AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for April 1, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be juggling disappointment and elation when announcing his election-year Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday.

With senior minister Judith Collins set to become president of the Law Commission in the middle of the year, and Shane Reti also retiring from politics at the election, Luxon has a number of portfolios up for redistribution.

Collins currently holds minister of Defence, the Public Service, the spy agencies, digitising government, and space – as well as the Attorney-General, the government’s top lawyer.

Reti, who was on the receiving end of a big demotion in Luxon’s reshuffle at the start of last year losing health, still holds the portfolios of Universities, Science and Technology, Pacific Peoples and Statistics.

With both Collins and Reti in Cabinet, which is currently 20 ministers, it would make room for two elevations to the top table.

Chris Penk, minister for building and construction, veterans, small business, and associate defence minister has long been tipped to take over from Collins in the defence role.

Penk is himself a veteran and knows the portfolio well and is currently a minister outside of cabinet.

Asked by RNZ earlier this month if he wanted the job he refused to say yes or no, instead saying that was a decision for others to make.

Another possible contender to move inside cabinet is Minister for South Island, youth, hunting and fishing and associate transport, James Meager.

The former Beehive staffer is one of National’s rising stars and has the benefit of rural South Island roots, which would help bring some geographical diversity to the table.

Luxon’s reshuffle will only affect National ministers as the coalition agreements with Act and New Zealand First make any other changes too difficult.

For that reason, despite Brooke van Velden last week announcing her intention to retire at the election, she will keep her ministerial portfolios.

One of the biggest appointments Luxon needs to deal with is that of Attorney General.

While tradition means the role is usually held by a lawyer, it’s not a legal requirement.

That could leave the door open for Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith to take on the job.

He’s already filled in for Collins when she has handed her powers over due to conflicts of interest.

If Luxon wanted to stick with the usual convention, then Penk and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka are lawyers, and Housing and Transport Minister Chris Bishop holds a law degree.

It’s likely Bishop will shed at least one portfolio given the workload he is under and the huge amount of legislation, including the Resource Management Act reform work he’s in charge of, that still needs to work its way through the House.

Reshuffles always have winners and losers and it’s a balancing act for any leader to keep everyone happy.

While safe pairs of hands are required on the big jobs, there’s also an opportunity for Luxon to reward talented and hard-working MPs by promoting them to ministerial positions outside of Cabinet.

There would be two such spaces available on Thursday if Luxon fills vacant Cabinet positions with ministers currently sitting outside.

Hawke’s Bay MPs Catherine Wedd and Katie Nimon could well be in the mix, as could chair of the heavy-weight finance and expenditure select committee Cameron Brewer.

One MP who will be watching closely to see if he’s being brought back into the fold is former minister Andrew Bayly.

Last year Bayly resigned to the Prime Minister after an incident involving a staff member that he said didn’t meet the expectations he set for himself.

Bayly has already announced he won’t be running in his safe Port Waikato seat at the election due to his family moving south but has left the option of running on the party list.

That option is motivated by a desire to be a minister again but with Luxon extremely unlikely to entertain the idea, Thursday’s reshuffle will almost certainly confirm his exit from politics in November.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Legislation to ease alcohol restrictions on public holidays has passed in its third and final reading at Parliament – and could be passed into law in time for this Easter weekend.

It is possible it may receive royal assent on Thursday, meaning some restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday alcohol sales could be gone as soon as this long weekend.

The member’s bill from Labour MP Kieran McAnulty amends the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow premises that are already open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under normal licence conditions.

Currently, bars or restaurants can only sell alcohol if the patron is “residing or lodging” on the premises, or “present on the premises to dine”.

McAnulty said the legislation would clear up a “confusing law” that had been in place for a long time.

“Just because something’s always been that way doesn’t mean that that’s a good reason to keep it,” he said.

The general requirement is that patrons have to order a ‘substantial meal’, but McAnulty said that was not defined, and patrons were not required to eat it anyway.

“That is a bit of a farce of a situation. So all we’re doing is clearing it up that those businesses that are already able to operate anyway can do so under normal conditions, and those that can’t like off-licences and supermarkets, they remain restricted, but for those on-licences that are already operating, they can do so normally.”

McAnulty said the timing was a “sticking point,” but as some government bills were scheduled to receive royal assent on Thursday he was hopeful his could be included alongside those.

“It’s quite fortuitous timing, I think, the way that it’s played out. And really, we’re at the mercy and availability of Her Excellency, and I’m not of a mind to flick a text to the governor-general and ask for a solid, so I’m quite happy with the way that it’s played out, and hopefully it does follow through.”

Parliament treats alcohol legislation as a conscience matter, meaning MPs vote according to their personal view or what they think is best for their electorate or community, rather than as a party bloc.

McAnulty’s original intent was to allow any premises that was allowed to operate on those public holidays to sell alcohol, which would have included supermarkets but not bottle shops.

