New Zealand

10.15am, Thursday 8 October from Fire & Emergency. More positive news. The first flight this morning found no visible flames around the perimeter. The fire hasn't grown noticeably overnight. The fire is not out yet, so we have crews back on the ground supported by helicopters, targeting

The Walter Peak fire has grown to an estimated 1,200 hectares, and firefighters are warning it could get bigger. Operations resumed at 7am this morning, with four helicopters running monsoon bucket runs to cool hotspots and dampen the perimeter. A fifth is up as an aerial platform directing the

New Zealand has a new agency running its school property portfolio, and the Government says it is the clearest sign yet that the old way of doing things is finished. The New Zealand School Property Agency formally began operations today, taking over responsibility for building, managing and maintaining school property

The government's books are in better shape than expected, with Treasury forecasting a significantly smaller deficit and a path back to surplus that Finance Minister Nicola Willis called "within a hair's breadth" of breaking even a year ahead of schedule. The Pre-election Economic and

Fonterra farmers are getting $9.69 per kilogram of milk solids for the season just finished, with the co-operative posting its strongest result in years after a period of significant change. The co-op reported total group operating profit of $3.4 billion for FY26, up 97.6% on the prior

Four people are safe after their vessel capsized north of Stewart Island on Friday, rescued from the water by a passing fishing boat before Coastguard could reach them. Coastguard Riverton volunteers were monitoring channel 16 when a mayday call came through and launched rescue vessel Russel John Chisholm. At the

Career firefighters in the south are pleased the Government is listening to its ongoing concerns about inadequate and aging fleet. The Parliamentary inquiry released this week criticised Fire and Emergency New Zealand about the poor state and management of its appliances, and has called for a rapid reset of leadership

Scott O'Donnell has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business — recognition that spans trucking, hydrogen fuel, a $180 million city centre overhaul, and a dementia care village on the edge of Invercargill. O'Donnell has spent his career expanding