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New plan to tackle organised crime

Source: New Zealand Government

A new all-of-government plan to tackle organised crime was released today by  Associate Police Minister Casey Costello.

“We are at a critical time in the fight against Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC),” Ms Costello says.

“New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours are being increasingly targeted by organised criminal groups, who are using new technologies and new ways of operating – and we need a different, stronger and more cohesive response. 

“This new TSOC strategy and action plan are designed to achieve this, with the aim being to make New Zealand the hardest place in the world for organised criminal groups to do business and cause harm.”

The action plan sets out key cross-agency initiatives to improve the response to TSOC. The immediate priorities are:

exploring options for a department or agency responsible for TSOC to drive accountability and coordination across government
developing a new mechanism for cross-agency information and data sharing
implementing the package of actions that respond to methamphetamine harm, and
strengthening communities and addressing harm through Resilience to Organised Crime (ROCC) initiatives.

“Organised criminal activity including the illicit drug trade, scams, migrant exploitation and money laundering inflicts misery in our communities. It drives violent crime, and harms individuals and families, legitimate businesses and the broader New Zealand economy,” Ms Costello says. “The illicit drug trade alone is estimated to cost the country around $1.5 billion in social harm.

“This Government is determined to address this and is looking to a step-change in approach. 

“We established a Ministerial Advisory Group to provide expert advice, and its key recommendations were the need for strengthened governance and accountability across government and better information sharing.

“Basically, we need organised government to fight organised crime, and through the action plan we are working on the best way of doing this and making full use of all of the resources, powers and information that agencies collectively possess.”

Note to Editors:

The TSOC strategy was informed by the report of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime and the twenty-eight agencies with responsibilities in this area.
The shift in naming convention from Transnational Organised Crime to Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TNOC to TSOC) reflects the shift in the Government’s strategic approach to incorporate domestic offending and the harm perpetrated in communities.
The Action Plan covers a five-year period and will be regularly reviewed and updated as needed to reflect new and emerging risks.

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New Plant Health and Environment Laboratory

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has committed to a major biosecurity investment to protect New Zealand’s primary industries and drive economic growth, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. 
 
The Ministers today toured the construction site of the new Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) at the Mt Albert Research Centre in Auckland. 
 
“This facility will play a critical role in protecting New Zealand’s environment and economy from plant pests and diseases, while supporting surveillance, diagnostics, and emergency response capabilities,” says Mr Hoggard. 

“The new facility is a strategic investment to replace the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) aging Tāmaki PHEL with modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that will support New Zealand’s biosecurity system for the next 50 years. 

“The services this facility will provide are essential to maintaining the trust of our trading partners and New Zealand’s access to export trade markets. 

“New Zealand’s $60.4 billion food and fibre sector accounts for approximately 82 percent of New Zealand’s goods exports. Protecting and growing this sector is critical to achieving the Government’s goal of doubling export value by 2034. 
 
“Strengthening New Zealand’s defences against biosecurity threats and the potentially devastating impacts for our primary industries and environment is more important than ever as the risk of new pests and diseases increases with climate change and an increasingly complex trade environment,” says Mr Hoggard. 
 
Mr Bishop says the start of construction is a major milestone for the Government’s infrastructure programme.  

“We’re delivering a world-class scientific facility that will strengthen our biosecurity system, support our primary industries and create hundreds of jobs in the process. 
 
“Once complete, this facility will be one of the most advanced biosecurity centres in Australasia.”  
 
“This programme is part of the $7 billion construction programme, aimed at boosting jobs and economic growth through infrastructure investment before Christmas. 
 
“This is exactly the kind of vertical infrastructure we need to support innovation, resilience and long-term economic value.” 
   
Site preparation works have been completed, foundations have been constructed, and the structure is starting to take shape. Crown Infrastructure Delivery is managing the delivery of the facility, with Southbase Construction the lead contractor. 

Construction is scheduled to finish in 2028, and the facility is expected to be ready for service in January 2029. 
 

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Measuring the Gambling-Related Financial Harms Experienced by Whānau and Affected Others and Identifying Mitigating Practices

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Publication date:

The research strengthens understanding of the gambling-related financial harms experienced by affected others in New Zealand, including the extent of these harms, the differences across gender and ethnicity, and the role of financial products and related policies.

