One of the Wellington region’s longest-serving politicians and best-known environmentalists has announced she will retire from politics later this year.
Green Party list MP and former Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced her retirement today, saying she would not be contesting the November election.
“Having served as a Green city councillor for fourteen years, two terms as mayor, and a Green Party list MP, I will continue to strongly support the Green Party,” she said.
“Serving as a member of Parliament for the Green Party has been a privilege. However, as one of the oldest MPs in this Parliament – and the oldest woman MP, I am looking forward to fewer midnight debates under anti-democratic urgency.”
She would continue her current Parliamentary role until the election, and support whoever the Green Party chose as its Wairarapa candidate.
“It has been a great experience being an MP based in Wairarapa and getting to know the area,” she said.
“I really love the Wairarapa. I will continue to enjoy the region, as we are staying here.”
She ha- been an MP since January 2024, served as Wellington mayor from 2010 until 2016, and was a Wellington councillor for 14 years before that.
She stood as a list MP in 1999 (the first MMP election), 2005, 2020 and 2023.
She would continue until the election as Green Party associate spokesperson on conservation (predator free), and its spokesperson on democracy and electoral reform, digitising government, and tourism and hospitality.
Her local government portfolio would pass to Mike Davidson, who ha- experience in local government, having served as a councillor in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick in a statement praised Wade-Brown’s contribution.
“Celia has given many decades to improving outcomes for Wellingtonians and te taiao as part of the Green Party. She is a champion for a sustainable living in local and central government. We respect Celia’s decision to step away from national politics at the end of this term. We expect she will continue to contribute to the Green Party, our shared values, and to bringing about a better world in whatever roles she chooses.”
Carterton-based Wade-Brown had been involved in local predator control and tourism initiatives like the Wairarapa walking festival.
While she had no current plans for her post-Parliament life, she was open to possibilities.
“I am standing down from politics, we will see what happens after November,” she said.
“If there are other opportunities that fit I could be interested.”
She expected her current Wairarapa predator control work would continue, as well as knowledge sharing around conservation issues, and involvement in the walking festival.
“Beyond the election, I will continue to protect native habitat in the Wairarapa against rats, stoats, deer, and possums.
“I’m also going to be doing pack-rafting, cycling, tramping and things that don’t fit easily into a Parliamentary schedule.
“And, most exciting, in 2025 I became a grandmother.”
She would have a full schedule in Parliament up until November.
“In 2026, I will continue to speak up for people, te tiriti, and nature.
“With support from back-benchers across most parties, I hope to progress my domestic cat microchipping members bill.”
Highlights of Wade-Brown’s Wellington local government career included helping turn the Capital into an award-winning centre for urban diversity.
She and her council helped introduce the Predator Free Wellington initiative, targeting rats, stoats and other predators. They also helped Zealandia become financially and environmentally sustainable, and enabled Wellington Zoo to become an environmental leader.
She had put cycling on Wellington’s agenda, with the city now considered Asia-Pacific’s third best for getting around by bike.
Under Wade-Brown the city was also the first to introduce a bylaw requiring cat registration, an initiative she hoped to help take nationwide.
She praised her colleagues.
“The talent within the Green Party staff, elected representatives in local and central government, branch members, and networks is immense.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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The move was announced Monday in a statement from Channel 4, which airs the TV baking competition in the United Kingdom.
It said it was “delighted to announce” Lawson’s arrival on the show, which airs on TVNZ+ in New Zealand.
“Nigella’s expertise, empathy and humour are the perfect ingredients for the Bake Off tent,” the statement reads.
Lawson said in the same statement that she is “bubbling with excitement” to take up the role, while acknowledging that it is “daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both”.
“The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it’s a National Treasure – and it’s a huge honour to be entrusted with it,” she added.
Leith said she is “thrilled” that Lawson will take over her role as a judge.
“She’s sassy, fun and she knows her onions — and her croissants, cake and crumble,” she said in the statement.
