Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The intersection of State Highway 25 and Moewai Road in Whitianga has been completely blocked following a serious crash.

Police said they were called to the incident just after 10am Wednesday morning.

One person was reported to have been seriously injured, while another had minor injuries, police said.

All traffic were advised to avoid the area or delay travel as there were no diversions in place, police said.

Those who urgently needed to travel in and out of Whitianga would need to take significantly longer reroutes towards Coromandel or Thames, they said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Combined Fire and Emergency and Department of Conservation crews are continuing to put in the ‘grunt work’ on Wednesday dampening down hotspots in the aftermath of the fire that tore through almost 3000 hectares of Tongariro Park at the weekend.

FENZ incident controller Nigel Dravitski said the headquarters for the fire response had shifted to Whakapapa Village as responsibility for its management transitioned to DOC.

About 35 crews were flying out to the fire ground in a helicopter based at the Chateau Tongariro car park.

“There’s good conditions today so we’ve got crews that have entered the fire ground and are continuing to do their monitoring and controlling.”

Dravitski said they were looking for sources of heat or fire from 30m back from the fire across its 35 kilometre perimeter.

“It involves a lot of hard mahi, so digging out and turning out holes. They have things called scotty packs, so they can squirt water into those holes to cool them and take the energy out of them.

“Just really a whole lot of grunt work to be honest.”

Dravitski said crews had a successful day on Tuesday following up on thermal imaging data.

“The crews covered a wide area of the fire scene and it was pleasing there was not a lot of sources of fire, so no active flames or smoke but some heat spots that were very minor in the context of the landscape.

He said so far thermal imaging had found very few areas of concern.

FENZ investigations into how the fire started continue to be focused on a stretch of State Highway 47 close to the entrance of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

“That continues to be a point of interest for them and they are continuing their investigation at that point, so we are securing that scene while so they can undertake those tasks.”

A police officer was on site and dozens of coloured flags could be seen planted on the scorched bush beside the road.

Dravitski said any results from that investigation would be some days away.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing and tracks in the vicinity of Whakapapa Village remain closed until at least Monday next week.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A low front is moving down the North Island, bringing heavy rain and gales to many areas.

MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Tokomaru Bay.

People there were to expect between 80 and 100mm of rain , with thunderstorms and localised downpours also a possibility, MetService said.

The warning would be in place from 4pm Wednesday, and will last until 9am Thursday.

It warned that streams in the area could rise rapidly, and that driving conditions may be difficult.

Heavy rain and wind watches were also issued for regions across Te Ika-a-Māui.

Wet weather sinks southwards today. Here’s your morning forecast.
https://t.co/FLDCycCPPU

— MetService (@MetService) November 11, 2025

Heavy rain watches would be in place in Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula.

The watch for Northland would last 12 hours from 10am Wednesday, while the other two would begin in the early afternoon and expire in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Strong wind watches were issued for those areas throughout Wednesday evening, starting from 4pm in Northland, 6pm in Auckland and Great Barrier Island, and 8pm for the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato near the Kaimai Range, and Bay of Plenty west of Maketu.

Northland and Auckland’s would expire late Wednesday evening, while the Coromandel’s would expire early Thursday morning.

Strong wind watches were issued for Rotorua, Bay of Plenty east of Maketu, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taupō, Taihape, and Whanganui hill country, and for the whole region of Taranaki as well,

The watches would be in place from late Wednesday evening, and expire at 10am Thursday,

Wellington and Wairarapa were issued a similar watch from 7am to 3pm Thursday.

There were no warnings or watches issued for any regions of the South Island.

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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 Education Review Office is firing back at Wesley College, saying it strongly refutes claims about it made by its principal.

The school south of Auckland, one of the country’s oldest, on Tuesday released a a critical ERO report from September written ahead of moves to shutter its hostel.

After releasing it, principal Brian Evans said the ERO was “deeply disrespectful” and it had accused students of lying and covering up.

Evans claimed students said they were badgered about whether they felt safe at the school.

The report detailed more the 30 senior students leaving their hostel at night and going to a junior building.

A small group of senior boys either participated in or observed the bullying and assault of junior students, the ERO report said.

“The supervising staff and wider student body did not prevent the incident, nor was it reported immediately by either staff or students,” it detailed.

The ERO ended its report recommending the suspension of the hostel’s licence, saying it did not have confidence the five hostel buildings were safe.

Principal Brian Evans in his own statement said the ERO was dismissive of students and said they felt pressured to give negative answers.