But he said it was changed to keep things simple, and only apply it to on-licence venues.

“It’s proven to be the right decision, because we’ve maintained enough support in Parliament,” he said.

“I know that if we’d stuck with off-licences or supermarkets, there are people that would have withdrawn their support, and it probably wouldn’t have passed.”

An amendment proposed by ACT MP Cameron Luxton has been adopted into the bill.

Luxton’s amendment means bars can open after midnight on Anzac and Easter holidays.

The ACT MP was hopeful it would be in place in time for the Super Round at Christchurch’s new stadium, which will see 10 Super Rugby teams play over the weekend of 24 to 26 April.

Luxton said it would mean punters coming to enjoy the new stadium were not kicked out at midnight for Anzac Day.

“It’s a huge opening that Christchurch is going to be able to make a great deal out of.”

He said it would change the “you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here” regime currently in place.

“Who knows what’s happening on the streets after that? This bill will enable licensed premises with safety procedures and alcohol policies in place to continue giving people the entertainment, the nightlife that they would like in a responsible and safe way.”

McAnulty said Luxton’s amendment was consistent with the intention of the bill, and he was happy to support it.

“I know that the hospitality businesses in Christchurch are very happy about that, because when their stadium opens and people leave, they won’t have to then be kicked out of the hospitality businesses at midnight because it’s Anzac Day the following day.”

McAnulty, a Catholic, was less concerned with religious opposition to the bill, but understood why people might be opposed on health grounds.

“It’s a valid concern, but because the bill only targets those on-licensed premises that are already able to operate, it’s actually not going to expand the number of premises that can provide alcohol. It just means they don’t have to jump through these ridiculous hoops in order to be able to do it.”

This is not the only piece of legislation that would liberalise alcohol trading laws to pass through Parliament this term.

The government is working through its own piece of legislation to allow restaurants with on-site retail spaces to sell take-home alcoholic beverages, if they also sell takeaway food or non-alcoholic beverages prepared by the business.

Luxton’s own member’s bill to repeal alcohol restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday was voted down at first reading in 2024. That bill would have repealed Good Friday and Easter Sunday as restricted trading days altogether.

Luxton said McAnulty’s bill was “dealing with an element” of what his bill had set out to do.

Another bill by National’s Stuart Smith to allow winery cellar doors to charge visitors for samples and add off-licence categories for wineries holding an on-licence passed successfully through the House in 2024.

Law a ‘fly in the ointment’

Mike Egan, president of the Restaurant Association and co-owner of restaurant Monsoon Poon, said the present law was a “relic from the 1800s” and a “fly in the ointment” for businesses like his.

“The rule is you’re meant to partake in a substantial meal in a pub over Easter on the Friday, and tourists are sort of like, ‘Oh, we’ve eaten, we just all come here for a nightcap,’ or, ‘We just want to have a snack, and you know, we’re wandering around town trying different restaurants and cafes’, and it’s like, ‘No, I’m really sorry, you need to have another meal…’

“People will order a whole meal and not even eat it because the law doesn’t say they actually have to eat it, they just have to have it sitting there in front of them. It’s just a little bit old-fashioned.”

He said the law change would not result in “all this debauchery on Good Friday”.

“[Customers] just want to have a beer in the afternoon after they’ve had a bike ride down the vineyards, you know? So it’s very sort of frustrating trying to police this legislation.”

He said staff would no longer have to act as police officers, checking how much food each customer had ordered if the bill was passed.

“It’ll just make it sort of easier and it’ll just flow like a regular weekend. It will boost business [and] take away a lot of confusion.”

Families struggling with alcohol harm would be worse off – public health adviser

Senior health promotion adviser at Alcohol HealthWatch, Sarah Sneyd, told Checkpoint, she understood people may see it as a small change but it was one that would ever so slightly make access to alcohol easier.

“We have some data from police and emergency departments that show there are fewer alcohol related assaults and ED presentations over the Easter break and that could very well be because it’s harder to access alcohol.”

Sneyd believed there would be real repercussions from changing the restrictions.

“I think it really speaks to a symptom of a deeper problem in our culture we can’t even go a couple of days without access to alcohol. Once again we make it easier to access alcohol on the couple of days where there are some restrictions around it.

“This is not what we hear communities want.”

Sneyd said New Zealand was “saturated” with alcohol and it was a problem with very few protections.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday alcohol sales could be gone as soon as this long weekend.

A member’s bill from Labour MP Kieran McAnulty would amend the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow allow premises that are already open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning, and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under normal licence conditions.

Currently, bars or restaurants can only sell alcohol if the patron is “residing or lodging” on the premises, or “present on the premises to dine”.

McAnulty said the legislation would clear up a “confusing law” that had been in place for a long time.

“Just because something’s always been that way doesn’t mean that that’s a good reason to keep it,” he said.

