Posts

Posted on

Fairer, fit-for-purpose Arms Act to improve public safety

Source: New Zealand Government

Cabinet has agreed to repeal and replace the Arms Act 1983 with a new law that’s fairer, fit for purpose, and improves the safety of New Zealanders, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today.

“The new Arms Act will improve public safety by keeping firearms out of criminals’ hands, while making compliance easier for licenced firearm owners (LFOs) through sensible changes that reduce regulatory burdens,” says Mrs McKee.

“The current law has been modified dozens of times since it came into force over 40 years ago with many of those changes being rushed through with little to no scrutiny. The result is a complex, confusing and bureaucratic patchwork that makes it difficult for LFOs to comply while not adequately keeping the public safe.

“The new law will be written in plain English, structured logically and with public safety at its core. It makes it much more difficult for firearms to get into the hands of criminals while allowing LFOs to continue to use their firearms safely and responsibly.

“We’ve already cracked down on gangs and organised criminals by widening the qualifying criteria for courts to make Firearms Prohibition Orders. The new law will go further by making gang membership an automatic disqualifying factor for holding a firearms licence.

“A statutory ‘red flag’ system is being established, with clarified information sharing so Police and other agencies can continue to signal to the firearms regulator when they have relevant intel that might trigger a review of whether a LFO remains a fit and proper person.

“Penalties for over 60 Arms Act offences will be increased, and eight new offences will be created – including new offences to reduce firearms entering the black market such as for straw buying and possessing a firearm with identification markings intentionally removed.

“The new Act will also plug gaps in the law to address new and emerging technologies such as the illegal manufacture of 3D printed firearms and parts, and possession of digital files without a licence.

“Criminals are on notice that if they break the law, they can expect harsher penalties with increased fines and longer prison sentences.”

LFOs will also benefit with simpler rules that make it easier for them to use and store their firearms safely.

“One particular issue that has been raised with me is the ambiguity around secure storage requirements. In practice, the current rules are interpreted as requiring firearms and ammunition to be stored at an LFO’s primary residence, but sometimes that is not the most appropriate or secure place,” says Mrs McKee.

“The changes will clarify that secure storage can be at any premises approved by the regulator. This will mean that people in university halls, renters, or those living with someone with a mental health concern can more safely and securely store their firearms at another more suitable location.

“The new Act will also include practical changes to ensure LFOs can continue to safely enjoy, and benefit from, the responsible use of firearms.

“To rebuild the trust of law-abiding LFOs the firearms regulator, currently the Firearms Safety Authority, must be reformed to ensure it operates openly and transparently.

“A new regulator will be established, headed by an independent Chief Executive appointed by the Governor-General. The Chief Executive will report solely to the responsible Minister, with the Ministry of Justice providing oversight and monitoring.

“Rebuilding trust also requires there to be a clearer separation of information held by the firearms regulator and information held by the Police. To that end, sworn officers will not be able to serve as either the Chief Executive or be directly employed by the regulator.

“However, police officers will still have access to the essential information they need to enforce the law. They will still be able to check whether a person they’re dealing with holds a firearms licence or if firearms are stored at a specific address.

“The changes will also replace the current internal review process with a new Firearms Licencing Review Committee. This will address perceptions among some members of the community that the current internal review process is not sufficiently independent.

“This is essential for ensuring there is trust in the licencing system, improving compliance, and ensuring applicants or LFOs renewing their licence are treated fairly, without needing to go to court.”

This new Arms Act will deliver on the ACT-National coalition commitment to ‘rewrite the Arms Act 1983 to provide for greater protection of public safety and simplify regulatory requirements to improve compliance and pass it through all stages during this term of Parliament.’

“LFOs have been unfairly scapegoated for the actions of criminals for too long. This law focuses instead on fixing what matters, actually making people safer with a fair system that works for all New Zealanders,” says Mrs McKee.

The Bill will go through a full six-month select committee process where all New Zealanders will have the opportunity to have their say.

Note to editors:

  • Attached is an outline of major changes in the new Arms Bill. It sets out the current law, what’s changing, and the rationale behind each change.
Posted on

How a tattoo icon’s designs live on in Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand

Roger Ingerton opened Roger’s Tatooart in Wellington’s Cuba Street in 1977 – and worked from the premises until he retired in 2009.

