Category: Public Media

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Proposal to remove mana whenua voice at Napier City Council fails

Source: Radio New Zealand

Napier City Council. RNZ / Tom Kitchin

A proposal from new Napier Mayor Richard McGrath to remove mana whenua voices and voting rights in the council’s standing committees for the next council term has failed.

It was an at times tense council meeting, with a packed public gallery, including members of local iwi Ngāti Kahungunu.

During the last triennium, there were two Nga Mānukanuka o te iwi representatives – representing a mana whenua voice – on each of the council’s four standing committees, under McGrath’s proposal those two representatives would be removed..

Councillor Graeme Taylor asked what is the fundamental reason for making the change from the previous triennium.

“For me it comes down to… having elected members who have sworn an oath to the city of Napier and to uphold the Local Government Act. As a rule we attend all the workshops, all the pre work, the induction process,” McGrath replied.

McGrath said it was a new committee structure that was being appointed rather than anyone being removed.

Deputy Mayor Sally Crown also questioned the proposal, saying the issue was one of partnership which means valuing the knowledge of councillors and mana whenua equally.

“So what the proposal in my mind today is, it’s a demonstration of gross misjudgement and disrespect not of just our mana whenua but also of our elected members a key part of leadership is to bring people along with you and I’ve heard from elected members that they themselves have been blindsided by the proposal that was presented.”

Councillor Shyann Raihania asked for an amendment to the proposal, which included Ngā Mānukanuka o te Iwi appointments remaining on all standing committees as specialist, voting members with full speaking rights.

She also requested the Mayor to engage with Ngā Mānukanuka o te Iwi members as mandated mana whenua representatives and return with a revised Terms of Reference, including options analysis and legal advice.

McGrath said he would speak against the amendment raised by Raihania.

“While I understand the partnership and representation side of things Māori will still have many opportunities throughout our council,” he said.

He was then interrupted by a someone in the crowd, who asked “What are you afraid of?”

“It’s nothing to do with afraid,” McGrath replied.

The amended proposal was put to a vote and passed with six votes in support and four against, with two abstentions.

When the result of the vote was announced there was applause from the gallery, which then broke into a rendition of Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi.

Napier City Council Voting Tally

For: Whare Isaac-Sharland, Sally Crown, Keith Price, Ronda Chrystal, Shyann Raihania and Graeme Taylor.

Against: Craig Morley, Nigel Simpson, Richard McGrath and Roger Brownlie.

Abstained: Te Kira Lawrence and Greg Mawson.

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Coalition strains over stewardship land shake-up

Source: Radio New Zealand

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The Conservation Minister has re-classified swathes of stewardship land on the West Coast of the South Island.

Tama Potaka is making some of the changes through an ‘order in council’ process that legitimately circumvents Cabinet sign off.

New Zealand First’s deputy leader Shane Jones conceded Potaka holds the power to do so, though he disagrees with the decision.

“We are a pro-extractive, pro-mining, pro-development, pro-jobs party,” Jones told RNZ.

Stewardship land is public conservation land that has not yet had its natural and historic values assessed.

Potaka outlined how 80 percent of the West Coast’s land would be treated.

Key changes include:

  • Six proposals referred to the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) to consider the suitability of adding 4298 hectares of land to existing national parks.
  • 63 proposals for disposal investigations, covering up to 3352 hectares of land.
  • 151 proposals for protection under the Reserves Act covering 192,973 hectares of land, including historic and scenic reserves.
  • 157 proposals for protection under the Conservation Act, including increased clarity through classification as conservation parks, and additional protections for ecological areas.

Potaka said the changes were the most significant reclassification since DOC’s inception in 1987.

“The vast majority of areas will finally have the accurate classification as they deserve, reflecting their conservation and cultural values.

“Existing rights on stewardship land – such as concessions for tourism activities, mining, and grazing licences, for example – can continue.

“Reclassifying this land will deliver more certainty on land use options for our tourism, farming, mining and hunting sectors. New concessions will be easier to obtain.”

Potaka said the new classifications would provide certainty and clarity for those operating on these areas.

