Kenanga Investors Celebrates Multiple Wins at The 2025 LSEG Lipper Fund Awards

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March 3, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

To be attributed to Assistant Commissioner Jill Rogers:

Police are continuing with a critical incident investigation surrounding the events leading up to a man dying after being taken into Police custody in Ōrere Point on 2 March.

Today, Police are in a position to release some further information as those enquiries continue.

This was an incredibly fast-moving and volatile incident which unfolded over a short period of time.

We would like to acknowledge the impact that yesterday’s events will have had on the community and our thoughts are with everyone involved.

We are providing support to staff involved in this incident and there are now several investigations underway, including a critical incident investigation and a policy, practice, and procedure investigation.

As is standard procedure, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has also been notified, along with WorkSafe.

Clarification around Sunday’s events:

Police can advise that the vehicle sighted in Papakura on Sunday afternoon was a vehicle of interest in an aggravated robbery at a Takapuna bar on Saturday night.

That investigation remains ongoing. No charges have been laid as yet.

In an earlier release, Police advised the passenger of the vehicle challenged Police staff with a samurai sword.

We can now confirm this was in fact a metal pole.

Officers have then deployed taser and pepper spray however the man has continued to resist arrest and an officer has suffered a serious hand injury after being bitten by the man.

A Police dog was then deployed, and the man was eventually taken into custody but has quickly become unresponsive.

Medical assistance was rendered immediately and a medical helicopter was dispatched, however he was unable to be revived and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Injuries to Police officer:

A Police officer suffered a serious hand injury after being bitten by the passenger of the vehicle.

We are continuing to support this officer after they underwent medical treatment at Middlemore Hospital and have since been discharged.

Further information around the deceased man:

Until the next of kin notifications have been carried out, further details regarding the deceased are unable to be released.

A post mortem examination will be carried out in the coming days, to establish the cause of death, and Police will make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.

Footage at Ōrere Point:

Police are aware members of the public may have filmed the incident at Ōrere Point yesterday afternoon.

Given the man has yet to be formally identified, and next of kin not yet notified, we would encourage people not to share footage.

This is for the family’s sake, and there is a critical incident investigation underway.

Police ask anyone with footage to contact Police to assist with the investigation.

If you have footage please update Police online or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250302/2478 or cite ‘Operation Fielder’.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Name release: Fatal crash, Martinborough

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March 3, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police are now in a position to release the name of the person who died after a car collided with a shared cycle in Martinborough on 13 February.

She was 48-year-old Alison Robyn Korny, from Cheshire, England.

Our thoughts remain with her friends and family at this incredibly difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Chubb to Acquire Liberty Mutual’s P&C Insurance Businesses in Thailand and Vietnam

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March 3, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 March 2025 – Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB) today announced agreements to acquire the insurance businesses of Liberty Mutual in Thailand and Vietnam. The terms were not disclosed.

The two companies — LMG Insurance in Thailand and Liberty Insurance in Vietnam —offer a range of consumer and commercial P&C products, including Automotive, Accident & Health and Non-Motor insurance such as fire/property and industrial all-risk. This portfolio is coupled with complementary distribution through 56 branches, 2,600 brokers and agents, and 26 finance partners. The combined operations produced approximately $275 million in net premiums written in 2024.

The transactions are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025 (Thailand) and late 2025 / early 2026 (Vietnam) and are subject to required regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Hashtag: #Chubb

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

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

Update following Pōkeno incident

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March 3, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Please attribute to Acting Counties Manukau District Commander, Inspector Jared Pirret:

A man has been charged following a serious crash that left a member of the public injured near Pōkeno on Saturday.

The crash occurred at about 3pm on State Highway 2, when the fleeing driver attempted to avoid road spikes that had been laid across the road and swerved directly into the path of the oncoming car.

The driver of that car initially suffered critical injuries, and now remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The fleeing driver also suffered injuries and was transported to hospital.

The 42-year-old man appeared in Auckland District Court today charged with dangerous driving causing injury and driving while disqualified.

We would like to acknowledge the impact this incident had on those involved.

We are providing support to everyone affected and there are now several investigations underway, including a critical incident investigation and a policy, practice, and procedure investigation.

As is standard procedure, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has also been notified.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Group arrested following Ōrākei aggravated robbery

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March 3, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police have arrested four people following an aggravated robbery in Ōrākei this morning.

Just before 9am, a group of offenders entered a dairy on Kepa Road.

Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, of Auckland City Crime Squad, says the group ran into the store armed with a machete and two hammers making threats towards the attendant working.

