What to know as flu strain ‘super-k’ nears New Zealand shores

Source: Radio New Zealand The new flu variant Super-k spread across the US and Europe last year, and has already arrived in Australia CDC The health system is preparing for a potentially difficult winter flu season, as the H3N2 Subclade K (Super-k) influenza virus heads for New Zealand’s shores. The variant spread across the US … Read more

a2 Milk drops profit forecast due to supply chain disruptions

Source: Radio New Zealand The company said it was experiencing temporary in-market product availability issues. Getty Images Infant milk formula (IMF) exporter a2 Milk says supply chain disruptions are making it difficult to meet Chinese demand, which is expected to see its full-year profit outlook fall short of expectations. In a market statement, the company … Read more

Nationwide expansion of cancer treatment services

Source: New Zealand Government Thousands more New Zealanders will be able to access life-saving cancer treatment closer to home, with a nationwide expansion of community infusion services underway, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. Hundreds more infusion treatments every week nationwide 14 new infusion centres and expansions at 14 existing sites Thousands more patients getting cancer … Read more

Politics and Trade – Back the India deal: Business leaders call for cross-party support

Source: BusinessNZ The BusinessNZ Network and leaders across New Zealand’s export sector are calling on all political parties to back the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, warning the country cannot afford to miss a major economic opportunity. An open letter published today and signed by 28 exporters and industry associations outlines the significance of getting the … Read more

PSA – Take inspiration from Australian Govt: encourage public servants to work from home to save fuel and ease costs

Source: PSA The Government needs to take a leaf out of the Australian Government’s book and step up and direct public service agencies to encourage working from home to conserve fuel and reduce the crippling cost of commuting for many workers. The Australian Government has today launched a $20 million advertising campaign urging people to drive less, use … Read more

Anzac Day 2026: honouring service, sacrifice and shared history

Source: Auckland Council Anzac Day remains one of the most meaningful dates in our national calendar – a time to remember courage, sacrifice and the stories that have shaped Aotearoa.  This year, Auckland Council and the Auckland Returned Services Association (RSA) invite communities across Tāmaki Makaurau to come together at services and parades to commemorate our shared history and the generations who have worn our … Read more

Expansion of cancer infusion services announced

Source: Radio New Zealand An expansion of cancer infusion services will allow “thousands” more New Zealanders to access “life-saving cancer treatment closer to home”, says Health Minister Simeon Brown. Brown at Waitākere Hospital on Monday morning announced 14 new infusion centres and expansions at 14 existing sites, enabling “hundreds” more treatments every week. “Infusion services … Read more

Supply chain crunch raising price of agricultural goods, rural retailers says

Source: Radio New Zealand A fixed-wing aircraft is used to drop fertiliser on a field. New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association Rural retailers are reporting the supply chain crunch due to impacts of war in the Middle East is flowing down to key agricultural goods. Farming customers at major rural retailers Farmlands and PGG Wrightson are … Read more

Talk of relocation after string of weather disasters, Christopher Luxon says

Source: Radio New Zealand A brown river raging in flood, in a gorge, during a storm. RNZ/ Nick Monro Wild weather has once again brought flooding, damage and destruction to parts of the country, and uncertainty and stress over a far greater region – particularly those hit before. There have been four red weather warnings … Read more

‘Mr Nobody Against Putin’ warns of Russia’s slide into militarisation

Source: Radio New Zealand Oscar award-winning documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin is a classic story of “a very regular person finding his power and finding his voice”, director David Borenstein says. Pavel “Pasha” Talankin is the film’s main character – a videographer and events coordinator at Karabash Primary School near Russia’s Ural mountains. Talankin was uncomfortable … Read more

Hungary’s Viktor Orban concedes landmark defeat to centre-right opposition

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. Hungary’s veteran nationalist leader Viktor Orban conceded defeat. AFP Hungary’s veteran nationalist leader Viktor Orban conceded defeat after a landslide election victory by the upstart opposition Tisza party, in a setback for his allies in Russia and US President Donald Trump’s White House. Results based on 46 percent of … Read more

Athletics: Sam Ruthe ‘off radar’ after suffering leg fracture

Source: Radio New Zealand Sam Ruthe Photosport Teenage running phenomenon Sam Ruthe has cast doubt over his immediate racing future after suffering a stress fracture to his lower leg. Ruthe, who turned 17 on Sunday, posted that he’ll be “off the radar for a while”, although there was no indication whether time out will affect … Read more

