Think tank warns future international threats could impact New Zealand’s food security

Source: Radio New Zealand University of Otago’s Professor Nick Wilson is part of the independent think tank Islands for the Future of Humanity. (File photo) SUPPLIED/University of Otago An independent think tank is warning a whole range of potential future international threats could impact New Zealand’s ability to feed itself. One of the members of … Read more

Police say risk of bluetooth on tasers and cameras does not apply to New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand The New Zealand police do not use bodyworn cameras though they aim to by next year. NZ Police / Supplied Police say they do not have an issue with tasers and cameras revealing the location of officers. In Australia, the ABC has reported bluetooth on tasers and bodyworn cameras allowed detecting … Read more

Fires, unruly passengers and prams play part in lengthy CRL testing

Source: Radio New Zealand The Karanga-a-Hape underground station will house the longest escalator in New Zealand, at 40 metres long Supplied: CRL The Auckland City Rail Link (CRL) is undertaking large-scale safety testing ahead of its opening later this year. Volunteers have been taking part in a range of real-life simulations to test evacuation procedures. … Read more

Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Bill moves forward at pace

Source: New Zealand Government After nine years of negotiations the Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui Claims Settlement Bill has passed first reading in Parliament today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Today marks another step towards the recognition of the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngā Hapū o Te Iwi o Whanganui.  “It comes just eleven days after the major deed of settlement signing milestone at Kaiwhaiki Pā, … Read more

Radius Residential Care lifts occupancy rates, net profit up 36%

Source: Radio New Zealand Unsplash/ Ina Ramos Aged care provider Radius Residential Care has reported a strong full year result with net profit up 36 percent on the back of 14 percent revenue growth. The company, which operates 24 aged care homes, made a full year profit for the year ended March of just over … Read more

Major SH1 upgrade completed between Tīrau and Waiouru

Source: New Zealand Government Critical sections of State Highway 1 (SH1) between Tīrau and Waiouru have had a major upgrade, with 128 lane kilometres of the North Island’s backbone now rehabilitated or resealed, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “The SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance programme condensed four seasons of road maintenance into just two, … Read more

Sir Peter Jackson honoured at Cannes

Source: Radio New Zealand The Cannes Film Festival officially started on Tuesday night with a more muted tone than in years past, with fewer A-list Hollywood celebrities on the red carpet and politics largely absent from the opening ceremony speeches. Others on the carpet included model Heidi Klum, legendary actor Joan Collins and Indian film … Read more

New Rotorua cafe will operate fully in te reo Māori

Source: Radio New Zealand A new Rotorua cafe will ask customers to speak only te reo Māori when they walk in the doors. Rumaki Cafe, on Fenton Street, has made the call to go full Māori immersion when they open at the end of July. Customers will be supported to give te reo a go … Read more

Westgold butter officially the tastiest

Source: Westland Milk Products   Westgold butter has come out on top of all butters sold in supermarkets after a blind tasting test conducted by Consumer New Zealand. So, what’s our secret? The grass-fed diet of cows raised on the pastures of one of the most beautiful and remote dairy farming regions of the world.   … Read more

Tax policy welcome contribution, but missed opportunity to tackle wealth inequality

Source: Better Taxes campaign The Opportunity Party’s tax policy is a welcome contribution to the tax debate, but misses the opportunity to tackle wealth inequality and its impact on living standards for ordinary people, says the Better Taxes for a Better Future campaign. “While it’s great to see a genuine attempt to address inequality through … Read more

Wellington street closed after cyclist trapped under car

Source: Radio New Zealand s] The cyclist has since been freed and taken to hospital with serious injuries. RNZ / REECE BAKER Glenmore Street in central Wellington is closed after a cyclist was trapped beneath a car this morning. Emergency services were called to the crash which happened between the the street’s intersections with Kilmister … Read more

Security – Kiwis warned as foreign QR code scams surge on mobile devices – new data

Source: Impact PR Thousands of Kiwi mobile phone users are being warned to be vigilant when scanning QR codes as mobile devices rapidly emerge as a new entry point for scams. New data from Eset, one of Europe’s largest cybersecurity companies, shows almost 200,000 cyber threats were detected across its New Zealand user base in … Read more

University Research – Are Pacific children facing too much heat? – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) The impacts of climate change on children in Sāmoa are under the spotlight in a new research project. The study will examine the effects of heat and humidity on children at five primary and high schools across Sāmoa, says project lead Dr Roannie Ng Shiu, co-director of Te Poutoko Ora … Read more

Housing Market – Ownership hold periods at historic highs as property market downturn stretches into fifth year – Cotality

Source: Cotality New Zealand homeowners are holding properties for near-record periods as the country’s prolonged housing downturn continues to impact the ‘pain and gain’ of resale outcomes. Cotality NZ’s Pain and Gain Report for the March quarter shows 87.8% of residential properties resold for more than their original purchase price, a figure that’s remained relatively … Read more

