NZ Engine

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s. Ruth Kuo

Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

In the parts of the South Island, strong winds brought down trees overnight.

Has your holiday been disrupted by the weather? Email iwitness@rnz.co.nz with your photos or information.

Fire and Emergency said State Highway 7 over the Rahu Saddle, between Reefton and Springs Junction, was affected.

State Highway 6 also had trees coming down, particularly through the Whangamoa Hills between Nelson and Blenheim.

Firefighters were still being called out into the evening across the North Island, taking the total number of weather-related jobs to about 140 in Auckland, Northland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

PowerCo said hundreds of properties remain without power north of Whanganui, and around Palmerston North and Feilding.

Campground holidays disrupted

Campground managers in the North Island are hoping for sunnier weather leading up to New Year’s after a lashing of wind and rain.

Wild weather battered much of the North Island on Monday, disrupting campers, causing power outages and downing trees.

In Auckland a roof was torn off an unoccupied home in Hillsborough, as fire crews responded to more than 100 weather-related callouts.

The manager of Kūaotunu Campground on the Coromandel Peninsula, Yvette Davey, said the weather had caused a bit of disruption on Monday.

“We have had a couple of campers that their tents were destroyed so they had to go home, other than that people are hunkering down, it’s settled down here,” she said.

Leanne Mills, the owner of Long Bay Motor Camp in Coromandel said campers were not too put off by the wet weather.

“We’ve had a bit of rain [on Monday] but we’ve been lucky campers have just used it as a crash day, just chill out, read a book, sleep,” she said.

“We’ve just got continued support from our regulars, mostly 90 percent Kiwis, so they’ll come and just meet up every year with the same people year after year and they don’t really care if it rains.”

Festivalgoers for New Year’s events such as Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne have been warned to watch out for wild weather on the roads.

The roof of an unoccupied home in the Auckland suburb of Hillsborough came off in high winds and scattered debris down the road. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

What’s today’s forecast?

Strong wind warnings for the northern and central parts of the North Island have expired but several regions remain in the firing line.

A strong wind warning is in effect for Wellington until 9pm Tuesday. South to southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places, MetService said.

Orange wind warnings remain for Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast until 9am Tuesday, and the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson and the West Coast north of Aoraki Mount Cook until 2pm Tuesday.

An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Hawke’s Bay until 8am Tuesday.

Tauranga City Council has cancelled all five of its community New Year’s Eve events because of the bad weather forecast.

The council said weather reports indicated heavy rain and strong winds during event set-up, with conditions highly likely to continue into Wednesday.

It said fireworks displays would hopefully still take place from various locations around the city on New Year’s Eve.

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

December 30, 2025

Phoenix crushed by Victory in A-League clash in Melbourne

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Phoenix are now 10th following the defeat to Melbourne Victory. Masanori Udagawa/Photosport

The Wellington Phoenix have fallen to their heaviest defeat of the A-League season, thumped 5-1 by Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

Ramy Najjarine drew the Phoenix level at 1-1 midway through the first half but the hosts scored goals either side of halftime take a two goal lead.

The Victory extended their advantage before the hour mark and added a fifth goal in the 90th minute.

Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano said the team’s defence was poor.

“I had a quick look at the goals that we conceded and I think every goal was preventable,” he said.

“The first goal was taken well. It was a good header but just sloppy second phase awareness for the first two goals. And then the third, fourth and fifth goals were for me comical. Especially coming out at halftime, the lack of pressure on the ball, being aware of where their dangers were and we weren’t protecting the space like we’d spoken about.

“And just the timing of the goals like straight after halftime to make it 3-1. Uncharacteristic goals…and we should have managed defensively a lot better.”

The result drops the Phoenix to 10th on the ladder, three points outside the top six.

Italiano believes it was an “off day” for his side and they can still turn around their fortunes.

“Simply it comes down to focus for 90 minutes and nothing else.

“We’re in most games for a large part. Tonight…was probably the first game that got away from us very early. It’s just staying in those moments and making sure that we don’t make basic errors and mistakes and there’s a lack of application.

“If we can eliminate that then we can still achieve good things this season.”

Italiano made one enforced change to the starting XI with 18-year-old goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron named to make his A-League starting debut in place of Josh Oluwayemi, who suffered an injury early in the 3-1 win over Central Coast prior to Christmas.

Alby Kelly-Heald, Xuan Loke and reserve team fullback Ryan Lee were promoted to the bench.

The Phoenix have little time to dwell on the defeat as they will travel to Brisbane prepare for Saturday’s match against the Roar.

