Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

The firefighters’ union says asbestos found in an air tank, which helps emergency services breath during fires, will be distressing for personnel in Auckland.

It said a bulk air supply tank had tested positive for a “very small level” of asbestos.

The tank has not been in use since asbestos was found in equipment used to fill breathing apparatus (BA) cylinders for individual firefighters at Auckland City fire station two years ago. Police sometimes also filled up using that gear.

However, the Professional Firefighters’ Union said in an online post it was now concerned the bulk tank may have contaminated the cylinders, though some extra tests showed it might not have.

“There has been additional tests on the bulk air supply tank to see whether the asbestos would transfer from that tank to a breathing apparatus cylinder and those tests demonstrated that the identified asbestos remained in the bulk air supply tank,” it said.

The problem was the cylinders had not been tested as they should have been, and it had only just learned this.

“This news will be very distressing for many firefighters who now have the uncertainty of the safety of their BAs potentially filled using this sample bulk air tank prior to 2023,” it said.

“To not have any tests to either confirm or refute any potential risk will no doubt cause anger and frustration.”

FENZ has been approached for comment by RNZ.

The union said FENZ should urgently test the cylinders, or withdraw them immediately.

“We understand the BA sets are nearly at end of life,” the union said.

“FENZ should procure new BA cylinders and sets now in order to decommission all cylinders that had possibly been filled through the tanks prior to 2023 and therefore have a possible risk of contamination.”

Worksafe said it had been contacted by the union with concerns about breathing apparatus sets filled prior to 2023 at Auckland City fire station.

“We have had ongoing involvement at the site over time and are making further enquiries to understand the latest concerns ,” it said on Tuesday.

The Auckland City station had an asbestos scare that closed it briefly last month. In 2023 there were at least four discoveries of asbestos at the station.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The main Tongariro track is expected to stay shut until at least next week after devastating wildfire.

Recent rain is helping hugely to bring the massive Tongariro National Park blaze under control, Fire and Emergency says.

Thirty-five crews of Department of Conservation firefighters remain at the site on Tuesday, while drones with thermal imaging equipment have begun checking the flanks of the fireground for hotspots.

A helicopter is on standby to fly over and assess the full extent of the damage. However, low cloud has meant it has been unable to do an aerial assessment of the site, which is estimated to cover up to 2800 hectares.

Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka said part of the National park is open, but the main track entrance is set to reopen next week.

“The particular area where this devastation has incurred, the track is expected to be open on the 17th, I think, of November, the main Tongariro track that everyone talks about,” Potaka said.

“But there will be some time before everything is cleared away and we know the true extent of biodiversity loss, but also what’s in front us, which is a restoration opportunity.”

Potaka said police are investigating the cause of the fire.

FENZ assistant commander Renee Potae said recent rain has been a huge help.

“The key thing has been the rain, especially the runoff from the mountain. That runoff is running into the fireground and really helping us get control of this fire.”

However, while flames may no longer be visible, it does not mean the fire has been fully extinguished.

“While you can’t see too much sign of fire right now on the surface, it doesn’t mean it’s not still burning underground,” Potae said.

“So while we’ll start to see some of the resources start to demobilise over the next few days, there will be, for several days, some crews continuing to monitor the fire just to make sure it’s out.”

Meanwhile, an iwi representative said the rāhui over the scene will give the whenua time to breathe.

Two rāhui have been put in place, covering the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and any burnt areas.

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro representative Te Ngaehe Wanikau said: “The restoration is not about excluding, it’s not prohibiting.”

Wanikau said the restorative rāhui was not in the usual sense of rāhui which happens after a tragedy.

A restorative rāhui was about focusing on bringing the area back to what it should be, he said.

The “greatest” fear was the burnt area going into the “too hard basket and then we see yellow flowers of broom all over our mountain”.

The rāhui was an opportunity for “everyone and anyone” to focus on making it a restorative project that showed what the area could look like if the problem was dealt with.

