SINGAPORE- Media OutReach Newswire – 14 May 2026 – Beyond academic rankings and programme offerings, students today are placing increasing emphasis on campus life, wellbeing support, and a sense of belonging when choosing where to pursue higher education.

This shift reflects a broader trend across the sector, where institutions are being evaluated not only on academic outcomes, but also on their ability to provide holistic student experiences that support mental wellbeing, social integration, and career readiness.

At the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), student engagement has become a central pillar of the learning experience, with a wide network of student led clubs and communities designed to support both personal and professional development.

A Growing Priority: Belonging and Wellbeing

Industry observations indicate that students, particularly those transitioning from secondary education or arriving from overseas, often face challenges such as social isolation, cultural adjustment, and limited peer support networks. Research also highlights that being away from familiar support systems and adapting to a new cultural and academic environment can be an isolating process, contributing to increased stress, anxiety, and reduced perceived social support

To address this, SIM has developed a structured student life ecosystem supported by its Student Development initiatives and programmes such as Project1095, which emphasises learning beyond the classroom and holistic growth. With close to 80 student clubs and co-curricular activities available, students are provided with multiple avenues to build connections and integrate into campus life.

From Co-Curricular Activities to Career Readiness

Student clubs are increasingly seen as more than recreational clubs, playing a meaningful role in preparing students for the workforce. Participation in such communities enables students to develop transferable skills aligned with employer expectations, including leadership, collaboration, and communication.

At SIM, student led initiatives span a broad spectrum, from arts and cultural groups that foster creativity and teamwork through performances and events, to sports and wellness communities that promote physical resilience and discipline. Leadership platforms such as student councils provide opportunities for students to organise initiatives and represent the student body, while international student communities support cultural integration and inclusivity.

In addition, special interest and professional clubs offer exposure to industry trends and peer led learning. Collectively, these platforms provide practical experiences that complement academic programmes and contribute to graduates’ overall employability.

Reflecting a Broader Shift in Higher Education

The increasing importance placed on student life reflects a wider evolution in higher education, where institutions are expected to support both academic achievement and personal development.

By investing in student communities and engagement, institutions like SIM are responding to this shift, providing environments where students can not only gain qualifications, but also build networks, resilience, and a strong sense of identity.

As prospective students weigh their options, the availability of vibrant campus communities and support systems is likely to remain a key differentiator in the higher education landscape.

Reference:

1. The experience of loneliness among international students participating in the BBC Loneliness Experiment: Thematic analysis of qualitative survey data – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666518223000189?
2. Mental health concerns and needs of international students in higher education settings: A scoping review protocol – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12334020/
3. SIM CCA – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/co-curricular-activities
4. SIM Project 1095 – https://project1095.simge.edu.sg/

https://www.sim.edu.sg/

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

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

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

For the past 20 years Annette Hall has been like a mother to the boaties of the Far North.

She’s kept tabs on where they are with twice-daily calls, checked to make sure they return to port when expected, provided weather forecasts, and – when things go badly awry – co-ordinated rescues at any time of day or night.

She’s done all that, unpaid, from her living room in a modest cottage overlooking Doubtless Bay.

At 6pm on Wednesday, however, the radio operator with the infectious laugh signed off for the last time.

That also meant the end of a service that’s been running since at least 1947.

Surprisingly, Hall had no maritime background – beyond a love of fishing – when she first got involved with Far North Radio and Sea Rescue in the early 2000s.

She was previously a publican, who pulled pints at well-known hotels in Ōpua, Kaitāia and Mangōnui.

Hall said she got involved by accident because she used to live next door to Far North Radio stalwarts Malcolm and Maureen MacMillan, better known as Mac and Mo.

“One afternoon, Maureen said to me, ‘You’re very good at talking a lot. Let me show you the radio’. And I said, ‘Okay, how hard could it be?’”

Initially Hall did a few evening shifts so her neighbours could have some time off.

When Maureen MacMillan sadly died of motor neurone disease, Hall agreed to step in while her husband “sorted things out”.

“I came home from work, and there was all their radio equipment on my dining table. So I said, ‘Okay, let’s just do it for a few months, and we’ll take it from there’.”

That was 20 years ago.

“It’s longer than four months. Way longer. But it’s been fun, you know? It’s a community thing, and very family-oriented.”

Far North Radio and Sea Rescue operated a VHF marine radio service from Whangaroa Harbour on the east coast up to the Three Kings Islands, and down the west coast to the Hokianga Harbour.

It also had a single-sideband (SSB) radio service with an almost unlimited range, and – until a few weeks ago – a rescue boat named Lily Walker.

A previous boat, Good as Gold, got its name from Maureen MacMillan’s favourite expression.

The service catered to commercial and recreational fishers, “blue water” sailors travelling between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and many a fishing contest.

As the senior operator, Hall was responsible for the morning and evening calls, with other volunteers covering the day shifts so she could go to work at the local vets.

She also monitored the airwaves during weekends and public holidays, and even had a radio next to her bed so she could be roused for emergencies at any time of night.

Doubtless Bay-based commercial fisherman Nat Davey said Hall’s contribution had been “amazing”.

“Over the last good 20 years, Annette’s been like a mum to the fishermen out there,” he said.

“She’s kept a great eye on us, and if for some reason we haven’t called up in the evenings and she knows we’re out there, she’ll always check in to make sure we’re all fine. It’s pretty selfless, really. She just gets in there and does it.”

Ethan Bryant, skipper of fishing charter boat Te Ariki Nui, spoke to RNZ by satellite from the Three Kings Islands, about 30 nautical miles north of Cape Reinga.

“We look at her as our guardian angel,” he said.

“She’s one of the only people that looks out for us out here. Between 7.30 and 8 o’clock every single morning without fail you hear that sweet voice come on the radio, no matter how rough or rainy or sunny or whatever it is, you always feel comfortable. That little 30 second chat every morning and every afternoon, it means a lot.”

Bryant said Hall would be greatly missed – especially by boaties who travelled far offshore, beyond the reach of Coastguard.

“She knows exactly where everybody is. If she doesn’t hear from you or you forget to do your afternoon call, she’ll make sure she gets hold of you before the end of the day. If she can’t, then she knows something’s up,” he said.

“I know she looks at us as her boys that she looks after. It’s definitely a big help knowing that somebody’s looking over you and knows exactly where your nearest help is.”

Hall said the toughest part of her role was when tragedy struck.

The most serious events included the Enchanter sinking of 2022, when five people died, and the Karikari Peninsula fire of 2011, when a helicopter on a rescue mission crashed into the sea.

If she was woken for an emergency at night, she had a simple technique for “getting into the zone”.

“When something happens, you get up, and put the jug on first,” she said.

“One of the really big ones I had was the Karikari fire, when we lost two people in the helicopter. That was a real tragedy.”

Hall, who turns 75 later this month, said she had a number of reasons for hanging up her handpiece.

“It’s just natural attrition, really. You know, we’ve all got older, and you need to go on and do other things. My daughter’s just moved up here from the South Island, I’d like to spend some time with her. And also, I’m actually quite old, believe it or not.”

Hall said she also had “a lot of cricket to catch up on” and was hoping to finally get a chance to do some fishing.

Coastguard New Zealand told RNZ it was currently in discussion with Far North Radio and Sea Rescue about the future of VHF radio coverage in the area.

No decision had been made as yet, but Coastguard wanted to ensure Far North boaties had continued access to safe and reliable radio coverage.

Boaties could also use VHF channel 16 for trip reports and requests for help, which would be passed on to Coastguard if needed.

In 2025, Hall was named a Local Hero medallist in the New Zealander of the Year Awards, and was presented with a Te Tohu Tutuki/Lifetime Achievement Award by the Far North District Council.

