Pharmac funds lifechanging cystic fibrosis medication for all ages

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to fund Trikafta and Alyftrek for children with cystic fibrosis, regardless of their age from 1 April 2026. Beginning tomorrow Pharmac will:  Widen funded access to Trikafta for all children with eligible diagnosis (currently only funded for children 6 years and older) Widen … Read more

Tourism minister unhappy with MP’s shot at taxpayer spending on football

Source: Radio New Zealand English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur is set to play Auckland FC in a friendly at Eden Park in July. JAKUB PORZYCKI / AFP The Tourism and Hospitality Minister intends to have “a chat” with ACT’s tourism spokesperson after he criticised the government’s funding of a football game between two “billionaire-owned” … Read more

Independent review finds electrical wiring advice was sound

Source: Worksafe New Zealand An independent review has confirmed WorkSafe’s Energy Safety team gave technically sound and justified advice on last year’s regulatory amendments on electrical wiring. The changes support modern energy systems, including renewable generation, battery storage, backup power, and electric vehicle charging, and enable safer, more resilient electricity supply. WorkSafe initiated an independent … Read more

New chapter for remaining four polytechnics in 2027

Source: New Zealand Government The remaining four polytechnics operating within the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) will begin new arrangements from 1 January 2027, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Next year, NorthTec, the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), and Whitireia and WelTec will be established as stand-alone regional polytechnics, … Read more

Goodbye Pill Fatigue: Food-Like Supplements Rise in Malaysia; Wel-Bloom’s Exclusive Jelly Format Supports Brands Seize the Market

Source: Media Outreach KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 March 2026 – Traditional capsules and tablets are losing appeal among young consumers. According to Nutraceuticals World, non-pill dietary supplements now account for 65% of total market sales. As consumers develop a physical or psychological aversion to capsules and medicinal odors—a phenomenon known … Read more

Border collie found one week after owner falls down waterfall in alpine backcountry

Source: Radio New Zealand Molly was missing for almost two weeks in alpine backcountry. Supplied / Precision Helicopters A dog has been found alive following an extraordinary helicopter search and rescue mission. The rescue of Molly the border collie on Tuesday was the culmination of efforts co-ordinated by Precision Helicopters and funded through donations. Molly … Read more

Broadcaster Duncan Garner charged with driving while suspended

Source: Radio New Zealand Duncan Garner, pictured in 2018, was due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday. Michael Bradley/Getty Images for NZTV Awards Broadcaster Duncan Garner has been charged with driving a car while his licence was suspended. Garner, who hosts the Editor in Chief podcast, was due to appear in the … Read more

Broadcaster Joanna Paul-Robie in ‘the long middle’ with cancer

Source: Radio New Zealand When a young hospital registrar turned “putty grey”, broadcaster Joanna Paul-Robie knew she was about to get some bad news. Paul-Robie had gone into hospital to get checked out for what she suspected were kidney stones, only to get the devastating news she had terminal cancer. “Nobody turns that colour on … Read more

New Zealand’s prosperity threatened by lack of cohesive growth policies, tech sector warns

Source: Radio New Zealand Tech New Zealand chief executive Graeme Muller says “New Zealanders deserve a clear, ambitious vision that captures opportunities while managing risk”. NZ Tech The $24 billion technology sector has published a manifesto warning New Zealand’s future prosperity is being threatened by a lack of cohesive policies to support growth. “Our productivity … Read more

Rising diesel prices begin to lift construction costs, QV says

Source: Radio New Zealand Rising diesel prices are starting to push up construction costs. 123RF Rising fuel prices are starting to push construction costs higher, according to property valuer Quotable Value (QV). QV’s CostBuilder platform shows headline cost increases remained contained in March, rising just 0.4 percent. But QV says rapidly rising diesel prices have … Read more

Fuel crisis the priority, not style guides, Judith Collins tells ACT

Source: Radio New Zealand Public Service Minister Judith Collins. VNP/Louis Collins Public Service Minister Judith Collins has shrugged off pressure from coalition partner ACT over the government’s English-first policy, suggesting the matter is not a key priority. “To be frank, right at the moment, my concern is fuel,” she told RNZ. “That’s my big focus. … Read more

Murderer Rajinder’s wife admits helping him dispose of evidence

Source: Radio New Zealand Rajinder in court. RNZ The wife of a Dunedin murderer has admitted getting rid of evidence in the investigation. Gurpreet Kaur’s husband Rajinder will be sentenced at the High Court on Wednesday for the murder of Gurjit Singh in 2024. He was found guilty after a jury trial late last year … Read more

War on Iran a ‘bazooka’ through government’s LNG plan – gentailer CEO

Source: Radio New Zealand Energy Minister Simon Watts. RNZ / Mark Papalii The Energy Minister is expressing confidence in the government’s plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, even as the Prime Minister says it will not go ahead if the business case does not stack up. Two of the country’s gentailers have … Read more

Truck rolls in Napier, blocking highway

Source: Radio New Zealand The intersection of SH51 and Awatoto Road in Napier. Google Maps A major road in southern Napier is partially blocked after a truck hit the central wire barrier and rolled. The accident happened on State Highway 51 near the intersection with Awatoto Road just before 11.20am, police said. The driver was … Read more

Good Samaritans sought following Massey assault

Source: New Zealand Police Waitematā Police are seeking a family of good Samaritans who went to the aid of a high school student when she was allegedly assaulted by two women at a bus stop on the weekend. On Saturday at about 10.10pm, two teenage girls were sitting at a bus stop on Don Buck … Read more

Proposed import requirements for fresh blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) for human consumption

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries Have your say From 31 March to 15 May 2026, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) invites comment on proposed import requirements for fresh blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) for human consumption. This page outlines: our assessment of market access requests from Chile, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, and the USA our approach … Read more

NGOs – MSF and 18 other NGOs, challenge Israel’s ban on operating in Palestine

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) 31 March, 2026: Following an initial hearing at Israel’s High Court on 23 March, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and 18 other leading humanitarian organisations reaffirm our decision to proceed with the petition we filed in February 2026 before the High Court, challenging Israel’s ban on 37 … Read more

Defence News – NZ Army and Pacific soldiers dig deep in core soldiering skills competition

Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) New Zealand Army soldiers and their Pacific counterparts have been pushed to their limits in a fiercely contested 1st (NZ) Brigade Skill at Arms competition at Waiouru in the central North Island. Ten teams from across the brigade (including three Reserve Force teams) were last week joined by Australians, … Read more

April Fuels Day: Home support workers to rally across the country over fuel crisis

Source: PSA Home support workers who are being slammed by rising fuel costs are taking to the streets across the country on 1 April to call on the Government to urgently increase the mileage allowance. Workers will bring scooters, wheelbarrows, and toy cars to show the ridiculous lengths they’ll need to go to now they can … Read more

Opinion: “Cheaper care at home” is a myth – and the real cost is being hidden

Source: Aged Care Association The recent report by RNZ on unions taking Health New Zealand to court over travel costs should be a wake-up call for policymakers. For years, the Government has promoted care in the home as the more cost-effective option for supporting older New Zealanders. Keeping people out of residential care has been framed … Read more

Climate Studies – Fifty years of observations, no reversal of glacier climate damage

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand Fifty years on from the first aerial survey of our Southern Alps glaciers, late snow and variable summer weather delivered a temporary reprieve from rapid ice loss, says Earth Sciences New Zealand. Researchers carrying out this year’s end-of-summer snowline and glacier survey saw retained snow on some glaciers, but no reversal … Read more

Universities – Almost half of university students experiencing food insecurity – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA New research finds high levels of student food insecurity with living away from home the main driver. Almost half of university students are experiencing food insecurity, with those living away from the family home and struggling financially at greatest risk, according to new research.  The study, led by Waipapa … Read more

Fonterra completes sale of Mainland Group to Lactalis

Source: Fonterra Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd has today completed the sale of its global consumer and associated businesses, Mainland Group, to Lactalis. Chairman Peter McBride says the completion of the sale is a significant milestone which sets the Co-op up for the future.   “With the divestment complete, Fonterra can return capital to its owners and focus on … Read more

Health – Drug checking service continues to grow

Source: NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri The NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri says it is crucial drug checking services continue to reach new people as drug use grows and diversifies. The charity, one of three licenced public drug checking providers, released its annual drug checking report today … Read more

Statistical area 2 and 3 population projections: 2023(base)–2053 – third instalment – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand Statistical area 2 and 3 population projections: 2023(base)–2053 – third instalment – information release 31 March 2026 Statistical area 2 (SA2) and statistical area 3 (SA3) population projections released in Aotearoa Data Explorer (ADE) provide an indication of future changes in the size and age-sex structure of the population usually living in … Read more

Reminder – Feedback on proposed changes to HLFS income data closes soon

Source: Statistics New Zealand Reminder – Feedback on proposed changes to Household Labour Force Survey income data closes soon 31 March 2026 We want your feedback on whether administrative (admin) data could be used to create viable replacements for Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) income measures. Feedback closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. Share your feedback now. Proposed changes … Read more

Northbound lane of State Highway 51, Awatoto blocked by crash

Source: New Zealand Police The northbound lane of State Highway 51 near Awatoto is blocked after a crash this morning. Police were notified at 11.20am that a truck had collided with the central wire barrier before rolling, near the roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 51 and Awatoto Road.  The driver has been taken … Read more