A graphic video of a man repeatedly abusing a dog during a walk in South Auckland is circulating on social media Chained Dog Awareness New Zealand (CDANZ) shared a supplied video of the incident The man is later pictured violently swinging the dog into the air by its leash and slamming it onto the path One Facebook comment said they thought the incident occurred in Wattle Downs South Path in Manurewa CDANZ said in the post: “If anyone knows this person and their address please PM or contact on chaineddog@gmail.com “The enforcement authorities will not progress further without an address And the best outcome for this poor dog is to be relinquished to an experienced welfare group.” The non-profit dog advocacy organisation said “this dog’s owner does need to be held accountable – and the dog to be removed from this abuse – and the dog be respected as ‘man’s best friend’.” A SPCA spokesperson confirmed they received a complaint “We would appreciate it if anyone has more information about what happened to please contact us asap so that we are able to follow up,” SPCA said The post was flooded with support and shock: “Absolutely no words other than I feel sick watching how cruel this is” “I am actually feeling significantly traumatised after watching this a few hours ago I wish I could help this poor dog straight away,” another said told the Herald they believe the video was taken about three days ago Breen said a member of the public told them the incident was at Weymouth Clendon Park Breen had received messages from people who have seen the man in their local area before Breen said she appreciated the immense support and advised people to keep a lookout CDANZ volunteers aim to approach the owners with the goal of rehabilitation by their “experienced people like our welfare group” Police said this matter had not been referred to them at this stage CDANZ are a small group of volunteers who said they are working to end the life-chaining of dogs in New Zealand by creating awareness advocating for changes to welfare legislation and helping dogs where possible Last year, Breen spoke to the Gisborne Herald about the fight to change an ineffective law impacting the life chaining of dogs Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard has announced this year that dog tethering regulations have passed through Cabinet and will be released later in 2025 will give Animal Welfare Inspectors an enforcement tool to better protect dogs subjected to harmful allowing intervention where dogs are suffering physically or are kept in unsafe conditions due to the way they are tethered,” SPCA said Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. The minister says she's changed her processes after admitting processes were 'untidy'. Looking for a fun and interactive way to bond with your little one? Wriggle & Rhyme is the perfect free program for tamariki aged 0-3! Come along and enjoy music, movement, and play in a welcoming space. Got questions? Send us a message on Facebook or pop into the library. We can't wait to see you and your little ones there! © Auckland Council 2025 All rights reserved For more information on what data is contained in the cookies, please click the 'Find out more on the Auckland Council website' button. To accept cookies from this site, please click the 'I Agree' button. Sign up for our e-newsletter and be the first to know about exciting events and news. The teen was missing from her home in Manurewa. In an update, police said she had been located "safe and well". Police have located a 19-year-old who went missing from south Auckland last week. Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight Crime and Justice Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning New Zealand 'Wake up call': Businesses warned over lithium battery fires Authorities urge the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling but have also told merchants to "take responsibility for disposal" Explosions heard in 'suspicious' blaze at east Auckland McDonald's Pakuranga Rd was closed in both directions and buildings were being evacuated around the immediate area as a precaution Tree planted as Kyle Whorrall's mother Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei blessed and planted a provided pōhutukawa tree at St Johns Bush in honour of the slain PhD student from the United States New Zealand's most valuable state house cannot be subdivided The almost $4 million villa sits on 619 square metres of land in one of Auckland's sought-after heritage areas Politics Erica Stanford concedes use of personal email 'untidy' 38 mins ago Blues veteran Bryce Heem announces retirement from rugby 11:39am Govt halts all current pay equity claims, makes it harder to lodge new ones 11:32am New Zealand's Cardinal John Dew prepares to go into conclave 10:54am Iwi boss to head new board for Taranaki Maunga 10:49am Kiwi motorcyclist killed in 11-bike British Supersport crash 28 mins ago 1Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one National introduces members' bill to ban social media for under 16s Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway The 'Trump slump' boosts the left in Canada and Oz – but what about NZ? Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansCries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand. Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Lorde releases new single after weeks of cryptic teasesThu, Apr 24 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon Police have located a 19-year-old who went missing from south Auckland last week The teen was missing from her home in Manurewa police said she had been located "safe and well" Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said A string of fires linked to highly combustible lithium-ion batteries has been deemed a "wake-up call" for waste businesses by Auckland officials with the public facing exposure to toxic smoke from repeat blazes Auckland Council is urging "industry vigilance" around the problem after a scrap metal company was fined $30,000 over a 2023 fire that released toxic smoke near Ōtāhuhu A fire at a recycling plant near Glenfield last month was also initially linked to lithium batteries although investigators were continuing to probe the blaze Auckland Council compliance field operations manager David Pawson emphasised "the importance of remaining vigilant despite the novelty of the issue" Authorities urged the public to avoid putting lithium batteries in the rubbish or recycling The batteries were inside most portable electronic devices Pawson said in a statement: "We recognise this is a new issue and we’re all finding our way with lithium-ion batteries and those handling them "But businesses still need to take responsibility for their disposal — this is their business Emergency alerts were issued to tens of thousands on Auckland's North Shore last month after the largest fire "for a few years" broke out at an Abilities Group recycling plant Residents were urged to close windows to avoid fumes and some beaches were closed due to chemicals released into waterways Takapuna fire station officer Steven Callagher said there were reports that flames broke out in the area of the facility where batteries were recycled and an official cause had not been determined Other recent battery-linked fires have broken out in rubbish trucks in Auckland caused by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery within a large scrap metal stockpile highlighted a "growing national and international issue surrounding battery disposal and fire risk," according to Auckland Council recognised the unique challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries He noted: "There has been considerable difficulty in finding a technical solution to the problems with batteries catching on fire "This is not only a national problem but an international one; these orders form a workaround solution until more technical solutions The judge described the situation as “a new and emerging issue" While acknowledging Sims Metal’s cooperation and the absence of intentional wrongdoing reduced from an initial starting point of $50,000 The enforcement orders issued require Sims Metal to implement several improvements at the James Fletcher Drive site in Favona "The orders are registered with the Environment Court and will remain in place unless superseded by conditions with a new resource consent," the council said Pawson said the council viewed the 2023 case as an "important precedent in balancing empathy for emerging challenges with the necessity of regulatory compliance "It also highlights the importance of proactive risk management and industry-wide collaboration to adapt to evolving environmental risks." A Sims Metal spokesperson said: "Following the May 2023 fire at our Favona facility we have implemented more stringent control measures to support the ongoing management of potentially concealed materials like lithium-ion batteries "We are grateful to the communities and businesses in and around Ōtāhuhu We want to reiterate our appreciation to FENZ and all those who acted diligently to extinguish the May 2023 fire safely and continue to refine and improve our processes." A large fire which caused "significant damage" to a McDonald's restaurant in east Auckland this afternoon is now being treated as suspicious Emergency services were notified of the fire at around 3pm on Monday Fire and Emergency NZ said the building was "totally involved" in flames by the time crews arrived and Papatoetoe were in attendance at the blaze "Everyone was out at the time and there are no reports of injuries." FENZ said the fire was being treated as suspicious "A fire investigator is attending to determine cause and origin." Pakuranga Rd was closed for nearly two hours in both directions with road users advised to avoid the area "Investigations into the cause of the fire at the McDonalds are underway," police said told 1News he heard a couple of explosions coming from the restaurant as the blaze began He said he heard "one or two" explosions The restaurant was adjacent to a Z petrol station and 250 metres along the same road from Pakuranga College A staff member at the service station said they had closed their fuel pumps and there was "huge fire and huge smoke" coming from the fire The Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre Courts were also closed this evening due to the blaze Auckland Transport said several bus routes Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown thanked emergency services who had been responding to the incident "Please follow the advice of emergency services A McDonald's spokesperson said the McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga had "suffered significant damage" in the fire "Procedures were followed to raise the alarm and safely evacuate staff and customers McDonald’s is assisting emergency services as they begin the investigation into the cause of the fire." A pōhutukawa tree has been planted in honour of Kyle Whorrall the US PhD student slain during an attack at an Auckland bus stop last month The 33-year-old was attacked at a bus stop on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank on April 19 friends and colleagues of Whorrall gathered for a vigil on April 24 at the bus stop where he was attacked Whorrall's mother Carole was joined by members of the community and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for the blessing and to plant a pōhutukawa tree in honour of his life The planting ceremony began with a blessing by Otene Reweti from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei "This tree will stand as a memorial to Kyle to come to this special place and remember Kyle and what he has done and what he was looking to do "This tree indicates times to harvest different things in our seasons and also pōhutukawa in terms of the star from Matariki and pleiades So Kyle is one of those that we are reminded again of his tragic passing in this area," said Reweti Carole was flanked by Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and one of Whorrall's flatmates as she shovelled dirt onto the base of the tree She softly commented that she enjoyed gardening as the sun shone down on her in St Johns Bush Others shared a poem or short tribute to Whorrall's life and the tragedy that it was cut short Ōrākei Local Board chairperson Scott Milne said that in times of tragedy it was important to "look at the good stuff" and find moments of connection with one another "We have now forged a relationship across the waters This family will come back to see this tree thrive and out of that tragedy we will find good," he said He told Te Karere the tragedy had "turned our community upside down" "Yet in the matter of a few short weeks the community have come together certainly like nothing I have ever seen before "There is just this deep disappointment and we all feel so privileged to live here He said he hoped over time the grief would "turn to healing" and that Carole would continue to come back and see the tree flourish and grow "People understand they have to talk more to each other watch out for one another and we want to make something of this lovely young man's life by changing our attitude." He said the board had worked hard to build relationships over the past six years "The relationship with Ngāti Whātua is deeply personal and important to this board A 16-year-old youth has been remanded in custody after being charged with his murder and a 32-year-old woman was also charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said the investigation was "by no means over" as police believed "there were other occupants in the vehicle" when Whorrall was attacked He said officers have since seized a black SUV on the North Shore It was being forensically examined by police "Our enquiries are ongoing to locate these persons of interest and I encourage them to do the right thing and come into their nearest police station or phone us." The detective inspector said police were also seeking "critical witnesses" including a white Toyota ute that was cut off by the black SUV doing a U-turn in front of them He said police were still working to fully understand the events leading up to his death The country's most valuable state house sits on a large plot of land that cannot be subdivided because it is in one of Auckland's sought-after heritage areas The state house is a 1900s villa on a leafy street in the inner city suburb of Ponsonby and is worth close to $4 million It is a neighbourhood associated with celebrities from sailors to pop stars — last year Lorde sold her luxury villa next door for $4.3m Auckland Council records show the state house is on 619sq metres of land and is subject to hefty development restrictions because it is in both a special character area and historic heritage area That means the land could not be subdivided and any changes to the villa would need council permission Data from Corelogic shows the five most valuable single dwelling homes in Kāinga Ora's portfolio are all worth more than $3.5m Building projects that would create more than 1000 state homes are on hold while Kāinga Ora reviews its portfolio The agency also intends to sell about 900 homes nationally over the next 12-18 months — currently 49 state homes are on the market — of which 32 are in Auckland The money generated by selling off those properties would then be reinvested in more affordable areas The woman living in the country's most valuable state house last week told RNZ it should be sold in part because she feels increasingly out of place in the upmarket suburb finance and policy Gareth Stiven said none of the five most valuable state homes were for sale or had development plans "Like other high value properties in our portfolio these five homes could be sold further down the track Our current national divestment programme has just begun so assessing homes that will be sold is an ongoing process." All five of the most valuable state homes are in Auckland and all but one could be subdivided according to council planning rules is worth $3.7m and the 4626 square metre land has no significant development constraints is worth $3.5m and is on 2904 square metres of land that could be developed into up to 20 homes could potentially be subdivided into four units Corelogic head of research Nick Goodall earlier said the properties' values were tied up in large plots of land "It shows that you could probably build multiple units on that block of land to get better use and more people living in that area which would be well in demand from people wanting to live there to be closer to town." Goodall believed Kāinga Ora should be considering the future of all five of its most valuable properties "There's probably lots of potential development all across Auckland You would expect that these would be ones that would be on the list to look at." rnz.co.nz the Blues' veteran midfielder whose rugby journey took him from the All Blacks sevens Toulon and back to New Zealand with the Blues has retired from the game at the age of 36 who helped the Blues win the Super Rugby championship last year He is turning his professional attentions to facts and figures in his new role as a mortgage broker it’s the people I’ve met and the memories I’ve made that stand out the most I’m grateful for the opportunity to have represented several teams on my journey and to finish here at the Blues and winning a championship last season was something special.” “I want to make special mention of my wife Jocelyn for supporting me through this entire journey holding it all down at home so I could focus on doing what I love none of this would have been possible,” he said known as "uncle" at the Blues due to his age said the franchise had helped extend his playing career “I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the entire Blues organisation - the coaches and everyone who’s played some part in my career,” he said “You’ve all played a huge role in making this such a special time in my life I’ve learned so much and will be forever grateful for your belief in me.” “A special shout-out to the medical staff.. you’ve worked wonders on my body as I’ve gotten older..." Heem said he had been working towards becoming a mortgage broker as part of his professional development at the Blues “I’ve had the privilege of learning a lot during my time at the Blues and I’m eager to bring that knowledge and discipline to the world of finance,” Heem said The government is making it harder to make a claim for pay equity that will cut costs There have been massive pay equity claims in recent years for nurses and resthome workers Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden announced the moves to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued to support a claim on Tuesday saying changes back in 2020 had created problems "Claims have been able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation and there have been very broad claims where it is difficult to tell whether differences in pay are due to sex-based discrimination or other factors." Claims were concentrated in the public sector with costs to the Crown of all settlements so far totalling $1.78 billion a year "The changes I am proposing will significantly reduce costs to the Crown," she said "The changes will discontinue current pay equity claims The nurse's union has this year had at least 10 pay equity claims in play The PSA union has said pay equity claims and settlements had resulted in significant improvements in pay and working conditions for many workers rnz.co.nz Cardinal John Dew is about to go into conclave to vote for a new pope is among the 133 cardinals gathered in the Vatican to elect a successor to Pope Francis Dew and his fellow Cardinals will be locked away from the world as they participate in daily votes in the Sistine Chapel until white smoke billows from the rooftop signalling a new pope is selected Read more about how the conclave works here He follows in the footsteps of Cardinal Reginald Delargey and Cardinal