Category: Public Media

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Qiulae Wong named as new leader of Opportunity party

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Opportunity party leader Qiulae Wong says New Zealand needs a tax reset. RNZ / Supplied

The political party founded by businessman Gareth Morgan almost 10 years ago has unveiled a new leader and new look.

Touted as a builder of sustainable businesses, Aucklander Qiulae Wong will lead Opportunity – formerly The Opportunities Party – into the 2026 election.

The party has been leaderless since 2023 and the announcement follows a nationwide search for the role.

To date, it is yet to reach the five percent threshold to enter parliament.

In 2023, it scooped 2.2 percent of the vote – 0.2 percent shy of its best election result of 2.4 percent in 2017 – under Morgan.

The party says Wong has founded and supported several start-ups in the fashion sector in London, “working to build ethical and sustainable practices into global brands like Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney”.

She returned to New Zealand in 2022 and has most recently worked at financial consultancy firm KPMG.

Wong said the party stands for transformative system change and would break the gridlock of left-right bloc politics.

Opportunity has also revealed its “tax reset” policy, which includes a Citizen’s Income, a Land Value Tax and Flat Income tax.

Wong said New Zealand needed a tax reset.

“We can’t keep patching and tinkering with the foundations that hold up this country,” Wong said.

“Our addiction to high house prices is robbing young Kiwis of security, and locking capital away from the innovators and community champions, who are building our future.

“It’s time to modernise tax.”

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

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Live netball: Silver Ferns v England, second test

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the netball action, as the Silver Ferns take on England for their second test at Copper Box Arena in London.

The game begins at 4am NZT

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Silver Ferns celebrate their win over Australia at Hamilton. Jeremy Ward/Photosport

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Tusiata Avia has been hiding this book away for years

Source: Radio New Zealand

Giving Birth to My Father, Tusiata Avia’s latest book of poems is the most challenging book she’s written, she says.

In it she shares her grief over the death of her father, Namu-lau’ulu Mikaio Avia and the difficult situations she faced with her extended family in Samoa.

The book has spent, “most of the last eight years hidden away,” she tells RNZ’s Culture 101.

New Zealand writer and poet Tusiata Avia

The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi

Tusiata Avia: ‘I was bloody rarked up’

“I started it very soon after my dad died, nine years ago, and I’ve been sitting on it and adding to it for the last nine years and finding it a really hard thing to put out into public.

“And even though a lot of my previous books, there’s a lot of personal stuff in there, this is the most personal.”

In 2023 Avia won the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement, was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020, and recently named the 2026 International Institute of Modern Letters Writer in Residence.

Her father returned to Samoa to end his days there after living in New Zealand for 50 years, she says.

“It was something that I really never expected. He was in New Zealand for more than 50 years, and one of the very first Samoan immigrants to Christchurch, I think there were seven Samoans here when he arrived, so he really helped build the Samoan community here.

Poet Tusiata Avia on “the most challenging book I’ve written”

Culture 101

“And I never thought he would go back, but him and his wife decided, in that last 10 years, that they would go back and spend their last years in Samoa”, she says.

She visited many times in his last years, and it helped her reconnect with her culture, but after his death elements of that culture angered her, she says.

“I think one of the most difficult things for me is this kind of critique of Samoan funeral culture. And where I feel, and many people feel, that it’s kind of gone off the rails. And what was originally meant to be something that was supportive to the family who has just lost their loved one, can really become something that is incredibly taxing, and can become in the hands of certain members of certain families, one of them being mine, just become all about money.”

It felt, she says, like a “very angry book”.

“Which is nothing new for me, really. But because it’s that critique of Samoan funeral culture, that’s quite a hard thing to be angry about publicly.

“Just about every Samoan I know jokes about the difficulty of what is expected of us financially, particularly around funerals.”

The first section of the book is called ‘How It Was Supposed to Go’ and the second is called ‘How it Went’. She wrote the beginning last after gaining a deeper understanding of Samoan cultural funeral ceremony.

“The way that I felt I could bring some balance to this book was, write the first section of the book, the way that if we were keeping to the real intention of Samoan funerals, and the gift-giving that goes along with it, the true intention of it, then it would have been a really different thing.

“And I was lucky at the time to be taught actually by someone who really taught me some of the deep meanings behind our ceremonies that come with funerals and other things like weddings, and which I never really understood.”

