Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Whangārei Police have charged a man in relation to a homicide in the city yesterday.
Emergency services were called to a Norfolk Street property yesterday evening, where a man had died.
Another man, known to the victim, was arrested at the property and has now been charged with murder.
The 53-year-old is due to appear in Whangārei District Court tomorrow.
A scene examination is ongoing at the property.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Please attribute to Inspector Peter Raynes of Tāmaki Makaurau Police:
One person has died, and two others have been critically injured, after a driver allegedly fled from Police and crashed early this afternoon.
Shortly before 2pm, a Police vehicle sighted a car travelling at excess speed along Great South Road, Penrose, and signalled for it to stop.
It failed to do so and instead fled, crashing with two other cars.
The driver of the vehicle which allegedly failed to stop was transported to hospital in a critical condition.
One person from one of the other vehicles died at the scene, while another was also critically injured.
Another person was in moderate condition.
The Serious Crash Unit is examining the scene, and the road remains closed.
A Critical Incident Investigation has been launched and staff are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
We are also working to support those affected and their families, as well as our staff who were involved.
Police have also referred this matter to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
More than 8000 kina have already been removed from Matheson Bay/Te Kohuroa north of Auckland under a special permit issued to deal with the problem of kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.
“Te Kohuroa Rewilding Initiative’s work removing the kina is a powerful example of a community protecting its local marine habitat.
“It was the first group to be approved for the new permit introduced in October last year to deal with the problem of kina barrens, and they have used it to great effect.”
Four community-led events so far have resulted in more than 8000 kina harvested and culled. More events are planned.
“The mahi is already paying off. Te Kohuroa Rewilding Initiative has observed that kina are not coming back in large numbers to areas that have been cleared, and kelp is beginning to grow in previously barren spots,” Mr Jones says.
“The restoration of kelp forests is crucial in restoring coastal environments that support biodiversity.”
The group is working with Ngāti Manuhiri, the University of Auckland Reef team, and the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust to design and facilitate its programme to restore the marine ecosystem at Matheson Bay/Te Kohuroa.
“This is exactly what I wanted to see when I introduced the special permit. These activities demonstrate the power local communities can have when given the right tools. It’s also a great opportunity for new generations to take part in community projects, become interested in their local environment, and develop new skills,” Mr Jones says.
“I congratulate Te Kohuroa Rewilding Initiative and all the volunteers who have come together to have such a positive impact on the marine environment they care about.”
Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Advocate Argues for Methamphetamine Treatment Introduction
Jas Brosnan, a passionate advocate for marginalised communities, has submitted a groundbreaking proposal to the Law Commission, aiming to revolutionise methamphetamine addiction treatment in New Zealand. This evidence-based approach, modelled after the success of opioid replacement therapy, proposes legal access to prescription stimulants like Desoxyn and Vyvanse to mitigate addiction’s harmful effects.
The post Advocate Argues for Methamphetamine Treatment Introduction first appeared on PR.co.nz.
– –
Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Adclics: AI-Driven Digital Marketing Solutions
Adclics, a New Zealand-owned digital marketing agency, is revolutionising the e-commerce landscape with its suite of AI-powered tools designed to enhance online presence, optimise marketing strategies, and drive business growth.
The post Adclics: AI-Driven Digital Marketing Solutions first appeared on PR.co.nz.
– –
Paris-based global media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has recalled that 20 journalists were killed during the six-year Philippines presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, a regime marked by fierce repression of the press.
Former president Duterte was arrested earlier this week as part of an International Criminal Court investigation into crimes against humanity linked to his merciless war on drugs. He is now in The Hague awaiting trial.
The watchdog has called on the administration of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to take strong measures to fully restore the country’s press freedom and combat impunity for the crimes against media committed by Duterte’s regime.
“Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you’re a son of a bitch,” Rodrigo Duterte said in his inauguration speech on 30 June 2016, which set the tone for the rest of his mandate — unrestrained violence against journalists and total disregard for press freedom, said RSF in a statement.
During the Duterte regime’s rule, RSF recorded 20 cases of journalists killed while working.
Among them was Jesus Yutrago Malabanan, shot dead after covering Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war for Reuters.
Online harassment surged, particularly targeting women journalists.
Maria Ressa troll target
The most prominent victim was Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the news site Rappler, who faced an orchestrated hate campaign led by troll armies allied with the government in response to her commitment to exposing the then-president’s bloody war.
Media outlets critical of President Duterte’s authoritarian excesses were systematically muzzled: the country’s leading television network, ABS-CBN, was forced to shut down; Rappler and Maria Ressa faced repeated lawsuits; and a businessman close to the president took over the country’s leading newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, raising concerns over its editorial independence.
“The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte is good news for the Filipino journalism community, who were the direct targets of his campaign of terror,” said RSF’s Asia-Pacific bureau director Cédric Alviani.