He said they would work with agencies to determine the extent of the damage.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A court has ordered a recount in Porirua’s Parirua Māori Ward.

Candidate Jess Te Huia made the application to Porirua District Court last month.

Incumbent Kylie Wihapi, who served as the city’s deputy mayor last term, was re-elected with 936 votes at October’s election – 11 votes ahead of Te Huia, on 925 votes.

Porirua City Council says the court has found “Ms Te Huia has an objective and credible basis for believing that the results were incorrect, so the application for a recount was granted”.

It will take place on Thursday 13 November.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has waved away New Zealand First’s criticism of National’s economic plan, saying Winston Peters has many entrenched views.

In an interview on Morning Report on Tuesday, the NZ First leader said Luxon’s interest in asset sales was based on a “tawdry silly argument“. Peters said National wanted to “flog those [assets] off” having “failed to run the economy properly”.

Responding on his way into a caucus meeting at Parliament, Luxon said he was not bothered by his coalition partner’s comments.

“Winston Peters has been around for half a century in this place. He has a lot of entrenched views on a lot of different things that aren’t a surprise to me or you.”

Luxon reiterated that the government would not be pursuing state asset sales this term but said there was a “legitimate conversation” to be had about the best use of its funds.

He told RNZ both National and NZ First would develop their policies over the next year and campaign on them into the election.

He has his take on it, and I have my take on it,” he said. “It’s not surprising. He’s been here 50 years, for goodness’ sake. He has a lot of different views.”

Luxon said it was “quite normal” for coalition partners to express different views “on the margins” – especially going into election year – and that should not be viewed as an impediment to governing.

Asked about Peters’ claim that National had failed to turn around the economy fast enough, Luxon said all three coalition parties were “working incredibly hard” on that goal.

“We are in this together as a coalition government,” Luxon told RNZ. “Part of [the economy]… has recovered well. The other part has been more challenging.”

In the Morning Report interview, Peters cited Singapore as a model of economic success, but Luxon said Singapore was a big proponent of selling assets to put that capital to better use.

“When you look at countries like Singapore, a country I’ve studied really deeply over 30 years, one of their great successes and hallmarks has been they recycle their assets.”

Peters also told Morning Report he opposed selling the government’s stake in the telecommunications lines company Chorus – an option currently being explored and advocated for by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

Luxon said Willis was still seeking advice and the government would discuss next steps “in due course”.

“We’ll come to Cabinet, have a good conversation about it, and see where we go to from there,” Luxon said.

“The choice for New Zealanders is: do you want the money tied up in Chorus debt, or do you want a new hospital or a school? It’s that simple.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Peters’ “admission” that the coalition government had failed to turn the economy around was “stunning”.

“Goodness gracious. Imagine what the conversations are like behind closed doors,” Hipkins said. “If that’s what they’re saying about each other in public, they can’t be getting on particularly well in private, can they?”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Recent rain is helping hugely to bring the massive Tongariro National Park blaze under control, Fire and Emergency says.

Thirty-five crews of Department of Conservation firefighters remain at the site on Tuesday, while drones with thermal imaging equipment have begun checking the flanks of the fireground for hotspots.

A helicopter is on standby to fly over and assess the full extent of the damage. However, low cloud has meant it has been unable to do an aerial assessment of the site, which is estimated to cover up to 2800 hectares.

FENZ assistant commander Renee Potae said recent rain has been a huge help.

“The key thing has been the rain, especially the runoff from the mountain. That runoff is running into the fireground and really helping us get control of this fire.”

However, while flames may no longer be visible, it does not mean the fire has been fully extinguished.

“While you can’t see too much sign of fire right now on the surface, it doesn’t mean it’s not still burning underground,” Potae said.

“So while we’ll start to see some of the resources start to demobilise over the next few days, there will be, for several days, some crews continuing to monitor the fire just to make sure it’s out.”

