Latest Regional Headlines
SAFE Condemns The Export Of Over 80 Greyhounds For Racing
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 4:43 pm | SAFE For Animals
"This matter requires the immediate attention of the Racing Minister, to ensure no more dogs are sent overseas and denied their legal right to freedom from racing," says SAFE Head of Campaigns Jessica Chambers. More >>
Changes Coming For Timaru's SH1/Evans St Widening To Four Lanes
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 4:33 pm | NZ Transport Agency
“After careful consideration of all the feedback received, we have decided to proceed with the removal of on-street parking to allow for the four-laning of this section of Evans Street,” says Ian Duncan, Acting Director Regional Relationships for NZTA. More >>
Appeal For Information Following Burglary, Te Awamutu
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 4:27 pm | New Zealand Police
A number of items were taken from inside the service station before the alleged offenders fled the scene in two vehicles stolen from Hamilton earlier in the evening. More >>
TAIC Releases Final Report On Fatal 2022 Kaikōura Fishing Vessel Capsize
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 4:04 pm | Transport Accident Investigation Commission
Ten passengers were on a bird-watching trip on board the i-Catcher, an 8-metre aluminium pontoon boat. It capsized suddenly after almost certainly striking a whale. More >>
Council Decides On Next Steps To Activate Garden Place
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 3:59 pm | Hamilton City Council
A bylaw assessment will be reported back to the 30 April 2025 Council meeting and the report on gaps in social support and Council’s role to the June Community and Natural Environment Committee. More >>
Hurunui Proposes 3.31% Rates Increase For 2025/26
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 3:55 pm | Hurunui District Council
Council will go out for consultation in May with an average growth adjusted increase in the overall rates for the 2025/26 year of 3.31%, down from 14.49% forecast for Year 2 in the Long Term Plan. More >>
Tandem Duo Sparks Suspicion, Leads To Arrests
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 3:53 pm | New Zealand Police
Auckland City West Area Commander, Inspector Alisse Robertson, says officers didn’t signal for the vehicles to stop and instead called in the Police Eagle helicopter for assistance from above. More >>
Precautionary Closure Of SH6 North Of Haast Overnight With Ongoing Heavy Rain
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 3:39 pm | NZ Transport Agency
The road will reopen at 8 am Friday, subject to an inspection to check for any slips or debris associated with the current rain near the area of the Epitaph Slip. More >>
Fourth Person To Appear In Court After Aggravated Robbery, Invercargill
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 3:10 pm | New Zealand Police
Invercargill Police works hard to identify and locate those responsible for committing offences in our community and we would like to thank the members of the public who provided information that assisted our investigation. More >>
Maritime NZ Response To TAIC i-Catcher Report
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 3:08 pm | Maritime New Zealand
Where the actions relate to how we work with New Zealand Police or other coordinating authorities in the search and rescue sector. Maritime NZ supports the recommendations. More >>
Hundreds Of Kāinga Ora Jobs Proposed To Go In Latest Govt Attack On Public Housing
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 2:58 pm | PSA
The latest restructuring of Kāinga Ora proposes deep cuts to the jobs of those working with other agencies to place people on waiting lists into houses, and in call centres where staff help tenants resolve issues. More >>
Police Statement On TAIC Report
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 2:42 pm | New Zealand Police
RCCNZ and Police continue to collaborate on opportunities to enhance operational SAR responses, and continue with regular practice SAR exercises. More >>
First Test Results Following Direct Discharge Of Treated Wastewater Well Within Consent Limits
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 2:34 pm | Queenstown Lakes District Council
For compliance purposes we test samples taken immediately downstream of the last treatment process within the plant, in this case the UV disinfection step, QLDC Infrastructure Operations Manager Simon Mason said. More >>
Work On McKenna Stopbank Wraps Up
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 2:01 pm | Resilient Westport
Construction work by Reefton-based Rosco Contractors Ltd has now wrapped up, although some additional site work may be required on this section in the future, pending final alignments and agreements with landowners of subsequent stages of the proposed ... More >>
Don’t Make Congestion Charging A Cash Cow
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 12:59 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Congestion charging is great in theory to ease traffic and improve productivity, only if it’s managed properly and not used as an excuse to double-dip and squeeze more money out of motorists. More >>
