Country Life: Into the weeds and under the soil at the Underground Festival

Source: Radio New Zealand Anisha Satya for Country Life Underground Festival organiser Fran Bailey said the festival was about celebrating good produce, and the people behind it. RNZ/Anisha Satya Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s what’s underneath that matters at the Underground Festival. The soil, how … Read more

Country Life: Southland’s history of Scottish whisky

Source: Radio New Zealand Stills from up in the Hokonui Hills have been recreated. Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life From the highlands of Scotland to the hills surrounding Gore in Southland, Mary McRae’s legacy of distilling lives on at the Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery. Arriving on New Zealand shores in the 1870s, along with … Read more

Metlink fares to rise by 3.1 percent, off-peak discount drops again

Source: Radio New Zealand SUPPLIED / GWRC It will be more expensive to travel on Wellington’s public transport later this year. The Greater Wellington Regional Council voted on Thursday to hike Metlink’s base fare by 3.1 percent and slash the off-peak discount from 30 percent to 20 percent but the changes will start only after … Read more

Man left a paraplegic after Nelson hit-and-run wants to meet driver 30 years on

Source: Radio New Zealand Farid Ahmed was hit by a car 30 years ago. (File photo) AFP Almost three decades ago, Farid Ahmed was hit by a car while he was crossing Main Road Stoke to go to work, in Nelson. He was in his 30s, newly married and has no memory of the accident. … Read more

Live: NZ Warriors v Dolphins NRL pre-season trial

Source: Radio New Zealand NZ Warriors take on the Dolphins at Leichhardt Oval for their second NRL pre-season trial. Join us for live updates at 8pm. Squads Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Haizyn Mellars, 6. Luke Hanson, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9. Wayde Egan, … Read more

From saving cash to saving goals, Auckland FC’s new keeper ready to step up

Source: Radio New Zealand Jimmy Hilton is with Auckland FC in his first A-League contract. supplied Goalkeeper Jimmy Hilton knows the benefit of a win bonus and he is not wasting his first professional contract. Hilton arrived at Auckland FC this month after an SOS from the A-League club that was running out of fit … Read more

Live: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika – Super Rugby Pacific

Source: Radio New Zealand After sitting out round one with the bye, the Hurricanes will open their campaign in the capital on Friday night against a buoyant Moana side bringing Pasifika bragging rights back from Lautoka. Follow all the Super Rugby Pacific action from Sky Stadium in Wellington. Kick off is 7pm. Squads Hurricanes: 1 … Read more

Govt to use funds from Visitor Levy to restore fire-damaged parts of Tongariro National Park

Source: Radio New Zealand Two fires damaged around 3000 hectares of the park. Supplied/DOC The government will use $3.5 million from the International Visitor Levy to help restore fire-damaged parts of Tongariro National Park. Around 3000 hectares of the Park were destroyed in two separate fires at the end of 2025. Conservation minister Tama Potaka … Read more

Medical tourist fights for compensation, claiming surgery destroyed her stomach

Source: Radio New Zealand Manawatū woman to have stomach reconstruction surgery on Monday after botched overseas operation. Helen Watson went to Turkey for gastric sleeve surgery in September as it was cheaper than going private in New Zealand. She says she knew straight away the operation went wrong; the Turkish clinic Medicana denies fault. Watson’s … Read more

Dark web drug syndicate exposed during police investigation

Source: Radio New Zealand Approximately $500,000 in cash was seized during the search warrants. Supplied / NZ Police A long-running police investigation has exposed a syndicate operating a drug importation and distribution network through the dark web. Operation Solana, led by the National Organised Crime Group, had been ongoing for the last nine months looking … Read more

Police ask public for help to find missing North Shore woman

Source: Radio New Zealand Police are asking the public for help to find Katherine. Supplied/New Zealand Police Police are asking for help finding Katherine, who has been reported missing from the Auckland suburb of Glenfield. She has not contacted her family since Thursday, which is out of character for her. Police said she is known … Read more

Dark web drug syndicate exposed during police investigattion

Source: Radio New Zealand The group allegedly imported and distributed drugs across the country. (File photo) RNZ / REECE BAKER A long-running police investigation has exposed a syndicate operating a drug importation and distribution network through the dark web. Operation Solana, led by the National Organised Crime Group, had been ongoing for the last nine … Read more

Confusion over who is meant to deal with ongoing power cuts

Source: Radio New Zealand Damage from the storm to electricity networks was extensive. Wellington City Council Residents across the lower North Islandare getting increasingly frustrated with power providers and the lines company, with one 92-year-old forced to cart buckets of water to flush the toilet. Schools closed and power was cut to thousands when wild … Read more

