CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Brendon and Trina Cole were found dead at a rural property in Ruatiti. SUPPLIED No charges have been laid in relation to a homicide investigation in the central North Island where a couple were found dead. It has been more than three weeks since since 56-year-old Brendon Leigh Cole and 54-year-old ... <a title="Ruatiti homicide: No charges laid following deaths of Brendon and Trina Cole" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/ruatiti-homicide-no-charges-laid-following-deaths-of-brendon-and-trina-cole/" aria-label="Read more about Ruatiti homicide: No charges laid following deaths of Brendon and Trina Cole">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Lord Fakafanua receives appointment confirmation from King Tupou VI at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. 18 December 2025 Tonga Prime Minister’s Office The inner circle of Tonga’s legislative assembly has been confirmed, with new prime minister Lord Fakafanua announcing his selection of cabinet ministers on Monday afternoon. Fakafanua will take ... <a title="Tonga’s Cabinet line-up announced for new parliament term" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/tongas-cabinet-line-up-announced-for-new-parliament-term/" aria-label="Read more about Tonga’s Cabinet line-up announced for new parliament term">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Follow all the action from Sydney Cricket Ground as England put on strong first inninngs in the final Ashes test. England enjoyed one of their better days of the series on Sunday, with a 154-run stand between Joe Root and Harry Brook helping them to 211 for 3 before the opening ... <a title="Cricket Ashes live: Australia v England, test 5, day 2" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/cricket-ashes-live-australia-v-england-test-5-day-2/" aria-label="Read more about Cricket Ashes live: Australia v England, test 5, day 2">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The kiwi was ushered outside where it ran off (file image). supplied A couple staying with friends near Whangārei Heads has been surprised by a special guest over the holidays after finding a kiwi in the sleepout they were staying in. The pair had left the doors open to cool down ... <a title="Couple surprised to find kiwi trying to have a sleepover" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/couple-surprised-to-find-kiwi-trying-to-have-a-sleepover/" aria-label="Read more about Couple surprised to find kiwi trying to have a sleepover">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER Four people have died in a series of separate crashes in 24 hours. Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 24 in Waikato, south of Matamata at 9.45am. “One person died at the scene, no further injuries were reported,” police said. “The road ... <a title="Four deadly crashes in a day" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/four-deadly-crashes-in-a-day/" aria-label="Read more about Four deadly crashes in a day">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER Cordons are in place around a Christchurch property where an ‘item of concern’ has been found. Police were called to St Barnabas Street in Fendalton at about 9.15am on Monday. The Defence Force explosive bomb disposal team is also responding. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a ... <a title="Christchurch properties cordoned off as bomb squad called in" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/christchurch-properties-cordoned-off-as-bomb-squad-called-in/" aria-label="Read more about Christchurch properties cordoned off as bomb squad called in">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The urgent care clinic at Porirua’s Kenepuru Hospital was without a doctor overnight (file image). Google Maps The urgent care clinic at Porirua’s Kenepuru Hospital was without a doctor overnight due to what Health NZ has called “unforeseen circumstances”. The agency posted on social media that there was no doctor at ... <a title="No doctors overnight in Wellington urgent care clinic" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/no-doctors-overnight-in-wellington-urgent-care-clinic/" aria-label="Read more about No doctors overnight in Wellington urgent care clinic">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Plans to open a Dunedin bottle store earlier in the day have been quashed after being told it would have been inappropriate in the student quarter. Bottle O Cumberland applied to increase its off-licence hours to 9am until 10pm at night each day. Currently, it opens at 10am and the ... <a title="Dunedin bottle store’s plans to open earlier quashed" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/dunedin-bottle-stores-plans-to-open-earlier-quashed/" aria-label="Read more about Dunedin bottle store’s plans to open earlier quashed">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Health Minister Simeon Brown. RNZ / Mark Papalii Health Minister Simeon Brown has commissioned a review by the Ministry of Health into the response to the cyber security breach involving patient information on ManageMyHealth. In a statement, Brown said patient data is incredibly personal and whether it is held by a ... <a title="Government orders review into ManageMyHealth data breach" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/government-orders-review-into-managemyhealth-data-breach/" aria-label="Read more about Government orders review into ManageMyHealth data breach">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A quirky shop run by Northland’s Puzzleman is itself something of a puzzle. How does a small business, selling a niche product in an out-of-the-way town of a few hundred souls, survive for half a century – especially in these tough economic times? Louis “Puzzleman” Toorenburg has a simple answer. Toorenburg ... <a title="Meet the Puzzleman of New Zealand" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/meet-the-puzzleman-of-new-zealand/" aria-label="Read more about Meet the Puzzleman of New Zealand">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Warmer, more settled weather should give rain-soaked parts of the country a chance to dry out following a weekend of heavy rainfalls and flooding in northern regions, MetService says. At the weekend, a low pressure system brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to northern parts of the country causing surface flooding and ... <a title="Summer returns: Temperatures could reach 30s this week" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/summer-returns-temperatures-could-reach-30s-this-week/" aria-label="Read more about Summer returns: Temperatures could reach 30s this week">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A person has died after a crash in Rolleston on Monday. Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle crash on Jones Road shortly after 7.45am. The driver died at the scene. Jones Road remained closed. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and expect delays. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, ... <a title="Person dies after single-vehicle crash closes road in Rolleston" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/person-dies-after-single-vehicle-crash-closes-road-in-rolleston/" aria-label="Read more about Person dies after single-vehicle crash closes road in Rolleston">Read more</a>