Call for public help after 3-week-old baby suffers broken leg in Hutt Valley

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Angus Dreaver Police are asking for the community’s help to find out what happened to a three-week-old baby who suffered a serious injury in the Hutt Valley. On 2 December, police were notified about a baby that had been brought into hospital by her family. She had a broken … Read more

Wellington’s City to Sea bridge saved from demolition – for now

Source: Radio New Zealand People on Wellington’s City to Sea bridge. (File photo) RNZ / Pretoria Gordon Wellington city councillors have saved the City to Sea bridge from the bulldozers for now, while planning continues on its future. The CBD bridge was slated for demolition, but the works were paused while Wellington City Council awaited … Read more

Witnesses sought following Otangarei aggravated robbery

Source: New Zealand Police An investigation has been launched after a worker was assaulted during an aggravated robbery in Otangarei last night. Police were called to a store on William Jones Drive at about 7.25pm after a report of a group of males entering the store armed with weapons (not firearms) and making demands. One … Read more

Decisions on stewardship land delivered

Source: New Zealand Government Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has announced decisions that will provide clarity for approximately 80 per cent of stewardship land assessed on the West Coast of the South Island. Of the 576 reclassification proposals notified, 385 will now proceed.  “I have decided that more than 190,000ha of stewardship land will now be … Read more

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa Semi-Finalists Announced for Seven Categories

Source: New Zealander of the Year Awards The New Zealander of the Year Awards Office is proud to announce the Semi-Finalists in seven categories for the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa. Selected from thousands of nominations, these outstanding New Zealanders have been recognised by our independent … Read more

First Responders – Tongariro National Park Fire – Final Update

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency has handed back to Department of Conservation management the area affected by this week’s fire in the Tongariro National Park. Assistant Commander David Brown says that thermal imaging drone flights overnight found no sign of hotspots and the containment lines are secure. The last of Fire and … Read more

Māori smoking rates stall for the first time in over a decade

Source: Radio New Zealand Health officials are concerned by the rate of smoking. (File photo) RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King For the first time in over a decade the decreasing trend of Māori smoking rates has stalled leaving health advocates devastated. The latest New Zealand Health Survey showed daily smoking among Māori adults 15 and over … Read more

Local Water Done Well: Council plans to cost $9b higher than expected

Source: Radio New Zealand Local Government Minister Simon Watts. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Spending on water services will be nearly $9 billion higher under the Local Water Done Well model than councils previously estimated. Councils had to submit water service plans to show how they would organise water services in a financially sustainable way as … Read more

Jetstar ordered to stop using faulty baggage scales at Wellington Airport

Source: Radio New Zealand File pic 123rf.com The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has directed Jetstar to stop using two baggage scales at Wellington Airport after inspections found they failed to meet legal accuracy requirements under the Weights and Measures Act 1987. Following a public complaint in September, Trading Standards, a business unit of … Read more

Weather News – Thundery Thursday gives way to a calm weekend – MetService

Source: MetService Covering period of Thursday 11th – Monday 15th of December –Thundery Thursday gives way to a calm weekend •    Thunderstorms feed on warm temperatures today (Thursday), rumbling across parts of the country, especially Otago and South Canterbury•    Milder temperatures settle in across the country tomorrow (Friday) as the warm air mass over … Read more

Transporting New Zealand hails two-lane Pekatahi Bridge replacement

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand National Road Freight Association Transporting New Zealand is welcoming Transport Minister Chris Bishop’s announcement that a new two-lane bridge will be built on State Highway 2 (SH2) near Tāneatua in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, replacing the existing one-lane Pekatahi Bridge. Construction of the new two-lane bridge is likely to begin … Read more

Conservation Minister scores on stewardship land – Minerals Council

Source: New Zealand Minerals Council It is a relief to have much of the stewardship land on the West Coast now classified, says New Zealand Minerals Council chief executive Josie Vidal. “This has been a football no one wanted to touch for too long, so we are pleased to see Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has picked … Read more

Coromandel and Motutere back lower speeds: New limits on SH1 and SH25 in before summer

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency Andrew Corkill, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Director Regional Relationships for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, says the support for these lower speeds came from many different avenues, and in particular, local residents.   “We received a total of 982 submissions on the 4 speed limit reviews we … Read more

Police seek truth on serious injuries to 3-week-old baby

Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wescott: Police investigating the serious injury caused to a young baby in the Hutt Valley are asking the public for information on how the injuries were sustained. On 2 December, Police were notified that a three-week-old baby had been brought into hospital by her family. … Read more

