NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation preventing future governments from concealing the extent of fiscal risks in government accounts passed through its final stages in Parliament today.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Public Finance Amendment Act requires economic and fiscal updates prepared by the Treasury to include a statement of specific fiscal risks. 

“When I became Finance Minister, I discovered several risks were not clear in those statements. An example was the time-limited funding for Pharmac medicines on which thousands of New Zealanders rely.

“While the Treasury has now categorised and described those fiscal risks – which includes identifying time-limited funding and capital cost escalations – this law change makes that categorisation a requirement.

“The Act also removes the need for Treasury to report on ‘wellbeing’.

“Building a strong economy and delivering better public services advances the country’s wellbeing. Therefore, the Treasury needs to focus on its core purpose – economic and fiscal advice – not hazy feel-good ideas that sound nice, but don’t deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders.”

The Act also brings the date for the delivery of the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) forward by five working days.

“The PREFU helps to ensure voters can make informed choices at the election. Bringing the date forward gives them more time to weigh up the choices available to them,” Nicola Willis says.

The PREFU forecasts the economic outlook for New Zealand, and the government’s fiscal outlook.

The Act will be in force by July 1 2026.

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Inspector Craig Scott, Christchurch Police: 

Police have arrested a wanted man following a series of events involving a stolen vehicle across the Kaiapoi and Belfast areas today.

The stolen vehicle was first identified travelling in the Kaiapoi area this morning, before later being sighted in Belfast.

Upon Police arrival in the area, the driver is believed to have become aware of the Police presence and left the area, colliding with a member of the public’s vehicle as they drove away. No injuries were reported as a result of this collision.

A short time later, Police located the stolen vehicle abandoned in Dickies Road.

Further enquiries led Police to locate the man in the middle of Otukaikino Stream. Attending officers engaged with the man, who was refusing to come out of the water, with the assistance of the Police Negotiation Team. 

After a period of negotiation, the man was taken into custody without further incident.

Due to his immersion in cold water, the man was assessed by ambulance staff prior to being transported from the scene.

The 43-year-old man has been arrested on a warrant to arrest and for unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in Christchurch District Court on 1 April. 

Police thank members of the public for their cooperation and patience while the incident was resolved.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

3 hours ago

A traumatic brain injury that ended a 22-year career as an electrician led Dean Hepburn back to study at EIT, where he is now completing a Master of Professional Creative Practice.

The 42-year-old previously worked across domestic and commercial electrical projects and operated his own business, Redshift Electric, for seven years.

Four years ago, he suffered a traumatic brain injury which, alongside ongoing health issues including fibromyalgia, forced him to step away from the trade and re-evaluate his future.

“It was one of the toughest times in my life. For ages, I had to relearn how to manage fatigue, focus and stress. But it also made me think deeply about what truly mattered, which was to focus on my health”

Music became a key part of his recovery.

“I’ve always loved music. Bass guitar, writing lyrics, building sound. It’s always been part of who I am. But for a long time, it sat suppressed rather than being the focus, and I had great difficulty expressing my creativity.”

Dean previously graduated from EIT with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, making his return to study a natural next step.

Now studying at EIT’s IDEAschool, Dean is exploring songwriting, mastering his bass guitar and creative writing and poetry as part of his recovery and future direction.

One of his key projects, Light After Darkness, began as a series of poems created for the Brain Injury Hawke’s Bay Our Story exhibition, before being developed into song lyrics.

“Writing those lyrics helped me process what had happened. They’re not just songs; they’re part of a bigger story about recovery, identity and finding your way forward again.”

The work forms part of a larger creative project he plans to continue developing, with the final stage involving musical composition and live performance.

Alongside his creative work, Dean is also drawing on his background in sport science and more than 20 years of endurance sport coaching and experience.

A former road cyclist and triathlete, Dean now focuses on trail running and walking, and has just completed the Peak Trailblazer a few weeks ago.

He is also exploring how sport principles can be applied to music performance.

“Musicians push their bodies and minds just like athletes do, but we rarely view it in that way. There’s huge potential to support musicians with the same tools we use in sport.”

His research focuses on applying concepts such as load management, physical conditioning and sports periodisation to help musicians perform sustainably, reduce injury and increase creativity.

For Dean, the shift into creative practice and back into endurance sport coaching marks a new chapter.

“After more than 20 years in the trades, moving into a creative and academic path is a big shift. But it feels like the right one.”

Now focused on completing his postgraduate study and applying his research to his coaching practice, Dean says the journey has given him a renewed sense of direction.

“This journey has been about reclaiming something. Music, creativity and storytelling helped me rebuild after everything I went through. Now I want to use that to create something meaningful.”