Meanwhile, an iwi representative said the rāhui over the scene will give the whenua time to breathe.

Two rāhui have been put in place, covering the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and any burnt areas.

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro representative Te Ngaehe Wanikau said: “The restoration is not about excluding, it’s not prohibiting.”

Wanikau said the restorative rāhui was not in the usual sense of rāhui which happens after a tragedy.

A restorative rāhui was about focusing on bringing the area back to what it should be, he said.

The “greatest” fear was the burnt area going into the “too hard basket and then we see yellow flowers of broom all over our mountain”.

The rāhui was an opportunity for “everyone and anyone” to focus on making it a restorative project that showed what the area could look like if the problem was dealt with.

He said they would work with agencies to determine the extent of the damage.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An offender posed a real and imminent threat when he was shot twice by police on an Auckland motorway, the police watchdog has ruled.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has released its findings into the incident that began in West Auckland in late September 2023.

It began when police were called to a petrol station in Te Atatū after getting information about a car stolen the night before in an aggravated robbery.

Two officers blocked the car and approached, but the driver rammed through other cars and escaped onto the nearby Northwestern Motorway.

It was a slow-speed pursuit because of the damage to the stolen car.

A call went out from the commander at the police communications centre that all responding staff must be armed and wearing safety gear.

After about six minutes, staff at the Auckland Transport Operations Centre sighted a firearm on the car’s passenger seat.

The driver got off the motorway at Lincoln Road and turned into oncoming traffic.

He got out and was followed by the officer, known as called Officer A in the findings.

Crew in the police Eagle helicopter saw the man trying to hijack vehicles at gunpoint, and at one point, trying to smash a window with the butt of his gun.

The man then pointed the long-barrelled firearm down the road toward Officer A before running again across an overbridge.

The IPCA said the officer thought about shooting the man at this point, but decided against it because of how far away he was and how little time he had to prepare.

Several people were also close by in their vehicles, the IPCA said.

The officer took cover and yelled for the man to drop his weapon, which he ignored.

The man ran towards a truck, opened the passenger door and yelled at the driver to get out.

The officer said the man was pointing his gun at the driver as he got in, who was “leaning away from him in terror”.

It was here Officer A fired his pistol five times through the windscreen into the cab, hitting the offender twice in the back.

Blood tests in hospital showed he had 170ng/ml of methamphetamine in his system.

The IPCA said the man was on electronically monitored bail for aggravated robbery, firearm possession and receiving property at the time of the incident.

He was also wanted by police for breaching bail by allegedly using tinfoil to cover his electronic monitor.

Police identified his gun as a 5.5mm calibre bolt action air rifle, classed “as an especially dangerous airgun”.

Officer A told the IPCA he believed the man intended to take the truck and escape, and that the man was willing to shoot the driver.

“He knew Mr X was willing to ram other vehicles, as he had already done so,” the findings said.

“He thought that if Mr X had control of the truck, he would pose a much more serious risk to the public and police due to the size of the truck and the force it could exert.”

The IPCA said there could have been grave consequences of death of serious injury.

“We are satisfied that Officer A needed to respond urgently because Mr X posed a real and imminent threat,” it said.

“Officer A had been calling on Mr X to surrender without success.

“We accept that Officer A had no reasonable or less violent option other than the use of his firearm available to stop Mr X and eliminate the risk he posed,” it said.

The authority said other options like batons, pepper spray and tasters were “clearly unsuited” and sponge rounds or a police dog were not available.

In a statement, Superintendent Naila Hassan acknowledged the findings.

“I want to recognise the work of our frontline every day, which in many cases requires them to respond and make split-second decisions in situations unfolding rapidly to keep people safe.”

“The entirety of this incident unfolded in around 10 minutes, and our staff moved forward with courage given what was taking place on the overbridge.

“I’m incredibly proud of our police officers on that day.”

Police said in September, the now 31-year-old man was convicted and sentenced at the Auckland High Court for presenting a firearm at a person.

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