New rules to help meat processors & shoppers

Source: New Zealand Government Small-scale meat processors will save money and deliver safe food to their customers more easily thanks to new rule changes confirmed today, says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard.  Under the new rules, processors with a very low throughput will be subject to reduced sampling and testing requirements while maintaining current high … Read more

How can the All Whites secure a FIFA World Cup 2026 win?

Source: Radio New Zealand All Whites captain Chris Wood pictured ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against New Caledonia. Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz New Zealand football great Ivan Vicelich says the All White’s best shot at World Cup glory will come early at next year’s FIFA tournament. Vicelich whose international career spanned two … Read more

‘Immense sadness’: Former Prime Minister Helen Clark’s father dies at the age of 103

Source: Radio New Zealand Helen Clark’s father, George Clark died at home over the weekend. (File photo) Supplied Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has paid tribute to her father, George Clark, who has died at the age of 103. Clark often spoke about the large and positive influence her father, who was a farmer until … Read more

RNZ broadcaster Corin Dann wins 2025 Bill Toft Award for journalism

Source: Radio New Zealand Corin Dann. RNZ Radio New Zealand senior journalist and broadcaster Corin Dann has won the 2025 Bill Toft Media Award. Dann was announced as the winner on Thursday for a compilation of reporting, interviews and commentary on political, business and general issues. The annual Bill Toft Media Award is awarded for … Read more

Wellington region to ditch Snapper public transport cards

Source: Radio New Zealand SUPPLIED / GWRC Wellingtonians will soon be able to tag onto public transport with their phones and debit cards. Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Daran Ponter told RNZ Wellingtonians were “sick of waiting”, and contactless payment on buses and trains will roll out in the first half of next year. The … Read more

Qantas announces new services to Gold Coast and Samoa from Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand The Australian airline will launch new routes to Samoa and Gold Coast from June. AFP Qantas has announced two new services out of Auckland, as it intensifies its battle with Air New Zealand. The Australian airline will launch new routes to Samoa and Gold Coast from June. The announcement follows new … Read more

Alice Robinson follows slalom win with another podium finish

Source: Radio New Zealand Alice Robinson of New Zealand speeds down the course during a World Cup giant slalom race in Italy, 2025. PHOTOSPORT Queenstown skier Alice Robinson has continued her top form on the World Cup circuit. Robinson followed up her giant slalom victory at Tremblant in Canada on Sunday with a third place … Read more

Gorse fire flare-up in North Canterbury contained

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Dozens of firefighters battled a a gorse fire near the Waimakariri River in North Canterbury on Monday. The fire near Poyntzs Road in Eyrewell was a flare-up from a scrub fire on Sunday. About 45 firefighters and two helicopters were called to the scene about 5.10am on … Read more

Weather News – A warm start to the week – MetService

Source: MetService Covering period of Monday 8th – Thursday 11th December: Warm, mostly sunny conditions dominate the North Island and eastern South Island Heat Alerts issued for Gisborne and Hastings today Brief bursts of wind and rain for the lower South Island. After last week’s thunderstorms, heavy downpours and rapidly changing skies across the North … Read more

Children’s Commissioner launches urgent nationwide advocacy campaign

Source: Children’s Commissioner “The reality is that children – often very young children – are dying in our country by homicide. We can’t let it happen anymore.” That’s the stark message shared today by Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad, as she launches a nationwide advocacy campaign focused on preventing all forms of child maltreatment (physical, sexual, … Read more

Health Appointments – GenPro Welcomes New Board Member and Confirms Leadership for 2026

Source: General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) The General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) has strengthened its governance team with the co-option of a new board member and the confirmation of its Chair and Deputy Chair for the 2026 year. Following the Annual General Meeting, the GenPro Board confirmed the reappointment of Dr Angus Chambers as Chair … Read more

Environment – The 12 pests ruining Christmas for farmers

Source: Federated Farmers Pine trees and deer might stir up warm feelings of festive joy for many Kiwis, but for farmers they represent mostly cost, destruction and heartache. That’s why Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to highlight the most troublesome farm pests. … Read more

Greenpeace – Another dead rat banquet for NZ First? Resource Management bills expected tomorrow

Source: Greenpeace Greenpeace is questioning whether NZ First has acquired a taste for the ACT Party’s dead rats, as the Government prepares to unveil its new Resource Management bills tomorrow. Greenpeace understands the RM replacement bills are expected to include a “Regulatory Takings” clause, whereby if councils introduce rules to limit environmental harm, foreign and domestic … Read more

Universities – Te Herenga Waka graduates light up Wellington

Source: Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington This week, the newest cohort of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s graduates will stop traffic with glam fits, billowing cloaks, and bright smiles, on their way to celebrate their achievements at the Michael Fowler Centre and Te Herenga Waka marae.   The group of over 1,100, … Read more

