Thanks to conservation efforts, the population of kākāpō (a species of large, flightless parrots that are native to New Zealand) has reached its highest level since records began in the 1970s. Science adviser at the kākāpō recovery programme Dr Andrew Digby said that it had been the second biggest breeding season on record with 60 […]

The Government has warned of an increased risk of foot and mouth disease reaching New Zealand, describing its arrival as a “doomsday” scenario. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor made the warning after the livestock disease was discovered in Indonesia. “It would devastate our national herd … In the event of foot […]

The cost of building a new house in New Zealand is increasing at its fastest rate on record due to material and labour shortages. Property research firm Core Logic’s Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI), which measures the cost of building a standard three-bedroom house, rose by a record 2.6 per cent in the three months […]

Some of the country’s Great Walks are being rerouted and huts are being moved in preparation for more extreme weather due to climate change. Over the past few years, many of the walks have had to close for extended periods of time after storm damage. In February 2020, torrential rain caused slips that damaged huts, […]

The Port of Napier is officially opening a new wharf extension that will allow it to meet future demand. The new wharf, named Te Whiti, is able to take bigger container vessels and cruise ships. “At 350 metres long, Te Whiti is long enough and deep enough to accommodate the increasingly larger vessels calling New […]

Mayor of Hastings Sandra Hazlehurst has announced that she will run for the role again. Hazlehurst has been the city’s mayor for the past five years. If successful in the upcoming elections, she will be continuing in the role for a further three years. She said there were new drinking water assets, new housing, newly […]

Mayors say that local councils are struggling with the speed and scale of reforms that are being required of them. Local government is tasked with implementing a number of reforms, including Three Waters (in which drinking water, wastewater and storm water services will move from local government control to the control of centralised, publicly owned […]

A washout has closed State Highway 35 between Ōpōtiki and Te Kaha in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Work is underway to build a protective groyne of rock in the river upstream of the washout. Ōpōtiki District councillor Louis Rapiana said that the closure would affect a large number of people who travel from the […]

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, together with the Joy Wing Mau Fruit Technology Group and eight New Zealand fruit exporters, have launched a “Taste New Zealand” fruit gift box that is customised for the Chinese market. The gift box contains over ten types of premium fruit, most of them varieties that have been developed in […]

Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong called for the further deepening of the friendship between China and New Zealand at the annual conference of the New Zealand China Friendship Society (NZCFS) last month. He said that developing a strong relationship between the two countries is a long-term strategic decision. Both China and New Zealand […]