Corrections labels staff's AI use as 'unacceptable'
RNZ understands there have been instances where staff used AI to draft formal reports such as Extended Supervision Order reports. Stewart said the uptake of Copilot remained "relatively low" with about 30% of Corrections staff engaging with the tool since it was introduced on Corrections devices in November 2025. "Corrections has an AI assurance officer, a function held by the director cybersecurity, who is accountable for guiding safe and secure adoption of AI. "If this is correct, then privacy concerns would be limited to any cases in which Corrections staff use Copilot in breach of Corrections policy. Where Copilot is used in a way that breaches Corrections policy, OPC would expect Corrections to take appropriate action to remedy this."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 19:09 UTC
Reserve Bank expected to bring forward interest rate hike as inflation risk grows
In other words, the RBNZ is likely to shift its forecast to suggest that the next move for the OCR is up. Most economists believe it will do that gently, by moving the odds towards a rate rise in December. “It will be interesting to see how governor Breman characterises the data during her debut against the NZ inflation dragon,” ASB economist Wesley Tanuvasa said. “The RBNZ Monetary Policy Committee will likely be wary of a meaningful further tightening of monetary conditions at this stage, as it would risk killing off the nascent recovery. There were also worrying signs of a rise in core inflation.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 15, 2026 19:02 UTC
Coroner rules teen driver Jacob Hoani Butler’s death was preventable
But soon after 10pm, Butler was driving a Mitsubishi, and was on his learner’s licence. The Mitsubishi slowed briefly, and security staff identified themselves, before Butler took off at speed. Police hypothesised that, after actively fleeing from forestry security immediately beforehand, Butler believed the oncoming vehicle was another security patrol. “Learner drivers lack the training, experience and judgement that develops over time, particularly when confronted with unexpected or high-stress situations,” Coroner Telford said. “In these circumstances, judgment can rapidly deteriorate, leading to poor decision-making and an inability to accurately assess road conditions, other road users or safe speeds,” Coroner Telford said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 15, 2026 19:02 UTC
Hills Real Estate: With forced liquidation looming, flipping king Rickhil Prakash and staff joined new real estate firm
Wallace Real Estate chief executive Luke Nutting said he took the tax authorities’ allegations “extremely seriously” and was “disappointed” to only recently learn the “severity of the situation”. Real estate agents in a liquidated firm are entitled to seek work with another business. By then, the Hills Real Estate website had been taken down. One former Hills staff member had taken over 10 for-sale listings that previously been under Prakash and Prasad’s names on the site. “Wallace has not acquired, absorbed, or entered into any formal takeover arrangement with Hills Real Estate,” he said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 15, 2026 19:02 UTC
Robinson misses medals, Harrington into final
Photo: Getty ImagesQueenstown skier Alice Robinson missed out on the medals in the Giant Slalom at the Winter Olympics. Robinson finished eighth in a very tight Giant Slalom competition, missing out on the podium by just 0.13 seconds. Robinson finished eighth equal in the Super G last week. Harrington into finalWānaka freeskier Luca Harrington has qualified for the final of the big air this morning. "Felt really good, came in with a plan and executed the plan," Harrington told Sky Sports afterwards.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 19:01 UTC
Trio sentenced after failed North Shore toy-store burglary leads to a 180km/h chase
The men were sentenced in the North Shore District Court. “It was clear you were involved in drug dealing,” Judge Murray said. Judge Murray said these comments had given him “pause”, but letters from supportive family members had helped his case. For wilful damage and burglary of the second business, Apaina Browne was sentenced to five months’ community detention and 12 months’ intensive supervision. For the same charges, plus his earlier drug offending, Tu’uta received 11 months’ home detention.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 15, 2026 16:10 UTC
Swayzee goes back to back
Swayzee upstaged younger brother Leap To Fame on Saturday night to win back-back Hunter Cups at Melton and deny Leap To Fame a $A1 million ($NZ1.7m) bonus. Despite being headed off by Leap To Fame on the home turn, Swayzee’s driver, Cam Hart, said he never lost faith as his horse kicked back to win by a neck. New Zealander Republican Party, who used barrier 1 to lead early before handing up to Swayzee, finished third, a nose further back. Australian trotting queen Keayang Zahara made it 25 wins from 26 starts when she won her heat and final of the Great Southern Star. — Allied Media
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 16:04 UTC
South Africa hand NZ first defeat of cup
Black Caps top-scorer Mark Chapman in action against South Africa in their T20 World Cup match in Ahmedabad yesterday. Chasing 176, South Africa got off to a fast start with Markram hitting three sixes and five boundaries to steer his team to 62 without loss in four overs. By the time Rickelton (21) fell in the eighth over, South Africa had already crossed the 100-run mark. South Africa will conclude their group campaign against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, a day after New Zealand play Canada. Result: South Africa won by seven wickets.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 16:04 UTC
Mixed progress for looted treasure
One of the 116 objects Cambridge University has transferred to Nigeria. An employee looks at examples of Benin bronzes displayed at the British Museum in London. British soldiers and sailors took more than 5000 brass and bronze castings and ivory carvings — known collectively as the Benin bronzes. Thomas said the Labour government has "disappointed people across the cultural sector" by not trying to amend the British Museum Act, and similar laws. • Barnaby Phillips is the author of Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes and The African Kingdom of Gold: Britain and the Asante Treasure.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 16:02 UTC
New TV show pits local chefs in cook-off
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDTake 10 chefs, let them go wild with their creations and you have the ingredients for a Queenstown-based TV reality cooking competition that starts screening this week. The series was filmed last year in just over 14 days at Frankton’s Remarkable Studios, the former H&J Smith’s department store. "It just shows the breadth of what we can achieve here." Taste of Art begins on Thursday, at 7.30pm, on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+. "If it performs well, I really hope we get to do it again and bring new talent to the table and see what other chefs can do," Ms De Lacey says.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 16:02 UTC
Surviving the population crash as the global birthrate plunges
The global average birth rate has halved since 1960 and is now just above the "replacement" rate of 2.1 children per woman. Only sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East still have the old, high birth rates. In the Americas, Europe, Oceania and above all in Asia birth rates have fallen at an astonishing rate. Such a migration has already been going on for decades at a smaller scale in the rich countries of the West. Probably mostly from Africa and the Middle East, because that’s where the remaining high birth rates are.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 16:02 UTC
Dominant win for Yang
South Korean Yunseo Yang yesterday claimed a commanding victory in the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship in Wellington. Yang, 18, shot a 3-under 69 yesterday to finish at 16-under, eight shots ahead of fellow South Korean Soomin Oh. Australian Jazy Roberts and Rianne Malixin of the Philippines tied for third at 6-under. Darae Chung emerged as the leading New Zealander, finishing tied for 22nd at 5-over. Chung was closely followed by New Zealand’s top-ranked amateur Eunseo Choi, who finished one shot back at 6-over.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 15:42 UTC
48 wind turbines planned for Ohai
Kākāriki Renewables is to hold an information session in Winton this Friday, outlining its plans for a new wind farm in central Southland, near Ohai. The wind farm would be on 2900ha of land near Ohai, about 50km north of Invercargill. At its peak the wind farm would be able to produce 346MW of power, which could power up to 160,000 homes. A proposed second stage would have 44 turbines, producing up to 190MW and an annual generation of about 550GWh. That wind farm is expected to have up to eight turbines and would be in the Jericho area in Southland.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 15:42 UTC
Takeover could lead to instability: Powell
Mercy Hospital. Photo: Gregor RichardsonA private equity takeover of Dunedin’s Mercy Hospital could lead to a period of instability at the top, a health commentator warns. Entrusted to continue the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Hospital’s executive and governance teams provide leadership and expertise. Dr Powell, the former head of the doctors’ union, said a move by private equity investors could lead to instability at the top. 1989: The hospital is renamed Mercy Hospital, aligning with other Mercy hospitals in New Zealand.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 15:42 UTC