Category: Radio New Zealand

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Cost-of-living crisis fuelling rise in elder financial abuse warns Age Concern

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash/ Rupixen

Age Concern Auckland said it’s seeing a rise in financially motivated elder abuse, due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Chief executive Kevin Lamb said referrals to the organisation involving elder abuse had risen by 20-30 percent over the past year, with a growing proportion linked to money troubles within families.

He said the combination of financial stress and elder abuse was creating an extra burden for vulnerable seniors, particularly as living costs continued to rise.

”We are hearing from older people who are literally panicking… ‘Do I turn the heating on, or do I go and buy myself proper decent food for today?’

“Older people are facing a double whammy. They’re really seeing this struggle in terms of financial hardship on themselves, but also being more vulnerable to those who would take advantage of them.”

Lamb said the problem was driven by financial hardship, with some families struggling to make ends meet and older relatives becoming a source of financial support.

”It could be someone taking the Eftpos card of their older relative, and offering to help go and get groceries, and then taking some money for themselves, without that older person being aware of that… all the way through to someone being coerced into literally giving up their house.”

Lamb said up to 10 percent of New Zealanders over 65 experienced abuse or neglect at some stage.

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Live: Super Rugby Pacific – Highlanders v NSW Waratahs

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the Super Rugby Pacific action from Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. as the Highlanders and NSW Waratahs battle for a spot in the playoffs.

The two rivals are level on 20 points in seventh and eighth, outside the cut for the post-season, so this encounter may hold the key for one team’s title hopes.

Flying winger Caleb Tangitau returns from injury for the southerners.

Kickoff is at 4.35pm.

Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot (co-c), 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Angus Ta’avao, 4. Tomas Lavanini, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Lucas Casey, 8. Nikora Broughton, 9. Adam Lennox, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), 13. Jona Nareki, 14. Caleb Tangitau, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Bench: Soane Vikena, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Oliver Haig, Sean Withy, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Xavier Tito-Harris.

Highlanders host NSW Waratahs at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. RNZ/Photosport

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Rāwene community celebrates milestone in battle to keep human waste out of Hokianga Harbour

Source: Radio New Zealand

Hapū kaikōrero Dallas King says Rāwene’s new wastewater system shows what can be achieved when councils, iwi and communities work together. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

A Far North community is celebrating a milestone in its decades-long battle to keep human waste out of one of the nation’s most culturally significant harbours.

A hapū spokesperson said the upgrade of Rāwene’s wastewater plant was also a textbook example of how all ratepayers can benefit when councils work with iwi – because the system’s final cost was less than one-tenth of the initial price quoted by industry experts.

Ngāti Kaharau and Ngāti Hau ki Hokianga kaikōrero Dallas King said the commissioning of the new sewage treatment system at dawn on Saturday was a major step forward.

“It’s the realisation of several generations of impetus from a community to correct a wrong that has been done… but there’s also excitement in terms of what this new technology could provide to not only our community, but other communities similar to ours.”

The new electrocoagulation plant used an electrical current between conducting plates to purify wastewater.

It replaced Rāwene’s failing and flood-prone oxidation ponds, which regularly overflowed into Hokianga Harbour, just upstream from Rāwene township.

King said the new plant was only the first step in ending the discharge of human waste into the harbour.

Rāwene’s new wastewater treatment system, in the blue containers, was due to be turned on Saturday morning. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

For now, treated water from the electrocoagulation plant was discharged into a wetland that drained into the harbour, but in future it would be discharged onto a nearby block of land bought by the Far North District Council.

That would allow removal of the oxidation ponds and restoration of the wetland, which were located on a wāhi tapu known as Te Raupo.

It was the first time electrocoagulation had been used on a municipal scale in New Zealand, King said.

It was affordable and well-tested overseas, but a risk-averse industry had been reluctant to use it here.

In the past, electrocoagulation’s higher operational cost, due to its use of electricity, had been seen as a disadvantage but that had been addressed by solar power.

Solar panels were about to be installed to help power the Rāwene plant, she said.

