Commentators are split on whether the fuel support package announced by the government on Tuesday is generous – or leaving out some of the most needy New Zealanders.

The government announced it would give $50 a week to families who qualify for the in-work tax credit.

This means they must be a parent or caregiver working at least 30 hours a week combined as a couple or 20 hours as a single parent, not receiving a main benefit.

In the current tax year, the income cut-off for receiving the tax credit was around $89,000 of annual household income for a family with one child, $112,000 for a family with two children and $135,000 for a family with three children.

The payment would continue until the price of 91 petrol drops below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks, or a year, whichever comes first.

About 143,000 households would receive the $50 in full, from April 7. Another 14,000 would receive payment at a lower rate.

Isaac Gunson, spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group, said it would help working for families but there was nothing for people relying on benefits.

“Close to a quarter of a million children live in households receiving a core benefit and the idea that there’s no additional support for them that will be made available is pretty outrageous.”

While Finance Minister Nicola Willis said they were potentially less affected because they did not have to travel to work, Gunson said they would still need to travel for groceries or job interviews.

He said the 3.1 percent increase in benefits from April 1 would not be enough.

“The idea that benefit dependent households won’t face as big a downturn in their finances because they don’t have the same obligations to go to work… that just doesn’t stand up.”

But Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the policy was surprisingly generous, because the average amount that households spent on fuel each week before prices started to rise was $65.

“The immediate sticking point is going to be people who need to travel to work … this at least takes away one of those critical concerns that people might have had.”

The support package would cost up to $373 million and be paid from the Budget 2026 operating allowance.

Eaqub said the government might earn an extra $180 million in GST revenue as a result of higher petrol prices.

But Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said it was likely that would be diverted spending from other things, if the petrol price was higher.

“If you have to spend a whole bunch more on fuel that will attract more GST but unless your income has magically increased by the same amount, which it clearly hasn’t, you’re spending less on other things in the economy.”

He said the support plan made sense because the government wanted it to be timely and targeted.

“The fact that it can come in so quickly, and probably most importantly for the government politically, is that you see direct money in your account rather than having to wait for a cashback or not noticing that it’s come off your headline tax figure or something. That’s useful. And I think also the government has been quite clear that it was going to be limited.

“It highlights that for the government, they can’t control what’s happening across the world.

“And emitting a whole bunch of tax money they don’t have anyway, and therefore having to borrow for it to fund much wider support, would be a fairly reckless economic decision. This one coming from within the current operating allowance has kicked something else that the government might have done at budget time out and put this in instead. That seems to be a reasonable swap.

“The fact that it is targeted towards those who are already getting something like the in-work tax credit, does seem to be a pretty reasonable way to try and tightly target as much as possible the support and just get it out the door.”

Gunson said the winter energy payment should be increased.

“At the moment it’s about $20 a week for single parents and $31 a week for couples and people with children. That needs to go up irrespective of the current crisis that’s going on.

“We’d like to see the government lift it by at least 30 percent to make up for inflation as well as the current crisis to really help low-income families receiving a core benefit out.”

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MIL OSI

As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.

Te Tari Pureke – Firearms Safety Authority, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.

Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.

“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.

“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”

Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.

The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”

Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:

• Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
• Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
• How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have?

“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.

ENDS

Background information

What is the ‘Roar’?

It is the breeding season of New Zealand’s red deer species. The roar runs from mid-March through April. The roar lasts approximately four weeks, with stags being the most vocal attracting mates in the middle two weeks.

Who are the Recreational Firearms Users Group?

The Recreational Firearms Users Group was formed to help align the important messaging of the various stakeholder groups involved in recreational hunting in New Zealand.

This group consists of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, Fish & Game NZ, Game Animal Council, Mountain Safety Council, NZ Deerstalkers Association, Department of Conservation and Te Tari Pūreke – Firearms Safety Authority.

Useful sources:

Game Animal Council: https://nzgameanimalcouncil.org.nz/the-roar/

Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/hunting/what-to-hunt/deer/red-deer/

Te Tari Pureke – Hunter Safety: https://www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/firearms-safety/hunter-safety

The 7 rules of firearms safety: https://www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/firearms-safety/7-rules-firearm-safety

Data on hunter injury numbers: https://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/explore/research-and-insights/a-hunters-tale

MIL OSI

Benefit rates are set to rise on 1 April, but there are concerns that they won’t be enough to keep up with the rapidly rising cost of living.

JobSeeker for a single person over 25 will increase from $361.32 to $372.55 a week after tax.

Sole parent support lifts from $505.80 to $521.52.

Supported living for a couple with children increases from $734.12 to $756.94.

NZ Super increases from $1076 for a single person living alone per fortnight to $1110.30.

Benefits are adjusted based on the consumer price index (CPI), which lifted 3.11 percent last year.

NZ Super and Veteran’s Pension rates are adjusted based on changes in net average wages and the CPI.

Isaac Gunson, spokesperson for Child Poverty Action Group, said the increase would only cover the inflation that happened last year.

“Not the specific inflation around food, electricity, other big ticket essential items that families can’t go without, and yet those have all been rising higher than average inflation.”

He said any additional support from the government to help with the current crisis would need to take into consideration the pressures households had already been feeling.

Cost of living pressure had been a problem for many households for years, he said, and things such as food were frequently rising faster in price than other goods.

“It’s a big problem to calculate benefit rates by the average inflation because so many critical essentials that families and especially children need to grow up and live long, healthy lives are the things that are inflating even faster.

“We have called for benefit rates to be tied to wage growth to even out the picture of what sort of support that people need. But even then, bearing in mind that in the last couple of years or so, even wage growth has been quite low.

“There’s a lot of work needed from the government to lift wage growth, to keep families in a position where they’re not having to make cuts at home. And then once wage growth is in a strong place, to be able to index benefit increases to that.”

He said many families’ savings had been eroded over recent years, so a lot of households did not have a buffer to fall back on.

Green Party spokesperson Ricardo Menendez March said benefit levels were not keeping up with the increasing cost of rent, petrol and many food items like vegetables or mince.

“Benefit indexation changes are automatic and do not make up for the fact families are already behind on essential costs.

“Every time there is a crisis people already experiencing poverty disproportionately pay the price … the government needs to protect people experiencing hardship from the current fuel and cost of living crisis by lifting core benefit levels in this budget.”

Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernna said it was the way the system was set up.

“There’s always going to be a lag – if inflation is running quite hot and it’s stuff that people can’t avoid buying it’s going to cause problems.”

A spokesperson for Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she acknowledged increasing pressure on household budgets and said government was exploring options to provide support to those most affected who had no way of avoiding increasing fuel costs, but did not have the power to mitigate all the consequences of a international conflict.

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The executive director of the Firearms Safety Authority has been cleared of misconduct following an employment investigation in relation to disgraced former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.

The investigation says that given the knowledge Angela Brazier had when providing a reference check for McSkimming, it would have been “prudent” for her to disclose the fact he was receiving harassing emails and that there was a police investigation.

However, the investigation found there were “shortcomings” in terms of how the Public Service Commission (PSC) obtained the reference check and that Brazier’s conduct did not bring police into disrepute and therefore could not be considered to amount to misconduct.

Speaking to RNZ, Brazier says the investigation was “another waste of taxpayers’ money” and wants police to publicly clear her name.

• Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

The Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report recommended employment investigations against three staff – former Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham, Detective Superintendent Chris Page, and Brazier.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers engaged Kristy McDonald KC to lead the investigations.

The investigation into Brazier – who announced her retirement in January – related to a reference check she provided to the Public Service Commission when McSkimming was vying for the role of Interim Commissioner in 2024.

The IPCA said that when the Public Service Commission approached her for a reference check, she knew McSkimming had an affair, that he was being “harassed” with emails from the woman and that former Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura had informed McSkimming that she had to investigate him as part of the police response.

However, Brazier told the PSC she had nothing relevant to disclose. She told the IPCA she did not think her knowledge was relevant to PSC’s question.

“[Brazier’s] disclosure was inadequate in light of her knowledge at the time,” the IPCA said.

RNZ has obtained a copy of the McDonald’s investigation report, dated 19 February.

In the report, McDonald said Brazier declined to be interviewed but did provide additional information she requested, including her response to the draft IPCA report.

McDonald said the reference obtained by the PSC on 8 October 2024 was part of what the PSC described as a “shortened version of their vetting process”.

“Following Commissioner Coster’s resignation in 2024, an interim Commissioner needed to be appointed. By convention the longest serving statutory Deputy Commissioner is appointed, which in this case would have been Mr McSkimming.”

She said McSkimming went through a “thorough vetting process” run by PSC when he was appointed statutory Deputy Commissioner in 2023. This included full reference and probity checks.

However, when considering McSkimming for interim Commissioner the PSC took a “shortened version”.

This was for several reasons including that McSkimming had been deputy commissioner for about 18 months and had already been interim Commissioner on several occasions and “by convention” was the person who was going to be appointed to the role.

“Mr McSkimming had recently been thoroughly vetted when appointed as a statutory Deputy Commissioner. Therefore, there was an anticipated inevitability of Mr McSkimming’s appointment which impacted the manner in which the probity checks were undertaken.

“As a result, the normal checks were not conducted in an in-depth way as would typically be done. For example, only three references were obtained and they were from people nominated by Mr McSkimming.”

McDonald said the PSC’s focus was whether anything had occurred in the 18 month period from when McSkimming had been vetted for his current role.

“This context coloured the approach PSC took to the appointment process, including the reference obtained from Ms Brazier.”

As part of her investigation, McDonald interviewed the PSC employee who took the reference check from Brazier. McDonald said she understood the employee was not interviewed by the IPCA.

The employee confirmed she called Brazier on 8 October 2024 and asked Brazier if she was able to provide a reference check for McSkimming. Brazier agreed and the interview was then carried out.

“As such, Ms Brazier did not have time to reflect on matters that she may have wished to discuss,” McDonald said.

The reference checking process took up to 7 minutes, McDonald estimated, finishing at 1.45pm.

The employee did not tell Brazier she should provide “full and frank answers” at the beginning of the interview.

“In response to the Integrity Question Ms Brazier stated: ‘Nothing that I am aware of that would impact [Mr McSkimming’s] ability to do the job or bring the agency or the NZ government into disrepute’.”

McDonald said all of Brazier’s answers were brief, and that the employee did not ask any follow up questions “to try to illicit more information from Ms Brazier”.

McDonald said it was “clear that there were shortcomings in terms of the way the reference was obtained from Ms Brazier”.

This included that the employee did not read the PSC script that interviewers typically read out at the beginning of reference interviews.

The script used by the employee did not include any statements designed to encourage Brazier to provide “fulsome responses.”

Asked why this was, the employee told McDonald she believed the interview with Brazier was “an open and closed reference check”.

“The PSC Employee stated that: given that Mr McSkimming was the longest serving Deputy Commissioner he was the obvious candidate for the interim Commissioner role; that she did not think that there was anything wrong with Mr McSkimming; and that her job was to see if Mr McSkimming still met the fit and proper person test – having been found to satisfy this requirement in 2023.”

The employee also said that the then Assistant Commissioner at PSC had already spoken to Coster before Brazier was contacted to provide a reference. Coster had told the PSC about McSkimming’s affair, and that the woman was being prosecuted for harassment of McSkimming, McDonald said.

McDonald said a manager at PSC said that if this information was known by the employee, then they ought to have asked further questions of Brazier given her “short but caveated response to the integrity question”.

McDonald said in response to her draft findings, the PSC said the employee could not have known that information at the time she called Brazier. This was because the PSC said Coster was interviewed only shortly before Brazier was spoken to. Following her final report, McDonald issued an addendum which said while additional documents provided by the PSC showed when the interview with Coster began, it did not say when it ended.

“Given the above and the fact that when I interviewed the PSC Employee she repeatedly stated that she already knew, at a high level, about the disclosures made by Commissioner Coster prior to her interviewing Ms Brazier, it is possible that [a manager at PSC] had already spoken to the PSC Employee about those disclosures before the PSC Employee interviewed Ms Brazier.”

Regardless of whether or not the PSC employee knew about the discussion before calling Brazier, it did not “materially alter” her findings in relation to Brazier’s conduct.

McDonald said the employee had only recently started conducting reference interviews and had done about 15 previously which were “for very different roles”.

“The PSC has now changed the manner in which it obtains references, including how it asks integrity questions and has provided additional training to interviewers. The PSC Employee confirmed that the manner in which she conducts reference interviews now is significantly different to the way she approached Ms Brazier’s interview.”

McDonald concluded that given the knowledge Brazier had when providing the reference it would have been “prudent” for her to disclose the fact that McSkimming was receiving harassing emails and that there was a police investigation into those emails – even if she believed that investigation looked at him as a complainant.

“Such information was still relevant contextual information. Given Ms Brazier’s work experience, having worked in senior positions for the Police for over twenty years, she ought to have understood the relevance of such information.

“I have considered, in light of the factual findings I have made, whether Ms Brazier’s conduct could be viewed as amounting to a breach of the Police Code of Conduct by bringing Police into disrepute. My recommendation is that it does not.”

McDonald said while Brazier “could have been more forthcoming”, there were several “highly relevant” factors.

This included that the PSC employee did not advise Brazier of the expectation to provide full disclosure of any relevant information she may have at the start of the interview, and that they did not do any follow up questions.

“Ms Brazier was not given advanced warning of the interview and it is likely that she did not have time to prepare or reflect on matters that she may wish to discuss.”

McDonald also noted that the IPCA did not interview the PSC employee as part of their investigation.

“And, therefore, did not take account of the manner in which the interview was conducted before making its findings against Ms Brazier.”

On 27 February, Brazier received a letter from police confirming that Deputy Commissioner Mike Pannett had accepted McDonald’s recommendation that Brazier’s conduct did not amount to a breach of the Police Code of Conduct and was not misconduct. He also agreed no further action was required.

Brazier told RNZ the investigation was a “waste of taxpayers’ money”, but was “pleased” when she read that the report cleared her of any misconduct but was not surprised as she did not think she had done anything wrong.

“I was annoyed that the IPCA hadn’t interviewed the person that did the reference check with me… they basically made their decision without any facts about what the referee process was.”

She said the IPCA report and the subsequent fallout had a significant impact on her.

“It impacted on the way I felt about the organisation, it impacted on my health and wellbeing, because it was publicised and my name was in the media, and that would have made it very difficult for me to find another job in the public sector whilst I had an under investigation against my name, even though there was nothing to it.

“It also meant that my team will have been questioning what my involvement was. It had wide-reaching impact, unfairly.”

After announcing her retirement, Brazier told RNZ she felt “targeted” by police leadership. She said this week she stood by those comments.

“It’s been completely unfair. I’m not the only person that’s been targeted. If you were to look at the number of people that have left, kind of under a cloud, I guess, over the last 18 months, then, yeah, a lot of people who have worked very hard and have been very credible and trustworthy individuals have left.”

Brazier her reference check was done “very quickly with no prior notice”.

