Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man has been left shaken after having a gun pointed at him, assaulted and his car stolen.

Detective Sergeant Pieter Serfontein said the aggravated robbery happened just past midnight – in the early hours of Boxing Day morning in the Whangārei suburb of Raumanga.

He said the man was confronted by two people who had a gun.

“The victim received minor injuries and was understandably shaken by the incident.”

The pair demanded his keys and took his car – a Volkswagon with distinctive mags.

Serfontein said anyone who saw anything on the night or has seen the car since should contact police.

The car – with a license plate RBZ53 – is a dark coloured hatchback.

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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 person has suffered serious injuries after getting trapped under a car in the Auckland suburb of Westmere.

Emergency services responded after a car ran over a pedestrian on Chester Avenue at about 11am on Thursday.

Police said the pedestrian, who became trapped, is no longer under the vehicle.

St John said they assessed one person at the scene who had been transported to Auckland City Hospital in a serious condition.

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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 discovery of a Queensland fruit fly in Auckland presents a huge threat to growers and exporters, a horticulture sector advocate says.

A biosecurity operation is underway after the pest, which damages fruit and vegetables, was identified in a surveillance trap in the suburb of Mount Roskill on Wednesday morning.

Horticulture chief executive Kate Scott said while the fly did not pose a health risk to humans, an outbreak would have a significant economic cost.

“The horticulture sector is naturally concerned about the impacts of a new pest being established here and the impact that could have on our ability to produce a wide range of fruit and vegetables.

“The Queensland fly likes to call more than 200 fruit and vegetables home. That could have a massive impact on the quality of our fruit and vegetable crops.”

She warned the country would not be able to export to key markets if the pest took hold here.

But she was confident in New Zealand’s track record of eradicating harmful fruit flies.

“We certainly support the ramping up of trapping and inspections and the movement control areas that are to be implemented.

“We’ve certainly seen last year and in other previous instances where a quick and immediate response is rolled out, that we have been able to successfully contain any threat.”

Biosecurity staff were expected to be on the ground in Mount Roskill over the coming days.

“As part of our response protocol over the next 72 hours, we will be ramping up trapping and inspection, with daily checks in a 200-metre zone from the original find and checks every three days in a second zone out to 1500m,” Biosecurity New Zealand’s Mike Inglis said.

“You may notice increased activity in the neighbourhood as we go about inspections and trapping. Our field officers may ask to look at fruit trees on your property. They will always show you a form of official identification and will only enter your property with your permission.”

Instructions about restrictions in the affected area were expected to be made clear on Thursday.

In the meantime, Biosecurity asked Mount Roskill residents not to take whole fresh fruit and vegetables out of their property.

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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 winning candidates of last year’s local government election for the Papatoetoe subdivision of Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board have filed a petition in the High Court seeking a judicial review of the Manukau District Court ruling that declared the election void amid allegations of voter fraud.

It’s the first time the election winners have spoken to media since the District Court ruling was handed down in December.

Kunal Bhalla, spokesperson for the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team – who along with Sandeep Saini, Paramjeet Singh and Kushma Nair – was elected to the local board in October, called the District Court ruling “significant and complex” in a statement on Thursday.

“It is important to emphasize that the District Court did not make any findings of wrongdoing against the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team or any of its candidates,” Bhalla said.

“The District Court found that a small number of ballot papers – 79 ballot papers in total or about 0.7 percent of the total votes cast – were misused.

“Whether those responsible were attempting to assist or disadvantage any candidates, or were acting irresponsibly or mischievously, we unequivocally condemn those actions.”

Bhalla confirmed the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team had filed proceedings in the High Court seeking judicial review of the District Court judgment.

“Our application raises concerns that the case presented to the District Court did not reach the rigorous factual and legal standards required before an election can properly be set aside,” he said.

“We have taken that step to ensure that the legal framework applied, and the material relied upon, are carefully and independently examined in accordance with the law – not only for this case, but for the integrity of future electoral challenges,” he said.

“We have full respect for the judicial process and are confident the High Court will consider the matter fairly and independently.

“We are seeking an urgent hearing because, if the District Court judgment is set aside, it may be that the March by-election should not proceed.”

Bhalla also confirmed all four members of the Papatoetoe Ōtara Action Team would contest the March election should it proceed.

“Regardless of the outcome of the High Court process, we are determined that the people of Papatoetoe should have the opportunity to choose us as their representatives freely and fairly for a second time, if the March election may still have to proceed,” Bhalla said.

“We remain confident in the support of our community and in the mandate we received,” he said.

“We acknowledge that there has been significant speculation and misinformation surrounding this matter, and we are particularly concerned about instances of racially motivated commentary directed at members of our community,” he said.

