Thursday 27 February 2025
42 stories first reported this day, covered by two or more outlets
Government to introduce legislation for four-year parliamentary terms
The Government will introduce a bill to extend the parliamentary term from three to four years, subject to a referendum. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith stated the coalition parties have agreed to support the legislation to the select committee stage.
+26 outlets · Peters labels China's lack of warning for naval drills a failure
Foreign Minister Winston Peters met with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss the New Zealand-China relationship. Peters expressed concern that China failed to provide sufficient warning regarding live-fire naval exercises conducted by three warships in the Tasman Sea.
+26 outlets · One dead and another critical after Whangārei shooting
A person has died and a second person was taken to hospital in critical condition following a shooting at Beach Road Reserve in Onerahi on Thursday. Police have launched a homicide investigation and established cordons at the waterfront site. Authorities stated there is no ongoing risk to the community.
4 outlets · Jury shown footage in Dunedin fatal stabbing trial
A jury in the High Court at Dunedin has seen footage of a fight that resulted in the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Enere Taana-McLaren. The 14-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to murder, claiming self-defence. The incident occurred at a central Dunedin bus hub in May last year.
4 outlets · Large vegetation fire burns near Waipoua Settlement in Northland
A fire covering approximately 70 hectares is burning in grassland and pine forest near Waipoua in Kaipara. Dozens of residents have been evacuated to a marae, and some may be displaced for a week. Fire and Emergency New Zealand are using helicopters, heavy machinery, and 50 firefighters to contain the blaze.
4 outlets · Coroner rules orchard worker's electrocution was an accident
Coroner Heidi Wrigley has determined that Falaniko Ah Lin's 2019 death in a Napier orchard was an accident. While WorkSafe previously attributed the electrocution to a failure to take reasonable care, the coroner's findings suggest distraction or a medical event may have caused the cherry picker to contact power lines.
4 outlets · Te Matatini kapa haka festival underway in Taranaki
The Te Matatini festival is being held at Pukekura in Taranaki, featuring 55 performing groups. The event, described as the world's largest Māori performing arts festival, runs from 25 February to 1 March 2025.
2 outlets · Pilot injured after forced landing in Manawatū paddock
A pilot sustained minor injuries after making an emergency landing in a light plane near Glen Oroua on Thursday. Emergency services responded to the scene after a personal locator beacon was activated. The pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
4 outlets · Auckland Council approves funding for St James Theatre restoration
Work on the St James Theatre in Auckland's CBD can resume after Auckland Council approved a $15 million funding contribution. The $49 million project, which has faced years of delays, involves a loan that may not require repayment if the owner meets specific milestones. The restoration is expected to take 30 months.
3 outlets · Two arrested after stolen vehicle rams police car in Auckland
Two people have been arrested following a high-speed chase across Auckland. After ramming a police car in Greenlane, the suspects in a stolen vehicle fled on the wrong side of the road. They were tracked to Manurewa by a helicopter and arrested following an attempted carjacking.
3 outlets · Experts translate Te Matatini performances into six languages
A team of language and haka experts is working behind the scenes at the Te Matatini festival to provide simultaneous translations. The Haka Translate group converts performances into English and five other languages. Additionally, an Auckland librarian will interpret the final day of performances for Mandarin speakers.
3 outlets · Teenager critically injured after fight in Taradale
A 14-year-old boy was left critically injured following a brawl between two groups near Bellevue Dairy on Gloucester Street. The incident occurred around 12.40pm on Wednesday. Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward and provide information regarding the assault.
3 outlets · German tourist named following fatal Courtenay Place crash
Ursula Machtel, 66, has been named as the German tourist who died after being hit by a car on Wellington's Courtenay Place. The incident occurred while she was crossing the road. Police are currently liaising with the German Embassy and seeking witness information.
3 outlets · Labour calls for David Seymour to resign over school lunch changes
Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni has called for Associate Education Minister David Seymour to be sacked. She claims the revised school lunch programme is a shambles, following observations at Kelston Boys' High School in Auckland. Mr Seymour has stated that the situation requires a sober look.
3 outlets · Medium-scale drought declared in Taranaki
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified drought conditions in Taranaki as a medium-scale adverse event. Hot, dry weather and low rainfall have limited pasture growth, forcing some farmers and growers to sell livestock early or provide additional feed.
3 outlets · Real estate agent fined for operating illegal Takapuna boarding house
Angela Sun has been ordered to pay more than $20,000 in damages for multiple breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act. The Takapuna property was operated as an illegal boarding house with issues including exposed wiring and a lack of central fire alarms. The Tenancy Tribunal found Sun responsible for mistreating vulnerable tenants.
3 outlets · Homicide investigation launched after man found dead in Kawerau
Police have started a homicide investigation after a man was found dead on a doorstep in Kawerau. Emergency services attended an Onslow Street property around 8.45am on Wednesday. A scene guard remains at the location while authorities carry out enquiries.
3 outlets · Man seriously injured in Auckland CBD brawl
A man was hospitalised with serious but stable injuries following a brawl on Galway Street in Auckland's CBD around 3.15am on Thursday. Police have opened an investigation into the aggravated assault and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved.
3 outlets · Strong performances mark third day of Te Matatini festival
Kapa haka groups performed during the third day of Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga at the Bowl of Brooklands. Te Taumata o Apanui, which includes Rawiri Waititi, took the stage in the evening. High temperatures were recorded at the venue during the event.
2 outlets · Hawke's Bay man trespassed from supermarket after raising safety concern
Tony Hughes has been trespassed from New World Havelock North for two years. The man claims the ban was issued after he twice photographed trolleys and clearance goods blocking a fire exit.
3 outlets · Family seeks answers after woman injured by falling debris on Queen Street
A woman suffered a head injury when concrete fell from 99 Queen Street in Auckland on 11 February. Her daughter says the council has yet to provide answers two weeks after the incident, which involved masonry breaking through a glass canopy.
3 outlets · Randwick Park residents demand action over speeding on local roads
Residents in Randwick Park, Manurewa, are calling for Auckland Transport to install speed bumps and calming measures. Locals say speeding has become out of control, noting that a teenager died in a crash last December.
3 outlets · Winston Peters addresses naval ship visit during Beijing trip
Foreign Minister Winston Peters suggested that China's failure to provide notice regarding a navy ship visit to the Tasman Sea was a breakdown in the relationship. The comments were made during diplomatic meetings in Beijing this week.
2 outlets · Suspicious package found at Woodbourne Air Force base ruled false alarm
Police and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team investigated a suspicious package at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base near Blenheim on Thursday. The item, thought to be a piece of mail, was ultimately deemed a false alarm. Cordons were previously established on the southern side of the base during the investigation.
2 outlets · Police cordon established near Woodbourne RNZAF base
Police have placed cordons around an incident near the RNZAF base in Woodbourne, Marlborough. The situation has affected traffic to Marlborough Airport, and Defence Force personnel have been evacuated from the area.
2 outlets · Clayton McMillan to leave Chiefs for Munster coaching role
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan will depart his position at the end of the current Super Rugby season. He is reported to be heading to the Irish club Munster, a team he previously coached against as part of the All Blacks XV.
2 outlets · Lake Tarawera residents seek fairer funding for sewerage scheme
Former Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden is calling for the Government to split the costs of a Rotorua sewerage scheme 50-50 with residents. The project aims to connect approximately 450 existing and 100 future households to the town system. Connected households are currently awaiting details regarding their individual costs.
2 outlets · Ngāti Hāua and Ruapehu District Council sign partnership agreement
Ngāti Hāua Iwi Trust and Ruapehu District Council have signed a partnership agreement described as historic. While the specific details of the deal remain confidential, the agreement includes parameters for the iwi trust to participate in council decision-making processes.
2 outlets · One in six New Zealanders living with a disability
Stats NZ data shows that 17 per cent of the population, or 851,000 people, are disabled. The survey found that disability rates are significantly higher among Māori and the rainbow population.
+15 outlets · Chinese naval flotilla enters Great Australian Bight after Tasman Sea drills
A group of Chinese naval vessels has moved into the Great Australian Bight after conducting live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea. Defence Minister Judith Collins noted reports suggesting a nuclear-powered submarine could be part of the flotilla. The group is currently located south of Hobart and is proceeding southwest.
2 outlets · Woman gives birth on Air New Zealand flight to New Plymouth
A woman reportedly gave birth during an Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to New Plymouth on Wednesday. After flight NZ5041 landed, one passenger remained on the aircraft to receive medical attention. An ambulance was observed on the tarmac at the airport.
3 outlets · Metlink fares to increase from July
Greater Wellington councillors have agreed to a 2.2% increase in Metlink fares starting in July. The off-peak discount for Snapper card users will also decrease from 50% to 30%. Officials stated the changes are intended to align with inflation and ensure costs are shared fairly between transport users and ratepayers.
2 outlets · Waihi player wins $10.5 million in Lotto Powerball
A player from Waihi has won a $10.5 million prize in Wednesday night's Lotto Powerball draw. The winning ticket was purchased at Paper Plus Waihi & Toyworld. This is the fourth Powerball multi-millionaire recorded so far this year.
3 outlets · Principals' Federation calls for return to previous school lunch system
The New Zealand Principals' Federation has urged the government to revert to the previous school lunch arrangement. The group claims the new system has caused significant food wastage and issues with quality, portion sizes, and delivery. In response, the Ministry of Education has increased production kitchens and expanded its delivery fleet.
2 outlets · Court hears arguments over Tauranga marine precinct sale injunction
A High Court hearing addressed an injunction halting the $13.98 million sale of Tauranga’s marine precinct to a Christchurch developer. Arguments presented to the court suggested the sale could cause irreversible harm and displace local working boats. The sale was originally scheduled to settle in November 2024.
2 outlets · Defence Minister defends delay in Chinese live-fire drill notification
Defence Minister Richard Marles has defended a 90-minute delay in notifying the Australian military about Chinese live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. The notification from New Zealand arrived an hour and a half after the window for the firing activity had opened.
2 outlets · Police appeal for help finding missing man Geoffrey Kelly
Police have issued renewed appeals for information regarding Geoffrey Kelly, who has been missing since 20 February. His car was discovered in a ditch on Makokomiko Road near Taumarunui last Friday. Search efforts involving police, rescue teams, and local residents have continued without success.
2 outlets · Government to accelerate approval times for agriculture and horticulture products
The Government has agreed to set targets to speed up the assessment of new agriculture and horticulture products. This decision follows a Ministry for Regulation review finding that current approval pathways can cause unnecessary delays. The move aims to increase productivity and economic growth without reducing safety scrutiny.
2 outlets · Two firefighters burned by sulphuric acid during Napier spill response
Two firefighters suffered sulphuric acid burns after wearing incorrect protective gear during a callout near Napier last year. The response to the spill at the Hawke’s Bay Protein Plant in Awatoto was described as mishandled, with crews failing to neutralise the toxic substance.
2 outlets · Wellington law firm defends letter sent to gender affirming care providers
Franks Ogilvie has defended a letter sent to gender affirming care practitioners despite complaints being filed with the police and the Law Society. The firm maintains the correspondence was written with legal obligations in mind, while critics have described the letter as intimidating and bullying.
2 outlets · Nai Yin Xue denied parole for sixth time
Nai Yin Xue has been refused parole for the sixth time following the 2007 murder of his wife, An Liu. After the killing, Xue fled New Zealand to Australia and left his three-year-old daughter at a Melbourne train station. He will appear before the parole board again in December.
3 outlets · Auckland man loses leg after being pinned against power pole
Pawanjit Singh Ghatora was struck by a high-speeding car while walking on Te Atatū Road more than three weeks ago. The vehicle veered onto the footpath and pinned him against a concrete pole, crushing his leg. An off-duty police officer who is a neighbour applied a tourniquet to his thigh during the incident.
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