Mitchell isn’t travelling to Napier with the rest of the squad, with Henry Nicholls added to the squad as cover.
Nicholls has been in good form for Canterbury in the domestic ODI competition, leading the run-scoring charts with 306 runs at 76.50, including back-to-back centuries against Otago and Auckland.
The Blackcaps are heading to Napier this afternoon, ahead of the second ODI against West Indies at McLean Park on Wednesday.
The final game in the serIes is in Hamilton on Saturday.
Green Party-co-leader Marama Davidson.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Green Party is pledging to revoke consents for any coal, hardrock gold, or seabed mining projects granted under the fast-track regime, if it forms part of a government at the next election.
“Today, we are putting the Seabed mining, hardrock gold mining and coal mining industries – and their investors – on notice. Your fast-track consents are not safe, and they are not secure,” Green Party-co-leader Marama Davidson said.
The Greens have been warning they would revoke consents as far back as December 2024, when the initial fast-track bill passed its third reading.
Then, it was a pledge to revoke consents that “short-cut our democracy, side-step environmental protections and degrade te taiao.”
Now, it has named seven specific projects it would revoke consents or permits, even though they are yet to be issued.
Davidson said the Greens were making the announcement before consents were issued to “ensure complete transparency”.
Panels are currently considering the Taranaki VTM project by Trans Tasman Resources, which would extract up to 50 million tonnes of seabed a year in the South Taranaki Bight, and the Waihi North project by Oceana Gold, which would expand gold and silver mining operations in Waihi.
Four of the remaining five projects (Macraes Phase Four, Buller Plateaux Continuation, Rotowaro Mine Continuation, and Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project) are listed on the fast-track website, while the fifth (Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project) has applied.
While the Greens singled the seven specific projects out, they said any new applications through fast-track that fell into the coal, hardrock gold, or seabed mining categories would be captured by their position.
The government is currently in the process of [. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/579045/fast-track-law-final-approvals-still-in-hands-of-expert-panels-government-says amending the fast-track legislation further], with an aim of passing it by the end of the year.
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Artist’s visualisation of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington.NZTA / Waka Kotahi
Plans for two new tunnels for Wellington’s State highway 1 have been revealed with a total cost of up to $4 billion and significant reworking of the surrounding areas.
A second Mount Vic tunnel was part of the National Party’s campaign promise, and is now listed in the Fast Track Approvals Act.
The proposal says it would save up to 10 minutes during peak periods on journeys from the Wellington region to the CBD, hospital, and airport by up to 10 minutes.
The agency’s Kesh Keshaboina says the “significant proposals” have the potential to have a major impact on Wellington’s transport infrastructure.
Public meetings on the proposals are to be held in the coming weeks.
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Exporters are expected to continue to reap the benefits of a weak dollar and strong demand, despite a drop in prices for key agricultural products, including dairy, forestry and fruit.
Major commodities were traded in US dollars and ASB’s latest commodity index was marginally higher on last year, while a differently calculated and weighted ANZ index was about 6 percent higher on a year ago.
The New Zealand dollar (NZD) traded between 54.85 and 61.2 US cents this year, and for the year to date was about 1.5 percent higher. A weaker NZD meant better export returns.
Dairy prices engulfed by supply
However, the global dairy auctions run by Fonterra had been falling over recent months, putting pressure on the co-op’s mid-point $10 per kilogram of milk solids (kgMS), with its $9.75 forecast more in line with the NZX’s forecast of between $9.68 to $9. 80 kgMS.
NZX dairy analyst Cristina Alvarado said dairy prices had fallen as global volumes increased, however, New Zealand’s grass-fed dairy products were still in strong demand.
“It’s the quality, it’s the flavour, but also the safety that many countries have,” Alvarado said, adding free trade agreements had benefited New Zealand during the ongoing global trade disruption sparked by the introduction of President Donald Trump’s US tariff policies.
“Countries that bought more from the US before, have been buying more from New Zealand,” she said.
Soft NZ dollar helps returns
Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said the export sector remained strong, helped by the weak currency, which was also supporting the tourism sector, as visitor numbers increased.
“For most of the last six months to a year, we’ve had the unusual situation where the New Zealand dollar has been a bit weaker at the same time as external prices have been strong and also growing conditions have been good,” Eckhold said.
“Usually, there’s a bit of a counterbalance between some of these sort of factors, but they’ve all pushed in the right direction. Right now, what we’re seeing is the New Zealand dollar weakening, so therefore that’s helping support prices.”
Eckhold said the New Zealand dollar would also continue to be supportive, with its weakness expected to persist until the economy improved and interest rates stabilised.
“I don’t think that the exchange rate is likely to appreciate significantly until such time as it becomes clear that growth is starting to pick up sustainability in New Zealand, and the interest rates are no longer likely to fall,” he said.
