Cook Strait ferry sailings cancelled due to strong winds and swells
Interislander and Bluebridge have cancelled multiple Cook Strait ferry crossings due to strong winds and large swells. Several sailings were cancelled on Saturday, with further disruptions expected through Monday.
+37 outlets · Movement controls placed on produce after fruit fly found in Papatoetoe
Biosecurity New Zealand has imposed legal restrictions on moving fruit and vegetables out of a specified area in Papatoetoe, Auckland. The controls follow the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly in a backyard surveillance trap. Authorities are urging the public to report any further sightings.
+15 outlets · Naomi Osaka and Clara Tauson to play ASB Classic final
Japan's Naomi Osaka will face Denmark's Clara Tauson in the ASB Classic final in Auckland this Sunday. Osaka defeated Alycia Parks in her semi-final, while Tauson overcame Robin Montgomery. The tournament previously faced delays due to rain during the quarter-final stage.
4 outlets · Two people critically injured after car hits power pole in Ōtara
Two people were taken to hospital with critical injuries after a car collided with a power pole on Gilbert Road in Ōtara on Saturday morning. Police were notified of the crash at approximately 5.35am. Traffic diversions were implemented at nearby intersections while emergency services attended the scene.
4 outlets · Auckland Council confiscates recycling bins to reduce contamination
Auckland Council has seized 104 recycling bins from households in Manurewa, Papakura and Wiri during a trial phase. The measure aims to stop residents from placing rubbish in recycling bins after receiving warnings. Contamination currently costs the council approximately $3.5 million annually to manage.
4 outlets · State Highway 2 at Remutaka Hill reopens after two-vehicle crash
State Highway 2 has reopened between Upper Hutt and Wairarapa following a two-vehicle crash on Saturday. The incident, which occurred west of the Remutaka Hill summit, left one person with serious injuries and another with moderate injuries. Motorists are advised to expect delays.
4 outlets · Police seek witnesses after suspicious vehicle fire in Whangārei
Police are appealing for information following a suspicious car fire on a residential lawn in Tikipunga on Thursday morning. A member of the public discovered the vehicle on fire at a Kiripaka Road property around 5.30am on 2 January. The witness alerted the occupants and helped move another vehicle.
3 outlets · Man named after fatal Christmas Eve car crash into New Plymouth house
Darcy Wilfred Brewer, 60, has been identified as the driver who died after crashing into a house on Riversdale Drive in New Plymouth on Christmas Eve. A person inside the home was taken to hospital with moderate injuries following the incident.
4 outlets · Nurses reluctant to test for Covid-19 due to sick leave fears
An Auckland nurse says health workers are hesitant to test for Covid-19 or take time off work because they fear exhausting their sick leave. This reluctance comes following an influx of cases in early to mid-December. The Covid-19 leave support scheme previously used to assist with isolation costs ended in August 2023.
3 outlets · New Zealand preventable drowning deaths hit six-year low in 2024
Provisional figures from Water Safety New Zealand show 71 preventable drownings occurred last year. This is a decrease from 90 deaths in the previous year and sits below the ten-year average of 83. The 2024 total represents the lowest number of preventable drownings since 2018.
3 outlets · Swimmers disrupt suspected illegal fishing at Goat Island marine reserve
A group of swimmers from Leigh disrupted people allegedly fishing inside the Goat Island Marine Reserve last Sunday. The Department of Conservation is now investigating the incident and has asked the public for assistance.
2 outlets · Boxing Day sales boom after slow start to December
Retailers reported a significant boom during Boxing Day sales following a flat first half of December. Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young stated that retailers she spoke with believed they performed very well.
2 outlets · Manawatū woman and two children found safe and well
Police have located a 30-year-old Manawatū woman who was previously reported missing. She was travelling with two children, aged 1 and 2, and has since been found safe and well.
2 outlets · Auckland to Dunedin flight returned due to phone threat
An Air New Zealand flight scheduled to depart Auckland for Dunedin at 5.40pm was turned back due to a specific phone threat. Police used explosive detector dogs to sweep the aircraft and luggage. Passengers disembarked safely after remaining on board while security procedures were followed.
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