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Cricket: Black Caps beat West Indies in first one-dayer

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mitchell Santner of the Black Caps during the 1st ODI cricket match. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

The Black Caps have won a tight match in the first one-day against the West Indies in Christchurch.

After the Black Caps set a total of 269, the West Indies were left with 20 runs to get in the final over, but fell short by seven runs.

Earlier, Daryl Mitchell batted through injury to rescue the Black Caps from collapse.

Mitchell arrived at the crease with his team reeling at 24/2, after losing opener Rachin Ravindra and Will Young in successive balls, both caught behind by wicketkeeper Shai Hope, off the bowling of Matthew Forde.

He steadied the innings with a 67-run partnership with Devon Conway (49), and another 69-run stand with Michael Bracewell (35), before he was finally dismissed for 119 off 118 balls in the final over.

Mitchell appeared suffer an injury late in his knock, but stayed in the middle to guide the Black Caps to safety.

New Zealand set their rivals a target of 270 for victory, with Jayden Seales (3/41) the most successful of the West Indies bowlers.

Keacy Carty batting for West Indies. Photosport

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Police renew footage appeals as search for Upper Hutt woman continues

Source: Radio New Zealand

Anita Hart went missing from Upper Hutt in the Wellington Region. Police / Supplied

Police are renewing appeals for CCTV or dashcam footage in the search for Anita Hart, a woman who went missing from Upper Hutt.

The search for the 61-year-old began in the early hours of Thursday 13 November, after her abandoned car was found on Gillespies Road.

Detective Sergeant Annalise Ferguson said police, along with teams from LandSAR Wellington, LandSAR Wairarapa, Canyon SAR, the Police National Dive Squad, Wellington Police Maritime Unit, Fire and Emergency New Zealand drones and Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, had been extensively searching the Birchville area.

Unfortunately, Anita had still not been found, she said.

“We are urging anyone has CCTV or dashcam footage that may help us to please come forward.”

Anita was last seen wearing a blue beanie with a pompom, a blue jacket, and dark-coloured trousers. NZ Police

Police were particularly interested in the Gillespies Road, Bridge Road, Gemstone Drive and Akatarawa Road areas, down to Harcourt Park, between 11.25am and 1pm on Wednesday 12 November, she said.

Anita was last seen wearing a blue beanie with a pompom, a blue jacket, and dark-coloured trousers.

Police were asking anyone with any information that could be off use to call 111 and quote the reference number P064438940.

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

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Sanson fire: Friends raise money for family reeling from tragedy

Source: Radio New Zealand

A dark vehicle backs into the driveway of the house on Sunday afternoon. RNZ/Mark Papalii

In the “midst of unimaginable grief”, friends are raising money for the family reeling from Saturday’s fatal housefire at Sanson.

Police have confirmed that four people – an adult and three children – died in the fire, which closed off a section of State Highway One for several hours.

A Givealittle page set up by friends of the mother raised more than $40,000 in three hours.

The page described the fire as a “devastating loss beyond measure” and their goal was to provide the family with the “space and security needed to grieve in solitude”.

“In the midst of this unimaginable grief, she also lost her home and everything she owned. She is facing the hardest journey possible, stripped of her physical security, while navigating the deepest emotional pain.”

A neighbour told RNZ he was working at his home yesterday, when someone noticed smoke from the nearby property.

“We all came out to have a look and we saw a horrific amount of smoke coming from about 300 metres away, where the neighbour’s house is – pretty thick black billowing smoke.

“It was a very, very windy day and we knew it wasn’t any kind of controlled fire. We knew it was some sort of what we considered to be a house fire at that stage.”

He said, over an hour, many firefighters turned up, attempting to put the blaze out.

An hour after it started, the blaze and billowing smoke was still visible. He believed it took two hours for firefighters to put the fire out.

“They were still dousing it down and there was just very slight wisps of smoke coming from the property two hours after it started.”

He said State Highway One near the property did not open until 8pm Saturday.

The neighbour said that, during the fire, he was “pretty shocked” at what was happening before his eyes.

“Nothing we could do about it and just a feeling of kind of despair, I guess just watching what was going on.

“Knowing that a young family was potentially losing everything they owned and knowing that is going to be a very, very hard place to come back from.

