National News
$14m South Waikato Trades Training Centre
The new South Waikato Trades Training Centre is making strong progress with the funding contracts being signed to complete the $14m project. Professional services firms have been appointed to undertake the next phases of design, engineering and cost management for the Centre. The project is being led by the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) […]
South Waikato music festival a New Zealand first
This weekend will be all about That Weekend in South Waikato. In what will be the first of its kind in New Zealand, some of the country’s top artists will perform during a two day camping music festival surrounded by natural hot spring spas, 9-hole golf, tennis courts, restaurant, pub, and native forest at the […]
Wellington’s newest Korean art connection
A wall in Karori is getting a new lease on life with a mural by a local artist. Graphic designer and Korean New Zealander Keehwa Hong answered an open call for artists by the Wellington City Council last year. It is being painted across three sides of an old electricity substation (east, south and west […]
Multinational company promises quick builds
An overseas building company has entered the New Zealand market, promising to build affordable houses in half the normal time. Panasonic Homes, part of the giant Japanese multinational Panasonic Corporation, has partnered with New Zealand residential building company Mike Greer Commercial. It is the first time Panasonic Homes has expanded outside of Asia. The company […]
Hawke’s Bay not only about wine- also beer
Hawke’s Bay is one of Aotearoa’s premier wine spots, drawing in tourists from across the country and around the world. But the region has recently been making a name for itself because of its craft beer offerings, with several taprooms opening just in time for summer. RNZ explored three local breweries to see what the fuss […]
InterIslander ferries set to be built at South Korean shipyard
KiwiRail’s project for two new InterIslander ferries is progressing, with the operator signing a letter of intent for them to built at a South Korean shipyard. The letter is a non-binding agreement that allows both parties to progress to more detailed contract negotiations. KiwiRail chief executive Greg Miller said the decision to choose the Hyundai […]
Christmas period boosts New Zealand domestic card spending.
Spending on groceries, furniture and electronics boosted New Zealand’s December 2020 sales compared with December 2019, but accommodation and fuel spending were low, the country’s statistics department Stats NZ said on Tuesday. Total retail card spending rose 3.5 percent in December 2020, up 250 million New Zealand dollars (178 million U.S. dollars), compared with the […]
New food rules for childcare centres
New rules excluding any risky foods in New Zealand’s childcare centres will take effect on Monday to prevent choking hazards, while parents complained that it would be too hard to prepare for their kids’ lunchboxes. The rules, released by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, prohibit the presence and feeding of risky foods such as […]
More expensive fruit, vegetables boost New Zealand food prices.
Fruit and vegetable prices increased almost 9 percent in the year ended December 2020, boosting overall food price inflation to 2.9 percent, New Zealand’s statistics department Stats NZ said on Friday. “In 2020 prices have been high for a variety of crops, including potatoes, courgettes and tomatoes, at different times of the year and for […]
New Zealand house prices hit a record high for the fourth month in a row.
According to the latest real estate data on Friday, the lack of properties for sale is putting pressure on New Zealand house prices and speeding up home sales, leading to record median house price for the fourth month in a row. Median house prices across New Zealand increased to a record median price of 749,000 […]