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MediMap hack: Pharmacists implement manuel system to maintain safe care levels

Source: Radio New Zealand

MediMap is used by some health providers in aged care, disability, hospice and the community to accurately record medication doses and pharmacists say it going offline has caused “significant disruption”. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Pharmacies are falling back on their emergency back-up plans to distribute medication, and doing a lot of unpaid leg-work in the process, following the MediMap hack.

The prescription portal is used by many aged care, disability, and hospice providers to track medication, but it’s been offline since Sunday when it was discovered patient information had been changed – details like names, dates of birth, allergies, even marked some patients as deceased.

For nurses in care homes, MediMap going offline had meant a return to pen and paper, meaning it was taking a lot longer to get things done.

The same is true for pharmacists.

James Westbury, owner of Westbury Pharmacy and Unichem Kilbirnie Pharmacy in Wellington, said they supported about 5000 people in aged care, hospice and supported housing.

He said it had been “incredibly difficult” and caused “significant disruption” – with the digital system offline, pharmacists had downed tools to get a new manual system underway.

That involved going back through people’s dispensing histories and charts to make sure they were up to date, and in many cases, getting extra sign-off from a prescriber to be able to dispense medication.

“Unfortunately pharmacies get paid on dispensing, and when you’re not dispensing you’re not making money, so at the moment this is all done for the love of patient safety.”

Was it posing a risk to patient care? He said it added complexity, but it was manageable.

“The systems that we’ve got in place at the moment, I feel quite comfortable that care will be maintained at a safe level, particularly for regular prescribed and PRN [meaning, as needed] medication,” he said.

“The only real concern is where it’s short course [prescriptions] where it’s a little bit more difficult. We can still produce the data to provide safe continuity of care, it’s just a lot more challenging to get that information out – but it’s the art of the possible.”

Pharmacists had been forced to get a new manual system underway due to MediMap being offline. 123RF

Westbury said communication from MediMap had been “appalling”.

Pharmacists had been assured there was a digital backup in place should MediMap fail, called MediMap Go, he said. But that appeared to have been affected by the same hack, and was also offline, leaving pharmacists to scramble a new system into place.

Kesh Naidoo-Rauf, president of the Pharmacy Guild, said members were coping, but it had come at a bad time.

“We’re already struggling and facing workforce pressures, so it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the sector, in all honesty.”

But the priority was patient safety.

“We are trained for exactly these types of situations, so we’ve got our strong checks and balances in place to maintain safe dispensing processes. So it is still safe, but it is a lot slower.”

MediMap has declined multiple interviews with RNZ, but on Wednesday put out a statement saying it was heading to court to seek an injunction to stop anyone accessing, using, copying or sharing information from its systems.

It’s still unclear how many people have been caught up in the breach.

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Homes evacuated in Central Otago as fire threatens properties

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

At least eight houses have been evacuated in Central Otago as a quick moving fire threatens properties.

Fire and Emergency says it was called to a large grassfire that was threatening structures in the Springvale area near Clyde before 3.30pm.

The fire was 400 metres by 400 metres initially, but a spokesperson says it’s spreading quickly.

Crews from across Central Otago and as far afield as Dunedin have been called in to fight the fire, including four helicopters.

The spokesperson says it’s unknown if any properties have been damaged at this stage and crews have also moved livestock out of paddocks that were under threat.

Fire and Emergency is working with police to close Springvale Road.

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Ultra-processed food marketing needs tougher regulations – researcher

Source: Radio New Zealand

A university researcher who tracks the amount of ultra-processed products and ingredients coming into New Zealand is calling for stronger regulations around marketing, especially to children.

Ultra-processed foods are not just junk food, but anything full of chemical based preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, and artificial colours and flavours.

A US attorney is suing some of the biggest food manufacturers, accusing them of deliberately designing products to be addictive – despite the harm they are known to cause. David Chiu says with products from all companies involved in the lawsuit also available in New Zealand, it should be a worry here.

A selection of common foods considered processed to different degrees. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

In 2023, ultra-processed foods made up 23 percent of New Zealand’s imports, compared to only 7 percent in 1990, says Dr Kelly Garton from the University of Auckland.

She told Checkpoint it was time for the government to step in, because consumers were influenced in ways they could not control.

A major step would be better labelling and restrictions around packaging directed at children.

“I would love for our labels to give much clearer indication to consumers and what’s in their food. Getting rid of any of those misleading claims around healthiness or environmental friendliness, for example, as well as not allowing ultra-processed foods to have marketing packaging that’s targeting kids.”

