Northland Regional Council media briefs – 5 May 2026

Source: Northland Regional Council Last chance to apply for the Northland Regional Council’s Tū i te ora Scholarships Are you studying to help the environment thrive? There is still one week left to apply! A total of four scholarships is up for grabs valued at $5000 each to help with study costs plus a paid work … Read more

Education – Whitireia and WelTec Graduation ceremony celebrates the future of information technology, engineering, business, creative and hospitality

Source: Whitireia and WelTec With whānau and friends cheering them on, graduates proudly crossed the stage at last Thursday’s whakapōtaetanga (graduation) ceremony held at the Lower Hutt Events Centre. This milestone recognised Whitireia and WelTec graduates from information technology, business, engineering, creativity and hospitality, each bringing their own stories to the stage. Across their programmes, graduates … Read more

Privacy Commissioner – Free programme of webinars announced for Privacy Week 2026

Source: Office of the Privacy Commissioner New Zealand’s annual week of privacy education and awareness is set to happen from 11-15 May with a programme of free webinars. The event, run by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, helps people better understand how privacy applies to them and their organisation, what their rights are, and … Read more

New leadership to support ACC’s Turnaround Plan

Source: New Zealand Government Richard Keys, Lindsay Wright and Michael Playford have been appointed to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Board, Minister for ACC Scott Simpson says. All three appointees will commence their terms on 11 May 2026. “These appointees bring a wealth of expertise and proven leadership to the ACC Board. Richard Keys, Lindsay … Read more

‘Let the kid on’: ACT wants children to be able to hop on any passing school bus

Source: Radio New Zealand File image. Toby Williams The ACT Party wants children to be able to hop on any passing school bus as long as there’s space onboard. Under existing rules, students can use the free bus transport only if they attend the nearest school they can enrol at. They must also live more … Read more

Extreme heat from climate change increasing risk of stroke – and death

Source: Radio New Zealand Bridge Hill scrub fire on 6 December 2024. Supplied/ FENZ More people will suffer strokes if climate change continues to progress as its current rate, a neurologist says. Last week, the World Health Organisation warned climate change was posing an “escalating threat” to brain health with extreme heat increasing the risk … Read more

NZ Rugby turn to Don Tricker lead high performance overhaul

Source: Radio New Zealand Don Tricker, Director of Player Health and Performance, San Diego Padres keynote speaker during The Sport NZ Performance Summit. www.photosport.nz Former Black Sox coach Don Tricker has been hired by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to overhaul its high performance systems. Tricker, currently working as vice president of player health and performance … Read more

Number of weddings and civil unions drops again, down 3 percent from 2025

Source: Radio New Zealand Kirsty Ussher marries couple in Queenstown. Kirsty Ussher New figures from Stats NZ show the number of marriages and civil unions in New Zealand has fallen again, down 3 percent from 2025 to just under 17,500. Kirsty Ussher, a Wānaka-based celebrant and wedding planner, told Morning Report the way people mark … Read more

One in custody following burglaries and fleeing driver incident, Whangamatā

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Inspector Mike Henwood, Eastern Waikato Area Commander: An 18-year-old man is before the courts following a series of burglaries and a fleeing driver incident in Whangamatā overnight. About 1am, Police received multiple reports of a person unlawfully entering multiple commercial premises on Port Road. The alleged offender has taken … Read more

New appointments to the Environmental Protection Authority board

Source: New Zealand Government Minister for the Environment Nicola Grigg has announced two new appointments and one reappointment to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board. Lisa Tumahai, CNZM, and Professor Nicola Shadbolt, ONZM, have each been appointed to the EPA board for three-year terms. Lisa Tumahai has extensive governance and leadership experience in iwi, commercial, … Read more

Can anyone be funny?

Source: Radio New Zealand Like in many families, Hoani Hotene‘s whanau won’t say he’s the funniest among them – everyone thinks they are the one. “My dad, like a lot of dads, finds himself the funniest person in the world, you know? He’ll tell his own joke and then he’ll laugh at it the hardest.” … Read more

Pale in comparison: What to know about US butter

Source: Radio New Zealand Butter is synonymous with the colour yellow. Butter yellow was the trending colour of 2025. In Mandarin Chinese, the word for butter translates as yellow oil. So what’s with this white butter appearing on our supermarket shelves? The arrival of a pale, US-sourced butter on Pak’nSave shelves has caused disappointment, confusion, … Read more

Progress on improvements to children’s system

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is continuing to make significant improvements to the children’s system as part of its commitment to keeping vulnerable children safe from harm. Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston is leading the work and says three of the 14 recommendations of the Dame Karen Poutasi Review are now complete, with … Read more

Chris Hipkins confident Labour’s promise of three free doctors visits a year is realistic

