Bernice Marychurch murder: Kael Leona sentenced to life with minimum 12 years

Source: Radio New Zealand Kael Leona during his appearance in the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday. RNZ/FlinnBlackwell Correction: The headline on this article has been updated. The man who murdered a woman on an Auckland bus will spend at least 12 years behind bars. Kael Leona, 38, pleaded guilty to the murder of Bernice … Read more

Oamaru Airport to lose its flight school

Source: Radio New Zealand Oamaru Airport. (File photo) ODT / Hamish MacLean Oamaru Airport will lose its flight school after the business opted not to renew its lease, the Waitaki District Council says. The New Zealand Airline Academy opened at the airport in 2018 with student numbers exceeding 200 in the past year. It sought … Read more

Mother of killed baby in tears recalling day son was injured

Source: Radio New Zealand Soul Mathew Turany was 16 weeks old, when he suffered a fatal assault. Supplied / Facebook The mother of a Canterbury baby who died of catastrophic head injuries has broken down in tears as she claimed she struggled to recall the morning her son was injured. Soul Turany was less than … Read more

Move-on orders legislation introduced

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has introduced legislation today which provides Police with the power to issue move-on orders as a tool to deal with disorderly behaviour in public places, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Our government is committed to fixing the basics in law and order, and building a future where everyone feels … Read more

Tribute to Sir Kenneth Keith

Source: New Zealand Government Attorney-General Chris Bishop has paid tribute to the life and contribution of the Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith ONZ KBE PC KC, who has died aged 88. “Sir Kenneth Keith was one of New Zealand’s most distinguished jurists, legal scholars, and public servants,” Mr Bishop says. “Across a remarkable career spanning … Read more

Billy Macfarlane founder of rehabilitation service charged with assaulting woman

Source: Radio New Zealand Billy Macfarlane. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly The founder of a prisoner reintegration service has been charged with assaulting a woman who was on bail. Billy Macfarlane says the allegations are “a whole lot of lies”, and that he “never assaulted anybody”. RNZ earlier revealed Macfarlane, the Tikanga Aroro Charitable Trust general … Read more

Nearly $12m seized from criminals to help combat methamphetamine and gang-related harm

Source: Radio New Zealand Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Nearly $12 million seized from criminals will be used to help combat methamphetamine and gang-related harm, the government has announced. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello said $11.9 million would be funnelled from the Proceeds of Crime … Read more

State Highway 6, upper Buller Gorge Road reopens after slip

Source: Radio New Zealand The slip is blocking the road near the Eight Mile Creek Bridge and has closed State Highway 6 and upper Buller Road. NZTA State Highway 6 and Upper Buller Gorge Road, between State Highways 65 and 69, has reopened after an earlier slip. The road straddles the West Coast and Tasman … Read more

Chris Wood named All Whites captain as World Cup team announced

Source: Radio New Zealand Chris Wood will captain the All Whites for their FIFA World Cup campaign in North America. New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley named his 26-player squad for the Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, starting on 11 June. The squad is: Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex … Read more

NZ’s approach to AI continues to favour slop over substance

Source: Radio New Zealand By; Chris McGavin*, Dr Andrew Lensen* and Dr Cassandra Mudgway* Opinion: Nearly a year has passed since the Government released their so-called AI Strategy. Nine months since we, along with other New Zealand AI Experts, penned an open letter to the Government calling for AI regulation and the establishment of some … Read more

New ED pharmacist role delivering faster care at Dunedin Hospital

Source: New Zealand Government A newly introduced pharmacist role in Dunedin Hospital’s Emergency Department is already helping patients get seen and treated faster, while giving doctors more time to focus on care, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. Improving patient flow through the ED and across the hospital Saving doctors up to 20 minutes per patient … Read more

Bringing specialist paediatric palliative care closer

Source: New Zealand Government Children with serious illnesses and their families will be better supported with compassionate, specialist paediatric palliative care closer to home, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “Families caring for a child with a life-threatening illness are facing some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Parents and their children deserve to know they … Read more

All Whites squad for Fifa World Cup named

Source: Radio New Zealand The All Whites squad that will carry New Zealand onto football’s biggest stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will today be unveiled at Eden Park. Coach Darren Bazeley will name his 26-man squad as New Zealand prepares for its first World Cup appearance since the 2010 tournament in South Africa. … Read more

