Radio New Zealand – Page 29

Columba College in Dunedin. RNZ

Documents show staff at Dunedin’s Columba College complained to education officials multiple times accusing the school’s board of bullying and interfering in the day to day running of the school.

In response, the college would later say the Ministry of Education’s apparent concerns were “not made out on the evidence” that it was “at risk of overstepping” and even that the board was concerned those involved at the ministry “may not be impartial”.

In a statement to RNZ this week the school said its relationship with the ministry was “highly collaborative and positive” and that information provided by the Official Information Act (OIA) process was a “valuable opportunity for transparency and reflection on previous issues”.

In October, the school announced its principal Charissa Nicol would not be returning.

Nicol, who had been in the role since June 2023, had been on leave since 30 July. The school earlier declined to say why she was on leave.

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

RNZ requested under the Official Information Act the total number of complaints made to the Ministry of Education regarding Columba College in the past two years, a summary of the complaints, and a copy of all correspondence between the school and the ministry regarding the complaints last year.

The OIA reveals the ministry received 19 complaints regarding the school last year.

In April the Ministry of Education Dunedin/South Otago manager of integrated services Judith Forbes emailed the presiding member of Columba College Board Graeme Riley and Nicol asking for a meeting.

“The Ministry of Education has received some complaints about the Columba College Board, and our first step in any situation like this would always be to discuss with the Presiding Member and the Principal the concerns that have been raised with us.

“I acknowledge that it may be unsettling to hear that the Ministry has received such correspondence.”

Ahead of the meeting, Forbes sent a summary of the complaints to Riley and Nicol as well as the president of the Board of Governors Amy Columb.

“Complaints have come from a number of staff [redacted] relating to the actions/behaviour of the Columba College Board. Summary statement from one complainant is that the board is ‘overreaching and interfering with the day to day running of the school, as well as not following policies/procedures – either by demanding certain things do or do not happen or by attempting to circumvent the limits of their reach to enforce what they wish to happen’.”

There were several examples given including the process for investigating and decision-making around a complaint against a teacher raised by more than one complainant as a breach of policy, applying additional scrutiny to departments and writing new policies to enforce decisions which would normally be made by management.

“We were particularly concerned to note that complainants stated that they were afraid to raise their concerns because of the perceived risk that they would then be targeted by past and current members of the board, with one stating that ‘targeting of complainants has unfortunately occurred in the past’.”

Ministry of Education Dunedin/South Otago manager of integrated services Judith Forbes. RNZ / Ian Telfer

‘This seems like an escalation already’

In response, Riley said the board thought the usual process would have been to refer the complaints back to them in the first instance, or that any staff concerns would first have been raised with the board through Nicol.

“So this seems like an escalation already, and we are concerned that the Ministry seems to have made decisions about an appropriate process without the benefit of hearing the Board’s views or establishing the facts.”

Riley said the summary of concerns was “markedly similar” to concerns that had previously been expressed and were already being addressed by both the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees.

He added the school had engaged education consultant Cleave Hay to work with it as a “specialist governance advisor”.

On 23 April, Forbes sent an email following the meeting.

“As discussed, the Ministry is concerned to have received complaints from staff regarding the way that the boards have been operating. These complaints have a common theme: that the boards may have, over time, developed an unusual degree of involvement in the day-to-day management of the school, and that this may be having a negative impact on the smooth operation of the school and on the wellbeing of its staff.”

Forbes said the ministry was “pleased” that Hay had been contracted to support the boards, and it was “reassuring” that both Columb and Riley were “perturbed” to hear staff did not feel safe raising their concerns more directly.

She said some school boards had, in such situations, done a staff wellbeing survey with “the protection of anonymity for all respondents”.

“It would be helpful to hear back from you what plan of action the school board is thinking of putting in place to address the concerns raised, so that the Ministry can determine whether or not any further action from us is warranted and/or necessary.”

Ministry concerned about ‘ongoing operation of the school’

On 9 May Forbes received an email from Anderson Lloyd partner John Farrow who said the school’s boards had asked for advice on her email from 23 April.

