Category: Public Media

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Police following ‘strong’ leads in Wainoni shooting investigation

Source: Radio New Zealand

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said police were following strong lines of inquiry in relation to the shooting. RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon

Christchurch police are still hunting for the person who shot and badly injured a woman in the Christchurch suburb of Wainoni.

The woman was in a stable condition in hospital after being shot at a property in Shortland Street on Monday night.

The person fled in a car, in what is believed to be a gang-related shooting.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said police were following strong lines of inquiry.

“Police would like to reassure the community this is believed to be an isolated incident with no increased risk to the public,” she said.

“The victim sustained a single gunshot and is in a stable condition in hospital. Police are concerned around the dangerous and violent act in public and have an increased presence in and around Christchurch as officers carry out reassurance patrols.”

Shortland Street woman Shirley Achari said she heard people yelling and then what she thought was fireworks on the night the woman was shot.

A neighbour heard shouting and what she thought were fireworks on the night of the shooting. RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon

“We heard but we didn’t come out to see what was happening because I thought it was a group of people shouting and yelling. Then the shooting one, we thought it was firecrackers,” she said.

Achari said she had often seen a young girl from the house going to school but otherwise did not know the family.

The shooting had come as a shock because the neighbourhood was usually very quiet, she said.

“I always tell everyone, my friends, that this is the quietest place and we are very safe and lucky to stay here in Shortland Street because we like quiet neighbours,” she said.

Police urged anyone with information to contact them on 105, quoting file number 251110/6195.

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Kevin the giraffe makes a cross-country trip

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kevin in the trailer ready to head off to Hamilton Zoo. Supplied

A curious and loving giraffe named Kevin is on a cross country road trip, travelling from Christchurch’s Orana Park to his new home at Hamilton Zoo.

He is just over two-years-old and is 4.3 metres tall and has been on the road since Tuesday, even boarding the Bluebridge Ferry last night.

The drive is no easy feat, with staff having to meticulously plan the route, avoiding low tunnels and windy roads.

Orana Wildlife Park spokesperson Nathan Hawke told Morning Report Kevin is joining a “bachelor herd” in Hamilton with 22-year-old Masamba and two-year-old Jabali.

“Kevin’s loving life but our crew are a little bit tired. He’s been an absolute trooper,” Hawke said.

Moving a giraffe is a “massive logistical exercise”, Hawke said, which involves a lot of staff including animal care and vets.

Zoo staff had to meticulously plan the route, avoiding low tunnels and windy roads, and were also reliant on good weather and calm seas to travel.

Kevin is in a specialised trailer for him that he can see out the top of.

“He’s enjoyed the scenic journey across New Zealand,” Hawke said.

Orana Park keepers will be staying with Kevin over the next few days to help him settle into his new home.

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Analysis: Andrew Coster’s fall from champion of progressive policing

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. Former police commissioner Andrew Coster RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Analysis – Once a liberal darling and champion of progressive policing, former police commissioner Andrew Coster has gone to ground, his reputation and legacy in tatters.

Coster is on leave from his role as chief executive of the government’s Social Investment Agency after a damning Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report identified “serious misconduct” among the upper echelons of police.

An employment process is now underway with the Public Service Commission.

Speaking at Parliament on Tuesday evening, Attorney General Judith Collins said the IPCA report identified a massive failure of leadership: “If this was me being named in this report, I would be ashamed of myself.”

Judith Collins speaking at Parliament on Tuesday. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said Coster should “be held to account”, and the minister who appointed Coster to his current position, Nicola Willis, said she was “shocked and appalled” by the IPCA’s findings.

Coster has declined to speak to media. A spokesperson provided a brief statement to RNZ: “this is now an employment conversation”.

Coster’s fall …

The IPCA report paints a picture of a group of police executives seemingly blinded by loyalty to one of their own.

Coster and others dismissed repeated complaints from a young woman about former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming over many years, going back as far as 2018, but particularly in 2023 and early 2024.

