CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Kirsty Ussher marries couple in Queenstown. Kirsty Ussher New figures from Stats NZ show the number of marriages and civil unions in New Zealand has fallen again, down 3 percent from 2025 to just under 17,500. Kirsty Ussher, a Wānaka-based celebrant and wedding planner, told Morning Report the way people mark ... <a title="Number of weddings and civil unions drops again, down 3 percent from 2025" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/number-of-weddings-and-civil-unions-drops-again-down-3-percent-from-2025/" aria-label="Read more about Number of weddings and civil unions drops again, down 3 percent from 2025">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Like in many families, Hoani Hotene‘s whanau won’t say he’s the funniest among them – everyone thinks they are the one. “My dad, like a lot of dads, finds himself the funniest person in the world, you know? He’ll tell his own joke and then he’ll laugh at it the hardest.” ... <a title="Can anyone be funny?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/can-anyone-be-funny/" aria-label="Read more about Can anyone be funny?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Butter is synonymous with the colour yellow. Butter yellow was the trending colour of 2025. In Mandarin Chinese, the word for butter translates as yellow oil. So what’s with this white butter appearing on our supermarket shelves? The arrival of a pale, US-sourced butter on Pak’nSave shelves has caused disappointment, confusion, ... <a title="Pale in comparison: What to know about US butter" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/pale-in-comparison-what-to-know-about-us-butter/" aria-label="Read more about Pale in comparison: What to know about US butter">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Labour leader Chris Hipkins. (File photo) RNZ / Mark Papalii Labour leader Chris Hipkins is confident the party’s promise of three free doctors visits a year is “realistic”. His comments come as rural doctor, and Rural Health Network chairperson, Dr Fiona Bolden told Morning Report, a focus was needed on workforce ... <a title="Chris Hipkins confident Labour’s promise of three free doctors visits a year is realistic" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/chris-hipkins-confident-labours-promise-of-three-free-doctors-visits-a-year-is-realistic/" aria-label="Read more about Chris Hipkins confident Labour’s promise of three free doctors visits a year is realistic">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A four-chair haemodialysis unit in Blenheim, called Tātari Toto, opened last year. RNZ / Samantha Gee Half of all renal services nationally are operating above capacity, with the Auckland renal service operating at 150 percent. The Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry survey for 2025 shows that in the ... <a title="Survey reveals the dire state of dialysis services around New Zealand" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/survey-reveals-the-dire-state-of-dialysis-services-around-new-zealand/" aria-label="Read more about Survey reveals the dire state of dialysis services around New Zealand">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Heavy rain and strong winds is forecast to lash lower parts of the country this weekend. MetService said a “significant autumnal change” was expected to arrive in the second half of the week. It said after a fine Monday and Tuesday, a change in the Tasman Sea was unfolding, with ... <a title="‘Significant autumnal change’: Wetter, windier weather for South Island this weekend" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/significant-autumnal-change-wetter-windier-weather-for-south-island-this-weekend/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Significant autumnal change’: Wetter, windier weather for South Island this weekend">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled a lawsuit brought by Lively over the filming of the 2024 romantic drama It Ends With Us, Baldoni’s production company say. The settlement has averted a civil trial scheduled for May where both actors were expected to testify about Lively’s allegations of sexual misconduct ... <a title="Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni settle lawsuit over It Ends With Us" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-settle-lawsuit-over-it-ends-with-us/" aria-label="Read more about Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni settle lawsuit over It Ends With Us">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Mark Papalii The Interislander is hiking its fuel surcharge to 54 percent on commercial vehicles and trucks crossing the Cook Strait due to soaring energy prices from the Middle East conflict. KiwiRail and the Minister for Rail Winston Peters say the ferry is experiencing cost pressures and can’t keep ... <a title="Interislander almost doubles fuel surcharge for commercial vehicles" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/interislander-almost-doubles-fuel-surcharge-for-commercial-vehicles/" aria-label="Read more about Interislander almost doubles fuel surcharge for commercial vehicles">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The man was left with security at the entrance, unresponsive, before being flown to Auckland Hospital where he died an hour later. RNZ / Alexander Robertson The Coroner has ruled a man was acting in self-defence, during a fracas that left one person dead in Northland five years ago. Trevor Ruatoto, ... <a title="No one charged after father of three tackled through glass door dies" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/no-one-charged-after-father-of-three-tackled-through-glass-door-dies/" aria-label="Read more about No one charged after father of three tackled through glass door dies">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Split Enz and Crowded House member Neil Finn has bought a controversial Auckland pub, with plans to turn it into a wellness retreat. Edinburgh Castle in Eden Terrace has a history of violent incidents, including the manslaughter of rising MMA fighter Fau Vake in 2021. Stuff reported in 2023 the bar ... <a title="Neil Finn buys pub with notorious history" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/neil-finn-buys-pub-with-notorious-history/" aria-label="Read more about Neil Finn buys pub with notorious history">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A report said the patron, who was in a toilet stall, was locked in after staff failed to properly check the venue before leaving last month. Supplied A Dunedin bar could lose its liquor licence after a drunk patron was locked in at the end of the night and later taken ... <a title="Dunedin bar Dropkicks could lose its liquor licence after locking drunk person in bathroom overnight" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/dunedin-bar-dropkicks-could-lose-its-liquor-licence-after-locking-drunk-person-in-bathroom-overnight/" aria-label="Read more about Dunedin bar Dropkicks could lose its liquor licence after locking drunk person in bathroom overnight">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Grace Jale (centre) of the Phoenix celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal during the A-League Women’s Semi Final match against the Brisbane Roar, 2026. AAP / Photosport Wellington Phoenix women’s coach Bev Priestman says making the most of the home advantage is what they need to do if they ... <a title="Phoenix women have to make the most of being at home" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/05/phoenix-women-have-to-make-the-most-of-being-at-home/" aria-label="Read more about Phoenix women have to make the most of being at home">Read more</a>