“Just the thought of not knowing whether everybody was alright or not, and subsequent to that we found out, that isn’t the case, which has made things 10 times worse.”

Police Inspector Ross Grantham said the bodies of two children have been recovered from the scene this evening, with family present to bless them with karakia.

“Work is ongoing to locate the body of a third child, while the body of an adult has already been removed.”

He said the family were devastated by the loss of their loved ones.

“They are thankful and very grateful for the support and concern they are receiving from the community.

“Investigators will tomorrow focus on recovering the third child, and completing a meticulous and thorough scene examination.”

He said police were not seeking anyone in relation to the fire.

“Our investigators remain determined to find answers to as many questions as we can.”

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

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Sanson fire tragedy: Friends raise money for reeling family reeling from tragedy

Source: Radio New Zealand

A dark vehicle backs into the driveway of the house on Sunday afternoon. RNZ/Mark Papalii

In the “midst of unimaginable grief”, friends are raising money for the family reeling from Saturday’s fatal housefire at Sanson.

Police have confirmed that four people – an adult and three children – died in the fire, which closed off a section of State Highway One for several hours.

A Givealittle page set up by friends of the mother raised more than $40,000 in three hours.

The page described the fire as a “devastating loss beyond measure” and their goal was to provide the family with the “space and security needed to grieve in solitude”.

“In the midst of this unimaginable grief, she also lost her home and everything she owned. She is facing the hardest journey possible, stripped of her physical security, while navigating the deepest emotional pain.”

A neighbour told RNZ he was working at his home yesterday, when someone noticed smoke from the nearby property.

“We all came out to have a look and we saw a horrific amount of smoke coming from about 300 metres away, where the neighbour’s house is – pretty thick black billowing smoke.

“It was a very, very windy day and we knew it wasn’t any kind of controlled fire. We knew it was some sort of what we considered to be a house fire at that stage.”

He said, over an hour, many firefighters turned up, attempting to put the blaze out.

An hour after it started, the blaze and billowing smoke was still visible.

He believed it took two hours for firefighters to put the fire out.

“They were still dousing it down and there was just very slight wisps of smoke coming from the property two hours after it started.”

He said State Highway One near the property did not open until 8pm Saturday.

The neighbour said that, during the fire, he was “pretty shocked” at what was happening before his eyes.

“Nothing we could do about it and just a feeling of kind of despair, I guess just watching what was going on.

“Knowing that a young family was potentially losing everything they owned and knowing that is going to be a very, very hard place to come back from.

“Just the thought of not knowing whether everybody was alright or not, and subsequent to that we found out, that isn’t the case, which has made things 10 times worse.”

Police Inspector Ross Grantham said the bodies of two children have been recovered from the scene this evening, with family present to bless them with karakia.

“Work is ongoing to locate the body of a third child, while the body of an adult has already been removed.”

He said the family were devastated by the loss of their loved ones.

“They are thankful and very grateful for the support and concern they are receiving from the community.

“Investigators will tomorrow focus on recovering the third child, and completing a meticulous and thorough scene examination.”

He said police were not seeking anyone in relation to the fire.

“Our investigators remain determined to find answers to as many questions as we can.”

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

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Fair Trading Act fines to rise to $5m, ban on indemnity insurance abandoned

Source: Radio New Zealand

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The government has announced plans to increase fines from $600,000 to $5 million or more for breaching the Fair Trading Act.

It is also backing away from a ban on directors taking out indemnity insurance, and proposals to expand infringement fees and unfair contract terms provisions.

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson said the change would be made through a bill to be introduced to Parliament in early 2026.

The legislation would increase the fines to whichever was highest – three times the value of the commercial gain made, the total value of the transactions or $5m for body corporates and $1m for individuals.

The current penalty is a maximum $600,000 for body corporates or $200,000 for individuals.

It would also introduce a new civil penalties regime for most breaches of the Act, allowing the Commerce Commission to take action on the balance of probabilities, rather than meeting the higher criminal standard of proof.

Serious or deliberate offences – like demanding payment without intending to supply, serious product safety breaches or obstructing the Commerce Commission – would remain criminal.

Penalties for breaching a management ban would also increase from $60,000 to $200,000. Penalties for other conduct – like breaching consumer information requirements, consumer transaction rules and impeding enforcement – would also increase from $10,000 for individuals and $30,000 for body corporates, to $60,000 and $200,000.

