Holiday spending contributes to 0.9 percent increase in retail sales – Retail trade survey: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ news story and information release

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Source: Statistics New Zealand Holiday spending contributes to 0.9 percent increase in retail sales – news story 23 February 2026 The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand increased by $239 million (0.9 percent) in the December 2025 quarter compared with the September 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Figures are … Read more

SICPA secures major European award for UK Vaping Duty Stamps Program

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Source: Media Outreach Swiss technology company SICPA secured a landmark traceability contract, in partnership with Spectra Systems Corporation’s subsidiary, Cartor Security Printers (Cartor), reinforcing its global leadership in secure track and trace (T&T) technology. The program will deliver robust traceability solutions to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for vape products in the United Kingdom. … Read more

Esperanza Securities Introduces the First SFC-permitted Tokenized Investment for Live Entertainment in Asia Pacific

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Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – Esperanza Fintech (Securities) Limited (“Esperanza Securities“, or “Company“) announced today that, following the granting of the formal permission on its tokenized investment business by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (“SFC“) on 13 February 2026, the Company is … Read more

The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops: Asia Pacific’s Notable Winners

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Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – The second edition of THE WORLD’S 100 BEST COFFEE SHOPS 2026 with DaVinci Gourmet announced its global rankings at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026, revealing a reshaped coffee landscape for the Asia Pacific region. This definitive list of the world’s best specialty coffee shops … Read more

Witnesses sought after pedestrian killed in Te Anau hit and run

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER Police are appealing for public help after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a car and the driver left the scene. It happened in Te Anau at about 8.45am outside a business in the town centre. Police want to speak with the driver, and want to … Read more

Government advises Kiwis in Mexico to monitor updates after security and travel disruptions

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Source: Radio New Zealand Passengers remain stranded at Guadalajara International Airport following flight suspensions and lack of transport in Tlajomulco, Jalisco State, Mexico, on February 22, 2026. ULISES RUIZ/AFP The government is urging New Zealanders in Mexico to monitor updates and follow the advice of local authorities after the death of a mexican drug lord … Read more

‘It has been a very invisible service’ – district nurses struggle with understaffing

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Source: Radio New Zealand District nurses who have done the job for decades say understaffing is the worst it has ever been. File photo. 123rf.com Waikato district nurses are at the end of their tether, as demand for their services soars. District nurses – who provide care for patients in the community rather than in … Read more

New teen farmers get a shedful of sheep to learn the ropes

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Source: Radio New Zealand Taiwhakaea Osborne is in the second year of the Pāmu scheme. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham Teenage farmers are getting put through their paces in a new scheme helping youngsters enter the industry. Government-owned company Pāmu has 19 apprentices learning the ropes at its farms, which many will go on to work … Read more

Tim Hortons® Singapore Marks Major Milestone with Official MUIS Halal Certification Ahead of the Festive Season

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Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – Tim Hortons® Singapore is pleased to announce that it has officially received Halal certification from the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) across all its existing restaurants islandwide. This significant milestone arrives at a momentous time, as the brand prepares to join the … Read more

Update: Serious crash, Te Anau Town Centre, Southland

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Source: New Zealand Police Police can confirm a person has sadly died following a serious crash involving a car and a pedestrian in Te Anau today about 8.45am. Police investigating the crash are seeking help from the public.  The driver of the vehicle involved left the scene, and police would now like to speak to … Read more

Companies could favour road as KiwiRail assets face decline

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Source: Radio New Zealand KiwiRail has to meet budget cuts of $200 million over the next three years. Supplied by Kiwirail Companies sending goods up and down the country’s railways could begin to favour road transport as KiwiRail manages declining assets, an expert says. KiwiRail is focusing on upgrades and electrification in Auckland, Hamilton and … Read more

Wellington business losing thousands after sewage leak restrictions

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Source: Radio New Zealand The no go zones include Ōwhiro and Island bays. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A business owner who has lost tens of thousands of dollars due to Wellington’s sewage leak wants a more targeted rāhui so beach users can return to parts of the coast that are currently off limits. The city’s … Read more

Students struggling to find part-time work

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Source: Radio New Zealand There have been eight times more applications than jobs on Student Job Search. 123rf Student Job Search says the number of students trying to find work is heartbreaking. The government-funded employment organisation has seen thousands more applications than it has vacancies on offer. In January, it had 4600 jobs listed and … Read more

Muriwai residents describe escape from Cyclone Gabrielle landslides

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Source: Radio New Zealand Slips at Muriwai following Cyclone Gabrielle. RNZ / Finn Blackwell Residents of Auckland’s Muriwai have described their frantic escape from landslides during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. A coronial inquest is investigating the deaths of volunteer firefighters Craig Stevens and Dave van Zwanenberg after they were critically injured in a landslip. The … Read more

Historic war medals found during search, police looking for owners

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Source: Radio New Zealand The medals include a 1939-1945 star, an Atlantic star, a Burma star, and the 1939-1945 war medal. SUPPLIED/POLICE Police have recovered four historic war medals during a search at a Palmerston North address and are now looking to find the owners. The medals were found during a search at an address … Read more

Rough sleepers need homes, not handcuffs – Amnesty International

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Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand 23 February 2026 – Public spaces are vital to how we collectively live together and govern ourselves. They are where we connect, where we participate in society, where we ask decision-makers to take action, where we catch up, or shop or take our daily walk. They are spaces we all have … Read more

Police staff leave jobs after investigations into inappropriate content

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Source: Radio New Zealand Ten police staff remain under investigation. 123rf.com Three police staff have left their jobs following investigations in relation to “misuse and inappropriate content”. RNZ earlier revealed 20 police staff were being investigated, three of whom were facing criminal investigations. In total, six staff had been stood down. The staff were identified … Read more

Joint statement on AI Generated Imagery

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Source: Privacy Commissioner 23 Feb 2026, 16:33 AI systems generating realistic images and videos depicting identifiable individuals without their knowledge and consent has led to the New Zealand Office of the Privacy Commissioner co-signing a joint statement on the issue. The concerns about these technologies include the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery and potential harms … Read more

Retail spending stronger than expected at end of last year

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Source: Radio New Zealand Sales in hardware, building, and garden supplies rose in the final quarter of last year. Retail sales volumes up 0.9 percent in December quarter on previous quarter, up 4.4 percent on year ago Strongest sales seen in electronics, DIY and garden supplies Twelve of 15 store types report higher sales, 12 … Read more

NZDF monitoring fuel sheen reported near Manawanui wreck

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Source: Radio New Zealand UAS footage of RNZN Divers surveying the area around HMNZS Manawanui on the Southern Coast of Upulo as part of Op Resolution. New Zealand Defence Force New Zealand’s Defence Force is continuing to monitor the wreck of the sunken HMNZS Manawanui after a fuel sheen was reported off the south coast … Read more

Landscape restoration trust committed to addressing South Island’s “worst man-made environmental disaster”

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Source: Rata Foundation Ten years ago, South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust was established to help mitigate the spread of wilding conifers in the region. These invasive trees are now threatening a large area across the top of the South and spreading at an unprecedented rate, with significant environmental and economic implications. The threat centres on a … Read more

Northland News – Free goat pies for field days

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Source: Northland Regional Council Free mini goat pies will be on the menu at the Northland Regional Council (NRC) marquee at the upcoming Northland Field Days. About 20kg of goat meat sourced from Premium Game in Blenheim will be used by Whangārei’s Charlies Bakery to create pies which will be made available to visitors at the … Read more

SUDAN: Children killed on first day of Ramadan must spur urgent action to protect every child – Save the Children

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Source: Save the Children As families across Sudan marked the first day of Ramadan, children were reportedly among those killed in renewed violence, underscoring the urgent need for international action to protect children after nearly three years of war, Save the Children said. At least 18 people, including children, were killed on Wednesday when a drone … Read more

Employment Trends – Employers anticipate salary growth with renewed economic confidence – Robert Half

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Source: Robert Half  84% of Kiwi employers say the economic outlook in New Zealand will positively impact their approach to setting salaries for staff in the next 12 months.  The top 3 factors that affect a company’s willingness to increase a salary offer during candidate negotiations: people management responsibilities (38%), the candidate possesses highly specialised skills (37%), and filling an urgent hiring need (36%).  If they are unable … Read more

Lumen Technologies expands APAC cybersecurity capabilities in collaboration with Palo Alto Networks

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Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 February 2026 – Lumen Technologies has achieved the Palo Alto Networks NextWave Cortex XSIAM Select Specialisation Status in Singapore. This specialisation recognises partners who have demonstrated expertise in deploying and managing Cortex XSIAM, enabling them to help customers transform their security operations centres (SOCs). Lumen’s … Read more

Northland Regional Council media briefs 23/02/26

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Source: Northland Regional Council POPLAR AND WILLOW ORDERING AND FIELD DAYS Northland Regional Council’s (NRC’s) poplar and willow ordering season is now open. A contestable fund is available to subsidise the planting of poplars and willows for erosion control on highly erodible grazed land. Poplars and willows provide an effective solution to erosion. They are rapid … Read more

Runner Sam Ruthe rewrites the record books

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Source: Radio New Zealand Sam Ruthe’s run at the Potts Classic in January broke the under-17, U18, U19, and U20 national 800m records. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz Runner Sam Ruthe has officially rewritten the record book, as he now holds every under-20 accolade possible. Having already claimed record times from 800-5000m, there was one distance … Read more