State Highway 35 to partially reopen after landslides led to weeks-long closure

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / NZTA State Highway 35 is set to reopen, once more connecting Tairāwhiti to the eastern Bay of Plenty. It has been three weeks since heavy rainfall and flooding brought down multiple slips, closing the road between Pōtaka and Te Araroa. Transport Minister Chris Bishop said a quarter of a … Read more

Food helicoptered to more than 200 South Wairarapa residents cut off by road

Source: Radio New Zealand Repaired Lake Ferry Road at Turanganui River bridge. Supplied The South Wairarapa District Council is delivering supplies by helicopter to more than 200 people still cut off on the southern coastline. The bridge to Lake Ferry was reopened Wednesday evening, freeing roughly 70 people who had been cut off by storms. … Read more

Eight months of job ad growth signals stronger 2026 start

Source: Radio New Zealand The increase showed the job market in 2026 was on “much stronger footing”, according to SEEK. (File photo) 123rf Job ads rose for the eighth month in a row in January, showing the job market was on a “much stronger footing” than a year ago, according to SEEK. The latest SEEK … Read more

Messy neighbours, planes overhead: What drops the value of your house?

Source: Radio New Zealand Property experts say there are a few things that can happen to influence a property’s value – some within the owner’s control and some not. RNZ House prices aren’t moving much in many parts of the country – but what could cause the value of your place to drop? Property experts … Read more

Olympics: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins silver at women’s Snowboard Slopestyle final

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski Synnott reacts in the snowboard women’s slopestyle final run 3 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park, in Livigno (Valtellina), on February 18, 2026. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has won silver in the women’s Snowboard Slopestyle event, in a final … Read more

Olympics: Dane Menzies misses out on medal in men’s Snowboard Slopestyle final

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand’s Dane Menzies falls as he competes in the snowboard men’s slopestyle final run 2 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park, in Livigno (Valtellina), on February 18, 2026. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP Dane Menzies has missed out on a medal in the Snowboard Slopestyle … Read more

Infinix NOTE 60 SERIES Brings Innovation with Interactive Design and Snapdragon Processor

Source: Media Outreach Designed as the next milestone in Infinix’s flagship journey, the NOTE 60 SERIES elevates the brand’s signature NOTE line with a sharper focus on flagship-class performance, expressive design, and immersive everyday experiences that go beyond expectations. HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 February 2026 – At its annual flagship … Read more

Live: Large police presence, reports of shots fired on suburban Christchurch street

Source: Radio New Zealand Police were at the scene on Hoani St in Christchurch’s Northcote. SAM SHERWOOD / RNZ Police have swarmed a Christchurch street after a reported home invasion where several people were injured. A reporter on the scene at Hoani Street in Northcote said there were multiple police cars and ambulances on the … Read more

Business price indexes: December 2025 quarter – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand Business price indexes: December 2025 quarter – information release 18 February 2026 Business price indexes (BPI) includes the producers price index (PPI), capital goods price index (CGPI), and farm expenses price index (FEPI). Key facts In the December 2025 quarter compared with the September 2025 quarter: the output producers price index (PPI) … Read more

Banks Peninsula farmers and businesses counting the cost of floods

Source: Radio New Zealand Banks Peninsula farmers and businesses are counting the cost of devastating flooding that swamped paddocks and swept through Little River. The peninsula remained under a state of emergency although State Highway 75 from Christchurch to Akaroa reopened on Wednesday afternoon and telecommunications were restored after widespread outages. About 120 properties remained … Read more

Large police presence, reports of shots fired on suburban Christchurch street

Source: Radio New Zealand Police were at the scene on Hoani St in Christchurch’s Northcote. SAM SHERWOOD / RNZ Police have swarmed a Christchurch street after a reported home invasion where several people were injured. A reporter on the scene at Hoani Street in Northcote said there were multiple police cars and ambulances on the … Read more

A ‘huge crash’: Wellington family evacuates property after branch hits roof during storm

Source: Radio New Zealand A Wellington family has been forced out of their home after a large branch flattened their roof in this week’s vicious storm. William Ray, an RNZ employee and Johnsonville resident, said his family were lucky to leave when they did, with the branch now precariously leaning against his house. Ray said … Read more

comforte AG and ITSS Global Launch Solution to Minimize Sensitive Data Exposure for Temenos Transact Banks

Source: Media Outreach New integration adds data-centric protection to Temenos Transact, streamlining compliance, secure modernization, and AI analytics. WIESBADEN, GERMANY – EQS Newswire – 18 February 2026 – comforte AG, a global leader in data-centric security, and ITSS Global, a premier Temenos delivery partner, have announced a collaboration to help retail, commercial and private banks … Read more

Is Mount Victoria tunnel ‘all go’, or still under consideration?

Source: Radio New Zealand Artist’s visualisation of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington. NZTA / Waka Kotahi The Transport Minister says holding off on a second Mount Victoria tunnel is something under consideration, if congestion charging shows it is not needed. But the Finance Minister insists the project is “all go,” with work already … Read more

Unclear how takeover of Moa Point wastewater plant by new water entity will work

Source: Radio New Zealand Moa Point Wastewater Plant. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The head of Wellington’s new water entity says it’s still unclear how its takeover of the barely-functional Moa Point wastewater treatment plant will work. Tiaki Wai replaces Wellington Water from 1 July, inheriting council-owned water assets including the Moa Point plant. For two … Read more

Government scraps plans for referendum on four-year term

Source: Radio New Zealand Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. RNZ / Mark Papalii The government has scrapped plans for a referendum on a four-year Parliamentary term. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the coalition agreements secured getting legislation to select committee and no further. “We won’t be progressing with a referendum on a four-year term at this … Read more

Nepal’s government looks to tighten the rules around who can climb Mt Everest

Source: Radio New Zealand Nepal’s government is looking at rules to ensure that only experienced climbers can climb Mount Everest. credit: Nirmal Purja A Wanaka-based adventure consultant says she agrees that anyone wanting to climb Mount Everest should have previously summited a 7000 metre high mountain at least once. Nepal’s government is considering the new … Read more

Spark sees 83% increase in net profit to $64 million in six months to December

Source: Radio New Zealand Spark saw a net after tax profit of $64 million for the six months ended December. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson Telecommunications company Spark’s mobile and broadband businesses delivered slight revenue growth over the first half, contributing to an 83 percent increase in net profit. “The first half of FY26 has … Read more

New Zealand Climate Change Ambassador appointed

Source: New Zealand Government Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has announced the appointment of Stuart Calman as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador. “I am pleased to welcome Stuart to this role, given his expertise in foreign policy, trade and development, along with strong climate policy experience,” Mr Watts says. “Stuart brings an excellent understanding of … Read more

A ‘huge crash’: Wellington family evacuates property after huge branch hits roof during storm

Source: Radio New Zealand A Wellington family has been forced out of their home after a large branch flattened their roof in this week’s vicious storm. William Ray, an RNZ employee and Johnsonville resident, said his family were lucky to leave when they did, with the branch now precariously leaning against his house. Ray said … Read more

As it happened: Evacuations as landslip narrowly misses homes in Dunedin

Source: Radio New Zealand State Highway 75 connecting Christchurch to Akaroa reopened on Wednesday. The New Zealand Transport Agency said road users would need to take care and prepare for temporary restrictions, but the flooding and slips had been cleared. Banks Peninsula was pelted by ten times the monthly average rainfall in the last 48 … Read more

Firearms seized in ongoing investigation

Source: New Zealand Police Police have recovered a cache of weaponry as part of an ongoing investigation into a family harm event. Counties Manukau West Police responded to Māngere address on Sunday afternoon. “A disagreement between family members occurred, when a firearm was allegedly presented by one member,” Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey … Read more

NZ Warrior seek improvement in second NRL pre-season trial against Dolphins

Source: Radio New Zealand Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi scores a pre-season try for the Warriors against Manly. Kerry Marshall/Photosport NRL pre-season: Warriors v Dolphins Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 20 February Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ Still smarting from a subpar performance in their first pre-season hitout, NZ Warriors will seek a drastic improvement, when they … Read more

Fatal dog mauling: Animal control staff visited property day before attack

Source: Radio New Zealand Police at the scene of the fatal attack. RNZ Animal control officers visited the property where Mihiata Te Rore was mauled to death four times, including the day before the attack. Te Rore, 62, was visiting a person she knew at a property in the small Northland town of Kaihu when … Read more

Police search farm effluent ponds and waterways of missing Southland man Kevin Belling

Source: Radio New Zealand Invercargill man Kevin Belling, 62, was last seen at his Motu Rimu farm on Friday 9 January. Supplied / NZ Police Effluent ponds and other waterways on the farm of a missing Southland man are now being searched by the police. Kevin Belling, 62, was last seen at his Motu Rimu … Read more

Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament

Source: Radio New Zealand NZ First leader singled out a Green MP for his Rarotongan heritage, which Labour leader Chris Hipkins says was “pure racism”. RNZ Winston Peters has been accused of “pure racism” in Parliament by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has called out National ministers for failing to combat or challenge it. The … Read more

Burglar bungles getaway, faces court

Source: New Zealand Police An offender left himself seeing red, after a dangerous dash through red lights foiled his getaway from a burglary. The man came to Police attention in Newmarket just after 10am on Tuesday. “A camera operator based in Newmarket observed a ute running through several red lights and travelling on the wrong … Read more