Category: Radio New Zealand

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Person killed in Marlborough crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Patrice Allen

A person has been killed in a single-vehicle crash in Marlborough.

Police were called to the accident, on Waihopai Valley Road between Shandon Road and Omaka Downs Road, about 10am on Monday.

A person died at the scene.

The road was closed while the police investigated, and has since reopened. A probe into how the crash happened was still ongoing.

Before this accident there had been 126 deaths on the road in 2026, the highest at this point of the year since 2022.

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New kind of threat hovers over Tongan media

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pacific media in action. RNZ / Johnny Blades

Previously it was reporting on governments or politics that brought trouble for Tonga’s journalists – now it’s reporting on drugs or gangs.

Tongan journalists are coming to terms with new pressures on media freedom over reporting on the country’s drug crisis, and the role of gangs in it.

This comes after a journalist at Kele’a Publications was threatened at gunpoint in Nuku’alofa, following reporting on drugs issues two weeks ago – the same week as World Press Freedom Day.

While Tonga police are still searching for the suspect who threatened a journalist, the manager of the Kele’a Publications said police should do more to protect the press.

According to Teisa Cokanasiga, journalist freedoms were usually tested by previous governments when reporting on the police; but the current situation is different and represented a new type of challenge for Tonga’s media.

“The threat was regarding reports that we did about drugs and a specific gang member who is currently serving life in prison. So now we are aware that we have that kind of threat.

“In terms of freedom of the press, to report on political issues and controversial issues concerning the leadership in the country. I think we are fine with that.”

Cokanasiga said there needed to be more awareness around this kind of threat as it can happen to any member of Tonga’s media.

“It’s just disheartening. And we are now aware that we can get that kind of challenge or risk, not only, I mean, from the public as well.”

For now, Cokanasiga said her team was supporting the journalist, and also being cautious while continuing daily duties.

“We’ve been trying to be, you know, be encourging of each other and at the same time give them space, especially the concerning journalist, and for her to slowly get back to working.”

Attack on Tongan’s constitutional rights

The Media Association of Tonga (MAT) said the incident was an assault not only on the safety of an individual journalist but on the constitutional right of every Tongan to receive information without fear or favour.

MAT president Katalina Uili Tohi said a climate of fear and intimidation targeting media personnel undermined democratic principles and silenced the very voices that hold power to account.

She said journalists must be able to work without the threat of violence or death.

Meanwhile, co-chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum, Lepailetai Tosi Tupua, commended the courage and professionalism of the journalist and her colleagues and their swift reporting to police.

He said they awaited the outcomes of a thorough and impartial police investigation into this incident, ensuring public safety and including safety on the job for all media workers reporting these matters.

Police were yet to arrest anyone, but Cokanasiga said they remained in regular contact with both her and the journalist.

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The five minutes Auckland FC cannot forget ahead of semifinal showdown in Adelaide

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sam Cosgrove of Auckland FC, right, heads the ball against Adelaide United. www.photosport.nz

Auckland FC have played more than 2550 minutes of football so far this A-League season, but a moment’s inattention could be what they remember the most.

Last season a period of five minutes in a semifinal ended their season.

Before Friday’s second semifinal against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium, coach Steve Corica will make sure to bring up that period of play that cost the team a maiden grand final appearance.

He wants the players to “feel the hurt”.

But the players have not forgotten. A year on, as the finals series has played out over the last fortnight a few of them referred to it in public, more will have thought about it privately.

“We know how bad it is to lose a semifinal,” Corica said.

“Last season, the only thing we did wrong is we conceded two goals in five minutes. We can’t afford to do that. Can’t afford to concede at all.

“We’ve got to try and keep a clean sheet. I think we’ll do our best to do that, but I think we have enough goals in us to win the game.”

Auckland and Adelaide are level at 1-1 after the first semifinal in Auckland on Saturday.

A win on Friday sets up a grand final against either Newcastle Jets or Sydney FC who are also locked at 1-1 after the first leg of the home and away semifinal.

Coaching vernacular

‘Moments’ is popular coaching vernacular.

Corica has spent the finals series mentioning moments of “switching off” – something he wanted players to avoid.

