First ever stone skimming champions crowned in Lake Hāwea

Source: Radio New Zealand Event organiser Richie Laming steps up to the platform and tries his hand at skimming. RNZ/Katie Todd An Australian with a calling and an Auckland radio host running on pure determination are the newly crowned national champions of stone skimming. In pristine conditions, hundreds flocked to a remote corner of Lake … Read more

Warriors fans in Brisbane a ‘wild swirling outpouring of energy’ for NRL Magic Round

Source: Radio New Zealand Warriors fans AAP / Photosport First Person – You could feel something special building for days, even before the NZ Warriors took the field. On Air New Zealand planes to Brisbane, the cabins were filled with blue and green jerseys. Pilots and cabin crews dispensed “Up the Wahs”. In this city, … Read more

Huge relief or ‘pretending there’s a problem’? National’s sexual offenders sentencing policy

Source: Radio New Zealand National’s justice spokesperson and current Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the policy would result in tougher sentences. RNZ / Mark Papalii A National Party policy to prevent judges discounting sexual offenders’ sentences due to good character is a solution for a non-existent problem, a defence lawyer says. But a victims’ advocate … Read more

Teachers raise concerns as NCEA replacement confimed

Source: Radio New Zealand The government believes students can “game the system” with NCEA. (File photo) RNZ / Quin Tauetau Teachers say they are disappointed feedback fro the sector on replacing NCEA was not listened to. The government on Saturday released further details about the new secondary school qualification framework, which was expected to begin … Read more

What is ‘frozen shoulder’ and will I need surgery?

Source: Radio New Zealand Frozen shoulder can make simple tasks – such as lifting your arm, sleeping on your side, getting out of bed, putting on a bra, driving or playing with your kids – painful and challenging. This condition usually starts with pain suddenly developing in the shoulder and stiffness. Over time, the pain … Read more

Warriors contemplate their next move at halfback

Source: Radio New Zealand Luke Metcalf of the Warriors www.photosport.nz Luke Metcalf’s long term future may not be with the Warriors, but his short-term future has just become very important. In-favour halfback Tanah Boyd went down with a suspected season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s 42-12 win over the Broncos in Brisbane. Boyd suffered a suspected … Read more

Auditions for the next James Bond are finally underway

Source: Radio New Zealand Auditions have finally begun for the next instalment in the blockbuster movie franchise, according to a statement from Amazon MGM Studios. The production company issued a short statement with early details of plans for the new movie, including the announcement that the search for a new leading man — or perhaps … Read more

Man found dead at Northland property, police investigating

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon A man has been found dead at a Waimamaku property in Northland. Emergency services were called to the Wekaweka Road property about 8.45pm on Sunday. “The circumstances surrounding his death are currently unexplained, and police are now working to establish the full circumstances of how he died,” … Read more

Cyclists commute at sunrise on the ‘beautiful’ Te Ara Tupua

Source: Radio New Zealand Riders on the $348m Te Ara Tupua cycling and walking path between Ngauranga and Petone. RNZ / Phil Pennington Is this the most beautiful commute in the world? Maybe that is going too far but for the hundreds of cyclists who for the first time on Monday morning pedalled along the … Read more

Rates caps could raise risk of credit downgrade for New Zealand, Fitch warns

Source: Radio New Zealand Local Government Minister Simon Watts. SAMUEL RILLSTONE / RNZ The Fitch credit ratings agency is warning the introduction of local government rate caps could increase the risk of credit downgrades across the sector. The government is planning to introduce legislation this year that will eventually limit council rate increases to 4 … Read more

QR codes scammers’ favourite new way to take your money

Source: Radio New Zealand A QR code. 123RF QR scams are on the rise, according to a global cybersecurity company. Known as ‘quishing’, a QR code’s landing website is swapped out for another, where some sort of payment is sought. The scammers’ aim is to get credit card details entered. Cybersecurity company ESET says these … Read more

Sailing: Kiwi crew become youngest world champions

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand sailors Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush at the 2026 49er World Championships, France. Sailing Energy / Yachting NZ New Zealand has a new star pairing in 49er sailing. Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush have become the youngest 49er world champions in history after a stunning comeback win … Read more

Sylvia Park owner posts ‘robust’ full-year result, Ikea driving more foot traffic

