New Zealand

The Building Act will allow councils to merge their building consent functions, with private operators doing more consenting work instead of current liability regime; changes to the system will be the largest in decades and clear the way for more building

A glimpse of Auckland Transport's future era was unveiled as a new map at Britomart Station gives commuters a preview of the new stops and links available when the long-awaited City Rail Link will open; over-budget and over-time, CRL is nearing completion

One person has died and several others were stabbed in Hamilton city centre in a “disorder incident” at nighttime; Alexandra St between Collingwood and Hood Sts in the 7th largest town in NZ remained cordoned off in the morning

Publisher Stuff has announced it will close around 15 community newspapers, including its 'historic' Auckland free press: the digital wave continues to wash through the industry that sees a number of well-known newspapers set to close in the next weeks

Auckland’s Cremorne St this year retains its title as the city’s most expensive street; the coastal road stretches just 150m, but its 15 luxury mansions are worth $11,3 million (€5,8 million) each on average according to latest real-estate figures

Ten kiwi have been released on the eastern side of Waiheke, Te Motuaarairoa, the most isolated side of the island; Save the Kiwi confirms it's the first urban Auckland area to have the national icon bird reintroduced

Speed limit on Highway 35 from Makorori to Pouawa will increase to 100km/h following public consultation of 864 people: 41% of respondents supported keeping the current 80km/h limit, introduced in 2020 to curb accidents, and proven successful

Essity's toilet paper and tissue production plant in Kawerau proudly presented its 100% conversion to geothermal steam drying

A new report by NZ Post revealed that shoppers spent NZ$1,73 billion ($984 million) online between October and December 2024, a 9% increase over the same period in 2023

The New Zealand government has been forced to defend its new tourism campaign aimed at attracting Australian tourists, called 'Everyone must go!", accused of being tone-deaf at a time when it is facing record emigration and unemployment rates

The first known major outbreak of avian botulism in Otago region led to the deaths of about 1000 waterfowl at the Waikouaiti wastewater treatment plant and has been followed by another suspected outbreak in Timaru

According to AirlineRatings.com, the safest airline for 2025 is Air New Zealand, which also won in 2024 and 2022, with an outstanding safety record, with no serious accidents or crashes in the modern jet age

2024 saw a decline in house property value in most of the country, with over -6% reached in bigger cities due to overall market low and high mortgage rates; as lower rates are starting to work through the system, the value decline could be nearing its end