Thomas Williams - Kiwis who had previously entered conclave in 1978 and 2005 Dew said cardinals had been meeting daily to share their perspectives on the needs of the church and what qualities a new pope would need to possess to address said needs “Listening to what everyone is saying and the kind of person they're looking for to hear the passion that people have for spreading the work of the Gospel,” Dew said “I think one of the things that a new pope will need to do is to continue to try and give hope to the world “But as well as being the leader of the Church he needs to be a world leader who's prepared to speak out and in this world of disinformation and misinformation and sometimes lies Dew said other cardinals who had previously participated in conclavce described the centuries-old tradition as "divinely inspired" “A couple of the cardinals actually said you can go into the conclave and even have some ideas but it's only after a vote or two that things start to clarify,” he recalled but it became very clear that he was the one They described that as the work of Holy Spirit “And the fact that you're in a place where you have no contact with anybody else – no cell phones no iPads – the whole thing becomes a bit like a retreat and a real time of prayer.” Dew said finding a successor among a sea of so many contenders also had him feeling some "apprehension" the fact that this only happens once every few years and it has incredible consequences for the Church and for the world A trail-blazing tribal leader today starts a new job bringing together eight iwi to look after Taranaki Maunga Iwi now have equal say with the Crown in running the former Egmont National Park The Minister of Conservation will need iwi agreement to approve management plans for what is now called Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki Wharehoka Wano will lead Te Tōpuni Ngārahu – a new body of representatives from the region’s eight iwi – to govern the park alongside the conservation minister The arrangement is laid out in Te Ture Whakatupua mō te Kāhui Maunga, the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act passed unanimously by Parliament in January Another group called Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi – half appointed by iwi and half by the Crown – will develop management plans for Te Tōpuni Ngārahu and the minister to consider Wano has for nine years been the first chief executive of Te Kāhui o Taranaki the agency set up when Taranaki iwi settled its historical Treaty claims Wano has helped shape Taranaki iwi’s future and he’s also a trustee for the neighbouring iwi’s post-settlement agency Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa. He’s one of the dozen counsellors on the Kīngitanga’s Tekau-mā-rua the advisory body for Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po – as he was for her father the late Kīngi Tūheitia At Wano’s farewell from Te Kāhui o Taranaki veteran campaigner Peter Moeahu said Wano was “an ambassador a diplomat extraordinaire,” and reckoned he would need those skills “You might have thought handling one iwi was bad enough referring to South Taranaki’s Te Pakakohi and Tangahoe which are not recognised as iwi by the Crown Te Kāhui o Taranaki chair Jacqui King said Wano had dealt with arms of the Crown on many fronts really challenging because often you get so impassioned by the unjust behaviours and practices “You have to carry that in such a way that you can't be asked to leave - and Whare is an absolute expert at ensuring he says what needs to be said without being offensive.” Te Kāhui’s operations manager Mark Wipatene said he’d known many aggressive cut-throat chief executives – “silverback gorillas who have massive egos” “They wouldn’t last a day in this space because you can’t operate that way.” “Whare has the ability to navigate through that world and bring his kaimahi with him because he has no ego Liana Poutu helped negotiate the maunga settlement and said Wano’s calming influence wasn’t limited to dealings with government “And when we want to take on some whawhai (fight) Whare’s like ‘are you sure that's how you want to do it?’” Wano’s niece and former colleague Puna Wano-Bryant said he would bring impeccable communication to the Maunga job “He has the ability to open new ways for people to heal and reconcile their own relationships with each other.” Wano-Bryant said she often spotted surfboards in her uncle’s car and he would explain he was off to a “board hui” Fellow surfer and new Taranaki Regional Council chair Craig Williamson has known Wano for almost 20 years and praised his work for the betterment of Taranaki communities We’ve had three board meetings this week.” In 2016 the Crown accepted that Taranaki Maunga and the adjacent ranges would become a legal person and own itself as Te Kāhui Tupua the Crown agreed to share management of the national park Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki with iwi There's now a search on for four people to represent the iwi of Taranaki on Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi serving as the face and voice of Te Kāhui Tupua When Parliament passed the redress law in January it officially recognised the peaks as tupuna maunga – ancestral mountains LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ on Air Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate The National Party has introduced a new members' bill to ban social media for those aged under 16 Christopher Luxon announced the bill alongside National Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd this morning Wedd said the My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill "puts the onus on social media companies to verify that someone is over the age of 16 before they access social media platforms" Key aspects of the Bill would include obligations for the social media platforms defence for providers to rely on reasonable verification measures regulatory oversight and a review after three years there are no legally enforceable age verification measures for social media platforms in New Zealand Members' bills are introduced by MPs who are not Ministers and need to be drawn from a ballot to be debated in Parliament Luxon said he was hopeful of gaining bipartisan support He had spoken with coalition partners ACT and NZ First about it but would let them speak about their position He said this was an issue he had been passionate about since 2018 and as a dad he felt the party needed to do more to keep young people safe from online harm We want to protect our kids from the harms of social media. That’s why today National has introduced a members bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years old. pic.twitter.com/TiQJs87DhQ "It's time that New Zealand acknowledged that for all the good things that come from social media it's not always a safe place for our young people to be and we need to do something about it." He said teachers and parents had raised issues with him including cyber bullying exposure to inappropriate content and exploitation and social media addiction "Social media should not be exempt from social responsibility and it is time we put the onus on these platforms," he said Wedd said social media was "an extraordinary resource" “As a mother of four children I feel very strongly that families and parents should be better supported when it comes to overseeing their children's online exposure The bill closely mirrors the approach taken in Australia which passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill in December 2024 At the end of last year, a 1News Verian Poll found more than two-thirds of New Zealand voters supported restricting social media access for under-16s The poll results showed that 68% backed introducing similar legislation in New Zealand as in Australia and 10% were undecided or preferred not to say National Party supporters and women showed the strongest support for the proposed restrictions while opposition was highest among 18-34-year-olds and men Wedd said "other jurisdictions are also taking action" "Texas recently passed legislation which bans under 18s from social media use and the UK the EU and Canada all have similar work in train," she said "This bill builds on National’s successful and successful cell phone ban in schools and reinforces the Government's commitment to setting our children up for success." Family First chief executive Bob McCoskrie welcomed the introduction of the Bill but questioned why it was not a government priority "or at the very least have a parliamentary and public discussion via a Select Committee process" "Family First thanks Catherine Wedd for drafting the Bill but once again calls on all the coalition parties in the Government (ACT and NZ First) to adopt the bill as a Government bill and ultimately walk the talk when it comes to protecting children online “This important discussion needs to be a priority for the Government and not left in a biscuit tin." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's landslide win at the weekend following Canadian Prime Minister's Mark Carney's victory less than a week before should indicate to our politicians that the New Zealand "Trump trend" of 2024 may have peaked Trying to capitalise on the electoral success of US President Donald Trump now that his policies are having real-world effects is proving to be a big mistake for conservative leaders Australian voters have delivered a landslide win for the incumbent Labor Party returning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a second term with a clear majority of seats When he said in his victory speech that Australians had “voted for Australian values” an unspoken message was that they’d firmly rejected Trumpian values opposition and Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton had such a bad election he lost his own seat While not the only reason for his electoral demise Dutton’s adoption of themes associated with Trump backfired Opinion polls were projecting Dutton’s Coalition to win and exceeded expectations in the election itself the Liberals were “reduced to a right-wing populist party that is all but exiled from the biggest cities” Commentators identified a number of reasons including his “culture wars” and being depicted by Labor as “Trump-lite” Following a Trumpian pathway turned out to be a strategic blunder And Dutton’s downfall mirrors Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s defeat in Canada’s election on April 28 Canada’s incumbent centre-left Liberals were heading for defeat to the Conservatives But there were two gamechangers: the Liberals switched leaders from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney and Trump caused a national uproar with his aggressive tariffs and his call for Canada to become the 51st US state Pre-election opinion polls then did a dramatic flip in favour of the Liberals who went on to win their fourth election in a row Poilievre’s campaign had adopted elements of the Trump style such as attacking “wokeness” and using derogatory nicknames for opponents His strategy failed as soon as Trump rolled out “America First” policies contrary to Canadians’ economic interests and national pride The takeaway for serious right-wing leaders in liberal democracies is clear: let Trump do Trump; his brand is toxic Trump’s actions are harming America’s allies affirmative action and climate change have seen voters outside the US react with self-protective patriotism A perceived association with Trump’s brand has now upended the electoral fortunes of (so far) two centre-right parties that had been in line to win and had been banking on the 2024 MAGA success somehow rubbing off on them what has been dubbed the “Trump slump” isn’t a universal trend the centre-left Social Democratic-led government was ousted in February in spite of Trump ally Elon Musk’s unhelpful support for the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party the populist Reform UK party has risen above 25% while Labour has fallen from 34% in last year’s election to the low 20s in recent polls But other governing centre-left parties are seeing an upside of the Trump effect In early January it looked like the incumbent Labour Party would be trounced by the Conservatives and the right-wing Progress Party Opinion polls dramatically flipped in early February boosting Labour from below 20% back into the lead Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will get another term in office Denmark’s governing Social Democrats have enjoyed a small polling boost since Trump declared he’d like to take Greenland off their hands The common denominator underlying these shifts to the left seems to be the Trump effect Voters in countries normally closely allied with the US are turning away from Trump-adjacent politicians people are rallying patriotically around centre-left Trump is harming leaders who could have been his allies the man himself seemed proud of the impact he had in Canada polls in mid-2024 showed support for Trump was growing – heading well above 20% Australia’s election suggests that trend may now be past its peak with debate over ACT’s contentious Treaty Principles Bill behind it and despite NZ First leader Winston Peters’ overt culture-war rhetoric (which may appeal to his 6% support base) the right-wing coalition government’s polling shows it could be on track for a second term – for the time being While the Trump effect may have benefited centre-left parties in Australia and Canada polling for New Zealand’s Labour opposition is softer than at the start of the year While “America First” policies continue to damage the global economy centre-right leaders who learn the lesson will quietly distance themselves from the Trump brand while maintaining cordial relations with the White House could do worse than follow Anthony Albanese’s example of not getting distracted by “Trump-lite” and instead promoting his own country’s values of fairness and mutual respect.","type":"text"},{"_id":"GUGWB5HTRVGGNP5PFWDLBH7SXM","content":"Grant Duncan is a teaching fellow in Politics and International Relations This story is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence ","type":"text"},{"_id":"BMPLRKQ2NRDPZOPKHPADSUD4UE","content":" Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Lorde has dropped her new single What Was That after weeks of cryptic posts and teases that set fans buzzing It's the lead single from her upcoming fourth album and her first original solo release since 2021's Solar Power which is three minutes and 28 seconds in length Some fans had been lucky enough to hear the track in full earlier this week. On Wednesday, Lorde posted a picture of Washington Square Park yesterday with the caption "tonight 7pm". Fans flooded the park an hour before she was supposed to appear, with photos shared of eager fans scaling trees to catch a glimpse of the singer. Shortly before she was to perform, the Royals singer took to social media to tell fans police had shut the event down. "Omg @thepark the cops are shutting us down," the message read. "I am truly amazed by how many of you showed !!! "But they’re telling me you gotta disperse ... I’m so sorry." However, the pop-up event ended up going ahead after all, with fans who stayed getting their first full airing of Lorde's new single. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) Lorde, real name Ella Yelich O'Connor, announced the single last week sharing a headshot-style photo of her wearing a red shirt with a dripping wet face Earlier this month, she dropped a 15-second snippet of the unreleased song Lorde was seen wearing a white shirt and jeans while walking through New York City I gave you everything/Now we wake from a dream What was that?” she sings over a synth beat It was the first sign of a follow up to Lorde's previous album A homicide investigation has been launched after a person died of apparent stab wounds in the Auckland suburb of Manurewa overnight Police were called to the property on Marr Rd shortly after midnight they and ambulance staff found a man "with critical injuries consistent with stab wounds" "Enquiries are underway to determine the circumstances of the incident," Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward said on Saturday morning "Residents in the area can expect to see an increased police presence today." Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or via phone on 105 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News 14 May 2025 13:00641342m²Legal Two Houses Under One Roof in Manurewa!Auction: 62 Highbrook Drive East Tamaki on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 1:00PM (unless sold prior) HOME & INCOME - Legal multi units under one TITLE Live in one and rent out the other — imagine owning a home where someone else is helping you pay off the mortgage This near-new Home & Income setup in Manurewa is your golden opportunity – a true cash cow with legal multi-units on one title • 2 Bathrooms (including ensuite with walk-in wardrobe) • Fully insulated with aluminium double-glazed windows • Comes with a structural building warranty for added peace of mind • CCTV Cameras in operation around the property • Directly opposite a public playground – plenty of space for the kids to play and burn off energy Whether you're a savvy investor or a growing family looking to maximise space and income Looking for a lucrative investment or the perfect home with added income Don’t miss this rare find in a prime Manurewa location – secure your future today See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started Police at the scene of a stabbing on Marr Rd A man who died after being stabbed in South Auckland has been named by friends and family as Tame Graham died at a house on Marr Rd in Manurewa after a disorder incident on Friday night told the Herald he had arrived in New Zealand from Australia only about three weeks ago Isabelle said he had been “stabbed underneath his heart” He had just come from Perth a few weeks ago and this has happened.” and I have seen how much you wanted to change,” it read No matter how bad life showed you it can be you will always be one of the best things God created.” his family said he was a “cherished nephew Please respect our time as we process our loss” Emergency services were called to Manurewa just after midnight on Saturday to “a report that a person had been injured at a property on Marr Rd” Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward said “Police and ambulance attended and located a man with critical injuries consistent with stab wounds who Hayward said this afternoon that the investigation had been looking into a disorder at the time the victim was injured “We have spoken with a number of people since Saturday morning and this has helped progress our inquiries we are not currently seeking anyone else in relation to this homicide.” Hayward said no charges had been laid at this stage “The investigation team is continuing with some additional inquiries and we will release further information around charges once decisions are made.” It is understood the incident occurred at a social housing facility run by Kāhui Tū Kaha The not-for-profit organisation confirmed it was aware of the incident but would not comment further A neighbour said he believed there was a party at the address on the night of the incident He said police had been door-knocking neighbours on Saturday On Saturday morning a blue forensic tent could be seen outside the Marr Rd address Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The minister says she's changed her processes after admitting processes were 'untidy' and sounds at the Manurewa diversity festival held over the weekend Planned and organised by the Manurewa Community Network on behalf of Manurewa Local Board whanau friendly event with cultural performances from around the world highlighting the cultural diversity of Manurewa Manurewa Local Board Chair Matt Winiata was delighted with the community turn out “The Board supports many cultural and arts initiatives across Manurewa the diversity festival is enjoyed by all and is one we look forward to delivering for our community.”  