Category: Public Media

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Police announce Jill Rogers as Deputy Police Commissioner

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jill Rogers been acting in the role since Jevon McSkimming stood down last March. RNZ/Mark Papalii

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers has been provisionally appointed to the role on a full-time basis.

After the initial shock at Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming’s resignation in May one of the questions that emerged was who would replace him.

Then, in July Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura announced her retirement after 37 years in police, leaving both Deputy Commissioner roles vacant.

Mike Pannett was announced as the statutory deputy police commissioner in December.

Rogers, who was widely considered to be the frontrunner for the role, was announced as the other Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers also announced the appointment of Cassandra Anderson as the Chief of Staff.

Chambers said Rogers was “an outstanding leader of people, is strongly connected to the communities she has worked in, and has dealt with some particularly challenging operational matters”.

He said Anderson had “extensive experience” working at Police since 2007, including as chief of staff to former Police Commissioner Mike Bush.

“She returned to Police last year after two years in a Tier 2 role as a deputy chief executive at Oranga Tamariki. She has a strong knowledge of the public sector environment and takes on a key role in the executive team.”

Chambers said the appointments meant police began 2026 with a “stable and strong executive”.

Superintendents Corrie Parnell, Jeanette Park and Tim Anderson will also begin as Assistant Commissioners from 9 February.

“I have full confidence in my refreshed leadership. They bring the experience, competence and integrity that is needed to deliver on the priorities of Police.

“I know they will serve the frontline and staff of New Zealand Police and the communities of New Zealand well.”

Chambers earlier announced the focus for 2026 was on the four priorities he outlined a year prior: core policing, supporting the frontline, leadership and accountability, and fiscal responsibility.

Specifically, he had set specific goals around service, safety and trust, including getting trust and confidence up from 69 percent to 80 percent.

The other benchmarks included getting satisfaction for services to 80 percent from its current 71 percent, a 15 percent rise in resolutions for retail crime, and a 15 percent reduction in violence in public places.

He also pointed to a 20 percent increase in Māori at police over the past five years.

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Jobs market improving, bodes well for employment – BNZ

Source: Radio New Zealand

BNZ’s employment report with jobs platform SEEK showed job ads up around 7 percent from a year ago. 123RF

The jobs market is showing early signs of improvement, according to BNZ, which it said should lead to lower unemployment by the middle of the year.

The latest unemployment statistics are due next week, but the most recent data from the September quarter showed the jobless rate at 5.3 percent – the highest level since late 2016.

BNZ head of research Stephen Toplis said monthly employment indicators showed modest growth, and Stats NZ’s fourth-quarter household labour force survey was also expected to show slight growth.

BNZ’s own employment report with jobs platform SEEK showed job ads up around 7 percent from a year ago.

“It will take a while before the unemployment rate drops, because it’s one thing seeing growth and people being hired, but it’s got to catch up with growth in the supply in labour.”

He expected the catch-up to happen “in a quarter or two”.

“Certainly mid-year, but there’s a difference between better and good,” Toplis said. “For a lot of people who are currently facing unemployment, it’s not clear that the jobs that will be created are going to be consistent with the skillset that they’ve got.”

He also noted there were many households already in work, but looking for more.

“We know that the household sector is struggling, so if you can’t get pay increases you work more hours, so there’s an awful lot of people.”

Economic recovery and weak US currency help Kiwi dollar

The Kiwi dollar is often called the “flightless bird” in financial markets, but its recent performance has been anything but.

Since the start of the year the dollar has flexed its wings, becoming the best-performing major currency against the US dollar.

Westpac head of New Zealand strategy Imre Speizer said the weakness of the US dollar was only half the story behind the NZ dollar’s recent strength.

The recession dampened investor appetite for the NZ dollar, but he said the economy bottomed in October and has improved steadily since then.

“The market has changed its tune on this, and it’s recognised the economic recovery is well in motion, and is likely to persist for the rest of the year,” Speizer said.