He said the boards were concerned she seemed to be “forming opinions about the College without providing the information on which those opinions are apparently based, and without properly explaining the apparent concerns”.

Farrow said the boards had taken the complaints “seriously” and were taking steps to address them, in consultation with Nicol and Hay.

“In those circumstances your follow-up email, and the indication that you were still considering ‘further action’ is cause for concern. We do not see how any Ministry action could be considered at all appropriate or necessary.”

On 23 June, the ministry’s Otago central manager of integrated services Chris Bryant sent an email regarding a meeting they had the day prior referring to several matters that had been discussed.

This included that the ministry had heard from a few sources, that there was a “significant break down in the relationship between the Governance and Management. This raises concerns for the Ministry about the ongoing operation of the school”.

‘The Ministry is at risk of overstepping’

On 11 July, Farrow emailed David Tapp, the director of education for Otago and Southland on behalf of the school board and Board of Governors regarding a meeting requested by Bryant.

“Mr Bryant’s email records an option the Ministry has is to consider using its legislative powers to compel such a meeting.”

Farrow said the boards considered the ministry’s apparent concerns were “not made out on the evidence; the Ministry is at risk of overstepping; and it is too early for Ministry intervention.”

The board said the ministry may be “taking into account irrelevant considerations, including complaints made with specific agendas unrelated to concerns about the governance and effective operation of the school”.

He also said the board was “concerned those involved at the Ministry may not be impartial”.

Farrow said it was “premature” for the ministry to require a meeting with the whole school board and “almost certainly too soon for the Ministry to formally intervene”.

In response, Bryant said the purpose of the meeting was for the ministry to gain assurance that Columba College could “continue to operate effectively”.

“This is not an intervention…”

The ministry still wanted to meet with the boards.

A meeting took place in October between the Ministry of Education, Riley, Columb, Hay as well as Farrow and Fiona McMillan from Anderson Law. Following the meeting Tapp sent an email to those who attended.

Most of the email was redacted.

In a subheading titled ‘complaints process’, the email said the ministry had received 11 complaints to date. Where the complainants had included their name and email addresses, the ministry had referred them back to the school’s complaints process.

A “fear of retribution” was the common theme among the complaints.

“We positively note that the actions in Cleave’s report show that the Board is reviewing its complaints and [Professional Learning and Development].

“We are keen to see your progress on this and importantly to see how you intend to have a well-functioning complaints process which is free from the perception of fear of retribution.”

‘We have seen improvement’

In a statement to RNZ, Tapp said the ministry was in “regular contact” with the school and continued to meet with school representatives to support both the board and the leadership team.

“Last year we identified concerns about governance and leadership at the school. Columba has taken positive steps since then. We consider progress needs to occur more quickly. Several key governance matters remain unresolved, and the school is clear about the performance expectations that must be met.

“We have seen improvement. The Boards of Governors and Trustees engaged an independent governance adviser, and a working group involving staff and union representatives was established and is meeting regularly. These actions show constructive movement to resolving the governance issues identified, and we are confident the school is heading in the right direction.”

Tapp said the school continued to “operate effectively” for students on a day-to-day basis.

“At this time, further intervention is not being considered.”

In response to questions from RNZ the school’s acting principal Aaron Everett and Riley released a statement they said had been reviewed and “endorsed by staff” and was supported by both boards and the principal.

The statement said there had been changes within the school board, with seven new members joining since the board election in September last year.

The boards and staff were “working in close, positive collaboration” the statement said including formalising a dedicated working group comprising board and staff members to “ensure a unified approach and a commitment to open communication”.

They were also working together to review procedures related to the management of concerns or complaints.

“We view the information provided via the OIA process as a valuable opportunity for transparency and reflection on previous issues. It allows us to gain visibility of feedback and provides the opportunity to address these historical concerns and issues.”

The statement said the school’s relationship with the ministry was “highly collaborative and positive”.

“We welcome their partnership as we strive to provide the best possible environment for our students, staff and wider community.”

They were “encouraged” by the ministry’s confidence in the school’s current direction and its confirmation that intervention was not required.

