Author: Press Room

High-profile entertainers Dai Henwood and Suzy Cato, and former government minister Steven Joyce are among those recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.Read the full list: King’s Birthday Honours 2025Henwood, who has today been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, is a television host and stand-up comedian who has been performing on both television and stage for 25 years.He is battling bowel cancer after being diagnosed in 2020. Henwood has also been a vocal advocate for those living with the disease, as well as campaigning on men’s mental health. Henwood played a role in raising more…

An aurora that lit up the South Island and reached as far north as Auckland last night could make another appearance on Monday night, though it’s not expected to be visible as far north this time.Aurora over Houghton Bay, Wellington on June 1, 2025. (Source: Allan Scadden)South Islanders witnessed the light show earlier on Sunday night, while some North Islanders were also said to be experiencing the spectacle.Aurora over Auckland Muriwai Beach. (Source: Michael Schollum)Yesterday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Centre predicted the phenomenon was expected to be seen overnight and continuing into Monday.Photo taken…

The following people have been recognised with awards in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025.The New Zealand Order of MeritDNZMTo be Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:Ms Ranjna Patel, ONZM, QSM, JPFor services to ethnic communities, health and family violence preventionEmeritus Distinguished Professor Alison Stewart, CNZMFor services to plant science and the arable sectorMrs Catriona Ruth Williams, MNZMFor services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sportKNZMTo be Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:The Honourable Mark Leslie Smith Cooper, KCFor services to the judiciaryMr Brendan Jon Lindsay, MNZMFor services to business and philanthropyMr Ewan Francis…

Two former finance ministers have been appointed Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit at this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.Ruth Richardson and Steven Joyce, both former National MPs, have been honoured for their services as Members of Parliament.Three other former MPs – Ian McKelvie, Anae Arthur Anae, and Dover Samuels – have also received Honours.’Early and decisive course correction was imperative’ – RichardsonRichardson was well aware that an interview about her King’s Birthday Honour would include questions on her time as finance minister.The economic reforms she oversaw – and the 1991 ‘Mother of All Budgets’ – made significant changes…

The world’s media is lining up to interview Dame Jacinda Ardern about her memoir, A Different Kind of Power – CBS, BBC, even Oprah. But as the former prime minister sits down to talk to Seven Sharp, she insists the impression she makes on Kiwis matters most. “I’m sweating just as much as I did with Oprah,” she tells Hilary Barry in a conversation that traverses fertility, public hostility and the cancer scare that sparked her decision to resign.”The question for me was, could I keep going and do the job well?” – Watch this story on TVNZ+ In the…

A world-first study, led by the University of Canterbury, could help reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance, considered one of the greatest health threats facing humanity.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when pathogens like bacteria and fungi evolve to withstand antibiotics.The project, which is currently a grant proposal, is being led by Professor Jack Heinemann of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury’s School of Biological Sciences.He said the research will map reservoirs of AMR across New Zealand to pinpoint areas of resistance, making it the first country in the world to know where its hot spots are located.It’s hoped the…

Dayna Pomare-Pai (Ngāpuhi) is an award-winning stuntwoman to the stars, but it’s what she does on the ground that’s shaping the future of the industry in Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Rauhiringa Brown caught up with Pomare-Pai on her stomping grounds in the Hunua Ranges for TVNZ’s Marae.Watch part one of this two-part report on TVNZ+ now.When she’s not on a film set, you can find Pomare-Pai at home on Sky High Ranch, training grounds to the next generation of stunt performers.“Everyone who comes here says it feels like therapy,” she said.On this visit, the kind of therapy students are going…

This winter could bring a bit of everything on to our table. It will be like grabbing the extra big plate at the smorgasbord to get a sample of everything from the buffet. The season’s weather will feature lots of variety – from the risk of heavy extreme rainfall to Antarctic cold and some fine settled days in between. This variety will be the key feature because there’s no set driving force to the weather over the next few months. Instead, we will have lots of factors jostling for space on our weather maps each week. Watch Daniel Corbett’s winter…

The quality of air inside school classrooms is so poor that winter bugs quickly spread from children to their families and communities, contributing to cases of Covid-19, asthma and other illnesses at hospital emergency departments, an epidemiologist with a background in paediatrics says.Teachers are also being struck down, according to Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, who told RNZ’s Saturday Morning more cases of long Covid are cropping up, rendering them unable to work.It comes as health authorities brace for what is thought to be a new, more infectious subvariant of Covid following a surge in detections.Kvalsvig is a member of advocacy group…

Julia Gorinski reckons some of the skills she learned on the rugby field may come in handy in her new role in the banking field. Ms Gorinski, 30, is a household name in Otago rugby, as the former Otago Spirit captain, Matatū Super Rugby Aupiki player and Varsity veteran. Having hung up her representative boots last year after playing her 65th cap for the Otago Spirit in the Farah Palmer Cup championship final, she moved straight into the Varsity coaching role this season. A few weeks ago, she became Westpac’s Otago-Southland agribusiness manager, a role which included overseeing other managers…