New coach, fresh ideas for Black Ferns ahead of Pacific Four

Source: Radio New Zealand The Pacific Four will be Whitney Hansen’s first tournament in charge of the Black Ferns. Photosport Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant says the side has a fresh level of excitement under new head coach Whitney Hansen as they prepare for the Pacific Four tournament in America. Hansen was appointed to the … Read more

‘Big concern’ as farmers weeks behind fuel drops amid shortages

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Federated Farmers says farmers are experiencing fuel shortages, with some two to three weeks behind their normal fuel drops. The organisation’s dairy chair and Canterbury sharemilker Karl Dean said fuel distributors have had the schedule of fuel allocations changed by importers – disrupting when farmers usually receive supply. Most farmers … Read more

Economy – OCR on hold at 2.25% – Reserve Bank

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 8 April 2026 – The Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to hold the OCR at 2.25 percent. Since the February Monetary Policy Statement, events in the Middle East have materially altered the outlook and the balance of risks for inflation and economic growth in New Zealand. In the near term, … Read more

Bhutan’s Young Culinary Talent Sharpens Skills in Hong Kong Culinary Exchange Sponsored by Lee Kum Kee

Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2026 – Lee Kum Kee Sauce (“Lee Kum Kee”), the global leader in Asian sauces and condiments, organised a three-week culinary programme for eight young Bhutanese chefs from the De-suung Skilling Programme (DSP) from 1-19 March 2026. Supported by the Chinese Culinary … Read more

Pharmac funds medicine to reduce complications following allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplant

Source: PHARMAC People with very weak immune systems, including those recovering from an allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT), will be better protected from a serious viral infection following Pharmac’s decision to fund letermovir. From 1 May 2026, Pharmac will fund letermovir, a medicine that helps prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in people who are severely … Read more

Events – April Investiture Ceremonies at Government House Auckland

Source: Government House At April’s investiture ceremonies, Dame Coral Shaw will be acknowledged for her considerable service to the judiciary and public service. Other recipients will include Olympian Rod Dixon, former All Black Eroni Clarke, Māori broadcaster and educator Waihoroi Hoterene (Waihoroi Shortland), New Zealand international cricketer Sophie Devine, and broadcaster Leighton Smith. Five recipients will … Read more

ChildFund – Fuel price surge hitting families in the Pacific up to six times harder than in New Zealand

Source: ChildFund New Zealand Rising global fuel prices are cutting household affordability across New Zealand, but new analysis shows families in the Pacific are being hit up to six times harder. Fuel prices in New Zealand have increased by around 20 percent in recent weeks. This is reducing household purchasing power by an estimated 1 to … Read more

Education – From Colombo to Southland: Sri Lankan migrant secures NZ lecturing role before graduation

Source: Manukau Institute of Technology & Unitec A Sri Lankan academic who left behind an established teaching career to start again in New Zealand has achieved a rare milestone—securing a lecturing role before even graduating, in a story inspiring migrant communities from Colombo to Southland. Dhanushka Abeysekara will graduate with a Master of Professional Accounting … Read more

Fuel stocks rise in latest update

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Quin Tauetau Fuel stocks have again risen in the latest update from the government. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s latest fuel stocks update shows 62.6 days of petrol, 51.7 days of diesel, and 53.5 days of jet fuel as of midday Sunday. All are up on the … Read more

Consultation on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health Publication date: 8 April 2026 Overview The Ministry of Health is asking for your feedback on the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy will set the direction for how the health system improves mental health and wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders over the next ten … Read more

New support delivers faster access to eating disorder care

Source: New Zealand Government More New Zealanders and their families will have faster access to support for eating disorders with the rollout of peer support workers in eating disorder services and further support coming for families and carers, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This Government is committed to reducing wait times and improving access … Read more

New Zealand welcomes ceasefire

Source: New Zealand Government Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand welcomes the announcements by the United States and Iran over the past few hours – as we welcome all efforts to bring an end to this conflict.  “While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days … Read more

Hanoi Office at ANDPAD VIETNAM Relocated

Source: Media Outreach TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2026 – ANDPAD (Headquarters: Minato City, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takeo Inada; ), which operates a cloud-based construction project management service, hereby announces that it has relocated the Hanoi Office at ANDPAD VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED (Headquarters: Ho Chi Minh City, Republic of Vietnam; President: … Read more

Residential building costs rise at fastest pace in over two years

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied/ Unsplash – Josh Olalde House building costs are rising at their fastest rate in two‑and‑a‑half years as the recovery in the residential construction sector accelerates. Cotality, formerly known as CoreLogic, released its latest Cordell Construction Cost Index, which shows residential building costs rose 1 percent in the three months to … Read more

