Canterbury crash: Two vehicles catch fire after collision on State Highway 1
Police were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on SH1 near Hoskyns Rd in Rolleston just before 6am. Canterbury crash: Two vehicles catch fire after collision on State Highway 1Police were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on SH1 near Hoskyns Rd in Rolleston just before 6am. Two vehicles have been damaged by fire after crashing and then catching alight in Canterbury. Police were called to the scene after reports of a two-vehicle crash on SH1 near Hoskyns Rd in Rolleston just before 6am. No injuries were reported but both vehicles caught on fire due to spilled fuel.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 21:28 UTC
Body found after Port Waikato jet ski incident
Port Waikato. File photo: Google MapsIt is believed a man who died as a result of a jet ski incident near Port Waikato was not wearing a life jacket. Three people were reported to be in distress on the water on Christmas Day and two were rescued, including a five-year-old. The police Eagle helicopter crew found a man's body this morning. Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service president Malcolm Beattie said his team had been searching for the man for two days.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 26, 2025 20:56 UTC
Year in Review: Waikato dairy farmer cherishes father’s 1955 John Deere 70 tractor
“My dad, Neil, switched the day-to-day tractors to John Deere when International and David Brown combined as Case International, Dad couldn’t bring himself to drive a David Brown,” he said. When he passed away, he had one of the largest John Deere collections in New Zealand, and a big machinery sale was held. “My favourite was a 1955 John Deere 70,” Houghton said. “The JD 70 is quite rare in New Zealand.”Houghton described the two-cylinder, 50hp JD 70, with six forward and two reverse gears, power steering and a hand-operated clutch, as an “interesting tractor”. Reece’s father Neil Houghton working with the John Deere 70 in the 1990s prior to restoration.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 20:33 UTC
ODT quiz: December 27
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Source:Otago Daily Times
December 26, 2025 20:27 UTC
Australia backs Donald Trump’s strikes targeting ‘Isis terrorist scum’ in Nigeria
President Donald Trump has long accused militants of attacking Christians in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria. President Donald Trump has long accused militants of attacking Christians in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria. Photo / Getty ImagesThe Australian Government has thrown its support behind US air strikes targeting Islamic State in Nigeria. US President Donald Trump revealed in a social media post on Christmas Day he had directed a “powerful and deadly strike against Isis terrorist scum” in restive northwestern Nigeria. Trump has long accused militants of attacking Christians in the predominantly Muslim north.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 20:17 UTC
Family pursued 5km, rammed repeatedly in Christmas road rage
A Bay of Plenty mother says she was pursued for five kilometres and repeatedly rammed by another driver in a Christmas Day road rage attack that left her vehicle undriveable and her children terrified. "Out of fright, I had to swerve to avoid being hit, and I tooted," Rachel told 1News. After turning down a side street, the driver allegedly waited at the intersection with King St before pursuing Rachel's car. "He gets right up my ass, so close that I couldn't see anything but his windscreen," Rachel told 1News. (Source: Rachel)"I just, instinctively, I put my foot down, and so, he actually hit the back corner of my car, right where my son was sitting.
Source:Stuff
December 26, 2025 20:12 UTC
Port Waikato jetski incident: Body found during search for missing man
Search and rescue teams were scouring the area yesterday, looking for the missing man. Search and rescue teams were scouring the area yesterday, looking for the missing man. Photo / SuppliedA body has been found during the search for a man who went missing while jetskiing in Port Waikato on Christmas Day. The man disappeared after three people got into trouble near the sandbar at the Waikato River mouth at 6.30pm on Thursday. The search resumed this morning, with the Police Eagle finding a body at Port Waikato.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 20:08 UTC
India’s free trade deal could reshape our exports – and our politics – Fran O’Sullivan
Luxon has issued an open invitation to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to come to NZ to witness the signing of the bilateral trade agreement. The deal will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95% of NZ’s existing exports to India, providing a competitive edge over Australia. It’s another agreement in India’s growing matrix of trade deals at a time when the Trump Administration’s tariffs have thrown the prior rules-based order into chaos. While the aspiration target seems huge, the plus factor is it does not impose a low ceiling on NZ investment into India. Credit where it is dueThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade team has worked its heart out to get this deal agreed.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 20:04 UTC
Timeshare decline: Bay of Islands resort among latest to wind up after High Court ruling
He holds an active role in the industry association for the timeshares in New Zealand as a member of the New Zealand Holiday Ownership Council (formerly the New Zealand Timeshare Owners Association). The sun might be setting on the concept of timeshare holiday accommodation, once popular among the now-boomer generation. The decision in 2025 to wind up the Bishop Selwyn timeshare resort in Paihia was one of five in as many years handled by one law firm alone. The Bishop Selwyn Resort in downtown Paihia had an insurance value of $20m and was listed for sale in June 2025 for $5.6m. Norman says while there are challenges to selling a timeshare unit, where the market lies is in the bricks and mortar.
Source:Stuff
December 26, 2025 19:42 UTC
Serious crash closes State Highway 2 near Wellington
Police were called to the scene near Petone at 5.17am. Serious crash closes State Highway 2 near WellingtonPolice were called to the scene near Petone at 5.17am. Police were called to the scene near Petone at 5.17am. State Highway 2 heading northbound near Petone is closed as a result. State Highway 2 southbound has one lane open, although motorists are being advised to expect heavy delays.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 19:28 UTC
When disaster strikes: What schools do when left to deal with NZ’s traumatic events
University of Auckland research fellow Ying Wang believes New Zealand schools are ill-prepared to address trauma. “There might be short-term funding or support for a group of people or a community immediately after a traumatic event. “Healing is a process; there’s no fixed timeline after a traumatic event. “People working in the schools have beautiful hearts and are really caring towards our young people, but they don’t have support. Coroner Tetitaha recommended Te Whatu Ora extend frontline mental health service Te Roopu Kimiora’s school liaison roles into secondary schools throughout Northland.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 18:57 UTC
Stakes stallion dies
White Robe Lodge has announced the death of proven stallion Ghibellines. A son of champion sire Shamardal and the group 1-winning Elusive Quality mare Camarilla, Ghibellines’ racing highlight was his victory in the group 2 Todman Stakes for trainer Peter Snowden. Retired to stud in 2016, Ghibellines sired group1 winner Smokin’ Romans, last season’s group 2 Brisbane Cup winner Campaldino and $A1.5 million earner Palmetto among nine stakes winners at a very respectable 4.3% stakes winners to runners. — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 26, 2025 18:48 UTC
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Christmas interview turns sour
Mr Albanese said he had not seen the footage and had “no idea” what the radio host was talking about. The rally Anthony Albanese attended took place in Sydney. The interview took a further turn for the worse when Elelman questioned whether Wilson Security was guarding Australian military bases while servicemen were off for Christmas. Albanese did not confirm or deny that was true, saying that “today was not a day to question our Defence Force”. “I think I’ve not made the Prime Minister have a very Merry Christmas, but then again, that wasn’t my intention,” she said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 18:34 UTC
US launches Christmas Day strikes on Isis targets in Nigeria
Nigeria’s Government and independent analysts reject framing the country’s violence in terms of religious persecution – a narrative long used by the Christian right in the United States and Europe. Thursday's attacks mark the first by US forces in Nigeria under President Donald Trump. The United States this year placed Nigeria back on the list of countries of “particular concern” regarding religious freedom and has restricted the issuance of visas to Nigerians. Trump last month also threatened to stop all aid to Abuja if it “continues to allow the killing of Christians”. On Wednesday an explosion ripped through a mosque in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing at least seven worshippers.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 18:34 UTC
Fletcher Building’s Andrew Reding not expecting swift economic turnaround – Summer questions
We’re well-positioned for the recovery, but I think it would be a mistake to count on any swift economic turnaround. It will undoubtedly improve but I’m not expecting it to be a boom time, at least in the short term. I don’t think I’ve got there yet but I’m planning on the turnaround of Fletcher Building being my greatest success. I’ll be staying close to home and getting to all the things I’ve been neglecting this year, like going to the gym! I’ve also been re-reading his I, Robot series, which feels particularly topical right now given the rise of AI.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 26, 2025 18:32 UTC