Why Australians are calling New Zealand a tax haven

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Source: Radio New Zealand Australia’s latest government Budget has prompted some strong reactions. 123rf A recent headline in The Australian newspaper declared: Budget increases New Zealand’s appeal as a tax haven. It said, with no capital gains tax, no stamp duty or land tax, and the opportunity to negatively gear, business owners and property investors…

New English, maths primary curriculums had little effect on achievement, first results show

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Source: Radio New Zealand In some cases average scores in the subjects edged up, but in others they dropped lower by statistically insignificant amounts. RNZ / Marika Khabazi The first national results show new English and maths curriculums have had little effect on children’s achievement so far. In some cases average scores edged up, but…

Paediatrician calls for sleeping pod ban after five-month old’s death

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Source: Radio New Zealand Manufacturer Taylorson denied that its sleeping pods represented an “inherent or widespread danger” and said they were safe to use. Supplied An expert is calling for a ban on padded sleeping pods for infants as a coroner finds a baby’s death was partly due to one. A five-month-old boy died in…

Our Changing World: How can Aotearoa eliminate cervical cancer?

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Source: Radio New Zealand Professor Bev Lawton holding an HVP swab Charlie Dreaver Health experts in New Zealand say that cervical cancer is not only preventable, we have the ability to eliminate it once and for all. On average, about 175 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and about 55 people die…

One in five specialist referrals declined last year in seven districts, national figures unknown

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Source: Radio New Zealand The senior doctors’ union says increasing numbers of patients cannot see a specialist despite being referred by their GP. Gorodenkoff Productions OU / 123RF The senior doctors’ union says increasing numbers of patients cannot see a specialist despite being referred by their GP. A report by the Association of Salaried Medical…

Eleven Fijian police officers investigated for ties to Auckland drug trade links

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A multinational police investigation implicating 11 Fijian police officers in collusion with drug traffickers has been handed over to prosecutors. The Fiji Police Force announced that the investigation, lasting nearly six months, now awaits advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on how to proceed. On…

Government seeks to clarify Disability Support Services functions

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Source: Radio New Zealand Disability issues minister Louise Upston. RNZ / Mark Papalii The government has introduced legislation that would clarify the purpose of Disability Support Services (DSS), including making it clear the Crown is not the employer of family carers. The legislation would reduce the Crown’s exposure to fiscal and litigation risks, following a…

Health Provision – One in five GP referrals declined as wait times for care increase

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Twenty per cent of GP referrals to specialists are being declined across several districts, but the extent of the problem nationally is unknown as Health NZ doesn’t collate this information. A new report by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists compared data from seven districts and found declined referrals increased … Read more

The 2026 VinFuture Prize Receives More Than 1,800 Nominations as Its Global Nomination Network Expands Fourteenfold After Six Years

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Source: Media Outreach At the close of the nomination period for the 2026 season, the VinFuture Prize, a global science and technology prize recorded 1,819 nominations from around the world, supported by a network of more than 17,000 nominators spanning 117 countries and territories. HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – … Read more

Sangfor Technologies Leads Next-Generation VMware Alternatives Conversation at Executive Forum 2026 in Bangkok

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Source: Media Outreach BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – Sangfor Technologies successfully hosted the Sangfor Executive Forum 2026 in Bangkok, bringing together CIOs, IT leaders, and cybersecurity decision-makers to explore how organizations can modernise IT infrastructure, accelerate AI adoption, and reduce reliance on legacy virtualisation environments. Held under the theme … Read more

National population estimates: At 31 March 2026 – Stats NZ information release

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Source: Statistics New Zealand National population estimates: At 31 March 2026 – information release 18 May 2026 National population estimates give the best available measure of the population, by age and sex, usually living in Aotearoa New Zealand. Key facts At 31 March 2026, provisional estimates show: the estimated resident population of New Zealand was 5,361,300 … Read more

Economic impacts on New Zealand from conflict in the Middle East – Stats NZ report

