Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act amendments introduced to accelerate responsive development

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Source: New Zealand Government Today’s introduction of the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Amendment Bill to Parliament marks an important milestone in making it easier for developments to get off the ground through innovative approaches to funding infrastructure, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Infrastructure Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act sought to codify … Read more

Going for Housing Growth: Reforming infrastructure funding

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government is progressing its suite of reforms aimed at improving how infrastructure is funded and financed to support housing and urban growth across New Zealand, Housing Minister Chris Bishop, Local Government Minister Simon Watts, and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson say.  “The Government’s changes will create a flexible … Read more

Pygmy sperm whale found dead on Auckland’s North Shore

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Source: Radio New Zealand A whale washed up on Ōrewa Beach on Wednesday. Supplied / Maddi Newson A pygmy sperm whale has been found dead on the shores of Ōrewa in Auckland’s North Shore. “I can confirm that DOC is responding to the body of a pygmy sperm whale at Ōrewa. “At this point I … Read more

Man charged with arson over Waiuku recycling facility fire

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Source: Radio New Zealand More than 60 firefighters tackled the first blaze at Waiuku recycling facility. Supplied Shipping containers near an Auckland business park that caught fire late on Monday were ablaze again in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Fire and Emergency said the latest fire is believed to be a flare-up of the … Read more

Legislation – Govt’s Regional Councils proposal raises more questions than it answers – PSA

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Source: PSA The Government’s proposal to reform local government announced today (Tues 25 Nov) lacks detail and robust analysis of the problem it’s trying to address, the PSA says. The PSA is concerned that these reforms could lead to significant disruption and expensive restructuring to the 5000 regional council workers across the country. PSA members working … Read more

Pause for pakake this summer season

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  26 November 2025 November marks the beginning of breeding season for pakake/New Zealand sea lions, which means they’ll start becoming more visible along southern coastlines and will turn up in unexpected places. DOC Coastal Otago Biodiversity Ranger Moss Thompson says in November, pregnant female pakake start searching for potential birthing … Read more

Is it cheaper to pay a mortgage, or rent?

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Source: Radio New Zealand In both markets, people looking for a home have the power. 123rf House prices are down, but rent rises have flattened. In both markets, people looking for a home have the power. So is it better, financially, to own or rent? That’s a question that ANZ economist Matt Galt has been … Read more

South Island weather: Heat alerts canned, orange heavy rain warnings issued

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Source: Radio New Zealand MetService screenshot MetService has cancelled two heat alerts for two South Island towns. The east of the South Island is preparing for a hot day with temperatures predicted to reach the high 20s in some areas. MetService says heat alerts were originally in place for Timaru and Oamaru for Wednesday, but … Read more

Maths teaching programme to be rolled out to 13,000 students nationwide

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Source: Radio New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford. RNZ / Mark Papalii The government is extending a maths teaching programme after a pilot showed it improved struggling learners’ maths knowledge at twice the rate of peers who had regular teaching. The maths acceleration programme developed by the Education Ministry ran with nearly 1400 Year 7 … Read more

Kiwis drinking the same amount of beer, but reaching for lower alcohol options

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Source: Radio New Zealand Beer magazine editor Michael Donaldson thought the shift was being driven by low-carb beers. Unsplash / Josh Olalde Kiwis have been knocking back more lower-alcohol beers, but it’s less about the alcohol and more about their waistlines, one expert says. New Stats NZ data for the year to September showed while … Read more

Man charged following Waiuku fire

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Source: New Zealand Police A man is due in court today following a large fire at a Waiuku business on Monday night. Police treated the fire as suspicious with a scene examination carried out yesterday. Acting Detective Inspector Chris Robson, of Counties Manukau CIB, says a search warrant was executed in the Waiuku area last … Read more

Suitcase killings: Mum gets life sentence for murdering children, hiding bodies

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Source: Radio New Zealand Hakyung Lee stares downward during her sentencing at the Auckland High Court. RNZ/Marika Khabazi The woman convicted of murdering her children and hiding their bodies in suitcases has been handed a life sentence. Hakyung Lee faced two charges of murder over the deaths of her children Yuna and Minu Jo in … Read more

New one-stop shop for supermarket builds

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Source: New Zealand Government The Christchurch City Council has been selected to serve as a one-stop consenting authority for large-scale supermarket developments. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the new service is the latest step in the Government’s plans to make New Zealand a more attractive destination for new supermarkets. “More supermarkets equals more competition equals … Read more