“President Marcos and his administration must immediately investigate Duterte’s past crimes and take strong measures to fully restore the country’s press freedom.”
The repression carried out during Duterte’s tenure continues to impact on Filipino journalism: investigative journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been languishing in prison since her arrest in 2020, still awaiting a verdict in her trial for “financing terrorism” and “illegal possession of firearms” — trumped-up charges that could see her sentenced to 40 years in prison.
With 147 journalists murdered since the restoration of democracy in 1986, the Philippines remains one of the deadliest countries for media workers.
The republic ranked 134th out of 180 in the 2024 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
Source report from Reporters Without Borders. Pacific Media Watch collaborates with RSF.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police investigating the homicide in Kaikohe have filed a murder charge.
Emergency services were called to a Mangakahia Road property yesterday morning, where a man located with stab wounds eventually died at the scene.
A man taken into custody at the time has now been charged with murder.
The 44-year-old will appear in Kaikohe District Court tomorrow [Monday].
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Michelle Harris:
A homicide inquiry has been launched following the death of a man in Whangārei yesterday.
Emergency services were called to the Norfolk Street address shortly before 5pm, after a report of a man being injured.
He was found unresponsive, and sadly died at the scene.
A 53-year-old man, known to the victim, was arrested at the address and is assisting with our inquiries.
No charges have been filed at this stage.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: Raine & Horne
Real estate super brand goes all in on a nationwide radio blitz through Newstalk ZB and its NZME stablemates to reach collectively 1.86 million Kiwis weekly.
Highlights:
Christchurch, NZ (14 March 2025) – Raine & Horne, Australasia’s fastest-growing real estate group, has launched a nationwide radio advertising campaign in collaboration with leading integrated media company New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME).
NZME’s portfolio includes some of New Zealand’s most influential media brands, such as talkback ratings leader Newstalk ZB, major mastheads such as The New Zealand Herald and BusinessDesk, and leading community and regional newspapers. Its digital platforms also feature OneRoof, a premier property destination offering thousands of listings, accurate estimates, and the latest market insights.
This strategic initiative aims to boost brand awareness and engagement with Raine & Horne among property owners, buyers, investors, and tenants. Since entering the New Zealand market in April 2023, Raine & Horne has rapidly expanded, now boasting over 60 offices nationwide.
Mr Angus Raine, Raine & Horne Executive Chairman, who spearheaded the group’s expansion into New Zealand, stressed the importance of the nationwide radio campaign.
“We have already kicked plenty of goals, including successfully integrating the Mike Pero Real Estate group into our brand last year. But we don’t want to be known as New Zealand’s best-kept secret,” Mr Raine said.
“This campaign is strategically designed to engage property owners and buyers across New Zealand’s big cities, small towns, and regional communities, reinforcing our growing brand presence.”
The radio campaign, airing throughout March, will further strengthen the brand’s visibility and awareness as it approaches its highly successful second anniversary in New Zealand.
“By partnering with trusted radio stations through the NZME network, Raine & Horne has the opportunity to connect with millions of potential customers,” Mr Raine said.
The campaign will air across some of New Zealand’s most influential and widely listened-to stations, including ratings leader Newstalk ZB—akin to Australia’s top talkback stations such as 2GB, 3AW, and 4BC—along with ZM, which parallels KIIS FM, as well as The Hits, Coast, Radio Hauraki, Flava, and the NZME podcast network and iHeartRADIO, which collectively reach 1.86 million Kiwis weekly.
“Notably, 85% of this audience has a vested interest in property, ensuring the campaign reaches the right market,” Mr Raine added.
The campaign will deliver over 3,000 advertisements nationwide in March, including 2,824 guaranteed spots plus additional bonus placements. The reach of the campaign is substantial:
Radio remains one of the most effective advertising mediums, offering the frequency and credibility required to build brand recognition and trust.
“By aligning ourselves with respected and influential radio shows and hosts through the NZME network, we can leverage the credibility of their world-class journalists and broadcasters and their excellent audience engagement to underpin our rapidly expanding position in New Zealand’s real estate market,” Mr Raine said.
“This high-impact campaign also reinforces our long-term commitment to the New Zealand real estate market, ensuring property owners are well-informed about our network’s evolution and the advantages of working with a trusted global real estate brand such as Raine & Horne.”
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Neilson:
Waikato Police have commenced a homicide investigation following an incident in Hamilton overnight.
Emergency services were called to Beatty Street, Melville at around 4:30am.
A 26-year-old man was located deceased at the scene. A second man was taken to Waikato Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
Police are currently making enquiries to establish what has occurred and the events leading up to this incident.
We are also working to identify and locate a third man who was at the scene.
Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the area or may have any footage or CCTV of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via 105 quoting file number 250315/0371
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police are working to locate Joseph, aged 24, as we have concerns for his welfare.
We believe Joseph was involved in a car crash on Tihoi Road/SH32 near Waimanoa Road, just north of Lake Taupō on Wednesday 12 March, at around 2pm.
Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or was in the area at the time and may have seen Joseph following the crash.
After initial enquiries at the scene, we have reason to believe Joseph is injured.
Police urge anyone with information regarding Joseph’s whereabouts to contact Police on 105 either over the phone or online.
Please use the reference number 250311/5175.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Attributable to Detective Inspector Al Symonds:
Northland Police have launched a homicide inquiry after a man died south of Kaikohe today.
Emergency services were called to a property on Mangakahia Road, about 5km south of the town, around 9:10am.
Upon arrival, they located a male with apparent stab wounds who, despite medical attention, died at the scene.
Police have a person of interest in custody, and continue to gather information from the scene, including speaking to a number of people who were gathered at the property.
Police would ask anyone who saw what happened, who has not yet spoken to Police, to please get in touch.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police can confirm the driver involved in a serious crash in Howick yesterday evening has died.
The driver, the sole occupant of the car, collided with a building near the intersection with Cook and Picton Streets, just before 6:30pm.
Police are making inquiries into the death on behalf of the Coroner.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police have serious concerns for the wellbeing of Joseph Grattan, 24, and are urgently seeking to locate him.
Joseph has not been seen since 28 February, where he was in Patikura Place, Turangi.
He is believed to have been involved in a crash on SH32/Tihoi Road near Waimanoa Road on Wednesday 12 March, at around 2pm.
Initial enquiries at the scene have given us reason to believe Joseph was injured from this crash.
Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or was in the area at the time of the crash and may have seen Joseph.
Police and Joseph’s family are urging anybody with information regarding the whereabouts of Joseph to contact Police on 105 either by calling or online.
Please reference file number 250311/5175.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on State Highway 6, Cromwell this morning.
The two-vehicle crash, involving a motorcycle and a car was reported at about 10:30am.
One person died at the scene and a second person sustained serious injuries.
The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police investigating the death of a man at a Beatty Street address overnight are now asking for anyone who sees this vehicle to come forward.
The black Ford Territory, registration DBN472, was last seen being driven by a man, who Police are also looking to speak to in connection with our enquiries.
If you see this vehicle please call 111 immediately, quoting reference number 250315/0371.
If you have any other information to share about this vehicle or its driver, please do so through our 105 service.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Labour Party
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong.
Simeon Brown has repeatedly claimed the Government is putting “$16.68 billion more put into our health system over three years” when the actual amount is half that at $8.4 billion.
“The Health Minister should learn how to read government accounts. He should be referring to spending over three government budgets – some of that money will not be spent until 2030 – not three years,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.
He made the $16.68 billion claim in a speech to the BusinessNZ Health Forum, in the media, and in Parliament.
“This is rich coming from a government that delights in calling others in the health sector financially illiterate but can’t read their own budget,” Ayesha Verrall said.
“The Government has not funded the health system enough to keep up with costs, and services are being cut as a result.
“We know that front line staff are bearing the brunt of the chaotic cuts at Health New Zealand and patient care is suffering because of it.
“New Zealanders are feeling it in their back pocket too. The cost of going to your GP has gone up, costs for prescriptions have gone up and it’s harder to get an appointment.
“This is what happens with a minister doesn’t understand what life is like for patients, carers and healthcare workers,” Ayesha Verrall said.
Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway 6/Kawarau Gorge Road is closed near McNulty Road following a crash.
The two-vehicle crash involving a motorbike and a car was reported at about 10:30am.
Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
A diversion is in place around the crash scene.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Members of the public are advised to stay away from the Maungawhio Drive area in Mahia, as emergency services respond to a fire.
Police are attending and assisting with a small number of evacuations.
Residents around the area are asked to close all doors and windows and prepare in case of further evacuations.
Police ask if you are aware of any vulnerable members of the community to assist by advising them of the current situation.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police are at the scene of a crash at the level crossing near the intersection of Heaphy Terrace and Claudelands Road, Hamilton East, where a train has struck a car.
While there are no serious injuries, the road is now closed while the scene is cleared.
Motorists are advised to take an alternate route.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
By Emma Andrews, RNZ Henare te Ua Māori journalism intern
Māori contributions to the Aotearoa New Zealand economy have far surpassed the projected goal of “$100 billion by 2030”, a new report has revealed.
The report conducted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) and Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Ōhanga Māori 2023, shows Māori entities have grown from contributing $17 billion to New Zealand’s GDP in 2018 to $32 billion in 2023, turning a 6.5 percent contribution to GDP into 8.9 percent.
The Māori asset base has grown from $69 billion in 2018 to $126 billion in 2023 — an increase of 83 percent.
Of that sum, there is $66 billion in assets for Māori businesses and employers, $19 billion in assets for self-employed Māori and $41 billion in assets for Māori trusts, incorporations, and other Māori collectives including post settlement entities.
