Northland News – $1.5M Awanui-Lower Whangatane Spillway funding welcomed

Source: Northland Regional Council News the government will fund more than half of a $2.5 million project to remove a weak point from the Awanui flood scheme has been welcomed by the Northland Regional Council (NRC). Council Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Gibbard said Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced recently (subs: Thurs 16 Oct) an application … Read more

Immigration Minister to Deliver Keynote at NZ’s Premier Immigration Conference

Source: New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Immigration, will deliver the keynote address at New Zealand’s leading immigration industry event, the Annual Immigration Conference, on Friday, 24 October 2025, in Auckland. Hosted by the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI), the conference brings together government, industry, … Read more

Water Safety – Keep an eye out for our new spokes-Buoy this Safer Boating Week – Maritime New Zealand

Source: Maritime New Zealand As Safer Boating Week 2025 gets underway, a new ambassador for safety will start bobbing in the waves around the country. Introducing “Buoy-Boy” – a floating reminder to recreational craft users to stay safe on the water. Buoy-Boy will be appearing at popular boating spots nationwide, starting this week, and continuing … Read more

Employment – The benefit equation: What workers want and how employers can benefit – Robert Half

Source: Robert Half  94% of Kiwi workers say they receive perks and benefits from their employer  76% plan to ask for additional perks and benefits  An agreed bonus (19%), a remote working option (16%), and flexible working arrangements (16%) are the three benefits employees plan to ask for in 2025    Auckland, 20 October 2025 – … Read more

Inflation remains within target band

Source: New Zealand Government Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed the latest figures showing inflation remaining within the Reserve Bank’s target range.  Stats NZ reported today that annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation rose from 2.7 per cent in the year to June to 3 per cent in the year to September 2025. “This … Read more

Pharmac proposes greater transparency for medicine funding decisions

Source: PHARMAC Pharmac is proposing changes to bring greater transparency and clarity to how medicine funding applications are managed on the Options for Investment (OFI) list. The approach would allow Pharmac to decline applications that have remained in the lowest-ranked group for more than two years – helping people better understand which medicines are unlikely … Read more

Motorbike riders urged to take care after several crashes

Source: New Zealand Police As spring arrives and the weather improves, Police are urging motorcycle riders to use good judgement on the roads, following four crashes in the space of two hours. “As the country steps out of winter into warmer and lighter months we usually see an uptick of motorcycles on our roads, and … Read more

New Zealand’s first sports school will open in Term 1 2026

Source: New Zealand Government Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the much-anticipated New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa (NZPAA) will open as a charter school for athletes in Term 1 2026. The school will serve students with serious sporting aspirations, giving them the skills to ignite a professional career, while ensuring they get … Read more

Proposed changes to the Plant Export Requirement: MPI Technical Standard: Phytosanitary Certificates

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries Have your say The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is consulting on proposed changes to an existing plant export requirement, the MPI Technical Standard: Phytosanitary Certificates [PDF, 326 KB] This is part of the ongoing work to strengthen the MPI plant export phytosanitary assurance system. MPI wants your feedback … Read more

Richard Wagstaff’s response to the Government on nationwide strikes

Source: NZCTU This statement was originally published by The Post The strikes planned by several unions on October 23 represent the biggest day of industrial action in decades. More than a hundred thousand union members spread across many occupations have voted to send a message that they expect their employers to respond properly to the … Read more

300+ new social homes on the way for Bay of Plenty

Source: New Zealand Government More than 300 new social homes will be delivered in Bay of Plenty by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “Our Government backs social housing, and we’re determined to deliver it better. That means building the right homes, in the right places, with the right support, for the … Read more

Death following fire, Riwaka

Source: New Zealand Police A man has died following a fire at a Riwaka address yesterday. Emergency services were called to the property about 10.50am on Sunday after a report of a house fire. One person was initially unaccounted for. Sadly, they were located deceased after the fire was extinguished. Enquiries into the circumstances of … Read more

Mobile scanner delivering diagnostics closer to home

Source: New Zealand Government More than 340 patients in the lower South Island have been able to access advanced cancer diagnostics closer to home through fortnightly visits from a mobile PET-CT service to Dunedin, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This has been a gamechanger for patients in the lower South Island who need a PET-CT … Read more

Keep an eye out for our new spokes-Buoy this Safer Boating Week

Source: Maritime New Zealand As Safer Boating Week 2025 gets underway, a new ambassador for safety will start bobbing in the waves around the country. Introducing “Buoy-Boy” – a floating reminder to recreational craft users to stay safe on the water. Buoy-Boy will be appearing at popular boating spots nationwide, starting this week, and continuing … Read more

Possible delays following crash, SH1 Karapiro

Source: New Zealand Police Emergency services are currently at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on SH1 near Karapiro.  Police were called about 2.55pm. Fortunately there have been no injuries reported, however the crash has caused damage to the median barrier.  Motorists should anticipate potential delays in the area while emergency services and contractors work … Read more

From Galloping Messengers to One-Click Delivery: The Lychee Journey from Chang’an to Today.

Source: Media Outreach BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 October 2025 – A thousand years ago, delivering fresh lychees from southern China to the capital, Chang’an, took over a week—and exhausted entire relays of horses. Today, the same journey takes just 24 hours. This dramatic change illustrates the rise of China’s modern logistics … Read more

Jones promoting resources on global stage

Source: New Zealand Government Promoting opportunities for investment and collaboration in the development of New Zealand’s natural resources is at the top of the agenda during three upcoming international mining and geothermal conferences, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones leaves tomorrow for the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney, Australia. He will … Read more

Minister flies NZ flag at World Dairy Summit

Source: New Zealand Government Biosecurity, Food Safety and Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard travels to Chile today to represent New Zealand at the World Dairy Summit. “The World Dairy Summit is the leading event in the annual global dairy calendar, bringing together farmers, processors, scientists, marketers, and policymakers from more than 60 countries,” Mr Hoggard … Read more

Welfare sanctions expand to job searches, upskilling

Source: New Zealand Government The Traffic Light System expands from tomorrow with the launch of two more non-financial sanctions focused on job searches and upskilling, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Starting from Monday, people failing an obligation for the first time will face two new alternatives to financial sanctions,” Louise Upston says. … Read more

Open letter to the people of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand Government To the patients, students and families affected by this week’s planned strike, The Government regrets the impact on you, your children and your families that is expected on Thursday because of a strike planned by a number of unions.  We regret even more that the strike appears to be politically motivated … Read more

Road closed, Karikari Peninsula

Source: New Zealand Police Matai Bay Road near Carrington Estate in Karikari Peninsula is closed following a single-vehicle crash. Police received report of the crash around 5.30pm. One person has serious injuries and will be airlifted to hospital by ambulance services. The Serious Crash Unit have been notified. Motorists should avoid the area as emergency … Read more

Joyful Alliance Proposes Sustainable Integrated Onsen Resort to Japan’s Wakayama City, Targeting the World’s First Zero-Carbon Destination with USD 2.2 B Investment

Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 October 2025 – Joyful Alliance, a Singapore-headquartered investment firm, today announced it will propose the development of the Wakayama Integrated Onsen Resort to the Wakayama City Government. The two parties officially signed the memorandum of cooperation on October 17. Joyful Alliance will propose … Read more

Fatal crash, Feilding

Source: New Zealand Police One person has died after the earlier two-vehicle crash on Halcombe Road, Feilding, earlier today. Cordons remain in place while the Serious Crash Unit examines the scene. Motorists should continue to avoid the area. ENDS Issued by Police Media Centre MIL OSI

Man dies in hospital following crash, Ngaruawahia

Source: New Zealand Police A man has died following injuries sustained in a serious crash earlier this month in Ngaruawahia. Emergency services were called to the crash, between a car and a motorcycle, on River Road about 7am on 1 October. The rider was taken to Waikato Hospital with critical injuries, where he died last … Read more

Serious crash, Feilding

Source: New Zealand Police Emergency services are at the scene of a serious two-vehicle crash on Halcombe Road, Fielding, near Mt Taylor Drive. Police were called about 2.30pm.  The road will be closed, with diversions in place. Motorists should avoid the area. ENDS  Issued by Police Media Centre MIL OSI

One dead after water rescue, Port Waikato

Source: New Zealand Police Police can confirm that one person has died in hospital following a water rescue near Port Waikato. Emergency services received reports of three people in the water after a boat overturned, north of Sunset Beach, Port Waikato at around 7:15am. Police, Surf Life Saving New Zealand and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter … Read more

Advocacy – Peters silent on Barghouti torture and Israeli non compliance with ceasefire – PSNA

Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)   As nationwide protests against Israeli genocide continue this weekend into the third year, PSNA is demanding Foreign Minister Winston Peters condemn Israeli torture of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti and Israel’s failure to abide by the terms of the ceasefire.   PSNA’s Co-chair, John Minto, says Barghouti is Palestine’s equivalent to South … Read more