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Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s climbdown on its methane emissions target and an agricultural emissions tax is dangerous and embarrassing, an international climate science and policy expert says.

Speaking from the COP30 global climate summit in Brazil, Dr Bill Hare said the New Zealand government’s recent policy decisions were “completely contrary” to scientific consensus.

“It is unbelievable this has happened against a background of a rapidly warming planet, and increasing scientific concern that methane emissions have to be reduced absolutely and quickly,” he told RNZ.

The government announced last month it would lower New Zealand’s methane emissions target, from a 24-47 percent reduction by 2050 to a 14-24 percent reduction, considered sufficient to meet a ‘no additional warming’ goal, compared to 2017 levels.

Hare, a physicist and former lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is currently the chief executive of the non-profit Climate Analytics.

He was responding to remarks made to RNZ by climate change minister Simon Watts, who said he was prepared to explain the rationale for the new methane target to other delegates at COP.

“If we get questions around that, which will potentially be the case, particularly from other countries that have pastoral farming systems, then we’ll be dialoguing on that,” Watts said.

Hare said it was “difficult to understand how New Zealand can make a constructive contribution to COP30 with this kind of attitude.

“Methane has contributed to around one third of warming so far, and I would be extremely worried if New Zealand, proportionally a country with a very large agriculture sector, were to be touting its methane rollbacks here in Brazil.”

The adoption of a ‘no additional warming’ target, rather than pursuing more ambitious reductions, was “an embarrassing and humiliating capture by industry”, he said.

“[It] is very dangerous at a time we have to reduce the warming impact of methane – and very, very quickly.”

There was a global agreement to reduce methane, he said.

New Zealand remains a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge, where several dozen countries have pledged to globally lower methane emissions by 30 percent from 2020 levels, by 2030.

“There has been a global agreement to reduce methane – and what New Zealand has done is completely contrary to this. It seems hell-bent on maintaining methane at today’s high and unsustainable levels.”

Ralph Sims, an emeritus professor in sustainable energy and climate mitigation at Massey University, also said the New Zealand delegation might face awkward questions.

“I don’t think New Zealand is going to be held in high regard,” he said.

“There may be some agricultural countries … that might look over the fence to see what New Zealand’s got in mind, but I don’t think there’s going to be a huge acceptance of what the government is planning at the moment.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Two of the boards that spoke out over the government’s axing of their Treaty of Waitangi obligations say they are getting strong support.

Some boards made public statements reiterating their commitment to the Treaty after the government announced it would cut a Treaty requirement from the Education and Training Act.

It was not clear how many of the more than 2000 state schools had made a statement.

However, tallies kept by the School Boards Association and lawyer Tania Waikato showed more than 200 schools had written to the Education Minister Erica Stanford or confirmed they would continue to uphold the treaty and the number was growing.

The association expected that number to rise because most boards would not have met since the government last week announced that it would cut the Treaty obligation this week.

The board of Dyer Street School in the Hutt Valley said upholding the Treaty was the right thing to do for its students.

The board’s presiding member Matt Weldon-Smith told RNZ the school wrote its own statement.

He said the Treaty was important to the school.

“I know it’s a bit of a political football, but it’s not really a political issue to us. It feels more like an ethical, educational one. So, that honouring Te Tiriti ensures every child feels valued, respected and represented in their learning,” he said.

Weldon-Smith said community reaction has been incredibly positive.

“It’s clearly touched people and it’s been one of probably our most reactive messages we put out this year,” he said.

“Looking at the comments… it’s almost overwhelmingly positive and supportive.”

The board of Queens High in Dunedin said in an online statement its commitment to the Treaty was not a compliance exercise.

Its presiding member Kate Kaddell told RNZ the Treaty was fundamental for schools in an inclusive society.

“What it means for us is that when we are making decisions, we look at them through a lens of equity and cultural responsiveness and inclusion,” she said.

She said the school made a public statement to assure its community that it followed through on what it said.

