Health workers’ strike: Hundreds in Auckland call for increased staffing, better pay

Source: Radio New Zealand In Auckland, hundreds of striking workers picketed outside the central hospital. RNZ / Felix Walton An estimated 7,000 health workers are striking across the country renewing their calls for increased staffing levels and better pay. In Auckland, hundreds of striking workers picketed outside the central hospital. Social worker Margaret Colbrough waved … Read more

How police discovered 30,000 ‘falsely or erroneously’ recorded breath tests

Source: Radio New Zealand Police audited all breath testing that took place from 1 July 2024 using an algorithm that determined if a second test took place within 90 seconds of the first. RNZ A series of documents reveal how police discovered about 130 staff “falsely or erroneously” recording more than 30,000 breath tests and … Read more

Search for missing Tokoroa teacher suspended

Source: Radio New Zealand Jayleb Che has been missing since 30 September. Supplied / Police Police have suspended their search for a Tokoroa teacher who has been missing for two months. Jayleb-Che Dean, 36, went missing from a swimming spot on Waiotapu Loop Road in Rotorua on 30 September. Earlier this month police ruled out … Read more

Four fire engines break down or out of action in Dunedin, union says

Source: Radio New Zealand FENZ said it was only aware of one command unit breaking down. RNZ/Marika Khabazi The Professional Firefighters’ Union says four trucks broke down or were out of action in Dunedin yesterday. High winds and heat fanned nine fires across Otago and Southland. The union’s Dunedin branch secretary Mike Taylor said a … Read more

State Highway 36 (Pyes Pa Road) blocked by crash

Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 36 (Pyes Pa Road) near Tauranga is blocked following a crash earlier this afternoon. At around 3.10pm Police received a report that a car had collided with a power pole on SH 36, between Taumata Road and Oropi Road. Fortunately the driver did not sustain serious injuries, however the … Read more

Too hot to sleep? Take a warm shower

Source: Radio New Zealand Parts of New Zealand hit 33 degrees this week, and a weekend heat alert is in place for Napier, with Christchurch and Hastings not far behind. If high temperatures seem to be stealing your zzzs, there are things to try, says Dr Karen O’Keefe, who researches the latest sleep science at … Read more

Porsche Design Tower Bangkok Show Suite Preview

Source: Media Outreach STUTTGART, GERMANY / BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 November 2025 – Porsche Design Tower Bangkok, Asia’s first ultra-luxury residence with automotive-DNA, proudly announces the official opening of its exclusive Show Suite. This experience is tailor-made for those appreciating unparalleled design, exclusivity and innovation. A landmark collaboration between the exclusive … Read more

Nark: Guards cast doubt on Ross Appelgren’s involvement in deadly prison beating

Source: Radio New Zealand Poremoremo Prison guard Mark Anthony Mark Anthony Two prison guards have spoken for the first time about a prisoner’s confession that Ross Appelgren was not responsible for the 1985 murder of Darcy Te Hira in the kitchen at Mt Eden Prison. The RNZ podcast Nark hosted by Mike Wesley-Smith has been … Read more

Pets to be allowed on public off-peak transport in Christchurch, Waimakariri, Selwyn

Source: Radio New Zealand By Gwenaёlle Chollet, Journalism Student Pets have been allowed on busses at off-peak times in Auckland since 2023. Auckland Transport Some pets will be allowed on public transport at off-peak times in Christchurch and the Waimakariri and Selwyn districts from Monday. Small pets will need to be in a carrier that … Read more

Northland News – Awanui flood scheme progress celebrated

Source: Northland Regional Council Ongoing work on the multimillion-dollar Awanui flood scheme is offering much greater flood protection to Kaitaia and Awanui, helping to safeguard lives and millions in property, the Northland Regional Council says. Speaking to attendees at an event in Kaitaia today (subs; Friday 28 November) to celebrate progress on the scheme to date, … Read more

Humpback whale puts on ‘amazing, awesome, unforgettable’ display at Bream Bay

Source: Radio New Zealand A humpback whale breaches in Bream bay just 50 metres from Michele Adams’ boat. Supplied/Michele Adams Friends fishing in Northland’s Bream Bay were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, when a huge humpback whale leapt from the sea just 50 metres from their boat. Michele Adams, her husband and another couple were … Read more

NZDF liaison officer deployment to Israel extended

Source: New Zealand Government The deployment of a New Zealand Defence Force liaison officer to Israel has been extended, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. “This deployment is about improving our understanding of coordination efforts on the ground, so we can better assess potential future options in support of sustained peace in Gaza,” Ms Collins says. … Read more

WorkSafe delivers strong results amid organisational transformation

Source: Worksafe New Zealand WorkSafe’s Annual report has been published, which highlights key achievements for 2024/25. It tracks our progress delivering on our strategic objectives to influence businesses and workers to meet their health and safety duties. It sets out our actions over the year to reduce acute, chronic and catastrophic harm through our engaging, … Read more

