Culture and Events – Waiheke Launches “Island of Wine” – A Month-Long Celebration This October

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Source: Waiheke Winegrowers Association Waiheke Island will uncork a new chapter this spring with the launch of Waiheke Island of Wine – October, a month-long celebration of the island’s world-class wine, food, culture, and community. From 1-31 October, vineyards, restaurants, accommodation providers, and local businesses will come together to host a diverse programme of wine-led experiences, … Read more

Health – Safe Sleep Day 2026 Announced: Friday 5 June

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Source: Hapai Te Hauora Preventing avoidable harm starts with safe sleep. Hāpai Te Hauora is encouraging whānau and communities across Aotearoa to mark Safe Sleep Day 2026 on Friday 5 June. This year’s focus is on ensuring every pēpi has a safe sleep, every time. The message is simple: “make every sleep, a safe sleep.” Supporting … Read more

Reduced youth offending, improved school attendance welcomed

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Source: New Zealand Government Reporting released today shows the Government’s efforts to reduce youth offending and improve school attendance are making a positive difference in the lives of young Kiwis. Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says the Annual Report on the Child and Youth Strategy and the Child Poverty Related Indicators presented in Parliament … Read more

PM refreshes ministerial team

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Source: New Zealand Government Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a refreshed ministerial lineup to continue fixing the basics and protecting New Zealand’s future. “New Zealanders are facing economic challenges brought on by conflict in the Middle East and its effect on fuel supply across the world,” says Christopher Luxon. “Having a strong ministerial team … Read more

Greg Hornblow suppression lapses: Former exec convicted of receiving underage sexual services

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Source: Radio New Zealand Former Auckland executive Greg Hornblow was convicted of receiving “commercial sexual services” from a person aged under 18. Finn Blackwell A former Auckland executive who was convicted of receiving “commercial sexual services” from a person aged under 18 can now be named. Greg Hornblow’s name suppression has now lapsed. Hornblow, who … Read more

New Zealand and Cook Islands sign Defence & Security Declaration

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Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a Defence & Security Declaration in Rarotonga today, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “New Zealand and the Cook Islands have a special constitutional relationship which has endured for six decades,” Mr Peters says.  “Today’s Declaration is about setting a course together for … Read more

Fake guns, real consequences

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Source: New Zealand Police Police are disappointed in a group’s actions after toy guns were brandished at members of the public at a night market last night. At around 10.40pm, Police received a report of youths pointing a firearm at a bus driver at Botany Town Centre. With the group believed to be in possession … Read more

Hospitality sector in support of alcohol restriction changes

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Source: Radio New Zealand Lake Taupō 123rf The owner of a sailing club in Taupō says eased alcohol restrictions on public holidays will make the rules more straightforward. Legislation to ease alcohol restrictions over Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas passed its third and final reading at Parliament on Wednesday. The bill amends the Sale and … Read more

Tsunami siren testing at Ōrewa on Sunday 5 April

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Source: Auckland Council The bi-annual test of the two tsunami sirens at Ōrewa will take place on the last day of daylight saving on Sunday 5 April, 2026, at midday. Adam Maggs, General Manager of Auckland Emergency Management reassures Ōrewa locals that the siren sound they’ll hear on 5 April is a test and no … Read more

9,000 students faced unsafe drinking water at school last year

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Source: Green Party The Green Party has released data showing 9000 students across more than 70 schools and pre-schools faced unsafe drinking water in 2025, with water breaching safe Drinking Water Standards at some point during the year.  “No child should face a health risk from the water coming out of a drinking fountain at their school. The data paints a troubling picture of the state of … Read more

Watch live: NZ, Cook Islands sign defence and security declaration

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Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand will resume about $29.8 million in annual funding to the Cook Islands as the two countries sign a defence and security declaration. Signed by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, the declaration comes more than a year after Brown formally signed a … Read more

Watch live: Peters attends signing ceremony with Cook Islands PM

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Source: Radio New Zealand The livestream is due to start around 8.15am NZT Foreign Minister Winston Peters is attending a signing ceremony with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. Peters’ one-day trip to Rarotonga is expected to mark friendlier relations between the two countries after an informal meeting in Auckland last month. Brown has been … Read more

Concern vaping study will drive people back to cigarettes

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Source: Radio New Zealand A teenager vaping an e-cigarette. 123RF While vapes may cause cancer – as a recent Australian review of evidence concluded – they remain a far less dangerous vice than traditional cigarettes, a local anti-smoking lobby group says. Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) looked at eight years of … Read more

Thousands of KiwiSaver members choose to cut contribution rates

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Source: Radio New Zealand The KiwiSaver contribution rate lifted to 3.5 percent this week. RNZ / Quin Tauetau Just under 5700 people have had their KiwiSaver contribution rates reduced, meaning they will not be paying the new default rate of 3.5 percent. For pay processed on or after April 1, the default contribution rate has … Read more

NZ, allies express ‘deep concern’ about Israeli bill expanding death penalty for Palestinians

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Source: Radio New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. RNZ / Mark Papalii New Zealand has joined Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in expressing “deep concern” about an Israeli bill expanding the death penalty for Palestinians. Winston Peters posted on social media on Wednesday night, indicating New Zealand had joined the other nations, … Read more

Armed man allegedly sent manifesto to schools, govt promising to become NZ’s ‘most deadly mass shooter’

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Source: Radio New Zealand An armed man sent a manifesto to schools, the police and the government promising to “kill everyone” (file photo). RNZ An armed man sent a manifesto to schools, the police and the government promising to “kill everyone” and become the country’s “most deadly mass shooter”, police allege. The man – who … Read more

Navy officer acquitted at court martial faced earlier complaint of unwanted touching

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Source: Radio New Zealand Bronwyn Heslop RNZ / Lucy Xia A former Navy ship commander faced an earlier complaint of unwanted touching before she was acquitted at a court martial of inviting a junior officer to kiss her on the cheek. Bronwyn Heslop was the commander of HMNZS Canterbury when she was alleged to have … Read more

Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital finds home on Wellington’s Cuba Street

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Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington’s new Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital has found a home in a building on upper Cuba Street. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Wellington’s new Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital has found a home in a building on upper Cuba Street in the central city. The Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital, for which the fit-out … Read more

Government corrects figure after call-out for overstating school attendance improvements

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Source: Radio New Zealand (File photo) RNZ The government has corrected a figure after being called out for overstating improvements in school attendance. A member of the public complained to RNZ that two National Party advertisements claimed 150,000 more children attended school regularly in term four last year than at the same time in 2022. … Read more

Cotality says house prices might not rise this year, after all

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Source: Radio New Zealand House prices might not rise this year after all, property data firm Cotality says. RNZ / Quin Tauetau House prices might not rise this year after all, property data firm Cotality says. It has released its latest data, which shows property values lifted 0.2 percent in March, after the same rise … Read more

Why retailers are hoping you don’t work from home

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Employers might be being encouraged to let people work from home if they are struggling with fuel costs, but not everyone hopes they heed the message. As fuel costs have risen in recent weeks, unions have called on organisations such as banks to be more flexible with staff wanting to … Read more

EV ‘fomo’ drives sales to their highest level in years amid fuel crisis, dealer says

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Source: Radio New Zealand Salespeople were finding they had to “slow people down” in some cases, a dealer says. (File photo) Electric vehicle “fomo” (fear of missing out) has helped drive sales to their highest level in more than two years as the fuel crisis bites, an EV dealer says. Waka Kotahi data shows monthly … Read more

A ‘quiet’ Catholic revival? Christchurch says ‘yes’

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Source: Radio New Zealand You might be wondering why someone with the name Helaman Hatcher is in a story about Catholicism. Helaman is a name from the Book of Mormon, a sacred text for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So, here’s the story: Hatcher, 21, was born into a Mormon family in … Read more

Contractors recall superhuman efforts to get stadium up to scratch after Christchurch quake

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Source: Radio New Zealand [brightcove] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6392317895112 After 14 years, the Crusaders are bidding adieu to their Addington home before packing their bags for Te Kaha. The team’s Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Fijian Drua on Good Friday marks their final game at Christchurch’s Apollo Projects Stadium. Home games will then be held at the … Read more

‘It’s not a diagnosis that you want’: Professor confronts inequities

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Source: Radio New Zealand Jacquie Kidd (Ngāpuhi), a former nurse who has spent more than two decades researching Māori health inequities, is now facing her own terminal cancer diagnosis. The AUT professor of Māori health began experiencing symptoms in 2022 that she knew needed to be examined, but she was 58 – not the “magical … Read more