Analysis – Another FTA, another meaningless political trophy? – Prof Jane Kelsey

Source: Professor Emeritus of law, Jane Kelsey “When the Prime Minister announced he would secure a free trade agreement (FTA) with India during the term of this government he scored another ‘own goal’. India, with whom New Zealand had spent many previous years in futile negotiations for a FTA, knew it could simply dictate the … Read more

Advocacy – NZ government looking the other way on record Israeli West Bank settlement building

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) is again urging the government to uphold its long-standing policies and publicly take action against record Israeli settlement expansion. It has just been reported that the Israeli cabinet has approved 19 more illegal settlements in the equally illegal Occupied West Bank. This decision will … Read more

Consumer NZ’s top Boxing Day sales tips

Source: Consumer NZ Consumer NZ shares its three top tips to arm bargain hunters with a winning strategy when they hit the shops this Boxing Day.   “When you’re on the hunt for the best possible deal, you need to watch out for those less-than-genuine bargains,” says Jessica Walker, campaigns manager at Consumer. “You need … Read more

Expert questions whether New Zealand was only country involved in survey before Manawanui sank

Source: Radio New Zealand UAS footage of RNZN Divers surveying the area around HMNZS Manawanui on the Southern Coast of Upulo as part of Op Resolution. New Zealand Defence Force A Pacific security expert questions whether New Zealand should be the only country paying compensation for the sinking of the Manawanui. The New Zealand navy … Read more

JD Vance tries to have it both ways on Nick Fuentes and antisemitism

Source: Radio New Zealand Analysis by Aaron Blake, CNN US Vice President JD Vance. (File photo) AFP/JIM WATSON Analysis – Vice President JD Vance has never looked more like the presumptive 2028 Republican presidential nominee. We learned last week that perhaps his most formidable would-be foe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had said he would … Read more

Person hit by car in Lower Hutt, road closed

Source: Radio New Zealand Police said it appeared someone had been serious injuries. (File photo) Supplied / St John A serious crash involving a pedestrian has shut a road in Moera, Lower Hutt. Emergency services were called to the crash on Randwick Rd, where a person had been hit by a car, shortly after 4pm … Read more

Dog owners asked to keep away from nesting sites used by NZ’s rarest bird

Source: Radio New Zealand A tara iti and chick at Waipū. Supplied / Darren Markin The Department of Conservation is pleading with dog owners not to let their pets roam in nesting sites used by New Zealand’s rarest bird – the tara iti or fairy tern. The plea comes after a series of incidents apparently … Read more

Hutt River misadventure a reminder of personal locator beacon importance, police say

Source: Radio New Zealand The men were grateful to see rescuers, but it was an uncomfortably close call, police said. Police are reminding people of the importance of personal locator beacons after three men endured a cold, wet night in a gorge. Wellington District Search and Rescue coordinator Sergeant Jonathan Westrupp said the trio had … Read more

Human rights lawyer lodges Ombudsman complaint over asbestos sand

Source: Radio New Zealand Her complaint centred on the decision not to recall and ban the importation sale of all coloured sand. Supplied A law advisor in human rights has lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman asking for an urgent investigation into the response to asbestos-contaminated play sand. Sophie Bradwell-Pollak said there had been multiple … Read more

Families want answers a year after South Korea’s deadliest plane crash

Source: Radio New Zealand By Kang Jin-kyu, AFP Firefighters and rescue personnel work near the scene where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport. (File photo) AFP / Jung Yeon-Je Grieving mother Lee Hyo-eun returns every weekend to the airport where her daughter and 178 others … Read more

Hawke’s Bay scrub fire destroys buildings, person hospitalised

Source: Radio New Zealand Drone footage of the fire near the Farmhouse Lodge in Fernhill. SUPPLIED Homes in rural Hastings are being evacuated due to a scrub fire which has destroyed buildings. Fire crews said they responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon which is located between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruroro River bridge on … Read more

Christchurch Methodist Mission provides more than 160 Christmas hampers to families in need

Source: Radio New Zealand Christchurch Methodist Mission executive director Jill Hawkey says the Support a Family initiative is the highlight if her year. RNZ / Rachel Graham A little more than a 160 families’ Christmas Day became a little brighter this afternoon as they came to pick up Christmas hampers from the Christchurch Methodist Mission. … Read more

Kea smarter and more capable of surprise than cockatoos, Austrian study finds

Source: Radio New Zealand Researchers at Austria’s University of Vienna examined the emotion of “surprise” in kea and cockatoos, testing how they would react to being given less desirable food than they were led to expect. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon *This story has been updated to reflect the study showed the kea were more … Read more

