Kiwi Kate Hawley crowned inaugural Costume Designer of the Year

Source: Radio New Zealand Mia Goth as Elizabeth in Frankenstein. Ken Woroner/Netflix The British Fashion Council has named a New Zealander Kiwi Kate Hawley as its inaugural Costume Designer of the Year. The Fashion Awards will take place in the United Kingdom on 1 December, where Hawley has flown from Wellington to attend. Hawley has … Read more

Puddle ball: Auckland FC lose unbeaten A-League tag

Source: Radio New Zealand Rain-soaked Auckland FC captain Francis De Vries gestures during his side’s loss to Newcastle Jets. Photosport Auckland’s unbeaten run in this year’s A-League season has ended with a 2-1 loss to Newcastle Jets in farcical conditions at Go Media Stadium. A huge downpour with 20 minutes to go saw players frequently … Read more

Biosecurity New Zealand escalates response to yellow-legged hornets

Source: Radio New Zealand Biosecurity New Zealand North commissioner Mike Inglis said surveillance efforts were working. Biosecurity NZ Another yellow-legged hornet queen has been found in Auckland’s North Shore, as Biosecurity New Zealand escalates its attempts to eradicate the invasive insect. To date, 27 queen hornets, seven workers and 17 nests have been successfully located … Read more

One new measles case identified in Wellington, bringing total to 22

Source: Radio New Zealand One new measles case in Wellington. Supplied/ US CDC Health New Zealand has confirmed one new case of measles in Wellington, which it says is linked to an earlier case. This brings the number of known measles cases to 22 since 8 October 2025, with 21 no longer infectious. New locations … Read more

Researchers link Māori housing inequities to 180 years of restrictive building laws

Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand’s first building code banned raupō homes in the cities. Alexander Turnbull Library, Mrs Scott Collection. For centuries, Māori built homes that were warm, dry, sustainable and centred on whānau. Homelessness, damp houses and overcrowding were not part of te ao Māori. Two researchers say the systems that displaced Māori … Read more

NZ and US deepen Antarctic science partnership

Source: New Zealand Government New joint research initiatives focused on climate and ecosystem change expand on the long-standing collaboration between New Zealand and the United States on Antarctic science and logistics, says Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti. New Zealand and the US will partner on three scientific projects with up to $5 … Read more

Air NZ’s Airbus A320 aircraft return to normal service

Source: Radio New Zealand About 6000 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family were affected by the issue. 123RF Air New Zealand’s Airbus A320 aircraft are returning to normal operations, after receiving software updates during a global recall. About 6000 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family were affected, after a recent incident revealed that intense solar … Read more

Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Auckland, surrounding regions

Source: Radio New Zealand The thunderstorms were also expected to be accompanied by heavy rain. MetService A torrential downpour has literally rained on the Auckland’s parade, as MetService issued a raft of alerts, including a severe thunderstorm warning for the region. As thousands headed home from the annual Santa Parade in Queen Street, they had … Read more

Tongan rugby league star Eli Katoa aims for return as he recovers from brain surgery

Source: Radio New Zealand Eli Katoa has posted photos from his time in hospital after surgery for a brain bleed. Instagram/Supplied Tongan rugby league star Eli Katoa says his recovery from brain surgery is going well and he hopes to return to the sport. The Melbourne Storm second-rower will miss the 2026 NRL season [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/577662/tonga-rugby-league-star-eli-katoa-has-surgery-after-suffering-seizure-activity-during-kiwis-test-match, … Read more

Emergency mobile phone coverage system rolled out to community groups

Source: Radio New Zealand A new system to ensure cellphones get through in emergencies is being opened up to community groups. RNZ A new billion-dollar-plus system to better ensure cellphones get through in emergencies is being opened up to a raft of community groups. About 25,000 frontline responders are already using the Public Safety Network’s … Read more

Push to eliminate hornets intensifies

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries Biosecurity New Zealand has escalated its response to eradicate yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) following continued detections on Auckland’s North Shore. To date, 27 queen hornets, seven workers, and 17 nests have been successfully located and removed from the Glenfield and Birkdale areas. “The fact we’re finding more hornets shows … Read more

Labour announces low-interest loans for family GP practices

Source: Radio New Zealand Labour leader Chris Hipkins made the announcement at the party’s annual general meeting in central Auckland. Anneke Smith / RNZ The Labour Party would offer doctors and nurse practitioners low-interest loans to set up new practices or buy into existing ones, if elected next year. Leader Chris Hipkins made the announcement … Read more

Tauranga lifeguards start summer patrols early after spike in serious accidents

Source: Radio New Zealand Lifeguards will start patrolling Tauranga waters a week early. Cody Keepa for Surf Life Saving NZ Lifeguards will start patrolling Tauranga waters a week early, due to a spike in serious accidents. Surf Life Saving warns that the warm weather has created a perfect storm of hidden hazards, such as rips. … Read more

Over 35,000 Christmas Boxes packed this year as Kiwis struggle with cost of living

