New Zealand pushes pause on puberty blockers pending UK trial

Source: Radio New Zealand Health Minister Simeon Brown. RNZ / Mark Papalii The government is halting new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria, saying “a precautionary approach” is needed while evidence remains uncertain. In a statement published on Wednesday afternoon, Health Minister Simeon Brown said Cabinet had agreed to the new … Read more

Man arrested after fatal Sheffield crash

Source: New Zealand Police Police have arrested a man in relation to a fatal crash in Sheffield, Canterbury. The two-vehicle crash happened on State Highway 73, at the intersection with Deans Road, around 2:50pm on Wednesday. Following enquiries, a 32-year-old Swiss national has been charged with careless driving causing death. He is due to appear … Read more

Silver Ferns end chaotic season with win over England

Source: Radio New Zealand Grace Nweke takes a shot against England. Andrew Cornaga / Photosport The Silver Ferns have capped off a turbulent 2025 by taking a 2-1 series win over the England Roses in Manchester, in what’s likely to be their last hit-out before the Commonwealth Games in July. Thursday’s 55-49 win over England … Read more

Turners Automotive posts first-half net profit of $21.9 million

Source: Radio New Zealand Turners Automotive posted a net profit $21.9 million for the six months ended September. RNZ / Nate McKinnon Car dealer and financier Turners Automotive posted a record first-half result as its loan book grew strongly, while margins also improved, despite subdued consumer demand. Key numbers for the six months ended September … Read more

University Research – Global rise of junk food a major health hazard – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Ultraprocessed food is displacing healthy food and driving up rates of diabetes, depression and heart disease in New Zealand and internationally, a new report shows. ‘Ultra-processed foods’ are dominating diets worldwide and driving a rapid rise in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses, according to a new landmark … Read more

150+ new social homes on the way for Hawke’s Bay

Source: New Zealand Government More than 150 new social houses are expected to be delivered by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) in Hawke’s Bay says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Our Government backs social housing and we are determined to deliver it better,” Mr Bishop says.  “We are building an entirely new housing investment system centred on … Read more

Gisborne charity boxing event to go ahead after organisers agree to drop some fighters

Source: Radio New Zealand Jamie Cox (right) of Wairoa Boxing club reffing a sparring session. Police declined a permit for the Wairoa club match earlier this month. Supplied A charity boxing event in Gisborne is going ahead – but only after organisers agreed to a police request to drop some fighters from the line-up. A … Read more

Man charged with murder after death on New Plymouth street

Source: Radio New Zealand Robin Martin A man has been charged with murder after a death on a street in New Plymouth. Emergency services were alerted to a fight on St Aubyn Street shortly before 7pm on Wednesday and found a man with critical injuries. CPR was performed but he died at the scene. The … Read more

Employment Disputes – Fern Energy workers vote to strike for better pay and good faith bargaining

Source: Workers First Union Workers First Union members at Fern Energy, a leading fuel distributor and logistics provider, have voted to take strike action by withdrawing their labour from 26 November to 1 December. They are seeking industry-standard pay and conditions and have criticised the company’s refusal to attend mediatiated bargaining with the union unless workers … Read more

JOINT STATEMENT: COP 30 – SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT AND WORLD VISION SOLOMON ISLANDS URGE WORLD LEADERS TO STRENGTHEN CLIMATE FINANCE TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND FOOD SECURITY

Source: World Vision   Fund adaptation now: Leaders at COP 30 must urgently deliver grant-based climate finance to secure children’s food and health, integrating intergenerational dialogue and 1.5 °C ambition into all decisions to support frontline communities in the Pacific facing existential climate threats. Invest in people-centred, climate-responsive social protection systems: to ensure children’s immediate needs are met, including water security, health, … Read more

Insurers welcome Govt decision to keep NHC levy unchanged

Source: Insurance Council of NZ The Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) has welcomed the Government’s decision to leave the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) levy unchanged, amid ongoing concerns around the cost-of-living. The levy, collected by insurers on behalf of the Government, helps ensure the NHC is funded to provide … Read more

Northland News – Former regional councillor Monty Knight remembered

Source: Northland Regional Council Northland Regional Council (NRC) chair Pita Tipene has paid tribute to former councillor Monty Knight who died tragically in his beloved Far North at the weekend. Chair Tipene says Councillor Knight was much respected throughout Taitokerau for his business acumen over many years as both a retailer in several fields, including jewellery, … Read more

Climate Leaders Coalition launches next chapter

Source: Sustainable Business Council The Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) is this morning unveiling a new Statement of Ambition and refreshed Strategy, marking the next step in business-led climate action in New Zealand – just as COP30 concludes in Belém. “As CLC enters a new chapter, we do so with an unwavering resolve to deliver on the … Read more

