Thursday 25 September 2025
49 stories first reported this day, covered by two or more outlets
Police seize 10 tonnes of cannabis in Auckland operation
During Operation Beryl, police raided 120 to 128 properties across Auckland between July and August 2025. The crackdown resulted in 30 arrests and the destruction of over 10 tonnes of cannabis. Police warned landlords that many of the clandestine grow houses were hidden in plain sight within rental properties.
+15 outlets · Meta introduces teen account protections for Facebook and Messenger in New Zealand
Meta has rolled out new Teen Account protections in New Zealand, which include automatic privacy settings and parental controls. While the company aims to improve safety, advocacy groups have criticised the move as a public relations stunt. These changes arrive as the Government considers banning social media for those under 16.
+48 outlets · Inquiry launched into National MP Carl Bates over undeclared properties
Parliament's Registrar of Pecuniary Interests is investigating whether National MP Carl Bates complied with disclosure rules. The inquiry follows reports that trusts linked to Bates and his family own 25 properties that were not declared. Bates maintains he was complying with the rules and is merely a beneficiary.
+15 outlets · Two men charged after unprovoked assault at Pukekohe supermarket
Two men have been arrested and charged following an unprovoked assault in a Pukekohe supermarket car park. The victim was with his family when the attack occurred at approximately 12.30pm on September 19. One report states the men have been charged with aggravated robbery.
4 outlets · Southland dairy farm and owner lose appeal over exploitation penalties
Reza Abdul-Jabbar and Rural Practice Limited have lost an Employment Court appeal against $215,000 in penalties. The Employment Relations Authority originally imposed the fines for the exploitation of three migrant workers. The owner has claimed he is unable to pay the amount despite owning significant property assets.
+15 outlets · Bus driver awarded $60,000 after sexual harassment by manager
The Human Rights Review Tribunal has awarded a female bus driver $60,000 in damages. A company branch manager offered the woman more work hours in exchange for sex. The Tribunal described the sexual harassment case as the most serious of its kind.
4 outlets · Speeding car crashes into police vehicle in Auckland CBD
A speeding vehicle crashed into a stationary police car and a pole on Victoria Street early Thursday morning. The incident resulted in three injuries, including one person in serious condition. Victoria Street remained closed between Queen and Hobson Streets following the crash.
3 outlets · Scott Barrett ruled out of Bledisloe Cup opener at Eden Park
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett will miss the upcoming test against the Wallabies due to a shoulder injury. Ardie Savea will lead the team, with coach Scott Robertson making six changes to the side. Severe weather warnings are also in place that could impact the match in Auckland.
3 outlets · Sex offender Leo Goodwin ordered back to prison
The Parole Board has issued a final recall order for 53-year-old Leo Darin Goodwin. He is accused of breaching parole conditions by approaching schoolgirls in Christchurch. Goodwin, who is subject to a preventive detention order, will remain in custody after being deemed an undue risk to the community.
4 outlets · Auckland man sentenced to home detention for possessing child exploitation material
Lee Irving Musham has been sentenced to nine months of home detention in the Manukau District Court. He pleaded guilty to possessing objectionable material involving children as young as five years old. The investigation into his devices was conducted by the Department of Internal Affairs.
3 outlets · MFAT providing consular support to New Zealander detained in US
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is assisting a New Zealander currently in detention in the United States. A spokesperson clarified that the individual is not being held at an immigration facility. The ministry will not release further details due to privacy reasons.
3 outlets · Prime Minister opens $26m reservoir in Northland
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has officially opened the Te Waihekeora Reservoir near Dargaville. The $26 million facility can hold 3.3 million cubic metres of water to help protect the drought-prone region. The project is expected to create 440 new jobs across Northland.
3 outlets · Te Anihana Pomana remains missing five weeks after Auckland disappearance
Police say no new sightings have been reported for 25-year-old Te Anihana Pomana, who went missing in central Auckland. She was last seen leaving SkyCity just after 5am on 21 August, leaving her belongings behind in her hotel. Despite information being provided by the public, her whereabouts remain unknown.
4 outlets · Wānaka woman accused of cancer fraud faces sexual assault charge
Sepiuta Vave, 38, is facing a sexual assault charge alongside allegations of a million-dollar cancer treatment fraud. Vave and her husband, Andrew Jones, are accused of defrauding more than a dozen associates by claiming funds were needed for unnecessary medical care. The pair appeared in Christchurch District Court via audio-visual link.
+37 outlets · Local body election candidate Danny Topia has died
Danny Topia, a candidate for the Coromandel-Colville Community Board, died early on Wednesday. He was scheduled to speak at a local "meet the candidates" event in Coromandel. The Thames-Coromandel District Council confirmed the news via social media.
3 outlets · Health NZ to deliver 75,000 extra diagnostic tests under new plan
Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced a $65 million programme to provide 75,000 additional diagnostic procedures this year. The initiative, which includes scans, heart tests and colonoscopies, aims to reduce wait times for patients. Funding for the plan comes from government pools and efficiencies found in regional outsourcing baselines.
4 outlets · Winston Peters misses Donald Trump reception due to New York road closures
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was unable to attend a presidential reception for Donald Trump on Tuesday night. Road closures in New York, held during the 80th UN General Assembly, prevented him from reaching the event. This marks the second time Peters has been unable to attend such a reception due to street blockades.
+48 outlets · One person dead and another injured in Lower Hutt vehicle fire
A person died and another sustained serious injuries following a vehicle fire in a Taitā Drive carpark early Thursday morning. Police were called to the Lower Hutt scene around 1.30am. Emergency services attended the incident, and police are currently making enquiries.
4 outlets · Auckland Council adopts new housing intensification replacement plan
Auckland Council has voted to proceed with a housing density plan that allows for 10-15 storey buildings near public transport hubs. Housing Minister Chris Bishop welcomed the decision. Public submissions on the proposal are expected to open in November.
3 outlets · Former Reserve Bank governor reacts to Anna Breman appointment
Former governor Don Brash expressed optimism regarding Anna Breman, the first woman to hold the role. However, a former economist described the appointment of the former Swedish central bank deputy governor as a risky call due to her lack of New Zealand exposure.
2 outlets · Traffic delays expected during Sir Tumu Te Heuheu tangihanga
Motorists travelling near Taupō and Tūrangi should expect delays on SH1 and SH41 over the next five days. These delays are due to the tangihanga of Ngāti Tūwharetoa paramount chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu. Public proceedings are scheduled to begin this Friday at Tapeka Marae in Waihī.
2 outlets · Sichuan Airlines to operate year-round flights from Chengdu to Auckland
Sichuan Airlines will begin nonstop flights between Chengdu and Auckland starting 7 December. The twice-weekly service is expected to bring an additional 22,000 visitors to New Zealand annually.
2 outlets · Auckland man seriously injured after crashing stolen car during police chase
A man is in serious condition after crashing a stolen vehicle in New Windsor on Thursday night. Police say the driver failed to stop on Boundary Road around 7.25pm and crashed a short distance away. The individual will face charges following the incident.
2 outlets · Whangārei couple facing 35 charges after girl fled caregivers
A young girl arrived at a friend's house cold and hungry, prompting a police investigation into her care. This has led to a child abuse trial involving 35 charges of violence and cruelty against a Whangārei couple who were Oranga Tamariki caregivers.
3 outlets · Police search for Ashburton man missing since August
Police are seeking public assistance to find 56-year-old Jason, who has been missing from the Ashburton area since 26 August. He is known to visit Christchurch and Nelson and may be wearing a red and black checkered hoodie with black jeans.
2 outlets · Tessa Heta sentenced to prison after nine-month crime spree
Tessa Heta has been jailed following a series of thefts across the Nelson-Tasman region. The crimes, which occurred between last October and July, involved stealing over $5,000 worth of groceries, clothing, and tools, alongside multiple instances of driving off from petrol stations without paying.
2 outlets · Electoral Commission says proposed enrolment changes won't speed up counting
The Electoral Commission has stated that the Government's Electoral Amendment Bill will not result in official election results being available any sooner. While the bill aims to improve the timeliness of the vote count by limiting enrolment periods, officials say these changes will not accelerate the final counting process.
2 outlets · Eels attacked with machetes and stones in Tasman creek
Eels in a Tasman creek have reportedly been attacked with stones and machetes. The Tasman District Council stated these incidents involving local youth have occurred for a couple of years. Officials are now considering installing cameras to address the issue.
2 outlets · Young drivers admit to social media use while driving
A survey of over 1,000 young New Zealand drivers conducted by the AA Research Foundation found that nearly one in four admitted to scrolling social media behind the wheel. Additionally, more than half of the participants reported texting and messaging while driving.
2 outlets · Increase in people sleeping rough in Auckland streets
An advocate reports a rise in the number of people sleeping rough in Auckland's CBD. The increase includes international students, prompting calls for a Duty to Assist law to address the growing homelessness.
2 outlets · Former rugby player faces deportation from Australia after drug conviction
Former Counties-Manukau player Tuaefe Palelei is expected to be deported to New Zealand following a drug dealing conviction. Palelei, who moved to Perth in 2010 to pursue a professional rugby career, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Australia.
3 outlets · Auckland butchery under investigation over meat storage concerns
Shefco Meats in Auckland is being investigated by the council following social media images showing lamb carcasses stored in a trolley and cardboard boxes. A food safety officer has ordered the butcher to dispose of the meat. The business maintains the images are misleading and do not reflect its hygiene standards.
2 outlets · Native trees cut down at Auckland housing complex
Native trees at a housing complex in Freemans Bay have been cut down. Local residents had been campaigning to save the patch of trees.
3 outlets · Scott Robertson questioned over Joe Schmidt comments ahead of Bledisloe Cup
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has addressed remarks made by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in Ian Foster's autobiography. The comments described Robertson's previous remarks as a pressure point. The two teams are set to meet this Saturday at Eden Park.
2 outlets · Police seek help to identify man found dead in Heathcote Valley
Police are working with international authorities to identify a man found dead on Horotane Valley Road on 19 September. The man, believed to be in his 30s or 40s, has a distinctive birthmark on his left forearm. Authorities do not believe the death was suspicious.
3 outlets · Police investigate Whangārei house fire suspected to be arson
Northland Police are seeking information regarding a house fire on Raumanga Valley Road in Whangārei on Wednesday morning. Five people were asleep inside when the fire broke out around 6.20am. Investigators believe a couch on the front deck was deliberately lit and noted new holes in a window.
2 outlets · Kāinga Ora eviction bid for Cambridge tenant dismissed by tribunal
The Tenancy Tribunal has dismissed Kāinga Ora's application to evict a Robinson Street resident in Cambridge. While the state housing agency claimed the tenant was the subject of 68 neighbour complaints, the tribunal found a lack of evidence regarding the records and details of these allegations.
2 outlets · Government reopens oil and gas exploration across New Zealand
New applications for oil and gas exploration permits are now open nationwide following the lifting of a 2018 ban. The government has introduced a faster approval process for firms, a move welcomed by industry leaders but criticised by the Green Party.
3 outlets · Printing error leaves 27 candidate profiles missing from Hastings voting booklets
A printing error in Hastings has resulted in the omission of 27 candidate profiles from local election voting booklets. The booklets skipped from page 12 to 29, causing some wards to be excluded. A former Hawke's Bay mayor has called for the booklets to be reprinted.
3 outlets · Kaikōura councillor Lisa Bond to step down after nine years
Kaikōura district councillor Lisa Bond is retiring from her position at the upcoming local government elections. After serving three terms, Bond admitted she was unfamiliar with council operations when first elected, including not realising she would receive payment for her role.
3 outlets · Better weather expected before school holidays end
Parents may see improved weather conditions before the current school holidays conclude. However, Christchurch has experienced a sudden temperature drop and rain showers, with meteorologists warning of potential hail and lightning.
2 outlets · Kitchen Things customers face extra costs after company enters receivership
Auckland kitchenware retailer Kitchen Things and its subsidiaries have entered voluntary administration and receivership. Some customers have been told they must pay thousands of dollars more to receive appliances they previously ordered. The company reportedly owes creditors more than $16.6 million.
2 outlets · Health Minister Simeon Brown says paracetamol is safe
Health Minister Simeon Brown has stated that paracetamol is safe to use and does not cause autism. This follows claims made by United States President Donald Trump linking the medication to the condition.
2 outlets · IPCA finds officer justified in driving car into armed man
The Independent Police Conduct Authority ruled that a Motueka officer acted lawfully when he used his patrol car to stop a man during an armed incident last March. While the officer's actions were deemed proportionate due to the perceived presence of a firearm, the watchdog noted he could have communicated his movements more clearly via radio.
2 outlets · Three people arrested following trail bike searches in Ōpōtiki
Police arrested three people, including two youths, during searches of four properties in Ōpōtiki on Thursday. The operation targeted traffic offending and anti-social trail bike use. During the searches, officers located and impounded a trail bike.
2 outlets · Treasury suggests raising GST to 32 percent and pension age to 72
The Treasury's latest long-term fiscal statement outlines potential solutions to manage financial pressures from an ageing population. Proposed measures include increasing the GST to 32 percent and raising the pension age to 72.
2 outlets · Burglar steals five cheesecakes from Papatoetoe dessert shop
A man smashed the front door of The Cheesecake Shop in Papatoetoe on Tuesday night. Security footage captured the offender taking five 12-inch cheesecakes, though no cash was stolen. The store alarm was triggered around 11.30pm.
2 outlets · Don Paterson calls for innovation in Rotorua mayoral race
Mayoral candidate Don Paterson has urged Rotorua to think outside the box to drive development and revenue. He is one of five candidates competing for the city's top position ahead of the October 11 election.
2 outlets · Ryan Fox targets greater success following two PGA Tour wins
New Zealand's top-ranked male golfer believes his two PGA Tour victories in 2025 will help him pursue larger titles in 2026. Fox won the Myrtle Beach Classic and the Canadian Open through playoffs earlier this year.
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