Farewell Spit whale stranding

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  08 January 2026 We responded with a boat on the water and staff on the ground. The boat has been monitoring the movements of the pod. Staff, Project Jonah members and volunteers have been helping by standing in the water and directing the whales away from the shallows. We’ve also … Read more

CHiQ Named One of the “2025-2026 Global Smart Home Brands Top 10” at CES

Source: Media Outreach LAS VEGAS, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – On January 7 local time, CHiQ was honored with the “2025-2026 Global Smart Home Brands Top 10” award at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The award underscores CHiQ’s ongoing progress in smart home innovation and its commitment to enhancing the … Read more

The most expensive place to rent in New Zealand is Central Otago Lakes District

Source: Radio New Zealand Renting in the Central Otago Lakes District region is now more expensive than Auckland. Unsplash/ Michael Amadeus Central Otago Lakes District average rents hit $891 per week National average weekly rent drops 2.4 percent to $626 per week Wellington’s average weekly rent drops 8.40 percent to $663 per week In a … Read more

Movement of produce restricted in Auckland suburb after fruit fly found

Source: Radio New Zealand Queensland fruit fly. Supplied / Biosecurity New Zealand Legal controls restricting the movement of produce are now in place in Auckland’s Mount Roskill, affecting more than 8500 properties. A biosecurity response is underway after a single male Queensland fruit fly was found on Wednesday morning. The pest, which damages a wide … Read more

Filipino trailblazer storms into ASB Classic quarters

Source: Radio New Zealand Philippines’ Alexandra Eala during Round 16 Singles Women’s ASB Classic Tennis Tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena, Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday 8 January 2026. Joshua Devenie / www.photosport.nz www.photosport.nz Alexandra Eala is not letting the hype get to her head. The Filipino star has attracted plenty of attention for her trailblazing … Read more

One dead after two motorbikes crash in Tararua District

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / Google Maps One person has died following a crash in Kumeroa on Thursday afternoon. One person died at the scene, and a second person sustained moderate injuries. Emergency services were called to the intersection of Gaisford and Oringi Roads in Kumeroa just before 2.30pm. The road remains closed with … Read more

Patients ask GPs for info on health records after Manage My Health security breach

Source: Radio New Zealand Manage My Health was due to begin informing patients affected by the security breach on Thursday. RNZ / Finn Blackwell Frustrated patients who fear their highly sensitive health records may have been stolen in Manage My Health’s cyber security breach are pushing their GPs to tell them. Manage My Health was … Read more

January temperature records could fall as hot spell forecast

Source: Radio New Zealand Some parts of the country could reach 37C. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Experts are warning of extreme heat and fire risk as temperatures are forecast to soar across the country on Friday. The highs could shatter last year’s record, which was set just last month. MetService issued heat alerts for Friday … Read more

‘It’s the Kiwi thing to do’: Aucklanders question fines for washing cars at home

Source: Radio New Zealand Some Aucklanders are calling a potentially hefty $1500 fine for individuals washing their cars with cleaning products on driveways and letting soapy water run into stormwater drains “unfair”. They said the rule was poorly publicised and disproportionately affected individuals rather than major polluters. “It’s the Kiwi thing to do – wash … Read more

Kenanga Investors Launches Kenanga Growth Fund Series 3

Source: Media Outreach The latest addition to Kenanga Investors’ flagship series follows the same proven investment objective and philosophy to meet the evolving needs of today’s investors. KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – Kenanga Investors Berhad (“Kenanga Investors“) has announced the launch of the Kenanga Growth Fund Series 3 … Read more

XTransfer Hits 800,000+ Global Clients

Source: Media Outreach SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform, is pleased to announce that its global corporate customers have exceeded 800,000, with overseas enterprises accounting for 47% and a monthly processing volume of over USD 12 billion. This milestone demonstrates XTransfer’s … Read more

Sir Tim Shadbolt has died at age 78

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied/LDR – ODT/Stephen Jaquiery Former Invercargill and Waitematā Mayor, Sir Tim Shadbolt, has died early this morning. He was 78 years old. Sir Tim, who was awarded the Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List, served eight terms as Invercargill Mayor between 1993 … Read more

Fatal crash: Kumeroa

Source: New Zealand Police One person has died following a crash in Kumeroa this afternoon. Police were called to the two-vehicle crash involving motorcycles, at the intersection of Gaisford and Oringi roads just before 2:30pm. One person died at the scene, a second person sustained moderate injuries. The road remains closed with diversions in place … Read more

