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Government launches independent review into Reserve Bank’s Covid-19 response

Source: Radio New Zealand

The review into the Reserve Bank was to identify key lessons, the government said. (File photo) RNZ

The government is launching an independent review of the Reserve Bank’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, due to be published just months out from the election.

The review – to be released in September – will focus on the central bank’s actions, including cutting the official cash rate to 0.25 percent and engaging in money printing.

It would also look at the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy – that is, how the bank’s response interacted with the government’s.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the review’s purpose was to identify any key lessons, in light of the associated spike in inflation and house prices.

“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand took unprecedented action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. (File photo) RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

“These actions helped to preserve jobs and keep businesses afloat, but the indirect impacts included decades-high inflation, and losses of about $10.3 billion on the LSAP [Large Scale Asset Purchase] programme and a significant spike in asset values with house prices increasing 30 per cent in one year.”

In October, Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway told a Sydney investment conference the LSAP scheme, commonly referred to as money printing, had effectively paid for itself and helped the economy to function at a time of stress.

“By boosting economic activity during the pandemic, LSAPs increased government tax revenues,” Conway said.

“This higher revenue almost entirely covered the direct losses from LSAPs, leaving consolidated crown debt virtually unchanged over the medium term.”

Other commentators have strongly criticised the LSAP programme, the cost and the related programme of $19b of cheap loans to banks.

Monetary policy experts Athanasios Orphanides and David Archer have been appointed to carry out the independent review.

Orphanides was a former governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.

Archer was a former Reserve Bank assistant governor and former head of the Central Banking Studies Unit at the Bank for International Settlements.

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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 request public’s help in finding Hastings stabbing suspect

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police said the alleged offender fled the scene prior to their arrival. RNZ / Richard Tindiller

A man remains in critical condition after being stabbed in Hastings on Saturday, and police are appealing for more information on his attackers whereabouts.

Police said they were called to a stabbing at an address in the Karamu Road North area at around 3.25am where a man was found with “severe injuries”.

“Police immediately provided first aid before paramedics transported him to hospital, where he underwent surgery,” a spokesperson said. “He remains in a critical condition.”

Police said the alleged offender fled the scene prior to their arrival.

“At approximately 6am, police received information about a man hiding at a property on Mayfair Avenue, not far from where the incident occurred.

“The man was located and arrested without further incident.”

Police said he had been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was remanded in custody.

Police were now seeking CCTV footage from residents in the surrounding area that may have captured information between the time of the incident and his arrest.

“Residents are asked to carefully check the time settings on their cameras, including any daylight‑savings adjustments, to ensure footage covers the relevant period.”

Police also asked locals to check their properties for any items that may have been discarded by the alleged offender.

Anyone with information is asked to make a report at 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105.

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

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Sheep farmers come to parliament to celebrate record year

Source: New Zealand Government

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has today hosted a celebratory barbecue for farmers, industry representatives and MPs to mark the upcoming National Lamb Day on 15 February.

“As we honour the legacy of the pioneers behind the first shipment of frozen sheep meat to the United Kingdom, we also celebrate lamb exports exceeding $4 billion for the first time last year,” Mr McClay says.

“Today we acknowledge the red meat sector and its significant economic contribution to New Zealand, as well as the hardworking men and women behind that success.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Meat and wool export revenue alone is forecast to increase seven per cent to $13.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2026.
 
“The efforts of New Zealand’s hard-working sheep and beef farmers support tens of thousands of jobs, and the sector is crucial to New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.

“This Government is focused on building the future. We’re cutting red tape through significant reforms, building trade, boosting farmgate returns, and investing in the health of rural New Zealand,” Mr McClay says.

“Since coming to Government, we have concluded, signed and entered into force the NZ–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, finished negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and secured a high-quality, once-in-a-generation Free Trade Agreement with India.

“We’ll continue removing barriers to trade, opening doors to new partners and making the most of strong trading relationships.”

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Big gaps in awareness, treatment, support for ovarian cancer

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nearly half of all New Zealand women with ovarian cancer are being diagnosed in emergency departments across the country. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

A new report says there are big gaps in New Zealand awareness, treatment and support for ovarian cancer which is the least survivable women’s cancer and takes one woman’s life every two days.

The Ovarian Cancer Foundation released new research at Parliament on Wednesday which found significant gaps in New Zealand’s awareness, diagnosis, treatment, support, research and clinical trials for ovarian cancer.

The report titled State of Ovarian Cancer Report – Aotearoa New Zealand 2025 said that there are an average of 306 new diagnoses each year and that one woman dies of the disease every 48 hours.

The foundation’s general manager, Liz Pennington, told Midday Report that there was a lack of awareness and understanding of the signs and symptoms of ovarian.

“We know that in New Zealand for example, nearly half of all women are actually being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in emergency departments across Aotearoa and we certainly know that when women are attending Accident and Emergency they’re attending because obviously they’re in pain or the presenting really acutely.”

That was a significantly higher rate of women being diagnosed in A and E than in Australia, where the rate was 21 to 28 percent, she said.

