NZ Engine – Page 535

January 18, 2026

Auckland FC starts OFC Pro League in style

Auckland FC has decisively won the first-ever North v South Kiwi derby in the new Oceania Football Confederation Pro League (OFC), following a clinical 3-0 victory over South Island United.

New Football Oceania Professional League kicks off, in Auckland

In front of a noisy and expectant crowd at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, both sides were cagey in the opening minutes, as South Island United’s forwards Ryan Feutz, David Yoo and former All White Oskar Van Hattum, all made bright starts.

But the more the first half progressed, the more Auckland FC started to get going, and they got their noses in front just after the half-hour mark, with Swedish striker Oscar Faulds scoring from close range, after a perfectly delivered corner from Reid Drake.

Auckland FC grew stronger in the second half, nullifying all South Island United attacks, other than one with 20 minutes left, when Christian Gray touched a long throw to his defensive partner Ollie Van Rijssel, who slashed the ball narrowly wide from ten yards out.

The miss was costly, with Auckland FC doubling their lead in the 83rd minute, when American Jonathan Robinson, on as a second-half substitute, raced into the South Island United box and his cut-back was finished by fellow replacement Bailey Ferguson.

A VAR check followed not long after, after a South Island United defender was ruled to have handled the ball inside the penalty area, following an Emiliano Tade shot.

The resulting spot kick was taken by All Whites international Liam Gillion, and the winger capped a player of the match performance with a goal.

Earlier, in the opening match of the Pro League, Vanuatu United and Fijian team, Bula FC, played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Years of dreams, hard-work and planning finally came to fruition, as professional football in the Pacific entered into a new and exciting era, and it didn’t take long for the opening goal to arrive, with Bill Kaltak scoring for Vanuatu United from a corner.

The lead lasted just ten minutes however, when Bula FC’s equaliser arrived, it came via Roy Krishna – returning to the region after a long stint in India.

The second half proved to be low on chances, until pacy Bula FC winger, teenager Kaile Auvray, provided for substitute Nabil Begg, who drove past Vanuatu United goalkeeper Matt Acton, to give the Fijian team the lead.

United threw everything they had in search of a second equaliser, but just when it felt as if a point was slipping away, they were gifted a dramatic late reprieve, when American William Cardona scored from long distance, after goalkeeper Didier Desprez spilled the effort into the roof of the net and ensure the spoils were shared.

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

January 18, 2026

Rassie Erasmus mocks All Blacks with AI-generated post

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rassie Erasmus and an AI generated image of Tony Brown PHOTOSPORT

Outspoken Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has taken to social media to address rumours of Tony Brown’s links to the now vacant All Black coaching role.

Erasmus posted an AI-generated video of Brown, who is currently attack coach for the world champion Springboks, stating that ‘I’m not f…ing leaving’.

The video replaced Brown’s face and voice over the top of a scene from The Wolf Of Wall Street, in which Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jordan Belfort makes the statement during a passionate address to his employees.

Brown’s name has immediately been brought up as a potential replacement for Scott Robertson, who was sensationally fired on Thursday after two seasons in charge of the All Blacks.

It’s widely believed Brown would reunite with long time coaching partner Jamie Joseph to take over, as the side prepares for a full tour of South Africa in August/September.

However, Erasmus’ post seems to have poured cold water on that notion. Brown has been instrumental in the Springboks’ recent dominance of world rugby, which included a record win over the All Blacks in Wellington last year.

Scott Robertson and Rassie Erasmus. ActionPress

Erasmus was frequently active on social media, gaining notoriety in 2021 for using it to pass judgement on officials during that year’s British & Irish Lions series in South Africa.

More recently, he posted a video appearing to be suffering the effects of a night of celebrations after the Springboks retained the Rugby Championship after defeating Argentina.

While this appeared to rule Brown out of the running, NZ Rugby were expected to name Robertson’s replacement in coming weeks. Joseph still remained the frontrunner, especially since it’s rumoured the Highlanders were actively looking for a new coach.

Other names to have been linked are Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie, although Schmidt was contracted to coach the Wallabies until the end of their July test matches.

