Source: New Zealand Police
Motorists are being advised to expect delays following a serious crash in Mount Eden.
Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash on Dominion Road at about 10.18am.
Early indications suggest one person is in a critical condition.
Dominion Road, between Milton Road and Elizabeth Street, has been closed and diversions are in place.
The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Government
New research from the Education Review Office (ERO) shows the Government’s decision to ban cell phones in schools is working and is delivering better student outcomes.
“Our Government is relentlessly focused on raising student achievement and closing the equity gap at school. That’s why in our first 100 days, we removed cell phones from classrooms so our young people could focus more on their learning. This report confirms our bold move hasn’t just done that, it’s also improved student behaviour and reduced bullying,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
In secondary schools, ERO found:
“These results are clear evidence that removing the distraction of cell phone use has a positive impact on student achievement and wellbeing. Not only do they have greater focus in the classroom, but students are also developing stronger connections and building more effective learning habits. Parents can be confident when their children are at school, we’re giving them the best chance to reach their full potential.
“Despite these results, there is more work to do. The report found about a third of Year 12 and 13 students don’t follow the rules, the most common reason is to message parents during the day. Parents have an important part to play in helping their children understand the benefits of staying off cell phones during school.
ERO made several recommendations including increasing visibility of the benefits of removing digital distractions and what good practice in school compliance looks like. Advice and guidelines for schools will be updated to align with the findings. ERO also suggests expanding the policy to include banning smartwatches at school.
“We know access to technology is changing rapidly, the first step was banning cell phones. We are thinking carefully about future policy considerations and will seek further advice on this. Regardless, individual schools can make their own choices about what’s appropriate for their community,” Ms Stanford says
“We remain committed raising achievement and delivering better outcomes for our young people. This report is yet more evidence our reforms are achieving that.”
Source: PHARMAC
Pharmac is asking for feedback on a proposal to fund another brand of methylphenidate to increase supply and provide more treatment options for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
If approved, the Rubifen LA (long-acting) brand of methylphenidate will be funded from 1 July 2026. This is a generic equivalent of the already funded Ritalin LA brand of methylphenidate and would be available in the same strengths, as well as a new 60 mg strength.
“We know how hard it has been for people and their families who haven’t been able to get the ADHD medicines they rely on,” says Pharmac’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr David Hughes. “This proposal builds on our earlier decisions to fund methylphenidate Sandoz XR and lisdexamfetamine and is part of our ongoing response to supply issues.”
Global supply issues have affected all brands and strengths of methylphenidate in New Zealand since September 2023 and are expected to continue into 2026. These disruptions are due to a number of factors, including global demand, manufacturing constraints, and restrictions on medicine imports and exports.
In October, Pharmac announced its decision to fund the Sandoz XR brand of methylphenidate. In December 2024, it began funding lisdexamfetamine to improve supply and provide more options for ADHD treatment.
“Adding the Rubifen LA brand of methylphenidate alongside the Sandoz XR brand of methylphenidate would increase overall supply and further reduce the risk of shortages,” says Dr Hughes. “It would also mean that people, and their healthcare providers, would have more options to choose from.”
Pharmac is inviting feedback on the proposal to ensure it works well for the people who need it.
“We’re talking with clinicians, advocacy groups, and others to understand the practical impacts of this proposal. Your feedback will help us make sure this change is fair, workable, and improves access to ADHD medicines across New Zealand,” says Dr Hughes.
Consultation is open until 5 pm, Thursday 4 December 2025. Feedback can be sent to consult@pharmac.govt.nz or submitted via the online form linked in the consultation.
Source: Radio New Zealand
AFP
A New Zealand dental surgeon says a 40-year study shows water fluoridation does not hinder brain development in children and those who drank it did slightly better in tests.
Researchers in the US surveyed tens-of-thousands of people on maths and language skills from teenagerhood until the age of 60.
While earlier studies looked at exposure to very high levels of fluoride, far beyond recommended standards, a paper in Science Advances, looked at more representative fluoridation levels.
Researchers looked at language and maths test results of high schoolers in 1980, and the fluoride levels they were exposed to since being born. They found after accounting for other factors, children exposed to at least 0.7mg/L of water fluoride had better results.
A follow up with participants until about the age of 60 showed that although the cognitive edge became insignificant, growing up with recommended water fluoride levels didn’t contribute to cognitive decline.
