Category: New Zealand

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Missing swimmer at Piha Beach

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

A man is outstanding after a group of swimmers got into difficult at Piha Beach this afternoon.

Police were advised about the rescue by Surf Lifesaving New Zealand just after 4pm.

At this stage, Police are aware five swimmers were rescued however the sixth member of the group was not located.

Search efforts are ongoing to locate this man.

The Police Eagle helicopter has also deployed to assist with aerial-based searches.

No further information is available at this stage.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Driver in custody following fleeing driver incident

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

One man is in custody after earlier being located in a vehicle with mismatching plates.

Before 3pm, the vehicle was detected travelling city-bound on the Northwestern Motorway.

Inspector Kerry Watson says Police staff went to approach the blue Subaru in Western Springs a short time later.

“Instead, the driver took off from Police at speed on Great North Road towards Pt Chevalier.

“Police have not pursued this vehicle, but the Police Eagle helicopter continued to monitor this vehicle’s erratic and dangerous driving behaviour.”

The vehicle was driven across numerous central Auckland suburbs and the CBD, before heading towards Three Kings and eventually Onehunga.

Spikes were successfully deployed on multiple occasions.

Just after 3.30pm, the vehicle entered the car park at Dress Smart shopping centre in Onehunga.

“Our staff blocked the vehicle in before taking the male driver into custody,” Inspector Watson says.

Three Police vehicles suffered damage in the process of stopping the vehicle.

“It is pleasing that this matter has been concluded without putting anyone in further harm’s way,” Inspector Watson says.

“The man is now in Police custody and charges will follow in due course.”

Inspector Watson says Police ask any members of the public who witnessed the blue Subaru’s driving this afternoon, to contact Police.

You can contact 105 using the reference number P061434786.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Man charged with manslaughter following Hutt Valley Death

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Matin Todd:

A man has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a man in Hutt Hospital earlier this month.

The 75-year-old man was transported to Wellington Hospital with a brain injury following an altercation at Hutt Hospital on Friday 27 December, 2024. He was later transported back to Hutt Hospital, where he died on Sunday 19 January.

An investigation was launched to determine exactly what occurred prior to his death, which has since resulted in a charge of manslaughter.

A 23-year-old man was due to appear in the Hutt Valley District Court today, Tuesday 28 January, on a charge of manslaughter.

Police have been in contact with the whanau of the deceased who we extend our deepest sympathies to at this difficult time.

As the matter is now proceeding before the Courts, Police have no further comment.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre 

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Activist News – Genocide Hotline – action that will save Palestinian lives – PSNA

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

The genocide hotline we launched last week has taken off. It has enthused our supporters with a campaign which gets civil society to act when our government cowers. Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and is about to resume its industrial scale killing of Palestinians. 

This campaign will do more to save Palestinian lives than any other initiative we have taken so far in the campaign against Israel’s genocide. The message to Israel is that they may have the New Zealand government in their pocket but New Zealand civil society will take action to hold Israel to account for the genocide they are perpetrating in Gaza.

As is to be expected the pro-Israel lobby is squirming and trying to claim the campaign in somehow anti-semitic. These people would find anti-semitism in the words “the” and “and” if it was all they had to go on. They are furious we are telling genocidal Israeli soldiers they are not welcome here while never speaking a word of criticism of Israel for its daily war crimes.

Through our poster, the message on the genocide hotline and our publicity we are making it clear what the campaign is doing and what it is NOT about. The focus is NOT on Israelis – the focus is on IDF soldiers and reservists here for “rest and recreation” from the industrial-scale killing of Palestinians.

Our supporters have welcomed the campaign and the poster and media release have been widely shared on social media. The actions we take with the information that is coming in will be clear and consistent – these Israeli soldiers are not welcome here.

The most important message the campaign sends is to Israel and says that even if western governments are complicit in genocide, civil society in the western world does not accept Israeli impunity for war crimes. In that sense it’s a disruptive campaign from the cosy position Israel enjoys through government inaction here.

Of everything we have done in the past 16 months – this action is one that will save Palestinian lives.

Genocide Hotline – action that will save Palestinian lives

The genocide hotline we launched last week has taken off. It has enthused our supporters with a campaign which gets civil society to act when our government cowers. Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and is about to resume its industrial scale killing of Palestinians.

This campaign will do more to save Palestinian lives than any other initiative we have taken so far in the campaign against Israel’s genocide. The message to Israel is that they may have the New Zealand government in their pocket but New Zealand civil society will take action to hold Israel to account for the genocide they are perpetrating in Gaza.