Independent, volunteer-run Far North Radio and Sea Rescue received no direct government funding. Member subscriptions, sponsorship and fundraising were its main sources of income.

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

Raffles have long been a popular way to fundraise, but some of them may not be legal.

A Christchurch company director was due to be sentenced this month for running the largest ever illegal lottery in New Zealand, highlighting what some say was a lack of knowledge around the legality of running raffles.

The lottery, which generated over $11 million in revenue, was highlighted by the Department of Internal Affairs as a “stark warning” to anyone involved in running an illegal lottery of any scale.

However, community leaders say small scale raffles run by families to cover essential expenses should be seen in a different context.

Lara Dolan, the CEO of Māngere Budgeting Services Trust, said while she hadn’t seen many clients who run or participate in raffles, she had noticed families running it in her South Auckland community to cover essential travel.

“Because they don’t have enough savings, and it’s also cultural for people that in their cultures, they must attend family events such as weddings and funerals.”

A quick online search for raffles has taken RNZ to posts including fundraisers to send a child on their overseas exchange trip, a sports club raffle where alcohol was the prize, and businesses selling their products as a lucky draw.

Rules around raffles were set out in the Gambling Act 2003.

Lawyer Marty Robinson was a former advisor to the Department of Internal Affairs’ gambling team and runs his own practice, he broke the rules down.

“They’re basically classified by the amount that is spent in the type of gambling, and the risk of problem gambling that’s associated with that activity.”

Under Class 1, individuals and groups could run lottery with a prize or turnover up to $500, all proceeds from the raffle must be returned as prizes.

Societies such as sports clubs can run Class 2 and Class 3 gambling, and all proceeds must benefit the community – not an individual or business.

Class 4 gambling usually referred to gaming machines such as pokies.

Robinson said most community raffles were run under Class 1 or Class 2, which prohibited selling tickets through online or phone calls.

There were also rules around how you could use the funds, he said.

“If you are looking to take money out you can’t use it for say, sending you child overseas, it got to be for an authorised purpose, and the under the act basically that means a charitable purpose, a non-commercial or community based type of purpose.”

And for all classifications, certain types of prizes were prohibited.

According to DIA, the list included firearms, alcohol, tobacco, taonga tuturu, vouchers or entitlements to commercial sexual services, or other items that were in breach of any New Zealand laws such as recreational catches and illegal drugs.

Robinson said the Gambling Act was set to protect society from harmful gambling.

“I’m a criminal litigator in court and very often we find addiction is the underlying cause of people offending, it’s often drugs and increasingly methamphetamine but gambling has always been a major issue in a lot of embezzlement and fraud.”

But low value community raffles were often not as harmful, when compared to other activities such as online gambling, he said.

Grant Hewiston, secretary for Communities Against Alcohol Harm, agreed most community raffles were less of an issue.

While he was deeply concerned about problematic gambling and addictions, he thought the law should be applied with context when it comes to raffle fundraisers.

“If it was a private commercial profit, then that might be closer to being an issue. But where it’s a community of people to raise funds to support each other from time to time, my kind of sense is that we’re getting into some grey area about whether this is such a mechanism for community and social kind of funding and support, and maybe it shouldn’t be seen as private people profiting from these raffles.”

He said those participating in these community raffles often don’t expect to win, but know they were helping someone out, and anticipated being offered similar help when they needed it in the future.

Dolan was concerned if communities cannot run raffles to raise funds, it could have big impacts on those who were already struggling with cost of living.

“The only other option for them will be just to borrow money at higher interest rates, which is not ideal. This will be quite devastating for them.”

However, she thought if law enforcement was concerned over the activity, raising awareness was needed.

“To be honest, they’re (the community) probably not aware of the rules. I think if it is an illegal activity, the first thing that needs to happen is education campaign needs to be put in place so people actually do know about it.”

The Department of Internal Affairs was planning an education campaign later this month.

In a written statement, Vicki Scott, the Department’s director for Gambling, said Internal Affairs prioritises responses to the most serious cases.

“With consideration to resourcing the Department looks at illegal gambling activity as a whole (across the various forms it may take) and prioritises responses to the most serious issues identified. Given illegal gambling operates outside the law, where no application has been made or advice sought from the Department, we are largely reliant on illegal raffles being reported to us and encourage people to do so if they have concerns.”

She said over the last two years, targeted enforcement had led to multiple prosecutions which included illegal raffles operated by gangs and commercial illegal poker venues.

She encouraged people to report anything of concern.

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

A Wellington man who severely injured his spine and is tetraplegic has climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest in a year.

Andrew Leslie walked to the top of Mount Kaukau 35 times in the past 12 months as part of his rehabilitation.

Six years ago, Leslie injured his spinal cord in a mountain bike accident. He spent five months in hospital and had to learn to navigate life as a tetraplegic.

“Now, when you hear that word, you probably think about someone being paralysed from the neck down in a wheelchair – and I was for a while. But with spinal cord injury, every injury is different and every outcome is different,” Leslie explained.

Leslie managed to walk out of Burwood Hospital, but moving his body remained an ongoing struggle.

He described movement as not coming to him automatically, as having to think about it before getting his body to do it.

“I have to make myself move. So I need to use my brain in a different way to be able to take a step. And walking is actually an extremely complicated thing.”

As a result, he has to keep woking on his recovery to understand and train his body. “I’ll never recover from this injury. Rehab for me is about how I optimise what I’ve got.”

To motivate himself through this difficult process, he sets himself yearly goals. The first year after his accident, he walked to the crash site. The year after, he ran 5km around Karori Park. One year, he managed a five-day course with Outward Bound.

His favourite goal was walking the Abel Tasman track with his friend and fellow tetraplegic, George Thompson. He described it as “just an incredible experience”.

The pair walked 60km over five days – a huge physical feat that required thorough planning and a crew. “But we did it,” Leslie beamed.

He said it was “extremely satisfying getting over that finish line — actually, incredibly emotional getting over that finish line”.

This year, he chose somewhere closer to home – Mount Kaukau in Khandallah, where he used to trail run before his accident.

“I really wanted to get back into the bush here and the thought of getting back up to the top of Mount Kaukau was just such a hugely motivating goal for me.”

He said this track was not particularly accessible for people with disabilities, and it probably never would be but did not necessarily need to be.

He said: “The things that I find difficult on this track, that able-bodied people wouldn’t find difficult, for example, is how some of the stairs sort of create little trip hazards, or if there’s been some erosion at the bottom of a step and it makes that first step really high. Those are some of the things which can literally trip me up, even just like little rocks that poke up out of the track, that sort of stuff.”

Wellington City Council said, “Mt Kaukau is particularly steep and a challenge for some users – the track itself is a difficult to maintain. When budget allows, we do try and improve it to make it more sustainable to reduce the costs over the long-term.”

It added that it is aware of the accessibility challenges and is working with an accessibility stakeholder group which includes Leslie to consider ongoing improvements for the Southern Walkway on Matairangi.

Raising awareness about accessibility in the outdoors is a large part of why Leslie told his story. He has been promoting guidance about accessibility measures which councils and the Department of Conservation could put in place and has headed Nuku Ora, a national kaupapa focused on helping people move.

“It’s hugely important for anyone to be able to connect with nature,” he explained.

He stressed that “accessibility means different things to different people” and wanted to move away from the single accessible standard track, which caters especially to wheelchair users. He said there were ways of making the outdoors more accessible without going for “full bells and whistles”.

For next year’s goal, he already had his heart set on another Great Walk: Lake Waikaremoana. He hoped that Thompson would join him again.

His rehabilitation has been supported by ACC, whose head of client recovery, Matthew Goodger, said: “We’re proud to see him continue to set and achieve his goals and pleased to have been able to support him in his recovery. We see first-hand the difference sport and recreation can make to people after a life-changing accident, and Andrew’s story is a great example of that impact.”

