Insidious invasives pose major threat to freshwater

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Pest weeds, fish, microorganisms and now shellfish from overseas are estimated to cost New Zealand millions of dollars each year. Eradication is usually impossible. Containment and preventing further spread is a worthwhile investment – and a real team effort.  From left: Susan Emmitt, Brittany Earl and Shideen Nathan-Ngaronoa at a koi carp eradication operation. Photo: Sarah Wilcox, DOC  New Zealand’s worst freshwater weed  Brittany Earl, a DOC Freshwater Ranger, was in Christchurch catching up with a friend over … Read more

Study to reveal the secret lives of fur seals at sea

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  16 December 2025 Satellite tracking devices and dive data collectors were attached to eight female fur seals with pups, which will track their location, the dives they make, and the temperature of the ocean. Dr Mia Wege from the University of Canterbury, who led the research says studying the fur … Read more

New Zealand’s Winter Olympics team uniforms revealed

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Source: Radio New Zealand Snowboarder Cam Melville Ives, left, skier Fin Melville Ives and skier Mischa Thomas model the uniforms the New Zealand team will be wearing at the Winter Olympics in northern Italy in February. SUPPLIED Twins Cam and Fin Melville Ives have revealed the New Zealand team’s uniform for the Milano Cortina 2026 … Read more

Splore festival will end for good in 2026

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Source: Radio New Zealand Splore music and arts festival organisers have announced that next year’s will be the last due to lower than hoped for ticket sales. Splore curator John Minty said after 18 years of financial viability the festival first hit headwinds with Covid postponements and cancellations. Then the cost of living crisis led … Read more

Climate change could claim nearly all of NZ’s glaciers, research shows

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Source: Radio New Zealand Tourists on Fox Glacier on the West Coast. supplied / Fox Glacier Guiding Almost all of New Zealand’s glaciers could completely disappear if global warming continues on its current track, new research shows. Local glacier researchers say that level of loss would contribute to sea-level rise, make water shortages worse, and … Read more

Police lay charge over prisoner’s death

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Source: New Zealand Police A man will appear in court today in connection with the death of a prisoner at Mt Eden Corrections Facility last month. The prisoner was taken to hospital on 29 November 2025 following a serious assault at the facility. Auckland City Police commenced a homicide enquiry on 9 December after the … Read more

Parliament bill set to return historic Māori site in Northland to Ngāpuhi

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Source: Radio New Zealand Kororipo Pā as seen from the other side of Kerikeri Basin with Kemp House, New Zealand’s oldest surviving building, on the right. RNZ / Peter de Graaf A bill returning one of New Zealand’s most historic sites to Māori is due to be passed by Parliament on Wednesday, ending a 20-year … Read more

Paws on board: Inside the Pet Bus as it travels the country

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Source: Radio New Zealand was due Nearly two-thirds of households in New Zealand own a pet, and many more are planning to welcome a furry friend this Christmas. In Auckland, a family-run business is making sure pets get where they’re going safely – transporting more than 100 animals at a time on a bus that … Read more

Homelessness in Auckland more than doubles to 940 people in year to September – survey

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Source: Radio New Zealand The latest six-monthly survey of housing support providers shows homelessness in Auckland has more than doubled to 940 people in the year to September. RNZ / Finn Blackwell A worker at a special court that helps Auckland’s homeless who have committed low-level offences turn their lives around, says she is seeing … Read more

Our Changing World: Return of The Kākāpō Files

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Source: Radio New Zealand The males stay in one spot and attract the females through their boom and ching calls. Jake Osborne, DOC On the small, bush-clad, Whenua Hou / Codfish Island preparations are underway. People and supplies are being dropped in by helicopter. Food hoppers are being filled. Transmitters are being checked. And come … Read more

Fatal crash, Māngere

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Source: New Zealand Police Police can confirm one person has died following a serious crash in Māngere on 3 December. Emergency services were notified of the two vehicle crash on State Highway 20 at about 4am that day. The man was assessed by ambulance services to have critical injuries at the scene and was transported … Read more

Firefighters sent to Rangipo Power Station after false fire alarm

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Source: Radio New Zealand Firefighters are attending a reported fire at Rangipo Power Station (File photo). RNZ / Nate McKinnon Multiple Fire and Emergency crews were sent to Rangipo Power Station, after reports of a fire on Monday night. A spokesperson said crews were called to the site Kaimanawa Forest Park shortly before 9pm. They … Read more

Live: Emotional vigils held for Bondi Beach shooting victims

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Source: Radio New Zealand Australia is mourning 15 people shot dead in the Bondi terror attack, with thousands attending vigils in Sydney and Melbourne. Sixteen people – including one of two gunmen – were killed after a father and son opened fire at a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach. Australian officials described it as … Read more

