Dan Hooker returns to the Octagon just 69 days after his grudge match with Arman Tsarukyan.PHOTOSPORT
UFC 325 – Volkanovski vs Lopes 2
Main Card 3pm NZT, Sunday February 1st.
Early prelims from 11am.
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney.
Live blog updates on RNZ
Will the sequel flip the script?
Despite seemingly putting the story to bed, Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski will run it back with Brazil’s Diego Lopes, this time in Volk’s backyard.
The pair first met for the vacant featherweight strap in April of last year after Ilia Topuria made the move up to lightweight. While many believed Volkanovski’s reign at the top was over when Topuria shut his lights off in devastating fashion, the king made his return to the throne in a dominant five round decision victory over Lopes at UFC 314. Now in the second PPV in as many weeks to kick off 2026, Volk and Lopes will run it back for the featherweight strap in Sydney’s main event.
Meanwhile, The Hangman is back in action and promising to deliver more violence in his bout against ‘the God of war’ Benoit Saint-Denis. It’s a quickfire turnaround for Dan Hooker, who is just 69 days removed from his grudge match with Arman Tsarukyan.
Hooker was choked out by Tsarukyan in late November, and is a rank outsider for the co-main, but so lethal is his striking that one accurate shot could see the Frenchman fold.
“There is no other way I do business, let’s get down to work,” Hooker said at this week’s press conference.
About the fighters
Alexander ‘the Great’ Volkanovski – champion
Age – 37
Nation – Australia
Record – 27 wins 4 losses
Height – 5ft 6 inches (1.68m)
Weight – 145lbs (66kg)
Reach – 71 inches (180cm)
Diego Lopez – challenger
Age – 31
Nation – Brazil
Record – 27 wins 7 losses
Height – 5ft 11inches (1.8m)
Weight – 145lbs (66kg)
Reach – 72.5 inches (184cm)
Who did they most recently fight?
It was an emphatic bounce back for Lopes after the Volkanovski defeat, a stunning spinning back elbow knocking out Jean Silva in round two at UFC Fight Night in September to earn another shot at the champ. Volkanovski has not been in action since putting on a clinic against Lopes to win back his crown.
What are they saying?
“When you’ve got a guy like Diego Lopes who’s gonna bring it, you know he’s gonna bring it, he’s a gamer, he’s going to want to get in my face and make it a fight so we will have no choice but to fight.” – Volkanovski.
“He is a legend in the sport. He has a lot of fights in the UFC, but I think this time it’s my time to take the belt.” – Lopes.
“If you want to go to war, I’ll take you to f****** war.” – Hooker
“I don’t need to sell the fight, you know it’s going to be a brawl, let’s go for a bloodbath.” – Saint-Denis.
What will happen?
Expect a similar if not more emphatic result in Sydney. While Lopes has a dangerous submission game, Volkanovski has proved his world class takedown defence against the best maulers in the game.
With Lopes having a base in jiu-jitsu and Volkanovski in wrestling, another stand up war is inevitable.
Prediction – Volkanovski by decision.
Kiwis head across the Tasman
Australia cards always have a heavy kiwi presence and Sunday will be no different with a trio of City Kick Boxing fighters set to make the walk to the octagon. Kicking off the early prelims will be a pair of New Zealand trained contenders chasing a contract in their respective Road To UFC finals in Aaron Tau and Lawrence Lui. Tau opens the event against Namsrai Batbayar in the flyweight final, is riding a three fight win streak after suffering his only career loss in 2024 on Dana White’s Contender Series. ‘Tauzemup’ is an incredibly aggressive front foot fighter, who thrives in chaos. He has seven career knockouts from his 11 wins, with just the one submission victory coming back in 2021. Fellow team member and bantamweight Lawrence Lui takes on China’s Sulangrangbo, also on the early prelims at Qudos bank Arena having booked his spot with a UD win and second round knockout last year. Another pure striker, Lui has seven career wins, four by knockout and juts one defeat which came back in 2022.
