Bargaining over pay and conditions has stretched into its second year for nurses and senior doctors, while bargaining for junior doctors is just beginning.

The collective agreement for senior doctors with the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) expired in August, 2024.

Nurses, too, through the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), have been in bargaining for nearly as long, with their negotiations beginning in September 2024. Both unions have held strikes.

Health New Zealand confirmed that in 2025, three offers were made to senior doctors and two to nurses, which were all declined.

“We are continuing to work with ASMS and NZNO in good faith and have already held several bargaining dates in 2026 with more planned in the coming weeks,” said a HNZ spokesperson in a statement.

In September, [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498384/employment-relations-authority-asked-to-step-in-over-senior-doctor-pay-dispute

Health NZ called for the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to step in] and force doctors into a contract, saying the union had breached the obligations of good faith.

An employment law specialist told RNZ at the time it was an unprecedented move for the public sector.

In November, with the union against it, the ERA declined to step in, saying there was a high bar to meet and there had been no serious and sustained breaches of good faith.

“The parties are a distance apart but it is not unusual in bargaining for a lot of progress to be made in a short time, even after a long period of little progress,” said authority member Nicola Craig at the time.

ASMS chief executive Sarah Dalton told RNZ on Friday the gap between the parties was smaller than ever, but still not fully closed.

“I do believe the gap has been closing, and we’re not wildly far apart, but the most recent position they put to us – which was not a formal offer but a position – was still short of what our executive believes would be enough to take something back to our members.”

“I hope that we will settle sometime during the course of this year, but in order for that to happen, Health New Zealand needs to bring more to the table.”

It is an option that union members have during bargaining,” she said. “So potentially that could happen, [but] that is not our plan at the moment.”

One of the two junior doctors’ unions – Specialty Trainees of New Zealand (STONZ) – had just entered bargaining already, and the other – Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA) – had begun pre-bargaining talks, with formal bargaining set to begin in June.

STONZ executive director Kate Clapperton-Rees told RNZ: “Our focus in these negotiations is on claims that recognise and value our Resident Medical Officers, and on securing improvements that will help attract and retain more doctors in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

NZRDA senior advocate Melissa Dobbyn said they were currently working through more than 200 pages of responses from members about issues and concerns.

“We will be looking at improving supports for RMOs during key transition points on the pathway from medical school to completing training as an SMO, including examinations, moving hospitals, and promotion from house office to registrar.”

A spokesperson for health minister Simeon Brown said in a statement: “The minister greatly values the senior and junior doctor workforce and looks forward to negotiations for both concluding.”

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The professional body for social workers says a surge in diagnosed work related concussions at Oranga Tamariki is deeply concerning.

Figures released to RNZ reveal the number of head injuries suffered by Oranga Tamariki staff while at work had increased by 80 percent in the past five years.

Oranga Tamariki said there were 157 work-related concussions between January 2021 and December 2025, suffered by 146 staff members.

It declined to reveal where those head injuries took place, citing privacy concerns.

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers chief executive Nathan Chong Nee said employers had an obligation to keep employees safe.

“We stand alongside our members, the complexity and risk in their mahi are increasing, and safety must be treated as non‑negotiable,” he said.

Chong Nee, who was a registered social worker, said he knew the reality of walking into volatile situations.

“Keeping tamariki and whānau safe starts with keeping the people who serve them safe.”

The association would be seeking assurance from Oranga Tamariki on what action would be taken, he said.

“We expect action that protects kaimahi and, in turn, the tamariki and whānau they serve.”

Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimmons said concussions suffered by Oranga Tamariki staff were a symptom of youth residences under too much pressure.

“The facilities are not fit for purpose, we have an unsafe staffing mix, double shifts are too common, and there are roster gaps. There’s a whole range of issues contributing to this and Oranga Tamariki needs to get to the bottom of what’s going on and stop it,” she said.

“Oranga Tamariki needs to look into all these factors and others to make sure that this aggression towards Oranga Tamariki workers stops.”

Oranga Tamariki said it took any injury sustained at work extremely seriously, and placed particular emphasis on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of staff following potential head injuries.

Deputy chief executive of people, culture and enabling services Nicholas Pole said its staff deserved to come to work every day and know they were safe, and any instances where that wasn’t happening was unacceptable.

“We are currently reviewing all concussion injury incidents and once that is complete, we will have a better understanding of what has led to this increase,” he said.

Pole said Oranga Tamariki had become more vigilant in the recording and monitoring of all injuries to staff, which could have led to an increase in recordings of concussions.

It was progressing a programme of work focused on strengthening how it prevented, identified, and supported head injuries in the workplace.

This would include improving reporting processes, guidance for leaders and staff, and ensuring wrap-around support to anyone who experienced such an injury, he said.

“Our Youth Justice Residences are an area where staff are at higher risk of a concussion due to the complex nature of the work and the dynamic environment, and they will be supported through the above programme of work.”

Pole said Oranga Tamariki also engaged a third-party health and injury-management provider.

“This provider proactively contacts any staff member who reports a head injury, regardless of whether an ACC claim is lodged. During this initial engagement, the staff member’s needs are assessed, and referrals made for specialist concussion services and wellbeing support, when required,” he said.

“Staff concerned about their safety at work are encouraged to speak with their manager and work with the Oranga Tamariki Health and Safety team to ensure they have what they need to undertake their roles in a safe manner.”

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Almost three decades ago, Farid Ahmed was hit by a car while he was crossing Main Road Stoke to go to work, in Nelson.

He was in his 30s, newly married and has no memory of the accident.

“Eyewitnesses told me that a driver wanted to overtake a couple of other cars in front of him and I was standing there, so he just hit me, and my body was thrown up, and then it dropped on the windscreen, rolled it front and the car went over me.”

The accident left him a paraplegic and wheelchair bound. He spent 11 days in a coma at Burwood Hospital, his family told he had a seven per cent chance of survival. The driver never faced charges.

Almost 30 years later, Ahmed would still like to meet the person who hit him, to tell them they are forgiven and that he holds no animosity towards them.

“If I was behind the accelerator in his place and I made a mistake, what would I expect other people to think of me?”

Ahmed was speaking at a event held by Restorative Justice Nelson this weekend, to celebrate 25 years of helping thousands of victims and perpetrators of crime process the hurt and harm its caused.

The organisation gives victims the opportunity to express their feelings, while encouraging criminals to acknowledge the impact of their actions and take steps to repair the damage.

Ahmed shared his experience of loss and offering forgiveness. His wife Husna was killed in the 2019 mosque attack in Christchurch and he also wanted to meet the man who murdered his wife, who he had chosen to forgive.

He had taken part in the restorative justice process before, meeting in with the 28-year-old Christchurch man who threatened to attack two Christchurch mosques on the second anniversary of the city’s terror attack.