Tim Seifert blazes to a Big Bash century for Melbourne Renegades

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Source: Radio New Zealand Tim Seifert has hit a century after six weeks out with a finger injury. Photosport Black Cap Tim Seifert has hit a century to help the Melbourne Renegades to a 14-run victory over the Brisbane Heat in their opening game of Australia’s Big Bash. Seifert’s 102 came off 56 balls and … Read more

What’s really going on with Canterbury’s water

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Source: Radio New Zealand Depending on who you ask, Canterbury is either in the grip of a nitrate emergency orcontrolled by environmental alarmists waging a war on dairy cows. Despite the disagreement, there is no dispute the region’s dairy boom has coincided with a decline in water quality. In the first of RNZ’s three-part series … Read more

McLeod’s Daughters star Rachael Carpani dies

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Source: Radio New Zealand Australian actress Rachael Carpani has died, aged 45. Carpani was best known for her role as Jodi Fountain on the hit show McLeod’s Daughters. In an Instagram post Carpani’s parents Tony and Gael say Carpani “unexpectedly but peacefully passed away after a long battle with chronic illness”. She died in the … Read more

Young Kiwi golfer chasing a professional dream

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Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand golfer Darae Chung. supplied Young Lower Hutt golfer Darae Chung loves playing collegiate golf and hopes that one day it will lead to her competing on the LPGA Tour. Twenty-one-year-old Chung is one of nine New Zealand golfers who have been invited to compete at the Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur … Read more

David Seymour promises to reignite Treaty principles debate in 2026

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Source: Radio New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and ACT leader David Seymour. (File photo) RNZ / Mark Papalii ACT leader David Seymour is promising to reignite the Treaty principles debate next year, saying he’ll never move on from his vision for equality in New Zealand. Seymour – who’s deputy prime minister – made the comments … Read more

Emergency services attending house fire in Toi Toi, Nelson

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Fire crews are working to put out a house fire in Nelson. They were called to the suburb of Toi Toi at about 3.40am on Tuesday. Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said neighbouring homes were evacuated at one point. It said there were early concerns somebody was still … Read more

The best games we played in 2025

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Source: Radio New Zealand Gaming in 2025 feels like it’s at an all-time high with the release of new games consoles, exceptional independent titles, and tonnes of mobile games. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 .1em]:grid-cols-[calc(14rem*var(–base-multiplier))_1fr] @[28.1em]:p-16 @[28.1em]:gap-16 @[18.75em]:grid-cols-[2fr_3fr] gap-12 p-12 @[28.1em]:min-h-[calc(11.8rem*var(–base-multiplier))] min-h-[calc(10.2rem*var(–base-multiplier))]”> Why we like playing games that let us pretend to work While gamers might … Read more

Food and fibre exports set to reach record $62b next year

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Source: Radio New Zealand Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay. Nick Monro Food and fibre exports are set to reach a record $62 billion next year, up from the $60.4b record set this year. The data comes from the government’s latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report. It showed meat and wool revenue was … Read more

Rents taking 40 percent of average income

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Source: Radio New Zealand New data shows renters still have to spend about 40 percent of an average individual’s income on rent each month. RNZ / Nate McKinnon Rents might have eased but New Zealand renters still have to spend about 40 percent of an average individual’s income on rent each month, new data shows. … Read more

Inland Revenue liquidates nearly 900 companies in one year

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Source: Radio New Zealand Inland Revenue made applications to wind up more than 120 business in November. RNZ Inland Revenue made applications to wind up more than 120 business in November, as it draws to the end of a year in which it moved to liquidate almost 900 businesses with tax owing. Keaton Pronk, an … Read more

Food and fibre exports set to reach record $62 billion

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Source: New Zealand Government Kiwi farmers, growers, and primary producers are driving New Zealand’s economy with food and fibre exports set to reach a record $62 billion next year, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has announced. The forecast is for the year to 30 June 2026 and is in the latest Situation and Outlook … Read more

Tom Phillips filmmakers agreed police could edit documentary

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Source: Radio New Zealand Tom Phillips – who had been hiding in bush with his children – died following a shootout with police. RNZ / Supplied / Police The producer of The Marokopa Project agreed the police could preview and edit its feature-length documentary before it airs. A film crew from Dunedin-based NHNZ Productions has … Read more

Disgraced former top cop Jevon McSkimming set to be sentenced

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Source: Radio New Zealand Disgraced former top cop Jevon McSkimming. RNZ / Mark Papalii Disgraced former top cop Jevon McSkimming is due to be sentenced at the Wellington District Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty in November to three representative charges of possessing objectionable publications, namely child sexual exploitation and bestiality material knowing or having … Read more

Teaching Council interim CEO resigns from board for ‘avoidance of doubt’, chair says

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Source: Radio New Zealand Teaching Council chair David Ferguson. Supplied – David Ferguson The Teaching Council’s interim chief executive has resigned from the council’s governing board following RNZ inquiries about the legality of his appointment. The council appointed Tom Gott to the role last month even though the Education and Training Act says the chief … Read more