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Source: Statistics New Zealand Economic impacts on New Zealand from conflict in the Middle East – report 18 May 2026 We have added the 18 May 2026 update to Economic impacts on New Zealand from conflict in the Middle East on the Stats NZ website. This page provides updates on how economic impacts from the … Read more

Births and deaths: Year ended March 2026 – Stats NZ information release

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Source: Statistics New Zealand Births and deaths: Year ended March 2026 – information release 18 May 2026 Births and deaths releases provide statistics on the number of births and deaths of people resident in New Zealand that are registered during a given period, along with selected fertility and mortality rates. They may differ from statistics presented … Read more

New hut, updated route for Tongariro Northern Circuit walkers

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  18 May 2026 With the damaged section unavailable this coming summer, the Tongariro Northern Circuit will operate as an end-to-end tramp between Mangatepopo Road end and Whakapapa Village. Department of Conservation Principal Ranger Jenny Hayward says it will still be a Great Walk experience, and contractors have been working hard…

Advocacy – Israeli Naval Warships Encircle and Intercepting Civilians on the Global Sumud Flotilla–250 Nautical Miles from Gaza in Another Illegal High-Seas Interception in International Waters

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Source: Global Sumud Flotilla MEDITERRANEAN SEA — The Global Sumud Flotilla is currently surrounded and under active interception by Israeli naval warships in international waters, approximately 250 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. This military encirclement marks the commencement of another illegal, high-seas aggression four days after 54 civilian vessels lifted anchor from Marmaris to … Read more

Chief Ombudsman says fishing boat camera footage should not be excluded from the OIA

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Source: Office of the Ombudsman The Chief Ombudsman says a proposal in the Fisheries Amendment Bill to exempt commercial fishing camera footage from release under the Official Information Act is unnecessary and excessive. John Allen made an oral submission on the Bill before Parliament’s Primary Production Committee today. Mr Allen says the array of measures included … Read more

Older New Zealanders and families paying the price for delayed aged care reform

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Source: Aged Care Association The Aged Care Association says the closure of Enliven’s Reevedon Rest Home in Levin reflects the cumulative impact of years of underinvestment and delayed reform in aged residential care, with older New Zealanders and their families increasingly carrying the consequences. “This is not a surprise. It is the predictable result of a … Read more

GLOBAL: Executions surge to highest record figures in 44 years – Amnesty International

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Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand Executions in 2025 soared to the highest figure recorded by Amnesty International since 1981, with 2,707 people executed across 17 countries, revealed the latest annual report from the human rights organization on the global use of the death penalty. The staggering rise recorded in the report Death Sentences and Executions … Read more

Greenpeace – Lumsden water supply nitrate contamination above preterm birth risk level

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Source: Greenpeace Greenpeace is warning pregnant people against drinking from the Lumsden water supply, following nitrate testing on Sunday which revealed that the town’s water was testing at 6.14 mg/L of nitrate (NO3-N) on average. Greenpeace freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe says, “This is a public health crisis. Pregnant people in Lumsden who are drinking this water … Read more

Universities – Scientists crowdfund menstrual health research – UoA

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Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland have resorted to crowdfunding research that could have material benefits for women’s health. This May, which is Menstrual Health Awareness Month, University scientists are campaigning to crowdfund research they believe could help save women from dangerous infections. The microbiologists are investigating the … Read more

Universities – Effective trauma treatment available in NZ – UoA

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Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Survivors of abuse and violence may soon have an effective new therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder which can be delivered by trained health coaches, GPs and other non-psychologists. Survivors of abuse and violence may soon have an effective new therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) available in Aotearoa New Zealand, … Read more

Finance minister hints at government department amalgamation plans

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Source: Radio New Zealand Finance minister Nicola Willis. RNZ / Mark Papalii The finance minister is set to reveal proposals to reduce the number of government agencies, by telling ministries and departments to come up with plans for amalgamation. RNZ understands Nicola Willis will set out three proposals on Tuesday afternoon to create efficiencies in…