Source: New Zealand Police
The State Highway 6/Quarantine Road roundabout, Nelson, is down to one lane northbound following a crash this morning.
Police were notified of the single-vehicle crash, where a logging truck has tipped on its side, around 6:10am.
Thankfully, no one was injured.
The lane will remain blocked for some time while the vehicle is being removed.
Motorists are advised to take alternative routes where possible and expect delays.
ENDS
Source: Radio New Zealand
A series of summer concerts involving punk pioneer Iggy Pop and America rocker Joan Jett and The Blackhearts have pulled a Whitianga concert from the schedule, adding an Auckland show instead.
The organisers said “in light of public feedback” of the scheduling of the Coromandel show on 26 January, following Auckland Anniversary weekend, they decided to pivot.
“Greenstone Entertainment has listened to concert-goers and made the decision to move the Coromandel concert to Auckland’s Spark Arena … ensuring a wider audience may enjoy this historic line-up of artists,” they wrote in a statement on Wednesday morning.
The Summer Concert tour will kick off at Taupō’s Amphitheatre on 24 January before playing Spark Arena on 29 January and wrapping up at Wānaka’s Three Parks Outdoor Arena on 31 January.
Local band Zed will play the series along with the visiting international rockers. However, the change of plans means Australian act Hoodoo Gurus aren’t able to play the Auckland set.
Whitianga ticket holders can transfer to Taupō or Auckland, or receive a refund.
Pop, who started his career in the late 1960s fronting The Stooges is famous for his songs ‘The Passenger’, ‘Lust for Life’ and ‘Real Wild Child’.
Jett formed her band with the Blackhearts in 1979 and had world wide smash hits with ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and ‘I Hate Myself For Loving You’.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
123RF
Auckland hotels are sold out tonight as Metallica rocks Eden Park and the world’s largest indigenous education conference continues.
But a hotel association is warning that doesn’t mean the industry is suddenly thriving.
The city’s cultural and events agency, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said 40,000 visitor nights were expected from Metallica fans alone.
The World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education at the Aotea Centre this week brought 3800 delegates from around the globe who will add another 16,000 visitor nights over the course of the five-day event, it said.
It means hotels are at capacity on Wednesday which would be a welcome boost for Auckland’s visitor economy, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s destination director Annie Dundas said.
“From metal militia to educators, everyone contributes to the vibrancy of our region and the strength of our visitor economy.
“The energy they bring before, during and after these events, is felt in our streets, our hotels and our hospitality venues.”
The band Metallica. Metallica
However, Hotel Council Aotearoa strategic director James Doolan told First Up while there have been a few “full out” days in the last few years coinciding with major events, occupancy rates still haven’t recovered following the pandemic.
“So that means hotels have been doing it tough, moteliers have been mortgaging their properties to stay alive, and it’s far too soon to have one good week and for all of us to start acting like all of the problems have been solved,” he said.
“Hotels and motels and restaurants, they’re not only open for one or two days a year, they’re open 365 days a year including on cold winter weeknights.”
Doolan hoped to see more concerts at Eden Park, and looked forward to the long-delayed International Convention Centre opening in February.
But he wanted local and central government to invest more in marketing to attract major events to Auckland.
Dundas said the agency shared the industry’s ambitions, and a long-term funding solution was essential.
To bridge the funding gap it was relying on temporary sources like the targeted rate that pays for developing the city centre, a budget contribution from Mayor Wayne Brown, and the organisation’s own operating funds, she said.
They’ve also welcomed the government’s recent $70 million investment to boost events and tourism.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
123RF
Dairy prices have fallen again in the fortnightly global auction overnight.
The average price at the Global Dairy Trade auction fell 3 percent to US$3678 a tonne, the seventh consecutive fall.
It follows the 2.4 percent drop in the previous auction.
The GDT (Global Dairy Trade) Price Index was at its lowest level since August 2024.
The price of wholemilk powder, which strongly influences payouts for local farmers, fell 1.9 percent to US$3452 (NZ$6099) a tonne.
Butter prices fell more than 7.6 percent, while cheddar prices fell 2.7 percent, and skim milk powder fell 0.6 percent.
NZX head of dairy insights Cristina Alvarado said the auction reflected the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand globally.
“Milk availability is expected to remain solid in the near term, adding further pressure to prices if demand does not strengthen,” she said.
“Seasonally, buying interest often softens as markets approach the end of the calendar year and move into the Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Ramadan periods, with many buyers already having secured forward contracts.”
