Five people have been injured in a high-speed, head-on collision in the Kawarau Gorge this morning. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokesman said three crews from Cromwell were called to a crash involving three vehicles on the Gibbston Highway (State Highway 6) about 10.30am. It was reported the crash was "high-velocity" and two of the cars had collided at speed, the spokesman said. A Hato Hone St John spokeswoman said four people had received moderate injuries and one person had minor injuries. *A single-car crash was reported at Roaring Meg in the Kawarau Gorge about 4.20am today and one person received minor injuries.

File photoPolice are crediting Operation Open Roads for a reduction in road deaths for the third year in a row. In a statement, police said the provisional number of road deaths in 2025 was 272. Superintendent Steve Greally, director of road police, said the reduction was in "large part", because of its focus on deaths on open roads. "We continue to ask drivers to play their part and make sensible decisions both on the road and before you get behind the wheel. "Our aim is to see the number of speed infringements issued drop, which is an indication that people are doing the right thing, and following the sign-posted speed limits."

In Whangamatā, crowds were larger than last year, with an estimated 3500 to 4000 people gathered at Williamson Park. The spokesperson said the atmosphere was positive and the crowd was generally well-behaved, with 12 arrests and some liquor ban infringements handed down. In Mount Maunganui, in the Bay of Plenty, fireworks were fired into crowds, posing a spark and fire risk. The spokesperson said Gisborne/Tairāwhiti also saw no significant issues, with police successfully preventing planned large gatherings by antisocial road users, and no issues reported at the popular festival Rhythm and Vines. Photo / NZ PoliceIn Christchurch, behaviour was mostly good, with no issues at the Hagley Park concert and only minor incidents at the Rolling Meadows Festival.

It’s the opening match of Super Round and the first look at the new One New Zealand Stadium. Women’s T20 World Cup final, July 5A final at Lord’s which has mixed memories for New Zealand cricket fans – especially at World Cup time. Photo / PhotosportFifa World Cup final, July 20MetLife Stadium plays host for what will be the 104th match of the tournament. Photo / PhotosportRugby League World Cup final, November 16The tournament returns after a five-year gap and it’s probably as open as it’s ever been. The women’s Rugby League World Cup and Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup will be running at the same time.

The country's largest patient information portal on Wednesday confirmed it had identified a cyber security incident involving "unauthorised access" to its platform. "I want to assure our users, customers, and stakeholders that we take the protection of your health information extremely seriously. "Health New Zealand is aware of the cyber security incident at ManageMyHealth and is working with them to understand any impacts. Ayers says it was a large data breach, even by worldwide standards and catastrophic on the New Zealand scale. But at 108 gigabytes, that's a pretty large data breach, and it looks like it's going to be much larger than the Waikato DHB data breach, which affected just over 4000 people."

“[2025] was a year where a lot of hard work paid off,” Libby tells Society Insider. “The US market is a huge focus for us as we look at more international growth this year,” Swart tells Society Insider. She tells Society Insider the year ahead is about “pushing boundaries while staying grounded”. “We’re already seeing really encouraging traction in Australia, which has given us the confidence to lean in,” Macrae tells Society Insider. “Emma has well and truly pushed me forward and given me a huge opportunity,” Bull tells Society Insider.

Morning Headlines | NZ welcomes 2026 with Sky Tower firework display and road closure on SH16 | Thursday, January 1, 2026Already a subscriber? Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. One person dies after early morning crash on SH26, HaurakiA person has died after a crash in Tirohia, Hauraki, early this morning. A police spokesperson said they were called to the intersection of State Highway 26 and Cadman Rd at 12.40am. “Despite emergency services’ efforts, the sole occupant of the vehicle sadly died at the scene,” the spokesperson said.

Photo: RNZThe new year has started with a bang across the country. In Auckland, more than half a tonne of fireworks launched high up the Sky Tower. Photo: RNZHe had only seen Auckland's New Year fireworks on YouTube and said before they were let off that they looked "amazing". Photo: RNZTourists were among them, a pair in the country from the UK had come from New Plymouth to see the fireworks. There was also a group from Las Vegas armed with celebratory horns who took to dancing in the street.

But inside the country, fatigue and resentment are festering beneath the suppression of dissent. “If Russia doesn’t change how it works with young people, it faces a dead end,” he said. A former senior Kremlin official told the Post that he was “very worried” about the “dark picture inside Russia”. Despite the suffering and mass destruction taking place just across the border, Belgorod regards itself as the main victim of this war. The city illustrates the widening gap in Russian society between the indifferent, metropolitan majority and the “warring” few.

Police are appealing for information after a person was found dead on Kaipara Coast Highway at Makarau, north of Auckland, this morning. Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā CIB said police believe the person was struck by a car and are asking the public for footage of the incident. Police were called to the scene between Tuhirangi Rd and Makarau Rd at around 5.20am where a person was found deceased on the road. Police are responding to a serious incident north of Auckland this morning and have closed the Kaipara Coast Highway. Image / Google MapsBunting said police want to hear from anyone who was travelling in the area between midnight and 5.30am, who observed a pedestrian walking on Kaipara Coast Highway, Makarau, or who has dashcam footage of the area during that time.

Speaking to the Herald, Vincent says the changes have helped him become a half-glass-full person these days rather than half-empty. “I always can’t wait to get home,” he says. “I can’t wait to change another dirty nappy. I can’t wait to put the rubbish out. I can’t wait to get to bed at like 7.30 p.m. Just to catch up on some sleep.

“You have to stop what you’re doing and turn the bow into the seas and just go at a fairly slow speed and try to ride the waves,” he said. There is also sea ice and bergs to look out for, which can hole a ship, Brook said, adding at least one vessel is lost in Antarctica every year, according to statistics. “We suspect they do some illegal activities such as discharging the effluent after they’ve processed the krill. We’re trying to get evidence of them doing illegal activities down there.”The 54m Allankay is set to leave Auckland within weeks for a three-month Antarctic mission. Allankay is also home to media for documenting and filming the fishing and to record any illegal activities the crew might see.

About $18 million later and several reports culminating in the MOP’s business case in mid-2024, what’s there to show for it? A much-lower fee, feeding a much-smaller fund for Milford Sound upgrades, has sown some doubts about the level of infrastructure improvements in the coming years. An overview of attractions in the MOP business case plan. Mitigation measures in the meantime include a communication plan, so people heading to Milford Sound are aware of the potential disaster that awaits. Image / SuppliedThe MOP business case also recommended shifting the local workforce out of the inundation zone.

Photo: ReutersThe Racing Bulls boss has some encouraging words for New Zealand driver Liam Lawson. Lawson is on a break after completing his first full season in Formula 1 which presented him with many challenges. Lawson was demoted from Red Bull to junior team Racing Bulls after just two rounds of the 2025 championship. His team-mate Isack Hadjar has been promoted to Red Bull for 2026, while Arvid Lindblad will join him at Racing Bulls. Lawson now has another year to prove himself and Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane is encouraged.

Photo: Getty ImagesConsumer NZ is hopeful that electricity prices will improve in 2026, but does not expect much of a change. The consumer advocacy group says investments in generating electricity and recent rain and snowfall bolstering hydro supply could keep prices down. I don't think [prices] will decrease by much," he said. Fuge hoped politicans would see electricity prices as a priority issue for the upcoming election. "[The electricity market is] clearly not producing good results for businesses and households.