Activist Sector – NZDF training with US should stop amidst illegal war – Peace Action Wellington

Source: Peace Action Wellington Peace Action Wellington is calling for an immediate end to NZDF training with US forces amidst the illegal US-Israeli war against Iran. The Defence Force plans to send 50 personnel to a big aerial and ground drones exercise in the United States alongside US forces. The US Project Convergence training exercise … Read more

Tax Reform – Local govt GST policy just more cuts by another name, says tax reform groups

Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA) 17 April 2026, 10:00 am – The hint from David Seymour about a new policy for councils to receive a portion of the GST collected on construction projects in their areas, has been criticised by tax reform groups Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA) and the Better Taxes for a Better Future … Read more

Tech – Roblox Studio is Going Agentic

Source: Roblox Plan, Build, and Test Faster With Agentic Workflows in Roblox Studio – Today, 44% of the top 1,000 creators on Roblox use Roblox Assistant or third-party AI tools via MCP to plan, build, and test their games.1 We’re levelling up Roblox Studio and Assistant with new agentic features so that creators can use AI … Read more

New boat hoist lifts Port Nelson’s marine capability

Source: New Zealand Government The opening today of a new hardstand and mobile boat hoist near the slipway at Port Nelson marks a major milestone in the region’s marina upgrade, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “The Calwell Marine Maintenance and Transitional Facility is a key piece of infrastructure that strengthens Nelson’s position as a … Read more

First Responders – Firefighters respond to gas leak in Kaiteriteri

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand People are being advised to stay away from Kaiteriteri this morning while firefighters deal with a large gas leak near the town’s beachfront. Fire and Emergency New Zealand was alerted to the leak at 6.50am. Properties in the immediate area have been evacuated, roads are closed and cordons are in … Read more

Advocacy – Palestine Forum of New Zealand Marks Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, Calls for Justice and Accountability

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand The Palestine Forum of New Zealand stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people today, April 17, in commemorating Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, a day that highlights the ongoing suffering and injustice faced by thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. For decades, Palestinian prisoners have been at the heart of … Read more

Ryan Fox returns to form after a good day at the Heritage PGA tournament

Source: Radio New Zealand Ryan Fox of New Zealand CON CHRONIS / photosport Auckland golfer Ryan Fox has enjoyed a good day at the Heritage PGA tournament in South Carolina. Fox is tied for fourth after the opening round, two shots behind the leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden. He fired a six under par 65 … Read more

What is the Broadcasting Standards Authority and why is its future in doubt?

Source: Radio New Zealand The Broadcasting Standards Authority may soon be abolished or changed with pending media regulation reforms. RNZ / Nik Dirga Explainer – Who decides who’s a broadcaster, and who regulates the media in New Zealand? It might all be about to change. The Broadcasting Standards Authority is likely to be disbanded or … Read more

Five kea hospitalised as community help sought

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  17 April 2026 Five kea have been taken from South Westland towns to the South Island Wildlife Hospital for lead poisoning treatment in recent weeks and one kea found dead, prompting a call for people to take steps to help protect kea. Kea ingest lead when they chew on lead … Read more

Man charged with murdering elderly woman, attacking others, denies charges

Source: Radio New Zealand The elderly woman was allegedly murdered at a rural Canterbury property. (File photo) RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon A man charged with murdering an elderly woman and attacking two family members at a rural Canterbury property has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The 19-year-old, whose identity remains suppressed, was remanded in custody when … Read more

Serial rapist Malcolm Rewa sentenced for 1988 rape of 16-year-old

Source: Radio New Zealand Malcolm Rewa in the Auckland High Court Stuff/Pool/David White Police are analysing rape complaints between 1985 to 1989 to see if they can identify any matches in the DNA databank following serial rapist Malcolm Rewa‘s latest conviction. One of the country’s most high-profile police officers, Detective Inspector Scott Beard says the … Read more

Napier street closed after bus hits pedestrian

Source: Radio New Zealand A police car seen behind a cordon as officers attend an incident. RNZ Motorists in Napier should expect long delays after a bus hit a pedestrian. The police said the incident on Tennyson Street in the central city was reported at 8.30am. The street is closed and diversions are in place. … Read more

Mount landslide aftermath: Residents feel shut out of recovery decisions

Source: Radio New Zealand A section carved from Mauao by the January landslide. The area remains closed to the public, with shipping containers placed in case of further slips KELLY O’HARA / SUPPLIED A Mount Maunganui leader has accused the city council of excluding residents from plans to fix and reopen Mauao. Mount Maunganui Ratepayers, … Read more

Properties evacuated in Kaiteriteri after large gas leak

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ/Paris Ibell Fire and Emergency are asking people to stay away from Kaiteriteri following a large gas leak near the beach. Properties have been evacuated and roads closed after firefighters were alerted to the leak at 6.50am. Assistant District Commander Chris Best said the leak appeared to be from external gas … Read more

