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

Hipkins calls for more robust vetting after it failed to identify McSkimming’s behaviour

Source: Radio New Zealand Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. RNZ / Mark Papalii The Labour leader says it is “unacceptable” that former Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming’s behaviour was not picked up in vetting for the role. McSkimming pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material. McSkimming performed Google searches on … Read more

Education Minister Erica Stanford marks ministry 7/10, doubling previous rating

Source: Radio New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Education Ministry’s ministerial approval rating has more than doubled. The ministry’s 2025 annual report shows Education Minister Erica Stanford rated the ministry seven out of 10 overall for its oversight of the education system, up from three in the previous report. However, … Read more

Iwi leaders want hui next week for Te Pāti Māori factions

Source: Radio New Zealand Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. RNZ / Russell Palmer The National Iwi Chairs Forum says it is working towards getting both factions of Te Pāti Māori to a hui in Wellington next week. The leadership body has been liaising with the party’s leadership and estranged MPs Mariameno … Read more

Foodie delight under mountain signals new lease of life

Source: Radio New Zealand Mt Ruapehu, the North Island’s highest spot, is a prominent feature from Waimarino, formerly National Park. Photo: supplied Chef and barista Sam Wilson hopes the re-opening of his cafe in a rustic railway station flanked by Mt Ruapehu is a pointer to something good for a region suffering economic hardship. He … Read more

Am I paying too much in tax on foreign investments? – Ask Susan

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ’s money correspondent Susan Edmunds answers your questions. Photo: RNZ Got questions? RNZ has launcheda new podcast, No Stupid Questions, with Susan Edmunds. We’d love to hear more of your questions about money and the economy. You can send through written questions, like these ones, but even better, you can drop … Read more

Are hard hats a work perk?

Source: Radio New Zealand New Inland Revenue guidance suggests hard hats could be a taxable work perk. Photo: 123RF New Inland Revenue guidance suggesting hard hats could be a taxable work perk could confuse some employers, one tax expert says. IRD has released an update on when fringe benefit tax (FBT) exemptions apply to employee … Read more

Callaghan Innovation redundancies cost taxpayers more than $10m – report

Source: Radio New Zealand *Since this story was published Callaghan Innovation has identified errors in the numbers it released to the PSA under the Official Information Act. RNZ has updated the story with the corrected figures which show a reduction in the number of roles going and the amount paid out for redundancy.  Callaghan Innovation’s … Read more

Sealord confirms 48 jobs to go as parts of Nelson operations become seasonal

Source: Radio New Zealand Photo: Sealord Sealord has confirmed 48 job losses as the company makes parts of its Nelson operations seasonal. Sealord last month announced that it was closing its coated fish factory, resulting in the loss of 79 jobs. The company originally proposed cutting a further 59 jobs under plans to operate its … Read more

Treasury warns Crown’s strong balance sheet likely to decline if policy unchanged

Source: Radio New Zealand Treasury secretary Iain Rennie. Photo: RNZ The Treasury has warned the strength of the Crown’s balance sheet is likely to deteriorate if policy settings are not changed. Its 2025 Investment Statement found liabilities were forecast to rise 33 percent by 2029 to $504 billion, as the debt grows to fund investment … Read more

Briscoe Group confident, despite drop in third-quarter sporting sales

Source: Radio New Zealand Briscoe Group owns Briscoes home goods and Rebel Sports. Photo: Hazel Redmond Photographer Retailer Briscoe Group sales dropped in the third-quarter sales, as consumers pulled back spending on sports goods. Total group Q3 sales $171.0m (-1.8%) Homeware sales +1.8%, sports -7.3% Group sales for nine months $542m (-0.7%) Re-affirms full-year profit … Read more

Independent supermarket Plenty Foods hopes to challenge duopoly in Upper Hutt

Source: Radio New Zealand Plenty Foods promises to employ 40 staff, mostly from the local community. Photo: Supplied by Plenty Foods The owner of a new, independent Upper Hutt supermarket hopes he can offer locals an alternative to the big supermarket duopoly. Plenty Foods supermarket opened in Brewtown on Thursday, the second Hutt Valley store … Read more

Cyclist dies in collision with another cyclist in Wairarapa

Source: Radio New Zealand The crash investigation is ongoing. Photo: 123RF A cyclist has died in collision with another cyclist in Carterton. Emergency services were called to the scene on Kokotau Road at 11:30am on Saturday. One of the cyclists were airlifted to hospital, where they later died. The road was closed while police completed … Read more

