Bus rolls on State Highway 97 in Southland
A bus carrying 17 people rolled onto its roof near Mossburn on Wednesday afternoon. Three passengers were taken to hospital, including one person in serious condition. State Highway 97 was closed near Mossburn Five Rivers Road while emergency services attended the scene.
+26 outlets · Prime Minister's deputy chief press secretary resigns over recording allegations
Michael Forbes has resigned from his role as Christopher Luxon's deputy chief press secretary following allegations that he recorded sex workers without consent. Reports suggest he also took intimate photos of women in public. Forbes has offered an apology for the harm caused by his actions.
+48 outlets · Jacinda Ardern's new memoir causes library waitlists in Canterbury
Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern has released her memoir, A Different Kind of Power. The book has led to hundreds of people in Canterbury joining library waitlists. In the text, Ardern criticises former Labour leader David Cunliffe regarding a past comment about her party list position.
4 outlets · Weather warnings issued as Tasman low brings heavy rain and snow
A low pressure system from the Tasman Sea is expected to bring heavy rain, gales, and thunderstorms across New Zealand. MetService has issued 21 weather alerts, with snow potentially reaching sea level in Canterbury and Otago by the weekend following a significant temperature drop.
+15 outlets · Historic ship The Tui suffers significant damage in Paihia fire
A fire broke out on the historic timber ship The Tui near the Waitangi Bridge in Paihia at approximately 4am on Wednesday. Fire and Emergency crews worked to extinguish the blaze, which left the vessel significantly damaged.
4 outlets · Erin Patterson gives evidence in mushroom murder trial
Erin Patterson has provided her account in a trial regarding the July 2023 deaths of three relatives. She is accused of serving a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the murders.
4 outlets · Police seek victim of unprovoked Queenstown taxi rank assault
Police are searching for a man who was punched during a seemingly unprovoked assault in central Queenstown. The incident occurred around 2.40am on 25 May at a taxi rank near Searle Lane and Camp Street. Officers discovered the attack while investigating a separate assault that had happened inside a bar.
+15 outlets · University of Auckland ordered to pay Siouxsie Wiles legal costs
The Employment Court has ordered the University of Auckland to pay $205,059.94 towards scientist Siouxsie Wiles' legal bills. The ruling follows a dispute where the university was found to have breached its contractual obligations to protect Wiles from abuse and harassment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
+15 outlets · Man found dead at Te Puke home after car crash
Police were called to a Te Puke property on Wednesday morning after a man was found dead. It was later discovered that the man had been involved in a car crash on Tuesday night. Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash and the death are ongoing.
4 outlets · Left bloc could replace coalition government according to new poll
The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll indicates the left bloc has enough support to remove the coalition government from power. Following recent Budget and pay equity changes, the poll also shows poor leadership ratings for the government, though Winston Peters achieved his highest result since 2017.
+15 outlets · Petrol fumes caused deaths in Kaikōura boat capsize, coroner finds
A coroner has found that five passengers died from petrol fume exposure after being trapped under a boat hull. The incident occurred in September 2022 when a whale hit the vessel during a bird-watching excursion off the Kaikōura coast.
+48 outlets · Teacher's registration cancelled after sexual contact with students
The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has cancelled a teacher's registration following sexual contact with two students at an Auckland high school in 1985. The woman, who has name suppression, was ordered to pay $4,050 after her request to retire with dignity was denied.
3 outlets · North Canterbury adventure camp operator charged after boy suffered severe burns
The Sure and Stedfast Development Trust, which operates the Waipara Adventure Centre, faces a criminal charge following an incident where a nine-year-old boy was badly burned. The boy, from Hokitika, was placed in a medically-induced coma. A court appearance in Christchurch has been adjourned until October.
3 outlets · Police use Auckland buses for $119,000 recruitment campaign
New Zealand Police have spent nearly $120,000 to wrap five Auckland Transport double-decker buses in police livery. The three-month campaign aims to recruit 500 new officers. Applications for the force are currently at a ten-year high.
3 outlets · Andrew Little proposes weekly public transport fare cap for Wellington
Wellington mayoral candidate Andrew Little has pledged to introduce a cap on bus and train fares. The scheme would limit costs to eight trips per week, with any additional travel being free. The proposal is expected to cost $4.5 million annually and be delivered by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
3 outlets · Tauranga shoplifter sentenced to two years in prison
A 45-year-old woman has been sentenced to two years in prison following 37 shoplifting convictions in Tauranga. Police say the offences occurred almost daily from September 2024 until her arrest in February. The investigation was initiated by the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit after a single report.
3 outlets · New Zealand population could reach six million before 2040
New Zealand's population is projected to exceed six million people before 2040, according to new Stats NZ data. The current population is estimated at 5.3 million, with international migration expected to account for two thirds of the anticipated growth. Projections suggest the population could reach approximately seven million by 2060.
3 outlets · WorkSafe launches 12-month road cone hotline pilot
WorkSafe has commenced a 12-month pilot of a road cone hotline to investigate over-compliance in temporary traffic management. The hotline received 98 reports on its first day of operation. Minister Brooke van Velden launched the initiative as part of broader health and safety reforms.
3 outlets · Waikato Council apologises for installing chicanes in Tamahere without consultation
Waikato District Council has apologised for installing speed-cutting chicanes in Tamahere without community consultation. Residents claim the new layout is a crash hazard during fog or sun strike. While some welcomed the trial, police noted that some motorists have begun speeding or using the wrong lane to bypass the chicanes.
4 outlets · Watchdog warns against proposed Regulatory Standards Bill
A group of public servants and lawyers has expressed concerns regarding David Seymour's Regulatory Standards Bill. Meanwhile, the ACT leader claimed that 99.5 per cent of submissions received regarding a discussion document for the bill were created by bots.
4 outlets · Three people arrested after alleged aggravated robbery in Whangārei
Police have arrested three people following an alleged knifepoint vehicle theft in Tikipunga. The incident occurred around 1pm on Wednesday in a car park on Paramount Parade. Two individuals have been charged in relation to the robbery.
2 outlets · Man identified following Castlecliff dirt bike crash
Police have identified 25-year-old Paki Topi Rongo Whiti-ao Maaka Ngaira as the man who died in a single-vehicle dirt bike crash. The incident occurred on Seafront Road in Castlecliff, Whanganui, at approximately 4.10pm on 25 May.
2 outlets · Funding approved for Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor design stage
The government has allocated $4.1 million to progress the design stage of the Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor in Hamilton. This project aims to develop a four-lane freight corridor connecting the Ruakura Inland Port to Fairview Downs.
2 outlets · Manufacturer fined for wastewater spill in North Canterbury creek
Daiken New Zealand Limited has been fined following a wastewater spill in Saltwater Creek on 31 August 2023. The incident, caused by a burst pipe, resulted in the deaths of thousands of aquatic animals including trout and whitebait. Reports indicate the company faces costs of at least $60,000 and a $12,000 fine.
2 outlets · Christchurch Arts Centre approved to expand food truck offerings
The Christchurch Arts Centre has received permission to increase its number of food trucks to 20. The decision follows a year-long process and concerns from central city businesses regarding the impact on local brick-and-mortar establishments.
2 outlets · Majority of New Zealanders support social media ban for under-16s
A new RNZ Reid Research poll shows more than half of New Zealanders support banning social media for children under 16. While political parties remain divided on the issue, less than a third of respondents opposed the ban. The government is currently investigating options to restrict social media use for young people.
2 outlets · Students call for safety improvements at Christchurch bus interchange
Two high school students have urged Christchurch city councillors to improve safety at the Colombo Street bus hub. Ruby-Grace Miller and Freya Scott surveyed 235 students from 10 local schools regarding their experiences at the interchange, which is known for after-school fights.
2 outlets · Man identified as victim of fatal Tokoroa assault
Police have named 30-year-old Rapana Tukuru Tahana-Heretini as the man who died following an alleged assault in Tokoroa. The incident occurred outside a home on Abercorn Place in the early hours of 27 May. A man has been charged with murder in connection with the death.
3 outlets · ASB and ANZ reduce some fixed mortgage and investment rates
ASB has announced cuts to several fixed home loan and term investment rates. This follows recent reductions by ANZ, which lowered its 18-month fixed rate special and six-month rate. Economists suggest it remains uncertain how much further retail home loan rates may decrease.
1 outlet · Graham Wall Real Estate and agent Ollie Wall found guilty of misconduct
Auckland's Graham Wall Real Estate and agent Ollie Wall have been found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct. The Real Estate Authority's complaints assessment committee ruled that Wall failed to recommend legal advice before agreements were signed. Both parties have been ordered to apologise and complete training.
2 outlets · Inquest begins into 2021 New Lynn supermarket terror attack
A coroner's inquest has commenced regarding the September 2021 knife attack at a New Lynn supermarket. Survivors reported ongoing trauma and criticised government responses. The attacker, Ahamad Samsudeen, was fatally shot by police during the incident.
2 outlets · Police name man killed in Okoia crash
David Hauparoa Hiroti, aged 76, has been identified as the man who died in a two-vehicle crash at Okoia, near Whanganui, on 26 May. Police have offered condolences to the family while investigations into the circumstances of the accident continue.
2 outlets · Eleven Auckland stores caught selling alcohol to minors
Eleven bottle shops and stores across Auckland have been caught selling alcohol to minors over the past year. The locations identified include Black Bull Northcote, Simply Fresh in Hillcrest, Glengarry Ellerslie, Brew Royal Oak, Bottle O Mount Smart, Grand Food Mart in Orewa, Kowhai Liquor Centre in Warkworth, Wine and Spirits in Flat Bush, Forrest Hill Liquor Centre, and Favona Liquor.
4 outlets · Government invests $15.2m in Milford Sound and rejects cruise ship ban
The Government has announced a $15.2 million investment for infrastructure upgrades and conservation projects in Milford Sound Piopiotahi. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston confirmed the funding is part of the Milford Opportunities Project. Additionally, officials have rejected proposals to ban cruise ships from the area and close the local airstrip.
3 outlets · Middlemarch flooding poses low risk to life according to regional council
The Otago Regional Council states there is no easy fix for flooding in Middlemarch, though the risk to life is lower than anticipated. Local residents report ongoing stress and anxiety as recurring floods continue to spread contaminated water through homes, businesses, and streets.
2 outlets · Magnitude 5.1 earthquake strikes northwest of Te Anau
A moderate 5.1-magnitude earthquake occurred at 6.55am on Wednesday, centred approximately 50km northwest of Te Anau. The tremor originated at a depth of 23km and was felt by 203 people.
3 outlets · Foodstuffs facial recognition trial found to comply with Privacy Act
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster has determined that Foodstuffs North Island's live facial recognition trial complied with the Privacy Act. While the technology offers potential safety benefits, the Commissioner noted that improvements are required before any permanent use or expansion can occur.
4 outlets · Inquest begins into death of New Lynn attacker Ahamed Samsudeen
An inquest has commenced in an Auckland court regarding the death of Ahamed Samsudeen, who was shot dead by police following a 2021 terror attack. Survivors of the stabbing at Countdown New Lynn are expected to provide personal statements during the proceedings.
3 outlets · Campaign seeks to ban social media for under-16s
A group of influential women, including members of the B416 campaign, is pushing to lift the social media age limit to 16. While social media is currently restricted for those under 13, the group aims to ensure these rules are enforced and the age threshold is increased.
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