Ball, James

The Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) is one of the biggest public service shake-ups in recent years.

One entity to rule them all: What's in the Govt's new mega-ministry?

The new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) starts work today. Here's what it means and what's been merged.

6:00am

Don Neale first built the beachfront landmark in 2001.

Hokitika's famous driftwood sign destroyed in suspected vandalism

Police are investigating after one of the West Coast's most-photographed landmarks was deliberately dismantled.

Mon, Jun 29

Roimata Ironui's damaged car after it was struck by a tyre on Auckland's Southern Motorway last week.

'We should be dead': Truck tyre strikes family's car on Auckland motorway

An Auckland family is badly shaken after the incident on the Southern Motorway.

Sat, Jun 27

Gales, snow, rain: More warnings likely as low bears down on NZ

MetService says watches and warnings already in place from Northland to Wellington are likely to be upgraded as the system develops.

Tue, Jun 23

Matt Ringot says the 96.7kg tuna is by far the biggest catch he's ever hauled in.

Jet ski fisherman lands 95.6kg tuna after shark bites off its tail

Matt Ringot's 90-minute battle in rough seas off the Bay of Plenty took a dramatic turn when a mako shark joined in.

Mon, Jun 22

1:11

One entity to rule them all: What's in the Govt's new mega-ministry?

The new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) starts work today. Here's what it means and what's been merged.

6:00am

Hokitika's famous driftwood sign destroyed in suspected vandalism

Police are investigating after one of the West Coast's most-photographed landmarks was deliberately dismantled.

Mon, Jun 29

'We should be dead': Truck tyre strikes family's car on Auckland motorway

An Auckland family is badly shaken after the incident on the Southern Motorway.

Sat, Jun 27

Gales, snow, rain: More warnings likely as low bears down on NZ

MetService says watches and warnings already in place from Northland to Wellington are likely to be upgraded as the system develops.

Tue, Jun 23

Jet ski fisherman lands 95.6kg tuna after shark bites off its tail

Matt Ringot's 90-minute battle in rough seas off the Bay of Plenty took a dramatic turn when a mako shark joined in.

Mon, Jun 22

1:11

DNA testing confirmed remains found on an offshore Coromandel island belonged to Waihī father of three Samuel McAlister, who vanished in September 2023.

'Mama finally found you': Mum's words after DNA confirms son's remains

Haidee Ainsley has farewelled her son Samuel McAlister, whose remains were found on an offshore Coromandel island after he vanished in September 2023.

Mon, Jun 22

1:31

Peters fires back, Seymour calls for unity after Nats 'Mum and Dad' dig

National's coalition partners have responded after campaign chairman Simeon Brown likened coalition dynamics to parents managing misbehaving children.

Sun, Jun 21

A knife-wielding man allegedly threatened a dairy owner during a shoplifting in the central city

Pie sign becomes shield as bystanders confront knife-wielding shoplifter

Police allege a 34-year-old threatened people with a weapon in Hamilton's CBD yesterday.

Sat, Jun 20

'Exceptionally warm start' to winter – NZ tracks toward record June

More than 150 weather stations are reporting record highs, with some South Island spots running 5C above normal.

Thu, Jun 18

3:13

A plume of smoke rises from Motukorea/Brown's Island after a marine marker is detonated.

Defence Force detonates 'item of concern' on Hauraki Gulf island

A marine marker found on Motukorea/Browns Island has been safely destroyed by the Defence Force in a controlled detonation.

Mon, Jun 15

Cables have been cut and stolen at several charging sites across the Wellington region.

Two men arrested over spate of EV charger thefts across Wellington

A search warrant at a Naenae address uncovered six stolen chargers and equipment police say was being used to break down the units for parts.

Fri, Jun 12

1:30

The fernery at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton closed on Wednesday due to people pooing inside it.

Faeces in the fernery: Town's attraction closed by people pooing

Masterton's historic fernery was forced to close on Wednesday after people defecated inside it.

Wed, Jun 10

The sinkhole had opened up on the farm overnight.

Digger rescues Lola the pony from Auckland sinkhole

Lola's owner Amanda Harrison found the 25-year-old pony by spotting her nose poking above the ground.

Tue, Jun 9

Flames towered above the treeline as a large vegetation fire broke out on the grounds of Waitaki Boys' High School in Oamaru this morning.

Towering flames engulf trees at Oamaru high school

Firefighters rushed to Waitaki Boys' High School after a blaze spread quickly through trees and vegetation.

Tue, Jun 9

0:36

The southern seawall at Wellington Airport during storm conditions. File Photo.

State of emergency, evacuations as swells of up to 10m to batter NZ's east

A deep Southern Ocean low is driving dangerous conditions for coastal areas from Banks Peninsula to the Chatham Islands, with the worst expected on Tuesday.

Mon, Jun 8

Officers first spotted the vehicle on Clive St in shortly before 6.15pm on Sunday.

Flames shoot from car as driver tries to evade Hawke's Bay police

A driver led police on a chase through Hastings and Havelock North with his car on fire before ramming two patrol cars in a last-ditch escape attempt.

Mon, Jun 8

1:09

Raw sewage, including faecal matter and sanitary products, flowed down the main street of a Wellington suburb.

Poo, tampons spill on Wellington street after wastewater blockage

Raw sewage flows on Island Bay's main street, with frustrated residents saying the capital's infrastructure can't handle heavy rain.

Fri, Jun 5

0:39

Time for a tax refund – or a bill: All you need to know

It's that time of year when a tax refund notice – and hopefully not a bill – can turn up in your inbox.

Wed, Jun 3

1:30

Flooding in Brightwater on Tuesday morning.

Eight homes evacuated as 200mm deluge causes flooding across Tasman

Extreme overnight rain swamped the top of the South Island, forcing evacuations in Brightwater, closing major highways and leaving rivers high, as severe weather shifts north.

Tue, Jun 2

3:02

The Ross family's houseboat, moored at Ōpua in the Bay of Islands, where thieves stripped the vessel of an estimated $8000-$10,000 worth of belongings.

Bay of Islands houseboat raided, sleep apnoea machine among items stolen

Up to $10,000 of property was taken from an Ōpua houseboat 100m in a burglary that has left a family baffled over how it was carried out.

Tue, Jun 2

1:30

Flooding threat for Northland, top of the South as front lashes NZ

Heavy rain and strong winds are battering large parts of the country, with Golden Bay in Tasman already recording nearly 280mm in 24 hours and more to come.

Mon, Jun 1

May 2026