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‘Very pleased’: Luck goes Lawson’s way as he scores more F1 points

Source: Radio New Zealand

Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team MARCEL VAN DORST / AFP

Smiles again for Liam Lawson as some luck went his way in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Lawson finished in the points for the third straight race after grabbing ninth position at Suzuka.

The 24-year-old had front wing issues which prevented him from getting through to Q3 on Saturday, but a good launch from the grid in the race had him up two places to 12th at the first corner.

From there he was helped by the safety car for Oliver Bearman’s crash and jumped into the points and was able to hold off Estaban Ocon for the rest of the race.

From 14th on the grid to P9, Lawson was the biggest mover of the day.

“I’m very pleased with today. From where we started and the doubts we had from yesterday’s issues, the team did a great job rebalancing the car, which led to a strong race,” Lawson said afterwards.

“We were also a bit fortunate with the Safety Car, which helped us move into the points. Without that, it would have been difficult to finish where we did, so it’s good to come away with something.

Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls at the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. Eric Alonso / PHOTOSPORT

“That’s three point-scoring finishes in the last two races, which is a nice bit of momentum heading into the break. I’ll spend time training and with the team to reflect on the past month before Miami, as we keep working to improve.”

Lawson is 10th in the standings with 10 points as the drivers enjoy an extended break following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix because of the war in Iran. The next race is Miami on 3 May.

His team-mate Arvid Linblad suffered because of the safety car after pitting just before and finished 14th.

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane was happy with the points but admits more work is needed.

“We’re looking forward to a break now with some good upgrades to the car planned for Miami. Liam and Arvid will do a mix of training and simulator work in preparation for the upcoming races, but importantly some well-deserved rest as well.”

The safety car also helped decide the podium with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli benefiting to win his second straight race. Oscar Piastri, who lead at the first corner, suffered and finished second with Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari third.

Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli. FLORENT GOODEN / PHOTOSPORT

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

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Football: All Whites seeking statement result in World Cup build up

Source: Radio New Zealand

Marko Stamenic leads the All Whites on to Eden Park during the Fifa Series. Shane Wenzlick / Photosport.nz

A “flat” performance in front of their home fans and eight games since a win is not a cause for concern leading into the Football World Cup, according to former All White and current assistant coach Simon Elliott.

On the back of two years of “progression”, Elliott is confident the All Whites are on the right track.

The broad principles of how they want to play are locked in and Elliott believes the focus will sharpen once the team arrives at the world’s most watched sporting event.

“What I think you’ll see is once the World Cup gets close, you’ll see a change. I think you’ll see a focus. I think you’ll see an elevation of everything we’re doing.”

Players and coaches were disappointed with Friday’s 2-0 loss to Finland in Auckland in the first of two games as part of a home send-off.

“You have to take it with a little bit of grain of salt. We did enough good things where we can be encouraged, but we weren’t where we wanted to be and we were short in key moments on and off the ball.

“We need to improve, but again, I think we’re a little bit closer than maybe some folks realise.”

The team will likely now need to make history if they are to leave fans with a real sense of confidence in their chances of getting out of their group for the first time at the World Cup.

The All Whites have never beaten a team from South America and Monday’s clash against Chile in the Fifa Series will be a test of tactics and mentality.

The occasion of playing at home and wanting to impress enough to book a place in the World Cup squad were some potential reasons coach Darren Bazeley floated for why the New Zealanders “didn’t look like ourselves” on Friday.

All Whites coach Darren Bazeley and assistant Simon Elliott. PHOTOSPORT

“Pressure’s going to be there whether we’re playing here or away or at the World Cup or not. That’s just part of the gig,” Elliott said.

“If we’re not used to it, then we need to get used to it because it will go up from here.

“That being said, I think most of the players where they’re playing, they’re pretty used to some kind of scrutiny, some kind of pressure.”

The World Cup is 73 days away and following the Chile match the players will return to their club environments before linking up with the national team for warm up games ahead of their opening World Cup game on 16 June (NZT).

“I think this group has shown that they’ve got a lot of potential, I think we are improving.