Last week the NZX lowered its 2025-26 season forecast from $9.80 to $9.68 a kilogram of milk solids.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
File photo. Ian Roberts playing for Manly Sea Eagles in 1995. Photosport / Andrew Cornaga
The NRL’s first openly gay player has slammed the NZ Breakers as “cowards” for not wearing the rainbow Pride flag in next year’s NBL Pride Round.
The Breakers are the second club to opt out of the pride jersey since the Round began in 2023, saying it’s to protect individual players from being singled out for their beliefs. Cairns Taipans did the same during the inaugural round, when the players did not wear a pride jersey.
Ian Roberts has a prominent voice and advocate for the rainbow community in Australian sport since coming out as gay in 1995, while still an active NRL player.
He told Morning Report the NZ Breakers’ decision was shameful and could have huge repercussions for people struggling with their sexual identity.
“They’re absolute cowards.”
“Call it for what it is. This is homophobia.”
“This is bigotry. Just call it for what it is, at least have the courage to stand up and say, ‘yeah, I’m against this, I’m not for same-sex people being same-sex attracted, I’m totally opposed to that and I won’t wear a badge’.”
“The consequences can be catastrophic for kids who are dealing with their sexuality and you’ve got d…heads like this who want to jump up and wave their religious book or culturally.”
“I thought religion was supposed to be about embracing and loving and caring,” he said.
RNZ has approached the Breakers for comment.
Pride Round is the basketball league’s annual celebration of diversity and inclusion, recognising the LGBTQIA-plus community.
Roberts said he wasn’t surprised by the basketball team’s decision and believed there had been political and religious pressures.
The former Kangaroos and NSW Blues representative said the Breakers didn’t appreciate the depth of feeling within the sporting rainbow community.
“That’s why I get so worked up when people push back against it, it’s just saying, we embrace you, you’re welcome. That’s basically what it’s saying.”
“Events like this make people feel better about themselves and make people feel worthy and make people feel like they’re not freaks and they’re not all isolated.”
“It’s to be a part of this sport and to be a part of the sporting community. It should be a thing of celebration. It shouldn’t be any controversy… that’s why I just find it difficult that people want to use culture, cultural issues or religious issues or political issues to push back against stuff like this.”
“This is about saving kids’ lives. That’s the bottom line for me, that’s how I see it.”
The Manly Sea Eagles great said he believed in the power of sport to change people’s lives and hoped the NZ Breakers reconsidered their position.
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
POOL
A week after a bombshell IPCA report raised allegations of high-level cover-ups and triggered accusations of corruption, the fallout continues to grow, with public trust in our police in the spotlight.
New Zealand has long been considered one of the least corrupt jurisdictions in the world.
But a week ago, a scandal shook that perception.
New Zealand police were thrown into one of the most serious crises of confidence in recent memory, with allegations of corruption and high-level cover-ups involving our top officers, including former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.
And eight days on, it’s still unclear whether promised changes and investigations will be enough to rebuild confidence in an institution which has had its appearance of integrity fundamentally shaken.
“This goes to the fundamental heart of trust, really,” Newsroom national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva tells The Detail.
“As a country, can we trust our police, the people who are meant to ensure the law and hold law-breakers to account? If they can’t be trusted to follow the law themselves, or [follow] due process, then how can we trust them? So, the stakes couldn’t be higher, really.”
After a fight by journalists, including the New Zealand Herald‘s Jared Savage, to lift suppression orders, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a damning report last Tuesday, outlining major leadership failures in the handling of complaints against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
The complaints were from a young woman – referred to as Ms Z – with whom McSkimming had an affair.
The Authority reported that despite allegations of coercive sexual behaviour, threatening conduct, and potential misuse of police systems, early efforts focused on pursuing the complainant under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, while concerns about McSkimming stalled or were minimised.
And top police leaders – including then-commissioner Coster and his deputy commissioner – engaged in serious misconduct in their handling of the case, accepting McSkimming’s explanations uncritically and failing to order timely, impartial investigations.
The IPCA findings have triggered public outrage, calls for new investigations, and intense scrutiny of the force’s culture and leadership – past and present. The police minister and commissioner have since publicly shown remorse and offered apologies and investigations.
But the woman still faces charges under the digital harassment law for sending “abusive messages” to the detective investigating her, and to his wife. The McSkimming-related charges were withdrawn.
This news was broken by Savage, a senior investigative journalist, who has been working on the scandal for more than a year.
“This big apology was put out to her publicly, everyone – the commissioner, the minister of police – all extending genuine apologies, I think, or heartfelt sympathies for the situation she has been put through … but she’s still facing charges because allegedly she sent some emails to the detective who had arrested her originally for the charges that we now know is misconduct,” he tells The Detail.