“The attendant was chased out of the store,” he says.

“These offenders have taken the store’s cash register as well as other products from the store.

“Following this, the group fled in a stolen vehicle.”

Police were conducting enquiries in the nearby area, when suspicious activity reports were made by local residents.

“A group of offenders were seen abandoning a vehicle and stealing a small van, and this detail was relayed to Police.”

The van was later sighted in the Panmure area, when it fled from staff from an address.

Police did not pursue the vehicle, but the Police Eagle helicopter had deployed and took over monitoring the van.

“It was observed by Eagle travelling at speed south towards Weymouth,” Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says.

“Eagle has observed the van drop off various occupants at different locations around the area.

“Ground staff have since located all of those occupants, who are young people.

“The driver eventually stopped the van in the Clendon Park and was arrested by Police.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says Police have since recovered the cash register and some items stolen this morning.

Those arrested this morning were aged between 12 and 17. Charges are still to be confirmed.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

A night at the theatre, from one century to another

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March 3, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

Imagine it’s 2030. The St James Theatre has opened its doors again.

You’ve just seen Six60 play on the newly restored stage inside the amphitheatre, or heard Sol3Mio soar at great heights through the harmonies of the Pearl Fishers opera duet.

And you step out into the street.

There are plants and trees lining both sides of Queen Street – mature and lush-green. Footpaths are generously wide and the Waihorotiu path has become a gentle lane of riders who give priority to pedestrians. Shoppers have right of way.

You’re thinking about which travel option you’ll choose to get home. And there are many.

Render of Te Hā Noa, Victoria Street – under construction.

Will you stroll to your apartment a short distance away? Will you cross Queen Street to the Wellesley Street bus interchange and catch a bus – now smoothly funnelling people to all parts of the region?

Will you catch a train at Te Waihorotiu Station? The City Rail Link – Auckland’s new underground train system – has been operating for a few years and is already a hit with Aucklanders of all ages.

Will you grab an e-scooter and ride the Waihorotiu path to catch a ferry at the bottom of town, or hop on your bike parked on a rack outside the theatre and ride the cycleway now lining Te Hā Noa, Victoria Street? You’ll see beautiful artwork, mature trees on either side of the upgraded street and spacious streetside spaces for socialising.

Or will you meet friends after the show at one of the area’s vibrant hospitality lanes bustling with people, and drive home later? Or will a taxi meet you at a pick-up zone nearby, making the theatre experience accessible especially for the disabled and elderly.

If the St James Theatre had eyes, it would have witnessed a metamorphosis. It would have seen a burgeoning population and a transforming city centre since it first opened in 1928.

Back then, the theatre would have seen trams pulling up outside, an asphalted roadway, women daring to lift their hemlines, department stores leading a new retail trend, and the splendour of the Civic Theatre taking shape across the street, among many other stitches of an everchanging urban tapestry.

When the much-adored St James Theatre opens again, it will open to a city centre re-designed and responsive to changing times, a century after the theatre’s 1928 opening. There will be pedestrian-prioritised spaces, trees, rain gardens, public art, more visibility of te ao Māori narratives, and more transport options.

More information on the history of the St James Theatre is available via PDF [1.16 MB].

Theatregoers might even hear the singing of waiata in the underpass at nearby Myers Park, something they might not have been able to imagine a century ago. Read about Waimahara here and explore six other majestic icons in the central city here.

Pictures tell the story of our city centre’s transformation here.

One-night maintenance closure for State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill this weekend

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March 3, 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Regular users of State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill for 2025 need to be ready for a planned closure this Sunday.

The route will be closed for planned maintenance for one night between 9 pm and 4 am, on Sunday, 9 March.

Road crews will be carrying out drainage, culvert maintenance and other general maintenance work, and inspections.

Drivers of light vehicles can book an escorted crossing if they need to travel the route at night. The only alternative detours are via the Pahiatua Track or Saddle Road to the north – a much longer trip. This can be done on the NZTA website.

Bookings are essential. While every effort is made to accommodate drivers on the night, those who do not have a booking may be turned away.

Full closures mean maintenance works can be finished faster, and they are safer for road crews.

Traffic volumes are also lighter at night – while around 7,000 vehicles travel the route daily, fewer than 300 use it at night. It means night works affect fewer drivers and are far less disruptive than day works.

Three more sets of night closures are planned in April, May, and June. Road users, especially those who travel over the Remutaka Hill regularly, should make a note of the planned dates.