The project’s primary aim was to clean up the harbour, but it had also saved Far North ratepayers a large sum of money, King said.

The original cost quoted by industry for upgrading Rāwene’s wastewater system was $22.3 million, which later came down to around $8m.

King said the project’s final cost was $1.2m, including the solar panels.

Rāwene’s sewage ponds overflowed into the harbour in winter and were prone to toxic blooms in summer. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Even that cost would not have to be carried by ratepayers because it had come out of central government’s Better Off Funding, part of the since-cancelled Three Waters reforms.

“What we’re celebrating first and foremost is knowing that human waste is not going into the water. But we’re also celebrating the fact we have managed to pull this project through in a dignified way by council, community and hapū working constructively together, to deliver a project that was originally priced at $22.3m for just over $1.2m,” she said.

“In the inflammatory local government world we’re inhabiting at the moment, it’s the kind of outcome that gives legs to the validity of working with hapū and with communities. We know our water better than anyone else.”

The Far North District Council is also trialing electrocoagulation at its Taipā treatment plant in Doubtless Bay, and looking at land-based disposal options for Kohukohu, Opononi-Ōmāpere, Taipā and Kaikohe.

The Hokianga Harbour has immense cultural significance to Māori – not least because it was the arrival and departure point of the great explorer Kupe – but it was also a centre of early European settlement, boasting the first shipyard, some of the earliest mission stations, and possibly the oldest pub, the Horeke Tavern.

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Rescuers respond to vehicle in Waimakariri River

Source: Radio New Zealand

(File photo) RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Rescue teams are working to free a vehicle stuck in a river near Christchurch, after storms and heavy rain hit many regions overnight.

A ute became stuck in the the Waimakariri River on Weedons Ross Road, West Melton, and emergency services were called about 12.40pm Saturday.

They understood “the occupant is currently not in immediate danger and is waiting for rescue staff”.

Firefighters were responding from Rolleston, West Melton, Kirwee and Christchurch City.

Last night, rescue teams sprang into action to reach six travellers caught in vehicles trapped by floodwaters on State Highway 6, between Nelson and Blenheim. Four vehicles were later recovered.

Earlier Saturday, police said a person had died, after an incident involving a vehicle and pedestrian, south of Selwyn, near Lake Ellesmere.

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Ex‑Xero staffer Ally Naylor glad to see Sir Rod Drury return NZer of the Year Award

Source: Radio New Zealand

On Friday, the New Zealander of the Year Awards office confirmed Rod Drury had returned the award. supplied

“Elation” and “validation” are the words Ally Naylor uses to describe her reaction to hearing Xero founder Sir Rod Drury had returned his 2026 New Zealander of the Year award, following claims of misconduct against former staff.

Naylor has alleged misconduct, when the former Xero staffer was a junior employee, and that she first complained to Xero about that conduct in 2017 in her final days with the company.

This year, Drury received a knighthood in the 2026 New Years Honours for services to business, the technology industry and philanthropy, then just months later was made New Zealander of the Year.

Naylor went public with her allegations then.

In response, Drury labelled his relationship with Naylor as a “limited, consensual relationship”.

Other women have also since stepped forward with misconduct complaints.

On Friday, the New Zealander of the Year Awards office confirmed that Drury had returned the award.

“The New Zealander of the Year Awards exist to celebrate those whose contributions strengthen Aotearoa New Zealand, and reflect the values of leadership, service, integrity and respect for others,” a statement said.

“Any matter that undermines or calls into question those values is not consistent with the standards and expectations we hold for the awards programme.”

Naylor said hearing Drury had handed back the award was a “full circle” moment.

“I think there’s just so many more deserving New Zealanders and he doesn’t represent the best of New Zealand.”

The 2026 New Zealander of the Year Award would not be re-awarded.

Meanwhile last month, Xero said it had launched a review into its handling of the allegations at the time.

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Is your savings account interest rate really as good as you think it is?

Source: Radio New Zealand

123RF

New Zealanders are warned to check they’re being paid the interest rate they think they are in their savings accounts.

