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

Shortfalls in driver licensing for trucks highlighted in review

Source: Radio New Zealand Increasing demand for truck licenses is putting pressure on testers, according to the review. File photo siwakorn / 123RF A review of driver licensing for trucks and other heavy vehicles has found persisting weaknesses in regulatory practice. The internal review – conducted in 2024 – was released to media today through … Read more

Hipkins accuses 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

Dogs in fatal Kaihu attack had gone after other animals

Source: Radio New Zealand Police at the scene of the fatal attack. RNZ The dogs that killed a woman in Northland yesterday came onto a neighbour’s property recently and pack attacked their dog. The Kaihu local says it was “really quite frightening” living near the animals. Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was visiting a person she … Read more

Infrastructure Commission clarifies suggestion of Auckland Harbour Bridge toll

Source: Radio New Zealand Tom Kitchin The Infrastructure Commission has moved to clarify its suggestion around tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge, with the government considering whether a toll will help pay for a new Waitematā Harbour crossing. The government has been at pains to stress no decisions have been made around tolling the existing bridge, … Read more

Crucial SH35 connection restored

Source: New Zealand Government State Highway 35 will once more connect Tairāwhiti to eastern Bay of Plenty, when it reopens at 7am tomorrow, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. It’s been three weeks since heavy rainfall and flooding caused slips above and below the road, closing the road between Pōtaka and Te Araroa isolating the communities … Read more

Southland Police continue search for missing man Kevin Belling

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Detective Sergeant John Kean: The search for missing 62-year-old Kevin Belling continues as Southland Police conduct searches in waterways in the Motu Rimu area. Kevin was last seen at his Motu Rimu farm on Friday 9 January and was reported missing on 18 January. Police Search and Rescue and … Read more

Super Rugby Preview: Seven Moana debutants, Barrett back, duel derbies await

Source: Radio New Zealand Jordie Barrett is back in the capital and will start in the midfield against Moana. Photosport The Hurricanes have entered the chat. After sitting out round one with the bye, the Canes will open their campaign in the capital on Friday night against a buoyant Moana side bringing Pasifika bragging rights … Read more

CRL to lift tourism and major events in Auckland

Source: Auckland Council Auckland competes in a highly dynamic global market for tourists and major events. The City Rail Link (CRL) is tipped to give the city a new edge in both arenas.  Annie Dundas, Director Destination for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, says greater ease of access enabled by the CRL will support the agency’s aims. … Read more

Economy – There’s still time to assess the effects of prior OCR cuts – Cotality

Source: Cotality – Commentary by Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson As widely expected, the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, under new Governor Anna Breman, held the official cash rate unchanged at 2.25% today. This was firmly in line with the forward guidance from the previous meeting in November and it reflects the expectation that spare capacity … Read more

Next stop for the Northwest Busway

Source: New Zealand Government NZTA has applied for statutory approvals for the Northwest Busway project under the Fast‑track Approvals Act (FTAA), marking a major milestone for a project that will deliver faster, more frequent and more reliable public transport for Auckland’s growing northwest, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop.  “The project, similar to the successful Northern Busway, will provide … Read more

University Research – Lab discovery offers hope for lymphoedema – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA A newly discovered molecule shows promise for treating painful lymphoedema. Scientists have made a breakthrough that could lead to effective treatments for lymphoedema, a painful swelling condition for which there is currently no cure. Lymphoedema can be congenital or caused by an injury, but it mostly occurs as an … Read more

Outgoing Netball NZ chairperson denies any pressure to step down

Source: Radio New Zealand AAP / www.photosport.nz The outgoing Netball New Zealand chairperson says changes at the top will help inject new energy into a sport that is facing significant challenges. The national body last night confirmed that chairperson Matt Whineray and three appointed board members had decided to step down. It followed the resignation … Read more

Plans to deliver food and meds to more than 100 people trapped near Ngawi in Wairarapa

Source: Radio New Zealand Residents are also concerned about a second bridge undermined by floodwaters at Hurupi Stream. Supplied / Sharon Durrant Plans are underway to deliver food and increasingly urgent medical supplies to more than 100 people trapped near Ngawi on Wairarapa’s southern coastline. Two bridges are out of action on the only roads … Read more

Prices continue to rise at global dairy trade auction

Source: Radio New Zealand The price rises at the latest global diary trade auction have been described as a “very good result” for New Zealand dairy farmers. 123RF Dairy prices rose again at the global dairy trade auction overnight – continuing a reversal of last year’s downward swing and raising questions about whether a $10 … Read more

Cyclists thigh-deep in water days after rain

Source: Radio New Zealand The Petone railway underpass on a nearly-new $70 million cycleway is thigh-deep in water more than two days after the storm and heavy rain in Wellington. Surprised cyclists on Wednesday morning entered the 30m-long tunnel under the main Hutt Valley rail line with just their tyres underwater, but ended up with … Read more

Wellington Water stops pumping raw sewage directly into Tarakena Bay

Source: Radio New Zealand Untreated water leaked onto the capital’s south coast beaches due to the Moa Point Treatment Plant flooding. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Wellington Water has stopped pumping raw sewage through a five metre pipe directly into the sea at Tarakena Bay. The 1.8 kilometre long pipe into Cook Strait was overwhelmed during … Read more

New military health centre opens at Burnham

Source: New Zealand Government A first-of-its-kind health and rehabilitation centre has opened at Burnham Military Camp to support the health, wellbeing and operational readiness of New Zealand Defence Force personnel.  “Kiwis who put on the uniform put their lives on the line to defend and protect New Zealand and its people. They deserve the best support possible to … Read more

Major outage on YouTube website

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Thousands of users worldwide are experiencing an outage on YouTube’s website with a “something went wrong” sign coming up on its homepage. It appears that embedded YouTube clips are still playing, however the YouTube website is inaccessible. There had been more than 200,000 reports of problems on the website, according … Read more

Actor arrested after Mardi Gras fight

Source: Radio New Zealand Shia LaBeouf was arrested just after midnight on Tuesday (local time) in New Orleans where police said the 39-year-old Transformers film star assaulted two men in a fight during Mardi Gras. The actor has previously faced a series of arrests and legal issues, including pleading guilty to a charge of obstruction. … Read more

Woman killed by dogs in Kaihu named as Mihiata Te Rore

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Police have identified Mihiata Te Rore as the woman killed by dogs north of Dargaville yesterday. The 62-year-old was killed while on a Kaihu property just before midday. Police say the three dogs involved live on the property, and are now with Animal Management. Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer says … Read more

Advocacy – Up to 50 New Zealanders are fighting Israel’s genocide in Gaza – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa – PSNA   PSNA is calling for government accountability to stop and punish New Zealanders going to fight in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.   A UK report by Classified, from official Israeli sources, shows 39 dual New Zealand/Israeli citizens, and 11 others with more than one additional passport, are serving … Read more

Tamariki are still no safer now than when Malachi died – 24 more child deaths at hands of carers

Source: Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor A second review by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor, on the implementation of the recommendations made by Dame Karen Poutasi following the death of Malachi Subecz has found tamariki (children) are still no safer now than when Malachi died. The review, Towards a stronger safety net to … Read more

Oversight agencies call for faster change to keep children safe following second review by Independent Children’s Monitor

Source: Independent Children’s Monitor, and Children’s Commissioner and Ombudsman Oversight agencies are calling on government agencies in the children’s system to act faster in the wake of a report published today which has found children are still no safer than when Malachi Subecz was killed by his carer in 2021. Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s … Read more

Economy – OCR on hold at 2.25% with inflation expected to fall – Reserve Bank of NZ

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 18 February 2026 – Annual consumers price inflation was slightly above the Monetary Policy Committee’s 1 to 3 percent target band at the end of 2025. Increases in food and electricity prices and local council rates were the biggest contributors to above-target inflation. The economy is at an early stage … Read more

Police investigation continues into Kaihu dog attack

Source: New Zealand Police Police are continuing to investigate a woman’s death in Kaihu after she was attacked by dogs yesterday. Emergency services responded to the rural address off State Highway 12 at about 11.25am on 17 February. Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, Whangārei CIB, says: “This was a very upsetting and tragic event in … Read more

Police seek help after Mount Maunganui landslide cordon breaches

Source: Radio New Zealand Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the people in the images provided, who police believe can help with enquiries into a breach of the Mount Maunganui landslide cordon. SUPPLIED/POLICE Bay of Plenty Police are asking for the public’s help to identify three people they believe can help with enquiries … Read more