The general requirement is that patrons have to order a ‘substantial meal’, but McAnulty said that was not defined, and patrons were not required to eat it anyway.

“That is a bit of a farce of a situation. So all we’re doing is clearing it up that those businesses that are already able to operate anyway can do so under normal conditions, and those that can’t like off-licences and supermarkets, they remain restricted, but for those on-licences that are already operating, they can do so normally.”

The bill is up for its third reading on Wednesday. Exactly when depends on other legislation scheduled to be debated first.

If the bill passes, it is possible it may receive Royal Assent on Thursday, in time for Good Friday.

McAnulty said the timing was a “sticking point,” but as some government bills were scheduled to receive Royal Assent on Thursday he was hopeful his could be included alongside those.

“It’s quite fortuitous timing, I think, the way that it’s played out. And really, we’re at the mercy and availability of Her Excellency, and I’m not of a mind to flick a text to the Governor-General and ask for a solid, so I’m quite happy with the way that it’s played out, and hopefully it does follow through.”

Parliament treats alcohol legislation as a conscience matter, meaning MPs vote according to their personal view or what they think is best for their electorate or community, rather than as a party bloc.

It means some of McAnulty’s own Labour colleagues may choose to oppose his bill, but the MP was optimistic he had the numbers across the House to pass.

McAnulty’s original intent was to allow any premises that was allowed to operate on those public holidays to sell alcohol, which would have included supermarkets but not bottle shops.

But he said it was changed to keep things simple, and only apply it to on-licence venues.

“It’s proven to be the right decision, because we’ve maintained enough support in Parliament,” he said.

“I know that if we’d stuck with off-licences or supermarkets, there are people that would have withdrawn their support, and it probably wouldn’t have passed.”

An amendment proposed by ACT MP Cameron Luxton has been adopted into the bill.

Luxton’s amendment means bars can open after midnight on Anzac and Easter holidays. McAnulty said that was consistent with the intention of the bill, and he was happy to support it.

“I know that the hospitality businesses in Christchurch are very happy about that, because when their stadium opens and people leave, they won’t have to then be kicked out of the hospitality businesses at midnight because it’s Anzac Day the following day.”

McAnulty, a Catholic, was less concerned with religious opposition to the bill, but understood why people might be opposed on health grounds.

“It’s a valid concern, but because the bill only targets those on-licensed premises that are already able to operate, it’s actually not going to expand the number of premises that can provide alcohol. It just means they don’t have to jump through these ridiculous hoops in order to be able to do it.”

This is not the only piece of legislation that would liberalise alcohol trading laws to pass through Parliament this term.

The government is working through its own piece of legislation to allow restaurants with on-site retail spaces to sell take-home alcoholic beverages, if they also sell takeaway food or non-alcoholic beverages prepared by the business.

Luxton’s own member’s bill to repeal alcohol restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday was voted down at first reading in 2024.

Another bill by National’s Stuart Smith to allow winery cellar doors to charge visitors for samples and add off-licence categories for wineries holding an on-licence passed successfully through the House in 2024.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The same government that scrapped the Lake Onslow pumped hydro project has put it on the fast-track list. But whether this country can pull off a project of its size is another question.

It was hyped as the answer to the country’s energy anxiety – a giant “battery” in the deep south that could keep the lights on when the lakes run dry.

But when the coalition government was voted in, the project was voted out, deemed too big and too expensive.

Now, the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme is back – or at least, back in the conversation – thanks to a private consortium group, and somewhat ironically, the government has agreed to refer the scheme for possible fast-tracking.

“There’s a view that the fast-track system makes it a lot easier to consent to a lot of different things, but this is a really big project,” says Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, who has been covering the story.

“It’s hard to overstate how significant this would be, both in terms of its broader energy system and national economic impact, but also just in terms of the actual size of the thing they are proposing to build.

“And that’s the real question, right? People often say it’s hard to build things in New Zealand. Well, this is a really big thing. Can we build it?

“Recent history would suggest no, not without significant cost overruns and significant regulatory difficulty. The government likes to think that they have tackled those issues. I guess we will find out.”

Today, The Detail looks into the pumped hydro scheme concept, which is deceptively simple: pump water uphill when electricity is plentiful, then release it when it’s scarce, with energy stored at a scale never seen before in New Zealand.

Supporters say it’s exactly what’s needed to tackle the country’s biggest vulnerability – the dreaded “dry year”, when hydro lakes drop, gas runs tight, and coal-fired generation has to ramp up.

The Labour government liked the idea, but when they looked into it, the bill was around $16 billion, with years, likely more than a decade, before anything tangible would be delivered.

So in 2023, not long after being elected, the coalition government pulled the pin.

“The theory was, at the time, that the opposition to Onslow was that it was creating too much uncertainty in the market because it would have a really significant effect on the electricity market,” Daalder says.

