Kiwifruit growers endured Cyclone Vaianu without major damage

Source: Radio New Zealand Colin Bond from Kiwifruit Growers hoped that the record crop that it was forecasting still eventuated. SUPPLIED/ZESPRI Kiwifruit growers have come through Cyclone Vaianu relatively unscathed. It has been less than 24 hours since strong wind and heavy rain lashed the North Island. Colin Bond from Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated told Checkpoint … Read more

Marata Niukore to leave Warriors to continue career in Australia

Source: Radio New Zealand Marata Niukore of the Warriors. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Another Warrior is on the way out. Second rower Marata Niukore will depart at the end of this season to join the Newcastle Knights through until 2029. The 29-year-old New Zealand and Cook Islands international is off contract at the conclusion of the current … Read more

Former board member says Boxing NZ marred by bullying for too long

Source: Radio New Zealand Former Boxing NZ board member Ken Clearwater RNZ / Nate McKinnon Boxing NZ has been marred for too long by bullying atmosphere and inappropriate behaviour, former Boxing NZ board member Ken Clearwater says. The 73-year-old Canterbury boxing stalwart has written to the Sports Integrity Commission and Sport and Recreation Minister Mark … Read more

Communities say they dodged a bullet as Cyclone Vaianu moves offshore

Source: Radio New Zealand Floodwaters surround a house in Paeroa, during Cyclone Vaianu. RNZ/ Nick Monro Thousands of homes are still without power but most are feeling like they dodged a bullet after Cyclone Vaianu swept across much of the country. All evacuation orders have now been lifted and many communities feel they dodged a … Read more

Ram raid at Kaikohe aerodrome leaves club members with $250k bill

Source: Radio New Zealand Last month’s ram raid at Kaikohe Aerodrome inflicted huge damage on the local gliding club’s aircraft. RNZ/Peter de Graaf A Far North man has been arrested after a ram raid at an aerodrome wrecked a flying club’s gliders and left members with a $250,000 repair bill. A vehicle was used to … Read more

Wellington cafe considers fuel surcharge as costs keep rising

Source: Radio New Zealand On the fuel application Gaspy, 91 fuel was an average of $3.48 a litre and diesel was averaging $3.89 per litre. RNZ / Quin Tauetau A well-known Wellington Cafe is considering introducing a fuel surcharge in response to its suppliers hiking up their prices. Smith the Grocer in The Old Bank … Read more

Emma Main to miss Wellington Phoenix A-League finals campaign

Source: Radio New Zealand Emma Main shoots for goal for the Wellington Phoenix against Melbourne City in an A-League Women’s match at Porirua Park, Wellington, 10 January, 2026 PHOTOSPORT The Wellington Phoenix will tackle their first finals campaign without talented forward Emma Main. Main has a chronic lumbar spine injury, which has seen her miss … Read more

Four clubs in 2 years, Football Fern Jacqui Hand finds ‘good fit’

Source: Radio New Zealand Football Fern Jacqui Hand is now one of the more experienced players in the squad. Photosport Jacqui Hand is months into the biggest move of her football career and with a possible second Football World Cup on the horizon she is wanting to reach her potential at club level. Hand is … Read more

¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! Speedy Gonzales set to make his triumphant return

Source: Radio New Zealand ¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!” Meaning “hurry up, let’s go,” the trademark slogan of Speedy Gonzales was, for generations of children, the first Spanish words they learned. But by the 1980s, ABC had pulled his cartoons due to concerns that his dress, accent and characters like his cousin, Slowpoke Rodriguez, were insensitive … Read more

Farmer caused death of 140 animals, banned from future ownership

Source: Radio New Zealand A farmer who caused the death of 140 animals has been sentenced to nine months’ home detention 123rf.com A Rangitikei farmer who caused the death of more that 140 animals has been sentenced to more than nine months’ home detention and and indefinitely banned from owning animals. David William Newcombe, 50, … Read more

Christopher Luxon hits back at Wairoa mayor Craig Little over woke comment

Source: Radio New Zealand Christopher Luxon says he’s happy to be labelled woke if it means New Zealanders are not losing their lives in the recent cyclone. The Prime Minister held a briefing with reporters in Auckland on Monday afternoon, after Cyclone Vaianu’s course shifted away from Hawke’s Bay late on Sunday. Hawke’s Bay Regional … Read more

Cuba’s unending embargo

Source: Radio New Zealand The Cuba-flagged LPG/chemical tanker Pastorita leaves Havana Harbour on February 26, 2026. YAMIL LAGE / AFP Cuba has been under US trade sanctions since 1962 and the past few months have further challenged the Caribbean nation, with tightened economic blockades by America. University of Canterbury lecturer Josephine Varghese and Ambassador Luis … Read more

Car collides with truck in Hamilton, blocking road

Source: Radio New Zealand Pukete Bridge remains closed and motorists are warned to expect delays. Pretoria Gordon / RNZ A car has collided with a truck on Wairere Drive in Hamilton, blocking the road. A police spokesperson said one person is critically injured while several others are in a serious condition. The crash happened at … Read more

