One-footed penguin causes stir in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  23 April 2026 Nikki Grist, a Department of Conservation (DOC) Ranger, says she’s been working with a team of wildlife response volunteers to observe the penguin regularly and sought advice from DOC’s penguin experts. “Currently the penguin is showing normal behaviours and is moving around well – it has been … Read more

Bonjour to investment in New Zealand

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government has welcomed a new investment by French luxury fashion house Chanel in New Zealand’s premium agricultural sector. Chanel has invested in a joint venture company to own part of and support Lammermoor Station in the central Otago high country, which produces fine wool for Chanel’s garments. It comes as … Read more

Hundreds of graduates celebrated at EIT Hawke’s Bay ceremonies

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Source: Eastern Institute of Technology 23 seconds ago More than 400 graduates crossed the stage in Napier on Wednesday, as EIT held its Hawke’s Bay graduation ceremonies. The two ceremonies, held at the Napier Municipal Theatre, were the first in the region since EIT re-established itself as an independent institute at the start of 2026. … Read more

Arrest made in Wairoa firearms incident

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Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant John Love, Tairawhiti Area Manager, Investigations: Police investigating a firearms incident in Wairoa have arrested one person and seeking the whereabouts of another for firearms and drug possession. The incident occurred on Thursday 2 April, where a firearm was fired towards a vehicle at a Rata … Read more

All Blacks midfielder Fainga’anuku to start in loose fowards for Crusaders

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Source: Radio New Zealand Leicester Fainga’anuku of the Crusaders celebrates his try. © Photosport Ltd 2026 www.photosport.nz All Blacks back Leicester Fainga’anuku has been given a shock start at flanker for the Crusaders. Typically a centre or wing, Fainga’anuku has been named in the loose forwards for Friday night’s Super Rugby clash with the Waratahs. … Read more

Town struggles amid Awakino Gorge closure

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Source: Radio New Zealand The slip closing Awakino Gorge. Supplied / NZ Transport Agency The small Waikato town of Mōkau on the west coast of the North Island is being described by locals as a “ghost town” and “dead as a doornail” due to the closure of the Awakino Gorge on State Highway 3. Local … Read more

BNZ joins rivals with interest rate rise

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Quin Tauetau BNZ is the latest major bank to raise interest rates. It has put its one-year rate up by six basis points, to 4.59 percent, its 18-month rate up by the same margin to 4.79 percent and its two-year rate by 20 basis points, to 5.09 percent. Two-year … Read more

Fast DNA sex test “game changer” for conservation

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  23 April 2026 The fast DNA test, developed by Gisborne-based dnature diagnostics & research, is less invasive than traditional testing methods, provides faster results and can be used in the field. DOC Science Advisor for kākāpō and takahē Dr Andrew Digby says knowing the sex of a chick early helps … Read more

Delays at Auckland Airport as Jetstar halts check-ins over tech problem

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Source: Radio New Zealand File pic AFP Jetstar check-ins at Auckland have been halted and some of its departures delayed by a technical issue. “Technical teams are onsite working to resolve the issue, and Jetstar has currently paused check-in, with some delays to departing flights today,” Auckland Airport said. “No other domestic flights are affected.” … Read more

AI-generated Westpac boss used in scam ads on Facebook

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Source: Radio New Zealand An AI-generated falsely showing Westpac CEO Catherine McGrath clashing with Winston Peters on a news show. Supplied One of the country’s biggest banks is calling on social media giant Meta – owner of Facebook and Instagram – to do more to protect New Zealanders from fraud and scams on its platforms. … Read more

Moody’s highlights the need for balanced books

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Source: New Zealand Government Moody’s decision to revise New Zealand’s Aaa outlook from stable to negative reinforces that the Government’s response to the current fuel crisis and its wider economic plan is the right one, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Moody’s choice to put New Zealand on negative watch is another warning that we can’t … Read more

Motorcyclist dead after crash in South Canterbury

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Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF One person has died following a serious crash in Temuka in South Canterbury on Wednesday night. Emergency services were alerted to the single motorcycle crash on Factory Road at around 7.50pm. The rider died at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and the road has … Read more

SH29 in Bay of Plenty closed after early-morning crash

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Source: Radio New Zealand File pic RNZ/ Calvin Samuel State Highway 29 is closed following a serious crash in Lower Kaimai on Thursday morning. Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash near the intersection with Valley View Road at around 5.50am. Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries, police said in a statement. The … Read more

