SPCA calls for reinstated funding for desexing after deadly dog attack

Source: Radio New Zealand Minister for Local Government Simon Watts said he was seeking urgent advice on dangerous dogs. 123RF The SPCA is calling for an overhaul of dog control laws and for the government to reinstate funding for the desexing of menacing and roaming dogs. The agency said it had been campaigning for a … Read more

Winter Olympics: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott ‘stoked’ with silver medal effort

Source: Radio New Zealand Zoi Sadowski-Synnott with her family after winning silver medal at the final of the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle, Winter Olympics, 2026. www.photosport.nz Wānaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott is yet to decide how she’ll celebrate becoming the sport’s most decorated Olympian. The 24 year old picked up the silver medal in the Slopestyle final … Read more

Maritime NZ highlights safety risks on Seven Sharp

Source: Maritime New Zealand Maritime NZ featured in the lead story on Seven Sharp on Wednesday, 4 February. The story examined the rapid emergence of new recreational water craft and the safety risks that can arise as technology and usage patterns evolve. The segment focused on how innovative designs – particularly faster, quieter and more … Read more

Police hunt on as four hurt, one critical, after reports of gunfire in Christchurch

Source: Radio New Zealand Police were at the scene on Hoani St in Christchurch’s Northcote. SAM SHERWOOD / RNZ Four people have been injured, with one in a critical condition, after a fight in suburban Christchurch. Police say they are still looking to find those involved. Offiers were called to an address on Hoani Street … Read more

Liam Lawson shows improvement in latest F1 test

Source: Radio New Zealand #30 Liam Lawson (NZL) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT Liam Lawson got through 61 laps on the opening day of the second Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain. The Racing Bulls driver shared the car with rookie Arvid Lindblad on the first day and … Read more

Reality bites for job seekers as unemployment climbs

Source: Radio New Zealand Unemployment is at its highest in more than a decade, but an economist says that could actually be an early sign of economic strength, as more people return to the workforce. RNZ New Zealand’s unemployment rate is the highest in a decade, but a leading economist is cautiously optimistic about the … Read more

Auckland’s west coast residents fear their beaches will become next rockpool harvesting hotspot

Source: Radio New Zealand People harvesting sea life at Army Bay. Protect Whangaparoa Rockpools Residents on Auckland’s west coast fear their beloved beaches will become the next hotspot for rock pool harvesting. The government has imposed a two-year ban on taking shellfish and seaweed from rockpools along the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, and further north at Kawau … Read more

Four people injured, one critically, after report of gunfire in Christchurch

Source: Radio New Zealand Police were at the scene on Hoani St in Christchurch’s Northcote. SAM SHERWOOD / RNZ Four people have been injured, with one in a critical condition, after a fight in suburban Christchurch. Police say they are still looking to find those involved. Offiers were called to an address on Hoani Street … Read more

Government expected to make announcement on Auckland housing plan U-turn

Source: Radio New Zealand The government is expected to make an announcement on housing plans for Auckland. RNZ / Kate Newton The details of the government’s election year U-turn on housing plans in Auckland are expected to be announced shortly. The Housing Minister has had to grapple with potentially legislating over a plan change that … Read more

Sales plummet for business near Moa Point sewage spill

Source: Radio New Zealand Vicky Shen says she will have to reduce staff hours to stay afloat after a nearly 70 percent drop in her business. Bill Hickman / RNZ Businesses on Wellington’s South Coast are doing it tough since the failure of the Moa Point wastewater plant forced the closure of some of the … Read more

Little River residents question why Lake Forsyth wasn’t opened to sea before flooding

Source: Radio New Zealand Lake Forsyth in Banks Peninsula following the bad weather. Nathan Mckinnon / RNZ Residents of a Banks Peninsula town flooded for the second time in a year are questioning why the Christchurch City Council again waited until it was flooded before opening a nearby lake to the ocean. Little River is … Read more

More injured sea birds seen after storms by beach clean up group

Source: Radio New Zealand An albatross/toroa being looked after at Wellington Zoo. Supplied / Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo A beach cleanup group says it is seeing more injured or deceased sea birds after storms. Stormy weather in the capital this week blew birds off course and left some exhausted and in need of rescue. An … Read more

Injuries following serious incident, Northcote

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Superintendent Tony Hill, Canterbury District Commander: Four people have been injured following an altercation at an address in Hoani Street, Northcote, late last night. Emergency services were called to the scene about 9.30pm. One person is reportedly in critical condition, with another person receiving serious injuries. Two others received … Read more

Why do nose and ear hairs become longer and thicker as we age?

Source: Radio New Zealand Growing older often brings unexpected grooming challenges. This is particularly apparent when some areas that, when young, we could otherwise ignore start to develop hair. This includes our nose and ears, where hair grows thicker and longer as we age. But why do hairs in these areas act like this? The … Read more

‘Impossible deadline’: Union questions shorter consultation period for Māori curriculum

Source: Radio New Zealand NZEI President, the head of the country’s largest education sector union. NZEI supplied Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa is questioning why the consultation period on a draft Māori curriculum is only half as long as its English counterpart. “It’s pretty much an impossible deadline, really. I mean, you cut the … Read more

Reality bites for Kiwi job seekers as unemployment climbs

Source: Radio New Zealand Unemployment is at its highest in more than a decade, but an economist says that could actually be an early sign of economic strength, as more people return to the workforce. RNZ New Zealand’s unemployment rate is the highest in a decade, but a leading economist is cautiously optimistic about the … Read more

How much tax do influencers pay?

Source: Radio New Zealand Influencers must stay on the right side of the tax rules. (File photo) Supplied/123rf Emily Holdaway, or Officially Em, as she is known to her thousands of online followers, says she is running a constant type of mental tally when it comes to what is a “business” expense and what is … Read more

$80m RIF funding for critical minerals projects

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has ring-fenced $80 million in the Regional Infrastructure Fund to develop and process domestic critical minerals resources, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development and Resources Minister Shane Jones say. “Critical minerals are used everywhere, from clean energy technologies and electronics to aviation, medical technology and more. They are … Read more

Ironic that government has ‘run out of time’ to pursue longer Parliamentary term – law expert

Source: Radio New Zealand University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis. Supplied A law expert says it is ironic the coalition appears to have run out of time to put a four year Parliamentary term to a referendum. The government has ditched a bill to put a longer electoral term to a binding referendum, citing … Read more

NZ Warriors facing early halves crisis through heavy NRL pre-season injury toll

Source: Radio New Zealand Shaun Johnson and coach Andrew Webster at Warriors training. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport NRL pre-season: Warriors v Dolphins Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 20 February Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ An old, familiar face made a rare appearance at NZ Warriors training this week, as coach Andrew Webster faced early test of … Read more

Independent investigation needed into historical allegations of abuse at St Bede’s College – Chief Victims Advisor

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Phil Pennington The Chief Victims Advisor says there needs to be an independent investigation into historical allegations of sexual abuse at St Bede’s College. The Christchurch boys’ school is conducting its own investigation, but Ruth Money says that is like marking its own homework. A man who was sexually … Read more

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