Important information for Remutaka Hill closures

Escorted crossings for light vehicles are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
Bookings are essential – drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.
Full access is always available for emergency services.

More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found on our website:

State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures. February – June 2025:

Nights closed	Start 9pm	Finish 4am
1	9 March	10 March
5	6 April	11 April
1	18 May	19 May
1	15 June	16 June

Fixing the Doctor – night works planned for State Highway 6 Doctor Creek Bridge repairs

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March 3, 2025

View larger map [JPG, 123 KB]

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A critical piece of State Highway 6 infrastructure is about to be worked as part of the state highway summer maintenance season.

The Doctor Creek Bridge, between Belgrove and Kohatu is due to be resurfaced, weather permitting, later this month.

Contractors will be onsite at the bridge on the night of Wednesday, 19 March to complete asphalting work.

Because of there is limited road space, the bridge and the highway must be closed to traffic while this work is completed.

Resurfacing bridge decks cannot be completed effectively under stop/go traffic management. A full closure also allows the job to be completed much faster, meaning less over all disruption for road users.

A closure will be in place on State Highway 6 between Wai-iti Valley Road and North Road from 7 pm on Wednesday, 19, March until 6 am on Thursday, 20 March. However, access will be available for affected residents and emergency services.

A local road detour will be available via Wai-iti Valley Road to Stock Road, to Valley Road, onto North Road then back onto State Highway 6 near Kohatu Junction. The reverse for northbound road users.

This detour will add an extra 20 minutes to travel time. Drivers should plan their trips accordingly.

If weather or any unforeseen circumstances mean work cannot be completed on Wednesday night, the contingency night for this work is Thursday, 20 March.

More information:

Healthcare boost means seeing a GP, faster

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March 3, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is delivering on its commitment to fix New Zealand’s broken healthcare system by ensuring Kiwis get better access to healthcare.

Making it easier for New Zealanders to see a doctor or other health professional is a key priority under Health Minister Simeon Brown.

“We are already investing record funding into healthcare, but many New Zealanders are still finding it too hard to get an appointment with their GP, which is putting pressure on our emergency departments,” Mr Brown says.

“I am announcing today:

100 clinical placements for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care.
Incentives for primary care to recruit up to 400 graduate registered nurses per year for three years.
A new 24/7 digital service for all New Zealanders to be able to access online medical appointments.
Health New Zealand providing a $285 million uplift for general practice over three years.

“We are taking action to ensure New Zealanders have increased access to more doctors and nurses and more choice of where they can access that healthcare.

“We know we will need more doctors. That’s why we are funding a new two-year primary care training programme for up to 100 extra overseas-trained doctors once they are registered to work in New Zealand.

“It makes no sense that overseas-trained doctors living in New Zealand are willing to work in primary care, but can’t, because there aren’t enough training opportunities.

“We are fixing this by building on a successful pilot in the Waikato and will support their transition into general practices that need them most.

“Under the plan, GP practices and other providers outside hospitals will also be paid an incentive to attract, recruit, and support up to 400 graduate registered nurses a year from this year.

“Just over $30 million has been allocated over five years for this initiative. Primary care providers, including general practice, will receive $20,000 per graduate nurse in rural areas, with those in our cities receiving $15,000.

“This helps attract essential healthcare staff where they’re desperately needed, particularly in rural areas.

“The Government will also invest in a new 24/7 digital healthcare service that will provide all New Zealanders with better access to video consultations with New Zealand-registered clinicians, such as GPs and nurse practitioners.

“This service will mean Kiwis can access primary healthcare from anywhere in New Zealand, 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the ability for GPs and nurses to also issue prescriptions or make referrals for lab tests.

“This is a practical solution which expands access to primary care for Kiwis and will provide an additional service to ensure New Zealanders have more access to timely and quality care.

“Today, I am also announcing that Health New Zealand will deliver a $285 million performance-based uplift in funding over three years for general practice from 1 July 2025.

“This is made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion in health and is in addition to the capitation uplift general practice receives annually.

“It will incentivise GPs to offer enhanced access, including keeping their books open to new patients, achieving key Government health targets such as increased immunisation rates, or supporting family doctors to undertake minor planned care services, and see patients in a timely manner.

“We know this additional funding will make a real difference in delivering the best health outcomes for New Zealanders, with more detail to be confirmed.

“Our focus remains on strengthening services, reducing pressure on GPs, and ensuring Kiwis can access the care they need, when they need it.

“I look forward to making further announcements about improving access to primary care and how we will increase and retain doctors and nurses as part of this package,” Mr Brown says.