In 2018, $4.2 billion of New Zealand’s economy came from agriculture, forestry, and fishing which made it the main contributor.
Now, administrative, support, and professional services have taken the lead contributing $5.1 billion in 2023.
However, Māori collectives own around half of all of New Zealand’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing assets and remain the highest asset-rich sector.
Focused on need
Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira manages political and public interests on behalf of Ngāti Toa, including political interests, treaty claims, fisheries, health and social services, and environmental kaitiakitanga.
Tumu Whakarae chief executive Helmut Modlik said they were not focused on making money, but on “those who need it most”.
Ngāti Toa invested in water infrastructure and environmental projects, with a drive to replenish the whenua and improve community health. Like many iwi, they also invest in enterprises that deliver essential services such as health, housing and education.
“We focus on long-term benefits rather than short-term gains, ensuring that our investments contribute to the sustainable development of our community,” Modlik said.
Between the covid-19 lockdown and 2023, the iwi grew their assets from $220 million to $850 million and increased their staff from 120 to over 600.
Pou Ōhanga (chief economic development and investment officer) Boyd Scirkovich said they took a “people first” approach to decision making.
“We focused on building local capacity and ensuring that our people had the resources and support they needed to navigate the challenges of the pandemic.”
The kinds of jobs Māori are working are also changing.
Māori workers now hold more high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs with 46 percent in high-skilled jobs, 14 percent in skilled jobs, and 40 percent in low-skilled jobs.
That is compared to 2018 when 37 percent of Māori were in high-skilled jobs and 51 percent in low-skilled jobs.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: ACT Party
ACT MP and former civil engineer Simon Court is welcoming the suite of projects announced at the Investment Summit set to capitalise on new and improved private infrastructure delivery pathways.
“The private sector brings innovation, expertise and capital – both domestic and international – that drives faster delivery of better infrastructure that stands the test of time.
“After a long PPP hiatus, supercharging New Zealand’s PPP model was priority number one for me as Infrastructure Under-Secretary, and it’s pleasing to see several PPP projects take centre stage as we showcase to global investors New Zealand’s opportunities.”
There are several PPP announcements from the Summit:
Speaking from the Summit, Mr Court is buoyed by investor interest in other private-friendly opportunities relating to models he has led as Under-Secretary, including strategic leasing (or ‘PPP-lite’), market-led (or ‘unsolicited’) proposals, and Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act ‘special purpose vehicles’ (SPVs).
“Health Minister Simeon Brown has signalled the trifecta of PPPs, strategic leasing, and market-led proposals are all on the cards for upcoming health infrastructure – all have important roles to play as we drive our health infrastructure recovery.
“Summit attendees have already expressed particular interest to me in this ‘PPP-lite’ strategic leasing pathway as an easier way to get involved on smaller scale projects.
“There was also significant interest in SPV opportunities – where private capital finances infrastructure in exchange for levies on those benefitting – under the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act I am panel beating into shape. This is great news, particularly for local government infrastructure.”
Mr Court is also welcoming the tolling concession announcements. Tolling concessions have delivered great infrastructure abroad, including through PPPs, where users – rather than taxpayers – foot the bill.
SPECIAL REPORT: By Giff Johnson, editor of the Marshall Islands Journal and RNZ Pacific correspondent in Majuro
The late Member of Parliament Jeton Anjain and the people of the nuclear test-affected Rongelap Atoll changed the course of the history of the Marshall Islands by using Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior ship to evacuate their radioactive home islands 40 years ago.
They did this by taking control of their own destiny after decades of being at the mercy of the United States nuclear testing programme and its aftermath.
In 1954, the US tested the Bravo hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, spewing high-level radioactive fallout on unsuspecting Rongelap Islanders nearby.
For years after the Bravo test, decisions by US government doctors and scientists caused Rongelap Islanders to be continuously exposed to additional radiation.
The 40th anniversary of the dramatic evacuation of Rongelap Atoll in 1985 by the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior — a few weeks before French secret agents bombed the ship in Auckland harbour — was spotlighted this week in Majuro with the arrival of Greenpeace’s flagship Rainbow Warrior III to a warm welcome combining top national government leaders, the Rongelap Atoll Local Government and the Rongelap community.
“We were displaced, our lives were disrupted, and our voices ignored,” said MP Hilton Kendall, who represents Rongelap in the Marshall Islands Parliament, at the welcome ceremony in Majuro earlier in the week.
“In our darkest time, Greenpeace stood with us.”
‘Evacuated people to safety’
He said the Rainbow Warrior “evacuated the people to safety” in 1985.
Greenpeace would “forever be remembered by the people of Rongelap,” he added.
In 1984, Jeton Anjain — like most Rongelap people who were living on the nuclear test-affected atoll — knew that Rongelap was unsafe for continued habitation.
There was not a single scientist or medical doctor among their community although Jeton was a trained dentist, and they mainly depended on US Department of Energy-provided doctors and scientists for health care and environmental advice.