“Getting answers around this has been difficult, as well, because it’s all tied up in the legal process. You go back to the commission and say, ‘should she still be charged over this? What is the public interest?’ and they say, ‘our hands are tied, it’s with the Crown now’.”
He says the experience has had a “devastating impact” on the young woman, who was allegedly told by McSkimming that if she raised complaints he would distribute photos of her in compromising positions.
“So, you can imagine someone who was very scared to make a formal complaint sends through these emails, which on the face of it look quite abusive and hard to believe, because at this point McSkimming is a shining beacon, he’s the number two police officer in the country, clean cut guy. [These are] serious allegations, but police didn’t do their job.”
Instead, the police backed their own, and charged the complainant.
And all the information was suppressed until last week.
“I think the treatment of her is appalling, to be honest. The police will need to be accountable for that at some point, as well,” Savage says.
“To carry on with the second prosecution against her adds insult to injury.”
He says the police have a “huge job ahead of them” to rebuild and restore public confidence.
He believes the police involved in the cover-up should be looked into, and a ministerial inquiry should be launched, similar to the Commission of Inquiry led by Dame Margaret Bazley, whose scathing 2007 report described disgraceful conduct by police officers over 25 years, and a wall of silence protecting the men that women complained about.
The high-profile case of Louise Nicholas, who accused four police officers of rape, prompted the Commission of Inquiry to be established in 2004.
“I think this is such a big scandal that there needs to be a similar Commission of Inquiry or Ministerial Inquiry to look into the wider issues that we have got going on here,” Savage says.
“Twenty-odd years after the last report, I think it’s time to have another good look under the covers, really, because clearly not as much progress has been made as police would like us to believe.
“And again, it comes down to public trust and confidence.”
Police, politicians, and the public are now waiting for the next phase of investigations – and for answers about how such significant failures occurred at the very top of the organisation.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: PHARMAC
Pharmac works closely with our Pharmacology and Therapeutics Committee (PTAC), specialist advisory committees and other advisory groups that make up our Expert Advisory Network to get expert advice on medicines being considered for funding and medical devices we procure.
The advisory committees have expertise in areas ranging from special foods, mental health and rheumatology to immunisations and cancer treatments. They meet as required to discuss and provide recommendations on the medicines we’re looking to fund and provide ongoing advice on issues such as supply shortages, changes for medicines we already fund and how to implement consultation feedback.
“We know how important it is to patients, clinicians and suppliers to get this information as soon as possible. However, we also want to ensure the record accurately reflects the advice provided and this takes time. We’re working on ways to achieve this more quickly,” says acting Pharmaceuticals Manager Expert Advisory, Caroline De Luca.
“The information being discussed is highly technical and it’s important that we reflect that discussion accurately.”.
To improve timeliness, Pharmac is trialling a new process where the provisional recommendations of a meeting are published sooner, while the review process for the full record is underway.
“Sharing the provisional outcome of the meeting sooner does not directly impact funding timeframes,” says De Luca. “But it does mean you will know if a medicine is likely to be assessed and prioritised for funding much sooner.”
In some cases, the person or supplier that applied to have a medicine considered for funding may request that provisional recommendations are withheld until the full meeting record is available.
“Expert advice plays a key role in determining which medicines Pharmac assesses and informs how each medicine is ranked on the options for investment list,” says De Luca.
“We know patients and clinicians waiting for medicines to be funded want to know these recommendations sooner, and it helps suppliers plan too. We’ve been encouraged by the positive response to this trial so far.
This pilot is part of Pharmac’s work to increase transparency. A review will be undertaken at the end of this year, and feedback received will help inform improvements. We would love to hear from you. Please send your feedback to enquiries@pharmac.govt.nz
Source: New Zealand Government
Mr President, colleagues.
Tēnā koutou katoa. It is an honour to address you today on behalf of New Zealand.
When the Paris Agreement was adopted ten years ago, Parties committed to goals that limit the impacts of climate change on lives and livelihoods.
Ten years on, we have seen significant progress, and we are firmly in the era of implementation.
But we need to press forward, and we must keep 1.5 alive.
Mr President, New Zealand is committed.
We were one of the first eight countries in the world to have submitted a second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), that is ambitious, achievable, informed by the Global Stocktake, and in accordance with Paris Agreement rules.
We are committed to transparency arrangements, which are critical to mutual trust.
And we provide high-quality, grants-based, accessible, partner-responsive climate support, with over half going to adaptation action.
We urge all Parties to follow suit and implement. All Parties must submit NDCs that reflect the urgency of the movement, and all Parties with the capacity to do so must provide support to those who need it most.
We recognise economies are under strain, but every step of progress helps us maintain momentum.
Mr President, the Blue Pacific Continent has long led the world with its climate ambition.