“It’s now one of the choice destinations for going long in currencies.”

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NZ Post to close more than 140 counters across the country

Source: Radio New Zealand

The post shop in Ponsonby (file image). Screenshot / Google Maps

NZ Post is closing more than 140 service counters inside urban convenience stores, pharmacies and libraries around the country.

It said the current network was bigger than it should be, with fewer people sending letters and more sending parcels.

Around 560 post shops would remain open.

NZ Post said it would upgrade some of the stores and open new hubs for parcel sending and collection.

It said 90 percent of people living in urban areas would still be within four kilometres of a post shop.

Rural post shops would not be affected.

To find out what’s happening in your area see the NZ Post website or its store finder.

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ASB North Wharf building being sold

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Kiwi Property is selling ASB North Wharf building in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter to Precinct Pacific Investment for $205 million.

The sale price represented a 3.3 percent discount to the September 2025 book value, and included Kiwi Property’s commitment to complete $2.2m of capital works to the property.

Precinct will be responsible for any additional expenses associated with the extension of the 15-year lease to ASB.

Precinct chief executive Scott Pritchard said the purchase of ASB North Wharf aligned with its strategy for investments in high quality, well located commercial property.

“This is a strong endorsement of the Wynyard Quarter precinct, and we look forward to working with ASB as they refresh their premises to reflect their workforce’s needs,” Pritchard said.

Kiwi Property chief executive Clive Mackenzie said last year’s extension of the ASB lease to 2040 helped to position the asset for sale.

“The sale of ASB North Wharf is a significant milestone for our capital recycling programme and is the third property transaction we have agreed in the last three months,” he said.

“Our balance sheet is now strongly positioned to support growth, aligning with a property market that is showing clear signs of recovery.”

He said the proceeds of would be reinvested into further growth initiatives, including potential acquisitions and development at Kiwi Property’s key mixed-use assets.

Completion of the sale of ASB North Wharf was subject to the consent of the Overseas Investment Office, with settlement expected in the first half of 2026.

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Will ‘free gift’ disappointment hurt cosmetics retailer Mecca?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some Mecca customers have been left disappointed with its loyalty programme. (File photo) Unsplash / Allison Saeng

Cosmetics retailer Mecca is likely to be able to shake off any ill will created by customers disappointed with its loyalty programme and discounting, experts say.

Newsroom reported Mecca was apologising to customers after they were sold products up to a decade old during Boxing Day sales, and an “extra beauty treat” for people who reached a certain level of spending turned out to be a tote bag that transferred dye on to some people’s clothes.

Gemma Rasmussen, spokesperson for Consumer NZ, told RNZ’s The Panel she would not consider a tote bag to be a beauty treat.

“We think Mecca has potentially been a bit misleading and could have breached the Fair Trading Act as well,” she said.

She said Mecca shoppers tended to be “pretty dedicated”. “If you get an email saying spend more, a treat is coming, it’s hooking people in and pretty deceptive marketing.”

Bodo Lang, a marketing expert at Massey University, said reward schemes like Mecca’s could be a powerful driver of customer acquisition and long-term loyalty.

“Which is why so many major retailers invest heavily in them. Think Air New Zealand Airpoints, AA Smartfuel, or loyalty programmes from banks, credit card providers, New Zealand grocery retailers. Even local shops use them to secure a greater share of wallet.

“But when a rewards programme delivers a disappointing experience, especially one that violates basic consumer expectations, such as offering products manufactured more than a decade ago, it can harm brand trust and make shoppers think twice about returning. Trust is hard to build and easy to lose.”

But retail consultant Chris Wilkinson, of First Retail Group, said Mecca’s scheme was strong.

“Mecca’s scheme is a big draw for customers and the brand is well known and enjoyed for its rewards and giveaways – particularly younger consumers who are entering the world of cosmetics and fragrances.

“These schemes, like Farmers Beauty Club, are popular – especially as these products are expensive so any potential saving or ‘value add’ are sought after and often the tipping point in terms of making a purchase.