Single lane of SH73 near Arthur’s Pass opens after crash between car and motorbike

Source: Radio New Zealand A crash has closed Arthur’s Pass. Screenshot/Google Maps A single lane of State Highway 73 near Arthur’s Pass has reopened after a serious crash between a car and a motorbike. The crash happened near the intersection with Cora Lynn Road at about 1pm. Motorists will be required to stop on demand, … Read more

Reserve Bank governor warns businesses against passing on higher costs

Source: Radio New Zealand Reserve Bank governor Anna Breman. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Reserve Bank governor has warned businesses against trying to pass higher prices on to households. Anna Breman said inflation expectations have been rising among economic forecasters and businesses – something she is not happy about. Speaking at Business Canterbury in Christchurch … Read more

Major bank cuts home loan rates

Source: Radio New Zealand The Reserve Bank indicated it expected to raise interest rates a little faster and earlier than previously forecast. fantasista/123RF Westpac says it is cutting its three-, four- and five-year home loan rates. It is the first bank to move after the latest official cash rate (OCR) announcement. The Reserve Bank indicated … Read more

Dolphin carrying dead calf seen in marine sanctuary

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  20 February 2026 A marine tour operator first saw the dolphin on Wednesday this week, and it has been observed several times since by DOC and members of the public. DOC’s Senior Marine Species Team Advisor Dave Lundquist says while it is heart breaking to see, this is natural dolphin … Read more

Have you seen Katherine?

Source: New Zealand Police Police are asking for the public’s help finding Katherine, who has been reported missing from Glenfield. Katherine, 45, has not contacted her family since yesterday, which is out of character for her. Katherine is known to frequent the wider Glenfield area, however often visits Churches around Auckland when not on the … Read more

Economy – RBNZ Governor Anna Breman: Monetary policy must focus on the future

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 20 February 2026 – “To achieve our inflation target, we need to look ahead to the future, while learning from the past and understanding the present”, said Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman in a speech at a Business Canterbury lunch today.   “It takes time for the Official Cash Rate … Read more

Watch: Fire tears through pavilion at Auckland’s Northcote College during firefighters strike

Source: Radio New Zealand Parts of Auckland’s Northcote College have been destroyed in a fire which broke out during a firefighters strike. Fire and Emergency NZ said they were called to the school about 12.15pm on Friday. Smoke could be seen from the Harbour Bridge, billowing from the school’s sports pavillion, a large wooden hall … Read more

$3.5m boost to restore fire-damaged Tongariro

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is investing $3.5 million in the restoration of 3000-plus hectares of Tongariro National Park destroyed by two major fires last year, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Tongariro is a Dual World Heritage site, a taonga, and a cornerstone of the Ruapehu District economy. The fires have damaged biodiversity, disrupted … Read more

How Reuters captured the photo of former prince Andrew leaving custody

Source: Radio New Zealand The photo, taken by Reuters photographer Phil Noble, went viral when it was published. Screenshot / BBC Slumped in the back seat of his Range Rover, a visibly shaken man once referred to as the “Playboy Prince” stares ahead of him as the car leaves Aylsham police station in Norfolk, England. … Read more

Union hits back at NZ First over Employment Relations Amendment Bill

Source: Radio New Zealand PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A union has hit back at claims by New Zealand First it could have changed the law removing the right for contractors to challenge their employment status. “How dare Winston Peters claim unions were too slow when they contacted his party last … Read more

Seven drugged drivers fined since roadside testing began

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. RNZ / Richard Tindiller Police say they have tested more than 300 people and issued seven infringements since roadside drug testing was introduced in the Wellington region two months ago. On 18 December last year, police began screening drivers in and around the capital for cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA and … Read more

Op Solana: Police operation shines light on drug syndicate

Source: New Zealand Police A long-running Police investigation has exposed a New Zealand syndicate operating a drug importation and country-wide distribution network through the dark web. Operation Solana, led by the National Organised Crime Group, dialled in on the illegal activities over the past nine months, involving importing and distributing substances such as methamphetamine, cocaine, … Read more

Man charged over death of Dax Holland

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. RNZ / Marika Khabazi A 24-year-old has been charged with murder after a body was found at a park in the Western Bay of Plenty nearly a week ago. Dax Holland, 54, was found dead at Warepai Domain last Saturday. Detective Senior Sergeant Natalie Flowerdew-Brown said police still wanted … Read more

Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Euphoria’ star, dead at 53

Source: Radio New Zealand Eric Dane, the handsome and hunky actor who steamed up primetime TV on Grey’s Anatomy at the height of the show’s popularity, has died, according to his publicist. He was 53. “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. He spent … Read more