Paid Leave For Domestic Violence Victims and the Great Shark Robbery

New Zealand prisons' practice of tying down prisoners with mental illness is inhumane, cruel, degrading, and breaches torture conventions, the chief ombudsman has ruled. In a report into the use of restraints on prisoners at risk of self-harm, Judge Peter Boshier highlighted cases where restraints were used for long periods—including one inmate in Auckland Prison who was tied down to a bed for 16 hours at a time, 37 nights in a row.

Speaking to RNZ, he rejected claims from Corrections that the measures were necessary to save the patient's life, saying it was an economic decision, not a welfare one.

"Prisoner A was able to be managed when there was sufficient resourcing. The tie-down coincided with the need for the prison to manage its own resourcing. In other words, it was expedient. So I think it is disingenuous to say there was no choice other than to do this."

Psychiatrist David Codyre told RNZ these kinds of restraints had not been used in mainstream mental health services for decades and should not be used in prison. "Of course we shouldn't—it's inhumane."

A new law could allow victims of domestic violence extra paid leave. Parliament will debate the bill this week, which would classify domestic violence as a workplace hazard and allow victims up to 10 days' additional leave. New Zealand has one of the worst rates of family violence in the western world. Between 33 and 39 percent of New Zealand women experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. The bill comes up for debate as Justice Minister Amy Adams promises an overhaul of the country's domestic violence laws in the coming months. Speaking to RNZ, she acknowledged the country's poor record on family violence, but said the government was making improvements across the entire system for dealing with it. Meanwhile, a new group dubbed the 'Backbone Collective' has begun surveying victims across the country, and says many women are let down by the system when they report abuse. Co-founder Deborah MacKenzie said failings in the Family Court were the biggest issue raised by women it had surveyed. She said women's reports of violence were still often minimised or disbelieved.

New Zealand's largest city is pockmarked with dormant volcanos—and now scientists have modelled what happens if one of them erupts. A group of researchers from GNS Science have released their work on the possible consequence of a two-month long eruption around Mangere Bridge.

The eruption scenario included "the emergence of a new volcano, several pyroclastic surges, a series of small volcanic earthquakes, ash fall, lava flows, and some ballistic blocks hurled into the air". The researchers say all are considered realistic possibilities, though it is unlikely they would all be happening at once.

Scientists established evacuation zones, and said they cutting services to evacuated areas would be key to maintaining infrastructure around the city.

A man dressed as a shark is being sought by police for his involvement in a lolly-heist at a Christchurch petrol station. The man, clad in a blue shark onesie, entered the Rolleston petrol station with his companion at around 2.20 AM. Armed with a hammer and knife, police say they smashed a glass shelf, startling a worker who retreated to the staffroom.

"The two offenders have then left the service station with an unknown amount of confectionery," said Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Worner.

Shark-man's accomplice was wearing a black hoody and blue bandana. Police are asking anyone who saw the men to come forward.