Sport in 2025: The shocks, scandals and sagas

Source: Radio New Zealand Sport is far more than just what happens on the court, pitch, field or canvas. The biggest stories often involve controversy completely away from the game. Jonty Dine takes a look back at at the most dramatic headlines in sport in 2025. From a raging rabbit to a hat stealing CEO, … Read more

Tairāwhiti Police reflect on busy New Year period

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Inspector Danny Kirk, Tairāwhiti Area Commander: It’s been a particularly busy time for Tairāwhiti Police over the last few days. With the annual Rhythm and Vines Music Festival attracting thousands, reports of anti-social road user events planned in the area and New Year celebrations across the region, mixed in … Read more

Update: Appeal for information following cries for help at Whare Flat

Source: New Zealand Police A search and rescue operation has concluded at Whare Flat, Dunedin, following a report of a person calling for help. About 9.30am today, Police received a call from someone walking the Mackie Dackie track, who could hear a person yelling for help but could not locate where the voice was coming … Read more

Five things to do if you’re retiring in 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand There are a number of questions that people who are looking to retire should ask themselves. RNZ / REECE BAKER Retirement is one of the biggest financial changes that many people go through in their lives. If this is the year that you sign out of work for the last time, … Read more

ManageMyHealth reveals scope of data breach

Source: Radio New Zealand ManageMyHealth confirmed it identified a cyber security incident on Wednesday. 123rf / Khakimullin Aleksandr D9 ManageMyHealth is expecting to start notifying customers impacted by a data breach within the next 48 hours. The country’s largest patient information portal on Wednesday confirmed it had identified a cyber security incident involving “unauthorised access” … Read more

New quotas on beef exports to China unlikely to have impact on exporters – minister

Source: Radio New Zealand New quotas announced by China are unlikely to have an impact on beef exports said Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The government believes new quotas on beef imports to China are unlikely to have a major impact on New Zealand exporters. China announced quotas following an … Read more

Visit Malaysia 2026 Countdown Festival: A New Year’s Eve Celebration

Source: Media Outreach KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 January 2026 – Malaysia ushered in the New Year on a high note as the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) Countdown Festival culminated in a spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The landmark event, a strategic collaboration between The Fame Events, … Read more

Driver in Levin crash facing multiple charges

Source: Radio New Zealand The 31-year-old driver was been charged with failing to stop for police, reckless driving and threatening to kill. RNZ / Richard Tindiller A man is facing a number of charges following a crash in Levin just before midnight. A car was seen driving erratically and crashed in Roosevelt Street, where the … Read more

Cries for help heard near Dunedin walking track, search underway

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER A search and rescue operation is underway after cries for help were heard near a Dunedin walking track. In a statement, police said they were appealing for information after receiving reports that someone was yelling for help near the Mackie Dackie track, off Flagstaff-Whare Flat Road in … Read more

Caution advised as some third party travel booking services ‘price gouging’ customers

Source: Radio New Zealand Consumer NZ’s Head of Research and Advocacy Gemma Rasmussen said third party websites can sometimes engage in price gouging. Mongkol Chuewong A Dunedin woman is urging people to check they are not booking flights through a third-party agency, after her elderly mother paid $1300 for two one-way seats with bags from … Read more

Hundreds of homes and businesses still without power after storm

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Repair crews are trying to restore electricity to hundreds of households and businesses in the North Island, after storms knocked out supplies this week. About 10,000 properties lost power in the Tasman district on Tuesday after trees came down on powerlines. Network Tasman restored the vast majority by that afternoon. … Read more

Appeal for information following cries for help heard, Whare Flat, Dunedin

Source: New Zealand Police Police are appealing to the public for any information after receiving reports that someone was heard yelling for help near the Mackie Dackie track, off Flagstaff-Whare Flat Road, Whare Flat, Dunedin, this morning. Around 9.30am today, Police received a call with a report from someone who was walking the Mackie Dackie … Read more

‘I want to sit down with her’: Cancer patient demands meeting with Nicola Willis

Source: Radio New Zealand Catherine Cook sold her business to pay out of pocket for Keytruda for her aggressive breast cancer treatment. Supplied An Auckland woman who is self-funding treatment for her rare, aggressive breast cancer is fed up after years of asking the government to fund a “life-saving” medicine for more patients. Catherine Cook, … Read more

Towel shortage at Waikato Hospital leaves elderly patient unable to shower

Source: Radio New Zealand Waikato Hospital. RNZ / Simon Rogers A towel shortage at Waikato Hospital has left an elderly patient unable to shower for days, with the family feeling appalled by the lack of basic care. Maureen Cruickshank, whose mother stayed at the hospital earlier this month, said the wards ran out of towels … Read more

