Health Coalition – New report shows communities need better policy support to combat growing food insecurity

Source: Health Coalition Aotearoa Health Coalition Aotearoa and Healthy Families South Auckland have released a new report highlighting key actions needed to improve access to affordable, nutritious food for communities across South Auckland. Titled “He kai kei aku ringa – There is food in my hands”, the foundation report responds to rising levels of food poverty in the … Read more

Energy Sector – Electricity Authority launches free power comparison and switching site ‘Billy’

Source: Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko New publicly owned digital tool helps households check they’re on the right power plan Thursday 26 March 2026 – New Zealanders can now compare and switch power plans with confidence using Billy, the new, free, publicly-owned comparison and switching site launched today by the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko … Read more

Local knowledge proves pivotal in trio of arrests

Source: New Zealand Police Police were quick on the heels of a trio allegedly responsible for an aggravated robbery and car theft in Glen Eden yesterday. Just before 4pm, Police were called to an eatery on Glendale Road following a report of three people making demands and taking money from a till. Acting Detective Inspector … Read more

Speech to the Infrastructure NZ One Day Conference

Source: New Zealand Government Good morning, everyone.  It’s great to be here today.  I’d like to thank Katie Bradford for the warm welcome and Nick Leggett and his team at Infrastructure New Zealand for hosting today’s event.  Katie – congratulations on your new role, I look forward to seeing you continue to cover infrastructure at … Read more

Reserve Bank Advisory – “Keeping Cash Local” consultation extended to 31 July 2026

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 26 March 2026 – Due to strong interest from the public and key stakeholders, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Te Pūtea Matua has extended the closing date for responses to our Keeping Cash Local consultation. The new closing date will be 31 July 2026. The RBNZ has received requests … Read more

Providing false details, fishing without licence and fishing out of season lands angler in Court

Source: Fish and Game NZ Central South Island Fish & Game have successfully prosecuted an angler who flouted the law while fishing at Loch Cameron near Twizel in October 2025. Blake Thorman of Christchurch appeared in the Timaru District Court on 17 March and entered a guilty plea to three charges; providing false details, fishing without a … Read more

Love Their Game® – Momentum builds for Auckland-wide sideline behaviour initiative

Source: Aktive Just over a year after eight Auckland Regional Sport Organisations partnered with Aktive to launch a collective push for positive sideline behaviour, the movement has surged to 18 Regional Sport Organisations, reaching more than 220,000 participants. Love Their Game emphasises the importance of positive sideline support and its role in creating quality sport experiences … Read more

Burst pipe cuts water to three Wellington suburbs

Source: Radio New Zealand A file photo of a damaged water pipe in the capital. RNZ / REECE BAKER Parts of three Wellington suburbs are without water as crews work to repair a burst drinking water pipe. Wellington Water crews responded to the burst pipe on Washington Avenue in Brooklyn at 7am on Thursday. The … Read more

Are hot cross buns a good pre-workout snack?

Source: Radio New Zealand It’s hot cross bun season and on social media, the Easter treat is being promoted as an ideal pre-workout snack. Sports dietitians Emilie Burgess and Dannielle Hibberd have worked with elite teams and athletes in Tasmania and New South Wales. They share whether hot cross buns are a good choice, plus … Read more

Don Mackinnon steps down from integrity role as NZ20 plans advance

Source: Radio New Zealand Don Mackinnon has been a key figure in sport integrity over many years. Elias Rodriguez The front man for a proposed new Twenty20 league has stepped down as chairperson of the Sport Integrity Commission, as questions emerge over his dual roles in New Zealand sport during a pivotal moment for cricket’s … Read more

Health Politics and Tech – Threats won’t fix Health NZ’s AI problem Investment will

Source: PSA Health NZ is threatening health workers with disciplinary action for using AI tools like ChatGPT to write notes. But the PSA says the real question is why staff are turning to free tools in the first place. A Health NZ senior manager has sent a memo to all Mental Health and Addiction Services staff in the … Read more

Workers First calls on finance sector to act on fuel crisis and support workers

Source: Workers First Union Workers First – the union for finance workers – has written to financial institutions across Aotearoa, calling on them to support their staff amid rising petrol costs and warning that workers are spending an increasing proportion of their wages simply travelling to and from work. [Read the letter from Workers First Union … Read more

Universities – As AI races ahead, can the law keep up? UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA How can existing and emerging legal frameworks govern artificial intelligence without stifling innovation? This question will be top of mind at a conference on AI regulation, governance, and public procurement at the University of Auckland this April. The inaugural Law, Technology and Government Conference will see international legal scholars, … Read more

Storm News – Northland weather update 01 0830hrs 26 March

Source: Northland Regional Council Advisory issued on behalf of Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group UPDATE 01; MARCH WEATHER EVENT Hi all, Just a quick update you on the weather situation as of 0830hrs today (Thursday 26 March). We’ve seen consistent rain overnight, including some heavy falls across much of the region. The heaviest rainfall so … Read more

Awards – Entries now open for the ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards

Source: EMA Entries are now open for the ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards 2026, encouraging local exporters to showcase their achievements on the world stage and be recognised among the region’s best. The prestigious awards gala will be held on 7 August at Mercury Baypark in Mount Maunganui, celebrating the exceptional achievements of Bay … Read more

Environment – EPA approves new herbicide to control weeds in fodder beet

Source: Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved Trifix Herbicide to control broadleaved weeds in beet crops used for livestock feed. FMC New Zealand Limited applied to import or manufacture Trifix Herbicide, a water dispersible granule containing the active ingredient triflusulfuron methyl at 500 g/kg, a chemical new to Aotearoa New Zealand. FMC … Read more

Celebrities are seeing that you can’t outrun a video

Source: Radio New Zealand As a culture, we are nosy. That’s why tabloid culture — both in its grocery store checkout aisle and online forms —thrives, especially when it involves celebrities behaving badly. But it’s one thing to read about an incident and another to see it. .31308411215″> An incident with Justin Timberlake already became … Read more

Catch limit changes for two rock lobster fisheries

Source: New Zealand Government Catch limits for spiny rock lobster have been reduced for Gisborne, and increased for Otago following a regular sustainability review, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “These are both highly valued fisheries, and my decisions aim to ensure their sustainability for the benefit of fishers today and in the future.  … Read more

Online surveys to reduce burden on businesses

Source: New Zealand Government A Stats NZ programme to move more business surveys online is helping reduce the burden on businesses, Statistics Minister Dr Shane Reti and Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk say. Stats NZ will begin moving more than 60 business survey forms to an online tool from August, following a successful … Read more

Tuakau College in Waikato in lockdown due to ‘ongoing incident’

Source: Radio New Zealand Taukau College in Waikato. Tuakau College A high school in the Waikato town of Tuakau has gone into lockdown. Police said they are dealing with an ongoing incident at Tuakau College. Tuakau College has posted to its social media page that it’s gone into lockdown because of an incident. “Please DO … Read more

Bluebridge cancels Connemara sailings for 7th day, no timeframe for fix

Source: Radio New Zealand The Connemara RNZ/Anthony Phelps Bluebridge has cancelled a week’s worth of sailings on one of its Cook Strait ferries due to a technical fault, and there’s no word on when it’ll be fixed. The fault was found on the Connemara on Saturday morning and it hasn’t sailed since. On Thursday, the … Read more

Union calls for banks to let staff work from home

Source: Radio New Zealand The cost of fuel has risen sharply in the past month. 123RF Workers First Union has asked banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions to do more to help staff struggling with the cost of commuting. The cost of fuel has risen sharply in the past month, as war in the … Read more

Government once again squeezing young people into one-size-fits-all model

Source: Green Party The Green Party has serious concerns with the proposed changes to NCEA by Luxon’s Government, which will undo decades of progress towards a student-centred system.  “Luxon’s Government is squeezing our young people back into one-size-fits-all model. Anyone who has met more than one child knows that they are all different,” says the Green … Read more

Cricket: Don Mackinnon steps down from integrity role as NZ20 plans advance

Source: Radio New Zealand Don Mackinnon has been a key figure in sport integrity over many years. Elias Rodriguez The front man for a proposed new Twenty20 league has stepped down as chairperson of the Sport Integrity Commission, as questions emerge over his dual roles in New Zealand sport during a pivotal moment for cricket’s … Read more

Politicians and defamation in an election year – How far can you go?

Source: Radio New Zealand Labour leader Chris Hipkins speaks to media about social media posts made by his former partner. Marty Melville Explainer – It’s election year, and attacks are already starting to fly. What happens if comments about a politician cross the line? While politicians – deservedly or not – come in for equal-opportunity … Read more

Live: Floods close highways as heavy rain hits North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand Fire and Emergency is urging residents in storm-affected areas to be ready to evacuate if necessary, following a night of heavy rain. A red weather warning remains in place for Northland east of Kaikohe from Doubtless Bay to Whangārei, with the worst of the downpours expected to hit on Thursday afternoon. … Read more

Person critically hurt in kindergarten carpark fight

Source: Radio New Zealand 123rf.com A person was critically injured during an assault in a kindergarten carpark in Lincoln, near Christchurch, overnight. Police said they responded to a report of multiple people fighting late Wednesday night, but that was not the case by the time officers arrived. Hato Hone St John was called to the … Read more