Crown delivers for Ngāpuhi

Source: New Zealand Government The Crown’s relationship with Ngāpuhi has taken a significant step forward with legislation which returns the historic Kororipo Pā passing in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka say. “The return of the pā reflects the Crown’s commitment to right the wrongs experienced by Ngāpuhi. Advancing … Read more

Pharmac will not proceed with proposed changes to how it manages the Options for Investment list

Source: PHARMAC Following feedback, Pharmac has decided not to proceed with a proposal to decline some low-ranked applications on the Options for Investment (OFI) list. In October, Pharmac consulted on a proposal to decline applications that have remained in the lowest-ranked group for more than two years. The aim was to provide greater transparency about … Read more

Name release: Fiordland climbing deaths

Source: New Zealand Police Police can now release the names of the two climbers that died on the north buttress of Sabre Peak, Fiordland, at the weekend. They were 28-year-old Connor Scott McKenzie, a dual citizen of New Zealand and Canada, and 23-year-old Australian citizen Tanmay Shetankumar Bhati. Both men resided in Australia. Police remain … Read more

Report shines light on ‘gentle giant’ manta ray

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  17 December 2025 Manta rays are amongst 113 species assessed by an independent expert panel for the latest conservation status report on New Zealand’s chimaeras, sharks and rays. The latest data shows manta rays are now ‘Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable’. Previously, they were considered ‘Data Deficient’. This change represents a … Read more

Onehunga bus killing: Kael Leona pleads not guilty on grounds of insanity

Source: Radio New Zealand Flowers left at an Onehunga bus stop at the time of Bernice Marychurch’s death. RNZ/Nick Monro The man charged with murdering a woman on an Auckland bus a year ago has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Bernice Louise Marychurch was killed on the Number 74 bus travelling through Onehunga … Read more

Mental health targets delivering faster access to support

Source: New Zealand Government New data released today shows strong improvement across all three mental health and addiction access targets compared with the same quarter last year, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says.  “With the first year-on-year comparison now available for quarter one, it’s promising to see more New Zealanders having shorter stays in … Read more

Family of murdered mother Chantal McDonald pay tribute

Source: Radio New Zealand Chantal McDonald. Supplied The family of a woman murdered by a possessive stalker says she was a kind, hardworking woman, who was deeply devoted to her children. Nathan Boulter, who had a long history of stalking and assaulting ex-partners, murdered Chantal McDonald in Parklands on 23 July. He will be sentenced … Read more

State Highway 2 blocked after serious crash in Bay of Plenty

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Marika Khabazi State Highway Two in Bay of Plenty is blocked after a serious crash. Police said the crash involved a truck and a van near Tanners Point just before 9am on Wednesday. Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries. The road is closed between between Katikati and Waihi … Read more

Mike Pannett named as new Deputy Commissioner of Police

Source: Radio New Zealand Mike Pannett has been appointed a statutory Deputy Commissioner of Police. Supplied / NZ Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Pannett has been announced as one of the new statutory deputy commissioners of Police. After the initial shock at Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming‘s resignation in May one of the questions that emerged was … Read more

Man charged after one of largest hauls of child sex abuse material seized at Auckland Airport

Source: Radio New Zealand The 35-year-old man arrived Auckland Airport at the end of May after spending more than a month overseas. LDR / Stuff / Stephen Forbes A man has been jailed for what investigators say was one of their largest hauls of objectionable material ever seized at Auckland Airport. The 35-year-old Auckland man … Read more

Change from Treaty focus to closing achievement gap for Māori paying off – Stanford

Source: Radio New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford RNZ / Mark Papalii There is nothing stopping schools promoting te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Education Minister says, but they must make closing the achievement gap for tamariki the priority. Earlier this month the National Iwi Chairs Forum delivered a 24,000-strong petition to Erica Stanford, calling for … Read more

Road blocked, SH2, Tanners Point, Bay of Plenty

Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 2, Tanners Point, Bay of Plenty, is blocked following a serious crash this morning. Police notified of the two-vehicle crash, involving a truck and van, between Wolseley Road and Bridgman Lane around 8.50am. Initial indicators are there are serious injuries. The Serious Crash Unit has been advised and the … Read more

Commissioner welcomes new statutory Deputy Commissioner

Source: New Zealand Police Police Commissioner Richard Chambers welcomes the announcement of Assistant Commissioner Mike Pannett as a statutory Deputy Commissioner of NZ Police. “I want to congratulate Mike on his appointment after a lengthy and very thorough selection process. “Mike is a thoroughly decent person with integrity and determination and has the leadership experience … Read more

