AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for April 9, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Radio New Zealand

A briefing shows former Defence Minister Judith Collins met US defence technology powerhouse Palantir in February on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to talk about an ongoing “partnership”.

Palantir had become the go-to tech company for the Pentagon and its AI technology had been key for targeting missiles in the war in Iran.

But the government here on Wednesday said the NZ Defence Force had “no existing plans” to use the company’s emerging technologies.

Collins’ meeting was revealed in a one-page briefing released under the Official Information Act to AUT law lecturer Dr Marco de Jong.

Collins met Palantir’s international president Laurence Lee, a former senior official in the UK’s defence and intelligence agencies.

The meeting on 13 February was an “informal discussion”, her office told RNZ on Wednesday.

The briefing to her ahead of the meeting suggested two “key messages” from Collins – who is also space and spy agency minister – to Lee.

The first was blanked out while the second said: “I acknowledge the importance of an ongoing effective partnership.

“Do you see any upcoming opportunities of interest for New Zealand in new technologies and emerging capabilities in this sector.” [sic]

Several paragraphs of ‘background’ were blanked out.

Collins’ office passed questions about the partnership with Palantir on to Chris Penk who was taking over her portfolios soon. She did not address what if any “opportunities” she discussed with Lee.

Penk on Wednesday told RNZ, “The New Zealand Defence Force has no existing plans to use Palantir in the emerging technologies space.

“The NZDF uses Palantir as an analytics platform to aid with planning. The Government’s ongoing partnership with Palantir is led by the GCSB.”

Emerging technologies featured in the Defence Capability Plan to spend $12 billion by 2029.

The Palantir meeting did not appear in Collins’ ministerial diary because individual meetings overseas often changed so were not recorded, her office said.

Palantir’s Maven draws up strike lists

The US and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iran on 28 February.

Many of the thousands of targets hit were selected from a list produced by Palantir’s technology called Maven “after it analyzed information from drones, satellite imagery and other sources”, the New York Times reported.

On 21 March, Reuters reported that Maven was being adopted by the Pentagon as a “core US military system”.

Another report a few days ago by Defense Scoop said Maven would become the “cornerstone” of a fused network of battlefield sensors and weapons cross air, land, sea and space.

The network was called Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control or CJADC2, where “Combined” stands for US partners and allies. The NZ Defence Force had been helping build the network.

For instance, the NZDF had been helping plan the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, RIMPAC 2026, where tech would be tested under Project Overmatch, the US navy’s core contribution to CJADC2, a navy report said.

Collins meets Amazon

At Munich, Collins also met with cloud computing giants Amazon Web Services (AWS) and with German multinational SAP, a separate 80-page briefing showed.

It said SAP’s latest “suite” of defence and security products “represents a timely and essential upgrade for the NZDF that will improve our organisational readiness and interoperability”.

It also said public agencies were increasingly using Amazon – they spent $16 million with it last year – and though the NZDF’s partner was Microsoft, “this does not preclude the use of other suppliers, including AWS”.

Collins met with another Pentagon favourite, drone-and-software-maker Anduril, last July as Defence began work on its new capability plan. Drones were key to it, however defence leaders told MPs recently that most vital in future would be the data-synthesising software behind defensive and offensive weaponry.

Last month the Pentagon consolidated its AI projects with Anduril into a 10-year contract worth up to $34b.

Palantir’s partnership with the US government has been widely reported for years, especially since the firm co-founded in 2004 by NZ citizen Peter Thiel – who helped bring vice president JD Vance to power – in 2017 turned its powerful surveillance technologies to data crunching for the Pentagon.

Much less information was publicly available about the NZ-Palantir partnership. It was reported in 2018 the US firm got a contract in 2012 with the Defence Force covering software, hardware and training 100 staff. Its hardware was still in use by NZDF in 2024, an annual review showed. During Covid, Palantir pitched its pandemic-tracking software to the Ministry of Health.

The defence ministry last month told de Jong its strategic leadership team had not had any meetings in the last year with Palantir, or with Anduril, or with other major defence contractors L3 Harris and Hirtenberger, or with NZ drone maker Syos.

Maven and the network for US partners including NZ

Maven was central to Palantir’s fortunes and the firm and the Pentagon liked to show off online what it could do, outmatching the work of thousands of military analysts.

With NATO last year also acquiring the platform, critics have voiced fears the speed and scale of its target analysis would take the place of critical thinking.

Palantir said in 2024 that Maven provided the cloud infrastructure, software capabilities and AI that powered some CJADC2 initiatives.

The NZDF takes part in experiments and testing run in parallel by the US navy, army and air force’s CJADC2 projects.

New Zealand and its Five Eyes intelligence partners signed up 18 months ago to the US navy’s Project Overmatch.

Overmatch had been setting up a new US-based Cooperative Project Office that NZ personnel were expected to help man, alongside a “coalition lab” for testing shared tech, the navy reported.

“The coalition network enables resilient communication and network connectivity amongst the ‘Five Eyes’ (FVEY) in a distributed environment to close kill-chains and enable long-range fires,” it said.

The US Marines recently set up their own CJADC2 project, Project Dynamis.

The NZDF was embracing emerging tech underwritten by a much expanded budget at the same time its core partners Australia, the UK and the US had streamlined sharing military tech between themselves, and as US President Donald Trump had been issuing directives to speed up arms transfers and trade under ‘America First’ policies.

Many militaries were stressing the need for speed like never before.

Defence’s annual review to Parliament last month said, “There was a need to move to a different ‘risk appetite’ to keep up with quickly evolving technology, placing a higher value on speed of delivery” even if this involved a “fast fail, rather than be slow to act and left behind”.

The NZDF had $26m set aside to boost this including adding to its badly depleted workforce.

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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 documentary about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been nominated for two Emmy awards.

The production, Prime Minister, looks at how the world’s then-youngest female head of government balanced motherhood with leadership, and navigated crises like the covid-19 lockdowns and the Christchurch terror attack.

The documentary was co-directed by Auckland-based filmmaker Michelle Walshe and American Lindsay Utz.

In a video posted to social media, Ardern’s husband Clarke Gayford said they had been nominated for “not one, but two Emmy Awards.”

He said the periods that the film looks at were some of the toughest times in their lives.

“It was awful in places.

“For one reason or another, I decided to pick up a camera, and film parts of it.”

Variety Magazine in Los Angeles reported it had been nominated in the ‘Best Documentary’ category, and also as ‘Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary’.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

BusinessNZ has made its case to ministers as to why the food and grocery sector should be put in the highest priority level of any fuel rationing framework.

Top chief executives – from the organisation’s Major Companies Group – took part in an hour-long call on Thursday morning, featuring Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones.

BusinessNZ chief executive Katherine Rich told RNZ that attendees sought “greater clarity” from the government on how fuel rationing would be implemented if it activated the more extreme phases of its National Fuel Plan.

She said Willis encouraged business leaders to take part in the current consultation process and to keep sending through their on-the-ground insights.

Rich, who previously led the Food and Grocery Council for more than a decade, said she lobbied for the food industry to be given highest priority alongside other “life-supporting services” in Band A, like hospitals, courts and lifeline utilities.

“Feeding people is about supporting life and maintaining calm,” she said.

Under the draft framework published in March, food supply and distribution were categorised as “economically important services” and placed in the second highest priority level, Band B.

Rich said ministers did not signal where decisions might land, but business leaders felt their views were valued: “We do feel heard.”

The session brought together representatives from some of the country’s largest employers, spanning sectors including banking, infrastructure, tourism and logistics.

As well as the ministers, it included senior officials from Treasury, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Officials also invited ongoing input from industry, Rich said, particularly around red-tape or practical challenges businesses might face if fuel supplies tightened.

