Tuesday 23 September 2025
43 stories first reported this day, covered by two or more outlets
Police release photos to help identify man found dead in Heathcote Valley
Police have shared images of a backpack and various items, including gloves and a bike pump, found with an unidentified man in Christchurch's Heathcote Valley last Friday. The man is believed to be in his 30s or 40s and has a distinctive birthmark on his left forearm. Authorities hope the gear will help identify him.
+26 outlets · Government announces new residency pathways for skilled migrants
The Government has introduced two new residency pathways for skilled migrants to address labour shortages and support businesses. The Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways are expected to begin in mid-2026. NZ First has invoked the coalition's "agree to disagree" clause due to concerns regarding the policy.
+26 outlets · Mother found guilty of murdering children found in suitcases
Hakyung Lee has been found guilty of murdering her two children, aged six and eight, in 2018. Their remains were discovered in suitcases at an Auckland storage unit in 2022 after a couple won an auction. The trial concluded following a two-week jury deliberation in the High Court at Auckland.
+48 outlets · Government to replace Holidays Act with new leave system
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has announced plans to scrap the Holidays Act to address payroll errors and complexity. Under the proposed changes, workers will accrue annual and sick leave based on hours worked from their first day. Casual workers will instead receive a 12.5% pay increase rather than leave entitlements.
+15 outlets · Senior first responder pleads not guilty to child exploitation charges
A senior first responder has pleaded not guilty to five charges involving the possession and exportation of child exploitation material. The man, who was arrested in June following a Customs investigation, has lost his job. Name and occupation suppression has been extended in the Christchurch District Court.
4 outlets · Ngāti Tūwharetoa paramount chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu dies aged 84
Te Ariki Tā Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII, the paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, has died at the age of 84. Te Kapua Whakapipi confirmed the passing of the long-serving leader, who had held the position of ariki since 1997.
4 outlets · Six thousand senior doctors and dentists begin 48-hour strike
Approximately 6,000 senior hospital doctors and dentists began a 48-hour strike on Monday due to a pay dispute with Health NZ. The action is expected to affect an estimated 13,000 patients, including over 1,800 elective procedures and 3,600 specialist appointments.
+37 outlets · Councils address reports of slum-like camp at Kairaki Beach
Police have responded to complaints of anti-social behaviour at Kairaki Beach near Kaiapoi. A Christchurch resident described witnessing a ramshackle, slum-like camp during the current whitebaiting season.
+15 outlets · Defence closes in Loafers Lodge murder trial
The defence has delivered final arguments in the trial of a 50-year-old man accused of lighting a fatal Wellington hostel fire in May 2023. The defendant, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, faces five counts of murder and one count of arson. The jury will begin deliberations on Wednesday.
+15 outlets · Whangārei child sex offender sentenced to an additional 10 years
Todd Gibbons has received a further 10 years in prison after two more victims came forward. This brings the total number of known victims to four. He was already serving a 12-year sentence for previous sexual offending.
3 outlets · Man arrested over alleged $68,000 credit card fraud
A 34-year-old man has been taken into custody in Long Bay following a year-long investigation. He faces more than 40 fraud-related charges involving more than $68,000. Police say the alleged offences occurred across New Zealand during 2024 and 2025.
3 outlets · Construction begins on Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway
Work has commenced on the 24km Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway to improve safety on a route described by the Transport Minister as a death trap. The project, part of the Wellington Northern Corridor, is expected to be completed in 2029.
3 outlets · Commerce Commission launches cartel proceedings against Harcourts franchises
The Commerce Commission has started civil proceedings alleging cartel conduct and price-fixing in the Christchurch property market. The action involves Harcourts Group Limited and four franchisees, including Four Seasons Realty 2017 Limited and Gold Real Estate Group Limited. The commission claims the alleged conduct was damaging due to the businesses' significant market share.
3 outlets · Medsafe and midwives reject Trump claims linking paracetamol to autism
US President Donald Trump has claimed that using paracetamol during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of autism. New Zealand midwives and Medsafe have rejected these claims, stating that high-quality scientific evidence does not demonstrate a causal link between the medication and developmental concerns.