“We ask that people allow the legal process to run its course and refrain from drawing unjustified conclusions.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Maritime New Zealand is considering a formal investigation after two people were injured in a jetboat crash in Otago.

Emergency services were called to Makarora, in the Queenstown-Lakes district, shortly before 3.30pm on Wednesday.

The injured pair were flown to Dunedin Hospital in a moderate condition.

A Maritime New Zealand spokesperson said the operator has been told not to use, alter or repair the boat until it has been inspected.

The operator has not been suspended and can still use other vessels.

Maritime New Zealand said it was still making initial inquiries with the operator and would decide on whether to start a formal investigation based on what it finds out.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Specialist canyon teams are joining the search for a missing tramper in the Kahurangi National Park.

Graham Garnett, 66, failed to return from a hike on December 30.

Police Search and Rescue sergeant Jonny Evans said four specialist canyon teams were being flown into Motueka to assist.

“Search efforts [on Thursday] will focus on spurs and large water systems coming off the Wharepapa/Arthur Range,” he said.

A Defence Force NH90 helicopter was being used again.

Police are asking anyone who was in the Baton/Ellis River area from the afternoon of December 26 to get in touch, particularly anyone who was around Flanagan’s Hut.

Police thanked everyone who had been involved in trying to find Graham Garnett.

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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 lower North Island town with smelly, muddy-tasting tap water will have supplies trucked in from a neighbouring town from next week.

The water in Marton has been unpleasant for many years due to geosmin in the water, which is the breakdown of algae causing a smell and taste that worsens during summer, the Rangitīkei District Council website said.

In an update on social media, the council said the problem was ramping up again.

“As many of you will have noticed, the geosmin levels in Marton’s water supply has been elevated for a number of weeks, which is what causes the smell and taste issues we experience in summer especially,” it said.

“Our reticulation team will continue to fine tune the treatment process of the water to make improvements, but we recognise that it can take some time for the geosmin levels to settle down.”

The council will bring a tanker of water from Hunterville to the Marton RSA and Citizens Memorial Hall each Tuesday and Thursday between 3pm and 6pm, starting 13 January.

People should bring their own containers to collect the water, the council said.

It thanked residents for their patience.

“We know it is frustrating, but rest assured progress is being made towards our new water source solution.”

Rangitīkei District Council is working on switching its supply from surface water to groundwater, which will remove the geosmin: “the main culprit of the taste and smell issues”.

It’s been trialling a bore site at the Tutaenui Reservoir, with engineers due to present results and recommendations to council in February.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

2025 was the country’s fourth-hottest year on record, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand’s (ESNZ) annual climate report.

The report found that most regions were hotter than average by between 0.51 and 1.20 degrees, but parts of Northland and Bay of Plenty were significantly hotter, by more than 1.2 degrees.

Leigh, North of Auckland, recorded the highest annual average temperature across the mainland 17.7 degrees, followed by Kaitaia at 17.1, and Whangaparāoa at 16.9.

The highest air temperature of the year was 35.6 degrees recorded at Kawerau on 7 December. This was followed by 33.8 degrees at Napier on 8 December, and 33.7 degrees at Ettrick on 16 February.

The report points out: “Of the six main centres in 2025, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga was the sunniest and wettest, Christchurch was the equal-coolest, and Dunedin was the driest, equal-coolest, and least sunny.”

The organisation has recorded the annual temperature at seven weather stations across the country since 1909. The report found a nationwide average temperature of 13.51 degrees.

Four of the five warmest years on record have occurred since 2021 as a result of human-induced climate change, it says.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continued to rise, surpassing 423 ppm at ESNZ’s Baring Head monitoring station during the year.

November was the warmest on record, with most of the country more than 1.2 degrees warmer than average.

Some regions were also much wetter than usual, with several areas of the South Island including Nelson, Marlborough and Banks peninsula receiving 20 to almost 50 percent more rain than usual.

According to the analysis, the ssoil moisture level was below normal for most of the North Island and the northern part of the South for the first quarter of 2025. Soil moisture is a key indicator of droughts and is watched by farmers. By the end of winter moisture was mostly back to normal but dried out in some eastern parts through to the end of November.

The crown for the region with the highest annual sunshine went to Taranaki with 2743 hours recorded at New Plymouth. It was followed by the Nelson region (2672 hours recorded at Richmond).

Sea temperatures were also on the rise.

Local sea surface temperatures were “relatively warm”, says the report and remained pretty much above normal for the year, though there brief cooler patches west of the North Island.

“Most notably New Zealand observed its warmest (sea surface temperatures) November and 5th-warmest April on record.”

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