“It was not a thorough interview in terms of a reference checking process for a senior role. So I think that they should have owned that from the outset, but instead they try and point the finger at me.”

She said that when she was interviewed by the PSC there was nothing she thought that would or could prevent McSkimming doing the job at the time.

“If they had asked me if he had had an affair, I would have been very clear, because my choice then would have been tell the truth or tell a lie, and I would have told the truth without question of a doubt.

“But it wasn’t. It was never tabled in that way. So I didn’t feel that it was, it was an important element of his ability to do the job, because he had been a statutory deputy for a number of years and had regularly covered for the commissioner, so he had no issues with doing the job, in my mind, even though he’d had an affair, but it was so long ago.”

In a statement to RNZ on questions about the investigation into Brazier, Deputy Commissioner Mike Pannett said police had the same privacy obligations as any other employer and therefore could not provide any information or comment.

“As previously announced, Ms Brazier is retiring from her position at the New Zealand Firearms Safety Authority in April.”

Police said two of the investigations being carried out by McDonald remained in progress.

“Police will not be commenting on the findings.”

Brazier is “unhappy” police won’t publicly confirm she was cleared of misconduct.

“They could have said there was no finding of misconduct or no breach of the Code of Conduct about me… I’m happy for them to say that, because it’s my privacy that apparently they’re trying to protect. So I don’t see why they couldn’t say that… they’re choosing not to.”

She believes police have not given thought to her being a “loyal, hardworking, trustworthy employee”.

“They have just gone about carte blanche doing an investigation on this and on that, without actually considering me as a senior member of police for over 20 years with no history of ever having any sorts of issues, they just went straight to investigation.”

A Public Service Commission spokesperson told RNZ the matter was “thoroughly and independently examined by the IPCA”.

“The IPCA found that disclosures made to the Public Service Commission during the 2024 interim Commissioner appointment process were inadequate and fell well short of what would reasonably be expected in a process of that significance.

“Separately, inquiries made by the Public Service Commission to the IPCA confirmed that a complaint was under active consideration at the time. As a result, Mr McSkimming was not recommended for appointment to the interim role.”

The PSC also commissioned an independent review by Miriam Dean KC into its reference checks and probity processes for senior Police appointments such as the Police Commissioner and Deputy Police Commissioners.

“The Commission accepted the findings of the Dean Review in full and has implemented improvements to strengthen its appointment processes and disclosure requirements.

“Ms McDonald carried out a confidential employment investigation for Police into the conduct of one of their former employees. Any findings or actions are therefore a matter for Police.”

A IPCA spokesperson told RNZ that in drafting their report, they relied on the file note of PSC’s reference check with Brazier.

“We also had access to Miriam Dean KC’s report, which had considered the way PSC conducted reference checks. Further, we relied on the evidence of Ms Brazier, including her submissions during our natural justice process. She did not deny the non-disclosure.”

The spokeperson also referred to paragraphs of the report in which Brazier “provided us with reasons for why she did not disclose relevant information”.

“We have not seen the employment investigation report.”

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Friends and family members came from all over New Zealand today and celebrated alongside the newly attested constables of the 393 recruit wing at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers addressed the graduating wing alongside Associate Minister of Police, the Honourable Casey Costello, members of the police executive and wing patron, Keven Mealamu MNZM.

Top award winner and first in wing Constable Aaron Rock swapped his career in firefighting and emergency medical (EMT) work for a new role in Policing.

“I will be forever grateful for my family’s sacrifices and unwavering support. They push me constantly to become a better version of myself. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their love.”

Aaron will be based in Central District.

Leadership Award Winner, Constable Harawira Smith -Ngāti Kahungunu and Te Arawa, says “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Aotearoa. I am proud to stand alongside every member of wing 393.”

Harawira will be based in the  Bay of Plenty.

Deployment:
The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on the week beginning Monday 23 March 2026 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.

Tāmaki Makaurau receives a total of 19 new officers (Auckland City 5, Waitematā 7, Counties Manukau 7), Waikato 5, Bay of Plenty 6, Eastern 1, Central 7, Wellington 8, Tasman 2, Southern 1.

All Awards:
Minister’s Award recognising top student: Constable Aaron Rock posted to Central District.
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Harawira Smith posted to Bay of Plenty District.
Patron’s Award recognising second top student: Constable D’arcy Murray posted to Bay of Plenty District.
The Firearms Award: Constable Jovarn Simmonds posted to Wellington District.
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Alfred Cathro posted to Wellington District.
Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Luke Cherrington posted to Tasman District.

Demographics:
30.6 percent are female, 69.4 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 69.4 percent of the wing, with Māori 4.1 percent, Pasifika 4.1 percent, Asian 20.4 percent, LAAM 2.0 percent.

Patron:
Keven Mealamu MNZM is a proud man of faith and family. A former All Black with over 100 test caps, he brings the values of teamwork, resilience, and discipline from rugby into business, governance, and community leadership. Keven has built and led ventures in health, wellbeing, and creative industries, while serving on boards and advisory groups that navigate complex strategic and cultural challenges.
As owner and director of FIT60HQ Gym and Protect For Life Insurance Brokers, he is passionate about helping whānau and businesses safeguard their futures, focusing on legacy, prosperity, and socially responsible decision-making. Keven is committed to strengthening people, organisations, and communities across Aotearoa. Keven was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2016 for services to rugby.

Watch out for our Ten One graduation story coming soon with more images and details.

Issued by Police Media Centre

ENDS

MIL OSI

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An IT project behind the overhaul of firearms regulations has been put on hold, due to uncertainty over what is needed.

A Treasury report from last September, released this week, rated the ‘Arms Transformation’ project as red.

It suggested the police minister intervene to “resolve major issues”.

“Yes, it has been rated red, however nothing has gone wrong,” police told RNZ on Friday.

Usually a red rating in a quarterly investment report meant real doubt a project could be delivered.

In this case a so-called ‘Gateway’ review was done and found “there was uncertainty about the ICT and system requirements that would be required should a new regulator be created”.

Setting up a new regulator depended on a bill still before Parliament.

“The work has been paused, while the legislative process is ongoing,” Firearms Safety Authority business transformation director Richard Wilson said.

He said the Arms Transformation Programme had gone well since it began and was previously rated green/amber.

A digital registry of firearms was built on budget in 2023 and this was being expanded. A review last year found the registry should achieve public safety objectives, once it was fully embedded.

The authority was working with Treasury and the Ministry of Justice on it, Wilson said.

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Firearms owners say the government’s overhaul of gun laws doesn’t go far enough to undo the “damage that was done” after the 15 March terror attacks.

A Muslim leader, meanwhile, told MPs to consider public safety over what was convenient for firearms owners.

Parliament’s Justice Committee has been hearing in-person submissions on the country’s new gun regulations, put forward in the Arms Bill.

Many licensed firearms owners expressed concerns the changes don’t go far enough, while the Police Association has criticised the new regulator being set up without sworn officers.

Support ‘with reservations’ from firearms groups

On Monday morning, MPs heard from firearms groups, gun control advocates, and the union representing police.

Much of the submissions from firearms groups focused on their problems with the existing legislation, and whether they thought the new bill would assuage them.

The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association supported the bill, with “some reservations,” feeling it did not go far enough.

“It fails to meaningfully unwind many of the bad policy decisions, the over regulation and the structural failures introduced since 2019, said chief executive Gwyn Thurlow.

“Farmers, land owners, and conservation agencies are calling for more effective game animal control and pest eradication and biodiversity outcomes but successive governments had stigmatised the use of firearms. This has not been resolved by this bill.”

Thurlow felt political fear and media pressure had “constrained” the bill.