Lawson, age 66, is herself something of a national treasure in the UK, where she is known to many simply as “Nigella” and credited with bringing new audiences to the world of cooking shows thanks to her flirtatious manner.
Born in London, she is the daughter of former Chancellor of the Exchequer — or finance minister — Nigel Lawson.
After studying at Oxford University, she began her career in publishing before moving into media, writing restaurant columns.
Lawson went on to contribute to various UK newspapers before writing books.
In 1998, she brought out How to Eat, in which she described how food was one of her earliest loves.
Lawson went on to release a string of other successful cookbooks as well as to host numerous cooking shows, such as Nigella Bites. She was also a judge on the ABC show The Taste.
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Jamaican drummer Sly Dunbar, one half of a legendary duo who played with reggae and rock giants from Lee “Scratch” Perry to Mick Jagger, has died at his home aged 73, Jamaica’s authorities announced.
Nicknamed “Sly and Robbie”, the rhythm section Dunbar formed with bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who died in 2021, backed some of reggae’s biggest names, including Black Uhuru, Wailers co-founder Peter Tosh and Gregory Isaacs.
Their talent also brought them into the orbit of singers such as Grace Jones and Madonna, as well as folk icon Bob Dylan, French crooner Serge Gainsbourg, and the Rolling Stones with whom they toured in the late 1970s.
As producers, the pair birthed some of the dance hall anthems of the 1990s, including the famous “Murder She Wrote” by Chaka Demus and Pliers.
“Sly was an architect of sound. Alongside Robbie Shakespeare, he established a foundation that defined the era of Reggae and Dancehall,” Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness wrote on Instagram.
“Farewell, Sly Dunbar! Rest in peace!” wrote Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards on Facebook, posting a 1979 photo of himself standing beside the drummer.
Dunbar’s wife, Thelma, told Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner that she found Dunbar unresponsive on Monday morning, with doctors later pronouncing him dead.
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Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget Day will be 28 May.
Willis confirmed the date while presenting the Budget Policy Statement at Select Committee on Wednesday morning.
She promised the Budget would focus on supporting the delivery of core public services like healthcare, education, defence and law and order.
“As has been the case with this government, it will be a responsible budget and it will be a budget that invests in the important things and makes savings to ensure that we can do important things in the future.”
Willis said Budget 2026 would demonstrate tight control of discretionary government spending while funding a limited number of priority commitments.
“There will be no splashing the cash,” she said.
“Careful stewardship of public finances is essential to fixing the basics and building the future. Delivering savings and reprioritising existing expenditure will again be features of the Budget.
“These sorts of decisions are always tough, but they are necessary to ensure we can continue to fund the public services people rely upon while getting the books back in order.”
Roigard made his All Black debut against Australia in 2023 and has played 17 tests, scoring 12 tries.Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
New Zealand Rugby has locked in one of its best talents for the next four seasons.
Cam Roigard has recommitted to the All Blacks, Hurricanes and Counties Manukau through to the end of 2029.
Roigard, whose current contract expires in 2027, said the opportunity to be part of a British & Irish Lions tour was one of several key drivers in his decision.
“I’m loving my rugby right now and the opportunity to represent the All Blacks, the Hurricanes and Counties Manukau here in New Zealand is something I don’t take for granted. It has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid to play Super Rugby and be an All Black, and I want to continue living that dream”.
The 25-year-old made his All Black debut against Australia in 2023 and has played 17 tests, scoring 12 tries to establish himself as a regular starter in the number nine jersey.
He’s played five seasons for the Hurricanes, making the first of 47 appearances in Super Rugby Pacific against the Crusaders in 2021, and has represented Counties-Manukau since 2020.
NZR General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum said Roigard was already one of the best halfbacks in world rugby.
“We’re thrilled he’s committed through to 2029 and that he’ll to continue to play in New Zealand through the prime of his career. It’s encouraging to see our top players recognising the challenge and opportunity of the global calendar over the next period and choosing to continue their rugby in our environments.”
Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said Roigard had gone from a wildcard pick in his squad just a few years back.
