Eagle helicopter deployed to Christchurch for two-month youth crime operation
Canterbury police have launched a two-month operation to address a surge in youth-related crime, including violent robberies and ram raids. The Eagle helicopter will be used occasionally during this period to assist the youth targeting team. The crackdown follows recent incidents, such as the stabbing of a dairy owner in Opawa.
+26 outlets · Second teenager arrested after Christchurch dairy robbery and stabbing
A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged following an aggravated robbery and stabbing at a Christchurch dairy on Tuesday. The youth handed himself in to police on Wednesday evening. He faces Youth Court charges including aggravated robbery and wounding.
+15 outlets · One person dead after fuel truck hits Lower Hutt building
A person has died after a fuel truck crashed into a building on Rutherford Street in Lower Hutt around 5.30am on Thursday. The single-vehicle accident caused the closure of the road between Melling Link and Connolly Street. While Melling Bridge was briefly closed, police say it has since reopened.
+26 outlets · Ikea opens its first New Zealand store in Auckland
The Swedish retailer opened its 34,000sq m Sylvia Park store in Mt Wellington today. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended the opening, which saw crowds of shoppers. Despite warnings of significant traffic delays, motorists experienced free-flowing traffic in the area.
+15 outlets · North Canterbury man charged over 500 graffiti tags
A 23-year-old North Canterbury man has been arrested for allegedly spray-painting more than 500 tags across Kaikōura, Canterbury and Dunedin. Police say he posted videos of the offending online. He is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on Friday facing charges of wilful damage and entering agricultural land with intent.
+15 outlets · Government proposes reforms to the Retirement Villages Act
The Government has announced proposed changes to retirement village rules to improve transparency and resident rights. Following a review involving 11,000 submissions, the reforms aim to provide certainty for families and reduce the time residents must wait to receive their money back.
+15 outlets · China Eastern Airlines launches new Shanghai to Buenos Aires service
A new twice-weekly China Eastern Airlines route connecting Shanghai and Buenos Aires via Auckland has commenced. The service, which involves a stop in Auckland, is described as a 20,000km journey. Tourism Minister Louise Upston says the route will improve air connectivity and support trade and tourism.
4 outlets · Police renew appeal for missing Waikato man Louis Van Der Walt
Police are continuing to search for 44-year-old Louis Van Der Walt, who has been missing since 13 November. He was last seen after parting company with family members during a walk on the Te Aroha side of Mt Te Aroha.
4 outlets · Woolworths NZ pleads guilty over Dunedin supermarket rat infestation
Woolworths NZ has pleaded guilty in Dunedin District Court for failing to properly manage a rat infestation at its Dunedin South supermarket. The infestation, which occurred in late 2023 and early 2024, resulted in the store being closed for nearly three weeks.
+15 outlets · Man sentenced to preventative detention for two sexual attacks in Auckland
Johnathan Tamihana has been sentenced to preventative detention with a five-year non-parole period at the Auckland High Court. The 33-year-old admitted to attacking two women in separate incidents at the Ōtara Creek Reserve nearly a year apart.
4 outlets · Kmart cancels recall for three magic sand products
Kmart New Zealand has withdrawn the recall for blue, green and pink Magic Sand products after independent testing found no asbestos. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is advising customers who followed the initial recall to seek remedial costs from the retailer.
3 outlets · Black Caps hold 481-run lead over West Indies in first test
New Zealand has established a significant lead against the West Indies at Hagley Oval. Centuries from Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra helped the Black Caps reach 417-4, while the West Indies sit at 167. Jacob Duffy has taken five wickets as New Zealand maintains control of the match.
3 outlets · Google reveals top search trends for New Zealand in 2025
Google has released its most common search topics for New Zealanders this year. The assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk was the top-trending search, while heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker was the most searched New Zealander. Other popular searches included celebrities such as Lorde and Liam Lawson.
3 outlets · Man found guilty of murdering Gurjit Singh in Dunedin
A 35-year-old man known as Rajinder has been found guilty of murdering 27-year-old Gurjit Singh. The killing occurred at Singh's Liberton home in January 2024, where the victim was stabbed multiple times. The verdict was delivered at the High Court in Dunedin following a jury deliberation.