Head of IDEAschool Sean Coyle says: “It is great to have Dean undertaking his Masters with us”.

“It is a fascinating merging of creative practice and his background in sports science. I am excited about how creativity can impact scientific study and vice versa. I look forward to seeing Dean’s Masters project and his practice emerge over the next year and a half.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Gerard Bouterey, Field Crime Manager CIB Central District

Police continue to make steady progress in the investigation into the deaths of Brendon and Trina Cole, who were found deceased at a rural property on Murumuru Road on Sunday 13 December 2025.

While there are aspects of the investigation that cannot be discussed, Police want to reassure the community that significant work is ongoing.

I would like to thank the members of the public who have already spoken with investigators and provided statements or otherwise supported the investigation.

The cooperation shown by the community has been invaluable, and we acknowledge the effort it takes to come forward in what remains a difficult and distressing matter.

We know individuals who hold information that could assist the investigation have not yet spoken to police, and the information you hold could help provide answers to two families who are grieving.

To those people, we urge you to reconsider and contact us. Even information that may seem minor or insignificant could be critical in progressing this inquiry.

As part of the ongoing enquiries, Police have identified that a semi-automatic shotgun should have been at the Murumuru Road address but was not located during the initial scene examination or in subsequent searches.

Police previously believed an occupant of the address had this shotgun in their possession; however, the firearm has still not been accounted for, and we are now seeking information on its whereabouts.

We believe this semi-automatic shotgun may have been altered to have the end of the barrel cut down and is likely to have been discarded in the Murumuru Road, Parinui, or Ruatiti areas. Alternatively, it may have been left in or near a hut or rural structure.

If you have found a firearm in or around these areas, or have any knowledge of where it may be, Police ask that you do not touch it and instead contact us immediately.

In addition to this, if anyone has knowledge of firearms that belonged to the occupants of 470 Murumuru Road and you haven’t spoken to police – please contact us.

We continue to follow all lines of enquiry and carefully assess information as it is received. We are committed to ensuring the safety of the wider community and at this stage, there is no information to suggest any ongoing risk to the general public. 

Information can be provided through 105, either online or over the phone, referencing file number 251213/6207 or Operation Murumuru.

Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

1 day ago

A New Zealand-born neuroscientist who spent a decade leading research in the United Kingdom has returned home to take up a new role as EIT’s Head of School for Health and Sport Science.

Dr Shelley Duncan, who grew up in Auckland and began her career as a social worker, says she is already feeling at home after less than two months in the role.

“I feel like I’ve walked into a family,” she says.

Shelley spent about 15 years working as a social worker both in New Zealand and the UK, predominantly in child protection and child and adolescent mental health services.

Wanting to step into an environment where she could embed earlier interventions for youth health and wellbeing, Shelley completed her undergraduate degree in Physical Education and Health and Sport Science. Shelley then went on to complete her postgraduate diploma in

Exercise Rehabilitation, and Masters of Sport Science.

A growing curiosity about the relationship between exercise and the brain led her to being awarded a scholarship to complete her PhD in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience at Victoria University in Melbourne.

Her doctoral research examined dual tasking; the brain’s ability to manage two things at once, like walking and talking, and whether exercise could improve cognitive function. She found that resistance exercise produced the strongest results, even in young adults.

“If you get the methodology right and you get the data collection right, you’re on good footing to having some exciting data.”

From there, Shelley built a research career at Southampton Solent University, eventually becoming University Research Lead for Human Function and Health and Academic lead for postgraduate provision.

During that time, she was also a co-investigator on a £5 million, five-year National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) grant, working alongside Southampton City Council and around 70 community partners to develop infrastructure for researching health inequalities.

She also took on an Honorary Senior Research Fellowship at the University of Kent, where she has been working on what could prove to be a significant breakthrough – a non-invasive, non-drug treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

“We’re at a point now where we need to conduct the next research phase. The goal of this research is to determine whether the changes we are seeing within the brain dynamics can influence what we see in behaviour, such as walking. If it comes out how I hope it will, then we can look at trialling this intervention within a clinical application.”

She plans to apply for funding to advance the research and hopes to eventually bring it to New Zealand, with colleague Professor David Wilkinson – who launched the UK’s first non-drug integrated therapy clinic for Parkinson’s – keen to support her.

While she continues to collaborate on research and supervise PhD students internationally, Shelley says she was ready for a change and a return to New Zealand, drawn by the opportunity to be part of a more connected, community-focused environment.

“I wanted something that felt more like a village. A place where there is genuine collegiality and connection. I feel like I’ve walked into an environment where people have just opened their arms to me.”

Her approach to leadership is grounded in collaboration.

