Prison death: Guards didn’t take inmate’s mental health seriously, inquest hears

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. Flickr / David Zoppo An inquest into the death of an Invercargill Prison inmate has heard guards did not take concerns about his mental health seriously. Nukuroa Strange, 30, died in August 2022. Coroner Amelia Steel was considering whether Strange received adequate mental health support while in the custody … Read more

Businesses fear months of roadworks on Lower Hutt streets will put potential customers off

Source: Radio New Zealand Facebook / Te Awa Kairangi – Delivering RiverLink On the first afternoon of road works being in effect on Queens Drive and High Street in Lower Hutt traffic is heavy, as businesses say they are worried how the nine month-long closure is going to hit their bottom line. The intersection between … Read more

How Aucklanders can better prepare for flooding and storms

Source: Auckland Council A new Auckland Council commissioned report shows that many Aucklanders are making assumptions about flood risk that could put them in danger. The Renting and Climate Change in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland report found that renters often expect landlords to tell them about hazards, but this doesn’t always happen. It also shows … Read more

Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media amid US-Israeli conflict with Iran

Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is taking questions from reporters in his weekly post-Cabinet media conference. It comes as US President Donald Trump warns the deadly US-Israeli conflict with Iran could last for four weeks. Luxon has refused to be drawn on whether the coalition fully supports the strikes by the United … Read more

Transport – Road freight sector watching oil prices as Middle East conflict continues

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Transporting New Zealand says the road freight industry will be monitoring the risk of fuel supply issues and rising oil prices closely, as conflict in the Middle East pushes up the global price of crude. Chief Executive Dom Kalasih said diesel is typically the second-largest cost for road freight … Read more

Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency received calls for 10 incidents during today’s NZPFU strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 10 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, Monday, 2 March, the fifteenth time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action. Of the 10 incidents, eight were in areas impacted by the strike. Four of these were fire alarms … Read more

Thousands of shipping containers filled with NZ exports caught up in Middle East conflict

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo Unsplash / Aron Yigin Thousands of shipping containers filled with New Zealand exports bound for international markets are caught up in the Midd le East conflict. New Zealand has a free-trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council which includes countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman. New Zealand exported … Read more

Aged care sector needs better funding, nurses need more money – association

Source: Radio New Zealand A rally for the aged care sector and its workers in 2024. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Aged Care Association says the sector needs better funding to be able to compete with the public sector for nurses. It comes after public and mental health nurses employed by Health New Zealand ratified … Read more

Publicly-funded x-rays and ultrasounds now offered in Wānaka

Source: Radio New Zealand Matt Doocey says the changes will reduce travel time for patients. RNZ / Mark Papalii Publicly-funded x-rays and ultrasounds are now offered in Wānaka, the government has announced. The lack of local diagnostic testing was a key concern raised by residents at a Rural Health Roadshow last year. The change was … Read more

Firearms owners say gun laws overhaul doesn’t go far enough to undo ‘damage’

Source: Radio New Zealand A selection of firearms which are now prohibited, on display to media at a 2022 police press conference. RNZ / Ana Tovey Firearms owners say the government’s overhaul of gun laws doesn’t go far enough to undo the “damage that was done” after the 15 March terror attacks. A Muslim leader, … Read more

GOD55 Sports Honored to Partner With Honda LCR Team in MotoGP

Source: Media Outreach KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 March 2026 – GOD55 Sports has announced a three-year partnership with the Honda LCR Team, bringing fans across Southeast Asia closer to MotoGP. The collaboration features prominent branding on the bikes of Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira, special event liveries, and exclusive fan-focused … Read more

Actor Awards 2026: See which nominees are taking home a win

Source: Radio New Zealand Now, it’s time for the Actors. The show formerly known as the SAG Awards is taking place, as the last major stop for many nominees before the Oscars on 15 March. The Actor Awards are voted on by members of the Screen Actors Guild, which this year placed Paul Thomas Anderson’s … Read more

Former solider and sex offender Adrien Bell’s volunteer work sparks concern

Source: Radio New Zealand Just Zilch. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham There are concerns that a former soldier sentenced to home detention for filming young people using a bathroom for six years is now volunteering at a Palmerston North food rescue charity. Adrien Bell, who also goes by the surname Bennett, has volunteered at Just Zilch … Read more

Death after man’s methadone dose changed

Source: Radio New Zealand Andy Dean Photography/ 123rf Two people had their therapeutic methadone doses changed by Te Whatu Ora against their will, with one man dying of an overdose only six weeks later, according to two separate rulings by the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC). In one case, a pharmacy mistakenly gave one woman … Read more

Wāhine Māori acknowledged with awards for cancer research

Source: Radio New Zealand Katya Hutton. Supplied / Cancer Society Three emerging Māori researchers leading innovative projects to improve cancer outcomes for whānau Māori will receive this year’s Māori Cancer Researcher Award. Their research range from exploring how papakāinga living can strengthen the practice of Rongoā Māori, to developing next-generation immunotherapies with fewer side effects, … Read more

Qatar Airways, Emirates flights to Doha and Dubai cancelled amid Iran attacks

Source: Radio New Zealand Emirates has cancelled flights through Doha and Dubai. Thierry Monasse A Qatar Airways 777 and two Emirates A380 planes are stuck in Auckland after the airlines were forced to cancel flights through Doha and Dubai amid the Iran attacks. “Auckland Airport is supporting those airlines with aircraft parking and operational assistance … Read more

Desert Diamond Hues Take Centre Stage On The Red Carpet At The 79th British Academy Film Awards

Source: Media Outreach LONDON, UK – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 March 2026 – At this year’s British Academy Film Awards, the red carpet was illuminated with natural diamonds worn by some of the acting world’s most beloved stars, with Desert diamonds reigning supreme. Desert diamond hues take centre stage on the red carpet at … Read more

Wāhine Māori overrepresented in the criminal justice system

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice Headline: Wāhine Māori overrepresented in the criminal justice system MEDIA RELEASE 24 February 2026 Māori women are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, and this increases the further they progress through the system, a new factsheet from the Ministry of Justice shows. Analysis in the factsheet, Reducing the … Read more

Proposed changes aim to better target dolphin protection efforts

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  02 March 2026 Public consultation runs from 2–30 March 2026 following a review by DOC and Ngā Hapū o Pēwhairangi Marine Mammal Protection Advisory Committee Rōpū on the effectiveness of the current Sanctuary rules at protecting marine mammals, and how they could work better. “We always intended to observe, learn … Read more

Coronial inquiry into death of 10-month-old Manurewa infant Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering gets underway

Source: Radio New Zealand A coronial inquiry into the death of a 10-month-old Manurewa infant is underway in Auckland. 123rf.com A coronial inquiry into the death of 10-month-old Manurewa infant Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering is underway in Auckland. Poseidyn was rushed to Middlemore Hospital and later moved to Starship Children’s Hospital on the evening of 5 September, … Read more

Officer accused of kidnapping ex-wife avoids disciplinary action, keeps job

Source: Radio New Zealand The IPCA released a summary of a police investigation into the officer, overseen by the authority, on Monday (file photo). hamilton, auckland, station, office, precinct, municipal, new zealand, nz, sign, building, editorial, symbol, logo, city, street The police watchdog has criticised police for not disciplining an officer who allegedly kidnapped his … Read more

Universities – Victoria University Coastal Ecology Laboratory Open Day

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington  Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s award-winning teaching and research facility Te Toka Tū Moana—Coastal Ecology Laboratory in Island Bay is hosting its annual open day on Saturday 7 March from 10 am–3 pm. Part of Seaweek, Aotearoa New Zealand’s annual celebration of the sea, the annual open … Read more

Should third party vehicle insurance be compulsory? Why the costs could outweigh the benefits

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Supporters of compulsory third-party vehicle insurance argue that it will prevent innocent drivers from facing hefty repair bills they can’t afford. However, recent comments from the transport minister suggest that such a change wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. Chris Bishop told interest.co.nz that the mandatory third-party vehicle insurance wasn’t considered … Read more

Bringing X-rays and ultrasounds closer to home in Wānaka

Source: New Zealand Government From today, more people in Wānaka will be able to access routine diagnostic imaging closer to home, with publicly funded X-ray and ultrasound services now available locally, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey say. “Until now, patients in Wānaka who were referred by their GP or primary … Read more

Strong winds disrupt Cook Strait passenger services

Source: Radio New Zealand Bluebridge and Interislander in Picton Marlborough sounds RNZ/ Rachel Thomas Two BlueBridge ferry sailings have been cancelled for passengers due to rough conditions in the Cook Strait. MetService forecast southerly swells of up to 4m with winds reaching just over 80 km/h. Strong winds are expected to continue through Tuesday. BlueBridge … Read more

Split Enz have reunited – two more shows for NZ

Source: Radio New Zealand Now the seminal Kiwi band – which includes celebrated song-writing siblings Tim and Neil Finn as well as Eddie Rayner and Noel Crombie – have announced shows for Auckland and Wellington. The will play at TSB Arena, Wellington on Wednesday, 6 May, followed by Spark Arena in Auckland on Saturday, 9 … Read more

The Detail: Net fishing is in, then out again as National Party does a backflip

Source: Radio New Zealand A ring net fishing boat in Northland. Seafood NZ  National has announced that, if re-elected, it would ban ring-net fishing in some areas of the Hauraki Gulf, but the policy they’ve promised to reverse was their own The battle has been long – fish versus fishing. Now, the fight over the … Read more