Century-old locket lost at Auckland supermarket re-united with its owner

Source: Radio New Zealand Counties Manukau South Area Commander, Inspector Jared Pirret with Cameron who was able to collect his mother’s lost locket. NZ Police A century-old gold locket found at a South Auckland supermarket has been re-united with its owner in Thames, months, after it was lost. Thames woman Merle Brett was on her … Read more

Earth Sciences – New energy calculator helps glasshouse growers cut fuel risk and future‑proof food production

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand As New Zealand grapples with rising energy costs and uncertain supply chains, questions about our fuel security and food security are becoming tightly knotted together. Our country relies year-round on our covered crop growers to produce affordable quality fresh produce. This includes 95% of our tomatoes, capsicums and cucumbers. Many … Read more

Is this the most Michelin-starred chef you’ve never heard of?

Source: Radio New Zealand In the gardens of Paris’ emblematic Champs Élysées, tucked behind the Petit Palais where works by Rembrandt, Gauguin and Cézanne decorate the walls, is an ornate two-story Neoclassical building with a buttercream and forest green façade. The Pavillon Ledoyen is a historic restaurant that since 1792 has hosted names like Monet, … Read more

Health – Culture of fear at understaffed, dilapidated Hillmorton Hospital

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation A new survey of 186 nurses and care staff at Christchurch’s Hillmorton Hospital has revealed a disturbing picture of overworked staff too scared to speak out about the state of the facility, NZNO says. Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO delegate and Hillmorton nurse Sarah Jane Perkin says understaffing is at … Read more

Defence News – NZ Army takes jungle warfare lessons from Philippines exercise

Source: New Zealand Defence Force The New Zealand Army has completed its first Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines, improving its ability to fight a modern war amid the heat, humidity and venomous snakes and insects of the jungle. New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, United States, Canada, France and Japan celebrated the successful completion of Balikatan 2026 … Read more

Government backs growth of trusted voluntary nature and carbon markets

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Minister for the Environment Andrew Hoggard today announced the Government’s approach to grow New Zealand’s voluntary nature and carbon markets – backed by a new assurance role to give buyers and landowners confidence in what they are investing in.“Think of it like a warrant of fitness for the market,” says … Read more

Shane van Gisbergen powers to New York NASCAR win

Source: Radio New Zealand Shane Van Gisbergen leads the field during the NASCAR Cup series race at Watkins Glen race track in New York. AFP Shane van Gisbergen has put on another consummate display of road race driving to easily win the latest round of the NASCAR Cup series in New York. The New Zealand … Read more

Internet outage hits Auckland suburbs

Source: Radio New Zealand The Chorus website showed outages in several South Auckland suburbs. Chorus / screenshot An estimated 2500 homes and businesses in South Auckland are affected by an internet outage. Chorus said it had identified damaged copper and fibre cables impacting about 600 copper voice and broadband customers, and 1900 fibre broadband customers. … Read more

Wellington bar Red Square to close after ’23 legendary years’

Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. Unsplash / Lucas Santos Long time Wellington bar, Red Square, has announced it will be closing at the end of this month. “As with everything, all good things must come to an end,” the bar wrote on social media. “Over and incredible 23 years, Red Square has been a … Read more

Wellington Electricity says power bills could rise for customers to keep lines reliable

Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Wellington Electricity says it likely needs to eke out another $10 to $20 a month from customers to keep the power lines reliable. That would be over and above approved increases by the regulatory each April through to 2030. Christchurch lines company Orion was also writing to the Commerce Commission … Read more

Combining forces on illicit tobacco

Source: New Zealand Government Customs, Police, Health New Zealand, and the Ministry of Health have joined forces to better target and dismantle the illegal tobacco trade, Customs Minister Casey Costello announced today. “Customs is seizing increasing quantities of black-market cigarettes and tobacco and there are more widespread and blatant retail sales of these illegal products,” … Read more

Dunedin bar owner surrenders liquor licences after drunk person locked in

Source: Radio New Zealand The Dunedin bar DropKicks on Great King Street. RNZ / Tess Brunton A Dunedin bar owner has surrendered liquor licences for two venues after a drunk patron was locked in at the end of the night. The 3 April lock-in at DropKicks on Great King Street led to a district licensing … Read more

What exactly is the hantavirus outbreak and how worried should we be?

Source: Radio New Zealand A passenger from the Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius waves aboard a military bus after being transferred by boat to the industrial port of Granadilla de Abona on the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands on 10 May 2026. JORGE GUERRERO / AFP Explainer – The internet is … Read more

Century-old family heirloom returned

Source: New Zealand Police A century-old family heirloom has made its way back home thanks to someone’s good will. Nearly two months ago a member of the public located a gold locket at Woolworths in Pukekohe South. Hoping to reunite it with its rightful owner, the woman handed it into the Pukekohe Police Station. “A … Read more

Corrections staff turn to food banks as fuel crisis takes toll

Source: Radio New Zealand Corrections staff are struggling with the higher cost of fuel. (File photo) RNZ / Blessen Tom Corrections staff are turning to food banks as the fuel crisis takes its toll, the Corrections union says. While some prisons, such as Auckland’s Mt Eden, were located close to a main centre, many prisons … Read more

Government removal of fees-free a sign of their values

Source: NZCTU The removal of fees free from university students is a kick in the teeth for young people already being hammered by this government says Sandra Grey, President of the NZ Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi. “Rather than recognise that their economic plan hasn’t worked, this Government has once again forced young … Read more

Pacific Edge aims to raise up to $24 million more after loss of US insurer

Source: Radio New Zealand Pacific Edge’s revenue dropped to $11.5 million from $21.8 million the year earlier, reflecting the Medicare cut. Supplied / Pacific Edge Cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge is aiming to raise up to another $24 million as it continues to battle to regain Medicare coverage in the United States, get reimbursement for … Read more

Dave Rennie’s Japan season extended as Kobe Steelers book top spot

Source: Radio New Zealand Kobe Steelers coach Dave Rennie (L) and Ardie Savea. www.photosport.nz Incoming All Blacks coach Rennie and his star flanker Ardie Savea have steered Kobe Steelers to the top seeding in Japan Rugby League One’s knockout stage. The Steelers clinched victory in a key final match of the 18-round regular season, winning … Read more

Opinion: The truth about Auckland’s ‘dog killers’ – Rachel Kelleher

Source: Auckland Council Animal abusers. Murderers. Nazis. Scum.  If you’ve spent time on social media in the past couple of weeks you might have seen these words and worse directed at Auckland Council’s Animal Management team.  The abuse stems from a smear campaign by a group purporting to expose animal abusers and seeking to rescue … Read more

World Vision – 50 MILLION REASONS TO ACT: NZERS URGED TO BACK LANDMARK SLAVERY LAW BEFORE DEADLINE

Source: World Vision World Vision is urging New Zealanders to show their support for a Modern Slavery Bill by making a submission via Select Committee to ensure the Bill becomes law this year.  The Modern Slavery Bill passed its first reading in Parliament with the overwhelming support of 112 MPs and now moves to the Education … Read more

Ombudsman publishes findings on Ministry of Education sensitive claims scheme

Source: Office of the Ombudsman The Ombudsman has found that parts of the Ministry of Education’s scheme to assess sensitive claims are unreasonable for people who were abused or neglected in some state schools. John Allen’s findings follow a complaint by Cooper Legal in 2023. Mr Allen acknowledges the enormity and complexity of the task faced … Read more

Northland News – Free BusLink travel for ages 5-24 during Youth Week

Source: Northland Regional Council Northland Regional Council’s BusLink services are pleased to announce increased support for Youth Week, running from 18-23 May 2026. To mark Youth Week 2026, BusLink will extend its usual free travel offer, with free bus services available to all young people aged 5-24 across the entire BusLink network for the week. All … Read more

Politics – A new political party has formed to combat New Zealand’s ongoing complicity in crimes against the people of Palestine

Source: PFFRS Party (Palestine Free From the River to the Sea Party) A political party named “Palestine Free From the River to the Sea” has been formed to contest the upcoming general election. The party explicitly supports a single democratic state with equal rights for all from the river to the sea in the historic … Read more

West Auckland foodbank demand at highest ever levels

Source: Radio New Zealand A West Auckland foodbank is giving out more than 200 food parcels a month. File picture. RNZ / Simon Rogers A West Auckland foodbank says demand for its services has reached its highest-ever levels. Waitakere Community Outreach foodbank coordinator Victor Davies, who has been running food banks for 26 years, told … Read more

Research – Shock survey result – one in four public service workers thinking of leaving NZ – PSA

Source: PSA Govt attacks on workers taking toll Key findings from PSA survey: – 27% of public service workers are thinking of leaving NZ for better pay – Nearly half (49%) of workers under 25 are considering leaving – rising to 44% for those aged 25-34 – Health sector and public service department workers most likely to be looking … Read more

NGOs – Every day life in Gaza – new ChildFund film

Source: ChildFund New Zealand A new short film that follows families living in Gaza, and supported by New Zealand donations, has won a prestigious film award in Italy. ‘Everyday in Gaza’ was filmed in the Gaza Strip in spring 2025, and tells the story of families determined to keep things as normal as possible in one … Read more

New survey: privacy concerns are no longer niche worries

Source: Privacy Commissioner 11 May 2026, 09:00 Issues like AI decision-making, facial recognition, and children’s digital lives are now firmly mainstream concerns, rather than niche ones, according to the latest privacy survey.  “The increasing use of technology is leading more New Zealanders to ask questions about the amount of personal information being collected about them, … Read more