Off-duty officer lands one in the bag

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Source: New Zealand Police An off-duty officer has helped nab a shoplifter after busting him attempting to leave a Lynfield supermarket with a trolley full of groceries. At about 1.15pm yesterday, the off-duty officer spotted a man allegedly leaving without paying for a full load of items. Auckland City West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant…

Feedback sought on Whangārei Harbour scallops

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Source: New Zealand Government The public’s views are being sought on whether to reopen some scallop fishing in Whangārei Harbour after a four-year closure, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “Fisheries New Zealand is seeking feedback on proposals to allow some fishing in the harbour following a new survey which indicates scallop levels within…

Minister to represent NZ at APEC food security meeting

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Source: New Zealand Government Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard is in China to represent New Zealand at the 11th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM). “The FSMM is an important regional forum that promotes economic growth, trade, and cooperation,” says Mr Hoggard. “It brings together 21 member economies to discuss regional…

Maritime and Marine Protection Rules updated

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Source: Maritime New Zealand A package of Maritime Rules Amendments 2026 and Marine Protection Rules Amendments 2026 has been signed and will come into force on 21 September 2026. The amendments: enable a nationally consistent approach to ship fuel changeover remove mandatory carbon-intensity requirements for domestic ships update New Zealand’s implementation of international conventions make…

Satellite trial puts focus on pest plant

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Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  24 August 2026 Whangamarino is an internationally significant Ramsar wetland and faces a range of threats from invasive plants and animals. DOC Technical Advisor Susan Emmitt says the trial project, undertaken by specialist contractor Fabian Döweler (Bushcraft Analytics), has used machine learning to develop a computer model able to recognise…

Ruling out bed tax is magic thinking by National – PSA says its an empty act of political theatre

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Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi The National Party’s decision to rule out a bed tax over the weekend is an empty act of political theatre – and worse, bad economic policy, the PSA says. “A bed tax would give councils much-needed revenue to fund the essential services that New Zealanders rely … Read more

Economic Ratings – Morningstar DBRS Confirms New Zealand at AAA, Stable

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Source: Morningstar DBRS August 23, 2026 DBRS, Inc. (Morningstar DBRS) confirmed New Zealand’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency – Issuer Ratings at AAA. At the same time, Morningstar DBRS confirmed New Zealand’s Short-Term Foreign and Local Currency – Issuer Ratings at R-1 (high). The trend on all credit ratings is Stable. KEY CREDIT RATING CONSIDERATIONS … Read more

Federated Farmers – More shooting, more spending – but more pests

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Source: Federated Farmers A new survey shows New Zealand’s pest problem has reached crisis point, with farmers spending more money and effort controlling pests – but still going backwards. The findings come from Federated Farmers’ second National Pests Survey, which shows pest numbers are increasing faster than they were two years ago, and farmers are … Read more

Investment sector – Rātā Foundation reports strong financial performance for YE 31 March 2026

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Source: Rātā Foundation The South Island’s most significant community investment fund, Rātā Foundation has reported a solid financial result for the year ending 31 March 2026, with its investment portfolio valued at $717 million and a return of 8%. This enabled the organisation to provide over $24 million to communities across its funding regions of … Read more

Health – Fed-up North Shore ED staff declare state of emergency – NZNO

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Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation NZNO members working in the emergency department (ED) at North Shore Hospital have declared a state of emergency due to unsafe staffing levels resulting in ongoing overcrowding. In a letter sent to Te Whatu Ora chief executive Dr Dale Bramley last Wednesday (attached), signed by dozens of the hospital’s ED … Read more

40 Teams Gather in Hong Kong to Compete in the “AI x Cybersecurity Challenge”

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Source: Media Outreach Autonomous AI Attack-and-Defence Demonstrates Next-Generation Cybersecurity Talent and Advance Regional Digital Security Talent Development HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 August 2026 – The AI x Cybersecurity Challenge, jointly organised by the Digital Policy Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, … Read more

Happitat Celebrates Its Grand Opening, Transforming Over 200,000 Sq.m. from Land to Sky with a Record-Breaking 2,222-Drone Show, as Zhou Yiran Leads Over 100 Artists in a Festival of Happiness

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Source: Media Outreach BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 August 2026 – Happitat, the World’s First Happiness Destination and a landmark of happiness on Bangna Km. 7 by CP Axtra Public Company Limited (CP Axtra), officially opens its doors to welcome everyone into a world of happiness. THE GRAND CELEBRATION OF HAPPITAT “THE … Read more

Appeal for information following crash, Lincoln

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Source: New Zealand Police Attribute to Senior Constable Glen Tweedie:  Police are appealing to the public for information following a two-vehicle crash in Lincoln this week.  The crash occurred just before 9.40pm on Wednesday 19 August at the intersection of Shands Road and Springston Rolleston Road. One of the vehicles involved in the crash reportedly…

Road blocked, State Highway 1, Topuni, Kaipara

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Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 1, Topuni, Kaipara, south of Kaiwaka is blocked following a crash this afternoon. The two-vehicle crash occurred around 4.15pm, near the intersection of State Highway 1 and Otioro Road. There appears to be no injuries, however one of the vehicles is completely blocking State Highway 1.  The road is…

PSA – Labour urged to commit to rolling back public service cuts

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Source: PSA The Public Service Association is calling on Labour to clearly commit to reversing the National led Government’s plans to cut almost 9,000 public service jobs over the next three years. Today’s release of Labour’s fiscal strategy stated that ‘strong public services are an investment in New Zealand’s future’. “As our population ages and the … Read more

Winston Peters: “Old Parties’ Fiscal Policy Devoid of Economic Strategy”

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Source: New Zealand First Today ladies and gentlemen we will discuss what we are going to do, but first let’s discuss what we have to deal with. We must not forget what we inherited just three short years ago from an economically destructive and morally bereft Labour government, that left this country in an economic…

Update 2: Officer injured by fleeing vehicle in Palmerston North

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Source: New Zealand Police Police have filed charges against two teenage boys after a fleeing driver crash that left a Palmerston North officer critically injured.  The officer, a Constable based in Palmerston North, was deploying road spikes on Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road about 2am on Saturday, when the vehicle hit him, throwing him several metres. He…

Wuxi Symphony Orchestra Debuts at Ljubljana Festival: Sounds of the East Illuminate the Historic Central European City

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Source: Media Outreach LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 August 2026 – On August 20, 2026, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, shone even brighter as it celebrated its renowned music festival. The youthful Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, hailing from Wuxi, China’s first UNESCO “City of Music,” stepped into the heartland of classical music for … Read more

Police seek witnesses to serious crash, Lindis Pass

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Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Sergeant Tony Woodbridge of Oamaru Police:  Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after a serious two-vehicle crash in Lindis Pass this morning, which left three people in critical condition.  Emergency services were called to the scene, at Omarama, near Dalrachney Station, about 7.40am. Three people were transported…

Winston Peters: “Adding Real Export Value – Use It or Lose It”

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Source: New Zealand First Democracy As we each day draw closer to the election, New Zealanders are beginning to focus more on political parties and the policies they stand for. It is true that we all get to exercise our democratic right every three years, but the reality is that we only exercise that right…