Crosses representing ovarian cancer deaths on the steps of Parliament after a petition with more than 7000 signatures, calling for national diagnostic guidelines to be developed for ovarian cancer was presented there on 16 March 2021. RNZ / Dom Thomas

New Zealand had a very low level of research funding into ovarian cancer when compared with comparable companies, she said.

“When it comes to access to things like clinical trials currently in New Zealand women can only access five, again if we look across the Tasman in Australia women can access 44.”

Another issue is problems with accessing ultrasound for New Zealand women which meant that diagnosis was often significantly delayed, with women being encouraged to pay to go privately when and if they could, she said.

“And we’ve got 30 percent of women dying in that first year from the diagnosis that I talked about and a five year survival rate of only 42.8 percent, so a really significant issue needing significant investment and a plan of action really.”

A woman who went to the GP in Australia with potential symptoms of ovarian cancer such as bloating, feeling full without having eaten a lot and changes to bowel or bladder habits would be treated differently from one in New Zealand, she said.

“In Australia the pathway would be pelvic exam, so you know a feel of her tummy and things, a discussion and then she can be sent for both a blood test and a scan, here in New Zealand that’s not the case.”

In New Zealand, the woman may be sent for the blood test which is called CA125 and then after that she would be likely to have to revisit the GP where there could be problems getting an appointment and then she might be sent for an ultrasound, she said.

“But the large majority of GPs were telling us in the survey that access to ultrasound was difficult and that it was one of the key factors delaying diagnosis – so that’s something that needs to change.”

Three new treatments for ovarian cancer had been released in New Zealand in the last five years which had reduced the gap with Australia, she said.

But if those treatments were not funded then patients and their families had to resort to things like crowd funding or mortgaging their houses to pay for it, she said.

The report urges health decision-makers to implement the following actions:

  • Add ovarian cancer symptoms education to the national cervical screening programme and clarify that screening does not detect other gynaecological cancers
  • Amend Health Pathways to allow GPs to refer symptomatic women for an ultrasound at their first GP visit
  • Identify people at higher genetic risk before they get ovarian cancer
  • Address gynae-oncology specialist shortages
  • Prioritise ovarian cancer clinical trials
  • Increase funding and focus on ovarian cancer by the Health Research Council
  • Address data gaps and make accurate, real-time data more accessible across the health system
  • Improve medicines access and investment
  • Include people with lived experience, their whānau and patient advocacy groups in service design, policy and research

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

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‘Education hub’ opens for students cut off from schools by Helena Bay Hill slip

Source: Radio New Zealand

Students cut off from their high schools by a monster slip northeast of Whangārei are instead taking lessons at a temporary ‘education hub’ set up at a local primary school. Supplied / Ngātiwai Trust Board

Northland secondary students cut off from their schools by a massive slip are taking lessons at a temporary ‘education hub’ until the road can be reopened.

Last month’s deluge triggered a landslide on Russell Road which has cut off the main road access for coastal communities northeast of Whangārei.

While the road to the north has reopened following repairs to a washed-out bridge, the detour via the Ōpua ferry adds at least an extra two hours each way to the journey to Whangārei.

The Ministry of Education said students in Helena Bay, Ōakura and Whangaruru normally attended four different high schools in Whangārei.

Isabel Evans, hautū (leader) for Te Tai Raro-North, said an education hub had been established at a local primary school so the affected students could continue learning.

Lessons at He Puna Ruku Mātauranga o Whangaruru, or Whangaruru School, started on Monday.

Evans said students attending the hub would remain enrolled at their usual schools. Learning would be supported on-site using Whangaruru School’s facilities, with students working at their current year levels using learning packs provided by their enrolled schools.

“School leaders will remain in regular contact with hub staff, the students and whānau. The hub will remain in place until the slip is cleared or the road is deemed safe to travel.”

Earlier, Whangārei District Council infrastructure committee chairman Brad Flower said the slip at Helena Bay Hill involved around 100,000 cubic metres of mud, boulders and trees. Some of the boulders weighed as much as 100 tonnes apiece.

Flower said even if contractors were able to shift 1000 cubic metres of debris a day, and worked every day with no weather interruptions, it would take three months to clear the road.

Only once the slip was cleared would it be known if the road itself had been damaged.

In the meantime the council had opened up an alternative ‘lifeline route’ south to Whangārei via Pigs Head Road and Kaiikanui Road.

But that route was narrow, steep and unsealed, with traffic only allowed through in convoys at set times, one direction at a time.

A local state of emergency in the Hikurangi-Coastal Ward, which included the coastal communities worst affected by the storm, was lifted on 3 February.

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

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Hastings stabbing – Police appeal for footage

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Karli Whiu:

Hastings Police are seeking information as they investigate a serious stabbing that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning 7 February.

At around 3.25am, Police were called to a report of a stabbing at an address in the Karamu Road North area.

Officers located a man with severe injuries. Police immediately provided first aid before paramedics transported him to hospital, where he underwent surgery. He remains in a critical condition.

The alleged offender fled the scene prior to Police arrival.