At the conference, the two hugged each other and the man apologised for his actions. Ahmed said it was wonderful and he felt like he had conquered the world.

“I thought that my approach was correct and this is a restoration, you find a way to bring the hearts together.”

Darkest day

Iafeta Matalasi, who would also speak at the event, said the memory of his darkest day remains clear.

One morning in August 2013, two police officers knocked on his door to tell him his youngest son, Alonsio, had died.

“I don’t know how to describe it, I went numb. I didn’t know what was up and what was down. My whole world just got smashed. He was my baby boy, the fourth of four sons and when I got news, I just fell apart.”

Mongrel Mob members Shane Harrison and Dillin Pakai were later found guilty of killing Alonsio, who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Matalasi said he was consumed with blind fury for the two men and he wanted revenge.

He wrote a victim impact statement ahead of their sentencing, but it was rejected multiple times for being abusive and threatening.

On the 10th rewrite, Matalasi said he heard his son’s voice telling him that nothing would bring him back, and he needed to focus on raising his two grandsons and an entirely different statement flowed out of him.

“At the end I said, if these guys go to prison, their families are going to suffer, their kids will not have male role models in their homes, they will be locked up and the country will be paying for their upkeep.”

He said he completely forgave his sons killers.

“I would like to ask the court to pardon these two men and let them go free and we will work together to sort out a life after this.”

Matalasi did not get his wish and the pair were sentenced to life imprisonment. But seven years later, after a long wait, he met with Harrison at a restorative justice meeting held in prison.

“I said to him, ‘what you did to Alonsio, it hurt me a lot and it still hurts, but I cannot use that hurt to hate you or anybody. I will use that hurt. I will get over and sort of use it to help other people.”

Matalasi said he had survived the most difficult experience of his life and learnt from it and he wants to see more people go through the restorative justice process

“Instead of punishing people, I want to see the justice system working in a way where people can can mend and help each other, instead of locking people away and being punished, I want the community to work together to sort out the problems and live together in harmony.”

What is restorative justice?

While the court system deals with the punishment of the crime, restorative justice focuses on repairing the hurt and harm caused by a crime.

Changes to the Sentencing Act in 2014 meant all cases that meet certain criteria need to be adjourned for consideration of whether restorative justice is appropriate prior to sentencing.

The process was voluntary and both parties had to agree to it.

Restorative Justice Nelson practice lead Mark Rutledge said thousands of people have used the service over the last 25 years. Around a quarter of referrals made result in a meeting being held.

The situations vary, they might work with someone who has kicked over a letterbox and another person who’s committed murder, with many cases involving domestic violence.

“It gives them a forum that they can say how this has been for them, what’s the journey been like and they can eyeball the person that has caused the harm to them, it’s an incredibly effective process for helping people to reframe the trauma that’s been caused to them.”

Rutledge used a filing cabinet analogy. Unprocessed trauma was like the chaotic drawer that had stuff spilling out of it, while processed trauma was like an ordered, indexed drawer that is easier to sort through.

“Once it’s processed, you’re able to open the drawer and know where things are at, so rather than the trauma dictating people’s ongoing responses, they are in control of what happens and I think that’s the beauty of restorative justice that allows them to journey incredibly well, quickly, to get to a better space.”

He said people often asked, “what’s in it for me?” and it wasn’t uncommon to see them take part and change their view, but it wasn’t for everyone.

“There can be many, many different reasons, sometimes it’s too close to the situation, sometimes it’s too far away.

“People talk about the magic of restorative justice and absolutely, but there’s nothing mystical or magical about the process. It’s just actually allowing people to talk, to sit down, to talk and to be real and to process.”

Restorative Justice Nelson business lead Miranda Warner said in the same way there were ripples of harm from an event, there were ripples of healing too.

“Some meetings you have these huge shifts in people, some meetings, it’s a smaller recalibration, but I think that everyone who sits in that room, certainly including myself, is changed by each encounter.”

She said it was an honour and privilege to do such work.

“I am let into often the very worst and lowest moments of people’s lives, and that’s true whether we’re talking about people who’ve been harmed or people who’ve caused harm. In both cases, people can be really at rock bottom.

“Each person has their part of the story, but that story is unfinished and it’s very hard as humans to sit with an unfinished story and there is something that is deeply transformative about people being able to put that story together.”

There’s no time limit after a crime and Restorative Justice Nelson takes community referrals outside the justice system. The organisation is willing to hear from anyone in the community who wants to discuss what the process might look like for them.

Restorative Justice Nelson’s 25 year event, After The Worst Has Happened; A Celebration of Hope, is being held at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts on February 21.

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• Manawatū woman to have stomach reconstruction surgery on Monday after botched overseas operation.
• Helen Watson went to Turkey for gastric sleeve surgery in September as it was cheaper than going private in New Zealand.
• She says she knew straight away the operation went wrong; the Turkish clinic Medicana denies fault.
• Watson’s quest for compensation has stalled; Medicana says there’s no reason for it to pay.

A Manawatū woman is just days away from a full stomach reconstruction five months after a weight-loss operation in Turkey went wrong.

Since returning home and falling unwell Helen Watson endured almost two months in hospital and half-a-dozen smaller operations.

While she hopes Monday’s surgery signals the start of her recovery, her battle for compensation has stalled as the Turkish clinic that performed the operation denies it is to blame.

‘I’m scared’

At her Feilding home, a feeding tube attached to her stomach, Watson is steeling herself for an all-day operation.

“It’s now starting to hit how surreal this whole thing is. I’m scared. I’m not going to lie to you – I’m really scared. I’m really nervous about it.

“I’m just kind of pushing people away because I don’t want them to worry for me. It really sucks that this has happened to me.”

Watson paid about $5500 for the operation at the Medicana clinic in Istanbul because she knew she would not get on the public waiting list in New Zealand as she did not have an illness such as diabetes.

Instead her weight hit 80kg, which in her small frame was classed as obese, after she came off a cocktail of drugs she took for years following a car crash.

A gastric sleeve operation performed privately in New Zealand could cost $40,000, which was out of reach – forcing Watson to look overseas.

But now she does not know what life will look like.

“I don’t know what my body is going to do and how well it’s going to heal or what other complications are going to arise later on. I may not be 100 percent,” she said.

“I’m just sitting on the fence for this and letting my body do what it’s got to do.”

Her New Zealand surgeon previously told RNZ it was hard to know exactly what went wrong, but it could be a problem with a staple.

A statement from Medicana said it categorically denied failures with the surgery.

“As documented in the clinical report, the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed in accordance with internationally accepted standards, with no intraoperative complications and no evidence of leakage at discharge,” it said.

“Post-operative follow-up communications indicate the patient initially reported feeling well and did not raise medical concerns until after undergoing procedures at an external facility abroad.”

Watson denied this, saying she realised straight away something was wrong.