Jevon McSkimming RNZ / Mark Papalii

Neither Coster, nor McSkimming, disclosed the allegations to the Public Service Commission when McSkimming was going through the appointment process for that deputy role in early 2023.

An investigation into the woman’s claims was finally launched in mid-2024, but only after police had already charged the woman with causing harm through the deluge of emails she had sent to McSkimming’s work email.

But the IPCA report said that investigation was not properly conducted and that it was was only notified of the allegations in October 2024.

That same month, Coster wrote to the IPCA to raise concern that its inquiries could “increase Jevon’s victimisation” and harm his chances during the appointment process for the top commissioner job.

Soon after, Coster convened a meeting with key players within police to ensure “natural justice” for McSkimming and to bring the investigation to “a rapid and premature conclusion”.

One staffer told the IPCA: “it was quite clear that [Coster] was very invested in Jevon becoming the next Commissioner.”

The IPCA report said senior decision-makers held “an entrenched view” that McSkimming was a victim rather than offender and were “unduly preoccupied” with protecting his future career prospects.

…after his rise

Coster was appointed as police commissioner in early March 2020, the youngest in the service’s history at age 44.

At the time, then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern commended Coster’s “positivity, inclusion and integrity”.

That word – “integrity” – comes up repeatedly in politicians’ descriptions of Coster.

He had not been considered a frontrunner for the top job, but boasted an impressive resume with considerable leadership experience within the police, as well as in law and with the Ministry of Justice.

Coster quickly got offside with the National Party – then in opposition – clashing with leader Simon Bridges and police spokesperson Mark Mitchell.

Bridges publicly declared Coster to be a “wokester” and suggested he was soft on gangs. Mitchell was openly critical of Coster’s advocacy for a “policing by consent” model.

But after National’s success in the 2023 election, new-prime minister Christopher Luxon took a different position, telling RNZ: “I’m not Simon Bridges, if you haven’t noticed.”

Coster continued with his five-year term as police commissioner, but finished up about six months early to take up a new role as Secretary for Social Investment.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell speaking at Parliament on Tuesday. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

It was seen as a win-win, with Mitchell keen to appoint a replacement more in line with his tough-on-crime rhetoric. In a social media, Mitchell said Coster had “served with integrity” and would be outstanding in the new role.

Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis said she was delighted by the appointment, having seen his “passion” for improving the lives of New Zealanders.

Luxon told reporters Coster had done an “exceptionally good job” as commissioner: “He has delivered big time for us.”

Then-Acting Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott said Coster was a “proven leader with a pragmatic, realistic and delivery-focused approach to achieving change”.

“He is a highly respected and impressive public service leader who has considerable experience delivering initiatives to address complex social issues.”

Labour was also in favour of the appointment, with Carmel Sepuloni also noting his “integrity” and work ethic.

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Whitianga SH25 intersecton completely blocked following crash, police say

Source: Radio New Zealand

All traffic were advised to avoid the area or delay travel as there were no diversions in place, police said. RNZ / REECE BAKER

The intersection of State Highway 25 and Moewai Road in Whitianga has been completely blocked following a serious crash.

Police said they were called to the incident just after 10am Wednesday morning.

One person was reported to have been seriously injured, while another had minor injuries, police said.

All traffic were advised to avoid the area or delay travel as there were no diversions in place, police said.

Those who urgently needed to travel in and out of Whitianga would need to take significantly longer reroutes towards Coromandel or Thames, they said.

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Fire crews put in ‘grunt’ work to dampen down Tongariro fire hotspots

Source: Radio New Zealand

Diggers at work at the site of the fire on Tuesday. RNZ/Jimmy Ellingham

Combined Fire and Emergency and Department of Conservation crews are continuing to put in the ‘grunt work’ on Wednesday dampening down hotspots in the aftermath of the fire that tore through almost 3000 hectares of Tongariro Park at the weekend.

FENZ incident controller Nigel Dravitski said the headquarters for the fire response had shifted to Whakapapa Village as responsibility for its management transitioned to DOC.