Speed limit on SH3 north of Hāwera drops to 60km/h

Source: Radio New Zealand File pic 123RF The speed limit on State Highway 3, just north of Hāwera, will be lowered to 60km/h from Thursday. The reduction from 80km/h will be along a one kilometre stretch of road, from north of Kerry Lane to north of Fantham Street. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says the … Read more

Digger falls from truck, blocks Dunedin motorway

Source: Radio New Zealand Dunedin’s southern motorway was closed at Burnside after a digger fell off a truck. NZTA / Waka Kotahi The Southern Motorway at Burnside in Dunedin is blocked after a digger came off a truck this morning. Police were called to the crash on SH1 south of Morningside Road about 10.40am on … Read more

Teenager charged after violent Mt Albert party leaves four injured

Source: Radio New Zealand The broken glass is on the corner of Springleigh Ave and Jerram Street. RNZ / Jessica Hopkins A teenager has been charged with assault after a party in Auckland’s Mt Albert which left four people injured, as police continue to seek others involved. A local resident told RNZ hundreds of people … Read more

Arrests in relation to attempts to steal fuel

Source: New Zealand Police Two men are due in court today for separate instances relating to attempts to steal fuel, following prompt calls from members of the public. Around 4am today Police received a call from someone reporting they had just seen a person attempting to siphon petrol from their vehicle in Sockburn, Christchurch. Officers … Read more

Bid to claim Kāinga Ora tenancy as Māori land fails

Source: Radio New Zealand An Auckland man has failed in his bid to stop Kāinga Ora removing him from his mother’s home because he claimed it was Māori land. The case was decided on the papers by Kaiwhakawa (Judge) Te Kani Williams at the Māori Land Court of New Zealand, Taitokerau District. Jonathan Albert filed … Read more

White Ferns rise to the challenge as they eye World Cup defence

Source: Radio New Zealand NZ White Ferns celebrate. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz The bar has been raised in women’s cricket and the White Ferns are confident they can meet the challenge. New Zealand will defend their T20 World Cup title in England later this year in what coach Ben Sawyer believes will be a significant … Read more

Events – Politicians debate NZ’s energy future at Electrify Queenstown

Source: DESTINATION QUEENSTOWN & LAKE WĀNAKA TOURISM Queenstown, New Zealand (8 April 2026) – Party leaders will go head-to-head on New Zealand’s energy future at Electrify Queenstown next month, in a rare cross-party debate during an election year. Labour leader Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, the Green Party’s Chlöe Swarbrick, and The Opportunity Party’s Qiulae Wong, … Read more

Forged certificates put workers and communities at risk

Source: Worksafe New Zealand 8 April 2026 WorkSafe New Zealand has uncovered forged diesel‑tank certificates in use and is urging businesses to verify that their documentation is the real deal, in order to keep safe. Between February 2017 and September 2023, Philip Mansfield turned legitimate certificates into convincing‑looking fakes using the names of real certifiers. … Read more

Consumers warned of increase in scams using fake news articles

Source: Radio New Zealand The FMA says it has seen a significant increase in ads, fake news articles and fake investment platform websites linked to scams which use prominent figures to entice consumers to invest in fake trading platforms. 123RF The Financial Markets Authority is warning consumers about an increasing number of scams using fake … Read more

Universities – Dementia rates pushed up by poverty, says expert – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA Tackling poverty is the single most important thing New Zealand can do to reduce the number of people with dementia, says University of Auckland’s Dr Etuini Ma’u. Modelling in Ma’u’s latest research shows if everyone lived in the same wealthy environments as the top 20 percent of New Zealanders, … Read more

Education – Ground-breaking Indian migrant graduate shaping fairer AI in New Zealand

Source: Manukau Institute of Technology & Unitec 8 April 2026 – An Indian-origin researcher is gaining national recognition in New Zealand’s rapidly evolving technology sector, after graduating with a Master of Applied Technologies from Unitec in Auckland on 1 April 2026. Manochitra Loganathan, who moved from Tamil Nadu, India in 2024, is being recognised for … Read more

Activist Sector – Peters fails on Washington trip – Peace Action Wellington

Source: Peace Action Wellington Date: Wednesday, 8 April 2026 – “The Foreign Minister Winston Peters has failed to call out the genocidal threats of the US and Israeli governments against the 90 million people of Iran as he meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Peters’ silence in the face of imminent war crimes is … Read more

NGOs – As Pacific nations queue for petrol, ministers gather to chart a fossil-fuel-free future

Source: Fossil Fuel Treaty APRIL 8, 2025 – As Pacific nations scramble to secure fuel supplies amid the Iran war – with Fiji hiking petrol prices by 20%, Tuvalu sending government workers home and the Marshall Islands declaring a 90-day economic emergency — ministers from across the region are convening in Vanuatu to do something about … Read more