Education groups oppose minister’s Teaching Council shake-up

Source: Radio New Zealand Various education industry groups have spoken out about changes to the Teaching Council announced last week by the Minister of Education. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller Groups including Catholic school principals and kindergartens have united to oppose government changes to the teacher registration and disciplinary body the Teaching Council. In an … Read more

Empty Rotorua council-owned pensioner units spark concern

Source: Radio New Zealand There are several vacant units at the Kahikatea St pensioner housing block. Photo: Mathew Nash / LDR A woman was left “shaken” after a prowler tried to enter her Rotorua pensioner flat amid reports of homeless people sleeping around empty council-owned units. The incident happened early last Saturday on Kahikatea St … Read more

Saving the marriage of journalism and the people

Source: Radio New Zealand Image from the BSA’s recent report ‘Public trust in news media’ highlighting the factors that damage it – and enhance it. Broadcasting Standards Authority “​The ​blatant, ​blatant ​bias ​of ​the ​New ​Zealand ​media ​makes ​you ​want ​to ​weep,” an exasperated Mike Hosking told his Newstalk ZB listeners last Thursday. A new … Read more

Fire at Darfield contained

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand The large vegetation fire at Darfield is now contained. The fire started just before 10am and destroyed three structures.  It was contained around 12.45pm, with the one helicopter now released and downscaling of ground crews taking place. It will take some time for the fire to be fully extinguished, … Read more

Tongariro Forest Park Fire Update #1

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Firefighters supported by helicopters are tackling a large vegetation fire in the Tongariro Forest Park, which is covering an estimated 50 hectares. Trampers in the Mangatepopo Hut are being advised to remain there. State Highway 47 has been closed near the junction with SH48, with a large build-up of … Read more

Tongariro National Park Fire Update #2

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Thirteen crews of firefighters from eight brigades are working on the fire in the Tongariro National Park, supported by helicopters with monsoon buckets. Assistant Commander Nick West says the fire is impacting an estimated 300 hectares and is burning in the direction of Mount Ngauruhoe. It is not under … Read more

Tongariro National Park Fire Update #3

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand The fire burning in the Tongariro National Park has grown to an estimated 400 hectares. Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Nick West says that firefighters will monitor the fire overnight but it is too dangerous for active firefighting, and aircraft were all stood down at nightfall. Conditions are easing … Read more

Tongariro National Park Fire Update #4

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fresh crews of firefighters from Taranaki and Manawatu-Wanganui are being briefed before beginning work on the second day of operations at the wildfire burning in the Tongariro National Park. Fire and Emergency NZ will have six fire trucks and six tankers on the fireground, supported by six helicopters and … Read more

First Responders – Tongariro National Park Fire Update #5

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand Additional aircraft are being deployed to help fight the wildfire in Tongariro National Park. Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Craig Gold says that because of the terrain and extent of the fire, air attack is more effective at this stage than bringing in additional ground crews across most of the … Read more

Fatal crash, Kokotau Road, Carterton

Source: New Zealand Police One person has died following a crash involving two cyclists in Carterton yesterday. Police and other emergency services responded to the crash on Kokotau Road at around 11.30am 8 October. Sadly, one person has died in hospital after being airlifted from the scene in critical condition. The road was closed while … Read more

Severe thunderstorm warning lifted for Northland, Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand Photo: Unsplash / Daoudi Aissa Severe thunderstorm warnings and watches for Northland and Auckland have been lifted, although a yellow watch is still in place for Fiordland and some parts of the West Coast. For Northland and Auckland, the now-finished cautions were lifted on Saturday night after 8pm, but had warned … Read more

Man dies at popular Auckland beach

Source: Radio New Zealand Police have confirmed a man has died, after earlier being pulled out of the water at a beach near Auckland’s Mission Bay. Police and ambulance were called to Kohimarama Beach at about 11.30am Saturday, where a man was unconscious. They said resuscitation efforts failed and the man died at the scene. … Read more

Mountain Safety Council wants Brewster Track trampers to be better prepared

Source: Radio New Zealand [embedded content] A major increase in rescues on a popular Mount Aspiring National Park track has prompted a new safety campaign. The Mountain Safety Council hopes a new video that highlights the rugged terrain and rapidly changing alpine conditions on the Brewster Track will help trampers better prepare, after two deaths … Read more