Child dies, six in hospital after fire tears through Christchurch home

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Source: Radio New Zealand The house in Mairehau on Friday morning. RNZ / Louis Dunham A child has died and six people have been injured, one critically, after a house fire in Christchurch. Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have started inquiries after the child died at the scene of the fire in Mairehau. … Read more

‘Bit of a hit’: Tourist arrivals hit new high since pre-Covid-19 this year, but fuel crisis may bite

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Source: Radio New Zealand Rotorua Canopy Tours general manager Paul Button. (File photo) Andrew Warner Tourists arrivals were the highest they’d been this March since before Covid-19, but as the fuel crisis continues tourism may take a hit. Fuel prices have soared this year due to the conflict in the Middle East, making travel, both … Read more

Man to appear in court

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Source: New Zealand Police A 28-year-old man is before the courts after methamphetamine and ammunition were located in the man’s vehicle by a Whanganui officer. At around 12.55am, a Police unit saw a vehicle travelling on Pitt Street make their way to a premises on Dublin Street. While observing the vehicle, the officer identified the … Read more

Update: Fatal house fire, Mairehau

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Source: New Zealand Police Police, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand, enquiries are underway after one person died following a house fire in Mairehau. Emergency services were called to a house on Whitehall Street at around 8.25pm on 14 May. Sadly, a child died at the scene. One person received critical injuries, three were in … Read more

$1 million boost for Tarawera and Ōkataina tracks

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Source: New Zealand Government Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has announced $1 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) to upgrade tracks and campgrounds around Tarawera and Ōkataina. The investment will help reopen the Eastern Ōkataina Walkway and support upgrades across more than 22 kilometres of tracks and three campgrounds. “Tarawera and Ōkataina … Read more

Guidance to support investment into voluntary carbon and nature markets

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Source: New Zealand Government Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has released guidance and tools to help New Zealanders take part in voluntary nature and carbon markets with confidence. “The Government wants to support the growth of voluntary markets that are trusted and able to deliver real benefits for nature, the climate and wider economy,” Mr … Read more

Investments – ASB Investor confidence survey: Investor confidence dips in March quarter as global tensions weigh on sentiment

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Source: ASB Investor confidence fell to 6% in the March quarter, down five percentage points from the previous quarter after stabilising late last year, ASB’s latest Investor Confidence survey shows. ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown says global events played a clear role in shaping sentiment during the quarter. “The change in mood was especially clear … Read more

Māori-led meth recovery model in Gisborne drawing global attention

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Source: Radio New Zealand The Matai Medical Research Team. Matai Medical Research / SUPPLIED A Māori-led methamphetamine recovery programme in Gisborne is being hailed as a global leader in addiction research and recovery. He Haerenga ki te Whakaora, run by Mātai Medical Research, combined clinical science with mātauranga Māori to support people recovering from methamphetamine … Read more

Long-awaited Hutt Valley cycleway falls short of expectations through Days Bay

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Source: Radio New Zealand A long-awaited coastal Wellington cycleway in the Hutt Valley has come up short for some cyclists, after leaving “strings of kids on bikes heading into traffic” near Eastbourne. The $80 million Tupua Horo Nuku – a 4km seawall, and shared cycle and walking path along Marine Drive – opened in April. … Read more

World Surf League: A beginner’s guide to the event in Raglan

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Source: Radio New Zealand Three-time world champion Gabriel Medina of Brazil after Thursday’s practice session. Rambo Estrada/WSL For the next 11 days, Raglan is set to shift from laid-back surf town to the centre stage of world surfing. The World Surf League arrives at Manu Bay on Friday, marking the first time New Zealand has … Read more

Foreign masters degree enrolments soar as August rule change looms

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Source: Radio New Zealand International students see Masters degrees as a means to become NZ residents. Supplied Immigration advisers say residency rules are driving an unprecedented surge in the number of foreign students paying $30,000-50,000 a year to study masters degrees. Education Ministry figures showed 14,840 full-time equivalent international students were enrolled in masters programmes … Read more

Young voices lead the way at 2026 Race Unity Speech Awards

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Source: New Zealand Police Rangatahi from across Aotearoa took to the stage to share powerful messages of unity and belonging at the 2026 Race Unity Speech Awards, an important kaupapa of which NZ Police have been a Principal Sponsor since 2008. Amanjot Singh from Hastings Boys High School was announced as this year’s winner. A … Read more

‘The violence that I experience is not casual’: Māori women tell Waitangi Tribunal of abuse

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Source: Radio New Zealand Green Party MP Tamatha Paul gave evidence at the Waitangi Tribunal’s Mana Wahine inquiry on Thursday (file photo). VNP / Phil Smith The Waitangi Tribunal has heard of the violence directed at Māori women in public positions including online abuse, stalking and threats of physical violence. The tribunal has been hearing … Read more