“Mecca’s scheme introduces new products and playfully encourages its customers to experiment with their beauty regimes – reflective of its predominantly younger audience.”

Wilkinson said its success was noticeable with an expansion of store numbers.

“In all other world markets category leader Sephora ‘owns’ this space, whereas in Australasia, Mecca dominates and Sephora has been retreating.”

He said the value of free gifts in the sector had been a contentious issue for a while.

“However the brand does have some pretty strong goodwill and a store experience that continues to evolve and engage – new stores, new products and ‘hot’ brands like Charlotte Tilbury, so I don’t think goodwill will too badly affected – maybe only till the next ‘freebie’ message arrives in customers inboxes.”

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People living at troubled Gore campground have until Friday to leave

Source: Radio New Zealand

The campground will close on Friday before the lease officially ends in late February. Supplied

People who live at a troubled campground in Gore have until the end of the working week to leave.

The Gore District Council said the lease for the Gore Motor Camp is being terminated and the campground will close on Friday.

The campground hit headlines last year, with the council saying it had received ongoing complaints about people’s safety and the condition of the site.

The campground was intended for stays of up to 50 days but people had been living there, the council said.

4 Trades Direct owner and lessee Nicholas Irons has previously said that he would not turn anyone away because they had nowhere else to go and the camp was providing a valuable community service.

Council chief executive Debbie Lascelles acknowledged that it was a challenging and uncertain time for the people staying at Gore Motor Camp.

“We want to thank occupants for the respect, patience and cooperation they have shown while these matters have been worked through. Our focus now is ensuring the transition is handled as smoothly as possible,” she said.

In September, Lascelles said that the issues had not improved despite working with the leaseholder for years and the council had advised residents they had 50 days to find different accommodation with support from government agencies.

Gore mayor Ben Bell said it had been a long-standing concern for many and he was pleased the situation was being resolved.

“We can now look forward to further community discussion about the best use for this site moving forward,” he said.

The lease will end in late February.

RNZ has contacted Irons for comment.

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‘Absolute disgrace’ to consider joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace – Hipkins

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has labelled the government’s so-far refusal to rule out joining US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ an “absolute disgrace”.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been invited to join the new organisation, saying last week he would give it “due consideration” and on Tuesday confirming it was still a possibility.

Invites have gone out to dozens of world leaders, including those of Russia, its ally Belarus and Saudi Arabia. No invites went to any countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Canada’s invite was withdrawn, and several Western nations – including France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Sweden, Ireland and Italy – have said ‘no thanks’, some fearing it was intended as a replacement for the United Nations.

The Board of Peace will be chaired by Trump, according to its founding charter. It claims to be “an international organisation that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict”.

Hipkins told Morning Report on Tuesday joining it would not be considered under a Labour-led government.

“It’s going to have people like [Russian President] Vladimir Putin on it. The idea that New Zealand would even consider being part of that would be an absolute embarrassment and an absolute disgrace on New Zealand.”

Putin – generally considered an autocrat – has led Russia through its war with neighbouring Ukraine, which began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and ramped up with the full-scale invasion of 2022.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries whose leaders decline to join the Board of Peace. Hipkins said any threat of tariffs on New Zealand for not joining would not sway him.

“Donald Trump does not respect anybody who just simply sucks up to him. He doesn’t respect anybody else, regardless.

“New Zealand has to be principled, we have to be consistent. We have a very strong reputation around the world for being consistent and principled in our foreign policy – all of that is being thrown away by this government.”

Christopher Luxon with Donald Trump. Supplied / Christopher Luxon via X

Asked for an update on Tuesday, Luxon said New Zealand was still considering its invitation and the accompanying charter.

“There’s a whole range of things that we just need to work through and really understand what it’s actually there to achieve,” Luxon said. “Can we make a difference? What value can we add? That’s where our focus is. So we’ll have those conversations and consider everything.”