“It would basically be buying a lot of power when power prices are low, in order to charge up the battery as it were, in order to pump that water up the hill, and then when power prices were high, it could be used to depress those because you could flick it on, like with the flick of a switch, and generate power.

“So it would bring up the low prices, but cap off the high prices; it would have quite a significant effect on the markets. There were concerns that people weren’t investing in new generation, as a result of that.”

But it turns out the project wasn’t dead in the water, with industry players circling and forming a private planning group. The Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium includes former Meridian Energy chief executive and Transpower chairperson Keith Turner, former environment minister David Parker, Christchurch lawyer John Hardie, and Reserve Bank board chair Rodger Finlay.

Turner told RNZ’s Morning Report that they estimated their build would cost around $8-10b, and if successful, it could be up and running by 2035. International investors had already shown interest in the project, he said.

And now their plan is being considered for fast-track consenting that could, in theory, bulldoze through years of red tape – thanks to the same government that axed the scheme.

“I asked the Energy Minister, Simon Watts, who has spoken before about the chilling impact that the Lake Onslow project had on the electricity market, whether he was worried about it having a chilling effect,” Daalder says.

“He said ‘no’ but he said it is different because this is the private market, rather than the government making its decisions.

“I don’t know if that logic fully holds. We know that private players in the energy market can have significant impacts on investment decisions, so, for example, we often hear how the uncertainty over whether Tiwai Point would stay or go for five years – between 2019 and 2024 – meant that people weren’t investing in new generation because they thought if the smelter was going to close there would be all this power available.

“It’s hard to see why you would get a different result or a significantly different result, depending on who is actually funding it.”

In limbo

So, where does this leave Lake Onslow? Right now, it’s in limbo. Not quite dead, not quite alive, but very much in the realm of unfinished business with fast-track in its sights.

It was hyped as the answer to the country’s energy anxiety – a giant “battery” in the deep south that could keep the lights on when the lakes run dry.

But when the coalition government was voted in, the project was voted out, deemed too big and too expensive.

Now, the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme is back – or at least, back in the conversation – thanks to a private consortium group, and somewhat ironically, the government has agreed to refer the scheme for possible fast-tracking.

“There’s a view that the fast-track system makes it a lot easier to consent to a lot of different things, but this is a really big project,” says Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, who has been covering the story.

“It’s hard to overstate how significant this would be, both in terms of its broader energy system and national economic impact, but also just in terms of the actual size of the thing they are proposing to build.

“And that’s the real question, right? People often say it’s hard to build things in New Zealand. Well, this is a really big thing. Can we build it?

“Recent history would suggest no, not without significant cost overruns and significant regulatory difficulty. The government likes to think that they have tackled those issues. I guess we will find out.”

‘Too much uncertainty’

Today, The Detail looks into the pumped hydro scheme concept, which is deceptively simple: pump water uphill when electricity is plentiful, then release it when it’s scarce, with energy stored at a scale never seen before in New Zealand.

Supporters say it’s exactly what’s needed to tackle the country’s biggest vulnerability – the dreaded “dry year”, when hydro lakes drop, gas runs tight, and coal-fired generation has to ramp up.

The Labour government liked the idea, but when they looked into it, the bill was around $16 billion, with years, likely more than a decade, before anything tangible would be delivered.

So in 2023, not long after being elected, the coalition government pulled the pin.

“The theory was, at the time, that the opposition to Onslow was that it was creating too much uncertainty in the market because it would have a really significant effect on the electricity market,” Daalder says.

“It would basically be buying a lot of power when power prices are low, in order to charge up the battery as it were, in order to pump that water up the hill, and then when power prices were high, it could be used to depress those because you could flick it on, like with the flick of a switch, and generate power.

“So it would bring up the low prices, but cap off the high prices; it would have quite a significant effect on the markets. There were concerns that people weren’t investing in new generation, as a result of that.”

But it turns out the project wasn’t dead in the water, with industry players circling and forming a private planning group. The Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium includes former Meridian Energy chief executive and Transpower chairperson Keith Turner, former environment minister David Parker, Christchurch lawyer John Hardie, and Reserve Bank board chair Rodger Finlay.

Turner told RNZ’s Morning Report that they estimated their build would cost around $8-10b, and if successful, it could be up and running by 2035. International investors had already shown interest in the project, he said.

And now their plan is being considered for fast-track consenting that could, in theory, bulldoze through years of red tape – thanks to the same government that axed the scheme.

“I asked the energy minister, Simon Watts, who has spoken before about the chilling impact that the Lake Onslow project had on the electricity market, whether he was worried about it having a chilling effect,” Daalder says.

“He said ‘no’ but he said it is different because this is the private market, rather than the government making its decisions.

