Category: Radio New Zealand

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Corrections ordered to pay officer Duane Farrell $94k after failures following prison hit threat

Source: Radio New Zealand

10 years later, Corrections officer Duane Farrell has been awarded almost $95,000 in compensation. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

A Corrections officer was told to “shake off” his injury following an attack by a prisoner, and was later suspended for the incident and put on trial as the accused.

It was around this time that Duane Farrell also learned his life was under threat in his work, which had not been communicated to him by his employer.

Now, almost 10 years later, Farrell has been awarded almost $95,000 in compensation and lost wages after the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) found he had been treated unfairly while working for the Department of Corrections.

According to an ERA decision, on April 20, 2017, an inmate at an Auckland prison attacked Farrell from behind while he was moving him through the prison.

Farrell told his superior officers he believed he had suffered a significant injury and asked several times for an ambulance to be called to take him to hospital.

This was denied, and he was instead taken to the medical unit, where he was told by a nurse to “shake it off” and wait in the duty supervisor’s office before he was driven to the hospital by another Corrections officer.

In June and July 2017, information came to Corrections’ attention that there was a specific safety threat against Farrell, but Farrell was not informed.

On his return to work in August, he was rostered to work in the same unit in which he had been assaulted.

He told the authority he felt this was appropriate because of his familiarity with the other Corrections officers working there, the systems and the prisoners in that unit.

But that month, Farrell identified a security risk in the unit, which he reported.

Following an assessment, the prison director arranged for him to be moved to another unit that was deemed safe, as there was a potential threat to Farrell.

Later that month, he was promoted to senior Corrections officer and relocated to another unit.

But Farrell was concerned that the reason he was moved was not properly communicated to him, and he did not understand the nature or extent of the threat against him, leaving him fearful and on edge at work.

Farrell found out at a meeting in September that there was a “level 1 threat” made against him, which meant “life is under specific threat of an act of violence from an individual or group capable of carrying out the threat”.

He “felt sick” knowing he had been allowed to return to work in a unit where he could have been attacked again and Corrections had not told him.

“Farrell’s concerns about his safety at work and Corrections’ ability to keep him safe at work were escalating,” authority member Marija Urlich said in the decision.

“He felt his trust that his employer would keep him safe at work was breaking down.”

On November 16, Farrell attended a police interview regarding the earlier assault.

He was told the charges against the prisoner were likely to be dropped and that he would instead be charged, along with two other officers, for assaulting the prisoner.

In March 2018, Farrell was working in a unit holding vulnerable prisoners when an inmate threw urine at another officer, which splashed on Farrell.

Later that month, a prisoner asked to speak with Farrell while he was on duty.

He was then spat at, which resulted in “a spontaneous use of force” by Farrell.

That action was found to be inappropriate, and he was put on non-facing prisoner duties in the gatehouse.

In April 2018, Farrell was suspended from work after police charged him with the initial assault.

A trial took place, with the Crown alleging that Farrell and two other officers attacked an inmate after he hit Farrell.

He was acquitted of the criminal charge.

Farrell returned to work in 2022, completing a refresher course, then resumed duties in his usual work location. His concerns about an adequate, safe return to work continued.

Urlich found that Corrections failed to provide information in relation to serious threats to Farrell’s safety at work during 2017 and to provide a safe system of work after the assaults and injuries he suffered.

It also failed to fairly and reasonably place him on alternative duties and fairly and reasonably consider alternatives to suspension.

“He said he felt punished for doing his job and felt he had been left out of the loop about information that was pertinent to his safety,” Urlich said.

“His understandable alarm and distress to learn the threat against him personally had been assessed by Corrections at the highest level and that this information had not been provided to him, or why, has amplified his fear of threats to himself and his family and made him feel on edge at work.”

Corrections was ordered to pay Farrell $60,000 in compensation, $25,000 in general damages and $9500 in lost earnings.

It was also ordered to pay a $4000 penalty to the Crown.

A Corrections spokesperson told NZME it was still considering the determination and its next steps.

Farrell did not respond when approached for comment.

This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.

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

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Carry less weight and check tyre pressure: AA’s advice to save fuel

Source: Radio New Zealand

Saving fuel could mean taking simple steps like carrying less weight, driving safely and checking tire pressure. RNZ / Dan Cook

The Automobile Association is advising people to take steps that could help save fuel as the Middle East conflict bumps up prices.

Principal advisor Terry Collins said people can use less fuel by driving safely, checking tire pressure and taking fewer trips.

“Getting the car up to operating temperature … doing all those trips in one go coming back you’re saving fuel.”

Prices have been going up because of the volatility on the wholesale market caused by the conflict in the Middle East following the US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Collins said saving on the cost of fuel can come down to taking simple steps like carrying less weight in the car.

“Don’t drive all week with extra weight unnecessary like golf clubs or other things in your car that aren’t doing anything other than sitting in there. Weight will always make you use more fuel.”

Collins advised people to take a roof rack off their car, as it will make the aerodynamics of the vehicle better.

Checking tyre pressure was also on the list to save fuel, as he said it can decrease in colder weather.

He is also urging people to use an app, like Gaspy, to find the cheapest petrol station near them.

“It’s a homogeneous product which means basically its the same where ever you get it and so buying it by the cheapest price is the best smartest thing to do.”

Since the start of the conflict the price of oil has almost doubled from where it was at the start of the year.

The ripple effects of the price increase has also been the potential for inflation across a wide range of goods and services.

This week demand on Gull’s discount day left some of its petrol stations running low on fuel.

Gull stations in Auckland have run out of petrol at some locations, including this one in Sel Peacock Drive in Henderson. 12 March 2026. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Gull said 3 percent of its sites had not been able to meet the extra demand from customers when it cut prices on its regular Thursday promotion.

Emeritus Professor in Climate Mitigation and Sustainable Energy at Massey University, Ralph Sims, had previously given similar advice to drivers on saving fuel as prices spiked.

“Most people don’t understand how to drive a car efficiently. I see people accelerate to a red light and then brake heavily, and if you’re running on low tyre pressures, it consumes much more fuel,” Sims said.

He also suggested the government do a national education campaign on fuel-saving tips like avoiding heavy braking, checking tyre pressure, and taking things that add weight, like a roof rack, off their vehicle when they are not needed.

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

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Greyhound Racing New Zealand calls for clarity ahead of ban

Source: Radio New Zealand

Greyhound Racing New Zealand is disappointed the committee made the recommendation. 123RF

The greyhound racing industry is calling for clarity on its transition plan, as the looming ban on the sector gets closer.

A legislation shutting down the sport by August passed its first reading late last year.

A select committee has released its report and recommends proceeding but suggested allowing TAB to continue taking bets on overseas races after domestic racing ends.

Greyhound Racing New Zealand is disappointed the committee made the recommendation.

Chief executive Edward Rennell said people were still in the dark and there was a lot of work left to be done with over 1000 greyhounds to be rehomed.

“We’re only four and a half months out now and there’s a tremendous lot of work and there’s a lot of uncertainty in terms of how things are going to work from 1 August and further clarity is required for our industry participants.”

“At 31 July we’re projecting there’s still going to be 1600 greyhounds to be rehomed.”

Rennell said the select committee’s outcome was not what they had hoped for.

“We felt the greyhound industry and the people that submitted clearly outlined why we didn’t believe there were grounds for closure and the tremendous progress the industry has made form a welfare perspective.”

“We were hoping after consideration of the submissions that the select committee would have reviewed the decision.”

ACT MPs have voiced strong objections to the ban, saying breeders, owners and venues deserve better treatment.

ACT MP Cameron Luxton had previously said the government should “at the very least” set up a compensation scheme.

“We’ve listened to a community that’s been misunderstood by Wellington. They’re getting a raw deal. Their property rights have been disregarded, and someone needs to stick up for them.”

In a previous statement, Racing Minister Winston Peters had said everybody had had the opportunity to have their say through the select committee process.

“This decision was not taken lightly,” he said.

“However, it was considered that the rates of dogs being seriously injured remained too high and the improvements made were not significant enough.”

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

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Whānau of Māori Battalion soldier hope film will see him receive Victoria Cross

Source: Radio New Zealand

L. Sgt. Haane Manahi DCM photographed by George Bull in 1943. George Bull

The whānau of a Māori Battalion soldier hope a new film about his exploits in Tunisia during the Second World War will see him finally receive the Victoria Cross.

L. Sgt. Haane Manahi DCM (Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) joined B Company, 28th Māori Battalion shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, he fought in Greece, Crete and North Africa. It was during the North African campaign in Tunisia that he confirmed his attributes as an outstanding leader and soldier.

According to his biography on Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, he was in a platoon from the Māori Battalion that was ordered, in April 1943, to capture and secure the Takrouna feature – a steep, rocky outcrop rising almost a thousand feet above a group of olive groves.

It was occupied by 300 Italian and German troops, who were causing havoc to the advancing Allied army. The assignment was extremely dangerous and difficult due to heavy mortar and small arms fire, and by the morning after the initial attack on 20 April, Manahi’s platoon of around 30 men was reduced in strength to 10. Manahi then led a party of three men up the western side of the pinnacle.

In order to reach their objective they had to climb some 500 feet – the last 20 feet almost sheer. After a brief fight, some 60 enemy surrendered. Manahi and his party were then joined by the rest of the platoon and the pinnacle was secured.

Donna Morrison and Anaru Grant Jr. Supplied

Dr Donna Morrison is a producer of the new film and one of Haane Manahi’s nieces.

“Having the opportunity to travel with a small group to Takrouna in 2007, it really heightens an understanding when you see the citadel that is Takrouna. It has a 360 viewpoint of any approaching enemy. It is a magnificent landscape feature that really humbles you when you look at it because it is such an outstanding feature of the Tunisian landscape,” she told Māpuna.

Morrison said only two weeks prior to Manahi’s deeds of valour fellow Māori Battalion soldier Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, determination and outstanding leadership.

Following the battle at Takrouna, Manahi was recommended for a Victoria Cross, but was instead awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal.

“Most pivotal and critical in this is that on the final night, Uncle Haane himself personally oversaw the bringing down of the wounded and the dead. It just tells me so much about Uncle Haane, the man. And that in itself is deserved of VC consideration,” she said.

Growing up Morrison never knew of that aspect of “Uncle Haane,” she remembers instead staying at his batch at Maketu and as her swimming coach a “hard taskmaster.”

During his lifetime Manahi did not want the VC reinstated, but once he passed in 1986 Sir Charles Bennett worked towards it on behalf of all of Te Arawa, she said.

“[Uncle Haane] didn’t want to fuss and bother. He thought everyone who went away deserved the VC. That was the man that he was.”

Although official policy did not allow for review of Second World War honours, in October 2006 Buckingham Palace agreed to present a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II recognising his gallantry, a ceremonial sword and an altar cloth for St Faith’s Church, Ōhinemutu.

Morrison believes there is still merit in His Majesty King Charles restoring the VC to Manahi.

“The goal, albeit audacious, is something that I believe that King Charles may want to at least review.

“Perhaps the film will help to speed that process up. But I believe it is achievable with the right people, the right resources, at the right time.”

The film Sgt. Haane releases nationwide in theatres on April 23. Morrison encouraged whānau of soldiers to bring photographs of their own to the theatre as a joint commemorative opportunity.

Sgt. Haane is directed by Tearepa Kahi (Muru, Poi E: The Story of Our Song, Mt. Zion) with Alex Tarrant (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, DMV) as Haane Manahi.

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

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Gisborne councillors back waste hub site despite mana whenua opposition

Source: Radio New Zealand

Gisborne District Council agreed to purchase land at 275 Lytton Rd for $6.65 million (loan-funded) last year, with plans for a possible Regional Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre. Wynsley Wrigley

Gisborne is a step closer to taking control of regional waste, but some district councillors expressed “discomfort” over the process.

Councillors voted on a preferred site for developing the regional Refuse Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre at a council meeting on Thursday.

The 275 Lytton Road site was the recommended option in the council report and “the strongest” according to technical and financial assessments.

However, a mana whenua group, Te Kuri a Tuatai Marae, opposed the site, which was close to their marae.

Confirming the preferred site allows council staff to move into the next planning stages, involving a detailed concept design, cost refinement and a business case.

Māori ward councillor Nick Tupara said the council had not been “the best neighbour” to Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāwhiri and Te Whānau a Iwi for some time.

Te Kurī ā Tuatai Marae representatives expressed concerns about the site’s proximity and its visual impacts and prospects of noise, odour and increased traffic, potential effects on the Waikanae Awa, and the wider historical context of waste management in the area, according to the council’s meeting report.

There were ongoing legacy matters on environmental remediation, such as the former Paokahu landfill, which had “influenced perspectives”.

“A key message from marae representatives was: ‘Why address new waste infrastructure when historic waste impacts remain unresolved?'” the report reads.

Tupara voted against the report, along with Māori ward councillors Rhonda Tibble and Anne Huriwai, and general ward councillors Debbie Gregory and Samuel Gibson.

Gregory said the report was “bittersweet” to read. It was her “dream” to see the facility realised.

“I hate to delay anything as cool as this, but in my heart I can’t say yes at this point.”

Both Tibble and Gibson said they felt the “discomfort” in their “puku”.

Delaying the project would result in foregone savings estimated at $1.5 million to $3.2m per year, which would increase over time, the report reads.

“Previous analysis identified an estimated $8.7m capital cost advantage compared with a new Greenfield facility, with further modelling confirming ongoing system‑wide benefits from council ownership.”

Gisborne’s current supply chain for waste creates “market inefficiencies, increased costs, and poor sustainability incentives”, a presentation slide read.

Residents pay $527 per tonne of general waste disposal at the Gisborne Refuse Transfer Station, compared with the national average of $220-$430 p/t.

The cost to the region is estimated to be $12m per year and was forecast to be $16m per year by 2033.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz and Māori ward councillor Rawinia Parata “hesitantly” and “tentatively” supported the paper, and deputy mayor Aubrey Ria said it had caused her much “āmaimai” (anxiety).

Mayor Rehette Stoltz. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Stoltz said she had seen the council go “above and beyond” the Treaty compass to make sure it was not a transitional relationship.

“If we decide today to move this forward, we will do better, and we will keep the door open to focus on improving that relationship.”

Parata said she was interested in the pathways of improving, beautifying and supporting the surrounding areas.

As part of the next phase of work, the council would prioritise a governance-led “best neighbour” approach, according to the council report.

This included environmental protection and enhancement beyond minimum compliance, and design and operational controls that would minimise noise, odour, litter, traffic and visual effects.

Ria said her vote of support did not “predetermine” her decision that the final confirmation of the site was “set in stone”.

She was “willing to take the risk of the further expense” and hoped for “some progression in [council’s] kōrero with hapū and marae”.

She asked whether the transfer station would also go out for consultation with the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, which had been adopted for consultation at the meeting.

Chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann confirmed that the council would “use the same channels to get the information out at the same time”.

Councillor Larry Foster said he was “totally happy” to move the report, which councillor Alexander Boros seconded.

He was sure most of the community would support the decision.

“To have a facility that we can totally recycle and utilise our waste is absolutely awesome.”

Chief adviser of Māori partnerships Gene Takurua said he did not want to “challenge or disrespect” the position of marae, hapū and iwi, but did not think the council got to engage or discuss “the real kaupapa” and “opportunity at hand”.

This was because of the legacy issues that continued to impact the surrounding area, Rongowhakaata iwi and the hapū concerned.

Opportunity was provided for the marae and Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust to “sit as equal partners” and be recognised for time, effort and contribution.

“Hand on heart, I feel that we certainly aligned with our Treaty requirements and responsibilities in terms of our attempts.”

The council report states that further sites had been explored; these sites either could not support future growth, recycling and recovery initiatives, posed significantly higher operational costs, or were not suitable for the Regional Resource Centre.

The Lytton Road site was the only site within council ownership that could be progressed without significant delays, rework or additional land acquisition.

The site options were 75 Innes Street (status quo), 275 Lytton Road and a greenfields site in the vicinity of Gisborne City.

The recommended option voted on by councillors meant the council would continue to “actively invite mana whenua engagement, including opportunities to participate in design refinement, environmental enhancement, monitoring and ongoing dialogue”.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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

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Should I pay off my mortgage or save for retirement – Ask Susan

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Got questions? RNZ has launched a podcast, No Stupid Questions, with Susan Edmunds.

We’d love to hear more of your questions about money and the economy. You can send through written questions, like these ones, but even better, you can drop us a voice memo to our email questions@rnz.co.nz

You can also sign up to RNZ’s new money newsletter, ‘Money with Susan Edmunds’.

No matter what mental gymnastics I do in my head and what calculators I use, I can’t work out how to maximise growth as I head towards retirement. Am I better off increasing my KiwiSaver contributions, or should I increase my mortgage repayments to minimise interest and term? It’s probably down to one’s own situation, but are there examples where one might be a better option than the other?

You’re right that it depends a lot on your own situation, and also your personality.

I talked to Rupert Carlyon, founder of Kernel KiwiSaver about this.

He points out that when you pay off your mortgage, you’re guaranteed a five percent taxfree return (or whatever interest rate you would otherwise be paying). As long as you keep paying, there is pretty much no risk that you won’t save yourself pretty significant sums of money in the long run by paying off your mortgage.

“With a KiwiSaver growth fund you may get a return of five percent to eight percent over a 10-year period,” he said.

“The returns from the market may be higher than that – though they may also be lower”.

He said you would also need to manage the downside risk. What would happen if your KiwiSaver fund did not perform as expected or lost money?

“If a member is a long term investor and plans to remain invested for at least eight to 10 years – then the probability of achieving an eight percent to 10 percent return with the KiwiSaver are higher than if they are a short term investor. If they need the money inside that time horizon – there is a significant chance of a market downturn and potentially the investment loses money – that is why the client should be in a balanced or conservative fund, and it is very unlikely that a balanced or conservative fund outperforms the mortgage over the medium term.

“If the person wants to maximise and is able to afford to take a little more risk – then potentially a KiwiSaver growth fund is the right answer. Though it depends on their time horizon and appetite for risk.”

You’ll need to weigh up how much you stand to save by paying off your home loan, what you will do once you’ve done that, and what sort of investment returns you can expect to get over the same period.

I know some people put all their money into clearing their mortgage and then plan to invest afterwards. This does reduce the amount of time you have for returns to compound, and relies also on you having the personality to actually do it.

If you can go into retirement with a mortgage-free home, that’s likely to reduce your stress quite significantly.

Can you advise me, I am getting NZ Super this year and will continue working. Which one should be secondary tax? I pay market rent and am single.

This will depend on how much you are earning from your job.

You should choose a main income tax rate for which ever income source gives you more. If you earn more than you get in NZ Super, you should have NZ Super as your secondary income. But if NZ Super will be more, you should switch your other income to a secondary tax code.

You won’t pay more tax overall for having a secondary tax code, but the addition of extra income will increase your overall tax bill which means more may need to be taxed at higher rates.

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Benefit rules confuse: Employed partner given job search obligations

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash / Anu Priya

A man who was made redundant last year has been left perplexed when his employed partner was told she would need to attend a seminar on gaining employment.

Andy, whom RNZ has agreed not to identify, lost his job last June.

“As I’ve been paying my taxes I thought I would see if I would be eligible for the unemployment benefit, which I wasn’t at that time because my de facto partner of 28 years had full time employment as a chef which she has held for 14 years, fair point so it was left there.”

There are limits on how much a household can earn and still remain eligible for benefits. When someone is on JobSeeker, household income over $160 a week before tax affects eligibility.

But Andy said four months later, her hours had been cut to four days.

“So I wait four weeks, so I can offer four payslips as proof and apply again.”

He said he applied online for his own benefit, and attended an interview.

But then his partner was called in and asked the same questions, despite not seeking a benefit.

“After two hours we’re sent away to await ‘our applications to be processed’ then I get a phone call to confirm that both our applications have been accepted but because my spouse has part-time work, her benefit is classified as her main income – all $51.20 of it – her wage will be classified as her second income and taxed accordingly. She’s employed, she doesn’t want any benefit, it was my application.

“On top of that, because she is now classed as unemployed she also has to attend a seminar about what benefits she’s entitled to claim and advice on gaining employment. But, she’s very happily employed.”

He said it had created a situation where there was an extra benefit application, and she was being forced to take time off work to attend a seminar about getting work.

“We’ve actually cancelled my application because my spouse doesn’t want to be contacted by anyone regarding other employment, who knows how her current employer would react if they thought that she was looking for work. Would they believe us?”

Rena Hona, regional commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development in Northland, acknowledged it was a difficult time for the couple.

“We’re happy to help Andy with his search for employment in any way we can, and we encourage him to remain in contact with us.

“We have a wide range of support available to help people find jobs and employers across the region regularly let us know about new vacancies.”

Hona said Andy’s partner’s 24 hours a week did not meet the minimum standard for full-time employment.

“This means she would need to take reasonable steps to secure employment of at least 30 hours a week if she and Andy applied for Jobseeker Support payments as a couple.”

Hona said Andy’s partner had been told she would not be required to attend a seminar and could have a one-on-one interview instead.

“New Zealand’s social security system is built on the premise that people in a relationship share costs and support each other financially. This is why applying for Jobseeker Support works differently, and the payment rates may differ, if someone is single or in a relationship.

“If someone in a relationship applies for assistance their partner also needs to give us some information. We’re required by legislation to assess both partners’ employment status and their combined household income. We then use this information to determine what they may be eligible for and what their obligations might be. These obligations could include looking for a full-time job and keeping us updated about how that goes.”

When someone was working 30 hours a week, they would not have job search obligations.

“If people need financial assistance because they’re not working full-time, we expect them to take all reasonable steps to confirm suitable full-time employment as soon as possible, so they no longer need financial assistance. This is a longstanding principle which underpins New Zealand social security legislation.”

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Australian college suspends censured NZ teacher, Jason Morgan, after tribunal reveals sex talk with students

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chanel College Queensland, where Jason Morgan now works. Google Maps

A teacher censured for asking students inappropriate questions, including, “How long would you wait to have sex with a dead girl?”, has now been suspended from his teaching role in Australia.

Teacher Jason Morgan made multiple sexual comments to students while working as a boarding house assistant at a New Zealand school in 2023.

The Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal was only able to censure him, because he had moved overseas and was teaching at Chanel College in Queensland, Australia.

The tribunal decision said the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) was aware of Morgan’s teaching background.

A former student of Morgan’s at the time of the incidents told NZME he was shocked to hear Morgan was still teaching in Australia.

“For him to be teaching again is completely unacceptable for a man who has made sexual jokes.

“I highly recommend Chanel College do change their mind as he should be terminated from teaching and any job that involves kids.”

The former student alleged that more comments were made, beyond what was mentioned in the tribunal’s decision, which made students at the time uncomfortable.

However, a Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton spokesperson, who oversees the Queensland school at which Morgan was teaching, has now told NZME that he has been suspended.

“The college has recently become aware of concerns relating to one of our teachers while in a previous role at a school overseas,” the spokesperson said.

“The staff member has been suspended from all duties while the matter is being investigated.”

They said the college had notified the relevant authorities.

“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.”

A spokesperson for QCT said it could not comment on any individual’s teacher registration or matters of professional conduct.

At the time of the misconduct, Morgan was a teacher and boarding house assistant at a school that cannot be identified.

During Term 1 and 2, Morgan made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature while in his capacity as house assistant, specifically at the end of the day when they shared a “thought of the day”.

The “thought of the day” was a way to wind down students before bed.

The students said comments made by Morgan during these discussions included, “Would you have regular sex with a seven out of 10 or have a one-night stand with a nine out of 10?” and, “Would you sleep with an absolute 10 out of 10 if she was crazy as?”

The decision states he also asked, “How long would you wait to have sex with a dead girl?”

Morgan also engaged in banter and jokes with a student over several days, while other students were present.

During this exchange, Morgan told the student that he would “come on your mum’s back”, the decision stated.

After Morgan made the comment, he apologised to the student.

Later that month, Morgan made inappropriate comments in front of several students when speaking about hunting. He reportedly said, “Be careful you… boys don’t f*** [goats]”.

Morgan voluntarily resigned after the complaint. He has been approached for comment.

– This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald

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

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NRL: NZ Warriors powerhouse Leka Halasima stars in big win over Canberra Raiders

Source: Radio New Zealand

Leka Halasima has the tryline in sight for the Warriors against Canberra. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Analysis: Exactly seven days earlier, NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster sat in exactly this same seat and more or less predicted what would happen.

He was defending his decision to delay the introduction of young powerhouse Leka Halasima off the bench until after halftime of the season-opening win over Sydney Roosters.

“The day will come when Leka will play 80 minutes and I’m looking forward to that day, because it will be awesome, but he doesn’t need to do it right now,” Webster said. “He just needs to own his little time and have that impact.”

A week late, his team needed that performance from ‘Leka the Wrecker’.

Halasima had scored a try with his first touch against Sydney, but a week later, as the Warriors overwhelmed defending minor premiers Canberra Raiders 40-6, he fully lived up to Webster’s faith. Thrust into the starting line-up before kickoff through injury, he went the full distance, producing a try double and making his impact felt all around the park.

“Honestly, we were all just talking in the sheds about how proud we were of Leka,” Webster said. “He got a minute’s notice, knuckled down, scored two tries, but his tackling, his defence, his effort areas were the best parts of his game – and he did it for 80 minutes.

“Happy, super happy.”

To open their 2026 campaign, the Warriors have now put 40 points on two highly rated opponents and, while Webster insisted the Roosters scoreline was flattering, he was comfortable his team had earned every bit of their advantage over these opponents, who had a winning head-to-head historical record against them and had won their last three meetings.

This is just the fourth time the Auckland NRL club has begun a season with back-to-back wins – they have only once strung three together. In 2018, they rattled off five.

“Wins like tonight aren’t a surprise to us, but at the same time, we’ve got to get better,” Webster insisted.

Here’s what else we learned from the win over Canberra:

Best player

Halasima was originally selected to come off the interchange, probably in a very similar role to last week, but all that changed when veteran second-rower Kurt Capewell pulled up lame with a calf strain in warm-ups.

His first try came in the 49th minute, when he chased a kick into goal from halfback Tanah Boyd and dived unopposed for the touchdown.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, he propped off his left foot inside one sprawling defender, brushed off counterpart Noah Martin metres from the line and then tumbled over in the tackle of Kiwis centre Matt Timoko for his second try.

His 35 tackles were only a couple less than team-leading Jackson Ford (37) and he ran for 114 metres. After pacing the Warriors in tries last season with 13, he is already among the competition’s leaders with three in two games.

Supposedly filling in for Luke Metcalf, halfback Tanah Boyd continued to stake his claim for a fulltime role with another outstanding performance, scoring a try, kicking five conversions and a penalty, while providing two try assists.

Webster rated his showing against the Roosters as his best in a Warriors jersey – this was his second best.

Ali Leiataua celebrates his go-ahead try for the Warriors. www.photosport.nz

Front-rower Ford put in another massive effort – he was finally subbed off with five minutes remaining and was his team’s top fantasy scorer with 75 points. He led the Warriors in tackles and run metres last week, and ran for 154 metres this time.

Centre Ali Leiataua showed why he was missed last season, amid the Warriors’ midfield injuries, and may now take some unseating, when Rocco Berry returns from shoulder surgery.

After entering the game early, fullback Taine Tuaupiki was a constant threat on attack, running more than 200 metres and reminding everyone why he was so valued as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s back-up – for now.

Key moment

Leiataua had already delivered a solid first-half performance, highlighted by six tacklebreaks and an assist on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s first try.

With the halftime score level at 6-6, he broke the contest open for the Warriors soon after the break, lurking in midfield to pick off hooker Tom Starling’s pass and gallop 50 metres for the go-ahead try.

The Warriors piled on 34 unanswered second-half points to have the Raiders totally demoralised by the closing minutes.

“That was a bonus,” Webster said of the intercept try. “We spoke about how well they offload the ball and just to stay up.

“Ali was up and made his own luck there. Awesome.”

Try of the game

So many to chose from, but how were the delightful soccer skills of lock Erin Clark in the build-up to Boyd’s try near the end?

Already up 30-6, Boyd created the opportunity with a well-taken 40-20 and then, at the end of the next set, put a kick along the ground towards the goal area.

Erin Clark and Tanah Boyd celebrate a Warriors try against the Raiders. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Clark overran his chase, but flicked the ball up with his heels, and Boyd was following to gather and score.

By then, everything the Warriors attempted turned up diamonds and more than a few Raiders heads went down after this audacious blow.

Injuries

Webster will be holding breath this week over an injury toll that disrupted this line-up against Canberra and may impact future selections.

Capewell’s departure was followed by five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita in the ninth minute, after he knocked himself out in a tackle. Fullback Nicoll-Klokstad moved to the halves and Tuaupiki came off the bench to replace him.

Captain James Fisher-Harris was also pulled from the field before halftime for a concussion check, but passed and returned to play an inspirational role in the result.

Ten minutes from the end, Nicoll-Klokstad also left the field for a test. By then, victory was safe and Webster simply slotted hooker Wayde Egan into the vacancy to close it out.

“We have something organised for every situation,” he assured. “Capey went down in warm-up with calf, so straight away, we knew that Leka was going to start.

“We knew, if we got an outside back or half injury, we would activate Taine, and Charnze would move to the halves or centre or wing.

“We had the plan and then Chanel went down, so we activated Taine, and then ‘Nuck’ went down, so we put Wayde Egan at half.”

The substitutions perfectly illustrated how administrators probably envisaged their new six-man interchange working, with teams now able to utilise specialist replacements, like Tuaupiki, off the bench, rather than playing forwards out of position among the backs.

Previously, Harris-Tavita’s injury may have caused an entire re-alignment of the backline, with Nicoll-Klokstad to five-eighth, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to fullback, Adam Pompey to wing and Halasima to centre – or Egan stationed in the halves for most of the contest.

Kurt Capewell never made it past the warm-ups for the Warriors. Andrew Cornaga/p

“The best part was the boys were so calm and so clear during adversity,” Webster said.

Harris-Tavita is definitely out next week, so Webster must likely choose between Nicoll-Klokstad out of position or a first-grade debut for Luke Hanson.

If Nicoll-Klokstad failed his head injury assessment – and Webster had no outcome to report – the spine may include both Hanson and Tuaupiki.

Calves are tricky injuries – and trickier the older you get – so Capewell, 32, may need some time to heal. On the positive side, second-rower Marata Niukore, also recovering from a calf, played for the reserves in the curtainraiser and would be a like-for-like replacement.

Co-captain Mitch Barnett also nears a return from last year’s season-ending knee injury.

Canberra Raiders

The visitors started strongly with the opening try to fullback Kaeo Weekes, but had little else to offer for the rest of the journey.

Coach Ricky Stuart is usually the first to point the finger, if he thinks his team has been treated poorly by match officials, but this contest wasn’t close enough to blame anyone else.

“Disappointed with the result and the scoreline obviously,” he offered. “When you’re on, you’re on and when you’re off, you’re off.

“We had our chances, but they defended very well. You can’t take anything away from their defence – they scrambled well and defended well.

“That intercept, and then we made an error and they scored off that to put them 12 ahead,” Stuart identified the turning point. “With a big home crowd behind them and them on the front foot, it was going to be a big task coming back.”

After needing Golden Point to overcome Manly Sea Eagles in their season opener, the ‘Green Machine’ face another examination next week, when they host Canterbury Bulldogs, who also needed extra time to edge St George Dragons in their Vegas opener, before drawing the bye this week.

Chanel Harris-Tavita is treated for concussion, after knocking himself out in a tackle. Photosport

Tuivasa-Sheck 150th

The veteran wing had a mixed night, not at all helped by the loss of Capewell and Harris-Tavita from his edge.

He had a pass thrown behind him and another that dipped at his feet in the first half, but eventually led his team with 210 running metres.

While he couldn’t find the tryline in his milestone game for the club, RTS was caught off guard, when Boyd tossed him the ball to convert Watene-Zelezniak’s final try.

“Just hit and hope,” he winked. “I was in shock at the time, but all the boys were egging me on, so I took the role on and was surprised it went over.”

Tuivasa-Sheck kept the kick low, with a little right-to-left fade that steered it safely between the uprights.

Webster observed: “If we’d missed the top eight by two points, I was never going to forgive him.”

What the result means

Again, too early in the season to make any definitive difference on the competition table yet – but Warriors are on top and become the first team to record two victories in the new season.

After two big wins, their points differential is comfortable (+58), remembering they finished only +21 for all of last season and never ventured above +36.

[h}What’s next

Warriors travel to Newcastle Knights, who took out the 2025 wooden spoon, but have changed coaches in the off-season and won their season-opener against North Queensland Cowboys 28-18 in Vegas.

Kiwis coach and Warriors assistant Stacey Jones will have a chance to discuss Kalyn Ponga’s impending international allegiance switch with the player after the game.

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

Posted on

Troubles continue at youth justice facility as deadline for improvement looms

Source: Radio New Zealand

Youth on the roof of Korowai Manaaki in December 2024. Peter de Graaf/RNZ

The headlines were grim across 2023 and 2024: ‘Video of MMA-style fighting in youth justice facility‘, ‘Youths climb onto roof‘, ‘Four staff stood down from youth justice unit’, ‘Prison napalm mixture thrown at teenager’, ‘Staff smuggling in contraband‘.

Investigators gave Oranga Tamariki (OT) three years to turn things around at its biggest secure home for teenagers, Korowai Maaaki in south Auckland.

It even called in prison inspectors last year to get their help.

OT says it is on track.

But documents released to RNZ showed that as late as last November, the child protection ministry had had to hit the reset button yet again and was telling the government, “It has been difficult to create long-lasting change”.

The three years is up soon, in September 2026.

Sixty pages of internal documents chart the tug-of-war in plan after plan to try to embed changes to make the 40 or so children in the home safer, including using funding from Budget 2025.

“Previous action plans have brought in new leadership with the capability to demonstrate the required standard, which has often created an uplift, but residential practice, operations and culture have eventually reverted,” Childrens’ Minister Karen Chhour was told last September.

Work on recruitment and better standards had gone on but “in the case of Korowai Manaaki these actions are not driving change at the speed or depth that we want to see”.

A youth throws an object from the roof of Korowai Manaaki in December 2024. Peter de Graaf/RNZ

‘An environment where abuse occurs’

Early this month, the watchdog Independent Children’s Monitor put out its report for 2024-25 saying, “As we reported last year, multiple recent reports, including from Oranga Tamariki itself, highlight the safety issues in residences.

“We visited four of the five youth justice residences. We found that the underlying culture, including poorly trained staff and unstructured programmes, contributes to an environment where abuse occurs.

“Most of the abuse we heard about in our regional engagements happened in youth justice residences.”

It quoted a rangatahi saying: “Staff are inconsistent. Secure is horrible.”

On the plus side, access to healthcare was reported to be good, grievances were down 28 percent – and were not focused on Korowai Manaaki but on a residence at Burnham – and all the homes had youth councils to give the teenagers a voice.

‘A sprint due to the urgent care’

However, the south Auckland home’s problems have proved fairly untractable, the Official Information Act papers showed.

In the last year it has had the prison inspectors’ visit and two fast-tracked improvement programmes, one after the other, the last one described by the agency as “a sprint due to the urgent care the residence needs today”.

The origins of this were poor performance reports dating to at least 2020.

That led to the $85,000 rapid review by former police commissioner Mike Bush in September 2023 – a year when boys had got up on the home’s roof 15 times – which set the three-year turnaround target that ends in a few months.

Former police commissioner Mike Bush. RNZ / Ana Tovey

Late 2023 also saw 28 complaints over staff conduct to police, charges and 22 staff dismissed. Allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour surfaced; some staff were said to be just too close to the teenagers.

Independent inspectors emerged from a surprise swoop in February 2024 saying contraband smuggling and physical handling of teenagers were problems.

They were told by staff the home had a “corrupt” operating environment.

After some roof invasions, it turned to the boot camp pilot for help. The papers said it aimed to “apply lessons from Military-Style Academy Pilot” to address the rooftop incidents.

Later in 2024, secure youth residences like Korowai Manaaki – which was the largest of five and housed the oldest teens – became a focus for a new child protection unit set up by OT as a key response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in state care.

This unit said it would visit a secure home. It is not known if it has. The unit had not published any reports and OT told RNZ on Friday it would not make the unit’s reports public.

Accelerated action

By January 2025, the agency was busy categorising 134 recommendations over three years about how to make its youth justice residences better and safer.

So it launched an Accelerated Action Plan at Korowai Manaaki.

By March it had turned to the prisons for experience. Police Minister Mark Mitchell had asked how the Chief Inspector’s experience could be used.

While the inspectorate went on to recommend the various homes set standards for inspections, and ways to review complaints, it was not volunteering in that space.

“Oranga Tamariki and the Chief Inspector do not believe there is any value to the Inspectorate also gaining a mandate to conduct inspections or investigations of Oranga Tamariki secure residences, which would necessitate legislative amendments,” said a March 2025 report to Chhour.

Minister for Children Karen Chhour. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The Prisons Inspectorate has no mandate over youth homes, but was invited in in mid-2025 to come up with ideas.

The inspectors found what a procession of other reviewers had found: recruitment and retention problems so that staff lacked experience, teenagers harming other teens, a ‘secure care unit’ in poor condition and “contraband issues”, among other things.

“They also noted pockets of good practice at the residence, such as good leadership visibility,” said a short report back.

At this point OT had just one year left of the three-year fixit period.

‘Embedding well’

The Inspector’s visit segued into a ‘Reset Plan’ that ran for three months to November 2025.

The home had “ongoing challenges which need to be addressed. Gaps in residential practice and workplace culture increase the level of operational risk at the residence. To address this risk, direct action and clear leadership is needed”, deputy chief executives reported on 11 November.

In December a log list of Reset work completed laid out to Chhour: over 750 staff training sessions – at one point it closed one of its five units so it could do training – two successful rounds of recruitment and stronger systems that had cut down on contraband. Parts of the home were getting painted and new windows.

Staff were stabilising: unplanned absences had dropped 40 percent and long-term leave which was very high had been cut in half, she heard. “Return-to-work support has been a key contributor to these improvements.

“The Reset has delivered tangible improvements in safety, culture, and operational stability, underpinned by strong leadership presence and investment in staff capability. Positive trends across all key metrics indicate that changes are embedding well,” it told the minister.

Three months later the agency told RNZ its youth justice leaders were “monitoring how well the improvements at the residence are embedding, to ensure that the change created by the Reset Plan is sustained”.

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