Asked about the concerns raised about impartiality from the ministry, the statement said any “historical queries” regarding impartiality had been “fully addressed”.

“Both Boards have complete confidence in the MOE’s impartiality and look forward to our continued partnership.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Nadia White wakes up at 4am to make bacon and egg butties for the regular truckies loggers, shearers, boaties and fishers passing through Martinborough.

“We can’t do anything until we have the magic brown juice and once that magical juice is running through our veins and then, then we’re just into it,” she says. (She likes it long, black with a dash of cream.)

Kitchener’s, on the main drag in and out of Martinborough, officially opens at 5am. The family-run café cracks the door open from 2am, when White’s older sister Christy Anne is on site cooking and baking everything from scratch (she is in bed by 4pm, with an alarm set at 1am).

Nadia White (l) with her family who own and run Kitchener’s Cafe in Martinborough.

Supplied

Source: Radio New Zealand

John Beckenridge, left, and Mike Zhou-Beckenridge. SUPPLIED

John Beckenridge killed himself and his 11-year-old stepson in a vengeful act against his estranged wife, a coroner has ruled.

Coroner Marcus Elliot said the Queenstown man was angry, self-righteous and vengeful when he drove his car off a cliff in the Catlins in 2015.

Beckenridge and his stepson Mike Zhou-Beckenridge were last seen near Curio Bay in Southland in March 2015 and the 64-year-old’s car was later found in the sea at the bottom of a cliff.

Coroner Elliot, in a decision released on Wednesday, said the pair were not missing but had died in the crash in 2015.

It follows a coronial hearing in 2023, during which the boy’s mother Fiona Lu expressed doubt they had died and instead believed Beckenridge had staged their deaths and fled the country with her son.

The coroner did not intend to hold an inquest in the deaths but would instead issue in-chambers’ findings based on existing evidence.

The pair vanished after Beckenridge broke a court order and picked up Mike from school on 13 March 2015.

Beckenridge had been in a relationship with Lu since 2006 and they married in 2007.

They separated in 2013 and there was conflict over where Mike should live.

When police looked into the pair’s disappearance they determined the pair had died in a murder-suicide but Mike’s family are convinced they escaped overseas.

Coroner Elliot said he had looked at the theory but decided Beckenridge would have had to pull off the “perfect crime”.

That would have involved Beckenridge pretending to be increasingly angry, irrational and desperate and faking his dire financial situation, the coroner said.

“In short this theory requires Mr Beckenridge to have put on a convincing act, a complete sham, for months and even years portraying himself as someone other than who he really was,” he said.

The car belonging to John Beckenridge that was found in the waters of Curio Bay. Otago Daily Times

However, he decided Beckenridge was fuelled by rage when he drove his car over the cliff, killing himself and Mike.

“Mr Beckenridge’s willingness to use Mike as a weapon against Ms Lu reveals a callous disregard for the harm he was causing Mike. He did everything he could to turn Mike against, and incite hatred of, his mother and [Lu’s new partner Peter] Russell,” Coroner Elliot said.

“The only conclusion one can draw from Mr Beckenridge’s indoctrination of Mike against his mother is that he was at least indifferent to the harm he was causing to Mike. He had become so vindictive towards Ms Lu and so self-obsessed and self-righteous that he was willing to harm Mike.”

Private detective Mark Templeman told the coroner, on behalf of Lu, that the pair had staged the crash and left the country.

Templeman claimed Beckenridge rigged a driverless vehicle to go off the cliff and left the country with Mike – probably by boat – travelling to a country or countries overseas and establishing new lives under new identities.

Part of the plan involved creating the impression Beckenridge could not afford to stage an escape from New Zealand, Templeman said.

However, he claimed Beckenridge had other funding options, including $11,400 in a Superannuation Fund in Sweden, which had not been investigated.

Beckenridge was born in Sweden and originally named Knut Lundh.

He lived in several countries as an adult and changed his name first to John Lundh and then John Beckenridge.

Templeman said Beckenridge set up the site at the top of the Cliff to create the illusion he had committed suicide.

Beckenridge was an experienced diver and sailor and was very familiar with the tide and currents, he said.