But Medicana said when she was discharged there was no clinical evidence of leakage or complications.

“Medicana does not accept that there is evidence demonstrating surgical error. Medicana stands by the integrity of its surgical and post-operative processes.”

Turkish hospital representatives to travel to New Zealand

Medicana said there was no basis for compensation, although it was “open to reviewing any independent medical documentation that may be provided” and to communicating with Watson through “appropriate medical and legal channels to review any new clinical evidence in a professional setting”.

Medicana representatives were travelling to New Zealand next month for routine business reasons, and Watson said she would like to meet with them.

She said Medicana had also made legal threats about her speaking out.

“There’s a lot of things that need to be fixed. I’d like my money back, absolutely. I’d like my flights [paid for],” Watson said.

“I even sent them an email asking them for my money back and my flights. My brother-in-law helped me with that letter. Then they came back and said they wanted to sue me.”

Medicana said it sought legal advice in New Zealand about Watson’s public allegations, but had not initiated legal proceedings.

Watson had thought about engaging a lawyer in Turkey, but that came at a cost.

NZ system picking up the pieces

With medical tourism growing, Auckland surgeon Dr Richard Babor said it had reached the point where there was almost always someone in Middlemore Hospital with post-operation problems from overseas surgery.

“We’ve seen increasing numbers of people show up on our acute workload here at Middlemore Hospital.

“Some of them have relatively minor post-operative issues that are easy to sort out. There is a small proportion of them who have quite serious complications from having had surgery, both in Turkey and in Mexico.”

New Zealand’s system was picking up the pieces when something went wrong, although for most people getting on the public waiting list for weight loss surgery was impossible, he said.

“Here at Middlemore Hospital we do about probably 100 a year, which is a very small number compared to the number of obese people who are in our population, and it’s even quite small compared to the number who are referred to us for surgery.

“We’ve got quite strict criteria that the patients need to satisfy.”

Health NZ previously told RNZ about 500 people a year got bariatric surgery through the public system, where aftercare is included.

Babor said hospitals had been approached by medical tourism organisations to see if they would look after returning patients, but he said this was not possible due to limited resources.

“We can’t run a service that does aftercare for some people who are doing surgery in Turkey or Mexico or Thailand/or India, or wherever it is.

“We would be overwhelmed and we wouldn’t be able to do any surgery on our own patients. We’d just be providing a follow-up service.”

Babor said no official numbers were kept about people affected by overseas surgery going wrong, but it was something bariatric surgeons talked about and would consider.

Medical tourism operator: Do your research

Watson did not use a medical tourism operator, organising her trip to Turkey herself, but growing numbers of people were paying for organised trips.

Vanessa Warren owned Total Transformation Tours, which took clients to Mexico for bariatric surgery. She said after research, and 20 years of experience in bariatrics, she found a clinic and surgeon with a good reputation and thorough after-surgery care.

“Any surgery is going to potentially have complications – whether it’s New Zealand, Mexico, anywhere, there’s potential for complications.

“So, one thing I do like about the surgeon that we use is she does a double leak test so that she makes sure that nothing is leaking during surgery and then the day after.”

Warren encouraged people to research overseas options thoroughly, saying cheaper was not always better.

Her company provides aftercare for 12 months as part of its package and she accompanies clients on the trips and monitors them after their operations, and wouldn’t take a group greater than five people.

“People would definitely prefer to do it in New Zealand, but it’s just a reality any more… I do feel very sorry for people who have had bad experiences overseas.”

Warren said having weight-loss surgery overseas was viewed differently to other operations, such as dental ones.

“It’s a very hot topic and everyone has an opinion about it, and there’s a lot of judgment out there for people.

“I think we need to remove a bit of that stigma. We have to be realistic that people can’t afford healthcare in New Zealand, so they are looking overseas.”

Accident Compensation Corporation said it might cover treatment injuries from overseas operations if an injury met its criteria, and that any cover was decided on a case-by-case basis.

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Columbia Asia Hospital Tebrau is dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of the Johor community with compassion, professionalism, and clinical excellence. Equipped with advanced medical technology—including a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Mammography services, a 128-slice CT Scan, and a 1.5 Tesla MRI—the hospital delivers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment capabilities to support timely and accurate clinical decision-making.

The hospital offers a broad range of medical specialties, including Cardiology, Nephrology, Internal Medicine, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology (O&G), Respiratory Medicine, Orthopaedics, and Dermatology. A fully operational 24/7 Emergency Room, supported by on-call Emergency Physicians, ensures that patients receive immediate and appropriate care at any time of the day.

At the core of Columbia Asia Hospital Tebrau’s philosophy is a strong commitment to personalized, patient-centred care—ensuring that every individual feels heard, supported, and well cared for throughout their healthcare journey.

Looking ahead over the next five years, Columbia Asia Hospital Tebrau will align its strategic direction with Rancangan Malaysia Ke-13 (RMK-13), with a focused emphasis on addressing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). In particular, the hospital will strengthen its efforts in obesity management through integrated, multidisciplinary care models encompassing prevention, early intervention, medical management, surgical intervention and long-term follow-up. This reflects a proactive approach to tackling one of the most pressing public health challenges affecting the Johor community.

In parallel, the hospital has advanced its surgical capabilities through the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery. This investment is aimed at enhancing surgical precision, improving clinical outcomes, reducing recovery times, and elevating overall patient experience, in line with global best practices.

To meet the growing healthcare demands of Johor, Columbia Asia Hospital Tebrau is also planning for future expansion, including the addition of more inpatient beds. This expansion will enable the hospital to better serve the increasing needs of the community while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and accessibility in care delivery.

Through strategic alignment, technological advancement, and capacity expansion, Columbia Asia Hospital Tebrau remains committed to supporting the long-term health and well-being of the Johorean population.

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

A third investigation has been announced into the Mount Maunganui landslide, with WorkSafe launching an official investigation into work health and safety at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park in the lead up to the landslide on 22 January.

The health and safety investigation was independent from both the government inquiry and the Tauranga City Council’s external review.

Retired High Court judgePaul Davison, KC, was leading an external review for Tauranga City Council into the deadly landslip.

The Prime Minister had also appointed National Party Minister Chris Penk to advise Cabinet on the possible scope of an inquiry into the fatal disaster.

WorkSafe’s central regional manager Nigel Formosa said the agency had taken time to be clear about what sat within their remit.

“Our investigation will focus on work‑related matters prior to the landslide,” he said.

WorkSafe would establish whether there had been a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 by businesses and organisations related to the operation of the holiday park. This would include technical expertise and gathering information from a range of sources.

“Our team is focused on understanding the decisions and circumstances that shaped the work environment at the holiday park before the landslide. We’re committed to carrying out a careful, methodical investigation that stays grounded in evidence and the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, for the victims and their whānau. This will take time, but it’s important we complete a thorough investigation,” Formosa said.

