NZ Engine

Source: Radio New Zealand

Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot has been appointed as the new boss of the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.

Lightfoot, who has held the role since 2020, emailed staff on Wednesday morning saying he wanted to “share some personal news”.

“This has not been an easy decision, and it is not an easy message to write.

“What makes leaving hardest is, without question, the people. Over my time in Corrections, I have had the privilege of working alongside exceptional people in every part of this organisation; people who care deeply, work hard in often demanding circumstances, and make a real difference through the critical work we do each day.”

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

Lightfoot said Corrections was an organisation with a “serious purpose”.

“The work we do matters enormously, for public safety, for the people in our care, for whānau, and for the communities we serve. That sense of purpose, and the commitment of our people to it, is something I will carry with me always.

“After more than six years as chief executive, I believe the time is right to hand over the reins to someone new. There is never a perfect time to leave a role like this, but with some really important foundations now laid, and a clear direction for where the organisation is heading, I believe Corrections is well set for the future”.

Lightfoot said his focus remained on supporting a “good transition, maintaining momentum, and doing all I can to leave the organisation well”.

“I know I will not have the opportunity to see and thank many of you personally before I leave, and I regret that. So, I want to say this now, clearly and sincerely: thank you.

“Thank you for what you do. Thank you for the professionalism, resilience and humanity you bring to this work. And thank you for all you have contributed during my time as chief executive.”

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche announced Lightfoot as the secretary and chief executive for the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport in a statement.

He said the new ministry would “will tackle many of New Zealand’s major economic and environmental challenges, working to unlock the potential of our cities and regions to drive economic growth, resilience and quality of life”.

“The secretary for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport will lead the new ministry, working with local government, Māori, and the private sector to coordinate planning, investment, and regulations to deliver local solutions.”

Sir Brian said Lightfoot was an “impressive, experienced leader with a reputation for delivery”.

“Mr Lightfoot has led large workforces, including front‑line and multi-specialist workers. He knows how to bring that mix of skills together to achieve results,” said Sir Brian.

“He understands how to get policy, funding and delivery working in step and has worked closely with councils, Māori and communities – experience that matters for the challenges the Ministry has been established to address.”

Lightfoot has been appointed for five years and will take up his new role on 27 April.

According to Corrections’ website Lightfoot joined Corrections in May 2010 as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Director for the Wiri Prison Project where he was responsible for the design, development and procurement of New Zealand’s first PPP to combine design, build, financing and operation of a prison.

“He’s since held various leadership roles within Corrections, including general manager of Finance, Technology and Commercial, and National Commissioner, where he was accountable for the operation of 18 prisons and 165 community corrections sites. Before his appointment as chief executive, he was deputy chief executive, Corrections.

“Jeremy has extensive public sector and commercial experience both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.”

His departure comes after RNZ earlier revealed Corrections commissioner of custodial services Leigh Marsh was facing an employment investigation in relation to allegations of bullying.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealanders are paying more for their Easter eggs than shoppers across the Tasman, one senior economist says.

Westpac economist Satish Ranchhod has compared the price of Easter treats in New Zealand with those in Australia.

He found a chocolate bunny had the biggest price difference – one that was NZ$9 here was NZ$5.99 in Australia.

A bag of mini chocolate eggs was NZ$7 in New Zealand and the equivalent of NZ$5.39 in Australia.

A 10-pack of chocolate hollow eggs was 73c cheaper in Australia.

Even hot cross buns were 73c cheaper across the ditch. A multi-pack of cream-filled mini chocolate eggs was NZ$1.61 cheaper in Australia.

Only a single cream-filled chocolate egg was cheaper in New Zealand. It was 40c dearer in Australia.

Earlier, RNZ reported that Easter egg prices this year are higher than last year’s, probably on the back of higher prices for ingredients.

Ranchhod said he considered whether the difference in price could be due to GST but that did not seem to explain it.

“It could be that there’s higher import costs in New Zealand, since we’re slightly further away from some of those big markets. But it’s quite surprising that the Aussies are getting these better prices for these sweet treats at Easter.”

He said items seemed to be on special at the same time in both Australia and New Zealand, so it was also not due to different discounts.

Waiting a bit longer could help reduce the price, he said.

