Kiwi rugby writer Richard Knowler has questioned NZ Rugby’s decision to allow new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie to remain in Japan until June. Rennie has been granted permission to continue coaching the Kobe Kobelco Steelers in Japan Rugby League One until their season concludes. Should Kobe reach the final on 7 June, Rennie will remain in Japan until after the Super Rugby Pacific league stage is complete. “Rubbing shoulders with an All Blacks coach at Super Rugby fixtures has been a rite of passage for punters when entering the gates of New Zealand stadiums over the last three decades,” Knowler wrote on Stuff.co.nz. “They could look across the rows of fans and almost hear the cogs inside the minds of Scott Robertson, Ian Foster, Steve Hansen or Graham Henry whirring as they stared intently at the current, or potential, All Blacks.

Admittedly, Racing Bulls have not indicated what Lawson practised on Friday, with different tyres, fuel loads and aerodynamic setups available to its two drivers. “We had a decent day,” said Lawson. However, with Racing Bulls still learning about the capabilities and limitations of their new car, Lawson said Lindblad’s efforts on the first day in Melbourne would help both drivers before qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix. “It’s been a good day for the team, Arvid had a pretty strong day as well,” he said. “It’s great for us going into tomorrow, with what looks like a pretty strong package that’s had both of us working on it together.

Photo / Mark MitchellIt’s because this week Luxon has demonstrated how much he will struggle to campaign later this year. The conflict is likely to mean higher inflation, potentially higher interest rates, lower house prices and lower economic growth – a toxic cocktail of bad economic news. The Budget forecasts, which will be finalised next month for release in May, are likely to show, yet again, a worsening economic outlook. With that in mind, the fear isn’t just that things are bad or that they could get worse. In fact, it’s worse than that; in an economic sense, things will, very likely, get worse, and this week caucus clearly saw that Luxon will struggle to argue his way out of that corner.

The blaze caused extensive damage to Raviz Indian Eatery's kitchen, but fire crews stopped it before it could spread to the front of house and neighbouring businesses. “That’s our livelihood, and the livelihood for a few other staff as well.”Despite the damage, Singh said he hoped to be able to reopen the store in a couple of weeks. “[The Hobson St restaurant] was very successful pre-Covid, but after Covid, hospitality struggled a lot here,” he said. The fire broke out in Raviz Indian Eatery, situated in a block of shops on the corner of Hobson St and Victoria St West. Over time, Singh’s uncle expanded the business to the Cook Islands, Australia and India, with his nephew taking over the Hobson St store about two years ago.

“It didn’t feel real to me, and even now it feels surreal, I’ve been in shock all day,” she added. Douglas said the skeleton was clothed and had work boots on. “At least there’ll be some closure hopefully for a family, finding their loved one, hopefully,” she said. She said the trees are now about 30 metres tall, and that prompted her to start doing some weed control in the area. Police said they are in the very early stages of the investigation, and are unable to share any further information.

The camera on-board FV Emma Jane recorded images of a net being cut and a dead Hector's dolphin sinking to the sea floor. Photo: RNZ / Alison BallanceA small fine meted out to an Otago fisher who killed a Hector's dolphin then lied to officials, underscores the failure to protect endangered species a conservation group says. Māui and Hector's Dolphin Defenders uncovered the death of the dolphin - one of only about 40 left in the area - and fought through the courts to obtain the details. DOC said its only involvement in the case was to confirm the mammal in the camera footage was an endangered Hector's dolphin. The court did not impose any suppression orders and ordered the release of the information to Māui and Hector's Dolphin Defenders last month.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in the debating chamber. Photo: RNZ (file)If anyone is going to convince Christopher Luxon it's time to step aside from the prime ministership, it's his forerunner and friend Sir John Key. The pair are close, and throughout Luxon's time at the helm he has checked in almost weekly with the former prime minister. Their talks come after a disastrous week for Luxon bookended with woeful interviews on Monday and a poll sliding National below 30, to 28.4 percent, on Friday. Any decision to change leader will need to consider what impact it could have on National's coalition partners.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo: RNZThe Prime Minister has told Newstalk ZB he is 'absolutely not' considering standing down after a poll result putting National in the 20s. "The only thing I am considering is the future of our children and grandchildren." Luxon said he has "not thought about" what polling level would be the threshold for him to step down as prime minister. Luxon said the media had gotten carried away in its reaction to a public poll over the course of the day.

The new Dunedin Hospital build site. Photo: RNZThe approved budget for the new Dunedin Hospital (NDH) is just over $2 billion, though the government continues to use a figure $174 million less than that. The report gave the 'approved budget' at Dunedin as $1.614b for the inpatients block and $440m for outpatients - $2.054b altogether. A spokesperson for Health Minister Simeon Brown said the project had an "approved total budget" of $1.88b. The hospital project was bedevilled early on by bad oversight, official reviews showed.

Photo: ODT filesSouthland Hospital is in disarray, staffing so low in some departments operating theatres have been temporarily shut down, a staff member claims. In an anonymous email, a staff member at Southland Hospital outlines a litany of issues. He said the roster staff were complaining about was introduced in September in response to previous staff feedback. ‘‘Other services are concerned about their continued viability and safety.’’Mr Donlevy said the Southern Hospital was sad to lose two highly qualified urology clinicians in a relatively short time. ‘‘I’m aware of the staffing pressures affecting some theatre services at Southern Hospital in Invercargill.

State Highway 1 near L Phillips Rd in Domes Valley is blocked due to a single-vehicle crash. Serious crash closes SH1 north of Auckland, police urge drivers to avoid areaState Highway 1 near L Phillips Rd in Domes Valley is blocked due to a single-vehicle crash. Image / Google MapsState Highway 1 north of Auckland has been blocked after a serious crash. Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle crash on SH1 near L Phillips Road in Dome Valley around 6.45pm. Hato Hone St John said it responded with two ambulances, a first-response unit and a critical-care unit.

“I think it tastes fantastic – we encourage consumers to give it a try.”Burtfield's & Co butter trial brings US imports to NZ fridges. Photo / Sylvie WhinrayDairyworks had imported four to six weeks’ supply of the US butter, depending on consumer demand, said Simpson. Labour’s Willie Jackson and National’s Paul Goldsmith donned eye masks to each blind taste test two slices of butter-slathered white bread during their morning debate on Ryan Bridge TODAY. Labour MP Willie Jackson and National MP Paul Goldsmith try to guess which butter is which in a blind taste test on Ryan Bridge TODAY. “He’s not really a Kiwi,” responded Jackson, who’d correctly identified the origin of each butter.

The National Party caucus of today still feels the scars of cycling through three leaders within months. You can bet those MPs are considering Luxon’s future, as well as their own. Photo / Mark MitchellAsked if Luxon was the right person for the leadership, she said, “He has the backing of the National Party caucus. He is doing a very good job.”The candidatesThe National Party caucus elects its leader in a secret ballot. The other problem for Bishop is the controversy over his Auckland intensification plans that have put noses out of joint in Auckland, home to a large number of National MPs.

“If there was a problem, I would be doing something about it,” the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister declared he was not considering resigning. This was fuelled when National Party staff were invited to Friday drinks. Friday’s poll was the worst result for National in the Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll since 2021, the year the poll began. Labour would have 44 seats, up one from the last poll, National is down three to 36 seats.

But as a new season begins in Melbourne this weekend, Lawson’s importance to his team takes on new meaning. For a start, his driver feedback will be key in helping develop Racing Bulls’ car after sweeping new regulations. As Red Bull as an organisation underwent huge changes throughout 2025, none was perhaps more significant than the departure of long-time adviser, Dr Helmut Marko. Dr Helmut Marko pictured talking with Liam Lawson prior to the Grand Prix of Qatar on November 30, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar. “I think we feel in a pretty good position.”Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix begins at 5pm (NZT).