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

• Volunteer fire-fighter Alex Scarrow died days before Christmas rafting the Mohaka River with friends
• A Coroner says it was misadventure and has put forward recommendations for a new safety code for recreational rafting
• They were told the rafting trip turned fatal because a knife wasn’t readily accessible
• Water Safety New Zealand says it will work to increase awareness of the proposed new code

The death of a man while rafting with his mates has spurred the Coroner to put forward a new safety code for people on the water.

Farm worker and volunteer fire-fighter Alex Scarrow was 31 when he and his friends set off for their rafting trip on the Mohaka River in Hawke’s Bay.

It was December 16 2023, and Scarrow’s partner described him as outgoing, a lover of the outdoors and someone who pushed limits while having fun.

He was no stranger to the Mohaka River and had rafted for about a decade, but this trip would be his last.

Coroner Ruth Thomas’ findings released on Monday said he and his friends all set off wearing life jackets.

They also had a box of Coruba rum and a box of Wooodstock bourbon, along with cheese and crackers.

“We were just enjoying the good weather and a day off work,” the findings show one friend as saying who also said they were not intoxicated.

Their mobile phones went into a dry bag, and a carabiner was used to secure a blue plastic barrel with a lid to the raft.

One of the friends put their knife belt and a personal locator beacon inside that barrel to keep them dry.

The Coroner said the friends described the first 90 minutes of their rafting trip as fun and that everyone was happy.

After stopping for a swim, Scarrow told the group they were nearing an area that can “get quite nasty”, the Te Hoe drop.

The group paused on a shingle bank to pump up the eight seater raft and went for another swim.

‘I just woke up on the side of a rock’

The findings said one of the friends said Alex Scarrow was sitting at the back of the raft.

“I just remember going down some small rapids, I was laughing at Alex for some reason, and then I just woke up on the side of a rock, past the raft.”

They said they never saw anything coming.

The Coroner said another friend said the group was t-boned by a large boulder.

“It happened so fast I don’t think anyone expected it to happen,” that friend said.

The findings detail how all four were thrown from the seats – two were swept downstream and managed to scramble out of the river.

The water was holding the raft against a large boulder, and the remaining friend could see Scarrow’s foot was trapped by a rope attached to the raft.

His head was just above the water, and the friend tried to find something to cut the rope with.

He tried one of the alcohol cans but that did not work.

“I didn’t have any knives on me as it was in the blue dry barrel with the locator beacon inside,” the findings show the friend as saying.

“The barrel was strapped to the boat, but the lid ripped open, and all the contents washed away.”

The friend tried getting a paddle to Scarrow but he could not grab hold.

The strong current meant they also could not use the paddle to keep Scarrow’s head above the water.

The friend lost his balance and fell from the raft into the water, by which stage Scarrow had sunk lower into the water and did not look like he was fighting any further.

The friend managed to tell the others that Scarrow was stuck – they ran back upstream but could not see a safe place to launch a rescue.

The knife, mobile phones and personal locator beacon were all washed away.

One of the friends walked away from the river to get help.

A Search and Rescue team flew to the scene at 1.40am and saw the raft wrapped against a large rock in the middle of the river.

It was too unsafe to access, and in the morning a helicopter dropped local rafting guides who worked with SAR to free Scarrow’s body.

One of the guides cut the bow rope wrapped around his foot and pulled him to shore.

A pathologist said Scarrow’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit for driving, but added it was impossible to determine the degree of intoxication.

Expert says life could have been saved

A swiftwater rescue instructor who reviewed the evidence noted all four friends were drinking while rafting.

They noted the group all had lifejackets but that none was wearing a helmet.

There was also no other knife apart from the one that was in the blue barrel before its lid came off and its contents got washed away.

The expert said there was no evidence of a pre-launch safety briefing about capsizing, entrapment, hand signals or whistle signals.

Some of he group had rafting experience but none had swiftwater or river rescue certifications.

Scarrow was thrown in the water when the raft wrapped around the rock, and the rope tightened around his foot and stopped him getting out himself.

The expert’s opinion was the group did not show situational awareness of the prominent rock and had not formally scouted the rapid beforehand.

They also noted there was no evidence about how the bow rope had been stowed and said a well secured bowline would have significantly mitigated the risk of entrapment.

The lifejackets were a generic brand designed for marine use rather than for whitewater use, the expert said.

It meant that while the lifejackets could hold a river knife and sheath, it was “sub-optimal” because the sheath could snag on other objects.

“Had a dedicated river knife been carried on the PFD (personal floatation device) of at least one crew member it is more likely that the rope could have been cut early in the incident before the entanglement became unrecoverable,” the expert said.

“The entrapment was avoidable if the group had maintained situational awareness, and survivable in principle but became fatal due to the absence of an immediately accessible knife, and a lack of suitably trained and equipped peer rescuers.”

The Coroner said they were satisfied Scarrow could have survived if the group knew more about the hazard, had a discussion beforehand, and had a river knife on at least one of their lifejackets to cut the rope that had trapped him.

“When the lid came off this barrel they were left with no effective means to cut the rope entrapping their friend,” Coroner Ruth Thomas said.

“There is no requirement for a knife sheath and river knife to be attached to a recreational river rafter’s PFD. However, had any member of the group had a river knife attached to their PFD on that day, they would have been better equipped to try and cut the rope to free Mr Scarrow.”

Thomas said it would be a benefit to all recreational river users to be more aware of how carrying a river knife on a lifejacket could safe lives.

She also highlighted there should be at least one person unaffected by alcohol who was experienced and attuned to hazards in rivers.

“The group’s lack of situational awareness of the hazard, lack of access to a river knife, and their decision to drink alcohol while rafting are all factors that compounded and contributed to the fatal outcome,” the Coroner said.

While extending her sincere condolences, Thomas made a formal finding Scarrow drowned because of misadventure.

Code of conduct

Coroner Thomas said more safety information being publicly available could help prevent similar deaths.

There is information, but the benefits of a river knife attached to a lifejacket is not included in the list of safety equipment on the Department of Conservation website.

The expert swiftwater rescue instructor has drafted a Recreational Rafting Safety Code (see below).

The Coroner has recommended the Department of Conservation consider including a river knife on its recommended safety list.

They further recommended various groups review the proposed code and engage with each other on how to increase public awareness.

One those groups, Water Safety NZ, said it supported the code.

“The Coroner was quite clear that having access to a knife, and one of the experts, would definitely have helped instead of it being tucked away elsewhere and was lost when the accident happened,” chief executive Glen Scanlon told RNZ.

“Also having a plan for how to deal with these complicated sections in the Mohaka River, it appears there wasn’t one, although Alex himself did identify there was some rough water coming up,” he said.

Scanlon said the code that had been drafted was “a really god idea”.

“So it’s just a matter of hopefully us and some of the other organisations mentioned, the New Zealand Rivers Association, getting together and hopefully just starting it out and working a way out that we can effectively get those messages to people,” Scanlon said.

He said people needed to take such messages to heart and put them into practice.

Scanlon also expressed condolences to everyone who knew Scarrow.

The New Zealand Rivers Association responded to the Coroner that it supported the recommendation to review the draft Recreational Raft Safety Code.

The Department of Conservation responded that water safety management required coordinated actions with various parties and that it would engage with these.

Whitewater New Zealand and New Zealand Land Search and Rescue did not respond to the proposed recommendations, the Coroner said.

Recreational Rafting Safety Code

Two boats are always better than one

Always paddle with at least two boats so you have options to effect rescue and seek assistance.

Have the right skills

Make sure you have undertaken a river rescue course and can navigate the difficulty of river being paddled.

Know the skills, abilities and limitations of your group.