Dr Kelly Garton RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Garton said much of the marketing was currently targeted at young people, along with their parents.

“A lot of these products will have colours, shapes, or flavours or textures that are meant to appeal to children and younger people. And so obviously that’s meant to sell more product.

“A lot of the marketing is targeted at parents. It might have a certain amount of health washing, you know, a good source of protein when maybe it’s a protein derivative that’s been added back in. not necessarily a healthy whole protein that you could be consuming otherwise.”

But marketing was only one of the reasons that ultra-processed foods were so prominent in New Zealanders diets.

“We are now reliant on these products in many ways that we can’t control, these are the products that are by and large the most available and affordable, and they’re heavily marketed to us.

“Also in terms of our social and economic circumstances, many of us, most of us are time poor. Many of us are financially constrained. We’re overly reliant on foods that are cheap, shelf stable, and very convenient. Added to that, fresh fruit and veg is absurdly expensive these days.”

RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Alongside Checkpoint, Garton examined a number of ultra-processed products to decipher the contents.

She said flavourings were often a warning sign.

“These flavours or natural colourings are put there to emulate or to mask or enhance flavours that whole foods would have. So they’re inherently manipulating our sense receptors.”

However, just because something falls under the ultra processed category did not mean it had to be avoided.

“These products would fall under the ultra-processed classification. Not all of them are going to be bad for us. Some of them, especially those that give us a lot of fibre and low in sugar, can be absolutely part of a healthy diet, especially given the constraints that we’re under these days.”

But if possible, Garton said the less processed option was always preferable.

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How a wind gust triggered high-speed Auckland SailGP crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

A sudden increase in wind speed caused the Black Foils to lose control of their boat moments before their high-speed crash with Team France in this month’s SailGP regatta in Auckland, an investigation has found.

The horrifying crash, which unfolded just 15 seconds after the start of the third race on day one, left two sailors hospitalised, and significantly reshaped the seasons of both teams, with the two boats suffering extensive damage.

Black Foils grinder Louis Sinclair sustained compound fractures to both legs in the incident, while France strategist Manon Audinet suffered internal abdominal injuries after the French F50 catamaran ploughed into the out-of-control Kiwi boat at speeds approaching 90 km/hour. Both sailors have since left hospital and are recovering at home.

SailGP officials on Wednesday released the findings of its technical review of the incident, revealing its engineers had found “no evidence of system malfunction”.

Alex Reid, SailGP’s director of performance and engineering, said the incident occurred after the Black Foils’ boat Amokura hit a gust of wind as it charged towards the first mark at 90 km/h. The extra wind pressure caused the foiling catamaran to accelerate rapidly and lift higher out of the water.

That increased “ride height” proved critical.

Black Foils SailGP Team and DS Automobiles SailGP Team France collide during Race 3, on Race Day 1. Simon Bruty for SailGP

As the hull rose, the leeward hydrofoil pierced the surface – a phenomenon known as ventilation – destabilising the boat. What followed was, according to Reid, “a very fast chain of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic events” that unfolded within seconds.

Data from onboard telemetry, high-rate performance systems and simulator recreations show the F50 began to sideslip, generating lift in unintended ways. Despite control inputs from flight controller Blair Tuke, the boat could not be brought down quickly enough.

As the crew fought to regain control – increasing rudder angle while trying to avoid nearby boats – the rudder briefly lost effective flow. The windward bow then dipped, the boat rounded sharply into the wind and decelerated hard.

Immediately behind, the French F50 was travelling at roughly 86km/h. At those closing speeds, there was no time or room to avoid impact.

“There is no evidence of a system malfunction or structural failure prior to the incident,” Reid said.

“What we see in the data is a very fast chain of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic events that pushed the boat beyond its controllable envelope at that moment.”

A penalty review has upheld the on-water decision that New Zealand breached rule 14 (avoiding contact) handing the Black Foils an eight-event-point penalty. France was deemed to have had no reasonable opportunity to avoid the crash.

Speaking to media last week after Black Foils driver and team boss Peter Burling described the incident as “horrific”.

Black Foils driver Peter Burling and team are expected to be off the water for some time after the crash caused significant damage to Amokura. Alan Lee/Photosport

“We started off race three and were going down reach one to windward of the Italian boat. We ended up high on the foil and ended up sliding sideways.

“We hit a system limit, which drastically escalated that situation, and had to take quite drastic action to avoid the Italian boat to leeward, which resulted in us touching down. Obviously, the incident followed that.”

Both teams have since been ruled out of the upcoming Sydney Sail Grand Prix as repairs continue.

SailGP says it is now examining potential mitigations to help crews better manage similar gust-driven scenarios in future regattas.

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Sharlene Smith homicide: Vehicle of interest identified

Source: Radio New Zealand

The vehicle of interest in the Sharlene Smith investigation. Supplied / NZ Police

Police investigating the death of a grandmother whose body was found at a Hawke’s Bay worksite earlier this month have identified a likely route taken by a vehicle of interest.

Police have issued a fresh appeal for help from the public in the investigation into the death of Sharlene Smith, 64, from Rotorua.

Smith’s body was found at a property on Taihape Road in Omahu, near Hastings, on 3 February.

Police earlier described the incident as the “tragic and avoidable death of a much-loved mother, grandmother and sister”.

In a statement released this afternoon, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kris Payne said police had identified a likely route taken by a vehicle of interest.

“We know this vehicle was used on the day Sharlene’s body was left at the worksite, and officers have carried out extensive work to locate and review CCTV footage from the relevant timeframe.”

The route taken by a vehicle of interest in the Sharlene Smith murder investigation. Supplied / NZ Police

Anybody who saw a white 2005 Mazda 3 sports hatchback between 8am and midday on Sunday 1 February 2026, – travelling from the Awatoto area, through Taihape Road/Omahu Road and the Fernhill area, and into Marewa, Napier – is urged to contact police.

“We are asking anyone who saw this vehicle, or who has home, business, or dashcam CCTV footage from those areas during that time, to please contact Police if not already spoken to,” said Payne.

Two items belonging to Smith are believed to have been discarded along the same route: a handbag and a Samsung Galaxy A06 mobile phone.

A handbag that is being sought as part of the Sharlene Smith murder investigation. Supplied / NZ Police

Anyone with information can contact police by calling 105 and referencing file number 260203/9739. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Meridian warns households could face power bill increases up to seven percent

Source: Radio New Zealand

Meridian Energy CEO Mike Roan. Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy says households could face power bill increases of up to seven percent this year, mostly due to lines and transmission charges.

The country’s biggest power generator returned to profitability in the half-year ended December, posting a bottom-line profit of $227 million, compared to the previous year’s dry-year-driven loss of $121m.

Chief executive Mike Roan said “unfortunately” some cost increases would be passed through to households again this year.

“I had assumed they might be in the order of around 5 percent earlier as we came back from Christmas,” he said.

“But the lines and transmission component has come in higher than expected, so my 5 percent has lifted to more like 7 [percent].”

Lines and transmission cost increases are regulated by the Commerce Commission, and they have been increasing to fund infrastructure improvements.

“The energy component of those increases is just above the rate of inflation, so we are doing a good job of limiting the increases in price driven by electricity costs, but that lines and transmission component is challenging, and it will flow for the next few years through consumers’ bills.”

Roan acknowledged it was “really tough” for customers to hear.

Asked whether companies the size of Meridian could cushion the impact on households, Roan said it did cushion households when it came to energy prices.

“That was evident materially last year given our result where we did buy a whole lot of insurance to protect the electricity system, but we try to pass through those line charges to consumers,” he said.

Meridian has remained competitive in the household market, with the company recording a 12 percent increase in retail sales volumes from a year ago.

LNG will help dry-year risk but no ‘silver bullet’

Mike Roan said the government’s move to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) would help the energy system during dry years.

“The combination of the Huntly strategic reserve, the big demand response agreement we’ve got with the Tiwai aluminium smelter down south, and LNG, will help us navigate future droughts successfully as a country,” he said.

“There’s no question about that.”

Roan said early indications showed forward pricing had also moved lower following the government’s LNG announcement and various power companies’ results.

“Interestingly – and there aren’t many coincidences in financial markets – is those forward prices have come off over the last couple of weeks and since that announcement,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those prices have started to think about the amount of investment that’s coming to market because we’ve just been through the interim announcements by ourselves and our competitors.”

Roan said forward prices had fallen by around $10 a megawatt hour.

Along with the country’s other major generators, Meridian has extensive projects underway to build new electricity generation.

Meridian said it continued to move at pace towards its goal of having seven generation projects in construction ready by 2030.

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

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Investigation underway after body found near vehicle in Westland

Source: Radio New Zealand

A police officer found the body near Parkers Creek. Google Maps

Police are investigating after a person was found dead near a vehicle in Whataroa, north of Franz Josef.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Lyford said a police officer found the body near Parkers Creek.

“At this time, the death is being treated as unexplained,” he said.

Lyford said members of the Whataroa community can expect to see an increased police presence as investigations continue.

