land, farmland and fishing quota will continue going through existing pathways.

“If the five day target is met, then most investment decisions will be made fourteen times faster than the average consenting time when we were first elected.

“Even at 15 days, this law will result in most consents being processed five times faster than they were before our Government took office. It is a statement that we welcome our friends around the world investing in New Zealand. We see it as a vote of confidence in New Zealand when people want to send their money here. 

“This reform is about getting capital to productive businesses faster. International investment is essential for economic growth. It provides access to capital, know how, and technology that grows New Zealand businesses, enhances productivity, and supports higher paying jobs.

“If we want to be a high-income economy, we must have access to the pools of capital and know-how from overseas investors. We may be an island nation physically, but we cannot afford to isolate ourselves economically. Overseas investment is vital to reaching our goal of economic growth.”

Ms Stanford says Active Investor Plus visas applications are growing every day, with the ‘golden visa’ now set to deliver almost $3.5 billion from 589 high-value investor applications. 

“Following our changes to the golden visa, we’ve had an enormous jump in applications, and over $3 billion in investment set to be delivered,” Ms Stanford says. 

“Overseas investors through Active Investor Plus can now buy houses in New Zealand over $5 million. There is a lot of extraordinary talent and we welcome that. The changes today are another step to help remove barriers for people who want to come and help grow New Zealand.

“Kiwi businesses have incredible potential and the Government is committed to backing them, to grow new technologies, open export markets, and create high-demand, highly paid jobs for Kiwis. We’ve opened the country for business to help build the New Zealand of the future – one which Kiwis and our next generations absolutely wasn’t to be a part of.

“We’re committed to creating more opportunity for New Zealanders, and I’m pleased that the Government’s changes are opening up access to capital that will make a meaningful difference for New Zealand.”

Source: Green Party

The Government today passed legislation entrenching nearly 40,000 people, including many sexual abuse and abuse in state care survivors in debt.  

Pushing survivors of sexual abuse, survivors of abuse in care and injured people into debt is cruel and inhumane,” said Green Party spokesperson for social development Ricardo Menéndez March.  

“The Government had every opportunity to not entrench an unlawful policy that has harmed survivors of abuse. They were asked to exempt them, but today they refused.  

“Just over a year ago, the Government stood in Parliament and apologised to survivors of abuse in state care. Today they passed a law that will continue to harm many of those same survivors. That is a betrayal.  

“The High Court ruled that what MSD was doing was wrong. Instead of accepting that ruling, the Government rushed through retrospective legislation to override it, ignoring the warnings of lawyers, health professionals, and community organisations.  

“These are not people who were ‘double-dipping.’ They are members of our community who relied on welfare support in good faith while waiting months or years for ACC to accept their claims. The system failed them, and now the Government is punishing them for it.  

“Survivors of sexual abuse and survivors of abuse in care often have to go through long, retraumatising processes to access support from ACC while on welfare.   

“The delays they face only add to the debt that is slapped on them once they finally receive support for rehabilitation. This is opposite to the claims from the Government that this bill is about equity.  

“The Greens voted against this bill because we refuse to be part of a Parliament that punishes people for being injured, for being poor, or for surviving abuse,” said Menéndez March. 

Source: Auckland Council

After 15 years in motion, the Ngāti Pāoa Treaty settlement came into effect yesterday, marking a significant milestone for the Auckland iwi and for Tāmaki Makaurau as a whole.

The settlement includes a Crown apology, cultural recognition measures, financial redress of $23.5 million, and the return of a number of culturally significant sites across the Auckland region.

Ngāti Pāoa’s interests extend along the western shores of Tīkapa Moana / the Hauraki Gulf and the eastern parts of Auckland, from Te Aroha to Warkworth, including Waiheke Island and across to the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Ngāti Pāoa settlement is the first historical Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi settlement made in Auckland since 2018. It forms a part of a wider programme of settlements across Tāmaki Makaurau, both completed and still to come.

Yesterday’s date also carried historical significance. On 4 March 1840, several Ngāti Pāoa rangatira signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Karaka Bay in Tāmaki Makaurau. The settlement coming into effect on the same date echoes that earlier moment when Ngāti Pāoa first entered into the Treaty relationship with the Crown.

The Ngāti Pāoa Claims Settlement Act 2025 gives effect to the Deed of Settlement signed in 2021. The legislation, which received Royal Assent in November last year, settles historical Treaty claims arising from Crown actions prior to 21 September 1992.

Working together into the future

Auckland Council welcomes the settlement legislation coming into effect.

