Tempers flare as officials front for packed Moa Point public meeting

Source: Radio New Zealand More than 300 people attended a public meeting about the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant disaster. RNZ / Lauren Crimp Tempers flared at a packed public meeting on Monday night about the meltdown at Wellington’s Moa Point sewage treatment plant. Officials fronted the crowd of more than 300, but many left … Read more

Live weather: Storm behind North Island destruction moves south to Canterbury

Source: Radio New Zealand Akaroa hit by flooding as storm moves south. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon Christchurch and Banks Peninsula are being lashed by heavy rain as the wild weather moves south, causing flooding in Akaroa. MetService said a deep low east of New Zealand is moving slowly southwards, bringing more heavy rain to the … Read more

As it happened: Wellington winds strongest in a decade

Source: Radio New Zealand Akaroa hit by flooding as storm moves south. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon The winds that struck Wellington on Monday were the strongest in more than a decade, MetService says. Gusts of 193 kilometres an hour were recorded at Mount Kaukau, and 128km/h at Wellington Airport – the highest for both since … Read more

As it happened: Flooding in Akaroa as wild weather moves south

Source: Radio New Zealand Akaroa hit by flooding as storm moves south. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon Christchurch and Banks Peninsula are being lashed by heavy rain as the wild weather moves south, causing flooding in Akaroa. Downpours have turned the harbour township’s recreation ground into a lake, with some streets awash near the sea. An … Read more

National population estimates: At 31 December 2025 – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand National population estimates: At 31 December 2025 – information release 16 February 2026 National population estimates give the best available measure of the population, by age and sex, usually living in Aotearoa New Zealand. Key facts At 31 December 2025: the estimated resident population of New Zealand was 5,342,000 (provisionally) there were … Read more

Electronic card transactions: January 2026 – Stats NZ information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand Electronic card transactions: January 2026 – information release 16 February 2026 The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity. Key facts All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified. … Read more

Weather live: Flooding in Akaroa as wild weather moves south

Source: Radio New Zealand Akaroa hit by flooding as storm moves south. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon Christchurch and Banks Peninsula are being lashed by heavy rain as the wild weather moves south, causing flooding in Akaroa. Downpours have turned the harbour township’s recreation ground into a lake, with some streets awash near the sea. An … Read more

“The Olympics of Astrophysics and Space Science” APRIM2026 Makes Hong Kong Debut

Source: Media Outreach Gathering Global Experts Delivering Insights from the forefront of Space Science and Sustainability HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 February 2026 – In a landmark development for the region’s scientific community, Hong Kong has been selected to host the Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM) for the first time. Dubbed … Read more

Global high jump star Hamish Kerr claims Supreme Halberg award

Source: Radio New Zealand Hamish Kerr celebrates winning the Men’s High Jump final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. www.photosport.nz Hamish Kerr has claimed New Zealand’s highest sporting honour at the 63rd Halberg Awards in Auckland, after achieving heights in his career that no other Kiwi high jumper has reached. Kerr has won … Read more

Wild weather: Strongest winds to hit Wellington in a decade

Source: Radio New Zealand Taihape weather – flooding and slips aftermath – 16 February 2026 RNZ/Dan Jones The winds that struck Wellington today were the strongest in more than a decade, says MetService. Gusts of 193 kilometres an hour were recorded at Mt Kaukau, and 128 kilometres at hour at Wellington Airport – the highest … Read more

‘Wannabe athlete’ How To Dad takes on NZ’s best

Source: Radio New Zealand Jordan Watson, the viral ‘How to DAD’ guy, finds out the answer to ‘how hard can it be?’ in Out of My League, a new series that pits him against six of New Zealand’s elite athletes. Watson is not without form in the sporting arena and for a while held a … Read more

Live weather: Deluge heads south, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch in the firing line

Source: Radio New Zealand More than 30,000 properties have lost power as wild winds bring trees and power lines down across much of the lower North Island. Powerco said about 23,000 properties across its network have lost connections and in the Wellington region, about 10,000 have their connections cut. Manawatū-Whanganui has been hit badly, and … Read more

Housing market’s ‘tale of two islands’

Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland and Wellington stand out as being more oversupplied, say housing experts. RNZ New Zealand’s housing market is a “tale of two islands”, one economist says – as the fortunes of sellers and house hunters in the South Island rapidly diverge from their northern counterparts. Real Estate Institute data on Monday … Read more

Live weather: Deluge heads south, Christchurch in the firing line

Source: Radio New Zealand More than 30,000 properties have lost power as wild winds bring trees and power lines down across much of the lower North Island. Powerco said about 23,000 properties across its network have lost connections and in the Wellington region, about 10,000 have their connections cut. Manawatū-Whanganui has been hit badly, and … Read more

Dr Hinemoa Elder: We need more mental health care in NZ

Source: Radio New Zealand As she comes towards the end of her career as a working psychiatrist, Dr Hinemoa Elder says there’s never been more need for mental health resources to help navigate, “extremely trying times”. “You know, I’m 60 years old and this feels like the worst confluence of horrible and terrifying global and … Read more

Support for National, Labour dips in new political poll

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Support for both major parties has dipped – while New Zealand First is up on double digits – in the latest 1News Verian poll. The results – that polled 1003 eligible voters between 7 and 11 February – has National down 2 points to 34 percent and Labour down 3 … Read more

Rugby league: Door open for Kiwis to play State of Origin

Source: Radio New Zealand Born in Sydney, Kiwis player Casey McLean would be eligible for State of Origin. Photosport / David Neilson With State of Origin set to debut in Auckland in 2027, Kiwis can now also feature in the iconic series after changes to the eligibility criteria. The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) today … Read more

Can artificial intelligence legally be an inventor?

Source: Radio New Zealand Stephen Thaler is seeking a patent for a new type of food container. RNZ An American computer scientist wants New Zealand’s courts to decide whether AI can legally be an inventor in a global test case next week. Stephen Thaler is seeking a patent for a new type of food container. … Read more

‘His legs were like jelly’ – man hospitalised for huffing nangs

Source: Radio New Zealand Nitrous oxide is used recreationally for a high that can cause serious side effects. File photo. AFP / BENJAMIN POLGE The mother of a man who still has nerve damage more than a year after huffing nitrous oxide – and is no longer unable to work in construction – wants tougher … Read more

All eyes on delivery: Value for Money Committee opens for 2026

Source: Auckland Council Savings and service reviews led the agenda as the Value for Money Committee’s first 2026 meeting echoed its always-on focus for increased efficiency. At Thursday’s committee, chair Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson welcomed the council’s continued savings progress – with another $14.9 million saved in the three months to 31 December 2025. “This … Read more

Live weather: Wellington residents urged to ‘stay vigilant’ ahead of high tide

Source: Radio New Zealand More than 30,000 properties have lost power as wild winds bring trees and power lines down across much of the lower North Island. Powerco said about 23,000 properties across its network have lost connections and in the Wellington region, about 10,000 have their connections cut. Manawatū-Whanganui has been hit badly, and … Read more

Sewage spill stinks of double standards – Federated Farmers dairy chair

Source: Federated Farmers By Karl Dean, Federated Farmers dairy chair This month Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater treatment plant failed catastrophically, sending an estimated 70 million litres of untreated sewage straight into the ocean each day. Mayor Andrew Little called it an environmental disaster and Wellingtonians have been told it could be months before the south coast … Read more

Fatal shooting after argument in Christchurch home, court told

Source: Radio New Zealand Michael Scott Rodger is accused of murdering Richard Leman. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon Animosity between two men led to one of them being murdered and dismembered, a Christchurch High Court jury has heard. Michael Scott Rodger, 46, is accused of murdering Richard Leman, 41, whose body was found in the boot … Read more

Wellington plastic surgeon treating dog attack victims almost every week

Source: Radio New Zealand Dr Emily Yassaie said dog attack injuries are very common and a review into animal control laws is needed. 123RF A Wellington plastic surgeon is patching up dog attack victims on a weekly basis, with some injuries so severe they are life changing. Dr Emily Yassaie has already treated two dog … Read more

South Wairarapa residents coming together during floods

Source: Radio New Zealand A creek burst in banks on Lake Ferry Road south of Martinborough, Wairarapa. RNZ/Mary Argue Residents in South Wairarapa are turning to one another in the face of “unprecedented” flooding that triggered several evacuations overnight. The stormy weather lashing the region has caused rivers to burst their banks, inundating roads and … Read more

Weather: Local farmers clear mudslide which trapped 20 vehicles

Source: Radio New Zealand Trucks stopped in Taihape. Supplied Cars stranded by a slip in rural Taihape are now free after a local farmer cleared a path through the slip with his tractor. About 20 cars were stuck for several hours between a flood and a slip in the remote area of Turakina Valley Road … Read more

Benefits of intermittent fasting ‘fail to match the hype’, major review finds

Source: Radio New Zealand Intermittent fasting has become a popular phrase in dieting, promising to boost metabolism, shed body fat, and even help reduce the risk of diabetes, hypertension and obesity. From the 5:2 diet to the eight-hour feeding window, it has become a hot topic for researchers to study and internet personalities to promote. … Read more