Beckenridge selected the spot so the car would submerge and be difficult to locate and reach, Templeman said.

The cove near Curio Bay that was at the centre of the search for Michael Zhao-Beckenridge, 11, and his stepfather John Beckenridge. RNZ / Ian Telfer

The car is believed to have gone over the cliff on 20 March 2015 and debris was spotted two days later. But it could not be accessed by divers until 29 March due to the condition of the sea and the car was not recovered until early May.

Templeman said it would be dangerous to conclude Beckenridge and Mike were dead as all international monitoring would cease, which was exactly what Beckenridge wanted to happen.

But Coroner Elliot said the staging and escape theory was implausible.

“Mr Beckenridge’s actions illustrate that he either did not have or did not display the characteristics of the intelligent, resourceful, rational and well-prepared criminal which Ms Lu and Mr Russell believe him to be,” said Elliot.

The coroner also heard from Dr John Raine, Emeritus Doctor of Mechanical Engineering at Auckland University of Technology, who provided an independent report about the vehicle and clifftop scene.

Dr Raine said he did not think a driver could have left the vehicle as it was driven towards the edge and the only way the vehicle could have been launched off the cliff without a driver would be if it had been rigged to accelerate hard in a straight line towards its launch point.

When Dr Raine inspected the remains of the vehicle there was no sign of any fixtures to enable remote control and nothing was seen by the Police national dive squad.

It was “very, very improbable that a remote-controlled actuator system was used,” Dr Raine said.

Coroner Elliot said he had concluded Beckenridge and Mike were dead and their bodies lost at sea.

Mike was 11-years-old when he went missing and would now be 22 if he was alive.

Lu did not want to comment on the coroner’s decision. But at the hearing she said she thought about her son everyday and believed one day he would come back to her.

Detective Inspector Stu Harvey said the coroner had reached the same conclusion as police.

“We know this outcome will be difficult for members of Mike and John’s families, some of whom have held on to hope that the pair may still be alive. Our thoughts are with them today.”

Coroner Marcus Elliot said he now intended to open an inquiry into the pair’s death and would make findings using existing evidence.

He invited interested parties to make further submissions, including on whether an inquest should be held.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The museum’s collection was a labour of love for Geoffrey Ernst, who died in 2023. Supplied / Emma Faire

Hundreds of pieces of New Zealand history are set to be sold next month, as exhibits from the Tirau Museum go up for auction in the Waikato town.

The collection was a labour of love for local man Geoffrey Ernst, who died in 2023 – and was dedicated to preserving New Zealand’s rural and social history.

The collection comprises of and estimated 5000 items, including vintage signage, machinery, farm equipment, bottles, vehicles and even an aeroplane propellor.

Auctioneer charged with selling the collection William Britton told Morning Report the museum had been Ernst’s lifelong passion.

Ernst had been gathering the items since he was nine years old, and the collection had grown to cover some 13,000 square feet, he said.

“It covers everything that you can think of. You can find anything in there.”

The collection includes countless items of petrol station signage, William Britton said. Supplied / William Britton

One of the most prized items in the collection – an Indian motorcycle from 1941 – had been a service vehicle during WWII, he said.

“This bike’s very much complete and it’s not been restored which is quite rare these days.

“This one would have come over from America during World War Two and would’ve done service here. It’s missing a few pieces but it’s all there and it’s ready for someone to love again.”

The 1941 Indian motorcycle was brought over from the US as a service vehicle during WWII. Supplied / William Britton

Other interesting and rare lots included an antique ginger beer filling machine, the oldest tractor in the Waikato district and countess vintage petrol signs.

There was even an old TVNZ camera, which was one of six brought into the country in 1955, he said.

“It is very much a New Zealand collection.”

The collection included a rare antique ginger beer filling machine. Supplied / William Britton

The auction comprised of 350 lots, amounting to about 1500 individual items, Britton said.

There had been lots of interest in the auction “from all walks of life”, he added.

Pre-bidding has opened online, but the auction itself will be held in Tirau on 12 April at 10am.