“I am particularly excited about the creation of the 181,000ha Tarahanga e Toru Historic Reserve, which recognises the significance of the area for Poutini Ngāi Tahu, alongside protecting the extensive natural and recreational values.

“The reserve does not result in a change in ownership, decision making, or joint management and public access remains the same.”

New Zealand First’s deputy leader Shane Jones. RNZ / Mark Papalii

New Zealand First wants ‘unfettered development’ – Shane Jones

Jones said New Zealand First had a long standing remit that a lot of stewardship land should be taken off the Department for Conservation and “opened up for unfettered development.”

“It was only shoved in DOC in 1987 because people were too lazy back there to find a better home for it.

“Obviously we’re pro-mining, pro-extraction and this decision never went through Cabinet so it’s fair to say that it’s not aligned with the party stance on stewardship land.”

However, Jones acknowledged Potaka was entitled to make the changes.

“Technically speaking, I’m advised that Tama has the total authority under the DOC Act. As you know, I don’t like DOC, and I’ve been invited to take these more fundamental concerns to the next election.

“I accept you can’t get your way every time, but know this from me, we are a pro-extractive, pro-mining, pro-development, pro-jobs party.”

On some of the land going to iwi control, Jones said Parliament was not the place to speak to his concerns in this area.

“I understand Ngāi Tahu would like to expand their footprint and that’s rational and I don’t want to get into a war of words with Ngāi Tahu. I like to leave that kōrero to the marae, but I do feel that DOC is taking far too long to issue concessions and entitlements and rights and we need to grow the economy.”

ACT leader David Seymour said the government had to work within the reality of the Ngāi Tahu settlement that did provide for some claim on the divestment of public land.

“We’ve supported a wider deal that allows a lot more activity. I think that’s a good thing. If it also comes with transfer to iwi, we’ve had a history of treaty settlements for a long time.

“Sometimes some public land goes to Māori, probably not the way I would do it if I could start New Zealand 180 years ago but it’s where we are.”

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

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Christmas comes early for fans of speed reductions

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some 80km/h sections are being reduced to 50km/h for Christmas. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is pumping the brakes and reducing speed limits on several sections of a popular holiday route in time for Christmas.

Four sections of State Highway 25 will drop to 50km/h from 80 or 70km/h.

Waka Kotahi said there were 982 submissions on the speed review in the Coromandel region, and the majority saw benefits in lowering the speed limits.

It said the new speed limits will kick in ahead of the summer holiday peak.

Almost two kilometres of SH25 between Thames and Tararu is going down to 50km/h. Linda Davidson owned a bed and breakfast on that stretch, and told Checkpoint the current speed limit of 70km/h created noise issues.

“It’s too loud for us. The roads along here, because they’re old miners’ cottages, they’re really close to the road… when cars are going past at 70km/h, it’s just outrageous.

“It’s so loud that if it was a party, it would be shut down.”

Despite her B&B having double glazing, she said there were still problems.

“In peak times particularly, people complain about the noise.”

Davidson said the noise got so bad in busy periods she had to close the B&B between Christmas and New Year’s.

She said after seeing multiple accidents and many close calls, she was confident the reduction would make a significant difference.

“There’s a big reserve across the road from us and it’s really popular, when people are coming out of there it’s really unsafe, people come around the corner and hit people coming out of the reserve.”

“It means that we can open up our windows in summer, easy to get in and out of our properties and safer on the road for everyone.”

Davidson said she felt great about the change and hoped it would help keep the “gobsmackingly beautiful” area safe for residents and visitors.

Three other 1km stretches of SH25 will also have speed limits reduced.

Two sections of road near Kūaotunu will drop to 50km/h from 70km/h. A 1km stretch at Wharekaho from near Leah Road to near Harbour Lights Terrace will also be reduced from 80km/h down to 50km/h.

A section of State Highway 1 near Lake Taupō was also getting a speed reduction – a short section of road either side of Motutere Holiday park dropping from 100km/h to 50km/h.

