Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The main Tongariro track is expected to stay shut until at least next week after devastating wildfire.

Recent rain is helping hugely to bring the massive Tongariro National Park blaze under control, Fire and Emergency says.

Thirty-five crews of Department of Conservation firefighters remain at the site on Tuesday, while drones with thermal imaging equipment have begun checking the flanks of the fireground for hotspots.

A helicopter is on standby to fly over and assess the full extent of the damage. However, low cloud has meant it has been unable to do an aerial assessment of the site, which is estimated to cover up to 2800 hectares.

Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka said part of the National Park is open, but the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro Northern Circuit, Tama Lakes and walks near Whakapapa Village would be closed until at least Monday.

“We will be in a better place to give an indication of when tracks and huts will re-open and any impacts on summer tramping once the fire has been controlled and FENZ have confirmed it is safe for us to assess damage,” Potaka said.

“But there will be some time before everything is cleared away and we know the true extent of biodiversity loss, but also what’s in front us, which is a restoration opportunity.”

Potaka said police were investigating the cause of the fire.

“We have managed to protect some key infrastructure so we hope to be able to reopen the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Tongariro Northern Circuit (except Oturere Hut) quickly.”

FENZ assistant commander Renee Potae said recent rain had been a huge help.

“The key thing has been the rain, especially the runoff from the mountain. That runoff is running into the fireground and really helping us get control of this fire.”

However, while flames may no longer be visible, it does not mean the fire has been fully extinguished.

“While you can’t see too much sign of fire right now on the surface, it doesn’t mean it’s not still burning underground,” Potae said.

“So while we’ll start to see some of the resources start to demobilise over the next few days, there will be, for several days, some crews continuing to monitor the fire just to make sure it’s out.”

Meanwhile, an iwi representative said the rāhui over the scene will give the whenua time to breathe.

Two rāhui have been put in place, covering the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and any burnt areas.

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro representative Te Ngaehe Wanikau said: “The restoration is not about excluding, it’s not prohibiting.”

Wanikau said the restorative rāhui was not in the usual sense of rāhui which happens after a tragedy.

A restorative rāhui was about focusing on bringing the area back to what it should be, he said.

The “greatest” fear was the burnt area going into the “too hard basket and then we see yellow flowers of broom all over our mountain”.

The rāhui was an opportunity for “everyone and anyone” to focus on making it a restorative project that showed what the area could look like if the problem was dealt with.

He said they would work with agencies to determine the extent of the damage.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are poised to begin testing drivers for drugs with a device that involves a quick swipe of the driver’s tongue.

The government on Tuesday announced roadside testing for four types of drugs will begin next month in Wellington, spreading nationwide by mid-2026.

It said there would be “fewer tragedies” as a result.

An oral-fluid testing device would be able to detect cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy or meth.

If a tongue-swipe test taking a few minutes was positive, a second roadside test would follow.

If that was positive too, then the driver would be prohibited from driving for 12 hours.

In addition, police will take a saliva sample for analysis in a lab that can test for 25 types of drug, and any infringement notice will follow from that.

“Most drivers will be free to go within about five minutes once they have a negative test result,” the government announcement said.

“Around 30 percent of all road deaths now involve an impairing drug,” Transport Minister Chris Bishop said in a statement.

“If you take drugs and drive, you’re putting innocent lives at risk – and we will not tolerate it.”

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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 firefighters’ union says asbestos found in an air tank, which helps emergency services breath during fires, will be distressing for personnel in Auckland.

It said a bulk air supply tank had tested positive for a “very small level” of asbestos.

The tank has not been in use since asbestos was found in equipment used to fill breathing apparatus (BA) cylinders for individual firefighters at Auckland City fire station two years ago. Police sometimes also filled up using that gear.

However, the Professional Firefighters’ Union said in an online post it was now concerned the bulk tank may have contaminated the cylinders, though some extra tests showed it might not have.

