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South Island weather: Heat alerts canned, orange heavy rain warnings issued

Source: Radio New Zealand

MetService screenshot

MetService has cancelled two heat alerts for two South Island towns.

The east of the South Island is preparing for a hot day with temperatures predicted to reach the high 20s in some areas.

MetService says heat alerts were originally in place for Timaru and Oamaru for Wednesday, but cloud is keeping the temperatures lower than predicted.

But a spokesperson hasn’t ruled out heat alerts being issued tomorrow and says people should keep an eye on the forecast.

Heat alerts are normally available from December through to February but conditions meant monitoring had started earlier this year, lead forecaster Chelsea Glue said.

“There are two things that can trigger a heat alert, the first is a one-off extreme high temperature for the maximum temperature for the day,” she said.

“The second is prolonged period of not quite so extreme, but still warm days and nights as well and it’s the second situation we might be finding ourselves in.”

Heavy rain, strong winds on the way

Meanwhile, MetService is also predicting heavy rain for parts of the country.

A warning is in place for Tasman west of Takaka until 2pm. As much as 50mm of rainfall is expected today with a second period of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms for tomorrow.

There’s also a heavy rain watch for Buller until noon, and the Westland ranges until 4pm.

An orange heavy rain warning has been issued for Westland for tomorrow. Up to 230mm could fall about the ranges, while up to 90mm might fall about the coast.

A similar orange warning applies to the Canterbury headwaters south of Arthurs Pass from 4am-1pm tomorrow with up to 230mm of rain about the main divide and up to 140mm within 20km further east.

There’s an orange strong wind warning for the Canterbury High Country and the Plains near the foothills from 6am to 5pm. Severe gale norwesters up to 120km/h are possible in exposed places.

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Maths teaching programme to be rolled out to 13,000 students nationwide

Source: Radio New Zealand

Education Minister Erica Stanford. RNZ / Mark Papalii

The government is extending a maths teaching programme after a pilot showed it improved struggling learners’ maths knowledge at twice the rate of peers who had regular teaching.

The maths acceleration programme developed by the Education Ministry ran with nearly 1400 Year 7 and 8 students in more than 100 schools earlier this year for 12 weeks.

A ministry report said nearly 600 students had small-group tutoring four times a week, 200 had online exercises, nearly 300 had a mix of online and personal tutoring, and a control group of nearly 300 had regular lessons using new maths resources.

The lessons were focused on four areas of maths – basic facts including multiplication and division, place value, rational number, and interpreting and solving problems involving number.

The students were then tested on those four areas using the e-asTTle test used by many schools.

Students in the control group improved their scores by 26 points, which was at the low-end of the 25-30 point average progress expected for Y7-8 students in a year.

But students in the tutoring group improved by 54 points.

“This shows progress in these key aspects of Maths of approximately 2 years growth across the 12-week intervention,” the report said.

Those in the hybrid group improved 40 points, and those in the online group improved 33 points.

“Analysis showed that demographic and socio-economic variables (such as gender, school EQI, and ethnicity), did not substantially influence the relative effectiveness of the interventions,” the report said.

“This finding suggests a good degree of equity in the outcomes, with students from a range of backgrounds achieving similar gains in maths achievement. In other words, the tutoring programmes appeared to provide equitable benefits across different ethnic and socio-economic groups, supporting the goal of reducing educational disparities.”

The report said the ministry’s data analysts had reviewed the trial design and analysis, and confirmed it was robust.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the programme was being rolled out nationwide, with around 13,000 students set to take part from the start of next year.

She said all schools that asked to be part of the programme had been accepted.

Stanford said the programme was proof of the government’s commitment to raising children’s achievement and of the efficacy of the new maths curriculum.

Massey University maths education professor Jodie Hunter said the results needed to be put into context.

She told RNZ children could not be said to have made a full year’s progress unless they had been tested against the entire maths curriculum.