Kaddell said the school had about 600 students and reaction from its community was positive.

“As at this afternoon I can see 1600 engagements,” she said.

“If you look at the emojis as a data point, there’s only one angry red face and the rest in that number – 912 loves, 745 thumbs-up, 14 caring signs, and one sadness emoji. So that’s quite a a snapshot of affirmation for our community.”

Meanwhile, a petition by the Iwi Chairs Forum calling for reinstatement of the Treaty clause had 13,275 signatures by late Thursday afternoon.

The government has said the Treaty is an obligation for the Crown, not schools.

It said schools should be focused on ensuring high achievement for all students, not on figuring out how to give effect to the Treaty.

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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 former senior leader at police is on leave from his job at the Civil Aviation Authority following the police watchdog’s scathing report into how police handled allegations of sexual offending by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.

RNZ earlier revealed the identities of some of the senior leaders referred to in the IPCA’s 135-page report.

Among them is Chris de Wattignar, referred to in the IPCA’s report as Deputy Commissioner PLC, now works as the Upper North head of aviation security at the Civil Aviation Authority.

Asked for comment on Wednesday, a CAA spokesperson said the matters discussed in the IPCA’s report “relate to events that occurred during Chris de Wattignar’s previous employment with New Zealand Police”.

“As this was a police matter and is now the subject of extensive public reporting and oversight, it would not be appropriate for the Civil Aviation Authority or for Chris in his current role to comment.”

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

The CAA had no involvement in the police investigation or the IPCA’s findings, the spokesperson said.

“We are focused on our statutory responsibilities for aviation safety and security, and we continue to support our people to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.”

However, on Thursday, a CAA spokesperson confirmed de Wattingar was on leave as of Thursday.

“He will take some time away as we work through an employment process and any implications for him in his role at CAA,” the spokesperson said.

“We will work through these processes as quickly as possible. We are bound by legal processes and obligations as an employer, and we won’t be able to discuss employment matters publicly.”

The IPCA said de Wattignar had an obligation to exercise independent judgement and take any necessary action to ensure senior officers were acting in an appropriate way.

“Despite his Director of Integrity and Conduct raising her concerns with him in the clearest language, he clearly failed to fulfil that obligation.”

The IPCA acknowledged his responsibility was “to a degree mitigated” by the fact he sought advice from Coster.

“His failing lies in the fact that he simply relied upon Commissioner Coster’s and Deputy Commissioner Kura’s assurances without further enquiry of his own, despite the continued expressions of concern from Officer M.”

De Wattignar’s perception that once he became aware of concerns he lacked the necessary authority was proof of the “inadequate status and independence of Police Integrity and Conduct”.

“While we do not doubt there was significantly more he could have done, the status of Integrity and Conduct within Police no doubt needs reframing.”

RNZ asked a spokesperson for Associate Minister of Transport James Meager for comment on de Wattignar’s suitability for his role at the CAA.

The spokesperson said it was a question for the CAA to respond to.

“It’s an operational employment matter so would be inappropriate for Minister Meager to comment.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The coroner in charge of the Cyclone Gabrielle Inquiry has given the public a telling off for making unkind comments online about a witness, saying no individual person is to blame for those who died in the tragic weather event.

The coroner began day 14 of the Hawke’s Bay phase of the inquiry by telling the court she was aware of “unkind” comments being made online about a witness.

Woolley said it’s very easy to judge the actions of other people with the benefit of hindsight and from behind the “shield of a keyboard”.

“I would challenge any person thinking about making negative comments about the evidence of witnesses online, to think about how well you might perform under similar scrutiny.

“I doubt many people would be able to act perfectly or to make all the right decisions in circumstances such as what unfolded in Cyclone Gabrielle,” the coroner said.

Woolley said a Coroner’s Inquest relies on people coming to court and giving evidence, which “may inherently involve admissions about things they could have done differently or better”.