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

January 18, 2026

Live: Flooding in Northland isolates communities, prompts warnings

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Ngaiotonga Bridge has been washed out, Whangarei District Council warned on Sunday. Supplied/ Whangarei District Council

Flooding in Northland has isolated communities, led to a deluge of calls to emergency services and prompted warnings that those affected should move to higher ground.

Just before 9am on Sunday, Fire and Emergency said it was dealing with multiple incidents throughout Northland. It was making plans to access properties, and was only able to respond to immediate life-threatening situations.

Have you been affected by the weather? Email us photos and videos: iwitness@rnz.co.nz

People affected by the flooding should to go to higher ground and be cautious to stay safe, but call 111 immediately if they were in life-threatening danger, FENZ said.

There had been a report of a landslide in the township of Ōakura, but no people or cars had been trapped underneath.

A bridge had also been washed out, and multiple houses flooded near Whangaruru Harbour, FENZ said.

MetService forecasters issued a heavy rain warning for Northland through to midday Sunday, with a warning the rain was expected to continue to accumulate after flooding overnight.

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

January 18, 2026

Breakers beat Cairns Taipans to stay alive in NBL playoff

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sam Mennenga top scored for the Breakers with 28 points, in their 104-86 win over Cairns on January 17th 2026. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

The New Zealand Breakers NBL season’s still alive after beating the Cairns Taipans 104-86 in their latest match.

The win was their second in a row, and was largely built on a dominant performance from Sam Mennenga, who finished with 28 points and five rebounds.

The team now has a 10-15 record, and remains in touch with the top six.

The Breakers started strongly to lead 26-21 at the end of the first quarter, and even though the Taipans piled in 30 points in the second quarter, the Breakers weren’t rattled, as they still managed to lead at the half 55-51.

They then pushed out to a double figure lead in the third term with a run of nine straight points which set them on the path to the 18-point win.

Other strong contributors for the Breakers were Izaiah Brockington who scored 24 points while Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 17 points, 10 assists and five steals, and Next Star Karim Lopez 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The game also featured Cairns coach Adam Forde being ejected, left fuming and baffled all season long about the lack of calls point guard Andrew Andrews has been getting.

That all spilled over midway through the second quarter, with another no-call when Andrews took a hit to his head.

Forde let his feelings be known to the officials and he was sent packing.

Tall Blacks guard Mojave King had a strong game for the Taipans, finishing with 19 points.

The Breakers will now attempt to chase down the sixth placed Tasmania JackJumpers (12-13) with their next match on Wednesday, at South East Melbourne.

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

January 18, 2026

The rise of the autistic detective – neurodivergent minds at the heart of modern mysteries

Source: Radio New Zealand

There never seems to be a shortage of good crime shows on TV, and network television is teeming with detectives who think – and act – differently.

This fall, new seasons of Elsbeth, High Potential, Patience and Watson have aired, and they all feature leads who share similar characteristics: They’re outsiders, they’re socially awkward, they can be emotionally distant, and their minds operate in unconventional ways.

In fact, they all possess traits that align with what many people now associate with neurodivergence – what scholar Nick Walker defines as “a mind that functions in ways that diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of ‘normal.’”

.622857142857″>

As a scholar of popular culture, I’ve long been fascinated by this recurring character type – detectives who might, today, be diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder.

While researching my forthcoming book, The Autistic Detective, I’ve come to realise that most detectives in popular culture – yes, even Sherlock Holmes – exhibited neurodivergent characteristics, long before the term existed.

The thin line between genius and madness

In the late 19th century, when Sherlock Holmes was created, there was widespread scientific interest in the workings of the mind, particularly the thin line between genius and madness.

British psychologist James Sully described “men of genius” as exhibiting “intellectual or moral peculiarities which are distinctly symptomatic of mental disease,” naming Edgar Allan Poe as an example of the “tragic fatefulness of geniuses.” Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso, meanwhile, proposed that madness, genius and criminality were all closely intertwined.

