NZ Engine

Source: Radio New Zealand

Twelve-month prescriptions for long-term medications take effect from Sunday.

Patients can now get a script for up to 12 months of medication – up from three – with their doctor’s permission.

People with 12-month prescriptions will still need to collect their medication every three months, so the changes will not reduce their overall number of visits.

Pharmacists remain concerned. Some have previously told RNZ that explaining the changes, and getting used to a new system, will only add to their already heavy workload when staff are in short supply.

Gemma Perry-Waterhouse, who owns Sanders Pharmacy in Te Awamutu, said a shortage of pharmacists would make explaining the new system while keeping up with other responsibilities challenging.

“There has been a decline in the number of pharmacies in New Zealand, and there’s a serious workforce issue. We don’t have enough pharmacists.

“We are concerned about this rollout and how much time it will take to explain to all patients what to expect with 12-month scripts; the fact that it isn’t for everyone, that their doctor needs to decide that.

“Be kind to your pharmacy if you’re popping in to talk about a 12-month script and what to expect, because we’re all under a lot of pressure at the moment.”

In announcing the plan, Health Minister Simeon Brown said the previous system “creates unnecessary barriers for patients on stable, long-term medications like asthma inhalers, insulin for diabetes, and blood pressure tablets.

“It means added costs for patients and more paperwork for health professionals, taking time away from patients with more urgent or complex needs…

“It’s a win-win for patients and the health system – fewer avoidable hospitalisations, better health outcomes and reduced long-term costs.”

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

A dedicated investigation team from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission will be on the ground in Akaroa, following the grounding of a Black Cat ferry on Saturday afternoon.

Louise Cook, chief investigator of accidents, said there were reportedly 38 passengers and three crew on-board the 17-metre catamaran, on a wildlife cruise.

They were evacuated to nearby boats and no injuries were reported.

Cook said getting the facts straight was vital, and she was keen to hear from people who were on-board or witnessed the accident, and to receive any photos or video footage.

The investigation team would be travelling to Akaroa “as soon as practicable”, TAIC said in a statement.

Over the next several days, they would be seeking and recovering any wreckage, securing electronic records – including photos, videos, and location data on people’s cellphones – and interviewing witnesses.

Following the accident, passenger Chris Friedman – visiting from San Francisco – told RNZ it was a stressful experience on his last day in New Zealand.

He said there was a loud sound, as if the boat had run over something, and he thought it might be a rock. It was followed by a whizzing sound that could have been from the engine.

“We were never really fearful that we were going to go down with the ship, but there was a teenager on-board who was quite scared and was crying, and there was also an older woman who was rather traumatised,” he said.

The passengers were taken to the main wharf at Akaroa and no one was injured, he said.

Environment Canterbury said it was monitoring and assessing the catamaran to minimise the impact of any fuel leaks or debris on the environment.

“We are working alongside the owner, emergency services, the Department of Conservation, Maritime New Zealand, iwi and the local community.”

Black Cat Cruises said it was the first time in more than 40 years that anything like this had happened.

It was launching its own investigation, and said it would also be working with authorities.

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

The Wellington City Mission is launching a free dental service.

It will open on 10 February and run three days a week.

The Mission’s Murray Edridge said the need for the service was substantial, with one in three adults suffering from untreated tooth decay.

He said people on low incomes and in hardship suffered the most.

“And that’s been a consequence of lifestyle or circumstance or just the things that they’ve faced throughout their lives, and their inability to access services because of cost and other things has prevented them attending to that.”

The service would be delivered by Ora Toa dentists, with appointments available by referral only from social agencies across the Greater Wellington region.

“We all know how miserable life is if you have sore teeth,” Edridge said.

“It’s just one of those things that significantly affects anybody’s wellbeing, and therefore the opportunity to provide a service to support people who have problems with their teeth is an amazing privilege that the City Mission is taking hold of.”

The service will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Whakamaru on Oxford Terrace.

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

Labour says a review of the government’s axed road cone hotline – designed to report excessive and unnecessary traffic cone use – was an “absurd” waste of public money.

A WorkSafe review found excessive use of cones at just 6 percent of the 250 sites inspected.

Labour transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said nearly $150,000 was spent on a project that was “clearly not going to be required in the first place”.

“I mean, we’re talking about huge amounts of public money that could be prioritised to address real concerns that the public is feeling right now.”

The digital hotline was launched last year as part of the government’s wider health and safety reforms.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden directed WorkSafe to place more emphasis on guidance and education, rather than enforcement.

The hotline allowed members of the public to report what they believed was excessive or unnecessary use of traffic cones and other temporary traffic management devices.

The government shut down its hotline on 19 December, six months ahead of schedule. By then, WorkSafe had received more than 1300 notifications.

Reports peaked at 641 in June, before dropping to 217 in July.

“This pilot has done exactly what we needed it to do,” Van Velden said at the time. “It gave the public a voice, identified the root causes of concern and clarified WorkSafe’s role in temporary traffic management.”

WorkSafe chief executive Sharon Thompson said the review showed the main issue was not widespread non-compliance, but inconsistent use of NZTA’s newer, risk-based guidance by councils.

“As a result, cone use was often consistent with council-approved plans, even if it appeared excessive to the public.”

Labour had previously described the initiative as a “performative battle”.

Utikere noted that by September, the government had spent $148,545 on the hotline – $136.15 for “every one of the 1091 complaints logged to that point”.

As of November 2025, there was an average of fewer than 20 valid complaints per week nationwide, 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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Vanished

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A controlled explosion has rocked residents on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula north of Auckland after a marine locator marker was found floating at Okoromai Bay.

The markers are pyrotechnic devices designed to ignite on contact with water, and are used to indicate a location at sea.

A Defence Force spokesperson said it was found in the water by a member of the public, and handed in to the Coast Guard, which called in the NZDF and police.

A cordon was put up around the beach, and it was blown up by a Defence Force ordnance disposal team.

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