“It’s not linear, there’s going to be moments where we get it wrong and then we have a responsibility to have robust conversations to get it as good as we possibly can before we go into the June camp.

“So I would say we’re heading in the right direction.”

Slovakia’s Zdenko Strba and Simon Elliott during All Whites versus Slovakia at 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa. Andrew Cornaga / PHOTOSPORT

Elliott was there when the All Whites were last at the World Cup in 2010.

Leading into the tournament in South Africa, the All Whites then ranked 78th in the world upset the world number 15 Serbia in a friendly in Austria.

“The Serbia game was an important marker for that group.

“Good performance, could have gone either way, but we got the result, gave the group belief and built momentum.

“You’re always looking for things like that, the signs here are positive that one of those is coming. You never quite know when. We’ll keep working at it.”

The last home game before the World Cup against a side ranked 31 places higher than New Zealand would be as good a time as any to start building the winning momentum.

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

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Latest gauge of the country’s fuel supplies to be released today

Source: Radio New Zealand

The most recent figures showed there was 18.1 days of diesel with 28.3 days on the way. RNZ / Unsplash

The latest gauge of the country’s fuel supplies will be released on Monday, and farmers will be among those taking a keen interest.

The figures available now – showing what fuel there is and the ships on their way with more – were released on Thursday and show up until Sunday 22 March.

They revealed 24.5 days of petrol in the country, with another 24.2 on the way.

There was 20.1 days of jet fuel with 33.3 days on the way, and 18.1 days of diesel with 28.3 days on the way.

It was the diesel stocks that farmers said they would be keeping an eye on.

Federated Farmers spokesman David Birkett said up to 95 percent of farming machinery used the fuel.

“I guess what we’re looking for is at least maintaining that level, if we can hold it at those sorts of levels that would be really good to see,” he told RNZ.

“But the likelihood that it will reduce a little but more is probably quite significant as well.”

Birkett said there was a challenge in making sure land workers used only the diesel they need.

He said farmers were already limiting their use of diesel, both because of how much it costs and to conserve it.

“Even on the farm there are some activities that can be delayed or put back so it’s about making sure essential work is being done in these types of circumstances,” he said.

“It [diesel] does the heavy lifting essentially, all our transportation combines and tractors and trucks so it really is the backbone of the New Zealand economy these days.

Birkett said it was prudent for farmers to save what diesel they could early.

“Saving a few litres here and there now might make us in a better position than a months time or even two months time when things potentially good be better or they could be tighter, so it’s a bit like anything, a bit of savings earlier can quite often put you in a better position later,” Birkett said.

One grape harvester who was part-way through the harvest told RNZ last week that their supplier had already signalled tightening supplies.

They were grappling with staggering price rises the likes of which had never been seen before, he said.

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

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Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward councillor Christine Fletcher promises probe into unruly party

Source: Radio New Zealand

Christine Fletcher was contacted by fearful local residents. RNZ / Finn Blackwell

A councillor for the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert is asking the council’s chief executive to investigate, after an out-of-control party of teens left several injured.

Teenagers ran for their lives, when trouble broke out on Phyllis Street on Friday night.

Two people were hurt, after a vehicle drove toward partygoers, while another two were injured in wider disorder.

Neighbours said the home was listed on short-stay accommodation sites and had been used for parties before.

One neighbour said locals had raised the problem with local MPs and other authorities, but nothing had changed.

Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward councillor and former Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher told RNZ the unrest could not happen again.

“It’s completely unacceptable,” she said. “While, at the moment, the matter sits with police, we have to – within council – look at those areas for which we’re responsible,” she said.

“Infringements, noise infringements, whether it’s the sale of alcohol… we need to actually do a check to see what complaints have been lodged over this past year, because we cannot see a repeat of that just terrible behaviour.”

Fletcher said the incident was significant and had to be taken seriously.

“Let’s leave it with police at the moment, but know that there will be an investigation going on behind the scenes.”

Fletcher said she had been contacted by two residents with young families, wondering what on earth had happened.

“We’re not living in a warzone and we do not need to see this type of behaviour. We need to get to the bottom of it and understand how this has been allowed to happen.”

Local Anna McKessar earlier told RNZ she was putting her children to bed just before 10pm, when a group of screaming teens came running towards her home.

“I was really worried about the young people that I could see, and whether they were trying to get away and whether they were safe.”

She said a few hundred people were gathered there, before violence spilt out onto the road.

“They shouldn’t have been having this ruckus party,” she said.

Another Phyllis Street resident, who did not want to be named, said she was woken by the sounds of the “violent” altercation.

“There was so many people out there screaming and shouting at each other, and they were kicking the gates and fences of random houses down Phyllis Street. It sounded like people were getting really hurt.”

Police said they wanted to hear from anyone with footage from the event or who had not yet spoken with them.

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

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Fisheries Bill enters murky waters

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones was initially unapologetic about the plan, but after advice from his leader and the Prime Minister, the controversial clause is gone. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

There has been a U-turn on the most controversial part of the sweeping new Fisheries Bill, but keeping undersized catches wasn’t the only fishhook in the legislation.

It was the great catch that wasn’t.

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones was forced to throw his controversial fishing clause back into the sea last week, following protests and backlash – now his “once-in-a-generation” overhaul of New Zealand’s fishing rules is set Shane to be scrutinised in parliament with its first reading.

The government is proposing sweeping changes to the Fisheries Act, aimed at making the industry more efficient, more profitable, and quicker to respond to changes in fish stocks.

But after pressure from environmental groups and recreational fishers, Fisheries Minister Jones pulled back on his contentious plan to scrap most minimum size limits for commercial fishers, effectively allowing them to land and sell baby fish, including snapper and tarakihi.

He was initially unapologetic about the plan, but after advice from his leader and the prime minister – it’s up for debate who gave it first – he pulled a late pivot last week, and the clause is gone.

“It’s quite a big development really,” says RNZ producer and reporter Ross McNaughton, who has covered the many twists and turns of the bill.

“I think it [the bill] definitely does have the potential to bite the Matua on the bum, because it is riling up a lot of people.”

Today, The Detail looks at the “complex, dense” bill, which is shaping up to be a hot political topic in an election year.

“It’s so hard to sum up because it’s such a big bill,” McNaughton says. “There is the setting of catch limits now for up to five years, there are restrictions on cameras and the fines, and even the restrictions on whether or not people can challenge these in court.

“So, there is just so much in there, it’s such a massive bill, and very hard to pin down in a headline. I guess you could say it’s very very murky waters.”

The Fisheries Minister insists the changes will cut red tape and unlock growth in a billion-dollar export sector.

But critics say it risks doing the opposite – weakening environmental protections and handing more power to big fishing interests.

Concerns are also mounting around transparency, with the proposed tweaks to on-board camera rules raising alarms about public oversight.

Recreational fishers and environmental groups warn the reforms could put pressure on already-stretched fish stocks – and limit access for everyday kiwis.

But then supporters argue the current system is outdated and slow – and say smarter, more responsive rules are long overdue.

The bill is expected to face intense scrutiny as it heads through Parliament, with the future of New Zealand’s fisheries hanging in the balance.

“The timing isn’t great, given this is an election year, and this is starting to gather a lot of political heat,” McNaughton says.

“It’s an incredibly complex issue, with passionate people on either side.”

At its core, the debate cuts to a familiar tension in New Zealand: how to protect a loved finite natural resource while supporting an industry that’s vital to regional economies.

The government maintains the reforms are about modernising an outdated system – making it more efficient, more responsive, and much better aligned with real-world fishing practices.

Now, as the bill edges closer to its next stage, many in this ocean-loving country will be watching closely.

“It is intrinsically New Zealand,” says McNaughton. “And that’s why it’s such a hot topic”.

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

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NZ First announces former mayor as West Coast candidate

Source: Radio New Zealand

Buller’s Jamie Cleine will run for election for NZ First, the party has announced. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

New Zealand First has revealed former Buller mayor Jamie Cleine will stand for the party in the West Coast-Tasman electorate, in November’s general election.