Major dance music festival reveals line-up for Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand An electronic dance music festival heading to New Zealand for the first time has revealed its headline acts. Artists headlining the Ultra New Zealand festival are American duo The Chainsmokers, French producer DJ Snake, German producer and DJ Zedd, English DJ and singer Darren Styles, French DJ Nico Moreno, Dutch DJ … Read more

Hawke’s Bay scrub fire destroys buildings, homes evacuated

Source: Radio New Zealand The Farmhouse Lodge in Fernhill, Hawke’s Bay is near the fire. Screenshot / Google Maps Homes in rural Hastings are being evacuated due to a scrub fire which has destroyed buildings. Fire crews said they responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon which is located between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruroro … Read more

Rescuing Meals, Rewriting Waste: Yindii Closes 2025 With Over Half a Million Meals Saved

Source: Media Outreach Regional food-surplus app turns unsold food into affordable meals, offsets over 1,375 tonnes of CO₂ and pays back more than USD 2.5 million to partners in Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – As Southeast Asia grapples with growing food waste and rising living … Read more

Yindii Turns Food Waste Into Value, Saving 500,000+ Meals in 2025

Source: Media Outreach The food-surplus app returned more than HKD 20 million to partner businesses while making meals more affordable for consumers HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – As Southeast Asia grapples with growing food waste and rising living costs, Yindii, Asia’s number 1 food‑surplus marketplace, celebrates a year … Read more

Four arrested in connection with investigation into September Gisborne murder

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Marika Khabazi Police have arrested four people of interest after a man’s death in Gisborne in September. Bill Maangi, 36, died in hospital after he was shot in the early hours of 29 September at an Ormond Road address. Four people aged between 25 and 37 were arrested, police … Read more

Health NZ green lights General Practice Owners Association breakaway PHO

Source: Radio New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has conditionally approved an application by the General Practice Owners Association to set up it’s own breakaway PHO. RNZ / Peter de Graaf General practice owners concerned about what they say is too much red tape, have been given the go-ahead to set up their … Read more

Road blocked, Randwick Road, Lower Hutt

Source: New Zealand Police Randwick Road, Moera, Lower Hutt is currently blocked following a serious crash this afternoon. Police were notified of the crash between York Street and Mason Street, where a pedestrian has been hit by a vehicle, around 4.10pm. Initial indicators are that there has been serious injuries. The Serious Crash Unit have … Read more

Adventure ends in rescue and a warning to pack PLBs

Source: New Zealand Police A sliver of cell phone reception led to the rescue of three young men, after they endured a cold and wet night stranded in a gorge. Wellington District Search and Rescue coordinator Sergeant Jonathan Westrupp says the trio intended to float down the Hutt River in the Kaitoke Regional Park, but … Read more

Hualien New Year’s Countdown Party Kicks Off Taiwan’s Year-End Festivities and Winter Travel Season

Source: Media Outreach HUALIEN, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – The Hualien County Government invites domestic and international travelers to plan ahead and experience the county’s winter festivities. From Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations to lantern displays and Lunar New Year markets, visitors are encouraged to follow Hualien’s festive journey … Read more

Hamilton homicide victim named as police search for sightings of car

Source: Radio New Zealand A homicide investigation is underway in Hamilton. (File photo) RNZ / Marika Khabazi The victim at the centre of a homicide investigation in Hamilton has been named by police as Jason Poa. Police were called to a home in Lake Crescent at 6.15pm on December 18, where they found two people … Read more

Fire crews battle Hawke’s Bay scrub fire in windy conditions

Source: Radio New Zealand Firefighters are battling a blaze in Fernhill near Hastings. Crews said they responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon which is located between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruroro River bridge on SH50. The township has not been affected but the fire is close to some houses, crews said. Hawke’s Bay Fire … Read more

Winston Peters on a mission to restore NZ’s diplomatic ‘mojo’

Source: Radio New Zealand Across the term Winston Peters has been to 51 countries, spending a total of 201 days offshore. RNZ / Mark Papalii You’d hardly know it, given how often he appears in the media, but Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has done some serious air miles this year. He’s visited 31 countries … Read more

Zenith Yacht Charters Expands Into Yacht Brokerage With New Platform Zenith Yachting Asia

Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – Zenith Yacht Charters, a private yacht charter in Singapore, is proud to announce the launch of ZenithYachtingAsia.com. This is a new division dedicated to the buying and selling of both new and second-hand yachts across the region, officially announced on 1st November … Read more

Gisborne homicide: Arrests made and firearms seized

Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant John Love:  Police have arrested four people of interest following the investigation into the murder of Bill Maangi in Gisborne. Mr Maangi died in hospital, after being shot in the early hours of Monday 29 September at an address on Ormond Road. Between Wednesday 9 … Read more