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson

Gains from breaching the Act under the current system could sometimes outweighed the penalties, Willis said.

“The new regime will eliminate the financial incentives for breaching the Act,” she said.

“They will also help to ensure businesses who play by the rules are not disadvantaged by competitors using unfair means to woo their customers away from them. The existing rules do little to prevent large retailers from further entrenching their market dominance.”

The changes would bring New Zealand more into line with similar countries. For example, Australia hands down penalties for fair trading laws of up to three times the commercial benefit, 30 percent of turnover, or AU$50m (NZ$57.74m).

Willis and Simpson pointed to a 23 percent increase in the number of fair trading complaints made to the Commerce Commission in the past five years.

The same businesses had in some cases breached the law more than once, Simpson said.

“These changes will ensure the law provides stronger incentives to comply and stronger consequences for those who don’t.”

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

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Police arrest suspect, open homicide probe after Kaitaia assault

Source: Radio New Zealand

Cordons were in place at the Okahu Road address. RNZ / REECE BAKER

Police have arrested a person and launched a homicide investigation in the Far North, after reports of an assault.

Emergency services were called to a property on Okahu Road in Kaitaia at about 12.35pm Sunday.

Detective Inspector Geoff McCarthy said the victim was found in a critical condition and died at the scene, “despite emergency services’ best efforts”.

A person was arrested at a different address a short time later and police were not seeking anyone else at this stage,

Cordons were in place and a scene examination was due to take place on Monday.

A 57-year-old woman is also due to appear in Kaitaia District Court on Monday, with charges to be confirmed.

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Cycling: Kiwi Kate McCarthy claims back-to-back UCI Esports World Championships

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s Kate McCarthy and Germany’s Jason Osborne were crowned as champions in their respective events. Photosport / Alex Whitehead

In a dominant display, Hamilton cyclist Kate McCarthy has claimed back-to-back titles at the UCI Esports World Championship grand finals in Abu Dhabi.

The unique esport uses stationary bikes attached to smart trainers and a virtual cycling platform called MyWhoosh, and has been held since 2020.

The event has a three-stage point-based system, with different ways to score across the different stages.

McCarthy dominated the first-stage hill climb and it was downhill from there, as she beat out all 21 other finalists.

She opened up a 28-point lead by the end of the first stage – an 8.4km, 24-minute hill climb that featured 554m of elevation.

The Kiwi scored almost the maximum possible points during the second stage, where they were awarded at five checkpoints throughout a 12km loop, pushing her tally to 433.

McCarthy put the competition to bed in the third stage, dominating across the eight short laps.

She totalled 597 points, finishing ahead of Brazil’s Gabriella Guerra, who had 525 points in second, and Italy’s Francesca Tommasi on 478 points in third.

“I was aiming to show what I can do up that first climb and then hopefully hang on for the next two stages,” McCarthy said.

New Zealand’s Kate McCarthy claims the top spot on the podium and back-to-back Cycling Esports World Championships. Photosport / Alex Whitehead

McCarthy’s family was in Abu Dhabi to support her, along with partner and former Olympic cyclist Dylan Kennett.

“It was so cool to have them here,” she said. “They have been watching every race.

“Dad turns up and my partner is there every weekend, and my uncle watches online. It was so good to have them here.”

Racing was online in the qualifying stages, but for the final, the top 22 riders competed in the flesh on stage at the Space42 Arena.

“It adds a different element, because we don’t see each other usually and we don’t get to see what each one looks like, so it is cool to bring it all together and to race each other in person.”

“I am still letting it sink in,” she said, reflecting on back-to-back titles.

“I was just so rapt with last year and with the year I have had, and to get this, I couldn’t have had a better year.”

The winners of both the elite men’s and women’s events receive US$15,000 (NZ$26,579) in prize money.

Former hockey international and Ironman athlete Bridget Kiddle of Marlborough finished 16th in her first trip to the esport world championships.

Christchurch cyclist Ollie Jones – who had been at the forefront of the global growth in esports racing – finished a respectable 10th in the elite men’s event, where Germany’s Jason Osborne won his third straight title.

Fellow New Zealander Michael Vink was forced to withdraw before the competition with illness, despite impressing in qualification.

The esports cycling world champs will once again return to Abu Dhabi in 2026.

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