South Island gets its first crisis recovery café

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mental health minister Matt Doocey. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The South Island’s first crisis recovery café has opened in Christchurch.

The government is providing funding to bring the total number of cafés around the country from six to eight.

Opening the Christchurch site on Colombo Street, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said the cafés gave people experiencing mental distress an option to go to a calm, peer-led, non-clinical space for support, instead of having to go to an emergency department.

“We know wraparound support is so important, having someone who can help refer people on to long-term support can make a real difference and help people feel less overwhelmed when seeking support.”

People would not need a referral, and would be connected with community services and wraparound support.

The Christchurch café will be run by providers Purapura Whetu, Odyssey House Trust, and Stepping Stone Trust, and will officially start accepting clients next month.

Around 100 locals who had experience of mental health services themselves had provided input into the design of the café.

“That means a lot,” Doocey said. “What we want to do is to make sure when we think about local needs, they are serviced well. And that’s what services like this provide.”

Project operations manager Maree Hansen from Purapura Whetu said the site would be staffed by people who have also been through something similar.

“You can actually talk with others and say, ‘Hey, this helped me when I was feeling like this and this might help you.’ You can’t learn that out of a book. You have to experience that.”

Hansen expected the site would be busy. Doocey said an existing cafe in Wellington was seeing up to 300 people a fortnight.

“That’s a real difference. Quite often, they’re people who could potentially be going to an emergency department. It takes real pressure off them as well and ultimately gives people choice.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Government wants to cut off taxpayer funding for gangs

Source: Radio New Zealand

A new member’s Bill pulled from the biscuit tin aims to stop publicly funding organisations with ties to gangs. RNZ/John Edens

A member’s Bill could stop public funding to gangs and organisations with gang ties. It’s unlikely to be a hard sell, but one expert says it’s ‘cutting off our nose to spite our face’.

National MP Rima Nakhle is drawing a hard line on gangs: no taxpayer money. Not to gangs and not to anyone linked to them.

Her member’s bill to stop public funding flowing to organisations with gang ties has been drawn from the biscuit tin, and she tells The Detail that National is “sending a very strong message that the people administering the poison are not going to be administering the antidote as well”.

“We are cracking down on gangs, we are cracking down on the misery they are causing in our communities,” she says.

“If I had a child… or family member addicted to meth and then I found out that the people who sold them the meth are getting money to take them off meth, I [would] honestly want to cry. We can’t send that message.”

The last government gave $2.75 million via Kainga Ora in 2021 to a marae-based rehabilitation initiative called Kahukura.

It was developed by Hard2Reach, a consultancy founded by Mongrel Mob life member Harry Tam, and Mongrel Mob members became key leaders of the programme designed to “reduce crime and harm from methamphetamine dependency”, especially among gang associates that other rehab programmes had found hard to engage.

“Rightfully so, a lot of people got very upset about that,” Nakhle says.

In 2024, the coalition government announced Kahukura would stop receiving money from the Proceeds of Crime Fund.

But while that initiative was under the Labour government, former PM Jacinda Ardern said it took inspiration from a National policy.

Nakhle isn’t “100 percent clear” if the coalition government has given any money to gangs since getting into power, and after The Detail’s interview, a National spokesperson couldn’t give a definitive yes or no.

In a written response a spokesperson says, “National isn’t aware of any funding that has gone to gangs under the coalition government. Given this government’s approach to gangs, it’s our expectation that government departments would raise anything relevant to that.”

Nakhle says gangs won’t get any more money on her watch.

“For some reason, or many reasons, it does make me very angry,” Nakhle says.

National Party MP Rima Nakhle in Select Committee. VNP / Phil Smith

She says one of the main reasons it makes her angry is that “victims, for me, are really always at the forefront of my mind.”

“And I think to myself, gangs are the reason why most of our drugs in our New Zealand communities are on our shores. They are the ones that are bringing them in, to a great extent, and they are the ones selling them.

“And to say that the sellers are going to become the saviours is just like a smack in the face, particularly of parents, grandparents and family members who are going through the living hell of their whānau members, their family members, being addicted to the drugs that are being sold by gangs to begin with.

“I get so angry thinking about it.”