Hipkins said New Zealand needed to be “a bit more nimble and more fleet-footed” in its diplomacy “in an environment where those big international organisations are struggling to bring countries together”.

“So countries like Canada, Australia, the UK, many European countries, and many countries in our own neighbourhood that we can work with, and we should focus on the areas where we can work with them and really get some momentum behind that.”

Trump recently outraged allies and friends by suggesting their troops did not pull their weight in Afghanistan. Late last week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the remarks “insulting and frankly appalling”.

Luxon called them “incredibly disrespectful and wrong”. Speaking to media, Luxon said New Zealand sent 3500 troops to Afghanistan and lost 10 lives.

“I thought it was incredibly disrespectful,” Luxon said. “It’s up to him to work out whether he wants to apologise. What I want the New Zealand Defence Force and veterans to know is that they are deeply cared for and deeply supported, and we are very grateful for their service to our country.”

Minneapolis protests and deaths

As for the Trump administration’s violent intervention in Minneapolis, during which agents have killed two civilians – one an ICU nurse, the other an unarmed mother-of-three – Hipkins said it was “absolutely disgraceful”.

No one has been charged over the killings, both of which were caught on camera, video evidence contradicting statements by federal government officials.

“Under Labour, New Zealand will be consistent in our foreign policy. So where we criticise other countries who we also have constructive working relationships with, when they violate human rights, we should criticise the United States when they violate people’s human rights,” Hipkins said.

He called immigration officers’ actions in Minneapolis a “violation of people’s human rights”.

Winston Peters ’embarrassing’ – Hipkins

Hipkins also said it was “embarrassing” to hear Winston Peters – former deputy prime minister and present foreign minister – question the usefulness of the World Health Organization and New Zealand’s funding of it.

“You’ve got the minister of foreign affairs out in the world saying that we’re going to pull out of the World Health Organization, constantly sending contradictory messages to what our prime minister is saying. That’s embarrassing for New Zealand,” he told Morning Report.

Hipkins said Labour would “absolutely not” pull New Zealand from the WHO. Former foreign minister Phil Goff on Monday said it cost New Zealand a little more than $2m a year to be a part of the WHO.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Hipkins said Luxon was a “total pushover” in setting up the coalition with ACT and NZ First (Peters’ party).

“He signed National up to supporting things that only weeks earlier he had been very clear with the New Zealand public the National Party would not support. I think that’s a betrayal of the people who voted for him.”

Luxon said he would never consider pulling New Zealand out of the WHO because of the “great value” it provides.

“If you think about the work that we do together in the Pacific, particularly. If I think about the work that was done in measles around Samoa, there’s some really good value the World Health Organisation provides.

“We spend anywhere from $1.5 million to $4 million a year in partnership with them. They do some amazing work.

“But equally, as I’ve said, right from the beginning, there’s a need for our… global institutions, to continue to innovate, to overhaul, to make sure they are focused, they’re efficient and they’re effective.”

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‘Very, very difficult’: Liam Lawson on his new car

Source: Radio New Zealand

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls unveil their 2026 Formula One liveries JOE GALL / AFP

New Zealand driver Liam Lawson admits to a cautious start to pre-season Formula One testing.

The first day of the behind closed doors Barcelona Shakedown has been completed with a number of drivers having their first outings in 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.

Lawson got to drive the new Racing Bulls car today.

“I definitely haven’t got my head around it fully yet,” Lawson said afterwards.

Racing Bulls are using the new power unit developed by Red Bull along with Ford.

“It’s something that we’ll keep learning over the next few days and weeks when we go to Bahrain as well. But it’s very, very different,” the 23 year old said.

“It feels like there’s a lot more we can do as drivers potentially to make a difference, which is good.

“But right now, it’s very early days. So it’s very hard to know where we are. But for now, just trying to learn how to optimise the car. I’m enjoying it so far.”

Lawson’s former team-mate Isack Hadjar was quickest of the seven drivers which took part.

