Primary teachers consider settlement after drawn-out pay talks

Source: Radio New Zealand Primary teachers have been in drawn-out pay talks. (File photo) 123rf.com Primary school teachers are considering a potential settlement of their drawn-out pay talks. Teachers belonging to union NZEI Te Riu Roa received the offer overnight. Voting on the offer began on Friday morning and closed at 12pm on Wednesday next … Read more

Appeal to backyard beekeepers to be vigilant over yellow-legged hornets

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Hobbyist beekeepers are being asked to stay alert for invasive yellow-legged hornets loitering around their hives. Biosecurity New Zealand has more than doubled its Auckland surveillance zone from 5 to 11 kilometres. Auckland Beekeepers Club president Ken Brown said that decision was made because worker hornets were beginning to travel … Read more

Kaikōura redevelopment opens for summer

Source: New Zealand Government The completion of Kaikōura’s waterfront redevelopment marks a major milestone for the revitalisation of the region, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “Wakatu Quay redevelopment is a critical infrastructure asset, it supports Kaikoura economic development following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake which saw the region’s culture, social, natural and economic life significantly … Read more

Public Works Act overhaul clears first hurdle

Source: New Zealand Government Legislation to bring about a fairer and faster system for securing land for public infrastructure projects has passed its first reading in Parliament today. “The Public Works Act had not changed in half a century. A targeted review last year confirmed it lacks clarity and commonsense in several areas, which has … Read more

We need to get back to smaller portions, health professor says

Source: Radio New Zealand Unsplash Some food outlets have been supersizing portion sizes and it would be good to go back to smaller amounts, a New Zealand health professor says. In an article in the medical journal The Lancet, adviser to the UK government on obesity, Professor Naveed Sattar, said ready to eat portion sizes … Read more

Fast-track quarry project approved

Source: New Zealand Government A Fast-track approval for an Auckland quarry is great news for the city’s construction sector, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Resources Minister Shane Jones say. Stevenson Aggregates Ltd’s Drury quarry has received approval to expand after lodging its application in April. “This approval took just 85 working days following the commencement … Read more

Children being burnt by playground equipment sparks petition to parliament

Source: Radio New Zealand Lorna Irene Drive Reserve playground in Raumati South. Supplied / Kāpiti Coast District Council Young children getting burnt by playground equipment has sparked a petition calling for every new or upgraded playground to have mandatory shade from the sun. Founder of app Roam With Kids, Renata Wiles, launched the petition to … Read more

Regions must band together to avoid being pushed, Wellington mayor says

Source: Radio New Zealand Andrew Little is chair of the Wellington Mayoral Forum. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Mayor of Wellington says the region needs to work together to plan a response to the government’s calls for simpler, more cost-effective local government to prevent changes from being “imposed” upon them. All of the region’s mayors … Read more

Svitolina to Boulter: The ASB Classic 2026 women’s tennis field

Source: Radio New Zealand Katie Boulter, Venus Williams, Alexandra Eala, Elina Svitolina will compete at the ASB Classic 2026. ASB Classic/Photosport A seven-time Grand Slam champion, an Olympic medallist and the Philippines’ first top 50 player were among the initial 25 players confirmed for the 2026 ASB Classic women’s tennis tournament in Auckland. A field … Read more

More than maintenance – new guidance to drive better care of New Zealand’s infrastructure

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission has published new guidance – ‘Asset Management and Investment Planning’ – to help lift performance across government when it comes to taking care of New Zealand’s infrastructure assets – our hospitals, schools, courts, roads and more. “New Zealand has a challenge on its hands when it … Read more

Funding to strengthen Ngaruroro River bridge in Hawke’s Bay confirmed

Source: New Zealand Government Transport Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that funding has been approved for strengthening work on the State Highway 50 (SH50) Ngaruroro River Bridge, south of Fernhill, Hawke’s Bay. “The SH50 Ngaruroro River bridge is an important part of the transport network in Hawke’s Bay and … Read more

Improving how we care for New Zealand’s infrastructure

Source: New Zealand Government Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says new guidance from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission will help improve how government agencies maintain and manage the country’s infrastructure. “Central government owns nearly half of New Zealand’s infrastructure assets, yet for too long we haven’t been as good as we should be at looking after … Read more

Mitch Hay stars with bat, but Tom Blundell could be back for third test

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand wicketkeeper MItch Hay, left, and slip fielder Daryl Mitchell appeal successfully for an LBW decision against Anderson Phillip of the West Indies during Day 2 of the 2nd cricket test match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, 11 December 2025 Photosport Black Caps all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has … Read more