WorkSafe said it had already started to engage with Tauranga City Council as the operator of the holiday park. The roles of other parties would also be considered in the coming months.

WorkSafe investigations could take up to 12 months from the date of an incident. Given the amount of information and technical expertise involved, the agency said it expected the investigation to take a full year.

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

Construction has begun on a temporary 28-bed inpatient ward at Nelson Hospital.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said the ward would ease pressure on beds and improve patient flow while Nelson’s permanent inpatient building is completed.

The Nelson ward is one of five rapid‑build wards being built nationwide through the government’s accelerated hospital wards programme.

Brown previously told RNZ the temporary wards had a life span of 50 years and could be transported for use at other hospitals in the future.

“These rapid‑build wards can be delivered more quickly and at lower cost than traditional builds, enabling us to expand hospital capacity where demand is greatest. Off‑site construction allows faster delivery, better cost control, reduced disruption for hospitals, and earlier benefits for patients and staff,” he said.

A major redevelopment of the hospital announced last year will cost $500 million and take four years to complete.

The project includes a new five-storey inpatient unit with 128 beds, adding 41 beds to the hospital’s current numbers. The hospital’s existing buildings will be refurbished and seismically upgraded.

Brown said the new ward would strengthen services across Nelson Marlborough to help people access care close to home.

“Investing in modern, purpose‑built infrastructure is about supporting better care and ensuring patients remain at the centre of every decision,” he said.

The temporary ward will allow services to be relocated while the major redevelopment of the hospital gets underway.

The unit will be built off site and is expected to open later this year.

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

Construction is now underway on a rapid‑build inpatient ward at Nelson Hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“The 28‑bed ward will allow services to be relocated while major redevelopment work progresses at Nelson Hospital, including seismic strengthening of existing buildings,” Mr Brown says.

The project involves around four months of off‑site construction alongside approximately six months of on‑site works.

“Running these stages in parallel accelerates delivery, maintains high quality standards, and limits disruption to daily hospital operations.

“Once operational, the ward will boost inpatient capacity, easing current bed pressures and improving patient flow while Nelson’s permanent inpatient building is completed.”

The Nelson ward is the next step in the rollout of five rapid‑build wards being delivered nationwide through the Government’s accelerated hospital wards programme. With Hawke’s Bay already underway, the programme is focused on quickly increasing inpatient capacity and improving patient flow, supported by a $90 million Budget 2025 allocation that will add 140 new beds across key hospitals next year.

“These rapid‑build wards can be delivered more quickly and at lower cost than traditional builds, enabling us to expand hospital capacity where demand is greatest. Off‑site construction allows faster delivery, better cost control, reduced disruption for hospitals, and earlier benefits for patients and staff.

“Investing in modern, purpose‑built infrastructure is about supporting better care and ensuring patients remain at the centre of every decision. This new ward will strengthen services across Nelson Marlborough and help ensure people can access the care they need, close to home,” Mr Brown says. 

MIL OSI

20 February 2026

WorkSafe New Zealand has now officially begun an investigation into work health and safety at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park in the lead up to the landslide on January 22.

MIL OSI

The four people who were hospitalised following a chemical incident at a meat processing plant in Levin have since been discharged.

Emergency services were called to the Alliance Group site on Hamaria Road at about 6.30pm on Thursday.

St John said four people were taken to Palmerston North Hospital following the incident – one in a serious condition and three in moderate condition.

An Alliance Group spokesperson said they had all now been discharged, but two were expected to return to hospital later on Friday for additional checks.

The spokesperson said processing at the plant resumed after Fire and Emergency (FENZ) handed back the site, and an internal investigation was underway.

WorkSafe said it had been notified of the incident, and that it would be conducting its own investigation.

“We are currently making initial enquiries to understand the circumstances of the event and will respond accordingly.”

Firefighters from Levin, Ōtaki and Palmerston North attended and carried out a precautionary decontamination.

Five ambulances, three rapid response units, two operations managers and a St John major incident support team initially responded to the incident.

A further 18 people were assessed and treated at the scene for a minor condition but did not need hospital transport, St John said.

A spokesperson for St John said the gas involved at the site was chlorine.

The Alliance group clarified that it was a “chemical incident” rather than a gas leak.

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A film of toxic poo spray has coated homes around Wellington’s south coast after nearly a billion litres of raw sewerage have been dumped in the marine reserve.

Strong winds and severe weather have made an already feral problem worse, forcing locals to clean faecal spray off their homes, fearing a public health hazard.

“It’s been an absolute shit show,” resident Roger Young said.

“Sorry about the pun, but it’s been disgusting.”

Roger Young has lived in Houghton Bay for decades. His house is 100 metres back from the shore and was still tainted by Monday’s storm.

“The swell was seven metres rolling in on Monday morning, and the sea foam is carrying right across Houghton Bay, Princess Bay, Lyall Bay, probably Island Bay as well, and probably contaminated faeces all the way through it.”

He said his windows were filthy with what’s likely to be more than just salt and sand.

Island Bay resident Chris owns a house on the Esplanade. It was once cream, but despite three attempts with the hose, a brown smear remains.

“It’s slimy grime. When you run your finger along it, you get these brown marks of this residue that’s on there and that’s certainly not from salt.”

So what is it?

“Poo”, he said.

“It’s residue from all that sewage that’s floating up and down the coast.

“I’m going to have to fully scaffold the house and wash it down. It’s now a health hazard to my tenants.

“It’s totally unacceptable that we’ve got to put up with this.”

Residents weren’t the only ones taking a hit. Popular Lyall Bay food stop Puku Pies was seeing the effects too.

Manager Rylee said most mornings, the windows are covered with a gritty, smelly sludge.

“The other day, when the Monday storm happened… we couldn’t even see out of the windows,” Rylee said.

“So we had to do that as soon as we got here in the morning and clean them off and yeah. We’re having to do it like at least every second day. It’s disgusting.”

Young is furious that in the midst of it all, Wellington Water chair Nick Leggett has legged it and resigned, leaving apologies unsaid.

“How can this happen in 2026? And how can we have the head of Wellington Water, Nick Leggett, just resign and think he’s just going to walk away from this?” Young said.

“People need to be held accountable and heads need to roll, seriously.”

Young said his son broke down crying because he couldn’t use the water for a couple of months.

“I just started crying, too. I’m going holy hell, this is our backyard and this has happened.”

Chris said he would be billing Wellington Water for his time washing the houses if the toxic seaspray continues to plague the coast.

The alternative was a $900 quote to have it professionally washed.

“Perhaps the chief executive might want to get out of his comfortable chair and come and have a look at what’s really happening around the district,” he said.

“I’m absolutely pissed off.”

Wellington Water was still unsure what caused the Moa Point failure and how long the plant would be out of action.