They were always told not to worry and that everything was fine.
But it wasn’t, as the countless thyroid tumors, cancers, miscarriages and surgeries confirmed.
As the desire of Rongelap people to evacuate their homeland intensified in 1984, unbeknown to them Greenpeace was hatching a plan to dispatch the Rainbow Warrior on a Pacific voyage the following year to turn a spotlight on the nuclear test legacy in the Marshall Islands and the ongoing French nuclear testing at Moruroa in French Polynesia.
A Rainbow Warrior question
As I had friends in the Greenpeace organisation, I was contacted early on in its planning process with the question: How could a visit by the Rainbow Warrior be of use to the Marshall Islands?
Jeton and I were good friends by 1984, and had worked together on advocacy for Rongelap since the late 1970s. I informed him that Greenpeace was planning a visit and without hesitation he asked me if the ship could facilitate the evacuation of Rongelap.
At this time, Jeton had already initiated discussions with Kwajalein traditional leaders to locate an island that they could settle in that atoll.
I conveyed Jeton’s interest in the visit to Greenpeace, and a Greenpeace International board member, the late Steve Sawyer, who coordinated the Pacific voyage of the Rainbow Warrior, arranged a meeting for the three of us in Seattle to discuss ideas.
Jeton and I flew to Seattle and met Steve. After the usual preliminaries, Jeton asked Steve if the Rainbow Warrior could assist Rongelap to evacuate their community to Mejatto Island in Kwajalein Atoll, a distance of about 250 km.
Steve responded in classic Greenpeace campaign thinking, which is what Greenpeace has proved effective in doing over many decades. He said words to the effect that the Rainbow Warrior could aid a “symbolic evacuation” by taking a small group of islanders from Rongelap to Majuro or Ebeye and holding a media conference publicising their plight with ongoing radiation exposure.
“No,” said Jeton firmly. He wasn’t talking about a “symbolic” evacuation. He told Steve: “We want to evacuate Rongelap, the entire community and the housing, too.”
Steve Sawyer taken aback
Steve was taken aback by what Jeton wanted. Steve simply hadn’t considered the idea of evacuating the entire community.
But we could see him mulling over this new idea and within minutes, as his mind clicked through the significant logistics hurdles for evacuation of the community — including that it would take three-to-four trips by the Rainbow Warrior between Rongelap and Mejatto to accomplish it — Steve said it was possible.
And from that meeting, planning for the 1985 Marshall Islands visit began in earnest.
I offer this background because when the evacuation began in early May 1985, various officials from the United States government sharply criticised Rongelap people for evacuating their atoll, saying there was no radiological hazard to justify the move and that they were being manipulated by Greenpeace for its own anti-nuclear agenda.
This condescending American government response suggested Rongelap people did not have the brain power to make important decisions for themselves.
But it also showed the US government’s lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation in which Rongelap Islanders lived day in and day out in a highly radioactive environment.
The Bravo hydrogen bomb test blasted Rongelap and nearby islands with snow-like radioactive fallout on 1 March 1954. The 82 Rongelap people were first evacuated to the US Navy base at Kwajalein for emergency medical treatment and the start of long-term studies by US government doctors.
No radiological cleanup
A few months later, they were resettled on Ejit Island in Majuro, the capital atoll, until 1957 when, with no radiological cleanup conducted, the US government said it was safe to return to Rongelap and moved the people back.
“Even though the radioactive contamination of Rongelap Island is considered perfectly safe for human habitation, the levels of activity are higher than those found in other inhabited locations in the world,” said a Brookhaven National Laboratory report commenting on the return of Rongelap Islanders to their contaminated islands in 1957.
It then stated plainly why the people were moved back: “The habitation of these people on the island will afford most valuable ecological radiation data on human beings.”
And for 28 years, Rongelap people lived in one of the world’s most radioactive environments, consuming radioactivity through the food chain and by living an island life.
Proving the US narrative of safety to be false, the 1985 evacuation forced the US Congress to respond by funding new radiological studies of Rongelap.
Thanks to the determination of the soft-spoken but persistent leadership of Jeton, he ensured that a scientist chosen by Rongelap would be included in the study. And the new study did indeed identify health hazards, particularly for children, of living on Rongelap.
The US Congress responded by appropriating US$45 million to a Rongelap Resettlement Trust Fund.
Subsistence atoll life
All of this was important — it both showed that islanders with a PhD in subsistence atoll life understood more about their situation than the US government’s university educated PhDs and medical doctors who showed up from time-to-time to study them, provide medical treatment, and tell them everything was fine on their atoll, and it produced a $45 million fund from the US government.
However, this is only a fraction of the story about why the Rongelap evacuation in 1985 forever changed the US narrative and control of its nuclear test legacy in this country.
Rongelap is the most affected population from the US hydrogen bomb testing programme in the 1950s.