UFC 325 Main Card
Alexander Volkanovski (c) v Diego Lopes for the UFC featherweight championship
Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint Denis at Lightweight
Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy at Lightweight
Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira at Heavyweight
Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey at Lightweight
Prelims
Junior Tafa vs. Billy Elekana at Light Heavyweight
Cam Rowston vs. Cody Brundage at Middleweight
Jacob Malkoun vs. Torrez Finney at Middleweight
Jonathan Micallef vs. Oban Elliott at Welterweight
Early prelims
Kaan Ofli vs. Yizha at Featherweight
Kim Sang-wook vs. Dom Mar Fan at Lightweight
Keiichiro Nakamura vs. Sebastian Szalay at Featherweight
Lawrence Lui (NZ) vs. Namsrai Batbayar at Flyweight
Aaron Tau (NZ) vs Sulangrangbo at Bantamweight
Volkanovski will headline in his hometown at UFC 325.UFC
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“It’s been a rough road. We feel a bit battered and bruised. Like most iwi can attest to, this process is hard. It’s hard on relationships with our neighbours, hard on relationships with ourselves, but it’s an awesome testament today to finally arrive here, due in large measure to the sacrifice of our leadership and our pāhake and our kaumātua, many of whom have passed on. So we’re kind of carrying their legacy and their moemoeā, their vision for our people,” Rice-Edwards said.
“A lot of our whānau have brought pictures of their loved ones who’ve passed on. So again, we carry that legacy on.”
Rice-Edwards said securing pardons for Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu and Te Rangiātea, who were unjustly convicted under martial law in 1846, was a critical part of negotiations.
“Te Rangiātea, he was a koro at the time, quite elderly. He died in November 1846 in jail, in Mt Cook Jail. Also, tūpuna Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu was sentenced for rebellion against the Crown. He was convicted to die or be executed by hanging.”
Ngāti Hāua have a strong history in the Heretaunga or Hutt Valley and both Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu and Te Rangiātea were caught up in land disputes which led to armed conflict in the Hutt Valley, he said.
“It’s been a sense of grievance for our iwi for a long time. So we’ve carried that and their descendants have carried that stigma. A big part of that mamae is the fact that we never had the remains of our tūpuna to bury properly in terms of our tikanga or to take them back home,” he said.
“So today is remembering those two tūpuna and reaffirming their mana in terms of the injustice of the Crown, the way they were treated.”
Ngāpūwaiwaha Marae in Taumarunui where the Deed of Settlement was signed in 2025.Supplied
Following today’s third reading, the bill will go to the Governor-General for Royal Assent, becoming the Ngāti Hāua Claims Settlement Act.
Once the legislation is enacted, settlement assets will transfer to Te Whiringa Kākaho o Ngāti Hāua Trust.
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Paul Goldsmith said the total settlement package provides $19 million of financial redress and includes the return of 64 culturally significant sites.
Goldsmith told MPs the Act records the Crown’s apology for its actions which breached the Treaty, including warfare, the alienation of land through Crown purchasing and Public Works taking which left Ngāti Hāua virtually landless.
“The loss of land led to the erosion of tribal structures and left Ngāti Hāua unable to sustain themselves and with few opportunities for social and economic development. Many Ngāti Hāua were obliged to leave their rohe which exacerbated the damage to the iwi’s spiritual and cultural well-being.”
This settlement lays the economic, cultural and social foundation for Ngāti Hāua to reestablish their connection to their land, their rohe, strengthen their identity and to build a future for themselves in generations to come.”
The settlement can never fully compensate Ngāti Hāua for the loss they’ve suffered as a result of Crown actions, he said.
Rice-Edwards said back home in Taumarunui, the main centre of their region, there is a lot of disparity and inequity in housing, health and employment among their people.
“While we’re not sort of letting the Crown off the hook in terms of its obligations to our people. We want to go back home and be a catalyst for change and social transformation. So that will be a big focus for us for the next five years.”
Rice-Edwards said the financial redress will be helpful in rebuilding their tribal nation, but the return of land has been a key focus for the iwi.
“So that will be a focus in terms of growing those reserves and just managing them and just reconnecting as a people with those places, because all of those places we haven’t been able to access for a long time.”
Many rangatahi (young people) were in attendance at Parliament to watch the Bill pass and Rice-Edwards said it is incumbent the current leadership to start looking to the future.
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There are many rules in place for the election ads we’ll see leading up to Election Day.RNZ illustration / Nik Dirga / 123rf
Explainer – The big flood of election adverts and billboards won’t start until closer to November, but the race to influence hearts and minds begins now.
There are many rules regulating disclosure, campaign spending and the timing of certain election advertisements.
There are still more than nine months before we vote on 7 November, which means the candidates and parties have plenty of time to pitch for your vote.
“The lengthy time period is advantageous for parties with more money to spend as they can effectively campaign for the whole year,” University of Otago professor of law Andrew Geddis said. “Based on recent donation returns, that’s National and ACT in particular.”