3 outlets · Body found in New Plymouth believed to be missing Hamilton man
Police believe a body discovered in New Plymouth on Monday afternoon belongs to 46-year-old Nan Liu. Mr Liu was last seen in Hamilton on 19 September. The discovery followed information provided by a member of the public, and the case has been referred to the coroner.
+15 outlets · Taranaki councillor proposes merging eleven councils to reduce elected representatives
Taranaki regional councillor Mike Davey has proposed merging eleven councils, spanning from New Plymouth to Horowhenua, into a single entity. The plan would reduce the number of elected representatives by 95 per cent, leaving six councillors and one leader. Davey's opponents at a candidates meeting did not agree with the proposal.
3 outlets · Education minister absent from teachers' conference in Christchurch
Minister of Education Erica Stanford failed to deliver a scheduled keynote address at the Post-Primary Teachers' Association annual conference. PPTA president Chris Abercrombie criticised the minister's absence during the opening of the event in Christchurch. The cancellation occurred amid industrial action and sector upheavals.
+15 outlets · Government expected to announce new Reserve Bank governor on Wednesday
The government is expected to announce a new Reserve Bank governor on Wednesday. Reports suggest the appointment may be a woman based overseas, which would make her the first woman to hold the role.
2 outlets · All Blacks prepare for Bledisloe Cup clash against Wallabies at Eden Park
The All Blacks will face the Wallabies at Eden Park this Saturday. Ahead of the match, head coach Scott Robertson and staff addressed areas for improvement, while former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper suggested Australia has a chance to reclaim the trophy.
2 outlets · Heavy rain warnings issued for parts of the North Island
MetService has issued weather watches and warnings as heavy rain hits the northern North Island. Northland, Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty are expected to experience downpours through Wednesday. The wet weather is being driven by two separate weather fronts moving across the region.
2 outlets · ICU bed shortage causes delays to Christchurch cardiac surgeries
Cardiac patients at Christchurch Hospital are facing multiple delays for lifesaving operations due to a lack of intensive care unit beds. This follows a decision by Health NZ to reduce the number of available ICU beds from 36 to 24 at the start of the year.
3 outlets · Scientists reflect on the 1995 Mount Ruapehu eruption
Thirty years ago on Tuesday, Mount Ruapehu erupted, sending an ash plume 12km into the sky. Scientists present during the event suggest that luck, rather than management, prevented fatalities during the eruption and the subsequent emergency response.
3 outlets · Outward Bound launches new course for people aged 60 and over
The not-for-profit Outward Bound has introduced a new course specifically designed for those aged 60 and older. The programme focuses on personal and professional development through mental and physical challenges in the Marlborough Sounds.
+15 outlets · Wellington hit-and-run driver sentenced for causing life-changing injuries
Michael David Cooper has been sentenced in the Wellington District Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing injury. The incident occurred in Miramar on 16 October 2022, when a red van struck a man who was fixing his car on the street.
2 outlets · Blood cancer patients dying while waiting for stem cell transplants
Professor Peter Browett says blood cancer patients waiting for stem cell transplants are receiving extra chemotherapy. This additional treatment increases infection risks and can impact survival rates, with some patients dying when chemotherapy no longer works.
2 outlets · New Zealander in southern China prepares for super typhoon Ragasa
A New Zealander living in southern China is preparing for the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is expected to bring winds of up to 215km/h. Local authorities are clearing potential debris as workplaces close and streets become quiet ahead of the storm.
2 outlets · Wealthy man receives sentence discount after charity donations
A man from an affluent New Zealand family was jailed after being convicted of possessing and importing thousands of extreme child sexual abuse images. He received a 3% sentence discount after donating $50,400 to two charities shortly before his scheduled sentencing at Auckland District Court.
2 outlets · Dunedin City Council reinstates Albany Street cycleway project
The Dunedin City Council has voted 8-7 to revive a proposed cycleway through the city's student quarter. This decision reverses a previous vote from last month that had halted the Albany Street project. The motion to reinstate the planned parking changes was enabled by councillor Jim O'Malley.
2 outlets · Secretive visit by FBI director Kash Patel to New Zealand revealed
Documents released to RNZ show FBI director Kash Patel made a secretive trip to New Zealand in July. The visit, which included a meeting with Winston Peters in Wellington, reportedly cost taxpayers approximately $10,000. Patel is the highest-ranking US official to visit the country during Donald Trump's second presidency.
3 outlets · International match fixers targeting New Zealand footballers
Organised crime groups are attempting to recruit New Zealand football players through social media messages and fake agents. These individuals target amateur players by promising cash or overseas club trials. Some players have reported being approached by fixers on the sidelines of matches.
2 outlets · Police seek witnesses after woman allegedly assaulted in Pāpāmoa
A woman was allegedly assaulted by a man wearing a balaclava on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred near a retirement village on Maranui Street while the victim was walking towards Bayfair. Police are currently searching for the offender and requesting information from the public.
2 outlets · Coroner rules on Palmerston man's death at house party
A coroner has released findings regarding the death of 37-year-old Christopher Francis Foster in April 2023. Mr Foster died at his Palmerston home while being restrained on a bed by two young men during a party. The exact cause of death remains unascertained.
2 outlets · US administration discusses links between paracetamol and autism
The Trump administration is expected to announce potential links between Tylenol and autism risk. US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has described the rise in autism cases as an epidemic.
4 outlets · Winston Peters declines to comment on Palestinian statehood recognition
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has avoided answering whether New Zealand will formally recognise a Palestinian state. This comes as world leaders gather at the United Nations to discuss Palestinian statehood, with France announcing it will recognise the state.
2 outlets · Health New Zealand re-checking credentials of staff working with children
Health New Zealand is re-verifying the credentials of staff working with children nationwide. This follows a whistle-blower report to the Ombudsman alleging that child safety checks for contractors had not been conducted for several years at a hospital.
2 outlets · Government to reform Holidays Act to simplify leave entitlements
The Government is updating the Holidays Act to simplify how annual and sick leave is accrued. The reforms aim to make the system easier for both employers and employees to manage. Changes include the removal of sick leave entitlements for part-time workers.
4 outlets · Auckland funeral home to inter over 700 unclaimed ashes
Morrisons Funerals is planning a mass interment for more than 700 unclaimed ashes. The funeral home has issued a final call for loved ones to collect the remains before the interment takes place.
3 outlets · West Coast weather radar offline after massive lightning strike
MetService's Westland rain radar near the Hokitika River will be out of action for an extended period. A powerful lightning strike last Thursday damaged the radar tower and its protective cover. Technical teams have completed an initial assessment of the site.
2 outlets · Naseby becomes New Zealand's first International Dark Sky Community
The Naseby community in Central Otago has achieved International Dark Sky Community accreditation from DarkSky International. This recognition follows ten years of grassroots efforts led by local residents to promote the town as a destination for stargazing.
2 outlets · New Zealand economy faces pressure following GDP contraction
Finance Minister Nicola Willis and the coalition government are facing pressure after recent gross domestic product figures showed a sharper economic contraction than anticipated. Data indicates that construction activity has fallen by 18% since June 2023.
2 outlets · Russell could be added to UNESCO World Heritage List
The Bay of Islands town of Russell may bid for a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Kororāreka Marae chairperson Deb Rewiri suggests the potential global recognition could reignite debates regarding the town's name.
2 outlets · Firearms deaths cost New Zealand up to $321 million annually
An Otago University study found that firearms-related deaths cost the country an estimated $321 million per year. Research covering the period from 2000 to 2018 shows more than 1,000 people died and 2,115 were hospitalised due to firearms incidents.
2 outlets · Labour and Police Minister condemn former deputy commissioner over firearms vetting changes
Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has been condemned by Labour and the Police Minister for altering firearms vetting processes. McSkimming reportedly ordered staff to make these changes after being contacted by an acquaintance regarding potential licence loss due to demerit points.
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