“Both the Hurricanes and Cam have done a lot of work to get to that point, and we can’t wait to continue that journey with him as he continues to improve his game and grow his experience and leadership.
“He’s a strong character within the group, an outstanding professional, and we really look forward to having him with the team and the club over the next few years.”
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Auckland Transport and police say they are working to improve safety on buses, trains and ferries.Duoya Lu
Explainer – A series of unprovoked attacks on Auckland public transport – including a fatal stabbing last month – have raised concerns about the safety of riders and drivers in Aotearoa’s biggest city.
Auckland Transport says the vast majority of public transport goes by without incident, and it has set up a variety of public safety measures.
What can people do if they’re worried about their own safety on public transport? Here’s what you need to know.
What’s been happening on Auckland public transport?
From January to December 2025, there were 2161 reported incidents of “aggression, violence, racism, discrimination, and inappropriate behaviour” on Auckland public transport, said Auckland Transport’s Director of Public Transport and Active Modes, Stacey van der Putten.
“The number of reported cases fluctuates across the months, ranging from a low of 84 cases in December 2025 to a peak of 249 cases in March 2025,” she said.
The rough average from those numbers would work out to about six reported incidents per day in 2025.
Some attacks in the past few years have been fatal.
On 8 December, a 59-year-old was fatally stabbed on a bus travelling from Glen Innes towards Ōrakei in East Auckland. Another man, 41, was seriously injured after boarding the same bus a short time later. A suspect has since been arrested.
“We are very, very concerned about those specific incidents,” NZ Police Inspector Charles Ip, the area prevention manager for Auckland City East, told RNZ.
“The commissioner has made it quite clear for us as an organisation to ensure that everyone in New Zealand is safe and they feel safe.”
Police launched a homicide investigation after a fatal stabbing on an East Auckland bus in December.RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Is violence actually getting worse? Are buses safe?
“Public transport is safe,” van der Putten said. “These incidents are an absolute minority; it is important to remember that last week Aucklanders took around 1.8 million public transport trips, with the vast majority having safe, comfortable, and enjoyable journeys.”
AT’s data showed that March 2025 was the peak month last year for incidents, at 249, while only 84 incidents were reported in December.
Van der Putten said that data is based on reports from the public.
“This data is based solely on public submissions and may include subjective or anecdotal accounts. As such, they represent perceived incidents rather than confirmed legal breaches or verified violations of operational policy.”
According to AT, there were also slightly fewer assaults against public transport drivers from 2024 to 2025, down from 60 to 55, although December 2025’s numbers are not yet included in that total.
“This is largely driven through the rollout of bus driver safety screens, with over 650 buses now having them installed,” van der Putten said.
Police are working hand in hand with AT to address the issues.
“We’re also working very, very hard with our partner agencies such as the local council and AT to do everything that we can to understand what we are facing and how we work together to reduce as much of these incidents as we can,” Ip said.
“The nature of these incidents appears to reflect broader trends in society as many cities have seen violence rise in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, amid wider social pressures and economic strain,” van der Putten said.
Auckland Transport’s app has ways to report dangerous situations.RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
AT is “continuously monitoring and adapting our strategies to prevent harm and respond” when incidents happen, van der Putten said.
People can report dangerous or threatening behaviour immediately by:
“Our awareness of incidents is increasing as we’ve made it easier for customers to report their experience through to us,” van der Putten said.
There are also bright orange “safety points” at every major bus, train and ferry terminal. The help button on them will connect people to the Auckland Transport Operations Centre which operates 24 hours a day. It won’t connect directly to emergency services so if people are in immediate danger they should contact 111.
AT said it has seen a “moderate” increase in safety point usage and has also launched a public awareness campaign to draw more attention to them.
There are red emergency buttons on trains which immediately alert the driver to incidents on board.
Auckland Transport also has more than 4800 CCTV cameras in place around the city which are monitored from the operations centre.