About 35 crews were flying out to the fire ground in a helicopter based at the Chateau Tongariro car park.

“There’s good conditions today so we’ve got crews that have entered the fire ground and are continuing to do their monitoring and controlling.”

Dravitski said they were looking for sources of heat or fire from 30m back from the fire across its 35 kilometre perimeter.

“It involves a lot of hard mahi, so digging out and turning out holes. They have things called scotty packs, so they can squirt water into those holes to cool them and take the energy out of them.

“Just really a whole lot of grunt work to be honest.”

Dravitski said crews had a successful day on Tuesday following up on thermal imaging data.

“The crews covered a wide area of the fire scene and it was pleasing there was not a lot of sources of fire, so no active flames or smoke but some heat spots that were very minor in the context of the landscape.

He said so far thermal imaging had found very few areas of concern.

Firefighters were continuing to battle the Tongariro National Park wildfire on Monday. Fire and Emergency NZ

FENZ investigations into how the fire started continue to be focused on a stretch of State Highway 47 close to the entrance of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

“That continues to be a point of interest for them and they are continuing their investigation at that point, so we are securing that scene while so they can undertake those tasks.”

A police officer was on site and dozens of coloured flags could be seen planted on the scorched bush beside the road.

Dravitski said any results from that investigation would be some days away.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing and tracks in the vicinity of Whakapapa Village remain closed until at least Monday next week.

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National Iwi Chairs Forum files court proceedings over RMA reforms

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tukoroirangi Morgan at the Iwi Chairs Forum at Waitangi. RNZ / Ella Stewart

The National Iwi Chairs Forum has filed court proceedings seeking clarification on how the Crown must uphold Treaty of Waitangi settlements as it pushes ahead with major resource management reforms.

The action has been brought by forum member and Waikato Executive Chair Tukoroirangi Morgan, who said iwi leaders have lost confidence that the government understands or intends to protect the integrity of Treaty settlements.

“Treaty of Waitangi settlements are a solemn compact between iwi and hapū and the Crown, giving rise to a series of obligations on the Crown to uphold those settlements with honour and integrity,” Morgan said.

The move comes as the government prepares to introduce replacement Resource Management Act (RMA) legislation before the end of the year.

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the legislation removes “handbrakes on New Zealanders’ lives,” helping to drive growth and job creation.

“The Resource Management Act has been holding New Zealand back for decades. It has let successive governments and councils say ‘no’ to progress, ‘no’ to development, and ‘no’ to building the houses, infrastructure, clean energy and other important projects that New Zealanders need to get ahead,” Bishop said.

Despite government assuring that they intend to uphold Treaty settlements, the National Iwi Chairs Forum and Morgan said iwi and hapū engagement to date suggests otherwise.

“The Government’s announcements about replacement RMA legislation show that decisions on the new regime have been substantively made, and iwi and hapu are being engaged on our settlements as an afterthought,” Morgan said.

The Forum, which represents over 80 iwi across Aotearoa, argues that Treaty settlements are deeply connected to existing resource management law – meaning any new framework must embed those commitments from the outset.

“The Crown cannot unilaterally change settlements in a manner that diminishes that compact,” Morgan said.

“That will give rise to fresh grievances and the need to re-negotiate all of our compacts. So we are going to Court to seek that confirmation, because this Government is not listening, so it needs to be told.”

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Netball: Silver Ferns beat Scotland Thistles in second test in Glasgow

Source: Radio New Zealand

Silver Ferns Jeremy Ward/ Photosport

The Silver Ferns have beaten Scotland 80-48 in the second and final test against the Thistles in Glasgow.

Grace Nweke, who sat out the first Test, started at GS and finished with 34 goals from her 30 minutes on court.

Maddy Gordon’s feeds into Nweke were almost unstoppable. Gordon clocked up a whopping 27 goal assists from wing attack in the first half.

The Silver Ferns led by six after the first quarter but really put their foot down in the second term to lead 44-27 at the main break.

Gordon and Nweke earned a well deserved break in the second half, which saw Martina Salmon come on at GS and Peta Toeava at WA.

Kelly Jackson and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan were not named in the game day 12 as interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie took the opportunity to give less experienced players more court time.

Carys Stythe, who got her debut in the Silver Ferns 63-41 win over Scotland on Monday, played a full game at goal keep.

New Zealand won the third quarter by just two goals to lead 60-41 heading into the final term but the Silver Ferns ramped things up again in the last quarter to restrict Scotland to just seven goals.

The Silver Ferns will travel to London to complete the Northern Tour, where they will meet the England Roses on Sunday morning in the first of three Tests.

Here’s how it unfolded:

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Weather: Heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty, wind, rain watches across North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand

MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Tokomaru Bay. Photo / 123RF

A low front is moving down the North Island, bringing heavy rain and gales to many areas.

MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Tokomaru Bay.

People there were to expect between 80 and 100mm of rain , with thunderstorms and localised downpours also a possibility, MetService said.

The warning would be in place from 4pm Wednesday, and will last until 9am Thursday.

It warned that streams in the area could rise rapidly, and that driving conditions may be difficult.

Heavy rain and wind watches were also issued for regions across Te Ika-a-Māui.

Heavy rain watches would be in place in Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula.

The watch for Northland would last 12 hours from 10am Wednesday, while the other two would begin in the early afternoon and expire in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Strong wind watches were issued for those areas throughout Wednesday evening, starting from 4pm in Northland, 6pm in Auckland and Great Barrier Island, and 8pm for the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato near the Kaimai Range, and Bay of Plenty west of Maketu.

Northland and Auckland’s would expire late Wednesday evening, while the Coromandel’s would expire early Thursday morning.

Strong wind watches were issued for Rotorua, Bay of Plenty east of Maketu, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taupō, Taihape, and Whanganui hill country, and for the whole region of Taranaki as well,

The watches would be in place from late Wednesday evening, and expire at 10am Thursday,

Wellington and Wairarapa were issued a similar watch from 7am to 3pm Thursday.

There were no warnings or watches issued for any regions of the South Island.

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‘This is not a safe place for students’: ERO fires back at Wesley College

Source: Radio New Zealand

Staff and students at Wesley College did not not report assaults on junior students, the Education Review Office said in its report. RNZ / Shannon Haunui-Thompson

The Education Review Office is firing back at Wesley College, saying it strongly refutes claims about it made by its principal.

The school south of Auckland, one of the country’s oldest, on Tuesday released a a critical ERO report from September written ahead of moves to shutter its hostel.

After releasing it, principal Brian Evans said the ERO was “deeply disrespectful” and it had accused students of lying and covering up.

Evans claimed students said they were badgered about whether they felt safe at the school.

The report detailed more the 30 senior students leaving their hostel at night and going to a junior building.

A small group of senior boys either participated in or observed the bullying and assault of junior students, the ERO report said.

“The supervising staff and wider student body did not prevent the incident, nor was it reported immediately by either staff or students,” it detailed.

The ERO ended its report recommending the suspension of the hostel’s licence, saying it did not have confidence the five hostel buildings were safe.

Principal Brian Evans in his own statement said the ERO was dismissive of students and said they felt pressured to give negative answers.

The school is currently heading to court to try to stop the hostels shutting down much earlier than it wanted.

ERO responds

Responding to the principal’s comments about its report, the ERO said it made no apology for making sure student welfare was prioritised and protected.

“ERO is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of students who live at the Wesley College hostel,” ERO deputy chief executive Shelley Booysen said.

“This is not a safe place for students,” she said

Booysen said Wesley College has a long history of abuse and the ERO had made strong recommendations after finding significant issues.

“ERO strongly refutes the claims made by Brian Evans about our review team and approach to evaluating Wesley College’s hostels,” she said.

