Bic Runga’s Red Sunset is a thrilling mix of familiarity and forward-thinking

Source: Radio New Zealand Partly written and recorded in Paris, Red Sunset may have found its thematic heart in that location. Runga’s new album sounds French and seemingly draws inspiration from thatcountry’s pop music of the ’60s and ’70s. Or perhaps the acoustic strums, dampened drums and vintage synths here just coalesced into these particular … Read more

Mother’s struggles with immunocompromised daughter amid Christchurch’s boil water notice

Source: Radio New Zealand The boil water notice will not be lifted until there are at least three days of good results, the council says. RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King Friends are delivering bottled water to a Christchurch mother whose immunocompromised daughter relies on sterile medical equipment for feeding, with 14,000 households in the city’s east still under … Read more

Power outages: What to do – and what not to do – when the electricity goes out

Source: Radio New Zealand Oroua River runs high at the rail overbridge on the outskirts of Feilding on 16 February 2025. RNZ/Robin Martin Severe weather hammering the lower North Island has left tens of thousands of households without power. Powerco says about 23,000 properties across its network have lost connections, and in the Wellington region … Read more

A2 Milk posts net profit of over $112 million for six months to December

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Infant formula maker A2 Milk showed a solid lift in first half profit on the back of double digit growth in sales allowing an increase in dividend. Key numbers for the six months ended December compared with a year ago: Net profit $112.1m vs $102.5m Revenue $993.5m vs $836.5m Operating … Read more

Heavy rain and wind hits Wellington region bringing down trees, flooding roads

Source: Radio New Zealand A fallen tree in the Wellington suburb of Newlands after high winds. RNZ / Mark Papalii Heavy rain and wind is hitting the capital, flooding streets in Lower Hutt, closing multiple schools, cutting off power, and bringing trees and debris down in the city. Meanwhile, the entire Manawatū-Whanganui region is under … Read more

Contact Energy net profit up 44 percent to $205 million in six months to December

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Contact Energy’s half-year profit is up 44 percent, despite a 5 percent dip in revenue. The company has made a first half net profit $205 million in the six months ended December, with underlying profit up 24 percent to half a billion dollars ($500m). Contact was also … Read more

First kākāpō chick in four years hatches on Valentine’s Day

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  16 February 2026 Kākāpō Yasmine hatched an egg fostered from kākāpō Tīwhiri on Valentine’s Day, bringing the total number of kākāpō to 237 – though it won’t be officially added to the population until it fledges. DOC Operations Manager for kākāpō/takahē Deidre Vercoe says the first chick of the breeding … Read more

World champion Luca Harrington qualifies for big air final

Source: Radio New Zealand Luca Harrington of New Zealand at the Winter Olympics, 2026. www.photosport.nz Wānaka freeskier Luca Harrington has qualified for the final of the big air at the Winter Olympics. Harrington finished fifth after three rounds of qualifying, with the top 12 from the 29 entrants progressing through to Wednesday’s final. The 2025 … Read more

Halberg Awards: World champions expected to dominate

Source: Radio New Zealand George Beamish of New Zealand in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase at the 2025 Tokyo Athletics World Championships in Japan Athletics New Zealand / Photosport World champions are likely to dominate the 63rd Halberg Awards in Auckland on Monday night. Athletics and snow sports dominate the finalists in the two individual categories. … Read more

Storm News – Firefighters respond to over 800 calls for assistance

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Firefighters are continuing to respond to calls for assistance from people affected by the storm moving across the country. Between 6pm last night and 8am today, Fire and Emergency New Zealand received 852 emergency 111 calls in the North Island. Most of them (804) related to storm damage, including fallen … Read more

The ultimate super-mum: Ruahine the kōkako defies age in the Hūnua Ranges

Source: Auckland Council In human years she wouldn’t quite qualify for a Gold Card but in kōkako years, Ruahine is a living legend. At around 21 years of age, Ruahine is believed to be the oldest known active breeding female kōkako in New Zealand and this season she’s once again doing what she’s done best … Read more

All Blacks Du’Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett to captain Hurricanes

Source: Radio New Zealand Du’Plessis Kirifi of New Zealand celebrates his try, New Zealand All Blacks v France. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz The Hurricanes have named All Blacks Du’Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett as co-captains for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. It marks the first time that Barrett has been named in a captaincy role at … Read more

Universities – Yili-Lincoln University research collaboration informs global health policy

Source: Yili Riddet Institute Fellow Laureate Paul Moughan has led a research collaboration with Yili’s Innovation Centre in New Zealand which will help shape World Health Organisation policy on infant nutrition. Distinguished Professor Moughan, who chaired the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations’ expert consultation which published guidelines on protein quality for … Read more