A postmortem examination is due to be carried out later in the week.

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Multiple injuries after bus crash in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. RNZ / REECE BAKER

Multiple people have been injured after a bus crash in the Auckland suburb of Grafton this afternoon.

Hato Hone St John said three ambulances and one rapid response unit were sent to the scene on Carlton Gore Road / Park Road, shortly after 2.30pm

“Four patients have been assessed and are being transported to Auckland City Hospital, three in moderate condition and one in minor condition.”

The crash involved a construction truck, according to a witness.

– more to come

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National and New Zealand First go head to head over Hauraki Gulf

Source: Radio New Zealand

NZ First’s Shane Jones and National’s Tama Potaka. RNZ

New Zealand First has hit out at National after its coalition partner promised to campaign on stronger fishing protections in the Hauraki Gulf.

National’s conservation spokesperson Tama Potaka laid out the position his party would take to the election campaign over the weekend.

He said the coalition’s decision to allow commercial fishing in two of the 12 High Protection Areas (HPAs) in the gulf had caused “widespread concern” from the public.

Last year, the government passed legislation establishing 12 HPAs, where most commercial and recreational fishing were prohibited, and five sea floor protection areas.

At the time, the opposition criticised the government for a late-stage amendment allowing commercial ring-net fishing operators exclusive access to two of the HPAs.

“National will look to reinstate the ban on all fishing in the High Protection Areas,” Potaka said over the weekend.

“A further decision, to allow bottom trawling in some designated trawl corridors in the Gulf has also been controversial so we will review that also.”

‘Who will pay for it?’ – Shane Jones

New Zealand First’s deputy leader Shane Jones said National’s decision risked $250 million worth of property rights secured in a major treaty settlement more than 30 years ago.

“Any suggestion that commercial fishing has to be terminated and trawling has to be outlawed in the Hauraki Gulf almost certainly lead to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of property rights being cancelled.”

Jones said National’s policy would “lead to the unravelling” of the 1992 Sealord Deal – a significant fisheries settlement that gave iwi 50 percent of the Sealord company and a substantial quota of fish caught through the Quota Management System.

He said everyone weighing into the debate needed to bring a “level of even handedness” to discussions to avoid a massive taxpayer bill.

“We can float what we like as politicians in the election campaign but at some point in time, manifesto ideas will meet the sheer cold reality of who will pay for it.

“People who want to terminate commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf need to take account of who will bear the costs because we’re not a communist country that goes around summarily cancelling property rights.

“The advocates for terminating commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf are essentially saying they want to terminate property rights. Well, we’re not Venezuela.

“If you want to terminate property rights then you have to deal with compensation and no one who proposes the termination of fisheries is willing to explain or justify why a quarter of a billion dollars should be spent on turning the hierarchy golf into a mill pond.”

Potaka said National could protect the Gulf while also respecting fishery settlements.

“High Protection Areas were always intended to provide genuine protection, and if elected we will restore that integrity in a way that upholds our obligations and respects existing fisheries settlements.

“New Zealanders expect clarity and consistency in how marine protections are applied, and we are being clear that safeguarding the long-term health of the Hauraki Gulf is the responsible course for its future and for the country.”

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Government scraps its quarterly action plans

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon previously said the plans helped create momentum and drive focus. RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

The government appears to have scrapped its quarterly action plans, after not releasing one so far this quarter.

At the start of the term, the Prime Minister released the things the government planned to do in its first 100 days.

Once that was completed, the government moved to quarterly plans, starting in April 2024.

“Having a clear plan with specific actions and timeframes for delivery creates momentum and drives focus,” Christopher Luxon said at the time.

Each plan would contain about 30 to 40 actions within the government’s three pillars of ‘rebuild the economy and ease the cost of living,’ ‘restore law and order,’ and ‘deliver better public services.’

Its most recent one [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575209/the-33-things-the-government-plans-to-do-before-the-end-of-year

from October 2025], for example, contained actions to introduce the planning legislation that will replace the Resource Management Act, pass the legislation to enable time of use charging, and release the English and Maths curriculum for Years 0-10.

Some commitments in the plans were more vague, such as “take policy decisions” around legislation that would appear in a future plan, or “raise the energy” of international relationships to signal Luxon would be taking an overseas trip.

Others were simply a product of timing, such as “deliver a Budget,” which happens the same time every year.

With the release of each subsequent plan, the government would also say which of the actions on its previous plan it had not achieved or which were still in progress.

On Monday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the plans were “slightly absurd” and had become “an exercise in managerialism” rather than setting the direction for the country.

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