“I don’t know if that logic fully holds. We know that private players in the energy market can have significant impacts on investment decisions, so, for example, we often hear how the uncertainty over whether Tiwai Point would stay or go for five years – between 2019 and 2024 – meant that people weren’t investing in new generation because they thought if the smelter was going to close there would be all this power available.

“It’s hard to see why you would get a different result or a significantly different result, depending on who is actually funding it.”

So, where does this leave Lake Onslow? Right now, it’s in limbo. Not quite dead, not quite alive, but very much in the realm of unfinished business with fast-track in its sights.

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Winston Peters has accused the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) of “bordering on fascist” after it concluded it has jurisdiction over the online media service The Platform.

The New Zealand First leader made the comments in an interview with The Platform broadcaster Sean Plunket on Wednesday morning.

The BSA had just published a decision it could consider a complaint made against The Platform, because the programme “meets the Act’s definition of ‘broadcasting’”.

The complaint was regarding comments made by Plunket about karakia and tikanga Māori being “mumbo jumbo”.

Peters told Plunket the move was one of “breathtaking audacity”.

“Frankly, they should go. They should be abolished. They’re out of time. They’ve got no use anymore.”

Plunket – who disagrees with the BSA decision – told his audience he was frustrated by the lack of action from the government.

“I had a personal assurance from the prime minister last year, who said to me, and I’ll quote, ‘Don’t worry mate, we’ve got your back on this’.”

Speaking to reporters on his way into the House on Wednesday afternoon, the prime minister said he did not recall those comments.

“I don’t recall every conversation I have with everybody, but I can’t imagine that’s something I’ve said,” Christopher Luxon said.

Plunket said there was no rationale for the BSA to broaden its remit to include The Platform, and he had assurances from the government they would intervene.

Luxon denied the government had got involved in the matter.

“We have not interfered in this process at all, the BSA is independent, but there is a range of options available to the minister.”

The ACT Party has a private member’s bill to abolish the BSA, which Peters hinted his party would support.

ACT leader David Seymour told reporters at Parliament on Wednesday afternoon that it was time for the BSA to go.

“It’s a creature of 1989 – before the internet existed – we live in a different world today and it’s clearly overstepping its mandate,” he said.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Legislation to ease alcohol restrictions over Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas has passed its third and final reading at Parliament.

The bill amends the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow premises that are already open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning, and Christmas Day to sell alcohol under normal licence conditions.

Bottle shops will still have to stay closed, and supermarket alcohol restrictions remain.

The bill passed 66 votes to 56.

It was put forward by Labour MP Kieran McAnulty.

Speaking at the third reading, McAnulty told the House the bill would clear up the guesswork for hospitality staff in deciding what was a “substantial” meal to serve before someone could purchase alcohol, by removing the requirement entirely.

“What is even more ridiculous is that actually they’re not required to eat the meal. They’re only required to purchase it, and it can sit there while they drink, and it could also be argued that they can go and buy another substantial meal in order to keep drinking. That doesn’t make sense. This bill clears that up,” he said.

McAnulty said it was clear there was not a majority in Parliament to amend the Easter Trading laws themselves, something he himself was opposed to amending, and so he was not seeking to change them.

“All we’re talking about here is businesses that can already open. This is not expanding access to alcohol. When we’re only talking about those workers that are working anyway, this is not taking anything away from those workers that otherwise enjoy a guaranteed day off,” he said.

At the Committee of the Whole House stage, and amendment from ACT’s Cameron Luxton was adopted to ensure those venues could continue to serve drinks past midnight the day before the holiday.

Luxton said the provision would allow a business to stay open for its usual licencing hours, and not necessarily that they must remain open or stay open past the 11:59 deadline the day before.

“The amendment says that the premises for which an on-licence is held may remain open during the permitted trading hours that apply to the premises,” he said.

McAnulty said Luxton’s amendment cleared up an anomaly, and he was happy to support it.

Rather than the usual eleven speeches in response to McAnulty’s first call, Assistant Speaker Barbara Kuriger allowed the debate to be split into 22 shorter calls, acknowledging the vote was a conscience matter.

Parliament treats votes on legislation involving alcohol as a conscience matter, meaning MPs are free to vote according to their personal feelings, or those of their constituents, rather than whipped as a party bloc.

It means McAnulty’s Labour colleagues were free to vote against his bill, as Taieri MP Ingrid Leary did.

“I can’t in good conscience continue to see bills come before the House that incrementally change small, nuanced parts of a wider architecture that urgently needs reform,” she said.

ACT voted as a bloc in support, while all New Zealand First and Green MPs opposed the bill.

MP Kahurangi Carter said the Greens had a long history of fighting for alcohol harm reduction laws, and believed the entire Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act needed to be overhauled.

“The Green Party is united in our position that we cannot support this bill,” she said.

New Zealand First MP David Wilson said he valued using those holidays for remembrance and reflection.

“It’s not much to ask to take some time to reflect, to revere, and to respect, and then celebrate with friends and family,” he said.