IHC settles 2012 Human Rights Review Tribunal claim with government

Source: Radio New Zealand Minister for Education Erica Stanford RNZ / Samuel Rillstone It was an “historic” day for New Zealand’s education system says the head of IHC, as the government settles a Human Rights Review Tribunal claim from 2012 alleging education policies disadvantaged disabled students in schools. Chief executive of the service provider for … Read more

ACC petition for volunteer firefighters rejected by Parliament

Source: Radio New Zealand A FENZ firefighter works in breathing gear, amid smoke. Supplied/ FENZ Parliament has rejected a petition fighting to change ACC workplace legislation to include injured volunteer firefighters. The petition to Parliament was launched by Katherine Lamont from the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade after a colleague developed PTSD and was unable to … Read more

Te Papa exhibition takes visitors on a nature into journey

Source: Radio New Zealand National museum Te Papa will be opening an immersive experience from this weekend featuring digital artworks that will take visitors on a journey into nature. From the roots of an Amazonian tree, to deep inside the body, through to the birth of galaxies, Breathe | Mauri Ora explores the rhythm that … Read more

The Detail: The stories that defined a year

Source: Radio New Zealand From left to right: Alexia Russell, Sharon Brettkelly, Davina Zimmer, Gwen McClure and Amanda Gillies Cole Eastham-Farrelly As the year draws to a close, The Detail looks back at 12 months of deep dives, sharp analysis, and the kinds of conversations that helped New Zealanders make sense of a turbulent, fast-moving … Read more

Te Papa exhibition uses large scale digital artworks to take visitors on a nature journey

Source: Radio New Zealand National museum Te Papa will be opening an immersive experience from this weekend featuring digital artworks that will take visitors on a journey into nature. From the roots of an Amazonian tree, to deep inside the body, through to the birth of galaxies, Breathe | Mauri Ora explores the rhythm that … Read more

Why you might be on track to have more in KiwiSaver than you think

Source: Radio New Zealand You might be on track to save more than expected in your KiwiSaver. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King You might be on track to save a lot more in your KiwiSaver than you think. When you receive an annual statement from your KiwiSaver provider, it will show you what lump sum you … Read more

Immigration New Zealand system outage prompts visa woes for travellers, firms and workers

Source: Radio New Zealand INZ said there were 900 fewer applications visas approved on Monday, compared to the Monday before. RNZ Hundreds of visa applications could not be submitted or processed after a fault on a new Immigration New Zealand system. INZ said there were 900 fewer applications visas approved on Monday, compared to the … Read more

‘Shop around’: Lamb popular Christmas choice, but prices are up

Source: Radio New Zealand Lamb is taking centre stage on many Christmas tables around New Zealand this year. Julie Biuso Lamb is taking centre stage on most Christmas tables around New Zealand this year, according to an online survey from Retail Meat NZ. But it comes at a cost. The average retail price of roasting … Read more

Firefighters battle large forestry slash blaze in Canterbury

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Fire crews have been battling a slash fire in the Canterbury town of Pines Beach overnight. Emergency services were called to the area, just north of Christchurch, where a blaze started in a large pile of forestry slash. It was about 30 metres by 40 metres in … Read more

The elusive Antarctic ice and sediment core that could answer sea level rise questions

Source: Radio New Zealand An advance crew set out on the traverse from Scott Base for Crary Ice Rise in November, using PistenBully snow vehicles to tow a full drill rig and other essential equipment for the project. Supplied / Anthony Powell (Antarctica NZ) All Huw Horgan wants for Christmas is a geological core sample. … Read more

A breakdown of your no-bra summer

Source: Radio New Zealand A few weeks ago, Lou Heller, a stylist, saw a trend from her social media in real life at a New Zealand Fashion Week event in Christchurch. A young woman at the event, who looked in her 20s, was wearing a sheer black dress. In lieu of a bra, she wore … Read more

The stories that defined a year

Source: Radio New Zealand From left to right: Alexia Russell, Sharon Brettkelly, Davina Zimmer, Gwen McClure and Amanda Gillies Cole Eastham-Farrelly As the year draws to a close, The Detail looks back at 12 months of deep dives, sharp analysis, and the kinds of conversations that helped New Zealanders make sense of a turbulent, fast-moving … Read more

Ombudsman investigating Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s role in post-cyclone buyout

Source: Radio New Zealand Some people do not want to leave land that was red zoned after Cyclone Gabrielle, while others have accepted pay-outs but continue to own their red-zone land but are not able to live on it. RNZ / Alexa Cook The Ombudsman is investigating the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s role in the … Read more

Borrowers get refunds in $15m student loan error

Source: Radio New Zealand Inland Revenue has rectified an error that affected more than 150,000 student loan borrowers. RNZ An Inland Revenue system fix last weekend has rectified an error that affected more than 150,000 student loan borrowers. Inland Revenue said in 2020, as part of its business transformation project, student loan accounts were moved … Read more