China beef safeguards unlikely to restrict New Zealand exports

Source: New Zealand Government China has today announced quotas on beef imports following a safeguard investigation into the impact of rising imports on its domestic industry. The measures, which apply to all of China’s major trading partners for beef including New Zealand, will take effect from 1 January 2026 for a period of three years. Under … Read more

New schools opening in 2026

Source: Radio New Zealand Work on several other new schools was also expected to begin in 2026. Unsplash Two new primary schools are scheduled to open at the start of 2026 – one in Christchurch and the other in Auckland. The Ministry of Education said the schools in Rolleston and Flat Bush would open with … Read more

Auckland FC determined to avenge earlier loss to Newcastle

Source: Radio New Zealand A rain-soaked Auckland FC captain Francis De Vries gestures during his side’s 2-1 loss to the Newcastle Jets in a round six A-League men’s competition match at Mount Smart Stadium, 30 November, 2025. Photosport Auckland FC are out for revenge. The A-League leaders host the ninth placed Jets to kick off … Read more

Road blocked, Gibbston Highway/SH 6, Queenstown

Source: New Zealand Police Gibbston Highway/State Highway 6, Roaring Meg, Queenstown, is down to one lane following a crash this morning. Police were called to the three-vehicle crash, between Waitiri Road and Kawarau Gorge Road, around 10.30am. Initial indicators are that there has been minor-moderate injuries. The road is expected to remain partially blocked for … Read more

‘Well behaved’: Police, St John report quiet night as Kiwis celebrate New Year

Source: Radio New Zealand Fireworks at Auckland’s Sky Tower. RNZ / Robert Smith Wet weather in parts of the country seem to have dampened New Year celebrations with both police and St John reporting relatively quiet nights. The ambulance service responded to 177 incidents between 10pm and 3am – around 40 percent down on previous … Read more

Weather; Rainfall of up to 100mm, severe thunderstorms possible for South Island

Source: Radio New Zealand Parts of the South Island are welcoming the New Year with heavy rain warnings and severe thunderstorm watches. It has been a turbulent week across the country, with downpours and strong winds threatening celebrations. At the Twisted Frequency festival in Takaka overnight, police helped evacuate up to 100 people to Takaka … Read more

Road deaths down for third year in a row, but still too many – police

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Richard Tindiller Police are crediting Operation Open Roads for the reduction in road deaths for the third year in a row. In a statement, police said the provisional number of road deaths in 2025 was 272. In 2024, 292 people died on New Zealand roads. As of 7am on … Read more

PSA NEW YEAR WARNING – Fire at will is coming – job security of workers at risk like never before

Source: PSA – New law will make it easy for bosses to fire workers at will – Employment Relations Amendment Bill most anti-worker law in a generation As 2026 dawns, working New Zealanders will soon face increased job insecurity with a new law coming into force that will give bosses the power to fire workers at will. When … Read more

Fish & Game Seeks Feedback on Potential Sea Run Salmon Regulation Changes

Source: Fish and Game NZ Sea-run salmon populations in Canterbury are at critically low levels, prompting Fish & Game to seek public feedback on potential regulatory changes designed to increase the relative size of the spawning population. The primary way Fish & Game can influence the sea-run salmon fishery is by changing the harvest rate through … Read more

Appeal for information: Kaipara Coast Highway incident, Makarau, Auckland

Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā CIB: Police investigating the incident on Kaipara Coast Highway, Makarau, Auckland, where a person was found deceased on the road, are appealing to the public for information. Around 5.20am today [Thursday 1 January], Police were called with a report that someone was deceased … Read more

New year, new start for vocational education

Source: New Zealand Government Today marks a major step forward for vocational education in New Zealand, with ten regionally governed polytechnics and eight new Industry Skills Boards officially beginning operation, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Today is more than the start of a new year, it is the start of a stronger, more responsive … Read more

Person found dead on Kaipara Coast Highway, north of Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Marika Khabazi One person has been found dead on Kaipara Coast Highway, north of Auckland. Police had earlier asked motorists to avoid the village of Makarau after an “incident”. In a statement, police said officers were called to the scene about 5.20am this morning “where a person was found … Read more

One dead following crash on State Highway 26 in Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand A person has died following a crash in Waikato’s Hauraki District. Police were called to the intersection of State Highway 26 and Cadman Road in Tirohia at around 12.40am this morning. The sole occupant of the single vehicle crash died at the scene. The road was closed as a result of … Read more