KiwiSaver investors should focus on long-term savings: Financial research firm

Source: Radio New Zealand Morningstar said investors should focus on long-term savings goals, rather than seek short-term gains. RNZ / REECE BAKER A leading financial research firm says KiwiSaver investors should focus on long-term savings goals, rather than seek short-term gains on speculative investments. The end of year is often a time when investors reviewed … Read more

New racing hub unlocks housing potential

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is investing in a racecourse transformation in Hawke’s Bay to help free up prime land for homes in Hastings, Racing Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.  The project represents an investment of just over $77million in the region with a $20m loan from the Regional … Read more

Consultation on Organic Notice: Recognised Entities, Verification and Evaluation (Tranche 2)

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries This is the second of 3 consultations The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has begun work to develop notice content to supplement both the Organic Products and Production Regulations, and the Organic Standards Regulations.  We are consulting about the content of the organic supplementary notices in 3 stages (tranches). … Read more

Tennis: American Ben Shelton secures top seeding for ASB Classic

Source: Radio New Zealand Clockwise from top left: Gael Monfils, Casper Ruud, Ben Shelton and Cam Norrie are in the field for the 2026 ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland. Photosport Five players who have reached the world’s top 10, along with some explosive emerging talent are among the male players confirmed for the ASB … Read more

Three men jailed for life over murder of Anaru Moana

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Three men have been jailed for life for the murder of South Canterbury man Anaru Moana. Hayden Burt, Aaron Boden and Cody Boyes were found guilty by a jury last month of the murder of Moana. Burt and Boden were also found guilty of kidnapping and injuring … Read more

Road blocked, SH1, Motutere, Taupo

Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 1, Motutere, Taupo, is blocked due to a crash this afternoon.  Police were called to the two-vehicle crash, involving a truck and a car, just north of the Motutere township around 12.30pm. Initial indicators are that there are injuries. Motorists are advised to avoide the area where possible and … Read more

Highlanders Super Rugby contract for Mils Muliaina’s ‘impressive’ nephew

Source: Radio New Zealand Southland Stags’ Mika Muliaina, 2025. Stephen Parker / www.photosport.nz The nephew of All Black great Mils Muliaina has been given a Super Rugby contract by the Highlanders. Young first-five prospect Mika Muliaina has been given a three-year contract starting in 2027. The 18-year-old Southlander, who has progressed through the Highlanders high … Read more

What the weather forecast is looking like for Christmas

Source: Radio New Zealand Summer in Eastbourne, Wellington. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Christmas day celebrations may need to be inside for the parts of the country, as a forecaster says it may not be a nice, settled story that many of us are hoping for. With only eight sleeps until Christmas, we are in the … Read more

Two climbers still missing at Mt Cook, two who died named

Source: Radio New Zealand A police team member on a mountain in Fiordland. Supplied / Police A search of the route taken by two missing climbers on Aoraki/Mt Cook has turned up no sign of the pair. Bad weather has hampered the search for the climbers, who have been missing since Monday, but conditions improved … Read more

Warning of bus driver shortage if immigration settings not changed

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Greater Wellington Regional Council is urging the government to lower its English language requirements for visas to avoid a bus driver shortage. In 2022, 59 Metlink weekday bus services were suspended due to a lack of drivers – significantly cutting back reliability on the Wellington region’s bus … Read more

Fire crews battle two large fires in North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand An aerial view of the Lismore Forest fire at 8am Monday 15 December 2025. Fire and Emergency NZ Fire crews are working to contain two large fires in the central North Island. The blaze at Lismore Forest near Parikino started on Sunday afternoon and was 100 hectares in size. It is … Read more

Road cone hotline to close as pilot hits objectives

Source: New Zealand Government The road cone digital hotline pilot is wrapping up ahead of schedule, after six months of valuable data collection and relationship building with road controlling authorities. The hotline will close on Friday, 19 December 2025, to coincide with the requirement of NZTA for councils to have a plan in place to … Read more

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

Source: Radio New Zealand Follow all the action as the third in the five-test series between arch rivals Australia and England gets underway at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. Australia currently has a 2-0 lead in the series, after successful campaigns in both Perth and Brisbane. First ball is at 12.30 NZT Sign up for Ngā … Read more

Man admits damaging Wellington mountain bike tracks, formally warned by police

Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington City Council park rangers looked to install motion-activated cameras in the Town Belt on Matairangi/Mt Victoria after a spate of vandalism that appeared to target mountain bikers. Wellington City Council Wellington police say a man has been “formally warned” over damage to mountain bike tracks on Mount Victoria near the … Read more