Easing of bank capital requirements welcomed

Source: New Zealand Government Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed the Reserve Bank’s decision to ease Bank capital requirements. The Reserve Bank announced today that it was winding back some of the additional capital requirements imposed on banks in 2019 including adjusting risk weights. “Since 2019 concerns have been raised that the Reserve Bank’s capital … Read more

Economy – Reserve Bank announces outcome of Capital Review

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand 17 December 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has released its decisions on the new capital settings applying to deposit takers. “Following the completion of the review commissioned by the Board in March, we are pleased to announce modernised capital rules that will support an efficient and … Read more

Competition reforms to boost economic growth

Source: New Zealand Government  Competition reforms will drive productivity, growth and innovation for businesses and Kiwi consumers, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says.  The Commerce (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill passed its first reading today and marks a significant step forward for a stronger economy.  “This Government is modernising competition law. Competition helps … Read more

Live: Bondi terror attack gunman wakes from coma

Source: Radio New Zealand One of the gunmen who police believe carried out a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15 people at the weekend has woken from a coma. Naveed Akram, 24, remains in a Sydney hospital under police guard. His 50-year-old father Sajid was killed by police during the shooting. Police … Read more

Wellington trains out of action for at least two weeks over summer

Source: Radio New Zealand Buses will replace trains across most of the Wellington rail network from 26 December until 12 January. RNZ / Krystal Gibbens Wellington trains will be out of action for at least two weeks over the summer break. KiwiRail said track maintenance and major upgrades will see buses replace trains across most … Read more

Ōtara-Papatoetoe election re-do a ‘nail in the coffin’ for postal voting – law professor

Source: Radio New Zealand A judge has ordered a new election to take place for seats on the Auckland local board due to manipulation of voting papers. RNZ / Eveline Harvey A law professor says a judge’s order for a new election to take place for seats on an Auckland local board – due to … Read more

Are You Actually Naturing? Take the Definitive Summer Quiz 

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Summer holidays are here, and Kiwis everywhere are swapping office desks for camp chairs, laptops for loop tracks, and alarms for birdsong (the good kind, not the pūkeko screaming at 5am). But before you lace up your boots and head for the hills, it’s time for a quick refresher on the fine art … Read more

1000 customers each weekday have power disconnected

Source: Radio New Zealand Prepay customers have their power disconnected more often. RNZ More than 10,000 households a month have their power disconnected, new data shows. The Electricity Authority has published a new disconnections for non-payment dashboard, including prepay customers who have been disconnected. It shows that between January and October, for people on contract … Read more

What to bring to a barbecue that isn’t a boring potato salad

Source: Radio New Zealand One of the best things about summer gatherings is how happily everyone contributes to the table; a salad here, some barbecue meat there, or the show-stopping summer pudding that disappears in seconds every time. Most of us have a few go-to dishes that get rolled out as soon as the invites … Read more

Ōtara-Papatoetoe election re-do a ‘nail in the coffin’ for the postal voting – law professor

Source: Radio New Zealand A judge has ordered a new election to take place for seats on the Auckland local board due to manipulation of voting papers. RNZ / Eveline Harvey A law professor says a judge’s order for a new election to take place for seats on an Auckland local board – due to … Read more

Can you donate your poo in New Zealand?

Source: Radio New Zealand Poo transplants may sound unglamorous, but researchers say the early evidence has been encouraging, and it’s grabbed attention around the world. Nelson infectious disease specialist Richard Everts (of Richmond Health Centre) and researchers at Auckland’s Liggins Institute say fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can help certain patients — yet finding eligible donors … Read more

A permit for trapping feral cats may get much easier to obtain after a U-turn by DOC

Source: Radio New Zealand Hunter Victor Tindale in Fiordland. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Permits for trapping feral cats on conservation land may become easier to obtain. At present, individuals need to adapt a possum fur trapping permit and contact local Department of Conservation (DOC) offices for permission to trap. Gaining permission can take weeks, and … Read more

Former New Plymouth mayor bids for Kāinga Ora flats neighbouring his apartment development

Source: Radio New Zealand Former mayor Peter Tennent is developing two buildings across the road including one which will house a family apartment overlooking the Tasman Sea. RNZ / Robin Martin A former New Plymouth mayor has put in a bid to buy two blocks of Kāinga Ora flats – planning to bowl them and … Read more

‘Crunch point’: Stretched rheumatologists decline half of referrals in some regions

Source: Radio New Zealand A computer illustration of a person with foot pain. KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Rheumatologists in some regions are turning down about half the specialist referrals they receive from GPs in order to provide adequate treatment for their existing patients. However, they say even with restricting “in-flow” in that way, wait times … Read more