Appeal for information: stolen metal letters at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has found that elements of the French Memorial and park signage at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park have been stolen over the holiday break.  Thieves have targeted metal signage, comprising individual letters and full text phrases, from the French Memorial and main park. … Read more

Govt. must accept blame for ManageMyHealth breach as it ignored funding crisis for Privacy Commissioner – PSA

Source: PSA Chickens come home to roost as Govt. turned blind eye to privacy threats The Government pushed ahead with cuts to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner despite being warned the agency lacked the resources to protect New Zealanders from growing privacy threats. Now with the ManageMyHealth breach exposing the health data of 127,000 New … Read more

Older people are more vulnerable in heatwaves. Here’s why – and how to stay safe

Source: Radio New Zealand For vulnerable people, particularly the elderly, heat is not only uncomfortable but dangerous. High temperatures can worsen existing health problems and in some cases even prove fatal. So as the mercury climbs, it’s important to understand why some people are more at risk. Why is it harder for older people to … Read more

Get your finances sorted in 2026: Maximising your KiwiSaver

Source: Radio New Zealand It’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement savings. 123RF Is organising your money life on your New Year’s resolution list in 2026? In this five-part series, money correspondent Susan Edmunds guides you through the basics. Catch up on the first four instalments here: Set a budget; save money; … Read more

‘Lucky’ men praised for actions after jetski broke down, drifted off to sea

Source: Radio New Zealand File image. 123rf Two men who needed rescuing after their jetski broke down are being praised for wearing lifejackets and carrying mobile phones. In a statement, police said the pair were off the New Plymouth Airport coast on Wednesday afternoon when the jetski’s motor became damaged. They were unable to restart … Read more

Government u-turns on prescription co-payment fees

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ In a policy u-turn, people will only need to pay a single $5 co-payment fee for the new 12-month prescriptions coming into effect from February. The year-long prescriptions were announced as part of the 2025 Budget as a way to reduce the cost of seeing GPs. Patients would still need … Read more

Kiwi parents love classics: Top baby names for 2025 announced

Source: New Zealand Government Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce New Zealand’s favourite baby names for 2025.   Timeless names continue to dominate Kiwi birth registrations, with Noah holding strong as parents’ favourite for the third year running, shared by 244 baby boys. For girls, Isla reigned supreme with 179 registrations, cementing its spot in the top three since 2016.   … Read more

One dead after crash in Hawke’s Bay

Source: Radio New Zealand File pic RNZ/ Marika Khabazi One person has died following a crash on State Highway 50, Korokipo Road in the Hastings District on Friday. Police were called to the single vehicle crash southwest of Waiohiki at around 2:20am. The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit carried out a scene … Read more

200 passengers stranded on Bluebridge ferry overnight

Source: Radio New Zealand A broken ramp on the Bluebridge Connemara left hundreds of passengers stuck on the ferry overnight. Supplied A problem with a Bluebridge ferry has left passengers stranded, with some spending the night bearthed in Wellington harbour. The Connemara 8.30pm sailing from Wellington to Picton had to return to Wellington shortly after … Read more

Neighbour of Rotorua parolee facility speaks out as rehab programme faces next location battle

Source: Radio New Zealand Lauren Fraser at the gate to her property, with the Puwhakamua programme residence behind her. Rotorua Daily Post / Mathew Nash A neighbour of a live-in parolee rehabilitation facility in Rotorua says she feels so unsafe in her generational family home that she avoids spending time there. The Pūwhakamua programme, which … Read more

Search for missing tramper in Kahurangi National Park moved to ‘limited search phase’

Source: Radio New Zealand Graham Garnett, 66. Supplied / NZ Police The search for a man missing in Kahurangi National Park is moving to a limited search phase, police say. Police and other groups have been searching for Graham Garnett, 66, who failed to return from a hike on 30 December. Police Search and Rescue’s … Read more

Fire destroys yachts at New South Wales marina

Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / Fire and Rescue NSW More than forty firefighters in New South Wales have been working to extinguish a number of yacht fires in a marina. Fire and Rescue NSW said the incident was reported just before 3.30am (local time) on Friday. It said four people were assessed by paramedics … Read more

Two rescued after jetski breakdown off Taranaki coast

Source: New Zealand Police Two men stranded on a drifting jetski “did everything right”, but Police say their rescue is an important reminder to boaties about taking essential safety precautions on the water. About 1pm on 7 January, the pair were off the New Plymouth Airport coast when the anchor line was pulled into the … Read more