“I’m very consultative in how I work. The best solutions come from working across disciplines, because everyone brings a different lens.”

As Head of School, Shelley says she is focused on ensuring students graduate with a strong foundation for employment, while continuing to build on the school’s strengths.

“It’s about making sure our provision is scaffolded properly so that we are building knowledge. When our students graduate, they’re entering a highly competitive market, so if we can add value throughout their journey, they’re coming out a step ahead.”

Helen Ryan-Stewart, Executive Dean, Education, Humanities and Health Science, says: “We are delighted to welcome Shelley to EIT”.

“She brings international leadership experience, a strong commitment to applied, community‑focused learning, and a genuine passion for supporting learners at every stage of their journey.

“Her people‑centred approach and connection to Aotearoa make her a wonderful fit for our Health and Sport Science whānau, and we are excited about the leadership she will bring to our communities.”

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government will award the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Support to Ukraine) to recognise Defence personnel who have deployed in support of Ukraine’s self-defence, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today.

“Nearly 1,000 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have served in Europe and the United Kingdom supporting Ukraine’s self-defence following the Russian invasion in February 2022,” Ms Collins says.

“These personnel have carried out challenging and often emotionally confronting work in the service of New Zealand. As part of Operation Tīeke, they have helped alongside partners to prepare thousands of Ukrainian personnel for the battlefield.”

Under the UK-led Operation Interflex, more than 60,000 Ukrainian personnel have been prepared for immediate combat operations. 

The medal has been approved in principle by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Once the Governor-General has approved the medal Regulations, which detail eligibility criteria, it is proposed to be issued to those with thirty days of qualifying service.

“Operation Tīeke is a major component of New Zealand’s effort to uphold the international rules-based order by directly supporting Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion and supporting the wider security of our European partners,” Ms Collins says.

“I have seen first-hand the value our personnel are providing to the people of Ukraine, and I am extremely proud of their contribution.

“I would like to thank our NZDF personnel and acknowledge the impact deployment has on their families. We appreciate your service and your sacrifice.”

Note to editors:

The New Zealand Special Service Medal (NZSSM) is specifically for service that carries some of the elements of operational service but does not meet the threshold for that recognition. It was instituted in 2002 to recognise service or work for New Zealand in very difficult, adverse, extreme or hazardous circumstances that fall outside the boundaries of what members of the NZDF – and certain other New Zealanders – could normally expect as part of their routine duties or work. 

Special service often involves risk (whether physical, environmental or psychological). The Government has designated the Operation Tīeke deployment as “special service” within the intent of the New Zealand Special Service Medal Royal Warrant, both for its psychological impact on those who are deployed and its contribution to the maintenance of a rules-based international order and international peace and security together.

To date, the NZSSM has been awarded to those who were present at atmospheric nuclear tests in Australia and the Pacific in the 1950s and 1973; took part in body recovery and victim identification following the Air New Zealand Mount Erebus disaster in 1979; and participated in rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts after the 2004 Asian earthquake and tsunami.  

Service recognised through a NZSSM does not count towards qualification for the New Zealand Operational Service Medal.

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to fund Trikafta and Alyftrek for children with cystic fibrosis, regardless of their age from 1 April 2026.

Beginning tomorrow Pharmac will: 

Widen funded access to Trikafta for all children with eligible diagnosis (currently only funded for children 6 years and older)
Widen funded access to Kalydeco for everyone with eligible diagnosis
Fund access to a new treatment, Alyftrek 

“In January Pharmac consulted the public on this proposal. The feedback was positive. So from tomorrow Pharmac are funding those medicines,” Mr Seymour says.  

“Doctors will use their clinical judgement to prescribe these medicines to any patient who would benefit. 

“These treatments are lifechanging for Kiwis living with cystic fibrosis and their families. Children can now access to these lifechanging treatments as soon as clinically appropriate. Cystic fibrosis can cause harm very early in life, so waiting to meet age-based eligibility criteria is not an option. 

“In 2023 Pharmac funded Trikafta for children with cystic fibrosis who were 6 years or older in 2023. This left out children under 6 years old with cystic fibrosis. Parents had to choose; wait until children were old enough, pay hundreds of thousands of dollars per year for treatment privately, or move overseas. 

“This has been made possible through Pharmac’s commitment to working with the cystic fibrosis community. It is a great example of what is possible when Pharmac works alongside patients. 

“We’re making the system work better for the people it serves. When people can access their medicines easily, they stay healthier for longer. It also reduces pressure on other parts of the health system.”

Pharmac’s funding decision can be found here: 
https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations-and-decisions/2026-03-decision-to-widen-access-to-trikafta-and-kalydeco-and-fund-alyftrek-for-the-treatment-of-cystic-fibrosis