As is to be expected the pro-Israel lobby is squirming and trying to claim the campaign in somehow anti-semitic. These people would find anti-semitism in the words “the” and “and” if it was all they had to go on. They are furious we are telling genocidal Israeli soldiers they are not welcome here while never speaking a word of criticism of Israel for its daily war crimes.

Through our poster, the message on the genocide hotline and our publicity we are making it clear what the campaign is doing and what it is NOT about. The focus is NOT on Israelis – the focus is on IDF soldiers and reservists here for “rest and recreation” from the industrial-scale killing of Palestinians.

Our supporters have welcomed the campaign and the poster and media release have been widely shared on social media. The actions we take with the information that is coming in will be clear and consistent – these Israeli soldiers are not welcome here.

The most important message the campaign sends is to Israel and says that even if western governments are complicit in genocide, civil society in the western world does not accept Israeli impunity for war crimes. In that sense it’s a disruptive campaign from the cosy position Israel enjoys through government inaction here.

Of everything we have done in the past 16 months – this action is one that will save Palestinian lives.

John Minto
National Chair
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

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Energy Sector – New risk management contracts improve market design

Source: Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand

 

The Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand (ERANZ) welcomes today’s launch of a new standardised super-peak hedge contract to be auctioned and brokered by Aotearoa Energy.

 

A standardised super-peak hedge contract is a risk management tool for wholesale electricity buyers. It acts as an insurance policy against higher wholesale electricity prices during peak demand periods when weather-dependent generation may be low. These contracts will become even more important as market volatility increases with the embracing of more intermittent renewable energy sources.

 

ERANZ Chief Executive Bridget Abernethy says the new contracts enable wholesale market participants to better manage higher prices when hydro, solar and wind generation may not be able to meet demand.

 

“All electricity market participants in New Zealand know our wholesale electricity market is volatile due to our dependence on intermittent renewables, and this product could be very useful for consumers who don’t have load flexibility or have very lumpy consumption patterns.

 

“We’re pleased to see the joint Electricity Authority-Commerce Commission Competition Taskforce launch this new product and look forward to this first trading event following extensive engagement with an industry-led representative panel.”

 

Abernethy supports the implementation of the new product and says ERANZ looks forward to the market’s development of more liquidity, which will provide generators and large consumers with another way of managing the risk in their energy portfolios.

 

“The Government’s recent Policy Statement on Electricity outlines an expectation that wholesale buyers and sellers have well-suited risk management arrangements in place.

 

“By introducing standardised flexibility products, participants will have far greater transparency around future electricity prices, supporting better risk management and investment decisions.”

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Opposing Govt Policy – Hear our voice PM – the PSA’s campaign against asset sales begins today

Source: PSA

The PSA firmly rejects any return to selling state assets following today’s comments from the Prime Minister.
Christopher Luxon said National may seek a mandate for asset sales at the next election. That comes days after ACT Leader David Seymour floated the prospect of privatisation of public health and other public services.
“Not content with stripping the guts out of the public service, now we have a Prime Minister floating selling state assets – it’s a return to the failed policies of the past,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, Acting National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“If the Government thinks selling state assets will drive economic growth, then the public should be worried.
“Have we not learnt from the past? Our history is littered with failed privatisations which required expensive bail outs and buy backs by taxpayers – remember the failures of Kiwi Rail, Air New Zealand and the Bank of New Zealand.
“The PSA doubts the public’s mood for asset sales has shifted since the 2013 citizens initiated referendum where two thirds of voters rejected asset sales.
“Asset sales are just a short-term sugar hit, and the public will be worse off. This is not simply a ‘recycling of assets’ as the PM puts it, but a loss of ownership and control. It’s wrong.
“Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past and keep the state’s silver in public hands. The PSA will be making its opposition to any return to the failed asset sales agenda of the past loud and clear.”
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Reduced Police Executive proposed

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has today released a proposal to reduce the size of the Police Executive.

The proposal was sent to affected staff earlier today and will remain open for feedback until Monday 10 February.

“When I was appointed Commissioner in November, I clearly signalled my intent to restructure the current Police Executive – the highest-ranking levels of our organisation,” Commissioner Chambers says.

“My goal is to ensure our Executive structure is fit-for-purpose, provides strong, clear leadership to the frontline, and delivers on the priorities I have set.”

The consultation document proposes consolidating a number of roles and responsibilities, including the disestablishment of 37 Executive and support service positions.

