Update 4: Search for Karori man

Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Wellington District Prevention Manager, Inspector Fleur de Bes: Police continue to work intensively in the search for missing Karori man Philip Sutton. Conditions were reassessed this morning and searching got underway shortly after 8am. Physical searching could not safely proceed yesterday due to unstable stream banks, variable and fast-moving … Read more

ED peer supporters for three extra hospitals

Source: New Zealand Government Whangārei, Hutt Valley and Hawke’s Bay are the latest hospitals to get peer support workers in their emergency departments, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced today. “I’ve consistently heard strong support for growing the role of peer support workers. They bring their own lived experience of recovery and can help people … Read more

Consumer NZ – Time’s up on retirement village repayment delays

Source: Consumer NZ Consumer NZ is calling for a law change so residents who leave a retirement village get their money back sooner. Its newly launched petition asks people to back a call for residents to be repaid within 3 months of their retirement village agreement ending. “Retirement village residents or their families can be … Read more

Groundbreaking Southland urea fertiliser project to support New Zealand agriculture

Source: Victorian Hydrogen A major new 1.5 million tonne per year urea fertiliser project is set to be developed in Southland, offering an environmentally innovative and strategically significant alternative to imported urea fertiliser. The proposed $3 billion project, intended to be located about 30 kilometres northeast of Invercargill, will give New Zealand’s agricultural sector self-sufficiency, … Read more

HBO Max gets a New Zealand launch date

Source: Radio New Zealand The service will be home to HBO Originals such as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, Euphoria, Succession and the fourth season of period drama The Gilded Age. Max Originals like The Pitt and And Just Like That… will join the line up, as well as the new Harry Potter series Harry … Read more

Op Taniwha cracks alleged pounamu ring

Source: New Zealand Police Police have recovered about 1000 kilograms of pounamu and charged three people in an operation targeting thefts of the precious stone across the West Coast. West Coast Area Commander Inspector Jacqui Corner says detectives from Tasman and Central Otago executed search warrants on Tuesday 21 April, targeting several properties in the … Read more

SH1 north of Invercargill closed after two-vehicle crash

Source: Radio New Zealand A police car seen behind a cordon as officers attend an incident. RNZ State Highway 1 is closed in Southland following a serious crash near Invercargill on Wednesday morning. Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash near Kerr Road, Dacre, 20km from Invercargill, about 8.10am. Police said initial indications suggested … Read more

Police investigating spate of recent Auckland teen assaults

Source: Radio New Zealand Police are investigating at least five assaults across Auckland over a one month-period. RNZ / REECE BAKER Police are investigating at least five assaults across Auckland over a month-period, all involving teenage offenders and victims – with a couple that were filmed and circulated online. Some of the attacks happened in … Read more

Tim Batt: It’s ‘brutal’ for creatives in New Zealand right now

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand audiences are “shocking” when it comes to buying tickets at the last minute and aren’t prepared to fork out for a show during tough times, making it harder than ever for artists, says comedian Tim Batt. Batt, who has been working in the business for 15 years and hosts … Read more

Man charged following grievous assault

Source: New Zealand Police A man will appear in court today following a grievous assault in Manurewa overnight.  Police were called to Manurewa Railway Station at 1.20am after receiving reports that a person had been stabbed. Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie, Counties Manukau Crime Squad, says the victim was waiting for a bus when they … Read more

Winston Peters says Christopher Luxon didn’t warn him about leadership vote

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Winston Peters says he should have been warned ahead of Christopher Luxon’s leadership vote this week. Christopher Luxon said there had been intense media speculation about his position, and Tuesday’s ballot would put things to rest. While he was successful, the prime minister refused to take questions … Read more

Wellington floods: ‘Limitations’ on what can be forecast in localised areas – weather expert

Source: Radio New Zealand A car carried by floodwaters landed on top of a fence after Monday’s torrential rain in Wellington. RNZ / Mark Papalii A scientist says it’s challenging to predict localised small-scale events which develop very quickly. Unexpectedly severe weather and flooding in Wellington raised questions about how such weather events can be … Read more

Global dairy prices fall again amid geopolitical tensions

Source: Radio New Zealand The average price at the latest global dairy auction fell 2.7 percent. AFP / William West Global dairy prices have fallen again amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The average price at the latest auction, held fortnightly, fell 2.7 percent to US$4143 (NZ$7025) a tonne. It comes after prices dropped 3.4 percent at … Read more