Sarah Taylor named fielding coach for England men’s cricket team

Source: Radio New Zealand Sarah Taylor, playing for the Welsh Fire Women in 2021, has been named as England’s men’s fielding coach for the test series against New Zealand. ACTION PHOTO SPORT/AFP Former England women’s wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has been appointed as fielding coach for head coach Brendon McCullum’s men’s team for their test series … Read more

‘Prior dispute’ a factor in violent West Auckland train station brawl between students – police

Source: Radio New Zealand Police have spoken to one young person who was assaulted, and other teenagers who were at the fight. Google Maps Police are speaking to several teenagers involved in a violent brawl at a West Auckland train station this week. Police Inspector Mohammed Atiq said students from several West Auckland high schools … Read more

New power firm wants to give customers access to wholesale electricity market

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ A new energy provider wants to shake up things up by offering consumers access to the wholesale electricity market, and is promising full price transparency. PowerHub said it would replace traditional retailer margins with a wholesale rate plus 10 percent pricing model. Exposure to the wholesale electricity market may sound … Read more

Gang profits turned against organised crime

Source: New Zealand Government Money seized from criminals will be reinvested into fighting methamphetamine and gang-related harm in communities across New Zealand, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello announced today. A total of $11.9 million over 12 months will be provided to the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) … Read more

Pakake pup struck by vehicle

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  14 May 2026 The call comes after a male New Zealand sea lion/pakake pup was found dead on a Catlins coastal road with injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle. DOC Murihiku Operations Manager John McCarroll says the death of the animal is a sad reminder of why drivers … Read more

Public hospitals to save millions on drug-eluting stents

Source: PHARMAC 14 May 2026 Media release Hospital devices Pharmac has secured an ongoing supply of drug-eluting stents for public hospitals at a great price following a competitive procurement process. Public hospitals save an estimated $1.2 million each year under a new agreement awarding Principal Supply Status for permanent coronary drug-eluting stents to Medtronic New … Read more

Employment Issues – Lakes and Whanganui nurses still waiting for Holiday Pay a decade on – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation Nurses at Lakes and Whanganui districts are calling on Te Whatu Ora to explain why after a decade of redress, they still don’t know when they will receive their full Holiday Act remediation payments, NZNO says. While current Te Whatu Ora workers at all other 18 districts have received their full … Read more

Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara to lead next phase of Predator Free 2050

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  25 March 2026 Source:  Office of the Minister of Conservation As part of this next phase, the focus shifts to scaling up predator elimination across New Zealand, building on the work already underway in communities, strengthening coordination, and using improved tools and technology to move from local projects to larger, sustained … Read more

Finance Minister puts money where her mouth is by reducing Budget’s operating allowance

Source: Radio New Zealand Analysis – Nicola Willis has put her money where her mouth is and reduced her Budget’s operating allowance for a third year running. For years, the Finance Minister has been relentless in her criticism of the previous minister, Grant Robertson, and his extensive operating allowances – $5.9 billion in 2022 and … Read more

‘Unique’ 360-degree film festival hits Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington’s planetarium will trade galaxies for films as it hosts the only 360-degree film festival, a first for the city. Originating from the Melbourne Planetarium which has been running the festival for six years, this year Space Place will screen Best Of The Fest with eight award-winning or highly commended films … Read more

New stoat sausage bait trial results impressive

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  14 May 2026 The Department of Conservation has been working with pest control developer, Connovation, to develop and register a ready-made bait containing the toxin PAPP (para-aminopropiophenone), to which stoats are especially susceptible. Stoats are relentless killers of native birds, bats and other wildlife, and the key cause of kiwi … Read more

Government to spend $15.5m on palliative care for children

Source: Radio New Zealand The government will spend $15.5m over four years to set up a national paediatric palliative care service, Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced. The care would be delivered by dedicated specialist teams in both the North and South islands. At the moment, Health New Zealand funds just one specialist paediatric palliative … Read more

Review: Deftones have fans running up the walls of Spark Arena

Source: Radio New Zealand Sacramento rockers, Deftones, turned up the tinnitus at Spark Arena, on Wednesday night. It’s the most people I’ve ever seen crammed into that venue and by the end of the show it seemed like the floor was running up the walls with nearly everyone on their feet. It’s a loyal fanbase … Read more

New Zealanders support stronger nicotine regulation, survey finds

Source: Radio New Zealand More than 1200 adults were surveyed on their attitudes to nicotine and the government’s nicotine policy. 123RF New research shows most New Zealanders want very low nicotine cigarettes reintroduced and two-thirds believe the tobacco industry influences government policy. A low-nicotine cigarette policy was brought in by the last Labour government but … Read more