Britton said he was expecting strong bidding, but with auctions like these it was impossible to say which lots would garner the most interest.

“Sometimes we get surprises.”

‘It feels bittersweet’

Ernst’s daughter Emma Faire said throughout his life, Ernst had been many things to many people.

“Many of our memories of dad are of him either working hard at our family business, Tui Apiaries, or collecting all sorts of ‘things’ for his beloved museum,” she said.

“So many family outings ended in detours to wonderful places, searching for the next piece.”

“Mum often said he loved the hunt for anything old with a story. She remembers going out with him bottle digging, anywhere there was an old historic dump, he’d be there! It was so exciting, especially when you’d find a nice, whole bottle.”

Ernst had loved giving things a place where they would be appreciated, she said.

Even later in life, Ernst was never far from the museum, Emma Faire said. Supplied / Emma Faire

“A lot of our childhood was spent helping keep the museum spick and span. We spent hours playing and keeping things clean. Looking back, we probably took it for granted.”

Even later in life, Ernst was never far from the museum, she said.

“We all knew this day would come. Dad didn’t have the heart to close the doors and sell his collection. Now, as it goes up for auction, it feels bittersweet for our family.

“If we had it our way, it would stay just as it is forever. But we know that if it had to go, dad would have wanted it to go to people who will appreciate the stories, the passion, and the little pieces of his and our heart that each item holds.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Canterbury outperformed the rest of the country in nearly every measure, including employment, retail spending, housing activity, and population growth. 123rf.com

Christchurch locals say the city is prospering and heading in the right direction, on the back of an ASB report finding Canterbury is the best place to be in the country economically.

The region topped ASB’s Regional Economic Scoreboard for the second quarter in a row.

The survey – covering the final quarter of 2025 – showed Canterbury outperformed the rest of the country in nearly every measure, including employment, retail spending, housing activity, and population growth.

Most locals RNZ spoke to in central Christchurch on Tuesday felt the city was doing well.

“I agree [with the report], it’s a great place to live. It’s an ever-growing city, it has grown so much since the earthquakes, the people and the city that it’s growing into is very cool,” a woman said.

“I think the confidence is pretty high, people seem to be quite happy, you’ve got more flights coming into the airport, tourism is doing well. Fuel’s a bit of a worry now, I think there’s a bit of uncertainty now so hopefully things keep going as they have been,” a man said.

“It doesn’t feel like the economy is that great. It feels like every week we’re spending more and more. My friends and colleagues in Christchurch we’re all talking about I dipped into my savings this week, and ‘oh did you see how much it costs to park now’, everything feels like it’s going up in price,” one woman said.

Paige Parnell, the manager of fitness clothing store LSKD in the central city, said business had been booming and they had been getting about 1000 people through the door every Saturday.

She believed Christchurch was a top tier place to be for a retailer.

“I’ve worked with other retailers, we’ve opened up down here and it just thrives, so Christchurch does really well. I think it’s the culture, everyone here is so lovely, I’m originally from Auckland so I’ve kind of travelled around a little bit but everyone here is just so friendly, everyone wants to stop and have a conversation and everyone wants to come into a store and see the vibe,” she said.

Christchurch central Bohemian Bakery manager Barsha Gurunj said strong business had meant the bakery chain had been able to expand to five locations in the city.

She said her store had great support from locals, but there was good and bad with Christchurch being so in demand for businesses.

“I think it is a tough competition, since a lot of bakeries are opening and a lot of cafes are opening as well, but since we are open for a pretty long time like five to seven years I think it is going good,” she said.

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said there had been a lot of development in Canterbury.

“So you’ve had the stadium, and you’ve also had quite a lot of other development happening in that region as well. So it’s all been very supportive of employment growth, retail spending, and the housing market also doing relatively well in the region,” he said.

The ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard had Otago and Waikato tied for second place, with Auckland climbing to fourth.

Wellington ranked last of the 16 regions thanks to a weak housing market, low construction and discretionary spending, despite an improving jobs market.

ASB warned the conflict in the Middle East would create fresh headwinds for both growth and inflation.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A still image from the video from Earth Sciences’ Whakatāne camera, about one minute after the eruption occurred. Earth Sciences NZ

There has been a small eruption at Whakaari-White Island, with a plume of ash briefly visible.

Earth Sciences New Zealand said the volcano erupted at 5.35pm, with “a single slug of dark grey volcanic ash” rising to about 1300 metres.

It dissipated within a few minutes, but not before it was captured on an Earth Sciences camera on the Bay of Plenty mainland.

In a bulletin issued about the eruption, Earth Sciences duty volcanologist Steven Sherburn said the volcanic alert had been lifted to level to 3 because of the eruption – that indicated minor volcanic activity.

“While eruptive activity has ceased for now, volcanic activity could re-escalate with little or no warning,” he said.

“Further sudden, more explosive events could therefore affect the crater floor and immediate vicinity of the island, although ashfall affecting the mainland remains unlikely.”

The aviation colour code was lifted to orange which indicated heightened activity but little or no ash.

Whakaari had some had some minor volcanic activity and steam emissions in the past few weeks, Sherburn said.

Today’s eruption was also visible on MetService satellites.

Earth Sciences would continue to closely monitor the island for any changes in activity, but Sherburn noted they were relying on cameras and observation flights because there were no sensors on the island.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

SUPPLIED

The Warehouse has been fined more than $200,000 for selling a toy that was a choking risk for children under three.

The Commerce Commission said the “Roo Crew Take-Apart Vehicle Toys” were potentially dangerous because they contained multiple small parts and had failed several safety tests.

It said the District Court had imposed a fine of $234,000.

Commission head of Fair Trading and Product Safety Investigations Simon Pope said: “While the toys did carry some warnings, they were labelled and marketed for use by children aged 36 months or under.

The Warehouse has issued a recall notice for the Roo Crew Take-Apart Vehicle, saying its small parts pose a choking hazard for children under three. The Warehouse / Supplied

“Multiple parts came off each variation of the toy, and they failed small parts testing.”

This meant they did not comply with the product safety standard under the Fair Trading Act.

The Warehouse previously issued a voluntary recall notice for the toy.

The Commission said it encouraged anyone who still had one of the products to return them for a full refund.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Food is the one thing people can cut back on when the car runs low on fuel, say aid agencies. AFP / ROBERT MICHAEL

The government’s support package for those struggling with the cost of fuel is simply not enough, an advocate for beneficiaries says, warning it could push people towards crime.

Almost 150,000 families with children will receive an extra $50 a week to help ease the pain from soaring petrol prices.

Speaking at a media conference earlier today, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the relief would come through a boost to the in-work tax credit – part of the Working for Families scheme – and it will kick in from April.

Another 14,000 families will qualify for a part payment as part of the government’s “targeted assistance”.

The increase is temporary and will last a year or until the price of 91 octane petrol drops below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the package struck the right balance and it was a “hard reality that we cannot alleviate the pressure of rising fuel costs for everyone”.

There is nothing for beneficiaries, superannuitants and those without children in the package, which will cost up to $373 million if it runs the full 12 months and is funded through new spending earmarked for the government’s May budget.

Willis noted the 1 April annual increases would provide a boost to benefits and superannuation payments, saying benefit rates remained “structurally higher” after increases under the previous government.

“We will be increasing main benefit rates on the 1st of April so a couple with children receiving jobseeker support receive an increase of nearly $20 a week.”

But Auckland Action Against Poverty co-chair Agnes Magele said that $20 a week would make little difference to those struggling to make ends meet.

“It’s a clear message to the people that the government really don’t care about the beneficiaries,” she said. “That extra $20, how can that be some sort of relief when people are still faced with food prices going up, now petrol prices are going up… that’s not going to make any difference at all.”

She said the fuel costs were forcing people into tough choices to survive.

“The cost of living doesn’t suddenly disappear just because someone isn’t in paid work.

“We had young ones coming in last week, and I’m being real when I say this – they’re looking at robbing the petrol station. And that’s the kind of effect that it has on the people on the ground.