Have the right equipment

Ensure everyone has a PFD and helmet.

PFDs need a whistle and river knife to be complete.

Ensure you have means of emergency communication.

Every raft needs a wrap kit and rescue throw bag.

Alcohol and paddling do not mix

Be free of the effects of alcohol and drugs.

Even one drink can impair decision making in critical situations.

Have a plan and test it

Have a plan including what if things go wrong.

Each boat needs a skipper who is responsible.

Tell someone about your plan.

Have a safety briefing and practice emergency drills before you set out.

Check before you go

Check the weather forecast and river flow levels.

Make sure your raft and equipment is cleaned, dried and checked to prevent the spread of didymo and other biosecurity risks.

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

MIL OSI

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones overrode official advice a $50,000 fine for leaking footage from fishing boat cameras – five times the penalty under the Privacy Act – would be “unreasonable”.

The Ministry of Justice also warned the Minister that trying to protect the footage from reaching the public – including by imposing the fine, barring Official Information requests from accessing the footage, and limiting judicial reviews to 20 days – could breach the Bill of Rights, although the formal vetting of the legislation is yet to be done.

The changes limiting judicial review were not included in the public consultation, but will be consulted on now the bill has gone to select committee, with submissions closing on Wednesday.

Documents released under the Official Information Act show Jones requested such fines – to be levelled against people who received the footage from the Ministry for Primary Industries and shared it – be set at a maximum $50,000.

Jones was unapologetic, saying the high fine was aimed at protecting the industry.

“It’s a figure that I chose to show how dangerous it is for people to manipulate, misuse information that I fear will be exploited to taint and undermine the fishing industry,” Jones told RNZ.

“It’s about ensuring that only the state enforces rules and regulations, not green vigilantes or DIY prosecutors believing that recreational fishing is suffering because of commercial fishing. I’ve had enough of that nonsense.”

He pushed back on the concerns about human rights.

“This is a fishing industry – a legitimate part of our economy – it is now under a type of state surveillance: widespread video camera footage taken of men and women going about their daily lives on a fishing boat.

“I do not accept that that information should be made freely available to anyone other than the state or in rare circumstances, researchers or educators, so I think that it’s a violation of people’s human rights as employees in an industry that state surveillance information should be given indiscriminately to people who will weaponise it.”

The documents show Ministry of Justice officials warned the $50,000 fine would be “unreasonable, and that a maximum fine between $5000 and $10,000 would be more appropriate”, as this would align with the $10,000 fine for failures to comply with the Privacy Act.

The Office of the Ombudsman also “strongly reiterated to MPI that it does not support exempting on-board camera footage from the Official Information Act, noting that “an OIA exemption may curtail fundamental human and constitutional rights to access information without sufficient justification”.

‘Out of whack’

Green Party fisheries spokesperson Teanau Tuiono said Jones’ overall intention was to limit people’s ability to hold the government to account.

“He’s just protecting fishing companies and their exploitation-laden profits – that seems to be more important than protecting the ocean for our future generations.

“He seems to be more worried about finding people who might leak footage of people breaking the law, rather than the actual law-breaking itself.”

Tuiono said he wanted to find out what justifications there could be for having such a high fine, acknowledging protection of privacy was important, but saying with one commercial fisher fined just $3000 for illegal trawling that the balance was wrong.

“It looks completely out of whack to me,” he said. “You can protect people’s privacy because that is an important thing, but going so far to the other side?”

It should be noted companies can be fined significantly more for breaching fishing rules, with for example Westfleet Fishing fined nearly $70,000 in 2023 for failing to weigh and report coral caught when bottom trawling.

However, that requires a lengthy court process – and Jones last year introduced much smaller on-the-spot fines for breaches by recreational and commercial fishers alike.

Still, Tuiono expected Jones would have to back down through the committee process – something Jones indicated he would be open to.

“Yes,” Jones said, “the Labour member in the select committee felt that it was an egregious figure and said that unless there was some common ground, Labour would not be voting for the bill, National at this stage are determining whether or not the bill can be improved.

“I accept that that figure is an area that select committee members want to readdress.”

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

New research is underway to support better targeted food safety rules for commercial and recreational deer hunters, says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard.

Under current food safety rules, deer cannot be killed and supplied for food processing within a two-kilometre buffer zone of a brodifacoum bait station and the restrictions remain in place for three years after the poison is laid.

“These rules make large areas of land unavailable to commercial hunters for extended periods of time. I’m not going to take any shortcuts with food safety, but we need to make sure any rules that limit what people can do are supported by good evidence,” says Mr Hoggard.

“We know the science is always evolving. This research programme will bring the latest information and evidence to bear so we can make better targeted decisions and potentially move away from the current one-size-fits-all model.”

The research will also support New Zealand’s trade assurances with importing countries, he said.

“We have a hard-won and excellent reputation as an exporter of safe, high-quality meat products. This is the kind of research that helps to underpin that reputation, which is so important to our economy.”

The Bioeconomy Science Institute and Lincoln University will work together on the research, and the team will include experts in deer behaviour, toxicology, statistical modelling and bait station design.

“The research is set to be completed by November, and my officials will carefully review it for any insights that would require changes to the rules.”
 

MIL OSI

Date:  06 May 2026

The Department of Conservation is surveying a range of habitats both inside and outside the new marine protected areas as a monitoring baseline of the marine environment. It is working with mana moana, universities and research institutes.

The monitoring is an essential part of ensuring the purpose of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act – to restore the health and mauri of the area – is being met. The monitoring aims to understand the ecological condition and trends, the effectiveness of protection measures, and the impacts of any permitted activities.

Emma Kearney, a marine scientist at DOC, says the surveys provide an environmental snapshot of 2026.

“We need to know what the marine habitats and species look like now, so that we can track trends and changes in the future.

“The 12 new high protection areas are different from marine reserves, because they are legally set up to encourage restoration, such as reseeding shellfish beds or reducing sea urchin numbers.

“This monitoring will help us understand the impacts of the protection as well as the outcomes of marine restoration work.”

Data will be collated and reported on in 2026/2027 – the new legislation requires DOC to report on changes in the marine environment publicly every five years.

The surveys focus on various species including deep and shallow reef fish, spiny and packhorse lobster, scallops and key seafloor species such as horse mussel, rhodoliths, and dog cockle.

A range of methods are used from diving and potting for lobster, to underwater cameras mounted on frames that sit on the seafloor and observe the fish communities.

Emma says the process of marine science takes place both in and out of the water.

“One day I’m out measuring lobster with marine rangers in the Coromandel. Another day I’m behind the computer screen reviewing video footage to see what species are showing up around reefs, and what sizes they are.”

“Many fish and underwater species use the reefs and shellfish beds of Tīkapa Moana to breed and shelter. New areas of protection are crucial as they support these highly productive marine ecosystems.

“In recent months, fishers have been great at respecting the rules when out on the water. Removing fishing pressure helps sea life to grow larger and reproduce. It’s an easy way for people to contribute to the health of Tīkapa Moana,” adds Emma.

Anyone heading out naturing in the Gulf can learn more about these marine protections on the DOC website.

Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana marine protected areas

Contact

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

It’s cooling down around the country, so how do you stay warm – and safe – in a DOC hut?

Media and Communications Advisor Krysia Nowak explores how to optimise your fireplace game.

Staying warm

Many DOC huts have fireplaces to keep you toasty warm at the end of the day (you can check the DOC website or Plan My Walk to find out which huts). At times, the thought of a warm place is the only thing that keeps you going in a long day tramping in freezing conditions!

But do you know how to get the best performance from a DOC fireplace, or how to keep yourself and others safe? Read on.

7 ways to optimise your fireplace game:

1) Use only as much wood as you need

At some serviced and Great Walk Huts, firewood is supplied as an amenity. But remember this firewood is helicoptered in at great expense, and with all the associated carbon emissions, so burn responsibly and just what you need.