It was not conducting sampling on private properties, but is instead conducting sampling in the sea around Wellington’s south coast to understand the impacts of the Moa Point discharge on the area. It was the National Public Health Service’s role to assess whether any public-health risks arise from environmental conditions and to provide health advice where required.

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

Neurology patients are facing long wait times to see a specialist, with one woman getting a same day appointment as a tourist in France, then facing a four-month wait back home.

It comes as a new study from the University of Otago in Wellington shows neurologists would struggle to keep up with the increase in demand for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke.

One Southland woman, who didn’t want to be identified, was told it would be four months before she could see a neurologist in New Zealand, after she began having seizures on holiday in France.

Over there, even as a tourist, she said she was able to see a neurologist that same day, after her husband noticed something was amiss.

“I had a funny incident that he noted, and he wondered if I’d had a stroke or something, so he ended up taking me to the hospital there,” she said.

“They did MRIs and CTs and things, and they thought it was a TIA – a Transient Ischemic Attack, so they put me on medication for that.”

A TIA was also known as a mini-stroke.

But back home, the episodes continued – she said she would zone out for a few minutes, and then be left very confused for the next half hour.

She made an appointment with her GP, who referred her to a neurologist privately through health inurance, but the earliest appointment was January 2026 – four months away.

“I was really surprised, because I’d seen a neurologist in France much quicker. We did have to pay, but I don’t think it was too much – I think it was like a thousand dollars or something. It wasn’t astronomical.”

Her seizures were getting worse – up from one a week, to one every two days – and her GP redirected her through the public system.

She finally saw a local neurologist in November, who diagnosed her with epilepsy.

“They got me on medication, and I haven’t had a seizure since,” she said.

The University of Otago study found New Zealand ranked well below other high-income countries when it came to numbers, with 83 neurologists, public and private, as of the report’s time of writing in 2024.

That was one per 74,000 people – just over half that of Australia – and far below the recommended best practice level found by one Australian workforce model of one per 28,000 people.

David Ross, who lives in Huntly, said he was surprised by those numbers, he was referred to a neurologist in late January, and the first thing he received was a letter apologising for the wait time, which was seven weeks.

“And the idea, of course, of going private is that you might go through a bit quicker, but it looks like it’s not going to be.”

Nearly $600 to see someone privately, and a seven week wait – David nearly picked up the phone and said, “forget it”.

But he didn’t want to lose his place on the waitlist – and luckily, he wasn’t waiting in pain.

“It’s okay, I just need to get an opinion on what they recommend for my condition. It looks like Parkinson’s because I shake a bit sometimes, but other times, I’m fine.”

But it wasn’t getting any better, and he and his family would like some answers.

“It doesn’t give you a lot of confidence in the overall system.”

Neurologist Dr David Gow, a regional chief medical officer at Te Whatu Ora, said the national health agency was committed to giving New Zealanders timely access to healthcare and strengthening the workforce.

“We know that, as part of this, we need to grow our healthcare workforce, and this is not exclusive to neurology.”

Health targets like shorter wait times applied to neurology, as for all specialities.

“We value research papers like this one as they can be considered alongside our own workforce planning,” he said.

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

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A new travel option that enables eligible Chinese and Pacific visitors to cross the ditch to New Zealand visa free is bringing in a considerable boost in tourism and revenue, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston say.

“In December, we announced that 13,000 Chinese and Pacific travellers had already visited, with 24,000 total requests approved. After two months, that number has now almost tripled to 36,800 visits, along with 54,000 requests approved,” Ms Stanford says.

“With average visitor spend at $5,800 for Chinese visitors, according to the International Visitor Survey, that amounts to an estimated economic injection of $210 million for Kiwi businesses from those who have visited, with Chinese visitors making up around 36,200 of visits through the new pathway.

“We are committed to supporting Kiwis businesses to thrive, and these results, which boost our wider tourism sector. Tourism is our second largest export and it is fantastic to see results which boost our wider tourism sector.” 

“Everybody wants the chance to visit and experience New Zealand, and through our change to allow more people to visit through visa-free travel from Australia, it appears to be a no-brainer.”

Ms Stanford says the change that was introduced was a deciding factor in people visiting New Zealand – 85 percent of Chinese travellers and 82 percent of Pacific travellers surveyed said they travelled here specifically because of the new NZeTA option.

Ms Upston says this is already bringing in a sizeable boost in revenue across the country, and in particular our key tourism regions.

“Visitor spending is going directly into local businesses. That includes shops, eateries, accommodation, and tour operators – and this is spending which may not have come into New Zealand prior to the change. This is all part of our Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future. 

“The South Island remains extremely popular, with 67 percent of Chinese and Pacific visitors arriving at an international airport in the South Island to start their travels.

“The travel changes we’ve made are reflective of this Government’s stance – we back Kiwi businesses and we back our regions. We are relentlessly focused on making smart, commonsense, and sometimes simple changes, which bring big value for New Zealanders.”

Notes to editor:

Since November, eligible Chinese and Pacific Island Forum passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia no longer need to obtain a Visitor Visa . Instead, they can apply for a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) as part of a 12-month trial. 

Instead of spending $441 and waiting an average of 4 days, individuals from China travelling via Australia can pay as little as $117 and have their application for an NZeTA processed in 24 hours. Individuals from the Pacific can pay as low as $17 instead of spending $216 and waiting an average 6 days for a visitor visa.

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Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced four appointments to the Nursing Council of New Zealand, ensuring the Council continues to provide effective leadership across the sector.

The newly appointed members are: 

• Alex Gordon – Lay member
• Amanda Singleton – Lay member
• Helen Nielsen – Health practitioner member
• Dr Julia Hennessy – Health practitioner member

“The Nursing Council plays a vital role in protecting the health and safety of New Zealanders by ensuring nurses are competent and fit to practise.

“These members bring a mix of governance, senior health sector leadership, and clinical experience, and I thank each of the appointees for their commitment to patients,” Mr Brown says.

All terms of office commence today.

Biographies

• Alex Gordon has a background in health service management and leadership and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Hospice Waikato. Alex has more than 20 years of experience in health services management at both a strategic and operational level.
• Amanda Singleton is a professional director and independent consultant with a background in the electricity, water, and telecommunications sector. Amanda holds several current board and chair roles.
• Helen Nielsen is an experienced nurse and clinical tutor with over 40 years in the profession. Helen has a strong background in education through a range of academic roles.
• Dr Julia Hennessy is a health and education consultant with extensive governance and senior leadership experience across tertiary education, health, and mental health.

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The Black Foils are drawing heavily on the strength of injured grinder Louis Sinclair as they come to grips with the horror crash that all but destroyed their F50 boat during New Zealand SailGP last weekend.

As the 13-boat fleet sprinted off the startline of Saturday’s third race, NZ driver Peter Burling seemed to lose control of Amokura’s rudder and swerved sharply into the path of France, whose boat ploughed over the top of bow, slicing it in two and leaving Sinclair with compound fractures in both legs.