Many banks offer “bonus” interest rates on savings accounts, if people meet certain criteria, such as making a deposit each month or not withdrawing money.

For example, ANZ offers 1.55 percent interest, if people make no withdrawals, and deposit $20 or more a month into their Serious Saver account. Otherwise, they earn 0.05 percent.

ASB offers 1.6 percent to people who do not make withdrawals from its Savings Plus or 0.05 percent if they do.

Kiwibank said there was a risk the accounts were not delivering the value their headline rates suggested.

“When life doesn’t run exactly to plan, those bonus rates can fall away surprisingly easily,” Kiwibank chief customer officer retail Mark Stephen said.

“A single unexpected expense can mean the bonus disappears for the month, leaving savers earning a very low base rate instead.”

He said this could significantly reduce the actual return households received, particularly when household budgets were already under pressure.

“The conflict in the Middle East is a clear example of how global events can quickly feed into costs here at home. When uncertainty increases, we value predictability.

“Savings accounts are meant to provide that, but the structure of some products can undermine it.”

He said the problem was the design of the products, not customer behaviour.

“Savers don’t miss out on bonus interest, because they’re careless. They miss out because real life doesn’t always align with rigid conditions set by your bank.

“When savings products rely on people behaving perfectly every month, value naturally shifts away from customers to the banks.

“If you stand back and think, why would you have an online call-type savings product? You want a fair return on your funds when you don’t require them, but you also require your funds to be absolutely accessible when you need them.

“We’ve just taken a very simple approach and a fair return, absolutely accessible, but the rate that’s quoted is the rate that you earn, regardless of whether you are accessing those savings constantly.”

He said there was a risk that the product design of bonus saver accounts benefited the bank rather than the customer.

“Our stance is very much to be simple by design, fair and transparent, so an easy-to-understand, easy-to-use product. How it’s described is exactly what it does and the rate of interest that we quote is the market rate, and that’s exactly what the customer gets.”

Squirrel chief executive David Cunningham, who was previously chief executive of The Co-operative Bank, said BNZ and Kiwibank were the only banks not offering bonus accounts.

“If you look at the base interest rate, if you don’t do the required task, it’s hopeless. It’s gaming the customer.”

He said the accounts were initially designed with the intention of encouraging saving.

“I was around when we launched those about 25 years ago. The reason they were launched was because research said, ‘Hey, reward me when I save and I do what I say’.

“At that time, interest rates were around 12-13 percent. It was structured as, ‘We’ll pay 11 percent and give people a 1.5 percent bonus, if they make a regular deposit’.

“Over time, it became, ‘Pay them bugger all, unless they do what they’re required and that makes the bank make more money’.”

He said his experience was that about half the customers in the accounts would get the bonus rate, but about 80 percent of the funds by value.

“People with more money in there are more conscious of making the deposit.”

ASB said its bonus saver account encouraged more disciplined saving by rewarding customers who made limited, fee-free withdrawals with higher interest.

“Interest rates are cyclical, and move up or down, depending on where we are in the cycle. In this environment, we actively encourage customers to review whether their savings are working as hard as they could be.

“For customers with larger balances in on-call and savings accounts, we pro-actively reach out to suggest alternatives, such as term deposits or other higher-interest options that may better suit their circumstances.

“In the past 12 months, we’ve contacted more than 190,000 customers to encourage them to consider higher interest-bearing alternatives and make their money work harder for them.”

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Wellington Phoenix coach Bev Preistman has ‘all the belief in the world’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Phoenix women’s head coach Bev Priestman. Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT

Wellington Phoenix coach Bev Priestman has no doubt her side is good enough to perform under pressure in their do or die second-leg semi final on Sunday to reach their first ever A-league final.

Despite losing 2-1 to Brisbane Roar in their opening encounter across the Tasman last weekend, the Phoenix women are confident they can overcome the deficit and advance to the final.

They have home advantage for the return leg and the head coach’s main message to her players is to enjoy it.

“If you can’t enjoy an occasion like this weekend, you know, we shouldn’t be playing the game,” she said. “It’s a semi-final that we’ve earned, it’s at home, it’s the moment we want to create, and we got to go out and enjoy ourselves, and stay together.”

Priestman said they would tweak some things after last week’s loss to Brisbane.

“We have to also try and get the best out of our group, and we’ve set ourselves up well this season to do that, so very much I am focussed on what we need to do better, but also adapt to some of the things they did that try to shut us down.”

An extra stand has been erected at Porirua Park to accommodate as many as 6000 fans, more than the team has ever had at the ground.

“I’ve been thinking about it all week and no doubt the players have too,” Priestman said. “The excitement, it’s always a buzz.

“I can only imagine, everywhere I go at the moment, people are talking about this team.”

Priestman said scoring first would be great, but not fatal, if they didn’t.

“We know that football doesn’t always give you what you want. Finals football is for the team that responds to bumps in the road on the day and gets the job done, however that is done.

“We’ve got to be dialled in mentally, because it’s not the football at this point right… it is just now about who wants it more.

“Sometimes luck works in your favour, sometimes it doesn’t… all we can do is give it our best and, if we give it our best, sometimes the football gods reward you.”

Priestman confirmed that, after an injury layoff, striker Pia Vlok, who has had a breakout season, was ready to go.

Despite being down one goal on aggregate, she said the pressure was on Brisbane in many ways.

“Did they put us away enough? No, if I was them I’d been kicking myself a little bit that it should have probably been more.

“It wasn’t, so now we get to play our advantage and, in many ways, the pressure is on them.”

Pia Vlok of Wellington Phoenix. photosport

The pressure of finals football came into sharp focus last weekend, when Auckland FC advanced to the A-league men’s semifinals, after a dramatic penalty shootout.

Priestman said it was not something they focussed on this week, but they did the work earlier in the season to prepare for all kinds of end-of-game scenarios.

“We couldn’t have done anymore,” she said. “If it goes to penalties, I’d back us.

“I think our penalties have looked very, very good. The good news is we’ve not had penalties for people to scout, which is even better.

“We know what we need to do if that happens. You have to be brave enough if it comes to that, but I am convinced that this group, if we settle into the game well, the game can be ours for the taking.”

The Phoenix made a bold move in signing Priestman on a two-year deal last year.

The former head coach of Canada’s women’s team served a one-year ban for her role in a drone spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Priestman, who also guided Canada to Olympic glory in Tokyo, said she would savour the game on Sunday.

“For me personally, I think back to a year ago and I think this weekend is where I want to be. This is where these players want to be.

“Some of them have had adversity in their career, they’ve worked their whole career to get to these moments.

“I’ve got no doubt in this group, I’ve got all the belief in the world, I’ve been dreaming about the moment and then hopefully a grand final.”

The team is 90 minutes away from a first-ever grand final for the club in 19 years of trying. It has eluded the Phoenix men since their inaugural 2007/08 season.

Phoenix goalkeeper Victoria Esson. AAP / Photosport

The women’s team joined the A-league in the 2021/22 season and goalkeeper Victoria Esson said the significance of the occasion was not lost on them.

“We’re the only professional women’s team in New Zealand, so that comes with a sense of responsibility and also a sense of pride, and I can’t wait to show everyone what we can do,” she said.

Esson said players couldn’t wait to play at Porirua Park.

“There’s a bit of a buzz around the city and we appreciate everyone getting behind the team, and it’s finals time, there’s no turning back now.”

Esson said they had nothing to lose.

“They’ll come out firing at the start, but depending on how the game goes, at some point in time, they’ll need to try and defend the lead, so I think we can try and make the most of that, and get them on the back foot.

“It’s well within our reach, but they are going to be coming here to battle as well and they are not gong to roll over, so it’s going to be a fight, but I’m confident the team can do what we need to do.”

Priestman said it would be a day to remember for the club.

“Who have put in a lot of work to get to this point – a lot of people before me, a lot of players before this group and an ownership group that believes in women’s football,’ she said. “It’s going to be a great day and I hope we can make it even greater.”

