Government announces tougher penalties and fines for shoplifting
Ministers Paul Goldsmith and Nicole McKee have announced new measures to deter shoplifting in Auckland. The proposed changes include longer prison sentences, an aggravated theft offence, and on-the-spot fines of up to $1000 for low-level theft.
+26 outlets · Customs seize 150kg of cocaine at Port of Tauranga
Customs officers have seized approximately 150kg of cocaine, valued at up to $58.2 million, from a shipping container at the Port of Tauranga. The drugs were found in six duffel bags inside a container arriving from Kingston, Jamaica, following a standard risk assessment.
+15 outlets · Man charged with kidnapping after allegedly stealing Invercargill ambulance
A 20-year-old man has been charged with kidnapping and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle after an ambulance was allegedly stolen in Invercargill. The incident occurred early Monday morning on Elles Road while a police officer and paramedic were inside the vehicle. Police had been called to assist the crew with an agitated person.
+26 outlets · Venomous noble false widow spider establishes itself in New Zealand
The noble false widow spider has officially established populations across several regions, including Christchurch, Nelson, Northland, and Waikato. Scientists warn that the spider's venom can cause serious infections, some of which may be resistant to antibiotics.
+15 outlets · Police investigate after six-month-old baby found with critical injuries
A six-month-old baby boy was found with critical injuries at a Foxton Beach house on Sunday morning. The infant was taken to Palmerston North Hospital before being airlifted to Starship Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Police are currently investigating how the injuries occurred.
+26 outlets · Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Kemp laid to rest at Opaea Marae
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp was laid to rest at Opaea Marae near Taihape. Kemp, 50, died suddenly last week following a battle with kidney disease. Hundreds of mourners, including parliamentary colleagues, attended the service.
+26 outlets · Orange heavy rain warnings issued for parts of New Zealand
MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for the Nelson and Tasman districts, as well as the Bay of Plenty, due to a large low. Northland and Auckland are also under heavy rain and strong wind watches for Thursday.
4 outlets · Youth MPs accused of censorship over government criticism in speeches
Organisers of Youth Parliament 2025 have reportedly asked some participants to remove government criticisms from their speeches. While some Youth MPs claim they are being censored on major political issues, the Ministry for Youth Development maintains that these edits follow normal protocol.
+15 outlets · RJ's discontinues production of Jaffas due to declining sales
Levin-based confectionery company RJ's has confirmed it will no longer manufacture Jaffas. The decision to stop making the orange-coated chocolate lollies follows a decline in sales. The iconic sweets will no longer be available on New Zealand shop shelves.
4 outlets · Man charged with murder following inmate death at Mt Eden prison
A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of an inmate at Mount Eden Corrections Facility. The death occurred during an incident on Friday, 27 June. The accused is scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court on Thursday.
4 outlets · Occupants escape after hybrid car catches fire in Dunedin crash
Two people escaped a hybrid vehicle after it collided with a power pole on State Highway 88 near St Leonards Drive. The crash occurred around 1.30pm on Tuesday, causing the car to burst into flames. Emergency services attended the scene, and all occupants were out of the vehicle.
+15 outlets · Man charged after death following Ōtāhuhu incident
A 31-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a homicide in Ōtāhuhu. Emergency services were called to a property on Beatty Street on Sunday night, where a man was found critically injured and later died in hospital.
4 outlets · Woman and dog flee after being charged by large pig
A woman walking her Jack Russell-cross dog in Pegasus was charged by a large pig on Monday. The resident, Wendy Campion, initially mistook the animal for a large shaggy dog before fleeing the scene.
+15 outlets · Podcast investigation questions lone wolf theory in Christchurch mosque attacks
A new investigation explores the radicalisation of Brenton Tarrant before the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings. The podcast examines the terrorist's long-held violent ideology and questions whether he acted alone or was part of a wider extremist ecosystem.
4 outlets · Tasman resident facing $1400 fee to keep three dogs
A Richmond resident has been told he must pay a $1400 resource consent fee to keep three dogs on his urban property. Owen Haring expressed shock at the cost, which is required by the Tasman District Council in addition to standard dog registration fees.
