New Zealand

* Wool will become the preferred choice in government construction and refurbishment from 1 July * Ministers say move supports farmers, boosts jobs, and strengthens sustainable building practices * Agencies must explain if wool isn’t used and report decisions annually to MBIE The New Zealand Government has confirmed that from 1 July,

The annual Pork Pie Charity Run will be heading south on Wednesday as it finishes another successful New Zealand tour. Organisers Keri and Kevin Hollamby and Peter Bjarnesen said the convoy of 50 was heading across to the West Coast on Monday and then down into Central Otago, over to

• Government will allow larger granny flats to be built without resource or building consents • Rule change aims to reduce red tape, lower costs, and support multigenerational family living • Reforms to land acquisition and building materials access also introduced to boost housing supply The Government is making it easier for New

UPDATE: Our best April Fool's yet! In a stunning turn of events, whatsoninvers.nz can exclusively reveal that New Zealand may soon become the 51st state of the United States. Sources indicate that the groundwork for this historic partnership has been quietly but rapidly developing, culminating in a

* Government confirms two new Cook Strait ferries will enter service by Christmas 2029 * Ferries will carry cars, trucks and up to 40 rail wagons on each sailing * Project to reuse port infrastructure, reducing taxpayer cost compared to cancelled iReX plan Two new Interislander ferries with both rail and road capability

* Simeon Brown criticised Health NZ for engaging in advocacy unrelated to healthcare delivery. * Brown cited examples including fast food opposition, raffle bans, and transport policy. * The Health Minister urged Health NZ to focus on improving immunisation rates and care access. New Zealand’s Minister of Health, Simeon Brown, has criticised

* JB Hi-Fi’s net income rose 8% to $285.4 million, driven by strong sales growth. * New Zealand sales surged 20%, with online sales jumping 58.4% to NZ$32.4 million. * JB Hi-Fi Invercargill celebrates its first birthday on 20 February. JB Hi-Fi has reported a significant increase in

* The adult minimum wage will rise to $23.50 an hour from April 2025. * The increase supports workers while balancing economic recovery and business stability. * Starting-out and training wage rates remain at 80 per cent of the adult rate. The adult minimum wage in New Zealand will increase by 1.