How the world got talking about red-tipped bananas

Source: Radio New Zealand Red-tipped bananas are not new to Australian consumers, but have gone viral on social media this month after an inquisitive post from two bewildered British backpackers. The video from travellers Mel Chekaoui and Phil Colia has been seen more than 11 million times on Instagram, with eager consumers commenting that they … Read more

Students pair up with retirees and exchange lives through letters

Source: Radio New Zealand Children at St Heliers School and residents at Grace Joel Retirement Village has been pen pals for the past year. Ke-Xin Li There’s nervous excitement as the children of Room 25 at St Heliers School get ready to visit their pen pals. A five minute walk brings the kids to the … Read more

Why you might suddenly stop drinking milk

Source: Radio New Zealand You’ve long enjoyed a generous pour of milk in your morning coffee, or a big bowl of ice cream for dessert. You’ve been fine with dairy most of your life, but you’re getting into middle age, and all of a sudden it’s not sitting right with you – creating lots of … Read more

Weather forecast: Temperatures creeping back down after scorching summer days

Source: Radio New Zealand Parts of the country saw temperatures in the high 20s or early 30s earlier this week. (File photo) RNZ/ Mohammad Alafeshat After days of sweltering heat for much of the country temperatures should drop by a few degrees in coming days. Earlier this week a heat alert was in place for … Read more

Biosecurity doubles Auckland’s surveillance zone for yellow-legged hornets

Source: Radio New Zealand Yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) and their nests have been found in the Auckland region. Biosecurity NZ Biosecurity NZ has more than doubled the surveillance zone for invasive yellow legged hornets in Auckland. More than 30 queen hornets and 22 nests have been located and destroyed so far in the region, with … Read more

Three more arrests after murder of US student Kyle Whorrall in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand Kyle Whorrall, 33, was killed at a bus stop on St Johns Rd in Meadowbank, Auckland. SUPPLIED A trio of teenagers are the latest to be arrested as Auckland police investigate the violent murder of American student Kyle Whorrall. Six people have now been charged in connection with the homicide investigation, … Read more

External project management team to run Nelson Hospital redevelopment

Source: Radio New Zealand Nelson Hospital. RNZ / Samantha Gee Health New Zealand is hiring an external project management team to run the Nelson Hospital redevelopment for the next six years. The project aims to deliver new, refurbished and seismically strengthened buildings in three packages. First up, design of a new 11,000 square metre inpatient … Read more

Farmers doing their bit to support those with intellectual disabilities in rural communities

Source: Radio New Zealand Kaye and her daughter check out the calves at the Temuka sale. Supplied Strong beef prices are helping raise record funds as part of a fundraising scheme that’s been going for more than 40 years. IHC has been around for 70 years supporting those with intellectual disabilities, particularly in rural communities. … Read more

Live: Black Caps v West Indies second test – day two

Source: Radio New Zealand The Black Caps ripped through the West Indies on the first day of the second test in Wellington, but it came at a cost. Late on day one the West Indies were dismissed for just 205, with a top score of just 48 from Shai Hope to put the Kiwis well … Read more

Education – Whitireia and WelTec announce partnership with Toi Whakaari to provide performing arts education in Wellington

Source: Whitireia and WelTec Whitireia and WelTec are excited to announce their partnership with Te Kura Toi Whakaari o Aotearoa: New Zealand Drama School to deliver performing arts education in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Through this arrangement, new and returning ākonga (students) will have the unique opportunity to complete Whitireia and WelTec’s New Zealand Diplomas in Drama, Dance, … Read more

Health – Asthma Foundation supports stop-smoking provider threatened for rejecting vapes

Source: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is appalled that a Wellington stop-smoking provider is at risk of losing its Government contract for refusing to supply vapes to help people knock the habit. Takiri Mai Te Ata Trust, in a statement released yesterday, advised that Te Whatu Ora was intending to terminate … Read more

Climate – Degraded estuaries feel the heat – Earth Sciences

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand Degraded estuaries are less resilient to the impacts of heatwaves, new research from Earth Sciences New Zealand shows. Estuaries are vital to Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural and economic wellbeing; they also play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and can act as a carbon sinks. However, little is known about … Read more

Events – Auckland Live Summer in the Square 2026 unleashes a month of culture and creativity

Source: Maia Studio Auckland’s favourite free summer celebration is back, brighter, bolder and more diverse than ever. Auckland Live Summer in the Square returns to Aotea Square from Friday, 30 January to Sunday, 22 February 2026, transforming the centre of the city into a playground of music, movement, culture and whānau-friendly fun. An iconic feature … Read more