Northland News – Quiet leadership and inclusion recognised at national awards

Source: Northland Regional Council Northland Regional Council staff member Einnee Facey has been named Emerging Inclusion Champion of the Year at the 2026 Diversity Awards NZ, recognising her leadership in advancing workplace inclusion through courage, empathy and action. The award celebrates early-career practitioners who go beyond their formal roles to champion diverse voices and help create … Read more

Tertiary Sector – University staff need secure work and pay to meet the cost-of-living crisis – TEU

Source: Tertiary Education Union As university staff at six of Aotearoa New Zealand’s eight universities initiate collective bargaining, the Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union (TEU) says that members are asking for secure jobs and pay increases that allow members’ standard of living to improve. Bargaining has been initiated at the University of Waikato, Massey … Read more

Appointments – Well-regarded Māori broadcaster Dr Te Anga Nathan joins Te Mātāwai Board

Source: Te Mātāwai   Te Mātāwai Co-Chairs Brenda Soutar and Mātai Smith are pleased to welcome Dr Te Anga Nathan (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Porou, Waikato) to the Te Mātāwai Board as the new Māori media sector representative.   Dr Nathan is widely respected for his longstanding contribution to Māori broadcasting and communications, bringing more than 30 … Read more

Fire and Emergency reinforces public safety messages and updates on emergency response arrangements

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency New Zealand is reminding the public to take care during a strike by the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) from 4.30 to 5.30pm on Wednesday 13 May.  “I want to reassure the public that all 111 calls will be received and responded to during the strike … Read more

Energy Sector – New project to explore whether Taranaki’s old petroleum wells could heat its energy future

Source: Ara Ake Ara Ake, New Zealand’s energy innovation centre, is leading and funding a project exploring whether hundreds of suspended and shut-in petroleum wells in the Taranaki region could be repurposed as practical, cost-effective and low-emission heat sources for industry, buildings and communities, before they are permanently abandoned. “Industrial heat users need reliable, affordable alternatives … Read more

Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po meets Prince William at Windsor Castle

Source: Radio New Zealand Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, the Māori queen, with Prince William at Windsor Castle in London. Supplied Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, the Māori queen, has met with Prince William at Windsor Castle in London. They discussed “a range of global topics”, a … Read more

Mitch Barnett returns for Warriors for Magic Round clash, but no Luke Metcalf

Source: Radio New Zealand Mitch Barnett of the Warriors. PHOTOSPORT The Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett is one of four players returning from injury for the NRL Magic Round clash against the Brisbane Broncos, but Luke Metcalf has been left out of the squad. Metcalf was given permission yesterday by the Warriors management to talk to … Read more

Get more Life in your weekend with RNZ’s latest newsletter

Source: Radio New Zealand Looking for some diversion from the news cycle? RNZ’s new Life newsletter, which launches this weekend, has everything you need. The Life newsletter brings together a handpicked selection of RNZ’s best lifestyle and entertainment content – from interviews, features and recipes to photo albums, videos and podcasts – delivered straight to … Read more

Hawke’s Bay growers mull McCain takeover bid

Source: Radio New Zealand Stuart Davies says with McCain’s shutting up shop he’s looking at scaling down by cutting one worker and possibly selling one of his spraying machines. RNZ / Alexa Cook A group of Hawke’s Bay growers is looking at whether it could take over the McCain vegetable processing factory and save the … Read more

Strong ‘buyer’s market’ is working against anyone trying to sell an apartment

Source: Radio New Zealand Across the country, 12.2 percent of sales in the first quarter of this year were for less than the sellers had paid for them. RNZ / Nate McKinnon Almost 20 percent of Auckland sellers lost money on properties they sold in the first quarter of this year, Cotality says – and … Read more

‘Shame on Hollywood’: Cannes-winning writer rails at stance on Gaza

Source: Radio New Zealand Member of the jury Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty arrives on stage during the Opening Ceremony and the screening of the film “La Venus electrique” (The Electric Kiss) at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP Hollywood should be ashamed of the way it has treated stars … Read more

Siri Hustvedt’s powerful memoir of losing her husband Paul Auster will make you cry

Source: Radio New Zealand “Divested of others, what exactly is a self?” This question occurs halfway through Siri Hustvedt’s extraordinary new grief memoir, Ghost Stories. By my reading, it propels the whole book. Ghost Stories reflects on Hustvedt’s life with her husband Paul Auster, her partner of 43 years, in the aftermath of his death, … Read more

Boy asks Immigration for step-mum’s visa to be ‘reunited as a family’

Source: Radio New Zealand A 13-year-old is imploring immigration authorities to let his stepmother come to New Zealand. RNZ A 13-year-old boy has written to immigration authorities imploring them to let his stepmother come to New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) said 30-year-old Chunxiang Chen provided false or misleading information in previous visa applications. But … Read more