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

Delays of up to an hour possible after Wellington crash

Source: Radio New Zealand The crash closed a southbound lane south of Newlands on State Highway 1 at the Ngauranga Gorge. Supplied / NZTA Motorists are facing delays after significant congestion built up following a crash on a arterial route into Wellington city. The smash just before 7am on Tuesday closed a southbound lane south … Read more

Wairoa mayor Craig Little stands firm on not declaring ‘woke’ state of emergency in cyclone

Source: Radio New Zealand Wairoa District mayor Craig Little. Nick Monro Declaring a state of emergency should be the last tool used in the toolbox – not the first. Those are the words of Wairoa District mayor Craig Little after he chose not to join Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier, Hastings, and Central Hawke’s Bay … Read more

Wealthy buyers eyeing up New Zealand since Iran war started

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon The conflict in the Middle East has prompted increased interest in multi-million-dollar New Zealand properties, the head of a luxury real estate company says. Changes to the so-called Golden Visa came into effect a year ago, and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford recently updated the investment that had … Read more

‘Natural next step’: NZ alcoholic spirits see rapid growth in export markets

Source: Radio New Zealand File image. AFP New Zealand’s niche alcoholic spirits are seeing rapid growth in key export markets, with plenty of potential for more of the same. Trade and Enterprise estimated the annual value of New Zealand’s exports of premium spirits at $61 million, which barely scratched the surface of a growing global … Read more

Nelson Hospital ED expansion complete

Source: New Zealand Government A major expansion of Nelson Hospital’s emergency department has been completed, boosting capacity and strengthening care for patients across the region, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With the final stage now complete, patients will move through a modern, fit-for-purpose emergency department designed to support more efficient care,” Mr Brown says. The … Read more

‘Probably a mistake’: Transport Minister on building concessions into national ticketing system

Source: Radio New Zealand The first stage of the $1.4 billion National Ticketing has been launched in Christchurch. (File photo) RNZ / Nate McKinnon It was “probably a mistake” to try and build every public transport concession into the $1.4 billion National Ticketing System project, the Transport Minister says. Chris Bishop told Morning Report, the … Read more

No ‘peace of mind’ until managed retreat from vulnerable areas – iwi leader

Source: Radio New Zealand A slip blocks State Highway 2 in January. Supplied/NZTA The deputy prime minister says it is up to local communities, not necessarily the government, to decide whether they need to relocate as climate change worsens. And a local iwi leader agrees, saying it will take a “whole of community approach” to … Read more

Crash blocks SH1 near Christchurch, trapped people freed from vehicles

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. Police asked motorists to avoid the intersection of Telegraph Road south of Burnham. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly State Highway 1 is blocked near Christchurch following a two-vehicle crash. Emergency services were called after the two vehicles collided south of Burnham at the intersection of Telegraph Road about 7.30am on … Read more

New bridge underway for Tongariro River Trail

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  14 April 2026 The new bridge, built by the Department of Conservation in partnership with Ngāti Tūrangitukua, Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, and Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa, will replace the 70-year-old Major Jones bridge, which is no longer fit-for-purpose. Major Jones Bridge is one of the prominent structures on the … Read more

Football: Auckland FC boss gets one-match ban for abuse

Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Auckland FC coach Steve Corica will miss his side’s game against Central Coast Mariners this weekend after receiving a one-game ban. Corica was shown a red card by the referee late in Auckland’s 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory last weekend for abuse of … Read more

Fonterra farmer-shareholders ‘bank the good times’ with Mainland sale payments

Source: Radio New Zealand Cows at a dairy farm in Waikato. RNZ / Sally Round It is pay day for dairy giant Fonterra’s 8000 or so shareholding farmer-suppliers from the sale of the co-operative’s Mainland Group consumer business. The proceeds from the dairy co-op’s multibillion-dollar sale of its Mainland consumer brands business were landing in … Read more

Retail NZ wants ‘rigorous crackdown’ by government on illicit tobacco

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ’s investigation found black market tobacco was sometimes being sold for less than half the price of the regulated product. 123RF Retail NZ wants an urgent government taskforce created to crack down on illicit tobacco before the problem reaches crisis levels like in Australia. An RNZ investigation last month found black … Read more

Managed retreat for communities to decide, not government – David Seymour

Source: Radio New Zealand A slip blocks State Highway 2 in January. Supplied/NZTA The deputy prime minister says it is up to local communities, not necessarily the government, to decide whether they need to relocate as climate change worsens. Parts of the North Island have been repeatedly hit by extreme weather events in recent years, … Read more

Liam Lawson still concerned about the speed of Racing Bulls car

Source: Radio New Zealand Liam Lawson of Visa Cash App RB F1 Team VCARB03. Eric Alonso / PHOTOSPORT Liam Lawson remains concerned about the speed of his Racing Bulls car. Lawson sits tenth in the Formula 1 drivers’ standings after three rounds afterpicking up points in both China and Japan. The 24-year-old grabbed valuable points … Read more

Reports of property investment dying may be overstated

Source: Radio New Zealand Unsplash / Tom Rumble Investors aren’t giving up on the property market yet – despite reports of large numbers planning to sell. Cotality’s latest data shows that investors with mortgages were responsible for 24 percent of sales in the first quarter of the year, returning to a level that was in … Read more

Don’t boycott RUCs over diesel price, vehicle owners told

Source: Radio New Zealand Diesel was selling for an average $3.89 a litre on Monday, according to Gaspy, while 91 was $3.48. RNZ / Quin Tauetau Anyone planning to boycott their road user charges (RUCs) as the cost of diesel rises may find their protest backfires. A number of online groups have raised the prospect … Read more

Firefighters, police clash over cliff rescue of woman trapped in ‘extremely precarious position’

Source: Radio New Zealand FENZ Senior Station Officer Michael Manning. RNZ/Marika Khabazi Firefighters have described clashing with police over who should rescue a woman trapped on a cliff above the sea north of Auckland last month. A couple walking on the beach had taken refuge from the advancing tide but she became stuck at Tāwharanui … Read more

Health NZ discovers 180 radiology reports weren’t sent back to doctors

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Health NZ has discovered 180 patient radiology reports, some dating back to 2023, that weren’t sent back to the doctors who requested the scans. A memo seen by RNZ, sent to staff in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland on 8 April, says the reports will now be sent, but their arrival had … Read more

Climber killed as boulder accidentally dislodged by earlier group falls

Source: Radio New Zealand Mount Taranaki. Christina Persico/RNZ The coroner has found that the death of a man who was struck and killed by a falling boulder on Taranaki Maunga was accidental, but is reminding mountain climbers to take care to mitigate risks. Christoph Heinrich Huelsmann died on 23 April 2023 aged 57. The coroner … Read more

Driver rescued after car plunges 100 metres off cliff in Coromandel

Source: Radio New Zealand A close-up of the Fire and Emergency NZ logo. Marika Khabazi / RNZ Fire crews have rescued a person using a rope, after their car plunged 100 metres down a cliff in Coromandel. Fire and Emergency were called to the scene on State Highway 25 and Manaia Road in Kereta, just … Read more

Woman mistakenly declined benefit to care for son with celiac disease, diabetes

Source: Radio New Zealand The Ministry of Social Development will now grant her the Supported Living Payment after being contacted by RNZ. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King A woman was declined a benefit to help her care for her young son, despite his doctor explaining his life-threatening condition requires intensive, around the clock management. The Ministry … Read more

Can you really learn to read faster? And why would you want to?

Source: Radio New Zealand US President Jimmy Carter claimed to read at 2000 words per minute, while President John F. Kennedy was reported to be able to finish the New York Times in just minutes. In 2007, champion speed reader Anne Jones reportedly read the newly released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in just … Read more

‘Word travels’: Cook Strait ferry service’s reputation for unreliability among overseas tour operators

Source: Radio New Zealand Fed-up tour operators are sounding the alarm on Cook Strait ferry services, claiming tens of thousands of dollars can be lost from a single disrupted sailing. Supplied / Nature Trailz Discover New Zealand Fed-up tour operators are sounding the alarm on Cook Strait ferry services, claiming tens of thousands can be … Read more