In the Pacific, climate change is not a distant threat; it is a lived reality.
Next year, COP31 in the Pacific would be an opportunity to deliver global climate solutions, built on the experience of some of those on the front lines.
New Zealand proudly supports Australia’s commitment to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific and calls on others to confirm their support.
Mr President, a low-emissions and climate-resilient economy is central to economic prosperity.
New Zealand is accelerating the deployment of renewable energy at a faster pace than ever before.
In October, we saw weeks where our electricity was 98% renewable. We have commissioned more renewable generation in the last 18 months than in the previous 15 years, helping us double that capacity by 2050.
Our farmers are among the most carbon-efficient globally, and we are leading in agricultural innovation.
Our Emissions Trading Scheme is one of the most comprehensive globally.
And in the last month, we agreed to legislate a climate adaptation framework to address long-term strategic factors, including clear roles, investment in risk reduction, and cost-sharing. This is one of the world’s first of its kind.
Mr President, the response to climate change must be inclusive and supportive of all voices and leadership, as we cannot solve this challenge alone.
I am proud that a delegation of New Zealand’s young Māori leaders is here at COP30 – sharing their stories and commitment to action.
Mr President, you introduced us to ‘mutirao’, which speaks to the shared work that builds up our people.
This resonates with us. New Zealand – our young people, business, and civil society – stand ready to partner with all Parties to take action: at home, in the Pacific, and globally.
Thank you.
Source: PHARMAC
“I’m honoured to be Pharmac’s new Chief Executive and excited to be part of an organisation that plays such an important role in the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders,” says McMurtry.
McMurtry brings over 25 years of experience as a front-line clinician and senior health leader in Canada. She began her career as a paediatric critical care pharmacist before moving into strategic and operational leadership roles across Alberta’s health system – including responsibility for Alberta’s public drug program. Her governance experience includes serving on the boards of Canada’s Drug Agency and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
“While every country’s health system is unique, the fundamentals remain the same – people need access to medicines to help them stay well,” she says.
“Throughout my career, I’ve focused on improving access to quality health care, including medicines, and ensuring that patients and their families are at the centre of decision-making.
“Joining Pharmac offered a unique opportunity to draw on my health leadership experience and contribute to an organisation resetting its focus to be more patient-centred and outward-looking.”
McMurtry describes her leadership style as upfront, transparent and empathetic. In her first few months, she’s been focused on listening and learning – meeting with staff, patients and their advocates, suppliers, Pharmac’s Board, the Minister of Health, and other key partners across the health system.
“I want Pharmac to be seen as an organisation that has the backs of patients and their families,” she says. “We need to be transparent and inclusive – and that means listening to people with lived experience and working in partnership with the wider health system.”
McMurtry has prioritised connecting with those most affected by Pharmac’s decisions. In October she attended the Valuing Life: New Zealand Medicines Access Summit – an early opportunity to meet with suppliers and consumers – and the monthly consumer update forum, where patient advocates engage directly with senior leaders, ask questions, and share their perspectives.
She has also been meeting with Pharmac’s Consumer and Patient Working Group and the Consumer Advisory Committee, both of which provide valuable lived experience to inform Pharmac’s work.
Looking ahead, McMurtry says she is excited about the opportunities and is focused on leading Pharmac in a collaborative and people-centred way.
“We have a talented and passionate team here,” she says. “I’m looking forward to supporting them and helping Pharmac continue to grow as a trusted and responsive organisation.”
Pharmac’s Board Chair, Paula Bennett, said of McMurtry’s appointment:
“Natalie stands out as a leader who is very experienced, empathetic, capable and determined. She has known the Pharmac model for years from afar and jumped at the opportunity to lead this wonderful organisation. She is a very considered person who respects and values our people.”
Source: PHARMAC
“I was really pleased to be able to attend the summit in October, alongside our Board Chair Hon Paula Bennett as well as three other board members, our Senior Leadership Team and several other staff.”
Hosted by the Associate Minister of Health, Hon David Seymour, and aiming to address critical issues in medicine access the summit brought together a wide range of stakeholders including patient advocates, clinicians, health officials, suppliers, academics and politicians.
Some of the key themes were:
“I’d like to acknowledge the incredible amount of work Dr Malcolm Mulholland, Patient Voice Aotearoa and Medicines New Zealand put into organising this event. Rachel Smalley also did a wonderful job as MC,” McMurtry says. Mulholland and Smalley are members of Pharmac’s Consumer and Patient Working Group, as Chair and Deputy Chair.
“The constructive conversations held over the two days were invaluable. Many different voices at the summit all came together with a shared goal – improving access to medicines for all New Zealanders.”