performances included the Malu Taupou Dance group Manukau Beijing Opera Society and live Zumba sessions with ZSwagg Manurewa Local Board team were also at the event giving residents the opportunity to have their say on local matters Local boards provide services like local parks supporting community groups and community events like the Manurewa Diversity Festival that support strong Auckland communities Each local board puts forward a plan for the 2025/2026 year – setting out priorities for their local community and where funds will be invested Each local board’s plan for the year is included in the Annual Plan after carefully considering the feedback from their local community Our community is at the heart of what we do says Manurewa Councillor Daniel Newman and it’s important that everyone has the opportunity to provide feedback on the future plans for Manurewa and Auckland “With Auckland’s Annual Plan due to close soon (28 March) I encourage everyone to take the time to review what we plan to do in 2025/2026 and provide feedback.”    you will be asked about your thoughts on:    Tūpuna Maunga Authority and its governance of the 14 Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) of Tāmaki Makaurau  For more information and to have your say visit: akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan.  Want to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area Sign up for the Manurewa Local Board E-News or follow us on Facebook For more information on what data is contained in the cookies please click the 'Find out more on the Auckland Council website' button Sign up for our e-newsletter and be the first to know about exciting events and news The chairpeople of Te Whānau o Waipareira and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency have criticised the delayed release of a report into whether personal data collected at Manurewa Marae was misused for election purposes The findings were due to be released last week but were delayed - with the Public Service Commission saying the findings required more time following feedback from some agencies In a joint statement Raymond Hall the chairperson of Te Whānau o Waipareira and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency chairperson Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said an embargoed copy of the report had been in their hands since 31 January 2025 "We have been comfortable with the release of the embargoed copy and cannot understand why the procrastination has taken place We are concerned that regulators under this regime are being weaponised politically," the statement read The statement said they expected a professional release of the embargoed copies "When the Inquiry was announced by the prime minister there was a report back date for September 2024 This was then pushed out to November and then "It was then to be announced and released in January 2025 again we were told it would be released 4th February and now the 18th February 2025 The embargoed copy has been in our hands for over two weeks and we want to know why it has taken the Public Service and Prime Minister's Office this long to align their stories." In Monday's post-Cabinet briefing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the Public Service Commissioner would release the report when he was ready "It's important that we take time and do the analysis properly and importantly if there's any findings coming through that we actually make sure that we've got an action plan that is implemented." In a statement the Public Service Commission reiterated its previous comments that the inquiry has been "complex third-party service providers and findings that will impact all of the public service" "More important than the timing is that we get the response right The commission's response to the findings will be released when it's ready." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Findings from an inquiry into whether personal data collected at Manurewa Marae was misused for election purposes have once again been delayed Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is accusing the commission of bowing to "a bit of political heat" after it apologised for using Manurewa marae as a voting place The accusation follows allegations that the marae misused census data during last year's election The Public Service Commission's been directed to investigate after allegations Te Pāti Māori misused data during the 2023 election campaign Te Ao Māori RSS Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche today released the findings of an inquiry into the protection of personal information collected during the 2023 Census and during the Covid-19 vaccination drive, spurred by allegations raised in the media last year. The inquiry did not make any findings as to specific allegations levelled publicly, however, it did conclude there was a raft of poor data-handling processes by government agencies. "This report makes for very sobering reading," Roche said. "It raises a number of issues that go to the core of the confidence and trust required to maintain the integrity and sanctity of information entrusted to government agencies. "The system has failed and that isn't acceptable — and it must be, and will be, remedied." Stats NZ's acting chief executive and government statistician Mark Sowden will not seek reappointment to his role, with his contract ending on March 30. "His decision to step down reflects the standard of accountability expected of public service chief executives," Roche said. "I think it is the right thing to do in the circumstances and I respect Mr Sowden for what would have been a tough decision." The inquiry found Stats NZ and health agencies — Health NZ and the Health Ministry — had insufficient safeguards around protecting people's personal information when they were shared with relevant service providers. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who commissioned the review from Roche last year, said the findings had resulted in an "absolutely unacceptable breach" of public trust. "What you see is an absolutely unacceptable breach of public trust and public service. You have to drive accountability into the system, and you have to make sure those protocols around money and around conflicts and also around data are well done." Asked about specific allegations relating to third parties, the PM said he wouldn't comment as there were active inquiries with the NZ Police and Privacy Commissioner. "It's entirely appropriate that they are the right bodies to handle those questions." Luxon said: "It's a very big wake-up call and it's important that every agency registers it." Three service providers — Manurewa Marae, Waipareira Trust, and Te Pou Matakana — have been temporarily suspended from entering into new contracts with Stats NZ, Health NZ, the Ministry of Health, and Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development. Roche said the agencies would have to satisfy him that "their contracts are fit for purpose and adequately deal with information sharing and conflict of interest obligations". "All current contracts will be honoured to ensure services continue to be delivered as normal. The suspension only applies to contracts that are new or being renewed or extended ... It doesn't apply to any subsidiaries or related parties." He added that a new information-sharing standard was underway and agencies would be directed to implement it by July 1. The commission's conflict of interest model standards have also been reviewed and updated, Roche said. Last year's allegations were first raised in the media through reporting by the Sunday Star-Times and related to the handling of private information at Manurewa Marae. The allegations included that collected data was improperly used to help Te Pati Māori at the 2023 general election. The party has strenuously denied the allegations over the past year, having called them "baseless and simply untrue". Te Pati Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was Manurewa Marae's chief executive during the campaign and stepped down after winning the Tamaki Makaurau seat by 42 votes. Three allegations relating to Manurewa Marae have been referred to the Privacy Commissioner as a result of the inquiry. The inquiry also "found that the compulsory collection of personal information for the Census, when combined with a campaign, using incentives, to switch to the Māori roll — but not promoting a switch to the general roll — and the potential later use of the information, needs to be considered. "Aspects of this matter are the subject of an ongoing investigation by police." Roche also wrote to "the Ministry of Justice and asked the agency to consider, with the Electoral Commission, the issue of using incentives to encourage voters to switch rolls." He said the inquiry did not determine if the specific allegations levelled against parties involved were accurate, but that "the gate was left open" and that claims have been referred to authorities for investigation. "These are serious allegations that go to the integrity of our democratic process," he said. "The inquiry found some agencies fell short on their responsibility to protect and manage the sharing of personal information, which is unacceptable. "While we don't know if personal information was improperly used, the gate was left open. It will be for other authorities, with the appropriate regulatory and investigative tools, to determine whether personal data was misused." The inquiry was led by Michael Heron KC and Pania Gray. In response to the release of today's findings, Detective Superintendent Ross McKay said police were waiting for the completion of other investigations to inform their work. McKay said in a statement to 1News that police were "working with a number of agencies as they investigate various aspects of allegations made about Te Pāti Māori". "At this point, we want to allow other agencies to complete their investigations, as that will help to inform the police assessment. Where potential criminal activity has been identified, we will respond and investigate accordingly. "The work for police will focus on whether there was potential criminality that meets evidential threshold for prosecution, or whether the issues related to concerning financial practises are for another agency to examine." "The system has failed," Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said after failures in data safeguarding were highlighted. (Source: 1News) The head of Stats NZ will exit his role and three service providers have been temporarily suspended from new contracts with some government agencies as an inquiry into alleged Census and health data misuse found major breakdowns in processes. Sir Brian Roche unveils the findings of the inquiry in Wellington. (Source: 1News) Branded van raises new questions amid Manurewa Marae claimsTakutai Tarsh Kemp appeared with the van in a Q+A story just before the election when she was a candidate and the chief executive of the marae Public Service Commission to conduct independent inquiry amid TPM Census claims"Public confidence in the response to these allegation is paramount," the Prime Minister said of the independent inquiry Michael Heron KC Pania Gray to lead TPM Census claim inquiry Today the acting Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott announced further details of the inquiry which was ordered by the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Public Service on Monday Erica Stanford concedes use of personal email 'untidy' Stanford said her practice of forwarding Government correspondence to a personal Gmail account Govt halts all current pay equity claims National introduces members' bill to ban social media for under 16s Christopher Luxon announced the bill alongside Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd this morning Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one but one has spent years breaking the law while the other just pays a steep price for sharing his name 37 mins ago 27 mins ago The head of Stats NZ will exit his role and three service providers have been temporarily suspended from new contracts with some government agencies as an inquiry into alleged Census and health data misuse found major breakdowns in processes Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche today released the findings of an inquiry into the protection of personal information collected during the 2023 Census and during the Covid-19 vaccination drive spurred by allegations raised in the media last year The inquiry did not make any findings as to specific allegations levelled publicly it did conclude there was a raft of poor data-handling processes by government agencies "This report makes for very sobering reading," Roche said "It raises a number of issues that go to the core of the confidence and trust required to maintain the integrity and sanctity of information entrusted to government agencies "The system has failed and that isn't acceptable — and it must be Stats NZ's acting chief executive and government statistician Mark Sowden will not seek reappointment to his role "His decision to step down reflects the standard of accountability expected of public service chief executives," Roche said The inquiry found Stats NZ and health agencies — Health NZ and the Health Ministry — had insufficient safeguards around protecting people's personal information when they were shared with relevant service providers who commissioned the review from Roche last year said the findings had resulted in an "absolutely unacceptable breach" of public trust "What you see is an absolutely unacceptable breach of public trust and public service You have to drive accountability into the system and you have to make sure those protocols around money and around conflicts and also around data are well done." Asked about specific allegations relating to third parties the PM said he wouldn't comment as there were active inquiries with the NZ Police and Privacy Commissioner and Te Pou Matakana — have been temporarily suspended from entering into new contracts with Stats NZ and Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development Roche said the agencies would have to satisfy him that "their contracts are fit for purpose and adequately deal with information sharing and conflict of interest obligations" "All current contracts will be honoured to ensure services continue to be delivered as normal The suspension only applies to contracts that are new or being renewed or extended .. It doesn't apply to any subsidiaries or related parties." He added that a new information-sharing standard was underway and agencies would be directed to implement it by July 1 The commission's conflict of interest model standards have also been reviewed and updated Last year's allegations were first raised in the media through reporting by the Sunday Star-Times and related to the handling of private information at Manurewa Marae The allegations included that collected data was improperly used to help Te Pati Māori at the 2023 general election The party has strenuously denied the allegations over the past year having called them "baseless and simply untrue" Te Pati Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was Manurewa Marae's chief executive during the campaign and stepped down after winning the Tamaki Makaurau seat by 42 votes Three allegations relating to Manurewa Marae have been referred to the Privacy Commissioner as a result of the inquiry The inquiry also "found that the compulsory collection of personal information for the Census to switch to the Māori roll — but not promoting a switch to the general roll — and the potential later use of the information Roche also wrote to "the Ministry of Justice and asked the agency to consider the issue of using incentives to encourage voters to switch rolls." He said the inquiry did not determine if the specific allegations levelled against parties involved were accurate but that "the gate was left open" and that claims have been referred to authorities for investigation "These are serious allegations that go to the integrity of our democratic process," he said "The inquiry found some agencies fell short on their responsibility to protect and manage the sharing of personal information "While we don't know if personal information was improperly used with the appropriate regulatory and investigative tools to determine whether personal data was misused." The inquiry was led by Michael Heron KC and Pania Gray In response to the release of today's findings Detective Superintendent Ross McKay said police were waiting for the completion of other investigations to inform their work McKay said in a statement to 1News that police were "working with a number of agencies as they investigate various aspects of allegations made about Te Pāti Māori" we want to allow other agencies to complete their investigations as that will help to inform the police assessment Where potential criminal activity has been identified we will respond and investigate accordingly "The work for police will focus on whether there was potential criminality that meets evidential threshold for prosecution or whether the issues related to concerning financial practises are for another agency to examine." used by Te Pāti Māori candidate Takutai Kemp last year has raised fresh questions amid concerns over allegations relating to Manurewa Marae 12-seater van was used by Kemp in her bid for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat last year The vehicle was wrapped in the candidate's branding and featured prominently in Kemp's marketing campaign as a mobile billboard The now-MP appeared with the van in a Q+A story just before the election Subsequent registration checks of the vehicle show that it is owned by the Manurewa Marae Trust Board Kemp was the chief executive of the marae before the election That may be a problem for the marae as it is a registered charity Charities are restricted in what political activities they can engage in told Q+A "registered charities must not support or oppose particular parties or candidates." The department's general manager Charlotte Stanley said: "This includes making a donation to a political party or candidate’s election campaign endorsing a party or candidate or allowing a party or candidate to use a charity’s resources." This comes under section 13 of the Charities Act which outlines a charity’s requirement to have "charitable purposes" Internal Affairs told Q+A that case law is key but that were deemed too politically aligned and Greenpeace was challenged but fought and won a court case for its charity status Q+A sought responses from Manurewa Marae and the Tāmaki Makaurau MP said she had been advised by legal counsel not to talk to the media Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Kemp didn’t respond to several requests for comment that while it is considering the information on Manurewa Marae it is unable to say anything further because it's subject to their regulatory processes Registered charities must not support or oppose particular political parties or candidates "Charities can and do speak up in a variety of ways on issues that affect their communities and may advocate for specific policies that are clearly connected to their charitable purpose the law is clear that this cannot become support for a specific party or candidate "This includes making a donation to a political party or a candidate’s election campaign or allowing a party or candidate to use a charity’s resources." Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air An independent inquiry will be carried out by the Public Service Commission amid allegations that Census data from Manurewa Marae was misused Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said today alleged Census data from the South Auckland marae was used for Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign Te Pāti Māori have strongly denied the claims Luxon told reporters at a post-Cabinet press conference this afternoon that — on the direction of the Prime Minister and Public Service Minister Nicola Willis — the Public Service Commission will initiate an independent inquiry looking at the safeguards that public agencies had in place to protect personal information It will also examine agencies' management of actual or perceived conflicts of interest In a letter addressed to Acting Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott Luxon formally directed her to carry out an inquiry under the Public Service Act 2020 "We expect this to be an independent inquiry into the safeguards that relevant government agencies had in place to ensure the appropriate use of people's personal information by third party providers in the circumstances surrounding these allegations and whether those safeguards worked," he wrote "The inquiry should include an assessment of the institutional arrangements relating to the use of the personal information and whether conflicts of interest Luxon today told reporters: "These allegations are serious and they go to the heart of trust and confidence in our democratic processes and institutions "Public confidence in the response to these allegations is paramount." The investigation would run concurrently with investigations already underway by a government agencies including Statistics New Zealand and police Health officials have also sought assurances that Covid and immunisation data had been used properly including the timing and who would lead the inquiry He added that he had not spoken to Te Pāti Māori about today's announcement "We're in a fact-finding phase of this investigation." "We will consider what further action might need to be taken once that phase is complete." Luxon said the inquiry is "not a cost issue – this is a principle issue" the heads of a number of government agencies attended a meeting called by Baggott the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – was a first step to ensure that all relevant agencies are acting to examine the recent allegations "It has been alleged that personal information was improperly shared and used at last October’s general election," she said "It is also claimed that taxpayers’ money may have been misused." The Privacy Commissioner has been notified by Stats NZ and has also requested information and assurances in relation to the reported allegations Te Pāti Māori said its co-leaders had written to "the Prime Minister the Police Commissioner and Minister of Police seeking the Police lead an urgent investigation into the allegations made against Te Pāti Māori" "Whilst we have welcomed the independent review initiated by Statistics New Zealand these allegations are frivolous but require police to sanction our view," president John Tamihere said "We have asked the journalist to front with the evidence on behalf of those making the allegations "We welcome an immediate investigation into these allegations to once again prove our innocence The Public Service Commissioner has appointed Michael Heron KC and Pania Gray to lead an inquiry into allegations that Census and vaccination programme data was misused the acting Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott announced the details of the inquiry alleged Census data from the South Auckland Manurewa Marae was used for Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign Baggot's statement announced the appointment of Heron and Gray of Kororā Consulting to lead the inquiry Heron is a King's Counsel and former Solicitor-General who previously led an investigation into the breach of sensitive personal information involving Covid-19 active cases Gray recently completed a review for the Public Service Commission into Te Puni Kōkiri’s recruitment processes She is the managing director of Kororā Consulting whose work includes inquiry and investigation services Baggot also outlined the terms of reference for the inquiry The agencies in the scope of the investigation are Statistics NZ The third-party service providers within the scope of the inquiry include the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust and Manurewa Marae Trust Board “These are very serious allegations that have been strongly denied by the relevant third-party service providers,” Baggott said “The allegations go to the heart of trust and confidence in New Zealand’s democratic processes and institutions It’s important to establish the facts so New Zealanders can trust that when their personal information is collected by government agencies it is held securely and used only for proper authorised purposes.” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said: "These allegations are serious The investigation would run concurrently with investigations already underway by government agencies Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere has strongly denied the claims and told 1News earlier in the week it welcomed the investigation Takutai Tarsh Kemp was chief executive of Manurewa Marae She stepped down after narrowly winning the Tamaki Makaurau seat for Te Pati Māori at the election Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency Chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait also welcomed the investigation into the allegations speculation and innuendo now causing us to expense resource in regard to this inquiry "We must never resile from our obligations and duties of continuing to uplift our communities And I can confirm that the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency exceeded its contract with the Department of Statistics for the 2023 Census." Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man was found at a property in South Auckland overnight with critical injuries “consistent with stab wounds”, police say Emergency services were called to Manurewa just after midnight to “a report that a person had been injured at a property on Marr Rd” “Police and ambulance attended and located a man with critical injuries consistent with stab wounds who Police were now trying to find out the circumstances of what happened “Residents in the area can expect to see an increased police presence in the area today.” A blue police tent could this morning be seen outside a Marr Rd home Police wanted to hear from anyone who saw what happened or had information that could help investigators “Please contact police on 105 online or over the phone Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Sign up to The Daily H A new plan is set to empower the Manurewa community to better prepare for and respond to emergencies The Manurewa Local Board Emergency Readiness and Response Plan created with Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) offers practical guidance to help residents and businesses stay safe before The plan responds to lessons learned from the devastating Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 which highlighted the importance of local preparedness and community support during emergency events Manurewa Local Board chair Matt Winiata says a little time preparing now could pay off in the future The Manurewa plan identifies the area’s major hazards and provides tips on reducing risk Developed through consultation with community and faith-based groups the plan is designed to reflect the unique needs of the area Printed copies will be available in libraries and community centres while a digital version will soon be accessible on the council website Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month. Or follow us on Facebook Waipareira Trust chief executive and president of Te Pāti Māori John Tamihere is defending the use of data at Manurewa Marae saying there's no evidence of any wrong doing The Craig inquiry suggested it was likely "on balance" that some photocopying of Census data had occurred Tamihere said the trust had several providers and he couldn't speak on behalf of them all He agreed there was some photocopying of Census forms at the marae but the instruction was that they needed to be destroyed on the day I go back to your first question [from Morning Report host Corin Dann] was any census data used by Whānau o Waipareira or the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency in regard to the 2023 general election and the answer is 'no'." Asked if it was unacceptable that forms were duplicated "But that's not to say crooked dealings occurred on the marae That's something you would have to put to them." Te Pāti Maori had been the ones who had asked the police to carry out an investigation into the accusations even before any inquiries were set up Tamihere on Wednesday told Morning Report the organisation was targeted for being Māori attracting extra scrutiny over suspicions Māori were somehow "crooked" A scathing report on the handling of the data says Stats NZ, Health NZ and the Health Ministry failed to install proper safeguards The Privacy Commissioner will now investigate if Census and Covid-19 vaccination data shared with Manurewa Marae was misused for election purposes The inquiry was triggered by accusations the data collected by the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency Waipareira Trust and the marae was then used by Te Pāti Māori for its election campaign The marae was used as a polling booth in the 2023 election and the Māori Party's candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat Takutai Tarsh Kemp was also the marae's chief executive The Public Service Commissioner on Tuesday announced he doesn't know whether personal Census and Covid-19 information collected at the marae was misused - because it was out of scope in the Commission's investigation Sir Brian Roche says it will be for other authorities Tamihere said there was no substance to any of the allegations and he has no concerns He said whistleblowers had not been able to provide evidence that the data was misused Every political party used data and Waipareira Trust which had existed for 40 years had built up huge data sets He denied that the census data from government agencies that had been shared with the marae was then handed over to Te Pāti Māori "It's easy to throw stones but you shouldn't be in glasshouses when you do so." Asked if it was in the interests of all Māori to have the issues cleared up he responded that it was in the interests of all Pākehā "There's not one rule for all in this country by a long shot .. we will continue to participate in the democratic process whether people like it or not and we are a growing force politically in this country That will continue whether people like it or not." There was a belief among non-Māori that somehow Māori were "crooked" and this must be "nipped in the bud" Tamihere also accused Labour leader Chris Hipkins of "missing the boat" in terms of the recount for the seat and said Māori across Auckland voted for Takutai Tarsh Kemp but all the focus was on a single polling booth at the Manurewa Marae Tamihere said there was no substance to allegations that a text message from Te Pāti Maori had been sent to voters using census data Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency chairperson Merepeka Raukawa-Tait - who this month called for the delayed Public Service Commission report to be released and also stood for Te Pāti Māori in last year's election - said they were still analysing the report's findings and would not be commenting further at this stage Kemp and Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer did not respond to requests for comment Sir Brian told Morning Report Tamihere was entitled to his views on no wrongdoing over the use of data which was why he had referred it to the police what has been uncovered during his investigation has resulted in "a massive wake up call" for the way government agencies handled sensitive information it was unacceptable and it's legitimate for the public to expect government agencies to safeguard their information and they failed to do so." Labour's Hipkins said the report was "alarming" It was concerning StatsNZ did not have controls in place for the protection of data and it was appropriate that its chief executive was stepping down But there were still big questions that needed to be answered "I think the other agencies who have the power to investigate those particular claims need to step up their efforts and provide the public with some answers on those questions." It could have made "a material difference" to an election result because only 42 votes separated Kemp and Henare "It is important that the public get those answers very quickly." Stats NZ said it would be working with police - who are now investigating any potential misuse of the data - after releasing its own report alongside the Privacy Commissioner's on Tuesday The Serious Fraud Office said it continued to liaise with police in relation to the status of their investigation but had not opened a separate investigation Originally, the agency had been concerned at the low 2018 Census response rates, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples, and aimed for a higher response in the 2023 Census, it said in its report Stats NZ partnered with Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency to lift low census response rates from Māori in south Auckland The collection operations were led by Whānau Ora's Te Pae Herenga o Tāmaki collective of which Manurewa Marae is a part of," it said "The findings relate to the forms from around 1800 households visited by Manurewa Marae staff the contract resulted in an additional 40,000 census responses which helped Aotearoa New Zealand to achieve a response rate of 77 percent for people of Māori descent." around 4.5 million census forms were collected in 2023 Auckland Transport has been asked to explain why work to improve Grand View and Hill roads needs to mean car park losses Manurewa Local Board has told AT it is concerned about removing car parks as part of improvements in the area The project proposes improvements near the motorway onramp in response to community concerns that arose out of the addition of a left turn give way from Hill Road into Grand View Board chair Matt Winiata says the work will improve pedestrian amenities and add another lane to the on-ramp “Our concerns around signals being synced with other nearby ones have already been addressed AT doing great work to ensure efficiencies are maximised and congestion minimised.” He says AT has also reported back on concerns from Randwick Park residents about excessive speeds around Hyperion and Riverton drives AT has suggested physical measures such as speed cushions and chicanes and will investigate further Meanwhile the board has also asked AT to look at investigating engine braking restrictions in residential areas throughout Manurewa Police have spoken to “a number of people” but are yet to lay charges after a man died from critical stab wounds at a South Auckland property at the weekend Emergency services were called to Manurewa just after midnight Saturday to “a report that a person had been injured at a property on Marr Rd” Hayward said the investigation had been looking into a disorder at the time the victim was injured “We have spoken with a number of people since Saturday morning and this has helped progress our inquiries,” he said “We anticipate we will be able to release further information about the victim in due course “The investigation team are continuing with some additional inquiries It’s understood the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning occurred at a social housing facility run by Kāhui Tū Kaha The not-for-profit organisation confirmed it was aware of the incident When the Herald visited the scene on Sunday a police officer could be seen exiting the social housing complex A nearby neighbour said he believed there was a party at the address on the night of the incident A blue forensic tent could be seen outside the Marr Rd address on Saturday morning The inquiry into steps government agencies took to ensure personal Census and Covid vaccination data collected at Manurewa Marae could not be misused has found the agencies failed to put appropriate safeguards in place and fell short of their responsibility to protect and manage the sharing of personal information Government statistician and Stats NZ chief executive Mark Sowden would also stand down next month the Public Service Commissioner announced on Tuesday The Public Service Commission has now asked a number of agencies to temporarily suspend entering new contracts until it is satisfied the agencies' contracts are fit for purpose and adequately deal with their obligations following allegations Census and Covid-19 vaccination data collected at the Marae was used to target Māori voters in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate went on to narrowly win the electorate over Labour's Peeni Henare The inquiry looked at the specific actions of a number of government agencies Stats NZ contracted the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency to assist with a "last-ditch" attempt to collect Census data from people Stats NZ had been unable to reach While the report says the Census was a success due to this Stats NZ's application of a high-trust model in relation to the collection of the data meant the usual confidentiality protections were not put in place The inquiry found Stats NZ had "insufficient" safeguards to protect personal information leading to a risk personal information collected by the third-parties on Stats NZ's behalf could be used for an improper purpose and poor process were identified but not dealt with "His decision to step down reflects the standard of accountability expected of public service chief executives," Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said The Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand also had no safeguards in place to address possible conflicts of interest arising from the sharing of personal information and Te Puni Kōkiri have been asked to temporarily suspend new contracts Whether the data collected was actually misused for electoral purposes was outside the scope of the inquiry but has been referred to other authorities for investigation Labour leader Chris Hipkins called the election result in the Tamaki Makaurau seat "unfair" following the scathing report "I think the fact that the polling booth was held at Manurewa Marae really did draw into question the result there - it was such a close result." Hipkins added New Zealand's international reputation when it came to fair elections could be at risk due to the findings of the investigation and said it was a "warning shot" to all government agencies about handling personal data I think we can really tighten this up and I think we must I think it's vitally important that our elections are scrupulously independent." Hipkins said globally people were more reluctant to take part in processes like the Census and this sort of finding will only make that worse "Public confidence is vital to the integrity of the Census process." He said Labour would also fully support the government launching an inquiry into the Electoral Commission The Electoral Commission did not fall under the scope of this review but Hipkins said he thinks it should be investigated "It doesn't fall within the purview of the Public Service Commission the Electoral Commission sits outside of that So if the government wanted to launch a further investigation Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the public sector's handling of the data was an unacceptable breach of public trust he said he wanted to see accountability coming from the top I want to see accountability from the top from CEOs making sure that processes are being followed and that organisations are being well-managed "We need to make sure that protocols around data being managed is everywhere across the system." Luxon said Sowden had made "the right decision to move on" and he was "absolutely confident" other public sector chief executives had got the message it would not be allowed to happen again Asked about how it could affect New Zealand's reputation he said the country had always prided itself on transparency and governance and the report was a "very big wake-up call" for the public sector He said Sir Brian was determined to restore the public's trust in the public service you've seen those actions in his tone today He is driving action into the public service exactly as he should Kiwis deserve to know their data will be safe and also their money's going to be well managed "We need to make sure that Kiwis can restore their trust in the public service and of course that's a hallmark of why people want to invest in New Zealand and what's made New Zealand so good in this space for so long So it's a very big wake-up call and it's important that every agency registers it." Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said it showed government agencies must be better at protecting people's privacy "New Zealanders need to be confident that when they do activities or giving over information for medical services and shared as the law outlines it should be," he said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon "The Privacy Act is very clear that agencies collecting personal information need to keep it safe and treat it with care This responsibility extends to the use of third-party service providers "Agencies need to be confident that personal information is protected wherever and whatever organisation is handling it." Webster said work on a new information sharing standard was underway which would support "the information stewardship framework at the core of the Privacy Act" "It's important people can trust that their information is treated with care. In our 2024 privacy survey the percentage of people who said they are 'more concerned' about privacy issues over the last few years has increased to 55 percent," up 14 percent on two years earlier The Office of the Privacy Commissioner will now be looking into: The chief executive of South Auckland's Papakura Marae told RNZ the report could impact the city's broader marae network "The implication on marae - like us here at Papakura - is huge particularly if government are going to be looking harder at us in terms of approving funding," Tony Kake said "We're 80 to 90 percent funded through government contracts it has a ripple effect for organisations like us who are just trying to mahi the mahi and do the hard yards "It's already hard enough to get through the gate.. It just raises that percentage of doubt when we're being considered for future funding." He pointed Papakura Marae's own polling success as an example of why agencies should work closer with marae "We were the second-highest polling booth at the elections in Papakura in 2023.. and its not because of conflicts of interest or anything like that In return they felt comfortable coming here we had a lot of new people coming here because they had never been to a marae in Papakura before." Kake said while marae around Auckland work together frequently there were strict protocols in place around data sharing "We're well informed of each other and support each [other] but we're very clear around the use of confidential information - in fact it's a code of conduct we have If the result of this is that you come out clean… all goods We never had any doubt in the first place." The Government has now tasked the Public Service Commission with reviewing the role of government agencies - including Stats NZ - and the safeguards they had in place The findings were due to be released last week but were delayed - with the Public Service Commission saying the findings required more time Allegations of misuse of personal data by Te Pāti Māori have triggered a high-level meeting of department heads The Privacy Commissioner's Office says given the public interest it's asking various government agencies for more information Politics RSS Pedal power has been super-sized in Manurewa with the Beautifcation Trust opening Auckland’s newest bike hub recently The hub is designed to boost local cycling by helping the community get the skills High school teacher and hub operator Reesh Casey says one family turned up with several bikes they couldn’t afford to fix “While the fried rice they brought us to say thank you was lovely the only reward we needed was seeing the smiles on their faces.,” he adds he says bikes are more than just transport enabling families to enjoy low-cost activities together and providing a sense of freedom The trust has a long-term partnership with Manurewa Local Board and is operating the hub at Dalgety Drive by the Browns Road netball courts “Whether you’re an experienced rider or keen to bike for the first time our team can help get you moving safely and confidently.”  The hub will operate from two containers turned workshops Refurbished donated bikes will also be sold “Making those bikes available keeps them out of landfill and gives more people the chance to ride,” Barthow explains the trust’s next step will be painting the containers Manurewa Local Board chair Matt Winiata says Auckland’s first bike hub opened in 2017 in New Lynn and his board will now consider increased funding in next year’s budget “The trust helps communities look after the environment and since 2001 has led beautification projects zero waste programmes and environmental education across the south and east and now it can add bike hub to its lists of achievements.”  Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month. Or follow us on Facebook A man convicted of manslaughter after he and a friend dropped a 7kg brick on the head of an unconscious stranger and kicked him repeatedly in the head will be deported to Samoa Simon Tavita was found guilty in the High Court following a trial into the death of Nigel Fuatimu in Manurewa’s Jellicoe Park in 2020 The Crown case was that Tavita and co-defendant Issac Ramese-Stanley dropped the brick on Fuatimu’s head and then repeatedly kicked him in the head The pair denied using the brick as a weapon and were acquitted on charges of murder but found guilty of manslaughter Tavita was sentenced to four years and four months imprisonment for his role in the offending He was released on parole in June last year and was served with a notice of his liability for deportation with his deportation liability suspended for two years after a drink-driving conviction in 2019 The condition of the suspension was that he didn’t commit any offence He recently appealed his renewed deportation liability on the grounds of exceptional humanitarian circumstances citing his family connections in New Zealand The Immigration and Protection Tribunal also heard Tavita had addressed his alcohol and anger issues while in custody and had been sober since 2020 Tavita now uses mindfulness techniques to deal with stress and anger has a strong support network in New Zealand and has been in fulltime employment since last year He told the tribunal he “deeply regrets and is remorseful for the harm caused by his poor decisions and alcohol use” The death of Fuatimu in the park was a “horrible accident” and he took full responsibility for the pain and loss to the victim’s family Tavita’s lawyer for the deportation appeal had submitted that the manslaughter offending was “alcohol-fuelled and spontaneous and Kim said deportation would “profoundly affect” Tavita’s family in New Zealand The tribunal accepted it would be “challenging and difficult for him to relocate to Samoa after living in New Zealand since 2017 even though he has family support in Samoa to find accommodation and work” It also accepted that while it would be difficult for his family to relocate the tribunal recognised that should Tavita’s family remain in New Zealand the separation from Tavita would be difficult it did accept there were exceptional humanitarian circumstances the now 27-year-old’s offending was serious enough that it did not mean deporting him would be “unjust or unduly harsh” and it outweighed the humanitarian circumstances “The appellant’s manslaughter offence was a serious crime involving the death of the victim which he committed three years after arriving in New Zealand,” the decision stated The tribunal noted the comments of the judge who convicted and sentenced Tavita There had been no mitigating features accepted by the judge and Tavita had repeatedly targeted the head and neck area of a man lying unconscious “Kicking someone in the head and neck while they are lying on the ground in an unconscious state and obviously entirely defenceless is an inherently violent cowardly and dangerous thing to do,” the judge said at sentencing “Forceful blows to the head and neck can have fatal consequences as happened here and I consider that this was clearly a very violent attack ...” While Tavita’s bid to remain in New Zealand was declined the tribunal did leave a door open for him to return for visits It removed a “prohibition on entry to New Zealand” that would typically apply after deportation “The reason for this order is to allow the appellant the opportunity to apply for a visa in the future to visit his [family] in New Zealand The tribunal noted that the outcome of any such application was for Immigration New Zealand to decide Tavita’s deportation was delayed for three months to allow him to get his affairs in order Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB The public won’t learn the findings of an investigation relating to allegations of the misuse of personal data at Manurewa Marae until at least the end of January But it is expected the findings will “impact all of the public service” and some matters relating to the investigation will “require referral to other authorities for further consideration” It’s another delay after the Public Service Commission (PSC) initially gave an indicative reporting date of September 16 The investigation was launched in June after direction from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Public Service Minister Nicola Willis Earlier this month, Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said he hoped a report would be released this year but couldn’t make an absolute guarantee The investigation was sparked by allegations that Census data and Covid-19 vaccination information collected at Manurewa Marae in Auckland had been misused for Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign President John Tamihere called for “hard evidence” to substantiate claims which was specifically into whether the personal information provided to government agencies as part of Census 2023 and for Covid-19 vaccination purposes had been misused was one of many inquiries launched at the time the PSC confirmed it had received the final report of the inquiry led by Michael Heron KC and Pania Gray Deputy Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott said “careful consideration” of the findings was needed and it would “take time to work through” third-party providers and “findings that will impact all of the public service” “Some matters will also require referral to other authorities for further consideration.” She said the findings require a “thorough response” and the commission “intends” to release them and its response “at the end of January” “The protection of personal information is paramount and it’s important we get the response right.” Agencies in the scope of the inquiry included Statistics NZ The third party providers within scope included the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency Willis told the Herald: “The report goes to public trust and confidence in the public service so the Public Service Commission needs to have utmost confidence in their findings “I have been advised that the Public Service Commission wants more time to ensure both that natural justice processes are completed satisfactorily and that they can respond effectively to the findings in the report.” Stats NZ’s inquiry has been looking into the management and handling of Census forms and the data contained within them The agency had last year partnered with the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency to lift low census responses from Māori Collection operations were then led by Whānau Ora’s Te Pae Herenga o Tāmaki collective It was initially expected that the investigation would be concluded “no later than” the end of July but in an update on its website last month Stats NZ said this timeline had been extended to an unconfirmed date “The investigation team is now working through the natural justice process which allows those who have been interviewed to check the facts documented in the report.” It said its report would be released alongside the Public Service Commission inquiry Police and the Privacy Commissioner have also been looking into concerns But the Electoral Commission’s chief electoral officer did accept this month it failed to managed the perceived conflict of interest of having Manurewa Marae be a voting base when its chief executive was a candidate “I have to say we got that wrong,” Karl Le Quesne said “I don’t think the perception of a conflict in there could’ve been managed in the way that we set out to do it.” Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office The new chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) said he has full confidence in the preparation for the next election and guidance for selecting polling booth locations is being reviewed The Justice Minister is seeking advice on whether the Commission should be investigated, following a scathing inquiry by the Public Services Commission into the handling of personal information by state agencies The inquiry was started last June, following allegations that Census and Covid-19 vaccination data collected at the Manurewa Marae was used to target Māori voters in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate Whether the data collected was misused for electoral purposes was outside the scope of the inquiry Paul Goldsmith has expressed confidence in the new Electoral Commission chair who started the role in November last year But Goldsmith made clear his expectation the Electoral Commission won't use the marae as a polling booth again and that there's a better performance across the board next election Justice Moore said he's a "few months into the role," and he's impressed by the "dedication of the people at the Commission" led by Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne He said the use of Manurewa Marae as a voting place at the last election had been questioned and the Commission acknowledged at the Annual Review in December it had got that wrong we are reviewing guidance for the selection of voting places to ensure they meet community needs and are also politically neutral The Board expects to sign off on these guidelines soon." Justice Moore said work is continuing to address the recommendations in the Auditor-General's report on the 2023 General Election and to be "well prepared for the next election." "It's critical that people can have trust and confidence in our elections and I'm committed to ensuring that happens." "I have had assurance that we can scale up to deliver an election when it is required." It did not even know about the weaknesses until the Manurewa Marae inquiry - that came out this week - exposed it Manurewa Marae acknowledges should have done better at handling completed census forms following an inquiry into steps government agencies took to protect data The probe was launched last year after allegations data was misused during the 2023 campaign But the Waipareira Trust CEO says there's no evidence of wrong doing and the group is being targeted for being Māori Northern League club Manurewa have named Tashreeq Davids as their men’s first-team head coach for the 2025 season Davids (35) has six years’ coaching experience and he returns to Manurewa Davids started the season at Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship club Manukau United before joining league rivals Franklin United in mid-season Manurewa survived relegation from the Northern League in 2024 winning a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off against Manukau United in September READ MORE: Manurewa keep place in Northern League after surviving penalty shootout >>>> Manurewa shared an interview with their new coach via social media “Taking on the head coach role at Manurewa AFC is an incredible opportunity to contribute to a club with rich history and passion for football,” Davids says in the interview “The chance to lead a team with such potential and help shape their future is both exciting and inspiring I’m particularly eager to work alongside talented players and a supportive community to achieve shared goals “I believe in fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment for younger players This includes offering structured development programmes integrating them into senior training sessions where appropriate and ensuring they have role models within the club to look up to “My goal is to create a clear pathway for youth players to transition into the first team while inspiring them to grow as both athletes and individuals “Football is more than just a sport-it’s a way to connect people The opportunity to work with players who are passionate and driven excites me as does the chance to engage with a community that truly loves the game “I’m looking forward to creating an environment where the players thrive and the community feels a strong sense of pride in the team “My love for football and a desire to positively impact others inspired me to pursue coaching I admired coaches who could motivate and develop individuals both on and off the pitch “I wanted to emulate that by helping players reach their full potential and contributing to the game that has given me so much.” The 12-team 2025 Northern League will comprise: Since his appointment to a new role at Manurewa in September Rodwell has moved to Wellington where he has joined Waterside Karori READ MORE: Waterside Karori name Marty Rodwell in dual role for 2025 season >>>> Rodwell (45) was to lead player and coach development programmes at Manurewa returning to the club where he played more than 200 first-team games and had been head coach READ MORE: New role for Marty Rodwell after return to Manurewa from Fencibles United >>>> He was the director of football at Fencibles United in 2024 during a season in which they won the Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship title and promotion to the 2025 Northern League This story was first published on December 21 A widely-admired former club and regional football administrator Here’s NZ Football’s 12-minute highlights reel from last.. The New Zealand men’s U-20 team will play a two-match series against Chile in June.. Football Ferns midfielder Katie Kitching has been named Player of the Year for her English.. Which teams will go into the men’s A-League finals play-offs with the strongest form Auckland FC have confirmed their home leg of the men’s A-League semi-finals will be played.. A 22-player squad has been named to represent New Zealand at the six-nation FIFA Youth.. Defending champions Auckland United are ready for strong competition at the OFC Women’s Champions League.. 