Professor Michael Baker says the new NB.1.8.1 is becoming dominant in a number of countries and would “almost certainly” do the same in New Zealand. Photo: Supplied to RNZ A sudden surge in Covid-19 detections – along with the emergence of a new, and what’s thought to be more infectious, subvariant – should be a … Read more
Strong wind warnings and watches are in place in parts of the South Island and lower west North Island. Photo: MetService Firefighters have attended multiple weather callouts overnight as strong winds batter the lower South Island, including for fallen trees and roofs lifting off houses. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) said it had received … Read more
Three people were injured in the crash, two critically. Photo: Supplied / St John Ambulance Three people were taken to hospital, two in a critical condition, after a crash in Port Waikato on Friday evening. St John said three ambulances were called to a single-vehicle crash on the Tuakau Bridge-Port Waikato Road about 6pm. A … Read more
The council said the line into the water treatment plant was still full of air, preventing crews from safely refilling the lines. Photo: Luigi Bertello / 123rf Some residents in Dargaville are still without water and others are being asked to use as little as possible. The Kaipara District Council repaired multiple line breaks on … Read more
As winter approaches, so do the germs, and Dr Amanda Kvalsvig wants schools to clean classroom air for children. Photo: Luke Pilkinton-Ching The quality of air inside school classrooms is so poor that winter bugs quickly spread from children to their families and communities, contributing to cases of Covid-19, asthma and other illnesses at hospital … Read more
Police recover 365 pieces of pounamu, West Coast. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police Police have recovered 365 pieces of stolen pounamu after intercepting a vehicle on the Jackson River in South Westland on Wednesday, following a tipoff from the public. The alert was raised by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, representing the local hapū Ngāi Māhaki, … Read more
Strong winds have been making it difficult for lines crews responding to power outages in the lower South Island. Photo: Supplied/ MetService Extended power blackouts are affecting thousands of people in parts of the lower South Island, after strong winds, and for some, the outages will continue for the next two days into Monday. On … Read more
In his first act as deputy prime minister, David Seymour has defended cabinet minister Chris Bishop’s behaviour at Thursday night’s Aotearoa Music Awards. Bishop earlier told RNZ he should have kept his comments to himself, after declaring “what a load of crap” during singer Stan Walker’s performance, which prominently featured Toitū Te Tiriti banners. Musician … Read more
The Rotorua Museum – Most survey respondents were from tourism, accommodation, or hospitality and food service. Photo: LDR / Laura Smith The latest Rotorua business sentiment survey shows local companies are not immune to global instability. Geopolitical volatility was the highest-ranked concern for business leaders, with 43 percent very or extremely concerned about its effect … Read more
Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown Two people have died in separate road crashes on Saturday in Northland and the Waikato. In Northland, emergency services were called to a serious two-vehicle crash on SH1 near Waiomio, south of Kawakawa, shortly after midnight. One person died at the scene. Police said the serious crash unit had examined … Read more