It also proposes creating 20 new positions, meaning a potential reduction of 17 roles.

“Consultation is an integral part of this process, all feedback will be reviewed and carefully considered before final decisions are made in late February,” Commissioner Chambers says.

“It’s also important to note that I’m absolutely committed to boosting our frontline and redundancy is not available to constabulary employees.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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ChildFund – Make the Case for Aid or Have It taken away

Source: ChildFund New Zealand

President Trump has issued an immediate stop-work order for all USA funded aid projects to align aid budgets with his foreign policy agenda.
This will cause chaos and suffering across the world, and will impact on some ChildFund New Zealand programmes and partners, says CEO of ChildFund NZ, Josie Pagani.
“It isn’t just USA aid programmes that are impacted – it’s any charity or donor who is working on a joint project with USA funding.”
ChildFund New Zealand is working with its ChildFund partner in America, to support food security and clean water projects in places like Kenya and Sri Lanka.
“With our USA partner we know we reach about 15,000 people in the vulnerable district of Batticaloa in Sri Lanka with nutritious food by supporting small-holder farmers. We know that we get clean water and good food to thousands of people who otherwise would not have it in countries like Kenya. We also know that 10,000 children in Sri Lanka are getting access to education through digital hubs, as well as thousands of children in Zambia, who otherwise would not have access to education.”
“All of that is at risk with this stop-work order.”
“We have been told that all US Aid funded projects have three months to evaluate each program based on three criteria:
  • Does the action make America safe?
  • Does it make America stronger?
  • Does it make America more prosperous?
“We welcome challenges about the effectiveness of aid. We should always hold ourselves accountable for success or failure when it comes to saving and improving the lives of people in some of the most vulnerable, war-torn or poorest places in the world.
New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters is in the process of reviewing New Zealand’s aid, and we welcome the review.
“But President Trump and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio are asking the wrong questions.”
“Aid is not there to make the donor countries rich or prosperous. There are better ways to do that.
The Focus of aid is to save lives, to lift children and communities out of extreme poverty, to stop people dying of preventable diseases, and to make sure every child and person has access to clean water and nutritious food, wherever they live.
Reducing the acute suffering of many millions of people reduces the likelihood of war, terrorism and political destabilisation. There is no doubt that effective aid programmes make us all safer.
The questions President Trump’s administration should be asking are:
  • Are we making a difference with aid?
  • Are local communities and institutions strong enough to continue the work after we leave?
  • Are we helping to make the poorest places less dependent on aid, and ultimately more prosperous?
“At ChildFund New Zealand that is the standard by which we measure our work. We ask ourselves these questions all the time. If the answer is no, we adapt, change what we’re doing and sometimes stop.”
“If we are achieving those goals, to answer President Trump’s questions, we can say ‘yes, we are helping to make New Zealand and our Pacific region a safer and stronger place’,” says Josie Pagani.
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Name release: Fatal crash Hei Hei Road

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police can now release the name of the person who died following a crash on Hei Hei Road, Christchurch on Saturday 25 January.

He was 35-year-old Liam Michael Ryan-Morris of Hornby.

Police extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of those involved.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Tax Issues – Overwhelming support for Capital Gains Tax welcomed – TJA

Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA)

28 January 2025 – A new survey showing strong support for a capital gains tax among workers has been welcomed by Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA).

TJA chair Glenn Barclay said the latest Council of Trade Unions (CTU) Te Kauae Kaimahi Mood of the Workforce survey showed almost 90 per cent of respondents were in favour of a capital gains tax.

“We welcome this result, which shows almost universal support for a capital gains tax among workers,” Mr Barclay said.

The CTU survey asked  “Should a greater share of public services such as health and education be paid for by taxing non-income profit via a capital gains tax?” – with 87.7% answering in favour.

“It supports what we know from public surveys held last year – and shows support is growing, with our own survey in 2023 finding 62 per cent of respondents thought all income should be taxed the same way, regardless of how it is earned.

“A capital gains tax is now widely accepted as the tax we need to have, because we are so far out of step with the rest of the developed world when it comes to taxing capital gains.

“Aotearoa is an outlier internationally, in that we do not tax capital gains in a comprehensive way – and this latest survey shows it’s no longer a political taboo.

“However, a capital gains tax is not the silver bullet for our unfair and unjust tax system.

“There are other options – such as wealth tax and excess profits taxes – that Aotearoa needs to consider in order to adequately fund public services, including health and education – and to help address inequality and challenges arising from climate change.”