Category: Radio New Zealand

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Orange heavy rain warnings issued for parts of North Island

Source: Radio New Zealand

An orange heavy rain warning is in place for Northland. MetService/Screenshot

Some heavy rain watches forecasted for the Upper North Island have been upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning.

The heavy rain watch which was in place for Northland is now an orange warning from 7pm Wednesday until 9am Friday.

The chance of wet weather due to a deep subtropical low has now also spread with a heavy rain watch issued for other parts of the Upper North Island including Auckland.

Northland is set to get around 130 to 200 mm of rain but Metservice have said up to 250mm is possible about the northern and eastern areas.

Peaks rates of 20 to 40mm of rain an hour are possible around the north and east of Northland from Thursday afternoon through to Friday morning with a moderate chance of upgrading to a red warning.

The area is also under a strong wind watch with east to northeast winds possibly approaching severe gale in exposed places.

Other parts of the Upper North Island are under a heavy rain watch from Thursday including Auckland, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island.

A strong wind watch is in place for Auckland including Great Barrier Island from Thursday to Friday.

Both wind and rain watches are set to be in place for between 30 to 42 hours in most regions.

In the South Island Tasman west of Motueka is under a heavy rain watch from Thursday until Friday.

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

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Wellington businessman pleads not guilty to posting harmful digital communications

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Wellington businessman appeared in Wellington District Court on Tuesday. RNZ / Alexander Robertson

A Wellington businessman has pleaded not guilty to posting harmful digital communications.

The 57-year-old man appeared in Wellington District Court on Tuesday on charges of making a Facebook post that would cause harm to an ordinary or reasonable person and that in doing so, caused serious emotional distress to the complainant.

The charge related to an alleged offence on 13 January, 2026 in Wellington.

The maximum penalty for such an offence is up to two years imprisonment.

Interim name suppression continues for both parties.

In court on Tuesday, it was agreed that Judge Bruce Davidson would consider the matter of the accused’s suppression based on written submissions from the parties involved.

The judge also requested the contents of the alleged post be provided to him.

The man is due to reappear in court in June.

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

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Fuel crisis package: Nearly 150,000 families to receive $50 a week

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis announcing the fuel support package on Tuesday. Samuel Rillstone/RNZ

Almost 150,000 families will receive an extra $50 a week for up to a year to help ease the pain from soaring petrol prices driven up by the war in the Middle East.

Speaking at a media conference at the Beehive on Tuesday, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the relief would come through a boost to the in-work tax credit – part of the Working for Families scheme.

That means only low-to-middle-income workers who have children are eligible. It excludes beneficiaries, superannuitants and those without children.

“The policy is carefully targeted to families in the squeezed middle – parents who are working hard for a living, are not eligible for main benefits, and yet have modest household incomes with which to support their children,” Willis said.

“We know these families will be hit particularly hard by the global fuel-price shock. We are delivering them timely relief.”

The temporary increase would last for as long as one year, or until the price of 91 octane petrol dropped below $3 a litre for four weeks in a row, Willis said.

About 143,000 households would start seeing the full benefit in their bank accounts from 7 April, if they were paid weekly, or 14 April, if they were paid fortnightly. A further 14,000 households would receive the support but at a lesser rate.

In the current tax year, the cut-off for receiving the tax credit was around $89,000 of annual household income for a family with one child, $112,000 for a family with two children and $135,000 for a family with three children.

The policy was estimated to cost $373 million if it ran for a full year, or less if it did not, Willis said.

Willis said that cost would come out of the government’s operating allowance for this year’s Budget, meaning it had already been factored into Treasury’s fiscal forecast.

“Funding the policy this way will not add to forecast debt or inflationary pressures. It is consistent with the government’s fiscal strategy which seeks to balance the books and bend the debt curve down.”

Willis said the government could not relieve price pressures for all businesses and families who were feeling price pressures. She said “large, untargeted government spending programmes” could make the situation worse by driving up inflation and debt.

“The government is conscious that a careless response to this crisis could have long-lasting and painful consequences. We saw this in the aftermath of Covid, where excessive spending more than doubled debt and sent inflation soaring and mortgage rates skyrocketing. Kiwis are still grappling with the effects of that today.”

More to come …

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

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Watch: $50 a week for some families as fuel crisis relief package unveiled

Source: Radio New Zealand

People struggling with fuel costs will be eligible for an extra $50 a week – if they qualify for the in-work tax credit.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced the support package at Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

It would be available from April 7.

Petrol prices in some locations have reached $4 a litre for premium, while diesel is up more than $1 a litre in the past month, Gaspy data shows.

About 20 percent of the world’s supply usually transits through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has cut off in retaliation over the US-Israel attack.

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Man from religious organisation with Pacific links charged with rape, strangulation, indecent assault

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Police have laid several serious charges against a man connected to a religious organisation with links around the Pacific.

Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie said a 45-year-old man would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday.

“Police executing search warrants have arrested one person from a religious organisation that has a presence in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji,” Baillie said.

  • Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

    • The man has been charged with unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault, strangulation and rape.

    “Today’s arrest follows a number of allegations, and partner agencies are supporting those that have come forward.

    “It is possible there may be other allegations that we are not yet aware of, and I strongly encourage any survivor to speak with us, should they wish to. Your voice matters, and you will be treated with respect.

    “Our staff who work in this space are specially trained, and any reports will be made in confidence, and we will provide wraparound support.”

    Baillie asked for anyone with information to make a report by calling police on 105 or using police’s online service referencing Operation Aurora, or file number 260319/8197.

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

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‘I got goosebumps’ – Te reo Māori song in new Ryan Gosling blockbuster

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Hollywood film starring Ryan Gosling is drawing attention for featuring the track ‘Pō Atarau‘, believed to be a 1992 recording by Turakina Māori Girls’ College Choir.

Project Hail Mary, about a science teacher on a lone mission to save the Earth, topped the New Zealand box office on its opening weekend – the biggest of the year so far, according to Numero.

Aynsley Broom, a Samoan US-based content creator who reacts to film, TV and books, told RNZ she felt the words were familiar while watching, though was unsure at first because te reo Māori is rarely heard in blockbuster films.

This video is hosted on Youtube.

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

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One dead, three injured after overnight crash in Palmerston North

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person died and three were injured after the crash. Supplied / St John

One person has died and three others are injured following a three-vehicle crash in Palmerston North overnight.

Emergency services were called to the crash on Tremaine Avenue, near Malden Street, about 2.30am.

It involved two cars, one of which caught fire, and a utility vehicle.

The crash also caused power to be cut to multiple addresses.

The Serious Crash Unit has carried out a scene examination.

Police are appealing for more information and would like to hear from anyone who may have captured CCTV prior to the crash.

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

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Watch live: $50 a week for some families as fuel crisis relief package unveiled

Source: Radio New Zealand

People struggling with fuel costs will be eligible for an extra $50 a week – if they qualify for the in-work tax credit.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced the support package at Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

It would be available from April 7 and eligibility would be expanded to an estimated 14,000 families.

Petrol prices in some locations have reached $4 a litre for premium, while diesel is up more than $1 a litre in the past month, Gaspy data shows.

About 20 percent of the world’s supply usually transits through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has cut off in retaliation over the US-Israel attack.

RNZ will be streaming the announcement from 12.30pm and blogging the updates as they happen. Refresh the page if you cannot see the video at the top of this page.

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

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First kaupapa Māori centre for those living with dementia to open in Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand

The kaumātua involved in the kaupapa at Te Whare Mahara on 21 Ridout Street, Maeroa, Hamilton. Supplied

The first kaupapa Māori centre for those living with dementia will soon open in Waikato.

Around 4500 Māori are currently living with mate wareware, but that number is expected to almost triple – to 12,000 – by 2050.

Research has found that Māori also develop it around a decade earlier than Pākehā.

The Selwyn Foundation has teamed up with Te Kōhao Health to open the Te Whare Mahara wellness centre in Hamilton.

It will be situated in the suburb of Maeroa, where mana whenua, Ngāti Mahunga, led a turning of the sod ceremony on Tuesday.

The site on Ridout Street will be renovated with support from The Selwyn Foundation.

It will open once consent and refurbishment work is completed.

The respite service will integrate te reo Māori, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori into care.

Te Kōhao Health’s managing director, Lady Tureiti Moxon. Supplied/Sarah Sparks

Te Kōhao Health’s managing director, Lady Tureiti Moxon, said it wanted to make kaumātua feel at home, rather than being in a hospital.

“They don’t want to go to a clinical space, or place – they want to go to a house, a home.”

Te Whare Mahara will operate as a day care for kaumātua, as whānau often wanted them to still live at home, Moxon said.

“Whānau often look after their own. They carry that responsibility with love, but it can also be exhausting.

“This kaupapa is about finally giving whānau a break during the day.

“A chance to replenish themselves so they can continue caring for their loved ones.”

Te Whare Mahara is the first of several that The Selwyn Foundation have planned to open – designed with Māori, for Māori.

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Watch live: Reserve Bank governor Anna Breman warns of higher inflation, lower growth

Source: Radio New Zealand

  • RBNZ governor says NZ is likely to see higher short-term inflation
  • Rates could rise if there are effects on medium-term inflation or inflation expectations
  • Economic growth likely to be dampened

The Reserve Bank governor is warning of higher inflation and weaker economic growth due to the Middle East crisis.

The Israel and United States-led war against Iran has sent global energy prices soaring due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks on key energy infrastructure in the Gulf.

Economists had already warned of the inflationary impact facing the New Zealand economy.

In speech notes published on Tuesday, Reserve Bank (RBNZ) governor Dr Anna Breman echoed that sentiment.

“We are likely to see higher headline inflation over the near term, and somewhat weaker growth momentum,” Breman said.

Annual inflation was at 3.1 percent in the December quarter, above the RBNZ’s 1-3 percent target band.

The remarks come two weeks ahead of the RBNZ’s next monetary policy decision, where the Official Cash Rate is expected to remain on hold.

“A short-lived disruption and a temporary increase in petrol prices can – and should – be looked through from a monetary policy perspective if it is unlikely to have an impact on medium-term inflation outcomes,” Breman said.

“For this type of disruption, we would likely see higher inflation over the next few quarters, along with squeezed real incomes and demand.”

She said the peak impact of monetary policy on inflation took about six to nine quarters.

“So, tightening monetary policy in response to a short-lived disruption would only dampen growth without materially improving near-term inflation outcomes,” Breman said.

“If there are effects on medium-term inflation or inflation expectations, the appropriate policy response could be to increase interest rates to prevent these second round effects.”

Breman said “it is critical” for monetary policy to be forward-looking and focused on medium-term inflation pressures.

She said global supply chains were feeling the effects of the conflict, and it “will take time for the full effects of this shock on the global economy to play out”.

“We should try to avoid reacting too early to near-term inflation pressures that monetary policy can do little about – or reacting too late if above-target inflation becomes embedded in the economy.”

High near-term inflation, weaker growth

Breman said the higher short-term inflation spike would primarily be driven by higher petrol and diesel prices, which made up about 4 percent of the Consumer Price Index.

Higher fertiliser prices were another factor, and she believed it could take up to nine months to fully pass through to supermarket prices.

“Autumn fertiliser requirements are already on-hand in New Zealand, and fertiliser imports usually decrease over the winter months,” Dr Breman said.

“We expect fertiliser use to pick up for spring planting, which is when we may see more direct impacts on farms.”

Breman said the conflict meant New Zealand’s economic growth momentum would be “somewhat weaker” than the RBNZ’s previous assessments.

The bank’s February Monetary Policy Statement published forecasts of GDP growth of 1.1 percent in the March quarter, and 0.5 percent in the June quarter.

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