No sign of missing Waikato man, as police renew appeal for info

Source: Radio New Zealand Louis Van Der Walt. Supplied Police have yet to find any trace of a man who went missing near Te Aroha three weeks ago. Waikato man Louis Van Der Walt, 44, was last seen on the morning of 13 November when he parted company with family during a walk on Mt … Read more

NZ to host Parliamentary Assembly on Antarctica

Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand will host the third Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly in Wellington next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.  It is the first time the Assembly has been held in the Southern Hemisphere.  “The Assembly brings together Parliamentarians and experts from across the world to discuss how they can work collectively … Read more

On ramp closed: Southern Motorway, Drury

Source: New Zealand Police The on ramp at Drury heading northbound is blocked following a crash. The single vehicle crash was reported to Police at 11am. There are no reported injuries. The on ramp will remain closed while the truck is cleared. Motorists are advised to expect delays and should either delay travel or use … Read more

Education union supports Northland iwi in fight over schools’ Treaty obligations

Source: Radio New Zealand The tino rangatiratanga haki (flag) outside Parliament on the day of the Treaty Principles Bill introduction. RNZ / Emma Andrews The country’s largest education union, NZEI Te Riu Roa, is backing a claim by Northland iwi and hapū for an urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into the government’s decision to remove school … Read more

Transport Agency halts $6m in funding to police until breath test targets met

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ earlier revealed about 130 staff were under investigation throughout the country after 30,000 alcohol breath tests were “falsely or erroneously recorded”. RNZ The New Zealand Transport Agency has halted $6m worth of funding to police until it’s satisfied police have met their breath test targets. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says … Read more

Moderate 4.8 earthquake hits Tararua district

Source: Radio New Zealand The quake was recorded north-east of Pongaroa in the Tararua District at 11.47am on Thursday. Geonet There has been a moderate 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the Tararua District. GeoNet says the quake struck 15km north-east of Pongaroa at 11.47am and was at a depth of 7km. More than 400 people have … Read more

Retirement village rule changes strengthen rights

Source: New Zealand Government New Zealanders deserve clarity, fairness, and straight-up information when they move into a retirement village, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “The Government is taking the next step to strengthen protections and give residents and their whānau greater confidence, which is part of our wider focus on fixing the basics and … Read more

Google’s top New Zealand searches of 2025 revealed

Source: Radio New Zealand The most popular search topics in New Zealand in 2025 on Google included Kiwi sports stars and celebrities like David Parker, Liam Lawson and Lorde, overseas celebrities like Ozzy Osbourne and Jimmy Kimmel, and notable news stories like the death of Charlie Kirk. File / RNZ / AFP Labubu. Viral ice … Read more

Man sentenced to preventative detention after two sexual attacks against women

Source: Radio New Zealand Johnathan Tamihana was sentenced to preventative detention with a minimum non-parole period of five years at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday. RNZ / Simon Rogers A man has been sentenced to preventative detention following two sexual attacks against women nearly a year apart. The two women were both indecently … Read more

2degrees resolves issue affecting calls after nationwide fault

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Mobile network company 2degrees says it has resolved an issue impacting customers connecting, receiving, or making calls on their mobile devices. The mobile company’s website says the outage was first reported just after 4am on Thursday morning but was fixed later at about 10.40am. 2degrees said there … Read more

Appeal for information about missing Te Aroha man

Source: New Zealand Police To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke: Police are continuing to appeal for information regarding missing Waikato man Louis Van Der Walt. Louis, aged 44, has not been seen since he parted company with family members during a walk on the Te Aroha side of the mountain, on the … Read more

Government finances worse than expected as tax take falls

Source: Radio New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The government’s finances are slightly worse than expected, as the tax take fell more than expenses. Treasury figures, which exclude ACC finances, showed a deficit of $4.9 billion for the four months ended October – about $700 million higher than forecast in May’s … Read more

Is it better to sleep naked or wear pyjamas in summer?

