RNZ News at 12pm, April 3

RNZ News at 12pm on April 3, 2026, delivers a comprehensive update on national and international developments. In New Zealand, a man has been charged with two murders in Hamilton following the discovery of two bodies at a home in Hamilton East, while police in Auckland and Lower Hutt responded to separate incidents involving vehicle pursuits and armed deployments. Internationally, the UN Security Council prepares to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with China opposing it and Iran reportedly negotiating a fee-based passage protocol with Oman. Ukraine’s president offered military expertise to help reopen the strait, highlighting growing global tensions over energy security. Domestically, concerns are rising over rural patients missing specialist appointments due to high fuel costs, prompting calls for more virtual healthcare. Meanwhile, New Zealand did not join the latest international call for responsible military AI use, though it participated in UN talks on lethal autonomous weapons. The Primary School Teachers Union accepted a new pay deal after a 10-month negotiation, marking a significant win despite inflationary pressures. In sports, All Blacks hooker Cody Taylor prepares for his 150th game, and the Crusaders play their final match at Addington Stadium. The Black Ferns lose veteran Chelsea Bremner to injury, and Wellington Phoenix coach Bev Priestman views recent losses as a catalyst for growth ahead of the finals. On the global stage, NASA’s Artemis II mission is poised for a critical engine burn toward the moon, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been fired over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with a $125 million settlement approved for victims of the financier’s abuse.