Storm-battered people flock to Wellington City Mission after losing everything

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Source: Radio New Zealand As floodwaters reached a metre high inside a Wellington boarding house, Mōkena Spooner-Hokianga walked out with a few precious items in a plastic box. “Photos of my dad and photos of my mum, y’know, those sentimental things … they’re too important and I can’t replace them.” The Duckworth Lewis boarder was … Read more

Phoenix defender Mackenzie Barry riding the highs of the club’s success

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Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington Phoenix women’s head coach Bev Priestman with captain Mackenzie Barry. Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT Wellington Phoenix’s stand-in captain Mackenzie Barry has experienced the lows of the A-League when seasons imploded and losses stacked up, now she is leading the team into the uncharted territory of finals football. Barry has been … Read more

Campaign group costs universal free dental care, says NZ can afford it

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Source: Radio New Zealand A campaign group says universal free dental care in Aotearoa is affordable. AFP/ Thibaut Durand/ Hans Lucas A campaign group has released a detailed plan which it says shows universal free dental care in Aotearoa is both feasible and affordable. The report by Dental for All estimates it would cost $936 … Read more

Opponents say fight to stop fast-tracked Waitaha hydro scheme not over despite approval

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Source: Radio New Zealand The Morgan Gorge. Neil Silverwood Conservation and outdoor recreation groups say the fight to save a pristine back country river is not over as they consider legal action and warn of seismic risk. The controversial Waitaha hydro scheme received Fast Track Approval on Friday, becoming the 18th fast track project to … Read more

Man who died in car crash was boarder at Rangataua house where body was found burned

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Source: Radio New Zealand Life was looking up for man found dead after a house fire in Ruapehu, friends say The man’s boarder was killed in a car crash shortly after the fire Police launch homicide investigation. A 62-year-old man found dead after a house fire in the small Ruapehu settlement of Rangataua was getting … Read more

Boosting maths progress nationwide with proven pathway

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Source: New Zealand Government The conclusion of the Government’s Year 7 and 8 maths acceleration trial has shown students made double the progress of their peers in 12 weeks and largely retained their learning months later, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “We are committed to ensuring young Kiwis are learning the basics brilliantly, meeting the curriculum … Read more

Transport accident investigators call for better safety culture at KiwiRail after Port Otago near miss

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Source: Radio New Zealand Nine parked wagons in a Port Chalmers yard slowly rolled back and hit a locomotive in January last year. Donovan Govan, Otago Regional Council Transport accident investigators are calling on KiwiRail to improve its safety culture at Port Otago. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) on Thursday released its final report … Read more

What to do, and not do, at an Anzac Day Dawn Service

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Source: Radio New Zealand The Dawn Service has been part of Anzac Day commemorations across New Zealand since 1939. The service, which traditionally begins with a military parade, is a formal way to honour New Zealanders killed in combat, as well as servicemen and women both returned and still serving. Attendance at dawn services has … Read more

Queenstown farmer offers to pay for lift after hearing of dad forced to carry disabled daughter

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Source: Radio New Zealand The stairs that Dinson Thomas has to carry his daughter up in order to get inside their home. SUPPLIED A farmer in Queenstown has offered to pay the shortfall for a lift so a dad does not have to carry his teenage daughter from her wheelchair to their front door. The … Read more

New Zealand’s most dedicated lifeguard is 75 – he’s still saving lives

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Source: Radio New Zealand If you went swimming at Piha Beach in West Auckland any weekend last summer, it’s almost certain that 75-year-old Karel Witten-Hannah was one of your guardians. Over the last summer he recalls the young woman who thought she was dying (Witten-Hannah “pinky promised” that she wasn’t) and another young woman who … Read more

‘His life mattered’: Sister of man who died in military custody speaks out

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Source: Radio New Zealand Jone Vakarisi was heard screaming and begging, according to his sister. Supplied Jone Vakarisi was heard screaming and begging before he was “brutalised to death” in Fiji military custody last week, according to his sister. Melehola Tagaga told Pacific Waves that the well known drug pusher was asked if he was … Read more

Property investors who ‘drank the Kool-Aid’ wondering whether to take a loss

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Source: Radio New Zealand As the market slumps again, sellers are facing the prospect of gambling on a recovery or just cutting their losses. RNZ / Quin Tauetau New Zealand’s property market is facing another slow patch – leaving some owners who bought in the post-Covid peak wondering what to do next. Cotality’s latest data … Read more