Cleine lost the mayoralty in the October local elections after six years in the job, during which he led work on a plan to relocate Westport over decades, in the face of climate change.

  • Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises

    • He has been a dairy and livestock farmer for 26 years.

    The candidate announcement comes alongside a policy announcement NZ First wants half of the royalties from mining returned to the region it was mined from, through targeted investment, including in local infrastructure and housing.

    This would come alongside revised rules for where mining can occur, longer-term mining permits, and investment in geological surveying technology.

    Meanwhile, they would also curb the ability of the Department of Conservation to intervene by prioritising protection for areas of high conservation only, and “streamlining” timeframes for the agency, with the proviso of ensuring protection for “genuinely endangered species”.

    This would be achieved through changes to the Conservation and Wildlife Acts.

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Strong demand for businesses to buy, but some sellers holding back

Source: Radio New Zealand

Bigger investors are looking for businesses that would be managed by someone else and return an annual profit of a least a million dollars. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Demand for businesses to buy remains high, with ABC Business Sales seeing a 28 percent increase in sales over the past year to a record of more than 500 deals done.

“While fewer businesses came up for sale, [there is] a clear sign that demand is now outstripping supply,” ABC managing director Chris Small said, adding that more than 27,800 potential buyers expressed interest in businesses advertised for sale over the past year.

He said there were currently 39 confidentiality agreements signed per sale listing, compared to 15 per sale listing three years ago.

“Right now, good businesses that are well prepared are getting strong interest, because there are more buyers than sellers.”

He said some would-be sellers were holding back, concerned about selling into current market conditions, but that was not always a good strategy.

“Interest rates move, banks tighten lending or buyer confidence drops, and the value they were hoping to achieve isn’t there anymore.”

Small said one of the biggest lessons from 40 years in the industry and more than 10,000 sales was that selling a business was rarely just a financial decision – three factors needed to align to achieve a good sale.

“It’s got to work for you personally,” he said. “You want your financials to be at their strongest and you want the market to be at their strongest.

“Conversely to that, if you haven’t had a great year of trading, ultimately, you would be better off waiting, building your profit up and then coming to market, when you’ve got those numbers in a stronger position.”

He said more buyers were looking to buy themselves a job, with a business that could return an annual income of between $200,000-300,000 for one working owner.

“The trend certainly is more people looking… to be in charge of their own destiny and creating their own wealth by being their own boss,” Small said.

“I think it’s just become a bit of a more of a trend over the last 2-3 years.”

He said bigger investors were looking for a business that would be managed by someone else and return an annual profit of a least a million dollars.

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Money: How long are KiwiSaver members waiting for withdrawals?

Source: Radio New Zealand

Rising cost of living is forcing many to withdrawal from KiwiSaver early. LDR / Alka Prasad

Some KiwiSaver members are waiting months for their hardship withdrawal applications to be processed, as providers struggle with the volume.

Withdrawals from the scheme for financial hardship reasons have increased significantly in recent years.

In February, 4750 people withdrew money because of hardship, up from 4130 in February 2025, but some members have complained about how long the process can take.

Some on social media have said they applied last month and still not had a response.

RNZ surveyed providers to ask how long they typically took.

The country’s biggest provider, ANZ, said it could take up to 20 working days.

“To work within this timeline, we do require the information requested,” a spokesperson said. “It may take longer, if there are public holidays or we need to ask for more information.”

On average, its processing time was within 20 days, even though applications were up 10 percent year-on-year.

Fisher Funds said generally guided clients to allow up to 30 working days for the whole process.

“That’s probably a fair indication of where we are at the moment. November and December were particularly busy, which we expected, and this continues with new challenges hitting the family budget.

“The biggest thing people can do to help is to be thorough in sending through all their supporting documents, as this can really help speed up the first part of the process.”

Koura KiwiSaver founder Rupert Carlyon said his team would typically respond within 2-3 days of receiving an application.

“The biggest issue is the back and forth with clients,” he said. “The problem is that we often need to go back multiple times with clients, which extends out the time frames.

“The applications are not easy and we need a huge amount of information, which is what typically takes the time.”