Todd McClay denies Christopher Luxon facing leadership challenge

Source: Radio New Zealand National Minister Chris Bishop has been rumoured as a potential leadership contender. RNZ The Trade Minister has dismissed a potential National Party leadership spill, saying he has full confidence Christopher Luxon will lead the party into the election. The NZ Herald reports unnamed sources claiming the PM avoided meeting with a … Read more

Communication of sperm whales closely parallels human language, study finds

Source: Radio New Zealand The vocalised communications of sperm whales are closer to human language and speech pattern than previously thought, new research has discovered. Researchers at the University of California in Berkeley made the discovery that the whales could form vowels within their vocalisations which behaved in the same way as human speech. The … Read more

All Whites captain Chris Wood injured again weeks out from World Cup

Source: Radio New Zealand Chris Wood in action for Nottingham Forest. AFP All Whites Chris Wood’s World Cup is in doubt after suffering an injury playing for Nottingham Forest on Friday. Wood left the field in Forest’s Europa League quarter-final against Porto at the City Ground. The All Whites striker went down clutching his knee … Read more

The postcard that made its way home to Dunedin after 116 years

Source: Radio New Zealand A postcard featuring two wahine by a river was sent from Dorothy Theomin to her cousin Allison Hallenstein, of the Hallenstein retail dynasty, in 1910 during her travels in the North Island. Dear Little Alison, Another postie for your book. I wonder if you can put it in for yourself – … Read more

Nelson footbridge graffitied with hate speech targeting Jewish people

Source: Radio New Zealand The graffiti appeared on a footbridge over the Maitai River, but was painted over an hour after the council was alerted to its presence. File picture. RNZ / Tracy Neal Nelson City Council and the New Zealand Jewish Council have condemned anti-Semitic behaviour, after hate speech targeting Jewish people was graffitied … Read more

Mainfreight CEO frustrated with KiwiRail, AT for not offering additional services

Source: Radio New Zealand Mainfreight’s Ōtāhuhu depot Alistair Guthrie Mainfreight’s chief executive says he is “frustrated” at KiwiRail and Auckland Transport, and that the agencies could be doing more as the Middle East conflict sends fuel prices up. The country’s fuel stocks have dropped in the past two updates, but officials say there is no … Read more

‘Consistent in winning’: Fiji target Hong Kong Sevens glory

Source: Radio New Zealand Fiji led the HSBC SVNS Series all the way through the season, only to lose the title when they lost 10-7 to South Africa at the New York 7s final, the deciding event. Supplied/HSBC SVNS Fiji men’s sevens rugby team head coach says being consistent at this weekend’s annual Hong Kong … Read more

Supercars finally hits the South Island

Source: Radio New Zealand Ryan Wood on his way to victory in Taupō, 2026. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz The South Island will host its first Supercars race at Ruapuna near Christchurch on Friday. After years of planning the event will finally take to the track as the second leg of the New Zealand doubleheader which … Read more

Bailiffs to get automated number plate recognition devices to help spot fine dodgers

Source: Radio New Zealand The Justice Ministry is rolling out automated number plate recognition for bailiffs. 123RF The Justice Ministry is rolling out automated number plate recognition (ANPR) for bailiffs after running a trial of it. Last year five bailiffs looking for fine dodgers used handheld devices to scan almost 5000 number plates at two … Read more

Young kiwi golfers clean up in Australia

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand golfer Ricky Kang. www.photosport.nz New Zealand have completed a clean sweep of all three trophies at the 2026 Australian Junior Interstate Teams Golf Championship in Victoria. In their first appearance at the event in 28 years, the Kiwis won the overall, boys and girls titles. New Zealand went undefeated … Read more

Hoard your emergency fund, and other pieces of investment advice you might need to ignore

Source: Radio New Zealand There are some pieces of investment advice that seem to always (or most often) hold true. Compounding interest is your friend. Don’t fret about your KiwiSaver balance if you have 40 years until you need the money. Someone who is offering a really good investment won’t need to give you a … Read more

Search for missing New Zealand-born monk ongoing, Scottish police say

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand-born monk Justin Evans. Supplied / Scotland Police Scottish police say they are still working to trace missing New Zealand-born monk Justin Evans. The 24-year-old Christchurch man has been living in a monastery on the island of Papa Stronsay in Orkney for the last two years. He was last seen … Read more

Great Barrier Island residents fear overfishing has decimated the kōura population

Source: Radio New Zealand Great Barrier Island locals fear overfishing has decimated the kōura population. RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes Those living on Aotea/Great Barrier Island fear that overfishing has decimated the kōura population. Ngāti Rehua – Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust Board and the Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board are wanting the government to back a plan … Read more