The school is currently heading to court to try to stop the hostels shutting down much earlier than it wanted.

ERO responds

Responding to the principal’s comments about its report, the ERO said it made no apology for making sure student welfare was prioritised and protected.

“ERO is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of students who live at the Wesley College hostel,” ERO deputy chief executive Shelley Booysen said.

“This is not a safe place for students,” she said

Booysen said Wesley College has a long history of abuse and the ERO had made strong recommendations after finding significant issues.

“ERO strongly refutes the claims made by Brian Evans about our review team and approach to evaluating Wesley College’s hostels,” she said.

Booysen said ERO reviewers had a Code of Conduct and there were comprehensive quality assurance processes.

She said the review being questioned by the principal “meets all requirements”.

Wesley College ‘is much more than headlines’ – principal

Brian Evans has told parents and caregivers that media coverage of the ERO report, which the school itself released, had been challenging.

He said it had “understandably impacted” teachers, students and families.

“Please know this: Wesley College is much more than today’s headlines. We are a community built on faith, resilience, and a deep commitment to the growth and well-being of every student,” Evans wrote on the school’s Facebook account.

“While we don’t deny the truth, our own truth, happiness and love everyone feels for Wesley has largely been dismissed by the authorities. It is now our job to reclaim that and let our voice be heard,” he said.

Evans said safeguarding systems at Wesley College were among the best in the country.

“We have worked hard to move away from past cultures of silence to a school where every voice matters and is heard,” he said.

“This is not easy change, but it is real and happening.”

Wesley College signalled last month it would close its hostels at the end of the year over ongoing safety concerns.

But the Ministry of Education then suspended its licence, wanting the hostels shut by last week following what it said was a pattern of serious and ongoing concerns.

Wesley College has lodged an appeal in the Auckland District Court.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man charged with murdering a father and son who died in an Auckland house fire has pleaded not guilty.

The bodies of 36-year-old Jung Sup Lee and 11-year-old Ha-il Lee were found inside a Bucklands Beach home last month.

The 38-year-old man charged with their murders pleaded not guilty to both charges at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday.

Justice Mathew Downs granted him interim name suppression until next Tuesday.

The man would be remanded in custody until his February 2027 trial, unless granted bail, he said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland Council is spending another $300,000 on towering Christmas decorations for the city centre, to the delight of some and dismay of others.

It has commissioned an artist to build a series of five-metre tall pillars that will be dotted along Queen Street between Aotea Centre and Britomart, with panels that light-up.

They go on display from December and branch out from last year’s more than $1 million giant Christmas tree which is making a come-back.

Taxpayers Union head of policy James Ross said the $292,000 price tag for the new display was over the top.

“Unfortunately a lot of people are doing it tough in Auckland and across New Zealand at the minute and I think that sort of expenditure is just not a good look,” he said.

“Christmas is a really hard time of year for a lot of people. People will be struggling to put food on the table and costs in the city centre especially are remarkably high. It’s those people and those businesses, a lot of whom are already struggling, and now walking down the street seeing their money being spent on things they don’t need.”

Businesses in the city centre have had a hard time surviving pandemic lockdowns and disruption from the city rail link construction.

It also comes as central government and the city council consider how they can move homeless people out of the CBD ahead of summer – something that’s alarmed advocates.

Deepak Sharma, who works in the city centre, thinks the Christmas decoration spend sends the wrong message.

“It’s a lot of money they could have spent this money towards the wellbeing of people, to take care of the poor who don’t have a house to live in. They should consider those people.”

City resident Lea Natoc did some quick arithmetic – the five pillars each cost about $60,000 and will be on display for one month.

“Christmas decorations are awesome it’s great for us to feel the Christmas vibe but to spend $60,000 just for one decoration I think it’s a bit too much.”

Each of the five columns will light up with a different theme – Santa’s workshop, a festive forest, under the sea, a Kiwi Christmas and a Christmas feast – and have buttons to press, knobs to turn and one has a juke box to fire up.

Auckland Council Head of Growth and Regeneration Delivery Jenny Larking said the five pillars are interactive and the cost is fully funded by the city centre targeted rate, which is invested back into the area.

“Our partners in the city centre have been calling for collaboration between Auckland Council and local business associations, to significantly increase the number of events and promotions in the city centre, to bring joy, vibrancy and much needed foot traffic to the area after a tough few years.”

Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck doesn’t think it’s money wasted – and believes the installation by light artist Angus Muir will be an attraction for years to come.