‘Extremely short-sighted’

But critics are warning that the bill will potentially cut funding to frontline programmes that work with gang members trying to turn their lives around.

Dr Trevor Bradley lectures in criminology at Victoria University.

Bradley told The Detail that the bill is “a great optic, particularly in the lead up to the election later in the year… this is just a natural extension of National’s punitive get-tough approach but I think it’s extremely short-sighted”.

“We do have a very big problem with meth in this country, and we know that there is a strong association between gangs and meth consumption and meth distribution,” he says.

“If we want to reduce that consumption, in particular, then we have to work with those people who are actually problematic consumers of it, and we therefore have to work with the gangs and their gang membership and the associates, and the families and whānau, and not to do so would be to turn down a really important opportunity to make a positive impact.”

He thought the Kahukura programme in Hawke’s Bay “showed pretty good potential” and he was “quite disappointed” when the funding was pulled by the coalition government.

“It did show signs of success, it did have pretty good compliance conditions, and there was pretty strong oversight.

“I think the bottom line is if we want to reach those hard-to-reach communities, and of course gang communities are a very good example of that, then we have to work with them.”

Still, Nakhle argues the principle is simple: public money should go to organisations that uphold the law, not undermine it.

But what counts as a gang link? Is it membership, association or history, and who makes that call?

“There are a few of our laws that do define what gangs are,” Nakhle says.

“And if we were to put it in a nutshell, there are three aspects or characteristics which, in our law, define a gang.

“Firstly, it’s got to be a group of three or more people; second, they have got to have a common name, or signal, or symbol, or colour; and third, they need to be associated with or are involved in criminal activity.

“Plus, there is a national gang list, with the names of gangs known to us, and that list does get updated.”

The debate now shifts to Parliament, where the bill will test not just political appetite for a tougher stance on gangs, but how far lawmakers are willing to go to draw a line in the sand.

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Why New Zealand is ‘probably’ withholding intelligence from the United States

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s top spies will be weighing cutting the US out of some intelligence it shares with other Five Eyes partners, a former CIA head of counterintelligence has told RNZ.

Susan Miller had a long career in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), including as its head of counterintelligence. She worked under the first Trump administration, but has since retired from the agency and seen her security clearance cut off by Trump in retribution for leading a probe into the Russian influence campaign during the 2016 US Presidential election.

Miller spoke with RNZ for a new podcast, The Agency, which has just been released in partnership with Bird of Paradise Productions. The podcast examines New Zealand’s close links with the CIA through the story of a Kiwi spy who spent six years in cover for the US agency.

Miller, who described New Zealand’s intelligence community as “righteous”, said she was certain they would be weighing how much could be shared with the US under Trump.

“I’m not going to be in that room when the Five Eyes, minus America, probably sit down and say, what do we do? Do we share Russia with him? Do we? Do we even claim that we’re allies anymore when he’s doing this? What do we do? And that’s what I think is probably going on.”

It was likely they would conclude: “We can’t share everything with this guy,” she said.

“I can’t trust him, and maybe they can on some China things and things like that, but when he’s acting like this … I would think that your leadership right now would be, at a minimum, thinking to themselves, wait a minute. I might not want to share this Russian information with this ambassador here, because he’s a Trump appointee.”

Susan Miller had a long career in the CIA. Supplied / RNZ Composite

Late last year the UK stopped sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it was concerned about getting bound up in potentially illegal military strikes on the boats.

Miller said she was saddened that the intelligence sharing relationship had to be curtailed but cautioned against backing out of the Five Eyes arrangement completely.

“We’re always very focused on our relationship with Five Eyes and our joint things that we do on hard targets, whether it’s terrorism or China or, you know, name something else that comes up in the day … It’s super important that we have this and I would ask them to stay as long as they can and do what they are doing, keep that door open. Don’t completely break off from us.”

During her time with the CIA, Miller said she met with then-Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern as well as senior counterparts here to discuss China.

“Your team there, it’s a very small group that works in your intelligence service. They are righteous. I mean, these guys are super smart,” Miller said.

Listen now to all six episodes of The Agency, via Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Andrew Little was the minister in charge of the spy agencies in the last Labour government. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

In the podcast, the minister formerly in charge of New Zealand’s intelligence agencies, Andrew Little, agreed the agencies were likely to be thinking about “current conditions”.