“Normally the bills they have to choose from is either their rent, or their power, and they’re essential needs …. when people have to make a choice to sacrifice one of those that means the government’s not doing what they’re supposed to be doing in order to see that the people are thriving.”

She said the $50 boost was welcome for those who could receive it, but it would not go very far and was “a band-aid solution”.

Those on the benefit and looking for work would also struggle to get to appointments for training and interviews if fuel costs continued to rise, she said.

‘They can’t afford both transport and food’

Bonnie Robinson from the Salvation Army told Checkpoint while it was good news for those families who get that assistance, there would still be a lot of families who are struggling already to meet the basics who will not be getting anything.

She said that definitely included families who relied on a benefit who were already struggling.

“Eighty-five percent of the families who come to our food banks for food support are on benefits. So they are already struggling, the petrol price increase is going to make that harder and we are already seeing just in the last week or two, an increase in the number of people coming to a food bank for the first time.

“The petrol prices have pushed them over from coping to not coping and then needing to come for food support because they can’t afford both transport and food.”

Robinson said there was growing pressure on food parcel services as more people sought them out.

“We’re still delivering about 40 percent more food assistance than we did pre-Covid, it hasn’t dropped back to pre-Covid situation.”

She said when it came to tight budgets, food was the only area where they had wriggle room to cut back.

“And sometimes it gets trimmed to the point where people don’t have enough to eat.”

Whangārei Care Centre budget advisor Dianne Harris said her clients had not yet noticed a significant difference in fuel costs, but were very aware that it was happening.

“This extra $50 will help them, because it hasn’t hit yet”.

She told Checkpoint that the rise in food prices and the general cost of living was more of a concern at he moment, and her clients were becoming far more conscious of their budget than they ever had before.

“They are having to find watch they are doing more, they are having to think seriously about how many times they decide to go to the supermarket or go out.”

She was also concerned that people would get used to the extra $50, only to have it snatched away after a year.

“That’s when the struggle might happen again.”

Harris said there was an increase in the number of people using Afterpay and wanting to access their KiwiSaver funds, but stressed that this would not solve the problem.

“If a person has a minus in their budget but they are not paying any of their debts… the minus is still going to be there.”

The Greens had offered over the weekend to support National to introduce additional supports, including making public transport free, and other relief.

The government has maintained that supports during the fuel crisis must not increase debt levels, particularly after ratings agency Fitch downgraded New Zealand’s outlook from stable to negative.

Hipkins dismissed the Greens’ proposal as a “wishlist”, but said he would not be doing the same until he could see how much solutions might cost and how they would be delivered.

Magele said that was not good enough.

“They need to step up a little bit more. I think that they’ve been a little bit weak and not pushing back,” she said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Luke Metcalf is helped off the field against Brisbane Broncos last June. Tertius Pickard/www.photosport.nz

NZ Warriors star Luke Metcalf has been named for an early return to action, when his team take on Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium on Friday night.

Metcalf, 27, suffered a season-ending knee injury last June and was originally slated for a return about rounds 8-10, but that was advanced to rounds 7/8 two weeks ago.

That prognosis has leapt forward spectacularly – about a month – and coach Andrew Webster has named him at five-eighth for the round-four encounter against Wests.

Metcalf was leading Dally M Medal standings – the NRL’s Most Valuable Player award – when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Brisbane Broncos.

More to come

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tana Umaga was left ‘a little bit speechless’ after the announcement. Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz

Dave Rennie has assembled his crew to rebuild the All Blacks empire.

Neil Barnes, Tana Umaga and Mike Blair have been named alongside incumbent Jason Ryan as Rennie’s coaching team.

After a period marked by inconsistency and growing pressure, the team now turns the page on Scott Robertson’s tenure, with a new era on the horizon.

‘Proud is an understatement’

An elated Umaga said his promotion was a bit of a pinch me moment.

“A little bit speechless. Proud is an understatement really. To be back part of a team that holds a special place for me and my family, it’s unbelievable really.”

Few are as passionate about the black jersey as Umaga, who played 74 tests, and was first Pasifika captain of the All Blacks where he had an 86 percent win rate.

