Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori will gather for its long-awaited Annual General Meeting in Rotorua today, after months of turmoil that led to the expulsion of two of their six MPs.

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi will now attend the full AGM following a high court ruling reinstating her to the party, while Tākuta Ferris remains expelled and won’t be in attendance.

Ferris told RNZ he wasn’t surprised Kapa-Kingi was reinstated, and it was just “the next step in unfolding this big fat mess”.

He said the AGM agenda was “sterile”, suggesting it would be shut down following the updates provided.

Items on the agenda include updates from the party president, the co-leaders, and the electorates, as well as a financial report, constitution amendments and general business.

Ferris said following the news of Kapa-Kingi’s reinstatement, “you’ve got this whole other conversation that’s going to rear its head tomorrow.”

It also put the membership of the National Council – who made the decision to expel the MPs – “on notice”, Ferris said. He said their conduct will be scrutinised when the whole case is heard in February.

“If it’s not up to standard, well there’ll be consequences.”

On Friday, Justice Paul Radich said there were serious questions to be tried regarding Kapa-Kingi’s expulsion.

In response, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said on Friday she looked forward to hosting party members and “bringing this directly to them”.

The ruling discussed the party’s concerns that reinstating Kapa-Kingi would likely “create extreme tension within Te Pāti Māori’s MPs and leadership”.

Ferris agreed there would be tension, but not only within the parliamentary members of the party.

“There’s going to be resentment and tension from the membership that arrive.”

But he indicated the senior nature of those in attendance would “quell all of that carry on.”

He said there would be “senior Māori leadership” in attendance.

“Those senior leaders are going to show up expecting an open marae style conversation.

“If they [party leadership] try and run the sterile agenda, that’s just another notch in their belt.”

He said the wider membership would also want to “say their piece” and if the agenda didn’t allow for that, “then that just won’t be a good look.”

“This ain’t going away until someone shows up to have a proper conversation in a forum of accountability,” said Ferris.

Part of Kapa-Kingi’s application for a temporary injunction had included orders to restrain party president John Tamihere from acting in his role as president because he hadn’t been “validly re-elected”.

While he acknowledged the re-election issue required further consideration, Justice Radich didn’t see it as necessary to preserve her position as party member and the immediate concern of Tamihere chairing the AGM was addressed by the party making an assurance vice-president Fallyn Flavell would now chair instead.

Ngarewa-Packer said in response to the ruling she was pleased the president’s position had been preserved.

The AGM begins on Sunday morning in Rotorua, part of the Waiariki electorate.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nitrate levels are inching up in a small South Canterbury town where some council water supplies were previously off limits for extended periods twice following breaches of the drinking water standards.

On Friday, the Waimate District Council reported the Lower Waihao and Waikakahi East Rural Water Scheme had reached 8.8 mg/L of nitrate-nitrogen (N03-N).

The legal limit is 11.3 mg/L.

Nitrate contamination in drinking water above 5mg/L has been linked to an increased risk of preterm birth.

The New Zealand College of Midwives advised pregnant people to consider an alternative water source if their primary water source is above this level for nitrate.

Some international research has drawn links to bowel cancer at far lower nitrate levels, and some health advocates have advocated for New Zealand’s maximum to be lowered.

Two weeks ago, Greenpeace water testing in Waimate found the supply was at 6.07mg/L of nitrate.

Waimate District Council’s own testing on 20 November found the supply was 6.35 mg/L.

“The Lower Waihao Scheme has consistently tested around 5 mg/L since April, but nitrate levels have shot up in the space of less than a month,” Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Will Appelbe said.

“The council has done what they can in an attempt to reduce the contamination, but this is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. The only way to permanently improve nitrate contamination is to address the source of the pollution: the intensive dairy industry,” he said.

In late 2022, around 650 Waimate households were told their tap water was unsafe after nitrate levels in the Waihao and Waikakahi East rural water schemes exceeded the maximum allowable value.

Again, in December 2024, residents were advised not to drink the water after it breached the limit. At the time, the council provided water tanks, and diluted the supply with water from the Waitaki River.

However, the council reported the presence of didymo algae and sediment when the river was high meant that was not viable long term, and after ruling out plans for an expensive denitrifcation system has been granted a consent to tap a new, lower nitrate water source, with work expected to start in 2026.

In September, the outgoing canterbury regional council narrowly voted to declare a nitrate emergency at the final meeting of its triennium.

Government ministers and farming groups called the move a stunt, but Earth Sciences New Zealand research found the region had the highest percentage of elevated nitrates in groundwater in the country.

The council’s most recent annual groundwater testing found nitrates had increased during the past ten years in 62 per cent of test wells.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An unknown chemical has injured two workers and forced the closure of Taumarunui Transfer Station, after it was left for recycling.

The liquid was in unlabelled containers that ruptured in the plastics recycling, burning one worker’s arm, and exposing another staff member to fumes that irritated their eyes and throat, Ruapehu District Council said.

The incident happened on Tuesday, 25 November, the council said.

On Friday, six people, including five children, were hospitalised with chemical burns in Christchurch, after a sterilising chemical was mistakenly used on a slip and slide at a childcare company.

Ruapehu District Council said the Taumarunui workers were exposed to the chemical, when they were packing the plastics to be moved off-site.

“The Taumarunui Fire Brigade’s hazardous materials team attended the scene, and safely collected and contained the substance in a sealed container.

“The chemical was believed to have been an acid, but without any labelling, its exact nature remains unknown.”

The transfer station had since re-opened, but the incident was a reminder to take care, when disposing of chemicals, the council said.

It had processes for staff to safely dispose of chemicals at both the Taumarunui or Ohakune transfer stations, and said anyone with concerns about chemicals or with unknown chemicals, should contact the council, or speak to the staff at the transfer stations.