“Next year’s outlook remains pretty uncertain still at this stage.”
Eckhold said rural communities were expected to remain resilient to the soft economy, and for dairy farmers to make the most of the likely a large cash payout from the sale of [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/577378/fonterra-ceo-says-lactalis-deal-will-allow-it-to-grow
F onterra’s consumer brands business].
A further confidence boost will also come from the Trump administration’s move to scrap the 15 percent tariff on imported beef and kiwifruit to reduce cost of living pressures on US consumers, although the sometimes erratic US tariff policy is making producers cautious.
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Beamish won the 1500m gold at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
The other two finalists for the World Athletics Photograph of the Year show America’s Noah Lyles and Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrating their respective titles at the World Champs and a photo of the shadows of the Dream Mile at the Bislet Games in Norway.
The three finalists were selected from 141 images submitted from photographers from 41 countries.
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Coach Scott Robertson has said that the feeling in the All Black camp is much the same one day on from their 33-19 loss to England. It was the third loss this season in a schedule of 13 tests, and the second by a significant margin following a record defeat to the Springboks during the Rugby Championship.
The aftermath of the loss to England sees focus now firmly on the issues that have plagued the All Blacks for the past two seasons, most notably their inability to keep teams under pressure in big tests.
“There’s lots of different reasons, but there’s no excuses from us. And we’ve got to be better in some areas so we can finish teams off,” said Robertson this morning.
“Ultimately, we want to be as consistent as we possibly can, that’s what a professional team wants to be, consistent with everything you work with. You’re not going to win every moment in games, but you’ve got to fight your way back into it, through adversity.
“When you it doesn’t quite come all together, you know, that’s the part that hurts. It’s not for lack of care, I’ll put it that way. But it’s definitely frustration that we work so hard to be consistent and that’s the part that gets you.”
Robertson, who came into the All Black job after seven consecutive championship seasons with the Crusaders, acknowledged that ‘test rugby is pretty brutal’.
Caleb Clarke lays during the Scotland v All Blacks test at Murrayfield.www.photosport.nz
“You lose a couple of player each game on average, just through the Ferocity of the match contacts. The recovery part becomes tougher, the travel, everything that comes with it.
“So when you get energy, new faces, new bodies coming in that, that excitement that…it’s a balance. Sometimes you have all the best laid plans of how you’re going to play, then you come off the field in these the medical ward are fuller than you’d expect.”
Steve Borthwick’s England side notably adjusted their game plan throughout Sunday morning’s test, with a heavy reliance on the kicking game of inside back pairing Alex Mitchell and George Ford. Robertson acknowledged that the aerial game was still a work on for New Zealand players, due to the comparative lack of exposure to it in the domestic game here.
English halfback Alex Mitchell.David Rogers/Getty Images
“It’s a crucial part, an important part of the game…we don’t tend to do it so much in Super Rugby. So coming into test rugby, you have got the most accurate kickers in the world and you’ve got incredible aerial catches. We spend a lot of time on it, look, we’ve got to get better laid plans.”
From a wider perspective, Robertson said that new NZ Rugby chairman and former All Black captain David Kirk has been ‘straight up’ with expectations two years out from the next World Cup.
“Look, he’s pretty pragmatic, he tells you how it is. Straight up, as you’d expect. (Also) hugely supportive. He understands good relationships in the group and we welcome him with open arms…he’s been great to us.”
Unsurprisingly, Robertson more or less confirmed there will be wholesale changes to the side for the last test match of the year. They face Wales in Cardiff, with the home team recording their first win in two years over the weekend when they defeated Japan 24-22 thanks to a last play penalty goal.
“There’ll be some fresh, new energy in the group for sure,” said Robertson, who singled out Ruben Love as a player who will likely start this weekend.
“He’s obviously a 15 that can play 10 and he deserves an opportunity.”
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The controversial four-stage Mental Health Response Change programme started a year ago.RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The police are introducing higher thresholds for responding to calls from mental health workers to help deal with unwell patients or those who abscond.
Non-emergency mental health-related requests will be assessed against updated guidance to determine if police assistance is required. This includes requests for assistance under legislation, requests for assistance from in-patient mental health units and other requests from mental health services to police.
Reports of missing persons with mental health concerns (including those who have left mental health facilities and services or EDs) will be assessed against updated guidance to determine the appropriate police involvement.
Over the past 12 months, police have gradually withdrawn their support at mental health callouts, including at inpatient wards, community facilities, during transportation and at emergency departments, and banned mental health assessments in custody suites.
Moves leaves ‘unacceptable gaps’ – union
The Public Service Association (PSA) condemned the change programme, saying it left mental health workers and patients unacceptably vulnerable to harm. National secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the changes were “dangerous and will cause harm”.
