New Zealanders heading into the school holidays face a weekend of unsettled weather, with MetService forecasting a cocktail of heavy rain, strong winds, and snow across various regions. While Thursday provided a window of mostly clear skies, a sequence of cold fronts is set to move in starting Friday, peaking with the most severe conditions … Read more
A blast of cold southern air has delivered unseasonable frosts across New Zealand, sending temperatures below freezing in parts of the North Island just hours after the spring equinox, according to MetService. The equinox marked the point in the calendar when day and night are roughly equal in length, but the seasonal shift brought severe … Read more
The Tapanui community in West Otago has raised more than $170,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation, inspired by local residents Peter and Sarah Davies and their late son Jock, according to Seven Sharp. The fundraising effort involves the community of fewer than 1,000 people and brings fresh attention to a cause that supported the Davies … Read more
A massive portrait of British singer Ed Sheeran in Dunedin, New Zealand, has become the center of political debate after a “Free Palestine” tag was painted across the artwork. Artist Tyler Kennedy Stent, who created the mural on Bath Street in 2018, stated that the graffiti is a welcome addition to the work, according to … Read more
An Otago University student died from asphyxia after choking on his own vomit while heavily intoxicated during a birthday celebration, according to coroner’s findings released from Dunedin. The 20-year-old first-year student, whose name is permanently suppressed, was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on October 1, 2023, following a gathering at a Dunedin flat. Coroner Details … Read more
A Qantas Boeing 737-800 operating flight QF122 from Queenstown to Sydney diverted safely to Christchurch Airport on Saturday, September 5, 2026, after experiencing an engine issue and shooting flames shortly after takeoff, according to reports. The aircraft, registered as VH-VZQ, landed without injury to the 158 passengers and crew onboard, meeting a full emergency response … Read more
New Zealand’s Winter Ranked Third-Warmest on Record, Data Shows Earth Sciences New Zealand reported that the country’s winter of 2026 ranked as the third-warmest on record, with a nationwide average temperature of 9.7°C—1.1°C above the 1991-2020 winter average, according to the agency’s climate summary. Regional Temperature Variations Highlight Climate Contrasts While the South Island saw … Read more
A significant winter storm stalls over the South Island starting Wednesday, bringing prolonged heavy rain that will swell rivers across the West Coast before colder southerly air drives snow to low inland levels later in the week, according to MetService and NZTA. Weather Storm Stalls Over South Island Bringing Heavy Rain The severe weather traces … Read more
Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney holidayed in Queenstown, sharing adventure tourism experiences with her 26 million Instagram followers, according to social media posts documented by entertainment reports. The 28-year-old Euphoria star was joined by boyfriend Scooter Braun, actor Noah Centineo, and friends for activities including helicopter rides, jet boating, canyon swinging, and bungy jumping following an … Read more
A tsunami warning issued for New Zealand’s South Island following a strong earthquake near Te Anau has been downgraded to an advisory after authorities revised the tremor’s magnitude from 6.3 to 5.9. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that while coastal inundation is not expected, the advisory remains in effect for the West Coast … Read more