Manawatū Police urge community to take precautions when heading into water after incident

Source: New Zealand Police Manawatū Police Search and Rescue, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, and Coastguard New Zealand are urging people to remain vigilant and to be prepared when heading out on the water. Sergeant Marcus Fellerhoff says over the summer there were eight incidents in the Kapiti, Horowhenua, and Manawatū coastlines that required emergency … Read more

Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair and Home InStyle to Unveil Market Trends in April 2026

Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 April 2026 – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will unite the global lifestyle industry with its seven lifestyle and licensing events from 27 to 30 April 2026. Encompassing gifts, houseware, fashion, printing, packaging, and licensing, these events offer buyers a streamlined … Read more

AMSA Signs Strategic Cooperation with the Philippine Olympic Committee

Source: Media Outreach MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 April 2026 – The Asian Mind Sports Association (AMSA) is pleased to announce the signing of a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on 30 March 2026. This Agreement establishes a formal framework for long-term collaboration, aimed at advancing the development … Read more

PM welcomes Palau President for first state visit

Source: New Zealand Government Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will meet with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. when he visits this week for what will be the first visit to New Zealand by a Palauan president.  The visit comes as Palau prepares to host this year’s Pacific Islands Forum, with New Zealand set to host in 2027.  “I look forward to discussing how New Zealand and Palau can continue … Read more

New AI assistant for fast, easy problem reporting

Source: Auckland Council Aucklanders can now use an AI-powered virtual assistant to safely report problems, including graffiti, roaming dogs and party noise. Every day, Aucklanders help keep our communities safe, neighbourly and tidy by reporting problems to the council. This has just got easier with the launch of a new, purpose-built virtual assistant called Ask … Read more

Brendan Boyle appointed Social Investment Agency chief executive

Source: Radio New Zealand Senior public sector leader Brendan Boyle (file image). RNZ Senior public sector leader Brendan Boyle has been appointed as the Acting Secretary and chief executive for the Social Investment Agency. The appointment comes about five months after the resignation of former SIA chief executive Andrew Coster following the scathing Independent Police … Read more

Police believe Jeremy Frank Hobbs, jailed over sexual assaults, may have had more victims

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Warning: This story discusses details of a sexual assault and may disturb some readers. Police want to hear from any other victims of a man jailed for sexually assaulting two women. Jeremy Frank Hobbs was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court last month to eight-and-a-half years’ imprisonment … Read more

Cleared for arrest: aerodrome burglar lands in Police custody

Source: New Zealand Police A Northland man has been charged in connection with more than $250,000 worth of damage to aircraft, following a burglary at the Kaikohe Gliding Club. On 27 March, Police received a report of significant damage and theft at the Kaikohe Aerodrome. Mid Far North Area Prevention Manager, Senior Sergeant Clem Armstrong, … Read more

Orca incident prompts call for information

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  13 April 2026 That’s the message from Waikato DOC staff after a recent incident in which recreational boaties came too close to the protected marine mammals in Raglan Harbour/Whaiangaroa. Waikato Operations Manager Niwha Jones says a witness contacted DOC reporting seeing several boats harassing a pod of orca in the … Read more

ANZ now expects RBNZ to raise official cash rate in July

Source: Radio New Zealand ANZ said it was not a given that hiking the OCR would prove to have been the right thing to do in the fullness of time. RNZ ANZ, New Zealand’s biggest bank, says it now expects three official cash rate (OCR) increases this year – in July, September and October. But … Read more

Spectacular new Hooker Valley bridge to open later this year

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  13 April 2026 The bridge which will span 189 metres across the Hooker River on the upper section of the popular Hooker Valley track will replace an existing swing bridge which had to be closed in April 2025 due to riverbank erosion near the bridge supports. Construction of the new … Read more

Stewart Island’s already high price for electricity gets even higher

Source: Radio New Zealand Stewart Islandiers were already paying more than twice what those on the mainland pay. RNZ / Mark Papalii Electricity prices have been hiked by almost 5 percent on Stewart Island/Rakiura due to the sharp rise of the price of fuel. The island’s power grid is generated entirely by diesel, though there … Read more

Do you ever need to throw out old bath towels?

Source: Radio New Zealand If you have a strong attachment to some of your favourite bath towels, you might be avoiding the idea of replacing them. Maybe they’re the perfect size and softness, or they’ve been in rotation for years and are still super absorbent (despite thinning fabric). But what are the signs that it … Read more

Fadez by Naia: Ōtara’s talented teen barber

Source: Radio New Zealand Brightcove link: https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6392786299112 Despite having just turned 14, Naia Talakai’s racking up the haircuts, working 6 days a week at Ōtara town centre. He does his homework on the train to school as he is in the barbershop for a couple of hours every evening from Monday to Friday. Saturday is … Read more

Housing or Health? It’s an Unacceptable Choice A Quarter of New Zealanders Skipped Medical Care Last Year to Stay Housed

Source: Botica Butler Raudon Partners New survey of over 5,000 New Zealanders finds housing costs now drive sacrificeacross health, food, and family life. AUCKLAND – 7 April 2026 – More than one in four New Zealanders delayed medical care last year because of what they pay for housing. One in four skipped meals. This is … Read more

Is sitting with your legs crossed actually bad for you?

Source: Radio New Zealand Most of us were told off at some point for how we sat. “Don’t cross your legs, you’ll ruin your knees.” “You’ll get varicose veins.” The healthiest sitting position is often the one you do not hold for the next hour. Unsplash .” It belongs to that familiar pile of health … Read more

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