Dunstan Awarded Extra Regional Councillor By Local Government Commission
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 12:37 pm | Otago Regional Council
Growth in the Dunstan region (Queenstown Lakes and Dunstan districts) has brought both significant opportunities and challenges, highlighting the need for focused attention and additional representation. More >>
Follow The Stars For Matariki 2025
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 12:17 pm | Masterton District Council
Matariki rises in midwinter and for many Māori heralds the start of a new year. It is a time to celebrate new life, remember those who’ve passed and to plan for the future. And it’s a time to spend with whānau and friends – to enjoy kai ... More >>
The Largest Weather System So Far For 2025
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 11:47 am | MetService
The main rain band is expected to extend into the North Island from late Thursday into Friday, bringing large amounts of rain to northern and western regions. The heaviest rain is expected overnight in Northland. More >>
Aranaki Foundation Launches Fund After NPDC Agrees Support For Homeless Shelter Project
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 11:16 am | New Plymouth District Council
The decision at an extraordinary Council meeting on Tuesday week is in addition to a $380,000 commitment from the Toi Foundation for showering facilities and half of the forecast operating costs for the first year of the shelter’s operation. More >>
Film Economy Set To Put Ruapehu’s Iconic Landscapes Centre Stage
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 11:13 am | Ruapehu District Council
The district’s cinematic backdrops range from native forests and alpine terrain to remote rivers and small-town charm — a diverse canvas that appeals to a wide range of productions. More >>
New Community Board Opens Opportunity For Leadership In South Ward
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 11:09 am | Hurunui District Council
As part of its six-yearly Representation Review last year, Hurunui District Council consulted widely on the potential creation of a new South Ward Community Board, seeking feedback from residents on the best way to strengthen local democracy. More >>
Police Acknowledge IPCA Findings Into Auckland City Incident
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 10:20 am | New Zealand Police
“Officers can always learn from situations like this one, and we will continue to do so,” says Relieving Auckland City District Commander, Acting Superintendent Sunny Patel. More >>
Arrest And Use Of Force Against Two Men In Auckland Unjustified
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 10:17 am | Independent Police Conduct Authority
We concluded that Officers A and B were not justified in pushing Mr Z or Mr X and that the arrest of the two men was unlawful. We also determined that the force used against the two men during their arrests was also unlawful. More >>
Safety Improvements Coming For SH1 Mt Wellington SB On-Ramp
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 9:22 am | NZTA
Work is expected to start Sunday 27 April 2025 and will be carried out overnight, Sunday to Thursday, between 9pm and 5am, excluding public holidays. More >>
New Hotel Will Make Hamilton “One Hell Of A Host City”
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 9:09 am | Hamilton City Council
The proposal includes ten floors with 218 rooms of hotel accommodation. A feasibility study has shown Hamilton needs 497 additional hotel rooms by 2030. More >>
‘Hang Yourself’: Mayor Raises Security Concerns After Online Abusive Messages
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 8:32 am | Laura Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
It follows a meeting disruption from an upset member of the public. More >>
Strokes Of Inspiration? Mayors Mahé And James Hit The Water
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 8:27 am | Alisha Evans - Local Democracy Reporter
The pair encouraged people to have their say on each council’s plans to manage drinking, storm and wastewater in future. More >>
Canterbury Council Defends Rising Debt
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 8:21 am | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The Waimakariri District Council's financial advisor says the council's debt levels are low, compared to other councils. More >>
Rainwater Harvesting Rules Frustrate Oxford Resident
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 8:10 am | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
An Oxford resident is frustrated at planning rules which he says prevent him from harvesting rainwater as drinking water. More >>
One Plan To Rule Them All: Coast Council Says Juggernaut Can’t Be Stopped
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 7:58 am | Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter
Independent commissioners who heard public submissions on the region’s proposed new planning rules are now writing their recommendations, and large chunks of the plan could be operative by October. More >>
