Prices for non-alcoholic beverages were also higher on an annual basis, up 3.6% in the 12 months to December 2025. Electricity prices rose 12.2% in the year to December (up 1.5% monthly), with gas prices also higher, up 17.5% annually and 1.9% monthly. Domestic air transport prices were down 1.2% on an annual basis, but increased by 15.8% monthly. International air transport prices were up 6.6% annually and increased on a monthly basis by 32.9%. As for accommodation, domestic prices were up 4.9% on an annual and monthly basis, while international accommodation prices were up 14.7% annually, but fell 0.5% on a monthly basis.

Photo: Photosport / Anthony Au-YeungA former All Black has called the public leaking of the internal review into Scott Robertson's All Black side "horrific". Robertson was unceremoniously sacked on Thursday afternoon as head coach of the All Blacks after just two years at the helm. A veteran of 60 tests, Craig Dowd said the leak was a sad indictment on the players. Dowd said he was "gutted" for Robertson, and condemned the current players for not standing by him. Dowd said he has been in contact with Robertson and was confident his coaching career would endure.

The main road through Oamaru is now clear following a truck crash early this morning. A truck and trailer unit crashed at around 3.10am, on State Highway 1 (Thames Highway) between Sandringham Street and College Street, police said. There were no reports of serious injuries from the crash but the road was partially blocked. The crashed truck had now been towed and the road was now fully clear on SH1 near the intersection of College Street, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said. - Allied Media

Coastal North Otago will move to a restricted fire season on Monday morning as the region dries out. Anyone planning to light an outdoor fire will need a permit from Fire and Emergency NZ. Inland Otago is already in a restricted fire season, including Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and northern parts of the Waitaki District. Fenz district commander Craig Gold said the move reflected the increasing levels of fire risk around Otago. There are exemptions for cultural cooking fires, but other types of recreational fires like campfires and bonfires would also need a permit, obtained in advance.

More than 5000 Aucklanders had a say on Plan Change 120 when submissions closed last month. Former National Cabinet minister Maurice Williamson has attacked Chris Bishop's intensification plan for Auckland. The Coalition for More Housing today said it was “deeply concerned” about reports that Luxon was intending to backtrack on Plan Change 120. Spokesman Scott Caldwell said the group would be opposed and distraught if the housing figure was lowered. Character Coalition chairwoman Sally Hughes said the membership of 60 heritage and community groups would be very happy to see the two-million housing plan watered down.

Traffic is already starting to build around Auckland before Ed Sheeran’s concert at Go Media Stadium tonight. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has shown that an hour before gates open for the show, a journey from Bombay to the city is taking about 90 minutes as opposed to the usual half hour. A journey in the other direction could take over an hour, while other roads across the city are clogged too. NZTA said Albany to Manukau will take nearly 55 minutes, and Te Atatū to Manukau is expected to take motorists 40 minutes to complete, more than double the usual expected time. Concert-goers have already warned others heading to the stadium later about the traffic, with one person posting on Facebook urging others to leave as soon as possible.

People could be seen rushing down a street with shattered windows and other damage visible. Video / AFPA huge blast and fire has broken out in the central Dutch city of Utrecht, with several buildings collapsing and at least four people lightly injured, according to the mayor. “Fortunately, according to initial reports, there is no one seriously injured directly by the explosion,” she added. Damage to buildings in Visscherssteeg following an explosion in Utrecht. Photo / Jonas Roosens, AFPAfter several hours, firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the blaze that broke out at around 3.30pm on Thursday (local time) following what emergency services described as a “gigantic” explosion.

Photo: Getty ImagesFood prices rose 4% over 2025, Stats NZ, says, and the price of a loaf of bread lifted almost 60%. It has released the latest food price data, which shows that the annual rate of inflation slowed slightly in December, down from 4.4% in the 12 months to November. Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said the bread price increase had been happening for some time. "Bread prices have been increasing for the last year, quite sharply. Because the cost of inputs, particularly wheat, has increased so much we're now seeing the dam breaking and the price of bread increasing at the supermarket aisles."

The Duke of Sussex’s lawyers have been accused of dishonesty, fraud and conspiracy in his High Court claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The Duke will fly to Britain for the opening of the trial against Associated Newspapers on Monday. David Sherborne, for the claimants, told the court on Thursday that the publisher planned to make “exceptionally serious” allegations that were “wholly objectionable”. Claims ‘exceptionally serious’“The allegations… are exceptionally serious: of fraud, dishonesty and professional misconduct,” he said in written submissions. He insists that his pivotal witness statement was “completely false” and the signature on the statement a “forgery”.

Photo: ScreenshotResidents are without power as stormy weather continues to lash the North Island. Thunderstorms, heavy rain and localised downpours are forecast to drench parts of the North Island today. A heavy rain warning has been issued for Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, with up to 110mm of rain expected on top of what has already fallen. Further north, residents in Auckland's Northcote Point were without power on Friday morning, after a stormy night. The city was hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight.

‘Local knowledge’ to drive new platformCarExpert appoints pair as it prepares for New Zealand launch after success in Australia. It says the move is the first step in building a dedicated New Zealand team to deliver trusted, independent, new-car coverage for Kiwi consumers. pictured left, as motoring journalist for the operation and they will bring extensive local motoring and editorial experience to the brand. He also worked in new car sales after leaving school and co-founded a New Zealand motorsport annual with his father. CarExpert’s expansion into New Zealand follows its success in Australia and its motoring coverage will be distributed via its own online platform as well as through Trade Me Motors and Stuff.

‘Huffing and puffing’Robert Kitson, The Guardian“As much as England’s 33-19 win was a striking result, New Zealand were transparently not their usual forbidding selves. “On the flip side, for all their huffing and puffing, New Zealand are still ranked second in the world, ahead of England and Ireland. It is way too early, accordingly, to write them off as 2027 World Cup contenders in Australia. ‘Great expectations’Gavin Mairs, The Telegraph“The first task for whoever succeeds Robinson [sic] will be to address the concerns of senior players, including Savea, with the knowledge that time is running out before the World Cup in Australia next year. And it’s clear that those most important to that cause, his players, had already made up their mind, too."

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

The man was in Woolworths Dunedin Central in Cumberland St when he began to drunkenly act inappropriately to female checkout staff. Photo: ODT FilesAn allegedly drunk Dunedin man who acted ‘‘inappropriately’’ to female supermarket checkout workers followed them outside and then assaulted a stranger, police. The 47-year-old man was in Woolworths Dunedin Central in Cumberland St at 6.30pm yesterday when he began to act inappropriately to female checkout staff, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said. When a member of the public attempted to intervene the man then began to assault him. Police arrested the man and while in the Central Dunedin cell blocks spat at two officers.

Contractors get to work on the site of the new Dunedin hospital inpatient building on Wednesday. Dunedin construction company Amalgamated Builders Ltd has recently been subcontracted by CPB to build the main foundation slab. The inpatient building would be of much help to residential builders and would increase demand elsewhere. The inpatient building would be great for the city and hopefully help with that workload, Mr Grant said. It sort of filters right down through to tier-one builders, tier two, right down into residential builders as well."