“When lawful, fit and proper people exit the system because it has become too difficult, too intrusive, too hostile to engage with, public safety is not improved.”

Zac Dodunski, from the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Antique and Historical Arms Association said the new legislation was the “first steps” in the right direction, considering the “damage that was done” post-Christchurch.

Fish and Game New Zealand supported the bill, but suggested “practical gaps” could be filled, such as making agency-owned firearms registered to the agency, not the individual employee.

The bill would also keep the firearms registry implemented after the 15 March attacks.

Despite supporting the intent of the bill, the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (COLFO) said there remained a level of mistrust from firearms owners that information would be kept safe.

“The continued perception that the registry will magically solve gun crime, despite worldwide evidence to the contrary, will continue to be a bureaucratic burden around the New Zealand taxpayer’s neck,” said COLFO’s chair Brad Gallop.

New regulator questioned

The new regulator, without sworn police officers, was also met with concern.

The Police Association’s president Steve Watt said it was appropriate that the governance of the regulator and the enforcer were the same.

“Police being part of the FSA is an extremely important issue for us, as it does provide safety and security for our members, in the sense that there is coherent information sharing, and there is a robust system in place whereby we can share that information and make sure that safety and security is at the forefront,” he said.

“When we consider all the things that can be simplified, firearms isn’t one of them.”

Philippa Yasbek, co-founder of Gun Control NZ, said the bill’s “hostility” towards police involvement in the regulator was risky.

Yasbek said the bill was “not terrible, but it is messy” and anticipated Parliament would have to fix the legislation “many, many times” if the bill was passed in its current state.

But COLFO supported the change, with Gallop calling for a separate legal entity to ensure distinct separation of powers.

He had concerns that the FSA would still be part of police from a budgetary perspective, meaning police could still have influence on the FSA.

“There are still some issues around the bureaucracy that has been created by the FSA that have overly complicated licensed firearms owners to both renew their license and also transact on a day to day basis with the FSA,” he said.

“The issue we have is not with licensed firearms owners’ ability to register their firearms. The issue is the mistrust within the firearms community of the ability of the police at the moment to keep that information safe.”

The process of appointing a chief executive to the FSA was “significant,” Yasbek said, as she felt it was an “unconstitutionally precedented arrangement.”

She called for a merit-based appointment, with the process led by the Public Service Commission, instead of one appointed by the Governor-General.

“The risk cuts both ways, it could be that someone’s appointed who I think is far too close to the gun lobby. Alternatively, governments change, and suddenly it’s someone who’s seen as completely hostile to gun owners.”

Abdur Razzaq from the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand also opposed the method of appointing a chief executive.

“There needs to be a merit-based approach, and when that merit-based approach is bypassed by political appointees, under whatever guise, I don’t think we could accept that.”

Razzaq said the convenience of lawful firearms owners should never come above public safety, and called on the committee to keep the “tangible grief, the lasting grief, the memory, and the legacy” of the 51 people who died in the terror attacks in mind as it considered the bill.

“The bill is not only about making the whole licensing system more efficient, it is not only about making the system more convenient for lawful users, and there are many Muslim licensed gun users. It should also be about, does it make New Zealand safer? We request this last metric be the central argument in your deliberations. That should be the litmus test.”

He told the MPs on the committee the future of the nation’s safety and wellbeing was in their hands.

“You will be accountable,” he said.

What does the bill do?

The bill as introduced would repeal and replace the 1983 Act, introducing new penalties and tougher restrictions for gang members.

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee had sought a carve out for competitive shooters to access military-style semi-automatic firearms, but failed.

It would also reform the Firearms Safety Authority without sworn police officers, and headed up by its own chief executive, who would report to the firearms minister, instead of the police minister.

At its first reading in December, Labour supported the bill, while the Greens and Te Pāti Māori opposed it.

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

Child poverty activists say families are having to make impossible decisions and go without life’s essentials following the release of new Stats New Zealand data.

The statistics agency said one in seven kids are living in material hardship, according to research conducted between July 2024 and June last year.

Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston has said reducing child poverty was a priority and that the government is making changes to improve the lives of families.

Advocates were calling for change after the latest data on child material hardship did not show a statistically significant difference compared to 2024 and 2018.

But it did show a statistically significant increase compared to 2022.

The Children’s Commissioner said the data shows there are 47,500 more children in material hardship in 2025 than there was in 2022 (169,300 compared to 121,800).

Children’s Commissioner Claire Achmad said affected kids were going without key life essentials.

“I’m talking about things like access to fresh fruit and vegetables, being able to go to the doctor or the dentist, being able to have a good bed to sleep in.

“I think we can all agree no child in New Zealand should be going without these things.”

Dr Achmad said half of the children in poverty had parents that were in work – so it was important people have pay that can lift kids out of deprivation.

She said child poverty needs to be a priority for successive governments.

“Children cannot wait for our economy to improve. Children get one chance at childhood, and we’ve got to act and get this right now.”

Child Poverty Action Group communications manager Isaac Gunson said some families were being forced to make ” impossible decisions”.

“They are paying power and rent so they can keep the lights on and keep a roof over their head, and they are going to see if there is anything for them at the foodbank.

“No one in this country should be having to make decisions like that.”

Social advocate and BBM founder Dave Letele said there needed to be change.

Unless support was provided, Letele said the conditions kids lived in would deteriorate.

“The New Zealand that our grandkids grow up in will be even worse. It is going to be seen more unsafe.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the current stats weren’t good enough.

“We want to see a reduction in child poverty, but I also have to acknowledge it has been an incredibly difficult time.”

Luxon said it was important the economy was run well for low-income New Zealanders.

Upston said reducing kids’ material hardship was a priority in the government’s child and youth strategy.

Upston said they have made a number of changes to improve the lives of Kiwi families such as the in-work tax credit and introducing their FamilyBoost policy for childcare.

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

MIL OSI

New Zealanders’ biometric information and other sensitive data may be handed over to the United States government under a new border security agreement between the countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed officials were in talks with the US on the requirements and scope of an Enhanced Border Security Partnership (EBSP).

The US has given the 42 countries in its Visa Waiver Program – a reciprocal agreement that allowed citizens to visit for up to 90 days without a visa – until the end of the year to conclude EBSP negotiations or risk losing visa-free travel status.

Any information handed over to the US may end up with the country’s controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement border force – or ICE as it is commonly known – and concerns have been raised about the opaque process, data sovereignity and surveillance overreach.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) refused to clarify what safeguards were being considered to protect New Zealanders’ private information or if it was aware of any ICE personnel stationed in New Zealand at present.

Biometric sharing programmes already exist between Five Eyes countries (New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom) as part of Migration Five arrangements but typically operated on a ‘hit/no-hit’ basis where initial biometric checks provided minimal information, and further data requests were considered on a case by case basis.

But EBSPs could provide full automated access to other countries’ national databases, according to critics and minutes from European Union member state negotiations.

The US Department of Homeland Security’s own privacy assessment noted biometric information could be used to vet any individual “encountered” during border inspections or immigration investigations.

European regulators warned this could extend to minors, victims or witnesses to crime.

The New Zealand government had not stated what information might be shared, what safeguards would apply, or whether parliament or the public would be consulted before any agreement was finalised.

MFAT offered RNZ a one-line statement regarding the negotiations: “New Zealand officials continue to discuss the requirements and scope of an Enhanced Border Security Partnership with the United States.”

However, the ministry refused to respond to follow up questions including when negotiations began, what privacy impact assessments had been undertaken, what safeguards were being considered, and what limitations would apply to collection and use of data.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ office also declined to respond.

