User Articles

Close call on Mt Taranaki as lost family rescued

An under-prepared family is lucky to be alive after becoming lost in freezing conditions on Mt Taranaki, prompting a preparation reminder from police to those heading out this long weekend. Police received a call about 6.30pm reporting that a man and two children were overdue returning from the Pouakai Range, according to SAR Incident Controller, Detective Gerhard Jacoabs. Police Search and Rescue were called in for the search, along with LandSAR and Department of Conservations volunteers.

RNZ

Taiwan

China sends warning after MPs visit Taiwan

China’s embassy in New Zealand has expressed its “strong dissatisfaction” over a visit to Taiwan by a cross-parliamentary group of MPs. A lengthy statement posted by the embassy accused the MPs of “wrongdoings” and that they “insisted on colluding with ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces” during their trip. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan was established in 2023 and is jointly led by National’s Stuart Smith and Labour’s Tangi Utikere.

RNZ

Animals

Wellington Zoo welcomes new capybara

One might forgive Fernando the capybara if he looked a little uncertain about his new arrangement. Late last year, Dia, the female capybara he’s moving in with, left her former companion fatally injured in a fight when a reintroduction – after veterinary treatment – didn’t go to plan. But according to Wellington Zoo’s mammals team leader Rob Harland said Fernando was a cool customer.

RNZ

Defence

NZDF ‘plugged in’ to lessons on drone warfare

The NZ Defence Force (NZDF) says it is learning “immediate lessons” about the use of drones from the technology’s deployment in Ukraine. Tauranga company SYOS Aerospace has just announced a $67 million drone deal with Britain, and has advised governments not to buy drones not tested on the battlefield against Russia. But former defence minister Ron Mark recently questioned if the NZDF was heeding the lessons other countries were learning.

RNZ

Luxon promotes NZ’s rocket, tech talents to UK businesses

The Prime Minister is selling New Zealand as a “safe haven” for UK investors in an “uncertain and volatile world”, but says there’s no intention of trying to bypass the United States’ tariffs. Speaking at a business networking event in London, Christopher Luxon said New Zealand offered abundant natural resources, credible social and democratic institutions, and good people. “In a very uncertain and volatile world, (there is) no better place for a safe haven investment than New Zealand,“ he said.

RNZ

Construction

Wharf restoration dwarfs allotted budget

An independent report has found a full refurbishment fixing Petone Wharf would cost more than the funding envelope Hutt City Council has allocated to save it. The 116-year-old wharf has been shut since 2021 after an investigation found that parts of...

RNZ

Politics

23 Apr 2025

Hipkins lashes Peters over RNZ funding threat

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says it is time for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to step in after comments by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters about RNZ’s funding. Meanwhile, ACT Party leader David Seymour has sought to downplay Peters’ remarks, pointing out the NZ First leader alone does not have the power to defund RNZ - that lies with Cabinet. In a fiery interview on RNZ’s Morning Report show on Wednesday, Peters accused the broadcaster of running the line of his opponents: “You’re paid for by the taxpayer and sooner or later we’re going to cut that water off too, because you’re an abuse on the taxpayer.”

RNZ

23 Apr 2025

Fire

Skipper escapes boat fire off Coromandel

A man has escaped a large fire without injury after abandoning his boat and getting rescued by fishermen off the coast of the Coromandel. Waikato Regional Council maritime officers were trying to secure the 13-metre aluminium boat which caught fire near Centre Island in Mercury Bay. Black plumes of smoke from the fire were visible from Cooks Beach. Waikato Council said the skipper discovered flames and deployed a life raft before being picked up by nearby recreational fishers who saw the smoke about 2.30pm.

RNZ

Aviation

Air New Zealand comes under fire over costly fares

Tauranga man Scott Koster says it’s “tone deaf” for Air New Zealand to be showing off its new uniforms at the same time that many travellers are facing particularly high airfares. He has been trying to fly his daughter back to university in...

RNZ

Fire

Engine fire on Auckland ferry

An engine fire has broken out on a Fullers ferry on its way to Waiheke Island this evening. Fire and Emergency received a 111 call to a fire on a ferry on Motuihe Island in Auckland at 5:28pm. Two fire trucks from Howick and Parnell have been sent to the scene alongside a specialist marine response vehicle.

RNZ

Weather

More storm warnings as cyclone lingers off coast

Thunderstorm watches have been issued for Auckland, Northland, and Waikato, while there are two severe weather warnings in place for Tasman and Taranaki Maunga. According to MetService, Cyclone Tam lies west of New Zealand and is expected to slowly move east across the upper South Island during Sunday and Monday, while gradually weakening. Associated troughs will move eastwards across the country through into Monday, bringing heavy rain to parts of New Zealand, with a warning issued to Mount Taranaki and Tasman – northwest of Motueka – between 10am Saturday and 6am Monday.

RNZ

Energy

Power restorations could be prolonged after Tam

Power company Vector is warning some customers in the Auckland region may have to wait until Monday to have power supplies restored. Electricity was knocked out to hundreds of properties during ex-Cyclone Tam, followed by intense thunderstorms which hit the city overnight.

RNZ

Weather

Storm alerts too little, too late

Aucklanders say severe weather alerts were too little too late, during a wild thunder and lightning storm that lashed Auckland and caused flooding on Easter Friday night, drawing comparisons with the devastating Auckland Anniversary weekend floods of 2023.

RNZ

Accident

Man missing after falling into river

Emergency services are searching for a man who fell into a fast-moving Waikato river this morning. Police say a rescue operation is underway to find the missing man, who was seen falling into the river near Wairere Falls just before midday. The person who saw the man fall tried to help but could not reach him in time.

RNZ

Weather

Cyclone moves on, but more wild weather on the way

While ex-Cyclone Tam has moved into the Tasman Sea, rocky weather is still plaguing Easter weekend, with visitors at a holiday park told they may be evacuated. MetService’s weather radar detected severe thunderstorms across the Auckland region this afternoon, with the storms accompanied by torrential rain, moving towards the southeast.. Auckland Emergency Management general manager Adam Maggs says it has been a “particularly intense few days weather-wise for our region and that’s expected to continue throughout the afternoon, which will no doubt disrupt people’s Easter holiday plans”.

RNZ

Diplomacy

Luxon in London for security talks

Christopher Luxon is set to fly to Britain, where he will meet King Charles and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The prime minister said he will discuss “trade, security and the geopolitical backdrop in Europe and the Indo-Pacific” with Starmer...

RNZ