Cheaper electricity for Chatham Islands

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Source: New Zealand Government The completion of a $10 million wind turbine project in the Chatham Islands will reduce both local power prices and carbon emissions, Associate Minister for Regional Development Mark Patterson says. Minister Patterson will officially open the project on the Chatham Islands this Thursday. “This initiative means households and businesses on the … Read more

Minister Shane Jones says ‘green banshees’ in regional council are stifling growth

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Mark Papalii Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says the current regional council structure stifles economic growth and that regional councils have suffered cost burdens, “green overreach” and too much influence from iwi. His comments come after the government announced its plan to scrap regional councillors and hand responsibilities over … Read more

‘Great concerns’ for Christchurch teen missing more than a week

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Source: Radio New Zealand Cobra, 14. Supplied / Police Police have “great concerns” for a missing 14-year-old in Christchurch. In a statement, police asked the public for help finding Cobra, who was last seen leaving school on 17 November. She was reported missing the next day. “Police have been following lines of enquiry to locate … Read more

‘Robust growth’ drives Fisher & Paykel Healthcare to $213m half-year profit

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Source: Radio New Zealand Fisher & Paykel Healthcare managing director Lewis Gradon Supplied / Fisher & Paykel Healthcare New Zealand’s largest exporter Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has beaten expectations with a 39 percent increase in first-half net profit with revenue up 14 percent. The respiratory appliance manufacturer’s first-half net profit for the period ended September … Read more

Mountain guide who died on Aoraki Mt Cook described as ‘careful and diligent’

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Source: Radio New Zealand On Tuesday police recovered the body of a mountain guide from Aoraki Mt Cook. Unsplash / Corey Serravite The New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA) says a guide who died on Aoraki Mount Cook was a careful diligent guide with experience climbing the mountain. On Tuesday police recovered the bodies of … Read more

Backing skills for business events sector

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government has today announced it is investing in the New Zealand Certificate in Business Events (Level 4) “Te Haeata”, a new industry-led qualification designed to build a skilled workforce for New Zealand’s business events sector, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.  Te Haeata has been developed by industry, for … Read more

Long-term plan to rebuild Defence estate

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government has unveiled a long-term plan to modernise Defence Force infrastructure that will strengthen military resilience and create building and construction jobs across New Zealand.  “The national security of New Zealand depends on a strong Defence estate that empowers the Force to perform at its best,” Associate Minister Chris Penk … Read more

Annual Maximum Fee Movement (AMFM)

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Source: Tertiary Education Commission Looking to apply for an exception? AMFM rates The 2026 AMFM is 6.00 percent.  TEOs may increase their fees (GST exclusive) for eligible courses by up to 6.00 percent above what they charged in 2025. The AMFM for 2025 was also set at 6.00 percent. The AMFM rate for each year … Read more

Asset management for TEIs

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Source: Tertiary Education Commission They are required to comply with statutory processes relating to the disposal of assets (including demolitions), or interests in assets (including granting of easements), and the leasing of land or buildings. Assets include land and buildings, plant and equipment and financial assets. Capital Asset Management The Government sets out its expectations for … Read more

Wairere Falls between a rock and a good place

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  26 November 2025 The track, a tourist hotspot near Matamata, has been closed since 13 July due to high levels of rockfall activity and ongoing instability. DOC Senior Ranger Heritage and Visitors Matiu Te Kani-McQueen says the closure provides opportunity. “While we work on making the track safe, we will … Read more

New international partnership to attract investment in critical minerals

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Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand has joined the international Minerals Security Partnership to attract investment in our critical mineral sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters say. “Joining the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) aligns with New Zealand’s ambitious Minerals Strategy which aims to double the value of minerals exports by 2035 … Read more

AI navigation to deliver faster access to support

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Source: New Zealand Government New Zealanders seeking mental health support will soon have a better understanding of what services are available to them, thanks to government funding for Whakarongorau to develop a mental health AI navigation platform, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says.  “Not knowing where to go or who to talk to has … Read more

Another fire breaks out at scene of earlier suspicious blaze at Waiuku

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Source: Radio New Zealand More than 60 firefighters tackled the first blaze at Waiuku recycling facility. Supplied Shipping containers at an Auckland business park that were set alight late on Monday night were ablaze again in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Fire engulfed nearly 5000 square metres of plastic and six shipping containers at … Read more

Maths professor says Education Minister’s claims a school trial is ‘groundbreaking’ is problematic

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Source: Radio New Zealand The 12-week trial involved 1500 Year 7 and 8 students who received small-group tutoring up to four times a week. Supplied / Ministry of Education A maths professor has questioned the results of a school maths trial the Education Minister has labelled as “groundbreaking”. Education Minister Erica Stanford said a maths … Read more