Three in four (75.9%) surveyed affected others reported experiencing at least one type of financial harm due to someone else’s gambling. The most common financial harms included reduced available spending money (36.8%), less spending on recreational expenses (30.9%), diminished savings (26.2%), and late payments on bills (22.0%).

Three in five (61.0%) surveyed affected others experienced at least one issue related to economic control. The most common issues were concern over missing money (21.4%), pressure to take on debt (19.3%), and financial information being withheld (18.3%).

The types of financial harms experienced differed by gender. Among surveyed affected others, women were more likely than men to report being late on their bill payments due to someone else’s gambling (26.1% vs. 16.5%) and having less to spend on beneficial expenses (21.3% vs. 14.7%). Men were more likely than women to report taking on additional employment (11.7% vs. 6.5%) and experiencing bankruptcy (4.8% vs. 1.9%).

Māori were more likely than non-Māori to report gambling while accompanying the other person during their gambling (24.7% vs. 12.2%), having late payments on bills (28.8% vs. 20.1%), and less spending on essential expenses (27.4% vs. 19.3%).

Pacific people were more likely than non-Pacific people (excluding Māori) to report a loss of supply of utilities (18.6% vs. 6.8%) and less spending on essential expenses (30.5% vs. 17.8%).

Asian people did not differ significantly from European/other ethnicities in the types of financial harms experienced.

Half of surveyed affected others (51.7%) reported that at least one financial product or service has played a role in the financial harms that they experienced. The most cited products were ‘buy now, pay later’ services (28.3%) and followed by forms of borrowing (e.g., payday lenders, high-interest fees from financial institutions related to gambling purchases, title loans; 25.6%).

Most affected others have used at least one informal strategy (77.0%), and half have used at least one formal strategy (50.5%) to help prevent, reduce, or address the financial impacts they experienced because of someone else’s gambling.

Practical solutions for reducing financial harm were suggested including:

  • focussing attention on structural change, including changes to the legislation and regulation of the gambling and financial sectors to provide greater protection against gambling-related financial harm
  • implementing harm mitigation measures for financial products, such as interest rate caps on credit-related services, and strengthen financial safeguards related to gambling, such as gambling transaction blocking or credit card restrictions.

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Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? Systemic mapping of barriers to generate solutions for equitable access to gambling harm services

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Publication date:

Gambling harm is increasingly recognised as a significant public health concern in Aotearoa New Zealand, with Māori, Pacific, Asian communities, and youth disproportionately affected. While these groups experience higher levels of harm, they are less likely to engage with formal help services, pointing to deeper structural and cultural issues. Traditional interventions focused on individual responsibility have limited effectiveness.

This research explores these issues, recognising that access to care is shaped by a combination of institutional, social, and cultural forces.

Using Q-methodology, the study investigates the subjective viewpoints of priority groups and gambling service providers on the barriers and enablers to help-seeking. This approach highlights common themes that extend beyond individual experiences. Four distinct factors emerged from the analysis:

  • Factor 1, Stigma-Related Avoidance, captures how shame, fear of exposure, and concerns about confidentiality discourage disclosure and delay engagement. Participants described internalised blame and deep discomfort with the idea of being labelled.
  • Factor 2, Socially and Culturally Trapped, reveals how language barriers, relational disruptions, and cultural incongruities between clients and services perpetuate feelings of alienation. A perceived lack of cultural safety and understanding was frequently cited as a reason for withdrawal.
  • Factor 3, Ambivalence About Change, reflects a tension between recognising harm and maintaining a sense of control. Some participants believed gambling was manageable or driven by skill and were uncertain about whether formal help was necessary.
  • Factor 4, Service Failure to Understand Lived Context, points to systemic shortcomings including inflexible service structures, lack of family-oriented models, and cultural dissonance between mainstream practices and lived realities.

The study shows that these factors intersect in ways that compound disengagement and sustain inequities. However, the study also illuminated opportunities for transformation. Participants identified culturally grounded, whānau-centred, and mana-enhancing approaches as powerful enablers of change.

The study concludes by advocating for a reimagined approach to gambling harm – one that centres relationality, equity, and cultural integrity in the pursuit of responsive and effective support systems. 

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Extended urgent care coming to South and East Auckland

Source: New Zealand Government

People in South and East Auckland will soon be able to access urgent care earlier, later, and overnight, reducing pressure on hospitals and keeping care close to home, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

Getting urgent care in South and East Auckland is about to become significantly easier, with longer hours now in place and full round-the-clock services coming early next year.

From 17 December, Tāmaki Health has extended urgent and after hours care at Local Doctors Ōtara from 7.30am until midnight. This will move to full 24/7 care from 19 January 2026.

“These changes mean people can get help for urgent health issues any time of the day or night, without going to hospital unless it is a genuine emergency,” Mr  Brown says.

“Families deserve care that is close to home, easy to access, and good value. Extending Ōtara’s proven service overnight means whānau can get timely, high-quality medical attention when they need it, while easing pressure on emergency departments.”

After hours services between 5pm and 8am remain free for children and subsidised for those who need it most, helping ensure urgent care stays affordable and accessible.

East Auckland will also benefit from expanded urgent care next year. From 1 March, Eastcare will extend its closing time from 11pm to 1am, while continuing to open from 7am.

“These improvements mean more Aucklanders can get the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Mr Brown says.

The changes form part of the Government’s national Urgent Care and After Hours Framework, which aims for 98 per cent of New Zealanders to live within a one-hour drive of in-person urgent care.

Recent progress under this framework includes expanded weekday urgent care services in Lower Hutt from 1 December 2025 and a new 24/7 urgent care service in Dunedin from 17 December 2025.

Further improvements are planned across the country next year, including a new 24/7 urgent care service in Whangārei, expanded support for rural communities, 24/7 services in Tauranga, and extended daytime urgent care in Invercargill.

“We are also introducing a more consistent national approach to fees and subsidies, so costs are fair, predictable, and responsive to local needs,” Mr Brown says.

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Loafers Lodge fire: Esarona David Lologa handed life sentence for murder of five people

Source: Radio New Zealand

Esarona David Lologa in the High Court in Wellington on Friday. Samuel Rillstone

The man who murdered five people by lighting the Loafers Lodge blaze has been sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of release for at least 22 years.

Esarona David Lologa, 50, set the Wellington boarding house alight in May 2023.

He was sentenced in the High Court in Wellington on Friday, to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 22 years.

He will be detained as a special patient in a hospital, and will need to be assessed before he can be moved a prison.

Michael Wahrlich, Melvin Parun, Peter O’Sullivan, Kenneth Barnard and Liam Hockings died in the fire.

In September, a jury found Lologa guilty of five counts of murder, and guilty of one count of arson.

His defence argued he was insane when he lit the fire.

The Crown called around 100 witnesses over its four weeks of evidence.

They included Loafers Lodge residents who described their harrowing escapes from the blaze, firefighters who fought tears recounting their experiences, and crucially, five mental health professionals who believed Lologa was not insane when he lit the fire.

The experts said Lologa did know his actions were morally wrong.

They pointed to Lologa’s own comments to police and psychiatrists, including that he had “done nothing wrong”, as evidence he understood the difference between right and wrong.

During the trial psychiatrist Dr Krishna Pillai, testifying for the defence, believed the man was insane when he lit the fire, and was experiencing a serious psychotic relapse.

Pillai told the court the man’s hallucinations – hearing voices telling him to light the fire – rendered him incapable of knowing lighting the fire was morally wrong, which is a threshold required for an insanity defence.

Esarona Lologa – also known as Esa – was born in Wellington in 1975, but was raised by his grandmother and uncle in a small village near Apia, Samoa.

He was initially educated in Samoa but moved to Wellington when he was about 13, where he lived with his uncle. He attended high school in Lower Hutt.

As a young man, Lologa had a relationship with a woman almost 20 years his senior, who had a teenage son.

In 2009 Lologa was convicted of attempting to murder the son with a machete, after he believed his partner was cheating on him.

Lologa had 50 previous convictions – including the attempted murder and an attempted arson in 1996, after he broke into a butcher and tried to burn it down.

He had also been found guilty of common assault and fraud.

He first came to the attention of mental health services in 1999, when he was 24. He was hearing voices in his head that were swearing at him.

Lologa was diagnosed as having schizophrenia, and was first admitted to a mental health facility in 2000.

The court heard details about Lologa’s clinical history spanning more than two decades, including nine hospital admissions.

During adulthood, Lologa lived in Wellington and Auckland. He stayed in social housing and boarding houses, as well as his car and the street, psychiatrists told the court.

Lologa absconded from a mental health facility on 21 April, 2023, three weeks before the fires, and there was a warrant out for his arrest.

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

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Fate of Hamilton-to-Auckland Te Huia train to be decided next year

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Huia provides an interregional passenger rail service between the regions of Waikato and Auckland. Supplied / Waikato Regional Council

The future of the Hamilton to Auckland train, Te Huia, looks set to be decided in the first half of next year.

The Waikato regional council voted on Thursday to ask the New Zealand Transport Agency board in February to keep funding steady at a 60 percent funding assistance rate for a one-year extension.

If NZTA would not keep funding steady for an extra year, council asked for a formal decision on what permanent support the agency will give the service by April.

Te Huia was launched in April 2021 for a five-year trial ending in June 2026. It provides an interregional passenger rail service between the regions of Waikato and Auckland.

It had faced several issues, including covid delays, being temporarily banned from operating in Auckland, and being impacted by repeated line closures on the Auckland network.

The coalition government had a history of negativity about Te Huia, and last year NZTA decided to progressively reduce its contribution to the funding assistance rate from 75.5 in 2024 to 51 percent by 2026.

Councillor Chris Hughes said there was no point in the council continuing its plans to run the train until it knew it had NZTA support.

“Once we’ve got it, we’ve got a commitment, and we can move forward. At the moment there’s too much uncertainty and I don’t believe our ratepayers should be wearing the cost,” he said.

Other councillors echoed this need for certainty from NZTA.

However, councillor Jennifer Nickel pointed out that NZTA had put more money into Te Huia than anyone, and although the council should be strong in its request for certainty it should also be flexible to allow NZTA to “say what it wants to say.”

“We are a partner with them,” she said.

Councillor Tipa Mahuta also said council had a long relationship with NZTA and should be thinking in terms of a partnership.

“It’s not in our role to tell NZTA what their job is, we can express a preference and our key timelines, but I’m pretty sure they know their remit… it’s not our jurisdiction to direct them to do anything,” she said.

Hamilton city council, Waipa district council and Waikato district council told the regional council they supported their request for an extra year of steady funding.

Hamilton city councillor Sarah Thomson spoke at today’s meeting and said the city had been a very supportive partner of Te Huia.

She said the city had brought forward public transport investment to support the train, particularly around the Rotokauri transport hub where most passengers get on and off the train.

“That transport hub was in a master plan, but it would still not be built to this day, most likely, if it was not for the need to support the Te Huia service,” Thomson said.

Hamilton councillor Sue Moroney also spoke and said the city had “significant skin in the game”.

“The city council has seen the importance of having a really fit-for-purpose transport network between the largest city in the country and the fourth largest – but the fastest growing city – in the country,” Moroney said.

She said she regularly used the service for meetings in Auckland.

“Importantly I use it because I can get a lot of work done on the way up and the way back, I can get all my emails done, it’s great for productivity, I can’t do that in a car, I can’t do that in a bus, I can only do that in the train,” she said.

After discussions, the letter tabled in the council’s agenda and the final letter being sent to NZTA were slightly different.

Regional councillor Liz Stolwyk said it was important that the surrounding district and city councils were fully aware of what was being asked for and were taken along on the journey.

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

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Sam Neill: ‘Retirement it’s like a swear word to me’

Source: Radio New Zealand

“The last thing I would ever, ever do is retire,” Sir Sam Neill says.

Recently named Screen Legend at this year’s New Zealand Screen Awards, the 78-year-old actor says his 54-year long (and counting) career still excites him.

“I love being able to go away, go home again too, but I love to go and work with some new people on new material.

Sam Neill at Two Paddocks in Central Otago.

RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

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

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All aboard the Ngākōroa Train Station and SH22 Drury Upgrade

Source: New Zealand Government

Spades are in the ground for the Ngākōroa Train Station and the interim upgrade of the State Highway 22 (SH22)/Jesmond Road intersection as part of the SH22 Drury Upgrade project in South Auckland.

“This is an important milestone as the last of a series of major Government funded rail projects in Auckland to get underway,” says Mr Peters.

“The new Drury railway stations were funded in 2020 when we were previously responsible for Rail, and over recent years the Government has invested $2.3 billion in the city’s rail network.

“To help get people out of their cars and trucks and off our congested roads we’re making rail a better option for the people of Auckland and for freight.

“The new Drury and Paerātā stations are underway and due to open in 2026, electric trains began travelling to Pukekohe early this year thanks to the extension of overhead cables from Papakura, and the new Third Main line in South Auckland is creating more flexibility and helping better separate rail freight from passenger services – all funded by us in 2020,” says Mr Peters.

Ngākōroa Station is expected to open in 2027.

“The SH22 Drury upgrade will widen a 2km section of SH22 between Jesmond Road and Mercer Street from two lanes to four to provide better connections to and from Drury Interchange,” says Mr Bishop.

“The highway upgrade will support housing growth in the area, giving growing communities access to multiple transport options and address existing safety issues on this section of the highway.

“Over the next 30 years, an extra 130,000 people are expected to call South Auckland home. The growth and development happening around the Drury area means the role and function of the state highways and transport in this part of Auckland is changing and evolving.”

“To support the 2027 opening, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is staging the SH22 Drury Upgrade project, with interim works starting now to provide access to the new Ngākōroa Station being built by KiwiRail before it opens.”

The interim upgrade will involve adding a fourth leg to the intersection opposite Jesmond Road and will take six months to complete. The full SH22 Drury upgrade is expected to begin in 2027, once the required land has been purchased and full construction funding has been confirmed.

Notes to editor:

Ngākōroa Station is part of the $475 million Government investment in three new stations between Papakura and Pukekohe, announced by Rt Hon Winston Peters in January 2020.
The $2.3 billion does not include City Rail Link or Auckland Transport’s level crossing works.
Key features of the Ngākōroa Station project include:

Carparking for 200 vehicles with room for expansion in the future
A new bus interchange
A covered pedestrian overbridge and train shelters on platforms

The station is being future proofed, with capacity for additional rail tracks and longer platforms to accommodate nine car trains.
The full SH22 Drury Upgrade expected cost envelope is $168 million to $197 million. This includes a combination of approved funding from the Major Capital Investment Programme (MCIP) and the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) for pre-implementation, property acquisition and delivery of the interim intersection at Jesmond Road.
Funding (within the total expected cost of $168 million to $197 million) for construction of the wider SH22 Drury project will be sought from the NLTF in 2026 once design is complete.

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Strengthened accountability for Treaty settlement delivery

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has published the Whole of System (Core Crown) Report on Treaty Settlement Delivery 2025, providing transparency for Treaty settlement delivery and setting a benchmark for performance across Government.

“Accountability is critical to maintaining the integrity of settlements, and to ensuring the that the Crown delivers on its obligations,” Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says.

“The report today shows encouraging progress and increases across the system. Currently, 83.3 percent of commitments are complete or on track, up from 76.7% in 2024. Delivery issues have also reduced from 4.9 percent to 3.5 percent.

“It is positive to see this progress made in the last year, however there is still work to do to strengthen Treaty relationships and ensure timely delivery of our commitments.”

This year’s report includes deeper insights from Crown agencies, and for the first time, insights from post-settlement governance entities (PSGEs). This provides a more balanced view of the Treaty relationship and the practical aspects of delivering on commitments.

PSGEs described their Treaty relationships as generally constructive, but emphasised that success depends on reciprocal engagement, timely delivery, and adequate resourcing. 

In instances where these elements are strong, PSGEs report confidence in building future-focused partnerships. Where there is more room for improvement, they reported friction and resource pressures.

“Strong Treaty relationships are built on trust and partnership. This report helps keep those priorities front of mind for every agency,” Mr Potaka says.

“Looking ahead, I will be closely monitoring progress made by agencies to strengthen post-settlement relationships with PSGEs, and to ensure timely delivery on commitments,” Mr Potaka says.