Luxon wraps up successful Shanghai visit

Source: New Zealand Government Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has concluded the successful Shanghai leg of his official visit to China, accompanied by Ministers Louise Upston and Mark Mitchell and a delegation of senior New Zealand business leaders from across the food and beverage, health and wellbeing, education, and tourism sectors. “Our bilateral trade relationship with China … Read more

Drugs, firearm found in Waihi warrants

Source: New Zealand Police Waikato Police uncovered methamphetamine, cannabis, a firearm, ammunition and a homemade taser during search warrants in Waihi yesterday. Police, including the Armed Offenders Squad and drug detector dogs, executed the two search warrants in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Drugs, drug paraphernalia, firearms and ammunition, stolen property and a homemade … Read more

Otago students to benefit from more classrooms

Source: New Zealand Government The Government’s ensuring hundreds more students in Otago benefit from new, safe, warm and dry classrooms. A $27 million investment into new infrastructure will help make sure schools meet the needs of their communities and gets ahead of new growth. It will support the construction of: Six new teaching spaces at … Read more

Police release further CCTV in a further appeal for Elisabeth Nicholls

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Detective Sergeant Lucy Aldridge Christchurch Police are releasing the above CCTV images in a further appeal for information on the whereabouts of 79-year-old Elisabeth Nicholls. These CCTV images of Lis were taken during her last confirmed sighting at the Chateau on the Park in Riccarton, at around 7.54pm on … Read more

Police urge caution on the roads this holiday weekend

Source: New Zealand Police Police are reminding road users that there will be zero tolerance for unsafe driving this Matariki Weekend. “There was an unacceptable number of road deaths over King’s Birthday weekend, and we don’t want a repeat of that this weekend. If you are driving in a way that puts your own, or … Read more

Largest maritime navigation system upgrade in decades

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is making New Zealand more attractive to international shipping lines with the first major investment in navigation services in more than 30 years. Land Information Minister Chris Penk says the $28.6 million Budget 2025 funding secures the future of shipping, tourism and the maritime economy – highlighting the Government’s … Read more

Exercise NZ – International Yoga Day 2025: Yoga’s Timeless Path to Well-being

Source: Exercise NZ Saturday, June 21st, marks International Yoga Day,  a global celebration of one of the world’s oldest and most holistic forms of movement and mindfulness. With origins dating back over 5,000 years in India, yoga has transcended borders and generations to become a powerful global movement with over 300 million people practising worldwide … Read more

Royal fern is a royal pain

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  19 June 2025 Royal fern can colonise natural areas rapidly, growing up to 2 m high, and crowding out native species in already pressured wetlands and swamps. A deciduous fern, the bright green paper-thin fronds turn yellow and rusty orange in autumn, and each plant produces thousands of tiny spores … Read more

Pacific – Republic of Nauru becomes first Pacific country to launch digital asset regulator

Source: Republic of Nauru   In a landmark move for the Pacific region, the Nauru Parliament on Tuesday June 17 passed legislation to establish a dedicated virtual asset regulatory authority.    The Bill establishes the Command Ridge Virtual Asset Authority (CRVAA), named after the highest point of land in Nauru, as an autonomous regulator overseeing … Read more

Invented in Hong Kong, EXOTICA UMAMI [EX M], a new and natural flavour enhancer gets stamp of approval from professional chefs

Source: Media Outreach HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 June 2025 – A versatile and revolutionary new seasoning and cooking sauce is gaining attention from chefs in the restaurant industry. Invented in Hong Kong by food visionary Dan Gan, EXOTICA UMAMI (known to Chinese speakers simply as, “Ex M”) is an excellent … Read more

Getting more trainee teachers into rural schools

Source: New Zealand Government The Government’s ensuring some of New Zealand’s most isolated schools get the pipeline of teachers they need to teach the basics brilliantly. “For most new teachers, school placements play a significant role in deciding where they choose to teach once they qualify as a teacher. We know rural and isolated schools … Read more

62 percent fewer scam texts reported after Internal Affairs crackdown

Source: New Zealand Government Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has made significant progress in tackling scams in New Zealand, with a 62 per cent drop in reports of SMS scams in 2024 from 2023, following the Department’s investigations into scammers. The Department’s 2024 Digital Messaging … Read more

Police incident in Mt Roskill

Source: New Zealand Police Police have closed a section of White Swan Road in Mt Roskill in response to an ongoing family harm incident. Cordons are in place between the intersections with Ellis Ave and Richardson Road. Police are attempting to engage with an individual in a nearby residence. The community can be reassured the … Read more

Update: Riccarton death not suspicious

Source: New Zealand Police Police can now advise that the death of a woman in Leslie Hills Drive, Riccarton yesterday was not suspicious. The woman was located critically injured in a car park, likely as a result of a medical event, and tragically died while being transported to hospital. A scene guard that was in … Read more

Update: Man dies after Edmund Road crash

Source: New Zealand Police Attributable to Detective Sergeant Phil Wilkinson Rotorua Police can confirm the man who was found critically injured following a crash on Edmund Road has died in hospital. The man was found critically injured after having been struck by a motorcycle when crossing a designated pedestrian crossing. Emergency services were called to … Read more

State Highway 7, Stillwater closed following crash

Source: New Zealand Police State Highway 7, Stillwater is currently closed at the intersection with Taylorville Road following a crash. Just after 12pm, Police were notified that a vehicle had collided with a stationary vehicle. One person has sustained minor injuries. Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area. ENDS Issued … Read more

Amnesty International – Urgent need to protect civilians amid unprecedented escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran

Source: Amnesty International As more and more civilians bear the cruel toll of the terrifying military escalation in Iran and Israel since 13 June 2025, and amid threats of further escalation in the conflict, Amnesty International is urging the Israeli and Iranian authorities to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians. … Read more

Matariki weekend forecast mixed for star-gazing across New Zealand

Source: NIWA New Zealanders hoping to see the Matariki stars over the long weekend will have mixed conditions, with the best viewing likely on Friday and Saturday in many areas, according to NIWA’s 2025 Matariki cloud cover forecast. With the Matariki star cluster visible on New Zealand’s eastern horizon just before the rising of the sun, … Read more

New Russia sanctions target enablers of war, including Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’

Source: New Zealand Government Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced new sanctions on crucial enablers of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine. This latest round of sanctions targets actors involved in Russia’s military-industrial complex, supporters from North Korea, Iran, and Belarus, as well as vessels that are part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’. “New Zealand must continue … Read more

Economic surprise great news for Kiwis

Source: New Zealand Government Today’s surprise economic result is great news for workers, families and businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said today. “Stats NZ reported today that the economy grew 0.8 per cent in the first three months of the year, twice the rate forecast by the Treasury and the Reserve Bank a short time … Read more

Economic growth still in the hole dug in 2024 – CTU Economist

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Data released by Stats NZ today shows that the economy grew on a quarterly basis by 0.8% but fell on an annual basis by 1.1% said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “This is positive data for the first quarter of this year, but the fact that the economy … Read more

Universities – Aotearoa to host world-leading conference on women’s entrepreneurship – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) A major international conference in Auckland is putting the spotlight on how to better support female founders and highlighting wāhine Māori perspectives on entrepreneurship. What do female entrepreneurs really want and why is the system still stacked against them? These are a couple of the big questions due to be … Read more

Economic growth still in the hole dug in 2024

Source: NZCTU Data released by Stats NZ today shows that the economy grew on a quarterly basis by 0.8% but fell on an annual basis by 1.1% said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “This is positive data for the first quarter of this year, but the fact that the economy is about the … Read more

Govt set to surpass both law and order targets

Source: New Zealand Government New quarterly data shows the Government is on track to deliver on both law and order targets ahead of schedule, Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say. “We’re determined to protect communities, reduce victimisation, and to encourage young people not to continue down the path of serious … Read more

Strong interest in new programme for overseas-trained doctors

Source: New Zealand Government A total of 180 overseas-trained doctors have expressed interest in a new Government-funded training programme aimed at boosting New Zealand’s primary care workforce, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand needs more doctors – particularly in primary and rural healthcare care settings – and this Government is taking action to make … Read more

O Mahurangi – Penlink to fully open in 2028

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency While O Mahurangi – Penlink is still scheduled for completion in 2028, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) had planned to open some sections of the road earlier near Stillwater and Ara Wēiti. However, a major slip at the project’s largest fill site has now delayed construction of these sections. … Read more

GDP increases 0.8 percent in the March 2025 quarter – Stats NZ media and information release: Gross domestic product: March 2025 quarter

GDP increases 0.8 percent in the March 2025 quarter – media release 19 June 2025 New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.8 percent in the March 2025 quarter, following a 0.5 percent increase in the December 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Activity increased in the March 2025 quarter across all … Read more