“We call on Health NZ to properly consider the support needed given the withdrawal of police from this important work.”
For both new procedures, staff could engage police only when there was “an imminent threat” to life or property.
The change also meant that these emergency calls would be triaged along with every other request that came through the 111 line, Fitzsimons said.
Fleur Fitzsimons.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
“Mental health nurses and healthcare assistants work in what can be quite dangerous conditions, with very unwell people who can act unpredictably – they must have a direct line to police.
“Health NZ has said it does not expect them to put themselves in harm’s way, but the reality is that for many situations workers must at least do an assessment in-person, leaving themselves open to verbal and physical abuse.
“Furthermore, mental healthcare is legally highly complex. Security staff, for example, don’t have the same rights under the Mental Health Act as clinicians do. There are a whole lot of practical realities Health NZ seems to refuse to acknowledge.”
Mental health staff were worried for patients as well as their own safety.
“Mental health workers understand that the police can’t do everything. But there are a whole lot of what-ifs that haven’t been thought through, and at the end of the day patients and families are the ones who miss out.”
RNZ has approached Health NZ and police for comment.
The charred landscape of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.Supplied/DOC
The charred landscape will add to the experience for those walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the Department of Conservation says.
A week-long rāhui was lifted on Monday following the wildfire that ripped through 3000 hectares of the national park.
DOC and Fire and Emergency will continue to monitor the area for hotspots but are confident that people will be safe on the tracks.
DOC director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson told Morning Report it had been a huge week battling the blaze.
“The walk is perfectly fine to do, but the landscape is very black.”
Visitors could only access the start of the track on Mangatepopo Road by booking a shuttle.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky, [but] there has been a little bit of damage focused around the Mangatepopo entranceway, the car park area there,” Wilson said.
“The beautiful new Pou, Te Ririō, is still standing… got a little bit of charring but I think that just adds to it. It’s a spectacular Pou and we’re really pleased that that was able to be saved but there is some damage.”
Wilson said it would be a different experience on some parts of the track.
“We’ve been really lucky that the majority of the Tongariro Crossing hasn’t been affected but the first 700 metres or so, it will be quite a charred landscape.
“It was awe-inspiring before and will be even more so now.”
Local iwi Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro placed a decade-long rāhui on areas where fires have damaged the whenua and native vegetation.
The second rāhui was put in place to heal and restore the land
“It’s about keeping people out, it’s about working together to fix the land and heal the land over some time because we know with the biodiversity loss that that’s going to be required,” Wilson said.
“What people who are walking in the area or recreation in the area can do to support the longer rāhui is just stay on the tracks, not litter, and be generally respectful of the landscape.”
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In the year to June 2025 a record 8000 long-term claimants were taken off its books because they were deemed “work ready”.
ACC planned to ramp up exits even more, with a goal of 11,675 by next June.
By 2028 it hoped to have more people coming out of the long-term pool than going in.
“Nothing in ACC’s proposals actually looks at rehabilitation,” ACC advocate Warren Forster told Nine to Noon.
“It’s all about ‘how can we ramp up exits, how can we get more people coming off the scheme’, and that’s the antithesis of the statutory purpose. It’s the antithesis of why we have ACC in New Zealand.”
ACC said it was committed to helping injured people return to independence or to their new normal after life-changing injuries.
“It’s important that we manage the scheme sustainably so it’s there for Kiwis when they need it, now and in the future,” ACC deputy chief executive Michael Frampton said.
He said some long-term claimants would need financial support for a longer time because of life-changing injuries, but there were some whose injuries would not normally take a long time to recover from.
“That suggests they might not have had the right support and we’re actively working with them to help them back to independence,” Frampton said.
He said one step was to make sure all long-term claimants have one-to-one case management to make sure they were getting the right support. Frampton said this was already showing positive effects and giving better outcomes.
“ACC is using AI to help identify cases where the client may benefit from a further review by staff member to help ensure that they’re receiving the right support,” he said.
Warren Forster.RNZ / Ian Telfer
Frampton said it also meant providing “advice on next steps”.
Forster said 31,000 injured people had been pushed off ACC in the last five years.
“The AI will tell you ‘person X has a sprain, they’ve been off work for six years’ or whatever the case might be,” he said.
“The AI will say ‘well, this person’s got a sprain, we’ll get rid of them’ and that’s, you know, when you’re blindly following what a model does then you produce junk data”.
He said the person might have a disc prolapse or a tendon tear, may have been misdiagnosed or may be in mental health distress.
“Everyone knows the person doesn’t have a sprain injury,” Forster said.
“AI can tell you that this person has a problem, but AI is not going to tell you what that problem is. What we have is AI identifying someone who ACC can exit.”