By Felix Walton of RNZSexual abuse support services facing cuts in the new year have been given an extra six months, but are being told not to expect any more than that. The government planned to redirect $1.7 million from various contracts with sexual abuse services from January. That included a long-running contract with HELP Auckland, worth about $380,000 a year, to provide long-term counselling for survivors of sexual abuse that weren't eligible for ACC coverage. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-oldsAsian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Victim Support 0800 842 846.

Max Chu plays a shot for the Volts against the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve during last year's Super Smash. Photo: Getty ImagesOtago cricket is ditching the "Otago" from its Super Smash team names. Both the Volts (men) and the Sparks (women) will now compete in T20 cricket without the provincial prefix. The Otago Cricket Association said the shift was to ‘‘better represent the full breadth of its regional footprint, including the Southland community, and to strengthen alignment across its domestic and community pathways’’. “Establishing a consistent brand presence across all communities helps ensure the Volts and Sparks become familiar and enduring symbols within schools, clubs, and regional events.

Photo: Getty ImagesA young man caught smoking cannabis in Dunedin’s Octagon was arrested after allegedly walking away from officers and continuing to smoke it, police sayPolice observed the 21-year-old man smoking cannabis in the Octagon at 11.55pm on Saturday, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said. "When we’ve approached him, he refused to dispose of it and walked away whilst continuing to smoke it." The man was arrested, and when searched was found with utensils for smoking cannabis. The man was bailed to appear in the Dunedin District Court tomorrow, charged with consuming and possession of cannabis, and resisting arrest. Behind the wheel was a 31-year-old woman who was a suspended driver, so she was arrested for that, Snr Sgt Bond said.

A fire has broken out in the basement of a six-level building in Auckland's CBD. Firefighters battle blaze in basement of six-storey Dilworth Building in downtown AucklandA fire has broken out in the basement of a six-level building in Auckland's CBD. Photo / Samuel SherryFirefighters battled a blaze in the basement of a heritage-listed six-level building in Auckland’s CBD this morning. A Fire and Emergency shift manager said they were called at around 10.15am after reports that a fire had broken out. The footpath surrounding the Dilworth Building, at the bottom of Queen St, was cordoned off while firefighters worked to put out the blaze.

The Post reports:Indeed, she says in her sworn affidavit that Tamihere had been chairing the weekly caucus meetings of MPs in Parliament since September. To have the party president chair caucus instead of the leader or a co-leader is unprecedented. This makes it very clear that despite not being an MP, John Tamihere is both the president and leader of Te Pati Maori. If there is a Labour/Green/TPM Government, it will be John Tamihere deciding what TPM does, and how they do it. Tamihere is the President and Leader.

Photo: ODT filesA Dunedin man was caught driving more than four times over the legal alcohol limit after crashing his work vehicle into both a parked car and a power pole, police say. A 37-year-old man had crashed his work vehicle into a parked car. The man recorded a breath alcohol level of 1414mcg — more than four times the legal limit for adults of 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. He recorded a breath alcohol level of 972mcg, so had his licence suspended and would appear in the Dunedin District Court at a later date. At 7.45pm, a 25-year-old man recorded a breath alcohol level of 390mcg.

Emergency services attend the crash that has left State Highway 1 closed north of Hampden today. Photo: Nic DuffTwo people were airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries after a van rolled off the road near Oamaru this morning. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they were notified of the single-vehicle crash in Herbert-Hampden Rd, Hampden, at 9am. Two patients were assessed at the scene, both transported to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter in a moderate condition, the spokesperson said. The van appeared to have rolled off the road and one of its two occupants was trapped inside.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi earlier in the year. Photo: RNZ / Marika KhabaziThe government has struck a Free Trade deal with India, it is understood. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon promised to do so in his first term, and negotiations were formally launched in March. He visited the country for four days in April, and Trade Minister Todd McClay has been on several trips there since. Reports have suggested negotiations were finalised in recent days, with Christopher Luxon expected to make an announcement soon.

Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

A person has died after a car hit a power pole on Seadown Rd on the outskirts of Timaru. Timaru fatal crash: Member of public comes across a car crashed into a power pole with body insideA person has died after a car hit a power pole on Seadown Rd on the outskirts of Timaru. File photo / George HeardA member of the public came across a car that had hit a power pole outside Timaru this morning and found a body inside. Police received a report around 9.10am from someone who had come across a crashed car on Seadown Rd, north of Timaru. The police serious crash unit has been advised, and Seadown Rd is currently closed between Arowhenua Station Rd and Opihi River.

Photo: Supplied/Christchurch City Council via RNZUniversity of Auckland researchers have discovered different microbes can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of treating wastewater. Carbon emissions from wastewater treatment were thought to make up a small, but preventable percentage of many countries' overall carbon footprints. Zhuang said his team had discovered two different kinds of microbes that existed in wastewater already and could be used to remove nitrate. "When wastewater flows through, we provide hydrogen or sulphur for these microbes to use, and then they will reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas." They could also be suitable methods for treating drinking water, he said.

Alice Robinson of Team New Zealand in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super G in Val d'Isere, France. Robinson has followed up her historic Super G World Cup win last week by finishing second in the same discipline at the latest event in France. Robinson has seven career World Cup victories and 22 World Cup podiums. With two podiums (first and second) from a total of two Super G FIS World Cup races this season, Robinson retains the red bib and leads the 2025/26 Super G World Cup standings. Robinson has one more race for 2025 and will be back in the Giant Slalom World Cup bib in Semmering, Austria on the December 27.

NZ First leader Winston Peters Photo: RNZNew Zealand First leader Winston Peters has reversed his previous opposition to the Chorus debt sell-off, saying it is "monetisation" rather than an asset sale. In November, Peters told RNZ he did not support the proposal, calling it "creative accounting of the worst sort". "I don't support that idea. I don't support wanton neoliberalism, which is a disaster. The government's statement announcing the move last week was titled "earlier monetisation of Chorus debt".

The CEO pay package is more than double the previous highest-paid New Zealand company chief executive, former Ebos CEO John Cullity, who received $7.3m in 2024 and $8.4m in the 2023 financial year. Miles’ remuneration is closely watched by the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association, which has argued the performance hurdles are potentially not high enough. Gentrack, which makes software for running airports and utilities, does most of its business offshore. Gentrack CEO Gary Miles in the NZME offices. Photo / Cameron PitneyGentrack’s annual report notes that the CEO and executive remuneration is reviewed by the board of directors each year.

The carpark in Dive Cre where members of the public hid behind cars during the alleged incident. Photo / Rosalie Liddle CrawfordAlready a subscriber? The carpark in Dive Cre where members of the public hid behind cars during the alleged incident. Photo / Rosalie Liddle CrawfordPolice were called to an incident on Dive Cr in Tauranga on Saturday following reports of disorder. Officers were called about 3.15pm after reports of a man allegedly throwing rocks and verbally abusing a family.