Christchurch childcare centre reopens after corrosive chemical burned several children

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Source: Radio New Zealand Emergency services were called to Kindercare in Woolston on Friday afternoon. Nathan McKinnon / RNZ Five children taken to hospital after suffering chemical burns at a Christchurch childcare centre last week have returned to the kindergarten today. Seven people, including the five children, were taken to hospital after a [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/581000/emergency-services-respond-to-incident-at-christchurch-daycare corrosive … Read more

Wellington commuters to get contactless payment options in 2026

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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

Man accused of swallowing $33,000 pendant appears in court

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Source: Radio New Zealand Court documents reveal the pendant was worth $33,585. Supplied / NZ police A man accused of swallowing a Fabergé locket worth more than $33,500 during an alleged theft at an Auckland jewellery store has appeared in the Auckland District Court. He was remanded in custody without a plea until next Monday. … Read more

Financial Assistance at SIM: Breaking Barriers to Education

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Source: Media Outreach SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 December 2025 – For many aspiring learners, financial constraints remain one of the biggest obstacles to achieving their goals. SIM is determined to change that. Guided by the principle that no student should be left behind because of cost, SIM has built a comprehensive ecosystem … Read more

Auckland man fined $9,800, restrictions placed on animal ownership

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Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries An Auckland man has been fined $9,800 and has had restrictions placed on how many cows and horses he can care for and own. Kevin Maurice Dell (70) was sentenced (5 December 2025) on 3 charges under the Animal Welfare Act he pleaded guilty to, following a successful prosecution … Read more

Kiwi charged with trying to smuggle $10m of heroin in Sydney

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Source: Radio New Zealand A New Zealand man has been charged with trying to import $10 million worth of heroin into Sydney in floral-patterned bags. In a joint statement the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force said the Kiwi was accused of importing 21kg of heroin into Australia hidden inside his luggage. The 21-year-old … Read more

Too many laws passing without ‘proper scrutiny’, Geoffrey Palmer says

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Source: Radio New Zealand Sir Geoffrey Palmer giving evidence to Parliament’s Regulations Review Committee in July. (File photo) VNP / Phil Smith A former Labour Prime Minister says Parliament is passing too many laws without proper scrutiny. Sir Geoffrey Palmer told Nine to Noon the government was increasingly pushing through legislation under urgency, which allowed … Read more

New rules to help meat processors & shoppers

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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