Australian company plans $3b lignite-to-fertiliser plant in Southland

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. The company says it could deliver 1.5 million tonnes a year of urea fertiliser. 123RF An Australian-led project could see Southland’s lignite, or brown coal, reserves developed into urea fertiliser. Victorian Hydrogen is proposing a $3 billion plant to be located 30km northeast of Invercargill. The company says it … Read more

Person dies in SH1 crash, section of highway closed in Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand One person died and a second person was seriously injured. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson One person has died in a crash in south Waikato. Emergency services arrived about 11.20pm after two vehicles crashed on State Highway 1 near Humphrey Road. The person was pronounced dead at the scene. Another person … Read more

Football Ferns rise in rankings after World Cup qualification

Source: Radio New Zealand Rebekah Stott of New Zealand runs in to congratulate Katie Kitching of New Zealand on her goal, New Zealand Football Ferns v Papua New Guinea, Final of OFC Qualifiers, 2026. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz The Football Ferns are up two spots to number 33 in the latest women’s world football rankings. Last week … Read more

Weather: Localised flooding, high river levels across lower North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand Flooded Ruamahanga River, taken from hillside at Morisons Bush looking down on the South Wairarapa. Pockets of native bush and windbreaks are now islands among flooded paddocks. Mike Laven River levels have been dropping in Tararua District since an emergency mobile alert was issued over the threat from the Wainui River, … Read more

NZ Post concerned for Philip Sutton, employee missing since Wellington storm

Source: Radio New Zealand Missing man Philip Sutton NZ Police/Supplied NZ Post is supporting its staff who are coping with the disappearance of one of their colleagues in this week’s flooding in Wellington. Chief operating officer Brendon Main has confirmed Philip Sutton, who has been missing since Monday after floodwaters surged through a South Karori … Read more

Explainer: Why do we commemorate Anzac Day?

Source: Radio New Zealand On 25 April each year, New Zealanders at home and around the world mark Anzac Day. The date marks the first big military action by Australian and New Zealand soldiers in Gallipoli in 1915. From dawn services to parades and ceremonies at RSAs, people will gather to reflect on the atrocities … Read more

Ōwhiro Bay man believes family ‘lucky not to die’ in terrifying flood

Source: Radio New Zealand Less than 48 hours after a terrifying escape in the dead of night reality is starting to bite for a flood-hit family in Ōwhiro Bay. The Wellington south coast suburb was among the worst hit in a thunderstorm overnight on Monday, that saw flash-flooding in low-lying homes while people slept. Barnaby … Read more

The long goodbye: ‘I’m not sure what love looks like now’

Source: Radio New Zealand It’s the laughter that surprises you. Rumblings of mirth that move around the table as an anecdote unfolds. A woman is telling a story about how her husband asked their doctor to prescribe him cayenne pepper. He had watched an AI-generated YouTube video and was convinced the pepper had health benefits. … Read more

Child Protection Investigation Unit struggles with agencies not sharing information

Source: Radio New Zealand The Child Protection Investigation Unit has run into the same problem that contributed to the murder of five-year-old Malachi Subecz. Supplied The country’s newest child abuse investigation unit has run into the same problem that contributed to the murder of five-year-old Malachi Subecz – agencies not sharing information with each other. … Read more

Survivor wants good character discounts scrapped from sex offender sentencing

Source: Radio New Zealand Ken Clearwater and Sam Troth. RNZ / Louis Dunham A survivor of childhood sexual abuse is calling for good character discounts to be scrapped in sentencing sex offenders. Sex offenders should not get credit for their supposed good character, Road to Healing Aotearoa director Sam Troth says. Several Australian states have … Read more

Funding falls short as father tries to get a lift for his disabled daughter

Source: Radio New Zealand The stairs that Dinson Thomas has to carry his daughter up in order to get inside their home. SUPPLIED A dad who has been lifting his teenage daughter from her wheelchair up the stairs to their front door says the funding for a lift to their house falls short of the … Read more

Why sharemarkets are still hitting records – and why NZ’s left out

Source: Radio New Zealand Share markets around the world have hit records this week. 123RF Share markets around the world have hit records this week, undeterred by war, rising interest rates and pressure on fuel supplies. The S&P500 and Nasdaq have been hovering around all-time highs, the FTSE 100 is not far off its February … Read more