Newsealand

Gloriavale School Closure Case: Ministry Defends Decision in High Court

Ella Thompson — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 07:05:44 GMT

The Ministry of Education has defended its decision to cancel Gloriavale Christian School's registration in the High Court at Wellington, rejecting claims the process was rushed.

Blue Spring Te Waihou: Council Asks Visitors to Stay Away as Costs Pile Up

Ella Thompson — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 20:04:00 GMT

The South Waikato District Council is urging people to stay away from the Blue Spring at Te Waihou over the long weekend, deploying traffic management and extra facilities at a cost of $20,000 while two councillors call for the attraction to be closed until a long-term plan is in place.

Anaesthetist Diverted Sedatives for Decades, Tribunal Finds

Ella Thompson — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 07:05:14 GMT

A tribunal censured Dr Stephan Neff after finding he diverted Midazolam from Rotorua Hospital and another facility for about 30 years while hiding his use from monitors.

McLaren Sells Five F1 Champion Cars, One Driven by Brad Pitt

Ella Thompson — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 20:02:54 GMT

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TheWesternGuide and Kaylee Bell Lead This Week's Best New Kiwi Tracks

Ella Thompson — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 07:04:39 GMT

TheWesternGuide and Kaylee Bell duet on regret, Dartz rally the pre-election faithful, and LEAO's Silver Scroll winner returns to the spotlight in this week's best new music.

La Bola Negra Review: Lorca's Banned Pages Become a Queer Epic

Ella Thompson — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 20:01:59 GMT

Spain's Oscar submission La Bola Negra turns four pages Lorca wrote before his murder into a queer epic spanning 80 years, with a show-stopping Penélope Cruz cameo.

PNG Orchids Storm Past France 58-4 in Historic Home World Cup Debut

Ella Thompson — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 07:04:57 GMT

Port Moresby delivered a rugby league afternoon to remember: the PNG Orchids beat France 58-4 in their first World Cup match at home, with Naomi Kelly scoring four tries to equal the national record, before the Kumuls downed Lebanon 42-18.

South African Rugby Lock Hyron Andrews Dies in France at 31

Ella Thompson — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 20:02:36 GMT

The 31-year-old lock was found dead at the team hotel in France on the eve of the Lions' first ever Champions Cup match, against La Rochelle.

Mingus Reedus Case Ends Without Trial: What an ACD Means for Olivia Cotter

Ella Thompson — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 15:59:32 GMT

Mingus Reedus accepted an ACD on March 9, 2026, over the August 23, 2025 incident involving Olivia Cotter. No trial took place, and the case will be dismissed by March 2027 if he meets the conditions.

WWII Displaced Survivors Reunite in Palmerston North

Ella Thompson — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:04:58 GMT

Survivors and descendants of nearly 5000 displaced Europeans who arrived in New Zealand between 1949 and 1952 are meeting in Palmerston North for their first-ever reunion.

Tukituki Candidates Clash Over Meth Rehab, Dams and Climate

Ella Thompson — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:01:46 GMT

Tukituki's election candidates rejected Mongrel Mob rehab funding, split over new dams, and traded climate plans at a 15 October debate shaped by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Croatia's Bellissima Yacht: Small-Ship Cruising Without the Crowds

Ella Thompson — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:06:17 GMT

A 19-room luxury yacht is sailing Croatia's Dalmatian coast without casinos or buffet halls, offering a slower style of cruising built on local food and small bays.

Russia Hits US Brands in Ukraine While Trump Stays Silent

Ella Thompson — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:02:20 GMT

Russian drones and missiles have struck facilities belonging to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and McDonald's in Ukraine since August, while the White House stays quiet and presses Kyiv to stop hitting Russian refineries.

NZ Aquaculture Eyes India as Free Trade Deal Kicks In

Ella Thompson — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:05:44 GMT

New Zealand's aquaculture sector has been told to seize a huge export opening in India, with the 33 percent tariff on key fish and seafood exports set to be phased out over seven years.

NZ business failures hit decade high as insolvencies climb

Ella Thompson — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:03:21 GMT

Corporate bankruptcies stayed above historical norms in the first half of 2026 even as filings declined from their recent peak.

Pronk was less optimistic about the near term.

Rugby League World Cup: Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns name sides for openers

Ella Thompson — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:04:48 GMT

Dane Gagai, 35, makes history as the Kiwis face Australia in their World Cup opener, while the Kiwi Ferns debut a star-studded side against Fiji.

Digger's Climate Message Misses the Mark: A Box Office Cautionary Tale

Ella Thompson — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:02:58 GMT

Tom Cruise's climate satire Digger is on track to become one of the year's biggest box office flops. What does its failure teach us about how we talk about the climate crisis?

Thai teen's death: Australian admits to concealing body as family seeks justice

Ella Thompson — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:03:42 GMT

An Australian man has admitted to concealing the body of a 17-year-old Thai girl while denying murder charges, as her family seeks justice and compensation in a case that raises questions about accountability and the treatment of young women in tourist destinations.

Who profits from record petrol prices? The answer may surprise you

Ella Thompson — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 20:02:33 GMT

Record petrol prices are hurting Kiwi wallets, but the windfall profits are going to state-owned oil companies, not the brands we know. An energy expert explains who really benefits.

Trump's Antitrust Probe Into US TV Networks Raises Free Speech Alarm

Ella Thompson — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 07:04:01 GMT

The US Justice Department is investigating five major TV networks over their response to Trump's White House media ban. Legal experts call the antitrust probe an unprecedented attack on press freedom.

The search for Amelia Earhart's lost plane: a new expedition sets sail for a Pacific atoll

Ella Thompson — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 20:02:33 GMT

A US-backed expedition is heading to a remote Pacific atoll to investigate a promising lead in the 1937 disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Could this finally solve one of aviation's greatest mysteries?

Trump's Nobel Obsession Exposes the Hollow Core of His Second Term

Ella Thompson — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 07:03:52 GMT

Donald Trump's second Nobel defeat exposes a presidency obsessed with personal glory over genuine achievement, with foreign policy gambits that have backfired spectacularly.

Hipkins Pushes Palestine Recognition and Voter Enrolment in Auckland Mosque Visit

Ella Thompson — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:02:50 GMT

Chris Hipkins courts Auckland's Muslim community with bold foreign policy pledges, warns on voter enrolment, and hears nursing students' struggles in a packed campaign day.

Beyond Trump: Five Nobel Peace Prize contenders who could actually win

Ella Thompson — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:04:31 GMT

As the Nobel Committee announces this year's Peace Prize, analysts point to grassroots heroes, international law, and even the ISS as the real frontrunners.

Pay equity battle lines drawn in Gisborne as candidates face voters

Ella Thompson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:02:58 GMT

Only one candidate defended the 2025 Equal Pay Amendment Act at a Gisborne meeting, as rivals pledged to restore and improve pay equity protections.

From school lunch trauma to Sam Altman: Andrew Garfield's brutal honesty and bold new roles

Ella Thompson — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:04:54 GMT

Andrew Garfield opens up about childhood lunch trauma while earning awards buzz for his portrayal of OpenAI's Sam Altman in the new film 'Artificial'.

Ukraine's darkest hour: Putin's birthday marked by deadly missile barrage

Ella Thompson — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 20:01:42 GMT

Russia launched one of its most devastating attacks on Ukraine yet, killing at least 25 people including five children, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called one of the 'most vile strikes' of the war. The assault, which coincided with Vladimir Putin's birthday, targeted residential buildings, industrial sites, and energy infrastructure across the country.

The uncomfortable question at the heart of Messi's greatness

Ella Thompson — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 07:03:50 GMT

FC Barcelona funded Lionel Messi's growth hormone treatment as a child. Was it medical care or a competitive investment? The question deserves more scrutiny.

Auckland man pleads guilty to murdering elderly mother in Papatoetoe

Ella Thompson — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:02:42 GMT

Phillip Beale, 51, pleads guilty to murdering his 84-year-old mother Joan Beale in Papatoetoe, ending a seven-day trial after Crown presented graphic evidence of the prolonged assault.

Auckland's housing puzzle: Milldale North rezoning moves forward

Ella Thompson — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:04:39 GMT

Auckland councillors have agreed to let a proposal to rezone 145 hectares for housing in North Auckland proceed to public consultation, but the bigger issue of unplanned growth and infrastructure funding looms large.

A young dad vanished in Christchurch. His family is pleading for answers

Ella Thompson — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:02:41 GMT

Braydon Hepworth, 21, a father of a nine-month-old, vanished in Christchurch nearly a month ago. Police have searched a Linwood property. His family is desperate for answers.

Security guard's licence stripped after degrading cucumber assault on shoplifter

Ella Thompson — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 07:04:18 GMT

A Manukau security guard lost his licence after forcing a cucumber into a shoplifter's mouth in a degrading assault. The case exposes troubling gaps in the private security industry.

Space power and its double edge: New Zealand's growing satellite dilemma

Ella Thompson — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 20:01:47 GMT

New Zealand's growing space ambitions create a dilemma: protecting satellite services without escalating global tensions. Analysis of dual-use technology, strategic stability, and the path forward.

Disconnecting in the Rainforest: A Digital Detox on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Ella Thompson — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 07:04:19 GMT

Two nights in the Queensland rainforest proved more restorative than a week on the beach, offering a rare chance to unplug, reconnect with nature, and rediscover the simple art of doing nothing.

The winemakers sinking their best bottles to the bottom of the sea

Ella Thompson — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 20:01:53 GMT

Wineries around the world are sinking bottles into the ocean to age them. We tasted a sea-aged red against its land-aged twin to see if the Atlantic really makes a difference, and asked a food scientist what's actually happening underwater.

Hipkins on the Hustings: A Walkabout, a Cargo Net, and a Lesson in Authentic Politics

Ella Thompson — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 07:04:17 GMT

Labour leader Chris Hipkins trades handshakes for a cargo net at an Upper Hutt outdoor show, revealing his authentic campaign style and sparring with National over tax claims.

Ardie Savea joins the Blues: A one-year homecoming built for more than rugby

Ella Thompson — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:02:06 GMT

Ardie Savea's move to the Blues is a one-year deal with a clear purpose: mentorship, a new attacking style, and a final push toward the 2027 World Cup. Here's what it means for the team and for him.

Nelson councillor Tim Skinner back on council after High Court quashes conviction

Ella Thompson — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:04:40 GMT

Nelson councillor Tim Skinner will return to full duties after the High Court discharged him without conviction, overturning a decision that threatened his seat.

Botched executions in the US: What keeps going wrong with the death penalty?

Ella Thompson — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:02:31 GMT

Recent botched executions in the US raise serious questions about lethal injection and nitrogen gas methods. What keeps going wrong, and what does it mean for the future of capital punishment?

Christchurch massage therapist jailed 11 years for sexually assaulting 15 clients

Ella Thompson — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 07:04:23 GMT

A Christchurch massage therapist has been jailed for more than 11 years for sexually offending against 15 clients. The case highlights the abuse of professional trust and the courage of victims who came forward.

New Zealand graduates face a brutal job market, but there are signs of hope

Ella Thompson — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:01:47 GMT

New Zealand's newest graduates are facing a brutal job market, with many applications met by silence. But there are signs of hope. A look at the challenges, the resilience, and what needs to change.

All Whites Set Their Sights on a New Era of Winning Football

Ella Thompson — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:04:11 GMT

The All Whites have set a new standard after their win over China. Now they face Panama in the Kirin Cup, aiming for back-to-back victories against non-Oceania opposition for the first time since 2021.

EU trade deal on the line as Dutch group files first climate complaint against NZ

Ella Thompson — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:02:17 GMT

A Dutch environmental group has filed the first climate complaint under the EU-NZ free trade agreement, claiming New Zealand broke its legal promises. Trade Minister Todd McClay rejects the claim.

Justice Questioned: Army Intelligence Officer Escapes Conviction for Brutal Taxi Driver Assault

Ella Thompson — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:03:59 GMT

An 18-year-old Army intelligence officer was discharged without conviction for a brutal assault on a taxi driver, raising questions about privilege and accountability in New Zealand's justice system.

Why Parliament dissolves this week and what it means for NZ's democracy

Ella Thompson — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:02:11 GMT

Parliament dissolves this week ahead of the 7 November election. Here's what happens next, who runs the country, and why the caretaker convention matters.

Falls risk failures exposed after 84-year-old dies in Northland hospital care

Ella Thompson — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:04:24 GMT

An 84-year-old man died from a brain haemorrhage after three falls during respite care at Rawene Hospital. The HDC found the facility breached his rights, exposing systemic failures in falls prevention for older New Zealanders.

Europe's far right is quietly distancing itself from Germany's AfD. Here's why that matters

Ella Thompson — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 20:02:15 GMT

Germany's AfD is surging, but Europe's far right is keeping its distance. From France to Italy, parties are distancing themselves from the AfD's radical edge, its Russia stance, and its Nazi-era comfort zone. Here's what that means for the continent.

Drug addiction, not malice: Judge spares arsonist tenant prison after burning down rental

Ella Thompson — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 07:04:06 GMT

A judge has spared an arsonist tenant from prison, citing his decade-long meth addiction and commitment to rehabilitation. The case raises questions about how New Zealand treats drug-related crime.

Northland Council Pioneers 72-Hour Fortnight: A Bold Step Toward Work-Life Balance

Ella Thompson — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 20:02:19 GMT

Northland Regional Council makes history with a permanent 72-hour fortnight, boosting wellbeing and retention without raising rates. A bold experiment in the future of work.

Bangkok Under Water: A Climate Wake-Up Call for Coastal Cities

Ella Thompson — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 08:02:09 GMT

Bangkok declares disaster across all 50 districts as climate-driven floods overwhelm the city. What does this mean for coastal cities like ours?