Employment Disputes – Fire and Emergency received calls to 18 incidents during today’s strike

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire and Emergency New Zealand received calls for 18 incidents between 12pm and 1pm today, Friday 28 November, the time of the strike action by members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU). Of these,13 incidents were in areas impacted by the paid firefighters’ strike. Eight of these incidents … Read more

New tactics for fight against exotic Caulerpa seaweed

Source: New Zealand Government Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says the Government and a range of experts have come up with a new strategy to take on the harmful exotic Caulerpa seaweed. “Caulerpa seaweed is a pest. The new strategy focusses on five things: prevention, detection, removal, research, and coordination of resources. Getting this right is … Read more

Federated Farmers: Unitary council model future-fit, with less upheaval

Source: Federated Farmers Separating rural and provincial governance from urban councils is the simplest and most effective way to streamline local government, Federated Farmers says. “Top marks to the Government for kicking off an overdue conversation about cutting back costs, duplication and decision-making roadblocks that plague our current 78 councils,” Sandra Faulkner, Feds local government spokesperson, … Read more

New wastewater standards a win for ratepayers

Source: New Zealand Government Ratepayers across New Zealand will be better off under new national wastewater environmental performance standards, which will significantly cut consenting costs for councils and help reduce pressure on rates, Local Government Minister Simon Watts says. “These changes are about saving money for communities. By streamlining the consenting process, councils and ratepayers … Read more

Wānaka guide Thomas Vialletet, who died on Mt Cook, ‘left a mark on everyone’

Source: Radio New Zealand Mountain guide Thomas Vialletet died on Aoraki Mt Cook. Supplied The wife of a guide who died while climbing Aoraki Mt Cook says his death has left an ache in the hearts of those who knew him. Wānaka-based guide Thomas Vialletet and American lawyer Kellam Conover were roped together climbing from … Read more

Police seeking information, CCTV after alleged shooting in Chartwell, Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand Police were called to a property on Sapphire Place in Chartwell, at about 11.50pm on Thursday to reports a man had been shot. RNZ / Patrice Allen Waikato police are seeking information from the public after an alleged shooting left a man with serious injuries. Police were called to a property … Read more

Light at the end of the tunnel for CRL construction

Source: New Zealand Government The upgraded Auckland public transport network with City Rail Link (CRL) at its heart will open to passengers in the second half of 2026.  Transport Minister Chris Bishop, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson confirmed the project is on track to open in … Read more

Action Plan supports Kiwis to live better, longer

Source: New Zealand Government The new Better Later Life Action Plan is designed to provide practical support to help older New Zealanders live well and maintain their connections and independence, Minister for Seniors Casey Costello announced today. “The Action Plan consists of a range of practical improvements and is built around a simple goal – … Read more

Gang president arrested in Auckland Airport drug sting

Source: Radio New Zealand Twenty search warrants were carried out across the Auckland region on Thursday. LDR / Stuff / Stephen Forbes Police have made further arrests in attempts to dismantle an international organised crime syndicate smuggling Class A drugs through Auckland Airport. Twenty search warrants were carried out across the Auckland region on Thursday … Read more

Health – Graduate nursing hire improves but falls short for some – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation Te Whatu Ora’s hire numbers for this year’s nursing graduates are an improvement, but some new nurses could still be packing their bags for Australia, NZNO student representatives say. Te Whatu Ora today committed to employing 1800 of 2200 nursing graduates by 30 June 2026. Offers have been made today to … Read more

Environment – EPA makes headway on hazardous substance assessments

Source: Environmental Protection Authority The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) continues to make progress assessing hazardous substance applications, approving 21 applications in the first quarter of the 2025-26 year. The first of a new series of hazardous substances quarterly reports shows the queue of applications fell 9 percent from 96 at 1 July 2025 to 87 at … Read more

I Am Hope’s ministry contract for Gumboot Friday gets thumbs-up

Source: Radio New Zealand Mike King. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A year after criticising the government’s rushed procurement process for the Gumboot Friday mental health initiative, the auditor-general now says the contract is being managed properly and in line with good practice. The public spending watchdog on Friday released its response to Labour MP Ingrid … Read more

Improving access to the Public Safety Network for more Emergency Responders

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is strengthening New Zealand’s Emergency Responder capability by creating a new entity, and expanding the mandate of Next Generation Critical Communications, announced Emergency Management and Recovery Minster Mark Mitchell.  “Around 25,000 frontline responders already use the Public Safety Network cellular services, improving coverage and reliability during emergencies. Cabinet has … Read more

US diplomats yet to warn NZ about immigration, as Trump demanded

Source: Radio New Zealand The US Embassy in Wellington. Wikimedia Commons US diplomats have yet to raise the matter of migration with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) after being directed to do so by the Trump administration. A New York Times report on Wednesday said US embassies in Europe, Canada, Australia … Read more