“The discussion has been that fluoridation of domestic water supply has been associated with cognitive impairment in young people,” dentist Dr Justin Wall said.
“The good thing with this new study is it’s a much larger group of people, and they are followed right through until age 60.”
Dr Wall said the study clearly shows fluoridation was safe for people of all ages.
He said fluoridation was particularly vital in protecting the oral care of New Zealand’s ageing population.
Dr Wall believed although the research was done in the US it could be applied internationally and was not restricted to America.
“It is something that is well and truly applicable to New Zealand, and this research should go all the way to reassure the public of New Zealand and the municipal authorities who are being charged with implementing the fluoridation of the water supply that this is a safe and effective means of protecting the health of all New Zealanders.
New Zealand’s health system was under pressure, Dr Wall said, and any measure to reduce the pressure on it needed to be supported.
“Without a doubt that is the case with fluoridation.”
Professor of dental epidemiology at the University of Otago, Jonathan Broadbent, said the US study result was reassuring, but there had been limited recent New Zealand research on community water fluoridation.
“With new programmes being launched in New Zealand ongoing research is greatly needed.”
Broadbent said the programmes were focused on areas with higher proportions of deprived New Zealanders and so should have good benefits for oral health, which tended to be worse in areas with greater deprivation.
But he said it was essential the outcomes of the new programmes were monitored carefully.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Health Minister Simeon Brown. RNZ / Mark Papalii
The government is halting new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria, saying “a precautionary approach” is needed while evidence remains uncertain.
In a statement published on Wednesday afternoon, Health Minister Simeon Brown said Cabinet had agreed to the new settings until the outcome of a major clinical trial in the United Kingdom, expected in 2031.
The drugs – known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues – would remain available for people already using them for gender dysphoria, as well as for medical conditions such as early-onset puberty, endometriosis, and prostate cancer.
Brown said the new rules – taking effect on 19 December – would give families confidence that any treatment was “clinically sound and in the best interests of the young person”.
“These changes are about ensuring treatments are safe and carefully managed, while maintaining access to care for those who need it.”
Existing youth gender services would stay in place, with information brought together into one national online hub, Brown said.
In a post on social media website X, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his party was the only one to campaign on stopping the use of puberty blockers in children.
“It is commonsense to put a pause on these unproven and potentially damaging drugs for children until we assess the results of the clinical trials in the UK once it’s completed.”
The ACT party’s children’s spokesperson Karen Chhour also issued a statement, declaring a victory for science, evidence, and the safety of children.
“I believe young people should be supported to love themselves, not change themselves with experimental medication.”
Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March told RNZ the government was “buying into imported culture wars” and targeting trans people on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance.
“We know from queer people that gender affirming healthcare can be life-saving,” he said. “The government should focus on addressing the core issues that our health system faces… rather than waging culture wars on trans people.”
The coalition’s move mirrors a major shift in the UK following the Cass Review – a four-year investigation commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS).
That review, spearheaded by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, concluded that the evidence base for gender-affirming medicine was “remarkably weak”, with study results misrepresented by people on all sides of the debate.
Cass also recommended a formal clinical trial to properly test whether puberty blockers, which delay the onset of puberty by suppressing oestrogen and testosterone, were safe and effective for young people. That trial was due to run until 2031.
In response, the NHS stopped routine access to puberty blockers for new patients. Other countries, including Sweden, Finland and Norway, had already tightened access and guidelines.
The Cass Review split opinion among clinicians and academics worldwide. While some endorsed the call of higher evidence standards, others criticised the report’s methodology and warned it downplayed the risk of denying treatment to young people.
At the time, the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) criticised the review as irrelevant to New Zealand and said it ignored the global medical consensus.
“The final Cass Review did not include trans or non-binary experts or clinicians experienced in providing gender affirming care in its decision-making, conclusions, or findings,” PATHA president Jennifer Shields said.
“Instead, a number of people involved in the review and the advisory group previously advocated for bans on gender affirming care in the United States, and have promoted non-affirming ‘gender exploratory therapy’, which is considered a conversion practice.”
Youth health specialist Dame Sue Bagshaw also said she believed puberty blockers were safe and reversible and warned against any “moral panic”.
However, public health expert and Otago University emeritus professor Charlotte Paul said the Cass Review’s findings should give New Zealand clinicians “pause for thought”, saying some had abandoned “normal standards of informed consent for children”.