The studio had received a dramatic facelift, but its legendary founder’s designs, photographs and paintings still fill nearly every spare inch of wallspace.

Cuba Street studio a ‘mecca’ for tattoo fans

Andre Röck – known in the tattoo industry as Dre – said Ingerton’s shop was “a tattoo mecca” and had drawn people dedicated to skin art from all over the world.

He said Ingerton spearheaded a turning point in the art form, stepping beyond the reproduction of small individual designs – or flash – to creating works of ambitious scope and size.

“He had an art background and focussed on custom work, custom one-off pieces. Big cohesive pieces. He worked with full sleeves, full back pieces and body suits with designs that flowed and complimented the body,” Röck said.

Dre Röck.

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Ingerton’s studio had remained almost completely unaltered since he retired – leaving the shop in the hands of fellow tattooist Tom Downs.A wealth of artwork and imagery

Dre – who also created Lucky’s Tattoo Museum in Upper Hutt – said sorting through the wealth of artwork and imagery inside the space was a painstaking labour of love.

“There was just layers – over the years – accumulated of his artwork. Flash and photos of the work that he did, paintings, line drawings, all types.

“So what I had to do was cherry pick the pieces that were the most iconic. Filtering through it all took some time,” Röck said.

The ‘first modern moko’

Ingerton was also acknowledged as one of the first tattooists to recreate tā moko designs with modern tattoo machines.

A 1976 article in Wellington newspaper The Evening Post breathlessly detailed the impact of Porirua teacher Tawai Hauraki Te Rangi’s traditional moko kauae – or chin tattoo – describing it as the “first modern moko” while keeping the identity of the artist under wraps.

Roger Ingerton in the early 70s.

Supplied

But just over a decade later Ingerton would tell Wellington’s Dominion newspaper he did his first tā moko in 1976.

He said he was daunted by taking on the tattoo and worked alongside kaumātua to ensure the design was respectful.

Tawai Hauraki Te Rangi‘s portrait was still hanging in the corner of the shop where Ingerton worked and where Tom Down’s workstation was now located.

Ingerton ‘right up there’ with Aotearoa’s most respected artists

Emeritus professor and author, Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku was tattooed by Ingerton in the 80s and said he should be held among the country’s most respected artists.

“Because the world of tattoo and the art of marking skin has been demonised and sidelined for so many generations it never reached the attention of the arbiters of New Zealand fine arts. It was like a grubby, parlour, slum based activity that criminals and sailors and dodgy girls did.

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“In terms of design, skill, of the application of colour and the understanding of the person’s body Roger would make great works of art and they’re walking around, they’re alive, they’re out there.

“For me it is a legacy at least as great as McCahon. The only difference is that – where McCahon is collected and portable and gushed over – it doesn’t make [Roger’s] work any less art or him any less an artist. I believe absolutely that Roger is right up there,” Te Awekōtuku said.

Tattooist Derek Thunders said he leapt at the chance to work in the revamped shop after serving a portion of his apprenticeship there.

Derek Thunders at work.

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

He said growing up on Cuba Street he would walk past Roger’s Tatooart on a daily basis but was reluctant to step inside.

“I kind of always thought it was somewhere that you might get laughed at or beaten up for saying the wrong thing. When I was working here – a couple of times – Roger stopped in to the shop. [The] most polite soft spoken gentleman that you could think of. I was like ‘oh, okay’,” Thunders said.

Now the shop was operating again – Thunders said he liked nothing more than being able to open the studio door and let the sound of old school, coil driven tattoo machines buzz out onto Cuba Street.

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

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

Posted on

Woman critically hurt in Christchurch shooting

Source: Radio New Zealand

The scene of the alleged shooting. RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon

A woman who lives across the road from a house where another woman was shot and critically injured in Christchurch says she assumed the bang was fireworks.

Emergency services were called to the property in Wainoni’s Shortland Street at about 8.45pm on Monday where they found the woman in a critical condition.

Police are still hunting for the person who shot her and left the scene in a car.

Neighbour Shirley Achari said she heard people yelling and then what she thought was fireworks.

