Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police say they are working to resolve concerns around breath testing data “as quickly as possible,” after the New Zealand Transport Agency halted $6m worth of funding until it’s satisfied police have met their targets.

RNZ earlier revealed about 130 staff were under investigation throughout the country after 30,000 alcohol breath tests were “falsely or erroneously recorded”.

On Thursday, an NZTA spokesperson told RNZ it had paused $6m worth of funding until the matter was resolved.

On Friday, Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson said in a statement that NZTA had notified police that delivery-dependent road policing funding for the first quarter of the financial year had been paused, while Police’s investigation into irregularities in breath testing data was ongoing.

“Police is working closely with our NZTA partners to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. We acknowledge it is important the data being assessed is accurate and the activity being carried out is legitimate.

“We are confident that once the data is confirmed as accurate, the funding will be authorised.”

• Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

Police continued to deliver “very high levels of breath testing activity”, Johnson said.

“We will continue to have a high-visibility presence over the summer period.”

An NZTA spokesperson earlier told RNZ it had requested police provide assurance that delivery numbers for breath screening tests and the wider road policing activity measures for the 2024/25 financial year were correct.

NZTA has paused its usual end-of-year reporting to the NZTA Board and the Minister of Transport until it is satisfied the final results are “a full and accurate record” of police delivery during the 2024/25 financial year.

Each year, $24 million of funding is dependent on the successful delivery of all speed and impairment activities to agreed specified annual levels, known as delivery dependent funding (DDF).

“Delivery against these measures is assessed on a quarterly basis, and a pro-rated amount of DDF is available to be authorised to spend ($6m per quarter).

“Until the current issue with reporting on breath testing is resolved, NZTA has paused assessment of the $6m in delivery dependent funding for the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.”

Any funding from a quarter where DDF was not met remained available for subsequent authorisation in the same financial year, if targets are met, the spokesperson said.

“Any funding not authorised to be spent at the end of the financial year is required to be returned to the NLTF.”

The bulk of funding for road policing activity (of $103m per quarter) continued to be available to police, the spokesperson said.

In an earlier statement to RNZ, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said “this is a prudent decision by NZTA and I welcome it. The breath testing issue is very concerning and it is important it is resolved.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Oranga Tamariki aims to run its second boot camp for serious youth offenders in March next year using a new design.

The Children’s Minister earlier this week in a scrutiny hearing said no date had been set.

The ministry told the same hearing it was “giving some thought” to running a second one prior to the law being changed.

In response to RNZ inquiries, Oranga Tamariki sketched out its plans and preparation which it said were well advanced.

“Oranga Tamariki is planning to run a further voluntary programme, under existing legislative settings, with the intent to deliver in March 2026,” it said.

“This is an operational decision for Oranga Tamariki.”

It would take teenagers who volunteer, like the pilot last year, housed at the same Te Au rere a te Tonga youth justice residence in Palmerston North.

The Responding to Serious Youth Offending Amendment Bill that would enable a judge to sentence a teenager to time in a military-style academy had its first reading in Parliament in November.

On Tuesday, Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime had raised the prospect of a March start, but Minister Karen Chhour said no date was set.

Green MP Kahurangi Carter had been critical of the minister and officials for saying there were no definite decisions but recruiting before the legislation was in place.

Prime on Friday said the government had stated the legislation would be passed before there was another boot camp but instead it was experimenting on children.

“The answers from the minister were cagey,” Prime said.

Chhour has been approached for comment.

Prime said they were already progressing legislation before the first pilot was done, which was “questionable”.

“And now they haven’t passed the legislation and they are running a second programme … The lives of our children are far too important to politicise and that we should not gimmick policies and repeat failed experiments of the past.”

The results of the pilot showed a reoffending rate similar to boot camps of the past, she said.

The ministry’s programme lead Janet Mays told the hearing on Tuesday that planning was well advanced and drawing on lessons learned in the pilot in 2024-25.

Online advertising has been run to recruit for it.

“Evaluations of the pilot programme identified lessons learned, such as the need for stronger Iwi engagement, improved transition planning and more support for our kaimahi,” Mays said in Friday’s statement to RNZ.

“These are now being integrated into the new design.”

On Tuesday, Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime had raised the prospect of a March start, but Minister Karen Chhour said no date was set.

Green MP Kahurangi Carter had been critical of the minister and officials saying there were no definite decisions but recruiting was taking place before the legislation was in place.

It was recruiting for psychologists, case leaders, residential youth workers and other personnel.

“Oranga Tamariki is well advanced in its planning and preparation for the delivery.

“By delivering this, we can keep supporting young people through a programme which saw improvements across wellbeing, whānau and cultural connections and serious and violent offences drop by two-thirds when compared to a similar cohort.”

The physical infrastructure remained in place in Palmerston North.

Opponents had repeatedly raised concerns that boot camps had been found to be ineffective at reducing youth offending.

Evaluation reporting on the pilot said it created “meaningful and positive change” for the young people but was constrained by rushed implementation, a lack of continuity around therapeutic support and a lack of capacity in the residential phase.

It needed to have engaged with mana whenua earlier and supported whānau earlier, before the rangatahi returned home.

Mays told Tuesday’s hearing they aimed to have a new whānau support programme run alongside the residential phase.

The 2024 pilot had only a three-month residential phase – set to be extended – and a nine-month phase when the boys were back in their communities.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An Auckland-based pro-Beijing online political commentator has been ordered to pay more than $200,000 in defamation damages to former Auckland Councillor Paul Young.

Morgan (Zhi Hong) Xiao, also known as ‘Demon King’ (魔王) online, runs a social media account on WeChat and describes himself as a “New Zealand political commentary author, social activist and TV programmes planner”.

Xiao stood in local elections in 2019, and had called Professor Anne-Marie Brady and other critics of the Chinese government “son of bitches” and “anti-China forces”.

Justice Tracey Walker ruled Xiao defamed Young in 13 posts, and ordered him and any third party platform to remove the posts. She also ordered him to pay $225,000 in damages to Young.

Young said he felt vindicated after three years of litigation.

“The court has confirmed what I have maintained throughout – the allegations made against me were false and defamatory,” he said in a statement.

“I hope this outcome sends a clear message that New Zealand’s legal system provides effective remedies for those whose reputations are attacked through sustained online campaigns.”

Young was a Taiwan-born New Zealander who immigrated in 1989.

He was elected as Howick’s ward councillor in the 2018 by-election, becoming Auckland’s first ethnically Chinese councillor. He was re-elected in 2019, but lost his seat in the 2022 Auckland local elections.

Xiao has worked as a parking warden for Auckland Transport but refuses to confirm to RNZ if he’s still in that role – saying that it’s not related to the case.

He said he planned to appeal the decision and was not worried about the money he had been ordered to pay.

“I do not worry about it, because I believe this judgement is going to be successfully appealed… this money will not be a problem.”

Xiao had also previously taken Chinese-New Zealand journalist Portia Mao to court, alleging she had breached the Harmful Digital Communications Act.

Mao is a veteran journalist who covers China-related issues in New Zealand as well as other subjects.

Mao was required to take down the articles while the matter was before the court, but the order was lifted in a later decision by Manukau District Court Judge Richard McIlraith.

In a submission to the court, Mao’s lawyer said Xiao had weaponised the Harmful Digital Communications Act to silence a journalist, as Xiao had celebrated his victory on social media without Mao knowing an application had been filed.

The judge found Mao had no opportunity to defend herself in court at the time the orders were made.

“What has occurred here has been unfortunate,” Judge McIlraith said.

“This case has demonstrated the danger of ‘without notice’ applications being made under this act and the regrettable delay in a defendant having the opportunity to be heard.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The mother of a Dunedin man who died after falling from a moving trailer is still haunted by the decision to turn off his life support, a court has heard.

Robert Douglas Ralston died in hospital almost two weeks after the fall in Brockville in March, following a heated argument with his partner Andrew Jayden Mercer who was at the wheel of the car.

Mercer was sentenced to almost three years in prison for Ralston’s manslaughter at the High Court on Friday.

The court heard Mercer was driving erratically and aggressively when he swung onto Brockville Road as Ralston clung to the trailer, then jumped off.

Mercer had taken methamphetamine about an hour before Ralston’s fall.

In a victim impact statement, Ralston’s mother Linda Young told the court that turning off his life support was the hardest decision she had ever made and it was cruel to watch her son start to fade in hospital.

“It haunts me,” she said.

“As a parent I’m supposed to go before him.

“It’s tearing my heart to pieces.”

Ralston’s aunt told the court that she often relives the awful phone call she received to say he had died.

“Our lives are shattered,” she said.

Other family members said Ralston lit up a room with his presence and described feelings of emptiness, grief and sadness at his death.

Mercer pleaded guilty to manslaughter and failing to undertake a compulsory impairment test in August.

The court heard the couple had argued earlier in the day, starting outside a friend’s house on Turnbull Street in Brockville.

Mercer drove at Ralston after he walked into the middle of the road, before swerving.

Ralston threw a stick at the car as he drove past.

The argument resumed once Mercer returned hours later with a trailer of firewood in tow, with Ralston throwing a block of wood through the driver’s window, smashing it.

Ralston then climbed onto the caged trailer as Mercer drove away with Mercer initially unaware he was clinging onto the trailer.

The court heard Mercer drove through a give way sign and swung the trailer over the centre line when he turned onto Brockville Road, causing the trailer to skid, blow a tyre and start smoking.

Ralston called out during the aggressive turn and Mercer continued driving even after he realised his partner was perched on the trailer.

Ralston jumped off after the car turned onto Brockville Road, suffering serious head injuries.

The court heard Mercer tried to help his partner and was upset when he realised Ralston was so badly injured.

Defence lawyer Sarah Saunderson-Warner said Mercer deeply regretted what happened and was significantly distressed.

The court heard Mercer had tried to make an emotional harm reparation to Ralston’s family but it was rejected.

Mercer had a history of driving convictions ranging from dangerous driving at age 17, to driving while disqualified and failing to stop for police.

Prosecutor Richard Smith told the court Mercer only had a learner licence and should not had been driving at all.