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

December 30, 2025

Ngā Kaupapa Hirahira o te Tau: A look back at the year that was in Te Ao Māori

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wiremu Keretene (Ngāti Hine) holds a sleeping child during the waka display at Tii Beach this morning. RNZ / Peter de Graaf

After the rollercoaster year that was 2024 te ao Māori may have expected that to continue into 2025 and in many ways it did with so many stories making for another unprecedented year.

The national Kapa Haka competition Te Matatini returned in February, rising to new heights of popularity with Te Tauihu group Te Kuru Marutea capturing hearts well beyond Māori circles with their powerful solos and of course there was that Waiata ā Ringa from eventual winners Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue.

The festival has also grown to record size, this year saw 55 haka groups competing the most ever and concerns over infrastructure in smaller regions eventually led organisers to move the next festival in 2027 to Waikato, rather than to the Nelson region which had been expected to host.

2025 was also a status qou breaking year in Māori politics, which saw the deaths of influential political leaders, an unprecedented suspension from Parliament, a by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau and a bitter feud within Te Pāti Māori.

But it began with a long and drawn out Select Committee process for the Treaty Principles Bill, a record-breaking 300,000+ submissions were made on the controversial bill which was ultimately defeated near-unanimously at its second reading in April – although its architect David Seymour has promised to reignite the debate in 2026.

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place in September, one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia.

Te Ao Māori awaited eagerly to hear what Te Arikinui would say after a year of silence – and her kōrero did not disappoint. She told listeners there were many ways to manifest being Māori, “Kaua tātou e tuku mā ngā porotū kau noa e Māori ai tātou – Tino Rangatiratangatia tō reo, Mana Motuhaketia te taiao, Tino Rangatiratangatia tō hauora, Mana Motuhaketia tō pā harakeke, kei aua kaupapa rā te tino oranga mai o te Māoritanga,” she said.

She also took the opportunity to launch two new economic initiatives, including a multi million dollar Kotahitanga Fund. Could that be a catalyst to take Māoridom into a post Treaty Settlement era?

Here are just a few of the stories that we had the privilege of sharing in 2025:

Dame Tariana Turia

The year had barely begun when news broke that Dame Tariana Turia, the former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, had died at the age of 80.

At her tangihanga at Whangaehu Marae near Whanganui she was remembered as a principled politician, a fighter for her iwi, including during the 79-day occupation of Whanganui’s Moutoa Gardens in 1995, but by most people simply as Nanny Tari.

She was the first of many of many Māori leaders taken in Te Kupenga o Taramainuku in 2025, less then a month later the Turia whānau were rocked again by the death of Dame Tariana’s grandson Pakaitore Turia.

Then-Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia poses during a portrait session at Parliament on 29 July 2014 in Wellington. Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images

Dame Tariana Turia is carried from Whangaehu Marae to the nearby urupā where she was laid to rest. Pokere Paewai

Several thousand people attended the tangihanga of Dame Tariana Turia. Pokere Paewai

Rātana

The annual Rātana celebrations in January commemorate the birthday of the movements founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana and traditionally mark the beginning of the political year.

While the political talk was dominated by the Treaty Principles Bill the event also marked the first visit of the Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po to Rātana since the death of her father Kiingi Tuheititia.

Tainui leader Tuku Morgan described the Kiingitanga and Rātana Church as two movements inextricably bound together.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po being welcomed to Rātana. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Kamaka Manuel. RNZ / Reece Baker

Waitangi

Waitangi commemorations began with the re-opening of the historic wharenui at Te Tii Marae, where at least 300 people gathered to witness the whare’s new carvings, paved courtyard and earthquake strengthening.

Among the annual attractions was the annual waka parade; a staple of Waitangi commemorations and a celebration of the various vessels used by early Māori settlers.

Keen-eyed beach onlookers would also have noticed Bosco, the water surfing French bulldog, who made headlines for his aquatic antics.

Diving of the Waitangi bridge to cool off – a Waitangi tradition. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

The Ngāti Kahu waka Te Rangimarie is launched next to Waitangi Bridge. RNZ/ Peter de Graaf

Three-year-old French bulldog, Bosco lives the boat life in Paihia and has been surfing for over a year and a half. Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ

Iritana Tawhiwhirangi

Māori educator Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi, a founder of the Kōhanga Reo movement, died in early February, she was 95.

During her tangihanga at Gisborne’s Te Poho o Rawiri Marae she was remembered as a stern but caring mentor, a lion, a taniwha and a keen golfer.

