Woman charged with arson after Hokitika hospital fire
A 42-year-old Hokitika woman has been charged with arson following a fire that destroyed the Seaview Hospital complex and former Kotuku Hostel in August. The blaze occurred on 10 August in the Seaview Terraces area. The woman was arrested on Wednesday and has been released on bail.
+26 outlets · Luxon backs Nicola Willis following GDP decline
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has expressed full confidence in Finance Minister Nicola Willis after New Zealand's GDP fell 0.9% in the June quarter. Willis has rejected calls to resign, attributing the economic contraction to US tariffs. While Labour leader Chris Hipkins called for the entire government to resign, he did not specifically demand Willis step down.
+15 outlets · Woolworths NZ charged over Dunedin supermarket rat infestation
Woolworths New Zealand has been charged following a significant rodent infestation at its Dunedin South supermarket. The store was closed for nearly three weeks in early 2024 after rats were spotted. The company could face a maximum fine of $200,000 for failing to control the infestation.
+15 outlets · South Island facing heavy rain and strong winds this weekend
MetService has issued weather watches and warnings for much of the South Island and Wellington due to an incoming active front. The weather, which may include an atmospheric river, is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds during the start of the school holidays.
4 outlets · CPB Contractors selected to build new Dunedin Hospital inpatient building
The government has signed a contract with CPB Contractors to build the new Dunedin Hospital inpatient building. Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the deal in Dunedin, noting that a Crown Manager will oversee the project to ensure it remains on time and within budget.
+15 outlets · New report finds benefits from Transmission Gully and Kāpiti expressways
An analysis by Infometrics shows that Transmission Gully and the Kāpiti expressways provided $173 million in benefits in 2024. The report found the projects led to shorter travel times and fewer road deaths. The study was commissioned by Infrastructure NZ and local councils.
4 outlets · Lake Hāwea residents oppose Contact Energy plan to lower water levels
Contact Energy is seeking fast-track approval to reduce Lake Hāwea's minimum operating level from 338 metres to 336 metres, with potential drops to 330 metres during extreme circumstances. Local residents expressed outrage at a public meeting regarding the proposal, which the company describes as an insurance policy to boost renewable energy generation.
+26 outlets · Eleven arrested in police crackdown on alleged drug-smuggling ring
Police and Customs arrested 11 people during Operation Mexted, a five-month investigation into an alleged international drug-smuggling ring. Raids across Auckland and Waikato resulted in the seizure of drugs, firearms, and nearly $1 million in cash.
3 outlets · ANKO portable blender recalled over risk of self-activation
Kmart is recalling the ANKO portable blender because it may turn on automatically if the base is submerged in water. The product was sold both online and in stores between 23 January and 3 September 2025. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment issued the recall notice due to safety concerns.
3 outlets · Air New Zealand unveils new maintenance hangar at Auckland Airport
Air New Zealand has opened Hangar 4, a large timber-based maintenance facility at Auckland Airport. The state-of-the-art building is one of the airline's most significant infrastructure investments and can accommodate three jet aircraft at once.
3 outlets · Kāpiti Line services disrupted after overhead cable snaps
Commuters on the Kāpiti Line were stranded for over three hours on Friday after an overhead electric cable snapped. The incident caused major disruption to services near Wellington, with some passengers stuck on a train that lost power.
3 outlets · Psychiatrist testifies on Hakyung Lee's insanity defence in murder trial
During the trial of Hakyung Lee, a Crown expert testified that the defendant was not insane when she killed her children. Lee told a psychiatrist she had heard voices telling her to kill them for eight years, though the expert noted such long-term hallucinations are rare.
2 outlets · Police staffer involved in mass fraud against retail chain
An investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority found a police staffer was involved in fraud against a large retail chain. The offending occurred both before and after the individual began working for the police. The staffer previously pleaded guilty to eight fraud charges.
4 outlets · Kāpiti Line services resume after downed power cable causes disruption
Passenger services have resumed on the Kāpiti Line following a downed overhead cable near Wellington Station this morning. The incident, which began at 7.50am, left three trains affected and one train stuck on a rail bridge for over three hours. KiwiRail provided emergency toilet supplies to passengers during the delay.
2 outlets · West Coast Rugby Union fined and stripped of points
The West Coast Rugby Union has been fined $5,000 and stripped of 15 points following a New Zealand Rugby investigation. The penalty follows a breach of player eligibility rules in the Heartland Championship, where a player failed to meet minimum club game requirements.
2 outlets · Cancer patients using KiwiSaver to pay for unfunded treatments
Some cancer patients are using their KiwiSaver funds to pay for medical treatments that are not funded or available in New Zealand. One patient was forced to use the fund to cover $220,000 in costs for blood cancer treatment.
2 outlets · Six Mongrel Mob members sentenced for Southland violent crime spree
Six Mongrel Mob members have been jailed following a series of violent crimes in Southland in early 2022. The offences, which included drive-by shootings and assaults, occurred during an internal gang feud. Prison sentences for the group ranged from three years and four months to six years.
2 outlets · Firearm and ammunition found after stolen vehicle pursuit in Whangārei
Police discovered a gun and ammunition after a driver in a stolen vehicle failed to stop on Otaika Road on Tuesday. The pursuit led officers to three wanted men in Whangārei.
2 outlets · Wellington train passengers handed toilet bags after being stranded
Commuters on a Waikanae service were stuck for over three hours on a bridge over Hutt Road after a snapped overhead power cable. Staff provided passengers with disposable toilet bags to use during the delay.
2 outlets · High Court orders son to return tractor in Waikato family dispute
A High Court ruling has ordered Lance Clark to return a tractor to his father, Malcolm Clark. The dispute follows the breakdown of their Waikato-based shelterbelt trimming business, which had operated for 26 years. The court found it improbable that anyone other than the son took the machinery.
2 outlets · Three-vehicle crash causes delays on Auckland's Southern Motorway
A collision involving a truck and two cars has closed all northbound lanes near the Greenlane off-ramp. Police report that one person has been seriously injured in the accident. The crash is causing delays for afternoon commuters travelling towards the city.
2 outlets · Lightning strike damages weather radar tower near Hokitika
A weather radar tower north of the Hokitika River was struck by lightning on Thursday afternoon. The strike hit the protective dome, causing significant damage and stopping the radar from transmitting. Technicians have been sent to the site to assess the damage.
2 outlets · Police investigate sudden death in Heathcote Valley
Police responded to a death on Horotane Valley Road in Heathcote Valley early Friday morning. An area has been cordoned off while an investigation into the person's identity is conducted. Authorities have stated the death is not considered suspicious.
2 outlets · Man sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering partner
Ri Nikora has been sentenced to life in prison at the High Court in Napier for the 2019 murder of Kathleen Kawana. Nikora drove approximately 640km to leave Kawana's body in an abandoned house near Ruatoria. He will be required to serve a minimum of 12.5 years.
2 outlets · Old recipe provides insight into life of Kate Sheppard
A published recipe for fancy custard has revealed a different side to social reformer Kate Sheppard. While known for leading the campaign for women's suffrage, the recipe shows her preference for creamy foods and her views on the connection between meat consumption and alcohol cravings.
2 outlets · Whanganui councillors vote to save Virginia Lake aviary
Whanganui District Council has reversed its decision to close the Virginia Lake aviary. Following a vote at a full council meeting on Tuesday, councillors committed to providing ongoing funding for the facility's core running costs, ending more than a year of uncertainty regarding its future.
2 outlets · Unconventional candidates feature at Wellington mayoral election event
A meet the candidates event at the Aro Valley Community Centre featured several unusual participants. Attendees observed candidates including a clown and an elderly poet during the local body elections meeting.
2 outlets · Online supporters call Tom Phillips a hero following police shooting
Following the police shooting of fugitive Tom Phillips, online forums have seen an increase in supporters calling him a hero. Police and the Government have rejected these claims, stating that a parent should not put their children in such situations.
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