“At the end of the day while not everyone will agree with every item of spending, overall I would say that property owners will want their tenants to have a thriving environment after such a difficult time.”

She said businesses had faced disruption from pandemic lockdowns and the construction of the City Rail Link, which still has no set open date.

There are an estimated 800 rough sleepers in the city centre and businesses have been lobbying government for a cross-agency response to homelessness.

“We are sincerely hoping we are going to very soon see announcements that do address both needs. It’s not an either or, we do need to address the social issues as a city and as a country and for our city centre too.

“We also need to create a place that people want to come back to and spend time here.”

Auckland City Centre Residents Group spokesperson Antony Phillips says they don’t want to see the street community moved to the suburbs – but given support and housing.

However, the group supports the council’s spending on Christmas decorations but understands some people’s concern about the price tag.

“I wouldn’t call it grinch-like. I think there’s a healthy level of scepticism around any public expenditure at the moment. We are in a cost of living crisis.

“If we cost that over five years it doesn’t seem so shocking.”

City worker Kris Hardy plans to bring his family in to see the giant Christmas tree and new light pillars.

“Every time we come down we go shopping and buy Christmas presents so take that cost and divide it by the number of people who are going to be down here, let’s say a dollar a person and they all do a little shopping. I think it’ll pay for itself.”

According to Auckland Council the five columns will be displayed during the festive season for at least the next five years – with the interactive features and images updated each year.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is refusing to comment on a damning report by the police watchdog that was scathing of his response to allegations of sexual offending by former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.

Coster has been placed on leave from his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency, following the release of the Independent Police Conduct Authority report.

The report found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police, including Coster, over how police responded to accusations of sexual offending by McSkimming.

The allegations arose from an affair between McSkimming and a woman who was a non-sworn police employee at the time.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report said when police did eventually refer the woman’s claims to the authority, several months after it was recommended they do so, senior police attempted to influence the investigation.

RNZ called and text Coster on Wednesday and received a text with an email to contact for comment.

RNZ asked for comment on Coster’s actions, whether he would stay in his role at the SIA, and whether he had a message for the woman who raised the allegations.

A spokesperson then replied: “As has been publicly noted by ministers, this is now an employment conversation between the Public Service Commissioner and Andrew Coster. He will not be responding to media ahead of that process.”

Coster took on the role as Secretary for Social Investment in November 2024, after stepping down as Police Commissioner.

Public Service Minister Judith Collins earlier said it was agreed between Coster and the Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche that Coster would be on leave while Sir Brian undertook his own “investigation”.

She said the report showed a “massive” failure of leadership, and while it was now an employment matter, she said the report spoke for itself.

“If this was me being named in this report, I would be ashamed of myself. And I think that’s what I can say. I would be deeply ashamed.”

Collins said the findings that leadership attempted to influence the investigation into the woman’s complaint and persuade the IPCA that the matter could be resolved quickly were “very serious”.

“Let’s put it this way. If a minister tried to do that, I’m sure that the Prime Minister would have them out the door that way.”

Asked whether she thought it amounted to corruption, Collins said, “If it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it’s not looking good, is it?”

While acknowledging the IPCA report did not say it was corruption, Collins said it was “an extraordinary set of events, and extraordinary facts, and it must never happen again”.

She expressed thanks for the people who did stand up and send the matter to the IPCA as a complaint.

A spokesperson for the Public Service Commissioner said it would be inappropriate to comment on any employment matters.

Social investment minister Nicola Willis said she was “shocked and appalled” by the IPCA report’s findings.

“I have conveyed my views to Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche. The matter now sits with him as Mr Coster’s employer,” she said.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said Coster first briefed him on 6 November 2024 about McSkimming.

“The issues around Andrew Coster, we all now clearly see in that report that yes, without a doubt, he was the leader of the executive. He should be held to account for that, because of what we’re dealing with.”

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said while many of those involved in the report were no longer police staff, he had appointed an independent King’s Counsel to undertake employment investigations where required.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he was “extremely disappointed” in police leadership.

“The report and evidence confirm that senior police failed to hold Jevon McSkimming to account for his actions, or appropriately manage complaints made about him. This is inexcusable and a complete failure of duty. People should have every confidence that if they take a complaint to Police it is investigated fully.”

Hipkins, who as Prime Minister appointed McSkimming as Deputy Commissioner, said none of this was ever raised during his time as Prime Minister or Police Minister, or during the vetting process for the Deputy Commissioner role.

“If it had he would never have been appointed and further action would have been taken.”

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