Police at the scene on Tuesday. RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon

“We heard but we didn’t come out to see what was happening because I thought it was a group of people shouting and yelling. Then the shooting one, we thought it was firecrackers,” she said.

Achari said she only learnt of the shooting when her daughter returned from the supermarket and said the police had cordoned off the house.

She said she had often seen a young girl from the house going to school but otherwise did not know the family.

The shooting had come as a shock because the neighbourhood was usually very quiet, Achari said.

A trampoline and children’s toys could be seen at the address. RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon

“I always tell everyone, my friends, that this is the quietest place and we are very safe and lucky to stay here in Shortland Street because we like quiet neighbours,” she said.

At the cordoned off property, children’s play equipment can be seen in the backyard and clothes hang on the washing line.

Officers were examining the scene, including inspecting a car covered by a tarpaulin in the driveway, while a police photographer took photos.

The area remains cordoned off, blocking access to Tahuna Street.

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

Posted on

Queen hornet and nest found in Auckland suburb of Glenfield in past week

Source: Radio New Zealand

Yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) have recently been sighted in the Auckland region. MPI have put out advisories after a queen was found on 17 October 2025. Biosecurity NZ

Biosecurity New Zealand has removed another yellow legged hornet and its nest in the past week.

The queen hornet was found in the Auckland suburb of Glenfield.

It takes the tally to seven including five queens and two males.

Authorities say another queen and two males are also suspected, but not confirmed, based on photographs provided by members of the public.

In response, Biosecurity New Zealand has increased the amount of traps on Auckland’s North Shore from 120 to 142.

North Commissioner Mike Inglis said these traps would trial protein-based baits over the summer months when hornet activity was expected to rise.

“We increased the traps mainly because we want to trial new traps as we move to the next stage which will be putting out protein-based traps if indeed there is any worker bees but we’re still focused on the queens.”

They had also assembled a Technical Advisory Group of independent scientific experts, he said.

It was positive that the hornet discoveries remained limited to Auckland’s North Shore, Inglis said.

Members of the public were urged to report suspected hornets or nests, but only if they had a specimen, a clear photo, or had located a possible nest.

Inglis said there had been cases of people posting pictures of previously discovered hornets on social media and claiming it was a new discovery which was why they could not just use photographs to confirm a discovery.

“We encourage people to notify us of finds and we’ll come to try to collect a sample.”

There had been more than 2500 public notifications to date, he said.

Reports can be made at report.mpi.govt.nz or by calling Biosecurity New Zealand’s exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 809 966.

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

Posted on

Iwi petition against government’s removal of Treaty of Waitangi requirement in schools

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rahui Papa, chair of Pou Tangata the NICF’s arm responsible for education. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

The National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF), supported by a coalition of national education organisations, has launched a petition against the government’s removal of the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Treaty requirement currently in the Education Act said schools would give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including by ensuring plans, policies, and local curriculum reflected local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori; taking all reasonable steps to make instruction available in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori; and achieving equitable outcomes for Māori students.

Rahui Papa, chair of Pou Tangata the NICF’s arm responsible for education, said after more than a year of formal engagement and consultation with the government on the proposed changes, they were disappointed and concerned by the last-minute amendments to remove the school board objective requiring schools to give effect to Te Tiriti.

“These amendments were never put out for consultation. Instead, they were introduced by the minister after public consultation closed, published less than 24 hours before they progressed through Parliament, and it looks like those changes will be passed into law today – only a week after they were made public,” Papa said.

“We’re launching this petition to send a clear message to the Government: removing Te Tiriti from education law undermines your responsibility to ensure every learner, Māori and non-Māori, thrives in an education system that honours the Māori-Crown relationship.”

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the Treaty was the Crown’s responsibility, not schools’.

“School boards should have direction and we are giving very clear direction. You need to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori students, you need to be offering te reo Māori and you need to be culturally competent,” she said.

The Protect Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Education petition is led by the National Iwi Chairs Forum, and supported by the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa, New Zealand Principals’ Federation, New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association Te Wehengarua, Te Akatea New Zealand Māori Principals Association, Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand, Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – New Zealand Schools Boards Association, Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa, and Te Rūnanga Nui o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.