She said that level of engagement marked an improvement on the Covid-19 response, with businesses now being given more opportunity to contribute to decision-making.

“We’re facing a very fast-moving situation, and the information flow is very important,” Rich said.

“There’s a lot here that business can do on its own to try and work around some of the international disruption, but we need to make sure we keep the government informed.”

Rich said attendees found it “valuable” to ask questions and share their views, and they left the meeting with confidence that ministers and officials were doing everything they could to ensure New Zealand was in a strong position to deal with any disruption.

Speaking from Nelson on Thursday, Luxon told reporters the government was “working really closely” with industry players, including daily contact with the fuel companies.

“We have worked well in partnership, incredibly well. And we’ve also put New Zealand’s Commerce Commission on watch from day one to make sure that fuel companies are not gouging New Zealanders, and we haven’t seen evidence of that.”

Asked about the latest developments in the Middle East, Luxon said the potential for a ceasefire was promising but very fragile.

“We’ve got a long way to go. There’s a lot of trust that needs to be built back between the US and Iran, and we… encourage everybody to put best efforts forward to get to that long, lasting peace that we desperately need.”

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

Source: New Zealand Government

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament last week and is now open for submissions at the Justice Select Committee, says Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee.

“The Bill will cut red tape to support economic growth across the hospitality and events sector, restore fairness to the licensing regime, and create more choice and flexibility for local clubs.

“This is being done while retaining the core protections for public safety and reducing alcohol-related harm.

“It seems nearly every week I am hearing about a red tape issue in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act that holds New Zealanders back without having a clear harm-reduction justification.

“I’ve addressed many of these issues in my Bill, but I’ve heard more since introducing it – and I know there will be others I haven’t yet been made aware of.

“A recent example was a tourism company that was prevented from providing a complimentary glass of bubbles to a bride and groom after flying them up to a scenic lookout to get married.

“That’s the kind of low-risk situation where the law seems to miss the mark and where we should be open to sensible improvements.

“So I’m putting out a ‘last call’ on red tape that can be safely removed from the Act.

“I encourage New Zealanders to get involved in the submission process, especially those who have had to deal with the many complex, outdated, and often unnecessary rules in the current law.”

Key changes in the Bill include:

• Limiting objections to licence applications or renewals to only those living or working in the same council area, or within 1 kilometre of the proposed licensed premises.
• Giving licence applicants a right of reply to licensing objections to ensure a fairer process.
• Preventing licence renewals from being declined solely because a local alcohol policy has changed.
• Allowing clubs to apply for on-licences if they wish to serve the wider public.
• Allowing certain restaurants with on-site retail areas to sell alcohol for customers to take home.
• Streamlining special licence requirements to make it easier to host events.
• Creating a permanent mechanism allowing licensed premises to open and serve alcohol outside licensed hours to televise major events such as the Rugby World Cup.
• Exempting hairdressers and barbers from needing an on-licence to supply their customers a limited amount of alcohol such as a beer, glass of wine, or gin and tonic.
• Extending cellar door tasting provisions beyond wineries so other producers such as breweries and distilleries can charge for tastings without needing an on-licence.
• Allowing licensed premises to meet their legal obligations by stocking either low-alcohol or zero-alcohol drinks.
• Clarifying responsibilities for rapid alcohol delivery services to ensure alcohol is not delivered to underage or intoxicated persons.

Submissions can be made to the Justice Committee on Parliament’s website and close on 14 May 2026.

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington’s public transport authority is warning passengers could face service cuts or costlier fares due to soaring diesel prices, and is calling for government intervention.

And Local Government New Zealand says diesel prices are a huge concern for councils around the country operating large public transport networks.

Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Daran Ponter said he had written to the Finance, Transport and Associate Energy Ministers about steps the government could take to encourage public transport use.

Ponter said escalating diesel prices had been costing Wellington’s public transport provider, Metlink, an extra $130,000 per week.