How to foster critical thinking for teens in online world

Source: Radio New Zealand It’s unrealistic to expect kids to suddenly be thinking critically, says Maree Davies, an academic researcher on critical thinking and dialogic. “Learning is emotional, and in particular learning is emotional for teenagers. And so, the first part for teenagers in critical thinking is to have the opportunity to just think, well, … Read more

Wellington woman Irene Katsougiannis died from blow with heavy ornament – coroner

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. A pathologist found a bloody ornamental dolphin at the scene was the probable weapon. RNZ A Wellington woman, murdered by her son in 2023, died from a blow to the head with a heavy dolphin ornament, a coroner’s report has revealed. Irene Katsougiannis, 62, was killed in her Miramar … Read more

WRC: Hayden Paddon third at drama-filled Croatia Rally

Source: Radio New Zealand Hayden Paddon and John Kennard drive a Hyundai i20 at Rally Croatia. AFP Hayden Paddon has turned back the clock, climbing a World Rally Championship (WRC) podium for the first time in eight years following a carnage-filled round in Croatia. The 38-year-old and his long-time co-driver John Kennard combined to produce … Read more

NZ ‘getting a cyclone season’: Cyclone Vaianu’s impacts felt across the North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand The North Island has taken yet another hammering, with Cyclone Vaianu’s wrath lashing the north and east. Hundreds of households were evacuated, while thousands more went without power as fallen trees took down lines. It also caused storm surges and massive ocean swells. Cyclone Vaianu – live updates Vaianu’s force was … Read more

Extreme weather scientists warn of impending funding drought

Source: Radio New Zealand Waves at high tide in Whitianga. RNZ / Marika Khabazi Senior climate scientists say the major funding for extreme weather research is drying up just as the country needs it the most. In a joint comment provided to RNZ, three leading New Zealand researchers said there was little upcoming investment into … Read more

Live weather: Cyclone Vaianu leaves roads closed, evacuees still out of homes

Source: Radio New Zealand Follow the latest with RNZ’s live blog. Whakatāne acting mayor Julie Jukes says Cyclone Vaianu caused significant amount of damage, and the full extent is not yet known. Vaianu is tracking south-east away from mainland New Zealand, after causing power cuts, flooding and road closures across the east coast of the … Read more

Wellington women Irene Katsougiannis died from blow with heavy ornament – coroner

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. A pathologist found a bloody ornamental dolphin at the scene was the probable weapon. RNZ A Wellington woman, murdered by her son in 2023, died from a blow to the head with a heavy dolphin ornament, a coroner’s report has revealed. Irene Katsougiannis, 62, was killed in her Miramar … Read more

Cyclone Vaianu brings 220mm of rain to Coromandel in 24 hours

Source: Radio New Zealand Whitianga before Cyclone Vaianu’s arrival. RNZ/Marika Khabazi A Coromandel weather station recorded more than 200mm of rain as Cyclone Vaianu swept over the North Island. The cyclone, which caused power outages, flooding and road closures across the east coast of the North Island, tracked away from mainland New Zealand overnight. Some … Read more

Prisoners need help planning for release – Salvation Army

Source: Radio New Zealand Prisoners can’t seek help from Ministry of Social Development until they have left prison. 123RF The Salvation Army says prisoners deserve more help planning for their release to ensure they’re not out on the streets. An Auditor-General’s report revealed Corrections did not know how many people leave prison with nowhere to … Read more

One in four skip meals, medical care due to cost of housing – survey

Source: Radio New Zealand 50 percent of respondents worry they cannot pay for housing in the future. RNZ / Quin Tauetau The cost of housing is making it difficult for people to pay their bills, with one-in-four delaying medical care and/or skipping meals in the past year. “The sacrifices revealed in this data are not … Read more

Money: ‘Gentrified’ suburbs where renters are disappearing

Source: Radio New Zealand New developments had changed the character of suburbs around the city. RNZ / Quin Tauetau New Zealand’s recent building boom has changed the make-up of some suburbs around the country. Census data shows the number of households who do not own their own homes has dropped in the past decade. Some … Read more

Calls for independent dispute resolution service for schools, parents

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ was recently contacted by two families that took their children out of school because of what they said was lack of support for their children’s special needs. 123rf Children are missing weeks and even months of vital schooling because of stand-offs between their parents and their schools. Youth advocates say … Read more

Cyclone Vaianu brings 220m of rain to Coromandel in 24 hours

Source: Radio New Zealand Whitianga before Cyclone Vaianu’s arrival. RNZ/Marika Khabazi A Coromandel weather station recorded more than 200mm of rain as Cyclone Vaianu swept over the North Island. The cyclone, which caused power outages, flooding and road closures across the east coast of the North Island, tracked away from mainland New Zealand overnight. Some … Read more