Lawson was fourth fastest and completed 42 laps.

McLaren and Ferrari did not take part today.

There is another day 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.

“The main thing is reliability at the moment. We’ve done a good number of laps today, only a few little things. And honestly, the only issues we really had today were safety precautions, not really any actual issues,” Lawson said.

“So far, honestly, on the power unit side, it’s been very, very good. But again, it’s hard to know compared to everybody else where we’re at.”

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Police employee allegedly stalked co-worker who rejected his advances

Source: Radio New Zealand

A police employee allegedly stalked a woman he regularly worked alongside after she rejected his advances.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a summary of an investigation into the allegations on Tuesday.

The IPCA said it oversaw a police investigation into an allegation a police employee “crossed professional boundaries” and created a conflict of interest by “conducting an inappropriate relationship with a female member of the public he regularly worked alongside”.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

“The employee and the woman met through the employee’s work and developed a friendship, having similar interests and some life experiences in common.

“After some time, the employee incorrectly assumed that the woman was interested in more than a friendship and attempted to move the relationship onto a romantic footing. This was not something sought by the woman, who was married, and she ended the relationship. The woman alleged the employee then stalked her and his behaviour also made it difficult to work together when needed.”

The woman complained to police about the employee.

Police found the employee had engaged in serious misconduct.

“The authority agrees with police decision-making in this matter and the outcome reached.”

Police have been approached for comment.

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NZ could save billions just by changing when we use electricity, new report finds

Source: Radio New Zealand

Spreading the power load could help to defer or avoid increasing demand capacity. 123RF

A quarter of New Zealand’s peak electricity use could be shifted to times of lower demand, lowering household bills and saving up to $3 billion in infrastructure investment, a new report has found.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which commissioned the analysis, said lower network costs from shifting demand should flow through to households and businesses.

Households had the most potential to shift their demand, but some industrial processes and manufacturing could also make changes with the right financial incentives, the report found.

New Zealand’s electricity demands will grow by 35 to 82 percent by 2050, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimated last year.

Upgrades to accommodate growing demand could cost tens of billions of dollars, EECA chief executive Marco Pelenur said.

The electricity network is built to handle peak demand, which only occurs a few times a day for short intervals. Spreading the power load could help to defer or avoid increasing demand capacity.

“This [analysis] shows we could save billions as a country just by moving when we use power.”

Rooftop solar and batteries could help shift household demand, but much lower-cost measures – that would also save households money – were also available.

That included Wi-Fi-enabled devices that could be retrofitted to most hot water cylinders and heat pumps for a few hundred dollars.

The devices, which are being trialled by EECA in hundreds of households at the moment, allow users to control appliances remotely, such as switching on a heat pump in the late afternoon before peak demand kicks in, so a house could already be warm when people arrive home.

“The early results from the pilots show households are saving on their bills right now – and that doesn’t include the system benefits of deferring network upgrades,” Pelenur said.

Peak demand savings would be even bigger if flexible energy use were enabled at scale, and people were paid directly for shifting electricity use off-peak, EECA said.

University of Auckland professor Nirmal Nair said demand-side flexibility, as proposed in the report, had been “widely touted”, but if households and other retail customers were being encouraged to change their usage, then what they were charged should be revisited.

“Expecting [retail customers] to invest in more technologies to give value to other upstream agents like electricity retailers and distribution companies appears unreasonable, if not unfair.”

Major electricity users surveyed as part of the report said continued production was their top priority, but many were open to more flexible electricity use if it did not disrupt production, or cost more money than it saved.

The report identified food processing in Bay of Plenty, Waikato and North Canterbury, farming in Canterbury and Waikato, and offices in the main centres as having significant potential.

That could be achieved with similar technology to households, such as battery installation and ‘smart load controllers’ to defer electricity usage to lower-demand periods, when it was possible to do so.

The report suggested a “robust reward system” to compensate industries for their participation. That could include direct payments, along with long-term energy cost reductions, it said.

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