In other locations, you might need to gather dead wood from the forest. Remember, it’s never appropriate to chop down trees on public conservation land.

Insects, fungi, and the soil need some dead wood around, so take a bit, leave a bit, and try not to completely thrash the area close to the hut. We’re just visiting, so it’s important we don’t disrupt the lives of the creatures that call the woods home.

Whether wood is supplied or you collect it yourself, it’s best not to go overboard, so there’s plenty of wood for the next people seeking warmth at the end of the day. Using only what you need helps reduce your impact, leaves more wood to keep later visitors toasty, and gives you warm fuzzy feeling from being a good fellow human.

2) Stack wood appropriately

Stacking wood around the hearth or leaning against the burner box is asking for trouble. Stack it a little away from the fireplace so it doesn’t accidentally catch fire.

3) Keep the fire contained, and don’t leave it unattended

Hopefully, this is a no-brainer, and we all know that fire is dangerous and needs to be treated with care. Treat it like a wayward child with a pair of scissors; it’s probably fine if it keeps doing what it’s supposed to be doing, but I wouldn’t risk leaving it alone.

4) Burn fuel completely

Discovered a half-burnt log and some black charcoal in the fireplace? Don’t biff it, it’s perfectly good fuel! Burn fuel completely to make the best use of resources – again, making sure there’s enough to go around.

5) Put only cold ashes in the ash bins

This means no hot ashes. First off, handing hot ashes is dangerous, and even if you manage not to get burnt, hot ashes sitting in a bucket or disposed of outdoors have been known to damage huts as well. If you used the fireplace overnight, leave the ashes in the burner, since they might still be warm and be a fire hazard.

Once the ashes are cold, they can go in the ash bin – but don’t forget to save those half-burnt and charcoal bits, they’re still good for more warmth!

NO RUBBISH should go in ash bins.

While it may seem like a good idea to burn your rubbish, it can cause health issues for you and others using the hut. One example is people burning UHT milk cartons, which have a thin layer of foil inside. When these burn, the light foils fly up the chimney and settle on the roof, where the hut water is collected from. You see the issue; in the past, we’ve had to urgently clean out entire water tanks due to foil contamination.

Pack in, pack out. No, seriously, don’t put it in the toilet, don’t put it in the fireplace, don’t stuff it into a corner of the hut. Take your rubbish out with you.

Note: if the ash bin is full and you absolutely must dispose of ashes elsewhere, choose a patch of bare earth away from plants and wet it thoroughly so it doesn’t ignite.

6) Replace any wood you use

This is just being a decent person. It’s particularly important if people are using huts in emergency situations – leaving it prepared could be what helps someone make it through the night in relative comfort.

7) Extinguish fires completely before you leave

Again, this makes sense right? Don’t leave the burny thing alone to burn things. An unattended fire could burn down a hut, leaving others stranded without shelter, or it could start a wildfire. You don’t want either of those things on your conscience! Plus, they could cost a fortune to fix.

Plan to stop adding wood at least an hour before you leave to allow the fire to die naturally (a good idea is to allow the fire to die down overnight). If you need to extinguish it faster, damping it with some ash can speed up the process; just make sure it’s fully out before you head out yourself.

So, there you have it – optimise your hut fireplace game so everyone can enjoy their best cold weather tramping experience.

You can find out more about fire safety in the outdoors on the NZ Mountain Safety Council’s website here.

We also recommend making sure you’re fully comfortable and safe with your cooking apparatus, check out our Tips for the humble gas cooker | Conservation blog

Links to where you can find more info:

About DOC huts: Stay in a hut

Fire Safety — NZMSC

MIL OSI

New Zealand Food Safety is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from Port Underwood in the Marlborough area due to the presence of toxins.

Shellfish biotoxin alert with map

“Routine tests on mussels from Port Underwood have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxin over the safe limit,” says  New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. 

“The warning extends from north of Robin Hood Bay to Robertson Point and includes the entire Port Underwood area. Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick. 

“Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes) and Cook’s turban. 
 
“It’s important to know that cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten.”
 
“We are monitoring toxin levels in shellfish at Port Underwood and the wider area. The causative algae produce a dangerous toxin and, when shellfish filter-feed, these toxins can accumulate in their gut and flesh. Generally, the more algae in the water, the more toxic the shellfish get.”
 
Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include: 

• numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet 
• difficulty swallowing or breathing 
• dizziness and headache 
• nausea and vomiting 
• diarrhoea 

paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death. 
 
Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.  
 
Kina and finfish are not affected by this public health warning, but we advise gutting the fish and discarding the liver before cooking.
 
New Zealand Food Safety has had no notifications of associated illness. 
 
If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 611 116, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.
 
“New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation,” says Mr Arbuckle.  
 
Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by  New Zealand Food Safety to ensure they are safe to eat. 

Help keep yourself and your family safe by:

Find out more

Collecting Shellfish and Keeping Them Safe [PDF, 3.2 MB]

Causes and symptoms of toxic shellfish poisoning

About toxic algal blooms

MIL OSI

New Zealand Food Safety is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from the Eastern Bay of Plenty region due to the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins.

“Routine tests on mussels from Te Kaha have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxins over the safe limit,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“The warning extends from Opape to Matakaoa Point, near Hicks Bay. Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick.

“Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes) and Cook’s turban.

“Cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten.”

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include:

• numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• dizziness and headache
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhoea
• paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Kina and finfish are not affected by this public health warning, but we advise gutting the fish and discarding the liver before cooking.

New Zealand Food Safety has had no notifications of associated illness.

If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.

“New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation,” says Mr Arbuckle.

Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by New Zealand Food Safety to ensure they are safe to eat.

Help keep yourself and your family safe by:

Find out more

Podcast about shellfish contamination

Collecting Shellfish and Keeping Them Safe [PDF, 3.2 MB]

Causes and symptoms of toxic shellfish poisoning

About toxic algal blooms

MIL OSI

Several hundred people crowded into the Aratoi Museum in Masterton on Friday for the blessing of a long-awaited exhibition of the history and taonga of Wairarapa iwi Rangitāne.

The Tino Rangitānetanga Iwi Exhibition opens on Saturday at Aratoi Museum of Art and History, displaying taonga of Rangitāne o Wairarapa and marking a milestone in the collaboration between the museum and iwi.

As a prelude to the exhibition the wood and fiberglass Waka Wairua o Kurahaupō was transported overland from Levin to Wairarapa and was put on display in the museum courtyard.

At the center of the exhibition are four huge pou carved in the Rangitāne style and on loan from Te Papa, as well as a photo of Rangitāne o Wairarapa whānau standing outside Te Oreore Marae, a recreation of a famous photo of the same marae from the 1880s. This recreated photo was taken on Friday, the very day the exhibition was opened.

Te Rūnanga o Rangitāne o Wairarapa’s Suni Brown said the exhibition had been in the works for a long time, but it had been 15 months since the exhibition committee had its first hui.

“The good part about it is with the research that we’ve been doing, we’ve been really finding that our tūpuna, you know, some names have been forgotten. But seeing the work ethic that they had, the visionaries that they were, and the artists that they were as well. So there has been a real joy to learn about our tūpuna from yesteryear.”

The blessing of the exhibition happened on the same day and in parallel with another important event for Rangitāne o Wairarapa, the blessing of its new papakāinga development Te Manawaroa o Kuki Rimene.

“Our uncle said this morning, actually. He goes, yeah, typical. Rangitāne, all of us actually. Do everything at once and get it all done,” Brown said.

But Brown said he had really been overjoyed by the turnout fron all of their whānau.

Aratoi Museum director Sarah McClintock told RNZ in March that opening a Rangitāne iwi exhibition at the museum had been years in the making.