Source: Radio New Zealand Kiwi Property Group Group said the opening of Ikea drove significant foot traffic in the area. (File photo) Marika Khabazi / RNZ The owner of Auckland’s Sylvia Park has posted a “robust” full-year result, with a higher operating profit as rental income and occupancy improved, but its bottom line fell as … Read more

Christchurch townhouse boom seeing half-finished developments across city

Source: Radio New Zealand A builder says there are many half-finished housing developments in Christchurch and Auckland. (File photo) RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly A builder says Christchurch is seeing an increasing amount of half-finished two-bedroom developments with less appetite in the market. Carl Taylor, a builder and the head of Combined Building Supplies Co-operative, told … Read more

Waikato Expressway closed near Great South Road on-ramp

Source: New Zealand Police The Waikato Expressway is currently closed southbound between the Great South Road on-ramp and the Pioneer Road off-ramp following a crash. The two-vehicle crash was reported just before 7pm. Initial indications are that there are serious injuries. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays. ENDS Issued by Police…

Proposed amendments to Education System Reform Bill to be considered

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is continuing to strengthen New Zealand’s education system, with several amendments to the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill set to be considered by the Committee of the Whole House this week. “Following the Bill passing its second reading last Thursday, the whole House will discuss the proposed…

State Highway 2 closed east of Wairoa

Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 2, Wairoa is closed between Ohuia Road and Iwitea Road following a crash. The single vehicle crash was reported to emergency services just before 5:30pm. Initial indications are that there are serious injuries. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays. ENDS Issued by Police Media Centre

Delays after crash on Auckland’s Southern Motorway

Source: Radio New Zealand Police were called to the two-vehicle incident near Randwick Park. Supplied Motorists are being advised to expect delays following a crash on Auckland’s Southern Motorway. Police were called to the two-vehicle incident near Randwick Park shortly before 6am on Monday. Fire and Emergency said crews were working to extract one person … Read more

Live: Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford to make education announcement

Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and education minister Erica Stanford are set to make an education announcement in Lower Hutt this afternoon. They’re speaking to media at Boulcott School. This is a pre-budget announcement ahead of Budget Day on 28 May. The livestream is due to begin around 2.30pm. – Published by … Read more

Private capital investment remains resilient in the face of uncertainty

Source: Radio New Zealand 123rf Last year’s weak economic conditions coincided with a 35 percent drop in the value of capital investments, along with a 10 percent drop in the number of transactions the year earlier. NZ Private Capital Monitor indicates there were 276 transactions last year, with $2.5 billion in combined investments and divestments…

Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong gets nine month suspension after behaviour concerns

Source: Radio New Zealand Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong. RNZ / Tess Brunton A Dunedin councillor has been suspended from all committees and subcommittees for nine months because of concerns about his behaviour. Benedict Ong faced a code of conduct complaint after revealing details about a potential hotel development at Forsyth Barr Stadium to reporters in…

GPs calling for more funding and better allocation

Source: Radio New Zealand GenPro, the association for general practice owners, has called for all political parties to consider investing more in primary healthcare. 123rf GPs are calling for more funding and more accurate ways of allocating it, to ensure practices aren’t losing money. The government has recently announced a new method of determining the…

Two jerseys, two worlds at NRL Magic Round

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ executive editor Jeremy Rees managing to remain remarkably upbeat while publicly identifying as a Dragons supporter. Supplied First person: The year before the Warriors launched into the then Australian Rugby League, my wife was sitting exams. Coincidentally, in preparation for the Warriors’ launch, there was a lot of league on…

Bureaucratic battle could put cat rescuer’s operation on pause

Source: Radio New Zealand Some of the Feral No More rescue cats are in temporary cages, ahead of their move to Eketāhuna. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham A cat rescuer who tames, desexes and rehomes stray felines is worried a bureaucratic battle could put his operation on pause. Tony Hitchcock has run Feral No More from … Read more

‘Nothing short of barbaric’: Police officer Lyn Fleming’s family grateful for guilty verdict

Source: Radio New Zealand The family of murdered police office Lyn Fleming say the way she died was was “nothing short of barbaric”. Senior Sergeant Fleming and Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay were on foot patrol in Buxton Square in the early hours of New Year’s Day last year when they were hit by a car … Read more