He underwent surgery on the weekend and was pictured on social media overnight, leaving hospital on his own two feet.

“I just want to really commend Louis for how he’s handled himself throughout this whole incident,” Black Foils wing trimmer Blair Tuke said. “He’s been amazing really in true Louis fashion, and holding true to the values and characteristics we hope all our team members instil.

“Amazingly calm right from the first incident out on the water to the surgery in Auckland Hospital and as he comes out now for what will now be quite a long recovery back to full health.

“With his calm demeanour and unique sense of humour, he’s really brought strength to all of us through this time.”

The New Zealand team have spoken publicly for the first time since the high-speed crash that shocked thousands of spectators watching from the massive grandstand on Wynyard Point.

Team bosses Tuke and driver Burling are still processing exactly what happened in those fateful seconds before, during and after impact.

“We started off with a great two races, and were really enjoying the conditions and feeling comfortable in the boat,” Burling recalled.

“We started off race three and were going down reach one to windward of the Italian boat. We ended up high on the foil and ended up sliding sideways.

“We hit a system limit, which drastically escalated that situation, and had to take quite drastic action to avoid the Italian boat to leeward, which resulted in us touching down. Obviously, the incident followed that.”

Burling said once the spray had cleared, he could see his four crewmates safe, knowing strategist Liv Mackay was on the other side of the boat out of harm’s way.

“At that stage, you’re thankful everyone’s safe, but very quickly we realised Louis had his legs stuck in the bottom of the cockpit and we can only commend Louis on his demeanour through that time.

“It was incredible to see someone in a situation like that remain so calm, and be such an instrumental part of telling us what he was feeling and where the pressure was, and getting the two boats apart.

“I think we can all learn a lot from Louis through this time and it’s pretty incredible to see the way he responded in the situation, but we’re also incredibly proud of the rest of our team and the way everyone came together in a tough situation, and the French team as well.

“They were dealing with situations on board, but definitely came straight to our aid.”

French strategist Manon Audinet sustained several abdominal bruising, when she was catapulted forward on impact, breaking the steering wheel. She is also under medical observation and is recovering well,

Burling has replayed the incident over and over in his mind, but has also had the benefit of a myriad other perspectives on the incident.

“The thing with SailGP is there are so many camera angles, all the audio and all the different aspects,” he explained. “It’s really nice in some ways to know that your memory of the whole situation was pretty accurate.

“It’s also interesting some things you didn’t see or weren’t concentrating on at the time, how everything unfolded.

“It’s all part of the wider review process from here.”

New Zealand SailGP represented the first occasion all 13 teams raced on the water together, and other drivers suggested jamming that many boats onto the compact Waitematā Harbour course in tricky wind conditions probably didn’t help the situation.

Organisers responded by splitting the fleet into smaller heats on Sunday, increasing safety, but possibly detracting from the spectacle.

SailGP is still investigating the incident, but has already ruled New Zealand and France out of the Sydney regatta next week.

Inspections have confirmed Amokura’s central pod and port hull emerged relatively unscathed, and can be used to repair the damage to the French boat. Because they did not cause the impact, returning France to the startline will take priority.

Given the extent of damage to their boat, the Kiwis are probably waiting for completion of the next new boat, which SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts indicated could be June.

“From here, we’re still working out that exact path forward,” Burling said. “We definitely won’t be in Sydney and SailGP is still undertaking that wider planning process around when the Black Foils will be back on the startline.

“We’re having to play a little bit of a waiting game now.”

In the meantime, the mending continues.

“For the wider team, mental and physical health is paramount through this time,” Tuke said. “We’re just taking it day by day to make sure everyone is supported in the way that they need as individuals.

“It was a really horrific incident and how we manage our path back from here is really important.”

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

New Zealand is facing a shortage in neurologists, despite advances in the life-saving treatments available.

A new study from the University of Otago in Wellington shows neurologists will struggle to keep up with the increase in demand for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke.

Professor Anna Ranta from the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Medicine led the study, examining capacity, trends over time and future projections to assist with health sector planning. The findings have been published in the British specialist medical journal, BMJ Neurology Open.

Ranta said while the workforce had increased over the past 10 years, the number of neurologists per head of population in New Zealand ranked well below other high-income countries.

The study, supported by funding from the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists, found there were 83 neurologists working in New Zealand across the public and private sectors in 2024.

But not all of them worked full time – there were actually 67.3 full-time equivalents, including 8.3 full-time equivalent specialist paediatric neurologists.

That was one per 74,000 people. For comparison, the study noted, Australia had one neurologist per 41,000 people.

Ranta said a recent Australian workforce model estimated that to achieve best practice management requirements, one neurologist per 28,000 people would be required.

“If current training, recruitment, retention and practice patterns persist, projections indicate there will be a gradual worsening in the New Zealand neurology workforce over time.”

She said the lack of resourcing meant only about one in five patients with chronic neurologic disease were regularly reviewed by a neurologist.

“We should expect about six times as many follow-up appointments as first specialist assessments,” she said. “However, Health NZ reports an overall ratio of 1:1 first assessments to follow ups.”

And not everyone who would benefit from seeing a neurologist was getting the opportunity to do so.

In May last year, RNZ reported a Palmerston North woman who rushed to the city’s hospital after suffering a seizure was surprised to find there was no neurologist on duty – instead, a general doctor took instructions from a specialist in Wellington.

The study noted New Zealand currently only had the capacity to train only four to five new neurologists a year, with neurology specialist training taking three years.

At the same time, the need for neurology services was increasing, as new and sometimes more complex treatments became available.

“Multiple sclerosis treatment options have become more complex, requiring more specialist input, and new Alzheimer’s treatments are on the horizon,” Ranta said.

“Rarer diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy, now have treatment options, and there are many more treatments for neurogenetic diseases imminent.”

That also included reperfusion therapies for treating a stroke, which could enable doctors to clear blocked arteries and restore the blood flow to the brain quickly.

“There has also been an increase in tertiary hospitals routinely providing telemedicine or telephone expert decision making support to smaller hospitals and in the number of patients transferred for reperfusion therapy.”

Despite these advances, there had been minimal additional investment in the neurology workforce.

“New Zealand requires strong funding, recruitment and training initiatives if we want to be ready for the projected increase in neurological burden of disease now and over the next decade.”

Health New Zealand 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

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Designed as the next milestone in Infinix’s flagship journey, the NOTE 60 SERIES elevates the brand’s signature NOTE line with a sharper focus on flagship-class performance, expressive design, and immersive everyday experiences that go beyond expectations.

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

Banks Peninsula farmers and businesses are counting the cost of devastating flooding that swamped paddocks and swept through Little River.

The peninsula remained under a state of emergency although State Highway 75 from Christchurch to Akaroa reopened on Wednesday afternoon and telecommunications were restored after widespread outages.

About 120 properties remained without power and at least 15 local roads were closed because of slips and flooding.

Kinloch farmer Tom Power said the “mental” rain caused the worst flooding he had ever seen.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. It was predicted to be 100 millimetres or so and we ended up tipping out 430 millimetres in this catchment. It was chaos,” he said.

“I’ve never seen anything through Little River like that before and even up Okuti Valley, properties up there. It’s so widespread, it’s unbelievable.”

Power was dealing with stock losses as paddocks remained under water, with troughs and fences swept away and debris strewn across the property.

“We moved a lot of stock away to traditionally high areas that we’ve never seen go under water. We spent hours doing that beforehand and we were prepared for a lot of it, it was just the severity,” he said.

“We’re still trying to get our head around what the damage is, to be fair, until the water goes away you don’t really know.

“People’s livelihoods have been well and truly affected by this, which is a crying shame.”

In Little River, Déjà New Preloved Goods owner Lisa Ashfield had cleared mud and silt from her shop with the help of firefighters – the second time her business had flooded in 12 months.

“I imagine this is probably the end of the shop,” she said.

“All of my furniture, my bookshelves, my storage units, people’s home-made jewellery, toys, books, clothes, furniture. Everything is just a mudbath,” she said.

“I was flooded in May last year, about 300 millimetres, over the top of your gumboots kind of level. This flood, unfortunately, was thigh-deep. All the preparation we did on Monday, raising everything off the floor, just wasn’t high enough,” she said.

Ashfield was now sorting through stock to work out what to throw in a skip.

Little River Cafe & Store owner Cameron Gordon also spent the day shovelling mud and silt from the building after water gushed in on Tuesday.

He said food from the chiller had to be thrown away and fridges and freezers would need replacing but he hoped to open the store by the end of the day and the cafe by the weekend.

Gordon was heartened by the support of locals who were helping to clean up the mess.

“They’re pretty keen to get the shop back going and get us up and running again. We got a lot of calls, a lot of messages overnight with people offering help, a lot of tools brought down, water blasters, squeegees and brooms and random people I haven’t met before. It’s great,” he said.

Gordon said the cafe had flooded five times, most recently last May when a foot of water washed through some businesses, but he had never seen flooding so bad in his 20 years living in the settlement.

He said water in Little River drained away quickly once Lake Forsyth was opened to the sea on Tuesday afternoon.

“If it was opened before this I think we would have had a lot less damage and probably a lower level through the building,” he said.

“[The council] seem to have their rules and their guidelines about how they monitor all that but it doesn’t seem to work for us. It seems to be the same story every year, with the same excuses every year as well.”

Living Streams Community Nursery co-ordinator Nicky Steinmetz said raging floodwaters had left a layer of silt over the plants, leaving a months-long clean-up job.

“Most of our volunteers will be really upset about what they see. It’s the small seedlings that will be most impacted, rather than the bigger plants. We’ll be able to wash those down, but it’s going to take forever,” she said.

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell and Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger visited Little River on Wednesday.

Mitchell told RNZ the flooding was worse than in May 2025.

“They’re in the middle of their summer season so we’ve got to do everything we can to support them and get them back on their feet as quickly as we can,” he said.

Boil water notices remained in place for Little River and Wainui.

Mauger said the water supply in Wainui was “absolute toast”.

The council had sent Starlink WiFi devices to Akaroa and Wainui, although Chorus found and fixed a damaged fibre cable on a bridge that restored cell tower connections on Wednesday afternoon.

Students on two school trips who were stuck at Wainui and Ōnuku Marae had returned home.

Provisional figures from Earth Sciences New Zealand showed 243 millimetres of rain was recorded at its site in Akaroa in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday morning.

That was the highest 24-hour rainfall total for Akaroa in the month of February since records began in 1977, the organisation said.

Earth Sciences said Akaroa had received 316 millimetres of rain so far this month, making it the wettest February on record.

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

A newly discovered molecule shows promise for treating painful lymphoedema.

Scientists have made a breakthrough that could lead to effective treatments for lymphoedema, a painful swelling condition for which there is currently no cure.

Lymphoedema can be congenital or caused by an injury, but it mostly occurs as an unintended consequence following breast-cancer treatment.

It occurs when the lymphatic system, which moves fluid throughout the body via specialised vessels, is damaged, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues.

“Our group of researchers has discovered a new molecule and pathway that together promote lymphatic vessel growth,” says Dr Jonathan Astin, a senior lecturer in molecular medicine and pathology in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See Cell Reports.

“We initially made this discovery in zebrafish but have also shown that the factor works in human lymphatic cells.”

The scientists discovered the growth-promoting molecule, known as ‘insulin-like growth factor’, or IGF, accelerates the growth of lymphatic vessels in zebrafish, so has potential to repair damaged vessels.

They then worked with a University colleague, senior research fellow Dr Justin Rustenhoven, to grow human cells in the lab and found the IGF, could also ‘instruct’ human lymphatic vessels to grow.

“This work is of interest to the medical community as it provides an additional way to induce lymphatic vessel growth,” says Astin.

“This is especially important for people with lymphoedema. In Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 20 percent of women who have lymph nodes removed as part of breast-cancer treatment will develop lymphoedema, and currently there is no cure.”

There is another molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), that also promotes the growth of lymphatic vessels; the IGF molecule may work together with VEGF to promote the growth of lymphatic vessels, says Astin.

The work was conducted in Astin’s lab by then doctoral student Dr Wenxuan Chen and involved collaborations with Dr Kate Lee, Dr Justin Rustenhoven and Professor Stefan Bohlander, all in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, as well as a lab in the US.

“We use fish primarily because they’re very simple, but they’re still remarkably similar to us,” Astin says.

“The advantage of using fish is we can fluorescently label lymphatic vessels so that they glow and then image vessel growth in a whole larva or embryo and not impact its growth at all.

“We can just watch it grow, and things happen much quicker in a fish, because they develop much faster.”

The next step will be to test an IGF‑based therapy on mice with lymphoedema to see whether it helps.

Astin is cautious about promising too much but says this holds the potential to become a therapy for this painful, incurable condition in the future.

Read about ‘openness in the use of animals for research’: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/research/about-our-research/openness-in-animal-research.html

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A first-of-its-kind health and rehabilitation centre has opened at Burnham Military Camp to support the health, wellbeing and operational readiness of New Zealand Defence Force personnel. 

“Kiwis who put on the uniform put their lives on the line to defend and protect New Zealand and its people. They deserve the best support possible to proactively care for their minds and bodies, and to help them get back on their feet when they’re injured,” Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk says.  

“The new Military Health and Performance Centre, Tû Manawa Ora, at Burnham Military Camp is the first combined health and rehabilitation facility across the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) estate, bringing together a broad range of services under one roof.” 

