New Retirement Commissioner appointed

Source: New Zealand Government David Boyle has been appointed as Retirement Commissioner, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer has announced. Cameron Brewer says Mr Boyle has had a strong focus on retirement savings during his extensive experience in the public and private sectors. “He played a key role in establishing KiwiSaver at ING and … Read more

Rugby: Discipline the focus for Black Ferns as chance for revenge looms

Source: Radio New Zealand The Black Ferns know they won’t get away with more ill-discipline shown in this weekend’s highly anticipated clash with Canada in Kansas. The two teams meet for the first time since last year’s World Cup semi-final in England, which Canada won to end New Zealand’s title defence. The Black Ferns, coming … Read more

Firm building emergency network onto its fourth CEO this year

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. boscorelli Leadership churn has been occurring at the top of a $1.6 billion public safety project, with Tait Systems about to get its fourth chief executive this year. Tait Systems New Zealand (TSNZ) is building a nationwide mobile radio network as part of the Public Safety Network (PSN) to … Read more

Anzac Day 2026: Recognising all who have served, past and present

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage New Zealanders will gather across the country on 25 April to mark Anzac Day 2026, coming together in remembrance of all those who have served the nation in times of war, conflict, and peace support operations. This year’s Anzac Day holds particular significance following the modernisation of the Anzac Day … Read more

Watch: Storm chaser captures Cyclone Vaianu’s ferocity

Source: Radio New Zealand As some residents were facing evacuations in the Bay of Plenty during Cyclone Vaianu, one man was racing towards it. Matthew Davison has been chasing storms for around 20 years. “For a number of years around New Zealand and across the world, when there is a big storm, a cyclone or … Read more

Update: fatal crash, Wairere Drive

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Inspector Scott Miller: A second person has tragically died in Waikato Hospital following a crash on Wairere Drive, Hamilton. The crash involved a car, with four people inside, and a truck on Wairere Drive near Pukete around 2.30pm on Monday. One person died at the scene and three others … Read more

World champion headlines NZ bowls team for Commonwealth Games

Source: Radio New Zealand Tayla Bruce of New Zealand. Elias Rodriguez / www.photosport.nz A lawn bowls team of 12 make up the first New Zealand athletes to be selected for this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The team is headlined by 2023 women’s world singles champion Tayla Bruce, while Shannon McIlroy will compete in his fifth … Read more

Medicinal cannabis export licenses take 6.4 working days in 2026

Source: New Zealand Government Cutting red tape to speed up medicinal cannabis export licensing is growing the export industry in New Zealand, Associate Health Minister David Seymour says.  For licences issued by Medsafe since 1 January 2026, the average timeframe to issuing a licence is 6.4 working days. The average timeframe for the 2024/2025 year … Read more

New unit speeds up surgical care at Dunedin Hospital

Source: New Zealand Government Patients across Otago and Southland are already benefiting from faster assessment and earlier treatment, with Dunedin Hospital’s new Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) now fully operational, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. Shorter ED wait times Faster diagnosis and treatment Improved patient flow across the hospital “The $2.4 million SAU provides a dedicated … Read more

Queenstown’s Ayrburn Screen Hub granted Fast-track approval

Source: New Zealand Government Fast-track approval has been granted for a screen hub, a full-service film and television production village in Queenstown.   Waterfall Park Developments Limited lodged a substantive application for the Ayrburn Screen Hub in February 2025. The proposal is for a 7,200m2 film and television hub with studios, offices, and 201 accommodation units … Read more

Highlights of weekend one at the world’s most talked about festival

Source: Radio New Zealand America’s most internet-famous festival, Coachella, has wrapped the first of two massive weekends of live music in the Californian desert. This year skewed towards big pop headliners, namely Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Colombian star Karol G, but there were plenty of surprises beyond the top billing. With seven stages available … Read more

Crusaders’ horses scratched from Te Kaha Stadium

Source: Radio New Zealand The Crusaders horses during the Super Rugby Pacific match against the Fijian Drua at the last game at Apollo Projects Stadium. © Photosport Ltd 2026 www.photosport.nz Horses will no longer feature at the Crusaders’ home games. The defending Super Rugby champions have made the decision to bring an end to the … Read more

Health New Zealand consolidates about a third of its 350 websites

Source: Radio New Zealand Health NZ has consolidated 110 websites so far. RNZ / Peter de Graaf Health New Zealand has managed to consolidate about a third of its almost 350 websites after over two years’ work, but said it was more difficult than just shifting the information over. The agency began in 2023-24 on … Read more

Health – Telehealth Failing to Meet Expectations, Not Reducing Pressure on Emergency Departments – GenPro

Source: General Practice Owners’ Association (GenPro) Telehealth is falling far short of expectations, with fewer patients using the service than predicted—and it’s not easing pressure on New Zealand’s emergency departments, says Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of the General Practice Owners’ Association (GenPro). “The government should redirect its $165 million investment in telehealth to what patients … Read more

New Zealand monk goes missing from remote Scottish island monastery

Source: Radio New Zealand Justin Evans, 24, is missing from Papa Stronsay in Scotland. SCOTLAND POLICE / SUPPLIED An extensive search is underway on a remote Scottish island after a New Zealand monk disappeared from a monastery. Justin Evans, 24, was last seen within the Golgotha Monastery on Papa Stronsay, Orkney. Do you know more? … Read more

Research – The “Salary Growth Illusion”: Why 81% of New Zealand workers don’t feel their pay rise – Robert Walters

Source: Robert Walters Auckland, New Zealand – 14/04/2026 – New salary data shows that wages are rising, but most New Zealand workers feel no richer. This is revealing a widening disconnect between employer intentions and employee experience, exposing what recruitment experts are calling “The Salary Growth Illusion.” Research from Robert Walters shows that at the start … Read more

Charges not carats for jewellery store burglar

Source: New Zealand Police A man who attempted to steal jewellery in Manukau ended up with a different type of metal around his wrists. At around 12.15pm on Sunday, the offender entered Westfield Manukau City and headed straight for a jewellery store. Senior Sergeant Roelof Burger, of Counties Manukau Central Police, says the man allegedly … Read more

First Crisis Recovery Café in the South Island

Source: New Zealand Government South Island’s first Crisis Recovery Café has been officially opened in Christchurch today by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, marking a significant step forward for faster mental health and addiction support. “We are rolling out Crisis Cafés around the country to better support people in mental distress. Previously, people were going … Read more

Tuvalu declares state of emergency over fuel and power supply concerns

Source: Radio New Zealand The measure allows the government broad powers to control supplies and services including transport, or the consumption of fuel and light. RNZ Pacific / Sally Round Tuvalu has declared a state of emergency on Funafuti Island for two weeks in light of risks to the fuel and electricity supply. In a … Read more

What Auckland is doing wrong when it comes to recycling – and how it can change

Source: Radio New Zealand Staff work at the PreSort at Auckland’s Material Recovery Facility in Onehunga, where things that shouldn’t be in recycling are pulled out by hand. It’s on two conveyor belts and moving fast. Supplied / Auckland Council Explainer – Too much of Auckland’s recycling is just going to waste – the landfill, … Read more

Property Market – First home buyers strong, investors middling, movers still cautious

Source: Cotality First home buyers are still very keen The latest figures show that first home buyers’ (FHBs) share of property purchases in the first three months of the year held up at more than 27% – well above their long-term average back to 2005 of around 22%. It’s easy to get a bit blasé … Read more

New meth testing regulations come into force after 16-year delay, raising questions over consistency and past concerns

Source: Envirocheck New methamphetamine contamination regulations come into force this week, introducing a formal nationwide framework for those operating within the testing sector – more than 16 years after contamination concerns first emerged. While the new regulations are expected to improve standards and accountability, the length of time taken to introduce a formal framework is now … Read more

University Research – New research exposes the deadly exploitation of migrant fishers in poorly regulated waters – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Isolated on a Taiwanese fishing vessel, eight days from the nearest landmass, 22-year-old Indonesian fisherman Sugiama was found dead in his bunk in 2019. His death followed an 18-hour shift and an assault the night before, when he was hit across the head for not working fast enough. For University … Read more

Fire Safety – Manawatu-Whanganui coastal zone moves to open fire season

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand The Manawatu-Whanganui coastal zone will move into an open fire season from 8am Tuesday 14 April, until further notice. An open fire season means you do not need to apply for a permit from Fire and Emergency New Zealand to light an outdoor fire. District Manager Nigel Dravitzki says the … Read more

Six youths arrested following overnight vehicle thefts in Gisborne

Source: New Zealand Police Police have arrested six youths following a series of vehicle thefts in Gisborne overnight. At around 7.20am this morning, Police located one of three vehicles that had been reported stolen from various locations across Gisborne during the night. “The vehicle was signalled to stop, however the driver failed to comply and … Read more

Rangers and volunteers refresh Ada Pass Hut

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Luke McLawn is a DOC ranger who works out of Reefton on the South Island’s West Coast. During March, he led a team of DOC staff and volunteers from the Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) Love Our Huts and Tracks programme to refresh the 14 bunk Ada Pass Hut in the Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve.  Luke says, … Read more

Government wants to cut off taxpayer funding for gangs

Source: Radio New Zealand A new member’s Bill pulled from the biscuit tin aims to stop publicly funding organisations with ties to gangs. RNZ/John Edens A member’s Bill could stop public funding to gangs and organisations with gang ties. It’s unlikely to be a hard sell, but one expert says it’s ‘cutting off our nose … Read more