“I think given their obligations under the New Zealand legislation – which is they’ve got to act independently, and they have to think carefully about their own legal and human rights obligations before sharing intelligence – I’d be surprised if they weren’t actively considering how they share intelligence and the current conditions.”

The “general sentiment and moves which undermine democracy” were “a cause for worry”, Little said.

“But I’m equally confident that the Five Eyes relationship will endure through that and without agencies like ours, and indeed, the other partners, compromising their principles, their requirement to respect democracy and freedom of expression and all those sorts of things. I think the Five Eyes arrangement will survive.”

A spokesman for the SIS said: “Whilst the global environment continues to be dynamic, the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership continues to function largely as it always has, and our relationships with our Five Eyes counterparts remains strong and enduring, regardless of political change within partner administrations.”

The Five Eyes was a “valued partnership”, with significant benefits to New Zealand.

“There are robust policies and processes in place to ensure that any cooperation New Zealand does with its Five Eyes partners, including the US, is consistent with New Zealand’s policy and legal framework, including human rights obligations.”

Former CIA head of counterintelligence Susan Miller. scr

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s fuel stocks stable, latest update shows

Source: Radio New Zealand

Officials say fuel stocks remain stable. RNZ / Quin Tauetau

The country’s fuel levels have dipped slightly, but officials say stocks remain sufficient and there is still no sign of supply disruption.

The latest Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) update recorded 59.7 days cover of petrol, as of midnight Wednesday. That’s down from 62.6 days at the last update.

Diesel stocks would stretch 49.1 days (down from 51.7) while jet fuel was set to last 50.7 days (down from 53.5).

Less than half of the total fuel stocks, however, were actually “in-country” with the remainder still on ships.

On-land supplies amounted to about 26 days, 22 days and 25 days of petrol, diesel and jet fuel respectively.

Five ships were up to two days away, with another nine within three weeks of arrival.

MBIE officials said “no concerns” had been reported about future fuel shipments.

“There is currently no indication of fuel supply disruption, and fuel continues to flow normally into New Zealand.”

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Brendan Boyle appointed Social Investment Agency chief executive

Source: Radio New Zealand

Senior public sector leader Brendan Boyle (file image). RNZ

Senior public sector leader Brendan Boyle has been appointed as the Acting Secretary and chief executive for the Social Investment Agency.

The appointment comes about five months after the resignation of former SIA chief executive Andrew Coster following the scathing Independent Police Conduct Authority report.

A Social Investment Agency spokesperson confirmed the appointment to RNZ, with Boyle set to start on 11 May.

The spokesperson said Boyle had “extensive experience across policy, regulation, governance, digital technology, and service delivery in large organisations”.

“His previous roles include Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development, the Department of Internal Affairs, and Land Information New Zealand. Most recently, he served as Acting Chief Executive of Pharmac.

“This appointment provides continuity and certainty for the agency and supports SIA to continue its work as social investment becomes an increasingly important approach across the public service. The longer‑term acting arrangement enables the agency to maintain momentum and further strengthen our impact.”

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The SIA also acknowledged Alistair Mason for his leadership over the past six months.

The appointment comes about five months after the resignation of former SIA chief executive Andrew Coster. RNZ / REECE BAKER

“His steady and considered stewardship has been highly valued by staff, Ministers and partners across the system.”

RNZ earlier revealed the agency had commissioned an independent external review of its procurement practices for contracts over $100,000.

The announcement followed the resignations of Coster and the deputy chief executive Kylie Reiri who left in February while under investigation in relation to allegations of bullying and harassment.

The Social Investment Agency (SIA) was established on 1 July 2024, according to its website as a “central agency to lead, develop and demonstrate a social investment approach in action”.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The House: Citizens assemblies – an alternative to select committees?

Source: Radio New Zealand

A meeting of Ireland’s Citizens’ Assembly. The country’s first deliberative democracy process was a Constitutional Convention held over 18 months starting in 2012. Maxwells

What if a group of randomly selected people were put in a room and asked to hammer out national policy, or co-opted onto select committees?

It sounds like a social experiment, but was raised repeatedly at last month’s Democracy Forum at Parliament, hosted by Labour’s Duncan Webb and National’s Vanessa Weenink.