There are also a total of 54 Auckland Transport Officers and six supervisors who monitor buses, trains and ferries.
“They are trained in self-awareness, situational awareness, incident management and de-escalation and tactical communication techniques,” van der Putten said.
They also are trained to escalate incidents to NZ Police but not physically intervene.
“We will be there at the earliest opportunity,” Ip said.
Police do not patrol buses and trains on a regular basis.
“We can’t be there on every single bus, it’s just not feasible,” Ip said.
The transport officers get a comprehensive six-week induction course supplemented through ongoing mentored field training, van der Putten said.
“We can confidently say, addressing these complexities has proven challenging across all sectors and takes a collective approach, working with police, other agencies, and communities.”
An electric double-decker bus in rainy Auckland conditions.Auckland Transport / supplied
Should I be worried about getting on a bus? What can the public do?
“Our recommendation is that everyone stay vigilant regardless of how they move around our city and communities,” van der Putten said.
“Stay aware of your surroundings, secure your belongings, and know how to get help when needed.”
“Trust your gut feeling,” Ip said. Avoid confrontations if you can or try to move away or get off the public transport, he said.
“The key is to try to de-escalate, not to increase the risk to your personal safety.”
Basic safety tips like keeping valuables out of sight and avoiding being too distracted by your headphones also is important, van der Putten said.
If a violent incident is unfolding in front of you while on a bus or train, keep calm, Ip said, and contact police as soon as you can when it’s safe to do so.
“I think the main message that we want to get out there is that whilst reporting an incident is important, nothing is as important as your safety, everyone’s safety.”
It’s also important that friends or family generally know where and when you are travelling, and you have access to a phone for emergencies.
If you’re a tourist, you should be aware of how to contact New Zealand authorities using 111.
If you’re travelling alone and have concerns, staying in visible lighting, with people around you if possible, or sitting close to the driver can also help.
“Just trying to be more visible in terms of where you are is actually quite important,” Ip said.
“We have developed extensive training and development programmes for our network staff, including transport officers, security and customer service teams, control centre operators.
“These initiatives aim to enhance monitoring, increase visibility, bolster security, and ensure a rapid response to incidents from the very first day.”
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Auckland Council says using AI to help sort through bins will make the region’s rubbish management more cost-effective.
Almost a third of Auckland’s recycling now ends up in landfill, and the council said it was costing ratepayers about $3.5 million a year.
Auckland Council general waste manager Justine Hayes said that people putting the wrong items in the recycling bin was a big problem.
“We are getting rubbish in the recycling bins, which essentially means that the sorting process takes longer, and we have to pay to dispose of that rubbish in a landfill rather than recycling it.
“We’re seeing people bagging recyclable items that unfortunately end up going into the rubbish, and nappies and soft plastics are unfortunately a common find in recycling bins.”
RNZ / Duoya Lu
Hayes said the council conducting inspections and giving warning notices before confiscating bins, had been effective, but the new AI technology they had started using would speed up this process.
“AI is being trialled to see whether we can monitor the recycling that’s coming into the truck. Through the use of AI, we can pick up the contamination as it enters the truck instead of having to inspect every bin manually.”
She said the AI technology would help them focus on areas where rubbish contamination was highest.
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Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar Hadjar spun at turn 14 and hit the barriers.Eric Alonso
A crash involving new Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar ended testing early on day two of Formula 1’s Barcelona Shakedown.
Adverse weather meant just a couple of teams took part as they run their new 2026 cars.
Cars this year are smaller and lighter and no longer use the Drag Reduction System. Fifty percent of the power output will be from battery with the other half from the internal combustion engine.
The French-Algerian, who also ran on the first day, completed another 51 laps before his accident.
McLaren were expected to have their first run but did not take part.
Each team is permitted three days of running during the five-day ‘shakedown.
Williams had said they wouldn’t be involved this week, while Aston Martin is yet to confirm their involvement.
There is another three days of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before the teams head to Bahrain for two testing sessions ahead of the season opening Grand Prix in Australia in early March.
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