New Zealand’s Health Ministry last year also released a report finding “a lack of high-quality evidence” on the benefits or risks of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
Police have arrested a man in relation to a fatal crash in Sheffield, Canterbury.
The two-vehicle crash happened on State Highway 73, at the intersection with Deans Road, around 2:50pm on Wednesday.
Following enquiries, a 32-year-old Swiss national has been charged with careless driving causing death.
He is due to appear in Christchurch District Court today.
Police’s thoughts remain with the family of the deceased at this difficult time.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: Radio New Zealand
My Food Bag said debt reduction was an ongoing priority/ (File photo)
Meal-kit company My Food Bag posted a flat half-year profit as it paid down debt, while revenue increased as it picked up more customers.
Key numbers for the half year ended 30th September compared with a year ago:
My Food Bag chair Tony Carter said debt reduction remained an ongoing priority.
“We have successfully lowered net debt over the past 12 months from $9.7m to $5.5m at the end of September 2025,” he said.
The company delivered a slight increase in revenue at $85.4 million, but gross margins fell by 1.4 percent as the company adjusted prices more slowly than the rise in food price inflation, which it said was 4.1 percent for the year ending September 2025.
Carter said the company focused on product quality and customer satisfaction while managing cost pressures carefully.
“While the gross margin reduced year-on-year, it remained relatively stable compared to the second half of FY25,” he said.
Chief executive Mark Winter said the company continued to diversify the offerings of its core meal kits via its My Food Bag and Bargain Box brands, and would expand into new categories.
“Beyond meal kits, we are leveraging the strength of the My Food Bag brand to expand into new categories and occasions, with our ready-made meal range and care package and gift solutions through the My Food Bag Shop attracting incremental active customers,” he said.
Winter expected market conditions to remain challenging throughout the second half of the 2026 financial year, and expected full-year profit to be broadly in line with its 2025 result of $6.3m.
“We are continuing to focus on product quality, customer experience, and operational efficiency, and we are well positioned to continue to grow and deliver to thousands of Kiwi households each week,” Winter said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Grace Nweke takes a shot against England. Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
The Silver Ferns have capped off a turbulent 2025 by taking a 2-1 series win over the England Roses in Manchester, in what’s likely to be their last hit-out before the Commonwealth Games in July.
Thursday’s 55-49 win over England comes after it was revealed a stomach bug had gone through the team.
The test was the Silver Ferns 12th in the space of two months; a marathon international window, which began with the shock suspension of coach Dame Noeline Taurua.
Just days after Netball New Zealand announced the veteran coach was being stood down due to issues in the environment, the Silver Ferns kicked off their season by beating South Africa 3-0.
Before Thursday’s decider, the 12 Tests played between New Zealand and England since the start of 2023 was split six wins each.
One Test a piece and just a three goal margin, it took the final quarter of the third Test for either side to put their foot on the throttle and it was the Silver Ferns.
What’s even more impressive is that the Silver Ferns did it without making any changes throughout the game. Interim Silver Ferns’ coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said a stomach bug had gone through the team after Test two.
The Silver Ferns made two changes to their 12 for Test three, with Carys Stythe and Peta Toeava in for Kimiora Poi and Parris Mason. McCausland-Durie reverted to the Maddy Gordon at centre, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan at wing attack starting combination.
The first act of the game was an England pick-up off the Silver Ferns’ centre pass, which set the hosts off on a strong start. New Zealand were able to get a couple of balls back by applying pressure and forcing mistakes from the England attacking end.
Silver Fern Kate Heffernan. PHOTOSPORT
Kate Heffernan, playing her 50th Test for the New Zealand, continued her top form by pouncing on any passes that weren’t pinpoint.
England led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter, after forcing New Zealand into more mistakes.
The Silver Ferns scored the first four goals in the second period to take the lead. Shooter Grace Nweke, who scored at 100 percent in test two, missed a few goals under the post but was a rock again for the Ferns.
With five minutes left in the first half, England coach Jess Thirlby shifted Lois Pearson to wing attack, which saw Helen Housby go into goal shoot.
The Silver Ferns coughed up a chance to end the quarter three goals up, when they lost the ball in the attacking end but nonetheless led by two at half-time.
It looked like the third quarter was going to go the way of England, as it had in the first two Tests when goal defence Funmi Fadoju came up with a big turnover and England took the lead.
The Silver Ferns struggled to get the ball down court with any flow and found themselves two goals down.
But a Kelly Jackson intercept up high and a Heffernan win on circle edge helped keep them in the quarter before the Silver Ferns composed themselves on attack.
New Zealand won the quarter 15-13 to take a 42-38 lead heading into the final term.
Sasha Glasgow, who hasn’t been seen in the Roses dress for some time, came on at goal shoot for the final quarter, pushing Housby back out to GA, but it didn’t have the desired effect.
Two defensive wins from England saw the Roses come within two, but New Zealand grabbed the momentum again to win the final quarter by two goals.
Dame Noeline was reinstated as head coach in the middle of the Constellation Cup series, but McCausland-Durie was retained for the entire 2025 international season to “minimise disruption” to the Ferns camp.
On Monday, McCausland-Durie will go back to her day job at the school she helps manage in Auckland.
It’s been a gruelling but crucial international window for the Silver Ferns as they prepare for next year’s pinnacle event in Glasgow.
The Silver Ferns will be pleased with their performances over these last two months. They rebounded from back to back 17-goal losses to the Diamonds on Australian soil last month, by winning the next two tests in Aotearoa, only to lose the Constellation Cup by one goal in series decider time.
The Silver Ferns then predictably beat the Scottish Thistles twice in Glasgow, before meeting England for the three-Test series.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Government
More than 150 new social houses are expected to be delivered by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) in Hawke’s Bay says Housing Minister Chris Bishop.
“Our Government backs social housing and we are determined to deliver it better,” Mr Bishop says.
“We are building an entirely new housing investment system centred on the key principles of building the right homes, in the right place, with the right support, for the people most in need.
“Across New Zealand, CHPs and Kāinga Ora have delivered over 6,800 net new social homes since November 2023, with 356 of those being in Hawke’s Bay.
“On top of that, the Government has committed funding for more than 2,000 additional homes to be delivered by CHPs over the next two years. Hawke’s Bay is one of the regions benefiting from this pipeline.”
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated social homes based on regional need, which has been assessed using a range of factors including the housing register and emergency housing use.
“In Hawke’s Bay the CHP projects are expected to deliver:
At least 150 social homes to be delivered by providers including Emerge Aotearoa, Habitat for Humanity, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and Ka Uruora
Homes will be delivered in locations including Marewa, Parkvale, Taradale, Napier South and Hastings.
Most of the places are being allocated to CHPs through the Government’s community led approach with the Hawke’s Bay Matariki Housing Leadership Group.
At this stage, all places being delivered in Hawke’s Bay are one or two-bedroom which will help address the greatest gap in social housing supply in Hawke’s Bay as 77 percent of the Housing Register demand is for one and two bedroom places in this region.
“I met with the Hawke’s Bay Matariki Housing Leadership Group earlier this year and it was great to be in a room full of people committed to providing the housing people need in Hawke’s Bay.
“Half of those waiting for a home nationally need a one-bedroom property, yet only 12 percent of Kāinga Ora’s stock meets that need. These new homes will make a real difference,” Mr Bishop says.
“Every set of keys handed over is another person or family in a warm, dry social home. We’re focused not just on delivering more homes, but on delivering the right homes that match the needs of people and communities.
“The Government’s wider reset of the social housing system is already showing results. Recently the Community Housing Funding Agency achieved an A+ credit rating from S&P Global, and recently we announced the introduction of a new loan guarantee scheme, reducing borrowing costs for CHPs and enabling them to deliver more homes.
“We’re simplifying the funding system so providers can get on with building homes, instead of navigating a confusing web of overlapping funds. These Hawke’s Bay projects are a good example of the progress being made.”
Six of the homes have already been delivered, with Whatever It Takes Trust delivering these places in Napier South. Over 130 more homes have been approved with delivery expected from mid 2026 by CHPs such as Emerge Aotearoa, Habitat for Humanity, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and Ka Uruora, each working with construction partners of their choice.
Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are in attendance at a bus crash in Glen Innes this morning.
The crash, involving two buses and a vehicle on Apirana Avenue, was reported to Police just after 9am.
One person has been transported to hospital in a moderate condition.
Apirana Avenue is closed between Taniwha Street and Delwyn Lane while the scene is cleared.
Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to expect delays.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police