14/06/2025
Here's a summary of the most recent news from New Zealand:
Breaking/Top Stories:
* Fatal Crash in Dargaville: One person has died following a serious crash in Dargaville. (June 14, 2025)
* Missing Woman Found: A 21-year-old woman missing overnight from Britomart in Auckland has made contact with her father. (June 14, 2025)
* Powerball Jackpots: The $20 million Powerball prize was not struck and has jackpotted to $25 million for the next draw. (June 14, 2025)
* Wellington Sports Centre Evacuated: A suspected gas leak forced the evacuation of a Wellington sports centre. (June 13, 2025)
* Paeroa Crash: A major emergency response was underway after a crash in Paeroa left one person critical and another badly hurt. (June 13, 2025)
Political and Economic Developments:
* Government Health Targets: The government is moving to put "health targets into law" to focus on faster care, shorter wait times, and higher immunisation rates. (June 14, 2025)
* More Cuts Proposed at Ministry for Culture and Heritage: Further cuts are being proposed at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, potentially affecting historians and digital content staff. (June 13, 2025)
* Household Solar Power Boost: The government has announced changes to boost household solar power, making it easier to send power back to the grid and get faster building consents. (June 13, 2025)
* PM to Visit China and Europe: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will visit China next week (his first visit as PM) before heading to the NATO summit. (June 13, 2025)
* Economic Slowdown: The New Zealand economy has slowed due to higher interest rates and inflation. Economists are updating forecasts, with growth expected to be around 0.9% this year. (June 13, 2025)
* Increased Benefit Claims: More people claimed social development benefits during May, with most of the increase attributed to JobSeeker support. (June 14, 2025)
Social and Domestic Issues:
* Mother Avoids Jail: A mother of three avoided jail time after forming an "inappropriate but consensual" relationship with a friend's 15-year-old son. She was sentenced to home detention and referred to a s*x offender program. (June 14, 2025)
* Auckland Traffic Gridlock: A report suggests Auckland's weekend traffic is now worse than rush hour, with residents potentially spending 29 million hours a year in congestion. (June 13, 2025)
* Gisborne Alcohol Ban: A majority of residents support extending and expanding alcohol ban areas in Gisborne due to issues like public drinking, urinating, and littering. (June 14, 2025)
* Methamphetamine Consumption Increase: Wastewater testing shows a 96% increase in methamphetamine consumption in 2024 compared to 2023, highlighting a growing crisis. (Recent reports)
Other News:
* NZ Rugby CEO to Step Down: Mark Robinson, CEO of New Zealand Rugby, will step down at the end of the year. (June 8, 2025)
* Stu Wilson Remembered: Former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson was farewelled at his funeral, with mourners recalling his unforgettable energy. (June 14, 2025)
New Zealand is a magnificent place in the sky