Agencies unite to secure future of Macetown road

Source: Herenga ā Nuku – the Outdoor Access Commission The Outdoor Access Commission will be one of several organisations to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Arrowtown, marking a major step toward securing long-term public access to the historic Macetown Road. The agreement brings together Queenstown Lakes District Council , the Department of Conservation (DOC), … Read more

Employment – PSA seeks Commerce Commission investigation into ACC over misleading job ads about working from home – PSA

Source: PSA Workers promised flexible work – only to have rug pulled from under them The PSA has written to the Commerce Commission seeking an investigation into ACC for breaching the Fair Trading Act after it advertised jobs promising staff could work from home up to three days a week, only to propose cutting this to … Read more

Team effort to refresh Great Barrier’s huts before summer

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  08 December 2025 Over six days, sixteen Backcountry Trust volunteers worked alongside DOC volunteers and staff, with support from Dulux and Skywork Helicopters, to paint and maintain Mt Heale hut and Kaiaraara hut. These two huts allow trampers to walk the Aotea track, a multi-day hike that takes walkers past … Read more

Breakthrough Export Deal Signals New Era for Strong Wool

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is marking a significant commercial milestone, with New Zealand’s strong wool sector securing its first export order for innovative wool particle technology. Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson describes this as “the Holy Grail” for the sector.  The Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand’s (WRONZ) commercial development company Wool Source … Read more

Slower speeds rolling out around Taranaki schools

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency This means that during pick-up and drop-off times, speed limits outside these schools will have variable speed limits installed. Speeds for schools on state highways will drop to 30km/h or 60km/h, depending on the road. Outside those times, the usual speed limit applies. Electronic signs will make it clear when … Read more

What to consider before putting a bar tab on your credit card

Source: Radio New Zealand As common as it is to leave your card on the bar to run a tab it can be a mistake. Unsplash/ Simon Kadula Leaving your credit card on the bar to run up a tab this summer might be an expensive mistake. Financial Services Complaints Ltd, an external dispute resolution … Read more

Matariki 2026 will be held at Takaparawhau in Auckland, hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

Source: Radio New Zealand Tu Natanahira/RNZ Steam from the umu at Takaparawhau rises upward towards the stars, as Kai is lifted from the ground during Matariki 2024. Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, is set to host the national Matariki ceremony for 2026. The hautapu ā-motu will be held at Takaparawhau on July 10 and hosted by mana … Read more

Torch Run on Tuesday, then Special Olympics Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, Christchurch

Source: New Zealand Police Media is invited to attend both Tuesday’s Law Enforcement Torch Run event and Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony. Come along to take photos and interview participants and their supporters. Tuesday What: Law Enforcement Torch Run.Where: Meet at Victoria Square at 11:45am, Christchurch.When: Tuesday 9 December 2025, departing at 12pm, and finishing at Bridge … Read more

New Zealand Government abandons 71 years of NZDF work for Israel – Peace Action Wellington

Source: Peace Action Wellington Date: Sunday 7 December – The NZ government has abstained from a UN vote to declare Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan illegal – the first time it has ever done this. This is despite the NZDF deployment to the Golan since 1954 as part of the United Nations Truce Organisation … Read more

Black Caps call in more reinforcements

Source: Radio New Zealand Kristian Clarke of New Zealand Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz Northern Districts pace bowler Kristian Clarke has joined the Black Caps squad ahead of this week’s second Test against West Indies in Wellington. Clarke is the second uncapped player to join the squad after Canterbury fast bowler Michael Rae. New Zealand’s lead … Read more

Scrutiny Week in review: Politics vs oversight

Source: Radio New Zealand VNP/Louis Collins Parliament’s final weeks of the year began with Scrutiny Week, and while bellicose exchanges dominated headlines, much examination took place in relatively calmer hearings. Coverage of Parliament’s biannual scrutiny weeks is often dominated by the more theatrical moments of verbal sparring between ministers and opposition MPs. But in the … Read more

Coroner suppresses name of man stabbed to death in Auckland’s Mt Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand Police at the scene of the death on Harris Rd in Mt Wellington on Friday. RNZ / Felix Walton A Coroner has made wide-ranging suppression orders, preventing the media from identifying the man stabbed to death in Auckland’s Mt Wellington last week. A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder and … Read more

Who knew what and when in the Jevon McSkimming saga?

Source: Radio New Zealand Both Chris Hipkins and Mark Mitchell have denied Andrew Coster’s claims. RNZ A lot has happened since the Independent Police Conduct Authority released a scathing 135-page report into how police handled allegations of sexual offending against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood explains the latest. Just days … Read more