CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand An oil rig off the coast of Taranaki. Supplied An Australian firm incorporated weeks before New Zealand’s offshore oil and gas ban ended will have its application for an exploration permit considered uncontested. EnZed Energy is the first company to apply for a petroleum exploration permit since the 2018 ban, which ... <a title="First offshore oil and gas exploration permit since ban under official consideration" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/first-offshore-oil-and-gas-exploration-permit-since-ban-under-official-consideration/" aria-label="Read more about First offshore oil and gas exploration permit since ban under official consideration">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Patrick Keusch, 32, appears for sentencing on a charge of careless driving causing death in the Christchurch District Court. ALDEN WILLIAMS/THE PRESS A Swiss man cried in court as he was sentenced for careless driving after a fatal head-on crash in Canterbury. Glenda Sally Douglas, 68, died following the two-vehicle crash ... <a title="Swiss man sentenced for careless driving after fatal Canterbury crash" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/swiss-man-sentenced-for-careless-driving-after-fatal-canterbury-crash/" aria-label="Read more about Swiss man sentenced for careless driving after fatal Canterbury crash">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Hastings District Court. A woman has been arrested and a homicide investigation launched after the death of a man in Napier. Emergency services were called to Savage Crescent in Marewa just after 11.10am after receiving reports a man had been assaulted. He was found critically injured and died at the scene. ... <a title="Woman charged with murder after death in Napier" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/woman-charged-with-murder-after-death-in-napier/" aria-label="Read more about Woman charged with murder after death in Napier">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Who and what does Scott Robertson’s historic firing as All Black coach say the most about? Or is the most important statement about the team, rugby union itself and both crossing the final threshold into what can finally be considered true professionalism? We’re into over three decades of pro rugby, which ... <a title="All Blacks: Scott Robertson, David Kirk, player power and reputations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/all-blacks-scott-robertson-david-kirk-player-power-and-reputations/" aria-label="Read more about All Blacks: Scott Robertson, David Kirk, player power and reputations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Te Rau Oranga o Ngāti Kahungunu Waka Ama Club, J16 Men compete at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. Supplied/Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ This years Waka Ama Sprint Nationals have seen 800 more paddlers take to the water than last year, which organisers say reflects the growth of the sport in Aotearoa. ... <a title="Waka Ama Sprint Nationals growing with 800 more paddlers than previous year" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/waka-ama-sprint-nationals-growing-with-800-more-paddlers-than-previous-year/" aria-label="Read more about Waka Ama Sprint Nationals growing with 800 more paddlers than previous year">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand By Brad Lendon, CNN Firework displays in North Korea, as the state held a rally days after its last test of a nuclear weapon on 3 September 2017. KCNA VIS KNS / AFP The world passed a nuclear milestone this week. And, perhaps surprisingly given the recent run of saber-rattling from ... <a title="Longest ever lull in nuclear testing – but record already on shaky ground" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/longest-ever-lull-in-nuclear-testing-but-record-already-on-shaky-ground/" aria-label="Read more about Longest ever lull in nuclear testing – but record already on shaky ground">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The housing minister has confirmed the coalition is taking another look at housing intensification plans in Auckland after pushback from critics. Last year, Auckland Council approved the initial phase of a new plan to accommodate 2 million homes in the coming decades. The move was in response to the government agreeing ... <a title="Auckland councillors in the dark over government’s housing intensification rethink" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/auckland-councillors-in-the-dark-over-governments-housing-intensification-rethink/" aria-label="Read more about Auckland councillors in the dark over government’s housing intensification rethink">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand NZ Herald / Greg Bowker Corrections are set to trial a pilot for a “hospital hub” with the current model of hospital escorts “no longer fit-for-purpose,” according to the CEO. The news comes after a prisoner was on the run for more than a week after escaping while in a hospital ... <a title="Corrections to trial ‘hospital hub’, current model of hospital escorts ‘no longer fit-for-purpose’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/corrections-to-trial-hospital-hub-current-model-of-hospital-escorts-no-longer-fit-for-purpose/" aria-label="Read more about Corrections to trial ‘hospital hub’, current model of hospital escorts ‘no longer fit-for-purpose’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. RNZ / Richard Tindiller Police have arrested a 25-year-old man following a family harm incident in Masterton. Officers were called to a River Road address late Thursday afternoon and found a woman unconscious and bleeding. She was taken to Wellington Hospital in a serious condition. The man was due ... <a title="Man charged after family harm incident in Masterton" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/man-charged-after-family-harm-incident-in-masterton/" aria-label="Read more about Man charged after family harm incident in Masterton">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Mourners have queued under umbrellas to pay their respects to Sir Tim Shadbolt, whose funeral service begins in Invercargill. The 78-year-old former mayor of Waitematā and Invercargill died last week. The funeral service will be held at Invercargill’s Civic Theatre from 2pm with doors open from 1pm. The service will also ... <a title="Watch: Mourners gather to remember Sir Tim Shadbolt at funeral" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/watch-mourners-gather-to-remember-sir-tim-shadbolt-at-funeral/" aria-label="Read more about Watch: Mourners gather to remember Sir Tim Shadbolt at funeral">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand What began as a casual rendition of ‘Blue Hawaii’ has led Wellington performer Taurean Kenny Mill to a win at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist’s preliminary round. One of the region’s youngest Elvis tribute artists, Mill took home the honour last week in Australia and will travel to the USA later ... <a title="Could NZ have the best Elvis impersonator in the world?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/could-nz-have-the-best-elvis-impersonator-in-the-world/" aria-label="Read more about Could NZ have the best Elvis impersonator in the world?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone New Zealand’s embassy in Iran has temporarily closed due to what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says is a “deteriorating” security situation. Human rights groups estimate the death toll has reached over 2500 since protests against the regime began ... <a title="New Zealand vacates embassy in Iran as threat of violence escalates" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/new-zealand-vacates-embassy-in-iran-as-threat-of-violence-escalates/" aria-label="Read more about New Zealand vacates embassy in Iran as threat of violence escalates">Read more</a>