The new facility includes: 

• Comprehensive medical treatment centre
• Dental services
• Physiotherapy, rehabilitation and performance spaces
• Psychological resilience, pastoral care, social work and counselling services
• Education, research, simulation and training facilities
• Staff and logistics areas
• Emergency response, including ambulance facilities 

“Today’s opening represents a step forward in how the Defence Force looks after its people, setting a new standard for healthcare infrastructure across camps and bases,” Mr Penk says. 

“Providing multi-disciplinary care will benefit both the prevention and treatment of health issues, ensuring Defence personnel are well supported during service and continue to thrive long after they leave the Force.  

“Military healthcare professionals now also have a modern, fit-for-purpose environment that enables the delivery of high-quality health, rehabilitation and performance services, which in turn will improve retention and operational readiness across the Defence Force. 

“Building the centre at Burnham, the largest military base in the South Island, reflects its strategic importance. The camp plays a key role in New Zealand’s national security system, supporting training, operational deployments, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. 

“Completed in just 18 months, the $22 million project is a testament to the combined efforts of the Defence Estate and Infrastructure group, construction partner Hawkins New Zealand, and our Alliance partners Ernst & Young, GHD NZ and Beca. 

“This new centre demonstrates to our Defence people that while they dedicate themselves to serving New Zealand, we are committed to ensuring they have the health, wellbeing and working environments they need to perform at their best.”

MIL OSI

Children are still no safer than when Malachi Subecz was murdered, according to a new report from the Independent Children’s Monitor.

It is the second review of the implementation of the recommendations from a report into Malachi’s death, and has showed little progress has been made.

Malachi died of a blunt force head injury in Starship Hospital 2021, and weighed just 16 kilograms because he had been starved.

A report into his death by the late Dame Karen Poutasi in 2022 found five critical gaps in the system, and made 14 recommendations.

One of those recommendations was for the Independent Children’s Monitor to review the recommendations themselves.

In 2024, its first review found a “disappointing and disheartening” lack of priority given to them, and committed to review them again.

Just as it did with the prior review, the Independent Children’s Monitor looked at the responses to the report, and the implementation of actions agencies set for themselves.

The 2025 review, titled Towards a stronger safety net to prevent abuse of children, found that little had changed.

“There continues to be a high proportion of reports of concern from professionals that do not result in further action by Oranga Tamariki and where tamariki and rangatahi are not seen,” it said.

The review engaged with a wider range of agencies than in 2024, including Corrections, Early Childhood Education providers, and representatives from agencies and non-governmental organisations that were party of multi-agency response teams responding to police callouts for family violence, or to reports of concern made to Oranga Tamariki.

It also spoke to Oranga Tamariki staff.

“Kaimahi from agencies and services, including Oranga Tamariki, continue to tell us they are concerned about the risk to tamariki and rangatahi,” the report said.

“System settings have not changed, gaps remain and tamariki and rangatahi are still no more likely to be seen by Oranga Tamariki now than when Malachi was killed.”

The gaps Dame Karen found in 2022 were:

• When sole parents are charged and prosecuted, the needs of dependent children are not well enough identified
• The process for assessing risks to a child is too narrow and one-dimensional
• Agencies and services are not proactively sharing information, despite having the ability
• A lack of professionals’ and services’ reporting of risk of child abuse
• The system allows children to remain “invisible” even at key moments

Her report also made 14 recommendations, including combining medical records to make them available for health workers working with children, and increased education and public awareness.

Initially, the government did not accept all of Dame Karen’s recommendations outright, wanting further advice on five of them, including mandatory reporting of children at high risk of harm.

In 2025, the government decided it would accept the remaining recommendations.

The report acknowledged this was a “first step” but now “careful and thoughtful” implementation was needed.

“Until change happens on the ground and in communities, tamariki will continue to be no safer. As this review finds, the gaps identified by Dame Karen have not closed and tamariki continue to fall through the safety net.”

Progress since the previous report had been slow, and while better visibility and reporting of concerns were important, it could only go so far.

“Even once all the recommendations have been implemented, it would not solve the fundamental problem – Aotearoa does not yet have a child protection system that is always able to respond when needed.”

The report noted a further 24 tamariki had been killed by someone who was supposed to be caring for them, since Malachi’s death.

While it did not go into the specifics of those children’s lives and circumstances, it found 11 were known to Oranga Tamariki before their deaths, and 19 of the alleged perpetrators were known to police in varying ways.

At the time the Independent Children’s Monitor was conducting the report, police had completed 10 family violence death reviews, with a further 12 in progress. Oranga Tamariki had completed seven child death reviews, and two more were in progress.

“Police and Oranga Tamariki, for the most part, undertake reviews in isolation from other agencies. Their reviews focus on internal practices rather than broader systemic issues,” the report said.

A coroner’s report released last week found everything possible went wrong for Malachi in the last six months of his life, with opportunities to identify the abuse and torture he suffered not picked up by those who could have intervened.

Coroner Janet Anderson found similar gaps to Dame Karen Poutasi, which were also found by the oversight agencies.

Even back in 2022, Dame Karen said her findings were not new.

“Implementing the Poutasi recommendations may make tamariki and rangatahi at risk more visible, but to make them safer, Oranga Tamariki and the wider child protection system must be able to respond when needed,” the 2025 report said.

Oversight agencies call on government to go faster

The Independent Children’s Monitor, Arran Jones, said 18 months on from the first review, three years on since Dame Karen’s report, and four years since Malachi’s death, work was “just beginning,” and until change happened on the ground and across all communities, tamariki would continue to be no safer.

“Our review also found that even if everything Dame Karen said was needed to close the gaps is done, we are not confident that Oranga Tamariki will be able to respond appropriately,” he said.

The oversight agencies, including the Independent Children’s Monitor, the Ombudsman, and the Children’s Commissioner, called on government agencies to act faster.

“The stark truth that 24 children – most of them babies – have died through abuse by the person meant to be caring for them must shock us into action. The lives of other children depend on it,” said Children’s Commissioner Claire Achmad.

The Chief Ombudsman, John Allen, said the findings raised the important need for cross-agency collaboration, but acknowledged there were green shoots out there, pointing to an in-person hub pilot at the Oranga Tamariki national contact centre, and its work with community-based providers.

“Community led organisations know the whānau well and are better equipped to intervene early and provide immediate support while at the same time taking pressure off the wider system,” he said.

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

A pedestrian is seriously injured after a crash involving a truck in South Auckland.

It happened at the intersection of Savill Drive and Massey Road in Māngere East just before midday on Wednesday.

Police said the pedestrian has been taken to Middlemore Hospital.

Diversions are in place and drivers are being told to expect delays.

The Serious Crash Unit and Commercial Vehicle Safety Team have been notified.

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