Woman missing in Auckland found after police appeal

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / NZ police A 50-year-old woman who was reported missing from the Birkenhead area in Auckland has been found on Friday morning. Earlier today, police had appealed for sightings of Jacqueline who was last seen near Fernglen Gardens on Kauri Road at around 12.30pm on Thursday. Police and Jacqueline’s family … Read more

Farms running dry of fuel as rural distributors struggle with allocation

Source: Radio New Zealand Caroline Kirk of Mahana Farm at Raukawa south of Hastings, that’s home to hundreds of bulls and up to 10,000 lambs at peak. SUPPLIED/CAROLINE KIRK Farms that rely on fuel are running dry as rural distributors face new limits due to spiking demand. In Central Hawke’s Bay, the Kirk family’s large … Read more

Xero signs deal with AI giant Anthropic

Source: Radio New Zealand Xero will integrate Anthropic’s Claude AI system directly into its platform. Accounting software company Xero and artificial intelligence firm Anthropic have announced a multi-year deal to add AI tools to the accounting softward giant’s tools. Under the deal, Xero will integrate Anthropic’s Claude AI system directly into its platform – and … Read more

In pictures: Aftermath of the storm in the upper North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand Kāeo Church surrounded by floodwaters. Supplied / Christopher Maca Northland Civil Defence teams are assessing the damage after the latest storm with the Far North and Whangārei set to remain under a state of emergency for another six days. Hundreds of people were evacuated in Kaitaia on Thursday night and more … Read more

Traffic stop locates wanted man, bag of drugs

Source: New Zealand Police A standard night on the job landed Police a wanted man in possession of cocaine in Epsom last night. At about 10.40pm, officers stopped a Toyota Prius travelling along Manukau Road. Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Charles Ip, says the driver was taken into custody after it was found … Read more

Speech to the Automobile Association Annual Conference

Source: New Zealand Government Introduction Good afternoon. Thank you, Brett, for the introduction and everyone for the warm welcome. I am excited to be here to talk with you today about transport funding, the transition to Road User Charges, and improvements to road safety, including our road toll and oral fluid testing. I’d like to … Read more

New Zealand announces fisheries support package for Tuvalu

Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand will contribute further funding support to the Tuvalu Fisheries Support Programme, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced during a meeting today in Auckland with Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Hon Feleti Teo. “New Zealand is proud to support Tuvalu in strengthening its fisheries sector. We value our close relationship and look … Read more

Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme considered for fast-track by government

Source: Radio New Zealand Lake Onslow. A prominent backer of the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme says he’s already fielding interest from international investors. It is a project that has been around for years, picked up by the last Labour government, but then scrapped after the election amid strong criticism from National. Now it is … Read more

Police officer outpaces offender

Source: New Zealand Police Police have made three arrests for a burglary, including one offender who led an officer on a one-kilometre foot pursuit.  On Thursday morning, The Waitematā Gang Disruption Unit, with assistance from the Tactical Crime Unit, executed a search warrant at a Rānui address. Detective Senior Sergeant Josh Lautogo says the burglary … Read more

Warehouse Group half-year net profit up a third to $15.7 million

Source: Radio New Zealand The Warehouse says its net profit for the six months ended 1 February rose by third on the year earlier, though revenue was little changed. SUPPLIED Retailer The Warehouse has reported an improved first half net profit despite tough trading conditions. The retailer, which operated Red Sheds, Noel Leeming and Stationery, … Read more

Dame Lydia Ko goes close to joining sub-60 club as she lights up latest LPGA event

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand golfer Dame Lydia Ko. Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire / PHOTOSPORT Dame Lydia Ko has shot her best ever round on the LPGA tour. The 28-year-old New Zealander has grabbed the club house lead during the first round of the Ford Championship in Arizona, coming close to one of the greatest … Read more

Eastern Northland rock lobster fishery closed

Source: New Zealand Government A ban on taking spiny rock lobster from the east coast of Northland to Hauraki Gulf will create a network of protections to help rebuild the fishery, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Under the previously announced closure, which comes into effect on 1 April 2026, commercial and recreational harvest of … Read more

Telco Regulation Review gets rid of outdated bureaucracy

Source: New Zealand Government Regulation Minister David Seymour and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith have today announced the completion of the Telecommunications Sector Review (the Review). The Review cleans up outdated bureaucracy that gets in the way of innovation.  The review makes 22 recommendations across five areas. Key recommendations include cutting red tape and clearing bureaucracy … Read more

Cricket: Amelia Kerr and Jacob Duffy triumph at NZ Cricket Awards

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd 2025 Amelia Kerr and Jacob Duffy have taken the top honours at the New Zealand Cricket Awards. White Ferns captain Kerr secured an unprecedented fourth-straight Debbie Hockley Medal while Duffy claimed the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal. Amelia Kerr of New … Read more

The regions next in line for flooding as heavy rain heads south

Source: Radio New Zealand Flooding in Kiripaka, Northland. Supplied / Stella Matthews MetService says there’s a strong likelihood of several regions being upgraded to red heavy rain warnings as a damaging storm sweeps across the country. Northland and Whangārei are currently in a state of emergency, which will last for seven days. Although rainfall is … Read more

Association mulls compulsory science for Year 11 students

Source: Radio New Zealand AFP The head of the science teachers association says Year 11 students could benefit from compulsory science lessons. The government is considering making the subject mandatory, along with English and maths, when it abolishes NCEA level one in 2028. Jayatheeswaran Vijayakumar, who is also head of science at Edgewater College, told … Read more

F1: Liam Lawson still having trouble with new car, but rule change could help

Source: Radio New Zealand NZ F1 driver Liam Lawson PHOTOSPORT Liam Lawson concedes driving remains difficult as he and the majority of the grid struggle with the new electrical element in their Formula 1 cars. After a two-week break the championship heads to Japan for the third round, with Mercedes well clear after finishing one-two … Read more

Bill to give police new powers to move and detain introduced to Parliament

Source: Radio New Zealand Police Minister Mark Mitchell. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A new bill would give police new powers but just how far it goes will now be fought over in select committee. The Privacy Commissioner says it sets the bar too low, but a Justice Ministry push for more safeguards was rejected. A … Read more

Private healthcare provider IntraCare hit by cyber breach

Source: Radio New Zealand Unsplash / RNZ Private healthcare provider IntraCare has been affected by a cyber breach, with its IT systems now offline and 28 patients’ surgeries deferred. The company, which specialises in “image-guided precision medical diagnostics and interventions”, said it became aware of the breach on Friday, March 20, and immediately shut down … Read more

Association supports compulsory science for Year 11 students

Source: Radio New Zealand AFP The head of the science teachers association says Year 11 students could benefit from compulsory science lessons. The government is considering making the subject mandatory, along with English and maths, when it abolishes NCEA level one in 2028. Jayatheeswaran Vijayakumar, who is also head of science at Edgewater College, told … Read more

Wellington Water seeks tender for fixing smelly Seaview wastewater treatment plant

Source: Radio New Zealand Breaches of odour consents at Wellington Water’s Seaview wastewater treatment plant have upset locals for years. RNZ / Krystal Gibbens The Hutt Valley’s wastewater treatment plant is upgrading blowers and pipes at risk of failing because they are old or too small. Wellington Water is upgrading the smell-prone Seaview plant at … Read more

Around the world for a jersey: The extreme travel of New Zealand’s athletes

Source: Radio New Zealand A Football Ferns training session in Honiara. Joshua Devenie / Phototek.nz Sailors representing New Zealand stopped off in the most countries (8) of any team in the last 12 months. New Zealand cricketers went to Zimbabwe for the first time in nine years and spent nearly three months in the subcontinent. … Read more

Move to strip upbringing info from alcohol and drug court reports angers lawyers, counsellors

Source: Radio New Zealand An Alcohol and Other Drugs Treatment Court sitting in 2022. RNZ Insight/Teresa Cowie A move to strip family background information from alcohol and drug reports used in court has angered some defence lawyers and counsellors. The Ministry of Justice said the change had been introduced to improve the consistency, quality and … Read more

Easter egg prices jump again

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Easter egg prices have increased again as the price of chocolate pushes up costs. A survey of pricing shows a 325g bag of Cadbury marshmallow eggs is now on special for $10 at Woolworths, down from $13. Last year, it was $8, down from $12. The same pack was $9.90 … Read more

Jobseekers and advocates disturbed as companies screen applications with AI

Source: Radio New Zealand Thomas Lefebvre / Unsplash Advocates say the use of AI to screen job applications is dehumanising and creates bias. The technology is used by companies like McDonalds and Woolworths to process applications en masse, but handing the reins to a computer has Unite Union’s assistant national secretary Gerard Hehir uneasy. “AIs … Read more