Government rejects all of Climate Change Commission’s emissions target recommendations

Source: Radio New Zealand Climate Change Minister Simon Watts. RNZ / Nick Monro The government has rejected all of the Climate Change Commission’s recommendations to strengthen New Zealand’s emissions targets. The move comes despite the Commission warning the effects of climate change are hitting New Zealand sooner and more severely than expected, and that New … Read more

Fatal crash, Lower Hutt

Source: New Zealand Police Police can confirm one person has died following a crash in Lower Hutt this morning. The single-vehicle crash on Rutherford Street was reported at about 5.30am. Rutherford Street is still closed but the Melling Bridge has now reopened. Enquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash are ongoing. ENDS Issued by … Read more

Devil’s Elbow, SH2 overnight closures extended

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency 3 December 2025 3:00 pm | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi UPDATE: Overnight culvert repair work at Devil’s Elbow will continue until the end of next week. The work, currently underway on State Highway 2 north of Napier, was initially due to finish this Friday.  However, wet weather in the … Read more

Major Lower Hutt road closed for hours as fuel truck hits building

Source: Radio New Zealand Rutherford Street, between Melling Link and Connolly Street, is closed. X / NZ Transport Agency A fuel truck has collided with a building on Lower Hutt’s Rutherford Street, seriously injuring one person, RNZ understands. Rutherford Street, between Melling Link and Connolly Street, is closed after the single-vehicle crash about 5.30am on … Read more

‘A gift for the people’: Switch flicked for Franklin Road Christmas lights

Source: Radio New Zealand [embedded content] For more than 30 years, residents on Auckland’s Franklin Road have decked out their properties with Christmas decorations for the rest of the city to enjoy. Despite prevalent rumours and conspiracy theories that the popular street-wide display is “funded by the electricity companies” or “organised by the council”, Roscoe … Read more

Resilience work for SH6’s Gates of Haast begins

Source: New Zealand Government The Government continues to invest in the resilience of the South Island’s state highways, with $5 million of work underway on critical improvements to State Highway 6 (SH6) around the Gates of Haast, South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager has confirmed. “The Gates of Haast gorge’s bridge on the … Read more

Sanya Hosts Chefs de Mission Seminar for 6th Asian Beach Games

Source: Media Outreach SANYA, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 December 2025 – The Chefs de Mission Seminar for the 6th Asian Beach Games was held in Sanya, Hainan Province, China, on Dec. 1, with the attendance of heads of delegations and representatives from the National Olympic Committees (NOC) of 45 Asian countries and … Read more

NZ announces $15m to support defence of Ukraine

Source: New Zealand Government Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins have announced a $15 million contribution to a NATO and United States initiative to supply Ukraine with weapons and equipment. “The defence of Ukraine has significant implications not only for the security of Europe, but also for the Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. … Read more

‘All hell broke loose’: Caretaker describes moment tornado hit

Source: Radio New Zealand A tornado have flipped a caravan injuring one person at a motor camp at Lake Dudding in rural Manawatū. Supplied / Rangitikei District Council A man who was flipped twice in his caravan during a tornado that hit a rural Rangitīkei campground is going to be “traumatised for a little bit”. … Read more

Police looking at improving scheme that allows disclosure of history of violence to partners

Source: Radio New Zealand Applications for information about a partner’s history of violence have fallen by nearly 75 percent in the last five years. 123RF A UK criminologist is labelling New Zealand’s scheme to allow the disclosure of a partner’s history of violence as a missed opportunity to protect vulnerable people from family harm. Dr … Read more

Parker Jackson-Cartwright rescues Breakers as they take down Kings

Source: Radio New Zealand Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright celebrates Blake Armstrong / PHOTOSPORT Another impressive performance by captain Parker Jackson-Cartwright has given the Breakers their second successive win in the NBL and edged them closer to a place in the final of the Ignite Cup. Jackson-Cartwright hit 24 points as the Breakers beat the Sydney … Read more

Lower Hutt road closed following serious crash, motorists asked to avoid area

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER One person is seriously injured following a crash in Lower Hutt. Rutherford Street, between Melling Link and Connolly Street, is closed as a result of the single-vehicle crash that occurred around 5.30am on Thursday. Police said the road is expected to be closed “for some time” and … Read more

Gen Z workers least happy, 40 percent dread going to work

Source: Radio New Zealand Happiness in the workplace has held steady over the past year. Unsplash Two-thirds surveyed happy at work Direct line managers more influential, but only 56 pct happy with their manager Purpose is main happiness driver along with responsibilities Job security more important for happiness, but fewer feel it Nearly a third … Read more

No time to relax for Liam Lawson

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT Analysis: New Zealand driver Liam Lawson can probably afford to sit back and take a couple of deep breaths following the 2025 Formula 1 season, but he won’t have long to relax. If the 23-year-old thought he was under pressure in … Read more

Paediatrician worries new measles wave spreading undetected

Source: Radio New Zealand Health New Zealand has confirmed five new cases of measles. 123rf A paediatrician is worried that a new wave of measles cases means the disease is spreading undetected. Health New Zealand (HNZ) confirmed five new cases on Wednesday – one person in Dunedin, one in Waikato and three people in Auckland. … Read more

Weather watches remain for North Island following stormy night

Source: Radio New Zealand The rain radar as of 6am Thursday morning. Supplied / Metservice Weather watches remain in place for parts of the North Island following a stormy night for some regions. Heavy rain and powerful winds swept through Te Ika-a-Māui overnight. MetService says the wettest areas included parts of Tai Rāwhiti, including Wharerata … Read more

Ditching the traditional Christmas tree

Source: Radio New Zealand Now it’s December, people throughout the country have been hunting for the perfect Christmas tree. But that doesn’t always mean a fir, spruce, pine… or plastic. Christmas is celebrated in summer after all… so why bother with an evergreen tree? . “We collected driftwood and made a stand, then our children … Read more

Road closed, Rutherford Street, Lower Hutt

Source: New Zealand Police Rutherford Street is closed between Melling Link and Connolly Street following a crash. The single-vehicle crash was reported to emergency services about 5.30am. One person is reported to have serious injuries. The road is expected to be closed for some time and motorists are asked to avoid the area. Heading into … Read more

Calls for urgent action over deer control

Source: Radio New Zealand Wild deer can be found in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand on public conservation land and private property. Supplied In a war between hunters and conservationists over the control of one of our most damaging pests, only the deer are winning. It’s nearly 100 years since deer … Read more

New primary English, maths curriculum results exceeding expectations, ministry says

Source: Radio New Zealand Associate Education Minister David Seymour. RNZ / Mark Papalii The Education Ministry says the English and maths curriculums introduced by primary schools this year have had a bigger impact than expected. Appearing before Parliament’s Education and Workforce Select Committee, the ministry’s chief executive, Ellen MacGregor-Reid, said she was thrilled for children. … Read more

Oh. What. Fun. is a light, frivolous Christmas comedy – about motherhood and female rage

Source: Radio New Zealand The telltale signs that Christmas is coming have begun appearing in shops and malls around the country. Fairy lights and tinsel adorn store displays while Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’ plays on repeat. Nowhere is the intersection of tradition and commercialisation more apparent than in the Christmas movie genre. … Read more

Why butter prices might not fall as fast as they rose

Source: Radio New Zealand Global butter prices are falling. RNZ / Unsplash Finally, some good news for butter lovers: Global prices are falling. But there remains some bad news: Any fall in the price you see at the supermarket is not likely to be as fast, or as large, as the increase you experienced when … Read more

What’s going on with Auckland house prices?

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Auckland and Wellington remain the parts of the country with prices furthest from their peak – but one property investor says one is looking more undervalued than the other at the moment. Cotality has released its latest data, which shows a 0.1 percent lift in values for New Zealand in … Read more

Government puts $15m towards weapons and equipment for Ukraine

Source: Radio New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins (L) and Foreign Minister Winston Peters. RNZ/Calvin Samuel The government is putting $15 million towards a United States and NATO initiative to supply weapons and equipment to Ukraine, the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins revealed the decision in … Read more

Defective switch caused Air NZ Airbus A320 emergency landing in Auckland – report

Source: Radio New Zealand A defective switch caused an engine on an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 plane to shut down during a flight last year. AIR NEW ZEALAND The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) says it is unsure how many planes are likely to be affected by a defective switch which caused an engine … Read more

Ultra Worldwide Music Festival heads to Wellington, 20,000 expected to attend

Source: Radio New Zealand Ultra Worldwide Music Festival is coming to the country for the first time next year. Supplied / Ultra Australia The capital is to host what’s being touted as the most recognised brand of dance music. Ultra Worldwide Music Festival is coming to the country for the first time next year, and … Read more

Health NZ spent $283k to look into Starship Hospital bullying claims, reviews to stay secret

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ first reported on years-long ructions at the unit that treats abused children, Te Puaruruhau, in October. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Health New Zealand spent almost a quarter of a million dollars on a lawyer to look into claims of bullying at Auckland’s Starship Hospital and how to fix it. That … Read more