Category: Public Media

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Wellington Hospital to get new ‘hybrid’ operating theatre

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Hospital. RNZ / REECE BAKER

Wellington Hospital will have a new $16 million operating theatre by early 2028.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said Health New Zealand had approved the funding for what’s known as a hybrid theatre.

It allows for both traditional surgery and the use of imaging technology – meaning teams can complete complex procedures in one place, without having to move patients between theatres and imaging suites.

Brown said moving patients can create delays and extend recovery times.

“The new $16.25 million hybrid theatre directly addresses those challenges, delivering the highest standard of care in a single, seamless environment,” he said.

“It will replace the current model where a single patient may need to be seen by two different teams in separate rooms.

“By consolidating care in one space, Wellington Regional Hospital will be able to increase its surgical output, allowing more patients to receive timely, quality treatment.”

The theatre will be built on the hospital’s third floor, replacing a non-clinical space. It will have direct access to the emergency department, intensive care unit and post-anaesthesia care unit.

The build will begin mid-to-late 2026, and the theatre will be operating between late 2027 and early 2028.

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Search for missing boatie scaled back

Source: Radio New Zealand

Family members raised the alarm on Friday night when the pair failed to return to Pataua South, near Whangārei. NZ Coastguard

Police are scaling back the search for a man missing off the Northland coast four days after a fishing trip came to a tragic end.

Northland police search and rescue leader Paul Overton said Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol joined the aerial search on Tuesday morning.

Police, including the national dive squad, and the navy searched a large area of sea and shoreline on Monday in the hope of finding the man’s body.

Daily shoreline searches would continue in the hope that changing currents and water pressure would help to return the missing man.

“We have extensively searched a vast area since we were first alerted on Friday night, in the hope of bringing the missing man home to his family,” Overton said.

“Our search has by no means stopped, but on Tuesday we’ll scale back and consider what other options are available to us.”

The missing boat, a six-metre runabout, was found empty and adrift near Bream Bay’s Hen and Chicken Islands on Saturday. One body was found at Pātaua North later that same day.

Family members raised the alarm on Friday evening when the pair failed to return to Pātaua South, east of Whangārei.

Overton said agencies and volunteers involved in the search included the Police Eagle helicopter, Land Search and Rescue, Coastguard Tūtūkākā and Coastguard Whangārei.

Police appreciated the many offers of help and supportive messages they had received from the public and those wishing to help, he said.

“It’s been a really challenging time for everyone involved and we are grateful to each and every person who has assisted us during the past few days.”

He urged anyone who saw anything unusual in the water in the area where the fishermen went missing to call police on 111.

A rāhui, or customary ban on swimming, fishing and seafood gathering, has been placed on the coast from Tutukākā to south of Waipu Cove, including Whangārei Harbour and the Hen and Chicken Islands.

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Prosecution downgrades charges against soldier accused of strangling former partner

Source: Radio New Zealand

The man was facing a court martial hearing on two counts of strangulation but the prosecution has amended the charges to male assaults female. RNZ / Jonathan Mitchell

The prosecution has downgraded charges against a soldier accused of strangling his former partner.

The Army corporal, who has interim name suppression, was initially facing a court martial hearing at Burnham Military Camp on two counts of strangulation.

Judge Tini Clark told the military panel on Tuesday morning that the prosecution had amended the charges to male assaults female due to a discrepancy around the date of the accusations.

During cross-examination on Monday by defence lawyer Andrew McCormick, the complainant conceded she was unsure whether the events happened in 2018 or 2019.

A specific charge of strangulation was introduced into law at the end of 2018.

It carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ jail, compared to only two for male assaults female.

On Tuesday morning, the court heard the soldier chose not to comment when approached by the Defence Force Serious Investigations Branch.

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Decision on Liam Lawson’s F1 future delayed even further

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand F1 driver IAN BUNDEY / MPS AGENCY © / PHOTOSPORT

Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane says it is likely a decision on their 2026 driver line-up won’t be made until this season ends.

In September, Red Bull indicated that a decision on the line-up for both teams for next season would be made after the Mexico Grand Prix (26 October).

They then announced that the decision would be delayed.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen is the only driver in the Red Bull stable contracted through until 2028, however the other three seats (in Red Bull and Racing Bulls) are unconfirmed for 2026.

Commentators have said that Frenchman Isack Hadjar is likely to be promoted to Red Bull, while current Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda, New Zealand’s Liam Lawson, and Red Bulls F2 driver Arvid Lindblad are the contenders for the two Racing Bulls seats.

It had also been suggested that the delay might be because of the new regulations coming in next year. The team has to decide which drivers would be best suited to adapt quickly to the new cars. But Permane told Motorsport.com that was not the issue.

“We are in a very tight battle ourselves [for sixth], but also, Red Bull are in a very tight battle in their constructors’ championship [battle for second],” Permane said.

“We just want to have some stability, and that may well go on right until the end of the season. So you may not find out until Monday morning after Abu Dhabi (the final round).

“I don’t know exactly when it’ll be, but that’s the reason. It’s nothing to do with next year’s rules.”

Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, 2025. ALESSIO MORGESE / AFP

The regulation changes for 2026 may count against Lindblad, who is currently seventh in the 2025 F2 standings.

Lawson and Hadjar have so far scored 82 points for Racing Bulls in 2025, with the team sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Continuity as teams go through extensive simulation work in the off season is likely to be key.

“You always want the experienced driver. We see with James [Vowles at Williams] and his two super-experienced drivers, they hit the ground running pretty much every weekend,” Permane told Motorsport.com.

“And that’s not to take anything away from our guys, but experience always counts. Nothing beats pace, obviously. So you have to have that pace there. It will undoubtedly help for next year.

“On the other hand, you could look at it and say, well, everyone’s starting from a clean sheet of paper.”

Formula 1 heads to Las Vegas this week. The last two rounds are in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Lawson is 14th in the driver standings, seven points behind Hadjar and eight points ahead of Tsunoda.

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Top writers ruled out of NZ book awards due to AI covers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two books by distinguished authors have been ruled out of New Zealand’s premier literary prize because their covers were generated with artificial intelligence.

Elizabeth Smither’s Angel Train and Stephanie Johnson’s Obligate Carnivore, both of whom received one of the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, were removed from contention for the $65,000 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction in the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

The New Zealand Book Awards Trust – which run the awards – said a bookseller suspected AI use and alerted organisers, upon which Christchurch-based publisher Quentin Wilson confirmed it.

Stephanie Johnson and Elizabeth Smither.

Supplied / Liz March

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Weather: Heavy rain hits Bay of Plenty, other places warned they will get some too

Source: Radio New Zealand

Weather warnings are in place across the country. Supplied / MetService

Heavy rain is causing localised downpours of between 25 and 40mm per hour in Bay of Plenty, west of Ōpōtiki.

The bands of rain are moving westwards and did not currently have lightning, but MetService has placed a severe thunderstorm watch on the area until 3pm Tuesday.

MetService’s Mark Todd said in these conditions, people should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and monitor the situation in case the watch is upgraded to a warning.

“Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips,” he said.

Earlier, MetService issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty from 8pm Tuesday, which meant the organisation was highly confident that heavy rain would occur.

Severe gales were also possible in the South Island.

“A front stalls over Westland and Canterbury today, bringing heavy rain and possibly strong winds, then weakens,” the forecaster said in a statement.

“Humid northeasterlies affect the upper North Island and many places there are also expected to experience heavy rain during Tuesday and Wednesday. There are several warnings and watches for heavy rain around the country, and also a wind watch for parts of Canterbury.”

Northland could also expect heavy rain east of Kerikeri and Dargaville, as could Auckland and Great Barrier Island, between 2pm Tuesday and the same time Wednesday.

“Periods of heavy rain with localised downpours possible. Isolated areas may exceed warning criteria, especially in downpours.”

There was a high chance that heavy rain watch could be upgraded to a warning.

Heavy rain watches were also in place for Waitomo, Waikato and Taupo from 3pm for 24 hours; Taumarunui and Taihape north of Ohakune, from 11pm Tuesday for 12 hours; and Taranaki, for 23 hours from 9pm.

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Wesley College’s school board dissolved after safety concerns at its hostels

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wesley College is in Paerata, south of Auckland. (File photo) RNZ / Shannon Haunui-Thompson

A school’s board has been dissolved after a spate of safety issues at its boarding hostels.

Earlier this month, Wesley College, in Paerata south of Auckland, started legal proceedings against the Ministry of Education after the ministry suspended the school’s licence to house boarders.

The ministry said that those taking NCEA exams and international students would be allowed to stay in the dorms until the end of the term, but Year 9 and 10 students needed to leave immediately. The school wanted the dorms to stay open for all students until the end of the year and said the legal action related to the “abrupt closure directive” relating to the younger students.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Methodist Church, which founded the school, said it would commission an external review into the current Wesley College Trust Board, which had been dissolved.

Senior church leaders would take over the board in the interim.

The president of the Methodist Church, Te Aroha Rountree, said the decision was made after careful reflection about the school’s future direction and the Church’s responsibilities as its founder.

“Wesley College holds a special place in the life of the Methodist Church and across generations of families who have been part of its story. Our decision to pause, review, and renew its governance is about ensuring the college has the strongest possible foundation for the years ahead.

“This is a time to listen, to learn, and to rebuild with integrity and care. The wellbeing of students, staff, and whānau remains at the heart of everything we do.”

The church said the review would “inform the reconstitution of a refreshed trust board structure”.

Rountree acknowledged the “generous service” of outgoing board members.

“Their commitment and aroha for the college over many years have been immense. This step continues the shared goal of a vibrant and thriving Wesley College community.”

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‘Minor infractions’: Police Minister showers police commissioner Richard Chambers with praise following swim during tsunami advisory

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police Minister Mark Mitchell sitting beside commissioner Richard Chambers. (File photo) RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Police Minister Mark Mitchell has showered the police commissioner Richard Chambers with praise, saying a few “minor infractions” should not detract from his “phenomenal” performance in the job.

On Tuesday morning, RNZ revealed Chambers took a “very brief dip” at Oriental Bay on 1 August despite a tsunami advisory being in place. He was with FBI Director Kash Patel at the time after an early morning run.

Chambers last week also admitted he had recently been ticketed for going 112km/h in a 100km/h zone.

Speaking at Parliament on Tuesday, Mitchell acknowledged the swimming incident was “not good enough” but stressed Chambers thought the warning had been lifted.

“Yes, he shouldn’t have been in the water, and that’s why he called me and apologised and said, you know, that was an oversight on his part.”

Mitchell said Chambers was the “best guy, without a doubt, to be leading” the police service, and he had great admiration and respect for him.

“These were minor infractions, and he rang me and informed me of both of them straight away and made an apology,” Mitchell said.

“He is a man packed full of integrity. He is deeply engaged with his front line and understands what they need and how to support them. And he’s also got a very good strategic mind on him.”

Chuckling, Mitchell said he had endowed Chambers with a new nickname – “Speedy Gonzales” – following his speeding ticket.

Chambers earlier told RNZ he went for the mid-winter swim just after 7am believing the tsunami advisory had been lifted. He said he apologised to Mitchell after later discovering the advisory had not been lifted until about 8.30am.

“It is not usual for me to ignore such warnings,” Chambers said.

The advisory was issued the day before by the National Emergency Management Agency after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s remote east coast.

Mitchell said the advisory was necessary and extremely serious.

“Every morning, at about six o’clock, there are a whole lot of people that come down to the beaches to enjoy nature, to go for a walk, take their dogs for a walk.

“And at that stage, we still weren’t 100% sure that we weren’t going to have… massive tidal movements on the beaches, and had we had one of those, then people could die.”

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Whakaari/White Island volcanic ash forces flight cancellations

Source: Radio New Zealand

An Air Chathams plane. Supplied

Whakatāne Airport says ash from Whakaari/White Island has severely impacted services.

Chief executive Mark Read said Air Chathams cancelled morning and afternoon flights in and out of Whakatāne on Tuesday due to the volcanic ash advisory.

Air Chathams’ Whakatāne services fly to Auckland, Paraparaumu and Whanganui.

Volcanic ash also impacted flights at Tauranga Airport in the last 24 hours.

A screen shot of steam rising from Whakaari/White Island on 30 October 2025. Supplied

Tauranga Airport manager Ray Dumble said it was forced to cancel the last four flights departing Tauranga on Monday night, along with the first four departures on Tuesday morning.

Tauranga Airport has since resumed services as normal.

The volcano was at alert level 3, denoting a minor eruption, and was seen releasing ash and steam over the weekend.

Forty-seven people were on the Bay of Plenty volcano when it erupted in December 2019, killing 22 and seriously injuring 25.

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Nations Championship gets thumbs down from former NZ Rugby boss

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Blacks back Will Jordan dejected following defeat to England. www.photosport.nz

Former New Zealand Rugby chief executive David Moffett believes World Rugby’s new Nations Championship will be a flop.

The 12 team tournament will be held every two years, with teams competing for points during the existing July and November windows.

There will be a finals weekend in London in late November, culminating in a title decider between the top ranked Northern Hemisphere team and the top ranked Southern Hemisphere team.

All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor in action against England. ActionPress

Next year, the All Blacks will host France, Italy and Ireland in July, before away tests against Wales, Scotland and England in November.

The venues for the All Blacks home tests are yet to be confirmed.

Moffett told RNZ it would not be the financial boon World Rugby hopes it would be.

“I’m not overly blown away by it,” Moffett said.

“It’s just another dressed-up competition that World Rugby has come up with. Let’s not kid ourselves that this is going to be the solution to all of rugby’s ills.

“I’m not so sure that too many people are going to care about it. International rugby today I liken to the Melbourne Cup. The Melbourne Cup is a carnival that comes around once a year and a whole lot of people go and watch with no real interest in racing.

“That’s what we’re seeing happening around the world with rugby events.”

David Moffett. Photosport

Moffett believes the Nations Championship could lose money and used the Sevens World Series as an example.

“Look at Sevens, we don’t have a (international) Sevens tournament in this country anymore because they (World Rugby) decided there was going to be nine rounds and they’re going to be played in these great venues all around the world and everybody’s going to race out and want to play Sevens.

“Well none of that’s happened, the only thing that really happened is I think they’ve lost about 40 million euros this year on the Sevens tournament alone.”

However, New Zealand Rugby’s Cameron Good is confident fans will get behind the concept.

“I think it just means that every game in July and November matters,” Good said.

“We’re creating a competition that’s played outside of World Cup and Lions years. It creates that real jeopardy around every fixture, building up to what will be a new final series at the end of November.

“New Zealand rugby, if you look at what we’ve built for the next five years, we’re trying to introduce really fan-centric (games), what the fans want.

“We have the Greatest Rivalry Tour (2026 All Blacks tour of South Africa) and the Nations Championship, meaning there’s no talk now of friendlies. Every single game in July and November will matter. You’ll see it on a table. You’ll be following your team and seeing who they’ll match up against in that finals weekend.

“The All Blacks are now going to play every six-nations team, either home or away, in these Nations Championship years and then the final series is something completely new. So we’ve added a weekend to the international calendar.”

And Good is confident it will be a financial success.

“The fact that you’ve got all Six Nations teams, all Sanzaar teams, and we’ve invited Japan and Fiji in, we think this will resonate with fans, but also with broadcasters and commercial partners.

“We’re already pretty advanced with a lot of those conversations. It’s something new and different, but we think it’ll heighten what happens in those July and November windows and then give us something completely new with that finals weekend.”

ActionPress

He believes the Northern and Southern hemisphere rivalry is something fans want more of.

“You will find out who the best team in the world was in that year and you’ll also get to definitively decide or know which hemisphere is the better hemisphere,” Good said.

“There’s always a lot of speculation about North vs South in rugby. This will actually allow us to say who came through as the hemisphere in that year.”

Moffett believes the Nations Championship could detract from the four yearly World Cup, but Good isn’t concerned.

“Ultimately, in a World Cup, you’ve got to go through a round of 16, a quarter, a semi and a final, so there’s a uniqueness about prevailing at a World Cup.

“This (Nations Championship) is quite a different format, obviously less teams involved. Certainly in those World Cup years, that will be the pinnacle event. There is no Nations Championship in those years.”

One of the criticisms of the Nations Championship is that it only serves the world’s top teams and isn’t doing a lot to help grow the game or help tier two nations improve.

Good said a second competition which mirrored the Nations Championship was in the pipeline for the lower ranked sides.

“We’re working with World Rugby to help them create, I guess, the second tier of the Nations Championship. That will include the next 12 ranked teams in the world and will run in the same July and November windows.”

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