Category: australasia
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MetService Forecasts Heavy Rain and Gales for Eastern New Zealand
MetService has issued a Severe Weather Outlook indicating a significant low-pressure system is expected to affect eastern parts of the North Island and the upper South Island starting Sunday, February 15, 2026. The low, located east of the North Island,…
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Media Monitor: RNZ reports on Winter Olympics, school seismic risks, and sewage issues
RNZ is reporting that New Zealand athletes Lyon Farrell, Rocco Jamieson, and Dane Menzie have qualified for the Winter Olympics Big Air final. The report also states that the government is examining seismic risks at schools, with two tranches of…
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Auckland Motorway Maintenance Scheduled for Early February
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is set to conduct essential maintenance on Auckland's State Highway 20 (SH20) network from Monday, February 9, to Thursday, February 12. The work, focused on road surface and general maintenance, will primarily occur overnight to…
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State Highway 16 Maintenance Scheduled for February
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is set to conduct essential maintenance on State Highway 16 (SH16) in Auckland next month. The work will focus on the section between Woodhill Park Road and McPike Road on Wednesday, February 11, and Thursday,…
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Wellington's Community-Crafted Taula Anchor Stone Unveiled
The taula anchor stone, a community-driven initiative, has been permanently installed, marking the culmination of a three-year development process. The concept for the stone originated as a conversation during the Wellington Pasifika Festival, requiring significant community involvement and hands-on effort…
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New Home Consents Rise 9% Nationally, Auckland Leads Growth
Aotearoa New Zealand experienced a 9.0 percent rise in new home consents in the year ending December 2025, reaching a total of 36,619. Auckland was the primary driver of this national increase, accounting for more than half of the growth.…
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MetService Issues Heavy Rain and Gale Warnings for Central New Zealand
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain and possible severe gales affecting parts of central New Zealand. A low-pressure system moving eastwards across the region today and early Wednesday is expected to bring heavy rain to the…
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Wellington City Council Returns Granville Flats Land to Tenths Trust
Wellington City Council has officially returned the Granville flats land in Berhampore to the Wellington Tenths Trust (Tenths) at a ceremony held today. This action signifies a formal handover of the land back to its original custodians. The event marks…
Politics and GovernmentAustralasiaState GovernmentsGeneral Politics
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Auckland Protest: Fanshawe Street Cordon Remains, Traffic Disruption Brief
A police cordon remains in place at the Fanshawe Street off-ramp and on-ramp in Auckland following a protest. Demonstrators, who had moved from Victoria Park, encountered a visible police presence at the cordon. The majority of this group has since…
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CubaDupa Festival Announces Full 2026 Line-up
Wellington's much-anticipated street festival, CubaDupa, has unveiled its full line-up for 2026. The event is set to transform the Cuba Precinct into a vibrant hub of music, performance, food, and colour over the weekend of March 28-29. The festival promises…
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Mount Maunganui Recovery Efforts Halted Due to Land Movement Concerns
Recovery efforts at Mount Maunganui have been temporarily suspended following the activation of land monitoring technology. The systems, designed to detect potential land movements and excess water, triggered an alert shortly after 10:30 am, leading to an immediate halt in…
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Wellington's Begonia House Temporarily Closes for Refurbishment
Wellington's beloved Begonia House is set to temporarily close its doors as its significant refurbishment project moves into its next phase. The closure, effective next month, will allow construction work to commence on the historic facility. This milestone marks a…
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Mount Maunganui Recovery Operation Resumes After Safety Evacuation
The recovery operation at Mount Maunganui has resumed this morning after being temporarily halted yesterday. The search area was evacuated at 11:50 am on [Yesterday's Date] when a contractor driver identified potential instability on the slip face. Following advice from…
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Bay of Plenty District Commander to Address Mount Maunganui Slip Recovery Efforts
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson is set to address media regarding ongoing recovery efforts following a slip in Mount Maunganui. The briefing will take place in Mount Maunganui at 4pm today. Media representatives wishing to attend are…
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Mount Maunganui Slip Recovery Halted Due to Safety Concerns
Recovery work at Mount Maunganui was halted this morning as a precautionary measure due to concerns about a potential slip. The pause took effect at 11:50 AM, according to Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson. Geotechnical experts are…