At approximately 6am, Police received information about a man hiding at a property on Mayfair Avenue, not far from where the incident occurred. The man was located and arrested without further incident.

He has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and has been remanded in custody.

Police are now seeking CCTV footage from residents in the surrounding area that may have captured information between the time of the incident and his arrest. Residents are asked to carefully check the time settings on their cameras, including any daylight‑savings adjustments, to ensure footage covers the relevant period.

Police are also asking local residents to check their properties for any items that may have been discarded by the alleged offender.

Anyone with information is asked to make a report at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking ‘Update Report’, or by calling 105. Please use reference number 260207/3403.

Alternatively, information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers, by calling 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Reckless ride ends in court for teen

Source: New Zealand Police

A teenager’s reckless ride on an electric bike through the North Shore found him making a hard landing into court.

On Tuesday night, Police initially responded to an aggravated robbery on Coliseum Drive, Albany at 7.41pm.

Inspector Aron McKeown, Waitematā East Area Prevention Manager, says the teenage victim was outside a fast-food restaurant at the time.

“A teenage male offender has approached the victim, allegedly stealing his electric trail bike at knifepoint,” he says.

“The bike has been driven across the car park towards the mall and out of sight.”

The Police Eagle helicopter had been in the area for another matter, when the crew became aware of the job unfolding.

“Eagle responded and located the bike being driven at excessive speed on the Northern Busway southbound.

“The bike has continued to be tracked by Eagle, as it exited at Constellation Station, making its way onto the Northern Motorway.”

No units pursued the bike, but its movements were tracked from above.

Inspector McKeown says the bike was seen exiting at Tristram Avenue, heading for Beacroft Park.

“He has cut through a football game being played at the time, before heading towards Milford.

“This reckless run came to an end after he fell off the bike on Bevyn Street.

“The 15-year-old didn’t suffer any injuries, but he did find himself in handcuffs and under arrest,” he says.

Waitematā East CIB has charged the male with aggravated robbery, reckless driving and possession for supply of cannabis.

He will be appearing in the North Shore Youth Court today.

“We are ensuring the young victim is being provided by support after this unsettling event,” Inspector McKeown says.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the frontline staff, Eagle and our CIB investigators for their work in responding to this incident.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Independent review of Covid-19 monetary policy

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has instigated an independent review of New Zealand’s monetary policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the purpose of the review is to identify any lessons New Zealand could learn to improve the monetary policy response to future major events.

“An independent review means the conclusions found can be objective and constructive.

“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand took unprecedented action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This included reducing the Official Cash Rate to 0.25 per cent, and the use of additional monetary policy tools, including a Large Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) programme.

“These actions helped to preserve jobs and keep businesses afloat, but the indirect impacts included decades-high inflation, and losses of about $10.3 billion on the LSAP programme and a significant spike in asset values with house prices increasing 30 per cent in one year.

“The purpose of the review is to learn from experience. It will focus on decisions by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), and analysis provided by the Reserve Bank to support those decisions. This includes MPC decision making and communication, the use of additional monetary policy tools, and the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy.”

Monetary policy experts Athanasios Orphanides and David Archer have been appointed to conduct the independent review.

Dr Orphanides is a former governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, and a professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Mr Archer is a former Reserve Bank assistant governor and former head of the Central Banking Studies Unit at the Bank for International Settlements. 

The review is expected to be completed in August 2026 and publicly released in September 2026.

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Watch: Where Wellington’s sewage is drifting in the harbour

Source: Radio New Zealand

Experts say it is safe to swim at beaches in the capital’s harbour, but Wellingtonians are taking a cautious approach.

Nearly a week ago, the Moa Point Treatment Plant started pumping raw sewage into the ocean off the south coast after it completely failed early Wednesday morning.

The following Thursday evening, the raw sewage was diverted from being dumped near the coast to a 1.8km outfall pipe.

Wellington Water has warned it may need to use the short outfall pipe if it were to rain in the city.

There was no evidence to suggest sewage was reaching the city’s inner harbour, but at Oriental Bay most people RNZ spoke to thought locals were being careful around the water.

Calypso Science, a New Plymouth based oceanography research company with a focus on coastal currents, created a model of Wellington’s south coast after the sewage plant failure.

Physical oceanographer Remy Zyngfogel told RNZ based on that work, the sewage seemed not to be flowing into the inner harbour.

“I didn’t see anything near Lower Hutt, it is mainly concentrated near Lyall Bay and Ōwhiro Bay.”

See the migration of sewage in Wellington Harbour in the player above.

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

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A year of coping with the grief of losing a daughter

Source: Radio New Zealand

When Kirsten O’Connor’s daughter Kahlia died by suicide in April last year, she started to keep records about her creative and complex daughter.

It was a way of processing her grief, she told RNZ’s Afternoons.

“Sometimes when you’re going through grieving, the brain isn’t working quite right. You forget memories. And I was really scared that I would forget memories of Kahlia.”

Kahlia and Kirsten O’Connor dressed up for an Elton John concert.

Kirsten O’Connor

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