“What we’re missing here is what about algebra, what about geometry, what about measurement, what about probability, what about statistics. So you can’t say that children have made one to two years progress if you’re only looking at one very small part of mathematics,” she said.

Hunter said teachers would not spend an entire year teaching one topic, so a year’s progress on a topic might be made in just a few weeks.

She said it was also not clear whether the students who were behind in their maths learning had caught up with their peers.

Hunter said the e-asTTle test was designed for use with the previous curriculum, so it was not clear if the students’ progress was measured against the new curriculum introduced this year.

She said high-performing school systems focused their spending on raising the maths teaching ability of all teachers who taught the subject, rather than on one-off interventions.

Hunter said the government had so far offered teachers two to four days of professional learning which was not sufficient to make changes in classrooms.

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Kiwis drinking the same amount of beer, but reaching for lower alcohol options

Source: Radio New Zealand

Beer magazine editor Michael Donaldson thought the shift was being driven by low-carb beers. Unsplash / Josh Olalde

Kiwis have been knocking back more lower-alcohol beers, but it’s less about the alcohol and more about their waistlines, one expert says.

New Stats NZ data for the year to September showed while Kiwis are drinking almost the same amount of beer overall, those drinking mid-strength drafts are on the increase.

For the year ending September 2025, overall beer volumes fell only marginally, from 281.6 million litres to 279.0 million litres.

But within that total, the most significant change was a major shift away from higher-strength beers and a rapid rise in moderate-strength and lower-ABV [alcohol-by-volume] options.

Beer magazine editor Michael Donaldson told Morning Report he thought the shift was being driven by low-carb beers, which is now the biggest category within beer.

“A lot of those beers sit around 4.2 percent and I think you can’t separate out the two of them that there’s a choice being made for low carb and it just happens to fall in that lower ABV band.

“On top of that, you’re also getting a shift in consumer spend in terms of people thinking about their dollars, higher alcohol beers cost more.

“Certainly lower alcohol beers generally cost less because the excise tax is a little bit lower and there is a third factor in there, which is the rise and rise of Guinness.

“That’s been a massive growth everywhere in the world over the last few years and Guinness is another beer that sits at 4.2 percent,” he said.

Key findings (YE September 2025):

  • Beer between 2.5% and 4.35% ABV increased sharply to 105.0 million litres, up from 76.4 million litres the previous year.
  • Higher-strength beer (4.35%-5.0% ABV) fell to 143.0 million litres, down from 165.3 million litres.
  • Beer above 5% ABV dropped significantly, from 34.4 million litres to 25.5 million litres.
  • Total beer volumes have flattened, falling only 0.9% year-on-year.

Brewers Association of New Zealand Executive Director Dylan Firth said the shift reflects growing consumer interest in moderation, without giving up flavour or enjoyment.

“This fresh Stats NZ data shows that Kiwis are still enjoying nearly the same amount of beer as last year, they’re simply choosing versions with less alcohol.

“The big story this year isn’t about volume; it’s about strength. More New Zealanders are moving back to mid-strength beers and lower-ABV options. That’s a strong indicator of more moderate drinking habits, and beer is perfectly placed to offer great flavour at those levels,”

Firth said brewers have invested heavily in expanding quality options at the lower and mid ABV range, and the trend suggested consumers are responding.

“Beer is unique in offering moderation and taste together. The growth of 2.5-4.3 percent beers shows New Zealanders are choosing products that balance enjoyment with responsibility.

“We have also seen this shift to moderation in the growth of the 0 percent category, with a huge range of options available for those who still want a beer, but are choosing to not to drink alcohol, or moderate their consumption.”

Firth said while the long-term consumption continues to trend downward, the clear shift towards moderate-strength beer represents a positive development for consumers, retailers, and hospitality businesses leading into the summer months.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Man charged following Waiuku fire

Source: New Zealand Police

A man is due in court today following a large fire at a Waiuku business on Monday night.

