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Takahē pair thought to be infertile hatch chick at Zealandia

Source: Radio New Zealand

A pair of takahē birds believed to be infertile have thrilled staff at Zelandia wildlife sanctuary by unexpectedly hatching a chick.

Bendigo, a male takahē, and Waitaa a female, came to Zelandia two years ago as a non-breeding pair.

Staff thought Bendigo had fertility issues, as he was not productive with two previous partners, so they let them live their lives, not expecting any chicks.

But in November, Waitaa had not been turning up for food, and as the team went to investigate her nest, they heard Bendigo and Waitaa making soft calls, noticing a high-pitch cheep in response.

Trail-cam footage confirmed Bendigo and Waitaa with their new chick.

Trail-cam footage confirmed Bendigo and Waitaa with their new chick. Supplied

“It’s a lovely Christmas miracle I think… we thought the birds weren’t able to have chicks at all,” general manager of conservation and restoration at Zealandia Jo Ledington said.

Takahē are a threatened, nationally vulnerable bird, with an estimated population of around 500.

Ledington said any new addition to the population was really significant.

“Having the unexpected happening is a little bit of a glimmer of hope. I think conservation takes many hands, and I think it’s fantastic that Zelandia as an advocacy site has been able to introduce about 140,000 people a year to takahē – some of those people would never ever have the opportunity to see them otherwise.”

She said the chick, whose sex is still unknown, is doing well. Though known for keeping to themselves and for their “roaming” natures, Bendigo and Waitaa have become “attentive and doting” first-time parents, and the chick is currently living in an area of the sanctuary that’s closed off.

That will open up more to the public as the chick grows and gets more resilient.

Ledington said the chick hatched in November, but this was kept secret until now due to a period of perilous weather that month.

“Takahē chicks in particular are quite vulnerable to cold, wet weather – they don’t have their feathers, so they just have down and it’s not waterproof, so if get wet they can get chilled.

“We just wanted to be a little bit certain that it was doing well, and just give it the best start in life.”

Bendigo, a male takahē, and Waitaa, a female, were believed to be a non-breeding pair. Supplied

The chick will be banded and vaccinated in March, and in time named and moved to a new home, as part of DOC’s Takahē Recovery Programme, Ledington said.

She said Bendigo, who hatched in 2017, and Waitaa, who hatched in 2020 are still a young pair – Takahē generally live to anywhere between 16-22 and are known to breed from the age of two into their mid-late teens.

As to why the unexpected occurred for Bendigo, who was thought to have fertility issues, Ledington said that’s an enigma that continues to confound staff.

“These are the mysteries of nature aren’t they… it’s not unheard of in Takahē world that when birds change partners they can have more breeding success. I don’t maybe… right girl, right place, right time.”

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

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Police arrest eight after gang targeted drug-bust in Southland

Source: Radio New Zealand

Detective senior sergeant Greg Baird says the social harm caused by illicit drugs is significant. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

A Southland police operation has ended in a mass drug and firearms bust, after police executed 12 search warrants around Invercargill.

Police said eight people were arrested after they seized methamphetamine, firearms and more than $3000 in cash.

Operation Diablo was led by Southland’s Organised Crime Group and Criminal Investigation Branch, with support from specialist teams including a Drug Detection Dog unit.

Police said they were targeting gang-related drug offending.

Detective senior sergeant Greg Baird said the social harm caused by illicit drugs was significant.

“Gang members facilitating this don’t care about the damage they cause,” detective Baird said.

“We will continue to find and prosecute those who think this sort of criminal activity is acceptable. People deserve to live, work and play in our communities without these negative influences ruining their plans.”

Police arrested five men and three women who have appeared in the Invercargill District Court charged with possession for supply of class A and class drugs, unlawful possession of a firearm and threatening behaviour.

Police investigations are ongoing, and further charges and arrests have not been ruled out.

