Putting safety measures in place can reduce the risk of serious injury in forestry

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Source: Worksafe New Zealand 2 April 2026 This safety alert is a reminder to manage the risks around light utility vehicles on the job. What happened? A forestry worker was seriously injured when the vehicle they were using rolled over on steep terrain. The person was ejected from the vehicle, causing significant injuries. They were … Read more

Northland MP hopes local investors will purchase Kaitāia timber mills

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Source: Radio New Zealand Northland MP Grant McCallum says an investment consortium is considering buying Kaitāia’s beleaguered timber mills. RNZ / Peter de Graaf Northland MP Grant McCallum says local investors could come to the rescue of Kaitāia’s beleaguered timber mills. Earlier this week RNZ revealed Japanese owner Juken New Zealand had put the two … Read more

Fundraising for Palmerston North Hospital’s surgical robot powers up

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Source: Radio New Zealand By Anya Feilding A surgical robot in action. Palmerston North Hospital Foundation / supplied Palmerston North Hospital is a step closer to welcoming a new surgical team member – a robot. A fundraiser for a surgical robot has received a $500,000 private donation this week. The Palmerston North Hospital Foundation has … Read more

Tom Phillips doco crew received text as ‘heads up’ he had been shot and killed

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Source: Radio New Zealand Tom Phillips died following a shootout with police in September 2025. RNZ / Supplied / Police Detailed texts about Tom Phillips’ last hours from a top police comms manager to the head of a documentary crew have been revealed. Police director of media and strategic communications Juli Clausen messaged Dame Julie … Read more

Train services disrupted after major AT outage

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nick Monro Auckland Transport are warning commuters there could be disruptions to scheduled train services after a major outage on Thursday. All train services were suspended on Thursday morning but most were able to resume from about 10.15am. AT said while some train services are restored, it’s encouraging commuters … Read more

Wānanga moves some classes online amid fuel price concerns from students

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Source: Radio New Zealand Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi campus in Whakatāne. Supplied/Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is moving some of their noho and on-campus classes online in response to concerns from tauira (students) that rising fuel prices would impact their ability to attend classes. Chief executive Professor Wiremu Doherty … Read more

More unified and empathetic response to family violence keeps children and families safer

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Source: New Zealand Government Children and families are better protected and supported under the multi-agency model for responding to family violence incidents.  Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour has welcomed a recent independent evaluation into responses to family violence incidents, which has shown the importance of support services working together … Read more

Young people are turning their lives around

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Source: New Zealand Government The latest Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy, released today, has clearly shown a transformation in youth offending.  Minister for Children Karen Chhour wants to take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress to what was once a national shame, youth crime, and has now become a great success … Read more

Body found in Lower Hutt being treated as unexplained death

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Source: Radio New Zealand Police are advising the public to avoid the area near Wainuiomata Road. RNZ / Patrice Allen Police are investigating an unexplained death in Wainuiomata, in Lower Hutt. A body was discovered on Wainuiomata Road around 9am on Thursday morning. Emergency services remain at the scene, and cordons are in place along … Read more

More people supported off the streets and into stable housing

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Source: New Zealand Government Six months after the Government stepped up support for people sleeping rough, more New Zealanders are moving into stable housing across Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka says. More than 500 additional households have now been housed through the Housing First programme, alongside over 280 rough-sleeping … Read more

Call for proposals to restore the historic Chateau Tongariro

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  19 March 2026 Source:  Office of the Minister of Conservation Located in the heart of Tongariro National Park, the Chateau has long been an iconic destination for visitors and an important part of the region’s identity. “The Request for Proposals (RFP), opening on 19 March 2026, invites interested parties to put … Read more

Clean gear to stop weed spread on Easter outings

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  02 April 2026 DOC Biosecurity Technical Advisor Connor Hines says invasive weeds like common heather, gorse, or broom have recently been found on some popular hikes such as the Routeburn and Kepler tracks, as well as in some remote places in Fiordland, Southland, and Rakiura/Stewart Island. “These weeds are very … Read more

Police urge Hawke’s Bay clubs to remain vigilant following series of burglaries

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Source: New Zealand Police Police are urging sports and community clubs across Hawke’s Bay to be vigilant following a number of burglaries targeting club premises. Since February, Police have investigated nine burglaries at clubs across the region, with offenders causing damage and stealing items including cash, alcohol, and equipment. While enquiries into these incidents are … Read more

Rain with a chance of charges

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Source: New Zealand Police An offender who fled Northland Police in a stolen vehicle was located drenched, defiant and in possession of methamphetamine yesterday. At around 1pm, an officer in Kaeo sighted a vehicle reported stolen following a burglary. Mid/Far North Area Prevention Manager, Senior Sergeant Clem Armstrong, says the driver saw Police and took … Read more

Two arrested after possible sighting of a firearm in Glenfield, schools’ lockdown lifted

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER Two people have been arrested following an incident that earlier prompted Auckland’s Glenfield Mall and surrounding schools into lockdown. Police said they were called to a reports of a single vehicle crash on Downing Street, around 11.20am. “Two people have fled the vehicle, and one was sighted … Read more

Unethical brain rot: why are millions watching AI fruits have affairs on TikTok?

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Source: Radio New Zealand If you’ve spent much time on TikTok recently, you may have noticed a strange new type of AI brain rot taking over: fruit dramas. These AI-generated short dramas feature odd-looking anthropomorphic fruit characters engaging in a range of ethically problematic behaviours. Many storylines, for instance, are based around affairs, racist attitudes, … Read more

Police incident unfolding in Glenfield, schools in lockdown

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER Auckland’s Glenfield College and Wairau Valley Special school have gone into lockdown, with armed police seen running into the nearby Glenfield Mall. In a statement on social media, Glenfield College asked people to avoid the school. “Please do not come to the school or phone the scool … Read more

Marsden Point to get diesel storage capacity boost

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Source: Radio New Zealand Marsden Point. RNZ / Peter de Graaf The government will put more than $20 million towards additional diesel storage capacity at Marsden Point. The arrangement – funded through the Regional Infrastructure Fund – will support 90 million litres of storage at the import and storage terminal by recommissioning storage tanks that … Read more

Fast-track approved project could deliver New Zealand’s largest wind farm

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Source: New Zealand Government Fast-track approval has been granted for New Zealand’s largest wind farm project.  Contact Energy lodged a substantive application for the Southland Windfarm in August 2025. The proposed wind farm will be developed across 58km² of privately owned land in eastern Southland, about 30km southeast of Gore. “Approval has taken around 5 … Read more

NZ doesn’t join allies in call for responsible use of AI by the military

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Source: Radio New Zealand South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul delivers a speech at the closing session of the Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit in Seoul on September 10, 2024. AFP / JUNG YEON-JE New Zealand has not joined in the latest international call for responsible use of AI by the military, … Read more