Health and Tech – Whakarongorau celebrates major evolution in mental health support with AI concierge platform

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Source: Whakarongorau Aotearoa Whakarongorau has received match funding from the Government’s Mental Health Innovation Fund to develop an innovative AI concierge triage and navigation platform – a digital front door designed to improve access to mental health and addictions support in Aotearoa. This initiative, announced at Digital Health Week in Christchurch by Minister for Mental Health … Read more

Education Appointments – Ara Institute of Canterbury enters new phase with Council appointments and Chief Executive selection

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Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury Ara Institute of Canterbury has taken an important step in its return to independence, with the Government confirming four ministerial appointments to Ara’s Council and the newly formed Council appointing Darren Mitchell as Chief Executive from 1 January 2026, following an extensive competitive recruitment process managed by HardyGroup International. Council Chair … Read more

Former police boss Andrew Coster resigns as head of the Social Investment Agency, RNZ understands

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Source: Radio New Zealand Former police commissioner Andrew Coster is the chief executive of the Social Investment Agency. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster’s resignation from his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency is expected to be announced shortly, RNZ understands. It comes after the police watchdog’s damning report … Read more

Police charge Dunedin man after seizing 820kg of pounamu

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Source: Radio New Zealand The man appeared at the Dunedin District Court and was released on bail. RNZ / Nate McKinnon Police have charged a Dunedin man after seizing 820 kilograms of pounamu. Officers found the stone, which was cut and ready for sale, during a search on Monday. The 29-year-old man has appeared in … Read more

Crimes Amendment Bill introduced

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Source: New Zealand Government Criminals will soon face stronger penalties for attacking first responders, coward punches, human trafficking, and retail crime with the Government’s Crimes Amendment Bill being introduced, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Our government is committed to fixing the basics in law and order, and ensuring victims’ interests are at the centre of … Read more

Mayors challenge FENZ ban on use of watercraft in Waikato River emergencies

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Source: Radio New Zealand Ngāruawāhia volunteer fire station’s jet skis assist police with a water rescue during Cyclone Hale in 2023. Supplied Three Waikato mayors have written to the chief executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) urgently requesting the immediate reinstatement of watercraft used in river rescues. However, FENZ has told RNZ it … Read more

Charity’s snorkel events under threat after equipment stolen

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Source: Radio New Zealand By Noam Mānuka Lazarus, Massey University journalism graduate Mountains to Sea Wellington was left without enough gear to run its free school and community snorkel programme in the new year. Supplied / Mountains to Sea Wellington / Kristine Zipfel A charity providing community dive lessons and marine education says its programmes … Read more

Christchurch mosque terrorist likely to give evidence at Court of Appeal hearing

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon The white supremacist terrorist who murdered 51 people in the Christchurch terror attack is expected to give evidence in an attempt to overturn his conviction and life sentence. Brenton Harrison Tarrant massacred 51 worshippers at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre during Friday prayers on 15 … Read more

Live: Black Caps v West Indies first test: Day two

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Source: Radio New Zealand The Black Caps take on the West Indies for day two of their first test of the summer from Hagley Oval in Christchurch, and it’s advantage West Indies after day one. New Zealand has played just two Test matches so far in 2025, beating Zimbabwe 2-0 in Bulawayo in August. Since … Read more

Intense rain, blustery wind and thunderstorms forecast for much of North Island

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Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. RNZ / Jessica Hopkins MetService is forecasting downpours across the North Island on Wednesday, with RELATED] https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/513904/weather-watches-and-warnings-what-they-mean-and-when-they-re-triggered possible thunderstorms] in some places, and a number of watches and warnings in place. A heavy rain warning is in place from 11am until 11pm on Wednesday for Bay of Plenty and … Read more

BusinessNZ Planning Forecast: economy lifts, but structural risks cannot be ignored

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Source: BusinessNZ BusinessNZ Chief Economist John Pask says the recovery is welcome, but New Zealand is heading into a decade of difficult choices. “While the outlook to 2027 is brighter, there are several major structural risks which are currently accelerating. An ageing population is set to drive superannuation and healthcare costs to unsustainable levels. Without reform, … Read more

Tech – Epson exhibits at the world’s largest specialised robot exhibition, International Robot Exhibition 2025

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Source: Epson Showcasing innovative technologies for the automotive, EV, retail, life sciences and food industries Epson is exhibiting at the International Robot Exhibition 2025, held at Tokyo Big Sight from December 3-6, under the theme “Accelerating the Future with Robotics and Technology.” In addition to advancements in robotics, Epson will introduce development support technologies utilising … Read more

Property Sector – Building costs edge higher as timber and cladding prices rise – QV

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Source: Quality Valuations (QV) The cost of building a home is starting to edge up again, with QV CostBuilder’s latest data showing the first signs of upward pressure as timber and cladding prices rise in the final quarter of 2025. In QV CostBuilder’s latest quarterly update for November, approximately 15,600 current material and labour prices … Read more

Farm plastics recycling scheme gets green light

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Source: New Zealand Government As proud stewards of the land, New Zealand’s farmers and growers work hard to care for the environment. The Government is making this easier by approving regulations for a nationwide rural recycling scheme covering agrichemicals and farm plastics, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “This initiative is about fixing the basics while … Read more

Pounamu theft lands man in court, Dunedin

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Source: New Zealand Police Dunedin Police have arrested and charged a man following the execution of a search warrant in relation to stolen pounamu. On Monday 1 December, police executed a search warrant in Dunedin and located multiple samples of stolen pounamu that had been cut and were for sale. In total, 820 kilograms of … Read more

Nark: Solving a murder with no hard evidence, and a dead suspect

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Source: Radio New Zealand By Mike Wesley-Smith Ross Appelgren Nick Monro / Julie Appelgren Solving the murder of Darcy Te Hira inside Mt Eden Prison was never going to be easy. The reason was as apparent to me decades later, doing the Nark podcast, as it was to the team of detectives who arrived at … Read more

Start of car park fees at South Island DOC sites

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  03 December 2025 “We are running a paid car parking pilot programme over the next seven months at these popular sites as a way for visitors to contribute to nature experiences they enjoy,” says DOC Director of Heritage and Visitors Catherine Wilson. “The programme includes car park upgrades and the … Read more

Building change for disabled New Zealanders

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Source: New Zealand Government Recognising International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Minister Louise Upston has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to breaking down barriers and improving the lives of disabled people. The worldwide theme for 2025 is Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress, which Louise Upston says the New Zealand Government endorses.  “We know disabled … Read more

‘Stay on track’ at Aoraki/Mount Cook

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  03 December 2025 DOC is installing security cameras to try and deter visitors from accessing closed sections of the popular Hooker Valley Track where a new suspension bridge is being constructed, after repeated incidents of people breaching closed areas. Staff and contractors working on the new 189-metre suspension bridge are … Read more

Strengthening the immigration system

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Source: New Zealand Government The Government’s continuing to strengthen and build trust in New Zealand’s immigration system with the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Bill passing its third reading in Parliament.  “New Zealanders deserve an immigration system that is fit for purpose and responsive to risk. This Bill delivers that by strengthening the … Read more

Nudibranchs: sea slugs of the Hauraki Gulf

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Here in Aotearoa, we punch well above our weight when it comes to sea slugs. We’ve got around 130 species cruising our coastlines — some are found nowhere else on Earth, others we share with our mates across the ditch in eastern Australia and the wider south-west Pacific. Most of … Read more

Prisoner segragated after allegedly assaulting cellmate at Auckland’s Mt Eden Corrections Facility

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Source: Radio New Zealand Mt Eden Corrections Facility. (File photo) RNZ/Calvin Samuel A prisoner has been placed on directed segregation after allegedly assaulting his cellmate who remains in hospital with serious injuries. It comes amid a Corrections review of a risk assessment tool used in deciding whether prisoners are suitable to share a cell, after … Read more

Westpac launches scheme to help owners protect homes from extreme weather

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Westpac NZ is offering interest-free, home loan top-ups to improve the resilience of homes to natural hazards and extreme weather. The five-year interest-free home loan of up to $50,000 would cover such things as installing ground moisture barriers under homes, improving drainage on properties and carrying out work to raise … Read more

Dairy prices hit near two-year low after eighth consecutive fall

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Source: Radio New Zealand Dairy prices have been softening. (File photo) AFP / William West Dairy prices are at near two-year low after the eighth consecutive fall in the global auction overnight. The average price at the auction fell 4.3 percent to US$3507 a tonne, following the 3 percent drop in the previous auction two … Read more

Massive traffic queues as crash closes part of Auckland’s SH20

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Source: Radio New Zealand The scene shortly after the crash. NZTA says there’s a heavy buildup of traffic in the area. X/ New Zealand Transport Agency One person is in critical condition following a crash on the South-Western Motorway near Māngere overnight. The two-vehicle crash, involving a car and a truck, was reported at 4am … Read more

‘No political agenda’: Principal says CCTV proves mouldy meals weren’t last week’s leftovers

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Source: Radio New Zealand Haeata Principal Peggy Burrows RNZ / Adam Burns A Christchurch principal has denied there being a “political agenda” behind speaking publicly about mouldy meals that were served to children. Students at Haeata Community Campus were served mouldy mince meals through the government-funded school lunch programme, which some of them ate before … Read more

Green MPs, councillors launch campaign against second Mt Victoria tunnel in Wellington

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Source: Radio New Zealand Critics of a second Mt Victoria tunnel in the capital have launched a campaign against the plans. RNZ / Ellen O’Dwyer Critics of a second Mt Victoria tunnel in the capital have launched a campaign against the plans, saying the project is too expensive, too disruptive and too focused on cars. … Read more