Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

The lawyer for Pike River families says police now have enough evidence to lay manslaughter charges over the disaster.

Nigel Hampton KC said police believe they have evidence showing specific acts of gross negligence, which are linked to the fatal explosion, in which 29 men were killed.

“From that, sufficient evidence has been collected by the police for them to conclude that they can now show specific acts of what they say were gross negligence and they can link those acts causatively to the explosion and therefore to the deaths.

“That equals potentially 29 charges of manslaughter being brought against certain individuals, the police have reached that view. It’s now with the Crown and the Crown have got to make a decision about what they’re going to do.”

Hampton said he was not able to comment on who those charges would be laid against, without breaching confidentiality.

“It’s been a cause of frustration and further anguish to the families, the time delay, but if it’s another month or two months or three months or whatever, they’re prepared to wait it out.”

‘Slap in the face’

Hampton said that anguish was exacerbated for Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse this week, after they were asked to meet with Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden on the 15th anniversary of the disaster, in a meeting they described as a complete waste of time.

“They attend at Parliament instead of being on the Coast with other families commemorating, grieving the deaths of their loved ones…then they are met with a negative response from the workplace minister indicating that from their point of view, the family’s point of view, there’s going to be rollback on health and safety stuff that came out of the Pike disaster and that only feels like a slap in the face for the women.”

Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori all expressed support for a corporate manslaughter charge.

A Royal Commission of Inquiry into the explosion in 2012 found New Zealand’s old safety laws lacked teeth, and there were catastrophic failings in the mining company’s systems, despite numerous warnings of a potential disaster.

Hampton said following the inquiry, police reached the view there were acts of gross negligence, both in terms of actions taken and actions not taken by the mining company and those in charge that would have formed the foundation of a prosecution for criminal nuisance under the Crimes Act, but the acts couldn’t be directly linked to the initial explosion and the deaths.

At the same time, the Department of Labour laid health and safety charges against Pike River Coal Ltd, its former chief executive Peter Whittall and a contractor, VLI Drilling Ltd.

The charges against Whittall were dropped in 2013 in exchange for payments to the victims’ families, which had since been declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.

Efforts by Pike River families, including Osborne and Rockhouse, to prevent the mine from being sealed in 2021 ultimately led to police being able to re-enter the mine and recover further material and evidence from the inside the drift.

In September 2022, police announced they were reopening the borehole drilling operation as part of the investigation and 10 boreholes were drilled, imaged, and resealed. Human remains were found in the mine in 2023.

Police have been working with the Crown Solicitor since the investigation concluded, over whether to lay charges.

A police spokesperson said they could not provide a timeframe for when a decision would be made on the matter.

The Crown Law office said the decision whether to prosecute ultimately sat with police and they were working with the Wellington Crown Solicitor on matters relating to the decision to prosecute.

The office said it was aware of that work and didn’t have anything further to add at present.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A New Zealand disability advocate caught up in the fire at the annual COP climate meeting in Brazil says she and her group were left to fend for themselves.

The fire took hold in a pavilion area while negotiations were still underway, forcing the evacuation of thousands of delegates from the venue.

There were no casualties but at least 13 people have been treated for smoke inhalation.

Kera Sherwood-O’Regan (Ngāi Tahu) is at COP30 representing the New Zealand Disabled Persons Assembly and her hapu, Te Rūnanga o Moeraki.

She was in a building next to the area where fire broke out but said there was no alarm or other alert.

“A lot of people initially thought, ‘Oh is this a protest?'”

Many in her group had disabilities so they decided not to take any chances, she said.

“We’re very conscious that oftentimes in emergency situations we really do get left behind and that’s why we’re here at the COP advocating.

“We made our way to one of the side doors to get outside and soon after that there was a massive influx of everybody getting out.”

At that point there was still no official information and people were instead coordinating in group chats, she said.

“There wasn’t a single clear alarm system, there was no signage on the screens or anything. People were really confused.”

