Author: Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Emergency officials have apologised after the New Zealand Civil Defence website went down at the exact moment thousands of South Islanders were seeking information on a tsunami warning triggered by Thursday night’s earthquake. The magnitude 5.9 quake, centred near Te Anau at 9.14pm, rattled homes from Queenstown to Invercargill and sent a sharp jolt through the lower South Island. Within minutes, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued a tsunami warning for the stretch of coastline between Milford Sound and Puysegur Point, advising people in low‑lying areas to move to higher ground. On Facebook, Civil Defence directed the…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New Zealand’s assisted‑dying system is facing its most intense scrutiny since the End of Life Choice Act came into force, with new figures showing 486 Kiwis were euthanised or died by assisted suicide in the past year — and political pressure mounting to expand access even further. The Ministry of Health’s latest Registrar Assisted Dying Annual Report reveals that assisted deaths now account for 1.29% of all deaths in New Zealand, a sharp rise that has alarmed palliative care providers and pro‑life advocates. Applications have surged 44% over three years, climbing from 807 in 2022/23 to 1,164 in…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com The Ministry of Health has released the Terms of Reference for a major independent inquiry into the care and rehabilitation of vulnerable care recipients at Ward 10A, the forensic intellectual disability unit at Wakari Hospital in Dunedin. The inquiry, commissioned under section 101 of the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003, follows serious concerns raised about the treatment and wellbeing of people in compulsory care at the unit. Director-General of Health Audrey Sonerson ordered the inquiry after warnings from the Chief Ombudsman, district inspectors and other oversight bodies. Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw says…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com The Salvation Army has launched its 2026 Winter Appeal, urging New Zealanders to stand together as child homelessness reaches its highest recorded levels. New research shows more than 33,000 children are living in severe housing deprivation — in cars, garages, overcrowded rooms, and spaces never meant to be homes. In total, more than 112,000 people across Aotearoa now face severe housing insecurity. For Captain Andrew Wilson of Wellington South Corps, the crisis is no longer hidden. “Too many families and children are facing the heartbreak of homelessness,” he says. “People are being pushed to the brink; choosing between…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com In a move that strengthens the digital safety net for millions of New Zealanders, Trade Me has officially signed on to the New Zealand Online Scams Code (NZOSC) — a decision that doesn’t just tick a compliance box, but meaningfully boosts protection for everyday buyers, sellers, families and small businesses across New Zealand. The Code, launched in March 2026 by Tech New Zealand, already includes founding signatories Google, Meta and TikTok. Trade Me’s arrival adds something crucial: the country’s largest online marketplace stepping into a united front against scammers who prey on trust, speed and convenience. And that’s…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New Zealand will struggle to fix its overcrowded hospitals unless it strengthens primary care, says one of the country’s most influential GPs, Dr Bryan Betty. As he steps down as Chair of General Practice New Zealand and prepares to join the Health New Zealand Board, Dr Betty warns the country is at a “pivotal moment” in how it plans and delivers healthcare . After 35 years as a GP — including two decades serving Cannons Creek, one of the nation’s most deprived communities — Dr Betty says the system still treats hospitals and general practice as separate worlds.…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Fuel relief shortfall is now the defining issue of the government’s temporary support scheme, with new Inland Revenue data showing far fewer families are receiving the weekly payment than originally promised . The numbers raise fresh questions about how the package was communicated, how it is functioning, and whether struggling households are actually getting the help they were told to expect. The fuel relief payment was announced in March as petrol prices surged past $3 a litre, driven by instability in the Middle East. Ministers said 157,000 working families would benefit for up to a year, or until…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Two former hostages who were abducted together into the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, were married on Sunday in a ceremony attended by captivity survivors and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “We prayed for your return, we were moved to tears when you came back home, and this evening we were privileged to rejoice together with you and to bless you under the chuppah [wedding canopy] on your joyous day,” tweeted Herzog, congratulating Sapir Cohen and Alexander (“Sasha”) Troufanov. “May you merit building together a home filled with love, light, and joy!” the president added. The couple was kidnapped by…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Police arrested men who aimed an imitation weapon toward the house of worship from an SUV on Shabbat. Two men have been charged after allegedly pointing an imitation firearm at a synagogue in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The incident occurred around midday Saturday when the men, ages 22 and 25, allegedly aimed the fake weapon at the building while driving along Kiaora Road in Double Bay. Police intercepted their Toyota SUV shortly after, recovered the imitation pistol, and made the arrests. 