KiwiSaver laws changing to help farmers buy first homes

Source: Radio New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis announces changes to KiwiSaver for live-in service workers, on Sunday 1 March, alongside Rangitīkei MPs Suze Redmayne and Mike Butterick, at his Wairarapa farm. RNZ/ Anneke Smith The government is changing KiwiSaver laws so first-time farm buyers and other workers with ‘live in’ job residences can use … Read more

Information sought on serious assault, Matangi

Source: New Zealand Police Police investigating a serious assault in Matangi are asking the public for help in identifying the offenders. Two people were trying to speak to the occupants in a dark-coloured Ford Falcon last night that were doing noisy burnouts in the semi-rural area. Three occupants got out and assaulted the victims. The … Read more

Health NZ works on national plan for troubled pathology lab sector

Source: Radio New Zealand The pathology lab sector has been marred by strikes over low public versus private lab pay and quality control issues. 123rf Health New Zealand has started working on a national plan for the troubled pathology lab sector. Pathology labs are vital but a choke point in processing virtually all the samples … Read more

KiwiSaver adjustment to help rural workers

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is removing the barriers that prevent many farm and other rural workers from using their KiwiSaver accounts to buy their first homes, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson announced today. Since 2010, Kiwis have been able to withdraw from their KiwiSaver accounts to assist … Read more

Police pleased with safe and fun Electric Avenue crowd

Source: New Zealand Police Christchurch Police on safety patrol around the Electric Avenue concerts on Friday and Saturday are pleased with the behaviour of the event attendees. An estimated 43,000 strong crowd headed to the concert each night, many coming from out-of-town. Operational Commander Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons and her large team worked alongside 440 … Read more

Country’s lightest electric double-decker bus to hit Christchurch’s roads next week

Source: Radio New Zealand Chair Deon Swiggs, Councillor Joe Davies and corporate and public transport director Giles Southwell in front of the new bus. Supplied / Environment Canterbury The lightest fully electric double decker bus to hit the road in New Zealand will officially join Metro’s fleet in Christchurch next week. Developed by global automotive … Read more

NZ Government Statement on Iran

Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand has consistently condemned Iran’s nuclear programme, its destabilising activities in the region and elsewhere, and its repression of its own people.  Iran has, for decades, defied the will and expectations of the international community. The legitimacy of a government rests on the support of its people. The Iranian regime has … Read more

What’s the link between talcum powder and cancer?

Source: Radio New Zealand More than 1300 Victorians have joined a class action against Johnson & Johnson alleging its talcum powder products left them with ovarian cancer, mesothelioma (cancer affecting the lungs) and other cancers affecting the reproductive organs. This follows lawsuits in the United Kingdom and the United States, including a prominent case in … Read more

Worries war could affect relationship between Pakistani, Afghan New Zealanders

Source: Radio New Zealand Asif Saeed Khan is the president of Pakistan Association of New Zealand. RNZ / Blessen Tom The Pakistan Association of New Zealand is fearing that the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan will affect the relationship between Pakistani and Afghan New Zealanders. Pakistan bombed cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, on … Read more

Local addicts, Yellowstone expands and Louis Theroux mans up: March’s best TV

Source: Radio New Zealand Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere In his disarmingly polite way, the acclaimed documentarian enters the toxic hellhole of the manosphere to expose the people pushing this misogynistic movement to men and teenage boys around the world. Talking to GQ, Theroux likened making this doco to facing “the final boss,” which, given … Read more

‘By the end of the year, they’re making their own clothes’

Source: Radio New Zealand Heather Black has always sewed, starting age 12 on an old-style treadle sewing machine. It was a skill she taught herself out of necessity, she told RNZ’s Nine to Noon. “We didn’t have a lot of access to clothes. I was tired of wearing hand-me-downs, and so I just started making … Read more

Tenant wins $5000 payout after Kāinga Ora fails to act over machete threats

Source: Radio New Zealand The police had been called for three separate incidents at the property. 123RF A woman’s 14-year-old grandson was nearly mowed down by her neighbour’s car, while her son was threatened with a machete. Now an elderly Tongan woman has gone to the Tenancy Tribunal, after Kāinga Ora refused to terminate her … Read more

Police continue to investigate after Papakura shooting leaves man in moderate condition

Source: Radio New Zealand A police car seen behind a cordon as officers attend an incident. RNZ Police are following “strong lines of enquiry”, after an Auckland shooting on Saturday left a man with moderate injuries. Officers were conducting patrols in the Clevedon Road area in the suburb of Papakura on Saturday morning, when they … Read more

Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier storms into NZ Open lead at Millbrook

Source: Radio New Zealand Daniel Hillier plays a shot during the third round of the 105th New Zealand Open. Photosport A stunning late surge has vaulted Kiwi Daniel Hillier to the top of the NZ Open leaderboard at Millbrook Resort, near Queenstown. The Wellingtonian was four strokes off leader and fellow Kiwi Kerry Mountcastle, when … Read more

Live: Super Rugby Pacific – Brumbies v Blues at GIO Stadium

Source: Radio New Zealand Photosport The Blues play the high-flying Brumbies at GIO Staidum, after a high-scoring win over Western Froce last week. Captain Daltan Papali’i will play his 100th Super Rugby game, as his side try to topple the top-of-the-table Brumbies in Canberra. Kickoff is at 9.35pm. Blues: 1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi. 2. Kurt Eklund. … Read more

Football: Auckland FC stun with A-League win over champions Melbourne City

Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland FC’s Guillermo May scores against Melbourne City. Photosport Auckland FC have kept the pressure on A-League men’s leaders Newcastle Jets with a stunning 3-0 home win over Melbourne City. Logan Rogerson broke his goalscoring drought with a decisive blow to give the Aucklanders a 1-0 lead after 42 minutes, and … Read more

IndyCar: Kiwi Scott Dixon unharmed after crash at St Petersburg Grand Prix practice

Source: Radio New Zealand Scott Dixon’s car after a nasty crash during practice in Florida. Twitter/Indycar Kiwi motorsport ace Scott Dixon has emerged uninjured from a nasty crash during practice for the IndyCar St Petersburg Grand Prix in Florida. During the first practice session – in which compatriot Scott McLaughlin had the fastest time – … Read more

Live: Super Rugby Pacific – Chiefs v Crusaders at FMG Stadium Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand Photosport The Chiefs host the winless Crusaders in a rematch of last year’s Super Rugby Pacific final at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday. The hosts are coming off back-to-back wins over New Zealand opposition, while the their opponents have yet to taste victory. Kickoff is at 7.05pm. Chiefs: 1. Jared Proffit … Read more

Can New Zealand economy recover if house prices don’t?

Source: Radio New Zealand Most forecasts expect house prices to rise less than 5 percent this year. RNZ / REECE BAKER New Zealand’s economy is expected to continue to slowly recover this year. But unlike previous recoveries, this time, it’s not likely to be dragged up by rising house prices. Most forecasts are for prices … Read more

Basketball: NZ Breakers part ways with head coach Petteri Koponen

Source: Radio New Zealand Breakers coach Petteri Koponen is leaving the club. Blake Armstrong/Photosport NZ Breakers and head coach Petteri Koponen have parted ways, and the club will advertise globally for a replacement. The Finn coached the Breakers for two seasons, with the side finishing ninth of the 10 teams last year, followed by seventh … Read more

The Detail: Home for granny, headache for homeowner

Source: Radio New Zealand Experts say that the real rule change is simply that when things go wrong, the burden of responsibility will be on the homeowner, not the council. 123rf Rule changes for putting a granny flat on your section cut very little red tape, but move questions of liability from councils to homeowners … Read more

Red alert issued for Vanuatu province as Cyclone Urmil passes nearby

Source: Radio New Zealand Tropical cyclone Urmil near Vanuatu, 28 February 2026 Zoom Earth Vanuatu’s national disaster management office has issued a red alert for TAFEA province as a tropical cyclone hovers near the province. Tropical Cyclone Urmil formed southwest of Port Vila on Friday. It has now been upgraded to a Category 2 according … Read more

Sprinter Tommy Te Puni overcomes setbacks for national 200 metres record

Source: Radio New Zealand Tommy Te Puni races to a 100 metres behind Tiaan Whelpton at Sir Graeme Douglas International. David Rowland/Photosport Two years have passed, but Tommy Te Puni finally has his name in the record books. Last weekend, the Auckland speedster claimed the national 200 metres mark, when he tore around a bend … Read more

Can New Zealand’s economy recover if house prices don’t?

Source: Radio New Zealand Most forecasts expect house prices to rise less than 5 percent this year. RNZ / REECE BAKER New Zealand’s economy is expected to continue to slowly recover this year. But unlike previous recoveries, this time, it’s not likely to be dragged up by rising house prices. Most forecasts are for prices … Read more

Live: Super Rugby Pacific- Fijian Drua v Hurricanes at Churchill Park

Source: Radio New Zealand Photosport The Hurricanes are looking to make it two from two against Pacific teams, as they head to Lautoka to play the Fijian Drua on Saturday afternoon. Callum Harkin will start at first-five for the Wellington-based outfit, while the Drua are still chasing their first win of the Super Rugby Pacific … Read more

Defence in Whangārei murder trial closes, arguing Anaru Morunga had an ‘imaginative grip on reality’

Source: Radio New Zealand Anaru Morunga is on trial for the alleged murder of his ex-partner and the mother of his two children, Jasmaine Reihana. NZME/SUPPLED Warning: This article discusses graphic violence and may be upsetting to some readers. After two weeks of silence, the defence in a murder trial finally rose and shifted the … Read more

Watch: Rocket Lab blasts off on hypersonic mission for US Department of War

Source: Radio New Zealand ‘That’s Not A Knife’ on the launch pad at LC-2. Supplied / Rocket Lab New Zealand-founded company Rocket Lab has successfully launched its latest space mission for the US Department of War. The HASTE rocket, called ‘That’s Not A Knife’, lifted off from Wallops Island in Virginia in the US at … Read more