Mental health in-patient killed herself after being given leave to go home for Christmas

Source: Radio New Zealand Mental health in-patient killed herself after being given leave to go home for Christmas Family unaware of previous attempt and ongoing risks Health NZ says it’s introduced new protocols for the inpatient unit at Palmerston North Hospital on leave, discharge planning, documentation and communication with families Coroner’s recommendations include review of … Read more

COP30: NZ must commit to buying offshore credits to meet Paris target, climate experts say

Source: Radio New Zealand World leaders gather for the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Para State, Brazil. AFP / LUDOVIC MARIN Climate scientists and advocates say the government needs to come clean on how New Zealand plans to meet its first international climate target. A decade on from the Paris Agreement, and as … Read more

‘A fantastic start’- support for government’s plan to combat methamphetamine use

Source: Radio New Zealand Methamphetamine use had increased significantly and meth seized in New Zealand and offshore had increased by 266 percent over the past five years. Supplied / Customs There’s widespread support for the government’s new action plan to combat methamphetamine use, with the Drug Foundation commending its “health focused interventions”. A mental wellness … Read more

Nark told he’d be ‘well looked after’ in exchange for prison beating evidence, records show

Source: Radio New Zealand Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jenkinson Metro Magazine Former detectives have been left “stumbling for words” by police reports of a secret meeting in 1985 between a Department of Justice official and the key Crown witness in the murder prosecution of Ross Appelgren. Appelgren was convicted of killing fellow inmate Darcy Te … Read more

Which banks most often have the lowest interest rates?

Source: Radio New Zealand Westpac had the joint lowest rates advertised 54.5 percent of the time. File photo. RNZ Which bank consistently offers the lowest advertised home loan rates? And does it actually matter? Data compiled by economists Ed McKnight from Opes Partners shows that since August 2023, across all home loan rate terms, Westpac … Read more

Locals fear ‘truly devastating’ Tongariro National Park fire

Source: Radio New Zealand [L1] Waimarino business owners hope for forecast rain [L1] Concern tourists might cancel bookings [L1] Wall of smoke provides spectacular but unwelcome backdrop to village. A wall of smoke from the Tongariro National Park fire is providing a spectacular but worrying vista for a central plateau village. The blaze has burned … Read more

Staff member injured at Youth Justice residence in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson A staff member has been injured at a Youth Justice facility this evening. Police were called to a report of an assault at a Kiwi Tamaki Road address in Auckland about 7.30pm. Auckland’s Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence is on the … Read more

Staff member injured at a Youth Justice in Auckland

Source: Radio New Zealand Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson A staff member has been injured at a Youth Justice facility this evening. Police were called to a report of an assault at a Kiwi Tamaki Road address in Auckland about 7.30pm. Auckland’s Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence is on the … Read more

Tauranga man Noel Raymond Candy sentenced for historical sexual offending

Source: Radio New Zealand A brother and sister had lived in shame, after being sexually abused by a relative four decades ago. 123.rf Warning: This story deals with the sexual abuse of children and may be distressing for some readers. A brother and sister say they both lived with guilt, shame and confusion following sexual … Read more

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