“A small degree of restriction for a few days to reinforce shared traditions and values is a very small price to pay.”

His New Zealand First colleague Mark Patterson took it a step further, saying the House would be “crossing a Rubicon” with its vote.

“Will they vote to uphold their traditional New Zealand values, history, and traditions? Will they respect our Christian heritage, sacred Christian celebrations of Christmas, Easter Sunday, and Good Friday? Will they acknowledge the solemn commemoration of Anzac Day morning? Or will they sacrifice that heritage at the altar of consumerism and consumption?”

McAnulty’s Labour colleague Lemauga Lydia Sosene said communities in her Māngere electorate wanted to keep those days sacred, and so she opposed it on their behalf.

However, in support of the bill, National’s Greg Fleming said he did not believe the legislation affected the sanctity of those days.

Fleming, who co-founded conservative policy think-tank the Maxim Institute, said many years ago he would have opposed the bill, but he said it was a “considered, incremental, and mature step forward” for a healthy relationship for alcohol, and a healthy respect for differences, rather than being “fearful” of what it meant for sacred days.

ACT’s Laura McClure said people’s behaviour would not change just because trading hours did.

“Our licenced premises have to adhere to really strict rules when it comes to intoxication. One of the safest places you could probably have a few beverages in is a licenced premises.”

National’s Carl Bates, opposing the legislation, said Parliament could have instead clarfied the definition of a “substantial” meal in regulation.

“The idea that the only way to solve this problem is to remove the law, to take a step on that slop towards removing the importance of these days in New Zealand’s history, and in its culture, is in itself absurd.”

Speaking to RNZ before the third reading, McAnulty was hopeful it could get Royal Assent on Thursday, so it could be law before the long weekend.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A rush to deliver police new powers has not been matched by promised government funding for the technology needed to carry out those powers.

Police need two new or improved tech systems – one to handle the photos of people and other data generated by enhanced intelligence gathering; and one to issue new infringements under a Bill before parliament.

Official papers say enhanced data management will be “essential to building and maintaining public trust and confidence” and to “establish appropriate constraints” around what data police collected and how they used it.

RNZ inquiries show police are paying for the new infringements system out of an “underspend” last year, and there is no funding for a new data management system.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell was told by police last year that “an important complement to the immediate statutory reform we are progressing, will be the need to consider opportunities to enhance police information management and data protection and security measures”.

Another official paper, written six months ago, said: “This work is likely to be significant and will likely require a business case to be developed, for consideration in a future Budget cycle.”

But Mitchell’s office told RNZ this week: “To clarify, the aim is for police to find solutions through enhancing existing technologies. No additional funding has been sought at this stage.”

Mitchell said he could not comment on any work underway on the development of a newly funded Digital Evidence Management System “as clearly an investment of this kind would require additional funding, likely through a Budget process”.

Legislation and technology ‘in parallel’

Official papers mentioned the significance and complexity of the proposed law changes, and how building better data systems to implement them was a matter of trust.

“Police will progress enhancements to data management controls and assurance processes in parallel with the development and progression of the bill and will continue

following commencement of the legislation,” said one.

“These enhancements will be essential to building and maintaining public trust and confidence in police’s information management practices and treatment of personal information and helping ensure compliance with relevant Privacy Act obligations and principles.”

Police told Mitchell in a proactively-released briefing in May: “It is important that, as we establish lawful authority to record visual and other information, we have information systems that enable us to ensure effective storage, retention, searching and destruction of these images.”

This was partly because it was poor data and evidence handling by police that led to a 2022 inquiry and a Supreme Court ruling last year that constrained their powers.

Police were criticised in 2022 for the haphazard storage and handling of tens of thousands of casually-taken photos of Māori youth and others. Attempts by police to put better technology in place missed a deadline set by the Privacy Commissioner.

Not looking – or looking?

Police told RNZ last week they were not looking at any data tech options.

“As this bill has only just begun going through the parliamentary process police has not yet commenced work to investigating supporting technologies that may be required in preparation for implementation,” they said.

But this week they said they were “continuing” to work on the most effective means of managing data. “We are looking at our existing technology and at additional opportunities presented via things such as our Digital Notebook app.”

The papers showed that police had been pushing since last May for “urgent” law change – the earliest date put forward to enact it was by December 2025.

Mitchell responded enthusiastically, but police had to ease up when early engagement with the Justice Ministry and Privacy Commissioner “highlighted the level of challenge likely to be encountered” while noting that “Police has not been well positioned to respond to those concerns to date.”

Freeing up new intel-gathering tech

One driver of the Bill – and of the need to upgrade to a digital evidence management system – was so that new technologies such as body-worn cameras could be introduced more easily.

“The methods and channels by which police collects personal information have changed as a result of technological developments,” said the regulatory impact statement.