“We want this space to be their space, not that they’re occupying Aratoi, but they become part of Aratoi, that it becomes a safe space, a home for Rangitāne. And we know that they’ve felt that to an extent, but this really makes an incredibly strong and powerful message to everyone that we’re not about telling the story through a lens from any perspective other than Rangitāne’s.”

The Tino Rangitānetanga exhibition is on display at Aratoi in Masterton alongside Te Waka Wairua o Kurahaupō until 19 July.

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

Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager was among the tens of thousands of Kiwis who watched the sun rise from a maimai this morning, taking part in New Zealand’s annual game bird hunting season opening.

“This year, instead of firing the shotgun, I was riding shotgun alongside Fish & Game rangers who every year give up their own chance for a Saturday shoot, to help ensure the morning is safe and fair for all,” Mr Meager says.

“We travelled from South Canterbury’s Wainono Lagoon to Lake Opuha and then down to Temuka, connecting with fellow hunters while conducting compliance activities. This work largely involved checking licences and bag limits and ensuring everyone was having a good time.

“I saw strong compliance from our hunters, as expected. Hunters are one of New Zealand’s best conservation assets, and it was great to be with Kiwis from all walks of life who had come together to take part in such a special tradition.

“Fish & Game has around 60 staff rangers and 150 volunteers who undertake this important compliance work, many of whom are passionate hunters themselves and have skipped an opening weekend shoot for more than a decade to help keep fellow hunters safe on one of the largest weekends in the hunting calendar.

Mr Meager also has a message for those who may seek to disrupt, annoy or harass hunters going about their lawful activities this season: don’t.

“Ensuring compliance and safety is one thing. But vigilantes flying drones into the faces of Kiwis who are lawfully going about their business, or blocking access to public land, is totally unacceptable. 

“These disrupters fail to understand that game bird hunting goes beyond simple recreation. It’s about sustainably harvesting food, teaching the next generation important skills, and maintaining connections to our outdoor heritage that stretch back for generations. It’s also about managing game-bird populations, looking after wetlands, waterways and wildlife habitats, and making sure this tradition stays sustainable for years to come.

“As Minister, I remain committed to my priority of making it as simple as possible for Kiwis to go hunting and fishing in New Zealand. I’m progressing a strong portfolio work programme, including significant reforms to modernise and strengthen Fish & Game. This will provide more game bird hunting opportunities and enhance its focus on improving our fisheries and game bird habitats for all New Zealanders to enjoy.”

MIL OSI

Three men on a late night fishing expedition have narrowly escaped tragedy following a terrifying ordeal in Wairoa Bay early this morning.

At about 6.45am, Police received a report from a person who had managed to swim to shore after the aluminium dinghy he was in had sunk.

While the man was safely back on land, his two crewmates were unaccounted for.

Detective Sergeant Paul Overton, Northland Police Search and Rescue lead, says the survivor had made it to shore near Waitangi Mountain Bike Park after their vessel had sunk at around 3am.

“The males had been fishing at the time and were not wearing life jackets.

“The remaining two males were unaccounted for and were last seen clinging to a chilly bin in the water.”

Detective Sergeant Overton says a coordinated search and rescue response was initiated immediately, with SAR assets deployed including Coastguard Bay of Island units and the Auckland-based Heli Med helicopter.

He says just after 8am an officer who had borrowed a motorbike from Bayleys Farm to conduct shoreline checks discovered one of the missing men.

“Thankfully, other than being cold, he was uninjured.

“Less than an hour later Heli Med have located the third missing man on the rocks near Bayleys Farm.

“He was winched into the helicopter and transported for further treatment, where he was treated for minor injuries.”

Detective Sergeant Overton says it appears a large wave had struck the 12ft vessel, causing it to rapidly fill with water and sink.

“I cannot stress just how incredibly lucky these three men are.

“This situation could have had a dire outcome and we’re thankful we’ve been able to return these men back to their loved ones.”

“We cannot say it enough, if you are going out on the water, check the marine weather, make sure to always wear a lifejacket, take two waterproof ways to call for help and tell someone where you’re going.”

He says remarkably, a recent training exercise simulated almost the exact situation.

“Undergoing that training paid dividends during this rescue.

“Most recreational boating deaths occur close to shore in small craft.

“The incident demonstrated strong coordination between Police, Far North LandSAR, Coastguard, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Maritime and Northern Rescue, which thankfully had an amazing outcome.”

Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s Chief Aircrew Officer Ati Wynyard says the rescue was yet another example of all agencies working together to prevent a potential tragedy.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

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

Large nitrous oxide canisters will automatically be classed as psychoactive substances if they do not have a lawful use, with the government introducing measures to crack down on their misuse.

The gas has common legitimate medical and commercial uses, such as for pain relief or anaesthesia, or as a propellant to make whipped cream.

But the recreational use of nitrous oxide, or nangs, is illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013.

Despite that, enforcement currently required proof of intent.

The government will bring in new rules so proof of intent is no longer required, and all large canisters over 10 grams will be automatically regulated under the act.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said the large canisters could contain up to 3.3 litres of gas.

“While they are often marketed as ‘cream chargers’, the Ministry of Health has not identified any legitimate use for them, and has not found evidence of caterers using canisters of this size,” he said.

Brown said misuse continued to grow, and it was becoming a serious public health concern.

“The harms can be significant and long-lasting, and it is clear we need to do more,” he said.

The government would also bring in a new import restriction under the Customs and Excise Act 2018, which would require importers of all forms of nitrous oxide to get approval from the Director-General of Health before bringing it into New Zealand.

“This will prevent imports intended for inhalation for recreational use, helping keep high-risk supply out of the market while ensuring legitimate users can continue to access it,” Brown said.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said automatically classifying large canisters as psychoactive substances would make enforcement simpler and more effective for police.

“Anyone who sells or supplies nitrous oxide for the purpose of inducing a psychoactive effect already faces penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment or fines of up to $500,000,” he said.

“These changes close loopholes and give police clearer tools to crack down on those putting New Zealanders at risk.”

In February, a Checkpoint investigation showed how easy it was to get nitrous oxide from dairies, vape stores, and convenience stores.

The investigation found of 16 stores visited across Auckland, at least half were willing to sell canisters with virtually no checks.

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

The Government is taking further steps to tighten controls on nitrous oxide to reduce harm and curb its illegitimate use, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say.

• Large canisters with no lawful use will automatically be classified as psychoactive substances
• Imports of nitrous oxide will require approval from the Director-General of Health.
• Stronger settings will support law enforcement 

“Although recreational use of nitrous oxide is already illegal, misuse continues to grow and is becoming a serious public health concern. The harms can be significant and long-lasting, and it is clear we need to do more,” Mr Brown says.

“Nitrous oxide has legitimate medical and commercial uses, but recreational use, commonly known as ‘nangs’, is associated with real harm that is likely under-reported.  

“Short-term effects such as dizziness, impaired judgement and blackouts are dangerous, particularly when combined with driving or when mixed with alcohol or other drugs. With heavy or repeated use, the risks increase further, including damage to the nervous system and long-term neurological injury.

“Police have also seen a number of serious crashes involving drivers who have inhaled nitrous oxide, in some cases with fatal consequences.”

To address these risks, the Government is taking steps to support law enforcement against the illegal sale and importation of nitrous oxide. This includes a new import restriction to be put in place under the Customs and Excise Act 2018, which will prohibit the importation of all forms of nitrous oxide unless the importer is permitted to do so by the Director‑General of Health.

“Importers will need approval from the Director-General of Health before bringing nitrous oxide into New Zealand. This will prevent imports intended for inhalation for recreational use, helping keep high-risk supply out of the market while ensuring legitimate users can continue to access it.”