Source: Radio New Zealand A record number of Christmas Boxes have been packed this year with around 2500 volunteers packing more than 35,000 boxes for the charity initiative. Each Christmas Box has $70 worth of food and can feed a family of four to six. Head of Community Response Rebecca So’e said Christmas was supposed … Read more

Youth vaping rates halve within two years, ‘negligible’ number smoking – survey

Source: Radio New Zealand The number of teenagers who vape on a daily basis has dropped to 7.1 percent, down from “peak vape” of 10.1 percent in 2022. 123RF A survey of more than 30,000 of New Zealand’s Year 10 students has indicated that the perception of vaping is changing. The number of teenagers who … Read more

Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison to get two high security units, adding 316 beds

Source: Radio New Zealand Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison entrance. Google Maps Two new high security units are set to be built at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison adding an additional 316 beds. Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell said the construction would begin next month and finish up by early 2027. He said the new units would expand … Read more

Man arrested after gunshot fired near Thames swimming hole

Source: Radio New Zealand Police said the 20-year-old allegedly threw the gun into some bushes before leaving in a vehicle with another person. RNZ / REECE BAKER Police have arrested a man after a gun was fired near a popular swimming hole in Thames, Coromandel. Police were called to the scene on Kauaeranga Valley Road … Read more

NZ skier Alice Robinson wins giant slalom at Alpine Ski World Cup in Colorado

Source: Radio New Zealand Robinson was quickest of 56 skiers in the first run on Copper Mountain. photosport New Zealand skier Alice Robinson has ignited her season with a dominant win in the women’s giant slalom at the World Cup in Colorado. Robinson was quickest of 56 skiers in the first run on Copper Mountain … Read more

Auckland’s Santa Parade expected to draw crowd of 150,000

Source: Radio New Zealand Santa in one of the Auckland parade’s previous years. Supplied Auckland’s annual Santa Parade is expected to draw 150,000 people into the city centre to see dozens of floats make their way down Queen Street. The parade begins at one 1pm on Sunday on the corner of Mayoral Drive and Cook … Read more

ACC disbands firefighters’ toxicology panel which assesses cancer claims

Source: Radio New Zealand ACC said it would use individual advisors instead of a panel, like it did in other clinical cases. RNZ/Marika Khabazi ACC has disbanded its toxicology panel that firefighters take their cancer claims to. The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) says the corporation did not tell it about this, but it … Read more

Man charged following firearms incident near Thames

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Detective Sergeant Mark Leathem, Coromandel Hauraki CIB: A man has been arrested after an incident yesterday where a firearm was discharged near a popular Thames swimming hole. Police were called about 5pm to the location on Kauaeranga Valley Road after reports that a man had threatened members of the … Read more

Height safety basics missed in preventable fall from pole

Source: Worksafe New Zealand 30 November 2025 WorkSafe is cautioning all businesses that work at height to review their safety systems, following sentencing for a fall that nearly killed a KiwiRail employee. The man fell 10 metres while installing a telecommunications pole in Whanganui in October 2023. He suffered a torn artery, a torn liver, … Read more

KiwiRail fined more than $200,000 after worker injured in preventable fall

Source: Radio New Zealand Dyeming said two years on he is fully functional back at work, but yet at full fitness away from the job. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham KiwiRail to pay about $250,000 in fines and reparation over worker’s 10-metre fall WorkSafe finds ‘fundamental failures’ in KiwiRail’s introduction of new communications poles Worker says … Read more

Jetstar Airbus A320 jets resume flying, some Air NZ jets still grounded

Source: Radio New Zealand Disruptions will likely continue though as airlines deal with a backlog of flights. 123RF Airbus A320 software updates have been completed on all New Zealand based Jetstar aircraft, while some of Air New Zealand’s fleet remain grounded with further flight cancellations possible. About 6000 Airbus A320 aircraft around the world are … Read more

Auckland United take third women’s National League Championship

Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland United FC players celebrate winning the final of the Women’s National League Championship. photosport Zoe Benson scored the winner as Auckland United clinched a third consecutive National League Championship women’s title with a 1-0 win over cross-city rivals Eastern Suburbs. It was the fifth clash between the two evenly matched … Read more

WorkSafe fines KiwiRail more than $200,000 after worker injured in preventable fall

Source: Radio New Zealand Dyeming said two years on he is fully functional back at work, but yet at full fitness away from the job. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham KiwiRail to pay about $250,000 in fines and reparation over worker’s 10-metre fall WorkSafe finds ‘fundamental failures’ in KiwiRail’s introduction of new communications poles Worker says … Read more

My daughter has moved to the UK, what happens to her KiwiSaver – Ask Susan

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ’s money correspondent Susan Edmunds answers your questions. RNZ Got questions? RNZ has launched a new podcast, ‘No Stupid Questions’, with Susan Edmunds. We’d love to hear more of your questions about money and the economy. You can send through written questions, like these ones, but even better, you can drop … Read more