Government changes tack on prescription co-payment fees
“The previous decision does not align with the policy intent to reduce costs to patients,” the Cabinet paper in Health Minister Simeon Brown’s name said. “I consider that, to achieve this policy intent, the additional co-payment every three months needs to be removed.”The paper says the co-payment is a financial barrier, with about 191,000 adults in 2023/24 not filling a prescription because of the cost. Other details under subheadings about how the decision would also reduce complexity for Health NZ and curb financial implications for both Health NZ and Pharmac were largely redacted. Simeon Brown has reversed repeat prescription fees in a $5 co-payment shift. “Patients will only be required to pay the $5 co-payment once when collecting their initial three-month supply.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 11:25 UTC
Orca surprise diver off Coromandel as close encounter caught on video
“There’s nothing like an orca in your face to get the heart pumping!” she said. “Regardless, we do strongly discourage people from reaching out or attempting to touch wild animals like orca,” he said. Diver Jordy Bardin had an "insane interaction" with this orca which swam up to her boat off the Mercury Islands. Under New Zealand law, it is illegal to touch or intentionally disturb orca or any other marine mammal. “Keep marine mammals and their young safe by following the right rules for the environment and species,” van Helden said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 11:24 UTC
Dunedin's topsy-turvy weather year
The national average temperature was 13.51°C, which was 0.77°C above the long-term average. Cromwell recorded 399mm and Oamaru recorded 414mm. In average mean temperature, Oamaru recorded 11.7°C, which was 0.7°C above average, the third-highest on record. In the mean maximum temperature, Oamaru recorded its second-highest with 16°C, the second highest, while Dunedin had 14°C, the fourth-highest recorded. On April 4 and November 26, Dunedin recorded 29.5°C and 31.7°C respectively which were records for those months.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 09, 2026 06:23 UTC
Homicide investigation after baby’s death in Auckland
Police have begun a homicide investigation after a 10-month-old baby boy died in Auckland. Homicide investigation after baby’s death in AucklandPolice have begun a homicide investigation after a 10-month-old baby boy died in Auckland. Photo / NZMEPolice have opened a homicide investigation after a baby boy died in Auckland. The 10-week-old baby was taken to Pukekohe Maternity Hospital in a critical condition on January 2, where staff alerted police, Detective Inspector Karen Bright said. The baby was taken to Starship children’s hospital in Auckland, where it was found he had “non-survivable” injuries.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 04:38 UTC
Dunedin duo's checkpoint seat swap foiled by police
Photo: ODT FilesTwo Dunedin men attempting a classic switcheroo by quickly swapping seats while approaching a drink driving checkpoint failed to bamboozle police. However, officers saw the attempted swap and elected to have both men undergo breath testing procedures. The original driver recorded a breath alcohol level of 827mcg - the legal limit is 250mcg. Lights and sirens were activated, however the man sped off down Cavell St, and was last seen heading north in Tomahawk Rd. He underwent breath testing procedures and recorded a breath alcohol level of 383mcg.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 09, 2026 04:22 UTC
Another wanted man sought in Dunedin
Police are seeking information on the whereabouts of David John Te’o. Photo: NZ PolicePolice are seeking information on another wanted man most recently believed to be in Dunedin. Police this afternoon said they were looking for David John Te’o, 38, who has a warrant for his arrest. It comes a day after a citywide manhunt for another wanted man, involving armed officers and road spikes. Police have appealed for information on the whereabouts of Caleb Lynn, wanted over aggravated robbery and other alleged offences.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 09, 2026 04:06 UTC
Auckland business damaged by large fire amid firefighter strike
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said the strike action significantly delayed the response. Fenz said a standard response time would have been seven minutes, but because of the strike, crews took about 30 minutes to arrive. Witness Tyrone Burne said strong winds fuelled “large, dark orange flames”, and smoke could be smelled across a wide area, as quoted by Stuff. “The nearest career station is Mount Wellington, and they would have arrived on scene within seven minutes,” as quoted by Stuff. Stiffler said Fenz had urged the union to cancel the strike, adding that Friday’s incident reinforced its concerns.