+15 outlets · Fire extinguished in Auckland CBD apartment building
Fire crews responded to a blaze in a six-storey residential building on High Street on Tuesday night. The fire, which broke out in a first-floor laundry area, was eventually extinguished. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 8.15pm.
3 outlets · MetService could have issued red warnings earlier for Cyclone Gabrielle
During an inquest, MetService's chief meteorologist stated a red weather warning for Hawke's Bay could have been issued a day before Cyclone Gabrielle hit in 2023. The agency reportedly faced opposition from the regional council, which expressed confidence in its own flood modelling.
+37 outlets · Agreements reached for Cook Strait ferry infrastructure and equipment
Ferry Holdings Limited, KiwiRail, and port operators have struck deals regarding the infrastructure required for two new Cook Strait ferries arriving in 2029. Rail Minister Winston Peters confirmed the scope of work, which includes a planned Dublin Street overbridge in Picton to accommodate the new vessels.
+15 outlets · Police crackdown on boy racers in Auckland results in arrests
Waitematā Police targeted anti-social driving during operations on weekends in June. The crackdown resulted in 13 arrests, 154 infringement notices, and 10 vehicles being impounded. During the operation, officers stopped a total of 299 vehicles.
3 outlets · Noel Edmonds reviews New Zealand business after flood damage
British TV presenter Noel Edmonds is reviewing his New Zealand business interests after flooding of the Motueka River damaged his River Haven estate in Ngātīmoti. The wellness centre and surrounding property sustained significant damage during last week's extreme weather. Edmonds stated the estate was built according to local regulations.
3 outlets · Manurewa crash victim identified following police pursuit
Police have named 45-year-old Iu Toalua as the man who died in a crash on Roscommon Road in Manurewa on 27 June. The incident occurred during a police pursuit shortly after 1am. A 56-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, causing injury, and driving while forbidden.
3 outlets · Forensic evidence presented in Helen Gregory murder trial
A forensic scientist has given evidence in the Wellington High Court trial of Julia DeLuney, who is accused of murdering her mother, Helen Gregory, in Khandallah last January. Evidence suggested at least one blow was struck while the victim was on the floor, though a particle found in the victim's scalp did not match a substitute for the Crown's suggested murder weapon.
4 outlets · New police college campus opens in Auckland
A new Royal New Zealand Police College campus has opened at Massey University in Albany. The facility aims to help recruit 500 additional officers and currently hosts a class of 40 trainees. Commissioner Richard Chambers noted that some former officers who moved to Australia have expressed interest in returning.
2 outlets · Weight loss medication Wegovy becomes available in New Zealand pharmacies
Wegovy, a weight loss drug containing the same active ingredient as Ozempic, has gone on sale in New Zealand. The medication is currently unfunded and may cost users approximately $500 per month. It is specifically approved for weight loss and features a higher dosage than its counterpart.
3 outlets · Greenpeace activists paint second trawler with 'Ocean Killer' message
Greenpeace Aotearoa activists have painted the words 'Ocean Killer' on the Sealord vessel Ocean Dawn off the Chatham Rise. This follows a similar protest against another trawler in the same area. Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has criticised the protest tactics, stating they put lives at risk.
2 outlets · Army and emergency services deployed to Nelson-Marlborough amid heavy rain warnings
The army and Fire and Emergency NZ are sending reinforcements to the Nelson-Marlborough region. Officials are preparing for the worst as two orange rain warnings are forecast for Thursday morning.
4 outlets · Truck driver acquitted of careless driving after cyclist's death
Kelly Shearer has been acquitted of careless driving causing death following a 2023 collision that killed Pāpāmoa cyclist Bryan Marris. The accident occurred at the intersection of Hewletts Road and Tasman Quay in Mount Maunganui. The judge noted that the road layout contributed to the incident.
2 outlets · Hawke's Bay business owner loses $30,000 in six burglaries
Pedlista owner Harry van der Zanden has lost approximately $30,000 following six burglaries at his mobile coffee and bike repair business in Marewa. The string of thefts over two months has significantly impacted the fledgling Hawke's Bay business.
3 outlets · Waikato man sentenced for historical sexual abuse of two girls
David Selwyn McQuoid has been sentenced in Auckland District Court after pleading guilty to the sexual abuse of two young girls. The offences occurred in Auckland during the mid-1980s and early 1990s. McQuoid had previously been told to keep the abuse a secret from others.
2 outlets · Ardie Savea supports Moana Pasifika amid financial concerns
All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has expressed support for Moana Pasifika remaining in Super Rugby Pacific. Describing the franchise as "the people's team", Savea highlighted the importance of their inclusion in the competition despite the team facing financial pressure.
2 outlets · Waipukurau woman identified following fatal Hawke's Bay crash
Police have identified 31-year-old Amberlee Carlson as the woman who died in a crash on Sunday. The incident occurred at the intersection of Takapau Road and Racecourse Road in Central Hawke's Bay, where the vehicle reportedly went onto railway tracks.
2 outlets · Small fire contained at Christchurch industrial building
Firefighters attended a small blaze at a haulage yard on Gerald Connolly Place in Hornby on Tuesday afternoon. Five crews responded to the scene and contained the fire within the building. No injuries were reported and the building had been evacuated.
3 outlets · Erin Routliffe reunited with Gaby Dabrowski for Wimbledon
New Zealand tennis player Erin Routliffe has been reunited with regular doubles partner Gaby Dabrowski for Wimbledon. After Dabrowski's injury forced Routliffe to play with other partners, the pair enters the tournament as the second seeds.
2 outlets · Foodbanks prepare for winter demand surge amid funding uncertainty
Community foodbanks are bracing for increased demand during winter and are requesting permanent government funding. While $15 million is being provided from July, the future of ongoing support remains uncertain. One Auckland foodbank has already had to limit the number of people receiving food parcels.
3 outlets · Police investigate unexplained death on Waiheke Island
Police are investigating after a body was discovered in the water at an Oneroa beach on Tuesday morning. Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Rebecca Kirk stated that the death is currently being treated as unexplained.
2 outlets · Ken Laban confirms candidacy for Lower Hutt mayor
Regional councillor and sports broadcaster Ken Laban has announced his run for mayor of Lower Hutt. He joins sitting councillors Karen Morgan and Brady Dyer as candidates for the position.
2 outlets · Shane Ngakuru sentenced to US prison for distributing encrypted phones
New Zealander Shane Ngakuru has been sentenced to nearly five years in a United States prison after pleading guilty to distributing encrypted ANOM phones. Ngakuru, who is connected to the Comancheros, will be deported to New Zealand to face 70 charges following his sentence.
2 outlets · Jason Aldean to perform first New Zealand show in 2026
Country music singer Jason Aldean will bring his Full Throttle World Tour to Auckland in 2026. The performance is scheduled to take place at Spark Arena on February 19. This marks the artist's first time headlining in New Zealand.
2 outlets · New 24/7 digital health service launched for New Zealanders
Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced the launch of a nationwide 24/7 digital health service. The service allows people to have virtual consultations with registered doctors and nurses at any time. It is intended to assist those unable to secure regular GP appointments and reduce pressure on emergency departments.
2 outlets · Three people arrested after carpet rolls found on car roof
Police arrested three people in Christchurch early Tuesday morning after spotting rolls of carpet strapped to the roof of a vehicle. The car was pulled over on Briggs Rd in Shirley around 3.10am. The individuals are alleged to have stolen the carpet.
2 outlets · MetService confirms orange weather warning was correct for South Island floods
Severe weather caused widespread flooding and damage to roads, bridges, and farmland across Tasman, Nelson, and Marlborough. MetService stated the rain met the criteria for an orange heavy rain warning. Communities are now beginning large-scale clean-up efforts following the deluge.
2 outlets · Rental properties must meet Healthy Homes Standards by Tuesday deadline
All New Zealand rental homes are now legally required to comply with Healthy Homes Standards. The regulations, introduced in 2019, set minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture, drainage, and draught stopping.
2 outlets · Debate continues over the Regulatory Standards Bill
The Regulatory Standards Bill is facing intense campaigning and accusations from various sides. Minister of Regulations David Seymour has defended the legislation against critics, while questions remain regarding whether the bill will achieve its intended goals.
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