By living on Rongelap, the community confirmed the US government’s narrative that all was good and the nuclear test legacy was largely a relic of the past.
The 1985 evacuation was a demonstration of the Rongelap community exerting control over their life after 31 years of dictates by US government doctors, scientists and officials.
It was difficult building a new community on Mejatto Island, which was uninhabited and barren in 1985. Make no mistake, Rongelap people living on Mejatto suffered hardship and privation, especially in the first years after the 1985 resettlement.
Nuclear legacy history
Their perseverance, however, defined the larger ramification of the move to Mejatto: It changed the course of nuclear legacy history by people taking control of their future that forced a response from the US government to the benefit of the Rongelap community.
Forty years later, the displacement of Rongelap Islanders on Mejatto and in other locations, unable to return to nuclear test contaminated Rongelap Atoll demonstrates clearly that the US nuclear testing legacy remains unresolved — unfinished business that is in need of a long-term, fair and just response from the US government.
The Rainbow Warrior will be in Majuro until next week when it will depart for Mejatto Island to mark the 40th anniversary of the resettlement, and then voyage to other nuclear test-affected atolls around the Marshall Islands.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
By Atereano Mateariki of Waatea News
The future of Māori radio in Aotearoa New Zealand requires increased investment in both online platforms and traditional airwaves, says a senior manager.
Matthew Tukaki, station manager at Waatea Digital, spoke with Te Ao Māori News about the future of Māori radio.
He said there was an urgent need for changes to ensure a sustainable presence on both AM/FM airwaves and digital platforms.
“One of the big challenges will always be funding. Many of our iwi stations operate with very limited resources, as their focus is more on manaakitanga (hospitality) and aroha (compassion),” Tukaki said.
He said that Waatea Digital had been exploring various new digital strategies to enhance viewership and engagement across the media landscape.
“We need assistance and support to transition to these new platforms,” Tukaki said.
He also highlighted the continued importance of traditional AM frequencies, particularly during emergencies like Cyclone Gabrielle, where these stations served as vital emergency broadcasters.
Report originally by Te Ao Māori.
Source: New Zealand Government
Initiatives announced this week underscore the Government’s commitment to fix New Zealand’s broken healthcare system, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“We are relentlessly focused on improving health outcomes and ensuring Kiwis have access to timely, quality healthcare.“That’s why we are spending more on health than ever before – a record $30 billion each year.“Making it easier for people to see a doctor or nurse at their local GP clinic in a timely manner is a key part of this.“That’s why I announced a significant package this week to improve access to primary care and boost the primary care workforce, including:
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 five years.
A $285 million uplift to funding over three years for general practice from 1 July, in addition to the capitation uplift general practice receives annually.
An increase in the number of training placements for doctors at medical schools by a further 25 each year, meaning 100 more doctor training places will be added over the course of this Government.
Up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors a year to train in primary care settings.
A new 24/7 digital service for all New Zealanders to be able to access online medical appointments.
Up to 120 training places for nurse practitioners specialising in primary care.
Accelerating advanced tertiary education for up to 120 primary care registered nurses.
“Strengthening urgent and after-hours care will also be a focus of mine as part of our plan to enable faster access to primary care, and work on this is underway.“We are also focused on delivering better outcomes for those with cancer, including earlier detection of cancers through screening programmes.“This week, I was pleased to announce that the Government has agreed to progressively lower the age of eligibility for bowel cancer screening tests to align with Australia, which is 45 years old. By delivering the first step of lowering the age to 58, more lives will be saved.“We know that improving screening rates is crucial, which is why we also announced a significant investment for targeted initiatives that aim to increase screening rates among population groups with low rates, such as Māori, Asian, and Pacific Peoples.“This follows our decision to extend breast screening to women aged 70 to 74 and our $604 million boost to Pharmac over four years to deliver new cancer treatments and medicines.“Finally this week, I outlined my key five priorities as Minister of Health to put the focus firmly back on patients:
Focusing Health New Zealand on delivering the basics.
Fixing primary healthcare.
Reducing emergency department wait times.
Clearing the elective surgery backlog.
Investing in health infrastructure.
“Our plan supports our Government’s wider commitment to rebuild the economy, restore law and order, and deliver better health, education, and infrastructure for every New Zealander. Kiwis want action, and I am focused on delivering real change at pace.“We will not stop until our health system delivers timely, quality care to all New Zealanders.”
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Attribute to Detective Inspector Dave de Lange:
Police have determined that there were no suspicious circumstances relating to the death of a man in Wairoa on Wednesday 5 March.
Emergency services had been called to the Lucknow Street address about 4pm, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Enquiries have been carried out and have now determined his death was not suspicious.
His death will be referred to the Coroner.
Police extend their sympathies to the man’s whānau at this difficult time.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Asia Pacific Report
Activists in Aotearoa New Zealand marked International Women’s Day today and the start of Ramadan this week with solidarity rallies across the country, calling for justice and peace for Palestinian women and the territories occupied illegally by Israel.