The concept even has a name – a citizens’ assembly. It sits under a broader political science idea known as deliberative democracy (our current system is a representative democracy).

Randomly selected people would make decisions as a group. The issue could be very local or take on more precarious national questions, like the superannuation age.

One panelist at the forum was Mika Hervel, a winner of the Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize. He envisaged the process playing out a bit like a jury.

Citizens assembly proponent Mika Hervel. Phil Smith

“A group of randomly selected people, demographically representative of the population as a whole, are brought together, typically to discuss a particular issue,” Hervel explained.

“This group of people is then provided with experts who they can question, stakeholders who they can hear from. They’re provided with information about budgets and costs and benefits, scientific information, modelling… and given time to deliberate.

“This then leads to recommendations often, or decisions that are passed on to be implemented by officials or to be operationalised.”

Of course, Parliament already has built-in ways for people to participate between elections – through petitions, select committees, through contacting MPs – even via protest.

Hervel says these form a solid foundation for public engagement, but deliberative democracy could help address some of the limitations critics often point to in the select-committee process.

He argues that the current engagement is self-selecting, which can mean hearing from the usual suspects again and again, and that MPs rejecting one’s ideas can be disenfranchising.

Others might respond that the current system of self-selected feedback to select committees ensures that subject experts and those most likely to be impacted are also the most likely to feed into the issue.

“Deliberative democracy seeks to engage ordinary people, including those often forgotten by politics and decision-making, which I would suggest energises and connects people to the issues happening that directly affect them,” says Hervel. “[It] helps them see how they are affected and empowers them to be involved in looking for solutions.”

Fellow panelist Max Rashbrooke suggests that 100 people, representative of New Zealand demographically, would likely reach similar conclusions to the whole country, if everyone could fit in a room together.

Constitutional law expert Andrew Butler sees it as an innovative way to improve participation. He described a democratic fatigue – that political parties are not functioning as forums for deliberation in the way they might have in the past, when membership was larger.

“Most people get into politics through political parties – good people who go and put [their] heads above the parapet – because they actually want to make a difference,” says Butler. “They want to help debates, but there is something about the way in which the ecosystem works, which makes that difficult to achieve.”

Butler sees deliberative democracy as complementing select committees.

“Supplementing the work that is done [in Parliament would draw] people in to want to participate on issues that are important.

“What all of the studies emphasise is the importance of framing the issue, getting the right people in the room facilitating the conversation – probably the hardest aspect of the exercise – but well-facilitated deliberative democracy adds to the sense of democracy and… to democracy’s legitimacy.

“One of the points about our democracy is to try and achieve a level of acceptance of decisions, not the ones you agree with – that’s easy. The point of democracy is to find acceptance of those very things you do not agree with.”

While the idea of citizens’ assemblies raised its head repeatedly at the forum and most agreed it could be very useful for local issues, not everyone saw it as a solution for national decision-making, with criticism coming from other speakers, in Q&As and informally.

While proponents argued that democratic engagement is flagging, public submissions to select committees have grown by orders of magnitude over recent Parliaments, repeatedly breaking records and showing participation is in fact improving.

Some participants and attendees pointed out constitutional and process issues, while others saw citizens assemblies as hopelessly naïve – and that disagreement is not a product of politics but exists in any group of people facing a significant issue.

Some argued that the idea discounted the value of expertise and experience, factors they believed were crucial for solving complex national issues. Arguing that assemblies were not a salve to discord, one attendee noted that, in international experience, the randomly chosen participants had received threats (as politicians also do), which mirrored, rather than removed the emotion and discord of traditional politics.

Listen to the audio version of this story by clicking the link near the top of the page.

RNZ’s The House, with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament’s Office of the Clerk. Enjoy our articles or podcast at RNZ.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Strait of Hormuz tolls would impact on freedom of navigation – law expert

Source: Radio New Zealand

Foreign Minister Winston Peters meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Supplied

A law professor is warning of the impact on freedom of navigation if tolls are imposed on ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz or Iran retains control of it.

Waikato University Professor Al Gillespie said if the US president was willing to give up a principle of “fundamental importance” to New Zealand, the country needed to speak out about it.

