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RCR Bites

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Trusted news summaries emailed to you weekdays — for free, courtesy of Reality Check Radio (RCR). Stay on the pulse of what's really going on in New Zealand and abroad in just a few minutes a day. Sign up at rcr.media/bitesnews/.

New Zealand’s fuel vulnerability highlighted as global energy risks collide

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New Zealand may be heading towards a severe energy squeeze, with several risks converging at once. Former petrochemical commissioning engineer Lester Bryant told RCR...

Barry Young awaits ruling in whistleblower protection bid

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Whistleblower Barry Young appeared in Wellington District Court in his ongoing case over the release of Health NZ vaccination data, which he says was...

Southland locals push back against $3.5 billion AI data centre

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Political pressure and public scrutiny are growing over Datagrid’s proposed $3.5 billion AI data centre at Makarewa, following last week’s packed public meeting and...

Environment and planning reforms accused of rejecting localism

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Changes to the proposed Natural Environment and Planning Bills would give the environment minister greater control over regional development, according to a Select Committee...

Burnham centralises digital ID, telecoms and online safety

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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has moved digital ID policy, telecoms, broadcasting, social media, online safety, mis- and disinformation work into a single expanded...

Questions raised over non-notified consent for proposed Makarewa data centre

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A Southland community group is challenging the non-notified resource consent granted for a proposed hyperscale data centre at Makarewa, arguing the project should have...

Data centre resource drain highlighted as more locations confirmed

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Concerns have been raised over water consents granted to Singapore's Datagrid for its planned AI facility in Makarewa, Southland, allowing it to draw more...

Roadside drug testing raises Bill of Rights concerns

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RCR is examining whether the new mandatory roadside drug testing regime balances road safety with individual rights, amid concerns it may breach the Bill of...

NZ High Court upholds secrecy of Pfizer contract

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Justice Radich has dismissed Erika Whittome’s judicial review application in Whittome v Director-General of Health & Others, upholding the Government’s decision to withhold its...

Sport NZ directed to protect female competition as puberty blocker challenge opens

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The Government has quietly issued a legally binding Ministerial Direction ordering Sport and Recreation New Zealand to prioritise fair sex-based competition in publicly funded...

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Kentucky farmers reject USD $26m AI data centre deal

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Fiordland mountain officially named Mount Kirk

Holidays Act fix comes at the cost of workers on overtime and commission

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Latest

Kentucky farmers reject USD $26m AI data centre deal

Soccer excuse falls flat after Wiri burglary arrest

Fiordland mountain officially named Mount Kirk

Holidays Act fix comes at the cost of workers on overtime and commission

US destroyer left without power and basic services in South China Sea

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