Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rises amid fears of rapidly jumping prices and potential shortages.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis have been addressing the latest on the fuel crisis, warning that NZ is now preparing for a possible ‘prolonged’ Iran conflict.

“Hope is not a plan,” Luxon said.

It comes in the wake of a global rise in oil prices following the US-Israel war on Iran. Iran’s response has included the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transportation channel for Middle Eastern energy exports.

Strikes overnight hit Iran’s part of the world’s largest gas field. Iran has vowed revenge, listing energy targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar as potential targets.

The Automobile Association here has warned further price hikes are likely.

There have been reports of service stations running out of fuel as motorists rush to fill up.

New Zealand has several weeks’ supply in storage or on the way, the government has said.

Luxon and Willis will be speaking to the media at Parliament from 1.30pm. Watch it live at the top of this page. RNZ will also be blogging the developments as they happen.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Faith Fomai from Southern Cross Campus says Polyfest is about “learning your roots, staying cool, also just be connected and be one”.

Indian students Pierah Kohli, Aashritha Vathsavaya and Sonam Chaduvula of Maclean College

Lauryn Wattam and Hingano Hill-Willis of Wesley College, representing the Cook Islands

A Samoan dance performance by Alfriston College

Metua-Ani Raea-Araitia and Hillary Tiro, visiting from the Cook Islands, attended with a group from Tereora College

A group from Manurewa High School, including Ayveah Mizziebo, who says Polyfest is “a way to learn about my culture outside of my home, my church, my family, and to embrace other people’s cultures as well”.

Bailey li, a Korean student from St Cuthbert’s College, says Polyfest is an opportunity to learn about “other cultures and their beauty”.

Breona Nassau and Joseph Tulua from Tangaroa College say Polyfest is an opportunity to see many cultures in one festival

A group from Otahuhu College

A group of Chinese students from St Cuthbert’s College say Polyfest is a celebration of cultural pride and diversity

Fijian students from Baradene College of The Sacred Heart

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Students performing at this weeks ASB Polyfest say the festival is a celebration of their diverse identities.

More than 11,000 performers from 73 schools are set to grace the stage over the next three days.

Polyfest is the world’s largest secondary school Pasifika cultural festival held annually since the late 1970s.

For Baradene College students Izzy Porter and Marlo O’Hagan representing Fiji, the event means “sharing our cultures” and “being able to represent our families and our ancestors on the stage”.

For Manurewa High School’s Ayveah Mizziebo, “It’s a way to learn about my culture outside of my home, my church, my family, and to embrace other people’s cultures as well.”

AUT student representative Lolomanaia Filia’i said Polyfest was all about identity.

“Finding who you are through culture, through food, through dance, through music.”

Tangaroa College student Breona Nassau said “regardless of whether or not you are the culture that you’re performing for, just representing that, and you know doing your best”.

Southern Cross Campus student Faith Fomai said the event was about “learning your roots, staying put, like, stick to your roots, our voices and our culture”.

St Cuthbert’s College student Bailey Li said Polyfest meant cultural diversity.

“It allows everyone to perform their culture, represent other cultures, as well as be aware of other cultures and their beauty.”

For Iris Wen it was about “getting together and celebrating different cultures with different causes”.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Wellington GP clinic has stopped uploading consultation notes to patient portal MyIndici as an extra layer of protection for patients’ data.

MyIndici said it hasn’t been compromised, but there have been two high-profile security breaches involving health data at other companies in the past few months – ManageMyHealth, and then MediMap.

Newlands Medical Centre, in response to questions from RNZ, said: “Whilst we have no concerns re Indici security, we made a decision to discontinue open notes as an added layer of protection for the security of our patients’ data. We will not be providing any further comment.”

But Valentia Technologies, the company behind patient portal MyIndici and the associated practice management system Indici, said it had not experienced any breach or security issue.

A spokesperson said the ability to control access to patient notes at either a practice-wide or individual patient level had been a long-standing feature of the Indici system, and prior to the news of the ManageMyHealth breach, some GPs already had their systems set up so patients wouldn’t see their notes on the portal.

Has your GP stopped uploading notes to its patient portal? Email me on kate.green@rnz.co.nz

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Serious Fraud Office is evaluating a scathing Auditor General report into spending by former Chatham Islands boss Paul Eagle.

The Auditor General’s report, released last week, said former council chief executive Eagle’s actions over a project to upgrade his own accommodation were unacceptable and misleading, after costs blew out by more than $250,000.

A spokesperson for the office said it was assessing the report to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to open an enquiry or criminal investigation into the issues raised.

“At this stage, no further information can be given, including whether the SFO will open an enquiry or investigation.”

The council has referred concerns raised in a scathing Auditor General’s report to the Serious Fraud Office.

In a post on its Facebook page this week, the council said it had formally received the report and had unanimously resolved to refer it to the appropriate authority for consideration.

“We are committed to responding responsibly, transparently, and in the best interests of our community,” Mayor Greg Horler said.

The Auditor General’s report, released last week, said former council chief executive Paul Eagle’s actions over a project to upgrade his own accommodation were unacceptable, after costs blew out by $250,000.

Eagle’s handling of documents was misleading and showed exceptionally poor judgement, the report said.

It said the former Wellington MP edited or created quotes and contracts for the project, and did not make “moderate” or “conservative” funding choices.

The original budget was set at $200,000 and blew out to $460,001.65. Another $37,739.19 was also spent on rent to house Eagle and his family as the work went ahead.

“We saw little sign of any consideration of containing costs during the project. We also consider that the chief executive made spending choices that were not moderate and conservative,” the report said.

“Purchasing expensive appliances for the kitchen and carrying out extensive electrical work that suppliers working on the project widely considered to be excessive were particularly questionable.”

The report also uncovered “serious integrity questions” for the council to contend with, including its policies relating to procurement, conflicts of interest, staff expenses and fiscal reporting.

It said Eagle had sole oversight over the project, and because the cost of the upgrade could be perceived as benefiting Eagle, his family should have instigated approval by the council, mayor or deputy mayor, in line with council policy.

The report was tabled in Parliament last Thursday.

“We have not reached a view on the legality of the chief executive’s actions. In this case, we consider it sufficient to draw the council, Parliament, and the public’s attention to the matter.”

In a letter included in the report findings, Eagle, who resigned last month, apologised and said his actions did not meet the standards expected of himself and his role.

“I started as chief executive of the council in late 2023, three months earlier than planned and, because of the illness of the outgoing chief executive, did not receive a formal, structured induction process covering the policies, processes, systems and documentation expected of the role.

“I wholeheartedly accept now that I should have sought clarity and support for this process.”

Interim council chief executive Bob Penter declined to be interviewed.

Paul Eagle has been contacted for comment.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rises amid fears of rapidly jumping prices and potential shortages.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis are set to talk about the latest on the fuel crisis.

It comes in the wake of a global rise in oil prices following the US-Israel war on Iran. Iran’s response has included the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transportation channel for Middle Eastern energy exports.

Strikes overnight hit Iran’s part of the world’s largest gas field. Iran has vowed revenge, listing energy targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar as potential targets.

The Automobile Association here has warned further price hikes are likely.

There have been reports of service stations running out of fuel as motorists rush to fill up.

New Zealand has several weeks’ supply in storage or on the way, the government has said.

Luxon and Willis will be speaking to the media at Parliament from 1.30pm. Watch it live at the top of this page. RNZ will also be blogging the developments as they happen.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police searching for a missing man in Lake Manapouri over the past week, have recovered a body on Thursday.

Last Saturday, around 6.15pm, police were told a man had fallen overboard from a vessel 1km offshore in Lake Manapouri.

While formal identification is yet to take place, police believe it is likely to be the missing man.

Police Search and Rescue and the Police Dive Squad, assisted by the Royal New Zealand Navy, conducted extensive searches of the lake and surrounding areas over the last few days.

Today, the Police Dive Squad and the New Zealand Navy recovered the man’s body from the lake.

Sergeant Alun Griffiths said officers have offered their condolences to the man’s family.

“I would also like to thank all those involved in the search – we are especially grateful for the assistance of the New Zealand Defence Force in providing specialist expertise that allowed this extended search to be concluded,” he said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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