The theme this year for IWD is “For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” and this was the 74th week of Palestinian solidarity protests.
First speaker at the Auckland rally today, Del Abcede of the Aotearoa section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), said the protest was “timely given how women have suffered the brunt of Israel’s war on Palestine and the Gaza ceasefire in limbo”.
“Women are the backbone of families and communities. They provide care, support and nurturing to their families and the development of children,” she said.
“Women also play a significant role in community building and often take on leadership roles in community organisations. Empowered women empower the world.”
Abcede explained how the non-government organisation WILPF had national sections in 37 countries, including the Palestine branch which was founded in 1988. WILPF works close with its Palestinian partners, Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) and General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW).
“This catastrophe is playing out on our TV screens every day. The majority of feminists in Britain — and in the West — seem to have nothing to say about it,” Abcede said, quoting gender researcher Dr Maryam Aldosarri, to cries of shame.
‘There can be no neutrality’
“In the face of such overwhelming terror, there can be no neutrality.”
Dr Aldosarri said in an article published earlier in the war on Gaza last year that the “siege and indiscriminate bombardment” had already “killed, maimed and disappeared under the rubble tens of thousands of Palestinian women and children”.
“Many more have been displaced and left to survive the harsh winter without appropriate shelter and supplies. The almost complete breakdown of the healthcare system, coupled with the lack of food and clean water, means that some 45,000 pregnant women and 68,000 breastfeeding mothers in Gaza are facing the risk of anaemia, bleeding, and death.
“Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian women and children in the occupied West Bank are still imprisoned, many without trial, and trying to survive in abominable conditions.”
The death toll in the war — with killings still happening in spite of the precarious ceasefire — is now more than 50,000 — mostly women and children.
Abcede read out a statement from WILPF International welcoming the ceasefire, but adding that it “was only a step”.
“Achieving durable and equitable peace demands addressing the root causes of violence and oppression. This means adhering to the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion by dismantling the foundational structures of colonial violence and ensuring Palestinians’ rights to self-determination, dignity and freedom.”
Action for justice and peace
Abcede also spoke about what action to take for “justice and peace” — such as countering disinformation and influencing the narrative; amplifying Palstinian voices and demands; joining rallies — “like what we do every Saturday”; supporting the global BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) campaign against Israel; writing letters to the government calling for special visas for Palestinians who have families in New Zealand; and donating to campaigns supporting the victims.
Lorri Mackness, also of WILPF Aotearoa, spoke of the Zionist gendered violence against Palestinians and the ruthless attacks on Gaza’s medical workers and hospitals to destroy the health sector.
Gaza’s hospitals had been “reduced to rubble by Israeli bombs”, she said.
“UN reports that over 60,000 women would give birth this year in Gaza. But Israel has destroyed every maternity hospital.
“Women will be delivered in tents, corridors, or bombed out homes without anasthesia, without doctors, without clean water.
“When Israel killed Gaza’s only foetal medicine specialist, Dr Muhammad Obeid, it wasn’t collateral damage — it was calculated reproductive terror.”
“Now, miscarriages have spiked by 300 percent, and mothers stitch their own C-sections with sewing thread.”
‘Femicide – a war crime’
Babies who survived birth entered a world where Israel blocked food aid — 1 in 10 infants would die of starvation, 335,000 children faced starvation, and their mothers forced to watch, according to UNICEF.
“This is femicide — this is a war crime.”
Eugene Velasco, of the Filipino feminist action group Gabriela Aotearoa, said Israel’s violence in Gaza was a “clear reminder of the injustice that transcends geographical borders”.
“The injustice is magnified in Gaza where the US-funded genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people has resulted in the deaths of more than 61,000.”
‘Pernicious’ Regulatory Standards Bill
Dr Jane Kelsey, a retired law professor and justice advocate, spoke of an issue that connected the “scourge of colonisation in Palestine and Aotearoa with the same lethal logic and goals”.
The parallels between both colonised territories included theft of land and the creation of private property rights, and the denial of sovereign authority and self-determination.
She spoke of how international treaties that had been entered in good faith were disrespected, disregarded and “rewritten as it suits the colonising power”.
Dr Kelsey said an issue that had “gone under the radar” needed to be put on the radar and for action.
She said that while the controversial Treaty Principles Bill would not proceed because of the massive mobilisations such as the hikoi, it had served ACT’s purpose.
“Behind the scenes is ACT’s more systemic and pernicious Regulatory Standards Bill,” she said. ACT had tried three times to get the bill adopted and failed, but it was now in the coalition government’s agreement.
A ‘stain on humanity’
Meanwhile, Hamas has reacted to a Gaza government tally of the number of women who were killed by Israel’s war, reports Al Jazeera.