Papa said collectively the coalition represents 88 iwi and over 95,000 teachers, principals, schools, and kura.

“We agree with the Minister of Education when she says that school boards play an important role in raising achievement. Boards set the overall direction of a school or kura, through their governance responsibilities and development of strategic plans,” Papa said.

“Removing Te Tiriti from the one place every child in Aotearoa passes through – our education system – deprives our tamariki of the opportunity to learn about identity, belonging, and partnership in a culturally responsive environment, and we will not sit idly by while this happens.”

The petition is hosted on ActionStation and will be available to sign until Tuesday, 25 November. It will then be presented to Parliament.

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

Posted on

Companies could be missing out on productivity gains

Source: Radio New Zealand

A survey business leaders found two-thirds agreed productivity was a national problem. 123RF

A failure to measure the right things means many businesses could be missing out on productivity gains along with bigger profits for them and the wider economy.

A survey of 397 business leaders commissioned by Spark and conducted by Clemenger Group found two-thirds agreed productivity was a national problem, yet three-quarters (75%) believed their own business was ahead of competitors in adopting efficient processes.

“This suggests we might be measuring ourselves against the wrong benchmarks, or perhaps we’re not measuring the right things at all,” Spark chief technology and AI officer Matt Bain said.

A third of businesses (33%) used profit and customer satisfaction as indicators of productivity, while only 24 percent linked productivity improvements to time savings and operational improvements.

Bain said adopting the right technology could help businesses work smarter.

“We’ve witnessed first hand how the right digital tools, properly integrated, can unlock remarkable productivity gains,” he said.

“But we also know that technology alone isn’t the complete answer – it needs to be paired with the right mindset, skills and expertise, and willingness to improve in the right areas.”

Among the key findings was technology adoption was lagging.

While 75 percent of businesses agreed new technologies could deliver significant productivity gains, only 46 percent had fully or partially integrated cloud infrastructure, and just 29 percent were experimenting with AI tools.

The main obstacles to adopting new technologies were a lack of knowledge or expertise (42%), cost (40%), limited access to capital (38%), and resistance to change (36%).

Less than half of all businesses (45%) recognised the need for external expertise to maximise technology benefits.

“The tools exist, and the expertise is available. What’s needed now is a collective shift from ‘getting by’ to ‘getting ahead’, and the courage to take concrete action,” Bain said.

The study also includes a list of key actions that business leaders can take to lift productivity within their organisations, with a focus on improving connectivity alongside staff training and development.

The report, ‘Lifting productivity: Moving New Zealand from getting by to getting ahead’, was on Spark’s website

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

Posted on

Iwis petition against government’s removal of Treaty of Waitangi requirement in schools

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rahui Papa, chair of Pou Tangata the NICF’s arm responsible for education. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

The National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF), supported by a coalition of national education organisations, has launched a petition against the government’s removal of the requirement for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Treaty requirement currently in the Education Act said schools would give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including by ensuring plans, policies, and local curriculum reflected local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori; taking all reasonable steps to make instruction available in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori; and achieving equitable outcomes for Māori students.

Rahui Papa, chair of Pou Tangata the NICF’s arm responsible for education, said after more than a year of formal engagement and consultation with the government on the proposed changes, they were disappointed and concerned by the last-minute amendments to remove the school board objective requiring schools to give effect to Te Tiriti.

“These amendments were never put out for consultation. Instead, they were introduced by the minister after public consultation closed, published less than 24 hours before they progressed through Parliament, and it looks like those changes will be passed into law today – only a week after they were made public,” Papa said.

“We’re launching this petition to send a clear message to the Government: removing Te Tiriti from education law undermines your responsibility to ensure every learner, Māori and non-Māori, thrives in an education system that honours the Māori-Crown relationship.”

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the Treaty was the Crown’s responsibility, not schools’.

“School boards should have direction and we are giving very clear direction. You need to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori students, you need to be offering te reo Māori and you need to be culturally competent,” she said.

The Protect Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Education petition is led by the National Iwi Chairs Forum, and supported by the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa, New Zealand Principals’ Federation, New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association Te Wehengarua, Te Akatea New Zealand Māori Principals Association, Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand, Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – New Zealand Schools Boards Association, Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa, and Te Rūnanga Nui o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.

Papa said collectively the coalition represents 88 iwi and over 95,000 teachers, principals, schools, and kura.

“We agree with the Minister of Education when she says that school boards play an important role in raising achievement. Boards set the overall direction of a school or kura, through their governance responsibilities and development of strategic plans,” Papa said.

“Removing Te Tiriti from the one place every child in Aotearoa passes through – our education system – deprives our tamariki of the opportunity to learn about identity, belonging, and partnership in a culturally responsive environment, and we will not sit idly by while this happens.”

The petition is hosted on ActionStation and will be available to sign until Tuesday, 25 November. It will then be presented to Parliament.

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

Posted on

Mt Eden prisoner has been on run for four days since slipping hospital escort

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are seaching for the prisoner. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

A prisoner has been on the run for four days after escaping while on a hospital escort in Auckland.

Mt Eden Corrections Facility acting general manager Edith Pattinson confirmed to RNZ a remand prisoner escaped from Corrections staff about 9am on Friday while on a hospital escort.

“Police were informed immediately and are actively searching for them.”

RNZ understands the prisoner had been handcuffed.

Pattinson encouraged anyone with information about the prisoners’ location to contact the police.

“Public safety is our top priority. Any escape is unacceptable and an immediate review into how this incident occurred is being carried out.”

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

Posted on

Police acknowledge IPCA report into justified non-fatal shooting

Source: New Zealand Police

Police acknowledges the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority into a non-fatal shooting in west Auckland during September 2023.

On 27 September 2023, Police received information a stolen vehicle involved in an aggravated robbery was at a petrol station.

Police blocked the vehicle in and approached, however the driver rammed other vehicles to escape.

Units pursued this vehicle at slow speed on the Northwestern Motorway, exiting at Lincoln Road.

The driver exited the stolen vehicle carrying a long-barrelled firearm. Following this, he unsuccessfully attempted to carjack multiple vehicles.

Armed Police had arrived on scene, when the offender pointed his firearm at the first officer.

Despite being told to drop his firearm, the offender continued and opened the passenger door of a truck. He proceeded to point the firearm at the driver.

While the driver was trying to get out of the truck, the officer fired his pistol at the offender.

The offender was injured, surrendered and was taken to hospital for surgery.

An IPCA investigation found the officer was justified in shooting the offender, and that overall Police exercised appropriate command and control of the incident.

The pursuit was also carried out according to Police policy.

Superintendent Naila Hassan, Waitematā District Commander, acknowledges the report’s findings released today.

“I want to recognise the work of our frontline every day, which in many cases requires them to respond and make split-second decisions in situations unfolding rapidly to keep people safe.”

The Authority found the use of force with a firearm was reasonable and proportionate.

“It’s clear the armed offender posed an imminent threat to the safety of those around him,” Superintendent Hassan says.

“The entirety of this incident unfolded in around 10 minutes, and our staff moved forward with courage given what was taking place on the overbridge.

“I’m incredibly proud of our Police Officers on that day.”

In September this year, a 31-year-old man was convicted and sentenced at the Auckland High Court for presenting a firearm at a person.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Posted on

More than 15,000 measles vaccines given during drive

Source: Radio New Zealand

Vaccination efforts have ramped up as part of a nationwide Measles Immunisation Week campaign. RNZ / YouTube

More than 15,000 measles vaccines were given during last week’s immunisation drive.

It’s more than twice the number of a typical week.

Vaccination efforts have ramped up as part of a nationwide Measles Immunisation Week campaign.

There are 18 confirmed cases in the current outbreak, with 17 of those no longer infectious.

The latest case was found in Nelson on Sunday. It is unlinked to the others, and health officials say it could mean there is undetected transmission in the community.

Health New Zealand said it’s encouraging to see communities rally behind the event. However, it says there is a long way to go before a 95-percent vaccination rate is reached.

Coverage of 95 percent was needed for herd immunity.

Measles modelling by the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science suggested as many as 150 people a week could get infected with measles if an epidemic took hold in New Zealand.

The modelling also found that increasing vaccination rates by five percent could halve the number of hospitalisations in an outbreak.

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