Such a fascination with exceptional minds – and the idea that madness and genius are two sides of the same coin – fed into the heart of detective fiction. And although later scholars have criticised the linking of neurodivergence to pathology, violence or genius, the trope remains common in popular culture, where it’s often used to signal the exceptional mind of a detective figure.

Now, however, many fans are able to connect these characteristics to specific diagnostic labels. According to CDC data from April 2025, autism diagnoses in US children have risen sharply over the past two decades – from about 1 in 150 in 1998 to roughly 1 in 31 today. This reflects not only a broadened definition of the autism spectrum but also signals greater public awareness and acceptance of neurodivergence.

That growing understanding has led to renewed interest in Holmes. From online fan forums to The New York Times, people have debated whether Holmes might be autistic, wondered whether another label would be more appropriate, or highlighted the futility of trying to diagnose a fictional character.

Super intelligence and social dysfunction

That said, it’s hard not to see some neurodivergent traits in Sherlock Holmes and other fictional detectives.

Tunnel vision, pattern recognition and attention to detail are all traits that could be exhibited by autistic people.

Holmes was fixated on minute details: One story highlighted how he authored a study on the ashes of 140 different varieties of pipe, cigar and cigarette tobacco. He had an unmatched talent for noticing overlooked details and piecing together disparate clues. And he was obsessed with forensic science.

He could also come off as cold. As Holmes declared in The Sign of the Four, “Emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning.”

In Edgar Allan Poe’s 1841 short story The Murders in the Rue Morgue, which is widely considered the first detective fiction story, the protagonist, C. Auguste Dupin, also hyperfocuses on small details, reasons through “pure logic” and is socially reclusive – all qualities displayed by Holmes.

Even Dr. Watson, Holmes’ sidekick, noticed the resemblance.

“You remind me of Edgar Allen Poe’s Dupin,” he tells Holmes in A Study in Scarlet. “I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of stories.”

When Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle famously killed off the detective at Reichenbach Falls in his 1893 story The Final Problem, there was so much public outrage that the author was eventually forced to bring him back from the dead.

These 19th-century Sherlock enthusiasts were predecessors to today’s media fandoms. Their level of devotion, unlike anything previously seen for a fictional character, was a testament to the power of Doyle’s formula: an extraordinary investigator with savantlike cognitive abilities who upholds logic over emotion, thrives in solitude and yet still depends on his companion – in Holmes’ case, Dr. Watson, who serves as an emotional counterbalance.

In the 21st century, that formula has been revived in wildly popular TV shows such as Bones, Criminal Minds and Sherlock.

In 2016, Sherlock co-creator Steven Moffat told the BBC, “Doyle began the idea that super-intelligence comes at the price of some kind of social dysfunction, something that we’ve grasped as a narrative possibility ever since.”

In other words, the more eccentric – or socially dysfunctional – a detective is, the more ingenious the hero seems.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ is a Korean series centered on an autistic, early-career attorney.

Supplied

A new era for the detective

Detective fiction might have started as a way to explore the deviant, non-normative minds of detectives and the criminals they pursued. But it has since become a space for neurodivergent self-representation.

Today, scholars, fans, reviewers and scientists openly discuss diagnostic labels for fictional characters. This surge in interest coincides with a rise in research on portrayals of autism in the media and a growing number of autistic voices examining how those portrayals shape public understanding.

Disability scholars have long warned of disabled characters being used as mere plot devices and have criticised the lack of diversity in representations of detectives who appear to be autistic on screen.

Yet many of the new shows push back against some of the stereotypes of autistic people as cold, lonely and incapable of affection. Instead, they have friends. They have romantic partners. They’re empathetic.

The series Elsbeth and High Potential center on quirky, intelligent female investigative leads who appear to be on the autism spectrum. In HBO’s 2020 miniseries The Outsider, detective Holly Gibney appears as one of the first Black, autistic female detectives on television.

While most of these characters aren’t explicitly identified as autistic in their shows, Extraordinary Attorney Woo features a female attorney whose diagnosis is openly discussed by the show’s characters.

The British-Belgian series Patience, meanwhile, is the first detective show to feature an explicitly autistic character played by a neurodivergent actress, Ella Maisy Purvis.