“New technology capabilities are supporting policing practices here and internationally, and are creating new opportunities for more effective policing.”

The papers listed other intelligence-gathering tech police might want to harness more: “Mobile phones, high-resolution cameras, drones, Police Eagle helicopter footage, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera networks in urban and rural locations, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), retail camera convergence platforms (for example, Auror and SaferCities), online open-source search tools, waste-water testing, and geospatial and geolocation tools.”

They also noted how “some of this personal information may have an unknown specific intelligence use at the time of collection” – so the Bill sought to give police the freedom to use it in future.

Critics have voiced concerns that this opens the gate too far, without setting up strong safeguards.

Enhanced information systems were seen as a safeguard. “Further information management investment will assist with strengthening these safeguard [sic], ensuring police is meeting its current requirements, and maintaining public trust and confidence,” said the impact statement.

“Whether any investment required will be met through existing baseline, or through a Budget bid, would be addressed through any necessary assessment.”

New infringement system this year

Lack of funding has also delayed replacement of the Police Infringement Processing System (PIPS) for at least eight years, despite it being overloaded and unable to process anything other than traffic offences.

It had to be replaced for the amendment Bill to be implemented this year.

The Bill would give police new powers to detain and fine people in areas they have declared temporarily off-limits, and the old PIPS could not handle this.

Mitchell told RNZ its replacement would be completed this year, but gave no firm date.

The government aims to enact the policing amendment Bill after the select committee reports back in July.

“Police is developing a phased programme of work to transition to the new system which will support enforcement of the new infringement offences as well as existing infringements,” Mitchell said.

“No new funding has been allocated to this development. The system has been funded from Vote Police underspend from the 2024/5 financial year.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fuel industry leaders are welcoming the government’s moves to increase fuel capacity, but say while it will help with long-term concerns price spikes are a bigger worry.

With the fuel crisis in its fifth week, the government is moving to shore up storage as an insurance policy in case of supply line failures by announcing plans to access more supply as well as getting more storage tanks into service.

“While fuel importers do continue to indicate confidence in near-future orders and while they are already exploring alternatives to Asia as a source of fuel supply, we believe that some residual risk remains,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.

She said Cabinet had agreed to explore additional options to guard against the risk of disrupted fuel supply, and was now “actively seeking proposals for New Zealand refined fuel imports on arrangements that would support additional purchase of stocks through to June”.

The government was assessing a series of unsolicited proposals from businesses to help increase supply, including to trade New Zealand’s access to fuel types the country was unable to use – like crude oil, which would need to be refined – for types it could.

On the fuel storage front, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones confirmed officials were exploring two proposals, including to get some of the unused storage capacity at Marsden Point operating again after the former refinery was downsized to an import-only terminal.

Waitomo fuel chief executive Simon Parham told RNZ more storage would help in the long-term, but would not bring prices down.

“Through the April, May and even into the June window, stock seems to be on the water, there’s been no cargoes cancelled and no ships turned around, so supply looks like it’s steady but it seems to me they want that little extra insurance.

“Looking at extra storage options in New Zealand is also the right thing to do but we’ve just all got to be realistic that that will come at a cost and someone’s got to pay for it.

“Extra storage here, it won’t help with the cost, it just gives us that little bit more resilience in the long term should these supply shocks happen again.”

Automobile Association fuel spokesperson Terry Collins said more capacity would take time and money to build, and ensuring consistent supply needed to be the priority, with the main risks closely linked to what happens in Iran.

“Channel infrastructure, which was a part of the old refinery, has got additional storage, they’ve offered it to the government, but there’s a lag between getting it ready and the immediacy of what’s happening internationally.

“What we could see, possibly, is in a very short period of time spikes and pressure on fuel [prices] coming in here that we do not have time to address by building or refurbishing storage.

“Really it’s about can we get enough to keep what we’ve got going, now.”

He said the threat of further escalation was making markets nervous.

Hoarding leading to shortages

The government again repeated its warning that “minor hoarding” was leading to shortages at service stations in some regions, including Ōpōtiki, Southland and Nelson.

AA’s Terry Collins said fear of losing out was part of the problem.

“Because of their fear, they think about ‘oh, I’m in an area this could happen’ and by their actions it makes it a self-perpetuating action.”

Waitomo’s Simon Parham said suppliers were doing their best.

“We’re always managing our forecasts, one month, two months, even six months out … that’s what we do day in, day out to make sure products get to service stations,” he said.

“We have seen that increase in demand, admittedly it’s starting to taper off a bit now because that demand has been pulled forward and we’re starting to see a lag – and also prices doing what price does when it gets too high, it causes demand destruction.

“There’s plenty of product there, but it’s not always in the places where you need it.”

He said the most useful regulations for the government to cut would be around heavy-vehicle permits.