Source: Radio New Zealand What are you wearing? No seriously, what are you wearing to bed? Because it can affect the quality of your sleep. “What you sleep in can alter the temperature, [that] is the main thing in terms of how it may affect your sleep,” explains Kathleen Maddison from the Centre for Sleep … Read more

Greenpeace – Govt rejects climate advice less than a week after deadly floods in Asia kill over 1400

Source: Greenpeace The Government has today announced it is rejecting all of the Climate Change Commission’s emissions target recommendations and will not include emissions from international shipping and aviation in New Zealand’s targets. Greenpeace has been left speechless by the decision. “There are no words to describe just how morally bankrupt this decision is,” says Greenpeace … Read more

Tasman’s Port Tarakohe upgrades complete

Source: New Zealand Government The completion of a multimillion-dollar upgrade of a key port in Tasman District is a major step forward for economic development and resilience, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Fisheries Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft say. Port Tarakohe in Golden Bay underwent a $12.7 million upgrade and is now the only all-tide, all-weather, … Read more

Live: Black Caps v West Indies first test – day three

Source: Radio New Zealand The Black Caps face the West Indies for day three of their first test of the summer from Hagley Oval in Christchurch. New Zealand has played just two Test matches so far in 2025, beating Zimbabwe 2-0 in Bulawayo in August. Since then they’ve played 17 white-ball games against Australia, England … Read more

Rajinder found guilty of murdering Gurjit Singh in his Dunedin home

Source: Radio New Zealand Rajinder was on trial at the High Court in Dunedin. RNZ A man has been found guilty of murdering Gurjit Singh in his Dunedin home. The jury retired to consider its verdict at the High Court in Dunedin on Wednesday morning and returned on Thursday. The 35-year-old, known only as Rajinder, … Read more

Woolworths NZ pleads guilty over Dunedin supermarket rat infestation

Source: Radio New Zealand Dunedin South Woolworths supermarket was closed for nearly three weeks due to a rat problem. RNZ / Tess Brunton Woolworths New Zealand has pleaded guilty to failing to properly deal with a rat infestation at its Dunedin South supermarket. The company appeared at the Dunedin District Court before Judge David Robinson … Read more

Suspicious Invercargill blaze destroys more than $1m worth of gear

Source: Radio New Zealand The site has been cordoned off and an investigation is underway. Matthew Rosenberg/LDR More than a million dollars’ worth of trucks and equipment have been destroyed in a suspected arson in a popular Invercargill park. Police are investigating after the fire was reported early on Wednesday morning in Queens Park. Invercargill … Read more

New campaign for pūteketeke/crested grebe

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  04 December 2025 The pūteketeke hit global headlines when comedian John Oliver launched a campaign to have the Australasian crested grebe take out the New Zealand Bird of the Century title in 2023. Now the Department of Conservation (DOC) is launching its own mini campaign for pūteketeke after reports from … Read more

Police acknowledge sentencing in Ōtara assaults investigation

Source: New Zealand Police A man has been sentenced to preventative detention following two brazen sexual attacks against women nearly a year apart. Counties Manukau East CIB began investigating on 22 February 2023. Detective Senior Sergeant Dean Batey says a French national was subjected to a sexual assault in broad daylight at the Ōtara Creek … Read more

Legislation – Retirement village reforms – step in right direction to strengthen rights of residents

Source: Retirement Villages’ Residents’ Council Long awaited reforms to the retirement village sector will better protect residents and their families who have sometimes waited too long to be paid out for vacated and unsold village units, says the Retirement Villages’ Residents’ Council. The reforms announced by the Government today include mandatory payment of capital on unsold … Read more

Compassionate change underway for stillbirth families

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has begun work on making the process of registering a stillbirth more compassionate and supportive for grieving parents, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Losing a baby is a heartbreaking experience. For too long, families have had no choice but to complete stillbirth registrations through the same online process … Read more

Fonterra profits rise in first quarter

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Dairy giant Fonterra has increased its first quarter profits to $278 million, $15m more than a year ago. Key numbers for the quarter ended 31st October: Net profit $278m up $15m Forecast FY earnings unchanged at 45-65cps Midpoint milk price forecast $9.50 per kgMS Lactalis gains OIS … Read more

Mobile phone issues for some 2degrees customers due to nationwide fault

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Mobile network company 2degrees says it is aware some customers are experiencing issues with connecting, receiving, or making calls on their mobile devices. 2degrees’ website says a nationwide fault was under repair since about 4am on Thursday morning. The company said it was sorry for the inconvenience … Read more

Will New Zealand follow the ‘ugly shoe’ summer?

Source: Radio New Zealand It’s been a great year for feet, particularly toes. If you followed the fashion of the Northern Hemisphere summer, a predictor for what might be cool for New Zealand’s summer, you likely saw shoes that might typically be categorised as offensive to the eye. I’m talking about styles such as the … Read more

Property values still in a holding pattern – Cotality

Source: Cotality Property values in Aotearoa New Zealand were flat in November, a slightly softer result after a modest 0.1% lift in October, according to Cotality NZ’s latest hedonic Home Value Index (HVI). The national median now sits at $806,551, which is 17.4% below the early 2022 peak and only a modest 1.1% higher than … Read more