“It was really important to me that she wasn’t this kind of robotic, asexual drone,” Purvis told the Big Issue in 2025. “Patience is highly empathetic. She cares so much about her job and the people around her. It’s just expressed in a different way.”

These varied portrayals coincide with the rise of online fan communities where neurodivergent fans share what these stories mean to them. If the archetypal detective once tried to “make sense” of neurodivergent minds, today’s neurodivergent fans and creators are now having a hand in shaping them.

Perhaps most importantly, they no longer have to wonder whether they’re being represented on screen.

Soohyun Cho is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts & Humanities, Michigan State University.

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

January 18, 2026

Phoenix move up A-League table after win

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pia Vlok was one of the Wellington Phoenix’s two goal scorers, in a 2-0 win over Canberra, on 17 January (file photo). Marty Melville

Late goals from teenagers Zoe Benson and Pia Vlok have secured Wellington Phoenix a 2-nil victory over second-placed Canberra United FC, in a round 13 A-League clash.

Benson, 19, broke the deadlock four minutes from time on Saturday at McKellar Park, shortly after she came off the bench, while Vlok, 17, scored a sensational second deep in added time to seal the three points.

The result on Saturday moves Wellington up to seventh on the ladder.

The hosts played the entirety of the second half with just 10 players after having a player sent off in first half stoppage time, and Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman says they had to be patient.

“Pia’s been outstanding all season and Zoe all week has looked like she could score,” Priestman said.

“She did exactly what I asked of her from the moment she went on the pitch and I’m delighted for her.

“This club is big on promoting young players and if they’re good enough they’re old enough and I’m delighted for them to go and deliver.”

The Wellington Phoenix return home today, then have a full week to prepare to face Adelaide United at Porirua Park on Sunday 25 January.

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

January 18, 2026

Urgent advice sought on rockpool collections

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has asked for urgent advice on how to deal with reports of rockpools on Whangaparāoa Peninsula and other areas being stripped of marine life, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft say.

“I have asked Fisheries New Zealand officials to provide the advice with urgency given the situation at Army Bay and elsewhere,” Mr Jones says.

In October 2025, the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust requested a two-year temporary fisheries closure over the Rodney, Hibiscus Coast, and East Coast Bays coastline and some Hauraki Gulf islands.

FNZ has collated submissions received during public consultation and has received feedback from the trust.

“I acknowledge people are concerned at what they say is the indiscriminate collection of marine life at intertidal rockpools. These shellfish and other marine creatures reportedly being collected in large numbers by often big groups of people are crucial for the health of these ecosystems,” Mr Jones says.

“Along with any potential fisheries closures, I am considering what else can be done to dissuade people from collecting marine life that is not traditionally eaten and is at risk of disappearing from some areas completely. These measures could include prohibitions on the collection of certain species not usually taken for food, and social media campaigns at educating collectors from all cultures about the risks of taking large amounts of sea creatures from tiny ecosystems.”

Ms Marcroft has in the past week travelled to Whangaparāoa Peninsula accompanied by Fisheries staff and met concerned residents, as well as Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust representatives.

“We’re working with all parties to find a solution to the issue that is satisfactory to all, but we need to make sure there are no unintended consequences, such as for oyster farmers who legitimately collect spat from beaches,” Ms Marcroft says.

“It is important to acknowledge that no one in this situation is breaking the law but it is clear that this level of collection of marine life from these intertidal pools is not sustainable.

“Minister Jones and I are determined to ensure these areas recover and thrive so that all Kiwis can enjoy them.”

January 18, 2026

Person dies day after serious crash in Whakatāne

Source: Radio New Zealand

The crash on Tahuna Rd involved one car. (File photo) RNZ / Marika Khabazi

A person has died the day after a single-car crash near Whakatāne.

Emergency services were called to Tahuna Rd about 3.40pm on Saturday.

Two people were seriously injured in the crash initially, but police said one of the pair had now died.

The other person remained in a serious condition in hospital.

The road was closed but had since reopened.

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

January 18, 2026

Phoneix move up A-League table after win