It came as Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ a toll did not fit the right of people to “transit safely on the high seas without fear or encumberance”.

On Wednesday, Trump said he had agreed to suspend a devastating attack on Iran by two weeks and was ready for a ceasefire in the war if Tehran completely reopened the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The US, Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire, with talks planned in Pakistan from Saturday.

No official version of Iran’s 10-point plan for peace had been publicised, but a summary of the regime’s demands, shared by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, included two points about the Strait of Hormuz:

  • Controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Iran’s armed forces
  • Establishing a safe transit protocol in the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring Iran’s dominance

Media reports showed the proposal included allowing Iran to charge a fee per ship.

A fragile ceasefire had persisted, but Gillespie told RNZ a lot of the focus was on the Strait of Hormuz. He said there was an understanding about vessels being able to navigate through the strait, which was good. But he said there was “ambiguity” over whether there would be a toll on those ships, or if the transit would be controlled by Iran.

Waikato University Professor Al Gillespie. Wayne Mead

“For a country like New Zealand, which relies strongly on freedom of navigation, it may be that Mr Trump’s now willing to give up something which is of fundamental importance to us as a principle.

“If this is so, we need to speak out about freedom of navigation, and we need to be thinking which other countries or which other groups are focusing on this part of international law.”

Freedom of navigation stipulates that ships flying sovereign flags shall not suffer interference from other states.

The prime minister was asked about the issue following the news of the ceasefire, and said the ceasefire needed to “take affect” and “hold”.

“For us, the freedom of navigation is really important,” Christopher Luxon said on Wednesday.

“If you think about what could then subsequently happen with taxes on all sorts of bodies of water that New Zealand uses, very critically, to move its exports around the world. That’s not something we want to see happen.”

But Luxon said there was a long way to go and it was a “complex conflict”.

“I actually think that conversation is just way too premature and a bit hypothetical for where we sit right now,” Luxon said in response to a question about whether consumers would end up footing the bill for tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We just want to focus the players on making sure that they do everything they can to get a ceasefire in place that holds for two weeks.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Foreign Minister Winston Peters was also asked, following his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.

Speaking on Morning Report, he said there were various options being suggested in regards to the ceasefire and opening the Strait of Hormuz.

“Those options are not any more important than other suggestions for solutions that people might have, and so it’d be wrong to judge them as being appropriate,” said Peters.

“Right now we don’t know the detail of what they’re saying on that matter.”

He said New Zealand supported the Law of the Sea for decades, and there was currently a “serious breach” of that principle.

“If you’re going to start tolling the right of people to transit safely on the high seas without fear or encumbrance – that’s what it’s about – and a toll does not fit that.”

‘A bit muddled’ – professor

On Thursday, Gillespie told RNZ the highlight from the meeting between Peters and Rubio was the emphasis of the dependancy of the Pacific on energy imports and their vulnerability.

“To bring this to the attention of Rubio and hope to get some assistance for our Pacific friends and neighbours was highly commendable,” Gillespie said.

However, he said it was a “missed opportunity” to voice concerns over the “extreme rhetoric and instability that Mr Trump is causing”. But he imagined those concerns were conveyed behind closed doors.

He said the reaffirmation of the friendship between New Zealand and the US was always good to do, even though it was difficult at the moment “because Mr Trump is so unpredictable”.

He said the challenge was when there were wider issues at play, and trying to differentiate between what was in New Zealand’s interests and not being offensive to the US.

“I think we’re walking a very fine line. The thing about New Zealand right now is that we were in a bit of a muddle, and we’re not quite sure which objectives we’re trying to secure and what’s the foremost concern.”

He referenced concerns about the legality or illegality of the war, concerns about freedom of navigation, concerns about nuclear proliferation and energy prices,

“Everything’s kind of getting muddled. People need to take a step back and divide the topics up individually so we can work out where New Zealand’s interests lie. Because it’s not just about trying to pick a side, it’s about trying to work out what an independent foreign policy looks like, and then furthering that.”

He referred to the Strait of Hormuz and the need for New Zealand to “speak out about freedom of navigation”, and the need to be thinking which other countries or groups were focusing on that part of international law.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Social Investment Agency examining how it handles conflicts of interest as part of review

Source: Radio New Zealand

Deputy Chief Executive Kylie Reiri resigned in February. (File photo) (RNZ / Teresa Cowie )

The Social Investment Agency is examining how it handles conflicts of interest as part of a review into millions of dollars of contracts awarded.

