Christopher Luxon to visit Samoa, Tonga to meet new PMs

Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is off to the Pacific this week. RNZ / Marika Khabazi The prime minister has announced he will visit Samoa and Tonga later this week, for what will be the government’s first comprehensive engagements with two new leaders. Christopher Luxon will bring with him a delegation of … Read more

DoC’s Kākāpo livstream attracts international attention

Source: Radio New Zealand Rakiura a female kākāpō is being livestreamed from her nest. SCREENSHOT A Department of Conservation (DoC) livestream of a nesting Kākāpo on a remote island off the coast of the South Island, has attracted international attention. Through a hidden camera, viewers can watch Rakiura as she raises her chick, who looks … Read more

Wellington Phoenix women lock in foreign attacking duo for another season

Source: Radio New Zealand Makala Woods (middle) celebrates her goal with Brooke Nunn (left) and Lucia de Leon. www.photosport.nz English forward Brooke Nunn and American striker Makala Woods have become the first import players to re-sign with the Wellington Phoenix in the five year history of the women’s team. The Phoenix women are having their … Read more

My flight has been cancelled: What are my rights?

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Patrice Allen Air New Zealand is warning 44,000 passengers will be affected by cancellations over the coming months – so what are your rights if you’re one of them? Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar told Morning Report between now and the end of April, early May the … Read more

Funding change will ensure more consistent emergency care for New Zealanders

Source: PHARMAC A simple change in how ambulance medicines are funded is set to create more consistent emergency care. Pharmac is proposing changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule to support the Government’s decision to shift responsibility for funding ambulance medicines from Health New Zealand and ACC to Pharmac. With Pharmac already funding community and hospital medicines, … Read more

Growing the frontline workforce in Wairoa

Source: New Zealand Government A Rural Training Hub to grow the frontline rural health workforce will be established in the Wairoa District, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey announced today. “This second Rural Training Hub shows the Government’s commitment to fixing the basics and building the future for the one in five New Zealanders who live … Read more

Common sense proposal will benefit patients and save money

Source: New Zealand Government The Government will shift responsibility for funding ambulance medicines from Health New Zealand (HNZ) and ACC to Pharmac because it will improve medicine procurement processes, and save the health system money, Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown say. Consultation is now open on proposed changes to support the … Read more

Ombudsman’s office publishes OIA and LGOIMA complaints information for July to December 2025

Source: Office of the Ombudsman The Office of the Ombudsman has published its half-yearly data on Official Information Act (OIA) and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) complaints. The data covers the number of complaints received under each Act from 1 July to 31 December 2025 as well as the number of complaints completed … Read more

Employment – Fire and Emergency and FECA reach agreement strengthening leadership and community outcomes

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency New Zealand welcomes the successful ratification of the collective employment agreement with Fire and Emergency Commanders Association (FECA) covering operational firefighting management, District Commanders and Assistant District Commanders, and senior specialist positions. The collective employment agreement was ratified by FECA members on 2 March 2026, following 14 … Read more

Property Market – NZ housing affordability improves to near decade-best levels – Cotality

Source: Cotality Housing affordability across New Zealand has improved to its most favourable level in almost a decade, as lower property values, rising wages and easing mortgage rates continue to reduce pressure on buyers. The latest Cotality NZ Housing Affordability Report for Q4 2025 shows the national value-to-income ratio fell to 7.2, the lowest level … Read more

Kalyn Ponga switches rugby league allegiances to represent New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand Kalyn Ponga said he was “immensely proud” of his Māori heritage. Chris Hyde Newcastle Knights fullback and Queensland Origin rep Kalyn Ponga says he is “immensely proud” of his Māori heritage, as he switches rugby league allegiances from Australia to New Zealand. The International Rugby League Board (IRL) has confirmed it … Read more

NRL: NZ Warriors v Canberra Raiders – what you need to know

Source: Radio New Zealand Rival halves Tanah Boyd and Ethan Strange will square off, when the Warriors face the Raiders. RNZ/Photosport NRL: NZ Warriors v Canberra Raiders Kickoff 8pm, Friday, 13 March Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ website Canberra Raiders will arrive at Mt Smart this week with an even bigger … Read more

My flight as been cancelled: What are my rights?

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Patrice Allen Air New Zealand is warning 44,000 passengers will be affected by cancellations over the coming months – so what are your rights if you’re one of them? Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar told Morning Report between now and the end of April, early May the … Read more

Greenpeace – Luxon’s climate policies leave Kiwis hurting as petrol hits $3 a litre

Source: Greenpeace As petrol prices climb to around $3 a litre, Greenpeace is pointing to a series of Government decisions that have left Kiwis hit harder by the oil price spike. “The Luxon Government has spent the last two years dismantling policies that were helping wean New Zealanders off expensive imported oil,” says Gen Toop, Senior … Read more

Local News – Porirua keeping tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of the city

Source: Porirua City Council A report to Porirua City Council’s Te Puna Kōrero Committee has highlighted Council’s commitment to the city’s younger residents. Council has had “tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of the city” as a strategic priority since 2018, and in 2024 adopted a refreshed Tamariki and Rangatahi Strategy. Last week’s report outlined … Read more

Retirement Com – New guides give schools clear pathway for implementing financial education

Source: Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission   Schools and financial education providers now have access to new Financial Education Implementation Guides, giving them practical support to plan and deliver high-quality financial education as it becomes compulsory in the curriculum.    With 70% of New Zealanders agreeing school is a good place for young people … Read more

Man arrested over Whangārei firearms incident

Source: New Zealand Police A man will face court today following a firearms incident at a Morningside property last week. Whangārei CIB have been investigating the isolated incident which allegedly occurred on 3 March. Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer says the following day, it was reported to Police a firearm had been allegedly discharged at … Read more

Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation board chair reappointed

Source: New Zealand Government John Williamson has been reappointed as Chair of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Board, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Board manages the investment of government contributions to the NZ Super Fund and administers the Elevate NZ Venture Capital Fund. John Williamson’s reappointment – for a further two years from … Read more

Economy – RBNZ working with industry to improve access to basic transaction services

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 12 March 2026 – Last year the Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) consulted the public on whether New Zealanders should have the right to access a basic transaction account if they want one. 50 submissions were received and 22 community groups, financial institutions, fintechs, and support services were directly … Read more

Police presence in Rotorua and Ōpōtiki for gang tangi

Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Inspector Nicky Cooney, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander: Police will have a visible presence across Rotorua tomorrow and Saturday as a gang tangi travels from Rotorua to Ōpōtiki. A large number of gang members and associates are expected to be in town for the tangi from many parts … Read more

PM to visit Samoa and Tonga

Source: New Zealand Government Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will depart for Samoa and Tonga on Sunday, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to two of the closest members of our Pacific family. “Both countries are integral to who we are as a nation. With more than 300,000 Samoan and Tongan New Zealanders, the family connection is woven … Read more

Pharmac widening access to a treatment for people with a rare blood cancer

Source: PHARMAC People in New Zealand living with a type of blood cancer, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), will benefit from wider access to the medicine brentuximab vedotin, from 1 April 2026. This change comes after Pharmac consulted on a proposal for brentuximab vedotin to be used as a first-line treatment option in people … Read more

Further improvements to Pacific visitor visa settings

Source: New Zealand Government Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford have announced further changes to visitor visa settings for Pacific people, making it more affordable for Pacific visitors to travel to New Zealand.  “From 1 June this year, the total cost of applying for a visitor visa for Pacific nationals will drop from … Read more

Moa Point Crown Review Team appointed

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has appointed the Crown Review Team which will give Wellingtonians clarity about what went wrong at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says. Former Watercare chief executive and current chair of the Water Services Authority Raveen Jaduram will lead the team. He will be joined … Read more

Tall Ferns humbled by Spain in opening World Cup qualifer

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand Tall Ferns Head Coach, Natalie Hurst talks to her players Jayne Russell / PHOTOSPORT Tall Ferns coach Natalie Hurst admits her side needs to handle the pressure a bit better if they’re to get some wins at their World Cup qualifying tournament. New Zealand was beaten 99-50 by sixth-ranked … Read more

Proposed spawning area closure to orange roughy fishing in the East and South Chatham Rise (ORH 3B) from 1 June 2026

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries Have your say Fisheries New Zealand is consulting on options for closures to commercial fishing for orange roughy in the spawning areas of the East and South Chatham Rise part of ORH 3B under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996. We welcome your feedback on the proposed options … Read more

Proposed temporary pāua closure at Tauroa Peninsula, Northland

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries Have your say The Roma Marae, Ahipara Marae, hapū, and community members have requested a 2-year pāua closure of this area under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996. Consultation opened on 10 March and submissions close at 5pm on Friday 24 April 2026.  The proposed closure area The … Read more