Festival delays opening, holiday plans disrupted as upgraded weather warnings cloak NZ

MetService has issued orange rain and wind warnings for much of the country.

In-flight favourites: What Air NZ passengers watched and listened to in 2025

Air NZ obtained new music licences this year, with one artist quickly rising to the top.

'Empty wallets': Long-running New Year's festival warns next summer may be its last

Ticket sales are down about 1000 compared to last year, deepening long-term debts.

'Bad, aggressive': Three people seriously injured in Auckland night of disorder

More than 50 people were caught up in mass disorder on Karangahape Rd overnight.

'Sucky thing to happen': Woman's car struck in chaotic Christmas Eve police chase

A dentist trip proved more painful than expected after a woman's car was hit in a chase.

Low-cost fuel chains plan merger, promises to cut prices for motorists

The company would run about 240 sites nationwide if cleared by the Commerce Commission.

Whangārei road covered in alcohol after liquor store van crash

The crash scattered bottles and booze across Riverside Drive and blocked both lanes.

'Expect delays': Five injured in SH25 truck crash as holiday traffic ramps around NZ

Stop-go controls are currently in place near the Waihou (Thames) River bridge.

Small moving companies get pre-Christmas boon as Ikea hit by delivery delays

The Swedish retailer has paused its online services to clear a mounting backlog.

'Got a long way to go': Teen skier continues hospital fight after shattering legs on Mt Ruapehu

The 13-year-old fell about 8m off a cliff while skiing at Whakapapa in October.

More calls for help as pet refuge braces for Christmas family violence spike

Pet Refuge is already caring for 29 pets in the lead-up to Christmas.

Twice lost, twice found: Kiwi traveller's last-ditch effort to save wife's engagement ring diamond

It wasn't the couple's first scare, having lost the ring 25 years ago in Lake Taupō.

Rita Ora makes surprise podcast visit, says Kiwis are 'really lucky' to live in NZ

The singer surprised Ben Boyce’s daughter after she saw his tattooed invitation online.

Christmas parking wars: Drivers resort to using trolleys, cones and even themselves to save a space

One in seven drivers say they've clashed with other road users over a parking space.

Rate whiplash: ASB, BNZ hike long fixes but trim six-month home loans

ASB has cut its six-month home loan rate by 20bps to a 'market-leading' 4.65%.

Three-day Auckland music festival to end in 2026

Organisers said the large festival has become difficult to sustain.

Gales, heavy rain and cooler temps on way as active front sweeps up NZ

It's expected to reach the North Island by tomorrow and draw temperatures down.

Blaze destroys tetraplegic's accessible home, medical gear days before Christmas

The adjoining disability homes on Auckland's North Shore housed up to 12 people.

Expert urges new tools to tackle rising harassment on public transport

Kirsten Tilleman’s study maps when and where LGBTQIA+ riders face harassment.

Weak dollar and 'Everyone Must Go' help push tourism near pre-Covid peak

Australian arrivals hit 1.5 million in the year to October, up 153,000.

Principal defends $18.5k Queenstown trip as Auditor-General flags schools' travel spending

Other flagged trips include a $29,458 overseas tour and family travel to Rarotonga.

Heavy rain and gales to hit South Island as temperatures soar in NZ's east

Most South Island weather watches and warnings are due to lift early tomorrow morning.

Watch: Audi erupts in flames during Auckland street race

Witnesses filmed two cars racing side by side moments before the crash.

Suspicious fire tears through Coromandel kiwifruit orchard

The blaze near Pāuanui started just before midnight and spread rapidly.

Mouldy school lunches 'most likely' caused by human error, MPI finds

Food Safety concluded the mouldy meals likely sat unrefrigerated at the school for days.

Principal cites ‘systems failure’ not of school’s making in mouldy lunches dispute, Seymour disagrees

Food Safety concluded the mouldy meals likely sat unrefrigerated at the school for days.

Funding squeeze: Rates cap row puts CRL and ferries in the firing line

Wayne Brown wants a 7.9% rates rise to cover the $235m CRL running costs.

Armed suspect found hiding under child’s bed after late-night police chase

The armed suspect ditched the firearm on a shed roof while running from authorities.

Councillor warns Akl ferries may be in firing line to meet Govt's proposed rates cap

A 2-4% rates cap could change what councils can afford to run.

Orca pod freed from Napier estuary after stranding fears

People were warned not to swim with the orca or come closer than 50m.

Eden Park eyes space for 1500 car parks to replace outer oval in stadium overhaul

Park bosses are also keen to see a footbridge connect directly with nearby Kingsland.

Waiuku blaze wipes out beloved grandfather's lifetime of work 'in a matter of minutes’

The fire destroyed Christmas gifts he'd been handcrafting for his grandchildren.