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WordPress Theme by Kadence WP Manurewa Marae has acknowledged it could and should have done better at handling completed census forms following the Public Service Commission's inquiry into the steps government agencies took to ensure data collected at the marae could not be misused The marae continues to reject accusations it misused the data The inquiry was launched after allegations census and Covid-19 vaccination data collected at the marae was used for electoral purposes Then-chief executive Takutai Tarsh Kemp won the Tāmaki Makaurau seat for Te Pāti Māori The allegations themselves were not investigated but the government wanted assurances the agencies had proper processes in place to protect data it shared and Health New Zealand failed to put appropriate safeguards in place and fell short of their responsibility to protect and manage the sharing of personal data The Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand had no safeguards in place to address the possibility of conflicts of interest arising from the sharing of health information and had no control over files once they were downloaded by the providers' staff "None of the agencies were existing to draw on their existing assurance systems to respond to the allegations Investigating whether the data was misused will now be picked up by police and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner "While we don't know if personal information was improperly used which is unacceptable," said the Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche on Tuesday Manurewa Marae chair Helena Stevens said the inquiry had been the impetus for major change "This inquiry has served as a wake-up call and prompted a review of all the marae's systems and processes," she said and will now carefully consider its findings She said an internal review last year led to a new charter and constitution and a new operating model which would govern how the marae operated from now on It also had a new chair and chief executive Manurewa Marae has been called on by Crown agencies and health and social service providers to help reach members of our community who they cannot "We value the role we play in our community - this was why we were established - but we acknowledge that we need to do it better We're confident we now have a better structure in place to do this." StatsNZ chief executive Mark Sowden will not seek re-appointment and Te Puni Kokori have also been suspended from entering into new contracts or renewing or extending existing contracts with Manurewa Marae until the Public Service Commission is satisfied they have robust safeguards for protecting data and managing conflicts of interest Sir Brian Roche expects report findings soon - but not before Christmas The Public Service Commissioner expects an investigation launched after allegations of the misuse of personal data at Manurewa Marae in favour of Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign will report back shortly the commission’s inquiry had an indicative reporting date of September 16 The Herald has been asking for updates since and been told the inquiry was ongoing Public Service Minister Nicola Willis told the Herald on Monday she was happy with the pace of work saying the commission needs to have confidence in its findings and that they will “live through the scrutiny of a significant amount of public challenge” Appearing before a select committee in Parliament Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said the inquiry was “nearing completion” and it was hoped a report would be released in the next few weeks he wouldn’t commit to that happening prior to Christmas Asked by Upper Harbour MP Cameron Brewer why it was taking so long sensitive issue” meaning it was “worthy of the time spent to make sure we get the answer right” There are a number of voices to be listened to We remain confident in our ability to deliver in the not-too-distant future.” It had been alleged Census data and Covid-19 vaccination information collected at Manurewa Marae in Auckland had been misused for Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign Takutai Tarsh Kemp the party’s candidate in the local Tāmaki Makaurau electorate who went on to win was the marae’s chief executive at the time Te Pāti Māori has strongly rejected the allegations and welcomed investigations A number of public agencies looked into concerns the Privacy Commissioner and the Public Service Commission Following direction from the Prime Minister and Public Services Minister the Public Service Commission launched an inquiry in June led by Michael Heron KC and Pania Gray The Public Service Commission’s inquiry was intended to look at what safeguards government agencies had in place to ensure the appropriate use of personal information by third parties what concerns were raised with the agencies prior to media reporting and what was done in relation to those concerns Speaking to the Herald after Roche’s comments Willis said she was happy with the inquiry’s speed as it was important the commission “ensure that it has a full natural justice process so that its finding can be held up robustly” She said government agencies had been “co-operative” Willis said she would have loved to have seen the report come out earlier but it was more important for the commission to be right than early “It’s been my expectation that the commission conduct its work as efficiently and effectively as possible “When these issues go to public trust and confidence they need to have utmost confidence in their findings and conclusions and they need to live through the scrutiny of a significant amount of public challenge.” The Herald contacted Te Pāti Māori for comment on Monday including about whether it was involved in the natural justice process and if any adverse findings had been presented to it It didn’t provide a response by publication time which received referrals from the Electoral Commission simply told the Herald the “matter is still ongoing” The Electoral Commission said it didn’t have any ongoing inquiries The findings from an inquiry into whether personal data collected at Manurewa Marae was misused for election purposes have once again been delayed the Public Service Commission announced the report along with the Public Service Commissioner's response to the inquiry the Commission said the findings would not be released on Monday after all saying the findings required more time following feedback from some agencies but it was more important to get the response right third-party service providers and findings that will impact all of the public service Some matters will also require referral to other authorities for further consideration," a statement said Takutai Tarsh Kemp was the marae's chief executive at the time and went on to win the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate for Te Pāti Māori narrowly beating Labour's Peeni Henare by 42 votes Te Pāti Māori has strongly rejected the allegations When the inquiry was launched, party president John Tamihere called the allegations "baseless innuendo" and called for "hard evidence rather than speculation" Luxon said it would look into the safeguards that government agencies had in place to ensure the appropriate use of people's personal information by third-party providers in the circumstances surrounding the allegations The Public Service Commission said it would announce a new date that its response would be finalised At least six government agencies are now the focus of an independent inquiry triggered by claims Te Pāti Māori misused census information Former marae workers claim staff photocopied private information from Census forms to help Te Pāti Māori's election campaign Te Pāti Māori's president earlier hit back at allegations his party misused private information to help its election campaign The Electoral Commission should not have apologised for using Manurewa marae as a voting place and concerns about influencing voters have no validity Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has told RNZ the commission should have trusted the process it put in place at Manurewa marae and has accused it of bowing to political pressure The commission says its apology and comments are based on its own reflections and review of the election The Public Service Commission (PSC) has been investigating since June after accusations Te Pāti Māori misused data - from census forms and the Covid-19 vaccination campaign - to target voters during the election campaign That six-month inquiry led by Michael Heron KC and Pania Grey is complete but the PSC on Monday confirmed it was not expected to be made public until the end of January Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Social Development are all in scope along with fact-finding missions from the agencies themselves and the Privacy Commissioner The Electoral Commission's chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne during scrutiny week also told MPs the plan to manage the perceived conflict of interest of having a polling place managed by an electoral candidate was insufficient and it was unlikely to be used if Kemp stood again at the next election saying "we got that wrong" and the commission needed to investigate more closely when candidates were connected to voting places because "it is a bit of a slippery slope" Takutai Tarsh Kemp had been the marae's chief executive but stepped down after standing successfully for the party as a candidate She has denied the allegations and welcomed investigations It was a narrow victory with a difference of just 42 votes between Kemp and the then-incumbent candidate and minister Peeni Henare The result was confirmed in a judicial recount after the initial tally suggested Kemp had won by just four votes Ngarewa-Packer said it was important for marae to be used as polling booths and argued the Electoral Commission should not have apologised they should have trusted in their process," she said "I just think it's a real shame that community has to wear what I think is the Electoral Commission should have got their s*** together." "I heard second hand that there was a comment in one of the select committees they regretted or would not have supported a polling booth knowing that one of the staff members was .. but you should have trusted in your process and protected the marae." She suggested it was a case of the commission bowing to political pressure the hour before to actually be able to check in Now - because there's a bit of political heat now because things haven't gone the way they want there's now this pressure - 'oh we wish we didn't' "The fact that we're now throwing everyone under the bus I just feel for that community - they [the Electoral Commission] had a process Le Quesne outlined the protections put in place to mitigate concerns about Kemp's involvement "We were aware the marae chief executive was also a candidate we secured agreement that the candidate would not enter the voting place other than to vote and we were provided with an alternative designated contact person to deal with "As part of our review of the election At the Justice Committee hearing on 3 December I accepted that we did not give enough weight to the perceived conflict of interest." Questioned about the accusation about bowing to political pressure he said the comments to the select committee had been based on the commission's own reflections and review Ngarewa-Packer said marae were run by volunteers and it was worrying that they were being pulled into the "revolting politics" around the situation "[Marae] are run by people who volunteer with their heart to deliver something for their communities and there's just been so many revolting politics about this - whether it's Brian Tamaki's politics or whether it's Labour who got the feels because somebody took out a standing minister - the reality is amongst all of that is this community this humble community who've homed the homeless they've done amazing things for food banks and kai banks." who at the time was minister for the Environment said in a statement Labour supported and respected the process "It is important that the allegations regarding the use of personal data during last year's general election by Te Pāti Māori are substantiated and thoroughly investigated so that whānau have confidence that their personal data is being used appropriately," he said these allegations by no means reflect on the volunteers who do excellent work every day to support the community it is equally important to understand that there is a clear delineation of roles between what kaimahi do during the election period and what they do before it so that information that is collected is used appropriately and transparently." Tamaki said if anyone should be apologising it was Te Pāti Māori The only Māori that Te Pāti Māori speak for are the radicals they have misled" "There are a lot of good people at the Manurewa Marae .. but there are also those who have exploited the marae to run their political campaigns "A number of good Destiny members and non-Destiny members were involved in the community work out of Manurewa Marae during the Covid years but they saw the dishonest and corrupt Te Pāti Māori practices that implicated and dragged the marae down." He also called for the Māori seats to be abolished and accused Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere and party executives of orchestrating an "elaborate scam" He said the "whole drama has been an absolute shambles" but "their Māori gravy train has come to a grinding halt" Tamihere has repeatedly denied the allegations and said the party welcomes any investigation into it Ngarewa-Packer said she did not think concerns about the potential for votes to be swayed by information or food being provided had any validity and I also don't have a problem with marae manaaki I don't know what the Electoral Commission expected - that a large urban marae in the middle of South Auckland people don't just walk in there like it's a town hall you've literally got to walk in and there's a karanga coming at you so I don't know why they thought there wouldn't be kai and there wouldn't be the kind of things that everyday marae normally run "Our Māori tikanga doesn't change just because there's an election process .. there was billboards up for ages so I don't buy into this deflecting you don't just walk into a marae like it's Charlie Brown's backyard we're the most regulated people in the bloody world." She said it would not have been as big of a talking point if it had not been a marae "If it was a town hall or church or a council-owned building which gets bugger all people through it Le Quesne said marae were regularly used as locations for voting places "as they are well known and accessible venues in communities" and the concerns raised about food had not been borne out "We looked into complaints about the provision of food at Manurewa Marae and it did not meet the test for treating We have asked Parliament to consider whether greater clarity can be provided in the Electoral Act Ngarewa-Packer said the matter was being handled by the wider party rather than the leaders and she did not expect to necessarily see the PSC's report herself the Deputy Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott said the commission needed to give careful consideration of the findings third-party service providers and had findings that would impact all of the public service "The inquiry's findings will require a thorough response," she said "The protection of personal information is paramount and it's important we get the response right "Some matters will also require referral to other authorities for further consideration "The commission intends to release the findings and its response at the end of January." The PSA says the reckless drive to cut costs shows the government is prepared to put dollars ahead of Kiwis' lives Christopher Luxon said he had received "a number of invitations" to Waitangi Day commemorations but hasn't yet decided his schedule Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp has been diagnosed with kidney disease and will be taking leave from Parliament Manukau City$689,000311Brick & Tile Gem - $689K Well Below CV!This spacious brick and tile beauty could be your happily ever after this home makes the most of both its space and prime location Boasting three generously sized double bedrooms and relaxed layout - perfect for practical and versatile family living At the heart of the home is a modern kitchen with an open-plan dining and living area spacious backyard - ideal for entertaining all year round Designed with year-round comfort and energy efficiency in mind and a high-performance heat pump to ensure a warm With a Capital Value of $750,000 and a sharp asking price of just $689,000 this property offers outstanding value - a rare chance to get more for less in today's market The easy-care section includes fruit trees and space in the front yard with potential for a veggie garden it's your very own family sanctuary in a convenient location and easy access to the M1 motorway just minutes away Conjunctional welcome with all the real estate agencies This lovely home will be snapped up quickly Call us now for private viewings on 021 971 191 or come to our open home PLEASE NOTE: Specified floor and land area sizes have been obtained from sources such as property smarts They have not been measured by the Salesperson or Renexus Limited We recommend you seek your own independent legal advice if these sizes are material for your purchasing decision The findings are so serious for Stats NZ that chief executive Mark Sowden will leave at the end of his current term something Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says is “the right thing to do” Sowden, the Government Statistician won’t seek reappointment when his contract ends on March 30 “His decision to step down reflects the standard of accountability expected of public service chief executives,” Roche said It was claimed personal information was improperly used to favour Te Pāti Māori in the Māori electorate of Tamaki Makaurau Those allegations have been denied by those involved but the Government wanted assurances Kiwis’ data had been adequately safeguarded by the agencies that shared it Among the findings of the 73-page report from Michael Heron KC and Pania Gray is that the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora didn’t have control over data once downloaded by providers had no means for ensuring providers were meeting contractual expectations and had no safeguards for managing potential conflicts of interest Stats NZ was found to have “insufficient” arrangements to protect the shared data Among these was the removal of a requirement for confidentiality without any officials with the power to remove this requirement agreeing to that action A privacy assessment was also not finalised “This is a significant failure in the context of the personal information shared,” the report says The agency also “largely ignored” internal staff concern about the management of information and didn’t adequately consider conflict-of-interest provisions there was a risk of the collection or use of personal information for an improper purpose due to this combination of factors,” the report said of Stats NZ While it wasn’t the role of the inquiry to conclude whether a conflict of interest existed it said the context of the situation “should have led to Stats engaging the conflict-of-interest procedures” The inquiry said a “possible conflict of interest is alleged to arise” given some key officers of the providers were also either officers or candidates for Te Pāti Māori Providers were also involved in electoral work at the same time as Census activity that Māori participation in electoral politics alongside community mahi empowering whānau Māori should not be regarded as giving rise to any appearance of a conflict of interest,” the report said the failure to properly identify and manage possible conflicts gave rise to the very allegations that initiated this inquiry.” When the allegations were made about information being misused the providers “swiftly refuted the allegations” but none of the agencies were “able to draw on their existing assurance systems to respond to the allegations” The MoH and Health NZ have accepted the findings with the latter working to revise its protocols to ensure conflicts of interest are actively considered Stats NZ has been undertaking its own independent investigation The specific allegations – such as that providers improperly used the data – were out of the scope of the inquiry Some were referred to the Privacy Commissioner while another remains under investigation by police Roche said the report made for “very sobering reading” “It