Many mourners made their way to Te Tairāwhiti, including Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, now the patron of the Kōhanga Reo National Trust and for whom Dame Iritana was a mentor.

Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi Supplied / Te Tai

Mourners arriving at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne. RNZ / Pokere Paewai

Te Matatini

The largest event in Māoridom, the “Olympics of Kapa Haka” Te Matatini, returned in 2025 with Taranaki and Whanganui hosting the biggest competition ever.

Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue from the Te Arawa region emerged as Toa Whakaihuwaka, as champions on the final day at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

The pōwhiri at Stadium Taranaki kicked off Te Matatini. Emma Andrews

Mōtai Tangata Rau performing at Pukekura, the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Te Matatini Enterprises

Te Matatini champions Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue. Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises

Matariki mā Puanga

For it’s fourth year the Matariki Public Holiday celebrations highlighted the star Puanga (Rigel) and the communities who observe the star in their astronomical traditions.

The national hautapu ceremony was hosted this year by central North Island iwi Ngāti Rangi at Tirorangi Marae near the base of Ruapehu.

The stars of Matariki pictured between the clouds as viewed from Tirorangi Marae. Supplied by Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Richie Mills

Kaikarakia group at 2025’s Matariki celebrations at Tirorangi Marae. Supplied / Richie Mills

Takutai Tarsh Kemp

The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp died suddenly in June at the age of 50, the Pāti Māori MP had been at Parliament working only the day before.

Before Parliament she founded the Rangatahi Mental Health Youth Hub, managed the first crew from Aotearoa to qualify for the World Hip Hop Championships in the US and lead Manurewa Marae as its chief executive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Simon Rogers

Flowers on the House seat of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Takutai Tarsh Kemp being laid to rest on the church grounds behind Opaea Marae near Taihape. Pokere Paewai / RNZ

Koroneihana

The first Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po took place one year on from her ascension as Māori Monarch and the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia

After a year of mourning many people were eagerly awaiting her first national address. In an emotional speech she told listeners that being Māori was not defined by having an enemy or a challenge to overcome.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po receives a koha from Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, as she marked the first day of her first Koroneihana celebrations. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Arikinui with the poi after her first official address. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga

Te Pāti Māori ructions

Ructions within Te Pāti Māori dominated the headlines throughout the second half of the year. It began with what should have been a moment of celebration for the party with former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara winning the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election in a landslide.

But allegations by former staffer Eru Kapa-Kingi of a “dictatorship” among the party leadership soon spiralled with Te Pāti Māori’s national council voting to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, mother of Eru, and Tākuta Ferris.

Kapa-Kingi has since been reinstated as a member of the party, but the court decision which forced the issue will be revisited at a full hearing in early February next year. Just in time for Waitangi.

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi. RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. RNZ/Liam K. Swiggs

Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA)

In October the government’s changes to the Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA) passed, making it harder for Māori groups to secure Customary Marine Title (CMT) over parts of New Zealand’s coast.

The law is also retrospective meaning groups who had their title confirmed after 24 July 2024, such as the whānau of Ruapuke Island, will have to go back to court.

Veteran Māori rights activist Reuben Taipari gathered almost 20,000 signatures in only four days on a petition opposing the Bill, which he called worse than the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.

Ngātiwai chairman Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards also made his feelings on the Bill clear during a debate and was ejected from Parliament’s gallery for it, then a few weeks later the iwi upped the ante by landing on the Poor Knights Islands to raise a flag and erect a carved pou in protest.

Rueben Taipari after delivering the petition to parliament. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Ngātiwai members travelled to the Poor Knights Islands about 20km off Northland’s Tūtūkākā Coast, by waka hourua Supplied

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu

In September Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VII, the Ariki or traditional leader of central North Island iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa died, he was 84.

Succeeding his father Sir Hepi Te Heuheu as Ariki in 1997, he left behind a legacy of commitment to his iwi and to the environment. His son was named his successor, Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tūkino IX.

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu outside his wharenui Tapeka at Waihī. Supplied/The Hui

Sir Tumu (centre). (He is shown here at the tangihanga for Kiingi Tuheitia, in September 2024). Supplied/ Kiingitanga – Tuteri Rangihaeata

WIPCE

After 20 years the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) returned to Aotearoa. Some 4000 delagates representing indigenous nations the world over descended on Tāmaki Makaurau.

The conference covered many different themes on education and many more beyond including Pacific wayfinding and indigenous food, the conference also saw the return of the Hawaiian double-hulled voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa to Auckland 40 years since its voyage to Aotearoa that helped spark a revival of Pacific navigation.

