Ferry troubles continue with cancellations following ramp problem

Source: Radio New Zealand Passengers were stranded on the Connemara overnight. RNZ / Mark Papalii More Bluebridge ferry services are being cancelled since a winch problem left passengers stuck overnight on the Connemara in Wellington. Two hundred passengers spent about 15 hours on the vessel after Thursday’s 8.30pm Wellington to Picton service had to return … Read more

Homicide investigation underway after newborn baby dies in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ A homicide investigation has been launched after the death of a baby boy in Auckland. On 2 January, the 10-week-old baby boy was taken to Pukekohe Maternity Hospital in a critical condition, where staff alerted the police. The baby was transferred to Starship Hospital and died from “non-survivable injuries” on … Read more

Weather: Heat alerts issued as temperatures soar across New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand Summer in Eastbourne, Wellington. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Temperatures are forecast to top 30 degrees in many places, and heat alerts have been issued for Hastings, Napier, Whakatāne, Motueka, Blenheim and Kaikōura. While the six spots across the country have been sweltering on Friday, that will expand to fourteen towns and … Read more

As it happened: Heat alerts for 38C for in parts of country, heavy rain and gales forecast elsewhere

Source: Radio New Zealand Temperatures are forecast to top 30 degrees in many places, and heat alerts have been issued for Hastings, Napier, Whakatāne, Motueka, Blenheim and Kaikōura. Fire and Emergency warned extreme heat came with heightened fire risk – particularly in Canterbury, Marlborough, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti and Northland. Meteorologist Devlin Lynden said remnants … Read more

‘Poor man’s gold’ comes in from the cold

Source: Radio New Zealand 123rf Silver prices increased 150% in 2025 Gold rose by “just” 65% last year Silver “dual use,” complicates supply Often dismissed as “the poor man’s gold”, silver outshone its more famous roommate in 2025, staging its biggest rally in modern trading history and smashing through 45‑year highs. Those previous highs – … Read more

Operation Brey: Homicide investigation into baby’s death

Source: New Zealand Police Please attribute to Detective Inspector Karen Bright, Counties Manukau CIB: Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a baby boy in Auckland on Wednesday. On 2 January, the 10-week-old baby was taken to Pukekohe Maternity Hospital in a critical condition, where staff alerted Police. The baby was transferred … Read more

Sir Tim Shadbolt turned around Invercargill’s slide – former council CEO

Source: Radio New Zealand Sir Tim Shadbolt RNZ / Tess Brunton Comedian Gary McCormick, a lifelong friend of Sir Tim Shadbolt, says the mayor was fearless but armed with “a landmark smile and laugh” that won people over. The former Invercargill and Waitematā mayor, who was also an activist and student radical, died on Thursday … Read more

Six whales die, others now swimming freely after stranding at Farewell Spit

Source: Radio New Zealand People tending to the whales at Farewell Spit yesterday. Supplied / Project Jonah Project Jonah says 15 stranded pilot whales at Farewell Spit are now swimming freely in the bay. More than 50 whales were stranded on Thursday and six have since died. Project Jonah said the remaining whales are still … Read more

Climate News – Earth Sciences NZ Hotspot Watch 9 Jan 2026

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought. Recent rainfall and current soil moisture conditions: In the North … Read more

Road freight industry warns tolling existing roads will undermine public support

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Road freight association Transporting New Zealand is urging the Government to remove provisions in the Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill that would allow existing roads to be tolled and enable heavy vehicles to be forced onto toll roads. Submissions on the Bill closed this week. Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom … Read more

Fire and Emergency received calls for 22 incidents during today’s strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 22 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, Friday 9 January, the eighth time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action. Of these, 12 incidents were in areas impacted by the strike. Of these five were fire alarms that … Read more

Updated statement on Manage My Health cyber incident

Source: Privacy Commissioner 9 Jan 2026, 15:52 This statement was updated on Friday, 9 January 2026. We were notified on 1 January by Manage My Health (MMH) of a serious cyber security breach of its platform. We have been working with them and other relevant agencies as they contain and investigate the size and scope … Read more

Information for all primary care providers affected by Manage My Health data breach

Source: Privacy Commissioner 9 Jan 2026, 15:38 Advisory notice from the Privacy Commissioner to all primary care providers affected by the Manage My Health data breach.  Notifiable privacy breach requirements. Download a copy of this information on letterhead (opens to PDF, 123KB). Summary This notice is to advise that the Privacy Act’s requirement to notify … Read more

‘Matinee Idle’ co-hosts Phil O’Brien and Simon Morris sign off

Source: Radio New Zealand After 21 summers of gleeful mischief, Matinee Idle co-hosts Phil O’Brien and Simon Morris have signed off from one of RNZ’s most gloriously divisive programmes, with the show ending its run in its current format. Affectionately known to loyal listeners as Uncle Phil and cousin Si, the duo today closed a … Read more