Pregnant captain CJ Bott watches Wellington Phoenix women chase history from stands

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Source: Radio New Zealand CJ Bott has had to get used to watching from the sidelines this season after stepping away from playing duties in January. Cam McIntosh/Photomac For the first time in her career, CJ Bott has had to learn how to lead without crossing the white line. The Wellington Phoenix captain has spent … Read more

Tenancy Tribunal issues first ‘pet’ ruling, approves labrador puppy in upstairs flat

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Source: Radio New Zealand The Christchurch decision will likely influence future decisions. Unsplash / Getty Images A Christchurch landlord, who tried to stop tenants from adopting a golden labrador in a unit within a three-level building, has been overruled by the Tenancy Tribunal in its first ruling on “pet consent” rules. Tenancy Tribunal principal adjudicator … Read more

Occupants safe after fire at two-storey house in Auckland

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Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly About 20 firefighters have tackled a house fire in North Auckland in the early hours of Friday. Fire and Emergency (FENZ) were called to a house on Gibbs Crescent in the suburb of Red Hill, about 3.19am. Three crews, two pumps and a command unit were on … Read more

The rise of the million-dollar mortgage

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Source: Radio New Zealand Westpac said about one in six new home loans taken out so far this year had been for $1 million. RNZ Some borrowers are starting their homeowning lives owing more than $1 million in mortgages. Loan Market mortgage adviser Karen Tatterson said it was more common for people to take out … Read more

The love story behind NZ’s only wagon wheel makers

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Source: Radio New Zealand A Wairarapa couple are doing all they can to preserve the heritage of traditional wheelwrighting. It’s the craft of making wagon wheels and traditional wooden carriages – and Greg and Ali Lang have been in the business for more than 30 years. Greg told RNZ’s Morning Report they were the only … Read more

Delay to new curriculum heralded as significant win for teachers, school leaders

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Source: Radio New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford. RNZ / Mark Papalii The country’s largest education union is describing a delay in the introduction of the government’s new curriculum as a significant win for teachers and school leaders. The Ministry of Education has announced it will not mandate its new national curriculum for Years 0-8 … Read more

Funding of weight-loss drug Wegovy expected to come swiftly

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Source: Radio New Zealand Pharmac has added Wegovy to its list of medicines suitable for future funding. Jens Kalaene / AFP A paediatrican who treats obese teens expects funding to come swiftly for weight loss drug Wegovy. Pharmac has added the drug to its list of medicines suitable for future funding. In a decision released … Read more

Sixteen years after missing out, All White Kosta Barbarouses is World Cup-bound

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Source: Radio New Zealand Kosta Barbarouses was named in Darren Bazeley’s 26-strong All Whites squad for the FIFA Football World Cup. PHOTOSPORT All Whites forward Kosta Barbarouses knows the heartbreak of missing out on a Football World Cup squad, and now the happiness and relief of finally making it 16 years later. Barbarouses has “no … Read more

Super Rugby Pacific preview: Defining duo of derbies, Beaudenn Barrett back at 10

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Source: Radio New Zealand The Blues and Hurricanes do battle at Eden Park this Saturday. Photosport The Aussies have well and truly fallen off the Super Rugby Pacific pace. After threatening to emulate the glory days of ACT Brumbies in the early rounds, the men from Canberra have collapsed dramatically, leaving the top four firmly … Read more

Bill banning under-16s from social media put on hold, Erica Stanford confirms

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Source: Radio New Zealand The government has confirmed legislation aiming to ban under-16s from social media is now on hold. RNZ The government has confirmed legislation aiming to ban under-16s from social media is now on hold. Parliament debated the matter on Wednesday after a select committee inquiry into the harms the online platforms cause. … Read more

More flight cuts loom, as fuel crisis bites NZ airlines

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Source: Radio New Zealand Air NZ will start to consolidate more routes after the school holidays. AFP/ William West The Aviation Industry Association says Air New Zealand is far from the only airline eyeing flight cuts, due to soaring fuel costs. The airline says it has cut 5 percent of its flights and will start … Read more

Port of Tauranga terminal ‘at capacity’, could ‘bottleneck’ kiwifruit exports – CEO

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Source: Radio New Zealand Zespri Kiwifruit is loaded onto the Atlantic Erica at the Port of Tauranga. Supplied Kiwifruit orchards are humming mid-harvest, but Zespri is concerned port bottlenecks are becoming a real pressure point for its fruit exports. The Port of Tauranga is the critical gateway for most of New Zealand’s lucrative kiwifruit from … Read more