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Do the All Blacks need more coaches, or less?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis – Even in the increasingly chaotic environment of rugby coaching, the news that Jason Holland has returned to the Hurricanes feels odd. Holland was the head coach in Wellington from 2020-23, before leaving to take up an assistant coach role with the All Blacks. His departure from Scott Robertson’s set up sees him back at the Hurricanes, albeit in an office down the hall as Clark Laidlaw is the head coach now.

  • The one thing everyone’s missing in the All Blacks coaching situation
  • Explainer: what the World Cup draw means for the All Blacks
  • NZ Rugby boss calls on government to use the sport for international investment
  • All Blacks: What will the end of season review reveal?

    • It said a bit that not only Holland, but Leon MacDonald gave up head coaching roles to be All Black assistant roles. They’re not alone either, John Plumtree followed the same route as Holland out of the Hurricanes to an ultimately unsuccessful stint in Ian Foster’s set up, and while Foster himself is probably the best example of someone going from helming a Super Rugby side into an assistant coaching job with the All Blacks, the history of those making that transition isn’t great.

    Jason Holland Photosport

    Because really, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense from an employment point of view. Despite Holland’s well-earned reputation as an easy going personality, he went from being the loudest voice in the room to one who had to wait for his turn to speak. Just how the dynamic will work between Holland and Laidlaw will be interesting, but right now the Hurricanes have bigger issues to worry about off the field.

    The wider dynamic is worth having a look at too, because there is no certainty Holland will be replaced in the All Blacks or simply folded into the other coaches’ responsibilities. It’s understood that Robertson is looking at candidates, but one of the main issues in the job market right now is just who is available.

    Then, now and comparing coaching set ups

    Scott Robertson and Rassie Erasmus. ActionPress

    That’s because an awful lot of the people that may well be All Black assistant coaches are already employed. One of Robertson’s great strengths during his time at the Crusaders was the ability to assemble heavyweight coaching groups, to which he’d delegate the day to day running of the team, but that was Super Rugby.

    Test rugby isn’t an environment for staff to learn on the job, so Robertson needs proven performers at test level like other teams have assembled and probably more than what he’s got right now. The common historical perception among New Zealand rugby followers is that too many cooks spoil the broth, but one look at the All Blacks’ main opponents reveals a completely different story.

    Rassie Erasmus currently has eight coaches on his staff, including Tony Brown, and it’s strongly rumoured that Jacques Nienaber will rejoin the Springboks sometime before the next World Cup.

    England have eight coaches as well, with the most notable development lately being former rugby league great Kevin Sinfield focusing on individual skills and the kicking group. Really that’s a role Robertson should be looking to add to his group, especially since both of the aforementioned teams are picking players out of kick-heavy domestic competitions.

    Closing the gap

    Will Jordan competes for the ball with Tane Edmed. Daniel Carson/Photosport NZ

    The addition of a dedicated skills coach would very much help close the gap in an area that has become a somewhat problematic one for the All Blacks. Super Rugby Pacific’s incentivisation for the running game has been fantastic for the competition as a product and long may it continue, but it does come at the cost developing kicking and high ball skills.

    That’s not to say it doesn’t happen, with the business end of this year’s competition seeing a big change in approach, culminating in a tense but ironically dour final. But this is more about exposure and repetition of those core skills overall, given that the average young outside back coming through the New Zealand school, club and domestic system would’ve fielded far less bombs than his South African or English counterpart.

    There’s a conversation to be had about coaching philosophy in general around the country, but the pressing concern is for that gap to be closed, and this is a situation where the job market is a bit richer. Rugby isn’t the only sport that deals in high kicks and skills related to it, so potentially Robertson can look across the Tasman and find someone in the NRL or AFL.

    It’s that sort of compromise that needs to be reached, especially since part of Robertson’s appointment in the first place was his ability to bring what he needed to his staff and work on overall strategy. That second part is what he’s certainly been trying to do with the All Blacks, but it only works if he gets the first part right and the team is winning.

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    Weather: Large hail, torrential rain forecast as thunderstorm warning issued for South Island

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Hail at Dunedin Airport. Supplied

    Thunderstorms are forecast to bring torrential rain and large hail to the South Island.

    MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Otago on Thursday afternoon.

    The forecasting agency said the thunderstorms are moving quickly towards the east, and could be accompanied by torrential rain and large hail.

    It warned torrential rain could cause surface or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.

    “Large hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles, and make driving conditions hazardous,” it said.

    Pictures from Dunedin Airport showed the tarmac was blanketed in hail.

    Hail at Dunedin Airport. Supplied

    A storm watch is also in place for the Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, and Clutha until 10pm on Thursday. As well as up north for, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

    It comes after much of the country experienced sweltering heat over the weekend, with temperatures in the high 20s or even early 30s.

    MetService said on Thursday there was a reprieve from the heat on the way, with temperatures across the country heading back down towards normal.

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    Hawke’s Bay community moves to highest level of water restrictions

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    123rf.com

    The Central Hawke’s Bay beach community of Kairakau has just been put under the highest level of water restrictions.

    Central Hawke’s Bay District Council chief executive Doug Tate said it wasn’t a decision they made lightly.

    “It became a necessary move due to the inability to extract enough water from the bore and the spring – the water sources for Kairakau.”

    He said due to the lack of water, the bore is only able to draw approximately a tenth of its consented take and, at this rate, it would take almost three days to refill the reservoir.

    The council is investigating whether there are any other underlying causes, but suspects the current dry conditions are the main problem.

    “We’re having to use tankers to maintain the supply, until the issue is resolved. That’s why we’re having to take such urgent action and implement Level 4 restrictions. We need everyone to work together to reduce water use and share the message in Kairakau,” Tate said.

    The Hawke’s Bay region has been sweltering under 34 degree temperatures this week, and some areas have had just half the average rainfall for this time of the year.

    The council is asking Kairakau residents to:

    • ONLY use water outside for emergencies – no washing boats, cars, houses etc
    • If you have a pool, don’t top it up.
    • Conserve water wherever you can.
    • Don’t use your dishwasher. Wash your dishes by hand and use that water elsewhere.
    • Limit how much you use your washing machine.
    • Don’t rush to flush the toilet – if it’s yellow, let it mellow.
    • Limit your showers to two minutes only.
    • Check out water saving tips for other ways that you can save water.

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    NZX ends year ahead of where it began

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Top picks for the year included Sanford, A2 Milk, dairy co-operative Fonterra and apple and pet food exporter Scales. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

    The New Zealand Exchange Top 50 Index is ending the year slightly stronger than where it started, with a few out-performers more than offsetting weakness in others.

    Harbour Asset Management portfolio manager Shane Solley’s top picks for the year included seafood company Sanford, speciality milk company A2 Milk, the dairy co-operative Fonterra and the apple and pet food exporter Scales.

    “Over the year, certainly the New Zealand share market performance has improved,” Solley said.

    “People are seeing the market is getting this earnings recovery, but we will want to see confirmation, and so a lot of investors will be watching for the December period results that should come through in February, just to confirm that momentum.”

    Generate investment specialist Greg Smith said the dairy sector had been particularly strong, with A2Milk’s share price up about 60 percent and Fonterra’s 40 percent, while Fletcher Building rose 25 percent, despite having had a difficult time over the past few years.

    “It’s had its fair share of problems in recent years, but investors seem to be seeing some light there on a number of fronts and also the fact that it is a name that should benefit as the economy turns around.”

    He said an easing in interest rates, as well as a notable increase in building consents.

    “Could make for a much better 2026 for Fletchers and others in that sector.”

    Solley said the second half of the calendar year had seen some big swings in the economy, as large cuts to the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate helped improve the outlook for a number of businesses.

    “But really that first half of the year, we were rolling through negative earnings downgrades, and so that’s been a real battle for the market. If I look over the full year, there’s a couple of themes that come through.

    “The share prices that have done better are Tower and Turner’s Auctions, with really strong franchises that could deal with that slower economy.

    “Businesses like Fonterra, Sanford, A2Milk, Scales – great businesses run by people who are really focused on improving returns.

    “We’ve also had some really strong infrastructure franchises with purchasing power. Channel Infrastructure, Napier Port – they have got some great growth opportunities, so the markets rewarded them.

    “And then finally, over the full-year period, we’ve seen Tourism Holdings, for example, with merger and acquisition activity.

    “But we’ve actually seen some of these domestic improvement names start to come back up the list of the best performers over the last six months – Oceania, Heartland Group, Freightways, Sky TV – and the market has rewarded that.”

    Solley said a number of companies with exposure to the domestic economy have had a tough time, but so have technology companies such as Gentrack and Vista, and some big names, including Meridian, Spark, SkyCity, EBOS and Meridian Energy.

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    Waikato trio accused of copper thefts

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    In recent years there have been reports of copper being stolen. Supplied

    Three people have been arrested following an investigation into ongoing thefts of copper.

    They were arrested after raids in rural Gordonton and Cambridge, Waikato. Two were women, aged 37 and 50, and a 44-year-old man.

    They will appear in Hamilton District Court next week, charged with burglary.

    Police said they became aware of a commercial property in Frankton, Hamilton, which had been repeatedly targeted by thieves.

    An investigation found 200kg of it had been on-sold in Auckland.

    “This investigation highlighted the importance of quality, multi-layered security systems on commercial premises including CCTV, alarm systems and outer perimeter measures,” police said in a statement.

    In recent years there have been reports of copper being stolen from power poles, rail bridges and a hospital.

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    School caused ‘major drama’ by speaking out about mouldy lunches – David Seymour

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

    A Christchurch school caused a big drama by talking to the media about mouldy school lunches before waiting for investigation findings, David Seymour says.

    Haeata Community Campus has been at odds with New Zealand Food Safety and school lunch provider Compass Group about how the mince and potato meals came to be served to children on 1 December.

    NZ Food Safety investigators concluded the most plausible explanation was a mix-up at the school and there were no food safety risks associated with the School Lunch Collective supplier Compass Group.

    The rotten food served to students at Haeata Community Campus. Supplied / Haeata Community Campus

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour said it was unfortunate the food safety watchdog first heard about the problem from the media rather than the school.

    “I just wish this hadn’t been necessary. If everyone had just kept a cool head and no-one had run off to the media and they’d gone through the proper process putting child safety number one and child education number two, then this report would have been issued and and no one would have heard much about it,” he said.

    “This shouldn’t have been made a major drama and a beat-up.”

    New Zealand Food Safety made a number of recommendations following the investigation, saying improvements to tracing and reporting processes would reduce the risk of a repeat.

    Overall, Seymour said the the school lunches programme was a “triumph”.

    “We’ve had, what is it, two weeks now of talking about 20 lunches when there wasn’t actually an issue,” he said.

    “I acknowledge that there were serious challenges in term one because a subcontractor basically went bankrupt and stopped supplying the lunches. That was a real crisis but we actually fixed it really quickly and we haven’t had any problems since then,” he said.

    “The healthy school lunches programme is almost half the cost of Labour’s programme and the number of meals that get rejected or sent back every day is the same as Labour’s programme. So I would say half the cost, same quality.”

    Haeata Community Campus principal Peggy Burrows said the school would review NZ Food Safety’s report alongside its own internal investigation.

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    Store worker assaulted by group in aggravated robbery in Otangarei

    Source: Radio New Zealand

    RNZ / Angus Dreaver

    A store worker has been assaulted after an alleged aggravated robbery in Otangarei on Wednesday night.

    A group of men armed with non-firearm weapons entered the building on William Jones Drive about 7.25pm, police said.

    The worker was attacked and received minor injuries.

    Police said the offenders appeared to have stolen cash and cigarettes before fleeing on foot towards Taraire Crescent.

    “This type of violent behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Whangārei CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said.

    “The victim thankfully didn’t require medical treatment, but is understandably shaken up.

    “We are now working hard to hold those responsible to account.”

    Pilmer thanked members of the public who had already provided information, but police were urging anyone else who may have seen or heard anything to come forward.

    Police would also like to speak to anyone who may be offered cigarettes for sale cheaply.

    Pilmer said the public could expect an increased police presence in the area while enquiries were carried out.

    Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has information regarding it can contact police by calling 105 and quoting file number 251210/5639.

    If you wish to give information anonymously, please call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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