Auckland FC men host Adelaide in their semifinal first leg at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium on Saturday at 6pm.

The Phoenix women host Brisbane Roar in Porirua on Sunday with a 2.30pm kickoff.

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Whitney Hansen’s humour helps drive Black Ferns reset after Rugby World Cup pain

Source: Radio New Zealand

Whitney Hansen is in her first season as Black Ferns coach. Marty Melville

Test rugby is serious business, but that doesn’t stop new Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen cracking a joke or two in the sheds, before sending her side to battle.

Hansen has brought a more grounded, humorous approach to the Black Ferns pre-test pep talks. War analogies and red-faced tirades have been replaced with jokes and games.

Skipper Kennedy Tukuafu said the approach was refreshing.

“She is so funny, honestly. At first, I was a bit unsure, because she would come into our meeting and crack a joke, and I’m, like, ‘We’re about to go into combat’, but I’m used to it and everybody is on the same page.

“We can have a laugh, but we can turn into gameface, game mode. She’s very clear with what she wants and she just makes you feel like you belong there.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of.”

After falling short at last year’s World Cup, Tukuafu said the rebuild had begun.

“We are growing something great,” she said. “We’ve got some awesome coaches who are really aligned.

“They’re very clear about their expectations of us and where we’re going. I love that our philosophy is just feel and react.

“It allows us to build our rugby instincts – ‘don’t think, just do’ – and I’m excited for where we’re going.”

While the demons of that World Cup are still fresh in the minds, they were largely buried by last month’s avenging victory over Canada, who beat them in the tournament semifinal.

“For me, it’s always going to sting, but it was nice to get that win,” Tukuafu said. “I think the biggest thing about that win was that, when the final whistle went, we all just came together and it wasn’t a huge celebration.

“It was just, ‘Yeah, that’s what we’re capable of. This is what it feels like. This is where we should be’.

“We went back to the changingroom, all low key. Our team is very unique, but I love it.”

Whitney Hansen knows how to bring the laughs. © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz

The attention now shifts to Super Rugby Aupiki and Tukuafu said the new season structure had the Ferns coming in firing.

“For us who got to go away and play some rugby, we’re just ready to get back into it, and I can just tell that the girls that didn’t come away are over the training routine and want to play some rugby.

“We’re excited to go.”

She said it was important to put international duties to the side for Aupiki.

“It’s about parking it, because if we focus on Black Ferns, we’re not putting all our effort into the girls next to us. I know it can be a challenge.

“You want to play well so you can make it to the next level, but for me, it’s about playing well, so we’re all connected to win that competition. It’s more important for me to be connected as one here, instead of trying to get myself ahead.”

With the game continuing to grow, including a record attendance for last year’s rugby World Cup final at Twickenham, Tukuafu hoped to see this translate into bigger crowds and more bumper match-day atmospheres.

“There’s definitely more bums on seats for us, but I would love to see more.

“I think, too, my husband plays in France. Seeing those fans and that atmosphere, if we could mimic something like that, have chants and songs and merchandise, I think that would be cool.

“I think that would be a good way to grow some more.”

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Fire spreads through second floor of Orewa house

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Fire investigators are working to find the cause of a house fire in Orewa overnight.

Fire crews were called to the two-storey home on the Hibiscus Coast Highway just after midnight Saturday morning, where flames had spread through the second floor.

Fire and Emergency NZ said there were no injuries and everyone was accounted for.

Police assisted FENZ at the scene.

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Pedestrian dies after incident near Lake Ellesmere

Source: Radio New Zealand

(File photo) RNZ

A pedestrian has died, after an incident involving a vehicle at a property near Lake Ellesmere-Te Waihora in Canterbury, police say.

The person died at private property on Pohau Road, Senior Sergeant Craig Ellison said.

Emergency services were alerted about 8.30am Saturday.

Ellison said police would have an increased presence in the area, as staff worked at the scene.

Police said earlier on Saturday a woman pedestrian had died after being hit by a vehicle on Friday on a Wellington motorway.

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