In sentencing, Justice Preston noted Mercer’s distress and remorse but said the sentence was intended to hold him accountable, denounce his conduct and deter others.

Mercer was jailed for two years and 10 months in prison and disqualified from driving for two years upon release.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

An Auckland-based pro-Beijing online political commentator has been ordered to pay more than $200,000 in defamation damages to former Auckland Councillor Paul Young.

Morgan (Zhi Hong) Xiao, also known as ‘Demon King’ (魔王) online, runs a social media account on WeChat and describes himself as a “New Zealand political commentary author, social activist and TV programmes planner”.

Xiao stood in local elections in 2019, and had called Professor Anne-Marie Brady and other critics of the Chinese government “son of bitches” and “anti-China forces”.

Justice Tracey Walker ruled Xiao defamed Young in 13 posts, and ordered him and any third party platform to remove the posts. She also ordered him to pay $225,000 in damages to Young.

Young said he felt vindicated after three years of litigation.

“The court has confirmed what I have maintained throughout – the allegations made against me were false and defamatory,” he said in a statement.

“I hope this outcome sends a clear message that New Zealand’s legal system provides effective remedies for those whose reputations are attacked through sustained online campaigns.”

Young was a Taiwan-born New Zealander who immigrated in 1989.

He was elected as Howick’s ward councillor in the 2018 by-election, becoming Auckland’s first ethnically Chinese councillor. He was re-elected in 2019, but lost his seat in the 2022 Auckland local elections.

Xiao has worked as a parking warden for Auckland Transport but refuses to confirm to RNZ if he’s still in that role – saying that it’s not related to the case.

He said he planned to appeal the decision and was not worried about the money he had been ordered to pay.

“I do not worry about it, because I believe this judgement is going to be successfully appealed… this money will not be a problem.”

Xiao had also previously taken Chinese-New Zealand journalist Portia Mao to court, alleging she had breached the Harmful Digital Communications Act.

Mao is a veteran journalist who covers China-related issues in New Zealand as well as other subjects.

Mao was required to take down the articles while the matter was before the court, but the order was lifted in a later decision by Manukau District Court Judge Richard McIlraith.

In a submission to the court, Mao’s lawyer said Xiao had weaponised the Harmful Digital Communications Act to silence a journalist, as Xiao had celebrated his victory on social media without Mao knowing an application had been filed.

The judge found Mao had no opportunity to defend herself in court at the time the orders were made.

“What has occurred here has been unfortunate,” Judge McIlraith said.

“This case has demonstrated the danger of ‘without notice’ applications being made under this act and the regrettable delay in a defendant having the opportunity to be heard.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Air New Zealand has updated its rules around the use of portable power banks on its flights following bans by multiple international airlines.

Air NZ’s chief risk and safety officer Nathan McGraw, confirmed that from December 9, customers would not be allowed to carry more than two power banks per person and they could not be used during take-off landing or taxi.

McGraw said the changes had been made to “keep everybody on board safe”.

Last month Jetstar confirmed it would ban the use of portable power banks from December 15, for all of its flights due to the safety risks of damaged or defective lithium battery-powered devices.

Multiple international airlines including Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, South Korean Airlines, Qantas, Virgin and China Airlines banned the use of power banks on flights earlier this year.

Power banks used lithium-ion batteries, which were known to be highly flammable and difficult to extinguish.

McGraw said power banks on AirNZ flights would now need to be kept either under the seat in front of the passenger or in the seat back-pocket. The power banks could not be placed in bags in overhead lockers.

He said they could not be used to charge or power other devices during taxi, take-off or landing and couldn’t be recharged using in-seat or in-flight power outlets.

Power banks were already prohibited from checked baggage, he said.

“Based on information from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), we’ve chosen to make these changes ahead of formal regulatory updates. This proactive step aligns with international aviation safety best practice. Safety is our highest priority, and this change is all about keeping our customers and crew safe.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person has been taken to hospital in a serious condition from a childcare centre in Christchurch.

St John is treating multiple patients at the centre, in the suburb of Woolston.

A parent has told RNZ that children have been affected by a chemical used at the centre.

St John was notified at 1.13pm.

A spokesperson said multiple emergency vehicles were responding; fourteen are on scene including six ambulances, two rapid response units and three operations managers.

“Our crews are treating multiple patients, one of whom has been transported to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition.”

Fire and Emergency have sent firefighters from two stations.

A spokesperson said a hazmat unit had been deployed as a precaution.

A RNZ reporter at the scene has seen a child being loaded into an ambulance.

A parent, who has a child at the centre, told RNZ that three children had been affected by a chemical used to clean a slide.

The parent did not know what the chemical was and their child was not affected.

RNZ has approached the childcare centre, but staff refused to comment.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have confirmed one person has died following a crash on State Highway 2 north of Dennevirke on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to the crash near Okane Road in Matamau at about 9.50am.

A second person sustained serious injuries and has been transported to hospital, police said.

Fire and Emergency confirmed a truck was involved, and said its crews helped free the driver who had been trapped.

SH2 would remain closed for some time while the Serious Crash unit conduct a scene examination, police said.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area, and detours are in place.

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