raises a number of issues that go to the core of the confidence and trust required to maintain integrity and sanctity of information entrusted to government agencies “The system has failed and that isn’t acceptable – and it must be As well as the decision for Sowden to not seek reappointment the Public Service Commission said a number of actions were being taken in response to the report the MoH and Health NZ temporarily suspending entering into new contracts A statement said that pause will last “until those agencies can satisfy the commissioner that their contracts are fit for purpose and adequately deal with information-sharing and conflict-of-interest obligations” “All current contracts will be honoured to ensure services continue to be delivered as normal The suspension only applies to contracts that are new or being renewed or extended with [the providers] It doesn’t apply to any subsidiaries or related parties.” Work is also under way on a new information-sharing standard The commission’s conflict of interests model has also been reviewed and updated “This means all third-party entities who enter into contracts or information-sharing agreements with core public service agencies will need to meet obligations around conflict of interest and sharing of personal information.” The Ministry of Justice will also be asked to consider changes to electoral law regarding financial incentives to switch electoral rolls This relates to one of the specific allegations made The Public Service Commission (PSC) inquiry was ordered by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and then-Public Service Minister Nicola Willis in June last year That followed the emergence of allegations that personal information obtained by providers linked to Manurewa Marae was used improperly Te Pāti Māori’s candidate in Tamaki Makaurau was also the chief executive of the marae at the time and won the seat by just 42 votes over the incumbent The inquiry considered six government agencies – Te Puni Kokiri (TPK) Oranga Tamariki (OT) and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) – each with links to specific service providers Those service providers were Manurewa Marae formerly known as the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (Woca) Waipareira and the Woca provide health and social services to whānau There are a number of overlaps between these providers including John Tamihere being the chief executive of Waipareira and the WOCA (he’s also the president of Te Pāti Māori) Waipareira being a shareholder in the Woca and the Manurewa Marae being contracted by the Woca to lift Māori and Pasifika rates of Census completion the inquiry’s scope was limited to making findings in relation to the government agencies and It was not to establish any type of liability or to draw conclusions about the credibility of the allegations that we limit our assessment of the appropriateness of arrangements and actions to that of the agencies,” the report says The inquiry took place in parallel to others including investigations by Stats NZ and the Electoral Commission The public release of the report has been repeatedly delayed, partly for natural justice purposes. After being pushed back several times at the end of last year, a press conference was scheduled to be held in early February, but that too was postponed just hours after being called While the report makes findings about each of the government agencies it looked at These are the agencies which shared personal information with the providers for the purposes of lifting Covid vaccination and Census response rates The report says the MoH and Health NZ shared information with providers pursuant to data-sharing agreements (DSAs) and providers’ staff accessing the national immunisation database “The terms of the DSAs adequately and appropriately set out the expectations of the parties There is a range of safeguards operating over personal information held in the national immunisation database.” the agencies didn’t have the means for assuring themselves the providers were meeting those expectations “The validation checks applied by the agencies did not relate to the systems and controls of the service providers for the receipt Health officials advised us that there were no controls operating over the files once they were downloaded by the providers’ authorised staff.” The report says that lack of “back-end” controls was “concerning” The DSA relied on “high trust and commercial incentives as safeguards” which has “not provided satisfactory reassurance here” Health NZ is also yet to receive “satisfactory assurance” from the Woca or Waipareira that they “complied with the terms of their DSAs” Te Whatu Ora and we are unable to conclude how effective the safeguards and institutional arrangements have been for personal health information shared for Covid-19 vaccination purposes.” The report also says neither the MoH nor Health NZ had safeguards in place for identifying or managing potential conflicts of interest that could arise from sharing the information with third parties The MoH thought this would be managed by TPK but TPK “did not consider that this was their sole responsibility” Both the MoH and Health NZ accepted the findings Health NZ halted its supply of personal information to the Woca under the DSA in June last year The agency also now has work under way to revise its DSA terms including monitoring the use of information shared with providers and ensuring conflicts of interest are actively considered The inquiry referred to the Privacy Commissioner the allegation that personal information collected at Manurewa Marae when people visited to receive their Covid vaccination was then used for another purpose including for a Te Pāti Māori election campaign Stats NZ provided unit-level dwelling data for households that hadn’t yet responded to the Census in the South Auckland area It was understood this information would then be combined with data held by the Woca to identify Māori in those households The agency believed this qualified as personal information and was shared under an information-sharing agreement and a contract of services These contained safeguards and protections on the data the inquiry report says Stats NZ did not action some of these key safeguards which would have imposed a lifelong statutory obligation of confidentiality on their signatories a breach of which would be a criminal offence While Stats NZ “apparently made some attempts at drafting the Certificates these were never finalised nor provided to [the Woca]” “It has been difficult for us to conclude why Certificates of Confidentiality were not signed by all relevant kaimahi [employees] carrying out Census activity under the contract.” The report explores potential reasons for this including the Woca saying Stats NZ waived the need for the certificates because its staff already had processes in place to deal with personal information Stats may have “erroneously” conflated the certificates with training The lack of the certificates is “unsatisfactory” and the only personnel who could “descope” the need for them was the Government Statistician or his delegates The inquiry found no evidence that these senior officials agreed to this or actioned it “We are unsure why anyone else would have considered they had the power to ‘descope’ this requirement,” the report said is the impact of the failure to execute these on public perception and trust and confidence The Certificates of Confidentiality are a part of Stats’ branding and they are referred to on the Stats website in the section ‘How we look after your data’.” The inquiry also found there was inadequate training for Woca staff dealing with the information and a Privacy Impact Assessment was not finalised meaning “insufficient attention was paid to the management of processes and data” it appears to us that Stats did not have [a] unified view of how the personal information was being shared or processed and the associated risks,” the report says the Stats Privacy Team had not provided any recommendations on how to manage those risks This is a significant failure in the context of the personal information shared.” One of the allegations that had been made was that Census forms were photocopied by staff at Manurewa Marae The report says the Woca and Waipareira said they expected staff to put completed Census forms in sealed envelopes in the presence of whānau and place them in the nearest post box but it was “without any contest” that forms were returned to Manurewa Marae “for some period” There were conflicting reports about what happened to these forms at the marae including the allegation some were photocopied One staff member at the marae said they were “retained to facilitate Waipareira’s reporting requirements” The Woca and Waipareira said information separate from the Census data was entered into a Waipareira database “We saw evidence that this distinction was not always observed at Manurewa Marae We have referred this matter to the Privacy Commissioner for his consideration.” The report highlighted that Stats NZ employees raised concerns internally about the use of the Census forms while Stats dealt with external concerns “as best as it could in the circumstances” “Stats’ failure to respond to these allegations in an appropriate and timely manner is concerning in the context of a nationwide Responses to the Census comprise both important and sensitive personal information “We expected that any suggestion that the Census activity was not being carried out with the care and diligence required would be investigated thoroughly.” While Stats NZ’s contract contained a conflicts of interest clause it was not clear to the inquiry how much consideration was given to these terms and “there is no evidence that they were engaged by either party” The inquiry found there was a possibility for a conflict of interest to arise especially given the overlaps between the providers and Te Pāti Māori and the providers engaging in electoral work “This introduced the potential for personal information to be collected under one process (Census) and used for another (electoral),” the report says It emphasised the inquiry was not finding a conflict of interest existed but setting out the “context and possibility that should have led to Stats engaging the conflict-of-interest procedures in the contract” Both the Woca and Waipareira deny Census data was used for electoral purposes also submitted there was no conflict of interest and the inquiry was not empowered to find one we find that there were connections and interests (as already noted) which should have been disclosed to Stats and considered by Stats as part of the contractual process,” the inquiry report says “Though the connections and interests were publicly available we did not see notification from [the Woca] to Stats of the electoral enrolment activities it intended to carry out and acknowledgement of the interests its personnel has in such a process (as required under the contract).” A diagram is included in the report highlighting the large number of connections between different noted as at the time as being a Te Pāti Māori candidate the chief executive of Manurewa Marae and director of the Woca “The multiple and overlapping interests of the persons involved on the service provider side should have given rise to Stats needing to be clear about its expectations relating to the identification and management of actual The report says the existence of a conflict wouldn’t have precluded Stats from contracting the Woca but the failure to identify and manage possible conflicts gave rise to the allegations at the heart of the inquiry A concern raised by a Stats employee about the possibility of a conflict was also not responded to by the agency Whether the Census data was used for improper purposes has been left the police investigation under way A group of former workers at Manurewa Marae alleged private data was entered into a database used to target voters ahead of the 2023 general election One of the country’s top cops, Detective Superintendent Ross McKay, is leading a team of investigators in the inquiry into Te Pāti Māori over allegations of census data misuse The allegations stem from a group of former workers at Manurewa Marae who said private data from Census forms was photocopied and entered into a database they believed Te Pāti Māori used to target voters ahead of the general election in 2023 Those allegations also sparked two high-level inquiries by Stats NZ and the Public Service Commission Te Pāti Māori leaders wrote to then-Police Commissioner Andrew Coster Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Police Minister Mark Mitchell asking for their party to be investigated requesting that the New Zealand Police launch an official investigation into the allegations that have been raised against Te Pāti Māori,” the letter said “These allegations have seen Te Pāti Māori and its MPs deemed guilty in the court of public opinion “It is our firm view that the allegations are baseless innuendo We are yet to see a shred of evidence to support these claims “The media has turned this matter into a race debate We demand the New Zealand Police launch a thorough and efficient investigation in order to prove our innocence and clear the good names of those accused.” On June 14, 2024, Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham replied “Thank you for your letter of 7 June 2024 addressed to the Commissioner of Police requesting Police initiate an investigation into the recent allegations raised against Te Pāti Māori “Your letter was provided to me for response as the Assistant Commissioner Investigations “I have assigned this matter to Detective Superintendent Ross McKay who has in turn assembled a small investigation team to review the wider matter liaise with other agencies and consider the response from Police “I anticipate Detective Superintendent Ross McKay will make contact in due course to provide an update.” On October 9 the co-leaders wrote back asking why none of their MPs or president had been interviewed over the allegations and requesting an update on the investigation On October 22 Basham replied: “The New Zealand Police investigation as requested by Te Pāti Māori is progressing well “We currently plan to be able to communicate directly with Te Pāti Māori and schedule interviews with members of your leadership team within the next 2-3 weeks “The investigation team will be in direct contact in the near future and we look forward to the opportunity to speak to your team directly.” party leaders have yet to hear from investigators a Te Pāti Māori spokesperson told the Herald Last week the Herald asked police what was happening with the investigation A spokesperson said: “The investigation remains ongoing and there’s nothing further we can provide at this time in terms of next steps.” Wharehoka Wano will lead Te Tōpuni Ngārahu a body representing the region's eight iwi Bring your broken or damaged items and local volunteers will fix them for you for FREE! The idea is to encourage the concept of Repair-Renew-Reuse Our volunteer repairers are ready to help repair your items such as: 🪑 - Smaller furniture pieces that need to be repaired 📻 - Small appliances (note: we are not able to repair microwaves due to safety measures) donations/Koha are warmly welcomed to help fund future Repair Cafés If you have skills that you want to share or just want to help with the smooth running of the event please contact: admin@doughnuteconomicsnz.com ⭐️ DEANZ - Doughnut Economics Advocates New Zealand please visit: https://repaircafe.doughnuteconomicsnz.com/ DEANZ - Doughnut Economics Advocates New Zealand Manurewa have retained their place in the Northern League after overcoming Manukau United in their two-legged promotion/relegation play-off with Manurewa needing to win a penalty shootout 4-2 after the teams were locked 4-4 after extra time in the second match Manukau United went into the second leg with a 4-2 deficit but took the lead through Boon Ozawa in the 56th minute who joined Manukau from Manurewa at the start of this season scored his second goal against his former club six minutes into stoppage time With the deadlock unbroken after two hours of play referee Andres Castro ordered a penalty shoot out Despite leading goalscorer Eber Ramirez failing to convert his spot kick Hector Echague and William Eng found the net while the home side could only convert two of their penalties Manurewa’s place in the 2025 Northern League was put in jeopardy when they finished 10th in the 12-team 2024 competition This meant they had to play Manukau United in a home and away series giving the Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship runners-up the chance to win promotion Waikato clubs Melville United (11th) and Hamilton Wanderers (12th) were automatically relegated and will play in next season’s Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship This story was first published on September 21 07 May 2025 09:0031190m²910m²#THEDAY - 911 SQM MHSNestled in one of the area's most sought-after locations this charming 3-bedroom weatherboard home sits proudly on a massive 911sqm of premium land offering exceptional development potential (subject to council approval) Step inside and you'll find a warm and welcoming interior with a functional layout featuring three spacious bedrooms the generous backyard opens directly onto Clendon Park School making this a dream location for families or developers eyeing strong community appeal good for potential development (check with council) • Backing directly onto Clendon Park School - ideal for families Opportunities like this don't come around often Call Jas Sandhu & team today to arrange a viewing - your next big move starts here #THEDAY 7th May 2025 from 9:00 am at Ray White Manukau (unless sold prior) Disclaimer - This property is being sold by auction and therefore a price guide can not be provided The website may have filtered the property into a price bracket for website functionality purposes All prospective purchasers shall complete their own due diligence and satisfy themselves with respect to information supplied during the marketing of this property including but not limited to: the floor and land sizes Manukau CityBy negotiation21105m²Amazingly Spacious - Suits a King!Fancy a super duper-sized bedroom for your king bed Does the wife have too many clothes needing an over-sized wardrobe There are a few options for different layouts 6A - 2 beds + 1 bath + 1 car park ; 83 m2 floor / 83 m2 land 6B - 2 beds + 1.5 bath + 1 car park; 91 m2 floor / 91 m2 land 6C - 2 beds + 1.5 bath + 1 car park; 90 m2 floor / 90 m2 land 6D - 2 beds + 1.5 bath + 1 car park; 90 m2 floor / 90 m2 land 6E - 3 beds + 1.5 bath + 1 car park; 90 m2 floor / 90 m2 land and you'll immediately appreciate the elevated entrance with solar-lit steps leading to the front door while the raised position helps keep the home dry and free from ground moisture Out the back is a private backyard and a rear deck perfect for summer BBQs or a quiet space to unwind You’ll love the sense of space created by 2.7m high ceilings on the ground floor The open-plan kitchen features Bosch appliances and a beautiful feature splashback that ties it all together Everything here has been designed with functionality in mind the extra storage near the kitchen and a linen cupboard upstairs and the practical garden shed in the backyard gated and fenced parking space adds extra peace of mind The speed bumps on the road help keep traffic calm you’ll enjoy a peaceful indoor environment or take a 5-minute drive to Homai train station’s park-and-ride you’re just a few minutes from Wiri and an easy commute to Auckland airport Bring your extended families and good friends We have 5 brand new homes on offer for sale See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson The findings of a Public Service Commission (PSC) inquiry conducted by Michael Heron KC and Pania Gray and released on Tuesday have already