Here are the basic rules around political advertisements and what you can and can’t do.
Clockwise from top left, National leader Christopher Luxon, Labour leader Chris Hipkins, ACT leader David Seymour, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters on the campaign trail.RNZ
Can people legally advertise before the election is even near?
Absolutely, although you won’t generally see election advertisements everywhere until closer to November.
“There is no restriction on when people can publish election advertisements, other than Election Day before 7pm,” the Electoral Commission legal and policy manager Kristina Temel said.
This can include online advertisements or print media.
However, you can’t put election advertisements on TV or radio until the official election regulated period starts.
The election regulated period runs the three months before Election Day.RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Wait, what does that regulated period mean?
It’s when we start counting how much is being spent, for one thing. The regulated election period runs in the three months before Election Day – this year, from 7 August to 6 November.
Once that period begins, a bunch of strict rules around election spending kick in.
Electorate candidates are only allowed to spend up to $36,000 during the regulated period. This includes any advertising by someone else that is approved by the candidate.
Registered political parties can spend up to $1,503,000 if they contest the party vote plus $36,000 for each electorate candidate for the party. Registered third party promoters can spend up to $424,000 while unregistered third party promoters can spend up to $17,000.
Temel said that there are still some requirements about how campaign advertising is conducted outside the regulatory period.
“The regulated period is relevant for election expenditure limits, but both before, during and after the regulated period, obligations regarding promoter statements and written authorisation to publish election advertisements apply.”
And of course, all election advertising has to be taken down by midnight on 6 November, including billboards and online ads, and breaches can result in fines.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins speaks at the unveiling of the party’s first billboard of the 2023 general election campaign.Giles Dexter
What counts as an advertisement?
They can be in the humble newspaper, on television, leaflets dropped in your mailbox or ads seen while scrolling online, or they can be big old billboards you see every time you drive to the supermarket.
The Electoral Commission’s candidate handbook defines them as “an advertisement that may reasonably be regarded as encouraging or persuading voters to vote, or not vote, for a candidate or party”, or alternatively, “a type of candidate or party the advertisement describes by referencing views they do or don’t hold”.
What that all means is that it’s anything that is trying to persuade you to vote a certain way.
Editorial content – news items such as RNZ reporting Christopher Luxon’s latest announcement, for example – doesn’t count as an advertisement.
Individuals posting their political views online doesn’t count, unless it’s paid content or someone claiming to speak for a political party, for example making a post saying they speak for the Green Party or New Zealand First or others.
An MP’s contact details also doesn’t count as election advertising, nor do columns or opinion pieces solicited or published by media with no payment involved.
There are no limitations on where candidates or advocacy groups can buy advertisements, or how often they can buy them, other than the spending limits during that designated regulation period, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) chief told RNZ.
“The ASA does not restrict election advertisements in those ways,” Hilary Souter said.
But if you are making an election ad, you’ve absolutely, positively got to include a promoter statement.
Campaign ads like this 2023 ad against the National Party by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions must carry a promoter statement, as seen at the bottom.Supplied
What’s a promoter statement, then?
Basically, it tells people who’s behind the advertisement. Those small notes you see on billboards telling you “authorised by Joe Bloggs” or something similar? That’s a promoter statement.
Promoter statements are required at all times, even outside the regulatory period, and they must include a name and contact details.
Advocacy groups such as Council of Trade Unions or Family First NZ also fall in this requirement.
They need to be “clearly displayed,” the Electoral Commission says – no 2-point font, please – and it notes “making your promoter statement too small will likely generate complaints”.
Even advertisements related to the election but not pushing one particular view – such as encouraging people to vote or enrol – must include a promoter statement.
If you don’t use a promoter statement, you can be fined up to $40,000 – which could pay for a lot of pamphlets – so it’s probably worth taking the time to credit your advert accordingly.
Elections NZ also can give advice on whether an ad counts as an election advertisement or not, by contacting advisory@elections.govt.nz.
Billboards as seen in the 2020 election.RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
What about election billboards?
There’s no actual national rule about election billboards waiting until the final weeks to go up.
However, election billboard rules are set by local councils and vary from place to place. For example, in Auckland election signs are only allowed nine weeks before Election Day.
“You should talk to your local council before you put up any election signs,” Elections NZ’s website warns.
In 2023 for instance, the ACT party was found to be in breach of electoral rules in Tasman and Marlborough districts by putting up large signs in June before the October election.