🔴 Two men arrested in Sydney, after they allegedly pointed guns (which turned out to be imitations weapons)…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com If you’re heading over the passes after the All Blacks test, taking the kids away for the school holidays, or simply trying to get to work on Monday, here’s the question you need to ask yourself: what happens if the biggest snowfall of the winter hits while you’re on the road? Because that’s exactly what forecasters say is lining up for Canterbury and the alpine highways early next week — a sharp flip from the calm, frosty days we’ve just enjoyed. New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says snow is expected to arrive from Sunday, with Monday…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New Zealand’s national choir for teenagers, the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir (NZSSC), turns 40 this year — and its alumni list reads like a who’s who of global vocal success. Over four decades, the choir has launched the careers of some of the country’s most celebrated singers, including Grammy‑winning tenor Simon O’Neill (ONZM), internationally acclaimed bass‑baritone Professor Jonathan Lemalu (ONZM), and global opera star Pene Pati, who will receive a French knighthood in 2026. Former King’s Singer Christopher Bruerton, sopranos Anna Leese Guidi and Madeline Pierard, baritone Benson Wilson, and renowned composer Igelese Ete also trace their…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New Health & Safety Bill Promises Clarity — And Relief — For Small Retailers Retailers across New Zealand will soon have a clearer, more practical health and safety framework, following the passing of the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill — a change sector leaders say will finally bring consistency to an area long marked by confusion. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says the update is overdue. “Retailers take the health and safety of their staff and customers seriously. But some employers have found the current Act difficult to understand, and as a result, there’s been…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com ACC’s biggest shake‑up to motorcycle levies in more than a decade has arrived — and for riders across New Zealand, the headline is simple: skill now pays. From 1 July 2026, motorcyclists who complete an approved Ride Forever Gold course can earn a 25% discount on their ACC motorcycle levy. It’s part of the new ACC Rider Reward, a national initiative designed to link proven safety training with real‑world savings. A new levy system — and a new incentive ACC is refining how motorcycle risk groups are set, shifting from two engine‑size bands to three. At the same…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Hokitika is preparing to light up the winter season with a month-long programme of events, experiences and family-friendly activities as Destination Hokitika launches Midwinter Magic throughout July. The centrepiece of this year’s celebrations will be Puanga Matariki – Light Up Hokitika, transforming the heart of town into a vibrant winter spectacle on Saturday 11 July. From 6pm to 9pm, Weld Street will be closed to traffic and illuminated with colourful light installations, creating a magical winter atmosphere. The evening will feature cultural performances at the Regent Theatre, live entertainment on the street, and a celebration of Puanga and Matariki…

A cross‑faith act of unity has injected fresh momentum into the long‑stalled Christ Church Cathedral rebuild. Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Christchurch has received a rare and welcome reminder that unity is still possible in a fractured age. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has stepped forward with a $250,000 contribution toward the long‑delayed restoration of Christ Church Cathedral — a gesture offered, they say, “in a spirit of goodwill and unity.” The cathedral, still wounded from the February 2011 earthquakes, has stood for years as both a symbol of loss and a question mark over the city’s future. Funding…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Health NZ has confirmed a number of Covid‑19 cases among patients at Porirua’s Kenepuru Hospital. Robert Blaikie, interim deputy group director of operations for Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, said winter was again driving higher demand across the region’s hospitals, particularly from respiratory illnesses. He said Kenepuru currently had several Covid‑19 positive inpatients, but staff were well‑practised in managing the virus with support from the Infection Prevention Service. “While Covid‑19 remains present in the community, it is now managed as part of our usual winter illness response, alongside other respiratory