Likewise, Brisbane Roar women’s coach Alex Smith mentioned “two moments, lapses of concentration” that saw the Roar lose their semifinal to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday and miss out on a grand final.

Hiroki Sakai of Auckland FC and Anselmo de Moraes of Adelaide United compete for the ball. www.photosport.nz

Corica believed his team were “definitely focused” in the first semifinal.

“I think it’s just little details. We switched off for a minute, Hiroki [Sakai] got beat by [Yaya] Dakuly on the left-hand side, great ball across the face, we couldn’t deal with it.

“It’s just trying to maintain focus, don’t lose what we’ve been [doing to be] disciplined defensively.

“[It’s] just trying to limit their opportunities because they’re a good team. They score a lot of goals. They also concede, so our job is to score more than them.”

Straight after the game on Saturday, which was likely their last home game of the season unless Sydney beat Newcastle, Corica admitted the players “lost maybe a little bit of concentration” when two Auckland players went down with injures that required them to leave the field within the first 10 minutes of the second half.

“It’s just the way it is sometimes with football, you’ve got to deal with these moments in games.”

Guillermo May and Jake Brimmer will not play in second semifinal. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Auckland will be without Guillermo May who injured tendons in his ankle in the first semifinal and Felipe Gallegos and Jake Brimmer will also miss the must-win match at a sold-out Coopers Stadium.

In 90 minutes there will be many moments that could turn the game in Auckland’s favour on Friday. But history suggests it will take extra time, if not penalties, to separate the two teams who have had four draws in the five matches they have played in the last two seasons.

The match kicks off at 9.35pm (NZ time).

Follow updates on RNZ’s blog.

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Partial sell-off of Kiwibank back on the government’s agenda

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Kiwibank has been instructed by the government to once again look at its options for long-term growth, including revisiting the possibility of partial privatisation.

The taxpayer-owned bank had previously looked at raising $500 million in capital from local investors, but ditched that plan last year.

The new request is included in a letter of intent to Kiwibank’s parent company Kiwi Group Capital (KGC) from State-Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown.

“We expect KGC to undertake work on alternative growth scenarios, along with the capital required for these.” Brown said.

He went on to note in the letter that KGC should now engage with Treasury about how much capital might be required for different growth scenarios.

In accompanying Cabinet paper, Brown and Finance Minister Nicola Willis signalled that while the government wanted Kiwibank to grow into a market disrupter that can boost competition, the government’s coffers were constrained and it was unlikely to be in a position to provide extra capital.

“The Crown could continue to be the sole provider, or be one of the contributors, of additional capital,” the paper said. “However, this would see Crown funding directed to Kiwibank and away from other priorities. Given the significant constraints we are facing, the Crown is not in a position to support this course of action.”

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown. RNZ / Nick Monro

The paper also noted that if Kiwibank was to grow and increase competitive pressure, it would need to know in advance that it had access to capital markets.

Last year KGC said that the easing of the Reserve Bank’s capital settings, combined with Kiwibank’s recent $400m Tier 2 capital raise via bonds, meant it could grow without the need for additional equity.

The government had approved the possible partial public listing for Kiwibank to acquire new capital, but had stressed it could only proceed with an electoral mandate.

National promised no asset sales this term.

The Commerce Commission’s banking study in 2024 said Kiwibank should be given a financial boost to become a maverick challenger to the big four.

Kiwibank’s response

In a statement to RNZ, Kiwibank’s parent company KGC stressed it had sufficient capital to fund its lending growth in the medium-term and noted that the Crown had asked it to work with Treasury on new options for raising capital in future that could boost Kiwibank’s ongoing competitive potential.

“This process will consider a range of factors including investor feedback, market conditions and growth scenarios, as well as the potential amount, sources and timing of any future capital requirements” the statement said.

It went on to stress that it was early-stage work, and no decisions had been made on timeframes.

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‘Simplicity is key’: Sir Graham Henry’s approach to being back in All Blacks mode

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sir Graham Henry is an All Blacks selector again. www.photosport.nz

Sir Graham Henry wants to bring a simplistic approach to the table as he returns to the All Blacks fold as a selector.

Head coach Dave Rennie confirmed on Tuesday that Henry would join him and assistant coach Neil Barnes as selectors, with the All Blacks having their first test of the year against France in Christchurch’s new Te Kaha Stadium on 4 July.