“This was a major health and safety incident that could have been completely avoided,” Ruapehu District Council solid waste manager Anne Marie Westcott said.

“Unlabelled or partially full chemical containers pose a serious threat, not only to our staff, but also to the environment, if they make their way into waterways. We need the community’s support to keep everyone safe.”

The council issued a list of how to correctly dispose of chemicals, including to keep labels on chemical containers, ensure containers are empty before putting them in the recycling or rubbish, never putting unidentified liquids into recycling or rubbish, and treating unidentified liquids with extreme caution.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Severe weather alerts have been issued for overnight into Sunday, for a front moving onto the South Island accompanied by heavy rain and northwest gales, before it is expected to weaken over central New Zealand on Monday, MetService says.

An orange heavy rain warning was in place for Fiordland for the period from 2am Sunday through to 2am Monday, and for the headwaters of Otago lakes and rivers from 7pm Sunday until the early hours of Monday morning.

The Canterbury High Country had an orange high wind warning, to come into effect from midday Sunday, through to 4am Monday, where people can expect severe gale northwesterlies gusting up to 120km/h in exposed places, MetService said.

New Severe Weather Watches and Warnings have been issued.

To find out the details as well as keep up to date go the Warnings page on the MetService website:https://t.co/HZ2TSD5rV7 pic.twitter.com/eCXThSsnn4

— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 6, 2025

Damage to trees, powerlines and unsecured structures was possible, and driving could be difficult under those conditions, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles, it said.

“Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.”

Elsewhere across Te Waipounamu, yellow heavy rain and strong wind watches were in place.

From 8pm Sunday, the ranges of Westland were due periods of heavy rain, which could approach warning criteria, MetService said.

Fiordland, the Southern Lakes, and parts of Southland and Central Otago could expect Northwest winds from midday Sunday until 2am Monday, which could approach severe gales in some exposed places, MetService said.

Both watches had a moderate chance of upgrading to a more serious orange warning.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The summer season is expected to bring a record number of Kākāpō chicks, according to conservation scientists.

Auckland University’s Kākāpō Recovery Group believes breeding-age females may lay eggs, making it the most successful season in nearly five decades.

Currently, the nocturnal parrots are in four predator-free sanctuaries, but Auckland University professor Jacqueline Beggs, who chairs the group, said growth would require new habitats.

A successful breeding season depended on both the amount of fruit on rimu trees and all female parrots being in good breeding condition, something that was not common.

Professor Beggs said the Kākāpō was one of the few critically endangered species to make a genuine recovery and the group now hoped for chicks from all 84 breeding-age females.

This would significantly boost the population of the flightless native parrot, which currently sat at 237 birds.

The last big breeding season was in 2022, when 57 chicks fledged.

Mating was expected to take place about Christmas and January. The eggs would then be laid in February and March, hatching a month later.

About next September and October, the chicks should be independent and would be officially added to the parrot’s population.

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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 childcare company where seven people suffered chemical burns admits it has failed on safety.

Emergency services rushed to the Kindercare facility in Woolston on Friday, after an incident in which police said a chemical intended for use in the kitchen steriliser was mistaken for dishwashing liquid, and was poured onto a slip and slide.

Seven people were hospitalised, including five children, but all were discharged from Christchurch Hospital by late Saturday morning.

In a letter to parents, Kindercare said it had failed to uphold its core value of safety.

The provider’s chief executive and regional manager flew to Christchurch on Friday night.

The company said the chemical involved was used in many of its centres.

It was normally kept in a kitchen cupboard or laundry, and plumbed directly into the centre’s steriliser.

Kindercare now wanted answers on how the chemical was taken from that storage area and used in a play activity.

“The teachers have had a waterslide – bit of fun for the kids… and at some point of time, some detergent’s unfortunately been misidentified, and a corrosive product has ended up on the slip and slide,” Fire and Emergency Woolston senior station officer John Herriot said on Friday.

“This has caused some irritation to the children’s skin and some light blistering.”

In total, 40 patients were assessed after the incident, and five children and two employees were taken to hospital, while the centre was put into lockdown.

In total, 40 patients were assessed, and five children and two employees were taken to hospital and the centre was put into lockdown.

“Eighteen units responded, nine ambulances, three rapid response units, five operations managers and one Major Incident Support Team vehicle,” St John said.

St John national operations manager Chris Harrison said the patients had suffered chemical burns and blisters.

Parents were “pretty upset but pragmatic about the situation”, Harrison said.

‘Someone’s obviously dropped the ball’

Kindercare has promised to carry out a full investigation and WorkSafe has also opened an investigation.

Meanwhile, a safety expert said the internal investigation must be systemic.

New Zealand Institute of Safety Management president Karl Berendt told RNZ the cleaning product used was fairly common.

“It does have a caustic nature to it, and one of the things you’ve got to look at there is are we making sure all our systems and processes are right, in place and working as they should do?

“Look, in this particular case, someone’s obviously dropped the ball, and we’ve got to try and and figure out what’s gone on there.”

Berendt said the fact children were injured was a prompt for the entire childcare industry to go over the safety systems they had in place.

“We really need to make sure all our kindergarten and childcare centres take a good hard look at some of the things they’ve got inside their work spaces as well.

“Nothing’s more important than looking after our kids, so this is a good wake-up call for all these centres.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Firefighters are mopping up, after a shed fire spread to a neighbouring house in Waltham, Christchurch, sending plumes of black smoke across neighbouring suburbs.

Fire and Emergency say four trucks attended the fire shortly before 4pm Saturday.

When they arrived, they found a garden shed well ablaze, with flames spreading to the roof of a neighbouring home, before the fire was brought under control.

A FENZ spokesperson said the fire was not being treated as suspicious.

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