The Electoral Act says you can have election signs that are up to three square metres in size in the nine weeks before Election Day. And all those billboards are required to have the mandatory promoter statement, preferably not at microscopic size.
But the internet is likely to be the biggest battlefield in 2026, not billboards.
“The fact is that such blanket forms of advertising are very expensive and the spend-to-result ratio is not that efficient as most people simply are not really thinking about the election,” Geddis said.
“Which is why parties and candidates will put their money towards online messaging that they can target towards individuals they think are most likely to be influenced.”
A compilation of TV ads from the 2023 election:
Are media companies obligated to be fair in the ads they run?
There’s no requirement for equal time, so if one party decides to buy more ads there’s no obligation for media to run an equal amount by another. It’s all about how much money political groups are willing to spend.
“Ultimately, the responsibility to be aware of and comply with all aspects of advertising regulation is shared between all the parties to an advertisement, including the advertiser, agencies, and media organisations,” the Advertising Standards Code says.
And if ads are misleading or violate the rules, there are several ways to file a complaint about them.
ACT MP Brooke van Velden in a campaign ad for the party in 2023.Screenshot
How do you make complaints?
The Electoral Commission deals with breaching of election advertising or Election Day rules under the Electoral Act, and election programmes under the Broadcasting Act. Offences could then be reported to the police.
When it comes to content, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA), the Media Council and ASA can all field possible complaints about election adverts that fall in their jurisdiction.
The BSA oversees TV and radio, the ASA oversees ads in other media, and the Media Council looks at editorial content concerns.
“As in previous years, our focus will be on paid election advertising and compliance under the rules of social responsibility and truthful presentation,” the ASA’s Souter said.
RNZ
Do all these rules apply in cyberspace?
Of course, the days of people only seeing election ads in newspapers and before the 6pm news are long past.
“We are acutely aware of the ongoing changes to the information environment and how rapidly technology is developing,” Temel said.
Broadly, the rules are just the same for online advertisements.
“Our election advertising rules are media-neutral in that the same requirements apply no matter where they appear,” Geddis said.
“As such, online election ads delivered through social media or elsewhere still must contain promoters statements that alert those receiving them as to who is behind the messages.”
What about AI ads? Are there rules about those?
AI-generated content has taken over much of the world these days, and it’s likely to only get worse this year.
An ad by the ACT party last year featured an AI-generated “happy Māori” couple.Screenshot
“We have social media advice on our website for people on what to do if an election ad doesn’t look right,” Temel said.
“There are some checks that can be applied. Does the ad have a promoter statement saying who’s behind it? If it’s from a candidate or party, you can check if it’s on their social media account or website. If you’re not sure about it, don’t share it.”
Existing frameworks like the Harmful Digital Communications Act and Privacy Act also apply to AI content, while other advertising standards can also apply to misleading online election ads.
“The ASA codes do not currently contain AI-specific rules,” Souter said. “The codes apply regardless of how content is generated, edited, or targeted.”
Geddis notes the Electoral Act 1993 includes the offence of undue influence”, which prohibits using “any fraudulent means [to] impede or prevent the free exercise of the franchise of an elector”.
“The limits of this provision are relatively untested, but could be read to capture some AI-generated disinformation that is intended to discourage voters from casting a ballot,” he said.
Should the regulated period be longer when the election isn’t for months?
Geddis said the time between the announcement and Election Day isn’t actually unusually long this year.
“The gap between election announcement and Election Day is two to three weeks longer than in 2023, which is not hugely different.
“The problem is that the further the regulated period – where controls on campaign spending are in place – is pushed out from polling day, the more forms of political related speech get captured.
“It isn’t just candidates or parties that have caps on their election advertisements. All individuals or groups who publish these sorts of messages during the regulated period face spending caps.”
Geddis said because MPs and parties are prohibited from spending parliamentary funding on election advertising during the regulated period, “all parties have an interest in keeping this period at three months”.
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Another big name is leaving Newmarket, but the local business association says things are looking up for the Auckland shopping district.
Retailer Twenty-Seven Names told customers this week it had decided not to renew the lease on its Newmarket shop.
“Yes, it’s sad and yes, we’re a little emo about it. But we’re not in a position to renew the lease, and we’re choosing to honour the decade we had in that beautiful space rather than stretch it beyond what feels right,” it said in an email.
A number of shops in Newmarket have closed in recent years, including Smith & Caughey, Sportscraft and Route 66.
