SH2 roundabout boosts road safety in Eastern Bay of Plenty

Source: New Zealand Government Transport Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed completion of a new roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road near Ōpōtiki, making this key corridor significantly safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight. “There were nine crashes at the intersection of SH2/Wainui Road between 2014 and 2023, three of them were injury crashes, one … Read more

University Research – AI chatbot targets online safety and support for seniors – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Researchers are designing chatbots to help make life online safer and more welcoming for seniors. New research, co-authored by Dr Jade Brooks (University of Auckland), led by Dr Yenni Tim (University of New South Wales) with Delen Zeng (Beijing Jiaotong University) and Joshua Huynh (AMP Limited), explores how properly designed … Read more

Govt Cuts – Workers betrayed as MBIE breaks promise that automation won’t cost their jobs – PSA

Source: PSA Loyal, long-serving workers at MBIE’s Tenancy Bond Services are feeling betrayed by plans to axe their entire team, despite being promised at the start of the automation project that there would be no job losses. MBIE is proposing to disestablish 28 permanent roles with two new permanent roles created resulting in a net loss … Read more

Advocacy – University of Canterbury (UC) Prohibits Arabic Cultural Wear at Graduation Ceremonies

Source: Students for Justice in Palestine Canterbury (SJP) At the University of Canterbury (UC) Graduation on 15/04/2026, UC Security ordered a student to remove a keffiyeh* from under their graduation regalia before they would be allowed to attend their ceremony. The mandate came from the Head of Security, who told the student that the cultural … Read more

Asia-Pacific countries to meet in Jakarta to discuss security concerns related to nuclear weapons

Source: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Geneva 15 April 2026 – Government officials representing more than 20 nuclear-weapon-free nations in Asia and the Pacific will meet in Jakarta on Friday, 17 April 2026, to discuss the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons. The one-day conference will be funded by Austria and co-hosted with Indonesia, … Read more

Regional Data Release: New Zealand Health Survey

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health Publication date: 16 April 2026 The New Zealand Health Survey (Health Survey) provides information about the health and wellbeing of adults and children in New Zealand. These data tables present key health indicators from all years of the continuous Health Survey, using a three-year rolling average. Statistics are updated … Read more

Man arrested over Papatoetoe graffiti

Source: New Zealand Police Police have arrested a man over offensive graffiti located outside a Papatoetoe school last weekend. Enquiries have been ongoing throughout the week.  Inspector Dave Christoffersen, Counties Manukau West Area Commander, says a local man has been arrested this morning. “Given the threatening nature of the graffiti, our team has been making … Read more

Northcote’s new community hub awarded Green Star Design rating

Source: Auckland Council Great news for Northcote! The new community hub has been awarded a 6-Star Green Star Design rating and As-Built v1.1 Certified Design Rating – the highest possible Green Star rating representing world leadership in sustainable building practices. Green Star, operated by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), is Australasia’s leading voluntary … Read more

Chiefs assistant Roger Randle heading to Munster

Source: Radio New Zealand Chiefs assistant coach Roger Randle. Clay Cross Long serving chiefs assistant coach Roger Randle will leave the club after the Super Rugby season to join his former boss Clayton McMillan at Munster. Former All Blacks wing Randle, who has been a coach at the Hamilton based franchise since 2018, will link … Read more

Investment strengthens resilience for two Tākitimu marae

Source: New Zealand Government Two Hawke’s Bay marae damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle will be rebuilt in safer locations following a $27.6 million Government investment, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Through the Whenua Māori and Marae Pathway, the Government has approved $11.54 million for Petāne Marae and $16.06 million for Tangoio Marae to relocate and rebuild after both sites were severely affected by flooding in 2023. “Marae play a vital role in supporting whānau and communities, particularly during emergencies,” Mr Potaka says. “During Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events we saw marae step up to provide shelter, food and care for whānau and the wider community. “This investment provides certainty for … Read more

Moana Pasifika CEO keeps hope of last-minute lifeline to save side

Source: Radio New Zealand Moana Pasifika players after a game. Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz There might be life in Moana Pasifika yet. After five years in Super Rugby, the franchise confirmed on Wednesday it had made the “difficult and heartbreaking decision” to disband at the end of the 2026 season due to financial pressures and … Read more

How white should your teeth actually be?

Source: Radio New Zealand You don’t have to look far to find seemingly perfect white smiles — especially if you spend time on social media. It may have you second-guessing the appearance of your own teeth in the bathroom mirror. But there are many variations of what is considered “natural” white. How our teeth appear … Read more

Fuel crisis ‘no longer a short-term situation’ for airlines

Source: Radio New Zealand The fuel price crisis “is no longer a short-term situation” for airlines while the government is promising to hold oil companies accountable. The Board of Airline Representatives chief executive Cath O’Brien told Morning Report that New Zealand does not have a supply problem, it has a price problem as uncertainty in … Read more

Black Ferns stick with same side as they seek to get one back over Canada

Source: Radio New Zealand Black Ferns players celebrate a try. www.photosport.nz Coach Whitney Hansen has named an unchanged team to take on Canada in Kansas City on Saturday with prop Tanya Kalounivale on the bench after being cleared to play. There are no personnel or positional changes to the side that defeated United States 48-15 … Read more

Auckland cricket and rugby moving out of Auckland’s Eden Park stadium a ‘win-win’, trust says

Source: Radio New Zealand A general view of Auckland’s Eden Park. (File photo) Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby will be moving out of Auckland’s Eden Park stadium in what the chairperson of the stadium calls a “win-win” situation. Auckland Cricket announced it would move into a $10 million development at Colin … Read more

Kiwi founded shoe company Allbirds pivots to AI

Source: Radio New Zealand Allbirds founder Tim Brown. (File photo) Supplied The New Zealand founded but US based footwear company Allbirds is to make a surprising pivot from shoes into AI computing. The Nasdaq listed company once valued at over (US)$4 billion announced this month it was selling its intellectual property and other assets to … Read more

Regulator prepares for more investment in unlisted assets

Source: Radio New Zealand KiwiSaver funds are likely to invest more money in private assets over the coming years. RNZ / Quin Tauetau KiwiSaver funds are likely to invest more money in private assets over the coming years, the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) says. It has released a new report which looks at how the … Read more

Search for missing Kiwi monk Justin Evans on Scottish island called off, local Diocese says

Source: Radio New Zealand Justin Evans, 24, is missing from Papa Stronsay in Scotland. Supplied / Scotland Police The Diocese of Aberdeen believes the New Zealand monk who is missing on a remote Scottish island is dead. Police Scotland are appealing for information about Justin Evans who went missing shortly before midnight from Papa Stronsay, … Read more

Should New Zealand follow Australia’s lead on the fuel crisis?

Source: Radio New Zealand Labour says it would be at least investigating following Australia’s lead on the fuel crisis if it were in power, but the circumstances in each country are quite different. Quin Tauetau Analysis – Labour says it would be at least investigating following Australia’s lead on the fuel crisis if it were … Read more

‘Squeeze across the whole country’: Where bills are increasing first under water shake-up

Source: Radio New Zealand Some households are facing new, higher water bills in the coming financial year as a shake-up to water services gets underway. Councils are investing nearly $48 billion dollars over the next decade in an effort to upgrade old, failing infrastructure under the Local Water Done Well model. New water entities in … Read more

‘Clear as mud’: The changes to how emergency rescues are being done

Source: Radio New Zealand A cliff rescue in Northland in January. NZ POLICE / SUPPLIED Rescuers in Auckland were in the middle of asking for a helicopter to fly them to Great Barrier Island where a man had fallen down a cliff when they discovered they were no longer allowed to make direct requests – … Read more

Ford hybrid owners ‘could ask for compensation’

Source: Radio New Zealand Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP Owners of Ford plug-in hybrid vehicles that currently cannot be fully charged should ask for a refund or compensation if the problem is not fixed soon, Consumer NZ says. Ford has contacted owners of some Escape PHEVs about a battery issue that could be a fire hazard if … Read more

Wildlife deaths, intergenerational harm flagged in gold mine assessments

Source: Radio New Zealand Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring. Supplied The Department of Conservation has warned a proposed gold mine near Cromwell is an unprecedented threat to wildlife, while Heritage New Zealand fears it will modify or destroy most of the area’s recorded archaeological sites. More than half the 53 invited parties who commented … Read more

Black Fern Tanya Kalounivale has red card overturned

Source: Radio New Zealand Tanya Kalounivale. www.photosport.nz Black Ferns front rower Tanya Kalounivale has escaped any further punishment and is free to play against Canada this weekend. Kalounivale was sent off in last weekend’s opening Pacific Four Series game against the United States in Sacramento for a dangerous cleanout. The prop was yellow-carded for head … Read more

Chris Wood says knee injury is something he’ll have to manage

Source: Radio New Zealand Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood. MANJIT NAROTRA / AFP All Whites striker Chris Wood says his knee injury is something he will have to manage for the rest of his life. Wood has just returned to action for Nottingham Forest after undergoing knee surgery in December. He started in their Europa … Read more

Which political parties would subsidise your rooftop solar panels?

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ The prime minister says his government is “very interested” in rooftop solar, but has given no firm answers yet, amid calls from an energy alliance for the government to use next month’s budget to subsidise rooftop solar for households. The Smart Energy Alliance told Nine to Noon the case for … Read more

Cost-of-living squeeze hits pensioners, with some using foodbanks to survive

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. 123rf Pensioners are turning to foodbanks to get by, as a new report says the pressure is growing on those relying on NZ Super alone. Good Shepherd has released the report, which focused on the housing experiences of women over 65. It follows concerns being raised that the recent … Read more