Asian Insider

Safety

Paper-cut collage of a red fire helmet, a coiled hose and a smoke alarm on a cream background, with Auckland houses and green hills behind, in brick red, mustard and navy

Safety

Firefighters plan 10-hour strikes from 27 November. What happens if you call 111?

Career firefighters have voted for four 10-hour strikes, the first on 27 November. Fire and Emergency says the stoppages create an extreme risk to public safety and has asked the Employment Relations Authority to step in.

9 Nov 2026

Paper-cut collage of cut cables, a roadside telecom cabinet and warning silhouette workers in front of West Auckland hills, matte charcoal and brick red tones

Crime

Copper and fibre thefts cutting West Auckland internet. What to watch for

Police say thieves are targeting copper and telecoms cables in West Auckland, sometimes posing as workers. Outages have hit schools, thousands of households and an 80-year-old left without connectivity for a month.

7 Nov 2026

Paper-cut collage of a dirt bike silhouette, cracked brake caliper and warning triangle in front of New Zealand hills

Product Recall

GASGAS dirt bikes recalled over front brake caliper fault

GASGAS Cross Country and Motocross models with BRAKTEC brakes sold between February 2023 and February 2025 are under recall. The front brake caliper may crack or break. Stop using the bike until an authorised dealer inspects it.

6 Nov 2026

Product photos from the recall notices: Traffic Team pull-back toys (yellow bus, boat, green van, red taxi) on the left and Truck Dinosaur pull-back toy trucks on the right

Consumer

Two toy sets sold at dollar stores have been recalled over a choking risk

Product Safety New Zealand says small parts can come off Traffic Team and Truck Dinosaur toys sold at variety and dollar stores. Owners should stop using them and ask for a full refund.

4 Nov 2026

Paper-cut collage of a cardboard box of fireworks, a bucket of water and a sleeping dog in front of Auckland hills and the Sky Tower, with a firework bursting in the night sky

Community

Fireworks sales ended on 5 November. Where can you let them off?

Retail fireworks sales ran from 2 to 5 November. Fire and Emergency and Auckland Council explain where they can be lit, and why this year's dry conditions matter.