Retail consultant Chris Wilkinson said shopping areas in Auckland had been jostling for position in recent years.
“Newmarket has faced increasing competition as Sylvia Park continues to add new anchor attractors, while Commercial Bay’s retail and hospitality offer and the luxury quarter on Queen Street have won back shoppers who were being wooed by Westfield Newmarket,” he said.
But he said there were positive signs for the area, including university developments and public transport connectivity that would benefit from the City Rail Link.
“That will unlock new audiences and increased convenience which are key to driving growth in an otherwise fairly flat spending environment. Chemist Warehouse have secured the former Smith and Caughey site, and that will reinvigorate this prime retail strip significantly.
“Challenges have been around the suitability of spaces, with many older and smaller sites no longer being suitable for the needs of today’s tenants. A number of major occupiers moved from the retail strip into Westfield when the refurbished centre opened, and it’s taken time to backfill these sites.
“However, the fundamentals of Newmarket are strong, with significant spending power within its core catchment area and good connectivity. Newmarket is a favourite spot for boutiques to locate and hip brands like Nature Baby, although the decision by Twenty-Seven Names is really just reflective of the evolution of these brands in the way they connect with their markets.”
Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff-Thomas said there had been a prolonged period of disruption as the area dealt with Covid and then the economic downturn.
“The last sort of six months, leasing activity has ramped up again. It’s very sad about Twenty-Seven Names closing, but that site has already been leased to another retailer coming in.”
Caitlan Mitchell for Twenty Seven Names.Supplied.
He said there had been renewal in some of the areas that had been empty for a while.
“You’ll see in places like Broadway a lot of activity, a lot of fit-outs happening. Other examples like Nuffield St, over the back of Broadway, that’s almost completely full again with leasing.
“By mid-year we should be back up and getting towards where we were before Covid.”
He said times were still tough for retail, but the end of the year had been respectable.
“New Zealand’s been though a pretty tough time and I think there’s some really good reasons to be optimistic about the year ahead for all of us – not just Newmarket, but across the board.
“Every economic downturn has a tragic side of it but also has an opportune side of it as well, where new people come in and things get regenerated. I think we’re probably at that phase of the cycle now where new things are starting to happen.”
Gemma Perry-Waterhouse, who owns Sanders Pharmacy in Te Awamutu, said a shortage of pharmacists would make explaining the new system while keeping up with other responsibilities challenging.
“There has been a decline in the number of pharmacies in New Zealand, and there’s a serious workforce issue. We don’t have enough pharmacists.
“We are concerned about this rollout and how much time it will take to explain to all patients what to expect with 12-month scripts; the fact that it isn’t for everyone, that their doctor needs to decide that.
“Be kind to your pharmacy if you’re popping in to talk about a 12-month script and what to expect, because we’re all under a lot of pressure at the moment.”
She said those eligible for a 12-month prescription would still need to go back to the pharmacy every three months to have medication dispensed.
“We’d have huge supply issues on top of the supply issues we’ve already got if patients were walking out with a year’s worth of medication.
“How often patients come into the pharmacy is not changing. Those interactions we have with our patients are so important for picking up changes and making sure everything is okay. It’s like an early warning system.”
She believed there could be more safeguards in place to monitor patients throughout the year if they were not visiting the doctor as often.
“The onus is on the prescriber to ensure the safety of the patients they’re giving out a prescription for 12 months to.
“But I think pharmacists’ concerns haven’t really been heard. We would have liked a system where pharmacists were actually empowered to check in properly with patients and a proper structure for feeding information back to the doctor. There’s no national system for pharmacists to communicate with doctors. A lot of the time, pharmacists are phoning reception and waiting to try speak with someone.
“Or community pharmacists being able to subscribe funded medications for patients would be a huge relief on primary healthcare and improve access for patients.
“There’s definitely more changes that can be done to use our pharmacists better.”
New Zealand’s only dung beetle rearing facility says it may have to close if there’s not more support.
Dung Beetle Innovations was launched in 2014, following a successful application to import exotic dung beetles into Aotearoa to help reduce the impacts of farming on soil and water quality, and reduce drench resistance.
Co-founder Dr Shaun Forgie said while livestock had been brought in to establish New Zealand’s agriculture sector, a “suitable clean-up crew” had not been.
He said dung beetles helped rid paddocks of the manure left behind by stock, which would otherwise cause “major problems” with runoff and contaminants going into waterways.