ASB said its timeframe was for processing within 15 days from when the full application was made.

“We understand delays can happen sometimes and this can add to an already stressful time. The most common reason for delays is due to customers providing incomplete information at the time of submitting their application, so we encourage our KiwiSaver customers who are considering making a hardship withdrawal request to ensure they are providing the most up-to-date and complete set of information and evidence possible.

“Our team can support them with this.”

Milford Asset Management did not want to comment.

DebtFix founder Christine Liggins – who helps several providers, including Milford, with their hardship applications – said applications were usually turned around in a couple of days, when all the information was provided.

Pie Funds chief executive Ana-Marie Lockyer advised people to allow up to 10 working days for a hardship application to be assessed from the point the information was provided.

“In most cases at the moment, applications are being processed within around five working days. Where delays do occur, they are typically due to incomplete information.

“Hardship applications require detailed supporting documentation to ensure the request meets regulatory requirements and sometimes clients need additional time to gather that information.

“We understand these situations can be stressful, so there is a strong focus on processing applications as quickly as possible, once everything needed has been provided.”

SBS Wealth said applications were generally paid out within 15 working days. Westpac said it took eight days to begin an application review.

“The timeline for reviews can vary, from a few days to a few weeks,” Kernel founder Dean Anderson said. “The delays are often due to gathering enough information from the client upfront in order to make an assessment.

“As an industry, we would love to see the centralisation of hardship assessments – ideally handled within WINZ. This would avoid inconsistent decisions and KiwiSaver members trying to shop around for an outcome.

“It would also ensure there is direct wider support, providing full wraparound to the individual to help them with potentially other more accessible avenues for financial support.”

While providers initially assess the application, the final decision is made by the scheme’s supervisor.

One provider, Public Trust, said people understandably wanted fast responses, when they were financially stressed.

“The application process can take time, because of the strict KiwiSaver rules in place and the continued high number of withdrawals providers are managing. We work closely with providers and know they’re working hard to reduce turnaround times.

“As supervisor, we’re involved at the end of the assessment process and, once applications reach us, we return a decision to the provider within a few days.”

ASB said it was worth considering whether a withdrawal was appropriate.

“We understand many Kiwis may be doing it tough at the moment and that applying for a KiwiSaver hardship withdrawal can play a part in managing a challenging financial situation. However, this should only be explored once other options have been weighed up.

“An early withdrawal can have a significant impact on the total KiwiSaver balance a customer will have available to them once they reach retirement. We encourage any customer who’s concerned about their financial situation to get in touch with us early, so we can explore all options with them.”

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

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Move on orders: Protesters hold overnight vigil in Wellington cathedral

Source: Radio New Zealand

About 250 people are at an overnight vigil at Wellington’s St Paul Cathedral to protest the government’s plan to introduce move-on orders. RNZ / Russell Palmer

Dozens of people are hunkering down overnight at Wellington’s St Paul Cathedral to protest move-on orders.

About 250 people and 50 volunteers are at the vigil, organised by eight churches and other community groups.

Families with children will head home after speeches and music tonight, while others are expecting to stay for breakfast.

About 250 people are at an overnight vigil at Wellington’s St Paul Cathedral to protest the government’s plan to introduce move-on orders. RNZ / Russell Palmer

They oppose the move-on orders the government plans to introduce, which would allow police to issue notices to those sleeping rough requiring them to move to another location.

Those who refuse could face a $2000 fine or up to three months in prison.

About 250 people are at an overnight vigil at Wellington’s St Paul Cathedral to protest the government’s plan to introduce move-on orders. RNZ / Russell Palmer

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Serious crash, Karapiro

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 1 / Tīrau Road near the service station is blocked in both directions following a three-car crash.

Emergency services were called to the incident about 5.40pm.

Two people have sustained serious injuries and are being provided medical assistance by ambulance services.

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.

Motorists should plan extra time into their journey as diversions are in place while emergency services work at the scene.

Southbound traffic is being diverted at Victoria Road, Cambridge.

Northbound traffic is being diverted at Maungatautari Road, Horahora.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre