Air NZ announces three new non-stop international routes from Christchurch

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied/ Air NZ Air New Zealand has announced three new non-stop international flights from Christchurch to launch later this year. The new routes from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo and Perth are part of an agreement with Christchurch Airport to boost the South Island’s international connectivity. Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil…

Children’s enjoyment of reading, writing and maths drops

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF A national study has found New Zealand children’s enjoyment of reading, writing and maths has dropped, in some cases significantly. The number of older primary school children who do not enjoy the subjects has doubled since 2018/19, as has the percentage who believe they are not good at them. The…

Getting the kids to school drives me bananas. How can we make mornings calmer?

Source: Radio New Zealand Getting the kids out the door for school can feel like herding cats in the rain. Just when one child is ready, another can’t find a shoe, someone remembers homework, and someone else starts crying because they want more breakfast. Is there a calmer way to get through the mornings with…

Scientists concerned about de-extinction ethics as biotech company heralds ‘breakthrough’

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / Te Ara Scientists are once-again raising concerns about de-extinction as a US biotech company promotes a “major breakthrough” in artificial egg technology. Colossal Biosciences on Wednesday announced the development of an artificial egg that it says is a crucial step toward resurrecting the South Island giant moa – a…

Serious crash, Matamata

Source: New Zealand Police Roads are closed around the roundabout connecting Mangawhero Road, Tower Road, Burwood Road and Broadway in Matamata following a vehicle hitting a property. The incident was reported to emergency services around 1.30am. One person sustained critical injuries and was transported to hospital. The Serious Crash Unit were notified. Motorists, especially those…

Public servant ‘terrified’ job on the line again after government announces more cuts

Source: Radio New Zealand The government plans to slash public service jobs by about 14 percent over the next three years. RNZ / Quin Tauetau A public servant affected by the sweeping cuts of two years ago is “terrified” their job will soon be on the line again. The government plans to slash public service…

Roundabout the motu: The loved and hated road features

Source: Radio New Zealand What the peanut-shaped roundabout will look like. Hamilton City Council The opening of a so-called ‘peanut-about’ in Hamilton got everyone talking about roundabouts. The peanut-shaped roundabout while unusual, is not the only one in New Zealand, with a few others scattered around the motu. But it did get RNZ listeners sharing…

Housing market confidence takes a tumble as interest rates, inflation rise

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Housing market confidence has taken a tumble as interest rates rise, prices are expected to stay flat, and inflation heads higher. ASB’s latest housing confidence report in the three months ended April showed a net 19 percent of respondents expecting prices to rise over the next 12 months from 30…

No bank meets Consumer NZ’s customer satisfaction award criteria for first time in 10 years

Source: Radio New Zealand Consumer NZ says no bank has earned one of its People’s Choice awards for customer satisfaction this year. RNZ / Supplied Consumer New Zealand says no bank has earned one of its People’s Choice awards for customer satisfaction this year. Based on a survey of 1958 New Zealanders, no bank met…

Hundreds submit on Fisheries proposal to manage shellfish in Auckland, Coromandel

Source: Radio New Zealand Fisheries New Zealand is reviewing management measures for recreational shellfish harvesting in Auckland and Coromandel. 123RF More than 300 people have submitted feedback to Fisheries New Zealand as part of a review into shellfish gathering in Auckland and Coromandel. Last month, the regulator announced it was reviewing management measures for recreational…

Senior public servant misses out on top job after anonymous tipster reveals prior cocaine use

Source: Radio New Zealand A senior public servant was replaced as acting chief executive of a government organisation following revelations she once used cocaine prior to starting in the public service. 123rf A senior public servant was replaced as acting chief executive of a government organisation following revelations she used cocaine once “a number of…

Tourism industry hopes to woo international travel buyers at TRENZ 2026 trade event

Source: Radio New Zealand TRENZ 2026 is kicking off at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland. RNZ / Tess Brunton The tourism industry is hopeful an influx of international travel buyers will spark millions of dollars in new business. TRENZ, the country’s largest international tourism business event, is underway in Auckland. More than…

BANKS – ASB Economists: Housing Confidence dips as global pressures build

Source: ASB Housing confidence has softened this quarter as interest rate expectations have shifted sharply higher, with most households now expecting rates to rise. House price expectations have eased but remain positive, with more people now expecting prices to stay flat rather than fall. Buying sentiment eased only slightly, supported by plentiful housing supply despite … Read more

Better mental health support could have prevented Tangaru-Noere Turia’s death – coroner

Source: Radio New Zealand The cordon in Papatoetoe after Tangaru-Noere Turia was shot by police in 2021. RNZ / Simon Rogers Tangaru-Noere Turia was showing signs of psychosis and wielding a shotgun when he was killed by police. But a coroner says better mental health support and interventions could have helped prevent the 2021 shooting.…

Colossal Biosciences says breakthrough means it’s a step closer to resurrecting giant moa

Source: Radio New Zealand Embryo development. Supplied / Colossal Biosciences A multibillion-dollar de-extinction company believes it is one step closer to resurrecting New Zealand’s largest and long-extinct flightless bird. Colossal Biosciences – headquartered in Texas – is heralding a “major breakthrough” in its development of an artificial egg that it says is crucial to giant…

Electrify Queenstown 2026 powers down after three-day showcase

Source: DESTINATION QUEENSTOWN & LAKE WĀNAKA TOURISM Queenstown, New Zealand (19 May 2026) Electrify Queenstown 2026 has wrapped after three days of energy, ideas and action, drawing more than 1,000 attendees through the doors. The award-winning event, now in its third year, brought together leading politicians, business leaders, energy experts, community organisations, and residents, to … Read more

Electronic card transactions: April 2026 – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand Electronic card transactions: April 2026 – information release 19 May 2026 The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity. Key facts All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified. … Read more

Business price indexes: March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand Business price indexes: March 2026 quarter – information release 19 May 2026 Business price indexes (BPI) includes the producers price index (PPI), capital goods price index (CGPI), and farm expenses price index (FEPI). Key facts In the March 2026 quarter compared with the December 2025 quarter: the output producers price index (PPI) … Read more

Māori population estimates: Mean year ended 31 December 2025 – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand Māori population estimates: Mean year ended 31 December 2025 – information release 19 May 2026 Māori population estimates give the best available measure of the Māori ethnic population, by age and sex, usually living in Aotearoa New Zealand. This release contains the provisional estimate of the national Māori ethnic population for … Read more