Waitomo’s chief executive told Morning Report people should start seeing relief at the pump due to a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, but motorists have been concerned prices could reach more than $4 a litre.

Ponter said prices were uncertain, and could stay high for some time despite the ceasefire.

“We’re asking the government to think about fare discounts, and maybe targeted fare discounts.”

He said he had also asked the government to encourage public servants to travel to and from work outside of peak hours.

Ponter said the council would do everything it could to avoid higher bus fares, including borrowing money in order to spread costs over a longer period.

He hadn’t asked for projections on how much transport fares could increase if diesel prices remained high.

“I don’t want us to have to apply further increases to fares because of the fuel costs that we are facing.

“So the answer has to lie somewhere between us and government rather than us and the people that we carry on our buses and trains every day. I don’t want them paying any more money than they currently are.”

Lower-patronage routes in the Wellington region would have to be scrutinised for potential service cuts if the situation didn’t improve, he said.

Bus and train fares are already set to increase from May 15 by 3.1 percent, and some services are already looking at being cut from July 1, Ponter said, due to changes over the private share – the share of how much users and the government pays for public transport.

But Ponter said that context would only get worse without government intervention.

He said about 75 percent of the region’s buses used diesel, and the costs had put pressure on the council.

Local Government New Zealand President Rehette Stoltz said diesel costs were a “huge concern” for councils throughout the country.

“It is definitely a concern for councils who operate huge public transport networks – let’s think of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington. I think Christchurch alone uses 70,000 litres of diesel a week, because they have an extensive public transport network.

“So yes, it is a huge concern to councils because their operating costs have increased significantly.”

Gisborne’s bus operator had not raised concerns about fuel costs so far, but Stoltz said she would not be surprised if the issue came up soon.

Discussions around government support were something councils would be putting towards ministers and would be a case-by-case decision, Stoltz said.

The government has been approached for comment.

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

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has removed unnecessary consenting barriers to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, making it faster and easier to build chargers where New Zealanders need them, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. 

Amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities (NES-ETA) introduce new nationally consistent permitted activity standards for EV charging infrastructure, replacing fragmented and inconsistent district plan rules. The amendments will come into force on 7 May 2026.

“Under the current system, anyone wanting to install EV charging infrastructure has had to navigate a confusing patchwork of local rules, creating uncertainty, delays and unnecessary costs for infrastructure that is typically small-scale,” Mr Bishop says.

“These changes cut through that red tape. By setting clear national rules, we’re making it much quicker and easier to get chargers in the ground, while still managing effects appropriately.

“For the first time, the NES-ETA explicitly includes EV charging infrastructure, with permitted activity rules covering the full lifecycle from construction through to operation, upgrade and replacement.”

The amendments apply to four types of EV charging infrastructure:

• private EV chargers
• EV chargers in a transport corridor
• EV chargers associated with other infrastructure or buildings, such as service stations or supermarkets
• standalone EV charging facilities, including charging hubs

“Many New Zealanders have thought about getting an EV, even before the fuel challenges we’re currently facing. But a lack of public chargers is still holding people back,” Mr Bishop says.

“This Government is tackling that from both sides, by removing planning barriers and backing new investment to grow the network.”

The move complements the Government’s recent announcement of $52.7 million in zero-interest loans, alongside co-investment from ChargeNet and Meridian, which will see more than 2,500 additional public EV charging stations.

“At present, New Zealand has just over 1,800 public EV charging points nationwide. That puts us among the lower-ranked countries in the OECD for chargers relative to the number of EVs on the road.

“With chargers already in progress and the latest investment, the network is expected to more than double to around 4,550 charge points. Our goal is 10,000 by 2030, roughly one charger for every 40 EVs.

“Making it simpler to consent new chargers will help us get there faster.

“Many New Zealanders are already looking to switch to an EV when it’s time to upgrade their vehicle. Even before the current fuel pressures, running an EV was typically cheaper than petrol, and New Zealand’s electricity system is largely renewable.