“There has been additional tests on the bulk air supply tank to see whether the asbestos would transfer from that tank to a breathing apparatus cylinder and those tests demonstrated that the identified asbestos remained in the bulk air supply tank,” it said.

The problem was the cylinders had not been tested as they should have been, and it had only just learned this.

“This news will be very distressing for many firefighters who now have the uncertainty of the safety of their BAs potentially filled using this sample bulk air tank prior to 2023,” it said.

“To not have any tests to either confirm or refute any potential risk will no doubt cause anger and frustration.”

FENZ has been approached for comment by RNZ.

The union said FENZ should urgently test the cylinders, or withdraw them immediately.

“We understand the BA sets are nearly at end of life,” the union said.

“FENZ should procure new BA cylinders and sets now in order to decommission all cylinders that had possibly been filled through the tanks prior to 2023 and therefore have a possible risk of contamination.”

Worksafe said it had been contacted by the union with concerns about breathing apparatus sets filled prior to 2023 at Auckland City fire station.

“We have had ongoing involvement at the site over time and are making further enquiries to understand the latest concerns ,” it said on Tuesday.

The Auckland City station had an asbestos scare that closed it briefly last month. In 2023 there were at least four discoveries of asbestos at the station.

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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 main Tongariro track is expected to stay shut until at least next week after devastating wildfire.

Recent rain is helping hugely to bring the massive Tongariro National Park blaze under control, Fire and Emergency says.

Thirty-five crews of Department of Conservation firefighters remain at the site on Tuesday, while drones with thermal imaging equipment have begun checking the flanks of the fireground for hotspots.

A helicopter is on standby to fly over and assess the full extent of the damage. However, low cloud has meant it has been unable to do an aerial assessment of the site, which is estimated to cover up to 2800 hectares.

Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka said part of the National park is open, but the main track entrance is set to reopen next week.

“The particular area where this devastation has incurred, the track is expected to be open on the 17th, I think, of November, the main Tongariro track that everyone talks about,” Potaka said.

“But there will be some time before everything is cleared away and we know the true extent of biodiversity loss, but also what’s in front us, which is a restoration opportunity.”

Potaka said police are investigating the cause of the fire.

FENZ assistant commander Renee Potae said recent rain has been a huge help.

“The key thing has been the rain, especially the runoff from the mountain. That runoff is running into the fireground and really helping us get control of this fire.”

However, while flames may no longer be visible, it does not mean the fire has been fully extinguished.

“While you can’t see too much sign of fire right now on the surface, it doesn’t mean it’s not still burning underground,” Potae said.

“So while we’ll start to see some of the resources start to demobilise over the next few days, there will be, for several days, some crews continuing to monitor the fire just to make sure it’s out.”

Meanwhile, an iwi representative said the rāhui over the scene will give the whenua time to breathe.

Two rāhui have been put in place, covering the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and any burnt areas.

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro representative Te Ngaehe Wanikau said: “The restoration is not about excluding, it’s not prohibiting.”

Wanikau said the restorative rāhui was not in the usual sense of rāhui which happens after a tragedy.

A restorative rāhui was about focusing on bringing the area back to what it should be, he said.

The “greatest” fear was the burnt area going into the “too hard basket and then we see yellow flowers of broom all over our mountain”.

The rāhui was an opportunity for “everyone and anyone” to focus on making it a restorative project that showed what the area could look like if the problem was dealt with.

He said they would work with agencies to determine the extent of the damage.

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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 court has ordered a recount in Porirua’s Parirua Māori Ward.

Candidate Jess Te Huia made the application to Porirua District Court last month.

Incumbent Kylie Wihapi, who served as the city’s deputy mayor last term, was re-elected with 936 votes at October’s election – 11 votes ahead of Te Huia, on 925 votes.

Porirua City Council says the court has found “Ms Te Huia has an objective and credible basis for believing that the results were incorrect, so the application for a recount was granted”.

It will take place on Thursday 13 November.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has waved away New Zealand First’s criticism of National’s economic plan, saying Winston Peters has many entrenched views.

In an interview on Morning Report on Tuesday, the NZ First leader said Luxon’s interest in asset sales was based on a “tawdry silly argument“. Peters said National wanted to “flog those [assets] off” having “failed to run the economy properly”.

Responding on his way into a caucus meeting at Parliament, Luxon said he was not bothered by his coalition partner’s comments.

“Winston Peters has been around for half a century in this place. He has a lot of entrenched views on a lot of different things that aren’t a surprise to me or you.”

Luxon reiterated that the government would not be pursuing state asset sales this term but said there was a “legitimate conversation” to be had about the best use of its funds.

He told RNZ both National and NZ First would develop their policies over the next year and campaign on them into the election.

He has his take on it, and I have my take on it,” he said. “It’s not surprising. He’s been here 50 years, for goodness’ sake. He has a lot of different views.”

Luxon said it was “quite normal” for coalition partners to express different views “on the margins” – especially going into election year – and that should not be viewed as an impediment to governing.

Asked about Peters’ claim that National had failed to turn around the economy fast enough, Luxon said all three coalition parties were “working incredibly hard” on that goal.

“We are in this together as a coalition government,” Luxon told RNZ. “Part of [the economy]… has recovered well. The other part has been more challenging.”

In the Morning Report interview, Peters cited Singapore as a model of economic success, but Luxon said Singapore was a big proponent of selling assets to put that capital to better use.

“When you look at countries like Singapore, a country I’ve studied really deeply over 30 years, one of their great successes and hallmarks has been they recycle their assets.”

Peters also told Morning Report he opposed selling the government’s stake in the telecommunications lines company Chorus – an option currently being explored and advocated for by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

Luxon said Willis was still seeking advice and the government would discuss next steps “in due course”.

“We’ll come to Cabinet, have a good conversation about it, and see where we go to from there,” Luxon said.

“The choice for New Zealanders is: do you want the money tied up in Chorus debt, or do you want a new hospital or a school? It’s that simple.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Peters’ “admission” that the coalition government had failed to turn the economy around was “stunning”.

“Goodness gracious. Imagine what the conversations are like behind closed doors,” Hipkins said. “If that’s what they’re saying about each other in public, they can’t be getting on particularly well in private, can they?”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Recent rain is helping hugely to bring the massive Tongariro National Park blaze under control, Fire and Emergency says.

Thirty-five crews of Department of Conservation firefighters remain at the site on Tuesday, while drones with thermal imaging equipment have begun checking the flanks of the fireground for hotspots.

A helicopter is on standby to fly over and assess the full extent of the damage. However, low cloud has meant it has been unable to do an aerial assessment of the site, which is estimated to cover up to 2800 hectares.

FENZ assistant commander Renee Potae said recent rain has been a huge help.

“The key thing has been the rain, especially the runoff from the mountain. That runoff is running into the fireground and really helping us get control of this fire.”

However, while flames may no longer be visible, it does not mean the fire has been fully extinguished.

“While you can’t see too much sign of fire right now on the surface, it doesn’t mean it’s not still burning underground,” Potae said.

“So while we’ll start to see some of the resources start to demobilise over the next few days, there will be, for several days, some crews continuing to monitor the fire just to make sure it’s out.”

Meanwhile, an iwi representative said the rāhui over the scene will give the whenua time to breathe.

Two rāhui have been put in place, covering the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and any burnt areas.

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro representative Te Ngaehe Wanikau said: “The restoration is not about excluding, it’s not prohibiting.”

Wanikau said the restorative rāhui was not in the usual sense of rāhui which happens after a tragedy.

A restorative rāhui was about focusing on bringing the area back to what it should be, he said.

The “greatest” fear was the burnt area going into the “too hard basket and then we see yellow flowers of broom all over our mountain”.

The rāhui was an opportunity for “everyone and anyone” to focus on making it a restorative project that showed what the area could look like if the problem was dealt with.

He said they would work with agencies to determine the extent of the damage.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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