Environment – Mine e-waste for gold, not beautiful landscapes – Zero Waste

Source:  Zero Waste Aotearoa As a fast-track consent is sought for a major gold mine in Central Otago and another has already been granted in Coromandel, Zero Waste Aotearoa is calling upon the government to mine electronic waste, not beautiful landscapes, for gold and other precious metals. E-waste contains a significant concentration of gold, with … Read more

O-Week in Dunedin: Police and university to monitor ‘feral’ student behaviour

Source: Radio New Zealand Castle Street in Dunedin on a Sunday morning during O-Week. RNZ / Tess Brunton Police and the University of Otago will be monitoring student behaviour, with concerns about another year of out-of-control and dangerous behaviour during Orientation Week (O-Week). It has prompted the university to start meeting with some of the … Read more

Lee Kum Kee Sauce Serves as Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Chinese New Year Festival & Market Day

Source: Media Outreach AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 February 2026 – Lee Kum Kee Sauce (“Lee Kum Kee”), the global leader of Asian sauces and condiments, marked a successful debut as the Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Chinese New Year Festival & Market Day in Auckland. Co-hosted by the Auckland Chinese … Read more

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ‘open’ to looking at bed tax in a second term

Source: Radio New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s announcement about a plan to establish an LNG import facility, and the levy to fund it, has been badly received. Marika Khabazi / RNZ Christopher Luxon has continually ruled out a bed tax, despite frequent calls from Auckland mayor Wayne Brown to implement one. Brown’s argument has … Read more

Why Auckland’s bug problem is getting worse

Source: Radio New Zealand A sign warning of yellow-legged hornets on the North Shore in Auckland. RNZ / Isra’a Emhail From ants inside clothing packages from Australia to potentially deadly European hornets, Auckland has recently become a hotspot for unwanted insects from overseas. Aucklander Jayd Graham, 21, was disgusted to find ants inside the sealed … Read more

Hamilton residents face shake-up in how they pay for water

Source: Radio New Zealand Carla Johnstone, a Hamilton resident whose household is taking part in a water meter trial. RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod Hamilton residents are facing a shake-up in how they pay for water. National water reforms meant the city had to move away from the way residents had always paid for water – … Read more

Freightways sees first half profit lift as economy turns around

Source: Radio New Zealand The company saw its bottom line profit increase by 17 percent. Supplied Courier and information management company Freightways posted a strong first-half result as economic conditions improve in New Zealand, while Australia was steady. Key numbers for the six months ended December compared with a year ago: Net profit $52.5m vs … Read more

Onehunga shooting: Police seize shotgun during search

Source: Radio New Zealand Police seize shotgun during search of Māngere property. Supplied/Police A shotgun has been seized during a search of a Māngere property, as part of the ongoing investigation into a shooting in Onehunga last month. Police were called to a house on Arthur Street on 16 January following reports several people had … Read more

Minister to attend AI Impact Summit in India

Source: New Zealand Government Science, Innovation and Technology and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti will visit India this week to attend the flagship artificial intelligence (AI) Impact Summit, strengthening international AI partnerships and unlocking opportunities for New Zealand. The theme for the summit is ‘AI for People, Planet and Progress’. “Attendance at this summit ensures New Zealand has … Read more

Wellington Water chair’s resignation ‘right thing to do’ – Mayor Andrew Little

Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii Wellington’s mayor says he has confidence in Wellington Water’s current leadership, after its chair resigned in the wake of the Moa Point crisis. Nick Leggett stepped down on Sunday, saying the failure at the Moa Point treatment plant was deeply serious and had … Read more

Six-monthly company reporting season hoped to start to reflect turnaround in economy

Source: Radio New Zealand Investment firm Forsyth Barr said 2025 looked to have ended on a strong note and it would be looking for revenue and profit margin growth. RNZ The six-monthly company reporting season is about to start, with high hopes that earnings will start to reflect the turnaround in the economy. Investment firm … Read more

Wellington Water chair’s resignation ‘right thing to do’ – Mayor Anderw Little

Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington mayor Andrew Little. RNZ / Mark Papalii Wellington’s mayor says he has confidence in Wellington Water’s current leadership, after its chair resigned in the wake of the Moa Point crisis. Nick Leggett [ttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/586892/wellington-water-chair-nick-leggett-resigns-over-moa-point-sewage-disaster stepped down] on Sunday, saying the failure at the Moa Point treatment plant was deeply serious and … Read more

Onehunga shooting: Police seize firearm in ongoing investigation

Source: New Zealand Police Police are continuing to make progress in investigating a shooting in Onehunga last month. The Auckland City Organised Crime Unit has been investigating the incident on Arthur Street on 16 January 2026. Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce says the investigation team executed a search warrant at a Māngere property on Friday. … Read more

Households and the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate decision

Source: Radio New Zealand How soon is the official cash rate (OCR) likely to start to increase? And will any hint of it send what banks charge higher? For many homeowners and households, that will be the main thing on their minds when the Reserve Bank issues its next update this week. It cut the … Read more