Police treated the fire as suspicious with a scene examination carried out yesterday.

Acting Detective Inspector Chris Robson, of Counties Manukau CIB, says a search warrant was executed in the Waiuku area last night.

“A 30-year-old local man was arrested at the property and has been charged with arson.”

The man is due to appear in the Pukekohe District Court today.

“The fire has caused extensive damage,” acting Detective Inspector Robson says.

“We would like to acknowledge the assistance from the public, local businesses and Fire and Emergency NZ in this matter, as well as the work of the Counties Manukau Crime Squad in being able to resolve this matter quickly.”

Anyone that has further information to assist Police can update us online now or call 105 using the reference number 251125/6093.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Suitcase killings: Mum gets life sentence for murdering children, hiding bodies

Source: Radio New Zealand

Hakyung Lee stares downward during her sentencing at the Auckland High Court. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

The woman convicted of murdering her children and hiding their bodies in suitcases has been handed a life sentence.

Hakyung Lee faced two charges of murder over the deaths of her children Yuna and Minu Jo in 2018. On Wednesday, she was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.

The bodies of Minu Jo and Yuna Jo, aged six and eight at the time of their deaths, were discovered in suitcases almost four years after they were killed, when a family bought the contents of an abandoned storage locker in an online auction.

Lee’s standby counsel argued she was insane at the time following a “descent into madness” that began with the death of her husband Ian Jo from cancer in 2017.

Hakyung Lee stares downward during her sentencing at the Auckland High Court. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

More to come…..

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Yuna and Minu Jo. Supplied

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New one-stop shop for supermarket builds

Source: New Zealand Government

The Christchurch City Council has been selected to serve as a one-stop consenting authority for large-scale supermarket developments.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the new service is the latest step in the Government’s plans to make New Zealand a more attractive destination for new supermarkets.

“More supermarkets equals more competition equals lower prices. 

“Until now, new supermarket developers have faced having to deal with up to 66 different councils, 66 different processes and 66 different responses. That’s a disincentive to setting up shop here. 

“The establishment of a one-stop shop means a developer looking to build in multiple locations now only has to deal with one authority.

“The purpose of the new service is to encourage competition in a sector which is dominated by the Foodstuffs and Woolworths chains. Between them, they effectively control 82 per cent of the market.

“Therefore, the new service is primarily for grocery businesses that are not a part of those chains. However, it also covers any supermarket developments that have been referred via the fast-track process for supermarkets that increase competition on a regional or national scale. 

“Christchurch is a leader in commercial builds and the council has well-established working relationships with other councils that will be used to ensure smooth processes on the ground. 

“The appointment of a single building authority complements the changes being made to better enable replication of approved designs through MultiProof – a process that halves consent timeframes.

“Kiwi shoppers deserve choice at the checkout. A single consenting authority makes it easier and faster for new supermarkets to enter the market and build at scale,” Nicola Willis says.

Notes to editors: 

The service covers new standalone buildings (minimum 500m²) for grocery businesses that are not Regulated Grocery Retailers (RGRs) (i.e. not Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island, and Woolworths NZ). It also covers any supermarket developments (new competitors or RGRs) that have been referred via the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Mixed-use or mall developments, fitouts or conversions of existing buildings, and substantial renovations (unless previously consented under this service) are out of scope.

There are 68 building consent authorities (BCAs) responsible for delivering building control functions in New Zealand. This includes 66 territorial or regional authorities (councils), one private BCA, and Consentium, an independent division of Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities. 

More information on the Government’s grocery work programme is available at www.mbie.govt/groceries

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Cheaper electricity for Chatham Islands

Source: New Zealand Government

The completion of a $10 million wind turbine project in the Chatham Islands will reduce both local power prices and carbon emissions, Associate Minister for Regional Development Mark Patterson says. Minister Patterson will officially open the project on the Chatham Islands this Thursday.

“This initiative means households and businesses on the Chathams will benefit from significantly lower electricity costs, with expected savings of around 40 cents per kilowatt hour. The region will also enjoy a more stable and reliable electricity supply,” Mr Patterson says. 

“The new wind turbines will reduce diesel use by up to 68 per cent, saving approximately $1.2 million annually, and will cut carbon emissions per person by more than half – from 3.34 tonnes to 1.37 tonnes per year,” Mr Patterson says.

Before the wind turbines came into operation electricity generation relied almost entirely on diesel shipped in by an ageing vessel prone to mechanical issues. This led to electricity costs around four times higher than the New Zealand average and left the small community vulnerable to supply disruptions.

The project was funded by a $10 million grant from the government’s Climate Emergency Response Fund and a $500,000 grant from the Provincial Growth Fund. It includes three refurbished wind turbines, a storage battery, and supporting electricity distribution infrastructure.

Built in just 24 months, the project overcame tough challenges—from moving massive cranes to laying foundations without on-site concrete and meeting tight shipping deadlines.

“The Chatham Islands Renewable Energy Project is a landmark achievement that proves what’s possible when local initiative, technical innovation, and government support come together. I look forward to seeing more opportunities for the government and the Chathams to work together,” Mr Patterson says.

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Minister Shane Jones says ‘green banshees’ in regional council are stifling growth

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Mark Papalii

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says the current regional council structure stifles economic growth and that regional councils have suffered cost burdens, “green overreach” and too much influence from iwi.

His comments come after the government announced its plan to scrap regional councillors and hand responsibilities over to mayor-led Combined Territories Boards, marking the biggest structural shift in local government in decades.

The boards will take over regional duties and have two years to propose a longer term structure.

The government said the move will cut costs and streamline decision making.

Regional Development Minister and NZ First Deputy Leader Shane Jones has been one of the strongest critics of regional government, previously saying there is “less and less of a justifiable purpose” for keeping regional councils under the new RMA system.

He also described the Otago Regional Council as “the Kremlin of the South Island” after a dispute over mine expansion.

Jones told Morning Report on Wednesday the country can not afford the multiple layers of regional and local government that “stifles growth”.

He believes regional council has been captured, especially in Otago, by “green banshees” who want to block development such as mining.

“I have no doubt in my mind that once the public sinks its teeth into this issue and realise that it’s a burden of cost, we have had green over-reach, we have had hapu over-consumption and we have stifled growth. I believe the vast majority of Kiwis in regional New Zealand agree with me,” Jones said.

He said some regional councillors have been interpreting parliamentary legislation in a “devious” and “negative” way and that is breaking the law.

“If they are not going to continually abide by the law, they are going to disappear.”

Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni said there was a case for reorganising regional councils – but the government is forcing change without consultation.

Sepuloni said the government campaigned on handing power back to local communities, but this plan strips it away.

National Minister Nicola Willis said the scrapping of regional councils is about cutting complexity in local government and getting local communities to decide how they want to simplify things.

Willis told Morning Report that it’s also about addressing the cost of living and people’s concerns about rates.

Earlier on Morning Report, Former Local Government NZ regional chair Doug Leeder said the government’s plan has merit.

He said the regional sector of local government have been advocating to have this conversation with ministers for at least the last 12 months.

However, he said it remains to be seen what can incentivise local mayors to act in the best interest of their region.

“What is going to be the incentive for local mayors to remove themselves for their territorial responsibilities, their local communities, and act in the best interest of their region – there lies the challenge.”

Former Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder. NZME

Leeder said while the regional sector supports the plan, he believes the level of governance needs to step up for the plan to work.

He said the appointment of external commissioners could help.

The changes are out for consultation, which remains open until 20 February, with the resulting legislation expected to be introduced mid-next year and passed in 2027.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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‘Great concerns’ for Christchurch teen missing more than a week

Source: Radio New Zealand

Cobra, 14. Supplied / Police

Police have “great concerns” for a missing 14-year-old in Christchurch.

In a statement, police asked the public for help finding Cobra, who was last seen leaving school on 17 November.

She was reported missing the next day.

“Police have been following lines of enquiry to locate her, but have had no luck and are now asking for help from the community,” the statement said.

“Police and Cobra’s family have great concerns for her welfare and would like to find her as soon as possible.”

It was believed she was still in the Christchurch Central area.

“If you have seen Cobra or have any information that may help us find her, please contact police on 105 and quote file number: 251118/2758.

“Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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Long-term plan to rebuild Defence estate

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has unveiled a long-term plan to modernise Defence Force infrastructure that will strengthen military resilience and create building and construction jobs across New Zealand. 

“The national security of New Zealand depends on a strong Defence estate that empowers the Force to perform at its best,” Associate Minister Chris Penk says.

“Modern facilities support personnel to train, deploy and operate equipment at their peak, while safe and healthy workplaces and homes are essential for their wellbeing. 

“Sadly, our infrastructure is not equipped to realise this vision. Much of it is aged, fragile and prone to failure, with more than 70 percent of New Zealand Defence Force infrastructure now having less than 20 years of useful life remaining. 
 
“Failure to act will result in facility closures, degraded training that undermines operational capability, and increased risks to personnel. Regenerating the estate is essential to maintain a high level of operational readiness. 

“The Defence Estate Portfolio Plan (DEPP) sets out a long-term vision to deliver major regeneration by 2040, ensuring our camps, bases and training areas are fit for purpose and equipped to meet the needs of a modern Defence Force. 

“The DEPP sets out the investment priorities for the $2.5 billion identified in the Defence Capability Plan 2025 to modernise and strengthen Defence infrastructure over the next four years, subject to annual budget processes. 

“It replaces earlier regeneration plans and takes a more holistic portfolio approach by bringing together service-critical assets, training infrastructure, and housing across the Defence estate.” 

As part of the DEPP, Cabinet has given the green light to the Future Naval Base Programme. 
 
“Devonport Naval Base is vital to the Defence Force as New Zealand’s only naval port, yet the current infrastructure cannot fully meet the Navy’s operational, training and support requirements,” Mr Penk says. 

“The Programme addresses historic underinvestment with significant new projects to provide fit-for-purpose accommodation, training facilities, wharf improvements and horizontal infrastructure.  

“Investment also extends to associated sites such as Narrow Neck, Kauri Point, and the Tamaki Leadership Centre at Whangaparāoa. 

“These upgrades will be rolled out in tranches, enhancing the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ability to operate safely and effectively. The first tranche is already underway, with $25 million in capital funding provided through Budget 2025.” 

Alongside the Future Naval Base Programme, the DEPP supports the continuation of five other programmes that back Defence capability and renew infrastructure. 
 
These include:  

Defence Estate Regeneration Programme (DERP) – Renewing ageing, service-critical infrastructure using depreciation reserves across camps and bases, training areas and regional facilities.
Horizontal Infrastructure Workstream – Upgrading essential services like water, power, ICT, and roads across Defence sites.
Homes for Families Programme – Delivering modern housing for Defence families at multiple locations.
Ōhakea Infrastructure Programme – Supporting Air Force capability through targeted infrastructure upgrades at RNZAF Base Ōhakea.
Accommodation Messing and Dining Modernisation Programme – Upgrading barracks, messing and dining facilities to improve living standards and support retention. 

“Altogether, this is a generational investment in Defence infrastructure that strengthens strategic objectives, bolsters preparedness, and ensures our people have the facilities to excel at work and recharge while off duty,” Mr Penk says. 

“The DEPP also delivers a boost for New Zealand’s building and construction industry. Renovations and new projects across bases and camps nationwide will create jobs and economic opportunities in local communities for years to come.  

“This Government is investing in the foundations of our Defence Force. We are building the infrastructure that enables capability, supports our hard-working servicemen and women, and safeguards our country.”