State Highway 3 reopens to single lane, escorted traffic after slips forced closure

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Source: Radio New Zealand More than 30 slips fell on the section of State Highway 3 during a severe storm two weeks ago. Supplied / NZ Transport Agency A Mōkau butcher says it’s been a “waste of time” having the doors open after a slip closed the Awakino Gorge in mid-April. More than 30 slips … Read more

Appeal after cry for help heard near Wairarapa river

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Police want to hear from anyone who heard a person in distress near a Wairarapa river. Search and rescue teams were deployed after a cry for help was heard around Dixon Street in Masterton about 7.30pm on Sunday. A police spokesperson said the river was searched but … Read more

ACT Party’s new immigration policies ‘vague’, sociologist says

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Source: Radio New Zealand Sociologist and Massey University emeritus professor Paul Spoonley. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly A sociologist and university professor says ACT’s new [://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/594074/act-s-plan-to-toughen-immigration-rules proposed immigration policies] is vague, creates more bureaucracy and risks alienating a large portion of the population. On Sunday, ACT leader David Seymour announced a six-point plan shake-up of immigration … Read more

NZ exporters scramble for US tariff refunds after US Supreme Court ruling

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Source: Radio New Zealand US Supreme Court has reversed tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. 123RF NZ exporters may be in for a refund of up to $1 billion, following a US Supreme Court decision to reverse President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs on the basis they were unlawful. The Supreme Court’s … Read more

Fatal crashes declining, but not fast enough – Brake NZ

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Source: Radio New Zealand Brake NZ director said improving the overall transport system was also key to reducing accidents. RNZ / Andrew McRae A road safety charity says the number of fatal crashes is declining, but not fast enough. Brake NZ says car accidents remain a major cause of injury and death, with recent data … Read more

Wellingtonians divided over paying higher water bills for improved infrastructure – survey

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Source: Radio New Zealand Signs on Wellington’s south coast about a wastewater spill from Moa Point. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Wellingtonians are divided over paying higher bills to improve the region’s water infrastructure, a new survey shows. Tiaki Wai – which will own and manage the region’s water services from July – asked people if … Read more

Trial begins for man charged with murdering Nelson Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming

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Source: Radio New Zealand Hayden Donald Jason Tasker is accused of murdering Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming in Nelson NZME / Open Justice / Tracy Neal A jury trial for the man charged with murdering Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming in Nelson is due to begin in the High Court at Christchurch, today. Fleming, 62, was killed … Read more

Queenstown gondola and housing plan raises ‘more questions than solutions’ -councillor

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Source: Radio New Zealand Queenstown (file photo) 123RF The fast-track referral of a sprawling gondola and housing proposal – despite council warnings about missing details and limited benefit – is being described by a Queenstown councillor as a real disappointment. Bowen Peak Ltd is planning to build two gondolas and a cable car extending up … Read more

Farmers should be paid to use methane-busting tools – agritech leaders

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Maja Burry Farmers need to be paid to start using methane-busting technology in their herds and on their land, agri-climate leaders say. Their comments follow earlier warnings from industry and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that, without penalties or incentives, there are few reasons for farmers to invest … Read more

Only paid FENZ job in Aotea Great Barrier Island axed

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Source: Radio New Zealand Great Barrier Island eastern coastline (file photo) RNZ / Kate Newton Fire and Emergency New Zealand has axed the only paid role on Aotea Great Barrier Island. Documents seen by RNZ show the new arrangement – sending staff from the mainland — will cost the fire service more than retaining an … Read more

Pharmac rationing of menopause drugs ‘fair’ – women’s health expert

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Source: Radio New Zealand More women are demanding better midlife health care. 123RF A gynaecologist and women’s health expert says Pharmac’s rationing of menopause drugs is reasonable from an equity perspective, given the global shortages. Progesterone capsules will now be dispensed on a monthly basis, instead of three-monthly. Auckland University associate professor Dr Michelle Wise … Read more

Medicinal cannabis stigmatised ‘even within the medical community’, doctor says

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Source: Radio New Zealand Dr Waseem Alzaher. RNZ / Serena Solomon The Cannabis Clinic is calling for more education around medicinal cannabis. Research has found that 65 percent of New Zealanders believe there is stigma, according to chief executive Waseem Alzaher. He told RNZ that improving understanding is critical to helping more patients access safe, … Read more

Teachers blast draft curriculums, shortage of Waitangi Treaty influence

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Source: Radio New Zealand Consultation on the six drafts for Years 0-10 closed at the end of last week. 123RF Teachers specialising in music, physical education, science, technology and history have slammed draft curriculums covering their subjects. Submissions provided to RNZ say the music curriculum was unteachable, science was over-crowded and in some cases even … Read more

Mum and double-amputee left to fend for herself after ‘frying from the inside’

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Source: Radio New Zealand Penny Taylor after osteo-integration surgery in Australia. Supplied Penny Taylor was in an induced coma, “frying from the inside”. The 36-year-old mother-of-two had been rushed to hospital after being discovered unconscious. There, she was given 30 minutes to live and a two percent chance of survival. As her organs failed, her … Read more

NZ exporters scramble for US tariff refunds after Supreme Court ruling

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Source: Radio New Zealand US Supreme Court has reversed tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. 123RF NZ exporters may be in for a refund of up to $1 billion, following a US Supreme Court decision to reverse President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs on the basis they were unlawful. The Supreme Court’s … Read more

Cut-price American butter causing confusion among some shoppers

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Source: Radio New Zealand The Burtfield’s brand is imported from the United States by Dairyworks and packaged at their Christchurch site in the suburb of Hornby. supplied Cut-price American butter on supermarket shelves is causing confusion among some shoppers because it’s packaged exactly like the Kiwi product. The Burtfield’s & Co brand is sold at … Read more

Pessimistic retailers predict they won’t meet targets this quarter

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Source: Radio New Zealand Eighty-five percent of retail sales rely on foot traffic. Ke-Xin Li / RNZ Most retailers fear they won’t meet their sales targets this quarter. Retail NZ’s latest survey finds the ongoing fuel crisis has business owners feeling pessimistic, as consumers spend less at retail. Chief executive Carolyn Young said the last … Read more

Ikea changing pattern of Auckland shopping

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Source: Radio New Zealand IKEA’s first Auckland store opened on December 4. Marika Khabazi / RNZ Homeware and furniture shops around Auckland and nearby regions appear to be losing some of their traffic to Swedish retail giant Ikea. Data from Dot Loves Data shows that, as a category, home and furnishings is growing significantly. Director … Read more

Death of 11 week-old Azariah Levi preventable, coroner finds

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Source: Radio New Zealand Azariah Levi was 11 weeks and four days old (file photo). 123rf The Coroner has found the death of weeks-old baby whose parents were deeply mistrusting of the health system, was preventable. Though it can’t be said for sure how Azariah Levi died, the findings say timely medical intervention would have … Read more

Buttons, Titanic, ancient Egypt connecting neurodiverse children

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Source: Radio New Zealand Eleven-year-old Willow is on a mission to solve one of the world’s great mysteries: finding Cleopatra’s lost tomb. She’s spent the past 18 months learning everything from pyramid construction to Queen Nefertiti’s rule, guided by Egyptologist Sarah Vidler. Her journey began in the Facebook group Special Interests Aotearoa, a two‑year‑old community … Read more

Luxon’s Singapore visit to formalise crucial trade relationship

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Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will meet with counterpart Lawrence Wong in Singapore. RNZ / Louis Dunham Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and two of his most trusted and senior ministers landed in Singapore on Sunday night for a two-day sprint to strengthen a relationship New Zealand’s fuel security is so dependent on. … Read more

Big NZ First donors argue for tax breaks to save ‘unsustainable’ racing industry

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Source: Radio New Zealand NZ First has reported $300,000 in donations associated with the racing industry so far this year. RNZ/Dan Jones A leaked report completed for the TAB NZ by racing insiders says the horse racing industry is “unsustainable” without further tax breaks. It also recommends allowing TAB NZ to run online casinos, shifting … Read more

Wellington Phoenix women fall behind Brisbane Roar in home-and-away A-League semis

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Source: Radio New Zealand Phoenix fans celebrate an early goal by Grace Jale against Brisbane. AAP/Photosport Wellington Phoenix will need to overcome a one-goal deficit at home, if they hope to progress to the A-League women’s final. The Phoenix return home to Porirua for next week’s semi-final return leg, trailing Brisbane Roar 2-1, after their … Read more

Education Ministry underfire for changes to rural Hawke’s Bay school bus

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Source: Radio New Zealand Patoka farmer and veterinarian Sally Newall’s nine-year-old son Ted had epilepsy and other medical needs. RNZ/Penny Smith A rural Hawke’s Bay mum is accusing the Ministry of Education of discrimination for not providing transport for her son, who has epilepsy, to get directly to and from school. Patoka farmer and veterinarian … Read more

Police presence near river on Dixon Street, Masterton

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Source: New Zealand Police Police currently have a presence on Dixon Street, Masterton while enquiries are made following reports of call for assistance heard from near the river, by the skate park at around 7:30pm. Search and rescue teams are deploying to the area. As part of our enquiries, Police would like to hear from … Read more