Deep 5.4 earthquake in Taranaki jolts lower North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand The official Geonet map showing reports of the quake on Friday. A deep 5.4 earthquake has rattled the lower North Island. The tremor, that struck about 8.30am on Friday, was centred 10km south-west of Waverley in Taranaki. Geonet said it struck at a depth of 107km. Within a few minutes, more … Read more

Hotspots being checked after overnight scrub fire in Upper Hutt

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ/Marika Khabazi Firefighters will return this morning to the scene of a scrub fire that scorched a hill overnight. Crews were sent to Upper Hutt’s Wallaceville from eight different stations, some as far as Wellington City and Porirua, shortly after 11pm on Thursday. A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the blaze … Read more

Fatal crash: Waiohiki

Source: New Zealand Police One person has died following a crash on State Highway 50, Korokipo Road this morning. Police were called to the single vehicle crash southwest of Waiohiki at around 2:20am. The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination. The road has since reopened. Enquiries into the crash … Read more

Four arrested after alleged theft of Auckland bottle store

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Marika Khabazi Police have arrested four people, two of whom are alleged to have been armed with machetes, after they are said to have stolen beer from an Auckland bottle shop and caught a bus to escape. Waitematā East Area Commander Inspector Mike Rickards said the four people went … Read more

Update – Kahurangi National Park search

Source: New Zealand Police Please attribute to Sergeant Jonny Evans, Police Search and Rescue: The search for missing tramper Graham Garnett, 66, is moving into a limited search phase today. Search efforts yesterday included six search teams and the assistance of a New Zealand Defence Force NH90 helicopter. One of the teams remained in the … Read more

Six whales die, others still on beach after mass stranding at Farewell Spit

Source: Radio New Zealand People tending to the whales at Farewell Spit yesterday. Supplied / Project Jonah Six whales have died and 15 remain on the beach at Farewell Spit following a stranding on Thursday afternoon. Project Jonah says the rest of the pod of 53 whales has made its way back out to sea. … Read more

Black gold: Interest in coffee trucks surges

Source: Radio New Zealand More Chinese migrants are investing in coffee vans to launch coffee businesses in Auckland, arguing it’s the most cost-effective way to test the market waters before committing to a physical location. But as competition intensifies, securing a stable operating location has become increasingly difficult for some vendors. Kaiyi Huang, a second-generation … Read more

Four arrested after shoplifters tracked from North Shore to Auckland City

Source: New Zealand Police Please attribute to Waitematā East Area Commander, Inspector Mike Rickards: Police have arrested four individuals following a shoplifting incident at a liquor store in Sunnynook on Auckland’s North Shore last night. At approximately 8:40pm, three offenders allegedly entered the store, with two stealing boxes of alcohol. When the store employee attempted … Read more

Live: Temperatures set to soar as heat alerts issued

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Mark Papalii 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 … Read more

Quick work by public and Police leads to Henderson arrest

Source: New Zealand Police Police are thanking diligent retail staff who led Police to an alleged shoplifter smuggling stolen items in Henderson. The 47-year-old woman is now facing charges of theft, obtains by deception, and possession of utensils for meth, following the incident on Thursday afternoon. Sergeant Rachael England said Police were called to a … Read more

Hotspots being checked after overnight scrub fire in Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ/Marika Khabazi Firefighters will return this morning to the scene of a scrub fire that scorched a hill in Wellington overnight. Crews were sent to Upper Hutt’s Wallaceville from eight different stations, some as far as Wellington City and Porirua, shortly after 11pm on Thursday. A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said … Read more

Hawke’s Bay conservationists work to save critically endangered forget-me-not

Source: Radio New Zealand The critically endangered forget-me-not Myosotis petiolata is endemic to Hawke’s Bay. Supplied A critically endangered forget-me-not is being saved from the brink of extinction by a group of conservationists in Hawke’s Bay. Myosotis petiolata is one of the most endangered plants in the country. In 2019 just one of the beautiful … Read more

Chasing delicious (and unusual) food around the world as a job

Source: Radio New Zealand For more than a decade, Kiwi couple Thomas and Sheena Southam have been chasing the world’s best food — not through fine-dining lists, but by following the locals. Through their YouTube channel Chasing a Plate, the pair have built a following by immersing themselves in food cultures across the world. The … Read more

Aaron Gate passes up further Commonwealth Games glory for a shot at the big show

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate of XDS Astana Team, 2025. YANG GUANYU / AFP New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate won’t defend his four Commonwealth Games titles this year, but the 35-year-old is hoping to tick off a first in 2026. Four years ago, Gate made history by becoming the first New … Read more