April 2025

How China took over the world’s rare earths industry

New Zealand Blog News Service Apr 20, 2025

New York Times: China’s rare earth dominance leaves US vulnerable amid export halt.http://dlvr.it/TKGtkK

AI in courtrooms: Legal system grapples with GenAI challenges – Sasha Borissenko

New Zealand Blog News Service Apr 19, 2025

AI tools risk breaching privacy by using sensitive, suppressed information.http://dlvr.it/TKGBZW

NZ’s infrastructure crisis: Unlocking Crown assets for renewal – Roger Partridge

New Zealand Blog News Service Apr 18, 2025

OPINION: New Zealand faces a $210 billion infrastructure deficit with ageing systems.http://dlvr.it/TKFRgF

Cyclone Tam live updates: Moderate risk of thunderstorms as storm remains over Tasman Sea

New Zealand Blog News Service Apr 17, 2025

A potential low-system is set to form on the northeast coast of New Zealand.http://dlvr.it/TKDVwX

Auckland Council report opposes Westmere helipad application for Anna Mowbray, Ali Williams: submissions released

New Zealand Blog News Service Apr 16, 2025

All 1397 public submissions are out: 91% or 1277 opposed, 108 supporting, 12 are neutral.http://dlvr.it/TKBBC0

Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet September 20, 2024
Tory Whanau has revealed that she’s struggling so much financially that she may have to part with her beloved mayoralty, that of New Zealand’s capital city, if she’s to fund her ever-diminishing lifestyle. Whanau was elected to lead Wellington in 2022, winning an overwhelming victory against the incumbent mayor: the evil version of Jason Gunn. […]
Ben Uffindell
Ukrainian militia receives defective shipment of pagers that just send and receive messages September 18, 2024
There’s been a major setback for one Ukrainian-backed militia on the Russian border, after the group ordered a large shipment of pagers to use as improvised explosive devices. The plan was to litter the pagers throughout abandoned homes and buildings in hopes of wounding Russian soldiers. But upon arrival of the shipment, routed through the […]
Ben Uffindell
Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English September 17, 2024
The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy – signaled when they came […]
Ben Uffindell
Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it at 5am September 17, 2024
At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, because I think he’s got […]
Ben Uffindell
Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done September 17, 2024
It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your lane, cutting in front of […]
Ben Uffindell
NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play September 17, 2024
Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was rendered merely symbolic, after the […]
Ben Uffindell
Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’ September 16, 2024
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are “never anything”, a “huge waste […]
Ben Uffindell
Air New Zealand flight attendant named CEO after one year on job November 30, 2021
New Zealand’s national carrier, Air New Zealand, has expressed great enthusiasm in announcing its new CEO today: 51-year-old Nathan Guy, a flight attendant who has spent about 1200 hours on the job. Guy joined the company as a fresh-faced, wide-eyed flight attendant serving now-reduced domestic routes in November of 2020, and has since spent a […]
Ben Uffindell
National Party board denies it unanimously agreed to Collins’ Faustian bargain with Satan November 26, 2021
National Party president Peter Goodfellow is today issuing a strong denial on behalf of the party’s board, saying they did not, at any point, agree to the Faustian bargain that National leader Judith Collins struck with the Evil One, Son of Perdition, the Devil Satan himself. When Collins became the leader of the National Party […]
Ben Uffindell
Super Saturday recap: Patrick Gower doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do October 16, 2021
It was Aotearoa’s first national day of action in over ten years, the first since 2010, when Prime Minister John Key tried to inspire us to clean up our nation’s berms. It didn’t work. Today, New Zealand’s berms are worse than ever. But history is not destiny, and other cliches. Today, we tried again, this […]
Ben Uffindell

First stage of tunnels trail open December 19, 2025
Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust chairman Brent Irving has a look around the Chain Hills Tunnel after it was opened this week. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH The first section of a Dunedin cycle trail — 20 years in the making — has opened just in time for Christmas.
Harbourmaster urges water safety December 19, 2025
Otago Regional Council harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook will be reminding people enjoying the water to be careful and remember their lifejackets. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON While people are enjoying an Otago holiday on the water, the region’s harbourmasters will be out making sure everybody stays safe.
Laine Priestley
Firefighters union continues strike action into holiday season December 19, 2025
REPORT: LAINE PRIESTLEY / PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Career firefighters from all over Dunedin stopped work from noon until 1pm yesterday and took to the street to strike outside the Dunedin Central Fire Station.
Laine Priestley
Gore shooting suspects allegedly caught with weapons December 19, 2025
The two men charged over a firearms incident in Gore this week were caught in Invercargill yesterday, allegedly carrying a gun, knuckle-dusters and a razor blade.
Ella Scott-Fleming
Unpaid Otago fines hit $9.6m December 19, 2025
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Unpaid and overdue fines in Otago have risen in the past year as the amount of debt owed nears $10 million.
Laine Priestley
Man 'turned into monster’ when drinking alcohol December 19, 2025
A Dunedin man who relentlessly pursued his former partner says he "turned into a monster" when drinking alcohol.
Rob Kidd
Man who murdered mother has term cut December 19, 2025
Jordan Taylor. PHOTO: ODT FILE A Dunedin man who beat his mother to death with a dumbbell will no longer be subject to life imprisonment after winning an appeal.
Rob Kidd
Wind event cleanup to last until mid-2026 December 19, 2025
Sally Rae
Small increase expected for forestry export revenue December 19, 2025
Logs arrive at Port Otago's dock in Port Chalmers ready to be loaded on to ships. PHOTO: ODT FILES New Zealand forestry export revenue is forecast to rise 2% to $6.3 billion in the year to June 30, 2026, a report from the Ministry for Primary Industries says.
ODT quiz: December 20 December 19, 2025
Test your local and general knowledge by taking the Otago Daily Times quiz for Saturday, December 20.

Search New Zealand News

April 2025

How China took over the world’s rare earths industry

AI in courtrooms: Legal system grapples with GenAI challenges – Sasha Borissenko

NZ’s infrastructure crisis: Unlocking Crown assets for renewal – Roger Partridge

Cyclone Tam live updates: Moderate risk of thunderstorms as storm remains over Tasman Sea

Auckland Council report opposes Westmere helipad application for Anna Mowbray, Ali Williams: submissions released

You Missed

Kaikōura developer Garry Robertson launches defamation action against district council and senior official

Media Insider: John Campbell’s new Morning Report role – RNZ’s robust board discussions; Girls Uninterrupted podcast ends; Sky TV sport content facelift; Westpac agency moves

LawVu hits $400m valuation, buys European firm ClauseBase to boost its AI push

Media Insider: Julian Batchelor v TVNZ defamation case – former TVNZ presenter Peter Williams takes stand in support of Jim Grenon-funded Batchelor claim

Search New Zealand News