“The killing of 12,000 women in Gaza, the injury and arrest of thousands, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands are a stain on humanity,” the group said.
“Palestinian female prisoners are subjected to psychological and physical torture in flagrant violation of all international norms and conventions.”
Hamas added the suffering endured by Palestinian female prisoners revealed the “double standards” of Western countries, including the United States, in dealing with Palestinians.
PROFILE: By Malum Nalu in Port Moresby
For nearly half a century, Papua New Guinea has been more than just a home for Laurence “Rocky” Roe — it has been his canvas, his inspiration, and his great love.
A master behind the lens, Rocky has captured the soul of the nation through his photography, preserving moments of history, culture, and progress.
He bid farewell to the country he has called home since 1976 in June 2021 and is now retired and living in Australia. We reflect on the extraordinary journey of a man whose work has become an indelible part of PNG’s visual history.
A journey born of adventure
Rocky Roe’s story began in Adelaide, Australia, where he was born in 1947. His adventure in Papua New Guinea started in 1976 when he arrived as a mechanical fitter for Bougainville Copper. But his heart sought more than the structured life of a mining camp.
In 1979, he took a leap of faith, moving to Port Moresby and trading a higher salary for a passion — photography. What he lost in pay, he gained in purpose.
“I wanted to see Papua New Guinea,” Rocky recalls. “And I got an opportunity to get paid to see it.”
Capturing the essence of a nation
From corporate photography to historic events, Rocky’s lens has documented the evolution of Papua New Guinea. He was there when leaders rose to prominence, capturing moments that would later adorn national currency — his photograph of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare graces the K50 note.
His work went beyond the formal; he ventured deep into the Highlands, the islands, and bustling townships, preserving the heart and spirit of the people.
With each shot, he chronicled the changing landscape of Port Moresby. From a city of well-kept roads and modest housing in the 1970s to its present-day urban sprawl, Rocky witnessed and documented it all.
The evolution of photography
Rocky’s career spanned a transformative era in photography — from the meticulous world of slide film, where exposure errors were unforgiving, to the digital revolution, where technology made photography more accessible.
“Autofocus hadn’t been invented,” he recalls. “Half the world couldn’t focus a camera back then.” Yet, through skill and patience, he mastered the art, adapting as the industry evolved.
His assignments took him to mine sites, oil fields, and remote locations where only helicopters could reach.
“I spent many hours flying with the door off, capturing PNG from above. Looking through the camera made it all feel natural. Without it, I might have been scared.”
The man behind the camera
Despite the grandeur of his work, Rocky remains humble. A storyteller at heart, his greatest joy has been the connections he forged—whether photographing Miss PNG contestants over the years or engaging with young photographers eager to learn.
He speaks fondly of his colleagues, the friendships he built, and the country that embraced him as one of its own.
His time in Papua New Guinea was not without challenges. He encountered moments of danger, faced armed hold-ups, and saw the country grapple with law and order issues. Yet, his love for PNG never wavered.
“It’s the greatest place on earth,” he says, reflecting on his journey.
A fond farewell, but not goodbye
Now, as Rocky returns to Australia to tend to his health, he leaves behind a legacy that will live on in the countless images he captured. Papua New Guinea will always be home to him, and its people, his extended family.
“I may come back if someone brings me back,” he says with a knowing smile.
Papua New Guinea bids farewell to a legend, a visual historian who gave us the gift of memories frozen in time. His photographs are not just images; they are stories, emotions, and a testament to a life well-lived in the pursuit of beauty and truth.
Farewell, Rocky Roe. Your work will continue to inspire generations to come.
Independent Papua New Guinea journalist Malum Nalu first published this article on his blog Happenings in Papua New Guinea as part of a series leading up to PNG’s 50th anniversary this year. Republished with permission.
Source: Te Pati Maori
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts.
For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach.
It has built trust where the government has failed, reached into homes where the system has ignored, and provided solutions that work for our people.
“Our sincerest gratitude goes out to every kaimahi, every whānau navigator, and every provider who has committed themselves to uplifting and helping whānau. You have carried the vision of Tā Mason Durie and Dame Tariana Turia, building a model that has transformed Māori health and wellbeing,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
“This decision does not reflect on your mahi—it is a political attack on the very existence of Māori-led solutions.”
“This isn’t just about job losses. This is about whānau who depend on these services—who will now be left without the support they need,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi.
“Whānau Ora has consistently outperformed government agencies. It has shown that when Māori lead, Māori thrive. That success should have been recognised and expanded, not gutted.
“Te Pāti Māori acknowledges the excellence in every review and audit that have repeatedly affirmed Whānau Ora’s effectiveness. The results speak for themselves—this is a service that should have been strengthened, not stripped.”
“Our fight isn’t over. We will continue to advocate for Whānau Ora, and the families and ensure that Māori leadership in our own wellbeing is not erased,” Ngarewa-Packer concluded.