Later she saw footage of the fire close to an area where she had spoken the day before.

“I received … a video of flames which were just floor to ceiling, over in the pavilions area … so that was obviously quite frightening for us.”

The UN body that oversees the COP talks said there had been “limited damage” but the site would reopen no sooner than 8pm (12pm Friday NZT).

The fire took place as ministers were deep in negotiations aimed at breaking a deadlock over fossil fuels, climate finance and trade measures, with one day left in the two-week conference.

-RNZ / AFP

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington’s mayor says a review of the Golden Mile project will give the council an opportunity to take another look at what the project was trying to achieve.

The Wellington City Council on Thursday voted for a review of the contentious project, which council officers predicted would now cost up to $220 million – up from $139m.

Mayor Andrew Little told Morning Report the area was in need of work, but the project had to be realistic and affordable.

“People certainly want to see that end of the Golden Mile, the Courtenay Place end, spruced up a bit and tidied up.

“But on all these things I always say: ‘let’s go back to these objectives, let’s see how we can cut the cloth to suit, and see whether we can achieve the objectives, but at a rate that’s more affordable for Wellingtonians’.”

The overall goals of the Golden Mile were good for the city, but the review was needed to work out how to rein in ballooning costs, Little said.

“They are important. Getting better passage of public transport so we get more reliable public transport services, improving places for people to walk and all that sort of stuff.”

The council and its ratepayers “simply cannot sustain another cost blowout”, Little said.

“The worst thing would be to box on, regardless of the numbers.”

The council also needed to work out why projects like the Town Hall and the Golden Mile kept going over budget.

“At some point we are going to have to go back over those projects. You can’t have cost blowouts of that magnitude and not see that there is something wrong with the way projects are being managed or planned or designed or whatever it is.

“We will, at some point, have to get to the bottom of that because, whatever it is, we have to improve our processes,” Little said.

Some works have already begun at the intersection of Cambridge and Kent Terraces, but council officers said in October it was discovered that the Courtenay Place works, which are currently under negotiation, are now expected to exceed budget by between $15m and $25m.

It’s the second time this year a budget blowout has been reported on the project. In August, a $20 million increase was reported, but the project was reviewed and brought back into budget.

Little said on Thursday that asking for a review of the Golden Mile was one of his first actions as Mayor, because it was apparent Council no longer had a clear picture on the costs of the project.

Review might cost up to $400,000

The review would take three to six months, with council officers providing an estimation of the review costing between $200,000 to $400,000.

It would include economic analysis on both the long-term impacts of the project and also in the short term across the full corridor from Lambton Quay to Courtenay Place.

One of the concerns raised by officers was if the project was rescoped to reduce costs, it could risk losing funding from central government.

“Although the government has agreed to fund 51 percent of the project, that was based on a business case done four years ago.

Meanwhile, the council was potentially on the hook for any cost escalations.” That’s why we need this review,” Little said.

“The review does not relitigate the benefits of the Golden Mile project, and as such will maintain the project’s current level of central government support.”

Councillor Rebecca Matthews said on Thursday the council had far too many times pressed pause when they should have pressed fast forward.

She was concerned the review could represent the first step in terminating the project and hoped she was wrong in her fears.

The vote for the review passed with 12 in favour and four opposed. Those opposed were Matthews, Laurie Foon, Jonny Osborne and Geordie Rogers.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland Pride says it has taken the government to court, filing for judicial review in the High Court.

The organisation said released documents through the Official Information Act, show the minister for sport and recreation had directed Sport NZ in July this year to withdraw Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport.

The organisation which advocates for Tākatāpui and Rainbow communities made the announcement on Friday morning.

Auckland Pride spokesperson Bhen Goodsir said documents released by Minister Mark Mitchell show he did not consider the Bill of Rights Act, the Human Rights Act or Sport NZ’s legal obligations when making this decision.