“The settlement of historical grievances is an important step for Ngāti Pāoa and for the region. It supports the growth and development of Ngāti Pāoa and strengthens our ongoing relationship with the iwi and our work together across Tāmaki Makaurau,” says Nicholas Turoa, Tumuaki Huanga Māori / Director Māori Outcomes.

A joint management arrangement is already in place at Ōmaru (formerly Point England Reserve), supporting shared stewardship of a public reserve while maintaining access for the wider community.

Mayor Wayne Brown has written to Ngāti Pāoa to acknowledge the settlement being finalised and to affirm the council’s commitment to continue working together on future aspirations.

“I congratulate Ngāti Pāoa on the passing of its Treaty settlement. It is a significant milestone, and I acknowledge the decades of perseverance it has taken to get here. This milestone has taken a collective effort by the iwi. As a council, we have valued our long-standing relationship with Ngāti Pāoa and look forward to working together on our shared priorities,” says Mayor Brown.

Historical context

The agreed historical account records extensive land alienation through early Crown purchasing practices in Auckland, and the operation of native land laws in the 19th century.

In one example, land in Kohimarama purchased by the Crown in 1841 for £100 and goods was later subdivided and sold for significantly higher amounts, with no reserves set aside for Ngāti Pāoa despite assurances that they would share in the benefits of settlement. Over time, Crown purchasing practices and forced public works takings resulted in the alienation of much Ngāti Pāoa land, leaving the iwi largely landless in the wider Tāmaki area.

The settlement formally acknowledges these historical grievances.

Sites returned and recognised

Twelve sites of cultural significance have been vested in Ngāti Pāoa, including land at Ōmaru, Waiheke Island and other parts of the region.

At Ōmaru, near Glen Innes, the Treaty settlement enables Ngāti Pāoa to establish a marae at Pāoa Whanake and papakāinga housing at Hine-nui-o-te-paua, overlooking the Tāmaki River and Tīkapa Moana / the Hauraki Gulf.

Other redress includes statutory acknowledgements on sites and areas of significance to the iwi, and the recognition of Ngāti Pāoa associations with maunga and places across Tāmaki Makaurau and the Hauraki Gulf.

Several Crown protected areas will also adopt Māori or dual-language names, including in Pūkorokoro / Miranda and Te Haupa Island (Saddle Island).

Together, this settlement redress supports iwi development and formally recognises the enduring connections of mana whenua to place, to landscape, and to the history of this region.

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation to support a more efficient census and provide timelier data for New Zealand has passed its first reading today, Statistics Minister Dr Shane Reti and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say.

“The Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill will move New Zealand from the traditional five-yearly, survey-led census to a more efficient annual approach that draws on existing government data, supported by a smaller annual survey and targeted data collection, to better meet the country’s needs,” Dr Reti says.

“Rising costs, declining response rates, and disruptions from events such as natural disasters have shown the traditional approach is no longer sustainable.

“Accurate population data is essential for planning hospitals, schools, transport, and other core services. The census remains critical to understanding who we are as a nation and to providing the data needed to fix the basics and build the future.”

The Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill confirms the first annual census will take place in 2030 and requires Stats NZ to publish census data every year thereafter, providing government, businesses, and communities with more timely and useful information.

It also sets requirements for public consultation on census content, including harder-to-reach groups, and establishes review processes to support the new approach.

“In light of these changes, we’re also progressing legislation which alters the timing of electoral boundary reviews,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Reviews currently take place following every census, however, to do so every year is not necessary.

“Therefore, from 2030 they’ll now be required to take place after every second general election. This will ensure reviews remain regular and on a predictable basis, to ensure electorates reflect population changes.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Two men have been charged over an assault in Ōtāhuhu on 27 February.

Police is aware of footage circulating on social media this week, showing the incident occurring on Great South Road.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward, of Counties Manukau West CIB, says enquiries began after a Police unit passed an altercation occurring between two security guards and a man.

“We have made further enquiries into what has taken place, and two men have been charged as a result,” he says.

Both men, aged 24 and 36, have been jointly charged with injuring with intent. They will appear in the Manukau District Court on 10 March.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of a fatal fire overnight in Ōtāhuhu.

Emergency services responded to the fire at a garage at a house on Tamaki Avenue, at around 9pm on 4 March.

Sadly, one person was located deceased inside the property.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward, Counties Manukau West CIB says: “A scene examination has been carried out today alongside a fire investigator.

“At the same time, we are continuing to work through our formal identification procedures, with a post-mortem examination also set to take place tomorrow.

“Given these enquiries remain in the early stages we are continuing to treat the circumstances as unexplained.”

Police will look to issue a further update as enquiries progress.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: Privacy Commissioner

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