He knows full well the pressures that come with the jersey, having become public enemy number one in the United Kingdom during the 2005 Lions tour.

“Being a part of the All Blacks is a big job. You can’t get away from it. I’ve been fortunate enough to actually captain this side, and that was a big job. I had to understand what comes with, the sacrifices that not just yourself, but your family have to make. So I go in there with eyes wide open and understanding those pressures. I’ve felt that pressure before and understand what I’m getting myself into, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Despite a turbulent 2026, Umaga has overseen a transformative period for Moana Pasifika.

He admits it will be tough to walk away from the franchise at the conclusion of the current Super Rugby season.

“I won’t lie. It wasn’t something that I expected when I thought about my goals for this year. Spanner is probably a too strong a word, but just something that I wasn’t expecting, but it’s an opportunity that I don’t think anyone would pass up. I’ve invested a lot of my time and I have great belief about what we’re trying to do here and the movement behind Moana Pasifika, and I still do and I will always have a place in my heart with this club and this movement.”

The 52-year-old said he will not look to change his philosophy in the All Blacks environment.

“I can’t be anyone else but Tana Umaga because that’s who I am. I can only be who I am. It’s up to me to make sure that they can see the person behind those titles. I’ve got to make sure that they understand that I did that, but now I’ve got to make sure that I’m the best defensive coach I can be for this team.”

Umaga has learnt plenty of lessons during his 18-year coaching career – among them, a reputation that precedes you is not always a positive.

“I spent a lot of time just trying to be myself and not be what everyone made up me to be as the All Black captain, because that’s all anyone would call me and knew me as. In my coaching roles, as you do, you say your doors open, but I didn’t have many players coming through in my early career and I wondered why. It was Sonny Bill Williams that told me that ‘everyone’s scared of you, Tana’. So that’s up to me to make that first step around breaking down those barriers and that’s probably the biggest thing I can do to try and move us forward as quickly as we can.”

Umaga said he was a fan first and foremost.

“I just want what’s best for the All Blacks since I was a kid and when I was in there, now I’m going in there on a different role as a coach. I still want the same thing.”

Serving as Rennie’s right hand, head assistant coach Neil Barnes.

Another with a straight-shooting style, Barnes’ coaching career began in the amateur era in 1993.

He is embracing the challenge that awaits him.

“It’s taken a bit of grasping, I’m not frightened of it. I’ve had so many years in rugby, do inside of me, there’s that inner confidence that I’ve done the work.”

Neil Barnes will act as Rennie’s second in command. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz

‘I don’t sugar-coat things’

A throwback to the more gruff rugby days, Barnes will bring a direct approach.

“I don’t profess to be a hard arse. At the end of the day, I’m honest. I don’t sugar-coat things. I think the players respect that they’re going to get feedback that is honest and accurate.”

Barnes believes that quality teams are built from the ground up.

“You can’t build a house without a strong foundation under it, all the stuff you guys see in the house, all the windows and the glossy stuff is a waste of time when a strong wind comes along if you haven’t got the thing pinned down to the foundations. The game is just the same. There’s simple basics from that you need to adhere to which will make you strong.”

While there was plenty of conjecture around who had what roles within the Scott Robertson regime, barnes said there will be no such issue under Rennie.

“There’s no cloudiness about roles here. Rens has told us the areas that we’re responsible for, but at the same time, he would expect myself or others to be able to challenge inside our environment to do what’s best for the players, the team, and our country.”

Barnes was aware of the scrutiny that comers with the gig, but was embracing it.

“Wins and losses happen in sport. We’re going to lose the odd one too. I’m sorry, but we will. The good thing about this country is people will let us know because they’re passionate about it and that’s good. That shows they care. I’d be more worried if the place was silent.”

Having spent time with Canada, Fiji, Taranaki and the Chiefs, Barnes has a well rounded resume.

But it’s one standout characteristic that no doubt attracted Rennie.

“I don’t think it would matter whether I was playing snakes and ladders or an international game. I’ve got the same s*** about me that I want to win. I am a competitive person and I expect every player in our team to have the same level of competitiveness that we’re there to get results.”

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

Category: Radio New Zealand

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