Henry, 79, said one of the things he had learned during his coaching career, which included a Rugby World Cup title with the All Blacks in 2011, was sharing responsibility with the players.

That involves “everybody being on the same page and spending the time to ensure that happens so that everybody feels comfortable with what they’re trying to do”, he told Morning Report.

“I think that’s the key, giving players additional responsibility and ownership, and the more ownership they have, I think, the better they play. That’s how we approached it 20 years ago.”

The sport appears different now, but Henry said the same approach should ring true.

“I haven’t been in a coaching group for some time. It appears to be more complicated. And maybe that’s more difficult, but simplicity is key, I think. The more simple we can keep the game, I think the better the boys will play,” Henry said.

“The pressure is even greater today because the athletes are bigger and faster, so you’ve got less time to make decisions. The simplicity of what you’re trying to do is key, so that you actually can function. If it gets too complex, it makes it extremely difficult.”

Henry said the selectors had an extensive list of players to consider. “The competition for the All Black team is very real, and there’s a lot of very good players, and there’s going to be some very good players who don’t get selected, which is a healthy situation, but difficult for them, obviously.”

He said it was tough leaving players out. “But that’s the job, isn’t it. So you’ve just got to do your best. And I think making sure that you select correctly is a very important part of the side playing the best it can play.”

Henry coached Wales from 1998 to 2002 and the British and Irish Lions in 2001, before being All Blacks head coach from 2004-11. His record with the All Blacks was 88 wins from 103 tests. More recently, he was involved with the Black Ferns set-up during their World Cup winning campaign in 2022.

Sir Graham Henry with the Black Ferns in 2022. Photosport

He gave an insight into the role of a selector, saying there was a huge amount of statistical information now available on players compared to his time with national side, but that was a back-up to the main job.

“At the end of the day, you watch players play, and if you watch them for a long time – you don’t watch the game when you’re selecting, you just watch the individuals – you get a very good sense of whether they can do the job or not,” he said.

Players could be observed over an extensive period of time. “You know by viewing them whether they can put it in at the next level.”

Henry said he hadn’t missed the pressure of being involved at the top level, but was “very humbled” to be asked by Rennie and excited by the opportunity.

“I love the game. I think the game has got some challenges right now, so I’d like to try and help improve the game in this country, if I can.”

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High-profile chef cuts ties with Wellington Pavilion project

Source: Radio New Zealand

Originally built as a bathing pavilion in 1938, the Oriental Bay Band Rotunda housed several restaurants and bars from the 1980s until it was found to be quake prone. RNZ / Nick James

A multimillion-dollar Wellington Pavilion project, reviving a heritage waterfront spot, has lost its high-profile chef.

The developer Watson Group said it was in discussion with different operators, and was reviewing the project timetable but still intended to open next year.

The Oriental Bay Band Rotunda – which was built in 1937 and has housed several restaurants over the years – is one of Wellington’s iconic historical buildings, but closed due to quake concerns since 2012.

In September last year it was announced the developer had formed a partnership with restaurateur and chef Ben Bayly and local brewers Garage Project to put a restaurant and bar on the site. A day spa and is also in the works for the spot.

Bayly, who had a number of restaurants around the country including Ahi and Origine in Auckland, Arrowtown, and The Bathhouse in Queenstown, told RNZ he left the project in March.

“Unfortunately, we simply couldn’t reach commercial terms with the building developer, and we parted ways in March,” he said.

“To say we are disappointed to withdraw from the project after a year of hard work, passion and energy is an understatement, however we wish the project and the future operators well, and look forward to [seeing] the building and venue flourish in the future, as the people of Wellington deserve.”

Despite leaving the project, Bayly said he would love to have a restaurant in Wellington one day.

“I’d love to open a place down there, I love the city, and it just wasn’t to be this time.”

Originally built as a bathing pavilion in 1938, the Oriental Bay Band Rotunda housed several restaurants and bars from the 1980s until it was found to be quake prone. RNZ / Nick James

In a statement, the Watson Group said: “The main change is that we were unable to reach final commercial terms with Ben Bayly and his team. That was disappointing, given the work invested by all parties, but it was a commercial decision. We remain on good terms and wish Ben and his team well.

“We are now progressing discussions with alternative operators who are well suited to the building, the location, and the long-term vision for the Pavilion.”

It said the project timetable was being reviewed as part of the operator transition and final fit-out planning.

“At this stage, the intent remains to reopen the Pavilion in 2027, subject to finalising operator arrangements, fit-out scope, and construction sequencing.”

It said “normal commercial and programme matters” were being worked through, as with any heritage redevelopment of this scale.

“Our focus is unchanged: to restore and reopen this important Wellington building as a high-quality public-facing venue that the city can be proud of.”

The Pavilion’s beer partner Garage Project was still involved in the project.

Garage Project co-founder Jos Ruffell said “work’s progressing and hopeful that we’ll be operational later this year. But yeah, hard to know if that’ll actually happen or not, but we’re always optimistic.”.

Asked if any issues had come up, he said, “Nothing other than what you’d expect on building projects.”

He said it had been great collaborating with the Watson Group team.

He said operators were “heads down, working on it. I’m excited to see it come and hopefully be in place for summer.”

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Think tank warns future international threats could impact New Zealand’s food security

Source: Radio New Zealand

University of Otago’s Professor Nick Wilson is part of the independent think tank Islands for the Future of Humanity. (File photo) SUPPLIED/University of Otago

An independent think tank is warning a whole range of potential future international threats could impact New Zealand’s ability to feed itself.

One of the members of Islands for the Future of Humanity, Professor Nick Wilson, a research professor in public health at Otago University, told Nine to Noon the catastrophic risks ranged from nuclear war to disabling AI cyber-attacks.

He said the country lacked long-term resiliency and was highly dependent on overseas suppliers, something which had been highlighted by the fuel crisis.

The group of academics and experts recommended a a National Vulnerability Register, a National Mitigation Register, and a Parliamentary Commissioner for Catastrophic Risk.

Wilson said the group looked at potential catastrophes which would devastate international trade and impact energy imports among other things.

He said the country’s National Risk Register does not detail nuclear war and he believed New Zealand needed to go beyond that register.

Wilson said the group pulled together a mixture of their own research along with curating international research.

One of the main things the group focused on was how to feed New Zealanders during a crisis.

A suggestion Wilson said the group had with building resilience in New Zealand included getting a biofuel refinery that was fed with something like canola oil.

A biofuel storage area near Nelson. (File photo) SUPPLIED/OneFortyOneNZForests-Tim Cuff

“So whatever happens we can feed ourselves and get the trucks that can transport the food to the cities.”

In a crisis situation, Wilson said, New Zealand would run out of imported fuel stocks in an estimated 160 days.

“We need to have either extremely good relationships where we can get supplies like medicines from Australia, or produce food for ourselves…”

Food was seen as the biggest issue for New Zealand in a range of catastrophes, Wilson said.

“We are a very export-orientated economy. We focus on things we do well… not thinking enough about trying that economic success and efficiency with building basic resiliency as we go into a world which is seeing more and more crises.

“We’re thinking how do you keep things going in the long term – after six months, after a year.

Wilson said it would be very reassuring to have guaranteed capacity to be able to feed all of the population, along with keeping critical medicines available and having water supplies and systems which were always working for New Zealand’s cities.

“We’re moving into a world with a lot of risk and therefore building resiliency makes a lot of sense.”

Wilson said the group had been in contact with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), on fuel issues and had filed submissions with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) on issues about hazards.

But generally, he thought there was a long way to go.

“Every crisis provides an opportunity to move forward.”

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Fires, unruly passengers and prams play part in lengthy CRL testing

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Karanga-a-Hape underground station will house the longest escalator in New Zealand, at 40 metres long Supplied: CRL

The Auckland City Rail Link (CRL) is undertaking large-scale safety testing ahead of its opening later this year.

Volunteers have been taking part in a range of real-life simulations to test evacuation procedures.

Auckland Transport rail services group manager Mark Lambert told Morning Report the organisation has been working with emergency services to rehearse scenarios such as fires and other serious, and not so serious incidents.

“There’s obviously the emergencies, and tests such as fires, derailments in tunnels. Also, if a train breaks down in the tunnel, fires in stations as well.”

The tests involved around 400 people and lasted for around three hours. A large part of the testing was around evacuating passengers from inside the CRL’s tunnel network, which is 45 metres underground at its deepest point.

“We have some actors in the crowd as well, such as unruly passengers, or people with prams which really make it a real-life scenario for our staff.

“All the systems are being tested – the evacuation alarms, tunnel ventilation systems which push the smoke through the tunnels and out again. It’s really testing all those systems and our staff, so we’ve got a pretty good idea of how ready we’re going.”

No official start date has been announced for the CRL, and Lambert said that would depend on how the current tests played out.

“The City Rail Link has just entered into its testing commissioning stage. There are a number of different emergency scenarios that we’re testing over the next month or so, around 15 in total.”

No major issues had been encountered so far, but there had been a few smaller problems.

“The test on Saturday, one of the escalators didn’t work before we started the test, then there was another technical issue with one of the systems, so the staff are actually responding in real time to some hiccups,” Lambert said.

“That’s really pushing the boundaries for our staff.”

Pressed for a potential opening date, Lambert said there might be more to say in the coming weeks.

“The tests are pretty much the last stage before the contractor, Link Alliance, puts in its applications to the council. So we’re really, really close to construction completion.

“Let’s see how the next four weeks or so go around these tests. We’re hoping we can give a little bit more information at that point.”

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Police say risk of bluetooth on tasers and cameras does not apply to New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The New Zealand police do not use bodyworn cameras though they aim to by next year. NZ Police / Supplied

Police say they do not have an issue with tasers and cameras revealing the location of officers.

In Australia, the ABC has reported bluetooth on tasers and bodyworn cameras allowed detecting and tracking of police by anyone with the right app.

It says officers in Victoria got a safety alert to disable this.

The New Zealand police do not use bodyworn cameras though they aim to by next year.

“This is not an issue for NZ Police, as the taser devices we use do not emit a bluetooth signal under general carriage conditions,” said director of operational capability superintendent Dave Greig in a statement.

The Police Association agreed the risk reported in Australia did not apply here.

The US taser and bodyworn camera maker Axon was approached for comment.

Its products are in wide use by police on both sides of the Tasman.

Axon gave a presentation at the Police Association conference last year on bodyworn cameras, and the association said it was a top priority it would push the government to fund. The Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has also said it was a top priority.

Police have spent $30m rolling out new tasers since 2024. Their old Axon tasers had built-in cameras but the new ones have no cameras. Other forces use the new tasers wirelessly linked to officers’ bodyworn cameras.

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Sir Peter Jackson honoured at Cannes

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Cannes Film Festival officially started on Tuesday night with a more muted tone than in years past, with fewer A-list Hollywood celebrities on the red carpet and politics largely absent from the opening ceremony speeches.

Others on the carpet included model Heidi Klum, legendary actor Joan Collins and Indian film star Alia Bhatt.

This year’s jury, including Oscar-nominated actors Demi Moore and Stellan Skarsgard, also walked the red carpet into the plush 2300-seat Grand Lumiere Theatre ahead of the screening of opening film The Electric Kiss, a French-language romantic comedy.

Jackson, 64, recalled how he brought a clip from his first Rings film to Cannes 25 years ago in a bid to win over an audience sceptical of his decision to shoot the entire trilogy simultaneously.

“It was a huge gamble,” he recalled.

Wood recalled that the day he heard that he got the lead role of Frodo would divide his life into a before and after.

“I’m far from the only person whose life has been changed by Peter Jackson,” he added. 

Wood did not discuss politics. Last year’s recipient, Hollywood icon Robert De Niro, used his speech to call for protests against US President Donald Trump.

The only political nod came from Jane Fonda, the longtime US actor and activist, who appeared on stage with Gong Li, one of China’s best actors, to declare the festival officially open.

“Jane comes from the West, I come from the East. Tonight we stand together here. This is the magic of Cannes,” said Gong.

Fonda used her stage time to celebrate cinema as an act of resistance.

“I believe in the power of voices, voices on the screen, voices off the screen, and definitely voices on the street, especially now,” she said, to applause.

“Let’s celebrate audacity, freedom and the fierce act of creation.”

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