4 outlets · Hamilton armed robber claims he was doing laundry during robbery
Hone Daniels, who was on electronically monitored bail, was involved in an armed robbery at The Riv Sports Bar in Hamilton. While Daniels claimed he was at a nearby laundromat during the incident, his ankle bracelet placed him at the scene.
4 outlets · Tom & Luke Snackaballs recalled due to possible hard plastic
New Zealand Food Safety has recalled three flavours of Tom & Luke Low Carb Snacka Balls because they may contain hard plastic. Affected batches include Cookies and Cream, Raspberry, and Hazelnut varieties. The products are sold in New Zealand supermarkets and have also been exported to Australia.
3 outlets · Kiwi father killed in Brisbane construction site wall collapse
Kimura Dixon, 45, died on Tuesday morning after a retaining wall collapsed while he was digging a trench in Brisbane's West End. His 19-year-old stepson was trapped during the incident but was pulled from the site. The man's family is now making arrangements to bring him back to New Zealand.
3 outlets · NZTA halts $6m police funding over breath test issues
The New Zealand Transport Agency has suspended $6 million in funding to police until breath test targets are met. This follows reports that approximately 130 staff members are under investigation after 30,000 alcohol breath tests were allegedly recorded incorrectly.
3 outlets · Christchurch and Hamilton house prices rise despite sluggish national trend
Christchurch median house prices rose 2.6% to $705,000 in the year to November. Hamilton also saw the largest quarterly rise among main centres, increasing by 1.7%. These increases occurred while the wider national property market remained largely flat.
3 outlets · Scotty Stevenson apologises after remark about Christ’s College students
TVNZ commentator Scotty Stevenson has issued an unequivocal apology after calling Christ’s College boys “syrup suckers” during live cricket commentary in Christchurch. The school made a formal complaint regarding the remark, which was described as a sexualised slur. Stevenson remains on air following the incident.
2 outlets · North Island heat and South Island weather rollercoaster forecast
MetService predicts high temperatures exceeding 30C for parts of the North Island this weekend. While the North Island expects settled weather, the South Island faces a weather rollercoaster, including a heat alert for Oamaru driven by northwesterly winds.
2 outlets · Secondary teachers vote to accept government collective agreement settlement
Secondary teachers have voted to accept a collective agreement settlement with the government, ending negotiations involving the Post Primary Teachers' Association. The deal provides a 4.6 per cent pay increase over two years and raises allowances for management roles and NCEA assessment oversight.
+37 outlets · Volunteers call for restoration of Ōhope Beach West End walkway
Approximately 100 people attended a Whakatāne District Council meeting to support reopening the West End walkway. One access point to Otarawairere Bay has remained closed for four years following slips. Volunteers claim health and safety concerns are preventing the restoration of the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi section.
3 outlets · Haeata Community Campus principal denies fault in mouldy lunch incident
The principal of Haeata Community Campus says CCTV footage proves the school was not responsible for serving mouldy lunches to students. New Zealand Food Safety investigators suggest human error was more than likely the cause. The school has recalled all contaminated meals after some students had already eaten them.
2 outlets · Three seriously injured in Bay of Plenty two-car crash
Three people sustained serious injuries following a two-vehicle collision on State Highway 35 in the Bay of Plenty. Emergency services were called to the scene between Omaio and Pariokara around 5.50pm on Thursday. The highway remains closed in both directions, and motorists have been advised to expect delays.
2 outlets · Government rejects all Climate Change Commission emissions target recommendations
The government has declined all recommendations from the Climate Change Commission to strengthen New Zealand's emissions targets, including a tougher 2050 net-negative goal. Critics and scientists have described the decision as having long-term costs for households, despite warnings from the Commission regarding the increasing effects of climate change.
2 outlets · Paid firefighters continue strike action despite pressure from FENZ
Paid firefighters are refusing to withdraw strike notices despite requests from Fire and Emergency New Zealand. The Employment Relations Authority is now referring the union and FENZ to facilitated bargaining to resolve the dispute.
2 outlets · Air New Zealand reaches in principle deal with some unions
Air New Zealand has reached agreements in principle with unions representing regional and widebody jet cabin crew, preventing planned strike action for those sectors. However, short-haul cabin crew have issued a new strike notice for 18 December if an agreement is not reached.
2 outlets · Schools and childcare centres responsible for asbestos sand clean-up costs
The Ministry of Education has stated that school boards and early childhood services are legally responsible for funding the removal of asbestos-contaminated sand. This follows reports of a kindergarten operator estimating clean-up costs of $350,000. The issue arose after several brands of coloured play sand were recalled.
2 outlets · Uncertainty remains for proposed North Canterbury housing development
The future of a proposed 850-home subdivision in North Canterbury remains unknown more than two years after its initial rejection. Rolleston Industrial Developments Limited has withdrawn its Environment Court appeal against the Waimakariri District Council's 2023 decision to deny the private plan change.
3 outlets · Woman charged with aggravated robbery in Newmarket
An 18-year-old woman allegedly robbed a Newmarket shop at knifepoint on Osborne Street. Police say she attempted to use a taxi as a getaway vehicle before being tracked via CCTV and arrested. She is due to appear in the Auckland District Court.
2 outlets · Government deficit higher than forecast as tax revenue falls
Treasury figures show a $4.9 billion deficit for the four months ended October, which is approximately $700 million higher than May's Budget forecast. This shortfall occurred because tax revenue decreased more significantly than government expenses. The deficit reached $5.2 billion when including ACC costs.
2 outlets · Police investigate attempted abduction in Takanini
Police are reviewing CCTV footage in South Auckland following reports of a girl being targeted by a white van. Officers have located the vehicle and spoken to the driver as investigations into the suspicious activity continue.
2 outlets · Ministry advised Education Minister to consult Māori on Treaty clause changes
The Ministry of Education advised Erica Stanford to consult with Māori before changing requirements for school boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This advice preceded the decision to remove the clause from the Education and Training Act. The minister has stated that Treaty obligations are the responsibility of the Crown.
2 outlets · Auckland house prices remain significantly below peak levels
Auckland property values are currently 22.9 per cent below their peak, according to Cotality data. While national median house prices rose by 0.1 per cent in November to $806,551, Auckland and Wellington remain the regions furthest from their previous highs.
3 outlets · Magnitude 4.8 earthquake strikes northeast of Pongaroa
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred at 11:47am on Thursday, centred 10 kilometres northeast of Pongaroa. The shallow quake, located at a depth of 7 kilometres, was felt by more than 400 people.
2 outlets · Andrew Coster resigns as head of Social Investment Agency
Former police commissioner Andrew Coster has resigned from his role leading the Social Investment Agency. Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche stated that Coster resigned before being dismissed, noting that the former commissioner was aware that sacking was a likely outcome following an IPCA report.
2 outlets · Law firm boss suspended for watching pornography at work
A law firm boss has been suspended after being found to have watched pornography in his office multiple times a day. The conduct created an unsafe workplace for staff, and he has been ordered to pay $5,000 each to two employees.
2 outlets · Government to change stillbirth registration process for grieving parents
The minister for mental health is investigating changes to how stillbirths are officially registered. The government intends to implement more compassionate procedures for parents, as the current system requires the use of standard birth registration forms.
2 outlets · Many drivers fail retests following VTNZ bribery allegations
Hundreds of drivers at the VTNZ Highbrook branch were required to resit practical tests following allegations of bribery involving staff. Five testing officers were dismissed, and more than 40% of those compelled to retake their tests have failed. The Serious Fraud Office is now handling the investigation after police shelved their criminal probe.
2 outlets · State Highway 27 closed in Waharoa for police operation
State Highway 27 has been closed near Seddon Street in Waharoa due to an ongoing police operation. Motorists are advised to avoid the area as the closure is expected to cause significant delays.
2 outlets · Butter prices unlikely to decrease as quickly as they rose
While global butter prices are currently falling, supermarket costs are not expected to drop as rapidly or significantly as they previously increased. This trend follows a period where butter pricing became a major concern for consumers.
2 outlets · Teacher found guilty of serious misconduct after Christmas party incident
The New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has found a teacher guilty of serious misconduct. During an after-work Christmas party in a classroom, she asked colleagues if they wanted to "do a line" of a white powder. The teacher described the incident as "stupid drunken horseplay."
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