Green Party foreign affairs spokesperson Teanau Tuiono criticised the lack of information on the negotiations.

He wanted to see parliamentary oversight and public scrutiny of the agreement.

The government should also disclose details of any privacy assessments it had carried out, he said.

Aotearoa needed to urgently reassess its relationship with the US, Tuiono said.

“We are seeing that alarm right across the world with the direction the US is going under the Trump administration. This is not a time for us to be seeking closer engagement and relationships with the US,” he said.

Council of Civil Liberties chair Thomas Beagle said the proposed scheme was much more invasive than existing data-sharing arrangements and officials should consider the Trump administration’s approach to immigration during negotiations.

“The US is obviously struggling at the moment with the rule of democracy and rights-based society. They have government-sponsored gangs of people wearing masks who refuse to identify themselves disappearing people off the streets,” Beagle said.

“This is seriously in the direction of heading towards fascism – the idea that we’re then going to give these people access to our private data and even the private data of people associated with travellers is very, very concerning.

“Some people are still locked in the past where the US was a reasonably benign ally of New Zealand, and that’s becoming less and less true.

“We wouldn’t give other countries like China or Russia full access into our police and biometrics databases, would we?”

New Zealand’s regulations included the right to have data held by public agencies corrected if it was wrong and the disposal of data after a certain time.

“Once this data passes out of our control, we don’t have that ability anymore. It’s going to be there for five or 10 years and could come back and bite you years later.”

The risk also applied to New Zealanders living in the US, who could get caught up in “trawling expeditions”.

Beagle urged the government to be more forthcoming about the agreement.

A report by the European Data Protection Supervisor – the European Union’s independent data protection watchdog – emphasised the unprecedented nature of such an agreement.

It would be first providing large-scale sharing of personal and biometric data with a non-EU country, and would have a significant impact on privacy rights and the protection of personal data, supervisor Wojciech Wiewiórowski said.

He called on European Union negotiators to narrow the agreement’s scope to just travellers and require clear justifications for every query, among other protections.

The report warned sharing sensitive data could lead to the detention or imprisonment of individuals.

Māori data sovereignty expert Dr Karaitiana Taiuru said there were specific concerns for Māori in relation to DNA, which is considered a taonga.

“For Maori and for many other indigenous peoples, our DNA is sacred to us. It’s not just this generation’s knowledge, it’s our previous generations and our future generations, so it’s very sacred,” he said.

Sharing police databases raised particular concerns given the overpolicing, profiling and surveillance Māori were subject to in Aotearoa, he said.

“We know from reports over decades there has been an institutional racism issue in the past with the New Zealand Police. So automatically, that data is going to be biased, it’s going to be racist,” he said.

“There’s going to be some very sensitive information in those police files. What happens if someone has been proven innocent by the police? Would that data show up if it’s shared overseas, for example. What about survivors and victims of abuse? They’re entitled to privacy as well.

“Some major questions need to be asked about people’s privacy and our own laws.”

A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Privacy Commission declined to answer questions on whether it had been consulted, what safeguards or limitations were or should be in place and whether a Privacy Impact Assessment had been carried out.

They said the Privacy Act and the new Biometric Processing Privacy Code contained rules around the collection, retention, sharing and security of personal information, including sending material overseas, however, other legislation could take precedence.

Saira Hussain, senior staff attorney at US digital civil rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation, said there had been a marked change under the Trump administration about how much and what type of data agencies were collecting at the border on “threadbare justifications”.

There was a “let’s grab everything first and ask questions later approach, which is really, really concerning about how that information may end up being used, where it’s being stored, the retention period”, she said.

It increased the possibility of infomation being breached, shared with other goverments or used for unintended purposes, Hussein said.

She was “exceedingly concerned” about what information was changing hands, how US officials would be able to query databases, for how long, and if it was restricted to people who were traveling to the US, “which in and of itself is a very large ask, but the fact that it may be open to others beyond those traveling is seriously alarming.”

Auckland University law professor Gehan Gunasekara questioned how the information would be used.

“If it’s retained for border protection and visa status, that’s fine, but if it’s been shared for other ulterior purposes, maybe with ICE so that they can go after relatives of the people that are traveling or … to build up profiles of people who have relatives in the United States who may be then imperiled that’s where we need to get safeguards,” he said.

While he would like to see more scruntiny of the agreement, New Zealand was not in a strong position to assert itself in negotiations.

“Unfortunately, that’s the reality when you’re dealing with powerful government agencies, especially foreign ones,” Gunasekara said.

“It’s only the very large, powerful trading blocs like the European Union that are in a position to negotiate some kinds of safeguards and we know there’s been perennial conflict between the United States and the European Union when it comes to personal data.”

New Zealand’s intelligence agencies had oversight in the form of the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security, Gunasekara said, referencing a highly critical 2018 report that criticised the agencies over a lack of transparency and possible breaches in the way information was collected.

“At that point, safeguards were adopted, and some checks put on that in terms of the intelligence agencies,” he said.

“So if the intelligence agencies can be made to have certain kinds of checks put in those kinds of situations, then one would expect other government agencies to be even more robust in the controls and checks they have – but it seems either that’s not happening or we haven’t been told what those safeguards are.”

The UK has neither confirmed nor denied finalising a deal, but in 2022 US Department of Homeland Security representatives told the European Union home affairs committee three EU member states and the UK had signed on.

Israel signed an agreement in March 2022, entering the programme in 2023.

A DHS press release touted the signing of an agreement with Bahrain in late 2025, which it said would allow for “the automated exchange of biometric data”.

In December, the European Union formally approved negotiations for an overall framework, which allowed member states to negotiate their own agreements beneath the overarching framework.

Australia has not publicly announced negotiations, but has not denied them when asked.

Late last year, the Trump administration announced plans to require visitors from visa waiver countriesdisclose five years of social media history, email addresses from the past decade, five years of phone numbers, personal details of family members, face, fingerprint, DNA, iris and other data when using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization process – an automated system visa-waiver members use instead of applying for a visa.

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

BRP‑Rotax unveils its latest milestone in aviation with Aircraft Meets Racetrack. In an unprecedented accomplishment for the Bahrain International Circuit, Red Bull athlete and Rotax Ambassador Luke Czepiela became the first pilot to fly this Grand Prix track’s complete racing line from the air, showcasing the capabilities of Rotax powered aviation in a dramatic low‑level performance.

Gunskirchen, Austria – Newsaktuell – 10 February 2026 – In a demonstration of precision aviation, Luke Czepiela traced the full ideal line of the Bahrain International Circuit at low level, including short takeoffs and landings (STOL) on the start/finish straight. The achievement is documented in the short film Aircraft Meets Racetrack, the first project to emerge from BRP-Rotax’s Brand Ambassador partnership with Luke Czepiela, launched in 2025. The short film premiered during the Bahrain International Circuit’s official F1 pre‑season press conference today.

When Racing Meets Aviation

The project transfers what racing drivers follow on the ground with high precision accuracy into the sky. The circuit’s racing line becomes an aerial flight path, demanding exceptionally tight tolerances, high and low speeds, and uncompromising line discipline. Conducting the maneuver required extreme precision. Low altitude, shifting wind conditions, more than 495 light poles, and the narrow, enclosed layout of the Grand Prix track created an environment with virtually no margin for error.

“Flying a racing line from the air demands absolute control at low altitude and instant reaction in every phase,” said Czepiela, Rotax Brand Ambassador. “It is precision flying in its purest form.”

The flight was performed in a CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL equipped with the 160‑hp Rotax 916 iS engine. The aircraft’s lightweight STOL design, immediate throttle response, and exceptional power‑to‑weight ratio made the aerial replication of the racing line possible.

