Wednesday 24 September 2025
37 stories first reported this day, covered by two or more outlets
Dr Anna Breman named new Reserve Bank governor
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has appointed Dr Anna Breman as the new Reserve Bank governor. Breman, who has served as deputy governor of Sweden's central bank since 2019, is the first woman to hold the position. She is scheduled to begin a five-year term on 1 December.
+26 outlets · Christopher Luxon ranked 15th in Cabinet by business leaders
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis have both fallen out of the top 10 ministers in a survey of 150 business leaders. Luxon ranked 15th and Willis 13th in the Mood of the Boardroom report. The Prime Minister has dismissed the results and stated he is not worried by the rankings.
+15 outlets · One person critical after car and bus collide in Tauranga
A person was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in critical condition following a collision between a car and a bus in Welcome Bay. The crash occurred on Welcome Bay Road on Wednesday evening. Fire crews worked to free one occupant who was trapped inside the car.
4 outlets · Eleven Kiwi and te reo Māori words added to Oxford English Dictionary
Eleven words or phrases of New Zealand English and te reo Māori origin have been included in the Oxford English Dictionary's World English update. The new entries include colloquial expressions such as ''sweet as', ''mōrena', and 'rark up'.
4 outlets · Pukekohe woman sentenced to home detention for tax evasion
Haitelenisia Kaumavae has been sentenced to nine months of home detention after pleading guilty to tax evasion. The Auckland woman, who ran a business supplying fruit and vegetable harvesters, evaded nearly $1.5 million in GST, PAYE, and income tax. Inland Revenue described the offending as a wilful example of repeated fraud.
4 outlets · Police investigate suspicious house fire in Whangārei
Emergency services attended a fire on Raumanga Valley Road in Raumanga around 6.20am on Wednesday. Five people were sleeping inside the property at the time, but everyone escaped without injury. Police are treating the incident as suspicious after a couch on the front deck appeared to have been deliberately lit.
4 outlets · Government to replace Holidays Act with new employment leave legislation
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden has announced plans to repeal the Holidays Act and introduce an Employment Leave Act. The changes aim to simplify how annual and sick leave are calculated through pro-rating. While business groups have welcomed the clarity, unions and opposition parties have raised concerns regarding workers' rights.
4 outlets · Police seek information on illegal dirt bike riders in Porirua
Porirua police are investigating five males riding dirt bikes illegally through Waitangirua, Cannons Creek, Belmont Park, and Belmont Farm. The group is accused of damaging fences and native trees while terrifying livestock during lambing season. Authorities say the riders are also endangering the public.
4 outlets · Silver Ferns clinch Taini Jamison Trophy with win over South Africa
The Silver Ferns defeated South Africa 70-58 in Napier to secure the Taini Jamison Trophy. Despite a slow start and trailing 15-14, New Zealand won the second test to clinch the series with one match remaining.
3 outlets · MetService issues heavy rain warnings for northern North Island
MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti. Thunderstorms and localised downpours are affecting the northern North Island, while another weather front is expected to move across the lower South Island.
3 outlets · Record objections to proposed Lake Hāwea liquor store
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has received a record 538 submissions opposing a proposed Super Liquor outlet in Lake Hāwea. The drive-through store proposal has drawn significant community backlash in the Central Otago town. Only two submissions were received in support of the licence.
+48 outlets · Vehicles banned from scenic Cape Palliser paper road
South Wairarapa District councillors have approved a ban on motor vehicles using the Cape Palliser paper road for at least two years. The decision follows an initial proposal that would have cut off all public access. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be permitted to use the scenic stretch.
+15 outlets · Former All White Clayton Lewis avoids conviction in spot-fixing case
Former New Zealand footballer Clayton Lewis has avoided a formal conviction after being sentenced in a Sydney court. He pleaded guilty to corrupting a betting outcome in an A-League scheme and received a two-year community order. Football Australia has since issued Lewis a notice regarding a potential lifetime ban.
3 outlets · Five youths arrested after attempted robbery in Glen Eden
Five people aged between 12 and 14 have been arrested following an attempted aggravated robbery at a Glen Eden shop on Tuesday morning. The shop owner prevented the incident by quickly closing the store doors. The youths face charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and will be referred to Youth Aid.
3 outlets · Treasury warns current government policies are not sustainable long-term
The Treasury's 2025 Long-term Fiscal Statement indicates that current government policies are unsuitable for New Zealand's fiscal future. The report warns that population ageing poses a significant challenge, noting that debt could rise to approximately 200 per cent of GDP by 2065 if policies remain unchanged.
3 outlets · Winston Peters calls Donald Trump's UN criticism undiplomatic
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has described US President Donald Trump's remarks at the United Nations General Assembly as undiplomatic. During his speech, Trump accused several UN member states of rewarding Hamas by recognising a Palestinian state.
3 outlets · Jury continues deliberations in Loafers Lodge fire trial
A jury of 11 has begun a second day of deliberations at the Wellington High Court. The 50-year-old defendant faces five counts of murder and one count of arson following the 2023 Loafers Lodge fire that killed five men. Jurors previously requested to view part of a police interview with the man.
3 outlets · Auckland Council approves high-rise housing plan near transport hubs
Auckland Council has voted to approve a housing intensification plan that allows for 10 to 15-storey buildings near public transport hubs. The decision, passed by 18 to 5, aims to facilitate the allocation of up to two million new homes across the city in the coming decades.
3 outlets · Luxury yacht sinks near Slipper Island while being towed
An 18.2-metre Maritimo luxury yacht has sunk near Slipper Island in the Coromandel. The vessel was being towed from Tauranga to Whangārei when it went down. This is the second time the yacht has sunk, having been salvaged near Tauranga four months ago.
4 outlets · Auckland Airport unveils largest airfield expansion in its history
Auckland Airport has opened a $465 million airfield expansion project to increase aircraft parking and cargo capacity. The project adds space equivalent to 23 rugby fields to the airport's network. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to media following the unveiling of the new infrastructure.
2 outlets · New daily limits introduced for Akaroa dolphin tourism trips
The Department of Conservation has introduced daily limits on dolphin viewing and swimming trips in Akaroa Harbour. These restrictions aim to protect Hector's dolphins from vessel activity that can disturb their behaviour. The new rules also intend to ensure the long-term sustainability of local ecotourism businesses.
2 outlets · Qatar Airways partners with chef Michael Meredith for new business class menu
Chef Michael Meredith has collaborated with Qatar Airways to design exclusive three-course business class menus. The new dining options will be available to passengers travelling on flights between Auckland and Doha.
2 outlets · Woman sentenced for role in death of partner Dean Kahukiwa
Jade Arohanui Oldridge, 29, has been sentenced in the Wellington High Court for her involvement in the 2023 death of Dean Kahukiwa. Kahukiwa was shot five times in Horowhenua after Oldridge allegedly asked her uncle to "smash" him. Her lawyer argued she was under threat during the period.
3 outlets · New Zealander says Gaza-bound aid flotilla was attacked by drones
Eighteen-year-old Sam Leason reported that drones attacked an aid flotilla in international waters. The flotilla, consisting of 70 boats carrying humanitarian aid, aims to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. Leason stated that nine boats were hit during night-time strikes.
3 outlets · One third of early childhood teachers considering leaving sector
A survey by NZEI Te Riu Roa reveals that one in three early childhood teachers are thinking of leaving the profession. Respondents cited burnout, high workloads, and uncertainty regarding pay parity as primary concerns. Teachers also expressed worries about teacher-child ratios and the future direction of the sector.
4 outlets · Wellington psychiatrist to work 56 hours despite two-day strike
Psychiatrist Jeremy McMinn will work a 56-hour week despite participating in a 48-hour strike by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. McMinn stated the situation is dire and he will work a 48-hour stretch to cover for three missing doctors.
2 outlets · Schools continue to manage student vaping despite recent reforms
Three months after the government banned disposable vapes and introduced strict advertising rules, some schools are still struggling with student vaping. Meanwhile, a researcher investigating long-term health effects is advocating for vapes to be available by prescription only.
2 outlets · Chemical smell causes breathing difficulties in Kawerau
Residents in Kawerau have reported a chemical odour resembling burning plastic or rubber since Sunday. The smell has caused some people to have trouble breathing, leading to 26 calls to a pollution hotline. Investigators are currently looking into a home and an industrial site as potential sources.
2 outlets · Dunedin wine bar to continue live music after noise complaint
The Cellar, a Dunedin venue formerly known as the Old Beneficiary Hall, received its first noise complaint at 6.50pm last Sunday. Despite the complaint, the bar intends to continue hosting live music. An advocacy group has suggested the incident raises concerns regarding the future of live music in the city.
2 outlets · Gisborne District Council held 55 workshops without public notice
The Ombudsman has stated that workshops should be advertised even if they are closed to the public. Since 2022, the Gisborne District Council has not informed the public about any of its 55 workshops held this term.
2 outlets · Paid parking trial begins at White Horse Hill car park
The Department of Conservation is trialling paid parking at the White Horse Hill car park in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. From December until June next year, visitors will be charged $5 per hour to park at the site. The location provides access to several popular walking tracks.
2 outlets · Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau plans to run for Parliament
Tory Whanau has decided to seek a seat in Parliament rather than running for re-election as Wellington Mayor this October. She intends to run with the Green Party, where she previously served as chief of staff.
2 outlets · One person seriously injured in Woolston two-vehicle crash
Two people were taken to hospital following a two-vehicle crash on Smith Street in Woolston on Tuesday night. One person is reported to be in serious condition. Police also arrested one man following a disorder at the scene.
2 outlets · Medical experts defend paracetamol safety following claims by Donald Trump
The College of Midwives and General Practice NZ chair have rejected claims by US President Donald Trump linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism. Experts state that paracetamol remains the safest pain relief option for pregnant women and their children despite the unfounded assertions.
3 outlets · Collins family moving home after Cyclone Gabrielle tragedy
Ella and Jack Collins are moving into a new home more than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle. The family lost their two-year-old daughter, Ivy, in the Eskdale floods in February 2023. The move follows a period of uncertainty after their previous house was destroyed.
4 outlets · Auckland councillors to vote on major housing density changes
Auckland councillors are deciding whether to adopt new housing rules or continue with Plan Change 78. The decision involves choosing between three-storey residential buildings citywide or high-rise developments of 10 to 15 storeys near central transport hubs. The outcome will influence how the city manages future housing growth.
2 outlets · Gas stove pollution linked to hundreds of annual deaths in New Zealand
A report commissioned by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority associates gas stove pollution with hundreds of premature deaths and increased childhood asthma cases each year. This follows findings that PM2.5 pollutants from wood burners and vehicles cause approximately 1,300 annual deaths in New Zealand.
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