Booysen said ERO reviewers had a Code of Conduct and there were comprehensive quality assurance processes.

She said the review being questioned by the principal “meets all requirements”.

Wesley College ‘is much more than headlines’ – principal

Brian Evans has told parents and caregivers that media coverage of the ERO report, which the school itself released, had been challenging.

He said it had “understandably impacted” teachers, students and families.

“Please know this: Wesley College is much more than today’s headlines. We are a community built on faith, resilience, and a deep commitment to the growth and well-being of every student,” Evans wrote on the school’s Facebook account.

“While we don’t deny the truth, our own truth, happiness and love everyone feels for Wesley has largely been dismissed by the authorities. It is now our job to reclaim that and let our voice be heard,” he said.

Evans said safeguarding systems at Wesley College were among the best in the country.

“We have worked hard to move away from past cultures of silence to a school where every voice matters and is heard,” he said.

“This is not easy change, but it is real and happening.”

Wesley College signalled last month it would close its hostels at the end of the year over ongoing safety concerns.

But the Ministry of Education then suspended its licence, wanting the hostels shut by last week following what it said was a pattern of serious and ongoing concerns.

Wesley College has lodged an appeal in the Auckland District Court.

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30 with Guyon Espiner: Labour leader Chris Hipkins comfortable being labelled a socialist

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chris Hipkins is comfortable being labelled a socialist, saying there is a more active role for the state to play.

It comes after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoralty in Donald Trump’s America.

Hipkins, the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, told Guyon Espiner on 30 with Guyon Espiner Mamdani’s win showed there was a “big backlash” against the system in the United States.

“At the moment, people feel like the economic system isn’t working for them, and they’re looking for alternatives. We’ve had four or five decades, around the world, now of an economic system that says, ‘Don’t worry about concentration of wealth, eventually that will flow down, everyone will be better off’. And a lot of people are looking at that going, that’s not us. That’s not what we’re experiencing.

“The cost of living is getting more, we’re feeling more marginalised. Economically, our jobs are less secure, and they want something different.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Despite saying New Zealand was in a “very different” position to the US, Hipkins said Mamdani had identified the modern economy had trended towards far too many monopolies – and New Zealand was seeing the same pressure.

“We have the supermarket duopoly controlling a huge proportion of our food supply. Is that something we can sustain as a small country? No, I don’t think it is.”

Hipkins said the Labour party “absolutely” had further policies coming on how to tackle that.

“We’ll have some further policy around competition, we’ve got some further policy to come on that.”

Hipkins doubled down, telling Guyon Espiner that New Zealand needed to see more competition in a range of areas and food was one of them.

“I’m not announcing any new policy today but yes, we will do more in that area because I don’t think we can sustain what we have now.”

Guyon Espiner interviews Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Asked if Hipkins would be happy labelled a democratic socialist – something Mamdani called himself – Hipkins said he did not have a problem with it.

“Social democrat, democratic socialist, variance of the same thing. People who believe there is a more active role for the state? Yes, I do.

“I believe there is a more active role for the state, absolutely.”

As well as competition for supermarkets, Hipkins said Labour would have policies around competition for the four big banks, too.

“I think the profits that we are seeing from the banks, from the supermarkets, from the electricity companies, from some of the insurance companies are a sign that New Zealand doesn’t actually have what the free market is supposed to deliver us – a competitive economy.

“You’ve got some big players who are ultimately able to make very, very large profits, exclude competition from the market and New Zealand consumers and New Zealand citizens are ultimately the ones who pay the price for that.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the party has policies coming on supermarket duopolies. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Espiner asked Hipkins if the four major banks should be worried if Labour was voted into government.

“I think anyone who is making a large amount of money from monopolistic behaviour should be worried about a future Labour government, because we want to see more choice for New Zealanders. We want to see a genuinely competitive economy. We want to see Kiwis getting a better deal.”

“Breaking up” such large duopolies was a big step to take, Hipkins said, but making sure there was more competition available was where Labour would be active, he said.

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