“We do tend to get a little bit of last-minute discounting for these items, and if you’re really frugal, maybe you can wait till Tuesday after Easter and pick up a few bargains on those items that didn’t sell.”

Ranchhod said people who wanted chocolate and weren’t worried about what it looked like could save money by buying traditional blocks.

“If we looked at the price of that chocolate, it was still a much better deal to get a block than it was to go get the chocolate eggs or the bunnies. It’s not as much fun, but it’s much better value for money.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A calm start to the Easter break will be followed by potential heavy rain to parts of the country, forecasters say.

“It’s a little bit windy at the moment but that southwesterly is starting to ease and then we get to bask in the calmness of high pressure for the next couple of days before the high moves to the east on Friday,” Heather Keats, MetService head of weather news, said.

“There will be a couple of little features leading up to the weekend with the next series of fronts approaching the South Island on Friday. Those fronts move over the island on Saturday.”

That will allow a “northwesterly flow over southern and central New Zealand to strengthen ahead of a series of fronts approaching from the northwest”, MetService said in its severe weather outlook update.

“There is low confidence of rainfall accumulations reaching warning amounts during the second half of the day in the ranges of Westland, also also for southern Fiordland.”

In the lead-up to the long weekend, Wednesday will see isolated showers nationwide, but otherwise “quite settled” weather.

“Thursday, which this week is the new Friday, is even better with the only real showers likely for Fiordland and for Stewart Island,” Keats said.

“On Friday … the North Island is still fairly decent, but those showers develop in the west of the South Island early in the day and will turn to rain later in the day.

“And on Saturday, those fronts will dish up heavy rain to both western and eastern parts of the south. Could be some watches and warnings for the start of Easter.”

MetService said it had “moderate confidence” a heavy rain warning will be needed for the ranges of central and northern Westland, and low confidence for southern Westland and Fiordland before noon.

“There is also low confidence of heavy rain for central and southern Canterbury, eastern Otago and northern parts of Central Otago.”

On Sunday, the bad weather will move slowly north across the South Island.

“There is low confidence of warning amounts of heavy rain during the first half of the day for the ranges of central and northern Westland, and for all of Canterbury. There is also low confidence of heavy rain for northwest Tasman and Buller, but this continues all day.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A trucking sector veteran says the soaring price of diesel is the worst he’s seen in his 35 years in the industry.

The US and Israel’s ongoing war on Iran has caused a global fuel crisis which is now in its fifth week as Iran continues to block most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz which is used to transit about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas.

It has hugely disrupted key supply chains and pushed Brent crude oil over $115 a barrel, pushing up prices at the pump.

The price of diesel has nearly doubled in the space of a month since the conflict in the Middle East.

In New Zealand on Wednesday morning, the Gaspy website showed the price of diesel was $3.51 on average – more expensive than the price of unleaded 91 priced at $3.43.

David Hill, general manager of Hawke’s Bay’s Emmerson Transport, said their fuel bill had gone up 110 percent, and they had no choice but to pass that on to their customers.

“In the 35 years I’ve been involved in the road transport industry, we’ve never seen increases of this magnitude,” he said.

“Most operators obviously are having issues with funding that,” he added.

Hill said prudent operators would take into account the “Fuel Adjustment Factor” (FAF), and set their rates at the end of the month for the following month.

However, he said some operators were on fixed price arrangements – such as quarterly pricing – and would not be able to adjust their prices.

Hill said his company had taken a hardline approach to FAF, and their customers had been understanding.

“Most responsible corporates these days accept what the situation is and work with their providers… because we’re gonna do nobody any favours the stakeholders or our staff – if we go outta business due to the fact that we’ve not recovered the fuel FAF.”

Hill said the current situation was comparable to the diesel spike during the Global Financial Crisis – but he added that even then, the New Zealand currency had a stronger exchange rate to the US dollar than now.

Tour bus operator forced to implement fuel surcharge

Meanwhile, a tour bus operator has had to implement a fuel surcharge to accommodate for the growing diesel prices.

Ready 2 Roll offers tours and airport transfers in the central North Island.

Director Carleen Dahya told Morning Report they had seen nearly a $100 increase at the pump in just over a week.

“Already a vehicle that was costing us $140 to fill up a week and a half ago is now $250.”

Dahya said they were currently charging a 12 percent surcharge, but the effects would take time to flow through.

“We’re not going to start to recover that until sort of a month’s time because we’ve honoured bookings that we’ve already got because it’s not their fault – it’s not our fault, but we’re the ones who have to wear it.”

She said even with adding the 12 percent on, with the cost of diesel, the numbers were tight.

“It’s going to be an interesting process moving forward, how many times we have to increase our surcharge to keep up with the fuel increases.”

Dahya said the current situation was a nightmare.

“With the diesel prices as well as road user [charges], it’s going to kill us.”

She said they were also seeing a trend of people cancelling due to disruption the fuel crisis was having their travel plans.

Finance Minister says tax relief won’t work

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has rejected any tax relief for the transport industry saying it would not work.

She acknowledged the diesel price was very high saying it reflected the fact that diesel was one of the fuel’s that had been most disrupted by the crisis in the Middle East.

“It’s cost to get into New Zealand has gone up considerably and that’s where you’ve seen the biggest price rises.”

Diesel users pay their road tax through the road user charge, where as petrol users just pay it at the pump as the tax is added to the price of their fuel, she said.

“The challenge we face is that if we were to take away that tax that would put a half billion dollar hole in our road funding which would only multiply every time you extended that reduction … and then we would simply not have enough funding available to maintain our roads.”

She said officials have also been clear that there may come a time when road users would be asked to conserve fuel.

“Our officials have been very clear that sending a price signal that you’re taking away a tax at the same time as you’re asking for restraint doesn’t make sense, it’s very contradictory.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

When Tom Metcalfe left for England to fly bombers in the second world war, he took a watch given to him by his parents for his 18th birthday in 1941.

His little sister Sandra was just 12 when he left. She is now 97, and does not like to talk on the phone. Her daughter Louise Taylor, who lives with her in Kaitaia, told First Up Sandra’s memories of her brother leaving are tinged with sadness: “She didn’t see him after that.”

Metcalfe and his crew were killed when their Wellington bomber was shot down near the German city of Cologne as they returned from a night raid in September 1942.

Their bodies were buried near Cologne before being moved to the Rheinberg war cemetry.

Years, possibly decades later, a local man found a mangled watch with an inscription in English. “Tom, from Dad and Mum”, with the date 18th of July 1941.

After the man died, his widow saw Uwe Benkel being interviewed on TV about his work identifying servicemen who were missing in action. Benkel’s helped recover more than 150 aircraft, including the remains of 60 missing crew members. It was a deeply personal mission for Benkel. Two of his uncles were killed on the eastern front in World War Two, he was able to locate the grave site of one shortly before his father’s death.

“When I told him where his brother is buried in the cemetery in Russia, he was crying like a little kid,” Benkel told First Up.

He was tasked with finding the owner of the watch, but was incorrrectly told it was from a Wellington bomber that had crashed much later in the war.

“I didn’t get a connection from the crash to the watch, so I kept the watch in my archives until nine years later,” he said.

On the other side of the world, New Zealander Paul Kercher was doing his own research. Kercher’s great uncle Walter was another casualty of the Second World War.

Walter had been a frontgunner in a Wellington bomber, and several years ago Kercher found an online article stating Walter’s plane had crashed near Cologne, with a reference to a watch being found years later.

Late last year, Kecher found another German website with details of the crash, including his great uncle’s death certificate. Through that he got in touch with Manfred Weichert, another german crash researcher, and Benkel.

They were able to work out the flight number, and the crew list. The pilot was listed as Thomas Metcalfe, and his birthday matched the date on the watch.

“All of a sudden those pieces connected like a puzzle,” said Benkel.

The next task, establishing if Metcalfe had any surviving relatives. Kercher put a post on the New Zealand Remembrance Army Facebook page.

Soon he was in touch with Greg Bennett, Tom’s nephew, who then put him in touch with Louise and Sandra, Tom’s sister.

The precious watch was currently on its way to Kercher from Germany. Kercher planned to personally hand it to Tom’s sister Sandra this month, with Anzac Day a distinct possibility.

“It’s still hard for us to believe” said Louise Taylor. “I think it’ll be more believable for us when we actually get it in our hands.”

For Benkel, he was glad the watch could finally be returned: “We don’t make no difference if it was Germans, Americans, British, New Zealand, because they all were young guys and they had to fight and they had to give the only thing they had, they gave their lives.”

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