Research – Latest insolvency report urges Kiwi business owners to heed early warning signs

Source: BWA Insolvency Latest insolvency figures reveal a sharp rise in business failures, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for New Zealand business owners. The BWA Insolvency Quarterly Market Report released today shows insolvency rates between January and March 2025 surged by 31% compared to the same period in the previous year. Liquidations rose by 40%, … Read more

Education – Whitireia and WelTec Celebrate Graduates in Lively Lower Hutt Ceremony

Source: Whitireia and WelTec On 30 April Whitireia and WelTec proudly celebrated the Whakapōtaetanga (graduation) of ākonga (students) from Engineering, Business, IT, Health, Creative, and Hospitality. The event was the second of two graduation ceremonies to be held in 2025, celebrating over 1,000 graduates. The ceremony was opened by the cultural leadership of Whitireia and WelTec … Read more

Kaplan Higher Education Academy Recognised For Excellence And Trust

Source: Media Outreach Kaplan wins Singapore Business Review International Business Awards 2025 and Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands 2025 SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 May 2025 – In recognition of its continued excellence in education and student development, Kaplan Higher Education Academy (Kaplan) has clinched two prestigious accolades: the Singapore Business Review (SBR) International … Read more

Companies, directors, and managers fined more than $1.6 million

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries A group of meat processing companies, directors and managers have been fined a total of $1,629,500.00 for deliberately and illegally altering exported tallow for profit, following an investigation and prosecution by New Zealand Food Safety. In a sentence released today by the Manukau District Court, Tuakau Proteins Limited, Taranaki By-Products … Read more

New HHS Report Urges Therapy For Trans Youth

Source: Family First MEDIA RELEASE2 May 2025 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a report urging exploratory therapy for youth with gender dysphoria rather than the chemicalisation and surgical intervention approach. This is yet another nail in the coffin of radical gender ideology and the medical experiments being foisted on … Read more

Natural Events – Insurers Support Kiwis as Severe Weather Eases

Source: Insurance Council of NZ As severe weather conditions ease across Canterbury and Wellington, New Zealanders are turning their focus to the clean-up and recovery. The Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihui o Aotearoa (ICNZ) is encouraging people to take early steps toward recovery if it is safe to do so. “Insurers recognise … Read more

Northland News – Matangirau’s new flood defences pass first major test in recent 10-year rainfall event

Source: Northland Regional Council A small, flood-prone Northland community has withstood a 10-year rainfall event, thanks to new flood protection works led by Northland Regional Council. Around 300ml of rain fell on the Far North’s Matangirau catchment during Ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam, the most rain recorded in the area in a decade and almost twice the rainfall … Read more

Petdirect Secures Exclusive NZ Rights to M-PETS

Source: Press Release Service Petdirect, New Zealand’s leading Kiwi-owned pet retailer, is proud to announce the exclusive launch of M-PETS, a globally recognised brand of high-quality, design-led pet essentials. Already available in over 70 countries, M-PETS is now officially and exclusively distributed in New Zealand by Petdirect, with a curated range of over 100 everyday … Read more

Greenpeace – Luxon celebrates Trump’s 100th day in office with a spray tan

Source: Greenpeace The Prime Minister has been spotted getting a very orange spray tan in Auckland, which Greenpeace says is undoubtedly part of Christopher Luxon’s inexplicable efforts to mimic Donald Trump. Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Juressa Lee says: “From opening up the oceans to seabed mining, trying to restart oil and gas exploration and removing critical environmental … Read more

Energy Sector – Equinor sells the Peregrino field for USD 3.5 billion

Source: Equinor 02 MAY 2025 – Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda., a subsidiary of Equinor ASA, has entered into agreements(1) with Brazilian company Prio Tigris Ltda., a subsidiary of PRIO SA (PRIO3.SA) for a sale of its 60% operated interest in the Peregrino field in Brazil. PRIO, Brazil’s largest independent oil and gas company, will pay a … Read more

Weather News – Friday and weekend weather outlook – MetService

Source: MetService Covering period of Friday 2nd – Monday 5th May Key Stats• Canterbury saw 100 to 200 mm of rain between Wednesday and Friday morning, while parts of Banks Peninsula saw up to 300 mm• On 30 April, Christchurch (80.2 mm) and Ashburton (105.4 mm) saw their wettest April day on record. For Ashburton, it … Read more

Universities – Mushroom testing could be magic – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA) Scientists are researching how best to identify mushroom species as a basis for a potential drug-checking service. Magic mushrooms are coming under the microscope, as scientists at the University of Auckland forage for evidence to support a drug-checking service with the goal of reducing harm. Doctoral student Sam Lasham will … Read more

Federated Farmers – Carbon forestry loopholes must be closed

Source: Federated Farmers Federated Farmers welcomes the Government’s commitment to halt the locking up of high-quality farmland in carbon forest, but says loopholes remain. “Today’s announcement from the Government that it’s still on track to ban full farm-to-forest conversions is good news,” say Toby Williams, Federated Farmers meat and wool chair. “If we keep losing communities … Read more

Home consents down in year ended March 2025 – Stats NZ

Source: Statistics New Zealand Home consents down in year ended March 2025 – 2 May 2025 – There were 34,062 new homes consented in Aotearoa New Zealand in the year ended March 2025, down 3.3 percent compared with the year ended March 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. In the year ended March 2025, … Read more

Oranga Tamariki showing clear progress on key performance targets

Source: New Zealand Government Public reporting on key performance indicators for Oranga Tamariki show the Ministry is making strong progress on its most important goals. In its second public reporting on key performance indicators, Oranga Tamariki has made progress across all four key priority areas emphasised by Minister for Children, Karen Chhour.“In 2024, I identified four … Read more

Update, unexplained death, Woodridge

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Attributable to Detective Inspector Haley Ryan: Police investigating the death of a person in Woodridge overnight are appealing for CCTV footage from the community. An investigation was initiated after a body was located inside a burnt-out vehicle on Ladbrooke Drive at around 11.40pm. Initial indications suggest the death is … Read more

Raising achievement & closing the equity gap at school

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is continuing to raise achievement and close the equity gap in schools across the country, so all Kiwi kids have the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to reach their full potential, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  The Governments’ ambitious changes reflect the responsibility we have to these children and … Read more

Developing a new Action Plan for unpaid carers

Source: New Zealand Government The Government is taking action to better support unpaid and informal carers, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Penny Simmonds says.Every morning across New Zealand, unpaid carers are helping loved ones get ready for the day — preparing meals, arranging medication, assisting with transport, and offering vital support, all while … Read more

Third procedure room to expand endoscopy capacity in Hawke’s Bay

Source: New Zealand Government Endoscopy services at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital are set to expand, with the addition of a third procedure room, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Improving New Zealand’s health infrastructure is a top priority for the Government, to ensure all Kiwis can access timely, high-quality healthcare,” Mr Brown says. “The … Read more

Deputy PM concludes constructive visit to New Caledonia

Source: New Zealand Government Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has concluded a constructive and positive visit to New Caledonia – New Zealand’s closest geographical neighbour.  Mr Peters met the French Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, and the President of the Government of New Caledonia, Alcide Ponga.  “We came to listen and learn, and to … Read more

Traffic Delays at Northcote

Source: New Zealand Police (District News) Police are advising of delays for northbound traffic coming off the Auckland Harbour Bridge at Northcote. A truck swerved across several lanes of traffic and into the median barrier at 9.20am. The driver required medical treatment at the scene and been taken to North Shore Hospital. One northbound lane … Read more

Health – Sydney to host major surgical event focused on innovation and excellence

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Sydney will host one of the largest surgical conferences in the southern hemisphere when the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) brings its 93rd Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) to the International Convention Centre from Saturday 3 to Tuesday 6 May 2025. This year’s theme, Innovation. Precision. Excellence., reflects … Read more

Mayor urges Govt to approve bed night visitor levy following public support

Source: Auckland Council The public consultation for Auckland Council’s Annual Plan 2025/2026 shows most Aucklanders want Government to enact legislative change to enable a bed night visitor levy.The consultation summary shows 60% of individuals, 58% of organisations, and 13 out of 14 Māori entities support a bed night visitor levy. Many of those who supported … Read more

Aid is under attack – meet Pacific community leaders implementing Kiwi funded aid – ChildFund

Source: ChildFund New Zealand Join ChildFund for a special session on New Zealand’s aid in the Pacific. Pacific community leaders from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are visiting New Zealand to talk about their projects funded by the New Zealand public and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Aid is under attack. They will be … Read more

Banking – ASB and POLi partner to support secure open banking payments in New Zealand

Source: ASB In an industry first, ASB has today announced it is partnering with POLi, one of New Zealand’s largest online payments providers, to support customers to make secure open banking based digital payments.   With POLi using ASB’s open banking APIs, customers are able to use POLi as a payment method without sharing their … Read more

Government remains on track to ban full Farm-to-Forest conversions

Source: New Zealand Government Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has confirmed that restrictions on full farm-to-forest conversions on LUC 1-6 farmland will be in place this year, and reaffirmed that they will take effect from 4 December 2024 – the date of the original announcement.Enabling legislation will be introduced to Parliament during Q2 of … Read more

Driver sought following fatal crash in Balmoral

Source: New Zealand Police (National News) Police are seeking the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash in Balmoral overnight. Just after 1am two vehicles collided on Dominion Road, near Wiremu Street. “The crash has resulted in one vehicle colliding with the storefront of a restaurant, and the other vehicle coming to a … Read more