She also noted that many of the people working in Civil Defence and emergency services were volunteers, and the system relied on them taking these roles on as well as their “business as usual” jobs.

“Without people doing that work, given we are in a country facing a great deal of natural hazards, we would all be at risk of having no one come to assist us in times of need,” Woolley said.

She emphasised the importance and function of a Coronial Inquiry.

“The purpose of this process is to make positive change for future, not to blame individuals,” Woolley said.

‘I’m so sorry’

Robert Johnson, who was the Emergency Management Advisor for Communications and Public Information (PIM) during Cyclone Gabrielle, made an emotional apology to victims’ families on Thursday morning.

“The families and whanau who tragically lost their lives in the cyclone, to you I extend my heartfelt aroha and condolences.

“It is with that deep respect that I give my evidence today.”

His voice choked with emotion as he told the court about how more than two years on from the deadly Cyclone Gabrielle, he still thought about it every day.

“It is often one of the last things on my mind at night as I got to sleep. My colleagues and I tried our very best to plan for and respond to the cyclone and keep our community safe.

“I am so sorry that our efforts could not prevent the loss of your precious loved ones,” he said.

As Johnson took a moment to gather himself, the coroner then made the unusual move of responding to his apology, telling him “no one died because of one person in this event”.

“I’m sure the families are appreciative of your comments, but I want to emphasise that I don’t think any one person should bear the feelings that they themselves are responsible for any deaths in this situation,” Woolley said.

‘I absolutely would approach things differently’

Earlier in the week, the court heard about how Civil Defence Group Emergency Coordination Centre (GECC) was running with “skeleton staff” on the night of 13 February, when rivers burst their banks and flooded hundreds of homes.

The acting group controller for Civil Defence in Hawke’s Bay, Edaan Lennan, had explained the challenges of finding enough staff for overnight shifts, and the decision to strategically bring people back early on February 14th.

At 10pm on February 13, Robert Johnson left the HBCDEM Group office leaving Lennan to oversee communications with the public.

“I had full confidence in Edaan’s ability using the tools and channels, and what we anticipated overnight was perhaps some minor incidences at a local level that Edaan could then share on our channel.

“But in hindsight, I would not be comfortable leaving no PIM manager in place,” he said.

He became emotional as he described how hard it was to leave the office the night of February 13.

“I really struggled with leaving office that night. I had a partner and 2 year old child at home.”

He said leaving was not something he would normally do, as he’d usually “see it through”.

In his evidence, Johnson also reflected on the wording of the Facebook posts used to inform the public. A post from 8:33pm on February 13th included messaging for residents that said:

“At the moment there is no need for residents to evacuate – those who should move have already been contacted – however, if you feel concerned, please don’t hesitate to voluntarily self-evacuate to whānau and friends.

“If evacuation is required overnight, teams will be deployed to advise residents. And if you are told to evacuate, please follow the evacuation advice you are given at the time.”

Flood victims have since expressed their frustration and anger over the wording of these posts, saying it gave them a false sense of security that they could go to sleep that night and would be alerted if an evacuation was needed.

An Emergency Mobile Alert was not issued for Esk Valley until 5:19am on 14 February, by which time two people had already drowned and many more residents were clutching onto their rooftops as the floodwaters rose.

The coroner’s lawyer Matthew Mortimer-Wang asked Johnson about his Facebook posts, querying whether it was appropriate to tell residents that they’d be advised if an evacuation was needed.

“Have the events of Cyclone Gabrielle changed your sensitivity or margin of appreciation built into when we might, or might not, be able to follow though,” Mortimer-Wang asked.

“The events of Cyclone Gabrielle have changed my life. I absolutely would approach things differently,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s previous communication experience included working as a Press Secretary in Parliament for Minister Kelvin Davis, who was the Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party at the time. Since moving to Hawke’s Bay in 2021, he’d been deployed as a PIM for West Coast flooding in 2021 and the Nelson Tasman flooding in 2022.

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