conditions and common viral infections,” Blaikie said. He…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Forest & Bird has sounded the alarm over what it calls a “hidden” clause in the Government’s Conservation Amendment Bill that could quietly dismantle long-standing protections for the Coromandel Peninsula — opening the door to mining in one of New Zealand’s most treasured landscapes. The environmental group says the Bill would allow conservation land in the Coromandel to be sold, exchanged, or disposed of. Once that happens, the land would no longer qualify as Crown property and would lose its protection under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, which currently prohibits mining on conservation land. “This is either a…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New changes are halving the amount of time councils can take to issue Project Information Memorandums (PIMs), allowing building work to get underway more quickly, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk and Local Government Minister Simon Watts say. “Fixing the basics and building for the future for New Zealand means taking a close look at every part of the building system to identify delays, remove bottlenecks, and improve productivity,” Mr Penk says. “Project Information Memorandums, or PIMs, are an important part of the building process. They give homeowners and builders greater certainty about site-specific requirements, like natural hazards…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Katikati is getting ready to celebrate a major new addition to its skatepark, with a community art reveal event planned to unveil a bold, youth-led street artwork at Katikati Skatepark. The reveal is planned for 28 June and will mark the completion of a mural created with local rangatahi alongside artist Kalib Wallace. Bringing together young people, families and the wider community to celebrate a space shaped by the voices of those who use it most. Peri St John-Ives, Arts Coordinator and Gallery Manager for Katikati Open Air Art, says the project is about more than just the…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com In a country often written off as one of Europe’s most secular, something remarkable happened over Pentecost weekend: 63,000 believers gathered in one place to worship Jesus. No political rally, no music festival — just a massive, unapologetic celebration of Christian faith in the heart of the Netherlands. For a nation where church decline is treated as a foregone conclusion, the 54th annual Opwekking Pentecost Conference delivered a reality check. Tens of thousands packed the grounds at Walibi Holland, and hundreds of thousands more joined online, turning the event into one of Europe’s largest Christian gatherings. And the…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New data out last week shows tourism is continuing its positive trajectory, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. Stats NZ data out today shows 288,500 international visitors came to New Zealand in April 2026 – up 8 per cent on the same period last year, and 94 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. It also reported a record number of visitors from the United States (25,800, up 14 per cent on the same time last year), Australia (138,000, up 4 per cent) and India (8,000, up 17 per cent). Visitor numbers from China also reached 32,500, up 52…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Two Bay of Plenty students have been selected to represent New Zealand at the World Schools’ Debating Championships in Kenya this July — marking the region’s most successful year in its debating history. Tauranga Boys’ College student Oliver Larsen and Tauranga Girls’ College student Pearl Vahey Bourne were both named to the Aotearoa New Zealand Schools’ Debating Team following standout performances at the national championships in Wellington. The Cooney Lees Morgan Bay of Plenty Schools’ Debating Team — Larsen, Vahey Bourne, and Pāpāmoa College’s Layla Clarke — won six of their seven preliminary debates, topping all regions before…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com The Government has confirmed the regions that will host clinical training for the University of Waikato’s new medical school from 2028, marking what ministers describe as a major step toward rebuilding New Zealand’s regional health workforce. Health Minister Simeon Brown says the decision represents “a significant milestone in building a stronger, more regionally connected health workforce,” with the new training model designed to place students directly into the communities facing the greatest shortages. “We know that where doctors train often influences where they practise,” Brown says. “By embedding students in regional and rural communities, we’re creating a pathway…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New Zealand’s illicit tobacco market has surged to its highest level on record, with a major new report warning the country is “rapidly losing control” of the problem. Research by FTI Consulting, commissioned by Imperial Brands NZ, BAT New Zealand and Philip Morris NZ, estimates that one in three cigarettes consumed in 2025 will be illicit. The report found 33.5% of all tobacco consumed this year is illicit, up sharply from 27.2% in 2024 and 23.6% in 2023. While most illegal product entering the country remains contraband cigarettes—primarily Chinese‑market variants—researchers also identified a steep rise in illicit loose‑leaf…

Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com General practitioners say a Government plan to freeze doctors’ fees for 12 months is a political reaction to rising healthcare costs — and one that risks accelerating the shift toward a two‑tier health system. The proposal, floated in recent weeks as part of a new clinic funding formula, comes after months of public concern about the cost of seeing a GP. In some regions, standard appointments have climbed close to $100, driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising clinic overheads. With an election approaching, the Government has signalled it wants to stop further increases by imposing a temporary…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New Zealand’s fast‑tracked overhaul of GMO regulation is drawing sharp warnings from campaigners who say the Government risks repeating the same legal and regulatory failures recently exposed in the United Kingdom’s High Court. The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Amendment Bill would loosen the evaluation of genetically modified organisms and hazardous substances. Critics say the drafting is vague, the process rushed, and the direction unclear — mirroring the UK’s Precision Breeding Act, which the High Court found had been advanced on “unlawful” advice. GE‑Free NZ president Clare Bleakley says the similarities are alarming. “The HSNO Amendment…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Residential construction costs have continued to climb across New Zealand, despite a sharp fall in diesel prices that briefly eased pressure on some parts of the sector. QV CostBuilder’s latest quarterly update — covering more than 11,400 material price movements across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin — shows diesel prices fell 18.9% between late April and the end of May. The drop provided relief for fuel‑intensive work, but not enough to halt overall cost inflation. The average residential building cost per square metre rose 1.6% in the three months to the end of May…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com New Zealand will see its first new marine reserves in more than a decade come into force on 1 July, with five protected areas along the Otago coast now officially confirmed. The network, named Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia by Kāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation, covers 307 square kilometres of coastal waters — a major milestone for a region that had previously been the only part of the country without any marine protected areas. WWF-New Zealand is calling the decision a “long‑overdue step forward.” Conservation Impact Manager Jamie Fowler says the new protections will…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com A new survey from KiwiSaver provider Generate shows most New Zealanders are keeping a close eye on their retirement savings — but many still feel unsure about how to manage them. According to the research, 54% of Kiwis check their KiwiSaver balance at least once a month, with 26% looking most weeks and another 30% checking monthly. A further 26% look only a few times a year, while 17% rarely check at all. Generate investment specialist Greg Smith says the rise of app‑based investing has made people more engaged with their savings, but warns that too much…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com A long‑running Pink Floyd tribute act has been forced to cancel its Napier performance at the last minute after receiving a cease‑and‑desist order from the licence holders of the legendary British rock band. The Pink Floyd Experience, a New Zealand tribute group that has toured for nearly 30 years, was due to perform its latest show The Wall+ at the Napier Municipal Theatre on Wednesday night. But organisers announced late on Tuesday that the concert could no longer proceed, saying they were “absolutely devastated” and blindsided by the legal notice. “Due to unforeseen licensing issues completely outside…

By Colin Ambler and Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Labour and the Green Party have delivered a blistering joint wave of criticism at Budget 2026, accusing the Government of failing its final chance to ease pressure on households and instead deepening hardship for those already struggling. Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said the Budget “fails the basic test of making life better”, arguing that New Zealanders are facing rising costs, shrinking services and worsening job losses under Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Forty thousand more people are unemployed since Luxon took office,” Edmonds said, adding that cuts to the…

By Mike Bain, Colin Ambler, Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered her final Budget of the term — a document that pours billions into classrooms, hospitals and major transport links, while quietly tightening the screws on banks and high‑value charitable deductions. It is a Budget built to project discipline, signal momentum, and draw sharp political battle lines heading into election season. Willis arrived at the lock‑up with a grin, telling reporters she was “a little early — like the surplus”. Against earlier forecasts, the Government now expects to return to a $2.6 billion surplus by 2028‑29, using her…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Jewish witnesses testifying before an inquiry into antisemitism have faced a surge of online harassment and intimidation, the commission’s chair said on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Virginia Bell, a former High Court judge leading the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, said multiple witnesses reported a sharp increase in hateful messages after giving evidence at public hearings that began ib May 4. “We have received reports from a number of witnesses concerning a dramatic increase in online hate messages after they have given evidence,” Bell said, condemning what she described as “undiluted” hatred targeting the Jewish community.…

By Sarah Mc Millan/cvnznews.com Marlborough District councillors have unanimously agreed to loan $110 million to Port Marlborough to finance the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project, clearing the way for long‑delayed upgrades to Picton’s ferry precinct. The decision follows a public consultation process that drew 73 submissions, with Mayor Nadine Taylor saying the message from the community was clear: the project is essential for Picton and Marlborough and needs to proceed without further delay. Under the proposal, Port Marlborough will repay the loan in full, including interest, and continue returning dividends to the council. Those dividends will be used to benefit ratepayers…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com The suspect allegedly stole equipment of murdered Peter Meagher and pawned it a few days after the attack. A 35-year-old man in Australia has been charged with stealing camera equipment from one of the deceased victims of the Bondi Beach shooting attack in December, police stated on Thursday. Following investigations into the attack, “detectives identified that one of the victims—a 61-year-old retired police officer and photographer—had his camera equipment stolen in the aftermath of the attack,” the New South Wales Police Force said in a statement. Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire on Dec.…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Being sexually abused is devastating enough. Now hundreds of survivors face a second injury: the loss of the counselling that helps them survive and rebuild. The Ministry of Social Development will end contracts with more than a dozen specialist sexual‑violence services in June, cutting about $1.7 million and redirecting the money into a prevention programme — a move providers say abandons people already harmed. Survivors and frontline agencies warn the change will force clinics to turn people away and leave no clear place to refer them. Alice*, a migrant who says she was abused overseas, told reporters…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting an Ebola Treatment Center and personal protective equipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak. Disaster response specialists—including an outbreak specialist; infection, prevention and control specialist; and medical personnel—have recently deployed and more team members are on the way. The team’s initial focus will be to help establish effective infection, prevention, and control protocols for local mission hospitals and communities in the DRC as well as to coordinate with the Ministry of Health to establish an Ebola Treatment Center to be operated by Samaritan’s Purse.…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Six emergency rescue teams consisting of 345 personnel have since been sent to the scene, the Xinhua state news agency reported on Saturday. Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged emergency responders to double down on rescue efforts after a gas explosion in a coal mine in northern China on Friday killed more than 80 people. The explosion occurred underground at around 7:30 pm at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, China’s Xinhua state news agency reported. The death toll rose rapidly on Saturday, with at least 82 people now reported to have died following the explosion,…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Days after an explicit pornographic video appeared on his X account, Hillsong founder Brian Houston has told supporters he does not watch pornography and believes someone with access to one of his devices deliberately posted the material. In a video message, Houston said he wanted to “speak personally” about the incident, calling the post “vile” and insisting, “I do not watch pornography — not online, not on social media, nowhere else.” He said more than five decades in ministry had shown him the damage pornography causes to individuals, marriages, and families, adding, “I detest it.” Houston said…

by Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, has reportedly instructed its members to get rid of their pets, leaving followers across Australia and New Zealand distressed as they face choosing between their church and their animals. An investigation by The Age found that members have already begun surrendering pets following the directive. One New Zealand member posted online about being heartbroken at losing her kitten, with several church members telling The Age she was required to euthanise it to comply with the order. The instruction reportedly followed a dog attack last month involving…