Production took place during the 2025 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Bahrain – marking the first time all project partners collaborated on‑site. Working closely with the Bahrain International Circuit, Red Bull Bahrain, and local authorities, the team implemented a comprehensive safety and operations plan. The track and airspace were fully closed to ensure uninterrupted filming, supported by constant air traffic coordination and emergency services on-site.

“With Luke Czepiela, we aimed to create something that authentically unites our two passions: racing and aviation,” said Peter Ölsinger, General Manager of BRP‑Rotax and Vice-President Sales, Marketing RPS‑Business & Communications. “This project represents technical precision, long‑standing partnerships, and the courage to pursue new creative paths.”

The film not only showcases a great achievement it underscores Rotax’s mission to connect disciplines, push boundaries, and deliver high‑performance experiences on the ground and in the air.

Links:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNgMGArCGBU
Presskit: https://newsroom.ketchum.at/Media.aspx?menueid=34496

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Friends and family members from all over New Zealand celebrated with their loved ones at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua today, when Wing 392 graduated from their initial course.

Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Pannett addressed the wing alongside members of the police executive and wing patron, Raelene Castle, Ngāpuhi ONZM.

“Once you’re in your district and in your community, you will be focusing on being visible, reassuring and responsive. Through this you will deliver on our mission – to prevent crime and harm.

I want you to think about the privileged position you will be in as you go about that work.

You will be in other people’s homes, lives and situations, dealing with people who are at their most vulnerable so it is vital that you uphold the Police Values throughout your work and be the best you can be. Congratulations to you all.”

The top award winner for the wing, former Royal New Zealand Airforce Aircraft Technician, Constable Joel Fraser is excited to be heading to Bay of Plenty District to start his new career. He also won the award for Firearms Skills and Safe Practices.

“Joining police has always been a lifelong goal for me. The journey hasn’t been easy, but the training has shown me just how much I am capable of. I feel confident and excited to step into the job and make my family and community proud.”

Leadership Award Winner, Constable Wilem Tipene, Ngāpuhi is thrilled with his success and spoke to the wing at the end of the ceremony.

“My favourite part of being at college has been looking back on my time here and seeing the character built amongst wing members and the values everyone has adopted to uphold in each of our communities.”

Wilem will also be based in Bay of Plenty.

Deployment:
The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on the week beginning Monday 16 February 2026 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.
Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 32 and broken down into the three districts: Auckland City 15, Waitematā 6, Counties Manukau 11, Waikato 10, Bay of Plenty 8, Eastern 2, Central 6, Wellington 7, Tasman 1, Canterbury 11, Southern 11.

All Awards:
Minister’s Award recognising top student and the award for Firearms Skills and Safe Practices: Constable Joel Fraser posted to Bay of Plenty District.

Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Wilem Tipene posted to Bay of Plenty District.

Patron’s Award for second top student: Constable Joshua Kellett posted to Southern District.

Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Caitlin Oliver posted to Bay of Plenty District.

Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Aiden Toder posted to Wellington District.

Demographics:
18.0 percent are female, 82.0 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 65.2 percent of the wing, with Māori 6.7 percent, Pasifika 7.9 percent, Asian 16.9 percent, LAAM 3.4 percent.

Patron:
Raelene Castle, Ngāpuhi is the Group Chief Executive of Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ).  She joined HPSNZ in December 2020 and was appointed Group Chief Executive in April 2022. Before this, she spent seven years working in Australia as Chief Executive of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and then Chief Executive of Rugby Australia. She was previously Chief Executive of Netball New Zealand from 2007 to 2013.
Before beginning her career in sports administration, Raelene built a successful corporate career in communications, sales and marketing. This included general management and other senior roles at Telecom New Zealand (now Spark), Bank of New Zealand and Fuji Xerox. 
Raelene has held several governance roles in sport, previously serving as a board director of the ANZ Championship Netball, International Federations of Netball Associations, SANZAAR Rugby and the World Rugby Council.
She also has a rich sporting background as a former representative-level netball, tennis and lawn bowls player. Raelene was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2015 for services to business and sport.

Watch out for our Ten One graduation story coming soon with more images and details.

If you’re interested in joining police, you can find out more on www.newcops.govt.nz

Issued by Police Media Centre

ENDS

MIL OSI

Three teenage boys have been arrested after the stabbing of a shopkeeper in Auckland’s Newmarket.

Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce said the three went boys into Hobby Lords on Broadway at about 5.40pm on Tuesday, and allegedly stole things before running.

He said the shopkeeper chased after them and managed to catch one of the boys on nearby Nuffield St, but was stabbed.

He was taken to Auckland City Hospital where his condition was reported as moderate.

Security guards arrived and managed to hold the 16-year-old while police caught up to the two other boys – both aged 13 – at the Newmarket train station.

The 16-year-old has been charged with aggravated wounding and the others referred to Youth Aid officers.

“Grabbing Gunpla and running out the door whilst laughing is not very cool,” the store said on its Facebook page, before being made aware one of its staff members had allegedly been stabbed.

“Any additional information will be greatly appreciated,” it added.

Photos appeared to show the alleged offenders carrying Pokémon and Gundam merch.

Senior Sergeant Bunce said he was appalled at the level of violence.

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

Source: Child Poverty Action Group

MIL OSI

The executive director of the Firearms Safety Authority says she believes she’s been “targeted” by police leadership, including the police commissioner, and says her reputation is now “shit”.

In an exclusive interview with RNZ, Angela Brazier says she’s “pissed off” with police for not publicly backing her what she has labelled as “unsubstantiated” allegations against her.

She also says the police watchdog’s report into how police handled allegations of sexual offending by former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming was “inaccurate” and says she did nothing wrong.

On Monday, RNZ revealed Brazier was retiring after 22 years in the police.

Her decision to retire was brought on by a combination of different things, including how she had been treated by police, Brazier says.

The Government announced in November that a new specialist firearms regulatory agency will be created, replacing the FSA. It will be headed by an independent chief executive appointed by the governor-general who would report solely to the firearms minister.

She said she would not be applying for the new role; “My reputation is shit now”, something she holds police “wholly” responsible for.

“I don’t think I’ve been supported well by police, but I’m a big girl, and, you know, I put up with that for a year. And when I look at what the future holds, you know, my role will be disestablished. And do I want to apply for the statutory Officer role when it could mean undoing what I’ve just been three years of my life doing? You know, the answer to that would be no.”

Brazier is not ruling out taking an “employment complaint” against police.

“I’m not litigious. I could have gone for and, you know, still might do, haven’t ruled it out because I know that I’d have grounds, but I don’t want to have that hanging over me. I just want to get on with my life and enjoy my retirement,” she said.

“Talking to you now is about me… giving you my perspective on what has happened, and I can categorically tell you that I’ve done nothing wrong. I haven’t, you know, there’s no bullying, there’s no financial mismanagement. I got a good performance review, really good from Tania [Former Deputy Police Commissioner Tania Kura] before she left, she was my supervisor after Jevon was stood down. So you know, it’s just been a whole lot of dust kicked up for no good reason, which has impacted on my health.”

The IPCA report ‘Ms G’

RNZ earlier revealed the identities of some of the senior leaders referred to in the IPCA’s 135-page report. Among them was Ms G, who is Brazier.

The IPCA said Brazier told them she had known McSkimming for about 20 years.

The Authority also said that when the Public Service Commission approached her for a reference check on McSkimming in the appointment process for interim commissioner in October last year she knew McSkimming had an affair, that he was being “harassed” with emails from the woman and that Kura had informed McSkimming that she had to investigate him as part of the police response.

However, Brazier told the PSC she had nothing relevant to disclose. She told the IPCA she did not think her knowledge was relevant to PSC’s question.

“Ms G’s disclosure was inadequate in light of her knowledge at the time,” the IPCA said.

Asked what connection the IPCA report had on her decision to retire, Brazier said “nothing”.

“Other than it’s annoying because the IPCA report is inaccurate and I provided the IPCA with my feedback at the time, and they didn’t correct it, so they had worked on an assumption that I knew more than I did. So that’s my position on it. I’ve done nothing wrong, and yet they’ve interpreted that I hadn’t given an accurate recount of Jevon in my reference checking that the PSC did at the time for the interim commissioner role that Jevon was asked to do.”

Brazier said the PSC rang her and asked a series of questions including whether there was anything that would prevent McSkimming from doing the job.

“And from my perspective, there was nothing that would prevent him from doing the job, he’d acted as the commissioner on many occasions and therefore was able to do the job…,” she said.

“I didn’t know he was under police investigation. I had Jevon’s perspective, he was my boss.”

Brazier told RNZ she knew McSkimming had an affair with a woman and that he was allegedly being harassed by the woman with emails. She did not know the affair was with a staff member. She says McSkimming had told her “everybody who needed to know, knew”.

“What I knew I knew from Jevon, not from Tania or police. And that was that… Jevon spoke to the then-commissioner Andy Coster… and then Andy spoke to Tania and wanted Ms Z to be assessed by the fixated threat unit.

“And that as part of that process that Tania would need to understand his emails, what the correspondence had been between both sides. Now when I spoke to the IPCA and they asked me… I used the word investigate, but actually it wasn’t a police investigation. It was as him as the victim, as opposed to the perpetrator. So it was my bad for using the word investigate.”

Brazier maintains that the knowledge of there being an affair was not something she thought worth disclosing to the PSC.

“It was eight years prior and he was pretty open about it, so it didn’t feel to me like it was something that would be held or could be held against him and would prevent him from being able to do the job.

“And that was the main point was, could he do the job? Was there anything that would prevent him from doing the job? So, you know, if you eliminated everybody that’s had an affair, there wouldn’t be very many people left in the public sector… certainly it’s not something that I believe would have prevented him from being able to do the job at that time, with what I knew then.”

She said if she had known more information such as the woman’s age (Ms Z was about 20 years younger than McSkimming when the affair began), and that she had worked at police then “I probably would have had a different perspective”.

She did not believe McSkimming misled her.

“He just didn’t give me all the facts, but likewise, I didn’t ask either. It’s a personal thing, and he declared that to me at the point when he became my boss. But it wasn’t in a way that was I needed to cover his back. It was, you know, ‘I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes, and I’m not proud of it, but everyone who needs to know knows’.”

Brazier thought the IPCA report was “unfair”.

“It did say there wasn’t corruption or collusion, but actually people were just trying to do their best with the information that they had at the time. But the way that the IPCA report is written is as if everybody were colluding, and that Ms Z was, you know, hard done by in terms of how she was treated and that she wasn’t listened to.

“But actually… that side of the story hasn’t come out as far as I’m aware.”

Asked whether she believed people were too trusting of McSkimming, Brazier said given what was known now she would say yes.

“Everybody can be wise in hindsight… I’d worked with him for 20 years, so I thought I had a pretty good handle on the kind of guy that he was, but obviously I didn’t, and I wasn’t the only person.”

‘I’ve been pissed off by police’

Brazier’s retirement also followed a “health check” of the police agency following concerns over its workplace culture, including intimate relationships as well as financial practices.

The review came after an “internal employment process” at the firearms regulator which was established following the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019.

Brazier told RNZ all of the allegations made against her had been ruled unsubstantiated.

“Now I’ve been pissed off by police because they haven’t come out and said that the allegations weren’t upheld, and I believe that they should have done that, because that would have taken the smoke out of it, the heat out of it right? Because there’s nothing. There’s nothing to see here. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

She said she had asked police to publicly state that the allegations had not been upheld, but police would not, and claimed she was told “that that’s the way they always deal with media issues”.

“They don’t go back after there’s been an investigation and say, ‘Oh, it’s all good. Nothing to see here’. They just don’t do it. So they weren’t going to make an exception for me. Otherwise they’d have to make exceptions for everybody, the same as the health check report completely clear, nothing, nothing to see there at all.

“But that’s been a year of my life that’s been tied up in various investigations which came to nothing because there was nothing, and then the IPCA report.”

Brazier said she feels she had been treated “very poorly” by police in the last year.

“Because I haven’t been supported. I’ve had, it’s going to be 22 years in March. I’ve never had an employment issue. I’ve never had a complaint, a PG [personal grievance] in 22 years and the other 20 years I worked before that, which wasn’t for police.

“All of this has happened since the change in commissioner. So not an issue, a single issue before that. And then since we’ve got a new commissioner, he’s basically swept the floor. You’ll know all the people who have left, and I’m probably, I’ve been the last one hanging on that was under Coster’s reign and Jevon’s leadership. So it’s just it felt to me like I’ve been targeted.”

Brazier said Chambers’ leadership style was “different than many others”.

“There’s not a values alignment for me.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mike Johnson said the IPCA is an independent organisation which has delivered its findings.

“Police will not be responding further.”

In response to questions from RNZ, an IPCA spokesperson said the report “accurately sets out the evidence Ms Brazier provided to us and the conclusions we reached from that evidence”.

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

The executive director of the Firearms Safety Authority is retiring two months after the police watchdog’s scathing report into how police handled allegations of sexual offending by former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming.

RNZ earlier revealed the identities of some of the senior leaders referred to in the IPCA’s 135-page report.

Among them is Ms G, who RNZ understands is Angela Brazier, the executive director of the Firearms Safety Authority (FSA).

A lawyer for Brazier earlier said she was challenging the IPCA’s findings in relation to her.

The lawyer earlier said Brazier was on “pre-planned leave”.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

However, on Monday, RNZ was informed Brazier was leaving her role.

RNZ then approached police for comment.

A memo to staff from Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson, seen by RNZ, said Brazier had announced she was retiring from her position.

“Angela is the founding director of the FSA since it was established in 2021, launching New Zealand’s first digital firearms registry.

“During her 22-year policing career she has held a variety of roles across operations, strategy, transformation and partnerships, as well as corporate services manager for the Royal New Zealand Police College.”

Brazier will retire in April.

In response to questions from RNZ, police sent a copy of the same statement given to staff.

Following the IPCA’s report former police commissioner Andrew Coster resigned as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency and former deputy commissioner Chris de Wattignar, quit as the Upper North head of aviation security at the Civil Aviation Authority.

Former deputy commissioner Tania Kura and former assistant commissioner Paul Basham both retired ahead of the report being released.

Inadequate disclosure

The IPCA said Brazier told them she had known McSkimming for about 20 years.

When the Public Service Commission approached her for a reference check on McSkimming in the appointment process for interim commissioner in October last year she knew McSkimming had an affair, that he was being “harassed” with emails from the woman and that Kura had informed McSkimming that she had to investigate him as part of the police response.

However, Brazier told the PSC she had nothing relevant to disclose. She told the IPCA she did not think her knowledge was relevant to PSC’s question.

“Ms G’s disclosure was inadequate in light of her knowledge at the time,” the IPCA said.

RNZ earlier approached police for comment in relation to Brazier.

A lawyer acting for Brazier then emailed RNZ.