Two climbers who died in Fiordland named

Source: Radio New Zealand A police team member on a mountain in Fiordland. Supplied / Police A search of the route taken by two missing climbers on Aoraki/Mt Cook has turned up no sign of the pair. Bad weather has hampered the search for the climbers, who have been missing since Monday, but conditions improved … Read more

Two PAK’nSAVE stores found in breach of Privacy Act

Source: Privacy Commissioner 17 Dec 2025, 09:00 Two PAK’nSAVE stores have been named by the Privacy Commissioner for breaching the Privacy Act. Both failed to have adequate oversight of their third-party providers who were providing security services to the stores. Read the Decision Note about this. Breaches of the Privacy Act by C Park Traders … Read more

CE/0420 [2025] NZPrivCmr3 – Two PAK’nSAVE stores found in breach of Privacy Act

Source: Privacy Commissioner 17 Dec 2025, 11:30 C Park Traders Limited (formerly trading as PAK’nSAVE Clendon) and Hutchinson Bros Limited (trading as PAK’nSAVE Royal Oak) breached IPP5 by not having adequate oversight of third-party providers.  Recent incidents at two PAK’nSAVE stores highlight the risks to individuals’ privacy when agencies fail to implement adequate security safeguards … Read more

Aged Care Advisory Group appointed

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has today announced appointments to the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group, to provide expert advice on long-term reform of the aged care system. “This group will identify the changes needed to the aged care funding model, in order to build a sustainable system and one that … Read more

Farmer and livestock agent who illegally removed NAIT tags from cows with bovine disease fined $15,000

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.   Simon Mark Payne (44) was sentenced (16 December 2025) in the New Plymouth District Court on one charge under … Read more

DOC investigates Oamaru orca incident

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  17 December 2025 The actions of the members of the public have prompted DOC’s Dunedin/Ōtepoti Operations Manager Gabe Davies to remind people of the potential consequences for interfering with protected species – dead or alive. People can face a prosecution, or a $600 infringement notice. “We were made aware of … Read more

South Island Māori landowners to get more than 3000 hectares returned by Crown

Source: Radio New Zealand An agreement has been reached on the long-standing Nelson Tenths case. 123RF Māori landowners at the top of the South Island will have more than 3000 hectares returned to them in a landmark agreement with the Crown. In the 1830s the Crown promised Māori in Te Tauihu that if they sold … Read more

What changes to New Zealand’s foreign buyers real estate ban will mean

Source: Radio New Zealand The change is expected to apply to $5m-plus houses mostly in Queenstown or Auckland. 123RF Explainer – In a flurry of last-minute activity before the holidays, Parliament has approved changes to the foreign buyers ban that has been in place for the last seven years. The changes will allow “golden visa” … Read more

Consumer confidence up in December but still below long-term averages index shows

Source: Radio New Zealand Spending remained strongest in the South Island, but was picking up in other regions. 123rf.com The holiday season appears to have boosted the spirits of consumers with household confidence on the rise. The Westpac-McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index rose 5.6 points in December to 96.5. While the reading was a little … Read more

Police sharpen skills in successful search and rescue exercise

Source: New Zealand Police A large-scale marine search and rescue (SAR) exercise involving specialist Police personnel off the New Plymouth coastline on Sunday has been hailed a major success. The scenario tested the ability of multiple agencies to work together in challenging marine conditions, requiring rapid decision-making, clear communication and effective use of land and … Read more

Moped rider finds the red and blue lights

Source: New Zealand Police A moped rider may now have seen the light after failing to stop for Police in Auckland overnight. Just after 12.30am, a unit spotted a moped travelling without a headlight on in the Mt Albert area. Senior Sergeant Guy Baldwin, Auckland City West Area Response Manager, says the moped was signalled … Read more

Historic agreement for Top of South Island land

Source: New Zealand Government The ownership of approximately 7,583 acres (3,068 hectares) of Top of the South land will be restored to descendants of its original owners following a long-standing private litigation, Attorney General Judith Collins and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced today. The Crown and the owners, descendants of Te Tauihu Māori, have agreed to allow … Read more

Removing barriers to hydrogen sector growth

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has agreed to make changes to the health and safety regulations for the hydrogen sector, ensuring they are fit for purpose and support growth, Energy Minister Simon Watts and Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden say. “The Government sees hydrogen as a valuable tool we can harness … Read more