Source: Radio New Zealand Labour leader Chris Hipkins. (File photo) RNZ / Mark Papalii Labour leader Chris Hipkins is confident the party’s promise of three free doctors visits a year is “realistic”. His comments come as rural doctor, and Rural Health Network chairperson, Dr Fiona Bolden told Morning Report, a focus was needed on workforce … Read more

Survey reveals the dire state of dialysis services around New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand A four-chair haemodialysis unit in Blenheim, called Tātari Toto, opened last year. RNZ / Samantha Gee Half of all renal services nationally are operating above capacity, with the Auckland renal service operating at 150 percent. The Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry survey for 2025 shows that in the … Read more

Free programme of webinars announced for Privacy Week 2026

Source: Privacy Commissioner 5 May 2026, 09:13 New Zealand’s annual week of privacy education and awareness is set to happen from 11-15 May with a programme of free webinars.  The event, run by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, helps people better understand how privacy applies to them and their organisation, what their rights are, … Read more

‘Significant autumnal change’: Wetter, windier weather for South Island this weekend

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Heavy rain and strong winds is forecast to lash lower parts of the country this weekend. MetService said a “significant autumnal change” was expected to arrive in the second half of the week. It said after a fine Monday and Tuesday, a change in the Tasman Sea was unfolding, with … Read more

Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni settle lawsuit over It Ends With Us

Source: Radio New Zealand Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled a lawsuit brought by Lively over the filming of the 2024 romantic drama It Ends With Us, Baldoni’s production company say. The settlement has averted a civil trial scheduled for May where both actors were expected to testify about Lively’s allegations of sexual misconduct … Read more

Variable speed signs operational at rural schools in Western Bay of Plenty

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter, Police are urging drivers to take extra care around schools as new variable speed limits are introduced to help keep tamariki safe. Over the next month, new variable speed school zones will come into force, with signage now operational at two rural schools in the … Read more

Interislander almost doubles fuel surcharge for commercial vehicles

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Mark Papalii The Interislander is hiking its fuel surcharge to 54 percent on commercial vehicles and trucks crossing the Cook Strait due to soaring energy prices from the Middle East conflict. KiwiRail and the Minister for Rail Winston Peters say the ferry is experiencing cost pressures and can’t keep … Read more

Neil Finn buys pub with notorious history

Source: Radio New Zealand Split Enz and Crowded House member Neil Finn has bought a controversial Auckland pub, with plans to turn it into a wellness retreat. Edinburgh Castle in Eden Terrace has a history of violent incidents, including the manslaughter of rising MMA fighter Fau Vake in 2021. Stuff reported in 2023 the bar … Read more

No one charged after father of three tackled through glass door dies

Source: Radio New Zealand The man was left with security at the entrance, unresponsive, before being flown to Auckland Hospital where he died an hour later. RNZ / Alexander Robertson The Coroner has ruled a man was acting in self-defence, during a fracas that left one person dead in Northland five years ago. Trevor Ruatoto, … Read more

Dunedin bar Dropkicks could lose its liquor licence after locking drunk person in bathroom overnight

Source: Radio New Zealand A report said the patron, who was in a toilet stall, was locked in after staff failed to properly check the venue before leaving last month. Supplied A Dunedin bar could lose its liquor licence after a drunk patron was locked in at the end of the night and later taken … Read more

NZ-AU: BitsStrategy Launches Free AI Trading Bot to Help Users Enter the Fully Automated Quant Trading Market Faster

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU) New York, USA, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The cryptocurrency market is becoming more automated. Price movements do not stop because users are busy, and trading opportunities do not wait because users do not know how to code. In response to this shift, BitsStrategy announces the launch of its free AI … Read more

Phoenix women have to make the most of being at home

Source: Radio New Zealand Grace Jale (centre) of the Phoenix celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal during the A-League Women’s Semi Final match against the Brisbane Roar, 2026. AAP / Photosport Wellington Phoenix women’s coach Bev Priestman says making the most of the home advantage is what they need to do if they … Read more

Black Sticks women lose final game, finish fourth in China

Source: Radio New Zealand Black Sticks Women prepare for a penalty. Blake Armstrong The Black Sticks women have finished fourth out of five teams at the Changzhou Invitational Tournament following a 1-0 loss to China A in the bronze medal match. New Zealand end the tournament with two wins and four defeats, including a 7-0 … Read more

Coroner rules man was acting in self-defence after person killed in fracas

Source: Radio New Zealand The man was left with security at the entrance, unresponsive, before being flown to Auckland Hospital where he died an hour later. RNZ / Alexander Robertson The Coroner has ruled a man was acting in self-defence, during a fracas that left one person dead in Northland five years ago. Trevor Ruatoto, … Read more