“It is one of the greatest opportunities for utilising poop on farm paddocks as a free, sustainable fertiliser, and effectively halve your fertiliser bill. It’s one of those great things for improving soil productivity and productivity on your farm.”
The Auckland-based company bred and reared eight species of exotic dung beetles at its facility – the only such kind in New Zealand.
Forgie estimated they had since released millions of beetles onto farms through direct to farm sales as well as initiatives undertaken by regional councils and local catchment groups.
However, with sales declining in recent years, the future of the facility seemed uncertain.
“Sales are really dwindling to a point where we’re critically underfunded now, and there’s a high likelihood we’re not going to survive unless either the government jumps in and uses it as one of its mitigation tools for improving water quality, or farmers get on with ordering beetles.”
Forgie said there were like a variety of factors behind the slowdown in sales, including potentially the cost.
“These beetles may be expensive upfront, but for the long-term gain for your farm, you’re saving vast amounts of money and productivity and reduced chemical costs, reduced fertiliser costs.
“New Zealand’s a small country, it’s a small economy. We know statistically 15 percent of our farmers are the innovative early adopters that will get on with things like this. There’s another 15 percent we know that will see what they’re doing, the first 15 percent, and then they will think, ‘Well, it’s a good idea, we’ll get on board.’
“So really, I think we’re probably catering for probably 30 percent of the farming community.”
Forgie wondered if the market was now at saturation point, with the self-sustaining beetle colonies taking about 10 years to fully establish themselves on farm.
He said if the government were to invest $60 million in supplying farms with beetles over 10 years it would have massive benefits for the primary sector.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director of investment programmes and operations Steve Penno said it had invested more than $800,000 in dung beetle research to date.
“On balance, the evidence suggests that dung beetles provide positive benefits to pasture, soil quality, and nutrient loss. However, they don’t offer a ‘quick fix’ solution to address water quality given the time they take to establish. Their effectiveness also very much depends upon the individual farm situation.”
He said MPI was open to receiving more dung beetle applications to the Primary Sector Growth Fund.
Andrew Coster resigned from the Social Investment Agency (SIA) last year following the police watchdog’s damning report.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Former police commissioner Andrew Coster told staff he was “sorry” to be leaving the Social Investment Agency following a scathing report by the police watchdog.
Coster resigned from the Social Investment Agency (SIA) last year following the police watchdog’s damning report into police’s response to allegations of sexual offending by former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
RNZ has obtained a series of messages and emails from Coster in relation to his resignation under the Official Information Act.
On 27 November, a week before his resignation was announced, Coster messaged the engagement and communications manager and acting chief executive.
“Please keep developments as discussed today under your hat until confirmed. Timing looks more likely to be next week. Will keep you posted.”
Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz
He also messaged his executive assistant asking them to “hold off until it’s been announced”.
“Lest we start a rumour prematurely.”
On 3 December, RNZ approached the SIA, Coster and the Public Service Commission with questions about his resignation.
About an hour later Coster emailed all SIA staff telling them he was leaving.
“It is with sadness that I announce today my resignation from my role as Secretary for Social Investment, effective from 1 December.”
Coster said it had been “an absolute pleasure and privilege” to work at the agency.
“I want to thank every one of you for the hard work and commitment that has seen us achieve such a lot in the last year. I have been incredibly impressed by the quality of the people we have in the organisation and your willingness to go above and beyond to deliver on the challenging work programme we have had.
“I’m sorry that I won’t be continuing this journey with you. However, I will watch with interest, as you continue to pursue better outcomes for all New Zealanders.”
Two hours later he wrote a similar email to the Social Investment Board, thanking them for their “wisdom shared and important input”.
“As you all appreciate better than I do, this is an incredibly important opportunity for New Zealand, and I’m sorry that I won’t be continuing this journey with you.
“I’ve valued our conversations and the forthright perspective each of you has brought to assist the Agency in its work. We are the better for it.”
In an earlier statement to RNZ, Coster said his resignation was “a result of my acceptance of full responsibility for the shortcomings” identified in the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report.
“I regret the impact on the young woman at the centre of this matter and sincerely apologise to her for the distress caused.
“I accept that I was too ready to trust and accept at face value Deputy Commissioner McSkimming’s disclosure and explanations to me. I should have been faster and more thorough in looking into the matter.”
Coster acknowledged he should have more fully investigated the allegations when they were brought to his attention, “rather than assuming that their previous disclosure to senior Police staff a few years earlier would have resulted in an investigation if necessary”.
“It is clear that Police’s handling of the whole matter was lacking and that I was ultimately responsible for those matters. It was sobering to read of a number of missed opportunities which should have proceeded differently and more appropriately.”
Coster welcomed Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche’s acknowledgement that the report made no finding of corruption or cover-up, nor did the IPCA find any evidence of any actions involving officers consciously doing the wrong thing or setting out to undermine the integrity of the organisation.
“I made decisions honestly. I acted in good faith. I sought to take all important factors into account with the information I had at the time. While it is not possible to alter past events, I am prepared to take responsibility – I got this wrong.
“I want to apologise to all members of the NZ Police. They work hard every day to keep our communities safe. I know they have been adversely affected by these events.”
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New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson.MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson had a positive second day in his new Racing Bulls car at the Barcelona F1 Shakedown.
Teams have run their new spec 2026 cars behind closed doors at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Lawson described his first outing earlier this week as “very, very different” as he struggled to get to grips with the new design which this year means the cars are smaller and lighter with no DRS and more electrical power.
However after completing the morning session on Thursday, Lawson appeared to be happier.
“We just keep learning,” Lawson told F1.
“We’re making, obviously, big gains, but so is everybody else. Very, very different cars, but in a much better place than we were on Monday, which is the main thing. We just need to keep learning and improving the car.”
“The main goal is to just try and keep learning and improving the car and discovering what we can.”
Unofficially Lawson got through more than a hundred laps today and recorded a best time that was two seconds slower than the Mercedes of George Russell.
New team-mate Arvid Lindblad got behind the wheel in the afternoon session.
Aston Martin made their first appearance on Thursday.
Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin, the AMR26, hits the track in the Barcelona Shakedown! #F1pic.twitter.com/ytWJSs0s2F
Illustration of motor neuron diseases, showing degeneration of motor neurons in anterior horns of spinal cord.Science Photo Libra via AFP
A low uptake of New Zealanders with motor neurone disease are using the only publicly-funded treatment available for the disease, a new study shows.
Motor neurone disease (MND) was a fatal, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease that deprived people of their ability to move, talk, and eventually breathe.
The only Medsafe-funded treatment available for the most common variant of the disease, known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was a riluzole tablet.
A research paper was published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on Friday.
Research showed 48 percent of research participants with ALS took riluzole, a lower uptake seen overseas.
Four European ALS centres showed an 83 percent uptake while an Australian MND survey recorded 76 percent usage.
The study was led by Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand (MND NZ) research advisor Dr Natalie Gauld, and neurologists Dr James Cleland and Dr Sarah Buchanan.
Participants, who were not taking riluzole, said they were either worried about its effectiveness or side effects, had not been offered or prescribed it, or had never heard of it.
People with swallowing issues (bulbar onset) were less likely to be prescribed riluzole, underlining a need for the liquid form to be introduced in New Zealand, researchers said.
“As lead investigator on this research and a person living with motor neurone disease, it has been concerning to see our riluzole uptake is so low when compared internationally.
“I believe it is vital for everyone with ALS to have access to liquid riluzole and the right information about its life-extending properties to aid uptake in New Zealand,” Gauld said.
Recent research showed, on average, riluzole extended survival by seven to 11 months, Gauld said.
“This is meaningful for those living with this fast-progressing terminal disease and their whānau. Earlier riluzole trials only showed a median increased survival of 2 to 3 months compared to a placebo.”
The average life expectancy of the disease was two to three years after diagnosis, with 50 percent of people dying within 30 months of the onset of symptoms.
Two people each week in New Zealand were diagnosed with MND.
Dr Natalie Gauld was the project’s lead researcher.Supplied / Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand
Dr Cleland, one of the paper’s co-authors, said he was pleased to see the paper published, which brought benefits to people living with MND in New Zealand.
“This research highlights the strength of collaboration between patients, whānau, and healthcare and research teams. It shows that New Zealand can play a meaningful role in advancing MND research, and we look forward to ongoing partnerships focused on reducing the burden of this devastating disease for New Zealanders,” he said.
“It also highlights the evolving nature of science and the need for clinical practice to adapt as evidence changes over time.”
Dr Gauld and MND NZ chief executive Mark Leggett had contacted Pharmac and Medsafe to ask the government to urgently introduce and fund a liquid form of riluzole in New Zealand.