Source:Stuff
January 09, 2026 04:05 UTC
Auckland crash family fundraiser launched amid social media alcohol claims
Photo / SuppliedThe original post also drew a police warning against using social media as a platform to seek justice, saying it was unhelpful and risky, could compromise investigations and be harmful to individuals. The Herald spoke to a member of the family, who said they were deeply traumatised by the crash. With the family maintaining a bedside vigil, the accident toll was physical, emotional and financial, he said. Police confirmed to the Herald the offending driver returned a zero blood-alcohol reading. Photo / GivealittleThe donations were to cover lost income, hospital travel and parking, household bills and groceries, unused airline tickets, and help replace the family car.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 03:22 UTC
Fresh problems with ManageMyHealth online security
Burns said ManageMyHealth systems showed gaps in the basic security controls expected for organisations handling sensitive health data. Blackveil online security founder Adam Burns (inset) says his online reconnaissance of ManageMyHealth has uncovered other issues. What was found in ManageMyHealth’s email security policy? DMARC is an email security policy that tells receiving mail servers how to handle messages that claim to come from a domain but fail authentication checks. The inset image shows the avatar chosen by Kazu, who claims to be the hacker behind the ManageMyHealth breach.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 03:18 UTC
National War Memorial targeted by thieves, letters from metal sign prised off concrete
Thieves prised the metal letters off this monument at Wellington's Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. National War Memorial targeted by thieves, letters from metal sign prised off concreteThieves prised the metal letters off this monument at Wellington's Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Photo / Facebook / Ministry for Culture and HeritageVandals have stripped letters from signs and wrecked a donated international monument at the national park commemorating New Zealand’s war dead. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is seeking the public’s help after thieves targeted monuments at the “sacred” space in Wellington. Photos released by the ministry show the extensive damage at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Mt Cook, including metal lettering prised from park signage and from the French Memorial.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 03:14 UTC
Pakūranga blaze during firefighters’ strike sparks blame game between Fire and Emergency and union
Fire and Emergency criticised striking firefighters in a post on social media. One person is in hospital after a large fire broke out at an industrial building in Pakūranga, Auckland, today. “As soon as the strike finished, they jumped in their trucks and raced straight over to the fire,” he said. “Of these, 12 incidents were in areas impacted by the strike,” the organisation said in a statement. “We again urge the NZPFU to call off planned one-hour strikes at noon on January 16 and 23.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 02:29 UTC
US federal agents shoot, wound two people in Portland: police
Officers have determined the two people were injured in the shooting involving federal agents.”The shooting happened near a medical centre, according to local media. “When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver weaponised his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents. People visit a memorial set up where Renee Good was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said the shooting in his city was the result of the flood of heavily armed federal agents as part of what Trump says is a crackdown on illegal immigration. “Just one day after the horrific violence in Minnesota at the hands of federal agents, our community here in Portland is now grappling with another deeply troubling incident.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 02:23 UTC
Govt u-turn on prescription fee policy
Photo: Getty ImagesIn a policy u-turn, people will only need to pay a single $5 co-payment fee for new 12-month prescriptions coming into effect from February. The backtrack is revealed in a series of Health Ministry documents proactively released three days before Christmas, titled "Cabinet material: Rescinding a prescription co-payment decision". The committee noted this would mean extra yearly costs to Health NZ of between $6 million and $23m. Other details under subheadings about how the decision would also reduce complexity for Health NZ and curb financial implications for Health NZ and Pharmac were largely redacted. The Cabinet paper shows Brown instructed the Health Ministry to get the policy ready to take effect by February 1.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 09, 2026 01:33 UTC
Heavy wind, rain, snow to batter Europe
School cancelled, travel disruptionFrance was also bracing for Goretti, which will bring gusts of up to 160km/h in the northern Manche department. Schools will remain closed on Friday, and weather alerts have been issued in 30 other northwestern regions. In Germany, heavy snow and winds in the north were set to affect schools, hospitals and transport links. Leading car manufacturer Volkswagen will shut its northwestern Emden factory on Friday due to the snow, spokesman Christian Schiebold told AFP. ‘Consequence of climate change’The DWD says that the storm is expected to last until Saturday, with snowfall stopping on Monday.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 01:23 UTC
MethaneSAT failure: Call for Auditor-General probe after $30m loss in space
The briefing states “this has increased the requirements for time on console [as opposed to simply being on call]” and “Rocket Lab has been testing an automated system to reduce reliance on manual intervention”. The MethaneSAT mission has been plagued by delays, first to its launch date and then to the arrival of its promised data about global methane emissions. He believes there is a case for the Auditor-General to investigate the incident as he thinks MBIE’s report into MethaneSAT isn’t enough. Photo / Chris GormanNew Zealand Space Agency deputy head Andrew Johnson said it was satisfied MethaneSAT LLC has been truthful and transparent. Ultimately, the mission owner must decide the overall position.”Johnson said the MBIE report into New Zealand’s investment in the MethaneSAT mission highlighted key lessons for future space investments, including governance, contractual arrangements, and communication with the public.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 01:03 UTC