Economy – Singapore credit and charge card payments to grow by 9.2% in 2026, forecasts GlobalData

Source: GlobalData Singapore’s credit and charge card payments market is projected to grow by 9.2% to reach SGD116.8 billion ($88.4 billion) in 2026. This growth is being driven by a confluence of factors including widespread card acceptance, a near-100% banked population, and increasing adoption of contactless cards, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity … Read more

New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters steps down

Source: Radio New Zealand Greg Peters said it has been an honour and privilege to lead NZRL. PHOTOSPORT New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chief executive Greg Peters is stepping down after eight years at the helm. Since his appointment in 2018, Peters has overseen a 30 percent increase in revenue, doubled player numbers from 22,000 … Read more

Deep-sea whale strands on central Auckland beach

Source: Radio New Zealand Project Jonah marine mammal medics and Department of Conservation staff respond to a Beaked whale stranded in St Heliers. Supplied / Project Jonah A whale has stranded on St Heliers Beach in Auckland. Project Jonah, alongside the Department of Conservation, responded after a Shepherd’s beaked whale was spotted late this morning. … Read more

More funding for weather hit communities

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is providing further contributions to Mayoral Relief Funds to help communities impacted by recent severe weather events, Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell announced today. “The impact of the weather events in January and February has been significant, and we want to make sure communities have the support they … Read more

Enough fertiliser to cover autumn, Ravensdown says

Source: Radio New Zealand Fertiliser prices will rise due to the conflict but by how much and for how long is not known. 123rf Ravensdown says it has enough fertiliser in the country or on the way to cover autumn – so any price impacts due to the war in the Middle East won’t be … Read more

Baby Poseidyn’s injuries unlikely to be accidental, inquiry hears

Source: Radio New Zealand Starship Children’s Hospital. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly A coronial inquiry into the death of 10-month-old Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering has entered its second day. Poseidyn was rushed to Middlemore Hospital and then taken to Starship Children’s Hospital on the evening of 5 September, 2020, after being found unresponsive at his Manurewa home. He … Read more

Car and motorbike crash closes part of SH1 south of Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER Part of State Highway 1 at Meremere, south of Auckland, is closed after a crash between a car and motorbike. It happened at 1.45pm and police say there are early reports of serious injuries. The road is closed for north-bound traffic from Hampton Downs Road. Police are … Read more

Opinion: without law change, more fatal dog attacks will occur

Source: Auckland Council As published by NZ Herald in February 2026 By Councillor Josephine Bartley, Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee Like most people, I was extremely sad to read about last week’s fatal dog attack in Northland – the fourth in the country in four years. In my role as the chair of … Read more

Rugby: Lions back Anthony Watson admits to cheating concussion test against All Blacks

Source: Radio New Zealand All Black Sonny Bill Williams (R) shoulder charges Lions winger Anthony Watson. photosport British and Irish Lions back Anthony Watson says he found a way to circumvent concussion testing after Sonny Bill Williams was shown a red card in a pivotal moment during the 2017 series. Watson shone some light on … Read more

Biosecurity NZ confident fruit fly will be eradicated, again

Source: Radio New Zealand An Oriental fruit fly on a piece of fruit. Supplied / Biosecurity NZ Biosecurity staff are out in South Auckland after finding more Oriental fruit flies in Papatoetoe on Monday. Biosecurity NZ widened its surveillance area after it found three more fruit flies on Monday, bringing the total to four. All … Read more

WRISE Group Announces Strategic Partnership in Thailand with IFCG

Source: Media Outreach Strategic alliance with the leading Thai brokerage and advisory firm will see both companies expand capabilities to provide institutional-grade wealth management solutions in the country HONG KONG / SINGAPORE/MAINLAND CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 March 2026 – WRISE Wealth Management (“WRISE”), one of Asia’s fastest-growing independent wealth platforms, today announced … Read more

Tourism drives billions into New Zealand economy

Source: New Zealand Government The Government welcomes data out today showing New Zealand’s tourism sector continues to go from strength to strength, driving billions into the economy. The Tourism Satellite Account released by Stats NZ shows total tourism expenditure in New Zealand of $46.6 billion for the year ending March 2025, an increase of $1.5 … Read more

Work under way to move cramped Wellington ED

Source: Radio New Zealand Outside Wellington Hospital. (File photo) RNZ / REECE BAKER Healthcare staff in Wellington’s Emergency Department will have to wait until 2029 for a bigger space, with one nurse describing corridors crowded with patients waiting for beds. Renovations to add much-needed space to the ED were underway, as Health New Zealand worked … Read more

31k-strong petition for an independent Commissioner for Animals taken to Parliament

Source: Radio New Zealand A Southland livestock grazing company was fined close to $50,000 for allowing hundreds of cattle to graze in mud. Supplied / MPI Warning some of the images in this article may be distressing for some people. More than 31,000 New Zealanders want an independent “Commissioner for Animals” to improve animal welfare … Read more

Local council dealt with 34 complaints about bee poo in last two years

Source: Radio New Zealand Bees excrement can create a waxy substance which is hard to clean off outdoor furniture. (File photo) Supplied/Bioeconomy Science Institute Tauranga City Council wants to make it easier to deal with complaints about bee poo. It investigated 38 complaints about urban hives in the past two years – 34 of them … Read more

New Wellington Emergency Department won’t open until 2029

Source: Radio New Zealand Outside Wellington Hospital. (File photo) RNZ / REECE BAKER Healthcare staff in Wellington’s Emergency Department will have to wait until 2029 for a bigger space, with one nurse describing corridors crowded with patients waiting for beds. Renovations to add much-needed space to the ED were underway, as Health New Zealand worked … Read more

Possible Māui dolphin found deceased

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  03 March 2026 The two sub-species of dolphin look so similar they can’t be identified without a genetic test – but based on the location it’s likely to be a critically endangered Māui dolphin. At the last survey there were just an estimated 48 to 64 individuals left. The juvenile … Read more

Live: Australia’s Middle East military HQ hit in Iranian drone attack, Qatar halts LNG production

Source: Radio New Zealand Follow the latest with our live blog above US President Donald Trump is warning ‘a big wave’ of strikes against Iran is yet to come. Speaking to CNN, Trump said the US hasdn’t even begun to hit the Iranian regime hard. Missile strikes continued to fly over the Middle East overnight, … Read more

TamaIti Williams cops three-week ban for dangerous play

Source: Radio New Zealand Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams. photosport Crusaders and All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams will serve a three-week suspension after being found guilty of dangerous play during Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific win over the Chiefs. The competition’s foul play review committee found the ruling after Williams was cited for his entry to a … Read more

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins says US-Israel strikes illegal

Source: Radio New Zealand The Prime Minister admitted he “misspoke” when he said New Zealand supported “any actions” to prevent Iran having nuclear weapons. The Prime Minister has admitted he “misspoke” when he said New Zealand supported “any actions” to prevent Iran having nuclear weapons. Christopher Luxon also said New Zealand will not join the … Read more

Convicted sex offender and former Gloriavale leader Howard Temple will not be going to jail

Source: Radio New Zealand Howard Temple The Press/Kai Schwoerer The lawyer for convicted sex offender and former Gloriavale leader Howard Temple says his client has won a High Court appeal against his sentence and will not be going to jail. Temple was sentenced to 26 months’ jail in December for indecently assaulting young women and … Read more

Where have the pay rises been this year?

Source: Radio New Zealand Based on the average advertised salary, some people received significant pay increases. 123rf.com A weak labour market has meant that many people have had small pay rises – or none at all – over the past year. Seventy percent of workers received a pay rise of less than the rate of … Read more

Local News – Porirua lightboxes to show off new art

Source: Porirua City Council The lightboxes in Porirua’s CBD will be showcasing new works this year. The call has gone out for curators and artists to put forward their work for the lightboxes, which provide a unique opportunity to exhibit outside the usual gallery environment. In Porirua’s Te Manawa, the three 3-metre tall lightboxes, made of … Read more

Health – New leaders appointed to expand radiology access across New Zealand

Source: RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group (the owner of Auckland Radiology, Bay Radiology and Pacific Radiology) RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group (the owner of Auckland Radiology, Bay Radiology and Pacific Radiology) has appointed two new executive leaders to help expand access to diagnostic imaging across Aotearoa. The company operates more than 70 clinics nationwide. RHCNZ CEO, Steve Carden, … Read more

Aviation Sector – Airways NZ announces FY26 interim results

Source: Airways New Zealand Airways New Zealand has today announced its interim results for the half year ending 31 December 2025, reporting strong safety and operational performance alongside a stable financial result. Airways safely managed 243,785 flight movements across the airspace it controls during the period, with no Category A serious air proximity events attributable … Read more

Climate News – Earth Sciences New Zealand Seasonal Climate Outlook March to May 2026

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand Earth Sciences New Zealand’s Seasonal Climate Outlook for Autumn 2026: Highlights: Seasonal air temperatures for March-May 2026 are most likely to be above average for the north and west of the North Island, near average for the east of the North Island and the north and east of the South Island, … Read more

Animal welfare alliance calls for Government to establish an independent Commissioner for Animals

Source: SAFE For Animals An alliance of 21 animal protection organisations is delivering a petition to parliament at midday today, calling for the establishment of an independent Commissioner for Animals. Representatives from the Commissioner for Animals Alliance will present the petition, signed by more than 31,000 people, to Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Steve Abel on … Read more