Third Contender For Whanganui Mayoralty: Josh Chandulal-Mackay Shares Vision For City
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 7:56 am | Moana Ellis
Chandulal-Mackay said his leadership would be characterised by energy and decisiveness, constructive debate and clearly defined policies and ideas. More >>
Disabled People Will Be ‘Further Isolated’ If Travel Subsidy Cut
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 7:51 am | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
No final decision was made at the meeting as the organisation will consult with the disability community before reporting back with options. More >>
‘Weird Wording’: Parent Says Nelson Speed Consultation Is Confusing
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 7:46 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
NZTA has opened consultation for the controversial change, but a local parent and low-speed advocate is concerned that the consultation is confusing and difficult to find. More >>
Developer: Tasman Fee Change Discourages Infill Housing
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 7:42 am | Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter
A proposed change to Tasman's development contributions could make it "almost completely unaffordable" to do infill, a local developer warns. More >>
Update Serious Crash SH 1 Karapiro - Waikato
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 7:16 am | New Zealand Police
The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene and police are investigating the cause of the crash. More >>
Govt Investment Sought For Eden Park Upgrade Plan - CEO
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 9:24 pm | RNZ
The chief executive of Eden Park, Nick Sautner, says he has approached the government to try to secure funds for the stadium's upgrade. More >>
New Home GST Sharing Could Help Bring Rates Down – LGNZ
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 9:02 pm | LGNZ
“Growth comes at a large cost for communities who have to pay for infrastructure up front, with all of the benefits of growth currently accruing to central government in the form of GST, new income tax and business taxes,” says LGNZ President Sam ... More >>
'Safety Is At Risk': Warning As Meth And Crime Crisis In Northland Worsens
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 8:46 pm | RNZ
A drugs and social crisis afflicting Northland is deepening, a Northland iwi leader warns. More >>
'Island In The Wilderness': Rural Residents Challenge Bay Of Plenty Boundary Changes
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 8:11 pm | Alisha Evans - Local Democracy Reporter
The Representation Commission is consulting on its electoral boundary review that will see changes to the Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua electorates for the 2026 general election. More >>
Peace Activists Released After Night In Custody: Police Used University CCTV To Monitor Student Event
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 7:15 pm | Peace Action Otautahi
“The police targeting of activists here is following on directly from their counterparts in the US and UK who are arresting and silencing activists who dare to speak about inconvenient topics like Palestine and climate change", commented Valerie Morse, ... More >>
Update In Investigation Into Deaths In Roseneath
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 6:59 pm | New Zealand Police
We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that can help our enquiries, and anyone with residential CCTV that captures traffic movements in the Roseneath area, particularly on Palliser Road and surrounding streets, to contact Police. More >>
Police Wheel In Stolen Property From City Burglaries
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 5:53 pm | New Zealand Police
Auckland Central Area Commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaff says an investigation has been underway into a series of burglaries at businesses and apartments in the city over the past month. More >>
Police Investigating Unexplained Death In Northland, Wellington
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 5:42 pm | New Zealand Police
Members of the Northland community can expect to see a continued Police presence in the area while enquiries into the circumstances of the death continue. More >>
One Person In Custody Following Silverdale Incident
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 5:40 pm | New Zealand Police
Nearby schools were put into lockdown as a precaution, which has since been lifted. Cordons have also been stood down. More >>
Heavy Rain Forecast For Westland And Buller Districts, Ahead Of Top Of The South On Thursday
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 5:14 pm | NZTA
Most significant impacts on the West Coast are expected through the Buller District, and over the SH73 alpine passes – Arthur’s to Porters, with smaller amounts of rainfall forecast south of Greymouth that might affect SH6 drivers,” says Maintenance ... More >>
Four Rescue Helicopters At The Scene Of Motor Vehicle Accident
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 3:57 pm | Philips Search and Rescue Trust
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter stabilised a patient on scene for approximately 40 minutes before airlifting the individual, who had sustained serious injuries, to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. More >>
Consultation Opens On Annual Plan Proposals
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 3:47 pm | Waikato Regional Council
Public transport rates will be changing from 1 July, with the council proposing five different rating categories across three geographical areas. What every household pays will be based on whether the household is in a township and if that township ... More >>
Hamilton’s Development Constraints Show Need For Water Reform
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 3:39 pm | Hamilton City Council
The report for the 8 April meeting highlights the challenges Council is facing to increase network capacity to meet growth, maintain compliance with water standards, and meet obligations to protect the Waikato River. More >>
Kiwirail Exposed For Trying To Secretly Flush $8 Million Taxpayers’ Dollars Into Cook Strait
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 3:15 pm | Taxpayers' Union
KiwiRail has a culture of demanding more and more taxpayers’ funds and this is just another example of KiwiRail flushing money into Cook Strait. Taxpayer money needs to stop flowing overseas and stay in the pockets of New Zealanders. More >>
Blessing Marks Momentous Milestone
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 3:13 pm | Tauranga City Council
By replacing most traditional concrete and steel elements with engineered timber, the building’s all-of-life carbon emissions are around 60% less than that of a typical commercial building. More >>
Roseneath Deaths Referred To Coroner
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 3:06 pm | New Zealand Police
Post-mortems were completed today, and Police will continue to have a presence in the area as we work to understand the reasoning behind this tragic incident. More >>
Young People’s Fund Grant Recipients Aim To Empower Porirua Youth
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 2:49 pm | Porirua City Council
The Cannons Creek Youth Charitable Trust will use the funding to provide their boxing programmes to local students aged 9-19 at no cost. Those involved in the charity say the programme will be "life changing" for participants. More >>
Two Separate Crashes Causing Delays In Napier - Eastern
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 2:14 pm | New Zealand Police
The first crash involved a vehicle and a pedestrian on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway, at the intersection with Prebensen Drive in Poraiti at 1:05pm. The second crash, involving a truck and a car was reported just after 1:30pm on Taradale Road. More >>
Freedom Camping Bylaw Proposed For Kāpiti Coast
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 1:56 pm | Kapiti Coast District Council
Freedom camping is growing in popularity among international and domestic visitors, and research shows freedom campers spend between $100 and $400 a day during their stays. More >>
Tauranga Libraries And Baycourt Adopts Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 1:26 pm | Tauranga City Council
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative is a globally recognised program designed to help individuals with non-visible disabilities such as autism, hearing or vision impairments, anxiety, or chronic pain. More >>
Brewery Burglary: Offenders Don’t Get To Sample Goods
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 1:18 pm | New Zealand Police
Waitematā North Area Community Manager, Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw, says a number of Police enquiries led them to a property in Avondale. More >>
Water Meter Charging Deferred To Ensure Fair And Accurate Billing
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 1:16 pm | Masterton District Council
Work will continue to install the remaining meters for individual services (roughly 100 meters of some 10,340) and confirm the approach for properties with shared water connections (where one meter covers more than one property). More >>
Plan Ahead For 24/7 Closure Of SH12 Matakohe
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 12:43 pm | NZ Transport Agency
From Monday 7 April to Thursday 17 April, SH12 will be closed 24/7 between Matakohe West Road and Old Racecourse Road. During this time, westbound traffic will be detoured from SH12 onto Old Racecourse Road, then Matakohe East/West Road, before rejoining ... More >>
Driest March In 15 Years For Auckland's Dam Catchments
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 12:28 pm | Watercare
Today, Auckland’s total storage in its water supply dams is 59.7 per cent, compared to the historical average of 74.8 per cent for this time of year. More >>
Serious Crash, Hastings Road, South Taranaki - Central
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 12:14 pm | New Zealand Police
Thirteen people are understood to have been injured in the crash, which happened on Hastings Road about 9.55am. More >>