Services sector slumps again as PSI points to deeper contraction

Source: Radio New Zealand BusinessNZ chief executive Katherine Rich said the services sector was clearly feeling the effects of the conflict in Iran. 123RF Services sector slump deepens All five sub-indices in retreat Negative comments leap higher BNZ says PSI “so poor, economy could soon be contracting” New Zealand’s services sector has retreated for the … Read more

As it happened: Cyclone Vaianu leaves roads closed, evacuees still out of homes

Source: Radio New Zealand The clean-up has begun after severe weather brought on by Cyclone Vaianu hammered much of the North Island at the weekend. All weather warnings and watches have been lifted for the Bay of Plenty, while the state of local emergency for Tauranga has been lifted. Vaianu has tracked away from the … Read more

New Zealand’s top exporters call on parliament to back free trade agreement with India

Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 March 2025. Piyal Bhattacharya / The Times of India via AFP Some of New Zealand’s top exporters and business associations have signed an open letter calling on all political parties to back New Zealand’s free trade … Read more

Former boss of failed insurer CBL goes for settlement with financial markets regulator

Source: Radio New Zealand The Financial Markets Authority’s headquarters in Auckland. Google Maps The former head of failed insurer CBL has settled with the financial markets regulator over proceedings related to the company’s public share offer in 2015. Under the settlement with the Financial Markets Authority, Peter Harris agreed to make admissions of liability relating … Read more

World Vision – A GENERATION LOST: SUDAN’S CHILDREN PAY THE PRICE OF THREE YEARS OF CONFLICT

Source: World Vision The conflict in Sudan enters its fourth year with more than 17 million children in desperate need as famine-like conditions grip the nation Malnutrition is rife and nearly one million  children are at risk of death More than 10 million children have not set foot  in a classroom in three years Sudan is facing one … Read more

Sleep your way to smoother skin: MyWrinkles founder wins Soda’s Growth Lab

Source: Soda Inc. A simple idea with big potential – smoothing wrinkles while you sleep – has won Soda’s Business Fundamentals Growth Lab and $2,000 to support its next stage of growth. MyWrinkles founder, Lara Hofer, impressed judges with her science-backed skincare brand which uses reusable, medical-grade silicone patches to smooth fine lines and support healthier … Read more

New Zealand’s fuel stocks stable, latest update shows

Source: Radio New Zealand Officials say fuel stocks remain stable. RNZ / Quin Tauetau The country’s fuel levels have dipped slightly, but officials say stocks remain sufficient and there is still no sign of supply disruption. The latest Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) update recorded 59.7 days cover of petrol, as of midnight … Read more

Two in hospital after chemical reaction at Dunedin Airport’s sewage treatment plant

Source: Radio New Zealand Fire and Emergency said it was called to the plant at about 11.50am on Monday. Pretoria Gordon / RNZ Two people have been taken to hospital after a chemical reaction at Dunedin Airport’s sewage treatment plant. Fire and Emergency said it was called to the plant at the rear of the … Read more

Strong summer travel season in South Island with Christchurch Airport seeing ‘exceptional’ growth

Source: Radio New Zealand despite the pressure on the world economy and the disruption to air travel, Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson remained optimistic. 123rf.com The South Island benefited from a buoyant summer travel season with international visitor numbers soaring at Christchurch Airport. The airport said international visitor numbers over the November to March … Read more

Serious crash, Wairere Drive, Hamilton

Source: New Zealand Police Police are at the scene of a serious crash involving a car and truck, which has blocked Wairere Drive at Harrowfield, Hamilton. The crash was reported about 2.30pm and happened between Pukete and River roads. One person has critical injuries while several others are reportedly in serious condition. The Serious Crash … Read more

MEDIA ADVISORY: More police for New Zealand

Source: New Zealand Police Media are invited to the Wing 394 Reverend Tieki Kaa recruit graduation. What: Graduation of the New Zealand Police 394 Recruit Wing.Who: For families and friends to celebrate with the newly attested police officers.Why: Completion and graduation from their initial training course.Where: Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua.When: Thursday 16 … Read more

Founder of charity Kaitāia Whānau in Need left with a destroyed home after March floods

Source: Radio New Zealand The grandmother of five founded the charity Kaitāia Whānau in Need after she spotted a social media post from a young mum who’d just given birth to a premature baby. The March 26-27 flood wrecked Deirdre Ahu’s belongings and left her home in need of serious repair. Supplied During the past … Read more

Marlborough Sounds gets new address system

Source: Radio New Zealand The new water addressing system uses a distance-based method to assign a number, measured along the shoreline. Marlborough District Council / supplied About 1700 Marlborough Sounds properties are getting new addresses so they remain easily accessible to postal and emergency services. Marlborough District Council had previously relied on jetty numbers, but … Read more