RNZ earlier revealed the agency had commissioned an independent external review of its procurement practices for contracts over $100,000.

The announcement followed the resignation of the deputy chief executive Kylie Reiri in February while under investigation in relation to allegations of bullying and harassment.

It also followed the resignation of former SIA chief executive Andrew Coster who quit in December following a scathing Independent Police Conduct Authority report.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The review was announced following an Official Information Act (OIA) request by RNZ about procurement practices at the agency.

In the OIA the SIA provided a table setting out all contracts with a value of over $100,000 that were initiated or maintained between January 2025 and March 2026.

The 13 contracts, which combined are worth nearly $7m, included work by Datacom, Potentia Wellington Limited, Chapman Tripp, Olympus Consulting Limited, First Stanza Limited, Deloitte Limited, Likemind Limited, Audit New Zealand and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Following further questions from RNZ, a SIA spokesperson said on Wednesday that internal procurement processes “including requirements for managing and declaring conflicts of interest, are being considered as part of the broader review of all contracts with a value exceeding $100,000”.

The SIA earlier said that 10 of the contracts related to work within the scope of the Deputy Chief Executive – Strategy and Performance and/or the Deputy Chief Executive – Technology, Transformation and Enabling Services roles.

“While this includes all contracts within those functional areas, not all of the contracts listed involved work commissioned or directed by the former Deputy Chief Executive.”

Lawyers acting for Reiri told RNZ on Friday she had no prior personal connection to providers that were contracted by SIA and therefore no conflicts to declare.

The lawyers earlier said that Reiri was not aware of any allegations relating to financial and procurement irregularities concerning herself or any other person.

“To the extent there are any allegations of this nature, these are false and denied.”

As part of the OIA RNZ also asked for a copy of all briefings, correspondence and reports in relation to investigations into Reiri.

“SIA has identified 63 documents within scope of your request. These documents relate to employment related processes and the internal consideration of allegations, including terms of reference, correspondence, and one email relating to alleged financial and procurement matters.

“The documents concern sensitive employment and internal matters and contain personal information. It is necessary for SIA to be able to manage employment issues and assess allegations effectively, including by enabling staff and other parties to communicate freely and candidly in the course of such processes.”

In an earlier OIA released to RNZ, the SIA confirmed there had been two employment investigations over the last 12 months.

“I am also able to confirm that there has been one investigation in response to four formal reports of bullying and harassment. In the interest of privacy, we cannot provide a breakdown as to what each allegation was concerning.”

RNZ understands the investigation, which is ongoing, relates to Reiri.

“As a responsible employer, SIA takes these matters seriously and all complaints are investigated and followed through to the end. We have robust policies and procedures to manage disclosure of any allegations including protected disclosures (speak safe) and bullying and harassment policies, which provide informal and formal options for staff to raise concerns of serious wrongdoing and bullying and harassment.”

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Christopher Luxon and Wayne Brown sign ‘Auckland City Deal’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Christopher Luxon and Wayne Brown face questions after the announcement on 10 April, 2026.

Auckland has finalised and signed its city deal with the government – including a promise to consider a bed tax next year.

Other commitments include a review of how Eden Park is run – and a joint $10 million investment towards relocating Auckland Cricket to Colin Maiden Park.

The plan promises long-term strategic planning around transport and innovation – and the possibility of Crown funding for mutually-agreed high-priority projects.

It also guarantees three annual meetings between the Prime Minister and mayor – as well as more regular meetings with ministers.

The arrangement – which is the first of its kind in New Zealand – is a National Party election policy.

Two other deals are still being negotiated with Otago and Western Bay of Plenty.

More to come…

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Live: Christopher Luxon, Wayne Brown sign Auckland City Deal

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. RNZ / Calvin Samuel

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown are set to face questions after signing the ‘Auckland City Deal’.

The pair are joined by Local Government and Auckland Minister Simon Watts, as well as Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop to discuss details of the deal.

You can watch live at the top of this page from about 9am.

More to come…

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand