Category: Radio New Zealand

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Labour inspector ordered to release employment information to Gloriavale

Source: Radio New Zealand

A sign which welcomes people to Gloriavale Christian Community. (File photo) RNZ / Jean Edwards

The Employment Court has ruled the Labour Inspector must release advice it received from Crown Law about the employment status of people at Gloriavale.

The leaders of the community were appealing a decision which found members were employees, rather than community volunteers.

The Gloriavale defendants said the Labour Inspectors’ action came too late because the breaches were, or should have been, known after investigations in 2017 and 2021.

Under the law the Labour Inspector must apply for a penalty within 12 months of the breach becoming known to it.

On the first day of the employment hearing in November 2025 the counsel for the Labour Inspector referred to advice from Crown Law in 2021 which said the workers were not employees, and that the Inspector could not act contrary to that.

The Gloriavale defendants and the plaintiffs say that in referring to the Crown Law advice the Labour Inspector waived privilege for that advice.

This had been opposed by the Labour Inspector.

In her decision Chief Judge Christina Inglis said Labour Inspector was trying to use the advice to justify the delay, while also saying the advice was privileged, thereby avoiding having that justification scrutinised.

The Judge said the Labour Inspector had the power to initiate proceedings against Gloriavale in 2021 but elected not to.

“It appears, from counsel’s submission in Court, that the Crown Law advice was a factor influencing that decision. Consequently, it is linked to the central issue of the Labour Inspector’s delay and whether it can be justified for the purposes of resolving the question as to when the clock started to tick for limitation purposes.”

The Judge said she found the privilege in the 2021 Crown Law advice had been waived, and the Labour Inspector has to disclose it to the defendants and plaintiffs in the Gloriavale employment case within five working days.

The Labour Inspector could appeal the order if it considers it appropriate.

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Loaded shotgun found under child’s bed while police search for stolen Bentley

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police found four other stolen vehicles and the gun at a West Auckland house. (File photo) RNZ / REECE BAKER

A loaded shotgun was found under a child’s bed during a police search for a stolen Bentley in Auckland.

Officers were searching for a luxury Bentley Bentayga SUV stolen from the North Shore in the early hours of December 1.

The investigation led police to a home in West Auckland’s Glen Eden, where they found four other stolen vehicles.

Police also found a loaded shotgun hidden underneath a bed where a young boy was sleeping.

A 31-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were arrested.

Both were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, and dishonesty charges for allegedly using stolen credit cards.

Neither were facing charges related to the stolen cars at this stage, but a police spokesperson said inquiries were ongoing.

Police didn’t find the Bentley in Glen Eden, but later found it in Huia last week.

“Police are continuing to investigate the initial burglary and theft and we cannot rule out further arrests being made,” police said.

The pair arrested in Glen Eden had already made their first appearance in the Waitākere District Court and were due to reappear in March.

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Queenstown restaurant fails in bid to stop Aussie spa chain using its name

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Bathhouse restaurant in Queenstown. GOOGLE MAPS / RNZ

A Queenstown restaurant has failed to secure an interim injunction to stop an Australian company opening a spa in the resort town with the same name.

The companies behind the restaurant The Bathhouse have been in dispute with a company planning to open a luxury spa and wellness centre called The Bathhouse Queenstown on Christmas Eve.

The restaurant argued by using a similar name, the spa company was taking advantage of its reputation.

Its High Court bid to temporarily prevent the Australian company from using “The Bathhouse” in any form as its trading name has been dismissed.

Justice Melanie Harland ruled that for now, the spa would be allowed to open provided it changed its trading and marketing name to “The Bathhouse Spa Queenstown”. The matter would be heard at a trial next year.

The Bathhouse restaurant on the lake front of Lake Wakatipu was originally a bathhouse built to commemorate King George V in 1911. Since the mid-1990s, the building has housed various restaurants which have traded there using the name “The Bathhouse”.

The Bathhouse Queenstown Pty Ltd is an Australian company that registered in New Zealand last month. It is launching a luxury spa and wellness centre in Queenstown’s central business district on 24 December.

The plaintiffs (two companies behind the restaurant) claimed the spa company breached the Fair Trading Act by using a similar name.

They argued this was likely to mislead or deceive customers into thinking there was a connection between the restaurant and the spa, and amounted to a false representation as to association, sponsorship or endorsement.

“The plaintiffs contend that the history of The Bathhouse building and the significance of its location are important drawcards which enable it to attract customers and, as such, this is part of its goodwill,” Justice Harland said.

The plaintiffs said members of the public had been misled or deceived already as a result of the spa company’s marketing and promotion.

In response, the spa company (the defendant) said “The Bathhouse” was a descriptive term and an accurate description of the nature of the business and services it intended to provide.

It said The Bathhouse Queenstown was a legitimate business that had operated a spa and wellness business under The Bathhouse name and banner in Australia since July 2023 and was in the process of establishing similar businesses in other locations.

The spa company said reasonable consumers, particularly tourists, would not be confused and there was no potential for damage to the restaurant.

It said there was no relevant evidence of any customers being confused, misled or deceived as a result of its activities.

“I observe that both parties have taken relatively staunch positions in relation to their respective cases,” Justice Harland said.

“I am satisfied that the balance of convenience would favour the injunctions not being issued if the defendant files a written undertaking confirming it will immediately change its trading and marketing name to “The Bathhouse Spa Queenstown” until further order of the Court.”

Justice Harland said in her view, inclusion of the term “spa” in the defendant’s trading name was likely to reduce confusion between customers while awaiting the substantive proceedings.

“I have also reached the very firm view that damages would be an adequate remedy for any losses or damage suffered by the plaintiffs in the interim if, at trial, they succeed in their claims and are successful in obtaining the substantive injunctive relief they seek,” she said.

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Top of the table at Christmas, no place Auckland FC would rather be

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland FC’s Hiroki Sakai and Steve Corica celebrate with the A-League Premiers Plate with a view to winning it again. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Auckland FC experienced high and lows in A-League football in 2025, but the lows can be put into perspective with the silverware, the records and the continued success.

The year began partway through the 2024/25 season with a goalless draw on 1 January against the team, Melbourne Victory, that would eventually end Auckland’s inaugural season a game short of the Grand Final.

But lifting the Premiers’ Plate in April, as the first New Zealand side to achieve the feat, and ending the calendar year in a new season and still at the top of the competition meant Auckland FC fans, players and staff could look back on the year fondly.

Days out from the new year coach Steve Corica summed 2025 up as “amazing”, but also had an eye on what lay ahead.

“We want to continue next year the same way we started this year.

“Three [wins] in a row is great, being top of the table at Christmas is nice as well.

“Especially this time of year we just want to keep building from what we’ve started. We’ve had a great start and I think there’s still improvement in this team to go, you can see the improvement over the last few games as well we’re scoring some really good goals, we kept a clean sheet which was positive on the weekend against the Wanderers strikeforce which is really strong so we’re happy with where we are at the moment.”

The last challenge of the year will be against second-placed Sydney FC, who sit just two points behind Auckland on the A-League ladder, and have not lost at home this season.

Home and abroad for the holidays

Jake Girdwood-Reich did not expect to be home for Christmas.

The centre-back has played every minute of his first season with Auckland FC and a quirk in the rejigged A-League draw means he will play in front of family and friends in his hometown on Saturday.

The Australian former age-group representative began 2025 rehabilitating an ankle injury and then struggling for game time with Major League Soccer side St Louis City.

A chance to link up with his former coach Corica on loan from St Louis City was too good to turn down for the 21-year-old, and it means he ends the year in a very different place than where he started it – both geographically and football-wise.

Such is Girdwood-Reich’s form and consistency for Auckland, there is suggestions Socceroos coach, Tony Popovic, should be taking notice of the former Sydney FC player.

Girdwood-Reich played 45 times for Sydney before he sought challenges abroad. Saturday will be the first time he has played against the Sky Blues.

Auckland FC’s Jake Girdwood-Reich will play against his former team, Sydney FC, on Saturday. Supplied

“I started there pretty young, when I was 12, went through the whole system so it is going to feel a little bit weird for me but I’m definitely excited for it.

“We need to continue [our] form into that game, obviously I know what Sydney’s like the home crowd’s good, we’re going to be under the pump sometimes, but I’d say we’re good away from home so we’re going there [and want] nothing but three points.”

Auckland’s first game against Sydney this season will be played at the smaller Leichhardt Oval, rather than Allianz Stadium where Girdwood-Reich had run out many times.

“I’ve watched a couple of their games, it actually looks quite good… I think the Leichhardt move is actually good, it looks like a lot of the fans are enjoying it closer to the field and it looks full.”

Auckland’s leading goal-scorer Sam Cosgrove is still adjusting to Christmas downunder.

The Englishman is familiar with a packed playing schedule at this time of the year but he said the Christmas spirit is a bit different in Auckland than Manchester.

Last Christmas Cosgrove was playing for Barnsley against Bolton in League One on 26 December. This year he will take his fifth international flight in 15 days and be staying in a hotel in Sydney where temperatures are forecast to be in the low 20s.

“You guys don’t do Christmas quite as heavily over here as we do back home, there’s not as many Christmas trees and Santa hats knocking about.”

The regular flights to Sydney this month, though airports that were heaving for the holidays, “took a toll” on the players.

“Travelling back and forth it’s not just the three hours to Sydney it’s the two hours beforehand and the two hours after, it’s tough but its part and parcel of what we do and the boys did it all last season last year and still managed to finish top of the table so there’s no excuses for us.”

Cosgrove was thankful the Auckland staff made the trips as seamless as they could for the players as they chase more away wins.

Sam Cosgrove his experiencing his first Christmas in summer. Supplied

“A few of the results went our way this weekend so we do find ourselves top going into this Christmas period, but there’s no complacency within the squad, within the club, we want to make sure we’re solidifying our place at the top of the table and that includes getting a good result this weekend and over the Christmas and festive period in general.”

Cosgrove had not completed his Christmas shopping on Monday.

“I’m absolutely useless, luckily I can probably try and use the excuse that I’m on the other side of the world this year so I’ll be using that one for sure.”

Corica was aware that there would be plenty going on in his players’ lives at this time of the year and that they would be celebrating the festive season differently.

Some players, including the South Americans, would be celebrating on 24 December a day before the team flew out.

“This is a period that you can get distracted, we don’t want to take away Christmas we want them to have fun with their families and all that kind of stuff, some of them have kids and I don’t want to be the grinch but it is a time to stay focused because we do have a lot of games early January and this is a time that if you stay focused then you pick up a lot of points on the road at this stage and you can move away from teams, and if we’re not focused you’ve got a chance of losing games and we don’t want that.”

The schedule has worked in Corica’s favour and he would spend Christmas at his family home in Sydney – including a family lunch for 20 people.

But he will not let his mind wander too far from the task against the club he played for and coached before he arrived in New Zealand.

“It’s constant thinking about football, that’s what my wife tells me as well.”

Once lunch was over Corica would shift to the team hotel.

“There’s no different rules for me I want to be there when the players get there, that’s the way we do it here.”

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Warning to Suzuki Fronx drivers after seat belt fails lab crash test

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Suzuki Fronx during testing by ANCAP. ANCAP / SUPPLIED

Suzuki Fronx owners are being warned not to carry passengers in the back seat after the seat belt failed a lab crash test.

NZTA warned a similar failure in an on-road crash could cause serious injury or even death for rear seat passengers.

It said officials encouraged Suzuki New Zealand to urgently address the problem including considering recalling the cars.

“Whether further regulatory action is required will depend on what steps Suzuki takes to address the issue,” it said.

“NZTA is advised that Suzuki NZ has stopped sales of the Suzuki Fronx in New Zealand and is contacting vehicle owners from today to provide them with further information, including advice that passengers do not travel in the rear seats at this time.”

Owners who hadn’t heard from Suzuki should contact the company or their local dealers, NZTA said.

There were more than 1115 Fronx vehicles registered in New Zealand.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) gave the car a one-star safety rating due to the seatbelt failure, NZTA said.

“While the seatbelt failure is serious, the low ANCAP rating reflects the vehicle’s poor performance across all aspects of ANCAP’s testing.”

Suzuki New Zealand said a “thorough and disciplined” investigation was underway.

“Suzuki will take any actions required to uphold our safety standards and the trust our customers place in our brand.”

The company said it is urgently reviewing the ANCAP testing outcomes “at the highest levels of the organisation” with Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan and Suzuki Australia.

“Suzuki firmly believes in learning from local testing and regulatory feedback as part of our continuous improvement philosophy.

“These assessments are treated seriously and play an important role in strengthening vehicle safety, performance, and reliability across our markets.”

The Fronx was certified as meeting Australia and New Zealand safety standards, it said.

It was released for sale in New Zealand in June 2025.

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Investors warned to ‘fully inform themselves’ before giving money to Christchurch-based investment firm

Source: Radio New Zealand

The FMA said a businessman was contacting investors seeking payments. (File photo) 123rf

Investors are being warned to “fully inform themselves” before giving businessman Bernard Whimp or anyone associated with investment firm Chance Voight any more money.

It was reported earlier this month the Financial Markets Authority was looking into Chance Voight Investment Corporation, as well as subsidiaries, persons and entities associated with the Chance Voight Group.

The High Court in Christchurch appointed PWC as interim liquidators at the request of the FMA.

The companies were associated with Whimp, who had rejected any suggestion they were insolvent.

The FMA said it understood Whimp had contacted investors about the interim liquidation and sought payments, which he described as donations to fund legal expenses.

“The FMA recommends that investors fully inform themselves before providing any funds to Mr Whimp. Those with any queries about their investments – including any communications received from Mr Whimp – should speak with the interim liquidators and seek independent advice from a lawyer or a financial adviser,” head of enforcement Margot Gatland said.

Gatland said the liquidation was because the FMA considered there was reason to believe they might be insolvent, the affairs of the group might have been conducted in a manner that breaches provisions of the Companies Act 1993, and that Chance Voight group companies and Whimp as their director might have breached the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 and other financial markets legislation.

She said before it sought the court orders, the FMA had corresponded with Whimp and issues Chance Voight four compulsory information request notices under s 25 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011. Among other things, the notices sought accounting and financial records.

But the FMA was not happy with the responses and formed the view the group could be insolvent and breaching legislation.

The court would hear the FMA’s liquidation application at a date to be confirmed.

The court also granted the FMA’s application for interim asset preservation orders against Whimp and another subsidiary, Hanmer Equities. These were sought to protect assets pending the outcome of the FMA’s investigation into Chance Voight and mean they cannot take or send out of New Zealand any money.

Whimp rose to prominence in the 2010s for making off-market offers to buy shares from investors at below their market value.

The then-Securities Commission took Whimp to court over what it termed the misleading “low ball” offers.

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Health workers should accept proposed collective agreement – union

Source: Radio New Zealand

The settlement covers 16,000 health workers, including mental health and public health nurses, allied health, policy, advisory, knowledge and specialist workers. File photo. 123RF

The Public Service Association (PSA) is recommending health workers accept a new proposed collective agreement when they vote on it in the new year.

The settlement for three collective agreements covers 16,000 health workers, including mental health and public health nurses, allied health, policy, advisory, knowledge and specialist workers.

The collective that has the largest number of workers covers 11,500 people and includes physiotherapists, social workers and anaesthetic technicians, along with a number of other roles.

PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said there had been lengthy negotiations and industrial action in October and November over the collective.

“We are recommending PSA members accept what’s on the table,” said Fitzsimons.

“The proposed settlements are better than the previous offers, but don’t contain everything we wanted.

“The decision to recommend has been made by the respective bargaining teams to give members a clear view that we consider this is the best deal we can achieve now.”

The PSA said that under the proposed settlement for all three collectives, base rates would rise 2.5 percent on 1 December 2025 and 2 percent on 7 December 2026 together with other enhancements.

It said there was also some agreement for the union and Health NZ to make progress on staffing levels that keep workers and patients safe.

“Our delegates worked incredibly hard to achieve this proposed settlement, and if agreed by workers, underscores why strong union representation is critical to achieving the best results for workers,” said Fitzsimons.

“These workers took effective strike action in October during the mega-strike and again in November to make their concerns heard loud and clear about pay and the underfunding of the health system.

“Many sacrificed pay at a difficult time to do this with cost-of-living pressures facing all, while others supported the strike action by providing life preserving services during the strikes.”

The PSA will hold meetings early in the New Year to explain the proposed settlement followed by voting on the deal.

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NZ researchers get $2.4 million for quest to develop Covid-style test for Crohn’s disease

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Otago team will work with researchers in Australia and India on the three year study. befunky.com

Otago University researchers on a quest to develop a Covid-style test for Crohn’s disease have been given a “huge” funding boost from a United States charity.

The team has been given NZ$2.4 million for their work to identify how accurately a biomarker found in the gut can identify the often debilitating disease.

Principal investigator Richard Gearry said he hoped the work would lead to the creation of an instant test that would initially be used by doctors for diagnosis.

“Or if patients have got Crohn’s disease and we want to monitor how effective treatments are we could have a point-of-care test that patients do themselves at home – at bit like a Covid test but instead of using saliva, using faeces,” he said.

That would allow people to stay on top of their symptoms and could also mean many they would not need colonoscopies – freeing up appointments for those who do.

The funding boost has come from the Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust, which often funds Crohn’s-related research.

By New Zealand standards, the amount was huge and the team were extremely grateful, he said.

The Otago team would work with researchers in Australia and India on the three year study.

The number of people with Crohn’s and other inflammatory bowel diseases was growing in Western countries – and would soon make up one percent of the population.

The conditions were also on the rise in newly industrialised regions of the world, he said.

Having faster, cheaper, easier diagnosis and monitoring was essential as demand grew.

Professor Gearry said he often explained to patients that the immune system was normally very relaxed about gut bacteria – but in Crohn’s patients, it became angry.

“Then those bacteria are attacked by the immune system, and the gut wall is caught in the middle and that causes inflammation that leads to diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bleeding from the bowel and a range of things,” he said.

Early diagnosis could help doctors intervene to help patients before the disease got worse.

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Cricket: Black Caps beat West Indies in third Test

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ajaz Patel of New Zealand celebrates with his team Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd 2025

The Black Caps have won the third Test against the West Indies by 323 runs, with the bowlers impressing on the final day at Mt Maunganui.

The West Indies were dismissed for 138, chasing 462 for victory.

After starting the day on 43 without loss, the Windies openers got through the first hour intact, but then lost five wickets in the space of 11 runs and 10 overs.

Openers Brandon King (67) and John Campbell (16) were dismissed with the score on 87 and first innings centurion Kavem Hodge lasted just nine balls before becoming Ajaz Patel’s second wicket of the morning session.

Roston Chase (captain) of West Indies in action against New Zealand, 2025. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd 2025

Jacob Duffy grabbed three wickets of his own as the West Indies went to lunch on 99 for five.

Captain Roston Chase became Duffy’s fourth wicket not long after lunch and the wickets continued to fall regularly with Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra also getting in the wicket-taking action.

Duffy was unplayable at times as he got bounce out of the wicket and took five wickets to finish with match figures of nine for 128.

Ajaz Patel took three for 23 from 32 overs.

Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra took one wicket each.

Brandon King top scored with 67.

The first Test at Hagley Oval was draw, while New Zealand won the second by nine wickets.

The Black Caps play a white ball series in India in January.

Follow the action from today below:

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Drunk driver heading from Gore to Te Anau hits four times legal alcohol limit

Source: Radio New Zealand

Immediately call 111 if you see dangerous driving, police say. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Police have arrested a drunk driver heading from Gore to Te Anau who was four times the legal alcohol limit.

They said they pulled the woman over at 7:30am on Sunday, after reports of a vehicle repeatedly crossing the centre line.

Police said “smell of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech” greeted them as they walked up to the vehicle.

A breath test revealed the woman was four times the legal limit, driving completely impaired and on little sleep after leaving a hen’s do.

The 38-year-old is due to appear in Gore District Court on 21 January.

She has also been issued a 28-day driving suspension notice.

Acting senior sergeant Christopher Rigby said police were disappointed to see poor choices being made.

“The driver was seen driving erratically and its incredible that no one was hurt on the road.

“We always encourage people to sort sober drivers, rideshare or taxi if they have plans to drink. There’s no excuse to drinking and driving,” senior sergeant Rigby.

Police said to immediately call 111 if you see dangerous driving.

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