Larger nitrous oxide canisters over 10 grams will also be automatically classified as psychoactive substances, regardless of claims they are intended for whipping cream.

“These large canisters can contain up to 3.3 litres of gas, significantly larger than a standard small canister containing approximately 8-9 grams. While they are often marketed as ‘cream chargers’, the Ministry of Health has not identified any legitimate use for them, and has not found evidence of caterers using canisters of this size.”

Mr Mitchell says there is no reason for dairies or vape stores to be selling nitrous oxide.

“Automatically classifying large canisters as psychoactive substances will make enforcement simpler and more effective for Police,” Mr Mitchell says.

“Anyone who sells or supplies nitrous oxide for the purpose of inducing a psychoactive effect already faces penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment or fines of up to $500,000. These changes close loopholes and give Police clearer tools to crack down on those putting New Zealanders at risk.

“We are focused on reducing harm, backing enforcement, and targeting those who peddle harm in our communities. This is a practical, common-sense step to reduce harm and keep New Zealanders safe.”

MIL OSI

You pay tax, the government spends it.

But what does it spend it on?

If you have ever wondered exactly where the tax money goes, here is a breakdown.

In the year to 30 June, 2025, total government spending was $183.5 billion.

Of that, social security and welfare took the largest amount, at $57.6b. This included NZ Super, which was just over $23b.

This total had increased from $53.99b the year before.

Next was health, with $29.8b.

Third was education, at $22.3b, up from $21.18b the year before.

Fourth was economic and industrial services, spending by the government to support and regulate business activities, at $16.2b.

Then was transport at communications, $15.83b.

It was followed by law and order, $7.3b, heritage, culture and recreation at $3.38b, housing and community development at $4.5b, defence at $3.23b, environmental protection at $2.3b and primary services $2.53b.

Core government services – made up of Crown departments, Offices of Parliament, the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and the Reserve Bank – took up $7.77b.

Finance costs were $10.39b – that was the interest bill for government borrowing.

The Government Superannuation Fund Authority’s expenses were $83 million.

Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said New Zealand offered a lot of transparency around government spending.

But he said many people thought about tax the wrong way.

“The question is actually the other way around. What public services and what quality of public services do you want, and how do you pay for it? And then you can decide how much tax to pay, because that’s the envelope, and who pays that tax.

“Because we tend to start a conversation on the wrong end, ‘I must never pay tax, but I want all the best services’, we end up in this standoff.”

He said it was a harder conversation to have because it was inconvenient.

“If you want nice things, you have to pay for it. You can’t just rely on other people to do it for you … And I think that sense of responsibility and having to do it yourself is quite problematic for people, because for a long time, I think post the Second World War, when the welfare state was built, the broad idea was trust central government, they’ll take care of all these things so you don’t have to.

“But that has broken down, and this is going to get worse, because when we made these promises, we used to have loads of young people, we could tax our workers, and we had a surplus, we had an abundance of income to buy things. But we don’t anymore.

“We kind of ran out of the runway about a decade ago, and it’s only going to get harder from here, because the demographic maths gets harder.

“Too many old people, not enough working age people. Nothing wrong with old people. And I think people think I vilify old people. It’s not that. You can’t just pay yourself lots of money without having a source of revenue.”

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

The Westland District Council will temporarily close the Hokitika swimming pool amid the rising cost to keep it heated.

The council posted on social media, announcing the pool will shut for roughly three to six months, due to the unsustainable cost of diesel heating for the water.

Mayor Helen Lash told RNZ costs had climbed from $3000 a week to $6000, and then to $8,500 to run using diesel.

“It’s not viable for us to keep it running at that sort of cost, because of course that floats back to the ratepayers,” she said.

Lash said they were monitoring the cost of diesel.

“If we knew there was some longevity in a lower price that potentially was more affordable than what it is now then we would look at cranking the pool up again,” she said.

The council was looking at the possibility of upgrading the pool to electric heating, though Lash said the cost of that was also not ideal.

“The cost of power’s not fabulous either,” she said.

“In saying that, with the Waitaha hydro-dam now, it’s got the green light to go ahead, that’s something that can actually offset the cost of power on the cost.”

They had considered solar options, however the roof would not sustain the weight of solar panels, Lash said.

“We’ve got to look at options, long term options for it, so it’s more viable, more financially viable, because it’s just so popular in who it serves, and the age brackets that it serves as well.”

She said if coal were an option, that would be preferred.

“We have some of the cleanest burning coal in the world, and yet when we import coal it’s some of the filthiest, so it does annoy me a wee bit that we could be far more efficient.”

Lash said the pool’s closure was a significant loss to the community, being used for a number of classes as well as recreation.

“It’s the connection point of it,” she said.

“It serves such a wide age group for us, and I know what it means to many, especially in the elderly sector.”

Lash said the closure was not an easy decision.

She was looking at how they could better use things like council vehicles amid the ongoing fuel crisis.

“My area here is 420 km long, so what we don’t want to see is somebody from planning going down to, say, Franz Josef one day and somebody from building going down the next,” Lash said.

“Coordinate the trips, travel together, we’re doing that sort of thing a lot.”

They were mindful of the number of trips being taken also, holding off on some when there were later trips planned.

“People don’t mind rescheduling if it means there’s a saving in that respect.”

Lash said it was a difficult time.

“If we could have it open tomorrow we would, but it’s going to come down to what the diesel price does and/or the converting to power, which ever one comes first,” she said.

“But we want it open as soon as it can be, that’s for sure.”

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

The Oceans and Fisheries under-secretary has met with iwi and the local board on Aotea/Great Barrier Island.

It is feared that overfishing has decimated the kōura population, and Ngāti Rehua – Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust Board and the Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board are wanting the government to back a plan to manage the population before it is too late.

RNZ reported that the team behind the Tai Tū Moana conservation project expected to meet with Jenny Marcroft soon.

Marcroft confirmed to RNZ that she travelled to Aotea/Great Barrier Island earlier in April.

“It was a very productive meeting,” she said.

Tai Tū Moana Steering Group member Glenn Edney wanted the government to implement a set of local rules devised during a pilot project called Ahu Moana. That included lowering the daily bag limit of Spiny Red Rock Lobster and the Packhorse Rock Lobster to two, a ban on daily bag limit accumulation, introducing a maximum size limit, having a closed mating season, and several recreational only areas.

“They’re seeing an increased pressure on the crayfish resource,” Marcroft said.

Marcroft said officials would be looking at each of those, and where they aligned, “where it’s through a Section 186A closure, which is iwi-led, or whether it comes in under Section 11 of the Fisheries Act.”

While she said she would be feeding into the advice given to the Oceans and Fisheries Minister, Marcroft said it would be up to Shane Jones to make any decision.

“I met with them towards the end of last week – just to go over, making sure we’ve captured all the information from the discussions we had on the island, and then that work will continue to be done until those recommendations come forward for the Minister.”

Marcroft said it was a “specific request for the uniqueness of Aotea/Great Barrier.”

“They are leading work. They all care about sustainability, including the commercial fishers that live on the island, as well.

“What I really liked about the meeting was the respect that was shown for each of the groups amongst themselves. It was really good.

“There wasn’t a, you know, we know that the recreational fishing space can get quite heated – people are very passionate about being able to fish – and what I saw was working collaboratively together, showing respect. It was very refreshing.”

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

A Queenstown community group is alarmed about a sharp spike in E. coli levels in the Shotover River, just downstream of the town’s troubled wastewater treatment plant.

The Otago Regional Council is investigating a high reading that the district council said was unrelated to the plant’s operation.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has been pumping treated effluent into the river for more than a year following issues with the plant’s disposal field on the Shotover Delta.

Last month, councillors agreed to seek a 35-year consent to keep pumping treated wastewater into the Kawarau River while a longer-term solution was found.

Monitoring data on the QLDC website showed E. coli levels reached 2100 cfu (colony forming units) at a site near the discharge point on 10 March, which was eight times above the council’s annual average consented limits and almost four times higher than safe swimming limits.

Right before the treated wastewater left the plant it returned a reading of 25 cfu, while levels upstream in the river ranged between one and 490 cfu throughout March.

In a statement, the district council said the spike could have been a compromised sample or isolated contamination, noting E. coli results varied because of wildlife and weather.

Queenstown Lakes Community Action member Nikki McFarlane said the data was strange and the spike was big.

She said the council should be more upfront.

“We’d like to see QLDC much more proactive in giving explanations for when there’s high levels or of contaminants. I think it would go a long way to have public confidence if we actually did see an explanation, if there was a logical explanation,” she said.

Otago Regional Council confirmed it was investigating the 10 March reading.

“We can’t comment on the cause while an investigation is underway,” a spokesperson said.

As part of its own regular monthly sampling it had also taken samples over 17 different days in March, the spokesperson said.

McFarlane said government water quality guidelines showed water with E. coli levels above 550 cfu was unsafe for swimming, yet the QLDC did not put up any signs warning people to avoid the river.

QLDC told RNZ the location in question was not a common recreational bathing area and by the time the results were returned “whatever caused the elevated result was unlikely to be present”.

McFarlane said the council should still let people know.

“For us it’s their responsibility, even though they’re not managing the rivers per se, just making sure that the public understand when the river is safe and when it’s not,” she said.

“We’ve asked for that before, to put up signage, to put a message on the website so people know not to go swimming at that particular area. We haven’t had any positive response.”

QLDC’s website showed at least three other spikes in contaminant levels over the past year, which the council attributed to a disruption to the treatment plant’s control system, upgrades combined with cold weather and rainfall.

McFarlane said the community group was concerned about the possibility of untreated sewage ending up in the water.

Her group was preparing to take part in an Environment Court hearing challenging the retrospective consents that the council lodged after first discharging treated wastewater into the river.

“It’s not a case of if they have another operational problem at the plant, it’s when. And because we no longer have any barrier between the plant and the river, when they have another operational failure, then that is going to go straight into the river and that’s really concerning,” she said.

The district council said the plant was performing as expected, within consented limits and there was no additional action required or planned.

“Our primary interest is in the quality of the treated wastewater leaving the plant as this is the only aspect entirely within our control,” a spokesperson said.

Last month, the council’s decision to lodge a 35-year consent application came despite Ngāi Tahu stating that the direct discharge of human waste to natural water was “abhorrent” and contrary to tikanga.

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

The Government is investing more than $800,000 to repair three of New Zealand’s Great Ride cycle trails following significant storm damage, plus marketing funding to aid regional tourism recovery, says Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston. 

“Repairing these trails ensures they can continue to drive regional tourism, support local businesses, and provide high‑quality outdoor recreation experiences,” Louise Upston says.  

“An initial $300,000 is going toward immediate safety work on the Hauraki Rail Trail which is enabling it to reopen to cyclists in time to enjoy the changing autumn landscapes, following storm damage in January.   

“The Waikato River Trail will receive $110,000 to help repair significant damage that occurred in February across 50 kilometres of the trail.   

“Further south, Tasman’s Great Taste Trail will receive almost $427,000 to reinstate the track between Wai‑iti Reserve and Quail Valley Road, subject to final route confirmation. This adds to support provided last year and brings total Government investment in extreme‑weather repairs on the trail to just over $2 million.  

“The trail contributes around $34 million to the local economy each year, and this work will help ensure it continues to play that vital role.  

“As regions recover from summer storms, it’s important we support tourism businesses to welcome visitors back. 

 “Alongside infrastructure repairs, targeted marketing funding has also been approved to help affected regions rebuild visitor confidence and support tourism recovery following the January 2026 severe weather events in the upper North Island.  This includes $55,000 for domestic and international marketing in Hauraki Coromandel and $10,000 for an autumn business‑events marketing campaign in the Bay of Plenty.  

“More than 2 million people enjoy the 23 Great Rides of Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails each year, contributing an estimated $1.28 billion to regional economies, and today’s support helps regions keep welcoming visitors as they recover from severe weather.  

“These trails are a long‑standing partnership between central and local government and the communities that host them. Today’s investment reinforces that commitment.” 

MIL OSI

Date:  24 April 2026

For safety reasons the public is not allowed to hunt on DOC-managed land on Te Pātaka, but DOC is working with the hunters from the charity because of their expertise and their manaakitanga says DOC Mahaanui Operations Manager Andy Thompson.

“These guys are so useful for us in terms of deer management, but we also love how they are set up to give the venison to the community and to rūnunga to distribute.

“It’s especially significant in Conservation Week, with many people around Aotearoa doing amazing mahi to help nature in their communities,” Andy says.

Today Te Rūnunga o Koukourata were given 200 kilograms of venison from the Hunters4Hope. Chairman Arpo Deer says they feel very privileged and proud to receive the koha.

“Not only is it a sustainable food source, but we are also protecting the whenua, and that provides hope that the native species will return including the birds and lizards and the forests,” he says

Andy Thompson says it’s heartbreaking to see in the impact of wild deer in the DOC reserves.

“In just the last few years, I’ve watched native species that deer like to eat disappear completely from areas that are meant to be protected. These plants aren’t just part of the scenery, they provide food and shelter for native wildlife, help forests recover after floods or storms, and play a critical role in stabilising slopes and preventing erosion. When they’re lost, the whole ecosystem becomes more vulnerable,” he says.

Andy Thompson says the Hunters4Hope recently took 12 deer from one DOC reserve and will be back to do more work in other reserves.

Deer management on the peninsula complements other ongoing work in the area, including keeping the peninsula free of wild goats and reducing browsing pressure on native vegetation.

“There are benefits beyond conservation land as well. Farmers whose lands are adjacent to our DOC reserves want to see fewer deer moving onto farmland and damaging pasture. Wild deer don’t respect property boundaries, so this is a win for nature and for neighbouring farms,” Andy says.

Hunters4Hope co-founder Adam Kreisel says one of the reasons the charity was started was to turn surplus into sustenance and address food insecurity.

“What’s been exciting is we are getting more hunters wanting to join the movement and donate their surplus venison to make a real difference to those in need. Our biggest problem now is securing long-term backing, to ensure we can keep growing and providing venison. With inquiries coming in from all around the South Island, it’s clear there’s a real need to reduce deer numbers and a real desire to help communities in the regions,” he says.

Department of Conservation National Wild Animals Manager Mike Perry says the project reflects the value of well-designed partnerships.

“New Zealand needs a range of approaches to manage wild deer numbers, selected to suit the location, terrain, and ecological outcomes we’re trying to achieve,” he says.

“Where public hunting isn’t permitted, working with trusted, community led groups allows DOC to protect biodiversity while also supporting social outcomes. In places like these reserves, conditions can also allow animals to be recovered for food, which adds further value for communities.”

DOC focuses intensive wild animal management on around 1.4 million hectares of high priority conservation land, often working alongside iwi, hunters and local communities.

Hunters who want to contribute to conservation outcomes can also get involved in initiatives such as the annual National Wild Goat Hunting Competition, which starts in August. While public hunting is not permitted on Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula there are many areas with significant deer populations – nearby are the two recreational hunting areas at Mt Thomas and Lake Sumner.

Andy Thompson says the goal is to remove all deer from Te Pātaka and ultimately all browsing mammals and predators.

“We can’t do this work alone and that’s where our partners in the community are so incredibly valuable. Nature needs a team effort.”

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Explore ideas at www.doc.govt.nz/conservationweek 

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MIL OSI