“You have to apply on an individual truck and an individual route basis, and what that means is it’s admin-heavy, it takes two to three weeks to get this all approved, and so it really reduces your flexibility in the system.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Fuel industry leaders are welcoming the government’s moves to increase fuel capacity, but say while it will help with long-term concerns price spikes are a bigger worry.

With the fuel crisis in its fifth week, the government is moving to shore up storage as an insurance policy in case of supply line failures by announcing plans to access more supply as well as getting more storage tanks into service.

“While fuel importers do continue to indicate confidence in near-future orders and while they are already exploring alternatives to Asia as a source of fuel supply, we believe that some residual risk remains,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.

She said Cabinet had agreed to explore additional options to guard against the risk of disrupted fuel supply, and was now “actively seeking proposals for New Zealand refined fuel imports on arrangements that would support additional purchase of stocks through to June”.

The government was assessing a series of unsolicited proposals from businesses to help increase supply, including to trade New Zealand’s access to fuel types the country was unable to use – like crude oil, which would need to be refined – for types it could.

On the fuel storage front, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones confirmed officials were exploring two proposals, including to get some of the unused storage capacity at Marsden Point operating again after the former refinery was downsized to an import-only terminal.

Waitomo fuel chief executive Simon Parham told RNZ more storage would help in the long-term, but would not bring prices down.

“Through the April, May and even into the June window, stock seems to be on the water, there’s been no cargoes cancelled and no ships turned around, so supply looks like it’s steady but it seems to me they want that little extra insurance.

“Looking at extra storage options in New Zealand is also the right thing to do but we’ve just all got to be realistic that that will come at a cost and someone’s got to pay for it.

“Extra storage here, it won’t help with the cost, it just gives us that little bit more resilience in the long term should these supply shocks happen again.”

Automobile Association fuel spokesperson Terry Collins said more capacity would take time and money to build, and ensuring consistent supply needed to be the priority, with the main risks closely linked to what happens in Iran.

“Channel infrastructure, which was a part of the old refinery, has got additional storage, they’ve offered it to the government, but there’s a lag between getting it ready and the immediacy of what’s happening internationally.

“What we could see, possibly, is in a very short period of time spikes and pressure on fuel [prices] coming in here that we do not have time to address by building or refurbishing storage.

“Really it’s about can we get enough to keep what we’ve got going, now.”

He said the threat of further escalation was making markets nervous.

Hoarding leading to shortages

The government again repeated its warning that “minor hoarding” was leading to shortages at service stations in some regions, including Ōpōtiki, Southland and Nelson.

AA’s Terry Collins said fear of losing out was part of the problem.

“Because of their fear, they think about ‘oh, I’m in an area this could happen’ and by their actions it makes it a self-perpetuating action.”

Waitomo’s Simon Parham said suppliers were doing their best.

“We’re always managing our forecasts, one month, two months, even six months out … that’s what we do day in, day out to make sure products get to service stations,” he said.

“We have seen that increase in demand, admittedly it’s starting to taper off a bit now because that demand has been pulled forward and we’re starting to see a lag – and also prices doing what price does when it gets too high, it causes demand destruction.

“There’s plenty of product there, but it’s not always in the places where you need it.”

He said the most useful regulations for the government to cut would be around heavy-vehicle permits.

“You have to apply on an individual truck and an individual route basis, and what that means is it’s admin-heavy, it takes two to three weeks to get this all approved, and so it really reduces your flexibility in the system.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ministers have sought “urgent advice” about how best to ease the pain of rising fuel prices for in-home care workers and other public servants who might be in a similar plight.

Support workers, who often earn little more than minimum wage, were not fully reimbursed for their transport costs despite having to visit injured, disabled or elderly people in their homes.

Soaring fuel prices have exacerbated the problem, prompting the Public Service Association and E tū to file an Employment Relations Authority claim against Health NZ.

Speaking at Parliament on Tuesday, Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government was “acutely aware” of the challenge and was exploring solutions “as quickly as possible”.

“These are incredibly valuable New Zealanders who play an important role caring for many thousands of New Zealanders, elderly, disabled, those on ACC.

“We greatly value the work that our home and care support workers do, and we hope to resolve this very soon.”

Brown indicated relief could be offered by boosting the existing mileage allowance which workers received. That rate had not been increased in four years.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said ministers had received some preliminary advice on long-standing issues in the sector and were now awaiting further advice on more specific support options.

“We’re not going to have time to solve all of the underlying issues that are there – the claims which are made on both sides of the debate, both the contractor and the workers – but we can do something temporary, targeted and timely.”

Willis said officials were also investigating whether other public servants might be under similar pressure due to travel requirements.

“We need to be aware of the impact that fuel costs are having on those workforces where they have to travel between clients for their job,” she said.

“We have sought advice on where else that might be an issue in government. And in the first instance, we will be asking agencies to ensure those costs are met from within their own baselines. But we are looking to understand what those pressures could look like now and in the weeks and months ahead.”

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