Former boxing champion Sean Sullivan reprimanded for false repossession bid

Source: Radio New Zealand Former champion boxer Sean Sullivan has been found guilty of misconduct and gross negligence by the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority. NZ HERALD/SUPPLIED Former world-rated boxing champion, turned debt collector Sean Sullivan has landed himself in hot water for unlawfully trying to repossess goods. Once ranked the No.7 welterweight in the … Read more

Disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming’s medals to be revoked

Source: Radio New Zealand Moves to revoke Jevon McSkimming’s Long Service and Good Conduct medals have begun. RNZ / Mark Papalii The police commissioner has begun a process to revoke medals awarded to disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. McSkimming pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material in … Read more

Could NZ plug into Australian ‘drone wall’ to keep China at bay?

Source: Radio New Zealand A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Ghost Bat drone is displayed on the first public day of the Australian International Airshow on 28 March 2025. Paul Crock / AFP New Zealand could benefit from Australia building a wall of military drones to keep China at bay. A defence analyst said Ukraine … Read more

New Zealand ‘reluctantly’ extends pause in Cook Islands funding

Source: Radio New Zealand NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the pause after Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a partnership with China. RNZ/Pacific Islands Forum/123RF New Zealand has extended its pause on direct payments to the Cook Islands government, after it signed partnership agreements with China earlier this year. A Ministry of Foreign … Read more

First Responders – Evacuation of Whakapapa Village – Tongariro Fire update #8

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Whakapapa Village is being evacuated as a precaution due to the fire in the Tongariro National Park. Thirty six people who live in the village were warned earlier today that they might need to evacuate, and that the signal to leave would be the use of the town’s lahar warning … Read more

Police car crashes on way to earlier crash in Upper Hutt

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. RNZ / Nate McKinnon Two crashes – including one involving a police car on its way to the earlier smash – have closed SH2 River Road in Upper Hutt. Police said motorists should expect delays in the area. Emergency services were called to River Road, Clouston Park, between Fergusson … Read more

Road closed following crashes, SH2 River Road, Upper Hutt

Source: New Zealand Police Motorists should expect delays in Upper Hutt this evening, with two crashes having occurred on SH2 River Road. Emergency services were called to River Road, Clouston Park, between Fergusson Drive and Totara Park Road, about 5.50pm after a two-vehicle crash. Fortunately, there have been only moderate injuries reported. While travelling under … Read more

Highway closed, power lost, after truck hit powerpole near Invercargill

Source: Radio New Zealand State Highway One between Longbush and Kennington near Invercargill was closed. RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon State Highway One between Longbush and Kennington, near Invercargill, was closed and the power was out for 62 properties, after a truck hit a powerpole. Emergency services were called to the crash at 2.30pm Sunday. There … Read more

First Responders – Tongariro National Park Fire Update #7

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand The air attack on the Tongariro National Park fire will continue until twilight, when aircraft will be grounded for the night. Fire and Emergency NZ has 12 helicopters and five fixed wing aircraft waterbombing the fire. Another helicopter is being used to coordinate all of the aircraft’s movements. Assistant Commander … Read more

One new case with no links may indicate undetected measles

Source: Radio New Zealand One new measles case has been found in Nelson with no links to others that have had the disease. Supplied/ US CDC Health New Zealand says one new measles case has been found in Nelson with no links to others that have had the disease. There have now been 18 confirmed … Read more

Health – Health-focussed methamphetamine interventions welcome – NZ Drug Foundation

Source: NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri Statement from Sarah Helm, Executive Director, NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri: “We welcome the health-focussed interventions to reduce methamphetamine harm that were announced by the Government today. “It is good to see an emphasis on health approaches in the Government’s announcement … Read more

First Responders – Tongariro National Park Fire Update #6

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Precautionary evacuations of five facilities in the vicinity of the Tongariro fire are almost complete. They are the Hillary Outdoors Education Centre, the Maungatepopo School Camp, the Old Mill, the Taurewa Lodge and the Avondale College Lodge. Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Craig Gold says additional aircraft are being used … Read more

Disrupting organised criminals and taking their money to fight meth

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is using money seized from criminals to fund a nationwide campaign against methamphetamine use and is moving to make it easier to strip gangs of their illegal profits, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Meth tears families apart, fuels violence, and wrecks communities. This campaign will send a clear … Read more

Millions of dollars allocated to tackle increased methamphetamine use

Source: Radio New Zealand There had been an increase of 266 percent in meth seized in New Zealand and offshore over the past 5 years. Supplied / NZ Customs The government has unveiled a plan to combat methamphetamine harm in New Zealand, strengthening border security, and increasing addiction services and maritime operations to disrupt organised … Read more

Action plan to combat methamphetamine harm

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has agreed to a bold and comprehensive action plan to combat methamphetamine harm in New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Meth is a scourge on our society. Consumption doubled last year and ultimately, increased meth use fuels organised crime, and destroys lives. This Government’s primary justice target is … Read more

Severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland, Northland

Source: Radio New Zealand A severe thunderstorm watch remains in place for Auckland and Northland, with intense rainfall possible. MetService said rising temperatures were likely to cause heavy showers and thunderstorms, with the watch in place until 9pm Sunday. Localised downpours of 25-40 mm/h were possible. The forecaster said surface and flash flooding were also … Read more

Road blocked, State Highway 1, Longbush

Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 1 between Longbush and Kennington near Invercargill is closed following a truck hitting an electric power pole on the highway. No injuries are reported, but ambulance services were called as a precaution. The road will remain closed while contractors repair the electrical damage. Motorists should expect delays. ENDS Issued … Read more

World Vision – New report finds Pacific countries need to do more to address child hunger in climate strategies

Source: World Vision A new report from World Vision finds many Pacific countries are failing to adequately address climate-related child hunger and malnutrition in their climate strategies. The Hungry Futures Index scores the climate strategies prepared under the Paris Climate Agreement of more than 80 nations and ranks countries according to how well their climate policies address hunger … Read more

Serious crash blocks road, Johnsonville

Source: New Zealand Police Police are in attendance at a serious crash in central Johnsonville, Wellington involving a car hitting a pedestrian. The crash happened shortly before 1:10pm on Moorefield Road, outside the Johnsonville library. It is believed the pedestrian is seriously injured. The Police Serious Crash Unit has been notified. The road is blocked … Read more

9am on the radio

Source: Radio New Zealand This is one of a series of essays and short stories commissioned to commemorate RNZ’s 100 years on air in Aotearoa. Barbara turns the radio on. It’s square and brown and has four perfectly round knobs along the bottom. The voice from the wooden box says it’s 9am, so Barbara’s just … Read more

Rough sleepers fear being pushed to unfamiliar suburbs as government considers central Auckland ban

Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland CBD’s rough sleepers worry they will be kicked out of the city. (File photo) RNZ / Luke McPake A tougher stance on rough sleepers in Auckland’s central city has some homeless people fearing they will be pushed out to unfamiliar suburbs where they could struggle to survive. Earlier this week, … Read more

Health Ministry accused of sitting on dying state abuse survivor’s redress claim for weeks

Source: Radio New Zealand The Ministry of Health is being accused of sitting on a state abuse survivor’s compensation claim. RNZ / Angus Dreaver The Ministry of Health is being accused of sitting on a state abuse survivor’s compensation claim for weeks, knowing she had cancer and was about to die. Wellington lawyer Sonja Cooper … Read more

Former Green MP Kevin Hague returns as party’s new chief of staff

Source: Radio New Zealand Greens Party’s new chief of staff Kevin Hague. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Former Green MP Kevin Hague is returning to politics to be the party’s new chief of staff. In a social media post on Thursday, Hague said he was coming “out of retirement” to take up the role after Eliza … Read more

Behind the education overhaul: Outcry reveals deep divisions in the sector

Source: Radio New Zealand Dr Michael Johnston is a senior fellow at the policy think tank New Zealand Initiative. New Zealand Initiative Many agree NZ’s education is below par, but how to fix it is the subject of major conflict – as the government’s proposed curriculum has made clear When Michael Johnston stepped onto the … Read more

Labour promises to make cervical screening free for everyone

Source: Radio New Zealand Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Labour is promising to make cervical screening free for everyone, if elected, through its previously-announced Medicard scheme. Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said the move would help prevent cancers and avoid costly hospital treatments. “Each year 175 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cervical … Read more

Implementation of boot camp rushed, report concludes

Source: Radio New Zealand An example of the military style uniform the youths in the pilot were required to wear. RNZ / Rachel Helyer-Donaldson The final evaluation for the government’s military-style boot camps found it was too small to provide any meaningful data, and its implementation was rushed. The 82-page report says the pilot contributed … Read more

Former Te Pāti Māori staffer Eru Kapa-Kingi doubles down on leadership shortcomings

Source: Radio New Zealand Eru Kapa-Kingi claims the party had an executive and leadership model that “thinks it’s beyond critique”. Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga Former Te Pāti Māori staffer Eru Kapa-Kingi has taken to social media to defend his criticism of party leadership, saying – despite knowing he’d be “dragged through … Read more