Firefighters suffer burns, heat exhaustion while battling house fire

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Two firefighters battling a house fire in Waikanae needed medical treatment, with one suffering a burn and the other overcome by heat exhaustion. Fire and Emergency NZ said it was alerted at 10.15am on Friday to the blaze in Reikorangi Road on the outskirts of town, near … Read more

Hundreds of young cricketers battle Hawke’s Bay heat for annual tournament

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / Wellington Collegians Cricket Club Hundreds of young cricketers are battling the Hawke’s Bay heat as an annual tournament forges on with temperatures forecast to reach 38C this weekend. Hawke’s Bay Cricket Camps have been running since 1979 and Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association boss Craig Findlay said scorching temperatures would … Read more

Fruit fly response in Auckland continues

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries The Queensland fruit fly response continues in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill, with no further sign of the pest so far, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north Mike Inglis. The response follows the identification of a single male fruit fly in the suburb on Tuesday. “Today, we are … Read more

Watch: Large fire engulfs building in Auckland’s Pakuranga

Source: Radio New Zealand A building in Pakuranga has been completely destroyed by fire and a person seriously hurt, with flames leaping from the roof, a local business owner says. The fire broke out shortly after midday and firefighters, ambulance and police are at the scene. It was also in the midst of the New … Read more

Teen takes off only to land in Police hands

Source: New Zealand Police A Police officer on route to a robbery job got more than he bargained for after a vehicle travelling in front of him took off, driving dangerously to evade the red and blue lights. At about 5.50pm last night, the officer who was approaching the Bombay off-ramp, observed a blue hatchback … Read more

Adi Ashok excited to get India gig for Black Caps

Source: Radio New Zealand Adi Ashok bowls for the Black Caps against Bangladesh in the second one-day international at Saxton Oval, Nelson, 20 December. Photosport Black Caps leg spinner Adi Ashok can’t wait for the excitement of cricket in India, the country of his birth. Ashok, who played two ODIs and a T20 for New … Read more

World mountain bike champ Samara Maxwell to take year off competitive sport

Source: Radio New Zealand Samara Maxwell celebrates after her 2025 title victory. Craig Cox New Zealand world mountain bike champion Samara Maxwell is taking a year-long break from competitive sport to safeguard her wellbeing and longevity. It means she won’t be defending her mountain bike world series cross country title after a breakthrough 2025 season. … Read more

Australia underlines its Ashes dominance over England

Source: Radio New Zealand By Dean Bilton, ABC Australia’s players celebrates with the Ashes trophy following their series win on day 5 of the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, January 8, 2026 AAP / Photosport Analysis: So 4-1 it is, a scoreline that does a proper job of reflecting Australia’s … Read more

Former Wellington mayoral hopeful Graham Bloxham arrested at Venezuela protest

Source: Radio New Zealand Former Wellington mayoral candidate Graham Bloxham is arrested by police. RNZ / Mark Papalii Three people, including former Wellington mayoral hopeful Graham Bloxham, have been arrested at a Venezuela solidarity protest in Wellington. Around 100 people are rallying against the US military action earlier this week outside the Ministry of Foreign … Read more

Large fire engulfs building in Auckland’s Pakuranga

Source: Radio New Zealand Screenshot A building in East Auckland’s Pakuranga is engulfed in flames with billowing thick black smoke. A witness told RNZ the fire started at the Pita House on Cortina Place on Friday afternoon. Firefighters said the blaze was threatening a second property. Supplied / Karl Mirbach The fire happened in the … Read more

Name release – fatal crash, Timaru

Source: New Zealand Police Police can now release the name of the man who was killed in a single-vehicle crash discovered on Seadown Road in the Timaru District on 22 December. He was 66-year-old Gary Kenneth Penman of Timaru. Police extend their condolences to Gary’s family and friends. His death has been referred to the … Read more

Key to eradicating Queensland fruit fly is to ‘go hard and early’

Source: Radio New Zealand Queensland Fruit Fly. Supplied / Biosecurity New Zealand Biosecurity is confident they will eradicate the obnoxious Queensland fruit fly with officers back out in force in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill today. Biosecurity Commissioner Mike Ingliss said additional traps have been set, and control zones have been set up, restricting … Read more

Weather live: Heat alerts for 38C for in parts of country, heavy rain and gales forecast elsewhere

Source: Radio New Zealand Temperatures are forecast to top 30 degrees in many places, and heat alerts have been issued for Hastings, Napier, Whakatāne, Motueka, Blenheim and Kaikōura. Fire and Emergency warned extreme heat came with heightened fire risk – particularly in Canterbury, Marlborough, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti and Northland. Meteorologist Devlin Lynden said remnants … Read more