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Wellington City Council Renews E-Scooter and E-Bike Contracts
Wellington City Council has announced the providers for shared e-scooter and e-bike services in the city. Flamingo has been granted a renewed license, while Lime has secured a new license. These contracts will continue to offer shared micromobility options for…
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New Zealand Inflation Rises to 3.1% in December 2025
Aotearoa New Zealand’s annual inflation rate stood at 3.1 percent for the 12 months ending December 2025, according to data released by Stats NZ. This figure represents an increase from the 3.0 percent inflation recorded in the previous quarter, ending…
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Wellington Earns Top Climate Leadership Ranking for Fifth Consecutive Year
Wellington has been awarded an 'A' list ranking for its climate action leadership for the fifth year in a row. The city was recognized among global leaders for its efforts in 2025. This marks a continued commitment to environmental stewardship…
Politics and GovernmentEnvironmentClimate ChangeSocial IssuesAustralasia
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Search Continues for Missing Man Near Warkworth
Efforts are ongoing this afternoon to locate a man who was reported missing near Warkworth this morning. Resources from several emergency agencies have been deployed around the Mahurangi River, with Police Search and Rescue continuing shore-based searching. "Police Search and…
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Ed Sheeran's 'Loop Tour' Arrives in Wellington
International music sensation Ed Sheeran is bringing his highly anticipated 'Loop Tour' to Wellington this Wednesday, January 21st. The concert will take place at Sky Stadium, marking a significant event for the capital city. Fans can expect a memorable performance…
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Police Seize Vehicle of Interest in Onehunga Firearms Incident
Auckland City Police have seized a vehicle of interest as part of their ongoing investigation into a firearms incident that occurred in Onehunga on Friday morning. The vehicle, described as a dark-coloured Toyota van, was seen pulling up to an…
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New Home Consents Increase Driven by Multi-Unit Dwellings
New home consents in Aotearoa New Zealand increased by 7.0 percent in the year ended November 2025, with a total of 35,969 new homes consented. This rise was predominantly led by multi-unit homes, according to figures released by Stats NZ.…
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Wellington City Council Issues New Resource Consents
Wellington City Council has announced the issuance and receipt of several resource consents. The period covered for these applications and issuances is from December 15, 2025, to January 11, 2026. The council provides links to PDF documents detailing the issued…
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Body Recovered in Waikato River, Believed to be Missing Man
Police have recovered a body from the Waikato River, which is believed to be that of 25-year-old Teananga Tiotia. Mr. Tiotia was reported missing on Saturday, January 10. Police Search and Rescue, alongside the National Dive Squad, had been actively…
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Police Seek Information on Sydenham Arson
Christchurch Police are seeking public assistance to identify a man they believe may have information regarding an arson incident. The fire occurred at a commercial property on Pilgrim Place in Sydenham around 3:30 AM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Detective…
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MetService Lifts All Severe Weather Warnings for Central New Zealand
MetService has lifted all severe weather warnings and watches for central New Zealand as heavy rain and severe gales have eased. The Strong Wind Warning for the Tararua District, Wairarapa, and Wellington has been lifted as northwest winds have subsided.…
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MetService Issues Severe Weather Warnings for Central New Zealand
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain and severe gales affecting central New Zealand on Sunday night and into early Monday morning. The warnings are in effect for the ranges of the Grey and Buller districts due…
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Auckland Motorway Maintenance Scheduled for January
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is set to conduct essential maintenance work on State Highway 16 (SH16) in Auckland during January. The work will impact Beach Road (local road) on Sunday, January 11, Tuesday, January 13, Wednesday, January 14, and…
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Auckland Motorway Maintenance to Cause Southbound Closures
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is undertaking essential maintenance on State Highway 1 (SH1) in Auckland. The work will take place on Tuesday, January 13, and Wednesday, January 14, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The section of SH1 from…
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Boat Stolen and Recovered in Whangārei
Police are seeking information following the theft of a boat from a commercial yard in Whangārei on Tuesday, January 6. The 7.5-metre White Pointer, named Jasmine, was recovered thanks to the actions of a member of the public. The vessel…