“The Government has also been clear that the Human Rights Act and the Bill of Rights Act protect transgender people from discrimination, and we agree,” Goodsir said in a statement.

“Human rights are for everyone. When Ministers make decisions, they must follow the law and uphold New Zealanders’ rights.

“The development of the Guiding Principles followed a robust consultation process shaped by affected communities. The Minister’s decision did not.”

Auckland Pride said Sport NZ’s statutory role was to promote and advocate participation in physical activity.

Goodsir said Auckland Pride was asking the courts to send this decision back to Minister Mitchell “so he can consider the impact of his decision on our communities”.

Auckland Pride said documents showed sports organisations asked for support navigating some of the nuanced challenges of inclusion and that Sport NZ consulted widely on the Guiding Principles, which were published in 2022.

Goodsir said the document offered practical guidance for local clubs on inclusion, such as utilising existing tools like weight bands and age brackets.

The Auckland Pride spokesperson said a government-initiated review began in 2024 but was halted when the principles were withdrawn before local organisations could have their say.

“Community sport is for the whole community… It makes sense for Sport NZ to support local organisations that are asking for guidance on how best to achieve that.

“Overseas culture-war tactics have turned this topic into a vector for misinformation elsewhere, but our focus is on work here. Our case simply asks that the minister consider his legal obligations, and the needs of the community, before making a decision,” Goodsir said.

Asked about the judicial review, Mitchell’s office replied: “The Minister won’t be commenting on the matter at this time.”

Why were the guidelines scrapped?

In 2023, New Zealand First campaigned on making any publicly funded sporting body “that does not have an exclusive biological female category, where ordinarily appropriate” ineligible for public funding.

Announcing the review, former sport and recreation minister Chris Bishop said the principles did “not reflect legitimate community expectations that sport at a community level should not just be focused on diversity, inclusion, and equity, but also prioritise fairness and safety”.

The completed review was handed over to Bishop’s successor Mark Mitchell.

Rather than an update, the government told Sport NZ to stop all work on the guiding principles and remove them altogether.

In August, Mitchell said he took coalition commitments seriously and believed the best decision was made in the long run.

“I just don’t think government should be meddling and getting into areas that… the sports themselves are best placed to know how to run their code in a safe and fair way.”

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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 jury has found Auckland man Moeaia Tuai guilty of slavery, and a string of sexual attacks on one of the slavery victims.

The 63-year-old has been on trial for the past month on 20 charges, including two charges of dealing in slaves.

The charges relate to a young man and a young woman who Tuai enslaved over different time periods from 2016 until last year.

He put them to work, restricted their movements and communication, and controlled their money, paying them little for their work. He threatened both with deportation if they spoke out.

Tuai was also found guilty of two counts of rape, eight indecent assaults, six sexual violations, and an assault.

The jury at the High Court in Auckland was told he treated the pair as if they were his property. He denied all the charges.

The jury took almost two days to reach their verdicts.

Tuai has been remanded in custody until his sentencing in February.

The ‘very definition of slavery’

The Crown said Tuai kept their passports, bank cards and wages, forcing one to take out a loan.

Justice Wilkinson-Smith, summing up the case, said prosecutors alleged Tuai’s actions were the ‘very definition of slavery’, in exercising rights of ownership over the complainants.

“It can include conduct such as restricting freedom of movement – where a person can go, restricting freedom of association – who they can spend time with, restricting freedom of communication – who they can contact and talk to, using actual or threatened violence for breach of rules, retaining income and denying access to money, threatening consequences such as deportation to ensure compliance, restricting access to education to maintain control.

“All of these things can be used to control a person in a way that is tantamount to possession.”

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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 police minister says the correct process was followed by his electorate staff who forwarded emails containing allegations about former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming to his ministerial office, months before he was made aware.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report found ” the emails allegedy sent by Ms Z dramatically increased in their number and distribution” in December 2023 and January 2024.

The report said the emails were sent to a range of people and organisations, including McSkimming himself, then-Commissioner Andrew Coster, then-Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura, the Prime Minister, the Police Minister, the IPCA, and various media outlets.

Mark Mitchell, who is also MP for Whangaparāoa, said 17 of the 36 emails in relation to McSkimming went to his electorate office.

“The correct process was followed, with those emails forwarded to the ministerial inbox for actioning. Electorate Staff are not employed by Ministerial services and do not deal with Ministerial Correspondence.”

The Post has reported the staffer in his electorate office, who is also his sister, responded to one of the emails in January 2024, to say the email address was for matters related to his electorate, and because the content related to his ministerial portfolios they would be managed by his ministerial team in the Beehive.

But because of a protocol put in place by Coster, the emails sent to Mitchell’s ministerial team were forwarded on to Coster’s office, and not shared with Mitchell.

The minister said the first time he was alerted to the situation regarding McSkimming and Ms Z was on 6th November 2024, when Coster briefed him. The next day, he called a meeting with the Public Service Commission and the Solicitor General to express his concerns.

“I am satisfied that all my team at both electorate and ministerial level have acted appropriately and diligently. No one knew at that stage there were integrity issues with the Police Executive,” he said.

Shortly after the release of the IPCA report, Mitchell said 36 emails containing the allegations were sent to his office, but he never saw them.

A protocol had been put in place for police staff in Mitchell’s ministerial office to forward the emails directly to then-Commissioner Andrew Coster’s office, and not share them with Mitchell or his political staff.

Mitchell has previously also defended the police staff in his ministerial office, saying they were put in an “awful situation” by the protocol, which he was unaware of.

Coster remains on leave from his role as Social Investment Agency chief executive while an employment process is carried out between him and the Public Service Commission.

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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 mother of three children who died following a fire in the Manawatū town of Sanson has spoken out for the first time. August, Hugo and Goldie died last weekend, in what is being treated as a murder-suicide. Their father, Dean Field, also died. Below are Chelsey Field’s words in full.

August, Hugo and Goldie were taken from me and all those who love them in the most horrible of circumstances, but I do not want their deaths to define the important, beautiful lives that they lived.

My babies were my absolute world. I have been a stay-at-home Mum since I had Hugo in 2020. Before that, I was an early childhood teacher and August came to work with me every day, and I am so glad I got this time with my darlings. I enjoyed so much quality time with them; trips to gymnastics, music groups, playgroups and play dates with friends. We had so much fun together and many holidays away. I will forever cherish all these special memories.

Not only did I lose my children and my home that day, but I also lost our beloved miniature schnauzer, Marlo, who would have been six this Christmas. She was the children’s best friend, and one of Goldie’s first words was dog.

I also had a stillborn daughter, Iris, who would have been nine this year. I have lost her ashes, photos and all her special keepsakes. I know my darlings will be reunited with their big sister.

This incident has left me heartbroken and devastated. My children did not deserve this.

I would like to acknowledge the first responders who responded to the incident and have helped me since. Their support has been so appreciated.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the many thousands of people around New Zealand who have been so generous during this difficult time. I have felt the aroha of those around me, in my community and around the country. This support has given me the strength to carry on in honour of the short lives my children lived and the impressions they left on so many people’s hearts.

August

August would have turned eight next Thursday and was looking forward to his birthday party at Timezone with five of his best friends. He was such a happy, kind and outgoing boy. He loved sport, especially football, he was a massive Messi fan. I had been planning on taking him to a Wellington Phoenix game soon. He loved going to the stock cars, fishing at the beach and playing with his best friend Levi. August was a fantastic big brother and he loved his siblings, especially his baby sister. He liked to get her out of bed in the morning, he would make her bottles and feed her. He loved his brother Hugo and they were always glued at the hip, either wrestling or playing outside making huts, digging in the sandpit or playing on the trampoline.

Hugo

Hugo was such a Mama’s boy. He was so kind, thoughtful and considerate, he would always come and tell me “Mum I got Goldie’s nappy and wipes ready for you, Mum I put your bag by the car for you”. He loved dinosaurs and Hot Wheels. He started school at the beginning of Term 2 and was taking it in his stride. He had begun to read so confidently, he was learning to count so proudly and he loved writing stories. Hugo loved going to the beach fishing also and riding his motorbike. He had just enjoyed his first pet day at school where he took his lamb Nigel and he won an award for care and attention. He loved his little sister Goldie too and was such a doting big brother.

Goldie

Goldie was my special little girl I had waited so long for. I am so glad I never spent a day or night away from her in her short life. She had just gotten her top two teeth and was pulling herself up to standing and attempting to coast around furniture. Her first words were ‘Hi’ and ‘dog’, she even said ‘Marlo’ the dog’s name before she said Mum. She loved going to music group every Tuesday, she enjoyed the drums and dancing to music. She was the happiest little girl and such a cruisy baby. She loved to have big snuggly cuddles and her brothers were the best things in the world to her. She followed them around the house getting into their Lego and toys. She loved going into the boy’s school every morning and afternoon and she had a massive fan club with the younger girls there.

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Where to get help:

• Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
• Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
• Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
• Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
• What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
• Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
• Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
• Healthline: 0800 611 116.
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
• OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A podcast that led to the discovery of one of New Zealand’s oldest European artefacts has been named Podcast of the Year at the NZ Podcast Awards.

Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt, produced by RNZ and the Motuihe Group, tells the story of famous entrepreneur and underwater adventurer Kelly Tarlton.

It traverses the story behind his life as a treasure and shipwreck hunter and the development of his aquarium on Auckland’s waterfront, while also re-igniting the search for a 256 year-old anchor off the Northland coast that Tarlton had been hunting for before he died.

Thanks to the podcast the anchor, lost by the French ship Saint Jean Baptiste in 1769, was rediscovered at the bottom of Doubtless Bay.

The podcast was the most decorated at this year’s podcast awards, winning gold in both the Best Documentary and Best History categories and silver in Best Factual, as well as the top honour.

The NZ Podcast Awards organisers said “its success is recognition for locally grounded storytelling that connects New Zealanders with our history”.

The podcast’s host and producer Hamish Williams said he was delighted with the win and immensely grateful to the Tarlton family for sharing their stories.

Kelly’s daughter Fiona Tarlton said on Facebook that “Dad would be thrilled” and thanked Williams for his dedication and talent in creating such a fascinating podcast.

She added: “My family and I are extremely grateful to RNZ and every team member involved for bringing this adventurous idea to reality.”

Tarlton was hunting for the anchor in 1982 and wrote down its coordinates, but his papers were lost for 40 years before they were rediscovered as part of the six-part podcast’s production.

The Saint Jean Baptiste was sailing in New Zealand waters at the same time as James Cook’s first expedition. It lost three anchors in a storm. Two had been found over the years and are on display at Te Papa and Te Ahu Museum in Kaitaia, but the location of the third anchor, described by Heritage New Zealand as “one of the oldest relics of early European contact with New Zealand”, remained a mystery until this year.

Marine engineer Brendan Wade, the partner of one of the other producers of the podcast Ellie Callahan, found the French anchor in a stunning conclusion to the series.

Heritage New Zealand has recommended it remain on the sea floor until tangata whenua have been consulted and archaeologists can properly survey the area.

RNZ’s daily news podcast The Detail, produced by Newsroom, won Current Affairs Podcast of the Year, while season two of Did Titanic Sink? by comedians Tim Batt and Carlo Ritchie silver in the Best Comedy and Best Fiction categories.

Earlier in the week, RNZ’s interview podcast Kim Hill Wants to Know was named by Apple Podcasts as New Zealand’s top new show of 2025, with cult podcast The Lodge in fourth.

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