Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 1, Motutere, Taupo, is blocked due to a crash this afternoon.
Police were called to the two-vehicle crash, involving a truck and a car, just north of the Motutere township around 12.30pm.
Initial indicators are that there are injuries.
Motorists are advised to avoide the area where possible and expect delays.
ENDS
Source: Radio New Zealand
Clockwise from top left: Gael Monfils, Casper Ruud, Ben Shelton and Cam Norrie are in the field for the 2026 ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland. Photosport
Five players who have reached the world’s top 10, along with some explosive emerging talent are among the male players confirmed for the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland in January.
The ATP tournament from 12-17 January follows the WTA women’s event from 5-11 January.
The 23-year-old American Ben Shelton returns as the top seed. He finished the year ranked at No 9 in the world after rising to No 5 on the back of winning the title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada. The left-hander has jumped more than 15 ranking places this year to emerge as a global contender.
Top seed Ben Shelton PHOTOSPORT
Second seed is Norwegian Casper Ruud, the world No 12, who claimed two titles this year including the Masters 1000 in Madrid. He was ranked No 2 in the world two years ago.
This pair form part of the tennis family at the ASB Classic, both returning to Auckland for their fourth time, remembering that Shelton first travelled outside the United States three years ago to come to Auckland after emerging into the world’s top 100.
Twenty-year-old Czech player Jakub Mensik leads the young talent. He returns to the tournament now ranked at No 19 in the world, on the back of a Masters 1000 title in Miami, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.
Czech player Jakub Mensik photosport
Another rising young player returning is American Alex Michelsen, who started his impressive run in 2025 making the quarterfinals at Auckland. He is joined by 2.01m Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 22, who reached world No 29, notably hitting 51 aces in his first match at Wimbledon last year.
There is a degree of nostalgia in the 2026 tournament with Auckland-raised Cameron Norrie (GBR), at 30 years of age, returning to the courts where he spent much time as a young, emerging talent.
Once ranked a career high No 9, Norrie has worked his way back after a lengthy injury break to make the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year. He has twice finished runner-up among his nine appearances in Auckland.
While young guns will provide a compelling presence, two players with 79 years of life experience between them, will no doubt hold a special place for fans.
Swiss 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka has earned a wild card spot to make his third appearance in Auckland, as he returns from recent years battling injury.
The “Stanimal” has won 16 singles titles and is the only man to win three Grand Slams in the era of the sport’s “Big Four”. He accounted for Rafael Nadal to win the Australian Open in 2014 and Djokovic twice, at Roland Garros in 2015 and US Open in 2016.
Auckland’s defending champion Gael Monfils gets a wild card to start his final year in the sport in the city.
His victory at the Manuka Doctor Arena this year made him the oldest player to win an ATP 250 title and the oldest in the Top 100 ranked players. He has spent 1000 weeks in the Top 100 – a feat he shares with Roger Federer, Djokovic, Andre Agassi and Nadal.
The final direct entry to the main draw went to American Aleksandar Kovacevic, ranked 62 in the world, the strongest direct field ranking in recent years.
ASB Classic tournament director Nicolas Lamperin said the 2026 tournament field “exceeds our expectations”.
“The team are working on delivering a wonderful experience off the court, and the quality of this field we are announcing today is magnificent, to ensure fans will receive a special tournament on the court also.”
The field will be completed with a final wild card for a New Zealand representative.
1 Ben Shelton (USA) 9, 2 Casper Ruud (NOR) 12, 3 Jakub Mensik (CZE) 19, 4 Luciano Darderi (ITA) 26, 5 Cameron Norrie (GBR) 27, 6 Alex Michelsen (USA) 38, 7 Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 39, 8 Alexandre Muller (FRA) 42, 9 Sebastian Baez (ARG) 45, 10 Nuno Borges (FRA) 47, 11 Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG) 49, 12 Fabian Marozsan (HUN) 51, 13 Jenson Brooksby (USA) 53, 14 Valentin Royer (FRA) 58, 15 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) 59, 16 Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) 60, 17 Francisco Comesana (ARG) 61, 18 Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) 62.
Main draw wild cards: Gael Monfils (FRA), Stan Wawrinka (SUI).
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Three men have been jailed for life for the murder of South Canterbury man Anaru Moana.
Hayden Burt, Aaron Boden and Cody Boyes were found guilty by a jury last month of the murder of Moana.
Burt and Boden were also found guilty of kidnapping and injuring with intent.
In the High Court at Christchurch Wednesday afternoon, Justice Gordon sentenced the trio to life imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of 11 years and 10 months for Burt and Boden, and 10 years for Boyes.
Burt and Boden were also sentenced on earlier drug offending charges, kidnapping, and injuring with intent, which were to be served concurrently.
Boyes’ sister Korina, who was acquitted of murder but guilty of injuring with intent, was sentenced to one year’s supervision.
Moana disappeared in December 2021 and his body has never been found.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Government
The road cone digital hotline pilot is wrapping up ahead of schedule, after six months of valuable data collection and relationship building with road controlling authorities.
The hotline will close on Friday, 19 December 2025, to coincide with the requirement of NZTA for councils to have a plan in place to apply the new risk-based temporary traffic management guidelines to their local roadworks contracts before approving government funding for those projects.
“This pilot has done exactly what we needed it to do,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. “We now understand what’s really causing the excessive use of road cones, and changing to a risk-based approach is key to resolving these issues”
When the public see excessive road cones, chances are it’s because the local council signed it off. Site visits revealed that 86% of sites were compliant with the number of cones and other temporary traffic management devices laid out in the council-approved traffic management plans.
The problem seems to be that councils across the country were not required to apply NZTA’s most recent guidance to temporary traffic management, so while the use of road cones may be consistent with council-approved plans, they may still be excessive. Moving forward, NZTA has said all councils must be fully compliant with the new guidance by 1 July 2027.
“That’s a crucial insight. It tells us where efforts should be focussed,” says Ms van Velden.
The hotline also met its three core objectives: giving the public a voice, identifying the root causes of concern, and clarifying WorkSafe’s role in relation to temporary traffic management.
“Beyond the data, WorkSafe has built important working relationships with those responsible for temporary traffic management. That collaborative approach will continue as they work with NZTA to help councils better understand risk-based compliance,” says Ms van Velden.
The pilot was initiated to understand the causes of perceived overcompliance in temporary traffic management and to clarify WorkSafe’s enforcement role. Some stakeholders felt they could not take a more risk-based approach (as recommended by NZTA), as they were concerned WorkSafe could take action against them for being under-compliant.
WorkSafe Inspectors have received training in TTM and the new NZTA guidance and will continue to integrate it into their business-as-usual assessments. This is part of an overall culture change programme at WorkSafe to ensure it is a consistent, clear and proportionate regulator.
Lessons learnt from the pilot will also be applied to improve how WorkSafe, receives and responds to feedback from the public and businesses.
Source: Radio New Zealand
Southland Stags’ Mika Muliaina, 2025. Stephen Parker / www.photosport.nz
The nephew of All Black great Mils Muliaina has been given a Super Rugby contract by the Highlanders.
Young first-five prospect Mika Muliaina has been given a three-year contract starting in 2027.
The 18-year-old Southlander, who has progressed through the Highlanders high performance programme, will train with the Highlanders squad in 2026, before joining fully in 2027.
Muliaina enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign, beginning with his performances for the Highlanders U20 side at the national tournament in Taupō.
His form earned him a standby position for the New Zealand U20s and led to appearances for the Southland Stags during the NPC.
Mils Muliaina AFP/FILE
Mils Muliaina played 100 tests for the All Blacks, while his father, Faolua, and uncle, Alesana, both represented Southland in the NPC.
Highlanders assistant coach and talent development manager for the Highlanders Kane Jury said Mika Muliaina’s potential was clear.
“Mika is a rare talent. For someone so young to show such maturity in a pivotal position like first five, you immediately sense how high his ceiling is.
“When you consider he has already won a national schools’ title with Southland Boys’, been in the NZU20s selection frame, represented NZ Universities in Japan, debuted for the Southland Stags, has the chance to push for an U20 World Cup in 2026, and now signs a professional contract – all by 18 – it’s incredibly impressive.”
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Summer in Eastbourne, Wellington. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Christmas day celebrations may need to be inside for the parts of the country, as a forecaster says it may not be a nice, settled story that many of us are hoping for.
With only eight sleeps until Christmas, we are in the meteorological window of predictability, and while the forecast for Christmas day could change, the east coast is shaping up to the be the place to be.
The week before Christmas has been rainy and windy, as cool temperatures in the upper atmosphere over central New Zealand causes unstable conditions.
There is a risk of thunderstorms for parts of the day from South Auckland down to mid-Canterbury, MetService said.
MetService meteorologist John Law told RNZ the unsettled weather will continue throughout out Wednesday.
Some sparks today! ⛈️
⚡Good morning, we have observed some lightning in the last hour for coastal Taranaki and Waitomo. Check out the video below!
⚡Keep up to date on our moderate risk areas (30-60% likelihood) and rest of our thunderstorm forecast for today here:… pic.twitter.com/FK9dniIaiq
— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 16, 2025
“It does get better for places like Auckland and down the western side of New Zealand as we head in towards tomorrow, but the week is still looking very unsettled.”
But the question on everyone’s mind is what the weather forecast will be for Christmas day.
“The million-dollar question is that lead up towards Christmas, how are things panning out?” Law said.
“… I don’t think we are going to quite find it’s a nice, settled story that many of us are hoping for.”
He said low pressure systems from the west turn the country into a westerly set up next week.
With only eight sleeps until Christmas, we are in the meteorological window of predictability. 123rf
Westerly weather brings more cloud and longer spells of rain for the west of the South Island. In the North Island, the further west you are, the more likely there will be cloud and perhaps some showers, Law said.
“As we are heading towards Christmas day, the east coast might be the best place to be,” he said.
MetService is forecasting temperatures in the 20s for much of the country on Christmas day.
However, with any forecast that goes out beyond a week, there is a likelihood it could change, Law noted.
“So, the forecast is by no means set in stone. It’s always worth making sure you keep up to date with the forecast for those subtleties and nuances as the forecast gets closer and closer and change your plans accordingly.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
A police team member on a mountain in Fiordland. Supplied / Police
A search of the route taken by two missing climbers on Aoraki/Mt Cook has turned up no sign of the pair.
Bad weather has hampered the search for the climbers, who have been missing since Monday, but conditions improved enough for a helicopter to go up last night.
They followed the route the climbers took from Plateau hut and Linda glacier to the summit, but nothing was found.
The search resumed this morning.
Police have also named the two climbers who died in Fiordland last weekend.
They are 28-year-old Connor Scott McKenzie and 23-year-old Tanmay Shetankumar Bhati, who both lived in Australia.
In November, two climbers, Wanaka-based mountain guide Thomas Vialletet and his client, died on Aoraki Mt Cook after the two fell from the mountain’s west ridge.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Greater Wellington Regional Council is urging the government to lower its English language requirements for visas to avoid a bus driver shortage.
In 2022, 59 Metlink weekday bus services were suspended due to a lack of drivers – significantly cutting back reliability on the Wellington region’s bus network.
According to the regional council recent changes to immigration policy which included higher English language requirements for visa extensions and residency applications were making it harder to retain bus drivers that started work during the shortage.
The council has written to the Minister of Transport and Immigration calling for a review of the settings and to maintain a pathway for overseas recruitment to the roles.
Regional council chair Daran Ponter. RNZ / Dom Thomas
Regional council chair Daran Ponter said sensible immigration settings were critical for maintaining reliable services.
“Public transport is the lifeblood of our region. If experienced drivers are forced to leave because of immigration settings, we risk service disruptions that will affect access to work, school, and university, and ultimately undermine the regional economy.”
The council said about 20 percent of public transport bus drivers nationally were on temporary visas, with 72 percent of those expiring next year.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told RNZ in October that transport operators should find New Zealand drivers to fill any gaps in the sector.
On Tuesday, Stanford said she did not plan to change the English-language testing standard for bus drivers seeking New Zealand residency.
“The IELTS English language test has been exactly the same for many, many, many, many, many years,” Stanford said. “It has not been changed.”
She said many bus drivers had visas lasting up to five years, giving them sufficient time to meet the requirement.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
An aerial view of the Lismore Forest fire at 8am Monday 15 December 2025. Fire and Emergency NZ
Fire crews are working to contain two large fires in the central North Island.
The blaze at Lismore Forest near Parikino started on Sunday afternoon and was 100 hectares in size. It is now 75 percent contained, Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said.
Incident Controller Nigel Dravitzki said seven crews were working on the fire ground alongside two helicopters, heavy machinery, two water tankers, a command unit and operational support.
“Crews from across the region, from Wellington in the south, to Hastings in the east, are supporting our local crews from Manawatu-Whanganui,” Dravitzki said.
“Rainfall of approximately 6.5mm overnight has reduced fire activity significantly.”
The Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Defence Force and Red Cross have been supporting the efforts.
Further north, firefighters were working on a blaze that started on Monday afternoon at Waiinu Beach in south Taranaki.
Incident Controller, Assistant Commander Clive Lennox said a crew worked overnight to keep the fire contained.
“The fire hasn’t grown in size since yesterday, it’s still around 30 hectares and we have it 70 percent contained.”
Lennox said the response had been scaled down to two ground crews working alongside diggers and bulldozers.
He expected firefighters would be in the area for the next two days.
“Waiinu Beach Road is still closed from Silver Fern Farms Waitōtara to the turn-off to the Waiinu Beach settlement,” Lennox said.
“Please pay attention to the road signs, it’s for the safety of yourselves and our crews.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Follow all the action as the third in the five-test series between arch rivals Australia and England gets underway at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.
Australia currently has a 2-0 lead in the series, after successful campaigns in both Perth and Brisbane.
First ball is at 12.30 NZT
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Australia currently leads the series 2-0. Gareth Copley
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand