New home consents up 11 percent in year ended March 2026 – Building consents issued: March 2026 – Stats NZ news story and information release

Source: Statistics New Zealand New home consents up 11 percent in year ended March 2026 – news story 1 May 2026 There were 37,813 new homes consented in Aotearoa New Zealand in the year ended March 2026, up 11 percent compared with the year ended March 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. … Read more

Spring Shanghai • Putuo Day Pop-up Event Opens in Milan, Showcasing Putuo District’s Unique Charm

Source: Media Outreach MILAN, ITALY – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 May 2026 – As the dynamic interplay of light and shadow along the Putuo District section of Suzhou Creek in Shanghai, known as the “Half Marathon Suzhou Creek,” met the artistic atmosphere of Milan Cathedral, a spring dialogue spanning continents opened warmly as part … Read more

AI cafe making technology accessible in Nelson

Source: Radio New Zealand Sandy, the AI assistant at the AI cafe in Nelson. RNZ/Samantha Gee. A Nelson cafe is offering customers the chance to get to grips with artificial intelligence tools over a coffee. The initiative by the Nelson AI Sandbox has set up in a corner of the Halifax Cafe in the city. … Read more

Super Rugby Pacific: Hurricanes beat Crusaders to stay at top of table

Source: Radio New Zealand David Havili celebrates his 150th Super Rugby appearance for the Crusaders. Masanori Udagawa/Photosport Title credentials tested and passed. The Hurricanes have keep their spot at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with a gritty 38-31 win over the defending champion Crusaders at home. Wing Fehi Fineanganofo again crossed the … Read more

Calls for government to release list of who will get fuel priority

Source: Radio New Zealand An energy security expert says the list of fuel priority users should be released now. (File photo) RNZ / Quin Tauetau It has been five weeks since Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she was consulting with industries on who would be included in a list for priority fuel, and an energy … Read more

Live: Super Rugby Pacific – Hurricanes v Crusaders

Source: Radio New Zealand The tabletopping Hurricanes host the fourth-placed Crusaders at Hnry Stadium in Wellington. The sides will face off for the first time this Super Rugby Pacific season. Kickoff is at 7.05pm. Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia 2. Asafo Aumua 3. Pasilio Tosi 4. Caleb Delany 5. Warner Dearns 6. Brayden Iose 7. Du’Plessis … Read more

The business impact of weather warnings

Source: Radio New Zealand A large tree fallen at a restaurant in Whakatāne during Cyclone Vaianu. RNZ/ Robin Martin Authorities should consider the impact on businesses of people staying home when they weigh up the safety considerations involved with wild weather warnings, one data analyst says. Data from Dot Loves Data shows the impact of … Read more

Scale of damage to Awakino Gorge laid bare on eve of highway’s reopening

Source: Radio New Zealand There are about 10 significant underslips in the Awakino Gorge and more than 30 slips. ROBIN MARTIN / RNZ The scale of damage to Awakino Gorge has been laid bare on the eve of the highway’s reopening. More than 30 slips – the largest, a 16,000 cubic metre mass of mud … Read more

Lead-free plumbing rules due to take effect this weekend

Source: Radio New Zealand Existing lead-based products are exempt, but users are advised to run taps to draw fresh water. HENDRIK SCHMIDT From Saturday, NZ homes will be required to fit lead-free plumbing products that protect the quality of drinking water. The legislation – an update to the New Zealand Building code – was announced … Read more

Four arrested following Feilding burglaries

Source: New Zealand Police Police have arrested four people in connection with a recent series of burglaries affecting homes and businesses across the Feilding area. The arrests are part of Operation Thor and follow a spike in reported burglaries and shoplifting incidents over recent weeks. Search warrants were executed at several local addresses over the … Read more

NZ Warriors fan favourite Chanel Harris-Tavita latest to test NRL free agency

Source: Radio New Zealand Chanel Harris-Tavita has become a favourite among Warriors fans. Marty Melville / PHOTOSPORT Another week, another player free agency question for NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster. One of the many sideshows provided by the NRL is the seemingly non-stop procession of off-contract players trying to secure their futures with rival clubs, … Read more

Parent of teen who only eats plain foods ‘terrified’ child could go blind

Source: Radio New Zealand A public health poster. Amy Williams/RNZ A parent of a teenager who eats only plain foods including bread, crackers and pasta says it’s terrifying to learn such restrictive diets can cause permanent vision loss. It follows two eye specialists’ warning there were children in New Zealand who had gone blind due … Read more

‘New Zealanders are like sheep’: The business impact of weather warnings

Source: Radio New Zealand A large tree fallen at a restaurant in Whakatāne during Cyclone Vaianu. RNZ/ Robin Martin Authorities should consider the impact on businesses of people staying home when they weigh up the safety considerations involved with wild weather warnings, one data analyst says. Data from Dot Loves Data shows the impact of … Read more

Transport Sector – Proposed congestion charges for trucks will hit freight customers and consumers

Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Transporting New Zealand says that a Ministry of Transport proposal to set congestion charges for trucks at four times the rate of cars will increase costs for businesses and consumers, while being out of step with comparable overseas schemes. Under the proposal, if a base time-of-use charge for a car was … Read more

Environment – Container Return Scheme Bill would double recycling rates and put money back in households

Source: Zero Waste Aotearoa Around four million drink containers are landfilled or littered every day in New Zealand and ratepayers are footing the bill for it. Zero Waste Aotearoa welcomes today’s announcement by NZ First and says a Container Return Scheme (CRS) is the practical fix: it shifts the cost of waste, recycling and litter … Read more

Environment – Strong public support and global evidence back NZ First’s Container Return Scheme Bill

Source: Reloop Pacific Wellington: The bottle bill proposal announced today by NZ First is strongly supported by New Zealanders and backed by extensive international evidence showing Container Return Schemes deliver major gains in recycling and litter reduction. “The evidence is clear: container return schemes work and New Zealanders want one,” said Robert Kelman, Director Reloop … Read more

Weka on a walkabout in Wānaka

Source: NZ Department of Conservation Date:  01 May 2026 DOC has received multiple reports of a wayward weka wandering the township. DOC principal biodiversity ranger James Speirs says the best thing people can do is leave it be. “While it is an unusual sight to see a weka walking down your street, our advice is to … Read more

Man charged following serious assault in Camberley

Source: New Zealand Police A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged, following a serious assault in Hastings yesterday. Detective Senior Sergeant Sally Patrick says Police were called to a commercial premises on Kiwi Street in Camberley just before 3pm on Thursday. “Two people sustained injuries that appear consistent with stab wounds and required medical … Read more

Prime Minister declines to offer evidence to back his claim he was mischaracterised in emails

Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Mark Papalii Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has declined to offer any evidence to back his side of a conflict with his foreign minister’s office, saying he has “nothing more to add”. In an interview with RNZ on Friday, Luxon stood firm: “I’ve just told you my side of the … Read more

Greens tell Luxon to find a spine on US pressure campaign

Source: Green Party The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to rule out signing New Zealand up to a US-led military coalition in the Strait of Hormuz.  “Luxon needs to find some spine and tell Washington that we are not for hire. New Zealanders do not want their Government signing up to a … Read more

One NZ issue fixed after causing internet outages across the South Island, parts of North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand Internet outage on 1 May 2026. screenshot / OneNZ One NZ says the issue that caused widespread outages across its network and that of 2degrees has now been fixed. Internet and calls were unavailable for many customers on Friday morning across the South Island and the lower North Island, with Christchurch … Read more

Football: FIFA president says ‘of cours’ Iran will be at World Cup

Source: Radio New Zealand President of FIFA Gianni Infantino. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire / Photosport FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists Iran will be participating in the World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June. There has been uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the tournament because of the war with the … Read more

XIXILI Redefines Lingerie Retail as Malaysia’s First Brand to Launch 3D Avatar Fitting Technology

Source: Media Outreach KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 May 2026 – One issue has long persisted across the lingerie industry: most women are wearing the wrong bra size without realising it, often for years at a time. To address this gap, XIXILI’s 3D Avatar Try-On Tool brings the precision of an … Read more

Police appeal for information following fatal crash, Kinleith

Source: New Zealand Police Police are appealing for information following a fatal crash in Kinleith, south of Tokoroa, on Wednesday 29 April. Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, Tar Hill, at around 9.10pm. Tragically, two people died as a result of the crash. Police are making enquiries into the … Read more

Archaeologists’ important role in Auckland’s regional parks

Source: Auckland Council Did you know Auckland Council archaeologists play a key role across the Tāmaki Makaurau regional parks network? With Archaeology Week 2026 upon us, we thought we’d shine a light on this important mahi. There are 28 regional parks across Tāmaki Makaurau for Aucklanders to enjoy, many with tranquil native bush and beautiful … Read more

Wellington landfill at threat from new housing development

Source: Radio New Zealand Concept art of how the Silverstream Forest houses might look. Guildford Timber Company / supplied A Wellington landfill could struggle to renew its operating licence because of its proximity to a proposed housing development, a report for the Hutt City Council has found. The Tompkin & Taylor authored report notes noise … Read more

New Princess Diana documentary promises her own words

Source: Radio New Zealand A new documentary series based on hours of previously unreleased recordings made by Diana, the late Princess of Wales, is in the works, producers announced Thursday (local time). Diana: The Unheard Truth, set for release in 2027 – 30 years after her death in a Paris car crash – promises to … Read more