led one agency head to fall on their sword Mark Sowden, chief executive of Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) will stand down at the end of his term in March recognising “someone needs to take responsibility” Both Luxon and Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche have said that was the right thing for Sowden to do “Mark’s decision to step down reflects positively on his professionalism and his integrity which is in line with the standards of accountability I expect of public service chief executives,” Roche said The investigation was sparked by allegations last year that data provided by these agencies to health and social providers – including Waipareira Trust and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (Woca) – linked to Manurewa Marae were misused for electoral purposes The data had been provided for the purposes of increasing Covid-19 vaccination and Census rates Of concern were claims the data was used to favour Te Pāti Māori in the electorate of Tāmaki Makaurau The party’s candidate Takutai Tarsh Kemp was the chief executive of the marae at the time and won the seat by just 42 votes over Peeni Henare of Labour Te Pāti Māori and the providers involved have always denied misusing data The party’s president John Tamihere is also the chief executive of Waipareira Trust and the Woca The inquiry’s scope didn’t cover assessing the credibility of the specific allegations – those have been left to police and the Privacy Commissioner – but was instead focused on whether the agencies which shared the information adequately protected it Detective Superintendent Ross McKay on Tuesday said police were working with different agencies “as they investigate various aspects of allegations made about Te Pāti Māori” we will respond and investigate accordingly.” The police’s focus will be on “whether there was potential criminality that meets [an] evidential threshold for prosecution or whether the issues related to concerning financial practices are for another agency to examine” Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said he would speak with journalists but his office later referred questions to the administrative side of the party Neither the party nor Tamihere responded to questions The 73-page report highlighted a litany of failures by agencies including Stats NZ and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and was called “very sobering reading” and a “massive wake-up call” by Roche The system has failed and that isn’t acceptable – and it must be The headline findings were that MoH and Health NZ didn’t have control over data once downloaded by the providers had no means for ensuring providers were meeting their contractual expectations Among these was a requirement for confidentiality being removed without any officials with the power to do this agreeing to that action The agency also “largely ignored” internal staff concerns about the management of information and didn’t adequately consider conflict-of-interest provisions which had its own independent investigation has apologised and will implement 33 actions to improve its processes “It is unacceptable for people’s personal information to be misused in the way that’s been alleged and absolutely unacceptable that we did not ensure that it could not happen,” said Sowden “The allegations do not call into question the validity or quality of the 2023 Census data but this is a serious situation for New Zealand It is clear our actions fell short of our own standards; we did not do enough to make sure people’s privacy was protected by our third-party providers nor did we have the right processes in place to make sure concerns were appropriately escalated.” The PSC is taking a number of steps itself including temporarily suspending the agencies’ ability to enter into new contracts with the providers until they can satisfy Roche their processes are fit for purpose Information-sharing and conflict of interest standards are also being updated There had been a specific allegation that visitors to Manurewa Marae were given vouchers to switch rolls The Prime Minister said he was “shocked” by the findings and expected “accountability in the system” “It was totally unacceptable because it gets to the heart of public trust and public service,” Luxon said we’ve ended up in the situation that we have.” Hipkins said it was “concerning” there were “perceived conflicts of interest that weren’t appropriately managed” but there were still questions to be addressed by the other investigations into whether the data was improperly used for electoral purposes He agreed it was a black mark against New Zealand’s international reputation for having fair elections We can really tighten this up and I think we must I think it’s vitally important that our elections are scrupulously independent.” Hipkins was also critical of the Electoral Commission allowing Manurewa Marae to be a polling booth at the 2023 election He said it called into question the result because it was so close “I certainly felt the election in that seat was unfair the result in that seat was unfair,” Hipkins said New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said it was “appalling” and Sowden had been “dramatically” let down by others at Stats NZ Peters had “no doubts that Peeni Henare’s seat was stolen from him” Local body politics is losing over 30 years of experience with the resignation of Manurewa Local Board member Anne Candy was elected to the Manukau City Council in 1995 chairing its environmental hearings committee and then going on to become a local board member she still found time to serve on the Counties Manukau District Health Board from 2008 to 2010 and to serve the Anglican Church as Bishop’s Commissary to Te Pihopa o Te Tai Tokerau from 2002 to 2023 Her service to Māori and local government was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours this year when she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit an award that comes on top of her earlier Queen’s Service Order Board chair Matt Winiata says it will be difficult to replace her experience The humble grandmother who is affectionately known to her mokopuna and many others as Nanny Annie hails from the Faulkner whānau of Ngāiterangi with ties through her mother to Ngāti Mahanga Ngāti Wairere and Ngāti Whāwhākia of Waikato-Tainui Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman says he will miss his friend “There are not many of us who haven’t benefitted from her gentle manner when she would look at you and smile and say and she has been a tireless advocate for Māori in education cultural heritage and the wellbeing of tamariki she set up the Taonga Education Centre Charitable Trust in 2005 to ensure young women did not have to quit school if they had babies “Manurewa has the highest population of young Māori in the country They don’t want an 80-year-old making decisions for them,” she told Te Ao Māori News earlier this year she says offering care and educational opportunities to young mums has been her most rewarding work and says many people have helped throughout her career I had special role models and mentors from many wonderful ethnicities Candy’s resignation falls within 12 months of the next election so the board must decide at its November meeting to either appoint a new member or not to fill the vacancy Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month. Or follow us on Facebook. 07 May 2025 09:00313126m²428m²#THEDAY - Calling All Investors & Renovators!#THEDAY 7th May 2025 from 9:00 am at Ray White Manukau (unless sold prior) VENDOR HAS SAID THIS WILL BE SOLD ON AUCTION DAY OR PRIOR Get ready to dive in and maximize the potential of this opportunity This property is not for the fainthearted - it needs a full renovation throughout - however for those with vision and know-how Featuring an open-plan layout that flows seamlessly onto a generous deck A single internal access garage plus off-street parking adds to the practicality while the layout sets the stage for a modern transformation this is your chance to turn a challenge into profit Come along to our open homes or to organize a private viewing Long gone are the unbelievable days of leaving your house unlocked and the windows open when you take a trip to the grocery store The notion of going to work without your swipe card which my 3-year-old son loves using as a plaything you are left standing on the outside looking in It left no option but to head back home to collect it something as simple as leaving the office to go to the toilet is an impossibility It’s frustrating but it’s what we expect in today’s world like for example trying to pay a bill online from your bank account New rules at my bank won’t allow that to happen if you don’t correctly name the account holder but many invoices have a letterhead that doesn’t represent the account The point is security is becoming non-negotiable and we’re told we should be thankful for it and in most cases like when you fill out your Census forms that contain a lot of personal information about you It’s important the bureaucracy has the information so agencies can make the right decisions when it comes to many aspects of your life But it’s equally important the information is secure just like it should have been with our Covid vaccination data The marae’s chief executive Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp just happened to be the party’s candidate and took the seat off Labour’s Peeni Henare with a majority of just 42 votes Why on earth a polling booth was allowed at the politically involved marae is beyond comprehension The party has vehemently denied any wrongdoing but in one of his rare interviews with Pākehā media, the Māori Party’s president John Tamihere admitted on Radio New Zealand that Census data may have been photocopied at the marae but should have been destroyed on the same day he’s suggesting it’s all part of a conspiracy saying it’s only in the interests of Pākehā who wanted it sorted out because Māori are the only people who get investigated “There’s not one rule for all in this country by a long shot .. we suffer a significant microscope,” he said and it’s the same today and it plays out in different ways “We will continue to participate in the democratic process whether people like it or not and we are a growing force politically in this country That will continue whether people like it or not,” he concluded It’s rather curious that he felt Māori were being singled out and investigated in this case considering it was the Māori Party who called in the police in the first place And it’s not only in the interests of Pākehā that this is sorted As the new Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said the whole issue surrounding the security of information fell well short of what should have been expected in this case It cuts to the heart of the democratic process Tamihere says there’s a belief among non-Māori that somehow Māori are crooked and he says that has to be nipped in the bud asking in this case “where’s the evidence?” that will be determined by the police who are there at his behest Two people have been seriously injured by a dog in Manurewa Police were called to a home on Hoturoa Place about 6pm yesterday Auckland Council’s general manager for licensing and compliance Robert Irvine said there was no risk to the wider public He said the council would investigate the incident further Irvine said his staff were working with the police and those involved Speaking on a dog attack in Manurewa in November last year when a mother of six was left fearing for her life when three stray pit bulls ripped open her skull a local councillor said the number of attacks in his ward were unacceptable told the Herald the number of dog attacks there was “alarming and unacceptable” Newman said more resources were being allocated to increase Auckland Council’s Animal Management response and there had been a “huge spike” in the number of dogs going into the council’s shelters – many of which were euthanised “The only enduring solution will need to be an extensive and ongoing programme of desexing dogs – over and above seizure and destruction – as one bitch in heat can account for several thousand dogs over several years noting multiple litters and the risk of uncontrolled management of feral animals in the community.” there were almost 15,000 new dog bite-related ACC claims – a 10% increase on 2022 when there were 13,326 And in the same suburb earlier this month, a 70-year-old man came to the aid of someone being attacked, pulling his car over and fending off the vicious animals with a jandal Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022 Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. 14 May 2025 13:00311607m²Affordable Development – RC & EPA Approved!Auction: 62 Highbrook Drive Sitting proudly on a road-frontage 607m² (more or less) freehold site making construction easier and more cost-effective the site comes with RC and EPA already granted to build 4 attached 2-storey dwellings Location is key—just a short drive to local schools and Park & Ride train station for easy commuting Your future tenants or buyers will love the convenience The existing dwelling is a classic brick and aluminium home It’s ready for demolition to kick-start your development or you could choose to revamp it for short-term holding income if needed The current owner is unable to carry the project forward—their loss is your gain Contact us for more details and get your development journey started from here See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Electoral Commission chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne is taking the blame for choosing Manurewa Marae as a voting location in the 2023 election Commission chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne admitted today to MPs on Parliament’s Justice select committee the plan to manage the perceived conflict wasn’t sufficient and indicated it was unlikely the marae would be used again if chief executive Takutai Tarsh Kemp contested the 2026 election “I have to say we got that wrong,” Le Quesne said Kemp successfully ran as Te Pāti Māori’s candidate in the local Tāmaki Makaurau electorate in last year’s election Manurewa Marae was used as a voting location the marae had engaged in many Government contracts to deliver health and social services Select committee member and National MP Cameron Brewer told Le Quense he believed it was one of the “single biggest errors of judgment” in his two decades in politics and questioned why the commission had chosen the marae as a voting venue fronting the select committee as part of Parliament’s scrutiny week said the marae’s historical engagement with its local community was considered an advantage in using it as a voting location especially given nearby residents had a historically lower voting turnout than those in other areas He also explained how a “mitigation plan” had been developed once the commission became aware Kemp was standing as a candidate but he accepted the situation wasn’t managed sufficiently he was told Kemp wouldn’t be involved in the voting operations and it would be staffed by the commission Le Quesne acknowledged he did not give enough consideration to the risk posed by the perceived conflict “Ultimately it was my decision so that’s on me.” Asked by Brewer if the marae would be re-used in 2026 if Kemp ran again Le Quesne thought it would be “hard to go ahead with it” but didn’t want to rule out any locations at this stage Le Quesne noted the situation was part of a wider “tricky” discussion about what level of perceived conflict would be enough to render a venue unavailable to use for voting He accepted the commission needed to “look much harder” at circumstances when a candidate party or third-party promoter was connected with a potential voting place but he was also wary about how far that extended “We’re kind of a little worried about where that takes you to because it is a bit of a slippery slope.” an investigation was launched after allegations were reported claiming Census data and Covid-19 vaccination information collected at Manurewa Marae had been misused for Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign Te Pāti Māori has strongly rejected the allegations and welcomed investigations The Public Service Commission’s inquiry had an indicative reporting date of September 16 Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said he expected a report back shortly and would be released in the coming weeks Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland According to Labour Youth spokesperson Arena Williams teenagers in Manurewa face significant challenges due to increasing housing insecurity Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka reported that about 80% of individuals leaving emergency housing are moving into stable accommodations argues that the Government lacks a system for tracking where people go after leaving emergency or Kāinga Ora housing “And that is going to have a really long-term impact on some of these young people who are falling through the cracks And we know they’re falling through the cracks We know that the system is failing them,” says Williams Enter your email address to receive regular updates from Waatea News Produced by iDigital Manukau CityPrice By Negotiation322180m²3 Beds + 2 Utility Rooms + Cabin = $$$THE OWNERS ARE GETTING OUT AND THIS NEEDS TO BE SOLD Discover this superb 3-bedroom family home complete with 2 utility rooms and a separate cabin Featuring a light-filled open-plan layout and a modern kitchen this home offers both comfort and flexibility Currently earning a MASSIVE $1650pw rental income complete with a separate double garage/ room An additional cabin provides the perfect space for a studio Manurewa High School and Manurewa Central School • 2 minutes drive to Southmall Manurewa Shops Come to our open homes or call for a private viewing Disclaimer - This property is being sold by deadline or without a price and therefore a price guide can not be provided Those are just a couple of the different reactions given to Sir Brian Roche's much-anticipated report into the collection of census and covid-19 vaccination data at Manurewa Marae He found that a number of agencies failed to properly protect people's information The inquiry started last year when allegations were made the data collected was being used to target Māori voters Lara Greaves is an associate professor of politics and Victoria University and a Senior Research Fellow in statistics and Auckland University See terms of use. for easy access to all your favourite programmes Manukau CityPrice By Negotiation31138m²473m²Perfect Family LivingThis beautifully presented standalone freehold property in Manurewa is perfect for those starting on the property ladder or those wanting to downsize somewhat and a private retreat at the back of the property will appeal to most Laminated floors throughout the kitchen and bathroom adds a modern look while all the bedrooms are fully carpeted to add extra comfort with large windows that flood the home with abundance of natural light The spacious dining and living areas flows through French doors onto the front decking area The renovated kitchen and dining space features modern appliances and ample storage with the convenience of a separate laundry room nearby The modern bathroom is functional and features a bath west-facing entertaining deck which is surrounded by established garden a perfect spot for summer BBQs The fully fenced section provides peace of mind for families or pets with a garden shed for extra storage and functionality Located just minutes from Manurewa/ Manukau town centre - Gloucester Road is one of Manurewa's desirable locations this is an opportunity to secure a beautiful property in a popular area on Manurewa 22nd April 2025 @ 11.00 am (Unless Sold Prior) Call Sanjay Karan or Dushen Mallimaratchi today to arrange your viewing we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started.