Teaching Council fell short in managing conflicts of interest, investigation finds

Source: Radio New Zealand The Public Service Commission has published its investigation into the Teaching Council’s procurement and conflicts of interest management. RNZ / Richard Tindiller The Public Service Commission says the Teaching Council fell well short of public sector standards in its management of procurement and conflicts of interest. The commission has published its … Read more

New Zealand’s first national infrastructure plan unveiled

Source: Radio New Zealand Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. RNZ / Nathan McKinnon The Infrastructure Commission has released the country’s first National Infrastructure Plan Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop requested the plan and is pushing for cross-party buy-in The plan sets out 16 recommendations, and 10 priorities for the next decade The country’s first National Infrastructure Plan … Read more

Police chase down bike after shoplifting

Source: New Zealand Police Foot power triumphed over pedal power, as one offender in a shoplifting failed to give Police the slip. Three people are facing a list of charges after the violent shoplifting unfolded in Rānui yesterday afternoon. Inspector Jason Edwards, Relieving Waitematā West Area Commander, says two men and a woman entered the … Read more

Teaching Council reviews highlight need for change

Source: New Zealand Government Education Minister Erica Stanford is highlighting the clear, critical need for major change within the Teaching Council following the significant and serious findings of two recent, external reviews.  “The findings of recent reports on issues within the Teaching Council are some of the most serious that I have seen. The reports … Read more

Members of Gas Security Fund panel named

Source: New Zealand Government Gas and energy industry specialist Andy Knight has been named as chair of the expert panel appointed to advise the Government on projects applying to the $200 million Gas Security Fund, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “Mr Knight’s depth and breadth of experience in gas industry regulation and … Read more

IHC – New Zealanders with intellectual disability marginalised and forgotten

Source: IHC New Zealand Once again, new research delivers a stark reality check on the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders with intellectual disability. IHC’s latest report From Data to Dignity 2026: Health and Wellbeing Indicators for New Zealanders with Intellectual Disability  uses government data to show how inequities for New Zealanders with intellectual disability remain largely unchanged … Read more

Greenpeace – 78% of NZers want bottom trawling banned as Govt pushes to catch more coral in South Pacific

Source: Greenpeace New polling shows overwhelming support from New Zealanders for a ban on bottom trawling in the South Pacific high seas, says Greenpeace. The Horizon polling, commissioned at the end of 2025, reveals that 78% of New Zealanders (representative of 3 million adults) want the ban in the high seas area – where New Zealand … Read more

Insurance premiums soar, but big savings can still be made – Consumer NZ

Source: Consumer NZ Consumer NZ says significant savings are on the table for some people as house insurance premiums rise sharply in a few cities and drop in others. Consumer NZ’s latest house and contents premium survey found relief in insurance prices in Auckland, while prices in Wellington and Christchurch continue to rocket. “Our research … Read more

Mining Council – Innovation must be allowed to build our future

Source: New Zealand Minerals Council New planning and environmental law must leave room for innovation if we are to achieve change in New Zealand and build a country for the future, says New Zealand Minerals Council chief executive Josie Vidal. “On the face of it, the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill are an improvement on … Read more

Pharmacists vote to accept Health NZ pay offer

Source: Radio New Zealand The agreement covers pay and conditions for pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and technicians. 123RF Pharmacists and Health New Zealand have reached an agreement on pay and conditions, with members of the union voting to accept HNZ’s latest offer. Pharmacy Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX) members – which include pharmacists, pharmacy … Read more

Legislation – Plan sets path for New Zealand’s infrastructure over the next 30 years

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission has released a National Infrastructure Plan setting out a practical, affordable pathway to deliver the infrastructure New Zealanders need to thrive over the next 30 years. “While the Plan looks at the long term, it’s clear that we need to take action now. Weather events and … Read more

National Infrastructure Plan Delivered

Source: New Zealand Government Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop today welcomed the release of the National Infrastructure Plan and tabled it in Parliament. “New Zealand’s future prosperity depends on high quality infrastructure. It is central to our quality of life and to the Government’s “Going for Growth” agenda,” Mr Bishop says. “Delivering and maintaining better infrastructure is … Read more

Arrest over fire that gutted Waitākere BMX club

Source: Radio New Zealand Police arrested a 15-year-old who has been referred to Youth Aid. RNZ / Marika Khabazi A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in relation to a fire that gutted a west Auckland BMX club last year. The canteen at Waitākere BMX club on Glen Road in Rānui was destroyed late November. Police … Read more

Doctors, nurses at South Island hospitals plagued by IT issues

Source: Radio New Zealand The latest issues follow at least four major IT outages at public hospitals last month. RNZ Doctors and nurses at South Island hospitals have been struggling with clinical documents not being displayed or not being saved. Health NZ on Monday issued a critical priority notice about service degradation of its electronic … Read more

Supreme Halberg Award winner Hamish Kerr sets sights on world record

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand high jumper Hamish Kerr is the Supreme Winner at The 63rd Halberg Awards. 2026. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Supreme Halberg Award winner Hamish Kerr has set himself some lofty goals to achieve over the next few years and it includes a tilt at the world record. Kerr won the New Zealand … Read more

T20 cricket World Cup: Black Caps chasing place in Super Eight stage

Source: Radio New Zealand Black Caps batter Glenn Phillips www.photosport.nz The Black Caps can secure their place in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup with victory over Canada tonight and shouldn’t have too many problems achieving it. However, there remains some concern about how the New Zealand side will perform against the … Read more

Insurance price drop for some households – as other struggle to get it at all

Source: Radio New Zealand The median price for insurance for a large house in Auckland had dropped 11 percent year-on-year, Consumer NZ said. RNZ *Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify AA Insurance’s policy Aucklanders may finally be getting some relief on their insurance premiums – but the same cannot be said for Wellington … Read more

Late night drive ends in charges

Source: New Zealand Police A simple traffic stop uncovered a cache of drugs and cash on Monday night in Millwater. Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, Waitematā North Area Response Manager says a Police unit was patrolling the North Auckland suburb around midnight, when they spotted a suspicious looking vehicle. “Once stopped, officers approached the vehicle and … Read more

Storms destroy Horowhenua grower’s long berry tunnels

Source: Radio New Zealand Twisted steel and roofless berry tunnels following the storms. SUPPLIED/CAM LEWIS Storms across the North Island have destroyed a Horowhenua grower’s large berry tunnels, but power to the milking shed has since returned. Severe weather over the weekend thrust five North Island districts into states of emergency; Manawatū, Rangitīkei, Tararua, Waipā … Read more

Washout at single lane bridge cuts off several settlements in southern Wairarapa

Source: Radio New Zealand The single-lane bridge to Lake Ferry, Wairarapa, has been gouged out by floodwaters. Supplied / South Wairarapa District Council A washout at a single lane bridge has completely cut off several settlements in southern Wairarapa, including Lake Ferry and Cape Palliser. Torrential rain, which began on Sunday night, caused widespread flooding … Read more

Charges laid over BMX club arson

Source: New Zealand Police Police investigating an arson that destroyed over $50,000 worth of property at a Rānui sports club last year have made an arrest. Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting says the fire was allegedly purposely lit in a rubbish bin, which was leaning up against the Birdwood Road BMX club’s canteen. “This fire … Read more

Farmer rescues sheep stranded in Banks Peninsula floodwaters

Source: Radio New Zealand Farm assistant wades in to rescue stranded sheep after huge downpours at Teddington, Banks Peninsula. Supplied A Banks Peninsula farm worker had to swim stranded sheep to safety after huge downpours at Teddington. More than 280mm of rain has fallen on parts of the Banks Peninsula from Sunday night to Tuesday … Read more

Young Vintner recognition supports next step for EIT wine student

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology 40 seconds ago EIT Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science student Ngaun Siau is preparing for a vintage placement at Craggy Range and an associate judging role at this year’s Hawke’s Bay Wine Awards. The 27-year-old was awarded the Craggy Range Young Vintner Scholarship and Best Student Wine for her … Read more

Logan Paul’s ‘holy grail’ of Pokémon cards sells for $27.3 million

Source: Radio New Zealand Five years ago, Logan Paul set a world record when he purchased a Pokémon card for US$5.275 million (NZ$8.74 million). It proved a sound investment – the influencer and wrestler sold that card for a jaw-dropping $16.492 million (NZ$27.3 million), with a diamond encrusted necklace thrown in. The rare Pikachu Illustrator … Read more

Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall dead at 95

Source: Radio New Zealand Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor best known for The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and many other tough-guy roles over an acclaimed screen career that spanned six decades, has died. He was 95. Duvall died “peacefully” at his home in Middleburg, Virginia on Sunday (US time), according to a statement sent by his … Read more

Lifelong connection to te reo Māori leads EIT graduate into the classroom

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology 4 days ago Jo-Anna Tahuri grew up speaking te reo Māori, but her studies at EIT’s Te Whatukura helped deepen her understanding of the language she now teaches to the next generation. Originally from Whakatāne, Jo-Anna (Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ngāti Awa and Tūhoe) moved to Te Tairāwhiti in … Read more

Blues captain Dalton Papali’i to leave New Zealand rugby

Source: Radio New Zealand Blues captain Dalton Papali’i. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Blues captain Dalton Papali’i will leave New Zealand rugby at the end of the Super Rugby season to play in France. The Blues have confirmed the 28-year-old will take up an opportunity with French Top 14 team Castres Olympique. Papali’i, who made his Blues debut … Read more