Understanding the Reasons, Impact, and Support Needs of Older People Experiencing Gambling Harm: Research report

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health Publication date: 19 December 2025 This research investigates the reasons, impact, and support needs of older people experiencing gambling harm in New Zealand. It includes a global desktop review and in-depth interviews with 29 older gamblers, 27 families, 19 gambling harm service providers, and three gambling venue workers. The … Read more

Understanding Gambling Relapse and Associated Factors: A longitudinal approach

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health Publication date: 19 December 2025 This research sought to understand what constitutes gambling relapse and to identify factors that are associated with relapse. Relapse was defined as a decrease in Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) risk level category followed by a subsequent increase to a higher category. The aims … Read more

NZTA confirms preferred suppliers for Integrated Delivery Contracts

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Following a thorough procurement process, NZTA has confirmed its preferred suppliers for Integrated Delivery Contracts (IDCs), covering state highway road maintenance and renewals, which will commence in May 2026. The contracts, which are expected to be signed early next year, will see contractors accountable for the majority of maintenance and … Read more

Nightworks to improve SH30A, Rotorua from mid-January

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Essential repairs to State Highway 30A (SH30A) Amohau Street in Rotorua are set to begin on Monday 19 January. To minimise disruption, work will take place overnight using a sequence of road closures. The work will start on the eastbound lanes of SH30A between Te Ngae Road and Hinemaru Street, … Read more

Top tips for safe and happy holiday journeys

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging drivers to keep Christmas travel easy and crash free by planning ahead for safe summer road trips. NZTA has updated our popular online holiday journeys traffic prediction tool, which shows predicted traffic flows over the Christmas and New Year holiday, based on … Read more

NZTA holiday media contacts

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency The holidays are almost here, but for those still at work in the nation’s newsrooms, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) media team will be available to help during the 2025/26 Christmas/New Year break, with the following on-call roster: December 24 & January 2-4 Andy Knackstedt – 0212 763 … Read more

SIM60 WILL Award: Elevating Employability Through Work-Integrated Learning

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 December 2025 – In today’s competitive job market, academic excellence alone is no longer sufficient for career success. Employers increasingly value graduates who demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and real-world experience. To address this shift, SIM has introduced the SIM60 Work-Integrated Learning (WILL) Award, a prestigious accolade … Read more

Important update: Changes to Gas Safety Regulations for gas installations

Source: Worksafe New Zealand The amended Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 came into effect on 13 November 2025. Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 | New Zealand Legislation(external link) Key points Updated standards: The amendment updates the standards referenced in Schedules 1 and 2A. Gasfitters can choose to use either AS/NZS 5601.1:2013 including Amendments 1, 2, 3, and … Read more

Important update: Changes to Electricity Safety Regulations for electrical installations

Source: Worksafe New Zealand The amended Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 (ESR) came into effect on 13 November 2025. Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025 | New Zealand Legislation(external link) Key points Updated standards: The amendment updates the standards referenced in Schedules 2 and 4. A new version of AS/NZS 3000 has been cited. A new version of AS/NZS 3001.1 and … Read more

Important update: Changes to Gas Safety Regulations for endorsing gas products

Source: Worksafe New Zealand The amended Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 came into effect on 13 November 2025. Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 | New Zealand Legislation(external link) Key points Updated standards: The amendment updates the standards referenced in Schedules 1 and 2A.  NZS 5266:2014 has been cited for use. AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 including Amendments 1 and 2 … Read more

Villagers who watched Manawanui sink still waiting for compensation

Source: Radio New Zealand The HMNZS Manawanui, aground in Samoa. Profile Boats / supplied More than a year after the New Zealand navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui sank off the south coast of Samoa’s island of Upolu, affected locals have yet to be compensated. Information showing a compensation payment from the New Zealand government to the … Read more

New Zealand’s busiest airport days and tips for flying this summer

Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland Airport on Friday, its busiest day of the year for domestic departures. RNZ / Kim Baker-Wilson Whether it’s Christmas with family, or a New Year’s Eve event with friends Air New Zealand figures show 2.7 million New Zealanders and international visitors will be flying this summer. The busiest days for … Read more

Update on Hamilton homicide investigation and appeal for information

Source: New Zealand Police Scene examinations and further enquiries are ongoing today as Hamilton Police continue to investigate a homicide. Emergency services were called to a Lake Crescent address at about 6:15pm last night, where it emerged two people had been injured. One of the victims later died at the scene, and the other was … Read more