“I am requesting you cease and desist name publication and confirm that this will be done or in the event you still intend to proceed pause until we have been able to file a non-publication application with the High Court. Angela is challenging the ICPA findings in respect of her.”

RNZ earlier revealed a “health check” of the police agency had begun following concerns over its workplace culture, including intimate relationships as well as financial practices.

The review came after an “internal employment process” at the firearms regulator which was established following the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019.

Police’s chief assurance officer Mike Webb earlier told RNZ the health check of the FSA was completed in October.

“It sought to identify whether disciplines around corporate hygiene and internal controls are widely understood and consistently applied in the FSA,” Webb said.

“The FSA was found to have operated in accordance with police policies in almost all cases sampled from December 2022 to June 2025 and the review identified a number of strengths in its corporate practices and controls.”

The review also made recommendations to “support improved police policy and practice”.

Three recommendations related to the FSA and 19 relate to wider police.

“Of note, the health check report highlighted some operational and governance risks for FSA and police in the areas of financial oversight, lack of specificity in the sensitive expenditure policy at the time, and conflict-of-interest management across wider police.”

Webb said Brazier had accepted the findings and recommendations in the report and “acknowledged there is always opportunity for improvement”.

The report was considered by the police’s senior leadership team (SLT) in late October, as well as the independent Assurance and Risk Committee in mid-November.

“The police SLT endorsed action to address the report’s non-FSA-specific recommendations, as well as tracking work on the recommendations.

“Several recommendations have already been actioned – for example, making updates to the sensitive expenditure policy, which are due to take effect from 1 December 2025.”

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

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

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

MIL OSI

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 December 2025 – Tanoto Foundation convened government leaders, international organisations, researchers, and civil society at the 2025 International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED), in Jakarta under the theme “ECED Ecosystem Synergy in Promoting the Best Start in Life.“

The symposium comes at a critical moment, as shared challenges across health, nutrition, education, and caregiving continue to shape early childhood development outcomes in Indonesia and globally, where many young children continue to face barriers to healthy development, from gaps in nutrition and care to limited access to quality early learning.

These challenges highlight the need for closer coordination across health, education, parenting, and social protection to ensure children receive holistic and equitable support from the earliest years.

Without strong cross-sector collaboration, Indonesia risks losing momentum in building its human capital and realising its demographic dividend towards Indonesia Emas 2045.

In partnership with key government ministries and cross-sector organisations, Tanoto Foundation convened the symposium as a platform to align policy, practice, and evidence across sectors, bringing together representatives from central and local government, international organisations, academia, civil society, and philanthropy.

The symposium featured two main discussion tracks focused on health and education, and parenting in early childhood.

The morning segment, “Synergising Health and Education for ECED”, focused on integrating health, nutrition, and early learning services, highlighting innovations in growth and development monitoring, nutrition interventions, and early stimulation within primary service systems.

The afternoon session, “Parenting and Early Learning”, placed families and caregivers at the centre of the ECED ecosystem, exploring responsive caregiving, interaction-based learning, and policy support to strengthen parents’ capacity to nurture children’s development.

Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin officially opened the symposium, emphasising the decisive importance of early childhood for national development.

“The age of 0 to 5 years is a highly decisive phase in determining whether a person will grow into a healthy, intelligent adult who can contribute to the nation, including to increase per capita income,” the Minister said.

“If we do not act quickly, we risk missing Indonesia’s demographic dividend. This is our responsibility to our children.”

The Government of Indonesia has reaffirmed early childhood development as a national priority through the Long-Term National Development Plan 2025 to 2045 and the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2025 to 2029, with Holistic and Integrated Early Childhood Development (PAUD-HI) designated as a key performance indicator.

Opening the afternoon session, Indonesian Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, highlighted the symposium’s contribution to policy strengthening.

“This forum brings together strategic cross sector perspectives. We encourage the resulting recommendations to be used to strengthen policies, regulations, and service innovations for early childhood development,” she said.

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Stella Christie, underscored the importance of science-based parenting and high-quality interaction.

“Caregiving with optimal interaction between children and caregivers has the greatest potential to maximise child development,” she said. “No technology, including artificial intelligence, can replace the power of human interaction.”

She added that children learn through curiosity, imitation, and everyday experiences, making responsive and evidence-based parenting critical for brain development and lifelong learning.

CEO of Tanoto Foundation Benny Lee reaffirmed the Foundation’s long-term commitment to early childhood development as a cornerstone of human potential.

“The early years are when the foundations of brain development, health, and character are formed,” Benny said.

“This is not the work of one institution. It requires a truly supportive ecosystem built through collaboration among government, civil society, academia, and philanthropy.”

He emphasised that Tanoto Foundation, founded by Sukanto Tanoto, Founder and Chairman of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), views early childhood development as a primary investment, where collective action can deliver lasting and sustainable impact. “This symposium is about ensuring that every child receives the strongest possible start in life, every parent receives the support they need, and every sector moves forward together,” he said.

The symposium brought together up to 200 participants, with speakers from government, development organisations, academia, research institutions, and philanthropy.

https://www.tanotofoundation.org/en/

Hashtag: #RGE #TanotoFoundation #Philanthropy #Indonesia #ECED #EarlyChildhood #Healthcare

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

A Southland police operation has ended in a mass drug and firearms bust, after police executed 12 search warrants around Invercargill.

Police said eight people were arrested after they seized methamphetamine, firearms and more than $3000 in cash.

Operation Diablo was led by Southland’s Organised Crime Group and Criminal Investigation Branch, with support from specialist teams including a Drug Detection Dog unit.

Police said they were targeting gang-related drug offending.

Detective senior sergeant Greg Baird said the social harm caused by illicit drugs was significant.

“Gang members facilitating this don’t care about the damage they cause,” detective Baird said.

“We will continue to find and prosecute those who think this sort of criminal activity is acceptable. People deserve to live, work and play in our communities without these negative influences ruining their plans.”

Police arrested five men and three women who have appeared in the Invercargill District Court charged with possession for supply of class A and class drugs, unlawful possession of a firearm and threatening behaviour.

Police investigations are ongoing, and further charges and arrests have not been ruled out.

During Operation Diablo, police seized:

• Over 32 grams of methamphetamine
• Various quantities of cannabis
• Firearms and ammunition
• More than $3,000 in cash
• Multiple electronic devices

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

Operation Diablo has led to the arrest of eight people and the seizure of drugs, firearms and cash from multiple addresses across Southland last week.

Organised criminal groups received pre-Christmas visits as Police executed 12 search warrants at properties and vehicles in and around Invercargill.

The operation was led by Southland’s Organised Crime Group and Criminal Investigation Branch, with support from specialist teams including a Drug Detection Dog unit. Police targeted gang-related drug offending as part of the crackdown.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird says the social harm caused by the sale and supply of illicit drugs is significant.

“Gang members facilitating this don’t care about the damage they cause,” says Detective Baird.

“We will continue to find and prosecute those who think this sort of criminal activity is acceptable.”

During Operation Diablo, Police seized:

• Over 32 grams of methamphetamine
• Various quantities of cannabis
• Firearms and ammunition
• More than $3,000 in cash
• Multiple electronic devices.

“It’s about preventing harm,” Detective Baird adds. “People deserve to live, work and play in our communities without these negative influences ruining their plans.”

Police have arrested five men and three women that have appeared in the Invercargill District Court. Charges include possession for supply of class A and class drugs, unlawful possession of a firearm and threatening behaviour.

Police continue to investigate. Further charges and arrests have not been ruled out.

Members of the public are urged to report any concerns or information about illegal drug supply or criminal activity.

• Call 105 or 111 if it’s happening now
• Provide information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI