Coppermine Island (Mauipane), where human remains have been found, is located east of Whangārei. Coppermine Island (Mauipane), where human remains have been found, is located east of Whangārei. Photo / Google MapsBy RNZHuman remains have been found on an island off the coast of Northland. On Saturday afternoon, police said they were discovered on Coppermine Island (Mauipane), east of Whangārei, part of the Hen and Chicken Islands group. Police said identifying the remains was “expected to take some time” and no other information was available.

The success of the Frequent Transit Network, Reynolds said, “is still something of a secret, but is starting to break through”. To everyone who says we can’t put tolls on city roads without providing better public transport, Reynolds’ response was: Look at that map. He added that public transport on its own won’t solve the problem. “It’s the most underdeveloped transport network of all.”And why are new transit projects like the Eastern Busway, Labour’s now-abandoned underground light rail and the now-being-planned Northwest Busway so expensive? “This will encourage the use of public transport,” Norman said.

Otago Regional Council harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook will be reminding people enjoying the water to be careful and remember their lifejackets. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONWhile people are enjoying an Otago holiday on the water, the region’s harbourmasters will be out making sure everybody stays safe. Otago Regional Council harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook said he and his colleagues would be on patrol on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and right through the summer holiday period. "Go and play in our beautiful, amazing environment and enjoy your time on the water ... and come home safe." He said he hoped everyone had a great time on the water in Otago this summer, but remembered to stay safe.

Six people had to be rescued after their boat capsized on Lake Dunstan, prompting a warning from the Coastguard about summer water safety. Coastguard Clyde volunteers were called out after the vessel sank about 7pm on Thursday, leaving its six occupants in the water. “Clyde Rescue II launched with ambulance staff on board and located all six on a section of shoreline with no vehicle access,” said a Coastguard spokesperson. “Four were brought aboard by our crew, while a nearby vessel assisted the remaining two. Volunteers also recovered the capsized boat and brought it to shore.”

Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. 20 Dec, 2025 12:31 AM 2 mins to readRocket Lab to build 18 US missile-tracking satellites in $816m dealNew Zealand–founded space company Rocket Lab has landed its largest contract to date, winning an $816 million deal to build a new generation of missile-tracking satellites. Rocket Lab will design and manufacture 18 satellites for the US Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 3 programme, part of the US military’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck said the satellites will help detect and track advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons. “Rocket Lab is honoured to play a role in enabling this.”The contract includes a base award of $806m, with a further $10.45m available through options.

Rocket Lab will manufacture 18 satellites equipped with advanced sensors to track and detect missile threats. "Demand for resilient, scalable and affordable space systems continues to grow, and this award demonstrates that Rocket Lab is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in delivering solutions that meet the needs of national security," Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck said. "This contract underscores that Rocket Lab's vertically integrated approach isn't just a competitive advantage - we're enabling a fundamental shift in how national security space programs are executed." Rocket Lab already had a US$515m (NZ$869m) satellite contract. The client is Q-shu Pioneers of Space, a Japan-based Earth-imaging company, and the launch will be streamed live on Rocket Lab's YouTube channel.

Person seriously injured in crash on SH1 near Kaiwaka, NorthlandA person has been seriously injured in a two-car crash that has closed a section of State Highway 1 in Northland. Emergency services were called to the accident at Kaiwaka, just south of the Brynderwyn Hills, about 9.20am, police said. A Hato Hone St John Ambulance spokeswoman said the seriously injured person had been flown by rescue helicopter to Auckland City Hospital, and a second person was taken by road to Northland Base Hospital with minor injuries. An initial report saying a person had been critically injured was incorrect, with that person instead suffering serious injuries, she said.

An artist’s impression shows passengers getting on and off a cable car at a Queenstown Cable Car station in Frankton. IMAGE SUPPLIEDSouthern Infrastructure has appointed two "world-class" suppliers to lead the development of the proposed $400million Queenstown Cable Car network. "There are many ropeway technologies that fall under the broad definition of ‘cable car’, so it was critical we explored the full spectrum — from conventional gondolas to newer concepts. Doppelmayr had been operating in New Zealand for 50 years — its projects included the country’s first detachable chairlifts and the recent Skyline Queenstown gondola redevelopment. "Each step forward brings the town closer to the modern transport infrastructure it needs to support growth, reduce congestion and improve quality of life."

As prices went up, households, on average, got richer; as prices went down, things went the other way. Conventional political wisdom says voters need a good long while of positive economic news before they start to feel better about the Government. Te Pāti Māori wobbled again this week with its former lawyer, Tania Waikato, announcing she’ll be a Green candidate at the next election. Leaving Wellington this week, Christopher Luxon did something he’d apparently never done before in his life. He loves applying a political lens to people’s stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives.

However, the police left her home in Canterbury without having her examined by any medical professional. I have had to beg and beg for information.”Lisa said police left her with no support or medical help after the alleged assault. Soon afterwards, Mike’s brother sent her a message saying Mike had appeared in court and been released on bail. The spokesperson explained that police had “a number of obligations to victims under the Victims’ Rights Act 2002”. “Police must also notify these victims where the defendant is released on bail and their bail conditions.

I want every Minister of Education to be highly successful and would have loved Hipkins and Tinetti to be so. – The Ministry of Education has been a MASSIVE handbrake to the progress of education in NZ. The coalition government pledged to reduce the Full-Time-Equivalents of the Ministry of Education to the pre-Hipkins era of 2,700. Stanford then appointed her Acting Secretary for Education and – during 2025 – made her the Secretary of Education. Like the great majority of NZers – I want the NZ education system to be the very best in the world … for every-child.

The weather prospects for the holiday period are not promising from the angler’s point of view. The Pomahaka and the Mataura are the best of the bigger rivers, while smaller rivers are fine so far. However, make sure to check the regional council website for the latest water-monitoring readings before setting out to fish. If you see too many refusals, it can cause brain fade and loss of confidence in your fly choice. If a fish is caught early in the day the confidence it promotes has been known to last all day.

Already a subscriber? Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Person seriously injured in group fight on Auckland’s Ponsonby RdA person has been left seriously injured in hospital after a group fight in a central Auckland nightlife hotspot. Police were called to Ponsonby Rd about 3.10am after a group of people were involved in an altercation, a spokeswoman said. “One person sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital.”An early morning reveller told the Herald police had taped off Win-Win Bar after the incident.

All of the things that ... have made the world measurably a better place.”Why did Trump think Charlie Kirk was such a great American? Pinker said it’s not obvious there is common knowledge about Trump, because people are so divided about him. I asked Pinker about his “friends on the right” (his term) who tell him they can’t trust climate science because opposing views are cancelled. Those friends are effectively positioning themselves as Galileo standing against the “church” of climate science. Steven Pinker: When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows: Common Knowledge and the Science of Harmony, Hypocrisy and Outrage (Allen Lane, $45).

Photo / NZMEHe said the All Blacks should have been awarded two penalty tries and criticised the performance of referee Gert Bezuidenhout. Following last week’s New Zealand Rugby Awards, Kirkpatrick handed the medal which bears his name to Poverty Bay co-captain Keanu Taumata, for his efforts in Heartland rugby. The Ian Kirkpatrick medal for Heartland player of the year is awarded annually. Ian Kirkpatrick hands the medal which bears his name to Poverty Bay co-captain Keanu Taumata, for his efforts in Heartland rugby. “I want to thank you, Kirky, thank you very much,” Taumata said to Kirkpatrick at Rugby Park on Thursday.