Youths using TikTok get big shock from quick cops

Source: New Zealand Police Please attribute to Manawatu Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham Police caught a group of youths on the job while they livestreamed their alleged car thefts at about 3.30am today in Palmerston North. Police were alerted after a TikTok livestream was uploaded showing a vehicle crashing into a pole, sustaining some damage … Read more

New plan to tackle organised crime

Source: New Zealand Government A new all-of-government plan to tackle organised crime was released today by  Associate Police Minister Casey Costello. “We are at a critical time in the fight against Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC),” Ms Costello says. “New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours are being increasingly targeted by organised criminal groups, who … Read more

New Plant Health and Environment Laboratory

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has committed to a major biosecurity investment to protect New Zealand’s primary industries and drive economic growth, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop.  The Ministers today toured the construction site of the new Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) at the Mt Albert Research Centre in … Read more

Measuring the Gambling-Related Financial Harms Experienced by Whānau and Affected Others and Identifying Mitigating Practices

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health Publication date: 19 December 2025 The research strengthens understanding of the gambling-related financial harms experienced by affected others in New Zealand, including the extent of these harms, the differences across gender and ethnicity, and the role of financial products and related policies. Three in four (75.9%) surveyed affected others … Read more

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? Systemic mapping of barriers to generate solutions for equitable access to gambling harm services

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health Publication date: 19 December 2025 Gambling harm is increasingly recognised as a significant public health concern in Aotearoa New Zealand, with Māori, Pacific, Asian communities, and youth disproportionately affected. While these groups experience higher levels of harm, they are less likely to engage with formal help services, pointing to … Read more

Loafers Lodge fire: Esarona David Lologa handed life sentence for murder of five people

Source: Radio New Zealand Esarona David Lologa in the High Court in Wellington on Friday. Samuel Rillstone The man who murdered five people by lighting the Loafers Lodge blaze has been sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of release for at least 22 years. Esarona David Lologa, 50, set the Wellington boarding house … Read more

Fate of Hamilton-to-Auckland Te Huia train to be decided next year

Source: Radio New Zealand Te Huia provides an interregional passenger rail service between the regions of Waikato and Auckland. Supplied / Waikato Regional Council The future of the Hamilton to Auckland train, Te Huia, looks set to be decided in the first half of next year. The Waikato regional council voted on Thursday to ask … Read more

Sam Neill: ‘Retirement it’s like a swear word to me’

Source: Radio New Zealand “The last thing I would ever, ever do is retire,” Sir Sam Neill says. Recently named Screen Legend at this year’s New Zealand Screen Awards, the 78-year-old actor says his 54-year long (and counting) career still excites him. “I love being able to go away, go home again too, but I … Read more

Extended urgent care coming to South and East Auckland

Source: New Zealand Government People in South and East Auckland will soon be able to access urgent care earlier, later, and overnight, reducing pressure on hospitals and keeping care close to home, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. Getting urgent care in South and East Auckland is about to become significantly easier, with longer hours now … Read more

All aboard the Ngākōroa Train Station and SH22 Drury Upgrade

Source: New Zealand Government Spades are in the ground for the Ngākōroa Train Station and the interim upgrade of the State Highway 22 (SH22)/Jesmond Road intersection as part of the SH22 Drury Upgrade project in South Auckland. “This is an important milestone as the last of a series of major Government funded rail projects in … Read more

Parent Portal updated with new maths practice tool

Source: New Zealand Government Parents will know more about what their children are learning at school and will have the tools to help them learn at home through new updates to the Parent Portal, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The Ministry of Education’s Parent Portal digital resource is now live with every learning area of … Read more

Strengthened accountability for Treaty settlement delivery

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has published the Whole of System (Core Crown) Report on Treaty Settlement Delivery 2025, providing transparency for Treaty settlement delivery and setting a benchmark for performance across Government. “Accountability is critical to maintaining the integrity of settlements, and to ensuring the that the Crown delivers on its obligations,” Māori … Read more

Burglar strikes the wrong chord

Source: New Zealand Police Police have strung together the events leading to a number of crimes in East Auckland. Officers have been on the hunt for a person believed to be responsible for at least three separate incidents in the Highland Park and Botany Downs areas on Sunday. Senior Sergeant Simon Cornish, of Counties Manukau … Read more

The Ashes live: Australia v England – third test, day three

Source: Radio New Zealand Follow all the cricket action as the third in the five-test series between arch rivals Australia and England continues at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, and England are staring down the barrel of a third Test defeat. Australia currently has a 2-0 lead in the series, after successful campaigns in both Perth … Read more