Deep Sea Mining Campaign – New Briefing Paper Released as TMC Reports $184.5M Loss for Q3 2025

Source: Deep Sea Mining Campaign (DSMC) The Deep Sea Mining Campaign (DSMC) has today released Shifting Tides, a new briefing paper analysing The Metals Company’s (TMC) plan to mine the Pacific Ocean via the U.S. Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Resources Act (DSHMRA). The paper finds that TMC’s proposed pivot introduces significant regulatory uncertainties, and heightens financial, legal, and … Read more

Delays following bus crash, Glen Innes

Source: New Zealand Police Emergency services are in attendance at a bus crash in Glen Innes this morning. The crash, involving two buses and a vehicle on Apirana Avenue, was reported to Police just after 9am. One person has been transported to hospital in a moderate condition. Apirana Avenue is closed between Taniwha Street and … Read more

NZ and Iceland collaborate on geothermal energy

Source: New Zealand Government New Zealand and Iceland today signed an agreement to deepen cooperation on geothermal energy development.  Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the expertise of both countries in geothermal energy is recognised around the world.  “This agreement builds on decades of shared expertise and paves the way for further collaboration to advance … Read more

Police acknowledge IPCA findings into conflict of interest

Source: New Zealand Police Police accept the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) regarding an officer who was found to have not recognised a conflict of interest, which led to the inappropriate use of the Police database. On 24 July 2024 Officer A, who was off duty, attempted to merge with another vehicle. … Read more

Digital trial to boost supermarket competition

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is acting to reduce onerous food labelling requirements on new supermarkets seeking to enter the New Zealand grocery market.   Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today that the Government has initiated consultation on a proposal to trial the use of digital labels … Read more

Proposal to enable a limited trial of digital labelling on certain imported food products

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries Why we are consulting The Minister for Food Safety is seeking feedback on a proposal to enable a trial of digital labelling for certain imported food sold in designated retail stores. Under the proposal, approved retailers would temporarily be exempt from the requirement to bear all information on packaging … Read more

Naturing made easier: 45 DOC huts and campsites to move onto the booking system

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  20 November 2025 A total of 45 sites – 22 huts and 23 campsites – will become bookable in December. These range from backcountry adventures like the Hollyford Track in Fiordland to scenic coastal campsites in the Marlborough Sounds. There is no change to the cost of staying in any … Read more

New actions to grow the mental health and addiction workforce

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is delivering on reducing wait times and growing the frontline mental health and addiction workforce, one year on from the country’s first dedicated workforce plan, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says. “From day one, I’ve been clear that the biggest barrier to timely support is workforce shortages. That’s … Read more

No suspicious circumstances for woman’s death in Ōtāhuhu

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Police have confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances relating to the death of a woman in Ōtāhuhu on Monday. Emergency services were called to the Atkinson Avenue property at about 1.50am, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Cordons were in place along a section of the street … Read more

‘Absolutely ludicrous’: Casey Costello defends plunge in global tobacco control ranking

Source: Radio New Zealand Associate health minister Casey Costello says getting through longer term smokers was the most challenging part of the process. RNZ Associate health minister Casey Costello has labelled New Zealand’s recent plummet in global tobacco control as “ridiculous” and “ludicrous”. It comes after the country plummeted from second in the world in … Read more

Cheap fruit and vegetable imports put pressure on New Zealand production

Source: Radio New Zealand Wattie’s tomatoes from Hawke’s Bay. RNZ/Monique Steele The hunt for the cheapest fruit and vegetables by both supermarkets and shoppers is putting pressure on locally produced crops in New Zealand. Over the past few months, well-known brand Wattie’s New Zealand of Hawke’s Bay made a series of cuts to local production, … Read more

Live: Silver Ferns v England

Source: Radio New Zealand The Silver Ferns take on England for their final test in Manchester to decide the series. It is the Silver Ferns 12th test in the space of two months. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. The … Read more

Water fluoridation does not hinder brain development, 40-year study finds

Source: Radio New Zealand AFP A New Zealand dental surgeon says a 40-year study shows water fluoridation doesn’t hinder brain development. Researchers in the US surveyed tens-of-thousands of people on maths and language skills from teenagerhood until the age of 60. “The discussion has been that fluoridation of domestic water supply has been associated with … Read more

Resident describes hearing gunshots in neighbourhood on Kāpiti Coast

Source: Radio New Zealand Emergency services at the scene. Supplied A Waikanae resident has described hearing raised voices and what sounded like gunshots before the street was flooded with police. Emergency services were called to a property on Kakariki Grove just before 3.30pm on Wednesday. A neighbour told RNZ police were still at a house … Read more