The findings from Friday’s paper was also presented at a neurological association conference in November last year to raise awareness amongst neurologists.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Former St Bede’s College priest Fr Rowan Donoghue arrives at the Christchurch District Court for an appearance on January 28, 2026.Nathan McKinnon / RNZ
The Teaching Council says it will investigate whether mandatory reporting obligations were met over allegations involving a priest now convicted of sexually abusing boys, with its disciplinary process set to examine the actions of “everyone involved”.
RNZ reported on Wednesday that Fr Rowan Donoghue had pleaded guilty to six charges, five of which are representative, including indecent assault on a boy aged 12-16, indecent assault on a boy 16 and over and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
The offending related to four boys who were boarding at St Bede’s College in Christchurch between 1996 and 2000.
Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz
In response to questions from RNZ, a Teaching Council spokesperson said any situation where a young person had been harmed or made to feel unsafe was “deeply distressing”.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this case. No child or young person should ever feel unsafe at school.”
Fr Rowan Donoghue pictured in the 1993 year book.RNZ
In general, the council did not comment on complaints or mandatory reports that had been made to the council.
“However, given the level of public interest, we can confirm that we have been working closely with New Zealand Police since early 2025 in support of their investigation into offending by Mr Donoghue.
“The legal requirement for mandatory reporting to the New Zealand Teachers Council (now the Teaching Council) relating to the dismissal, resignation under investigation, serious misconduct, competence concerns, or specified convictions of teachers was first inserted into the Education Act 1989 by the Education Standards Act 2001 to protect the safety of children and young people in our education system.”
Now the criminal process had concluded, the council’s professional disciplinary process would resume.
“This process will include consideration of whether obligations have been met to report conduct or competence concerns to the council that were known at the time, and appropriate action depending on the findings.”
Asked who the disciplinary process would look at, the spokesperson said the council would “look into the actions of everyone involved”.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of children and young people and the quality of teaching in our education system, and we encourage anyone who has concerns about the conduct or competence of a formally registered teacher to reach out to us.”
In response to questions from RNZ on Wednesday, the Society of Mary confirmed an anonymous complaint of a sexual nature was made against Donoghue in 2007.
“The Society of Mary sought to investigate the complaint, but was unable to gain sufficient information to verify the allegations. Even so, the Society of Mary determined that Donoghue should be removed from public ministry, with a safety plan enacted. That has stayed in place since that time.”
The society was not aware of the allegations to which Donoghue entered guilty pleas until police laid charges, the spokesperson said.
“Our first thoughts are with those who came forward and described what happened to them. We extend our apologies to them, and will seek to do so personally at an appropriate time. We deeply regret the hurt or harm caused.”
The society was “committed to ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all people in Church settings”.
Asked whether police were told, the spokesperson said the complainant was “encouraged to contact the police”.
St Bede’s College rector Jon McDowall told RNZ on Wednesday the details outlined through the court process were “deeply disturbing”.
“As rector, it makes me feel sick to think that young people entrusted to an adult’s care were abused in this way. I am deeply sorry that this happened to them, and my thoughts are with the victims and survivors who continue to live with the impact of that harm.”
McDowall said the school had worked openly with police throughout the process.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities should any further information come to light.
“Abuse has no place at St Bede’s – past, present, or future. The College has an established policy in place to respond and support victims of historical abuse, alongside safeguarding policies and practices to protect the wellbeing and safety of students today. Our focus remains on providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community.”
McDowall extended an open invitation for victims in the case, and others who may have been impacted, or anyone with concerns to contact him directly.
He earlier told RNZ the school was “formally notified” of the allegations by police and had “worked openly with them since that time”.
“We hold victims and survivors in our thoughts and remain focused on providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community – past, present and future.”
In early 2023, police were contacted about the allegations of sexual abuse by Donoghue in relation to his time at St Bede’s College.
St Patrick’s Silverstream rector Rob Ferreira told RNZ the school had not been made aware of any allegations of abuse in care while Fr Donoghue worked at the school between 1982 to 1992.
“We have not had any inquiries from the police either.
“We operate according to clearly set out guidelines and best practice and you should note that our primary concern is the wellbeing of our students. Given that – our protection of the privacy and any other rights of survivors of abuse and other individuals would be paramount.”
He said the school had informed the community that Donoghue’s name suppression had lifted.
St Patrick’s College Wellington rector Mike Savali confirmed to RNZ that Donoghue was on the college staff from 2003 to 2007.
Where to get help
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you have been abused, remember it’s not your fault.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand