Independent Analysis and Reportage
Source: Radio New Zealand A pipe pumped out wastewater into Porirua Harbour for three hours. Supplied / Wellington Water A burst pipe pumped out wastewater into Porirua Harbour for three hours on Tuesday morning, Wellington Water confirmed. Crews were sent out to the pipe on Titahi Bay Road, where the discharge into the stormwater network…
Source: Radio New Zealand Finance minister Nicola Willis. RNZ / Mark Papalii The finance minister is set to reveal proposals to reduce the number of government agencies, by telling ministries and departments to come up with plans for amalgamation. RNZ understands Nicola Willis will set out three proposals on Tuesday afternoon to create efficiencies in…
Source: Radio New Zealand Pene Pati was “totally blown away” when he found out he was getting the French Arts Knighthood. Speaking from Zurich, the Samoan-born opera star told Checkpoint it was an emotional moment, especially “coming from somewhere that doesn’t speak French”, let alone do as much opera. Another high note for Samoan kiwi…
Source: Radio New Zealand The government pledged to spend $131 million on improving students’ reading, writing and maths in this year’s budget. Unsplash/ Taylor Flowe A school principal has said the government’s planned investment into education will help teachers and deliver a more consistent quality of learning across the country. The government pledged on Tuesday…
Source: Radio New Zealand The family of murdered police office Lyn Fleming say the way she died was was “nothing short of barbaric”. Senior Sergeant Fleming and Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay were on foot patrol in Buxton Square in the early hours of New Year’s Day last year when they were hit by a car…
Source: Radio New Zealand Pilot Tim Brown (left) and guide Sean Roach named as two dead in Mt Aspiring helicopter crash. SUPPLIED Pilot Tim Brown and guide Sean Roach have been named as the pair who died in a helicopter crash in Mt Aspiring National Park. The helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 B3, belonged to The ... <a title="Tim Brown and Sean Roach named as two dead in Mt Aspiring helicopter crash" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/tim-brown-and-sean-roach-named-as-two-dead-in-mt-aspiring-helicopter-crash/" aria-label="Read more about Tim Brown and Sean Roach named as two dead in Mt Aspiring helicopter crash">Read more</a>
Source: Radio New Zealand The government will spend $131 million on improving students’ reading, writing and maths in this year’s budget, the Education Minister Erica Stanford says. Stanford made the pre-Budget announcement alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at Boulcott School in Lower Hutt on Monday. Another 12 initiatives as part of primary and intermediate school ... <a title="Watch: Erica Stanford announces $131m Budget spend on reading, writing and maths initiatives" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/watch-erica-stanford-announces-131m-budget-spend-on-reading-writing-and-maths-initiatives/" aria-label="Read more about Watch: Erica Stanford announces $131m Budget spend on reading, writing and maths initiatives">Read more</a>
Source: Radio New Zealand America’s Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist Blair Tuke. PHOTOSPORT America’s Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist Blair Tuke says the government should scrap its Fisheries legislation. Tuke was speaking to the Primary Production select committee on behalf of the Live Ocean Foundation alongside ultramarathon swimmer Jono Ridler in response to ... <a title="Olympian Blair Tuke calls on government to scrap Fisheries legislation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/olympian-blair-tuke-calls-on-government-to-scrap-fisheries-legislation/" aria-label="Read more about Olympian Blair Tuke calls on government to scrap Fisheries legislation">Read more</a>
Source: Radio New Zealand NZ Breakers looking for new coach after parting ways with Petteri Koponen after two seasons. Blake Armstrong/Photosport The off-season coaching turnover in the Australian NBL reached new heights when two more teams joined the recruitment process for a head coach in recent weeks. The New Zealand Breakers have been working to ... <a title="NZ Breakers face competitive market to land new coach" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/nz-breakers-face-competitive-market-to-land-new-coach/" aria-label="Read more about NZ Breakers face competitive market to land new coach">Read more</a>
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Marika Khabazi New Zealand First might want the government to buy back BNZ and meld it with Kiwibank to create a banking competitor to take on the Australian big banks – but there’s limited evidence that it would work. NZ First leader Winston Peters said at the weekend that ... <a title="Would buying BNZ actually help New Zealanders?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/would-buying-bnz-actually-help-new-zealanders/" aria-label="Read more about Would buying BNZ actually help New Zealanders?">Read more</a>
Source: Radio New Zealand 123rf.com An Auckland police officer has been charged in relation to an alleged family harm incident. Court documents seen by RNZ claim the 38-year-old police officer assaulted a person he was in a family relationship with in October 2025. Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz Auckland City District Commander Superintendent Sunny ... <a title="Auckland police officer facing charge of abusing a person in a family relationship" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/auckland-police-officer-facing-charge-of-abusing-a-person-in-a-family-relationship/" aria-label="Read more about Auckland police officer facing charge of abusing a person in a family relationship">Read more</a>
Source: Radio New Zealand The government will spend $131 million on improving students’ reading, writing and maths in this year’s budget, the Education Minister Erica Stanford says. Stanford made the pre-Budget announcement alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at Boulcott School in Lower Hutt on Monday. They revealed 12 initiatives as part of the government’s “generational ... <a title="Live: Erica Stanford announces $131m Budget spend on reading, writing and maths initiatives" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/18/live-erica-stanford-announces-131m-budget-spend-on-reading-writing-and-maths-initiatives/" aria-label="Read more about Live: Erica Stanford announces $131m Budget spend on reading, writing and maths initiatives">Read more</a>