During Operation Diablo, police seized:

  • Over 32 grams of methamphetamine
  • Various quantities of cannabis
  • Firearms and ammunition
  • More than $3,000 in cash
  • Multiple electronic devices

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

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New SH57/Tararua Road roundabout completed ahead of holiday traffic

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The State Highway 57/Tararua Road roundabout construction is now complete – providing a safer intersection and preparing for future growth in the region.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Horowhenua District Council (HDC) have worked together to build the new roundabout.

NZTA Regional Manager for Infrastructure Delivery Rob Partridge says that working with HDC was essential to delivering a solution that supports the existing and future needs of the intersection.

“The roundabout improves safety straight away, while also supporting future growth in the area. By working closely with HDC, we’ve delivered an intersection that aligns with council’s long-term plans and forms an important link to the new Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway and Tara-Ika growth area.”

The roundabout has been under construction since January this year.

“We’d like to thank the community for their continued support and patience throughout construction.

This area will get busier as construction ramps up on the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway.”

The project also includes pathways and formal crossings, providing a safer connection for pedestrians and cyclists, new lighting and landscaping, as well as upgrades to the Electra and Chorus services.

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden says ss well as making a previously dangerous intersection much safer, council staff took the opportunity to upgrade the local watermain, minimising disruption later down the line.

“This is a real investment in the future of our district.”

Delivered on schedule, the completion of the new roundabout means holiday makers and the local community won’t be disrupted by traffic management.

The intersection looks a lot different from a year ago, and a huge amount of mahi has gone into delivering the roundabout and associated works.

Key figures

  • 36,500 tonnes of earth has been moved
  • 360 cubic metres of concrete has been poured
  • 5,000 tonnes of structural asphalt and 1200 tonnes of surfacing SMA has been laid
  • 563 metres of watermain pipe has been laid
  • 3,400 plants and 5 trees have been planted.
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Finance Minister Nicola Willis not standing for electorate seat at election

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Finance Minister Nicola Willis will not be standing for an electorate seat at the next election.

At the last election, Willis campaigned for the Wellington electorate of Ōhāriu, which was narrowly won by Labour’s Greg O’Connor with 17,565 votes to Willis’ 16,305.

The electorate will next year be split into the new seats of Kenepuru and Kāpiti, which replace Mana and Ōtaki.

In a statement, Willis – who is also National’s deputy leader and has been confirmed as a list-only candidate – said she would campaign across New Zealand to re-elect a National government.

“I am honoured to have the support of the National Party Board to campaign across New Zealand to help re-elect a National Government focused on fixing the basics and building the future,” she said.

Willis said the economy was growing again and inflation had come down as a result of the government’s plan.

“We cannot take our recovery for granted. Labour have been clear – their plan is to tax more, borrow more, and spend more, leaving us worse off and jeopardising what all Kiwis have worked so hard for.

“With the economy recovering, exports at a record high and a new planning system on the way New Zealand is in safe hands under a National Government.

“I’m looking forward to supporting Christopher Luxon and National MPs and candidates around NZ to campaign for and win the Party Vote at next year’s General Election.”

O’Connor has said he intends to continue his political career, but will not challenge Labour colleage Barbara Edmonds.

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

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Ruatiti homicide: Police search bush for person of interest Mitchell Cole

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mitchell Cole. Supplied / NZ Police

Police say the 29-year-old they’re searching for after a double-homicide in the North Island has a dog with him.

Friends of sheep farmer husband and wife Brendon and Trina Cole say they were found dead at their Murumuru Road property in Ruatiti more than one week ago.

Their son, Mitchell Cole, has been missing since then and has been named by police as a person of interest.

Police said officers are continuing to search for Mitchell Cole in the Ruatiti bush on Monday and believe he has a black/blue bull mastiff dog with him.

Police are asking anyone heading into the bush there to be on the lookout and report any sightings. They should not approach him, police added.

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

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New World back delivering groceries to Coromandel peninsula by boat

Source: Radio New Zealand

Houses in Tairua on the Coromandel Peninsula. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Staff at the New World supermarket in Whitianga are back on the water as they deliver food to the Coromandel peninsula by boat.