State Highway 2, Carterton blocked following crash

Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 2, Carterton is closed near Hughes Line following a crash. The single vehicle crash was reported at around 3:40pm, no serious injuries have been reported. Motorists are advised to expect delays, detours are in place. ENDS Issued by Police Media Centre MIL OSI

Christchurch Police impounds 20 cars in anti-social road user operation

Source: New Zealand Police The Christchurch Anti-Social Road User (ASRU) team have recently concluded an operation targeting various dangerous driving problem areas around the city. Thirty cars have been identified offending, with more than 20 impounded and green stickered to be written off the road for vehicle defects. Another six cars were impounded last weekend … Read more

Investigation underway after footage emerges of people diving off Auckland Harbour Bridge

Source: Radio New Zealand Water Safety NZ says it’s not worth risking your life for views after footage of two people diving off the Auckland Harbour Bridge emerged online. The footage uploaded to social media and believed to be taken at the weekend shows two men leaping into Waitematā Harbour from the maintenance walkway that … Read more

Serious injuries after two motorbikes crash in Tararua District

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / Google Maps Police believe there have been serious injuries suffered in a crash involving two motorbikes in the Tararua District this afternoon. Emergency services were called to the intersection of Gaisford and Oringi Roads in Kumeroa just before 2.30pm. Police said the road is blocked and diversions are in … Read more

Weather: Long range forecast is mostly more heat, more wet

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ/ Mohammad Alafeshat Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) is expecting the rest of summer to remain warm and wet for many regions. The organisation on Thursday has released its climate outlook for the next three months, heralding weak La Niña conditions expected to bring a mixed bag of weather. The report … Read more

Kilos return four times faster after ending weight-loss drugs, study finds

Source: Radio New Zealand When people stop taking the new generation of weight-loss drugs they pile back on the kilos four times faster than they would after ending diet and exercise regimes, new research has found. But this was mostly because they lost so much weight in the first place, according to the British researchers … Read more

1Play and MOONTON Games Introduce First Official M Series Trading Card Collection in Multi-Year Strategic Partnership

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – MOONTON Games, the international video game company behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with 1Play, a rising brand in youth-focused cultural collectibles. As the Official Trading Card Partner of the M7 World Championship (M7), 1Play will … Read more

Serious crash, Kumeroa

Source: New Zealand Police Police are responding to a crash at the intersection of Gaisford and Oringi roads in Kumeroa. The two-vehicle crash involving motorcycles was reported just before 2:30pm. Initial indications are that there are serious injuries. The road is currently blocked and diversions are in place. ENDS Issued by Police Media Centre MIL … Read more

Arrests after $4 million drug seizure in Wairarapa

Source: New Zealand Police Wairarapa Police have seized more than $4 million of the stupefying drug Fantasy following a tip off from the public. On Monday night, Police located and seized 820 litres of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) from a storage container after being alerted by members of the public of suspicious behaviour at a storage … Read more

Fruit fly investigation continues in Auckland – controls on produce movement now in place

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Mt Roskill, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north, Mike Inglis.  The restrictions follow the detection of a single male Queensland fruit fly in a surveillance trap in the area.  The pest was found in one … Read more

Heat alerts issued, warnings to prepare as temperatures set to soar

Source: Radio New Zealand MetService says the temperatures won’t drop much at night. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Metservice has issued heat alerts for hotspots across the country as temperatures are forecast to soar on Friday. The alerts were in place for Whakatāne, Napier, Hastings, Motueka, Blenheim and Kaikōura, where temperatures in the low to mid … Read more

Christopher Luxon working from home as year gets underway

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Marika Khabazi The Prime Minister is working from home as the year gets underway, with Parliament not set to return until the end of the month. Ahead of the summer break, Christopher Luxon told Newstalk ZB he expected to be back at work the first week of January, as … Read more

‘Real risk’: FENZ warns of extreme fire danger as temperatures set to swelter

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Richard Tindiller Fire and Emergency is warning Cantabrians of extreme fire danger this Sunday as parts of the country are set to swelter under high temperatures. Canterbury is currently in a restricted fire season, which requires people to apply for permits to light open air fires. However, all permits … Read more

Croatian shirt incident a ‘misunderstanding’ – ASB Classic organisers

Source: Radio New Zealand Fans during the 2026 ASB Classic Women’s Tennis Tournament at Manuka Doctor Arena, Auckland, New Zealand. Tuesday 6 January 2026. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Organisers of Auckland’s ASB Tennis Classic insist that no fans will be turned away for wearing national colours. Their statement comes after a man complained to media he was … Read more