“We’re also seeing that shift in the data, with EV registrations so far in 2026 up 96.4 per cent on the same period last year. Recent global events have likely accelerated that trend, as higher fuel prices drive more interest in EVs.

“In a world where international fuel markets are uncertain, that matters.

“We’re striking the right balance by enabling the charging infrastructure New Zealand needs, while keeping sensible safeguards in place.

“The new permitted activity standards include conditions to manage effects such as noise, earthworks, size and setbacks near residential areas, and traffic impacts for larger standalone facilities. Where those standards are not met, a restricted discretionary consent will still be required.”

The amendments apply directly once they come into effect on 7 May (28 days after Gazettal). Councils are not required to amend district plans, and more lenient plan rules will continue to apply where relevant.

“This is another example of how targeted national direction can make the resource management system work better in practice, while we transition to a more enabling, common-sense planning system,” Mr Bishop says.

The policy intent of the changes will be carried through into the new planning system established by the Planning and Natural Environment Bills.

Notes to editors: 

• The amendments to the NES-ETA are part of a suite of changes the Government has made to national direction under the Resource Management Act.
• These changes aim to boost infrastructure and urban development by making it easier to consent, enhance the primary sector by removing unworkable rules and replacing national direction, and deliver housing growth.
• The amendment to the NES-ETA follows the gazettal of 10 new or amended national direction instruments on 18 December 2025 which came into force on 15 January 2026, with amendments to several other national direction instruments expected in coming months. 

MIL OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to fund two new combination therapies for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer. 

“Improving access to cancer medication in New Zealand is important to cancer patients, and their families. That’s why it has been a focus of this Government,” Mr Seymour says.

Pharmac has decided to fund two combination treatments and widen access to ibrutinib for people with CLL from 1 May 2026. Under this decision:

People with CLL will be able to receive venetoclax with ibrutinib or venetoclax with obinutuzumab as first‑line treatments, meaning they can be used as an initial treatment option rather than after other treatments have been tried.
Access to ibrutinib will be widened so it can be used on its own as a second line treatment for people whose CLL has not responded to a previous treatment, has come back, or where earlier treatment has caused intolerable side effects. 

“It’s important to the patient community that their voice is heard. That’s why Pharmac consult the community on funding proposals before a final decision is made,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Earlier this year Pharmac consulted the blood cancer community on a proposal to fund two new combination therapies for people with CLL. Pharmac heard from the community and from their clinical advisors that venetoclax with ibrutinib or obinutuzumab will make a big difference for people with CLL, especially when used at the beginning of treatment. 

“Venetoclax with ibrutinib or obinutuzumab will help patients achieve longer lasting remission and avoid the need for traditional chemotherapy. Two of these medicines will be available in pill form, which don’t require an IV drip and could mean fewer hospital visits. The use of these combination treatments is expected to save an estimated 3,700 infusion hours saved each year.

“Pharmac also received feedback highlighting the need for ibrutinib on its own as an option for people who can’t use other available medicines. So, Pharmac will fund ibrutinib on its own as a second-line treatment for people whose CLL has not responded to a previous treatment, has come back, or where earlier treatment has caused side effects.

“When Pharmac fund a new cancer treatment, people already paying for that treatment privately are forced to make a very difficult choice: spend their savings to continue private treatment undisrupted, or transfer to a public hospital. Patients told Pharmac the latter was hugely disruptive and caused significant stress during an immensely difficult period. Obinutuzumab will be another cancer medicine available in private clinics. 

“People currently paying privately for the combination treatments could receive funded treatment in a private hospital, provided they met the funding criteria at the time they began treatment.

“This funding decision is another example of the new culture at Pharmac. The patient community used to picket outside Pharmac. Now, they’re in the room with Pharmac making decisions.  

“Patients are reaping the benefits. Since this Government took over we’ve allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift Pharmac. With that money, Pharmac has made 133 decisions to fund or widen access to medicines. This includes decisions on 46 cancer medicines. Over 200,000 patients have benefited.”

MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Air Chathams is cutting a significant number of flights from several North Island routes, which have become unsustainable after the cost of jet fuel has more than doubled.

The company is the only airline flying to the Chatham Islands, providing a vital connection to the mainland for passengers and freight, and has been under increased financial pressure due to the rising cost of aviation fuel.

InMarch, Air Chathams added a $20 surcharge on all its tickets, to help to offset the additional costs.

Air Chathams chief executive Duane Emeny told Checkpoint that the carrier would maintain vital flights between the island and the mainland, but would axe about 45 percent of flights into Whakatāne, 22 percent of flights into Whanganui and 10 percent into Kāpiti.

The cuts – which were entirely caused by the fuel crisis – would begin around 20 April, Emeny said.

Currently, the Air Chatham was not even able to cover its direct costs running those flights.

“There’s no real point in operating the services if we can’t even cover the direct cost.”

The issue was worsened by a drop in demand, as people were deciding against discretionary travel or putting off plans, he said.

Previously, Air Chathams was paying about $500,000 a month in fuel costs, but that number had doubled to over $1 Million.

Air New Zealand on Wednesday also said it had seen its fuel costs double, and that it was cutting flights – but it would not say which flights or when that might happen.

The goal was to reduce costs without doing long-term damage to the market, Emeny said.

He added that regional airlines would like to see some of the government’s targeted and temporary financial relief.

The government in 2025 announced a package including up to $30 million in loans from the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund to help with rising costs.

“It’s super important that we get that funding out and supporting these regional carriers as soon as possible,” Emeny said.

He added the government should consider whether to restructure that package so airlines do not have to take it all on as concessionary debt.

“We’ve just got to keep doing what we can working with government.

“I am hopeful that there is some work ongoing to look at some of that targeted support, because it is desperately needed. And I think it’s really important to just highlight the important role that smaller airlines like Air Chathams and Sounds Air and Barrier Air play.”

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MIL OSI

Source: Radio New Zealand

Federated Farmers says farmers are experiencing fuel shortages, with some two to three weeks behind their normal fuel drops.

The organisation’s dairy chair and Canterbury sharemilker Karl Dean said fuel distributors have had the schedule of fuel allocations changed by importers – disrupting when farmers usually receive supply.

Most farmers – if they have got an on-farm tank – will have a system set up with their fuel supplier, to get filled up about once a month, Dean told Morning Report.

Dean said he was hearing from farmers daily that some were weeks behind usual deliveries.

“That is a big concern.”

He said he is urging fuel distributors and the government to prioritise agriculture as an essential service for fuel supplies now.

“We’ve had instances where farmers have run out of water for stock water pumps … that can’t happen.

“And I think the government, personally, needs to start to make a stand and say ‘hey, there is shortages of fuel’, in terms of the distribution network in New Zealand, and that needs to be categorised and played through properly.”

RNZ has previously reported farmers running dry on fuel as rural distributors face limits.

Co-owner of Hawke’s Bay dry stock farm Caroline Kirk said in late March her fuel drop was 10 days’ late and her reticulating drinking water system for livestock ran on fuel. Distributor Fern Energy said at the time it was doing its best to prioritise fuel deliveries based on need.

Dean said he hoped the fuel drops would return to normal as soon as possible.

He also said dairy farmers will be facing high diesel costs in the next couple of months due to stock movements between farms.

“We’ve got large trucking events that happen normally around the 1st of May for young stock moving in and off farms, and then 1st of June for herds moving and going to Wintering etc.”

A big concern was the flow-on effect of fuel and transport price rises for next season, as companies will be ordering supplies now for spring and next summer, he said.

When asked about farmers facing fuel shortages, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said supplies continued to be available, but price rises were extremely concerning.

She said the government had published a fuel response plan which would call for “voluntary demand restraint” if there were disruptions in deliveries or orders.

RNZ has approached MBIE for comment.

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