Pōwhiri for the start of four-day WIPCE 2025 conference. Tamaira Hook

The historic waka hourua Hōkūleʻa returns to Tāmaki Makaurau after 40 years. Tamaira Hook / WIPCE

Hawaiian Chef Kealoha Domingo prepares kina during a foraging excursion for indigenous chefs at WIPCE. RNZ/Nick Monro

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

December 30, 2025

Animal rights advocates call for camera surveillance in shearing sheds

Source: Radio New Zealand

PETA says video footage captured on New Zealand farms exposes the cruelty involved in sheep shearing. Supplied / PETA Asia

Animal rights advocates are calling for cameras in shearing sheds, saying “welfare training” for shearers is not enough to stop sheep being mistreated.

The government and the industry have this week announced a joint $75,000 fund to support this training.

It is in response to a damning exposé last year by PETA, which released covert footage of sheep being punched and kicked, and triggered an ongoing investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

However, the SPCA’s chief scientific officer, Dr Arnja Dale, said she would be “really disappointed” if this were the only outcome.

SPCA chief science advisor Arnja Dale. Supplied / SPCA

“It’s been more than a year since that exposé. More training is absolutely needed, it’s a good start, but these are not new issues.”

The PETA investigation had attracted international attention and obviously embarrassed the government and the wool industry, she said.

“But if they really cared about animal welfare, they would have addressed these issues with shearing years ago.”

MPI’s own Verification Services had expressed concern about the number of animals arriving at freezing works with fresh and unhealed shearing cuts and injuries, Dale said.

The ministry’s evaluation report following public consultation on the new Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle last year also noted NZ Shearing Contractors had reported an increase in cuts and injuries “over time”.

The government had yet to sign off on the new code, which would require farmers to identify and treat sheep with shearing cuts or injuries.

The SPCA would support camera surveillance in both shearing sheds and slaughter houses, Dale said.

“There is no record of how many cuts and significant injuries result in animals being euthanised. There’s no central repository of this information, so we don’t know the full extent of the problem.

“But it would also be great to have shearers being accredited and have compulsory training before they start and checks and balances as they go through their career.”

Part of the problem was that shearers were rewarded for speed and “through put”, she said.

“Some shearers and some farms are putting animal welfare first and putting the emphasis on keeping animals calm.

“We hope that we see not only more time and more care being taken, but also pain relief should be used routinely for all cuts and injuries, and inspection by vets of any injuries or wounds of a significant nature.”

PETA spokesperson Jason Baker said when animals were treated as economic commodities, “welfare loses out to economics every time”.

“A year on from our case, there is still not a single live feed coming from a single shed, because the industry would never dare show the world that shearing is anything but ‘just a haircut’.

“Regardless of what PR moves the industry or government throws up, there is no such thing as humane wool. Anyone who cares about sheep doesn’t wear wool.”

Government won’t fund cameras

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard. RNZ / Kim Baker-Wilson

However, both the government and the shearing industry have rejected video surveillance as “unnecessary and intrusive”.

Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said New Zealand did not “spy” on its own citizens.

Furthermore, there would be major technical hurdles to such a scheme, he said.

“Connectivity is a massive challenge for a lot of farms. The key thing here is making sure people are aware of their responsibilities and rules, and that’s the best way of encouraging good behaviour.”

The training programme would help reinforce New Zealand’s reputation for high animal welfare standards, he said.

Industry has ‘nothing to hide’, say shearers

New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association chief executive Phil Holden. Photosport

The New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association chief executive, Phil Holden, said if farmers wanted to place cameras in shearing sheds, that was up to them.

“It’s more about the practical implications of it: who funds them? Who sees the footage? What happens to the footage? All those privacy issues. It’s not as simple as just sticking a camera up. So it’s a rather naive response to what’s a more complicated issue.”

Some companies were trialling the use of cameras in sheds and properties, he said.

“The reality is we’ve got nothing to hide. The industry is in a real solid place and this animal welfare initiative is another step on the journey.

“It’s not something new, it’s been running over the course of the year. We’ve been able to secure another source of funding to just take it to the next level.”

Holden said he was not aware of any increase in shearing injuries to sheep.

Speed was not incompatible with animal welfare in his view: the main focus of the training was keeping the sheep “calm”.

“As long as the animal is calm then it can be shorn fast. I don’t think speed is the issue. It’s about making sure the animal is calm and in a state ready to be shorn and it’s done appropriately by a skilled person.”

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

December 30, 2025

Campground managers hoping for sunnier New Year’s Eve weather