New World has operated its Waka Kai service each holiday season since 2019, running groceries by sea to avoid the summer traffic.

Last year it upgraded to a larger vessel to keep up with demand.

“The old saying ‘we’re going to need a bigger boat’ has come true for New World Whitianga’s Waka Kai for sure,” Kerry Stanley, who runs the service, said.

“It’s 11.2 metres long so we can get up to 850 kilos of groceries at a time. We’ve been putting that to the test already with over four tonnes of groceries delivered in the first week.”

With an hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Coromandel Peninsula during the summer period, Stanley said New World had done the math and discovered boat deliveries were significantly faster than travelling by road.

“We realised that, as people who know the Coromandel well know, it’s one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand but the roads are challenging over summer because a lot of people want to come and enjoy that lovely holiday experience so it made it pretty difficult for our vans to deliver in a timely manner,” he said.

He said Waka Kai went as far as Pauanui, which is 60 kilometres away by road.

“It’s about an hour and a half on the road, but it’s only about 45 minutes on Waka Kai,” Stanley said.

He said the goal of the service was to let people relax, instead of sitting in traffic on their way to the supermarket.

“I was out on Waka Kai [on Sunday], we met some lovely people, big orders as they’re all expecting family and friends at this time of year, but they were just so relaxed and enjoying the service.”

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

Posted on

Organised crime disrupted in Southland

Source: New Zealand Police

Operation Diablo has led to the arrest of eight people and the seizure of drugs, firearms and cash from multiple addresses across Southland last week.

Organised criminal groups received pre-Christmas visits as Police executed 12 search warrants at properties and vehicles in and around Invercargill.

The operation was led by Southland’s Organised Crime Group and Criminal Investigation Branch, with support from specialist teams including a Drug Detection Dog unit. Police targeted gang-related drug offending as part of the crackdown.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird says the social harm caused by the sale and supply of illicit drugs is significant.

“Gang members facilitating this don’t care about the damage they cause,” says Detective Baird.

“We will continue to find and prosecute those who think this sort of criminal activity is acceptable.”

During Operation Diablo, Police seized:

  • Over 32 grams of methamphetamine
  • Various quantities of cannabis
  • Firearms and ammunition
  • More than $3,000 in cash
  • Multiple electronic devices.

“It’s about preventing harm,” Detective Baird adds. “People deserve to live, work and play in our communities without these negative influences ruining their plans.”

Police have arrested five men and three women that have appeared in the Invercargill District Court. Charges include possession for supply of class A and class drugs, unlawful possession of a firearm and threatening behaviour.

Police continue to investigate. Further charges and arrests have not been ruled out.

Members of the public are urged to report any concerns or information about illegal drug supply or criminal activity.

  • Call 105 or 111 if it’s happening now
  • Provide information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Complaint or privacy breach: how do we deal with your enquiry?

Source: Privacy Commissioner

This information sets out how our Compliance and Enforcement team triages systemic privacy issues raised with our Office. 

 

Privacy breach

Interference with a person’s privacy
 

A privacy breach under Part 6 of the Privacy Act 2020 focuses on whether there has been any unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure of personal information. 

A notifiable privacy breach occurs when the breach has, or has the likelihood, to cause serious harm to the people whose personal information has been impacted. This requires notification to the individuals impacted and to OPC. 

Part 5 of the Privacy Act sets out how OPC will deal with a complaint from an individual about an interference with their privacy. 

This usually involves the breach of an information privacy principle and may require you to have suffered harm. These complaints, including about getting access to or correcting your own information, are dealt with separately by our Investigations and Dispute Resolution team. 

Read more about that process.

Which OPC team is involved? 

Our Compliance and Enforcement team deal with notifiable privacy breaches and systematic privacy issues raised with our Office. 

Our Investigations and Dispute Resolution team deals with an individual’s complaint about their own privacy rights. 

What if my case is both types of issue?

Although the two things can be related, they are separate, and decisions we make about how to respond to a privacy breach notification or other systemic issue does not prevent us from investigating a complaint from an individual about the same issue. 

For example

The Compliance and Enforcement team may assess that we do not need to take any enforcement action on a privacy breach notified to OPC.

The Investigations and Dispute Resolution team may still decide to investigate an individual’s complaint that there was an interference with their privacy. 

Step one: we receive a concern or enquiry about the way an organisation is handling personal information

For example: 
“Dear OPC. I am concerned that ABC Limited is breaching the Privacy Act because their website is disclosing sensitive personal information. Please investigate it.”

An enquiry like this will be managed by the Compliance and Enforcement team. 

If your enquiry said that you were concerned that the website was disclosing information about you personally, this would be dealt with by OPC’s Investigations and Dispute Resolution team.

Protected disclosures

If you raise a serious concern about your own workplace, you may be able to make a protected disclosure under the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act. 

Step two: Deciding how to address a concern 

The Compliance and Enforcement team assesses each concern under OPC’s Compliance and Regulatory Action Framework. This sets out how we prioritise to deliver the best privacy outcomes for the greatest public benefit with the resources we have available. 

The Framework sets out the factors that we consider when deciding how to address a complaint or enquiry. These include:

  • The nature and seriousness of a privacy issue, or potential impact including:
    • the harm caused, or likely to be caused, to the affected people
    • whether the matter involves sensitive information
    • the number of people potentially affected
    • whether disadvantaged, vulnerable, or a particular group of individuals may be adversely affected
    • whether there is an indication of a systemic issue, for example across a particular agency or sector.
  • the level of public interest, or the educational or deterrent value of taking action
  • the attitude and conduct of the agency concerned, including previous compliance
  • statutory factors under the Privacy Act (the Act), including the requirement to take cultural perspectives into account
  • the proportionality and appropriateness of taking regulatory action by investigating or making initial enquiries
  • any other factors that OPC considers relevant in the circumstances.

Notifiable privacy breaches 

Alongside the Compliance and Regulatory Action Framework, we may consider whether there was a privacy breach that should have been notified to us. As part of that, we consider the if the agency has reasonably assessed the likelihood of serious harm. The factors an agency must consider when assessing whether the breach is likely to have caused serious harm are set out in section 113 of the Act.

Types of serious harm include emotional and psychological harm, financial harm (including fraud), physical harm or intimidation and identity theft. 

Why we may not take any action 

We cannot address or investigate every complaint or concern received. The varied nature of factors at play may mean that similar issues have different levels of privacy risk and result in different decisions by our team. 

Some of the reasons we may not take any action include:

  • there is no evidence of serious harm occurring or being likely
  • there is no sensitive personal information at risk
  • the cause of the concern has already been resolved or contained
  • the issue lies outside the scope of the Privacy Act e.g. commercial information or code of conduct issues. 

Step three: Letting you know what we’re doing 

If we think that your issue is better addressed by the Investigations and Dispute Resolution team, we will refer it to them to assess. You will hear from either team about the outcome of your enquiry. 

We may seek more information from you, such as finding out how you became aware of the issue, and any documented evidence you might have.

We will tell you whether the Compliance and Enforcement team is going to formally review the concerns raised, or if we are not intending to take any action based on the information provided. We can’t tell you what that action will be, won’t provide you with updates about this and are unlikely to let you know about any outcomes of our work. 

This is because section 206 of the Act requires us maintain secrecy about all matters that come to our knowledge as part of our work. We sometimes make public comments about the outcome our investigations, but we do not provide comments or information to others.  

Step four: Further action and outcomes

If we decide further action is warranted, we may make initial enquiries with the agency involved. For example, we might ask if they are aware of the issue raised and what they have done in response. Our early information requests are made on a voluntary basis as we aim to work alongside the agency to understand the issues of concern. 

We may also use other sources such as publicly available information and media releases. 

Our initial information gathering will inform our assessment of the issue and guide our next steps which may include:

  • working with the agency to provide education and guidance on their specific issue
  • issuing general guidance on our website aimed at a specific sector or common issue
  • commencing a formal investigation or inquiry.

Whichever action we decide to take, we aim to ensure that the privacy practices at the agency are improved to the point that the personal information it holds is adequately protected for the future.

We may initiate a formal investigation or inquiry where we consider there may be systemic issues occurring within an agency or sector, or the matter has failed to be resolved through lower-level interventions. These investigations also engage the Privacy Commissioner’s powers to require information to be provided and to summons individuals and question them under oath.

Sometimes these investigations or inquiries result in the publication of a report, a compliance notice being issued or public comment being made about the agency and the issue considered in a media statement or decision note. Any public comment we make about a specific agency is made in line with OPC’s Naming Policy. These outcomes are intended to provide lessons learned across sectors and agencies, not just to the agency involved in the investigation. 

Download a copy of this information (opens to PDF, 277KB).

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Couple lose home loan complaint in face of $50,000 break fee

Source: Radio New Zealand

The main banks are now advertising rates of 4.49 percent for 12 months. RNZ

A couple who regretted their decision to fix their home loan for five years in 2023 have been unsuccessful in their complaint against their bank.

They complained to the Banking Ombudsman, which issued a case note on its decision this month.

It said the couple fixed their home loan for one year in 2021 and 2022. But in 2023, they refixed at the lowest rate available, which was for five years.

Reserve Bank data shows that through 2023, the average special five-year rate was between 6.29 percent and 6.66 percent.

This year, they contacted the bank to ask about breaking their fixed term.

The main banks are now advertising rates of 4.49 percent for 12 months.

The couple said the bank had misled and pressured them into refixing the loan for five years.

The woman said she relied on advice from bank staff and wanted the bank to waive the cost of breaking the fixed term, which had been estimated at $45,000 to $50,000.

The ombudsman scheme said it reviewed the correspondence the couple had with the bank,

“There was no evidence bank staff pressured [her] when they refixed in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, [she] chose to fix for one year at the lowest available rate after being offered hardship assistance, which she declined. In 2022, both customers again chose a one-year term at the lowest rate.

“In 2023, [the customer] requested a home loan review session with a senior business manager. [She] recalled the manager saying interest rates were likely to rise, and said she relied on this advice when choosing to fix for five years. The bank did not record the conference call with her, although the manager shared the standard bank disclosures with her, and the manager’s follow-up email summarised the scenarios discussed and interest rate options. The email did not contain any advice or suggestion to fix for a five-year term.”

The ombudsman noted the woman asked about the five-year rate and accepted it, along with a $3000 loyalty payment, which required her to stay with the bank for at least three years.

“[She] was given time, options and accurate written information before she made the decision. We found no evidence of pressure or misleading conduct by the bank.

“We also considered whether the bank properly disclosed early repayment charges. The original loan agreement and subsequent variation letters explained how these charges were calculated and noted that such charges ‘could be large’. The bank met its obligations under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003.”

The complaint was not upheld.

Mortgage adviser Jeremy Andrews, of Key Mortgages said he did not see many cases like this.

“I did have a case last month where a client had fixed his loan in for five years with his bank directly at 6.39 percent. He didn’t receive any specific advice from the bank that there’s a was good chance of rates dropping over the next five years, and if they did, he could be looking at significant early payment penalties or break fees.

“He was horrified to find out how much the break fees were, even for a small mortgage with just over three years remaining, well into five figures of fees.

“Once we had his break fees on his mortgage, we ran figures through our break cost benefit calculator. Whilst his fees were substantial, it was looking in his favour at the time to pay the break fee to move onto lower rates at the most similar remaining term.”

He said it was part of a mortgage adviser’s job to check clients’ goals and help structure their mortgage to achieve them.

“We discuss the risks and costs of break fees, to confirm understanding before fixing in long term, and potential implications if there’s reasons they might want to restructure or break their fixed rate in future.”

Longer terms we restarting to become more popular again, 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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Name release: Fatal crash, Matamau

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man that died following a crash on State Highway 2, Matamau on 5 December.

He was 45-year-old Toby Dale Broomhall of Hawera.

Our condolences are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre