Tauranga local captures photos of rare leatherback turtles

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  27 February 2026 Nathan Pettigrew, an avid wildlife photographer and naturalist, shared the images with DOC to help build understanding of the distribution and behaviour of the turtles in New Zealand waters. Nathan says he’s seen leatherbacks every year for the past six, but this time was different. “I was … Read more

Agenda for March 2026 Cancer Treatments advisory committee (CTAC) meeting

Source: PHARMAC Information on what the Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee (CTAC) will be considering at its upcoming meeting in March 2026. Applications Pertuzumab and trastuzumab for breast cancer Adjuvant treatment for early breast cancer The Committee will discuss an application for pertuzumab and trastuzumab to treat people with HER2-positive early breast cancer at high risk … Read more

14 new charges result from Manawatū Police operation

Source: New Zealand Police A number of people are before the courts facing new charges following an operation by Manawatū Police on 25 February. Operation Maxim is taking place across Central District and is focused on locating people wanted for a range of offending, including retail crime and bail breaches. Officers from Palmerston North, Horowhenua, … Read more

Arrest following assault, Ōpōtiki

Source: New Zealand Police Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Investigations Manager: A man is before the courts after assaulting a woman in Ōpōtiki overnight. Police were notified of the assault, that occurred on Ohiwa Harbour Road, at around 10:30pm. Area enquiries were made to locate the alleged … Read more

Fishers ‘living the funeral’ of low salmon, fish stocks in Rakaia River

Source: Radio New Zealand Greenpeace Aotearoa says its activists “altered” the Rakaia salmon statue, turning it into a cartoon dead fish in protest of the dairy industry’s environmental destruction, but the council says it was vandalised. Supplied For the first time in 40 years, no fish will be weighed in at Mid Canterbury’s Rakaia Fishing … Read more

Beach where Wellington mayor Andrew Little took dip now rated ‘unsuitable’ for swimming

Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington’s south coast beaches have been rated as unsuitable for swimming just two days after the city’s mayor went for a swim in Lyall Bay to show it was safe. The area had been off limits to beach goers since 4 February after the Moa Point sewage plant completely failed, sending … Read more

Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency received calls for 17 incidents during today’s NZPFU strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 17 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, Friday 27 February, the fourteenth time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action. Of the 17 incidents, 11 were in areas impacted by the strike. Nine of these were fire alarms … Read more

Third measles case confirmed this week, linked to overseas travel

Source: Radio New Zealand AFP / Science Photo Library A further measles case has been confirmed in Auckland, linked to overseas travel. It follows two cases reported on Tuesday. Health NZ said all three cases are being supported by the local public health service. A number of locations of interest have been reported in relation … Read more

Advocacy – Huge influx of aid urgently needed amid catastrophic conditions in Gaza – MSF

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Despite the 1 March 2026 deadline for 37 NGOs to leave the Occupied Palestinian Territory, MSF is committed to remaining to provide assistance. 27th February 2026: The international medical humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), is calling for a massive scale-up of lifesaving assistance and unhindered … Read more

Appeal for information following road-rage assault, Hamilton

Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Detective Alistair Hill, Hamilton City CIB:  Hamilton Police are appealing for information following a road-rage assault that has left a person in serious condition, today. Police were called around 9am with a report that a person had been assaulted at the intersection of Massey Street and Korimako Street, before … Read more

How police linked Malcolm Rewa to a rape in the ’80s

Source: Radio New Zealand Malcolm Rewa in court in 2019. POOL Warning: This story contains graphic details. Serial rapist and convicted killer Malcolm Rewa was linked to the rape of a 16-year-old from the 1980s after the victim went to police asking them to run DNA from her attack through their database. Rewa is serving … Read more

Review: The Testament of Ann Lee is a hypnotic and stirring

Source: Radio New Zealand In mid-18th Century Manchester, a devout Quaker named Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) – traumatised as a child by the sight of her parents having sex followed by the loss of her own four children before they turned one – finds herself in prison because of her faith. Mona Fastvold’s remarkable film … Read more

NZ Under 85kg team to bring All Blacks with them for return to Sri Lanka

Source: Radio New Zealand Players perform the Haka before the New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers, Race Course Grounds, Colombo. Lahiru Harshana / Action press New Zealand’s newest national rugby side has had their schedule locked in for 2026. The New Zealand Under 85kg team will repeat their historic visit to Sri Lanka, … Read more

Dalton Papali’i thrilled do join “exclusive” Blues century club

Source: Radio New Zealand Blues captain Dalton Papali’i in action against the Chiefs at Eden Park. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Dalton Papali’i says becoming the 11th player to bring up 100 games for the Blues is one of the biggest honours of his career. The Blues skipper will bring up the milestone in tonight’s Super Rugby Pacific … Read more

Education Ministry figures reveal teacher shortage worse than previous forecast

Source: Radio New Zealand The numbers were based on a “medium” estimate of teacher supply and demand. Unsplash/ Taylor Flowe Education Ministry figures show the shortage of secondary school teachers is much worse than previously forecast. The ministry today forecast a shortfall of 1220 secondary teachers this year and next, up from last year’s projection … Read more

Abatement notice issued over stench from Canterbury sewage treatment plant

Source: Radio New Zealand The Canterbury Regional Council has issued an abatement notice to the Christchurch City Council over the putrid stench coming from Bromley’s damaged sewage treatment plant. The plant was damaged by fire in 2021 and has since regularly caused a strong sewage smell to waft across eastern parts of the city. The … Read more

Auckland’s annual plan is out – tell us what you think

Source: Auckland Council Auckland Council’s plan for the year ahead is out for consultation now – and Aucklanders are encouraged to check it out. Every year the council consults with the community on its annual plan and, until 29 March 2026, Aucklanders are encouraged to give their feedback. Mayor Wayne Brown says the 2026-2027 budget … Read more

Six-month results: investing in Auckland’s future

Source: Auckland Council Auckland Council’s six-month results show sustained progress with infrastructure investment, transport improvements and enhanced community services. Released today, the Interim Report (covering the six months to 31 December 2025) highlighted the council’s consistent progress on its Long-term Plan 2024-2034 and the year two priorities (2025/2026).   Mayor Wayne Brown said the long-term … Read more

Kiwirail triples its half-year earnings as demand rises

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Kiwirail has nearly tripled its half-year earnings as it carried more freight. The state-owned rail operator’s operating surplus for the six months ended December was $73.4 million compared to $25.8m a year ago. Freight volumes increased 7 percent as there was an increase in demand and bulk … Read more

Vanuatu and Fiji on alert as tropical depression gains strength

Source: Radio New Zealand TD09F is currently located 90 kilometres southwest of the Vanuatu capital Port Vila. Zoom Earth Met services in Fiji and Vanuatu are closely monitoring a tropical depression forecast to become a cyclone on Friday afternoon. According to the Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre in Fiji, the centre of the system, designated TD09F, … Read more

Section of Motatapu Track rerouted after risks of slip growing identified

Source: Radio New Zealand DOC staff working on the rerouted section of the Motatapu Track Supplied/DOC A popular walking track linking Wānaka and Arrowtown has been moved to avoid a large slow-moving slip. The Department of Conservation said a routine assessment of a 400 metre slip near the Motatapu Track found it was at risk … Read more

Marlborough iwi Rangitāne o Wairau now responsible for Te Pokohiwi o Kupe

Source: Radio New Zealand Wairau Bar. RNZ / Samantha Gee A Marlborough iwi now has responsibility for managing a historic coastal site including the area of the first Polynesian settlement in Aotearoa. Te Pokohiwi o Kupe – or the Boulder Bank Site Historic Reserve – includes the Wairau Bar, where Wairau River meets the sea … Read more

Several children fall ill before “low readings” of chemical at Ashburton school

Source: Radio New Zealand St Joseph’s School in Ashburton. Google Maps Hazmat testing has revealed an unknown chemical at an Ashburton primary school after reports of children becoming unwell on Friday morning. Two people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries. Fire and Emergency sent three crews to St Joseph’s School just before 10am … Read more

Would you slap an ‘S’ sticker on Nan’s car?

Source: Radio New Zealand West Aucklander Boyd Steel has launched a blue “S” plate sticker, designed to signal there’s an older driver behind the wheel. He knows not for everyone would want it – after all, it’s voluntary. But for Steel, the reason is heartfelt. Driving around town, he’d often think about his nana — … Read more

Wellington pedestrian seriously hurt after being hit by bus

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A pedestrian has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after being hit by a bus in central Wellington. Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Willis Street at around 10am on Friday morning. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed the person was … Read more

Have benefit sanctions actually worked?

Source: Radio New Zealand The government introduced a traffic light system alongside financial and non-financial sanctions for beneficiaries who did not meet their obligations. RNZ / Quin Tauetau Benefit sanctions have not worked – probably largely because there are not enough jobs for beneficiaries to move into, one economist says. Rob Heyes, principal consultant at … Read more

Better outcomes for New Zealanders on ACC

Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is delivering its strongest rehabilitation performance in over a decade and getting New Zealanders back to work and independence faster, Minister for ACC Scott Simpson says. “For too long, New Zealanders have been languishing on ACC and not getting the support they need. That is … Read more